 | All Mistaken, or the Mad Couple |  |
ACT IV.
Enter Ortellus and Arbatus as going into the Dukes Bed-Chamber, and the Duke in Bed.Ortell.
So I'le keep the door whil'st you
Dispatch him.
Arba.
My Lord I find you truly Noble;
Why Duke, why Duke, I say.—methinks
My voice shou'd wake his guilty Soul,
Nothing but Innocence can sleep secure;
Then why good Heaven dos he take such rest?
Awake thou drowsy Devil Duke, my
Sisters wrongs do call thee from thy
Sleep, methinks the sound of those
shou'd Peirce thy Eares, why Duke?
Duke.
What bold voice is that?
Arba.
One that will be more bold with you.
Duke.
Who is't so impudent as to break
My sleep.
Arba.
'Tis I, Arbatus, that will put thee
Into a wonder.
Duke.
Ha, what means that Dagger in thy hands?
Arba.
Canst thou ask that question, it is
To tickle thy false heart.
Duke.
Ha; ha; ha; you jest, you jest.
Arba.
What dos the conceit on't make you
Laugh already, I was resolv'd to wake
Thee, before I sent thee to Hell, because
39
Duke.
Come, come, leave your foolery, least
You heat my Blood.
Arba.
If I do, I will let it out all,
And that will quickly coole it, I'de give
You time to say your Pray'rs now,
But that I know thy Sin to be so
Great, that Heaven will not Pardon thee.
Enter Artabella,
Ortell.
Who's that?
Arta.
'Tis I my Lord, Artrbella, let me in
Quickly, that I may have one stab at
His false heart, before my Brother
Has put him past feelling.
Ortell.
And so thou shalt brave Girl.
Arba.
Now Duke good night to you, and the
Devil send you good rest.
Arta.
Hold Brother.
Arba.
Who's that.
Arta.
'Tis I thy injur'd Sister, come to make
The first hole in that base Dukes heart,
It is my Right.
Arba.
Begin, begin then, that I may make an end.
Arta:
Stay Brother, not to fast, has he said
His Pray'rs;
Arba.
His Pray'rs why none but the Devil
Will hear them, Come, come Sister
Give me the Dagger again, you wast time,
Arta.
And so I will, the Duke shannot Dye.
Arba.
How not Dye?
Arta.
Not dye I say.
Arba.
Then you are his Whore all this while,
And wou'd have him Live that you may
Be so still.
Arta.
Brother, another word so foule, I'le
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Therefore hear me speak. Know
Then 'tis I that cannot love the Duke,
Which he wou'd never tell you, knowing
'Twou'd make you angry with me.
Arba.
Nay then, I'le Kill you, for foolling a
Brother, and your Reputation thus.
Duke.
Hold Arbatus, she saies it but to save
My Life, 'tis I have fool'd you both,
Therefore strike here.
Arba.
And so I will then.
Arta.
Hold Brother pul not a load of Sins
Upon your head, tis I have been to blame, indeed
I have, with Loving him to much.
Arba.
Then thou shalt Dye.
Duke.
Hold Sir Heaven will frown on you for ever,
If you shed one drop of that pure Blood;
Upon my word 'tis I
Arba.
Keep not my Tortur'd Soul thus in Suspence.
One of you tell me true, and that quickly
Too, else I'le destroy you both, and
That's the surest way, not to mistake.
Duke.
Then be assur'd 'tis I,
Arta.
Brother 'tis nor, tis I.
Arba.
Hey Day, hey day, I know not what
To do, or say.—
[Throwes down his Sword and goes away.
Ortell.
So he's Dead I hope.
Arba.
No more then you are.
Ortell.
How so?
Arba.
Come my Lord, as you go, I'le tell you.
[Exit.—Arba. Orte.
Duke.
Oh Artabella, why did'st take my
Sin upon thy selfe, hiding thy Innocence
With a face of Guilt, my Death had been
Not Punnishment enough, because I have
Wrong'd so fair a Life as yours; which
Way to ask forgiveness, I cant tell;
There are no Pardons for such Sins
As mine, the only way to do thee
41
Arta.
Hold Sir my Life shall follow yours,
If you strike.
Duke.
Why wou'dst thou have my Live?
Arta.
Because I love you Sir.
Duke.
And that's the only reason I wou'd dye;
Arta.
Why wou'd it be kindly done,
To shew my Eyes your Blood?
Duke.
Yes, far more kind, then Live
And shew thy heart no Love. Oh
Artabella that thou wert my Sister, nothing
But Brothers love were then thy due;
And I cou'd richly pay thee in that Coyn,
A Million more then ever Brother did.
Arta.
Wou'd Nature then had made me so:
Or else had gave me never a heart.
Duke.
What wou'dst have me do, poor Artabella.
Arta.
Nothing but Love me Sir.
Duke.
See what thou dost ask a Man, a god
Wou'd do, and yet I cant, 'tis not thy
Want of Beauty, but my Fate, Angels
Themselves to look upon thy Face, wou'd
Take a journy twice a day from Heaven.
Arta.
If you wou'd come, though far a shorter way,
You shou'd be much more welcome.
Duke.
Sweet Tongue lye still, offer no more such
Love as Gods themselves to have, wou'd
Think a Bliss, since all thy kindness
Dos but wound my Heart, to see thine
Ship-wrackt in a Sea of Love, and cannot
Give it Harbour in my Breast.
Arta.
Sir let me beg one thing of you then;
Duke.
Withal my Soul, be it my Dukedome,
And 'tis thine?
Arta.
'Tis no such great request, 'tis only
When you meet me, say, I hate
Thee Artabella.
Duke.
Why cou'd that word please thee,
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No, but to hear it said by you wou'd
Bring my Death, then I wou'd thank
You for my Rest, wou'd you not come
Unto my Grave Sir?
Duke.
O yes, and make thy Coffin float with a Sea of Teares.
Arta.
Fair Sir, of what?
Duke.
Of Griefe.
Arta.
O me, a Sea of Teares, and yet not
One of Love, waste not such pretious
Drops upon my Grave, it will not
Satisfy my hovering Soul, to see your
Eyes drop Pity without Love, farewell Sir,
Oh for a Grave, that were a resting place,
Good heart be kind, and breake apace.—
[Exit.
Duke.
Heaven Love thee for me, base Amphelia
Thou art the Author of my horrid Sin.—
[Exit.
Enter Philidor and Mirada.
Phi.
Thou talk'st of sport Mirida, if all the
Sport we have had already with our
Lovers, come not short of this, hang me;
You say you have invited them already
To my Funerall.
Mir.
Yes, yes.
Phili.
So, So, Methinks my Body lies in
Great State, to see the Tribe that will
Come by and by, here will be half a
Dozen cheife Mourners, which shou'd have
Been my Wives, and some Three or
Four Sonns and Heirs, besides Three
Or four hopefull Daughters, these with
The Congregation of Nurses, will howle
Me a pleasant Dirge, Mirida you being
My Excecutrix must carry your self
Very gravely, here's my Will which
You must read to'um, I'le be the
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[Knocks within.
Knocks at Gate.
Enter Boy.
Boy.
Sir they are all come,
Phi.
Let'um in. Now Mirida Manage
Your business well,
Mir.
Let me alone I'le warrant yee.
Enter Ladies and Nurses
All La.
Ah my poor dear dear.
All Nu.
Ah my poor dear Master, ah Child,
Cry for thy poor Dad.—
[Kiss the Herse.
Phi.
What a Dog-Kennell's here, how they
Howle.—
(aside.)
Mir.
When the passions of your Griefes are over,
Pray hear me speak, because it concernes you all?
Phi.
Pox of thy Gravity, Mirida—
(aside.)
Mir.
Nay hold your Tongue, if you set me
Once a Laughing, I shall spoyl your
Funerall.—
(aside.)
Enter Pinguister and Lean-man.
So here comes my Fat Lover, and my
Leane one. Welcome Gentlemen, I
Was afraid I shou'd not have had your
Company.
Ping.
Really sweet Lady, I have taken a
Purge to day, (as I do Constantly for
Love of you) which has detorted me,
By reason of its opparation; neither can
I say it has yet finished.
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Sir please you to sit down, and you
Mr. Pinguister.
Ping.
Lady I imbrace your offer, and shall
Press your Chair, by my heart Madam
This Chair was fitter for a Jackdaw,
Then me.—
[sits down and breaks the Chair.
Nay they make such Chairs now a daies,
That had I a Grudge to an Upholsterer,
I wou'd desire no greater revenge,
Then to sit down upon every Chair
In his Shop.
Mir.
Truly Sir I am sorry for your fall.
Ladies and Gentlewomen, pray give your
Attention to my dear deceased Cozens Will
Poor young man, he was Kill'd
Yesterday by a Duel, he liv'd but two
Houres after he was hurt, which time
He made use of, to settle somthing
On all you here, his worthy Friends.
Omnes.
A good young Man.
Miri.
Imprimis, I bequeath my Soul as other
People us'd to do, and so my Body.
Item, I give to Mrs. Mary for a reason that
She knows 500. l.
Item, 500. l. To Mrs. Margaret, for a
Reason She knows.
Item, 500. l. To Mrs. Sarah, for a reason
She knows.
Item, 500. l. To Mrs. Martha, for a
Reason she knows.
Item, 500. l. To Mrs. Alice, for a reason
She knows.
Item, 500. l. To Mrs. Eliner, for a reason
She knows, And so to all the rest.
Item, To my Nurses, I leave each of
Them 20. l. A year a peece, for their
Lives, besides their arreares due to
Them for Nursing. These Summes
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Rais'd and Paid out of my Mannor
Of Constantinople, in which the
Great Turke is now Tennant for Life.
If they shou'd hear how their
[Laughs aside.
Legacies are to be Paid, how they'd fall
A Druming on his Coffin.
Item, I leave to Mr. Pinguister a very
Fat Man.
Ping.
I am so.
Mir.
An Infallible receipt to make him leane.
Ping.
So I hope the Dead may do, what
The Liveing cannot.
Mir.
I leave to a Certain Leane Gentleman,
Whom I have seen in my Cozen
Miridas Company, a sure receipt to
Make him Fat.
Le. ma.
I find he knew I was to Marry his Cozen?
Mir.
I desire my Body may be carried to the
Grave by the six aforesaid Gentlewomen.
So Ladies now you have heard his Will,
Be pleas'd to take up the Body, Nurses
You are to follow next; now which of you
Will lead me.
Ping.
I will Madam,
Le. ma.
By my Bones but you shanot,
Ping.
By my Fat but I will Sir.
Mir.
Nay Gentlemen, pray fall not out, well
One of you lead me one half of the way.—
Exeunt.
Ping.
Agreed Sir, take you her hand first; a
Very timely Proposition, for my Purge
Workes again, save me where abouts
Is the Closset.—
[goes out and comes in again.
What a loose, must I run to overtake them
Now, else I shall not lead my Mistriss the
Last half way.—deliver me from Love
And Purges.
46
Phili.
So, there let u'm converse with the dead
A while, I had rather have 'um there then
Above ground, here will I keep 'um till
They have all quitted me under their hands
And Seals.
Mir.
Oh the sport that we shall have by and by;
Well, but I must go home a little, my
Father will miss me, where shall we
Meet again?
Phi.
Just here.
Mir.
I'le not fail.—
Exeunt.
Enter Amarissa just arriv'd.
Amar.
I am come to late, and yet too soon am here,
Since dear Zoranzo's death is now so near;
On the same block with him I'le lay my head,
That our two bodies may have but one bed.
Thus are our Nuptial joyes decreed by fate
Our Wedding and our Burial bare one date.
Sure I am the first of maids that ever gave
Her body, to her Lover in a Grave.
Alas! in cold embraces we must meet,
With Icy kisses in a winding sheet.
Yet though this life denies us time to love,
The other life will not so cruel prove.
Our souls so fast in Lovers knots wee'l tye,
That when the headsman strikes they both shall fly.
Twind in one another through the air,
And be at rest, whilst other Souls despair.
47
This is the Prison, and here's the Jaylor
I beleive; Pray Sir do you belong
Unto the Prison.
Iaylor.
Belong, Yes I am the Keeper of it.
Amar.
Is not here one Zoranzo a Prisoner.
Iaylor.
Yes, but he wont be here long, for he
Is to dye anon.
Amar.
Ah me, Sir I am his Sister, pray help
Me to him that I may speak with him,
Before that cruel hour, I love him
So that I must needs dye with him, I'le
Petition the Duke that I may, sure he'le
Not deny me that request.
Iay.
I can tell you a way that you may be sure
To have that favour granted.
Amar.
Tell it me and I'le thank ye.
Iay.
Why if you'l try to convey him out of Prison,
As another Lady has already, you may
Bare them company too?
Amar.
Why has there any Lady endeavor'd it,
Iay.
Yes, one that is his Mistriss, and they are
Both to dye together.
Amar.
Ha! What is't I hear, his Mistriss,
Say you?
Iay.
Yes Mistriss; they both lye as Contentedly
By one another, as if they were not two.
Amar.
Curse him good heaven, ye cannot throw
Too many curses on him; here Jaylor,
Take this and let me speak with the Prisoner.
Iay.
Madam you shall.
48
Zo.
Amarissa, are my eyes false, or is it
Truly she.
Ama.
Your Eyes are true, but 'tis your heart
That's false.
Zo.
I am deceiv'd, that cannot be her tongue.
Ama.
Shou'd it speak otherwise to thee, Ide
Tear it out, Devil Zoranzo; curst
Pair of Vipers, that in chains of death
Can practise Lust, as if no end were nigh.
Do not my wrongs startle thy guilty
Soul, to think of all the torments it must
Have, that cou'd with so much falseness
Murther Love: when thou art gone to
Hell as go thou must, 'twill be a task
For all the Devils there to torture thee enough.
Thy sin is such, were I thy headsman,
When thou com'st to dye, i'de be a week
A cutting off thy head, twixt every stroke
I'de stop; and then I'd hollow Amarissa
In thy Eares, thy Guilt wou'd be an Eccho
To my wrongs, and answer to my cry,
Wrong'd Amarissa; which injur'd name
Repeated to thy Eares, wou'd make
Thy Soul think, Hell not half such pain.
Farwel Zoranzo, I'le come see your
Head struck off, and your Ladies.
Zo.
Base Amarissa, that can conclude me
False because she saw this Lady lye
In Chaines by me, and cou'd not ask me how
We came together. Thus to revile me and
Not know the truth, I'le scorn to tell
Her now.
49
Amar.
O Sir, be pleas'd to hear a Maids Petition,
Though a Stranger to you.
Duke.
Fair Maid what is't?
Amar.
Zoranzo thats Condemn'd to Dye, may—
Duke.
Not Live, if that be your request, pray
Do not ask, I shan't grant it.
Amar.
No Sir, 'tis that he may have a Thousand
Deaths, instead of One, or one that has
More pain then Thousands.
Duke.
What makes you thus incenc'd against him?
Amar.
Heaven knows I have too much cause, Sir
I have Lov'd him long, and the day he was
Your Prisoner, shou'd have been our
Wedding, news being brought to me
In my own Country, that he was to Dye,
In flying hast I took this tedious journey
With Sorrow; and with Joy, I here arriv'd;
Tears in my eyes for his approaching
Death, Smiles in my Cheeks to think
Of dyeing with him, but when I came
Unto the Prison gate, I met the Jaylor and
He told me all, then let me in, and to rejoyce
My Eyes, I saw two Devils lye in
Chains together, and not half so fast
As Chain'd in Love, all my intended
Kisses then, I chang'd into as many curses
On his heart, which with my eyes I
Spoke as well as tongue,
Duke.
Alas poor injur'd Maid, we must be one another's
Petiters, thy fate is mine;
That woman which you saw with him,
Has prov'd as false to me, as he to you:
Amar.
For Heavens sake Sir, let'um Dye both,
No sight wou'd please us like their
50
Close together all day, as if they were not two.
Duke.
Oh curse on'um!
Amar.
Oh the Devil take 'um, pray Sir give
Order that they may be brought
Immediately to Excecution.
Duke.
I will.
Ama.
I'le go call the Jaylor, Sir.
[steps to th'Prison.
Enter Iaylor.
Duke.
Jaylor let the Prisoner be brought to
Excecution straight, I'le be there my self.
Amar.
And I too, Sir.
Duke.
You shall, wee'l go together—
[Exeunt.
| All Mistaken, or the Mad Couple | |