 | Injur'd Love : or, The Cruel Husband |  |
1
ACT I.
SCENE A Garden to Vittoria's Appartments.Enter Ludovico, Antonio, Gasparo.
Lud.
Banisht!
Ant.
It griev'd me much to hear the Sentence.
Lud.
Ha, ha!—O Democritus! thy Gods,
That manage this mad World, Courtly Rewards
And Punishments—
This 'tis to have great Enemies.
Gasp.
You term those Enemies are Men of Princely Rank.
Lud.
Oh! I pray for 'em—
The violent Thunder is ador'd by those
Are dash'd in pieces by it.
Ant.
Come my Lord,
Y'are justly doom'd; look but a little back
Into your former Life; you have in three Years
Ruin'd the noblest Earldoms—
Gasp.
Your Followers have swallow'd you like Mummy—
Ant.
One Citizen
2
Only for Caveaire.
Gasp.
Those Noblemen,
Who were invited to your prodigal Feasts
(Wherein the Phœnix scarce cou'd 'scape your Throats)
Laugh at your Misery—
Ant.
Jest upon you;
And say you were begotten in an Earthquake,
You have ruin'd such fair Lordships.
Lud.
Very good,
This Well goes with two Buckets; I must tend
The pouring out of either.
Gasp.
Worse than this;
You have acted certain Murders here in Rome,
Bloody and full of Horror!
Lud.
So,
I wonder then some of your great Men escape
This Banishment. There's Paulo Giordiano, Ursini
The Duke of Brachiano, now in Rome,
By Rev'ling Visits seek to prostitute
The Honour of Vittoria on pretence
To raise her ruin'd Family, and make
Her Husband a great Man.
Gasp.
Judge Charitably; 'tis generous in Him.
Lud.
Generous?
Ant.
Come, bear a Manly Patience.
Lud.
I'le make Italian cut Works in their Skinns,
If ever I return.
Gasp.
O Sir!
Lud.
I am Patient—Patient!—
I've seen some ready to be Executed
Give pleasant Looks, and Money to their Hangman.
Ant.
Fare you well my Lord;
We shall find time I doubt not, to get
Your Banishment Repeal'd.
Lud.
I am ever bound to you:
This is the Worlds Alms (pray make use of it.)
Great Men sell Sheep thus to be cut in pieces,
When first they have shorn 'em bare and sold their Fleeces.
[Exeunt.
3
Bra.
The best of Rest t'ye.
Vitt.
To my Lord Brachiano
The best of Welcome: More Lights attend the Duke.
Bra.
Flamineo!
Fla.
My Lord.
Bra.
Quite lost Flamineo!
Fla.
Pursue your Noble Wishes, I am prompt
As Lightning to your Service: O my Lord,
This fair Vittoria here, my happy Sister,
Shall give you present Audience: Gentlemen,
Let the Chariot go on: It is his Highness Pleasure
You put out all the Lights, and so depart.
Bra.
Are we so Happy?
Fla.
'T can't be otherwise,
I've dealt already with her Waiting Woman,
Zanche the Moor, and she is wondrous proud,
To be the Agent for so high a Spirit.
Bra.
But still her Jealous Husband—
Fla.
Her Jealous Husband, hang him—
Shroud you within this Banquetting House good my Lord.
Some Trick must now be thought on to divide
This Brother-in Law, from his fair Bedfellow.
Bra.
O should she fail to come—
[Enter Camillo.
Fla.
I must not have your Lordship thus desponding,
Away, away my Lord, see here he comes; this Fellow,
By his Apparel and Movement,
Some Men would judge a Politician.
—How now Brother; travelling to Bed to your kind Wife?
Cam.
I assure you Brother, No my Voyage lies
More Northerly in a far colder Clime.
Cam.
The Duke, your Master Visits me—I thank him.
Fla.
I hope you do not think—
Cam.
I have observ'd him.
Fla.
Will you be an Ass,
Spight of your Aristotle? Or a Cuckold
4
Cam.
Pew, mew, Sir tell not me
Of Planets, nor Ephemerides;
A Man may be made a Cuckold in the Day-time,
When the Stars Eyes are out.
Fla.
Sir, Fare you well;
I do Commit you to your pittiful Pillow
Stufft with Horn Shaveings.
Cam.
Brother—
Fla.
Hope refuse me,
Might I advise you now, your only Course
Were to lock up your Wife.
Cam.
'Twere very good.
Fla.
And so shall you be certain in one Fortnight
Despight of Chastity or Innocence to be Cuckolded,
Which yet is in Suspence.
Cam.
Come Sir, you know not where my Night-Cap wrings me.
Fla.
What you are Jealous then?
See she comes—What reason have you to be
Enter Vittoria.
Jealous of this Creature—Be wise I'le make you
Friends, and you shall to Bed together: Marry
Look you, it shall not be of your seeking, do you stand
Upon that by any means—Walk a loof; I would
Not have you be seen in it—Sister, my
Lord attends you in the Banquetting House—
[Aside to Vitt.
Your Husband is wondrous Discontented.
[Aloud.
Vitt.
I did nothing to displease him.
Fla.
I must now seemingly fall out with you,
[Aside.
And shall a Gentleman so well Descended as
[Aloud
Camillo—a Paltry Slave, that within these
[Aside.
Two years rode with the Duke's Carriages.
Cam.
Now he begins to tickle her.
Fla.
An excellent Scholar—
Cam.
He'll make her know what's in me.
Fla.
Come, my Lord attends; thou shalt to my Lord.
Cam.
Now he comes to't.
Fla.
With a Relish as Curious as a Vintner going to
Turning to Camillo.
Tast new Wine: I am opening your case
Hard.
5
A virtuous Brother-in-Law on my Credit!
Fla.
Thou shalt lie on a Bed stuff't with Turtles
Feathers, swoon in Perfumes, stifled in
Roses—shall meet him, 'tis fixt.
Vitt.
Yes I will meet him, but for other Ends
[Aside.
Than their vile Purposes.
Fla.
I have almost wrought her to't, I find her Coming—
But might I advise you now, for this Night I would not Lodge
with Her—I would cross her Humour, to make her more humble.
Cam.
Shall I, shall I?
Fla.
It will shew in you Supremacy of Judgment.
Cam.
True; a Mind elevated above the tumultuary Opinion.
Fla.
Right; you are the Adamant shall draw her to you, tho'
you keep at Distance.
Cam.
A Philosophical Reason!
Fla.
Walk by her Negligently, of the Quality fashion; and
tell her you will visit her at the end of the Progress.
Cam.
Vittoria—I cannot be induced, or, as a Man would say,
incited,
Vitt.
To what Sir?
Cam.
To sleep with you to Night—
Fla.
But d'ye hear—I shall have you steal to her for all
this about Midnight.
Cam.
Think you so? Why look you Brother, because you shall
find me stick to my Authority, take my Keys, look me fast into
my Chamber, and so you shall be sure of me.
Fla.
In troth and so I will: I'le be your Goaler for once. But
have you ne'er a false Door?
Cam.
tell me to Morrow how scurvily she takes my unkind
parting.
Fla.
I will?
Cam.
I will use these tricks often;
Fla.
Do, Do, Do, Do.
So now you are safe, Ha, ha, ha.
Come Sister, Darkness hides your Blushes; my Lord,
my Lord,
[Enter Brachiano.
Bra.
Believe me I could wish time would stand still,
And never end this Interview—
Let me into your Bosom, dearest Charmer,
6
Loose me not Madam, for if you forgoe
Me, I'me lost indeed.
Vitt.
Sir in way of Charity I wish you at Heart's ease.
Bra.
You are a sweet Physician.
Vitt.
Sure deadly Cruelties in Ladies,
Are as to Doctors many Funerals;
It takes away their Credit.
Bra.
Excellent Creature,
We call the Cruel, Fair; what Name for you,
That are so Merciful?
Zan.
See now they Close.
Fla.
I apprehend you;
When Principals engage, 'tis scandalous
For Seconds to be Idle.
Vitt.
You call'd me your Physician, and I make
This Visit to prescribe your Grief a Cure;
A certain speedy Cure.
Bra.
That's double Charity.
Vitt.
'Tis Resolutely at once to quench and stifle
This hopeless Passion.
Bra.
That's too rough a Method,
And suits not with my Constitution.
These Minutes are too Precious—
Vitt.
Sir, I know their Value,
And shall improve 'em to our mutual Benefit;
'Twas that I purpos'd in this Interview,
We now are wander'd to the brink of Ruin,
And must turn short, or perish.
Bra.
Where's the Danger?
Vitt.
It was my Lot
To be high born and bred, and then reduc'd
To fortune's Ebb, and (to compleat my Woes)
Made Hymen's Martyr, Wedded to Aversion;
Yet still the Name of Husband's Venerable;
My Vow was Sacred, and let Hope forsake me
When first—
Bra.
Hold; 'twas no Match,
And I pronounce it void; unnatural Contracts
7
[Enter Cornelia observing them at a Distance.
Vitt.
Yours was at least Religious;
You have a Princess, Sir, the Pride of Nature,
And Paradise of Vertues; worth your Prizing
If Monarch of the World; and Sir, this Charmer,
Your Lover, and almost your Worshipper.
Cor.
My fears are fall'n upon me! Oh my Heart,
My Son, their Pandar?
Vitt.
Beware my Lord! Orphans and Widows cries,
Defrauded Labour's starving Sighs are loud;
But none, to draw down Vengeance from Above,
No! None like the Complaints of injur'd Love.
Bra.
You have both said and answer'd, call'd her Wife
And Mine.
Vitt.
So are your Dukedoms, Sir—I own these Beauties
Mean as my Fortune, yet above the Purchase
Of Crowns and Scepters; brighter too than they,
While deck't with Innocence—That Jewel lost
The Mountain Nymph, that dresses at a Fountain
Her inn'cent Head with Daisies, wou'd out-shine me
Blazing with Diamonds.
[Cornelia comes near to 'em.
Bra.
Consent, and who shall dare to call't a Crime?
Vitt.
Were Censure aw'd, what Troops can you Command,
What Guards to silence the Accuser here?
The rev'ling gaudy Scene in time will change,
Furies succeed the flatt'ring Cupid's fled,
And howling Horrour haunt the guilty Bed.
Bra.
Phantoms and Dreams! Awake and find your self
Lodg'd in his powerful Arms, that can protect you
From all the Fevers of a Jealous Husband,
From the poor envy of our Phlegmatick Dutchess;
I'le seat you above Law, and above Scandal:
Give to your Thoughts Invention of Delights,
And the Fruition: Nor shall Affairs of State
Divide me longer from you, than due Care
To keep you great; you shall to me at once
Be Dukedom, Health, Wife, Children, Friends and all.
Corn.
Wo to light Hearts, they still fore-run our Fall.
Fla.
Ha! What fury rais'd thee up? Away, away.
8
What makes you here my Lord, at this dead time of Night?
Never dropt Mildew on Flow'r here, till now.
Fla.
I pray will you to Bed then, least you be Blasted.
Corn.
O that this fair Garden
Had with all poisned Herbs of Thessaly
At first been Planted, made a Nursery
For Witchcraft, rather than a Burial Plat
For both your Honours.
Vitt.
Dearest Mother hear me.
Corn.
O thou dost make my Brow bend down to Earth,
Sooner than Nature—
Where is thy Dutchess now Adulterous Duke?
Thou little dream'st shee's come this Night to Rome.
Fla.
Ha! Come to Rome.
Vitt.
The Dutchess!
Bra.
Sh'ad been better—
Cor.
The Lives of Princes should like Dials move,
Whose Regular Example is so strong,
They make the Times by them go right or wrong.
Fla.
So—have you done?
Cor.
Unfortunate Camillo?
Vitt.
Yet, Madam hear me—
[Kneeling.
Cor.
I will joyn with thee
To the most woful end e'er Mother kneel'd;
If thou dishonour once thy Husband's Bed,
Be thy Life short; as are the Funeral Tears
Of Great Men's Heirs.
Bra.
She Raves, the old Lady's Distracted.
Fla.
This 'tis for ancient Folks to keep ill Hours.
Cor.
Be your Love's every Kiss a Scorpion;
May'st thou be envy'd, during his short Breath,
To be the more despis'd when he is dead.
Vitt.
Mistaken Zeal, but 'tis a Parent's Care,
And Duty bids me wait for her Conviction;
Tho' mists of Errour Innocence may shroud,
Truth and the Sun shine brighter from a Cloud.
[Ex. Vitt.
[Manent Flam. Cornel.
Fla.
Are you out of your Wits?
My Lord I'le fetch her back again.
9
No, I'le to Bed—
Send Doctor Julio to me instantly,
The Poysoning Doctor Julio.
Uncharitable Woman, thy rash Tongue
Has rais'd a dreadful and prodigious Storm,
Be thou the cause of all ensuing Harm.
[Ex. Bra.
Fla.
Now, you that stand so much upon your Honour,
Is this a fitting time of Night think you
To send a Duke home without Attendance?
I would fain know where lies the Mass of Wealth
Which you have hoarded for my Maintenance,
That I may bear my State above the Level
Of my Lord's Stirrup.
Cor.
What; because we're poor,
Must we be vicious?
Fla.
Pray what Means have you,
To keep me from the Gallies, or the Gallows?
My Father prov'd himself a Gentleman,
Sold all his Lands, and like a fort'nate Father dy'd
Before the Money was spent—You brought me up
At Padua, I confess;
Thence to the Duke's Service,
I visited the Court—And shall I,
Having a Path so open and so free
To my Preferment, still retain your Milk
In my pale Forehead?
Cor.
O that I ne'er had born thee!
Fla.
So would I;
I wou'd the common'st Courtezan in Rome,
Had been my Mother, rather than thy self:
Nature is very pitiful to Whores,
In giving them few Children,
And those few Plurality of Fathers;
They are sure they shall not want—go, go,
Complain to my great Lord Cardinal,
It may be he will justify the Act.
Cor.
Misery of Miseries!
[Exit.
Fla.
The Dutchess come to Town; I like not that;
I am engag'd in Mischief, and must go on.
[Exit.
10
SCENE III.
Enter Duke Francisco de Medicis, Cardinal Monticelsi, Marcello, Isabella, with young Giovanni.Fra.
Have you not seen your Husband since your Arrival?
Isa.
Not yet, Sir.
Fra.
Surely he's wondrous kind.
If he had such a Dove-house as Camillo's,
I would set fire to't, were't but to destroy
Such Poul-Cats as Brachiano,—my sweet Cosin—
Gio.
Uncle, you promis'd me a Horse,
And Armour.
Fra.
That I did my pretty Cuz: Marcello, see it fitted.
Mar.
My Lord, the Duke Brachiano's here.
Fra.
Sister retire, you must not be seen by him yet.
Isa.
I do beseech you to entreat him mildly,
Lest your rough Tongue
Set us at greater Variance; all my Wrongs
Are freely pardon'd: and I make no doubt
By Gentleness to win him back,
And keep him ever mine.
Fra.
I wish it may. Withdraw.
[Exit Isab. with Giov. and Flam.
[Enter Brachiano. Guards and Attendants go out.
Clear the Presence—
You are welcome: Will you sit?—I pray, my Lord,
Be you my Orator, my Heart's too full,
I'll second you anon,
Mont.
Ere I begin,
Let me intreat your Grace forego all Passion,
Which may be raised by my free Discourse.
Bra.
As silent as in the Church you may proceed.
Mont.
It is a Wonder to your noble Friends,
That you having nobly entred on the World
With a free Scepter in your able hand,
And have to Gifts of Nature, well apply'd,
Rare Parts and Learning; should, in your prime Age,
Neglect your awful Throne, for the soft Downe
Of an unsatiate Bed—Oh, my Lord!
11
Repentance then will follow, like a Sting
Plac'd in the Adder's Stern.
Bra.
You have said, my Lord?
Mont.
Enough to give you Tast
How far I am from flattering your Greatness.
Bra.
Now, you that are his Second; What say you?
Do not, like young Hawks, fetch a Course about,
Your Game flies fair.
Fra.
Do not fear it;
He answers you in your own hawking Phrase:
Some Eagles that should soar against the Sun
Seldom mount high, but take their lustful Ease,
Since they from Dunghil Birds their Prey can seize.
You know Vittoria.
Bra.
Yes—
Mont.
Her Husband's Lord of a poor Fortune,
Yet she wears Cloth of Tissue.
Bra.
What of that?
Will you urge this, my good Lord Cardinal,
At the next Shrift, as part of her Confession?
Fra.
She's your—
Bra.
Uncivil, Sir: there's Hemlock in your Breath.
And that black Slander, were she my Mistress,
All your loud Cannons, and your borrow'd Switzers,
Your Gallies, nor your sworn Confederates,
Durst not supplant her.
Fra.
You have a Wife our Sister, wou'd I had given
Both her white Hands to Death bound and lockt fast
In her last winding Sheet, when I gave thee but one.
Bra.
Spit thy Poison.
Fra.
I shall not need,
Vice carries her sharp Whip at her own Girdle—
Look to't, our Anger's making Thunderbolts.
Bra.
Thunder they are but Crackers.
Fra.
We'll end it with the Cannon.
Bra.
Thou'lt get nothing by't, but Iron in thy Wounds,
And Gunpowder in thy Nostrils.
Fra.
Better that
12
Bra.
Pity on thee!
'Twere well you'd show your Slaves, or Men condemn'd,
Your new plow'd Forehead—Defiance: I'll meet thee
Even in a Thicket of thy ablest Men.
Mon.
My Lord, you shall not word it any farther,
Without a milder Limit.
Fra.
Willingly.
Bra.
Have you proclaim'd a Trumpet, that you bait
A Lion thus?
Mont.
My Lord—
Bra.
I am tame, I am tame, Sir.
Fra.
We send to the Duke for Conference
'Bout Levies gainst the Pyrates, my Lord Duke
Is not at home—We come our self in Person,
Still my Lord Duke is busy—but we fear
When Tyler to each proling Passenger
Discovers Flocks of wild Ducks, then my Lord
(In Moulting time I mean) we shall be certain
To find you safe laid up, and speak with you.
Bra.
Ha!
[Enter Giovanni.
Mon.
No more, my Lord,
Here comes a Champion,
Shall end the Difference, between you both,
Your Son the Prince Giovanni—See, my Lords,
What Hopes you have in him? This is a Casket
For both your Crowns, and should be held as dear.
Bra.
Your Hand, Boy; growing to a Soldier?
Giov.
Give me a Pike.
Fra.
What, practising your Arms so young?
Giov.
Suppose me one of Homer's Frogs, my Lord,
Tossing my Bulrush thus; pray, Sir, tell me,
Might not a Child of good Discretion,
Be Leader to an Army?
Fra.
Yes, Cosin, a young Prince of good Discretion may.
Giov.
Say you so:
If I live to be a General,
I'll charge all the Foe my self, i'th' very Front
Of all my Troops the foremost Man.
13
Forward Lapwing!
He flies with Shell on's Head.
Fra.
Pretty Cosin!
Giov.
The first Year, Uncle, that I go to War,
All Prisoners that I take, I'll set free
Without their Ransom.
Fra.
How then will you reward your Soldiers
That took those Prisoners for you?
Giov.
Thus, my Lord:
I'll marry 'em to all the wealthy Widows
That fall that Year.
Fra.
Why then the next Year following
You'll have no Men go with you to the War.
Giov.
Why then I'll press the Women to the War,
And then the Men will follow.
Mont.
Witty Prince!
Fra.
See a good Habit makes a Child a Man,
Whilst a bad Habit makes a Man a Beast.
Come, you and I are Friends.
Bra.
Most willingly.
Fra.
You have receiv'd the Rumour how Count Ludovico is turn'd Pyrate.
Bra.
Yes.
Fra.
We are now preparing
Some Ships to fetch him in.—But, Sir,
Your Dutchess waits you, and we expect from you
Nothing but kind Treatment of her.
[Francisco, Montacelsi, go to the Table again.
Bra.
You have charm'd me.
Mar.
Camillo's come, my Lord.
Enter Cam. and Mar. Flam. from another side to Brach.
Fra.
Where's the Commission?
Mar.
'Tis here, Sir.
Fra.
Give me the Signet.
Fla.
My Lord, did you mark their Whispering?
[Enter Dr. Julio.
I will compound a Medicine out of their two Heads
Stronger than Garlick; deadlier than Stibium.
Bar.
O the Doctor!
Fla.
They are sending him to Naples, but I'll send him to Pluto.
Bra.
About the Murder—
Fla.
He will shoot you Pills into a Man's Guts, shall
Make him have more Vent than a Cornet, or Lamprey;
14
Doct.
Your Secretary is merry, my Lord.
Fla.
O thou cursed Antipathy to Nature!
Let me imbrace thee Toad, and love thee
Thou abominable Gargarism, that will fetch up Lungs,
Lights, Heart, Liver and all by Scruples.
Bra.
No more. I must employ thee, honest Doctor;
[To Julio.
You must to Padua, and by the Way
Use some of your Skill for us.
Doct.
Sir, I shall.
Bra.
But for Camillo—
Fla.
I shall take care of him.
But for your Dutchess—
Doct.
I will make her sure.
Bra.
Small Mischiefs are by greater made secure.
[Exit.
Mont.
Look you, Cosin,
The good Marcello is chosen with you joint Commissioner,
For relieving our Italian Coasts
From Pyrates.
Mar.
I am much honour'd with it.
Fra.
Farewel, good Marcello;
All the best Fortunes of a Soldier's Wish
Bring you a ship-board.
Cam.
Were I not best, now I am turn'd Soldier,
Ere that I leave my Wife, sell all she has,
And then take leave of her.
Mon.
I expect good from you,
Your Parting is so merry.
Cam.
Merry, my Lord, o'th' Captain's Humour right,
I am resolved to be dead drunk to Night.
Fla.
Drunk dead, III promise you.
[Aside.
[Exeunt Marcello, Camillo, Flamineo.
Fra.
So 'twas well fitted; now shall we discern
How his wish'd Absence will give violent way
To Duke Brachiano's Passion.
Mon.
Why that was it;
To what scorn'd purpose else should we make choice
Of him for a Sea Captain; and besides,
Count Lod'wick, who was rumour'd for a Pyrate,
Is now in Padua.
15
Is't true?
Mont.
Most certain,
I have Letters from him which are suppliant
To work his quick Repeal from Banishment:
Fra.
O 'tis well; we shall have need of him.
Mont.
It may be thought I am dishonourable
To play thus with my Kinsman: but I answer,
For my Revenge I'd stake a Brother's Life,
That being wrong'd, durst not revenge himself.
Fra.
Come to observe this Sorceress.
Mont.
Sure he'll not leave her?
Fra.
There's small Pity in't;
Like Misle-toe on sear'd Elmes, spent with Weather,
Let him cleave to her, and both rot together.
[Exeunt.
End of the first Act.
| Injur'd Love : or, The Cruel Husband | |