University of Virginia Library

Act III.

Scene I.

Enter Pisander and Timandra.
Pisan.
Why think you that I plot against my self?
Fear nothing; you are safe; these thick-skinn'd Slaves
(I use as Instruments to serve my Ends)
Pierce not my deep Designs; nor shall they dare
To lift an Arm against you.

Timan.
Not with your Will, I grant you:
But turbulent Spirits rais'd beyond themselves
With Ease, are not so soon laid; they oft prove
Dangerous to him that call'd them up.

Pisan.
'Tis true,
In what is rashly undertook. Long since
I have consider'd seriously their Natures,
Proceeded with mature Advice, and know,
I hold their Will and Faculties in more Awe
Than I can do my own. However, I'm resolv'd;
And Sleep you with Security. Holds Cleora
Constant to her rash Vow?

Timan.
Beyond Belief!
To me, that see her hourly, it seems a Fable.
She eats little,
Sleeps less, as I imagine; once a Day
I lead her to this Gallery, where she walks
Some half a dozen Turns; and having offer'd
To her absent Saint a Sacrifice of Sighs,
She points back to her Prison.

Pisan.
Guide her hither,
And make her understand the Slaves revolt;
And with your utmost Eloquence enlarge
Their Insolence and Rapes done in the City.
Forget not too, I am their Chief; and tell her,
You strongly think my extream Dotage on her,
As I am Marullo, caus'd this sudden Uproar,
To make Way to enjoy her.

Timan.
Punctually
I will discharge my Part.

[Exit Timandra.
Enter Poliphron.
Poliph.
O, Sir, I sought you:
You have miss'd the rarest Sport. Hell, I think, is broke loose,
There's such Variety of all Disorders,
As Leaping, Shouting, Drinking, Dancing, Whoring,
Among the Slaves; answer'd with Crying, Howling,
By the Citizens and their Wives. Such a Confusion!

Pisan.
I share in
The Pleasure, though I'm absent. This is some
Revenge for my Disgrace.

Poliph.
But, Sir, I fear,
If your Authority restrain them not,
They'l fire the City, or kill one another,
They are so apt to Outrage, and so prone to Mischief;
Neither know I whether you wish it, and came
Therefore to acquaint you with so much.

Pisand.
I will among 'em,
But must not long be absent.

Poliph.
That as you please.

SCENE draws, and discovers Cleora in a Chair, in a melancholy Posture, Timandre attending. Shout at a Distance within.
Timand.
They are at our Gates, my Heart!
Affrights and Horrors
Increase each Minute: No Way left to save us,
No flatt'ring Hope to comfort us, or Means
By Miracle to redeem us from base Lust,
And lawless Rapine? Are there Gods, yet suffer
Such innocent Sweetness to be made the Spoil
Of brutish Appetite?
Marullo, curs'd Marullo, your own Bond-man;
He that should offer up his Life to guard you,
Purchas'd to serve you: Nay, start not, Lady:
[Cleora starts.
He, doting on your Beauty, has rais'd
These mutinous Slaves,
Who have begun the Game by violent Rapes
Upon the Wives and Daughters of their Lords:
And he, to quench his base Desires,
By Force comes to enjoy you: Do not wring
[Cleora wrings her Hands.
Your innocent Hands, 'tis bootless; use the Means
That may preserve you. 'Tis no Crime to break
A Vow, when you are forc'd to it. Shew your Face,
And with the Majesty of commanding Beauty
Strike dead his loose Affections: If that fail,
Give Liberty to your Tongue, and use Entreaties:
There cannot be a Breast of Flesh and Blood,
Or Heart so made of Flint, but must receive
Impression from your Words. Will you not
Do these good Offices to your self? Poor I, then,
Can only weep your Fortune—Here he comes.

Enter Pisander, speaking to some without.
Pisand.
He that advances
A Foot beyond this, comes upon my Sword.
You have had your Ways, disturb not mine.

Timand.
Speak gently,
[Aside to Pisander.
Her Fears may kill her else.

Pisand.
Now, Love, inspire me!
Still shall this Canopy of envious Night
Obscure my Suns of Comfort?
The Organs of your Hearing yet are open,
And you infringe no Vow, tho' you vouchsafe
To hear the Story of
A tortur'd and despairing Lover, whom
Not Fortune, but Affection marks your Slave.
[Cleora trembles.
Nay, tremble not, fair Creature! for, believe me, you are
As far from Danger as I am from Force.
All the Violence I'll offer, tends no farther
Than to relate my Suff'rings, which I dare not
Presume to do, 'till by some gracious Sign
You shew you are pleas'd to hear me.

Timand.
If you are,
Hold forth your right Hand.

[Cleora holds forth her right Hand.
Pisand.
My Soul's Thanks for the Favour. I forbear
To tell you who I am, what Wealth, what Honours
I made Change of to become your Servant:
And tho' I knew worthy Leosthenes my Rival;
(For sure, he must be worthy, for whose Love
You dare endure so much)
When Rage and Jealousy counsell'd me to kill him,
(Which then I could have done with much more Ease,
Than now, in Fear to grieve you, I dare speak it)
Love, seconded with Duty, boldly told me,
The Man I hated, fair Cleora favour'd;
And that was his Protection.

[Cleora bows.
Timand.
See, she bows
Her Head in Sign of Thankfulness.

Pisand.
He remov'd,
By th'Occasion of the War; my frantick Love
Prompted me to do something in his Absence
That might deliver you into my Power,
Which you see is effected; and even now,
When my rebellious Passions chide my Dulness,
And tell me how much I abuse my Fortunes,
Now 'tis in my Power to bear you hence,
[Cleora starts.
Or take my Wishes here, (nay, fear not, Madam,
True Love's a Servant, brutish Lust a Tyrant)
To me, without your Heart, your Beauty would be tasteless:
And tho' your Heart is far beyond my Hope,
Yet think it worth a Thought, at least, how truly
I have lov'd, (I cannot say deserv'd;
Since Duty must not take the Name of Merit)
So far, alas, I prize your Peace, before
All Blessings that my Hope can fashion to me,
That willingly I entertain Despair,
And for your Sake embrace it. For I know,
This Opportunity lost, by no Endeavour
The like can be recover'd. To conclude,
Forget not, that I lose myself to save you.
For what can I expect but Death and Torture,
The War being ended? And, what is a Task
Would trouble Hercules to undertake,
I do deny you to myself, to give you
A pure unspotted Present to my Rival.
I've said: If it distaste not, best of Virgins,
Reward my Temperance with some lawful Favour,
Tho' you contemn my Person.

[Cleora kneels, and offers her Hand to Pisander.
Timand.
See, she kneels,
And seems to call upon the Gods to pay
The Debt she owes your Virtue. To perform which,
As a sure Pledge of Friendship, she vouchsafes
Her Hand.

[Makes a low Courtsy, and goes off.
Pisand.
This pays for all my Suff'rings.
Now, when you please, pass to your private Chamber:
My Love and Duty, faithful Guards, shall keep you
From all Disturbance: And when you are sated
With thinking of Leosthenes, as a Fee
Due to my Service, spare one Sigh for me.

[Exeunt.
Enter Gracculo, leading Asotus in an Ape's Habit, with a Chain about his Neck.
Grac.
Come on, Sir.

Asot.
Oh!

Grac.
Do you grumble? You were ever
A Brainless Ass, but if this hold, I'll teach you
To come aloft, and do Tricks like an Ape.
Your Morning's Lesson! If you miss—

Asot.
O no, Sir!

Grac.
What for the Carthaginians?
[Makes Mouths, and chatters like a Monkey.
—A good Beast.
What for our Self, your Lord?
[Jumps over a Stick.
—Exceeding well.
Kiss your Paw—So, so, so.

Enter Zanthia in Corisco's Cloaths, beating her in.
Zant.
Was ever Lady, the first Day of her Honour,
So waited on by a wrinkled Crone? She looks now
Without her Painting, Curling, and Perfumes
Like the last Day of January—Farther off!
So—Stand there like an Image—If you stir,
'Till with a Quarter of a Look I call you,
You know what follows!

Coris.
O! what am I fall'n to?
But 'tis a Punishment for my Vanity and Pride
Justly return'd upon me.

Grac.
How do'st thou like
Thy Ladyship, Zanthia?

Zant.
Very well; and bear it
With as much State as your Lordship.

Grac.
Give me thy Hand:
Let us, like conqu'ring Romans, walk in Triumph,
Our Captives following. Then mount our Tribunals,
And make the Slaves our Footstools.

Zant.
Fine, by Jove!—
Are your Hands clean, Minion?

Coris.
Yes, forsooth.

Zant.
Fall off then.—
So—now come on; and having made your three Duties,
Down I say, (are you stiff in the Hams?) now kneel,
And tie our Shoe. Now kiss it and be happy.

Grac.
This is State indeed!

Zant.
It is such as she taught me;
A tickling Itch of Greatness, your proud Ladies
Expect from their poor Waiters: We have chang'd Parts;
She does what she forc'd me to do in her Reign,
And I must practise it in mine.

Grac.
'Tis Justice.
O here come more.

Enter Cimbrio, Cleon, Poliphron, and Olimpia.
Cimb.
Discover to a Drachma,
Or I will famish thee.

Cleon.
O! I am pin'd already.

Cimb.
Hunger shall force thee to cut off the Brawns
From thy Arms and Thighs, then broil them on the Coals
For Carbonadoes.

Poliph.
Spare the old Jade, he's founder'd.

Grac.
Cut his Throat then,
And hang him out for a Scare-Crow.

Poliph.
You have all your Wishes
In your Revenge, and I have mine. You see,
I use no Tyranny: When I was her Slave,
She kept me as a Sinner to lie at her Back
In frosty Nights, and fed me high with costly Dainties;
And in Requital of those Courtesies,
Having made one another free, I marry'd her;
And if you wish us Joy, join with us in
A Dance at our Wedding.

Grac.
Agreed; for I have thought of
A most triumphant one, which shall express, we are Lords, and these our Slaves.

Poliph.
But we shall want
A Woman.

Grac.
No, here's Jane of Apes shall serve—
Carry your Body swimming: Where's the Musick?

Poliph.
I've plac'd it in yon Window.

Grac.
Begin then sprightly.

[Dance.
Enter Pisander unseen.
Poliph.
Well done on all Sides. I have prepar'd a Banquet;
Let's drink and cool us.

Grac.
A good Motion.

Cimb.
Wait here—
You have been tir'd with Feasting, learn to fast now.

Grac.
I'll have an Apple for Jack, and may be some Scraps
May fall to your Share.

[Exeunt Gracculo, Zanthia, Cimbrio, Poliphron, Olimpia.
Coris.
Whom can we accuse
But our selves for what we suffer?
And Misery
Instructs me now, that Yesterday acknowledg'd
To Deity beyond my Luxury and Pride.
Now, miserable I, to please whose Palate
The Elements were ransack'd, yet complain'd
Of Nature, as not liberal enough,
In her Provision of Rarities,
To sooth my Taste, and pamper my proud Flesh,
Now wish in vain for Bread.

Cleon.
Yes, I do wish too
For what I fed my Dogs with.

Coris.
I that forgot
I was made of Flesh and Blood, and thought Silk
Too coarse to cloath me, and the softest Down
Too hard to sleep on; that disdain'd to look
On Vertue being in Rags;
And from those that serv'd me
Expected Adoration, am made justly
The Scorn of my own Bond-Woman!

Asot.
I am punish'd
For seeking to cuckold mine own natural Father.
Had I been gelded then, or bore my self
Like a Man, I had not been transform'd, and
Forc'd to play an over-grown Ape.

Cleon.
I know I can't last long,
That's all my Comfort: Come, I forgive both;
It is in vain to be angry; let us therefore
Lament together like Friends.

Pisan.
What a true Mirrour
Were this sad Spectacle for secure Greatness!
Here they that never see themselves, but in
The Glass of servile Flattery, might behold
The weak Foundation upon which they build
That trust in human Frailty. Happy are those
That knowing in their Births they are subject to
Uncertain Change, are still prepar'd and arm'd
For either Fortune. A rare Principle,
And with much Labour learn'd in Wisdom's School!
So these Wretches,
Swoln with the false Opinion of their Worth,
And proud of Blessings left them, not acquir'd,
That did believe they could with Giant-Arms
Fathom the Earth, and were above their Fates,
Those borrow'd Helps that did support them vanish'd,
Fall of themselves, and by unmanly Suff'ring
Betray their proper Weakness, and make known
Their Greatness was but lent 'em, not their own.

Cleon.
O! for some Meat, they sit long.

Coris.
We forgot,
When we drew out intemperate Feasts till Midnight,
Their Hunger was not thought on, nor their Watchings;
Nor did we hold our selves serv'd to the Height,
But when we did exact and force their Duties
Beyond their Strength and Power.

Asot.
We pay for't now:
I now could be content to have my Head
Broke with a Rib of Beef, or for a Coffin
Be bury'd in the Dripping Pan.

Enter Poliphron, Cimbrio, Gracculo, Zanthia, Olimpia, drunk and quarrelling.
Cimb.
Do not hold me:
Not kiss the Bride!

Poliph.
No, Sir.

Cimb.
She's a common Good;
And so we'll use her.

Grac.
We'll have nothing private.

Olimp.
Hold—

Zant.
Here, Marullo—

Olimp.
He's Chief.

Cimb.
We are Equals;
I will know no Obedience.

Grac.
Nor Superior.—

Poliph.
Nay, if you are Lion-drunk, I'll make one.

Pisan.
Art thou Mad too?
No more, as you respect me.

Poliph.
I obey, Sir.

Pisan.
Quarrel among your selves?

Cimb.
Yes, in our Wine, Sir,
And for our Wenches.

Grac.
How could we be Lords else?

Pisan.
Take heed, I have News will cool this Heat,
And make you remember what you were.

Cimb.
How?

Pisan.
Send off these,
And then I'll tell you.

[Zanthia beating Corisca.
Olimp.
This is Tyranny,
Now she offends not.

Zant.
'Tis for Exercise,
And to help Digestion: What is she good for else?
To me it was her Language.

Pisan.
Leave her off;
And take heed, Madam Minx, the Wheel may turn.
Go to your Meat and Rest, and from this Hour
Remember, He that is a Lord to Day,
May be a Slave to Morrow.

Cleon.
Good Morality!

[Exeunt Cleon, Asotus, Zanthia, Olimpia, Corisca.
Cimb.
But what would you impart?

Pisan.
What must invite you
To stand upon your Guard, and leave your Feasting;
Or but imagine what it is to be
Most miserable, and rest assur'd you are so.
Our Masters are victorious!

All.
How!

Pisan.
Within
A Days March of the City, flesh'd with Spoil,
And proud of Conquest, the Armado sunk,
The Carthaginian Admiral, Hand to Hand,
Slain by Leosthenes

Cimb.
I feel the Whip
Upon my Back already.

Grac.
Every Man
Seek a convenient Tree and hang himself.

Poliph.
Better die once, than live an Age to suffer
New Tortures every Hour.

Cimb.
Say, we submit,
And yield us to their Mercy?

Pisan.
Can you flatter
Your selves with such false Hopes? We have gone too far
To think now of retiring. In our Courage
And During lies our Safety; if you are not
Slaves in your abject Minds, as in your Fortunes,
Since to die is the worst, better expose
Our naked Breasts to their keen Swords, and sell
Our Lives with the most Advantage, than to trust
In a forestall'd Remission, or yield up
Thrice heated with Revenge.

Grac.
You led us on.

Cimb.
And, 'tis but Justice, you should bring us off.

Grac.
And we expect it.

Pisan.
Hear then, and obey me;
And I will either save you, or fall with you;
Man the Walls strongly, and make good the Ports,
Boldly deny their Entrance, and rip up
Your Grievances, and what compell'd you to
This desp'rate Course: If they disdain to hear
Of Composition, we have in our Pow'rs
Their aged Fathers, Children, and their Wives,
Who, to preserve themselves, must willingly
Make Intercession for us. 'Tis not Time now
To talk, but do. A glorious End or Freedom
Is now propos'd us; stand resolv'd for either,
Like Men born free, we'll live, or die together.

Omnes.
Ay, all die together.

[Exeunt.