i th Court. Mal I saue i th Court and how do's my olde muckhill ouerspread with fresh snow thou halfe a man halfe a goate al a beast how do's thy yong wife old huddle Biliâ— Out you improuident rascall Mal Doe kicke thou hugely hornd old Dukes Oxe good Master make-pleece Piet How doost thou liue now a daies Maleuolâ— Mal Why like the Knight S. Patrik Penlolians with killing a spiders for my Ladies Munkey Pie How doost spend the night I heare thou neuer sleep'st Mal O no but dreame the most fantasticall O heauen O fubbery fubbery Piet Dreame what dreamst Mal Why me thinkes I see that Signior pawn his foot-cloth that Metreza her Plate this madam takes phisicke that tother Meâ—â—siâ—ur may minister to her here is a Pander jeweld there is a fellow in shift of Satten this day that could not shift a shirt tother night heere a Paris supports that Hellen there 's a Lady Guineuer beares vp that sir Lancelâ—t Dreames dreames visions fantasies Chimeraes imaginations trickes conceits Sir Tristram Trimtram come a loft Iaâ—ke a napes with a whim wham heere 's a Knight of the land of Catitâ— shall play at trap with any page in Europe Do the sword-dance with any Morris dancer in Christendome ride at the Ring till the â—inne of his eyes looke as blew as the welkin and runne the wilde-goose chase â—uen with Pompey the huge Pie You runne Mal To the divell now Signor Guerchinâ— that thou from a most pittied prisoner shouldst grow a most loathd flatterer Alas poore Celso thy starr's opprest thou art an honest Lord t is pity Equa I st pitty Mal I marry i st philosophical Equato t' is pitty that thou being so excellent a scholler by art shouldst be so ridiculous a foole by nature I have a thing to tell you Duke biâ— vâ— auaunt bid vm auaunt Pietro Leaue vs leaue vs now sir what i st Exeunt all sauing Pietro and Maleuole Mal Duke thou art a Beco a Cornutâ— Piet How Mal Thou art a Cuckold Piet Speake vnshale him quicke Mal With most tumbler-like nimblenes Piet Who by whom I burst with desire Mal Mendoza is the man makes thee a hornd beastâ— Duke t' is Mendoza cornutes thee Piet What conformance relate short short Mal As a Lawyers beard There is an old Crone in the Court her name is Maquerelle She is my mistris sooth to say and she doth euer tell me Blirt a rime blirt a rime Maquerelle is a cunning bawde I am an honest villaine thy wife is a close drab and thou at 〈…〉 cuckold farewell Duke Piet Stay stay Mal Dull dull Duke can lazy patience make lame reuengâ— O God for a woman to make a man that which God neuer created neuer made Piet What did God never make Mal A cuckold To bee made a thing that 's hud-winkâ— with kindenesse whilst every rascall philips his browes to have a coxcombe with egregious hornes pind to a Lords backe euery page sporting himselfe with delightfull laughter whilst hee must be the last must know it Pistols and Poniards Pistols and Poniards Piet Death and damnation Mal Lightning and thunder Piet Vengeance and torture Mal Catzâ— Piet O revenge Mal Nay to select among ten thousand faires A Lady farre inferior to the most In faire proportion both of limbe and soule To take her from austerer check of parents To make her his by most deuoutfull rightes Make her commandresse of a better essence Then is the gorgious world even of a man To hug her with as rais'd an appetite As vsurers do their delv'd vp treasury Thinking none tells it but his private selfe To meete her spirit in a nimble kisse Distilling panting ardor to her hart True to her sheetes nay diets strong his blood To giue her height of Hymeneall sweetes Pie O God! Mal Whilst she lispes gives him some court quelquâ—â—hose Made onely to provoke not satiate And yet euen then the thaw of her delight Flowes from lewde heate of apprehension Onely from strange imaginations rankenes That formes the adulterers preâ—ence in her soule And makes her thinke she clips the â—oule knaâ—es loines Piet Affliction to my bloods roote Mal Nay thinke but thinke what may proceede of this Adultery is often the mother of iâ—cest Piet Incest Mal Yes incest marke Mendozâ— of his wife begets perchance a daughter Mendoâ—â— dieâ— His son marries this daughter Say you Nay t is frequent not onely probable but no question often acted whilst ignorance fearelesse ignorance claspes his owne seede Piet Hydeous imagination Mal Adultery why next to the sinne of Symony t' is the most horride transgression vnder the cope of saluation Piet Next to Simony Mal I next to Symony in which our men in next age shall not sinne Piet Not sinne Why Mal Because thankes to some church-men our age will leaue them nothing to sinne with But adultery O dulnes shue should exemplary punishment that intemperate bloods may freeze but to thinke it I would dam him and all his generation my owne hands should do it ha I would not trust heauen with my vengeance any thing Piet Any thing any thing Maleâ—ele thou shalt see instantly what temper my spirit holdes farewell remember I forget thee not farewell Exit Pietro Mal Farewell Leane thoughtfulnes a sallow meditation Sucke thy veines drie distemperance rob thy sleepe The hearts disquiet is revenge most deepe He that gets blood the life of flesh but spilles But he that breakes hearts peace the deare soule kills Well this disguise doth yet afford me that Which kings do seldome heare or great men vse Free speach and though my stat 's vsurpt Yet this affected straine giues me a tongue As fetterlesse as is an Emperours I may speake foolishly I knauishly Alwaies carelesly yet no one thinkes it fashion To poize my breath for he that laughs and strikes Is lightly felt or seldome strucke againe Duke I le torment thee now my iust reuenge From thee than crowne a richer jemme shall part Beneath God naught 's so deare as a calme heart SCENA QVARTA Enter Celso Celso My honor'd Lord. Mal Peace speake low peace O Celso constant Lord Thou to whose faith I onely rest disconered Thou one of full ten millions of men That louest vertue onely for it selfe Thou in whose hands old OPS may put her soule Behold for euer banisht Altâ—fronâ— This Genoas last yeares Duke O truly noble I wanted those old instruments of state Dissemblance and Suspect I could not time it Celso My throne stood like a point in middest of a circle To all of equall neerenes bore with none Raignd all alike so slept in fearelesse vertue Suspectlesse too suspectlesse till the croude Still liquorous of vntried nouelties Impatient with seuerer government Made strong with Florence banisht Altofronâ— Celso Strong with Florence I thence your mischiefe rose For when the daughter of the Florentine Was matched once with his Pietrâ— now Duke No stratagem
and yet they came by mee in the dark and yet I felt them not like a sencelesse creature as I was O beauties looke to your buske-pointes if not chastely yet charily be sure the doore bee bolted is your Lord gone to Florences Bean. Yes Maquarelle Maq. I hope you le finde the discretion to purchase a fresh gowne for his returne Now by my troth beauties I would ha ye once wiâ—e he loues ye pish he is wittie buble faire proportioned meaw nobly borne winde let this be still your fixt position esteeme me euery man according to his good gifts and so ye shall euer remaine most deare and most worthie to bee most deare Ladies Emi. Is the Duke returnd from hunting yet Maq. They say not yet Bean. T is now in midst of day Emil. How beares the Dutches with this blemish now Maq. Faith boldly strongly defies defame as one that haz a Duke to her father And there 's a note to you be sure of a stowt friend in a corner that may alwaies awe your husband Marke the hauior of the Dutâ—hes now she dares defame cries Duke do what thou canst I le quite mine honour nay as one confirmed in her owne vertue against ten thousand mouthes that mutter her disgrace shee 's presently for dances Enter Ferrard. Bean For dances Maq. Most true Emil. Most strange see heere 's my seruant young Ferrard how many seruants thinkst thou I haue Maquerelle Maq. The more the merrier t' was well said vse your seruants as you do your smockes haue many vse one and change often for that 's most sweete and courtlike Fer. Saue ye faire Ladies is the Duke returned Bean. Sweete sir no voice of him as yet in Court Fer. T is very strange Bean. And how like you my seruant Maquorelle Maq. I thinke he could hardely draw Vlisses bow but by my fidelitie were his nose narrower his eyes broader his hands thinner his lippes thicker his legges bigger his feete lesser his haire blacker and his teeth whiter he were a tollerable sweete youth yfaith And he will come to my chamber I will reade him the fortune of his beard Cornets sounde Fer. Not yet returnd I feare but The Dutches approcheth Enter Mendoza supporting the Dutchesse Guerino the Ladies that are on the stage rise Ferrard Vshers in the Dutches and then takes a Lady to treade a measure SCENA SECVNDA Aur. We will dance musicke we will dance Guer. Les quanto Ladie pensâ—s bien passaregis or Beanchâ—es brawle Aur. We haue forgot the brawle Fer. So soone t' is wonder Guer. Why t' is but two singles on the left two on the right three doubles forward a trauerse of six round do this twice three singles side galliard tricke of twentie curranto pace a figure of eight three singles broken downe come vp meete two doubles fall backe and then honour Aur. O Dedalus thy maze I haue quite forgot it Maq. Trust me so haue I sauing the falling backe and then honour Enter Prepasso Aur. Musicke musicke Pre. Who saw the Duke the Duke Enter Equato. Aur. Musicke Pre The Duke is the Duke returned Aur Musicke Enter Celso Cel The Duke is either quite inuisible or else is not Aur. Wee are not pleased with yoâ—r intrusion vppon our priuate retirement wee are not pleased you haue forgot your selues Enter a Page Celso Boy thy master where 's the Duke Page Alas I left him burying the earth with his spread ioylesse limbes he tolde me he was heauie would sleepe bid mee walke off for that the strength of fantasie oft made him talke in his dreames I straight obeied not euer saw him since but where so e're he is hee 's sad Aur. Musicke sound high as is our heart sound high SCENA TERTIA. Enter Maleuole and Pietro disguised like and Hermite Mal The Duke peace the Duke is dead Aur Musicke Mal Is 't musicke Men Giue proofe Fer How Cel Where Pre When Mal. Rest in peace as the Duke duz quietly sit for my owne part I beheld him but dead that 's all mary heere 's one can giue you a more particular account of him Men. Speake holy father nor let any browe within this \presence fright thee from the truth speake confidently freely Aur. We attend Pie Now had the mounting sunnes al-ripening wings Swept the cold sweat of night from earths danke breast When I whom men call â—â—ermite of the Rocke Forsooke my Cell and clamberd vp a cliffe Against whose Base the headie Neptune dasht His high cuâ—lde browes there t' was I easde my limbes When loe my entrailes melted with the moane Some one who farre boue me was climbde did make I shall offend Men Not. Aur On. Piet Me thinks I heare him yet O female faith Go sow the ingratefull sand and loue a woman And do I liâ—e to be the skoffe of men To be the wittall cuckold euen to hugge my poison Thou knowest O truth Sooner hard steelâ— will melt with Southerne winde A Sea-mans whistle calme the Ocean A towne on fire be extinct with teares Then women vow'd to blushlesse impudence With sweete behauiour and soft minioning Will turne from that where appetite is fixt O powerfull blood how thou doost slaue their soule I washt an Ethiope who for recompence Sullyde my name And must I then be forc'd To walke to liue thus blacke must must fie He that can beare with must he cannot die With that he sigh'd too passionately deepe That the Dull ayre euen groan'd at last he cries Smke shame in seas sinke deepe enough so dies For then I viewd his body fall and sowse Into the fomie maine O then I sâ—w That which me thinks I see it was the Duke Whom straight the nicer stomackt sea Belcht vp but then Mal. Then came I in but las all was too late For euen straight he sunke Pie Such was the Dukes sad fate Cel A better fortune to our Duke Mendoza Onanes Mendoza Cornets florish Enter a guard Men. A guard a guard we full of heartie teares For our good fathers losse For so we well may call him Who did beseech your loues for our succession Cannot so lightly ouer-iumpe his death To 〈◊〉 As leaue his woes reuengelesse * woman of shame We banish thee for euer to the plaâ—e From whence this good man comes Nor permit on death vnto the body any ornament But base as was thy life depart away Aur. Vngratefull Mendo. Away Aur. Villaine heare me Prepasâ—o and Guerino lead away the Dutches. Men. Be gone my Lords addresâ—e to publike counsell T' is most 〈◊〉 The traine of Fortune is borne vp by wit Away our presence shall be sudden haste All depart sauing Mendoza Maleuole and Pietro Mal. Now you egregious diuell ha ye murthering Polititian how doost Duke how doost looke now braue Duke yfaith Men. How did you kill him Mal. Slatted his braines oâ—t then sowft him in the brinie sea Men Braind him and drownd him too Mal. O t' was best sure worke For he that
stands for me the people pray for me and the great leader of the iust stands for me then courage Celso For no disastrous chance can euer moue him That leaueth nothing but a God aboue him Enter Prepasso and Bilioso two pages before them Maquar Beancha and Emilia Bil. Make roome there roome for the Ladies why gentlemen will not ye suffer the Ladies to be entred in the great chamber why gallants and you sir to droppe your Torch where the beauties must sit too Pre. And there 's a great fellow playes the knaue why dost not strâ—ke him Bil. Let him play the knaue a Gods name thinkst thou I haue no more wit then to strike a great fellow the musike more lights reueling scaffolds do you heare let there bee othes enow readie at the doore sweare out the diuell himself Le ts leaue the Ladies and go see if the Lords bee readie for them All saue the Ladies depart Maq. And by my troth Beauties why do you not put you into the fashion this is a stale cut you must come in fashion looke ye you must be all felt fealt and feather a fealt vpon your bare haire looke ye these tiring thinges are iustly out of request now and do ye heare you must weare falling bands you must come into the falling fashion there is such a deale a pinning these ruffes when the fine cleane fall is worth all and a gen if you should chance to take a nap in the afternoone your falling band requires no poting sticke to recouer his forme beleeue me no fashion to the falling I say Bean. And is not sinnior S. Andrew a gallant fellow now Maq. By my maiden-head la honour and he agrees aswell together as a satten sute and wollen stockings Emil. But is not Marshall Make-rome my seruant in reuersion a proper gentleman Maq. Yes in reuersion as he had his office as in truth he hath all things in reuersion hee haz his Mistris in reuersion his cloathes in reuersion his wit in reuersion and indeede is a suter to me for my dogge in reuersion but in good verity la he is as proper a gentleman in reuersion as and indeede as fine a man as may be hauing a red beard and a pair of wrapt legges Bean. But I saith I am most monstrously in loue with count Quidlibet in Quodlibet is he not a pretty dapper vnydle gallant Maq. He is euen one of the most busy fingered Lordes he will put the beauties to the squeake most hiddeously Bil Roome make a lane there the Duke is entringâ—stand handsomely for beauties sake take vp the Ladyes there So cornets cornets SCENA QVARTA Enter Prepasso ioynes to Bilioso two pages and lights Ferrard Mendozo at the other doore two pages with lights and the Captaine leading in Maria the Duke meetes Maria and clo seth with her the rest fall backe Men. Madam with gentle eare receiue my sute A kindomes safety should o're paize flight rites Marriage is meerely Natures policy Then since vnlesse our royall beds be ioynd Danger and ciuill tumult frights the state Be wise as you are fair giue way to fate Mar. What wouldst thou thou affiction to our house Thou euer diuell t was thou that banishedst my truely nobleLord Men I Mar. I by thy plottes by thy blacke stratagems Twelue Moones haue suffred change since I beheld The loued presence of my deerest Lord. O thou far worse than death he parts but soule From a weake body but thou soule from soule Disseuerest that which Gods owne hand did knit Thou scant of honor full of diuelish wit Men. Wee le checke your too intemperate lauishnesse I can will Mar. What Canst Men. Go to in banishment thy husband dies Mar. He euer is at home that 's euer wise Men. Youst neuer meete more reason should loue controuble Mar. Not meete Shee that deere loues her loue 's still in her soule Men You are but a woman Lady you must yeeld Mar. O saue me thou innated bashfulnes Thou onely ornament of womans modesty Men. Modesty Death I le torment thee Mar Do vrge all torments all afflictions trie I le die my Lords as long as I can die Mend. Thou obstinate thou shalt die Captaine that Ladies life is forteified to Iustice we haue axamined her And we do finde she hath impoysoned The reuerend Hermiâ— therefore we commaund Seuerest custodie Nay if you le dooes no good Youst dooes no harme a Tirants peace is bloud Mar. O thou art mercifull O gratious diuell Rather by much let me condemned be For seeming murder than be damn'd for thee I le mourne no more come girt my browes with floures Reuâ—l and daunce soule now thy wish thou hast Die like a Bride poore heart thou shalt die chast Enter Aurâ—lia in mourning habit Aur. Life is a frost of coulde felicitie And death the thaw of all our vanity Wast not an honest Priest that wrote so Men. Who let her in Bili. Forbeare Pre. Forbearâ— Aur Alas calamity is euery where Sad miserie dispight your double doores Will enter euen in court Bili. Peace Aur. I ha done one word take heede I ha done Enter Mercurie with lowde musicke Mer. Cillenian Mercurie the God of ghosts From gloomie shades that spread the lower coasts Calls soure high samed Genoan Dukes to come And make this presence their Elizium To passe away this high triumphall night With song and daunces courts more soft delight Aur. Are you God of ghosts I haue a sute depending in hell betwixt me and my conscience I would faine haue thee helpe me to an aduocate Bil. Mercurie shall be your lawyer Lady Aur. Nay faith Mercurie haz too good a face to be a right lawyer Pre. Peace forbeare Mercurie presents the maske Cornets The Song to the Cornets which playing the maske enters Maleuole Peâ—ro Ferneze and Celso in white robes with Dukes Crownes vpon lawrell wreathes pistolets and short swords vnder their robes Men. Celso Celso count Maria for our loue Lady be gratious yet grace * Mar. With me Sir Mal. Yes more loued then my breath With you I le dance Mar. Why then you dance with death But come Sir I was nere more apt to mirth Death giues eternity a glorious breath O to die honourd who would feare to die Mal. They die in feare who liue in villany Mend. Yes beleeue him Lady and be rulde by him * Pietro Madam with me Aur. Wouldst then be miserable Pietro I neede not wish Aur. O yet forbeare my hand away fly fly O seeke not her that onely seekes to die Pietro Poore loued soule Aur. What wouldst court misery Pietro Yes Aur. Shee le come too soone O my grieu'd heart Pietro Lady ha done ha done Come le ts dance be once from sorrow free Aur. Art a sad man Pietro Yes sweet Aur. Then wee le agree Ferneze takes Maquerelle and Celso Beancha then the Cornets sound the measure one change and rest Fer. Beleeue it Lady shall I sweare let me injoy you in
priuate and I le mary you by my soule Bean. I had rather you would sweare by your body I thinke that would proue the more regarded othe with you Fer. I le sweare by them both to please you Bean. O dam them not both to please me for Gods sake Fer. â—aâ—th sweet creature let me injoy you to night and I le mary you to morow fortnight by my troth la. Maq. On his troth la beleeue him not that kinde of cunnicaâ—ching is as stale as sir Oliuer Anchoues persumde ierken promise of matrimony by a yong gallant to bring a virgin Lady into a fooles paradise make her a great woman and then cast her off t is as common as naturall to a Courtier as ielosie to a Citizen gluttony ot a Puritan wisdome to an Alderman pride to a Tayler or an empty handbasket to one of these sixpeny damnations of his troth la beleeue him not traps to catch polecats Mal. Keepe your face constant let no suddaine passion speake in your eies Mar. O my Altofront Pietro A tyrants jelosies are very nimble you receiue it all Aur. My heart though not my knees doth vmbly fall Lowe as the earth to thee Pietro Peace next change no words Mar. Speach to such ay O what will affordes Cornets sound the measure ouer againe which danced they vnmaske Men. Maleuole They enuiron Mendozo bending their Pistolles on him Mal. No. Men. Altofront Duke Pietro Ferneze hah All. Duke Altofront Duke Altofront Cornets a florish Men. Are we surprizde what strange delusions moâ—ke Our sences do I dreame or haue I dreamt They seize vpon Mendozo This two dayes space where am I Mal. Where an arch-vilaine is Men. O lend me breath till I am fit to die For peace with heauen for your owne soules sake Vouchsafe me life Pietro Ignoble villaine whom neither heauen nor hell goodnesse of God or man could once make good Mal. Base treacherous wretch what grace canst thou expect That 〈◊〉 growne impudent in gracelâ—snesse Men. O life Mal. Slaue take thy life wert thou defenced through blood and woundes the sternest horror of a ciuell fight Would I atcheeue thee but prostrat at my feete Iscorne to hurt thee itis the heart of slaues That daines to triumph ouer peasants graues For such thou art since birth doth neere inrole A man mong monarkes but a glorious soule O I haue seene strange accidents of state The flatterer like the Iuy clip the Oke And wast it to the hart lust so confirm'd That the black act of sinne it selfe not shamd To be termde Courtship O they that are as great as be their sinnes Let them remember that th' inconstant people Loue many men meerely for their faces And outward shewes and they do couet more To haue a sight of these then of their vertues Yet thus much let the great ones still conceale When they obserue not Heauens imposd conditions They are no men but forfeit their commissions Maque. O good my Lord I have liued in the Court this twenty yeare they that haue beene olde Courtiers and come to liue in the Cittie they are spighted at and thrust to the wals like Apricokes good my Lord. Bili. My Lord I did know your Lordship in this disguise you heard me euer say if Altofront did returne I would stand for him besides t was your Lordships pleasure to call me Wittol and Cuckold you must not thinke but that I knew you I would haue put it vp so patiently § You ore-ioy'd spirits wipe your long wet eyes Hence with this man an Eagle takes not flies kicks out Mend. You to your vowes And thou vnto the suburbs To Maq. To Bilioso You to my worst frend I would hardly giue Thou art a perfect olde knaue all pleased liue You two vnto my breast thou to my hart To Maria. The rest of idle actors idly part And as for me I here asâ—ume my right To which I hope all 's pleasd to all goodnight Cornets a florish Exeunt omnes FINIS An imperfect Ode being but one staffe spoken by the Prologue TO wreast each hurtlesse thought to priuate sence Is the soule vse of ill bred Impudence Immâ—dest censure now growes wilde all ouer-running Let Innocence be nere so chast Yet at the last She is defild With too nice-brained cunning O you of fairer soule controule With an Herculean arme this harme And once teach all olde freedome of a pen Which still must write of fooles whilst writes of men 〈…〉 * Out of his chamber To Biliosâ— * To Prepasso * Fâ—rneze priuately â—eedes Maquerelles hands with iewells during this speech To Bilioso * to Bilioso Seeâ—â— to poysoâ—â— Maleuole Starts vp and speaks Maleuole takes his wife to daunce Pietro taks his wife Aurelia to daâ—ce To Beancha To Marâ—a Aurelia to Pietro * To Pietro Aurelia To Pietro Aurelia * To Celso the Captain