Nuns Among whose sweet society our Daughter During this War and tumult went to offer Her prayers for our deliverance I am in a storm and now must stand aside My desperate fate Horten. I hope shee 's not turn'd Nun Leo. I should not like it Vol. May not we visit the holy house 't is pitty so much Sweet flesh should be engros'd and barrell'd up With penitentiall pickle 'fore their time That would keep fresh and fair and make just work For their Confessions I do not like the women Should be cabled up Hor. I think so Vol. I would this Virgin would be peevish now Hor. Why so Volt. That we might ha' some sport among the Leverets For I would so inflame the Generall He were affronted that wee should have all Commission to work into the Warren Le. We do want a person here whose name is great I' th' Register of honor it would much Enlarge our present happiness to Embrace him Your Son the prince Honorio Duke 'T was his chance Upon a sally when your colours gave Us Invitation to the Field and spirited Our souldiers to receive a shot whose cure May excuse the want of his attendance sir Nor will I doubt his wounds are doubled by The thought he cannot wait upon your person Le. He should have honor'd us and made me proud To know whom so much fair desert hath made Dear in the voice and love of men but I Shall not despair to see him We want A limb of our own Army where is Signior Bertoldi that came with us to see Fashions I hope we have not lost him Horten. Sir I know not I fear hee 's slain Volt. He wo'not dy so nobly He 'l nere give up the ghost without a Fetherbed He vvas sick last night at the report vve vvere But three leagues off the Enemy and call'd For a hot caudle I that knevv his cold Disease perswaded him to drink which he Did fiercely as I could vvish in hope to see him Valiant and vvalk the round but quite against Nature his ague shook him more and all the Drink Which vvas the full proportion of a gallon Came out at 's forehead in faint svveat he had Not mov'd ten paces but he fell dovvn backward And swore he was shot with a cold bullet how They rould him like a Barrel back to his Tent For levers could not raise him to make use Of 's feet agen I know not nor since saw him Hort. I hope hee 's still asleep Volt. But when he wakes And finds the Army marcht away He dares not Go home agen alone how hee 'l venture O'r the dead bodies hither he has don 't Enter Bertoldi Ber. Where is the General Leo. Here comes our mirth Hort. A walking Armorie noble Signior Bertoldi Bertol. If you want Pikes or Muskets there I could Ha brought field peeces but I durst not venture My chine Leon. Where had you these Bert. Ask ask the men I kill'd if they deny A syllable I 'l forswear the Warrs Volt. He has disarm'd and rob'd the dead Hort. A coward has impudence to rob a Church Volt. He durst not take 'em from a man that had But so much life in him to gasp or grone That noise would fright him Hort. I rejoyce Signior y' are safe come home Bert. I would I were at home and you get me Among your Guns agen how i st Volterino Enter Flaviano Volt. This news wil much exalt your Mothers heart Leon. He is return'd but with a melancholy face Where is the Princess Du. Where is our Daughter Flav. Where her devotion I fear will make This Dukedome most unhappy if your virtue Exceed not what is read in other Princes It was my fear that place and conversation Would mortifie too much that active heat Should wait on the desires of high-born Ladies Leon. The mystery Volt. Do not you find it they have nunnified her Flav. Sir your pardon She whom first fear and fright of War perswaded To joyn her prayer and person with the Virgins In the religious Cloyster by what art Or holy magick won is now resolv'd Leon. What hath she vow'd Flau. Untill a year be finished By revolution of the dayes great guide Not to forsake the Nunnery but spend Her hours in thankfull prayers to Heauen for this Great victory Volt. So so It will come to the battery I talk'd on Duke It cannot be Leo. It must not be Volt. I am of that opinion my Lord It must not be this is a stratagem Flau. She humbly praies you would interpret this No breach of filiall piety nor your Highness a will to wrong so great a merit As hath engag'd all fortunes here and lives To bleed for you but weigh in your best charity That duties are first paid to Heaven the spring And preservation of what makes us happy And she is confident when you consider Leon. How much my honor suffers to imploy The strength I have to punish this affront Bert. A pox upon 't we shall ha' more fighting now Duke I hope you have no thought of any practice Here to deserve that language Volt. Y' are abus'd Leon. If you be her Father sir I must expect What did ingage me hither and without Delayes or leave this City in a flame Bert. More Fire-works Leon. In whose Ashes I will bury this foul ingratitude Duke We are ruin'd all Bert. There is not so much danger to be put In Rank and File with Pye-meat in an Oven If a man were certaine to come out agen Dow-bak'd Leon. Yet stay I have considered I may have leave to see this Frozen Lady Duke We are more undone Flav. Your person may prevail sir And by some better charm gain her consent Or if you please not to ingage your self Upon the trouble of a hasty visit The presence of her Father and what else We can prepare to keep your smile upon us Shall be inforc'd to clear how much we aim At the perfection of your wishes Bert. So so Leon Prospen Flav. I have now courage sir to serve your will And am o' th' sudden confident Leon. It pleases Exit Leon Duke It is impossible Flav. Promise any thing In such a strait and not despair to effect it Be private men content with their poor Fathom Since Heauen we limit not why should not Kings Next Gods perform the second mighty things Your ear Exit ACT II. Enter Flaviano and Abbesse with a Letter Flav. YOu will obey the Dukes command Abbes. Good Princes Punish not teach us sacrilege I 'l obey A thousand sufferings ere such a rape Flav. A rape Abbesse Of honor Honesty Religion I am plac'd here to preserve and not betray The Innocent should I instead of prayer Chast life the holyness of vow of discipline With those austerities that keep wild blood In calm obedience now begin to teach Soul-murdering liberty the breach of all Was promis'd Heaven Flav. Wy' Madam you mistake We ask no Virgin to turn Whore we
take Some physick too Sir every thing will help Would I were whipt my Lord Me. Whipt with a vengeance Pe. But I am griev'd For your vexation and my scurvey fortune But if there be a wench a witch a medicine Above ground that can give me any charm Your Grace shall hear no more on 't So your pardon And now my Lord let your unworthy servant Have leave to ask one question does not your Grace Suspect me monstrously nay d' ee not think I do presume too much upon your fears And that the knowledge of this Secret makes Me bold and sawcy my good Lord Me. 'T is all too true but 't is not in my brain To help 't unless I take some course to kill thee Pe. How Me. I fear I shall be driven to 't one fit Like this will work my impatience up look to 't Pe. Why then I 'll tel your Grace an easie way To remove all your jealousie and never Trouble your brain with study how to kil me A most compendious way Me. I would I knew it Pe. 'T is but my going to the Court my Lord And if you be not cur'd within an hour After I have told the King a story how Your wife the Dutchess lost I ha' done Fear nothing Enter Lord Lo. Is not Prince Carlo here Me. Not here my Lord Lo. 'T is the Kings pleasure you attend him presently Your daughters presence is expected too Among the Ladies for the entertainment Of Princess Isabella new arriv'd the Court Me. We humbly wait to kiss his hand Pe. Shall I attend Me. I am resolv'd now not to sleep without thee And in the day I 'll look upon thee Pedro As thou wert my great Seal and I thy keeper Pe. Yet I may give you a slip Me. We 'll to Clara The Princess Isabella come so private ha Pedro Pe. I am here my Lord Exeunt Enter Manuel Ma. This is the place by his commands to meet in It has a sad and fatall invitation A Hermit that forsakes the world for prayer And solitude would be timorous to live here There 's not a spray for birds to perch upon For every tree that over-looks the vale Carries the mark of lightning and is blasted The day which smil'd as I came forth and spread Fair beams about has taken a deep melancholy That fits more ominous in her face than night All darkness is less horrid than half light Never was such a scene for death presented And there 's a ragged mountain peeping over VVith many heads seeming to crowd themselves Spectators of some Tragedy but I 'll Prevent 'em all though my obedience Instructed me to wait here it shall not Be brib'd to draw my sword against the Prince And in his honor I am safe how e'r This sense of Clara's loss transport him 't is not VVithin his nature to be impious And if I gain his friendship I return VVith triumph to my Clara Within help help Enter Prince Carlo's Page Pa. Oh help Don Manuel help for heavens sake Ma. Celio the Princes page where is the Prince Pa. Oh Sir I fear he 's slain Ma. By whom Pa. The Devill or one not very much unlike him A More that basely set upon him sure He has dispatcht the Prince he persues me And if he have Death shall be welcome to me For I am not fit to live and lose my Master He 's here and his sword bloudy Enter Carlo like a More Ma. Villain were all thy bloud rivers of balm Or such a floud as would restore a life To the departed World it should be all A sacrifice to Carlo They fight Pa Hold hold Don Manuell Ma. Canst thou be mercifull to the Princes Murderer Pa. Curse on my Duty to obey so far My Lord the Prince is slain you are wounded too Ma. The Prince Car. Don Manuell I forgive thee Ma. Pray Heaven this be a Dream for if my hand Have been so much a Traitour it shall call No other aid in your revenge Are you Prince Carlo Car. I was Ma. That voyce shall be my sentence Car. Hold I charge thee by thy honour Manuell Ma. Why did you wear this black upon you Sir Or how could art of man contrive a Cloud Which this Soul had no eyes to penetrate Car. I knew thou wouldst not fight against me knowingly And if I fell I meant it to secure Thy act from punishment when in this darkness I took my leave o' th' World onely that boy Whom I compel'd to feign me wounded so To make thee draw thy sword but with my bloud I feel my spirits vanish if I have but breath enough I send by thee a kiss To thy own Clara now Ma. Oh help good boy For 't is no time to curse thee now my horse Is not far off this scarf may stay his bleeding Untill we meet with better Surgerie Now Heaven reprieve my strength but to convey him To some good place and I resign my self To all the justice you will call me to Exit Enter King Mendoza Roderigo Antonio Pedro Lord Ki. Y' are all but my tormentors where 's Piraecquo Enter Piracquo Ro. His son is absent too Pir. Have comfort Sir An. Our neglect is lost in the Generall Cause What doe you think my Lord Mendoza Men. This no news of the Prince is not so comfortable Enter 1 Lord Ki. The news you bring Lo. Unless he had left the Kingdom Ki. Be dumb and he had left the World Your cares might have persued him if he Return not you have murdred him Ro. My Stars are now At work in Heaven their influence is powerful I will adore the Sun if it dissolve not This mist in which the Prince is lost I am Content thou be a Constellation Carlo In any Sphere but this Enter a Messenger with a Letter to Piracquo Pir. To me 't is Manuel's character Lo. Unless we hear some good news of the Prince I fear we lose the King too An. 'T is strange none should attend him but his Page Ro. I fear some plot is practis'd 'gainst his life But dare not speak 2 Lo. That 's it distracts the King Whose fears are helpt by a sad dream he had Last night Ro. My Lord Piracquo's son is missing too Pi. Comfort your self till my return I 'll find 'em or ne'r see your face agen Ki. Well said Piracquo all my prayers go with thee Me. Pedro Exit Pir. Pe. My Lord Me. I know not what to say but stand Before they may not see me weep Pe. Sir I must confess Me. Ha! Confess Pe. You are still suspicious have a true heart And let your conscience look less abroad Sir If he be dead your trouble 's over Sir We must all dye Death has his severall waies And times to take us off some expire humbly I' th' Cradle some dismist upon a Scaffold Enter Isabella Maria Clara Me. Come hither doe not name a Scaffold I Was innocent thou knowst the plot was all My Ladies and not
learn'd simplicity and truth You are a Prince and in your Creation But one degree from Angels strive to rise That one round higher and y' are perfect I am By my good Fathers leave and the sweet rules Of this Religious order now i' th' way To meet another Bridegroom before whom While you stand a competitor you fall To Atomes sir my love is planted here And I have made a vow which your own charity Will bid me not to violate your triumph Being the spring of my imperfect duty That for a year I 'l spend my time among This happy Quire to offer up my Prayers And humble gratitude to Heaven a weak Oblation for our safeties Flav. Ha how 's this Leon. My Lord did you not say you had prevail'd What mockery is this Flav. I am undone What does the Gipsey mean shee 'l betray all Most excellent Madam Iu. Oh my Lord imploy Your counsell to advance not Kill our Virtue Remember where and what I am Flav. So so Volt. Sir will you suffer this a new affront Iulia I am resolv'd To live and pay you better tribute here For your affection and unequal'd service Here no distraction will afflict my prayers Which trust me I will offer chastly for you At every hour of my devotion 'T is you next Heaven that gave this blessing to us To meet and in the holy Quire breath up Our sacred Hymes while Angells Eccho to us And Heaven delighted with our harmony Opening her azure curtaines will present us A vision of all the joyes we pray and hope for Flav. This my instructions Iulia O think my Lord To what a loss of Heaven your love invites me Yet let me not be thought while I pretend The choice and sweetness of a Recluse I Should in a thought accuse your worth who are The man of all the World I most could fancie If I be seen to blush make it no sin I know it is but honourable love Wings your desire and that which should prefer you Is merit of your Sword that cut our way To freedom and soft peace Religions Pillow The Nurse of Science and the generall blessing You have a title yet more strong pleads for you The contract and the promise of a Prince A chain with many Links of Adamant Duke I like not that Iuli. To bind and make me yours When I have nam'd these severall interests And look upon my self so short of merit I chide your unkind destiny at such Expence of honor to go off unsatisfied And quickly should despise my self the cause Of your distast but that my vow confirms me And mustring up Religious thoughts prevailes Above my other will made to obey you T is but a year my Lord that I have bound My self this exile Leon. T is an age Iuli. But while Time hath one minute in his Glass of that Nothing shall take me hence unless you bring An impious strength upon this holy dwelling And force me from my cell but you are far From such a sacrilege oh think not on it I 'l place you in my heart while you are virtuous But such an Act might lose those noble thoughts Of you I wish preserv'd but I offend And am too large in this unwelcome argument May wisdom guide your Princely thoughts Whilst I return to pray for you Flav. She has orethrown all Volt. Sir if you love her she Hath taught you a cunning way to make her yours This habit is compel'd a little force For form will disingage her she does love you And pleaded hansomely against her self Leon. No more I 'l not despair yet of your Daughter This is but Virgin nicety at the next Meeting she may incline to smile upon me Shee 's too much treasure to be won at first Assault Volterino Exit Leon Volt. Hort Duke Flaviano Flav. I did expect a storm Duke We are not safe yet Flav. I wonder why Iuliana kept not promise The Dog-dayes thaw her chastity I 'm mad Oh for some stratagem to save all yet But you Sir give me leave to say are timorous Princes should fix in their resolves your conscience Should be as subject to your will as I am Duke I must confess Flaviano I had No fancy to Iulianas mariage Flav. That was all my hope how could I love the man Durst kill him now Duke I shudder what noise is that Flav. These horrors will eternally affright us Enter Leon Bert. Volterino Hortensio with swords drawn Leo. The man that dares be guilty of least Insolence To any Virgin dyes Exeunt Leon Volt. Horten Ber. My hopes are nipt I thought to have tasted Nuns flesh but the General has made it fasting day Ex. Flav. I hope he means to force away Iuliana Ha they attempt it prosper 'em deer fate Blest beyond expectation Duke Dost think We shall be safe Enter Leonato Iuliana in her habit Volterino Hortensio Leon. Injoy the other benefit of my Sword In peace this shall be mine Exit Leon Iul. Vol. Hort. Flav. The stars dote on us Enter Honorio and Claudio Hon. VVhat unexpected tumults fright the City Du. You are too bold upon your wound Honorio To come abroad Flav. The Prince has stoln your Sister From the Nunnery Hono. He dares not Blemish his honor so though he deserv'd her And all our lives should she be obstinate Flav. T is done Honor. This Act shall lose him death upon The Surgeon that hath dallied with my wounds But I 'l revenge this rape Duke Look to the Prince Exit Flav. I could adore my destiny the wench sure Meant to be ravish'd thus I kiss thy policy This chance hath made a dancing in my blood While sin thrives t is too early to be good Exeunt ACT III Enter Antonio and Fioretta Fior. IS this Ferraras Court Anto Yes Madam Fior. I will not yet discover I shall find A time Antonio to reward thy faith And service to me Enter Donabella Florelia Ladies Anto. Here are Ladies Madam Dona. I have a great desire to see this wonder The Princess Fioretta so much fam'd For beauty Flor. Comes she with his Excellence Do. Most certainly so speaks the Prince Leonato's My Brothers Letters and that with some difficulty He gaind her from the Nunnery Flor. Who is this Don. She has an excellent shape some stranger Prethee Florelia ask Anto. This Lady Madam Seems to make some address this way I know not Upon what Jealousie my Lady left aside Placentia so privatly where she Was entertain'd by Flavianos Mother Though old a Lady of no decrepit brain Fior. Antonio Flor. A Lady Madam calls her self Lauriana Born in Placentia but the Warrs affrighting Both Mantua and the confines she came hither With confidence of safety till the storm At home be over Dona. It is not fit a person of your quality And presence should be ingag'd to common persons And if I may entreat you shall consent To be my guest at Court which will be proud To entertain such beauty Fior. It must
rather say thou hast mistook it is Some other Clara and not the Lady I understand Man Life cannot bribe me with another wealth Or death with all his horrours make me desert That name Car. What a strange Sea-breach has This little storm of breath made here allready I was taking pains to unconcern the jealousie Of Antonio and find him my own Rivall Thou hadst been kinder to have lov'd Maria My Sister though Antonio had sworn Thy death and the Kings anger with my own Had met thee like a torrent than presum'd This interest in Clara Man I see no Such mighty danger in 't Car. I 'll tell thee Manuel Thou hast invaded all my joys I love her Man Honor forbid it Sir Car. Honor 's a dream And a cold everlasting sleep must chain My soul up for if once it wake and know What thou hast torn from 't it will vex it self Into a flame and turn thee into ashes Ma. Never til now unhappy with my weight I see my self now bearing down before me A rotten part of some prodigious mountain Into the sea with which I shall soon mingle Ca. Collect thy self betimes and give her back Unsullied with thy clame release thy own And with her every thought as much a virgin As her soul was when first I courted her Or thou art lost Man With greater justice Sir Command to uncreate my self as call My faith or heart agen Ca. How Man Sir my life The cement that doth hold this frame together You have power to melt or but command my exile And I may live far off and be forgotten By all but Clara but to ask that back Which with the full consent of heaven I gave her And in exchange receiv'd her equall vow I dare not or if I had will to be So false to honour 't is within my heart So rivetted I may with as much innocence Commit a rape or murder as attempt it Ca. You have no doubt a valour too that dare Love with so fierce a resolution Man When I am master of my sword I dare Not draw it against you but he that lives Beneath you may have little time to wish Himself unmade that would divorce us Car. Leave me leave me Ex. Man How many lones are shaken with one tempest And if one suffer ruin'd all I know The faith he bears me and the reverence He gives my blood will never be provok'd To fight against my person but I must not By tameness give my self a publike wound He shall be master of his sword and freedom And then let fate determine Clara must Be mine or make a Bridegroom of his dust Exit ACT. III Enter Gentlemen of Prince Antonio preparing a Banquet S 1. PRince Carlo 's not come yet 2. My Lord Piracquo And his son Manuel are expected too 1. I wonder at this hasty reconcilement We did imagine it as possible The two Poles should have met as they together Friends at a Banquet 2. In my opinion peace and wine and musick Are more convenient for the naturall body Than swords or guns 1. And for the politick too If men were but so wise to like and cherish Their own estates If I had all the Plate In the Indies I 'd not give a silver spoon To have my head cut off 2. Why is not the great Duke Roderigo here 1. Who the Kings Evil Genius he was Invited but excus'd himself 2. Why there 's A Statesman that can side with every faction And yet most subtly can untwist himself When he hath wrought the business up to danger He lives within a labyrinth some think He deals with the devil and he looks like one With a more Holiday face 1. But he hath so behav'd himself That no man now dare much confide in him They are come Enter Antonio Carlo Piracquo Manuel An. Don Manuel the Prince hath made me know My error and your worth Ma. He has too much honor'd me And you have reason to command for this The service of my life An. You are not pleasant Sir My Lord Piracquo Pi. Your Highness humble servant Car. All is not Reconcil'd here I but suppress a flame To give it vent more dangerous An. A free welcom to all Sit and some wine this Musick is not Sprightly enough To his Majesty of Spain Pi. He that doth pledg the Kings health with a murmur May his next thirst inflame him to drink poyson Car. The King hath a true servant in Piracquo Man He that is not had never sense of honor And may he perish all but soul that dares Harbour a thought disloyall To your Highness An. Give me another This wine looks cheerful as my heart to drink The Princess fair Maria's health Car. My turn Will come Sir to be gratefull An. Here my Lord Pi. May swift time perfect by your sacred Loves The happiness of both kingdoms Man May that day That seals your glorious Hymen Sir be ever Holy within our Calendar and beget A faith that all things then begun may prosper An. I thank thee Manuel Car. Sir you may Believe Don Manuel's language and his heart Are twins they bear one date of time sense You must now give me leave Sir to requite You in part A health to the King of Portugal Let it move this way Manuel Ma. It shall With humble thoughts be entertain'd you honor me Pi. It is but Justice Manuel for when Spain Would not acknowledge nor allow us being Our lives were welcome there till better stars Sent him to whose bounty we ow all that 's left us Car. No more o'th at my Lord I am very confident In any honorable cause you dare Express your faith to me and for your son We two have been companions I dare say Our hearts are toucht by one Magnetick virtue And such a sympathy I cannot wish What 's dearest to me but he flies t' embrace it Ma. I like not this Car. Manuel begin a health We have had my Sisters and the Kings already Name your own Mistris for the next Ma. I should conclude her worthy of remembrance If one were first preferr'd Will your Grace please Sir To let me have the honor An. Come to me Ma. To the white hand of fairest Isabella An. Would she were Present to thank you Manuel Car. 'T is an affront as Clara were his own Allready ha civilitie and honor Prescribe me patience dares he insult When this hath had the ceremony Manuel 'T shall be my office to remember Clara I must have time to quit the favour Sir Y 'ave done my Mistris in your ear though I Was pleased to reconcile you to the Prince And order your enlargement Clara must Be mine or one of us be nothing you May think on 't yet Ma. I have Sir and to shew How much I can obey and that I have not Intruded like a thief upon your treasure And filcht her heart away 't is now within Her choice agen if you prevail upon Her kinder thoughts