THE POOR-MANS COMFORT A Tragi-Comedy As it was divers times Acted at the Cock-pit in Drury lane with great applause Written by ROBERT DAUBORNE Master of Arts LONDON Printed for Rob Pollard at Ben-Jonsons head behinde the Exchange and John Sweeting at the Angel in Popes-head Alley 1655. The Persons of the Play FErdinand King of Thessaly Sigismund his sonne Oswell the Rebell Senators Vincentio Silenus Leonardo Glistar Lucius a Noble man of Thessaly fled into Arcadia when the King was overthrowne and disguiz'd under the name of Lisander husband of Vrania Courtiers Jaspero Littigo Gisbert the poor man a Shepheard Cosmo a rich Shepheard Surdo his Son the Clown Lisippus an honest Shepheard Alexis his sonne Catzo the foole the Prince his man Adelizia daughter to the King of Sicily Vrania the faire Shepheardess daughter to Gisbert after servant to Flavia disguised under the name of Castadora Mrs Gullman a bawd Flavia her daughter a Whore The Scene Thessaly The Prologue IF in this present thriving age A poore man may become the Stage Or if abused Charity And honest minded poverty May please or if bad men ingrate And strumpets foule adulterate So whipt and punisht for their crimes At once may like and teach the times We have our •ymes so to your sight The poore man offers up his mite Per E. M. The POOR-MANS COMFORT ACT. I. Enter Lucius and Vrania Luc. STay fair Vrania thou whose only beautie Would make a desert rich and force Kings leave Their purple thrones to come and gaze at thee Lisander craves thee stay he that does dote on thee More then the female on her new faln kid Vra. You should be still a flatterer by your tongue Luc. By all my hopes I swear returne my love But that fair grace it merits and on my faith A tryal beyond which the covetous thought Of man nere went I le undergoe And in the Achievement lose my self ere thee Vra. You overvalue me were I possest Of so high passions what you terme love Alexis equal suit should sooner move Then you whose birth is all unknown to me Luc. Ungentle maid let not thy cruelty Force me despair he that so oft has song And won the prize for dance and roundelayes He that has vowed his chast thoughts to thy shrine Given thee the tender firstlings of his flocks Who amongst the fairest Lasses of the plains Chose thee his prize when at the publick games He crown'd thee with the wreath which for his merit In songs and active sports he did inherit From the deserving swaines Do not forget My seven years service which to attain thee yet Would seem but as one Summers day Vra. You are too forward Luc. True love does charge and that fault lay on me Oh did thy yeelding heart feel but the fires Vra. Alas I feel too much in modesty forbear Thy violent suit which breeds suspect true love being ever mute When lust findes means to speak Luc. Command thou cruell maid this heart to break Which only words give life to Vra. Nay then I flie thee or else I shall not know Luc. How to denie me Oh! speak that word once more Vra. Will you inforce my love Luc. Rather then live stay but and hear my vow Enter Gisbert Gisb. Whom ha we here Lysander and my daughter got so near Where two such chast brests meet I need not fear Some earnest suit belike were it her love He merits it she cannot but approve His worth and person fitter for a State Then the imployment of so low a fate Vra. Oh do not wrong me so Luc. I do appeal to you who well do know The loyall service These seven winters past Have stood impartial witnesse if I have gain'd Least happinesse in ought but might expresse My constant labour Have I in excesse My Masters store consum'd or rob'd his flocks To serve a private riot have I not born the shock Of sharpest stormes to drive my weary herd To place of shelter did the Sun behold The d•wie plains before me or the dayes heat Force me unto the shade did the rob'd Females bleat For losse of tender young whilst sleep possest My sloathfull eye by ravenous wolves opprest Or time-observing fox If to make known A gratefull mind I have so well begun Oh! think how happy by enjoying thee The period of my lingering pains would be Gisb. Thou speakest most true These tears that speak my love do witnesse it Vra. You well have told how much we do forget Your labours Sir For my part I confesse You merit much nor am I pitilesse Speak to my Father he esteems you high I am only his if he shall not denie That equal •uit I know not what should want Beshrow my tongue how ready t is to grant You might in time prevail Sir only so Gisb. No word so hard in a maids mouth as No Luc Oh! let me stay thee yet to crown this hour With stiles of Happinesse and by it place In memorie this curse if ever I embrace Another love if ever I forget The pity shown me in distresse then let My fate run backward let no good attend My present being other then in the end To make my misery greater may I obtain Contempt from thence where most I do affect Gisb. Thou art to blame to make such deep protests I le be thy gage unto my daughter say Vrania Wo't take my word believe it girle he loves thee If he prove false lay all the blame on me Luc. You oppresse me Sir with this high curtesie Is' t not sufficient that you gave relief Unto my fainting life when torne with grief My sad fate forc'd me hither which dispossest True virtue of his crown and low deprest The Kingly Ferdinand making sad way To the usurping Tyrant who now sits High in the Sicilian bloud Is' t not enough Your pity gave me being but to add more Unto my feeble merit my heart you had before And beyond that I have not which with the acknowledgment Of love and duty shall be the annuall rent I le make just payment of Gisb. I credit thee so well that what is mine My flocks lodge and Vrania all is thine This day I will possesse thee of them and retire My weary thoughts from covetous desire Of this uncertain good and only spend My houres in thanks and payers that ere my end So great a good befell me I tell thee son I only be thy beadsman and return On thee and thine as payment for my board unnumbred blessings Luc. Alas Sir you afford Deeds beyond words which makes me find my self A banquerout ere set up such interest your love exacts Enter Cosmo Licippus Surdo Alexis Gisb. I am sufficient blest injoying such a son and so in happy time Cosmo and Licippus they shall be witnesses unto the contract and my performance Cosm. Yonder he is boy and thou canst put on a good fate she 's thine own boy let me alone to work her father Surd. I had
name Gilm His name is Lucius this day he is to be made a Senator has been seven years in the warres amongst the Turks and killed Iove knows how many and now he swears bloudily he loves none but my daughter Vra. A bloudy oath indeed my heart doth make it good His cruelty will cost mine and an old man blood Gulm. We do you sigh so are you in love Vra. I have small cause forsooth Gulm. It 's an unprofitable disease indeed it gives that to one would serve many and those that are men of fashion too You shall have gallant upon gallant here none of your thirteen pence halspenny jacks if you have grace you may rise for the worst here comes a horse back Vra. Has my Mistresse more Sutors then this Lucius here Gulm. We had weak doings else Good shopkeepers have wares of all sorts some for shew and some for fashion and yet to speak truth he doth well for both his countenance keeps the painted staffe in awe and saves us many a fair bribe besides my daughter makes him come off at her pleasure and yet it is not one winde can keep her Mill a going one of these dayes she 'l turne him off to thee if thou please her well thou mayest have him in reversion Vra. I should have Had I my right but t is too great a happinesse for me so much unworthy Lisander a poor shepheard was my husband and would he had been so still forgive me Lucius t is my love that wrongs thee and here he comes And had I but mine own Those happy Armes might 'bout my waste be throwne Enter Lucius and Flovi• Luc. I know no reason for 't and yet my heart Seems to proclaime some sadnesse I would This day were ore Flav. I could be more merry now and yet I have had a heavy night on 't too Vra. Would I had eas'd you of your burthen Flav. How melancholy you are Sir I believe you have an other Love hie ho the very thought of it Luc. I prethee do not wrong my faith so much by my hopes till I beheld thy face I knew not what love was by this I did not Vra. Thou art perjured then and yet thy vow 's nothing T is a false book thou tak'st thine oath on Gulm. T is early morning Sir walke one turne more in the back side stirring will get you a stomach Do you begin to weep already we shall have a day on 't then no sooner is your back turned but here is sigh upon sigh her heart goes in her pulses and beats pit a pat pat pit a pat pat till the teares trickle down again never was young Gentlewoman so overborne with affection heaven give her good on 't if you should leave her in the suds now Luc. Time shall be false to truth first come I shall be angry with you come prethee smile upon me Love Vra. I could shed tears might they be so tain off Enter Surdo Surd. Soho Mris. Gullman I have been knocking below till my heart•ake Where is my Lord Luc. Your businesse Sir Surd. My businesse nay that 's done Sir the Senat has staid for you any time this half hour Flav. Thou wrong'st me friend to rob me of my Love Sweet Lucius thou shalt not part from me Luc. My honour doth inforce me to it by this diamond I will not stay a minute longer then necessity constrains me Gulm. This Gentleman protests most nakedly upon such an oath I le believe any man Surd. By this French crown I le be with that new gentlewoman Will you believe me now Gulm. I le talk with you upon the premises Surd. This is the arrantest ba•d in Christendome my Master like a Gull lies tiring upon a Ringtail whilst I am at varietie of fresh tame sowle T is the bravest life since I turn'd Courier I do nothing but drink whore and sleep Will you be going Sir Flav. You shall hear her sing first in troth you shall Luc. Have you a good voice Castadora Vra. A sad voice Sir Flav. I le ha' you sing a merry song I am a maid and I cannot mend it Vra. I have no variety I can sing but one song Luc. Let 's have that What 's the subject Vra. T is of a haplesse shepheardesse forsaken by her false Lover Luc. T is too sad I do not like it Vra. I would you did not I might sing merrily then Surd. This wench has been with a Conjurer I hold my life She knowes all my Lords knavery Luc. This day is ominous I fear farewell till night we part No hell but in an absent Lovers heart Ex. Vra. That proves thy crueltie That sufferest mine so long in hell to be Gulm. Cannot you perswade him Surd. He 's troubled with the great mans ill cannot indure to hear of his faults you 'l remember me I have left a familiar token with you The French thing you wot on Ex. Gulm. Be confident is he gone Flav. Hang him Gull I am as weary of him as of a feaver but see here come Jaspero my dearest Lover Vra. Monster of women Enter Jaspero Ias. I cannot stay with you beauty I only come to give you the maidenhead of my new clothes you are for the show Flav. The new upstart Lord would ha' provided me a standing but I took an order with him before he went Gulm. We can ha' standings there without his providing I ha' been put in ere now in the lobby when my betters have stood bare before me and have had many a sweet bit out of the pasterie and out of the pantry too they are as kind men Iasp. I believe Madam you are welcome Fair what Gentlewoman's this Gulm. A poor Virgin wants help heaven send it her Iasp. When shal 's come to the breaking up of this Giblet pie When will thy love be out of the way Flav. Hang him Hornpipe a small mist puts out his eyes When you will Gulm. Though he should see what cannot we perswade Man was asleep when womans brain was made Ex. Vra. Immodest straine• of womanhood Did ever Poor Creature• fall upon so hard fortune What misery can belong to her hath seen Her aged Father turn'd to beggery Laden with contempt his silver haires prest down With the same weight Life I am weary of thee I le flatter thee no longer my Lucius hand Shall force thee from me if he deny this good By violent hand to shed my hated blood A word of his shall do 't I le only hear him speak Once more deny'd I know my heart will break Ex. Enter Gisbert Gisb. This is the Court sure whose eminence proclaimes Fair Justice seat is here who sits on high That no man suspect partiality Here in rich purple clad her followers goe Each man for his desert and not for show The oppressed poor mans advocate whose unfeed tongues Turn willing Orators retort the wrongs Upon the oppressors head Cosmo shall finde The bribing sorcerers picture Justice blinde She has
homage Fe•d Speak ••at art tho• Gisb. Though old dread Soveraign yet vouchsafe him hearing Will lay such black deeds •pe will b•nish night For ever from her vail or loath the light Peruse this paper Enter 〈◊〉 Ferd. Alas poor man my soul doth pity him See here the Villain comes Lord 〈◊〉 We purpose to prefer you to a wife Of our election Luc. I do beseech your grace to pardon •e I have vow'd to live a single life Ferd. You have vow'd to live a single Villain Peace monstrous wretch I hardly check my tears Unhappy King that must trust others ears No marvell Heaven so many ills down hurl N•ught but injustice can destroy the world Corrupted Judges the States most dangerous foes They smile and strike there 's no sence for their blowes Vengeance and rage I could forget my b•ing And be your executioner my self Gisb. This 〈◊〉 speaks an other language Sil. We humbly do confesse our crimes and on Our knees 〈◊〉 your 〈◊〉 pardon Ferd. Pardo• may 〈…〉 Ingrateful Monster Canst 〈◊〉 deny this schedule Recall thy self old man I am thy Prince And will revenge thy wrong Gisb. Are you a man Sir Ferd. As thou art Speak Villain Canst thou disprove this too just accusation Luc. I cannot only for the murther As I shall hope for 〈◊〉 I am free Gisb. Lives my Vrania then Luc. I left her neer the Lodge Whither in grief she made Ferd. Abhorred viper that could'st behold her smart Who with her own cur'd thine I loth thy sight And here deprive thee of all dignity Due from thy Ancestors thy Land we seise And give thee only four dayes space to find Vrania out One hour defer'd our Kingly word is past Thou for her losse shalt tast untimely death So thrust him forth our presence Ex. 〈◊〉 Gisb. True Prince indeed Pardon renowned King my much forgetfulnesse• Oh! let some pinacle made a God whose height May reach to heaven bear thy name stampt In golden characters untoucht by envious time Ferd. Rise much wrong'd man you worst but first in place With him that did so easily second thy false doome We banish both of you into the woods As most unworthy mans society Thou shalt injoy the place and honour Of our chief Justice infer no denyal• What want is in thy 〈◊〉 preheminence Thou hast in virtue and in innocence So lead away thy daughter being not dead Thy joy ore ' flowes all sorrow 's cancelled ACT. IV. Enter Lucius Gulman Flavia Surdo Vrania Flav. Perjur'd slave hast a wife could'st think l•chery would have a better end out of my doors seducing V•rl•t Luc. Hear me but speak Gull Out upon thee penurious Rascall my flesh shak•s to be at thee thou hast made little better then a whore of my daughter Surd. And a baud of your Ladyship Gull Wer 't not for modesties sake I would have my peny worths out of thy flesh Flav. The hangman will rid us of that care beggerly slave Why dost not laugh at him 〈◊〉 Vra. I could shed tears for thee poor Lucius Though many moneths thou couldst indure my gri•f One day seems long till I yeeld thee relief Luc. Is then all love and pity banished In lieu then of the good thou stand'st possest by me grant me but one nights being in thy house thou see'st tis late and I unfurnished of means and credit Flav. Would one night save thy life restore thy name and thy degraded honour I would not grant it for know I hate thee more then all thy wealth in•orc'd me love before Surd. You are no who• Flav. So let 's in if longer you stay here I will provide you of a Harbinger Gull You shall have a lodging at the cost of the Parish if you stay a little longer Exeunt Surd. Baud blood-sucker Canniball Vra. Afflicted man I that for comfort sought thy company could now afford some pity unto thee Ex. Luc. Ill destined Lucius but in vain 's complaint then tell me Surdo what cure canst thou apply unto my miseries Surd. Such as the world gives to men in distresse As I am a Courtier I must leave you Luc. How leave me Surd. Would you not have me follow the example of my betters I promised you to serve you only as you were a Lord and so I have done and will till I see you at the gallowes and thither you shall have followers enough Luc. Wilt thou not help to find my wife out then Surd. I le see what I can do Oyes did any manner of man take up a woman child of the age of 22. lost for want of a husband let them look into her mark and if they finde her a Virgin bring her to the Hangman Luc. Ingratefull groom doest mock my misery Surd. Are you such an asse to think she 'l be found to save you from Hanging that have left her swimming all this while she has more hope of her widowhood then so the old saying is Marry a widow whose husband was hanged and then she cannot upbraid you with them• I le see if I can find her and put it in practise Farewell I will look to hear from you by the next new Ballad pray Iove it be to a good tune and come off bravely to the life t' will be to your own com•ort and credit of your followers to see and hear so many bear parts in your death Ex. Luc. Contemn'd and left of all where are my parasites now Honours shadowes that seem to move with an obsequious right as if they were in•eperably tyed unto our persons When the truth is their motion is from the sun which being done once we are lest naked Why should I blame this world then Since means and honour sway the greatest men For give me one that ere lov'd virtue poore Shew me an Userer charitable or an honest whore I cannot Flavia with just cause condemn thee It is the leaden waight of time that moves thy hate And with a violent hand doth force thy soul To this observing world for well thou knowest Wert thou as chast and fair as the Greekish dame Fam'd for her twice ten winters constancie And hadst no foil to put thy virtues off Thou might'st spin out thy daies to get thee food Or turn base prostitute and sell thy blood At every comers price Enter Vrani• Vra. Where night I find this most unhappy man Whose grief will not permit my jealous soul To trust him with the night Oh! did he know How much beyond my self I prize his love T would move him to afford me pity if not love But see where suiting with his fortunes on the ground He has cast himself could we our fates foreknow He had kept the happy mean not Iain so low My honour'd Lord why with so hard an eye Do you behold your friends Luc. Thou doest forget thy self I am poor and poverty When none else will do 't makes all men fly Vra. You much mistake me Sir I am Castadora One that did never •awn
If thou hast any sense look mildly on me Why dost thou all in fear and terrour gaze Upon thy father thus Sigis. Help help help Catz. Here here what 's the matter Sigis. Has he not eat my bowels out already Catz. Who do you mean Sir Sigis. Yonder Hyena Catz. Yonder he• Sigis. Dost thou not see his tears See how cunningly he would •eise me in his paw See how he followes me shoot shoot I say Catz. My powder 's damp it will not off Ferd. Some God or good man help Sigis. He comes he comes he comes flie flie flie Ferd. Can none prescribe me comfort Vinc. May be some musick would allay his passions Catz. Please him with musick you may as well catch a hare with a Taber the very tuning of the fidles would make him starke mad Ferd. Art thou acquainted with his humours then Catz. Who I Sir I have almost lost mine owne wits in his service Humours call you them I le tell you Sir sometimes he will be dumb two houres together and then must I be speechlesse as long then do we two sit making of faces one at another like a brace of Baboones or a picture-drawer at his counterfeit anone he will start up and make way with his hands for fear you should run a tilt against his nose which as he is perswaded hangs two fathome in his light at least If any body looks on him he takes it in snuff and railes at him like a Copper-smith then must I turn Physitian and make him believe I pare away two stones at least in collops Ferd. Didst ever hear him speak of his parentage Talk of his Father Catz. Oh Sir It 's a Tragedy if he name his Father once 't is no boot for me to stay by it Ferd. I prethe why Catz. He sayes they took his crown from him and banisht him and then he fals upon me in his fathers right and so malls me that I am not able to lift up mine hand to mine own crown I have lost much bloud in your quarrell Sir Ferd. Poor boy it was our losse depriv'd thy sense Of her best residence and me eternally Of joy and comfort Here friend we will reward thee better If thou wilt follow him still Catz. Should he run out of his wits never so far here be they would drive me after him t is for these the whole world runs mad nowadayes Exe Ferd. I prethe leave him not till we by art And good mens prayers find out some means to cure him Yet that we may not seem all buried In our own particular grief and to 〈◊〉 Commons good ingratefull know we confirm• Your ancient priviledge of Senators Who may determine the affaires of State Next be it proclaimed that whosoever stand Banisht in our cause shall be restor'd to honour And indued with our best love Vinc. What death shall we inflict upon these Traytors tane in the field upon the Tyrants part Ferd. Release them freely This is the difference twixt bad Kings and good The one through peace doth prosper th' other with bloud Proclaime our generall pardon Kings oft do grant That happinesse to others which themselves do want Let each brow put on joy wee 'l only mourn Our good is you•s our grief shall be our own Flourish Ex. Enter Vrania as a Bride Gisbert Lucius Cosmo Licippus Alexis Surdo Gisb. Be this the saddest day you ere may know Dance If ever Hymen tyed a happy knot Or that a parents blessing ere procur'd A good from Heaven this day a fathers prayer• Be powerfull in your joyes Luc. Our love and duty shall deserve your wishes Gisb. We cannot doubt it each man unto his •eat The neighbouring Shepheards to expresse their love Born to my daughter and to grace the day With harmlesse sports are making to our lodge Dance These notes proclaime them Musick and a Dance which ended What newes Venalcas Enter Menalcas Menal. A poa•• from Court scowring along the plaines Inquir'd thy lodge and hearing that my service Belong'd to you charg'd me on my allegiance Deliver this Proclamation that with instant speed It might be published Gisb. My bloud turns cold I pray heaven all be well Luc. Did he exchange no other words with thee Menal. His haste denyed much talk only in brief He told me that King Ferdinand by the •ide Of the Sicilian Prince was reinthron'd The Tyrant fled and those that er'st bewayl'd Their exile fortunes are again restor'd Gisb. This Proclamation speaks it which doth by name give note to Lord Vincentio late Senator of State Francisco Ipinolo 〈◊〉 Luc. Not my name mentioned Gisb. Lord Lutius Luc. The same I thought he had forgotten me Gisb. With all other Lords Knights or Gentlemen that have willingly for our love or forcibly been constrained to suffer banishment be forth with restored with double interest for all their losses as well in goods as rents to be received at our Exchequer upon demand thereof made Most worthy Prince Luc. His gratitude best speaks him Gisb. And this Proclamation doth confirme it which craves my haste neighbours you must along with me all fears are past This doubles our present joyes but time doth call A Tyrants death makes a true festiv•ll Ex. Luc. This news transport me Ferdinand restor'd Which cals me home and addes unto my name The honour of my Ancestors Heaven canot give A good equall to this but I forget my self This is my wedding day my wife the daughter To a poor Shepheard Disgrace unto mine Honour And perpetuall shame to my posterity Vra. This newes hath much distemper'd him tell me love What means this suddain pale that doth possesse thine eyes with fear this happy day invites all mirth and triumph you have not now a thought that can give colour unto disconte•t Luc Forbeare you are troublesome your words trouble me Vra. How trouble you you speak not like a lover Luc. I would I did not prethee Vrania leave me Vra. Some old renued grief possesseth him What ere it be let me bear equall part It is my due and duty I have a heart Beyond my sex to indure calamity Luc. You will offend Vra. Rather my soul then thee Luc. Away then get you in Vra. To death shouldst thou command Grief pressed heart this day thy tears back keep Thou 'lt finde hereafter time enough to weep Luc. She 's virtuous and fair why should I leave her then Her birth is low that 's Fortunes fault not hers Besides she is my wife I have married her And shall I leave her now there is a thing Call'd Conscience would persue me Dull and abject thought You fit Lisander a poor shepheards s••l Not Luci• son unto a Senator I cannot stoop so low no I le abjure her sight Sell both my lodge and 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 me As is my breeding Suppose old Gisbert curse His daughter raile talke of ingratitude They beat the aire great men are above their crimes Who has a thriving soul must change with times