rustick Powers that guard his fields and vnto me Gouern. It is by you we are no warlike Ram Nor battering engine forc'd a bloody entrance Through our thicke walls It was the powerfull breath Of your victorious fame that conquer'd vs To that we yeelded which as a rough blast That poasts from the cold Artick Pole hath borne Before it captiu'd Nations Albo. By heauen a good old man if he be learn'd I le haue him write my Annales Grim. Indeed he lookes like a Chronicler Albou. Paradine Informe him of my deeds Thou hast beheld my discipline full of Shape and order when confusion did oppresse The foe and stifled them in throngs Hah Looke Rhodolinda's come to guild our Triumph Enter Rhodolinda Valdaura Thesina and Attendants in mourning Parad. And my Valdaura too let Nature shew A third obiect so delightfull we 'le sweare She is not old nor her first materials Wasted but in creation still retaines Her former strength and skill Albou But why my beautious Captiue art thou still In Sables wrapp'd Rhodo. Your starres bid you be happy My crosse fate Like the Rauen croaks a funerall note This swarthy habit but paints forth the griefe That chaines my soule in darknesse And filiall loue Commands me mourne for him whom you too soone Depriu'd of life my conquer'd father Albou. Let his ashes rest At quiet in their Vrne His ghost long since Hath wash'd away the memory of his fate In slow-pac'd Laethe Take me modest faire Into thy bosome O hide me there My glad soule how full is thy content Now thou fear'd thing that guid'st the heauenly Empire Rend all the murmuring clouds and dart Thy Thunder at me I am safe Rhodo. My captiuity must needs seeme easie Whilst the Conquerour proues so kinde Albo. I could gaze thus on thee till my wonder Did conuert me into marble and yet My soule would in her selfe retaine a fire Liuely as that which bold Prometheus stole Were the Sea coagulate and the world Returnd to th' antick Chaos a blinde Lumpe Thy looke would force the warring elements Into a sacred order and beget A harmony like this they now inioy Rhodo. You are too powerfull in you speech Albo. Yet when I valew thus thy excellence Let me not forget my owne high being I 'ue humbled all the Nations of the earth Brought home as spoyles the whole wealth of Nature Yet Rhodolinda nought like thee Let me Whisper my content for soft musicke most Delights the female eare They walke aside Parad. Why my deare Valdaura dost thou suspect My warme embraces Let hungry death ceaze On my honour before it ceaze on me If in my brest I intertaine a thought Vnlawfull Vald. I esteeme you Sir a friend to vertue And in that hope would cherish all your loue Parad. In thy faire brow there 's such a Legend writ Of timorous chastitie that it doth blinde Th' adulterous Eye Not the Mountaine Ice Congeal'd to Christall is so frosty chaste As thy victorious soule which conquers Man And Mans proud Tyrant-passion But I am Too rough for Courtship the soft harmony Which wanton Peace instructs the Tongue to make I haue forgot Trust me bright Maid I loue thee dearely Though I 'ue found thy heart Like Pibble smooth but stony Valda. I 'ue heard my mother say the curled Youth Of Italy were prompt in wanton stealths And sinfull Arts Till Time had giuen me Assurance of your noble thoughts 't was safe To doubt your loue But now I wish I were More worthy and then would prooue more liberall Of my selfe Parad. Let me enioy thy hand that moyst Adamant That so attracts my soule We will ere night Her black Curtaine drawes make compleat this loue With marriage Rites Albo. How now Boy Is my interest so decay'd In your young person that you giue away your selfe Without my leaue Parad. Humbly on my knee I beg the vulgar Priuiledge due to all hearts To loue and not enioy Is a torture I cannot suffer long And still remaine possess'd with breath Albou. Thou hast shew'd me physick for my passion Take him Valdaura and be proud T is I That loue him nor shall your ioyes be single I le make the number yet more full This day We 'le consecrate to Hymens vse Behold Your Queene who though my Captiue for her birth And beauty is the first of Queenes Gouer. High Heauen increase your ioyes Herm. And may you liue together vntill Time Shall sicken with his age Frollo Conrad Long liue Albouine King of the Lombards Herm. Cry vp Rhodolinda too Frollo Conrad Liue Rhodolinda Queene of the Lombards Alb. Gouernor T is our will that you expect Honour and true safety Your Cities loue I shall perceiue by popular noise and your Behauiour in this great solemnitie Let the Sunne smile the Winde sport with our Plumes This day let sick-men too forget to groane Let all glad Hymnes in one mix'd concord sound And make the ecchoing heauen your mirth rebound Exeunt all but Grimold Vollterri Gondibert Grim. The King's head must now conuert to rotten wood Gond. Why Grimold Grim. That Court Earewiggs may liue there and deuoure His brains Dost not perceiue how they begin To creepe into his eares Gond. Generous soules are still most subiect to Credulitie Grim. He is a Germane in his drinke busied With a wanton pride which his Flatterers Admire for mirth but his friends doe pitie Vollt. He should be told his sinnes Grim. By whom Vollterri now the King forsakes The Campe he must maintaine luxurious mouthes Such as can vtter perfum'd breath and these Straite compose a faction engrosse his eares They limit still his conuersation Euen as the slow finger of the Diall Doth in its motion circular remoue To distant figures so by a subtill Leasure they doe prefix the houres When he must change his rotten Parasite For one more skilfull how t' admire and praise No honest Tongue can euer interpose To tell him he is mortall Gond. It is the chiefe misery of Princes Nere to vnderstand their owne crimes to sinne In ignorance Grim. True his Confessor that in sight externe A Patriarke seemes will gaine by flattery And superscribe vnto the King as to the Pope His holinesse But Gondibert Whom Conclaues here in Court doe canonize For Saints will scarce be admitted in heauen For Angels Vollter. Now Rhodolinda is become his Riuall In high Soueraigntie she will permit No errors but her owne The King must mend What she mislikes Grim. She giues vs leasure to expect Her character Women make themselues more known When they doe rule then when th'obey Gond. Valdaura is inrich'd with a sweetnesse So religious that Paradine must sinne In priuate or need no mercy Grim. Th' ast nam'd her Though my obdurate sufferance In actiue warre hath quite depriu'd me of All amorous gesture Though not these forty Winters I haue seene any of her sex But Suttlers wiues who in stead of Fillets Wrap their sooty haire in Horses girts Though My marrow
THE TRAGEDY OF ALBOVINE KING OF THE LOMBARDS By Wm D'auenant LONDON Printed for R. M. and are to bee sold in Saint Dunstanes Church-yard 1629 TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE EARLE OF SOMMERSET c. My Lord YOu read this Tragedie and smil'd vpon 't that it might liue and therein your mercy was diuine for it exceeded Iustice My Numbers I not shew vnto the publike Eye with an ambition to bee quickly knowne for so I couet noyse not fame but that the world may learne with what an early haste I striue to manifest my seruice to your Lordship I haue imaginations of a greater height then these which I doe also dedicate to your Lordship And I shall liue in vaine vnlesse you still continue to acknowledge Your humblest Creature D'auenant VPON THE TRAGICK MVSE OF MY HONOVR'D FRIEND Mr. Wm D'AVENANT OVr stately Tragick Scene whose high disdaines Slight humble Muses courts thy lofty straines And with ambitious loue doth clime thy Bayes Whose ample branches her bright glory rayes Whence as from Heauen her spacious Eye doth view Of storyed teares and blood the heauy crue How low they crawle while she farre more Diuine Sides great Seianus and fierce Cateline Where in calme vertue she more sweet doth shew Then Ioue when he in Golden drops did flow But if in Stygian Lake her veines she steepe Her act infernall runnes so horrid deepe As saints Medea makes th' Herculian rage Seeme a tame patience to thy rauisht Stage Had sterne Achilles brest such fury knowne His Story had turn'd Miracle and growne Too much for his great Poet vnlesse Fate Had rackt his spirit vp to thy high rate Rash Imitation at thy heauenly Ayre Intombes faint Enuy in a iust despaire Hen Blount To his friend Mr. Wm D'auenant WHy should the fond ambition of a friend With such Industrious accents striue to lend A Prologue to thy worth Can ought of mine Inrich thy Volume Th' hast rear'd thy selfe a Shrine Will out-liue Piramids Marble Pillars shall Ere thy great Muse receiue a funerall Thy wit hath purchas'd such a Patrons name To deck thy front as must deriue to Fame These Tragick raptures and indent with Eyes To spend hot teares t' inrich the Sacrifice Ed: Hyde To my honor'd Friend th' Author on his Tragedy of the warlike Albouine GReat Albouine whose Fate in warre had cut His passage through the neighb'ring Earth and shut Large Prouinces within his grasping palme Had sunke from honour in the patient calme Of a long silenc't Fame had not thy pen With soaring language rays'd him vp agen He vowes by coole Elizeum from whence He breath'd the valiant oath he would dispense With all those ioyes that court his soule to fling His open'd brest vpon the poys'nous sting Of rougher warres if the triumphant Bayes Sprung from thy inke might crowne his second prayse This is a Poets height conquest by thee Describ'd becomes a double victory Rich Clerk To my deseruing Friend the Author WEre those Tragedians whom the world so fame For their ingenious and admired straine Aliue to see this Poem and thy Name Asham'd they 'd dye finding their Lines too vaine Were that pure Spring the winged hoofe brought forth Wanting supply dry'd vp thy abler Pen Would worke a second wonder by it's worth In making it a running streame agen Be then assur'd this Tragick straine shall liue A patterne for th' next age to imitate And to the best wits of our times shall giue Iust cause of enuy for thy learned Fate Rob Ellice To his noble Friend th' Author on his Tragedy of Albouine THe gelid North growes warme and by thy fire Cold ignorance exil'd The Virgin Quire O' th' soft-hayr'd Muses leaue the Thespian Spring To tread a fun'rall Measure whilst you sing This Tragick Storie With sad plaints of loue Fam'd Orpheus charm'd rude heapes did Cedars mooue Forc'd Mountaines from their station but thy Pen Hath now amaz'd the firie soules of men Will Habington To my Friend Mr. D'auenant SCarce home return'd but straight I finde great Fame Ayring her wings to spread abroad thy Name One of the Nine before of me ne'r seene Sure sent by thee assaults my merry spleene With mighty Verse and makes me laugh at those That are so dull to melt their thoughts in Prose I wish her prosp'rous flight may she returne With happier wings if happier may be worne My flame is spent I dare not vndertake Thy praise who am but newly for thy sake A fierce Poet and doubtlesse had been one Ne'r but for thee or else had been vnknowne Rog Lorte To his much-honour'd friend the Author LEt not loud Enuy 's sulph'rous blasts cast forth Venom'd aspersions on thy noble worth 'Gainst saucy Criticks thou need'st no defence Whose sacred lines arm'd with sweet eloquence Are proofe against their censures whoo 'd prophane With their bold breath the glory of thy straine Wise came shall sing the prayse of thy deserts And voyce thee glorious both in Armes and Arts Whilst thou releast from the Warres sad mishaps Rests in soft dalliance on the Muses laps Those beautious Ladies loue shall high aduance Thy fame whose worth exceeds my vtterance Their Tragicke falles who in thy Scenes appeare Shall on these Monuments faire Trophees reare Vnto their Fame Thus are thy workes become To be to them as their Elizium Tho: Ellice To his worthy friend Mr. Wm. D'auenant HAst thou vnmaskt thy Muse And shall the Aire Breathe on her matchlesse Fabrick then repaire To some soft censure lest the churlish sence Of Ignorance accrues thy recompence And hudwinkt Error doe surprize the Fame Due to thy Story and Verona's name Whose limits Plinies and Catullus bred But in thy Muse her ioyes are centupled For her inuention truth rare wit and state Copper-lac'd Christians cannot personate Her Tragick Scenes like well-tun'd Chimes i th' Skie Leaue Time loud Ecchoes of thy memorie H Howard The Actors in this Tragedy Albouine King of the Lombards Paradine A captiue Souldier his Fauourite Hermegild A captiue Statesman the Queenes Fauourite Grimold A rough old Captaine Gondibert A Captaine his friend Vollterri A Souldier friend to both Cunymond A Courtier Conrade His Companion Frollo His Companion The Gouernour Of Verona Rhodolinda Captine and Queene to Albouine Valdaura Wife to Paradine Thesina A Court-Lady A Page To Paradine A Gentleman A Messenger The Guard Seruants and Attendants c. The Scene Verona THE TRAGEDY OF ALBOVINE KING OF THE LOMBARDS Act the first Scene first Enter Paradine Grimoald Gondibert the Drummes ceasing Paradine Giue the word aloud Grimo. Stand Within 1. Stand 2. Stand 3. Stand Parad. Our motion has been swift wee out-march Time Verona which with the mornings dim eye We seem'd to view like Landschaip afarre off Is our full obiect now She must repent Our King is Steward vnto Fate the world Receiue from him their destinies Grimo. Sure the Gouernour sleepes My Lord is 't fit We waite vpon such Silkewormes crepp'd in wooll Parad. Since we
attaind the Towne not by assault But composition free he shall expresse Humilitie enough to meet vs at the Gate Enter Hermegild Gondib. Here comes Hermegild Herm. Haile young souldier My noble Paradine The King must hold my nature much excus'd If I do greet his safe approach with loue Lesse violent then I expresse to thy Rich soule I am resolu'd thou art in health And fauour with thy starres Parad. Ere I returne your kinde salute I would After your faire charge inquire Say the Queene Smiles in captiuitie my Valdaura Hurts not her health with griefe then I haue heard Enough to make me cherish life Hermig. Rhodolinda doth become her title And her birth Since depriu'd of popular Homage she hath been Queene ore her great selfe In this captiuity nere passionate But when she heares me name the King and then Her passions not of anger taste but loue Loue of her Conquerour he that in fierce Battaile when the Cannons sulpherous breath Clouded the day her noble Father slew Our Royall Master once now sunke into His soyle where like the Lilly wither'd He neuer shall renew his growth agen My memory disturbes my Tongue Your faire Valdaura makes the Queene her rare and iust Example and is in patience skilfull Parad. Know Hermegild no hasty minute pass'd Since their captiuitie wherein I fail'd To be a sutor to the King for both But he 's in kindnesse prompt and still doth speake Like Musicke when he Rhodolinda names You heare t is his edict we call her Queene Herm. Thy vanquish'd Country owes vnto thy fame A tall Pyramid The captiu'd virgins Of our Nation shall in their last Dirges Sing thy prayse with mirth O I could grow old Within thy sight Something we now must talke Together and heauen will listen to 't As to the breath of Saints Parad. I knew we should haue vse of conference Which made me begge the leading of the Vanne The more t' assist our opportune meeting Herm. Afford your eares in priuat Grim. Though Paradine looke flourishing and like A thing new brush'd a flame of triumph As if his father surfetted in some O're-growne City when he got him yet he Hath in him seeds of warre bold thoughts and we I' th Campe esteeme him honest too Gond. He is our Kings Minion sleepes in his bosome Grim. True the Royall foole greets him with such Rauenous kisses that you would thinke he meant To eate his lips Gond. The Captiue captiuates the Conquerour Three Moones haue not expir'd their vsuall change Since he was prisoner to the King though now His Fauorite Grim. Th' art too loud If thou 'lt talke safely go get A sore throat hoarce men speake low The captiu'd Rhodolinda whose father Albouine depriu'd of life and kingdome Hath with such amorous subtiltie behau'd Her gesture that Albouine is now her Prisoner This martiall progresse was but made To visit her She makes him guilty of Idolatry and knowes the thrifty vse Of time as she ascends her Countrimen Must rise Gond. You haue call'd that Hermegild her Creature Grimo. He was her fathers Councellor a man Created in the darke he walkes inuisibly He dwels in Labyrinths he loues silence But when he talkes his language carries more Promiscuous sense then ancient Oracles So various in his shapes that oft he is Disguiz'd from his owne knowledge An error Much incident to humane Politicks Who striue to know others more then themselues Gond. Obserue their complement Grimo. Pox o' these French ligges Courtiers alwaies dance This is to Hermegild meere lechery This wanton gesture doth obscure Thoughts of such consequence and weight as hang Like Plummets on his heart Paradine is A soft easie foole and must be guld Herm. O my sweet Lord Grimo. Now the Motion speakes Herm. Such indeerements would too much impouerish My gratitude yet t is meet our actions Carry smooth equalitie your consent Must further all my Sutes You are the Kings Iewell and hang richly in his eare Parad. You are precious vnto her whom loud noise Already calls our Queene faire Rhodolinda We may if they prooue naturall and kinde Gouerne the Nation that hath conquered vs Gaine our Countrey liberty and yet Not stray from noble Arts such hopes our free Imbraces prophecy The King Loud musick Enter Albouine Frollo Conrade Vollterri c. Frollo Your Troopes Sir are so diuided into Mix'd files that to the City you doe march Betweene thick walles of men Albou. Let my Horse-guard bring vp the Rere We 'le sport With warre We haue no vse of safety now But of magnificence Vollterri The order is already giuen It was Your Royall will we hasten in our March Therefore each Squadron double their paces Albou. My Boy I bring thee home my chiefe Trophy Thou dost delight me more then victory Retire I am in loue too violent My embraces crush thee thou art but yet Of tender growth Parad. My Countriman would kisse your Royal hands And then expect no greater happinesse Till he arriue in heauen He hath done your Rhodolinda seruice Presents Hermeg on his knee to the King Herm. Rhodolinda is your humblest captiue She inserts you often in her prayers And call'd it my chiefe duty to present Her true seruice to your Maiesty Albou. Her name doth inrich our Language My boy Can witnesse that I loue her she makes me Prattle in my sleepe I 'ue drunke Mandragora To become drowzie in hope that I might Dreame of her Rise and expect Honour Enter Gouernour of Verona Gouernour High and sacred Maiesty Verona Hath vnhindg'd her wide Gates proud to admit The fate of Kingdomes Our crooked Matrones Forget their age and as the ragged Earth At the Springs warme approach look fresh young To intertaine you Our timorous Virgins With the bold Youth ioyne in one wanton Quire To sing your welcome Grimo. How the Spaniell fawnes 'cause he dares not barke Gouer. Th' amorous Vine clips not the shady Poplar With such regard about whose mossie waste She hangs a smiling Louer Our City is By the reflection of your blest approach Like Pelion deck'd whom Tython's Mistresse Leauing the weeping East with brightnesse guilds There 's not a wrinkle left in all Verona Wherein pale sorrow or rebellious enuy Can finde their loathed Mansion Flattering ioy Swells big each loyall bosome All implore You as their safety who hath hush'd the noise Of discord and loud warre Grim. The Rascall flatters as if he had seru'd His prentiship in Court Albou. Th' ast done me iustice Gouernor know'st The way to make me thankefull but not proud I vnderstand thou hast with honor'd safety Preseru'd those Iewels to thy charge committed My Rhodolinda and my Boys Valdaura And so increas'd new motiues of our thanks Gouer. Heauen has made your memory too humble Thus to record your creatures seruice Albou. Let now the knotty Laborer rust with ease And aloud proclaime that the vpland Boore Release his Teeme and his industrious Plough Let him sing glad Iös to the
expire their course which then No Antidote nor humane skill resists Mount mount my thoughts that I may tread on Kings Or if I chance to fall thus soaring high I melt like Icarus in the Sunnes Eye Exit Enter Paradine and his Page Par. The Sun doth melt vs with his scorching beames Goe fill my vsuall Beuiridge I le drinke Till I am cold Exit Page The constitution of my Soule agrees Not with this Climate I grow weary Of mortalitie Euen in my first growth Since my Corselet was my loade I haue tooke My breeding in the Campe where had I still Remain'd a dull practike souldier and nere seene A Woman nor the Court I might haue had Some hope to gaine by faith but now I reach At wilde despaire Enter Page with a Bowle Page My Lady Sir commends her loue and this To your acceptance she made the mixture With her owne hands Par. The Queene prescrib'd this houre for her returne That she growes black with sinne peruerts my sense I must seem not to know 't Say I greet her health-drinks Exit Page Enter Valdaura in close mourning Parad. Hah why Valdaura dost thou appeare like A funerall night in darke and swarthy weedes Valdau. I mourne for you since you must hasten your Eternall absence now from me and all That else are mortall Par. Speak things that are lesse dangerous to my sense This wonder will distract me Vald. Ere winged Time shall with swift motion adde Another houre to th' life of this sicke day Thou shalt begin thy last sleepe Parad. A pale Swanne hath sung my Dirge O fatall Musick but how comes this intelligence To Eares of flesh and blood haue you of late Been gossiping with the grim Stygian Dames And seene their Cisers gall my vitall Thread For to my owne sense I need no Physicke My faculties enioy that pleasant strength Which appertaines to youth and temperance Why should I yet die Vald. How Paradine Art thou so full of guilt Most vlcerous and deform'd yet thinkst to keepe Thy life at Natures charge t' exist till age Makes thee a Cripple then in thy bed Like some good old Patriarke thy soule dismisse With a diuine rapture No no iust Heauen Prouides more rash and horrid deaths for such As in adultery bathe their silken limmes Parad. Hah Vald. I know thy guilt the King hath told me all 'T was wondrous strange Our vowes but new arriu'd In heauen that did obliege our mutuall Faiths In loue and thou with sauage lust to breake them Though griefe hath much consum'd my teares yet I Haue some still left t' expresse my pitty Parad. My adultery already knowne both to The King and her why these are prodigies Indeed How sinne imboldens the aspect She doth accuse me for a guilt which yet Remaines vnpardon'd in her selfe Mine was A dire mistake but hers that must be knowne And then her veines shall weepe Vald. You are poyson'd Paradine Parad. With that cold draught you sent me now i th' Bowle Vald. The Vipers vomit nor the blue steame Which fat Toades doe breathe in tired motion Beares not such a dangerous enmitie 'Gainst humane Nature as that you drunke Parad. Stay Me thinks I feele no insurrection In my blood nor need an Iron Corselet To containe my flesh sure it swels not yet Vald. It takes a subtill leasure to disperse Thorow all your Organs and your Arteries That it may straite with abler violence Consume your strength Parad. And then I shall look goggle-ey'd and stretch i th' cheekes till my face shew like a Pompeon Round and yellow Vald. Farre farre more deform'd Par. Will 't make my eies start from my skull or drop Like bullets at my feete Speake shall I fome At mouth like some young Courser that is hot And angry with his bit Vald. Not the first Chaos was so vgly and Confus'd as you 'll appeare when this distilment works Parad. Yet I forgiue you all e'en from my heart Whilst my cogitations now are sober And can distinguish things with pregnant sense I doe applaude this cruell benefit These subtill vanities of Court haue tyr'd My obseruation I was nourc'd within Some Armory and tooke a proud delight In actiue Warre but since our Drummes haue ceas'd Their noble clamour I finde no businesse Vpon Earth for me t is fit I grow immortall Vald. I did not thinke his fancy at this newes Could proue so temperate Par. To sleepe in cold earth whilst my dead neighbour Neuer at my Coffin knocks to inquire my health By way of visit for all are silent In the graue Harsh destiny Such as I Could ne'r expect from thee Valdaura Vald. My nature you shall finde much different From what your knowledge heretofore discern'd I haue contriu'd another way to punish Thy adulterous heate Par. You find my sufferance tame enough Publish all Vald. To meet your sin with apt reuenge I 'm growne A foule loose whore Par. Hah containe thy speech Expresse but so much Modesty as may secure thy life for My death doth not concerne my rage so much As this foule murder of thy fame Vald. T is truth and I confirm 't with pride Par. Oh oh these are the Mandrakes groanes fatall For whoso heares them straight incounters death Now smile sweet Heauen since thus I but returne Her owne iustice For my adulterous act She takes my life and shall I let that bold Adulteresse liue Stabs her with 's Ponyard Vald. Oh oh Hold hold Leaue me a little breath To vse in prayer Parad. I am not fraught with diuels spleene I would Not hurt thy soule here solitary sit Whilst I send vp an humble sacrifice That shall bespeake a pardon for thy crime Ere thou ariue neere heauen Puts her in a Chaire Vald. Dare you trust my last vtterance Par. O speak ere thou dost catch an euerlasting cold And shalt be heard no more Vald. I am not false vnto your bed I ne'r In act nor guilty thought did violate My Marriage vowes Parad. Art thou not a Whore Vald. No Vestall that preseru'd with quickning oyle The sacred flame was in her chastity More cold more timorous then I nor are You poyson'd Parad. Hah was not that a mixture of distill'd Venome which I drunke Vald. 'T was healthfull as the blood of Grapes to age And all your faculties doe still preserue Their wonted harmony Parad. Sweet spirit doe not riddle thus with Heauen Nor sport thy soule away Why didst accuse Thy selfe of sterne murder and pernicious lust Yet art thus cleere from both Vald. 'T was to inrage your violence with hope To make you soone my executioner For hearing you were false I found no ioy In life your hand hath seal'd my wishes Par. New Arts t' increase my wonder I 'm orereach'd Where I thought my nature was most skilfull E'en in loue O stay had not distraction Ceaz'd my memory I should at first haue told you The mistake by which the sinfull Queene And Hermegild betray'd my chaste Honour Vald.
Snaile I tread Who trauailes with his tenement on 's head Exit Enter Grimold in new Clothes Gondibert Vollterri Gond. The King has pay'd him all 's arreres Vollt. 'T was by Thesina's sute to Hermegild The Snake has cast his skin too now Grim. I Sir 't is a poore Snake that cannot cast His skin once in a Summer Enter Cunymond Conrade Frollo Cun. 'Slight here 's Grimold Didst not thou say he was dead Conr. But I haue heard since his ghost walks Frol. Look 't has found the hiddē treasure then which Made it walke for the Ghost hath bought it selfe New clothes Grimo. Nay nay stay Gentlemen Let vs forget Old quarrels then end our new acquaintance We are for the Countrey now I le but tell ye A few of your faults and leaue th' amendment To your owne leasures but you all thinke Y' are wiser then I Cuny. VVe should abuse our iudgements else Grim. Mark This is a new Court-thrift when you are Loth to maintaine flatterers you publish Your selues with your owne prayse Lay your fingers Here Not a word lest I returne ye a blow I know ye cannot speake without a complement Vollt. They vse it in their prayers they Gond. Cunymond in one single complement So much wasted his Lungs that I was faine To call for Aqua vita to recouer His breath Grim. I 'ue heard you haue transported from Paris The Geometricall cringe and the Art Of numbring the haires vpon your chins Vollt. And of starching your Beards Gond. Yes and of perfuming your very shadowes Grim. And they say it is your custome to sleepe In Pomatum Masques Vollt. And that you paint your prety Vis'gnomies Grim. Yes and colour them so red that you seeme To blush more then the Signe of the Kings head Before a Country Inne Gond. Y'abuse Astrology too for you clip Black-Taffeta into Starres and for a foile To your beauty fix 'em in seuerall Regions Of your face Gri. Which makes it look like the picture of Doomes-day When all the Planets are darkened Vollt. Nay nay stay awhile Grim. Leaue off your jigging motion when you mix Your selues in a salute your bodyes seeme To dance vpon your knees You pinion vp Your Elbowes thus like Pullets trust vpon A spit Then wreath your Hammes in thus and mooue With a discreet leasure as if you meant To number all the Pibbles in the street And then you fleere as if y' had wash'd your gummes In vineger This you admire for gesture Of the newest fashion I say 't is skiruy For he that greets a Lady so does looke Like a Sope-boyler vpon a Close-stoole Vollt. If you will take Physicke for your soules-health Retire into that part of the Kingdome Which lies farthest from France Gond. He counsels well for the French ayre hath made Many of our Gentry drunke Gri. And now moue hence but with your lips sow'd vp For feare of a complement You two shall straite Take horse with me and be billited in My Quarter Stay Gentlemen One word more This is a hot Climate when you must needs Marry to increase your Tribe your best way Is to goe a wooing in the Citie For certaine rich widdowes there loue Court-fooles And vse to play with their bables Exeunt omnes A Canopy is drawne the King is discouer'd sleeping ouer papers enter Paradine with his sword drawne Parad. To make him bleed and leaue his arteries VVhere the delighted spirits walke shrunke vp Vntill they curle with heate The wither'd frame Straite to conuert to dust Then th' vmerous winde To fan it o're the world Speake iust Heauen Is this fit vsage for a King Cassius VVas rash perhaps to gaine noise at 's funerall Or in 's Elizian fields beneath a pleasant Hedge To tell some prattling ghost what he had done Hah but Brutus noble Brutus the pride Of Arts and VVarre so temperate his soule VVas more harmonious then the Spheares Instruct Heroique Lord thy young Pupill VVhy did The mighty Cesar fall by thy cold wrath All silent as the night He sleepes before Him too those papers that concerne my house Affaires and my Officiall rule in State Here he comments on my Letters here with Thrifty documents limits my expence Can this indulgent care be counterfeit And meerely carry a pretence of loue he made My wife a blacke adulteresse O horror Yet who knowes but 't was rather his reuenge Then lust a furious riot after that He knew I whor'd his Queene He blinds his owne face with a scarfe sheathes his sword and then kneeles Sir My Lord the King Sir Albo. Hah Paradine VVhat witty emblem 's this The more to certifie thy loue dost thou Appeare blind Parad. O Sir do not mocke my penitence nor seeme Thus to disguize the knowledge of that crime VVhich hath defil'd my modest bloud and makes Me now asham'd t' incounter with your eyes Albo. He is drunke Maudlin drunke Parad. Sir I could creepe aliue into my Tombe And mixe society with Ghosts whilst I Haue yet warme motion left could I but hide My guilt from your perspicuous sight Albo. By heauen drunke with Cider or with thinne Beere That lookes like th' vrine of a Babe I 'm sure The Corsicke Grape infuseth no Such whining passion Par. Those immateriall powers that see the thoughts of men VVhen growing in their hearts can witnesse I Abus'd your Royall bed but by a dire Mistake Albo. Hah Parad. Your blacke adulterous Queene betray'd Me to her lust by wicked Arts Albo. This is a sober passion but implies Something that is horrid Parad. Had not heroique warre taught me t' affect No rage but noble she and Hermegild Had intic'd me now to lengthen this your sleepe Vntill the day of generall accounts Alb. Suspect must now be rash Make your face known Snatches off his Scarfe He blushes like a Bride whom through her thin Curtaines the peeping Sunne beholds in soft Skirmish with her Lord I must counterfeit And seeme to know all Paradine 't was farre From my coniecture that a heart so much Oblig'd vnto my loue as thine should wrong My Honour in a sense which but to mould In words would teach my tongue to stammer and Deafen all that heare it Parad. Thunder and sulpherous fire snatch my cold limmes From this dull earth Sir whilst my soule affords Me reason and can direct me vnto whom My true alleageance is a debt kill me When I am mad I shall forget all duty And refuse t' obey your Royall Charter Thrust your good Sword home till my heart shall kisse Your Hilts Are you so slow in iustice Thinke How by a darke mistake I whor'd your Queene Whor'd your Queene O prodigious phrase Albo. Houle meager Wolues empty Tygers let the hoarce Thracian Bull bellow till he rent his throat And the hot mountaine-Lion rore vntill Their clamour wake the dead The resurrection Is too long delayd since we want horror To celebrate this newes Good I haue now Decreed it Draw thy bright weapon Parad. For what