to be reveng'd Exit Sent. She in the midst Lo. She 's faire I must confesse But does she keepe this distance out of state Cel. Though I am poore in language to expresse How much your Lordship honors me my heart Is rich and proud in such a guest I shall Be out of love with every aire abroad And for his grace done my unworthy house Be a fond prisoner become anchorite And spend my houres in prayer to reward The blessing and the bounty of this presence Lor. Though you could turne each place you move in to A temple rather than a wall should hide So rich a beauty from the world it were Lesse want to lose our piety and your prayer A throne were fitter to present you to Our wonder whence your eyes more worth than all They looke on should chaine every heart a prisoner Sent. T was pretty well come off Lo. By your example I shall know how to complement in this You more confirme my welcome Cel. I shall love My lippes the better if their silent language Perswade your Lordship but to thinke so truely Lo. You make me smile Madam Cel. I hope you came not With feare that any sadnesse here should shake One blossome from your eye I should be miserable To present any object should displease you Lo. You doe not Madam Cel. As I should account It no lesse sorrow if your Lordship should Lay too severe a censure on my freedome I wonot court a Prince against his justice Nor bribe him with a smile to thinke me honest Pardon my Lord this boldnesse and the mirth That may flow from me I beleeve my father Thought of no winding sheete when he begot me Lor. She has a merry soule it will become Me aske your pardon Madam for my rude Approach so much a stranger to your knowledge Cel. Not my Lord so much stranger to my knowledge Though I have but seene your person a farre oft I am acquianted with your character Which I have heard so often I can speake it Lo. You shall doe me an honor Cel. If your Lordship will Be patient Lo. And glad to heare my faults Cel. That as your conscience can agree upon em How ever if your Lordship give me priviledge I le tell you what 's the opinion of the world Lo. You cannot please me better Cel. Y' are a Lord Borne with as much nobilitie as would Divided serve to make ten noble men Without a Herald but with so much spirit And height of soule as well might furnish twenty You are learnd a thing not compatible now With native honour and are master of A language that doth chaine all yeares and charme All hearts where you perswade a wit so flowing And prudence to correct it that all men Beleeve they onely meete in you which with A spacious memory make up the full wonders To these you have knowne valour and upon A noble cause know how to use a sword To honors best advantage though you were none You are as bountifull as the showers that fall Into the Springs greene besome as you were Created Lord of fortune not her steward So constant to the cause in which you make Your selfe an advocate you dare all dangers And men had rather you should be their friend Than justice or the bench bound up together Lor. But did you heare all this Cel. And more my Lord Lor. Pray let me have it Madam Cel. To all these vertues there is added one Your Lordship will remember when I name it I speake but what I gather from the voyce Of others it is growne to a full fame That you have lov'd a woman Lo. But one Madam Cel. Yes many give me leave to smile my Lord I shall not neede to interpret in what sence But you have shewd your selfe right honorable And for your love to Ladies have deserv'd If their vote might prevaile a marble statue I make no comment on the peoples text My Lord I should be sorry to offend Lor. You cannot Madam these are things we owe To nature for Cel. And honest men will pay Their debts Lo. If they be able or compound Cel. She had a hard heart would be unmercifull And not give day to men so promising But you ow'd women nothing Lo. Yes I am Still in their debt and I must owe them love It was part of my character Cel. With your Lordships Pardon I onely said you had a fame For loving women but of late men say You have against the imperiall lawes of love Restraind the active flowings of your bloud And with a Mistris buried all that is Hop'd for in loves succession as all beauty Had died with her and left the world benighted In this you more dishonor all our sexe Than you did grace a part when every where Love tempts your eye to admire a glorious harvest And every where as full blowne eares submit Their golden heads the laden trees bow downe Their willing fruit and court your amorous tasting Lor. I see men would dissect me to a fibre But doe you beleeve this Cel. It is my wonder I must confesse a man of nobler earth Then goes to vulgar composition Borne and bred high so unconfind so rich In fortunes and so read in all that summe Vp humane knowledge to feed gloriously And live at court the onely spheare wherein True beauty moves natures most wealthy garden Where every blossome is more worth than all The Hesperian fruite by jealous Dragon watch'd Where all delights doe circle appetite And pleasures multiply by being tasted Should be so lost with thought of one turne ashes There 's nothing left my Lord that can excuse you Vnlesse you pleade what I am asham'd to prompt Your wisedome too Lo. What that Cel. That you have plaid The Surgeon with your selfe Lo. And am made Eunuch Cel. It were much pitty Lo. Trouble not your selfe I could convince your feares with demonstration That I am man enough but knew not where Vntill this meeting beauty dwelt the court You talk'd of must be where the queene of love is Which moves but with your person in your eye Her glory shines and onely at that flame Her wanton boy doth light his quickning torch Cel. Nay now you complement I would it did My Lord for your owne sake Lor. You would be kind And love me then Cel. My Lord I should be loving Where I found worth to invite it and should cherish A constant man Lor. Then you should me Madam Cel. But is the ice about your heart fallen off Can you returne to doe what love commands Cupid thou shall have instand sacrifice And I dare be the Priest Lor. Your hand your lip Now I am proofe gainst all temptation Cel Your meaning my good Lord Lor. I that have strength Against thy voyce and beauty after this May dare the charmes of womankind thou art Bella Maria unprophaned yet This Magicke has no power upon my bloud Farewell Madam if you durst be the example Of chaste as
to blush And looke so like a Chaplaine there he might Have learned a brazen confidence and observ'd So well the custome of the countrey that He might by this time have invented fashions For us and beene a benefit to the Kingdome Preserv'd our Tailors in their wits and sav'd The charge of sending into forraine Courts For pride and anticke fashions observe In what a posture he does hold his hat now Fr. Madam with your pardon you have practisd Another dialect then was taught me when I was commended to your care and breeding I understand not this Latine or Greeke Are more familiar to my apprehension Logicke was not so hard in my first lectures As your strange language Are. Some strong waters oh Lit. Comfits will be as comfortable to your stomacke Madam Are. I feare hee 's spoild forever he did name Logicke and may for ought I know be gone So farre to understand it I did alwayes Suspect they would corrupt him in the Colledge Will your Greeke sawes and sentences discharge The Mercer or is Latin a fit language To court a mistresse in Mr. Alexander If you have any charitie let me Commend him to your breeding I suspect I must employ my Doctor first to purge The Vniversitie that lies in 's head It alters his complexion Alex. If you dare Trust me to serve him Are. Mr. Littleworth Be you joynd in commission Lit. I will teach him Postures and rudiments Are. I have no patience To see him in this shape it turnes my stomacke When he has cast his Academicke skinne He shall be yours I am bound in conscience To see him bred his owne state shall maintaine The charge while hee 's my Ward come hither sir Fr. What does my Aunt meane to doe with me St. To make you a fine gentleman and translate you Out of your learned language sir into The present Goth and Vandall which is French Bo. Into what mischiefe will this humour ebbe Shee will undo the boy I see him ruind My patience is not manly but I must Vse stratagem to reduce her open wayes Give me no hope Exit St. You shall be obey'd Madam Exeunt Fr. Mr. Steward are you sure we doe not dreame Was 't not my Aunt you talkt to St. One that loves you Deare as her life these cloathes doe not become you You must have better sir Fr. These are not old St. More sutable to the towne and time we keepe No Lent here nor is 't my Ladies pleasure you Should fast from any thing you have a minde to Vnlesse it be your learning which she would have you Forget with all convenient speed that may be For the credit of your noble family The case is alter'd since we liv'd i' th country We doe not invite the poore o' th parish To dinner keepe a table for the tenants Our kitchen does not smell of beefe the sellar Defies the price of malt and hops the footmen And coachdrivers may be drunke like gentlemen With wine nor will three Fidlers upon holidayes With aid of Bagge pipes that cald in the countrey To dance and plough the hall up with their hobnailes Now make my Lady merry wee doe feed Like princes and feast nothing but princes And are these robes fit to be seene amongst e'm Fr. My Lady keepes a court then is Sir Thomas Affected with this state and cost Ste. He was not But is converted and I hope you wo'not Persist in heresie but take a course Of riot to content your friends you shall Want nothing if you can be proud and spend it For my Ladies honour here are a hundred Peeces will serve you till you have new clothes I will present you with a nag of mine Poore tender of my service please you accept My Ladies smile more than rewards me for it I must provide fit servants to attend you Monsieures for horse and foote Fr. I shall submit If this be my Aunts pleasure and be rul'd My eyes are open'd with this purse already And Sacke will helpe to inspire me I must spend it St, What else sir Fr. I le begin with you to incourage You to have still a speciall care of me There is five peeces not for your nag St. No sir I hope it is not Fr. Buy a Beaver For thy owne blocke I shall be ruld who does Command the wineseller St. Who command but you sir Fr. I le try to drinke a health or two my Aunts Or any bodies and if that foundation Stagger me not too much I will commence In all the arts of London St. If you finde sir The operation of the wine exalt Your bloud to the desire of any femall Delight I know your Aunt wonot deny Any of her chambermaides to practise on She loves you but too well Fr. I know not how I may be for that exercise farewell Aristotle Prethee commend me to the Library At Westminster my bones I bequeath thither And to the learned wormes that meane to visit 'em I will compose my selfe I beginne to thinke I have lost time indeed come to the wineseller Exit Enter Celestina Mardana Isabella Ma. But shall we not Madam expose our selves To censure for this freedome Cel. Let them answer That dare mistake us shall we be so much Cowards to be frighted from our pleasure Because men have malitious tongues and shew What miserable soules they have no cozen We hold our life and fortunes upon no Mans charitie if they dare shew so little Discretion to traduce our fames we will Be guilty of so much wit to laugh at em Is. T is a becomming fortitude Cel. My starres Are yet kinde to me for in a happy minute Be 't spoke I 'me not in love and men shall never Make my heart leane with sighing nor with teares Draw on my eyes the infamie of spectacles T is the chiefe principle to keepe your heart Vnder your owne obedience jeast but love not I say my prayers yet can weare good clothes And onely satisfie my tailor for em I wonot lose my priviledge Ma. And yet they say your entertainments are Give me your pardon Madam to proclaime Your selfe a widow and to get a husband Cel. As if a Lady of my yeares some beautie Left by her husband rich that had mourn'd for him A twelve moneth too could live so obscure i' th towne That gallants would not know her and invite Themselves without her chargeable proclamations Then we are worse than Citizens no widow Left wealthy can be throughly warme in mourning But some one noble bloud or lusty kindred Claps in with his gilt coach and Flandrian trotters And hurries her away to be a Countesse Courtiers have spies and great ones with large titles Cold in their owne estates would warme themselves At a rich city bonefire Is. Most true Madam Cel. No matter for corruption of the bloud Some undone Courtier made her husband rich And this new Lord receives it backe againe Admit it were my policie and that My entertainements pointed to
kin to Spirits The truth is nay if you looke pale already I ha done Are. Sir I beseech you Ale If you have But courage then to know the truth I le tell you In one word my chiefe friend is the devill Are. What devill How I tremble Ale Have a heart T was a shee divell too a most insatiate Abominable devill with a taile Thus long Are. Goodnesse defend me did you see her Al. No t was i' th darke but she appeard first to me I' th likenesse of a Bedlam and was brought I know not how nor whither by two Goblins More hooded than a Hawke Are. But would you venter Vpon a devill Al. I for meanes Are. How blacke An impudence is this But are you sure It was the devill you enjoy'd Al. Say nothing I did the best to please her but as sure As you live t was a Helcat Are. De' e not quake Al. I found my selfe the very same in i' th morning Where two of her familiars had left me Enter Servant Ser. My Lord is come to visite you Al. No words As you respect my safety I ha told tales Out of the devills schoole if it be knowne I lose a friend t is now about the time I promis'd her to meete agen at my Returne I le tell you wonders not a word Exit Are. T is a false glasse sure I am more deform'd What have I done my soule is miserable Enter Lord Lor. I sent you a letter Madam Are. You exprest Your noble care of me my Lord Enter Bornwell Celestina Bor. Your Lordship Does me an honour Lor. Madam I am glad To see you here I meant to have kist your hand Ere my returne to Court Cel. Sir Thomas has Prevaild to bring me to his trouble hither Lor. You doe him grace Bor. Why what 's the matter Madam Your eyes are tuning Lachrimae Are. As you Doe hope for heaven withdraw and give me but The patience of ten minutes Born Wonderfull I wonot heare you above that proportion Shee talkes of heaven come where must we to counsell Ar. You shall conclude me when you please Bo. I follow Lor. What alteration is this I that so late Stood the temptation of her eye and voyce Boasted a heart 'bove all licentious flame At second veiw turne renegade and thinke I was too superstitious and full Of phlegme not to reward her amorous Courtship With manly freedome Cel. I obey you sir Bor. I le waite upon your Lordship presently Lor. She could not want a cunning to seeme honest When I neglected her I am resolv'd You still looke pleasant Madam Cel. I have cause My Lord the rather for your presence which Hath power to charme all trouble in my thoughts Lor. I must translate that complement and owe All that is cheerefull in my selfe to these All quickning smiles and rather than such bright Eyes should repent their influence upon me I would release the aspects and quit the bountie Of all the other starres Did you not thinke me A strange and melancholy gentleman To use you so unkindly Cel. Me my Lord Lor. I hope you made no loude complaint I wod not Be tride by a Jury of Ladies Cel. For what my Lord Lor. I did not meete that noble entertainment You were late pleasd to shew me Cel. I observd No such defect in your Lorship but a brave And noble fortitude Lor. A noble folly I bring repentance for t I know you have Madam a gentle faith and wonot ruine What you have built to honour you Cel. What 's that Lor. If you can love I le tell your Ladiship Cel. I have a stubborne soule else Lor. You are all Composd of harmony Cel. What love de' e meane Lor. That which doth perfect both Madam you have heard I can be constant and if you consent To grace it so there is a spacious dwelling Prepar'd within my heart for such a Mistrisse Cel. Your Mistris my good Lord Lor. Why my good Lady Your sexe doth hold it no dishonour To become Mistris to a noble servant In the now court Platonicke way consider Who t is that pleades to you my birth and present Value can be no staine to your embrace But these are shadowes when my love appeares Which shall in his first miracle returne Me in my bloome of youth and thee a Virgin When I within some new Elisium Of purpose made and meant for us shall be In every thing Adonis but in his Contempt of love and court thee from a Daphne Hid in the cold rinde of a bashfull tree With such warme language and delight till thou Leape from that bayes into the queene of love And pay my conquest with composing garlands Of thy owne mirtle for me Cel. What 's all this Lor. Consent to be my Mistris Celestina And we will have it Spring-time all the yeare Vpon whose invitations when we walke The windes shall play soft descant to our feete And breathe rich odors to repure the aire Greene bowers on every side shall tempt our stay And Violets stoope to have us treade upon em The red rose shall grow pale being neere thy cheeke And the white blush orecome with such a forehead Here laid and measuring with our selves some banke A thousand birds shall from the woods repaire And place themselves so cunningly behinde The leaves of every tree that while they pay As tribute of their songs thou shat imagine The very trees beare musicke and sweet voyces Doe grow in every arbour here can we Embrace and kisse tell tales and kisse agen And none but heaven our rivall Cel. When we are Weary of these what if we shift our Paradise And through a grove of tall and even pine Descend into a Vally that shall shame All the delights of Tempe upon whose Greene plush the graces shall be cald to dance To please us and maintaine their Fairy revells To the harmonious murmurs of a streame That gently falls upon a rocke of pearle Here doth the Nimph forsaken Eccho dwell To whom we 'le tell the story of our love Till at our surfet and her want of joy We breake her heart with envy not farre off A grove shall call us to a wanton river To see a dying Swan give up the ghost The fishes shooting up their teares in bubbles That they must lose the Genius of their waves And such love linsey woolsey to no purpose Lor. You chide me hansomely pray tell me how You like this language Cel. Good my Lord forbeare Lor. You neede not flie out of this circle Madam These widowes so are full of circumstance I le undertake in this time I ha courted Your Ladiship for the toy to ha broken ten Nay twenty colts Virgins I meane and taught em The amble or what pace I most affected Cel. Y' are not my Lord agen the Lord I thought you And I must tell you now you doe forget Your selfe and me Lor. You 'le not be angry Madam Cel Nor rude though gay men