wee see your Father Ual. Soft Sir I hope you need not do it yet Let mee take this time Rin. Come you must not touch her Ual. No not before my Father Rin. No nor now Because you are so soone to practise it For I must bring them to him presentlie Take her Fortunio goe hence man and wife Wee will attend you rarely with fixt faces Valerio keepe your conntenaunce and conseaue Your Father in your forged sheepishnes Who thinks thou dar'st not looke vpon a Wench Nor knowest at which end to begin to kisse her Exeunt Finis Actus Prima Actus secundi Scaena prima Gostanzo Marcantonio Gost. It is your owne too simple lenitie And doting indulgence showne to him still That thus hath taught your Sonne to be no Sonne As you haue vs'd him therefore so you haue him Durst my Sonne thus turne rebell to his dutie Steale vp a match vnshuting his estate Without all knowledge of or friend or father And to make that good with a worse offence resolue to runne beyond Sea to the warres Durst my Sonne serue me thus well I haue stayd him Though much against my disposition And this howre I haue set for his repayre With his young mistresse and concealed wife And in my house here they shall soiourne both Till your blacke angers storme be ouer-blowne Mar. My angers storme Ah poore Fortunio One gentle word from thee would soone resolue The storme of my rage to a showre of teares Gost. In that vaine still well Marcantonio Gur olde acquaintance and long neighbourhood Ties my affection to you and the good Of your whole house in kinde regard whereof I haue aduisde you for your credite sake And for the tender welfare of your sonne To frowne on him a little if you do not But at first parle take him to your fauour I protest vtterly to renownce all care Of you and yours and all your amities They say hee 's wretched that out of himselfe Cannot draw counsell to his propper weale But hee 's thrice wretched that has neither counsell Within himselfe nor apprehension Of counsaile for his owne good from another Mâ—r. Well I will arme my selfe against this weaknes The best I can I long to see this Hellene That hath enchaunted my young Paris thus And 's like to set all our poore Trope on fire Enter Valerio with a Page Marc retyres himselfe Gost. Here comes my Sonne withdraw take vp your stand You shall heare odds betwixt your Sonne and mine Val. Tell him I can not doo 't Shall I be made A foolish Nouice my Purse set a broch By euerie cheating come you seauen to lend My Money and be laught at tell him plaine I professe Husbandrie and will not play The Prodigall like him gainst my profession Gost. Here 's a Sonne Mar. An admirable sparke Page Well sir I le tell him so Exit Page Ual. Sfoote let him lead A better Husbands life and liue not idlely Spending his time his coyne and selfe on Wenches Gost. Why what 's the matter Sonne Ual. Cry mercie Sir why there comes messengers From this and that braue Gallant and such Gallants As I protest I saw but through a Grate Gost. And what 's this Message Val. Faith Sir hee 's disappoynted Of payments and disfurnisht of meanes present If I would do him the kind office therefore To trust him but some seuen-night with the keeping Of fourtie Crownes for mee hee deepely sweare As hee 's a Gentleman to discharge his trust And that I shall eternally endeare him To my wisht seruice he protestes and contestes Gost. Good words Ualerio but thou art too 〈◊〉 To be deceiu'd by breath I le turne thee loose To the most cunning Cheater of them all Ual. Sfoote Hee 's not ashamde besides to charge mee With a late Promise I must yeeld in deed I did to shift him with some contentment Make such a friuall promise Gost. I well done Promises are no Fetters with that tongue Thy promise past vnpromise it againe Wherefore has Man a Tongue of powre to speake But to speake still to his owne priuate purpose Beastes vtter but one sound but Men haue change Of speach and Reason euen by Nature giuen them Now to say one thing and an other now As best may serue their profitable endes Mar. Ber-Ladie sound instructions to a Sonne Ual. Nay Sir he makes his claime by debt of friendship Gost. Tush Friendship 's but a Terme boy the fond world Like to a doting Mother glases ouer Her Childrens imperfections with fine tearmes What she calls Frindship and true humane kindnes Is onely want of true Experience Honestie is but a defect of Witt Respect but meere Rusticitie and Clownerie Mar. Better and better Soft here comes my Sonne Enter Fortunion Rinaldo and Gratiana Rin. Fortunio keepe your countenance See sir here The poore young married couple which you pleasd To send for to your house Gost. Fortunio welcome And in that welcome I imploy your wiues Who I am sure you count your second selfe He kisses her For. Sir your right noble fauours do exceede All powre of worthy gratitude by words That in your care supplie my Fathers place Gost. Fortunio I can not chuse but loue you Being Sonne to him who long time I haue lou'd From whose iust anger my house shall protect you Till I haue made a calme way to your meetings For. I little thought Sir that my Fathers loue Would take so ill so sleight a fault as this Gost. Call you it sleight Nay though his spirit take it In higher manner then for your lou'd sake I would haue wisht him yet I make a doubt Had my Sonne done the like if my affection Would not haue turnd to more spleene then your Fathers And yet I quallifie him all I can And doubt not but that time and my perswasion Will worke out your excuse since youth and loue Were th' vnresisted organies to seduce you But you must giue him leaue for Fathers must Be wonne by penitence and submission And not by force or opposition For. Ahlas Sir what aduise you mee to doe I know my Father to be highly moou'd And am not able to endure the breath Of his exprest displeasure whose hote flames I thinke my absence soonest would haue quencht Gost. True Sir as fire with oyle or else like them That quench the sire with pulling downe the house You shall remaine here in my house conceal'd Till I haue wonne your Father to conceiue Kinder opinion of your ouersight Ualerio entertaine Fortunio And his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and giue them conduct in Val. Y' are welcome sir Gost. What 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that all No entertainment to the Gentlewoman Ual. Forsooth y' are welcome by my Fathers leaue Gost. What no more complement Kisse her you sheepes-head Why when Go go Sir call your Sister hither Exit Ual. Ladie you le pardon our grosse bringing vp Wee dwell farre off from Court you may perceiue The sight of such a blazing Starre as you Dazles my rude
AL FOOLES A Comody Presented at the Black Fryers And lately before his Maiestie Written by George Chapman AT LONDON Printed for Thomas Thorpe 1605 Actors Gostanzo Knights Mar. Antonio Knights Valerio sonne to Gostanzo Fortunio elder sonne to Marc Antonio Rynaldo the younger Dariotto Courtiers Claudio Courtiers Cornelio A start-vp Gentleman Curio a Page Kyte a Scriuener Fraunces Pock a Surgeon Gazetta wife to Cor Bellonora daughter to Gostanzo Gratiana Stolne wife to Valerio Prologus THe fortune of a Stage like Fortunes selfe Amazeth greatest iudgements And none knowes The hidden causes of those strange effects That rise from this Hell or fall from this Heauen Who can shew cause why your wits that in-ayme At higher Obiects scorne to compose Playes Though we are sure they could would they vouchsafe it Should without meanes to make iudge better farre Then those that make and yet yee see they can For without your applause wretched is he That vndertakes the Stage and he 's more blest That with your glorious fauours can contest Who can shew cause why th' ancient Comick vaine Of Eupolis and Cratinus now reuiu'd Subiect to personall application Should be exploded by some bitter splenes Yet merely Comicall and harmelesse iestes Though nere so witty be esteem'd but toyes If voide of th other satyrismes sauce Who can shew cause why quick Uenerian iestes Should sometimes rauish sometimes fall farre short Of the iust length and pleasure of your eares When our pure Dames thinke them much lesse obscene Then those that winne your Panegyrick splene But our poore doomes alas you know are nothing To your inspired censure euer we Must needs submit and there 's the mistery Great are the giftes giuen to vnited heades To gifts attyre to faire attyre the stage Helps much for if our other audience see You on the stage depart before we end Our wits goe with you all and we are fooles So Fortune gouernes in these stage euents That merit beares least sway in most contents Auriculas Asini quis non habet How we shall then appeare we must referre To Magicke of your doomes that neuer erre All Fooles Actus primi Scaena prima Enter Rynaldo Fortunio Valerio Ryn. CAn one selfe cause in subiects so a like As you two are produce effect so vnlike One like the Turtle all in mournefull straines Wailing his fortunes Th' other like the Larke Mounting the sky in shrill and cheerefull notes Chaunting his ioyes aspir'd and both for loue In one loue rayseth by his violent heate Moyst vapours from the heart into the eyes From whence they drowne his brest in dayly showers In th' other his diuided power infuseth Onely a temperate and most kindly warmth That giues life to those fruites of wit and vertue Which the vnkinde hand of an vnciuile father Had almost nipt in the delightsome blossome For. O brother loue rewards our seruices With a most partiall and iniurious hand If you consider well our different fortunes Valerio loues and ioyes the dame he loues I loue and neuer can enioy the sight Of her I loue so farre from conquering In my desires assault that I can come To lay no battry to the Fort I seeke All passages to it so strongly kept By straite guard of her Father Ryn. I dare sweare If iust desert in loue measur'd reward Your fortune should exceede Valerios farre For I am witnes being your Bed fellow Both to the dayly and the nightly seruice You doe vnto the deity of loue In vowes sighes teares and solitary watches He neuer serues him with such sacrifice Yet hath his Bowe and shaftes at his commaund Loues seruice is much like our humorous Lords Where Minions carry more then Seruitors The bolde and carelesse seruant still obtaines The modest and respectiue nothing gaines You neuer see your loue vnlesse in dreames He Hymen puts in whole possession What different starres raign'd when your loues were borne He forc't to weare the Willow you the horne But brother are you not asham'd to make Your selfe a slaue to the base Lord of loue Be got of Fancy and of Beauty borne And what is Beauty a meere Quintessence Whose life is not in being but in seeming And therefore is not to all eyes the same But like a cousoning picture which one way Shewes like a Crowe another like a Swanne And vpon what ground is this Beauty drawne Vpon a Woman a most brittle creature And would to God for my part that were all Fort. But tell me brother did you neuer loue Ryn. You know I did and was belou'd againe And that of such a Dame as all men deem'd Honour'd and made me happy in her fauours Exceeding faire she was not and yet faire In that she neuer studyed to be fayrer Then Nature made her Beauty cost her nothing Her vertues were so rare they would haue made An Aethyop beautifull At least so thought By such as stood aloofe and did obserue her With credulous eyes But what they were indeed I le spare to blaze because I lou'd her once Onely I found her such 〈◊〉 for her sake I vow eternall warres against their whole sexe Inconstant shuttle-cocks louing fooles and 〈◊〉 Men rich in durt and tytles sooner woone With the most vile then the most vertuous Found true to none if one amongst whole hundreds Chance to be chaste she is so proude withall Way ward and rude that one of vnchaste life Is oftentimes approu'd a worthier wife Vndressed sluttish nasty to their husbands Spung'd vp adorn'd and painted to their louers All day in cesselesse vprore with their housholdes If all the night their husbands haue not pleas'd them Like hounds most kinde being beaten and abus'd Like wolues most cruell being kindelyest vs'd For. Fye thou prophan'st the deity of their sexe Ry. Brother I read that Aegipt heretofore Had Temples of the riches frame on earth Much like this goodly edifice of women With Alablaster pillers were those Temples Vphelde and beautified and so are women Most curiously glaz'd and so are women Cunningly painted too and so are women In out-side wondrous heauenly so are women But when a stranger view'd those phanes within In stead of Gods and Goddesses he should finde A painted fowle a fury or a serpent And such celestiall inner parts haue women Val. Rynaldo the poore Foxe that lost his tayle Perswaded others also to loose theirs Thy selfe for one perhaps that for desert Or some defect in thy attempts refus'd thee Reuil'st the whole sexe beauty loue and all I tell thee Loue is Natures second sonne Causing a spring of vertues where he shines And as without the Sunne the Worlds great eye All colours beauties both of Arte and Nature Are giuen in vaine to men so without loue All beauties bred in women are in vaine All vertues borne in men lye buried For loue informes them as the Sunne doth colours And as the Sunne reflecting his warme beames Against the earth begets all fruites and flowers So loue fayre shining in the inward man
politique dissembling Knight Now he perceives my Father so affectionate And that my brother may hereafter liue By him and his with equall vse of either He will put on a face of hollowe friendship But this will proue an excellent ground to sow The seede of mirthe amongst vs 〈◊〉 go seeke Valerio and my brother and tell them Such newes of their affaires as they 'le admire Exit Enter Gazetta Bellonora Gratiana Gaze. How happie are your fortunes aboue mine Both still being woode and courted still so feeding On the delightes of loue that still you finde An appetite to more where I am cloyde And being bound to loue sportes care not for them Bell. That is your fault Gazetta we haue Loues And wish continuall company with them In honour'd marriage rites which you enioy But seld or neuer can we get a looke Of those we loue Fortunio my deare 〈◊〉 Dare not be knowne to loue me nor come neere My Fathers house where I as in a prison Consume my lost dayes and the tedious nights My Father guarding me for one I 〈◊〉 And Gratiana here my brothers loue Ioyes him by so much 〈◊〉 that vehement feare Drinkes vp the sweetnesse of their stolne delightes Where you enloye a husband and may freely Performe all obsequies you desire to loue Gaze. Indeede I hane a husband and his 〈◊〉 Is more then I desire being vainely ielouse Extreames though contrarie haue the like effects Extreames heate mortifies like extreame colde Extreame loue breedes 〈◊〉 as well As extreame Hatred and too violent rigour Tempts Chastetie as much as too much Licence There 's no mans eye fixt on mee but doth pierce My Husbandes soule If any take my wel-fare Hee straight doubts Treason practis'd to his bed Fancies but to himselfe all likelihoods Of my wrong to him and layes all on mee For certaine trueths yet seekes he with his best To put Disguise on all his Ielosie Fearing perhaps least it may teach me that Which otherwise I should not dreame vpon Yet liues he still abrode at great expence Turns merely Gallant from his Farmers state Vses all Games and recreations Runnes Races with the 〈◊〉 of the Court Feastes them at home and entertaines them costly And then vpbraydes mee with their companie Enter 〈◊〉 See see wee shal be troubl'd with him now Cor. Now Ladyes what plots haue we now in hand They say when onely one Dame is alone Shee plots some mischiefe but if three together They plot three hundred Wife the Ayre is sharpe Y 'ad best to take the house least you take cold Gaz. Ahlas this time of yeere yeeldes no such danger Cor. Goe in I say a friend of yours attends you Gaz. Hee is of your bringing and may stay Cor. Nay stand not chopping Logicke in I pray Gaz. Yee see Gentle women what my happines is These humors raigne in mariage humors humors Exit he followith 〈◊〉 Now by my Sooth I am no fortune teller And would be loth to prooue so yet pronounce This at aduenture that t' were indecorum This Heffer should want hornes â—ll.. Fie on this Loue I rather wish to want then purchase so Gra. In deede such Loue is like a Smokie fire In a cold morning though the Fire be cheerefull Yet is the Smoke so sowre and combersome T' were better lose the Fire then finde the Smoke Such an attendant then as Smoke to Fire Is Ielosie to Loue Better want both Then haue both Enter Ualerio and Fortunio Ual. Come Fortunio now take hold On this occasion as my selfe on this One couple more would make a Barly-breake For. I feare Valerio wee shall breake too soone Your Fathers Ielosie Spy-all will displease 〈◊〉 Val. Well Wench the daye will come his Argus eyes Will shut and thou shalt open Sfoote I thinke Dame Natures memorie begins to fayle her If I write but my Name in Mercers Bookes I am as sure to haue at sixe months end A Rascole at my elbow with his Mace As I am sure my Fathers not farre hence My Father yet hath ought Dame Nature debt These threescore yeeres and ten yet cals not on him But if shee turne her Debt-booke ouer once And finding him her debtor do but send Her Sergeant Iohn Death to arrest his body Our Soules shall rest Wench then And the free Light Shall triumph in our faces where now Night In imitation of my Fathers frownes Lowres at our meeting Enter Rinald See where the Scholler comes Rin. Downe on your 〈◊〉 poore louers reuerence learning For. I pray thee why Rinaldo Rin. Marke what cause Flowes from my depth of knowledge to your loue To make you kneele and blesse me while you liue Ual. I pray thee good Scholards giue vs cause Rin. Marke then erect your eares you know what horror Would flye on your loue from your fathers frownes If he should know it And your sister here My brothers sweete hart knowes aswell what 〈◊〉 Would sease his powers for her if he should knowe My brother woo'd her or that she lou'd him Is not this true speake all Omn. All this is true Rin. It is as true that now you meete by stelth In depth of midnight kissing out at grates Clime ouer walles And all this 〈◊〉 reforme Vale. By Logicke Rin. Well sir you shall haue all meanes To liue in one house eate and drinke together Meete and kisse your fils Ual. All this by learning Rin. I and your frowning father know all this Val. I marry small learning may proue that Rin. Nay he shall know it and desire it too Welcome my Brother to him and your wife Entreating both to come and dwell with him Is not this strange For. I too strange to be true Rin. T is in this head shall worke it Therefore heare Brother this Lady you must call your wife For I haue tolde her sweet harts Father here That she is your wife and because my Father Who now beleeues it must be quieted Before you see him you must liue a while As husband to her in his Fathers house Ualerio here 's a simple meane for you To lye at racke and manger with your wedlocke And brother for your selfe to meete as freely With this your long desir'd and barred loue For. You make vs wonder Rin. Peace be ruld by mee And you shall see to what a perfect shape â—e bring this rude Plott which blind Chaunce the Ape Of Counsaile aduice hath brought foorth blind Ualerio can your heat of loue forbeare Before your Father and allow my Brother To vse some kindnes to your wife before him Ual. I before him I do not greatlie care Nor anie where in deed my Sister heere Shall be my spie if shee will wrong her selfe And giue her right to my wife I am pleasd For. My dearest life I know will neuer feare Anie such will or thought in all my powers When I court her then thinke I thinke t is thee When I embrace her hold thee in mine Armes Come let vs practise gainst
faire eyes Two wealthy diamants her lips mines of Rubies Her teeth are orient pearle her necke pure Iuory Mar. Iest not good Sir in an affayre so serious I loue my sonne and if his youth reward me With his contempt of my consent in mariage T is to be fear'd that his presumption buildes not Of his good choyce that will beare out it selfe And being bad the newes is worse then bad Gost. What call you bad is it bad to be poore Mar. The world accounts it so but if my soone Haue in her birth and vertues helde his choice Without disparagement the sault is lesse Gost. Sits the winde there blowes there so calme a gale From a contemned and deserued anger Are you so easie to be disobay'd Mar. What should I doe if my enamour'd sonne Haue been so forward I assure my selfe He did it more to satisfie his loue Then to incense my hate or to neglect me Gost. A passing kinde construction suffer this You ope him doores to any villany He 'le dare to sell to pawne runne euer ryot Despise your loue in all and laugh at you And that knights competency you haue gotten With care and labour he with lust and idlenesse Will bring into the stypend of a begger All to maintaine a wanton whirly-gig Worth nothing more then she brings on her back Yet all your wealth too little for that back By heauen I pitty your declining state For be assur'd your sonne hath set his foote In the right path-way to consumption Vp to the heart in loue and for that loue Nothing can be too deare his loue desires And how insatiate and vnlymited Is the ambition and the beggerly pride Of a dame hoysed from a beggers state To a state competent and plentifull You cannot be so simple not to know Mar. I must confesse the mischiefe But alas Where is in me the power of remedy Gost. Where in your iust displeasure cast him off Receiue him not let him endure the vse Of their enforced kindnesse that must trust him For meate and money for apparrell house And euery thing belongs to that estate Which he must learne with want of misery Since pleasure and a full estate hath blinded His dissolute desires Mar. What should I doe If I should banish him my house and sight What desperate resolution might it breed To runne into the warres and there to liue In want of competencie and perhaps Taste th' vnrecouerable losse of his chiefe limbes Which while he hath in peace at home with me May with his spirit ransome his estate From any losse his mariage can procure Gost. I st true Ne let him runne into the warre And lose what limbes he can better one branch Be lopt away then all the whole tree should perish And for his wants better young want then olde You haue a younger sonne at Padoa I like his learning well make him your heire And let your other walke let him buy wit Att 's owne charge not at 's fathers if you loose him You loose no more then that was lost before If you recouer him you finde a sonne Mar. I cannot part with him Gost. If it be so and that your loue to him be so extreame In needfull daungers euer chuse the least If he should be in minde to passe the Seas Your sonne Rynaldo who tolde me all this Will tell me that and so we shall preuent it If by no sterne course you will venture that Let him come home to me with his faire wife And if you chaunce to see him shake him vp As if your wrath were hard to be reflected That he may feare hereafter to offend In other dissolute courses At my house With my aduice and my sonnes good example Who shall serue as a glasse for him to see His faults and mend them to his president I make no doubt but of a dissolut Sonne And disobedient to send him home Both dutifull and thriftie Mâ—r. O Gostanzo Could you do this you should preserue your selfe A perfect friend of mee and mee a Sonne Gost. Remember you your part and feare not mine Rate him revile him and renounce him too Speake can you doo 't man Mar. I le do all I can Exit Mar. Gost. Ahlas good man how Nature ouer-wayes him Rynaldo comes foorth Ryn. God saue you Sir Gost. Rynaldo All the Newes You told mee as a secret I perceiue Is passing common for your Father knowes it The first thing he related was the Marriage Ryn. And was extreamly moou'd Gost. Beyond all measure But I did all I could to quench his furie Told him how easie t' was for a young man To runne that Amorous course and though his choyce Were nothing rich yet shee was gentlie borne Well quallified and beautifull But hee still Was quite relentles and would needes renounce him Ryn. My Brother knowes it well and is resolud To trayle a Pyke in Field rather then bide The more feard push of my vext Fathers furie Gost. Indeed that 's one way but are no more meanes Left to his fine wits then t' incence his Father With a more violent rage and to redeeme A great offence with greater Ryn. So I told him But to a desperat minde all breath is lost Gost. Go to let him be wise and vse his friendes Amongst whom I le be formost to his Father Without this desperate errour he intends Ioynd to the other I le not doubt to make his Easie returne into his Fathers fauour So he submit himselfe as duetie bindes him For Fathers will be knowne to be them selues And often when their angers are not deepe Will paint an outward Rage vpon their lookes Rin. All this I told him Sir but what sayes hee I know my Father will not be reclaymde Hee le thinke that if he wincke at this offence T' will open doores to any villanie I le dare to sell to pawne and run all ryot To laugh at all his patience and consume All he hath purchast to an honord purpose In maintenance of a wanton Whirligigg Worth nothing more then she weares on her backe Gost. The very words I vsd t' incense his Father But good Rinoldo let him be aduisde How would his Father grieue should he be maymd Or quite miscarie in the ruthles warre Rin. I told him so but better farr sayd hee One branch should vtterly be lopt away Then the whole Tree of all his race should perish And for his wants better yong want then eld Gost. By heauen the same words still I vsde t' his Father Why comes this about Well good Rinaldo If hee dare not indure his Fathers lookes Let him and his faire wife come home to me Till I haue quallified his Fathers passion He shall be kindly welcome and be sure Of all the intercession I can vse Rin. I thanke you sir I le try what I can doe Although I feare me I shall striue in vaine Gost. Well try him try him Exit Rin. Thanks sir so I will See this olde
would he haue it well sir Dari. A very necessary question canst thou limit the time Pock O sir cures are like causes in law which may be lengthned or shortned at the discretion of the Lawyer he can either keepe it greene with replications or reioinders or sometimes skinne it faire a' th outside for fashion sake but so he may be sure 't will breake out againe by a writt of error and then has he his suite new to begin but I will couenant with you that by such a time I le make your head as sound as a Bell I will bring it to suppuration and after I will make it coagulate and growe to a perfect Cycatrice and all within these ten dayes so you keepe a good dyet Dar. Well come Pock wee le talke farther on 't within it drawes neere dinner time what 's a clock boye Page By your clock sir it should be almost one for your head rung noone some halfe houre agoe Dar. I st true sir Val. Away let him alone though he came in at the window he sets the gates of your honor open I can tell you Dar. Come in Pock come apply and for this deede I le giue the Knaue a wound shall neuer bleed So sir I thinke this knock rings lowd acquittance For my ridiculouse Exeunt all but Rinal. Valer. Ryn. Well sir to turne our heads to salue your licence Since you haue vsd the matter so vnwisely That now your father has discern'd your humor In your too carelesse vsage in his house Your wife must come from his house to Antonios And he to entertaine her must be tould She is not wife to his sonne but to you Which newes will make his simple wit triumphe Ouer your father and your father thinking He still is guld will still account him simple Come sir prepare your villanous witt to faine A kinde submission to your fathers fury And we shall see what harty policie He will discouer in his fained Anger To blinde Antonios eyes and make him thinke He thinkes her hartely to be your wife Val. O I will gull him rarely with my wench Lowe kneeling at my heeles before his furie And iniury shal be salu'd with iniurie Finis Actus 3. ACTVS 4. SCENA 1. Marc-Ant Gostanzo Marc-Ant. You see how too much wisdome 〈◊〉 Out-shootes the truth you were so forwards still To taxe my ignorance my greene experience In these gray haires for giuing such advantage To my sonnes spirit that he durst vndertake A secret match so farre short of his woorth Your sonne so seasoned with obedience Euen from his youth that all his actions relish Nothing but dutie and your angers feare What shall I say to you if it fall out That this most precious sonne of yours has plaide A part as bad as this and as rebellious Nay more has grosely guld your witt withall What if my sonne has vndergone the blame That appertain'd to yours and that this wench With which my sonne is charg'd may call you father Shall I then say you want experience Y' are greene y' are credulous easie to be blinded Gost. Ha ha ha good Marc-Antonio When 't comes to that laugh at me call me foole proclaime so Let all the world take knowledge I am an Asse Marc. O the good God of Gods How blinde is Pride what Eagles we are still In matters that belong to other men What Beetles in our owne I tell you Knight It is consest to be as I haue tould you And Gratiana is by young Rinaldo And your white sonne brought to me as his wife How thinke you now Sir Gost. Euen iust as before And haue more cause to thinke honest Credulity Is a true Loadstone to draw on Decrepity You haue a hart to open to imbrace All that your eare receiues alas good man All this is but a plot for entertainment Within your house for your poore sonnes yong wife My house without huge danger cannot holde Mar. I st possible what danger Sir I pray Gost. 〈◊〉 tell you Sir t was time to take her thence My sonne that last day you saw could not frame His lookes to entertaine her now bir-lady Is grone a Courtier for my selfe vnseene Saw when he courted her imbrac't and kist her And I can tell you left not much vndone That was the proper office of your sonne Mar. What world is this Gost, I tolde this to Rinaldo Aduising him to fetch her from my house And his yong wit not knowing where to lodge her Vnlesse with you and saw that could not be Without some wyle I presently suggested This queint deuise to say she was my sonnes And all this plot good Marc-Antonio Flow'd from this fount onely to blinde our eyes Mar. Out of how sweete a dreame haue you awak't me By heauen I durst haue laid my part in heauen All had bin true it was so liuely handled And drawne with such a seeming face of trueth Your sonne had cast a perfect vaile of grief Ouer his face for his so rash offence To seale his loue with act of marriage Before his father had subscrib'd his choyce My sonne my circumstance lessening the fact Intreating me to breake the matter to you And ioyning my effectuall perswasions With your sonnes penitent submission Appease your fury I at first assented And now expect their comming to that purpose Gost. T' was well t' was well see me to beleeue it still Let Art end what Credulitie began When they come suire your words and lookes to theirs Second my sad Sonnes fain'd submission And see in all points how my braine will answere His disguisde grief with a set countenance Of and choller now obserue and learne To schoole your sonne by me Intrant Rynaldo Val Grat Mar. On with your maske here come the other maskers sir Rinal. Come on I say Your Father with submission wil be calm'd come on downe a your knees Gost. Villaine durst thou Presume to gull thy Father doost thou not Tremble to see my bent and cloudy browes Ready to thunder on thy gracelesse head And with the bolt of my displeasure cut The thred of all my liuing from thy life For taking thus a beggar to thy wife Val. Father if that part I haue in your blood If teares which so aboundantly distill Out of my inward eyes and for a neede Can drowne these outward lend me thy hand-kercher And being indeed as many drops of blood Issuing from the Creator of my hart Be able to beget so much compassion Not on my life but on this louely Dame Whom I hold dearer Gost. Out vpon thee villaine Marc. Nay good Gostanzo thinke you are a Father Gost. I will not heare a word out out vpon thee Wed without my aduise my loue my knowledge I and a begger too a trull a blowse Rinal. You thought not so last day when you offerd her A twelue months boord for one nights lodging with her Gost. Goe too no more of that peace good Rinaldo It is a fault
that onely she and you know Rein. Well sir go on I pray Gost. Haue I fond wretch With vtmost care and labour brought thee vp Euer instructing thee omitting neuer The office of a kinde and carefull Father To make thee wise and vertuous like thy father And hast thou in one acte euerted all Proclaim'd thy selfe to all the world a foole To wedde a begger Val. Father say not so Nay shee s thy owne here rise foole take her to thee Liue with her still I know thou countst thy selfe Happy in soule onely in winning her Be happy still heere take her hand enioy her Would not a sonne hazard his Fathers wrath His reputation in the world his birth-right To haue but such a messe of broth as this Marc. Be not so violent I pray you good Gostanzo Take truce with passion licence your sad sonne To speake in his excuse Gost. What what excuse Can any orator in this case excuse him What can he say what can be said of any Val. Ahlas sir heare me all that I can say In my excuse is but to shew loues warrant Gost. Notable wagge Val. I know I haue committed A great impiety not to mooue you first Before the dame I meant to make my wife Consider what I am yet young and greene Beholde what she is is there not in her I m her very eye a power to conquer Euen age it selfe and wisdome call to minde Sweete Father what your selfe being young haue bin Thinke what you may be for I doe not thinke The world so farre spent with you but you may Looke back on such a beauty and I hope To see you young againe and to liue long With young affections wisdome makes a man Liue young for euer and where is this wisdome If not in you ahlas I know not what Rests in your wisedome to subdue affections But I protest it wrought with me so strongly That I had quite bin drownd in seas of teares Had I not taken hold in happy time Of this sweete hand my hart had beene consum'de T' a heape of Ashes with the flames of loue Had it not sweetly bin asswag'd and cool'd With the moist kisses of these sugred lippes Gost. O puisant wag what huge large thongs he cuts Out of his friend Fortunios stretching leather Marc. He knows he does it but to blinde my eyes Gost. O excellent these men will put vp any thing Ual. Had I not had her I had lost my life Which life indeed I would haue lost before I had displeasd you had I not receau'd it From such a kinde a wise and honour'd Father Gost. Notable Boy Val. Yet doe I here renounce Loue life and all rather then one houre longer Indure to haue your loue eclipsed from me Gra. O I can hold no longer if thy words Be vs'd in earnest my Valerio Thou woundst my hart but I know t ist in Iest Gost. No I le be sworne she has her lyripoope too Grat. Didst thou not sweare to loue me spight of Father all the world That nought should seuer vs but death it selfe Ual. I did but if my father Will haue his sonne foresworne vpon his soule The blood of my black periurie shall lye For I will seeke his fauour though I dye Gost. No no liue still my sonne thou well shalt know I haue a fathers hart come ioyne your hands Still keepe thy vowes and liue together still Till cruell death set foote betwixt you both Val. O speake you this in earnest Gost. I by heauen Val. And neuer to recall it Gost. Not till death Rinal. Excellent sir you haue done like your selfe What would you more Valerio Ual. Worshipfull Father Rinal. Come sir come you in and celebrate your ioyes Exeunt all saue the old men Gost. O Marc-Antonio Had I not armd you with an expectation Would not this make you pawne your very soule The wench had bin my sonnes wife Marc. Yes by heauen A knauerie thus effected might deceiue A wiser man then I for I ah las Am noe good polititian plaine beleeuing Simple honesty is my policy still Gost, The visible markes of folly honesty and quick Credulitie his yonger brother I tell you Marc-Antonio there is mutch In that young boy my Sonne Marc. Not much honesty if I may speake without offence to his father Gost. O God you cannot please me better sir H 'as honesty enough to serue his turne The lesse honesty euer the more wit But goe you home and vse your daughter kindly Meane time I le schoole your sonne and do you still Dissemble what you know keepe off your sonne The wench at home must still be my sonnes wife Remember that and be you blinded still Marc. You must remember too to let your sonne Vse his accustom'd visitations Onely to blinde my eyes Gost. He shall not faile But still take you heede haue a vigilant eye On that slie childe of mine for by this light Hee le be too bould with your sonnes forhead els Marc. Well sir let me alone I le beare a braine Exeunt Enter Ualerio Rynaldo Val. Come they are gone Ryn. Gone they were farre gone heere Val. Guld I my father or guld he himselfe Thou toldst him Gratiana was my wife I haue confest it he has pardoned it Ryn. Nothing more true enow can witnesse it And therefore when he comes to learne the truth As certainly for all these slie disguises Time will strip Truth into her nakednesse Thou hast good plea against him to confesse The honor'd Action and to claime his pardon Val. T is true for all was done he deeply swore Out of his hart Ryn. He has much faith the whiles That swore a thing so quite against his hart Val. Why this is pollicie Ryn. Well see you repaire To Gratiana daily and enioy her In her true kinde and now we must expect The resolute and ridiculous diuorce Cornelio hath sued against his wedlock Val. I thinke it be not so the Asse dotes on her Ryn. It is too true and thou shalt answere it For setting such debate twixt man and wife See we shall see the solemne maner of it Enter Cor Darioto Claud. Notarie Page Gazetta Bell Gratiana Bell. Good Signior Cornelio let vs poore Gentlewomen intreate you to forbeare Cor. Talke no more to me I le not be made Cuckold in my owne house Notarie read me the diuorce Gazet. My deare Cornelio examine the cause better before you condemne me Cor. Sing to me no more Syren for I will heare thee no more I will take no compassion on thee Page Good Signior Cornelio be not too mankinde against your wife say y' are a cuckold as the best that is may be so at 〈◊〉 time will you make a trumpet of your owne hornes Cor. Goe too sir y' are a rascall we giue you a fee for pleading for her one day Notary doe you your office Val. Goe too Signior looke better to your wife and be better aduised before you grow to this extremitie Cor.