Whore and with less sin To your present Lust than Queen to your injustice I 'll tell your Grace so Dear I hold the Queen I 'd first take me for my Love a Moor One of your Gally-Slaves that cold and hunger Decripit misery had made a mock Man Than be your Queen Fr. You are bravely resolute Ev. I had rather be a Leper and be shunn'd And dye by pieces rot into my Grave And leave no memory behind to know me Than be a high Whore to eternity Fr. Now my Sorano where 's that Resolution On which I fondly thought to build my Love Behold that frown each look each word she speaks At once inflame and check my strong desires I 'm like a wretched Slave half starv'd to Death That has within his view a goodly Feast Yet dares not with one Morsel save his Life Sor. I know not what to think some other gamester Holds her in play she durst not slight you else Fr. I 'll find him out tho' he lye next her heart Too cruel Maid will nothing win your Love Brought you those Excellencies to the World To lock 'em in a Case or hang 'em by you The use is all Nature bestow'd 'em sor Ev. But how to use 'em right will be the hazard What 's Beauty with a lame decripit Soul Honour and Riches with a guilty Conscience A poor unhappy Orphan this Lord found me When I had nothing I could call my own But a variety of misery And with a tender hand reliev'd my wants Preserr'd me to your Noble Ladies Service Now my most Gracious Queen where I have learn't And daily fed upon her vertuous precepts Still growing strong by example of her goodness And shall I now dare once but think to wrong her To violate the chast Joys of her Bed Then farewel Vertue and all truth in Woman You may find time out in Eternity Deceit and Violence in heavenly Justice Life in the Grave and Death among the blessed Sooner than tempt me to your vain illusions Exit Fr. She 's gone and flew like swiftest Lightning from me But left a sting behind her as she went Shall I that broke all bars that cou'd oppose me In my pursuit of large imperial power And in a Purple torrent swam to Empire Bear any opposition in my Love I must Sorano Frederick must enjoy her Tho' she turns fury in my circling Arms And breaths forth in her Kisses swift destruction Sor. Strive for the present to compose your self And with fair Signs of Love receive Valerio Tho' you have mark't him down for death smile on him Fr. Yes my Sorano the proud Slave must dye For I remember in my Father's time Who bred him with his Sons one Table sed One Tutor taught and one Purse still supply'd us How he in scorn would laugh at my slow progress â—…th ' Exercises he grew Master of Outrivalling my best performances For which I then did envy and still hate him Besides he grows too popular and looks With a suspicious Eye upon my greatness Sor. Think him my Lord and curst Alphonso nothing Whom tho distracted still the People love Death waits my pleasure and stands ready for ' em Enter Alphonso with Priuli and 2 or 3 Courtiers more Alph. You say true my Lord Jason was the man but what are the times to us they 'll burst and stink when once they are swoln with Surfeits stink so abominably that all the world shall smell ' em Pr. What saith my Lord Alph. I say 't is possible for poor men to offend and great forgive but it must not be in the Dog-days Was you ever in Love 1. Cour. Yes my good Lord. Alph. If you have a strong faith then you may be saved but you must first learn to ravish twenty or thirty coy Wenches in a morning tho here they are so willing 't is a complement for Sir you may be a Bawd and yet counted an honest man Fr. How do you Brother Alph. Well I thank you sound in body and in my right wits tho some hold there 's a great difference between a high born Princess and a Cow-keepers Daughter but of this you may consult your Council Fr. Trust me it makes me weep to see you thus Al. I would bear you Company but the world goes on so merrily I can't find in my heart ha ha ha Do you see that old Lord there he lost his wits for want of preferment but bush you 'll tell the King Your pardon my Lord I did not see you Sor. My Lord Alphonso Alph. Wipe your mouth before you speak my Lord you 'll spoil your Speech else A warlike Shout within The Scene draws and discovers a Royal Throne on which the King places himself then Valerio enters in a Triumphal wanner being ushered in with a Song Fr. Rise to my arms Valerio And as a just Reward of all thy Labours Accept my Love and to confirm that Love Ask what thou wilt thou shalt not ask in vain Instruct thy King teach him what he must do To show how much be loves such early vertue Val. Low on my Knees I thank my royal Master And may I be most infamously wretched When I forget my Duty to my King Thus then encourag'd I dare boldly ask Not as a just Reward to crown my labours For know Sir 't is a gift above all merit Were I as great as ever Caesar was Like Pompey just or Alexander valiant Were all th' exalted Vertues of mankind Blended together to inform one Soul Were that Soul plac'd in a majestick body Blest with an everlasting youth and beauty Yet would Evanthe far exceed that wonder And her your Soldier asks for on his knees Joyn you our hands my Lord as Love has joyn'd our hearts Fr. Ha my Sorano dost thou hear the Traitor Val. Evanthe sent Valerio to the field For her I suffer'd all the toils of War Summer Fateigues and tedious Winter Colds Evanthe led the Soldier forth to fight Evanthe gave the word of battle fought Conquer'd and here she comes to crown my Triumph Enter Evanthe Evan. And here she comes to die within these Arms If Fate has not ordain'd she should live there Val. Live and breed wonders for succeeding ages Be like a never emptied spring of joys Sweeter than life lovely as spotless honour Here let me press thee in the arms of Love Close to my breast to which thou art far dearer Than my own heart that sallies forth to meet thee Evan. VVhat shall I say to answer all thy kindness I love like thee but have no time to talk But fly to view the mansion of my bliss Where my blest ears so often have been fed VVith the soft notes of kind indulgent love My busy eyes in haste survey thee round For fear I should be torn for ever from thee Before they have renew'd their old acquaintance Val. For fear thou should'st be torn for ever from me Life cannot part and Death shall ne're divide
to desire and still desire in vain Is there no end of all my Miseries And of your cruel and severe Disdain Evanthe Alass My Lord. Sor. Can you have eyes to wound Yet want those eyes to see the wounds you make Why has Heav'n giv'n you Beauty to destroy And not a Heart to pity these you kill A long and tedious Service have I paid you Ev'n from your Childhood I have been your Slave Courted the earliest glories of your Youth With the sincerest Love before you was To others known by me you was ador'd Madam I am Evan. You are indeed my Lord More than the nicest gratitude can speak you Here on my Knees to the great Gods I witness How much I love how much I honour you My Father and my Friend even then a Friend When Heav'n it self had left me sever'd me From the lov'd care of an indulgent Parent Torn from my Arms all that was precious to me All the dear blessings for which still I bow'd In daily thanks before their sacred Altars Ev'n then my Lord your charitable hand Stood betwixt me and their severest anger All this I own and to the Gods dare speak it But yet my honoured Lord Sor. But yet Evanthe Ungrateful I must call her does reject All the Endearments of an humble Love Contemns that hand that rais'd her thus to Life Rais'd her above the reach of Fortune made her The Idol of Mens Hearts and Subject of their Tongues Evan. Alas my Lord if a sincere Respect Equal to that with which a pious Child Meets the kind blessings of a tender Parent Are Marks of a Contempt then let Heav'n witness Let Heav'n and Earth witness against Evanthe A more unworthy Wretch did never taste A good Man's bounty this is all I have How am I able then to pay you more Sor. Not more Yes more than all the world can give More than the Gods themselves should they vouchsafe To crown Sorano with their choicest blessings How cunningly you would decline my Suit And knowing all affect an Ignorance Are then these sighs and tears these eyes that speak A passion far too great to be conceal'd No better known no better understood Let me then on my Knees Evan. Let me on mine Entreat my Lord to pardon his Evanthe If she confesses she can never love Some secret power too great to be withstood Has thrown a fatal Bar between our Hearts Parted our Souls never to meet in love Sor. Be it so then and by that power I swear Never to court your scornful beauties more But know proud Maid there is a Man adores you Not all your artful Looks your Womans Pride Nor the rough hand of fate itself should that Stand betwixt him and his desires can soften The King the haughty King loves thee Evanthe Dotes on thee ev'n to Madness and by Force Will gather all those Virgin Sweets which I With my best Services could never merit Go and prepare you for the royal Sport Get to your Patches and your Paint and try By Art to please this mighty man of power Learn to look big and strut it in the Court Y' have Pride enough and there it will become you But when y' have done the business you was rais'd for When joys repeated dull the edge of Love And amorous heat then to the Stews convey you There you may thrive and there I hope to find you Exit Evan. The King the King 's the Rock that must destroy me Whose stubborn Will blown by unbounded power Runs o're all Bars that check him in his Course O my Valerio hasten to my succor Let some kind power the Witness of our Vows Inform thy Soul how much Evanthe wants thee The King he shall be serv'd but how not this way Death is a ready Friend on all occasions If I can't live a Saint I 'll dye a Martyr Exit Enter Q. Mother Alphonso Pisano and Petruchio Alph. Ha ha ha Indeed Madam you must pardon me I grant you I can see every day a musty Churchman railing at Covetousness in one Room and his Wife gaming in the next a merry Poet laughing at a dapper Courtier and a surly Officer grinning at him again nay a rich old Alderman inviting the young fellow home to dinner this morning that lay with his Wife last night and never be mov'd but to see a great Man nay a Prince dancing to every Fidler Q. M. Why who ever did Alph. Did you never bless your good fortune then for it would make your Heart ake to see as much as I have Q. M. Nay gentle Son Alph. Nay gentle Mother I know what you would say you would ask me what I want and alas I want many things 't would puzzle a Lawyers Atithmetick to reckon how many things I want But in the first place I want a Wife for between you and me Madam what should such tall overgrown fellows like myself live any longer without Wives I know you 'll say they make Fools of us why be it so I have been my own Fool long enough 't is time now I should be some ones else for would one think it nay freinds you must bear me witness too would one think it Q. M. Think what Son Alph. Nay nothing never think on 't my brains are almost turn'd with thinking Q. M. For which of all my sins have I deserv'd this Curse Alph. What you weep now and perhaps 't is for my Father and yet I have seen some women and they wise ones too do as much for the loss of a Lap-dog but Madam tell me did you ever see a Lawyer with a Fee in both hands Q. M. Belike I have Alph. Why then you saw the Picture of Justice you 'll find his Breviate pinn'd to his back Q. M. Alas my Son these are disjointed Speeches The issue of a rackt distemper'd brain Alph. That 's as much as to say I am a Fool or a Madman but go tell my Brother on 't he 'll thank you for the discovery for let me tell you if 't was not for Fools what business would Knaves have in this world Q. M. To see him thus his Soul thus lost in darkness Is worse than death ye Gods why did his youth Disclose such early hopes of future greatness That blasted e're age cou'd secure 'em to us Why in the Man do we with sorrow miss What in the Child we did with joy admire Alph. If the King would make me a Privy Councellor as I may grow great before I dye I 'de advise him to think more and talk less 't will become his greatness for now adays there is but this difference betwixt your Wise man and your Fool the Wise man laughs at other mens Jests and the Fool always at his own like a Cat playing with her own Tail and so tickles himself with his own fingers Q. M. Observe him Gentlemen and whatsoever A poor unhappy woman's Love can pay You may rest well assur'd of Pis We thank your
mistrust thee Then when his Slaves in their repeated Io's Their l ud applauses raise him to the Skies And place another's Laurels on his brows Then then to clip the Wings of this proud Falcon When he soars highest and sink him down to Hell Will be added to mount us up to Heav'n Pis But Heav'n is sooner scal'd than this perform'd I mean this way for sure my honour'd Lord Has not forgot the custom of his Naples On the return of her Victorious Sons Who have with foreign Nations fought her battles None are t' appear in Arms the day of Triumph Throughout the City or the Court but those The General shall appoint to show That he who fought so well abroad deserves To rule at home Shall we then to trust our fortunes To the success of such a rash attempt Suppose us arm'd yet how can we prevail ' Gainst such a multitude that will oppose us Alp. No matter we are now by much too forward To talk of going back it will not be Surely fate interposes and unravels What our best care has been so long designing Must then my Soul be still lock'd up in Prison Furl'd up in darkness and the Womb of Night Ne're to walk forth again in her own Majesty Why have I reason and yet dare not use it A Soul for Empire born yet live a Slave I 'le do 't my self methinks I do behold My Royal Father and my murder'd Brother From yon' blue orb inciting me to action Now their pale Ghosts all trembling full of horror Just as they fell bloated with rankest poison In pitious action urge me to revenge Rest rest in the cold beds of silent death 'Till loud revenge shall raise you to behold And wonder at my Justice then in a peal of Thunder Let conscious Heav'n applaud my ministring hand Pis My Lord the day succeeding this o' th' Triumph It being that on which he first was Crown'd The Tyrant dedicates to ease and pleasure What hinders but we then compleat his ruine The Gates lye open to receive all Strangers That come to grace his Pride and praise his Fortunes Alp. O my best Friend had I the World to give It shou'd be thine for such another thought To do it then will look as if high Heaven Had still presided o're our pious Counsels And th' hand of fate had led us to his ruine Hast my Petruchio tell old honest Pedro The Gods are met in Council to determine And bless our high resolves the Circle of his Reign Begins to be compleat the Sun that gave His Empire birth must light him to his Grave Exeunt ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Frederick and Sorano Fred. COME to my Arms my Father Brother Friend To thee thy Frederick owes his Life and Crown And what he values more than both his Love To thee he owes Evanthe his Evanthe Shall she be mine Shall the kind tender fair one Soften the troubles of ill purchas'd power And Usurpation Shall the Charms of Love Silence the clamours of a guilty Conscience Sor. She shall be yours she is already so Sorano is the Slave of your desires Ready to fling his Soul upon your Service Nay more his Love for know I love her too My active Father when he first inform'd My Mother what a Woman was ne're knew Desires like mine but yet she shall be yours I that have made you great will make you happy Fr. Friend Father Brother are too feeble names T' express my Love I 'le call thee my Sorano How has my Youth been hitherto misled Restless ambition and the thirst of Empire Hung like an Ague on my active Spirits Till beauty came to thaw the restiff Mass New fram'd my Soul and taught me how to love Sor. Love then and give a loose to your desires Let your Soul revel in those Charms that drew Great Jove himself from his Coelestial Throne To taste on Earth Joys he ne're knew in Heaven Fred. Yes I will Love but I 'le Love like a King Not quit my Majesty to be a Slave Whine out an Amorous tale and dully ask On my Knees ask for what I can Command In Thunder I 'le embrace this Semele Sor. First try by gentle means to win her Love If those fall short then force her to your Arms I 've sent my Man unto her Upon some private business to come presently Hither she 'll come Your Grace dare speak unto her Large golden promises and sweet Language Sir You know what they work she 's a compleat Courtier Enter Servant Ser. My Lord your Servant waits Sor. Bid him come in and bring the Lady with him She 's coming in Sir Ev. Whither dost thou go This is the King's side and his private Lodgings I have no private business through his Chambers To seek him this way O my life I find it Thou art Drunk or worse hired to convey me hither For some base end The King here and Sorano I find I 'm trap't now gentle Love inspire me And Honour help in this unequal Combat Sor. Nay shrink not back the good King will not hurt you He Honours you and Loves you Ev. My Lord you once did Love and Honour me So you have told me oft and I believ'd it Sor. I do so still my labours to advance you Proclaim aloud how much I honour you Fred. Gentle Evanthe Ev. The gentle Queen is well I hear and now returning home Fr. I talk not of the Queen I talk of thee sweet Flower Ev. Your Grace is pleasant to mistake a Nettle for a Rose Fr. No Rose nor Lilly nor no glorious Hyacinth Are of that Whiteness Sweetness Tenderness Softness and satisfying blessedness As my Evanthe Ev. Your Grace speaks very seelingly I would not be a handsome Wench in your way For a new Gown Fr. Thou art all handsomness Nature will be asham'd to frame another Now thou art made th' hast robb'd her of her cunning But Love Evanthe Ev. Good your Grace be patient I shall make the worst honourable Wench Shame your Discretion and your Choice Fr. Thou shalt not Ev. Shall I be Rich do you say and Glorious Fr. Thou shalt be any thing Ev. Let me be honest too and then I 'll thank you Have you not such a Title to bestow too If I prove otherwise I would know but this Can all the power you have or all the Riches But tye Men's Tongues up from discoursing of me Their Eyes from gazing at my glorious folly Time that shall come from wondring at my impudence And they that read my wanton life from Curses Fr. Stay Evanthe I 'll Marry thee Ev. What shall the Queen do then Fr. I 'll be Divorc'd from her Ev. Can you tell why What has she done against you Has she contriv'd a Treason ' gainst your Person Abus'd your bed do's disobedience urge you Fr. 'T is all one 't is my will Ev. 'T is a most wicked one A most absurd one and will show a Monster I had rather be a
Lordship Al. Very well one two three you can't hurt me for all that Cl. What thinks your Lordship of this Wedding Alp. They have given him a hot Custard and mean to burn his mouth with it Men. Pray my Lord what News these Wars have made us Strangers to the Court. Alp. You may be honest and grow old as I am and blow your fingers ends Men. My Lord that 's no News Alp. You may be Knaves then when you please stark Knaves and build fair Houses but your Heirs shall have none of ' em Men. These are undoubted Al. Truth is not worth the hearing I 'll tell you News then there was a drunken Sailer that got a Mermaid with Child as she went a milking and now she sues him in the Bawdy Court for it the Infant Monster is brought up in Fish street Cl. Ay this is something Al. I 'll tell you more because y' are Soldiers there was a Fish taken a monstrous Fish with a Sword by his side a long Sword a Pike in his Neck and a Gun in his Nose and Letters of Mart in his Mouth from the Duke of Florence Men. With submission my Lord this sounds something odly Al. I do confess it do you think I wou'd tell you truths that dare not hear 'em You are honest things we Courtiers scorn to converse with Men. He 'll grow mad anon and beat us let us to the Masque Exeunt Al. Can there be any nature so unnoble Or anger so inhumane to pursue this Yes he that cou'd not hear the voice of nature That call'd aloud when by his barbarous hands A Father fell will have his Ears seal'd up In the commission of a meaner Act Enter Pedro Pisano and Petruchio Ped. Marry'd yes when I mean to be hang'd 't is the surer Contract Al. Was not the Monster ripe for Hell already He shou'd live something longer to compleat This last design and make his damning sure Ped. Why don't we about it then What do we stand preaching for You my Lords may have your quirks and quiddles your times and occasions but I know no more than a Word and a Blow let us first cut his throat and talk on 't afterwards Al. Nay we 'll do more than talk the fatal thread Which held the Sword of Justice o're his head H' has cut himself to make destruction sure The evening of his Reign draws on apace But if we don 't with timely care prevent him He 'll mark his way with ruine as he falls And like a fiery Meteor set in blood Ped. Why so it be his own 't is no matter Why are we not in arms and the whole City given to know Al. Discreetly and privately it must be done 't will miss else and prove our ruines when you all hear the Castle Bell take courage and stand like Men mean time be near his person to avoid suspicion I must into the presence my Mother's fears will work else Exit cum Pisano and Petruchio Scene draws and discovers the Court seated for the Masque that ended the King speaks Fr. Come to the Banquet Sir when that 's ended I 'll see you in your Bed and then good night Be merry you have a sweet Bedfellow Val. I thank your Grace and ever shall be bound unto your Nobleness Fr. I pray I may deserve that thanks set forward Exeunt Omneâ— ACT III. SCENE I. Sorano Solus Sor. TO love and be with Scorn and Pride rejected To see another revel in those Joys Those sweet Delights I now must never hope for Love at the best tho crown'd with soft compliance Is but a sickly transport of the mind A weakness wise men ever were asham'd of Then when 't is hopeless what brave Soul can bear it Yet still I love and loving must enjoy I feel that Fire I once hop'd quite extinct Dilate it self with a redoubled fury The King and this Valerio stand betwixt Me and my hopes therefore both shall dye Him I 'll make odious for Valerio's death And mad Alphonso's what 's the consequence The people mischief-ripe rais'd by my power Shall kill the Tyrant and at once make way For Love and my Ambition Here comes one Ripe for the combat and those fancy'd joys Which like a shadow still shall fly before him Enter Val. Val. They drink abundantly I 'm hot with Wine too Lustily warm I 'll steal now to my happiness 'T is midnight and the silent hours invite me The Dew of Wine and Sleep hang on their Eye-lids Steep their dull senses in the healths they drink That I may quickly find my lov'd Evanthe Sor. How brisk he is but I shall quickly cool him Make him wish he were dead on 's Marriage night Or bedrid with old age Val. Is not the end of our ambitions Of all our humane studies Obtaining of our wishes Certain it is and there man makes his center I have my wish what 's left me to accuse now I 'm friends with all the world but thy base malice To Sor. Go glory in thy mischiefs thou proud man And cry it to the world thou hast ruin'd vertue Sor. You 'll sing me a new Song anon Valerio And wish these hot words Val. I despise thee fellow Thy threats or flatteries all I fling behind me I have obtain'd Evanthe I have marry'd her And Fate shall not with-hold me from enjoying her Sor. 'T is very likely Val. And that short time I have to bless me with her I 'll make an age I 'll reckon each embrace A year of pleasure and each night a jubilee Ev'ry quick kiss a spring and when I mean To lose my self in all delightfulness Twenty sweet Summers I will tye together I will dye old in love tho young in pleasure Sor. But that I hate thee deadly I could pity thee Thou art the poorest miserable thing This day on earth I 'll tell thee why Valerio All thou esteemest and build'st upon for happiness For joy for pleasure for delight is past thee And like a wanton dream already vanish Val. Is my Love false Sor. No she is constant to thee Constant to all thy misery she shall be And curse thee too Val. Is my strong body weaken'd Charm'd or abus'd with subtle drink Sor. Neither I dare speak thee still as lusty As when thou lov'dst her first as strong and hopeful The month th' hast given thee is a month of misery And where thou think'st each hour shall yeild a pleasure Look for a killing pain for thou shalt find it Before thou diest each minute shall prepare it And ring so many Knells to sad afflictions Val. Undo thy Riddle I am prepar'd whatever fate shall follow Sor. Dost thou see this Ring Val. Yes and know it too 't is the King's Sor. Then mark me by vertue of this Ring this I pronounce thee 'T is the King's will Val. Let me know it suddenly Sor. If thou dost offer to touch Evanthe's body Beyond a kiss tho thou art marry'd to her And
and burn like Aetna Youth and desire beat Larums to my Blood And add fresh fuel to my warm affections Hast thee Evanthe to the Genial bed The happy Scene of our approaching Bliss And Joys blest Lovers never knew before Yes we will love not all the powers on Earth Or Hell it self shall ever hope to part us Each Minute as it swiftly glides along Shall bear the pleasures of whole Ages with it And witness to the rest our spotless Love Great Love himself with his officious Wings Ev'n in the midst of all our furious transports Shall gently raise and strengthen our desires Ev. Come le ts dispatch then Ev. It will not be for when I weigh her danger The thoughts of that lock up all powers of youth O what a blessedness 't were to be old now Or half on Crutches to meet holy Hymen That that speaks other men most freely happy And makes all eyes hang on their expectations Youth and Ability must prove my bane Ev. Fie fie my Lord if any one shou'd come And find us at this distance what wou'd they think Val. No to enjoy thee is to be luxurious O how I burn to pluck thee from the Stalk Where now thou grow'st a sweet and heavenly Flower And bear'st the prime and honour of the Garden Is but to violate thy Spring and spoil thee Ev. To let me blow and fall alone wou'd anger ye Val. Let 's sit together thus and as we sit Feed on the sweets of one anothers Souls Where no allay of actual dull desires Of humane fire that burns out as it kindles Can ever mix letâ—s fix on that Evanthe That 's everlasting the other casual Eternity breeds one the other Fortune Blind as her self and full of all Afflictions Shall we love vertuously Ev. I ever lov'd so Val. And only think our love the rarest pleasure And that we most desire let it be humane If once enjoy'd grows stale and cloys our appetite I wou'd not lessen in my love for any thing Nor find thee but the same in my short Journey For my loves safety Ev. Now I see I 'm old Sir Old and ill-favour'd too poor and despis'd And am not worthy your noble fellowship Your fellowship in Love you wou'd not else Thus cunningly seek to betray a Maid Strive to abuse the pious love she brings you Farwel my Lord since you have another Mistress Val. Stay my Evanthe Heav'n bear em witness thou art all I love All I desire and now have pity on me As I shall want it much Forgive me Justice Youth and affection stop your ears unto me Aside Ev. Why do you Weep if I have spoke too harshly And unbeseeming my belov'd Lord My care and duty pardon me Val. O hear me Hear me Evanthe I am all on torture And this lye tears my Conscience as I vent it I am no Man Aside Ev. How Sir Val. No Man for pleasure no Womans Man Ev. Goodness forbid my Lord fure you abuse your self Val. 'T is true Evanthe Ev. He weeps bitterly 'T is my hard fortune bless all young Maids from it Is there on help my Lord in art will comfort ye Val. I hope there is Ev. 'T is hard to die for nothing Now you shall know 't is not the pleasure Sir That Women aim at I affect you for 'T is for your Worth nay I still honour you And with all duty to my Husband follow you Will you to bed now you are asham'd it seems Pigmalion pray'd and his cold stone took life You do not know with what zeal I shall ask Sir And what rare miracle that may work on you Still blush prescribe your Law Val. I prithee pardon me To bed and I 'll sit by thee and mourn with thee I pray to Heaven when I am gone Evanthe As my poor date is but a Span of Time now To recompence thy noble patience Thy Love and Vertue with a fruitful Husband Honest and Honourable Ev. Come you have made me weep now All fond desires die here and welcome Chastity As for this Tyrant we 'll so torture him With such a pious scorn that we will shake him And when Valerio and Evanthe sleep In one rich Earth hung round about with blessings He shall grow mad with shame repent too late And sink I th' ruines of our happier fate Exeunt The end of the third Act. ACT IV. Enter Frederick Fr. MEthinks the Sun this morning mounts the Sky With a pale face and Death plays in his Beams Why be it so they dart it on Alphonso But add new life to my continu'd pleasures Sorano's always witty in his mischief To Poyson him and by my Mothers hand Will be a double stroke and sweep away The only bars that check my sweet delights Cou'd I but gain this Maid too I were happy Come hither Time how does your noble Mistress Enter Cassandra Cass As a Gentlewoman may do in her Case that 's newly marri'd Sickly and fond on 't and please your Majesty Fr. She 's breeding then and eats good Broths and Jellies Cass I 'm sure she sighs Sir and weeps good Lady Fr. Alass good Lady for it She shou'd have one cou'd comfort her Cassandra Cou'd turn those Tears to Joys a lusty comforter Cass A comfortable man does well at all hours For he brings comfortable things Fr. Come hither and hold your Fan between you have eaten Onions Her breath stinks like a Fox her teeth are Contagious These old Women are all Elder Pipes do you mark me He gives her a Purse Cass But does your Grace think I am fit that am both old and vertuous Fr. Therefore the fitter the older still the better I know thou art as holy as an old Cope Yet upon necessary use Cass 'T is true Fr. Her feeling sense is fierce still speak unto her You are familiar speak I say unto her Cass Alass she 's honest Sir she 's very honest And wou'd you have my gravity Fr. I I your gravity will become the Cause the better I 'll look thee out a Knight shall make thee a Lady too A lusty Knight and one that shall be rul'd by thee Come come no ducking out of nicety But do it home we 'll all be friends too tell her And such a Joy Cass That 's it that stirs me up Sir I wou'd not for the world attempt her Chastity But that they may live lovingly together Fr. For that I urge it too Cass A little evil may well be suffer'd for a general good I 'll take my leave of your Grace Exit Fr. Go and be fortunate I know he wants no additions to his tortures He has enough for humane blood to carry So many that I wonder his hot Youth And high bred Spirit breaks not into Fury Yet I must torture him a little further My anger is too poor else Here they come Th' old Woman seems an earnest advocate They are strange things but I must not be seen Exit Enter Evanthe and Cassandra
lawfully as thou thinkst mayst enjoy her That minute she shall dye Val. O Devil Sor. If thou discover this command unto her Or to a Friend that shall importune thee Ye both perish Upon the self same forfeit how falls your month out now Sir Now if you love her you may preserve her life still If not you know the worst Val. This Tyranny could never be invented But in the Schools of Hell Earth is too innocent Not to enjoy her when she is my Wife Thou canst not be so monstrous As thou proclaimest thy self thou once didst Love her And there must be a feeling heart within thee Of her afflictions wert thou a stranger to us And bred amongst wild Rocks thy nature wild too And unrelenting as the Rocks that nourisht thee Yet thou must shake to tell me this they tremble When the rude Sea threatens divorce amongst 'em They that are senseless things shake at a Tempest Thou art a Man Sor. Be thou then too 't will try thee And patience now will best become thy Nobleness See you observe it well you will find about you Many eyes set that will observe your Actions If you transgress you know and so I leave you Exit Val. The tale of Tantalus is now prov'd true And from me shall be registred Authentick Sure I walk in a mist and with that silence As if I was the shroud I wrapt my self in And no more of Valerio but his shadow Enter Camillo Cleanthes Menallo Cam. Where have we lost the Bridegroom sure he is gone to bed Men. No here he is thinking no doubt on this nights happiness Cam. Chear up my Noble Lord the Minute 's come You shall enjoy the abstract of all sweetness We did you wrong you need no Wine to warm you Desire shoots through your Eyes like sudden Wildfires Val. In troth my Lords the Wine has made me dull I am I know not what Cl. O there 's a Lady coming will inform you Enter Frederick and Sorano Fr. Tho there are left small hopes for his recovery That hope still lives and Mens eyes live upon it And in their eyes their wishes for Alphonso Were he but cold once in the silent Grave As 't is the fittest place for Melancholy My Court should be another Paradice And flow with all delights Sor. Go to your pleasures let me alone with this But mark the Man you 'll scarce know 't is Valerio Fr. Good pleasure to you Good night and long too as you find your appetite You may fall to Val. I do beseech your Grace For which of all my faithful services Have I deserv'd this Fr. I am not bound to answer you Val. Nor I bound to obey in unjâ—st actions Fr. Do as you please you know the Penalty And as I have a Soul it shall be executed Nay look not pale I am not us'd to fear Sir If you respect your Lady good night to you Ex. cum Sor. Val. But for respect to her and to my duty Which anger has no power to rob me of The good night shou'd be thine good night for ever How my heart trembles And beats my breast as it wou'd break it's way out Good night my noble friends Cl. Nay we must see you towards your bed my Lord. Val. Indeed it needs not 't is late and I shall trouble you Cam. No no till the Bride come Sir Val. I beseech you leave me You will make me bashful I am so foolish Besides I have some few devotions Lords And he that can pray with such a book in his arms Cam. We 'll leave you then and a sweet night wait on you Men. And a sweet issue of this sweet night crown you Cl. All nights and days be such till you grow old Sir Exeunt Val. I thank ye 't is a curse sufficient for me A labour'd one too tho you mean a blessing What shall I do I 'm like a wretched Debtor That has a summ to tender on the forfeit Of all he 's worth yet dare not offer it Other men see the Sun but I must wink at it And tho I know 't is perfect day deny it I must enjoy her yet when I consider The Tyrant's will and his power taught to murder My tender care controuls my blood within me And like a cold fit of a peevish Ague Creeps to my Soul and flings an Ice upon me Enter Q. Mother Evanthe and Lady Q. M. Evanthe make ye unready your Lord stays for you And prithee be merry Ev. Your Grace desires what is too free in me I am so taken up in all my thoughts So possest Madam with the lawful sweets I shall this night partake of with my Lord So far transported pardon my immodesty That tho they must be short and snatcht away too E're they grow ripe yet I shall far prefer 'em Before a tedious pleasure with Repentance Val. O how my heart akes Q. M I thank thee heartily For learning how to use thy few hours handsomly They will be years I hope Ev. Good night dear Madam Ladies no farther service I am well I do beseech your Grace to give us this leave My Lord and I to one another freely And privately may do all other Ceremonies Woman and Page we 'll be to one another And trouble you no farther Q. M. Why then good night good night my best Evanthe Thou worthy Maid and as that name shall vanish A worthy Wife a long and happy Ev. That shall be my care Q. M. Be chearful Lord and take your Lady to ye And that power that shall part you be unhappy Val. Sweet rest unto ye to you all sweet Ladies Exeunt Q. M. c. Ev. Will you to bed my Lord come let me help you Val. To bed Evanthe art thou sleepy Ev. No but I shall be worse if you look sad upon me Pray let 's to bed Val. I am not well my Love Ev. I 'll make you well there 's no such Physick for you As your warm Mistress's arms Val. Art thou so cunning Ev. I speak not by experience pray mistake not But if you love me Val. I do love so dearly So much above the base bent of desire I know not how to answer thee Ev. To bed then There I shall better credit you Fie my Lord Will you put a Maid to 't to teach you what to do An innocent Maid are you so cold a Lover This is no stolen Love or a sin we covet Val. May I not love thy Mind Ev. And I yours too 'T is a most noble one adorn'd with Vertue But if we love not one another really And put our Bodies and our Minds together And so make up the concord of affection Our love will prove but a blind superstition This is no School to argue in my Lord Nor have we time to talk away allow'd us Come kiss me and to bed Val. That I dare do and kiss again Ev. Spare not they are your own Val. My Veins are all on Fire
Ev. You think it fit then Mortified Cassandra That I shou'd be a Whore Cass If every woman that upon necessity Did a good turn were term'd a Whore Who wou'd be honest Your Lords life and your own are now in hazard Two precious lives may be redeem'd with nothing That we call lust that Maidens loose their same for But a Compell'd necessity of honour Fair as the day and clear as innocence Upon my life and conscience a direct way Ev. To be a Devil Cass 'T is a kind of rape too That keeps you clear for where the will 's compell'd Tho' you yield up your body you are safe still Ev. Thou art grown a learned Bawd I ever look't Thy great sufficiency wou'd break out Cass You may You that are young and fair from us old Creatures But you must know my years e're you be wise And my experience too Say the King lov'd ye Do you think Princes favours are such trifles To fling away when you please there are young Ladies Both fair and honourable that wou'd leap to reach ' em Ev. They are the wiser for it but canst thou tell me Tho' he be a King whether he be sound or no I wou'd not give my youth up to infection Cass As sound as honour ought to be I think Ev. But when I have lain with him what am I then Cass What are you why the same you are now a woman A vertuous woman and a noble woman Touching at what is noble you become so Had Lucreece e're been thought of but for Tarquin She was before a Simple unknown woman When she was ravish't she was a reverent St. And do you think she yielded not a little And had a kind of will to be re-ravish't Ev. But suppose the King shou d so delight me I shou'd forget my Lord and no more look on him Cass That 's the main hazard for I tell you truly I 've heard report speak him an infinite pleasure Ev. Peace thou old Bawd thou studyed old corruptness Dost thou seek to make me dote on wickedness Because 't is ten times worse than thou deliver'st it To be a Whore O thou Impudence Have I reliev'd thy Age to my own ruin And worn thee in my bosom to betray me Can years and Impotence win nothing on thee That 's good and honest but thou must go on still And where thy Blood wants heat to sin thy self Force thy decrepid will to make me wicked Cass I did but tell ye Ev. What the damndest Woman The cunningst and most skillfull Bawd comes short of If thou hadst liv'd ten ages to be damn'd in And exercis'd this art the Devil taught thee Thou couldst not have exprest it more exactly Cass I did not bid you sin Ev. Thou wood'st me to it Thou that art fit for Prayer and the Grave Thy Body Earth already and Corruption Thou taughtâ—st the way go follow your fine Function There are houses of Delight that want good Matrons Such grave Instructors get thee thither Monster And read varitey of Sins to Wantons And when they roar with pains then learn to pity ' em Cass This we have for our good will Ev. When thou want'st bread and common pity towards thee When thou art starving in a Ditch think on me Then die and let the wandring Bawds lament thee Begone I charge thee leave me Exit Cassandra Enter Frederick Fr. She 's angry and the other gone my suits cold I 'll make your heart ake stubborn Maid for this Turn not so angry from me I will speak to you Are you grown proud with your delight good Lady So pamper'd with your sport you scorn to know me Ev. I scorn you not I wish you scorn'd not me Sir And forc't me to be weary of my duty I know your Grace wou'd I had never seen you Fr. Because I love because I dote upon you Because I am a man that seek to please you Ev. I 've one already Sir that can content me As much as noble and as worthy of me As all the world can yield Fr. That 's but your modesty You have no man nay never look upon me I know it Lady no man to content ye No man that can or at the least that dares Which is a poorer man and nearer nothing Ev. Be nobler Sir inform'd Fr. I 'll tell you Madam The poor condition of this poorer Fellow And make you blush for shame at your own error He has not render'd yet a Husbands duty To your warm longing Bed Ev. How shou'd he know that Fr. I 'm sure he did not for I charg'd him no Upon his life I charg'd him but to try him Cou'd any brave or noble spirit stop here Was life to be prefern'd before affection Lawful and long d for too Ev. Did you command him Fr. I did in policy to try his spirit Ev. And cou'd he be so dead cold to observe it Brought I no Love nor Beauty along with me Fr. I shou d have lov'd him if he had ventur'd for it Nay doted on his bravery Ev. Only charg'd and with that spell sit down dare men fight bravely For poor slight things for drink or ostentation And there indanger both their lives and fortunes And for their lawful loves fly off with fear I wouâ—d have died a thousand deaths Fr. So wou d any Any that had the spirit of a Man I wou'd have been kill'd in your Arms. Ev. I wish I had been And buryed in my arms that had been noble And what a Monument wou'd I have made him Upon my breast he should have slept in peace Honour and everlasting love his Mourners And I still weeping 'till old time had turnâ—d me And pitying powers above into pure Chrystal Fr. Hadst thou lov'd me and had my way been stuck With deaths as thick as frosty nights with Stars I wou'd have ventur'd Ev. Good Sir afflict me not too fast I feel I am a Woman and a wrong'd one too And I am sensible of my abuses Fr. All reason and all Laws allow it ye Ev. You may speak now and happily prevail too And I beseech your Grace be angry with me Fr. If I shou'd give him life he wou'd betray thee That fool that fears to die for such a Beauty Wou'd for the same fear sell thee unto misery I do not say he set your Woman on you Ev. Follow'd thus far nay then I smell the malice It tasts too hot of practis'd wickedness Shall my Anger make me Whore and not my pleasure My sudden inconsiderate rage abuse me Fr. Nor he wou'd have been himself Sollicitor Ev. Nor do not dare 't will be an imprudence And not an honour for a Prince to lye Fr. How lye Ev. Shamefully and I cou'd wish my self a man but one day To tell you openly you lye too basely Fr. Take heed wild sool Ev. Take heed thou tame Devil Thou all Pandora's box in a Kings figure Thou hast almost whor'd my weak belief already And like an Engineer
us So well Valerio loves thee O Evanthe That to be thine for one short month I 'd give My present fortune hopes of future greatness That scene of joys which I still hope to find Lasting as age in my Evanthe's arms The Sun may move and change the face of Nature VVe 'll know no change but blest in one another Eternal love and never fading pleasures Shall fill the course of each revolving year Fr. Guards separate those two Val. VVhat means your Highness Fr. To interrupt you Sir lest you should surfeit And lose your self in your imagin'd bliss Thou rash presumptious Fool that art so prodigal Of love and service but much more of thy life Val. I was Sir once when in the face of Death I fought the Cause of an ungrateful Master What have I done Sir to deserve your anger If it be error to desire to marry And marry her that Sanctity would dote on I have done amiss if it be a Treason To graft my Soul to Vertue and to grow there To love the Tree that bears such happiness Nay to desire to taste too I am a Traitor Had you but Plants enough of this blest Tree Set round about your Court to beautify it Deaths twice as many to dismay th' Approachers The ground would scarce yeild Graves to noble Lovers Pis aside to Al. This goes as we could wish for now Valerio Enrag'd at Frederick's unjust Refusal Will with more ease be won to our Desires Love and Revenge have made him ours already Al. Love and Revenge will those two powerful Ministers Prevail with him that 's deaf to Honours call Can he who has with Resolution born On his Sword 's point the Quarrel of a Nation Yeild up his Life so tamely for a Woman Howe're I 'll take him when his manlier Vertues Sit o're his Soul and bring him home to honour Val. As for my Life I 've hitherto preserv'd it And wear it now only to do you service How I have serv'd you Sir these here can witness I have some wounds too may plead strongly for me But since you have deny'd my first Request All other Offers tho it was your Crown Bright as it is I wou'd with scorn look down on Fr. 'T is well maintain'd Just now I think you wishâ— So much you dote upon your own undoing But for one month t' enjoy her as your VVife Tho at th'expiring of that time you die for it Val. I could wish many ages Sir To grow as old as Time in her Embraces If Heaven wou'd grant it and you-smile upon it But if my Choice were two hours and then perish I wou'd not pull my Heart back Fr. You have your wish Immediately I 'll see you nobly married Your time take out in all content and pleasure But when that time 's expir'd you must die for it Kneel not not all your Prayers can divert me 'T is true immediate Death should be your doom But you have done some service that pleads for you Now mark your Sentence mark it scornful Lady If when Valerio's dead within twelve hours For that 's your latest time you find not out Another Husband on the same condition To marry you again you die your self too Ev. Now you are merciful I thank your Grace Fr. If when y' are married you but seek t' escape Out of the Kingdom you or she or both Or to infect mens minds with hot Commotions You die both instantly will you love me now Lady My Tale will now be heard but now I scorn you Exit cum Sur. Ev. Is our fair Love our honest and entire Come to this hazard Val. 'T is a noble one Envy could not have studied me a way Nor Fortune pointed out a Path to Honour Straighter and nobler if she had her Eyes VVhen I have once enjoy'd my sweet Evanthe And blest my Youth with her most dear Embraces I have done my Journey here my Day is out All that the world has else is foolery Labour and loss of time what should I live for Think but Man's life a month and we are happy A Paradice as thou art my Evanthe Is only made to wonder at a little Enough for humane Eyes and then to wander from Come grudge not my felicity Ev. I 'll to the Queen his Mother Val. Do any thing that 's honest But if you sue to him in death I hate you Ex. Ev. Friends we must have a Masque I think Camillo You are a Poet pray let me beg this courtesie Cam. I 'm glad to see you merry Sir Val. Twou'd make you merry had you such a VVife And such an age t' enjoy her in Men. An age Sir Val. Is' t not age to him that is contented What should I seek for more such Youth and Beauty Cl. We confess you happy but on what Price my Lord Val. 'T were nothing else No Man can ever come to aim at Heaven But through the knowledge of an Hell Who would live long Who would be old 't is such a weariness Such a disease it hangs like Lead upon us As it increases so vexations Griefs of the Mind Pains of the feeble Body Rheums Coughs Catarrhs we are but our living Coffins Besides the fair Soul 's old too it grows covetous Which shows all Honour is departed from us And we are Earth again Cl. You make fair use Sir Val. I would not live to learn to lye Cleanthes For all the world old men are prone to that too Thou that hast been a Soldier Menallo Adopted thy brave Arm the Heir to Victory Would'st thou live so long till thy strength forsook thee Till thou grew'st only a long tedious Story Of what thou hast been till thy Sword hung by And lazy Spiders fill'd the Hilt with Cobwebs Men. No sure I wou'd not Val. 'T is not fit thou shou'd'st To dye a Young man is to be an Angel Our great good parts put Wings upon our Souls They stay sure come I hear the Musick call us Exit with Camillo Men. We will attend you Marriage and Hanging go by Destiny 't is the old Proverb now they come together here comes the Ld. Alphonso how happy had we been if he had reign'd Enter Alphonso Al. Tho he is hasty and his Anger Death His Will like Torrents not to be resisted Yet Law and Justice go along to guide him And what Law or what Justice can he find To justifie his Will Cl. He seems concern'd Men. One of his melancholy Fits that ne're last long Alp. Yet after all Death is unwelcome never Unless it be to tortur'd and sick Souls That make their own Hells here on Earth The poor Slave that lies private has his Liberty As amply as his Master in the Grave The Earth as light upon him and the Flowers That grow about him smell as sweet and flourish But whensoever it comes crown'd with Honour When Memory and Vertue are our Mourners What pleasures shall we then find in the Grave Cl. How does your