are not price enough To buy him from my thoughts could you invest My name with their possession Ma. Doth she love him I have destroy'd my own hope then alass Poor Clara I must pitty thee and for that Love that hath been between us I 'll apply To cure thy wound for mine is not so desperate Though I bleed inwards I confess since he Whom I esteem best suffers for Maria Cla. Suffer for you pray Madam clear this mystery Ma. It is poor Manuel's fortune to affect Me with a passion great as mine and love That like a rebell forrageth our soul And can obey no law but what it likes Impatient that Antonio lov'd me too Made him forget the Prince and gave the affront For which he suffers in the Kings displeasure Cla. No repetition of this story Madam Lest you destroy all my belief in virtue It cannot be you may as soon perswade That snow the innocent fleece of heaven that 's born Upon the fleet wings of some sportive wind Is Ethiop's wooll as call this truth Ma. This will be rudeness Clara if you do not Convince and with more reason and with temper And 't is no little wonder that when I Have fairly thus disclos'd my thoughts of Manuel You should retain a murmuring thought and dare Pretend rivality with me Cla. The law You gave to love that stoopes to no prerogative Of birth or name mine only a degree Beneath your own will answer your disdain And justifie my passion and if reason And temper which in vain you think are lost In me be assign'd judges I dare more Than say I love I can deserve him Ma. Better Fate bring it to a tryall Cla. So just are my affections I dare make A Saint my judge Ma. That Judge you make is not A friend to so much pride Cla. You are but my accuser Madam Ma. This affront I must Remember Clara and find time to teach You know me better Cla. Madam as you are The Princess I can fall thus low to kiss Your hand and pay all duties that become me Or your command but if you think by being Great I must own no passion but in what Degree you are pleas'd to fix it nor compare My soul born with its freedome to affection With yours because one shaft hath wounded both I rise my own defender Ma. Thy own ruine For this presumption Cla. I 'll not bribe your mercy When you can love as I doe we may both Deserve him equally Oh Manuell Ex. Maria Though I defend thy honour to the Princess Yet he hath scatter'd seeds of jealousie About my heart if this ground fertile prove I wo'not curse his faith but my own love Exit Manuell in Prison Man Why should we murmur to be circumscrib'd As if it were a new thing to wear fetters When the whole World was meant but to confine us Wherein who walks from one Clime to another Hath but a greater freedome of the Prison Our Soul was the first Captive born to inherit But her own Chains nor can it be discharg'd Till Nature tire with its own weight and then We are but more undone to be at liberty Enter Carlo The Prince he brings a storm I see it rising As Seamen doe the wind far off Car. Don Manuell Man You have nam'd a suffering man but one that holds His life and death at such an even rate No matter which is first employ'd with honour I dare submit me to your justice Sir Car. Your Cause would droop to trust to that my love Willing to justifie the choyce it made In thee hath pleaded better and prevail'd With me to bring thee counsell to redeem Thy self becomingly Ma. Your goodness flows still 'T was not the Prince that frown'd Ca. Submit your self to Prince Antonio Man Submit my self Ca. Ask him forgiveness Man I must be guilty first of an offence Ere my tongue be so base and ask a pardon Ca. Then I must chide you Manuell deny This triviall satisfaction your crime Will upon second thoughts be much enlarg'd Nor will the Prince be ever thought to merit His birth and name unless he kill thee for 't 'T is an affront of so supreme a nature Man Hath it no name Sir Car. Dost not shake to ask it Are you Sir a fit Rivall for the Prince Abstract that she 's my Sister which consider'd Carries so vast a guilt against the Kings Mine and Maria's honour all thy bloud Mixt with repentance cannot purge you are Instructed Sir Man Not yet to know my self Conscious of any action should contract The Prince's brow or yours much less deserve The horrid name of guilt against the Kings Yours and Maria's honour Car. Did not you Sir court my Sister Man Never Sir Car. Doe not you love her Man Heaven in that word includes all that we owe His precept 'T is my justice Sir to love her But with a greater distance than she is From me remov'd by birth and if her smile Meant the reward of my attendance Sir At any time have met with false observers Their tongues and no audacious thought of mine Or application are in fault I have Beside the lesson of my birth been taught A piety from your favours Sir to know My self their creature and with humble thoughts To shew my gratitude not proudly assume Could she descend a Courtship to Maria Who by the King every good mans vote Is meant a sacred pledge to Portugal To chain two kingdoms Car. If this Manuel Be truth Man Without condition of my liberty Or dread of what Antonio shall attempt In his revenge my soul dare wth i th an oath Confirm it at the Altar Car. This doth please me Possess thy first place in my friendship Manuel Antonio shall embrace thee too his ear And mine have been abus'd Man There was A providence upon our Swords that meant Less fatall than his passion shew'd when we Last met against whose weapon threatning me first The safety of my fame more than my life Call'd up my just defence Car. I do beleeve thee To what a loss of virtue and of blood Credulity engageth this shall be No more thy dwelling Prince Antonio Shall for thy honor make it his own act Who yet believes thy interest in Maria Hath made his Courtship vain and will I fear Not presently admit thy innocence Into his quiet faith but I 'll convince him Man If he but knew my heart he should not need Much argument no man can love with honour And let his thoughts divide upon two Mistrisses I have contracted love Car. With whom may Time When this World fails and Nature grows decrepit Present it to Eternity Man This prayer opens my heart and all the wealth within it Commands me draw the Curtain from her name That you may read my Clara And I shall beseech your Graces smile Car. Your Clara what The Duke Mendoza's Daughter Man You have nam'd her Car. No I am i' th' dark still speak agen Or
Frame must fall to pieces Thy Soul a fairer Tenant to this building Should wander in persuit of mine Mar. No more Let me advise your griefs I have tears for both Divide at distance you may kiss in heart Man With such a groan souls from their bodie part The Castellano lights away the Ladies and Manuell retires to his Prison Enter Roderigo and Isabella Isa. How an Impostor though the Peoples tongues That catch at every noise and wave their duty As they are prescrib'd by Faction or lewd Pamphlets Doe talk this loud Rod. Upon my honour Madam Isa. I hope your Lordship has another knowledge And faith than to disgrace your bloud the Prince Ro. I say he is no Prince and we are sorry A Lady of your greatness should i' th' height Of such a glorious expectation lose What did invite your person hither Isa. Ha! Then I am lost that Letter has undone me Which full of love and satisfaction made Me hasty to destroy my self Ro. 'T is yet Within your choice to lose no honour Madam And in my sense of what you else might suffer I come to tender reparation Both to your love and greatness Isa. 'T is not possible Ro. If you can find within your heart a will To entertain my love I 'm no Impostor The King will call me Brother be kind Madam And what is past shall vanish like a dream Secure me with a smile Isa. My Lord I thank you But there will still remain some characters By which the world may guess at my sad story Ro. There cannot Isa. Yes I find some printed here For I did love the person I confess Of him you call the Impostor did he know Himself a Counterfeit Ro. Let me be just And quit him from that Treason Isa. That is something To plead his innocence to me I dare not Yet ask his name when I remember what My tongue consented to before the Priest So late yet 't will be known if he be not The Prince we thought tel me his other name Say is he basely born Ro. He is the Duke Mendoza's son Isa. That is a comfort yet And in the confidence of this truth my Lord I am well again I thank you Ro. If this please you Doe you remember Madam he hath wounds Fatall upon him that allready may Exclude him from the living Isa. 'T would be impious While there is any life remaining Sir To make another promise when you say He 's dead I may with modest freedom hear What you too early now prepare me for Exit Isa. Ro. You honour me enough I find her judgement Allready meet what I propound he cannot He sha'not live to cross me Enter Piracquo 'T is Piracquo He can assure me you look sad my Lord As if with Iulio's giving up the ghost Your sons life now were forfeit Pir. 'T is too true Ro. I 'll follow and acquaint her yet 't is safer She take it from another Pir. All my hopes Are in your Grace the King is coming hither If you will bind an old mans prayers and service Second my feeble breath and mediate His mercy to my boy you may be satisfied In conscience he had no thoughts to kill him The Prince's death will not engage you now To be poor Manuel's enemy good my Lord Forgive what past in my rash language Ro. Does not Your Lordship call to mind there was a sum Of fifty thousand Ducats Pi. They shall be sent to your Grace's Secretary nay I 'll make 'em fifty thousand more and think It cheap to save his life now you are mercifull Ro. The bargain would doe well but you are cozen'd I will not take a Maravide not I If upon other honourable tearms I may possess you favour I shall meet Your just commands ha' you forgot my Lord Some men doe keep Records but I am charitable And will not rack your patience Pi. Y' are gratious Ro. Ten millions of Ducats shall not ransome Your Darling from the Scaffold you observe You know your self your fortune and upon What strength you must depend now I have said Pi. Will your Grace hear My son shall live then and not lose one hair If you would pawn your soul to have it otherwise I have said too Ro. So peremptory Pi. Your Grace must pardon me the truth I have A scurvy sullen humour where I meet A worse and cannot hold though I should hang for 't And so God bu'y to your Grace we are alone Ro. Be merry with your head on time may come Pi. I would take boldness once more to intreat That the young man may live till the next Spring And then your Grace may purge Ro. So Sir I shall find waies to stay your vomiting The King Enter King and Lords 1. Lo. Good Sir be comforted Ki. Good Sir give me reasons I had a son till now yet long since lost him Ro. Now you may take revenge Ki. T is well remembred Mendoza is the Traytor he shall bleed For Carlo's loss Ro. And he deserves that would Have cozen'd the whole Kingdom Ki. Send for him I 'll ask him in what wilderness the boy Has hid himself command him hither presently And if he give me not a satisfaction It will be justice then to send his soul About the world to find him out 1. Lo. The Prince Antonio Sir Enter Antonio and Maria An. If at a time when sorrow Hath exercised his sting you can admit To hear me happy in Maria's love Let me begin to call you father and Till Carlo find your blessing think you have One to supply his duty Ki. It is some Allay to Carlo's loss Maria has Not left her father Ma. I shall ever live Within your precept to express a daughter As unto him a wife Ki. Both to my heart Sit down where is your sister Isabella Ro. She not despairs To be a Bride to one that may repair My Nephews loss and if she smile on me It wil not draw I hope your frown upon it Enter Isabella Julio Piracquo An. Is not that Isabella Isa. And this he Who if you call me Sister must be worth Your noblest Friendship and embrace Ro. Alive Iu. Your pardon Sir they knew me innocent Made me usurp Prince Carlo's name for Iulio's Ro. Confusion Enter Manuel and Clara Pi. I appeal Sir to your justice and have brought My son to hear your breath pronounce his pardon Ki. Thus all meet happiness but I receive Him free Piracquo onely I must mourn The loss of mine Enter Mendoza and Pedro Iu. I am no Prince Don Manuel my fate Has been unriddled Cla. My Brother living we are all safe Me. Ha my Iulio Iu. Your blessing now Me. Take it and with it all my tears I scorn To shed one other drop my joyes are mighty My heart is all one bonefire Ki. Plead no more Mendoza dies the sentence is irrevocable Pe. There is a cooler Sir after your bonefire Iu. Sister I 'll kiss these sorrows off Cl. You cannot while my Father 's doom'd to death Ro. Why does Mendoza live Pi. Because he must not dye yet Pedro Pe. My Lord Pi. and Pe. whisper with the King Men. I 'll give thee Clara first here take her Manuel I see she loves thee lose no tears for me My Taper has burnt dim this many years Ki. Antonio Maria Isabella Mendoza witness all proceed Piracquo Pi. I was that Pirat Sir that stole your son And being desperate meant by this surprise To make my peace Pe. I was in the Confederacy And must affirm this truth Pi. But just when I had fitted my design And did expect t' have brought Don Carlo home I heard he was at Court no loss deplor'd For by the Dutchess of Mendoza's art Iulio supply'd the Princes name and person Me. And sent me word to Court my Son was dead ha Pi. This made me think my Kinsman had deceiv'd me And then resolv'd my stay in Portugal Where as my own I bred and call'd him Manuel Till after many years your Grace redeem'd us And I at my return confirm'd i' th' story By Pedro hitherto protracted time With hope to serve Don Iulio for our freedome I have your pardon Sir for all Ki. Thou hast Pe. I am included trust me with a Secret Sir Another time I knew 't would come to this At last and with some justice did but punish Your fears and jealousies is not this better Than sending me to the Wars or shipping me For t'other World before my time Me. Th' art my best Servant Pi. And my heir agen Car. Depose me from this glorious title Sir Unless my Clara may divide the honor Ki. Providence meant her thine both call me father Ro. There is no remedy Nephew welcom home And Neece we shall be kindred now Mendoza Piracquo we are friends too and I 'll try How I can love you heartily Ki. I hear The Altar call make hast the triumph will Attend too long the clouds are chac'd away Night ne'r was mother to so bright a day Exeunt omnes FINIS
THE IMPOSTVRE A Tragi-Comedie AS It was Acted at the private House IN BLACK FRYERS WRITTEN By JAMES SHIRLEY Never Printed before LONDON Printed for Humphrey Robinson at the Three Pigeons and Humphrey Moseley at the Prince's Armes in St. Paul's Church-yard 1652 TO SIR ROBERT BOLLES Baronet SIR IT hath been a Complement with some when they have treated Friends to profess a barrenness in that which they had prepared not without studied charge and Curiositie As I was never so insolent to magnifie my own being best acquainted with my weak abilities so I should deserve a just affront to my self and undervalue your person to present you with any thing were first cheap in my own opinion Sir this Poem I may with modesty affirm had a fair reception when it was personated on the stage and may march in the first rank of my own compositions which directed now by my humble devotion comes from the press to kiss your hand and bear your noble Name in the dedication I cannot have so much prejudice upon your nature to think you will decline it and should I abate those other characters of honour that shine upon you your indulgence to Musick and singular love to the worthy professors eminently shew the harmony of your soul and while Poetry is received a Musicall part of humane knowledge I cannot despair of your candid entertainment Sr. I beseech you take it as an earnest of my thoughts to serve you I am assured it brings with it beside the acknowlegment of your late obligation upon me ambitious desires to preserve my interest in your favour while I subscribe my self Sir The humblest of your Honourers Ia Shirley The Prologue OUr poet not full confident he says When Theaters free vote had crown'd his plays Came never with more trembling to the stage Since that poetick Schism possest the age A Prologue must have more wit than the play He knowes not what to write fears what to say He has been stranger long to'th' English scene Knowes not the mode nor how with artfull pen To charm your airy soules beside he sees The Muses have forsook their groves the trees That fear'd no thunder and were safely worn By Phaebus own priests are now rudely torn By every scurrile wit that can but say He made a Prologue to a new no play But let 'em pass you Gentlemen that sit Our judges great Commissioners of wit Be pleas'd I may one humble motion make 'T is that you would resolve for th' authors sake I' th' progress of his play not to be such who 'l understand too little or too much But choose your way to Iudge to th' Ladies one Address from the Author and the Prologue 's done In all his Poems you have been his care Nor shall you need to wrinckle now that fair Smooth Alablaster of your brow no fright Shall strike chast eares or dye the harmlese white Of any cheek with blushes by this pen No Innocence shall bleed in any scene If then your thoughts secur'd you smile the wise Will learn to like by looking on your eyes Persons Duk of Mantua Honorio his Son Flaviano The Dukes Creature Leonato The Duke of Ferrara's Son Petronio a noble man of Ferrara Bertoldi an insolent Coward son to Florelia Claudio a creatvre of Flaviano Volternio Hortensio Colonells Antonio a Gent. Frier Pandolfo a servant of the Tavern Soldiers Servants Abbess Fioretta Daughter to the Duke of Mantua Donebella Sister to Leonato Juliana A Mistris of Flaviavo Florelia A noble Lady Mother to Bertoldi Ladies THE IMPOSTURE Enter Duke Honorio Flaviano at severall Doors Duke NO Army yet discover'd Flav. None Duke We are lost Honor. Despair not sir Duke Away thy confidence is folly Is not danger round about us From every part destruction staring us I' th' face this City like a fatall Center Wherein the bloody lines of War and Famine Prepare to meet Flav. And every minute we expect a Battery Honor. The walls are not so easily made dust As the besiegers would perswade our faith Disarm not your own hearts my confidence Tells me we sha'not suffer the Duke of Ferrara may send yet to raise the siege Duke Fond Boy it was thy counsell to depend Upon his aids and promise Fioretta Thy Sister with so great a dowry to The Dukes vainglorious Son fame has beli'd His valour and we now are cheated of Our lives and Dukedome Honor. Sir with my duty safe let me intreat you Not stain the character of a Prince so much The interest we have in that great Title Should make us wise in our belief for when Princes break faith Religion must dissolve And nature grone with burthen of the living Beside his Son Leonato how ever Traduc'd or sullied by some Traitors envy Deserves a noble fame and loves the hope Of our alliance I ne'r saw his person But t were a sin honor could not forgive In us to question him Duke We fool our selves Le ts think of timely Articles and yield Flav. Whilst there is hope of mercy Hon Oh! this want Of man will make all our well meaning starres Forfiet their kind aspects turn their influence to death Flav. My Lord I cannot be concern'd in name And honour with your person whose least blood Is worth ten thousand arteries of mine Therefore while such necessities invade us I cannot but prefer your lives and in My duty counsell you would think of what Is offer'd here rather than hazard all By a vain expectation of an Army From Leonato who with all his forces Is not yet sure to prosper in our cause Duke Consider that Honorio Flav. Nay should Heaven So smile upon us that his sword o'r come This to weak apprehension may promise Our glory but examine well the close There may be greater danger in his victory Than all our want of him can threaten Hono. You perplex my understanding Flav. He expects your Sister the reward of his great service Hono. Is it not Justice Flau. Yes forbid it goodness He should not thrive in his fair hope and promises But if her Highness find not in her heart Consent to meet the Prince with love and marriage Who shall defend us from his power that must Keep us in awe and this earth panting yet With frights and sufferings of the Warre Hono. It is my wonder Lord Flaviano your wisdome Should weave these wild impossibilities My Sister not consent nature her birth Obedience honor common gratitude Beside ambition of what can be hop'd for To make her happy will give wings to her desires Duke I cannot tell Hono. I cannot think Your reason sir can be so much corrupted To look upon my Sister with that fear She should not fly to meet our great preserver Do you believe she now 'mong holy Virgins Lead thither by her own devotion During this Warr to pray and weep for us Teares whose clear Innocence might tempt an Angel To gather up the drops and string for Saints A Christall Rosarie can wish
learn'd simplicity and truth You are a Prince and in your Creation But one degree from Angels strive to rise That one round higher and y' are perfect I am By my good Fathers leave and the sweet rules Of this Religious order now i' th' way To meet another Bridegroom before whom While you stand a competitor you fall To Atomes sir my love is planted here And I have made a vow which your own charity Will bid me not to violate your triumph Being the spring of my imperfect duty That for a year I 'l spend my time among This happy Quire to offer up my Prayers And humble gratitude to Heaven a weak Oblation for our safeties Flav. Ha how 's this Leon. My Lord did you not say you had prevail'd What mockery is this Flav. I am undone What does the Gipsey mean shee 'l betray all Most excellent Madam Iu. Oh my Lord imploy Your counsell to advance not Kill our Virtue Remember where and what I am Flav. So so Volt. Sir will you suffer this a new affront Iulia I am resolv'd To live and pay you better tribute here For your affection and unequal'd service Here no distraction will afflict my prayers Which trust me I will offer chastly for you At every hour of my devotion 'T is you next Heaven that gave this blessing to us To meet and in the holy Quire breath up Our sacred Hymes while Angells Eccho to us And Heaven delighted with our harmony Opening her azure curtaines will present us A vision of all the joyes we pray and hope for Flav. This my instructions Iulia O think my Lord To what a loss of Heaven your love invites me Yet let me not be thought while I pretend The choice and sweetness of a Recluse I Should in a thought accuse your worth who are The man of all the World I most could fancie If I be seen to blush make it no sin I know it is but honourable love Wings your desire and that which should prefer you Is merit of your Sword that cut our way To freedom and soft peace Religions Pillow The Nurse of Science and the generall blessing You have a title yet more strong pleads for you The contract and the promise of a Prince A chain with many Links of Adamant Duke I like not that Iuli. To bind and make me yours When I have nam'd these severall interests And look upon my self so short of merit I chide your unkind destiny at such Expence of honor to go off unsatisfied And quickly should despise my self the cause Of your distast but that my vow confirms me And mustring up Religious thoughts prevailes Above my other will made to obey you T is but a year my Lord that I have bound My self this exile Leon. T is an age Iuli. But while Time hath one minute in his Glass of that Nothing shall take me hence unless you bring An impious strength upon this holy dwelling And force me from my cell but you are far From such a sacrilege oh think not on it I 'l place you in my heart while you are virtuous But such an Act might lose those noble thoughts Of you I wish preserv'd but I offend And am too large in this unwelcome argument May wisdom guide your Princely thoughts Whilst I return to pray for you Flav. She has orethrown all Volt. Sir if you love her she Hath taught you a cunning way to make her yours This habit is compel'd a little force For form will disingage her she does love you And pleaded hansomely against her self Leon. No more I 'l not despair yet of your Daughter This is but Virgin nicety at the next Meeting she may incline to smile upon me Shee 's too much treasure to be won at first Assault Volterino Exit Leon Volt. Hort Duke Flaviano Flav. I did expect a storm Duke We are not safe yet Flav. I wonder why Iuliana kept not promise The Dog-dayes thaw her chastity I 'm mad Oh for some stratagem to save all yet But you Sir give me leave to say are timorous Princes should fix in their resolves your conscience Should be as subject to your will as I am Duke I must confess Flaviano I had No fancy to Iulianas mariage Flav. That was all my hope how could I love the man Durst kill him now Duke I shudder what noise is that Flav. These horrors will eternally affright us Enter Leon Bert. Volterino Hortensio with swords drawn Leo. The man that dares be guilty of least Insolence To any Virgin dyes Exeunt Leon Volt. Horten Ber. My hopes are nipt I thought to have tasted Nuns flesh but the General has made it fasting day Ex. Flav. I hope he means to force away Iuliana Ha they attempt it prosper 'em deer fate Blest beyond expectation Duke Dost think We shall be safe Enter Leonato Iuliana in her habit Volterino Hortensio Leon. Injoy the other benefit of my Sword In peace this shall be mine Exit Leon Iul. Vol. Hort. Flav. The stars dote on us Enter Honorio and Claudio Hon. VVhat unexpected tumults fright the City Du. You are too bold upon your wound Honorio To come abroad Flav. The Prince has stoln your Sister From the Nunnery Hono. He dares not Blemish his honor so though he deserv'd her And all our lives should she be obstinate Flav. T is done Honor. This Act shall lose him death upon The Surgeon that hath dallied with my wounds But I 'l revenge this rape Duke Look to the Prince Exit Flav. I could adore my destiny the wench sure Meant to be ravish'd thus I kiss thy policy This chance hath made a dancing in my blood While sin thrives t is too early to be good Exeunt ACT III Enter Antonio and Fioretta Fior. IS this Ferraras Court Anto Yes Madam Fior. I will not yet discover I shall find A time Antonio to reward thy faith And service to me Enter Donabella Florelia Ladies Anto. Here are Ladies Madam Dona. I have a great desire to see this wonder The Princess Fioretta so much fam'd For beauty Flor. Comes she with his Excellence Do. Most certainly so speaks the Prince Leonato's My Brothers Letters and that with some difficulty He gaind her from the Nunnery Flor. Who is this Don. She has an excellent shape some stranger Prethee Florelia ask Anto. This Lady Madam Seems to make some address this way I know not Upon what Jealousie my Lady left aside Placentia so privatly where she Was entertain'd by Flavianos Mother Though old a Lady of no decrepit brain Fior. Antonio Flor. A Lady Madam calls her self Lauriana Born in Placentia but the Warrs affrighting Both Mantua and the confines she came hither With confidence of safety till the storm At home be over Dona. It is not fit a person of your quality And presence should be ingag'd to common persons And if I may entreat you shall consent To be my guest at Court which will be proud To entertain such beauty Fior. It must
sleep broke Hort. But I would please you agen And rock you into a traunce with so much harmony You shall wish to dye in 't I am very plain Flor. Me thinks you are very rough Hort. A Souldiers garb The old but the best fashion a Sword And flattery were not meant for one mans wearing Madam I love you but not doat upon you For you are something old Flor. I am indeed sir Hort. Yet you are very handsome and I love you Y' are witty fair and honest but a VViddow And yet I love you I do know you are rich Exceeding mighty rich Flo. And yet you love me Hort. But Madam I am a man Flor. I do not mean to try you Signior Pray Son do you Hort. Now put your vote in Bert. What should I do Madam Flor. Try whether he be a man or no Bert. Should I Flor. D' ee hear they say you are grown valiant Upon my blessing I command you strike This Gentleman and do it presently Bert. Strike him Flor. Yes Bert. A way away what here Flor. Even here this very minute Bert. Not for your house and all the monies in 't Not for my Fathers Wardrob and I were An Adamite a top o' th' Alps though you Admire the reliques and have turn'd your Gallery Into a Chapel where his severall suites Hang up like Images for you to pray to Strike one taught me to fight Exit Flor. Hort. Is she gone what said she Bert. The foolish woman Hort. Why what 's the matter Bert. Shee shews her breeding but do not you despair Enter Florelia Flor. If I mistake not sir you would pretend You love me honourably Hort. May I perish else Flor. When you can make 't appear in visible wounds Upon your head or body that my Son Dares fight you and I 'l be maryed Bert. I told you Signior you should have my Mother Hort. The Devill shall have you both upon easier conditions Visible wounds upon my head or body Flor. And here 's my hand upon the sight thereof I 'l be your wife and so farewel till dooms-day Hort. But hark you Lady Bert. My Mother 's a Witch I shall ne'r be valiant In this World what quarrels I may have i' th' next I know not There are some dead threatned to cudgell me Hort. Is there no hope that I may catch you in The Noose of Matrimony unless your Son First break my head Flor. I wo' not swear Hort. It is not your best course take heed of vows Flor. Why my dear Signior Hort. For your souls sake and yet Dispose that as you please I 'l see who dare Cary your body from me spight o' Lucifer I will ha' that and come by 't lawfully And so my service think on 't Flor. A fine fellow Exeunt Manet Bert. Bert. Would I had his audacity my Mistris Yet knows not what I mean but I will to her And kiss her Glove immediatly Exit Enter Honorio Hon. This Court is like a twilight where I cannot Distinguish day or perfect night some faces Are cheerfull as the morn others agen Are dark and wrapt like evenings in a mist Is is instinct for my approach that brings A resolution to revenge the rape Upon my Sister grow more strong my thoughts And let no fear distract you Prince I have Consider'd thee in all thy pride of merit Allow'd my Fathers Contract and did give thee My Sisters heart in thy own vote but when She onely made a pause for ceremony Not disaffection since thou could'st forget Thy honour of a Prince to invade her Chastity And forfeit thy Religion thus I come To whip thy blood or leave my own a sacrifice Enter Petronio Sir may a stranger ask without offence why The Court like Ianus doth present a double Face as it labour'd twixt the fierce extremes Of triumph and despair Petro. Sir you mistake not The mixture of our passions the Court Smiles in our happiness to entertain The Prince and his fair Mistris but doth wear A grief and paleness for the Duke whose want Of health delayes their marriage Honor. I apprehend Sir I am bold May not a Gentleman Engag'd to visit other Courts of Italy Make his ambition fortunate to receive A favour from this Prince and kiss his hand Before he leave the Dukedome Enter Leonato Petro. He is here Sir Leon. Lord Petronio intreat the Princess Fioretta and my Sister meet me i' th' grove This Gentleman Hono. kisses his hand Hono. You have made me happy Though I want honor to be known your fame Speaks you a valiant Prince and fortunate And I must with the World congratulate Your victory at Mantua upon which So rich a triumph waites Leon. What triumph fir Hon. The Princess Fioretta Leon. I acknowledge That Garland is my glory such a treasure Was worth more service than my sword could merit But I must be a debtor to my starres And can release all other happiness Within their influence to come so they Confirm me Lord still of her beauties Empire Hono. This doth becom your Excellence what error Receive it not prophane should Heaven and nature Have made to have kept your hearts too long asunder And yet I may mistake for though your Grace Affect her with all height your soul can fancie I know not how her love may answer this Desert in you Leon. How sir Hono. Your Highness pardon I am no Prophet nor do wish to see Upon your spring another winde than what The wings of pregnant Western gales do inrich The air withall which gliding as you walk May kiss the teeming flowers and with soft breath Open the Buds to welcom their preserver I wish you might grow up two even Cedars Till your top-boughs kiss Heaven that made you flourish When stooping to behold the numerous branches That prosper in your growth and what refreshing The World below receives by your cool shade You wave your heads in the applause and wonder This is the Song I bring to your chast Hymen And thus would every good man pray but that They fear Leon. Fear what Hono. The blessings they invoke With all their importunity of prayers Will not descend Leon. I cannot reach you sir Without a perspective but this wanders from The doubt you made of Fiorettas love To answer mine that talk was dangerous I must not hear 't agen Hon. You must unless You can be deaf or cut the tongue of fame out Leon. The man hath somwhere lost his senses go back And find thy strangled wits this language has No chain of reason I lose breath upon A thing distracted Honor. T is not come to that I 've no such hot vexation but a soul Possest with noble anger and with pitty Prince I must tell you there are dangerous symptoms Of a State Apoplex those aiery stilts Of fame you walk on will deceive your pride When every honest breath angry at what You did so late in the contempt of goodness Will tell the wind how it mistook
your praise And in a sigh conclude her sad repentance I come not sir to flatter Leon. It appears so Honor. But tell you what hath eat into your soul Of honor and there poisond all the worth The VVorld once lov'd you for Leon. You talk as if You had consulted with my fate and read The leaves of my inevitable doom VVhat action hath so much incens'd my late Kind starres to this revolt and threatneth like To busie tongues in my disgrace Honor. The noise is lowd already would there were No truth in men who say you ravish'd Fioretta Sweet Princess from her Prayers and left a Monument Of such a sacrilege committed by you The very stones since groan in her behalf You ravish'd from the Nunnery on this Must needs depend her hate VVhose person and Religious vow you have Unlike a Prince prophan'd Leon. Y' are very bold What confidence can that outside raise in you To be thus sawcie Hono. Sawcie Leon. Impudent Is life a burden that you dare my anger What art Ho. A gentleman that have more right to honor Than he that is a Prince and dares degenerate Le. There 's somthing in thy face would have me think Thou maist be worth my punishment that I Could uncreate thee if thy veines do house But Common blood to make thee a fit Enemy In Birth and soul to me that I might kill thee Without a blush to honor do not tempt My Just rage that provok'd will scorn a sword And make thee nothing with a look be gone Get hence with the same speed thou wouldst avoid A falling Tower or hadst new seen a Lioness Walking upon some cliff and gazing round To find a prey which she persues with eyes That shoot contracted flame but when her teeth And pawes arrive they quickly leave no part Or sign of what there was Ho. Iust heaven how high he talks and counterfeits Your noise I have a charm against your thunder If thou hast courage to stay thou quickly shalt repent Heavens Iustice in my arm sent to revenge Thy sacrilege the more to encourage thee To fight I am thy equall and a Prince They Draw Or may thy sin o'take my blood and set A weight upon my soul when thou hast kil'd me Enter Donabella Iuliana Iuli. Alas my Lord Don. Dear Brother Help what traitor 's this Leon. Away sweet Fioretta Honor. Fioretta Iu. Ha I am undone alas what do you mean My Brother Prince Honorio Leon. Thy brother Iuli. Oh let me hold thee safe in my Embraces Don. Leo Honorio Hono. The same but not her brother Leon. Pardon me Whose soul disdain'd in my belief thou wert An insolent stranger to acknowledge any thing Of satisfaction but let thy sister Now speak for both Hono. Give space to my amazement Iu. If changing thus soft kisses armes and heart You interpret violence Fioretta then Thy sister has been ravished who hath thus Abus'd your faith and wrong'd this Princes Virtue Clear as the light of stars I must confess I seem'd to wave his courtship when he first Beheld me veild which modesty instructed And though my heart were won I kept it secret To make more proof of his who not consenting To be depriv'd too long of what he lov'd He brought a force to 'th Cloister but took me His own away without a rape and since All his adresses have been honorable Hono. Instead of satisfaction you inlarge My wonder what Impostures here the Prince Is cosend yet she ownes me pardon sir I was made believe you did most impiously Compell my sister and by force injoy'd her But now I find we are all abus'd to what Misfortune might this error have engag'd us Leon. This is my sister Honor. You cannot want a charity That are so fair Iuli. Would Leonato's Sword Had prosper'd in his death I must be confident You have not yet made glad my heart Honorio With our good Fathers health I have some trembling Within my blood and fear all is not well Hono. Gypsye Iulia You look not cherefully Hono. My Father injoyes a perfect health Iuli. That word hath blest me Sister and Leonato you 'l excuse If I transgress with joy to see my Brother Were but the Duke my Father here I summ'd All my delights on earth Honor. She confounds me Iuli. Honorio and I will follow you Hono. You are not my Sister Exit Leon Dona Iuli. Sir t is very true Hono. Where is she Iuli. You shall know what will make you happy sir If you preserve this wisedom Hono. I have seen you before Iuli. But I am destin'd here to do such service To your Family you shall know more Hono. Give me breath for two minutes Be confident of my silence they expect you Ex. Iul. So let me have some air am I Honorio Enter Fioretta Bertoldi What prodigies are these we are all bewitch'd Ha Sister Fior. Brother Honorio Honor. T is she what 's he Fio. Not worth the interruption of one kiss Ber. My friend Hono. My fool Fioretta shew me where We may injoy a shade I 'l tell thee wonders Exeunt manet Bert Ber. Sir I shall meet with you agen a pretty fellow Exit ACT. IIII Enter Fioretta and Donabella Fior. MAdam I fear this walk into the Park May engage your grace too far without som more To attend you Do. Our own thoughts may be our guard I use it frequently but to our discourse Of Prince Honorio for we cannot find A nobler subject I observe that he And you have been aquainted Fior. T was my happiness To have my breeding in the Court of Mantua Where I among the rest of his admirers Seeing his youth improv'd with so much honor Grew into admiration of his virtues VVhich now he writes man do so fully crown him His Fathers Dukedome holds no ornament To stand in competition Dona. You speak him high And with a passion too that tasts of love Fior. Madam I honor him As may become his servant Dona. As his Mistris rather Fior. My heart is clear from such ambition Dona. But yet not proof against all Cupids shafts I do not think but you have been in love Fior. VVho hath not felt the wounds but I ne'r look'd Above my birth and fortunes Prince Honorio May become your election and great blood Dona. I find it here already Fior. Nor could you Endear it where so much desert invites It to be belov'd Dona. My looks do sure betray me I do believe him all compos'd of honor And have receiv'd your Character from the World So noble all your praise can be no flattery I know not by what powerfull charm within His person Madam I confess my eyes Take some delight to see him but I fear Fior. I find your Jealousie and dare secure you If in your amorous bosom you feel Madam A Golden shaft the cure is made by cherishing The happy wound my destiny hath plac'd My thoughts of love where they cannot concern Your trouble or suspition nor indeed
Horten. Mine if she be pleas'd what interest Can all your merit challenge above me Volt. You will repent this insolence I must Forget to wear a sword and hear thee name Florelia with that confident relation To her fair thoughts and not correct your pride I 'l search your heart and let out those proud hopes That thus exalt you Hort. You are cosend Signior I do not fear your probe she le ts us fight Fight If we had no more wit we might foin in earnest Florel. Ha ha ha are you at that ward Gentlemen Volt. She laughes to see us fence o' this fashion Le ts come a little closer Fight Flor. Hold hold Gentlemen For your own honors is this valour well Employ'd what cause can urge effusion Thus of that noble blood was given you To serve your Country are you mad Hort. We are but little better to be both in love Flor. What Woman Considered in her best is worth this difference She is cruell cannot finde a better way To reconcile you than by letting blood Do you both love one Volt. It does appear so Madam Flor. I would I knew the Lady makes you both Unhappy I would counsell her some way To set your hearts at peace Volt. T is in your power Hort. Without more circumstance do but look upon Your self and end our civill Wars we ha' both Opinion of your virtue and both hope An interest in your love if you will please To point which of us two is most concern'd In your affection you conclude our danger And oblige one your everlasting Servant Volt. This Madam is a charitable way To know your own and save two lives for we Shall fix upon your sentence and obey The fate you give us Flor. Do you fight for me And will it save Incision and preserve Your noble veins to know whom I prefer In my best thoughts of love this is but reasonable And t will be hard to set a period To this contention for I love you both So equally observe me Cavaliers T is most impossible to distinguish which Is first in my neglect for I love neither Fight or be friends you have your choice and I My liberty I had forgot to thank you For your infusion of that fierce courage Into my Son there is great hope if he Live till next year he may be a Constable He has an excellent art to keep the peace Farewell Volt. Madam for all this I believe you love Hort. I believe now shee 's old and has no teeth Else she would bite at one of us Reverend Madam That word has fetch'd her we ha' no other cordiall At this dead pang for your disdain but drink now If you will have your Son made a fine Gentleman Be sure you send him to the Tavern to us He knows the rendezvous though you despair We may wind him up yet with spirit of Wine How ever wee 'l be merry and perhaps For all this drink your health Volt. Buoy Madam Hort. If you love your Baby send him Exeunt Flor. I am to blame but I must help it some way Exit Enter Honorio Flaviano Claudio with Pistols Hono. Two Engins of so small extent to do Such mighty execution may I see These instruments you say you have invented And so commend for service Flav. Yes my Lord Shew 'em to th' Prince do they not fright already Your Grace may take full view and quickly be The proof what force they have Honor. I am betrai'd Who hath conspir'd my death Flav. To vex you see him Honor. Flaviano what mak'st thou here Flav. To put of these commodities you are A princely Marchant and affect this kind Of traffick that you may not dy i' th' dark I 'l tell you a brief story which you may Report i' th' other world I did affect Ambitiously thy Sister Fioretta Abus'd thy Father with a false opinion Of Leonato for my end remov'd His Mistris from the Cloister and perswaded A witty Nunne to take her name and cheat The Prince whom he suspects not yet Honor. Dam'd rascall Flav. For pure love to your Sister I did this Hono. Why having been so impious does thy malice Persue me ignorant of all thy treasons Flav. Would you know that because I am undone In my chief hope the Princess whom I thought Thus plac'd secure and apt for my own visit Is gone is vanish'd and as soon I may Find the impression of a Ship at Sea And by the hollow tract in waves oretake The winged Bark distinguish where the Birds At Chace i th' air do print their active flight As find in what part of the envious World Fioretta is bestow'd this sad intelligence Surpriz'd me like a storm nor was it safe To look upon the Duke who must too late Repent his trust and punish it In this conflict Of desperate thoughts I thus resolv'd to see Ferrara and the Lady I preferr'd But find things cannot prosper if you live Whose angry breath will throw down what my policy Wrought high and strike my head beneath the ruines Are you now satisfi'd why you must not live Honor. Hear me shee 's still in silence and believ'd My Sister by the Prince Flav. When you are dead then You VVill be sure to tell no tales now shoot Claud. In my opinion if all this be truth The mischief you ha' done may be sufficient And he may live Flav. Villain vvilt thou betray me Claud. You have betraid your self and after this Confession as I take it I may be Your Ghostly Father and prescribe you a Penance Flav. Hold Claud. I will but Physick you your soul has caught A vehement cold and I have tvvo hot pills Will vvarm you at heart Hono. Shall my revenge be idle Claud. Good Prince you are too forvvard you be So hasty I 'm o' this side did you think I vvould be false yet lest my aim be unlucky Trust your ovvn hand to guide 'em Flav. Thou art honest Thus I salute thy heart Honorio ha no charge Claud. T is time sir to be honest I could serve you In some Court sins that are but flesh-colour A wickedness of the first dye whose brightness Will fade and tincture change your murder is Crimson in grain I have no fancy too 't Sir you are safe Hono. I see thou hast preserv'd me Flav. I 'm lost for ever Hono. T is but a minute Since you were found you must be pleas'd to walk Into the Court the Vestall you preferr'd No doubt will bid you welcome Fate I thank thee Flav. False starres I dare you now Clau. I shall wait on you Exeunt Enter Iuliana Iuli. I have collected all my brain and cannot In any counsell of my thoughts find safety Honorio's death wo'not secure my strength Or prop my languishing greatness t is but like A cordiall when the pangs of death hang on us Nay to my present state no other than Some liberall portion of a quivering stream Drunk to abate the scorching of my Feaver
treason Hath made a scorn that minute she usurps Her name of Bride I shall forget the Altar And turn my self the Priest with all your blood To make a purging sacrifice Leon. If when we Receive our rites thou dost but frovvn or vvhisper To interrupt one ceremony I Will make thee hold the tapers while the Priest Performes the holy office tell thy Sister Here I bestovv vvhat you have made me forfeit Present her to the Nunnery and counsell Thy ignoble Father when I next see Mantua To be a sleep in 's Coffin and his vault Deep and thick rib'd with Marble my noise else Will shake his dust thy youth finds mercy yet Take the next whirl-wind and remove our guard Petronio we confine him to your house Hono. Thou coward Prince there 's not one honest man In all the World our sins ascend like vapours And will if Justice sleep stupifie Heaven For thine own glory wake if thou dispense With this proud man will cry down providence Exeunt ACT. V. Enter Volterino Hortensio Pandolpho with a Towell A Table set out and stooles Volt. SUch Wine as Ganimede doth skink to Iove When he invites the Gods to feast with him On Iunos wedding-day Pandol. Iove never drank so brisk a Nectar as I 'l draw But does Signior Bertoldi come Hort. What else my Alderman o' th' Cellar Volt. He is our Hilas shall we not ha Musick Hort. By all means and the Mermaids Pand. You shall have any thing But if Signior Bertoldi come I have A boon to beg I have a pretty plot To make you laugh Volt. What is 't Pand. As you are Gentlemen do not deny me I have been your up-and-down-stairs-man to draw The best blood o' th' Grape these ten years Troy held out not longer I have a device Shall make you merry when he comes if you Will give me leave to shift and help a jeast He is a Coward still under the Rose Hort. As any lives under the Sun be confident Volt. The same senseless peece of timber You may cut him into a Bed-staff Pand. I 'l send you Wine say I am valiant Let me alone with the Catastrophe Exit Hort. What will he do Volt. I know not he were best make us laugh I shall expound the matter else Enter Bertoldi and Drawer with Wine Bert. My Mother remembers her service Gentlemen I left my Mistris to come to you and how Shall we drink like Fishes Tolle roll lolly c. Volt. Sit sit a health to the Lady you kist last Bert. Let it come I 'l pledge it And it were the Gulf of Venice Hort. And who 's your Mistris Bert. Faith I do not know her name nor ever kist any thing but her Glove in my life Volt: But you have told her your mind Bert. Not I by this Wine but that 's all one She is a Lady well bred and companion To the Princess that 's enough Here Signior would we had some Wenches here Hort. Some bouncing bona robas hang this dul City there 's no musick in 't no silken Musick Vol. Oh for a Wench could spit fire now that could whizze like a Rocket and fall into a 100 blasing stars such a Fire-drake would be warm company in a close room Signior Hort. And it were in a Cellar under the Alpes it would make Hercules melt in the back Bert. But for all that I do not like a sinner of such a fiery constitution Hort. You would not venture upon the golden Fleece then which is but the morall of a Maidenhead Bert. I never heard that afore Hort. So say the learned first for the difficulty to obtain it being watch'd by a Dragon and then for the Rarity there being but one in all the World Bert. But one Maidenhead Volt. And that some hold as doubtfull as the Phoenix or Unicorn such things are in History but the man 's not alive that will take his Oath in what climat they are visible Here 's to the Swan that broke her heart with singing last Hort. And to the Dolphin that was in love with a Fidlers Boy of Thebes who carryed him cross the Seas on her bak a fishing while he sung the siedge of Troy to the Tune of Green-sleeves and caught a Whale with an angling rod Bert. I 'l pledge 'em both they are very fine healths Are these your Mistresses names Gentlemen Enter Pandolfo like a Soldier Volt. Mysticall Mysticall Bert. I Understand they are mysticall who 's this Pand. Save you Gentlemen Volt. T is the Drawer Pand. I do not like the odor of your Wine He throws it in Bert. face Bert. Was it a health let it go round Gent. I am troubled with sore eyes this Signior has wash'd 'em for me I hope I shall see to thank him Hort. Cry mercy Signior you are like a noble Gent. I saw at Rome you are the very same to whom his Holiness gave a pension for killing 6 great Turks in Transilvania whose heads were boyl'd and brought home in a Portmantua Pand. It was but 5 sir and a Sarasens Hort. You are the man Volt. Pray give me leave to honor you Bert. I desire to be your poor admirer too My eyes are clear to see your worth my name Is Bertoldi at your service Pand. To you Signior a health to Iulius Caesar Prester Iohn And the grand Cham of Tartaria Volt. You sha'not pledge him Bert. No Volt. Make your exceptions I 'l justifie 'em Hort. This Cavalier drank t' ee sir Bert. I do remember but I cannot pledge him Pand. How sir Bert. No sir I 'l pledge my friend Prester Iack But for Iulius Caesar and the grand Cham they are Pagans I ha' nothing to say to 'em Enter Servant Serv. Here is a Gentleman he seems of quality Enquiring for Signior Volterino and Hortensio Hort. Admit him and he be a Gentleman Enter Florelia like a Gentleman Flor. You 'l pardon if a stranger that has had A long ambition to kiss your hands Rather intreat for his access than lose The happiness of your knowledge Volt. Sir y' are most welcome Hort. If you will keep us company You must be equally ingag'd Bert. My humble service Signior Hortensios Mistris Flor. You honor me would I were off agen Bert. Excuse me Signior Flo. Y' are too full of ceremony Pand. Sir is there any difference between you Iulius Caesar You would not pledge his health Bert. No difference in the world Pand. How no difference between you and a Roman Emperor Flor. Divide 'em what 's the matter Hort. O for some Trumpets Bert. Somebody hold my Sword give me the Wine I 'l drink it Pand. So we are friends Flor. O shamefull Bert. But I shall find a time Pand. Find twenty thousand years there 's time enough Volt. I 'l be your stickler Bert. I ha' not pledg'd the Cham yet nor I wo' not come I know you well enough Pand. Know me for what Bert. For a brave fellow and a man may
Duke Roderigo my Lord desires Your conference in the garden Pir. I 'll attend him Exeunt Ped. He is my Kinsman Sir and did salute me Men. I would thou wert his Cosen ten removes Pedro as far as the two Poles are distant Cla. My father need not fear Prince Carlo now I find another guest here 't is Don Manuel Holds chief intelligence with my thoughts Men. Well Pedro Take heed my life is in thy lips Ped. I know my duty Sir if you suspect Command me to be dumb Sir you must trust me Men. I know not how to help it wait upon My daughter Exeunt I would my Lady had liv'd or died without Bequeathing me this Legacy on her death-bed A Secret to consume me this servant whom I dare not much displease is all the witness Survives sworn with the rest to secresie And though I have small argument to suspect him After so long a silence yet I am Not safe to be at his devotion I could soon purge him with a Fig but that 's Not honest Was it ever known a man So innocent should have so many Agues In 's conscience I am weary of the Court I must have some device Enter Roderigo and Piracquo Duke Roderigo And Don Piracquo they are whispering too This jealousie will take my brains apieces Exit Ro. I have said now expect my Lord your answer Pi. I must acknowledge from your Grace a favour That you have been so clear and free with me I might have thought my self secure i' th' dark And ignorant of this expectation Incurr'd your Graces jealousie Ro. I had allwaies A firm opinion of your Lordships gratitude Pi. But for the sum he fifty thousand Ducats I must acknowledge if your Grace had mediated My pardon then with the good King your brother It had oblig'd my payment but my cause Not worth your Graces agitation Or breath was like a vessell struck upon Some shelf without all hope t' have sayl'd agen Had not the Prince's mercie when he came To Portugal reliev'd it with a gale And set my bark afloat Ro. The Prince Why doth your Lordship think I had no part I' th' work of your repair the power and office I hold at Court is not asleep my Lord When any act of grace is done by th' King Pi. I dare not do so much injustice to The Prince's bounty to divide and ow But half the benefit to his Grace I not Extenuate your prevalence at Court but His Highness did compassionate my exile And I am return'd by his commands my Lord I am his creature for it and shall sooner Lose what he hath preserv'd my life and peace here Than doubt his honour or dispute his power In my behalf Ro. Sir you are not safe yet There has past no seal I take it for your pardon You hang i' th' air not fixt to th' roof of heaven As when you shin'd a star take heed you prove No Comet a prodigious thing snatch'd up To blaze and be let fall agen upon Their eyes that so mistook the region Where you were plac'd Pi. I know my Lord your greatness And hold it not becoming to contest In language wi' ee but I am confident Ro. Of what Pi. And will wager if your Grace please The to ther fifty thousand Ducats Sir That I 'll not pay you a Marvedie if I may On other honourable terms possess Your favour I shall meet your just commands But if you set such price upon your smile After the Prince's honor to secure me I know my self my fortune and upon What strength I must depend Ro. I shall my Lord Send you to sea agen Pi. I made a shift and may agen my Lord Amongst the Merchants Ro. Pirate Pi. 'T is confest I was so but your Grace may be inform'd I was not born to th' trade I had a soul Above my fortune and a toy I took To lose what was beneath my birth and titles Or purchase an estate fit to sustain 'em The sea was my Exchequer for I thriv'd I thank my watry Destinies and commanded Many a tall ship won with so much horror As possibly would have made your Lordship had you But in a cloud or airie scaffold stood Spectator of our fight sweat out your soul Like a thin vapour with the fright and after Drop your forsaken body on our deck To encrease the number of the dead Ro. But we May deal with you at land agen Pi. With reverence to your blood as 't is the Kings with all my age My wounds upon me and that innocence The Prince's word hath new created in me I do not fear Ro. Whom Pi. The Devil Ro. I shall conjure down the spirit Pi. Hell hath not art to keep it down Ro. So brave Pi. So just Ro. Thou talking fool do'st think I have no stings Pi. I know you are a Statesman Sir but he That fears with his own innocence about him Deserves not a protection offers to go in Ro. Piracquo Stay I now see thou hast a gallant spirit Let me embrace thee and with this confirm An honourable friendship I have not A thought so base to injure thee Pi. I have An easy faith my Lord Ro. Farewell Noble Piracquo I have tri'd and found thee Pi. I wo not trust you for all this I know The Devill 's excellent at the hug your Servant Enter Manuell and Clara at the other dore Maria Man The Princess Mar. I doe not like his Courtship there Don Manuel Manuel leaves Clara and goes to Maria Ro. So gratious with my Neece I 'll make him curse Those smiles Exit Cl. All is not well within me and the Princess Was never so unwelcome they conferr With much delight or else my fears abuse me What hath she in the greatness of her birth That I should be so passive Heaven look on Our hearts and if my love want a degree Of noble heat when they are both compar'd Let what I carry be the Funerall pile And my own flame consume it Ha the Prince Enter Carlo I shall betray my self too soon I fear Car. My sweetest Clara Mar. Either there were no Ladies that could love In that Court or you could not want a Mistris Man They are not born with incapacity Of loving where they find a worth t' invite The fault was in my undesert that could Attract no Ladies grace to own me there So inconsiderable a servant Madam Ma. There is some hope you wil not be thought here Unworthy of a nobler Character I doe not think but Clara hath a better Opinion of your merit Car. You cannot be so cruell what could in My absence interpose to make your heart Unkind to those desires at my return Cla. My justice and the care of both our honours I have not lost nor can Time make me forfeit What Nature and the Laws of Heaven and Earth Command me to preserve my duty Sir What is above would tast ambitious Car. This was not wont Cla. If
rather say thou hast mistook it is Some other Clara and not the Lady I understand Man Life cannot bribe me with another wealth Or death with all his horrours make me desert That name Car. What a strange Sea-breach has This little storm of breath made here allready I was taking pains to unconcern the jealousie Of Antonio and find him my own Rivall Thou hadst been kinder to have lov'd Maria My Sister though Antonio had sworn Thy death and the Kings anger with my own Had met thee like a torrent than presum'd This interest in Clara Man I see no Such mighty danger in 't Car. I 'll tell thee Manuel Thou hast invaded all my joys I love her Man Honor forbid it Sir Car. Honor 's a dream And a cold everlasting sleep must chain My soul up for if once it wake and know What thou hast torn from 't it will vex it self Into a flame and turn thee into ashes Ma. Never til now unhappy with my weight I see my self now bearing down before me A rotten part of some prodigious mountain Into the sea with which I shall soon mingle Ca. Collect thy self betimes and give her back Unsullied with thy clame release thy own And with her every thought as much a virgin As her soul was when first I courted her Or thou art lost Man With greater justice Sir Command to uncreate my self as call My faith or heart agen Ca. How Man Sir my life The cement that doth hold this frame together You have power to melt or but command my exile And I may live far off and be forgotten By all but Clara but to ask that back Which with the full consent of heaven I gave her And in exchange receiv'd her equall vow I dare not or if I had will to be So false to honour 't is within my heart So rivetted I may with as much innocence Commit a rape or murder as attempt it Ca. You have no doubt a valour too that dare Love with so fierce a resolution Man When I am master of my sword I dare Not draw it against you but he that lives Beneath you may have little time to wish Himself unmade that would divorce us Car. Leave me leave me Ex. Man How many lones are shaken with one tempest And if one suffer ruin'd all I know The faith he bears me and the reverence He gives my blood will never be provok'd To fight against my person but I must not By tameness give my self a publike wound He shall be master of his sword and freedom And then let fate determine Clara must Be mine or make a Bridegroom of his dust Exit ACT. III Enter Gentlemen of Prince Antonio preparing a Banquet S 1. PRince Carlo 's not come yet 2. My Lord Piracquo And his son Manuel are expected too 1. I wonder at this hasty reconcilement We did imagine it as possible The two Poles should have met as they together Friends at a Banquet 2. In my opinion peace and wine and musick Are more convenient for the naturall body Than swords or guns 1. And for the politick too If men were but so wise to like and cherish Their own estates If I had all the Plate In the Indies I 'd not give a silver spoon To have my head cut off 2. Why is not the great Duke Roderigo here 1. Who the Kings Evil Genius he was Invited but excus'd himself 2. Why there 's A Statesman that can side with every faction And yet most subtly can untwist himself When he hath wrought the business up to danger He lives within a labyrinth some think He deals with the devil and he looks like one With a more Holiday face 1. But he hath so behav'd himself That no man now dare much confide in him They are come Enter Antonio Carlo Piracquo Manuel An. Don Manuel the Prince hath made me know My error and your worth Ma. He has too much honor'd me And you have reason to command for this The service of my life An. You are not pleasant Sir My Lord Piracquo Pi. Your Highness humble servant Car. All is not Reconcil'd here I but suppress a flame To give it vent more dangerous An. A free welcom to all Sit and some wine this Musick is not Sprightly enough To his Majesty of Spain Pi. He that doth pledg the Kings health with a murmur May his next thirst inflame him to drink poyson Car. The King hath a true servant in Piracquo Man He that is not had never sense of honor And may he perish all but soul that dares Harbour a thought disloyall To your Highness An. Give me another This wine looks cheerful as my heart to drink The Princess fair Maria's health Car. My turn Will come Sir to be gratefull An. Here my Lord Pi. May swift time perfect by your sacred Loves The happiness of both kingdoms Man May that day That seals your glorious Hymen Sir be ever Holy within our Calendar and beget A faith that all things then begun may prosper An. I thank thee Manuel Car. Sir you may Believe Don Manuel's language and his heart Are twins they bear one date of time sense You must now give me leave Sir to requite You in part A health to the King of Portugal Let it move this way Manuel Ma. It shall With humble thoughts be entertain'd you honor me Pi. It is but Justice Manuel for when Spain Would not acknowledge nor allow us being Our lives were welcome there till better stars Sent him to whose bounty we ow all that 's left us Car. No more o'th at my Lord I am very confident In any honorable cause you dare Express your faith to me and for your son We two have been companions I dare say Our hearts are toucht by one Magnetick virtue And such a sympathy I cannot wish What 's dearest to me but he flies t' embrace it Ma. I like not this Car. Manuel begin a health We have had my Sisters and the Kings already Name your own Mistris for the next Ma. I should conclude her worthy of remembrance If one were first preferr'd Will your Grace please Sir To let me have the honor An. Come to me Ma. To the white hand of fairest Isabella An. Would she were Present to thank you Manuel Car. 'T is an affront as Clara were his own Allready ha civilitie and honor Prescribe me patience dares he insult When this hath had the ceremony Manuel 'T shall be my office to remember Clara I must have time to quit the favour Sir Y 'ave done my Mistris in your ear though I Was pleased to reconcile you to the Prince And order your enlargement Clara must Be mine or one of us be nothing you May think on 't yet Ma. I have Sir and to shew How much I can obey and that I have not Intruded like a thief upon your treasure And filcht her heart away 't is now within Her choice agen if you prevail upon Her kinder thoughts
you love my Daughter Clara Were she in beauty person and all ornaments Fortune and Nature could bestow more excellent Than Isabella Car. Why an 't please your Wisedome Me. Sir in my love to you and Isabella My duty to your Father and the Kingdome Nay for my Daughter's sake and all my hope Of after-joyes and for one other reason Above all these which I conceal yet I Complain'd not to the King Car. Excluding me Your Grace can be content Don Manuel Should have your Daughter Me. Rather than your Highness I know a reason for 't Car. I must so too Me. Your Grace shall pardon me at this time Car. I wo'not Sir Me. If you 'l needs have it I have made a vow I wo'not ask my Daughter blessing Sir If you two meet and marry she may live To be a Queen and then I 'll kneel to her Which is not in the Oath of my Allegiance Car. The old man raves Exit Enter King Maria Me. The King Car. He shall not see me Till I know all my fate Exit Ki. How doe you like the Prince Antonio Ma. Sir if you allow me freedome Ki. You enjoy it Ma. His Person Bloud and expectations are High as the wishes of a Queen and I With pious gratitude acknowledge all My duty and my prayers a just return To your great care but give me Sir your pardon If I prefer some thoughts that prompt me to A better choyce Ki. A better choyce look back Upon that character your breath but now Deliver'd in his honour Ma. I confirm it But when you hear me humbly beg I may Perform religious duties Sir to Heaven You wil think nature hath a place beneath 'em If I could find any consent to marriage Antonio would prefer himself the first To my election but if you were pleas'd Ki. You would be a Nunn Ma. That hath exprest my wishes Ki. So I should Affront the Prince how long Maria has This fit of your Religion held you ha No more least I suspect this a pretence To hide your love plac'd otherwise unfitly If I find where your heart is wandring Ma. It knows obedience better and your name Than to choose any path leads not to honour Ki. I must direct it then to love Antonio My Children are turn'd rebell Ma. Sir I hope My offer with your leave to dedicate My life to prayer and Virgin-thoughts will merit A better name Ki. Your brother Carlo too Will find himself at loss if he collect not Himself and make our Royall Promise good To Isabella while my studies are To make the Kingdome firm by our alliance With Portugall be courts the Lady Clara Ma. I would she were his Bride so I had Manuel Ki. And you at the same time and height of both The Kingdoms expectations would take a Cloyster Is this to pay obedience to a Father Whose cares have kept him wake to make you happy Ma. Goodness forbid that Carlo or Maria Should move me to just anger Ki. This is virtue Ma. He is passionate and Love that makes all Ladies Apt and ingenious to contrive cannot Inspire or help me with an heart to advance A little hope Ki. It cannot be Maria We are surpriz'd the Princess Isabella Is privately arriv'd and come to Court Where is our Son all should prepare to meet her Exe. Enter Carlo and Clara Car. You may believe I trifle not Cla. The Princess Isabella come Car. Now if but Clara think I honour her And instantly accept what I am willing In presence of the Priest and Heaven to give her The Ceremony waits to make all perfect Enter Manuell Cla. I dare not Sir Car. Say but you love and that will teach you valour I bring not onely proof of my own loyalty Which if examin'd must invite thy faith But thy security a Release from Manuell His soul is on my side and comes to render In pity of thy wound a balm into Thy breath be gentle Clara Cla. A Release of what Ma. Of all thy Promise hath made mine Observe me wisely Clara and distinguish As far as honour will permit how long And with what bleeding thoughts the Prince affects thee For I have look'd into his soul and back Upon the feeble merits of my self And therefore giving thy own Vows agen I dis-engage their strength to bind thee Clara And to that sweetness thy first bosome had Remit thy quiet thoughts Car. Th' art just Cla. Pray give Me leave to understand this mystery To give me back all those assurances Of Love my Promise made I 'll not dispute For what unworthiness I am neglected Ma. I dare not be so impious Cla. Then here I take My liberty again Ma. You have it Cla. Now I with safety of my honor may Choose where I please Ma. You may Cla. And you desire it You have power I must confess to give me from you Into my own possession but no title Now to direct my heart then though I meet My own despair here I give Clara back And with new Vows as strong as my Religion And Love can make contract my self agen To Death or Manuell Car. A Conspiracy Cla. I have resign'd no interest in him And by new choyce am not my own agen Car. So so it is as possible in our destinies We should enjoy her both as live together When Clara is thy Bride Cla. That sound was tragicall Oh call those fatall words agen and think That if with safety of my faith I cannot Meet your desires allready you will force My soul to greater distance by destroying What most I love I know you doe but fright me Ma. If I be mark'd for your revenge I dare not Think you will stain your honour to contrive My death ignobly They whisper Cl. What was that he mention'd Sir by your name and blood I charge you hear me By these your rage compels a Virgins tears I can kneel too take your revenge on me 'T is I that have offended for your sake He did return the interest I gave him But 't was not in his power to revoke Himself made mine nor dare I quit possession Car. I have but tryed thy virtue Manuel And I are friends Cl. That was a heavenly language Car. Our swords shall serve to nobler uses Clara I 'll not disturb the progress of your Mariage And since I see you 're fixt so gloriously Proceed to your own Hymen I 'll attend you And witness all your holy rites Cl. Blest change What prayers and duty can reward his goodness Car. I hope you 'll not deny for my past service Madam your smile upon me which shall be A triumph after all my wounds receiv'd And boast a glory next to be your husband For I consider now I am unfit Farewell we may salute Remember Manuel The time and place Exit Cla. What was it the Prince whisper'd Ma. Nothing Madam To fright your cheek to paleness Cl. I do tremble Ma. Were all this reconcilement a disguise And that
hast a thought to wish him live Here I disclame thee if thou wert a son I would pronounce thee bastard if thou didst not Kill himself thy self but as it is I sha'not Be satisfied since my own hands are bound If thou attempt not something in his danger Cl. Good Sir you speak as you were to expect No killing sentence from the offended Law Me. I 'll study some revenge my self Exit Cl. He 's lost And in this storm like a distracted passenger Whose bark has struck upon some sand I look from the forsaken deck upon the seas I find my own despair which every wave Swels high and bids me die for fear of drowning Enter Castellano May I not see Don Manuel your prisoner Ca. Yes Madam if you expect untill Princess Maria who is come to visit him Cl. My affairs concern 'em both Direct me with more hast Ca. Then this way Madam Exe Enter Manuel and Maria a Taper on the Table Ma. Madam I ow to your charity this light And yet this little Taper may be useless I fear the King will lose part of his sentence When you go hence for such a full light waits About you when you take away your person It will be some day still as I foresee As you appear'd some dawning of the morning Ma. I would I could bring comfort to thee Manuel Man What comfort can you wish me Ma. Life and liberty With these my self if fate and thy consent Were to allow the gift Man It is not well Unless you doubted Madam my repentance To afflict me with these mockeries When will you rather perfect what your own Revenge must prompt you to my death for Carlo Your Princely Brother Madam I confess This hand rob'd him of life Ma. Yet in my heart I dare pronounce thy pardon Manuel Man It is not possible Enter Clara Is not that Clara That 's come to take her leave before I print My everlasting farewell on her lip Which I shall hardly find if this rain last To drown these lovely meadows thou shalt be A Judge between the Princess and poor Manuel To enable thee for sentence take upon thee Her person Clara Be the Princess wo't And hear me plead against my sel fand her Till she repent her love and leave me to A quiet death I know not how to think Maria you can mean this love to me Or that your voice when it does chime the sweetest Is more than preface to my dirge say that You have a heart less penetrable than The scale of Dragons and as many stings When they make war and I 'll give faith to you For such an enemie as I must not Be look'd on but with all your wrath upon me Me-thinks I hear your brother call you Madam And hovering as he scorn'd to touch the earth Sustains his Murderer is pointing to The wounds I made whose fountains are still weeping I feel a purple dew descend upon me And I am all a bloody rock allready Are not you stiff with wonder yet if once You had when I appear'd a man fair thoughts Of me it is too much to love me now You must convert them into curses Madam And I will call it justice Cla. I came not To hear this Comment on my brother's story Whom you have kill'd Man Observe her act your person And speak now as if the sorrow were her own And she had lost a brother Cl. Indeed I have wept before and came not now to learn A grief for him that was so near my blood But I 've consider'd too the ties of nature Should have no force against the rules of Justice Allthough it be a sorrow to remember He took his great misfortune from your sword You did not murder him nay you did not kill him You fought in his revenge and while he came Hid in the name and person of a Traytor It was your virtue made him bleed and yet He was my brother Sir Man Your brother more He was your Prince too Madam think o'th at The full blown expectation of the Kingdom One that redeem'd my life from banishment And yet I kill'd him can you forgive me You cannot must not Madam Cla. Yes and dare Say I still love you Man She will punish me For giving up my interest to Carlo If she encourage thus Maria Madam Do you consider how few sands are left In my poor glass of time I cannot promise Three minutes here Law and the Kings decree Have turn'd two parts of me to dust allready I feel the third unsettle and make fit To be dissolv'd but could fate give my life The period to be wished remember whom I speak to Clara and I need no more Accuse my self my heart was long since given Away and you as soon may reconcile Time and Eternity to one growth and age As hope my love and yours should ever meet Cla. Then it is time to dye Man Madam she faints Oh help she has forgot her part this was Not meant to Clara Mar. Madam Madam Man Clara so so she returns I should have quickly followed else Mar. I see Your loves are sacred and 't is sin to attempt Your separation though I lov'd thee Manuel I can resign to Clara whom I hop'd Her Brothers death might have provok'd to leave thee Man Her Brothers let me hear Clara speak her Brothers death Having so little time to stay with thee Alive why didst thou make such hast Cla. Did not You Sir pronounce it was impossible That our two loves should meet Man Thou didst not Represent Clara then thou wert the Princess Cla. I know not but your last profession That our two hearts should never grow together Followed so close my Brother's death I thought The meaning look'd on me Mar. Thy Brothers death Mar. You have not slain the Prince my Brother Manuel But Clara's this may yet appear a mystery Cla. 'T is too true Man But stay and can my Clara then forgive me No man despair to find Mercy in Heaven There is so great a Charity upon Earth But doe not leave me lost i' th' wonder Madam Allthough it would be happiness to know The Prince not dead I cannot hear without A wound next his that I ha' kil'd thy Brother It cannot be allthough thou wouldst forgive me I cannot be so miserable Mar. How Their Souls agree 't were tyranny to part 'em Clara I envyed now allow thy happiness And will have no more thoughts upon your loves But what shall be employ'd in hearty wishes That Manuel may live still to reward it Thou hast deserv'd him better than I have Antonio Cla. If my death may speak Addition to the love I owe thee 't is In my resolution at that minute Thy Soul takes leave my own shall wait upon it And take a journey through the Clouds together Who knows but they may fill one Star Farewell Till we begin that progress Man Doe not make Death horrid to me Clara for to think When this unworthy