The pleasaunt and fine conceited Comoedie of two Italian Gentlemen vvith the merie deuises of Captaine Crack-stone Actus prima Scena prima Enter Fortunio and Captain Crack-stone Fortunio shewing very sad countenance Fortunio HE that discloseth to a fréend the secrets of his minde Dooth rob him selfe of libertie besides we dayly finde That others councels wil by such in euery eare be blowen As haue no power when time requires to smother all their owne Heauie and sad thow séest I am but why my hart is sore Of curtesie content thy selfe and aske me that no more Crack-stone ¶ Heauie in déed and as heauie as lead Either it is some of these same bremy quauers or some kinde of pricksong that runnes in his head Heare you Maister Fortunio by the honor of a Soldier by the glorye of a Captain By all the Poleaxes and tormenters that theise hands haue slain Doo but scoure your minde to mée and shut vp your gréef Either I le finde you some ease or you shal be hangd for a théef You knowe I am a good fellowe nothing venture nothing haue If I had not put my carcas to the Iibbet I had not béen thus braue So now if you venture not to shewe some trusty body your minde It will be very long ere the dresser you finde And so peraduenture you shall neuer be sped For when the Cooke is out of the way you must goe supperlesse to bed Fortunio ¶ How findeth he redresse that breakes his minde vnto a foole Or what is learnd where folly sets the wiser sorte to schoole Yet sith he braues it with the best in euery company And knowes where euery gallant loues and sées the remedy I will not stick to let him knowe the secrets of my hart And make him partner of my pain and priuie to my smart Doo you knowe Victoria Crack-stone ¶ Doo not I knowe her what think yée As though ere a proper gentlewoman in Naples were out of quaintance with mée Fortunio ¶ Her haue I seen of late and often by her windowe past From which shée let a letter fall which taking vp in hast I read and found within describde the frantique fits of looue Whether it were for mée or any els I cannot prooue Whether she faine and baite her hookes the simple to beguile Cannot be found till wit by line haue measured euery wile I knowe she loued Fedele once before he went to Spain And meanes perhaps to loue him still sith hée 's returnd again Doo thou but sift him for my sake and haunt out his desire And doutles thou shalt haue of mée thy Captains pay for hire Crack-stone ¶ If this be all Sir let mée alone About your businesse you may be gone I will féele Signior Fedeles minde very cunningly And return you an answer of this gear presently Fortunio ¶ Gramercie be trustye Crack-st. ¶ As trusty as stéele I haue no fault but one I am somwhat short in the héele Fortunio ¶ Miraccommando Exit Crack-st. ¶ Basilus Codpéece for an olde Manus You shall not haue her at rack and maunger I trowe Somwhat by this for mine owne proportion I knowe When two bones are at strife for a dog it is commonly séen That the third comes and takes it and wipes their mouthes cléen I mean as you sée mée in this braualitie To be a suter to Victoria with all profigalitie I brought Butter and Chéese hether to vittaile the Camp a great while Many times I would nick them of their measure and the Soldiers beguile Like a crafty knaue by this meanes I got so much gain That I bought this apparell of a Captain that was slain And wearing the same abroad as you sée The Soldiers all the town ouer make a Captain of mée One calles mée Captain Chéese an other Captain Crust An other braue Crack-stone take which name ye lust The Gentlemen are euery one glad of my company Because I haue such a wilde worme in my hed as makes them all mery The women they loue mée Victoria is chéefe But shée hath béen somwhat strange of late therfore to be bréefe I thought some strawes were in the pad that shée lookt so coy But now haue at her again with a fresh hed in my toy I will first vnderproyn Sir Fedele his minde to vnderstand Sée good luck his Schoolmaister and her Maid are at hand As bothe of them fréendly togither doo walke I will sneke into a corner and hearken to their talke step aside Actus prima Scena secunda Enter Pedante the Parasite attired in a gown and cap like a Schoolmaister and with him Attilia Attilia I Pray you maister Schoolmaister let me be gone I haue haste on my way I le be at home again anone Pedante ¶ Swéet hart and bag pudding goe you so swiftly Haue with you then doo ye lack any company Attilia ¶ In faith Sir no Pedante ¶ I pray you tell me one thing before you parte I think you be somwhat wetherwise by your arte Doo you knowe me by acqaintance or gesse you by aime That you hit so right on my office in stead of my name Attilia ¶ I haue séen you before if I am not beguilde You haue béen Schoolmaister to maister Fedele euer since he was a childe Pedante ¶ True swéet hart but I pray thée be not angry with mée But giue me leaue a little while to mooue a question to thée What is your name and where doo you dwell Attilia ¶ Softe there lay a strawe that will I not tell Alas poor Attilia what meanes he by this If I stay with him long my mistres Victoria her seruant wil misse About your busines good Sir I pray you get you away I purpose not to tell you my name this day Pedante ¶ Be not so strange faire Lady I knowe your name very well And the name of your mistres and the place where you dwell Attilia ¶ If you doo much good doo it you I can tary no longer Pedante ¶ Then I perceiue I shall be driuen to try who is the stronger stop her I shall tell you one thing if it please you to stay Attilia ¶ Speak your minde quickly a woord and away Pedante ¶ Bee not angry I beséech you to hear that is true You are the fairest Creature that euer I did view Attilia ¶ What followes of this Pedante ¶ I like you and looue you before all the Creatures that euer I knew Attilia ¶ What ill luck is this I sée nothing that makes me to loue and like you Pedante ¶ You might if you tride me for I come of the siniters Attilia ¶ Great barkers are none of the greatest biters Pedante ¶ Good mistres Attilia because you haue haste I will talke with you more when your busines is past If I can be spared from my Maister so long soon at night I will resorte to your house and lay my meaning wide open before your sight Attilia ¶ Farwel Sir Pedante look you be not too quick
all Whome shall we stoppe and what 's the cause that makes you thus to call Fedele ¶ Pedante take thy sworde Fedele and Pedante speake out at a windowe within arise let 's goe into the streéete Some wondrous broyle I doubt there is Pedante ¶ I am so fast wrapt in the vpper shéete That I can not get out I pray you make not such haste Till you thinke that the hottest of the broile be paste Fortunio ¶ Stay Captaine lay no handes on me a Gentleman I am And will not flitte Ottaui. ¶ Woe worth the time that to my house he came Sbirri ¶ Ottauiano what 's the cause of your lamenting crye Let 's knowe hath Sir Fortunio done you any iniurie Enter Fedele and Pedante with weapons Fedele ¶ Come quickely man let 's sée this Pageant ere it take an ende Pedante ¶ He that breaks me of my sléepe is none of my fréende Virginia ¶ Ah wretche that am I alas and halfe vndone Pedante ¶ What strange kinde of broyle is this that is begonne Ottaui. ¶ Is it Fortunio in déede This is thy treacherie Medusa Medusa ¶ Mine alas good Sir you doe me iniurie I graunt that after I had brought my young mistresse to bed Féeling the sléepe shut vp mine eyes and drouping with my head I laide me downe to take my rest and so with haste forgot To locke the doores about the house and how it comes God wot I can not tell but when I fet a nap and wooke againe I heard a bustling in the darke and then did I complaine And cryed aloude to you for helpe whereat immediatly This Gentleman withdrewe him selfe and foorth began to flye Pedante ¶ Master Fedele ¶ What sayst thou Pedante ¶ Your cake is dowe Fedele ¶ It killes me to thinke on it the greater my woe Crack-st ¶ This is lucke nidget with all my heart ¶ I am glad that I haue some body to take my part But oh that my handes were at liberalitie now to strike I would set my Gramariner a lesson to pike Ottaui. ¶ Ah Sir Fortunio vse you thus the man that lou'de you best Take him this villainie shall not be turned to a iest Sbirri ¶ Quiet your selfe Ottauiano sith it is so past The brute will not be called backe so long as life dooth last His punishment makes not your daughter as she was before But giue her vnto him to wife and talke of it no more His liuing is as good as yours make vp the match with speede Ottaui. ¶ Néede hath no lawe I am content if they be bothe agréede Virginia ¶ Alas I neuer knew the man he neuer toucht me yet I loue Fedele and he alone is for Virginia fit Fedele ¶ I 'le take no wife at second hande thankes for your curtesie Let him that hath possest your honor weare the same for me Pedante ¶ In euery Tennis Court in the world false play it is found To take vp the Ball at the second rebound Fortunio ¶ Virginia if that you can be content To like of him that loues you in his heart Giue me your hand and if your minde be bent To marrie me I neuer meane to parte My life and liuing more you can not craue Remaineth yours doe now but aske and haue Virginia ¶ I thanke you Sir in that it pleaseth you to vse me so My promise was nigh graunted to Fedele long ago Fortunio ¶ But he hath now forsaken you Fedele ¶ Virginia you are frée Assure your selfe your marriage neuer shall be staide by me Virginia ¶ Then if you loue I will be yours Fortunio ¶ Shall I haue your good will Ottaui. ¶ You haue Fortunio ¶ I loue you then and meane to loue you still Medusa ¶ Now man and wife Ottauiano hearken vnto me Although this Gallant in Virginiaes chamber you did sée Yet is her honour as it was vnspotted by the same And kept by me which euer had regarde vnto her name Fortunio made his mone and said he lou'de Virginia best Virginia for Fedeles sake could neuer take her rest His minde was on Victoria Virginia light estéemde Now that Virginiaes life and libertie might be redéemde I brought Fortunio to the house when she was fast a sléepe And close this night into her chamber both of vs did créepe I made him to vnbrace him selfe and presently did call For you to come as though some greater matter did befall You came he fled and now is taken in Fedeles sight As though Virginia had dishonoured béene by him this night Which is not so but this was done to bleare the gazers eyes To pleasure him and saue her life this thing did I deuise Pedante ¶ O mischieuous head maister did you heare this geare Such a girle is worth golde in a deare yéere Crack-st. ¶ I Ipse tipse tittle tittle este amen Such a wench is not be found in the world againe I haue heard it often and nowe I do proue That women are suttle wormes for the conuariance of loue Ottaui. ¶ If this be true I ioy Fortunio ¶ Els take my head I came not nigh Virginia although she were in bed Fedele ¶ Fortunio you are quitte with me for when we lay in scowte To watch by faire Victoriaes house who passed in and out It was my man disguisde that issued forth out of the same That for the nonce by me was set to call Victoria by her name He went vnto Attilia with counterfeited loue That by his meanes from fayre Victoria I might you remoue You séeing him and hearing when he came foorth what he said Thought he had bene with her when he had bene but with the maide Whereat you stormde and left the chace of her that lou'de you déere Which is no griefe at all to me that hopes to winne her héere Therefore Victoria now forget Fortunio which is loste And loue Fedele who for you yet neuer spared coste Let fall thy wrath for giue me too that meanes to be thine owne T' is seldome séen but warres haue end whē foes are ouerthrown Victoria ¶ Sith you haue so preuented me and perfect loue proteste I will put vp the iniurie and yours for euer rest Crack-st, ¶ My nose is ioynted I may goe shoe the Gosling now if I will He that eats with the deuil without a long spoone his fare wil be ill What spirits of the Buttry were abroad this night I haue béene so hard harted to mine enemies that I thinke all the Gods of loue ought me a spite I graunt I am none of these fine Criminadoes that can tumble in a Genlewomās lap and rumble in her eare But without vauntage be it spoken I am as góod as the best at the push of a speare I can cut and flash to make mine enemies to bléede And pricke it proudly I tell you when I am surmounted vpon my stéede Sbirri ¶ Mistresse Victoria now I see this onely rests to knowe What shall be done vnto your mayde or shall we let her goe Victoria ¶ Sith with Crack-stone this night you tooke my maide so shorte To prison with her if you please to cut off her resorte Attilia ¶ Good mistresse beare with me I tooke no hurt by him at all But meane to tell you iustly how the matter did befall The Schoolemaister that on Fedele euer dooth attende Promi'ste to marrie me this night my seruile life to ende Upon whose woord from you I fled and staide for him in the stréete Where I against my will with this Crack-stone did méete Crack-st ¶ Bowle to thy biase master Pediculus I pray you take your wife You and I for this matter will not stande at strife Are you rememberde what you said when you constulted with me To come hether in this parrell secretly Pedante ¶ What maister Crack-stone and mistresse Attilia you are welcome to the buttes Crack-st ¶ Welcome with a Knaues name I beshrumpe your guttes Pedante ¶ Why so Sir Crack-st. ¶ Didst not thou tell me that in this parrell mistresse Victoria I should sée This night in the stréete to be compensed of my iniurie Pedante ¶ So you may if you please take your eyes in your hande Turne about Sir and sée where Victoria doth stande And as for Attilia as you brew so bake I am not so base minded your leauings to take Attilia ¶ Why maister Pedante will you serue me so Pedante ¶ I must I perceiue whither I will or no Crack-st. ¶ Drawe Uillaine Sbirri ¶ Soft there Crack-stone be not too rash to proffer fight You and this mayde together in the darke were tane this night The matter is suspitious sith he forsaketh her To take her to your wife no time you should deferre We cannot force her vpon him sith she was tane with you And howsoeuer you cloke it none your méeting can allowe Crack-st ¶ Well sith there is no remorce of conscience to be founde How saist thou Allice tittle tattle art thou content by loue to be bounde
Exit Pedante ¶ What a drunken wooer am I that gaue her neuer a licke This falles out pat for my Maister Fedele and comes in the nick By cogging and counterfaiting looue as you sée If Attilia be so mad as to like and looue mée By her all the Iugling of her mistres I shall knowe And finde whether any new cōmers have set my Maister beside the cushin or no Crack-stone ¶ This is as excrement for my proposition as can be desirde Soon at night like the Schoolmaister will I be attirde First come first seru'd if the maid be so fréendly to let mée in Then Sa Sa Sa the battaile will beginne With that Magnaniminstrelsie and mercy that in mée dooth floe I le make a conflict of the Mistres and let the maid goe Farewell seely Schoolmaister this Iniunction is not found in his Aduerb I trowe Exit Pedante ¶ These tidings wil be ioyfull to my maister I am sure Who for loue of Victoria suffers many a sharp shower Enter Fedele Loe where he comes walking by him selfe alone With his head full of thoughts and his hart full of mone Rowse vp your wittes Sir what are you a sléep Neuer be so base minded to a woman to créep Sée sée your cap on your head good manners forgot Now you are come to your owne swinge you knowe me not Doo your dutie to your maister good nurture is best In via virtutis non progredi regredi est Fedele ¶ Alas my care so closeth vp my sight That all is lost wherin I should delight Pedante ¶ You knowe that it may be said of me which was said of Vlisses Multorum hominum mores qui vidit et vrbes Therfore if you desire mée your cares to reléeue The best counsell I can to you I will giue Fedele ¶ You knowe Victoria is the cause of all my secret smart Victoriaes beautie is the worme that gnawes me to the hart What counsaile now Pedante ¶ Did not I teach you long agoe out of tragicall Seneca His golden saying duo omnium malorum foemina Did I not cause you with your pen in the margent of your book to marke that place And yet will you be tooting on a beautifull face Which no otherwise vanisheth and away dooth goe Then water that neuer returnes to the spring from whence it did flowe Beautie is so tickle a foundation to bear any frame And looue so vncertain that it throwes the house on his hed that built the same Wherupon I gaue you a good lesson of olde Euery letter therof would be written in Golde Quod inuat exiguum est plus est quod laedit amantes They knowe what I mean that are versificautes Fedele ¶ If this colde comfort in my néed be all that I shall haue Out of my sight No succour at thy handes I mean to craue Pedante ¶ Adultus Iuuenis tandem custode remoto Cereus in vitium flecti monitoribus asper The right course of the world now he runnes vpon whéeles Had I knowen this when you were a boy I would haue hamperd your héeles It were a good déed to set all your fortune at euen and od And let you alone till you are beaten with your owne rod But the looue that I bear to you euery day Will not suffer me to sée this good witte cast away Some tidings I haue for you therfore be not afraid I am growen in acquaintance with Victoriaes maid By whome I trust in the end to knowe What Suters to her Mistres resorte too and fro If no body els do followe the game The spark that you left in her brest will break out in a flame Fedele ¶ Thankes good Pedante get thée home and leaue me héer a space To trye if I may méet with faire Victoria in this place Pedante ¶ I knowe where to prick that the vain may bléed Sée how faire he dooth speak when his humour I féed This passeth Prosodia Sintaxis and all T is the way to my profit to stoop to his call Exit Fedele ¶ Héer was I wunt to méet with her and héer I mean to walke And sound her meaning if I may by moouing her to talke Victoria setteth open the Casement of her windowe and with her Lute in her hand playeth and singeth this dittie Victoria If looue be like the flower that in the night When darknes drownes the glory of the Skyes Smelles sweet and glitters in the gazers sight But when the gladsome Sun beginnes to rise And he that viewes it would the same imbrace It withereth and looseth all his grace Why doo I looue and like the cursed Tree Whose buddes appeer but fruite will not be seen Why doo I languish for the flower I see Whose root is rot when all the leaues be green In such a case it is a point of skill To followe chaunce and looue against my will Speake Ah poor Victoria héer it was thy guise To stand and sée Fortunio passing by Whose loouely shape hath caught me by mine eyes And meanes to make me prisoner while I dye To gaze on him was life to mée before His absence death because I sée no more Fedele ¶ Oh gréedy looue that neuer féeleth glut How haue I boasted of Victoriaes grace With feare at last from fauour to be shut And lose the light of such a shining face Shall neither teares nor toyle nor broken sléep Haue force inough a Ladies looue to kéep Victoria ¶ And hath Fortunio now forgot the way Which by my windowe learnd of late to walke Sée the disturber of my peace this day Fedele comes to proffer mée some talke Sith hée is héer his patience I will prooue Whome for Fortunios sake I cannot looue Fedele ¶ I serue a Mistres whiter then the snowe Straighter then Cedar brighter then the Glasse Finer in trip and swifter then the Roe More pleasant then the Féeld of flowring Grasse More gladsome to my withering Ioyes that fade Then Winters Sun or Sommers cooling shade Swéeter then swelling grape of ripest wine Softer then feathers of the fairest Swan Smoother then Iet more stately then the Pine Fresher then Poplar smaller then my span Clearer then Beauties fiery pointed beam Or Ysie cruste of Christalles frosen stream Yet is shée curster then the Beare by kinde And harder harted then the aged Oke More glib then Oyle more fickle then the winde Stiffer then Stéele no sooner bent but broke Loe thus my seruice is a lasting sore Yet will I serue although I dye therfore Enter Victoria Victoria ¶ Now must I either fode him off with fained curtesie Or els be coy in talke to rid mée of his company Shee offreth to departe he stayeth her Sir Fedele well met and so farwell I must away My busines is such as will not suffer me to staye Fedele ¶ Mistres Victoria let us haue one woord before yée goe Oh looue oh death betwéen you bothe vouchsafe to rid my woe Victoria ¶ A wunder sure it is to sée how gentlemen complain What
cark what care what hell on earth for women they sustain Your peace is war your sléep is watching and your ease is toyle Your life is death your mirth is mone and your successe a foyle These woordes are vsde for ornaments to beautifie your stile And these I think you followe poore Victoria to beguile Fedele ¶ If for your sake alone more then for any other dame I were not thus tormented then I graunt I were too blame But sith your golden graces are the cause of all my gréfe Giue eare and credit to my plaint and yéeld me some reléefe Victoria ¶ If this be true why did you part and stay so long in Spain Delay bréeds losse either I thought you would not come again Or els that change of company would alter your delight And absence put me out of minde that shut me out of sight Did not I say that your departure would my death procure Fedele ¶ You did Victoria ¶ And could you make me then to féele so sharp a showre Fedele ¶ Need hathe no lawe the matter toucht my land and life so néer That I was forste against my will to stay no longer héer But sith I haue dispatcht according to mine owne desire Loe héer I am to serue you still in bitter frost or fier Actus prima Scena tertia Enter Attilia Maid to Mistresse Victoria with Pamphila Maid to Mistres Virginia and Medusa the Enchantresse with her box of enchantments vnder her arme Victoria DEparte Fedele for this time come to me soon at night I will consider better of your plaint and heauie plight My maid and other company dooth prease into this place It were not good to make them all acquainted with your case Fedele ¶ A thousad thankes this in your ear let that the token bée Exit Victoria ¶ I knowe your meaning Sir farwell referre the rest to mée Alas poore soule he little knowes how colde a sute he hathe He must be dallied with a while for fear of after scathe Attilia ¶ And must you séek Fedele out Pamphila ¶ I must Attilia ¶ But to what end Pamphila ¶ To craue of curtesie that he would stand my Mistres fréend Attilia ¶ Mistres Virginia Pamphil. ¶ The same Attilia ¶ In what matter I pray Pamphil. ¶ That 's counsaile vnto you I must not euery thing bewray And yet by her so bitter is the taste of looue I finde That gall were swéeter to the mouth and better to the minde ¶ I haue the Hare on foot Attilia ¶ But knowe you where Fedele is Pamphila ¶ Him at his house or walking in the stréet you shall not misse Attilia ¶ Farewell I will goe séek him straight Exit Pamphila ¶ Yet finde him not too soon Attilia Alas poore soule her sute is colde before it be begun Loe héer the common fault of looue to followe her that flyes And flye from her that makes pursuite with loud lamenting cryes Fedele looues Victoria and shée hath him forgot Virginia likes Fedele best and hée regardes her not Medusa ¶ O foolish looue and loouers that look not to theire state But swimme against the tide and then repent when t is too late If wée could learne to séek to them that vnto vs doo sue The match were made and wée should haue no cause at all to rue When wée be coy and holde our fréendes aloofe at cap and knée The Mart is marde and euery eye our folly then dooth sée ¶ What talke you there Attilia Victoria ¶ No hurt at all to you Attilia ¶ What newes Victoria ¶ Good swéet and ioyfull newes Mistres I bring you now Attilia ¶ Hast thou met with Fortunio Victoria ¶ Not so Attilia ¶ Then what 's the newes Victoria ¶ As I was walking through the stréets alone Attilia Deuising how to finde a remedie to cure your mone I met Medusa with her box and trinckets as you sée Whose cunning shortly shall deuise the way to set you frée Victoria ¶ No way without Fortunio Attilia ¶ Fortunio you shall haue Be not afraid therfore in this this womans aide to craue Shée can enchant and woorke wunders by Magicks learned art Shée can with woordes with charmes and hearbes giue you Fortunioes hart Make much of her Victoria ¶ Ah foole I knowe that looue is such a passion of the minde As neither Ayrye Sprites can rule nor force of Magick binde Attilia ¶ Yet trye her cunning sith that I haue brought her into place Victoria ¶ Medusa will thy drugges procure a pining loouer grace Medusa ¶ Mistres they will Victoria ¶ Open thy box and let me sée thy store Let me haue that shall pleasure me I le pay thée well therfore Medusa ¶ Héer is an Egge of a black Hen a quill pluckt from a Crowe Who with this pen writes on this Egge a charme that I doo knowe And names the party whome they like the same shall looue again What think you of this remedye Attilia ¶ This remedye is vain Look farther yet into your box some other medicin prooue Because my Mistres cares not for the single iuice of looue She craueth more shée must enioy the party shée desires Victoria ¶ Fye holde thy peace Attilia ¶ Els hath shée not the thing that shée requires Medusa ¶ Loe héer a spoonfull of a Uirgins milke Incorporated with a péece of dowe Powdred with cinders of fine Spanish Silke And steeped in the licquor of a Slowe On th one side write Venus and Cupids name On thother his that loou'd then take the same And broyle it on the coales vnto a crust Basting it well with hony dropes and oyle Giue it to him you looue to kindle lust And then your sute shall neuer suffer foyle This will so binde the gallant whome you choose That he shall nere him selfe héerafter loose Attilia ¶ All this is to no purpose yet me thinks you are too wide What pleasure can my Mistres haue so long as he is tied Victoria ¶ Shée meanes not tied in hand or foot but bound to be my slaue In all the seruices and duties that I mean to craue Medusa ¶ Héere are two hartes the one was taken out of a black Cat The other from a Pigion héer is the blood of a Batte Héere is a péece of Uirgin waxe héer 's an inchaunted Bean To make you goe inuisible Victoria ¶ You knowe not what I mean Attilia ¶ These thinges are prety but they are not for my Mistres fit For if she be inuisible I pray what profits it She shall beholde the man whome shée delighteth moste to sée But béeing hid she neuer can enioye his companye Yet shewe vs more Medusa ¶ Héer 's thinges will make men melt in fittes of looue A wanton Goates braine and the Liuer of a purple Dooue A Cockes eye and a Capons spurre the left legge of a Quaile A Goose bill and a Ganders tung a mounting Eagles tayle But sith they must be taken in th increasing of the Moone Before the rising of
this enchanting takes no place go séeke Fortunio streighte And tell him that to speake with him his pleasure I do wayte A worde or two will serue my turne goe séeke him out of hand Attilia ¶ Where shall I séeke him for I knowe not where his house doth stand Victoria ¶ By the Piazza there I am sure that thou shalt sée him walke Spending the time with one or other of his friends in talke Attilia ¶ I goe Exit Actus secunda Sena quarta Enter Fedele whispering with Pedante Victoria ¶ I was so troubled in my minde with fright of sudden feare That yet I féele my sinewes shake and tremble euery where Alas looke where Fedele comes I cannot scape vnséene He is importunate I knowe not how to ridde me of him cléene Fedele ¶ Ah cursed dames their loue is like a flame Quiuering in th' Ayre betwéene too blastes of wynde Borne here and there by either of the same Yet properly to none of both enclinde Hate and disdaine is painted in their eyes Deceit and treason in their besome lies Their promises are made of brittle glasse Grounde with a fillop to the finest dust Their thoughtes as streaming riuers swiftly passe Their wordes are oyle and yet they gather rust Their vertues mount like billowes to the skyes And vanish straight out of the gazers eyes True are they neuer founde but in vntrueth Constant in naught but in inconstancie The common foes of weale and fluddes of rueth Deuouring cankers of mans libertie Here doth the staine of modestie abide And shrowdingly desires her selfe to hide But get thée streight to Sir Fortunio Will him to come and speake a word with me Haste and poste haste with spéede sée that thou goe That he this treacherie may quickely sée Meane while on her whose face beginnes to glow The burden of my brest I meane to throw Pedante ¶ Then take you this Image of waxe that you sée Crackstone the Captaine deliuered it to mée Being his turne as he said for to watch this night And breaking vp sentinel when it began to be light This Image he tould me in the stréete he founde Lying harde by the chappell vpon the grounde This is the same that was made to inchante Fortunio Beholde it and sée whether I say trueth or no Fedele ¶ He plowghes the seas and fishes in the lande And loseth all the labour of them both He fondly reares his fortresse on the sande That buildes his trust vpon a womans troth But get thée hence about thy businesse That I may talke with this my good mistresse Pedante ¶ A Dio Exit Victoria ¶ Well met good Sir Fedele what 's the cause Of these your troubled lookes that I beholde What rain is threatned by these stormy flawes Which by your gate and gesture you vnfolde Is looue the spark that kindels all this fier Or doo you lack the fruit of your desire Fedele ¶ The cause that sets my gestures out of frame Is in your selfe if you doo search the same Victoria ¶ And why good Sir Fedele ¶ What make you héer so early in the stréet Victoria ¶ My longing thoughts did prophesie that héer I should you méet Fedele ¶ Not mée but Sir Fortunio you know this I am suer Shew her the Image And what by magick you haue doon his fauour to procure I neuer thought so fayre a dame had béen so foule within But sith continued seruice had no force thy grace to win Be suer vnthankful wretch periur'd and moste disloyall dame I will not rest before I bée reuenged of the same This to Fortunio presently I purpose shall be shown And open brute of thy reproche throughout the Citie blown All that in Naples dwell this day shall wunder at this déed And euery wounding tung shall make thine honor now to bléed My selfe will help to teare the hart out of thy body quick And giue thy crimson coulered blood vnto the dogs to lick So liuely wil I blaze thée out to euery gazers eye That though thy carcas rot and waste thy shame shall neuer dye As busy will I bée to plague thée more then is exprest As thou wast cunning to deceiue the man that lou'd thée best Victoria ¶ I think you are disposed to iest and make some triall héere How trimly you can tread aloft to thunder in mine eare For when I slide into my selfe and there examine well What I haue doon I finde I neuer from Fedele fell And yet I sée your hart still workes by which I doo suspect Some Sicophants would make you your Victoria to reiect But pacience is a vertue as the woorthiest wits doo say My loue to you deserues not that you vttred héer this day Fedele ¶ Yes that and more in thée's no trueth loue faith nor loyaltye But lies dessembling falshood hate sin shame and sorcery Bestur thy selfe enchaunt and coniure now and doo thy woorst The day thow knewst vs both shall shortly be by thée accurst Victoria ¶ I am not priuy vnto this nor know Fortunio Ah poore Victoria thou art caught alas what shall I doo Now counsaile me Attilia Attilia is not héer Where be my gallants now will not Crack-stone appeare Now is the time for thée Crack-stone my hart to gaine Oh saue my life and him dispatch that dooth mine honor staine Doo this and then I wll be thine and listen to thy sute But til that I may speak with him t is best that I be mute Farwell Sir be not rash but Iudge I cannot answere much More you shall know when time hath tried my truth by perfect tuch A Dio Exit Fedele ¶ A diauolo As I haue known thée so shall Sir Fortunio know thée straight For whome I sent and héer he comes whose comming I doo wait Actus secunda Scena quinta Enter Fortunio with Pedante Pedante ¶ Est mora damnosa pray let vs away For yonder my Maister your comming dooth stay Fortunio ¶ Sir Fedele God saue you Fedele ¶ And you Sir Fortunio I was so bolde to charge my man vnto your house to goe Matters of waight I haue to you of fréendship to imparte Fortunio ¶ My leasure serues and I will stand to héer with all my hart Fedele ¶ Not so but sith it asketh time if you will take the pain To walke with mée vnto my house there wil I tell you plain Both what I saw and heard of late which toucheth you so néer That you will giue mée thanks I know when you the matter héer Fortunio ¶ Goe when you please I l'e beare you company Exeunt Fedele Fortunio arme in arme Fedele ¶ Pedante you may walke abroad till Dinner draweth ny Pedante ¶ With a good wil Sir that 's the thing I desire But if I méet not Attillia the fat is in the fier For my Maisters sake I began to loue her in iest And may chaunce to swallow a Gudgion in earnest For loue is a Fox he beginneth at first by dalliance and play Then encreaseth
his gettings euery day Enter Attilia Oh deus adiunxit nostris sua numina votis Beholde I beséech you my delicate Mistris Attilia ¶ How proue you that Crack-st. ¶ I am so terrebinthinall and play such reakes when I come to the féeld That mine enemies choose rather to murder them selues then to yéeld Wherby their Damned soules haue so pestered all hell That ther 's no roome left for women to dwell Thus being thrust out of the place that is theirs by right They are constraind into heauen to take their flight Attilia ¶ I confes that this benefit is so great That my tung is not able your praise to repeat Crack-st. ¶ Besides that I haue as good luck as any man of my life To finde fauour and fréendship in Gentlewomens eyes I thank them they flout me to my face when no other they mock This was my fathers craft for he euer made my Mother to wrap mée in her smocke Giue me good luck and throw mée into the Seas Where women take a pitch it is easy to please Attilia ¶ Truth Sir but will you goe too my Mistres with mée Crack-st. ¶ With an almond hart my girle I wil follow thée Exeunt The second Act beeing ended the Consorte soundeth again Actus tertia Scena prima Enter Mistres Virginia with Pamphila her maid Pamphila MIstresse I may and will once more goe séek him if you please Although I feare his answere wil returne you little ease What though he loou'd you first you sée his sute falles to the ground And by this small pursute thinkes you are as good lost as found Hée stoopeth to Victoriaes lure but she hath cast him of Hée bowes and créepes to her she turnes his labour too a scoffe Virginia ¶ How canst thou tell Pamphila ¶ Euen yesterday I heard it of her maid Virginia ¶ If it bée so then is hée iustly plagued from aboue And féeles that hell of minde which all forsakē Ghostes doo prooue Yet can I not beléeue it Pamphila before I sée And gather by his answere that he hath forsaken mée Therefore goe seeke him out againe Pamphil. ¶ Mistresse it shall not néede Ent. Fedele Loe where he walkes as sad as though his heart within did bléde Virginia ¶ Steppe to him straighte Pamphil. ¶ Master Fedele if you knew as well To loue and her that loues you to reléeue As you are skilfull in deceite to dwell And to torment whome you should neuer gréeue Happie were she that beares you in her breste Happie were you of such a pearle posseste Fedele ¶ What meaneth this Pamphila ¶ Talke with my mistresse Sir and you shall knowe Fedele ¶ Then to thy mistresse Pamphila I goe Mistresse Virginia what 's the cause I pray That you did sende of late to séeke me out If you haue any thing to me to say Speake that I may resolue you of the doubt Pamphila ¶ Fedele now beholde thy crueltie Her voyce is stopt and doth for sorowe die Virginia ¶ I neuer thought Fedele to haue founde Your shewe of faith in promises forgot Your lyking dead and buried in the grounde My selfe cast off as though you knew me not To loue in ieste and turne it to a scorne Is not the nature of a Gentle borne Fedele ¶ Mistresse I loue you as I did before As dearely as the dearest friend you haue Or as a brother would you any more Commande of me what curtesie may craue If Fancies lurking poyson you remoue And be not shipt in Seaes of raging loue Whose great companions are discorde and wrath Flattery Deceit Treason and Crueltie Heuinesse of minde gréef penurie and scathe Unrest suspicion feare and Ielousie Consuming hunger and an endlesse thirste A living death life dying with the firste Virginia ¶ Ah Pamphila I finde thy wordes are true The more in liking I did thinke him bound The looser he and hunteth after newe His talke was nothing but an empty sound Those vertues nowe I sée he doth despise That once did painte my picture in his eyes If Iustice Pallace stande aboue the skyes And angrie gods doe looke into our life Some plague no doubt for him they will deuise And scourge him with some storme of bitter strife Although he vaunt of conquest here a while T' is not praise worthy a woman to beguile Come Pamphila I 'le learne to set him light That so dissembles with a double tongue Helpe to conueighe me streight out of his sight Whose wandring choyse hath done me double wrong Farewell Sir as we met we meane to parte Pamphila ¶ This gréeting answeres vnto his desert Exeunt Verg. Pam. Fedele ¶ So quickly gone farewell all women for Victoriaes sake And on them all for her reuenge I meane to take Busie they are with pen to write our vices in our face But negligent to knowe the blemish of their owne disgrace Gestures and lookes in readinesse at their command they haue Mirth sorrowe feare hope and what other passion you can craue Hence riseth euery cloude in loue this bréedeth all the strife Snares to our féete deuouring cankers these are vnto life Actus tertia Seena secunda Enter Pedante with the robe on his arme Pedante ¶ Ridetur chorda qui semper aberrat eadem I cannot abide Sir to harpe still vpon one string It is too Cuckolike they say one song continually to sing It were good for you to learne quickly in what cléefe you should take your part And be spéedely reuenged on her that strikes such a dagger to your heart Oh they are full of deceit cogging flattery foisting twitle-twatle and I know not what This Genus demonstratiuam is such a bottomlesse sea you will neuer haue done if you enter into that The dispraise of women is so great that without doubt All the tongnes in the world are not able to set it out T' is one of my precepts to be short and sharpe in word and bloe When they anger you bid the deuill take them all and make no more adoe Fedele ¶ Waste thou so neare Pedante Pedante ¶ I heard you well ynough I thinke I must bring you to Copia rerū againe for chāge of stuffe Leaue these exclamations and crying out vpon women now If you looke well to your selfe the faulte is in you You would néedes loue though in your last lecture among your sententiae similitudines and dicendi flores I made you write this in your paper booke Littore quot conchae tot sunt in amore dolores Fedele ¶ Thou didst in déede Pedante and I haue not it forgot Pedante ¶ Now you finde it by proofe I beléeue you will not But let this matter passe and tell me Sir how with Fortunio you spéede Did you touch him so néere that his heart did bléede Fedele ¶ Oh no for in Victoria he hath such confidence That he excuseth her and now mistrusteth my pretence pedante ¶ What remedy then Fedele ¶ I knowe not for he saith except that I can plainly proue
That other men besides him selfe Victoria doeth loue He was and is and will be hers so long as he doth liue pedante ¶ Accidit in puncto quod non contingit in anno very good coūsell for this I can giue Doe you sée this braue robe Fedele ¶ I doe very well pedante ¶ But why I haue brought it you cannot tell Fedele ¶ No trust me pedante ¶ Did not I tel you that for your sake I begā to curry fauour with Victoriaes mayde Fedele ¶ In déede Pedante I remember such a thing you saide pedante ¶ She tooke order this very day with mée Put on the Robe That disguised on this maner as by and by you shall sée Euen thus Sir beholde I should come this night Disguised that no man might know me by sight And begge an almes at the doore she would let me in straighte And make me a posset for my labour that so well can waight We shall be as merry as cup and can when I am once there Fedele ¶ What 's this to me Pedante ¶ Tush take you no care Look that some pretty corner by you may be espied Where you and Fortunio your selues may hide Be both of you héer about the mid'st of the night That when I come out both of you of me may haue a sight I at departure wil bid Victoria farwell Commend my entertainment and say it dooth excell This will make him to think as soon as I am gone That Victoria loueth not him alone Fedele ¶ O excellent Pedante ¶ Sée what an olde Fox these rotten raggs shrowds I can play the knaue and conuay it in the clowdes But heare you Sir Fedele ¶ What saist thou Pedante ¶ Hould fast Master Fortunio til I be out of his reach Least he cut me in péeces when he heares me preach Fedele ¶ Fear not be suer he shall not stirre before I sée thée gon Farwel and thankes to finish this I wil to him anon Exit Pedante ¶ Adiew Sir If Appollo the very brother of Diana and Iupiters sonne For the loue of a Lady that was hard to be wun Thought it no shame in a Shepheards wéed Him selfe to debase the sooner to spéed Should I that am not worthy to beare out Apollos chamberpot think any scorne That these rascolly ragges by me should be worne So long as I doo it my sute for to moue And further my Master with my slauering loue Quod exemplo fit iure fieri putant Tully dooth say Whose authoritie is a priuiledge to follow this way Therfore god Appollo whose example I take Uouchsafe to stay the course of thy Charriot a while for my sake Suffer not thy horses to hasten the day But prolong the night as when Iupiter thy father with Alcmena lay Peraduenture I may get a young Hercules as wel as he But for very sinne and shame too so it should be If I speed wel this day I will shut vp my schoole door euery yéer It shall be festiuall to my Schollers to make good chéere They shall play if they will from morning to night During that time they shall not be cōstrained to come in my sight This will be cake and pudding to them that are truantly And care not how little they take for their mony A begging Pedante I a begging I goe Beg at Virginiaes gate Tic toc fate vna limosina á vn pouerino ¶ What bolde begger haue we at the gate Pamphila comes Pamphila to the doore Art thou not ashamed to goe a begging so late Pedante ¶ No good mistresse it is no shame at all But the greatest honour that vnto a man may fall For an Almes is a gift and a gifte is a token of reuerence I trow And reuerence is when our superiours we know Thus I being presented of all men with almes as you sée Reuerenced of all men of force I must bée Pamphila ¶ For reasoning so déepely no Almes shall you haue Because I will not honour such a beggerly knaue Exit Pedante ¶ Farewell and be hangde there I was ouer-reacht with a crookte measure Witte bought at this rate is an excellent treasure Beginnings are harde this prouerbe is olde Therefore at some other bodies doore I meane to be bolde Tic toc fate limosina popoli mei benedetti Beg at Victoriaes gate Che iddio v'aiuterá nelle vostre tribulationi Tic toc chi la diua ouer la fara dire Enter Crackstone out of Victoriaes house Di buona morte non potrà morire Crack-st ¶ What sturdy knaue haue we heer in the stréete To begge at this time of the night Sirra t' is not méete Packe hence Sirra I aduise you least I giue you a sowce Or take thée by the héeles and throw thée ouer the howse Pedante ¶ Good maister beate not the poore when they make their mone T' is not long since your courrage was as colde as a stone Crack-st ¶ What sawcy knaue me thinkes he doeth prate Doest thou know to whome thou speakest or at whose gate Pedante ¶ No good maister be good to me I beséeche you for I haue done I were best to be quiet till he be gone Crack-st. ¶ We haue many good startoppes made heer in the cittie For publishing these vargery knaues that goe vp and down idlely Sée how he is scapte and shrinketh aside My lookes are to bigge for him too abide T' is a wonder to sée how they crouch where soeuer I come If I stande they stoupe if I speake they are dumbe Mistresse Victarrogantie hath sent for me Her Chaplen against Fedele to be If I kill him for her sake and put him to shame She hath promiste me her loue to rewarde the same Pedante ¶ Oh Traditora Crack-st. ¶ How am I bound to Mars that when my stomack so swelles that I am driuen to lay out my heart in my hose He sowes vp my gorget with the slaughter of my foes I 'le goe put on my Horslittor the rest of mine Armor straight And here about her house for him I will waight Euery night she saith he comes sneaking heer by But if he come now I will handle him trimly Exit Pedante ¶ Goe goodman Goose prouide you arme you as well as you can Lay about you and play the proper man In tempore veni I came hether in the nicke My master shall spéedely heare of this tricke Yet will I goe foreward with my businesse as I decreede And trye how well of my purpose I am like to spéede Tic toc vna limosina al poueretto Date Signora per l'amour di Dio Attilia ¶ Who is there pedante ¶ Your charitie good mistresse Attilia ¶ Enter and take it pedante ¶ God rewarde you good mistresse I will not forsake it Exit The third Act being doone the Consort sounds a sollemne Dump Actus quarta Scena prima Enter Medusa and Pamphila O Happie is I trust that Doctors soule by whom I learnde This famous Arte and easely by it my liuing earnde O that he knew
Yet vnreuenged why did I stay my hand Why did I not her faithlesse body gore Whiles in my power before me she did stand Why did I not for to fulfill my vowe Doe that which none would couer nor allowe Her treason makes my raging thoughts to swell Beyonde the boundes of all humanitie Her falshoode driues the Furies out of hell To practise straunge and extreame crueltie Yet neither rancoures force nor ougly fiende Hath scourge ynough for such a double friende But yet before reuenge my furie take I 'le offer seruice to Virginia Least euery dame here after me forsake When it is knowen how I vsed Victoria Good lucke Medusa héer me thinkes I sée A cunning broker very fit for mée Actus quarta Scena quarta Enter Medusa with a Pedlers Basket vnder her arme to Fortunio Medusa ¶ My toyle so great rewarde so small that euery man dooth giue Hath made me weary of my trade vncertaine how to liue Fortunio ¶ Well met Medusa whether goest thou with thy Packe so late Medusa ¶ I was abroade to sell my wares at euery Ladies gate But being ouertaken thus by night I hie me home Till Fortune send a better market for the worlde is done Fortunio ¶ What hast thou solde Medusa ¶ Nothing but wordes Fortunio ¶ What hast thou got Medusa Nothing but winde Fortunio ¶ That market thou mighst well haue kept and yet haue left thy Packe behinde Medusa ¶ Not so for by the carriage that within my prettie Packe I haue I enter in those Ladies chambers that I finde both fine and braue And vnder colour of the trifles I beare about to sell I pleade for such as you good Syr that féele by loue the force of hell Fortunio ¶ What hast thou there Medusa ¶ Calles Gorgets Heares Powders to make a Ball Vallentia Gloues and Venice Rolles to rubbe the téeth withall Laces Purses Rings Buskes Wyers and Glasses fine Bracelettes Perfumes Stilled waters Sops in wine Pinnes Bodkins Staies and other kinde of stuffe No more but tell me what you lacke and you shall haue ynough A thousand knackes I haue to vtter which I must be slow Because they are so secret as becomes not you to knowe Fortunio ¶ Neither am I importunate to wring it out of thée Yet must I craue thée now to showe thy selfe a friend to mée Medusa ¶ Wherein Fortunio ¶ Euen in the loue that I to faire Virginia beare Medusa ¶ I doubte it is too harde a taske she loues Fedele so That she by no meanes can be wonne Fedele to forgo Fortunio ¶ Yet doe thy best to moue my sute Medusa ¶ The best I can I will And ransacke euery corner of my wittes to shewe my skill Either it must be done by crafte or Magicke which you please Fortunio ¶ By Crafte or Magicke which you liste so I may purchase ease Medusa ¶ Sir first by deceit I 'le trie how I can bring the same about If shiftes doe faile Enchaunted herbes shall put you out of doubt I will vnto her lodging straight and stay your comming there Within an houre or halfe to followe sée you doe not feare I 'le tell her that I meane to bring Fedele to her bed When lightes are out and sléepe is crept into her fathers head When you are in and halfe vnbraste a tumult will I make And call her father vp you in her chamber there to take You know age will suspect the worst and when he sées you so Will force you then to marrie her whether shée will or no Besides when that the brute heer of is blowen in euery place Fedele and all other suters will forsake the chace Loe thus by subtiltie you shall possesse the dame you crau'de And yet by me when all is tolde her honour shall be sau'de Fortunio ¶ This is as well as can be wishte depart I pray thée straight Medusa ¶ I goe forget not you to come Exit Actus quarta Scena quinta Enter Fedele with Pedante and with them two Watch-men with Billes Fortunio ¶ Upon thée will I waighte Sée where Fedele comes because he shall not me suspecte I will auoyde the stréetes a while that nothing me detecte Exit Fedele ¶ And is it so Pedante Pedante ¶ It is as I tell ye Attilia tolde me that her mistresse had made a request To Crack-stone to sheathe his sworde in your brest Besides I goe as you knowe disguised to the house for an other intent I sawe him come thence bragging what he would doe in the stréetes as he went Fedele ¶ Alas poore soule I know he dare scarce looke a flye in the face But séest thou this I will prouide my Captaine to disgrace Come on my friendes goe you and set this net at the Lanes end For when he comes my sworde vpon this Gallant will I bend And crye aloude arme arme as though our enemies had the wall He hearing this will take his héeles and let his anger fall We will pursue him so that we will driue him to the net When he is in pull you the cordes for that same purpose set And make him fast then will we leade him hampred in the same With mirth and glée about the towne to put him to the shame Goe set it vp Watchmē ¶ We will Pedante ¶ Ah Sirra I perceiue we shall goe a batfowling this night I would the Captaine would come that of this pretie sport I might haue a sight Fedele ¶ Whiste not a worde for he is at hande Come let vs both priuily in ambush stande Actus quarta Scena sexta Enter Captaine Crack-stone armed like a Champion Crack-st. ¶ Now shall my valerositie appeare vnto all How I can kill men and serue a woman at her call My greatest griefe is that in dooing this feate I am sure my honour will not be so greate As when I giue a charger to my foes in the open féelde Or put Citties into sackes and make thousandes to yéelde To bring Fedele to the Counter is but to fight with a flie There is neither praise pride nor prouidence in the victorie Therefore take héede Crack-stone what you doe You hazarde your good name your honour standes on tip toe To kill a Gentlemā that neuer ought me malice is more thē crueltie And to kill him for a woman will bring me vtterly to infancie Shall I kill him then peraduenture yea shall I let him go Peraduenture I may peraduenture no Oh single deuise here is a braine I beléeue Able to shoote birdboltes of inuentiōs from my head into my sléeue I will make a great noyse before Victoriaes doore in the stréete As though at this present with Fedele I did méete Then will I runne to her house amayne And make her beléeue that Fedele is slayne Then before that she heare any newes of his life I 'le haue her to the Priest and make her my wife Haue euen at it as well as I can Fight with the Ayre Ah Uillaines thus many of you set vpon a
this night I shall deliuer her into your handes Crack-st. ¶ Then let vs away and our selues prouide Thou knowest the paruerbe no body taries for the tide Exeunt The fourth Act being ended the Consort soundeth a pleasant Allemaigne Actus quinta Scena prima Enter Fortunio alone I Knowe Virginia loues Fedele best Medusa likewise may be sent to flowte My selfe her fauour neuer yet possest If none of these yet all may make me doubte How seruice should with bright triumphing face Disperse the cloudes that put my ioyes to chace Yet if Fedele be not lik'te alone Or if Medusa of true promise be Or faire Virginia will be mou'de by mone If not all these yet one may pleasure me Therefore to giue the watch woord I 'le beginne Whistle Good lucke the doore opens I 'le enter in Exit Enter Atilia Attilia ¶ Take héede Attilia was not that Fortunio thou did'ste sée T' is now midnight so late abroade i' th stréete what maketh he I sée Pedante is not heer I muse he méetes me not I litle thought he could so soone his promise haue forgot If he be maister of his woord and loue me as his life The time is come to shewe the same and take me for his wife Actus quinta Scena secunda Enter Pedante and Crack-stone with the Beggers weede Come on Sir apace what makes you so slacke Presently put me this Robe on your backe Now get you vp along the stréete and be not afrayde There shall you méete Victoria in the apparell of her mayde Thinking you thus disguised to be Fortunio Uery ready you shall finde her with you to go When you haue her hold fast for she will not resist Woe her wed her bedde her and vse her as you list Either now or neuer your desire you shall haue Or be reuenged on the entertainement that out of her window to you she gaue Crack-st. ¶ Sée the force of loue how it is able for a néede To shrowde a braue minde in a base kinde of wéede Maister Pediculus or Pedantonie I am not very prospect in your name If this geare fall out I shall be bound while I liue to thanke you for the same Pedante ¶ I would not be he that should so couragious a Captaine and valiant Gentleman deceiue Therefore trie me trust me for this time I purpose to take my leaue Crack-st. ¶ Farewell little Pastrie Exit If I may méete with Mistresse Victoriarie heer Thinking that Fortunio in this place to her will appeare Either I will make her incant the former words that she spake When she defied me denied that she wild me to kil Fedele for her sake Or I will backe beate her belly beate her too too pitifully You know loue is a fire and they say fire and water hath no mercy But first I will speake her faire because to be plaine Commonly faire fooles make wordes and perswasions to be faine Attilia ¶ Alas how long in the stréete shall I for my Pedante stay He promised to méete me heer and steale me quite away Some body in the stréete I heare I trust the same is hée And so I doe perswade me by the beggers wéede I sée Crack-st ¶ I 'le beleeue Pediculus againe another day For yonder in Alice tittle tattles parrell the Mistresse dooth stay O that I had some of Pediculus Schoole-butter to make me a lip salue Or could but wet my tonge in his inkhorne for women will herken when we speake braue O thou that carriest a ball of wilde fire in thine eye to burne vp my heart What shall I say more to set out my smarte The time will not suffer to shew my prosperitie Therefore I committe you to the Gods for lacke of breuitie Actus quinta Scena tertia Enter Sbirri the Captaine of the watche with some Soldiers and with him Mistresse Victoria Attilia ¶ Sée how Pedante counterfeites Crack-stone in talke Thereby we shall escape and through the watch in safetie walke Victoria ¶ Captaine Sbirri this night my maide Attilia ran away Her I beséeche you if she be not past the watch to stay Some thing I doubt that she hath stolne and carried to her mates Therefore I pray beset the stréetes and all the citie gates Sbirri ¶ Mistresse Victoria I will but some bodie I sée Victoria ¶ Steppe to them bothe and take them streight for sure the same is shée Crack-st. ¶ Come mine own Parragon I know thou hast tarried for me all this while Therefore follow me streight least the lickorish Souldiers méete vs and me beguile Sbirri ¶ Softe not to fast but stay I charge you in the Princes name Crack-st ¶ God saue the Princes grace and put his enemies to shame Wée are the Kings friendes I would you should well knowe Therefore trouble vs no farther but let vs goe The kings head is occupied with matters of great importunitie I know he is not conswapted at this time to speake with me We are peace-able people we haue no weapons héere We are neither drunke nor sober nor make any stéere Get you to your places kéepe the watch as you should And wee 'le to our lodging you may be bould Sbirri ¶ Nay Sir we will know your name and eke the place where you haue beene Whether you goe night-walkers heer are very seldom séene Crack-st ¶ Then I pray you what make you abroade so late T' is longing to your office to kéepe the gate As for our names I know of no such commencement you haue Why you should be so pearchant the same to craue Attilia ¶ We haue bin foorth at supper Sir i' the towne with a good friend And now we are returning home nigh at our yournies end Victoria ¶ What Minion are you there indéede Attilia ¶ My Mistresse out alas Beholde Pedante we are tane how shall we doe to passe Crack-st, ¶ I hold fourty pound I am Unckled I would Pediculus were heer I would méete with the scalde Squitterbe-booke for this geare Sbirri ¶ Is this your mayde Crack-st ¶ It is Sbirri ¶ Lay hold on her with spéede Let vs sée what Uagabonde is hid within this wéede Crack-stone Whowe Crack-st. ¶ And whowe too then did you neuer sée man before I am not taken in deuowtrie therefore wonder no more Attilia ¶ A halter come to him is it hee Sbirri ¶ Sorrie I am good Captaine you in such a case to sée Heer you are taken with this mayde which is like to be tachte Of fellonie and accessarie you with her are cachte Crack-st. ¶ I steale nothing from women but their honestie Which is as good as he that robbes the Printer of a Bible because he would studie Diuinitie Actus quinta Scena quarta Enter Fortunio running halfe vnreadie after him Ottauiano the father to mistresse Virginia and Medusa with a spitte in her hande and to them Fedele and Pedante with weapons in their handes Ottaui. ¶ Stoppe stoppe Sbirri ¶ What meaneth this come bende your weapons at them