Enter Valentia and Montano.
Va. Torches and Musique there! the room's too darke.
Mon. Prethee, Neece,Abandon this lascivious unchaste life;It is the onely blemish of our house;Scandall unto our name; a Curtezan!O what's more odious in the eares of men?
Val. Then why doe men resort to Curtezans,And the best sort? I scorne inferiour groomes,Nor will I deign[179] to draw aside my maskeTo any meaner then a Noble man.Come,[180] can you dance? a caper and a kisse:For every turne Ile fold thee in my armes,And if thou fal'st, although[181] a-kin we beThat thou maist fall[182] soft, Ile fall under thee.Oh for the lightnesse of all light heel'd girles,And I would touch the Ceeling with my lips!Why art thou sad,Montano?
Mon. On just cause, You know I am banish't from my natiue countrey.
Val. This citie isMeath, thou art ofSaxonie.
Mon. But this belongs unto theSaxonsDuke, By the decease of the departed Bishop.
Val. Feare not, thou art as safe within my house As if perculliz'd in a wall of brasse. WheresVandermas?
Enter Vandermas.
Van. Madam, did you call?
Mon. What noble man is that, a sutor to you?
Val. An excellent Pander, a rare doore-keeper.[183]
Mon. I had thought he had bin a gentleman at least.
Val. Because of his attire?
Mon. True.
Val. O the attireIn these corrupted daies is no true signeTo shew the gentleman; peasants now weare robes,In the habilments of noblemen.The world's grown naught, such judgement then is base,For Hares and Asses weare the lion's case.[184]
Mon. 'Tis very costly and exceeding rich.
Val. Ritches to me are like trash to the poore,I have them in abundance; gold's my slave,I keep him prisoner in a three-fold chestAnd yet his kindred daily visit me.
Mon. Lord, how diligent Is this rich clothed fellow.
Val. Were he proud And should but dare to stand still when I call, I'de run him th[o]rough with a killing frowne.
Mon. Why then belike his service is for love.
Val. Why so are all the servants that attend mee.They keepe themselves in satin, velvets, gold,At their owne charges, and are diligentDaies, moneths, and yeeres, to gaine an amorous smile.Looke on my face with an indifferent eye,And thou shalt finde more musicke in my lookesThen inAmphionsLute orOrpheusHarpe;Mine eye consists of numbers like the soule,And if there be a soule tis in mine ey;For, of the harmony these bright starres make,I comprehend the formes of all the world;The story of the Syrens in my voyceI onely verified, for Millions standInchanted when I speake, and catch my wordsAs they were orient pearle to adorn their eares;Circeis but a fable, I transformeThe vertuous, valiant, and the most precise,Into what forme of minde my fancie please.Thou might'st bee proud, great Lord, of my abundance,For in this beautie I shall more renowneOur noble progenie then all the pennesOf the best Poets that ere writ of men.Unto your health a health! let Musique sound, [Musick.That what I taste in Musique may be drown'd.So fill more wine, we use to drinke up all;Wine makes good blood and cheeres the heart withal.
Van. Madam, at such time as I heard you call, A gentleman, it seemes of good discent, Humblie did crave accesse unto your honor.
Valen. What did he give?
Van. A brace of bags of gold.
Valen. He shall have libertie to enter straight.But first inrich the chamber with perfumes;Burne choiceArabianDrugs more deare thenWaters distil'd out of the spirit of Flowers;And spread our costly Arras to the eye.Myself sufficiently doe shine in jems;Where such faire coated Heraulds doe proceed,It seemes he is honorable and of noble fame.
Mon. Shall I behold this sutor?
Valen. At the full,At pleasure passe through every spacious Roome.Be he a Prince, Ile know his high discentOr proudly scorne to give him his content.What drum is that?
Van. A Maske, sent by a friend.
Valen. Belike our self must know the mysterie;Tell them we are prepar'd to see the Maske,And bid the other noblemen come neere.Thus am I hourely visited by friends;Beautie's a counsellor that wants no fee.They talke of circles and of powerfull spells,Heeres heavenly art that all blacke art excells.
Mon. Ile walke into the farther gallery.
Enter Duke.
Valen. Sir, you are welcome what so ere you be; I guesse your birth great by your bounteous fee.
Duke. Your humble servant, bound by a sweet kisse.
Valen. I give you freedome, gentle Sir, by this. [He whispers her. I know your mind; first censure of the sport, Then you and I will enterVenusCourt.
Duke. More then immortall, O more then divine, That such perfection, should turne Concubine.
Mon. That voice is like unto theSaxon Dukes. I feare he hath heard I liv'd here in this place, And he is come to doe me more disgrace.Montano, hide thyself till he be gone; His daughter thirsts for my destruction. [Exit Mont.
Val. Come sit by me, the Maskers are at hand.
Enter Maske.
Where are my Maides, to helpe to make the dance?
_Enter 2 Maids.
They dance, Valentia with them; they whisper to have her play at dice and stake on the drum_.
Valen. What, shall we have a Mumming? heres my Jewell.
[Play on the drum head.
Duke. Thou art a jewell most incomparable.— Malicious heaven, why from so sweete a face Have you exempt the mind adorning grace?
[They stake and play.
She wins, the drum strikes up.
Val. More gold, for this is mine, I thanke yee, dice.
Duke. And so are all that doe behold thy beautie.—Were she as chaste, as she is outward bright,Earth would be heaven, and heaven eternal night.The more I drinke of her delicious eye,The more I plunge into captivitie.
She wins, strike up.
Valen. Have I wonne all? then take that back agen.What, scorne my gift? I see you are a gentleman.No, is't not possible that I may knowUnto whose kindnesse this great debt I owe?Well, Ile not be importunate, farewell;Some of your gold let the torch-bearers tell.
Duke. BeautiousMadona, do you know these galants?
Valen. I guesse them of the Duke ofSaxonsCourt.
Duke.—My subjects, and so many my corrivalls O every slave is grac't before his Prince.
Valen. Are you not well sir, that your colour failes?
Duke. If I be sicke, 'tis onely in the minde:To see so faire, so common to all kinde;I am growne jealous now of all the world.—Lady, how ere you prize me, without pleasureMore then a kisse, I tender you this treasure;O what's a mint spent in such desireBut like a sparke that makes a greater fire?—She must be made my Dutches, there it goes;And marrying her, I marry thousand woes.—Adiew, kind Mistresse;—the next newes you heareIs to sit crown'd in an Imperiall chair.[185]
Valen. Either the man dislikes me, or his braineIs not his owne, to give such gifts in vaine,But 'tis the custome in this age to castGold upon gold, to encourage men to waste.Lightly it comes, and it shall lightly flie;Whilst colours hold, such presents cannot die.
[Exeunt omnes.[186]
Enter Reinaldo, Alfred, and Albert.
Alb. But this is strange, that I should meet your[187] honour So farre from Court; pray whither were you riding?
Alf. Unto your mannor; heard you not the newes?
Alb. What newes?
Alf. This morning, by the breake of day,His excellence sent to me by a postLetters, by which the pillars of the stateShould be assembled to a Parliament,Which he intends, my Lords, to hold inMeath.
Alb. When, if it please your honor?
Alf. Instantly, With all the haste that winged time can make.
Albert. Sooner the better; tis like the realmes affaires Are of some weight.
Alb. I will bee there to night, And so I take my leave.
Reinal. We take our leaves.
[Exit Albert and Reinaldo.
Alf. Farewell, my honor'd friend.—There is within my braine a thousand wilesHow I may heape up riches; O the sight,Of a gold shining Mountaine doth exceede:Silver is good, but in respect of goldThus I esteeme it.
[Exit.
Enter Hatto, with three petitioners.
Hat. How now, my friends, what are you?
1. Poore petitioners.
Hat. Stand farther then, the poore is as unpleasing Unto me as the plague.
2. An't please your good Lordship, I am a Merchant, and gladly would convay a thousand quarters of wheate and other graine over the sea; and heres a hundred pounds for a commission.
Hat. Thou art no beggar, thou shalt ha't, my friend; Give me thy money.
3. I, an't please your honour, have a commoditie of good broad cloth, not past two hundred; may I shippe them over? and theres a hundred poundes.
Hat. Thou shalt have leave.
1. Although I seeme a poore petitioner,My Lord, I crave a warrant to transport[188]A hundred Cannons, fiftie Culverings,With some slight armours, halberts, and halfe pikes;And theres as much as any of the rest.
Hat. Away,Cannibal! wouldst thou ship ordnance?What though we send unto the foes our corneTo fatten them, and cloth to keepe them warme,Lets not be so forgetfull of our selvesAs to provide them with knives to cut our throates:So I should arme a thiefe to take my purse.Hast thou no other course of Merchandize?Thou shouldst get gold, twill yeeld thee ten in the hundredOn bare exchange, and raise the price with us;Make us for want coyn brasse and passe it currantUntill we find profit to call it in.There are a thousand waies to make thee thriveAnd Ile allow of all, bee it nere so bad,Excepting guns to batter downe our houses.
1. Letters[189] of Mart I humblie then intreate, To cease on Rovers that doe secure the seas.
Hat. And on our friends too, if thou canst do't cleanlie.Spare none, but passe it very closely;We will be loath to sift thy Piracie,But open eare to heare what they [thou?] complaine.Hast thou a Letter?
1. Ready drawne my Lord. And heres a brace of hundred pounds for you.
Hat. 'Tis very well; I thinke I shall be richIf dayly tenants pay me rent thus fast.Give me your licenses, they shall bee seal'd.About an houre hence, here attend our pleasure.
Omnes. We thanke your Lordship.[Exeunt petiti.
Hat. O vild catterpillers,And yet how necassarie for my turne!I have the Dukes seale for the CitieMeath,With which Ile signe their warrants.This corne and twentie times as muchAlreadie covertly convai'd toFrance,And other bordering Kingdomes neere the sea,Cannot but make a famine in this land;And then the poore, like dogs, will die apace.Ile seeme to pittie them, and give them almesTo blind the world; 'tis excellent policieTo rid the land of such, by such device.A famine to the poore is like a frostUnto the earth, which kills the paltry wormesThat would destroy the harvest of the spring.As for the which, I count them painefull menWorthy to enjoy what they can get:Beggars are trash, and I esteeme them so;Starve, hang, or drowne themselves, I am alive;Loose all the world, so I have wit to thrive.But I must to the Parliment, and thenIle have a clause to beggar some rich men.
[Exit.
Actus Tertius.
Enter Duke, Fredericke, Constantine, Reinaldo, Alberto, Alfrid, and amongst them Hatto shuffles in.
Alberto. Princes and pillars of theSaxonState.
Duke. You are the elected, speake for the Court.— Stay, LordAlberto, we usurpe your office: Who had the charge to fetchValentia?
Con. I, gracious Lord; and when I gave the charge,A sudden feare, by palenesse, was displai'dUpon her rosie cheeke; the crimson blood,That like a robe of state did beautifieThe goodly buildings with a two fold grace,From either side shrunke downewards to her heartAs if those summons were an adversarieAnd had some mighty crime to charge her with.Millions of thoughts were crowded in her braines:Her troubled minde her abrupt words describ'd;She did accuse her selfe without accusers,And in the terrour of a soule perplextCry'd out, 'the Duke intends to cease my goodsCause I am noted for a Concubine.'I did replie such comfort as beseemes,But comfortlesse I brought her to the Court.
Duke. Then she attends our pleasure.
Con. Mightie Lord, In the next Roome.
Duke. You are careful,Constantine. Conduct her in, and, Lords, give mee your thoughts: What thinke ye wee intend toValentia?
Alf. Her selfe hath read my sentence in the speech ThatConstantinedelivered to your grace.
Fred. What should my noble father thinke But that she is a strumpet, and in that A blemish to the state wherein she lives?
Hat. She is rich in jewells, and hath store of treasure Got by the slavery of that choice beautie Which otherwise admires her to the world.
Alb. Confiscate all her goods unto the Crown, Thereby disburdening many heavie taxes Impos'd upon the commons of the land.
Hat. Publique example make her to all such;Offences in that kind are growne too common,Lesse shamelesse never[190] were the beautious damesOfMeathandSaxonythen[191] the sufferanceHath at this instant made them: good my Lord,Enact some mighty penaltie for lust.
Duke. How wide these Archers shoote of the faire aime Of my affection! BringValentiain.
Enter Valentia, usher'd by Constantine.
Valen. The duetie that in generall I doe owe Unto your excellence and to this Court, I pay at once upon my bended knee.
Duke. Behold her, Princes, with impartiall eyes, And tell me, looks she not exceeding faire?
Hat. If that her mind coher'd with her faire face, Shee were the worthy wonder of this age.
Alfred. I never saw a beautie more divine Grossely deform'd by her notorious lust.
Fred. Fairnesse and wantonnesse have made a match To dwell together, and the worst spoyles both.
Albert. Shee is doubly excellent in sin and beauty.
Duke. That they speake truth my conscience speaks,But that I love her that I speak my self.Stand up, divine deformitie of nature,Beautious corruption, heavenly see[m]ing evill,What's excellent in good and bad, stand up;And in this Chaire, prepared for a Duke,Sit, my bright Dutchesse, I command thee, sit.You looke, I am sure, for some apologieIn this rash action; all that I can sayIs that I love her, and wil marry her.
Fred. How, love aLais, a baseRodophe, Whose body is as common as the sea In the receipt of every lustfull spring?
Albert. The elements of which these orbes consists,Fire, ayre, and water, with the ground[192] we tread,Are not more vulgar, common, popular,Then her imbracements.
Alberto. To incheyne the thoughtsUnto this semblance[193] of lascivious loveWere to be married to the broad rode[194] wayWhich doth receiue the impression of every kind.
Fred. Speech doth want modesty to set her forthIn her true forme, base and contemptible;The very hindes and peasants of the landWill bee Corrivals with your excellenceIf you espouse such a notorious Trull.
Albert. We shall have lust a virtue in the Court,The wayes of sinne be furthered by reward,Panders and Parasites sit in the placesOf the wise Counsellors and hurry all.
Fred. Father, as you are princely in your birth,Famous in your estate, belov'd of all,And (which ads greatest glory to your greatnesse,)Esteemed[195] wise, shew not such open[196] follySuch palpable, such grosse, such mountaine folly;Be not the By-word of your neighbour Kings,The scandall of your Subjects, and the triumphOfLenos, Macrios,[197] and the hatefull stewes.Why speake you not, that are his brother friends,You that doe weare the Liveries of time,The silver cognizance of gravitie?Shall none but young me schoole the reverent [sic] old?Birds teach the Dam, stars fill the glorious sphearesOf the all lightning Sunne? speake whilst you may,Or this rash deede will make a fatall day.
Duke. You have said too much, encourage none to speakeMore then have spoke[n]; by my royall blood,My mind's establisht, not to be withstood.Those that applaud my choyse give us your hands,And helpe to tye these sacred nuptiall bands.
Hat. What likes your excellence, likes me well.
Alfred. And I agree to what my Soveraigne please.
Fred. These are no brothers, they are flatterers,Contrary to themselves in their owne speech.You that doe love the honour of your Prince,The care and long life of my father,The hereditary right deriv'd to me,Your countries Welfare, and your owne renowne,Lend me your hands to plucke her from the throne.
Valen. Princes, forbeare, I doe not seeke the match;It is his highnesse pleasure I sit here,And if he love me 'tis no fault of mine.Behoves me to be thankefull to his Grace,And strive in virtue to deserve this place.
Duke. Thou speak'st too mildly to these hare braind youthes. He that presumes to plucke her from the chaire Dyes in the attempt, this sword shall end all care.
Fred. Why, shee's notorious.
Duke. But she will amend.
Fred. 'Tis too farre growne to have a happy end.
Duke. The dangerous the disease, greater's the cure.
Fred. Princes may seeke renowne by wayes more sure, Shee is dishonest.
Duke. Honestie's unseene; Shee's faire, and therefore fit to be a Queene.
Fred. But vertue is to be preferd ere lust.
Duke. Those that are once false, shall we ne're trust?
Fred. Wise men approve their actions by the tryall.
Duke. I say she is mine in spight of all deniall; Bring me the Crowne.
Fred. To set upon her head? Friends, draw your swords, first strike the strumpet dead.
Duke. My guard, my guard!
Alfred. For shame, put up your swords.
Fred. For shame, great Rulers, leave your flattering words.
Albert. 'Tis madnesse in the King and worse in you.
Hat. Though you prove traytors, we'll not prove untrue.
Fred. Will you dismisse this Strumpet to the stewes, Or our allegance in this act refuse?
Duke. Doe what you dare, the election still shall stand.
Fred. Woe and destruction then must rule the land.Come, LordRinaldo, valiantAlberto, come;We have friends enough to grace a warlike Drum. [A shout within.Hearke how the Commons doe applaud our cause.Lascivious Duke, farewell, father, oh vilde!Where Queanes are mothers,Frederickeis no child.
[Exeunt.
Duke. My guard pursue them, and alive or deadCut off the cause by which these cries are bred.Come, my faire Dutchesse; first unto the Church,There sollemnize our nuptials; then unto our armes:A little rough breath overbeares these stormes.
[Exeunt. Manet Alfred & Hatto.
Alfred. The Duke's besotted. Now we are secure; This match makes well for us; we may command And on them lay the abuses of the land.
Hat. Excellent good; we are like to have warres indeed,But in the meane the poore will starve for bread.Wee must share proffits, howsoere things goe.Winner or looser, neither is our foe;For mutually we'll beare our selues in allOr taking part leane to the strongest wall.
[Exeunt.
Enter Constantine and Euphrata.
Euph. My father married to a Concubine!Then he will pardon though I marry thee;And howsoe'r, about it presently,The rather forMontanois repealde,Because of his alliance toValentia.
Con. I am ready, gentle love, and glad in mind That my faireEuphratawill prove so kind.
Euph. Come my deareConstantine, performe this right [sic], And arme in arme thus will we sleepe to night.
[Exeunt.
Enter Fredericke, Rinaldo, and Alberto, with Drum,Colours, and Souldiers.
Fred. You that are carefull of your countries weale,Fellow compere, Supporter of the State,Let us imbrace in steele, our cause is good.What minde so base that would not shed his bloodTo free his countrey from so great an illAs now raignes in it by lascivious will?Our[198] friends to warre and, for my part,Ere lust beare sway, Ile gladly yeeld my heart.
Alberto. I heare the Duke is strong.
Fred. Suppose him so,And be advis'd strongly to meete the foe.I had rather, you should think him ten thousand strongThen find it so to our destruction.An enemy thought many and found few,When our first courage failes, gives us a new.
[Alarum.
Alberto. That's the Dukes Drum.
Fred. They are welcome to their death, The ground they tread on covers them with earth.
[Exeunt.
Enter Fredericke and Duke severall.
Fred. The enemy sends forth a Champion To encounter me, I heard him use my name; The honour of the combate shall be mine.
Duke. Come, boy, retreate not, only I intend With thy lifes losse this bloody warre to end.
Fred. My naturall father in my blood I feele, Passion more powerfull then that conquering steele.
Duke. Why dost thou pause, base boy? thy Soveraigne's come, To inter the life I gave thee in this tombe.
Fred. My father, oh my father! nature, be still That I may have my fame, or he his will.
Duke. What, dost thou feare thy cause? is't now so evill?
Fred. I am possest with a relenting devill; Legions of kinde thoughts have supriz'd my sense And I am too weake to be mine owne defence.
Duke. Thou art a coward.
Fred. And you make me so,For you come charm'd like a dishonest[199] foe.You have conferr'd with spirits, and tane their aydesTo make me weake, by them I am betraid,My strength drawne from me by a slight;What other meanes could hold me from the fight?
Duke. I have no spells about me.
Fred. 'Tis untrue,For naturall Magique you have brought with you,And such an exorcisme in your nameThat I forbeare the combate to my shame.But that I am no coward, from your hostElect two of the valiantst that dare most;Double that number, treble it, or more,I have heart at will t'encounter with a score.Or had your selfe come in a strange attire,One of us twaine had lost his living fire.
Enter[200] Montano, Alfred, Vandermas, Valentia, and others.
Duke. Ile trie your valour; see, audacious boy, Thou art incompast with a world of foesMontano, Alfred, Vandermas, and all: My Dutchesse comes, too, to behold thy fall. If thou hast spirit enough, now crave her ayd, Never was poore ventrous souldier worse apayd. [Exit Duke.
Fred. My[201] desire now from the skie of starres. Dart all your Deitie, since I am beset, In honourable wise pay[202] all Natures debt.
They fight, Fredericke beats them off and courses the Dutchesse over the stage.
Actus Quartus.
_Enter [at one door] Duke, Montano, Valentia, Hatto, and Alfred.
Drumme, Colours, and Souldiers. [At another doorenter Frederick, Rinaldo, Alberto, with soldiers_.]
Duke. Our anger long agoe, renowned Lords,Is satisfied in faireValentiaslove.Behold our proud sonne and these traiterous crewThat dares confront us in the field ofMars.
Valen. You have been too patient, my beloved Lord,In calming these tumultuous jarring spirits.Scourge them with steele, and make the proudest knowTis more then death to have their Prince their foe.
Mon. Bloody constraints beseemes where dutie failes, And, oratory ceasing, force prevailes.
Hat. Peace would doe better, so it pleas'd your sonne.
Fred. In her allurements first [the strife] begun; Banish her from the land, and Ile resigne.
Duke. Learne thine owne dutie, traitor, I know mine.
Albert. Then there's no banishment?
Duke. None but by death; Thy head is forfeit for that daring breath.
Alfred. Submit, degenerate and presumptuous Lord.
Albert. When we are ignorant to weild a sword.
Fred. Never shall noble knee bend to this ground, As long as that vile strumpet liveth crownd.
Duke. I cannot stay to heare my love deprav'd.In few words is it peace, or shall we fightTill our deepe wounds shall dampe the heavenly light,Make the ayre purple with the reaking gore?
Fre. Fight, whilst life serves you, we will nere give ore; The grasse greene pavement shall be drownd in blood, And yet Ile wade to kill her in the flood.
Duke. Alarum, Drum! madnesse is on their side,All vertuous counsell is by them defied.Upon our part strike Drums, Trumpets proclaimeDeath most assur'd to those that love their shame.
Alarum, fight lustily, and drive away the Duke; Fredericke pursues Valentia over the stage and takes her; a Retreate sounded.
Enter at one doore the Duke, Mon., Hatto, and Alfred, with Drum and Colours.—Enter at the other doore Fredericke leading Valentia prisoner, Rinaldo and Alberto with Drum and Colours.
Duke. Why doe traitors sound retreate so soone?
Fred. Behold the cause.
Duke.Valentiaprisoner?
Fred. The firebrand of this tumultuous warre, The originall from whence your subjects bloud Flowes in abundance on[203] this spatious playn.
Valen. And what of all this?
Fred. That thy lifes too meane To satisfie the unworthiest of the Campe For the effusion of a loyall drop.
Duke. MeanesFrederickethen, to kill his fathers heart In faireValentia'sdeath?
Fred. Not touch your hand, Other then humble as becomes a sonne; But she shall suffer for enchanting you.
Valen. I am a Dutchesse, set my ransome downe.
Fred. A Dutchesse! whence proceeds that borowed name?Of what continuance? scarcely hath the SunneBeheld thy pride a day, but doth declineShaming to view a crowned Concubine.
Duke. In mine owne honour,Fredericke, I command Thou set a ransome onValentia.
Fred. What honor's that? your Dukedomes interest? Your princely birth? your honerable fame? All these are blemisht with a strumpets name.
Mon. Be not so cruell to bereave her life 'Twill draw upon thee a perpetuall scar,— Thy fathers curse, and a continuall warre.
Duke. Oh doe not threaten;Frederickeis so mildHe will not prove such a degenerate child.I cannot blame him tho' hee rise in armes:'Twas not in hate to me, but in disdaineThat I should sell my royaltie so vaine;But did he know the value of the jem,Hee would not crase[204] it for a Dyadem.That shee was common her owne words approve,But many faults are cover'd where men love.As thou respects my blessing and good dayes,Restore her,Fredericke, and augment her prayse.
Fred. Restore her?
Albert. Never.
Duke.Albert, thou wert kind And I ne're wrong'd thee; doe not change thy minde.
Hat. You doe abase your honour to intreate.
Duke. How can I choose? my affection is so great.
Alfred. Your power is strong, the enemy is but weake.
Duke. In her destruction all my powers will breake.As thou dost hope of kindnesse in thy choyseIf ere thou love, give eare unto my voice;Turne not aside thy eye, the feares I feeleMakes me to bow, where tis thy part to kneele.Loe vassailelike, laying aside command,I humbly crave this favour at thy hand:Let me have my beloved, and take my state;My life I undervalue to that rate.Crave anything that in my power doth lye,Tis thine, so faireValentiamay not dye.
Fred. My soule is griev'd, and it appals my bloodTo see my father pusseld in such mood.Yet shall shee dye, Ile doe as I have said;With mine hand Ile chop off the Strumpets head.
Alberto. Kill her, my Lord, or let me have the honour.
Duke. Tigers would save her, if they lookt upon her;Shee is so beautifull, so heavenly bright,That she would make them love her for the sight.Thou art more rude then such if thou proceedeIn the execution of so vilde a deede.Remember one thing, I did never loveTill thou, myFredericke, broughtst that fatall Glove.That and the Owners name thou didst descry;Onely for that cause, let not my love dye.
Fred. O gods!
Duke. Cannot my kneeling serve, my teares prevaile,When all helpes faile mee, yet this will not faile:Proffer thy weapon to her beautious side,And with her heart my heart I will divide.Intreaty Ile urge none more then are past,And either now relent or heres my last.
Fred. Stay: if I should relent, will you agree To sign our general pardon presently?
Duke. By heaven I doe, I freely pardon all And a reward I give in generall.
Fred. Then take her, you deserve her were shee better, Making your Crown and life to be her Debter.
Duke. Welcome a thousand times, welcome, sweete wife, Never more deare then now I have saved[205] thy life.
Valen. This more then kindnesse I turne backe to you, Doubling my chast vow to bee ever true.
Fred. Then here the warres end, here[206] our fightings marde, Yet by your leave Ile stand upon my Guard.
Duke. Take any course you please, Citie or Towne, My royall word Ile keepe by this my Crowne.
Fred. Then thus Ile take my leave.
Duke. Since we must part, Farewell, my Sonne, all farewell with my heart.
[Exeunt Fred, and his [sic].
Mon. Twas well, my Lord, 'twas a good policie, To gaine your bride: I hope your grace did not meane To be thus overrulde, by a proud Sonne.
Duke. Why, thinke you he intends some treachery?
Mon. Why not? and did releaseValentiaTo blind your eyes. Hee that could be so proud,To rise in armes against his naturall Father,Hath courage to doe more when he sees time.
Duke. But I have pardon'd that offence by oath.
Mon. It were no periury to make him knowHee is your Sonne, and sonnes a dutie owe.This sequestration will in time aspireUnto a flame shall set your Realme on fire;For[207] when a Subject hath the meanes of will,'Tis not enough, to say he has no will;For will is alter'd by the place and timeAnd hee that's once up knowes the way to clime.I speake perchance like a prophetique foole,But these are wise can counsaile with your bride;Wisedome adviseth timely to provide.
Duke. What thinkes my love ofFrederickesreconcilment?
Valen. That he has spirit enough, to be a traytor.But I am beholding to him for a lifeAnd he may brag he gave your grace a wife.A [O?] good old man, he could not choose but feeleFor shame some small remorse to see you kneele.Pray God he gave me not into your handThat he might be the ruine of your land.
Duke. Thinkes my love so? but, brothers, what's your censure?
Hat. I am no Polititian.
Alfred. Neither I: Wee are both content to live quietly.
Duke. Hee may be a villaine tho' he be my Sonne.
Mon. Why not? and worke your ruine like a foe.Had he meant well, why did he leave you so?Your noble heart was free from all deceipt,But hee's retirde to doe some dangerous feate.When Subjects stand upon their guard, looke to't,They have some plot in hand, and they will do't.
Duke. What course is readiest to prevent such mischiefe?
Mon. Plucke up the fulsome thistle in the prime:Young trees bend lightly, but grow strong in time.Were I the worthiest to advise your honour,You should pursue him with your spredding bandesSwifter in march then is the lightning flame,And take him tardy whilst his plots are tame.Now to charge on his army, questionlesseWould drive them all into a great distresse,If not confound them; having tane your Sonne,You may be as kind, and doe as hee hath done;So shall he know himself and be lesse proud.
Valen. The counsailes good.
Duke. And it shall be allowed.You that doe love me, see the host prepar'dTo scare those traytors that our liues have scarde.Our armie's many, but their power is few:[208]Besides, they are traytors, all with us are true.Sound Drums and trumpets, make the world rebound;Hearten our friends, and all our foes confound.[Alarum.
[Exeunt.
Enter Montano, with two or three souldiers;Vandarmas leading Fredericke bound.
Fred. Base cowards, traytors! how am I surprizde,[Bound] with these bonds? I am a Prince by birth,And princely spirits disdaine such clogs of earth.Let goe, you slaves.
Mon. First know your fathers pleasure.
Fred. You are too bold.
Mon. But you shall keepe a measure.
Fred. Thou blood of common Concubines, must I Be bound by thee, and heir ofSaxony?
Enter Duke and Valen.
Duke. It is our pleasure.
Valen. Have you caught him so? Now shall you waite the mercy we will shew: I was too base to be your father's wife.
Duke. But he shall sue to thee to save his life.
Fred. Perjurde, ungratefull, unnaturall, Is this the pardon given in generall?
Duke. Wee'l talke of that hereafter; make him fast.
Valen. Helpe,Vandermas, our self will ayding be To keepe in awe such sencelesse trechery.
Duke. My helpe and all to prison, there till death Remaine in duresse.
Fred. Rather stop my breath,Strangle me with these cords; prison to meIs twenty deaths, I will have liberty.Now as you are a father, be more kind;You did not find me in so sterne a mind.Are[209] you forgetful of the life I sav'd?Shall a Duke's Sonne by treason thus be slav'd?If you suspect my love, grant me the fight;I dare in single combate any knight,Any adventurer, any pandorus hinde,To proue my faith of an unfained mind.
Duke. Away with him.
Fred. I see my death's set downe,And some adulterous heire must weare that Crowne.To intreate aRodophe, I had rather dyeThen have my life lodg'd in such infamy:If all my fortunes on her words depend,Let her say kill me, and so make an end.
Duke. Why stay you?
Vander. Good my Lord.
Fred. Peace, untaught Groome,My heart's so great that Ide forerun my doome.There's no release meant, you have vowed I seeTo dam your soules by wilfull periury.Yet that I am my self, let these words shew:To die is naturall, tis a death I owe,And I will pay it, with a mind as freeAs I enjoyed in my best libertie.But this assure your self, when all is done,They'l kill the father that will kill the sonne. [Exit.
Duke. What's to be done now?
Mon. Seale unto his death,Your warrant nere the sooner takes effect:'Twill be a meanes to make him penitent.Seeing his fault, hee'l taste your mercie best,When now he proudly thinkes he is opprest.
Duke. A Warrant shall be sign'd, and unto theeI doe commend it; deale not partially;If he be sorry and in true remorse,Cancell the Writ, else let it have full force.Had I ten sonnes, as I have onely this,They should all die, ere thou depriv'd of blisse.So great is my affection, my faire wife,That to save thine Ide frankly give my life.Come, weele about it strait, all time seemes long,Where thou hast found slight cause to feare my wrong.
Valen. That writ Ile take, and a conclusion trie:If he can love he lives, if hate me die.For howsoere, I seeme to scorne the man,Hee's somewhat deare in my affection.—Here comes your brothers.
Enter Alfred, and Hatto.
Alfred. May it please your grace,By chance entring into SaintMariesChurch,This morn by breake of day, I espiedThat that I know will vexe your Excellence:Your daughterEuphratais marriedTo the ambitious beggarConstantine.
Duke. My daughter married to my Chamber-squire?
Mon. Your Excellence did banish me the land Because I did suspect her with that fellow.
Duke. He shall be tortur'd with th'extreamest plague For his presumption.—Have you brought them, That I may kill them with a killing looke?
Hat. Without direction we have ventured To lay upon them your strict command, And they attend.
Duke. Bring the presumptuous.
Enter Constantine, and Euphrata, Otho following in disguise.
Euph. Forward,Constantine, our Rites are done, Thou art my husband, doe not feare his eye, The worst it can import is but to die.
Duke. Base and degenerate.
Euph. He is a Gentleman, 'Twas base of you to wed a Curtizan.
Mon. Her brothers spirit right, bold and audacious.
Euph. When[210] I am no bastard, wherefore should I feare?The knot is sacred, and I hold it deare;I am wedded unto virtue, not to will,Such blessed unions never bring forth ill.If I offend, in disobedience,Judge of the power of love by your offence.Father, you have no reason for this ire;Frowne whilst you kill us, desire is desire.
Duke. A Curtezan? hath that ambitious boyTaught you such Rethoricke? you shall taste like joy.I will not reason with you, words are vaine,The fault is best discerned in the paine.Your hastie marriage hath writ downe his death,And thy proud words shall scale it with thy breath.By what is dearest to mee, here I sweare,Both of your heads, shall grace a fatall beere.Take them to prison, Ile not heare a word,This is the mercie that we will afford.Since they are growne so proud, next morn begun,Let them be both beheaded with my sonne.
Con. Short and sweet:Euphrata, the doome is faire,We shall be soone in heaven, there ends my care.I scorne entreatie, and, my deare, I know,All such slavery thou hatest so,'Twill be a famous deed for this good manTo kill all's children for a Curtezan.
Euph. Wilt thou die with me?
Const. Would I live in heaven? Thou art now too high for me, death makes us even.
Euph. Looke to your dukedome: those that hast our fallHave by their avarice almost hurried all.There's a whole Register of the poores crie:Whilst they are reading them, imbrace and die.
[Flings downe her lap full of Petitions.
[Exeunt Euph. and Constant.
Duke. Beare them away.—And now let's reade these Writes.What's here? complaints against my worthy brothersFor corne transported, Copper money stampt,[211]Our subjects goods ceaz'd, and I know not what.A plague upon this busie-headed rabble!We will have tortures made to awe the slaves;Peace makes them ever proud and malapert,They'l be an Overseer of the State.
Valen. And plead reformation to depose you.
Duk. True, my faire Dutchesse, but Ile cut them short.Rule still, deare brothers: take these to the fire,Let me reade somewhat that augments desire,Authors and golden Poems full of love;Such the Petitions are that I approve.So I may live in quiet with my wife,Let fathers, mothers, children, all lose life.If thou have issue, in despight of fateThey shall succeed in our Imperiall state.Come, sweet, to dauncing, then to sport and play,Till we have ruled all our life away.
[Exeunt.
Manet, Otho.
Otho. O pittifull condition of a Realme,Where the chiefe ruler is ore-rul'd by pleasure!Seeing my friend supriz'd, in this disguiseI followed him to meete the consequence.And to my griefe I see his marriage ritesWill cut him short of all this earths delights.What's that to me? WhenConstantineis dead,I have some hope to attaine her Nuptiall bed.But she is doom'd as well as hee to die:Can the Duke act his daughters Tragedie?It is impossible; he will relent,And Ile perswade her freely to repent.Yet 'tis most likelie that he will agree:He is so farre spent in vild tyrannie.The commons hate him for the wrong he hath done(By his brothers meanes), the Nobles for his sonne.Famine spreads through the land, the people die;Yet he lives senselesse of their miserie.Never were subjects more mislead by any,Nor ever Soveraigne hated by so many.But,Constantine, to thee I cast an eye;Shall all our friendship end in enmitie?Shall I, that ever held thee as my life,Hasten thy death that I may get thy wife?Or love or friendship, whether shall exceed,Ile explaine your vertue in this following deed.
[Exit.
Enter Valentia, Montano, and Vandermas.
Val. Have you the instruments I gave in charge.
Vand. Wee have.
Val. And resolution fitting for the purpose?
Mon. All things are ready, with our faithfull hearts.
Val. And she that undertakes so great an actAs I intend, had need of faithfull heartsThis is the prison, and the jaylor comesIn happy time: where's trayterousFredericke?
Enter Jaylor.
Jaylor. What is your highnesse pleasure with the Prince?
Val. Looke there, if you can reade.
Jai. O heavenly God, What doe I read? a warrant for his death?
Valen. Resigne your keyes, goe weepe a dirge or twaine But make no clamour with your lamentation.
Jay. I dare not prophesie what my soule feares, Yet Ile lament his tragedie in teares. [Exit.
Valen. Oft have I seene a Nobleman arraign'dBy mighty Lords, the pillars of the land,Some of which number, his inclined friends,Have wept, yet past the verdict of his death:So fares it with the Prince. Were I his jaylor,And so affected untoFrederickslife,The fearfull'st tyrant nor the cruell'st plaguesThat ever lighted on tormented soules,Should make me yeeld my prisoner to their hands.
Mon. Madam, he knowes his duty, and performes it.
Valen. Setting aside all dutie, I would dieEre like a woman weepe a tragedie;Tis basenesse, cowardize. Dutie! O slave,Had I a friend, I'de dye in my friends grave.But it sorts well for us; Hindes will be Hindes,And the Ambitious tread upon such mindes.Waite, whilest I call you, in the jaylors house.
Mon. We will. [Exeunt Van. and Mon.
Valen. My Lord, PrinceFredericke.
Enter Fred.
Fred. WofullFrederickeWere a beseeming Epitaph for me,The other tastes of too much soveraigntie.What? is it you! the glory of the stewes!
Valen. Thy mother,Fredericke.
Fred. I detest that name,My mother was a Dutches of true fame;And now I thinke upon her, when she diedI was ordain'd to be indignified.She never did incense my Princely FatherTo the destruction of his loving sonne:Oh she was vertuous, trulie naturall,But this step-divell doth promise our fall.
Val. Why doest thou raile on me? I am come To set thee free from all imprisonment.
Fred. By what true supersedeas but by death?If it be so, come, strike me to the earth;Thou needest no other weapon but thine eye;Tis full of poyson, fixe it, and Ile die.
Val. Uncharitable youth, I am no serpent venom'd, No basiliske to kill thee with my sight.
Fre. Then thou speak'st death, I am sorry I mistooke;They both are fatall, theres but little choice;The first inthral'd my father, the last me,No deadlier swords ever us'd enemie;My lot's the best that I dye with the sound,But he lives dying in a death profound.I grow too bitter, being so neere my end;Speake quickly, boldly, what your thoughts intend.
Valen. Behold this warrant, you can reade it well.
Fred. But you the interpretation best can tell: Speake, beautious ruine, twere great injurie That he should reade the sentence that must dye.
Val. Then know in briefe 'tis your fathers pleasure.
Fred. His pleasure, what?
Val. That you must loose your life.
Fred. Fatall is his pleasure, 'tis to please his wife.I prethee, tell me, didst thou ever knowA Father pleased his sonne to murder so?For what is't else but murder at the best?The guilt whereof will gnawe him in his brest,Torment him living, and when I am deadCurse thee by whose plot I was murdered?I have seene the like example, but, O base!Why doe I talke with one of your disgrace?Where are the officers? I have liv'd too long,When he that gave me life does me this wrong.
Val. That is thy fathers hand, thou dost not doubt?And if thou shouldst, I have witnesse to approve it.Yet tho it be his hand, grant to my request,Love me and live.
Fred. To live so, I detest. Love thee!
Valen. I, love me, gentleFredericke, love me.
Fred. Incestuous strumpet, cease.
Val. Oh thou dealest ill, To render so much spleene for my good will.
Fred. Torment farre worse then death.
Valen. Ile follow thee: DeareFredericke, like thy face, be thy words faire.
Fre. This monstrous dealing doubles my deaths care.
Valen. What shall I call thee to allay this ire?
Fred. Why, call me son and blush at thy desire.
Valen. I never brought thee foorth.
Fred. Art thou not wife Unto my father?
Val. Thinke upon thy life:It lyes like mine, onely in gentle breath;Or that thy father's dead, and after death'Tis in my choice to marry whom I will.
Fred. Any but me.
Valen. O doe not thinke so ill,Rather thinke, thou art a stranger, not his sonne;Then 'tis no incest tho the Act be done.Nature unto her selfe is too unkindTo buzze such scruples intoFredericksminde;Twas a device of man to avoid selfe love,Else every pleasure in one stocke should move,Beautie in grace part never from the kinne.
Fred. If thou persever as thou hast begun,I shall forget I am my fathers sonne,I shall forget thou art my fathers wife,And where 'tis I must die abridge thy life.
Valen. Why did'st not kill me, being thy prisoner then, But friendly didst deliver me again[212] Unto thy father, wert not thou didst love me?
Fred. Beyond all sufferance, monster, thou dost move me.'Twas for my fathers sake, not for thine owne;That, to thy lifes losse, thou hadst throughly knowneBut that relenting nature playde her part,To save thy blood whose losse had slaine his heart:And it repents me not hee doth survive,But that his fortune was so ill to wive.Come, kill, for for that you came; shun delayesLest living Ile tell this to thy dispraise,Make him to hate thee, as he hath just cause,And like a strumpet turne thee to the lawes.
Valen. GoodFredericke.
Fred. Tis resolv'd on, I haue said.
Valen. Then fatall Ministers I craue your ayde.
Enter Van. and Mont.
Come,Vandermas, Montano, wheres your corde?Quicklie dispatch, strangle this hatefull Lord.Or stay: because I love him, he shall chuseThe easiest of three deaths that we may use,The halter, poyson, or bloodshedding blade.
Fred. Any of them.
Valen. This Aconite's well made, a cup of poysonStuft with despatching simples, give him this,And he shall quickly leave all earthly blisse.There, take it,Fredericke, our last guift of grace;Since thou must die, Ile have thee die apace.
Fred. O happie meanes, given by a trecherous hand,To be my true guide to the heavenly land!Death steales upon me like a silken sleepe;Through every vaine doe leaden rivers flowe,[213]The gentlest poyson that I ever knewe,To work so coldly, yet to be so true.Like to an infant patiently I goe,Out of this vaine world, from all worldly woe;Thankes to the meanes, tho they deserve no thankes,My soule beginnes t'ore-flow these fleshly bankes.My death I pardon unto her and you,My sinnes God pardon; so vaine world adiew.[He falls asleep.
Valen. Ha, ha, ha.
Mon. Hee's dead, why does your highnesse laugh?
Valen. Why, LordMontano, that I love to see,He that hath sav'd my life, to die for me.But theres a riddle in this Princes death,And Ile explaine it on this floore of earth.Come, to his sisters execution goe,We have varietie of joyes in woe.I am sure, you have heard his Excellence did sweareBoth of their heads should grace a Kingly beare.Upon a mourning hearse let him be layd;He shalbe intombed with a wived maid.
[Exeunt.
Actus Quintus.
Enter Duke, Hatto, and Alfred.
Duke. Bring forth the prisoners: wher's my beauteous DutchesThat she may see the ruine of her foes?She that upbraided her with slanderous wordes,She that in scorne of due obedienceHath matcht the honour of theSaxonsbloodUnto a beggar; let them be brought foorth,I will not rise from this tribunal seateTill I have seene their bodies from their heads.
Alfred. Here comes the Dutches with proudFrederickshearse.
Enter, Valentia, Montano, Vandermas, with others, bearing the hearse, with Fredericke on, covered with a black robe.
Duke. So, set it downe: why have you honored itWith such a sable coverture? A traytor,Deserves no cloth of sorrow: set it downe,And let our other offspring be brought foorth.My beauteous, lovely, and admired love,Come, sit by us in an imperiall chayre,And grace this state throne with a state more fayre.
Valen. My gracious Lord, I hope your ExcellenceWill not be so forgetfull of your honour,Prove so unnaturall to your loving daughterAs to bereave her of her lifeBecause she hath wedded basely gainst your will.ThoughFrederickedyed deservedly, yet sheeMay by her loves death clear her indignitie.
Duke. She and her love we have sentenced to die,Not for her marriage onely, tho that deedeCrownes the contempt with a deserved death,But chiefly for she raild against thy worth,Upbraided thee with tearmes so monstrous baseThat nought but death can cleare the great disgrace.How often shall I charge they be brought foorth?Were my heart guilty of a crime so vilde,I'de rend it forth, then much more kill my childe.
Val. O, that this love may last! 'tis sprung so hie, Like flowers at full growth that grow to die.
Enter Julia, with a vaile over her head, Otho with another, with Officers.
Duke. What means these sable vailes upon their faces?
Val. In signe they sorrow for your high displeasure.For since the houre they were imprisoned,They have liv'd like strangers, hood-winkt together.You may atchieve great fame, victorious Lord,To save the lives of two such innocents.
Duke. Tis pretty in thee, my soule lov'd Dutchesse,To make this Princely motion for thy foes.Let it suffice, the'are traitors to the state,Confederators with those that sought my life,A kinne toFredericke, that presumptious boy,That durst beare armes against his naturall father:Are they more deare then he? off with their vailes.
Mon. O yet be mercifull unto your daughter.
Duke. You make me mad, headsman; dispatch I say, They are doom'd to die, and this the latest day.
Otho. Then let him strike, who ever traitors be, I am sure no treason lives in her or me.
Duke. How now, whats here?OthoandJulia! Am I deluded? where isEuphrata, And that audacious traitorConstantine?
Otho. Why, fled.
Duke. To whom?
Otho. To safetie, here was none.I can resolve you of the circumstance:Betwixt the nobleConstantineand I,—Noble I call him for his virtuous minde—There was a league of love so strongly madeThat time wants houres, and occasion cause,To violate the contract of our hearts.Yet on my part the breach did first appeare:He brought me to behold his beauteous loveThe faireEuphrata; her Angel sightBegate in me the fire of private love:I that before did like her for my friend,Now to deceive him, sought her for my selfe;But my device was knowne unto my friend,And worthilie he banisht me his sight.
Duke. Whats this to their destruction? seeke them forth.
Otho. They are far enough from suffering such a death.I, well considering my unfriendly part,Bethought me how to reconcile my selfUnto my hearts endearedConstantine;And seeing him carried to the prison, weFollowed, and found meanes for their libertie.
Duke. Are they escapt then?
Otho. Both, in our disguise,And we stand here to act their tragedies.If they have done amisse, on usImpose the Law.
Julia. O let our suites prevaile, I ask to dye for my deare Ladies sake.