Exeunt.Scaena 4.Enter Charalois with a casket, Beaumelle, Baumont.[A Room inCharalois’House]Cha.Pray beare this to my father, at his leasureHe may peruse it: but with your best languageIntreat his instant presence: you haue sworneNot to reueale what I haue done.Bau.Nor will I—But—Cha.Doubt me not, by Heauen, I will doe nothing[5]But what may stand with honour: Pray you leaue meTo my owne thoughts. If this be to me, rise;I am not worthy the looking on, but onelyTo feed contempt and scorne, and that from youWho with the losse of your faire name haue caus’d it,[10]Were too much cruelty.Beau.I dare not moue youTo heare me speake. I know my fault is farreBeyond qualification, or excuse,That ’tis not fit for me to hope, or youTo thinke of mercy; onely I presume[15]To intreate, you would be pleas’d to looke vponMy sorrow for it, and beleeue, these tearesAre the true children of my griefe and notA womans cunning.Cha.Can youBeaumelle,Hauing deceiued so great a trust as mine,[20]Though I were all credulity, hope againeTo get beleefe? no, no, if you looke on meWith pity or dare practise any meanesTo make my sufferings lesse, or giue iust causeTo all the world, to thinke what I must doe[25]Was cal’d vpon by you, vse other waies,Deny what I haue seene, or iustifieWhat you haue done, and as you desperatelyMade shipwracke of your fayth to be a whore,Vse th’ armes of such a one, and such defence,[30]And multiply the sinne, with impudence,Stand boldly vp, and tell me to my teeth,You haue done but what’s warranted,By great examples, in all places, whereWomen inhabit, vrge your owne deserts,[35]Or want of me in merit; tell me how,Your dowre from the lowe gulfe of pouerty,Weighed vp my fortunes, to what now they are:That I was purchas’d by your choyse and practiseTo shelter you from shame: that you might sinne[40]As boldly as securely, that poore menAre married to those wiues that bring them wealth,One day their husbands, but obseruers euer:That when by this prou’d vsage you haue blowneThe fire of my iust vengeance to the height,[45]I then may kill you: and yet say ’twas doneIn heate of blood, and after die my selfe,To witnesse my repentance.Beau.O my fate,That neuer would consent that I should see,How worthy thou wert both of loue and duty[50]Before I lost you; and my misery madeThe glasse, in which I now behold your vertue:While I was good, I was a part of you,And of two, by the vertuous harmonyOf our faire minds, made one; but since I wandred[55]In the forbidden Labyrinth of lust,What was inseparable, is by me diuided.With iustice therefore you may cut me off,And from your memory, wash the remembranceThat ere I was like to some vicious purpose[60]Within your better iudgement, you repent ofAnd study to forget.Cha.OBeaumelle,That you can speake so well, and doe so ill!But you had been too great a blessing, ifYou had continued chast: see how you force me[65]To this, because my honour will not yeeldThat I againe should loue you.Beau.In this lifeIt is not fit you should: yet you shall finde,Though I was bold enough to be a strumpet,I dare not yet liue one: let those fam’d matrones[70]That are canoniz’d worthy of our sex,Transcend me in their sanctity of life,I yet will equall them in dying nobly,Ambitious of no honour after life,But that when I am dead, you will forgiue me.[75]Cha.How pity steales vpon me! should I heare herBut ten words more, I were lost—one knocks, go in.Knock within. Exit Beaumelle. Enter Rochfort.That to be mercifull should be a sinne.O, sir, most welcome. Let me take your cloake,I must not be denyed—here are your robes,[80]As you loue iustice once more put them on:There is a cause to be determind ofThat doe’s require such an integrity,As you haue euer vs’d—ile put you toThe tryall of your constancy, and goodnesse:[85]And looke that you that haue beene Eagle-eydIn other mens affaires, proue not a MoleIn what concernes your selfe. Take you your seate:I will be for you presently.Exit.Roch.Angels guard me,To what strange Tragedy does this destruction[90]Serue for a Prologue?Enter Charaloys with Nouals body. Beaumelle, Baumont.Cha.So, set it downe beforeThe Iudgement seate, and stand you at the bar:For me? I am the accuser.Roch.Nouallslayne,AndBeaumellemy daughter in the placeOf one to be arraign’d.Cha.O, are you touch’d?[95]I finde that I must take another course,Feare nothing. I will onely blind your eyes,For Iustice should do so, when ’tis to meeteAn obiect that may sway her equall doomeFrom what it should be aim’d at.—Good my Lord,[100]A day of hearing.Roch.It is granted, speake—You shall haue iustice.Cha.I then here accuse,Most equall Iudge, the prisoner your faire Daughter,For whom I owed so much to you: your daughter,So worthy in her owne parts: and that worth[105]Set forth by yours, to whose so rare perfections,Truth witnesse with me, in the place of seruiceI almost pay’d Idolatrous sacrificeTo be a false advltresse.Roch.With whom?Cha.With thisNouallhere dead.Roch.Be wel aduis’d[110]And ere you say adultresse againe,Her fame depending on it, be most sureThat she is one.Cha.I tooke them in the act.I know no proofe beyond it.Roch.O my heart.Cha.A Iudge should feele no passions.Roch.Yet remember[115]He is a man, and cannot put off nature.What answere makes the prisoner?Beau.I confesseThe fact I am charg’d with, and yeeld my selfeMost miserably guilty.Roch.Heauen take mercyVpon your soule then: it must leaue your body.[120]Now free mine eyes, I dare vnmou’d looke on her,And fortifie my sentence, with strong reasons.Since that the politique law prouides that seruants,To whose care we commit our goods shall die,If they abuse our trust: what can you looke for,[125]To whose charge this most hopefull Lord gaue vpAll he receiu’d from his braue Ancestors,Or he could leaue to his posterity?His Honour, wicked woman, in whose safetyAll his lifes ioyes, and comforts were locked vp,[130]With thy lust, a theefe hath now stolne from him,And therefore—Cha.Stay, iust Iudge, may not what’s lostBy her owne fault, (for I am charitable,And charge her not with many) be forgottenIn her faire life hereafter?Roch.Neuer, Sir.[135]The wrong that’s done to the chaste married bed,Repentant teares can neuer expiate,And be assured, to pardon such a sinne,Is an offence as great as to commit it.Cha.I may not then forgiue her.Roch.Nor she hope it.[140]Nor can she wish to liue no sunne shall rise,But ere it set, shall shew her vgly lustIn a new shape, and euery on more horrid:Nay, euen those prayers, which with such humble feruorShe seemes to send vp yonder, are beate backe,[145]And all suites, which her penitance can proffer,As soone as made, are with contempt throwneOff all the courts of mercy.He kills her.Cha.Let her die then.Better prepar’d I am. Sure I could not take her,Nor she accuse her father, as a Iudge[150]Partiall against her.Beau.I approue his sentence,And kisse the executioner; my lustIs now run from me in that blood; in whichIt was begot and nourished.Roch.Is she dead then?Cha.Yes, sir, this is her heart blood, is it not?[155]I thinke it be.Roch.And you haue kild here?Cha.True,And did it by your doomeRoch.But I pronounc’d itAs a Iudge onely, and friend to iustice,And zealous in defence of your wrong’d honour,Broke all the tyes of nature: and cast off[160]The loue and soft affection of a father.I in your cause, put on a Scarlet robeOf red died cruelty, but in returne,You haue aduanc’d for me no flag of mercy:I look’d on you, as a wrong’d husband, but[165]You clos’d your eyes against me, as a father.OBeaumelle, my daughter.Cha.This is madnesse.Roch.Keepe from me—could not one good thought rise vp,To tell you that she was my ages comfort,Begot by a weake man, and borne a woman,[170]And could not therefore, but partake of frailety?Or wherefore did not thankfulnesse step forth,To vrge my many merits, which I mayObiect vnto you, since you proue vngratefull,Flinty-heartedCharaloys?Cha.Nature does preuaile[175]Aboue your vertue.Roch.No! it giues me eyes,To pierce the heart of designe against me.I finde it now, it was my state was aym’d at,A nobler match was fought for, and the houresI liu’d, grew teadious to you: my compassion[180]Towards you hath rendred me most miserable,And foolish charity vndone my selfe:But ther’s a Heauen aboue, from whose iust wreakeNo mists of policy can hide offendors.Enter Nouall se. with Officers.Nou. se.Force ope the doors—O monster, caniball,[185]Lay hold on him, my sonne, my sonne.—ORochfort,’Twas you gaue liberty to this bloody wolfeTo worry all our comforts,—But this isNo time to quarrell; now giue your assistanceFor the reuenge.Roch.Call it a fitter name—[190]Iustice for innocent blood.Cha.Though all conspireAgainst that life which I am weary of,A little longer yet ile striue to keepe it,To shew in spite of malice, and their lawes,His plea must speed that hath an honest cause.[195]ExeuntActus quintus.Scaena prima.[A Street]Enter Liladam,Taylor,Officers.LilaWhy ’tis both most vnconscionable, and vntimelyT’arrest a gallant for his cloaths, beforeHe has worne them out: besides you sayd you ask’dMy name in my Lords bond but for me onely,And now you’l lay me vp for’t. Do not thinke[5]The taking measure of a customerBy a brace of varlets, though I rather waitNeuer so patiently, will proue a fashionWhich any Courtier or Innes of court manWould follow willingly.Tayl.There I beleeue you.[10]But sir, I must haue present moneys, orAssurance to secure me, when I shall.—Or I will see to your comming forth.Lila.Plague on’t,You haue prouided for my enterance in:That comming forth you talke of, concernes me.[15]What shall I doe? you haue done me a disgraceIn the arrest, but more in giuing causeTo all the street, to thinke I cannot standWithout these two supporters for my armes:Pray you let them loose me: for their satisfaction[20]I will not run away.Tayl.For theirs you will not,But for your owne you would; looke to them fellows.Lila.Why doe you call them fellows? doe not wrongYour reputation so, as you are meerelyA Taylor, faythfull, apt to beleeue in Gallants[25]You are a companion at a ten crowne supperFor cloth of bodkin, and may with one LarkeEate vp three manchets, and no man obserue you,Or call your trade in question for’t. But whenYou study your debt-booke, and hold correspondence[30]With officers of the hanger, and leaue swordmen,The learned conclude, the Taylor and SergeantIn the expression of a knaue are theseTo beSynonima. Looke therefore to it,And let vs part in peace, I would be loth[35]You should vndoe your selfe.Tayl.To let you goe(Enter old Nouall, and Pontalier.Were the next way.But see! heeres your old Lord,Let him but giue his worde I shall be paide,And you are free.Lila.S’lid, I will put him to’t:I can be but denied: or what say you?[40]His Lordship owing me three times your debt,If you arrest him at my suite, and let meGoe run before to see the action entred.’Twould be a witty iest.Tayl.I must haue ernest:I cannot pay my debts so.Pont.Can your Lordship[45]Imagine, while I liue and weare a sword,Your sonnes death shall be reueng’d?Nou. se.I know notOne reason why you should not doe like others:I am sure, of all the herd that fed vpon him,I cannot see in any, now hee’s gone,[50]In pitty or in thankfulnesse one true signeOf sorrow for him.Pont.All his bounties yetFell not in such vnthankfull ground: ’tis trueHe had weakenesses, but such as few are free from,And though none sooth’d them lesse then I: for now[55]To say that I foresaw the dangers thatWould rise from cherishing them, were but vntimely.I yet could wish the iustice that you seeke forIn the reuenge, had been trusted to me,And not the vncertaine issue of the lawes:[60]’Tas rob’d me of a noble testimonyOf what I durst doe for him: but howeuer,My forfait life redeem’d by him though dead,Shall doe him seruice.Nou. se.As farre as my griefeWill giue me leaue, I thanke you.Lila.Oh my Lord,[65]Oh my good Lord, deliuer me from these furies.Pont.Arrested? This is one of them whose baseAnd obiect flattery helpt to digge his graue:He is not worth your pitty, nor my anger.Goe to the basket and repent.Nou. se.Away[70]I onely know now to hate thee deadly:I will doe nothing for thee.Lila.Nor you, Captaine.Pont.No, to your trade againe, put off this case,It may be the discouering what you were,When your vnfortunate master tooke you vp,[75]May moue compassion in your creditor.Confesse the truth.Exit Nouall se. Pont.Lila.And now I thinke on’t better,I will, brother, your hand, your hand, sweet brother.I am of your sect, and my gallantry but a dreame,Out of which these two fearefull apparitions[80]Against my will haue wak’d me. This rich swordGrew suddenly out of a taylors bodkin;These hangers from my vailes and fees in Hell:And where as now this beauer sits, full oftenA thrifty cape compos’d of broad cloth lifts,[85]Nere kin vnto the cushion where I sate.Crosse-leg’d, and yet vngartred, hath beene seene,Our breakefasts famous for the buttred loaues,I haue with ioy bin oft acquainted with,And therefore vse a conscience, though it be[90]Forbidden in our hall towards other men,To me that as I haue beene, will againeBe of the brotherhood.Offi.I know him now:He was a prentice toLe RobeatOrleance.Lila.And from thence brought by my young Lord, now dead,[95]VntoDijon, and with him till this houreHath bin receiu’d here for a compleate Mounsieur.Nor wonder at it: for but tythe our gallants,Euen those of the first ranke, and you will findeIn euery ten, one: peraduenture two,[100]That smell ranke of the dancing schoole, or fiddle,The pantofle or pressing yron: but hereafterWeele talke of this. I will surrender vpMy suites againe: there cannot be much losse,’Tis but the turning of the lace, with ones[105]Additions more you know of, and what wantsI will worke out.Tayl.Then here our quarrell ends.The gallant is turn’d Taylor, and all friends.Exeunt.Scaena 2.Enter Romont, Baumont.[The Court of Justice]Rom.You haue them ready.Bau.Yes, and they will speakeTheir knowledg in this cause, when thou thinkst fitTo haue them cal’d vpon.Rom.’Tis well, and somethingI can adde to their euidence, to proueThis braue reuenge, which they would haue cal’d murther,[5]A noble Iustice.Bau.In this you expresse(The breach by my Lords want of you, new made vp)A faythfull friend.Rom.That friendship’s rays’d on sand,Which euery sudden gust of discontent,Or flowing of our passions can change,[10]As if it nere had bin: but doe you knowWho are to sit on him?Bau.MounsieurDu CroyAssisted byCharmi.Rom.The AduocateThat pleaded for the Marshalls funerall,And was checkt for it byNouall.Bau.The same[15]Rom.How fortunes that?Bau.Why, sir, my LordNouallBeing the accuser, cannot be the Iudge,Nor would grieueRochfort, but LordCharaloys(Howeuer he might wrong him by his power,)Should haue an equall hearing.Rom.By my hopes[20]OfCharaloysacquitall, I lamentThat reuerent old mans fortune.Bau.Had you seene him,As to my griefe I haue now promis’d patience,And ere it was beleeu’d, though spake by himThat neuer brake his word, inrag’d againe[25]So far as to make warre vpon those heiresWhich not a barbarous Sythian durst presumeTo touch, but with a superstitious feare,As something sacred, and then curse his daughter,But with more frequent violence himselfe,[30]As if he had bin guilty of her fault,By being incredulous of your report,You would not onely iudge him worrhy pitty,But suffer with him.Enter Charalois, with Officers.But heere comes the prisoner,I dare not stay to doe my duty to him,[35]Yet rest assur’d, all possible meanes in meTo doe him seruice, keepes you company.Exit Bau.Rom.It is not doubted.Cha.Why, yet as I came hither,The people apt to mocke calamity,And tread on the oppress’d, made no hornes at me,[40]Though they are too familiar: I deserue them.And knowing what blood my sword hath drunkeIn wreake of that disgrace, they yet forbareTo shake their heads, or to reuile me forA murtherer, they rather all put on[45](As for great losses the oldRomansvs’d)A generall face of sorrow, waighted onBy a sad murmur breaking through their silence,And no eye but was readier with a teareTo witnesse ’twas shed for me, then I could[50]Discerne a face made vp with scorne against me.Why should I then, though for vnusuall wrongs,I chose vnusuall meanes to right those wrongs,Condemne my selfe, as over-partiallIn my owne cause Romont?Rom.Best friend, well met,[55]By my heart’s loue to you, and ioyne to that,My thankfulness that still liues to the dead,I looke upon you now with more true ioy,Than when I saw you married.Cha.You have reasonTo give you warrant for’t; my falling off[60]From such a friendship with the scorne that answeredYour too propheticke counsell, may well moue youTo thinke your meeting me going to my death,A fit encounter for that hate which iustlyI have deseru’d from you.Rom.Shall I still then[65]Speake truth, and be ill vnderstood?Cha.You are not.I am conscious, I haue wrong’d you, and allow meOnly a morall man to looke on you,Whom foolishly I haue abus’d and iniur’d,Must of necessity be more terrible to me,[70]Than any death the Iudges can pronounceFrom the tribunall which I am to plead at.Rom.Passion transports you.Cha.For what I haue doneTo my false Lady, orNouall, I canGiue some apparent cause: but touching you,[75]In my defence, childlike, I can say nothing,But I am sorry for’t, a poore satisfaction:And yet mistake me not: for it is moreThen I will speake, to haue my pardon sign’dFor all I stand accus’d of.Rom.You much weaken[80]The strength of your good cause. Should you but thinkeA man for doing well could entertaineA pardon, were it offred, you haue giuenTo blinde and slow-pac’d iustice, wings, and eyesTo see and ouertake impieties,[85]Which from a cold proceeding had receiu’dIndulgence or protection.Cha.Thinke you so?Rom.Vpon my soule nor should the blood you chalengeAnd took to cure your honour, breed more scrupleIn your soft conscience, then if your sword[90]Had bin sheath’d in a Tygre, or she Beare,That in their bowels would haue made your tombeTo iniure innocence is more then murther:But when inhumane lusts transforme vs, thenLike beasts we are to suffer, not like men[95]To be lamented. Nor didCharaloiseuerPerforme an act so worthy the applauseOf a full theater of perfect men,As he hath done in this: the glory gotBy ouerthrowing outward enemies,[100]Since strength and fortune are maine sharers in it,We cannot but by pieces call our owne:But when we conquer our intestine foes,Our passions breed within vs, and of thoseThe most rebellious tyrant powerfull loue,[105]Our reason suffering vs to like no longerThen the faire obiect being good deserues it,That’s a true victory, which, were great menAmbitious to atchieue, by your exampleSetting no price vpon the breach of fayth,[110]But losse of life, ’twould fright adulteryOut of their families, and make lust appeareAs lothsome to vs in the first consent,As when ’tis wayted on by punishment.Cha.You haue confirm’d me. Who would loue a woman[115]That might inioy in such a man, a friend?You haue made me know the iustice of my cause,And mark’t me out the way, how to defend it.Rom.Continue to that resolution constant,And you shall, in contempt of their worst malice,[120]Come off with honour. Heere they come.Cha.I am ready.Scaena 3.
Exeunt.
Enter Charalois with a casket, Beaumelle, Baumont.
[A Room inCharalois’House]
Cha.Pray beare this to my father, at his leasureHe may peruse it: but with your best languageIntreat his instant presence: you haue sworneNot to reueale what I haue done.
Bau.Nor will I—But—
Cha.Doubt me not, by Heauen, I will doe nothing[5]But what may stand with honour: Pray you leaue meTo my owne thoughts. If this be to me, rise;I am not worthy the looking on, but onelyTo feed contempt and scorne, and that from youWho with the losse of your faire name haue caus’d it,[10]Were too much cruelty.
Beau.I dare not moue youTo heare me speake. I know my fault is farreBeyond qualification, or excuse,That ’tis not fit for me to hope, or youTo thinke of mercy; onely I presume[15]To intreate, you would be pleas’d to looke vponMy sorrow for it, and beleeue, these tearesAre the true children of my griefe and notA womans cunning.
Cha.Can youBeaumelle,Hauing deceiued so great a trust as mine,[20]Though I were all credulity, hope againeTo get beleefe? no, no, if you looke on meWith pity or dare practise any meanesTo make my sufferings lesse, or giue iust causeTo all the world, to thinke what I must doe[25]Was cal’d vpon by you, vse other waies,Deny what I haue seene, or iustifieWhat you haue done, and as you desperatelyMade shipwracke of your fayth to be a whore,Vse th’ armes of such a one, and such defence,[30]And multiply the sinne, with impudence,Stand boldly vp, and tell me to my teeth,You haue done but what’s warranted,By great examples, in all places, whereWomen inhabit, vrge your owne deserts,[35]Or want of me in merit; tell me how,Your dowre from the lowe gulfe of pouerty,Weighed vp my fortunes, to what now they are:That I was purchas’d by your choyse and practiseTo shelter you from shame: that you might sinne[40]As boldly as securely, that poore menAre married to those wiues that bring them wealth,One day their husbands, but obseruers euer:That when by this prou’d vsage you haue blowneThe fire of my iust vengeance to the height,[45]I then may kill you: and yet say ’twas doneIn heate of blood, and after die my selfe,To witnesse my repentance.
Beau.O my fate,That neuer would consent that I should see,How worthy thou wert both of loue and duty[50]Before I lost you; and my misery madeThe glasse, in which I now behold your vertue:While I was good, I was a part of you,And of two, by the vertuous harmonyOf our faire minds, made one; but since I wandred[55]In the forbidden Labyrinth of lust,What was inseparable, is by me diuided.With iustice therefore you may cut me off,And from your memory, wash the remembranceThat ere I was like to some vicious purpose[60]Within your better iudgement, you repent ofAnd study to forget.
Cha.OBeaumelle,That you can speake so well, and doe so ill!But you had been too great a blessing, ifYou had continued chast: see how you force me[65]To this, because my honour will not yeeldThat I againe should loue you.
Beau.In this lifeIt is not fit you should: yet you shall finde,Though I was bold enough to be a strumpet,I dare not yet liue one: let those fam’d matrones[70]That are canoniz’d worthy of our sex,Transcend me in their sanctity of life,I yet will equall them in dying nobly,Ambitious of no honour after life,But that when I am dead, you will forgiue me.[75]
Cha.How pity steales vpon me! should I heare herBut ten words more, I were lost—one knocks, go in.
Knock within. Exit Beaumelle. Enter Rochfort.
That to be mercifull should be a sinne.O, sir, most welcome. Let me take your cloake,I must not be denyed—here are your robes,[80]As you loue iustice once more put them on:There is a cause to be determind ofThat doe’s require such an integrity,As you haue euer vs’d—ile put you toThe tryall of your constancy, and goodnesse:[85]And looke that you that haue beene Eagle-eydIn other mens affaires, proue not a MoleIn what concernes your selfe. Take you your seate:I will be for you presently.
Exit.
Roch.Angels guard me,To what strange Tragedy does this destruction[90]Serue for a Prologue?
Enter Charaloys with Nouals body. Beaumelle, Baumont.
Cha.So, set it downe beforeThe Iudgement seate, and stand you at the bar:For me? I am the accuser.
Roch.Nouallslayne,AndBeaumellemy daughter in the placeOf one to be arraign’d.
Cha.O, are you touch’d?[95]I finde that I must take another course,Feare nothing. I will onely blind your eyes,For Iustice should do so, when ’tis to meeteAn obiect that may sway her equall doomeFrom what it should be aim’d at.—Good my Lord,[100]A day of hearing.
Roch.It is granted, speake—You shall haue iustice.
Cha.I then here accuse,Most equall Iudge, the prisoner your faire Daughter,For whom I owed so much to you: your daughter,So worthy in her owne parts: and that worth[105]Set forth by yours, to whose so rare perfections,Truth witnesse with me, in the place of seruiceI almost pay’d Idolatrous sacrificeTo be a false advltresse.
Roch.With whom?
Cha.With thisNouallhere dead.
Roch.Be wel aduis’d[110]And ere you say adultresse againe,Her fame depending on it, be most sureThat she is one.
Cha.I tooke them in the act.I know no proofe beyond it.
Roch.O my heart.
Cha.A Iudge should feele no passions.
Roch.Yet remember[115]He is a man, and cannot put off nature.What answere makes the prisoner?
Beau.I confesseThe fact I am charg’d with, and yeeld my selfeMost miserably guilty.
Roch.Heauen take mercyVpon your soule then: it must leaue your body.[120]Now free mine eyes, I dare vnmou’d looke on her,And fortifie my sentence, with strong reasons.Since that the politique law prouides that seruants,To whose care we commit our goods shall die,If they abuse our trust: what can you looke for,[125]To whose charge this most hopefull Lord gaue vpAll he receiu’d from his braue Ancestors,Or he could leaue to his posterity?His Honour, wicked woman, in whose safetyAll his lifes ioyes, and comforts were locked vp,[130]With thy lust, a theefe hath now stolne from him,And therefore—
Cha.Stay, iust Iudge, may not what’s lostBy her owne fault, (for I am charitable,And charge her not with many) be forgottenIn her faire life hereafter?
Roch.Neuer, Sir.[135]The wrong that’s done to the chaste married bed,Repentant teares can neuer expiate,And be assured, to pardon such a sinne,Is an offence as great as to commit it.
Cha.I may not then forgiue her.
Roch.Nor she hope it.[140]Nor can she wish to liue no sunne shall rise,But ere it set, shall shew her vgly lustIn a new shape, and euery on more horrid:Nay, euen those prayers, which with such humble feruorShe seemes to send vp yonder, are beate backe,[145]And all suites, which her penitance can proffer,As soone as made, are with contempt throwneOff all the courts of mercy.
He kills her.
Cha.Let her die then.Better prepar’d I am. Sure I could not take her,Nor she accuse her father, as a Iudge[150]Partiall against her.
Beau.I approue his sentence,And kisse the executioner; my lustIs now run from me in that blood; in whichIt was begot and nourished.
Roch.Is she dead then?
Cha.Yes, sir, this is her heart blood, is it not?[155]I thinke it be.
Roch.And you haue kild here?
Cha.True,And did it by your doome
Roch.But I pronounc’d itAs a Iudge onely, and friend to iustice,And zealous in defence of your wrong’d honour,Broke all the tyes of nature: and cast off[160]The loue and soft affection of a father.I in your cause, put on a Scarlet robeOf red died cruelty, but in returne,You haue aduanc’d for me no flag of mercy:I look’d on you, as a wrong’d husband, but[165]You clos’d your eyes against me, as a father.OBeaumelle, my daughter.
Cha.This is madnesse.
Roch.Keepe from me—could not one good thought rise vp,To tell you that she was my ages comfort,Begot by a weake man, and borne a woman,[170]And could not therefore, but partake of frailety?Or wherefore did not thankfulnesse step forth,To vrge my many merits, which I mayObiect vnto you, since you proue vngratefull,Flinty-heartedCharaloys?
Cha.Nature does preuaile[175]Aboue your vertue.
Roch.No! it giues me eyes,To pierce the heart of designe against me.I finde it now, it was my state was aym’d at,A nobler match was fought for, and the houresI liu’d, grew teadious to you: my compassion[180]Towards you hath rendred me most miserable,And foolish charity vndone my selfe:But ther’s a Heauen aboue, from whose iust wreakeNo mists of policy can hide offendors.
Enter Nouall se. with Officers.
Nou. se.Force ope the doors—O monster, caniball,[185]Lay hold on him, my sonne, my sonne.—ORochfort,’Twas you gaue liberty to this bloody wolfeTo worry all our comforts,—But this isNo time to quarrell; now giue your assistanceFor the reuenge.
Roch.Call it a fitter name—[190]Iustice for innocent blood.
Cha.Though all conspireAgainst that life which I am weary of,A little longer yet ile striue to keepe it,To shew in spite of malice, and their lawes,His plea must speed that hath an honest cause.[195]
Exeunt
[A Street]
Enter Liladam,Taylor,Officers.
LilaWhy ’tis both most vnconscionable, and vntimelyT’arrest a gallant for his cloaths, beforeHe has worne them out: besides you sayd you ask’dMy name in my Lords bond but for me onely,And now you’l lay me vp for’t. Do not thinke[5]The taking measure of a customerBy a brace of varlets, though I rather waitNeuer so patiently, will proue a fashionWhich any Courtier or Innes of court manWould follow willingly.
Tayl.There I beleeue you.[10]But sir, I must haue present moneys, orAssurance to secure me, when I shall.—Or I will see to your comming forth.
Lila.Plague on’t,You haue prouided for my enterance in:That comming forth you talke of, concernes me.[15]What shall I doe? you haue done me a disgraceIn the arrest, but more in giuing causeTo all the street, to thinke I cannot standWithout these two supporters for my armes:Pray you let them loose me: for their satisfaction[20]I will not run away.
Tayl.For theirs you will not,But for your owne you would; looke to them fellows.
Lila.Why doe you call them fellows? doe not wrongYour reputation so, as you are meerelyA Taylor, faythfull, apt to beleeue in Gallants[25]You are a companion at a ten crowne supperFor cloth of bodkin, and may with one LarkeEate vp three manchets, and no man obserue you,Or call your trade in question for’t. But whenYou study your debt-booke, and hold correspondence[30]With officers of the hanger, and leaue swordmen,The learned conclude, the Taylor and SergeantIn the expression of a knaue are theseTo beSynonima. Looke therefore to it,And let vs part in peace, I would be loth[35]You should vndoe your selfe.
Tayl.To let you goe(Enter old Nouall, and Pontalier.Were the next way.But see! heeres your old Lord,Let him but giue his worde I shall be paide,And you are free.
Lila.S’lid, I will put him to’t:I can be but denied: or what say you?[40]His Lordship owing me three times your debt,If you arrest him at my suite, and let meGoe run before to see the action entred.’Twould be a witty iest.
Tayl.I must haue ernest:I cannot pay my debts so.
Pont.Can your Lordship[45]Imagine, while I liue and weare a sword,Your sonnes death shall be reueng’d?
Nou. se.I know notOne reason why you should not doe like others:I am sure, of all the herd that fed vpon him,I cannot see in any, now hee’s gone,[50]In pitty or in thankfulnesse one true signeOf sorrow for him.
Pont.All his bounties yetFell not in such vnthankfull ground: ’tis trueHe had weakenesses, but such as few are free from,And though none sooth’d them lesse then I: for now[55]To say that I foresaw the dangers thatWould rise from cherishing them, were but vntimely.I yet could wish the iustice that you seeke forIn the reuenge, had been trusted to me,And not the vncertaine issue of the lawes:[60]’Tas rob’d me of a noble testimonyOf what I durst doe for him: but howeuer,My forfait life redeem’d by him though dead,Shall doe him seruice.
Nou. se.As farre as my griefeWill giue me leaue, I thanke you.
Lila.Oh my Lord,[65]Oh my good Lord, deliuer me from these furies.
Pont.Arrested? This is one of them whose baseAnd obiect flattery helpt to digge his graue:He is not worth your pitty, nor my anger.Goe to the basket and repent.
Nou. se.Away[70]I onely know now to hate thee deadly:I will doe nothing for thee.
Lila.Nor you, Captaine.
Pont.No, to your trade againe, put off this case,It may be the discouering what you were,When your vnfortunate master tooke you vp,[75]May moue compassion in your creditor.Confesse the truth.
Exit Nouall se. Pont.
Lila.And now I thinke on’t better,I will, brother, your hand, your hand, sweet brother.I am of your sect, and my gallantry but a dreame,Out of which these two fearefull apparitions[80]Against my will haue wak’d me. This rich swordGrew suddenly out of a taylors bodkin;These hangers from my vailes and fees in Hell:And where as now this beauer sits, full oftenA thrifty cape compos’d of broad cloth lifts,[85]Nere kin vnto the cushion where I sate.Crosse-leg’d, and yet vngartred, hath beene seene,Our breakefasts famous for the buttred loaues,I haue with ioy bin oft acquainted with,And therefore vse a conscience, though it be[90]Forbidden in our hall towards other men,To me that as I haue beene, will againeBe of the brotherhood.
Offi.I know him now:He was a prentice toLe RobeatOrleance.
Lila.And from thence brought by my young Lord, now dead,[95]VntoDijon, and with him till this houreHath bin receiu’d here for a compleate Mounsieur.Nor wonder at it: for but tythe our gallants,Euen those of the first ranke, and you will findeIn euery ten, one: peraduenture two,[100]That smell ranke of the dancing schoole, or fiddle,The pantofle or pressing yron: but hereafterWeele talke of this. I will surrender vpMy suites againe: there cannot be much losse,’Tis but the turning of the lace, with ones[105]Additions more you know of, and what wantsI will worke out.
Tayl.Then here our quarrell ends.The gallant is turn’d Taylor, and all friends.
Exeunt.
Enter Romont, Baumont.
[The Court of Justice]
Rom.You haue them ready.
Bau.Yes, and they will speakeTheir knowledg in this cause, when thou thinkst fitTo haue them cal’d vpon.
Rom.’Tis well, and somethingI can adde to their euidence, to proueThis braue reuenge, which they would haue cal’d murther,[5]A noble Iustice.
Bau.In this you expresse(The breach by my Lords want of you, new made vp)A faythfull friend.
Rom.That friendship’s rays’d on sand,Which euery sudden gust of discontent,Or flowing of our passions can change,[10]As if it nere had bin: but doe you knowWho are to sit on him?
Bau.MounsieurDu CroyAssisted byCharmi.
Rom.The AduocateThat pleaded for the Marshalls funerall,And was checkt for it byNouall.
Bau.The same[15]
Rom.How fortunes that?
Bau.Why, sir, my LordNouallBeing the accuser, cannot be the Iudge,Nor would grieueRochfort, but LordCharaloys(Howeuer he might wrong him by his power,)Should haue an equall hearing.
Rom.By my hopes[20]OfCharaloysacquitall, I lamentThat reuerent old mans fortune.
Bau.Had you seene him,As to my griefe I haue now promis’d patience,And ere it was beleeu’d, though spake by himThat neuer brake his word, inrag’d againe[25]So far as to make warre vpon those heiresWhich not a barbarous Sythian durst presumeTo touch, but with a superstitious feare,As something sacred, and then curse his daughter,But with more frequent violence himselfe,[30]As if he had bin guilty of her fault,By being incredulous of your report,You would not onely iudge him worrhy pitty,But suffer with him.
Enter Charalois, with Officers.
But heere comes the prisoner,I dare not stay to doe my duty to him,[35]Yet rest assur’d, all possible meanes in meTo doe him seruice, keepes you company.
Exit Bau.
Rom.It is not doubted.
Cha.Why, yet as I came hither,The people apt to mocke calamity,And tread on the oppress’d, made no hornes at me,[40]Though they are too familiar: I deserue them.And knowing what blood my sword hath drunkeIn wreake of that disgrace, they yet forbareTo shake their heads, or to reuile me forA murtherer, they rather all put on[45](As for great losses the oldRomansvs’d)A generall face of sorrow, waighted onBy a sad murmur breaking through their silence,And no eye but was readier with a teareTo witnesse ’twas shed for me, then I could[50]Discerne a face made vp with scorne against me.Why should I then, though for vnusuall wrongs,I chose vnusuall meanes to right those wrongs,Condemne my selfe, as over-partiallIn my owne cause Romont?
Rom.Best friend, well met,[55]By my heart’s loue to you, and ioyne to that,My thankfulness that still liues to the dead,I looke upon you now with more true ioy,Than when I saw you married.
Cha.You have reasonTo give you warrant for’t; my falling off[60]From such a friendship with the scorne that answeredYour too propheticke counsell, may well moue youTo thinke your meeting me going to my death,A fit encounter for that hate which iustlyI have deseru’d from you.
Rom.Shall I still then[65]Speake truth, and be ill vnderstood?
Cha.You are not.I am conscious, I haue wrong’d you, and allow meOnly a morall man to looke on you,Whom foolishly I haue abus’d and iniur’d,Must of necessity be more terrible to me,[70]Than any death the Iudges can pronounceFrom the tribunall which I am to plead at.
Rom.Passion transports you.
Cha.For what I haue doneTo my false Lady, orNouall, I canGiue some apparent cause: but touching you,[75]In my defence, childlike, I can say nothing,But I am sorry for’t, a poore satisfaction:And yet mistake me not: for it is moreThen I will speake, to haue my pardon sign’dFor all I stand accus’d of.
Rom.You much weaken[80]The strength of your good cause. Should you but thinkeA man for doing well could entertaineA pardon, were it offred, you haue giuenTo blinde and slow-pac’d iustice, wings, and eyesTo see and ouertake impieties,[85]Which from a cold proceeding had receiu’dIndulgence or protection.
Cha.Thinke you so?
Rom.Vpon my soule nor should the blood you chalengeAnd took to cure your honour, breed more scrupleIn your soft conscience, then if your sword[90]Had bin sheath’d in a Tygre, or she Beare,That in their bowels would haue made your tombeTo iniure innocence is more then murther:But when inhumane lusts transforme vs, thenLike beasts we are to suffer, not like men[95]To be lamented. Nor didCharaloiseuerPerforme an act so worthy the applauseOf a full theater of perfect men,As he hath done in this: the glory gotBy ouerthrowing outward enemies,[100]Since strength and fortune are maine sharers in it,We cannot but by pieces call our owne:But when we conquer our intestine foes,Our passions breed within vs, and of thoseThe most rebellious tyrant powerfull loue,[105]Our reason suffering vs to like no longerThen the faire obiect being good deserues it,That’s a true victory, which, were great menAmbitious to atchieue, by your exampleSetting no price vpon the breach of fayth,[110]But losse of life, ’twould fright adulteryOut of their families, and make lust appeareAs lothsome to vs in the first consent,As when ’tis wayted on by punishment.
Cha.You haue confirm’d me. Who would loue a woman[115]That might inioy in such a man, a friend?You haue made me know the iustice of my cause,And mark’t me out the way, how to defend it.
Rom.Continue to that resolution constant,And you shall, in contempt of their worst malice,[120]Come off with honour. Heere they come.
Cha.I am ready.