Another Room in the same.
EnterTimagoras, Cleon, Asotus, Corisca,andOlympia.
Cleon.But are you sure we are safe?
Timag.You need not fear;They are all under guard, their fangs pared off:The wounds their insolence gave you, to be curedWith the balm of your revenge.
Asot.And shall I beThe thing I was born, my lord?
Timag.The same wise thing.'Slight, what a beast they have made thee! Afric neverProduced the like.
Asot.I think so:—nor the landWhere apes and monkeys grow, like crabs and walnuts,On the same tree. Not all the catalogueOf conjurers or wise women bound togetherCould have so soon transform'd me, as my rascalDid with his whip; for not in outside only,But in my own belief, I thought myselfAs perfect a baboon——
Timag.An ass thou wert ever.
Asot.And would have given one leg, with all my heart,For good security to have been a manAfter three lives, or one and twenty years,Though I had died on crutches.
Cleon.Never varletsSo triumph'd o'er an old fat man: I was famish'd.
Timag.Indeed you are fallen away.
Asot.Three years of feedingOn cullises and jelly, though his cooksLard all he eats with marrow, or his doctorsPour in his mouth restoratives as he sleeps,Will not recover him.
Timag.But your ladyship looksSad on the matter, as if you had miss'dYour ten-crown amber possets, good to smoothThe cutis, as you call it.
Coris.Pray you, forbear;I am an alter'd woman.
Timag.So it seems;A part of your honour's ruff stands out of rank too.
Coris.No matter, I have other thoughts.
Timag.O strange!Not ten days since it would have vex'd you moreThan the loss of your good name.
EnterLeosthenesandDiphiluswith a Guard.
How now, friend!Looks our Cleora lovely?
Leost.In my thoughts, sir.
Timag.But why this guard?
Diph.It is Timoleon's pleasure:The slaves have been examined, and confessTheir riot took beginning from your house;And the first mover of them to rebellionYour slave Marullo.[ExeuntDiph.and Guard.
Leost.Ha! I more than fear.
Timag.They may search boldly.
EnterTimandra,speaking to the Guard within.
Timand.You are unmanner'd grooms.To pry into my lady's private lodgings:There's no Marullos there.
Re-enterDiphilus,and Guard, withMarullo.
Timag.Now I suspect too.Where found you him?
Diph.Close hid in your sister's chamber.
Timag.Is that the villain's sanctuary?
Leost.This confirmsAll she deliver'd, false.
Timag.But that I scornTo rust my good sword in thy slavish blood,Thou now wert dead.
Mar.He's more a slave than fortuneOr misery can make me, that insultsUpon unweapon'd innocence.
Timag.Prate you, dog?
Mar.Curs snap at lions in the toil, whose looksFrighted them, being free.
Timag.As a wild beast,Drive him before you.
Mar.O divine Cleora!
Leost.Darest thou presume to name her?
Mar.Yes, and love her;And may say, have deserved her.
Timag.Stop his mouth,Load him with irons too.[Exit Guard withMarullo.
Cleon.I am deadly sickTo look on him.
Asot.If he get loose, I know it,I caper like an ape again: I feelThe whip already.
Timand.This goes to my lady.[Exit.
Timag.Come, cheer you, sir; we'll urge his punishmentTo the full satisfaction of your anger.
Leost.He is not worth my thoughts. No corner leftIn all the spacious rooms of my vex'd heart,But is fill'd with Cleora: and the rapeShe has done upon her honour, with my wrong,The heavy burden of my sorrow's song.[Exeunt.
The same. A Room inArchidamus's House.
EnterArchidamusandCleora.
Archid.Thou art thine own disposer. Were his honoursAnd glories centupled, as I must confess,Leosthenes is most worthy, yet I will not,However I may counsel, force affection.
Cleo.It needs not, sir; I prize him to his worth,Nay, love him truly; yet would not live slavedTo his jealous humours: since, by the hopes of heaven,As I am free from violence, in a thoughtI am not guilty.
Archid.'Tis believed, Cleora;And much the rather, our great gods be praised for 't!In that I find, beyond my hopes, no signOf riot in my house, but all things order'd,As if I had been present.
Cleo.May that move youTo pity poor Marullo!
Archid.'Tis my purposeTo do him all the good I can, Cleora;But this offence, being against the state,Must have a public trial. In the mean time,Be careful of yourself, and stand engagedNo further to Leosthenes, than you mayCome off with honour; for, being once his wife,You are no more your own, nor mine, but mustResolve to serve, and suffer his commands,And not dispute them:—ere it be too late,Consider it duly. I must to the senate.[Exit.
Cleo.I am much distracted: in LeosthenesI can find nothing justly to accuse,But his excess of love, which I have studiedTo cure with more than common means; yet stillIt grows upon him. And, if I may callMy sufferings merit, I stand bound to think onMarullo's dangers—though I save his life,His love is unrewarded:—I confess,Both have deserved me; yet, of force, must beUnjust to one; such is my destiny.—
EnterTimandra.
How now! whence flow these tears?
Timand.I have met, madam,An object of such cruelty, as would forceA savage to compassion.
Cleo.Speak, what is it?
Timand.Men pity beasts of rapine, if o'ermatch'd,Though baited for their pleasure: but these monstersUpon a man that can make no resistance,Are senseless in their tyranny. Let it be grantedMarullo is a slave, he's still a man;A capital offender, yet in justiceNot to be tortured, till the judge pronounceHis punishment.
Cleo.Where is he?
Timand.Dragg'd to prisonWith more than barbarous violence; spurn'd and spit onBy the insulting officers, his handsPinion'd behind his back; loaden with fetters:Yet, with a saint-like patience, he still offersHis face to their rude buffets.
Cleo.O my grieved soul!—By whose command?
Timand.It seems, my lord your brother's,For he's a looker-on: and it takes fromHonour'd Leosthenes to suffer it,For his respect to you, whose name in vainThe grieved wretch loudly calls on.
Cleo.By Diana,'Tis base in both; and to their teeth I'll tell themThat I am wrong'd in 't.[Going forth.
Timand.What will you do?
Cleo.In personVisit and comfort him.
Timand.That will bring fuelTo the jealous fires which burn too hot alreadyIn lord Leosthenes.
Cleo.Let them consume him!I am mistress of myself. Where cruelty reigns,There dwells nor love nor honour.[Exit.
Timand.So! it works.Though hitherto I have run a desperate courseTo serve my brother's purposes, now 'tis fit
EnterLeosthenesandTimagoras.
I study mine own ends. They come:—assist meIn these my undertakings, Love's great patron,As my intents are honest!
Leost.'Tis my fault[127]:Distrust of other springs, Timagoras,From diffidence in ourselves: but I will strive,With the assurance of my worth and merits,To kill this monster, jealousy.
Timag.'Tis a guest,In wisdom, never to be entertain'dOn trivial probabilities; but, whenHe does appear in pregnant proofs, not fashion'dBy idle doubts and fears to be received:They make their own wrongs that are too secure,As well as such as give them growth and beingFrom mere imagination. Though I prizeCleora's honour equal with mine own,And know what large additions of powerThis match brings to our family, I preferOur friendship, and your peace of mind, so farAbove my own respects, or hers, that ifShe hold not her true value in the test,'Tis far from my ambition, for her cure,That you should wound yourself.
Timand.This argues for me.[Aside.
Timag.Why she should be so passionate for a bondman,Falls not in compass of my understanding,But for some nearer interest; or he raiseThis mutiny, if he loved her, as, you say,She does confess he did, but to possessThe prize he ventured for, to me's a riddle.
Leost.I have answer'd that objection, in my strongAssurance of her virtue.
Timag.'Tis unfit, then,That I should press it further.
Timand.Now I mustMake in, or all is lost.[Rushes forward distractedly.
Timag.What would Timandra?
Leost.How wild she looks! How is it with thy lady?
Timag.Collect thyself, and speak.
Timand.As you are noble,Have pity, or love piety.—Oh!
Leost.Take breath.
Timag.Out with it boldly.
Timand.O, the best of ladies,I fear, is gone for ever.
Leost.Who, Cleora?
Timag.Deliver, how? 'Sdeath, be a man, sir!—Speak.
Timand.Take it then in as many sighs as words,My lady——
Timag.What of her?
Timand.No sooner heardMarullo was imprison'd, but she fellInto a deadly swoon.
Timag.But she recover'd:Say so, or he will sink too. Hold, sir; fie!This is unmanly.
Timand.Brought again to life,But with much labour, she awhile stood silent,Yet in that interim vented sighs, as ifThey labour'd, from the prison of her flesh,To give her grieved soul freedom. On the sudden,Transported on the wings of rage and sorrow,She flew out of the house, and, unattended,Enter'd the common prison.
Leost.This confirmsWhat but before I fear'd.
Timand.There you may find her;And, if you love her as a sister——
Timag.Damn her!
Timand.Or you respect her safety as a lover,Procure Marullo's liberty.
Timag.ImpudenceBeyond expression!
Timand.She'll run mad, else,Or do some violent act upon herself:My lord, her father, sensible of her sufferings,Labours to gain his freedom.
Leost.O, the devil!Has she bewitch'd him too?
Timag.I'll hear no more.Come, sir, we'll follow her; and if no persuasionCan make her take again her natural form,Which by some powerful spell she has cast off,This sword shall disenchant her.
Leost.O my heart-strings![ExeuntLeosthenesandTimagoras.
Timand.I knew 't would take. Pardon me, fair Cleora,Though I appear a traitress; which thou wilt do,In pity of my woes, when I make knownMy lawful claim, and only seek mine own.[Exit.
A Prison.Marullodiscovered in chains.
EnterCleoraand Gaoler.
Cleo.There's for your privacy. Stay, unbind his hands.
Gaol.I dare not, madam.
Cleo.I will buy thy danger:Take more gold;—do not trouble me with thanks;I do suppose it done.[Exit Gaoler.
Mar.My better angelAssumes this shape to comfort me, and wisely;Since, from the choice of all celestial figures,He could not take a visible form so fullOf glorious sweetness.[Kneels.
Cleo.Rise. I am flesh and blood,And do partake thy tortures.
Mar.Can it be,That charity should persuade you to descendSo far from your own height, as to vouchsafeTo look upon my sufferings? How I blessMy fetters now, and stand engaged to fortuneFor my captivity—no, my freedom, rather!For who dare think that place a prison whichYou sanctify with your presence? or believeSorrow has power to use her sting on himThat is in your compassion arm'd, and madeImpregnable, though tyranny raise at onceAll engines to assault him?
Cleo.Indeed virtue,With which you have made evident proofs that youAre strongly fortified, cannot fall, though shakenWith the shock of fierce temptations; but still triumphsIn spite of opposition. For myself,I may endeavour to confirm your goodness,(A sure retreat, which never will deceive you,)And with unfeigned tears express my sorrowFor what I cannot help.
Mar.Do you weep for me?O, save that precious balm for nobler uses!I am unworthy of the smallest dropWhich, in your prodigality of pity,You throw away on me. Ten of these pearlsWere a large ransom to redeem a kingdomFrom a consuming plague, or stop heaven's vengeance,Call'd down by crying sins, though, at that instant,In dreadful flashes falling on the roofsOf bold blasphemers. I am justly punish'dFor my intent of violence to such pureness;And all the torments flesh is sensible of,A soft and gentle penance.
Cleo.Which is endedIn this your free confession.
EnterLeosthenes,andTimagorasbehind.
Leost.What an objectHave I encounter'd!
Timag.I am blasted too:Yet hear a little further.
Mar.Could I expire now,These white and innocent hands closing my eyes thus,'Twere not to die, but in a heavenly dreamTo be transported, without the help of Charon,To the Elysian shades. You make me bold;And, but to wish such happiness, I fear,May give offence.
Cleo.No; for believe 't, Marullo,You've won so much upon me, that I know notThat happiness in my gift, but you may challenge.
Leost.Are you yet satisfied?
Cleo.Nor can you wishBut what my vows will second, though it wereYour freedom first, and then in me full powerTo make a second tender of myself,And you receive the present. By this kiss,From me a virgin bounty, I will practiseAll arts for your deliverance; and that purchased,In what concerns your further aims, I speak it,Do not despair, but hope——[TimagorasandLeosthenescome forward.
Timag.To have the hangman,When he is married to the cross, in scornTo say,Gods give you joy!
Leost.But look on me,And be not too indulgent to your folly;And then, but that grief stops my speech, imagineWhat language I should use.
Cleo.Against thyself:Thy malice cannot reach me.
Timag.How?
Cleo.No, brother,Though you join in the dialogue to accuse me:What I have done, I'll justify; and these favours,Which, you presume, will taint me in my honour,Though jealousy use all her eyes to spy outOne stain in my behaviour, or envyAs many tongues to wound it, shall appearMy best perfections. For, to the world,I can in my defence allege such reasons,As my accusers shall stand dumb to hear them;When in his fetters this man's worth and virtues,But truly told, shall shame your boasted glories,Which fortune claims a share in.
Timag.The base villainShall never live to hear it.[Draws his sword.
Cleo.Murder! help!Through me, you shall pass to him.
EnterArchidamus, Diphilus,and Officers.
Archid.What's the matter?On whom is your sword drawn? are you a judge?Or else ambitious of the hangman's office,Before it be design'd you?—You are bold, too;Unhand my daughter.
Leost.She's my valour's prize.
Archid.With her consent, not otherwise. You may urgeYour title in the court; if it prove good,Possess her freely.—Guard him safely off too.
Timag.You'll hear me, sir?
Archid.If you have aught to say,Deliver it in public; all shall findA just judge of Timoleon.
Diph.You mustOf force now use your patience.[Exeunt all butTimagorasandLeosthenes.
Timag.Vengeance rather!Whirlwinds of rage possess me: you are wrong'dBeyond a stoic sufferance; yet you standAs you were rooted.
Leost.I feel something here,That boldly tells me, all the love and serviceI pay Cleora is another's due,And therefore cannot prosper.
Timag.Melancholy;Which now you must not yield to.
Leost.'Tis apparent:In fact your sister's innocent, howeverChanged by her violent will.
Timag.If you believe so,Follow the chase still; and in open courtPlead your own interest: we shall find the judgeOur friend, I fear not.
Leost.Something I shall say,But what——
Timag.Collect yourself as we walk thither.[Exeunt.
The Court of Justice.
EnterTimoleon, Archidamus, Cleora;and Officers.
Timol.'Tis wonderous strange! nor can it fall withinThe reach of my belief, a slave should beThe owner of a temperance which this ageCan hardly parallel in freeborn lords,Or kings proud of their purple.
Archid.'Tis most true;And, though at first it did appear a fable,All circumstances meet to give it credit;Which works so on me, that I am compell'dTo be a suitor, not to be denied,He may have equal hearing.
Cleo.Sir, you graced meWith the title of your mistress[128]; but my fortuneIs so far distant from command, that ILay by the power you gave me, and plead humblyFor the preserver of my fame and honour.And pray you, sir, in charity believe,That, since I had ability of speech,My tongue has been so much inured to truth,I know not how to lie.
Timol.I'll rather doubtThe oracles of the gods, than question whatYour innocence delivers; and, as farAs justice and mine honour can give way,He shall have favour. Bring him in unbound:[Exeunt Officers.And though Leosthenes may challenge from me,For his late worthy service, credit toAll things he can allege in his own cause,Marullo, so, I think, you call his name,Shall find I do reserve one ear for him,
EnterCleon, Asotus, Diphilus, Olympia,andCorisca.
To let in mercy. Sit, and take your places;The right of this fair virgin first determined,Your bondmen shall be censured[129].
Cleon.With all rigour.We do expect.
Coris.Temper'd, I say, with mercy.
Enter at one doorLeosthenesandTimagoras;at the other, Officers withMarullo,andTimandra.
Timol.Your hand, Leosthenes: I cannot doubt,You, that have been victorious in the war,Should, in a combat fought with words, come offBut with assured triumph.
Leost.My deserts, sir,If, without arrogance, I may style them such,Arm me from doubt and fear.
Timol.'Tis nobly spoken.Nor be thou daunted (howsoe'er thy fortuneHas mark'd thee out a slave) to speak thy merits:For virtue, though in rags, may challenge moreThan vice, set off with all the trim of greatness.
Mar.I had rather fall under so just a judge,Than be acquitted by a man corrupt,And partial, in his censure.
Archid.Note his language;It relishes of better breeding thanHis present state dares promise.
Timol.I observe it.Place the fair lady in the midst, that both,Looking with covetous eyes upon the prizeThey are to plead for, may, from the fair object,Teach Hermes eloquence.
Leost.Am I fallen so low?My birth, my honour, and, what 's dearest to me,My love, and, witness of my love, my service,So undervalued, that I must contendWith one, where my excess of glory mustMake his o'erthrow a conquest? Shall my fulnessSupply defects in such a thing, that neverKnew any thing but want and emptiness,Give him a name, and keep it such, from thisUnequal competition? If my pride,Or any bold assurance of my worth,Has pluck'd this mountain of disgrace upon me,I am justly punish'd, and submit; but ifI have been modest, and esteem'd myselfMore injured in the tribute of the praise,Which no desert of mine, prized by self-love,Ever exacted, may this cause and minuteFor ever be forgotten! I dwell longUpon mine anger, and now turn to you,Ungrateful fair one; and, since you are such,'Tis lawful for me to proclaim myself,And what I have deserved.
Cleo.Neglect and scornFrom me, for this proud vaunt.
Leost.You nourish, lady,Your own dishonour in this harsh reply,And almost prove what some hold of your sex,You are all made up of passion: for, if reasonOr judgment could find entertainment with you,Or that you would distinguish of the objectsYou look on, in a true glass, not seducedBy the false light of your too violent will,I should not need to plead for that which you,With joy, should offer. Is my high birth a blemish?Or does my wealth, which all the vain expenseOf women cannot waste, breed loathing in you?The honours I can call mine own, thought scandals?Am I deform'd, or, for my father's sins,Mulcted by nature? If you interpret theseAs crimes, 'tis fit I should yield up myselfMost miserably guilty. But, perhaps,(Which yet I would not credit,) you have seenThis gallant pitch the bar, or bear a burdenWould crack the shoulders of a weaker bondman.
Cleo.You are foul-mouth'd.
Archid.Ill-manner'd too.
Leost.I speakIn the way of supposition, and entreat you,With all the fervour of a constant lover,That you would free yourself from these aspersions,Or any imputation black-tongued slanderCould throw on your unspotted virgin whiteness:To which there is no easier way, than byVouchsafing him your favour; him, to whom,Next to the general, and the gods and fautors[130],The country owes her safety.
Timag.Are you stupid?'Slight! leap into his arms, and there ask pardon.—Oh! you expect your slave's reply; no doubtWe shall have a fine oration: I will teachMy spaniel to howl in sweeter language,And keep a better method.
Archid.You forgetThe dignity of the place.
Diph.Silence!
Timol.[to Marullo.] Speak boldly.
Mar.'Tis your authority gives me a tongue;I should be dumb else; and I am secure,I cannot clothe my thoughts, and just defence,In such an abject phrase, but 'twill appearEqual, if not above my low condition.I need no bombast language, stolen from suchAs make nobility from prodigious termsThe hearers understand not; I bring with meNo wealth to boast of, neither can I numberUncertain fortune's favours with my merits;I dare not force affection, or presumeTo censure her discretion, that looks on meAs a weak man, and not her fancy's idol.How I have loved, and how much I have suffer'd,And with what pleasure undergone the burdenOf my ambitious hopes, (in aiming atThe glad possession of a happiness,The abstract of all goodness in mankindCan at no part deserve), with my confessionOf mine own wants, is all that can plead for me.But if that pure desires, not blended withFoul thoughts, that, like a river, keeps his course,Retaining still the clearness of the springFrom whence it took beginning, may be thoughtWorthy acceptance; then I dare rise up,And tell this gay man to his teeth, I neverDurst doubt her constancy, that, like a rock,Beats off temptations, as that mocks the furyOf the proud waves; nor, from my jealous fears,Question that goodness to which, as an altarOf all perfection, he that truly lovedShould rather bring a sacrifice of service,Than raze it with the engines of suspicion:Of which, when he can wash an Æthiop white,Leosthenes may hope to free himself;But, till then, never.
Timag.Bold, presumptuous villain!
Mar.I will go further, and make good upon him,I' the pride of all his honours, birth, and fortunes,He's more unworthy than myself.
Leost.Thou liest.
Timag.Confute him with a whip, and, the doubt decided,Punish him with a halter.
Mar.O the gods!My ribs, though made of brass, cannot containMy heart, swollen big with rage. The lie!—a whip!—Let fury then disperse these clouds, in whichI long have march'd disguised; [Throws off his disguise.] that, when they knowWhom they have injured, they may faint with horrorOf my revenge, which, wretched men! expect,As sure as fate, to suffer.
Leost.Ha! Pisander!
Timag.'Tis the bold Theban!
Asot.There's no hope for me then:I thought I should have put in for a share,And borne Cleora from them both; but now,This stranger looks so terrible, that I dare notSo much as look on her.
Pisan.Now as myself,Thy equal at thy best, Leosthenes.For you, Timagoras, praise heaven you were bornCleora's brother; 'tis your safest armour.But I lose time.—The base lie cast upon me,I thus return: Thou art a perjured man,False, and perfidious, and hast made a tenderOf love and service to this lady, whenThy soul, if thou hast any, can bear witness,That thou wert not thine own: for proof of this,Look better on this virgin, and consider,This Persian shape laid by[131], and she appearingIn a Greekish dress, such as when first you saw her,If she resemble not Pisander's sister,One call'd Statilia?
Leost.'Tis the same! My guiltSo chokes my spirits, I cannot denyMy falsehood, nor excuse it.
Pisan.This is she,To whom thou wert contracted: this the lady,That, when thou wert my prisoner, fairly takenIn the Spartan war, then, begg'd thy liberty,And with it gave herself to thee, ungrateful!
Statil.No more, sir, I entreat you: I perceiveTrue sorrow in his looks, and a consentTo make me reparation in mine honour;And then I am most happy.
Pisan.The wrong done herDrew me from Thebes, with a full intent to kill thee:But this fair object met me in my fury,And quite disarm'd me. Being denied to have her,By you, my lord Archidamus, and not ableTo live far from her; love, the mistress ofAll quaint devices, prompted me to treatWith a friend of mine, who, as a pirate, sold meFor a slave to you, my lord, and gave my sister,As a present, to Cleora.
Timol.Strange meanders!
Pisan.There how I bare myself, needs no relation:But, if so far descending from the heightOf my then flourishing fortunes, to the lowestCondition of a man, to have means onlyTo feed my eye with the sight of what I honour'd;The dangers too I underwent, the sufferings;The clearness of my interest, may deserveA noble recompense in your lawful favour;Now 'tis apparent that LeosthenesCan claim no interest in you, you may pleaseTo think upon my service.
Cleo.Sir, my wantOf power to satisfy so great a debtMakes me accuse my fortune; but if that,Out of the bounty of your mind, you thinkA free surrender of myself full payment,I gladly tender it.
Archid.With my consent too,All injuries forgotten.
Timag.I will study,In my future service, to deserve your favour,And good opinion.
Leost.Thus I gladly feeThis advocate to plead for me.[Kissing Statilia.
Pisan.You will find meAn easy judge. When I have yielded reasonsOf your bondmen's falling off from their obedience,Then after, as you please, determine of me.I found their natures apt to mutinyFrom your too cruel usage, and made trialHow far they might be wrought on; to instruct youTo look with more prevention and careTo what they may hereafter undertakeUpon the like occasions. The hurt 's littleThey have committed; nor was ever cure,But with some pain, effected. I confess,In hope to force a grant of fair Cleora,I urged them to defend the town against you;Nor had the terror of your whips, but thatI was preparing for defence elsewhere,So soon got entrance: In this I am guilty;Now, as you please, your censure.
Timol.Bring them in;And, though you've given me power, I do entreatSuch as have undergone their insolence,It may not be offensive, though I studyPity, more than revenge.
Coris.'Twill best become you.
Cleon.I must consent.
Asot.For me, I'll find a timeTo be revenged hereafter.
Timol.And now, the war being ended to our wishes,And such as went the pilgrimage of love,Happy in full fruition of their hopes,'Tis lawful, thanks paid to the Powers divine,To drown our cares in honest mirth and wine.[Exeunt.
The Maid of Honour.] This tragi-comedy, which was first printed in 1632, was, as the old title-page informs us, very frequently acted "at the Phœnix in Drury-lane, by the Queen's Majesty's servants." It was a great favourite, and with justice, for it has a thousand claims to admiration, and is of the higher order of Massinger's plays. It will not, indeed, be very easy to find in any writer a subject more animated, or characters more variously and pointedly drawn. There is no delay in introducing the business of the drama; and nothing is allowed to interfere with its progress. Indeed this is by far too rapid; and event is precipitated upon event without regard to time or place. But Massinger acts with a liberty which it would be absurd to criticise. Thebes and Athens, Palermo and Sienna, are alike to him; and he must be allowed to transport his agents and their concerns from one to another, as often as the exigencies of his ambulatory plan may require.
It is observable, that in this play Massinger has attempted the more difficult part of dramatic writing. He is not content with describing different qualities in his characters; but lays before the reader several differences of the same qualities. The courage of Gonzaga, though by no means inferior to it, is not that of Bertoldo. In the former, it is a fixed and habitual principle, the honourable business of his life. In the latter, it is an irresistible impulse, the instantaneous result of a fiery temper. There is still another remove; and these branches of real courage differ from the poor and forced approaches to valour in Gasparo and Antonio. A broader distinction is used with his two courtiers; and the cold interest of Astutio is fully contrasted with the dazzling and imprudent assumption of Fulgentio. But Camiola herself is the great object that reigns throughout the piece. Every where she animates us with her spirit, and instructs us with her sense. Yet this superiority takes nothing from her softer feelings. Her tears flow with a mingled fondness and regret; and she is swayed by a passion which is only quelled by her greater resolution. The influence of her character is also heightened through the different manner of her lovers; through the mad impatience of the uncontrolledBertoldo, the glittering pretensions of Fulgentio, and the humble and sincere attachment of Adorni, who nourishes secret desires of a happiness too exalted for him, faithfully performs commands prejudicial to his own views, through the force of an affection which ensures his obedience, and, amidst so much service, scarcely presumes to hint the passion which consumes him. I know not if even signior Sylli is wholly useless here; he serves at least to show her good-humoured toleration of a being hardly important enough for her contempt.
In the midst of this just praise of Camiola, there are a few things to be regretted. Reason and religion had forbidden her union with Bertoldo; and she had declared herself unalterable in her purpose. His captivity reverses her judgment, and she determines not only to liberate, but to marry him. Unfortunately too she demands a sealed contract as the condition of his freedom; though Bertoldo's ardour was already known to her, and the generosity of her nature ought to have abstained from so degrading a bargain. But Massinger wanted to hinder the marriage of Aurelia; and, with an infelicity which attends many of his contrivances, he provided a prior contract at the expense of the delicacy, as well as the principles of his heroine. It is well, that the nobleness of the conclusion throws the veil over these blemishes. Her determination is at once natural and unexpected. It answers to the original independence of her character, and she retires with our highest admiration and esteem.
It may be observed here, that Massinger was not unknown to Milton. The date of some of Milton's early poems, indeed, is not exactly ascertained; but if the reader will compare the speech of Paulo, withthe Penseroso, he cannot fail to remark a similarity in the cadences, as well as in the measure and the solemnity of the thoughts. On many other occasions he certainly remembers Massinger, and frequently in his representations of female purity, and the commanding dignity of virtue.
A noble lesson arises from the conduct of the principal character. A fixed sense of truth and rectitude gives genuine superiority; it corrects the proud, and abashes the vain, and marks the proper limits between humility and presumption. It also governs itself with the same ascendancy which it establishes over others. When the lawful objects of life cannot be possessed with clearness of honour, it provides a nobler pleasure in rising above their attraction, and creates a new happiness by controlling even innocent desires.
TOMY MOST HONOURED FRIENDS,SIR FRANCIS FOLJAMBE, KNT. AND BART.ANDSIR THOMAS BLAND, KNT.That you have been, and continued so for many years, since you vouchsafed to own me, patrons to me and my despised studies, I cannot but with all humble thankfulness acknowledge: and living, as you have done, inseparable in your friendship, (notwithstanding all differences, and suits in law arising between you[132],) I held it as impertinent as absurd, in the presentment of my service in this kind, to divide you. A free confession of a debt, in a meaner man, is the amplest satisfaction to his superiors; and I heartily wish that the world may take notice, and from myself, that I had not to this time subsisted, but that I was supported by your frequent courtesies and favours. When your more serious occasions will give you leave, you may please to peruse this trifle, and peradventure find something in it that may appear worthy of your protection. Receive it, I beseech you, as a testimony of his duty who, while he lives, resolves to betruly and sincerely devoted to your service,PHILIP MASSINGER.
TO
MY MOST HONOURED FRIENDS,
SIR FRANCIS FOLJAMBE, KNT. AND BART.
AND
SIR THOMAS BLAND, KNT.
That you have been, and continued so for many years, since you vouchsafed to own me, patrons to me and my despised studies, I cannot but with all humble thankfulness acknowledge: and living, as you have done, inseparable in your friendship, (notwithstanding all differences, and suits in law arising between you[132],) I held it as impertinent as absurd, in the presentment of my service in this kind, to divide you. A free confession of a debt, in a meaner man, is the amplest satisfaction to his superiors; and I heartily wish that the world may take notice, and from myself, that I had not to this time subsisted, but that I was supported by your frequent courtesies and favours. When your more serious occasions will give you leave, you may please to peruse this trifle, and peradventure find something in it that may appear worthy of your protection. Receive it, I beseech you, as a testimony of his duty who, while he lives, resolves to be
truly and sincerely devoted to your service,PHILIP MASSINGER.