Rest confident I'le study my dark ends,
And not your pleasures.
Asc.
Noble Lady, hear me,
Not as my Fathers son, but as your servant,
Vouchsafe to hear me, for such in my duty,
I ever will appear: and far be it from
My poor ambition, ever to look on you,
But with that reverence, which a slave stands bound
To pay a worthy Mistris: I have heard
That Dames of highest place, nay Queens themselves
Disdain not to be serv'd by such as are
Of meanest Birth: and I shall be most happie,
To be emploi'd when you please to command me
Even in the coursest office, as your Page,
I can wait on your trencher, fill your wine,
Carry your pantofles, and be sometimes bless'd
In all humilitie to touch your feet:
Or if that you esteem that too much grace,
I can run by your Coach: observe your looks,
And hope to gain a fortune by my service,
With your good favour, which now, as a Son,
I dare not challenge.
Vio.
As a Son?
Asc.
Forgive me,
I will forget the name, let it be death
For me to call you Mother.
Vio.
Still upbraided?
Hen. No way left to appease you?
Vio.
None: now hear me:
Hear what I vow before the face of Heaven,
And if I break it, all plagues in this life,
And those that after death are fear'd fall, on me,
While that this Bastard staies under my roof,
Look for no peace at home, for I renounce
All Offices of a wife.
Hen.
What am I faln to?
Vio.
I will not eat, nor sleep with you, and those hours,
Which I should spend in prayers for your health,
Shall be emploi'd in Curses.
Hen.
Terrible.
Vio.
All the day long, I'le be as tedious to you
As lingring fevers, and I'le watch the nights,
To ring aloud your shame, and break your sleeps.
Or if you do but slumber, I'le appear
In the shape of all my wrongs, and like a fury
Fright you to madness, and if all this fail
To work out my revenge, I have friends and kinsmen,
That will not sit down tame with the disgrace
That's offer'd to our noble familie
In what I suffer.
Hen.
How am I divided
Between the duties I owe as a Husband,
And pietie of a Parent?
Asc.
I am taught Sir
By the instinct of nature that obedience
Which bids me to prefer your peace of mind,
Before those pleasures that are dearest to me,
Be wholly hers (my Lord) I quit all parts,
That I may challenge: may you grow old together,
And no distaste e're find you, and before
The Characters of age are printed on you
May you see many Images of your selves,
Though I, like some false glass, that's never look'd in,
Am cast aside, and broken; from this hour
(Unless invited, which I dare not hope for)
I never will set my forbidden feet
Over your threshold: only give me leave
Though cast off to the world to mention you
In my devotions, 'tis all I sue for
And so I take my last leave.
Hen.
Though I am
Devoted to a wife, nay almost sold
A slave to serve her pleasures, yet I cannot
So part with all humanity, but I must
Shew something of a Father: thou shalt not goe
Unfurnish'd and unfriended too: take that
To guard thee from necessities; may thy goodness
Meet many favours, and thine innocence
Deserve to be the heir of greater fortunes,
Than thou wer't born to. Scorn me notViolante,
This banishment is a kind of civil death,
And now, as it were at his funeral
To shed a tear or two, is not unmanly,
And so farewel for ever: one word more,
Though I must never see thee (myAscanio)
When this is spent (for so the Judge decreed)
Send to me for supply: are you pleas'd now?
Vio.
Yes: I have cause: to see you howl and blubber
At the parting of my torment, and your shame.
'Tis well: proceed: supply his wants: doe doe:
Let the great dower I brought serve to maintain
Your Bastards riots: send my Clothes and Jewels,
To your old acquaintance, your dear dame his Mother.
Now you begin to melt, I know 'twill follow.
Hen.
Is all I doe misconstru'd?
Viol.
I will take
A course to right my self, a speeding one:
By the bless'd Saints, I will; if I prove cruel,
The shame to see thy foolish pity, taught me
To lose my natural softness, keep off from me,
Thy flatteries are infectious, and I'le flee thee
As I would doe a Leper.
Hen.
Let not fury
Transport you so: you know I am your Creature,
All love, but to your self, with him, hath left me.
I'le joyn with you in any thing.
Viol.
In vain,
I'le take mine own waies, and will have no partners.
Hen.
I will not cross you.
Viol.
Do not, they shall find
That to a Woman of her hopes beguil'd
A Viper trod on, or an Aspick's mild.
[Exeunt.
SCENA II.
EnterLopez, Milanes, Arsenio.
Lop.
Sits the game there? I have you by mine order,
I loveLeandrofor't.
Mil.
But you must shew it
In lending him your help, to gain him means
And opportunity.
Lop.
He shall want nothing,
I know my Advocate to a hair, and what
Will fetch him from his Prayers, if he use any,
I am honyed with the project: I would have him horn'd
For a most precious Beast.
Ars.
But you lose time.
Lop.
I am gone, instruct youDiego, you will find him
A sharp and subtle Knave, give him but hints
And he will amplifie. See all things ready,
I'le fetch him with a vengeance—
[Exit.
Ars.
If he fail now,
We'll give him over too.
Mil.
Tush, he is flesh'd.
And knows what vein to strike for his own credit.
Ars.
All things are ready.
Mil.
Then we shall have a merry Scene, ne're fear it.
[Exeunt.
SCENA III.
EnterAmaranta,with a note, andMoor.
Amar.
Is thy Master gone out?
Moor.
Even now, the Curate fetch'd him,
About a serious business as it seem'd,
For he snatch'd up his Cloak, and brush'd his Hat straight,
Set his Band handsomely, and out he gallop'd.
Amar.
'Tis well, 'tis very well, he went out,Egla,
As luckily, as one would say, go Husband,
He was call'd by providence: fling this short Paper
IntoLeandro'sCell, and waken him,
He is monstrous vexed, and musty, at my Chess-play;
But this shall supple him, when he has read it:
Take your own Recreation for two hours,
And hinder nothing.
Moor.
If I do, I'll hang for't.
[Exeunt.
SCENA IV.
EnterOctavio, Jacintha.
Octa.
If that you lov'dAscaniofor himself,
And not your private ends, you rather should
Bless the fair opportunity, that restores him
To his Birth-right, and the Honours he was born to,
Than grieve at his good Fortune.
Jac.
Grieve,Octavio?
I would resign my Essence, that he were
As happy as my love could fashion him,
Though every blessing that should fall on him,