[101]Open (Gr.χαίνω, χαυνῶ). Cotgrave gives:—“Tochawne,—se fendre, gercer, crevasser, crever, se jarcer.”[102]Oldeds.“Speake” (and “Speak”).[103]“‘The king enacts more wonders than a man,Daring an opposite to every danger.’RichardIII.”—Dilke.[104]Cf.RichardIII.(v.3):—“God and good angels fight on Richmond’s side.”[105]Oldeds.“Chekle-roule.”[106]“Cog a die” = load a die.[107]Dilke comparesRichardIII.(v.3):—“Who saw the sun to-day?Rat.Not I, my lord.Rich.Then he disdains to shine.”[108]Omitted ined.1.[109]Variations in music.[110]The sentiment is from Seneca’sThyestes,l.925:—“Magis unde cadasQuam quo refert.”[111]“The situation of Andrugio and Lucio resembles that of Lear and Kent, in that King’s distresses. Andrugio, like Lear, manifests a kind of royal impatience, a turbulent greatness, an affected resignation. The enemies which he enters lists to combat, ‘Despair, and mighty Grief, and sharp Impatience;’ and the Forces (‘Cornets of Horse,’&c.) which he brings to vanquish them, are in the boldest style of allegory. They are such a ‘race of mourners’ as ‘the infection of sorrows loud’ in the intellect might beget on ‘some pregnant cloud’ in the imagination.”—Charles Lamb.
[101]Open (Gr.χαίνω, χαυνῶ). Cotgrave gives:—“Tochawne,—se fendre, gercer, crevasser, crever, se jarcer.”
[102]Oldeds.“Speake” (and “Speak”).
[103]“‘The king enacts more wonders than a man,Daring an opposite to every danger.’RichardIII.”—Dilke.
[104]Cf.RichardIII.(v.3):—“God and good angels fight on Richmond’s side.”
[105]Oldeds.“Chekle-roule.”
[106]“Cog a die” = load a die.
[107]Dilke comparesRichardIII.(v.3):—
“Who saw the sun to-day?Rat.Not I, my lord.Rich.Then he disdains to shine.”
[108]Omitted ined.1.
[109]Variations in music.
[110]The sentiment is from Seneca’sThyestes,l.925:—
“Magis unde cadasQuam quo refert.”
[111]“The situation of Andrugio and Lucio resembles that of Lear and Kent, in that King’s distresses. Andrugio, like Lear, manifests a kind of royal impatience, a turbulent greatness, an affected resignation. The enemies which he enters lists to combat, ‘Despair, and mighty Grief, and sharp Impatience;’ and the Forces (‘Cornets of Horse,’&c.) which he brings to vanquish them, are in the boldest style of allegory. They are such a ‘race of mourners’ as ‘the infection of sorrows loud’ in the intellect might beget on ‘some pregnant cloud’ in the imagination.”—Charles Lamb.
SCENEII.
Palace of the Duke of Venice.
EnterFelichewalking, unbraced.
Feli.Castilio, Alberto, Balurdo! none up?Forobosco! Flattery, nor thou up yet?Then there’s no courtier stirring: that’s firm truth?I cannot sleep: Feliche seldom restsIn these court lodgings. I have walk’d all night,To see if the nocturnal court delightsCould force me envy their felicity:And by plain troth, I will confess plain troth,I envy nothing but the travense[112]light.O, had it eyes, and ears, and tongues, it might10See sport, hear speech of most strange surquedries.[113]O, if that candle-light were made a poet,He would prove a rare firking satirist,And draw the core forth of imposthum’d sin.Well, I thank heaven yet, that my contentCan envy nothing, but poor candle-light.As for the other glistering copper spangs,That glisten in the tire of the court,Praise God, I either hate, or pity them.Well, here I’ll sleep till that the scene of up20Is pass’d at court. O calm hush’d rich Content,Is there a being blessedness without thee?How soft thou down’st the couch where thou dost rest,Nectar to life, thou sweet Ambrosian feast!
EnterCastilioand his PageCatzo:Castiliowith a casting-bottle[114]of sweet water in his hand, sprinkling himself.
Cast.Am not I a most sweet youth now?
Cat.Yes, when your throat’s perfum’d; your very wordsDo smell of ambergris. O stay, sir, stay;Sprinkle some sweet water to your shoe’s heels,That your mistress may swear you have a sweet foot.
30Cast.Good, very good, very passing[115]passing good.
Feli.Fut, what treble minikin[116]squeaks there, ha? “good, very good, very very good!”
Cast.I will warble to the delicious conclave of my mistress’ ear: and strike her thoughts with the pleasing touch of my voice.
[A song.
Cast.Feliche, health, fortune, mirth, and wine.
Feli.To thee, my love divine.
Cast.I drink to thee, sweeting.
Feli.[Aside.] Plague on thee for an ass!
Cast.Now thou hast seen the court, by the perfection of it, dost not envy it?41
Feli.I wonder it doth not envy me. Why, man,I have been borne upon the spirit’s wings,The soul’s swift Pegasus, the fantasy:And from the height of contemplation,Have view’d the feeble joints men totter on.I envy none; but hate, or pity all.For when I view, with an intentive thought,That creature fair but proud; him rich, but sot;Th’ other witty, but unmeasured arrogant;50Him great, yet boundless in ambition;Him high-born, but of base life; t’ other fear’d,Yet fearèd fears, and fears most to be loved;[117]Him wise, but made a fool for public use;The other learned, but self-opinionate:When I discourse all these, and see myselfNor fair, nor rich, nor witty, great, nor fear’d,Yet amply suited with all full content,Lord, how I clap my hands, and smooth my brow,Rubbing my quiet bosom, tossing up60A grateful spirit to Omnipotence!
Cast.Hah, hah! but if thou knew’st my happiness,Thou would’st even grate away thy soul to dust,In envy of my sweet beatitude.I cannot sleep for kisses; I cannot restFor ladies’ letters, that importune meWith such unusèd vehemence of love,Straight to solicit them, that——.
Feli.Confusion seize me, but I think thou liest.Why should I not be sought to then as well?70Fut, methinks I am as like a man.Troth, I have a good head of hair, a cheekNot as yet wan’d, a leg, ’faith, in the full.I ha’ not a red beard, take not tobacco much:And ’lid, for other parts of manliness—
Cast.Pew waw, you ne’er accourted[118]them in pomp,Put your good parts in presence graciously.Ha, and you had, why, they would ha’ come off,Sprung to your arms, and sued, and prayed, and vowed,And opened all their sweetness to your love.80
Feli.There are a number of such things as thou[119]Have often urged me to such loose belief;But, ’slid, you all do lie, you all do lie.I have put on good clothes, and smugg’d my face,Strook a fair wench with a smart, speaking eye;Courted in all sorts, blunt and passionate;Had opportunity, put them to the ah!And, by this light, I find them wondrous chaste,Impregnable; perchance a kiss, or so:But for the rest, O most inexorable!90
Cast.Nay then, i’faith, prithee look here.
[Shows him the superscription of a seeming letter.
Feli.To her most esteemed, loved, and generous servant, Sig. Castilio Balthazar.Prithee from whom comes this? faith, I must see.From her that is devoted to thee, in most private sweets of love, Rossaline.Nay, God’s my comfort, I must see the rest;I must, sans ceremony; faith, I must.
[Felichetakes away the letter by force.
Cast.O, you spoil my ruff, unset my hair; good, away!100
Feli.Item, for strait canvass, thirteen pence halfpenny; item, for an ell and a half of taffeta to cover your old canvass doublet, fourteen shillings and threepence.—’Slight, this is a tailor’s bill.
Cast.In sooth, it is the outside of her letter, on which I took the copy of a tailor’s bill.
Dil.But ’tis not cross’d, I am sure of that. Lord have mercy on him, his credit hath given up the last gasp.Faith, I’ll leave him; for he looks as melancholy as a wench the first night she——110
[Exit.
Feli.Honest musk-cod, ’twill not be so stitched together; take that [striking him], and that, and belie no lady’s love: swear no more by Jesu, this madam, that lady; hence, go, forswear the presence, travel three years to bury this bastinado: avoid, puff-paste, avoid!
Cast.And tell not my lady-mother. Well, as I am a true gentleman, if she had not willed me on her blessing not to spoil my face, if I could not find in my heart to fight, would I might ne’er eat a potato-pie more.
[Exit.
EnterBalurdo,backward;Dildofollowing him with a looking-glass in one hand, and a candle in the other hand:Flaviafollowing him backward, with a looking-glass in one hand, and a candle in the other;Rossalinefollowing her;BalurdoandRossalinestand setting of faces; and so the Scene begins.
Feli.More fool, more rare fools! O, for time and place, long enough, and large enough, to act these fools! Here might be made a rare scene of folly, if the plat[120]could bear it.123
Bal.By the sugar-candy sky, hold up the glass higher, that I may see to swear in fashion. O, one loof[121]more would ha’ made them shine; God’s neaks,[122]theywould have shone like my mistress’ brow. Even so the Duke frowns, for all this curson’d[123]world: O, that gern[124]kills, it kills. By my golden—what’s the richest thing about me?130
Dil.Your teeth.
Bal.By my golden teeth, hold up, that I may put in: hold up, I say, that I may see to put on my gloves.
Dil.O, delicious, sweet-cheek’d master, if you discharge but one glance from the level of that set face, O, you will strike a wench; you’ll make any wench love you.
Bal.By Jesu, I think I am as elegant a courtier as——. How likest thou my suit?
Cat.All, beyond all, no peregal:[125]you are wondered at—[Aside.] for an ass.141
Bal.Well, Dildo, no Christen creature shall know hereafter, what I will do for thee heretofore.
Ros.Here wants a little white, Flavia.
Dil.Ay, but, master, you have one little fault; you sleep open-mouth’d.
Bal.Pew, thou jest’st. In good sadness, I’ll have a looking-glass nail’d to the testern of the bed, that I may see when I sleep whether ’tis so or not; take heed you lie not: go to, take heed you lie not.150
Fla.By my troth, you look as like the princess, now—Ay—but her lip is—lip is—a little——redder, a very little redder.
Ros.[126]But by the help of art or nature, ere I change my periwig, mine shall be as red.
Fla.[127]O ay, that face, that eye, that smile, that writhing of your body, that wanton dandling of your fan, becomes prethely, so sweethly, ’tis even the goodest lady that breathes, the most amiable——. Faith, the fringe of your satin petticoat is ript. Good faith, madam, they say you are the most bounteous lady to your women that ever—— most delicious beauty! Good madam, let me kith it.
Feli.Rare sport, rare sport! A female fool, and a female flatterer.164
Ros.Body o’ me, the Duke! away[128]the glass!
EnterPiero.
Pier.Take up your paper, Rossaline.
Ros.Not mine, my Lord.
Pier.Not yours, my Lady? I’ll see what ’tis.
Bal.And how does my sweet mistress? O Lady dear, even as ’tis an old say, “’tis an old horse can neither wighy,[129]nor wag his tail:” even so do I hold my set face still: even so, ’tis a bad courtier that can neither discourse, nor blow his nose.173
Pier.—[reads.]Meet me at Abraham’s, the Jew’s, where I bought my Amazon’s disguise. A ship lies in the port, ready bound for England; make haste, come private.Antonio.
EnterCastilioandForobosco.
Forobosco, Alberto, Feliche, Castilio, Balurdo! run, keep the palace, post to the ports, go to my daughter’s chamber! whither now? scud to the Jew’s! stay, run to the gates, stop the gundolets,[130]let none pass the marsh! do all at once! Antonio! his head, his head! Keep you the court, the rest stand still, or run, or go, or shout, or search, or scud, or call, or hang, or do-do-do su-su-su something! I know not who-who-who what I do-do-do, nor who-who-who, where I am.185O trista traditrice, rea ribalda fortuna,Negando mi vindetta mi causa fera morte.
[Exeunt all butFeliche.
Feli.Ha ha ha! I could break my spleen at his impatience.
EnterAntonioandMellida.
Ant.Alma et graziosa fortuna siate favorevole,Et fortunati siano voti del[la]mia dolce Mellida, Mellida.
Mel.Alas, Antonio, I have lost thy note!A number mount my stairs; I’ll straight return.
[Exit.
Feli.Antonio,194Be not affright, sweet Prince; appease thy fear,Buckle thy spirits up, put all thy witsInwimble[131]action, or thou art surprised.
Ant.I care not.
Feli.Art mad, or desperate? or——
Ant.Both, both, all, all: I prithee let me lie;200Spite of you all, I can, and I will die.
Feli.You are distraught; O, this is madness’ breath!
Ant.Each man take[s] hence life, but no man death:He’s a good fellow, and keeps open house:A thousand thousand ways lead to his gate,To his wide-mouthèd porch, when niggard lifeHath[132]but one little, little wicket through.We wring ourselves into this wretched world,To pule, and weep, exclaim, to curse and rail,To fret, and ban the fates, to strike the earth,210As I do now. Antonio, curse thy birth,And die!
Feli.Nay, heaven’s my comfort, now you are perverse:You know I always loved you; prithee live.Wilt thou strike dead thy friends, draw mourning tears?
Ant.Alas, Feliche, I ha’ ne’er a friend;No country, father, brother, kinsman leftTo weep my fate or sigh my funeral:I roll but up and down, and fill a seatIn the dark cave of dusky misery.220
Feli.’Fore heaven, the Duke comes! hold you, take my key,Slink to my chamber; look you, that is it:There shall you find a suit I wore at sea;Take it, and slip away. Nay, ’precious!If you’ll be peevish, by this light, I’ll swearThou rail’dst upon thy love before thou diedst,And call’d her strumpet.
Ant.She’ll not credit thee.
Feli.Tut, that’s all one: I will defame thy love,And make thy dead trunk held in vile regard.
Ant.Wilt needs have it so? why then, Antonio,230Vive esperanza in dispetto del fato.
[Exit.
EnterPiero,Galeatzo,Matzagente,Forobosco,Balurdo,andCastilio,with weapons.
Pier.O, my sweet princes, was’t not bravely found?Even there I found the note, even there it lay:I kiss the place for joy, that there it lay.This way he went, here let us make a stand:I’ll keep this gate myself. O gallant youth!I’ll drink carouse unto your country’s healthEven in Antonio’s skull.
Bal.Lord bless us, his breath is more fearful than a sergeant’s voice when he cries, I arrest.240
EnterAntonio,disguised as a sailor.
Ant.Stop Antonio! keep, keep Antonio!
Pier.Where, where, man, where?
Ant.Here, here: let me pursue him down the marsh!
Pier.Hold, there’s my signet, take a gundelet:Bring me his head, his head, and, by mine honour,I’ll make thee the wealthiest mariner that breathes.
Ant.I’ll sweat my blood out till I have him safe.
Pier.Spoke[133]heartily, i’faith, good mariner.O, we will mount in triumph; soon at night,I’ll set his head up. Let’s think where.250
Bal.Upon his shoulders, that’s the fittest place for it.If it be not as fit as if it were made for them, say,—Balurdo, thou art a sot, an ass.
EnterMellidain Pages attire, dancing.
Pier.Sprightly, i’faith. In troth he’s somewhat likeMy daughter Mellida: but, alas! poor soul,Herhonour’s[134]heels, God knows, are[n’t] half so light.
Mel.[Aside.] Escaped I am, spite of my father’s spite.
[Exit.
Pier.Ho, this will warm my bosom ere I sleep.
EnterFlaviarunning.
Fla.O my Lord, your daughter——
Pier.Ay, ay, my daughter’s safe enough, I warrant thee.—260This vengeance on the boy will lengthen outMy days unmeasuredly.It shall be chronicled in time to come,Piero Sforza slew Andrugio’s son.
Fla.Ay, but, my Lord, your daughter——
Pier.Ay, ay, my good wench, she is safe enough.
Fla.O, then, my Lord, you know she’s run away.
Pier.Run away, away! how run away?
Fla.She’s vanish’d in an instant, none knows whither.
Pier.Pursue, pursue, fly, run, post, scud away!270
Feli.[Sings.] “And was not good king Salomon,”&c.
Pier.Fly, call, run, row, ride, cry, shout, hurry, haste!Haste, hurry, shout, cry, ride, row, run, call, fly,Backward and forward, every way about!Mal[e]detta fortuna che[135]dura sorte!Che farò, che dirò, pur fugir tanto mal!
Cast.’Twas you that struck me even now: was it not?
Feli.It was I that struck you even now.
Cast.You bastinadoed me, I take it.
Feli.I bastinadoed you, and you took it.280
Cast.’Faith, sir, I have the richest tobacco in the court for you; I would be glad to make you satisfaction, if I have wronged you. I would not the sun should set upon your anger; give me your hand.
Feli.Content, faith; so thou’lt breed no more such lies.I hate not man, but man’s lewd qualities.
[Exeunt.
[112]So the oldeds., but I suspect that the true reading is “traverse light,”i.e., light cast slant-wise.[113]Wanton excesses.[114]Seenote 2,p.13.[115]“Passing passing good.”—Soed.1602.—Ed.1633, “passing good.”[116]Fiddle-string.—Here applied to Castilio’s squeaky voice.[117]Oldeds.“most loved.”[118]Soed.1602.—Ed.1633 “courted.”—Dilke gives “accosted"; but Spenser has the wordaccourtin BookII.of theFaerie Queene.[119]Oldeds.“then.”[120]Plot of the play.[121]There is no meaning in the word “loof:” perhaps we should read “onetouchmore.” Balurdo seems to be beautifying some part of his person; but his movements are not quite clear.[122]“God’s neaks”—a meaningless oath constantly used by Marston.[123]A corruption ofchristened.[124]Snarl, grin.—The word is still used in the north country.[125]Equal.[126]The words “But by the help ... as red,” are given to Flavia in the oldeds.[127]Ed.1633 gives this speech to Balurdo.[128]I.e., put the glass out of sight.[129]Neigh.—Cf.Fletcher’sWomen Pleased,iv.1:—“This beast of Babylon I will never back again;His pace is sure prophane, and his lewdwi-hiesThe Songs of Hymyn and Gymyn in the wilderness.”So Ben Jonson inEvery Man out of his Humour,ii.1:—“So the legerity for that, and thewhig-hieand the daggers in the nose.”[130]“Gundolet”—old form of gondola.[131]Nimble.—The word is used by Spenser.[132]Should we not rather read “Hath but one little wicketthorough which”?[133]Oldeds.“Speake.”[134]Ed.1. “honour.”[135]Oldeds.“chy condura sorta.”
[112]So the oldeds., but I suspect that the true reading is “traverse light,”i.e., light cast slant-wise.
[113]Wanton excesses.
[114]Seenote 2,p.13.
[115]“Passing passing good.”—Soed.1602.—Ed.1633, “passing good.”
[116]Fiddle-string.—Here applied to Castilio’s squeaky voice.
[117]Oldeds.“most loved.”
[118]Soed.1602.—Ed.1633 “courted.”—Dilke gives “accosted"; but Spenser has the wordaccourtin BookII.of theFaerie Queene.
[119]Oldeds.“then.”
[120]Plot of the play.
[121]There is no meaning in the word “loof:” perhaps we should read “onetouchmore.” Balurdo seems to be beautifying some part of his person; but his movements are not quite clear.
[122]“God’s neaks”—a meaningless oath constantly used by Marston.
[123]A corruption ofchristened.
[124]Snarl, grin.—The word is still used in the north country.
[125]Equal.
[126]The words “But by the help ... as red,” are given to Flavia in the oldeds.
[127]Ed.1633 gives this speech to Balurdo.
[128]I.e., put the glass out of sight.
[129]Neigh.—Cf.Fletcher’sWomen Pleased,iv.1:—
“This beast of Babylon I will never back again;His pace is sure prophane, and his lewdwi-hiesThe Songs of Hymyn and Gymyn in the wilderness.”
So Ben Jonson inEvery Man out of his Humour,ii.1:—“So the legerity for that, and thewhig-hieand the daggers in the nose.”
[130]“Gundolet”—old form of gondola.
[131]Nimble.—The word is used by Spenser.
[132]Should we not rather read “Hath but one little wicketthorough which”?
[133]Oldeds.“Speake.”
[134]Ed.1. “honour.”
[135]Oldeds.“chy condura sorta.”
SCENEI.
Sea-shore near Venice.
EnterAntonio,in his sea-gown running.
Ant.Stop, stop Antonio, stay Antonio!Vain breath, vain breath, Antonio’s lost;He cannot find himself, not seize himself.Alas, this that you see is not Antonio;His spirit hovers in Piero’s court,Hurling about his agile faculties,To apprehend the sight of Mellida:But poor, poor soul, wanting apt instrumentsTo speak or see, stands dumb and blind, sad spirit,Roll’d up in gloomy clouds as black as air10Through which the rusty coach of Night is drawn.’Tis so; I’ll give you instance that ’tis so.Conceit you me: as having clasp’d a rose[136]Within my palm, the rose being ta’en away,My hand retains a little breath of sweet:So may man’s trunk, his spirit slipp’d away,Hold[137]still a faint perfume of his sweet guest.’Tis so; for when discursive powers fly out,And roam in progress through the bounds of heaven,The soul itself gallops along with them,20As chieftain of this wingèd troop of thought,Whilst the dull lodge of spirit standeth waste,Until the soul return from——. What was’t I said?O, this is naught but speckling melancholy.I have been—That Morpheus’ tender skinp[138]—Cousin germanBear with me, good—Mellida: clod upon clod thus fall.Hell is beneath, yet heaven is over all.
[Falls on the ground.
Enter[139]Andrugio,Lucio,andPage.
And.Come, Lucio, let’s go eat: what hast thou got?30Roots, roots? alas, they are seeded, new cut up.O, thou hast wrongèd Nature, Lucio:But boots not much; thou but pursu’st the world,That cuts off virtue, ’fore it comes to growth,Lest it should seed, and so o’errun her son,Dull purblind error.—Give me water, boy.There is no poison in’t, I hope; they sayThat lu[r]ks in massy plate: and yet the earthIs so infected with a general plague,That he’s most wise, that thinks there’s no man fool;40Right prudent, that esteems no creature just;Great policy the least things to mistrust.Give me assay[140]——. How we mock greatness now!
Lu.A strong conceit is rich, so most men deem;If not to be, ’tis comfort yet to seem.
And.Why man, I never was a prince till now.’Tis not the barèd pate, the bended knees,Gilt tipstaves,Tyrrian purple, chairs of state,Troops of pied butterflies that flutter stillIn greatness’ summer, that confirm a prince:50’Tis not the unsavoury breath of multitudes,Shouting and clapping, with confusèd din,That makes a prince. No, Lucio, he’s a king,A true right king, that dares do aught save wrong;Fears nothing mortal but to be unjust;Who is not blown up with the flattering puffsOf spongy sycophants; who stands unmov’d,Despite the justling of opinion;Who can enjoy himself, maugre the throngThat strive to press his quiet out of him;60Who sits upon Jove’s footstool, as I do,Adoring, not affecting, majesty;Whose brow is wreathèd with the silver crownOf clear content: this, Lucio, is a king,And of this empire every man’s possestThat’s worth his soul.
Lu.My Lord, the Genoways had wont to say—
And.Name not the Genoways: that very wordUnkings me quite, makes me vile passion’s slave.O, you that slide[141]upon the glibbery ice70Of vulgar favour, view Andrugio.Was never prince with more applause confirm’d,With louder shouts of triumph launchèd outInto the surgy main of government;Was never prince with more despite cast out,Left shipwrack’d, banish’d, on more guiltless ground.O rotten props of the crazed multitude,How you still double, falter under the lightest chanceThat strains your veins! Alas, one battle lost,Your whorish love, your drunken healths, your houts[142]and shouts,80Your smoothGod save’s, and all your devils lost[143]That tempts our quiet to your hell of throngs!Spit on me, Lucio, for I am turnèd slave:Observe how passion domineers o’er me.
Lu.No wonder, noble Lord, having lost a son,A country, crown, and——.
And.Ay, Lucio, having lost a son, a son,A country, house, crown, son.O lares, miseri[144]lares!Which shall I first deplore? My son, my son,My dear sweet boy, my dear Antonio!90
Ant.Antonio?
And.Ay, echo, ay; I mean Antonio.
Ant.Antonio, who means Antonio?
And.Where art? what art? know’st thou Antonio?
Ant.Yes.
And.Lives he?
Ant.No.
And.Where lies he dead?
Ant.Here.
And.Where?
Ant.Here.[145]
And.Art thou Antonio?
Ant.I think I am.
And.Dost thou but think? What, dost not know thyself?
Ant.He is a fool that thinks he knows himself.
And.Upon thy faith to heaven, give thy name.100
Ant.I were not worthy of Andrugio’s blood,If I denied my name’s Antonio.
And.I were not worthy to be call’d thy father,If I denied my name Andrugio.And dost thou live? O, let me kiss thy cheek,And dew thy brow with trickling drops of joy.Now heaven’s will be done: for I have livedTo see my joy, my son Antonio.Give me thy hand; now fortune do thy worst,His blood, that lapp’d thy spirit in the womb,110Thus (in his love) will make his arms thy tomb.
Ant.Bless not the body with your twining arms,Which is accurs’d of heaven. O, what black sinHath been committed by our ancient house,Whose scalding vengeance lights upon our heads,That thus the world and fortune casts us out,As loathèd objects, ruin’s branded slaves!
And.Do not expostulate the heavens’ will,But, O, remember to forget thyself;Forget remembrance what thou once hast been.120Come, creep with me from out this open air:Even trees have tongues, and will betray our life.I am a-raising of our house, my boy,Which fortune will not envy, ’tis so mean,And like the world (all dirt): there shalt thou ripThe inwards of thy fortunes in mine ears,While I sit weeping, blind with passion’s tears.Then I’ll begin, and we’ll such order keep,That one shall still tell griefs, the other weep.
[ExeuntAndrugioandLucio,leavingAntonioand thePage.
Ant.I’ll follow you. Boy, prithee stay a little.130Thou hast had a good voice, if this cold marshWherein we lurk have not corrupted it.
EnterMellida,standing out of sight, in her Page’s suit.
I prithee sing, but, sirra, (mark you me)Let each note breathe the heart of passion,The sad extracture of extremest grief.Make me a strain speak groaning like a bellThat tolls departing souls;Breathe me a point that may enforce me weep,To wring my hands, to break my cursèd breast,Rave, and exclaim, lie grovelling on the earth,140Straight start up frantic, crying, Mellida!Sing but,Antonio hath lost Mellida,And thou shalt see me (like a man possess’d)Howl out such passion, that even this brinish marshWill squeeze out tears from out his spongy cheeks:The rocks even groan, and——prithee, prithee sing,Or I shall ne’er ha’ done when I am in;’Tis harder for me end, than to begin.
[The Boy runs a note,Antoniobreaks it.
For look thee, boy, my grief that hath no end,149I may begin to plain, but——prithee, sing.
[A song.
Mel.Heaven keep you, sir!
Ant.Heaven keep you from me, sir!
Mel.I must be acquainted with you, sir.
Ant.Wherefore? Art thou infected with misery,Sear’d with the anguish of calamity?Art thou true sorrow, hearty grief? canst weep?I am not for thee if thou canst not rave,
[Antoniofalls on the ground.
Fall flat on the ground, and thus exclaim on heaven:O trifling nature, why inspired’st thou breath?
Mel.Stay, sir, I think you namèd Mellida.
Ant.Know’st thou Mellida?160
Mel.Yes.
Ant.Hast thou seen Mellida?
Mel.Yes.
Ant.Then hast thou seen the glory of her sex,The music of Nature, the unequall’d lustreOf unmatch’d excellence, the united sweetOf heaven’s graces, the most adorèd beauty,That ever strook amazement in the world!
Mel.You seem to love her.
Ant.With my very soul.
Mel.She’ll not requite it: all her love is fix’d170Upon a gallant, one[146]Antonio,The Duke of Genoa’s son. I was her page,And often as I waited, she would sigh,O, dear Antonio! and to strengthen thought,Would clip my neck, and kiss, and kiss me thus.Therefore leave loving her: fa, faith methinksHer beauty is not half so ravishingAs you discourse of; she hath a freckled face,A low forehead, and a lumpish eye.179
Ant.O heaven, that I should hear such blasphemy!Boy, rogue, thou liest! andSpavento del mio cor dolce Mellida,Di grave morte ristoro vero, dolce Mellida,Celeste salvatrice, sovrana MellidaDel mio sperar; trofeo vero Mellida.
Mel.Diletta e soave anima mia Antonio,Godevole bellezza cortese Antonio.Signior mio e virginal amore bell’Antonio,Gusto delli miei sensi, car’Antonio.
Ant.O svanisce[147]il cor in un soave bacio.190
Mel.Muoiono[148]i sensi nel desiato desio:
Ant.Nel cielo può esser beltà più chiara?
Mel.Nel mondo può[149]esser beltà più chiara?
Ant.Dammi un bacio da quella bocca beata,Lasciami[150]coglier l’aura odorataChe ha[151]sua seggia in quelle dolci labbra.
Mel.Dammi per impero del tuo gradit’amoreChe bea me con sempiterno honore,Così, così mi converrà morir.Good sweet, scout o’er the marsh, for my heart trembles200At every little breath that strikes my ear.When thou returnest, then I will discourseHow I deceiv’d the court; then thou shalt tellHow thou escaped’st the watch: we’ll point our speechWith amorous kissing[152]commas, and even suckThe liquid breath from out each other’s lips.
Ant.Dull clod, no man but such sweet favour clips.I go, and yet my panting blood persuades me stay.Turn coward in her sight? away, away!209
[Exit.
[Page.] I think confusion of Babel is fall’n upon those lovers, that they change their language; but I fear me, my master having but feigned the person of a woman, hath got their unfeigned imperfection, and is grown double tongued: as for Mellida, she were no woman, if she could not yield strange language. But howsoever, if I should sit in judgment, ’tis an error easier to be pardoned by the auditors, than excused by the authors; and yet some private respect may rebate the edge of the keener censure.
EnterPiero,Castilio,Matzagente,Forobosco,Feliche,Galeatzo,at one door;Balurdo,and hisPage,at another door.
Pier.This way she took: search, my sweet gentlemen.How now, Balurdo, canst thou meet with anybody?221
Bal.As I am true gentleman, I made my horse sweat, that he hath ne’er a dry thread on him: and I can meet with no living creature, but men and beasts. In good sadness,[153]I would have sworn I had seen Mellida even now; for I saw a thing stir under a hedge, and I peep’d, and I spied a thing, and I peer’d, and I tweer’d[154]underneath:and truly a right wise man might have been deceived, for it was——.
Pier.What, in the name of heaven?230
Bal.A dun cow.
Feli.Sh’ad ne’er a kettle[155]on her head?
Pier.Boy, did’st thou see a young lady pass this way?
Gal.Why speak you not?
Bal.God’s neaks, proud elf, give the Duke reverence!Stand bare with a——.Whogh! heavens bless me! Mellida, Mellida!
Pier.Where man, where?
Bal.Turned man, turned man; women wear the breeches.Lo, here!240
Pier.Light and unduteous! kneel not, peevish elf;Speak not, entreat not, shame unto my house,Curse to my honour. Where’s Antonio?Thou traitress to my hate, what, is he shipp’dFor England now? well, whimpering harlot, hence!
Mel.Good father!
Pier.Good me no goods. Seest thou that sprightly youth?Ere thou canst term to-morrow morning old,Thou shalt call him thy husband, lord, and love.
Mel.Ay me!250
Pier.Blirt on your “ay me’s!” guard her safely hence.Drag her away, I’ll be your guard to-night.Young prince, mount up your spirits and prepareTo solemnise your nuptial’s eve with pomp.
Gal.The time is scant: now nimble wits appear:Phœbus begins to[156]gleam, the welkin’s clear.
[Exeunt all butBalurdoand hisPage.
Bal.Now nimble wits appear! I’ll myself appear,Balurdo’s self, that in quick wit doth surpass,Will show the substance of a complete——.
Dil.Ass, ass.
Bal.I’ll mount my courser, and most gallantly prick——.260
Dil.Gallantly prick is too long, and stands hardly in the verse, sir.
Bal.I’ll speak pure rhyme, and will so bravely prank it, that I’ll toss love like a—prank, prank it!—a rhyme for prank it?