Actus Quintus. Scena Prima.
Enter Rollo with a glass, Aubrey, and Servants.
It is exceeding well; now leave me; Cousin,
How takes your eye the object?
So much Sir of the Courtier, as to say
Your person does become your habit;
But being called unto it by a noble War,
Would grace an armour better.
For that great Art of which you are the Master;
Yet I must tell you, that to the encounters
We oft attempt, arm'd only thus, we bring
As troubled blood, fears mixt with flatt'ring hopes,
The danger in the service too as great,
As when we are to charge quite through and through
The body of an Army.
How you may rank the dangers, but will die in't,
The ends which they arrive at, are as distant
In every circumstance, as far as honour
Is from shame and repentance.
Nor am I so ambitious of the title
Of one that dares talk any thing that was
Against the torrent of his own opinion,
That I affect to speak ought may offend you:
And therefore gracious Sir, be pleas'd to think
My manners or discretion have inform'd me
That I was born, in all good ends, to serve you:
And not to check at what concerns me not:
I look not with sore eyes on your rich out-side,
Nor rack my thoughts to find out to what purpose
'Tis now employ'd; I wish it may be good,
And that, I hope, offends not for a subject
Towards his Prince in things indifferent;
To use the austereness of a censuring Cato
Is arrogance, not freedom.
This temper in you, and will cherish it.
Enter Hamond with Letters.
Of any new design; good Aubrey read 'em,
And as they shall direct you, use my power,
Or to reply or execute.
To th' house that late was Baldwins, and there wait me.
Or scorn'd or fear'd, as now thou favour'st me. [Exit Rollo.
Your Lordships privacy.
Is ever welcome; I intreat your patience
While I peruse these.
In th' letters that I brought, that thus transports him?
Brought to the Axe by Knaves that cheat for bread?
The Creatures of a Parasite, a slave;
I find you here Latorch, not wonder at it;
But that this honest Captain should be made
His instrument, afflicts me; I'le make trial
Whether his will or weakness made him do it.
Captain you saw the Duke when he commanded
I should do what these letters did direct me,
And I presume you think I'le not neglect
For fear or favour, to remove all dangers
How near soever that man can be to me
From whom they should have birth.
Or for respect of thankfulness, or hopes,
To use your sword with fullest confidence
Where he shall bid you strike.
Draw, so, 'tis well, and next cut off my head.
My innocence hath made me dangerous,
And I must be remov'd, and you the man
Must act his will.
And that you may not doubt it, there's your warrant,
But as you read, remember Hamond, that
I never wrong'd one of your brave profession;
And, though it be not manly, I must grieve
That man of whose love I was most ambitious
Could find no object of his hate but me.
Be pleas'd to hear thy servant, I am wrong'd,
And cannot, being now to serve the Duke,
Stay to express the manner how; but if
I do not suddenly give you strong proofs,
Your life is dearer to me than my own,
May I live base, and dye so: Sir, your pardon. [Exit Ham.
On every side, about, behind, before me,
My certain fate is fix't: were I a Knave now,
I could avoid this: had my actions
But meer relations to their own ends, I could 'scape now:
Oh honesty! thou elder child of vertue,
Thou seed of Heaven, why to acquire thy goodness
Should malice and distrust stick thorns before us,
And make us swim unto thee, hung with hazards?
But Heaven is got by suffering, not disputing;
Say he knew this before-hand, where am I then?
Or say he does [not] know it, where's my Loyalty?
I know his nature, troubled as the Sea,
And as the Sea devouring when he's vex'd,
And I know Princes are their own expounders.
Am I afraid of death? of dying nobly?
Of dying in mine innocence uprightly?
Have I met death in all his forms, and fears,
Now on the points of Swords, now pitch'd on Lances?
In fires, and storms of Arrows, Battels, breaches,
And shall I now shrink from him, when he courts me
Smiling and full of sanctity? I'le meet him;
My Loyal hand and heart shall give this to him,
And though it bear beyond what Poets feign
A punishment, duty shall meet that pain;
And my most constant heart to do him good,
Shall check at neither pale affright nor bloud.
Enter Messenger.
Thy honour living, though thy body sleep. [Exit.
SCENE II.
Enter Edith, a Boy, and a Banquet set out.
All chastity shall suffer if he raign;
Thou blessed soul, look down, and steel thy Daughter,
Look on the sacrifice she comes to send thee,
And through the bloudy clouds behold my piety,
Take from my cold heart fear, from my sex pity,
And as I wipe these tears off, shed for thee,
So all remembrance may I lose of mercy;
Give me a womans anger bent to bloud,
The wildness of the winds to drown his prayers,
Storm-like may my destruction fall upon him,
My rage like roving billows as they rise,
Pour'd on his soul to sink it, give me flattery,
(For yet my constant soul ne'r knew dissembling)
Flattery the food of Fools, that I may rock him
And lull him in the Down of his desires;
That in the height of all his hopes and wishes,
His Heaven forgot, and all his lusts upon him,
My hand, like thunder from a cloud, may seize him.
I hear him come, go boy, and entertain him.
Enter Rollo.
That so sweetly were forsworn,
And those eyes, like break of day,
Lights that do mislead the Morn,
But my kisses bring again,
Seals of love, though seal'd in vain.
Which thy frozen blossome bears,
On whose tops the Pinks that grow
Are of those that April wears,
But first set my poor heart free,
Bound in those Ivy chains by thee.
In all the happy lustre of Heavens glory,
Has drop'd down from the Skye to comfort me?
Wonder of nature, let it not prophane thee
My rude hand touch thy beauty, nor this kiss,
The gentle sacrifice of love and service,
Be offer'd to the honour of thy sweetness.
Nor nothing of that vertue, but obedience,
The servant to your will affects no flattery.
Are loves eternal lamps he fires all hearts with?
That tongue the smart string to his bow? those sighs
The deadly shafts he sends into our souls?
Oh, look upon me with thy spring of beauty.
Thy Mother fed on Roses when she bred thee.
Upon the treasures of perfumes and spices,
In all their pride and pleasures call thee Mistris.
Fair gentle maid, there is no speaking to thee,
The excellency that appears upon thee
Tyes up my tongue: pray speak to me.
Will you take my directions? speak of love then;
Speak of thy fair self Edith; and while thou speak'st,
Let me, thus languishing, give up my self wench.
How masterly he turns himself to catch me!
Is hard and crooked, scarce Repentance finding,
With all her holy helps, the door to enter,
Give me thy hand, what dost thou feel?
You weep extreamly; strengthen me now justice.
Why are these sorrows Sir?
If I should tell thee, yet there's no way left
Ever to purchase this blest Paradise,
But swimming thither in these tears.
For guiltless blood, and they must drop, my Edith,
They must thus drop, till I have drown'd my mischiefs.
Alas I do confess I'me made of mischiefs,
Begot with all mans miseries upon me;
But see my sorrows, maid, and do not thou,
Whose only sweetest sacrifice is softness,
Whose true condition, tenderness of nature.
As I have done, to murther with thy eyes,
(Those blessed eyes) as I have done with malice,
When thou hast wounded me to death with scorn,
(As I deserve it Lady) for my true love,
When thou hast loaden me with earth for ever,
Take heed my sorrows, and the stings I suffer;
Take heed my nightly dreams of death and horrour
Pursue thee not: no time shall tell thy griefs then,
Nor shall an hour of joy adde to thy beauties.
Look not upon me as I kill'd thy Father,
As I was smear'd in blood, do not thou hate me,
But thus in whiteness of my wash't repentance,
In my hearts tears and truth of love to Edith,
In my fair life hereafter.
Of Heaven we call for mercy and obtain it;
To Justice for our right on Earth and have it;
Of thee I beg for love, save me, and give it.
His tongue has turn'd me into melting pity.
Enter Hamond, and Guard.
Let no man enter till I give the word.
Thou mad'st me do to Aubrey; pray.
Pray suddenly.
For I perceive your end; a womans hand
Must not rob me of vengeance.
Will cast upon thy cursed head.
When your most vertuous Brother, shield-like, held her;
Such I'le give you, put her away.
Him, my body's honor'd with that sword that through me,
Sends his black soul to Hell: Oh, but for one hand.
What, has he got a knife?
Do's it so tickle you? have at you once more.
To him again, you give him too much respite.
And give thee all, all honours, all advancements,
Call thee my friend.
His tongue will tempt a Saint.
Are you so wary? take you that.
Oh thou hast kill'd me basely, basely, basely. [Dyes.
How do you Sir? has he not hurt you?
Enter Sophia, Matilda, Aubrey, Lords and attendants.
Sorrow on sorrow seeks me, Oh, in his blood he lyes.
This might have been prevented;
Take the Dutchess,
And lead her off, this is no sight for her eyes.
Oh 'twas a deed of high and brave adventure,
A justice even for heaven to envy at,
Farewel my sorrows, and my tears take truce,
My wishes are come round: Oh bloody Brother,
Till this hour never beauteous; till thy life,
Like a full sacrifi[c]e for all thy mischiefs,
Flow'd from thee in these rivers, never righteous:
Oh how my eyes are quarri'd with their joys now!
My longing heart even leaping out for lightness!
But dye thy black sins with thee, I forgive thee.
And as they grappl'd.
Had it not been on him, th'adst dy'd too honest.
Did you know of his death?
Of Law shall not fall on you, that of life
Must presently, go to a Cloyster, carry her,
And there for ever lead your life in penitence.
Enter Latorch, and Juglers.
Where's that good Gentleman? oh, I could laugh now,
And burst my self with meer imagination;
A wise man, and a valiant man, a just man;
To suffer himself be juggl'd out of the world,
By a number of poor Gipseys? farewel Swash-buckler,
For I know thy mouth is cold enough by this time;
A hundred of ye I can shave as neatly,
And ne'r draw bloud in shew: now shall my honour,
My power and vertue walk alone: my pleasure
Observ'd by all, all knees bend to my worship,
All sutes to me as Saint of all their fortunes,
Prefer'd and crowded to, what full place of credit,
And what place now? your Lordship? no, 'tis common,
But that I'le think to morrow on; now for my business.
Prepare your self good Devil, you must to it,
Millions of gold shall not redeem thy mischief,
Behold the Justice of thy practice, villain;
The mass of murthers thou hast drawn upon us:
Behold thy doctrine; you look now for reward, Sir,
To be advanc'd, I'm sure, for all your labours?
And you shall have it, make his gallows higher
By ten foot at the least, and then advance him.
Such as you meant for me, away with him. [He is led out.
What gaping knaves are these, bring 'em in fellows,
Now, what are you?
Whip 'em extremely, whip that Doctor there,
Till he record himself a Rogue.
Lead 'em to the gallows to see their patron hang'd;
Away with them. [They are led out.
And here stand ready to invest you with it.
Than bloud or mischiefs dare infringe again,
Behold this Lady, Sir, this noble Lady,
Full of the bloud as you are, of that nearness,
How blessed would it be?
Me her ever constant servant.
In all humility of heart and services,
To the most noble Aubrey, I submit me.
This, as he was a Prince, so Princely funeral
Shall wait upon him: on this honest Captain,
The decency of arms; a tear for him too.
May his Example in our Rule raise good.