The day draws on apace: once more good morrow.
I think you would know before me.
Have been so barbarous to have parted Brothers?
You should be both together: Instinct Signior,
Is a great matter in an Host.
Enter Pedro.
Put this last tide, and bound for Barcelona,
I brought Mark-antonie upon his way.
And entertain'd in the new Regiment,
For Naples.
One of the Masters told me.
That you saw me, if you shall meet the question,
I have some little business.
It shall not become me, to lose the caution:
Shall we breakfast together?
Sister you hear this: I believe your fortune
Begins to be propitious to you: we will hire
Mules of mine Host here: if we can, himself
To be our guide, and straight to Barcelona,
This was as happy news, as unexpected
Stay you till I rid him away.
Actus Secundus. Scæna Prima.
Enter Alphonso and a Servant.
Knock when I bid you.
Your Master bids ye; knock ye knave, or I'll knock
Such a round peal about your pate: I enter
Under his roof, or come to say god save ye
To him, the Son of whose base dealings has undone me?
Knock louder, louder yet: I'll starve, and rot first,
This open air is every mans.
2 Ser. within. Come in Sir.
Enter two Servants.
None of those visitants: bid your wise Master
Come out, I have to talk unto him: go Sir.
I come not to be welcome: good my three Duckets,
My pickell'd sprat a day, and no oil to't,
And once a year a cotten coat, leave prating
And tell your Master I am here.
This is a strange old man. [Exit.
I'll be first welcome to a Pesthouse: Sirrah
Let's have your valour now cas'd up, and quiet
When an occasion calls, 'tis wisdom in ye,
A Servingman's discretion: if you do draw,
Enter Leonardo, and Don Zanchio (carried by two Servants in a chair.)
Five Nobles worth of fury.
I hope no discontent from my Will given,
Has made ye shun my house: [I ever lov'd ye.]
An credit me amongst my fears 'tis greatest
To minister offences.
I know ye for Italian breed, fair tongu'd,
Spare your Apologies, I care not for 'em,
As little for your love Sir; I can live
Without your knowledge, eat mine own, and sleep
Without dependences, or hopes upon ye.
I come to ask my Daughter.
Till I have justice, my poor child restor'd
Your caper-cutting boy has run away with.
Young Signior smooth-face, he that takes up wenches
With smiles, and sweet behaviors, Songs, and Sonnets,
Your high fed Jennet, that no hedge can hold
They say you bred him for a Stallion.
To argue these things in, descidements able
To speak ye noble Gentlemen, ways punctual
And to the life of credit, ye are too rugged.
To be popt off with reason; reason then.
Ye choak the child of honor else, discretion,
Do you conceive an injury?
When time calls, not your tongue.
Both when and what to do without directions,
And where, and how, I come not to be tutor'd,
My cause is no mans but mine own: you Signior,
Will ye restore my Daughter?
With strange injustice: because my Son has err'd—
I must be father of his crimes?
Leave off your Rhetorick, and restore my Daughter.
And suddainly: bring in your rebel too,
Mountdragon, he that mounts without commission
That I may see him punished, and severely,
Or by that holy Heaven, I'll fire your house,
And there's my way of honor.
And to his mind his actions, if this ought to be,
Why do we run a blind way from our worths,
And cancel our discretions, doing those things
To cure offences, are the most offences?
We have rules of justice in us; to those rules
Let us apply our angers: you can consider
The want in others of these terminations
And how unfurnish'd they appear.
And where the wrongs are open, hang respects,
I come not to consider.
Let us argue cooly, and consider like men.
Make me appear? like men!
And ye recover all.
I am as much a man, and as good a man.
Dares make thee no man; or at best, a base man.
You understand at first: you never think Sir
Out of your mightiness, of my loss: here I stand
A patient Anvil, to your burning angers
Made subject to your dangers; yet my loss equal:
Who shall bring home my Son?
By heaven I know thou dar'st not.
If you dare be uncivil.
Would laugh at this; are there no more days coming,
No ground but this to argue on? no swords left
Nor friends to carry this, but your own furies?
Alas! it shows too weakly.
I come not here for shews: laugh at me sirrah?
I'll give ye cause to laugh.
As any man in Spain.
I will brave Leonardo.
I will expect it then.
These terms are noble.
He has not cast his teeth yet.
I'll hound him at the fair and home.
I had rather give you reason.
Upon your swords point.
Signior, some little business past, this cause I'll argue
And be a peace between ye, if't so please ye,
And by the square of honor to the utmost:
I feel the old man's master'd by much passion,
And too high rackt, which makes him overshoot all
His valour should direct at, and hurt those
That stand but by as blenchers: this he must know too,
As necessary to his judgement, doting women
Are neither safe nor wise adventurers: conceive me,
If once their will[s] have wander'd; nor is't then
A time to use our rages: for why should I
Bite at the stone, when he that throws it wrongs me?
Do not we know that Women are most wooers
Though closest in their carriage? Do not all men know,
Scarce all the compass of the Globe can hold 'em
If their affections be afoot? shall I then covet
The follies of a she-fool, that by nature
Must seek her like, by reason, be a woman,
Sink a tall ship, because the sails defie me?
No, I disdain that folly; he that ventures
Whilst they are fit to put him on, has found out
The everlasting motion in his scabbard.
I doubt not to make peace: and so for this time
My best love, and remembrance.
Scæna Secunda.
Enter Diego, Philippo, and Theodosia.
Some half mile hence my worships man will stay us,
How is it with my young bloods? come, be jovial,
Let's travel like a merry flock of wild Geese,
Every tongue talking.
But do you know this way, Sir?
Methinks these woody thickets should harbor knaves.
May quickly rob me of my good conditions,
If they cry Stand once: but the best is Signiors
They cannot bind my hands: for any else,
They meet an equal knave, and there's my Passport:
I have seen fine sport in this place: had these three tongues,
They would tell ye pretty matters: do not you fear, though
They are not every daies delights.
To what rare whistling tunes they go, far beyond
A soft wind in the shrowds: such stand there,
And down i'th' other place; such supplications
And subdivisions for those toys their honors,
One, as ye are a Ge[n]tleman in this bush,
And oh sweet Sir, what mean ye? there's a bracelet,
And use me I beseech ye like a woman;
And her petition's heard: another scratches,
And cries she will die first, and then swounds: but certain
She is brought to life again, and does well after.
Another, save mine honor, oh mine honor,
My Husband serves the Duke, Sir, in his kitchen;
I have a cold pie for ye; fie, fie, fie Gentlemen,
Will nothing satisfie, where's my Husband?
Another cries, do ye see Sir how they use me,
Is there no Law for these things?
Do you call these fine sports?
They have been so call'd these thousand years and upwards.
Like so many Adams, with fig-leaves afore 'em,
And there's their innocence.
Before we reacht this place.
These are but sometimes chances.
Enter Bailiff.
I know the face; 'tis honest.
Mine everlasting honest Host.
Now in the name of an ill reckoning
What make you walking this round?
And of all business too, through woods, and rascals,
They have rounded me away a dozen Duckets,
Besides a fair round Cloak: Some of 'em knew me,
Else they had cased me like a Cunnie too,
As they have done the rest, and I think roasted me,
For they began to baste me soundly: my young Signiors,
You may thank heaven, and heartily, and hourly,
You set not out so early; ye had been smoak'd else
By this true hand [y]e had Sirs, finely smoak'd,
Had ye been Women, smockt too.
That run that prayer out of breath, yet fail'd too.
There was a Fryer, now ye talk of prayer,
With a huge bunch of Beads, like a rope of Onions:
I am sure as big, that out of fear and prayer,
In halfe an hour, wore 'em as small as Bugles,
Yet he was flead too.
They have done for this day sure.
And there left bound.
They use out of their rogueships, to bequeath
To one, that when they give a sign from far
Which is from out of danger; he may presently
Release the rest, as I met you, I was going,
Having the sign from yonder hill to do it.
My busie life for yours Sir: you would wonder
To see the several tricks and strange behaviours
Of the poor rascals in their miseries,
One weeps, another laughs at him for weeping,
A third is monstrous angry, he can laugh
And cries, go too, this is no time; he laughs still,
A fourth exhorts to patience: him a fifth man
Curses for tameness; him a Fryer schools,
All hoot the Fryer, here one sings a Ballad,
And there a little Curate confutes him,
And in this linsey-woolsey way, that would make a dog
Forget his dinner, or an old man fire,
They rub out for their ransoms: Amongst the rest,
There is a little boy rob'd, a fine child,
It seems a Page: I must confess my pitty
(As 'tis a hard thing in a man of my place)
To shew compassion, stirr'd at him, so finely
And without noise he carries his afflictions,
And looks as if he had but dreamt of losing.
Enter Host and Leocadia, and others as rob'd.
The rest but shame the action: now ye may hear 'em.
And sweating Agues are abroad.
For we have met with rare Physitians
To cure us of that malady.
Light and deliver: now my boys: Master Fryer,
How does your Holiness, bear up man; what
A cup of neat Sack now and a toast: ha, Fryer,
A warm plaister to your belly Father,
There were a blessing now.
For robbing thee, thou hast a thousand ways
To rob thy self boy, Dice, and a Chamber-Devil.
What barbarous, brutish slaves to strip this beauty?
We must intreat your Cloak.
To the next Town, you say 'tis near: in pitty
You cannot see this poor Boy perish.
I know ye have a better soul, we'll satisfie ye.
I am ever cozen'd with mine own commendations;
It is determin'd then I shall be robb'd too.
To make up vantage to this dozen: here Sir,
Heaven has provided ye a simple garment
To set ye off: pray keep it handsomer
Than you kept your own; and let me have it render'd,
Brush'd and discreetly folded.
But that's but poor relief: here are ten Duckets,
And to your distribution, holy Sir,
I render 'em: and let it be your care
To see 'em, as your wants are, well divided.
Set me the Sadle right; no wringing Fryer,
Nor tithing to the Church, these are no duties;
Scour me your conscience, if the Devil tempt ye
Off with [y]our cord, and swinge him.
And some warm meat to moderate this matter,
For I am most outragious cruel hungry.
Would pose a right good pasty, I thank heaven for't.
I could endure now like an Oastrich, or salt beef,
That Cesar left in pickel.
We'll have meat for you, and enough: I'th' mean time
Keep you the horse way, lest the fellow miss us,
We'll meet ye at the end o'th' wood.
Be full supplied, so please you trust our friendships,
We must not part.
Yet such a one as ever shall be thankful.
What Province you were bred in? and of what Parents?
My name Francisc[o], son to Don Henriques
De Cardinas.
I know the Gentleman: and by your leave Sir,
I know he has no son.
Which makes him put that right upon his Brother
Don Zanchio's child[ren]: one of which I am,
And therefore do not much err.
For neither has Don Zanchio any son;
A Daughter, and a rare one is his heir,
Which though I [n]ever was so blest to see,
Yet I have heard great good of.
He is ashamed, and blushes.
If it might import you to conceal your self,
I ask your mercy, I have been so curious:
Yet they were useful ones; for by the claiming
Such noble parents, I believ'd your bounties
Would shew more gracious: The plain truth is Gentlemen,
I am Don Zanchio's Stewards son, a wild boy,
That for the fruits of his unhappiness,
Is faign to seek the wars.
And ye shall find it of too sweet a relish
For one of such a breed: I'll pawn my hand,
This is no boy.
And yet how suddainly he cur'd his lies,
The right wit of a Woman: Now I am sure.
Methinks he shows more sweetness in that face,
Than his fears dare deliver.
There hangs some great weight by it: soon at night
I'll tell ye more.
With us, embrace your liberty, and our helps
In any need you have.
Shall be at your command Sir, and my prayers.
[Exeunt.
Scæna Tertia.
Enter Rodorigo, Mark-antonio, and a Ship-master, two Chairs set out.
Give order all the Gallies with this tyde
Fall round, and near upon us; that the next wind
We may weigh off together, and recover
The Port of Bar[c]elona, without parting.
Till meat be ready, let's sit here and prepare
Our stomachs with discourses.
That owe their blushing years to gentle objects,
Tenderly bred, and brought up in all fulness,
Desire the stubborn wars?
That make their ease their god, and not their honor:
But noble General my end is other,
Desire of knowledge Sir, and hope of tying
Discretion to my time, which only shews me,
And not my years, a man, and makes that more
Which we call handsome, the rest is but Boys beauty,
And with the Boy consum'd.
For object, but for use: my strength for danger,
Which is the liberal part of man, not dalliance,
The wars must be my Mistress Sir.
You'll find her a rough wench.
She'll show the sweeter Sir.
Sometimes to take a tamer?
So she be handsome, and not ill condition'd.
You are pleas'd to appear to me, which shews well Signior,
A tougher soul than your few years can testifie:
Yet, my young Sir, out of mine own experience
When my spring was, I am able to confute ye,
And say, y' had rather come to th' shock of eies,
And boldly march up to your Mistriss mouth,
Then to the Cannons.
What kind of Woman, could you make best wars with?
Beauty in no more reverence?
I honor it, and next to honor, love it,
For there is only beauty; and that sweetness
That was first meant for modesty: sever it
And put it in one woman, it appears not,
'Tis of too rare a nature, she too gross
To mingle with it.
That cozens us for beauty, is but bravery,
An outward shew of things well set, no more:
For heavenly beauty, is as heaven it self Sir,
Too excellent for object, and what is seen
Is but the vail then, airy clouds; grant this
It may be seen, 'tis but like stars in twinklings.
Brought you to this experience: But what think ye
Of that fair red and white, which we call Beauty?
Because we like those colours, else 'tis certain
A blew face with a motley nose would do it;
And be as great a beauty, so we lov'd it;
That we cannot give, which is only beauty,
Is a fair Mind.
Are to no ends.
And that makes equal dealing: I love any
That's worth love.
Love stedfastly one woman?
Like riding in one rode perpetually,
It offers no variety.
He must needs make a Soldier; nor do you think
One Woman, can love one man?
Though it appear not often; they are things ignorant,
And therefore apted to that superstition
Of doting fondness; yet of late years Signior,
That worlds well mended with 'em, fewer are found now
That love at len[g]th, and to the right mark, all
Stir now [as] the time stirs; fame and fashion
Are ends they aim at now, and to make that love
That wiser ages held ambition;
They that cannot reach this may love by Index;
By every days surveying who best promises,
Who has done best, who may do, and who mended
May come to do again: who appear nearest
Either in new stampt clothes; or courtesies,
Done but from hand to mouth neither; nor love they these things
Longer than new are making, nor that succession
Beyond the next fair feather: Take the City,
There they go to't by gold weight, no gain from 'em
All they can work by fire and water to 'em,
Profit is all they point at, if there be love
'Tis shew'd ye by so dark a light, to bear out
The bracks and old stains in it, that ye may purchase
French Velvet better cheap, all loves are endless.
I meant it but for argument, as Schoolmen
Dispute high questions.
When young men dare determine what those are
Age and the best experience ne'r could aim at.
And they may read their fortunes without spectacles.
And the fit held till midnight.
I laid my hand upon my heart, and blest me
And then said over certain charms I had learn'd
Against mad dogs, for love and they are all one;
Last thought upon a windmil, and so slept,
And was well ever after.
What would your practise gain ye?
I mean to use my Art, and have these fools
Cut in the head like Cats, to save the kingdom,
Another Inquisition.
Out of the wars, I never knew yet practised.
Believe this, but as this you nam'd discourses.
To cosin time withal, for o' my troth Sir,
I can love; I think, well too; well enough
And think as well of women as they are,
Pretty fantastick things, some more regardful,
And some few worth a service: I am so honest,
I wish 'em all in heaven, and you know how hard Sir
'Twill be to get in there with their great farthingals.
For the best Galley I command.
If these discourses please ye, I shall fit ye
Once every day. [Knock within.
Below to dinner: ye are my Cabbin guest,
My bosom's, so you please Sir.
Scæna Quarta.
Enter second Host, and his Wife.