Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10

Ses. Now we have got free credit with the Captain.

Mast. Soft, soft, he's here again: Is not that Lady—
Or have I lost mine eyes? a salt rhume seizes 'em;
But I should know that face.

Bots. Make him not madder,
Let him forget the woman; steer a lar-board.

Mast. He will not kill her.

Bots. Any thing he meets;
He's like a Hornet now, he hums, and buzzes;
Nothing but blood and horror.

Mast. I would save the Lady,
For such another Lady.

Bots. There's the point;
And you know there want women of her mettle.

Mast. 'Tis true, they bring such children now,
Such demilancies,
Their fathers socks will make them Christning clothes.

Gun. No more, they view us.

Ses. You shall play a while,
And sun your self in this felicity,
You shall you glorious whore, I know you still.
But I shall pick an hour when most securely—
I say no more.

Ron. Do you see those? those are they
Shall act your will; come hither my good fellows:
You are now the Kings. Are they not goodly fellows?

Mart. They have bone enough, if they have stout heart to it.

Mast. Still the old wench.

Sess. Pray Captain, let me ask you
What Noble Lady's that? 'tis a rude question,
But I desire to know.

Ron. She is for the King, Sir;
Let that suffice for answer.

Sess. Is she so Sir?
In good time may she curse it.
Must I breed hackneys for his grace?

Ron. What wouldst thou do
To merit such a Ladies favor?

Sess. Any thing.

Ron. That can supply thy wants, and raise thy fortunes?

Ses. Let her command, and see what I dare execute.
I keep my conscience here; if any man
Oppose her will, and she would have him humbled,
Whole families between her and her wishes—

Mast. We have seen bleeding throats sir, Cities sackt;
And infants stuck upon their pikes.

Botes. Houses a fire, and handsome mothers weeping.

Ses. Which we have heaped upon the pile like sacrifices.
Churches and Altars, Priests and all devotions,
Tumbled together into one rude Chaos.

Gun. We know no fear Sir, but want of imployment.

Sess. Nor other faith but what our purses preach.
To gain our ends we can do any thing,
And turn our souls into a thousand figures;
But when we come to do—

Mart. I like these fellows.

Ron. Be ready and wait here within this hour
I'll shew you to the King, and he shall like ye:
And if you can devise some entertainment
To fill his mirth, such as your Countrey uses,
Present it, and I'll see it grac'd.
After this Comicke Scene we shall imploy you,
For one must dye.

Sess. What is he sir? speak boldly,
For we dare boldly do.

Ron. This Ladies husband;
His name is Virolet.

Sess. We shall dispatch it. [Exit Martia, Ronvere.
O damned, damned thing: a base whore first:
And then a murtherer, I'll look to you.

Bots. Can she be grown so strange?

Ses. She has an itch;
I'll scratch you my dear daughter, I'll so claw you;
I'll curry your hot hide; married and honour'd?
And turn those holy blessings into brothels?
Your beauty into blood? I'll hunt your hotness.
I'll hunt you like a train.

Mast. We did all pitty her.

Ses. Hang her, she is not worth mans memory;
She's false and base, and let her fright all stories.
Well, though thou beest mine enemy, I'll right thee,
And right thee Nobly.

Bots. Faith sir, since she must go,
Let's spare as few as may be.

Ses. We'll take all,
And like a torrent sweep the slaves before us.
You dare endure the worst?

Mast. You know our hearts sir,
And they shall bleed the last, ere we start from ye.

Gun. We can but dye, and ere we come to that,
We shall pick out some few examples for us.

Ses. Then wait the first occasion, and like Curtius,
I'll leap the gulph before you, fearless leap it:
Then follow me like men, and if our virtues
May buoy our Countrey up, and set her shining
In her first state; our fair revenges taken,
We have our noble ends or else our ashes. [Exeunt.

Actus V. Scæna Prima.

Enter Ascanio, and Martia above.

Mart. As you are noble, keep me from discovery,
And let me only run a strangers fortune;
For when the King shall find I am his daughter
He ever holds most ominous, and hates most:
With what eyes can he look, how entertain me,
But with his fears and cruelties?

Asc. I have found you,
Suspect not, I am bound to what you like best,
What you intend, I dare not be so curious
To question now, and what you are, lies hid here.

Enter Ferrand and Ronvere above.

The King comes, make your fortune, I shall joy in't.

Ron. All things are ready sir to make you merry,
And such a King, you shall behold him now.

Fer. I long for't,
For I have need of mirth.

Ron. The Lady sir.

Fer. Now as I am a King, a sprightly beauty,
A goodly sweet aspect! my thanks Ronvere,
My best thanks; on your lips I seal your wishes,
Be what you can; imagine mine, and happy.
And now sit down and smile; come my Ascanio;
And let this Monarch enter.

Enter Sess. and Mr. B[o]tsw. Gunner, and Saylors.

Ronv. These are the Switzers:
I told your grace of.

Fer. Goodly promising fellows,
With faces to keep fools in awe, I like 'em;
Go guard the presence well, and do your duties,
To morrow I shall take a farther view:

Sess. You shall Sir,
Or I shall loose my will; how the whore's mounted!
How she sits thron'd! thou blasing muddy meteor,
That frightest the under world with lustful flashes,
How I shall dash thy flames! away, no word more.

[Ex. Sess. and his company. Florish Cor.

Enter Villio, Castruchio, Doctor, and a Guard.

Fer. Now, here he comes in glory; be merry Masters,
A Banquet too? [meat conveyed away.

Ron. O, he must sit in State Sir!

Asca. How rarely he is usher'd! can he think now
He is a King indeed?

Ron. Mark but his countenance.

Cast. Let me have pleasures infinite, and to the height,
And women in abundance, many women,

Enter Ladies.

I will disport my grace,
Stand there and long for me.
What have ye brought me here? is this a Feast
Fit for a Prince? a mighty Prince? are these things,
These preparations, ha?

Doct. May it please your grace?

Cast. It does not please my grace: where are the Marchpanes,
The Custards double royal, and the subtilties?
Why, what weak things are you to serve a Prince thus?
Where be the delicates oth' earth and ayr?
The hidden secrets of the Sea? am I a plow-man,
You pop me up with porridge? hang the Cooks.

Fer. O most Kingly:
What a Majestick anger!

Cast. Give me some wine.

Asca. He cools agen now.

Cast. Fool where are my Players?
Let me have all in pomp; let 'em play some love matter,
To make the Ladies itch, I'll be with you anon Ladies;
You black eyes, I'll be with you.
Give me some wine I say,
And let me have a Masque of Cuckolds enter:
Of mine own Cuckolds,
And let them come in, peeping and rejoycing
Just as I kiss their wives, and somewhat glorying.
Some wine I say, then for an excellent night-piece,
To shew my glory to my loves, and minions,
I will have some great Castle burnt.

Vil. Hark you brother:
If that be to please these Ladies, ten to one
The fire first takes upon your own, look to that;
Then you may shew a night piece.

Cast. Where's this wine?
Why shall I choak? do ye long all to be tortur'd?

Doct. Here Sir.

Cast. Why, what is this? why Doctor.

Doct. Wine and water Sir.
'Tis Soveraign for your heat, you must endure it.

Vil. Most excellent to cool your night-piece Sir.

Doct. You are of a high and cholerick complexion,
And you must have allayes.

Cast. Shall I have no sheere wine then?

Doct. Not for a world: I tender your dear life Sir;
And he is no faithful subject—

Vil. No, by no means:
Of this you may drink, and never hang, nor quarter,
Nor never whip the fool, this liquors merciful.

Cast. I will sit down and eat then: Kings when th' are hungry,
May eat I hope?

Doct. Yes, but they eat discreetly.

Cast. Come, tast this dish, and cut me liberally;
I like sauce well.

Doct. Fie 'tis too hot Sir:
Too deeply season'd with the spice, away wi'th't,
You must acquaint your stomach with those dyets
Are temperately nourishing.

Cast. But pray stay Doctor,
And let me have my meat again.

Doct. By no means:
I have a charge concerns my life.

Cast. No meat neither;
Do Kings never eat Doctor?

Doct. Very little Sir.
And that too very choice.

Vil. Your King never sleeps Brother,
He must not sleep, his cares still keep him waking.
Now he that eats and drinks much is a dormouse;
The third part of a wafer is a weeks diet.

Cast. Appoint me something then.

Doct. There.

Cast. This I feel good,
But it melts too suddainly; yet, how, that gone too!
Ye are not mad! I charge you. [take away.

Doct. For your health Sir,
A little quickens nature, much depresses.

Cast. Eat nothing for my health? that's a new dyet,
Let me have something, something has some savor.
Why thou uncourteous Doctor, shall I hang thee?

Doct. 'Tis better Sir than I should let you surfeit,
My death were nothing.

Vil. To loose a King, were terrible.

Cast. Nay, then I'll carve my self, I'll stay no ceremonies.
This is a Patridge Pye, I am sure that's nourishing,
Or Galen is an Ass: 'tis rarely season'd:
Ha Doctor have I hit right? a mark a mark there? [take away.

Vil. What ails thy grace?

Cast. Retriv those Patridges.
Or as I am a King—

Doct. Pray Sir be patient,
They are flowen too far.

Vil. These are breath'd pyes an't please you,
And your hawkes are such Buzards.

Cast. A King and have nothing,
Nor can have nothing!

Vil. What think you of pudding?
A pudding Royal?

Cast. To be royally starv'd,
Whip me this fool to death; he is a blockhead.

Vil. Let 'em think they whip me, as we think you a King:
'Twill be enough.

Cast. As for your dainty Doctor, the Table taken away,
All gone, all snatch'd away, and I unsatisfied,
Without my wits being a King and hungry?
Suffer but this thy treason? I tell thee Doctor.
I tell it thee, in earnest, and in anger,
I am damnably hungry, my very grace is hungry.

Vil. A hungry grace is fittest to no meal Sir.

Doct. Some two hours hence, you shall see more: but still Sir
You must retain an excellent and strict dyet.

Vil. It sharpens you, and makes your wit so poynant, Sir
Your very words will kill.

Doct. A bit of Marmalade
No bigger than a Pease.

Vil. And that well butter'd,
The ayr thrice purified, and three times spirited,
Becomes a King: your rare conserve of nothing
Breeds no offence.

Cast. Am I turn'd King Camelion,
And keep my Court i'th' ayr?

Fer. They vex him cruelly.

Asca. In two days more they'll starve him.

Fer. Now the women, there's no food left but they.

Asca. They'll prove small nourishment.
Yet h'as another stomach and a great one,
I see by his eye.

Cast. I'll have mine own power here;
Mine own Authority; I need no tutor.
Doctor this is no dyet.

Doct. It may be Sir.

Vil. Birlady, it may turn to a dry dyet;
And how thy grace, will ward that—

Cast. Stand off Doctor;
And talk to those that want faith.

Fer. Hot and mighty.

Asca. He will cool apace, no doubt.

Cast. Fair, plump, and red,
A forehead high, an eye revives the dead;
A lip like ripest fruit, inviting still.

Vil. But O, the rushy well, below the hill,
Take heed of that, for though it never fail
Take heed I say, for thereby hangs a tail.

Cast. I'll get ye all with Child.

Vil. With one Child Brother,
So many men in a Blew Coat.

Cast. Had I fed well,
And drunk good store of wine, ye had been blest all,
Blest all with double Births; come kiss me greedily,
And think no more upon your foolish Husbands,
They are transitory things: a Kings fame meets you.

Doct. Vanish away. [Ex. Women.

Cast. How, they gone too? my guard there:
Take me this devil Doctor, and that fool there,
And sow 'em in a sack; bring back the women,
The lovely women, drown these rogues or hang 'em.

Asca. He is in earnest Sir.

Enter Sess. Master, Boatsw. Gunner and Saylors.

Fer. In serious earnest,
I must needs take him off.

Sess. Now, now be free.
Now liberty, now Countrey-men shake from ye
The Tyrants yoke.
All liberty, liberty, liberty.

Guard. Treason, treason, treason.

Fer. We are betray'd, fly to the Town, cry treason,
And raise our faithful friends; O my Ascanio.

Asca. Make hast, we have way enough.

Guard. Treason, treason. [Ex. Fer. Asca. and guard.

Sess. Spare none, put all to th' sword: a vengeance shake thee;
Art thou turn'd King again?

Cast. I am a Rascal:
Spare me but this time, if ever I see King more,
Or once believe in King.

Sess. The ports are ours.
The treasure and the port, fight bravely Gentlemen;
Cry to the Town, cry liberty and honor;

[crying liberty and freedom within.

Waken their persecuted souls, cry loudly,
We'll share the wealth among ye.

Cast. Do you hear Captain?
If ever you hear me, name a King.

Sess. You shall not.

Cast. Or though I live under one, obey him.

Gun. This Rogue again.

Sess. Away with him good Gunner.

Cast. Why look ye Sir? I'll put you to no charge;
I'll never eat.

Gun. I'll take a course, you shall not,
Come, no more words.

Enter Boatsw[a]ine.

Cast. Say nothing when you kill me.

Sess. He's taken to the Towers strength;
Now stand sure Gentlemen.
We have him in a pen, he cannot scape us,
The rest oth'Castle's ours; liberty, liberty:
What is this City up?

Boatsw. They are up and glorious,
And rouling like a storm they come; their Tents
Ring nothing but liberty and freedome.
The women are in Arms too.

Sess. Let 'em come all.
Honour and liberty.

All. Honor and liberty. [Exeunt.

Enter Juliana.

Jul. This woman threats, her eyes, even red with fury
Which like prodigious meteors, foretold
Assur'd destruction, are still before me.
Besides I know such natures unacquainted
With any mean, or in their love, or hatred,
And she that dar'd all dangers to possess him,
Will check at nothing, to revenge the loss
Of what she held so dear, I first discover'd
Her bloody purposes, which she made good,
And openly profess'd 'em; that in me
Was but a cold affection; charity
Commands so much to all; for Virolet
Methinks I should forget my Sexes weakness,
Rise up, and dare beyond a womans strength;
Then do, not counsel: he is too secure,
And in my judgment, 'twere a greater service
To free him from a deadly Enemy,
Then to get him a friend. I undertook too,
To cross her plots, oppos'd my piety,
Against her malice; and shall vertue suffer?
No Martia, wer't thou here equally armed,
I have cause, spite of thy masculine breeding,
That would assure the victory: my angel
Direct and help me.

Enter Virolet, like Ronvere.

Vir. The State in Combustion,
Part of the Cittadel forc'd, the treasure seiz'd on;
The guards corrupted, arm themselves against
Their late protected Master; Ferrant fled too,
And with small strength, into the Castle's Tower,
The only Aventine, that now is left him!
And yet the undertakers, nay, performers,
Of such a brave and glorious enterprize,
Are yet unknown: they did proceed like men,
I like a child; and had I never trusted
So deep a practice unto shallow fools,
Besides my souls peace, in my Juliana,
The honor of this action had been mine,
In which, accurs'd, I now can claim no share.

Jul. Ronvere! 'tis he, a thing, next to the devil
I most detest and like him terrible;
Martia's right hand, the instrument I fear too,
That is put to her bloody will, into act.
Have I not will enough, and cause too mighty?
Weak womens fear, fly from me.

Vir. Sure this habit,
This likeness to Ronvere, which I have studied,
Either admits me safe to my design,
Which I too cowardly have halted after,
And suffer'd to be ravisht from my glory;
Or sinks me and my miseries together;
Either concludes me happy.

Jul. He stands musing,
Some mischief is now hatching:
In the full meditation, of his wickedness,
I'll sink his cursed soul: guide my hand heaven,
And to my tender arm give strength, and fortune,
That I may do a pious deed, all ages
Shall bless my name for; all remembrance crown me.

Vir. It shall be so.

Jul. It shall not, take that token,
And bear it to the lustful arms of Martia,
Tell her, for Virolets dear sake, I sent it.

Vir. O I am happy, let me see thee,
That I may bless the hand that gave me liberty,
O courteous hand, nay thou hast done most nobly,
And heaven has guided thee, 'twas their great justice;
O blessed wound that I could come to kiss thee!
How beautiful, and sweet thou shew'st!

Jul. Oh!

Vir. Sigh not,
Nor weep not dear, shed not those sovereign Balsames
Into my blood; which must recover me;
Then I shall live again, to do a mischief,
Against the mightiness of love and virtue,
Some base unhallowed hand shall rob thy right of.
Help me, I faint: so.

Jul. O unhappy wench!
How has my zeal abus'd me; you that guard virtue,
Were ye asleep? or do you laugh at innocence?
You suffer'd this mistake? O my dear Virolet!
An everlasting curse follow that forme
I strook thee in, his name be ever blasted:
For his accursed shadow has betray'd
The sweetness of all youth, the nobleness,
The honour, and the valor; wither'd for ever
The beauty and the bravery of all mankind:
O my dull, devils eyes.

Vir. I do forgive you,
By this, and this I do; I know you were cozen'd;
The shadow of Ronvere, I know you aym'd at,
And not at me; but 'twas most necessary,
I should be struck, some hand above directed you:
For Juliana could not shew her justice
Without depriving high heaven of his glory,
Or any subject fit for her, but Virolet:
Forgive me too, and take my last breath sweet one,
This the new marriage of our souls together;
Think of me Juliana, but not often,
For fear my faults should burthen your affections,
Pray for me, for I faint.

Jul. O stay a little,
A little little Sir. [Offers to kill her self.

Vir. Fye Juliana.

Jul. Shall I outlive the virtue, I have murder'd?

Vir. Hold, or thou hat'st my peace, give me the dagger,
On your obedience, and your love, deliver it.
If you do thus; we shall not meet in heaven sweet;
No guilty blood comes there; kill your intentions,
And then you conquer: there where I am going,
Would you not meet me Dear?

Jul. Yes.

Vir. And still love me?

Jul. And still behold you.

Vir. Live then till heaven calls you.
Then ripe and full of sweetness you rise sainted.
Then I that went before you to prepare,
Shall meet and welcome you, and daily court you
With Hymnes of holy Love—I go out,
Give me your hand, farewell, in peace farewell,
Remember me, farewell. [dyes.

Jul. Sleep you sweet glasses,
An everlasting slumber crown those Chrystals,
All my delight adue, farewell, Dear Virolet,
Dear, Dear, most Dear; O I can weep no more,
My body now is fire, and all consuming,
Here will I sit, forget the world and all things,
And only wait what heaven shall turn me to,
For now methinks I should not live. [She sits down.

Enter Pandulfo.

P[a]nd. O my sweet daughter,
The work is finisht now, I promis'd thee:
Here are thy virtues shewed, here register'd,
And here shall live for ever.

Jul. Blot it, burn it,
I have no virtue, hateful I am as hell is.

Pand. Is not this Virolet?

Jul. Ask no more questions,
Mistaking him I kill'd him.

Pand. O my Son,
Nature turns to my heart again, my dear Son,
Son of my age, would'st thou go out so quickly?
So poorly take thy leave, and never see me?
Was this a kind stroak daughter? could you love him?
Honour his Father, and so deadly strike him?
O wither'd timeless youth, are all thy promises,
Thy goodly growth of Honors come to this?
Do I halt still i'th' world, and trouble nature,
When her main pieces founder, and fail dayly?

Enter Boy, and three Servants.

Boy. He does weep certain: what bodie's that lies by him?
How do you do Sir?

Pand. O look there Lucio,
Thy Master, thy best Master.

Boy. Woe is me.
They have kill'd him, slain him basely, O my Master!

Pand. Well daughter well; what heart had you to do this?
I know he did you wrong; but 'twas his fortune,
And not his fault, for my sake that have lov'd you,
But I see now you scorn me too.

Boy. O Mistress?
Can you [si]t there, and his cold body breathless?
Basely upon the earth?

Pand. Let her alone Boy,
She glories in his end.

Boy. You shall not sit here,
And suffer him you loved—ha! good Sir come hither,
Come hither quickly, heave her up; O heaven Sir,
O God, my heart, sh's cold; cold and stiff too:
Stiff as a stake, she's dead.

Pand. She's gone, nere bend her.
I know her heart, she could not want his company:
Blessing go with thy soul, sweet Angels shadow it
O, that I were the third now, what a happiness!
But I must live, to see you layd in earth both,
Then build a Chapel to your memories,
Where all my wealth shall fashion out your stories.
Then dig a little grave besides, and all's done.
How sweet she looks, her eyes are open smiling,
I thought she had been alive, you are my charge Sir,
And amongst you, I'll see his goods distributed.
Take up the bodies, mourn in heart my friends,
You have lost two noble succors; follow me,
And thou sad Countrey, weep this misery. [Exeunt.

Enter Sess. Boatswaine, Master, Gunner, Citizens, and Souldiers, as many as may be.

Sess. Keep the Ports strongly mann'd, and let none enter,
But such as are known Patriots.

All. Liberty, liberty.

Sess. 'Tis a substantial thing, and not a word
You men of Naples, which if once taken from us,
All other blessings leave us; 'tis a jewel
Worth purchasing, at the dear rate of life,
And so to be defended. O remember
What you have suffer'd, since you parted with it;
And if again you wish not to be slaves,
And properties to Ferrand's pride and lust,
Take noble courage, and make pe[r]fect what
Is happily begun.

1. Cit. Our great preserver,
You have infranchis'd us, from wretched bondage.

2. Cit. And might be known, to whom we owe our freedom,
We to the death would follow him.

3. Cit. Make him King,
The Tyrant once remov'd.

Sess. That's not my end.
'Twas not ambition that brought me hither,
With these my faithful friends, nor hope of spoil;
For when we did possess the Tyrants treasure,
By force extorted from you, and employed,
To load you with most miserable thraldome,
We did not make it ours, but with it purchas'd
The help of these, to get you liberty,
That for the same price kept you in subjection.
Nor are we Switzers, worthy Countrey-men,
But Neapolitans, now eye me well;
And tho the reverend Emblems of mine age,
My silver locks are shorne, my beard cut off,
Partaking yet of an adulterate Colour;
Tho 14 years you have not seen this face,
You may remember it, and call to mind,
There was a Duke of Sess, A much wrong'd Prince,
Wrong'd by this Tyrant Ferrand.

1. Cit. Now I know him.

2. Cit. 'Tis he, long live the Duke of Sess.

Sess. I thank you.
The injuries I receiv'd, I must confess,
Made me forget the love I owed this Country,
For which I hope, I have given satisfaction,
In being the first that stir'd, to give it freedome;
And with your loves and furtherance, will call back,
Long banisht peace, and plenty, to this people.

2. Cit. Lead where you please, we'll follow.

1. Cit. Dare all dangers.

Enter Pandulf, the Bodies of Virolet, and Juliana upon a Hearse.

Sess. What solemn funeral's this?

Pand. There rest a while,
And if't be possible there can be added
Wings to your swift desire of just revenge,
Hear, (if my tears will give way to my words)
In brief a most sad story.

Sess. Speak, what are they?
I know thee well Pandulfe.

Pand. My best Lord?
As far as sorrow will give leave, most welcome;
This Virolet was, and but a Son of mine,
I might say, the most hopeful of our Gentry;
And though unfortunate, never ignoble:
But I'll speak him no farther. Look on this,
This face, that in a savage would move pitty,
The wonder of her Sex, and having said
'Tis Juliana, Eloquence will want words
To set out her deservings; this blest Lady
That did indure the Rack, to save her Husband,
That Husband, who, in being forc'd to leave her,
Indur'd a thousand tortures; by what practise,
I know not, (but 'twas sure a cunning one)
Are made, the last I hope, but sad examples
Of Ferrands tyranny. Convey the bodies hence.

Sess. Express your sorrow
In your revenge, not teares, my worthy Soldiers:
That fertile earth that teem'd so many children,
To feed his cruelty, in her wounded wombe,
Can hardly now receive 'em.

Boats. We are cold,
Cold walls shall not keep him from us.

Gun. Were he cover'd with mountains, and room only for a
Bullet to be sent level at him, I would speed him.

M[r]. Let's scale this petty Tower; at Sea we are Falcons,
And fly unto the main top in a moment.
What then can stop us here?

1 Cit. We'll tear him piece-meal.

2 Cit. Or eat a passage to him.

Ses. Let discretion
Direct your anger; that's a victory,
Which is got with least loss, let us make ours such:
And therefore friends, while we hold parley here,
Raise your scalado on the other side,
But enter'd wreak your suffrings.

[Exit Saylors and Soldiers.

Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10

About This Book

Actus V. Scæna Prima.