Actus Quartus. Scæna Prima.
Enter Shamont's Brother, the Soldier, and 1 Gentleman.
A passionate Mad-man.
I was never so dry beaten since I was born,
And by a litter of rogues, meer rogues, the whole twenty
Had not above [nine] elbows amongst 'em all too:
And the most part of those left-handed rascals,
The very vomit, Sir, of Hospitals,
Bridewels, and Spittle-houses; such nasty smellers,
That if they'd been unfurnish'd of Club-Truncheons,
They might have cudgell'd me with their very stinks,
It was so strong, and sturdy: and shall this,
This filthy injury, be set off with madness?
I'll deal no further in't: if you remember,
It was not come to blows, when I advis'd you.
And 'tis upon me, thank him: were he kin
To all the mighty Emperors upon earth,
He has not now in life three hours to reckon;
I watch but a free time.
Enter Shamont.
From thinking thee a brother, as I can
My tongue from naming on't: thou hast no friend here,
But fortune and thy own strength, trust to them.
Thy treachery, thy faithless circumvention:
Has Honor so few daughters, never fewer,
And must thou aim thy treachery at the best?
The very front of virtue, that blest Lady? the Dukes Sister?
Created more for admirations cause,
Than for loves ends; whose excellency sparkles
More in Divinity, than mortal beauty;
And as much difference 'twixt her mind and body,
As 'twixt this earths poor centre, and the Sun:
And could'st thou be so injurious to fair goodness,
Once to attempt to court her down to frailty?
Or put her but in mind that there is weakness,
Sin, and desire, which she should never hear of?
Wretch, thou'st committed worse than Sacriledge,
In the attempting on't, and ought'st to dye for't.
Provoke me not; for I've a wrong sits on me,
That makes me apt for mischief; [I] shall lose
All respects suddainly of friendship, Brother-hood,
Or any sound that way.
For I come with a two-edg'd injury;
Both my disgrace, and thy apparent falshood,
Which must [b]e dangerous.
Love starve me with delays, when I confess it not.
Can be a pennance fit for that confession.
Vice is a mighty stranger grown to courtship.
Enter 1 Gentleman, and others.
Here, hard at hand, upon my reputation.
Desires some conference with you.
As y'are Gentlemen.
Do a man justice? give me leave—
H'as sent twice for you.
Enter Duke.
How am I bound to loath you!
I sent twice.
Both times; I'd rather be found rude, than faithless.
But is more manly than some others virtue,
That lets it out only for shew or profit.
To a better end.
Better or worse, I thank your goodness for't.
And thankfulness in bloud, which well becomes
Both Prince and Subject, that where any wrong
Bears my impression, or the hasty figure
Of my repented anger, I'm a Law
Ev'n to my self, and doom my self most strictly
To Justice, and a noble satisfaction:
So that, what you, in tenderness of honor,
Conceive to be loss to you, which is nothing
But curious opinion, I'll restore agen,
Although I give you the best part of Genoa,
And take to boot but thanks for your amends.
Ten times more wretched than the wrong it self;
Never was ill better made good with worse:
Shall it be said, that my posterity
Shall live the sole heir[es] of their fathers shame?
And raise their wealth and glory from my stripes?
You have provided nobly, bounteous Sir,
For my disgrace, to make it live for ever,
Out-lasting Brass or Marble:
This is my fears construction, and a deep one,
Which neither argument nor time can alter:
Yet I dare swear, I wrong your goodness in't Sir,
And the most fair intent on't, which I reverence
With admiration, that in you a Prince,
Should be so sweet and temperate a condition,
To offer to restore where you may ruine,
And do't with justice, and in me a servant,
So harsh a disposition, that I cannot
Forgive where I should honor, and am bound to't.
But I have ever had that curiosity
In bloud, and tenderness of reputation
Such an antipathy against a blow,
I cannot speak the rest: Good Sir discharge me,
It is not fit that I should serve you more,
Nor come so near you; I'm made now for privacy,
And a retir'd condition, that's my suit:
To part from Court for ever, my last suit;
And as you profess bounty, grant me that Sir.
Of any opportunity: not riches
Can purchase him, nor honors, peaceably,
And force were brutish: what a great worth's gone with him,
And but a Gentleman? well, for his sake,
I'll ne'er offend more, those I cannot make;
They were his words, and shall be dear to memory.
Say I desire to see him once agen;
Yet stay, he's so well forward of his peace,
'Twere pity to disturb him: he would groan
Like a soul fetch'd agen; and that were injury,
And I've wrong'd his degree too much already.
Call forth the Gentlem[e]n of our chamber instantly.
And therefore will prevent: the strain of this
Troubles me so, one would not hazard more.
Enter 1 Gent, and divers others.
Y'are Gentlemen, your worths will find you fortunes;
Nor shall your farewell taxe me of ingratitude.
I'll give you all noble remembrances,
As testimonies 'gainst reproach and malice,
That you departed lov'd.
Men more insensible of reputation,
Less curious and precise in terms of honor,
That if my anger chance let fall a stroke,
As we are all subject to impetuous passions,
Yet it may pass unmurmur'd, undisputed;
And not with braver fury prosecuted. [Exit.
And so much shall be yours when you please.
Of some foul fault, through ignorance committed.
I shall be dis-inherited, I know so much.
He'll form faults for me, and then swear 'em mine,
And commonly the first begins with leachery,
He knows his own youths trespass.
I'll come and take my leave, and tell you all Sirs.
And parcel valiant; but it's hard to be perfect:
The choosing of these fellows now will puzle me,
Horribly puzle me; and there's no judgement
Goes true upon mans outside, there's the mischief:
He must be touch'd, and try'd, for gold or dross;
There is no other way for't, and that's dangerous too;
But since I'm put in trust, [I] will attempt it:
The Duke shall keep one daring man about him.
Enter a Gallant.
Every one goes so like a Gentleman,
'Tis hard to find a difference, but by th' touch.
I'll try your mettal sure.
I understand it for a box o'th' ear Sir.
A jolly threat'ning Coward; he shall be Captain:
Sir, let me meet you an hour hence i'th' Lobby.
And meet me, or I'll box you while I have you,
And carry you gambril'd thither like a Mutton.
I will not fail you.
Indeed I never yet took box o'th' ear,
But it redounded, I must needs say so—
Look how he grins, I've anger'd him to th' kidneys. [Ex.
One might have beat him dumb now in this humor,
And he'd ha' grin'd it out still:
Enter a plain fellow.
Methinks looks like a Craven;
Less pains will serve his trial: some slight justle.
And if that content you not—
For you have not lost by't. [Exit.
I'll never trust long chins and little legs agen,
I'll know 'em sure for Gentlemen hereafter:
A gristle but in shew, but gave his cuff
With such a fetch, and reach of gentry,
As if h' had had his arms before the floud;
I have took a villanous hard taske upon me;
Now I begin to have a feeling on't.
Enter Lapet, and Clown his servant, and so habited.
The millions of punches, spurns, and nips
That he has endur'd! his buttock's all black Lead,
He's half a Negro backward; he was past a Spaniard
In Eighty eight, and more Ægyptian like;
His Table and his Book come both out shortly,
And all the cowards in the Town expect it;
So, if I fail of my full number now,
I shall be sure to find 'em at Church corners,
Where Dives, and the suff'ring Ballads hang.
Of so meek a spirit, thou mayst live with me,
Till better times do smile on thy deserts.
I am glad I am got home again.
You'll keep me from the Hospital.
And with great T's, (you vermin) as Thumps should be.
All in Italica, you Hermaphrodite:
When shall I teach you wit?
Till you have some your self, Sir.
I'm kept from mumbling. [Exit.
Which had been proper for some drunken Pamphlet.
Your name sounds far and near.
I've heard you wish these five years for a place.
Now there's one fall'n, and freely without money too;
And empty yet, and yet you cannot have't.
Rather than go without Sir.
The troth is, there's no Gentleman must have it
Either for love or money, 'tis decreed so;
I was heartily sorry when I thought upon you,
Had you not been a Gentleman, I had fitted you.
Did not my Grand-father cry Cony-skins?
My Father Aquavitæ? a hot Gentleman:
All this I speak on, i' your time and memory too;
Only a rich Uncle dy'd, and left me chattels,
You know all this so well too—
That serve to thrust in wild-Fowl.
(As Women love these Heralds kickshawes naturally)
I bought 'em: but what are they think you? puffs.
Which is La fart, after the English Letter.
Why, 'tis the only thing that puzles the devil.
And having well compar'd it, this he gave me,
The two Cholliques playing upon a wind Instrument.
How does he express the Cholliques?
They are hard things.
There's nothing better, Sir, to blaze a Chollique.
Shall make me one: he shall not think
To put his gripes upon me,
And wring out gentry so, and ten pound first.
If the wind Instrument will make my wife one,
Let her enjoy't, for she was a Harpers Grand-child:
But Sir, for my particular, I renounce it.
Of thinking toward a Gentleman, now.
If one should twit me i'th' teeth that I'm a Gentleman,
Twit me their worst, I am but one since Lammas,
That I can prove, if they would see my heart out.
Enter Clown.
Has not his name for nought, he will be trode upon:
What says my Printer now?
You shall have perfect Books now in a twinkling.
Blows should have marks, or else they are nothing worth.
A scare-crow had been better.
Did not I say, this Whirrit, and this Bob,
Should be both Pica Roman.
And he has made 'em Welch Bills,
Indeed I know not what to make on 'em.
Souse is a bona roba, so is Flops too.
The other in a Gallery: I asked him all these questions.
Prethee Lapet mind me, you never told me yet.
And the downfall of the Duello.
And do your Countrey service: your young blouds
Will thank you then, why they see fourscore.
To save my hundred Gentlemen a month by't,
Which will be very good for the private house.
Here's all your Blows, and Blow-men whatsoever;
Set in their lively colours, givers, and takers.
The standing of the takers, I admire more than the givers;
They stand scornfully, most contumeliously, I like not them,
Oh here's one cast into a comely Figure.
Stoops like a Cammel, that Heroick beast,
At a great load of Nutmegs; and how meekly
This other fellow here receives his Whirrit!
Taking his kick in private, behind the hangings,
And raising up his hips to't. But oh, Sir,
How daintily this man lies trampled on!
Would I were in thy place, what e'er thou art:
How lovely he endures it!
What e'er it be; I know not what 'tis yet.
For your grace, specially: For the Dukes Cosin
Is by this time in's violent fit of mirth,
And a device must be sought out for suddainly,
To over-cloy the passion.
I'll fit you with my Scholars, new practitioners,
Endurers of the time.