Actus Tertius. Scæna Prima.
Enter Thierry, and Ordella, as from bed.
The tears of Mandrake, and the Marble dew,
Mixt in my draught, have quencht my natural heat,
And left no spark of fire, but in mine eyes,
With which I may behold my miseries:
Ye wretched flames which play upon my sight,
Turn inward, make me all one piece, though earth.
My tears shall over-whelm you else too.
If any late discerned want in me,
Give cause to your repentance, care and duty
Shall find a painful way to recompence.
Whose temperate heat would make the North Star reel,
Her Icy pillars thaw'd, and do you not melt?
Draw nearer, yet nearer,
That from thy barren kiss thou maist confess
I have not heat enough to make a blush.
Who wants the tongue and organs of his voice?
From you, with that you now deliver.
Who hath no other sense left open, why should thy words
Find more restraint than thy free speaking actions,
Thy close embraces, and thy midnight sighs
The silent Orators to slow desire?
Which must be lost in knowledge: heaven can witness
My farthest hope of good, reacht at your pleasure,
Which seeing alone, may in your look be read:
Add not a doubtful comment to a text
That in it self is direct and easie.
Or did upbraided nature make this pair
To shew she had not quite forgot her first
Justly prais'd Workmanship, the first chast couple
Before the want of joy, taught guilty sight
A way through shame and sorrow to delight:
Say, may we mix, as in their innocence
When Turtles kist, to confirm happiness,
Not to beget it.
And says the name of Wife did promise thee
The blest reward of duty to thy mother,
Who gave so often witness of her joy,
When she did boast thy likeness to her Husband.
Was only worthy of my Virgin loss;
And should I prize you less, unpattern'd Sir?
Then being exemplify'd, is't not more honor
To be possessor of unequall'd virtue,
Than what is paralell'd? give me belief,
The name of mother knows no way of good,
More than the end in me: who weds for Lust
Is oft a widow: when I married you,
I lost the name of Maid to gain a Title
Above the wish of change, which that part can
Only maintain, is still the same in man,
His virtue and his calm society,
Which no gray hairs can threaten to dissolve
Nor wrinkles bury.
That part of reason from me, is only left
To give perswasion to me, I'm a man:
Or say thou hast never seen the Rivers haste
With gladsome speed, to meet th' amorous sea.
Pursue each other through the wanton lawns,
And lik'd the sport.
With weary knots, binding their harmless eyes.
One of the pair, your hands wont hourly feed,
So often clipt and kist her happy mate.
Whose absence only gave her mourning voice.
Bind your loose spirits to one, nay, such a one
Whom only eyes and ears must flatter good,
Your surer sence made useless, my self, nay
As in my all of good, already known.
Where never eye may reach me, but your own;
And when I shall repent, but in my looks, if sigh.
Ask if it be St. Valentine, their coupling day.
Of knowing any happiness but you,
Divorce me, by the Title of Most Falshood.
Posterity henceforth, lose the name of blessing
And leave the earth inhabited to people heaven.
Enter Theodoret, Brunhalt, Martel, Protaldye.
Shall be the period of all good mens wishes,
Which friends, nay dying Fathers shall bequeath,
And in my one give all: is there a duty
Belongs to any power of mine, or love
To any virtue I have right to? here, place it here,
Ordella's name shall only bear command,
Rule, Title, Sovereignty.
The travel of your bloud made possible
To my glad being.
Little to her, he is so light hearted.
If wealth to want inlarge the present sense,
My joyes are unbounded, instead of question
Let it be envy, not bring a present
To the high offering of our mirth, Banquets, and Masques;
Keep waking our delights, mocking nights malice,
Whose dark brow would fright pleasure from us,
Our Court be but one st[a]ge of Revels, and each [e]ye
The Scene where our content moves.
Nothing to express our shares in your delight, Sir.
Of Widower.
My Ordella, this chamber is a sphere
Too narrow for thy all-moving virtue.
Make way, free way I say;
Who must alone, her Sexes want supply,
Had need to have a room both large and high.
How could I be thus happy?
The best of men in full ability,
Can only hope to satisfie a wife,
And for that hope ridiculous, I in my want
And such defective poverty, that to her bed
From my first Cradle brought no strength but thought,
Have met a temperance beyond hers that rockt me,
Necessity being her bar; where this
Is so much sensless of my depriv'd fire;
She knows it not a loss by her desire.
The unripe Virgins of our age, to hear't
Will dream themselves to women, and convert
Th' example to a miracle.
But what [i]ll can be separate from ambition?
Cruel Theodoret.
Who loving the effect, would not be strange
In favouring the cause; look on the profit,
And gain will quickly point the mischief out.
Is shame and care.
I grant you; but from such a wife, such virtue
To get an heir, what hermet would not find
Deserving argument to break his vow
Even in his age of chastity?
Have you heard of one Forts?
Who lives hard by retir'd.
Of your nativity; fools are amaz'd at fate,
Griefs but conceal'd are never desperate.
Without the satisfaction of his Art. [Exit Thierry.
Enter Lecure.
Being secure and easie, falling just
Behind the state set for Theodoret.
You know Leforte's Cell.
To raise Protaldie's credit.
Others shall find their graves, think themselves sound,
Your ear, and quickest apprehension. [Exeunt.
Enter Bawdber and a servant.
I [lo]ve no noise in my head, my brains have hitherto
Been imploy'd in silent businesses.
Enter Devitry.
Devitry, I take it.
I will gladly redeem it, to make you wholly mine.
To me, howsoever you please to forget acquaintance.
You have been a soldier Devitry and born[e] Arms.
to get me a stomach to my dinner.
have built on an unwholsome ground, rais'd up a house, before
I knew a Tenant, matcht to meet weariness, sought to find
want and hunger.
for meat, Sir, nay, if I had not withdrawn e'r now, I might
have kept thee; fast with you: but since the way to thrive
is never late, what is the nearest course to profit think you?
but one.
further yet, further, there is fifty crowns, do but as much
to Protaldye the Queens favorite, they are doubled.
and in his drawing make way, like a true bawd to his
valour, the s[um]'s thy own; if you take a scratch in the arm
or so, every drop of bloud weighs down a ducket.
kingdom. Sir, you have made me blush to see my want,
whose cure is such a cheap and easie purchase, this is Male-bawdry
belike.
Enter Protaldy, a Lady, and Revellers.
Bawdb. See, you shall not be long earning your wages, your work's before your eyes.
Vitry. Leave it to my handling, I'll fall upon't instantly.
Bawdb. What opinion will the managing of this affair
With apprehension on't:
Whose sights are able to dissolve Virginity.
Speak freely, do you not envy the Brides felicity?
The taste stands from your pallat; if he impart
By day so much of his content, think what night gave?
Vitry. Will you have a relish of wit, Lady?
Bawdb. This is the man.
Lady. If it be not dear, Sir.
Vitry. If you affect cheapness, how can you prize this sullied ware so much? mine is fresh, my own, not retail'd.
Pro. You are saucy, sirrah.
Vitry. The fitter to be in the dish with such dry Stock-fish as you are, how, strike?
Bawdb. Remember the condition as you look for payment.
What a blow is this to my reputation!
Enter Thierry, Theodoret, Brunhalt, Ordella, Memberge, Martell.
Thier. What villain dares this outrage?
Devitry. Hear me, Sir, this creature hir'd me with fifty crowns in hand, to let Protaldye have the better of me at single Rapier on a made quarrel; he mistaking the weapon, laies me over the chops with his club fist, for which I was bold to teach him the Art of memory.
'Spight of our Peace I see.
So open in your projects, avoid our presence, sirrah.
You see I can take pains.
More than was promis'd, ha, ha, ha.
So I might scape scratching, for I see by her Cats eyes
I shall be claw'd fearfully.
Musick drown all sadness;
Command the Revellers in, at what a rate I do purchase
My Mothers absence, to give my spleen full liberty.
The vault is ready, and the door conveys to't
Falls just behind his chair, the blow once given,
Thou art unseen.
Have found a time to invite more willingness
In my dispose to pleasure.
Should you refuse.
Have turn'd all air to earth in me, they sit
Upon my heart like night-charms, black and heavy.
[They Dance.
More than his cowardize; was ever Rat
Ta'en by the tail thus? ha, ha, ha.
Lest I betray my self. [Behind the State stabs Theodoret.
Treason, treason.
And corner of the Court, oh my shame! Mother,
Your Son is slain, Theodoret, noble Theodoret,
Here in my arms, too weak a Sanctuary
'Gainst treachery and murder, say, is the Traitor taken?
May perish in this mischief, who moves slow to't,
Shall add unto the flame.
I will renounce my claim unto a mother,
If you make offer on't.
The author of the fact.
[Exeunt Martel, Memberg.
Your causeless rage; the deed was done by my incitement,
Not yet repented.
A birth so unlike woman? say, what part
Did not consent to make a son of him,
Reserv'd it self within you to his ruine.
Thy fathers dust, shaking his quiet urn,
To which [thy] breath would send so foul an issue.
My Son, thy Brother?
Confederate with thy heart, to speak and do
Only things monstrous?
Thy, still with sorrow mention'd, father liv'd
Three careful years, in hope of wished heirs,
When I conceiv'd, being from his jealous fear
Injoyn'd to quiet home, one fatal day:
Transported with my pleasure to the chase,
I forc'd command, and in pursuit of game
Fell from my horse, lost both my child and hopes.
Despair which only in his love saw life
Worthy of being, from a Gard'ners Arms
Snatcht this unlucky brat, and call'd it mine,
When the next year repaid my loss with thee:
But in thy wrongs preserv'd my misery,
Which that I might diminish, though not end,
My sighs, and wet eies from thy Fathers Will,
Bequeath this largest part of his Dominions
Of France unto thee, and only left
Austracia unto that changling, whose life affords
Too much of ill 'gainst me to prove my words,
And call him stranger.
And in my fathers satisfaction count it
Merit, not wrong, or loss:
In your eyes.
Have suffer'd double travel for me.
Of knowing such a secret, my oath and duty
Shall be assurance on't.
How hardly he was drawn to this attempt.
Enter Protaldye.
[F]ell by thy hand, Sir, we doe owe unto you for this service.
Enter Martel.
Whilst we perform your pleasure.
To live and die a Prince, he shall not lose
The Title in his Funeral. [Exit.
Thou old impiety, made up by lust and mischief,
Take up the body. [Exeunt with the body of Theod.
Enter Lecure and a Servant.
Lecu. Dost think Leforte's sure enough?
Serv. As bonds can make him, I have turn'd his eyes to the East; and left him gaping after the Morning star, his head is a meer Astrolobe, his eyes stand for the Poles, the gag in his mouth being the Coachman, his five teeth have the nearest resemblance to Charles Wain.
Lecure. Thou hast cast a figure which shall raise thee, direct my hair a little: and in my likeness to him, read a fortune suiting thy largest hopes.
If you love mirth, perswade him from himself.
'Tis but an Astronomer out of the way,
And lying, will bear the better place for't.
And tell her how you left me chang'd. [Exit Servant.
Who would not serve this virtuous active Queen?
She that loves mischief 'bove the man that does it,
And him above her pleasure, yet knows no heaven else.
Enter Thierry.
Discovering secret, and succeeding Fate,
Knowledge that puts all lower happiness on,
With a remiss and careless hand,
Fair peace unto your meditations, father.
Whether the man who owes [t]his character,
Shall e'er have issue.
Of any doubt you could have nam'd, he is a Prince
Whose fortune you enquire.
By one, call'd Brother, who has left a Daughter.
Thou canst not suffer in his want.
Give farther knowledge to thee.
Thy Sovereign, who must owe unto thy wisdom
In the concealing of my barren shame.
You may have children.
With the cold hand of wonder, when I read it
Printed upon your birth.
So fair and good?
Leading sence blinded, men feel grief enough
To know, though not to speak their miseries.
If not in thee, at least ease pain with speed,
Which must know no cure else.
The first of Females which your eye shall meet
Before the Sun next rise, coming from out
The Temple of Diana being slain, you live
Father of many sons.
Deserving less than to give recompence
Unto so poor a loss? what e'er thou art,
Rest peaceable blest creature, born to be
Mother of Princes, whose grave shall be more fruitful
Than others marriage beds: methinks his Art
Should give her form and happy figure to me,
I long to see my happiness, he is gone,
As I remember, he nam'd my brothers Daughter,
Were it my Mother, 'twere a gainful death
Could give Ordella's virtue living breath. [Exeunt.