_Born._ Ye tortoises, why make ye no more haste?
Go pay to th’ master of the house that money,
And tell the noble gamesters I have another 30
Superfluous thousand pound; at night I ’ll visit ’em.
D’ ye hear?
_Serv._ Yes, an please you.
_Born._ Do ’t ye drudges [_Exeunt_ Servants.]
Ta, ra, ra!—Aretina!
_Lady B._ You have a pleasant humour, sir.
_Born._ What! should a gentleman be sad?
_Lady B._ You have lost—
_Born._ A transitory sum; as good that way 35
As another.
_Lady B._ Do you not vex within for ’t?
_Born._ I had rather lose a thousand more, than one
Sad thought come near my heart for ’t. Vex for trash!
Although it go from other men like drops
Of their life blood, we lose with the alacrity 40
We drink a cup of sack, or kiss a mistress.
No money is considerable with a gamester;
They have souls more spacious than kings. Did two
Gamesters divide the empire of the world,
They ’d make one throw for ’t all, and he that lost 45
Be no more melancholy than to have play’d for
A morning’s draught. Vex a rich soul for dirt,
The quiet of whose every thought is worth
A province!
_Lady B._ But when dice have consum’d all,
Your patience will not pawn for as much more.
_Born._ Hang pawning! Sell outright, and the fear ’s over. 51
_Lady B._ Say you so? I ’ll have another coach to-morrow
If there be rich above ground.
_Born._ I forgot
To bid the fellow ask my jeweller
Whether the chain of diamonds be made up; 55
I will present it to my Lady Bellamour,
Fair Celestina.
_Lady B._ This gown I have worn
Six days already; it looks dull, I ’ll give it
My waiting-woman, and have one of cloth
Of gold embroidered; shoes and pantables[4340] 60
Will show well of the same.
_Born._ I have invited
A covey of ladies, and as many gentlemen
To-morrow, to the Italian ordinary;
I shall have rarities and regalias[4341]
To pay for, madam; music, wanton songs, 65
And tunes of silken petticoats to dance to.
_Lady B._ And to-morrow have I invited half the court
To dine here. What misfortune ’t is your company
And ours should be divided! After dinner
I entertain ’em with a play.
_Born._ By that time 70
Your play inclines to the epilogue, shall we
Quit our Italian host; and whirl in coaches
To the Dutch magazine of sauce, the Steelyard,
Where deal,[4342] and backrag,[4343] and what strange wine else
They dare but give a name to in the reckoning,
Shall flow into our room, and drown Westphalias,[4344] 76
Tongues, and anchovies, like some little town
Endangered by a sluice, through whose fierce ebb
We wade, and wash ourselves into a boat,
And bid our coachmen drive their leather tenements 80
By land, while we sail home, with a fresh tide,
To some new rendezvous.
_Lady B._ If you have not
’Pointed the place, pray bring your ladies hither;
I mean to have a ball to-morrow night, 84
And a rich banquet for ’em, where we ’ll dance
Till morning rise, and blush to interrupt us.
_Born._ Have you no ladies i’ th’ next room, to advance[4345]
A present mirth? What a dull house you govern!
Farewell! a wife ’s no company.—Aretina,
I ’ve summ’d up my estate, and find we may have 90
A month good yet.
_Lady B._ What mean you?
_Born._ And I’d rather
Be lord one month of pleasures, to the height
And rapture of our senses, than be years
Consuming what we have in foolish temperance,
Live in the dark, and no fame wait upon us! 95
I will live so, posterity shall stand
At gaze when I am mentioned.
_Lady B._ A month good!
And what shall be done then?
_Born._ I ’ll over sea,
And trail a pike. With watching, marching, lying
In trenches, with enduring cold and hunger, 100
And taking here and there a musket-shot,
I can earn every week four shillings, madam;
And if the bullets favour me to snatch
Any superfluous limb, when I return,
With good friends, I despair not to be enroll’d
Poor knight of Windsor.[4346] For your course, madam, 106
No doubt you may do well; your friends are great;
Or if your poverty and their pride cannot
Agree, you need not trouble much invention
To find a trade to live by; there are customers. 110
Farewell, be frolic, madam! If I live,
I will feast all my senses, and not fall
Less than a Phaeton from my throne of pleasure,
Though my estate flame like the world about me. _Exit._
_Lady B._ ’T is very pretty!—
_Enter_ DECOY.
Madam Decoy!
_Dec._ What! melancholy, 115
After so sweet a night’s work? Have not I
Show’d myself mistress of my art?
_Lady B._ A lady.
_Dec._ That title makes the credit of the act
A story higher. Y’ have not seen him yet?
I wonder what he ’ll say.
_Lady B._ He ’s here.
_Enter_ KICKSHAW _and_ FREDERICK.
_Kick._ Bear up, 120
My little myrmidon; does not Jack Littleworth
Follow?
_Fred._ Follow? He fell into the Thames
At landing.
_Kick._ The devil shall dive for him,
Ere I endanger my silk stockings for him.
Let the watermen alone, they have drags and engines.[4347] 125
When he has drunk his julep, I shall laugh
To see him come in pickled the next tide.
_Fred._ He’ll never sink, he has such a cork brain.
_Kick._ Let him be hang’d or drown’d, all ’s one to me;
Yet he deserves to die by water, cannot 130
Bear his wine credibly.
_Fred._ Is not this my aunt?
_Kick._ And another handsome lady; I must know her.
[_Goes up to_ DECOY.]
_Fred._ My blood is rampant too, I must court somebody;
As good my aunt as any other body.
_Lady B._ Where have you been, cousin?
_Fred._ At the Bridge, 135
At the Bear’s foot, where our first health began
To the fair Aretina, whose sweet company
Was wished by all. We could not get a lay,
A tumbler, a device, a _bona roba_,[4348]
For any money; drawers were grown dull: 140
We wanted our true firks,[4349] and our vagaries.—
When were you in drink, aunt?
_Lady B._ How?
_Fred._ Do not ladies
Play the good fellows too? There ’s no true mirth
Without ’em. I have now such tickling fancies!
That doctor of the chair of wit has read 145
A precious lecture, how I should behave
Myself to ladies—as now, for example.
[_Goes up to_ LADY BORNWELL.]
_Lady B._ Would you practise upon me?
_Fred._ I first salute you,
You have a soft hand, madam; are you so
All over?
_Lady B._ Nephew!
_Fred._ Nay, you should but smile. 150
And then again I kiss you; and thus draw
Off your white glove, and start, to see your hand
More excellently white. I grace my own
Lip with this touch, and turning gently thus,
Prepare you for my skill in palmistry, 155
Which, out of curiosity, no lady
But easily applies[4350] to. The first line
I look with most ambition to find out,
Is Venus’ girdle, a fair semicircle,
Enclosing both the mount of Sol and Saturn; 160
If that appear, she ’s for my turn; a lady
Whom nature has prepared for the career;
And, Cupid at my elbow, I put forward:
You have this very line, aunt.
_Lady B._ The boy ’s frantic!
_Fred._ You have a couch or pallet; I can shut
The chamber door. Enrich a stranger, when 165
Your nephew ’s coming into play!
_Lady B._ No more.
_Fred._ Are you so coy to your own flesh and blood?
_Kick._ Here, take your playfellow; I talk of sport,
And she would have me marry her. 170
_Fred._ Here ’s Littleworth.
_Enter_ LITTLEWORTH, _wet_.
Why, how now, tutor?
_Little._ I have been fishing.
_Fred._ And what ha’ you caught?
_Little._ My belly full of water.
_Kick._ Ha, ha! Where ’s thy rapier?
_Little._ My rapier is drown’d,
And I am little better. I was up by th’ heels, 175
And out came a tun of water, beside wine.
_Kick._ ’T has made thee sober.
_Little._ Would you have me drunk
With water?
_Lady B._ I hope your fire is quench’d by this time.
_Fred._ It is not now, as when your worship “walk’d
By all the taverns, Jack, dry as a bone.” 180
_Kick._ You had store of fish under water, Jack.
_Little._ It has made a poor John of me.
_Fred._ I do not think but if we cast an angle
Into his belly, we might find some pilchards.[4351]
_Little._ And boil’d, by this time.—Dear madam, a bed. 185
_Kick._ Carry but the water-spaniel to a grass-plot,
Where he may roll himself; let him but shake
His ears twice in the sun, and you may grind him
Into a posset.
_Fred._ Come, thou shalt to my bed,
Poor pickerel.
_Dec._ Alas, sweet gentleman! 190
_Little._ I have ill luck an I should smell by this time;
I am but new ta’en, I am sure.—Sweet gentlewoman!
_Dec._ Your servant.
_Little._ Pray do not pluck off my skin;
It is so wet, unless you have good eyes,
You ’ll hardly know it from a shirt.
_Dec._ Fear nothing. 195
_Exeunt_ [_all but_ KICKSHAW _and_ Lady BORNWELL.]
_Lady B._ [_Aside._] He has sack enough, and I may find his humour.
_Kick._ And how is ’t with your Ladyship? You look
Without a sunshine in your face.
_Lady B._ You are glorious
In mind and habit.
_Kicks._ Ends of gold and silver!
_Lady B._ Your other clothes were not so rich. Who was 200
Your tailor, sir?
_Kick._ They were made for me long since;
They have known but two bright days upon my back.
I had a humour, madam, to lay things by;
They will serve two days more: I think I ha’ gold enough
To go to th’ mercer. I ’ll now allow myself 205
A suit a week, as this, with necessary
Dependances, beaver, silk stockings, garters,
And roses, in their due conformity;
Boots are forbid a clean leg, but to ride in.
My linen every morning comes in new, 210
The old goes to great bellies.
_Lady B._ You are charitable.
_Kick._ I may dine wi’ ye sometime, or at the court,
To meet good company, not for the table.
My clerk o’ th’ kitchen ’s here, a witty epicure,
A spirit, that, to please me with what ’s rare,
Can fly a hundred mile a day to market, 216
And make me lord of fish and fowl. I shall
Forget there is a butcher; and to make
My footman nimble, he shall feed on nothing
But wings of wild fowl.
_Lady B._ These ways are costly. 220
_Kick._ Therefore I ’ll have it so; I ha’ sprung a mine.
_Lady B._ You make me wonder, sir, to see this change
Of fortune: your revenue was not late
So plentiful.
_Kick._ Hang dirty land, and lordships!
I wo’ not change one lodging I ha’ got, 225
For the Chamber of London.
_Lady B._ Strange, of such a sudden,
To rise to this estate! No fortunate hand
At dice could lift you up so, for ’t is since
Last night: yesterday, you were no such monarch.
_Kick._ There be more games than dice.
_Lady B._ It cannot be 230
A mistress, though your person is worth love;
None possibly are rich enough to feed
As you have cast the method of your riots.
A princess, after all her jewels, must
Be forc’d to sell her provinces.
_Kick._ Now you talk 235
Of jewels, what do you think of this?
_Lady B._ A rich one.
_Kick._ You ’ll honour me to wear ’t; this other toy
I had from you; this chain I borrowed of you,
A friend had it in keeping. [_Gives her the jewel and chain._]—If
your ladyship
Want any sum, you know your friend, and Alexander. 240
_Lady B._ Dare you trust my security?
_Kick._ There ’s gold,
I shall have more to-morrow.
_Lady B._ You astonish me;
Who can supply these?
_Kick._ A dear friend I have.
She promis’d we should meet again i’ th’ morning.
_Lady B._ Not that I wish to know 245
More of your happiness than I have already
Heart to congratulate,—be pleas’d to lay
My wonder.
_Kick._ ’T is a secret—
_Lady B._ Which I ’ll die
Ere I ’ll betray.
_Kick._ You have always wish’d me well;
But you shall swear not to reveal the party. 250
_Lady B._ I ’ll lose the benefit of my tongue.
_Kick._ Nor be
Afraid at what I say. What think you first
Of an old witch, a strange ill-favour’d hag,
That, for my company last night, has wrought
This cure upon my fortune? I do sweat 255
To think upon her name.
_Lady B._ How, sir! a witch?
_Kick._ I would not fright your ladyship too much
At first, but witches are akin to spirits.
The truth is—Nay, if you look pale already,
I ha’ done.
_Lady B._ Sir, I beseech you.
_Kick._ If you have 260
But courage then to know the truth, I ’ll tell you
In one word: my chief friend is—the devil!
_Lady B._ What devil? how I tremble!
_Kick._ Have a heart;
’T was a she-devil too, a most insatiate,
Abominable devil, with a tail 265
Thus long.
_Lady B._ Goodness defend me! Did you see her?
_Kick._ No, ’t was i’ th’ dark; but she appear’d first to me
I’ th’ likeness of a beldam, and was brought,
I know not how, nor whither, by two goblins,
More hooded than a hawk.
_Lady B._ But would you venture 270
Upon a devil!
_Kick._ Ay, for means.
_Lady B._ [_Aside._] How black
An impudence is this!—But are you sure
It was the devil you enjoy’d?
_Kick._ Say nothing;
I did the best to please her; but as sure
As you live, ’t was a hell-cat.
_Lady B._ D’ ye not quake? 275
_Kick._ I found myself in the very room[4352] i’ th’ morning,
Where two of her familiars had left me.
_Enter_ Servant.
_Serv._ My lord is come to visit you.
_Kick._ No words,
As you respect my safety. I ha’ told tales
Out of the devil’s school; if it be known, 280
I lose a friend. ’T is now about the time
I promis’d her to meet again; at my
Return I ’ll tell you wonders. Not a word. _Exit._
_Lady B._ ’T is a false glass; sure I am more deform’d:
[_Looks in her pocket mirror._]
What have I done?—My soul is miserable. 285
_Enter_ LORD ——.
_Lord._ I sent you a letter, madam.
_Lady B._ You exprest
Your noble care of me, my lord.
_Re-enter_ SIR THOMAS BORNWELL _with_ CELESTINA.
_Born._ Your lordship
Does me an honour.
_Lord._ Madam, I am glad
To see you here; I meant to have kist your hand,
Ere my return to court.
_Cel._ Sir Thomas has 290
Prevail’d to bring me, to his trouble, hither.
_Lord._ You do him grace.
_Born._ Why, what ’s the matter, madam?
Your eyes are tuning _Lachrimae_.[4353]
_Lady B._ As you
Do hope for Heaven, withdraw, and give me but
The patience of ten minutes.
_Born._ Wonderful! 295
I will not hear you above that proportion.
She talks of Heaven:—Come, where must we to counsel?
_Lady B._ You shall conclude me when you please. [_Exit._]
_Born._ I follow.
_Lord._ [_Aside._] What alteration is this? I, that so late
Stood the temptation of her eye and voice, 300
Boasted a heart ’bove all licentious flame,
At second view turn renegade, and think
I was too superstitious, and full
Of phlegm, not to reward her amorous courtship
With manly freedom.
_Cel._ I obey you, sir. 305
_Born._ I ’ll wait upon your lordship presently. [_Exit._]
_Lord._ She could not want a cunning to seem honest
When I neglected her. I am resolv’d.—
You still look pleasant, madam.
_Cel._ I have cause, 309
My lord, the rather for your presence, which
Hath power to charm all trouble in my thoughts.
_Lord._ I must translate that compliment, and owe
All that is cheerful in myself to these
All-quick’ning smiles; and rather than such bright
Eyes should repent their influence upon me, 315
I would release the aspects, and quit the bounty
Of all the other stars. Did you not think me
A strange and melancholy gentleman,
To use you so unkindly?
_Cel._ Me, my lord?
_Lord._ I hope you made no loud complaint; I would not 320
Be tried by a jury of ladies.
_Cel._ For what, my lord?
_Lord._ I did not meet that noble entertainment
You were late pleas’d to show me.
_Cel._ I observ’d
No such defect in your lordship, but a brave
And noble fortitude.
_Lord._ A noble folly; 325
I bring repentance for ’t. I know you have,
Madam, a gentle faith, and wo’ not ruin
What you have built to honour you.
_Cel._ What ’s that?
_Lord._ If you can love, I ’ll tell your ladyship.
_Cel._ I have a stubborn soul else.
_Lord._ You are all 330
Compos’d of harmony.
_Cel._ What love d’ ye mean?
_Lord._ That which doth perfect both. Madam, you have heard
I can be constant, and if you consent
To grace it so, there is a spacious dwelling
Prepar’d within my heart for such a mistress. 335
_Cel._ Your mistress, my good lord?
_Lord._ Why, my good lady,
Your sex doth hold it no dishonour
To become mistress to a noble servant
In the now court Platonic way. Consider
Who ’t is that pleads to you; my birth and present 340
Value can be no stain to your embrace;
But these are shadows when my love appears,
Which shall, in his first miracle, return
Me in my bloom of youth, and thee a virgin;
When I, within some new Elysium, 345
Of purpose made and meant for us, shall be
In every thing Adonis, but in his
Contempt of love; and court thee from a Daphne
Hid in the cold rind of a bashful tree,
With such warm language and delight, till thou 350
Leap from that bay[4354] into the Queen of Love,
And pay my conquest with composing garlands
Of thy own myrtle for me.
_Cel._ What ’s all this?
_Lord._ Consent to be my mistress, Celestina,
And we will have it spring-time all the year; 355
Upon whose invitations, when we walk,
The winds shall play soft descant to our feet,
And breathe rich odours to re-pure the air:
Green bowers on every side shall tempt our stay,
And violets stoop to have us tread upon ’em. 360
The red rose shall grow pale, being near thy cheek,
And the white blush, o’ercome with such a forehead.
Here laid, and measuring with ourselves some bank,
A thousand birds shall from the woods repair,
And place themselves so cunningly behind 365
The leaves of every tree, that while they pay
Us tribute of their songs, them sha’t imagine
The very trees bear music, and sweet voices
Do grow in every arbour. Here can we
Embrace and kiss, tell tales, and kiss again, 370
And none but Heaven our rival.
_Cel._ When we are
Weary of these, what if we shift our paradise,
And through a grove of tall and even pine,
Descend into a valley, that shall shame
All the delights of Tempe; upon whose 375
Green plush the Graces shall be call’d to dance
To please us, and maintain their fairy revels,
To the harmonious murmurs of a stream
That gently falls upon a rock of pearl. 379
Here doth the nymph, forsaken Echo, dwell,
To whom we ’ll tell the story of our love,
Till at our surfeit and her want of joy,
We break her heart with envy. Not far off,
A grove shall call us to a wanton river,
To see a dying swan give up the ghost, 385
The fishes shooting up their tears in bubbles,
That they must lose the genius of their waves—
And such love linsey woolsey, to no purpose.
_Lord._ You chide me handsomely; pray tell me how
You like this language.
_Cel._ Good my lord, forbear. 390
_Lord._ You need not fly out of this circle, madam;—
These widows are so full of circumstance!—
I ’ll undertake, in this time I ha’ courted
Your ladyship for the toy, to ha’ broken ten,
Nay, twenty colts, virgins I mean, and taught ’em 395
The amble, or what pace I most affected.
_Cel._ You ’re not, my lord, again, the lord I thought you;
And I must tell you now, you do forget
Yourself and me.
_Lord._ You ’ll not be angry, madam?
_Cel._ Nor rude, (though gay men have a privilege,) 400
It shall appear:—there is a man, my lord,
Within my acquaintance, rich in worldly fortunes,
But cannot boast any descent of blood,
Would buy a coat of arms.
_Lord._ He may, and legs
Booted and spurr’d, to ride into the country. 405
_Cel._ But these will want antiquity, my lord,
The seal of honour. What ’s a coat cut out
But yesterday, to make a man a gentleman?
Your family, as old as the first virtue
That merited an escutcheon, doth owe[4355] 410
A glorious coat of arms; if you will sell now
All that your name doth challenge in that ensign,
I ’ll help you to a chapman that shall pay,
And pour down wealth enough for ’t.
_Lord._ Sell my arms!
I cannot, madam.
_Cel._ Give but your consent, 415
You know not how the state may be inclin’d
To dispensation; we may prevail
Upon the Herald’s office afterward.
_Lord._ I ’ll sooner give these arms to th’ hangman’s axe,
My head, my heart, to twenty executions, 420
Than sell one atom from my name.
_Cel._ Change that,
And answer him would buy my honour from me;
Honour, that is not worn upon a flag
Or pennon, that, without the owner’s dangers,
An enemy may ravish, and bear from me; 425
But that which grows and withers with my soul,
Beside the body’s stain: think, think, my lord,
To what you would unworthily betray me,
If you would not, for price of gold, or pleasure,
(If that be more your idol,) lose the glory 430
And painted honour of your house.—I ha’ done.
_Lord._ Enough to rectify a satyr’s blood.
Obscure my blushes here.
_Enter_ SIR WILLIAM SCENTLOVE _and_ HAIRCUT.
_Hair._ Or this, or fight with me;
It shall be no exception that I wait
Upon my lord; I am a gentleman, 435
You may be less and be a knight: the office
I do my lord is honest, sir. How many
Such you have been guilty of, Heaven knows.
_Scent._ ’T is no fear of your sword, but that I would not 439
Break the good laws establish’d against duels.
_Hair._ Off with your periwig, and stand bare.
[SIR WILLIAM SCENTLOVE _takes off his periwig._]
_Lord._ From this
Minute I ’ll be a servant to thy goodness;
A mistress in the wanton sense is common,
I ’ll honour you with chaste thoughts, and call you so.
_Cel._ I ’ll study to be worth your fair opinion.
_Lord._ Scentlove, your head was us’d to a covering, 446
Beside a hat; when went the hair away?
_Scent._ I laid a wager, my lord, with Haircut,
Who thinks I shall catch cold, that I ’ll stand bare
This half hour.
_Hair._ Pardon my ambition, 450
Madam, I told you truth; I am a gentleman,
And cannot fear that name is drown’d in my
Relation to my lord.
_Cel._ I dare not think so.
_Hair._ From henceforth call my service duty, madam.
That pig’s head, that betray’d me to your mirth, 455
Is doing penance for ’t.
_Scent._ Why may not I,
My lord, begin a fashion of no hair?
_Cel._ Do you sweat, Sir William?
_Scent._ Not with store of nightcaps.
_Re-enter_ SIR THOMAS _and_ LADY BORNWELL.
_Lady B._ Heaven has dissolv’d the clouds that hung upon
My eyes, and if you can with mercy meet 460
A penitent, I throw my own will off,
And now in all things obey yours. My nephew
Send back again to th’ college, and myself
To what place you ’ll confine me.
_Born._ Dearer now
Than ever to my bosom, thou sha’t please 465
Me best to live at thy own choice. I did
But fright thee with a noise of my expenses;
The sums are safe, and we have wealth enough,
If yet we use it nobly. My lord—madam,
Pray honour us to-night.
_Lady B._ I beg your presence, 470
And pardon.
_Born._ I know not how my Aretina
May be dispos’d to-morrow for the country.
_Cel._ You must not go before you have done
Me honour to accept an entertainment
Where I have power; on those terms I ’m your guest. 475
_Born._ You grace us, madam.
_Lady B._ [_Aside._] Already
I feel a cure upon my soul, and promise
My after life to virtue. Pardon, Heaven,
My shame, yet hid from the world’s eye.
_Re-enter_ DECOY.
_Dec._ Sweet madam!
_Lady B._ Not for the world be seen here! We are lost. 480
I ’ll visit you at home.—[_Aside._] But not to practise
What she expects: my counsel may recover her. [_Exit_ DECOY.]
_Re-enter_ KICKSHAW.
_Kick._ Where ’s madam?—Pray lend me a little money,
My spirit has deceiv’d me; Proserpine
Has broke her word.
_Lady B._ Do you expect to find 485
The devil true to you?
_Kick._ Not too loud.
_Lady B._ I ’ll voice it
Louder, to all the world, your horrid sin,
Unless you promise me religiously,
To purge your foul blood by repentance, sir.
_Kick._ Then I ’m undone.
_Lady B._ Not while I have power 490
To encourage you to virtue. I ’ll endeavour
To find you out some nobler way at court,
To thrive in.
_Kick._ Do ’t and I ’ll forsake the devil,
And bring my flesh to obedience. You shall steer me.—
My lord, your servant.
_Lord._ You are brave again. 495
_Kick._ Madam, your pardon.
_Born._ Your offence requires
Humility.
_Kick._ Low as my heart.—Sir Thomas,
I ’ll sup with you, a part of satisfaction.
_Born._ Our pleasures cool. Music! and when our ladies
Are tir’d with active motion, to give 500
Them rest, in some new rapture to advance
Full mirth, our souls shall leap into a dance. _Exeunt._
THE CARDINAL
BY JAMES SHIRLEY
PERSONS
KING OF NAVARRE.
THE CARDINAL.
COLUMBO, the Cardinal’s Nephew.
[COUNT] D’ALVAREZ.
HERNANDO, a Colonel.
ALPHONSO, [a Captain.]
Lords.
[ANTONIO,] Secretary to the Duchess.
Colonels.
ANTONELLI, the Cardinal’s Servant.
[Gentleman-Usher.]
Surgeon.
[JAQUES, PEDRO, and other Servants.]
Guard.
Attendants, etc.
DUCHESS ROSAURA.
VALERIA, }
CELINDA, } Ladies.
PLACENTIA, a Lady that waits upon the Duchess.
SCENE.—_Navarre._
THE PROLOGUE
THE CARDINAL! ’Cause we express no scene,
We do believe most of you, gentlemen,
Are at this hour in France, and busy there,
Though you vouchsafe to lend your bodies here;
But keep your fancy active, till you know, 5
By th’ progress of our play, ’t is nothing so.
A poet’s art is to lead on your thought
Through subtle paths and workings of a plot;
And where your expectation does not thrive,
If things fall better, yet you may forgive. 10
I will say nothing positive; you may
Think what you please; we call it but a Play:
Whether the comic Muse, or ladies’ love,
Romance, or direful tragedy it prove,
The bill determines not; and would you be 15
Persuaded, I would have ’t a Comedy,
For all the purple in the name and state
Of him that owns it; but ’t is left to fate.
Yet I will tell you, ere you see it play’d,
What the author, and he blusht too, when he said, 20
Comparing with his own, (for ’t had been pride,
He thought, to build his wit a pyramid
Upon another’s wounded fame,) this play
Might rival with his best, and dar’d to say—
Troth, I am out: he said no more. You, then, 25
When ’t ’s done, may say your pleasures, gentlemen.
ACT I
[SCENE I.][4356]
_Enter two_ Lords _at one door_; _secretary_ [ANTONIO][4357] _at the
other_.
_1 Lord._ Who is that?
_2 Lord._ The duchess’ secretary.
_1 Lord._ Signior!
_Ant._ Your lordship’s servant.
_1 Lord._ How does her grace, since she left off her mourning 5
For the young Duke Mendoza, whose timeless death
At sea left her a virgin and a widow?
_2 Lord._ She ’s now inclining to a second bride.[4358]——
When is the day of mighty marriage
To our great Cardinal’s nephew, Don Columbo?
_Ant._ When they agree; they will not steal to church, 11
I guess the ceremonies will be loud and public.
Your lordships will excuse me. _Exit._
_1 Lord._ When they agree! Alas! poor lady, she
Dotes not upon Columbo, when she thinks 15
Of the young Count d’Alvarez, divorc’d from her
By the king’s power.
_2 Lord._ And counsel of the Cardinal,
To advance his nephew to the duchess’ bed;
It is not well.
_1 Lord._ Take heed; the Cardinal holds
Intelligence with every bird i’ th’ air. 20
_2 Lord._ Death on his purple pride! He governs all;
And yet Columbo is a gallant gentleman.
_1 Lord._ The darling of the war, whom victory
Hath often courted; a man of daring,
And most exalted spirit. Pride in him 25
Dwells like an ornament, where so much honour
Secures his praise.
_2 Lord._ This is no argument
He should usurp, and wear Alvarez’ title
To the fair duchess; men of coarser blood,
Would not so tamely give this treasure up. 30
_1 Lord._ Although Columbo’s name is great in war,
Whose glorious art and practice is above
The greatness of Alvarez, yet he cannot
Want soul, in whom alone survives the virtue
Of many noble ancestors, being the last 35
Of his great family.
_2 Lord._ ’T is not safe, you ’ll say,
To wrastle with the king.
_1 Lord._ More danger if the Cardinal he displeas’d,
Who sits at helm of state. Count d’Alvarez
Is wiser to obey the stream, than by 40
Insisting on his privilege to her love,
Put both their fates upon a storm.
_2 Lord._ If wisdom,
Not inborn fear, make him compose,[4359] I like it.
How does the duchess bear herself?
_1 Lord._ She moves by the rapture[4360] of another wheel, 45
That must be obey’d; like some sad passenger,
That looks upon the coast his wishes fly to,
But is transported by an adverse wind,
Sometimes a churlish pilot.
_2 Lord._ She has a sweet and noble nature.
_1 Lord._ That 50
Commends Alvarez; Hymen cannot tie
A knot of two more equal hearts and blood.
_Enter_ ALPHONSO.
_2 Lord._ Alphonso!
_Alph._ My good lord.
_1 Lord._ What great affair
Hath brought you from the confines?
_Alph._ Such as will
Be worth your counsels, when the king hath read 55
My letters from the governor: the Arragonians,
Violating their confederate oath and league,
Are now in arms: they have not yet marcht towards us;
But ’t is not safe to expect,[4361] if we may timely
Prevent invasion.
_2 Lord._ Dare they be so insolent? 60
_1 Lord._ This storm I did foresee.
_2 Lord._ What have they, but
The sweetness of the king, to make a crime?
_1 Lord._ But how appears the Cardinal at this news?
_Alph._ Not pale, although
He knows they have no cause to think him innocent, 65
As by whose counsel they were once surpris’d.
_1 Lord._ There is more
Than all our present art can fathom in
This story, and I fear I may conclude
This flame has breath at home to cherish it. 70
There ’s treason in some hearts, whose faces are
Smooth to the state.
_Alph._ My lord, I take my leave.
_2 Lord._ Your friends, good captain. _Exeunt._
[SCENE II.][4362]
_Enter_ DUCHESS, VALERIA, _and_ CELINDA.
_Val._ Sweet madam, be less thoughtful; this obedience[4363]
To passion will destroy the noblest frame
Of beauty that this kingdom ever boasted.
_Cel._ This sadness might become your other habit,
And ceremonies black, for him that died. 5
The times of sorrow are expir’d; and all
The joys that wait upon the court, your birth,
And a new Hymen, that is coming towards you,
Invite a change.
_Duch._ Ladies, I thank you both;
I pray excuse a little melancholy 10
That is behind; my year of mourning hath not
So clear’d my account with sorrow, but there may
Some dark thoughts stay, with sad reflections,
Upon my heart, for him I lost. Even this
New dress and smiling garment, meant to show 15
A peace concluded ’twixt my grief and me,
Is but a sad remembrance. But I resolve
To entertain more pleasing thoughts; and if
You wish me heartily to smile, you must
Not mention grief, not in advice to leave it. 20
Such counsels open but afresh the wounds
Ye would close up, and keep alive the cause,
Whose bleeding you would cure. Let ’s talk of something
That may delight. You two are read in all
The histories of our court: tell me, Valeria, 25
Who has thy vote for the most handsome man?—
[_Aside._] Thus I must counterfeit a peace, when all
Within me is at mutiny.
_Val._ I have examin’d
All that are candidates for the praise of ladies,
But find—may I speak boldly to your grace?
And will you not return it in your mirth, 31
To make me blush?
_Duch._ No, no; speak freely.
_Val._ I wo’ not rack your patience, madam; but
Were I a princess, I should think the Count d’Alvarez
Had sweetness to deserve me from the world. 35
_Duch._ [_Aside._] Alvarez! she ’s a spy upon my heart.
_Val._ He ’s young and active, and compos’d most sweetly.
_Duch._ I have seen a face more tempting.
_Val._ It had then
Too much of woman in ’t: his eyes speak movingly,
Which may excuse his voice, and lead away 40
All female pride his captive; his hair, black,
Which, naturally falling into curls—
_Duch._ Prithee, no more; thou art in love with him.—
The man in your esteem, Celinda, now?
_Cel._ Alvarez is, I must confess, a gentleman 45
Of handsome composition; but with
His mind, the greater excellence, I think
Another may delight a lady more,
If man be well considered, that’s Columbo,
Now, madam, voted to be yours.
_Dutch._ [_Aside._] My torment! 50
_Val._ [_Aside._] She affects him not.
_Cel._ He has a person, and a bravery beyond
All men, that I observe.
_Val._ He is a soldier,
A rough-hewn man, and may show well at distance.
His talk will fright a lady; War, and grim- 55
Fac’d Honour are his mistresses; he raves
To hear a lute; Love meant him not his priest.—
Again your pardon, madam. We may talk,
But you have art to choose, and crown affection.
[CELINDA _and_ VALERIA _walk aside_.]
_Duch._ What is it to be born above these ladies, 60
And want their freedom! They are not constrain’d,
Nor slav’d by their own greatness, or the king’s,
But let their free hearts look abroad, and choose
By their own eyes to love. I must repair
My poor afflicted bosom, and assume 65
The privilege I was born with, which now prompts me
To tell the king, he hath no power nor art
To steer a lover’s soul.—
_Enter_ Secretary [ANTONIO].
What says Count d’Alvarez?
_Ant._ Madam, he ’ll attend you.
_Duch._ Wait you, as I directed. When he comes, 70
Acquaint me privately.
_Ant._ Madam, I have news;
’T is now arriv’d the court; we shall have wars.
_Duch._ [_Aside._] I find an army here of killing thoughts.
_Ant._ The king has chosen Don Columbo general,
Who is immediately to take his leave. 75
_Duch._ [_Aside._] What flood is let into my heart!—How far
Is he to go?
_Ant._ To Arragon.
_Duch._ That ’s well
At first; he should not want a pilgrimage
To the unknown world, if my thoughts might convey him.
_Ant._ ’T is not impossible he may go thither. 80
_Duch._ How?
_Ant._ To the unknown world; he goes to fight,
That ’s in his way: such stories are in nature.
_Duch._ Conceal this news.
_Ant._ He wo’ not be long absent;
The affair will make him swift
To kiss your grace’s hand. [_Exit._]
_Duch._ He cannot fly 85
With too much wing to take his leave.—I must
Be admitted to your conference; you have
Enlarg’d my spirits; they shall droop no more.
_Cel._ We are happy, if we may advance one thought
To your grace’s pleasure. 90
_Val._ Your eye before was in eclipse; these smiles
Become you, madam.
_Duch._ [_Aside._] I have not skill to contain myself.
_Enter_ PLACENTIA.
_Pla._ The Cardinal’s nephew, madam, Don Columbo.
_Duch._ Already! Attend him. _Exit_ PLACENTIA.
_Val._ Shall we take our leave? 95
_Duch._ He shall not know, [Celinda,][4364] how you prais’d him.
[_Cel._][4365] If he did, madam, I should have the confidence
To tell him my free thoughts.
_Enter_ COLUMBO.
_Duch._ My lord, while I ’m in study to requite
The favour you ha’ done me, you increase 100
My debt to such a sum, still by a new honouring
Your servant, I despair of my own freedom.
_Colum._ Madam, he kisseth your white hand, that must
Not surfeit in this happiness—and, ladies,
I take your smiles for my encouragement! 105
I have not long to practise these court tactics. [_Kisses them._]
_Cel._ He has been taught to kiss.
_Duch._ There ’s something, sir,
Upon your brow I did not read before.
_Colum._ Does the character please you, madam?
_Duch._ More,
Because it speaks you cheerful.
_Colum._ ’T is for such 110
Access of honour, as must make Columbo
Worth all your love; the king is pleas’d to think
Me fit to lead his army.
_Duch._ How! an army?
_Colum._ We must not use the priest, till I bring home
Another triumph that now stays for me, 115
To reap it in the purple field of glory.
_Duch._ But do you mean to leave me, and expose
Yourself to the devouring war? No enemy
Should divide us; the king is not so cruel.
_Colum._ The king is honourable; and this grace 120
More answers my ambition, than his gift
Of thee, and all thy beauty, which I can
Love, as becomes thy soldier, and fight
To come again, a conqueror of thee. _She weeps._
Then I must chide this fondness.[4366] 125
_Re-enter_ Secretary [ANTONIO].
_Ant._ Madam, the king, and my lord Cardinal. [_Exit._]
_Enter_ KING, CARDINAL, _and_ Lords.
_King._ Madam, I come to call a servant from you,
And strengthen his excuse; the public cause
Will plead for your consent; at his return
Your marriage shall receive triumphant ceremonies; 130
Till then you must dispense.
_Car._ She appears sad
To part with him.—I like it fairly, nephew.
[_Cel._][4367] Is not the general a gallant man?
What lady would deny him a small courtesy?
[_Val._] Thou hast converted me, and I begin
To wish it were no sin. 136
[_Cel._] Leave that to narrow consciences.
[_Val._] You are pleasant.
[_Cel._] But he would please one better. Do such men
Lie with their pages?
[_Val._] Wouldst thou make a shift?
[_Cel._] He is going to a bloody business; 140
’T is pity he should die without some heir.
That lady were hard-hearted now, that would
Not help posterity, for the mere good
O’ th’ king and commonwealth.
[_Val._] Thou art wild; we may be observ’d.
_Duch._ Your will must guide me; happiness and conquest 146
Be ever waiting on his sword!
_Colum._ Farewell.
_Exeunt_ KING, COLUMBO, CARDINAL _and_ Lords.
_Duch._ Pray give leave to examine a few thoughts;
Expect[4368] me in the garden.
_Ladies._ We attend. _Exeunt_ Ladies. 150
_Duch._ This is above all expectation happy.
Forgive me, Virtue, that I have dissembled,
And witness with me, I have not a thought
To tempt or to betray him, but secure
The promise I first made, to love and honour. 155
_Re-enter_ Secretary [ANTONIO].
_Ant._ The Count d’Alvarez, madam.
_Duch._ Admit him,
And let none interrupt us. [_Exit_ ANTONIO.]—How shall I
Behave my looks? The guilt of my neglect,
Which had no seal from hence, will call up blood
To write upon my cheeks the shame and story 160
In some red letter.
_Enter_ ALVAREZ.
_Alv._ Madam, I present
One that was glad to obey your grace, and come
To know what your commands are.
_Duch._ Where I once
Did promise love, a love that had the power
And office of a priest to chain my heart 165
To yours, it were injustice to command.
_Alv._ But I can look upon you, madam, as
Becomes a servant; with as much humility,
In tenderness of your honour and great fortune,
Give up, when you call back your bounty, all that 170
Was mine, as I had pride to think them favours.
_Duch._ Hath love taught thee no more assurance in
Our mutual vows, thou canst suspect it possible
I should revoke a promise, made to heaven
And thee, so soon? This must arise from some
Distrust of thy own faith.
_Alv._ Your grace’s pardon; 176
To speak with freedom, I am not so old
In cunning to betray, nor young in time,
Not to see when and where I am at loss,
And how to bear my fortune, and my wounds, 180
Which, if I look for health, must still bleed inward,
A hard and desperate condition.
I am not ignorant your birth and greatness
Have plac’d you to grow up with the king’s grace
And jealousy, which to remove, his power 185
Hath chosen a fit object for your beauty
To shine upon, Columbo, his great favourite.
I am a man on whom but late the king
Has pleas’d to cast a beam, which was not meant
To make me proud, but wisely to direct, 190
And light me to my safety. Oh, dear madam!
I will not call more witness of my love
(If you will let me still give it that name)
Than this, that I dare make myself a loser,
And to your will give all my blessings up. 195
Preserve your greatness, and forget a trifle,
That shall, at best, when you have drawn me up,
But hang about you like a cloud, and dim
The glories you are born to.
_Duch._ Misery
Of birth and state! That I could shift into 200
A meaner blood, or find some art to purge
That part which makes my veins unequal! Yet
Those nice distinctions have no place in us;
There ’s but a shadow difference, a title:
Thy stock partakes as much of noble sap 205
As that which feeds the root of kings; and he
That writes a lord hath all the essence of
Nobility.
_Alv._ ’T is not a name that makes
Our separation; the king’s displeasure
Hangs a portent to fright us, and the matter 210
That feeds this exhalation is the Cardinal’s
Plot to advance his nephew; then Columbo,
A man made up for some prodigious act,
Is fit to be considered: in all three
There is no character you fix upon 215
But has a form of ruin to us both.
_Duch._ Then you do look on these with fear?
_Alv._ With eyes
That should think tears a duty, to lament
Your least unkind fate; but my youth dares boldly
Meet all the tyranny o’ th’ stars, whose black
Malevolence but shoots my single tragedy. 221
You are above the value of many worlds
Peopled with such as I am.
_Duch._ What if Columbo,
Engag’d to war, in his hot thirst of honour,
Find out the way to death?
_Alv._ ’T is possible. 225
_Duch._ Or say, (no matter by what art or motive,)
He give his title up, and leave me to
My own election?
_Alv._ If I then be happy
To have a name within your thought, there can 229
Be nothing left to crown me with new blessing.
But I dream thus of heaven, and wake to find
My amorous soul a mockery. When the priest
Shall tie you to another, and the joys
Of marriage leave no thought at leisure to
Look back upon Alvarez, that must wither 235
For loss of you; yet then I cannot lose
So much of what I was once in your favour,
But, in a sigh, pray still you may live happy. _Exit._
_Duch._ My heart is in a mist; some good star smile
Upon my resolution, and direct 240
Two lovers in their chaste embrace to meet!
Columbo’s bed contains my winding sheet. _Exit._
ACT II
[SCENE I.][4369]
General COLUMBO, HERNANDO, _two_ Colonels, ALPHONSO, _two_ Captains,
_and other_ Officers, _as at a Council of War_.
_Colum._ I see no face in all this council that
Hath one pale fear upon ’t, though we arriv’d not
So timely to secure the town, which gives
Our enemy such triumph.
_1 Col._ ’T was betray’d.
_Alph._ The wealth of that one city 5
Will make the enemy glorious.[4370]
_1 Col._ They dare
Not plunder it.
_Alph._ They give fair quarter yet:
They only seal up men’s estates, and keep
Possession for the city’s use: they take up
No wares without security; and he, 10
Whose single credit will not pass, puts in
Two lean comrades, upon whose bonds ’t is not
Religion to deny ’em.
_Colum._ To repair this
With honour, gentlemen?
_Her._ My opinion is
To expect awhile.
_Colum._ Your reason?
_Her._ Till their own 15
Surfeit betray ’em; for their soldier[s,]
Bred up with coarse and common bread, will show
Such appetites on the rich cates they find.
They ’ll spare our swords a victory, when their own
Riot and luxury destroys ’em.
_Col._ That 20
Will show our patience too like a fear.
With favour of his excellence, I think
The spoil of cities takes not off the courage,
But doubles it on soldiers; besides,
While we have tameness to expect, the noise 25
Of their success and plenty will increase
Their army.
_Her._ ’T is considerable; we do not
Exceed in foot or horse, our muster not
’Bove sixteen thousand both; and the infantry
Raw, and not disciplin’d to act.
_Alph._ Their hearts, 30
But with a brave thought of their country’s honour,
Will teach ’em how to fight, had they not seen
A sword. But we decline[4371] our own too much;
The men are forward in their arms, and take
The use[4372] with avarice of fame. _They rise_, _and talk privately_.
_Colum._ —Colonel, 35
I do suspect you are a coward.
_Her._ Sir!
_Colum._ Or else a traitor; take your choice. No more.
I call’d you to a council, sir, of war;
Yet keep your place.
_Her._ I have worn other names.
_Colum._ Deserve ’em. Such 40
Another were enough to unsoul an army.
Ignobly talk of patience, till they drink
And reel to death! We came to fight, and force ’em
To mend their pace: thou hast no honour in thee,
Not enough noble blood to make a blush 45
For thy tame eloquence.
_Her._ My lord, I know
My duty to a general: yet there are
Some that have known me here. Sir, I desire
To quit my regiment.
_Colum._ You shall have license.—
Ink and paper! 50
[_Enter_ Attendant _with ink and paper_, _and exit_.]
_1 Col._ The general ’s displeas’d.
_2 Col._ How is ’t, Hernando?
_Her._ The general has found out employment for me;
He is writing letters back.
_Alph. and Capt._ To his mistress?
_Her._ Pray do not trouble me; yet, prithee, speak,
And flatter not thy friend. Dost think I dare 55
Not draw my sword, and use it, when a cause,
With honour, calls to action?
_Alph. and Col._ With the most valiant man alive.
_Her._ You ’ll do me some displeasure in your loves:
Pray to your places. 60
_Colum._ So; bear those letters to the king;
They speak my resolution, before
Another sun decline, to charge the enemy.
_Her._ [_Aside._] A pretty court way
Of dismissing an officer.—I obey; success 65
Attend your counsels! _Exit._
_Colum._ If here be any dare not look on danger,
And meet it like a man, with scorn of death,
I beg his absence; and a coward’s fear
Consume him to a ghost!
_1 Col._ None such [are] here. 70
_Colum._ Or, if in all your regiments you find
One man that does not ask to bleed with honour,
Give him a double pay to leave the army;
There ’s service to be done will call the spirits
And aid of men.
_1 Col._ You give us all new flame, 75
_Colum._ I am confirm’d, and you must lose no time;
The soldier that was took last night, to me
Discover’d their whole strength, and that we have
A party in the town. The river, that
Opens the city to the west, [’s] unguarded;— 80
We must this night use art and resolution
We cannot fall ingloriously.
_1 Capt._ That voice
Is every man’s.
_Enter_ Soldier _and_ Secretary [ANTONIO] _with a letter_.
_Colum._ What now?
_Sold._ Letters. 85
_Colum._ Whence?
_Sold._ From the duchess.
_Colum._ They are welcome.— [_Takes the letter._]
Meet at my tent again this evening;
Yet stay, some wine.—The duchess’ health! [_Drinks._] 90
See it go round. [_Opens the letter._]
_Ant._ It wo’ not please his excellence.
_1 Col._ The duchess’ health! [_Drinks._]
_2 Capt._ To me! more wine.
_Ant._ The clouds are gathering, and his eyes shoot fire; 95
Observe what thunder follows.
_2 Capt._ The general has but ill news. I suspect
The duchess sick, or else the king.
_1 Capt._ May be
The Cardinal.
_2 Capt._ His soul has long been look’d for.
_Colum._ She dares not be so insolent. It is 100
The duchess’ hand. How am I shrunk in fame
To be thus play’d withal! She writes, and counsels,
Under my hand, to send her back a free
Resign of all my interest to her person,
Promise, or love; that there ’s no other way,
With safety of my honour, to revisit her. 106
The woman is possest with some bold devil,
And wants an exorcism; or, I am grown
A cheap, dull, phlegmatic fool, a post that ’s carv’d
I’ th’ common street, and holding out my forehead 110
To every scurril wit to pin disgrace
And libels on ’t.—Did you bring this to me, sir?
My thanks shall warm your heart. _Draws a pistol._
_Ant._ Hold, hold! my lord!
I know not what provokes this tempest, but
Her grace ne’er show’d more freedom from a storm 115
When I receiv’d this paper. If you have
A will to do an execution,
Your looks, without that engine, sir, may serve.—
I did not like the employment.
_Colum._ Ha! had she
No symptom, in her eye or face, of anger, 120
When she gave this in charge?
_Ant._ Serene, as I
Have seen the morning rise upon the spring;
No trouble in her breath, but such a wind
As came to kiss, and fan the smiling flowers.
_Colum._ No poetry.
_Ant._ By all the truth in prose, 125
By honesty, and your own honour, sir,
I never saw her look more calm and gentle.
_Colum._ I am too passionate; you must forgive me.
I have found it out; the duchess loves me dearly;
She exprest a trouble in her when I took 130
My leave, and chid me with a sullen eye:
’T is a device to hasten my return;
Love has a thousand arts. I ’ll answer it
Beyond her expectation, and put
Her soul to a noble test.—Your patience, gentlemen; 135
The king’s health will deserve a sacrifice
Of wine. [_Retires to the table and writes._]
_Ant._ [_Aside._] I am glad to see this change, and thank my wit
For my redemption.
_1 Col._ Sir, the soldier’s curse
On him loves not our master!
_2 Col._ And they curse 140
Loud enough to be heard.
_2 Capt._ Their curse has the nature of gunpowder.
_Ant._ They do not pray with half the noise.
_1 Col._ Our general is not well mixt;
He has too great a portion of fire. 145
_2 Col._ His mistress cool him, (her complexion
Carries some phlegm,) when they two meet in bed!
_2 Capt._ A third may follow.
_1 Capt._ ’T is much pity 149
The young duke liv’d not to take the virgin off.
_1 Col._ ’T was the king’s act, to match two rabbit-suckers.[4373]
_2 Col._ A common trick of state;
The little great man marries, travels then
Till both grow up, and dies when he should do
The feat; these things are still unlucky 155
On the male side.
_Colum._ This to the duchess’ fair hand.
[_Gives_ ANTONIO _a letter._]
_Ant._ She will think
Time hath no wing, till I return. [_Exit._]
_Colum._ Gentlemen,
Now each man to his quarter, and encourage
The soldier. I shall take a pride to know 160
Your diligence, when I visit all your
Several commands.
_All._ We shall expect.
_2 Col._ And move
By your directions.
_Colum._ Y’ are all noble. _Exeunt._
[SCENE II.][4374]
_Enter_ CARDINAL, DUCHESS, _and_ PLACENTIA.
_Car._ I shall perform a visit daily, madam,
In th’ absence of my nephew, and be happy
If you accept my care.
_Duch._ You have honour’d me;
And if your entertainment have not been
Worthy your grace’s person, ’t is because 5
Nothing can reach it in my power; but where
There is no want of zeal, other defect
Is only a fault to exercise your mercy.
_Car._ You are bounteous in all. I take my leave,
My fair niece, shortly, when Columbo has 10
Purchas’d more honours to prefer his name
And value to your noble thoughts; meantime,
Be confident you have a friend, whose office
And favour with the king shall be effectual
To serve your grace.
_Duch._ Your own good deeds reward you, 15
Till mine rise equal to deserve their benefit.— _Exit_ CARDINAL.
Leave me awhile.— _Exit_ PLACENTIA.
Do not I walk upon the teeth of serpents,
And, as I had a charm against their poison,
Play with their stings? The Cardinal is subtle,
Whom ’t is not wisdom to incense, till I 21
Hear to what destiny Columbo leaves me.
May be the greatness of his soul will scorn
To own what comes with murmur;—if he can
Interpret me so happily.—Art come? 25
_Enter_ Secretary [ANTONIO] _with a letter_.
_Ant._ His excellence salutes your grace.
_Duch._ Thou hast
A melancholy brow. How did he take my letter?
_Ant._ As he would take a blow; with so much sense
Of anger, his whole soul boil’d in his face;
And such prodigious flame in both his eyes, 30
As they ’d been th’ only seat of fire, and at
Each look a salamander leaping forth,
Not able to endure the furnace.
_Duch._ Ha! thou dost
Describe him with some horror.
_Ant._ Soon as he
Had read again, and understood your meaning, 35
His rage had shot me with a pistol, had not
I us’d some soft and penitential language,
To charm the bullet.
_Duch._ Wait at some more distance.—
My soul doth bathe itself in a cold dew;
Imagine I am opening of a tomb; [_Opens the letter._] 40
Thus I throw off the marble, to discover
What antic posture death presents in this
Pale monument to fright me.—Ha! _Reads._
My heart, that call’d my blood and spirits to
Defend it from the invasion of my fears, 45
Must keep a guard about it still, lest this
Strange and too mighty joy crush it to nothing.—
Antonio.
_Ant._ Madam.
_Duch._ Bid my steward give thee
Two thousand ducats. Art sure I am awake?
_Ant._ I shall be able to resolve you, madam, 50
When he has paid the money.
_Duch._ Columbo now is noble. _Exit._
_Ant._ This is better
Than I expected,—if my lady be
Not mad, and live to justify her bounty. _Exit._
[SCENE III.][4375]
_Enter_ KING, ALVAREZ, HERNANDO, _and_ Lords.
_King._ The war is left to him; but we must have
You reconcil’d, if that be all your difference.
His rage flows like a torrent, when he meets
With opposition; leave to wrastle with him,
And his hot blood retreats into a calm, 5
And then he chides his passion. You shall back
With letters from us.
_Her._ Your commands are not
To be disputed.
_King._ Alvarez. [_Takes him aside._]
_1 Lord._ Lose not
Yourself by cool submission; he will find
His error, and the want of such a soldier. 10
_2 Lord._ Have you seen the Cardinal?
_Her._ Not yet.
_1 Lord._ He wants no plot—
_Her._ The king I must obey;
But let the purple gownman place his engines
I’ th’ dark, that wound[4376] me.
_2 Lord._ Be assur’d
Of what we can to friend you; and the king 15
Cannot forget your service.
_Her._ I am sorry
For that poor gentleman.
_Alv._ I must confess, sir,
The duchess has been pleas’d to think me worthy
Her favours, and in that degree of honour
That has oblig’d my life to make the best 20
Return of service, which is not, with bold
Affiance in her love, to interpose
Against her happiness, and your election.
I love so much her honour, I have quitted 24
All my desires; yet would not shrink to bleed
Out my warm stock of life, so the last drop
Might benefit her wishes.
_King._ I shall find
A compensation for this act, Alvarez;
It hath much pleased us.
_Enter_ DUCHESS _with a letter_; Gentleman-Usher.
_Duch._ Sir, you are the king,
And in that sacred title it were sin 30
To doubt a justice: all that does concern
My essence in this world, and a great part
Of the other’s bliss, lives in your breath.
_King._ What intends the duchess?
_Duch._ That will instruct you, sir. [_Gives the letter._]—Columbo
has, 35
Upon some better choice, or discontent,
Set my poor soul at freedom.
_King._ ’T is his character. _Reads._
“Madam, I easily discharge all my pretensions to your love and
person; I leave you to your own choice; and in what you have obliged
yourself to me, resume a power to cancel, if you please. 41
Columbo.”
This is strange!
_Duch._ Now do an act to make
Your chronicle belov’d and read for ever.
_King._ Express yourself.
_Duch._ Since by divine infusion,— 45
For ’t is no art could force the general to
This change, second this justice, and bestow
The heart you would have given from me, by
Your strict commands to love Columbo, where
’T was meant by Heaven; and let your breath return 50
Whom you divorc’d, Alvarez, mine.
_Lords._ This is
But justice, sir.
_King._ It was decreed above;
And since Columbo has releas’d his interest,
Which we had wrought him, not without some force
Upon your will, I give you your own wishes: 55
Receive your own Alvarez. When you please
To celebrate your nuptial, I invite
Myself your guest.
_Duch._ Eternal blessings crown you!
_All._ And every joy your marriage!
_Exit_ KING, _who meets the_ CARDINAL; _they converse_.
_Alv._ I know not whether I shall wonder most, 60
Or joy to meet this happiness.
_Duch._ Now the king
Hath planted us, methinks we grow already,
And twist our loving souls, above the wrath
Of thunder to divide us.
_Alv._ Ha! the Cardinal
Has met the king! I do not like this conference; 65
He looks with anger this way. I expect
A tempest.
_Duch._ Take no notice of his presence;
Leave me to meet, and answer it. If the king
Be firm in ’s royal word, I fear no lightning.
Expect me in the garden.
_Alv._ I obey; 70
But fear a shipwrack on the coast. _Exit._
_Car._ Madam.
_Duch._ My lord.
_Car._ The king speaks of a letter that has brought
A riddle in ’t.
_Duch._ ’T is easy to interpret. 74
_Car._ From my nephew? May I deserve the favour?
[DUCHESS _gives him the letter_.]
_Duch._ [_Aside._] He looks as though his eyes would fire the paper.
They are a pair of burning glasses, and
His envious blood doth give ’em flame.
_Car._ [_Aside._] What lethargy could thus unspirit him?
I am all wonder.—Do not believe, madam, 80
But that Columbo’s love is yet more sacred
To honour and yourself, than thus to forfeit
What I have heard him call the glorious wreath
To all his merits, given him by the king,
From whom he took you with more pride than ever 85
He came from victory: his kisses hang
Yet panting on your lips; and he but now
Exchang’d religious farewell to return,
But with more triumph, to be yours.
_Duch._ My lord,
You do believe your nephew’s hand was not 90
Surpris’d or strain’d to this?
_Car._ Strange arts and windings in the world! most dark
And subtle progresses! Who brought this letter?
_Duch._ I enquir’d not his name; I thought it not
Considerable[4377] to take such narrow knowledge.
_Car._ Desert and honour urg’d it here, nor can 96
I blame you to be angry; yet his person
Oblig’d you should have given a nobler pause,
Before you made your faith and change so violent,
From his known worth, into the arms of one,
However fashioned to your amorous wish, 101
Not equal to his cheapest fame, with all
The gloss of love and merit.
_Duch._ This comparison,
My good lord Cardinal, I cannot think
Flows from an even justice; it betrays 105
You partial where your blood runs.
_Car._ I fear, madam,
Your own takes too much license, and will soon
Fall to the censure of unruly tongues.
Because Alvarez has a softer cheek,
Can, like a woman, trim his wanton hair, 110
Spend half a day with looking in the glass
To find a posture to present himself,
And bring more effeminacy than man,
Or honour, to your bed, must he supplant him?
Take heed, the common murmur, when it catches 115
The scent of a lost fame—
_Duch._ My fame, lord Cardinal?
It stands upon an innocence as clear
As the devotions you pay to Heaven.
I shall not urge, my lord, your soft indulgence
At my next shrift.
_Car._ You are a fine court lady! 120
_Duch._ And you should be a reverend churchman.
_Car._ One
That, if you have not thrown off modesty,
Would counsel you to leave Alvarez.
_Duch._ ’Cause
You dare do worse than marriage, must not I
Be admitted what the church and law allows me? 125
_Car._ Insolent! Then you dare marry him?
_Duch._ Dare!
Let your contracted flame and malice, with
Columbo’s rage, higher than that, meet us
When we approach the holy place, clasp’d hand
In hand we ’ll break through all your force, and fix 130
Our sacred vows together there.
_Car._ I knew
When, with as chaste a brow, you promis’d fair
To another. You are no dissembling lady!
_Duch._ Would all your actions had no falser lights
About ’em! 135
_Car._ Ha!
_Duch._ The people would not talk, and curse so loud.
_Car._ I ’ll have you chid into a blush for this.
_Duch._ Begin at home, great man, there ’s cause enough:
You turn the wrong end of the perspective[4378] 140
Upon your crimes, to drive them to a far
And lesser sight; but let your eyes look right,
What giants would your pride and surfeit seem!
How gross your avarice, eating up whole families!
How vast are your corruptions and abuse 145
Of the king’s ear! at which you hang a pendant,
Not to adorn, but ulcerate, while the honest
Nobility, like pictures in the arras,
Serve only for court ornament. If they speak,
’T is when you set their tongues, which you wind up 150
Like clocks, to strike at the just hour you please.
Leave, leave, my lord, these usurpations,
And be what you were meant, a man to cure,
Not let in, agues to religion:
Look on the church’s wounds.
_Car._ You dare presume, 155
In your rude spleen to me, to abuse the church?
_Duch._ Alas, you give false aim, my lord; ’t is your
Ambition and scarlet sins, that rob
Her altar of the glory, and leave wounds
Upon her brow; which fetches grief and paleness 160
Into her cheeks, making her troubled bosom
Pant with her groans, and shroud her holy blushes
Within your reverend purples.
_Car._ Will you now take breath?
_Duch._ In hope, my lord, you will behold yourself
In a true glass, and see those injust acts 165
That so deform you, and by timely cure
Prevent a shame, before the short-haired men[4379]
Do crowd and call for justice; I take leave. _Exit._
_Car._ This woman has a spirit, that may rise
To tame the devil’s: there ’s no dealing with
Her angry tongue; ’t is action and revenge 171
Must calm her fury. Were Columbo here,
I could resolve; but letters shall be sent
To th’ army, which may wake him into sense
Of his rash folly, or direct his spirit 175
Some way to snatch his honour from this flame.
All great men know the soul of life is fame. _Exit._
ACT III
[SCENE I.][4380]
_Enter_ VALERIA _and_ CELINDA.
_Val._ I did not think, Celinda, when I prais’d
Alvarez, to the duchess, that things thus
Would come about. What does your ladyship
Think of Columbo now? It staggers all
The court, he should forsake his mistress; I 5
Am lost with wonder yet.
_Cel._ ’T is very strange,
Without a spell; but there ’s a fate in love;—
I like him ne’er the worse.
_Enter two_ Lords.
_1 Lord._ Nothing but marriages and triumph now!
_Val._ What new access of joy makes you, my lord, 10
So pleasant?
_1 Lord._ There ’s a packet come to court
Makes the king merry: we are all concern’d in ’t.
Columbo hath given the enemy a great
And glorious defeat, and is already
Preparing to march home. 15
_Cel._ He thriv’d the better for my prayers.
_2 Lord._ You have been
His great admirer, madam.
_1 Lord._ The king longs
To see him.
_Val._ This news exalts the Cardinal.
_Enter_ Cardinal.
_1 Lord._ He ’s here!
He appears with discontent; the marriage 20
With Count d’Alvarez hath a bitter taste,
And not worn off his palate: but let us leave him.
_Cel. and Val._ We ’ll to the duchess. _Exeunt._
_Car._ He has not won so much upon the Arragon
As he has lost at home; and his neglect 25
Of what my studies had contriv’d to add
More lustre to our family by the access
Of the great duchess’ fortune, cools his triumph,
And makes me wild.
_Enter_ HERNANDO.
_Her._ My good lord Cardinal!
_Car._ You made complaint to th’ king about your general? 30
_Her._ Not a complaint, my lord: I did but satisfy
Some questions o’ the king’s.
_Car._ You see he thrives
Without your personal valour or advice,
Most grave and learned in the wars.
_Her._ My lord,
I envy not his fortune.
_Car._ ’T is above 35
Your malice, and your noise not worth his anger;
’T is barking ’gainst the moon.
_Her._ More temper would
Become that habit.
_Car._ The military thing would show some spleen.
I ’ll blow an army of such wasps about 40
The world.—Go look your sting you left i’ th’ camp, sir.
_Enter_ King _and_ Lords.
_Her._ The king!—This may be one day counted for. _Exit._
_King._ All things conspire, my lord, to make you fortunate.
Your nephew’s glory—
_Car._ ’T was your cause and justice
Made him victorious: had he been so valiant 45
At home, he had had another conquest to
Invite, and bid her welcome to new wars.
_King._ You must be reconcil’d to providence,
My lord.
I heard you had a controversy with 50
The duchess; I will have you friends.
_Car._ I am not angry.
_King._ For my sake, then,
You shall be pleas’d, and with me grace the marriage.
A churchman must show charity, and shine
With first example: she ’s a woman. 55
_Car._ You shall prescribe in all things, sir. You cannot
Accuse my love, if I still wish my nephew
Had been so happy, to be constant to
Your own, and my election; yet my brain
Cannot reach how this comes about; I know 60
My nephew lov’d her with a near affection.
_Re-enter_ HERNANDO.
_King._ He ’ll give you fair account at his return.—
Colonel, your letters may be spar’d; the general
Has finish’d, and is coming home. _Exit._
_Her._ I am glad on ’t, sir.—My good lord Cardinal, 65
’T is not impossible but some man provok’d
May have a precious mind to cut your throat.
_Car._ You shall command me, noble Colonel;
I know you wo’ not fail to be at the wedding.
_Her._ ’T is not Columbo that is married, sir.
_Car._ Go teach the postures of the pike and musket; 71
Then drill your myrmidons into a ditch,
Where starve, and stink in pickle.—You shall find
Me reasonable; you see the king expects me. [_Exit._]
_Her._ So does the devil.— 75
Some desperate hand may help you on your journey. _Exit._
[SCENE II.][4381]
_Enter_ Secretary [ANTONIO] _and_ Servants, [_with masques, dresses,
etc._]
_Ant._ Here, this; ay, this will fit your part: you shall wear the
slashes, because you are a soldier. Here ’s for the blue mute.[4382]
_1 Serv._ This doublet will never fit me; pox on ’t! Are these
breeches good enough for a (5) prince too? Pedro plays but a lord,
and he has two laces more in a seam.
_Ant._ You must consider Pedro is a foolish lord; he may wear what
lace he please.
_2 Serv._ Does my beard fit my clothes well, (10) gentlemen?
_Ant._ Pox o’ your beard!
_3 Serv._ That will fright away the hair.
_1 Serv._ This fellow plays but a mute, and he is so troublesome, and
talks. 15
_3 Serv._ Master Secretary might have let Jaques play the soldier; he
has a black patch already.
_2 Serv._ By your favour, Master Secretary, I was ask’d who writ this
play for us? 20
_Ant._ For us? Why, art thou any more than a blue mute?
_2 Serv._ And, by my troth, I said, I thought it was all your own.
_Ant._ Away, you coxcomb! 25
_4 Serv._ Dost think he has no more wit than to write a comedy? My
lady’s chaplain made the play, though he is content, for the honour
and trouble of the business, to be seen in ’t.
_5 Serv._ Did anybody see my head, gentlemen? (30) ’T was here but
now.—I shall have never a head to play my part in.
_Ant._ Is thy head gone? ’T was well thy part was not in ’t. Look,
look about; has not Jaques it? 35
_4 Serv._ I his head? ’T wo’ not come on upon my shoulders.
_Ant._ Make haste, gentlemen; I ’ll see whether the king has supp’d.
Look every man to his wardrobe and his part. _Exit._ 40
_2 Serv._ Is he gone? In my mind, a masque had been fitter for a
marriage.
_4 Serv._ Why, mute? There was no time for ’t, and the scenes are
troublesome.
_2 Serv._ Half a score deal tack’d together (45) in the clouds, what
’s that? A throne, to come down and dance; all the properties have
been paid forty times over, and are in the court stock:—but the
secretary must have a play, to show his wit. 50
_4 Serv._ Did not I tell thee ’t was the chaplain’s? Hold your
tongue, mute.
_1 Serv._ Under the rose, and would this cloth of silver doublet
might never come off again, if there be any more plot than you see in
the (55) back of my hand.
_2 Serv._ You talk of a plot! I ’ll not give this for the best poet’s
plot in the world, an if it be not well carried.
_4 Serv._ Well said, mute. 60
_3 Serv._ Ha, ha! Pedro, since he put on his doublet, has repeated
but three lines, and he has broke five buttons.
_2 Serv._ I know not; but by this false beard, and here ’s hair
enough to hang a reasonable (65) honest man. I do not remember,
to say, a strong line indeed in the whole comedy, but when the
chambermaid kisses the captain.
_3 Serv._ Excellent, mute!
_5 Serv._ They have almost supp’d, and I (70) cannot find my head yet.
_4 Serv._ Play in thine own.
_5 Serv._ Thank you for that! so I may have it made a property. If I
have not a head found me, let Master Secretary play my part himself 75
without it.
_Re-enter_ Secretary [ANTONIO].
_Ant._ Are you all ready, my masters? The king is coming through the
gallery. Are the women drest?
_1 Serv._ Rogero wants a head. 80
_Ant._ Here, with a pox to you! take mine. You a player! you a
puppy-dog. Is the music ready?
_Enter_ Gentleman-Usher.
_Gent._ Gentlemen, it is my lady’s pleasure that you expect till
she call for you. There are (85) a company of cavaliers in gallant
equipage, newly alighted, have offer’d to present their Revels in
honour of this Hymen; and ’t is her grace’s command, that you be
silent till their entertainment be over. 90
_1 Serv._ Gentlemen?
_2 Serv._ Affronted?
_5 Serv._ Master Secretary, there ’s your head again; a man ’s a man.
Have I broken my sleep to study fifteen lines for an ambassador, 95
and after that a constable, and is it come to this?
_Ant._ Patience, gentlemen, be not so hot; ’t is but deferr’d, and
the play may do well enough cold. 100
_4 Serv._ If it be not presented, the chaplain will have the greatest
loss; he loses his wits. (_Hautbois._)
_Ant._ This music speaks the king upon entrance. Retire, retire, and
grumble not.
_Exeunt_ [_all but_ ANTONIO].
_Enter_ KING, CARDINAL, ALVAREZ, DUCHESS, CELINDA, VALERIA, PLACENTIA,
LORDS, _and_ HERNANDO. _They being set_, _enter_ COLUMBO _and five
more, in rich habits, vizarded; between every two a_ Torch-bearer.
_They dance, and afterwards beckon to_ ALVAREZ, _as if desirous to
speak with him_.
_Alv._ With me! (_They embrace and whisper._) 105
_King._ Do you know the masquers, madam?
_Duch._ Not I, sir.
_Car._ There ’s one,—but that my nephew is abroad,
And has more soul than thus to jig upon
Their hymeneal night, I should suspect 110
’T were he. (The Masquers _lead in_ ALVAREZ.)
_Duch._ Where ’s my Lord Alvarez? (_Recorders._[4383])
_King._ Call in the bridegroom.
_Re-enter_ COLUMBO. _Four_ Masquers _bring in_ ALVAREZ _dead_, _in one
of their habits_, _and having laid him down_, _exeunt_.
_Duch._ What mystery is this?
_Car._ We want the bridegroom still. 115
_King._ Where is Alvarez?
COLUMBO _points to the body_; _they unvizard it_, _and find_ ALVAREZ
_bleeding_.
_Duch._ Oh, ’t is my lord! He ’s murder’d!
_King._ Who durst commit this horrid act?
_Colum._ I, sir. [_Throws off his disguise._]
_King._ Columbo? Ha!
_Colum._ Yes: Columbo, that dares stay 120
To justify that act.
_Her._ Most barbarous!
_Duch._ Oh, my dearest lord!
_King._ Our guard seize on them all:
This sight doth shake all that is man within me.
Poor Alvarez, is this thy wedding day? 125
_Enter_ Guard.
_Duch._ If you do think there is a Heaven, or pains
To punish such black crimes i’ th’ other world,
Let me have swift, and such exemplar justice,
As shall become this great assassinate; 129
You will take off our faith else: and, if here
Such innocence must bleed, and you look on,
Poor men, that call you gods on earth, will doubt
To obey your laws, nay, practise to be devils,
As fearing, if such monstrous sins go on,
The saints will not be safe in Heaven.
_King._ You shall, 135
You shall have justice.
_Car._ [_Aside._] Now to come off were brave.
_Enter_ Servant.
_Serv._ The masquers, sir, are fled; their horse, prepar’d
At gate, expected to receive ’em, where
They quickly mounted: coming so like friends,
None could suspect their haste, which is secur’d 140
By advantage of the night.
_Colum._ I answer for ’em all; ’t is stake enough
For many lives: but if that poniard
Had voice, it would convince they were but all
Spectators of my act. And now, if you 145
Will give your judgments leave, though at the first
Face of this object your cool bloods were frighted,
I can excuse this deed, and call it justice;
An act your honours and your office, sir,
Is bound to build a law upon, for others 150
To imitate. I have but took his life,
And punish’d her with mercy, who had both
Conspir’d to kill the soul of all my fame.
Read there; and read an injury as deep
In my dishonour, as the devil knew 155
A woman had capacity or malice
To execute: read there, how you were cozen’d, sir.
[_Gives the_ DUCHESS’S _letter to the_ KING.]
Your power affronted, and my faith; her smiles,
A juggling witchcraft to betray, and make
My love her horse to stalk withal, and catch 160
Her curled minion.
_Car._ Is it possible
The duchess could dissemble so, and forfeit
Her modesty with you, and to us all?
Yet I must pity her. My nephew has
Been too severe; though this affront would call 165
A dying man from prayers, and turn him tiger;
There being nothing dearer than our fame,
Which, if a common man, whose blood has no
Ingredient of honour, labour to
Preserve, a soldier (by his nearest tie 170
To glory) is, above all others, bound
To vindicate:—and yet it might have been
Less bloody.
_Her._ Charitable devil!
_King._ [_Reads._] “I pray, my lord, release under your hand, what
you dare challenge in (175) my love or person, as a just forfeit to
myself; this act will speak you honourable to my thoughts; and when
you have conquered thus yourself, you may proceed to many victories,
and after, with safety of your fame, visit (180) again The lost
Rosaura.”
To this your answer was a free resign?
_Colum._ Flatter’d with great opinion of her faith,
And my desert of her (with thought that she,
Who seem’d to weep and chide my easy will 185
To part with her, could not be guilty of
A treason, or apostasy so soon,
But rather meant this a device to make
Me expedite the affairs of war), I sent
That paper, which her wickedness, not justice,
Applied (what I meant trial,) her divorce. 191
I lov’d her so, I dare call heaven to witness,
I knew not whether I lov’d most; while she,
With him, whose crimson penitence I provok’d,[4384]
Conspir’d my everlasting infamy: 195
Examine but the circumstance.
_Car._ ’T is clear;
This match was made at home, before she sent
That cunning writ, in hope to take him off,
As knowing his impatient soul would scorn
To own a blessing came on crutches to him. 200
It was not well to raise his expectation,
(Had you, sir, no affront?) to ruin him
With so much scandal and contempt.
_King._ We have
Too plentiful a circumstance to accuse
You, madam, as the cause of your own sorrows; 205
But not without an accessory more
Than young Alvarez.
_Car._ Any other instrument?
_King._ Yes; I am guilty, with herself, and Don
Columbo, though our acts look’d several ways,
That thought a lover might so soon be ransom’d;[4385] 210
And did exceed the office of a king,
To exercise dominion over hearts,
That owe to the prerogative of Heaven
Their choice or separation: you must, therefore,
When you do kneel for justice and revenge, 215
Madam, consider me a lateral agent
In poor Alvarez’ tragedy.
_1 Lord._ It was your love to Don Columbo, sir.
_Her._ So, so! the king is charm’d. Do you observe
How, to acquit Columbo, he would draw 220
Himself into the plot. Heaven, is this justice?
_Car._ Your judgment is divine in this.
_King._ And yet
Columbo cannot be secure, and we
Just in his pardon, that durst make so great
And insolent a breach of law and duty. 225
_2 Lord._ Ha! will he turn again?
_King._ And should we leave
This guilt of blood to Heaven, which cries, and strikes
With loud appeals the palace of eternity;
Yet here is more to charge Columbo than
Alvarez’ blood, and bids me punish it, 230
Or be no king.
_Her._ ’Tis come about, my lords.
_King._ And if I should forgive
His timeless[4386] death, I cannot the offence,
That with such boldness struck at me. Has my
Indulgence to your merits, which are great, 235
Made me so cheap, your rage could meet no time
Nor place for your revenge, but where my eyes
Must be affrighted, and affronted with
The bloody execution? This contempt
Of majesty transcends my power to pardon, 240
And you shall feel my anger, sir.
_Her._ Thou shalt
Have one short prayer more for that.
_Colum._ Have I,
I’ th’ progress of my life,
No actions to plead me up deserving
Against this ceremony?[4387]
_Car._ Contain yourself. 245
_Colum._ I must be dumb then. Where is honour,
And gratitude of kings, when they forget
Whose hand secur’d their greatness? Take my head off;
Examine then which of your silken lords,
As I have done, will throw himself on dangers;
Like to a floating island move in blood; 251
And where your great defence calls him to stand
A bulwark, upon his bold breast to take
In death, that you may live:—but soldiers are
Your valiant fools, whom, when your own securities 255
Are bleeding, you can cherish; but when once
Your state and nerves are knit, not thinking when
To use their surgery again, you cast
Them off, and let them hang in dusty armories,
Or make it death to ask for pay.
_King._ No more; 260
We thought to have put your victory and merits
In balance with Alvarez’ death, which, while
Our mercy was to judge, had been your safety;
But the affront to us, made greater by
This boldness to upbraid our royal bounty, 265
Shall tame, or make you nothing.
_Lord._ Excellent!
_Her._ The Cardinal is not pleas’d.
_Car._ Humble yourself
To th’ king.
_Colum._ And beg my life? Let cowards do ’t
That dare not die; I’ll rather have no head 269
Than owe it to his charity.
_King._ To th’ castle with him!—
[COLUMBO is _led off by the_ Guard.]
Madam, I leave you to your grief, and what
The king can recompense to your tears, or honour 272
Of your dead lord, expect.
_Duch._ This shows like justice. _Exeunt._
ACT IV
[SCENE I.][4388]
_Enter two_ Lords _and_ HERNANDO.
_1 Lord._ This is the age of wonders.
_2 Lord._ Wondrous mischiefs!
_Her._ Among those guards, which some call tutelar angels,
Whose office is to govern provinces,
Is there not one will undertake Navarre?
Hath Heaven forsook us quite?
_1 Lord._ Columbo at large! 5
_2 Lord._ And grac’d now more than ever.
_1 Lord._ He was not pardon’d;
That word was prejudicial to his fame.
_Her._ But, as the murder done had been a dream
Vanish’d to memory, he’s courted as
Preserver of his country. With what chains 10
Of magic does this Cardinal hold the king?
_2 Lord._ What will you say, my lord, if they enchant
The duchess now, and by some impudent art,
Advance a marriage to Columbo yet?
_Her._ Say! 15
I’ll say no woman can be sav’d; nor is ’t
Fit, indeed, any should pretend to Heaven,
After one such impiety in their sex:
And yet my faith has been so stagger’d, since
The king restor’d Columbo, I’ll be now 20
Of no religion.
1 _Lord._ ’Tis not possible
She can forgive the murder; I observ’d
Her tears.
_Her._ Why, so did I, my lord;
And if they be not honest, ’tis to be
Half damn’d, to look upon a woman weeping. 25
When do you think the Cardinal said his prayers?
_2 Lord._ I know not.
_Her._ Heaven forgive my want of charity!
But, if I were to kill him, he should have
No time to pray; his life could be no sacrifice,
Unless his soul went too.
_1 Lord._ That were too much. 30
_Her._ When you mean to dispatch him, you may give
Time for confession: they have injur’d me
After another rate.
_2 Lord._ You are too passionate, cousin.
_Enter_ COLUMBO, Colonels, ALPHONSO, _and_ Courtiers. _They pass over
the stage._
_Her._ How the gay men do flutter, to congratulate 35
His gaol delivery! There’s one honest man:
What pity ’tis a gallant fellow should
Depend on knaves for his preferment!
1 _Lord._ Except this cruelty upon Alvarez,
Columbo has no mighty stain upon him; 40
But for his uncle—
_Her._ If I had a son
Of twelve years old that would not fight with him,
And stake his soul against his cardinal’s cap,
I would disinherit him. Time has took a lease
But for three lives, I hope; a fourth may see 45
Honesty walk without a crutch.
2 _Lord._ This is
But air and wildness.
_Her._ I will see the duchess.
[_1 Lord._] You may do well to comfort her; we must
Attend the king.
_Her._ Your pleasures. _Exit._
_Enter_ KING _and_ CARDINAL.
_1 Lord._ A man of a brave soul.
_2 Lord._ The less his safety.— 50
The king and Cardinal in consult!
_King._ Commend us to the duchess, and employ
What language you think fit and powerful
To reconcile her to some peace.—My lords.
_Car._ Sir, I possess all for your sacred uses. _Exeunt severally._ 55
[SCENE II.][4389]
_Enter_ Secretary [ANTONIO] _and_ CELINDA.
_Ant._ Madam, you are the welcom’st lady living.
_Cel._ To whom, Master Secretary?
_Ant._ If you have mercy
To pardon so much boldness, I durst say,
To me—I am a gentleman.
_Cel._ And handsome.
_Ant._ But my lady has 5
Much wanted you.
_Cel._ Why, Master Secretary?
_Ant._ You are the prettiest,—
_Cel._ So!
_Ant._ The wittiest,—
_Cel._ So! 10
_Ant._ The merriest lady i’ th’ court.
_Cel._ And I was wish’d, to make the duchess pleasant?[4390]
_Ant._ She never had so deep a cause of sorrow;
Her chamber ’s but a coffin of a larger
Volume, wherein she walks so like a ghost, 15
’T would make you pale to see her.
_Cel._ Tell her grace
I attend here.
_Ant._ I shall most willingly.—
A spirited lady I would I had her in my closet!
She is excellent company among the lords.
Sure she has an admirable treble.—Madam. _Exit._ 20
_Cel._ I do suspect this fellow would be nibbling,
Like some, whose narrow fortunes will not rise
To wear things when the invention’s rare and new:
But treading on the heel of pride, they hunt 24
The fashion when ’t is crippled, like fell tyrants.
I hope I am not old yet; I had the honour
To be saluted by our Cardinal’s nephew
This morning: there ’s a man!
_Re-enter_ Secretary [ANTONIO].
_Ant._ I have prevail’d.
Sweet madam, use what eloquence you can
Upon her; and if ever I be useful 30
To your ladyship’s service, your least breath commands me. [_Exit._]
_Enter_ Duchess.
_Duch._ Madam, I come to ask you but one question:
If you were in my state, my state of grief,
I mean, an exile from all happiness
Of this world, and almost of Heaven, (for my 35
Affliction is finding out despair,)
What would you think of Don Columbo?
_Cel._ Madam?
_Duch._ Whose bloody hand wrought all this misery.
Would you not weep, as I do, and wish rather
An everlasting spring of tears to drown 40
Your sight, than let your eyes be curst to see
The murderer again, and glorious?
So careless of his sin, that he is made
Fit for new parricide, even while his soul 44
Is purpled o’er, and reeks with innocent blood?
But do not, do not answer me; I know
You have so great a spirit, (which I want,
The horror of his fact[4391] surprising all
My faculties), you would not let him live:
But I, poor I, must suffer more. There ’s not 50
One little star in Heaven will look on me,
Unless to choose me out the mark, on whom
It may shoot down some angry influence.
_Enter_ PLACENTIA.
_Pla._ Madam, here ’s Don Columbo says he must
Speak with your grace.
_Duch._ But he must not, I charge you. 55
[_Exit_ PLACENTIA.]
None else wait?—Is this well done,
To triumph in his tyranny? Speak, madam,
Speak but your conscience.
_Enter_ COLUMBO _and_ Secretary [ANTONIO].
_Ant._ Sir, you must not see her.
_Colum._ Not see her? Were she cabled up above
The search of bullet or of fire, were she 60
Within her grave, and that the toughest mine
That ever nature teem’d and groan’d withal,
I would force some way to see her.—Do not fear
I come to court you, madam; y’ are not worth
The humblest of my kinder thoughts. I come 65
To show the man you have provok’d, and lost,
And tell you what remains of my revenge.—
Live, but never presume again to marry;
I ’ll kill the next at th’ altar, and quench all
The smiling tapers with his blood: if after, 70
You dare provoke the priest and Heaven so much
To take another, in thy bed I ’ll cut him from
Thy warm embrace, and throw his heart to ravens.
_Cel._ This will appear an unexampled cruelty.
_Colum._ Your pardon, madam; rage, and my revenge, 75
Not perfect, took away my eyes. You are
A noble lady, this not worth your eye-beam;
One of so slight a making, and so thin,
An autumn leaf is of too great a value
To play, which shall be soonest lost i’ th’ air. 80
Be pleas’d to own me by some name in your
Assurance, I despise to be receiv’d
There; let her witness that I call you mistress;
Honour me to make these pearls your carkanet.
[_Gives her a necklace._]
_Cel._ My lord, you are too humble in your thoughts. 85
_Colum._ [_Aside._] There ’s no vexation too great to punish her.
_Exit._
_Ant._ Now, madam.
_Cel._ Away, you saucy fellow!—Madam, I
Must be excus’d, if I do think more honourably
Than you have cause, of this great lord.
_Duch._ Why, is not 90
All womankind concern’d to hate what ’s impious?
_Cel._ For my part—
_Duch._ Antonio, is this a woman?
_Ant._ I know not whether she be man or woman;
I should be nimble to find out the experiment.
She look’d with less state when Columbo came.
_Duch._ Let me entreat your absence [_Aside._]
I am cozen’d in her.— 96
I took you for a modest, honest lady.
_Cel._ Madam, I scorn any accuser; and
Deducting the great title of a duchess,
I shall not need one grain of your dear honour
To me make full weight: if your grace be jealous, 101
I can remove. _Exit._
_Ant._ She is gone.
_Duch._ Prithee remove
My fears of her return. [_Exit_ ANT.]—She is not worth
Considering; my anger ’s mounted higher.
He need not put in caution for my next 105
Marriage.—Alvarez, I must come to thee,
Thy virgin wife, and widow; but not till
I ha’ paid those tragic duties to thy hearse
Become my piety and love. But how?
Who shall instruct a way?
_Enter_ PLACENTIA.
_Pla._ Madam, Don 110
Hernando much desires to speak with you.
_Duch._ Will not thy own discretion think I am
Unfit for visit?
_Pla._ Please your grace, he brings
Something, he says, imports your ear, and love
Of the dead lord, Alvarez.
_Duch._ Then admit him. [_Exit_ PLACENTIA.] 115
_Enter_ [PLACENTIA _with_] HERNANDO.
_Her._ I would speak, madam, to yourself.
_Duch._ Your absence. [_Exit_ PLACENTIA.]
_Her._ I know not how your grace will censure so
Much boldness, when you know the affairs I come for.
_Duch._ My servant has prepar’d me to receive it,
If ’t concern my dead lord.
_Her._ Can you name 120
So much of your Alvarez in a breath,
Without one word of your revenge? O, madam,
I come to chide you, and repent my great
Opinion of your virtue, that can walk,
And spend so many hours in naked solitude; 125
As if you thought that no arrears were due
To his death, when you had paid his funeral charges,
Made your eyes red, and wept a handkerchief.
I come to tell you that I saw him bleed;
I, that can challenge nothing in his name 130
And honour, saw his murder’d body warm,
And panting with the labour of his spirits,
Till my amaz’d soul shrunk and hid itself:
While barbarous Columbo grinning stood,
And mock’d the weeping wounds. It is too much, 135
That you should keep your heart alive so long
After this spectacle, and not revenge it.
_Duch._ You do not know the business of my heart,
That censure me so rashly; yet I thank you;
And, if you be Alvarez’ friend, dare tell 140
Your confidence, that I despise my life,
But know not how to use it in a service
To speak me his revenger: this will need
No other proof, than that to you, who may
Be sent with cunning to betray me, I 145
Have made this bold confession. I so much
Desire to sacrifice to that hovering ghost
Columbo’s life, that I am not ambitious
To keep my own two minutes after it.
_Her._ If you will call me coward, which is equal 150
To think I am a traitor, I forgive it
For this brave resolution, which time
And all the destinies must aid. I beg
That I may kiss your hand for this; and may
The soul of angry honour guide it—
_Duch._ Whither? 155
_Her._ To Don Columbo’s heart.
_Duch._ It is too weak, I fear, alone.
_Her._ Alone? Are you in earnest? Why, will it not
Be a dishonour to your justice, madam,
Another arm should interpose? But that 160
It were a saucy act to mingle with you,
I durst, nay, I am bound in the revenge
Of him that ’s dead, (since the whole world has interest
In every good man’s loss,) to offer it.
Dare you command me, madam?
_Duch._ Not command; 165
But I should more than honour such a truth
In man, that durst, against so mighty odds,
Appear Alvarez’ friend, and mine. The Cardinal—
_Her._ Is for the second course; Columbo must
Be first cut up; his ghost must lead the dance: 170
Let him die first.
_Duch._ But how?
_Her._ How! with a sword; and, if I undertake it,
I wo’ not lose so much of my own honour,
To kill him basely.
_Duch._ How shall I reward
This infinite service? ’Tis not modesty 175
While now my husband groans beneath his tomb,
And calls me to his marble bed, to promise,
What this great act might well deserve, myself,
If you survive the victor; but if thus
Alvarez’ ashes be appeas’d, it must 180
Deserve an honourable memory;
And though Columbo (as he had all power,
And grasp’d the fates) has vow’d to kill the man
That shall succeed Alvarez—
_Her._ Tyranny!
_Duch._ Yet, if ever 185
I entertain a thought of love hereafter,
Hernando from the world shall challenge it;
Till when, my prayers and fortune shall wait on you.
_Her._ This is too mighty recompense.
_Duch._ ’Tis all just.
_Her._ If I outlive Columbo, I must not 190
Expect security at home.
_Duch._ Thou canst
Not fly where all my fortunes, and my love
Shall not attend to guard thee.
_Her._ If I die—
_Duch._ Thy memory 194
Shall have a shrine, the next within my heart,
To my Alvarez.
_Her._ Once again your hand.
Your cause is so religious, you need not
Strengthen it with your prayers; trust it to me.
_Re-enter_ PLACENTIA, _and the_ CARDINAL.
_Pla._ Madam, the Cardinal.
_Duch._ Will you appear?
_Her._ An he had all the horror of the devil 200
In ’s face, I would not baulk him.
_He stares upon the_ CARDINAL _in his exit_.
_Car._ [_Aside._] What makes Hernando here? I do not like
They should consult; I’ll take no note.—The king
Fairly salutes your grace; by whose command
I am to tell you, though his will and actions 205
Illimited, stoop not to satisfy
The vulgar inquisition, he is
Yet willing to retain a just opinion
With those that are plac’d near him; and although
You look with nature’s eye upon yourself, 210
Which needs no perspective to reach, nor art
Of any optic to make greater, what
Your narrow sense applies[4392] an injury,
(Ourselves still nearest to ourselves,) but there’s
Another eye that looks abroad, and walks 215
In search of reason, and the weight of things,
With which, if you look on him, you will find
His pardon to Columbo cannot be
So much against his justice, as your erring
Faith would persuade your anger.
_Duch._ Good my lord, 220
Your phrase has too much landscape, and I cannot
Distinguish at this distance you present[4393]
The figure perfect: but indeed my eyes
May pray your lordship find excuse, for tears
Have almost made them blind.
_Car._ Fair peace restore ’em! 225
To bring the object nearer, the king says,
He could not be severe to Don Columbo
Without injustice to his other merits,
Which call more loud for their reward and honour,
Than you for your revenge; the kingdom made 230
Happy by those; you only, by the last,
Unfortunate:—nor was it rational,
I speak the king’s own language, he should die
For taking one man’s breath, without whose valour
None now had been alive without dishonour. 235
_Duch._ In my poor understanding, ’tis the crown
Of virtue to proceed in its own track,
Not deviate from honour. If you acquit
A man of murder, ’cause he has done brave
Things in the war, you will bring down his valour 240
To a crime, nay, to a bawd, if it secure
A rape, and but teach those that deserve well
To sin with greater license. But dispute
Is now too late, my lord; ’tis done; and you,
By the good king, in tender of my sorrows, 245
Sent to persuade me ’tis unreasonable
That justice should repair me.
_Car._ You mistake;
For if Columbo’s death could make Alvarez
Live, the king had given him up to law,
Your bleeding sacrifice; but when his life 250
Was but another treasure thrown away,
To obey a clamorous statute, it was wisdom
To himself, and common safety, to take off
This killing edge of law, and keep Columbo
To recompense the crime by noble acts, 255
And sorrow, that in time might draw your pity.
_Duch._ This is a greater tyranny than that
Columbo exercis’d; he kill’d my lord;
And you have not the charity to let
Me think it worth a punishment.
_Car._ To that, 260
In my own name, I answer: I condemn,
And urge the bloody guilt against my nephew;
’T was violent and cruel, a black deed;
A deed, whose memory doth make me shudder;
An act, that did betray a tyrannous nature, 265
Which he took up[4394] in war, the school of vengeance;
And though the king’s compassion spare him here,
Unless his heart
Weep itself out in penitent tears,—
_Duch._ This sounds
As you were now a good man.
_Car._ Does your grace 270
Think I have conscience to allow the murder?
Although, when it was done, I did obey
The stream of nature, as he was my kinsman,
To plead he might not pay his forfeit life,
Could I do less for one so near my blood? 275
Consider, madam, and be charitable;
Let not this wild injustice make me lose
The character I bear, and reverend habit.
To make you full acquainted with my innocence,
I challenge here my soul, and Heaven to witness, 280
If I had any thought, or knowledge with
My nephew’s plot, or person, when he came,
Under the smooth pretence of friend, to violate
Your hospitable laws, and do that act,
Whose frequent mention draws this tear, a whirlwind 285
Snatch me to endless flames!
_Duch._ I must believe,
And ask your grace’s pardon. I confess
I have not lov’d you since Alvarez’ death,
Though we were reconcil’d.
_Car._ I do not blame
Your jealousy, nor any zeal you had 290
To prosecute revenge against me, madam,
As I then stood suspected, nor can yet
Implore your mercy to Columbo. All
I have to say is, to retain my first
Opinion and credit with your grace; 295
Which you may think I urge not out of fear,
Or ends upon you, (since, I thank the king,
I stand firm on the base of royal favour,)
But for your own sake, and to show I have
Compassion of your sufferings.
_Duch._ You have clear’d 300
A doubt, my lord; and by this fair remonstrance,
Given my sorrow so much truce, to think
That we may meet again, and yet be friends.—
But be not angry, if I still remember
By whom Alvarez died, and weep, and wake 305
Another justice with my prayers.
_Car._ All thoughts
That may advance a better peace dwell with you! _Exit._
_Duch._ How would this cozening statesman bribe my faith
With flatteries, to think him innocent!
No; if his nephew die, this Cardinal must not 310
Be long-liv’d. All the prayers of a wrong’d widow
Make firm Hernando’s sword! and my own hand
Shall have some glory in the next revenge.
I will pretend my brain with grief distracted,
It may gain easy credit; and beside 315
The taking off examination
For great Columbo’s death, it makes what act
I do in that believ’d[4395] want of my reason,
Appear no crime, but my defence.—Look down,
Soul of my lord, from thy eternal shade, 320
And unto all thy blest companions boast
Thy duchess busy to revenge thy ghost! _Exit._
[SCENE III.][4396]
_Enter_ [_on one side_] COLUMBO _and_ ALPHONSO; [_on the other_,]
HERNANDO _and a_ Colonel.
_Colum._ Hernando, now I love thee, and do half
Repent the affront my passion threw upon thee.
_Her._ You will not be too prodigal o’ your penitence.
_Colum._ This makes good thy nobility of birth; 4
Thou may’st be worth my anger and my sword,
If thou dost execute as daringly
As thou provok’st a quarrel. I did think
Thy soul a starveling, or asleep.
_Her._ You ’ll find it
Active enough to keep your spirit waking;
Which, to exasperate, for yet I think 10
It is not high enough to meet my rage—
Do you smile?
_Colum._ This noise is worth it.—Gentlemen,
I ’m sorry this great soldier has engag’d
Your travail; all his business is to talk.
_Her._ A little of your lordship’s patience, 15
You shall have other sport, and swords that will
Be as nimble ’bout your heart as you can wish.
’T is pity more than our two single lives
Should be at stake.
_Colum._ Make that no scruple, sir.
_Her._ To him then that survives, if fate allow 20
That difference, I speak, that he may tell
The world, I came not hither on slight anger,
But to revenge my honour, stain’d and trampled on
By this proud man; when general, he commanded
My absence from the field.
_Colum._ I do remember, 25
And I ’ll give your soul now a discharge.
_Her._ I come
To meet it, if your courage be so fortunate.
But there is more than my own injury
You must account for, sir, if my sword prosper; 29
Whose point and every edge is made more keen
With young Alvarez’ blood, in which I had
A noble interest. Does not that sin benumb
Thy arteries, and turn the guilty flowings
To trembling jelly in thy veins? Canst hear
Me name that murder, and thy spirits not 35
Struck into air, as thou wert shot by some
Engine from Heaven?
_Colum._ You are the duchess’ champion!
Thou hast given me a quarrel now. I grieve
It is determin’d all must fight, and I
Shall lose much honour in his fall.
_Her._ That duchess, 40
(Whom but to mention with thy breath is sacrilege,
An orphan of thy making, and condemn’d
By thee to eternal solitude, I come
To vindicate; and while I am killing thee,
By virtue of her prayers sent up for justice, 45
At the same time, in Heaven I am pardon’d for ’t.
_Colum._ I cannot hear the bravo.
_Her._ Two words more,
And take your chance. Before you all I must
Pronounce that noble lady without knowledge
Or thought of what I undertake for her. 50
Poor soul! she ’s now at her devotions,
Busy with Heaven, and wearing out the earth
With her stiff knees, and bribing her good angel
With treasures of her eyes, to tell her lord
How much she longs to see him. My attempt 55
Needs no commission from her: were I
A stranger in Navarre, the inborn right
Of every gentleman to Alvarez’ loss
Is reason to engage their swords and lives
Against the common enemy of virtue. 60
_Colum._ Now have you finish’d? I have an instrument
Shall cure this noise, and fly up to thy tongue,
To murder all thy words.
_Her._ One little knot
Of phlegm, that clogs my stomach, and I ha’ done:—
You have an uncle, call’d a Cardinal, 65
Would he were lurking now about thy heart,
That the same wounds might reach you both, and send
Your reeling souls together! Now have at you.
_Alph._ We must not, sir, be idle.
[_They fight_; COLUMBO’S _second_ [ALPHONSO], _slain._
_Her._ What think you now of praying?
_Colum._ Time enough. 70
_He kills_ HERNANDO’S _second_.
Commend me to my friend; the scales are even.
I would be merciful, and give you time
Now to consider of the other world;
You ’ll find your soul benighted presently.
_Her._ I ’ll find my way i’ the dark.
_They fight, and close_; COLUMBO _gets both the swords_, _and_ HERNANDO
_takes up the second’s weapon_.
_Colum._ A stumble’s dangerous. 75
Now ask thy life.—Ha!
_Her._ I despise to wear it,
A gift from any but the first bestower.
_Colum._ I scorn a base advantage.—
COLUMBO _throws away one of the swords: they fight._ HERNANDO _wounds_
COLUMBO.—
Ha!
_Her._ I am now
Out of your debt.
_Colum._ Thou ’st don ’t, and I forgive thee.
Give me thy hand; when shall we meet again?
_Her._ Never, I hope. 81
_Colum._ I feel life ebb apace: yet I ’ll look upwards,
And show my face to Heaven. [_Dies._]
_Her._ The matter’s done;
I must not stay to bury him. _Exit._
ACT V
[SCENE I.][4397]
_Enter two_ Lords.
_1 Lord._ Columbo’s death doth much afflict the king.
_2 Lord._ I thought the Cardinal would have lost his wits
At first, for ’s nephew; it drowns all the talk
Of the others that were slain.
_1 Lord._ We are friends.
I do suspect Hernando had some interest, 5
And knew how their wounds came.
_2 Lord._ His flight confirms it,
For whom the Cardinal has spread his nets.
_1 Lord._ He is not so weak to trust himself at home
To his enemy’s gripe.
_2 Lord._ All strikes not me so much
As that the duchess, most oppressed lady, 10
Should be distracted, and before Columbo
Was slain.
_1 Lord._ But that the Cardinal should be made
Her guardian, is to me above that wonder.
_2 Lord._ So it pleas’d the king; and she, with that small stock
Of reason left her, is so kind and smooth 15
Upon him.
_1 Lord._ She ’s turn’d a child again: a madness,
That would ha’ made her brain and blood boil high,
In which distemper she might ha’ wrought something—
_2 Lord._ Had been to purpose.
_1 Lord._ The Cardinal is cunning; and howe’er 20
His brow does smile, he does suspect Hernando
Took fire from her, and waits a time to punish it.
_2 Lord._ But what a subject of disgrace and mirth
Hath poor Celinda made herself by pride,
In her belief Columbo was her servant! 25
Her head hath stoop’d much since he died, and she
Almost ridiculous at court.
_Enter_ CARDINAL, ANTONELLI, _and_ Servant.
_1 Lord._ The Cardinal
Is come into the garden, now—
_Car._ Walk off.— [_Exeunt_ Lords.]
It troubles me the duchess by her loss
Of brain, is now beneath my great revenge. 30
She is not capable to feel my anger,
Which, like to unregarded thunder spent
In woods, and lightning aim’d at senseless trees,
Must idly fall, and hurt her not, not to
That sense her guilt deserves: a fatal stroke, 35
Without the knowledge for what crime, to fright her
When she takes leave, and make her tug with death,
Until her soul sweat, is a pigeon’s torment,
And she is sent a babe to the other world.
Columbo’s death will not be satisfied, 40
And I but wound her with a two-edg’d feather.
I must do more: I have all opportunity,
(She by the king now made my charge,) but she’s
So much a turtle, I shall lose by killing her,
Perhaps do her a pleasure and preferment; 45
That must not be.
_Enter_ CELINDA _with a parchment_.
_Anton._ [_stopping her._]—Is not this she, that would be thought to
have been
Columbo’s mistress?—Madam, his grace is private,
And would not be disturb’d; you may displease him.
_Cel._ What will your worship wager that he shall 50
Be pleas’d again before we part?
_Anton._ I’ll lay this diamond, madam, ’gainst a kiss,
And trust yourself to keep the stakes.
_Cel._ ’T is done. [_Comes forward._]
_Anton._ I have long had an appetite to this lady;
But the lords keep her up so high—this toy 55
May bring her on.
_Car._ This interruption tastes not of good manners.
_Cel._ But where necessity, my lord, compels,
The boldness may meet pardon, and when you
Have found my purpose, I may less appear 60
Unmannerly.
_Car._ To the business.
_Cel._ It did please
Your nephew, sir, before his death, to credit me
With so much honourable favour, I
Am come to tender to his near’st of blood,
Yourself, what does remain a debt to him. 65
Not to delay your grace with circumstance.
That deed, if you accept, makes you my heir
Of no contemptible estate.—[_Aside._] This way _He reads._
Is only left to tie up scurrile tongues
And saucy men, that since Columbo’s death 70
Venture to libel on my pride and folly;
His greatness and this gift, which I enjoy
Still for my life, (beyond which term a kingdom’s
Nothing,) will curb the giddy spleens of men
That live on impudent rhyme, and railing at 75
Each wandering fame they catch.
_Car._ Madam, this bounty
Will bind my gratitude, and care to serve you.
_Cel._ I am your grace’s servant.
_Car._ Antonelli!—_Whisper._
And when this noble lady visits me,
Let her not wait. 80
_Cel._ What think you, my officious sir? His grace
Is pleas’d, you may conjecture: I may keep
Your gem; the kiss was never yours.
_Anton._ Sweet madam—
_Cel._ Talk if you dare; you know I must not wait;
And so, farewell for this time. [_Exit._] 85
_Car._ ’T is in my brain already, and it forms
Apace—good, excellent revenge, and pleasant!
She’s now within my talons: ’t is too cheap
A satisfaction for Columbo’s death,
Only to kill her by soft charm or force. 90
I ’ll rifle first her darling chastity;
’T will be after time enough to poison her,
And she to th’ world be thought her own destroyer.
As I will frame the circumstance, this night
All may be finished: for the colonel, 95
Her agent in my nephew’s death, (whom I
Disturb’d at counsel with her,) I may reach him
Hereafter, and be master of his fate.
We starve our conscience when we thrive in state. _Exeunt._
[SCENE II.][4398]
_Enter_ Secretary [ANTONIO] _and_ PLACENTIA.
_Ant._ Placentia, we two are only left
Of all my lady’s servants; let us be true
To her, and one another; and be sure,
When we are at prayers, to curse the Cardinal.
_Pla._ I pity my sweet lady. 5
_Ant._ I pity her too, but am a little angry;
She might have found another time to lose
Her wits.
_Pla._ That I were a man!
_Ant._ What would’st thou do, Placentia? 10
_Pla._ I would revenge my lady.
_Ant._ ’T is better, being a woman; thou may’st do
Things that may prosper better, and the fruit
Be thy own another day.
_Pla._ Your wit still loves
To play the wanton.
_Ant._ ’T is a sad time, Placentia; 15
Some pleasure would do well: the truth is, I
Am weary of my life, and I would have
One fit of mirth before I leave the world.
_Pla._ Do not you blush to talk thus wildly?
_Ant._ ’T is good manners 20
To be a little mad after my lady;
But I ha’ done. Who is with her now?
_Pla._ Madam Valeria.
_Ant._ Not Celinda? There’s a lady for my humour!
A pretty book of flesh and blood, and well 25
Bound up, in a fair letter too. Would I
Had her with all the errata!
_Pla._ She has not
An honourable fame.
_Ant._ Her fame! that’s nothing;
A little stain; her wealth will fetch again
The colour, and bring honour into her cheeks 30
As fresh;—
If she were mine, and I had her exchequer,
I know the way to make her honest;
Honest to th’ touch, the test, and the last trial.
_Pla._ How, prithee? 35
_Ant._ Why,
First I would marry her, that’s a verb material;
Then I would print her with an _index_
_Expurgatorius_; a table drawn
Of her court heresies; and when she’s read, 40
_Cum privilegio_, who dares call her whore?
_Pla._ I’ll leave you, if you talk thus.
_Ant._ I ha’ done;
Placentia, thon may’st be better company
After another progress; and now tell me,
Didst ever hear of such a patient madness 45
As my lady is possest with? She has rav’d
But twice:—an she would fright the Cardinal,
Or at a supper if she did but poison him,
It were a frenzy I could bear withal.
She calls him her dear governor.—
_Enter_ HERNANDO _disguised, having a letter_.
_Pla._ Who is this? 50
_Her._ Her secretary!—Sir,
Here is a letter, if it may have so
Much happiness to kiss her grace’s hand.
_Ant._ From whom?
_Her._ That’s not in your commission, sir,
To ask, or mine to satisfy; she will want 55
No understanding when she reads.
_Ant._ Alas!
Under your favour, sir, you are mistaken;
Her grace did never more want understanding.
_Her._ How?
_Ant._ Have you not heard? Her skull is broken, sir, 60
And many pieces taken out; she’s mad.
_Her._ The sad fame of her distraction
Has too much truth, it seems.
_Pla._ If please you, sir,
To expect awhile, I will present the letter.
_Her._ Pray do.— _Exit_ PLACENTIA. 65
How long has she been thus distemper’d, sir?
_Ant._ Before the Cardinal came to govern here,
Who, for that reason, by the king was made
Her guardian. We are now at his devotion.
_Her._ A lamb given up to a tiger! May diseases 70
Soon eat him through his heart!
_Ant._ Your pardon, sir.
I love that voice; I know it too a little.
Are not you—be not angry, noble sir,
I can with ease be ignorant again,
And think you are another man; but if 75
You be that valiant gentleman they call—
_Her._ Whom? what?
_Ant._ That kill’d—I would not name him, if I thought
You were not pleas’d to be that very gentleman.
_Her._ Am I betray’d?
_Ant._ The devil sha’ not 80
Betray you here: kill me, and I will take
My death you are the noble colonel.
We are all bound to you for the general’s death,
Valiant Hernando! When my lady knows
You are here, I hope ’t will fetch her wits, again. 85
But do not talk too loud; we are not all
Honest[4399] i’ th’ house; some are the Cardinal’s creatures.
_Her._ Thou wert faithful to thy lady. I am glad
’T is night. But tell me how the churchman uses
The duchess. 90
_Enter_ ANTONELLI.
_Ant._ He carries angels in his tongue and face, but I
Suspect his heart: this is one of his spawns.—
Signor Antonelli.
_Anton._ Honest Antonio!
_Ant._ And how, and how—a friend of mine—where is 95
The Cardinal’s grace?
_Her._ [_Aside._] That will be never answered.
_Anton._ He means to sup here with the duchess.
_Ant._ Will he?
_Anton._ We’ll have the charming bottles at my chamber. 100
Bring that gentleman; we’ll be mighty merry.
_Her._ [_Aside._] I may disturb your jollity.
_Anton._ Farewell, sweet— [_Exit._]
_Ant._ Dear Antonelli!—A round pox confound you!
This is court rhetoric at the back-stairs. 105
_Enter_ PLACENTIA.
_Pla._ Do you know this gentleman?
_Ant._ Not I.
_Pla._ My lady presently dismist Valeria,
And bade me bring him to her bed-chamber.
_Ant._ The gentleman has an honest face.
_Pla._ Her words 110
Fell from her with some evenness and joy.—
Her grace desires your presence.
_Her._ I’ll attend her. _Exit_ [_with_ PLACENTIA].
_Ant._ I would this soldier had the Cardinal
Upon a promontory, with what a spring
The churchman would leap down! It were a spectacle 115
Most rare, to see him topple from the precipice,
And souse in the salt water with a noise
To stun the fishes; and if he fell into
A net, what wonder would the simple sea-gulls
Have, to draw up the o’ergrown lobster.[4400] 120
So ready boil’d! He shall have my good wishes.
This colonel’s coming may be lucky; I
Will be sure none shall interrupt ’em.
_Enter_ CELINDA.
_Cel._ Is
Her grace at opportunity?
_Ant._ No, sweet madam;
She is asleep, her gentlewoman says. 125
_Cel._ My business is but visit. I’ll expect.[4401]
_Ant._ That must not be, although I like your company!
_Cel._ You are grown rich, Master Secretary.
_Ant._ I, madam? Alas!
_Cel._ I hear you are upon another purchase. 130
_Ant._ I upon a purchase!
_Cel._ If you want any sum—
_Ant._ If I could purchase your sweet favour, madam.
_Cel._ You shall command me, and my fortune, sir.
_Ant._ [_Aside._] How’s this? 135
_Cel._ I have observ’d you, sir, a staid
And prudent gentleman—and I shall want—
_Ant._ Not me?
_Cel._ A father for some infant: he has credit
I’ th’ world.—[_Aside._] I am not the first cast lady 140
Has married a secretary.
_Ant._ Shall I wait upon you?
_Cel._ Whither?
_Ant._ Any whither.
_Cel._ I may chance lead you then— 145
_Ant._ I shall be honour’d to obey. My blood
Is up, and in this humour I’m for anything.
_Cel._ Well, sir, I’ll try your manhood.
_Ant._ ’Tis my happiness;
You cannot please me better.
_Cel._ [_Aside._] This was struck
I’ the opportunity.
_Ant._ I am made for ever. [_Exit_, _following her_.] 150
[SCENE III.][4402]
_Enter_ HERNANDO _and_ DUCHESS.
_Her._ Dear madam, do not weep.
_Duch._ Y’ are very welcome;
I ha’ done; I wo’ not shed a tear more
Till I meet Alvarez, then I’ll weep for joy.
He was a fine young gentleman, and sung sweetly; 5
An you had heard him but the night before
We were married, you would ha’ sworn he had been
A swan, and sung his own sad epitaph.
But we’ll talk o’ the Cardinal.
_Her._ Would his death
Might ransom your fair sense! he should not live 10
To triumph in the loss. Beshrew my manhood,
But I begin to melt.
_Duch._ I pray, sir, tell me,—
For I can understand, although they say
I have lost my wits; but they are safe enough,
And I shall have ’em when the Cardinal dies;—
Who had a letter from his nephew, too, 15
Since he was slain?
_Her._ From whence?
_Duch._ I know not where he is. But in some bower
Within a garden he is making chaplets,
And means to send me one; but I’ll not take it;
I have flowers enough, I thank him, while I live.
_Her._ But do you love your governor? 22
_Duch._ Yes, but I’ll never marry him; I am promis’d
Already.
_Her._ To whom, madam?
_Duch._ Do not you
Blush when you ask me that? Must not you be 25
My husband? I know why, but that’s a secret.
Indeed, if you believe me, I do love
No man alive so well as you: the Cardinal
Shall never know ’t; he’ll kill us both; and yet
He says he loves me dearly, and has promis’d 30
To make me well again; but I’m afraid,
One time or other, he will give me poison.
_Her._ Prevent him, madam, and take nothing from him.
_Duch._ Why, do you think ’t will hurt me?
_Her._ It will kill you.
_Duch._ I shall but die, and meet my dear-lov’d lord, 35
Whom, when I have kist, I’ll come again and work
A bracelet of my hair for you to carry him,
When you are going to Heaven; the posy shall
Be my own name, in little tears, that I
Will weep next winter, which congeal’d i’ th’ frost, 40
Will show like seed-pearl. You’ll deliver it?
I know he’ll love, and wear it for my sake.
_Her._ She is quite lost.
_Duch._ I pray give me, sir, your pardon:
I know I talk not wisely; but if you had
The burthen of my sorrow, you would miss 45
Sometimes your better reason. Now I’m well;
What will you do when the Cardinal comes?
He must not see you for the world.
_Her._ He sha’ not;
I’ll take my leave before he come.
_Duch._ Nay, stay;
I shall have no friend left me when you go. 50
He will but sup; he sha’ not stay to lie with me.
I have the picture of my lord abed;
Three are too much this weather.
_Enter_ PLACENTIA.
_Pla._ Madam, the Cardinal.
_Her._ He shall sup with the devil.
_Duch._ I dare not stay;
The red cock[4403] will be angry. I’ll come again. 55
_Exeunt_ [DUCHESS _and_ PLACENTIA.]
_Her._ This sorrow is no fable. Now I find
My curiosity is sadly satisfied.—
Ha! if the duchess in her straggled wits
Let fall words to betray me to the Cardinal,
The panther will not leap more fierce to meet 60
His prey, when a long want of food hath parch’d
His starved maw, than he to print his rage,
And tear my heart-strings. Everything is fatal;
And yet she talk’d sometimes with chain of sense,
And said she lov’d me. Ha! they come not yet.
I have a sword about me, and I left 65
My own security to visit death.
Yet I may pause a little, and consider
Which way does lead me to ’t most honourably.
Does not the chamber that I walk in tremble?
What will become of her, and me, and all 71
The world in one small hour? I do not think
Ever to see the day again; the wings
Of night spread o’er me like a sable hearse-cloth;
The stars are all close mourners too; but I 75
Must not alone to the cold silent grave,
I must not.—If thou canst, Alvarez, open
That ebon curtain, and behold the man,
When the world’s justice fails, shall right thy ashes,
And feed their thirst with blood! Thy duchess is
Almost a ghost already, and doth wear 81
Her body like an useless upper garment,
The trim and fashion of it lost.—Ha!
_Re-enter_ PLACENTIA.
_Pla._ You need not doubt me, sir.—My lady prays
You would not think it long; she in my ear 85
Commanded me to tell you, that when last
She drank, she had happy wishes to your health.
_Her._ And did the Cardinal pledge it?
_Pla._ He was not
Invited to’t, nor must he know you are here.
_Her._ What do they talk of, prithee? 90
_Pla._ His grace is very pleasant _A lute is heard._
And kind to her; but her returns[4404] are after
The sad condition of her sense, sometimes
Unjointed.
_Her._ They have music.
_Pla._ A lute only, 94
His grace prepar’d; they say, the best of Italy,
That waits upon my lord.
_Her._ He thinks the duchess
Is stung with a tarantula.
_Pla._ Your pardon;
My duty is expected. _Exit._
_Her._ Gentle lady!—
A voice too!
SONG _within_.
_Strep._ Come, my Daphne, come away, 100
We do waste the crystal day,
’Tis Strephon calls. _Dap._ What says my love?
_Strep._ Come, follow to the myrtle grove,
Where Venus shall prepare
New chaplets for thy hair. 105
_Dap._ Were I shut up within a tree,
I’d rend my bark to follow thee.
_Strep._ My shepherdess, make haste,
The minutes slide too fast.
_Dap._ In those cooler shades will I, 110
Blind as Cupid, kiss thine eye.
_Strep._ In thy bosom then I’ll stay;
In such warm snow who would not lose his way?
_Chor._ We’ll laugh, and leave the world behind,
And gods themselves that see, 115
Shall envy thee and me,
But never find
Such joys, when they embrace a deity.
_Her._ If at this distance I distinguish, ’tis not
Church music; and the air’s wanton, and no anthem 120
Sung to’t, but some strange ode of love and kisses.
What should this mean?—Ha? he is coming hither.
[_Draws his sword._]
I am betray’d; he marches in her hand.
I’ll trust a little more; mute as the arras,
My sword and I here. 125
_He_ [_conceals himself behind the arras, and_] _observes_.
_Enter_ CARDINAL, DUCHESS, ANTONELLI, _and_ Attendants.
_Car._ Wait you in the first chamber, and let none
Presume to interrupt us.—
_Exeunt_ [ANTONELLI _and_ Attendants.]
She is pleasant;
Now for some art, to poison all her innocence.
_Duch._ I do not like the Cardinal’s humour; he
Little suspects what guest is in my chamber. 130
_Car._ Now, madam, you are safe. [_Embraces her._]
_Duch._ How means your lordship?
_Car._ Safe in my arms, sweet duchess.
_Duch._ Do not hurt me.
_Car._ Not for the treasures of the world! You are
My pretty charge. Had I as many lives
As I have careful thoughts to do you service, 135
I should think all a happy forfeit, to
Delight your grace one minute; ’tis a Heaven
To see you smile.
_Duch._ What kindness call you this?
_Car._ It cannot want a name while you preserve
So plentiful a sweetness; it is love. 140
_Duch._ Of me? How shall I know’t, my lord?
_Car._ By this, and this, swift messengers to whisper
Our hearts to one another. _Kisses her._
_Duch._ Pray, do you come a wooing?
_Car._ Yes, sweet madam;
You cannot be so cruel to deny me. 145
_Duch._ What, my lord?
_Car._ Another kiss.
_Duch._ Can you
Dispense with this, my lord?—(_Aside._) Alas; I fear
Hernando is asleep, or vanish’d from me.
_Car._ [_Aside._] I have mock’d my blood into a flame; and what
My angry soul had form’d for my revenge, 150
Is now the object of my amorous sense.
I have took a strong enchantment from her lips,
And fear I shall forgive Columbo’s death,
If she consent to my embrace.—Come, madam.
_Duch._ Whither, my lord?
_Car._ But to your bed or couch, 155
Where, if you will be kind, and but allow
Yourself a knowledge, love, whose shape and raptures
Wise poets have but glorified in dreams,
Shall make your chamber his eternal palace;
And with such active and essential streams 160
Of new delights glide o’er your bosom, you
Shall wonder to what unknown world you are
By some blest change translated. Why d’ ye pause,
And look so wild? Will you deny your governor?
_Duch._ How came you by that cloven foot?
_Car._ Your fancy
Would turn a traitor to your happiness. 165
I am your friend; you must be kind.
_Duch._ Unhand me,
Or I’ll cry out a rape.
_Car._ You wo’ not, sure?
_Duch._ I have been cozen’d with Hernando’s shadow;
Here’s none but Heaven to hear me.—Help! a rape! 170
_Car._ Are you so good at understanding?
Then, I must use other argument.
_He forces her._ [_Hernando rushes from the arras._]
_Her._ Go to, Cardinal. _Strikes him_; _exit_ DUCHESS.
_Car._ Hernando? Murder! treason! help!
_Her._ An army sha’ not rescue thee. Your blood 175
Is much inflam’d; I have brought a lancet wi’ me
Shall open your hot veins, and cool your fever.—
To vex thy parting soul, it was the same
Engine that pierc’d[4405] Columbo’s heart.
_Car._ Help! murder! [_Stabs him._]
_Enter_ ANTONELLI _and_ Servants.
_Anton._ Some ring the bell, ’t will raise the court; 180
My lord is murder’d! ’T is Hernando. _The bell rings._
_Her._ I’ll make you all some sport.—[_Stabs himself._]—So; now we
are even.
Where is the duchess? I would take my leave
of her, and then bequeath my curse among you. _He falls._
_Enter_ KING, DUCHESS, VALERIA, Lords, _and_ Guard.
_King._ How come these bloody objects? 185
_Her._ With a trick my sword found out. I hope he’s paid.
_1 Lord._ [_Aside._] I hope so too.—A surgeon
For my lord Cardinal!
_King._ Hernando?
_Duch._ Justice! oh, justice, sir, against a ravisher! 190
_Her._ Sir, I ha’ done you service.
_King._ A bloody service.
_Her._ ’T is pure scarlet.
_Enter_ Surgeon.
_Car._ [_Aside._] After such care to perfect my revenge,
Thus bandied out o’ th’ world by a woman’s plot!