The malcontent. Augmented by Marston. With the additions played by the Kings Maiesties servants. Written by Ihon Webster. 1604

The malcontent. Augmented by Marston. With the additions played by the Kings Maiesties servants. Written by Ihon Webster. 1604

Table of contents

Title page

§

To the Reader.

§

THE INDVCTION TO THE MALECONTENT, AND the additions acted by the Kings Maiesties servants. Written by Iohn Webster.

THE MALECONTENT.

ACTVS PRIMVS.

SCE. PRIMA.

SCENA SECVNDA.

SCENA TERTIA.

SCENA QVARTA.

SCENA QVINTA.

SCENA SEXTA.

SCENA SEPTIMA.

ACTVS: II:

SCENA I:

SCENA SECVNDA.

SCENA TERTIA.

SCENA QVARTA.

SCENA QVINTA.

ACTVS III.

SCENA I.

SCENA SECVNDA.

SCENA TERTIA.

SCENA QVARTA

SCENA QVINTA.

ACTVS QVARTVS

SCE. PRIMA.

SCENA SECVNDA.

SCENA TERTIA.

SCENA QVARTA.

SCENA QVINTA.

ACTVS V.

SCENA I.

SCENA SECVNDA.

SCENA TERTIA.

SCENA QVARTA.

An imperfect Ode, being but one staffe, spoken by the Prologue

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[Page]

[Page]

THE MALCONTENT.

Augmented by Marston.

With the Additions played by the Kings Maiesties servants.

Written by Ihon Webster. 1604.

AT LONDON Printed by V. S. for William Aspley, and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard.

§

§

[Page] BENIAMINI IONSONIO POETAE ELEGANTISSIMO GRAVISSIMO AMICO SVO CANDIDO ET CORDATO, IOHANNES MARSTON MVSARVM AL [...]NVS ASPERAM HANC SV AM THALIAM D. D.

To the Reader.

[Page]

I Am an ill Oratour; and in truth, [...]se to indi [...] more honestly then eloquently, for it is my custome to speake as I thinke, and write as I speake.

In plainenesse therefore vnderstand, that in some things I have willingly erre [...], as in supposing a Duke of Genoa, and in taking names different from that Cit [...]ies families: for which some may wittily accuse me; but my defence shall be as honest, as many reproofes vnto me have beene most malicious. Since (I hartily protest) it was my care to write so farre from reasonable offence, that even strangers, in whose state I laid my Scene, should not from thence draw any disgrace to any, dead or living. Yet in dispight of my indevors, I vnderstand, some have beene most vnadvisedly over-cunning in mis-interpreting me, and with subtilitie (as deepe as hell) have maliciously spreadill rumors, which springing from themselves, might to themselves have heavily returned. Surely I desire to satisfie every firme spirit▪ who in all his actions, proposeth to himselfe no more ends then God and vertue do, whose intentions are alwaies simple: to such I protest, that with my free vnderstanding, I have not glanced at disgrace of any, but of those, whose vnquiet studies labor innovation, contempt of holy policie, reverent com [...]ly superioritie, and establisht vnity: for the rest of my supposed [...]artnesse, I feare not, but vnto every worthy minde it will be approved so generall and honest, as may modestly passe with the freedome of a Satyre. I would faine leaue the paper; onely one thing afflicts me, to thinke that Sc [...]nes invented, meerely to be spoken, should be inforcively published to be read, and that the least hurt I can receive, is to do my selfe the wrong. But since others otherwise would doe me more, the least inconvenience is to be accepted. I have my selfe therefore set forth this Comedie; but so, that my inforced absence must much relye vpon the Printers discretion: but I shall intreate, slight errors in orthographie may bee as slightly over passed; and that the vnhansome shape which this trifle in reading presents, may be pardoned, for the pleasure it once afforded you, when it was presented with the soule of lively action.

Sine aliqua dementia nullus Phoebus. I. M.

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Dramatis personae.

[Page]Giouanni Altofronto Disguised Maleuole sometime Duke of Genoa.

Pietro Iacomo Duke of Genoa.

Mendozo A Minion to the Dutchesse of Pietro Iacomo.

Celso A friend to Altofront.

Bilioso An olde chol [...]rike Marshall.

Prepasso A Gentleman Vsher.

Ferneze A yong Courtier, and inamored on the Dutchesse.

Ferrardo A Minion to Duke Pietro Iacomo.

Equato Guerrino Two Courtiers.

Aurelia Dutches to Duke Pietro Iacomo.

Maria Dutches to Duke Altofront.

Emilia Beancha Two Ladies attending the Dutchesse.

Maquerelle An olde Pandresse.

Pasarello Foole to Bilioso.

THE INDVCTION TO THE MALECONTENT, AND the additions acted by the Kings Maiesties servants.
Written by Iohn Webster.

[Page]

Enter W. Sly, a Tyre-man following him with a stoole.

Tyer-man.

SIR, the Gentlemen will be angry if you sit heare.

Sly

Why? we may sit vpon the stage at the private house: thou doest not take me for a country gentleman, doest? doest thinke I feare hissing? Ile holde my life thou took'st me for one of the plaiers.

Tyre:

No sir.

Sly

By gods slid if you had, I would have given you but six pence for your stoole: Let them that have stale suites, sit in the galleries, hisse at mee: he that will be laught out of a Taverne or an Ordinarie, shall seldome feede well or be drunke in good company. Where's Harry Cundale, D: Burbidge, and W: Sly, let me speake with some of them.

Tyre:

An't please you to go in sir, you may.

Sly:

I tell you no; I am one that hath seene this play often, & can give them intellegence for their action: I have most of the ieasts heere in my table-booke.

[Page] Enter Sinkclow.

Sink:

Save you Coose.

Sly:

O Coosin, come you shall sit betweene my legges heare.

Sink:

No indeede coosin, the audience then will take me for a viol de gambo, and thinke that you play vpon me.

Sly:

Nay, [...]her that I worke vpon you coose.

Sink:

We staied for you at supper last night at my coosin Hony-moones the woollen Draper: After supper we drew cuttes for a score of Apricoks, the longest cut stil to draw an Apricoke: by this light t'was Mistris Franke Hony-moones fortune, still to have the longest cut: I did measure for the women. What be these coose?

Enter D: Burbidge, H: Cundale, I: Lewin.

Sly:

The Plaiers. God save you.

Bur:

You are verie welcome.

Sly:

I pray you know this Gentleman my coosin, t'is Master Doomesdaies sonne the vserer.

Cun:

I beseech you sir be coverd.

Sly:

No in good faith for mine ease, looke you my hat's the handle to this fanne: Gods so, what a beast was I, I did not leave my father at home. Well, but Ile take an order with you.

Puts his feather in his pocket.

Bur:

Why do you conceale your feather sir?

Sly:

Why? do you thinke Ile have ieasts broken vpon me in the play to be laught at: this play hath beaten all your gallants out of the feathers: Blacke friars hath almost spoild blacke friars for feathers.

Sink:

Gods so, I thought t'was for somewhat our gentlewomen at home counseld me to weare my feather to the play, yet I am loth to spoile it.

Sly:

Why coose?

Sink:

Because I got it in the tilt-yard: there was a Harralde broke my pate for taking it vp: but I have worne it vp & downe the strand, and met him fortie times since, and yet hee dares not challenge it.

Sly:

Do you heare sir, this play is a bitter play.

Cun:

Why sir, tis neither Satyre nor Morall, but the meane passage of a historie: Yet there are a sort of discontented creatures that beare a stingeles [...]e envie to great ones, and these [Page] will wrest the doings of any man to their base malitious appliment: but should their interpretation come to the teste, like your marmasite, they presently turne their teeth to their taile & eate it.

Sly:

I will not go so farre with you, but I say, any man that hath wit, may censure (if he sit in the twelve-penny roome:) and I say againe, the play is bitter.

Bur:

Sir you are like a Patron that presenting a poore scholler to a benefice, inioynes him not to raile against any thing that standes within compasse of his Patrons follie: Why should not we inioy the antient freedome of poesie? Shall we protest to the Ladies that their painting makes them Angells, or to my yong gallant, that his expence in the brothell shall gaine him reputation? No sir, such vices as stand not accountable to law, should be cured as men heale tetters, by casting inke vpon them. Would you be satisfied in any thing else sir?

Sly:

I marry woud I.

I would know how you came by this play?

Cun:

Faith sir the booke was lost, a [...]d because twas pittie so good a play should be lost, we found it and play it.

Sly:

I wonder you would play it, another company having interest in it?

Cun:

Why not Maleuole in folio with vs, as Ieronimo in Decimo sexto with them. They taught vs a name for our play, wee call it One for another.

Sly:

What are your additions?

Bur:

Sooth not greatly needefull, only as your sallet to your greate feast, to entertaine a little more time, and to abridge the not received custome of musicke in our Theater. I must leave you sir.

Exit Burbidge.

Sink:

Doth he play the Malecontent?

Cun:

Yes sir.

Sink:

I durst lay foure of mine eares, the play is not so well acted as it hath beene.

Cun:

O no sir, nothing Ad Parminonis Suem.

Lew:

Have you lost your eares sir, that you are so prodigall of laying them?

Sink:

Why did you aske that friend?

Lew:

Marry sir because I have heard of a fellow would offer to lay a hundred pound wager, that was not worth five bau-bees: [Page] [...] in this kinde you might venter foure of your elbowes: yet God defende your coate should have so many.

Sink:

Nay truly, I am no great censurer, and yet I might have beene one of the Colledge of Crittickes once: my coosin heere [...] an excellent memory indeede sir.

Sly:

Who I? Ile tell you a strange thing of my selfe, and I can tell you for one that never studied the art of memory, tis very [...]ange too.

Cun:

Whats that sir?

Sly:

Why Ile lay a hundred pound Ile walke but once downe by the gold-smiths row in Cheape, take notice of the signes, and tell you them with a breath instantly.

Lew:

Tis verie strange.

Sly:

They beginne as the world did, with Adam and Eue.

Theres in all iust five and fiftie.

I do vse to meditate much when I come to plaies too.

What do you thinke might come into a mans head now, seeing all this company?

Cun:

I know not sir.

Sly:

I have an excellent thought: if some fiftie of the Grecians that were cramd in the horse belly had eaten garlike, do you not thinke the Troians might have smelt out their knavery.

Cun:

Very likely.

Sly:

By God I would he had, for I love Hector horribly.

Sink:

O but coose coose.

Great Alexander when he came to the toombe of Achilles

Spake with a big loude voice, O thou thrice blessed & happy.

Sly:

Alexander was an asse to speake so well of a filthy cullion.

Lew:

Good sir will you leave the stage, Ile helpe you to a private roome.

Sly:

Come coose, lets take some Tobacco. Have you never a prologue?

Lew:

Not any sir.

Sly:

Let me see, I will make one extempore.

Come to them and fencing of a congey with armes and legges.

Be round with them.

Gentlemen, I could wish for the womens s [...]kes you had all s [...]ft [...]: and Gentlewomen, I could wish that for the mens sakes you had all more easie standings. What would they wish more but the play now, and that they shall have instantly.

THE MALECONTENT. [...]

[Page]

ACTVS PRIMVS.

SCE. PRIMA.

The vilest out of tune Musicke being heard.

Enter Bilioso and Prepasso.

Bilioso.

WHy how now? are ye mad? or drunke? or both? or what?

Prae:

Are ye building Babilon there?

Bili:

Heere's a noise in Court, you thinke you are in a Tauerne, do you not?

Prae:

You thinke you are in a brothell house, do you not? This roome is ill sented.

Enter one with a perfume.

So, perfume, perfume; some vpon me I pray thee: The Duke is vpon instant entrance; so, make place there.

SCENA SECVNDA.

Enter the Duke Pietro, Ferrardo, Count Equato, Count Celso before, and Guerrino.

Pie:

Where breath's that musique?

Bilio:

The discord rather then the Musique is heard from the Malecontent Male [...]oles chamber.

Ferrar:

Male [...]ole.

Male:

Out of his chamber. Yaugh, godaman what dost thou there: Dukes Ganimed Iunoes iealous of thy long stockings: shadowe of a woman, what wouldst Weesell? thou lambe a Court: what doost thou bleat for? a you smooth chind Catamite!

Pie:

Come downe thou ragged cur, and s [...]arle heere, I giue thy dogged sullennes free libertie: trot about and be-spurtle whom thou pleasest.

[Page]Mal:

Ile come among you, you gotish blooded Toderers, as Gum into Taffata, to fret, to fret: Ile fall like a spunge into water to sucke vp; to sucke vp. Howle againe. Ile go to church and come to you.

Pie:

This Maleuole is one of the most prodigious affections that euer conuerst with nature; A man, or rather a monster; more discontent then Lucifer when he was thrust out of the presence, his appetite is vnsatiable as the Grave; as farre from any content, as from heauen: his highest delight is to procure others vexation, and therein he thinkes he truly serues heauen; for t'is his position, whosoeuer in this earth can bee contented, is a flaue and damn'd; therefore do's he afflict al in that to which they are most affected; th' Elements struggle within him; his own soule is at variance within her selfe: his speach is halter-worthy at all houres: I like him; faith, he giues good intelligence to my spirit, makes me vnderstand those weakenesses which others flattery palliates: harke, they sing;

SCENA TERTIA.

Enter Maleuole after the Song.

Sce: he comes: now shall you heare the extreamitie of a Malecontent: he is as free as ayre: he blowes oues every man. And [...], whence come you now?

Mal:

From the publike place of much dissimulation,

Pie:

What didst there▪

Mal:

Talke with a Vsurer: take vp at interest.

Pie:

I wonder what religion thou art of.

Mal:

Of a souldiers religion.

Pie:

And what doost thinke makes most infidells [...] ▪

Mal:

Sects, sects, I haue seene seeming Pietie change her roabeso oft, that sure none but some arch-diuell can * shape her a Pe [...]icote.

Pie:

O [...] a religious pollicie.

Mal:

But damnation on a politique religion: I am wearie, would I were one of the Dukes houndes now.

Pie:

But what's the common newes abroad Male [...]ole, thou dogst rumor still?

[Page]Mal:

Common newes? why common wordes are, God saue yee, Fare yee well: common actions, Flattery and Cosenage: common things, Women and Cuckolds: and how do's my little Ferra [...]d [...] a yee lecherous Animall, my little Ferret, he goes sucking vp and downe the pallace into euery hens nest like a Weesell: and to what doost thou addict thy time to now, more then to those Antique painted drabs that are still affected of yong Courtiers, Flatt [...]ry, Pride, and Venery.

F [...]rrar:

I studie languages: who doost thinke to be the best linguist of our age?

Mal:

Phew, the Divell, let him possesse thee, hee'le teach thee to speake all languages, most readily and strangely, and great reason mary, hees traveld greatly in the world; & is every where.

Ferrar:

Saue ith Court.

Mal:

I, saue ith Court: and how do's my olde muckhill ouerspread with fresh snow:To Bilios [...]. thou halfe a man, halfe a goate, al a beast: how do's thy yong wife, old huddle?

Bili [...]:

Out you improuident rascall.

Mal:

Doe, kicke thou hugely hornd old Dukes Oxe, good Master make-pleece.

Piet:

How doost thou liue now a daies Maleuol [...]?

Mal:

Why like the Knight S. Patrik Penlolians, with killing a spiders for my Ladies Munkey.

Pie:

How doost spend the night, I heare thou neuer sleep'st?

Mal:

O no, but dreame the most fantasticall: O heauen: O fubbery, fubbery▪

Piet:

Dreame, what dreamst?

Mal:

Why me thinkes I see that Signior pawn his foot-cloth: that Metreza her Plate: this madam takes phisicke: that tother Me [...]si [...]ur may minister to her: here is a Pander jeweld: there is a fellow in shift of Satten this day, that could not shift a shirt tother night: heere a Paris supports that Hellen: there's a Lady Guineuer beares vp that sir Lancel [...]t. Dreames, dreames, visions, fantasies, Chimeraes, imaginations, trickes, conceits,To Prepasso▪ Sir Tristram Trimtram come a loft Ia [...]ke a napes with a whim wham, heere's a Knight of the land of Catit [...] shall play at trap with any page in Europe; Do the sword-dance, with any Morris dancer in Christendome; ride at the Ring till the [...]inne of his eyes looke as blew as the welkin, and runne the wilde-goose chase [...]uen with [Page] Pompey the huge.

Pie:

You runne.

Mal:

To the divell: now Signor Guerchin [...]; that thou from a most pittied prisoner shouldst grow a most loathd flatterer: Alas poore Celso, thy starr's opprest, thou art an honest Lord, tis pity.

Equa:

Ist pitty?

Mal:

I marry ist philosophical Equato, & t'is pitty that thou being so excellent a scholler by art, shouldst be so ridiculous a foole by nature: I have a thing to tell you Duke; bi [...] v [...] auaunt, bid vm auaunt.

Pietro:

Leaue vs, leaue vs, now sir what ist?

Exeunt all sauing Pietro and Maleuole.

Mal:

Duke thou art a Beco, a Cornut [...].

Piet:

How?

Mal:

Thou art a Cuckold.

Piet:

Speake; vnshale him quicke.

Mal:

With most tumbler-like nimblenes.

Piet:

Who? by whom? I burst with desire.

Mal:

Mendoza is the man makes thee a hornd beast [...]

Duke t'is Mendoza cornutes thee.

Piet:

What conformance▪ relate, short, short.

Mal:

As a Lawyers beard,

There is an old Crone in the Court, her name is Maquerelle,

She is my mistris sooth to say, and she doth euer tell me,

Blirt a rime; blirt a rime; Maquerelle is a cunning bawde, I am an honest villaine, thy wife is a close drab, and thou at [...] cuckold, farewell Duke.

Piet:

Stay, stay.

Mal:

Dull, dull Duke, can lazy patience make lame reueng [...]? O God for a woman to make a man that which God neuer created, neuer made!

Piet:

What did God never make?

Mal:

A cuckold: To bee made a thing that's hud-wink [...] with kindenesse, whilst every rascall philips his browes; to have a coxcombe with egregious hornes, pind to a Lords backe, euery page sporting himselfe with delightfull laughter, whilst hee must be the last must know it; Pistols and Poniards, Pistols and Poniards.

Piet:

Death and damnation!

[Page]Mal:

Lightning and thunder!

Piet

Vengeance and torture!

Mal:

Catz [...]!

Piet:

O revenge!

Mal:

Nay, to select among ten thousand faires,

A Lady farre inferior to the most,

In faire proportion both of limbe and soule:

To take her from austerer check of parents,

To make her his by most deuoutfull rightes,

Make her commandresse of a better essence

Then is the gorgious world even of a man.

To hug her with as rais'd an appetite,

As vsurers do their delv'd vp treasury,

(Thinking none tells it but his private selfe▪)

To meete her spirit in a nimble kisse,

Distilling panting ardor to her hart.

True to her sheetes, nay diets strong his blood,

To giue her height of Hymeneall sweetes.

Pie:

O God!

Mal:

Whilst she lispes, & gives him some court quelqu [...]hose

Made onely to provoke, not satiate:

And yet euen then, the thaw of her delight

Flowes from lewde heate of apprehension,

Onely from strange imaginations rankenes,

That formes the adulterers pre [...]ence in her soule,

And makes her thinke she clips the [...]oule kna [...]es loines.

Piet:

Affliction to my bloods roote.

Mal:

Nay thinke, but thinke what may proceede of this,

Adultery is often the mother of i [...]cest.

Piet:

Incest.

Mal:

Yes incest: marke, Mendoz [...] of his wife begets perchance a daughter. Mendo [...] die [...]. His son marries this daughter. Say you? Nay tis frequent, not onely probable, but no question often acted, whilst ignorance, fearelesse ignorance claspes his owne seede.

Piet:

Hydeous imagination!

Mal:

Adultery? why next to the sinne of Symony, t'is the most horride transgression vnder the cope of saluation.

Piet:

Next to Simony?

[Page]Mal:

I, next to Symony, in which our men in next age shall not sinne.

Piet:

Not sinne? Why?

Mal:

Because (thankes to some church-men) our age will leaue them nothing to sinne with. But adultery! O dulnes! shue, should exemplary punishment, that intemperate bloods may freeze, but to thinke it. I would dam him and all his generation my owne hands should do it; ha, I would not trust heauen with my vengeance any thing.

Piet:

Any thing, any thing Male [...]ele thou shalt see instantly what temper my spirit holdes; farewell, remember I forget thee not, farewell.

Exit Pietro.

Mal:

Farewell.

Leane thoughtfulnes, a sallow meditation,

Sucke thy veines drie, distemperance rob thy sleepe,

The hearts disquiet is revenge most deepe.

He that gets blood, the life of flesh but spilles,

But he that breakes hearts peace, the deare soule kills.

Well, this disguise doth yet afford me that

Which kings do seldome heare, or great men vse,

Free speach: and though my stat's vsurpt,

Yet this affected straine giues me a tongue,

As fetterlesse as is an Emperours.

I may speake foolishly, I knauishly,

Alwaies carelesly, yet no one thinkes it fashion

To poize my breath, "for he that laughs and strikes,

"Is lightly felt, or seldome strucke againe.

Duke, Ile torment thee: now my iust reuenge,

From thee than crowne a richer jemme shall part.

Beneath God naught's so deare as a calme heart.

SCENA QVARTA.

Enter Celso.

Celso:

My honor'd Lord.

Mal:

Peace, speake low; peace, O Celso, constant Lord,

(Thou to whose faith I onely rest disconered,

Thou, one of full ten millions of men,

[Page] That louest vertue onely for it selfe,

Thou in whose hands old OPS may put her soule:)

Behold for euer banisht Alt [...]fron [...]

This Genoas last yeares Duke, O truly noble,

I wanted those old instruments of state,

Dissemblance, and Suspect: I could not time it Celso,

My throne stood like a point in middest of a circle,

To all of equall neerenes, bore with none:

Raignd all alike, so slept in fearelesse vertue,

Suspectlesse, too suspectlesse: till the croude:

(Still liquorous of vntried nouelties,)

Impatient with seuerer government:

Made strong with Florence: banisht Altofron [...].

Celso:

Strong with Florence, I, thence your mischiefe rose,

For when the daughter of the Florentine

Was matched once with his Pietr [...] now Duke,

No stratagem of state vntride was left, till you of all▪

Mal:

Of all was quite bereft,

Alas Maria, too close prisoned:

My true faith'd Dutchesse i'th Citadell.

Cel:

Ile still adhere, lets mutiny and die.

Mal:

O no, clime not a falling towre Celso,

Tis well held, desperation, no zeale:

Hopelesse to striue with fate (peace) Temporize.

Hope, hope, that neuer for [...]ak'st the wretchedst man,

Yet bidst me liue, and lurke in this disguise.

What? play I well the free breath'd discontent?

Why man we are all Philosophical Monarkes or naturall [...]ooles, Celso, the Courts after, the Dutches sheetes will smoke for't ere it be long: Impure Mendoza that sharpe nosde Lord, that made the cursed match linkt Gen [...]a with Florence now brode hornes the Duke, which he now knowes: Discord to Malecontents is very Manna, when the rankes are burst, then scuffle Altofront.

Celso:

I but durst.

Mal:

Tis gone, tis swallowed like a minerall, some way t'will worke, phewt Ile not shrinke, "Hees resolute who can no lower sinke.

Bilioso Entring, Maleuole shifteth his speach.

Mal:

O the father of May-poles, did you neuer see a fellow [Page] whose strength consisted in his breath, respect in his office, religion on his Lord, and loue in himselfe? why then behold.

Bilio:

Sinior.

Mal:

My right worshipfull Lerd,

Your court night-cap makes you haue a passing high fore-head.

Bil:

I can tell you strange newes, but I am sure you know them already. The Duke speakes much good of you.

Mal:

Go to then, and shall you and I now enter into a strict friendship?

Bili:

Second one another.

Mal:

Yes.

Bil:

Do one another good offices.

Mal:

Iust, what though I cal'd thee old Oxe, egregious Wittall, Broken-bellied Coward, Rotten Mummy,

Yet since I am in favor:

Bil.

Words of course, tearmes of disport.

His grace presents you by me a chaine, as his gratefull remembrance for—I am ignorant for what, marry yee may impart: Yet howsoeuer—come—deare friend:

Doost know my sonne?

Mal:

Your sonne?

Bil:

He shall eate wood-cocks, dance jigges, make possets, and play at shuttle-cocke with any yong Lord about the Court: he haz as sweete a Lady too: doost know her little bitch?

Mal:

Tis a dogge man.

Bil:

Beleeue me, a shee bitch? O tis a good creature, thon shalt be her servant, Ile make thee acquainted with my yong wife too: what, I keepe her not at Court for nothing: Tis growne to supper time, come to my table, that any thing I haue standes open to thee.

Mal:

How smooth to him that is in state of grace,

—To Cel.

How servile is the ruggedst Courtiers face.

What Profit, nay what Nature would keepe downe,

Are heav'd to them, are minions to a crowne.

Enuious ambition neuer sates his thirst,

Till sucking all, he swells, and swells, and burstes.

Bil:

I shall now leaue you with my alwaies best wishes, onely let's hold betwixt vs a firme correspondence, a mutuall-frendly-reciprocall-kinde of steddie-vnanimous-hartily leagued.—

[Page]Mal:

Did your sinniorship ne're see a pigeon house that was smooth, round, and white without, and full of holes and stinke within, ha ye not old Courtier?

Bil:

O yes, tis the forme the fashion of them all.

Mal:

Adue my true Court-friend, farewell my deare Castilio.

Cel:

Yonders Mendoza.

Exit Bilioso.

Mal:

True, the priuie key.

Descries Mendoza.

Cels:

I take my leaue, sweete Lord.

Exit Celso.

Mal:

Tis fit, away.

SCENA QVINTA.

Enter Mendoza with three or foure suters.

Men:

Leaue your suites with me, I can and will: attend my Secretary, leaue me.

Mal:

Mendoza, harke yee, harke yee. You are a treacherous villaine, God bwy yee.

Men:

Out you base borne rascall.

Mal:

We are all the sonnes of heauen, though a Tripe wife were our mother; a you whore-sonne hot rainde he Marmoset, Egistus didst euer heare of one Egistus?

Men:

Gistus?

Mal:

I Egistus, he was a filthy incontinent Flesh-monger, such a one as thou art.

Men:

Out grumbling rogue.

Mal:

Orestes, beware Orestes.

Men:

Out beggar.

Mal:

I once shall rise.

Men.

Thou rise?

Mal.

I at the resurrection.

"No vulgar seede, but once may rise, and shall,

"No King so huge, but fore he die, may fall.

Exit.

Men.

Now good Elizium, what a delicious heauen is it for a man to be in a Princes fauour: O sweete God! O pleasure! O fortune! O all thou best of life! what should I thinke: what say? what do? to be a fauorite? a minion? to haue a generall timerous respect, obserue a man, a statefull silence in his presence, solitarinesse in his absence, a confused hum, and busie murmure of obsequious suters training him; the cloth held vp, and way proclaimed before him: Petitionary vassalls licking the pauement [Page] with their slauish knees, whilst some odde pallace Lampreel [...]s that ingender with snakes, and are full of eyes on both sides, with a kinde of insinuated humblenesse, fixe all their delightes vpon his brow: O blessed state, what a rauishing prospect doth the Olympus of fauour yeeld▪ Death, I cornute the Duke: sweete women, most sweete Ladies, nay Angells; by heauen he is more accursed then a diuell that hates you, or is hated by you, and happier then a God that loues you, or is beloued by you; you preseruers of mankinde, life blood of society, who would liue, nay who can liue without you? O Paradice, how maiesticall is your austerer presence? how imperiously chaste is your more modest face? but O! how full of rauishing attraction is your prettie, petulant, langushing, laciuiously-composed countenance: these amorous smiles, those soule-warming sparkling glances, ardent as those flames that sing'd the world by heedelesse Phaeton; in body how delicate, in soule how wittie, in discourse how pregnant, in life how warie, in fauours how iuditious, in day how sociable, and in night how? O pleasure vnutterable, indeede it is most certaine, one man cannot deserue onely to inioy a beauteous woman: but a Dutchesse? in despight of Phoebus Ile write a sonnet instantly in praise of her.

Exit.

SCENA SEXTA.

Enter Ferneze vshering Aurelia, Emillia and Maquer [...]le bearing vp her traine, Beancha attending all go out but Aurelia, Maquerelle and Ferneze.

Aur.

And ist possible? Mendoza slight me, possible?

Fer.

Possible? what can be strange in him that's drunke with favor, Growes insolent with grace? speake Maq [...]erelle, speake.

Maq:

To speake feelingly, more, more richly in [...]ol [...]ide sence then worthlesse wordes, give me those jewells of your eares to receiue my inforced dutie, as for my part tis wellF [...]rneze priuately [...]eedes Maquerelles hands with iewells during this speech. knowne I can put any thing; can bea [...]e patiently with any man: But when I heard he wronged your pretious sweetenes, I was inforced to take deepe offence; Tis most certaine he loues Emilia with high appetite; and as she told me (as you know we women impart our secrets one to another,) when she repulsed his suite, in that hee was possessed with your indeered grace: Mendoza most ingratefully renounced all faith to you.

[Page]Fer.

Nay, cal'd you, speake Maquerelle, speake.

Maq.

By heauen witch: dride bisquet, and contested blushlesly he lou'd you but for a spurt, or so.

Fer.

For maintenance.

Maq.

Aduancement and regard.

Aur.

O villaine! O impudent Mendoza.

Maq.

Nay he is the rustiest jade, the fowlest mouthd knaue in railing against our sex: he will raile against women.

Aur.

How? how?

Maq.

I am asham'd to speak't, I.

Aur.

I loue to hate him▪ speake.

Maq.

Why when Emillia scornde his base vnsteddines the blacke throated rascall scoulded, and sayde.

Aur.

What?

Maq.

Troth t'is too shamelesse.

Aur.

What said hee?

Maq.

Why that at foure women were fooles, at fouret [...]e drabbes, at fortie baudes, at fourescore witches, and a hundred cattes.

Aur.

O vnlimitable impudencie!

Fer.

But as for poore Fernezes fixed heart,

Was neuer shadelesse meadow drier parcht,

Vnder the scortching heate of heauens dog,

Then is my heart with your inforcing eyes.

Maq.

A hote simile.

Fer.

Your smiles haue beene my heauen, your frownes my hell,

O pittie then; G [...]ace should with beautie dwell.

Maq.

Reasonable perfect bir-lady.

Aur.

I will loue thee, be it but in despight

Of that Mendoza: witch! Ferneze: witch!

Ferneze thou art the Dutches fauorite,

Be faithfull, priuate, but tis dangerous.

Fer.

"His loue is liuelesse, that for loue feares breath,

"The worst that's due to sinne, O would t'were death.

Aur.

Enioy my fauour, I will be sicke instantly & take phisick, Therefore in deapth of night visite.

Maq.

Visite her chamber, but conditionally, you shall not offend her bed: By this diamond.

Fer.

By this diamond—

Giues it to Maquerelle.

Maq.

Nor tarry longer than you please: By this ruby.

[Page] [...][Page] [...]

[Page]Fer.

By this ruby.—

Giues againe.

Maq.

And that the doore shall not creake.

Fer.

And that the doore shall not creake.

Mal:

Nay but sweare.

Fer.

By this purse.—

Giues her his purse.

Maq.

Go to, Ile keepe your oathes for you: remember, visit.

Enter Mendoza reading a sonnet.

Aur.

Dri'd bisquet! looke where the base wretch comes.

Men:

Beauties life, heauens modell, loues Queene.

Maq.

That's his Aemilia.

Men.

Natures triumph, best on earth.

Maq:

Meaning Aemilia.

Men.

Thou onely wonder that the world hath seene.

Maq.

That's Aemilia.

Aur:

Must I then heare her praisde Mendoza?

Men:

Madam, your excellency is gratiously incountred;

I haue beene writing passionate flashes in honor of.—

Exit Fer.

Aur:

Out villaine, villaine: O iudgement, where haue beene my eyes? what bewitched election made me dote on thee? what sorcery made me loue thee? but be gone, bury thy head: O that I could do more then loathe thee: hence worst of ill: No reason aske, our reason is our will.

Exit with Maquerelle.

Men:

Women? nay furies, nay worse, for they torment onely the bad, but women good and bad.

Damnation of mankinde: breath, hast thou praisde them for this? And ist you Ferneze are wrigled into smocke grace? sit sure, O that I could raile against these monsters in nature, modells of hell, curse of the earth, women that dare attempt any thing, and what they attempt, they care not how they accomplish, without all premeditation or preuention, rash in asking, desperate in working, impatient in suffering, extreame in desiring, slaues vnto appetite, mistrisses in dissembling, only constant in vnconstancie, onely perfect in counterfaiting: their wordes are fained, their eyes forged, their sights dissembled, their lookes counterfait, their haire false, their giuen hopes deceitfull, their very breath artificiall▪ Their blood is their onely God: Bad clothes, and old age, are onely the diuells they tremble at.

That I could raile now!

[Page]

SCENA SEPTIMA.

Enter Pietro, his sword drawne.

Pie:

A mischiefe fill thy throate, thou fowle iaw'd slaue [...] Say thy praiers.

Men:

I ha forgot vm.

Pie:

Thou shalt die.

Men:

So shalt thou; I am heart mad.

Pie:

I am horne mad.

Men:

Extreame mad.

Pie:

Monstrously mad.

Men:

Why?

Pie:

Why? thou, thou hast dishonoured my bed.

Men:

I? come, come, sit, heeres my bare heart to thee,

As steddy as is this centre to the glorious world.

And yet harke, thou art a Cornuto; but by me?

Pie:

Yes slaue by thee.

Men:

Do not, do not with tart and spleenefull breath,

Loose him can loose thee; I offend my Duke.

Beare record O ye dumbe and raw-ayrde nights,

How vigilant my sleepelesse eyes haue beene,

To watch the traitour; record thou spirit of truth,

With what debasement I ha throwne my selfe,

To vnder offices, onely to learne

The truth, the party, time, the meanes, the place,

By whom, and when, and where thou wert disgrac'd.

And am I paid with slaue? hath my intrusion

To places priuate, and prohibited,

Onely to obserue the closer passages,

Heauen knowes with vowes of reuelation,

Made me suspected, made me deemd a villaine?

What rogue hath wronged vs?

Pie:

Mendoza, I may erre.

Men:

Erre? tis too milde a name, but erre and erre,

Runne giddy with suspect, for through me thou know

That which most creatures saue thy selfe do know:

Nay since my seruice hath so loath'd reiect,

Fore Ile reueale, shalt finde them clipt together.

Pie.

Mendoza, Thou know'st I am a most plaine breasted man.

Men.

The fitter to make a cuckolde: would your browes were most plaine too.

[Page]Pie.

Tell me, indeede I heard thee raile.

Men.

At women, true, why what cold fleame could choose,

Knowing a Lord so honest, vertuous,

So boundlesse loving, bounteous, faire-shapt, sweete,

To be contemn'd, abusde, defamde, made cuckolo:

Hart, I hate all women for't, sweete sheetes, waxe lightes, antique bed [...]postes, cambricke smocks, villanous curtai [...]es, arras pictures, oy [...]de hinges, and all the tongue-tide lasciuious witnesses of great creatures wantonnesse: what saluation can you expect?

Pie:

Wilt thou tell me?

Men.

Why you may find it your selfe, obserue, obserue.

Piet.

I ha not the patience, wilt thou deserue me; tell, giue it.

Men.

Tak't, why Ferneze is the man, Ferneze, Ile proou't, this night you shall take him in your sheetes, wilt serue?

Pie.

It will, my bozom's in some peace, till night.

Men.

What?

Pie:

Farewell.

Men.

God! how weake a Lord are you,

Why do you thinke there is no more but so?

Pie.

Why?

Men.

Nay then will I presume to counsell you,

It should be thus; you with some guard vpon the suddaine

Breake into the Princes chamber, I stay behinde

Without the doore, through which he needs must passe,

Ferneze flies, let him, to me he comes, hee's kild

By me, obserue by me, you follow, I raile,

And seeme to saue the bodie: Dutches comes

On whom (respecting her aduanced birth,

And your faire nature,) I know, nay I do know

No violence must be vsed. She comes, I storme,

I praise, excuse Ferneze, and still maintaine

The Dutches honor, she for this loues me,

I honour you, shall know her soule, you mine,

Then naught shall she contriue in vengeance,

(As women are most thoughtfull in reuenge)

Of her Ferneze, but you shall sooner know't

Then she can think't.

—Thus shall his death come sure,

Your Dutches braine-caught; so your life secure.

[Page]Pie.

It is too well, my bozome, and my heart,

"When nothing helpes, cut off the rotten part.

Exit.

Men.

"Who cannot faine friendship, can nere produce the effects of hatred: Honest foole Duke, subtile lasciuious Dutches, seely nouice Ferneze; I do laugh at yee, my braine is in labour till it produce mischiefe, and I feele sudden throws, proofes sensible, the issue is at hand.

"As Beares shape yong, so Ile forme my deuise,

"Which growne prooues horride: vengeance makes men wise.

Enter Maleuole and Passarello.

Mal.

Foole, most happily incountred, canst sing foole?

Passar.

Yes I can sing foole, if youle beare the burden, and I can play vpon instruments, scuruily. as gentlemen do; O that I had beene gelded, I should then haue beene a fatte foole for a chamber, a squeaking foole for a taverne, and a priuate foole for all the Ladies.

Maleuole

You are in good case since you came to court foole; what garded, garded!

Passar.

Yes faith, euen as footemen and bawdes weare veluet, not [...]or an ornament of Honour, but for a badge of drudgery: for now the Duke is discontented I am faine to foole him asleepe euery night.

Mal.

What are his griefes?

Passar.

He hath sore eies.

Mal.

I neuer observed so much.

Passar.

Horrible sore eyes; and so hath euery Cuckold, for the rootes of the hornes spring in the eye-balles, and thats the reason the horne of a cuckolde is as tender as his eie; or as that growing in the womans forehead twelue yeeres since, that could not endure to be toucht. The Duke hangs downe his head like a columbine.

Mal.

Passarell [...], why doe great men begge fooles?

Passar.

As the Welchman stole rushes, when there was nothing else to filch; onely to keepe begging in fashion.

Mal.

Pue, thou giuest no good reason,

Thou speakest like a foole.

Passar.

Faith I vtter small fragments as your knight courtes your City [...] with jingling of his guilt spurres, aduauncing his bush colored beard, and taking Tabacco. This is all the mirrour [Page] of their knightly complements: Nay I shall talke when my toong is a going once; tis like a Citizen on horsebacke, euermore in a false gallop.

Mal.

And how dooth Maquerelle fare nowadayes?

Passar.

Faith I was wont to salute her as our English women are at their first landing in Flushing; I would call her whoore; but now that antiquitie leaues her as an old peece of plasticke t'work by, I onely aske hir how her rotten teeth fare euery morning, and so leaue her: she was the first that euer inuented perfumd smocks for the gentlewomen, and woollen shooes for feare of creaking: for the visitant, she were an excellent Lady, but that hir face peeleth like Muscouie glasse.

Mal.

And how dooth thy olde Lord that hath wit enough to be a flatterer, and conscience enough to be a knaue?

Passar.

O excellent, he keepes beside me fifteene jeasters, to instruct him in the Art of fooling, and viters their jeastes in priuate to the Duke and Dutchesse; heele lie like to your Switzer, or Lawyer; heele be of any side for most mony.

Mal.

I am in haste, be briefe.

Passar.

As your Fidler when he is payd,

Heele thriue I warrant you, while your yong courtier stands like Good-friday in Lent, men long to see it, because more fatting dayes come after it, else hees the leanest and pittifulst actor in the whole Pageant; Adew Maleuole.

Mal.

O world most vilde, when thy loose vanities

Taught by this foole, do make the foole seeme wise!

Passar.

Youle know me againe Maleuole.

Mal.

O I, by that veluet.

Passar.

I, as a petti-fogger by his buckram bagge,

I am as common in the Court as an hostesses lippes in the countrey; knights, and clownes, and knaues, and all share mee: the Court cannot possibly be without me. Adue Maleuole.

ACTVS: II:

SCENA I:

Enter Mendoza with a sconce, to observe Fernezes entrance, who whilest the Act is playing: Enter vnbraced two pages before him with lights, is met by Maquerelle and conuay [...] The pages are sent away.

Men.

Hees caught, the woodcockes head is ith noose,

[Page] Now treads Ferneze in dangerous path of lust,

Swearing his sence is meerely deified.

The foole graspes clouds, and shall beget Centaures;

And now in strength of panting faint delight,

The Goate bids heauen enuie him; good Goose,

I can afforde thee nothing but the poore comfort of calamity, Pitty

"Lust's like the plummets hanging on clocke lines,

"Wil nere ha done til all is quite vndone.

Such is the course salt sallow lust dooth runne,

Which thou shalt trie; Ile be reuengde. Duke thy suspect,

Durchesse thy disgrace, Ferneze thy riuall ship

Shall haue swift vengeance; nothing so holy,

No band of nature so strong,

No law of friendship so sacred,

But Ile profane burst, violate,

Fore Ile indure disgrace, contempt and pouertie:

Shall I, whose very humme strooke all heads bare;

Whose face made silence, creaking of whose shooe

Forcde the most priuate passages flie ope,

Scrape like a seruile dogge at some latcht doore?

Learne now to make a leg? and crie, beseech yee,

Pray yee, is such a Lord within? be awde

At some odde Vshers scofft formalitie?

First seate my braines; Vnde cadis non quo refert;

My heart cries, perish all: how! how! What fate

"Can once a [...]oyde reuenge, thats desperate,

Ile to the Duke; if all should ope, if! tush;

"Fortune still dotes on those who cannot blush.

SCENA SECVNDA.

Enter Maleuole at one doore, Beancha, Emilia and Maquerelle at the other doore.

Mal.

Blesse yee cast a Ladies: ha dip-sawce, how doost thou olde Cole?

Maq.

Olde Cole?

Mal.

I olde Cole; mee thinkes thou liest like a brand vnder billets of greene wood. Hee that will inflame a yong wenches heart, let him lay close to her: an olde Cole that hath first beene fired, a pandre [...] my halfe burnt lint, who though thou canst flame thy selfe, yet arte able to set a thousand virgins tapers afire: [Page] and how dooth Ianiuere thy husband, my little periwincle, is hee troubled with the cough of the lungs stil? doos he hawke a nights still, he will not bite.

Bean.

No by my troth, I tooke him with his mouth emptie of olde teeth.

Mal.

And hee tooke thee with thy belly full of yoong bones: Marie he tooke his maime by the stroke of his enemy.

Bean.

And I mine by the stroke of my friend.

Mal.

The close stocke! ô mortall wench: Lady, ha ye now no restoratiues for your decaied Iasons? Looke yee, crabs guts bak'd, distild oxe-pith, the puluerized haires of a lions vpper lip, gellie of cocke [...]sparrowes, he monkies marrow, or powlder of foxe-stones. And whither are you ambling now?

Beancha

To bed, to bed.

Mal.

Doe your husbands lie with yee?

Beancha

That were country fashion yfaith.

Mal.

Ha yee no foregoers about you: come, whither in good deed law now?

Beancha

In good indeed law now, to eate the most miraculously, admirably, astonishable composd posset with three curds, without anie drinke: wil yee helpe mee with a hee foxe? heeres the Duke.

The Ladies goe out.

Mal.

Fride frogs are very good & French like too:—

to Bean.

SCENA TERTIA.

Enter Duke Pietro, Count Celso, Count Equato, Bilioso, Ferrard, and Mendoza.

Pietro

The night growes deepe and fowle, what houre ist?

Cello

Vpon the stroake of twelue.

Mal.

Saue yee Duke.

Pietro

From thee; be gone, I doe not loue thee, let mee see thee no more, we are displeased.

Mal.

Why God be with thee, heauen heare my curse,

May thy wife and thee liue long together.

Pietro

Be gone sirra.

Mel.

When Arthur first in Court beganne,—Agamemnon: Menelnm—was euer any Duke a Cornuto?

Pietro

Be gone hence.

Mal.

What religion wilt thou be of next?

[Page]Mend.

Out with him.

Mal.

With most seruile patience time will come,

When wonder of thy error will strike dumbe,

Thy bezeld sence, slaues I fauour, I mary shall he, rise,

"Good God! how subtile hell dooth flatter vice,

"Mount [...] him aloft, and makes him seeme to flie,

"As Foule the Tortois mockt, who to the skie,

"Th'ambitious shell-fish raisde; th'end of all,

"Is onely, that from height he might dead fall.

Bilioso

Why when? out yee rogue, be gone ye rascal.

Mal.

I shall now leaue yee with all my best wishes.

Bilioso

Out ye curre.

Mal.

Onely lets hold together a firme correspondence.

Bilioso

Out.

Mal.

A mutual friendly reciprocall perpetuall kind of steddie vnanimous heartily leagued.

Bilioso

Hence yee grosse jaw'd pesantly, out, go.

Mal.

Adue pigeon house: thou Burre th [...]t onely stickest to nappy fortunes, the Sarpego, the Strangury, an eternall vneffectuall Priapisme seise thee.

Bilioso

Out rogue.

Mal.

Maiest thou be a notorious wittally pander to thine owne wife, and yet get no office but liue to be the vtmost miserie of mankinde, a beggarly cuckold.

Exit.

Pietro

It shall be so.

Mend.

It must be so, for where great states reuenge,

"This requisite the partes with pietie,

"And lo [...]t respect forbeares, be closely dogd,

"Lay one into his breast shall sleepe with him,

"Feede in the same dish, runne in selfe faction,

"Who may discouer any shape of danger;

"For once disgracde, displayed in offence,

"It makes man blushlesse, and man is (all confesse)

"More prone to vengeance than to gratefulnesse.

"Fauours are writ in dust, but stripes we feele,

"Depraued nature stamps in lasting steele.

Pietro

You shall be leagued with the Dutchesse.

Equate

The plot is very good.

Mend.

You shall both kill, and seeme the course to saue.

[Page]Ferrard.

A most [...]ine braine tricke.

Celso

Of a most cunning knaue.

tacitè:

Pietro

My Lordes, the heauy action we intend,

Is death and shame, two of the vgliest shapes

That can confound a soule; thinke, thinke of it:

I stri [...]e, but yet like him that gainst stone walles

Directs his shafts, rebounds in his owne face,

My Ladies shame is mine; ô God tis mine.

Therefore I doe coniure all secrecie,

Let it be as very little as may be; pray yee, as may be.

Make frightlesse entrance, salute her with soft eyes,

Straine nought with blood, onely Ferneze dies,

But not before her browes: O Gentlemen,

God knowes I loue her; nothing else, but this,

I am not well. If griefe that suckes veines drie,

Riuels the skinne, casts ashes in mens faces▪

Be-dulls the eye, vnstrengthens all the blood:

Chance to remooue me to another world,

As sure I once must die: let him succeede:

I haue no childe; all that my youth begot,

Hath bin your loues, which shall inherite me:

Which as it euer shall, I doe coniure it.

Mendoza may succeede, hee's noble borne,

With me of much desert.

Celio

Much.

tacitè:

Pietro

Your silence answers I,

I thanke you, come on now: ô that I might die

Before her shame's displayd! would I were forcde

To burne my fathers Tombe, vnheale his bones,

And dash them in the durt, rather than this:

This both the liuing and the dead offends:

"Sharpe s [...]gery where nought but death amends.

Exit with the others.

SCENA QVARTA.

Enter Maquerelle, Emilia, and Beancha with the posset.

Maq.

Euen heere it is, three curdes in three regions indiuidually distinct.

[Page] Most methodicall according to art compos'd without any drink.

Bean:

Without any drinke?

Maq:

Vpon my honour, will you sit and eate?

Emil:

Good, the composure, the receit, how ist?

Maq:

Tis a prettie pearle, by this pearle, (how doost with me,) thus it is, seauen and thirtie yelkes of Barbarie hennes egges, eighteene spoonefulles and a halfe of the i [...]yce of cockesparrow bones, one ounce, three drammes, foure scruples, and one quarter of the sirrop of Ethiopian dates, sweetned with three quarters of a poond of pure candide Indian Eringos, strewed ouer with the powder of pearle of America, amber of Cataia, and lambe stones of Muscouia.

B [...]n.

Trust me the ingredients are very cordiall, and no question good, and most powerfull in restauration.

Maq.

I know not what you me [...]ne by restauration, but this it doth, it purifieth the blood, Imootheth the skinne, in [...]feneth the eye, strengthneth the vemes, mundefieth the teeth, comforteth the stomacke, fortifieth the backe, and quickneth the wit; thats all.

Emil:

By my troth I haue eaten but two spoonefulls, and me thinkes I could discourse most swiftly and wittily alreadie.

Maq:

Haue you the art to seeme honest?

Bean:

I thanke aduise and practise.

Maq.

Why then eate me of this posset, quicken your blood, and preserue your beautie. Do you know doctor Plaster-face, by this curde, hee is the most exq [...]isite in forging of veines, sprightning of eyes, dying of haire, sleeking of skinnes, blushing of cheekes, surpheleing of breastes blanching and bleaching of teeth that [...] made an old Lady gratious by torch [...] light: by this curd law.

Be:

We we are resolued what god haz giuen vs weel ch [...]rish.

Maq.

Cherish any thing sauing your husband, keepe him not too high, lest he leape the pale [...] but for your beautie, let it be your saint, b [...]quea [...]h two houres to it euery morning in your closet: I ha beene yong, and yet in my conseience I am not aboue fiue and twentie, but beleeue me, preserue and vse your beautie; for youth and beautie once gone, we are like bee-hiues without hony: out a fashion, apparell that no man will weare, therefore vse me your beautie.

[Page]Emil.

I but men say.

Maq▪

Men say? let men say wha [...] they wil, life a woman, they are ignorant of your wants, the more in yeares, the more in perfection they grow: if they loose youth & beauty, they gaine wisedome & discretion: But when our beautie fades, goodnight with vs: there cannot be an vglier thing to see, then an olde woman, from which, O pruning, pinching, & painting, deliuer all sweete beauties.

Bea.

Harke, musicke.

Maq:

Peace, tis in the Dutches bed-chamber, good rest most prosperously grac'd Ladies.

Emil:

Good-night centinell.

Bea:

Night deere Maquerelle.

Exeunt all but Maq.

Maq.

May my possets operation send you my wit & honesty▪ And me your youth & beauty: the pleasingst rest.

Exit Maq.

SCENA QVINTA.

A song.

Whilest the song is singing, enter Mendoza with his sword drawne, standing readie to murder Ferneze as he flies from the Dutches chamber.

All

Strike, strike.

Aur.

Saue my Ferneze, O saue my Ferneze.

Enter Ferneze in his shirt, and is receiued vpon Mendozas sword.

All

Follow, pursue.

Aur.

O saue Ferneze.

Men.

Pierce, pierce, thou shallow foole drop there.

"He that attempts a Princes lawlesse loue,

"Must haue broade hands, close heart, with Argos eyes,

"And backe of Hercules, or else he dies.

Thrustes his rapier in Fer.

Enter Aurelia, Duke Pietro, Ferrard, Bilioso, Celso, and Equato.

All

Follow, follow.

Men:

Stand off, forbeare, yee most vnciuill Lords.

Pie:

Strike.

Men.

Do not; tempt not a man resolued,

Would you inhumane murtherers more then death?

Aur.

O poore Ferneze.

Men:

Alas, now all defence too late.

Aur.

Hee's dead.

[Page]Pie:

I am sory for our shame: go to your bed:

Weepe not too much, but leaue some teares to shed

When I am dead.

Aur.

What weepe for thee? my soule no teares shall finde.

Pie:

Alas, alas, that womens soules are blinde.

Men:

Betray such beautie, murther such youth, contemne ciuilitie.

He loues him not that railes not at him.

Pie:

Thou canst not mooue vs: we haue blood ynough.

And please you Lady we haue quite forgot

All your defects: if not, why then.

Aur.

Not.

Pie.

Not: the best of rest, good night.

Exit Pietro with other Courtiers.

Aur:

Despight go with thee.

Men:

Madam, you ha done me foule disgrace.

You haue wrongd him much, loues you too much.

Go to; your soule knowes you haue.

Aur.

I thinke I haue.

Men.

Do you but thinke so?

Aur.

Nay, sure I haue, my eyes haue witnessed thy loue [...]

Thou hast stoode too firme for me.

Men.

Why tell me faire cheekt Lady, who euen in teares,

Art powerfully beauteous, what vnaduised passion

Strooke ye into such a violent heate against me?

Speake, what mischiefe wrongd vs? what diuell iniur'd vs?

Speake.

Aur.

That thing nere worthy of the name of man; Ferneze,

Ferneze swore thou lou'st Emilia,

Which to aduance with most reproachfull breath,

Thou both didst blemish and denounce my loue.

Men.

Ignoble villaine, did I for this bestride

Thy wounded limbes; for this? O God! for this?

Sunke all my hopes, and with my hopes my life,

Ript bare my throte vnto the hangmans axe.

Thou most dishonour'd trunke—Emillia.

By life I know her not—Emillia.

Did you beleeue him?

Aur.

Pardon me, I did.

Men.

Did you? and thereupon you graced him.

[Page]Aur.

I did.

Men:

Tooke him to fauour, nay euen clasp'd with him.

Aur:

Alas I did.

Men:

This night?

Aur:

This night.

Men:

And in your lustfull twines the Duke tooke you▪

Aur:

A most sad truth.

Men:

O God! O God! how we dull honest soules,

Heauie brainde men are swallowed in the bogs

Of a deceitfull ground, whilest nimble bloods,

Light ioynted spirits spent, cut good mens throates,

And scape; alas, I am too honest for this age,

Too full of fleame, and heauie steddines [...]e:

Stood still whilst this slaue cast a noose about me;

Nay then to stand in honour of him and her,

Who had euen slic'd my heart.

Aur:

Come, I did erre, and am most sorry, I did erre.

Men:

Why we are both but dead, the Duke hates vs.

"And those whom Princes do once groundly hate,

"Let them prouide to die, as sure as fate,

"Preuention is the heart of pollicie.

Aur:

Shall we murder him?

Men:

Instantly.

Aur:

Instantly? before he castes a plot?

Or further blaze my honours much knowne blot.

Lets murther him.

Men:

I would do much for you, will yee marry me?

Aur:

Ile make thee duke: we are of Medices.

Florence our friend, in court my faction

Not meanely strengthfull; the Duke then dead,

We well preparde for change: the multitude

Irresolutely reeling, we inforce:

Our partie seconded, the kingdome mazde,

No doubt of swift successe, all shall be grac'd.

Men:

You do con [...]irme me, we are resolute,

To morrow looke for change rest confident.

Tis now about the immodest waste of night,

The mother of moist dew with pallide light,

Spreads gloomie shades about the nummed earth.

[Page]Sleepe, sleepe, whilst we contriue our mischiefes birth;

This man Ile get inhumde; farewell, to bed;

I [...] the pillow, dreame, the Duke is dead.

Exit Aurelia

So, so, good night, how fortune dotes on impudence,

I am in priuate the adopted sonne of yon good Prince.

I must be Duke; why if I must, I must,

Most [...]eely Lord, name me? O heauen!

I see God made honest fooles, to maintaine crafty knaues:

The Dutchesse is wholy mine too; must kill her husband

To quit her shame; much; then marry her: I,

O I grow prowd in prosperous treachery!

As wrastlers clip, so ile embrace you all,

Not to support, but to procure your fall.

Enter Malenole.

Mal.

God arrest thee.

Mend.

At whose suite?

Mal.

At the diuels; ah you treacherous damnable monster!

How doost? how doost, thou treacherous roague?

Ah yee rascall, I am banisht the Court sirra.

Mendoza

Prethee lets be acquainted, I doe loue thee faith.

Mal.

At your seruice, by the Lord law, shall's goe to supper, let's be once drunke together, and so vnite a most vertuously strengthened friendship, shall's Hugonot, shall's?

Mendoza

Wilt fall vpon my chamber to morrowe morne?

Mal.

As a rauen to a dunghill; they say theres one dead heere, prickt for the pride of the flesh.

Mendoza Ferneze:

there he is, prethee bury him.

Mal.

O most willingly, I mean to turne pure Rochel churchman, I.

Mendoza

Thou church man! why? why?

Mal.

Because Ile liue lazily, raile vpon authoritie, deny kings supremacy in things indifferent, and be a Pope in mine owne parish.

Mend.

Wherefore doost thou thinke churches were made?

Mal.

To scowre plow-shares, I haue seene oxen plow vppe Altares: Et nunc seges vbi Sion fuit.

Mendoza

Strange.

Mal.

Nay monstrous, I ha seen a sumptuous steeple turnd to a stincking priuie; more beastly, the sacredst place made a dogges kennell: nay most inhumane, the stoned coffins of long dead [Page] christians burst vp, and made hogs-troughs—Hic sinis Pri [...]ni. Shall I ha some sacke and cheese at thy chamber?

Good night good mischieuous incarnate diuel, good night Mendoza, ah you inhumane villaine, goodnight, night fub.

Men.

Good night: to morrow morne.

exit Mendoza.

Mal.

I, I will come [...]riendly Damnation, I will come:

I doe descry crosse-poynts, honesty and court-ship, straddle as farre as [...]nder, as a true Frenchmans legges.

Ferneze

O!

Mal.

Proclamations, more proclamations.

Ferneze

O a Surgeon.

Mal.

Heark, lust cries for a Surgeon, what news from Limbo?

How dooth the grand cuckolde Lucifer?

Ferneze

O helpe, helpe, conceale and saue mee.

Ferneze stirres, and Maleuole helpes him vp and con [...]ayes him away.

Mal.

Thy shame more than thy wounds do grie [...]e me farre,

"Thy wounds but leaue vpon thy flesh some skarre;

"But fame ne're heales, still ranckles worse and worse,

"Such is of vncontrolled lust the curse.

"Thinke what it is in lawlesse sheetes to lie:

"But O Ferneze, what in lust to die.

"Then thou that shame respects, ô flie conuerse

"With womens eies, and lisping wantonnesse:

"Sticke candles gainst a virgine walles white backe,

"If they not burne, yet at the least thei'le blacke.

Come, ile conuey thee to a priuate port.

Where thou shalt liue (ô happy man) from court.

The beautie of the day beginnes to rise,

From whose bright forme Nights heauy shadow flies,

Now ginnes close plots to worke, the Sceane growes full,

And craues his eies who hath a solide skull.

Exeunt.

ACTVS III.

SCENA I.

Enter Pietro the Duke, Mendoza, count Equato and Bilioso.

Pietro

Tis growne to youth of day, how shall wee waste this light?

My heart's more heauy than a tyrants crowne.

[Page] Shall we goe hunt? Prepare for field.

Exit Equat [...]

Mendoza

Would yee could be merry.

Pietro

Would God I could: Mendoza bid vm haste:

I would faine shift place; O vaine reliefe!

exit Mendoza

"Sad soules may well change place, but not change griefe:

As Deere being strucke flie thorow many soll [...]s,

Yet still the shaft stickes fast, so;

Bilioso

A good olde simile, my honest Lord.

Pietro

I am not much vnlike to some sicke man,

That long desired hurtfull drinke; at last

Swilles in and drinkes his last, ending at on [...]

Both life and thirst: O would I nere had known [...]

My owne dishonour! good God that men should

Desire to search out that, which being found, killes all

Their ioy of life, to taste the tree of knowledge,

And then be driuen from out Paradice.

Canst giue me some comfort?

Bilioso

My Lord, I haue some bookes which haue beene dedicated to my honor, and I nere read vm, and yet they had verie fine names: Phisicke for Fortune: Lozinges of sanctified sinceritie, very pretty workes of Curates, Scriueners and Schoolemaisters Mary I remember one Seneca, Lucius Anneus Seneca.

Pietro

Out vpon him, he writ of Temperance and fortitude, yet liued like a voluptuous epicure, and died like an effeminate coward. Haste thee to Florence: heere, take our Letters, see vm sealed; away; report in priuate to the ho [...]ored Duke, his daughters forced disgrace, tell him at length,

We know, too much due complements aduance,

"Theres nought thats safe and sweete but ignorance.

Exit duke

Enter Bilioso and Bianca.

Belioso

Madam, I am going Embassador for Florence, twill be great charges to me.

Bianca

No matter my Lord, you haue the lease of two mannors come out next Christmasse; you may lay your tenants on the greater racke for it: and when you come home againe, Ile teach you how you shall get two hundred poundes a yeere by your teeth.

Belioso

How Madam?

Bianca

Cut off so much from house-keeping, that which is [Page] saued by the teeth, you know is got by the teeth.

Bilioso

Fore God, and so I may, I am in wondrous credite Lady.

Bianca

See the vse of flattery, I did euer counsell you to flatter greatnes, and you haue profited well: any man that will doe so shal be sure to be like your Sco [...]ch Barnacle, now a blocke, instantly a worme, and presently a great goose: this it is to rot and putrifie in the bosome of greatnes.

Buioso

Thouia rte euer my polititian, O how happy is that olde [...] ord that hath a polititian to his yong Lady! Ile haue fiftie gentlemen shall attend vpon mee; mary the most of them shalbe Farmers sonnes, because they shall beare their owne charges, and they shall goe appar [...]ld thus, in sea-water greene sutes, ash-color [...], wetchet stockings, and popinj [...]y greene feathers, will not the colours doe excellent?

Bianca

Out vpont, theile looke like Cittizens riding to their friendes at Whitsontide, their apparell iust so many seuerall pa [...]ishes.

Bilioso

Ile haue it so, and Passarello my foole shall goe along with me, mary he shall be in veluet?

Bianca

A foole in veluet.

Bilioso

I, tis common for your foole to weare sattin, ile haue mine in veluet.

Bianca

What will you weare then my Lord?

Bilioso

Veluet too, mary it shall be embroidered, because ile d [...]ffer from the [...]oole somewhat. I am horribly troubled with the gowt, nothing grieues me but that my doctor hath forbidden me wine, and you know your Ambassador must drinke. Didst thou aske thy doctor what was good for the gowt?

Bianca

Yes, hee saide, e [...]s [...], wine and women, were good for it.

Bilioso

Nay, thou hast such a witte, what was good to cure i [...], said he?

Bianca

Why the racke [...]al your Empericks could neuer do the like cure vpon the gowt the racke did in England: or your Scotch boote. The French Herlakeene will instruct you.

Bilioso

Surely I doe wonder, how thou hauing, for the most parte of thy life time beene a countrey body, shouldest haue so good a wit.

[Page]Bian.

Who I? why I haue beene a Courtier thrise two moneths.

Bili.

So haue I this twentie yeare, and yet there was a gentleman vsher cald me cocks-coombe tother day, and to my face too: wast not a backe-biting rascall? I would I were better trauaild, that I might haue beene better acquainted with the fashions of seuerall country-men: but my Secretary, I thinke he hath sufficiently instructed me.

Bian.

How my Lord?

Bili.

Mary my good Lord quoth hee, your Lordship shall euer finde amongst a hundred French-men, fortie hot shottes: amongst a hundred Spaniardes, threescore bragarts: amongst a hundred Dutch-men, fourescore drunkardes: amongst a hundred English-men, fourescore and ten mad-men: and amongst an hundred Welch-men.

Bian.

What my Lord?

Bili.

Fourescore and nineteene gentlemen.

Bian.

But since you go about a sad imbasie, I would haue you go in blacke my Lord.

Bili.

Why doost thinke I cannot mourne, vnlesse I weare my hat in cipers like an Aldermans heire, that's vile, very olde, in faith.

Bian.

Ile learne of you shortly; O wee should haue a fine gallant of you, should not I instruct you: how will you beare your selfe when you come into the Duke of Florence Court?

Bili.

Prowde ynough, and t' will do well ynough; as I walke vp and downe the chamber, Ile spit f [...]ownes about me, haue a strong perfume in my jerkin, let my beard grow to make me looke terrible, salute no man beneath the fourth button, and t'will do excellent.

Bian.

But there is a very beautifull Lady there, how will you entertaine her?

Bili.

Ile tell you that when the Lady hath entertainde me: but to satisfie thee, heere comes the foole: foole thou shalt stand for the faire Lady.

Enter Passar [...]llo.

Pas.

Your foole will stand for your Lady most willingly and most vprightly.

Bili.

Ile salute her in Latine.

Pas.

O your foole can vnderstand no Latine.

[Page]Bili:

I but your Lady can.

Passa.

Why then if your Lady take downe your foole, your foole will stand no longer for your Lady.

Bili.

A pestilent foole: fore God I thinke the world be turnde vp [...]side downe too.

Pas.

O no sir, for then your Lady, and all the Ladies in the pallace should goe with their heeles vpward, and that were a strange sight you know.

Bili.

There be many will repine at my preferment.

Pas.

O I, like the enuie of an elder sister that hath her yonger made a Lady before her.

Bili.

The Duke is wondrous discontented.

Pas.

I, and more melancholike, then a vsurer hauing all his mony out at the death of a Prince.

Bili.

Didst thou see Madam Floria to day?

Pas.

Yes, I found her repairing her face to day, the red vpo [...] the white shewed as if her cheekes should haue beene serued in for two dishes of Barbaries in stewed broth, and the flesh to them a wood-cocke.

Exit.

Bili.

A bitter fowle: Come Madam, this night thou shalt inioy me freely, and to morrow for Florence.

Pas.

What a naturall foole is hee that would be a paire of bodies to a womans petti-cote, to bee trusst and pointed to them. Well, Ile dog my Lord, and the word is proper: for when I fawne vpon him hee feedes me; when I snap him by the fingers, hee spittes in my mouth. If a dogges death were not strangling, I had rather bee one then a feruing-man: for the corruption of coine, is either the generation of a vsurer, or a lowsie beggar.

SCENA SECVNDA.

Enter Maleuole in some freeze gowne, whilst Bilioso reades his Patent.

Mal.

I cannot sleepe, my eyes ill neighbouring lids

Will holde no fellowship: O thou pale sober night,

Thou that in sluggish fumes all sence doost sleepe:

Thou that giues all the world full leaue to play,

Vnbendst the feebled veines of sweatie l [...]bour;

The gally-slaue, that all the to [...]lesome day,

[Page]Tugges at his oare, against the stubburne wa [...]e,

Straining his rugged veines, s [...]ores fast:

The stooping sithe-man that doth barbe the field

Thou makest winke sure: in night all creatures sleepe,

Onely the Malecontent, that gainst his fate

Repines and quarrells, alas hee's goodman tell-clocke.

His sallow iaw-bones sinke with wasting mone,

Whilst others beds are downe, his pillowes stone.

Bili:

Maleuole.

Mal:

Elder of Israell, thou honest defect of wicked nature and obstinate ignorance,To Bilioso. when did thy wife let thee lie with her?

Bili:

I am going Ambassadour to Florence.

Mal:

Ambassadour? now for thy countries honour: prethee do not put vp mutton & porridge in thy cloke-bagge: thy yong Lady wife goes to Florence with thee too, dooes she not?

Bili:

No, I leaue her at the pallace.

Mal.

At the pallace? now discretion sheelde man, for Gods loue lets ha no more cuckolds: Hymen beginnes to put off his saffron robe, keepe thy wife i'the state of grace, hart a truth, I would sooner leaue my Ladie singled in a Bordello, then in the Genoa Pallace, sinne there appearing in her [...]luttish shape,

Would soone grow loathsome, euen to blushessence,

Surfet would cloke intemperate appetite,

Make the soule scent the rotten breath of lust.

When in an Italian lasciuious pallace, a Lady gardianlesse,

Left to the push of all allurement,

The strongest incitements to immodestie,

To haue her bound, incensed with wantor sweetes,

Her veines fild hie with heating delicates:

Soft rest, sweete musicke, amorous Masquerers, lasciuious banquets, sinne it selfe gilt o're, strong phantafie tricking vp strange delightes, presenting it dressed pleasingly to sence, sence leading it vnto the soule, confirmed with potent example, impudent custome, inticed by that great bawde Opportunitie, thus being preparde, clap to her easie eare, youth in good clothes, well shapt, rich, faire-spoken, promising-noble, ardent blood-full, wittie, flattering: V [...]isses absent, O Ithacan, chastest Penelope hold out.

Bil:

Masse Ile thinke on't, farewell.

Exit Bilioso.

[Page]Mal:

Farewell, take thy wife with thee, farewell.

To Florence, vm? it may prooue good, it may,

And we may once vnmaske our browes.

SCENA TERTIA.

Enter Count Celzo.

Cel:

My honourde Lord.

Mal:

Celso peace, how ist? speake low, pale feares suspect that hedges, walles and trees haue eares: speake, how runnes all?

Cel.

I faith my Lord, that beast with many heads

The staggering multitude recoiles apace,

Though thorow great mens enuie, most mens malice,

Their much intemperate heate hath banisht you.

Yet now they finde enuie and mallice neere,

Produce faint reformation.

The Duke, the too soft Duke lies as a blocke,

For which two tugging factions seeme to sawe,

But stil [...] the yron through the ribbes they draw.

Mal:

I tell thee Celzo, I haue euer found

Thy breast most farre from shifting cowardice

And fearefull basenesse: therefore Ile tell thee Celzo,

I finde the winde beginnes to come about,

Ile shift my suite of fortune, I know the Florentine whose onely force,

By marrying his prowde daughter to this Prince,

Both banisht me, and made this weake Lord Duke,

Will now forsake them all, be sure hee will:

Ile lie in ambush for conueniencie,

Vpon their seuerance to confirme my selfe.

Cel:

Is Ferneze interred?

Mal:

Of that at leisure: he liues.

Cel:

But how standes Mendoza, how ist with him?

Mal:

Faith like a paire of snuffers, snibbes filth in other men, and retaines it in it selfe.

Cel:

He doo's flie from publike notice me thinkes, as a hare do's from houndes, the feete whereon he flies betraies him.

Mal:

I can tracke him Celso.

O my disguise fooles him most powerfully:

For that I seeme a desperate Malecontent,

[Page] He faine would claspe with me; he is the true slaue

That will put on the most affected grace,

For some vilde second cause.

Enter Mendoza

Celso

Hee's heere.

Mal.

Giue place.

Illo, ho, ho, ho, arte there olde true penny?

Exit Celso.

Where hast thou spent thy selfe this morning? I see flattery in thine eies, and damnation in thy soule. Ha thou huge rascall▪

Men.

Thou art very merry.

Mal.

As a scholler futuens gratis: How dooth the diuell goe with thee now?

Men.

Maleuole, thou art an arrant knaue.

Mal:

Who I, I haue beene a Sergeant man.

Men.

Thou art very poore.

Mal:

As Iob, an Alcumist, or a Poet.

Men:

The Duke hates thee.

Mal:

As Irishmen doe bum-crackes.

Men:

Thou hast lost his amitie.

Mal:

As pleasing as maids loose their virginitie.

Me:

Would thou wert of a lusty spirit, wold thou wert noble.

Mal:

Why sure my bloud giues me I am noble, sure I am of noble kinde; for I finde my selfe possessed with all their qualities; loue Dogs, Dice▪ and Drabs, scorne witte in stuffe clothes, haue [...]eat my Shoomaker, knockt my Semsters, cuckold my Potecary▪ and vndone my Tayler. Noble, why not? since the Sto [...]cke saide, Neminem seruum non ex regibus, neminem regem non ex seruis esse [...]ri [...]ndum, only busie fortune towses, and the prouident chances blends them together; ile giue you a simil [...]; Did you ere see a wel with two buckets, whilst one comes vp ful to be emptied, another goes downe empty to be filled; such is the state of all humanitie: why looke you, I may be the son of some Duke; for beleeue me, intemperate lasciuious bastardy makes Nobil [...]tie doubtfull: I haue a lusty daring heart Mendoza.

Mendo:

Let's graspe, I doe like thee infinitely, wilt inact one thing for me?

Mal:

Shall I get by it?

Giues him his purse.

Commaund me, I am thy slaue, beyond death and hell.

Men:

Murther the Duke.

Mal:

My hearts wish, my soules desire, my fantasies dreame,

My blouds longing, the onely height of my hopes, how

[Page] O God how? ô how my vnited spirites throng together▪

So strengthen my resolue.

Mendoza

The Duke is now a hunting.

Mal.

Excellent, admirable, as the diuell would haue it, lend me, lend me, Rapier, Pistoll, Crossebow; so, so, ile doe it.

Men.

Then we agree.

Mal.

As Lent & fishmongers, come a cape a pe, how in form

Men.

Know that this weake braind duke, who only stands on Florence stilts, hath out of witlesse zeale made me his heire, and secretly confirmed the wreathe to mee after his lifes full poynt.

Mal:

Vpon what merite?

Mendoza

Merite! by heauen I horne him, onely Ferne [...] ae [...] death gaue me states life: tut we are politique, hee must not liue now.

Mal.

No reason mary: but how must he die now?

Men:

My vtmost proiect is to murder the Duke, that I might haue his state, because he makes me his heire; to banish the duchesse, that I might be rid of a cunning Lacedemonian, because I know Florence will forsake her, and then to marry Maria the banished duke Altofr [...]nts wife, that her friends might strengthen me and my faction; this is all lawe.

Mal:

Do you loue Maria?

Men:

Faith no great affection, but as wise men do loue great women, to innoble their bloud, and augment their reuenew [...] to accomplish this now, thus now. The Duke is in the forrest next the Sea, single him, kill him, hurle him in the maine, and proclaime thou sawest woolues eate him.

Mal:

Vm, not so good: mee thinkes when he is slaine, to get some hipocrite, some daungerous wretch thats muffled, or with fained holines, to sweare he heard the duke on some stiepe cliffe lament his wifes dishonour, and in an agony of his hearts torture hurled his groaning sides into the [...]wolne sea: This circumstance wel made, sounds probable: and hereupon the Dutches.

Men.

May well be banished: O vnpeerable invention [...]tare, Thou god of pollicie, it honies, me.

Mal:

Then feare not for the wife of Al [...]ofront, ile close to her.

Men:

Thou shalt, thou shalt, our excellencie is pleased: why wert not thou an Emperour? when we are Duke, ile make thee some great man sure.

[Page]Mal.

Nay, make me some rich knaue, and [...]le make my selfe some great man.

Mend.

In thee be all my spirit, retaine tenne soules, vnite thy virtuall powers; resolue, ha, remember greatnes: heart, farewell

Enter Celzo.

"Th [...] fate of all my hopes in thee doth dwell.

Mal.

Celzo, didst heare? O heauen, didst heare?

Such diuelish mischiefe, sufferest thou the world

Carowse damnation euen with greedie swallow,

And still doost winke, still duz thy vengeance slumber▪

"If now thy browes are cleare, when will they th [...]nder▪

Exit.

SCENA QVARTA

Enter Pietro, Ferrard, Prepasso, and three Pages.

Ferr.

The dogges are at a fault.

Cornets like hornes.

Pietro

Would God nothing but the dogges were at it? let the Deere pursue safely, the dogs follow the game, and doe you follow the dogges; as for me, tis vnfit one beast should hunt an other; I ha one chaseth me: and 't please you, I would be ridde of you a little.

Ferr.

Would your griefe would as soone leaue you as we to quietnesse.

Exeunt.

Pie.

I thanke you; boy, what doost thou dreame of now?

Page

Of a drie summer my Lord, for heere's a hote worlde towardes: but my Lord, I had a strange dreame last night.

Pietro

What strange dreame?

Page

Why me thought I pleased you with singing, and then I dreamt you gaue me that short sword.

Pietro

Prettily begd: hold thee, ile prooue thy dreame true, tak't.

Page

My duetie: but still I dreamt on my Lord, and mee thought, and 't shall please your excellencie, you would needs out of your royall bounty giue me that jewell in your hat.

Piet.

O thou didst but dreame boy, do not beleeue it, dreames prooue not alwayes true, they may hold in a short sword, but not in a jewell. But now sir, you dreamt you had pleased mee with singing, make that true as I haue made the other.

Page

Faith my Lord, I did but dreame, and dreames you say prooue not alwayes true: they may hold in a good sword, but [Page] not in a good song: the trueth is, I ha lost my voyce.

Pietro

Lost thy voyce, how?

Page

With dreaming faith, but heere's a couple of Syrenicall rascalls shall inchaunt yee: what shall they sing my good Lorde?

Pietro

Sing of the nature of women, and then the song shall be surely full of varietie; olde crochets and most sweete closes, it shalbe humorous, graue, fantastike, amorous, melancoly, sprightly, one in all, and all in one.

Page

All in one?

Pietro

Birlady too many; sing, my speech growes culpable of vnthrifty idlenesse, sing.

SCENA QVINTA.

[...]

Enter Maleuole with Croffebow and Tistoll.

A, so, so, sing, I am heauie, walke off, I shall talke in my sleep; walke off.

Exeunt Pages.

Mal.

Briefe, briefe, who? the Duke? good heauen that fooles should stumble vpon greatnesse! do not sleepe Duke, giue yee good morrow: you must be bri [...]fe Duke; I am feeed to murther thee, start not: Mendoza, Mendoza hired mee, heere's his gold, his pistoll, crossebow, and sword, tis all as firme as earth: O foole, foole, choakt with the common maze of easie ideots, Credulitie, ma [...]e him thine heire: what thy sworne murtherer?

Pietro

O can it be?

Mal.

Can?

Pietro

Discouered he not Ferneze?

Mal.

Yes; but why, but why, for loue to thee; much, much, to be reuenged vpon his riuall, who had thrust his jawes awrie, who being slaine, supposed by thine owne handes; defended by his sword, made thee most loathsome, him most gratious with thy loose Princesse, thou closely yeelding egr [...]sse and regresse to her, madest him heire, whose hote vnquiet lust strait towzde thy sheetes, and now would seize thy state, polititian, wise man, death to be led to the stake like a bull by the hornes, to make euen kindnesse cutte a gentle throate; l [...]fe, why art thou nummed? thou foggie dulnesse, speake: liues not more faith in a home [...]hiusting tongne, than in th [...]se fencing tip tap Courtiers?

[Page]Enter Celso with a Hermites gow [...]e and beard.

Cel.

Lord Maleuole, if this be true.

Mal.

If? come shade thee with this disguise, if? thou shalt handle it, he shall thanke thee for killing thy selfe, come follow my directions, and thou shalt see strange sleights.

Pie.

World whither wilt thou?

Mal.

Why to the diuell: come, the morne growes late,

Astedi [...] quickenes is the soule of state.

Exeunt.

ACTVS QVARTVS

SCE. PRIMA.

Enter Maquarelle knocking at the Ladies doore.

Maq.

Medam, Medam, are you stirring Medam? if you bee stirring Medam, if I thought I should disturbe yee.

Page

My Lady is vp forsooth.

Maq.

A pretty boy, faith how old art thou?

Page

I thinke fou [...]eteene.

Maq.

Nay, and yee bee in the teenes: are yee a gentleman borne? do you know me? my name is Medam Maquerelle, I lie in the old cunny court.

See heere the Ladies.

Enter Beancha and Emi [...]ia.

Bean.

A faire day to yee Maquarelle.

Emil.

Is the Dutches vp yet Centinell?

Maq.

O Ladies, the most abhomin [...]ble mischance, O deare Ladies, the most piteous disaster, Ferneze was taken last night in the Dutches chamber: alas the Duke catcht him and kild him.

Bean.

Was he found in bed?

Maq.

O no, but the villanous certaintie is, the doore was not bolted, the tongue [...]tied hatch held his peace: so the naked troth is, he was found in his shirt, whilst I like an arrand beast, lay in the outward chamber, heard nothing, and yet they came by mee in the dark, and yet I felt them not, like a sencelesse creature as I was. O beauties, looke to your buske-pointes, if not chastely, yet charily: be sure the doore bee bolted: is your Lord gone to Florences?

Bean.

Yes Maquarelle.

Maq.

I hope youle finde the discretion to purchase a fresh gowne for his returne: Now by my troth beauties I would ha ye once wi [...]e: he loues ye, pish: he is wittie; buble: faire proportioned, meaw: nobly borne, winde: let this be still your fixt position, [Page] esteeme me euery man according to his good gifts, and so ye shall euer remaine most deare, and most worthie to bee most deare Ladies.

Emi.

Is the Duke returnd from hunting yet?

Maq.

They say not yet.

Bean.

Tis now in midst of day.

Emil.

How beares the Dutches with this blemish now?

Maq.

Faith boldly, strongly defies defame, as one that haz a Duke to her father. And theres a note to you: be sure of a stowt friend in a corner, that may alwaies awe your husband. Marke the hauior of the Dut [...]hes now: she dares defame, cries Duke, do what thou canst, Ile quite mine honour: nay, as one confirmed in her owne vertue against ten thousand mouthes that mutter her disgrace, shee's presently for dances.

Enter Ferrard.

Bean,

For dances?

Maq.

Most true.

Emil.

Most strange: see, heere's my seruant young Ferrard: how many seruants thinkst thou I haue Maquerelle?

Maq.

The more, the merrier: t'was well said; vse your seruants as you do your smockes, haue many, vse one, and change often, for thats most sweete and courtlike.

Fer.

Saue ye faire Ladies, is the Duke returned?

Bean.

Sweete sir no voice of him as yet in Court.

Fer.

T is very strange.

Bean.

And how like you my seruant Maquorelle?

Maq.

I thinke he could hardely draw Vlisses bow, but by my fidelitie, were his nose narrower, his eyes broader, his hands thinner, his lippes thicker, his legges bigger, his feete lesser, his haire blacker, and his teeth whiter, he were a tollerable sweete youth yfaith. And he will come to my chamber, I will reade him the fortune of his beard.

Cornets sounde.

Fer.

Not yet returnd I feare, but

The Dutches approcheth.

Enter Mendoza supporting the Dutchesse, Guerino: the Ladies that are on the stage rise: Ferrard Vshers in the Dutches, and then takes a Lady to treade a measure.

SCENA SECVNDA.

Aur.

We will dance, musicke, we will dance.

Guer.

Les quanto (Ladie) pens [...]s bien, passaregis, or Beanch [...]es brawle.

[Page]Aur.

We haue forgot the brawle.

Fer.

So soone? t'is wonder.

Guer.

Why? t'is but two singles on the left, two on the right, three doubles forward, a trauerse of six round: do this twice, three singles side, galliard tricke of twentie, curranto pace; a figure of eight, three singles broken downe, come vp, meete two doubles, fall backe, and then honour.

Aur.

O Dedalus! thy maze, I haue quite forgot it.

Maq.

Trust me so haue I, sauing the falling backe, and then honour.

Enter Prepasso.

Aur.

Musicke, musicke.

Pre.

Who saw the Duke? the Duke?

Enter Equato.

Aur.

Musicke.

Pre:

The Duke, is the Duke returned?

Aur:

Musicke.

Enter Celso.

Cel:

The Duke is either quite inuisible, or else is not.

Aur.

Wee are not pleased with yo [...]r intrusion vppon our priuate retirement: wee are not pleased: you haue forgot your selues.

Enter a Page.

Celso

Boy, thy master: where's the Duke?

Page

Alas, I left him burying the earth with his spread ioylesse limbes: he tolde me, he was heauie, would sleepe, bid mee walke off, for that the strength of fantasie, oft made him talke in his dreames: I straight obeied, not euer saw him since: but where so e're he is, hee's sad.

Aur.

Musicke, sound high, as is our heart, sound high.

SCENA TERTIA.

Enter Maleuole and Pietro disguised like and Hermite.

Mal:

The Duke, peace, the Duke is dead.

Aur:

Musicke.

Mal:

Is't musicke?

Men:

Giue proofe.

Fer:

How?

Cel:

Where?

Pre:

When?

Mal.

Rest in peace as the Duke duz, quietly sit: for my owne part I beheld him but dead; thats all: mary heere's one can giue you a more particular account of him.

Men.

Speake holy father, nor let any browe within this [Page] \presence fright thee from the truth: speake confidently & freely.

Aur.

We attend.

Pie.

Now had the mounting sunnes al-ripening wings

Swept the cold sweat of night from earths danke breast,

When I (whom men call [...]ermite of the Rocke,)

Forsooke my Cell, and clamberd vp a cliffe,

Against whose Base, the headie Neptune dasht

His high cu [...]lde browes: there t'was I easde my limbes,

When loe, my entrailes melted with the moane

Some one, who farre boue me was climbde, did make:

I shall offend.

Men:

Not.

Aur:

On.

Piet:

Me thinks I heare him yet, O female faith!

Go sow the ingratefull sand, and loue a woman:

And do I li [...]e to be the skoffe of men?

To be the wittall cuckold, euen to hugge my poison?

Thou knowest O truth!

Sooner hard steel [...] will melt with Southerne winde;

A Sea-mans whistle calme the Ocean;

A towne on fire be extinct with teares,

Then women vow'd to blushlesse impudence,

With sweete behauiour and soft minioning,

Will turne from that where appetite is fixt.

O powerfull blood! how thou doost slaue their soule,

I washt an Ethiope, who for recompence,

Sullyde my name. And must I then be forc'd

To walke, to liue thus blacke: must, must, fie,

He that can beare with must, he cannot die.

With that he sigh'd too passionately deepe,

That the Dull ayre euen groan'd: at last he cries,

Smke shame in seas, sinke deepe enough: so dies.

For then I viewd his body fall and sowse

Into the fomie maine, O then I s [...]w

That which me thinks I see; it was the Duke,

Whom straight the nicer stomackt sea

Belcht vp: but then.

Mal.

Then came I in, but las all was too late,

For euen straight he sunke.

[Page]Pie:

Such was the Dukes sad fate.

Cel:

A better fortune to our Duke Mendoza.

Onanes Mendoza.

Cornets florish.

Enter a guard.

Men.

A guard, a guard, we full of heartie teares,

For our good fathers losse,

For so we well may call him:

Who did beseech your loues for our succession,

Cannot so lightly ouer-iumpe his death,

To [...].

As leaue his woes reuengelesse: * woman of shame,

We banish thee for euer to the pla [...]e,

From whence this good man comes,

Nor permit on death vnto the body any ornament▪

But base as was thy life, depart away.

Aur.

Vngratefull.

Mendo.

Away.

Aur.

Villaine heare me.

Prepas [...]o and Guerino lead away the Dutches.

Men.

Be gone, my Lords addres [...]e to publike counsell▪

T'is most [...],

The traine of Fortune is borne vp by wit.

Away, our presence shall be sudden, haste.

All depart sauing Mendoza, Maleuole,and Pietro.

Mal.

Now you egregious diuell, ha ye murthering Polititian, how doost Duke? how doost looke now? braue Duke yfaith.

Men.

How did you kill him?

Mal.

Slatted his braines o [...]t, then sowft him in the brinie sea.

Men:

Braind him and drownd him too▪

Mal.

O t'was best, sure worke:

For he that strikes a great man, let him srtike home, or elseware, hee'le proue no man: shoulder not a huge fellow, vnlesse you may be sure to lay him in the kennell.

Men:

A most sound braine-pan.

Ile make you both Emperours.

Mal:

Make vs christians, ma [...]e vs christians.

Men:

Ile hoist ye, ye shall mount.

Mal:

To the gallowes say ye? Come: Praemium incertum petit certum scelus. How standes the Prog [...]esse?

Men.

Heere, take my ring vnto the Citadell,

Haue entrance to Maria the graue Dutches

[Page] Of banisht Altofront. Tell her we loue her:

Omit no circumstance to grace our person, (doo't.)

Mal.

Ile make an excellent pander: Duke farewell, due, adue Duke.

Exit Maleuole.

Men.

Take Maquarelle with thee; for t'is found,

None cuttes a diamon, but a diamond.

Hermite, thou art a man for me, my confessor:

O thou selected spirit, borne for my good,

Sure thou wouldst make an excellēt Elder in a deformed church.

Come, we must be inward, thou and I all one▪

Pie.

I am glad I was o [...]dained for yee.

Men.

Go to then, thou must know that Maleuole is a strange villaine: dangerous, very dangerous: you see how broad a speakes, a grosse jawde rogue, I would haue thee poison him: hee [...]s like a corne vpon my great toe, I cannot go for him: he must be kored out▪ he must: wilt doo't, ha?

Pie.

Any thing, any thing.

Men. Heart of my life, thus then to the Citadell,

Thou shalt consort with this Mal [...]uole,

There being at supper, poison him:

It shall be l [...]id vpon Maria, who yeelds loue, or dies:

Sk [...]d quicke like lightning.

Pie.

"Good deedes crawle, but mischiefe flies.

Enter Maleuole.

Exit Pietro.

Mal.

Your diuelships [...]ing haz no vertue, the buffe-captaine, the sallo-westfalian gamon-faced zaza cries, stand out must haue a stiffer warrant, or no passe into the Castle of Comfort.

Men:

Command our suddaine Letter: not enter? shat, what place is there in Genoa, but thou shalt, into my heart, into my very heart: come, lets loue, we must loue, we two▪ so [...]le and body.

Mal.

How didst like the Hermite? a strange Hermite sirrah.

Men.

A dangerous fellow, very perilcus: he must die.

Mal.

I, he must die.

Men.

Thoust kil' him: we are wise, we must be wise.

Mal.

And prouident.

Men.

Yea p [...]ouident; beware an hypocrite.

A Church man once corrupted▪ oh auoide

shootes vnder his belly.

A fellow that makes Religion his stawking horse,

[Page] He breedes a plague: thou shalt poison him.

Mal.

Ho, t [...]is wondrous necessary: how?

Men.

You both go ioyntly to the Citadell,

There sup there poision him: and Maria,

Because shee is our opposite, shall beare

The sad suspect, on which she dies, or loues vs.

Mal:

I runne.

Exit Maleuole.

Men.

We that are great, our sole selfe good still moues vs.

They shall die both, for their deserts craues more

Than we can recompence, their presence still

Imbraides our fortunes with beholdingnesse,

Which weabhorre like deede, not doer: then conclude,

They liue not to cry out ingratitude.

One sticke burnes tother steele cuts steele alone:

T'is good trust few, but O, t'is best trust none.

Exit Mendoza.

SCENA QVARTA.

Enter Maleuole and Pietro still disguised, at seuerall doores.

Mal:

How do you? how doost Duke?

Piet:

O let the last day fall, drop, drop on our cursed heads;

Let heauen vncla [...]pe it selfe, vomit forth flames.

Mal:

O do no [...] rand, do not turne plaier, there's more of them than can well liue one by another alreadie.

Wh [...]t, art an infidell still?

Pie:

I am amazde, strucke in a swowne with wonder: I am commanded to poison thee.

Mal:

I am commanded to poison thee at supper.

Pie.

At supper?

Mal.

In the Citadell.

Piet.

In the Citadell?

Mal.

Crosse capers, trickes, truth a heauen, hee would discharge vs as boyes do elderne gunnes, one pellet to stricke out another: of what faith art now?

Pietro

All is damnation, wickednes extreame, there is no faith in man.

Men.

In none but vsurers and brokers, they deceiue no man, men take vm for blood-suckers, and so they are: now God deliuer me from my friends.

Piet.

Thy friends?

[Page]Maleu.

Yes, from my friends, for from mine enemies ile deliuer my selfe. O, cutte-throate friendship is the ranckest vilanie: Marke this Mendoza, marke him for a villaine; but heauen will send a plague vpon him for a rogue.

Pietro

O world!

Mal.

World! Tis the only region of death, the greatest shop of the Diuell, the cruelst prison of men, out of the which none passe without paying their dearest breath for a fee, theres nothing perfect in it, but extreame extreame calamitie, such as comes yonder.

SCENA QVINTA.

Enter Aurelia, two Holberts before, and twoo after, supported by Celso and Ferrard, Aurelia in base mourning attire.

Aur.

To banishment, ledde on to banishment.

Pietro

Lady, the blessednesse of repentance to you.

Aur.

Why? why? I can desire nothing but death, nor deserue any thing but hell.

If heauen should giue sufficiencie of grace

To cleere my soule, it would make heauen gracelesse:

My sinnes would make the stocke of mercie poore;

O they would tire heauens goodnes to reclaim [...] theme

Iudgement is iust yet from that vast villane:

But sure he shall not misse sad punishment

Fore he shall rule▪ On to my cell of shame.

Pietro

My cell tis Lady, where insteede of maskes,

Musicke, tilts, tournies, and such court like shewes,

The hollow murmure of the checklesse windes

Shall groane againe, whilst the vnquiet sea

Shakes the whole rocke with foamy battery:

There Vsherlesse the ayre comes in and out:

The rheumy vault will force your eyes to weepe,

Whilst you behold true desolation:

A rocky barrennesse shall pierce your eyes,

Where all at once one reaches where he stands,

With browes the roofe, both walles with both his handes.

Aurelia

It is too good, blessed spirite of my Lord,

O in what orbe so ere thy soule is throand,

[Page] Beholde me worthily most miserable:

O let the anguish of my contrite spirite

Intreate some reconciliation:

If not, ô ioy, triumph in my iust griefe,

Death is the end of woes, and teares reliefe.

Pietro

Belike your Lord not lou'd you, was vnkinde.

Aurelia

O heauen!

As the soule lou'd the body, so lou'd he,

Twas death to him to part my presence,

Heauen to see me pleased:

Yet I, like to a wretch giuen or'e to hell,

Brake all the sacred rites of marriage,

To clippe a base vngentle faithlesse villaine.

O God, a very Pagan reprobate:

What should I say? vngratefull, throwes me out,

For whom I lost soule, body, fame and honor:

But tis most fit; why should a better fate

Attend on any, who forsake chaste sheetes,

Fly the embrace of a deuoted heart,

Ioynd by a solemne vow fore God and man,

To taste the brackish bloud of beastly lust,

In an adulterous touch? ô rauenous immodesty,

Insatiate impudence of appetite;

Looke, heeres your end, for marke what sap in dust,

What sinne in good, euen so much lou [...] in lust:

Ioy to thy ghost, sweete Lord, pardon to me.

Celso

Tis the dukes pleasure this night you rest in court.

Aur:

Soule lurke in shades, run shame from brightsome skies, In night the blinde man misseth not his eyes.

exit

Mal.

Doe not weepe▪ kinde cuckolde, take comfort man, thy betters haue beene Beccoes: Agamemnon Emperour of all the merry Greekes that tickeled all the true Troyans, was a Cornuto: Prince Arthur that cut off twelue Kings beardes, was a Cornuto: Hercules, whose backe bore vp heauen, and got forty wenches with childe in one night.

Pietro

Nay twas fifty.

Maleu.

Faith fortie's enow a conscience, yet was a Corn [...]to: patience, mischiefe growes prowde, be wise.

Pietro

Thou pinchest too deepe, arte too keene vpon me.

[Page]Mal.

Tut, a pittifull Surgeon makes a dangerous sore. Ile tent thee to the ground. Thinkest Ile sustaine my selfe by flattering thee, because thou art a Prince? I had rather followe a drunkard, and hue by licking vp his vomite, than by seruile flattery.

Pietro

Yet great men ha doon't.

Mal.

Gr [...]at slaues feare better than loue, borne naturally for a coale-basket, though the common vsher of Princes presence fortune hath blindely giuen them better place, I am vowed to be thy affliction.

Pietro

Prethee be, I loue much misery, and be thou sonne to me.

Enter Bilioso.

Mal.

Because you are an vsurping Duke.

to Bilioso

Your Lordship's well returnde from Florence.

Bil.

Well returnde, I praise my horse.

Mal.

What newes from the Florentines?

Bilioso

I will conceale the great Dukes pleasure, onely this was his charge, his pleasure is, that his daughter die, Duke Pietro be banished, for ban [...]shing his blouds dishonour, and that Duke Altofront be re-accepted: this is all, but I heare Duke Pietro is dead.

Mal.

I, and Mendoza is Duke, what will you do?

Bilioso

Is Mendeza strongest?

Mal.

Yet he is.

Bilioso

Then yet Ile holde with him.

Mal.

But if that A [...]tofrom should turne strait againe?

Bilioso

Why then I would turne strait againe.

Tis good runne still with him that haz most might:

I had rather stand with wrong, than fall with right.

Mal.

What religion wil you be of now?

Bilt.

Of the Dukes religion, when I know what it is▪

Mal.

O Hercules!

Bili.

Hercules? Hercules was the sonne of Iupiter and Alkmena.

Mal.

Your lordship is a very wittall.

Bilios.

Wittall?

Mal.

I, all-wit.

Bilios.

Amphitrio was a cuckolde.

Mal.

Your lordship sweats, your yong Lady will gette you a cloth for your olde worships browes.

Exit Biliosa.

[Page] Heeres a fellow to be damned, this is his inuiolable maxime, (flatter the greatest, and oppresse the least:) a whoreson flesh-fly, [...]at still gnawes vpon the leane gawld backes.

Pietro

Why doost then salute him?

Mal:

Yfaith as bawdes goe to church, for fashion sake: come, be not confounded, thou arte but in danger to loose a dukedome: thinke this: This earth is the only graue and Golgotha wherein all things that liue must rot: tis but the draught wherein the heauenly bodies discharge their corruption, the very muckhill on which the sublunarie orbes cast their excrements: man is the slime of this dongue [...]pit, and Princes are the governors of these men: for, for our soules, they are as free as Emperours, all of one peece, there goes but a paire of sheeres betwixt an Emperor and the sonne of a bagge piper, onely the dying, dressing, pressing, glossing makes the difference: now what arte thou like to loose?

A Iaylers office to keepe men in bonds,

Whilst toyle and trea [...]on, all lifes good confounds.

Pie.

I heere renounce for euer regencie:

O Altofront, I wrong thee to supplant thy right:

To trip thy heele [...] vp with a divelish slight.

For which I now from throne am throwne, world tricks abiure:

For vengeance though't comes slow, yet it comes sure.

O I am changde; for heerefore the dread power,

In true contrition! doe dedicate,

My breath to solitarie holinesse,

My lippes to praier, and my breasts care shall be,

Restoring Altofront to regencie.

Mal.

Thy vowes are heard, and we accept thy faith.

Enter Ferneze and Celso.

vndisguiseth himselfe.

Altofront, Ferneze, Celso, Pietro.

Banish amazeme [...]t; co [...]e, we foure must stand full shocke of Fortune, be not so wonder-st [...]icken.

Pietro

Dooth Ferneze liue?

Ferneze

For your pardon.

Pietro

Pa [...]don and loue, giue leaue to recollect

My thoughts disperst in wilde aston [...]shment:

My vowe [...] stand fi [...]t in heauen, and from hence

I craue all loue and p [...]rdon.

Mal.

Who doubts of prouidence,

[Page] That sees this change, a heartie faith to all:

He needes must rise, can no lower fall:

For still impetuous vicissitude

Towzeth the world, then let no maze intrude

Vpon your spirits: wonder not I rise;

For who can sincke, that close can temporize?

The time growes ripe for action, Ile detect

My priuatst plot; left ignorance feare suspect:

Lets close to counsell, leaue the rest to fate,

Mature discretion is the life of state.

Exeunt.

ACTVS V.

SCENA I.

Enter Bilioso and Passarello.

Bili.

Foole, how doost thou like my calfe in a long stocking?

Passar.

An [...]xcellent calfe my Lord.

Bili.

This calfe hath beene a reueller this twenty yeere, when monsieur Gundi lay heere Ambassadour, I could have carried a Lady vp and downe at armes end in a platter; and I can tell you there were those at that time, who to trie the str [...]ngth of a mans backe, and his arme, would be coisterd: I have measured calues with most of the pallace, and they come nothing neere m [...]e; besides, I thinke there be not many armours in the Arsinall will fitte me, especially for the head-pe [...]ce. Ile tell thee.

Passar.

What my Lord?

Bili.

I can eate stewd broath as it comes seething off the fire; or a custard, as it comes reeking out of the oven; and I thinke there are not many Lordes can doe it: a good pomander alittle decayed in the scent, but six graines of muske grownd with rosewater, and temperd with alittle ciuit, shall fetch her againe presently.

Passar.

O I, as a bawde with aqua vitae.

Bilioso

And what doost thou raile vppon the Ladies as thou wert wont?

Passar.

I were better roast a liue [...]at, and might doe it with more safety. I am as secret to thieues as their painting: theres Maquarelle oldest bawde, and a perpetuall beggar. Did you never heare of her ticke to be knowne in the Cittie?

Bilioso

Neuer.

[Page]Pasa.

Why she gets all the Picter-makers to draw her picture, when they haue done, she most courtly findes fault with them one after another, and neuer fetcheth them: they in reuenge of this, execute her in Pictures as they doe in Germanie, and hang her in their shops: by this meanes is she better knowne to the stinkards, then if shee had beene fiue times carted.

Bilios.

Fore God and excellent policie.

Pasa.

Are there any Reuels to night my Lord.

Bilios.

Yes.

Pas.

Good my Lord giue me leaue to breake a fellows pate that hath abused me.

Bilio.

Whose pate.

Pasa.

Young Ferrard my Lord.

Belis.

Take heed hee's very valiant, I haue knowne him fight eight quarrels in fiue dayes, beleeue it.

Pasa.

O is he so great a quarrelle? why then hees an arrant coward.

Bali.

How prooue you that?

Pasa.

Why thus, He that quarrels seekes to fight; and he that [...] to fight, seekes to dye; and he that seek [...] to dye, seekes neuer to fight more; and he that will quarrell and seekes meanes neuer to answer a man more, I thinke hees a [...]oward.

Bili.

Thou canst prooue any thing.

Pas.

Any thing but a ritch knaue, for I can flatter no man.

Bili.

Well be not drunke good foole, I shall see you anon in the presence.

Exit.

Enter Maleuole and Maquarelle, at seuerall doores opposite, singing.

Mal.

The Dutchm [...]n for a drunkard.

Maq.

The Daue for golden lockes:

Mal.

The Irishman for Vsquebath.

Maq.

The Frenchman for the ()

Mal.

O thou art a blessed creature, had I a modest woman to conceale, I would put her to thy custodie, for no reasonable creature would euer suspect her to be in thy company: ha, [Page] thou art a melodious Maquerelle, thou picture of a woman, and substance of a beast.

Enter Pasarello.

Maque.

O foole will ye be ready anon to go with me to the reuels; the hal will be so pestred anone.

Pasarello.

I as the countrie is with Atturnies.

Male.

What hast thou there foole.

Pasar.

Wine, I haue learnt to drink since I went with my Lord Embassador, Ile drinke to the health of madam maquerelle.

Male.

why thou wast wont to raile vppon her.

Pasar.

I but since I borrow'd money of her.

Ile drinke to her health now as gentlemen visit brokers.

Or as knights send venison to the Citty.

Eather to take vp more money, or to procure longer forbearance.

Male.

Giue me the boule I drinke a health to Altofront out deposed duke.

Pasar.

Ile take it so [...]now ile begin a health to madam Maquerelle.

Male.

Pew I will not pledge her.

Pasar.

Why I pledgd your Lord.

Mal.

I care not.

Pasar.

Not pledge madam Maquerelle, why then will I spew vp your Lord againe with this fooles finger.

Male.

Hould Ile take it.

Maque.

Now thou hast drunke my health; foole I am friends with thee.

Pasar.

Art? art?

When Griffon saw the reconciled que ane,

offeringe about his neck her armes to cast:

He threw of sword and hartes malignant streame,

and louely her below the loynes imbrast.

adew madam Maqueaelle.

Exit Pasarello.

Mal.

And how doost thou thinke a this transformation of state now.

Maq.

Verily very well, for we women alwayes note, the [Page] falling of the one, is the rising of the other: some must be fatt, some must be leane, some must be fooles, and some must be Lordes, some must be knaues, and some must be officers: some must be beggars, some must be Knights: some must be cuckoldes, and some must be cittizens: as for example, I haue two court dogges the most fawning curres, the one called Watch, th'other Catch: now I, like lady Fortune, sometimes loue this dogge, somtimes raise that dogge, sometimes fauour Watch, most commonly fancic Catch: now that dogge which I fauour I feede, and hee's so rauenous, that what I giue he neuer chawes it, gulpes it downe whole, without any relish of what he haz, but with a greedy expectation of what he shall haue: the other dogge, now:

Mal.

No more dog, sweete Maquarelle, no more dog: and what hope hast thou of the dutchesse Maria, will shee stoope to the Dukes lewre, will she cowe think [...]t?

Maq.

Let mee see, where's the signe now? ha ye ere a calender, where's the signe trow you.

Maq.

Signe! why is there any moment in that?

Maq.

O! beleeue me a most secret power, looke yee a Chaldean or an Assyrian, I am sure t'was a most sweete lew tolde me, court any woman in the right signe, you shall not misse: but you must take her in the right vaine then: as when the signe is in Pisces, a Fishmongers wife is very sociable: in Cancer, a Precisians wife is very flexible: in Capricorne, a Merchants wife hardly holdes out: in Libra, a Lawyers wife is very tractable, especially, if her husband bee at the terme: onely in Scorpio t'is very dangerous medling: haz the Duke sent any iewel, any rich stones?

Enter Captaine.

Mal.

I, I thinke those are the best signes to take a lady in. By your fauour signeor, I must discourse with the Lady Maria, Altofronts dutches: I must enter for the Duke.

Cap.

Shee heere shall giue you enterview: I receiued the guardship of this Citadell from the good Altofront, and for [Page] his vse Ile keep't till I am of no vse.

Mal.

Wilt thou? O heauens, that a christian should be found in a Buffe jerkin! captaine Conscience: I loue thee Captaine.

Exit Captaine.

We attend,& what hope hast thou of this Dutches easinesse?

Maq.

T'will goe hard, shee was a colde creature euer, she hated monkies, fooles, jeasters, & gentlemen-vshers extreamly: shee had the vilde trick on't, not onely to be truely modestly honourable in her owne co [...]science, but she would auoyde the least wanton carriage that might-incurre suspect, as God blesse me, she had almost brought bed pressing out of fashion: I could scarse get a fine for the lease of a Ladies fauour once in a fortnight.

Mal.

Now in the name of immodesty, how many maiden-heads hast thou brought to the block?

Maq.

Let me see: heauen forgiue vs our misdeeds:

Heere's the Dutchesse.

SCENA SECVNDA.

Enter Maria and Captaine.

Mal.

God blesse thee Lady.

Mar.

Out of thy company.

Mal.

We haue brought thee tender of a husband.

Mar.

I hope I haue one already.

Maq.

Nay, by mine honour Madam, as good ha nere a husband, as a banisht husband, hee's in an other world now. Ile tell yee Lady, I haue heard of a sect that maintained, when the husband was a sleepe, the wife might lawfully entertaine another man: for then her husband was as dead, much more when he is banished.

Mar.

Vnhonest creature!

Maq.

Pish, honesty is but an art to seeme so: pray yee whats honesty? whats constancy? but fables fained, odde old fooles chat, deuisde by iealous fooles, to wrong our liberty.

Mal.

Mully, he that loues thee, is a Duke, Mendoza, he will maintaine thee royally, loue thee ardently, defend thee powerfully, [Page] marry thee sumptuously, & keep thee in despite of Rosciclere or Dōzel del Phoebo: thers jewels, if thou wilt, so; if not, so.

Mar.

Captaine, for Gods sake saue poore wretchednes

From tyranny of lustfull insolence:

Inforce me in the deepest dungeon dwell

Rather then heere, heere round about is hell.

O my dear'st Altofront, where ere thou breath,

Let my soule sincke into the shades beneath,

Before I staine thine honor, this thou hast;

And long as I can die, I will liue chaste,

Mal.

Gainst him that can inforce, how vaine is striefe?

Mar.

She that can be enforc'd haz nere a knife?

She that through force her limbes with lust enroules,

Wants Cleopatres aspes and Portiaes coales.

God amend you.

Exit with Captaine.

Mal.

Now the feare of the diuell for euer goe with thee. Marquerelle I tell thee, I haue found an honest woman faith I perceiue when all is done, there is of women, as of all other things: some good, most bad: some saints, some-sinners: for as now adaies, no Courtier but haz his mis [...]ris, no Captaine but haz his cockatrice, no Cuckold but haz his hornes, & no foole but haz his feather: euen so, no womā but haz her weakenes & feather too, no sex but haz his: I can hunt the letter no farder: ô God, how loathsome this toying is to me, that a duke should be forc'd to foole it: well, Stultorum plena sunt omnia, better play the foole Lord, then be the foole Lord: now, where's your slights Madam Maquarelle?

Maq.

Why, are yee ignorant that tis sed, a squemish affected nicences is naturall to women, and that the excuse of their yeelding, is onely (forsooth) the difficult obtaining. You must put her too't: women are flaxe, and will fire in a moment.

Mal.

Why, was the flax put into thy mouth, & yet thou? thou set fire? thou enflame her?

Maq.

Marry, but Ile tell yee now, you were too hot.

Mal.

The fitter to haue enflamed the flaxwoman.

Maq.

You were to boisterous, spleeny, for indeede.

Mal.

Go, go, thou art a weake pandresse, now I see.

Sooner earths fire heauen it selfe shall waste,

Then all with heate can melt a minde that's chaste.

[Page] Go thou the Dukes lime-twig, Ile make the Duke turne thee out of thine office. what, not get one touch of hope, & had her at such aduantage.

Maq.

Now a my conscience, now I thinke in my discretion, we did not take her in the right signe, the bloud was not in the true veine, sure.

Exit

Enter Bilioso.

Bili.

Make way there the Duke returnes from the inthronmēt Maleuole.

Mal

Out roage.

Bil.

Maleuole.

Mal.

Hence yee grosse iawd pessantly, out go.

Bil.

Nay sweete Maleuole, since my returne, I heare you are become the thinge I alwayes prophesied would be, an advanced virtue, a worthely imployed faithfulnesse a man a grace, deere friend.

Come; what? Si quoties peccant homines. If as often as courtiers play the knaues honest men should be angrie. Why looke yee, we must collouge sometimes, forsweare sometimes.

Mal.

Be damd somtimes.

Bil.

Right Nemo omnibus horis sapit. No man can be honest at all howers. Necessitie often depraues vertue.

Mal.

I will commend thee to the Duke.

Bil.

Do let vs be friends man.

Mal.

And knaues man.

Bil.

Right, let vs prosper and purchase, our lordships shall liue and our knauery be forgotten.

Mal.

He that by any wayes gets riches his meanes neuer shames him.

Bil.

True.

Mal.

For impudencie and faithlesnes are the maine stayes to greatnesse.

Bil.

By the Lord thou art a profound ladd.

Mal.

By the Lord thou art a perfect knaue. out yee antient damnatiō.

Bil.

Peace, peace, and thou wilt not be a freinde to me as I am a knaue, be not a knaue to me as I am thy friend and disclose me, peace Cornets.

SCENA TERTIA.

Enter Prepasso and Ferrard, tvvo pages vvith lights, Celso and Equato, Mendozo i [...] Dukes roabs. Biltoso and Guerrino. Ex [...]unt all sauing Maleuole.

[Page]Mend.

On on, leaue vs leaue vs: stay, wher is the Hermet?

Mal.

With Duke Pietro, with Duke Pietro.

Men.

Is he dead? is he poysoned?

Mal.

Dead as the Duke is,

Mend.

Good, excellent: he will not blabbe, securenes liues in secresie, come hether, come hether.

Mal.

Thou hast a certaine strong villanous sent about thee, my nature cannot indure.

Men.

Sent man? what returnes Maria? what answere to our sute?

Mal.

Cold frostie, she is obstinate,

Mend.

Then shees but dead, tis resolute, she dies,

Blacke deede onely through blacke deede, safely fles.

Mal.

Pew, per scelera semper sceleribus tutum est iter.

Mend.

What art a scholler? art a polititian? sure thou art an arrand knaue.

Mal.

Who I? I haue bene twice an vnder sherife, man.

Enter Maleuole and Mendoza:

Mend.

Hast bin with Maria.

Male.

As your scriuener to your vsurer I haue delt about taking of this commoditie, but shes could-frosty.

well I will go raile vpon some great man, that I may purchase the bastinado, or else go marry some rich Genoan lady and instantly go trauaile.

Mend.

Trauaile when thou art married.

Mal.

I tis your yong Lords fashion to do so, though he was so lafy being a batcheller, that he would neuer trauaile so farr as the Vniuersity yet when he married her tales of, and Catsoe for Ingland.

Mend.

And why for Ingland.

Mal.

Because there is no Prothelhouses there.

Mend.

Nor Curtisans.

Mal.

Neather; your whore went downe with the stewes and your punke came vp with your Puritan.

Men.

Canst thou impoyson? canst thou impoyson?

Mal.

Excellently, no lew, Potecary, or Politian better▪ looke ye, her's a box, whō wouldst thou impoison? her's a box which opened, & the fume taken vp in condites, thorow which the braine purges it self, doth instantly for 12. houres space, bind vp all shew of li [...]e in a deep cesles sleep: heres another which being [Page] opened vnder the sleepers nose, choaks al the power of life, kils him sodainely.

Enter Cels.

Men.

Ile try experiments,See [...] to poyso [...] Maleuole. tis good not to be deceiued: so, so, Catzo.

Who would feare that may destroy, death hath no teeth, or tong,

And he thats great, to him are slaues

Shame, Murder, fame and wrong.

Celzo?

Cel.

My honored Lord.

Men.

The good Maleuole, that plain-tongued man, alas, is dead on sodaine wondrous strangely, he held in our esteeme good place. Celso see him buried, see him buried.

Cel.

I shall obserue yee.

Men.

And Celso, prethee let it be thy care to night

To haue some prety shew, to solemnize

Our high instalement, some musike, maskery:

Weele giue faire entertaine vnto Maria

The Duches to the banisht Altofront:

Thou shalt conduct her from the Citadell

Vnto the Pallace, thinke on some Maskery,

Cel.

Of what shape, [...]weete Lord?

Men.

Why shape? why any quicke done fiction,

As some braue spirits of the Genoan Dukes,

To come out of Elizium forfooth,

Led in by Mercury, to gratulate

Our happy fortune, [...]ome such any thing, some far [...]et tricke, good for Ladies, some stale toy or other, no matter so't bee of our deuising.

Do thou prep [...]r't, tis but for a fashion sake,

Feare not, it shall be grac'd man, it shall take.

Cel.

All seruice.

Men.

All thankes, our hand shall not be [...] to thee farewell.

Now is my trechery secure, nor can we fall:

Mischiefe that prospers men do vertue call,

Ile trust no man, he that by trickes gets wreathes,

Keepes them with steele, no man securely breathes,

Out of deserued ranckes the crowde will mutter, foole:

Who cannot beare with spite, he cannot rule,

The chiefest secret for a man of state,

Is, to liue sensles of a strenghles hate.

[Page]Mal.

Death of the damn'd thiefe:Starts vp and speaks. Ile make one i'the maske, thou shalt ha some

Braue spirits of the antique Dukes.

Cel.

My Lord, what strange dilusion?

Mal.

Most happy, deere Celso, poisond with an empty box? Ile giue thee all anone: my [...]ady comes to court, there is a whurle of fate comes tumbling on, the Castles captaine stands for me, the people pray for me, and the great leader of the iust stands for me: then courage Celso.

For no disastrous chance can euer moue him,

That leaueth nothing but a God aboue him.

Enter Prepasso and Bilioso, two pages before them Maquar: Beancha and Emilia.

Bil.

Make roome there roome for the Ladies: why gentlemen, will not ye suffer the Ladies to be entred in the great chamber? why gallants? and you sir, to droppe your Torch where the beauties must sit too,

Pre.

And there's a great fellow playes the knaue, why dost not str [...]ke him?

Bil.

Let him play the knaue a Gods name, thinkst thou I haue no more wit then to strike a great fellow: the musike. more lights, reueling, scaffolds: do you heare? let there bee othes enow readie at the doore, sweare out the diuell himself, Lets leaue the Ladies, and go see if the Lords bee readie for them.

All saue the Ladies depart.

Maq.

And by my troth Beauties, why do you not put you into the fashion, this is a stale cut, you must come in fashion: looke ye, you must be all felt, fealt and feather, a fealt vpon your bare haire: looke ye, these tiring thinges are iustly out of request now: and do ye heare? you must weare falling bands, you must come into the falling fashion: there is such a deale a pinning these ruffes, when the fine cleane fall is worth all: and a gen, if you should chance to take a nap in the afternoone, your falling band requires no poting sticke to recouer his forme beleeue me, no fashion to the falling I say.

Bean.

And is not sinnior S. Andrew a gallant fellow now.

Maq.

By my maiden-head la, honour and he agrees aswell together as a satten sute and wollen stockings.

Emil.

But is not Marshall Make-rome my seruant in reuersion, [Page] a proper gentleman.

Maq.

Yes in reuersion as he had his office, as in truth he hath all things in reuersion: hee haz his Mistris in reuersion, his cloathes in reuersion, his wit in reuersion: and indeede is a suter to me, for my dogge in reuersion: but in good verity la, he is as proper a gentleman in reuersion as: and indeede, as fine a man as may be, hauing a red beard and a pair of wrapt legges.

Bean.

But I saith I am most monstrously in loue with count Quidlibet in Quodlibet, is he not a pretty dapper vnydle gallant?

Maq.

He is euen one of the most busy fingered Lordes, he will put the beauties to the squeake most hiddeously.

Bil:

Roome, make a lane there, the Duke is entring [...]stand handsomely for beauties sake, take vp the Ladyes there. So, cornets, cornets.

SCENA QVARTA.

Enter Prepasso ioynes to Bilioso, two pages and lights, Ferrard, Mendozo, at the other doore two pages with lights, and the Captaine leading in Maria, the Duke meetes Maria, and clo, seth with her, the rest fall backe.

Men.

Madam, with gentle eare receiue my sute,

A kindomes safety should o're paize flight rites,

Marriage is meerely Natures policy:

Then, since vnlesse our royall beds be ioynd,

Danger and ciuill tumult frights the state.

Be wise as you are fair, giue way to fate.

Mar.

What wouldst thou, thou affiction to our house?

Thou euer diuell, twas thou that banishedst my truely nobleLord.

Men:

I?

Mar.

I, by thy plottes, by thy blacke stratagems,

Twelue Moones haue suffred change since I beheld

The loued presence of my deerest Lord.

O thou far worse than death, he parts but soule

From a weake body: but thou, soule from soule

Disseuerest, that which Gods owne hand did knit.

Thou scant of honor, full of diuelish wit.

Men.

Weele checke your too intemperate lauishnesse [Page] I can will.

Mar.

What Canst?

Men.

Go to, in banishment thy husband dies.

Mar.

He euer is at home that's euer wise,

Men.

Youst neuer meete more, reason should loue controuble,

Mar.

Not meete?

Shee that deere loues, her loue's still in her soule.

Men

You are but a woman Lady, you must yeeld,

Mar.

O saue me thou innated bashfulnes,

Thou onely ornament of womans modesty.

Men.

Modesty, Death Ile torment thee,

Mar,

Do, vrge all torments, all afflictions trie,

Ile die my Lords, as long as I can die,

Mend.

Thou obstinate, thou shalt die. Captaine, that Ladies

life is forteified to Iustice, we haue axamined her,

And we do finde, she hath impoysoned

The reuerend Hermi [...]: therefore we commaund

Seuerest custodie. Nay, if youle dooes no good,

Youst dooes no harme, a Tirants peace is bloud.

Mar.

O thou art mercifull, O gratious diuell,

Rather by much let me condemned be

For seeming murder, than be damn'd for thee.

Ile mourne no more, come girt my browes with floures,

Reu [...]l and daunce; soule, now thy wish thou hast,

Die like a Bride, poore heart thou shalt die chast.

Enter Aur [...]lia in mourning habit.

Aur.

Life is a frost of coulde felicitie,

And death the thaw of all our vanity,

Wast not an honest Priest that wrote so?

Men.

Who let her in?

Bili.

Forbeare.

Pre.

Forbear [...]

Aur:

Alas calamity, is euery where.

Sad miserie dispight your double doores,

Will enter euen in court.

Bili.

Peace.

Aur.

I ha done? one word, take heede, I ha done.

Enter Mercurie with lowde musicke.

Mer.

Cillenian Mercurie, the God of ghosts,

From gloomie shades that spread the lower coasts,

Calls soure high samed Genoan Dukes to come

[Page] And make this presence their Elizium:

To passe away this high triumphall night,

With song and daunces, courts more soft delight.

Aur.

Are you God of ghosts, I haue a sute depending in hell betwixt me and my conscience, I would faine haue thee helpe me to an aduocate.

Bil.

Mercurie shall be your lawyer, Lady.

Aur.

Nay faith, Mercurie haz too good a face, to be a right lawyer.

Pre.

Peace, forbeare: Mercurie presents the maske.

Cornets: The Song to the Cornets, which playing, the maske enters. Maleuole, Pe [...]ro, Ferneze, and Celso in white robes, with Dukes Crownes vpon lawrell, wreathes, pistolets and short swords vnder their robes.

Men.

Celso, Celso, count Maria for our loue; Lady, be gratious, yet grace.

*Mar.

With me Sir?Maleuole takes his wife to daunce.

Mal.

Yes, more loued then my breath:

With you Ile dance.

Mar.

Why then you dance with death,

But come Sir, I was nere more apt to mirth.

Death giues eternity a glorious breath:

O, to die honourd, who would feare to die.

Mal.

They die in feare, who liue in villany.

Mend.

Yes beleeue him Lady, and be rulde by him.

*Pietro.

Madam,

Pietro taks his wife Aurelia to da [...]ce.

with me?

Aur.

Wouldst then be miserable?

Pietro.

I neede not wish.

Aur.

O yet forbeare my hand, away, fly, fly,

O seeke not her, that onely seekes to die.

Pietro.

Poore loued soule.

Aur.

What, wouldst court misery?

Pietro.

Yes.

Aur.

Sheele come too soone, O my grieu'd heart!

Pietro.

Lady, ha done, ha done.

Come, lets dance, be once from sorrow free.

Aur.

Art a sad man.

[Page]Pietro.

Yes sweet.

Aur.

Then weele agree.

Ferneze takes Maquerelle. and Celso Beancha: then the Cornets sound the measure, one change and rest.

Fer.

Beleeue it Lady,To Beancha. shall I sweare, let me injoy you in priuate, and Ile mary you by my soule.

Bean.

I had rather you would sweare by your body: I thinke that would proue the more regarded othe with you.

Fer.

Ile sweare by them both, to please you.

Bean.

O, dam them not both to please me, for Gods sake.

Fer.

[...]a [...]th, sweet creature, let me injoy you to night, and Ile mary you to morow fortnight, by my troth la.

Maq.

On his troth la, beleeue him not, that kinde of cunnica [...]ching is as stale as sir Oliuer Anchoues persumde ierken: promise of matrimony by a yong gallant, to bring a virgin Lady into a fooles paradise: make her a great woman, and then cast her off: tis as common as naturall to a Courtier, as ielosie to a Citizen, gluttony ot a Puritan, wisdome to an Alderman, pride to a Tayler, or an empty handbasket to one of these sixpeny damnations: of his troth la, beleeue him not, traps to catch polecats.

Mal.

Keepe your face constant,To Mar [...]a▪ let no suddaine passion speake in your eies.

Mar.

O my Altofront.

Pietro.

A tyrants jelosies

are very nimble, you receiue it all.

Aur.

My heart, though not my knees, doth vmbly fall,

Aurelia to Pietro.

Lowe as the earth to thee.

Pietro.

Peace, next change, no words.

Mar.

Speach to such, ay, O what will affordes?

Cornets sound the measure ouer againe: which danced they vnmaske.

Men.

Maleuole?

They enuiron Mendozo, bending their Pistolles on him.

Mal.

No.

Men.

Altofront, Duke Pietro, Ferneze. hah?

All.

Duke Altofront, Duke Altofront.

Cornets a florish.

Men.

Are we surprizde? what strange delusions mo [...]ke Our sences, do I dreame? or haue I dreamt.

They seize vpon Mendozo.

This two dayes space? where am I?

[Page]Mal.

Where an arch-vilaine is.

Men.

O lend me breath, till I am fit to die.

For peace with heauen, for your owne soules sake,

Vouchsafe me life.

Pietro.

Ignoble villaine, whom neither heauen nor hell, goodnesse of God or man, could once make good.

Mal.

Base treacherous wretch, what grace canst thou expect That [...] growne impudent in gracel [...]snesse.

Men.

O life!

Mal.

Slaue, take thy life.

wert thou defenced through blood and woundes,

the sternest horror of a ciuell fight

Would I atcheeue thee: but prostrat at my feete

Iscorne to hurt thee: itis the heart of slaues

That daines to triumph ouer peasants graues.

For such thou art, since birth doth neere inrole

A man mong monarkes, but a glorious soule.

O I haue seene strange accidents of state,

The flatterer like the Iuy clip the Oke,

And wast it to the hart: lust so confirm'd

That the black act of sinne it selfe not shamd

To be termde Courtship.

O they that are as great as be their sinnes,

Let them remember that th'inconstant people,

Loue many men meerely for their faces,

And outward shewes: and they do couet more

To haue a sight of these then of their vertues,

Yet thus much let the great ones still conceale,

When they obserue not Heauens imposd conditions,

They are no men, but forfeit their commissions.

Maque.

O good my Lord, I have liued in the Court this twenty yeare, they that haue beene olde Courtiers and come to liue in the Cittie, they are spighted at and thrust to the wals like Apricokes, good my Lord.

Bili.

My Lord, I did know your Lordship in this disguise, you heard me euer say if Altofront did returne I would stand for him: besides twas your Lordships pleasure to call me Wittol and Cuckold; you must not thinke but that I knew you I would haue put it vp so patiently.

[Page] § You ore-ioy'd spirits wipe your long wet eyes,

To Pietro & Aurelia.

Hence with this man: an Eagle takes not flies.

kicks out Mend.

You to your vowes:

To Pietro & Aurelia.

And thou vnto the suburbs.

To Maq.

To Bilioso.

You to my worst frend I would hardly giue:

Thou art a perfect olde knaue, all pleased liue.

To Celso & the Captain.

You two vnto my breast: thou to my hart.

To Maria.

The rest of idle actors idly part,

And as for me I here as [...]ume my right,

To which I hope all's pleasd: to all goodnight.

Cornets a florish.

Exeunt omnes.

FINIS.

An imperfect Ode, being but one staffe, spoken by the Prologue

TO wreast each hurtlesse thought to priuate sence,

Is the soule vse of ill bred Impudence:

Imm [...]dest censure now growes wilde,

all ouer-running.

Let Innocence be nere so chast,

Yet at the last

She is defild.

With too nice-brained cunning.

O you of fairer soule

controule

With an Herculean arme

this harme:

And once teach all olde freedome of a pen,

Which still must write of fooles, whilst writes of men.

Information about this book

Title statement

The malcontent. Augmented by Marston. With the additions played by the Kings Maiesties servants. Written by Ihon Webster. 1604

Marston, John, 1575?-1634.

Edition statement

1604

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2003-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A07074

ID [STC]

STC 17481

ID [STC]

ESTC S112291

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99847546

ID [PROQUEST]

99847546

ID [VID]

12583

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A07074)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 12583)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 895:1)

Source

— The malcontent. Augmented by Marston. With the additions played by the Kings Maiesties servants. Written by Ihon Webster. 1604, Marston, John, 1575?-1634., Webster, John, 1580?-1625?.

Extent

[72] p.

Printed by V[alentine] S[immes] for William Aspley, and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard,. At London :: [1604]. (Partly in verse.) (The first word of the title is xylographic.) (Printer's name from STC.) (Signatures: A-I⁴.) (Running title reads: Malecontent.) (Reproduction of the original in the Folger Shakespeare Library.)

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