be admitted what The Church and Law allowes me Car. Insolent then you dare marry him Dut. Dare Let your contracted flame and malice with Columbo's rage higher than that meet us When we approach the holy place clasp'd hand In hand wee 'l break through all your force and six Our sacred vows together there Car. I knew When with as chast a brow you promis'd fair To another you are no dissembling Lady Dut. Would all your actions had no falser lights About 'em Car. Ha Dut. The people would not talk and curse so loud Car. I 'l have you chid into a blush for this Dut. Begin at home great man ther 's cause enough You turn the wrong end of the perspective Upon your crimes to drive them to a far And lesser sight but let your eys look right What giants would your pride and surfeit seem How gross your avarice eating up whole families How vast are your corruptions and abuse Of the Kings ear at which you hang a pendent Not to adorn but ulcerate while the honest Nobility like pictures in the Arras Serve only for Court-Ornament if they speak 'T is when you set their tongues which you wind up Like clocks to strike at the just hour you please Leave leave my Lord these usurpations And be what you were meant a man to cure Not let in Agues to Religion Look on the Churches wounds Car. You dare presume In your rude spleen to me to abuse the Church Dut. Alas you give false aym my Lord 't is your Ambition and Scarlet Sins that tob Her Altar of the glory and leave wounds Upon her brow which fetches grief and paleness Into her cheeks Making her troubled bosome Pant with her groanes and shroud her holy blushes Within your reverend purples Car. Will you now take breath Dut. In hope my Lord you will behold your self In a true glass and see those injust acts That so deform you and by timely cure Prevent a shame before the short haird men Do croud and call for justice I take leave Exit Car. This woman has a spirit that may rise To tame the Devils ther 's no dealing with Her angry tongue 't is action and revenge Must calm her fury were Columbo here I could resolve but Letters shall be sent To th' Army which may wake him into sense Of his rash folly or direct his spirit Some way to snatch his honour from this flame All great men know The soul of life is same Exit ACT III Enter Valeria Celinda Valeria I Did not think Celinda when I prais'd Alvarez to the Dutchess that things thus Would come about what does your Ladiship Think of Columbo now it staggers all The Court he should forsake his Mistress I Am lost with wonder yet Celind. 'T is very strange Without a spel but ther 's a fate in love I like him ne'r the worse Enter two Lords 1 Lo. Nothing but mariages and triumph now Val. What new access of joy makes you my Lord So pleasant 1 Lo. Ther 's a Packet 〈…〉 Makes the King merry we are all concernd in 't Columbo hath given the enemy a great And glorious defeat and is already Preparing to march home Col. He thriv'd the better for my prayers 2 Lo. You have been his great admirer Madam 1 Lo. The King longs to see him Val. This news exalts the Cardinal Enter Cardinal 1 Lo. He 's here He appears with discontent the Mariage With Count D'Alvarez hath a bitter tast And not worn off his palat but let us leave him Ladies We 'l to the Dutchess Exeunt manet Car. Card. He has not woon so much upon the Arragon As he has lost at home and his neglect Of what my studies had contriv'd to adde More luster to our Family by the access Of the great Dutchess fortune cools his triumph And makes me wild Enter Hernando Her My good Lord Cardinal Car. You made complaint to th' King about your General Her Not a complaint my Lord I did but satisfie Some questions o' the Kings Car. You see he thrives Without your personal valour or advice Most grave and learned in the wars Her My Lord I Envy not his fortune Car. 'T is above Your Malice and your noise not worth his anger 'T is barking gainst the moon Her More temper would Become that habit Car. The Military thing would shew some spleen I 'l blow an Army of such Wasps about The world go look your sting you left i' th' Camp Sir Enter King and Lords Her The King Exit This may be one day counted for K. All things conspire my Lord to make you fortunate Your Nephews glory Car. 'T was your cause and justice Made him victorious had he been so valiant At home he had had another conquest to Invite and bid her welcome to new wars K. You must be reconcil'd to providence my Lord I heard you had a controvercy with The Dutchess I will have you friends Car. I am not Angry K. For my sake then you shall be pleas'd And with me grace the Mariage A Churchman must shew Charity and shine With first example she 's a woman Car. You shall prescribe in all things Sir you cannot Accuse my love if I still wish my Nephew Had been so happy to be constant to Your own and my election yet my brain Cannot reach how this comes about I know My Nephew lov'd her with a near affection Enter Hernando K. He 'l give you fair account at his return Colonel your Letters may be spar'd the General Has finish'd and is coming home Her I am glad on 't sir my good Lord Cardinal 'T is not impossible but some man provok'd May have a precious mind to cut your throat Car. You shall command me Noble Colonel I know you wo'not fail to be at th' wedding Her 'T is not Columbo that is maried Sir Car. Go teach the postures of the Pike and Musket Then dril your Mirmidons into a ditch Where sterve and stink in pickle you shall find Me reasonable you see the King expects me Her So does the Devill some desperate hand May help you on your journey Exeunt Enter Secretary and Servants Sec. Here this I this will fit your part you shall wear Slashes because you are a Souldier here 's for the blue mute 1 This doublet will never fit me Pox ont' are these Breeches good enough for a Prince too Pedro playes but a Lord and he has two laces more in a seam Sec. You must consider Pedro is a foolish Lord he may wear what lace he please 2 Does my beard fit my cloathes well Gentlemen Sec Pox o' your beard 3 That will fright away the hair 1 This fellow plays but a mute he is so troublesome and talks 3 Mr. Secretary might have let Iaques play the soldier He has a black patch already 2 By your favour Mr. Secretary I was ask'd who writ this play for us Sec. For us why art thou any more than a blew mute 2
art can fathome in This story and I fear I may conclude This flame has breath at home to cherish it Ther 's treason in some hearts whose faces are Smooth to the State Alp. My Lords I take my leave 2 Lo. Your friends good Captain Exeunt Enter Dutchess Valeria Celinda Val. Sweet Madam be less thoughtfull this obedience To passion will destroy the noblest frame Of beauty that this Kingdom ever boasted Cel. This sadness might become your other habit And ceremonious black for him that died the times of sorrow are expir'd and all the joys that wait upon the Court your birth and a new Hymen that is coming towards you invite a change Dut. Ladies I thank you both I pray excuse a little melancholy That is behind my year of mourning hath not So cleer'd my account with sorrow but there may Some dark thoughts stay with sad reflections Upon my heart for him I lost even this New dress and smiling garment meant to shew A peace concluded twixt my grief and me Is but a sad remembrance but I resolve To entertain more pleasing thoughts and if You wish me heartily to smile you must Not mention grief not in advice to leave it Such Counsells open but afresh the wounds Ye would close up and keep alive the cause Whose bleeding you would cure le ts talk of something That may delight you two are read in all The Histories of our Court tell me Valeria Who has thy vote for the most handsome man Thus I must counterfeit a peace when all Within me is at mutiny Val. I have examin'd All that are Candidates for the praise of Ladies But find may I speak boldly to your Grace And will you not return it in your mirth To make me blush Dut. No no speak freely Val. I wo'not rack your patience Madam but Were I a Princess I should think Count D' Alvarez Had sweetness to deserve me from the world Dut. Alvarez shee 's a spy upon my heart Val. Hee 's young and active and compos'd most sweetly Dut. I have seen a face more tempting Val. It had then Too much of woman in 't his eys speak movingly Which may excuse his voice and lead away All female pride his captive His hair Black Which naturally falling into curl's Dut. Prethee no more thou art in love with him The man in your esteem Celinda now Cel. Alvarez is I must confess a Gentleman Of handsome composition but with His mind the greater excellence I think Another may delight a Lady more If man be well considered that 's Columbo Now Madam voted to be yours Dut. My Torment Val. She affects him not Cel. He has person and a bravery beyond All men that I observe Val. He is a Souldier A rough-hewn man and may shew well at distance His talk will fright a Lady War and grim-Fac'd honor are his Mistrisses he raves To hear a Lute Love meant him not his Priest Again your pardon Madam we may talk But you have art to choose and crown affection Dut. What is it to be born above these Ladies And want their freedom they are not constrain'd Nor slav'd by their own greatness or the Kings But let their free hearts look abroad and choose By their own eys to love I must repair My poor afflicted bosome and assume The privilege I was born with which now prompts me To tell the King he hath no power nor art To steer a Lovers Soul Enter Secretary What says Count D'Alvares Sec. Madam hee 'l attend you Dut. Wait you as I directed when he comes Acquaint me privately Sec. Madam I have news 'T is now arriv'd the Court we shall have wars Dut. I find an Army here of killing thoughts Sec. The King has chosen Don Columbo General Who is immediately to take his leave Dut. What flood is let into my heart how far Is he to go Sec. To Arragon Dut. That 's well At first he should not want a pilgrimage To the unknown World if my thoughts might convey him Sec. T is not impossible he may go thither Dut. How Sec. To the unknown other World he goes to fight That 's in his way such stories are in nature Dut. Conceal this news Sec. He wo'not be long absent The affair will make him swift to kiss your Graces hand Dut. He cannot flie With too much wing to take his leave I must Be admitted to your conference ye have Enlarg'd my spirits they shall droop no more Cel. We are happy if we may advance one thought To your Graces pleasure Val. Your ey before was in eclipse these smiles Become you Madam Dut. I have not skill to contain my self Enter Placentia Pla. The Cardinals Nephew Madam Don Columbo Dut. Already attend him Ex. Plac. Val. Shall we take our leave Dut. He shall not know Valeria how you prais'd him Val. If He did Madam I should have the confidence To tell him my free thoughts Enter Columbo Dut. My Lord while I 'm in study to requite The Favour you ha' done me you increase My debt to such a sum still by a new honouring Your servant I despair of my own freedom Col. Madam he kisseth your white hand that must Not surfet in this happiness and Ladies I take your smiles for my encouragement I have not long to practise these Court tacticks Col. He has been taught to kiss Dut. Ther 's something Sir Upon your brow I did not read before Col. Does the Character please you Madam Dut. More Because it speaks you cheerfull Col. 'T is for such Access of honour as must make Columbo Worth all your love the King is pleas'd to think Me fit to lead his Army Dut. How an Army Col. We must not use the Priest till I bring home Another triumph that now staies for me To reap it in the purple field of glory Dut. But do you mean to leave me and expose Your self to the devouring war no enemy Should Divide us the King is not so cruell Col. The King is honourable and this grace More answers my ambition than his gift Of thee and all thy beauty which I can Love as becomes thy Souldier and fight She weeps To come agen a conqueror of thee Then I must chide this fondnesse Enter Secretary Sec. Madam the King and my Lord Cardinal Enter King Cardinall and Lords King Madam I come to call a Servant from you And strengthen his excuse the publick cause Will plead for your consent at his return Your mariage shall receive triumphant ceremonies Till then you must dispence Card. She appears sad To part with him I like it fairly Nephew Val. Is not the General a gallant man What Lady would deny him a small courtesie Cel. Thou hast converted me and I begin To wish it were no sin Val. Leave that to narrow Consciences Cel. You are pleasant Val. But he would please one better Do such men Lie with their Pages Cel. Would'st thou make a shift Val. He is going to a bloody business 'T is
THE CARDINAL A TRAGEDIE AS It was acted at the private House IN BLACK FRYERS WRITTEN By JAMES SHIRLEY Not Printed before LONDON Printed for Humphrey Robinson at the Pigeons and Humphrey Moseley at the Arms in St. Paul's Church-yard 1652 To my worthily honored Friend G. B. Esq SIR I Did suffer at the first some contention within me and looking upon my self was inclined to stifle my ambitious thoughts in this Dedication but when some time and a happy conversation had preferred me to more acquaintance with you which was more argument to me than the fame I had heard of your reputation with the most temperate and ingenious men I found you not only an excellent Judge but a good Man at this my modesty took full encouragement to make this offering which as I conceive to be the best of my flock I knew not a better Altar whereon to make it a sacrifice with this protestation that it comes and that is it only which makes all devotions acceptable from the heart and your candid acceptance will bind me with all my services and remembrance to merit a reception with you in the quality and honour of Sir Your most humble devoted Servant JA. SHIRLEY Prologue THe Cardinal cause we express no scene We doe believe most of you Gentlemen Are at this hour in France and busie there Though you vouchsafe to lend your bodies here But keep your fancy active till you know By th' progress of our Play 't is nothing so A Poets art is to lead on your thought Through subtle paths and workings of a plot And where your expectation does not thrive If things fall better yet you may forgive I will say nothing positive you may Think what you please we call it but a Play Whether the comick Muse or Ladies love Romance or direfull Tragedy it prove The Bill determines not and would you be Perswaded I would have 't a Comedie For all the purple in the name and state Of him that owns it but 't is left to fate Yet I will tell you e'r you see it plaid What the Author and he blusht too when he said Comparing with his own for 't had been pride He thought to build his wit a Pyramyde Vpon anothers wounded Fame this Play Might rivall with his best and dar'd to say Troth I am out he said no more you then When 'ts done may say your pleasures Gentlemen To the surviving Honour and Ornament of the English Scene Iames Shirley AS Fate which doth all human matters sway Makes proudest things grow up into decay And when they are to envyed greatness grown She wantonly falls off and throws them down So when our English Dramma was at hight And shin'd and rul'd with Majesty and might A sudden whirlwind threw it from it seat Deflowr'd the Groves and quench'd the Muses heat Yet as in Saints and Martyr'd bodies when They cannot call their blessed Souls agen To earth Reliques and ashes men preserve And think they do but what blest they deserve So I by my devotion led aspire To keep alive your noble Vestal fire Honour this piece which shews Sir you have been The last supporter of the dying Scene And though I do not tell you how you dress Virtue in gloryes and bold vice depress Nor celebrate your lovely Dutchess fall Or the just ruine of your Cardinal Yet this I dare assert when men have nam'd Iohnson the Nations Laureat the fam'd Beaumont and Fletcher he that wo'not see Shirley the fourth must forfeit his best ey HALL Persons KIng of Navarre Cardinal Columbo the Cardinals Nephew Alvarez Hernando a Colonel Alphonso Lords Secretary to the Dutchess Colonels Antonelli the Cardinals Servant Surgion Guard Attendants c. Dutchess Rosaura Valeria Ladies Celinda Ladies Placentia a Lady that waits upon the Dutchess Scene Navarre THE CARDINAL ACT I. Enter two Lords at one door Secretary at the other 1 Lord WHo is that 2 Lo. The Dutchess Secretary 1 Lo. Signior Secr. Your Lordships Servant 1 Lo. How does her Grace since she left her mourning For the young Duke Mendoza whose timeless death At Sea left her a Virgin and a Widdow 2 Lo. Shee 's now inclining to a second Bride When is the day of mighty mariage To our great Cardinals Nephew Don Columbo Secr. When they agree they wo'not steal to Church I guess the ceremonies will be loud and publick Your Lordships will excuse me Exit 1 Lo. When they agree alas poor Lady she Dotes not upon Columbo when she thinks Of the young Count D'Alvarez divorc'd from her By the Kings power 2 Lo. And Counsell of the Cardinal to advance His Nephew to the Dutchess bed 't is not well 1 Lo. Take heed the Cardinal holds intelligence With every bird i' th' air 2 Lo. Death on his purple pride He governs all and yet Columbo is A gallant Gentleman 1 Lo. The darling of the War whom Victory Hath often courted a man of daring And most exalted spirit pride in him Dwels like an ornament where so much honour Secures his praise 2 Lo. This is no argument He should usurp and wear Alvarez title To the fair Dutchess men of coarser blood Would not so tamely give this treasure up 1 Lo. Although Columbos name is great in war Whose glorious art and practice is above The greatness of Alvarez yet he cannot Want soul in whom alone survives the virtue Of many noble Ancestors being the last Of his great family 2 Lo. 'T is not safe you 'l say to wrastle with the King 1 Lo. More danger if the Cardinal be displeas'd Who sits at helm of State Count D' Alvarez Is wiser to obey the stream than by Insisting on his privilege to her love Put both their fate upon a storm 2 Lo. If Wisdom not inborn Fear make him compose I like it how does the Dutchess bear herself 1 Lo. She moves by the rapture of another wheel That must be obey'd like some sad passenger That looks upon the coast his wishes fly to But is transported by an adverse wind sometimes A churlish Pilot 2 Lo. She has a sweet and noble nature 1 Lo. That commend Alvarez Hymen cannot tie A knot of two more equall hearts and blood Enter Alphonso 2 Lo. Alphonso Alph. My good Lord 1 Lo. What great affair Hath brought you from the confines Alp. Such as will Be worth your counsells when the King hath read My Letters from the Governour the Arragonians Violating their confederate oath and league Are now in arms they have not yet marcht towards us But 't is not safe to expect if we may timely Prevent Invasion 2 Lo. Dare they be so insolent 1 Lo. This storm I did foresee 2 Lo. What have they but the sweetness of the King To make a crime 1 Lo. But how appears the Cardinal At this news Alp. Not pale although He knows they have no cause to think him innocent As by whose Counsell they were once surpriz'd 1 Lo. There is more Than all our present