THE City-Night-Cap OR Crede quod habes habes A Tragi-Comedy By Robert Davenport As it was Acted with great Applause by Her Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury Lane LONDON Printed by Ja Cottrel for Samuel Speed at the Signe of the Printing-Press in St. Paul's Church-yard 1661. Drammatis Personae Duke of Verona Duke of Venice Brother to Abstemia Duke of Millain Antonio the Duke's Son Lorenzo Husband to Abstemia Philippo his Friend Lodovico Husband to Dorothea Lords of Verona Senators of Venice Sanchio Lord of Millain Sebastiano Lord of Millain Pandulpho Spinoso Jaspro Jovani Francisco Servant to Lodovico Pambo a Clown Morbo a Pander A Turk Slave to Antonio 2 Slaves to Lorenzo Officers and Servants Women ACTORS Abstemia Lorenzo's Wife and Sister to the Duke Venice Dorothea Lodovico's wanton Lady Timpanina a Bawd Ladies Actus Primus Enter Lorenzo and Philippo Lor. THou sha't try her yet once more Phil. Fie fie Lor. Thou shalt do 't If thou be'st my friend thou 'lt do 't Phil. Try your fair wife You know 'c is an old point and wonderous frequent In most of our Italian Comedies Lor. What do I eare for that let him seek new ones Cannot make old ones better and this new point Young Sir may produce new smooth passages Transcending those precedent pray will ye do 't Phil. Pray fool your self no farther twice you have swaid me Twice I have try'd her and 't is not yet ye know Ten days since our reconciliation How will it shew in you so near a Kinsman To the Duke nay having woven your self into The close-wrought Mystery of Opinion Where you remain a souldier a man Of brain and quality to put your friend Again on such a business and to expose Your fair wife to the tempest of temptation And by the white unspotted Cheek of Truth She is Lor. A woman Phil. A good woman Lor. Pish Phil. As far from your Distrust as bad ones are from Truth She is in love with Vertue would not boast it But that her whole Life is a well-writ story Where each word stands so well plac'd that it passes Inquisitive Detraction to correct She 's modest but not fullen and loves silence Not that she wants apt words for when she speaks She enflames Love with wonder but because She calls wise silence the souls harmony She 's truly chaste yet such a foe to coyness The poorest call her courteous and which is excellent Though fair and young she shuns to expose her self To the opinion of strange eyes she either seldom Or never walks abroad but in your company And then with such sweet hashfulness as if She were venturing on crack'd ice and takes delight To step into the print your foot hath made And will follow you whole fields so she will drive Tediousness out of Time with her sweet Character And therefore good my friend forbear to try The Gold has past the fire Lor. Thou foolish friend Beauty like the Herb Larix is cool i' th' water But hot i' th' stomack women are smooth flatterers but cunning injurers Phil. Thou wonderous yellow friend Temper an Antidote with Antimony And 't is infectious mix Jealousie with Marriage It poysons Vertue let the child feel the sting He 'll fly the Honey-comb Has she one action That can expose you to distrust Lor. Oh! when the Flesander leaf looks most green The fap is then most bitter an approv'd appearance Is no authentick instance she that is lip-holy Is many times heart-hollow Here she comes Enter Abstemia A Prayer-book in her hand Oh hypocrisie How fell'st thou first in love with woman wilt try again But this one time Phil. Condition'd you will stand Ear-witness to our conference that you may take In at your ear a Vertue that will teach Your erring soul to wonder Lor. He would wittal me With a consent to my own Horns I will I 'll give thee a new occasion There lurks in womans blood A vindicating spirit Abst I came Sir to give you notice Count Lodovico Stroimo Spinoso and Pandulpho with the rest Of the Consilliadory certifie They are setting forth to meet the Duke your Kinsman Returning from Venice Lor. Oh there he has seen the Duke your Brother Abst. Yes Sir and they stay but for your company Lor. And you 're cloy'd with 't Kicks her and Exit She weeps Phil. And will you still be used thus Oh Madam I do confess twice I have batter'd at The Fort I fain would vanquish and I know Ye hold out more ' cause ye would seem a Souldier Then in hate to the Affailant I am again Inflam'd with those sweet fountains from whence flow Such a pair of streams Oh strong force of desire The quality should quench hath set on fire I love you in your sorrows Abst. And I sorrow in nothing but your love twice Philippo Have I not beat back the impetuous storm Of thy incessant rudeness wilt thou again Darken fair Honour with Dishonesty Thou know'st my Lord hath long and truly lov'd thee In the wisdom of a Friend in a fair Cause He wears his good sword for thee lays his heart A lodger in thy bosome proclaims thee Partner In all he hath but me Oh be not counterfeit We all conclude a Diamond with Clouds The Goldsmith casts into his dust and a Gentleman So blemish'd in his Honour blots his Name Out of the Heralds Book stands a lost man In Goodness and Opinion Oh Philippo Make me once more so happy to believe 'T is but a pointed passion Lor. Most acute Witch Phil. Come learn of your City-Wagtail with one eye Violently love your Husband and with t'other Wink at your Friend Lor. I will not trust you Brother Phil. He seeks will ye not have him finde cries ye out In his mad fits a Strumpet rails at all women Upon no cause but because you are one He gives wound upon wound and then pours Vinegar Into your bleeding Reputation Poyson'd with bitter Calumny Pox on him Pile a reciprocal reward upon him Let Ballet-mongers crown him with their scorns VVho buys the Bucks Head well deserves the Horns Demur not on 't but clap them on Abst You are Sir just like the Indian Hysop prais'd of strangers For the sweet scent but hated of the inhabitants For the injurious quality Can he love the VVife That would betray the Husband Hast thou not seen me Bear all his injuries as the Ocean suffers The angry Bark to plough thorow her Bosome And yet is presently so smooth the eye Cannot perceive where the wide wound was made And cannot this inform I love him better In his sow'r Follies then you in your sweet Flatteries If Verona hath observed any Errours in me I well may call for grace to amend them But will never fall from grace to befriend you Phil. VVith what a Majesty good women thunder Lor. ' Has given her some close nod that I am here Abst. Rip up the end of thy intent and see How shame and
it Such wondrous wealth is vertue it makes the woman Wears it about her worthy of a king Since kings can be but vertuous farewel A crown is but the care of deceiv'd life He 's king of men is crown'd with such a wife Exit Antonio and the Lord after him Slave Are your thoughts levell'd at that white then This shall to th' Duke your dad sir he can never talk with me But he twits me still with I took thee at that fight VVe made before Parlermo I did command Men as he did there Turks and valaint men And though to wind my self up for his ruine That I may fall and crush him I appear 'To renounce Mahomet and seem a Christian T is but conveniently to stab this Christian Or any way confound him and scape cleanly And one expects the deed to hasten it This letter came even now which likewise certifies He waits me three leagues off with a horse for flight Of a Turkish Captain commander of a Gally He keeps me as his slave because indeed I plaid the devil at sea with him but having Thus wrought my self into him I intend To give him but this day to take his leave Of the whole world he will come back by twilight I 'll wait him with a pistol Oh sweet revenge Laugh our great prophet he shall understand When we think death farthest off he 's neerest hand Enter Philippo Phil. You and I must meet no more sir there 's your kick again Kicks him Slave Hold hold what mean you sir Phil. I have brought your kick back sir Shoots him Slave Hold man I am not Falls Phil. Thou hast spoken true thou art not What art thou But I am for Verona Exit Slave Mine own words catch me 't is I now understand When we think death farthest off he 's neerest hand Dies Enter Lorenzo She lives not sure in Millain report but wore Her usual habit when she told in Verona She met Abstemia here Oh Abstemia How lovely thou look'st now now thou appearest Chaster then is the mornings modestie That rises with a blush over whose bosom The Western wind creeps softly Now I remember How when she sat at Table her obedient eye Would dwell on mine as if it were not well Unless it look'd where I look'd Oh how proud She was when she could cross her self to please me But where now is this fair soul like a silver cloud She hath wept her self I fear into th' dead sea And will be found no more this makes me mad To rave and call on death but the slave shrinks And is as far to finde as she Abstemia If thou not answer or appear to knowledg That here with shame I sought thee in this wood I 'll leave the blushing witness of my blood Exit Enter the Duke of Millain Sebestian Sanchio and the Lord. Mil. Followed you him thus far Lord. Just to this place fir The slave he loves left him here they parted Mil. Certain he has some private haunt this way Seb. Ha private indeed sir Oh behold and see Where he lies full of wounds Lords My Lord. Mill. My son Antonio who hath done this deed Sanch. My Lord Antonio Mill. He 's gone he 's gone warm yet bleeds fresh and whilst We here hold passion play we but advantage The flying murderer Bear his body gently Unto the lodge Oh what hand hath so hid That sunlike face behind a crimson cloud Use all means possible for life but I fear Charity will arrive too late To horse Disperse through the wood run ride make way The Sun in Millain is eclips'd this day Omn. To horse and raise more pursuit Exeunt Enter Lorenzo with his sword drawn Lor. Abstemia Oh take her name you winds upon your wings And through the wanton Region of the Air Softly convey it to her there 's no sweet sufferance Which bravely she past through but is a thorn Now to my sides my will the center stood To all her chaste endeavours all her actions With a perfection perpendicular Pointed upon she is lost Oh she The well-built fort of vertues victory For still she conquer'd since she is lost then My friendly sword find thou my heart Within Follow follow Enter Millain Sanchio Sebastiano Mill. This way what 's he lay hands on him Sebast The murderer on my life my Lord here in the wood Was close beset he would have slain himself Mill. Speak villain art thou the bloody murderer Lor. Of whom Sanch. His dissembled ignorance speaks him the man Seb. Of the Dukes son the Prince Antonio sir 't was your hand that kill'd him Lor. Your Lordship lyes it was my sword Mill. Out slave Ravens shall fedst upon thee Speak what cause Hadst thou with one unhappy wound to cloud That Star of Millain Lod. Because he was an erring star Not fix'd nor regular I will resolve nothing I did it do not repent it and were it To do again I 'd do 't Omn. Blood-thirsty villain Mill. Leave him to swift destruction tortures and death Oh my Antonio how did thy youth stray To meet wild winter in the midst of May Lor. Oh my Abstemia Who cast thy fate so bad To clip affliction like a husband clad Exeunt Enter Antonio and Abstemia Abst Good sir the Prince makes known his wisdom To make you speaker in his cause Anto. Me know Mistress I have felt loves passions equal with himself And can discourse of loves cause had you seen him When he sent me to ye how truly he did look And when your name slip'd through his trembling lips A lovers lovely paleness straight possest him Abst Fie fie Anto. Go says he to that something more then woman And he look'd as if by something he meant saint Tell her I saw heavens army in her eyes And that from her chaste heart such excellent goodness Came like full rivers flowing that there wants nothing But her soft yeilding will to make her wife Unto the Prince Antonio Oh will you flie A fortune which great Ladies would pursue Upon their knees with prayers Abst No Lorenzo Had law to this new love made no denial A chaste wifes truth shines through the greatest tryal Enter Morbo Mor. How now what makes you i' th' wood here where 's my old Lady Abst I know not Mor. All the countrie 's in an uprore yonder the Prince Antonio's flain Ambo How Mor. Nay no man can tell how but the murderer with 's sword in 's hand is taken Anto. Is he of Millain Mor. No of Verona I heard his name and I have forgot it Anto. I am all wonder 't is the slave sure Mor. Lor Lor Lorenzo Abst Ha Lorenzo VVhat I pray Mor. Lorenzo Me Medico has run him in the eye some thirty three inches two barly corns they could scarce know him for the blood but by his apparel I must find out my Lady he us'd our house intelligence has been given of his pilgrimage thither I am affraid I shall be fing'd to
fear do lurk where you would walk Like a pair of Serpents in a flow'ry Mead Lust sees with pleasure but with fear doth cread Phil. Very brave woman Abst. VVhat is the pleasure thou pursu'st a sin Finish'd with infinite sorrows read and find How barb'rous Nations punish it with death How a minutes sin so stolen though in the Face Sit summer calms all smooth yet thou wilt hear From the Eternal Alarm of thy Conscience How it sets within thy soul continual tempests Thunder and dismal blackness mark but the course Of the holy-seeming hollow-man and see How he that glories Heaven with no Honour Covets to glorifie himself with Honesty And to put you past your hopes let me leave this with you Thou mayst hold an Elephant with a thread eat fire And not be burnt or catch Birds with desire Quench Flame with Oyl cut Diamonds with Glass Pierce Steel with Feathers this thou mayst bring to pass Sooner then hope to steal that Husband 's Right Whose Wife seems honest and no Hypocrite Exit Phil. What think you now Sir Lor. Why now I do think it possible for the world To have an honest woman in 't Good-buy Sir I must go meet the Duke adieu Phil. Farewel Oh Jealousie how near thou dwell'st to Hell Exeunt Enter Lodovico Pandulpho Spinoso Jaspro and Iovani and Clown Lod. The Duke not seven leagues off my horse Rogues Pand. Our negligence deserves just blame and how 'T will please his Grace to conster it we know not Jasp But where 's your fair chaste wife my Lord Lod. Marry with my man Francisco Oh that fellow She were undone without him for indeed She takes great pleasure in him he learns her Musick To hear what counsel she will give him if he but screw His look sometimes with the pin she will tell him straight 'T was an unchristian look I love him dearly Spin. But can your Honour never woo your Lady To a more sociable affability She will not kiss nor drink nor talk but against new fashions Lod. Oh Sir she is my Crown nor is it requisite VVomen should be so sociable I have had such a coil with her to bring her but to look out at window when we were first married she would not drink a cup of wine unless nine parts of it were water Omn. Admired Temperance Lod. Nay and ye knew all my Lords ye would say so t'other day I brought an English Gentleman home with me to try a Horse I should sell him he as ye know their custom though it be none of ours makes at her lips the first dash Clown He dash'd her out of countenance I 'm sure of that Lod. She did so powt and spit that my hot-brain'd Gallant could not forbear but ask the cause quoth she Clown No Sir she spit again before quoth she left her lips Lod. I think she did indeed but then quoth she A kiss Sir is sins earnest-penny is 't not true Pambo Clown Very true Sir by the same token Quoth he to her again If you dislike the penny Lady pray let me change it into English half-pence and so gave her two for 't Lod. But how she vex't then then she rattled him and told him roundly Though confidence made Cuckolds in England she could no Coxcombs in Italy Clown But did ye mark how bitterly he clos'd it with a midling Jest Lod. What was that I prethee Clown Why quoth he to her again Confidence makes not so many Cuckolds in England but Craft picks open more Padlocks in Italy Jov. That was something sharp But here she comes Enter Dorothea and Francisco Lod. Ye shall see how I 'll put ye all upon her presently Clown Then I shall take my turn Dor. Francis Fran. Madam Dor. Have you chang'd the Ditty you last set Fran. I have Madam Dor. The Conceit may stand but I hope you have cloath'd the method in a more Christian-like apparel Fran. I have Lady Dor. Pray let me hear it now Fran. She that in these days looks for Truth Seldom or never findes in sooth Dor. That 's wondrous well Clown Yes in sadness Lod. Peace sirrah nay she 's built of modesty Fran. Even as a wicked Kiss defiles the Lips So do new fashions her that through them trips Dor. Very modest language Fran. She that doth pleasure use for what 't will bring her will pluck a Rose although she prick her finger Dor. Put in hurt her finger good Francis the phrase will be more decent Pand. Y' are a wondrous happy man in one so vertuous Lod. Nay ye shall have no Count Lorenzo of me I warrant ye Clown Nor no Count Lorenzo's Lady of your wife I warrant ye Lod. Sweet Chick I come to take leave of thee finger in nye already VVe are all to meet the Duke this afternoon Bird VVho is now come from Venice thou mayst walk and see The Count Lorenzo's Lady Dor. ' Lae she 's too merry for my company Jasp Too merry I have seen her sad But very seldom merry Dor. I mean my Lord That she can walk tell Tales run in the Garden Clown VVhy then your Ladiship may hold your tongue say nothing and walk in the Orchard Dor. She can drink a cup of wine not delay'd with water Clown VVhy then you may drink a cup of water without wine Dor. Nay if a Noble man come to see her Lord She will let him kiss her too against our custom Pand. VVhy a modest woman may be kist by accident Yet not give the least touch to her Reputation Lod. VVell said touch her home Dor. Nay but they may not she that will kiss they say VVill do worse I warrant her Jov. VVhy I have seen you Madam kist against your will Dor. Against my will it may be I have been kist indeed Clown Pshew there 's nothing against a womans will and I dare be sworn if my Lady kiss but any one man 't is because she cannot do with all Lod. Nay I know that to be true my Lords and at this time Because ye cannot do with all pray kiss them in order Kiss her all over gentlemen and we are gone Dor. Nay good my Lord 't is against our Nations custome Lod. I care not let naturals love Nations My humour 's my humour Spin. I must have my turn too then Jov. It must go round Dor. Fie fie Lod. Look how she spits now Jasp The deeper the sweeter Lady Clown The neerer the bone the sweeter the flesh Lady Dor. How now sauce-box Clown Did not my Lord bid the gentlemen kiss you all over Lod. I have sweet cause to be jealous have I not gentlemen no Crede quod habes habes still he that believes he has horns has them Will you go bring my horse sir Clown I will bring your horse sir and your horse shall bring his tail with him Exit Lod. Francis I prithee stay thou at home with thy Lady get thy instrument ready this melancholy will spoil her before these
Lords here make her but laugh when we are gone Fran. Laugh before these Lords when they are gone sir Lod. Pish I mean make her laugh heartily before we come home and before these Lords I promise thee a lease of forty Crowns per annum Fran. Can ye tell whether she be ticklish sir Lod. Oh infinitely ticklish Fran. I 'll deserve your lease then ere you come home I warrant Lod. And thou shalt ha 't y faith boy Enter Clown Clown Your horse is ready sir Lod. My Lords I think we have staid with the longest farewel Doll Crede quod habes habes gallants Pand. Our horses shall fetch it up again farewel sweet Lady Jasp Adieu sweet Mistres and whensoere I marry fortune turn up to me no worse Card then you are Clown And whensoere I marry Venus send me a Card may save fortune the labour and turn up her self Exeunt Dor. How now why loyter you behind why ride not you along with your Lord Fran. To lie with your Ladiship Dor. How Fran. In the bed upon the bed or under the bed Dor. Why how now Francis Fran. This is the plain truth on 't I would lie with ye Dor. Why Francis Fran. I know too that you will lie with me Dor. Nay but Francis Fran. Plague of Francis I am neither Frank nor Francis But a Gentleman of Millain that even there Heard of your Beauty which Report there guarded With such a Chastity the glittering'st sin Held no Artillery of power to shake it Upon which I resolv'd to try conclusions Assum'd this name and fortune sought this service And I will tell ye truly what I guess you Dor. You will not ravish me Francis Fran. No but unravel ye in two lines Experiences writ lately Extreams in Vertue are but Clouds to Vice She 'll do i' th' Dark who is i' th' Day too nice Dor. Indeed ye do not well to bely me thus Fran. Come I 'll lie with thee Wench and make all well again though your confident Lord makes use of Crede quod habes habes and holds it impossible for any to be a Cuckold can believe himself none I would have his Lady have more wit and clap them on Dor. And truly Francis some women now would do 't Fran. Who can you chuse more convenient to practise with then me whom he doats on where shall a man finde a friend but at home so you break one Proverbs pate and give the other a plainer is't a match wench Dor. VVell for once it is But and ye do any more indeed I 'll tell my Husband Fran. But when shall this once be now Dor. Now no indeed Francis It shall be soon at night when your Lord 's come home Fran. Then how is 't possible Dor. Possible women can make any of these things possible Francis now many casualties may cross us but soon at night my Lord I 'm sure will be so sleepy what with his journey and deep healths for the Dukes return that before he goes to Bed as he uses still when he has been hard a drinking he will sleep upon the bed in 's cloaths so sound Bells would not wake him rung in the chamber Fran. The Cuckold slumbers though his VVife hit him o' th' Forehead with her Heel he dreams of no such matter Dor. Now Pambo that makes him merry in his Chamber shall when the candle 's our and he asleep bring you into the Chamber Fran. But will he be secret Dor. VVill he good soul I am not to try him now Fran. 'Sfoot this is brave My kind Lords fool is my cunning Ladies knave But pray how then Dor. VVhen you are in at door on right before you you shall feel the bed give me but softly a touch I 'll rise and follow you into the next chamber but truly and you do not use me kindly I shall cry out and spoil all Fran. Use you kindly was Lady ere us'd cruelly i' th' dark do you but prepare Pambo and your maid let me alone with her Mistres about 11 I desire to be expected Dor. And till the clock strick 12 I 'll lie awake Fran. Now ye dare kiss Dor. Once with my friend or so yet you may take two Francis Fran. My cast is Ams-Ace then Dor. Deuce-Ace had got the game Fran. VVhy then you 're welcome Adieu my daintie Mistres Dor. Farwel kind Francis Exeunt Enter Lorenzo as from horse Lor. I have given them all the slip the Duke and all And am at home before them I cannot rest Philippo and my wife run in my mind so I know no cause why I should trust him more Then all the world beside I remember He told her that I bought the Bucks Head therefore Deserv'd the horns although I bid him try her Yet I did not bid him bid her with one eye Love me and with the other wink at a friend How we long to grow familiar with affliction And as many words do aptly hold concordance To make one sentence just so many causes Seem to agree when conceit makes us Cuckolds Enter Philippo and Abstemia And here comes proof apparent hand in hand too Now their palms meet that graspe begers a Bastard Phil. By your white hand I swear 't was only so Lor. Poyson of Toads betwixt ye Abst Philippo you have fully satisfied me Lor. Insatiate whore could not I satisfie ye I shall commit a murder if I stay I 'll go forge Thunder for ye Oh let me Never more marry what plague can transcend A whorish wife and a perfidious friend Exit Phil. By the unblemish'd faith then of a gentleman And by your potent goodness a great oath For you are greatly good by truth it self For still I swear by you what again hath past Was at the first but tryal of her chastity Far above time or storie as I speak truth So may I prosper Abst And came these tryals from your brest only Phil. Only from my brest and by the sweet Excellent blush of vertue there is in you Plenty of truth and goodness Abst You have nobly Appeas'd the storm o'ertook you and you are Again a good man Enter Lorenzo Pandulpho Spinoso Jaspro Jovani Lor. Trayto to truth and friendship Did not mine honour hold me I should rip out That blushing hypocrite thy heart that hath broke So strong a tie of faith but behold How much of man is in me there I cast them From this believing heart to the iron hand Of law the wrong'd mans saint Phil What means this Pand. My Lord here 's warrant for what 's done immediate from The Duke by force of which you 're early i' th' morning Before his Grace to answer to such injuries The Count Lorenzo shall alledge against you Phil. Injuries Why friend what injuries Lor. Can ye spell Stag sir 't is four letters with two horns Good gentlemen convey him from my furie For fear of greater mischief Phil. Thou yellow fool Exit Abst I would you would
swear you saw it not and are forsworn 1 Slave 'Sfoot Stratzo Spin. This is the other fellow took his oath Vere VVhat come you here to say sir 2 Slave That we swore falsely may it please your Grace Hyr'd by my Lord with gifts and promises And as I now have spoke the muth so heaven Forgive my former perjury Vero. Hear you cosen 1 Slave VVould you would say something I have nettles in my breeches Lor. Now now I hope your eyes are open Lords The bed of snakes is broak the tricks's comes about And here 's the knot i' th' rush good heaven good heaven That craft in seeking to put on disguise Should so discover her self Vero. Explain your self Lor. Now see sir where this scorpion lutks to sting Mine honour unto death this noble Dule By nature is ingag'd to defend a sister And to this Duke so ingag'd this malitious Lord For sin still ha her scourger makes repair And prepossesses him with that suppos'd innocence Of an injur'd sister which he had hir'd this Slave To follow him and affirm and layes the cause To scruple and to conscience they did consent To steal belief by seeming accident Sin Jugler-like casts sin before our eyes Craft sometimes steals the wonder of the wise VVith an equal hand now weigh me and if I want A grain of honour tear me from your blood And cast me to contempt 1 Slave My Lord would have made an excellent state-sophister Vero. In what a strange dilemma judgement sits Charm'd to her chair with wonder Ven. Shall I have justice Pan. Yes in that this fellow swears for the Duke Reach him the book you shall see him again Take the former oath Vero. This doubt must be so ended If it give not satisfaction send back our hostage You have fair regress to your forces but The blood remains on you and still remember The price of blood is pretious Phil. Let us end it Ven. Oh what a Combat Honour holds with Conscience Reach him the book and if thou false dost say May thine own tongue thine own foul heart betray 1 Slave Amen say I Give me the book my oath must end all then Spin. It must Lor. Now you shall hear him swear He saw them both in the base act 1 Slave Nay I swear They are now both seen in the base act Omn. How 's this Pan. 'T is a strange oath 1 Slave 'T is true though Lor. True villain are both now seen in the base act 1 Slave Yes both Lor. VVhich both 1 Slave You and I sir Omn. How 1 Slave Both you and I are seen in the base act Slandering spotless honour an act so base The barbarous Moor would blush at Phil. D' ye hear him now Lor. Out Slave wilt thou give ground too fear works upon ' em Did you not both here swear i' th' Senate-chamber You saw them both dishonest 1 Slave Then we swore true sir Lor. I told you 't was but fear Vero. Swore ye true then sir when ye swore Ye both saw them dishonest 1 Slave Yes marry did we sir For we were both two villains when we saw them So we saw them dishonest Ven. Heaven thou art equal 1 Slave This is a jealous Lord his Lady chaste A rock of christal not more clear this gentleman Basely abus'd this great Prince dishonour'd And so we kneel for mercy Vero. You have redeem'd it Depart prove honest men that I should bear Dishonour in my blood Omn. Much injur'd Lady Ven. VVhat justice sir belongs unto the injur'd Vero. First witness heaven I tear thee from my blood And cast thee off a stranger Assume you sir Since the great cause is yours my seat of justice And sentence this foul homicide it must be And suddenly he will infect the air else Proceed great sir with rigor whilst I stand by And do adore the sentence Ven. Answer Lorenzo Art thou not guilty Lor. Give me my merit death Princes can build and ruine with one breath Ven. The cause may seem to merit death in that Two souls were hazarded a Princess iame A Duke dishonour'd and a noble Lord Wounded in reputation but since she lives And that no blood was spilt though something dearer Mercy thus far stretches her silver wings Over your trespass we do banish you Both from our Dukedomes Limits and your own If you but set a daring foot upon them Whilest life lends you ability to stand You fall into the pit of death unless You shall finde out our most unfortunate sister And bring her to our Court. Lor. You sir are merciful Vero. This let me adde in that you have made impartial justice sir Princes should punish vice in their own blood Until you finde that excellent injur'd Lady Upon this gentleman who hath suffer'd for you We confer your lands revenues and your place That during three days stay within our confines It shall be death to any that relieves you But as they do a begger at their door So cast him from our presence Lor. Your dooms are just Oh love thy first destruction is distrust Exeunt Lord Jaspro and Jovani Vero. For you fair sir until we shall hear tydings Of your most injur'd sister please you to call My Court your own conceive it so where live Two partnersin one passion we will be And sweeten sorrow with a sympathy Exeunt Enter Lodovico like a Fryer Jaspro and Jovani Lod. What am I fitted gallants am I fitted Jasp To th' life able to cheat suspition and so like Father Antony the confessor that I protest There 's not more semblance in a pair of egges Jov. An apple cut in half is not so like Lod. VVell of Lords you 're mad Lords to counsel me to this but now in this habit shall I know the very core of her heart all her little pedling sins which will shew in my book as foils to her giant-bodied vertues Jasp. That will be admirable Jov. We 'll step aside by this she 's upon coming Jasp. We shall know all Lod. Reveal confession but go your ways as much as may lawfully be reveal'd we 'll laugh as at next meeting Jasp. Come let 's be gone but once upon a time sir A begger found a larks nest and o'er-joy'd At his suddain glut for he thought 't was full of young ones Looking they were all gone he was forc'd again to beg For he found in the Larks nest a Serpents egge So much good d' ye sir Exeunt Enter Dorothea Lod. Well thou surpassest all the courtiers in these pretty ones if a man had the wit to understand them Yonder she comes I can hardly forbear blushing but that for discovering my self Right reverend habit I honour thee With a Sons obedience and do but borrow thee As men would play with flyes who i' th' midst of modest mirth With care preserve themselves Dor. Hail holy Father Lod. Welcome my chaste daughter Dor. Death having taken good father Jacomo Upon the plenal and approv'd report Of your
integrity and upright dealing Lod. Delicate Doll Dor. I have made a modest choyce of you grave sir To be my ghostly father and to you I fall For absolution Lod. Empty then my daughter That vessel of your flesh of all the dregs VVhich since your last confession clear'd you have Taken a setled habitation in you And with a powerful sweet acknowledgment Hunt out those spirits which haunt that house of flesh Tears makes dry branches flourish green and fresh Dor. Since last I confest then I do confess My first sin was that my Taylor bringing home My last new gown having made the sleeves too slanting In an unchristian passion I did bid The devil take him Lod. That was something 〈◊〉 dear daughter Yet the more pardonable for it may be your taylor Lyes in hell night by night pray to your second Dor. Next in a more savage rage my chamber-maid Putting a little saffom in her starch I most unmercifully broak her head Lod. 'T was rashly done too but are ye sure dear daughter The maids head was not broak before Dor. No no sir she came to me with neer a crack about her Lod. These will be brave sins to mix with her vertues why they will make no more shew then three or four bayliffs amongst a company of honest men These sins my Dove-like daughter are out of contradiction venial trivial and light have you none of greater growth Dor. Oh Yes sir one Lod. One what should that be I wonder Dor. One yet remains behind Of weight and consequence the same order Heralds prescribe in shews I now observe In placing of my sins as there inferiours Because the last lives freshest in our memories Far more the persons of great note so last My great sin comes to obliterate those past Lod. Sh 'as trod some chicken to death I warrant her Dor. Hear me and let a blush make you look red Unseemly I have abus'd my husbands bed Lod. You did ill to drink too hard ere you went to bed Dor. Alas sir you mistake me I have lain With another man besides my husband Lod. How Dor. Nay the same way I use to lye with him But not altogether so often Lod. VVhy then Crede quod habes habes I will believe I have hornes for I have 'em 'Sfoot a woman I perceive is a neat Herald she can quarter her husbands coat with Butchers Arms at pleasure but I have a penance for your pure whoreship you are somewhat broad are you not with childe daughter Dor. Yes yes sure 't was that nights work Lod. How know you that Dor. Alas by experience sir the kind fool my husband VVishes all well but like a light piece of gold He 's taken for more then he weighs Lod. VVith child there 's charges too at other side there should follow A zealous exhortation but great affairs That brook no stay make me be brief remembring Lawful necessity may dispence with ceremony You are ingenuously sorry Dor. Yes indeed sir Lod. And resolve to fall no more so Dor. No in truth sir Lod. I then pronounce you here absolv'd now for your penance Dor. Any thing Lod. As the fact in you seems strange so blame me not If your penance be as strange you may wonder it But it is wondrous easie in performance But as your penance I enjoyn it nay now I remember In an old French Authentick Author his book Titled De Satisfactione I read the same Enjoyn'd a Lady of Dauphin 'T is no holy fast No devout prayer nor no zealous pilgrimage 'T is out of the prescrib'd road Dor. Let it be So strange story ne'er matcht the injunction I do vow The plenal strict performanc◠Lod. Listen to me Soon at night so rumour spreads it through the City The two great Dukes of Venice and Verona Are feasted by your Lord where a mask's intended Dor. That 's true sir Lod. Now when ye all are set round about the Table In depth of silence you shall confess these words Aloud to your husband YOU ARE NOT THIS CHILD'S FATHER And ' cause my orders bar me such inquisition You shall say Such a man lay with me naming the party Was partner in your sin Dor. Good sir Lod. This is your penance I enjoyn you keep it You are absolv'd break it you know the danger of it god-buy Dor. Oh good sir stay never was penance of more shame then this Lod. You know the danger of the breach as to us 'T is the shameful loss of our religious orders if we reveal Dor. For heaven sake Enjoyn me first upon my knees to creep From Verona to Loretto Lod. That 's nothing Dor. Nothing indeed to this is this your penance so wondrous easie in performance Lod. 'T is irrevocable Dor. I am silent your new penance nay meet a new performance farewel sir You are the cruelst ere confest me before Lod. And this the trick to catch a near pure whore Exeunt Finis Actus Tertius Actus Quartus Enter Abstemia Abst HEre miserable despis'd Abstemia In Millain let thy misery take breath Wearied with many sufferings Oh Lorenzo How far in love I am with my affliction Because it calls thee father unto this house Where gentlewomen lodge I was directed But I here discover Strange actions closely carried in this house Great persons but not good here nightly revel In surfets and in riots yet so carried That the next day the place appears a sanctuary Rather then sins foul receptable these ways Have to me still been strangers but Lorenzo Thou couldst not though believe it Oh jealousie Loves eclipse thou art in thy disease A wild mad patient wondrous hard to please Enter Timpanina and Morbo Mor. Yonder she walks mumbling to her self the Prince Antonio has blest her with 's observation and ye win her but to him your house bears the bell away accost her quaintly Tim. I warrant thee Morbo Madona Timpania has effected wonders of more weight then a maiden-head have I ruin'd so many City-Citadels to let in Court-martialists and shall this Country-Cottage hold our I were more fit for a Cart then a Coach then yfaith how now Millicent how d' ye this morning Abst VVell I do thank so good a Landlady Tim. But hark you Mill is the door close Morbo Mor. As a Usurers conscience Grace was coming in till she saw the door shut upon her Tim. I 'll set Grace about her business and I come to her is here any work for Grace with a wannion to her we shall have Eaves-droppers shall we Abst Chastity guard me how I tremble Tim. Come hither mistress Millicent fie how you let your hair hang about your ears too how do you like my house Mill Abst VVell indeed well Tim. Nay I know a woman may rise here in one month and she will her self but truths truth I know yoo see something as they say and so forth Did you see the gallant was here last till 12 Abst VVhich of them mean
death with torches and my Lady stew'd between two disnes Anto. VVhy hath this thus amaz'd you Mistress Abst Oh leave me leave me I am all distraction Struck to the soul with sorrow Enter Millain Lords and Lorenzo guarded Anto. See where they come My father full of tears too I 'll stand by Strange changes must have strange discovery Abst 'T is he heart how thou leap'st Oh ye deluded And full of false rash judgement why do ye lead Innocence like a sacrifice to slaughter Get garlands rather let palm and lawrel round Those temples where such wedlock-truth is found Lor. Ha Omnes Wedlock Abst Oh Lorenzo thou hast suffer'd bravely And wondrous far look on me here I come Hurried by conscience to confess the deed Thy innocent blood will be too great a burthen Upon the judges soul Lor. Abstemia Abst Look look how he will blind ye by and by he 'll tell ye We saw not one another many a day In loves cause we dare make our lives away He would redeem mine 't is my husband sir Dearly we love together but I being often By the dead Prince your son solicited To wrong my husband bed and still resisting Where you found him dead he met me and the place Presenting oportunity he would there Have forc'd me to his will but prizing honesty Far above proffer'd honour with my knife In my resistance most unfortunately I struck him in the eye he fell was found The pursuit rais'd and ere I could get home My husband met me I confest all to him He excellent in love as the sea-inhabitant Of whom 't is writ that when the flattering hook Has struck his female he will help her off Although he desperately put on himself But if he fail and see her leave his eye He swims to land will languish and there die Such is his love to me for pursu'd closely He bid me save my self and he would stay With his drawn sword there about the place on purpose To require my loyalty though with his death Fear forc'd my acceptance then but conscience Hath brought me back to preserve innocence Seb. The circumstances produce probability Lor. By truth her self she slanders truth she and I Have not met these many months Oh my Abstemia Thou wouldst be now too excellent Anto. These are strange turns Mill. Let not love strangle justice speak on thy soul Was it her hand that slew the Prince Lor. Not on my life 'T is I have deserv'd death Abst Love makes him desperate Conscience is my accuser Oh Lorenzo The Duke and Lords whisper Live thou and feed on my remembrance When thou shalt think how ardently I lov'd thee Drop but a pair of tears from those fair eyes Thou offer'st truth a wealthy sacrifice Lor. Did ye hear her sir Mill. No what said she Lor. She ask'd me why I would cast my self away thus VVhen she in love devis'd this trick to save me Sanch. There may be jugling sir in this it may be They have both hands i' th' deed and one in love VVould suffer for 't Enter a Lord. Mill. VVhat newes Lord. The Dukes of Venice and Verona VVith some small train of gentlemen are privately This hour come to th' Court Mill. Bear them to prison Until we have given such entertainment sorrow VVill give us leave to shew until that time The satisfaction of my lost sons life Must hover 'twixt a husband and a wife Exeunt manet Antonio Anto. How strangely chance to day runs the slave kill'd In my apparel and this fellow taken for 't VVhom to my knowledg I ne'er saw she loves him Past all expression dearly I have a trick In that so infinitely dear she loves him Has seal'd her mine already and I 'll put This wondrous love of woman to such a nonplus Time hath produc'd none stranger I will set Honour and love to fight so life and death Beautie as Castles built of cards with a breath Is levell'd and laid flat Enter Philippo putting on a disguise lays down a pistol Phil. Misery of ignorance It was the Prince Antonio I have slain Anto. Ha! the clew of all this errour is unravelled This is the valiant gentleman so threaten'd me He met the flave doubtless in my habit And seal'd upon him his mistaken spleen If it be so there hangs some strange intent In those accuse themselves for 't Phil. It seems some other had laid the plot to kill him This paper I found with him speaks as much And sent to the intended murderer Happen'd it seems to his hands it concurs For they say there is one taken for the fact And will do me the courtesie to be hang'd for me Antonio takes up the Pistol There 's comfort yet in that so so I am fitted And will set forward Anto. Goose there 's a fox in your way Phil. Betray'd Anto. Come I have other business afoot I have no time to discover 'em now sir see I can inforce ye but by this hand go but with me and keep your own counsel garden-houses are not truer bawds to cuckold-making then I will be to thee and thy stratagem Phil. Th' art a mad knave art serious Anto. As a usurer when he 's telling interest-mony Phil. VVhatere thou art thy bluntness begets belief go on I trust thee Anto. But I have more wit then to trust you behind me sir pray get you before I have a private friend shall keep you in custody till I have past a project and if you can keep your own counsel I will not injure you and this for your comfort the Prince lives Phil. Living thou mak'st my blood dance but prithee let 's be honest one to another Anto. Oh sir as the Justices clarke and the Constable when they share the crowns that drunkards pay to the poor pray keep fair distance and take no great strides Exeunt Enter Lorenzo and Abstemia as in prison Lor. Can then Abstemia forgive Lotenzo Abst Yes if Lorenzo can but love Abstemia She can thus hang upon his neck and call This prison true loves palace Lor. Oh let Kings Forget their crowns that know what 't is to enjoy The wondrous wealth of one so good now Thou art lovely as a young spring and cornly As is the well-spread Cedar the fair fruit Kist by the sun so daily that it wears The lovely blush of maids seems but to mock Thy souls integrity here let me fall And with pleading sighs beg pardon Enter Antonio Abst Sir it meets you Like a glad pilgrim whose desiring eye Longs for the long-wish'd altar of his vow But you are far too prodigall in praise And crown me with the garlands of your merit As we meet barks on rivers the strong gale Being best friends to us our own swift motion Makes us believe that t'other mimbler rows Swift vertue thinks small goodness fastest goes Lor. Sorrow hath bravely sweetned thee what are you Anto. A displeasant black cloud though I appear dismal I am wondrous fruitful what cause