femallist I grow a slaue vnto my potent loue Whose power change hearts make our fate remoue Isabella Reuenge not Pleasure now ore-rules my blood Rage shall drown faint loue in a crimson flood And were he caught I 'de make him murders hand Sago Me thinkes 't were ioy to die at her command I le speake to heare her speech whose powerfull breath Is able to infuse life into death Isabella He comes to speake hee 's mine by loue he is mine Sago Lady thinke bold intrusion curtesie T is but imagination alters them Then 't is your thoughts not I that doe offend Isabella Sir your intrusion yet 's but curtesie Vnlesse your future humor alter it Sago Why then Diuinest woman know my soule Is dedicated to thy shrine of beauty To pray for mercy and repent the wrongs Done against loue and femall puritie Thou abstract drawne from natures empty store-house I am thy slaue command my sword my heart The soule is tri'd best by the bodies smart Isabella You are a stranger to this land and me What madnesse i st for me to trust you then To cosen women is a trade 'mongst men Smooth promises faint passions with a lye Deceiues our sex of fame and chastitie What danger durst you hazard for my loue Sago Perils that that neuer mortall durst approue I le double all the workes of Hercules Expose my selfe in combat 'gainst an Hoste Meete danger in a place of certaine death Yet neuer shrinke or giue way to my Fate Bare-brested meete the murderous Tartars dart Or any fatall Engine made for death Such power ha's loue and beauty from your eyes He that dies resolute does neuer die 'T is feare giues death his strength which I resisted Death is but emptie Aire the Fates haue twisted Isab. Dare you reuenge my quarrell 'gainst a foe Sago Then aske me if I dare embrace you thus Or kisse your hand or gaze on your bright eye Where Cupid dances on those globes of loue Feare is my vassall when I frowne he flyes A hundred times in life a coward dies Isabella I not suspect your valor but your will Sago To gaine your loue my fathers bloud I 'le spill Isab. Many haue sworne the like yet broke their vow Sago My whole endeuour to your wish shall bow I am your plague to scourge your enemies Isabella Performe your promise and enioy your pleasure Spend my loues Dowry that is womens treasure But if thy resolution dread the triall I le tell the world a Spaniard was disloyall Sago Relate your griefe I long to heare their names Whose bastard spirits thy true worth defames I 'le wash thy scandall off when their hearts bleeds Valour makes difference betwixt words and deeds Tell thy fames poison blood shall wash thee white Isab. My spotlesse honor is a slaue to spite These are the monsters Venice doth bring forth Whose emptie soules are banckrupt of true worth False Count Guido treacherous Guiaca Countesse of Gazia and of rich Massino Then if thou beest a Knight help the opprest Through danger safetie comes through trouble rest And so my loue Sago Ignoble villens their best bloud shall proue Reuenge fals heauy that is rais'd by loue Isab. Thinke what reproch is to a womans name Honor'd by birth by marriage and by beautie Be God on earth and reuenge innocence O worthy Spaniard on my knees I begge Forget the persons thinke on their offence Sago By the white soule of honour by heau'ns Ioue They die if their death can attaine your loue Isab. Thus will I clip thy waste embrace thee thus Thus dally with thy haire and kisse thee thus Our Pleasures Pothean-like in sundry shapes Shall with varietie stirre daliance Sago I am immortall O diuinest creature Thou do'st excell the Gods in wit and feature False Counts you die reuenge now shakes his rods Beautie condemnes you stronger then the Gods Isab. Come Mars of louers Vulcan is not here Make vengeance like my bed quite voide of feare Sago My sences are intranst and in this slumber I taste heau'ns ioyes but cannot count the number Ex. Ambo Enter LADY LENTVLVS ABIGALL and THAIS Abigal Well Madame you see the destinie that followes marriage Our husbands are quiet now and must suffer the law Thais If my husband had beene worth the begging some Courtier would haue had him he might be beg'd well inough for he knowes not his owne wife from another Lady Lent O you 'r a couple of trusty wenches to deceiue your husbands thus Abig. If wee had not deceiu'd them thus we had been Trust wenches Thais Our husbands will be hang'd because they thinke themselu's Cuckolds Abig. If all true Cuckolds were of that minde the hangman would be the richest occupation and more wealthie widdowes then there be yonger brothers to marry them Thais The Marchant venturers would be a very small companie Abag. 'T is twelue to one of that how euer the rest scape I shall feare a massacre Thais If my husband hereafter for his wealth chance to be dub'd I 'le haue him cal'd the Knight of the supposed home Abag. Faith and it sounds well Lady Come madcaps leaue iesting and let 's deliuer them out of their earthly purgation you are the spirits that torment them but my loue and Lord kinde Mendosa will loose his life to preserue mine honor not for hate to others Abig. By my troth if I had beene his iudge I should haue hang'd him for hauing no more wit I speake as I thinke for I would not be hang'd for ne'er a man vnder the heau'ns Thais Faith I thinke I should for my Husband I doe not hold the opinion of the Philosopher that writes we loue them best that we inioy first for I protest I loue my husband better then any that did know me before Abig. So doe I yet life and pleasure are two sweet things to a woman Lady He that 's willing to die to saue mine honor I 'le die to saue his Abig. Tut beleeue it who that list wee loue a liuely man I grant you But to maintaine that life I 'le ne're consent to die This is a rule I still will keepe in brest Loue well thy husband wench but thy selfe best Thais I haue followed your counsell hetherto and meane to doe still Lady Come we neglect our businesse 't is no iesting To morrow they are executed leasse we reprieue them Wee be their destinies to cast their fate Let 's all goe Abig. I feare not to come late Exeunt Enter DON SAGO SOLVS with a case of Pistols Sago Day was my night and night must be my day The sunne shin'd on my pleasure with my loue And darknesse must lend aide to my reuenge The stage of heau'n is hung with solemne black A time best fitting to Act Tragedies The nights great Queene that maiden gouernesse Musters black clouds to hide her from the world Afraide to looke on my bold enterprise Curs'd creatures messengers of death possesse the world Night-Rauens scritch-owles and
kill him druncke Medina O shamelesse woman Isab. Thou shouldest or in the embraces of his lust It might haue beene a womans vengeance Yet I thanke thee Sago and would not wish him liuing Were my life instant ransome Card. O Madame in your soule haue charitie Isab. Ther 's money for the poore Giues him money Card. O Lady this is but a branch of charitie An ostentation or a liberall pride Let me instruct your soule for that I feare Within the painted sepulcher of flesh Lies in a dead consumption good Madame read giues a booke Isab. You put me to my booke my Lord will not that saue me Card. Yes Madame in the euerlasting world Sago Amen Amen Isab. While thou wert my seruant thou hast euer said Amen to all my wishes witnesse this spectacle Wher 's my Lord Medina Medina Here Isabella What would you Isab. May we not be reprieu'd Medina Mine honors past you may not Isab. No t is my honor past Medina Thine honors past indeed Isab. Then ther 's no hope of absolute remission Medina For that your holy Confessor will tell you Be dead to this world for I sweare you dye Were you my fathers daughter Isab. Can you doe nothing my Lord Cardinall Card. More then the world sweet Lady help to saue What hand of man wants power to destroy Isab. You 'r all for this world then why not I Were you in health and youth like me my Lord Although you merited the crowne of life And stood in state of grace assur'd of it Yet in this fearefull separation Old as you are e'ne till your latest gaspe You 'd craue the help of the Phisition And wish your dayes lengthn'd one summer longer Though all be griefe labour and misery Yet none will part with it that I can see Medina Vp to the scaffold with her 't is late Isab. Better late then neuer my good Lord you thinke You vse square dealing Medina's mighty Duke Tyrant of France sent hither by the diuell She ascends the Scaffold Medina The fitter to meete you Card. Peace Good my Lord in death doe not prouoke her Isab. Seruant low as my destiny I kneele to thee To Sago Honouring in death thy manly loyaltie And what so e'er become of my poore soule The ioyes of both worlds euermore be thine Commend me to the Noble Count Guiaca That should haue shared thy valour and my hatred Tell him I pray his pardon and Medina art yet inspir'd from heau'n Shew thy Creators Image be like him Father of mercy Medina Head's man doe thine office Isab. Now God lay all thy sinnes vpon thy head And sinke thee with them to infernall darknesse Thou teacher of the furies cruelty Card O Madame teach your selfe a better prayer This is your latest hower Isab. He is mine enemie his sight torments me I shall not die in quiet Med. I 'le be gone off with her head there Exit Isab. Tak'st thou delight to torture misery Such mercie finde thou in the day of doome Sould. My Lord here is a holy Frier desires Enter Roberto Count of Cipres in Friers weeds To haue some conference with the prisoners Roberto It is in priuate what I haue to say With fauour of your father-hood Card. Frier in Gods name welcome Roberto ascends to Isabella Rob. Lady it seemes your eye is stil the same Forgetfull of what most it should behold Doe not you know me then Isab. Holy Sir so farre you are gone from my memorie I must take truce with time ere I can know you Robert Beare record all you blessed Saints in heau'n I come not to torment thee in thy death For of himselfe hee 's terrible enough But call to minde a Ladie like your selfe And thinke how ill in such a beauteous soule Vpon the instant morrow of her nuptials Apostasie and vilde reuolt would shew With all imagine that she had a Lord Iealous the Aire should rauish her chaste lookes Doating like the creator in his models Who viewes them euery minute and with care Mixt in his feare of their obedience to him Suppose he sung through famous Italy More common then the looser songs of Petrarch To euery seuerall Zanies instrument And he poore wretch hoping some better sate Might call her back from her Adulterate purpose Liues in obscure and almost vnknowne life Till hearing that she is condemn'd to die For he once lou'd her lends his pined corps Motion to bring him to her stage of honour Where drown'd in woe at her so dismall chance He claspes her thus he fals into a trance Isab. O my offended Lord lift vp your eyes But yet auert them from my loathed sight Had I with you inioyed the lawfull pleasure To which belongs nor feare nor publike shame I might haue liu'd in honour died in fame Your pardon on my faultring knees I begge Which shall confirme more peace vnto my death Then all the graue instructions of the Church Roberto Pardon belongs vnto my holy weeds Freely thou hast it farewell my Isabella Let thy death ransome thy soule O die a rare example The kisse thou gau'st me in the church here take As I leaue thee so thou the world forsake Exit Roberto Clarid. Rare accident ill welcome noble Lord Madame your executioner desires you to forgiue him Isab. Yes and giue him too what must I doe my friend Executioner Madame onely tie vp your haire Isabella O these golden nets That haue insnar'd so many wanton youthes Not one but ha's beene held a thred of life And superstitiously depended on Now to the block we must vaile what else Executioner Madame I must intreat you blind your eyes Isabella I haue liued too long in darknesse my friend And yet mine eies with their majesticque light Haue got new Muses in a Poets spright They haue beene more gazed at then the God of Day Their brightnes neuer could be flattered Yet thou command'st a fixed cloud of Lawne To Ecclipse eternally these minutes of light What else Executioner Now Madame al 's done And when you please I 'le execute my office Isabella We will be for thee straight Giue me your blessing my Lord Cardinall Lord I am well prepar'd Murder and lust downe with my ashes sinke But like ingratefull seede perish in earth That you may neuer spring against my soule Like weedes to choake it in the heauenly haruest I fall to rise mount to thy maker spirit Leaue here thy body death ha's her demerit Strike Cardin. An host of Angels be thy conuey hence Medina To funerall with her body and this Lords None here I hope can taxe vs of iniustice She died deseruedly and may like fate Attend all women so insatiate Exeunt omnes Enter AMAGO the Duke the Watch and Senators Duke I am amazed at this maze of wonder Wherein no thred or clue presents it selfe To winde vs from the obscure passages What saies my Nephew Watch. Still resolute my Lord and doth confesse the theft Duke Wee 'll vse him like a fellon cut him
and out-wept The clouds in that same o'er-passionate moode When they drown'd all the world yet now forsakes me Women your eyes shed glances like the Sunne Now shines your brightnesse now your light is done On the sweetest Flowers you shine 't is but by chance And on the basest Weede you 'll waste a glance Your beames once lost can neuer more be found Vnlesse we waite vntill your course runne round And take you at fist hand Since I cannot Enioy the noble title of a man But after-ages as our vertues are Buryed whilst we are liuing will sound out My infamie and her degenerate shame Yet in my life I le smother 't if I may And like a dead man to the world bequeath These houses of vanitie Mils and Lands Take what you will I will not keepe among you Seruants And welcome some religious Monasterie A true sworne Beads-man I le hereafter be And wake the morning cocke with holy prayers Ser. Good my Lord noble Master Rob. Disswade me not my will shall be my King I thanke thee Wife a faire change thou hast giuen I leaue thy lust to woo the Loue of Heauen Exit cum seruis Guid. This is conuersion is 't not as good as might haue beene He turnes religious vpon his Wiues turning Curtezan This is iust like some of our gallant Prodigals When they haue consum'd their Patrimonies wrongfully They turne Capuchins for deuotion Exit Finis Actus secundi Actus tertij Scaena prima CLARIDIANA and ROGERO being in a readinesse are receiued in at one anothers houses by their Maids Then Enter MENDOSA with a Page to the Lady LENTVLVS Window Mendosa NIght like a solemne Mourner frownes on earth Enuying that Day should force her doffe her roabes Or Phoebus chase away her Melancholy Heauens eyes looke faintly through her sable masque And siluer Cinthia hyes her in her Sphaere Scorning to grace blacke nights solemnitie Be vnpropitious Night to villaine thoughts But let thy Diamonds shine on vertuous loue This is the lower house of high-built heauen Where my chaste Phaebe sits inthron'd 'mong thoughts So purely good brings her to heauen on earth Such power hath soules in contemplation Sing boy though night yet like the mornings Larke Musicke playes A soule that 's cleare is light though heauen be darke The Lady LENTVLVS at her window Lent Who speakes in Musicke to vs Mend. Sweet 't is I Boy leaue me and to bed Exit Page Lent I thanke you for your Musicke now good-night Men. Leaue not the World yet Queene of Chastitie Keepe promise with thy Loue Endimion And let mee meete thee there on Latmus top 'T is I whose vertuous hopes are firmely fixt On the fruition of thy chaste vow'd loue Lent My Lord your honor made me promise your ascent into my house since my vow barr'd my doores By some wits engine made for theft and lust Yet for your Honour and my humble fame Checke your blouds passions and returne deare Lord Suspition is a Dogge that still doth bite Without a cause this act giues foode to Enuy Swolne big it bursts and poysons our cleare flames Men. Enuy is stinglesse when she lookes on thee Lent Enuy is blinde my Lord and cannot see Men. If you breake promise faire you breake my hart Lent Then come Yet stay Ascend Yet let vs part I feare yet know not what I feare Your Loue 's precious yet mine Honor 's deare Mend. If I doe staine thy Honor with foule lust May Thunder strike me to shew Ioue is iust Lent Then come my Lord on earth your vow is giuen This aide I le lend you He throwes vp a ladder of cords which she makes fast to some part of the window he asends and at top fals M. Thus I mount my heauen Receiue me sweete Lent O me vnhappy wretch How fares your Honour speake Fate-crost Lord If life retaine his seate within you speake Else like that Sestian Dame that saw her Loue Cast by the frowning billowes on the sands And leane death swolne big with the Hellespont In bleake Leanders body like his Loue Come I to thee one graue shall serue vs both Mend. Stay miracle of women yet I breathe Though death be enter'd in this Tower of flesh Hee is not conquerour my heart stands out And yeelds to thee scorning his tyranny Lent My doores are vow'd shut and I cannot helpe you Your wounds are mortall wounded is mine Honour If there the Towne-guard finde you Vnhappy Dame Reliefe is periur'd my vow kept shame What hellish Destinie did twist my fate Mend. Rest ceaze thine eye-lids be not passionate Sweet sleepe secure I le remoue my selfe That Viper Enuy shall not spot thy fame I le take that poyson with me my soules rest For like a Serpent I le creepe on my breast Lent Thou more then man loue-wounded ioy and griefe fight in my bloud Thy wounds and constancie Are both so strong none can haue victory Mend. Darken the world earths-Queene get thee to bed The earth is light while those two Starres are spread Their splendor will betray me to mens eyes Vaile thy bright face for if thou longer stay Phoebus will rise to thee and make night day Lent To part and leaue you hurt my soule doth feare Mend. To part from hence I cannot you being there Lent Wee 'll moue together then Fate Loue controules And as we part so bodies part from soules Mend. Mine is the earth thine the refined fire I am mortall thou diuine then soule mount higher Lent Why then take comfort sweet I le see'ou to morrow Exit Men. My wounds are nothing thy losse breedes my sorrow See now 't is darke Support your Master legges a little further Faint not bolde heart with anguish of my wound Try further yet can bloud weigh downe my soule Desire is vaine without abilitie He staggars on and then fals downe Thus fals a Monarch if Fate push at him Enter a Captaine and the Watch Capt. Come on my hearts we are the Cities securitie I le giue you your charge and then like Courtiers euery man spye out let no man in my company be afraid to speake to a Cloake lined with Veluet nor tremble at the sound of a gingling Spurre 1 Watch. May I neuer be counted a cock of the game if I feare Spurres but be gelded like a Capon for the preseruing of my voyce Cap. I le haue none of my Band refraine to search a veneriall house though his Wifes sister be a lodger there nor take two shillings of the Bawd to saue the Gentlemens credits that are aloft and so like voluntary Pandars leaue them to the shame of all Halbardiers 2. Nay for the Wenches wee 'll tickle them that 's flat Cap. If you meete a Sheuoiliero that 's in the grosse phrase a Knight that swaggers in the streete and being taken has no money in his Purse to pay for his fees it shall be a part of your duty to entreate me to let him goe 1. O meruailous