conflict in my Brest This tedious War 'twixt two Affections Crown me with victory and my heart 's at peace Enter Hippolito and Guardiano like Shepherds Hip. Make me that happy man thou mighty Goddess Guard But I live most in hope if truest love Merit the greatest comfort Isab. I love both With such an even and fair affection I know not which to speak for which to wish for Till thou great Arbitress 'twixt lovers hearts By thy auspicious Grace design the man Which pitty I implore Both We all implore it Isab. And after sighs contritions truest odors Livia descends like Juno I offer to thy powerful Deity This precious Incense may it ascend peacefully And if it keep true touch my good Aunt Juno 'T will try your immortality er 't be long I fear you 'll never get so nigh Heaven again When you 're once down Liv. Though you and your affections Seem all as dark to our illustrious brightness As nights inheritance Hell we pitty you And your requests are granted You ask signs They shall be given you we 'll be gracious to you He of those twain which we determine for you Loves Arrows shall wound twice the later wound Betokens love in age for so are all Whose love continues firmly all their life time Twice wounded at their marriage else affection Dies when youth ends This favor overcomes me Now for a sign of wealth and golden days Bright-ey'd Prosperity which all couples love I and makes love take that Our Brother Jove Never denies us of his burning treasure T' express bounty Duke She falls down upon 't What 's the conceit of that Fab. As over-joy'd be like Too much prosperity overjoyes us all And she has her lapful it seems my Lord Duke This swerves a little from the Argument though Look you my Lords Guard All 's fast now comes my part to toll him hither Then with a stamp given he 's dispatch'd as cunningly Hip. Stark dead Oh treachery cruelly made away how 's that Fab. Look there 's one of the Lovers dropt away too Duke Why sure this plot 's drawn false here 's no such thing Liv. Oh I am sick to th' death let me down quickly This fume is deadly Oh 't' has poyson'd me My subtilty is sped her art h 'as quitted me My own ambition pulls me down to ruine Hip. Nay then I kiss thy cold lips and applaud This thy revenge in death Fab. Look Juno's down too Cupids shoot What makes she there her pride should keep aloft She was wont to scorn the Earth in other shows Methinks her Peacocks Feathers are much pull'd Hip. Oh death runs through my blood in a wilde flame too Plague of those Cupids some lay hold on 'em Let 'em not 'scape they have spoil'd me the shaft 's deadly Duke I have lost my self in this quite Hip. My great Lords we are all confounded Duke How Hip. Dead and I worse Fab. Dead my Girl dead I hope My Sister Juno has not serv'd me so Hip. Lust and forgetfulness has been amongst us And we are brought to nothing Some blest Charity Lend me the speeding Pitty of his Sword To quench this fire in blood Leantio's death Has brought all this upon us now I taste it And made us lay plots to confound each other The event so proves it and mans understanding Is riper at his fall then all his life time She in a madness for her lovers death Reveal'd a fearful Lust in our near bloods For which I am punish'd dreadfully and unlook'd for Prov'd her own ruine too Veng'ance met Vengeance Like a set match as if the plague of sin Had been agreed to meet here altogether But how her fawning partner fell I reach not Unless caught by some spring of his own setting For on my pain he never dream'd of dying The plot was all his own and he had cunning Enough to save himself but 't is the property Of guilty deeds to draw your wisemen downward Therefore the wonder ceases Oh this torment Duke Our Guard below there Enter a Lord with a Guard Lord My Lord Hip. Run and meet death then And cut off time and pain Lord Behold my Lord h 'as run his Brest upon a weapons point Duke Upon the first night of our nuptial honors Destruction play her triumph and great mischiefs Mask in expected pleasures 't is prodigious They 're things most fearfully ominous I like 'em not Remove these ruin'd bodies from our eyes Bran. Not yet no change when falls he to the Earth Lord Please but your Excellence to peruse that Paper Which is a brief confession from the heart Of him that fell first ere his soul departed And there the darkness of these deeds speaks plainly 'T is the full scope the manner and intent His Ward that ignorantly let him down Fear put to present flight at the voice of him Bran. Nor yet Duke Read read for I am lost in sight and strength L. Card. My noble Brother Bran. Oh the curse of wretchedness My deadly hand is faln upon my Lord Destruction take me to thee give me way The pains and plagues of a lost soul upon him That hinders me a moment Duke My heart swells bigger yet help here break 't ope My brest flies open next Bran. Oh with the poyson That was prepar'd for thee thee Cardinal 'T was meant for thee L. Card. Poor Prince Bran. Accursed Error Give me thy last breath thou infected bosome And wrap two spirits in one poyson'd vapor Thus thus reward thy murderer and turn death Into a parting kiss My soul stands ready at my lips Ev'n vext to stay one minute after thee L. Card. The greatest sorrow and astonishment That ever struck the general peace of Florence Dwells in this hour Bran. So my desires are satisfied I feel deaths power within me Thou hast prevail'd in something cursed poyson Though thy cheif force was spent in my Lords bosom But my deformity in spirit 's more foul A blemish'd face best fits a leprous soul What make I here these are all strangers to me Not known but by their malice now th' art gone Nor do I seek their pities Card. O restrain Her ignorant wilful hand Bran. Now do 't is done Leantio Now I feel the breach of marriage At my heart-breaking Oh the deadly snares That Women set for Women without pity Either to soul or honor Learn by me To know your foes In this belief I die Like our own Sex we have no Enemy no Enemy Lord See my Lord What shift sh 'as made to be her own destruction Bran. Pride Greatness Honors Beauty Youth Ambition You must all down together there 's no help for 't Yet this my gladness is that I remove Tasting the same death in a cup of love L. Card. Sin what thou art these ruines show too piteously Two Kings on one Throne cannot sit together But one must needs down for his Titles wrong So where lust raigns that Prince cannot raign long Exeunt FINIS
Set in Mortalities shortness I speak this Not for Religion but for love of her Whom I wish less religious and more loving But I fear she 's too constant that 's her fault But 't is so rare few of her sex are took with 't And that makes some amends L. Card. You have put my zeal into a way my Lord I shall not be at peace till I make perfect I 'll make her victory harder 't is my crown When I bring grace to great'st perfection And I dare trust that daughter with a world None but her vow and she I know she wears A constancy will not deceive my praises A Faith so noble she that once knows Heaven Need put in no security for her truth I dare believe her face use all the art Temptation witcheries sleights and subtleties You Temporal Lords and all your means can practise 2. Lord My Lord not any we L. Card. Her resolute goodness Shall as a Rock stand firm and send the sin That beat against it into the bosom of the owners weeping 3. Lord We with her vertues so L. Card. O give me pardon I have lost my self in her upon my friends Your charitable censures I beseech So dear her white fame is to my souls love 'T is an affliction but to hear it question'd She 's my religious triumph If you desire a belief rightly to her Think she can never waver then you 'r sure She has a fixed heart it cannot erre He kills my hopes of woman that doubts her 1. Lord No more my Lord 't is fixt L. Card. Believe my Judgment I never praise in vain nor ever spent Opinion idlely or lost hopes of any Where I once plac'd it welcome as my joys Now you all part believers of her Vertue All L. We are the same most firmly L. Card. Good opinion In others reward you and all your actions Who 's neer us Enter a Servant Serv. My Lord L. Card. Call our Nephew There 's a work too That for bloods sake I labor to make perfect And it comes on with joy he 's but a youth To speak of years yet I dare venture him To old mens goodnesses and gravities For his strict manners and win glory by him And for the chastness of his continence Which is a rare grace in the spring of man He do's excel the youth of all our time Which gift of his more then affinity Draws my affection in great plenty to him The company of a woman is as fearful to him As death to guilty men I'have seen him blush When but a Maid was nam'd I 'm proud of him Heaven be not angry for 't He 's near of kin In disposition to me I shall do much for him In life time but in death I shall do all There he will finde my love He 's yet too yong In years to rise in state but his good parts Will bring him in the sooner Here he comes Enter Lactantio with a Book What at thy Meditation half in Heaven Lact. The better half my Lord my minde 's there still And when the heart 's above the body walks here But like an idle Serving-man below Gaping and waiting for his Masters coming L. Card. What man in age could bring forth graver thoughts Lact. He that lives Fourscore years is but like one That stays here for a Friend when death comes then Away he goes and is ne'er seen again I wonder at the yongmen of our days That they can dote on pleasure or what 't is They give that title too unless in mockage There 's nothing I can finde upon the Earth Worthy the name of pleasure unless 't be To laugh at folly which indeed good Charity Should rather pitty But of all the frenzies That follow flesh and blood O reverend Uncle The most ridiculous is to fawn on women There 's no excuse for that 't is such a madness There is no cure set down for 't no Physitian Ever spent hour about it for they ghest 'T was all in vain when they first lov'd themselves And never since durst practise cry Heu mihi That 's all the help they have for 't I had rather meet A Witch far North then a fine Fool in love The sight would less afflict me but for modesty And your grave presence that learns men respect I should fall foul in words upon fond man That can forget his excellence and honor His serious Meditations being the end Of his Creation to learn well to die And live a prisoner to a womans eye Can there be greater thraldom greater folly L. Card. In making him my heir I make good works And they give wealth a blessing where on the contrary What curses does he heap upon his soul That leaves his riches to a riotous yong man To be consum'd on Surfeits Pride and Harlets Peace be upon that spirit whose life provides A quiet rest for mine Enter Page with a Letter Lact. How now the news Page A Letter Sir brought by a Gentleman That lately came from Rome Lact. That 's she she 's come I fear not to admit her in his presence There is the like already I 'm writ chaste In my grave Uncles thoughts and honest meanings Think all men's like their own Thou look'st so pale What ail'st thou here a' late Page I doubt I have cause Sir Lact. Why what 's the news Page I fear Sir I 'm with childe Lact. With childe peace peace speak low Page 'T will prove I fear so Lact. Beshrew my heart for that Desire the Gentleman To walk a turn or two L. Card. What Gentleman Lact. One lately come from Rome my Lord in credit With L. Vincentio so the Letter speaks him L. Card. Admit him my kinde Boy the prettiest Servant That ever man was blest with 't is so meek So good and gentle 't was the best almsdeed That ere you did to keep him I have oft took him Weeping alone poor Boy at the remembrance Of his lost friends which as he says the Sea Swallow'd with all their substance Lact. 'T is a truth Sir Has cost the poor Boy many a feeling tear And me some too for company In such pity I always spend my part Here comes the Gentleman Enter Aurelia like a Gentleman L. Card. Welcome to Milan Sir how is the health Of L. Vincentio Aur. May it please your Grace I left it well and happy and I hope The same Blest Fortune keeps it L. Card. I hear your near him Aur. One of his Chamber my Lord Lact. I 'd near wish one of her condition nearer Then to be one of mine L. Card. Your news is pleasing Whilst you remain in Milan I request you To know the welcome of no house but ours Aur. Thanks to your Grace L. Card. I 'll leave you to confer I 'll to the Dutchess and labor her perfection Exit Cardinal Lact. Then thus begins our conference I arrest thee In Cupids name deliver up your weapon It is not for your wearing Venus knows
Ev'n so do I Madam Liv. I pray take some of your neighbors along with you Moth. They must be those are almost twice your years then If they be chose fit matches for my time Madam Liv. Has not my Duke bestir'd himself Moth. Yes faith Madam h 'as done me all the mischief in this Game Liv. H 'as shew'd himself in 's kinde Moth. In 's kinde call you it I may swear that Liv. Yes faith and keep your oath Guard Hark list there 's some body coming down 't is she Enter Brancha Bran. Now bless me from a blasting I saw that now Fearful for any womans eye to look on Infectious mists and mill-dews hang at 's eyes The weather of a doomsday dwells upon him Yet since mine honor 's Leprous who should I Preserve that fair that caus'd the Leprosie Come poyson all at once Thou in whose baseness The bane of Vertue broods I 'm bound in Soul Eternally to curse thy smooth brow'd treachery That wore the fair vail of a friendly welcome And I a stranger think upon 't 't is worth it Murders pil'd up upon a guilty spirit At his last breath will not lie heavier Then this betraying Act upon thy Conscience Beware of offring the first-fruits to sin His weight is deadly who commits with strumpets After they have been abas'd and made for use If they offend to th' death as wise men know How much more they then that first make 'em so I give thee that to feed on I 'm made bold now I thank thy treachery sin and I 'm acquainted No couple greater and I 'm like that great one Who making politick use of a base villain He likes the Treason well but hates the Traytor So I hate thee slave Guard Well so the Duke love me I fare not much amiss then two great Feasts Do seldom come together in one day We must not look for 'em Bran. What at it still Mother Moth. You see we sit by 't are you so soon return'd Liv. So lively and so chearful a good sign that Moth. You have not seen all since sure Bran. That have I Mother The Monument and all I 'm so beholding To this kinde honest curteous Gentleman You 'ld little think it Mother show'd me all Had me from place to place so fashionably The kindness of some people how 't exceeds 'Faith I have seen that I little thought to see I' th' morning when I rose Moth. Nay so I told you Before you saw 't it would prove worth your sight I give you great thanks for my daughter Sir And all your kindness towards her Guard O good Widow Much good may do her forty weeks hence y'faith Enter Servant Liv. Now Sir Serv. May 't please you Madam to walk in Supper 's upon the Table Liv. Yes we come Wilt please you Gentlewoman Bran. Thanks vertuous Lady Y' are a damn'd Baud I 'll follow you forsooth Pray take my Mother in an old Ass go with you This Gentleman and I vow not to part Liv. Then get you both before Bran. There lies his art Exeunt Liv. Widow I 'll follow you is 't so Damn'd Baud Are you so bitter 'T is but want of use Her tender modesty is Sea-sick a little Being not accustom'd to the breaking billow Of Womans wavering Faith blown with temptations 'T is but a qualm of honor 't will away A little bitter for the time but lasts not Sin tastes at the first draught like Worm-wood Water But drunk again 't is Nectar ever after Exit Act. 3. Scaen. 1. Enter Mother Moth. I Would my Son would either keep at home Or I were in my grave she was but one day abroad but ever since She 's grown so cutted there 's no speaking to her Whether the sight of great chear at my Ladies And such mean fare at home work discontent in her I know not but I 'm sure she 's strangely alter'd I 'll nev'r keep daughter-in-law i' th' house with me Again if I had an hundred When read I of any That agreed long together but she and her mother Fell out in the first quarter nay sometime A grudging of a scolding the first week by 'r Lady So takes the new disease methinks in my house I 'm weary of my part there 's nothing likes her I know not how to please her here a-late And here she comes Enter Brancha Bran: This is the strangest house For all defects as ever Gentlewoman Made shift withal to pass away her love in Why is there not a Cushion-cloth of Drawn work Or some fair Cut-work pin'd up in my Bed-chamber A silver and gilt-casting Bottle hung by 't Nay since I am content to be so kinde to you To spare you for a silver Bason and Ewre Which one of my fashion looks for of duty She 's never offered under where she sleeps Moth. She talks of things here my whole state 's not worth Bran. Never a green silk quilt is there i' th' house Mother To cast upon my Bed Moth. No by troth is there Nor orange tawny neither Bran. Here 's a house For a yong Gentlewoman to be got with childe in Moth. Yes simple though you make it there has been three Got in a year in 't since you move me to 't And all as sweet fac'd children and as lovely As you 'll be Mother of I will not spare you What cannot children be begot think you Without gilt casting Bottles Yes and as sweet ones The Millers daughter brings forth as white boys As she that bathes her self with Milk and Bean flower 'T is an old saying One may keep good cheer In a mean house so may true love affect After the rate of Princes in a Cottage Bran. Troth you speak wondrous well for your old house here 'T will shortly fall down at your feet to thank you Or stoop when you go to Bed like a good childe To ask you blessing Must I live in want Because my fortune matcht me with your Son Wives do not give away themselves to husbands To the end to be quite cast away they look To be the better us'd and tender'd rather Highlier respected and maintain'd the richer They 're well rewarded else for the free gift Of their whole life to a husband I ask less now Then what I had at home when I was a Maid And at my Fathers house kept short of that Which a wife knows she must have nay and will Will Mother if she be not a fool born And report went of me that I could wrangle For what I wanted when I was two hours old And by that copy this Land still I hold You hear me Mother Exit Moth. I too plain methinks And were I somewhat deafer when you spake 'T were nev'r awhit the worse for my quietness 'T is the most sudden'st strangest alteration And the most subtilest that ev'r wit at threescore Was puzzled to finde out I know no cause for 't but She 's no more like the Gentlewoman at first Then
I am like her that nev'r lay with man yet And she 's a very yong thing where ere she be When she first lighted here I told her then How mean she should finde all things she was pleas'd forsooth None better I laid open all defects to her She was contented still but the Devil 's in her Nothing contents her now To night my Son Promisd to be at home would he were come once For I 'm weary of my charge and life too She 'ld be serv'd all in silver by her good will By night and day she hates the name of Pewterer More then sickmen the noise or diseas'd bones That quake at fall o' th' Hammer seeming to have A fellow-feeling with 't at every blow What course shall I think on she frets me so Enter Leantio Lean. How near am I now to a happiness That Earth exceeds not not another like it The treasures of the deep are not so precious As are the conceal'd comforts of a man Lockt up in womans love I sent the air Of Blessings when I come but near the house What a delicious breath Marriage sends forth The Violet-beds not sweeter Honest wedlock Is like a Banquetting-house built in a Garden On which the Springs chaste flowers take delight To cast their modest odors when base Lust With all her powders paintings and best pride Is but a fair house built by a Ditch side When I behold a glorious dangerous Strumpet Sparkling in Beauty and Destruction too Both at a twinkling I do liken straight Her beautifi'd body to a goodly Temple That 's built on Vaults where Carkasses lie rotting And so by little and little I shrink back again And quench desire with a cool Meditation And I 'm as well methinks Now for a welcome Able to draw mens envies upon man A kiss now that will hang upon my lip As sweet as morning dew upon a Rose And full as long after a five days fast She 'll be so greedy now and cling about me I take care how I shall be rid of her And here 't begins Bran. Oh Sir y' are welcome home Moth. Oh is he come I am glad on 't Lean, Is that all Why this as dreadful now as sudden death To some rich man that flatters all his sins With promise of Repentance when he 's old And dies in the midway before he comes to 't Sure y' are not well Brancha How do'st prethee Bran. I have been better then I am at this time Lean. Alas I thought so Bran. Nay I have been worse too Then now you see me Sir Lean. I 'm glad thou mendst yet I feel my heart mend too How came it to thee Has any thing dislik'd thee in my absence Bran. No certain I have had the best content That Florence can afford Lean. Thou makest the best on 't Speak Mother what 's the cause you must needs know Moth. Troth I know none Son let her speak her self Unless it be the same gave Lucifer a tumbling cast that 's pride Bran. Methinks this house stands nothing to my minde I 'ld have some pleasant lodging i' th' high street Sir Or if 't were neer the Court Sir that were much better 'T is a sweet recreation for a Gentlewoman To stand in a Bay-window and see gallants Lean. Now I have another temper a meer stranger To that of yours it seems I should delight To see none but your self Bran. I praise not that Too fond is as unseemly as too churlish I would not have a husband of that proneness To kiss me before company for a world Beside 't is tedious to see one thing still Sir Be it the best that ever heart affected Nay wer 't your self whose love had power you know To bring me from my friends I would not stand thus And gaze upon you always Troth I could not Sir As good be blinde and have no use of sight As look on one thing still What 's the eyes treasure But change of objects You are learned Sir And know I speak not ill 'till full as vertuous For womans eye to look on several men As for her heart Sir to be fixed on one Lean. Now thou com'st home to me a kiss for that word Bran. No matter for a kiss Sir let it pass 'T is but a toy we 'll not so much as minde it Let 's talk of other business and forget it What news now of the Pirats any stirring Prethee discourse a little Moth. I am glad he 's here yet To see her tricks himself I had lied monst'rously If I had told 'em first Lean. Speak what 's the humor Sweet You make your lip so strange this was not wont Bran. Is there no kindness betwixt man and wife Unless they make a Pigeon-house of friendship And be still billing 't is the idlest fondness That ever was invented and 't is pity It s grown a fashion for poor Gentlewomen There 's many a disease kiss'd in a year by 't And a French cursie made to 't Alas Sir Think of the world how we shall live grow serious We have been married a whole fortnight now Lean. How a whole fortnight why is that so long Bran. 'T is time to leave off dalliance 't is a doctrine Of your own teaching if you be remembred And I was bound to obey it Moth. Here 's one fits him This was well catch'd y'faith Son like a fellow That rids another Countrey of a Plague And brings it home with him to his own house Knock within Who knocks Lean. Who 's there now withdraw you Brancha Thou art a Jem no strangers eye must see How ev'r thou pleas'd now to look dull on me Exit Enter Messenger Y' are welcome Sir to whom your business pray Mess. To one I see not here now Lean. Who should that be Sir Mess. A yong Gentlewoman I was sent to Lean. A yong Gentlewoman Mess. I Sir about sixteen why look you wildly Sir Lean. At your strange error Y'have mistook the house Sir There 's none such here I assure you Mess. I assure you too The man that sent me cannot be mistook Lean. Why who is 't sent you Sir Mess. The Duke Lean. The Duke Mess. Yes he entreates her company at a Banquet At Lady Livia's house Lean. Troth shall I tell you Sir It is the most erroneous business That ere your honest pains was abus'd with I pray forgive me if I smile a little I cannot chuse y'faith Sir at an error So Comical as this I mean no harm though His grace has been most wondrous ill inform'd Pray so return it Sir What should her name be Mess. That I shall tell you straight too Brancha Capella Lean. How Sir Brancha What do you call th' other Mess. Capella Sir it seems you know no such then Lean. Who should this be I never heard o' th' name Mess. Then 't is a sure mistake Lean. What if you enquir'd In the next street Sir I saw Gallants there In the new houses that are built
'll hearken to you Hip. Yes my Lord I make no doubt as I shall take the course Which she shall never know till it be acted And when she wakes to honor then she 'll thank me for 't I 'll imitate the pities of old Surgeons To this lost limb who ere they show their art Cast one asleep then cut the diseas'd part So out of love to her I pity most She shall not feel him going till he 's lost Then she 'll commend the cure Exit Duke The great cure 's past I count this done already his wrath 's sure And speaks an injury deep farewel Leantio This place will never hear thee murmur more Our noble Brother welcome Enter Lord Cardinal attended Card. Set those lights down Depart till you be called Duke There 's serious business Fixed in his look nay it enclines a little To the dark colour of a discontentment Brother what is 't commands your eye so powerfully Speak you seem lost Card. The thing I look on seems so To my eyes lost for ever Duke You look on me Card. What a grief 't is to a religious feeling To think a man should have a friend so goodly So wise so noble nay a Duke a Brother And all this certainly damn'd Duke How Card. 'T is no wonder If your great sin can do 't dare you look up For thinking of a veng'ance dare you sleep For fear of never waking but to death And dedicate unto a strumpets love The strength of your affections zeal and health Here you stand now can you assure your pleasures You shall once more enjoy her but once more Alas you cannot what a misery 't is then To be more certain of eternal death Then of a next embrace nay shall I shew you How more unfortunate you stand in sin Then the love private man all his offences Like inclos'd grounds keep but about himself And seldom stretch beyond his own souls bounds And when a man grows miserable 't is some comfort When he 's no further charg'd then with himself 'T is a sweet ease to wretchedness But great man Ev'ry sin thou commit'st shews like a flame Upon a Mountain 't is seen far about And with a big wind made of popular breath The sparkles flie through Cities Here one takes Another catches there and in short time Waste all to cinders But remember still What burnt the Valleys first came from the Hill Ev'ry offence draws his particular pain But 't is example proves the great mans bane The sins of mean men lie like scatter'd parcels Of an unperfect bill but when such fall Then comes example and that sums up all And this your reason grants if men of good lives Who by their vertuous actions stir up others To noble and religious imitation Receive the greater glory after death As sin must needs confess what may they feel In height of torments and in weight of veng'ance Not onely they themselves not doing well But sets a light up to shew men to Hell Duke If you have done I have no more sweet Brother Card. I know time spent in goodness is too tedious This had not been a moments space in Lust now How dare you venture on eternal pain That cannot bear a minuts reprehension Methinks you should endure to hear that talkt of Which you so strive to suffer Oh my Brother What were you if you were taken now My heart weeps blood to think on 't 't is a work Of infinite mercy you can never merit That yet you are not death-struck no not yet I dare not stay you long for fear you should not Have time enough allow'd you to repent in There 's but this Wall betwixt you and destruction When y' are at strongest and but poor thin clay Think upon 't Brother can you come so near it For a fair strumpets love and fall into A torment that knows neither end nor bottom For beauty but the deepness of a skin And that not of their own neither Is she a thing Whom sickness dare not visit or age look on Or death resist does the worm shun her grave If not as your soul knows it why should Lust Bring man to lasting pain for rotten dust Duke Brother of spotless honor let me weep The first of my repentance in thy bosome And shew the blest fruits of a thankful spirit And if I ere keep woman more unlawfully May I want penitence at my greatest need And wisemen know there is no barren place Threatens more famine then a dearth in grace Card. Why here 's a conversion is at this time Brother Sung for a Himn in Heaven and at this instant The powers of darkness groan makes all Hell sorry First I praise Heaven then in my work I glory Who 's there attends without Enter Servants Serv. My Lord Card. Take up those lights there was a thicker darkness When they came first The peace of a fair Soul Keep with my noble Brother Exit Cardinal c. Duke Joys be with you Sir She lies alone to night for 't and must still Though it be hard to conquer but I have vow'd Never to know her as a strumpet more And I must save my oath if Fury fail not Her husband dies to night or at the most Lives not to see the morning spent to morrow Then will I make her lawfully mine own Without this sin and horror Now I 'm chidden For what I shall enjoy then unforbidden And I 'll not freeze in Stoves 't is but a while Live like a hopeful Bridegroom chaste from flesh And pleasure then will seem new fair and fresh Exit Scaen 2. Enter Hippolito Hip: The morning so far wasted yet his baseness So impudent See if the very Sun do not blush at him Dare he do thus much and know me alive Put case one must be vitious as I know my self Monstrously guilty there 's a blinde time made for 't He might use onely that 't were conscionable Art silence closeness subtlety and darkness Are fit for such a business but there 's no pity To be bestow'd on an apparent sinner An impudent day-light Leacher the great zeal I bear to her advancement in this match With Lord Vincentio as the Duke has wrought it To the perpetual honor of our house Puts fire into my blood to purge the air Of this corruption fear it spread too far And poyson the whole hopes of this fair fortune I love her good so dearly that no Brother Shall venture farther for a Sisters glory Then I for her preferment Enter Leantio and a Page Lean. Once again I 'll see that glistring Whore shines like a Serpent Now the Court Sun 's upon her Page Page Anon Sir I 'll go in state too see the Coach be ready Lean. I 'll hurry away presently Hip. Yes you shall hurry And the Devil after you take that at setting forth Now and you 'll draw we are upon equal terms Sir Thou took'st advantage of my name in honor Upon my Sister I nev'r
chance Not got of their own natures Liv. I conceive you Sir Even to a longing for performance on 't And here behold some fruits Forgive me both What I am now return'd to Sence and Judgment Is not the same Rage and distraction Presented lately to you that rude form Is gone for ever I am now my self That speaks all peace and friendship and these tears Are the true springs of hearty penitent sorrow For those foul wrongs which my forgetful fury Sland'red your vertues with This Gentleman Is well resolv'd now Guard I was never otherways I knew alas 't was but your anger spake it And I nev'r thought on 't more Hip. Pray rise good Sister Isab. Here 's ev'n as sweet amends made for a wrong now As one that gives a wound and pays the Surgeon All the smart 's nothing the great loss of blood Or time of hind'rance Well I had a Mother I can dissemble too What wrongs have slipt Through angers ignorance Aunt my heart forgives Guard Why thus tuneful now Hip. And what I did Sister Was all for honors cause which time to come Will approve to you Liv. Being awak'd to goodness I understand so much Sir and praise now The fortune of your arm and of your safety For by his death y'have rid me of a sin As costly as ev'r woman doted on T' has pleas'd the Duke so well too that behold Sir Has sent you here your pardon which I kist With most affectionate comfort when 't was brought Then was my fit just past it came so well me thought To glad my heart Hip. I see his Grace thinks on me Liv. There 's no talk now but of the preparation For the great marriage Hip. Does he marry her then Liv. With all speed suddenly as fast as cost Can be laid on with many thousand hands This Gentleman and I had once a purpose To have honored the first marriage of the Duke With an invention of his own 't was ready The pains well past most of the charge bestow'd on 't Then came the death of your good Mother Neece And turn'd the glory of it all to black 'T is a device would fit these times so well too Art's treasury not better if you 'll joyn It shall be done the cost shall all be mine Hip. Y'have my voice first 't will well approve my thankfulness For the Dukes love and favor Liv. What say you Neece Isab. I am content to make one Guard The plot 's full then Your pages Madam will make shift for Cupids Liv. That will they Sir Guard You 'll play your old part still Liv. What is 't good troth I have ev'n forgot it Guard Why Iuno Pronuba the Marriage-Goddess Liv. 'T is right indeed Guard And you shall play the Nymph That offers sacrifice to appease her wrath Isab. Sacrifice good Sir Liv. Must I be appeased then Guard That 's as you list your self as you see cause Liv. Methinks 't would shew the more state in her diety To be Incenst Isab. 'T would but my Sacrifice Shall take a course to appease you or I 'll fail in 't And teach a sinful Baud to play a Goddess Guard For our parts we 'll not be ambitious Sir Please you walk in and see the project drawn Then take your choice Hip. I weigh not so I have one Exit Liv. How much ado have I to restrain fury From breaking into curses Oh how painful 't is To keep great sorrow smother'd sure I think 'T is harder to dissemble Grief then Love Leantio here the weight of thy loss lies Which nothing but destruction can suffice Exeunt Hoboys Scaen 3. Enter in great state the Duke and Brancha richly attir'd with Lords Cardinals Ladies and other Attendants they pass solemnly over Enter L Cardinal in a rage seeming to break off the Ceremony L. Card. Cease cease Religious Honors done to sin Disparage Vertues reverence and will pull Heavens thunder upon Florence holy Ceremonies Were made for sacred uses not for sinful Are these the fruits of your Repentance Brother Better it had been you had never sorrow'd Then to abuse the benefit and return To worse then where sin left you Vow'd you then never to keep Strumpet more And are you now so swift in your desires To knit your honors and your life fast to her Is not sin sure enough to wretched man But he must bind himself in chains to 't Worse Must marriage that immaculate robe of honor That renders Vertue glorious fair and fruitful To her great Master be now made the Garment Of Leprousie and Foulness is this Penitence To sanctifie hot Lust what is it otherways Then worship done to Devils is this the best Amends that sin can make after her riots As if a Drunkard to appease Heavens wrath Should offer up his surfeit for a Sacrifice If that be comly then Lust's offerings are On Wedlocks sacred Altar Duke Here y' are bitter Without cause Brother what I vow'd I keep As safe as you your Conscience and this needs not I taste more wrath in 't then I do Religion And envy more then goodness the path now I tread is honest leads to lawful love Which vertue in her strictness would not check I vow'd no more to keep a sensual woman 'T is done I mean to make a lawful wife of her L. Card. He that taught you that craft Call him not Master long he will undo you Grow not too cunning for your soul good Brother Is it enough to use adulterous thefts And then take sanctuary in marriage I grant so long as an offender keeps Close in a priviledged Temple his life 's safe But if he ever venture to come out And so be taken then he surely dies for 't So now y' are safe but when you leave this body Mans onely priviledg'd Temple upon Earth In which the guilty soul takes sanctuary Then you 'll perceive what wrongs chaste vows endure When Lust usurps the Bed that should be pure Bran. Sir I have read you over all this while In silence and I finde great knowledge in you And severe learning yet 'mongst all your vertues I see not charity written which some call The first-born of Religion and I wonder I cannot see 't in yours Believe it Sir There is no vertue can be sooner miss'd Or later welcom'd it begins the rest And sets 'em all in order Heaven and Angels Take great delight in a converted sinner Why should you then a Servant and Professor Differ so much from them If ev'ry woman That commits evil should be therefore kept Back in desires of goodness how should vertue Be known and honor'd From a man that 's blinde To take a burning Taper 't is no wrong He never misses it But to take light From one that see 's that 's injury and spight Pray whether is Religion better serv'd When lives that are licentious are made honest Then when they still run through a sinful blood 'T is nothing Vertues Temples to deface But