if thou hast a soule Pray t is my charity to let thee live Two minutes longer Va. Madam Ardelia You wo'not use me thus Ar. Will you pray sir Va. Alas I have forgot I ha'not pray'd This tweny yeares at least I am willing Madam To obey and quit the Chamber pardon me My ghost may in revenge els do you a mischeife And betray Bentivolio to the Duke But if you let me live I will be dumbe Madam consider a wild flesh and blood And give me leave to spend my rest of life Onely in thinking out some fit repentance For I will never speake if you suspect me One knocks The Duke is come already I am undone Mercy and some concealment Goes behinde the hangings Bentivolio opens the dore Ben. Ardelia Alone I heard another voyce with whom Were you in Dialogue and the dore so fast Ar. It is but your suspition Ben. This dissembling I like not Ar. If he know who t is I shall Inflame his Jealousie deere heart appeare Lesse troubled do not throw such busie eyes About the roome I 'le whisper 't in thy eare The Duke Ben. Where Ar. There obscur'd behind the hangings Upon thy entrance Ben. Guilt has made him fearefull Oh I am lost and thou art now not worth My glorious rescue Ar. Softly by all goodnes He has not injurd me and if you durst But trust our private conference I 'le die Rather then bring thee ruines of my honor Ben. If thou beest yet white my owne arme secures thee From all his lust hereafter Va. Oh He wounds Valerio behind the hangings I am murder'd Ar. What have you done Ben. Nothing but kild the Duke You shall with me Ar. Whither Ben. No matter where So we escape the infection of this Ayre Exeunt Valerio falls into the Stage Va. I am caught in my owne toyles by the same Engine I rais'd to the Dukes death I fall my selfe The mistery of fate I am rewarded And that which was the ranke part of my life My blood is met withall and t is my wonder My veines should run so cleere a red wherein so much blacke sinne was wont to bath it selfe I wo'd looke up and beg with my best strength Of voyce and heart forgivenes but heaven's just Thus death payes treason and blood quencheth lust Moritur Enter Leontio melancholy Some cry treason within Leo. Although I love and wish the act of treason The noise yet comes to neare me Enter Strozzi Str. Oh my Lord The Duke is kil'd Leo. The Duke by what blacke murderer Str. That gives the State another wound we cannot Suspect who was the traytor to revenge it But whosoever was guilty of this paracide Is still within the Court the deeds so fresh He cannot be farre off Leo. Shut up the gates And plant a strong guard round about the palace Let none goe forth in paine of death the divell Sha'not obscure him here with his blacke wings Though he rob Hell to cover us with darknes Wee 'le find him under twenty foggs and drag him To his just torment Str. Y' are his pious successor Exit Leo. T is done and my ambition 's satisfied Containe my heart but to which bold assassinate Pallante or Bentivolio must I owe This bloody service Enter Pallante Pall. I ha' don 't my Lord Leo. Softly thou art my brave and glorious villaine Pall. There have beene better titles sir bestow'd On men of my desert the killing of My lawfull Prince hath beene esteem'd an act 'Bove the reward of villaine though I know I am one and a monstrous villaine too I wo'd not be cal'd so Leo. Thou sha't devide Titles with me dost thinke I 'le not reward it Thou art sad Pall. I am a litle melancholy After my worke Leo. Dost thou repent thy service Pall. Were he alive I 'de kill him agen for you T is not his death that hants my conscience But the condition and State he died in That troubles me Leo. What State or what condition Pall. When I had taught him to beleeve he was not Long liv'd and that your Lordship had by me Sent him a writ of ease for I 'le make short Leo. Didst thou discover me Pall. Why not I was To take an order he should n'ere reveale it Upon the mention of your name my Lord He fetch'd a sigh I thought would have prevented My execution on his heart as if That were a greater wound then death upon him But I whose resolute soule was deafe to his prayer Bath'd in as many teares as would have wrought A Marble to compassion bid him choose The humor he would die in and collect Some thoughts to waite upon him to eternity And what doe you thinke he made his choice Leo. I know not Pall. To die an honest man no wish to part The world with faire Ardelia in his armes and give his ghost up in a wan-ton kisse But with a thousand groanes calling upon Euphemia to forgive him to whose vertue His soule was going forth to meete and seale To it a new and everlasting marriage Nay he had so much charity to forgive You sir and me and would have pray'd for us But that I sent the message to his bosome That made him quiet and so left his highnes Had he died obstinate in his sinnes the wanton Lascivious Duke he liv'd I wo'd not blush for 't Leo. Why dost relent for this Pall. I find some mutiny In my conscience pray my Lord tell me Do not you wish it were undone Leo. Thou hast The tremblings of an infant it exalts My thoughts to another heaven Pallante thou Must not leave here but make Leontio owe His perfect blessing to thy act goe to Euphemia and with thy best art drop This newes into her eare Within Away with 'em Leo. What tumults that Enter Bentivolio and Ardelia with officers Off. My Lord we have found the traytor He does confesse he kil'd the Duke Pall. Howe 's that Leo. He kil'd the Duke t is Bentivolio Ben. I did my Lord you shannot trouble much Examination with this hand I sacrific'd Ferneze and you ought to call my act Pious and thanke me for removing such A tyrant whose perfidious breath had heaven Beene longer patient wo'd have blasted Parma Leo. And in the confidence of this service done You present your selfe to be rewarded Ben. I meant not to have troubled you for that Had not their force compeld us backe Leo. Come neerer Ar. I wonder at this noyse of the Dukes death Valerios tragedy is all that we Are guilty of which yet I have conceal'd From Bentivolio Leo. Had you no ayde To this great execution did you doo 't alone Ben. Alone and t is my glory that Noe hand can boast his fatall wound but mine And if you dare be just my Lord Leo. Be confident There is some mistery in this Pallante Both could not kill the Duke he does accuse himselfe Pall. I am all wonder my good Lord Leo. You are sure t is done
after a Journey 't is a Justice To change and a security a woman Is Tyrant when she finds a dotage Love But wisely to delight our hearts not ruine 'em With too severe impression Leo. Prethee tell me What doe most men desire that are in love Val. In this wise love I meane why my Lord they Desire to enioy their Mistresses what else Can be expected and 't is necessary In my opinion Leo. Hadst thou beene woman Thou wod'st not have beene so cruell Val. Troth my Lord I know not how the sex might have corrupted mee But had I beene Adonis without question My Lady Venus should have had no cause To accuse my bashfullnesse I should have left The Forrest to have hunted Leo. I beleeve it Val. But I must be content Sil. Nothing will much trouble thy head Ualerio Val. I doe not vex my selfe with much inquirie What men doe in the Indies or what Trade The great Turke 's on nor what his designe is Nor does the State at home much trouble me After the warres I enioy my limbs and can Boast some activitie untill some woman In kindnesse take me downe be ruled by me Employ your spring and youth upon those Joyes They are fit for beget a new Elizium Under some pleasing shade le ts lie and laugh Our Temples crown'd with Roses with the choyse And richest blood of Grapes quicken our veines Some faire cheek'd boyes skinking our swelling Cups And we with Joviall soules shooting them round At each mans lip a Mistresse Sil. I did looke for this before Val. They in this Bower Shall with their Songs and Musicke charme our eares And nimbly dance their bright haire loosely spread Nor shall they more their amorous beauties hide Then those contended for the golden Ball Leo. Thou wod'st imagine many fine devices But after all these pleasures as there is A limit and a period set what will Succeed these raptures when they are past enjoyings But leave so many stings upon our thoughts Val. We wo'not thinke of that or if we do Wee 'le venture upon Fortunes curtesie Leo. Thou art resolute Valerio if ere sorrow Lay seige to me I 'le wish thee my companion Val. I am your humble creature and shall be honord In your commands Enter Ascanio As. My Lord the Duke Ask'd for you Ascanio whispers with Valerio and Silvio Ardelia Leo. I 'le attend Whither in hast Val. We are commanded to attend Sil. It is his pleasure we should waite upon her To his presence Leo. Ardelia It will become you and but that his highnes Exacts my person I should be a part Exeunt Of her attendance but not serve her with Halfe the devotion I would pay Euphemia The too much injur'd Dutchesse now a stranger To the Dukes bosome while another sits And rules his heart but this prepares my happines My hopes grow from her misery which may Encline Euphemia to pity me I must use art Enter Euphemia and Macrina La. Good Madam have more comfort Leo. Is not that she her habite like her Fortune Most blacke and ominous heer 's a change of State Noe noyse of waiters and officious troopes Of Courtiers futter here where are the traine Of Ladies with more blossome then the Spring Ambitious to present their duties to her Where be those Jewells whose proud blaze did use To vye with Sun-beames and strike gazers blind All gone behind a Cloud how she observes The Structures which more soft then Dionisio seeme to incline their marble heads and sweate In the compassion of her iniury My heart is labouring for breath and yet I dare not speake to her the Duke has spies Upon her and his anger carries ruine Enter Courtiers who passe by neglectfully Eup. Sure I should know this place La. T is the Court Madam Eup. And those were Courtiers that past by La. They were Eup. Some of them serv'd me once but now the Duke Has discharg'd all why dost not thou forsake me La. I serv'd you Madam for your selfe and cannot Thinke on you with lesse reverence for your change Of Fortune Eup. Is not that Leontio La. It is Madam Eup. Does he decline me too though I am miserable My griefe wo'd not infect him but he must Compose himselfe to please the Duke whose creature He has beene alwayes Leo. I will speake to her Though death in the Dukes eye threatens to kill me Great Mistresse Eup. You doe not well Leontio to insult Upon my misery Dionisios frowne May make your feild as barren Leo. By all vertue And by your selfe the Mistris I have not One thought so irreligious in my soule I weepe for your misfortune and shall Study All humble wayes to serve you Eup. You have beene noble Leo. Your titles are all sacred still with me The Dukes neglect cannot unprince you here Oh let not hasty sorrow boast a triumph Over so great a mind let not that beauty Whither with apprehension of your wrong That may be soone repented and the Storme That cowardly would shake that comliest building Make for your happines some lament your fate Enter Strozzi Whose lookes speake mirth be confident the Duke Will chide the unlawfull flame that like rude And wandring meteor led him from your vertues With so much danger to embrace Ardelia Str. The Duke shall know your complements Exit Eup. Noe more least for your charity to me For I must call it so you ruine not Your favour with the Duke farewell Leontio Yet I would pray one favour from you Leo. Me My life 's your servant Eup. If you heare the Duke Speake of me as I feare he never will But in displeasure tell him I will thinke it Noe cruelty to take this poore life from me Rather then let me draw a wretched breath With generall scorne let him command me dead And I forgive him otherwise farewell Eexeunt Leo. That close shewed something like a will to be Reveng'd her brest heav'd up and fell againe While both her eyes shot a contention upward As they would seeme to put just Heaven in mind How much she suffers Enter Pallante If griefe thus become her What magicke will not love put on I must Stifle my passion Pallante welcome You are well met in Court Where dost thou live Pallante Pall. Every where Yet no where to any purpose we are out Of use and like our Engines are laid by To gather dust the Court I ha'not skill in I want the tricke of flatterie my Lord I cannot bow to Scarlet and Gold-lace Embroiderie is not an Idoll for my worship Give me the warres agen Leo. But yet remember we fight for peace The end of warre Pall. I never did my Lord Leo. What Pall. Fight for peace I fought for pay and honour Peace will undoe us Leo. T is the corruption of our peace that men Glorious in Spirit and desert are not Encourag'd Pall. The faults somewhere Leo. I presume Thou art not of so tyrannous a nature But thou couldst be content to weare rich
the poore gentlewoman whom the Duke has not Yet lur'd to fist Ben. I know not how to thanke you Va. Hee 's next heire to 'th Dukedome and has power When his grace dies imagine a sweet soule May I perish in my hopes if his eyes did not Melt when I told thy story and how much The innocent Lady suffered Ben. I am bound Much to his goodnes Leo. Sir I would doe more Then pity your just cause Va. Nay we ha' cast it And so much above blood and state has vertue Impression in his heart he can forget And thinke the Duke a dead man Ben. Excellent Lord Leo. I am ashamed and trust me have applied What my poore learning could affect to coole His riotous blood but hee 's incorrigible And now more desperately bent then ever Ben. To Violate her Leo. I blush to say 't nor will Your person be long safe Va. Well interpos'd Ben. He shines on me with bounteous smiles Leo. They are dangerous And but engage you to a greater ruine You stand discover'd Va. That 's my wonder sir d ee thinke your friend Horatio has not wrong'd you In 's drinke perhaps some men are such spongies A child may squeeze their soule out Ben. You fright my sences I doe now suspect the Dukes command toward Ardelia confirmes it Va. Wisdome must prevent I know thou hast a daring spirit we Are friends t is clearely our opinion You should by Steele or Poyson you conceive me For your owne safety and your wives I call her so Whose life and honour lies a bleeding t is Nothing to me my Lord I told you is Next heire and cannot but in conscience pardon you Leo. T were pity thou shouldst suffer more Ben. But dare Your Lordship meane this Leo. Be confirm'd Ben. Your counsells Have met a spirit apt in my revenge To flie upon the world I hope I shall Be constru'd in his death to have done your Lordship Noe great discourtesie being next heire Va. T is to be understood Leo. The Dukedome made Mine by his death is nothing to the Crowne Of faire Ardelias love in whose free bosome My pardon and best wishes shall soone plant thee Past the divorce of tirants Ben. I am new Create and build my hopes upon your honour Exit Leo. They are secur'd dost thinke hee 's firme and daring Va. If he kill not the Duke I 'le cut his throate He sha'not scape howe're if I have braines I must have all his venison to my selfe I 'le spare nor haunch nor humbles oh my Lord Be confident if he meete the Duke and time Though it cost him a dayes Journey hee 'le goe thorough him T is his owne cause he was wound up discreetely You doe not by this time repent your secret I can be wicked upon good occasion The divell sha'not part us now Leo. Be constant And meete the truest friend Va. Meete at a wench Till then your humble servant Leo. My fate smiles Conscience steeres not ambition by what 's good Who lookes at crownes or lust must smile at blood Exit Finis Actus quarti Actus Quintus Enter Ardelia Fiametta Fia. HE will no longer be put off with ceremony You must consent this night to his embrace Or take what followes Madam Ar. I am lost And every minutes fild with new despaires It is in your power to perswade him yet Fia. I have said too much already Ar. Say I am not In health poore refuge Fia. Not in health the Duke Shall give you physicke there be Ladies no Dispraise to your beauty wo'd be sicke a purpose To have the Duke their Doctor Ar. What can cure My sicke fate oh my heart poore Bentivolio On what high going waves do we two faile Without a Starre or Pilot to direct Our reeling barke Valerio too expects A blacke reward for silence he is here Enter Ualerio Already doe not leave me Fiametta I charge thee by thy duty to his highnes Fia. Why what 's the matter Va. Let me pay a duty To her white hand whom the Duke onely honors You looke not with a cheareful countenance Madam Ar. I am not well my Lord Va. I am exelent at Restoring health send of Tosiphone I wo'd not have her Picture i' th roome When we are at generation Ar. Shee 's commanded To stay here Va. How commanded Madam I have Commission to impart some private meanings From his highnes to this Lady Fia. And I have Order this my Lady have no such conference But I must be a witnes Va. You will not Contest I hope and dispute my authority VVhat an officious fury t is how shall I Be rid on her Madam you see this Ring A friend of yours signior Horatio Desires another meeting by this token Whispers with Fiametta Fia. VVhere is my noble servant Va. But you must Expresse your love in making hast I knew Although for mirth I flatter'd Scolopendra That you would carry him but loose no time Fia. Lend me thy wings sweet love to flie to him Exit Va. Flie to the Divell he wants a companion I 'le shut the dore after your beldamship And trust my selfe with key Ar. You doe not meane To play the ravisher my Lord Va. As if You mean't to put me too 't I have your promise And where consents meete in the act of love The pleasures multiply to infinite Ar. Infinite horror yet my Lord be a man Va. You shall not doubt that Madam if you will Apply your selfe discreetly we loose time Although I be no Duke I can present thee VVith all the pleasures appetite can wish for VVithin Loves empire when you know me Madam You will repent this tedious ignorance And not exchange my person to claspe with The greatest Prince alive Christian or infidell Though I commend my selfe I ha' those wayes To please a Lady Ar. Wayes to please the Divell Va. You wo'not be coy now Ar. My Lord I know At least I hope howere you speake a language Rather to fright then court a womans thoughts Not yet acquainted with her owne dishonor You have some love within your heart Va. Canst thou Suspect it wo't thou see my heart Give me a fort-nights warning and let me But all that while possesse thy love and those Delights I 'le prompt thee too I 'le wish to live No longer get what surgeon thou wot To cut me to a Skeleton not love thee Ar. Then by that love my Lord I must desire you At this time to deferre your expectation And leave my Chamber Va. Quit the Chamber Madam Ar. If not for love of me for your owne safety There is danger in your stay for every minute I do expect a visite from the Duke Va. This is some tricke you sha'not fright me Lady I must have that I came for Ar. Meete it here Shewes a Pistoll Licentious divell I shall do a benefit To the world in thus removing such a traytor To man and womans honor you shall carry No tales to his highnes
Ben. Now you dishonor me d ee know blood royall when you see 't you may Beleeve that crimson evidence I hope Your Lordship will remember Leo. Feare it not But for a time you must be prisoner To satisfie a litle forme upon My life no danger shall approach thee trust My honor though I frowne and call thee traitor I will study thy preserving next my owne Is not this strange Pallante that hee le take The guilt upon himselfe if both have kild him Noe feare but hee 's dead this foole Pallante Shall quickly by his death secure thy Fate Put on a cunning face meane time and narrowly Observe the full behaviour of the Court But specially insinuate with the greatest And as they talke of me declare my passion And with what horror I receav'd the death Of our good Duke my pious zeale to appease That blessed spirit with his murderers blood In care to their owne heads they will proclaime Me Duke I 'le to Euphemia and by some Strong art make her my owne Pall. Your grace is prudent Leo. Away to 'th prison with 'em Ar. Let me beare Him company my Lord Leo. You sha'not doubt it Good Madam mischiefe and repent together As you are like to bleed and with full torture Howle out your wretched lives for the Dukes murder Ar. You are deceav'd my Lord we wo'not dye For that offence Leo. You wo'not glorious strumpet Ar. Y' are a most Uncivill Lord thy birth had not more innocence To justifie thy mother Ben. I le be modest And say this is not honourable Leo. So Sir You will have time to talke at your arraignment Away with 'em now to Euphemia Exit Enter oratio and Fiametta Fia. Did you not send for me and by this token Ho. Follow me not unlesse thou wo't sweare to imitate What I shall lead thee too by my example For rather then not be rid of thee at next Convenient river I will drowne my selfe And thinke I goe a Martyrdome by water Cannot a Gentleman be merry w' ee But you will make him mad Fia. I le never leave thee I will petition to the Duke and plead A contract Ho. Thou't be dam'd then Fia. What care I Ho. So I shu'd have a blessing in this fiend This child of darkenesse once remov'd I send for thee And by a token I wo'd sooner send For the hang-man and pay him double fees To strangle me what I endur'd before Thinke t was a pennance for some mighty sinnes I had committed and be quiet now Fia. Did you not love me then Ho. Love thee consider What thou hast said and hang thy selfe immediatly I le sooner dote upon a mare dost heare me A mare with fourescore and ninteene diseases And she the greatest to make up a hundred Then harbour one such monstrous thought thou art A thing no Cat that comes of a good kind Will keepe the company and yet thou lookst So like a miserable ore-growne vermine Now I thinke better on 't it is my wonder Th' art not devour'd quicke leave me yet Fia. Not I Sir I know you love me still all this is but To try my constancy Ho. Art thou so ignorant Or impudent or both let me intreat thee But to have something of a beast about thee Thy sences in some measure looke but how I frowne upon thee for thy safety therefore If thou hast no desire to save my credit Abroad tame thy concupiscence we draw All the spectatours but to laugh and wonder at 's And I shall be the greater prodegy For talking so long with thee wo't be rul'd And trudge from whence thou camst good honest bruite My humours out of breath and I ha' done But all that 's ugly in thy face or what 's Unseene deformity I am now in earnest And therefore doe not tempt me Fia. My deere Signior To what Ho. Why after all to beate thee if Thou leav'st me not the sooner Fia. Are not you My Servant Ho. But in passion I forget things And if my Mistresse want discretion I shall in my pure zeale to have her wise Beate some into her most abhominably Beate her and make deformity to swell She sha'not get in to her chamber doore I le bruise and make thee up into a ball And boyes shall kick thee home dost thou not feare me Fia. I le endure any thing from thee my love Shall thinke no paine a suffering come kisse me But once and I will die thy patient martyr Ho. She wo'd be kild to have me hang for her Was ever such an impudence in woman You that are hansome Ladies I doe aske Forgivenesse and beleeve it possible You may be lesse vexations to men Dost heare to tell thee truth for it will out By some or other you must here discharge Your dotage for it is but two howers since I was married Fia. Married to whom Ho. Toth ' tother Wild beare that courted me to Scolopendra She met i' th nicke and wee clapt up And you know t is not conscience to abuse Our honest wedlocke Fia. I shall runne mad Ho. Wo'd thou wo'dst runne into the Sea and see If I wo'd goe a fishing for thee Fia. Furies Rise in my braine and helpe me to revenge Ho. I am afraid she 'l beate me now Fia. False man I have not breath enough to raile and curse Thy apostacy how couldst thou use me thus But seeke some sudden way to be divorc'd Or one shall dye Ho. Wo'd thou wert buried quicke Fia. But are You married tell me sweet Horatio And must I weare a willow garland for thee Ho. Weare a halter Fia. It is not possible thou canst be so Unkind to me Ho. You may beleeve it Madam Fia. Yet I must love thee till I die and you May keepe me alive with now and then some favour It want's no president we may kisse I hope And thus walke arme in arme wo'd deny Thee nothing Ho. Do not vanish me good Madam A noise within The people hoote already none to reskue me Enter Bentivolio and Ardelia guarded Is not this Bentivolio under guard And his faire Mistresse pinniand how now friend Wither are you bound with such a convoy 1. To prison they are traitors Ho. Traitors Ar. Do not beleeve 'em 1. They have kil'd the Duke Fia. How 's that 1. Doe you know him sir Fia. Deere Madam are you prisoner too Ho. Take me along Better be hang'd then hanted with that goblin 1. Another of the conspiracy disarm'd him Ho. Let me but speake a word to this old Damsell 1. Shee 's of the plot too Fia. I I defie him I know him not Ho. I hope you wo'not leave me in distresse Love Mistresse lady-bird Fia. I defie all traitors Away with 'em the Duke kil'd out upon 'em That Fellow alwayes had a hanging countenance Blesse me defend me Exit Ho. 'T is well treason will Make her forsake me yet Ben. Dost know on what Danger thou dost ingage thy selfe Ho. Although I die for company