In praise of thee Quoth she For my sake vse Thy Sister well th' acqaintance that she hath In Heauen is great I' th blossome of her growth She shall ore'come the Eies of men and in Her Age she shall haue skill in Prophecie But O false lore Our Mother kind whom I A Sybill held thou now hast proou'd a Witch Scoperta I am too weake to force from your beliefe Mistakes so strong Altamont Goe pray the Howres are swift I 'ue purposd thee a pris'ner heere till my Returne This is a sicklie Rhume and not Compunction in my Eyes Scoperta The last of all My merits shall be calld obedience to Your will If you doe owe a kindnesse to Your selfe thinke on Religion and the Lawes Exit Altamont Nature doe thou direct my spleene The Lawes Are sinfullie contriu'd Iustice should weigh The present crime not future inference On Deedes But now they cheapen blood 't is spilt To punish the example not the guilt Religion too on our Italian Earth Growes like the Cedar big and high but yeelds No fruit The abiect race of men she doth Confound with hope and bids them not obay T' augment humilitie but her owne sway Exit Enter Meruolle Sciolto and three Mutes Meruolle Your strength does but intangle ye the more Sciolto I 'le not be trus'd Sir like a Pullet thus Meruolle Leaue nothing that can minister defence Disarme him of his Pinnes Sciolto Pare my nailes too Meruolle You shall be angerd strait till you bestow The time to bite 'm off Soone as we spi'd You scaling ore the Orchard wall we guess'd The hopes of your visit There haue beene snares Lai'd for your feete ere since you left the House Exeunt Meruolle Mutes hauing rifled him of his Pistols and his sword Sciolto There is some danger in this chance my dull Heart beates with slow and ominous leasure Scoperta from her windore Scoperta Pale Planet shine It must be he My Eares Perswade me they oretooke his voice Sir Sir Sciolto Hah Scoperta A cruell destinie Hath murdred all our ioy endeuouring an Add all for stealth of thee I was surpris'd Disarmd euen heere 'i th presence of my Starres Scoperta There 's not a Starre in all the Firmament Belongs to vs Sciolto O none Or if there be Their influence is so weake that at This distance Babes may blow 'em out Sure our Creation we haue tooke vnknowne to Fate Scoperta Our loue was of too nimble growth vnlesse Philosophie giue hope that after death We may conuerse this is the last of all Our interuiewes Sciolto That fatall Prophecie Will shake my Soule from out my flesh and like Some tame Hermit I shall vnwounded die Scoperta The word that 's heard abreuiates our discourse And liue the Sand that limits both is falne Into the reach of number now and I Haue spent with thee the hasty time prefix'd For a deuout imployment of my Beades The murderers are within Sciolto Grimme wild horrour Hast thou no weapons there that I may vse T' anihilate their vigor and their shape Scoperta Vnto thy Lips I 'ld throw a kisse but with The strings of my poore solitary Lute They 'ue bound my hands Sciolto O my hot rage I could Spit fire till I enkindle yonder Groue Raising a flame that might perplex the Earth And make 'em thinke Heauen had dropp'd a Planet Scoperta And I could weepe vntill I quench'd that flame And drew suspition that a second Flood Was come to drowne mortallitie agen Sciolto This sudden eleuation of the Soule Presageth death as if it practis'd how To rise and climbe ere she begins her flight Scoperta Whence is that noise Sciolto I 'le be as calme as are Arabian winds Scoperta stay Vnheard we will conuerse Sco. They come they come deare loue for euermore farewell The Mutes snatch her from the Window Sciolto O for the Giant race to helpe me heaue Those Mountaines vp that I might burie this Proud Structure and my selfe Yon burlie Oake Whose Roots reach hell I 'le manage till I pownd And batter all the Marble into Flowre Enter Altamont Meruolle Mer. You haue oreheard what will your knowledge grieue Altamont Her Soule is ill prepar'd Meruolle I gaue command They should awhile delay her death lest want Of leasure might destroy her penitence Altamont Remaine within the summons of my call And leaue me heere I charge thee by thy Vow And our friendships deare vse that thou depart Exit Meruolle Sciolto Speake what thou art Altamont Some call me Altamont I 'ue seene thee walke armd like a Magazin With small Artillerie entrench'd but thou Art fitly now prepar'd for sufferance Sciolto Not thy tame sacrifice but victorie I 'le be For naked as I am I will Resist my death and since vnfurnish'd to Reuenge yet I shall trouble thy best strength Altamont Sciolto though thou merit trechery And opposition that by darkest stealth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of thy luxurious soule Yet I will giue thee faire and equall Game Sciolto False tyranie Altamont Stay This I will performe And 't is to know the rigour of thy might What wondrous flame and spirits doe possesse Thy spacious Breast Sciolto There 's relish of intent Altamont I 'ld learne the prouidence and iustice of My Fate trie if they 'll let me fall before Th' incounter of thy beastiall strength thou that Augments't thy sinnes t' orecome the memorie Of Heauen in sillie hope th' accompts may be Vnwillinglie suruai'd because th' are long Receiue thy Sword Sciolto Miracle of bountie Altamont If whilst we struggle in the pride of hope Thou canst so weaken my defence that I Become disarm'd thy libertie is gain'd Sciolto With solemne penitence I could accuse My crimes 'gainst thee but griefe 's akinne to feare This great demeanure of thy spleene diuides Th' intent of Gratitude I know not which T' affoord thee most my enuie or my loue Alta. The moone hath now put on her brightest Robe My anger too doth carrie fire enough To light vs to the charge Guard well thy Heart Sciolto A little respite giue Must we needs fight Altamont You then would cousen me of my reuenge Sciolto Yet stay Know I doe loue thy Sister well Alta. Marke sweet Heauen with what exalted triumph He boasts the fowle remembrance of his sinne Thrusts at him Sciolto Stiffe as a columne Altamont Th' Arcadian wrastler told Young Theseus so but he did yeeld as if His sinnewes had binne made of silke So fierce Sciolto I 'le worke thy strength so low that Virgins shall Haue power to shakle thee with spinners Thrids Altamont Thus I will bore thy flesh till thou become Transparant as a Sieve Sciolto This closure hath Intangled vs let 's make another charge Altamont Euen thus diuided Billowes part that they May meete in greater foame Sciolto Wilt thou not bleede Not yet I skirmish with vnbodied Aire Altamont Thy guilt betrai's thy hand vnto mistakes And thus my iniurd Spirits greete thy life Sciolto That Wound gapes like to a
To cut their Throates Florello T is fit deare Count that you Must die I 'm els vniust vnto my selfe Dandolo With sapient Arts we will proiect to saue Th' reputation of your iustice Florello As how Dandolo I will promulgate I am dead and both My Champions heere shall swear 't Stoccata We le venture one Commandement to saue another sir Florello This cannot satisfy How ere Sir Count If you will patiently accept your death I 'le furnish ye with Guides for your last iaunt You Punto and Stoccata too No more Of your phylosophie Fix Brow to Brow Knock out each others Braines and shew your Lord The way vnto th' Elizian-Field Doe it At first encounter too For I 'm in haste Stoccata Slight Sir I nere was in Elizium I Nor should I finde the way thither though Signior Argos lent me Nintie Nine of his Eies Florello Then Punto shall be conduct to ye both Punto Good Signior any curtesie but this You may command You still doe most presume Vpon the calmest and th' easie Nature Rossa They all are forfeittures to th' Law If you 'le Bestow 'em but as prisners vnto us They shall suffer or giue vs large ransome Florello How a ransome These Two are poorer then Carthusian-Monkes leane as a Romish Lent Slaues who pretend sicknesse that they may lie In Hospitalls to steale the Sheets Achornes They eate such as Westphalia-Hoggs doe scorne Rossa The Count Sir will vntie his Strings for 'em Dandolo Ransome I 'le giue for I doe hate to die Florello The ransome must Be small Shuffle 'em together and pack 'Em hence I will not heare a sillable Of thankes Rossa see 'em hors'd for Millaine Exeunt all but Florello Enter Charintha to him Charintha O dismall change does your victorious Sword Hang now on aged Belt of Bandeleere Is your high Plume moulted to a sprigge small As if 't were made o' th wing of a Beetle Florello Who can resist the frownes of destiny My suffrance giues my merits their reward Charintha Your speech was wont to be in a more high Exalted Key lowd as a Gulph Your heart Was full of ligges and your feet did wander Euen like Autumns dust Florello Affect so much Humilitie as may imploy your thoughts With more compassion on my ru'nous fall Charintha I threw on you perpetuall banishment Florello I 'm come to manifest the sinne of my Disguise though it proceeded more from hope T' inioy your person then your wealth Witnesse Each nimble Register of humane Thoughts Charintha Has got a sweet and powerfull way in speech Florello This is my reall shape in which I doe Appeare a thinne and witherd Souldier borne I' th' later age of warre When glorie 's sicke And honour triuiall as the spleene of Babes Charintha He was not wont to vse this Dialect Florello Grant now thou beautious wealth of Italy An expiation for my crimes For know I would be cleane when I shall dedicate My future vowes to th' absent Altar of Thy Heart lest I doe loose the vse of my Idolatry and make repentance sinne Charintha Doe all harmonious gifts reside within Such course and humble weedes Florello Destroy me not With scorne I know you Ladies most delight I' th' fraile surface of the body in name And guilded pompe which was the fatall cause I practis'd them on you Charintha Y' endeere the worst Of fashion vnto vs by making it A custome in your selues If men did not Prouide such follies for our sight we knew Not where to finde their vse for they digest Them first then they become our nourishment Florello Vaine men We alter our creation so With female shapes that Heauen scarce knowes its stamp And Nature that distinction still commands T' each Sex forgets the worke of her owne hands Charintha I nere beheld a feature masculine Till now had you but thus appeard vnto My first suruay I might haue lou'd in haste And yet excus'd the rashnesse of my eies I ginne to feele some danger in my stay Florello Ere you depart a small memoriall from Your hands I craue to weare vpon my crest That it may tempt kinde fate to looke on me When I in glorious battell striue and I will absent my selfe for euermore Charintha I nothing keepe for such sad vse as to Depriue me of so sweet a miracle Florello Grant my request or I 'le pursue your steps Charintha If you continue still to beg I feare My bounty will prooue rash and I shall giue So much of loue as you can ne're repay Florello O my auspicious starres Should I not now Make vse of your good influence I were Vnworthy of your care Enter Meruolle Meruolle The choice you make Can nere deserue your chaste and lawfull fire She is Florello of a heart and straine Too insolent for nuptiall happinesse Florello Thou hast bin cald my friend But if thy spleene Continue a dislike of her I 'le blow thee from My memory and with my chiefest strength I 'le punish thy missetake Meruolle A des'late griefe Will more become thy breast then this proud rage Thy brother 's dead and his decease caus'd by Her sisters pride Charintha My sisters husband dead Florello Into my eares thou hast a horror powr'd That hath already stiffened euerie haire On my amazed skull into a Reed Charintha Wilt thou neglect to cherish the swift growth Of our new loues Meruolle Like to her sister she But counterfeits a passionate esteeme That thy fond Nature she might tempt beneath Her rule If Altamont be deare vnto Thy thought leaue her and straight attend his Hearse That in the Chappell waits thy obsequie Exit Charintha Th' inspir'd Needle 's not more true vnto The North the Sunne to his diurnall race Nor Riuers to the Maine then I to thee Florello Sorrow and loue my senses doe diuide If I remayne with thee then only loue I serue if with sad steps I tread the way Vnto my Brothers Herse I both obey Exit Charin. Thou dost requite the skornes which I did throw On thy first loue My destiny must needs Be tragicke now since the contracted scope Of all my ioy rests in diseased hope Exit Enter Meruolle Alteza Meruolle Behold the Throne your Lord commanded me Prepare and heere you must be pleas'd to sit Alteza Can this aduancement ought refer to your Delight or to my Lords last Testament Meruolle Iustice hath laid her sword within your reach And you haue power to sheath it so that where You execute you may a murder doe Or sacrifice Bring the delinquents in Enter Sciolto Scoperta at seuerall dores each led in bound and hoodwinkd by two Mutes Alteza Sciolto and Scoperta still aliue Sciolto Thy spirit Altamont ascended with The loue of all my chiefest orizons Meruolle These two were by your husbands iealousie And hate ordaind for death but ere that we Could actuate his will his noble breast Receiu'd a wound that bad him strait prouide For 's owne eternity The last of all His speech
referd them both vnto your power You may appoint them liue or die and I 'm Oblig'd by vow to see perform'd what you Command Alteza O dire sinister accident Meruolle Your Iewels and your wealth I haue pack'd vp To ease our flight when we haue finish'd This vsurpation of the Lawes Let them Inioy their eyes that they may know their Iudge The Mutes vnmuffle 'em Scoperta Hah Sciolto Sciolto Scoperta O my Girle Meruolle Keepe them diuided from each others reach Sciolto I thought thy beauties had beene darke and cold And th'adst ere this begun an easie sleepe Within thy silent Graue Scoperta And I suppos'd thee fled A Harbenger to Heauen with purpose to Bespeake my Billet neere to thine Sciolto Since this sad night did blind the drowsie world They thus haue manacled my strength They 'ue watch'd My hardy violence so tame that now Each featherd Forrester roosts in my Beard Scoperta We cannot Sir be mortall long therefore Receiue a hope our sufferance will cease Meruolle Sciolto now requite the leysure I Haue giuen thy penitence by rendring straight Vnto the world how farre thou didst corrupt These Ladies with thy guilt For know I still Perswaded Altamont thy lust inioi'd No more then what concern'd wishes or hope And I was vsher'd to 'th beliefe of this By knowledge of those secret spies which he Imploy'd to watch your personall remooues About the House whose labours euer miss'd Of finding that successe he prophecy'd Sciolto I doe confesse m' imagination once Did sinne against them both but if it ere Extended vnto act let me lose Heauen Meruolle If Altamont were now aliue he would Permit this vtterance cleere his fayth Madam You heare that he Scoperta vindicates By oath though his owne crime doth carry an Import more euident and blacke but yet When you behold his feature and his youth Your mercy may conceiue t' were pity that He should so soone depart from time and flesh Alteza Sir you haue skill to know my womanhood Is weake as ignorance or sleepe Why should You seat me heere thus to dispose of Law That ne're knew any iustice but reuenge Meruolle Your sentence I am bound to execute Alteza Haue I not heard you say my Husband did Ordaine them both for death T' would ill become The duty of my knowledge t' alter his Decree Meruolle Keepe your intent I will vsurpe The office of your tongue Mutes strangle them Sciolto If in thy functions gentle Nature claime An interest let vs imbrace and vse Solemnity before we doe forsake Each others view Meruolle I grant what you Request make your performance short whilst I Reueale m' opinions Lady to your eare Sciolto and Scoperta kneele to each other Sciolto O Scoperta this is the last of all Our busie dreames what we possesse is but Imaginary now Thy shadow I Embrace not thee for like to it thou 'lt flie From my enioyment and no more be seene Scoperta So much of various fate so soone expres'd Two louers yet nere knew since simpathy First dwelt on Earth Sciolto Ere long we must be cold Cold cold my Loue and wrapp'd in stubborne sheets Of lead hows'd in a deepe a gloomy vault Where no society will mix with vs But what shall quicken from our tainted limmes Scoperta Whilst still ther 's noise and busines in the world Whilst still the warres grow loud and battels ioyne Whilst Kings their Queenes salute in Iuory beds Sciolto But O! how many Ages may succeed In Heauens darke Kalender ere we agen Materiall be and meet in our warme flesh Sco. And whether that our soules when they 're prefer'd To taste eternity will euer thinke Vpon the bargaines of our humane loue Is vnto me a desolate suspence Sciolto Phylosophie doth seeme to laugh vpon Our hopes and wise Diuinity belies Our knowledge with our Fayth iealous Nature Hath lock'd her secrets in a Cabinet Which Time nere saw and he that in it prys Vnto Religion forfeites his bold Eies Scoperta Our Reason frights our Sences to distrust My Lipps doe beage from thine a Legacie Sciolto O sad acompt How is my bounty now Exhaust This is the last I ere shall giue Meruolle Blind them agen and stay their deaths awhile Madam your knowledge is allready taught Scoperta's innocence Sciolto's deed Stands nere your punishment but distant far From remedy Marke his goodly feature With what magnificence he 's built Besides This Morne his Vnkle too the wealthiest of Our Senators is dead and has bine pleasd T' intitle him his Heire Alteza Should I not chide Meruolle Thinke how you lou'd him once He will to saue His life discard Scoperta's interest And marry you a hapinesse compleate For both Alteza Hah Sciolto Slaues Stretch now your Cordage out Pull till my Eies doe starte like Bulletts from my Skull Murdering where they flie Alteza Hold hold Did my dead Lord bid you performe what I decree Meruolle He did and I asured it with my Vowes Alteza Heare then without resistance of my breath Sciolto is condemn'd by Law as knowne The fatall Instrument that did depriue My Lord of precious life so he must die T' were fit my care affected mercie in Scoperta's dome she 's Sister to my Lord But her sweete innocence doth make her safe She must remaine among the liuing still And in her rome I doe condemne my selfe For my sterne pride was the originall cause Of this blacke Tragedy Kind 〈…〉 Esteeme your Vowes see my edict 〈◊〉 And giue me priuiledge first to 〈◊〉 its wrath She descends Meruolle This carries wonder in 't Scoperta I 'le not resigne these bonds of Death vnlesse Sciolto share in the compassion too Alteza Giue me your pardon gentle Mayd I haue Depriu'd you of a Brother that deseru'd More Pyramids then all th' Egiptian Kings Instead of him receaue my pray'rs my wealth When o're his Herse you raise a Monument And fix my Marble-Figure neere to his Create me weeping I shall goe with so Much sorow to my Graue that being dead My Ashes will haue power to penetrate The Stones Release this pious Lady and Performe your execution vpon me One o' th' Mutes pulls of his Vizard discouers himselfe to be Altamont Altamont Away you dreadfull Ministers of death The Lawrell Sprigge the Mirtle nicely wreath'd In Coronets my Loue deserues for she Is growne too good for Earth Alteza My Altamont She sinkes Meruolle vnmussles and vnbindes Sciolto and Scoperta who straight embrace each other Sciolto This deceipt brings wonder great as our ioy They that diuide vs now must vse the strength Of swelling floods and helpe of Thunder too Altamont Put all thy beauties on agen and smile At the returne of our long absent loue My wound is clos'd and will haue instant cure Alteza The Earth groan'd at my fall so heauie are My sinnes so much they did increase my weight Altamont Rise gently like a flame from incense sprung Meruolle to appease my iealousie Ordain'd me this disguises that I might heare How in your sentence you behau'd your loue To me Hadst thou continu'd false I had Increas'd the anger of thy fate but now Thou art indeer'd vnto my heart agen Alteza Sir I haue hope my future loyaltie Will manifest your mercie well bestow'd Altamont Scoperta thou 'lt excuse the cariage of My doubts I look'd on thee with th' eies of loue And loue is still too strict in her suruay Scoperta My memorie would sinne should it record Ought that might nourish my dislike of you You made me taste of sorrow not of wrath Sciolto T is I that haue most needfull vse of your Kind charitie forget my errors past And to oblige my future gratitude Giue Hymen leaue to know your sister for My wife My Vnkles death hath lent me power Still to maintaine her in such qualitie As shall become my deere respects to you The greatnesse of her virtue and her blood Altamont Take her and be as tender of her health As Heauen hath o're thy wounds which in their cure Expresse much miracle My ioi 's so swell My breast that I doe finde there 's danger in Delight How bless'd Meruolle are thy Arts Meruolle Some Angels care assisted the successe Enter Charintha Besognia Charintha Not Altamont's returne to life nor yet Sciolto's and Scoperta's glad repriue Nor all the ioyes in reconcilement of Your loues express'd can my cold sences please Florello is vnkinde Besognia The little God Hath lately prick'd her with his baudy shaft Altamont Tell me Charintha is thy loue sincere Such as i' th simple youth of Nature is Exchang'd by louers with a harmelesse plight Charintha It is sincere as holy Hermits vowes And true as their confession at their deaths Meruolle Appeare Florello and receiue thy doome Enter Florello Altamont It was Meruolle's care thus to assure Thy Mistresse reall loue and constancie Ere thou shouldst giue too much of thine away But now receiue her from Alteza's hand Alteza Charintha thy election is so safe Thou neuer wilt repent the iudgement of Thy sight He cannot be so neere alli'd Vnto the blood of Altamont but he Must needs participate in virtue too Charintha We will embrace each other vntill Age Depriue our courteous sinewes of extent Florello The gentle Turtle shall direct vs how T' augment our loues the Eagle to renew Our youth and we will striue to imitate The crooked Vine in our increase Altamont Ioy ioy The firmament is now vnmask'd and each Of vs hath found his starre Florello My Lou'd Sister I haue orehear'd the story of your griefs And from this noble Signior I must begge A faith indeer'd the name of Brother too Sciolto You shall be precious to my eies as day Enter Rossa Molard fantastickly cloth'd in Dandolo's habit Molard The great Dandolo and his Giant whelpes Are mounted on a Mule Rossa Naked they ride As scoutes of Tartary they 're victual'd with A single egge Altamont What are these walking Drummes Florel. Th' are such your knowledge shall affect they must Inioy what I atchieue Dull men o'war The Trophie of my victorie behold She 's mine bow and doe homage to her lippe Alt. Still thou dost mourn Alteza like a Doue Soft musick Hearke hearke how the Roman-Organ seemes T' inuoke the Thracian Lire the Cymbals of Iudea call Castilian-Cornets foorth And German-Viols wake the Tuscan Lute The sacred noise attend that whilst wee heare Our soules may dance into each others eare Exeunt omnes FINIS