promise Py. What was 't Iber. Any thing In your pow'r Py. Such a promise I did make Iber. Perform it your Injoyment's in your power Py. I have heard Casuists say That 's onely in Our pow'r which justly and safely we may do Iber. Then do what 's in your Pow'r perform your Promise That 's just and be my Love and you are safe Py. In Honor Iber. Honor Py. I love you my Lord Above all men my Husband not excepted But I love Virtue more than I love you Iber. If you love Virtue so much when you knew My application vitious why did you Incourage me to hope tell me the truth Py. The truth is I have fool'd you Iber. Cruelly Py. I have indeed cruelly fool'd your Lordship He rises and shuts the door Do y' lock the door you will not ravish me Iber. Oh no my fair inviting Cruelty You will be found the Ravisher no Law Adjudges him a Murderer that kills One that provok'd him Th' Anch'rite who has liv'd An Age in 's Grave remembers not his Mistris With greater horror than I thought of you Until you courted me and blew the sparks Of my old Love into a flame of Lust Which shall as your due Punishment consume you In your own Instrument of Tyranny Like the Designer of the Brazen Bull. Py. Your Brazen Bull 's an Ass th'Inventer of it A Novice in my Art of Tyranny He tortur'd but the Body I the Soul Which I know nothing more torments than Hope Rais'd high and levell'd Iber. Do you smile Py. I laugh To see so great a Soldier fool himself With a belief that th' Enemy the Traitor As you were graciously pleas'd to call me Would yield without a Summons true it is To work your Hope up to a Confidence My white Flag I hung out courted a Treaty As if I held a Fort untenable You 'l find it Man'd the Woman so well Man'd That you may sooner take Constantinople Iber. Yet valiant Madam notwithstanding all Your scornful Ranting in our Terms of War You are impolitique in your cruelty That to torment me sacrifize your Honour She catches a Knife from the Table Py. See what protects my Honour if you stir I 'l show you what poor Lucrece should have done My Honour shall not die before my Self Iber. But if you kill your self the Prince who knows You sought this meeting what will he report Py. Report can neither do me good nor hurt She lays her hand on her heart Here 's that will justifie me after death And know that since Iberio declar'd For Jealousie against Love I scorn'd life Nor had my Soul indur'd her Glog so long But to convince you of Apostacy This made me marry a Pool and then invite You to this Parley that your Eyes might give Your Heart the Lie when you beheld me stand The Flatteries and Threats of him I love Yet not dishonor him that I love not And now farewel to both Iber. Hold more than Woman Heroick Lady show one Bravery more Forgive me next ill thoughts I have of you I 'l pluck my heart out 't is no heart for me That thinks you less than Saint Py. Now we are friends She flings down the Knife Iber. And friend I 'l tell y' a secret kept from you When I was but your Servant I command These men rais'd by his Holiness to serve The State of Venice against the Grand Signor They are Imbark't this night I go aboard Therefore my Love still you 're my Virtuous Love Though it grieves me to speak Py And me to hear Iber. Yet the sad word must be pronounc'd Farewel Py. You shall not Farwel yet I 'l call for Cards And hold you one hour longer Iber. What you please I am your Soldier you command in Chief Py. Then play a little to beguile our grief Exeunt Actus Tertius Enter Decio and Arviedo By a Lawrel-Tree is set a Shepheards Hook a Pipe and a Wreath of Lawrel Dec. THe breath of Musick Brother Lutenist Is Sound which into points of Time Art breaks But Poetry's the Language Musick speaks Poetry's that Divinity of Numbers By which Pythagoras transform'd himself Into the sev'ral Shapes of Men and Gods And thou or I may do 't as well as He. Arv. I think we may Dec. Behold th' Experiment I 'm Decio now but now that I take up This Shepheards Hook Pipe and Poetick Lawrel I am Apollo Shepheard to Admetus Not Herdsman I have left his Royal Droves In Thessaly to keep his Flocks in Naples Will Arviedo be my Favourite My Hyacinthus Arv. What must transform me Dec. Poetry a new Ode which I 've compos'd Sit down and hear it 't is Apollo's Song Here I Pipe here I keep King Admetus's Sheep Here I gather Lawrel for my Wreath But Apollo where Do'st thou live Oh not here Absent Lovers live not where they breath But my Spirit is In a Place of Bliss Wheresoe're that Blessed Place may lie In a Garden or a Grove In a Grott or an Alcove Ever where my Love is there am I. Uncircumscrib'd thus acts the Mind Why should the Body be confin'd Swift as Thought can move Little God of Love Carry me upon thy nimble Wings To the top of yonder Tow'r Where precisely at this hour Hyacinthus strikes his Lute and sings We are met sweet Boy What I now enjoy Not a God besides my self shall know Cupid thou hast leave to play To thy Mother fly and say That Apollo has a Heav'n below Arv. You have feasted mine Ear. Dec. I 'l treat thy Eye The sweetest Prospect Naples has I 'l show thee The Pasture where Apollo feeds his Flocks The Scene is discovered over which in Capital Letters is writ CAMPI ELYSII Decio describes it thus Th' Elysian Fields my Hyacinthus sees Those Walks are Jessamine and Orange-trees Beneath a Chrystal River cuts the Plain Wherein you see those fair Trees o're again Close by the Flow'ry Bank a Flock of Sheep Feeds in a Mead the Shepheards fast asleep The Shepheardesses lying arm in arm Arv. Is 't Life or Art Dec. Art Magick hear the Charm Rise dull Sleepers fie how coldly You move Shepheards come on boldly No Wol shall your Flocks indanger Dance and welcom this young stranger The Shepheards dance and go off Arv. I take this as a high Civility For which I 'l thank you with a Friend's Advice Go to your Wife lose her not the first day If she think you neglect her she will hate you Dec. She cannot think it a Neglect in me To leave her with Iberio and the Prince Can she have better company than they Arv. She may have safer the Prince flies at all You know my Lord Iberio was your Rival Dec. True he and Pyramena were contracted Upon Conditions mutually agreed to And pr'y thee Arviedo tell me truly Which of our Titles dost thou think the best Arv. I am no competent Judge but questionless You would resolv't before you marri'd her It must not now
and my Nose was almost levell'd Pray feel I wear a Patch because 't was tipt Onely a little sprinkled with my Bottle And he cri'd 't was a-fire Per. Then you 've no fire Ioan. Nor Candle Sir Glow-worm nor Rotten wood Nor any thing that shines besides my Nose And that 's under a Clowd but Captain you Know th' old way to your Bed Per. I 'l lead thee Dear Ioan. Is not your Rundlet of Sack well bestow'd to Gioseppe Gio. Would 't were a Hogshead for thee old Shee-Bully Per. Why com'st not on Dia. Oh softly the raw Air Has made my Head ake as 't would flie to pieces And talking makes it worse sweet Captain ask No Questions for then I 'm oblig'd to Answer But quietlie to bed Per. With all my heart Exeunt Per. Men. Gio. Joan. Dia. Grand-father you must watch the Greek Impostress Or else she 'l carrie away the Bag of Gold I go a Bride-groom-catching my old Servant The Prince shall help me Fil. And the Gold shall meet thee Exeunt Enter Pyramena Py. A Woman sure has two Souls the one Noble Th' other Base and I 've lost my Noble Soul Or else could Pyramena that scorn'd life This morning now at night fear like a Child The Bug-bear we call Death say he should come Death onely comes with terrour to the Happie To me he brings a Blessing begg'd in vain By thousands which like me have need to die Alas Death hears not when the Wretched crie But I 've more need to live that I may get A pardon for a Sin but little less Than Perjury and yet I saw it not Ev'n when it pull'd down ruine on my head So long as Spleen and Self-will blinded me Till Misery open'd my eyes and now I shall not see his face that would forgive me Enter Iberio in his Gorget Arviedo following How I belie my Happiness he 's here Oh! O Iberio she kneels Iber. Fie Pyramena Why do you kneel to me Py. I must not rise Till you pronounce my pardon Ibe For what fault Py. You speak as if I would out-face it still For the most foul of all faults breach of Faith For passing to another Man your Right Your Pyramena Ibe Rise I pardon thee Py. But will Iberio love me Ibe As a Friend Py. Not as a Wife Ibe You are another's now You know I 've forfeited my Right in you Py. In my own words most justly I am answer'd Peace of Soul all Delights that make Life sweet Be with you Ibe Stay there 's something in thy Eyes That makes thy wishes ineffectual Thou look'st wild Py. Why should you concern your self How I look do you think Aeneas car'd How Dido look'd when she saw him Imbark Ibe The Clay a Lover's made of will not mould A Politician I can bend my brow No longer 'T is thy Wedding-night and yet Not Bed-time thou art still untouch'd Py. A Virgin Ibe Then thou art mine I will put in my Claim At Rome the Court the Rota must declare Us Man and Wife thither I 'l send the Case By the Pope's Galley which to morrow morning Leaves the Fleet and Tacks off for Ostia To give our Holy Father an account Of our Venetian Levies till we have The Judgment of the Court we 'l live in Candy Arv. Talk when you 're safe out of this dangerous place Madam I can sit you with a disguise Ibe No Pyramena boldly show your face For if the Porter question us I 'l kill him Iberio draws as he leads off Pyramena Corbulo and Vindex enter with Fire-locks in their hands Cor. The Porter stands as fair to shoot your Lordship Unless you yield and presently to mercy We give no quarter Ibe Villain shoot Py. Hold Soldier Since I see my perfidious Crime against This Lord must have Expiatory blood Kill me Cor. You shalt be talkt withall anon Will you lay down your sword 't is your last Summons Ibe My Sword was made for no base hand I 'l die Thus like a Soldier die thou like a Murd'rer Broke on the Wheel Py. Hold Oh hold By these Tears By your recover'd first-love conjure you Yield to your cruel Fortune not to Them Yield or they shoot me She runs to Iberio stands before him and exposes her breast for his Ibe Thou art safe There Slaves he flings down his sword 'T is she that has disarm'd me Enter Decio Dec. Now a man May bid my Lord welcome without a Dance To 's own not his Wife's House and loving Wife Whether you are his Wife or mine you shall Embrace no more bind both their arms and bear 'em Cor. and Vindex bind the three Prisoners To th' place of Execution Ibe What death Dec. Such notice as thou gav'st my murder'd Sister Of that base Robbery when thou stol'st thy self From her at Venice I mean to give thee Of the Intrigue of her Revenge But know Before she di'd I promis'd Ericina To kill thee in the Joys of thy new Love Therefore when you and Pyramena quarel'd I held my hand forbore to poison you And from her Hatred to your Jealous Nature Won her to marry me or my Free humour Then gave you way to reconcile your selves That so I might get you into my power Go thou and marry her in the other world Bear 'em to death Vin. Let him I will not stir Unless 't be to unbind them Dec. Dar'st thou talk Vin. Freelier yet set them at Liberty Or I 'l unriddle You did not these hands Bury the Body of Cor. Brav'd by a Slave Corbulo disarms Vindex and offers to knock out his brains Dec. Hold thy hand Corbulo Vindex hear thy doom Die or be honest and live rich and free Vin. Life's sweet when handsomely accommodated Give me my Tools again and let 's to work Ibe Comets that rise and shine a while like Stars Will down again and stink Slaves will be Slaves Dec. See their last Draught prepar'd as I directed Py. Spit out thy Poison now for both of us Dec. I 'l satisfie your longing Ibe Arviedo Discover thy self to him when he hears Thy name 't will shake the bloody Butchers Knife Out of his hand Arv. No my Lord I will never Owe my life to your Murd'rer 't is my glory I die with you whose bounteous hand has kept me Thus long alive Ibe Thou hast the old Man's Soul Had I his Sword Dec. It should save none of you Yet I 've a private kindness for the Youth I 'le bring him to a Priest before he dies But no Sword shall redeem him from these arms My long-mock'd Fury like an Army's rage That storms a Town shall spare no Sex nor Age. Exeunt Actus Quintus Enter Peralta in his Night-gown Per. BLess me that 's more than I have said this sev'n years Come out old Hag was 't you that cast the Mist Before my eyes Enter Menanthe a Sword in her right hand in her left the Bag of Gold Me. Yes Captain-Coxcomb I I brave
Diacelia The Prince These Chairs are for you and your Friends Sir Sal. Where 's Decio Cor. He 'l wait upon your Highness The Scene Vulcan's Court over it is writ Foro del Volcane Soft Musique Enter Aurora in a black Veil below Song in Dialogue Aur. Phoebus Phoeb. Who calls the World's great Light Aur. Aurora that abhors the Night Phoeb. Why does Aurora from her Clowd To drowsie Phoebus cry so loud Aur. Put on thy â—â—eams rise no regard To a young Goddess that lies hard In th' old Man's bosome rise for shame And shine my Clowd into a Flame Phoeb. Oblige me not beyond my pow'r I must not rise before my hour Aur. Before thy hour look down and see In vain the Persian kneels to thee And I mock'd by the glim'ring Shade A sad mistake in Naples made Like Pliny I had lost my life If I had been a Mortal Wife Phoeb. Thou cam'st too near the Burning Mount Vesuvio Aur. Upon thy account For I took Clowds of Smoke and Fire Which here from Vulcan's Court expire For Morning-streaks Blew White and Red That Rouse me from cold Tithon's Bed Phoebus enters with his Beams on Phoeb. Charge not upon me for a Crime That I staid th' utmost point of time Before I would put off my Bays And on Naples shed my Rays Where such a mischief they have done As will make Venus hate the Sun Discovering to Vulcan's eye Where She and Mars embracing lie Aur. I 'm sorry Mars and Venus had Such privacy but I am glad That Phoebus does at last appear To shine away Aurora's Fear Phoeb. What frighted thee Aur I know not what But thou know'st all what noise is that Within Vulcan roars out No work Rogues Phoeb. 'T is Vulcan in a greater Heat Than th'Irons by his Cyclops beat He makes the horrour of that noise Teaching and Knocking his great Boys From hamm'ring out Jove's Thunder set To File and Polish Vulcan's Net Which he 'l catch Mars and Venus in Aur. What now Laughing within Phoeb. To laugh the Smiths begin At furious Vulcan halting off To measure his Wife's Bed they scoff Aur. I 'l leave the place I can no more Endure the Laughter than the Roar Tuning within Phoeb. Heark they record they 'l sing anon 'T is time for Phoebus to be gone For when such Lyrick Asses bray The God of Musique cannot stay Exeunt Phoebus and Aurora The Cyclops Song within Cry our Ware Sooty Fellows Of the Forge and the Bellows Has Iove any Okes to rend Has Ceres Sickles to mend Wants Neptune a Water-Fork All these are the Cyclops work But to Wire-draw Iron-rods To File Nets to catch the Gods What can make our fingers so fine Drink drink Wine Lippari-wine Chorus Smoak Smoak breeds the Tysick Wine Wine 's the best Physick For every Cyclop a full Kan Our Terms runs thus Some Wine for Us Or no Net for our Master Vulcan Enter Vulcan with Iron Links in his hand and a Horse-shoe reverst on his head he drives before him the four Cyclops drunk wearing half-Vizards with one Eye in the Fore-head Vul. Drink Fire you Lazie Monsters Lippari-Wine No Liquor down with you but mine 1 Cycl We made a shift Vul. It seems so for you reel Is this my Cobweb weav'd in Steel How horridly it looks 2 Cycl But not so horrid He points with two fingers at Vul. As Vulcan does who Shoos his forehead Vul. With gaping loop-holes and wrought all awry My Wife's Pox put out thy one Eye 3 Cycl He means her Small-pox and that seldom misses The Eye for 't is a small Ulysses 4 Cycl I 'l dance my Eye out Vul. Let who dare advance A step no Rogues you shall not dance I 'l lay your leggs fast your heels you may shake In th'Iron Stocks those you can make Enter two Cupids a White and a Black with Bows and Forked Arrows with which they point at Vulcan 1 Cycl Not Dance Cow'rds here come Cocks that are no Two Cupids Y'have a charge of Bastards dastards 2 Cycl One fo the White Men. 3 Cycl For the Black another 4 Cycl Your Wife 's a very fruitful Mother These Cupids shoot in Cross-bows sure for they Have forked Arrows 1 Cycl Sa sa sa We have our Forks too and though drunk yet hearty We 'l joyn with the Malignant Party Exeunt Cyclops and after Vulcan and the Cupids have begun the Dance the Cyclops return with Kans in their hands they dance and drink When the Antick's done all cry Wave Horns and then run away onely the White Cupid stays Vul. My Hammer Dogs your legs have sav'd your brains Still the European Brat remains Upon the place Venus's onely Ioy Come hither my Wifes fine White Boy You must change Colours Sirrha get a robe As black as Mid-night makes the Globe Mourn at thy Mother's Funeral if thou stay'st Thine shall be first Cup. Hold I 'm in haste Exit White Cupid Vul. I am so too my Net I cannot make 'T is now Venus's time to wake Vul. pulls out a steel Watch Time Vulcan measures by exacter trial Than Phoebus does on his Sun-dial A Master in my Art I 'm known to be Though not in th' Art of Poetry My Verse halts like my self but day and night My Workmanship this Watch goes right Lean. Why does he look upon his Watch Sal. It seems There is a Critical Minute Mars and Venus Must wake in What my Lord Iberio Iberio and Pyramena discover'd lying on a Bed at the Bed's feet sits Cupid weeping Is Mars Lug. And is not Pyramena Venus Dia. 'T is Pyramena how durst Decio Trust her old Servant Sal. Cupid Watches them Lean. Are they not dead for they look deadly pale Enter Decio in a Night-gown a Sword in his hand He looks upon Vulcan's Watch. Dec. Vanish Impostor room for the true Vulcan The Minute 's come wake Lovers wake I say Iberio and Pyramena start Ibe Wake did we sleep did we not both drink poison Dec. Credit the working 't was an Opiate Onely to make you sleep till your Friends came Stir not my Lord nor call for help in vain I sent for your Patron the Prince with hope That in his presence you will be asham'd To die the second time so sensually Embracing my Wife Ibe Death shall not part us Py. This Knot 's a Gordian never to be loos'd Decio draws his Sword Dec. It may be cut the Macedonian way Sal. Thou dar'st not offer at their Lives Sal. and Lugo draw Dec. And yours Decio stamps the Cyclops enter with Arms. If you protect them show your Swords the way Into their Scabbards mine should be unsheath'd But I will put it up and draw my Tongue Before these Judges will you hear Sal. Speak freely Dec. Sir I invited you not to assist The Malefactors but to sit and judge The Equity of my Revenge and Ladies Be not afrighted whatsoe'r I suffer No Affront shall be offer'd to your Sex The Pris'ners may if they except against The
Prince and Lugo make appeal to you Dia. Speaks he not well Lean. He looks exceeding well As if his Cause were good Dec. First I charge you My Lord Iberio with my Sisters's death Ibe Falsely I am not guilty Dec. How not guilty Did not my Sister upon your Ingagement Send for me then in Candy but ere I Could come to Venice you were got to Naples And had disown'd her which perfidiousness Soon after broke her heart Ibe You do me wrong To charge her Death upon my breach of promise Indeed my Father promis'd I should marry Your Sister Ericina and if I Who lov'd this Lady had declar'd my self I had been disinherited My Father Dying of the Pestilence that reign'd in Venice I went to settle my Affairs in Naples And from thence writ your Sister a Discharge Dec. Of Life For who could live to be so scorn'd As Ericina was all Naples call'd her The Slighted Maid in short it cost her life And to revenge her death I came to Naples Here I past for an insignificant Poet A Raillier invited to all Tables Where I but watch'd an Opportunity To poison you until as luck would have it You being fool'd out with your Mistris she Fools in with me but now that she 's my Wife Faces about you are in love again And make no scruple of Cuckolding poor Decio Ibe Thou li'st for Pyramena is as far From any loose as thou from noble thoughts Dec. I 'l but examine you to that point then 'T will appear who 's the liar were not you Contracted to my Wife Ibe I was Dec. Conclude What the pretension of a Precontract Were you not preingag'd to Cuckold me Pray what am I Py. Our Executioner Therefore 't is to no purpose to dissemble For us that are to die I do renounce you I 'l die Iberio's Wife Decio gives a sign to the Cyclops they unbind Iberio and Pyramena Dec. No I forbid The Banes of Death you shall live Man and Wife Your scorn is now sufficiently reveng'd Behold the Slighted Maid Decio puts off his Night-gown discovers himself to be a Woman Ibe Lives Ericina Sal. What a strange Mother of the Maid is Venice That breeds such Furies Dec. But my Brother Decio The very night he came to Venice di'd Of that Mortality which took away My noble Friend your Father I conceal'd My Brother's suddain death and gave it out Eas'ly believ'd that your neglect kill'd me My Brother Decio's Funeral pass'd for mine In his shape putting off my Love and Sex I follow'd you my Lord as far as Naples Here I tri'd several Keys of Death and Fortune To open me a door to my Revenge But still compassion stept in to your reskue Till Hatred springing from your Scorn was buri'd In Love return'd by one of your own blood Enter Arviedo The noblest and the sweetest Person living Who will not slight me if you like the Match Ibe So well that Ericina now shall know Which of my Kinsmen she makes choice of this Is Giulio Heir to the Family Of Great Gonsalvo for his poverty Conceal'd under the name of Arviedo I bred him and resolv'd the frowning World Should never know him till he had a Fortune A noble one fair Ericina brings Arv. With it I 'l serve my Love next to my Prince Sal. Nay the Kings service will go roundly on I warrant she 'l bring a whole Nurserie Of Generals she 'l stock thee with young Gonsalvo's Dec. I 'l promise onely Possibilities Though I deserve not the Great Captain 's Heir I hope to make him what has been accepted By Kings themselves a Gentleman of Venice Judges can you pardon a Woman's weakness That will revenge her blushes Py. I forgive The cruelty of Ericina's Spleen Which cur'd Iberio's Jealousie Sal. All 's pleas'd With such a fortunate Close Send for our Coaches Mean time let 's have a Dance as your Grand Mask They Dance So now at the next Chapel we 'l be marri'd Then at my House I 'l treat you where th' Inviter Shall be Leandra's Guest But still there wants A just Reward for this deserving Soldier That boldly at his lowest ebb of Fortune Durst check a Prince in his cariere to Vice Dec. Who taking me for what I seem'd a Man That would have given my Wife a wanton freedom Advis'd me to be jealous of my Honour And when he swearing to do my commands Knew me to be a Woman for his Oath 's sake Against his Nature he made you my Pris'ner to Iber. Ibe I 'l do my self the honour to advance him Sal. Then make him your Lieutenant-Colonel Ibe I can't but I 'l give him my Regiment And get the Vice-Roy to Sign his Commission Dec. And from a Slave poor Vindex thou shalt be As I have promis'd made both Rich and Free Ibe Corbulo manage thou our Candian Arms The Battel I must fight in is at home Cor. I 've not a Courtier 's tongue to speak my thanks But to the Turk I 'l sell my blood so dear I hope the Christian Cause will thank my Raiser For sending me to Candy My grief is I 've but one Life to lose for the King's Honour Sal. No Cor'nel doubtless the King 's better Stars Will guard thy life to serve him nearer Spain Let 's all now joy this Military Bride-groom Patience thou seest may lend blind Fortune Eyes To find out Men and make low Suff'rers rise Exeunt THE EPILOGUE Spoke by The SLIGHTED MAID SLighted you know I was but Gentlemen Resembling you in Shape and Courage then I look'd upon it with an angry brow 'T would grieve me if I should be slighted now But though our Sex the proud Italians scorn Th' English are Civil you are Courtiers born And she 's curst in her Cradle that promotes Her Sute to you and is deni'd your Votes Behold your Candidate before you stands Your Semele sees Thunder in your hands Let 's hear it Claps that would make some afraid Will make the Slighted the Exalted Maid EPILOGUE TO THE KING I 'Ve spoke before your Majesty but yet I never kneel'd in such a shaking Fit For Sir the Author bids me kneel and pray Against your Iustice all that he can say In his defence is that you would condemn His faults if strictly you examin'd them He hopes you will not and why should he fear Your Majesty was never yet severe To any thing well-meant though ill-exprest And he presumes you think he did his best To please you therefore would be hard if he In making for your mirth a Comedy Should write's own Tragedy yet that 's his Case If your Impartial Iustice should take place But if your Gracious Favour intervene The Epilogue is clearly his best Scene FINIS