kill him druncke Medina O shamelesse woman Isab. Thou shouldest or in the embraces of his lust It might haue beene a womans vengeance Yet I thanke thee Sago and would not wish him liuing Were my life instant ransome Card. O Madame in your soule haue charitie Isab. Ther 's money for the poore Giues him money Card. O Lady this is but a branch of charitie An ostentation or a liberall pride Let me instruct your soule for that I feare Within the painted sepulcher of flesh Lies in a dead consumption good Madame read giues a booke Isab. You put me to my booke my Lord will not that saue me Card. Yes Madame in the euerlasting world Sago Amen Amen Isab. While thou wert my seruant thou hast euer said Amen to all my wishes witnesse this spectacle Wher 's my Lord Medina Medina Here Isabella What would you Isab. May we not be reprieu'd Medina Mine honors past you may not Isab. No t is my honor past Medina Thine honors past indeed Isab. Then ther 's no hope of absolute remission Medina For that your holy Confessor will tell you Be dead to this world for I sweare you dye Were you my fathers daughter Isab. Can you doe nothing my Lord Cardinall Card. More then the world sweet Lady help to saue What hand of man wants power to destroy Isab. You 'r all for this world then why not I Were you in health and youth like me my Lord Although you merited the crowne of life And stood in state of grace assur'd of it Yet in this fearefull separation Old as you are e'ne till your latest gaspe You 'd craue the help of the Phisition And wish your dayes lengthn'd one summer longer Though all be griefe labour and misery Yet none will part with it that I can see Medina Vp to the scaffold with her 't is late Isab. Better late then neuer my good Lord you thinke You vse square dealing Medina's mighty Duke Tyrant of France sent hither by the diuell She ascends the Scaffold Medina The fitter to meete you Card. Peace Good my Lord in death doe not prouoke her Isab. Seruant low as my destiny I kneele to thee To Sago Honouring in death thy manly loyaltie And what so e'er become of my poore soule The ioyes of both worlds euermore be thine Commend me to the Noble Count Guiaca That should haue shared thy valour and my hatred Tell him I pray his pardon and Medina art yet inspir'd from heau'n Shew thy Creators Image be like him Father of mercy Medina Head's man doe thine office Isab. Now God lay all thy sinnes vpon thy head And sinke thee with them to infernall darknesse Thou teacher of the furies cruelty Card O Madame teach your selfe a better prayer This is your latest hower Isab. He is mine enemie his sight torments me I shall not die in quiet Med. I 'le be gone off with her head there Exit Isab. Tak'st thou delight to torture misery Such mercie finde thou in the day of doome Sould. My Lord here is a holy Frier desires Enter Roberto Count of Cipres in Friers weeds To haue some conference with the prisoners Roberto It is in priuate what I haue to say With fauour of your father-hood Card. Frier in Gods name welcome Roberto ascends to Isabella Rob. Lady it seemes your eye is stil the same Forgetfull of what most it should behold Doe not you know me then Isab. Holy Sir so farre you are gone from my memorie I must take truce with time ere I can know you Robert Beare record all you blessed Saints in heau'n I come not to torment thee in thy death For of himselfe hee 's terrible enough But call to minde a Ladie like your selfe And thinke how ill in such a beauteous soule Vpon the instant morrow of her nuptials Apostasie and vilde reuolt would shew With all imagine that she had a Lord Iealous the Aire should rauish her chaste lookes Doating like the creator in his models Who viewes them euery minute and with care Mixt in his feare of their obedience to him Suppose he sung through famous Italy More common then the looser songs of Petrarch To euery seuerall Zanies instrument And he poore wretch hoping some better sate Might call her back from her Adulterate purpose Liues in obscure and almost vnknowne life Till hearing that she is condemn'd to die For he once lou'd her lends his pined corps Motion to bring him to her stage of honour Where drown'd in woe at her so dismall chance He claspes her thus he fals into a trance Isab. O my offended Lord lift vp your eyes But yet auert them from my loathed sight Had I with you inioyed the lawfull pleasure To which belongs nor feare nor publike shame I might haue liu'd in honour died in fame Your pardon on my faultring knees I begge Which shall confirme more peace vnto my death Then all the graue instructions of the Church Roberto Pardon belongs vnto my holy weeds Freely thou hast it farewell my Isabella Let thy death ransome thy soule O die a rare example The kisse thou gau'st me in the church here take As I leaue thee so thou the world forsake Exit Roberto Clarid. Rare accident ill welcome noble Lord Madame your executioner desires you to forgiue him Isab. Yes and giue him too what must I doe my friend Executioner Madame onely tie vp your haire Isabella O these golden nets That haue insnar'd so many wanton youthes Not one but ha's beene held a thred of life And superstitiously depended on Now to the block we must vaile what else Executioner Madame I must intreat you blind your eyes Isabella I haue liued too long in darknesse my friend And yet mine eies with their majesticque light Haue got new Muses in a Poets spright They haue beene more gazed at then the God of Day Their brightnes neuer could be flattered Yet thou command'st a fixed cloud of Lawne To Ecclipse eternally these minutes of light What else Executioner Now Madame al 's done And when you please I 'le execute my office Isabella We will be for thee straight Giue me your blessing my Lord Cardinall Lord I am well prepar'd Murder and lust downe with my ashes sinke But like ingratefull seede perish in earth That you may neuer spring against my soule Like weedes to choake it in the heauenly haruest I fall to rise mount to thy maker spirit Leaue here thy body death ha's her demerit Strike Cardin. An host of Angels be thy conuey hence Medina To funerall with her body and this Lords None here I hope can taxe vs of iniustice She died deseruedly and may like fate Attend all women so insatiate Exeunt omnes Enter AMAGO the Duke the Watch and Senators Duke I am amazed at this maze of wonder Wherein no thred or clue presents it selfe To winde vs from the obscure passages What saies my Nephew Watch. Still resolute my Lord and doth confesse the theft Duke Wee 'll vse him like a fellon cut him
friend let that suffice Isab. I le be a miracle for loue a woman dyes Offers to stab her selfe Gn. Hold madame these are soule killing passions I de rather wrong my friend then you your selfe Isab. Loue me or else by Ioue death 's but delaid My vow is fixt in heauen feare shall not moue me My life is death vvith tortures 'lesse you loue me Gnia. Giue me some respite and I will resolue you Isab. My heart denies it My bloud is violent now or else neuer Loue me and like loues Queene I le fall before thee Inticing daliance from thee vvith my smiles And steale thy heart vvith my delicious kisses I le study Art in loue that in a rupture Thy soule shall taste pleasures excelling nature Loue me both Art and nature in large recompence Shall be profuse in rauishing thy sense Gni. You haue preuail'd I am yours from all the world Thy wit and beauty haue entranc'd my soule I long for daliance my bloud burnes like fire Hels paine on earth is to delay desire Isab. I kisse thee for that breath this day you hunt In midst of all your sports leaue you Rogero Returne to me whose life rests in thy sight Where pleasure shall make Nectar our delight Gniac. I condescend to what thy vvill implores me He that but now neglected thee adores thee Enter Rogero Anna Doctor But see here comes my friend feare makes him tremble Isab. Women are witles that cannot dissemble Now I am sicke againe where 's my Lord Rogero His loue and my health 's vanish'd both together Guid. Wrong not thy friend deare friend in thy extreames Here 's a profound Hipocrates my deare To minister to thee the spirit of health Isab. Your sight to me my Lord excels all Phisicke I am better farre my Loue then when you left me Your friend was comfortable to me at the last 'T was but a fit my Lord and now 't is past Are all things ready sir Anna Yes Madame the house is fit Gnia. Desire in women is the life of wit Exeunt Omnes Enter ABIGAL and THAIS at seuerall doores Abig. O partner I am with childe of laughter and none but you can be my Mid-wife was there euer such a game at Noddy Thais Our Husbands thinke they are fore-men of the Iurie they hold the Hereticke point of Predestination and sure they are borne to be hanged Abig. They are like to proue men of iudgement but not for killing of him that 's yet aliue and well recouered Thais As soone as my man saw the Watch come vp All his spirit was downe Abig, But though they haue made vs good sport in speech They did hinder vs of good sport in action O wench imagination is strong in pleasure Thais That 's true for the opinion my Good-man had of enioying you made him doe wonders A. Why shold weake man that is so soone satisfied desire variety Thais Their answere is to feede on Phesants continually would breede a loathing Abigall Then if vve seeke for strange flesh that haue stomackes at will 't is pardonable Thais I if men had any feeling of it but they iudge vs by themselues Abig. Well we vvill bring them to the Gallowes and then like kinde virgins begge their liues and after liue at our pleasures and this bridle shall still reyne them Thais Faith if vve were disposed we might seeme as safe As if we had the broad seale to warrant it But that nights worke vvill sticke by me this forty weekes Come shall we goe visit the discontented Lady Lentulus Whom the Lord Mendosa has confest to his Chirurgion He vvould haue rob'd I thought great men would but Haue rob'd the poore yet he the rich Abig. He thought that the richer purchase though vvith the worse conscience but vvee 'll to comfort her and then goe heare our Husbands lamentations They say mine has compiled an vngodly volume of Satyres against women and cals his booke The Snarle Thais But he 's in hope his booke will saue him Ab. God defend that it should or any that snarle in that fashion Tha. Well wench if I could be metamorphosed into thy shape I should haue my husband pliant to me in his life And soone rid of him for being weary vvith his continuall motion He 'de dye of a consumption Abig. Make much of him for all our wanton prize Follow the Prouerbe Merry be and wise Exeunt Enter ISABELLA ANNA and Seruants Isab. Time that devour'st all mortalitie Runne swiftly these few houres And bring Guiaca on thy aged shoulders That I may clip the rarest modell of creation Doe this gentle Time And I vvill curle thine aged siluer locke And dally vvith thee in delicious pleasure Medea-like I will renew thy youth But if thy frozen steps delay my loue I le poyson thee with murder curse thy pathes And make thee know a time of infamy Anna giue watch and bring me certaine notice When Count Guiaca doth approach my house An. Madame I goe I am kept for pleasure though I neuer taste it For 't is the vshers office still to couer His Ladyes priuate meetings with her Louer Exit Isab. Desire thou quenchlesse flame that burn'st our soules Cease to torment me The dewe of pleasure shall put out thy fire And quite consume thee with satietie Lust shall be cool'd with lust wherein I le proue The life of loue is onely sau'd by loue Enter Anna An. Madame hee 's comming Isab. Thou blessed Mercurie Prepare a banquet fit to please the Gods Let Sphaere-like Musicke breathe delicious tones Into our mortall eares perfume the house With odoriferous sents sweeter then Myrrhe Or all the Spices in Panchaia His sight and touching wee will recreate That his fiue Senses shall be fiue-fold happy His breath like Roses casts out sweete perfume Time now with pleasure shall it selfe consume Enter Gniaca in his hunting weedes How like Adonis in his hunting weedes Lookes this same Goddesse tempter And art thou come this kisse entrance thy soule Gods I doe not enuy you for know this Way 's here on earth compleate excels you blisse I le not change this nights pleasure vvith you all Gniac. Thou creature made by Loue compos'd of pleasure That mak'st true vse of thy creation In thee both vvit and beauty's resident Delightfull pleasure vnpeer'd excellence This is the fate fixt fast vnto thy birth That thou alone shouldst be mans heauen on earth If I alone may but enioy thy loue I le not change earthly ioy to be heauens Ioue For though that vvomen haters now are common They all shall know earths ioy consists in woman Isab. My loue was dotage till I loued thee For thy soule truely tastes our petulance Conditions Louer Cupids Intelligencer That makes man vnderstand what pleasure is These are fit attributes vnto thy knowledge For womens beautie o'er men beare that rule Our power commands the rich the vvise the foole Though scorne growes big in man in growth stature Yet vvomen are the
femallist I grow a slaue vnto my potent loue Whose power change hearts make our fate remoue Isabella Reuenge not Pleasure now ore-rules my blood Rage shall drown faint loue in a crimson flood And were he caught I 'de make him murders hand Sago Me thinkes 't were ioy to die at her command I le speake to heare her speech whose powerfull breath Is able to infuse life into death Isabella He comes to speake hee 's mine by loue he is mine Sago Lady thinke bold intrusion curtesie T is but imagination alters them Then 't is your thoughts not I that doe offend Isabella Sir your intrusion yet 's but curtesie Vnlesse your future humor alter it Sago Why then Diuinest woman know my soule Is dedicated to thy shrine of beauty To pray for mercy and repent the wrongs Done against loue and femall puritie Thou abstract drawne from natures empty store-house I am thy slaue command my sword my heart The soule is tri'd best by the bodies smart Isabella You are a stranger to this land and me What madnesse i st for me to trust you then To cosen women is a trade 'mongst men Smooth promises faint passions with a lye Deceiues our sex of fame and chastitie What danger durst you hazard for my loue Sago Perils that that neuer mortall durst approue I le double all the workes of Hercules Expose my selfe in combat 'gainst an Hoste Meete danger in a place of certaine death Yet neuer shrinke or giue way to my Fate Bare-brested meete the murderous Tartars dart Or any fatall Engine made for death Such power ha's loue and beauty from your eyes He that dies resolute does neuer die 'T is feare giues death his strength which I resisted Death is but emptie Aire the Fates haue twisted Isab. Dare you reuenge my quarrell 'gainst a foe Sago Then aske me if I dare embrace you thus Or kisse your hand or gaze on your bright eye Where Cupid dances on those globes of loue Feare is my vassall when I frowne he flyes A hundred times in life a coward dies Isabella I not suspect your valor but your will Sago To gaine your loue my fathers bloud I 'le spill Isab. Many haue sworne the like yet broke their vow Sago My whole endeuour to your wish shall bow I am your plague to scourge your enemies Isabella Performe your promise and enioy your pleasure Spend my loues Dowry that is womens treasure But if thy resolution dread the triall I le tell the world a Spaniard was disloyall Sago Relate your griefe I long to heare their names Whose bastard spirits thy true worth defames I 'le wash thy scandall off when their hearts bleeds Valour makes difference betwixt words and deeds Tell thy fames poison blood shall wash thee white Isab. My spotlesse honor is a slaue to spite These are the monsters Venice doth bring forth Whose emptie soules are banckrupt of true worth False Count Guido treacherous Guiaca Countesse of Gazia and of rich Massino Then if thou beest a Knight help the opprest Through danger safetie comes through trouble rest And so my loue Sago Ignoble villens their best bloud shall proue Reuenge fals heauy that is rais'd by loue Isab. Thinke what reproch is to a womans name Honor'd by birth by marriage and by beautie Be God on earth and reuenge innocence O worthy Spaniard on my knees I begge Forget the persons thinke on their offence Sago By the white soule of honour by heau'ns Ioue They die if their death can attaine your loue Isab. Thus will I clip thy waste embrace thee thus Thus dally with thy haire and kisse thee thus Our Pleasures Pothean-like in sundry shapes Shall with varietie stirre daliance Sago I am immortall O diuinest creature Thou do'st excell the Gods in wit and feature False Counts you die reuenge now shakes his rods Beautie condemnes you stronger then the Gods Isab. Come Mars of louers Vulcan is not here Make vengeance like my bed quite voide of feare Sago My sences are intranst and in this slumber I taste heau'ns ioyes but cannot count the number Ex. Ambo Enter LADY LENTVLVS ABIGALL and THAIS Abigal Well Madame you see the destinie that followes marriage Our husbands are quiet now and must suffer the law Thais If my husband had beene worth the begging some Courtier would haue had him he might be beg'd well inough for he knowes not his owne wife from another Lady Lent O you 'r a couple of trusty wenches to deceiue your husbands thus Abig. If wee had not deceiu'd them thus we had been Trust wenches Thais Our husbands will be hang'd because they thinke themselu's Cuckolds Abig. If all true Cuckolds were of that minde the hangman would be the richest occupation and more wealthie widdowes then there be yonger brothers to marry them Thais The Marchant venturers would be a very small companie Abag. 'T is twelue to one of that how euer the rest scape I shall feare a massacre Thais If my husband hereafter for his wealth chance to be dub'd I 'le haue him cal'd the Knight of the supposed home Abag. Faith and it sounds well Lady Come madcaps leaue iesting and let 's deliuer them out of their earthly purgation you are the spirits that torment them but my loue and Lord kinde Mendosa will loose his life to preserue mine honor not for hate to others Abig. By my troth if I had beene his iudge I should haue hang'd him for hauing no more wit I speake as I thinke for I would not be hang'd for ne'er a man vnder the heau'ns Thais Faith I thinke I should for my Husband I doe not hold the opinion of the Philosopher that writes we loue them best that we inioy first for I protest I loue my husband better then any that did know me before Abig. So doe I yet life and pleasure are two sweet things to a woman Lady He that 's willing to die to saue mine honor I 'le die to saue his Abig. Tut beleeue it who that list wee loue a liuely man I grant you But to maintaine that life I 'le ne're consent to die This is a rule I still will keepe in brest Loue well thy husband wench but thy selfe best Thais I haue followed your counsell hetherto and meane to doe still Lady Come we neglect our businesse 't is no iesting To morrow they are executed leasse we reprieue them Wee be their destinies to cast their fate Let 's all goe Abig. I feare not to come late Exeunt Enter DON SAGO SOLVS with a case of Pistols Sago Day was my night and night must be my day The sunne shin'd on my pleasure with my loue And darknesse must lend aide to my reuenge The stage of heau'n is hung with solemne black A time best fitting to Act Tragedies The nights great Queene that maiden gouernesse Musters black clouds to hide her from the world Afraide to looke on my bold enterprise Curs'd creatures messengers of death possesse the world Night-Rauens scritch-owles and
vote-killing Mandrakes The ghosts of misers that imprison'd gold Within the harmelesse bowels of the earth Are nights companions bawdes to lust and murder Be all propitious to my Act of iustice Vpon the scandalizers of her fame That is the life-blood of deliciousnesse Deem'd Isabella Cupids Treasurer Whose soule containes the richest gifts of loue Her beautie from my heart feare doth expell They rellish pleasure best that dread not hell Who 's there Enter Count Rogero Rogero A friend to thee if thy intents be iust honorable Sago Count Rogero speake I am the watch Rogero My name is Rogero do'st thou know me Sago Yes slanderous villen nurse of Obloquie Whose poison'd breath ha's speckl'd cleare fac't vertue And made a Leper of Isabella's fame That is as spotlesse as the eye of heau'n Thy vitall threds a cutting start not slaue Hee 's sure of sudden death heau'n cannot saue Count Rog. Art not Guiaca turn'd Apostata ha's pleasure once againe Turn'd thee againe a diuell art not Guiaca hah Sago O that I were then would I stab my selfe For he is mark't for death as well as thee I am Don Sago thy mortall enemie Whose hand loue makes thy executioner Rogero I know thee valiant Spaniard and to thee Murders more hatefull then is sacrilege Thy actions euer haue been honourable Sago And this the crowne of all my Actions To purge the earth of such a man turn'd monster Rogero I neuer wrong'd thee Spaniard did I speake I 'le make thee satisfaction like a souldiour Tell him all the Plot. A true Italian and a Gentleman Thy rage is treacherie without a cause Sago My rage is iust and thy heart bloud shall know He that wrongs beautie must be honors foe Isabels quarrell armes the Spaniards spirit Rogero Murder should keepe with basenesse not with merit I 'le answere thee to morrow by my soule And cleare thy doubts or satisfie thy will Sago Hee 's warres best scholler can with safety kill Take this to night now meete with me to morrow Shootes I come Isabella halfe thy hate is dead Valour makes murder light which feare makes dead Capt. The pistoll was shot here seize him Enter Capt. with a band of Soldiors Bring lights what Don Sago Collonell of the horse Ring the Alarum bell raise the whole Citie His Troops are in the towne I feare treacherie Whos 's this lies murdred speake bloud-thirstie Spaniard Sago I haue not spoil'd his face you may know his visnomy Capt. 'T is Count Rogero goe conuay him hence Thy life proud Spaniard answeres this offence A strong guard for the prisoner lesse the cities powers Rise to rescue him Begirt him with souldiours Sago What needs this strife Know slaues I prize reuenge aboue my life Fames register to future times shall tell That by Don Sago Count Rogero fell Exeunt omnes Finis Acti Quarti Actus quintus Scaena prima Enter MEDINA the dead body of GVIDO Alias Count Arsena and Souldiours Don Sago guarded Executioner Scaffold Medina DOn Sago quak'st thou not to behold this spectacle This innocent sacrifice murdred noblenes When bloud the maker euer promiseth Shall though with slow yet with sure vengeance rest I't is a guerdon earn'd and must be paide As sure reuenge as it is sure a deede I nee'r knew murder yet but it did bleed Canst thou after so many fearefull conflicts Betweene this obiect and thy guilty conscience Now thou art freed from out the serpents Iawes That vilde Adultresse whose sorceries Doth draw chaste men into incontinence Whose tongue flowes ouer with harmefull eloquence Canst thou I say repent this hainous Act And learne to loath that killing Cockatrice Sago By this fresh blood that from thy manly brest I cowardly sluct out I would in hell From this sad minute still the day of doome To re-inspire vaine Aesculapius And fill these crimson conduits feele the fire Due to the damned and this horrid fact Medina Vpon my soule braue Spaniard I beleeue thee Sago O cease to weepe in blood or teach me too The bubbling wounds doe murmure for reuenge This is the end of lust where men may see Murders the shadow of Adulterie And followes it to death Medina But hopefull Lord we doe commiserate Thy bewitch't fortunes a free pardon giue On this thy true and noble penitence With all we make thee Collonell of our horse Leuied against the proud Venecian state Sago Medina I thanke thee not giue life to him That sits with Risus and the full cheek't Bacchus The rich and mighty Monarchs of the earth To me life is ten times more terrible Then death can be to me O breake my breast Diuines and dying men may talke of hell But in my heart the seuerall torments dwell What Tanais Nilus or what Tioris swift What Rhenus ferier then the Cataract Although Neptolis cold the waues of all the northerne sea Should flow for euer through these guiltie hands Yet the sanguinolent staine would extant be Medina God pardon thee we doe Enter a messenger A shoute Messenger The Countesse comes my Lord vnto the death But so vnwillingly and vnprepar'd That she is rather forst thinking the summe She sent to you of twenty thousand pound Would haue assured her of life Medina O Heauens Is she not wearie yet of lust and life Had it been Cressus wealth she should haue died Her goods by law are all confiscate to vs And die shee shall her lust Would make a slaughter house of Italy Ere she attain'd to foure and twenty yeeres Three Earles one Vicount and this valiant Spaniard Are knowne to abeene the fuell to her lust Besides her secret louers which charitably I iudge to haue beene but few but some they were Here is a glasse wherein to view her soule A Noble but vnfortunate Gentleman Cropt by her hand as some rude passenger Doth pluck the tender Roses in the budde Murder and lust the least of which is death And hath she yet any false hope of breath Enter ISABELLA with her haire hanging downe a chaplet of flowers on her head a nosegay in her hand Executioner before her and with her a Cardinall Isabella What place is this Cardin. Madame the Castle greene Isab. There should be dancing on a greene I thinke Card. Madame to you none other then your dance of death Isabell. Good my Lord Cardinall doe not thunder thus I sent to day to my Phisician And as he say's he findes no signe of death Card. Good Madame doe not iest away your soule Isab. O seruant how hast thou betrai'd my life To Sago Thou art my dearest louer now I see Thou wilt not leaue me till my very death Bless't be thy hand I sacrifice a kisse To it and vengeance worthily thou didst He died deseruedly not content to inioy My youth and beauty riches and my fortune But like a Chronicler of his owne vice In Epigrams and songs he run'd my name Renown'd me for a Strumpet in the Courts Of the French King and the great Emperor Didst thou not
off For feare he doe pollute our sounder parts Yet why should he steale That is a loaden Vine riches to him Were adding sands into the Libian shore Or farre lesse charitie what say the other prisoners Watch. Like men my Lord fit for the other world They tak 't vpon their death they slew your Nephew Duke And he is yet aliue keepe them asunder We may sent out the wile Enter CLARIDIANA and ROGERO bound with a Frier and Officers Rogero My friend is it the rigour of the law I should be tied thus hard I le vndergoe it If not prethee then slacken yet I haue deseru'd it This murder lies heauie on my conscience Clarid. Wedlocke I here 's my wedlocke O whore whore whore Frier O Sir be quallified Clarid. Sir I am to die a dogges death and will snarle a little At the old Segnior you are onely a Parenthesis Which I will leaue out of my execrations but first To our quondam wiues that makes vs cry our Vowels In red Capitall letters Jove are cuckolds O may Bastard bearing with the panges of childbirth be Doubled to him may they haue euer twins And be three weekes in trauell betweene may they be So Riuell'd with painting by that time they are thirty that it May be held a worke of condigne merit But to looke vpon 'em may they liue To ride in triumph in a Dung-cart And be crown'd with al the odious ceremonies belonging too 't May the cucking stoole be their recreation And a dungeon their dying chamber May they haue nine liues like a Cat to endure this and more May they be burnt for witches of a sudden And lastly may the opinion of Philosophers Proue true that women haue no soules Enter THAIS and ABIGALL Thais What husband at your prayers so seriously Clari. Yes a few orisons Frier thou that stand'st betweene The soules of men and the diuell Keepe these female spirits away Or I will renounce my faith else Abig. Oh husband I little thought to see you in this taking Rogero O whore I little thought to see you in this taking I am gouernour of this castle of cornets My graue will be stumbl'd at thou adultrat whore I might haue liu'd like a Marchant Abig. So you may still husband Rogero Peace thou art verie quicke with me Abig. I by my faith and so I am husband Belike you know I am with child Rogero A bastard a bastard a bastard I might haue liu'd like a gentleman And now I must die like a Hanger on Shew trickes vpon a woodden horse And runne through an Alphabet of scuruie faces Doe not expect a good looke from me Abig. O mee vnfortunate Clarid. O to thinke whil'st we are singing the last Hymne And readie to be turn'd off Some new tune is inuenting by some Metermonger To a scuruie Ballad of our death Againe at our funerall Sermons To haue the Diuine diuide his text into faire branches Oh flesh and bloud cannot indure it Yet I will take it patiently like a graue man Hangman tie not my halter of a true louers knot I shall burst it if thou doost Thais Husband I doe beseech you on my knees I may but speake with you I 'le winne your pardon Or with teares like Niobe bedew a. Clarid. Hold thy water Crocodile and say I am bound To doe thee no harme were I free yet I could not Be looser then thou For thou art a whore Agamemnons daughter that was sacrific'd For a good winde felt but a blast of the torments Thou should'st indure I 'de make thee swownd Oftner then that fellow that by his continuall practise Hopes to become Drum Maior What saist thou to tickling to death with bodkins But thou hast laught too much at me alreadie whore Iustice O Duke and let me not hang in suspence Abig. Husband I 'le naile me to the earth but I 'le Winne your pardon My Iewels iointure all I haue shall flye Apparell bedding I 'le not leaue a Rugge So you may come off fairely Clarid. I 'le come off fairely Then beg my pardon I had rather Chirurgions hall should begge my dead bodie For an Anatomie then thou begge my life Iustice O Duke and let vs die Duke Signior thinke and dally not with heauen But freely tell vs did you doe the murther Rogero I haue confest it to my ghostly father And done the Sacrament of penance for it What would your highnesse more Clar. The like haue I what would your highnesse more And here before you all tak 't o' my death Duke In Gods name then on to the death with them For the poore widdowes that you leaue behinde Though by the law their goods are all confiscate Yet wee 'll be their good Lord and giue 'em them Clari. Oh hell of hels Why did not we hire some villaine to fire our houses Rog. I thought not of that my minde was altogether of the gallowes Clar. May the wealth I leaue behinde me help to damne her And as the cursed fate of curtezan What she gleanes with her traded art May one as a most due plague cheat from In the last dotage of her tired lust And leaue her an vnpittied age of woe Rogero Amen Amen Watchm. I neuer heard men pray more feruently Rogero O that a man had the instinct of a Lyon He knowes when the Lionesse place fals to him But these solaces these women They bring man to gray haires before he be thirtie Yet they cast out such mistes of flatterie from their breath That a mans lost againe sure I fell into my marriage bed drunke Like the Leopard well with sober eyes would I had auoided it Come graue and hide me from my blasted fame Exeunt Ambo with officers O that thou could'st as well conceale my shame Thais Your pardon your fauor gracious Duke Women kneele At once we doe implore that haue so long Deceiu'd your royall expectation Assur'd that the Comick knitting vp Will moue your spleene vnto the proper vse Of mirth your naturall inclination And wipe away the watery couloured anger From your inforced cheeke Faire Lord beguile Them and your saf't with a pleasing smile Duke Now by my life I doe faire Ladies rise I nee'r did purpose any other end To them and these designes I was inform'd Of some notorious errour as I sate in iudgement And doe you heare these night workes require a Cats eyes To impierce deiected darknesse call back the prisoners Clari. Now what other troubled newes Enter Clarid. and Rogero with officers That we must back thus Ha's any Senator beg'd my pardon Vpon my wiues prostitution to him Rog. What a spight 's this I had kept in my breath of purpose Thinking to goe away the quieter and must we now backe Duke Since you are to die wee 'll giue you winding sheetes Wherein you shall be shrouded aliue By which we winde out all these miseries Segnior Rogero bestow a while your eye And reade here of your true wiues chastity Giues him a
for what you say Clar. Grace me to weare this fauour 't is a Iemme That vailes to your eyes though not to th' Eagles And in exchange giue me one word of comfort Abig. I marry I like this wooer well Hee 'll win 's pleasure out o' the stones The second change Isabella fals in loue with Rogero when the changers speak Is. Change is no robbery yet in this change Thou rob'st me of my hart sure Cupid's here Disguis'd like a pretty Torch-bearer And makes his brand a Torch that with more sleight He may intrap weake women here the sparkes Fly as in Etna from his Fathers Anuile O powerfull Boy my heart 's on fire and vnto mine eyes The raging flames ascend like to two Beacons Summoning my strongest powers but all too late The Conquerour already opes the gate I will not aske his name Abig. You dare put it into my hands Mend. Zounds doe you thinke I will not Abig. Then thus to morrow you 'll be secret seruant Mend. All that I doe I le doe in secret Ab. My husband goes to Mawrano to renew the Farme he has Men. Well what time goes the Iakes-farmer Abig. He shall not be long out but you shall put in I warrant you Haue a care that you stand iust i' the nicke about sixe a clocke in the euening my Maide shall conduct you vp to saue mine honor you must come vp darkling and to auoid suspition Mend. Zounds hudwinck'd and if you 'll open all sweet Lady Abig. But if you faile to doo 't Mend. The Sunne shall faile the day first Abig. Tye this ring fast you may be sure to know You 'll brag of this now you haue brought me to the bay Mend. Poxe o'th is Masque would 't were done I might To my Apothecaries for some stirring meates Tha. Me thinkes sir you should blush e'en through your vizor I haue scarce patience to dance out the rest Robert The worse my fate that plowes a marble quarry Primaleon yet thy Image was more kinde Although thy loue not halfe so true as mine Dance they that list I saile against the winde Thais Nay sir betray not your infirmities You 'll make my Husband iealous by and by We will thinke of you and that presently Guid. The Spheares ne'er danc'd vnto a better tune Sound Musicke there Isab. 'T was Musicke that he spake The third change ended Ladies fall off Rob. Gallants I thanke you and Beginne a health to your Mistresses 3. or 4. Faire thankes sir Bridegroome Isab. He speakes not to this pledge has he no Mistresse Would I might chose one for him but 't may be Rogero dances a Laualto or a Galliard in the midst of it falleth into the Brides lap but straight leapes vp and danceth it out Hee doth adore a brighter Starre then wee Rob. Sit Ladies sit you haue had standing long Men. Blesse the man sprit'ly and nobly done Thais What is your Ladiship hurt Isab. O no an easie fall Was I not deepe enough thou God of lust But I must further wade I am his now As sure as Iuno's Ioues Hymen take flight And see not me 't is not my wedding night Exit Isabella Card. The Brides departed discontent it seemes Rob. Wee 'll after her Gallants vnmasque I pray And taste a homely banquet we entreate Exit Rob. Card. and Lights Clarid. Candidi Ernigos I beseech thee Men. Come Widow I le be bold to put you in My Lord will you haue a sociate Exit Thais Rog. Good gentlemen if I haue any interest in you Lent Abig. Let me depart vnknowne 't is a disgrace Of an eternall memory Mend. What the fall my Lord as common a thing as can be the stiffest man in Italy may fall betweene a womans legs Clar. Would I had chang'd places with you my Lord would it had beene my hap Rog. What Cuckold laid his hornes in my way Signior Claridiana you were by the Lady vvhen I fell Doe you thinke I hurt her Clar. You could not her my Lord betweene the legs Rog. What vvas 't I fell vvithall Mend. A crosse point my Lord Rog. Crosse-point indeede vvell if you loue me let me hence vnknowne The silence yours the disgrace mine owne Ex. Clar. Mend. Enter ISABELLA with a gilt Goblet and meetes ROGERO Isab. Sir if Wine were Nectar I le beginne a health To her that were most gracious in your eye Yet daigne as simply 't is the gift of Bacchus To giue her pledge that drinkes this God of Wine Cannot inflame me more to appetite Though he be co-supreme with mightie Loue Then thy faire shape Rog. Zounds she comes to deride me Isab. That kisse shall serue To be a pledge although my lips should starue No tricke to get that vizor from his face Rog. I vvill steale hence and so conceale disgrace Isab. Sir haue you left nought behinde Rog. Yes Lady but the Fates will not permit As Iems once lost are seldome or neuer found I should conuay it vvith me Sweete Good-night Shee bends to mee there 's my fall againe Exit Isab. He 's gone that lightning that a vvhile doth strike Our eyes with amaz'd brightnesse and on a sudden Leaues vs in prisoned darknesse Lust thou art hie My smiles may well come from the Skye Anna Anna Enter ANNA Anna Madame did you call Isab. Follow yond stranger prethee learne his name Wee may hereafter thanke him How I doate Exit Anna Is hee not a God That can command what other men would winne With the hard'st aduantage I must haue him Or shadow-like follow his fleeting steps Were I as Daphne and he followed chase Though I reiected young Appolloes loue And like a Dreame beguile his wandring steps Should he pursue me through the neighbouring groue Each Cowslip stalke should trip a willing fall Till hee were mine who till then am his thrall Nor will I blush since worthy is my chance 'T is said that Venus with a Satyre slept And how much short came she of my faire aime Then Queene of Loue a president I le be To teach faire women learne to loue of mee Speake Musicke what 's his name Enter ANNA Anna Madame It was the worthy Count Massino Isab. Blest be thy tongue the worthy Count indeede The worthiest of the Worthies Trusty Anna Hast thou pack'd vp those Monies Plate and Iewels I gaue direction for Anna Yes Madame I haue trust vp them that many A proper man has beene trust vp for Isab. I thanke thee take the wings of night Beloued Secretary and poste with them to Sweuia There furnish vp some stately Pallace Worthy to entertaine the King of Loue Prepare it for my comming and my Loues Ere Phoebus Steedes once more vnharnest be Or ere he sport with his beloued Thetis The siluer-footed Goddesse of the Sea Wee will set forward Flye like the Northern winde Or swifter Anna fleete like to my minde An. I am iust of your minde Madame I am gone Exit An. Isab. So to the house of Death
the mourner goes That is bereft of what his soule desir'd As I to bed I to my nuptiall bed The heauen on earth so to thought slaughters went The pale Andromeda bedew'd with teares When euery minute she expected gripes of a fell monster And in vaine bewail'd the act of her creation Sullen Night that look'st with suncke eyes on my nuptiall bed With ne'er a Starre that smiles vpon the end Mend thy slacke pace and lend the malecontent The hoping louer and the wishing Bride Beames that too long thou shadowest or if not In spight of thy fixt front when my loath'd Mate Shall struggle in due pleasure for his right I le think 't my loue and die in that delight Exit Enter at seuerall doores ABIGAL and THAIS Abig. Thais you 're an earely riser I haue that to shew will make your hayre stand on-end Thais Well Lady and I haue that to shew you will bring your courage downe What would you say and I would name a partie saw your Husband court kisse nay almost goe through for the hole Abig. How how what would I say nay by this light what would I not doe If euer Amazon fought better or more at the face then I le doe let me neuer be thought a new married vvife Come vnmasque her 't is some admirable creature vvhose beautie you neede not paint I warrant you 't is done to your hand Thais Would any vvoman but I be abused to her face Prethee reade the contents Know'st thou the Character Abig. 'T is my Husbands hand and a Loue-Letter But for the contents I finde none in it Has the lustfull monster All backe and belly-starv'd me thus What defect does he see in mee I le be sworne wench I am of as pliant and yeelding body to him e'en vvhich way hee vvill hee may turne mee as hee list himselfe What and dedicate to thee I marry here 's a stile so high as a man cannot helpe a Dog o'er it He was wont to write to me in the Citie phrase My good Abigall here 's Astonishment of nature vnparaleld excelency and most vnequal raritie of creation Three such wordes will turne any honest woman in the world whore for a woman is neuer wonne till shee know not vvhat to answere and beshrew me if I vnderstand any of these you are the partie I perceiue and here 's a white sheete that your husband has promist me to do penance in you must not thinke to dance the shaking of the sheetes alone though there be not such rare phrases in 't t is more to the matter a legible hand but for the dash or the hee and as short bawdy Parenthesis as euer you saw to the purpose hee has not left out a pricke I warrant you wherein he has promist to doe me any good but the Law 's in mine owne hand Thais I euer thought by his red beard hee would proue a Iudas here am I bought and solde hee makes much of me indeede Well wench we were best wisely in time seeke for preuention I should be loath to take drinke and die on 't as I am afraid I shall that hee will lye with thee Abig. To be short sweete hart I le be true to thee though a lyer to my Husband I haue signed your Husbands bill like a Wood cocke as hee is held perswaded him since nought but my loue can asswage his violent passions hee should enioy like a priuate friend the pleasures of my bed I tolde him my Husband was to goe to Mawrano to day to renew a Farme hee has and in the meane time hee might be tenant at will to vse mine this false fire has so tooke with him that he 's rauisht afore hee come I haue had stones on him all red dost know this Thais I too vvell it blushes for his Mr Points to the ring Abigall Now my Husband will be hawking about thee anon And thou canst meete him closely Thais By my faith I would be loath in the darke and hee knew mee Abig. I meane thus the same occasion will serue him too they are birds of a feather and vvill flye together I vvarrant thee wench appoint him to come say that thy Husband 's gone for Mawrano and tell mee anone if thou mad'st not his heart-bloud spring for ioy in his face Thais I conceiue you not all this while Abig. Then th' art a barren woman and no meruaile if thy Husband loue thee not the houre for both to come is sixe a dark time fit for purblinde louers and vvith cleanly conuayance by the niglers our maids they shall be translated into our Bed-chambers Your Husband into mine and mine into yours Thais But you meane they shall come in at the backe-dores Abig. Who our Husbands nay and they come not in at the fore-dores there will be no pleasure in 't But we two will climbe ouer our garden-Pales and come in that vvay the chastest that are in Venice vvill stray for a good turne and thus vvittily vvill wee be bestowed you into my house to your husband and I into your house to my husband and I vvarrant thee before a month come to an end they 'll cracke louder of this nights-lodging then the Bed-steads Thais All is if our Maids keepe secret Abig. Mine is a Maid I le be sworne shee has kept her secrets hitherto Thais Troath and I neuer had any Sea-captaine borded in my house Abig. Goe to then and the better to auoid suspition Thus wee must insist they must come vp darkling recreate themselues with their delight an houre or two and after a million of kisses or so Thais But is my husband content to come darkling Abig. What not to saue mine honour hee that vvill runne through fire as hee has profest will by the heate of his loue grope in the darke I warrant him he shall saue mine honour Thais I am afraid my voyce vvill discouer mee Abig. Why then you 're best say nothing and take it thus quietly when your husband comes Thais I but you know a vvoman cannot chuse but speake in these cases Abig. Bite in your neather-lip and I vvarrant you Or make as if you were vvhiffing Tobacco Or puich like me Gods-so I heare thy Husband Exit Thais Farewell vvise-woman Enter MIZALDVS Mizal. Now gins my vengeance mount high in my lust 'T is a rare creature shee 'll do 't i'faith And I am arm'd at all points A rare whiblin To be reueng'd and yet gaine pleasure in 't One height aboue reuenge yet vvhat a slaue am I Are there not younger Brothers enough but vve must Branch one another oh but mine 's reuenge And who on that does dreame Must be a Tyrant euer in extreame O my Wife Thais get my Breakefast ready I must into the Country to a Farme I haue Some two miles off and as I thinke Shall not come home to night Iaques Iaques Get my Vessell ready to row me downe the Riuer Prethee make haste Sweet girle Exit Mizal Thais So