light impression her selfe D'am. The praise is hers but the comparison your owne Giues him the Ring Lan. You shall forgiue me that Sir D'am. I will not doe so much at your request as forgiue you it I will onely giue you it Sir By You will make mee sweare Lan. O! by no meanes Prophane not your lippes with the foulnesse of that sinne I will rather take it To saue your oath you shall lose your Ring Verily my Lord my praise came short of her worth Shee exceedes a Iewell This is but onely for ornament Shee both for ornament and vse D'am. Yet vnprofitably kept without vse Shee deserues a worthy Husband Sir I haue often wish'd a match betweene my elder Sonne and her The marriage would ioyne the houses of Belforest and Damville into a noble alliance Lan. And the vnitie of Families is a worke of loue and charitie D'am. And that worke an imployment well becomming the goodnesse of your disposition Lan. If your Lordship please to impose it vpon mee I will carry it without any second end the surest way to satisfie your wish D'am. Most ioyfully accepted Rousard Here are Letters to my Lord Belforest touching my desire to that purpose Enter Rousard sickely Rousard I send you a suitor to Castabella To this Gentlemans discretion I commit the managing of your suite His good successe shall be most thankefull to your trust Follow his instructions he will be your leader Lan. In plainnesse and truth Rous. My leader does your Lordship thinke mee too weake to giue the on-set my selfe Lan. I will onely assist your proceedings Rous. To say true so I thinke you had neede for a sicke man can hardly get a womans good will without help Lan. Charlemont thy gratuitie and my promises were both but words and both like words shall vanish into ayre For thy poore empty hand I must be mute This giues mee feeling of a better suite Exeunt Languebeau and Rousard D'am. Borachio didst precisely note this man Bor. His owne profession would report him pure D'am. And seemes to know if any benefit Arises of religion after death Yet but compare 's profession with his life They so directly contradict themselues As if the end of his instructions were But to diuert the world from sinne that hee More easily might ingrosse it to himselfe By that I am confirm'd an Atheist Well! Charlemont is gone And here thou seest His absence the foundation of my plot Bor. Hee is the man whom Castabella loues D'am. That was the reason I propounded him Employment fix'd vpon a forraine place To draw his inclination out o' th' way Bor. T' has left the passage of our practise free D'am This Castabella is a wealthy heire And by her marriage with my elder Sonne My house is honour'd and my state increas'd This worke alone deserues my industry But if it prosper thou shalt see my braine Make this but an induction to a point So full of profitable policie That it would make the soule of honestie Ambitious to turne villaine Bor. I bespeake Employment in 't I 'le be an instrument To grace performance with dexteritie D'am. Thou shalt No man shall rob thee of the honour Goe presently and buy a crimson Scarfe Like Charlemonts Prepare thee a disguise i' th' habite of a Souldiour hurt and lame And then be ready at the wedding feast Where thou shalt haue imployment in a worke Will please thy disposition Bor. As I vow'd Your instrument shall make your proiect proud D'am. This marriage will bring wealth If that succeede I will increase it though my Brother bleed Exeunt Enter Castabella auoiding the importunitie of Rousard Casta. Nay good Sir in troth if you knew how little it pleases mee you would forbeare it Rous. I will not leaue thee till th' ast entertain'd mee for thy seruant Casta. My seruant You are sicke you say You would taxe mee of indiscretion to entertaine one that is not able to doe me seruice Rous. The seruice of a Gentlewoman consists most in chamber worke and sicke men are fittest for the chamber I pr'ithee giue me a fauour Casta. Mee thinkes you haue a very sweet fauour of you owne Rous. I lacke but your blacke eye Casta. If you goe to buffets among the Boyes they 'l giue you one Rous. Nay if you grow bitter I le dispraise your blacke eye The gray eie'd Morning makes the fairest day Casta. Now that you dissemble not I could be willing to giue you a fauour What fauour would you haue Rous. Any toy any light thing Casta. Fie Will you be so vnciuill to aske a light thing at a Gentlewomans hand Rous. Wilt giue mee a bracelet o' thy haire then Casta. Doe you want haire Sir Rous. No faith I le want no haire so long as I can haue it for mony Casta. What would you doe with my haire then Rous. Weare it for thy sake sweet hart Casta. Doe you thinke I loue to haue my haire worne off Rous. Come you are so witty now and so sensible Kisses her Casta. Tush I would I wanted one o' my sences now Rous. Bitter againe What 's that Smelling Casta No no no Why now y' are satisfied I hope I haue giuen you a fauour Rous. What fauour a kisse I prithee giue mee another Casta. Shew mee that I gaue you then Rous. How should I shew it Casta. You are vnworthie of a fauour if you will not bestow the keeping of it one minute Rous. Well in plaine termes doest loue mee That 's the purpose of my comming Casta. Loue you Yes Very well Rous. Giue mee thy hand vpon 't Casta. Nay you mistake mee If I loue you very well I must not loue you now For now you are not very well y' are sicke Rous. This Equiuocation is for the iest now Casta. I speak 't as t' is now in fashion in earnest But I shall not be in quiet for you I perceiue till I haue giuen you a fauour Doe you loue mee Rous. With all my hart Casta. Then with all my hart I le giue you a Iewell to hang in your eare Harke yee I can neuer loue you Exit Rous. Call you this a Iewell to hang in mine eare T' is no light fauour for I le be sworne it comes somewhat heauily to mee Well I will not leaue her for all this Mee thinkes it animates a man to stand too 't when a woman desires to be rid of him at the first sight Exit Enter Belforest and Languebeau Snuffe Bel. I entertaine the offer of this match With purpose to confirme it presently I haue already moou'd it to my daughter Her soft excuses sauour'd at the first Me thought but of a modest innocence Of bloud whose vnmoou'd streame was neuer drawne Into the current of affection But when I Replyed with more familiar arguments Thinking to make her apprehension bold Her modest blush fell to a pale dislike And shee refus'd it with such confidence As if shee had beene prompted by a loue Inclining firmely
a woman for offending but with one when t' is a light offence in Husbands to commit with many Leut. So it seemes to me Why how now Sebastian making loue to that Gentlewoman How many mistresses ha' you i'faith Seba. In faith none For I think none of 'em are faithfull but otherwise as many as cleane Shirts The loue of a woman is like a Mushrom it growes in one night and will serue somwhat pleasingly next morning to breakfast but afterwards waxes fulsome and vnwholesome Cata. Nay by Saint Winifred a woman's loue lasts as long as Winter fruit Seba. T' is true Till new come in By my experience no longer Enter Frisco running Frisco Some bodie 's doing has vndone vs and we are like pay dearely for 't Sebast. Pay deane for what Frisco Wil 't not be a chargeable reckoning thinke you when heere are halfe a dozen fellowes comming to call vs to accompt with eu'rie man a seuerall bill in his hand that wee are not able to discharge Knocke at the doore Cata. Passion o' me What bouncing 's that Madame withdraw your selfe Leuid. Sebastian if you loue me saue my honour Exeunt Seba. What violence is this What seeke you Zownes you shall not passe Enter Belforest and the Watch Belfo. Pursue the Strumpet Villaine giue mee way or I will make my passage through thy bloud Seba. My bloud will make it slipperie my Lord T' were better you would take another way You may hap fall else They fight Both slaine Sebastian falles first Seba. I ha 't ifaith Dies While Belforest is staggering enter Leuidulcia Leuid. O God! my Husband my Sebastian Husband Neither can spake yet both report my shame Is this the sauing of my Honour when their bloud runnes out in riuers and my lust the fountaine whence it flowes Deare Husband let not thy departed spirit be displeas'd if with adulterate lips I kisse thy cheeke Heere I behold the hatefulnesse of lust which brings me kneeling to embrace him dead whose body liuing I did loathe to touch Now I can weepe But what can teares doe good when I weepe onely water they weepe bloud But could I make an Ocean with my teares that on the floud this broken vessell of my body laden heauie with light lust might suffer shipwrack and so drowne my shame then weeping were to purpose but alas The Sea wants water enough to wash away the foulenesse of my name O in their wounds I feele my honour wounded to the death Shall I out-liue my Honour Must my life be made the worlds example Since it must then thus in detestation of my deede to make th' eexample moue more forceably to vertue thus I feale it with a death as full of horrour as my life of sinne Stabs herselfe Enter the Watch with Cataplasma Frisco Snuffe and Soquette Watch. Hold Madame Lord what a strange night is this Snuffe May not Snuffe be suffer'd to goe out of himselfe Watch. Nor you nor any All must goe with vs O with what vertue lust should be withstood Since t' is a fire quench'd seldome without bloud Exeunt Actus quinti Scena prima Musicke A Clozet discouer'd A Seruant sleeping with lights and money before him Enter D'amville D'amville VVHat sleep'st thou Seru. No my Lord Nor sleepe nor wake But in a slumber troublesome to both D'am. Whence comes this gold Seru. T' is part of the Reuenew Due to your Lordship since your brothers death D'am. To bed Leaue me my gold Seru. And me my rest Two things wherewith one man is seldome blest Exit D'am. Cease that harsh musicke W' are not pleas'd with it He bundles the gold Heere sounds a musicke whose melodious touch Like Angels voices rauishes the sence Behold thou ignorant Astronomer Whose wandring speculation seekes among The planets for mens fortunes with amazement Behold thine errour and be planet strucke These are the Starres whose operations make The fortunes and the destinies of men Yond' lesser eyes of Heau'n like Subiects rais'd Into their loftie houses when their Prince Rides vnderneath th' ambition of their loues Are mounted onely to behold the face Of your more rich imperious eminence With vnpreuented sight Vnmaske faire Queene Vnpurses the gold Vouchsafe their expectations may enioy The gracious fauour they admitt to see These are the Starres the Ministers of Fate And Mans high wisedome the superiour power To which their forces are subordinate Sleepes Enter the Ghoast of Montferrers Mont. D'amville With all thy wisedome th' art a foole Not like those fooles that we terme innocents But a most wretched miserable foole Which instantly to the confusion of Thy proiects with despaire thou shalt behold Exit Ghoast D'amville starts vp D'am. What foolish dreame dares interrupt my rest To my confusion How can that be Since My purposes haue hitherto beene borne With prosp'rous Iudgement to secure successe Which nothing liues to dispossesse me off But apprehended Charlemont And him This braine has made the happy instrument To free Suspition to annihilate All interest and title of his owne To seale vp my assurance and confirme My absolute possession by the law Thus while the simple honest worshipper Of a phantastique prouidence groanes vnder The burthen of neglected miserie My reall wisedome has rais'd vp a State That shall eternize my posteritie Enter Servants with the body of Sebastian What 's that Seru. The body of your younger Sonne slaine by the Lord Belforest D'am. Slaine you lie Sebastian Speake Sebastian H 'as lost his hearing A Phisitian presently Goe call a Surgeon Rousa. Ooh Within D'am. What groane was that How does my elder Sonne the sound came from his chamber Serua. He went sicke to bed my Lord Rousa. Ooh Within D'am. The cries of Mandrakes neuer touch'd the eare with more sad horrour then that voice does mine Enter a Seraunt running Serua. Neuer you will see your Sonne aliue D'am. Nature forbid I e'er should see him dead A Bed drawne forth with Rousard Withdraw the Curtaines O how does my Sonne Serua. Me thinkes he 's ready to giue vp the ghoast D'am. Destruction take thee and thy fatall tongue Death where 's the Doctor Art not thou the fact of that prodigious apparition sear'd vpon me in my dreame Serua. The Doctor 's come my Lord Enter Doctor D'am. Doctor Behold two Patients in whose care thy skill may purchase an eternall fame If thou hast any reading in Hipocrates Galen or Auicen if hearbs or drugges or mineralles haue any power to saue Now let thy practise and their soueraigne vse raise thee to wealth and honour Doctor If any roote of life remaines within 'em capable of Phisicke feare 'em not my Lord Rusa. Ooh D'am. His gasping sighes are like the falling noise of some great building when the ground-worke breakes On these two pillars stood the stately frame and architecture of my loftie house An Earthquake shakes 'em The foundation shrinkes Deere Nature in whose honour I haue rais'd a worke of glory to posteritie O burie not the pride of
spirit of a dying Man A chearefull eye vpon the face of Death Is the true count'nance of a noble minde For honour's sake my Lord molest it not D'am. Y' are all vnciuill O! is 't not enough that hee vniustly hath conspir'd with Fate to cut off my posteritie for him to be the heire to my possessions but he must pursue me with his presence and in the ostentation of his ioy laugh in my face and glory in my griefe Charl. D'amville to shew thee with what light respect I value Death and thy insulting pride Thus like a warlike Nauie on the Sea Bound for the conquest of some wealthie land Pass'd through the stormie troubles of this life And now arriu'd vpon the armed coast In expectation of the victorie Whose honour lies beyond this exigent Through mortall danger with an actiue spirit Thus I aspire to vndergoe my death Leapes vp the Scaffold Castabella leapes after him Casta. And thus I second thy braue enterprise Be chearefull Charlemont Our liues cut off In our young prime of yeares are like greene hearbs Wherewith we strow the hearses of our friends For as their vertue gather'd when th' are greene Before they wither or corrupt is best So we in vertue are the best for Death While yet we haue not liu'd to such an age That the encreasing canker of our sinnes Hath spread too farre vpon vs D'am. A Boone my Lords I begge a Boone 1. Iud. What 's that my Lord D'am. His body when t' is dead for an Anatomie 2. Iud. For what my Lord D'am. Your vnderstanding still come short o' mine I would finde out by his Anatomie What thing there is in Nature more exact Then in the constitution of my selfe Me thinks my parts and my dimentions are As many as large as well compos'd as his And yet in me the resolution wants To die with that assurance as he does The cause of that in his Anatomie I would finde out 1. Iud. Be patient and you shall D'am. I haue bethought me of a better way Nephew we must conferre Sir I am growne a wondrous Studient now o'late My wit has reach'd beyond the scope of Nature yet for all my learning I am still to seeke from whence the peace of conscience should proceede Charl. The peace of conscience rises in it selfe D'am. Whether it be thy Art or Nature I admire thee Charlemont Why thou hast taught a woman to be valiant I will begge thy life My Lords I begge my Nephewes life I 'le make thee my Phisitian Thou shalt read Philosophie to me I will finde out th' efficient cause of a contented minde But if I cannot profit in 't then t' is no more being my Phisitian but infuse a little poyson in a potion when thou giu'st me Phisick vnawares to me So I shall steale into my graue without the vnderstanding or the feare of death And that 's the end I aime at For the thought of death is a most fearefull torment is 't not 2. Iudg. Your Lordship interrupts the course of law 1. Iudg. Prepare to die Charl. My resolution 's made But ere I die before this honour'd bench With the free voice of a departing soule I heere protest this Gentlewoman cleare Of all offence the law condemnes her for Casta. I haue accus'd my selfe The law wants power To cleare me My deare Charlemont with thee I will partake of all thy punishments Charl. Vncle for all the wealthie benefits My death aduances you graunt me but this Your mediation for the guiltlesse life Of Castabella whom your conscience knowes As iustly cleare as harmelesse innocence D'am. Freely My Mediation for her life and all my int'rest in the world to boote let her but in exchange possesse me of the resolution that she dies withall The price of things is best knowne in their want Had I her courage So I value it the Indies should not buy 't out o' my hands Charl. Giue me a glasse of water D'am. Mee of wine This argument of death congeales my bloud Colde feare with apprehension of thy end Hath frozen vp the riuers of my veines A glasse of wine I must drinke vvine to vvarme mee and dissolue the obstruction or an apoplexie will possesse mee Why thou vncharitable Knaue Do'st bring mee bloud to drinke The very glasse lookes pale and trembles at it Seru. T' is your hand my Lord D'am. Canst blame mee to be fearefull bearing still the presence of a murderer about me Charl. Is this water Serua. Water Sir A glasse of water Charl. Come thou cleare embleme of coole temperance Be thou my witnesse that I vse no art To force my courage nor haue neede of helpes To raise my Spirits like those weaker men Who mixe their bloud with wine and out of that Adulterate coniunction doe beget A bastard valour Natiue courage thankes Thou lead'st me soberly to vndertake This great hard worke of magnanimitie D'am Braue Charlemont at the reflexion of thy courage my cold fearefull bloud takes fire and I begin to emulate thy death Is that thy executioner My Lords you wrong the honour of so high a bloud to let him suffer by so base a hand Iudges He suffers by the forme of law my Lord D'am. I will reforme it Downe you shagge-hair'd Curre The instrument that strikes my Nephew's bloud shall be as noble as his bloud I 'le be thy executioner my selfe 1. Iud. Restraine his fury Good my Lord forbeare D'am. I 'le butcher out the passage of his soule That dares attempt to interrupt the blow 2. Iud. My Lord the office will impresse a marke Of scandall and dishonour on your name Charl. The office fits him hinder not his hand But let him crowne my resolution with An vnexampled dignitie of death Strike home Thus I submit me Readie for execution Costa. So doe I In scorne of Death thus hand in hand we die D'am. I ha' the trick on 't Nephew You shall see how eas'ly I can put you out of paine Ooh As he raises vp the Axe strikes out his owne braines Staggers off the Scaffold Execu. In lifting vp the Axe I thinke has knock'd his braines out D'am. What murderer was hee that lifted vp my hand against my head Iudge None but your selfe my Lord D'am. I thought he was a murderer that did it Iudge God forbid D'am. Forbid You lie Iudge He commanded it To tell thee that mans wisedome is a foole I came to thee for Iudgement and thou think'st thy selfe a wise man I outreach'd thy wit and made thy Iustice Murders instrument in Castabella's death and Charlemonts To crowne my Murder of Montferrers with a safe possession of his wealthie state Charl. I claime the iust aduantage of his words Iudge Descend the Scaffold and attend the rest D'am. There was the strength of naturall vnderstanding But Nature is a foole There is a power aboue her that hath ouerthrowne the pride of all my proiects and posteritie for whose suruiuing bloud I had erected a proud monument and strucke 'em dead before me For whose deathes I call'd to thee for Iudgement Thou didst want discretion for the sentence But yond' power that strucke me knew the Iudgement I deseru'd and gaue it O! the lust of Death commits a Rape vpon me as I would ha' done on Castabella Dies Iudge Strange is his death and iudgement With the hands Of Ioy and Iustice I thus set you free The power of that eternall prouidence Which ouerthrew his proiects in their pride Hath made your griefes the instruments to raise Your blessings to a greater height then euer Charl. Onely to Heau'n I attribute the worke Whose gracious motiues made me still forbeare To be mine owne Reuenger Now I see That Patience is the honest mans reuenge Iudge In stead of Charlemont that but e'en now Stood readie to be dispossess'd of all I now salute you with more titles both Of wealth and dignitie then you were borne too And you sweet Madame Lady of Belforest You haue that title by your Fathers death Casta. With all the titles due to me encrease The wealth and honour of my Charlemont Lord of Montferrers Lord D'amuille Belforest And for a cloze to make vp all the rest Embrace The Lord of Castabella Now at last Enioy the full possession of my loue As cleare and pure as my first chastitie Charl. The crowne of all my blessings I will tempt My Starres no longer nor protract my time Of marriage When those Nuptiall rites are done I will performe my kinsmens funeralles Iudg. The Drums and Trumpets Interchange the sounds Of Death and Triumph for these honour'd liues Succeeding their deserued Tragedies Charl. Thus by the worke of Heau'n the men that thought To follow our dead bodies without teares Are dead themselues and now we follow theirs Exeunt FINIS
leaue I prithee goe into the Buttry Thou sha't finde some o' my men there if they bid thee not welcome they are very Loggerheads Fres. If your Logger heads will not your Hoggesheads shall Madame if I get into the Buttry Exit D'am. That fellowes disposition to mirth should be our present example Let 's be graue and meditate when our affaires require our seriousnes T' is out of season to be heauily disposed Len. We should be all wound vp into the key of Mirth D'am. The Musicke there Bel. Where 's my Lord Montferrers Tell him here 's a roome attends him Enter Montferrers Mont. Heauen giue your marriage that I am depriu'd of ioy D'am. My Lord Belforest Castabella's health D'amville drinkes Set ope the Sellar dores and let this health goe freely round the house Another to your Sonne my Lord To noble Charlemont Hee is a Souldier Let the Instruments of warie congratulate his memorie Drums and Trumpets Enter a Seruant Ser. My Lord here 's one i' th' habite of a Souldier saies hee is newly return'd from Ostend and has some businesse of import to speake D'am. Ostend let him come in My soule fore-tels hee brings the newes will make our Musicke full My brothers ioy would doe 't and here comes hee will raise it Enter Borachio disguised Mont. O my spirit it does disswade my tongue to question him as if it knew his answere would displease D'am. Souldier what newes wee heard a rumour of a blow you gaue the enemie Bor T' is very true my Lord Bel. Canst thou relate it Bor. Yes D'am. I Prithee doe Bor. The enemie defeated of a faire Aduantage by a flattring stratagem Plants all th' Artillerie against the Towne Whose thunder and lightning made our bulwarkes shake And threatned in that terrible report The storme wherewith they meant to second it Th' assault was generall But for the place That promis'd most aduantage to be forc'd The pride of all their Army was drawne forth And equally diuided into Front And Rere They march'd And comming to a stand Ready to passe our Channell at an ebbe W'aduis'd it for our safest course to draw Our sluices vp and mak 't vnpassable Our Gouernour oppos'd and suffered 'em To charge vs home e'en to the Rampiers foot But when their front was forcing vp our breach At push o'pike then did his pollicie Let goe the sluices and trip'd vp the heeles Of the whole bodie of their troupe that stood Within the violent current of the streame Their front beleaguer'd twixt the water and The Towne seeing the floud was growne too deepe To promise them a safe retreate expos'd The force of all their spirits like the last Expiring gaspe of a strong harted man Vpon the hazard of one charge but were Oppress'd and fell The rest that could not swimme Were onely drown'd but those that thought to scape By swimming were by murtherers that flankerd The leuell of the floud both drow'nd and slaine D'am. Now by my soule Souldier a braue seruice Mont. O what became of my deare Charlemont Bor. Walking next day vpon the fatall shore Among the slaughter'd bodies of their men Which the full-stomack'd Sea had cast vpon The sands it was m' vnhappy chance to light Vpon a face whose fauour when it liu'd My astonish'd minde inform'd me I had seene Hee lay in 's Armour as if that had beene His Coffine and the weeping Sea like one Whose milder temper doth lament the death Of him whom in his rage he slew runnes vp The Shoare embraces him kisses his cheeke Goes backe againe and forces vp the Sandes To burie him and eu'rie time it parts Sheds teares vpon him till at last as if It could no longer endure to see the man Whom it had slaine yet loath to leaue him with A kinde of vnresolu'd vnwilling pace Winding her waues one in another like A man that foldes his armes or wrings his hands For griefe ebb'd from the body and descends As if it would sinke downe into the earth And hide it selfe for shame of such a deede D'am. And Souldier who was this Mont. O Charlemont Bor. Your feare hath told you that whereof my griefe Was loath to be the messenger Casta. O God Exit Castabella D'am. Charlemont drown'd Why how could that be since it was the aduerse partie that receiued the ouerthrow Bor. His forward spirit press'd into the front And being engag'd within the enemie When they retreated through the rising streame I' the violent confusion of the throng Was ouerborne and perish'd in the floud And here 's the sad remembrance of his life The Scarfe Which for his sake I will for euer weare Mont. Torment me not with witnesses of that Which I desire not to beleeue yet must D'am. Thou art a Scrichowle and dost come i'night To be the cursed messenger of death Away Depart my house or by my soule You 'l finde me a more fatall enemie Then euer was Ostend Be gone Dispatch Bor. Sir t' was my loue D'am. Your loue to vexe my heart with that I hate Harke doe you heare you knaue O th' art a most delicate sweete eloquent villaine Bor. Was 't not well counterfaited D'am. Rarely Be gone I will not here reply Bor. Why then farewell I will not trouble you Exit D'am. So The foundation 's laid Now by degrees The worke will rise and soone be perfected O this vncertaine state of mortall man Bel. What then it is th' ineuitable fate Of all things vnderneath the Moone D'am. T' is true Brother for healths sake ouercome your griefe Mont. I cannot sir I am vncapable Of comfort My turne will be next I feele My selfe not well D'am. You yeeld too much to griefe Lang. All men are mortall The houre of death is vncertaine Age makes sicknesse the more dangerous And griefe is subiect to distraction You know not how soone you may be depriu'd of the benefit of sense In my vnderstanding therefore you shall doe well if you be sicke to set your state in present order Make your Will D'am. I haue my wish Lights for my Borther Mont. I le withdraw a while And craue the honest counsell of this man Bel. With all my heart I pray attend him sir Exeunt Montferrers and Snuffe This next roome please your Lordship D'am. Where you will Exeunt Belforest and D'amville Leuid. My Daughter 's gone Come Sonne Mistresse Cataplasma come wee 'l vp into her chamber I 'de faine see how she entertaines the expectation of her husbands bedfellowship Rou. 'Faith howsoeuer shee entertaines it I shall hardly please her therefore let her rest Levid. Nay please her hardly and you please her best Exeunt Enter 3. Seruants dranke drawing in Fresco 1 Ser. Boy fill some drinke Boy Fresco Enough good Sir not a drop more by this light 2. Not by this light Why then put out the candles and wee 'l drinke i' the darke and t'wut old Boy Fres. No no no no no 3. Why then take thy liquour A health Fresco
the hoste of heauen forbid Knaues Rogues Bel. Pray God hee be not hurt her 's falne into the grauell pit D'am. Brother deare Brother Rascals villaines knaues Enter the Seruants with lights Eternall darkenesse damne you come away Goe round about into the grauell pit and helpe my Brother vp Why what a strange vnlucky night is this Is 't not my Lord I thinke that Dogge that howl'd the newes of griefe that fatall Scrichowle vsherd on this mischiefs Enter with the murdred body Lan. Mischeife indeed my Lord Your Brother 's dead Bel. Hee 's dead Ser. Hee 's dead D'am. Dead be your tongues Drop out mine eye-bals and let enuious Fortune play at tennis with 'em Haue I liu'd to this Malicious Nature hadst thou borne me blinde th'adst yet been something fauourable to me No breath No motion 'prithee tell me heauen hast shut thine eye to winke at murther or hast put this sable garment on to mourne at 's death Not one poore sparke in the whole spatious skye of all that endlesse number would vouchsafe to shine You vize-royes to the King of nature whose constellations gouerne mortall births where is that fatall Planet rul'd at his Natiuitie That might ha' pleas'd to light him out as well into th' world vnlesse it be asham'd To have beene the instrument of such a good mans cursed destinie Belf Passions transports you Recollect your selfe Lament him not Whether our deaths be good Or bad it is not death but life that tryes Hee liu'd well therefore questionlesse well dyes D'am. I T is an easie thing for him that has no paine to talke of patience Doe you thinke that Nature has no feeling Belf. Feeling Yes But has she purpos'd any thing for nothing What good receiues this body by your griefe Whether is 't more vnnaturall not to grieue for him you cannot helpe with it or hurt your selfe with grieuing and yet grieue in vaine D'am. Indeede had hee beene taken from mee like a piece o'dead flesh I should neither ha' felt it nor grieued for 't But come hether 'pray looke heere Behold the liuely tincture of his bloud Neither the Dropsie nor the Iaundies in 't But the true freshnesse of a sanguine red for all the fogge of this blacke murdrous night has mix'd with it For any thing I know hee might ha' liu'd till doomesday and ha' done more good then either you or I O Brother He was a man of such a natiue goodnesse as if Regeneration had beene giuen him in his mothers wombe So harmeles that rather then ha' trod vpon a worme hee would ha' shun'd the way So deerely pittifull that e're the poore could aske his charity with dry eyes hee gaue 'em reliefe wi'teares with teares yes faith with teares Belf. Take vp the Corps For wisedom's sake let reason fortifie this weakenesse D'am. Why what would you ha' mee doe Foolish Nature will haue her course in spight o'wisedome But I haue e'en done All these wordes were but a great winde and now this showre of teares has layd it I am calme againe You may set forward when you will I le follow you like one that must and would not Lang. Our opposition will but trouble him Belf. The griefe that melts to teares by it selfe is spent Passion resisted growes more violent Exeunt Manet D'amville Borachio ascends D'am. Here 's a sweete Comedie T'begins with O dolentis and concludes with ha ha he Bor. Ha ha he D'am. O my eccho I could stand reuerberating this sweete musicall ayre of ioy till I had perish'd my sound lungs with violent laughter Louely Night-Rauen th' ast seaz'd a carkasse Bor. Put him out on 's paine I lay so fitly vnderneath the bancke from whence he fell that e'er his faltring tongue could vtter double Oo I knock'd out 's braines with this faire Rubie And had another stone iust of this forme and bignesse ready that I laid i' the broken skull vpo'the ground for 's pillow against the which they thought he fell and perish'd D'am. Vpon this ground I le build my Manour-house And this shall be the chiefest corner stone Bor. T' has crown'd the most iudicious murder that The braine of man was e'er deliuer'd of D'am. I Marke the plot Not any circumstance That stood within the reach of the designe Of persons dispositions matter time or place But by this braine of mine was made An Instrumentall help yet nothing from Th' induction to th' accomplishment seem'd forc'd Or done o'purpose but by accident Bor. First my report that Charlemont was dead Though false yet couer'd with a masque of truth D'am. I and deliuer'd in as fit a time When all our mindes so wholy were possess'd With one affaire that no man would suspect A thought imploi'd for any second end Bor. Then the Precisian to be ready when Your brother spake of death to moue his Will D'am. His businesse cal'd him thither and it fell Within his office vnrequested to 't From him it came religiously and sau'd Our proiect from suspition which if I Had mou'd had beene endanger'd Bor. Then your healths Though seeming but the ordinarie rites And ceremonies due to festiuals D'am. Yet vs'd by me to make the seruants drunke An instrument the plot could not haue miss'd T' was easie to set drunkards by the eares Th 'ad nothing but their torches to fight with And when those lights were out Bor. Then darkenesse did Protect the execution of the worke Both from preuention and discouerie D'am. Here was a murther brauely carryed through The eye of obseruation vnobseru'd Bor. And those that saw the passage of it made The Instruments yet knew not what they did D'am. That power of rule Philosophers ascribe To him they call the supreame of the Starres Making their influences gouernours Of Sublunarie Creatures when their selues Are senselesse of their operations Thunder and Lightning What! Doest start at thunder Credit my beliefe t' is a meere effect of nature An exhalation hot and dry inuolu'd within a watrie vapour i' the middle religion of the ayre Whose coldnesse congealing that thicke moysture to a cloud the angry exhalation shut within a prison of contrary qualitie striues to be free and with the violent eruption through the grossenesse of that cloud makes this noyse we heare Bor. T' is a fearefull noyse D'am. T' is a braue noyse And mee thinkes graces our accomplishid proiect as a peale of Ordnance does a triumph It speakes encouragement Now Nature showes thee how it sauour'd our performance to forbeare this noyse when wee set forth because it should not terrifie my brothers going home which would haue dash'd our purpose To forbeare this lightning in our passage least it should ha' warn'd him o' the pitfall Then propitious Nature winck'd at our proceedings now it doth expresse how that forbearance fauour'd our successe Bor. You haue confirm'd mee For it followes well That Nature since her selfe decay doth hate Should fauour those that strengthen their estate D'am. Our next endeauour is since on the
you cry for something So he claps my head betweene his legges and pulles off my shooe I hauing shifted no sockes in a sea night the Gentleman cryed foh and said my feete were base and cowardly feete they stuncke for feare Then hee knock'd my shooe about my pate and I cryed O once more In the meane time comes a shag hair'd dogge by and rubbes against his shinnes The Gentleman tooke the dog in shagge-haire to be some Watch-man in a rugge gowne and swore hee would hang mee vp at the next doore with my lanthorne in my hand that passengers might see their way as they went without rubbing against Gentlemens shinnes So for want of a Cord hee tooke his owne garters off and as he was going to make a nooze I watch'd my time and ranne away And as I ranne indeede I bid him hang himselfe in his owne gatters So hee in choler pursued mee hither as you see Bel. Why this sauours of distraction Leu. Of meere distraction Fres. How soeuer it sauours I am sure it smels like a lye Bel Thou maist goe forth at the backe doore honest fellow the way is priuate and safe Fres. So it had neede for your fore-doore here is both common and dangerous Exit Belforest Leu. Good night honest Fresco Fres. Good night Madame if you get mee kissing o'Ladies againe Exit Fresco Leu. This fals out handsomely But yet the matter does not well succeed Till I haue brought it to the very deede Exit Enter Charlemont in Armes a Musquetier and a Serieant Charl. Serieant what houre o' the night is 't Ser. About one Charl. I would you would relieue me for I am So heauie that I shall ha' much adoe To stand out my perdu Thunder and Lightning Ser. I le e'en but walke The round sir and then presently returne Soul For God's sake Serieant relieue me aboue fiue houres together in so foule a stormy night as this Ser. Why t' is a musique Souldier Heauen and earth are now in consort when the Thunder and the Canon play one to another Exit Serieant Charl. I know not why I should be thus inclin'd to sleepe I feele my disposition press'd with a necessitie of heauines Souldier if thou hast any better eyes I prithee wake mee when the Serieant comes Soul Sir t' is so darke and stormy that I shall scarce eyther see or heare him e'er he comes vpon mee Charl. I cannot force my selfe to wake Sleepes Enter the ghost of Montferrers Mont. Returne to France for thy old Father 's dead And thou by murther disinherited Attend with patience the successe of things But leaue reuenge vnto the King of kings Exit Charlemont arts and wakes Charl. O my affrighted soule what fearefull dreame Was this that wak'd mee Dreames are but the rais'd Impressions of premeditated things By serious apprehension left vpon Our mindes or else th' imaginary shapes Of obiects proper to th' complexion or The dispositions of our bodyes These Can neyther of them be the cause why I Should dreame thus for my mind has not been mou'd With any one conception of a thought To such a purpose nor my nature wont To trouble me with phantasies of terror It must be something that my Genius would Informe me of Now gratious heauen forbid O! let my Spirit be depriu'd of all Fore-sight and knowledge ere it vnderstand That vision acted or diuine that act To come Why should I thinke so Left I not My worthy Father i' the kind regard Of a most louing Vncle Souldier sawst No apparition of a man Soul You dreame Sir I saw nothing Charl. Tush These idle dreames Are fabulous Our boyling phantasies Like troubled waters falsifie the shapes Of things retain'd in them and make 'em seeme Confounded when they are distinguish'd So My actions daily conuersant with warre The argument of bloud and death had left Perhaps th' imaginary presence of Some bloudy accident vpon my minde Which mix'd confusedly with other thoughts Whereof th' remembrance of my Father might Be one presented all together seeme Incorporate as if his body were The owner of that bloud the subiect of That death when hee 's at Paris and that bloud Shed here It may be thus I would not leaue The warre for reputatio'ns sake vpon An idle apprehension a vaine dreame Enter the Ghost Soul Stand Stand I say No Why then haue at thee Sir if you will not stand I le make you fall Nor stand nor fall Nay then the Diuel's damme has broke her husbands head for sure it is a Spirit I shot it through and yet it will not fall Exit The Ghost approaches Charlemont Hee fearefully auoids it Char. O pardon me my doubtfull heart was slow To credit that which I did feare to know Exeunt Actus tertii Scena prima Enter the Funerall of Montferrers D'amville SEt downe the Body Pay earth what shee lent But shee shall beare a liuing monument To let succeeding ages truely know That shee is satisfied what hee did owe Both principall and vse because his worth Was better at his death then at his birth A dead march Enter the Funerall of Charlemont as a Souldier D'am. And with his Body place that memorie Of noble Charlemont his worthie Sonne And giue their Graues the rites that doe belong To Souldiers They were Souldiers both The Father Held open warre with Sinne the Sonne with bloud This in a warre more gallant that more good The first volley D'am. There place their Armes and here their Epitaphes And may these Lines suruiue the last of graues The Epitaph of Montferrers HEre lye the Ashes of that earth and fire whose heat and fruit ded feede and warme the poore And they as if they would in sighes expire and into teares dissolue his death deplore Hee did that good freelie for goodnesse sake unforc'd for gen'rousnesse he held so deare That hee fear'd none but him that did him make and yet he seru'd him more for loue then feare So 's life prouided that though he did dye A death yet dyed not sodainely The Epitaph of Charlement HIs Body lies interr'd within this would Who dyed a young man yet departed old And in all strength of youth that Man can haue Was ready still to drop into his graue For ag'd in vertue with a youthfull eye He welcom'd it being still prepar'd to dye And liuing so though young depriu'd of breath He did not suffer an vntimely death But we may say of his braue bless'd decease He dyed in warre and yet hee dyed in peace The second volley D'am. O might that fire reuiue the ashes of This Phenix yet the wonder would not be So great as he was good and wondred at For that His liues example was so true A practique of Religion's Theorie That her Diuinitie seem'd rather the Description then th' instruction of his life And of his goodnesse was his vertuous Sonne A worthy imitatour So that on These two Herculean pillars where their armes Are plac'd there may be writ Non
Nephew Exit Charlemont Seest thou that same man Bora. Your meaning Sir D'am. That fellowes life Borachio Like a superfluous Letter in the Law Endangers our assurance Bora. Scrape him out D'am. Wut doe 't Bora. Giue me your purpose I will doe 't D'am. Sad melancholy has drawne Charlemont With meditation on his Fathers death Into the solitarie walke behind the Church Bora. The Churchyard This the fittest place for death Perhaps he 's praying Then he 's fit to die We 'l send him charitably to his graue D'am. No matter how thou tak'st him First take this Pistoll Thou knowest the place Obserue his passages And with the most aduantage make a stand That fauour'd by the darknesse of the night His brest may fall vpon thee at so neare A distance that he sha'not shunne the blow The deede once done thou mai'st retire with safety The place is vnfrequented and his death Will be imputed to th' attempt of theeues Bora. Be carelesse Let your mind be free and cleare This Pistoll shall discharge you of your feare Exit D'am. But let me call my proiects to accompt For what effect and end I haue engag'd My selfe in all this bloud To leaue a state To the succession of my proper bloud But how shall that succession be continued Not in my elder Sonne I feare Disease And weakenesse haue disabled him for issue For th' tother his loose humour will endure No bond of marriage And I doubt his life His spirit is so boldly dangerous O pittie that the profitable end Of such a prosp'rous murther should be lost Nature forbid I hope I haue a body That will not suffer me to loose my labour For want of issue yet But then 't must be A Bastard Tush they onely father bastards That father other mens begettings Daughter Be it mine owne let it come whence it will I am resolu'd Daughter Enter Seruant Seru. My Lord D'am. I prithee call my Daughter Enter Casta. Casta. Your pleasure Sir D'am. Is thy Husband i'bed Casta. Yes my Lord D'am. The euening 's faire I prithee walke a turne or two Casta. Come Iaspar D'am. No Weel ' walke but to the corner o' the Church And I haue something to speake priuately Casta. No matter Stay Exit Seruant D'am. This falles out happily Exeunt Enter Charlemont Borachio dogging him in the Churchyard The Clocke strikes twelve Charl. Twelue Bora. T' is a good houre t' will strike one anon Charl. How fit a place for contemplation is this dead of night among the dwellings of the dead This graue Perhappes th' inhabitant vvas in his life time the possessour of his owne desires Yet in the midd'st of all his greatnesse and his wealth he was lesse rich and lesse contented then in this poore piece of earth lower and lesser then a Cottage For heere he neither wants nor cares Now that his body fauours of corruption Hee enioyes a sweeter rest then e'er hee did amongst the sweetest pleasures of this life For heere there 's nothing troubles him And there In that graue lies another He perhaps was in his life as full of miserie as this of happinesse And here 's an end of both Now both their states are equall O that Man with so much labour should aspire to wordly height when in the humble earth the world's condition 's at the best Or scorne inferiour men since to be lower then a worme is to be higher then a King Bora. Then fall and rise Discharges Giues false fire Charl. What villaines hand was that saue thee or thou shalt perish They fight Bora. Zownes vnsau'd I thinke Fall Charl. What Haue I kill'd him whatsoe'er thou beest I would thy hand had prosper'd For I was vnfit to liue and well prepar'd to die What shall I doe accuse my selfe Submit me to the law and that will quickly end this violent encrease of miserie But t' is a murther to be accessarie to mine owne death I will not I will take this opportunitie to scape It may be Heau'n reserues me to some better end Exit Charlemont Enter Snuffe and Soquette into the Churchyard Soqu. Nay good Sir I dare not In good sooth I come of a generation both by Father and Mother that were all as fruitfull as Costard-mongers wiues Snu. Tush then a Timpanie is the greatest danger can be fear'd Their fruitfulnesse turnes but to a certaine kind of flegmatique windie disease Soqu. I must put my vnderstanding to your trust Sir I would be loath to be deceiu'd Snu. No conceiue thou sha't not Yet thou shalt profit by my instruction too My bodie is not euery day drawne dry wench Soqu. Yet mee thinkes Sir your want of vse should rather make your body like a Well the lesser t' is drawne the sooner it growes dry Snu. Thou shalt try that instantly Soqu. But we want place and opportunity Snu. We haue both This is the backe side of the House which the superstitious call Saint Winifrea' Church and is verily a conuenient vnfrequented place Where vnder the close Curtaines of the night Soqu. You purpose i' the darke to make me light Pulles out a sheete a haire and a beard But what ha' you there Snu. This disguise is for securitie sake wench There 's a talke thou know'st that the Ghoast of olde Mon ferrers walks In this Church he was buried Now if any stranger fall vpon vs before our businesse be ended in this disguise I shall be taken for that Ghoast and neuer be call'd to examination I warrant thee Thus wee shall scape both preuention and discouerie How doe I looke in this habite wench Saq. So like a Ghost that notwithstanding I haue som fore-knowledge of you you make my haire stand almost an end Snu. I will try how I can kisse in this beard O fie fie fie I will put it off and then kisse and then put it on I can doe the rest without kissing Enter Charlemont doubtfully with his sword drawne is vpon them before they are aware They runne out divers waies and leaue the disguise Charl. What ha' wee heere a Sheete a haire a beard What end was this disguise intended for No matter what I 'le not expostulate the purpose of a friendly accident Perhaps it may accommodate my scape I feare I am pursued For more assurance I 'le hide mee heere i' th Charnell house this conuocation-house of dead mens sculles To get into the Charnell house he takes holde of a Death's head it slips and staggers him Death's head deceiu'st my hold Such is the trust to all mortalitie Hides himselfe in the Charnell house Enter D'amville and Castabella Casta. My Lord The night growes late Your Lordship spake of something you desir'd to moue in priuate D'am. Yes Now I 'le speake it Th' argument is loue The smallest ornament of thy sweet forme that abstract of all pleasure can command the sences into passion and thy entire perfection is my obiect yet I loue thee with the freedome of my reason I can giue thee