Serv. Nay nothing but tells us onely that if wee will thrive by service we must be either close Panders palpable flatterers or cozening Villaines Alast. A good Servingmans Tutor was that Poët I warrant him Exeunt Enter the Duke at one doore with Antonio Page and other Attendants At the other doore Lucilio in Altheas apparell his face covered with a Scarfe brought in by a Pursivant at Armes Frailware and others with Holbeards as a Prisoner to the Barre Damasippus Attend. Give back there and let the prisoner stand forth Duke How did wee thinke that when the stormes of warre Were with our danger care and cost expell'd From out these confines and the warmth of peace Turn'd like a Spring to shine within your bounds We should have sate secure Or after all Those toiles that spent our strength dry'd up our blood Hasten'd the hand of time to seize our haires Before his date and onely in pursuit Of your lov'd people safty and content Our owne now fainting wearinesse of age Should taste that freedome which our labours bought In plenteous fulnesse for the poorest swaine And we have clos'd the Evening of our age Within a fearlesse slumber But how weake Are all the hopes that wretched Princes faine When in the calme of peace while wee suppose Our perils banish'd and our selves ingirt With such impenetrable love as we Embrace our people with then stand our lives Expos'd to thickest dangers which conceal'd Doe strike the deeper and are warded lesse Such is the miserie that followes State That when we want abroad we finde at home Foes to besiege our lives The discontent Of some aggrieved spirits that thinke we stand 'Twixt their desires and them and which is worse The idle passions of unbridl'd youth Rather than misse those hopes enflamed lust Has fir'd within their thoughts will overturne Whole States and climbe up to their aymed ends By our heap'd slaughters Yet I least had thought Such Tragick Acts had knowne a womans breast Nor if I could Althea would your life Strong to retort suspition once permit Our least mistrust to staine your vertuous name And had we not by heavens appointment found Vnder your hand and seale the firmest proofes Of tempting our owne blood to paricide Suspitions strongest proofes had ne'r induc'd Our never lightly credulous beliefe To harbour your dislike But should we now Neglect our safety and our Countries good When all the Providence of Fate conspires To bring those treacherous practises to light Which Heaven abhorres wee should contemne the Heavens Abuse that forme of justice we sustaine And stand as guilty of those wastefull ruines Our cruell mildnesse gives your actions scope To call upon your Countrey and our selves We therefore by the Lawes denounce you guilty Of Treason 'gainst our person and the State Lucil. Were it for life my Lord I stood to speake I scarce would give the breath that I must spend To save that life But since your Grace does know A womans prejudice has doom'd our death For my names life I le speake and not for mine If infamy might die when we doe die I would be silent for know my gracious Lord I scorne to beg a life but come all arm'd In such a compleate innocence as dares Meet angry injustice in the jawes of death And without trembling stand his violence But that these Acts of blood these horrid crimes Of paricide of lust and hellish sinne Which will out-live our Tombes and make our names Come hatefull to posterities Records Should have a birth within a Virgins breast That never yet was conscious of a wish 'Gainst your desired safety I must take leave To tell your Grace that it was meerly feign'd By the bloody hand of Envy to cut off That sacred band of love the Heavens have knit 'Twixt your sonnes heart and my chaste innocence Nor doe I taxe your justice for my death But doe impute it most to his fond love That by protests of vertue and desire Drew my beleeving soule to his affects For when my feares urg'd these ensuing ils His uncontain'd affection breaking forth In signes of extreme passion so consum'd My powers that had my thoughts beene cold as Snow His zeale pour'd out in such inflaming vowes Would melt them Duke We must check your impudence That swels beyond the bounds we did expect Your modesty should have observ'd you wrong Our sonne and in our sonne our selves know you This hand and seale Lucil. I doe my honour'd Lord Yet were that Hand and Seale never found guilty Of conceiv'd wrong 'gainst or your Sonne or you Duke 'T will speake it selfe call it to witnesse then One reades the Letter MY Lord the attempt is dangerous and foule therefore desist not to enjoy the sweets our present Nuptials would being could I endure your hand stain'd with such an Action More when wee meet feare not but Heaven and Fate will second vertue Be still your selfe and I will rest Yours more than mine ALTHEA Duke Had you a priviledge to shrowd the blush Your conscious guilt casts 'gainst the eyes of Heaven As from our sight you doe conceale the Die That writes your Acts in shame upon your Cheekes You might deny these proofes and sweare them fain'd But that all-seeing power that notes the wild And secretst passages of mans conceit Detesting those foule crimes of lust and blood Reveales your Acts Stand therefore and from the Seate Of Iustice heare your doom since your ambitious hopes Soar'd up and by our Blood did meane to climbe Into that Seat which Nature and our right Had given to us be therfore from the Rock Throwne with your hopes that your example teach How low they fall that climbe above their reach And you Antonio we charge to see The execution speedily perform'd Exit cumsuis Manent Lucilio Antonio Page Damasippus Lucil. As sweet as cooling dew comes to the brest Of scorched Autumne so Deaths slumber fals On oppress'd innocence And good Antonio Since 't is your charge to see us dead let mee Entreat this favour that my body be Speedily interr'd and pray you tell the Duke That I request his Grace not grieve too much Hereafter for what I willingly now sought And he against his will made me to finde Then that I may have a litttle space in private To bid the world farewell and this is all A dying Virgin begs and for your friend Lucilio's sake you must not now deny it Anto. Wonder of womē could my attemps but yeeld Halfe what my heart conceives these limbs should die As many severall deaths as they containe Conduits of life to make your innocence live For your Lucilios sake whose woes will swell Poore Lord like to a winde-driven Ocean When he shall heare you dead and beare him downe To some disastrous end Lucil. You are deceiv'd Deare friend Lucilio's woes end with my life Nor will a thought of griefe a teare or sigh Trouble his peacefull sleeps when I am dead But I shall straine
delivery Frail. Gi' me thy warrant then and I le serve it as greedily as a beggarly Vndersherife does an Action of slander But what is 't what is 't boy Page Faith sir the common danger that haunts men of your place fils Theaters and gives many of your Landlesse Gallants their gilt Spurres and their feathers Frail. Vnshale it unshale it Page Why Sir in sober City Italian that man of little wit lesse learning and no honesty M. Damasippus the Stoick meanes this Evening with pure moralitie to Frail. What sir Page Cuckold you sir Frail Body o'mee that embleme of hypocrisie hee lookes as cold and mortifi'd as a Capon of a weekes killing Page Hang him Lobster hee 's as hot as a Cocksparrow and as irreligious as as a Low-Countrey Lombard Hee 's good for nothing but that which men keepe old Stallions for he would have done rarely well after Deucalions flood or five hundred of 'hem now for the new plantation But i'faith I would bee reveng'd on him Frail. Reveng'd I 'll give up my shop to be reveng'd on him turne Summer to plague him with Citations Page And then out-bribe him that hee shall finde no mercy i' th Bumme-Court Frail. Or else I will be sterne in my authoritie set him in the Stocks and set the Stocks at mine owne doore Page Or else I would hire some Iew to make him factious And then get him banish'd to Amsterdam to saw Brazill Frail. Or hire a Witch to take away his Instrument of lust and then he 'll hang himselfe in his owne girdle Page Or get some body to promise him some Bookes and a new Gowne to deny the plurality of the gods then informe against him and goe drunke to see him burnt Frail. Else I le get him Carted and lye with his wife the while Page I and send him word of it when he is i' th Cart Frail. Some dreadfull vengeance or other my offended Authority shall take on him I protest I never mistrusted it Page Alas no I knew you were a true Cuckold innocent Frail. A Cuckold innocent what 's that Page One of the eight Tribes into which your liverie is divided Nay nay nay sober Master Constable be not dejected let not your head sinke before it has ful lading for look you I 'll shew you the dignitie of your estate your Cuckoldhood sir is more worshipfull than the best of all the foure and twenty Companies Because in some ages you have had some of the best of all those Companies Fellowes of the Liverie Secondly you have had all states and rankes belonging to it Sylla Domitian and Claudius great Emperours of the world never car'd to be free of the Goldsmiths or Merchant-Taylors Hall yet they were huge Cuckolds Thirdly you have your wit in chusing approv'd which must of necessitie show you to have beene wise men and therefore most commonly you are in Offices Fourthly you have sometimes better men to be your followers than your selfe for they be glad to follow and come after where you have beene before Fiftly you have others to worke for the propagation of your name while you be idle and reape the fruits of their labours And lastly it makes your way to heaven Master Constable infallible for if you die quickly you die an innocent But let me be your Pilot and if I doe not learne you a course to pay this Puffin this all Priapus this Goate rampant in 's owne kinde let my wit bee for ever crack't Frail. If thou couldst doe it in some bitter manner Page Trust me not else for looke you Sir if it were a Courtier of a good perfume and rich Garter or a Gallant of the new fashion with fresh insides nay an 't were a barren Alderman that would visit his Wench secretly and were in the way to authority why 't were something tolerable But to be horn'd by a Sir that 's no Knight one that will lie as fast as an Alminack-maker a thred-bare-grogran-worsted-lack-Latin 't is insufferable Frail. O 't is I know 't is Page Your onely revenging remedie then is prevention in the same kinde which you shall most dexterously atchieve me duce id esh si ego dux fuero little Master Constable Frai. How sweet boy how Page Doe you but invite Mistris Abigail to Supper this evening who knowes nothing of her husbands being there and leave the rest to my providence Frail. I le doe it Boy i'faith I will I will indeed Boy Page About it then I le meet you at your comming backe and give directions for the rest Exeunt Enter the Duchesse disguised and Mycale a Witch Mical. Your Grace hath beene exceeding patient To undergoe these paines and come to us Duch. Good Micale I was unfortunate I had not knowne thy skill and us'd it sooner For since Heavens power denies me just revenge And meanes to worke my will I le search the depth Of hels dark'st Angels but I will dissolve That firme link'd band of love and to that end Shrowded in this disguise I came to thee That thou maist let some nimble spirit slip From out the powerfull Circle after her And with thy spels pursue her unto death Mical. Madam It shall be speedily perform'd Please you a while retire into this roome And waite the ceremonious houre while wee Prepare us for the sacrifice and provide Those powerfull ingredients which we use In the confection of our charmes Duch. I will Exit Duchesse Song Mic Sarvia Sar Mother Mic Take thy flight While the Moone affords thee light While the Dog-Starre shines downright On the powerfull Aconite And the Hearbes appeare in sight Sar Away and wash your body white In the spring and clense you quite For I le soone the Shepheard fright And bring home to mend the right A female Lamb as black as night Mic Haste then quicke returne thee home Doe not tho forget the stone In the Toade nor Serpents bone Nor the Mandrake though he groane Pull him up he is our owne Sar I le steale besides let me alone The great blacke Cat from jumping Jone And make the Nurse and Mother moane When their fatlings throat is showne Mic Haste then quicke returne thee home Enter Lucilio and Antonio Lucil. Where be we now Antonio is not this life On the farre side of death and sinkes beyond A non existens Hadst thou not made thy friend Blest in thy faith if thou hadst yeelded way To my desires and I had cleerly leapt From the maine top of mischiefe and falne short Of these calamities Oh the grosse oversight Of our mistaking nature that is so base To buy a draught of ayre with seas of ills Or thinke we benefit a friend when wee Doe turne his houre-glasse to make life runne Though every minute hailes downe mis-fortune thick As it doth Sand into the empty receptacle Anto. Nay give me leave to tell your Grace my Lord This strong desire of death that hath possest Your will thus farre does not expresse the
signes Of that true valour your spirit seemes to beare For 't is not courage when the darts of chance Are throwne against our State to turne our backs And basely runne to death as if the hand Of Heaven and Nature had lent nothing else To oppose against mishap but losse of life Which is to flie and not to conquer it For know it were true valours part my Lord That when the hand of chance had crush'd our States Ruin'd all that our fairest hopes had built And thrown 't in heaps of desolation Then by those ruines for our thoughts to climbe Vp till they dar'd blinde fortune to the face And urg'd her anger to increase those heaps That we might rise with them and make her know Wee were above and all her power below Why this my Lord would prove us men indeed But when affliction thunders o'r our Roofe To hide our heads and runne into our graves Shewes us no men but makes us fortunes slaves Lucil. Antonio thou wouldst turne Philosopher To doe thy friend a kindnesse but 't is not wordes Our businesse askes we must have action now Thou seest my fathers anger for this freeing Althea from her death swels like a tide Halfe flowne that labours 'gainst an adverse winde And does command us leave the Court awhile And passe for Greece as if our travaile could Be Bawd unto the chastity of faith That 's vow'd to vertue when my long weary'd minde Already 's toyling in a pilgrimage Vp to the shrine of Natures rich perfections Therefore Antonio thou must take the shape Of all save misery that I containe And for I know my fathers jealousie Will entertaine all rumours that are left Where ere my name passe thou must bee Lucilio And so my name travaile alone with thee It will suffice for fame doth sometimes gull The best intelligence Then shape thy course Farthest from Athens to those parts of Greece Where I am least knowne Anton. Pardon me my Lord If I consent not for should your safety call To leap the Tyrrhene Cliffs into the maine Stand in the face of a fir'd Canon Or hale a sleeping Lyon from the way Where you must passe my love would force me runne Against the edge of danger for your life But this is onely a pretended shew To win our absence that none may interrupt Your torrent of impatience that posts Like melted Snow from off the Apenine Downe to destruction Luci. Thou art curious still With our intentions and mistak'st me much Beleev 't Antonio if I might have dyed When the vast flood of spleene was at the full And thought to overflow whole worlds of love When Envy stood a tip-toe to catch hold And pull downe innocence to trample on 't And sweet Revenge was at her on to speake From my bruis'd bones then death had been a heaven But now my head 's turn'd brasse speakes times past And harden'd is against the worst of ils Though every frowne my angry mother gives Should come like hammers 'gainst my forehead Anton. May I beleev 't my Lord Lucil. By Heaven I will And so resolve yet for thy farther trust I will bee open to thee my meaning is To put off name and habit for a while Till I have found Althea and knit that knot Which hell it selfe shall never violate And therefore carry rumour still with thee That it may have no leasure to descry What I embrace Farewell Antonio And prethee let this evening bee the last Of thy delay Heaven will be my friend And send content or give my woes an end Exit Lucilio Anton. Soft I le not leave you to goe seek that end your name shall travaile but I le not carry it Though you have vow'd not to procure your death you are in love manet Enter Alastor and Assassino quarrelling Alast. D'sfoote Sir your speeches be peremptory Assas. Why Sir I said it and I say it agen that the Dukes Sonne was a foole and a mad-man to venture his life for ere a womans love in Italy Alast. I yeeld Sir 't was a mad part to venture a painful death for a woman when a woman will venture nothing but she 'll have pleasure at one end of it for the life of a man yet the Dukes Sonne was not a madman for it Assas. I say he was Alast. I say you lie Assassino gives him a blow D'foote Sir you will not strike me Assass. Yes and whip thee with Birch i' the Nose Exit stalking Anton. Bravely perform'd Alastor 't is politiquely done bee noble and doe not strike Alast. Why sir this is not mine owne sword Anton. And therefore thou hadst no authority to use it Come I have other businesse for thee that shall gaine thee gold Alast. I thanke you sir for indeed I had a suit to you before Anton. It is the better trade of the two by halfe I know thou canst begg valiantly but to the businesse Thou knowst my Lord Lucilio goes away in disgrace 'twixt banishment and travaile he is not well and therefore would stay behinde a while unknowne onely thou must goe before and put on his name that the world may take notice of his passage and hold rumour busie till hee comes privately and overtakes thee But come to my lodging where I le dispose of farther particulars and furnish thee with apparell and crownes for thy journey Alast. I attend you sir exeunt A Table set forth covered with a cloth Enter Mistris Frailware Mistris Frail. Why Debora I say why Debora Debor. Anon forsooth within Mistris Frail. Come bring away the Napkins quickly and make ready here these heavy Ars'd wenches are so slow and doe you heare bid one of the Boyes fetch me a Pinte of Oligant Buls Blood and a quart of Canary and look that the white Broth with Eringoes and Marrow be not over-boyl'd I know M. Damasippus loves it well Enter Damasippus Damas. Ioy and peace of minde be to my deare Pupill let mee give thee a morall kisse Mistris Frai. In pure moralitie M. Damasippus you are most heartily welcome Would this wench would come away that wee had Supper once Damas. That word hath eterniz'd thee my sweet Ambrosia and thy name is written in Elizium among Ioves paramours Wherefore let the beloved of Iove feast and banquet according to moralitie Enter Debora with Supper Mistris Frail. You are so full of learned sayings still I have studyed too a great while would I could reade once Dam. Soule of the world thou shalt bee illuminated without reading for I will infuse knowledge into thee and thou shalt bee repleate Mistris Fra. Can you doe so M. Damasippus Dam. I can my Summum bonum and thou shalt have the Mandragoras for thy fecundity and I will free thee from the vicious note of sterility Mistris Fra. O the blessings of these Philosophers Come sweet M. Damasippus sit and le ts sup quickly Dam. Content Enter Debora running Debor. O Mistris my Master and Mistris Abigail are comming up
till freed by all degrees she becomes a Nurse of the Trade by five and forty then many times a six penny Witch and so back againe to an everlasting Devill The second Spirit riseth Duch. What is this Mic. This is a Spirit Madam that takes many times the habit of an old Gentlewoman gets into Ladies familiarities teaches the tempers of Complexion the composition of meats that strengthen and provoke luxury the use of quelque choses and Dildoes has Aretine at her fingers ends 'T was she that first invented double Locks and a sute of Keyes to every Office Shee exalted the horne of the Buttery made the Silver Bole neglect the company of the black Iack and preferr'd a Bill against eating Breakfasts and sitting up late to the prejudice of Tallow-Chandlers In fine shee sets Families together by the eares and flattering her selfe into great mens expenses becomes the bane of Hospitalitie Duch. 'T is a familiar Spirit methinkes I could bee acquainted with her But who is this The third Spirit Mic. O this is a Devill of many shapes and indeed Madam seldome at leisure that wee can have any use of him He fawnes him into services of place and perswades men otherwise morally civil from the chaste Sheets of their beautifull and vertuous mariages becomes an Intelligencer and panders them to Milk-maids Kitchin-wenches and Oyster-wives Hee refuses no deed that heaven abhorres and Hell trembles at so his Lord sin with him He is a very chain'd slave to his Masters vices and leaves him in nothing but Actions of honour and vertue An other time hee is a concealed Druggist or Apothecary puts on the name of a great Traviller poysons at an houre and is in great request Duch. Speake to him good Micale and let him know our businesse Mic. Stay then thou Spirit of night and by the power The chiefe commander of your shades hath lent I doe adjure thee tell where lives Althea The Spirit whispers Micale behinde He tels me Madam in the Mountaines farre from hence Duch. But how shall we procure her death He whispers Micale as before Mic. By poyson gi'mee something then that kils Past Cure and speedily it is sufficient Hee gives her a Violl and exit I have a nimble Spirit at command That by an oyntment which we doe apply To parts of our mark'd bodies is at hand Who posts us through the regions of the ayre When oft wee meet at solemne festivals Or doe admit a novice to the oath Of our abstruse and powerfull discipline Leave it to us and ere to morrowes Sunne Touch but three Points of West beyond Mid-noone My selfe will see Althea dead Duch. Thanks gentle Micale for thou hast eas'd me much I le not forget thy paines nor leave thy skill Without regard for wee have much to know Mic. 'T is a curious age Madam and we are full Of businesse now so many come to know Who shall survive their Husbands or themselves And then how long whom they shall marry next What place and oportunitie must meet To raise their titles with a million more Of womens questions But the day begins To looke upon us Duch. I must hasten then Least some mis-fortune doe discover me Farewell Micale hell prosper our designe Mic. Feare it not Madam I will not sleep nor eate Till by Althea's death I joyntly free Your Sonne and House from Cupids Tyranny exeunt Actus 4. Scena 1. Enter Althea and Camilla disguis'd like Shepheardesses Althea THe day growes hot and with the climing Sunne That mounts to th' height of noone our cares doe flie Drawne on by feare and griefe to deep despaire Le ts rest under this shade until the sindging Ray a little hath withdrawne it selfe Cam. And gladly too for I am as weary of travell as I am of a Shepheards life Alth. I Camilla the desire of being publike is the disease of our Sex we thinke the Countries free breathing spaciousnesse a prison where the losse of libertie is the want of company But if there were one of us whose contents were not without her she would shun that common concurse of eyes as she does the opinion of deformity and perceive that the best perfectiō had no greater enemy than publike aspects Cam. This is forc'd now and savours not of your temper and womans seasoning to hold Paradoxes against nature and opinions opposite to our owne feelings 'Sprecious Madam if Nature fram'd us to please how can we please where 's none to be pleas'd but Beasts and Birds whose apprehension was ne'r made capable of proportion and therefore regard it not Althea And therefore condemne us of unnaturalnesse that when beauty was equally shar'd 'twixt them and us they respect it as it is whil'st wee blinded by reasonable sense conceive it the richest gift Heaven could give study it above the soule and equall to life tho it meerly touch our outsides as clothes doe Cam. Nay deare Mistris let 's talke a little now like our selves like women and tell mee whether an excellent Qualitie forc'd from operation or a rare peece of worke held from sight bee not a wrong to the Author as well as the thing O they were fowly deceiv'd that sought perfection in a Nunnery Alth. That 's the errour of our ambition that while wee take our ayme at admiration by publikenesse and common flattery we misse that repute among the wisest which our beauties not prostituted would infallibly merit because every thing though lesse perfect yet lesse common is more admired as we see in the Sunne and a Comet Cam. You are Bookish still and I le stand to it yet there 's no woman but loves them both and therefore being naturall to our Sex why should it bee tearmed unnaturalnesse in us to cherish beautie or wish the perfection of civill mens amiable societie when that ever begets love and love is ever secōded with flattery I like a Wench that 's pure mettall and spirit and the very foule of her kinde that when a Lord wantons her will forsake her home give off her father and competent meanes to the poore of the Parish stick to the City like a Prodigall to the Counter that cannot be drawne out by all the friends he has lives clearely by her wits yet reasonable honest too and all to be flatter'd Alth. Such Camilla be the disgrace of their Sex whose appetites change with varietie and taint the generall name of women with the vicious note of inconstancy Camill. That 's the folly of men to terme inconstancie vicious in us for were they not so prone to wrong us they would ne'r expect it but know that to bee too constant to them were to bee too disloyall to our selves which I hope ne'r came nigh a womans wit Alth, Yet it is the perfection of vertue to lose by the exercise Cam. By the pleasures of change I sweare this constancy is a mortall sinne and not a vertue in any of us Alth. A sinne and mortall Cam. A sinn and
soone for I am wondrous ill Alth. Poore wench these newes have wounded thee Cam. Not to dissemble no but from the Wine I tasted of the Bottle went a cold Through every veine that settling at my heart Shuts up the passages of life and fils The Organs of my powers with such a frost As kils the spirits that should harbour it Alth. Does Hell conspire with envy then to persecute Our misery and sent some fiend to take That shape that ne'r till now did shrow'd so foule a sin Cam. My soule growes faint and weary of her house And Death claimes right in all my Vitall parts Help me Althea help me Mistris Or bury me at least and close mine eyes Death is the best Camilla dies Alth. Of all lifes miseries She rubs her to get life Dead starke dead It is not much I aske the Angry heavens Lend but my wits to die I crave no more Or if you have a further punishment Reserv'd be milde and hurle it quickly on mee With its full weight Poore wench I have no tooles To breake the earth nor meanes to burie thee Thou hast not kill'd a Mother nor a Prince Nor beene the ruine of thy Family Is 't such a guilt to beare me company That thou must dye and want what Homicides And Malefactors finde a grave Here take This Scarfe Lucilio was wont to weare it Tell him thou hast it for thy Shrowd and I Am gone to meet him and have onely begg'd A truce with fatall mischiefe whilst I hie That where hee dyed there I may likewise die Poore soule farewell exit Enter Damon and Arminio two Shepherds Laurinda a Shepherdesse with greene Strewings Dam. Come hands to worke it is the Festivall Of our Silvanus we must round entrench The place fittest for dancing Laur. And strew the bankes On which the Summer Lord and Lady sit To see the sports with these rich spoyls of May Arm. Our Shepherds will be frolicke then and lose No Ceremony of their ancient mirth Dam. I like 'hem well the curious precisenesse And all-pretended gravities of those That sought these ancient harmlesse sports to banish Have thrust away much ancient honesty Armin. I doe beleeve you 't is the exercise Of such only to seeme and to be thought What they are not holy They keep the feast Of our great Pan with more than needfull strictnesse And take upon 'hem to bee great oath-haters When all is but dissembling and their Devotions Like Witches charmes disguis'd with seeming good To beare out wickednesse Dam. Then they have reason for they that live by showes must paint faire Lau. Alas what 's here a Shepherdesse asleep Dam. Sweet benefit of our life to whom a Turfe gives a more secure sleep than a Palace doth a Monarch Laur. But this is death not sleep Arm. Why then shee 's absolutely blest Nature has given her an acquitance from the reckonings of fortune and miserie Laur. We must in charity bury her Dam. To your Tooles then we can doe no lesse though it bee scarce in fashion now to be charitable They digg the Grave Laur. Fashion is a Traviller and Shepheards cannot follow it Arm. I Laurinda it travels into all Nations the world o'r Laur. And therefore should goe round Dam. And therefore does goe round blindfold like a Mill-Horse who thinkes he goes forward yet keeps his course circular But now Laurinda what further Ceremony can you devise for this Funerall poore haplesse Coarse Laur. To mourne for we know not whom and when peradventure death was the beginning of her happinesse were to abuse our selves and be sorry she could be no longer miserable Shee strewes on her I le strow my flowers on her Virgin Hearse And rob another Meddow for the sports The place affords no other Ceremony Arm. Yes wee must have a Countrey Song for her farewell from the earth and welcome to the earth Laur. I le doe my best though it bee unseasonable to sing at burials Dam. Poore Wench even in the flower of her age although I knew thee not yet for thy memory I le change with thee He takes the Scarfe from her face and covers it with a cloth Your hand Arminio They take her up and bury her SONG Laur Die die ah die Wee all must die 'T is Fates decree Then aske not why When we were fram'd the Fates consultedly Did make this law That all things borne should die Yet Nature strove And did denie We should be slaves To Destinie At which they heape Such miserie That Natures selfe Did wish to die And thankt their goodnesse that they would foresee To end our cares with such a milde Decree Farewell and sleep for ever Enter Antonio disguised Ant. 'T is too late I have miss'd him and all my labour 's lost Speed you shepheards and your worke Armin. Sir you are welcome but our sad worke is sped already and so are they for whom we worke Ant. Why is it sad then if both be sure of speeding Arm. Because Sir the best speed our labour can have is the sad end of their life for whom we worke We have buried the dead Anton. 'T is well that Charity is not runne the Countrey then But whom have you buried Armin. One doubtlesse as unfortunate as unknowne a stranger sure in these parts and as shee seem'd a maid further particulars we know not but pittying shee should want a buriall as we came by and saw her dead we gave her that which earth denies to no misfortune a poore grave Dam. And tooke from off her face this Scarfe bless'd with the last kisse her dying lips could give Anton. O my apprehensive soule He catches the Scarfe Dam. What meane you Sir doe you know it Anton. I too too well Poore Lord that wont'st to weare this Relique which is now left for an Index To turne thee to thy woes Good Shepheard Grant me thus much and bestow it on me Dam. Faith Sir since I perceive you long for it you shall prevaile and if shee were of your acquaintance keepe it as a monument of her untimely death So fare you well Sir Exeunt Shepheards Anton. Too timelesse death that kill'd two hearts in one And now Lucilio where ere thou liv'st Here we may joyntly finish both our labours Since here lies bury'd all thy hopes and feares Too vertuous maid Althea could the earth Yeeld thee no better place to enshrine thee in Yet can its basenesse never dimme thy name That shall be sung into posterity By a whole race of Virgins and thy Fame Shall be a Tombe more durable to thee Then Brasse or Marble So farewell Althea I le straight returne this newes to thy sad mother That shee may give with some solemnities Thy unhappy death its latest exequies exit Enter Lucilio disguised like a Countrey man Lucil. Slave to affliction that must still pursue The shadowes of my hopes clasping the windes To feed the hunger of my discontent And set aloft by greatnesse stand expos'd To every
seven shillings or a frowne to forsweare himselfe and draw my Pedigree as deep as Romulus Captaine as the wind serves either on the Litto or at my Lodging exit Capt. Wee will attend your Grace Nav. 'T is strange that such a personage should thus obscurely travell Capt. Tush Navarchus our common-wealth is among fishes and our pollicie with the windes and therefore no marvell if Courtiers tricks savour not on our palats Navar. Yet fearing disgrace above damnation and loving a popular esteeme more then heaven methinkes obscuritie should fright 'hem Capt. Faith no for you shall have a Courtier of the first Velvet head when the tide runnes low and in a place unknowne will familiarly turne you to his old trade accoutre his palfrey most neatly and thanke obscurity for drowning the unfit honour hee had lately slipt on and off Navar. 'T is a disease indeed they have to feele no touch of future honour nor taste any thing more than what lies before 'hem Capt. Tut they be wise in that for their conception being precipitate and their births rash they knew their glories birth would bee like the flies I have seene by a River in Aegypt that begin to live in the morning are at full age by noone and die before Sunne set and therefore their honour feeds like mothes upon apparell and objects meerly present flashes flashes Navar. But such an imputation cannot staine his honor whose graine taken in the die of a Dukes blood stands immaculate spight of all fortunes Capt. 'T is true and therefore peradventure parsimony invites him to this obscuritie for I le assure you that to be miserable and not fight are growne to be two right honourable qualities Enter a Shipman Shipm. Captaine you stand talking here of a Cock and a Bull while our rich fare is gone another way Capt. Who my Lord the Prince Shipm. I your Lord the Prince Navar. Which way for profits sake Shipm. That way that many Lords doe for profits sake downwards downwards Cap. Prethee speake not in enigmas be understood Shipm. In plaine Dagger termes the Prince is slaine Navar. D'foot 't is sharp newes Capt. By whom Shipm. Why that swart Rutter that brought the message from Court delivered it in such keene termes that it went to his heart when he had done tumbled him off the Litto into the water to catch Whitings But two Merchants spying it rais'd the people and tooke him and now the Governour is gone a fishing after the Body Cap. This amazes mee done so suddenly Shipm. Death 's a quick Carver when he comes in that shape Navar. Who set him on sayes he Shipm. Some valiant Squire or other who is yet unknowne nor will the Governour urge the knowledge but sends him back to Court that the Duke may take notice of all Cap. Come le ts to the the Litto and set our helps to find the Body Both Content Exeunt Actus 4. Scena 1. Enter the Duke and a Messinger Duke BVt have you found the body Mess. Wee have my Lord With long laborious search it was three Tydes Lockt in the armes of Neptune who at length Enforc'd by maine constraint resign'd it up But all the face so mangled and deform'd That but his clothes nought could have made it known The which embalm'd we straight clos'd up in Lead And with the murderer brought it to your Grace That after his due exequies perform'd You might quench sorrow in revenge and draw His blood whose hand hath spilt best part of yours Duke Thou art deceiv'd good friend 't was not his hand But the just hand of Heaven that whips my sinnes And through my Veins powres out the innocent blood Which I had spilt before the hand that holds The equall Ballance to discerne the waight 'Twixt Princes justice and their tyrannie Measures their blessings and their plagues alike To their faire vertues or black infamies And makes the horrid acts of murderous mindes But instruments of plague to punish guilt And pay us in the coyne with which we hop'd To buy our gluttonous surfets Such is the state Of Princes priviledge that we may runne Into the depth of sinne and uncontroul'd Pull vengeance on our heads while the smooth hand Of pestilent flattery claps us on the back And gives us edge to villany till they see Misery and desolation close us round Then they flie back and gaze as on a place Stricken with furious thunder in a storme When every vulgar hand has lawes and feare Of prying authority to hold him backe And friendly enemies to upbraid him with His faults and keepe him in the bounds of mercy Onely our height bereaves us of these helps And wee are sooth'd in vices till we runne Beyond the reach of grace and stand within The shot of heaviest vengeance which seldome comes Short of our merits O my sonne my sonne I shall grow madd with griefe my frighted conscience Opens the Booke where I doe view my sinnes And feele the furies with their wounding whips Lashing my guilty soule to penitence Mess. I was unhappy To bee the messenger of this ill newes exeunt Enter Lucilio disguised as before meeting at the other doore Fioretta her haire downe strewing the way with greene hearbs and flowers Luci. Who 's this Fioretta the Lady Iulia's woman My heart what meanes her habit Fioretta sings this following to some mournfull tune Come Lovers bring your cares Bring sigh-perfumed sweets Bedew the grave with teares Where death and vertue meets Sigh for the haplesse houre That knit two hearts in one And onely gave love power To die when 't was begun Lucil. Saving your mirth faire Lady what preparation 's this Fior. a Bridall sir true love and greatnesse be divorc'd and now they bee both going to be married to misfortune Lucil. 'T was a marriage long since my selfe was at the wedding But be a little plainer tell me who it is to be maried Fior. Indeed Sir Beauty Vertue and too much faith for a woman are going to the cold armes of a sullen Churle one that consumes ere hee lets goe yet hee is better than your other husbands are he forsakes them not leaves them not in misery hee wooes them not with flatteries and poysons with unkindnesse hee never sweares and lies but continues faithfull till Doomes-day Who be you Lucil. A stranger in your City a poore Husbandman Fior. A poore Husband then thou art a poore dissembler a poore murderer O you husbands kill more than scurvie Physitians or a plaguy Summer But art a stranger Lucil. A very stranger here Fior. Why that 's all one thou canst not bee a stranger to her fame if thou hast liv'd but a moneth in the world Poor innocent Althea makes her last mariage and I am one of her Bridemaids Lucil. To whom for loves sake Fior. To her grave for love's sake an honest Husband t is better then the Dukes sonne that sent her from the City to dye in the Mountaines Ah 't was unkindly
against your selfe That he has vow'd your death doth intend A sharp revenge to all your family And but I know Lucilio yet does live Beleeve me Madam I should hate the fact And be the first should feed my thirsty eyes With their best blood that spilt least part of his Iul. Alas Antonio what would you have me doe When I beheld my daughter murdred thus 'Twixt love and hate and I no meanes of help To take revenge or comfort to my griefe Anto. Well Madam let 's not stand to expostulate The cause the act was foule and but the hand Of Heaven turn'd it from him 'gainst whō you meant it Hatefull and worthy of the deep'st revenge Your way is now to shun the furious wrath The Duke 's enflamed with and for a while Lie close in some disguise till the lost Prince Make his returne who doubtlesse will ere long Give notice to my selfe where he remaines And for your farther assurance Lady I le take Some strange attire with you and we will both Be present at the Execution Where you shall heare perhaps the latest words The murderer will speake against your selfe And in the presence of the Duke avouch Your guiltinesse Iul. Thankes good Antonio There the gift is free When 't is bestow'd on deepest miserie Exeunt Enter Althea in her Shepherdesses apparell over her owne which she putting off layes aside Alth. Lie there thou gentle weed that hast prolong'd A weary life thou whose dissembling shape Has help'd me reach the place which drew that life As an attractive Load-stone to it's end Some friendly Passinger will for this reward Bestow perhaps a buriall on my Coarse And be my death as freely exempt from sight As is my griefe that never innocent eyes May bee infected with those fumes of guilt My latest gaspe breathes forth reserv'd till now To bee unfortunate in all save this That I shall sacrifice my dearest blood Vpon that Altar where Lucilio dyed And let one aire receive our joyned spirits And sacrifices to Faiths Deitie She goes up the Rocke quickly and standing ready And witnesse now you zealous thoughts of love Witnesse the vowes my affection held so deare Enter Lucilio in his owne habit and walkes a turne My soule comes unconstrain'd to you deare Lord And parts as freely from a gladsome heart As ere it wish'd to enjoy the lively sight Of your desired presence She spies him as below Awake my fancy doe mine eyes conspire To aggravate my griefe or does the strong Imagination of my losse present the shape Of his dead person to my troubled sense Lucil. What strange confused passions 'gin to raise A stormy combate 'twixt my minde and death Though safely now arriv'd within the Port Where for exchange of breath I shall regaine The long desired presence of her soule That hovers in expectation of my comming Alth. Methinkes I sleep that thus illusive showes Doe mock my apprehension or is 't decreed That even in death I must indure affliction And die in height of woe How like his pace His gesture shape and countenance true constant spirit That wouldst not be unlesse thou mightst be true Did not my greedy sight distract my thoughts To feed upon thy shadow and make me forget My businesse next in hand I should have flowne To be a shadow and have walk'd with dead Lucilio As hearing somewhere the voyce of his name Lucil. Lucilio was it my fond conceit or else my selfe Standing betwixt the bounds of life and death Her ghost that lookes each minute for my approach Thinkes my stay long and cals upon my name I come Althea swift as breake the windes From out the Eolian Caves give mee but space To take my flight from off that He lookes up to the Rocke and seeing her stand a while amaz'd Bright Angell Goddesse whatsoe'r thou art That hast assum'd that shape to adorne thy state And give a better lustre to thy Deity Doe not delude my woes nor make my death More miserable then my selfe have done Alth, It does invite me speak and with his silent looks Seemes to intreat a word yet my faint heart Throbbing with feare denies to second speech Lucil. Be what thou wilt I know no spirit of night Durst to attempt that forme that ne'r was made But to invest a soule more faire and pure Then are the Spheres Ghost Angel Goddesse Nimph Speake daine a word to tell me what thou art That thus appearst in such a glorious shape To intercept my death Art thou an Angel That thus wouldst shew the world what they have lost By seeing her heavenly forme Or art thou else Some spirit of Diviner excellence That hast put on that shadow thine owne nature To beautifie Or does Althea's ghost Come thus to meet and chide my slothfulnesse Or has thy worth chaste Nymph deserv'd to scape The hand of death and made thy perfect selfe All soule immortall and an unmixt spirit That those rich vertues which great nature heapt In thy creation might by envious death Ne'r be dissolv'd nor the cold senslesse earth Embrace and taint thy pure delicious beauty For which the Starres grew envious to the world What ere thou art if thou hast sense of griefe But correspondent to the shape thou bear'st Add not more torment to the depth of woe That does accompany my death and urge No more the sight and memory of her Whom I have wrong'd envy has left me nought But life to yeeld in satisfaction Which here I come to tender as thy due Or if thou doubtst the payment and didst come To take a view how willingly I dyed Then be my witnesse that the chased Stagge Flies not more swiftly to the cooling streames Then I to death He runnes up to the Rocke where both meeting shew passions of feare Alth. Stay Lucil. Speake Alth. O stay deare love Lucil. Speake speake thou heavenly spirit And tell me since thy selfe art made Divine What makes thee come in confines of the wretched And mixe thy selfe with us whose earthly loades Detaine us yet in life and misery Alth. Why I doe live Lucil. I know thou dost thou wert not fram'd to die Nor at thy birth when Heaven and Nature joyn'd To give thee those rich Dowries thou enjoy'st Did they intend to make such excellence Mortall and subject to the stroke of death But where deficient Nature could extend Her force no farther to preserve thy life Heaven would supply the want and turne thy state To immortality yet why shouldst thou When I have seene thy Funerals perform'd Come to afflict me and augment my griefe Alth. Sweet love if you doe live as feare and hope 'Twixt adverse passions make me doubtfull yet Know that I live as when we parted last Nor ere was yet interr'd Lucil. No no the earth grew feeling of her losse And grieving to be robb'd of such a jemme Refus'd to shut that treasure in her wombe Where foule corruption must have tainted it Or did my fortunes yet beyond