and out-wept The clouds in that same o'er-passionate moode When they drown'd all the world yet now forsakes me Women your eyes shed glances like the Sunne Now shines your brightnesse now your light is done On the sweetest Flowers you shine 't is but by chance And on the basest Weede you 'll waste a glance Your beames once lost can neuer more be found Vnlesse we waite vntill your course runne round And take you at fist hand Since I cannot Enioy the noble title of a man But after-ages as our vertues are Buryed whilst we are liuing will sound out My infamie and her degenerate shame Yet in my life I le smother 't if I may And like a dead man to the world bequeath These houses of vanitie Mils and Lands Take what you will I will not keepe among you Seruants And welcome some religious Monasterie A true sworne Beads-man I le hereafter be And wake the morning cocke with holy prayers Ser. Good my Lord noble Master Rob. Disswade me not my will shall be my King I thanke thee Wife a faire change thou hast giuen I leaue thy lust to woo the Loue of Heauen Exit cum seruis Guid. This is conuersion is 't not as good as might haue beene He turnes religious vpon his Wiues turning Curtezan This is iust like some of our gallant Prodigals When they haue consum'd their Patrimonies wrongfully They turne Capuchins for deuotion Exit Finis Actus secundi Actus tertij Scaena prima CLARIDIANA and ROGERO being in a readinesse are receiued in at one anothers houses by their Maids Then Enter MENDOSA with a Page to the Lady LENTVLVS Window Mendosa NIght like a solemne Mourner frownes on earth Enuying that Day should force her doffe her roabes Or Phoebus chase away her Melancholy Heauens eyes looke faintly through her sable masque And siluer Cinthia hyes her in her Sphaere Scorning to grace blacke nights solemnitie Be vnpropitious Night to villaine thoughts But let thy Diamonds shine on vertuous loue This is the lower house of high-built heauen Where my chaste Phaebe sits inthron'd 'mong thoughts So purely good brings her to heauen on earth Such power hath soules in contemplation Sing boy though night yet like the mornings Larke Musicke playes A soule that 's cleare is light though heauen be darke The Lady LENTVLVS at her window Lent Who speakes in Musicke to vs Mend. Sweet 't is I Boy leaue me and to bed Exit Page Lent I thanke you for your Musicke now good-night Men. Leaue not the World yet Queene of Chastitie Keepe promise with thy Loue Endimion And let mee meete thee there on Latmus top 'T is I whose vertuous hopes are firmely fixt On the fruition of thy chaste vow'd loue Lent My Lord your honor made me promise your ascent into my house since my vow barr'd my doores By some wits engine made for theft and lust Yet for your Honour and my humble fame Checke your blouds passions and returne deare Lord Suspition is a Dogge that still doth bite Without a cause this act giues foode to Enuy Swolne big it bursts and poysons our cleare flames Men. Enuy is stinglesse when she lookes on thee Lent Enuy is blinde my Lord and cannot see Men. If you breake promise faire you breake my hart Lent Then come Yet stay Ascend Yet let vs part I feare yet know not what I feare Your Loue 's precious yet mine Honor 's deare Mend. If I doe staine thy Honor with foule lust May Thunder strike me to shew Ioue is iust Lent Then come my Lord on earth your vow is giuen This aide I le lend you He throwes vp a ladder of cords which she makes fast to some part of the window he asends and at top fals M. Thus I mount my heauen Receiue me sweete Lent O me vnhappy wretch How fares your Honour speake Fate-crost Lord If life retaine his seate within you speake Else like that Sestian Dame that saw her Loue Cast by the frowning billowes on the sands And leane death swolne big with the Hellespont In bleake Leanders body like his Loue Come I to thee one graue shall serue vs both Mend. Stay miracle of women yet I breathe Though death be enter'd in this Tower of flesh Hee is not conquerour my heart stands out And yeelds to thee scorning his tyranny Lent My doores are vow'd shut and I cannot helpe you Your wounds are mortall wounded is mine Honour If there the Towne-guard finde you Vnhappy Dame Reliefe is periur'd my vow kept shame What hellish Destinie did twist my fate Mend. Rest ceaze thine eye-lids be not passionate Sweet sleepe secure I le remoue my selfe That Viper Enuy shall not spot thy fame I le take that poyson with me my soules rest For like a Serpent I le creepe on my breast Lent Thou more then man loue-wounded ioy and griefe fight in my bloud Thy wounds and constancie Are both so strong none can haue victory Mend. Darken the world earths-Queene get thee to bed The earth is light while those two Starres are spread Their splendor will betray me to mens eyes Vaile thy bright face for if thou longer stay Phoebus will rise to thee and make night day Lent To part and leaue you hurt my soule doth feare Mend. To part from hence I cannot you being there Lent Wee 'll moue together then Fate Loue controules And as we part so bodies part from soules Mend. Mine is the earth thine the refined fire I am mortall thou diuine then soule mount higher Lent Why then take comfort sweet I le see'ou to morrow Exit Men. My wounds are nothing thy losse breedes my sorrow See now 't is darke Support your Master legges a little further Faint not bolde heart with anguish of my wound Try further yet can bloud weigh downe my soule Desire is vaine without abilitie He staggars on and then fals downe Thus fals a Monarch if Fate push at him Enter a Captaine and the Watch Capt. Come on my hearts we are the Cities securitie I le giue you your charge and then like Courtiers euery man spye out let no man in my company be afraid to speake to a Cloake lined with Veluet nor tremble at the sound of a gingling Spurre 1 Watch. May I neuer be counted a cock of the game if I feare Spurres but be gelded like a Capon for the preseruing of my voyce Cap. I le haue none of my Band refraine to search a veneriall house though his Wifes sister be a lodger there nor take two shillings of the Bawd to saue the Gentlemens credits that are aloft and so like voluntary Pandars leaue them to the shame of all Halbardiers 2. Nay for the Wenches wee 'll tickle them that 's flat Cap. If you meete a Sheuoiliero that 's in the grosse phrase a Knight that swaggers in the streete and being taken has no money in his Purse to pay for his fees it shall be a part of your duty to entreate me to let him goe 1. O meruailous
his there such Sheuoiliers 2. Some 200. that 's the least that are reueal'd Mend. groues Cap. What groane is that bring a light Who lyes there It is the Lord Mendosa kinsman to our Duke Speake good my Lord relate your dire mischance Life like a fearefull seruant flyes his Master Art must attone them or'th' whole man is lost Conuay him to a Surgeons then returne No place shall be vnsearch'd vntill we finde The truth of this mischance Make haste againe Exit the Watch Manet Captain Whose house is this stands open in and search What guests that house containes and bring them forth This Noble-mans misfortune stirs my quiet And fils my soule with fearefull fantasies But I le vnwinde this Labyrinth of doubt Else industry shall lose part of it selfes labour Enter the Watch with Claridiana and Rogero taken in one anothers houses in their shirts and night-gownes they see one another Who haue we there Signiors cannot you tell vs How our Princes kinsman came wounded to the death Nigh to your houses Rog. Hey-day crosse-ruffe at midnight Is 't Christmas You goe a gaming to your neighbours house Clar. Dost make a Mummer of me Oxe-head Cap. Make answere Gentlemen it doth concerne you Rog. Oxe-head will beare an action I le ha' the Law I le not be yoakt Beare vvitnesse Gentlemen he cals me Oxe-head Cap. Doe you heare sir Clarid. Very well very well take Law and hang thy selfe I care not Had she no other but that good face to doate vpon I de rather she had dealt vvith a dangerous French-man then with such a Pagan Cap. Are you mad answere my demaund Rog. I am as good a Christian as thy selfe Though my Wife haue now new christned mee Cap. Are you deafe you make no answere Clar. Would I had had the circumcising of thee Iew I de ha' Cut short your Cuckold-maker I would ifaith I would ifaith Cap. Away with them to prison they 'll answere better there Rog. Not to fast Gentlemen vvhat 's our crime Cap. Murther of the Dukes kinsman Signior Mendosa Amb. Nothing else vve did it vve did it vve did it Cap. Take heede Gentlemen vvhat you confesse Cla. I le confesse any thing since I am made a foole by a knaue I le be hang'd like an innocent that 's flat Rog. I le not see my shame Hempe in stead of a Quacksaluer you shall put out mine eyes and my head shall be bought to make Incke-hornes of Cap. You doe confesse the murder Clar. Sir 't is true Done by a faithlesse Christian and a Iew Cap. To prison vvith them wee will heare no further The tongue betrayes the heart of guilty murder Exeunt Omnes Enter Count GVIDO ISABELLA ANNA and Seruants Guid. Welcome to Pauy sweet and may this kisse Chase Melancholy from thy company Speake my soules ioy how fare you after trauaile Isab. Like one that scapeth dangers on the Seas Yet trembles vvith cold feares being safe on land With bare imagination of what 's past Guid. Feare keepe vvith cowards aire-stars cannot moue Isab. Feare in this kinde my Lord doth sweeten loue Guid. To thinke feare ioy deare I cannot coniecture Isab. Feare 's sire to fervencie Which makes loues sweet prone Nectar Trembling desire feare hope and doubtfull leasure Distill from loue the Quintessence of pleasure Guid. Madame I yeeld to you Feare keepes vvith Loue My Oratorie is too weake against you You haue the ground of knowledge vvise experience Which makes your argument inuincible Isab. You are Times Scholler and can flatter weaknesse Guid. Custome allowes it and vve plainly see Princes and women maintaine flatterie Isab. Anna goe see my Iewels and my Trunckes Be aptly placed in their seuerall roomes Exit Anna Enter GNIACA Count of Gaza with Attendants My Lord know you this Gallant 't is a compleate Gentleman Guid. I doe 't is Count Guiaca my endeared friend Gniac. Welcome to Pauie vvelcome fairest Lady Your sight deare friend is lifes restoratiue This day 's the period of long-wish'd content More vvelcome to me then day to the vvorld Night to the vvearyed or gold to a Mizer Such ioy feeles Friendship in Societie Isab. A rare shap'd man compare them both together Guid. Our loues are friendly twins both at a birth The ioy you taste that ioy doe I conceiue This day 's the Iubile of my desire Isab. He 's fairer then he vvas vvhen first I saw him This little time makes him more excellent Gniac. Relate some newes Harke you what Lady 's that Be open breasted so will I to thee They whisper Isab. Error did blinde him that paints Loue blinde For my Loue plainly iudges difference Loue is cleare sighted and vvith Eagles eyes Vndazeled lookes vpon bright Sunne-beam'd beauty Nature did rob her selfe when she made him Blushing to see her vvorke excell her selfe T is shape makes mankinde semelacie Forgiue me Rogero 't is my Fate To loue thy friend and quit thy loue vvith hate I must enioy him let hope thy passions smother Faith cannot coole bloud I le clip him wer 't my brother Such is the heate of my sincere affection Hell nor earth can keepe loue in subiection Gnia. I craue your Honors pardon my Ignorance Of what you were may gaine a curteous pardon Is. There needes no pardon where there 's no offence His tongue strikes Musicke rauishing my sense I must be sodaine else desire confounds me Guid. What sport affords this Climate for delight Gnia. We 'll hawke and hunt to day as for to morrow Varietie shall feede varietie Is. Dissimulation womens armour is Aide loue beliefe and female constancie Oh I am sicke my Lord kinde Rogero helpe me Guido Forsend it heauen Madame sit how fare you My liues best comfort speake O speake sweet Saint Is. Fetch Art to keepe life runne my Loue I faint My vitall breath runnes coldly through my veynes I see leane Death vvith eyes imaginarie Stand fearefully before me here my end A vvife vnconstant yet thy louing friend Guid. As swift as thought flie I to wish thee aide Exit Isab. Thus innocence by craft is soone betraid My Lord Guiaca 't is your Art must heale me I am loue-sicke for your loue loue loue for louing I blush for speaking truth faire Sir beleeue me Beneath the Moone nought but your frowne can grieue me Gniaca. Lady by heauen me thinkes this fit is strange Isab. Count not my loue light for this sodaine change By Cupids Bow I sweare and vvill avow I neuer knew true perfect loue till now Gniac. Wrong not your selfe me and your dearest friend Your loue is violent and soone vvill end Loue is not Loue vnlesse Loue doth perseuer That loue is perfect loue that loues for euer Isab. Such loue is mine beleeue it vvell-shap'd youth Though vvomen vse to lye yet I speake truth Giue sentence for my life or speedy death Can you affect me Gniac. I should belye my thoughts to giue deniall But then to friendship I must turne disloyall I vvill not vvrong my
friend let that suffice Isab. I le be a miracle for loue a woman dyes Offers to stab her selfe Gn. Hold madame these are soule killing passions I de rather wrong my friend then you your selfe Isab. Loue me or else by Ioue death 's but delaid My vow is fixt in heauen feare shall not moue me My life is death vvith tortures 'lesse you loue me Gnia. Giue me some respite and I will resolue you Isab. My heart denies it My bloud is violent now or else neuer Loue me and like loues Queene I le fall before thee Inticing daliance from thee vvith my smiles And steale thy heart vvith my delicious kisses I le study Art in loue that in a rupture Thy soule shall taste pleasures excelling nature Loue me both Art and nature in large recompence Shall be profuse in rauishing thy sense Gni. You haue preuail'd I am yours from all the world Thy wit and beauty haue entranc'd my soule I long for daliance my bloud burnes like fire Hels paine on earth is to delay desire Isab. I kisse thee for that breath this day you hunt In midst of all your sports leaue you Rogero Returne to me whose life rests in thy sight Where pleasure shall make Nectar our delight Gniac. I condescend to what thy vvill implores me He that but now neglected thee adores thee Enter Rogero Anna Doctor But see here comes my friend feare makes him tremble Isab. Women are witles that cannot dissemble Now I am sicke againe where 's my Lord Rogero His loue and my health 's vanish'd both together Guid. Wrong not thy friend deare friend in thy extreames Here 's a profound Hipocrates my deare To minister to thee the spirit of health Isab. Your sight to me my Lord excels all Phisicke I am better farre my Loue then when you left me Your friend was comfortable to me at the last 'T was but a fit my Lord and now 't is past Are all things ready sir Anna Yes Madame the house is fit Gnia. Desire in women is the life of wit Exeunt Omnes Enter ABIGAL and THAIS at seuerall doores Abig. O partner I am with childe of laughter and none but you can be my Mid-wife was there euer such a game at Noddy Thais Our Husbands thinke they are fore-men of the Iurie they hold the Hereticke point of Predestination and sure they are borne to be hanged Abig. They are like to proue men of iudgement but not for killing of him that 's yet aliue and well recouered Thais As soone as my man saw the Watch come vp All his spirit was downe Abig, But though they haue made vs good sport in speech They did hinder vs of good sport in action O wench imagination is strong in pleasure Thais That 's true for the opinion my Good-man had of enioying you made him doe wonders A. Why shold weake man that is so soone satisfied desire variety Thais Their answere is to feede on Phesants continually would breede a loathing Abigall Then if vve seeke for strange flesh that haue stomackes at will 't is pardonable Thais I if men had any feeling of it but they iudge vs by themselues Abig. Well we vvill bring them to the Gallowes and then like kinde virgins begge their liues and after liue at our pleasures and this bridle shall still reyne them Thais Faith if vve were disposed we might seeme as safe As if we had the broad seale to warrant it But that nights worke vvill sticke by me this forty weekes Come shall we goe visit the discontented Lady Lentulus Whom the Lord Mendosa has confest to his Chirurgion He vvould haue rob'd I thought great men would but Haue rob'd the poore yet he the rich Abig. He thought that the richer purchase though vvith the worse conscience but vvee 'll to comfort her and then goe heare our Husbands lamentations They say mine has compiled an vngodly volume of Satyres against women and cals his booke The Snarle Thais But he 's in hope his booke will saue him Ab. God defend that it should or any that snarle in that fashion Tha. Well wench if I could be metamorphosed into thy shape I should haue my husband pliant to me in his life And soone rid of him for being weary vvith his continuall motion He 'de dye of a consumption Abig. Make much of him for all our wanton prize Follow the Prouerbe Merry be and wise Exeunt Enter ISABELLA ANNA and Seruants Isab. Time that devour'st all mortalitie Runne swiftly these few houres And bring Guiaca on thy aged shoulders That I may clip the rarest modell of creation Doe this gentle Time And I vvill curle thine aged siluer locke And dally vvith thee in delicious pleasure Medea-like I will renew thy youth But if thy frozen steps delay my loue I le poyson thee with murder curse thy pathes And make thee know a time of infamy Anna giue watch and bring me certaine notice When Count Guiaca doth approach my house An. Madame I goe I am kept for pleasure though I neuer taste it For 't is the vshers office still to couer His Ladyes priuate meetings with her Louer Exit Isab. Desire thou quenchlesse flame that burn'st our soules Cease to torment me The dewe of pleasure shall put out thy fire And quite consume thee with satietie Lust shall be cool'd with lust wherein I le proue The life of loue is onely sau'd by loue Enter Anna An. Madame hee 's comming Isab. Thou blessed Mercurie Prepare a banquet fit to please the Gods Let Sphaere-like Musicke breathe delicious tones Into our mortall eares perfume the house With odoriferous sents sweeter then Myrrhe Or all the Spices in Panchaia His sight and touching wee will recreate That his fiue Senses shall be fiue-fold happy His breath like Roses casts out sweete perfume Time now with pleasure shall it selfe consume Enter Gniaca in his hunting weedes How like Adonis in his hunting weedes Lookes this same Goddesse tempter And art thou come this kisse entrance thy soule Gods I doe not enuy you for know this Way 's here on earth compleate excels you blisse I le not change this nights pleasure vvith you all Gniac. Thou creature made by Loue compos'd of pleasure That mak'st true vse of thy creation In thee both vvit and beauty's resident Delightfull pleasure vnpeer'd excellence This is the fate fixt fast vnto thy birth That thou alone shouldst be mans heauen on earth If I alone may but enioy thy loue I le not change earthly ioy to be heauens Ioue For though that vvomen haters now are common They all shall know earths ioy consists in woman Isab. My loue was dotage till I loued thee For thy soule truely tastes our petulance Conditions Louer Cupids Intelligencer That makes man vnderstand what pleasure is These are fit attributes vnto thy knowledge For womens beautie o'er men beare that rule Our power commands the rich the vvise the foole Though scorne growes big in man in growth stature Yet vvomen are the
rarest workes in nature Gnia. I doe confesse the truth and must admire That women can command rare mans desire Isab. Cease admiration sit to Cupids feast The preparation to Papheon daliance Harmonious Musicke breathe thy siluer Ayres To stirre vp appetite to Venus banquet That breath of pleasure that entrances soules Making that instant happinesse a heauen In the true taste of loues deliciousnesse Gniac. Thy vvordes are able to stirre cold desire Into his flesh that lyes entomb'd in Ice Hauing lost the feeling vse of warmth in bloud Then how much more in me whose youthfull veynes Like a proud Riuer ouer-flow their bounds Pleasures Ambrosia or loues nourisher I long for priuacie come let vs in 'T is custome and not reason makes loue sinne Isab. I le leade the way to Venus Paradise Where thou shalt taste that fruit that made man wise Exit Isab. Gnia. Sing notes of pleasure to elate our bloud Why should heauen frowne on ioyes that doe vs good I come Isabella keeper of loues treasure To force thy bloud to lust and rauish pleasure Exit After some short Song enter ISABELLA and GNIACA againe she hanging about his necke laciviously Gniac. Still I am thy captiue yet thy thoughts are free To be Loues bond-man is true libertie I haue swomme in seas of pleasure without ground Ventrous desire past depth it selfe hath drownd Such skill has beauties Art in a true louer That dead desire to life it can recouer Thus beauty our desire can soone aduance Then straight againe kill it with daliance Diuinest women your enchanting breaths Giue Louers many lifes and many deaths Isab. May thy desire to me for euer last Not dye by surfet on my delicates And as I tye this Iewell about thy necke So may I tie thy constant loue to mine Neuer to seeke weaking varietie That greedy curse of mans and womans hell Where nought but shame and loath'd diseases dwell Gniac. You counsell well deare learne it then For change is giuen more to you then men Isab. My faith to thee like rockes shall neuer moue The Sunne shall change his course ere I my loue Enter Anna Anna Madame the Count Rogero knockes Isab. Deare Loue into my chamber till I send My hate from sight Gniac. Lust makes me wrong my friend Exit Gniaca Isab. Anna stand here and entertaine Lord Rogero I from my window straight will giue him answere The Serpents vvit to woman rest in me By that man fell then vvhy not he by me Fain'd sighes and teares dropt from a womans eye Blindes man of reason strikes his knowledge dumbe Wit armes a vvoman Count Rogero come Exit Isabella Anna My office still is vnder yet in time Vshers proue Masters degrees makes vs climbe Guido knockes Who knockes is 't you my noble Lord Enter GVIDO in his hunting weedes Guid. Came my friend hither Count Guiaca An. No my good Lord Guid. Where 's my Isabella An. In her Chamber Guid. Good I le visit her An. The chamber 's lockt my Lord shee will be priuate Guid. Lockt against me my sawcy mallapert An. Be patient good my Lord shee 'll giue you answere Guid. Isabella life of loue speake 't is I that cals Isab. at her window Isab. I must desire your Lordship pardon me Guid. Lordship what 's this Isabella art thou blinde Isab. My Lord my lust was blinde but now my soule 's cleare sighted And sees the spots that did corrupt my flesh Those tokens sent from hell brought by desire The messenger of euerlasting death Anna My Lady 's in her Pulpit now shee 'll preach Guid. Is not thy Lady mad in veritie I alwayes Tooke her for a Puritane and now shee shewes it Isab. Mocke not Repentance Prophanation Brings mortals laughing to damnation Beleeue it Lord Isabella's ill past life Like gold refin'd shall make a perfect Wife I stand on firme ground now before on Ice We know not vertue till wee taste of vice Guid. Doe you heare dissimulation woman sinner Isab. Leaue my house good my Lord and for my part I looke for a most vvisht reconciliation Betwixt my selfe and my most wronged Husband Tempt not contrition then religious Lord Guid. Indeede I vvas one of your familie once But doe not I know these are but braine-trickes And where the Diuell has the Fee-simple he will keep possession And will you halt before me that your selfe has made a criple Isab. Nay then you wrong me and disdained Lord I paid thee for thy pleasures vendible Whose mercenary flesh I bought with coyne I vvill diuulge thy basenesse 'lesse vvith speede Thou leaue my house and my societie Guid. Already turn'd apostate but now all pure Now damn'd your faith is and loues endure Like dewe vpon the grasse when pleasures Sunne Shines on your vertues all your vertue 's done I le leaue thy house and thee goe get thee in Thou gaudy childe of pride and nurse of sinne Isab. Raile not on me my Lord for if you doe My hot desire of vengeance shall strike wonder Reuenge in woman fals like dreadfull thunder Exit Anna Your Lordship will command me no further seruice Guid. I thanke thee for thy vvatchfull seruice past Thy vsher-like attendance on the Staires Being true signes of thy Humilitie Anna I hope I did discharge my place with care Guid. Vshers should haue much vvit but little haire Thou hast of both sufficient prethee leaue mee If thou hast an honest Lady commend me to her But shee is none Exit Anna manet Guido Farewell thou priuate strumpet worse then common Man were on earth an Angell but for woman That seauen-fold branch of hell from them doth grow Pride Lust and Murder they raise from below With all their fellow sinnes Women were made Of blood without soules vvhen their beauties fade And their lust's past auarice or bawdry Makes them still lou'd then they buy venerie Bribing damnation and hire brothell slaues Shame 's their executors Infamie their graues Your painting vvill wipe off vvhich Art did hide And shew your vgly shape in spite of pride Farewell Isabella poore in soule and fame I leaue thee rich in nothing but in shame Then soulelesse women know whose faiths are hollow Your lust being quench'd a bloudy act must follow Exit Finis Actus tertij Actus quarti Scaena prima Enter the Duke of Amago the Captaine and the rest of the Watch with the Senators Duke IVstice that makes Princes like the Gods drawes vs vnto the Senate That with vnpartiall ballance wee may poyse The crimes and innocence of all offenders Our presence can chase bribery from Lawes He best can iudge that heares himselfe the cause 1 Senat. True mighty Duke it best becomes our places To haue our light from you the Sonne of Vertue Subiect Authoritie for gaine loue or feare Oft quits the guilty and condemnes the cleare Duke The Land and people's mine the crimes being knowne I must redresse my subiects wrong's mine owne Call for the two suspected for the murder Of Mendosa
our endered kinsman These voluntary murderers That confesse the Murder of him that is yet aliue Wee 'll sport vvith serious Iustice for a vvhile In shew wee 'll frowne on them that make vs smile 2 Sen. Bring forth the Prisoners we may heare their answeres Enter brought in with Officers CLARIDIANA and MIZALDVS Duke Stand forth you Vipers that haue suck'd bloud And lopt a branch sprung from a royall tree What can you answere to escape tortures Rog. We haue confest the fact my Lord to God and man Our ghostly father and that worthy Captaine We beg not life but fauourable death Duke On what ground sprung your hate to him we lou'd Clarid. Vpon that curse laid on Venecians ielousie Wee thought he being a Courtier would haue made vs Magnificoes of the right stampe and haue plaid at Primero in the presence vvith gold of the Citie brought from our Indies Rog. Nay more my Lord vve feared that your kinsman for a messe of Sonnets would haue giuen the plot of vs and our wiues to some needy Poet and for sport and profit brought vs in some Venician Comedy vpon the Stage Duke Our Iustice dwels with mercy be not desperate 1 Sen. His Highnesse faine vvould saue your liues if you would see it Rog. All the Law in Venice shall not saue mee I vvill not be saued Clar. Feare not I haue a tricke to bring vs to hanging in spite of the Law Rog. Why now I see thou louest me thou hast confirm'd Thy friendship for euer to me by these vvordes Why I should neuer heare Lanthorne and candle call'd for But I should thinke it was for me and my Wife I le hang for that forget not thy tricke Vpon 'em with thy tricke I long for sentence 2 Sen. Will you appeale for mercy to the Duke Clar. Kill not thy Iustice Duke to saue our liues We haue deserued death Rog. Make not vs presidents for after wrongs I will receiue punishment for my sinnes It shall be a meanes to lift me towards heauen Clar. Let 's haue our desert we craue no fauour Duke Take them asunder graue Iustice makes vs mirth That man is soulelesse that ne'er sinnes on earth Signior Mizaldus relate the weapon you kill'd him with and the manner Rog. My Lord your lustfull kinsman I can title him no better came sneaking to my house like a Promoter to spye flesh in the Lent now I hauing a Venecian spirit watcht my time and with my Rapier runne him through knowing all paines are but trifles to the horne of a Citizen Duke Take him aside Signior Claridiana what weapon had you for this bloudy act vvhat dart vs'd Death Clar. My Lord I brain'd him with a leauer my neighbour lent me and he stood by and cryed strike home olde boy Duke With seuerall Instruments Bring them face to face With what kill'd you our Nephew Rog. With a Rapier Leige Clar. T is a lye I kill'd him with a leauer and thou stood'st by Rog. Dost think to saue me hang thy selfe no I scorne it is this the tricke thou said'st thou had'st I kill'd him Duke Hee onely gaue consent 't was I that did it Clar. Thou hast alwayes beene crosse to me and wilt be to my death Haue I taken all this paines to bring thee to hanging and dost thou slip now Rog. We shall neuer agree in a tale till we come to the gallowes then we shall iumpe Clar. I le shew you a crosse-point if you crosse me thus When thou shalt not see it Rog. I le make a wry mouth at that or it shall cost me a fall 'T is thy pride to be hang'd alone because thou scorn'st my company but it shall be knowne I am as good a man as thy selfe and in these actions will keepe company with thy betters Iew Clar. Monster Rog. Dog-killer Clar. Fencer They bustle Duke Part them part 'em Rog. Hang vs and quarter vs we shall ne'er be parted til then Duke You doe confesse the murther done by both Clar. But that I vvould not haue the slaue laugh at mee And count me a coward I haue a very good mind to liue Aside But I am resolute 't is but a turne I doe confesse Rog. So doe I Pronounce our doome wee are prepar'd to dye 1 Sen. We sentence you to hang till you be dead Since you were men eminent in place and vvorth We giue a Christian buriall to you both Clar. Not in one graue together we beseech you wee shall ne'er agree Rog. He scornes my company till the day of Iudgement I le not hang vvith him Duke You hang together that shall make you friends An euerlasting hatred death soone ends To prison with them till the day of death Kings words like Fate must neuer change their breath Rog. You malice-monger I le be hang'd afore thee And 't be but to vexe thee Cla. I le doe you as good a turne or the hangman shall fall out Exeunt ambo guarded Enter MENDOSA in his night gowne and cap guarded with the Captaine Duke Now to our kinsman shame to royall blood Bring him before vs Theft in a Prince is sacrilege to honour 'T is vertues scandall death of Royalty I blush to see my shame Nephew sit downe Iustice that smiles on those on him must frowne Speake freely Captaine where found you him wounded Capt. Betweene the widowes house these crosse neighbors Besides an Artificiall ladder made of ropes Was fastned to her window which he confest He brought to rob her of Iewels and coine My knowledge yeelds no further circumstance Duke Thou know'st too much would I were past all knowledge I might forget my griefe springs from my shame Thou monster of my blood answere in briefe To these Assertions made against thy life Is thy soule guilty of so base a fact Mend. I doe confesse I did intend to rob her In the attempt I fell and hurt my selfe Lawes thunder is but death I dread it not So my Lentulus honor be preseru'd From black suspition of a lustfull night Duke Thy head 's thy forfeit for thy harts offence Thy bloods prerogatiue may claime that fauour Thy person then to death doomb'd by iust lawes Thy death is infamous but worse the cause Enter ISABELLA alone GVIACA following her Isabella O heau'ns that I was borne to be hates slaue The foode of Rumor that devour's my fame I am call'd Insatiat Countesse lusts paramowre A glorious Diuell and the noble whore I am sick vext and tormented O reuenge Guiaca On whom would my Isabella be reueng'd Isab. Vpon a Viper that does get mine honour I will not name him till I be reueng'd See her 's the Libels are diuulg'd against me An euerlasting scandall to my name And thus the villen writes in my disgrace She reads Who loues Isabella the insatiate Needs Atlas back for to content her lust That wandring Strumpet and chaste wedlockes hate That renders truth deceipt for loyall trust That sacrilegious thiefe to Himens rights
Making her lust her God heau'n her delights Swell not proud heart I le quench thy griefe in blood Desire in woman cannot be withstood Guiaca I le be thy champion sweet gainst all the world Name but the villaine that defames thee thus Isab. Dare thy hand execute whom my tongue condemnes Then art thou truely valiant mine for euer But if thou fain'st hate must our true loue seuer Guiaca By my dead fathers soule my mothers vertues And by my knight hood and gentilitie I le be reueng'd On all the Authors of your Obloquie Name him Isab. Rogero Guiaca Ha Isab. What does his name affright thee coward Lord Be mad Isabella curse on thy reuenge This Lord was knighted for his fathers worth Not for his owne Farewell thou periur'd man I le leaue you all You all conspire to worke mine honors fall Guia. Stay my Isabella were he my fathers sonne Composed of me he dies Delight still keepe with thee goe in Isabella Thou art iust Reuenge to me is sweeter now then lust Enter GVIDO they see one another and draw and make a passe then enter ANNA Anna What meane you Nobles will you kill each other Ambo Hold Guido Thou shame to friendship what intends thy hate Guiaca Loue Armes my hand makes my soule valiant Isabellas wrongs now sits vpon my sword To fall more heauie to thy cowards head Then thunderbolts vpon Ioues rifted Oakes Deny thy scandall or defend thy life Guido What hath thy faith and and reason left thee both That thou art onely flesh without a soule Hast thou no feeling of thy selfe and me Blind rage that will not let thee see thy selfe Guiaca I come not to dispute but execute And thus comes death Another passe Guido And thus I breake thy dart her 's at thy whores face Guiaca 'T is mist here 's at thy heart stay let vs breath Guido Let reason gouerne rage yet let vs leaue Although most wrong be mine I can forgiue In this attempt thy shame will euer liue Guiaca Thou hast wrong'd the Phenix of all women rarest She that 's most wise most louing chaste and fairest Guid. Thou dotest vpon a diuell not a woman That ha's bewitcht thee with her Sorcerie And drown'd thy soule in leathy faculties Her vselesse lust has benumb'd thy knowledge Thy intelectuall powers obliuion smothers That thou art nothing but forgetfulnesse Guiaca What 's this to my Isabella my sinnes mine owne Her faults were none vntill thou madest 'em knowne Guido Leaue her and leaue thy shame where first thou found'st it Else liue a bondslaue to diseased lust Deuour'd in her gulfe-like appetite And infamy shall write thy Epitaph Thy memory leaues nothing but thy crimes A scandall to thy name in future times Guia. Put vp your weapon I dare here you further Insatiat lust is Sire still to murther Guido Beleeue it friend if her heart bloud were vext Though you kill me new pleasure makes you next She lou'd me deerer then she loues you now Shee 'll nere be faithfull has twice broke her vow This curse pursues femall Adulterie They 'l swimme through blood for sinnes varietie Their pleasure like a sea groundlesse and wide A womans lust was neuer satisfied Guia. Feare whispers in my brest I haue a soule That blushes red for tending bloudy facts Forgiue me friend if I can be forgiuen Thy counsell is the path leades me to heauen Guid. I doe embrace thy reconciled loue Guiaca That death or danger now shall ne'er remoue Goe tell thy Insaciate Countesse Anna We haue escap't the snares of her false Loue Vowing for euer to abandon her Guid. You haue heard our Resolution pray be gone Anna My office euer rested at your pleasure I was the Indian yet you had the treasure My faction often sweates and oft takes cold Then gilde true diligence o'er with gold Guia. Thy speech deseru's it there 's gold giues her gold Be honest now and not loues Noddy Turn'd vp and plaid on whil'st thou keep'st the stock Prethe formally let 's ha thy absence Anna Lords farewell Exit Anna Guido T is Whores and Panders that makes earth like hell Guiaca Now I am got out of lusts Laborinth I will to Venice for a certaine time To recreate my much abused spirits And then reuisit Pani and my friend Guido I le bring you on your way but must returne Lust is like Aetna and will euer burne Yet now desire is quench't flam'd once in height Till man knowes hell he neuer has firme faith Exeunt Ambo Enter Isabella rauing and Anna Isabella Out scritch-Owle messenger of my reuenges death Thou do'st belye Guiaca 't is not so Anna Vpon mine honestie they are vnited Isabella Thy honestie thou vassaile to my pleasure take that Strike her Darst thou controule me when I say no Art not my footestoole did not I create thee And made thee gentle being borne a begger Thou hast beene my womans Pandar for a crowne And dost thou stand vpon thy honestie Anna I am what you please Madame Yet 't is so Isab. Slaue I will slit thy tongue lesse thou say no Anna No no no Madame Isabella I haue my humour though they now be false Faint-hearted coward get thee from my sight When villaine hast and come not nere me Anna Madame I run her sight like death doth feare me Ex. Isabella Perfidious cowards staine of Nobilitie Venecians and be reconcil'd with words O that I had Guiaca once more here Within this prison made of flesh and bone I 'de not trust Thunder with my fell reuenge But mine owne hands should doe the dire exploit And fame should Chronicle a womans acts My rage respects the persons not the facts There place and worths hath power to defame me Meane hate is stinglesse and does onely name me I not regard it 't is high bloud that swels Giue me reuenge and damne me into hels Enter Don Sago a Coronell with a band of Souldiers and a Lieutenant A gallant Spaniard I will heare him speake Griefe must be speechlesse ere the heart can breake Sago Lieutenant let good Discipline be vs'd In quartring of our Troops within the Citie Not seperated into many streetes That shewes weake loue but not sound policie Diuision in small numbers makes all weake Forces vnited are the nerues of warre Mother and nurse of obseruation Whose rare ingenious spright fils all the world By looking on it selfe with piercing eyes Will looke through strangers imbecilities Therefore be carefull Lieft. All shall be ordred fitting your command For these three gifts which makes a Souldiour rare Is loue and dutie with a valiant care Exiunt Lieft. Souldiors Sago What rarietie of women feeds my sight And leades my sences in a maze of wonder Sees her Bellona thou wert my mistris till I saw that shape But now my sword I le consecrate to her Leaue Mars and become Cupids Martialist Beauty can turne the rugged face of warre And make him smile vpon delightfull peace Courting her smoothly like a
femallist I grow a slaue vnto my potent loue Whose power change hearts make our fate remoue Isabella Reuenge not Pleasure now ore-rules my blood Rage shall drown faint loue in a crimson flood And were he caught I 'de make him murders hand Sago Me thinkes 't were ioy to die at her command I le speake to heare her speech whose powerfull breath Is able to infuse life into death Isabella He comes to speake hee 's mine by loue he is mine Sago Lady thinke bold intrusion curtesie T is but imagination alters them Then 't is your thoughts not I that doe offend Isabella Sir your intrusion yet 's but curtesie Vnlesse your future humor alter it Sago Why then Diuinest woman know my soule Is dedicated to thy shrine of beauty To pray for mercy and repent the wrongs Done against loue and femall puritie Thou abstract drawne from natures empty store-house I am thy slaue command my sword my heart The soule is tri'd best by the bodies smart Isabella You are a stranger to this land and me What madnesse i st for me to trust you then To cosen women is a trade 'mongst men Smooth promises faint passions with a lye Deceiues our sex of fame and chastitie What danger durst you hazard for my loue Sago Perils that that neuer mortall durst approue I le double all the workes of Hercules Expose my selfe in combat 'gainst an Hoste Meete danger in a place of certaine death Yet neuer shrinke or giue way to my Fate Bare-brested meete the murderous Tartars dart Or any fatall Engine made for death Such power ha's loue and beauty from your eyes He that dies resolute does neuer die 'T is feare giues death his strength which I resisted Death is but emptie Aire the Fates haue twisted Isab. Dare you reuenge my quarrell 'gainst a foe Sago Then aske me if I dare embrace you thus Or kisse your hand or gaze on your bright eye Where Cupid dances on those globes of loue Feare is my vassall when I frowne he flyes A hundred times in life a coward dies Isabella I not suspect your valor but your will Sago To gaine your loue my fathers bloud I 'le spill Isab. Many haue sworne the like yet broke their vow Sago My whole endeuour to your wish shall bow I am your plague to scourge your enemies Isabella Performe your promise and enioy your pleasure Spend my loues Dowry that is womens treasure But if thy resolution dread the triall I le tell the world a Spaniard was disloyall Sago Relate your griefe I long to heare their names Whose bastard spirits thy true worth defames I 'le wash thy scandall off when their hearts bleeds Valour makes difference betwixt words and deeds Tell thy fames poison blood shall wash thee white Isab. My spotlesse honor is a slaue to spite These are the monsters Venice doth bring forth Whose emptie soules are banckrupt of true worth False Count Guido treacherous Guiaca Countesse of Gazia and of rich Massino Then if thou beest a Knight help the opprest Through danger safetie comes through trouble rest And so my loue Sago Ignoble villens their best bloud shall proue Reuenge fals heauy that is rais'd by loue Isab. Thinke what reproch is to a womans name Honor'd by birth by marriage and by beautie Be God on earth and reuenge innocence O worthy Spaniard on my knees I begge Forget the persons thinke on their offence Sago By the white soule of honour by heau'ns Ioue They die if their death can attaine your loue Isab. Thus will I clip thy waste embrace thee thus Thus dally with thy haire and kisse thee thus Our Pleasures Pothean-like in sundry shapes Shall with varietie stirre daliance Sago I am immortall O diuinest creature Thou do'st excell the Gods in wit and feature False Counts you die reuenge now shakes his rods Beautie condemnes you stronger then the Gods Isab. Come Mars of louers Vulcan is not here Make vengeance like my bed quite voide of feare Sago My sences are intranst and in this slumber I taste heau'ns ioyes but cannot count the number Ex. Ambo Enter LADY LENTVLVS ABIGALL and THAIS Abigal Well Madame you see the destinie that followes marriage Our husbands are quiet now and must suffer the law Thais If my husband had beene worth the begging some Courtier would haue had him he might be beg'd well inough for he knowes not his owne wife from another Lady Lent O you 'r a couple of trusty wenches to deceiue your husbands thus Abig. If wee had not deceiu'd them thus we had been Trust wenches Thais Our husbands will be hang'd because they thinke themselu's Cuckolds Abig. If all true Cuckolds were of that minde the hangman would be the richest occupation and more wealthie widdowes then there be yonger brothers to marry them Thais The Marchant venturers would be a very small companie Abag. 'T is twelue to one of that how euer the rest scape I shall feare a massacre Thais If my husband hereafter for his wealth chance to be dub'd I 'le haue him cal'd the Knight of the supposed home Abag. Faith and it sounds well Lady Come madcaps leaue iesting and let 's deliuer them out of their earthly purgation you are the spirits that torment them but my loue and Lord kinde Mendosa will loose his life to preserue mine honor not for hate to others Abig. By my troth if I had beene his iudge I should haue hang'd him for hauing no more wit I speake as I thinke for I would not be hang'd for ne'er a man vnder the heau'ns Thais Faith I thinke I should for my Husband I doe not hold the opinion of the Philosopher that writes we loue them best that we inioy first for I protest I loue my husband better then any that did know me before Abig. So doe I yet life and pleasure are two sweet things to a woman Lady He that 's willing to die to saue mine honor I 'le die to saue his Abig. Tut beleeue it who that list wee loue a liuely man I grant you But to maintaine that life I 'le ne're consent to die This is a rule I still will keepe in brest Loue well thy husband wench but thy selfe best Thais I haue followed your counsell hetherto and meane to doe still Lady Come we neglect our businesse 't is no iesting To morrow they are executed leasse we reprieue them Wee be their destinies to cast their fate Let 's all goe Abig. I feare not to come late Exeunt Enter DON SAGO SOLVS with a case of Pistols Sago Day was my night and night must be my day The sunne shin'd on my pleasure with my loue And darknesse must lend aide to my reuenge The stage of heau'n is hung with solemne black A time best fitting to Act Tragedies The nights great Queene that maiden gouernesse Musters black clouds to hide her from the world Afraide to looke on my bold enterprise Curs'd creatures messengers of death possesse the world Night-Rauens scritch-owles and
Letter Rog. Chastitie I will sooner expect a Iesuites recantation Or the great Turkes conuersion then her chastitie Pardon my leige I will not trust mine eyes Women and Diuels will deceiue the wise Duke The like Sir is apparant on your side To tother Clar. Who my wife chaste ha's your grace your sense I 'le sooner beleeue A coniurer may say his prayers with zeale Then her honestie Had she been an Hermaphrodite I would scarce hath giuen credit to you Let him that hath drunke loue drugs trust a woman By heau'n I thinke the aire is not more common Duke Then we impose a strict command vpon you On your Allegeance reade what there is writ Clar. A writ of errour on my life my liege Duke You 'le finde it so I feare Cla. What haue we here the Art of Brachigraphy Lookes ont Thais Hee 's stung already as if his eyes were turn'd on Persies shield There motion is fixt like to the poole of Stix Abig. Yonder 's our flames and from the hollow Arches Of his quick eyes comes commet traines of fire Bursting like hidden furies from their Canes Reades Your's till he sleepe the sleepe of all The world Rogero Rogero Marry and that Lethergie seize you reade againe Clar. Thy seruant so made by his stars Rogero Reads againe A fire on your wandring starres Rogero Rog. Sathan why hast thou tempted my wife To Clarid. Cla. Peace seducer I am branded in the forehead With your starre-marke May the starres drop vpon thee And with their sulphure vapours choake thee ere thou Come at the gallowes Rogero Stretch not my patience Mahomet Clarid. Termagant that will stretch thy patience Rogero Had I knowne this I would haue poison'd thee in the Chalice This morning when we receaued the Sacrament Clari. Slaue knowst thou this t is an Appendix to the Letter But the greater temptation is hidden within I will scowre thy gorge like a Hawke thou shalt swallow thine owne stone in this letter They bustle Seal'd and deliuered in the presence of Duke Keepe them asunder list to vs we command Clari. O violent villayne is not thy hand hereto And writ in bloud to shew thy raging lust Thais Spice of a new halter when you go a ranging thus like Deuills would you might burne for 't as they doe Rogero Thus t is to lye with another mans wife He shal be sure to heare on 't againe But we are friends sweet ducke kisse her And this shall be my maxime all my life MAN neuer happy is till in a wife Clari. Here sunke our hate lower then any whirlepoole And this chaste kisse I giue thee for thy care kisse That fame of women full as wise as faire Duke You haue saued vs a labour in your loue But Gentlemen why stood you so prepostrously Would you haue headlong runne to Infamy In so defam'd a death Rogero O my Liege I had rather rore to death with Phaleris Bull then Darius-like to haue one of my wings extend to Atlas the other to Europa What is a Cuckold learne of me Few can tell his pedigree Nor his subtill nature conster Borne a man but dyes a monster Yet great Antiquaryes say They spring from our Methusala Who after Noahs flood was found To haue his Crest with branches crown'd God in Edens happy shade This same creature made Then to cut off all mistaking Cuckolds are of womens making From whose snares good Lord deliuer vs Clari. Amen Amen Before I would proue a Cuckold I would indure a winters Pilgrimage in the Frozen Zone Goe starke naked through Muscouia where the Climate is degrees colder then Ice And thus much to all marryed men Now I see great reason why Loue should mary ielousie Since mans best of life is fame He had neede preserue the same When t is in a womans keeping Let not Argos eyes be sleeping The poxe is vnto Panders giuen By the better powers of heauen That contaynes pure chastity And each Virgin soueraignety Wantonly she op't and lost Gift whereof a God might boast Therefore shouldst thou Diana wed Yet be iealous of her bed Duke Night like a Masque is entred heauens great hall With thousand Torches vshering the way To Risus will wee consecrate this Euening Like Missermis cheating of the brack Wee le make this night the day Faire ioyes befall Vs and our Actions Are you pleased all Exeunt omnes FINIS