of Strength sufficient to contayne My big swolne heart My Lords behold a creature So infinitely wretched I deserve not The meanest shew of pitty who have like A silly merchant trifled away a jemme The darling of the quarry lost a love By my too foolish nicenesse to regaine Whose forfeiture I would lay downe my life But he is gone for ever and I left A pittious spectacle for the reproach And scorne of wiser women Eur. Is this possible Was all her passion to Vitelli feign'd My hopes recover life agen Tri. Why Chrisea Whence springs this passionate fury Chri. Oh my Lord When you shall heare it you will sigh for me And shed a charitable teare at thought Of my unkinde disaster sir my Justice Cannot accuse your constancy which stood In the first tryall of your love as fast And spotlesse as an Alablaster rocke That had it but persisted in that height Of honourable loyalty your glory Had been advanc'd to heaven as the fix't starre To guid all lovers through the rough Seas of affection Uit. This taxation Cannot be just from you who did enforce The sad revolt upon him Dor. Is there in heaven no friendly Boult left that will strike this frame into The center and set free a wretch So overgrowne with misery from life That death would be a comfort above health Or any worldly blessing may time blot my name out Of his Booke that such a Prodigy May not affright succession nor sticke Like an orespreading Leprosie upon The beautious face of manhood Chri. Oh my Lord each griefe of which Y' are sensible is mine and not your Torment every sigh you breath is an Afflicting motion expir'd by my vext Spirit and if you could weepe each drop Would be my blood who am the spring Of the whole flood of sorrow oh forgive The too exceeding honor of my love I would Have had you for your perfect truth so glorious Your loyalty should not for Preservation of your fame have needed To adopt a statue for its heire or builded a Monumentall pyramid but love Is ofttimes loves undoing Tri. This is such A cunning labyrinth of Sorrow that no clew Can lead them out of Dor. It would be A great affront to misery should there live A person halfe so wretched to out-dare The strength of my affliction me thinkes I me like some aged mountaine that has stood In the seas watry bosome thousand shocks Of threatning tempests yet by th' flattering waves That cling and curle about his stony limbes Is undermind and ruind I have scap'd Warres killing dangers and by peacefull love Suffer a strange subversion Oh Chrisea While I have reason left that can distinguish Things with a coole and undistracted sence Let 's argue mildly the unhappy cause Of our undoings Eur. Truely sister 'T was a suspicious rashnesse I could wish You never had attempted Chri. My Lord Humane condition alwaies censures things By their event my aimes have had successe So strangely haplesse that will blast the truth Of their intentions purity I never Harbor'd the least suspicion of your faith Which I did strive to perfect by the test As richest gold refind and purg'd From drosse of other baser metals and besides The triall of your constancy I meant To sound Vitellies depth upon whose love My sister doted so that I was loath To see her cast the treasure of her heart Upon a stranger of whose constancy She had too small assurance Tri. Gentle Cosen Your good intents encounter'd bad successe But I ad mire since you must needs have notice Of his disaster that the law would passe Upon his life you did not to prevent All other virgin intercessors haste To pay the early tribute of your love Chri. My wretched fate With a too quicke prevention has orethrowne The justnesse of my purpose I relyed so much upon his noblenesse I thought The ugly horror of a thousand deaths Could not have mov'd his temper and besides Knowing his mighty courage I permitted The law proceed upon him that hereafter He might be sure no merit can appeare Offended justice otherwise I could Easily have stop'd this mischiefe Enter Bonivet Tri. How Chrisea I understand you not Chri. Lady to quit all scruple that I doe not wish Yours and your Lords succeeding happinesse I le offer Something as an oblation that shall ad de Peace to your nuptiall garland see my Lord My Cosen Bonivet lives Tri. Lives Lactantio did not you informe us That he was dead and you had caus'd his body To be prepar'd for funerall which occasioned The Generalls suddaine tryall because our custome Does not permit the corpes to be entomb'd Before the murderer have his sentence sir you shall know What t is to mocke the state thus Lact. Good my Lord Heare but my just excuse I am so much the faire Chriseas beauty 's by such ties Oblig'd to serve her that I choose to hazzard The anger of the state ere her displeasure And doe submit me to your gracious censure Chri. I must confirm 't Sir it was I who caus'd him to conceale My Cosen Bonivet for the causes which I did declare before and now my selfe Having receiv'd a satisfying proofe Of his affection came resolv'd to cleare These misty errors but my cruell fate Has like a suddaine storme which has beate downe A goodly field of standing Corne even ripe For the laborious sickle crush'd my hopes In one sad minute into nothing Sab. My Lord I owe Such an obedient duty to your peace That though my heart does wish to waite on yours For ever since I see betwixt this Lady And you such firme apparences of love If the law please to allow it I resigne My interest to her and be fortunate To see you two live happy Vit. Since the marriage Has not arriv'd to consummating act I doe beleeve this may be done Tri. Doe not delude Your favour with vaine hopes the law cannot Dispense with the strict Cannon t is impossible You should be separated Dor. This happinesse Was too extreamely good to be confirm'd To such a wretch as I am I am like One that did dreame of a huge masse of wealth And catching at it grasp'd the fleeting ayre And waking grieves at the delusion Sab. Sir resume your antient quiet the formall Love shall not oppose your peace I le disanull The marriage easily and most noble Lord Pardon your humble servant Dor. Sure this is Some apparition to confirme my faith Speake art thou my Sabelli Vit. Yes t is he fate would not suffer two such Noble soules to be so disunited gentle boy Thy duty to thy Master will continue Thy name in story as the great example Of loyalty in servants Sab. 'T was the zeale I ought in duty to my Mrs. life Hath put me on the attempt which if he pardon I 'me fully satisfied Dor. My joyes does with a suddain extasie oppresse My fraile mortality and I should sinke Wert not for my supporters my Sabelli Thou hast restor'd two lovers to their blisse Whose gratitude shall pay to thy desert The tribute of their hearts Deare Madam now I hope your scrupulous doubts will remaine free From any new suspition Chri. Since I have scap'd the danger past beleeve I le avoyd The like hereafter my Lord please you confirme My choyse and let my sister be dispos'd To good Vitelli he deserves her Tri. Your wishes are fulfild Cosen Bonivet welcome to life Agen you and the Generall must be friends Dor. Your goodnesse will pardon my misfortune Bon. And desire to be esteem'd your servant Enter Frangipan Fran. With your leave gentlemen Madam I have such newes to tell you as will tickle your understanding to beleeve the Generall is married and more Signior Doria Lord Bonivet lives That 's lucky newes for you Dor. He 's here good Signior Frangipan Fran. My newes has ever the worst lucke I must resolve to leave it off Ador. But sir J have some suddaine newes to tell you The thousand Ducats you contracted to pay me When you could understand the French as perfectly As my selfe by all these Lords indifferent judgement is Due on this very minute Fran. This is newes indeed you do not mean to make a gul of me a figo for a thousand Ducats as J am a gentleman I know not French for any thing not for an Asse good your grace let mee not be abus'd Cor. 'T was I my Lord who made the bargaine with him The mony is not due untill my Cozen Have French as perfect as himselfe Dor. He has I le beare him witnesse for Adorni Speakes not one true French word Fran. How not one true French Word Ador. No not a word you must disburse Fran. Tutor I le tell you newes You made a foole of mee I could abuse him horribly If I durst for feare of beating Ador. My Lord If he will undertake warres I le quit my bargayne Fran. I le pay it trible first the name of warre Has brought an age on me Tri. You two agree that Cozens I rejoyce To see this happy period of your loves Let 's backe unto the Temple that the Priest May by his sacred power unite your hearts Lead to the Temple Exeunt The Epilogue Frangipan GEntlemen I le tell you Newes the Play is done And he that writ it betwixt hope and Feare Stands pensive in the Tyring-house to heare Your Censures of his Play Good Gentlemen Let it be kind or otherwise his Pen Will write but dully for he needs must lacke If you disprayse't the quickning Spirit of Sacke To inflame his Genius which you 'le ever find Devoted to you if your Votes be kind FINIS
joyfull courtesie Ador. This is fitter ceremony for them Then to embrace an enemy who will not part On termes so easie these gentlemen know better To cut a Caper than a Cable or board a Pinck in the Burdells than a Pinace at sea I marvaile my Lord should know such Milk-sops Vit. My Lord You come t' instruct us Courtship as y 'ave taught Your foes to feare your valour you appeare As if this were your Nuptiall day on which You were to wed bright triumph but you can As well Court peace in silkes as raging warre In burnish'd steele and touch the ravishing strings With as much cunning industry as if Mars could like Orpheus strike the trembling Harp Signior Adorni welcome home I hope Y 'ave made a richer prize then when my ship Struck to your mercy Ador. Yes we are very like To make good prize indeed when all the profit Goes to the State and heavy-headed Burgers That lye and snort at home and eate what we Sweat bloody drops for Do. Honest Adorni His bluntnesse must excuse him gentlemen How harsh and rough soe're he seemes his honour Will quickly vary when I have bin tyr'd With toyle of warre the observations which His travailes have afforded him of men Countries and manners lively set forth Flourish Enter Trivulci Chrisea Eurione Corimba By his expressive action has begot Mirth in my drowsie soule when y' are acquainted With his conceit of carriage you 'll not affect A jovialler Companion See the Duke Tri. My noble warriour Peace now lookes lovely on us since we enjoy The author of 't in safety rise my Doria Let me embrace those youthfull limbes which cloath Warre in loves livery thy honour'd father When he return'd laden with Turkish spoyles As trophies of his valour from the slaughter Of Haly Bassa at Lepanto where The Christian name was hazzarded arriv'd not More welcome to the State beleeve me youth Hadst thou a mother living to be proud Of thy Nativity unlesse she wept For joy to see thee could no way expresse A more affectionate gladnesse Chrisea Eurione welcome him home who cannot Receive an equall grace to the just value Of his deservings Chri. Your grace prepares us for that We did intend to offer Corin. Yes truely did wee sir this Generall is ill-bred I warrant him to slight a gentlewoman of my demeanor Dor. My gracious Lord To tender thanks where t is a debt not duty Befits an equall subjects ought to offer With the sincere devotion that our Priests Doe prayers to Heaven their hearts as sacrifices To their deserving Princes whose sole favours Doe as the quickning lustre of the Sunne Cherish inferiour spirits yours have bin Showr'd downe on me as elementall dew On the parcht earth which drinks it up and cannot Give heaven a retribution yet my duty Shall speak my willing thankfulnesse and while These armes can weild victorious steele no danger Shal fright me from that service which I owe My Prince and Country since men are not borne For themselves onely but their life 's a debt To th' Common-wealth that bred 'hem Tri. Gentle warriour Thy fathers spirit swells thy soule I reade it In thy submissive loyalty le ts in T is just that those who caus'd the warres to cease Flour Ex. praeter Corim and Eurione Should have the early fruits of their owne peace Euri. and Corimba Have you imploy'd a serious diligence yet In giving Lord Vitelli secret notice Of my affection to him Corim. Truely Madam And as I hope to have a husband yet Ere I be fifty I have beene so ta'ne up About my new device I scarce have leisure To say my prayers sincerely Ladybird You looke not sprightly ravishing onely this fear Was not well cut nor well laid on it wanted A little of my learned art Vitelli Doubt him not Madam he shall love you so T is pretty neat now I would not have a Lady That weares a glasse about her have the least Pimple in her countenance discompos'd it does Disgallant a whole beauty Eur. But Corimba What 's this to me thou maist as well tell tales Of love to one departing life these toyes Relish with me as bitter pills with children Wilt thou effect my businesse Cor. I confesse I have beene very fortunate in bringing Couples together though I neare could couple My selfe with any your Ladyship could not Have chose a better agent Enter Frangipan Fran. Save you sweet Lady save you Aunt I have Lost all my morning exercise at tennis In seeking you and yet was still in hazzard Whether I should meet you I must request a little Helpe from your Art good Aunt a patch or two To make me appeare more lovely for my glase Tells me I have a very scurvy face Without some ornament Cori. T is a good innocent face be not asham'd on 't I le cut out one instantly nay I never Goe unprovided of materialls let me see What forme is best for thee that somthing timerous A heart stuck neatly on thy face will excite Thy heart to more audacity good Madam Dost not become him prettily Cosen be sure You doe commend this fashion to all gentlemen Wert but as common among them as Ladyes My wit would be eternally made famous For the invention Fran. Wil t please you to dispatch Ant i 'me in hast I 've a whole staple of newes to vent Corin. Of what troe I would have my kind red more ridiculous To th' world than I am Cosen all your newes Is stale invent me rather some choice story How true or false no matter and declare it For newes t will please farre better and endeare Your judgement i' th' relation Enter Doria Chrisea Sabelli Fran. Noble Generall y' are happily encountred Have you seen my Aunt yet Signior here she is I have Newes to informe you worth your knowledge Dor. Keep them Good Signior till some other time Eurione We must implore your absence we 'd be private Cor. Why we have beene trusted With as good secrets please your Lordship Accept this Crescent you see my Cosen Is in the fashion let me lay it on Insooth your face is for a souldiers Too smooth and polite this device will shew As 't had a skar upon it which is an honour To faces Military Dor. Good Madam gravity Keep your devices for your Chamber Lords That dance to Ladies shadowes pray be gone We need not your society Sabelli Exeunt Put to the doore and then be gone Chrisea Exit The modest Turtles which In view of other more lascivious Birds Exchange their innocent loves in timerous sighes Do when alone most prittily convert Their chirps to billing and with feather'd armes Encompasse mutually their gawdy neckes Chri. You would inferre that we Should in their imitation spend this time Intended for a conference which concernes us Neerer then Complement Dor. Why my Chrisea We may entwine as freely since our loves Are not at age yet to conceive a sinne Thine being new borne and mine
To my Vitelli were I sure the Generall Would not contemne my offer and so blast My future fame I would disclaime all eyes Of former fancy and implore his safety Vit. This is a sweetnesse Which I cold wish you what has begot This strange desertion of your faith true love Being once receiv'd into the soule converts Into its very essence does become The same eternall substance can you then Teare from the tender Cabinet of your brest Your very heart this cruelty exceeds The depth of tyranny but est assur'd If Doria suffer by your proud contempt I 'me freed then from my promise and will sooner Warme an empoysoning Scorpion in my armes Then yeeld my meanest thought to you who are By evident circumstance though not by fact My friend the Generalls murdresse Chri This Vitelli Is not a meanes to winne me to your friend But more avert me from him it inflames My minde with holier fire to Court your love There is an evident beauty in your soule Equall to truest honor I will cherish This bravery in you if your masculine fancy Engages you thus constant to a friend You 'l be a loyall husband fare you well Be still thus noble and be happy Exit Eur. My sister Has lost all sence of pitty deere Vitelli There is no wretchednesse oppressing earth Equall to ours love thus the Tyrant playes Afflicting innocence by unusuall waies Exeunt Enter Doria as a prisoner Lactantio Adorni to them Trivulci Senators Officers and Attendants Ador. T is like your selfe my noble Lord but see The Duke approaching let your soule expect An equall hearing Offic. Beare backe roome for the Duke and Senate what Cuckold 's that would have his Coxcombe broake beare backe there Triv. Cite in the prisoner Offic. Hee 's here my Lord Tri. I 'me sorry that You for whose head the gratitude of the state Decreed triumphant bayes should be enforc'd To stand here a delinquent but the law Must as a streight and uncorrupted streame Enjoy its usuall freedome my Lords We are not met here to arraigne a prisoner Whose guilt does speake his sentence but a person Not only most unblemish'd in his fame But one to whom our country owes its life Who with his dearest blood has balm'd the wounds Which michiefes giant-off-springs raysing warre Cut in the bosome of the common-wealth Sen. We all confesse his worth Tri. Yet this brave youth This patron of our liberty all his honours His blood and titles his defensive bayes That would have guarded his victorious front From blasts of lightning laid aside is come To tender satisfaction to the lawes He has offended and since judgement is The immediate act of Justice it must passe To save impartiall censure on his life As on the wretched'st malefactors for His former merits cannot take away His present fault for who ere is guilty Vndoes the priviledge of his desert and blood For if great men offending passe unpunish'd The common people who doe use to sinne By their example fearelesse will runne on Into licencious wickednesse Sen. Your grace delivers The intension of the state no oracle Could have explain'd the meaning of our lawes With more integrity Tri. Yet my good Lords I speake not this that my particular vengeance Because slew he my kinsman has the least Ayme at his life which I would strive to cherish As my owne health or as the Cities peace For Magistrates ought to behold their crimes Not the committers as the Poets faine Of wise Tyresias to want eyes and only Have seeing understanding for a judge Is guilty of the fault he does not punish And if rewards and triumphs doe adorne Deserts t is just that shame and punishments Should wait on vices and how much more worthy The person is that acts them so farre sharper Should be the penalty inflicted on him Sen. And when the law Vses its utmost rigor t is the crime And not the man it sentences Tri. In briefe We must Decline his merit and forget Our gratitude and since his hand is dipt In civill blood his life must expiat what His arme unfortunately committed Dor. My Lords The services which I have done the state Were but my naturall duty I atchieved 'em To gaine me fame and glory and you safety and Should esteeme them Traytors to honour if their intercession Be a protection for my crimes I meane not To plead to save a dis-respected life Cause I feare death a sea incompass'd rocke Is not lesse timerous of the assaulting waves Then I of the grimme monster but there is A fame surviving which I would be loath Should tell posterity I tamely yeelded My head to th' Axe and dyed because my spirit Durst not desire to live to quit this scandall I hope what I can urge in my defence Shall have indifferent hearing Tri. Speake freely Dor. Know then my intention Is not by excuse to extenuate my fact Which I confesse most horrid and woud I pay A thousand showers of sorrow could this hand Reedifie that goodly from of flesh Which it demolisht but my pricelesse fame In whose deere cause I slew him will to justice Boldly proclaime I did no more then what The truth I owe my reputation tells me Was right in poynt of honor Tri. But the law Does disallow it as unjust and that Must be your judge and not that idle breath Which you abusively terme honor Dor. Your lawes cannot without partiality pronounce Iudgement against me for they doo acquit That man of guilt that to defend his life Is forc'd to slay his enemy my act Carries the same condition since my fame Whose safety urg'd me to kill him is my life My immortall life as farre transcending this As the soule does the body for the sword Returnes that to its primitive matter dust And there it rests forgotten but a wound Strucke upon reputation leaves a brand So selfe diffusive is dishonors guilt Even to posterity and does revive After t' has sufferd martyrdome Sen. Yet this Cannot excuse your fact for civill reason Allowes a reparation for the losse Of fame but gives no man a lawfull licence To snatch the priviledge from the hands of justice Which would dispose it equally Dor. This strictnesse destroyes all Right of manhood since a coward May fearefully relying on this sufferage Of Law affront even valors selfe consider That the most cunning Pilot cannot steere mans Brittle vessell 'twixt these dangerous Rocks Of law and honor safely sayle by this And on that suffer ship wracke for suppose I had with patience borne this scandalous name Of a degenerate coward I not only had Nip'd the budding valor of my youth As with a killing frost but left a shame inherent To our family disgrac'd My noble fathers memory defam'd Nay cowarded my Ancestors whose dust Would 'a broke through the Marbles to revenge To me this fatall infamy Ador Well urg'd and resolutely Dor. Nay more your selves That hate the deed being done would have detested The doer worse
had it not beene perform'd Withdrawne my chardge i th' army as from one Protested for a coward I might then Have abjur'd the trade of warre in which I have beene nurs'd Yet for preserving this unvalued jemme Of pretious honour that hangs on my soule Like a well polish'd Iewell in the care Of the exactest beauty must I suffer The lawes sterne rigor Tri. Sir I should refute With circumstance your wrong opinion but in briefe Religious conscience utterly disclaimes An act so barbarous to take mans life Is to destroy Heavens Image and if those Are held as Traytors and the law inflicts Severest tortures on them who deface The stamps of Princes in their coyne can they appeare As guiltlesse whose rude hands disgrace The great Creators Image and commit Treason 'gainst awfull nature Oh my Lord Collect your serious temper and put off The over weening fantasies of youth Consider what a vaine deluding breath Is reputation if compar'd with life Thinke that an idle or detracting word May by a faire submission which our lawes Of honor doe require it will enforce Be wash'd away but the red guilt of blood Sticks as a blacke infection to the soule That like an Aethiop cannot be wash'd white A shout within Enter Corimba and Frangipan Thinke upon this and know I must with griefe pronounce your fatall sentence Fran. Doe you heare Generall I le tell you newes you were in Ieopardy to have had your little weason slit but I pronounce The happy word be safe his peece of beauty By my perswasions does intend to take The edge of law off and become your wife True and inseparable Cor. With reverence to this presence my good Lords Know that I come not urg'd by heate of youth Fran. T is true I le beare her witnesse Cor Or any wanton or unchast desire To beg this gentleman for my husband neither To raise my selfe a fortune by the match But mov'd in charity and provok'd in minde With pitty to behold a man so proper Brought to an end untimely by a death So scandalous to honour as the Axe I come to crave our priviledge and desire him For my most lawfull husband Tri. Gentle mayd Your piety does prompt you to an act That shall engage your country to erect A statue to your memory though I could not Dispence with justice yet since there 's a meanes Without the lawes infringement to preserve him I doe rejoyce as much as if my sonne Had scap'd apparant danger goe on and prosper In your designe Dor. Doe you thinke because I pleaded For my honours life I doate so much upon this idle breath As to preserv 't with infamy dispose This womanish priviledge to submissive slaves Know that I hate a being that depends Upon anothers bounty more then death At which my soule does like an Eagle stretch its Silver wines and ore the monsters head Will make flight at heaven pray sit proceed To judgement suddenly delay begets More tortors in me then your sentence Gor. What doe you meane sir pray let me understand you Better looke upon me I am no woman to be slighted Fra. She 's not asham'd to shew her face marry her Uncle that I may call you so Sen. To wed this figure is a farre greater punishment then Death Ador. Nere stand on tearmes but marry her and free your selfe and trust to me you shall not want a mistresse has better colours in her face Dor. Corimba I 'me much engag'd to your officious haste And pay you many thankes conceive not that I doe contemne your person or dislike The meannesse of your match for were your beauty Created for a miracle and adorn'd With the addition of a fortune ampler Then that perfection I should crave a licence To tell your modesty I am prepar'd Rather for death then Nuptialls and no strength Of prayers and beauty shall have power to tempt me From my fixt resolution Tri. This is madnesse not courage Doria Cor. Sir I must tell you you know not how to use a woman rightly Perhaps t is bashfulnesse take courage sir I have reserv'd my deere virginity This fifty yeares for such a pious purpose And should you slight me now I should forswear Good purposes hereafter gentlemen perswade him Sure he cannot chuse but melt At your entreaties Tri Will you then pull your ruine on that seeks Recorders Enter Uitelli and Sabelli as a Lady Virgins Thus easily to flye from you Iustice calls On me to give your sentence new interruptions It is the voyce of musicke and presages An Omen as harmonious as its notes Approach faire troops of Virgins here 's subject Fit for your maiden pity Cor. T is time for mee to take my farewell these may bee beauties perhaps my Lady may bee one adiew sir you may be offer'd worse Ex. Cor and Fran. Sab. My honour'd Lord The charity I owe my native country That in the ruine of this brave young man Would suffer infinitly has forc'd us strive With earely zeale first to present our duties For his redemption 'mong ten thousand Virgins That would attempt it and my true affection Has wonne this favour from my fellowes that To me they yield their interest which I claime As my desir'd prerogative Tre. T is an act the State will thanke you for unvaile your selfe That we may know to whom we owe our gratitude A most excelling beauty such an eye Would tempt religious coldnesse to a flame Thaw Ages chilly frost at such a cheeke The Spring might take a patterne to create A most accomplish'd freshnesse in her looks Are modest signes of innocence such as Saints Weare in their liveliest counterfeits Doria here A Lady begs you whom if you refuse The times would blacke you with the hatefull title Of your owne wilfull murther take her to you And live a fortunate husband Dor. Noble maid my misery is so extreame a sinne It cannot meet your bounty without breach Of vowes which should I violate would pull Eternall torments on me keep your beauty For one whose soule free as the ayre he breaths Can yield a mutuall fancy to your flame And not destroy his honour for your goodnesse Since my expir'd date cannot yield you thanks Worthy the bound lesse merit of your love If there can be a gratitude after death Express'd by prayers my soule in heaven shall pay it To your kind charity Sab. Oh my Lord I did expect this answer my poore worth Cannot deserve your value yet there is A constant purity in my thoughts that intend you So much of Blisse that had your safety no Dependance on my suit it would be deem'd Most cruell to contemne me I have lov'd you These many yeares wish'd you as many glories As I have number'd dayes have vow'd I never Will marry any man but your blest selfe my Lord Should you neglect the justnesse of my request Besides the danger waiting on your life A thousand Virgins whose unspotted prayers Like hosts of guardian Angels