Say what you will my Lord but do nothing I entreat you Mon. If we should do nothing of that must necessary come ill I le prove it too of doing nothing comes Idlenesse of idlenesse comes no goodnesse of no goodnesse necessary comes ill therefore if we do nothing of necessity we must do ill Dutch How well my Lord you can infer ill but my Lord if you should insist much in this argument it were more to expresse your oratory than honesty but my Lord I know your vertues and the opinion of them hath prepar'd you a most kind and loving welcome we have nothing to entertaine you but words and we can feast you with nothing but kisses now you see your fare fall to and welcome Mon. Madam I could everlastingly feed here and yet presume never to surfeit I can but thanke you and now I have given thankes I le even make bold to fall to Val. You say you could find in your heart to offend my father Pro. I madam so for my offence he would everlastingly confine me to this prison why smile you Lady Val. To thinke if my father should steale upon you and find you here what a cunning picklock he would take you for he would questionlesse thinke you carried a false key about you Pro. Tush he hath made a Jury of twelve doores already to pass upon my cause and they have all given my case up not guilty Enter Florence Ferrara Iulio Iul. Where 's the Dukes Guard Flo. Begirt the Castle round Iul. Her windows shine with lights like blazing stars Fer. Th' are in her Chamber sure Exit Pro. Heard you that Madam Val. We are betray'd Mon. The Castle round beset Dutch And harke above I heare the Dukes keys down the private way and leave the excuse to us Val. Nay when my Lords Mon. This way my Lord good night Dutch Nay stand not now on triviall Complements The Duke 's at hand Pro. Farewell Ladies adieu Exeunt Val. Nay if you love us leave us Madam how shall we answer this to the Duke Dutch Now my apron strings if I had one on Madam take your Chaire and counterfeit your selfe fast asleep so will I not a word now if you love me Val. Thy very words are better to me than a Physicall potion for they have cast me into a sound sleep already see I am fast Enter Mantua and Lords Man Soft make no noise the Chamber 's whist and still There 's not so much aire stirring as would make The trembling Aspen shake ha fast asleep Search round the Chamber Flo. I find no man here Fer. Here 's naught but walls and Arras and two Ladies In depth of sleep Iul. Let 's wake them my Lord and question them Man Not for thy head that hast deluded us And to this shame and mockery rais'd the Court Would I disturbe them of a minutes rest Thy envy unto such as we have rais'd For their desert in Court hath stretch'd it selfe Even to our high disturbance Iul. Hell and the furies Am I againe deluded Flo. Fie Lord Iulio To call us in a mockery from our beds Fer. Here to hunt shadows sure the fellow dreamt Flo. Pray my Lord wake them and resolve them how Lord Iulio hath possest you Man Pardon me They both are charm'd in silence and their senses Confus'd in innocent dreames I oft have heard That what a man or woman waking thinks If they be question'd in their depth of rest Their Genius or their soule will answer for them As their affections or their hearts inclin'd Of this I le make a true and prosperous use And sound them how their humours are dispos'd And to my Daughter first Lords stand apart How sweetly doth my Girle become her rest How sound are her suspires Valentia Val. My Lord Man She answers me now art thou happy Mantua For thou shalt sound the utmost of her thoughts Whom doth my Daughter most affect on earth Val. I love none but my Father Man Oh mine own girle and wouldst thou not have a husband Val. I le live and dye a maid Man There 's no deceit in this there 's no dissembling Shee cannot study for evasive shifts I thanke heaven I am resolv'd now Dutchess Your turne is next I le try how she likes me What thinks the Dutchess of the Mantuan Duke Dutch As of a fine grave noble Gentleman Man Now she speakes her heart this is plaine dealing And couldst thou be content to marry him Dutch That 's my desire Man And live his noble Dutchess Dutch I wish no better Man Mine own Most sweetly may you sleep and nightly dreame Of these positions not for halfe my Dukedome Would I disturbe their quiet come let 's leave them Nay pardon me I le see the Chamber cleer'd Iul. Could I be possibly thus mock'd Man Nay Gentlemen I le be the Porter see I keep the keyes Of these two Jewels that I most esteeme Iulio beware hereafter you incur not Our wrath by these suggestions of untruths Come Lords to bed I counsell you the best Goodnight my girles and sweetly may you rest Ex. Dutch Are they gone wench Val. I and so gone that till they have slept soundly 't is not possible to fetch them againe Dutch Now Endymions fortune upon them that being once asleep they may not wake againe this forty yeares Val. Was it not well apprehended of me to say I lov'd none but my Father Dutch And was it not as well seconded of me to say in my sleep I lov'd none but the Duke Sure it must be in my sleep if ever I lov'd him for yet I could never endure him waking but what shall 's do Val. By my counsell let us even go to bed like loving bedfellows and see if we can dreame of them that in time may become our loving bedfellows Dutch With all my heart now the Duke is confident of our affections we may be the freer in the entertaining of those whom we best affect come come let 's leave talking of this counterfeit sleep and see if we can take a nap in sadnesse Val. content and let all men learne thus much from us that sleeping or waking 't is hard to o're-reach a woman Exeunt Enter Montecelso Mon. Yet all things go currant if the Ladies were as nimble in their excuse as we were quick in our passage through the private doore I hope neither the Duke nor any of his Court can any way trace us in our proceedings some Lovers would think me a most happy creature to enjoy the love of so beautiful a Lady and for ought I know I may be so but I have made a Vow never to marry a wife but first to make some perfect and sound triall of her affection towards me but because there is no woman that loves a man living but she will infinitely lament him dead it shall be thought that I have drown'd my selfe of which I will give the Court some assured instance and afterwards living
at hand Exit Florish Enter Mantua Prospero and Valentia Man How naked is our Traine that of our Courtiers So few attend this high solemnity Where 's Florence where 's Ferrara where 's Lord Iulio That have not seen us given away this Daughter I feare for so my eye perswades Had I not in these keyes such confidence And in the strength of my large edifice I should not doubt to sweare but these I le trust When servants faile keyes and stone-walls prove just Pro. Thrice worthy sir you have given me such a gift Should you impart you Dukedomes large revenew It could not equal't now your hand is past Which both your word and Church-rights have made fast Man 'T were best that I returne to see all safe And next enquire how my faire Dutchesse fares Pro. Feare not my Lord you have committed her To his protection that undoubtedly Will see to her recovery Man So we hope Pro. Restore her to her senses and true feeling Man We doubt it not Pro. And apt her thoughts for love Man That 's all we covet Pro. I have understood By those that know him so much hee 'l make good Man Then are we truly happy Enter Clowne Iulia Florence Ferrara Clo. Roome for one good Subject that brings three bad Subjects to answer Burglary before your Grace see here my Lord here are three fellows that have good faces and are asham'd to shew 'em they seeme to be sound men yet see if they do not strive to looke scurvily Man What men are these or how have they offended Why do they turne their heads thus and looke downwards Clo. As if they had stolne a pudding Pro. These faces I should know my Lord of Florence Ferrara's Marquesse and Lord Iulio Is this the cost you have so liberally Bestow'd to grace our feast my Bride and I Are much bound to you Man These the men perhaps they have some maske If so let 's see 't Flo. Compell me not to answer Fer. Give me leave To blush and be asham'd Iul. Hell take the Conjurer Man My Lords what meanes this antique if you have Some sport to shew us pray my Lords let 's have 't Iul. So so Pro. How well this sute becomes you troth my Lord Might I advise you I would still go thus Acquaint me with your Taylor Man Is this the newest fashion Iul. Would I were in the Indies Rather than here Man But tell me sirrah what meanes this shew Clo. Call you these Lords no they are Loones they looke more like Prentices than Princes these are they that have beleaguered your new Tower and digg'd a hole through the wall that an Oxe or an Asse blesse us as big as your selfe may creepe through there 's a doore made into your Daughters Tower where she was kept and the doore being left open she is flowne away Valantia is gone she is gone and these are they that had their hands in the businesse Man Valentia gone and by their practice lost Clo. By theirs when they were boring at the hole we took them at it with their tooles out we tooke them in the manner before they could put up and here we have brought them to answer before your Grace that you may freely punish their weaknesse that would offer to go to your walls Man These injuries severely wee 'l revenge But most on thee false Iulio for her losse Thy head shall pay Iul. Pox of the Conjurer I say still Man Speake where 's Valentia can you tell me All No Man Then for her losse your forfeit lives shall go Who can advise me best where I may find Her I most lov'd and hath prov'd most unkind Clo. Might I advise your Grace I would have you should do as Archers do that when they have lost an Arrow shoot another after it so my Lord if you have ever another Lady or Mistris about the Court shoot her after your Daughter that you may either find one or lose both Pro. Good Counsell Man To him that can reduce her to her Tower Or put me in possession of her hand What grace our Power or Dukedome can command Shall all be his Pro. I take you at your word see here my Lord Man This this is the Spanish Lady Val. She that spoke In Spanish once is forc'd to change her tongue Pardon deare Father Man Ha! am I then o're-reach'd is 't possible For all my Cost Charge Care and diligence A Wenches wit out-go me could her subtiltie Make way through that which not an Army could What should I say Clo. Those Creatures that weare smocks Will where they love pierce stone-wals creep through locks Why thus you see as well as we a great man may be gull'd Woodcocks are meat but not to eat untill that they be pull'd Ex. Iul. That private doore my Lord I now perceive Was made by him Flo. My Lord remember you The Ring you spied upon his finger once Then thinke upon the doore Fer. You made us tosse the rushes And seeke the Jewell did you Speake what art thou That thus hast gull'd the Duke Pro. I am a Prince And every way thy equall Man I would to heaven it were no worse Val. He is no lesse my Lord receive him then to grace Man Of Whence Pro. Verona Man Mine enemy Pro. Was 't not a friendly part To lodge your only child so neare my heart Val. My Lord remember he once sav'd your life And even for that deserves me for his wife Pro. Now as a friend a friendly League I crave Take not away what you so freely gave Man I will pause upon 't although it be past help And see what we may punish what forgive But now my only comfort is stor'd up In the faire Dutchesse if she gaine her health Ent. Dutch and Mont. And here she comes I cannot choose but feare So long as I behold you Ghost so neare Fer. That Conjurer Is a rare Artist that can raise a shadow So like unto the Substance Man Faire Dutchesse art thou recover'd speake Dutch Thanke heaven I am Man 'T is well done to have heaven still in thy thoughts Being so neare a feind come from that Devill Dutch Feare not my Lord I am so arm'd with faith And love withall he hath no power to hurt me Man Art thou well Dutch Yes my Lord I am well Man Come from him but art thou very well Dutch Very well my Lord I thanke you Man Perfectly well Dutch So well you cannot wish me better Man Come hither then Dutch I was of late but ill Then give me leave my Lord to keep my selfe Well while I am well Mon. That 's with me my Lord Man Can the Ghost speake too Man Speake and talke and walke Embrace and kisse Man I love no kissing Ghosts Flo. Beleeve me that Magician was a man Of rare experience and deserves great praise Fer. Did he not say before what he should do That Ghost doth act his part exceedingly Man I say come from him he 's a spirit Dutch I do not love to do any thing but with a spirit Man He came out of hot hell Dutch Hee 'l make the warmer bedfellow Mon. Further than you have been be not deceiv'd my Lord Man That 's far enough already Mon. I am the man I seem no Architector But Cosin to that noble Gentleman Prince Prospero of the Duke Verona's Court That for this Dutchesse love have thrust my selfe Into this imminent danger as the Prince Hath done the like for his Valentia You promis'd me if I could cure this Lady The next thing I demanded her I crave Whom if I truly merit let me have Man I have been gull'd on all sides nor will I Put up these injurious wrongs you both shall dye Ent. Iul. Iul. To arms to arms my Lord for I descry A potent Army marching before our walls And by their Colours flying they should be of Verona Man Be they from whence they will wee 'l parley them Admit their Generall to an interview Florish To know their cause of Arms Enter Verona Our Clinick turn'd a Souldier I Pro. Noble Father I crave your pardon Mon. I the like my Lord Ver. Stand on our party then whil'st I debate Our purpose with this Duke these Armes we levied With no intent of wrong to Mantua But to secure our Son and this his friend VVe do protest it is no worke of ours That he is married neither did we wish't But since by heaven and fate they are united We rather wish they may their Loves enjoy Than what heaven seems to applaud we should destroy Man To plead in Armes is best way to prevaile VVhere still the weak'st must yield since our own bloud Hath had an equall share in this our wrong Why should we envy strangers we will strive From the worlds eye to hide this ominous scarre Heaven offers peace why should we threaten war Each where they love joyne hands Pro. Our hearts Val. A sweet Conclusion Mon. And now Madam I le make you amends for mocking you Dutch Great men are sometimes gull'd but that 's not common You have done more for you have gull'd a woman Man Your Son Verona and his friend hath much Outstrip'd us by their wit but the best is We are not gull'd alone You see your greatnesse is no priviledge From those that have quick braines but now all friends Verona we embrace and thus attone All our dissentions Marriage shall conclude What Armes hath menac'd our united Dukedomes Since by this happy fate they are agreed Wee 'l strive which most in bounty shall exceed FINIS
Emb. With such scorne And proud contempt that with far greater spleene He threatned us than we could menace him Man No matter this late difference pleaseth us You have demean'd your selfe even to our wish Now leave us to our private meditations Exeunt Em. Come hither Sirra I repose in thee Much trust and much assured confidence I have brought thee up of a youth boy I have Clo. You have if it shall please your Grace Man Thy Father was a good old servitour I lov'd him well I did indeed I did Beleeve it for I did so Clo. I beleeve your Lordship without swearing Man Thou knowst my Daughter should have been affied Unto Verona's Son Prince Prospero I know thou knowst it Clow. I have had if it please your Grace such an inckling Man But a difference since Hath falne betwixt us nay in such a manner That by our Leagers we have threatned war And war is like to ensue to come to thee Clo. If it shall please your honour I le save you that labour and come to you Man Conceive me I will come to that concerns thee Thou knowst how deerly I affect my Daughter I and how deerely I affect my Gold Speake did I ever yet part with one peece To guerdon thee a signe I lov'd it well Clo. No never if it shall please your honour I le do you right in that you ever lov'd me too well to give me any thing I have ever heard you reported for as covetous and niggardly a noble Gentleman as ever bore sway here you are one of the most closse-fisted Carpenters that ever bare rule in Mantua Man To keep my Daughter that she marry not By which I like wise may reserve her dower I have devis'd this opposition 'T weene Valentia and Prince Prospero More Sutors are now resident in Court But to prevent them I le devise a Tower In which to shut my Daughter so impregnable And full of dores of which I le keep the keyes That she in vaine shall strive to issue out Or they to enter in this strong foundation Is laid already workmen are employ'd And all things promise prosperous successe In this employment thou shalt have a charge An overseers place because I know thee Simple but sure of faith wee i trust thy reach As far from craft as cunning truly honest Because not over wise Clo. I must entreate your Lordship I may have a paire of Chopeens or some high Cork'd shooes or else I shall never play the overseer well or if your Lordship will allow me but a Ladder I warrant you I will oversee your workmen Man No more there shall be order from our Treasury To furnish this rich building Enter Florence Ferrara Julio Valentia and Dutchesse Welcome Lords Fer. Our welcome would shew better If we could heare it from the Ladies Flo. They come well that speed well if we could find our selves well sped then we should not doubt to presume we were well-come Man Lord Julio are the toyles prepar'd and set for our appointed game Iul. They are my Lord Man Then Princes we devote this day to pastime And chasing of the Stag these beauteous Ladies That must this day take leave of liberty Shall in our sport associate us Valentia And you most beauteous and my dearest Love I here protest my selfe your Guardian Hoping to see you ere two months expire The Mantuan Dutchesse Dutch I hope no such matter but my Lord Am I your Deare as you proclaime me Man My dearest Deare Dutch Then being in the chase I shall feare in the hunting To come neare you Man Your reason Sweet Dutch Lest being your Deare you should strike me Man Still is this Lady crosse to my designes But time may worke her Daughter mount your Steed And Lords to horse the morning grows upon us And steales towards midst of day Val. We but attend Your Highnesse company Flo. Lady this day I will not start from your side Val. You 'l be worse to me than a stitch then Fer. Nor will I leave you Lady Dutch And yet you shall have free leave to leave me when you please Man We trifle houres found out your bugles sh And the thick aire with pleasing ecchoes fill Exeunt Iul. To ring thy knell for this day thou art doom'd To perish by the hand of Iulio Hornes The Mantuan Prince Is now upon the Chace I heare the cry But ere the stagg fall the proud Duke must dye Exit Enter Prospero and Montecelso Pros. Harke what a shrill applause doth welcome us Unto the Mantuan Confines Mon. It seemes the Duke or some of his traine Are in the Forrest chacing some game Nay it must needs be so of necessity they would not else make This noyse unlesse they were all horne-mad Pros. If I should come a wooing noble Coz I should presage the Musick of these hornes Might to my future match prove ominous But now let 's mixe our selves amidst the Traine And see what faire adventure may befall us Mon. Sever our selves it may be that sweet face Your Father prais'd may meet us in the Chace Pros. I like well this division come let 's part And let 's be henceforth strangers thus condition'd The first that can prefer himselfe or service Unto the Duke or gaine his soveraigne grace Shall for his friend provide some eminent place Mon. I am pleas'd my Lord then come let 's mount away The morning's old and we shall lose much day Exeunt Horns Enter Iulio with a Disguize Iul. With these Italian tricks villaines oft maske Their grim bloud-thirsty fronts and when they purpose To act some horrid murder if prevented Thus passe unknown these bought I of a Jew A fellow that professeth villaine I le dog the Duke whom if I can but single Or light on from his Traine but thus 't is done The Dukedome seiz'd and faire Valentia wonne Auspicious hell I thank thee thou art still True to black deeds and friend to such as kill Enter Mantua Man My horse hath fail'd me and I forc'd on foot To lag behind my Traine have left me all Led by the musick of so faire a Cry Ju. To find a place where thou maiest fitly dye Man Who named death to me Iul. One whose powerfull hand Shall guide thy Dukedome Daughter and thy Land And at one blow gaine all Enter Prospero Pro. And we so nigh The slave that threatned death himselfe shall dye Iul. Prevented Exit Pro. Courage my Lord the traiterous groome is fled And you ingirt with safety Man Noble stranger The life thou hast given me shall be ever thine And thanke the stars that brought thee to my rescue They ow'd thee a great fortune thou hast sav'd The Mantuan Duke from death Pro. Are you my Lord The noble Mantuan Prince what Traitours hand Durst threat your life Man I know not gentle sir But for your selfe thus much presume from me You shall be ever ours to none more deare By whom I am freed from
treason death and feare Enter Iulie Florende Ferrara Valentia Dutchesse and Montecelso Iul. This way my Lords I saw the Duke in perills An ugly slave his face much Vizard-like Assail'd the Duke and with his weapon drawn Fled through the Forest I pursu'd the Traitour Whilest I had breath but fears and guilt of conscience Gave his speed wings but see my Lord 's in safety Whose welfare I salute thus on my knee Glad in my soule that he from death is free Val. My Father threatned I blest be that faire hand That wrought his safety Man Thanke this Gentleman This noble youth 't is he by whom I live Never so neare my death never so neare it So mortall men are still when least they feare it Val. Oh do but tell me thrice renowned sir How I may shew me thankfull to your love Whose noble hand preserv'd my fathers life Pro. Madam your grace your favour and good thoughts Are gifts above my merit Flo. Stranger thou hast wonne the opinion and suffrage of the whole Court and bound the Prince of Florence to be thy gratefull debtor Fer. We made hast To the Dukes rescue but it was thy fate Our valours to prevent we came too late Dutch Yet did Lord Iulio with what speed he might haste us to this great danger Iul. 'T was my duty And service to my Lord whom thus to see Secur'd from death glads almost frantiques me Legs for my life I thanke and thou my braine For making up this broken flaw againe Man We thanke you Iulio chiefely you faire stranger Whom for your service we will raise in Court And breast next our most deare Valentia But she is for the Tower bar'd with twelve doores And this the last day of her liberty That 's our next businesse once more welcome sir Attend on us to Court our happy fate Hath given me safety and advanc'd thy state Exeunt Pro. Oh faire Valentia Mon. My Lord if you had been born lesse than a Prince yet you have wrought your selfe into grace Pro. Here set a period to our travels make a full point here Mon. And that my Lord is the full end of a sentence but shall we give over travell till we have seen something worth seeing Pro. Worth seeing sai'st thou what 's Valentia Travell from Pole to Pole stand at the Center And progresse round about the spatious signes Or were it possible sit with the Sun In his high noon-tide glory and from thence Survey the Kingdomes of this lower world Thou canst not find her match Apollo's haire Is dull to hers her fingers hand eye front Mon. Take me with you my Lord This marvellous thing you call her beauty is it ought but ordinary flesh and bloud Are those gold wiry haires with which Apollo might go string his Harpe are they ought but the plaine haires of her head Her Ivory palme that doth in touching melt embroidered with blew artires is it ought but a Ladies hand and fingers And this strange thing this wonder of the world whose peere cannot be found betweene the Poles are not all these nine wonders in one she that was here even now the Dukes Daughter Valentia Pro. Oh my deare Montecelso this I know But such an admiration hath surpriz'd The freedome of my senses that it robs me Of my true judgement Mon. Be advis'd by me you love this Lady but so strict is like to be her imprisonment that you may as easily pass by the gates that Cerberus keeps as through the doores of this Castle you are already in favour with the Duke do but preferre me to be overseer of the worke if I do not worke it so that I will bring you to oversee her turne me out of my office as one not worthy the name of an Architecture Pro. I shall commend thee for a man well skill'd a such great structures it may be the Duke May trust me on my word Mon. And if I do not make him dote as much on you for your valour as you make him enamour'd on me for my skill in building may this Tower turne to the Tower of Babel and make a second confusion betweene us there remaines for you nothing but this to winne the favour of the Lady and for your accesse to her if I do not teach you to counterfeit all the Dukes keyes turne by all the wards of his locks lay open all the Jurie of his twelve doores that he hath pannell'd against your entrance report me to be no man of my trade Away my Lord leave this melancholly walke by her window and cast sheeps eyes that way towards her Chamber let me alone to stand Centinell and watch if the Duke come Exeunt Enter Clowne a Smith a Mason a Bricklayer a Carpenter Clo. Come on my masters the Duke has appointed me to be Overseer of his workes the building of this Tower is put to my indiscretion therefore come every one of you and from me take your directions what are you Ma. I am a free Mason and expert in squaring stone Clo. A good proper square fellow if your trade be in stone I make no question but you will worke hard Ma. I warrant you sir I le do my endeavour will you give us directions Clo. First you must make a faire large post at the entrie Ma. I warrant you I le make a large porch that any Lady shall go in and out at pleasure Clo. To see how you mistake you must make it that no body can go in and out at pleasure but only my Ladie it must be too wide for any that 's lesse than shee and too strait for any that 's greater than she you conceive me Oh sir 't is not possible Clo. Tell not me of possible such directions I had and such an one I must have made Then must I have faire bay windows that must alwaies stand open and give no light that they that stand without and looke in may see no body within and she that stands within and looks out may see no body without the reason is my Lord meanes to keep his daughter in that Tower where she must neither see nor be seen Ma. Then none must offer to looke out from the inside nor in from the outside else 't is not within the compasse of workmanship Clo. Tell not me of workmanship such windows I must have made Now Carpenter for you you must make the doores of that fashion that women may go in but men may not and they must be of such wood as will not let a Lover come neare it for my Lord will have no Lovers come neare his Castle Car. Then you must have some body to keep them out here are wise directions Clo. For you goodman Padlock you must hammer out your Locks and Keyes with such Art that if the Duke or any from him offer to open the Key may turne at pleasure but if any Lover or suspitious person come to enter Nonsum non possum non Licet esse Domi Smi.
of all these doubts can you tell me how I shall bestow my selfe now I am banish'd Mon. I can I am a stranger in this City And I professe darke arts Physick and Negromancy And for a need can conjure but direct me Where I may lodge and freely use my Art I le entertaine thee and supply thy wants With all things needfull Clo. As bountifull as wise I am for you sir so you will teach me wit I have seen the Duke and his Court but never to my knowledge saw a wise-man afore you are the first of the name that ever I look'd on but if it be nothing but a Lodging you want trust to me I can furnish you with that at an houres warning Mon. Direct me to the place Clo. That I will sir as well as I can Be you the wise Master I le be the wise man Mon. Attend me then her choice love I have found I made the hurt and I can cure the wound Exeunt Enter Mantua Florence Ferrara and Iulio Man Her fits encrease then dayly Iul. They still grow Sometimes her eyes with salt teares over-flow She fills the house with Musique and then wrings Her Ivory hands she dolefully laments At once expressing thousand discontents Man Proclaime to him that can her frenzy cure The next thing he can aske Iul. I shall my Lord Flo. My Lord leave these discontents to some further leasure we are now at the strange Knights Lodging to give entertainment to the Spanish Lady Fer. True we are his invited guests and it is not fit that our grievances should any way appeare to a stranger Man You counsell well behold this is his Lodging And here 's the Knight himselfe Enter Prospero Pro. Welcome my Lord to a poore strangers Lodging My beautious Lady and my Love 's arriv'd Whose grace I first wonne in a Turnament Bearing the prize from many Knights of Spaine Please you to grace me at a solemne feast Which I prepar'd this day to welcome her You shall do much honour Man Knight I will And for thy sake respect her to her worth How dost thou like thy Lodging built so neare This Castle where Valentia lies inclos'd Pro. My Lord 't is well for prospect and for aire Wil 't please you enter Lords where be my servants Ex. Hoboys A Banquet Enter Mantua Florence Ferrara Iulio Prospero Man Is this the place Pro. It is my Lord but I must crave your pardon We want that order and that entertainment That observation and decorum now That longs to your estate and soveraignty Yet our good thoughts above our power are large And full of zeale Man Come th' art at too much charge Pro. May it please your Highnesse to possesse your seat Homely your Viands but your welcome 's great Flo. But where 's the Lady She should be Mistris of the feast to day Enter Valentia like a Spanish Lady Fer. She is not far see yonder where she comes Man My Daughter Flo. 'T is Valentia Iul. Sure 't is Valentia in this strange disguise Or can you once againe deceive my eyes Man My Daughter on my life her eye her brow Her every part ha are my eyes my own Here hang my keyes the doores fast barr'd and lock'd Nor is she subtile spirit compos'd aire To creep though key-holes or to crawle through chinkes Tush tush one Lady may be like another And my suspect is causelesse Pro. Let me entreat you To take your seat My Ladie 's but a stranger And unacquainted with th' Italian guise Iul. Observe her well my Lords Flo. She hath her blush Fer. Her lip her front Iu. The right trick of her eye Man But is it she is 't possible the Knight Would be so bold she so audacious It cannot be come now I take my place Pro. In this your Highnesse doth your servant grace Val. Echa nos de bener dies benediga toda la Compania seias bien venido Man What saies the Lady Pro. She cals for wine and bids you welcome all Man The very touch and accent of her tongue Val. Signeur yo bono an de buen coracon Man Her meaning Pro. She drinks to you with a good heart Man Tell her I pledge gladly Iul. Doubtlesse 't is she can it be otherwise Flo. Why spend we time in cups and banquets here When faire Valentia must be needs transform'd Unto this stranger-Lady Fer. Still the more That I observe her I am more confirm'd Iul. 'T is she some devill or witch else Man When face and tongue and each thing proves her mine Why should I doubt to challenge her I le suddenly Call on her name and if she answer to 't Dobtlesse 't is she Valentia no Pro. What meanes your Lordship Man Nothing nay nothing see the very Ring Upon her finger I can sit no longer My Lords I must entreat your patience I have dropt a Jewell as I came along And must find it or it will go wrong Iul. A Jewell lost Flo. Let 's help his Grace to seek it Pro. Pray do my Lords Fer. Some Torches there Pro. Lights for the Lords 't was dropt sure by the way Help him to seeke it Iul. Look well there in the Rushes Exeunt Pro. Haste through the private doore off with that habit If this passe currant we are past all feare Your Father 's gone in post why do you stay Val. I have the odds for mine 's the nearer way Farewell sweet Prospero Exit Pro. Seek till your eyes be blind You shall lose her though you the Jewell find How Fortune smiles upon our cunning shifts They are busie all at worke the Duke himselfe Is like a Jaylor gingling of his keyes Which serves her as a watch-word to uncase If now our plot prove there depends on this All our succeeding hopes and future blisse Ent. Val above Valentia Valentia Val. Here my Lord Pro. What at your book already Val. Yes sir to pray After these tempests for a calmer day Pro. The Duke 's at hand and seeking how to crosse Our loves hath all his Lords left at a losse Enter Man Man Body of me she 's here foole that I am Her loyalty to mistrust or his good thoughts She being chaste he honest how now Lady What at your booke so close Val. Books are Companions To them who are compell'd to single lives Man Thou art ranke 'mongst Virgins Val. Virgins would be wives Why come you sir Man Only my girle to see How well thou farest thou one day shalt be free Fare well in this my jealousie appeares And this one feare begets a thousand feares Exit Val. Not without cause good Father knew you all But I must down the next way through the wall Exit Enter Prospero Pro. By this she 's comming be thou first faire love Or else our stratagem is quite o'rthrown But if 't take place Valentia is mine own How will the Duke look when he finds her here And in his heart condemne his needlesse feare He
THE CUNNING LOVERS A COMEDY As it was Acted with great Applause by their Majesties Servants at the private House in Drury Lane VVritten by ALEXANDER BROME Gent. LONDON Printed for Will Sheares at the Bible in S. Pauls Churchyard neare the little North doore 1654 The Names of the Actors VErona the Duke of Verona Prospero the Prince his Son Montecelso a Peere of Verona Embassadours from the Mantuan Duke Cosmo a Lord of Verona Mantua the Duke of Mantua Clowne Florence the Duke of Florence Ferrara a Marqueste Julio a Mantuan Lord Valentia Daughter to the Mantuan Duke Dutchesse A Smith A Mason A Bricklayer A Carpenter Pilgrim A Negromancer A Spanish Lady Bishop Duke of Verona's Army THE Cunning Lovers ACT I. SCENE I. Enter Verona Prospero Montescelso Cosmo Ver. MAturity and age have now at length imposed on me a carefull providence Both for my Dukedoms safety the good Of our most hopefull Son Prince Prospero Pros. My Lord Ver. You grow to ripenesse and my thoughts are fix'd To have you troth-plight to some noble wife That in my aged yeares I may have comfort In your faire issue I would have you marry Pros. Marry my Lord Ver. I marry Prospero I have labour'd with a neighbour Prince possest Of a faire Daughter to confirme a match 'Twixt thee and her and 't is concluded firmly Her name Valentia she his only child By which a setled League grows 'twixt our Dukedomes And thou by this art the true hopefull Heire Of both out rich and wealthy Provinces Your answer Pros. I am free my Lord as th' uncurb'd aire That comes not within limit as the light That nothing can imprison Shall I truly Speake my own thoughts and not dissemble with you I that am free 'mongst men and uncaptiv'd To any save the duty bound to you Am loath to make my selfe a womans slave Briefely my Lord I have no mind to marry Ver. Not marry boy Oh knew'st thou what a sweetnesse And harmonie 's in loves blest fellowship Thou wouldst embrace it gladly this blest union This true-loves knot the Gods themselves do tye And none but death dissolves And what 's Virginity A something-nothing singularity Unsociable so slightly reckon'd of That either Sex but to thy number grown Has a desire to leave it be perswaded boy Thou hast beheld the Picture and it promises A perfect Lady hadst thou seen the substance Thou wouldst condemne the workman for so scanting Her rare comparelesse beauty Marriage Why 't is an honour Emperours Kings and Princes From the Pallace to the Cottage held it sacred And in a high religious reverence Pros. Well my Lord I will be steer'd by you Even through the turbulent Ocean of this life Where many dreadfull tempests threaten us I shall be swai'd by you and entertaine This sweet captivity Ver. Then art thou wise the news Flourish Mon. Embassadours from Mantua crave admittance Touching affaires of state Ver. Admit 'em Enter Embassadours Lords your arrivall is in happy season The marriage so long treated 'tween the Fathers Shall by the Children be confirmed at length 'T is now on foot Em. Your grace mistakes the tenour And the strange purpose our Embasie The Prince our Master le ts know by us That your alliance highly he disdaines Contemnes your love and neere affinity And for just reasons to himselfe best known Desires your opposition for the marriage Treated between you esteemes his Daughter Much undervalued and not rated truly To her best worth Ver. Pause Lord Embassadour So high hath thy words incens'd our spleene And set so just an edge upon our wrath That we want patience to bestow an care Unto thy harsh conclusion Tell thy Lord We did not so much over-prize his love As here his hate held in the basest scorne Nor can he so much undervalue us As we his Contracts and Confederacy And for thy self-presumptuous Mantuan Lord We favour thee to let thee undisgrac'd Depart our Court be gone without reply Not Mantuans but Mantua we defie Emb. Let me conclude my Message Ver. Convey him hence Disdaine our fellowship Mantua shall know His state shall lessen whilst our glories grow Pros. I but my Lord I hope the match is not broke off Betweene me and the faire Valentia Ver. Oh boy didst thou but know what marriage were How full of troubles and contentions Thou wouldst forgo it gladly who that 's free Would be confin'd to base Effeminacy Pro. But that which hath made in me the deepest impression Is the rare Picture of the Lady Valentia Ver. The Painter flattered her in having her Thou hast a painted Mistris of her selfe The Lady is mishapen and deformed Pros. Nay take me with you my Lord I have beheld her Picture and it promises A perfect Lady had I seen the substance I should condemne the workman for so scanting Her rare comparelesse beauty these were your own words My Lord or I much misunderstood them Mon. They were indeed my Lord I am witnesse to them Pro. Well since your Grace has no purpose to have me marry Shall I have your best furtherance to travell Ver. Yes any thing to weare out the remembrance Of Mantuas Daughter Mont. Another boone my Lord Ver. What 's that Coz Mont. That I may be his Partner in his travell his associate To beare him company nothing else my Lord Ver. Have your desires Pros. I embrace your fellowship I le travell but whither to have a sight of the faire Valentia There shall be the period of my Voyage What though her Father and mine be opposites she and I May happily agree well enough when we meet together Mont. My Lord what limit shall we have to play the wandring Knights in Or how long shall it be ere we set forward on our Journey We were best go well provided for we must see Spaine France and England ere we returne Ver. Some ten daies hence you shall set forward Your stay hath a yeares limit Pros. Then come faire Coz we must provide our selves Her Picture 's lovely and it much contents And I must see the face that it presents Exeunt Ver. Your youths cannot outstrip my gravity I have you boyes and aime at your intents This cunning suit for travell is a colour To some close practice to deceive my age But I shall wind them both Cosmo Cos. My Lord Ver. The mannage of our State we leave to thee Whom we know wise and gravely provident Our purpose is to chase these travellers Whose voyage we mistrust Coz. 'T is dangerous Unto your noble person full of hazard And doubtfull perill Ver. I am confident Disswade me not for my intent is fixt In some suspectlesse shape I le after them And sound the inmost of their thoughts yet passe unknown Cosmo regard your charge whilst I provide Flourish To find that craft they with such cunning hide Exeunt Enter Mantua Embassadours and Clowne Man You have breath'd defiance then Emb. I have my Lord Man And how did he receive it