Lordship Al. Very well one two three you can't hurt me for all that Cl. What thinks your Lordship of this Wedding Alp. They have given him a hot Custard and mean to burn his mouth with it Men. Pray my Lord what News these Wars have made us Strangers to the Court. Alp. You may be honest and grow old as I am and blow your fingers ends Men. My Lord that 's no News Alp. You may be Knaves then when you please stark Knaves and build fair Houses but your Heirs shall have none of ' em Men. These are undoubted Al. Truth is not worth the hearing I 'll tell you News then there was a drunken Sailer that got a Mermaid with Child as she went a milking and now she sues him in the Bawdy Court for it the Infant Monster is brought up in Fish street Cl. Ay this is something Al. I 'll tell you more because y' are Soldiers there was a Fish taken a monstrous Fish with a Sword by his side a long Sword a Pike in his Neck and a Gun in his Nose and Letters of Mart in his Mouth from the Duke of Florence Men. With submission my Lord this sounds something odly Al. I do confess it do you think I wou'd tell you truths that dare not hear 'em You are honest things we Courtiers scorn to converse with Men. He 'll grow mad anon and beat us let us to the Masque Exeunt Al. Can there be any nature so unnoble Or anger so inhumane to pursue this Yes he that cou'd not hear the voice of nature That call'd aloud when by his barbarous hands A Father fell will have his Ears seal'd up In the commission of a meaner Act Enter Pedro Pisano and Petruchio Ped. Marry'd yes when I mean to be hang'd 't is the surer Contract Al. Was not the Monster ripe for Hell already He shou'd live something longer to compleat This last design and make his damning sure Ped. Why don't we about it then What do we stand preaching for You my Lords may have your quirks and quiddles your times and occasions but I know no more than a Word and a Blow let us first cut his throat and talk on 't afterwards Al. Nay we 'll do more than talk the fatal thread Which held the Sword of Justice o're his head H' has cut himself to make destruction sure The evening of his Reign draws on apace But if we don 't with timely care prevent him He 'll mark his way with ruine as he falls And like a fiery Meteor set in blood Ped. Why so it be his own 't is no matter Why are we not in arms and the whole City given to know Al. Discreetly and privately it must be done 't will miss else and prove our ruines when you all hear the Castle Bell take courage and stand like Men mean time be near his person to avoid suspicion I must into the presence my Mother's fears will work else Exit cum Pisano and Petruchio Scene draws and discovers the Court seated for the Masque that ended the King speaks Fr. Come to the Banquet Sir when that 's ended I 'll see you in your Bed and then good night Be merry you have a sweet Bedfellow Val. I thank your Grace and ever shall be bound unto your Nobleness Fr. I pray I may deserve that thanks set forward Exeunt Omneâ— ACT III. SCENE I. Sorano Solus Sor. TO love and be with Scorn and Pride rejected To see another revel in those Joys Those sweet Delights I now must never hope for Love at the best tho crown'd with soft compliance Is but a sickly transport of the mind A weakness wise men ever were asham'd of Then when 't is hopeless what brave Soul can bear it Yet still I love and loving must enjoy I feel that Fire I once hop'd quite extinct Dilate it self with a redoubled fury The King and this Valerio stand betwixt Me and my hopes therefore both shall dye Him I 'll make odious for Valerio's death And mad Alphonso's what 's the consequence The people mischief-ripe rais'd by my power Shall kill the Tyrant and at once make way For Love and my Ambition Here comes one Ripe for the combat and those fancy'd joys Which like a shadow still shall fly before him Enter Val. Val. They drink abundantly I 'm hot with Wine too Lustily warm I 'll steal now to my happiness 'T is midnight and the silent hours invite me The Dew of Wine and Sleep hang on their Eye-lids Steep their dull senses in the healths they drink That I may quickly find my lov'd Evanthe Sor. How brisk he is but I shall quickly cool him Make him wish he were dead on 's Marriage night Or bedrid with old age Val. Is not the end of our ambitions Of all our humane studies Obtaining of our wishes Certain it is and there man makes his center I have my wish what 's left me to accuse now I 'm friends with all the world but thy base malice To Sor. Go glory in thy mischiefs thou proud man And cry it to the world thou hast ruin'd vertue Sor. You 'll sing me a new Song anon Valerio And wish these hot words Val. I despise thee fellow Thy threats or flatteries all I fling behind me I have obtain'd Evanthe I have marry'd her And Fate shall not with-hold me from enjoying her Sor. 'T is very likely Val. And that short time I have to bless me with her I 'll make an age I 'll reckon each embrace A year of pleasure and each night a jubilee Ev'ry quick kiss a spring and when I mean To lose my self in all delightfulness Twenty sweet Summers I will tye together I will dye old in love tho young in pleasure Sor. But that I hate thee deadly I could pity thee Thou art the poorest miserable thing This day on earth I 'll tell thee why Valerio All thou esteemest and build'st upon for happiness For joy for pleasure for delight is past thee And like a wanton dream already vanish Val. Is my Love false Sor. No she is constant to thee Constant to all thy misery she shall be And curse thee too Val. Is my strong body weaken'd Charm'd or abus'd with subtle drink Sor. Neither I dare speak thee still as lusty As when thou lov'dst her first as strong and hopeful The month th' hast given thee is a month of misery And where thou think'st each hour shall yeild a pleasure Look for a killing pain for thou shalt find it Before thou diest each minute shall prepare it And ring so many Knells to sad afflictions Val. Undo thy Riddle I am prepar'd whatever fate shall follow Sor. Dost thou see this Ring Val. Yes and know it too 't is the King's Sor. Then mark me by vertue of this Ring this I pronounce thee 'T is the King's will Val. Let me know it suddenly Sor. If thou dost offer to touch Evanthe's body Beyond a kiss tho thou art marry'd to her And
mistrust thee Then when his Slaves in their repeated Io's Their l ud applauses raise him to the Skies And place another's Laurels on his brows Then then to clip the Wings of this proud Falcon When he soars highest and sink him down to Hell Will be added to mount us up to Heav'n Pis But Heav'n is sooner scal'd than this perform'd I mean this way for sure my honour'd Lord Has not forgot the custom of his Naples On the return of her Victorious Sons Who have with foreign Nations fought her battles None are t' appear in Arms the day of Triumph Throughout the City or the Court but those The General shall appoint to show That he who fought so well abroad deserves To rule at home Shall we then to trust our fortunes To the success of such a rash attempt Suppose us arm'd yet how can we prevail ' Gainst such a multitude that will oppose us Alp. No matter we are now by much too forward To talk of going back it will not be Surely fate interposes and unravels What our best care has been so long designing Must then my Soul be still lock'd up in Prison Furl'd up in darkness and the Womb of Night Ne're to walk forth again in her own Majesty Why have I reason and yet dare not use it A Soul for Empire born yet live a Slave I 'le do 't my self methinks I do behold My Royal Father and my murder'd Brother From yon' blue orb inciting me to action Now their pale Ghosts all trembling full of horror Just as they fell bloated with rankest poison In pitious action urge me to revenge Rest rest in the cold beds of silent death 'Till loud revenge shall raise you to behold And wonder at my Justice then in a peal of Thunder Let conscious Heav'n applaud my ministring hand Pis My Lord the day succeeding this o' th' Triumph It being that on which he first was Crown'd The Tyrant dedicates to ease and pleasure What hinders but we then compleat his ruine The Gates lye open to receive all Strangers That come to grace his Pride and praise his Fortunes Alp. O my best Friend had I the World to give It shou'd be thine for such another thought To do it then will look as if high Heaven Had still presided o're our pious Counsels And th' hand of fate had led us to his ruine Hast my Petruchio tell old honest Pedro The Gods are met in Council to determine And bless our high resolves the Circle of his Reign Begins to be compleat the Sun that gave His Empire birth must light him to his Grave Exeunt ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Frederick and Sorano Fred. COME to my Arms my Father Brother Friend To thee thy Frederick owes his Life and Crown And what he values more than both his Love To thee he owes Evanthe his Evanthe Shall she be mine Shall the kind tender fair one Soften the troubles of ill purchas'd power And Usurpation Shall the Charms of Love Silence the clamours of a guilty Conscience Sor. She shall be yours she is already so Sorano is the Slave of your desires Ready to fling his Soul upon your Service Nay more his Love for know I love her too My active Father when he first inform'd My Mother what a Woman was ne're knew Desires like mine but yet she shall be yours I that have made you great will make you happy Fr. Friend Father Brother are too feeble names T' express my Love I 'le call thee my Sorano How has my Youth been hitherto misled Restless ambition and the thirst of Empire Hung like an Ague on my active Spirits Till beauty came to thaw the restiff Mass New fram'd my Soul and taught me how to love Sor. Love then and give a loose to your desires Let your Soul revel in those Charms that drew Great Jove himself from his Coelestial Throne To taste on Earth Joys he ne're knew in Heaven Fred. Yes I will Love but I 'le Love like a King Not quit my Majesty to be a Slave Whine out an Amorous tale and dully ask On my Knees ask for what I can Command In Thunder I 'le embrace this Semele Sor. First try by gentle means to win her Love If those fall short then force her to your Arms I 've sent my Man unto her Upon some private business to come presently Hither she 'll come Your Grace dare speak unto her Large golden promises and sweet Language Sir You know what they work she 's a compleat Courtier Enter Servant Ser. My Lord your Servant waits Sor. Bid him come in and bring the Lady with him She 's coming in Sir Ev. Whither dost thou go This is the King's side and his private Lodgings I have no private business through his Chambers To seek him this way O my life I find it Thou art Drunk or worse hired to convey me hither For some base end The King here and Sorano I find I 'm trap't now gentle Love inspire me And Honour help in this unequal Combat Sor. Nay shrink not back the good King will not hurt you He Honours you and Loves you Ev. My Lord you once did Love and Honour me So you have told me oft and I believ'd it Sor. I do so still my labours to advance you Proclaim aloud how much I honour you Fred. Gentle Evanthe Ev. The gentle Queen is well I hear and now returning home Fr. I talk not of the Queen I talk of thee sweet Flower Ev. Your Grace is pleasant to mistake a Nettle for a Rose Fr. No Rose nor Lilly nor no glorious Hyacinth Are of that Whiteness Sweetness Tenderness Softness and satisfying blessedness As my Evanthe Ev. Your Grace speaks very seelingly I would not be a handsome Wench in your way For a new Gown Fr. Thou art all handsomness Nature will be asham'd to frame another Now thou art made th' hast robb'd her of her cunning But Love Evanthe Ev. Good your Grace be patient I shall make the worst honourable Wench Shame your Discretion and your Choice Fr. Thou shalt not Ev. Shall I be Rich do you say and Glorious Fr. Thou shalt be any thing Ev. Let me be honest too and then I 'll thank you Have you not such a Title to bestow too If I prove otherwise I would know but this Can all the power you have or all the Riches But tye Men's Tongues up from discoursing of me Their Eyes from gazing at my glorious folly Time that shall come from wondring at my impudence And they that read my wanton life from Curses Fr. Stay Evanthe I 'll Marry thee Ev. What shall the Queen do then Fr. I 'll be Divorc'd from her Ev. Can you tell why What has she done against you Has she contriv'd a Treason ' gainst your Person Abus'd your bed do's disobedience urge you Fr. 'T is all one 't is my will Ev. 'T is a most wicked one A most absurd one and will show a Monster I had rather be a
Whore and with less sin To your present Lust than Queen to your injustice I 'll tell your Grace so Dear I hold the Queen I 'd first take me for my Love a Moor One of your Gally-Slaves that cold and hunger Decripit misery had made a mock Man Than be your Queen Fr. You are bravely resolute Ev. I had rather be a Leper and be shunn'd And dye by pieces rot into my Grave And leave no memory behind to know me Than be a high Whore to eternity Fr. Now my Sorano where 's that Resolution On which I fondly thought to build my Love Behold that frown each look each word she speaks At once inflame and check my strong desires I 'm like a wretched Slave half starv'd to Death That has within his view a goodly Feast Yet dares not with one Morsel save his Life Sor. I know not what to think some other gamester Holds her in play she durst not slight you else Fr. I 'll find him out tho' he lye next her heart Too cruel Maid will nothing win your Love Brought you those Excellencies to the World To lock 'em in a Case or hang 'em by you The use is all Nature bestow'd 'em sor Ev. But how to use 'em right will be the hazard What 's Beauty with a lame decripit Soul Honour and Riches with a guilty Conscience A poor unhappy Orphan this Lord found me When I had nothing I could call my own But a variety of misery And with a tender hand reliev'd my wants Preserr'd me to your Noble Ladies Service Now my most Gracious Queen where I have learn't And daily fed upon her vertuous precepts Still growing strong by example of her goodness And shall I now dare once but think to wrong her To violate the chast Joys of her Bed Then farewel Vertue and all truth in Woman You may find time out in Eternity Deceit and Violence in heavenly Justice Life in the Grave and Death among the blessed Sooner than tempt me to your vain illusions Exit Fr. She 's gone and flew like swiftest Lightning from me But left a sting behind her as she went Shall I that broke all bars that cou'd oppose me In my pursuit of large imperial power And in a Purple torrent swam to Empire Bear any opposition in my Love I must Sorano Frederick must enjoy her Tho' she turns fury in my circling Arms And breaths forth in her Kisses swift destruction Sor. Strive for the present to compose your self And with fair Signs of Love receive Valerio Tho' you have mark't him down for death smile on him Fr. Yes my Sorano the proud Slave must dye For I remember in my Father's time Who bred him with his Sons one Table sed One Tutor taught and one Purse still supply'd us How he in scorn would laugh at my slow progress â—…th ' Exercises he grew Master of Outrivalling my best performances For which I then did envy and still hate him Besides he grows too popular and looks With a suspicious Eye upon my greatness Sor. Think him my Lord and curst Alphonso nothing Whom tho distracted still the People love Death waits my pleasure and stands ready for ' em Enter Alphonso with Priuli and 2 or 3 Courtiers more Alph. You say true my Lord Jason was the man but what are the times to us they 'll burst and stink when once they are swoln with Surfeits stink so abominably that all the world shall smell ' em Pr. What saith my Lord Alph. I say 't is possible for poor men to offend and great forgive but it must not be in the Dog-days Was you ever in Love 1. Cour. Yes my good Lord. Alph. If you have a strong faith then you may be saved but you must first learn to ravish twenty or thirty coy Wenches in a morning tho here they are so willing 't is a complement for Sir you may be a Bawd and yet counted an honest man Fr. How do you Brother Alph. Well I thank you sound in body and in my right wits tho some hold there 's a great difference between a high born Princess and a Cow-keepers Daughter but of this you may consult your Council Fr. Trust me it makes me weep to see you thus Al. I would bear you Company but the world goes on so merrily I can't find in my heart ha ha ha Do you see that old Lord there he lost his wits for want of preferment but bush you 'll tell the King Your pardon my Lord I did not see you Sor. My Lord Alphonso Alph. Wipe your mouth before you speak my Lord you 'll spoil your Speech else A warlike Shout within The Scene draws and discovers a Royal Throne on which the King places himself then Valerio enters in a Triumphal wanner being ushered in with a Song Fr. Rise to my arms Valerio And as a just Reward of all thy Labours Accept my Love and to confirm that Love Ask what thou wilt thou shalt not ask in vain Instruct thy King teach him what he must do To show how much be loves such early vertue Val. Low on my Knees I thank my royal Master And may I be most infamously wretched When I forget my Duty to my King Thus then encourag'd I dare boldly ask Not as a just Reward to crown my labours For know Sir 't is a gift above all merit Were I as great as ever Caesar was Like Pompey just or Alexander valiant Were all th' exalted Vertues of mankind Blended together to inform one Soul Were that Soul plac'd in a majestick body Blest with an everlasting youth and beauty Yet would Evanthe far exceed that wonder And her your Soldier asks for on his knees Joyn you our hands my Lord as Love has joyn'd our hearts Fr. Ha my Sorano dost thou hear the Traitor Val. Evanthe sent Valerio to the field For her I suffer'd all the toils of War Summer Fateigues and tedious Winter Colds Evanthe led the Soldier forth to fight Evanthe gave the word of battle fought Conquer'd and here she comes to crown my Triumph Enter Evanthe Evan. And here she comes to die within these Arms If Fate has not ordain'd she should live there Val. Live and breed wonders for succeeding ages Be like a never emptied spring of joys Sweeter than life lovely as spotless honour Here let me press thee in the arms of Love Close to my breast to which thou art far dearer Than my own heart that sallies forth to meet thee Evan. VVhat shall I say to answer all thy kindness I love like thee but have no time to talk But fly to view the mansion of my bliss Where my blest ears so often have been fed VVith the soft notes of kind indulgent love My busy eyes in haste survey thee round For fear I should be torn for ever from thee Before they have renew'd their old acquaintance Val. For fear thou should'st be torn for ever from me Life cannot part and Death shall ne're divide
blown up my Honour But I shall countermine and catch your mischief Victorious Thomyris ne'er won more honour In cutting off the Royal Head of Cyrus Than I shall do in conquering thee farewell And if thou canst be wise learn to be good too 'T will give thee nobler light than both thy eyes do My poor Lord and my self are bound to suffer And when I see him faint under your sentence I 'll tell you more it may be than I 'll yield to Fr. Yielding or not I 've sworn she shall be mine Tho I shou'd wade through Seas of blood to meet her Enter Val. Val. He 's here and by himself what hinders me But that I now make sure a noble vengeance The People do expect the Soldiers wish it All Naples hang on me their expectations As if it was a debt I ow'd my Country But still he is my Soveraign and that thought Pulls back my Sword and turns the edge against me Fr. Now my young marry'd Lord how do you feel your self You have the happiness you ever aim'd at The joy and pleasure You tumble in delights with your sweet Lady And draw the Minutes out in dear imbraces Val. Wou'd you had try'd it Sir that you might know The vertue but to suffer Your anger tho' it be unjust and insolent Sits handsomer upon you than your scorn To do a willfull ill and glory in it Is to do it double and doubly to be damn'd Fr. You clearly see now brave Valerio What 't is to be a rival to a Prince To interpose agianst a raging Lyon Val. You are grown a Tyrant Upon so suffering and so still a Subject That if your youth were honest it wou'd blush at But y' are a shame to nature as to vertue Pull not my rage upon ye 't is so Just It will give way to no respect Fr. I know y 'ave suffer'd infinitely suffer'd And with a kind of pity I behold ye And if you dare be worthy of my mercy I can yet heal you Val. I fall thus low Sir And my poor heart under your feet I lay And all the service of my life Fr. I o this then Part with her for a while Val. You have parted us What shall I do with that I cannot use Sir Fr. 'T is well consider'd let me have the Lady And thou shalt see how nobly I 'll befriend thee Val. Will she come do you think Fr. She must be wrought I know she is too modest And that with Art Val. But who shall work her Sir For on my conscience she is very honest And will be hard to cut as a rough Diamond Fr. Why you must work her any thing from your Tongue Set off with Golden and perswasive language Urging your dangers too Val. But all this while Have you the Conscience Sir to leave me nothing Nothing to play withall Fr. There are ten thousand take where thou wilt Val. May I be bold with your Queen She 's useless to your Grace as it appears Sir And but a Loyal Wife that may be lost too I have a mind to her and then 't is equal Fr. How Sir Val. 'T is so Sir thou most glorious impudence Have I not wrongs enow to suffer under But thou must pick me out to make a Monster A hated wonder to the World do you start At my intrenching on your private liberty And wou'd you force a high way through my honour And make me pave it too but that thy Queen Is of that excellent honesty And guarded with Divinity about her I wou'd so right my self Fr. Why take her to you I am not vext at this thou shalt enjoy her I 'll be thy Friend if that will win thy curtesie Val. I will not be your Bawd tho' for your Kingdom Was I brought up and nourish'd in the Court With thy most Royal Brothers and thy self And suck't the sweetness of all humane Arts Learn'd arms and honour to become a villain Was this the expectation of my youth My growth and glory Do you speak this truly Or do you try me Sir for I believe not At least I wou'd not and methinks 't is impossible There shou'd be such a Devil in a King's shape Such a malignant Fiend Fr. You 'll find me worse if you persist thus rashly The next time you hear from me it must be In rougher terms and so I take my leave Exit Val. Am I a Man and feel loves fire within me Youth and desire engaging me to taste Those sweet delights the law has given me Have I within my reach that precious treasure To purchase which I have sacrific'd my life Withall my youthful hopes and shall I not Because a Tyrants power interposes Dare once to touch that dear bought happiness Enter Evanthe Come my Evanthe fly into my Arms Let thy warm sighs dissolve that lump of sorrow That heavy load that hangs upon my soul Ev. Not all my sighs nor the sincerest love That e're was paid by an unhappy Maid Can purge thy soul of its ingratitude Val. Ha! Ev. Canst thou look up to the peoples love That call thee worthy and not blush Valerio Can'st thou behold me whom thou hast betray'd Yet know no shame Val. What means my best Evanthe Ev. To save thy life and for so short a time It do's betray so base a Cowardice That makes ev'n me a Woman blush to think on 't Had twenty thousand deaths attended me I wou'd have met 'em all and di'd upon the pleasure Val. I 'am all amazement Ev. To let a lye work like a spell upon ye A lye to save your life the King himself Tho he be wicked and our Enemy But juster than thou art in pity of me Told me this truth Val. What did he tell you Ev. That but to gain thy life for a few days Thy lov'd poor life thou gavest up all my duties Val. I swear 't is false my life and death are equal But Kings are men and live and die as men do Have the affections men have and their falshoods Indeed they have more power to make 'em good It was to save thy life thy innocent life That I forbore thy bed Ev. And was not I as worthy to die nobly To make a story for the times that follow As he that married me do you think I chose you Only for pleasure or content in Love To lull you in my arms and kiss you hourly Val. I do not think so Ev. I might have been a Queen Sir If that had caught me and have known all delicates There 's few that wou'd have shun'd so fair an offer O thou unfaithful fearful man thou hast kill'd me In saving me this way thou hast destroy'd me Val. I honour you by all the rites of marriage And pleasures of chast love I wonder at you You appear the vision of a heaven unto me Stuck all with stars of honour shining clearly Why don't you chide me you have so brave an anger And thus deliver'd flows