deeds being onely knowne to you And in surrendring up my daughter buried You not alone make me your slave for I At no part doe deserve the name of friend But in your owne brest raise a monument Of pitty to a wretch on whom with justice You may expresse all cruelty Mont. You much move me Mal. O that I could but hope it to revenge An injurie is proper to the wishes Of feeble women that want strength to act it But to have power to punish and yet pardon Peculiar to Princes see these knees That have beene ever stiffe to bend to heaven To you are supple Is there ought beyond this That may speake my submission or can pride Though I well know it is a stranger to you Desire a feast of more humility To kill her growing appetite Mont. I requir'd not To be sought to this poore way yet t is so far A kind of satisfaction that I will Dispence a little with those serious oaths You made me take your daughter shall come to you I will not say as you deliverd her But as she is you may dispose of her As you shall thinke most requisite Exit Montrevile Mal. His last words are niddles to me Here the lyons force Would have prov'd uselesse and against my nature Compeld me from the Crocodile to borrow Her counterfeit teares ther 〈…〉 May I but quench these fires that rage 〈…〉 And fall what can fall I am arm'd to beare is 2 Sould You must be packing Theo. Hath he rob'd me of Mine honour and denies me now a roome To hide my shame 2 Sould. My Lord the Admirall Attends your Ladiship 1 Sould. Close the port and leave em Exeunt souldiers Mal. Ha! who is this how alter'd how deform'd It cannot be And yet this creature has A kinde of a resemblance to my daughter My Theocrine but as different From that she was as bodies dead are in Their best perfections from what they were When they had life and motion Theo. T is most true fir I am dead indeed to all but misery O come not neere me sir I am infectious To looke on me at distance is as dangerous As from a pinacles cloud-kissing spire With giddy eyes to view the steepe descent But to acknowledge me a certaine ruine O sir Mal. Speake Theocrine force me not To farther question my feares already Have chok'd my vitall spirits Theo. Pray you turne away Your face and heare me and with my last breath Give me leave to accuse you What offence From my first infancie did I commit That for a punishment you should give up My Virgin chastity to the trecherous guard Of Gotish Montrevile Mal. What hath be done Theo. Abus'd me fir by violence and this told I cannot live to speake more may the cause In you finde pardon but the speeding curse Of a ravish'd maid fall heavie heavie on him Beaufort my lawfull love farewell for ever She dies Malef. Take not thy flight so soone immaculate spirit T is fled already how the innocent As in a gentle slumber passe away But to cut off the knotty thred of life In guilty men must force sterne Atropos To use her sharpe knife often I would helpe The edge of hers with the sharpe point of mine But that I dare not die till I have rent This dogs heart peecemeale O that I had wings To scale these walls or that my hands were Canons To bore their flinty sides that I might bring The villaine in the reach of my good sword The Turkish Empire offer'd for his ransome Should not redeeme his life O that my voice Were loud as thunder and with horrid sounds Might force a dreadfull passage to his eares And through them reach his soule libidinous monster Foule ravisher as thou durst doe a deed Which forc'd the Sun to hide his glorious face Behinde a sable Masque of clouds appeare And as a man defend it or like me Shew some compunction for it Montrevile above the curtaine suddenly drawn Montr. Ha ha ha Malef. Is this an object to raise mirth Montr. Yes yes Malef. My daughter 's dead Mont. Thou hadst best follow her Or if thou art the thing thou art reported Thou shoulst have led the way Doe teare thy haire like a village nurse and mourn while I laugh at thee Be but a just examiner of thy selfe And in an equall ballance poise the nothing Or little mischiefe I have done compard With the ponderous weight of thine and how canst thou Accuse or argue with me mine was a rape And she being in a kinde contracted to me The fact may challenge some qualification But thy intent made natures selfe run backward And done had caus'd an earth-quake A souldier above 1. Sold. Captaine Montr. Ha 2. Sold. Our outworkes are surpriz'd the centinell slaine The corps du garde defeated too Montr. By whom 1. Sold. The sudden storme and darknesse of the night Forbids the knowledge make up speedily Or all is lost Montr. In the dive is name whence comes this They descend Mal. Doe doe rage on rend open AEolus Thy brazen prison and let loose at once Thy stormy issue blustring Boreas A storme Aided with all the gales the Pilot numbers Upon his compasse cannot raise a tempest Through the vast region of the ayre like that I feele within me for I am possess'd With whirle-winds and each guilty thought to me is A dreadfull Hurricano though this centre Labour to bring forth earthquake and bell open Her wide stretch'd iawes and let out all her furies They cannot adde an atome to the mountaine Of feares and terrors that each minute threaten To fall on my accursed head Ha is 't fancie Enter the Ghost of young Malefort naked from the wast full of wounds lending in the shadow of a Ladie her face leprous Or hath hell heard me and makes proofe if I Dare stand the tryall yes I doe and now I view these apparitions I feele I once did know the substances For what come you Are your aeriall formes depriv'd of language And so deni'd to tell me that by signes You bid me aske here of my selfe t is so The Ghosts use severall gestures And there is somthing here makes answer for you You come to launce my sear'd up conscience Yes And to instruct me that those thunderbolts That hurl'd me headlong from the height of glory Wealth honours worldly happinesse were forg'd Upon the anvile of my impious wrongs And cruelty to you I doe confesse it And that my lust compelling me to make way For a second wife I poison'd thee and that The cause which to the world is undiscover'd That forc'd thee to shake off thy filiall duty To mee thy father had it's spring and sourse From thy impatience to know thy mother That with all duty and obedience serv'd me For now with horror I acknowledge it Answer'd still by signes Remov'd unjustly yet thou being my sonne Were 't not a competent judge mark'd out by heaven For her revenger which thy falling by My weaker hand confirm'd T is granted by thee Can any penance expiate my guilt Or can repentance save me they are vanish'd Exeunt Ghosts What 's left to doe then I 'll accuse my face That did not fashion me for nobler uses Or if those starres crosse to me in my birth Had not deni'd their prosperous influence to it With peace of conscience like to innocent men I might have ceas'd to be and not as now To curse my cause of being He 's kill'd with a flash of lightning Enter Belgarde with souldiers Belg. Here is a night To season my silkes Buffe-jerkin now I misse thee Thou hast endur'd many foule nights but never One like to this how fine my feather looks now Just like a Capons taile stolne out of the pen And hid in the sinke and yet 't had beene dishonour To have charg'd me without it wilt thou fever cease Is the petarde as I gave directions fasten'd On the portcullis Another Sold. It hath beene attempted By divers but in vaine Belg. These are your gallants That at a feast take the first place poore I Hardly allow'd to follow marry in These foolish businesses they are content That I shall have precedence I much thanke Their manners or their feare second me Souldier They have had no time to undermine or if They have it is blowing up and fetching A caper or two in the ayre and I will doe it Rather then blow my nailes here Sold. O brave Captaine Exeunt An alarum noise and cryes within a flourish Enter Beaufort senior Beaufort junior Montague Chamont Lanour Belgarde Montrevile Souldiers Montr. Rackes cannot force more from me then I have Already told you I expect no favour I have cast up my accompt Beauf. sen. Take you the charge Of the fort Belgarde your dangers have deserv'd it Belg. I thanke your excellence this will keepe me safe yet From being pull'd by the sleeve and bid remember The thing I wot of Beau. jun. All that have eyes to weepe Spare one teare with mee Theocrine 's dead Montr. Her father too lies breathlesse here I thinke Strucke dead with thunder Cham. 'T is apparent how His carkase smells Lan. His face is alter'd to Another colour Beauf. jun. But here 's one retained Her native innocence that never yet Call'd downe heavens anger Beauf. sen. T is in vaine to mourne For what 's past helpe We will refer bad man Your sentence to the King may we make use of This great example and learne from it that There cannot be a want of power above To punish murther and unlawfull love Exeunt omnes FINIS Imprimatur THO.. WYKES IAN. 21. 1638 The 〈…〉
indulgence Upon submission might perhaps have pardon'd And grew his Counties enemie I look'd on him As a Stranger to my family and a Traytor Justly proscrib'd and he to be rewarded That could bring in his head I know in this That I am censur'd rugged and austere That will vouchsafe not one sad sigh or teare Vpon his slaughter'd body But I rest Well satisfi'd in my selfe being assur'd That extraordinarie vertues when they soare Too high a pitch for common fights to judge of Losing their proper splendour are condemn'd For most remarkable vices Beauf. T is too true Sir In the opinion of the multitude But for my selfe that would be held your friend And hope to know you by a nearer name They are as they deserve receiv'd Mal. My daughter Shall thanke you for the favour Beauf. jun. I can wish No happinesse beyond it 1. Cap. Shall we have leave To beare the corps of our dead Admirall As he enjoyn'd us from this Coast Mal. Provided The articles agreed on be observ'd And you depart hence with it making oath Never hereafter but as friends to touch Vpon this shore 1. Cap. Wee 'll faithfully performe it Mal. Then as you please dispose of it T is an object That I could wish remou'd His sins die with him So far he has my charitie 1. Cap. He shall have The Sea Captaines beare the body off with sad musicks A Souldiers funerall Mal. Farewell Beauf. jun. These rites Paid to the dead the Conquerour that survives Must reape the harvest of his bloudy labour Sound all loud instruments of joy and triumph And with all circumstance and ceremonie Wait on the Patron of our libertie Which he at all parts merits Mal. I am honour'd Beyond my hopes Beauf. jun. 'T is short of your deserts Lead on Oh Sir you must you are too modest Exeunt with loud musicke Actus secundi Scaena secunda Theocrine Page Women Theoc. Talke not of comfort I am both wayes wretched And so distracted with my doubts and feares I know not where to fix my hopes My losse Is certaine in a father or a brother Or both such is the crueltie of my fate And not to be avoyded 1. Wom. You must beare it With patience Madam 2. Wom. And what 's not in you To be prevented should not cause a sorrow Which cannot help it Page Feare not my brave Lord Your noble father fighting is to him Familiar as eating He can teach Our moderne Duellists how to cleave a button And in a new way never yet found out By old Caranza 1. Wom. May he be victorious And punish disobedience in his sonne Whose death in reason should at no part move you He being but halfe your brother and the neernesse Which that might challenge from you forfeited By his impious purpose to kill him from whom He receiv'd life A shout within 2. Wom. A generall shout 1. Wom. Of joy Page Looke up deare Lady sad newes never came Vsherd with loud applause Enter Vsher Theo. I stand prepard To indure the shocke of it Vsh. I am out of breath With running to deliver first Theo. What Vsh. Wee are all made My Lord has wont the day your brother 's slaine The pirats gone and by the governour And states and all the men of war he is brought home in triumph nay no musing pay me For my good newes hereafter Theo. Heaven is just Vsh. Give thankes at leasure make all hast to meete him I coulde wish I were a horse that I might beare you To him upon my backe Page Thou art an asse And this is a sweete burthen Vsh. Peace you crackrope Exeunt Actus secundi Scaena tertia Loud musicke Montrevile Belgarde Beaufort junior Beaufort senior Malefort followed by Montaigne Chament Lanour Beauf. sen. All honours we can give you and rewards Though all that 's rich or precious in Marsellis Were layd downe at your feet can hold no waight With your deservings let me glory in Your action as if it were mine owne And have the honour with the armes of love To embrace the great performer of a deed Transcending all this Countrey ere could boast of Mont. Imagine noble Sir in what we may Expresse our thankfulnesse and rest assur'd It shall be freely granted Cham. Hee 's an enemie To goodnesse and to vertue that dares thinke There 's any other thing within our power to give Which you in justice may not boldly challenge Lan. And as your owne for we will ever be At your devotion Mal. Much honour'd Sir And you my noble Lords I can say onely The greatnesse of your favours overwhelme me And like too large a saile for the small barke Of my poore merits sinks me That I stand Vpright in your opinions is an honour Exceeding my deserts I having done Nothing but what in dutie I stood bound to And to expect a recompence were base Good deeds being ever in themselves rewarded Yet since your liberall bounties tell me that I may with your allowance be a Suitor To you my Lord I am an humble one And must aske that which knowne I feare you will Censure me over bold Beauf. sen. It must be something Of a strange nature if it finde from me Deniall or delay Mal. Thus then my Lord Since you encourage me You are happie in A worthy sonne and all the comfort that Fortune has left me is one daughter now If it may not appeare too much presumption To seeke to match my lownesse with your height I should desire and if I may obtaine it I write Nilultra to my largest hopes She may in your opinion be thought worthy To be receiv'd into your family And married to your sonne their yeares are equall And their desires I thinke too she is not ignoble not my state contemptible And if you thinke me worthy your alliance 〈◊〉 is all I doe aspire to Beauf. jun. You demand That which with all the service of my life I should have labour'd to obtaine from you O Sir why are you slow to meet so faire And noble an offer Can France shew a virgin That may be parallel'd with her Is she not The Phoenix of the time the fairest star In the bright sphere of women Beauf. sen. Be not rap'd so Though I dislike not what is motion'd yet In what so neere concernes me it is fit I should proceed with judgement Enter Vsher Theocrine Page Women Beauf. jun. Here she comes Looke on her with impartiall eyes and then Let envie if it can name one grac'd feature In which she is defective Mal. Welcome Girle My joy my comfort my delight my all Why dost thou come to greet my victorie In such a sable habit this shew'd well When thy father was a prisoner and suspected but now his faith and loyaltie are admir'd Rather than doubted in your outward garments You are to expresse the joy you feele within Nor should you with more curiousnesse and care Pace to the Temple to be made a Bride Than now when
There 's nothing wanting But your consent Mal. Some strange invention aid me Aside This yes it must be so Montr. Why doe you stagger When what you seem'd so much to wish is offerd Beauf. jun. Both parties being agreed to Beauf. sen. I 'll not court A grant from you nor doe I wrong your Daughter Though I say my sonne deserves her Mal. T is far from My humble thoughts to undervalue him I cannot prize too high For howsoever From my owne fond indulgence I have sung Her praises with too prodigall a tongue That tendernesse laid by I stand confirmd All that I fancied excellent in her Ballanc'd with what is really his owne Holds waight in no proportion Montr. New turnings Beauf. sen. Whither tends this Mal. Had you observ'd my Lord With what a sweet gradation he wood As I did punctually you cannot blame her Though she did listen with a greedie eare To his faire modest offers but so great A good as then flow'd to her should have beene With more deliberation entertaind And not with such haste swallowd she shall first Consider seriously what the blessing is And in what ample manner to give thanks for 't And then receive it And though I shall thinke Short minutes yeeres till it be perfitâ—ed I will defer that which I most desire And so must she till longing expectation That heightens pleasure makes her truly know Her happinesse and with what out-streatcht armes She must embrace it Beauf jun. This is curiousnesse Beyond example Mal. Let it then begin From me in what 's mine owne I 'll use my will And yeeld no further reason I lay claime to The libertie of a subject Fall not off But be obedient or by the haire I 'll drag thee home Censure me as you please I 'll take my owne way O the inward fires That wanting vent consume me Exit with Theocrine Montr. T is most certaine Hee s mad or worse Beauf. How worse Montr. Nay there I leave you My thoughts are free Beauf. jun. This I foresaw Beauf. sen. Take comfort H shall walke in clouds but I 'll discover him And he shall finde and feele if he excuse not And with strong reasons this grosse injurie I can make use of my authoritie Exeunt omnes Actus quarti Scena prima MALEFORT solus WHat flames are these my wild desires fan in me The torch that feeds them was not lighted at Thy altars Cupid vindicate thy selfe And doe not own it and confirme it rather That this infernall brand that turnes me cyndars Was by the snake-hair'd Sisters throwne into My guiltie bosome O that I was ever Accurs'd in having issue my sonnes bloud That like the poyson'd shirt of Hercules Growes to each part about me which my hate Forc'd from him with much willingnesse may admit Some weake defence but my most impious love To my faire daughter Theocrine none Since my affection rather wicked lust That does pursue her is a greater crime Than any detestation with which I should afflict her innocence With what cunning I have betray'd my selfe and did not feele The scorching heat that now with furie rages Why was I tender of her cover'd with That fond disguise this mischiefe stole upon me I thought it no offence to kisse her often Or twine mine armes about her softer neck And by false shadowes of a fathers kindnesse I long deceiv'd my selfe but now the effect Is too apparent How I strove to be In her opinion held the worthiest man In courtship forme and feature envying him That was preferd before me and yet then My wishes to my selfe were not discover'd But still my fires increas'd and with delight I would call her mistresse wilfully forgetting The name of daughter choosing rather she Should stile me servant then with reverence father Yet mocking I nere cherish'd obscene hopes But in my troubled slumbers often thought Shee was too neere to me and then sleeping blush'd At my imagination which pass'd My eyes being open not condemning it I was ravish'd with the pleasure of the dreame Yet spight of these temptations I have reason That pleades against 'em and commands me to Extinguish these abhominable fires And I will doe it I will send her backe To him that loves her lawfully Within there Enter Theocrine Theoc. Sir did you call Malef. I looke no sooner on her But all my boasted power of reason leaves me And passion againe usurpes her Empire does none else wait me Theoc. I am wretched sir should any owe more duty Malef. This is worse then disobedience leave me Theoc. On my knees sir as I have ever squard my will by yours And lik'd and loath'd with your eyes I beseech you To teach me what the nature of my fault is That hath incensd you sure t is one of weakenesse And not of malice which your gentler temper On my submission I hope will pardon Which granted by your piety if that I Out of the least neglect of mine hereafter Make you remember it may I sinke ever Under your dread command Malef. O my stars who can but dote on this humility That sweetens lovely in her teares the fetters That seem'd to lessen in their waight but now By this grow heavier on me Theoc. Deare sir Malef. Peace I must not heare thee Theoc. Not looke on me Malef. No thy lookes and words are charmes Theoc. May they have power then To calme the tempest of your wrath alas sir Did I but know in what I give offence In my repentance I would shew my sorrow For what is past and in my care hereafter Kill the occasion or cease to be Since life without your favour is to me a load I would cast off Malef. O that my heart were rent in sunder that I might expire The cause in my death buried yet I know not With such prevailing Oratory 't is beg'd from me That to deny thee would convince me to Have suck'd the milke of Tigers rise and I But in a perplexd and misterious method Will make relation that which all the world Admires and cries up in thee for perfections Are to unhappy me foule blemishes And mulcts in nature If thou hadst beene borne Deformd and crooked in the features of Thy body as the manners of thy mind Moore lip'd flat nos'd dimme ey'd and beetle brow'd With a dwarfes stature to a gyant waste Sower breath'd with clawes for fingers on thy hands Splay footed gouty leg'd and over all A loathsome leprosie had spread it selfe And made thee shun'd of humane fellowships I had beene blest Theoc. Why would you with a monster For such a one or worse you have describ'd To call your father Malef. Rather then as now Though I had drownd thee for it in the sea Appearing as thou dost a new Pandora With Iunos faire cow eyes Minerva's brow Aurora's blushing cheekes Hebes fresh youth Venus soft paps with Thetis silver feet Theoc. Sir you have lik'd and lov'd them and oft forc'd With your hyperboles of praise powrd