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
it may seeme to threaten death Does yield to mee a second life in curing My wounded honour stand I yet suspected As a confederate with this enemie VVhom of all men against all ties of nature He markes out for destruction you are just Immortall powers and in this merciful And it takes from any sorrow and my shame For being the father to so bad a sonne In that you are pleasd to offer up the monster To my correction Blush and repent As you are bound my honourable Lords Your ill opinions of me not great Brutus The father of the Roman liberty With more assured constancy beheld His traytor sons for labouring to call home The banished Tarquins scourgd with rods to death Then I will show when I take backe the life This prodigie of mankinde receivd from me Beauf. sen. We are sory Monsieur Malefort for our errour And are much taken with your resolution But the disparity of yeares and strength Between you and your sonne duely considerd We would not so expose you Mal. sen. Then you kill me Under pretence to save me O my Lords As you love honour and a wrongd mans fame Denie me not this faire and noble meanes To make me right againe to all the world Should any other but my selfe be chosen To punish this Apostata with death You rob a wretched father of a justice That to all after times will be recorded I wish his strength were centuple his skill equall To my experience that in his fall He may not shame my victory I feele The powers and spirits of twenty strong men in me Were hee with wild fire circl'd I undaunted Would make way to him as you doe affect Sir My daughter Theocrine as you are My true and ancient friend as thou art valiant And as all love a souldier second me They all sue to the governour In this my just petition in your lookes I see a grant my Lord Beauf. sen. You shall orebeare me And since you are so confident in your cause Prepare you for the combate Mal. sen. With more joy Then yet I ever tasted by the next sunne The disobedient rebell shall heare from me And so returne in safety my good Lords To all my service I will die or purchase Rest to Marsellis nor can I make doubt But his impietie is a potent charme To edge my sword and adde strength to my anne Exeunt Actus secundi Scaena prima Enter three Sea Captaines 2. CAPTAINE HEE did accept the challenge then 1. Cap. Nay more Was over joyd in 't and as it had beene A faire invitement to a solemne feast And not a combate to conclude with death He chearefully imbrac'd it 3. Cap. Are the articles Sign'd to on both parts 1. Cap. At the fathers suit With much unwillingnesse the governour Consented to 'em 2. Cap. You are inward with Our Admirall could you yet never learne VVhat the nature of the quarrell is that renders The sonne more then incensed implacable Against the father 1. Cap. Never yet I have As far as manners would give warrant to it VVith my best curiousnesse of care observ'd him I have sate with him in his cabin a day together Yet not a sillable exchang'd between us Sigh he did often as if inward griefe And melancholy at that instant would Choke up his vitall spirits and now and then A teare or two as in derision of The toughnesse of his rugged temper would Fall on his hallow cheekes which but once felt A sudden flash of fury did dry up And laying then his hand upon his sword He would murmure but yes so as I oft hard him We shall meete cruell father yet we shall When I 'll exact for every womanish drop Of sorrow from these eies a strict accompt Of much more from thy heart 2. Cap. T is wondrous strange 3. Cap. And past my apprehension 1. Cap. Yet what makes The miracle greater when from the maine top A sayle 's descride all thoughts that doe concerne Himselfe layd by no Lyon pinchd with hunger Rowzes himselfe more fiercely from his den Then he comes on the decke and there how wisely He gives directions and how stout he is In his executions we to admiration Have beene eye-witnesses yet he never minds The bootie when t is made ours but as if The danger in the purchase of the prey Delighted him much more then the rewarde His will made knowne he does retire himselfe To his private contemplation no joy Express'd by him for victory Enter Malefort junior 2. Cap. Heare he comes But with more chearefull lookes then ever yet I saw him weare Mal. jun. It was long since resolv'd on Nor must I stagger now may the cause That forces mee to this unnaturall act Be buried in everlasting silence And I finde rest in death or my revenge To either I stand equall Pray you Gentlemen Be charitable in your censures of me And doe not entertaine a false beleefe That I am mad for undertaking that Which must be when effected still repented It addes to my calamitie that I have Discourse and reason and but too well know I can nor live nor end a wretched life But both wayes I am impious Doe not therefore Ascribe the perturbation of my soule To a servile feare of death I oft have view'd All kindes of his inevitable darts Not are they terrible Were I condemn'd to leape From the cloud-covered browes of a steepe rocke Into the deepe or Curtius-like to fill up For my Countries safetie and an after name A bottomlesse Abysse or charge through fire It could not so much shake me as th' encounter Of this dayes single enemie 1. Cap. If you please Sir You may shun it or defer it Mal. jun. Not for the world Yet two things I entreat you the first is You 'll not enquire the difference betweene My selfe and him which as a father once I honour'd now my deadliest enemie The last is if I fall to beare my body Far from this place and where you please interre it I should say more but by his sudden comming I am cut off Enter Beaufort junior and Montrevile leading in Malefort senior Belgarde following with others Beauf. jun. Let me Sir have the honour To be your second Montr. With your pardon Sir I must put in for that since our tried friendship Hath lasted from our infancie Belg. I have serv'd Under your command and you have seen me fight And handsomely though I say it and if now At this downeright game I may but hold your cards I 'll not pull downe the side Mal. sen. I rest much bound To your so noble offers and I hope Shall finde your pardon though I now refuse 'em For which I 'll yeeld strong reasons but as briefly As the time will give me leave For me to borrow That am suppos'd the weaker any aid From the assistance of my Seconds sword Might write me downe in the blacke list of those That have nor fire nor spirit of their owne
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
on them My modesty to a defensive red Strowd ore that palenesse which you then were pleasd To stile the purest white Malef. And in that cup I drank the poison I now feele dispersd Through every vaine and artery wherefore art thou So cruell to me This thy outward shape Brought a fierce warre against me not to be By flesh and blood resisted but to leave me No hope of freedome from the Magazine Of thy minds forces treacherously thou drewst up Auxiliary helpes to strengthen that Which was already in it selfe too potent Thy beauty gave the first charge but thy duty Seconded with thy care and watchfull studies To please and serve my will in all that might Raise up content in me like thunder brake through All opposition and my rankes of reason Disbanded my victorious passions fell To bloody execution and compeld me With willing hands to t is on my owne chaines And with a kinde of flattering joy to glory in my captivity Theoc. I in this you speake sir am ignorance it selfe Male And so continue for knowledge of the armes thou bearst against me Would make thee curse thy selfe but yield no ayds For thee to helpe me and 't were cruelty In me to wounde that spotlesse innocency How ere it make me guilty in a word The plurisie of goodnesse is thy ill Thy vertues vices and thy humble lownesse Far worse than stubborne sullennesse and pride Thy lookes that ravish all beholders else As killing as the Basilliskes their teares Expressd in sorrow for the much I suffer A glorious insultation and no signe Of pitty in thee and to heare thee speake In thy defence though but in silent action Would make the hurt already deepely festerd Incurable and therefore as thou wouldst not By thy presence raise fresh furies to torment me I doe conjure thee by a fathers power And t is my curse I dare not thinke it lawfull To sue unto thee in a neerer name Without reply to leave me Theoc. My obedience never learnd yet to question your commands But willingly to serve 'em yet I must Since that your will forbids the knowledge of My fault lament my fortune Exit Malf. O that I have reason to discerne the better way And yet pursue the worse when I looke on her I burne with heat and in her absence freeze With the cold blasts of jelousie that another Should ere taste those delights that are denide me And which of their afflictions bring lesse torture I hardly can distinguish is there then No meane no so my understanding tels me And that by my crosse fates it is determind That I am both waies wretched Enter Vsher and Montrevile Vsher. Yonder he walkes sir In much vexation he hath sent my Lady His daughter weeping in but what the cause is Rests yet in supposition Montr. I guesse at it but must be further satisfied I will sift him In private therefore quit the roome Vsher. I am gon sir Exit Malef. Hal who disturbes me Montrevile your pardon Montr. Would you could grant one to your selfe I speake it With the assurance of a friend and yet Before it be too late make reparation Of the grosse wrong your indiscretion offered To the governour and his sonne nay to your selfe For there begins my sorrow Malef. Would I had no greater cause to mourne Then their displeasure for I dare justifie Montr. We must not doe all that we dare private friend I observd your alterations with a stricter eye Perhaps then others and to loose no time In repetition your strange demeamour To your sweet daughter Malef. Would you could finde out some other theame to treat of Montr. None but this and this I le dwell on how ridiculous And subject to construction Malef. No more Montr. You made your selfe amazes me and if The frequent trials enterchanged betweene us Of love and friendship be to their desert Esteem'd by you as they hold waight with me No inward trouble should be of a shape So horrid to your selfe but that to me You stand bound to discover it and unlocke Your secretst thoughts though the most innocent were Lowd crying sinnes Malef. And so perhaps they are And therefore be not curious to learne that Which knowne must make you hate me Montr. Thinke not so I am yours in right and wrong not shall you finde A verball friendship in me but an active And here I vow I shall no sooner know What the disease is but if you give leave I will apply a remedy is it madnesse I am familiarly acquainted with a deepe read man That can with charmes aad hearbs Restore you to your reason or suppose You are bewitch'd he with more potent spels And magicall rites shall cure you is 't heavens anger With penitence and sacrifice appease it Beyond this there is nothing that I can Imagine dreadfull in your fame and fortunes You are secure your impious sonne removd to That rendred you suspected to the state And your faire daughter Malef. Oh presse me no farther Montr. Are you wrung there why what of her hath she Made shipwracke of her honour or conspird Against your life or seald a contract with The divell of hell for the recovery of her young Inamorato Malef. None of these And yet what must increase the wonder in you Being Innocent in her selfe she hath wounded me But where enquire not Yet I know not how I am perswaded from my confidence Of your vowd love to me to trust you with My dearest secret pray you chide me for it But with a kind of pity not insulting On my calamity Montre. Forward Malef. This same daughter Montre. What is her fault Malef. She is too faire to me Montre. Ha how is this Malef. And I have lookd upon her More than a father should and languish to Enjoy her as a husband Montre. Heaven forbid it Malef. And this is all the comfort you can give me Where are your promisd ayds your charmes your herbs Your deepe read scholler spels and magicke rites Can all these disenchaunt me no I must be My owne Physitian and upon my selfe Practice a desperate cure Montr. Doe not contemne me Injoyne me what you please with any hazzard I le undertake it what meanes have you practisd To quench this hellish fire Malef. All I could thinke on But to no purpose and yet sometimes absence Does yeeld a kinde of intermission to The fury of the fit Montr. See her no more then Malef. T is my last refuge and t was my intent And still t is to desire your helpe Montr. Command it Malef. Thus then you have a fort of which you are The absolute Lord whither I pray you beare her And that the sight of her may not againe Nourish those flames which I feele something lessend By all the ties of friendship I conjure you And by a solemne oath you must confirme it That though my now calmd passions should rage higher Then ever heretofore and so compell me Once more to wish to see