THE HISTORY OF Antonio and Mellida The first part As it hath beene sundry times acted by the children of Paules Written by I. M. LONDON ¶ Printed for Mathewe Lownes and Thomas Fisher and are to be soulde in Saint Dunstans Church-yarde 1602 To the onely rewarder and most iust poiser of vertuous merits the most honorably renowned No-body bountious Mecaenas of Poetry and Lord Protector of oppressed innocence Do Dedicoque SINCE it hath flow'd with the current of my humorous bloode to affect a little too much to be seriously fantasticall here take most respected Patron the worthlesse present of my slighter idlenes If you vouchsaf not his protectiō then O thou sweetest perfectiō Female beautie shield mee from the stopping of vineger bottles Which most wished fauour if it faile me then Sinequeo flectere superos Acheronta mouebo But yet Honours redeemer vertues aduancer religions shelter and pieties fosterer Yet yet I faint not in despaire of thy gratious affection protection to which I onely shall euer rest most seruingmanlike obsequiously making legs and standing after our free-borne English garbe bare headed Thy onely affied slaue and admirer I M. The Play called Antonio and Mellida Induction ¶ Enter Galeatzo Piero Alberto Antonio Forobosco Balurdo Matzagente Feliche with parts in their hands hauing cloakes cast ouer their apparell COme sirs come the musique will sounde straight for entrance Are yee readie are yee perfect Pier. Faith we can say our parts but wee are ignorant in what mould we must cast our Actors Albert. Whome doe you personate Pie Piero Duke of Venice Alb. O ho then thus frame your exterior shape To hautie forme of elate maiestie As if you held the palsey shaking head Of reeling chaunce vnder your fortunes belt In strictest vassalage growe big in thought As swolne with glory of succesfull armes Pie If that be all feare not I le sute it right Who can not be proud stroak vp the haire and strut Al. Truth such ranke custome is growne popular And now the vulgar fashion strides as wide And stalkes as proud vpon the weakest stilts Of the slight'st fortunes as if Hercules Or burly Atlas shouldred vp their state Pi. Good but whome act you Alb. The necessitie of the play forceth me to act two parts Andrugio the distressed Duke of Genoa and Alberto a Venetian gentleman enamoured on the Ladie Rossaline whose fortunes being too weake to sustaine the port of her he prou'd alwaies desastrous in loue his worth being much vnderpoised by the vneuen scale that currants all thinges by the outwarde stamp of opiniō Gal. Wel and what dost thou play Ba. The part of all the world Alb. The part of all the world What 's that Bal. The foole I in good deede law now I play Balurdo a wealthie mountbanking Burgomasco's heire of Venice Alb. Ha ha one whose foppish nature might seem great only for wise mens recreation and like a Iuicelesse barke to preserue the sap of more strenuous spirits A seruile hounde that loues the sent of forerunning fashion like an emptie hollow vault still giuing an eccho to wit greedily champing what any other well valued iudgement had before hand shew'd Foro. Ha ha ha tolerably good good faith sweet wag Alb. Vmh why tolerably good good faith sweet wag Go goe you flatter me Foro. Right I but dispose my speach to the habit of my part Alb. Why what plaies he To Feliche Fe. The wolfe that eats into the breast of Princes that breeds the Lethargy and falling sicknesse in honour makes Iustice looke asquint and blinks the eye of merited rewarde from viewing desertfull vertue Alb. What 's all this Periphrasis ha Fe. The substance of a supple-chapt flatterer Alb. O doth he play Forobosco the Parasite Good i-faith Sirrah you must seeme now as glib and straight in outward semblance as a Ladies buske though inwardly as crosse as a paire of Tailors legs hauing a tongue as nimble as his needle with seruile patches of glauering flattery to stitch vp the bracks of vnworthily honourd Fo. I warrant you I warrant you you shall see mee prooue the very Perewig to couer the balde pate of brainelesse gentilitie Ho I will so tickle the sense of bella gratiosa madonna with the titillation of Hyperbolicall praise that I le strike it in the nick in the very nick chuck Fel. Thou promisest more than I hope any Spectator giues faith of performance but why looke you so duskie ha To Antonio Ant. I was neuer worse fitted since the natiuitie of my Actorshippe I shalt be hist at on my life now Fel. Why what must you play Ant. Faith I know not what an Hermaphrodite two parts in one my true person being Antonio son to the Duke of Genoa though for the loue of Mellida Pieros daughter I take this fained presence of an Amazon calling my selfe Florizell and I know not what I a voice to play a lady I shall nere doe it Al. O an Amazon should haue such a voice virago-like Not play two parts in one away away t is common fashion Nay if you cannot bear two subtle frōts vnder one hood I de or goe by goe by off this worlds stage O times impuritie An. I but whē vse hath taught me actiō to hit the right point of a Ladies part I shall growe ignorant when I must turne young Prince againe how but to trusse my hose Fe. Tush neuer put them off for women weare the breaches still Mat. By the bright honour of a Millanoise and the resplendent fulgor of this steele I will defende the feminine to death and ding his spirit to the verge of hell that dates divulge a ladies preiudicio Exit Ant Al. Fel Rampum scrampum mount tuftie Tamburlaine What rattling thunder clappe breakes from his lips Alb. O 't is natiue to his part For acting a moderne Bragadoch vnder the person of Matzagente the Duke of Millaines sonne it may seeme to suite with good fashion of coherence Pie But me thinks he speakes with a spruce Attick accent of adulterate Spanish Al. So 't is resolu'd For Millane being halfe Spanish halfe high Dutch and halfe Italians the blood of chifest houses is corrupt and mungrel'd so that you shal see a fellow vaine-glorious for a Spaniard gluttonous for a Dutchman proud for an Italian and a fantastick Ideot for all Such a one conceipt this Matzagente Fe. But I haue a part allotted mee which I haue neither able apprehension to conceipt nor what I conceipt gratious abilitie to vtter Gal. Whoop in the old cut good shew vs a draught of thy spirit Fel. T is steddie and must seeme so impregnably fortrest with his own cōtent that no enuious thought could euer inuade his spirit neuer surueying any man so vnmeasuredly happie whome I thought not iustly hatefull for some true impouerishment neuer beholding any fauour of Madam Felicity gracing another which his well bounded content perswaded not to hang in the front of his owne fortune and therefore as farre
time to come Piero Sforza slewe Andrugio's sonne Fla. I but my Lord your daughter Pie I I my good wench she is safe enough Fla. O then my Lord you know she 's run away Pie Run away away how run away Fla. She 's vanisht in an instante none knowes whether Pie Pursue pursue fly run post scud away ¶ Feliche sing And was not good king Salomon Fly call run rowe ride cry shout hurry haste Haste hurry shoute cry ride rowe run call fly Backward and forward euery way about Maldetta fortuna chy condura sorta Che faro che diro pur fugir tanto mal Cast. T was you that struck me euen now was it not Fel. It was I that struck you euen now Cast. You bastinadoed me I take it Fel. I bastinadoed you and you tooke it Cast. Faith sir I haue the richest Tobacco in the court for you I would be glad to make you satisfaction if I haue wronged you I would not the Sun should set vpon your anger giue me your hand Fel. Content faith so thou 'lt breede no more such lies I hate not man but mans lewd qualities ACTVS QVARTVS ¶ Enter Antonio in his sea gowne running Ant. STOP stop Antonio stay Antonio Vaine breath vaine breath Antonio 's lost He can not finde himselfe not seize himselfe Alas this that you see is not Antonio His spirit houers in Piero's Court Hurling about his agill faculties To apprehend the sight of Mellida But poore poore soule wanting apt instruments To speake or see stands dumbe and blinde sad spirit Roul'd vp in gloomie clouds as black as ayer Through which the rustie coach of Night is drawne T is so I le giue you instance that t is so Conceipt you me As hauing clasp't a rose Within my palme the rose being tane away My hand retaines a little breath of sweete So may mans trunke his spirit slipt awaie Holds still a faint perfume of his sweet ghest T is so for when discursiue powers flie out And rome in progresse through the boūds of heauen The soule it selfe gallops along with them As chiefetaine of this winged troope of thought Whilst the dull lodge of spirit standeth waste Vntill the soule returne from What wa st I said O this is naught but speckling melancholie I haue beene That Morpheus tender skinp Cosen germane Beare with me good Mellida clod vpon clod thus fall Hell is beneath yet heauen is ouer all ¶ Enter Andrugio Lucio Cole and Norwod And. Come Lucio le ts goe eat what hast thou got Rootes rootes alas they are seeded new cut vp O thou hast wronged Nature Lucio But bootes not much thou but pursu'st the world That cuts off vertue fore it comes to growth Least it should seed and so orerun her sonne Dull pore-blinde error Giue me water boy There is no poison in 't I hope they say That lukes in massie plate and yet the earth Is so infected with a generall plague That hee 's most wise that thinks there 's no man foole Right prudent that esteemes no creature iust Great policy the least things to mistrust Giue me Assay How we mock greatnesse now Lu. A strong conceipt is rich so most men deeme If not to be t is comfort yet to seeme And. Why man I neuer was a Prince till now T is not the bared pate the bended knees Guilt tipstaues Tyrrian purple chaires of state Troopes of pide butterflies that flutter still In greatnesse summer that confirme a prince T is not the vnsauory breath of multitudes Showting and clapping with confused dinne That makes a Prince No Lucio he 's a king A true right king that dares doe aught saue wrong Feares nothing mortall but to be vniust Who is not blowne vp with the flattering puffes Of spungy Sycophants Who stands vnmou'd Despight the iustling of opinion Who can enioy himselfe maugre the throng That striue to presse his quiet out of him Who sits vpon Ioues footestoole as I doe Adoring not affecting maiestie Whose brow is wreathed with the siluer crowne Of cleare content this Lucio is a king And of this empire euery man 's possest That 's worth his soule Lu. My Lord the Genowaies had wont to say And. Name not the Genowaies that very word Vnkings me quite makes me vile passions slaue O you that made open the glibbery Ice Of vulgar fauour viewe Andrugio Was neuer Prince with more applause confirm'd With louder shouts of tryumph launched out Into the surgy maine of gouernment Was neuer Prince with more despight cast out Left shipwrackt banisht on more guiltlesse ground O rotten props of the craz'd multitude How you stil double faulter vnder the lightest chance That straines your vaines Alas one battle lost Your whorish loue your drunken healths your houts and shouts Your smooth God saue 's and all your diuels last That tempts our quiet to your hell of throngs Spit on me Lucio for I am turnd slaue Obserue how passion domineres ore me Lu. No wonder noble Lord hauing lost a sonne A country crowne and And. I Lucio hauing lost a sonne a sonne A country house crowne sonne O lares misereri lares Which shall I first deplore My sonne my sonne My deare sweete boy my deare Antonio Ant. Antonio And. I eccho I I meane Antonio Ant. Antonio who meanes Antonio Ant. Where art what art know'st thou Antonio Ant. Yes And. Liues hee Ant. No And. Where lies hee deade Ant. Here And. Where Ant. Here Andr. Art thou Antonio Ant. I thinke I am And. Dost thou but think What dost not know thy selfe Ant. He is a foole that thinks he knowes himselfe And. Vpon thy faith to heauen giue thy name Ant. I were not worthy of Andrugio's blood If I denied my name 's Antonio And. I were not worthy to be call'd thy father If I denied my name Andrugio And dost thou liue O let me kisse thy cheeke And deaw thy browe with trickling drops of ioy Now heauens will be done for I haue liu'd To see my ioy my sonne Antonio Giue my thy hand now fortune doe thy worst His blood that lapt thy spirit in the wombe Thus in his loue will make his armes thy tombe Ant. Blesse not the bodie with your twining armes Which is accurst of heauen O what black sinne Hath bin committed by our auntient house Whose scalding vengeance lights vpon our heads That thus the world and fortune casts vs out As loathed obiects ruines branded slaues And. Doe not expostulate the heauens will But O remember to forget thy selfe Forget remembrance what thou once hast bin Come creepe with me from out this open ayre Euen trees haue tongues and will betray our life I am a raising of our house my boy Which fortune will not enuie t is so meane And like the world all durt there shalt thou rippe The inwards of thy fortunes in mine eares Whilst I sit weeping blinde with passions teares Then I le begin and wee le such order keepe That one shall still tell greefes the
the venom'd stings of misery Ant: Father now I haue an antidote Gainst all the poyson that the world can breath My Mellida my Mellida doth blesse This bleak waste with her presence How now boy Why dost thou weepe alas where 's Mellida Ant. Ay me my Lord And. A sodden horror doth inuade my blood My sinewes tremble and my panting heart Scuds round about my bosome so goe out Dreading the assailant horrid passion O be no tyrant kill me with one blowe Speake quickly briefely boy Pa. Her father found and seis'd her she is gone And. Son heat thy bloode be not frose vp with grief Courage sweet boy sinke not beneath the waight Of crushing mischiefe O where 's thy dantlesse heart Thy fathers spirit I renounce thy blood If thou forsake thy valour Lu. See how his grief speakes in his slow-pac't steps Alas t is more than he can vtter let him goe Dumbe solitary path best sureth woe And. Giue me my armes my armour Lucio Lu. Deare Lord what means this rage when lacking vse Scarce safes your life will you in armour rise And. Fortune feares valour presseth cowardize Lu. Then valour gets applause when it hath place And meanes to blaze it And. Nunquam potest non esse Lu. Patience my Lord may bring your ils some end And. What patience friend can ruin'd hopes attēd Come let me die like old Andrugio Worthy my birth O blood-true-honour'd graues Are farre more blessed then base life of slaues Exeunt ACTVS QVINTVS ¶ Enter Balurdo a Painter with two pictures and Dildo Bal. AND are you a painter sir can you drawe can you drawe Pay Yes sir Ba. Indeede lawe now so can my fathers forehore horse And are these the workmanshippe of your hands Payn. I did lymne them Bal. Lymne them a good word lymne them whose picture is this Anno Domini 1599 Beleeue mee master Anno Domini was of a good settled age when you lymn'd him 1599. yeares old Le ts see the other Etatis suae 24. Bi r Ladie he is somwhat younger Belike master Etatis suae was Anno Dominies sonne Pa. Is not your master a Dil. He hath a little procliuitie to him Pa. Procliuitie good youth I thank you for your courtly procliuitie Bal. Approach good sir I did send for you to drawe me a deuise an Imprezza by Sinecdoche a Mott By Phoebus crymson taffata mantle I thinke I speake as melodiously looke you sir how thinke you on t I wold haue you paint mee for my deuice a good fat legge of ewe mutton swimming in stewde broth of plummes boy keele your mouth it runnes ouer and the word shall be Holde my dish whilst I spill my pottage Sure in my conscience t would be the most sweete deuice now Pa. T would sent of kitchin-stuffe too much Bal. Gods neakes now I remember mee I ha the rarest deuise in my head that euer breathed Can you paint me a driueling reeling song let the word be Vh. Payn. A belch Bal. O no no Vh paint me vh or nothing Pay It can not be done sir but by a seeming kinde of drunkennesse Bal. No well let me haue a good massie ring with your owne poesie grauen in it that must sing a small trebble worde for word thus And if you will my true louer be Come followe mee to the greene wodde Pa. O Lord sir I can not make a picture sing B. Why z'lid I haue seen painted things sing as sweet But I hau 't will tickle it for a conceipt ifaith ¶ Enter Feliche and Alberto Alb. O deare Feliche giue me thy deuice How shall I purchase loue of Rossaline Fel. S'will flatter her soundly Alb. Her loue is such I can not flatter her Bu with my vtmost vehemence of speach I haue ador'd her beauties Fel. Hast writ good mouing vnaffected rimes to her Alb. O yes Feliche but she scornes my writ Fel. Hast thou presented her with sumptuous gifts Alb. Alas my fortunes are too weake to offer them Fell. O then I haue it I le tell thee what to doe Alb. What good Feliche Fel. Goe and hang thy selfe I say goe hang thy selfe If that thou canst not giue goe hang thy selfe I le rime thee dead or verse thee to the rope How thinkst thou of a Poet that sung thus Munera sola pacant sola addunt munera formam Munere solicites Pallada Cypris erit Munera munera Alb. I le goe and breath my woes vnto the rocks And spend my griefe vpon the deafest seas I le weepe my passion to the senselesse trees And load most solitarie ayre with plaints For wods trees sea or rocky Appenine Is not so ruthlesse as my Rossaline Farewell deare friend expect no more of mee Here ends my part in this loues Comedy Exit Alb. Exit Paynter Fel. Now master Balurdo whether are you going ha Bal. Signior Feliche how doe you faith by my troth how doe you Fel. Whether art thou going bully Bal. And as heauen helpe mee how doe you How doe you ifaith he Fel. Whether art going man Bal. O god to the Court I le be willing to giue you grace and good countnance if I may but see you in the presence Fel. O to court farewell Bal. If you see one in a yellow taffata dubblet cut vpon carnation valure a greene hat a blewe paire of veluet hose a gilt rapier and an orange tawny pair of worsted silke stockings that 's I that 's I Fel. Very good farewell Bal. Ho you shall knowe me as easily I ha bought mee a newe greene feather with a red sprig you shall see my wrought shirt hang out at my breeches you shall know me Fel. Very good very good farewell Ball Marrie in the maske t will be somewhat harde But if you heare any bodie speake so wittily that hee makes all the roome laugh that 's I that 's I Farewell good Signior ¶ Enter Forobosco Castilio a boy carying a gilt harpe Piero Mellida in night apparrell Rossaline Flauia two Pages Pier. Aduance the musiques prize now capring wits Rise to your highest mount let choyce delight Garland the browe of this tryumphant night Sfoote a sits like Lucifer himselfe Rossa. Good sweete Duke first let their voyces strain for musicks price Giue mee the golden harpe faith with your fauour I le be vmperesse Pi. Sweet neece cōtent boyes cleare your voice sing 1. CANTAT Rossa. By this gould I had rather haue a seruant with a short nose and a thinne haire then haue such a high stretcht minikin voice Pie Faire neece your reason Ross. By the sweete of loue I should feare extreamely that he were an Eunuch Cast. Sparke spirit how like you his voice Ross. Spark spirit how like you his voice So helpe me youth thy voice squeakes like a dry cork shoe come come le ts heare the next 2. CANTAT Pie Trust me a good strong meane Well sung my boy ¶ Enter Balurdo Bal. Hold hold hold are yee blind could you not see my voice