I said I had a messuagâ—… I come Sir from Cleona Duke From Cleona Fosc. From her indeed and in her name I must Propound a question to which she prayes You would be just and noble in your answer Duke Without disputing your Commission Vpon mine Honour Fosc. Princes cannot staine it dee you loue her Duke Doe I loue her Strange Frsc. Nay she would haue you pause and thinke welle're You giue her resolution for she bad me tell you She has beene much aflicted since you left her About your loue Duke About my loue I prethee Bee more particular Fosc. I shall so soone As you were gone being alone and full Of melancholly thoughts Duke I left her so Fosc. Willing to ease her head vpon her couch Through silence and some friendship of the darke Shee fell asleepe and in a short dreame thought Some Spirit told her softly in her eare You did but mocke her with a smooth pretence Oâ—… Loue. Duke Ha Fosc More that you are fallen from honour Haue taken impious flames into your bosome That y' are a Bird of prey and while she hath No houshold Lar to waite vpon her thre shold You would flâ—…e in and 〈◊〉 vpon her honour Duke I hope she ha's no faith in dreames Fosc. And yet Diuinity hath oftentimes descended Vpon our sl mbers and the blessed troupes Haue in the calme and quiet of the Soule Conuers'd with vs taugâ—…t men and women happy Wayes to preuent a tyrants rage and lust Duke But this was some most false malicious Spirit That would insinuate with her white Soule There 's danger if she cherish the infusion Fosc She cannot tell she hath some feares my Lord Great men haue left examples of their vice And yet no iealousie of you but what A myracle doth vrge if this be one If you but once more say you loue Cleona And speake it vnto me and to the Angels Which in her prayers she hath inuok'd to heare you She will be confident and tell her dreame She cannot be illuded Duke Though I need not Giue an account to any but to Heauen And her faire selfe Foscari thou fhalt tell her With what alacritie I display my heart I loue her with chast and noble fire my intents are Faire as her brow tell her I dare proclaime it In my deuotions at that minute when I know a million of adoring Spirits Houer about the Altar I doe loue her Fosc. Enough enough my Lord be pleas'd to heare What I haue now to say you haue exprest A braue and vertuous Soule but I must not Carry this message to her therefore take Your owne words backe agen I loue Cleona With chast and noble sire my intents are Faire as her brow I dare proclaime it Sir In my deuotions at that minute when I know a Million of adoring Spirits Houer about the Altar Duke Doe ye mocke me Fosc Pardon a truth my Lord I haue apparreld My owne sence with your language Duke Doe you come To affront vs you had better ha beene sleeping In your cold vrne and fame late gaue you out And mingltd with the tude forgotten ashes Then liue to moue our anger Fisc Spare your frownes This earth weighs not my Spirit downe a feare Would dy the palenesse of my Fathers dust Into a blush Sir many are aliue Will sweare I did not tremble at a Canon When it strooke thunder in mine eare and wrapt My head in her blew mists it is not breath Can fright a noble truth nor is there Magicke I' th person of a King that playes the Tyrant But a good Sword can easily vncharme iâ—… Duke You threaten vs. Fosc. Heauen auert so blacke a thought Though in my honours cause I can be flame My bloud is frost to treason make me not Bely my heart for I doe loue Cleona And my bold heart tels me aboue all height You can affect her with no birth or state Can challenge a Prerogatiue in loue Nay be nor partiall and you shall ascribe To mine loues victory for though I admit You value her aboue your Dukedome health That you would sacrifice your bloud to auert Any mishap should threaten that deare head All this is but aboue your selfe but I Loue her aboue her selfe and while you can But giue your life and all you haue to doe Cleona seruice I can giue away Her selfe Cleona's selfe in my loue to her I see you are at losse I le reconcile All she is yours this minute ends my claime Liue and enioy her happily may you Be famous in that beautious Empire shee Blest in so great a Lord. Duke I must not be Orecome in honour nor would doe so great A wrong to enioy the blessing I knew not You were engag'd Fosc. Ere you proceed I must Beseech you heare me out I am but fresh Return'd from trauaile in my absence she Heard I was slaâ—…e at my returne vpon The hearing of these honours you intend her And which I now beleeue from your owne lip I found a meanes and haue wrought her already Into a firme beleife that I am dead For I haue but pretended I came from her If for my sake you leaue her now I can Make good her faith and dye 't sha'not be said I liu'd and 〈◊〉 Câ—…eona's fortâ—…ne Duke Stay myracle of honour and of loue Fosc. If you proceed as iâ—… concernes your happinesse I can secure all feare of mee I am Râ—…solu'd â—… course wherein I will bee dead To heâ—… yet liue to pray for her and you Although I neuer see you more will you Mâ—… Râ—…yall Lord Duke Dâ—…d euer Louer plead Againâ—…t himselfe before Fosc. I louâ—… her still And in that study her advancement Sir In you I cannot giuâ—… her Duke Well I will still loue her and solicite Fâ—…sc And not open That I am liuâ—…ng Duke Not a Syllable Fosâ—… I am confident let me but kisse your hand Agâ—…n may blessings dwell with you for euer Exit Dulc. He was aâ—…wayes noble but this passion Has outgone Hystorie it makes for me Haile to my curteous fate Foscâ—…ri thankes Like the aged Pâ—…enix thy old loue expires And from â—…uch Death springs liâ—…e to my dâ—…fires Exit Enter Dulâ—…ino Dulc. The Father is not come yet nor my Lord 〈◊〉 yet when they doe I haue no way Tâ—…â—…lpe my selfe nor haue I power to goe From hence sure this is the Religious man Enter Valentio Val. Ha t is the sâ—…me Dulc. Father Valentio Val. Deare Leonâ—…ra Dulc Sir the same Wal. Oh let My teares expresse my ioyes what myraclâ—… Gaue you this liberty Dulc. I was rescued By th' happy valour of a Gentleman To whom in gratitude I pay this seruice He bad me here expect a holy man And is it you Val. The ciâ—…cumstance confirmes it Dulc. Are you the goodman whom my Lord expectâ—… T is so me refreshing in the midst of sorrow To meete agen Val. And Heauen hath heard my prayer Dulc. But I am miserable still vnlesse Your counsell
Thou shalt Lodw. Then be a Duke still come le ts loue and bee Fine Princes and thou hadst but two or three Of my conditions by this hand I wod not Care and thou were immortall so I might Liue with thee and enioy this worlds felicity Duke T hast put me in tune how shall 's bee very merry Now in the instant Lodw. Merry Duke Yes Lodw. Merry indeed Duke Yes Lodw. Follow me I le bring you to a Lady Duke To a Whore Lodw. That is a little the courser name Duke And can you play the Pander for me Lodw. A toy a toy What can a man doe lesse for any Brother Th' ordinary complement now a dayes with great ones Wee prostitute our Sisters with lesse scruple Then eating flesh on vigils 't is out of fashion To trust a Seruant with our priuate sinnes The greater tye of blood the greater faith And therefore Parents haue beene held of late The safest wheeles on which the childrens lust Hath hurried into act with supple greatnesse Nature doth weare a vertuous charme and will Doe more in soft compassion to the sinne Then gold or swelling promises Duke O Lodwicke These things doe carry Horror he is lost I feare no I ha thought a something else You shall with me to a Lady Lodw. With all my heart Duke Vnto my Mistresse Lodw. Your Mistresse who 's that Duke The faire Cleona Lodw. She is honest Du. Yes were she otherwise she were not worthy my visit Not to loose circumstance I loue her Lodw. How Duke Honestly Lodw. You doe not meane to marry her Duke It sha'not be my fault if she refuse To bee a Dutchesse Lodw. A' my Conscience You are in earnest Duke As I hope to thriue in my desires come You shall beare me company and witnesse How I woe her Lodw. I commend Your nimble resolution then a Wife Must bee had somewhere wo'd y 'ad mine to ceole Your appetite take your owne course I can But pray for you the thousand Crownes Duke Vpon Condition you 'l not refuse to Accompany Lodw Your Caroach quickly stay Now I thinke better on 't my Wife liues with her They are Companions I had forgot that Duke Shee 'l take it kindly Lodw. It were enough to put her Into conceipt I come in loue to her My Constitution will not beare it Duke What Not see her Lodw. Yet a thousand Crownes God buy Condemne me to my wife Exit Duke Yee heare Gentlemen Grim With griefe my Lord and wonder at your sufferance Duke He is our Brother we are confident Though he be wild he loues vs t will become Vs t' pray and leaue him to a myracle But to our owne affaire Loue and thy golden arrow we shall try How you le decide our second Destiny Exeunt Eâ—…er Foscary with a Letter Fosc A kisse and then t is scaled this she should know Better then the impression which I made With the rude signet t is the same she left Vpon my lip when I departed from her And I haue kept it warme still with my breath That in my prayers hath mentioned her Enter Dulcino Dulc. My Lord Fosc Dulcino welcome thou art soone return'd How dost thou like the Citie Dulc T is a heape of handsome building Fosc And how the people Dulc My conuersation hath not age enough To speake of them more then they promise well In their aspect but I haue argument Enough in you my Lord to fortifie Opinion they are kind and hospitable To strangers Fosc Thy indulgence to my wound Which owes a cure vnto thy pretty Surgery Hath made thee too much Prisoner to my Chamber But wee shall walke abroad Dulc It was my duty Since you receiu'd it in my cause and could My blood haue wrought it sooner it had beene Your balmy Fountaine Fosc Noble youth I thanke thee Enter Servant How now didst speake with him Ser. I had the happinesse my Lord to meete him VVaiting vpon the Duke abroad hee bad mee Make hast with the remembrance of his Seruice Hee le bring his owne ioyes with him instantly To welcome your returne Fosc. Didst thou request His secresie Ser I did he promis'd silence Fosc. So I le expect him thou art sad Dulcino I prophesie thou shalt haue cause to blesse The minute that first brought vs to acquaintance Dulc. Doe not suspect my Lord I am so wicked Not to doe that already you haue saued My life and therefore haue deseru'd that duty Fosc Name it no more I meane another way Dulc. It is not in your power to make me richer With any benefit shall succeed it though I should liue euer with you Fosc I require Not so much gratitude Dulc There is no way Left for my hope to doe you any seruice Neere my preseruing but by adding one New fauour to a suit which I would name Fosc. To me I prethee speake It must be something I can deny thee Dulc T is an humble suite You license my departure Fosc. Whither Dulc. Any whether Fosc. Doe you call this a way to doe me seruice Dulc. It is the readiest I can study Sir To tarry were but to increase my debt And wast your fauours in my absence I May publish how much vertue I haue found In Sauoy and make good vnto your fame What I doe owe you here this shall suruine you For I will speake the story with that truth And strength of passion it shall doe you honour And dwell vpon your name sweeter then mythe When wee are both dead Fosc Thou hast art to moue In all things but in this change thy desire And I le deny thee nothing doe not vrge Thy vnkind departure thou hast met perhaps With some that haue deceiu'd thee with a promise Wonne with thy pretty lookes and presence but Trust not a great man most of them dissemble Pride and Court cunning hath betrayed their faith To a secure Idolatry their soule Is lighter then a complement take heede They 'l flatter thy to young ambition Feed thee with names and then like subtle Chimists Hauing extracted drawne thy Spirit vp Laugh they haue made thee miserable Dulc Let No jealousie my Lord render me so Vnhappy that preferment or the flatteries Of any great man hath seduc'd my will To leaue you by my life and your owne honour No man hath tempted me not haue I chang'd A syllable with any Fose Any man Still I suspect thy safetie And thou mayst thus deceiue me it may be Some wanton Lady hath beheld thy face And from her eyes shot Cupids into thine To abuse that fight or wrought vpon thy frailty With their smooth language to vndoe thy selfe Trust not the innocencâ—… of thy Soule too farre For though their bosomes carry whitenesse thinke It is not snow they dwell in a hot Clymate The Court where men are but deceitfull shadowes The womâ—…n walking flames what if this Lady Bestow a wealthy Carkanet vpon thee Another giue thee Wardrobes a third promise A chaine of
if this presence Delight you not I le weary a thousand shapes To please my Lord. Lod. Shapes quotha Bel. Doe not tremble Lod. A Diuel I see her clouen foote I ha'not The heart to pray Grimundo has vndone me Bel. I did command my spirits to put on Satyres and Nâ—…mphes to entertaine you first Whiles others in the ayre maintain'd a quire For your delight why doe you keepe such distance Wâ—…th one that loues you recollect your selfe You came for pleasure what doth fright my loue See I am couetous to returne delight And saâ—…isfie your lustfull genius Come le ts withdraw and on the bed prepar'd Beget a race of smooth and wanton Diuels Lod. Hold come not neere me ha now I compare The circumstances they induce me to A sad beliefe and I had breath enough I would aske a question Bel. Any thing and be Resolud Lod. How came Grimnndo and your deuilship Acquainted Bel. He hath beene my agent long And hath deseru'd for his hipocrisie And priuate sinnes no common plâ—…ce in Hell Hâ—…es now my fauorite and we enioy Each other daily but hee neuer did By any seruice more endeare my loue Then by this bringing you to my acquaintance Which I desir'd of him long since with many And fierce sollâ—…cite but â—…e vrg'd his feare You were not ripe enougâ—… in sinne for his Discoâ—…ery Lod. I feelâ—… my selfe dissolue In sweate Bel. My Lord I must acknowledge I Haue euer had you in my first regard Of any mortall sinner for you haue The same propention with me though with Lesse malice spirits of the lower world Haue seuerall offices assign'd some are To aduance pride some auarice some wrath I am for lust a gay voluptuous Diuell Come le ts embrace for that I loue my Lord Doe and command a regiment of hell They all are at your seruice Lodw. O my foule Bel. Beâ—…ide my Lord it is another motiâ—…e To honour you and by my câ—…aines which now I haue lâ—…ft behind it makes me grow enamor'd Your wife that sayes her prayers at home and weepes Away her sight Oâ—… let me hug you for it Dispise her voweâ—… still spurne her teares agen Into her eyes thou shalt be prince in hell And haue a Crowne of flames brighter then that Which Ariadue weares of fixed staâ—…res Come shall we dally now Lodw. My bones within Are dust already and I weare my flâ—…sh Like a loose vpper garment Bel. Y' are afraid Be not so pale at liuer for I see Your blood turne Coward how would you be frighted To looke vpon me cloth'd with all my horrour That shudder at me now call vp your spirit Lodw. There are too many spirits heere already Would thou wert coniur'd what shall I doe Bel. What other then to bath your soule in pleasure And neuer heard of rauishings wee two Will progresse through the ayre in Uenuâ—… charret And when her siluer doues grow faint and tirâ—… Cupid and Mercury shall lend vs wings And we will visit new worlds when we are Weary of this we both will backe the windâ—…s And hunt the Phaenix through the Arabian Dâ—…serts Hâ—…r we will spoyle of all her shining plumes To make a blazing Coronet for thy temples Which from the Earth beheld shall draw vp wonder And puzzle learned Astronomy to distinguish it From some new Constellation the Sea Shall yeeld vs pastime when inuelopâ—…d With Clouds blacker then night wee range about And when with stormes we ouerthrow whole Nauies We 'll laugh to heare the Marriners exclaime In many thousand shipwrackes what doe I Vrge these particuâ—…ers let vs be one Soule Ayre Earth and Hell is yours Lodw. I haue a suit But daâ—…e â—…ot speake Bel. Take courage and from mee Bâ—…e confident to obtaine Lodw. I am not well The name of Diu ll came to quicke vpon me I was not well prepar'd for â—…uch a sound It turn'd my bloud â—…o ice and I haâ—… not Râ—…couered so much warmth yet to desire The sport I came for would you please but to Dâ—…misse me for a time I would returne When I haue heate and strength enough for such A sprightfull action Belinda I doâ—… finde your cunniâ—…g You pretend this excuse but to gaine time In hope you may repent Lodw. And please your Grace Not I. Bel. You will acquaint some Priest or other A tribe of all the world I most abhorre And they will â—…oole you with their Ghostly councell Pe plâ—…xe you with some fond diuinity To make you loose the Glories I haue promis'd Lod. I could neuer abide such mel â—…neholly people Bel. In this I must betray we spirits haue No perfect knowledge of mens thoughts I see Your bloods â—…nfeebled and although my loue Be infinite and euery minute I Shall languish in your absence yet your health I must preserue t is that that feeds my hopes Hereafter I shall perfectly enioy thee You will be faithfull and returne Lod. Suspect not Bel. One kisse shall seale consent Lod. Her breath smels of brimstone Bel. When next wee meete like to the Gemini Wee le twine our limbes in one another till Wee appeare one creature in our actiue play For this time â—…le dismisse you doe not pray A spirit shall attend you Lod. Doe not pray when did I last I know not farewell horrour He wants a wench that goes to the Dâ—…uell for her Exeunt ACTVS 5. SCAENA 1. Enter Astella and Piero. Astel Touch me not villainâ—… pietie defend me Art thou a man or haue I all this while Conuerst with some ill Angâ—…ll in the shape Of my Lords friend Piero. What needeth all this stirre I vrge your benefit Astel. To vndoe my name Nâ—…v Soule for euer with one act Piero. One act There be those Ladies that haue acted it A hundred times yet thinke themselues as good Câ—…ristians as other women and doe carry As much opinion too for vertue Astel. Heauen Piero. What harme can there be in 't can you neglect Reuenge so iust so easie and delightfull Ast. Tâ—…y breath doth scatter an infection Piero. Scatter a toy be wise and loose no time You know not when-such opportunity May tempt you too 't agen for my owne part I can but doe you pleasure in 't your bloud Should need no other argument Astella I le sooner Empty my veynes not to redeeme thy Soule Should Sinne betray mine honour to one loose Embrace hence traytor I doe feele corruption I' th ayre already it will kill me if I stay heereafter I le not wonder how My Lord became so wicked Piero. You will lead me To some more priuate roome I le follow Madam Exeunt Enter Iacomo Jacom. More priuate roome said hee I smell a businesse I thought this Gamester had beene gone is it e'ne so haue at your burrough Madam hee 's a shrewd Ferâ—…et I can tell you and iust in the nicke here comes the Warrener Enter Lodwicke Lodw. This diuell does not follow me nor any of her Cubs I hope I 'm glad I came off