Act III, Scene III
An apartment in the house of ALIBIUS.
Enter ISABELLA and LOLLIO.
ISA. Why, sirrah, whence have you commission To fetter the doors against me? if you Keep me in a cage, pray, whistle to me, Let me be doing something. LOL. You shall be doing, if it please you; I'll whistle to you, if you’ll pipe after. ISA. Is it your master’s pleasure, or your own, To keep me in this pinfold? LOL. ’Tis for my master’s pleasure, lest being taken in another man’s corn, you might be pounded in another place. ISA. ’Tis very well, and he’ll prove very wise. LOL. He says you have company enough in the house, if you please to be sociable, of all sorts of people. ISA. Of all sorts? why, here’s none but fools and madmen. LOL. Very well: and where will you find any other, if you should go abroad? there’s my master, and I to boot too. ISA. Of either sort one, a madman and a fool. LOL. I would even participate of both then if I were as you; I know you’re half mad already, be half foolish too. ISA. You’re a brave saucy rascal! come on, sir, Afford me then the pleasure of your bedlam; You were commending once to-day to me Your last-come lunatic; what a proper[439] Body there was without brains to guide it, And what a pitiful delight appear’d In that defect, as if your wisdom had found A mirth in madness; pray, sir, let me partake, If there be such a pleasure. LOL. If I do not shew you the handsomest, discreetest madman, one that I may call the understanding madman, then say I am a fool. ISA. Well, a match, I will say so. LOL. When you have [had] a taste of the madman, you shall, if you please, see Fools' College, o' th' [other] side; I seldom lock there; ’tis but shooting a bolt or two, and you are amongst ’em. [Exit, and brings in FRANCISCUS.]—Come on, sir; let me see how handsomely you’ll behave yourself now. FRAN. How sweetly she looks! O, but there’s a wrinkle in her brow as deep as philosophy. Anacreon, drink to my mistress' health, I'll pledge it; stay, stay, there’s a spider in the cup! no, ’tis but a grape-stone; swallow it, fear nothing, poet; so, so, lift higher. ISA. Alack, alack, it is too full of pity To be laugh’d at! how fell he mad? canst thou tell? LOL. For love, mistress: he was a pretty poet too, and that set him forwards first: the Muses then forsook him; he ran mad for a chambermaid, yet she was but a dwarf neither. FRAN. Hail, bright Titania! Why stand’st thou idle on these flowery banks? Oberon is dancing with his Dryades; I'll gather daisies, primrose, violets, And bind them in a verse of poesy. LOL. [holding up a whip] Not too near! you see your danger. FRAN. O, hold thy hand, great Diomede! Thou feed’st thy horses well, they shall obey thee: Get up, Bucephalus kneels. [Kneels. LOL. You see how I awe my flock; a shepherd has not his dog at more obedience. ISA. His conscience is unquiet; sure that was The cause of this: a proper[440] gentleman! FRAN. Come hither, Æsculapius; hide the poison. LOL. Well, ’tis hid. [Hides the whip. FRAN. Didst thou ne’er hear of one Tiresias, A famous prophet?[441] LOL. Yes, that kept tame wild geese. FRAN. That’s he; I am the man. LOL. No? FRAN. Yes; but make no words on’t; I was a man Seven years ago. LOL. A stripling, I think, you might. FRAN. Now I'm a woman, all feminine. LOL. I would I might see that! FRAN. Juno struck me blind. LOL. I'll ne’er believe that; for a woman, they say, has an eye more than a man. FRAN. I say she struck me blind. LOL. And Luna made you mad; you have two trades to beg with. FRAN. Luna is now big-bellied, and there’s room For both of us to ride with Hecate; I'll drag thee up into her silver sphere, And there we’ll beat the bush, and kick the dog[442] That barks against the witches of the night; The swift lycanthropi[443] that walk[444] the round, We’ll tear their wolvish skins, and save the sheep. [Attempts to seize LOLLIO. LOL. Is’t come to this? nay, then, my poison comes forth again [shewing the whip]: mad slave, indeed, abuse your keeper! ISA. I prithee, hence with him, now he grows dangerous. FRAN. [sings] Sweet love, pity me, Give me leave to lie with thee. LOL. No, I'll see you wiser first: to your own kennel! FRAN. No noise, she sleeps; draw all the curtains round, Let no soft sound molest the pretty soul, But love, and love creeps in at a mouse-hole. LOL. I would you would get into your hole! [Exit FRANCISCUS.]—Now, mistress, I will bring you another sort; you shall be fooled another while. [Exit, and brings in ANTONIO.]—Tony, come hither, Tony: look who’s yonder, Tony. ANT. Cousin, is it not my aunt? LOL. Yes, ’tis one of ’em,[445] Tony. ANT. He, he! how do you, uncle? LOL. Fear him not, mistress, ’tis a gentle nigget;[446] you may play with him, as safely with him as with his bauble.[447] ISA. How long hast thou been a fool? ANT. Ever since I came hither, cousin. ISA. Cousin? I'm none of thy cousins, fool. LOL. O, mistress, fools have always so much wit as to claim their kindred.
MADMAN [within]. Bounce, bounce! he falls, he falls! ISA. Hark you, your scholars in the upper room Are out of order. LOL. Must I come amongst you there?—Keep you the fool, mistress; I'll go up and play left-handed Orlando amongst the madmen. [Exit. ISA. Well, sir. ANT. ’Tis opportuneful now, sweet lady! nay, Cast no amazing eye upon this change. ISA. Ha! ANT. This shape of folly shrouds your dearest love, The truest servant to your powerful beauties, Whose magic had this force thus to transform me. ISA. You’re a fine fool indeed! ANT. O, ’tis not strange! Love has an intellect that runs through all The scrutinous sciences, and, like a cunning poet, Catches a quantity of every knowledge, Yet brings all home into one mystery, Into one secret, that he proceeds in. ISA. You’re a parlous[448] fool. ANT. No danger in me; I bring nought but love And his soft-wounding shafts to strike you with: Try but one arrow; if it hurt you, I Will stand you twenty back in recompense. ISA. A forward fool too! ANT. This was love’s teaching: A thousand ways he[449] fashion’d out my way, And this I found the safest and [the] nearest, To tread the galaxia to my star. ISA. Profound withal! certain you dream’d of this, Love never taught it waking. ANT. Take no acquaintance Of these outward follies, there’s within A gentleman that loves you. ISA. When I see him, I'll speak with him; so, in the meantime, keep Your habit, it becomes you well enough: As you’re a gentleman, I'll not discover you; That’s all the favour that you must expect: When you are weary, you may leave the school, For all this while you have but play’d the fool.
Re-enter LOLLIO.
ANT. And must again.—He, he! I thank you, cousin; I'll be your valentine to-morrow morning. LOL. How do you like the fool, mistress? ISA. Passing well, sir. LOL. Is he not witty, pretty well, for a fool? ISA. If he hold on as he begins, he’s like To come to something. LOL. Ay, thank a good tutor: you may put him to’t; he begins to answer pretty hard questions.—Tony, how many is five times six? ANT. Five times six is six times five. LOL. What arithmetician could have answered better? How many is one hundred and seven? ANT. One hundred and seven is seven hundred and one, cousin. LOL. This is no wit to speak on!—Will you be rid of the fool now? ISA. By no means; let him stay a little.
MADMAN [within]. Catch there, catch the last couple in hell![450] LOL. Again! must I come amongst you? Would my master were come home! I am not able to govern both these wards together. [Exit. ANT. Why should a minute of love’s hour be lost? ISA. Fie, out again! I had rather you kept Your other posture; you become not your tongue When you speak from your clothes. ANT. How can he freeze Lives near so sweet a warmth? shall I alone Walk through the orchard of th' Hesperides, And, cowardly, not dare to pull an apple?
Enter LOLLIO above.
This with the red cheeks I must venture for. [Attempts to kiss her. ISA. Take heed, there’s giants keep ’em. LOL. How now, fool, are you good at that? have you read Lipsius?[451] he’s past Ars Amandi; I believe I must put harder questions to him, I perceive that. [Aside. ISA. You’re bold without fear too. ANT. What should I fear, Having all joys about me? Do you smile, And love shall play the wanton on your lip, Meet and retire, retire and meet again; Look you but cheerfully, and in your eyes I shall behold mine own deformity, And dress myself up fairer: I know this shape Becomes me not, but in those bright mirrors I shall array me handsomely. [_Cries of madmen are heard within, like those of birds and beasts._ LOL. Cuckoo, cuckoo! [Exit above. ANT. What are these? ISA. Of fear enough to part us; Yet are they but our schools of lunatics, That act their fantasies in any shapes Suiting their present thoughts: if sad, they cry; If mirth be their conceit, they laugh again: Sometimes they imitate the beasts and birds, Singing or howling, braying, barking; all As their wild fancies prompt ’em. ANT. These are no fears. ISA. But here’s a large one, my man.
Re-enter LOLLIO.
ANT. Ha, he! that’s fine sport indeed, cousin. LOL. I would my master were come home! ’tis too much for one shepherd to govern two of these flocks; nor can I believe that one churchman can instruct two benefices at once; there will be some incurable mad of the one side, and very fools on the other.—Come, Tony. ANT. Prithee, cousin, let me stay here still. LOL. No, you must to your book now; you have played sufficiently. ISA. Your fool is grown wondrous witty. LOL. Well, I'll say nothing; but I do not think but he will put you down one of these days. [Exit with ANTONIO. ISA. Here the restrainèd current might make breach, Spite of the watchful bankers: would a woman stray, She need not gad abroad to seek her sin, It would be brought home one way[452] or other: The needle’s point will to the fixèd north; Such drawing arctics women’s beauties are.
Re-enter LOLLIO.
LOL. How dost thou, sweet rogue? ISA. How now? LOL. Come, there are degrees; one fool may be better than another. ISA. What’s the matter? LOL. Nay, if thou givest thy mind to fool’s flesh, have at thee! ISA. You bold slave, you! LOL. I could follow now as t’other fool did: _What should I fear, Having all joys about me? Do you but smile, And love shall play the wanton on your lip, Meet and retire, retire and meet again; Look you but cheerfully, and in your eyes I shall behold my own deformity, And dress myself up fairer: I know this shape Becomes me not_— and so as it follows: but is not this the more foolish way? Come, sweet rogue; kiss me, my little Lacedæmonian; let me feel how thy pulses beat; thou hast a thing about thee would do a man pleasure, I'll lay my hand on’t. ISA. Sirrah, no more! I see you have discover’d This love’s knight errant, who hath made adventure For purchase of my love; be silent, mute, Mute as a statue,[453] or his injunction For me enjoying, shall be to cut thy throat; I'll do it, though for no other purpose; and Be sure he’ll not refuse it. LOL. My share, that’s all; I'll have my fool’s part with you. ISA. No more! your master.
Enter ALIBIUS.
ALIB. Sweet, how dost thou? ISA. Your bounden servant, sir. ALIB. Fie, fie, sweetheart, No more of that. ISA. You were best lock me up. ALIB. In my arms and bosom, my sweet Isabella, I'll lock thee up most nearly.—Lollio, We have employment, we have task in hand: At noble Vermandero’s, our castle['s] captain, There is a nuptial to be solemniz’d— Beatrice-Joanna, his fair daughter, bride— For which the gentleman hath bespoke our pains, A mixture of our madmen and our fools, To finish, as it were, and make the fag Of all the revels, the third night from the first; Only an unexpected passage over, To make a frightful pleasure, that is all, But not the all I aim at; could we so act it, To teach it in a wild distracted measure, Though out of form and figure, breaking time’s head, It were no matter, ’twould be heal’d again In one age or other, if not in this: This, this, Lollio, there’s a good reward begun, And will beget a bounty, be it known. LOL. This is easy, sir, I'll warrant you: you have about you fools and madmen that can dance very well; and ’tis no wonder, your best dancers are not the wisest men; the reason is, with often jumping they jolt their brains down into their feet, that their wits lie more in their heels than in their heads. ALIB. Honest Lollio, thou giv’st me a good reason, And a comfort in it. ISA. You’ve a fine trade on’t; Madmen and fools are a staple commodity. ALIB. O wife, we must eat, wear clothes, and live: Just at the lawyer’s haven we arrive, By madmen and by fools we both do thrive. [Exeunt.
Act III, Scene IV
An apartment in the castle.
Enter VERMANDERO, BEATRICE, ALSEMERO, and JASPERINO.
VER. Valencia speaks so nobly of you, sir, I wish I had a daughter now for you. ALS. The fellow of this creature were a partner For a king’s love. VER. I had her fellow once, sir, But heaven has married her to joys eternal; 'Twere sin to wish her in this vale again. Come, sir, your friend and you shall see the pleasures Which my health chiefly joys in. ALS. I hear The beauty of this seat largely [commended]. VER. It falls much short of that. [Exit with ALSEMERO and JASPERINO. BEAT. So, here’s one step Into my father’s favour; time will fix him; I've got him now the liberty of the house; So wisdom, by degrees, works out her freedom: And if that eye be darken’d that offends me,— I wait but that eclipse,—this gentleman Shall soon shine glorious in my father’s liking, Through the refulgent virtue of my love.
Enter DE FLORES.
DE F. My thoughts are at a banquet; for the deed, I feel no weight in’t; ’tis but light and cheap For the sweet recompense that I set down for’t. [Aside. BEAT. De Flores! DE F. Lady? BEAT. Thy looks promise cheerfully. DE F. All things are answerable, time, circumstance, Your wishes, and my service. BEAT. Is it done, then? DE F. Piracquo is no more. BEAT. My joys start at mine eyes; our sweet’st delights Are evermore born weeping. DE F. I've a token for you. BEAT. For me? DE F. But it was sent somewhat unwillingly; I could not get the ring without the finger. [Producing the ring.[454] BEAT. Bless me, what hast thou done? DE F. Why, is that more Than killing the whole man? I cut his heart-strings: A greedy hand thrust in a dish at court, In a mistake hath had as much as this. BEAT. ’Tis the first token my father made me send him. DE F. And I [have] made him send it back again For his last token; I was loath to leave it, And I'm sure dead men have no use of jewels; He was as loath to part with’t, for it stuck As if the flesh and it were both one substance. BEAT. At the stag’s fall, the keeper has his fees; ’Tis soon applied, all dead men’s fees are yours, sir: I pray, bury the finger, but the stone You may make use on shortly; the true value, Take’t of my truth, is near three hundred ducats. DE F. ’Twill hardly buy a capcase for one’s conscience though, To keep it from the worm, as fine as ’tis: Well, being my fees, I'll take it; Great men have taught me that, or else my merit Would scorn the way on’t. BEAT. It might justly, sir; Why, thou mistak’st, De Flores, ’tis not given In state of recompense. DE F. No, I hope so, lady; You should soon witness my contempt to’t then. BEAT. Prithee—thou look’st as if thou wert offended. DE F. That were strange, lady; ’tis not possible My service should draw such a cause from you: Offended! could you think so? that were much For one of my performance, and so warm Yet in my service. BEAT. ’Twere misery in me to give you cause, sir. DE F. I know so much, it were so; misery In her most sharp condition. BEAT. ’Tis resolv’d then; Look you, sir, here’s three thousand golden florens;[455] I have not meanly thought upon thy merit. DE F. What! salary? now you move me. BEAT. How, De Flores? DE F. Do you place me in the rank of verminous fellows, To destroy things for wages? offer gold [For] the life-blood of man? is any thing Valued too precious for my recompense? BEAT. I understand thee not. DE F. I could ha' hir’d A journeyman in murder at this rate, And mine own conscience might have [slept at ease],[456] And have had the work brought home. BEAT. I'm in a labyrinth; What will content him? I'd fain be rid of him. [Aside. I'll double the sum, sir. DE F. You take a course To double my vexation, that’s the good you do. BEAT. Bless me, I'm now in worse plight than I was; I know not what will please him. [Aside.]—For my fear’s sake, I prithee, make away with all speed possible; And if thou be’st so modest not to name The sum that will content thee, paper blushes not, Send thy demand in writing, it shall follow thee; But, prithee, take thy flight. DE F. You must fly too then. BEAT. I? DE F. I'll not stir a foot else. BEAT. What’s your meaning? DE F. Why, are not you as guilty? in, I'm sure, As deep as I; and we should stick together: Come, your fears counsel you but ill; my absence Would draw suspect upon you instantly, There were no rescue for you. BEAT. He speaks home! [Aside. DE F. Nor is it fit we two, engag’d so jointly, Should part and live asunder. BEAT. How now, sir? This shews not well. DE F. What makes your lip so strange? This must not be betwixt us. BEAT. The man talks wildly! DE F. Come, kiss me with a zeal now. BEAT. Heaven, I doubt him! [Aside. DE F. I will not stand so long to beg ’em shortly. BEAT. Take heed, De Flores, of forgetfulness, 'Twill soon betray us. DE F. Take you heed first; Faith, you’re grown much forgetful, you’re to blame in’t. BEAT. He’s bold, and I am blam’d for’t. [Aside. DE F. I have eas’d you Of your trouble, think on it; I am in pain, And must be eas’d of you; ’tis a charity, Justice invites your blood to understand me. BEAT. I dare not. DE F. Quickly! BEAT. O, I never shall! Speak it yet further off, that I may lose What has been spoken, and no sound remain on’t; I would not hear so much offence again For such another deed. DE F. Soft, lady, soft! The last is not yet paid for: O, this act Has put me into spirit; I was as greedy on’t As the parch’d earth of moisture, when the clouds weep: Did you not mark, I wrought myself into ’t, Nay, sued and kneel’d for’t? why was all that pains took? You see I've thrown contempt upon your gold; Not that I want it [not], for I do piteously, In order I'll come unto ’t, and make use on’t, But ’twas not held so precious to begin with, For I place wealth after the heels of pleasure; And were I not resolv’d in my belief That thy virginity were perfect in thee, I should but take my recompense with grudging, As if I had but half my hopes I agreed for. BEAT. Why, ’tis impossible thou canst be so wicked, Or shelter such a cunning cruelty, To make his death the murderer of my honour! Thy language is so bold and vicious, I cannot see which way I can forgive it With any modesty. DE F. Push![457] you forget yourself; A woman dipp’d in blood, and talk of modesty! BEAT. O misery of sin! would I'd been bound Perpetually unto my living hate In that Piracquo, than to hear these words! Think but upon the distance that creation Set ’twixt thy blood and mine, and keep thee there. DE F. Look but into your conscience, read me there, ’Tis a true book, you’ll find me there your equal: Push![457] fly not to your birth, but settle you In what the act has made you, you’re no more now; You must forget your parentage to me; You are the deed’s creature; by that name You lost your first condition, and I challenge you, As peace and innocency have[458] turn’d you out, And made you one with me. BEAT. With thee, foul villain! DE F. Yes, my fair murderess; do you urge me? Though thou writ’st maid, thou whore in thy affection! ’Twas chang’d from thy first love, and that’s a kind Of whoredom in the[459] heart; and he’s chang’d now To bring thy second on, thy Alsemero, Whom, by all sweets that ever darkness tasted, If I enjoy thee not, thou ne’er enjoyest! I'll blast the hopes and joys of marriage, I'll confess all; my life I rate at nothing. BEAT. De Flores! DE F. I shall rest from all love’s[460] plagues then; I live in pain now; that shooting eye Will burn my heart to cinders. BEAT. O sir, hear me! DE F. She that in life and love refuses me, In death and shame my partner she shall be. BEAT. [kneeling] Stay, hear me once for all; I make thee master Of all the wealth I have in gold and jewels; Let me go poor unto my bed with honour, And I am rich in all things! DE F. Let this silence thee; The wealth of all Valencia shall not buy My pleasure from me; Can you weep Fate from its determin’d purpose? So soon may [you] weep me. BEAT. Vengeance begins; Murder, I see, is follow’d by more sins: Was my creation in the womb so curst, It must engender with a viper first? DE F. [raising her] Come, rise and shroud your blushes in my bosom; Silence is one of pleasure’s best receipts: Thy peace is wrought for ever in this yielding. 'Las, how the turtle pants! thou’lt love anon What thou so fear’st and faint’st to venture on. [Exeunt.
Act IV
Dumb Show.[461]
Enter Gentlemen, VERMANDERO meeting them with action of wonderment at the disappearance of PIRACQUO. Enter ALSEMERO, with JASPERINO and gallants: VERMANDERO points to him, the gentlemen seeming to applaud the choice. ALSEMERO, VERMANDERO, JASPERINO, and the others, pass over the stage with much pomp, BEATRICE as bride following in great state, attended by DIAPHANTA, ISABELLA, and other gentlewomen; DE FLORES after all, smiling at the accident:[462] ALONZO’S ghost appears to him in the midst of his smile, and startles him, shewing the hand whose finger he had cut off.
Act IV, Scene I
ALSEMERO’S apartment in the castle.
Enter BEATRICE.
BEAT. This fellow has undone me endlessly; Never was bride so fearfully distress’d: The more I think upon th' ensuing night, And whom I am to cope with in embraces, One who’s[463] ennobled both in blood and mind, So clear in understanding,—that’s my plague now,— Before whose judgment will my fault appear Like malefactors' crimes before tribunals; There is no hiding on’t, the more I dive Into my own distress: how a wise man Stands for a great calamity! there’s no venturing Into his bed, what course soe’er I light upon, Without my shame, which may grow up to danger; He cannot but in justice strangle me As I lie by him, as a cheater use me; ’Tis a precious craft to play with a false die Before a cunning gamester. Here’s his closet; The key left in’t, and he abroad i' th' park? Sure ’twas forgot; I'll be so bold as look in’t. [Opens closet. Bless me! a right physician’s closet ’tis, Set round with vials; every one her mark too: Sure he does practise physic for his own use, Which may be safely call’d your great man’s wisdom. What manuscript lies here? [reads] _The Book of Experiment, called Secrets in Nature_:[464] So ’tis, ’tis so; [reads] _How to know whether a woman be with child or no_: I hope I am not yet; if he should try though! Let me see, [reads] folio forty-five, here ’tis, The leaf tuck’d down upon’t, the place suspicious: [reads] _If you would know whether a woman be with child or not, give her two spoonfuls of the white water in glass C_— Where’s that glass C? O yonder, I see’t now— [reads] _and if she be with child, she sleeps full twelve hours after; if not, not_: None of that water comes into my belly; I'll know you from a hundred; I could break you now, Or turn you into milk, and so beguile The master of the mystery; but I'll look to you. Ha! that which is next is ten times worse: [reads] _How to know whether a woman be a maid or not_: If that should be applied, what would become of me? Belike he has a strong faith of my purity, That never yet made proof; but this he calls [reads] _A merry slight,[465] but true experiment; the author Antonius Mizaldus. Give the party you suspect the quantity of a spoonful of the water in the glass M, which, upon her that is a maid, makes three several effects; twill make her incontinently[466] gape, then fall into a sudden sneezing, last into a violent laughing; else, dull, heavy, and lumpish._ Where had I been? I fear it, yet ’tis seven hours to bed-time.
Enter DIAPHANTA.
DIA. Cuds, madam, are you here? BEAT. Seeing that wench now, A trick comes in my mind; ’tis a nice piece Gold cannot purchase. [Aside.]—I come hither, wench, To look my lord. DIA. Would I had such a cause To look him too! [Aside.]—Why, he’s i' th' park, madam. BEAT. There let him be. DIA. Ay, madam, let him compass Whole parks and forests, as great rangers do, At roosting-time a little lodge can hold ’em: Earth-conquering Alexander, that thought the world Too narrow for him, in th' end had but his pit-hole. BEAT. I fear thou art not modest, Diaphanta. DIA. Your thoughts are so unwilling to be known, madam! ’Tis ever the bride’s fashion, towards bed-time, To set light by her joys, as if she ow’d ’em not.[467] BEAT. Her joys? her fears thou wouldst say. DIA. Fear of what? BEAT. Art thou a maid, and talk’st so to a maid? You leave a blushing business behind; Beshrew your heart for’t! DIA. Do you mean good sooth, madam? BEAT. Well, if I'd thought upon the fear at first, Man should have been unknown. DIA. Is’t possible? BEAT. I'd[468] give a thousand ducats to that woman Would try what my fear were, and tell me true To-morrow, when she gets from’t; as she likes, I might perhaps be drawn to’t. DIA. Are you in earnest? BEAT. Do you get the woman, then challenge me, And see if I'll fly from’t; but I must tell you This by the way, she must be a true maid, Else there’s no trial, my fears are not her’s else. DIA. Nay, she that I would put into your hands, madam, Shall be a maid. BEAT. You know I should be sham’d else, Because she lies for me. DIA. ’Tis a strange humour! But are you serious still? would you resign Your first night’s pleasure, and give money too? BEAT. As willingly as live.—Alas, the gold Is but a by-bet to wedge in the honour! [Aside. DIA. I do not know how the world goes abroad For faith or honesty; there’s both requir’d in this. Madam, what say you to me, and stray no further; I've a good mind, in troth, to earn your money. BEAT. You are too quick, I fear, to be a maid. DIA. How? not a maid? nay, then you urge me, madam; Your honourable self is not a truer, With all your fears upon you—— BEAT. Bad enough then. [Aside. DIA. Than I with all my lightsome joys about me. BEAT. I'm glad to hear’t; then you dare put your honesty Upon an easy trial. DIA. Easy? any thing. BEAT. I'll come to you straight. [Goes to the closet. DIA. She will not search me, will she, Like the forewoman of a female jury? BEAT. Glass M: ay, this is it. [Brings vial.]— Look, Diaphanta, You take no worse than I do. [Drinks. DIA. And in so doing, I will not question what it is, but take it. [Drinks. BEAT. Now if th' experiment be true, ’twill praise itself, And give me noble ease: begins already; [DIAPHANTA gapes. There’s the first symptom; and what haste it makes To fall into the second, there by this time! [DIAPHANTA sneezes.
Most admirable secret! on the contrary, It stirs not me a whit, which most concerns it. [Aside. DIA. Ha, ha, ha! BEAT. Just in all things, and in order As if ’twere circumscrib’d; one accident Gives way unto another. [Aside. DIA. Ha, ha, ha! BEAT. How now, wench? DIA. Ha, ha, ha! I'm so, so light At heart—ha, ha, ha!—so pleasurable! But one swig more, sweet madam. BEAT. Ay, to-morrow, We shall have time to sit by’t. DIA. Now I'm sad again. Beat. It lays itself so gently too! [Aside.]—Come, wench, Most honest Diaphanta I dare call thee now. DIA. Pray, tell me, madam, what trick call you this? BEAT. I'll tell thee all hereafter; we must study The carriage of this business. DIA. I shall carry’t well, Because I love the burthen. BEAT. About midnight You must not fail to steal forth gently, That I may use the place. DIA. O, fear not, madam, I shall be cool by that time: the bride’s place, And with a thousand ducats! I'm for a justice now, I bring a portion with me; I scorn small fools. [Exeunt.
Act IV, Scene II
Another apartment in the castle.
Enter VERMANDERO and Servant.
VER. I tell thee, knave, mine honour is in question, A thing till now free from suspicion, Nor ever was there cause. Who of my gentlemen Are absent? Tell me, and truly, how many, and who? SER. Antonio, sir, and Franciscus. VER. When did they leave the castle? SER. Some ten days since, sir; the one intending to Briamata,[469] th' other for Valencia. VER. The time accuses ’em; a charge of murder Is brought within my castle-gate, Piracquo’s murder; I dare not answer faithfully their absence: A strict command of apprehension Shall pursue ’em suddenly, and either wipe The stain off clear, or openly discover it. Provide me wingèd warrants for the purpose. [Exit Servant. See, I am set on again.
Enter TOMASO.
TOM. I claim a brother of you. VER. You’re too hot; Seek him not here. TOM. Yes, ’mongst your dearest bloods, If my peace find no fairer satisfaction: This is the place must yield account for him, For here I left him; and the hasty tie Of this snatch’d marriage gives strong testimony Of his most certain ruin. VER. Certain falsehood! This is the place indeed; his breach of faith Has too much marr’d both my abusèd love, The honourable love I reserv’d for him, And mock’d my daughter’s joy; the prepar’d morning Blush’d at his infidelity; he left Contempt and scorn to throw upon those friends Whose belief hurt ’em: O, ’twas most ignoble To take his flight so unexpectedly, And throw such public wrongs on those that lov’d him! TOM. Then this is all your answer?s VER. ’Tis too fair For one of his alliance; and I warn you That this place no more see you. [Exit.
Enter DE FLORES.
TOM. The best is, There is more ground to meet a man’s revenge on.— Honest De Flores? DE F. That’s my name, indeed. Saw you the bride? good sweet sir, which way took she? TOM. I've bless’d mine eyes from seeing such a false one. DE F. I'd fain get off, this man’s not for my company, I smell his brother’s blood when I come near him. [Aside. TOM. Come hither, kind and true one; I remember My brother lov’d thee well. DE F. O, purely, dear sir!— Methinks I'm now again a-killing on him, He brings it so fresh to me. [Aside. TOM. Thou canst guess, sirrah— An[470] honest friend has an instinct of jealousy— At some foul guilty person. DE F. Alas, sir, I am so charitable, I think none Worse than myself! you did not see the bride then? TOM. I prithee, name her not: is she not wicked? DE F. No, no; a pretty, easy, round-pack’d[471] sinner, As your most ladies are, else you might think I flatter’d her; but, sir, at no hand wicked, Till they’re so old their sins and vices[472] meet, And they salute witches. I'm call’d, I think, sir.— His company even overlays my conscience. [Aside, and exit. TOM. That De Flores has a wondrous honest heart; He’ll bring it out in time, I'm assur’d on’t. O, here’s the glorious master of the day’s joy! 'Twill[473] not be long till he and I do reckon.
Enter ALSEMERO.
Sir. ALS. You’re most welcome. TOM. You may call that word back, I do not think I am, nor wish to be. ALS. ’Tis strange you found the way to this house then. TOM. Would I'd ne’er known the cause! I'm none of those, sir, That come to give you joy, and swill your wine; ’Tis a more precious liquor that must lay The fiery thirst I bring. ALS. Your words and you Appear to me great strangers. TOM. Time and our swords May make us more acquainted; this the business. I should have [had] a brother in your place; How treachery and malice have dispos’d of him, I'm bound to inquire of him which holds his right, Which never could come fairly. ALS. You must look To answer for that word, sir. TOM. Fear you not, I'll have it ready drawn at our next meeting. Keep your day solemn; farewell, I disturb it not; I'll bear the smart with patience for a time. [Exit. ALS. ’Tis somewhat ominous this; a quarrel enter’d Upon this day; my innocence relieves me,
Enter JASPERINO.
I should be wondrous sad else.—Jasperino, I've news to tell thee, strange news. JASP. I ha' some too, I think as strange as yours: would I might keep Mine, so my faith and friendship might be kept in’t! Faith, sir, dispense a little with my zeal, And let it cool in this. ALS. This puts me on, And blames thee for thy slowness. JAS. All may prove nothing, Only a friendly fear that leapt from me, sir. ALS. No question, ’t may prove nothing; let’s partake it though. JAS. ’Twas Diaphanta’s chance—for to that wench I pretend[474] honest love, and she deserves it— To leave me in a back part of the house, A place we chose for private conference; She was no sooner gone, but instantly I heard your bride’s voice in the next room to me; And lending more attention, found De Flores Louder than she. ALS. De Flores! thou art out now. JAS. You’ll tell me more anon. ALS. Still I'll prevent[475] thee, The very sight of him is poison to her. JAS. That made me stagger too; but Diaphanta At her return confirm’d it. ALS. Diaphanta! JAS. Then fell we both to listen, and words pass’d Like those that challenge interest in a woman. ALS. Peace; quench thy zeal, ’tis dangerous to thy bosom. JAS. Then truth is full of peril. ALS. Such truths are. O, were she the sole glory of the earth, Had eyes that could shoot fire into kings' breasts, And touch’d,[476] she sleeps not here! yet I have time, Though night be near, to be resolv’d[477] hereof; And, prithee, do not weigh me by my passions. JAS. I never weigh’d friend so. ALS. Done charitably! That key will lead thee to a pretty secret, [Giving key.
By a Chaldean taught me, and I have My study upon some: bring from my closet A glass inscrib’d there with the letter M, And question not my purpose. JAS. It shall be done, sir. [Exit. ALS. How can this hang together? not an hour since Her woman came pleading her lady’s fears, Deliver’d her for the most timorous virgin That ever shrunk at man’s name, and so modest, She charg’d her weep out her request to me, That she might come obscurely to my bosom.
Enter BEATRICE.
BEAT. All things go well; my woman’s preparing yonder For her sweet voyage, which grieves me to lose; Necessity compels it; I lose all else. [Aside. ALS. Push![478] modesty’s shrine is set in yonder forehead: I cannot be too sure though. [Aside.]—My Joanna! BEAT. Sir, I was bold to weep a message to you; Pardon my modest fears. ALS. The dove’s not meeker; She’s abus’d, questionless. [Aside.
Re-enter JASPERINO with vial.
O, are you come, sir? BEAT. The glass, upon my life! I see the letter. [Aside. JAS. Sir, this is M. [Giving vial. ALS. ’Tis it. BEAT. I am suspected. [Aside. ALS. How fitly our bride comes to partake with us! BEAT. What is’t, my lord? ALS. No hurt. BEAT. Sir, pardon me, I seldom taste of any composition. ALS. But this, upon my warrant, you shall venture on. BEAT. I fear ’twill make me ill. ALS. Heaven forbid that! BEAT. I'm put now to my cunning: th' effects I know, If I can now but feign ’em handsomely. [Aside, then drinks. ALS. It has that secret virtue, it ne’er miss’d, sir, Upon a virgin. JAS. Treble-qualitied? [BEATRICE gapes and sneezes. ALS. By all that’s virtuous, it takes there! proceeds! JAS. This is the strangest trick to know a maid by. BEAT. Ha, ha, ha! You have given me joy of heart to drink, my lord. ALS. No, thou hast given me such joy of heart, That never can be blasted. BEAT. What’s the matter, sir? ALS. See, now ’tis settled in a melancholy; Keep[s] both the time and method. [Aside.]—My Joanna, Chaste as the breath of heaven, or morning’s womb, That brings the day forth! thus my love encloses thee. [Exeunt.
Act IV, Scene III
A room in the house of ALIBIUS.
Enter ISABELLA and LOLLIO.
ISA. O heaven! is this the waning[479] moon? Does love turn fool, run mad, and all at once? Sirrah, here’s a madman, a-kin to the fool too, A lunatic lover. LOL. No, no, not he I brought the letter from. ISA. Compare his inside with his out, and tell me. LOL. The out’s mad, I'm sure of that; I had a taste on’t. ISA. [reads letter] To the bright[480] Andromeda, chief chambermaid to the Knight of the Sun, at the sign of Scorpio, in the middle region, sent by the bellows-mender of Æolus. Pay the post. LOL. This is stark madness! ISA. Now mark the inside. [reads] Sweet lady, having now cast off this counterfeit cover of a madman, I appear to your best judgment a true and faithful lover of your beauty. LOL. He is mad still! ISA. [reads] If any fault you find, chide those perfections in you which have made me imperfect; ’tis the same sun that causeth to grow and enforceth to wither—— LOL. O rogue! ISA. [reads] Shapes and transhapes, destroys and builds again: I come in winter to you, dismantled of my proper ornaments; by the sweet splendour of your cheerful smiles, I spring and live a lover. LOL. Mad rascal still! ISA. [reads] Tread him not under foot, that shall appear an honour to your bounties. I remain—mad till I speak with you, from whom I expect my cure, yours all, or one beside himself, FRANCISCUS. LOL. You are like to have a fine time on’t; my master and I may give over our professions; I do not think but you can cure fools and madmen faster than we, with little pains too. ISA. Very likely. LOL. One thing I must tell you, mistress; you perceive that I am privy to your skill; if I find you minister once, and set up the trade, I put in for my thirds; I shall be mad or fool else. ISA. The first place is thine, believe it, Lollio, If I do fall. LOL. I fall upon you. ISA. So. LOL. Well, I stand to my venture. ISA. But thy counsel now; how shall I deal with ’em? LOL. Why,[481] do you mean to deal with ’em? ISA. Nay, the fair[482] understanding, how to use ’em. LOL. Abuse ’em! that’s the way to mad the fool, and make a fool of the madman, and then you use ’em kindly. ISA. ’Tis easy, I'll practise; do thou observe it: The key of thy wardrobe. LOL. There [gives key]; fit yourself for ’em, and I'll fit ’em both for you. ISA. Take thou no further notice than the outside. LOL. Not an inch [Exit ISABELLA]; I'll put you to the inside.
Enter ALIBIUS.
ALIB. Lollio, art there? will all be perfect, think’st thou? To-morrow night, as if to close up the Solemnity, Vermandero expects us. LOL. I mistrust the madmen most; the fools will do well enough, I have taken pains with them. ALIB. Tush! they cannot miss; the more absurdity, The more commends it, so no rough behaviours Affright the ladies; they’re nice things, thou knowest. LOL. You need not fear, sir; so long as we are there with our commanding pizzles, they’ll be as tame as the ladies themselves. ALIB. I'll see them once more rehearse before they go. LOL. I was about it, sir: look you to the madmen’s morris, and let me alone with the other: there is one or two that I mistrust their fooling; I'll instruct them, and then they shall rehearse the whole measure. ALIB. Do so; I'll see the music prepar’d: but, Lollio, By the way, how does my wife brook her restraint? Does she not grudge at it? LOL. So, so; she takes some pleasure in the house, she would abroad else; you must allow her a little more length, she’s kept too short. ALIB. She shall along to Vermandero’s with us, That will serve her for a month’s liberty. LOL. What’s that on your face, sir? ALIB. Where, Lollio? I see nothing. LOL. Cry you mercy, sir, ’tis your nose; it shewed like the trunk of a young elephant. ALIB. Away, rascal! I'll prepare the music, Lollio. LOL. Do, sir, and I'll dance the whilst. [Exit ALIBIUS.]—Tony, where art thou, Tony?
Enter ANTONIO.
ANT. Here, cousin; where art thou? LOL. Come, Tony, the footmanship I taught you. ANT. I had rather ride, cousin.
Lol. Ay, a whip take you! but I'll keep you out; vault in: look you, Tony; fa, la, la, la, la. [Dances. ANT. Fa, la, la, la, la. [Sings and dances. LOL. There, an honour. ANT. Is this an honour, coz? LOL. Yes, and[483] it please your worship. ANT. Does honour bend in the hams, coz? LOL. Marry does it, as low as worship, squireship, nay, yeomanry itself sometimes, from whence it first stiffened: there rise, a caper. ANT. Caper after an honour, coz? LOL. Very proper, for honour is but a caper, rise[s] as fast and high, has a knee or two, and falls to th' ground again: you can remember your figure, Tony? ANT. Yes, cousin; when I see thy figure, I can remember mine. [Exit LOLLIO.
Re-enter ISABELLA, dressed as a madwoman.
ISA. Hey, how he[484] treads the air! shough, shough, t’other way! he burns his wings else: here’s wax enough below, Icarus, more than will be cancelled these eighteen moons: he’s down, he’s down! what a terrible fall he had! Stand up, thou son of Cretan Dædalus, And let us tread the lower labyrinth; I'll bring thee to the clue. ANT. Prithee, coz, let me alone. ISA. Art thou not drown’d? About thy head I saw a heap of clouds Wrapt like a Turkish turbant; on thy back A crook’d chameleon-colour’d rainbow hung Like a tiara down unto thy hams: Let me suck out those billows in thy belly; Hark, how they roar and rumble in the straits![485] Bless thee from the pirates! ANT. Pox upon you, let me alone! ISA. Why shouldst thou mount so high as Mercury, Unless thou hadst reversion of his place? Stay in the moon with me, Endymion, And we will rule these wild rebellious waves, That would have drown’d my love. ANT. I'll kick thee, if Again thou touch me, thou wild unshapen antic; I am no fool, you bedlam! ISA. But you are, as sure as I am mad: Have I put on this habit of a frantic, With love as full of fury, to beguile The nimble eye of watchful jealousy, And am I thus rewarded? ANT. Ha! dearest beauty! ISA. No, I have no beauty now, Nor never had but what was in my garments: You a quick-sighted lover! come not near me: Keep your caparisons, you’re aptly clad; I came a feigner, to return stark mad. ANT. Stay, or I shall change condition, And become as you are. [Exit ISABELLA.
Re-enter LOLLIO.
LOL. Why, Tony, whither now? why, fool—— ANT. Whose fool, usher of idiots? you coxcomb! I have fool’d too much. LOL. You were best be mad another while then. ANT. So I am, stark mad; I have cause enough; And I could throw the full effects on thee, And beat thee like a fury. LOL. Do not, do not; I shall not forbear the gentleman under the fool, if you do: alas, I saw through your fox-skin before now! Come, I can give you comfort, my mistress loves you; and there is as arrant a madman i' th' house as you are a fool, your rival, whom she loves not: if after the masque we can rid her of him, you earn her love, she says, and the fool shall ride her. ANT. May I believe thee? LOL. Yes, or you may choose whether you will or no. ANT. She’s eas’d of him; I've a good quarrel on’t. LOL. Well, keep your old station yet, and be quiet. ANT. Tell her I will deserve her love. [Exit. LOL. And you are like to have your desire.[486]
Enter FRANCISCUS.
FRAN. [sings] Down, down, down a-down a-down, —and then with a horse-trick To kick Latona’s forehead, and break her bow-string. LOL. This is t’other counterfeit; I'll put him out of his humour. [Aside. Takes out a letter and reads] Sweet lady, having now cast [off][487] this counterfeit cover of a madman, I appear to your best judgment a true and faithful lover of your beauty. This is pretty well for a madman. FRAN. Ha! what’s that? LOL. [reads] Chide those perfections in you which [have] made me imperfect. FRAN. I am discover’d to the fool. LOL. I hope to discover the fool in you ere I have done with you. [Reads] Yours all, or one beside himself, FRANCISCUS. This madman will mend sure. FRAN. What do you read, sirrah? LOL. Your destiny, sir; you’ll be hanged for this trick, and another that I know. FRAN. Art thou of counsel with thy mistress? LOL. Next her apron-strings. FRAN. Give me thy hand. LOL. Stay, let me put yours in my pocket first [putting letter into his pocket]: your hand is true,[488] is it not? it will not pick? I partly fear it, because I think it does lie. FRAN. Not in a syllable. LOL. So; if you love my mistress so well as you have handled the matter here, you are like to be cured of your madness. FRAN. And none but she can cure it. LOL. Well, I'll give you over then, and she shall cast your water next. FRAN. Take for thy pains past. [Gives him money. LOL. I shall deserve more, sir, I hope: my mistress loves you, but must have some proof of your love to her. FRAN. There I meet my wishes. LOL. That will not serve, you must meet her enemy and yours. FRAN. He’s dead already. LOL. Will you tell me that, and I parted but now with him? FRAN. Shew me the man. LOL. Ay, that’s a right course now; see him before you kill him, in any case; and yet it needs not go so far neither, ’tis but a fool that haunts the house and my mistress in the shape of an idiot; bang but his fool’s coat well-favouredly, and ’tis well. FRAN. Soundly, soundly! LOL. Only reserve him till the masque be past; and if you find him not now in the dance yourself, I'll shew you. In, in! my master! [Dancing. FRAN. He handles him like a feather. Hey! [Exit.
Enter ALIBIUS.
ALIB. Well said: in a readiness, Lollio? LOL. Yes, sir. ALIB. Away then, and guide them in, Lollio: Entreat your mistress to see this sight. Hark, is there not one incurable fool That might be begg’d?[489] I have friends. LOL. I have him for you, One that shall deserve it too. [Exit.
Re-enter ISABELLA: then re-enter LOLLIO with the madmen and fools, who dance.
ALIB. Good boy, Lollio! ’Tis perfect: well, fit but once these strains, We shall have coin and credit for our pains. [Exeunt.
Act V, Scene I
A gallery in the castle.
Enter BEATRICE: a clock strikes one.
BEAT. One struck, and yet she lies by’t! O, my fears! This strumpet serves her own ends, ’tis apparent now, Devours the pleasure with a greedy appetite, And never minds my honour or my peace, Makes havoc of my right; but she pays dearly for’t; No trusting of her life with such a secret, That cannot rule her blood to keep her promise; Beside, I've some suspicion of her faith to me, Because I was suspected of my lord, And it must come from her [clock strikes two]: hark! by my horrors, Another clock strikes two!
Enter DE FLORES.
DE F. Pist![490] where are you? BEAT. De Flores? DE F. Ay: is she not come from him yet? BEAT. As I'm a living soul, not! DE F. Sure the devil Hath sow’d his itch within her; who would trust A waiting-woman? BEAT. I must trust somebody. DE F. Push![491] they’re termagants; Especially when they fall upon their masters And have their ladies' first-fruits; they’re mad whelps, You cannot stave ’em off from game royal: then You are so harsh[492] and hardy, ask no counsel; And I could have help’d you to a ’pothecary’s daughter Would have fall’n off before eleven, and thank['d] you too. BEAT. O me, not yet! this whore forgets herself. DE F. The rascal fares so well: look, you’re undone; The day-star, by this hand! see, Phosphorus plain yonder. BEAT. Advise me now to fall upon some ruin; There is no counsel safe else. DE F. Peace! I ha’t now, For we must force a rising, there’s no remedy. BEAT. How? take heed of that. DE F. Tush! be you quiet, or else give over all. BEAT. Prithee—I ha' done then. DE F. This is my reach: I'll set Some part a-fire of Diaphanta’s chamber. BEAT. How? fire, sir? that may endanger the whole house. DE F. You talk of danger when your fame’s on fire? BEAT. That’s true; do what thou wilt now. DE F. Push! I aim At a most rich success strikes all dead sure: The chimney being a-fire, and some light parcels Of the least danger in her chamber only, If Diaphanta should be met by chance then Far from her lodging, which is now suspicious, It would be thought her fears and affrights then Drove her to seek for succour; if not seen Or met at all, as that’s the likeliest, For her own shame she’ll hasten towards her lodging; I will be ready with a piece high-charg’d, As ’twere to cleanse the chimney, there ’tis proper now, But she shall be the mark. BEAT. I'm forc’d to love thee now, 'Cause thou provid’st so carefully for my honour. DE F. ’Slid, it concerns the safety of us both, Our pleasure and continuance. BEAT. One word now, prithee; How for the servants? DE F. I will despatch them, Some one way, some another in the hurry, For buckets, hooks, ladders; fear not you, The deed shall find its time; and I've thought since Upon a safe conveyance for the body too: How this fire purifies wit! watch you your minute. BEAT. Fear keeps my soul upon’t, I cannot stray from’t.
Enter Ghost of ALONZO.
DE F. Ha! what art thou that tak’st away the light Betwixt that star and me? I dread thee not: ’Twas but a mist of conscience; all’s clear again. [Exit. BEAT. Who’s that, De Flores? bless me, it slides by! [Exit Ghost. Some ill thing haunts the house; ’t has left behind it A shivering sweat upon me; I'm afraid now: This night hath been so tedious! O this strumpet! Had she a thousand lives, he should not leave her Till he had destroy’d the last. List! O my terrors! [Clock strikes three. Three struck by St. Sebastian’s! VOICES [within]. Fire, fire, fire! BEAT. Already? how rare is that man’s speed! How heartily he serves me! his face loathes one; But look upon his care, who would not love him? The east is not more beauteous than his service. VOICES [within]. Fire, fire, fire!
Re-enter DE FLORES: Servants pass over the stage.
DE F. Away, despatch! hooks, buckets, ladders! that’s well said. [Bell rings within. The fire-bell rings; the chimney works, my charge; The piece is ready. [Exit. BEAT. Here’s a man worth loving!
Enter DIAPHANTA. O, you’re a jewel! DIA. Pardon frailty, madam; In troth, I was so well, I even forgot myself. BEAT. You’ve made trim work! DIA. What? BEAT. Hie quickly to your chamber; Your reward follows you. DIA. I never made So sweet a bargain. [Exit.
Enter ALSEMERO.
ALS. O, my dear Joanna, Alas! art thou risen too? I was coming, My absolute treasure! BEAT. When I miss’d you, I could not choose but follow. ALS. Thou’rt all sweetness: The fire is not so dangerous. BEAT. Think you so, sir? ALS. I prithee, tremble not; believe me, ’tis not.
Enter VERMANDERO and JASPERINO.
VER. O, bless my house and me! ALS. My lord your father.
Re-enter DE FLORES with a gun.
VER. Knave, whither goes that piece? DE F. To scour the chimney. VER. O, well said, well said! [Exit DE FLORES. That fellow’s good on all occasions. BEAT. A wondrous necessary man, my lord. VER. He hath a ready wit; he’s worth ’em all, sir; Dog at a house of[493] fire; I ha' seen him sing’d ere now.— [Gun fired off within. Ha, there he goes! BEAT. ’Tis done! [Aside. ALS. Come, sweet, to bed now; Alas, thou wilt get cold! BEAT. Alas, the fear keeps that out! My heart will find no quiet till I hear How Diaphanta, my poor woman, fares; It is her chamber, sir, her lodging chamber. VER. How should the fire come there? BEAT. As good a soul as ever lady countenanc’d, But in her chamber negligent and heavy: She ’scap’d a mine twice. VER. Twice? BEAT. Strangely twice, sir. VER. Those sleepy sluts are dangerous in a house, And[494] they be ne’er so good.
Re-enter DE FLORES.
DE F. O, poor virginity, Thou hast paid dearly for’t! VER. Bless us, what’s that? DE F. A thing you all knew once, Diaphanta’s burnt. BEAT. My woman! O, my woman! DE F. Now the flames Are greedy of her; burnt, burnt, burnt to death, sir! BEAT. O my presaging soul! ALS. Not a tear more! I charge you by the last embrace I gave you In bed, before this rais’d us. BEAT. Now you tie me; Were it my sister, now she gets no more.
Enter Servant.
VER. How now? SER. All danger’s past; you may now take Your rests, my lords; the fire is throughly quench’d: Ah, poor gentlewoman, how soon was she stifled! BEAT. De Flores, what is left of her inter, And we as mourners all will follow her: I will entreat that honour to my servant Even of my lord himself. ALS. Command it, sweetness. BEAT. Which of you spied the fire first? DE F. ’Twas I, madam. BEAT. And took such pains in’t too? a double goodness! 'Twere well he were rewarded. VER. He shall be.— De Flores, call upon me. ALS. And upon me, sir. [Exeunt all except DE FLORES. DE F. Rewarded? precious! here’s a trick beyond me: I see in all bouts, both of sport and wit, Always a woman strives for the last hit. [Exit.
Act V, Scene II
Another apartment in the castle.
Enter TOMASO.
TOM. I cannot taste the benefits of life With the same relish I was wont to do: Man I grow weary of, and hold his fellowship A treacherous bloody friendship; and because I'm ignorant in whom my wrath should settle, I must think all men villains, and the next I meet, whoe’er he be, the murderer Of my most worthy brother. Ha! what’s he?
DE FLORES passes over the stage.
O, the fellow that some call honest De Flores; But methinks honesty was hard bested To come there for a lodging; as if a queen Should make her palace of a pest-house: I find a contrariety in nature Betwixt that face and me; the least occasion Would give me game upon him; yet he’s so foul One would scarce touch [him] with a sword he lov’d And made account of; so most deadly venomous, He would go near to poison any weapon That should draw blood on him; one must resolve Never to use that sword again in fight In way of honest manhood that strikes him; Some river must devour it; ’twere not fit That any man should find it. What, again?
Re-enter DE FLORES.
He walks a' purpose by, sure, to choke me up, T' infect my blood. DE F. My worthy noble lord! TOM. Dost offer to come near and breathe upon me? [Strikes him. DE F. A blow! [Draws. TOM. Yea, are you so prepar’d? I'll rather like a soldier die by th' sword, Than like a politician by thy poison. [Draws. DE F. Hold, my lord, as you are honourable! TOM. All slaves that kill by poison are still cowards. DE F. I cannot strike; I see his brother’s wounds Fresh bleeding in his eye, as in a crystal.— [Aside. I will not question this, I know you’re noble; I take my injury with thanks given, sir, Like a wise lawyer, and as a favour Will wear it for the worthy hand that gave it.—Why this from him that yesterday appear’d So strangely loving to me? O, but instinct is of a subtler strain! Guilt must not walk so near his lodge again; He came near me now. [Aside, and exit. TOM. All league with mankind I renounce for ever, Till I find this murderer; not so much As common courtesy but I'll lock up; For in the state of ignorance I live in, A brother may salute his brother’s murderer, And wish good speed to th' villain in a greeting.
Enter VERMANDERO, ALIBIUS, and ISABELLA.
VER. Noble Piracquo! TOM. Pray, keep on your way, sir; I've nothing to say to you. VER. Comforts bless you, sir! TOM. I've forsworn compliment, in troth, I have, sir; As you are merely man, I have not left A good wish for you, nor [for] any here. VER. Unless you be so far in love with grief, You will not part from’t upon any terms, We bring that news will make a welcome for us. TOM. What news can that be? VER. Throw no scornful smile Upon the zeal I bring you,’tis worth more, sir; Two of the chiefest men I kept about me I hide not from the law or your just vengeance. TOM. Ha! VER. To give your peace more ample satisfaction, Thank these discoverers. TOM. If you bring that calm, Name but the manner I shall ask forgiveness in For that contemptuous smile [I threw][495] upon you, I'll perfect it with reverence that belongs Unto a sacred altar. [Kneels. VER. [raising him] Good sir, rise; Why, now you overdo as much ’a this hand As you fell short ’a t’other.—Speak, Alibius. ALIB. ’Twas my wife’s fortune, as she is most lucky At a discovery, to find out lately, Within our hospital of fools and madmen, Two counterfeits slipp’d into these disguises, Their names Franciscus and Antonio. VER. Both mine, sir, and I ask no favour for ’em. ALIB. Now that which draws suspicion to their habits, The time of their disguisings agrees justly With the day of the murder. TOM. O blest revelation! VER. Nay, more, nay, more, sir—I'll not spare mine own In way of justice—they both feign’d a journey To Briamata,[496] and so wrought out their leaves; My love was so abus’d in’t. TOM. Time’s too precious To run in waste now; you have brought a peace The riches of five kingdoms could not purchase: Be my most happy conduct; I thirst for ’em: Like subtle lightning will I wind about ’em, And melt their marrow in ’em. [Exeunt.
Act V, Scene III
ALSEMERO’S apartment[497] in the castle.
Enter ALSEMERO and JASPERINO.
JAS. Your confidence, I'm sure, is now of proof; The prospect from the garden has shew’d[498] Enough for deep suspicion. ALS. The black mask That so continually was worn upon’t Condemns the face for ugly ere’t be seen, Her despite to him, and so seeming bottomless. JAS. Touch it home then; ’tis not a shallow probe Can search this ulcer soundly; I fear you’ll find it Full of corruption: ’tis fit I leave you, She meets you opportunely from that walk; She took the back door at his parting with her. [Exit.
ALS. Did my fate wait for this unhappy stroke At my first sight of woman? She is here.
Enter BEATRICE.
BEAT. Alsemero! ALS. How do you? BEAT. How do I? Alas, how do you, [sir]? you look not well. ALS. You read me well enough, I am not well. BEAT. Not well, sir? is’t in my power to better you? ALS. Yes. BEAT. Nay, then you’re cur’d again. ALS. Pray, resolve me one question, lady. BEAT. If I can. ALS. None can so sure: are you honest? BEAT. Ha, ha, ha! that’s a broad question, my lord. ALS. But that’s not a modest answer, my lady: Do you laugh? my doubts are strong upon me. BEAT.’Tis innocence that smiles, and no rough brow Can take away the dimple in her cheek: Say I should strain a tear to fill the vault, Which would you give the better faith to? ALS. ’Twere but hypocrisy of a sadder colour, But the same stuff; neither your smiles nor tears Shall move or flatter me from my belief: You are a whore! BEAT. What a horrid sound it hath! It blasts a beauty to deformity; Upon what face soever that breath falls, It strikes it ugly: O, you have ruin’d What you can ne’er repair again! ALS. I'll all Demolish, and seek out truth within you, If there be any left; let your sweet tongue Prevent your heart’s rifling; there I'll ransack And tear out my suspicion. BEAT. You may, sir; It is an easy passage; yet, if you please, Shew me the ground whereon you lost your love; My spotless virtue may but tread on that Before I perish. ALS. Unanswerable; A ground you cannot stand on; you fall down Beneath all grace and goodness when you set Your ticklish heel on it: there was a visor Over that cunning face, and that became you; Now impudence in triumph rides upon’t; How comes this tender reconcilement else 'Twixt you and your despite, your rancorous loathing, De Flores? he that your eye was sore at sight of, He’s now become your arm’s supporter, your Lip’s saint! BEAT. Is there the cause? ALS. Worse, your lust’s devil, Your adultery! BEAT. Would any but yourself say that, 'Twould turn him to a villain! ALS. It was witness’d By the counsel of your bosom, Diaphanta. BEAT. Is your witness dead then? ALS.’Tis to be fear’d It was the wages of her knowledge; poor soul, She liv’d not long after the discovery. BEAT. Then hear a story of not much less horror Than this your false suspicion is beguil’d with; To your bed’s scandal I stand up innocence, Which even the guilt of one black other deed Will stand for proof of; your love has made me A cruel murderess. ALS. Ha! BEAT. A bloody one; I have kiss’d poison for it, strok’d a serpent: That thing of hate, worthy in my esteem Of no better employment, and him most worthy To be so employ’d, I caus’d to murder That innocent Piracquo, having no Better means than that worst to assure Yourself to me. ALS. O, the place itself e’er since Has crying been for vengeance! the temple, Where blood and beauty first unlawfully Fir’d their devotion and quench’d the right one; ’Twas in my fears at first, ’twill have it now: O, thou art all deform’d! BEAT. Forget not, sir, It for your sake was done: shall greater dangers Make the less welcome? ALS. O, thou should’st have gone A thousand leagues about to have avoided This dangerous bridge of blood! here we are lost. BEAT. Remember, I am true unto your bed. ALS. The bed itself’s a charnel, the sheets shrouds For murder’d carcasses. It must ask pause What I must do in this; meantime you shall Be my prisoner only: enter my closet; [Exit BEATRICE into closet. I'll be your keeper yet. O, in what part Of this sad story shall I first begin? Ha! This same fellow has put me in.—
Enter DE FLORES.
De Flores. DE F. Noble Alsemero! ALS. I can tell you News, sir; my wife has her commended to you. DE F. That’s news indeed, my lord; I think she would Commend me to the gallows if she could, She ever loved me so well; I thank her. ALS. What’s this blood upon your band, De Flores? DE F. Blood! no, sure ’twas wash’d since. ALS. Since when, man? DE F. Since t’other day I got a knock In a sword-and-dagger school; I think ’tis out. ALS. Yes, ’tis almost out, but ’tis perceiv’d though. I had forgot my message; this it is, What price goes murder? DE F. How, sir? ALS. I ask you, sir; My wife’s behindhand with you, she tells me, For a brave bloody blow you gave for her sake Upon Piracquo. DE F. Upon? ’twas quite through him sure: Has she confess’d it? ALS. As sure as death to both of you; And much more than that. DE F. It could not be much more; ’Twas but one thing, and that—she is a whore. ALS. I[t] could not choose but follow: O cunning devils! How should blind men know you from fair-fac’d saints? BEAT. [within] He lies! the villain does belie me! DE F. Let me go to her, sir. ALS. Nay, you shall to her.— Peace, crying crocodile, your sounds are heard; Take your prey to you;—get you in to her, sir: [Exit DE FLORES into closet. I'll be your pander now; rehearse again Your scene of lust, that you may be perfect When you shall come to act it to the black audience, Where howls and gnashings shall be music to you: Clip[499] your adulteress freely, ’tis the pilot Will guide you to the mare mortuum, Where you shall sink to fathoms bottomless.
Enter VERMANDERO, TOMASO, ALIBIUS, ISABELLA, FRANCISCUS, and ANTONIO.
VER. O Alsemero! I've a wonder for you. ALS. No, sir, ’tis I, I have a wonder for you. VER. I have suspicion near as proof itself For Piracquo’s murder. ALS. Sir, I have proof Beyond suspicion for Piracquo’s murder. VER. Beseech you, hear me; these two have been disguis’d E'er since the deed was done. ALS. I have two other That were more close disguis’d than your two could be E'er since the deed was done. VER. You’ll hear me—these mine own servants. ALS. Hear me—those nearer than your servants That shall acquit them, and prove them guiltless. FRAN. That may be done with easy truth, sir. TOM. How is my cause bandied through your delays! ’Tis urgent in [my] blood, and calls for haste; Give me a brother [or] alive or dead; Alive, a wife with him; if dead, for both A recompense, for murder and adultery. BEAT. [within] O, O, O! ALS. Hark! ’tis coming to you. DE F. [within] Nay, I'll along for company. BEAT. [within] O, O! VER. What horrid sounds are these? ALS. Come forth, you twins Of mischief!
Re-enter DE FLORES, dragging in BEATRICE wounded.
DE F. Here we are; if you have any more To say to us, speak quickly, I shall not Give you the hearing else; I am so stout yet, And so, I think, that broken rib of mankind. VER. An host of enemies enter’d my citadel Could not amaze like this: Joanna! Beatrice! Joanna! BEAT. O, come not near me, sir, I shall defile you! I am that of your blood was taken from you For your better health; look no more upon’t, But cast it to the ground regardlessly, Let the common sewer take it from distinction: Beneath the stars, upon yon meteor [Pointing to DE FLORES.
Ever hung[500] my fate, ’mongst things corruptible; I ne’er[501] could pluck it from him; my loathing Was prophet to the rest, but ne’er believ’d: Mine honour fell with him, and now my life.— Alsemero, I'm a stranger to your bed; Your bed was cozen’d on the nuptial night, For which your false bride died. ALS. Diaphanta? DE F. Yes, and the while I coupled with your mate At barley-break;[502] now we are left in hell. VER. We are all there, it circumscribes [us] here. DE F. I lov’d this woman in spite of her heart: Her love I earn’d out of Piracquo’s murder. TOM. Ha! my brother’s murderer? DE F. Yes, and her honour’s prize Was my reward; I thank life for nothing But that pleasure; it was so sweet to me, That I have drunk up all, left none behind For any man to pledge me. VER. Horrid villain! Keep life in him for further tortures. DE F. No! I can prevent you; here’s my pen-knife still; It is but one thread more [stabbing himself] and now ’tis cut.— Make haste, Joanna, by that token to thee, Canst not forget, so lately put in mind; I would not go to leave thee far behind. [Dies. BEAT. Forgive me, Alsemero, all forgive! ’Tis time to die when ’tis a shame to live. Dies. VER. O, my name’s enter’d now in that record Where till this fatal hour ’twas never read! ALS. Let it be blotted out; let your heart lose it, And it can never look you in the face, Nor tell a tale behind the back of life To your dishonour; justice hath so right The guilty hit, that innocence is quit By proclamation, and may joy again.— Sir, you are sensible of what truth hath done; ’Tis the best comfort that your grief can find. TOM. Sir, I am satisfied; my injuries Lie dead before me; I can exact no more, Unless my soul were loose, and could o’ertake Those black fugitives that are fled from hence,[503] To take a second vengeance; but there are wraths Deeper than mine, ’tis to be fear’d, about ’em. ALS. What an opacous body had that moon That last chang’d on us! here is beauty chang’d To ugly whoredom; here servant-obedience To a master-sin, imperious murder; I, a supposed husband, chang’d embraces With wantonness,—but that was paid before.— Your change is come too, from an ignorant wrath To knowing friendship.—Are there any more on’s? ANT. Yes, sir, I was changed too from a little ass as I was to a great fool as I am; and had like to ha' been changed to the gallows, but that you know my innocence[504] always excuses me. FRAN. I was chang’d from a little wit to be stark mad, Almost for the same purpose. ISA. Your change is still behind, But deserve best your transformation: You are a jealous coxcomb, keep schools of folly, And teach your scholars how to break your own head. ALIB. I see all apparent, wife, and will change now Into a better husband, and ne’er keep Scholars that shall be wiser than myself. ALS. Sir, you have yet a son’s duty living, Please you, accept it; let that your sorrow, As it goes from your eye, go from your heart, Man and his sorrow at the grave must part.— All we can do[505] to comfort one another, To stay a brother’s sorrow for a brother, To dry a child from the kind father’s eyes, Is to no purpose, it rather multiplies: Your only smiles have power to cause re-live The dead again, or in their rooms to give Brother a new brother, father a child; If these appear, all griefs are reconcil’d. [Exeunt omnes.
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A GAME AT CHESS.
Of A Game at Chess I have seen three different editions, all 4to, n. d. To two of them, abounding in the grossest errors, is prefixed the engraved title-page, of which a fac-simile is given in the present work. The other edition, which is comparatively very correct, and which I have therefore made the basis of my text (designating it in the notes as Quarto C.), has also an engraved title-page, but less curious and containing fewer figures than that above mentioned.[506]
Mr. J. P. Collier possesses a letter-press title-page of the play, “Printed 1625,” belonging to some edition of which, I believe, no copies are known to exist.
A MS. of A Game at Chess, dated 1624, is in the British Museum (Lansdown, 690); and another, imperfect, in the library at Bridgewater House: I have collated both for the present edition.
This allegorical and political drama was brought on the stage in 1624; and its production forms a memorable incident in the author’s life: see Account of Middleton and his Writings.
Two of the most important characters in the play are the Black-Knight, that is, Gondonmar the Spanish ambassador, and the Fat Bishop, that is, Antonio de Dominis. The story of the latter is thus concisely related by Hume: “The famous Antonio di Dominis, Archbishop of Spalato, no despicable philosopher, came likewise into England [in 1616], and afforded great triumph to the nation by their gaining so considerable a proselyte from the papists. But the mortification followed soon after. For the Archbishop, though advanced to some ecclesiastical preferments, received not encouragement sufficient to satisfy his ambition, and he made his escape into Italy [in 1622], where soon after he died in confinement.” Hist. of England, vol. vi. p. 136, ed. 1763. Such particulars concerning Antonio as were necessary for the illustration of the text will be found in my notes. That he was a man of a restless spirit, vain, ambitious, and avaricious, is no more to be doubted than that his talents and acquirements were of a superior order.
The White King and the Black King represent, I presume, the respective monarchs of England and Spain (see Secretary Conway’s letter in Account of Middleton and his Writings); and the White Queen’s Pawn seems intended to stand for the Church of England.
THE PICTURE PLAINLY EXPLAINED AFTER THE MANNER OF THE CHESS-PLAY.
A Game at Chess is here display’d, Between the Black and White House made, Wherein crown-thirsting policy For the Black House, by fallacy, To the White Knight check often gives, And to some straits him thereby drives; The Fat Black Bishop helps also, With faithless heart, to give the blow: Yet, maugre all their craft, at length The White Knight, with wit-wondrous strength And circumspective prudency, Gives check-mate by discovery To the Black Knight: and so at last, The Game thus won, the Black House cast Into the Bag, and therein shut, Find all their plumes and cocks-combs cut. Plain dealing thus, by wisdom’s guide, Defeats the cheats of craft and pride.
Prologue
What of the game call’d Chess-play can be made To make a stage-play, shall this day be play’d: First, you shall see the men in order set, States[507] and their Pawns, when both the sides are met, The Houses well distinguish’d; in the game Some men entrapt and taken to their shame, Rewarded by their play; and, in the close, You shall see check-mate given to virtue’s foes: But the fair’st jewel that our hopes can deck, Is so to play our game t' avoid your check.
Dramatis Personæ
White King. Black King. White Knight. Black Knight. White Duke. Black Duke. White Bishop. Black Bishop. Pawns. Pawns. Fat Bishop. His Pawn. White Queen. Black Queen. Her Pawn. Her Pawn.
IN THE INDUCTION.
IGNATIUS LOYOLA. ERROR.
A GAME AT CHESS.
Induction
ERROR discovered asleep: enter IGNATIUS LOYOLA.
IGN. Ha! where? what angle[508] of the world is this, That I can neither see the politic face, Nor with my refin’d nostrils taste[509] the footsteps Of any my disciples, sons and heirs As well of my designs as institution? I thought they had spread over the world by this time, Cover’d the earth’s face, and made dark the land, Like the Egyptian grasshoppers. Here’s too much light appears, shot from the eyes Of Truth and Goodness never yet deflower’d: Sure they were never here; then is their monarchy Unperfect yet; a just reward, I see, For their ingratitude so long to me, Their father and their founder. ’Tis not five years since I was sainted by ’em: Where slept mine honour all the time before? Could they be so forgetful to canonize Their prosperous institutor? when they had sainted me, They found no room in all their calendar To place my name, that should have remov’d princes, Pull’d the most eminent prelates by the roots up For my dear coming, to make way for me; Let every petty martyr and saint homily, Roch,[510] Main,[511] and Petronill,[512] itch and ague-curers, Your abbess Aldegund[513] and Cunegund,[514] The widow Marcell,[515] parson Polycarp,[516] Cecily[517] and Ursula,[518] all take place of me; And but for the bissextile or leap-year, And that’s but one in three. I fall by chance Into the nine-and-twentieth day of February; There were no room else for me: see their love, Their conscience too, to thrust me a lame soldier[519] Into leap-year! My Wrath’s up, and, methinks, I could with the first syllable of my name Blow up their colleges.—Up, Error, wake! Father of supererogation, rise! It is Ignatius calls thee, Loyola. ERROR. What have you done? O, I could sleep in ignorance Immortally, the slumber is so pleasing! I saw the bravest setting for a game now That ever mine eye fix’d on. IGN. What game, prithee? ERROR. The noblest game of all, a game at chess, Betwixt our side and the White House; the men set In their just order, ready to go to’t. IGN. Were any of my sons plac’d for the game? ERROR. Yes, and a daughter too; a secular daughter That plays the Black Queen’s Pawn, he the Black Bishop’s. IGN. If ever power could shew a mastery[520] in thee, Let it appear in this! ERROR. ’Tis but a dream, A vision, you must think. IGN. I care not what, So I behold[521] the children of my cunning, And see what rank they keep. ERROR. You have your wish:
Music: enter severally, in order of the game, the White and Black Houses.
Behold, there’s the full number of the game, Kings and their Pawns, Queens, Bishops, Knights, and Dukes. IGN. Dukes? they’re call’d Rooks by some. ERROR. Corruptedly; Le roc[522] the word, custode[523] de la roche, The keeper of the forts, in whom both Kings Repose much confidence; and for their trust-sake, Courage, and worth, do well deserve those titles. IGN. The answer’s high: I see my son and daughter.[524] ERROR. Those are two Pawns, the Black Queen’s and Black[525] Bishop’s. IGN. Pawns argue but poor spirits and slight performents,[526] Nor worthy of the name of my disciples: If I had stood so nigh, I would have cut That Bishop’s throat but I'd have had his place, And told the Queen a love-tale in her ear Would make her best pulse dance: there’s no elixir Of brain or spirit amongst ’em. ERROR. Why, would you have them play against themselves? That’s quite against the rule of game, Ignatius. IGN. Pish, I would rule myself, not observe rule. ERROR. Why, then, you’d play a game all by yourself. IGN. I would do any thing to rule alone: ’Tis rare to have the world reign’d in by one.[527] ERROR. See ’em anon, and mark ’em in their play; Observe, as in a dance, they glide away. [_Exeunt the two Houses._ IGN. O, with what longings will this breast be tost, Until I see this great game won and lost! [Exeunt.
Act I, Scene I
Field between the two Houses.
Enter severally White Queen’s Pawn and Black Queen’s Pawn.
B. Q. PAWN. I ne’er see that face but my pity rises; When I behold so clear a masterpiece Of heaven’s art wrought out of dust and ashes, And at next thought to give her lost eternally, In being not ours, but the daughter of heresy, My soul bleeds at mine eyes. W. Q. PAWN. Where should truth speak, If not in such a sorrow? they’re tears plainly: Beshrew me, if she weep[528] not heartily! What is my peace to her to take such pains in’t? If I wander to loss, and with broad eyes Yet miss the path she can run blindfold in Through often exercise, why should my oversight, Though in the best game that e’er Christian lost, Raise the least spring of pity in her eyes? ’Tis doubtless a great charity; and no virtue Could win me surer. B. Q. PAWN. Blessed things prevail with’t! If ever goodness made a gracious promise, It is in yonder look: what little pains Would build a fort for virtue to all memory In that sweet creature, were the ground-work firmer![529] W. Q. PAWN. It hath been all my glory to be firm In what I have profess’d. B. Q. PAWN. That is the enemy That steals your strength away, and fights against you, Disarms[530] your soul even in the heat of battle; Your firmness that way makes you more infirm For the right Christian conflict. There I spied A zealous primitive sparkle but now flew From your devoted eye, Able to blow up all the[531] heresies That ever sate in council with your spirit. And here comes he whose sanctimonious breath Can[532] make that spark a flame: list to him, virgin, At whose first entrance princes will fall prostrate; Women are weaker vessels.
Enter Black Bishop’s Pawn.
W. Q. PAWN. By my penitence, A comely presentation, and the habit To admiration reverend! B. Q. PAWN. But the heart, lady, so meek, That as you see good Charity pictur’d still With young ones in her arms, so will he cherish All his young, tractable, sweet, obedient daughters Even in his bosom, in his own dear bosom. I am myself a secular Jesuitess,[533] As many ladies are of worth[534] and greatness: A second sort are Jesuits in voto, Giving their vow unto the[535] Father General, That’s the Black Bishop of our House, whose Pawn This gentleman now stands for, to receive The college-habit at his holy pleasure. W. Q. PAWN. But how are those in voto employ’d, lady, Till they receive the habit? B. Q. PAWN. They’re not idle; He finds them all true labourers in the work Of th' universal monarchy, which he And his disciples principally aim at: Those are maintain’d in many courts and palaces, And are induc’d by[536] noble personages Into great princes' services, and prove Some councillors of state, some secretaries; All serving in notes of intelligence— As parish-clerks their mortuary-bills— To the Father General: so are designs Oft-times prevented, and important[537] secrets Of states discover’d, yet no author found, But they suspected oft that are most sound. This mystery is too deep yet for your entrance; And I offend to set your zeal so back: Check’d by obedience with desire to hasten Your progress to perfection, I commit you To the great worker’s hands; to whose grave worth I fit my reverence, as to you my wishes. B. B. PAWN. Dost[538] find her supple? B. Q. PAWN. There’s a little passage made.[539] [Exit. B. B. PAWN. Let me contemplate, With holy wonder season my access, And, by degrees, approach the sanctuary Of unmatch’d beauty, set in grace and goodness. Amongst the daughters of men I have not found A more Catholical aspèct: that eye Doth promise single life and meek obedience; Upon those lips, the sweet fresh buds of youth, The holy dew of prayer lies, like pearl Dropt from the opening eyelids of the morn[540] Upon the bashful rose. How beauteously A gentle fast, not rigorously impos’d Would look upon that cheek! and how delightfully The courteous physic of a tender penance, Whose utmost cruelty should not exceed The first fear of a bride, to beat down frailty, Would work to sound health your long-fester’d judgment, And make your merit, which, through erring ignorance, Appears but spotted righteousness to me, Far clearer than the innocence of infants! W. Q. PAWN. To that good work I bow, and will become Obedience' humblest daughter, since I find Th' assistance of a sacred strength to aid me: The labour is as easy to serve virtue The right way, since ’tis she I ever serv’d In my desire, though I transgress’d in judgment. B. B. PAWN. That’s easily absolv’d amongst the rest: You shall not find the virtue that you serve now A sharp and cruel mistress; her ear’s open To all your supplications; you may boldly And safely let in the most secret sin Into her knowledge, which, like vanish’d man, Never returns into the world again; Fate locks not up more trulier. W. Q. PAWN. To the guilty That may appear some benefit. B. B. PAWN. Who’s so innocent That never stands in need on’t in some kind? If every thought were blabb’d that’s so confest, The very air we breathe would be unblest.— Now to the work indeed, which is to catch Her inclination; that’s the special use We make of all our practice in all kingdoms; For by discovering[541] their most secret frailties, Things which, once ours, they must not hide from us (That’s the first article in the creed we teach ’em), Finding to what point their blood most inclines, Know best to apt them then to our designs. [Aside. Daughter, the sooner you disperse your errors, The sooner you make haste to your recovery: You must part with ’em; to be nice or modest Towards this good action, is to imitate The bashfulness of one conceals an ulcer, For the uncomely parts that[542] tumour vexes, Till’t be past cure. Resolve you thus far, lady; The privat’st thought that runs to hide itself In the most secret corner of your heart now, Must be of my acquaintance, so familiarly Never she-friend of your night-counsels[543] nearer. W. Q. PAWN. I stand not much in fear of any action Guilty of that black time, most noble holiness. I must confess, as in a sacred temple Throng’d with an auditory, some come rather To feed on human object than to taste Of angels' food; So in the congregation of quick thoughts, Which are more infinite than such assemblies, I cannot with truth’s safety speak for all: Some have been wanderers, some fond,[544] some sinful, But those found ever but poor entertainment, They had small encouragement to come again. The single life, which strongly I profess now, Heaven pardon me! I was about to part from. B. B. PAWN. Then you have pass’d through love? W. Q. PAWN. But left no stain In all my passage, sir, no print of wrong For the most chaste maid that may trace my footsteps. B. B. PAWN. How came you off so clear? W. Q. PAWN. I was discharg’d By an inhuman accident, which modesty Forbids me to put any language to. B. B. PAWN. How you forget yourself! all actions Clad[545] in their proper language, though most sordid, My ear is bound by duty to let in And lock up everlastingly. Shall I help you? He was not found to answer his creation: A vestal virgin in a slip of grace Could not deliver man’s loss modestlier: ’Twas the White Bishop’s Pawn. W. Q. PAWN. The same, blest sir. B. B. PAWN. An heretic well pickled. W. Q. PAWN. By base treachery, And violence prepar’d by his competitor,[546] The Black Knight’s Pawn, whom I shall ever hate for’t. B. B. PAWN. ’Twas of revenges the unmanliest way That ever rival took; a villany That, for your sake, I'll ne’er absolve him of. W. Q. PAWN. I wish it not so heavy. B. B. PAWN. He must feel it: I never yet gave absolution To any crime of that unmanning nature. It seems then you refus’d him for defect; Therein you stand not pure from the desire That other women have in ends of marriage: Pardon my boldness, if I sift your goodness To the last grain. W. Q. PAWN. I reverence your pains, sir, And must acknowledge custom to enjoy What other women challenge and possess More rul’d me than desire; for my desires Dwell all in ignorance, and I'll never wish To know that fond[547] way may redeem ’em thence. B. B. PAWN. I never was so taken; beset doubly Now with her judgment: what a strength it puts forth! [Aside.
I bring work nearer to you: when you’ve seen A masterpiece of man, compos’d by heaven For a great prince’s favour, kingdom’s love; So exact, envy could not find a place To stick a blot on person or on fame; Have you not found ambition swell your wish then, And desire stir your blood? W. Q. PAWN. By virtue, never! I've only in the dignity of the creature Admir’d the maker’s glory. B. B. PAWN. She’s impregnable; A second siege must not fall off so tamely: She’s one of those must be inform’d to know A daughter’s duty, which some take untaught: Her modesty brings her behind-hand much; My old means I must fly to—yes, ’tis it. [Aside. Please you, peruse this small tract of obedience; 'Twill help you forward well. [Gives a book. W. Q. PAWN. Sir, that’s a virtue I've ever thought on with a special reverence. B. B. PAWN. You will conceive by that my power, your duty.
Enter White Bishop’s Pawn.
W. Q. PAWN. The knowledge will be precious of both, sir. W. B. PAWN. What makes yon troubler of all Christian waters So near that blessed spring? but that I know Her goodness is the rock from whence it issues Unmoveable as fate, ’twould more afflict me Than all my sufferings for her, which so long As she holds constant to the House she comes of, The whiteness of the cause, the side, the quality, Are sacrifices to her worth and virtue; And, though confin’d in my religious joys, I[548] marry her and possess her. [Aside.
Enter Black Knight’s Pawn.
B. B. PAWN. Behold, lady, The two inhuman enemies, the Black Knight’s Pawn And the White Bishop’s; the gelder and the gelded. W. Q. PAWN. There’s my grief, my hate! B. KT.'S PAWN. What, in the Jesuit’s fingers? by this hand, I'll give my part now for a parrot’s feather, She never returns virtuous, ’tis impossible: I'll undertake more wagers will be laid Upon a usurer’s return from hell Than upon hers from him now. Have I[549] been guilty Of such base malice that my very conscience Shakes at the memory of it,[550] and, when I look To gather fruit, find nothing but the savin-tree, Too frequent in nuns' orchards, and there planted, By all conjecture, to destroy fruit[551] rather? I'll be resolvèd[552] now. [Aside.]—Most noble virgin— — W. Q. PAWN. Ignoble villain! dare that unhallow’d tongue Lay hold upon a sound so gracious? What’s nobleness to thee, or virgin chastity? They’re out of thy acquaintance: talk of violence That shames creation, deeds would make night blush, That’s company for thee. Hast thou the impudence To court me with a leprosy upon thee Able t' infect the walls of a great building? B. B. PAWN. Son of offence, forbear! go, set your evil Before your eyes; a penitential vesture Would better become you, some shirt of hair. B. KT.'S PAWN. And you a three-pound smock ’stead of an alb, An[553] epicene casible.[554]—This holy felon Robs safe and close: I feel a sting that’s worse too. [Aside. White Pawn, hast so much charity to accept A reconcilement? make thine own conditions, For I begin to be extremely burden’d. W. B. PAWN. No truth or peace of that Black House protested Is to be trusted; but for hope of quittance, And warn’d by diffidence, I may entrap him soonest.
[Aside. I admit conference. B. KT.'S PAWN. It’s a nobleness That makes confusion cleave to all my merits. [Exeunt W. B. Pawn and B. Kt.'s Pawn.
Enter Black Knight.
B. B. PAWN [to W. Q. Pawn]. That treatise will instruct you throughly. B. KNIGHT. So, so! The business of the universal monarchy Goes forward well now! the great college-pot, That should be always boiling with the fuel Of all intelligences possible Through the Christian kingdoms. Is this fellow Our prime incendiary, and one of those That promis’d the White Kingdom seven years since To our Black House? put a new daughter to him, The great[555] work stands; he minds nor monarchy Nor hierarchy, diviner[556] principality. I have bragg’d less, But have[557] done more than all the conclave on ’em, Take their assistant fathers in all parts, Yea, and their Father General in to boot; And what I've done,[558] I've done facetiously, With pleasant subtlety and bewitching courtship, Abus’d all my believers with delight,— They took a comfort to be cozen’d by me: To many a soul I've let in mortal poison, Whose cheeks have crack’d with laughter to receive it; I could so roll my pills in sugar’d syllables, And strew such kindly mirth o’er all my mischief, They took their bane in way of recreation, As pleasure steals corruption into youth. He spies me now: I must uphold his reverence, Especially in public, though I know Priapus, guardian of the cherry-gardens, Bacchus' and Venus' chit, is not more vicious. [Aside. B. B. PAWN. Blessings' accumulation keep with you, sir! B. KNIGHT. Honour’s dissimulation be your due, sir! W. Q. PAWN. How deep in duty his observance plunges! His charge must needs be reverend. [Aside. B. B. PAWN. I am confessor To this Black Knight too; you see devotion’s fruitful, Sh’ath many sons and daughters. B. KNIGHT. I do this the more T' amaze our adversaries to behold The reverence we give these[559] guitonens,[560] And to beget a sound opinion Of holiness in them and zeal in us, [Exit W. Q. Pawn. As also to invite the like obedience In other pusills[561] by our meek example.— [Aside. So, is your trifle vanish’d? B. B. PAWN. Trifle call you her? ’tis a good Pawn, sir; Sure she’s the second Pawn in the White House, And to the opening of the game I hold her. B. KNIGHT. Ay, you Hold well for that, I know your play of old: If there were more Queen’s Pawns, you’d ply the game A great deal harder. Now, sir, we’re in private; But what for the great work, the main existence,[562] The hope monarchal? B. B. PAWN. It goes on in this. B. KNIGHT. In this! I cannot see’t. B. B. PAWN. You may deny so A dial’s motion, ’cause you cannot see The hand move, or a wind that rends the cedar. B. KNIGHT. Where stops the current of intelligence? Your Father General, Bishop o' the Black House, Complains for want of work. B. B. PAWN. Here’s from all parts, Sufficient to employ him; I receiv’d A packet from th' Assistant Fathers lately; Look, there is Anglica, this Gallica. [Gives letters. B. KNIGHT. Ay, marry, sir, there’s some quick flesh in this. B. B. PAWN. Germanica. [Gives letter. B. KNIGHT. I think they have seal’d this with butter. B. B. PAWN. This Italica. [Gives letter. B. KNIGHT. They’ve put their pens the Hebrew way, methinks. B. B. PAWN. Hispanica here. [Gives letter. B. KNIGHT. Hispanica! blind work ’tis; the Jesuit Hath writ this with the juice of lemons sure, It must be held close to the fire of purgatory Ere’t can be read. B. B. PAWN. You would not lose your jest, Knight, Though it wounded your own fame.[563] B. KNIGHT. Curanda pecunia. B. B. PAWN. Take heed, sir; we’re entrapp’d,—the White King’s Pawn.
Enter White King’s Pawn.
B. KNIGHT. He’s made our own, man; half in voto yours, His heart’s in the Black House: leave him to me.— [Exit B. B. Pawn. Most of all friends endear’d, preciously special! W. KG.'S PAWN. You see my outside, but you know my heart, Knight, Great difference in the colour. There’s some intelligence; [Gives letter. And as more ripens, so your knowledge still Shall prove the richer: there shall nothing happen, Believe it, to extenuate your cause, Or to oppress her friends, but I will strive To cross it with my counsel, purse, and power; Keep all supplies back both in means and men That may raise strength against you. We must part: I dare no longer of this theme discuss; The ear of state is quick and jealious.[564] B. KNIGHT. Excellent estimation! thou art valu’d Above the fleet of gold that came short home. [Exit W. Kg.’s Pawn. Poor Jesuit-ridden soul! how art thou fool’d Out of thy faith, from thy allegiance drawn! Which way soe’er thou tak’st, thou’rt a lost Pawn. [Exit.
Act II, Scene I
Field between the two Houses.
Enter White Queen’s Pawn with a book in her hand.
W. Q. PAWN. And here again: [reads] _It is the daughter’s duty T' obey her confessor’s command in all things, Without exception or expostulation_: ’Tis the most general rule that e’er I heard[565] of; Yet when I think how boundless virtue is, Goodness and grace, ’tis gently[566] reconcil’d, And then it appears well to have the power Of the dispenser as uncircumscrib’d.
Enter Black Bishop’s Pawn.
B. B. PAWN. She’s hard upon’t; ’twas the most modest key That I could use to open my intents: What little or no pains goes to some people! Hah! what have we here?[567] a seal’d note! whence this? [Takes up a letter. [Reads] To the Black Bishop’s Pawn these: how? to me? Strange![568] who subscribes it? The Black King: what would he? [Reads] _Pawn sufficiently holy, but unmeasurably politic; we had late intelligence from our most industrious servant, famous in all parts of Europe, our Knight of the Black House, that you have at this instant in chase the White Queen’s Pawn, and very likely, by the carriage of your game, to entrap and take her: these are therefore to require you, by the burning affection I bear to the rape of devotion, that speedily, upon the surprisal of her, by all watchful advantage you make some attempt upon the White Queen’s person, whose fall or prostitution our lust most violently rages for._ Sir, after my desire hath took a julep For its own inflammation, that yet scorches me, I shall have cooler time to think of yours. Sh’ath past the general rule, the large extent Of our prescriptions for obedience; And yet with what[569] alacrity of soul Her eyes move on the letters! W. Q. PAWN. Holy sir, Too long I've miss’d you; O, your absence starves me! Hasten for time’s redemption: worthy sir, Lay your commands as thick and fast upon me As you can speak ’em; how I thirst to hear ’em! Set me to work upon this spacious virtue, Which the poor span of life’s too narrow for, Boundless obedience! The humblest yet the mightiest of all duties, Well here set down[570] a universal goodness. B. B. PAWN. By holiness of garment, her safe innocence Hath frighted the full meaning from itself; She’s further off from understanding now The language of my intent than at first meeting. [Aside. W. Q. PAWN. For virtue’s sake, good sir, command me something; Make trial of my duty in some small service; And as you find the faith of my obedience there, Then trust it with a greater. B. B. PAWN. You speak sweetly: I do command you first then—— W. Q. PAWN. With what joy I do prepare my duty! B. B. PAWN. To meet me, And seal a kiss of love upon my lips. W. Q. PAWN. Hah! B. B. PAWN. At first disobedient! in[571] so little too! How shall I trust you with a greater then, Which was your own request? W. Q. PAWN. Pray, send not back Mine innocence to wound me; be more courteous. I must confess, much[572] like an ignorant plaintiff, who, Presuming on the fair path of his meaning, Goes rashly on, till on a sudden brought Into the wilderness of law by words Dropt unadvisedly, hurts his good cause, And gives his adversary advantage by’t,— Apply it you can best, sir. If my obedience And your command can find no better way, Fond men command, and wantons best obey. B. B. PAWN. If I can at that distance send you a blessing, Is it not nearer to you in mine arms? It flies from these lips dealt abroad in parcels; And I, to honour thee above all daughters, Invite thee home to th' House, where thou may’st surfeit On that which others miserably pine for; A favour which the daughters of great potentates Would look of envy’s colour but to hear. W. Q. PAWN. Good men may err sometimes; you’re mistaken sure: If this be virtue’s path, ’tis a most strange one; I never came this way before. B. B. PAWN. That’s your ignorance; And therefore shall that idiot still conduct you That knows no way but one, nor ever seeks it? If there be twenty ways to some poor village, ’Tis strange that virtue should be put to one. Your fear is wondrous faulty; cast it from you; 'Twill gather else in time a disobedience Too stubborn for my pardon. W. Q. PAWN. Have I lock’d myself At unawares into sin’s servitude With more desire of goodness? Is this the top Of all strict order, and the holiest Of all societies, the three-vow’d people For poverty, obedience, chastity,— The last the most forgot? When a virgin’s ruin’d, I see the great work of obedience Is better than half finish’d. B. B. PAWN. What a stranger Are you to duty grown! what distance keep you! Must I bid you come forward to a happiness Yourself should sue for? ’twas ne’er so with me. I dare not let this stubbornness be known, 'Twould bring such fierce hate on you: yet presume not To make that courteous care a privilege For wilful disobedience; it turns then Into the blackness of a curse upon you: Come, come, be nearer. W. Q. PAWN. Nearer! B. B. PAWN. Was that scorn? I would not have it prove so for the hopes Of the grand monarchy: if it were like it, Let it not dare to stir[573] abroad again; A stronger ill will cope with’t. W. Q. PAWN. Bless me, threatens me, And quite dismays the good strength that should help me! I never was[574] so doubtful of my safety.[575] B. B. PAWN. ’Twas but my jealousy; forgive me, sweetness: Yours[576] is the house of meekness, and no venom lives Under that roof. Be nearer: why so fearful? Nearer the altar, the more safe and sacred. W. Q. PAWN. But nearer to the offerer,[577] oft more wicked. B. B. PAWN. A plain and most insufferable contempt! My glory I have lost upon this woman, In freely offering that she should have kneel’d A year in vain for; my respect is darken’d. Give me my reverence again thou’st robb’d me of In thy[578] repulse; thou shalt not carry’t hence. W. Q. PAWN. Sir? B. B. PAWN. Thou’rt too great a winner to depart, And I too deep[579] a loser to give way to’t. W. Q. PAWN. O heaven! B. B. PAWN. Lay me down reputation Before thou stirr’st; thy nice virginity Is recompence too little for my love,[580] ’Tis well if I accept of that for both: Thy loss is but thine own, there’s art to help thee, And fools to pass thee to; in my discovery The whole Society suffers, and in that The hope of absolute monarchy eclips’d. Assurance thou canst make[581] none for thy secrecy But by[582] thy honour’s loss; that act must awe thee. W. Q. PAWN. O my distrest condition! B. B. PAWN. Dost thou[583] weep? If thou hadst any pity, this necessity Would wring it from thee: I must else destroy thee; We must not trust the policy of Europe Upon a woman’s tongue. W. Q. PAWN. Then take my life, sir, And leave mine honour for my guide to heaven! B. B. PAWN. Take heed I take not both, which I have vow’d, If longer thou resist[584] me. W. Q. PAWN. Help! O, help! B. B. PAWN. Art thou so cruel, for an honour’s bubble T' undo a whole fraternity, and disperse The secrets of most princes lock’d in us? W. Q. PAWN. For heaven and virtue’s sake! B. B. PAWN. Must force confound[585]— [Noise within. Hah! what’s that?—Silence, if fair worth be in thee. W. Q. PAWN. I'll venture my escape upon all dangers now. B. B. PAWN. Who comes to take me? let me see that[586] Pawn’s face, Or his proud tympanous master, swell’d with state-wind, Which being once prick’d i' the convocation-house, The corrupt air puffs out, and he falls shrivell’d. W. Q. PAWN. I will discover thee, arch-hypocrite, To all the kindreds of the earth. [Exit. B. B. PAWN. Confusion! In that voice rings th' alarum of my undoing. How, which way ’scap’d she from me?
Enter Black Queen’s Pawn.
B. Q. PAWN. Are you mad? Can lust infatuate a man so hopeful? No patience in your blood? the dog-star reigns, sure: Time and fair temper would have wrought her pliant.[587] I spied a Pawn o' the White House walk near us, And made that noise on purpose to give warning— For mine own turn, which end in all I work for. [Aside. B. B. PAWN. Methinks I stand over a powder-vault, And the match now a-kindling: what’s to be done? B. Q. PAWN. Ask the Black Bishop’s counsel; you’re his Pawn; ’Tis his own case, he will defend you mainly; And happily here he comes, with the Black Knight too.
Enter Black Bishop and Black Knight.
B. BISHOP. O, you’ve made noble work for the White House yonder! This act will fill the adversary’s mouth, And blow the Lutherans' cheeks till they crack again. B. KNIGHT. This will advance the great monarchal business In all parts well, and help the agents forward! What I in seven year labour’d to accomplish, One minute sets back by some codpiece college still. B. B. PAWN. I dwell not, sir, alone in this default, The Black House yields me partners. B. BISHOP. All more cautelous.[588] B. KNIGHT. Qui caute, caste; that’s my motto ever; I've travell’d with that word[589] over most kingdoms, And lain safe with all nations; of a leaking bottom, I've been as often toss’d on Venus' seas As trimmer, fresher vessels, when sounder barks Have lain at anchor, that is, kept the door. B. BISHOP. She hath no witness then? B. B. PAWN. None, none. B. KNIGHT. Gross! witness? When went a man of his Society To mischief with a witness? B. BISHOP. I have done’t then: Away upon the wings of speed! take post-horse, Cast thirty leagues of earth behind thee suddenly; Leave letters ante-dated with our House Ten days at least from this. B. KNIGHT. Bishop, I taste thee; Good, strong, episcopal counsel! take a bottle on’t, 'Twill serve thee all thy journey. B. B. PAWN. But, good sir, How for my getting forth unspied? B. BISHOP.[590] There’s check again. B. Q. PAWN. No, I'll help that. B. KNIGHT. Well said, my bouncing Jesuitess! B. Q. PAWN. There lies a secret vault. B. KNIGHT. Away, make haste then! B. B. PAWN. Run for my cabinet of intelligences, For fear they search the house. [Exit B. Q. Pawn.]— Good Bishop, burn ’em rather; I cannot stand to pick ’em now. B. BISHOP. Begone! The danger’s all in you. [Exit B. B. Pawn.
Re-enter Black Queen’s Pawn with cabinet.
B. KNIGHT. Let me see, Queen’s Pawn: How formally hath[591] pack’d up his intelligences! Hath laid them all in truckle-beds, methinks, And, like court-harbingers, hath writ their names In chalk upon their chambers: Anglica,— O, this is the English House: what news there, trow?[592] ah, by this light, most of these are bawdy epistles! Time they were burnt indeed! whole bundles of them; Here’s from his daughter Blanch and daughter Bridget, From their safe sanctuary in the White-Friars; These from two tender sisters of Compassion In the bowels of Bloomsbury; These from the nunnery in Drury Lane. A fire, a fire, good Jesuitess, a fire!— What have you there? B. BISHOP. A note, sir, of state policy, And an[593] exceeding safe one. B. KNIGHT. Pray, let’s see it, sir. [Reads. _To sell away all the powder in a kingdom, To prevent blowing up_: that’s safe, I'll able[594] it. Here’s a facetious observation now, And fits my humour better; he writes here, Some wives in England will commit adultery, And then send to Rome for a bull for their husbands. B. BISHOP. Have they those shifts? B. KNIGHT. O, there’s no female[s] breathing Sweeter and subtler!—Here, wench, take these papers, Scorch me ’em[595] soundly, burn ’em to French russet, And put ’em in again. B. BISHOP. Why, what’s your mystery? B. KNIGHT. O, sir, ’twill mock the adversary strangely, If e’er the House be search’d: ’twas done in Venice Upon the Jesuitical expulse there, When the Inquisitors came all[596] spectacled To pick out syllables out o' the dung of treason, As children pick out cherry-stones, yet found none But what they made themselves with ends of letters.— Do as I bid you, Pawn. [Exeunt B. Knight and B. Bishop. B. Q. PAWN. Fear not: in all, I love roguery too well to let it fall.—
Enter Black Knight’s Pawn.
How now, what news with you? B. KT.'S PAWN. The sting of conscience Afflicts me so for that inhuman violence On the White Bishop’s Pawn, it takes away My joy, my rest. B. Q. PAWN. This ’tis to make an eunuch! You made a sport on’t then. B. KT.'S PAWN. Cease aggravation: I come to be absolv’d for’t: where’s my confessor? Why dost thou point to the ground? B. Q. PAWN. ’Cause he went that way. B. KT.'S PAWN. What’s that? B. Q. PAWN. Come, help me in[597] with this cabinet; And after I have sing’d these papers throughly, I'll tell thee a strange story. B. KT.'S PAWN. If’t be sad, ’Tis welcome. B. Q. PAWN. ’Tis not troubled with much mirth, sir. [Exeunt.
Enter Fat Bishop[598] and Fat Bishop’s Pawn.
F. BISHOP. Pawn. F. B. PAWN. I attend at your great holiness' service. F. BISHOP. For great, I grant you, but for greatly holy, There the soil alters: fat cathedral bodies Have very often but lean little souls, Much like the lady in the lobster’s head, A great deal of shell and garbage of all colours, But the pure part, that should take wings and mount, Is at last gasp; as if a man should gape, And from his huge bulk let forth a butterfly, Like those big-bellied mountains, which the poet Delivers, that are brought to bed with mouse-flesh. Are my books[599] printed, Pawn, my last invective 'Gainst the Black House? F. B. PAWN. Ready for publication, For I saw perfect books this morning, sir. F. BISHOP. Fetch me a few, which I will instantly Distribute ’mongst the White House. F. B. PAWN. With all speed, sir. [Exit. F. BISHOP. ’Tis a most lordly life to rail at ease, Sit, eat and drink[600] upon the fat of one kingdom, And rail upon another with the juice on’t. I've writ this book out of the strength and marrow Of six and thirty dishes at a meal, But most on’t out of cullis[601] of cock-sparrows; 'Twill stick and glue the faster to the adversary, 'Twill slit the throat of their most calvish cause; And yet I ate but little butcher’s meat In the conception. Of all things I commend the White House best For plenty and variety of victuals: When I was one of the Black side profess’d, My flesh fell half a cubit; time to turn When mine own ribs revolted. But to say true, I've no preferment yet that’s suitable To the greatness of my person and my parts: I grant I live at ease, for I am made The master of the beds,[602] the long acre of beds; But there’s no marigolds that shut and open,[603] Flower-gentles, Venus-bath[s], apples of love, Pinks, hyacinths, honeysuckles, daffadowndillies: There was a time I had more such drabs than beds; Now I have more beds than drabs; Yet there’s no eminent trader deals in wholesale, But she and I have clapt a bargain up, Let in at water-gate, for which I've rack’d My tenants' purse-strings that they’ve twang’d again.
Re-enter Black Bishop and Black Knight.
Yonder Black Knight, the fistula[604] of Europe, Whose disease once I undertook to cure With a High Holborn halter, when he last Vouchsaf’d to peep into my privileg’d lodgings, He saw good store of plate there and rich hangings; He knew I brought none to the White House with me: I have not lost the use of my profession Since I turn’d White-House Bishop.
Re-enter Fat Bishop’s Pawn with books.
B. KNIGHT. Look, more books yet! Yond greasy turncoat gormandising prelate Doth work our House more mischief by his scripts, His fat and fulsome volumes, than the whole Body of th' adverse party. B. BISHOP. O, it were A masterpiece of serpent subtlety To fetch him o' this side again! B. KNIGHT. And then damn him Into the bag for ever, or expose him Against the adverse part, which now he feeds upon; And that would double-damn him. My revenge Hath prompted me already: I'll confound him On both sides for the physic he prescrib’d,[605] And the base surgeon he provided[606] for me. I'll tell thee what a most uncatholic jest[607] He put upon me once when my pain tortur’d me: He told me he had found a present cure for me, Which I grew proud on, and observ’d him seriously; What think you ’t was? being execution-day, He shew’d the hangman to me out at window, The common hangman! B. BISHOP. O, insufferable! B. KNIGHT. I'll make him the balloon-ball[608] of the churches, And both the sides shall toss him: he looks like one, A thing swell’d up with mingled drink and urine, And will bound well from one side to another. Come, you shall write; our second bishop absent,[609] (Which hath yet no employment in the game, Perhaps nor ever shall; it may be won Without his motion, it rests most in ours,) He shall be flatter’d with sede vacante; Make him believe he comes into his place, And that will fetch him with a vengeance to us; For I know powder is not more ambitious When the match meets it, than his mind, for mounting; As covetous and lecherous—— B. BISHOP. No more now, sir;
_Enter on one side, White King, White Queen, White Knight, White Duke, White Bishop, White King’s Pawn, and White Bishop’s Pawn; on the other, Black King, Black Queen, Black Duke, and Black Knight’s Pawn._
Both the sides fill. W. KING. This hath been look’d for long. F. BISHOP. The stronger sting it shoots into the blood Of the Black adversary: I'm asham’d now I was theirs ever; what a lump was I When I was led in ignorance and blindness![610] I must confess,[611] I've all my lifetime play’d the fool till now. B. KNIGHT. And now he plays two parts, the fool and knave. F. BISHOP. There is my recantation in the last leaf, Writ, like a Ciceronian, in pure Latin. W. BISHOP.[612] Pure honesty, the plainer Latin serves then. B. KNIGHT. Plague on those pestilent pamphlets! those are they That wound our cause to th' heart. B. BISHOP. Here comes more anger.
Enter White Queen’s Pawn.
B. KNIGHT. But we come well provided for this storm. W. QUEEN. Is this my Pawn, she that should guard our person, Or some pale figure of dejection Her shape usurping? Sorrow and affrightment Have[613] prevail’d strangely with her. W. Q. PAWN. King of integrity, Queen of the same, and all the House, professors Of noble candour, uncorrupted justice, And truth of heart, through my alone discovery— My life and honour wondrously preserv’d— I bring into your knowledge with my sufferings, Fearful affrightments, and heart-killing terrors:[614] The great incendiary of Christendom, The absolut’st abuser of true sanctity, Fair peace, and holy order, can be found In any part o' th' universal globe; Who, making meek devotion keep the door,— His lips being full of holy zeal at first,— Would have committed a foul rape upon me. W. QUEEN. Hah! W. KING. A rape? that’s foul indeed; the very sound To our ear fouler than th' offence itself To some kings of the earth. W. Q. PAWN. Sir, to proceed,— Gladly I offer’d life to preserve honour, Which would not be accepted without both, The chief of his ill aim being at mine honour; Till heaven was pleas’d, by some unlook’d-for accident, To give me courage to redeem myself. W. KING. When we find desperate sins in ill men’s companies, We place a charitable sorrow there, But custom, and their leprous inclination, Quit[615] us of wonder,[616] for our expectation Is answer’d in their lives; but to find sin, Yea, and a masterpiece of darkness, shelter’d Under a robe of sanctity, is able To draw all wonder to that monster only, And leave created monsters unadmir’d. The pride of him that took first fall for pride Is to be angel-shap’d, and imitate The form from whence he fell; but this offender, Far baser than sin’s master, fix’d by vow To holy order, which is angels' method, Takes pride to use that shape to be a devil. It grieves me that my knowledge must be tainted With his infected name: O, rather with thy finger point him out! W. Q. PAWN. The place which he should fill is void, my lord, His guilt hath scar’d[617] him,—the Black Bishop’s Pawn. B. BISHOP. Hah! mine? my Pawn? the glory of his[618] order, The prime and president zealot of the earth? Impudent Pawn, for thy sake at this minute Modesty suffers, all that’s virtuous blushes, And truth’s self, like the sun vex’d with a mist, Looks red with anger. W. BISHOP. Be not you drunk with rage too. B. BISHOP.[619] Sober sincerity, nor you [with] a cup Spic’d with hypocrisy. W. KNIGHT. You name there, Bishop, But your own Christmas-bowl, your morning’s draught, Next your episcopal heart all the twelve days, Which smack you cannot leave all the year after.[620] B. KNIGHT. A shrewd retort! Has made our Bishop smell of burning too: Would I stood further off! were’t no impeachment To my honour or[621] the game, would they’d play faster! [Aside.
White Knight, there is acknowledg’d from our House A reverence to you, and a respect To that lov’d Duke stands next you: with the favour Of the White King and th' aforenam’d respected, I combat with this cause. If with all speed,— Waste not one syllable, unfortunate Pawn, Of what I speak,—thou dost not plead distraction, A plea which will but faintly take thee off neither From this leviathan-scandal that lies rolling Upon the crystal waters of devotion; Or, what may quit[622] thee more, though enough nothing, Fall down and foam, and by that pang discover The vexing spirit of falsehood strong within thee, Make thyself ready for perdition; There’s no remove[623] in all the game to ’scape it; This Pawn or this, the Bishop or myself, Will take thee in the end, play how thou canst. W. Q. PAWN. Spite of sin’s glorious ostentation, And all loud threats, those thunder-cracks of pride, Ushering a storm of malice; House of impudence, Craft[624] and equivocation, my true cause Shall keep the path it treads in. B. KNIGHT. I play thus then: Now in the hearing of this high assembly Bring forth the time of this attempt’s conception. W. Q. PAWN. Conception? O, how tenderly you handle it! W. BISHOP. It seems, Black Knight, you are afraid to touch it. B. KNIGHT. Well, its eruption: will she have it so then, Or you, White Bishop, for her? the more unclean,[625] Vild,[626] and more[627] impious that you urge the strain to, The greater will her shame’s heap shew i' th' end, And the wrong’d meek man’s glory.—The time, Pawn? W. Q. PAWN. Yesterday’s[628] cursed evening. B. KNIGHT. O the treasure Of my revenge! I cannot spend all on thee, Ruin[629] to spare for all thy kindred too: For honour’s sake call in more slanderers; I have such plentiful confusion, I know not how to waste it. I'll be nobler yet, And put her to her own House.—King of meekness, Take the cause to thee, for our hand’s too heavy; Our proofs will fall upon her like a tower, And grind her bones to powder. W. Q. PAWN. What new engine Has the devil rais’d in him now? B. KNIGHT. Is it he, And that the time? stand firm now to your scandal, Pray, do not shift your slander. W. Q. PAWN. Shift your treacheries; They’ve worn one suit too long. B. KNIGHT. That holy man, So wrongfully accus’d by this lost Pawn, Hath not been seen these ten days in these parts. W. KING.[630] How? B. KNIGHT. Nay, at this instant thirty leagues from hence. W. Q. PAWN. Fathomless falsehood! will it ’scape unblasted? W. KING.[631] Can you make this appear? B. KNIGHT. Light is not clearer; By his own letters, most impartial monarch. W. KG.'S PAWN.[632] How wrongfully may sacred virtue suffer, sir! B. KNIGHT. Bishop, we have a treasure of that false heart. W. KING.[633] Step forth, and reach those proofs. [_Exit B. Kt.'s Pawn, who presently returns with papers._ W. Q. PAWN. Amazement covers me! Can I be so forsaken of a cause So strong[634] in truth and equity? will virtue Send me no aid in this hard time of friendship? B. KNIGHT. There’s an infallible staff and a red hat Reserv’d for you. W. KG.'S PAWN.[635] O, sir endear’d![636] B. KNIGHT. A staff That will not easily break; you may trust to’t; And such a one had your corruption need of; There’s a state-fig for you now. W. KING.[637] Behold all, How they cohere in one! I always held A charity so good to holiness Profess’d, that[638] I ever believ’d rather Th' accuser false than the professor vicious. B. KNIGHT. A charity, like all your virtues else, Gracious and glorious. W. KING. Where settles the offence, Let the fault’s punishment be deriv’d from thence: We leave her to your censure. B. KNIGHT. Most just majesty! [_Exeunt W. King, W. Queen, W. Bishop, and W. Kg.'s Pawn; F. Bishop and F. B. Pawn._ W. Q. PAWN. Calamity of virtue! my Queen leave me too! Am I cast off as th' olive casts her flower? Poor friendless innocence, art thou left[639] a prey To the devourer? W. KNIGHT. No, thou art not lost, Let ’em put on their bloodiest resolutions, If the fair policy I aim at prospers.— Thy counsel, noble Duke! W. DUKE. For that work cheerfully. W. KNIGHT. A man for speed now! W. B. PAWN. Let it be my honour, sir; Make me that flight,[640] that owes her my life’s service. [Exeunt W. Knight, W. Duke, and W. B. Pawn. B. KNIGHT. Was not this brought about well for our honours? B. BISHOP. Pish, that Galician brain can work out wonders. B. KNIGHT. Let’s use her as, upon the like discovery, A maid was us’d at Venice; every one Be ready with a penance.—Begin, majesty.— Vessel of foolish scandal, take thy freight: Had there been in that cabinet of niceness[641] Half the virginities of the earth lock’d up, And all swept at one cast by the dexterity Of a Jesuitical gamester, ’t had not valued The least part of that general worth thou’st tainted. B. KING.[642] First, I enjoin thee to a three days' fast for’t. B. QUEEN. You’re too penurious, sir; I'll make it four. B. BISHOP. I to a twelve hours' kneeling at one time. B. KNIGHT. And in a room fill’d all with Aretine’s pictures, More than the twice-twelve labours of luxury:[643] Thou shalt not see so much as the chaste pommel Of Lucrece' dagger peeping; nay, I'll punish thee For a discoverer, I'll torment thy modesty. B. DUKE. After that four days' fast, to th' Inquisition-house, Strengthen’d with bread and water for worse penance. B. KNIGHT. Why, well said, duke of our House, nobly aggravated! W. Q. PAWN. Virtue, to shew her influence more strong, Fits me with patience mightier than my wrong. [Exeunt.
Act III, Scene I
Field between the two Houses.
Enter Fat Bishop.
F. BISHOP. I know my pen draws blood of the Black House, There’s ne’er a book I write but their cause bleeds; It hath lost many an ounce of reputation Since I came of this side; I strike deep in, And leave the orifex gushing where I come. But where’s my advancement all this while I've gap’d for? I'd have some round preferment, corpulent dignity, That bears some breadth and compass in the gift on’t: I am persuaded that this flesh would fill The biggest chair ecclesiastical, If it were put to trial. To be made master of an hospital Is but a kind of diseas’d bed-rid[644] honour; Or dean of the poor alms-knights that wear badges:[645] There’s but two lazy, beggarly preferments In the White Kingdom, and I've got ’em both: My merit doth begin to be crop-sick For want of other titles.[646]
Enter Black Knight.
B. KNIGHT. O, here walks His fulsome holiness: now for the master-trick T' undo him everlastingly, that’s put home, And make him hang in hell most seriously That jested with a halter upon me. [Aside. F. BISHOP. The Black Knight! I must look to my play then. [Aside. B. KNIGHT. I bring fair greetings to your reverend virtues From Cardinal Paulus, your most princely kinsman. [Gives a letter.
F. BISHOP. Our princely kinsman, say’st thou? we accept ’em. Pray, keep your side and distance; I am chary Of my episcopal person: I know the Knight’s walk in this game too well; He may skip[647] over me, and where am I then? B. KNIGHT. There where thou shalt be shortly, if art fail not. [Aside. F. BISHOP. [reads] Right reverend and noble,— meaning me,—_our true[648] kinsman in blood, but alienated in affection, your unkind disobedience to the mother cause proves at this time the only cause of your ill fortune: my present remove by general election to the papal dignity had now auspiciously settled you in my_ sede vacante—how! had it so?— _which at my next remove by death might have proved your step to supremacy_. Ha! all my body’s blood mounts to my face To look upon this letter. B. KNIGHT. The pill works with him. [Aside. F. BISHOP. [reads] _Think on’t seriously; it is not yet too late, through the submiss acknowledgment of your disobedience, to be lovingly received into the brotherly bosom of the conclave._ This was the chair of ease I ever aim’d at. I'll make a bonfire of my books immediately; All that are left against that side I'll sacrifice; Pack up my plate and goods, and steal away By night at water-gate. It is but penning Another recantation,[649] and inventing Two or three bitter books against the White House, And then I'm in on th' other side again As firm as e’er I was, as fat and flourishing. [Aside. Black Knight, expect a wonder ere’t be long, Thou shalt see me one of the Black House shortly. B. KNIGHT. Your holiness is merry with the messenger; Too happy to be true; you speak what should be, If natural compunction touch’d you truly. O, you’ve drawn blood, life-blood, yea, blood of honour, From your most dear, your primitive mother’s heart! Your sharp invectives have been points of spears In her sweet tender sides! The unkind wounds Which a son gives, a son of reverence ’specially, They rankle ten times more than th' adversary’s: I tell you, sir, your reverend revolt Did give the fearfull’st blow to adoration Our cause e’er felt; it shook the very statues, The urns and ashes of the sainted sleepers. F. BISHOP. Forbear, or I shall melt i' th' place I stand, And let forth[650] a fat bishop in sad sirrop: Suffices I am yours, when they least dream on’t; Ambition’s fodder, power and riches, draws me: When I smell honour, that’s the lock of hay That leads me through the world’s field every way. [Exit. B. KNIGHT. Here’s a sweet paunch to propagate belief on, Like the foundation of a chapel laid Upon a quagmire! I may number him now Amongst my inferior policies, and not shame ’em. But let me a little solace my designs With[651] the remembrance of some brave ones past, To cherish the futurity of project, Whose motion must be restless till that great work, Call’d the possession of the earth, be ours. Was it not I procur’d a gallant fleet[652] From the White Kingdom to secure our coasts Against the infidel pirate, under pretext Of more necessitous expedition? Who made the jails fly open,[653] without miracle, And let the locusts out, those dangerous flies, Whose property is to burn corn with touching? The heretics' granaries feel it to this hour: And now they’ve got amongst the country crops, They stick so fast to the converted ears, The loudest tempest that authority rouses Will hardly shake ’em off: they have their dens In ladies' couches—there’s[654] safe groves and fens! Nay, were they follow’d and found out by the scent, Palm-oil will make a pursuivant relent. Whose policy was’t to put a silenc’d muzzle[655] On all the barking tongue-men of the time? Made pictures, that were dumb enough before, Poor sufferers in that politic restraint? My light spleen skips and shakes my ribs to think on’t. Whilst our drifts walk uncensur’d but in thought, A whistle or a whisper would be question’d. In the most fortunate angle[656] of the world The court hath held the city by the horns Whilst I have milk’d her: I have got good sops too[657] From country ladies for their liberties, From some for their most vainly-hop’d preferments, High offices in th' air. I should not live But for this mel aerium, this mirth-manna.
Enter Black Knight’s Pawn.
My Pawn!—How now, the news? B. KT.'S PAWN. Expect none very pleasing That comes, sir, of my bringing; I'm for sad things. B. KNIGHT. Thy conscience is so tender-hoof’d of late, Every nail pricks it. B. KT.'S PAWN. This may prick yours too, If there be any quick flesh in a yard on’t. B. KNIGHT. Mine? Mischief must find a deep nail, and a driver Beyond the strength of any Machiavel The politic kingdoms fatten, to reach mine. Prithee, compunction needle-prick’d, a little Unbind this sore wound. B. KT.'S PAWN. Sir, your plot’s discover’d. B. KNIGHT. Which of the twenty thousand and nine hundred Four score and five? canst tell? B. KT.'S PAWN. Bless us, so many! How do poor countrymen have but one plot To keep a cow on, yet in law for that? You cannot know ’em all, sure, by their names, sir. B. KNIGHT. Yes, were their numbers trebled: thou hast seen A globe stand on the table in my closet? B. KT.'S PAWN. A thing, sir, full of countries and hard words? B. KNIGHT. True, with lines drawn, some tropical, some oblique. B. KT.'S PAWN. I scarce can read, I was brought up in blindness. B. KNIGHT. Just such a thing, if e’er my skull be open’d, Will my brains look like. B. KT.'S PAWN. Like a globe of countries? B. KNIGHT. Ay, and some master-politician, That has sharp state[658]-eyes, will go near to pick[659] out The plots, and every[660] climate where they fasten’d; 'Twill puzzle ’em too. B. KT.'S PAWN. I'm of your mind for that, sir. B. KNIGHT. They’ll find ’em to fall thick upon some countries; They had need use spectacles: but I turn to you now; What plot is that discover’d? B. KT.'S PAWN. Your last brat, sir, Begot ’twixt the Black Bishop and yourself, Your ante-dated letters ’bout the Jesuit. B. KNIGHT. Discover’d! how? B. KT.'S PAWN. The White Knight’s policy hath outstript yours, Join’d with th' assistant counsel of his Duke: The White Bishop’s Pawn[661] undertook the journey, Who, as they say, discharg’d it like a flight,[662] Ay, made him for the business fit and light. B. KNIGHT. ’Tis but a bawdy Pawn out of the way; Enough of them in all parts.[663]
Enter on one side White King, White Queen, White Knight, White Duke, White Bishop, Fat Bishop, and White King’s Pawn; on the other, Black King, Black Queen, Black Duke, and Black Bishop.
B. BISHOP. You have heard all then? B. KNIGHT. The wonder’s past with me; but some shall down for’t. W. KING. Set free that[664] virtuous Pawn from all her wrongs; Let her be brought with honour to the face Of her malicious adversaries. [Exit W. Kg.’s Pawn. B. KNIGHT. Good. W. KING. Noble chaste Knight, a title of that candour The greatest prince on earth without impeachment May have the dignity of his worth compris’d in, This fair delivering act Virtue will register In that[665] white book of the defence of virgins, Where the clear fames[666] of all preserving knights Are to eternal memory consecrated; And we embrace, as partner of that honour, This worthy Duke,[667] the counsel of the act, Whom we shall ever place in our respect. W. DUKE. Most blest of kings, thron’d in all royal graces, Every good deed sends back its own reward Into the bosom of the enterpriser; But you t' express yourself as well to be King of munificence[668] as integrity, Adds glory to the gift. W. KING. Thy desert claims it, Zeal, and fidelity.—Appear, thou beauty Of truth and innocency, best ornament Of patience, thou that mak’st thy sufferings glorious!
Re-enter White King’s Pawn with White Queen’s Pawn.
B. KNIGHT. I'll take no knowledge on’t. [Aside.]—What makes she here? How dares yond Pawn unpenanc’d, with a cheek Fresh as her falsehood yet, where castigation Hath left no pale print of her visiting anguish, Appear in this assembly?—Let me alone: Sin must be bold; that’s[669] all the grace ’tis born to. [Aside. W. KING. What’s this? W. KNIGHT. I'm wonder-strook! W. Q. PAWN. Assist me, goodness! I shall to prison again. B. KNIGHT. At least I've maz’d[670] ’em, Scatter’d their admirations of her innocence, As the fir’d ships[671] put in sever’d the fleet In eighty-eight:[672] I'll on with’t; impudence Is mischief’s patrimony. [Aside.]—Is this justice? Is injur’d reverence no sharplier righted? I ever held that majesty impartial That, like most equal heaven, looks on the manners, Not on the shapes they shroud in. W. KING.[673] This Black Knight Will never take an answer; ’tis a victory To make him understand he doth amiss, When he knows in his own clear understanding That he doth nothing else. Shew him the testimony, Confirm’d by good men, how that foul attempter[674] Got but this morning to the place from whence He dated his forg’d lines for ten days past. B. KNIGHT. Why, may not the corruption sleep in this By some connivance, as you have wak’d in ours By too rash confidence? W. DUKE. I'll undertake That Knight shall teach the devil how to lie. W. KNIGHT. If sin were half so wise as impudent,[675] She’d ne’er seek further for an advocate.
Enter Black Queen’s Pawn.
B. Q. PAWN. Now to act treachery with an angel’s tongue: Since all’s come out, I'll bring him strangely in again. [Aside. Where is this injur’d chastity, this goodness Whose worth no transitory piece[676] can value?[677] This rock of constant and invincible virtue, That made sin’s tempest weary of his fury? B. QUEEN. What, is my Pawn distracted? B. KNIGHT. I think rather There is some notable masterprize of roguery This[678] drum strikes up for. B. Q. PAWN. Let me fall with reverence Before this blessed altar. B. QUEEN. This is madness. B. KNIGHT. Well, mark the end; I stand for roguery still, I will not change my side. B. Q. PAWN. I shall be tax’d, I know; I care not what the Black House thinks of me. B. QUEEN. What say you now? B. KNIGHT. I will not be unlaid yet. B. Q. PAWN. However[679] censure flies, I honour sanctity; That is my object, I intend no other: I saw this glorious and most valiant virtue Fight the most noblest combat with the devil. B. KNIGHT. If both the Bishops had been there for seconds, 'Thad been a complete duel. W. KING.[680] Then thou heard’st The violence intended? B. Q. PAWN. ’Tis a truth I joy to justify: I was an agent On virtue’s part, and rais’d that confus’d noise That startled his attempt, and gave her liberty. W. Q. PAWN. O, ’tis a righteous story she hath told, sir! My life and fame stand[681] mutually engag’d. Both to the truth and goodness of this Pawn. W. KING.[682] Doth it appear to you yet clear as the sun? B. KNIGHT. ’Las, I believ’d it long before ’twas done! B. KING.[683] Degenerate —— B. QUEEN. Base —— B. BISHOP. Perfidious —— B. DUKE. Traitrous Pawn! B. Q. PAWN. What, are you all beside[684] yourselves? B. KNIGHT. But I; Remember that, Pawn. B. Q. PAWN. May a fearful barrenness Blast both my hopes and pleasures, if I brought not Her ruin in my pity! a new trap For her more sure confusion. B. KNIGHT. Have I won now? Did I not say ’twas craft and machination? I smelt conspiracy all the way it went, Although the mess were cover’d; I'm so us’d to’t. B. KING.[685] That Queen would I fain finger. B. KNIGHT. You’re too hot, sir; If she were took, the game would be ours quickly: My aim’s at that White Knight; entrap him first, The Duke will follow too. B. BISHOP. I would that Bishop Were in my diocese! I'd soon change his whiteness. B. KNIGHT. Sir, I could whip you up a Pawn immediately; I know where my game stands. B. KING. Do’t[686] suddenly; Advantage least must not be lost in this play. B. KNIGHT. Pawn, thou art ours. [Seizes W. Kg.'s Pawn. W. KNIGHT. He’s taken by default, By wilful negligence. Guard the sacred persons; Look well to the White Bishop, for that Pawn Gave guard to the Queen and him in the third place. B. KNIGHT. See what sure piece you lock[687] your confidence in! I made this Pawn here by corruption ours, As soon as honour by creation yours. This whiteness upon him is but the leprosy Of pure dissimulation: view him now, His heart and his intents are of our colour. [_The upper garment of W. Kg’s Pawn being taken off, he appears black underneath._ W. KING.[688] Most dangerous hypocrite! W. DUKE. One made against us! W. QUEEN. His truth of this[689] complexion! W. KING. Hath my goodness, Clemency, love, and favour gracious, rais’d thee From a condition next to popular labour, Took thee from all the dubitable hazards Of fortune, her most unsecure adventures, And grafted thee into a branch of honour, And dost thou fall from the top-bough by the rottenness Of thy alone corruption, like a fruit That’s over-ripen’d by the beams of favour? Let thine own weight reward thee; I've forgot thee: Integrity of life is so dear to me, Where I find falsehood or a crying sin, Be it in any whom our grace shines most on, I'd tear ’em from my heart. W. BISHOP. Spoke like heaven’s substitute! W. KING. You have him, we can spare him; and his shame Will make the rest look better to their game. B. KING. The more cunning we must use then. B. KNIGHT.[690] We shall match you, Play how you can, perhaps and mate you too. F. BISHOP. Is there so much amazement spent on him That’s but half black? there might be hope of that man; But how will this House wonder if I stand forth And shew a whole one, instantly discover One that’s all black, where there’s no hope at all! W. KING. I'll say, thy heart then justifies thy books; I long for that discovery. F. BISHOP. Look no further then: Bear witness, all the House, I am the man, And turn myself into the Black House freely; I am of this side now. W. KING.[691] Monster ne’er match’d him! B. KING.[692] This is your noble work, Knight. B. KNIGHT. Now I'll halter him. F. BISHOP. Next news you hear, expect my books against you, Printed at Douay, Brussels, or Spalato.[693] W. KING. See his goods seiz’d on! F. BISHOP. ’Las, they were all convey’d Last night by water[694], to a tailor’s house, A friend of[695] the Black cause. W. KING. A prepar’d hypocrite! W. DUKE. Premeditated turncoat [_Exeunt W. King, W. Queen, W. Knight, W. Duke, and W. Bishop._ F. BISHOP. Yes, rail on; I'll reach you in my writings when I'm gone. B. KNIGHT. Flatter him a while with honours till we put him Upon some dangerous service, and then burn him. B. KING. This came unlook’d for. B. DUKE. How we joy to see you! F. BISHOP. Now I'll discover all the White House to you. B. DUKE. Indeed, that will both reconcile and raise you. [_Exeunt B. King, B. Queen, B. Duke, B. Bishop, and F. Bishop._ W. KG.'S PAWN. I rest upon you, Knight, for my advancement now. B. KNIGHT. O, for the staff, the strong staff that will hold, And the red hat, fit for the guilty mazzard?[696] Into the empty bag know thy first way: Pawns that are lost are ever out of play. W. KG.'S PAWN. How’s this? B. KNIGHT. No replications, you know me:[697] No doubt ere long you’ll have more company; The bag is big enough, ’twill hold us all. [_Exeunt B. Knight, W. Kg.'s Pawn, and B. Kt.'s Pawn._ W. Q. PAWN. I sue to thee, prithee, be one of us! Let my love win thee: thou’st done truth this day And yesterday my[698] honour noble service; The best Pawn of our House could not transcend it. B. Q. PAWN. My pity flam’d with zeal, especially When I foresaw your marriage, then it mounted. W. Q. PAWN. How! marriage? B. Q. PAWN. That[699] contaminating act Would have spoil’d all your fortunes—a rape! bless us![700] W. Q. PAWN. Thou talk’st of marriage! B. Q. PAWN. Yes, yes, you do marry; I saw the man. W. Q. PAWN. The man! B. Q. PAWN. An absolute handsome[701] gentleman, a complete one,— You’ll say so when you see him,—heir to three red hats, Besides his general hopes in the Black House. W. Q. PAWN. Why, sure thou’rt much mistaken in[702] this man; I've promis’d single life to all my affections. B. Q. PAWN. Promise you what you will, or I, or all on’s, There’s a fate rules and overrules us all, methinks. W. Q. PAWN. Why, how came you to see or know this mystery? B. Q. PAWN. A magical glass I bought of an Egyptian, Whose stone retains that speculative virtue, Presented the man to me: your name brings him As often as I use it; and methinks I never have enough, person[703] and postures Are all so pleasing. W. Q. PAWN. This is wondrous strange! The faculties of soul are still the same, I can feel no one motion tend that way. B. Q. PAWN. We do not always feel the[704] faith we live by, Nor ever see our growth, yet both work upward. W. Q. PAWN. ’Twas well applied; but may I see him too? B. Q. PAWN. Surely you may, without all doubt or fear, Observing the right use as I was taught it, Not looking back nor[705] questioning the spectre. W. Q. PAWN. That’s no hard observation; trust it with me: Is’t possible? I long to see this man. B. Q. PAWN. Pray follow me then, and I'll ease you instantly. [Exeunt.
Enter a Black Jesting Pawn.
B. J. PAWN. I would so fain take one of these White Pawns now! I'd make him do all under-drudgery, Feed him with asses' milk crumm’d with goats' cheese, And all the white meats could be devis’d for him;
Enter a White Pawn.
So make him my white jennet when I prance it[706] After the Black Knight’s litter. W. PAWN. And you’d look then Just like the devil striding o’er a nightmare Made of a miller’s daughter. B. J. PAWN. A pox on you,[707] Were you so near? I'm taken, like a blackbird In the great snow, this White Pawn grinning o’er me. W. PAWN. And now because I will not foul my clothes Ever hereafter, for white quickly soils you know— B. J. PAWN. I prithee, get thee gone then, I shall smut thee. W. PAWN. No, I'll put that to venture; now I've snapt[708] thee, Thou shalt do all the dirty drudgery That slavery was e’er put to. B. J. PAWN. I shall cozen you: You may chance come and find your work undone then, For I'm too proud to labour,—I'll starve first; I tell you that beforehand. W. PAWN. And I'll fit you then With a black whip, that shall not be behindhand. B. J. PAWN. Pish, I've been us’d to whipping; I have whipt Myself three mile out of town in a morning; and I can fast a fortnight, and make all your meat Stink and lie on your hand. W. PAWN. To prevent that, Your food shall be blackberries, and upon gaudy-days A pickled spider, cut out like an anchovas: I'm not to learn a monkey’s ordinary.[709] Come, sir, will you frisk?
Enter a Second Black Pawn.
SEC. B. PAWN. Soft, soft, you! you have no Such bargain on’t, if you look well about you. W. PAWN. I am snapt too, a Black Pawn in the breech of me! We three look like a bird-spit, a white chick Between two russet woodcocks. B. J. PAWN. I'm so glad of this! W. PAWN. But you shall have but small cause, for I'll firk[710] you. SEC. B. PAWN. Then I'll firk you again. W. PAWN. And I'll firk him again. B. J. PAWN. Mass,[711] here will be old[712] firking! I shall have The worst on’t, for[713] I can firk nobody. We draw together now for all the world Like three flies with one straw thorough their buttocks. [Exeunt.[714]
Act III, Scene II
A chamber, with a large mirror.
Enter Black Queen’s Pawn and White Queen’s Pawn.
B. Q. PAWN. This is the room he did appear to me in; And, look you, this the magical glass that shew’d him. W. Q. PAWN. I find no motion yet: what should I think on’t? A sudden fear invades me, a faint trembling, Under this omen, As is oft felt the panting of a turtle Under a stroking hand. B. Q. PAWN. That bodes good luck still, Sign you shall change state speedily; for that trembling Is always the first symptom of a bride. For any vainer fears that may accompany His apparition, by my truth to friendship, I quit you of the least; never was object More gracefully presented; the very air Conspires to do him honour, and creates Sweet vocal sounds, as if a bridegroom enter’d; Which argues the blest harmony of your[715] loves. W. Q. PAWN. And will the using of my name produce him? B. Q. PAWN. Nay, of yours only, else the wonder halted: To clear you of that doubt, I'll put the difference In practice, the first thing I do, and make His invocation in the name of others. W. Q. PAWN. ’Twill satisfy me much that. B. Q. PAWN. It shall be done.— Thou, whose gentle form and face Fill’d lately this Egyptic glass, By th' imperious powerful name And the universal fame Of the mighty Black-House Queen, I conjure thee to be seen!— What, see you nothing yet? W. Q. PAWN. Not any part: Pray, try another. B. Q. PAWN. You shall have your will.— I double my command and power, And at the instant of this hour Invoke thee in the White Queen’s name, With stay[716] for time, and shape the same.— What see you yet? W. Q. PAWN. There’s nothing shews at all. B. Q. PAWN. My truth reflects the clearer then: now fix And bless your fair eye with your own for ever. Thou well-compos’d, by Fate’s hand drawn To enjoy the White Queen’s Pawn, Of whom thou shalt by virtue met Many graceful issues get; By the beauty of her fame, By the whiteness of her name, By her fair and fruitful love, By her truth that mates the dove, By the meekness of her mind, By the softness of her kind,[717] By the lustre of her grace,— By all these thou art summon’d to this place!— Hark, how the air, enchanted with your praises And his approach, those words to sweet notes raises!
_Music: enter Black Bishop’s Pawn, richly attired, like an apparition, and stands before the glass; then exit._
W. Q. PAWN. O, let him stay a while! a little longer! B. Q. PAWN. That’s a good hearing. W. Q. PAWN. If he be mine, why should he part so soon? B. Q. PAWN. Why, this is but the shadow of yours. How do you? W. Q. PAWN. O, I did ill to give consent to see it! What certainty is in our blood or state? What we still write is blotted out by fate; Our wills are[718] like a cause that is law-tost, What one court orders, is by another crost. B. Q. PAWN. I find no fit place for this passion[719] here, ’Tis merely[720] an intruder. He’s a gentleman Most wishfully compos’d; honour grows on him, And wealth pil’d up for him; has youth enough too, And yet in the sobriety of his countenance Grave as a tetrarch, which is gracious I' th' eye of modest pleasure. Where’s the emptiness? What can you more request? W. Q. PAWN. I do not know What answer yet to make; it doth require A meeting ’twixt my fear and my desire. B. Q. PAWN. She’s caught, and, which is strange, by her most wronger. [Aside. [Exeunt.