Francis Beaumont

“ And take my counsel too; go presently,
With all the haste ye have, (I will attend ye)
With all the possible speed, to old Lord Archas,
He honours ye; with all your art perswade him,
('Twill be a dismal time else) woo him hither,
But hither Madam, make him see the danger;
For your new General looks like an Ass;
There's nothing in his face but loss.
Olym. I'll do it.
And thank thee, sweet Alinda: O my Jewel,
How much I'm bound to love thee! by this hand, Wench,
If thou wert a man—
Alin. ”

“ Duke. A brave spirited wench.
Hon. I'le tell your grace,
And tell ye true: ye are deceiv'd in us two,
Extreamly cozen'd Sir: And yet in my eye
You are the handsomst man I ever lookt on,
The goodliest Gentleman; take that hope with ye;
And were I fit to be your wife (so much I honour ye)
Trust me I would scratch for ye but I would have ye. ”

“ Enter Honora, and Viola.
Duke. Be you gone then: Come in Ladies,
Welcom to th' court sweet beauties; now the court shines,
When such true beams of beauty strike amongst us:
Welcom, welcom, even as your own joyes welcom.
How do you like the Court? how seems it to you?
Is't not a place created for all sweetness?
Why were you made such strangers to this happiness?
Barr'd the delights this holds? the richest jewels
Set ne're so well, if then not worn to wonder,
By judging eyes not set off, lose their lustre:
Your Country shades are faint; blasters of beauty ”

“ That we may enjoy our lechery without grudging,
And mine, or thine be nothing, all things equal,
And catch as catch may, be proclaim'd: that when we borrow,
And have no will to pay again, no Law
Lay hold upon us, nor no Court controule us.
Bor. Some of these may come to pass; the Duke may do 'em,
And no doubt will: the General will find too,
And so will you, if you but stay with patience: I have no power.
Put. Nor will: come fellow Souldiers.
Bor. Pray be not so distrustfull.
Put. There are waies yet,
And honest waies; we are not brought up Statues. ”

“ Souldiers, I thank ye all: and love me still,
But do not love me so you lose Allegiance,
Love that above your lives: once more I thank ye.
Du. Bring him to rest, and let our cares wait on him;
Thou excellent old man, thou top of honour,
Where Justice, and Obedience only build,
Thou stock of Vertue, how am I bound to love thee! ”

“ That daily thrust their loves and lives through hazards,
And fearless for their Countries peace, march hourly
Through all the doors of death, and know the darkest,
Should better be canoniz'd for their service:
What labour would these men neglect, what danger
Where honour is, though seated in a Billow,
Rising as high as Heaven, would not these Souldiers,
Like to so many Sea-gods charge up to it? ”

“ SCENE II. Enter Archas, Honora, and Viola.
Ar. No more, it must be so; do you think I would send ye,
Your father and your friend—
Viol. Pray Sir, be good to us,
Alas, we know no Court, nor seek that knowledge;
We are content with harmless things at home,
Children of your content, bred up in quiet,
Only to know our selves, to seek a Wisedome
From that we understand, easie and honest;
To make our actions worthy of your Honour,
Their ends as innocent as we begot 'em ”

“ Exit Duke.
Bur. Sir, what moves ye?
Arc. I have kept mine pure: Lord Burris, there's a Judas,
That for a smile will sell ye all: a Gentleman?
The Devil has more truth, and has maintain'd it;
A Whores heart more belief in't.
Enter Duke.
Du. What's all this, Archas? ”

“ Your Bodies the tall barks, rib'd round with goodness,
Your Heavenly Souls the Pilots, thus I send you;
Thus I prepare your Voyage; sound before ye,
And ever as you sail through this Worlds Vanity,
Discover Sholes, Rocks, Quicksands, cry out to ye,
Like a good Master tack about for Honour:
The Court is Vertue's School, at least it should be;
Nearer the Sun the Mine lies, the metal's purer:
Be it granted, if the spring be once infected,
Those Branches that flow from him must run muddy ”

“ You have no power, at least you ought to have none
In bad and beastly things: arm'd thus, I'le dye here,
Before she suffer wrong.
Duke. Another Archas?
Hon. His child Sir, and his spirit.
Duke. I'le deal with you then,
For here's the honour to be won: sit down sweet,
Prethee Honora sit.
Hon. Now ye intreat I will Sir.
Duke. I doe, and will deserve it.
Hon. That's too much kindness.
Duke. Prethee look on me.
Hon. Yes: I love to see ye,
And could look on an age thus, and admire ye:
Whilst ye are good and temperate I dare touch ye,
Kiss your white hand.
Duke. Why not my lips? ”

“ Boroskie. What a noise his very name carries!
'Tis Gun enough to fright a Nation,
He needs no Souldiers; if he do, for my part,
I promise ye he's like to seek 'em; so I think you think too,
And all the Army; No, honest, brave old Archas,
We cannot so soon leave thy memory,
So soon forget thy goodness: he that does,
The scandal and the scumm of Arms be counted.
Puts. You much rejoice me now you have hit my meaning,
I durst not press ye, till I found your spirits:
Continue thus.
Anc. I'll go and tell the Duke on't. ”

“ Or not at all my Viola.
Viol. I'll think on't,
For 'tis no easie promise, and live there:
Do you think we shall do well?
Hon. Why, what should aile us?
Viol. Certain they'll tempt us strongly; beside the glory
Which Women may affect, they are handsom Gentlemen,
Every part speaks: nor is it one denial,
Nor two, nor ten; from every look we give 'em,
They'll frame a hope; even from our prayers, promises.
Hon. Let 'em feed so, and be fat; there is no fear, wench,
I [f] thou beest fast to thy self.
Viol. I hope I shall be;
And your example will work more.
[Pg 120]
Enter Theodore. ”

“ The last great Muster, ('twas before ye serv'd here,
Before the last Dukes death, whose honour'd bones
Now rest in peace) this young Prince had the ordering,
(To Crown his Fathers hopes) of all the Army:
Who (to be short) put all his power to practise;
Fashion'd, and drew 'em up: but alas, so poorly,
So raggedly and loosely, so unsouldier'd,
The good Duke blush'd, and call'd unto my Father,
Who then was General: Go, Archas, speedily,
And chide the Boy, before the Souldiers find him,
Stand thou between his ignorance and them,
Fashion their bodies new to thy direction ”

“ A boy, as sweet as young, my Brother breeds him,
My noble Brother Briskie breeds him nobly,
Him let your favour find: give him your honour.
Enter Putskie (alias Briskie) and Alinda, (alias Archas.)
Pu. Thou hast no child left Archas, none to inherit thee
If thou strikst that stroke now: behold young Archas;
Behold thy Brother here, thou bloudy Brother,
[Pg 167] As bloody to this sacrifice as thou art:
Heave up thy sword, and mine's heav'd up: strike Archas,
And I'le strike too as suddenly, as deadly:
Have mercy, and I'le have mercy: the Duke gives it. ”

“ And a white Martyr to fair memorie
Give up your name, unsoil'd of infamy.
How's this? Read yours out Sister: this amazes me.
Vio. Fear not thou yet unblasted Violet,
Nor let my wanton words a doubt beget,
Live in that peace and sweetness of thy bud,
Remember whose thou art, and grow still good.
Remember what thou art, and stand a storie
Fit for thy noble Sex, and thine own glorie.
Hon. I know not what to think.
Viol. Sure a good woman,
An excellent woman, Sister. ”

“ Du. I take him.
Bor. And when I fail those hopes, heavens hopes fail me.
Du. You are old: no more wars Father:
Theodore take you the charge, be General.
The. All good bless ye.
Du. And my good Father, you dwell in my bosom,
From you rise all my good thoughts: when I would think
And examine time for one that's fairly noble,
And the same man through all the streights of vertue,
Upon this Silver book I'le look, and read him.
Now forward merrily to Hymens rites,
[Pg 169] To joyes, and revels, sports, and he that can
Most honour Archas, is the noblest man. ”

“ I send ye not,
Like parts infected, to draw more corruption;
Like Spiders to grow great, with growing evil:
With your own Vertues season'd, and my prayers,
The Card of goodness in your minds, that shows ye
When ye sail false; the needle toucht with honour,
That through the blackest storms, still points at happiness ”

“ But if you'll have 'em for your own diet, take my counsel,
Stew 'em between two Feather-beds.
Bur. Please you Colonel
To let 'em wait upon the Princess?
Theo. Yes, Sir,
And thank your honour too: but then happily,
These noble Gentlemen shall have no access to 'em,
And to have 'em buy new Cloaths, study new faces,
And keep a stinking stir with themselves for nothing,
'Twill not be well i'faith: they have kept their bodies,
And been at charge for Bathes: do you see that shirt there? ”

“ And showre your self into 'em; 'tis the bounty
They follow with their loves, and not the bravery.
Enter two Gent.
Duke. But where's the Money? how now?
2 Gent. Sir, the Colonel,
Son to the Lord Archas, with most happy news
Of the Tartars overthrow, without here
Attends your Graces pleasure.
Bor. Be not seen, Sir,
He's a bold fellow, let me stand his Thunders,
To th' Court he must not come: no blessing here, Sir,
No face of favour, if you love your honour.
Enter Theodore.
Duke. Do what you think is meetest; I'le retire, Sir. ”

“ And soure your self with ne're so much austeritie,
You shall be courted in the same, and won too,
'Tis but some two hours more; and so much time lost,
Which we hold pretious here: In so much time now
As I have told you this, you may lose a Servant,
Your age, nor all your Art can e're recover.
Catch me occasion as she comes, hold fast there,
Till what you do affect is ripn'd to ye.
Has the Duke seen ye yet?
Hon. What if he have not?
Al. You do your beauties too much wrong, appearing
So full of sweetness, newness; set so richly,
As if a Counsel beyond nature fram'd ye. ”

“ How now, have you been with Archas?
Bur. Yes, and't please ye,
And told him all: he frets like a chaf'd Lyon,
And calls for his Arms: and all those honest Courtiers
That dare draw Swords.
Du. Is he able to do any thing?
Bur. His mind is well enough; and where his charge is,
Let him be ne're so sore, 'tis a full Army.
Du. Who commands the Rebels?
Bur. The young Colonel,
That makes the old man almost mad: he swears Sir,
He will not spare his Sons head for the Dukedom. ”

“ As scorns, and insolencies both from your self and followers,
Which you put first fire to, and these are deadly,
I come to one main cause, which though it carries
A strangeness in the circumstance, it carries death too,
Not to be pardon'd neither: ye have done a sacriledge.
Ar. High Heaven defend me man: how, how Boroskie? ”

“ Duke, &c.
Bur. Alas, brave Gentleman.
Ar. I do, and will observe it suddenly,
My Grave; I, that's my limit; 'tis no new thing,
Nor that can make me start, or tremble at it,
To buckle with that old grim Souldier now:
I have seen him in his sowrest shapes, and dreadfull'st;
I, and I thank my honesty, have stood him:
That audit's cast; farewel my honest Souldiers,
Give me your hands; farewel, farewel good Ancient,
A stout man, and a true, thou art come in sorrow.
Blessings upon your Swords, may they ne'r fail ye;
You do but change a man; your fortune's constant ”

“ I was entreated to, kneel'd to, and pray'd to,
The Duke himself, the Princes, all the Nobles,
The cries of Infants, Bed-rid Fathers, Virgins;
Prethee find out a better cause, a handsomer,
This will undo thee too: people will spit at thee,
The Devil himself would be asham'd of this cause;
Because my haste made me forget the ceremony,
The present danger every where, must my life satisfie?
Bor. It must, and shall.
Ar. O base ungrateful people,
Have ye no other Swords to cut my throat with
But mine own nobleness? ”

“ SCENE II. Enter Olympia, and two Gentlewomen.
Olym. Is't not a handsome Wench?
2 Wom. She is well enough, Madam:
I have seen a better face, and a straighter body,
And yet she is a pretty Gentlewoman.
Olym. What thinkst thou Petesca?
Pet. Alas, Madam, I have no skill, she has a black eye,
Which is of the least too, and the dullest water:
And when her mouth was made, for certain Madam,
Nature intended her a right good stomach.
Olym. She has a good hand.
2 Wom. 'Tis good enough to hold fast,
And strong enough to strangle the neck of a Lute.
Olym. What think ye of her colour? ”

“ SCENA IV. Enter Theodore, Putskie, Ancient, Souldiers, Drums, and Colours.
The. 'Tis known we are up, and marching: no submission,
No promise of base peace can cure our maladies,
We have suffer'd beyond all repair of honour:
Your valiant old man's whipt ”

“ They must be met, and fought with.
Theo. By whom? by you? they must be met and flatter'd.
Why, what a Devil ail'd ye to do these things?
With what assurance dare ye mock men thus?
You have but single lives, and those I take it
A Sword may find too: why do ye dam the Duke up?
And choak that course of love, that like a River
[Pg 100] Should fill our empty veins again with comforts?
But if ye use these knick knacks,
This fast and loose, with faithful men and honest,
You'l be the first will find it.
Enter Archas, Souldiers, Putskey, Ancient, and others.
Boros. You are too untemperate. ”

“ Down with 'em, down with 'em, down with the gates.
Sold. within. Stand, stand, stand.
Puts. within. Fire the Palace before ye.
Bur. Upon my life the Souldier, Sir, the Souldier,
A miserable time is come.
Enter Gentleman.
Gent. Oh save him,
Upon my knees, my hearts knees, save Lord Archas,
We are undone else.
Du. Dares he touch his Body?
Gent. He racks him fearfully, most fearfully.
Du. Away Burris,
Take men, and take him from him; clap him up,
And if I live, I'll find a strange death for him. ”