Francis Beaumont

“ Dares goe the straightest way, which still's the shortest,
Walk on the thorns thou scatter'st, Parasite,
And tread 'em into nothing: and if thou
Then let'st a look fall, of the least dislike,
I'll rip thy Crown up with my Sword at height,
And pluck thy skin over thy face, in sight
Of him thou flatter'st; unto thee I speak it,
Slave, against whom all Laws should now conspire,
And every Creature that hath sense, be arm'd,
As 'gainst the common Enemy of Mankind;
That sleep'st within thy Masters Ear, and whisper'st
'Tis better for him to be fear'd than lov'd ”

“ My own Sword would forsake, not tyed unto me;
A Pander is a Prince, to what I am faln;
I dare do nothing.
Æcius. Ye do better.
Max. I am made a branded Slave, Æcius,
And yet I bless the Maker;
Death o' my Soul, must I endure this tamely?
Must Maximus be mention'd for his tales?
I am a Child too; what should I do railing?
I cannot mend my self, 'tis Cæsar did it,
And what am I to him?
Æcius. 'Tis well consider'd;
However you are tainted, be no Traitor
Time may outwear the first, the last lives ever.
Max. O that thou wert not living, and my friend. ”

“ I wear a sword, Sir,
And have a service to be still dispos'd of,
As you shall please command it.
Petr. Gentle Sir,
That manly courtesie is half my business:
And to be short, to make ye know I honour ye,
And in all points believe your worth like Oracle,
And how above my friends, which are not few,
And those not slack, I estimate your vertues,
Make your self understand, This day Petrucchio,
A man that may command the strength of this place,
Hazard the boldest spirits, hath made choice
Only of you, and in a noble office. ”

“ Boldly transcend all precedents of mischief,
And let the last, and the worst end of tyrannies,
The murther of a Mother, but begin
The stain of bloud you after are to heighten:
But if that vertue, and her sure rewards,
Can win you to accept her for your guide,
To lead you up to Heaven, and there fix you
The fairest Stars in the bright Sphere of honour;
Make me the parent of an hundred sons,
All brought into the world with joy, not sorrow,
And every one a Father to his Country,
In being now made Mother of your concord.
Rol. Such, and so good, loud fame for ever speak you. ”

“ Madge with a Devils vizard roaring, offers to kiss him, and he falls down.
Maid. Farewel Sir.
Mary. What hast thou done? thou hast broke his neck.
Maid. Not hurt him,
He pitcht upon his legs like a Cat.
Tho. O woman:
O miserable woman, I am spoil'd,
My leg, my leg, my leg, oh both my legs!
Mary. I told thee' what thou hadst done, mischief go with thee.
Tho. O I am lam'd for ever: O my leg,
Broken in twenty places: O take heed,
Take heed of women, Fidler: oh a Surgeon,
A Surgeon, or I dye: oh my good people,
No charitable people, all despightfull,
Oh what a misery am I in! ”

“ Or I must take it else, to say ye are Villains,
For all your Golden Coats, debosh'd, base Villains,
Yet I do wear a Sword to tell you so,
Is this the way you mark out for a Souldier,
A Man that has commanded for the Empire,
And born the Reputation of a Man?
Are there not lazie things enough call'd fools and cowards,
And poor enough to be prefer'd for Panders,
But wanting Souldiers must be Knaves too? ha!
This the trim course of life; were not ye born Bawds,
And so inherit but your Rights? I am poor,
And may expect a worse ”

“ Truly, and nobly I do love ye dearly,
And from this hour ye are the man I honour,
You are the man, the excellence, the honesty,
The only friend, and I am glad your sickness
Fell so most happily at this time on ye,
To make this truth the worlds.
Fra. Whither do you drive me?
Cell. Back to your honesty, make that good ever,
'Tis like a strong built Castle, seated high,
That draws on all ambitions, still repair it,
Still fortifie it: there are thousand foes
Besides the Tyrant Beauty, will assail it:
Look to your Centinels that watch it hourly,
Your eyes, let them not wander. ”

“ Thou hast been kept from bloud too long, I'le kiss thee,
For thou art more then friend now, my preserver,
Shew me the way to happiness, I seek it:
And all you great ones, that have faln as I do,
To keep your memories, and honours living,
Be present in your vertues, and assist me,
That like strong Cato, I may put away
All promises, but what shall crown my ashes;
Rome, fare thee well: stand long, and know to conquer
Whilst there is people, and ambition:
Now for a stroak shall turn me to a Star:
I come ye blessed spirits, make me room
To live for ever in Elyzium:
Do men fear this? ”

“ Enter De-Gard, Oriana, and Attendants.
'Tis she, I am sure; and that the Lord it should seem,
He carries a fair Port; is a handsom man too:
I do begin to feel, I am a Coxcomb.
Ori. Good my Lord, chuse a nobler: for I know
I am so far below your rank and honour,
That what ye can say this way, I must credit
But spoken to beget your self sport: Alas, Sir,
I am so far off from deserving you,
My beauty so unfit for your Affection,
That I am grown the scorn of common Railers,
Of such injurious things, that when they cannot
Reach at my person, lie with my reputation:
I am poor besides. ”

“ Why should I kill my self? for 'tis my killing,
Æcius is my root, and wither him,
Like a decaying Branch I fall to nothing.
Is he not more to me than Wife, than Cæsar?
Though I had now my safe revenge upon him,
Is he not more than rumour, and his friendship
Sweeter than the love of women? what is honour
We all so strangely are bewitch'd withal?
Can it relieve me if I want? he has;
Can honour 'twixt the incensed Prince and Envy,
Bear up the lives of worthy men? he has;
Can honour pull the wings of fearful Cowards,
And make 'em turn again like Tigers? he has ”

“ SCENE II. Enter Hylas, and Thomas.
Hyl. I heard the doors clap; now, and't be thy will, wench.
By th' Mass she comes; you are surely met fair Gentlewoman,
I take it, Mistress Doll Sebastians Daughter.
Thom. I take right, Sir; Hylas, are you ferretting?
I'll fit you with a penny-worth presently.
Hyl. How dare you walk so late, sweet, so weak guarded?
Thom. 'Faith Sir, I do no harm, nor none I look for,
Yet I am glad I have met so good a Gentleman,
Against all chances; for though I never knew ye,
Yet I have heard much good spoke of ye.
Hyl. Hark ye,
What if a man should kiss ye? ”

“ Which if the law were here, I would hang thee for,
(However I will lame thee) like a villain,
Thou hast wrought him
Clean to forget what 'tis to do a mischief,
A handsom mischief, such as thou knew'st I lov'd well.
My servants all are sound now, my drink sowr'd,
Not a horse pawn'd, nor plaid away: no warrants
Come for the breach of peace.
Men travel with their mony, and nothing meets 'em:
I was accurs'd to send thee, thou wert ever
Leaning to laziness, and loss of spirit,
Thou slept'st still like a cork upon the water. ”

“ Whose imployment is his plough; what sword whose sharpness
Waits but the arm to wield it; or what hope,
After the world has blown abroad this weakness,
Will move again, or make a wish for Rollo?
Rol. Are we not friends again by each oath ratified,
Our tongues the Heralds to our hearts?
Lat. Poor hearts then.
Rol. Our worthier friends.
Lat. No friends Sir, to your honour;
Friends to your fall: where is your understanding,
The noble vessel that your full soul sail'd in,
Rib'd round with honours; where is that? 'tis ruin'd,
The tempest of a womans sighs has sunk it. ”

“ Enter Aubrey, and Latorch.
Aub. Latorch, I have waited here to speak with you,
And you must hearken; set not forth your leg
Of haste, nor put your face of business on;
An honester affair than this I urge too,
You will not easily think on; and 'twill be
Reward to entertain it; 'tis your fortune
To have our Masters ear above the rest
Of us that follow him, but that no man envies;
For I have well considered, Truth sometimes
May be convey'd in by the same Conduits
That Falshood is; These courses that he takes
Cannot but end in ruine; Empire got
By blood and violence, must so be held ”

“ I can endure a death as well as Cato.
Aeci. There is no death nor danger in my going,
Nor none must goe along.
Max. I have a sword too,
And once I could have us'd it for my friend.
Aeci. I need no sword, nor friend in this, pray leave me;
And as ye love me, do not overlove me;
I am commanded none shall come: at supper
I'le meet ye, and weel drink a cup or two,
Ye need good Wine, ye have been sad: Farewel.
Max. Farewel my noble friend, let me embrace ye
E're ye depart; it may be one of us
Shall never do the like again.
Aeci. Yes often.
Max. Farewel good dear Aecius. ”

“ Emp. A friend ye may, and to that man that loves ye,
More than you love your vertue.
Luci. Sacred Cæsar.
Emp. You shall not kneel to me sweet.
Luci. Look upon me,
And if ye be so cruel to abuse me,
Think how the Gods will take it; does this beauty
Afflict your soul? I'le hide it from you ever,
Nay more, I will become so leprous,
That ye shall curse me from ye: My dear Lord
Has serv'd ye ever truly, fought your Battels,
[Pg 34] As if he daily long'd to dye for Cæsar,
Was never Traytor Sir, nor never tainted
In all the actions of his life.
Emp. I know it. ”

“ A wise man, and a valiant man, a just man;
To suffer himself be juggl'd out of the world,
By a number of poor Gipseys? farewel Swash-buckler,
For I know thy mouth is cold enough by this time;
A hundred of ye I can shave as neatly,
And ne'r draw bloud in shew: now shall my honour,
My power and vertue walk alone: my pleasure
Observ'd by all, all knees bend to my worship,
All sutes to me as Saint of all their fortunes,
Prefer'd and crowded to, what full place of credit,
And what place now? your Lordship? no, 'tis common,
But that I'le think to morrow on; now for my business. ”

“ SCENE III. Enter Nantolet, La-Castre, De-Gard, Lugier, Mirabel.
Mir. Your patience, Gentlemen: why do ye bait me?
Nan. Is't not a shame you are so stubborn hearted,
So stony and so dull to such a Lady,
Of her Perfections, and her Misery?
Lug. Does she not love ye? does not her distraction
For your sake only, her most pitied lunacie
Of all but you, shew ye? does it not compel ye?
Mir. Soft and fair, Gentlemen, pray ye proceed temperately.
Lug. If ye have any feeling, any sense in ye,
The least touch of a noble heart. ”

“ I have a vertuous Sister, but I scorn'd her,
A Mistris too, a noble Gentlewoman,
For goodness all out-going.
Alice. Now I know him.
Tho. With these eyes friends, my eyes must never see more.
Alice. This is for your sake Mary: take heed Cousin,
A man is not so soon made.
Tho. O my fortune!
But it is just, I be despis'd and hated.
Hyl. Despair not, 'tis not manly: one hours goodness
Strikes off an infinite of ills. ”

“ SCENE II. Enter Lucina, Ardelia and Phorba.
Ardel. You still insist upon that Idol, Honour,
Can it renew your youth, can it add wealth,
That takes off wrinkles: can it draw mens eyes,
To gaze upon you in your age? can honour,
That truly is a Saint to none but Souldiers,
And look'd into, bears no reward but danger,
Leave you the most respected person living?
Or can the common kisses of a Husband,
(Which to a sprightly Lady is a labour)
Make ye almost Immortal? ye are cozen'd,
The honour of a woman is her praises ”

“ I believe thee;
Art thou in love, Æcius, yet?
Æcius. O no Sir;
I am too course for Ladies; my embraces,
That only am acquainted with Alarms,
Would break their tender Bodies.
Emp. Never fear it,
They are stronger than ye think, they'll hold the Hammer.
My Empress swears thou art a lusty Souldier,
A good one I believe thee.
Æcius. All that goodness
Is but your Graces Creature. ”

“ Well handled, and fed with small beer—
Fred. 'Tis the vertue—
John. The vertue? nay, and goodness fetch him up once,
H'as lost a friend of me; the wise old Gentleman
Knows when, and how; I'le lay this hand to two pence,
Let all the Conjurers in Christendom,
With all their spells, and vertues call upon him,
And I but think upon a wench, and follow it,
He shall be sooner mine than theirs; where's vertue?
Fred. Thou art the most sufficient, (I'le say for thee)
Not to believe a thing—
John. ”

“ Gisbert, would you have me protect them;
Let them now stretch their extreamest rigour,
And seize upon that Traytor; and your tongue
Make him appear first dangerous, then odious;
And after, under the pretence of safety
For the sick State, the Lands and Peoples quiet,
Cut off his head: and I'le give up my sword,
And fight with them at a more certain weapon
To kill, and with Authority.
Gis. Sir, I grant the Laws are useful weapons, but found out
T'assure the Innocent, not to oppress.
Rol. Then you conclude him Innocent?
Gis. The power your Father gave him, must not prove a Crime. ”