Francis Beaumont

“ Neither his sword, nor anger do I shake at,
Nor will yield to feed his poor suspitions,
His idle jealousies, and mad dogs heats
One thought against my self: ye have done a brave deed;
A manly, and a valiant piece of Service:
When ye have kill'd me, reckon't amongst your Battels;
I am sorry ye are so poor, so weak a Gentleman,
Able to stand no fortune: I dispose of her?
My mischief make her away? a likely project,
I must play booty against my self, if any thing cross ye,
I am the devil, and the devils heir,
All plagues, all mischiefs. ”

“ Or to your bed, out of a doting on ye,
Take it the best way; have you that cruel heart,
That murd'ring mind too?
Mir. Yes by my troth (sweet) have I,
To lie with her.
Luc. And do you think it well done?
Mir. That's as she'll think when 'tis done; come to bed wench,
For thou art so pretty, and so witty a companion,
We must not part to night.
Luc. Faith let me go Sir,
And think better on't.
Mir. Yfaith thou shalt not;
I warrant thee I'll think on't.
Luc. I have heard 'em say here,
You are a Maid too.
Mir. I am sure I am, wench,
If that will please thee. ”

“ I am not like your false and perjur'd Don
That here maintains you, and has vow'd his faith,
And yet attempts in way of marriage
A Lady not far off.
Mal. How's that?
Pio. 'Tis so:
And therefore Mistriss, now the time is come
You may demand his promise; and I swear
To marry you with speed.
Mal. And with that Gold
Which Don Vitelli gives, you'll walk some voyage
And leave me to my Trade; and laugh, and brag,
How you o'er-reach'd a whore, and gull'd a Lord.
Pio. You anger me extreamly: fare you well. ”

“ To what a fortune has the Devil driven me!
Am I reserv'd for this?
Sy. Beshrew me, Sir,
But you have gotten you a right fair bedfellow,
Let you alone to chuse.
Sil. I beseech your Grace,
'Tis misery enough to have met the Devil,
Not mens reproaches too.
Sy. How old is she?
Dutch. A very Girl, her eye delivers it.
Sy. Her teeth are scarce come yet.
Lord. What goodly children
Will they two have now! she is rarely made to breed on,
What a sweet timber'd body!
Dutch. Knotty i' th' back,
But will hold out the stronger; What a nose! ”

“ But I'll remove suspition; have you in
Your heart, an entertainment for his love
To whom your Virgin faith made the first promise?
Ma. If thou mean'st Hartlove, thou dost wound me still,
I have no life without his memory,
Nor with it any hope to keep it long:
Thou seest I walk in darkness like a thief,
That fears to see the world in his own shape,
My very shadow frights me, 'tis a death
To live thus, and not look day in the face,
Away, I know thee not. ”

“ Flo. I pray ye Sir,
Begin it now, and open your doors to me,
I do confess I am ugly; let me go, Sir:
A Gipsey-girl: Why would your Lordship touch me?
Fye, 'tis not noble: I am homely bred,
Course, and unfit for you: why do you flatter me?
There be young Ladies, many that will love ye,
That will dote on ye: you [are] a handsome Gentleman,
What will they say when once they know your quality?
A Lord, a Miller? take your Toal dish with ye:
You that can deal with Gudgins, and course flower,
'Tis pitty you should tast what manchet means:
Is this fit Sir, for your repute and honor? ”

“ Heard to the Cittadel, upon some fears
She is confin'd.
Sil. Why dreams he on this beauty?
'Tis true, I have heard it.
Cla. And that no access,
No blessing from those eyes, but with much hazard,
Even hazard of a life.
Sil. He dares not love her;
I have heard that too: but whither points your purpose?
Cla. Oh Silvio, let me speak that none may hear me,
None but thy truth: I have lov'd this Lady long,
Long given away my life to her devotion,
Long dwelt upon that beauty to my ruine. ”

“ Prethee be kill'd by me, thou wilt be hang'd else,
But it may be, thou long'st to be hang'd.
Roc. Out with him, Sir,
You shall have my sword too: when he's dispatch'd once,
We have the world before us.
Gom. Wilt thou walk fellow,
I never knew a Rogue, hang arse-ward so,
And such a desperate knave too.
Ab. Pray go with him,
Something I'll promise too.
Mount. You would be kill'd then?
No remedy; I see.
Gom. If thou dar'st do it?
Mount. Yes, now I dare; lead out, I'll follow presently
Under the Mount I'll meet ye.
Gom. Go before me,
I'll have ye in a string too. ”

“ Gom. 'Tis said
A Virgin of fourteen.
Ori. I pity her,
And wish she were mine, that I might have the means
T' entertain her gently.
Gom. She's now Miranda's,
And as I have heard, made it her suit to be so.
Ori. Miranda's? then her fate deserves not pity,
But envy rather.
Gom. Envy Oriana?
Ori. Yes, and their envy that live free.
Gom. How's this?
Ori. Why, she's falln into the hands of one,
So full of that, which in men we stile goodness,
That in her being his slave, she is happier far
Than if she were confirm'd the Sultan's Mistriss. ”

“ How's this Isabella?
Isab. 'Twill stir a Saint, and I am but a woman,
And by that tenure may—
Lop. By no means chicken,
You know I love ye: fie, take no example
By those young gadding Dames: (you are noted virtuous)
That stick their Husbands wealth in trifles on 'em
And point 'em but the way to their own miseries:
I am not jealous, kiss me, —— I am not:
And for your Diet, 'tis to keep you healthful,
Surfeits destroy more than the sword: that I am careful
Your meat should be both neat, and cleanly handled
See, Sweet, I am Cook my self, and mine own Cater. ”

“ Nor. Give me your fair hands fearless,
As white as this I see your Innocence,
As spotless, and as pure: be not afraid Lady,
You are but here brought to your nobler fortune,
To add unto your life immortal story:
Vertue, through hardest things arrives at happiness,
Shame follow that blunt sword that looses you:
And he that strikes against you: I shall study
A curse or two for him: once more your fair hands,
I never brought ill luck yet; be fearless happy.
Ori. I thank ye, noble Captain.
Nor. So I leave ye.
Val. Call in the Knights severally.
Enter severally Gomera and Miranda. ”

“ Say. Stay, yet be pleas'd to think, and let not daring
Wherein men now adaies exceed even beasts,
And think themselves not men else, so transport you
Beyond the bounds of Christianity:
Lord Alvarez, Vitelli, Gentlemen,
No Town in Spain, from our Metropolis
Unto the rudest hovel, but is great
With your assured valors daily proofs:
Oh will you then, for a superfluous fame,
A sound of honor, which in these times, all
Like hereticks profess (with obstinacy)
But most erroneously venture your souls,
'Tis a hard task, through a Sea of blood
[Pg 230] To sail, and land at Heaven? ”

“ Is this the happiness of youth and beauty,
The great content of being made a Mistriss,
To live a Slave subject to wants and hungers,
To jealousies for every eye that wanders?
Unmanly jealousie.
Lop. Good Isabella.
Isab. Too good for you: do you think to famish me,
Or keep me like an Alms-woman in such rayment,
Such poor unhandsome weeds? am I old, or ugly?
I never was bred thus: and if your misery
Will suffer wilful blindness to abuse me,
My patience shall be no Bawd to mine own ruine.
Pen. Tickle him Mistris: to him.
Isab. Had ye love in ye,
Or any part of man—
Pen. ”

“ Enter Alguazier, Piorato, Pacchieco, Metaldi, Mendoza, Lazarillo, &c.
Alg. I am yours.
A Don's not priviledg'd here more than your self,
Win her, and wear her.
Pio. Have you a Priest ready?
Alg. I have him for thee, Lad; and when I have
Married this scornful whore to this poor gallant,
She will make suit to me; there is a trick
To bring a high-pris'd wench upon her knees:
For you my fine neat Harpyes stretch your tallons
And prove your selves true night-Birds. ”

“ I'll give my full share for her: have ye no manners;
To thrust the woman so?
Nor. Share her among ye;
And may she give ye as many hurts as I have,
And twice as many aches.
Lusc. Noble Captain,
Be pleas'd to free me from these Soldiers wildness,
Till I but speak two words.
Nor. Now for your Maidenhead,
You have your book, proceed.
Lusc. Victorious Sir,
'Tis seldom seen in men so valiant,
Minds so devoid of virtue: he that can conquer,
Should ever know how to preserve his conquest,
'Tis but a base theft else. Valour's a virtue,
Crown of men's actions here; yours as you make it. ”

“ Enter Miranda.
Mount. No, most unhappy wretch as thou hast made me
More devil than thy self, I am.
Mir. Alone,
And troubled too, I take it: how he starts!
All is not handsome in thy heart Mountferrat.
God speed ye Sir, I have been seeking of ye:
They say you are to fight to day.
Mount. What then?
Mir. Nay, nothing but good fortune to your Sword, Sir. ”

“ Enter Aminta (as a Page with a Letter.)
Ant. To me, Sir? from whom?
Am. A friend, I dare vow, Sir.
Though on the enemies part: the Lady Ismenia.
Mar. Take heed, blush not too deep; let me advise you
In your answer, 't must be done heedfully.
Ant. I should not see a Masculine in peace
Out of that house.
Am. Alas, I'm a child, Sir,
Your hates cannot last till I wear a sword.
Ant. Await me for your answer.
Mar. He must see her,
To manifest his shame: 'tis my advantage;
While our bloud's under us, we keep above:
But then we fall, when we do fall in love. ”

“ In the mean time, not as a prisoner,
But as a noble Prince we entertain ye.
Sy. I am at your mercy Lady, 'tis my fortune,
My stubborn fate; the day is yours, you have me,
The valour of one single man has cross'd me,
Crost me and all my hope; for when the Battel's
Were at the hottest game of all their furies,
And conquest ready then to crown me Victor,
[Pg 297] One single man broke in, one sword, one vertue,
And by his great example thousands followed,
Oh how I shame to think on't, how it shakes me! ”

“ And your hand's gone; a good heart wants no instruments;
Share that amongst ye, there's an eye, an arm,
And that will bear you up, when your legs cannot.
Oh, where's the honest Sailor? that poor fellow,
Indeed that bold brave fellow, that with his Musket
Taught them new ways how to put their caps off;
That stood the fire of all the fight, twice blown,
And twice I gave him drown'd; welcome ashore knave;
Give me thy hand, if they be not both lost: faith thou art welcome,
My tough knave welcome: thou wilt not shrink i' th' washing. ”

“ Not all the world can buy your reputation;
'Tis sunk for ever else, these peoples tongues will poison ye
Though you be white as innocence they'll taint ye,
They will speak terrible and hideous things,
And people in this age are prone to credit,
They'll let fall nothing that may brand a woman,
Consider this, and then be wise and tremble,
Yield yet, and yet I'll save ye. ”

“ Ma. I know 'em both, but to prevent their ruines,
Must not discover—stay men most desperate;
The mischief you are forward to commit
Will keep me from my grave, and tie my spirit
To endless troubles else.
Wild. Ha, 'tis her Ghost.
Fr. Maria?
Ma. Hear me both, each wound you make
Runs through my soul, and is a new death to me,
Each threatening danger will affright my rest;
Look on me Hartlove, and my kinsman view me ”

“ Isab. Draw your sword quickly, and go down inrag'd,
As if you had persu'd some foe up hither,
And grumble to your self extreamly, terribly,
But not a word to him, and so pass by him.
Bar. I'll do it perfectly.
Enter Lopez.
Isa [b] . Stand you still good Sir.
Bar. Rascal, slave, villain, take a house so poorly,
After thou hast wrong'd a Gentleman, a Soldier,
Base Poultroon boy, you will forsake your neast sirrah.
Lop. The matter, good sweet Captain?
Bart. Run-away rogue,
And take a house to cover thy base cowardize,
I'll whip ye, I'll so scourge ye. ”

“ Let me but kiss you with his ardor now,
You shall feel how he loves you.
Ism. Oh forbear:
'Tis not the fashion with us, but would you
Perswade me that he loves me?
Mar. I'll warrant you
He dies in't: and that were witness enough on't.
Ism. Love me Sir? can you tell me for what reason?
Mar. Fie, will you ask me that which you have about you?
Ism. I know nothing Sir.
Mar. Let him find it then;
He constantly believes you have the thing
That he must love you for: much is apparent,
A sweet and lovely beauty. ”

“ Scæna Secunda. Enter Lopez and Isabella.
Lop. Hast thou sent for him?
Isab. Yes.
Lop. A young man, saist thou?
Isab. Yes, very young, and very amorous.
Lop. And handsome?
Isab. As the Town affords.
Lop. And dar'st thou
Be so far good, and Mistriss of thine honor,
To slight these?
Isab. For my Husband's sake to curse 'em,
And since you have made me Mistriss of my fortune,
Never to point at any joy, but Husband,
I could have cozen'd ye, but so much I love ye,
And now so much I weigh the estimation
Of an unspotted wife—
Lop. ”

“ Can truly say he knows not what is Love?
Val. 'Tis honestly profest; with whom Gomera?
Name the Lady, that with all [advantage]
We may advance your suit.
Gom. But will you Sir?
Val. Now by our holy rock were it our Sister:
Spaniard, I hold thee worthy, freely name her.
Gom. Be master of your word: it is she Sir,
The matchless Oriana.
Val. Come down Lady,
You have made her blush, let her consent I will
Make good my oath.
Mount. Is't so? stay: I do love
So tenderly Gomera your bright flame,
As not to suffer your perdition.
Gom. What means Mountferrat? ”

“ Jul. You cannot proclaim me coward now, Don Bellides.
Bel. No: thou 'rt a valiant fellow: so am I:
I'll fight with thee at this hug, to the last leg
I have to stand on, or breath or life left.
Jul. This is the salt unto humanity,
And keeps it sweet.
Bel. Love! oh life stinks without it.
I can tell you news.
Jul. Good has long been wanting.
Bel. I do suspect, and I have some proof on't,
(So far as a Love-Epistle comes to)
That Antonio (your Nephew) and my daughter
Ismenia are very good friends before us. ”