Francis Beaumont

“ To make her rich; onely created for me:
Give her the ceremony of my Queen,
With all the state that may become our Bride,
Attend her to this throne; Are you not there?
Yet stay, 'tis too much pride to send for her,
Wee'll go our self, no honor is enough
For Polidora, to redeem our fault,
Salute her gently from me, and, upon
Your knee, present her with this Diadem,
'Tis our first gift, tell her Demetrius follows
To be her guest, and give himself a servant
To her chast bosome, bid her stretch her heart
To meet me, I am lost in joy and wonder. ”

“ Nan. Good Madge lets rest a little, by my troth I am weary, this new pail is a plaguy heavy one, would Tom were hang'd for choosing it, 'tis the untoward'st fool in a Countrey.
Madg. With all my heart, and I thank you too, Nan.
Vio. What true contented happiness dwels here,
More than in Cities! wou'd to God my Father
Had liv'd like one of these, and bred me up
To milk: and do as they do: methinks
'Tis a life that I wou'd choose, if I were now
To tell my time agen, above a Princes; maids, for charity
Give a poor wench one draught of Milk,
That weariness and hunger have nigh famish'd. ”

“ I wou'd not have it known as oft, nor constru'd,
It stands not with my care.
Quisan. You speak most fairly,
For even our pure devotions are examin'd.
Quisar. So mad are mens minds now.
Ruy. Or rather monstrous;
They are thick dreams, bred in fogs that know no fairness.
Quisan. Madam, the House is yours, I am yours, pray use me,
And at your service all I have lies prostrate;
My care shall ever be to yield ye honor,
And when your fame falls here, 'tis my fault Lady;
A poor and simple banquet I have provided,
Which if you please to honor with your presence—
Quisar. ”

“ Yet I shall forget my self again;
I feel the Devil
Ready to hold my stirrop; pray to bed, good night.
Wife. This kiss, good night sweet Love,
And peace goe with thee: thou hast prov'd thy self
The honestest man that ever was entic'd
To that sweet sin as people please to call it,
Of lying with anothers wife, and I,
I think the honestest woman without blushing,
That ever lay with another man, I sent my Husband
Into a Cellar, post, fearing, and justly
He should have known him, which I did not purpose
Till I had had my end.
Well, now this plot is perfect, let him brag on't. ”

“ Worship our Gods, renounce that faith ye are bred in;
'Tis easily done, I'll teach ye suddenly;
And humbly on your knees—
Arm. Ha? I'll be hang'd first.
Quisar. Offer as we do.
Arm. To the devil Lady?
Offer to him I hate? I know the devil.
To dogs and cats? you make offer to them;
To every bird that flies, and every worm.
How terribly I shake! Is this the venture?
The trial that you talk'd of? where have I been?
And how forgot my self? how lost my memory?
When did I pray, or look up stedfastly?
Had any goodness in my heart to guide me? ”

“ What is't Jaques,
May I not crave the place?
Ja. Yes, Sir, you shall,
'Tis to be but his Graces Secretary,
Which is my little all, and my ambition,
Till my known worth shall take me by the hand,
And set me higher; how the fates may do
In this poor thread of life, is yet uncertain;
I was not born I take it for a Trencher,
Nor to espouse my Mistriss Dairy-maid.
Couz. I am resolv'd my Wife shall up to Court;
I'll furnish her, that is a speeding course,
And cannot chuse but breed a mighty fortune ”

“ Wife. I hope you dare not say so, nor imagine so base and low,
A thought: I have none left?
Are these words fitting for a man of worth,
And one of your full credit? Do you know
The place you live in? me? and what I labour
For, you? and your advancement?
Gent. Yes my dearest.
Wife. And do you pop me off with this slight answer,
In troth I have none left? in troth you must have;
Nay stare not, 'tis most true, send speedily
To all that love you, let your people flye
Like thunder, through the City,
And not return under five thousand Crowns. ”

“ I would, when first the lust to fame and honor,
Possest me, I had met with any evil,
But that; had I been tied to stay at home,
And earn the bread for the whole family,
With my own hand, happy had I been.
Enter Jaques.
Jaq. Sir, this is from your wonted course at home,
When did ye there keep such inordinate hours?
Goe to bed late? start thrice? and call on me?
Would you were from this place; our Countrey sleeps,
Although they were but of that moderate length
That might maintain us in our daily work,
Yet were they sound and sweet. ”

“ Farewel the pomp of Court, I never more
Can hope to be a Duke or any thing,
I never more shall see the glorious face
Of my fair spreading Lord that lov'd me well.
Enter Shattillion.
Shat. Fly you so fast? I had a sight of you,
But would not follow you; I was too wise,
You shall not lead me with a cunning trick;
Where you may catch me; poor Shattillion;
Hath the Kings anger left thee never a friend?
No, all mens loves move by the breath of Kings.
Jaq. It is the Gentleman that sav'd my life, Sir.
Shat. Bless Shattillion, another plot.
Jaq. No Sir, 'tis I.
Shat. ”

“ That you might hope to marry me; nay blush not,
An honorable end needs no excuse;
And would you love me then?
Ruy. My soul not dearer.
Quisar. Do some brave thing that may entice me that way,
Some thing of such a meritorious goodness,
Of such an unmatcht nobleness, that I may know
You have a power beyond ours that preserves you:
'Tis not the person, nor the royal title,
Nor wealth, nor glory, that I look upon,
That inward man I love that's lin'd with virtue,
That well deserving soul works out a favor ”

“ Till my most honourable friend redeem'd me,
Signior Pyniero, I bestow on you,
The rest of next command upon these Gentlemen,
Upon ye, all my love.
Arm. Oh brave Ruy Dias,
You have started now beyond me. I must thank ye,
And thank ye for my life, my wife and honor.
Ruy. I am glad I had her for you, Sir.
King. Come Princes,
Come Friends and Lovers all, come noble Gentlemen,
No more Guns now, nor hates, but joyes and triumphs,
An universal gladness fly about us:
And know however subtle men dare cast,
And promise wrack, the gods give peace at last. ”

“ I past thee half my Land.
Soph. It may be then,
Her modesty requir'd a little violence?
Some Women love to struggle.
Petru. She had it,
And so much that I sweat for't, so I did,
But to no end: I washt an Ethiope;
She swore my force might weary her, but win her
I never could, nor should, till she consented;
And I might take her body prisoner,
But for her mind or appetite—
Soph. 'Tis strange;
This woman is the first I ever read of,
Refus'd a warranted occasion,
And standing on so fair termes.
Petru. I shall quit her.
Soph. Us'd you no more art? ”

“ Against your Countrey life, but 'tis below me
And only subject to my pitty, know
The eminent Court, to them that can be wise,
And fasten on her blessings, is a Sun
That draws men up from course and earthly Being,
I mean these men of merit that have power
And reason to make good her benefits,
Learns them a manly boldness, gives their tongues
Sweetness of Language, makes them apt to please;
Files of all rudeness, and uncivil haviour,
Shews them as neat in carriage, as in cloaths;
Cosin, have you ever seen the Court? ”

“ Look'd on the wealth of Nature, the fair dames,
Beauties, that light the Court, and make it shew
Like a fair heaven, in a frosty night:
And 'mongst these mine, not poorest, 'tis for tongues
Of blessed Poets, such as Orpheus was,
To give their worth and praises; Oh dear Cosin:
You have a wife, and fair, bring her hither,
Let her not live to be the Mistriss of a Farmers heir
And be confin'd ever to a searge,
Far courser than my horse-cloth. ”

“ Follow me Jaques, I must have thy counsel,
I will return again, stay you there wife.
Long. I fear this loss of honor will give him some few stools.
Wif. No, no, he is resolv'd, he will not
Stir a foot, I'll lay my life.
Bew. I, but he's discontented, how shall we resolve that,
And make him stay with comfort?
Wife. Faith Bewford we must even let nature work,
For he's the sweetest temper'd man for that
As one can wish, for let men but go about to fool him,
And he'll have his finger as deep in't as the best ”

“ A soldier should be jovial, high and lusty.
King. He shall be so, come, come, I know your reason,
It shall be none to cross you, ye shall have her,
Take my word, ('tis a Kings word) ye shall have her,
She shall be yours or nothing, pray be merry.
Arm. Your Grace has given me cause, I shall be Sir,
And ever your poor servant.
King. Me my self, Sir,
My better self, I shall find time, and suddainly,
To gratifie your loves too, Gentlemen,
And make you know how much I stand bound to you:
Nay, 'tis not worth your thanks, no further complement ”

“ Within this two hours Gentlemen, poor Jaques
Was but as coarse in grave: a man of wisdom,
That of my conscience, if he had his right
Should have a pretty State, but that's all one
That Noble Gentleman did save this life,
I keep it for him, 'tis his own.
Long. Oh Bacchus! is all the world drunk? come we'll to the Duke
And give thanks for this delivery.
Actus Quintus. Scæna Prima. Enter Duke and Jaques.
Duke. Not gone unto my Tenants to relate
My Grace and Honor; [and] the mightiness
Of my new name, which would have struck a terror
Through their course doublets, to their very hearts? ”

“ Bya. You shall not goe.
Row. I will: yet thus far Livia,
Your Sorrow may induce me to forgive you,
But never love again; if I stay longer,
I have lost two hundred pound.
Liv. Good Sir, but thus much—
Tra. Turn if thou beest a Man.
Liv. But one kiss of you;
One parting kiss, and I am gone too.
Row. Come,
I shall kiss fifty pound away at this clap:
We'll have one more, and then farewel.
Liv. Farewel.
Bya. Well, go thy wayes, thou bear'st a kind heart with thee.
Tra. H'as made a stand.
Bya. A noble, brave young fellow
Worthy a Wench indeed.
Row. I will: I will not. ”

“ Your faith will shew but cold else, and for fashion,
Now to redeem all, now to thank his courtesie,
Now to make those believe that held you backward,
And an ill instrument, you are a Gentleman,
An honest man, and you dare love your Natio [n] ,
Dare stick to virtue, though she be opprest,
And for her own fair sake, step to her rescue:
If you live ages, Sir, and lose this hour,
Not now redeem, and vindicate your honor
Your life will be a murmure, and no man in't. ”

“ Enter Rowland and Livia.
Row. Now Livia, if you'll go away to night,
If your affections be not made of words.
Liv. I love you, and you know how dearly Rowland,
Is there none near us? my affections ever
Have been your servants; with what superstition
I have ever Sainted you—
Row. Why then take this way.
Liv. 'Twill be a childish, and a less prosperous course,
Than his that knows not care: why should we do,
Our honest and our hearty love such wrong,
To over-run our fortunes? ”

“ Wife. 'Tis fit he should have room to shew his mightiness,
He swells so with his poyson,
'Tis better to reclaim ye thus, than make
A sheeps-head of you, It had been but your due;
But I have mercy Sir, and mean to reclaim you
By a directer course.
That Woman is not worthy of a Soul
That has the sovereign power to rule her husband,
And gives her title up, so long provided
As there be fair play, and his state not wrong'd. ”

“ Enter two Milk-maids and Viola with pails.
Val. That last is she, 'tis she.
Rich. Let us away, we shall infect her, let her have the wind,
And we will kneel down here.
Vio. Wenches away, for here are men.
Val. Fair maid, I pray you stay.
Vio. Alas, agen?
Rich. Why do you lay hold on her? I pray heartily let her go.
Val. With all my heart, I do not mean to hurt her.
Rich. But stand away then for the purest bodies
Will soonest take infection, stand away,
But for infecting her my self, by heaven,
I would come there, and beat thee further off. ”

“ Liv. Shew 'em the young man too, I know he's willing
To shift his sails too: 'tis for his more advancement;
Alas, we might have begger'd one another;
We are young both, and a world of children
Might have been left behind to curse our follies:
We had been undone Byancha, had we married,
Undone for ever, I confess I lov'd him,
I care not who shall know it, most intirely;
And once, upon my conscience, he lov'd me;
But farewel that, we must be wiser, cosin,
Love must not leave us to the world: have you done? ”

“ And to that honest end I drew thee hither;
I know ye have deserv'd as much as man can,
And know it is a justice to requite you:
I know ye love.
Arm. If ever love was mortal,
And dwelt in man, and for that love command me,
So strong I find it, and so true, here Lady,
Something of such a greatness to allow me,
Those things I have done already, may seem foyls too:
'Tis equity that man aspires to heaven,
Should win it by his worth, and not sleep to it. ”

“ You young Arcadius, Lord Macarius's Nephew?
Ant. There's a spark, a youth moulded for a Favourite,
The Queen might do him honor.
Phi. Favourite, 'tis too cheap a name, there were a match
Now for her Virgin blood.
Lisa. Must every man
That has a handsome face or leg, feed such
Ambition: I confess I honor him,
He has a nimble soul, and gives great hope
To be no woman-hater, dances handsomly,
Can court a Lady powerfully, but more goes
To th' making of a Prince. He's here
And's Uncle.
Enter Arcadius, Macarius, Seleucus. ”

“ But their own goodness, no eyes look up to 'em
But those that are of equal light, and lustre,
Strike me thus mute, you are my royal Mistriss,
And all my services that aime at honor,
Take life from you, the Saint of my devotions;
[Pg 97] Pardon my wish, it is a fair ambition,
And well becomes the Man that honors you;
I wou'd I were of worth, of something near you,
Of such a royal piece, a King I wou'd be,
A mighty King that might command affection,
And bring a youth upon me might bewitch ye,
And you a sweet sould Christian. ”