Francis Beaumont

“ Lamira. Why, foolish man,
[Pg 390] Dare you solicite me to serve your lust,
In which not only I abuse my Lord,
My Father, and my family, but write whore,
Though not upon my forehead, in my conscience,
To be read hourly, and yet name your honour?
Yours suffers but in circumstance; mine in substance.
If you obey me, you part with some credit,
From whom? the giddy multitude; but mankind
Will censure me, and justly.
Din. I will lose,
What most I do desire, rather than hazard
So dear a friend, or write my self a coward,
'Tis better be no man.
Lamira. This will not do ”

“ To do your causes good, is not that Cleremont?
1 Gent. 'Tis he my Lord.
Vert. Why does he smile upon me?
Am I become ridiculous? has your fortune, Sir,
Upon my Son, made you contemn his Father?
The glory of a Gentleman is fair bearing.
Cler. Mistake me not my Lord, you shall not find that,
I come with no blown Spirit to abuse you,
I know your place and honour due unto it,
The reverence to your silver Age and Vertue.
Vert. Your face is merry still. ”

“ Shall we make fools of our afflictions?
Can any thing sound sweetly in mine ears,
Where all the noise of bloody horrour is?
My Brother, and my Cousin, they are dead Sir,
Dead, basely dead, is this an age to fool in?
And I my self, I know not what I shall be,
Yet I must thank you, and if happily
You had ask'd me yesterday, when these were living,
And my fears less, I might have hearkned to you.
Din. Peace to your grief, I bind you to your word.
Enter Cleremont, Anabel, Beaupre, Verdone, Charlote, Nurse, the two Gentlemen.
Lam. How? do you conjure? ”

“ Raise up your trophy, Cleremont.
Cler. What a vengeance ail you?
Din. What dismal noise! is there no honour in you?
Cleremont, we are betrayed, betrayed, sold by a woman;
Deal bravely for thy self.
Cler. This comes of rutting;
Are we made stales to one another?
Din. Yes, we are undone, lost.
Cler. You shall pay for't grey-beard.
Up, up, you sleep your last else. {Lights above, two Servants
{and Anabel.
1 Serv. No, not yet, Sir,
Lady, look up, would you have wrong'd this Beauty?
Wake so tender a Virgin with rough terms?
You wear a Sword, we must entreat you leave it. ”

“ But Champernel is rich, and needs a nurse,
And not your gold: and add to that, he's old too,
His whole estate in likelihood to descend
Upon your Family; Here was providence,
I grant, but in a Nobleman base thrift:
No Merchants, nay, no Pirats, sell for Bondmen
Their Country-men, but you, a Gentleman,
To save a little gold, have sold your Daughter
To worse than slaverie. ”

“ Beaupre, Verdone.
Cler. Away, away,
I know you can: I like your modesty,
I know you will fight and so fight, with such metal,
And with such judgement meet your enemies fury;
I see it in your eye, Sir.
La-writ. I'le be hang'd then;
And I charge you in the Kings name, name no more fighting.
Cler. I charge you in the Kings name, play the man,
Which if you do not quickly, I begin with you,
I'le make you dance, do you see your fiddlestick?
Sweet A [d] vocate thou shalt fight.
La-writ. Stand farther Gentleman,
Or I'le give you such a dust o'th' chapps—
Cler. ”

“ Did I fear this? is this a Cause to shake at?
Away with me for shame, I am a Rascal.
Enter Champernel, Beaupre, Verdone, Lamira, Anabel, Cleremont, and two Servants.
Din. I am amaz'd too.
Beaup. We'll recover you.
Verd. You walk like Robin-good-fellow all the house over,
And every man afraid of you.
Din. 'Tis well, Lady;
The honour of this deed will be your own,
The world shall know your bounty.
Beaup. What shall we do with 'em?
Cler. Geld me,
For 'tis not fit I should be a man again,
I am an Ass, a Dog. ”

“ Thou fierce man that like Sir Lancelot dost appear,
I need not tell thee what I am, nor eke what I make here.
Din. This is a precious knave, stay, stay, good Tristram,
And let me ask thy mightiness a question,
Did ye never abuse a Lady?
La-writ. Not; to abuse a Lady, is very hard, Sir.
Din. Say you so, Sir?
Didst thou never abuse her honour?
La-writ. Not; to abuse her honour, is impossible. ”

“ Enter Vertaign, Champernel, Lamira, Nurse, Beaupre, Verdone. An Epithalamium.
SONG at the Wedding.
Come away, bring on the Bride
And place her by her Lovers side:
You fair troop of Maids attend her,
Pure and holy thoughts befriend her.
Blush, and wish, you Virgins all,
Many such fair nights may fall.
Chorus.
Hymen, fill the house with joy,
All thy sacred fires employ:
Bless the Bed with holy love,
Now fair orb of Beauty move.
Din. Stand by, for I'le be heard.
Verta. This is strange rudeness. ”

“ And therefore cannot do him the honour to beat him my self;
But I have a Kinsman much of his ability,
His Wit and Courage, for this call him Fool,
One that will spit as senseless fire as this Fellow.
Cler. And such a man to undertake, my Lord?
Vert. Nay he's too forward; these two pitch Barrels together.
Cler. Upon my soul, no harm.
Vert. It makes me smile,
Why, what a stinking smother will they utter!
Yes, he shall undertake, Sir, as my Champion,
Since you propound it mirth, I'll venture on it,
And shall defend my cause, but as y'are honest
Sport not with bloud. ”

“ La-w. 'Tis very like, Sir,
I seldom now write Sonnets.
Cler. O admirantis,
To Monsieur Vertaign, the President.
La-w. I chuse no Fool, Sir.
Cler. Why, he's no Sword-man, Sir.
La-w. Let him learn, let him learn,
Time, that trains Chickens up, will teach him quickly.
Cler. Why, he's a Judge, an Old Man.
La-w. Never too Old
To be a Gentleman; and he that is a Judge
Can judge best what belongs to wounded honour. ”

“ You wear a good Sword.
La-writ. I know not that,
I never drew it yet, or whether it be a Sword—
Cler. I must entreat you try, Sir, and bear a part
Against these Gentlemen, I want a second;
Ye seem a man, and 'tis a noble office.
La-writ. I am a Lawyer, Sir, I am no fighter.
Cler. You that breed quarels, Sir, know best to satisfie.
Beaup. This is some sport yet.
Verd. If this fellow should fight.
La-writ. And for any thing I know, I am an arrant coward,
Do not trust me, I think I am a coward.
Cler. Try, try, you are mistaken: walk on Gentlemen,
The man shall follow presently. ”

“ Cler. Why, there's the quarrel, Sir, the mortal quarrel.
Vert. Why, what a Knave is this? as y'are a Gentleman,
Is there no further purpose but meer mirth?
What a bold Man of War! he invites me roundly.
Cler. If there should be, I were no Gentleman,
Nor worthy of the honour of my Kindred.
And though I am sure your Lordship hates my Person,
Which Time may bring again into your favour,
Yet for the manners—
Vert. ”

“ I should have been most proud, to have had the honour
To call you Brother, but my Fathers pleasure
Denied that happiness. I know no man lives,
That can command his passions, and therefore
Dare not condemn the late intemperate language
You were pleas'd to use to my Father and my Sister,
He's old and she a woman, I most sorrie
My honour does compel me to entreat you,
To do me the favour, with your sword to meet me
A mile without the Citie.
Din. You much honour me.
In the demand, I'le gladly wait upon you.
Beaup. O Sir you teach me what to say: the time? ”

“ Exit Charlote.
Now nurse what news?
Enter Nurse.
Nurse. O Ladie dreadfull ones.
They are to fight this morning, there's no remedie.
I saw my Lord your Brother, and Verdone
Take horse as I came by.
Lamira. Where's Cleremont?
Nurse. I met him too, and mounted.
Lamira. Where's Dinant?
Nurse. There's all the hope, I have staid him with a trick,
If I have done well so.
Lamira. What trick? ”

“ We'l think upon hereafter, 'twere unfit
To cherish any thought to breed unrest,
Or to our selves, or to our Nuptial feast. [Exeunt.
Enter Dinant, and Cleremont.
Cler. We shall have sport, ne'r fear't.
Din. What sport I prethee?
Cler. Why we must fight, I know it, and I long for't,
It was apparent in the fiery eye
Of young Verdone, Beaupre look'd pale and shook too,
Familiar signs of anger. They are both brave fellows
Tri'd and approv'd, and I am proud to encounter
[Pg 385] With men, from whom no honour can be lost;
They will play up to a man, and set him off. ”

“ But prethee chide me not.
Cler. Not I, goe on boy,
I have faults my self, and will not reprehend
A crime I am not free from: for her Marriage,
I do esteem it (and most batchellors are
Of my opinion) as a fair protection,
To play the wanton without loss of honour.
Din. Would she make use of't so, I were most happy.
Cler. No more of this. Judge now,
Whether I have the gift of prophecie.
Enter Beaupre, and Verdone.
Beaup. Monsieur Dinant,
I am glad to find you, Sir.
Din. I am at your service.
Verd. Good Monsieur Cleremont, I have long wish'd
To be known better to you. ”

“ Sam. You say you know not what then? boh, boh, Sir.
La-writ. Sir me with your sword in your hand;
You have a scurvy Uncle, you have a most scurvy cause,
And you are—boh, boh.
Sam. Boh, boh, what?
La-writ. A shitten scurvy Cousin.
Samp. Our Swords; our Swords;
Thou art a Dog, and like a Dog, our Swords.
La-w. Our weapons Gentlemen: ha? where's your second?
Sam. Where's yours?
La-writ. So ho; our weapons.
Sam. Wa, ha, ho, our weapons;
Our Doublets and our weapons, I am dead.
La-w. First, second, third, a pl—— be wi' you Gentlemen.
Sam. Are these the rules of honour? I am starv'd. ”

“ And to you pretty one, though crying one;
To be hang'd now, when these worshipful benchers please,
Though I know not their faces that condemn me,
A little startles me, but a man is nothing,
A Maidenhead is the thing, the thing all aim at ”

“ I'le lead you Lady. [Exeunt severally.
Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.
Enter Champernel, Lamira, Beaupre, Verdone, Charlotte.
Beaup. We'l venture on him.
Cham. Out of my doors I charge thee, see me no more.
[Pg 404] Lami. Your Nephew?
Cham. I disclaim him,
He has no part in me, nor in my blood,
My Brother that kept fortune bound, and left
Conquest hereditary to his Issue
Could not beget a coward.
Verd. I fought, Sir,
Like a good fellow, and a Souldier too,
But men are men, and cannot make their fates:
Ascribe you to my Father what you please,
I am born to suffer. ”

“ Lam. These Chambers are too near. [Ex. Din. Lam.
Cham. I shall be nearer;
Well, go thy wayes, I'le trust thee through the world,
Deal how thou wilt: that that I never feel,
I'le never fear. Yet by the honour of a Souldier,
I hold thee truly noble: How these things will look,
And how their blood will curdle! Play on Children,
You shall have pap anon. O thou grand Fool,
That thou knew'st but thy fortune— [Musick done.
Cler. Peace, good Madam,
[Pg 419] Stop her mouth, Dinant, it sleeps yet, 'pray be wary,
Dispatch, I cannot endure this misery,
I can hear nothing more ”

“ Alas, he is possest Sir, with the spirit of fighting
And quarrels with all people; but how he came to it—
[Pg 409] Samp. If he fight well and like a Gentleman,
The man may fight, for 'tis a lawfull calling. ”

“ You ne'r think on the danger.
Cler. Why 'tis no more
Than meeting of a dozen friends at Supper,
And drinking hard; mischief comes there unlook'd for,
I am sure as suddain, and strikes home as often,
For this we are prepar'd.
Din. Lamira Loves
Her Brother Beaupre dearly.
Cler. What of that?
Din. And should he call me to account for what
But now I spake, nor can I with mine honour
Recant my words, that little hope is left me,
E're to enjoy what (next to Heaven) I long for,
Is taken from me.
Cer. Why what can you hope for,
She being now married? ”

“ I shall pursue you else.
La-writ. I have done sweet Gentlemen. [Exit.
Verta. But we forget our selves, our friends and Children.
Cham. We'l raise the country first, then take our fortunes. [Exeunt.
Enter one Gentleman, and Lamira.
[Pg 437] 1 Gent. Shall I entreat for what I may command?
Lam. Think on my birth.
1 Gent. Here I am only Noble,
A King, and thou in my dominions, fool,
A subject and a slave.
Lam. Be not a Tyrant,
A ravisher of honour, gentle Sir,
And I will think ye such, and on my knees,
As to my Soveraign, pay a Subjects duty,
With prayers and tears. ”

“ Cler. I'd fall my self first.
Din. Would'st thou endure thy Mistris be taken from thee,
And thou sit quiet?
Cler. There you touch my honour,
No French-man can endure that.
Di [n] . Pl—— upon thee,
Why dost thou talk of Peace then? that dar'st suffer
Nothing, or in thy self, or in thy friend
That is unmanly?
Cler. That I grant, I cannot:
But I'le not quarrel with this Gentleman
For wearing stammel Breeches, or this Gamester
For playing a thousand pounds, that owes me nothing ”

“ I have a scene of mirth, to drive this from my heart,
And my hour is come.
Din. Miss not your time.
Cler. I dare not. [Exeunt severally. [Pg 424]
Enter Sampson, and a Gentleman.
Gent. I presume, Sir, you now need no instruction,
But fairly know, what belongs to a Gentleman;
You bear your Uncles cause.
Sam. Do not disturb me,
I understand my cause, and the right carriage.
Gent. Be not too bloody.
Sam. As I find my enemy; if his sword bite,
If it bite, Sir, you must pardon me.
Gent. No doubt he is valiant,
He durst not undertake else,
Sam. ”

“ Gent. 'Tis no soft one.
La-writ. Off with't, I say:
I'le fight with him like a flea'd Cat.
Gent. You are well, you are well.
Cler. You must uncase too.
Sam. Yes, Sir.
But tell me this, why should I mix mine honour
With a fellow, that has ne're a lace in's shirt?
Gent. That's a main point, my friend has two.
Cler. That's true, Sir.
La-w. Base and degenerate Cousin, dost not thou know
An old, and tatter'd colours, to the enemy,
Is of more honour, and shews more ominous? ”