ACT. II. Scœn. I.
[Loud Muſick]
Enter four Lords, two Biſhops, King, Prince: they
ſit; Eulalia in black, Crowned; a golden Wand
in her hand, led between two Friers; ſhe kneels
to the King, he rejects her with his hand. Enter
at the other door, a Doctor of Phyſick, a Mid-
wife, two Souldiers; the King points them to the
Biſhops, they each deliver Papers, kiſs the Bi-
ſhops Books, and are diſmiſs’d. The Paper gi-
ven to the King, He with his Finger menaces
Eulalia, and ſends her the Papers: ſhe looks meek-
ly. The Biſhops take her Crown and Wand, give
her a Wreath of Cypreſs, and a white Wand. All
the Lords peruſe the Papers. They ſhew various
countenances: Some ſeem to applaud the King,
ſome pity Eulalia. Muſick ceaſes. King ſpeaks.
King.MY Lords and loyal Peers.
Between Spiritual and Temporal.
Kin.This is a Cauſe, the which, but for fair Order,
By which I am conſtrain’d to be a Judge,
Would rather drive me to a mourning Cloſet
Then to this Seat; to ſhew my equal grief
Againſt the Crime and ſhame of the Delinquent.
I ſee y’are all amaz’d, and cannot marveil
[C3v]At
and C O N C U B I N E.
At your Aſtoniſhment, who do ſuffer with you
In the great Change Honour compels me to,
Together with Religion, fairly urging
To an high point of Juſtice, which to utter
Draws faintneſs from my words, chilling my Blood
Like the departing Breath that ſeparates Life.
For ſuch I held her, and ſo many yeers
Retain’d her in the Cloſet of my Heart,
Its ſelf-Companion: that till theſe proofs,
VVhich now like daggers by compulſive wounds
Have made their paſſage, ſhe could ne’er have parted.
That ſhe was found—Pray ſpeak it for me.
King.And that ſhe ſought the Life of fair
Alinda
By Sword and Poyſon both: and of that Cup
’Tis like my ſelf had taſted,
For my ſuppoſed love to that wrong’d Lady.
Lod.You have given her the Bed-right that be-
long’d to your wrong’d Queen, theſe twelve months.
King.Our Laws of
Sicilie are ſo well rebated
VVith Clemencie, and Mercie, that in this Caſe
They cut not Life from one of Royal Blood,
Onely take off (as is on her perform’d)
All Dignities, all Titles, all Poſſeſſions,
All means to live, even to her naked hands.
And ſuch,
Eulalia, now is your condition.
Lod.To work for her living? if ſhe were as
young, and no honeſter then ſhe for vvhoſe ſake this
is inflicted on her, ſhe might find ſomething elſe a-
bout her, then naked hands, to help at a living ſhift -
King.Now to this Cenſure, for due Orders ſake,
And for vvhich end this Parliament vvas call’d;
Your Voyces are requir’d: do ye all approve it?
C4Lod.
The Q U E E N
Lod.VVe do; Heaven knows againſt my heart.
Eul.My thanks unto you all, that do obey
So vvell vvith one conſent your Soveraign Lord.
And ſacred Sir, thus low, as it becomes me,
Let your poor Hand-maid beg, that you incline
A patient Ear to this my laſt Petition:
That as you caſt me off, as an offence,
You will be pleas’d to think me not offended,
But pleas’d in all I ſuffer: for, Heaven knows,
I am as free from any Paſſion
Of Anger, Hate, Repining or Diſtaſte,
Nay, as inſenſible of Grief or Sorrow,
Or whatſoever Anguiſh of the Minde,
As I was capable, for ought I know,
Of Joy or Bliſs the firſt hour I was born.
Never made happy till I was your Bride,
In which bleſt ſtate I cannot but remain,
While you are pleas’d, and I obey your will,
Though unto Death, to Baniſhment or Priſon.
Poverty is Bleſſedneſs, in vvhich I’ll pray
For pardon of the Sins of my Accuſers,
And thoſe that have ſuborn’d them.
Eul.So in the bleſt continuance of your Dayes,
I ſhall pray Heaven to ſmile on all your VVayes.
King.Nay, ſtay
Eulalia, I have yet a Buſineſs
I would have paſs the general Conſent
Of this Aſſemblie, in which your Voice is uſeful.
Lod.Upon my life, his Marriage with that Start-
That Snake this good Queen cocker’d in her Boſom,
Is not this Royal cruelty?
[Gonzago kneels to the
Eul.You wrong your Princely Dignity:
Queen]
Turn to the King your Father, kneel to him,
Gonz.And are not you my Mother?
[C4v]Eul. I
and C O N C U B I N E.
Eul.I muſt and can forget what I have been;
So muſt not you: your Mother was a Queen.
My preſent fortune claims no Title in you.
Hurt not your own, by looking down on me.
This I will do as warranted by ſafetie,
Not as a Mother, but Beadſwoman, pray
For all that bliſs on you a Mother may,
Good Sir, obſerve the King before his wrath
Take hold on you for regarding me.
[Loud Muſick]
Scœn. II.
Enter Favello uſhering Alinda like a Bride, two
Virgins.
The King deſcends, takes her up: the Lords riſe, all
amazed.
King.Let your amazement ceaſe, and now per-
My Lords in general, that I your King
Am Subject to this all-deſerving Lady,
And do require you not alone to hear
What I can ſay, but without all denial
That you approve, confirm what I will ſay.
I am by law no leſs then your conſent
Divorc’d, and free from all impediment
To make my ſecond choice in Marriage,
And therefore crave
Alinda for my wife,
And that immediately we ſolemnize
Our Marriage, and her Coronation.
I hope none rates our will or his own life
So meanly, as to give leaſt contradiction.
Eul.O let me lead your voyces. Long live
[C5]Gonzago
The Q U E E N
Gonzago and
Alinda, King and Queen of Sicily.
Eul.My Lord the Prince, pray let your voyce be
The reſt will follow. Why ſpeak you not, my Lord?
Alin.She would fain ſeem to voyce in your be-
But in a way that much perſwades againſt you.
Do but your Highneſs note it.
Kin.You Sir, come from that Woman.
Gonz.She was my mother when ſhe was your wife;
And that’s ſo late, I cannot yet forget it.
Eul.O ſhew it in your Duty then, young Prince:
’Tis true, the Law of Nature wills a Son
To be a partner in his Mothers woe;
But Laws above that lay a ſtrong command
On Sons to obey the Edicts of their Fathers.
A Fathers frownes are Comets threatning ruine.
Let all your thoughts be free from his offence:
The moſt Heaven ſeeks, is our obedience.
In all obey the King; think not of me:
I am no more, nay not ſo much to you
As is the Begger whom you may relieve,
Since of all theſe comforts I am depos’d.
Lod.Faith thou hadſt not mine, good woman:
I muſt not call thee Queen now.
Eul.Or if you needs will think I am your mother,
Let it be onely in the charge I give you,
That ſince
Alinda bleſs’d by providence
Muſt be inveſted with the Regal Crown,
You ſhew her that obedience befits a Queen,
And your dread Fathers Wife.
Alin.I fear ſhee’l turn him
Traytor, if he give more ear to her inchantments.
King.Ile ſhew him a way to give her thanks.
[C5v]Gonz.
and C O N C U B I N E.
Gonz.My Royal and dread Father.
King.Put forth that woman:
Do it without grudge, out of the Court,
I mean to ſeek her way. Do you refuſe?
Eul.He does not, ſhall not, Royal Sir.
Onely I beg that I may take my leave.
The wiſhes a true Subject ought to ſend
From the moſt humble heart up to the Throne
Of ſacred Majeſty, I equally divide
To you my King and Queen,
Profeſſing by the Powers you preſent,
I part as well content with my condition,
Since it is your command, as ere I was to ſit in that
Alin.Sir, I may not ſit to be taunted and upbraid-
Eul.Pardon me, mighty Lady, I am as far
From daring to do ſo, as from a Queen.
And whilſt you love the King, and he is pleas’d,
I ſhall no leſs obey you, then I lov’d you
VVhen I ſent for you to the Court, and there into
Alin.I am plainly jeer’d: hence that woman.
King.Away with her.
Exit Eulalia with Conzago.
And let it be proclaim’d according to th’ extremitie
of Law our Cenſure be obſerv’d.
Lod.Alas, how can ſhe live one night?
King.And now to your conſent: have I it yet
For Marriage with
Alinda? If you are pleas’d,
Then call us King and Queen.
Omn.Long live the King and Queen.
Lod.I mean
Eulalia.
[aſide]
King.Tis well: on to the ceremonies then. Kings
But common men, did not their Power get fear.
[C6]Scœn.
The Q U E E N
Scœn. III.
Enter preſently again, Lodovico, Horatio.
Lod.It is oppreſſion, Tyrannie indeed.
Hor.Speak lower, good my Lord.
Hor.For fear of whom? of what?
Hor.You would not that the King ſhould hear
Hor.Faith then as ſure as your tongue’s your own
now, your whole head would be his then.
Lod.If it might ſo excuſe the Queen, I car’d not.
Hor.It will do the Queen as much good, as the
money it might be ſold for in the Market; That and
the Appurtenances to it, would yield little at the
Shambles. Come my Lord, ſpeak privately, and pur-
poſely keep your head on your ſhoulders: it be-
comes the place as well as ’t had been made for it.
If the King have a mind to turn away his Wife, Ile
give him leave to turn mine after her, to wait upon
her, rather than to have my head bowl’d at her,
though I were ſure it ſhould kiſſe the Miſtreſs.
Lod.Oh but the enſuing danger, my
Horatio!
The miſchiefes that of neceſſary courſe muſt follow,
even to the ruine of the State, by the Kings
dotage on his ſecond choice, draws blood from Sub-
ject hearts: Oh that lewd Woman!
Hor.She is a Woman of middle earth yet. But
what ſhall we dare to ſay two hours hence? Come,
think upon Law and Regal Authoritie. The Kings
Power Warrants his Acts: I know as well as you the
Queen
Eulalia (Heaven bleſs her, I hope ’tis yet no
Treaſon to pray for her) is as vertuous a Lady as ever
[C6v]beauti-
and C O N C U B I N E.
beautified a Court, or made a Kings Bed happy, For
all the Articles fram’d againſt her.
Lod.The perfect Pattern of Meekneſs, Patience,
Hor.Of all that’s good, or ſhould be wiſh’d in
Lod.So obſequious a lover of her Husband, that
ſhe gave way unto his looſe affections, even to this
now-ſhe-ſtart-up that ſupplants her.
Hor.She conſider’d ſhe grows old: ſhe reads in
her Sons face nigh twenty years of the Kings love to
her: and gives him leave to place it now elſewhere.
Lod.And is ſo far from limiting his Choice,
That ſhe poſſeſſes it that ſeeks her blood.
My ſoul tels me the witneſſes againſt
The Queen, are by this Concubine ſuborn’d.
Hor.My thoughts are warranted by the Proverb.
But come, make up your Face, temper your voyce
and looks with the reſt of the moſt Honourable As-
ſembly: ſhake off this diſcontent, ’tis a diſeaſe by
which you’l periſh elſe: now all the Court’s in height;
you to profeſſe diſtaſte! Come, be a looker on at leaſt.
Lod.Upon a Court on Fire? O
Horatio,
Bright Burning Troy gave not a dearer cauſe
Of willingneſs to thoſe affrighted ſouls
She forc’d to leave her ſinking in her aſhes,
To flie for refuge to another Region;
Nor in their flight could they by looks reverted,
See danger in more horrible aſpect,
Than I upon the ruines of this Kingdom.
Hor.Your ſtay, my Lord, may prevent danger.
Lod.Yes, if it could remove the Fatal cauſe,
The pride, the crueltie, the Ambition
Of that wild Fury, the outragious Queen,
[C7]VVho
The Q U E E N
VVho treads and tramples down the Covernment.
Conſider this
Horatio, and the means
To work this great effect: and I am yours,
VVho’s there?
[Looks about.]
Lod.Is it not neceſſary? no body: what d’ ye
Or can you find how to preſerve the State
At a leſs rate? you know too well the King,
How apt his Nature is to fell oppreſſion.
The burden of whoſe crueltie long ſince,
If by the vertuous Clemencie of his Wife
It had not been alay’d and mitigated,
Had been a general ſubverſion.
And now that Peerleſs Princeſſe being depos’d,
Whoſe vertue made her famous, and us happy;
And he re-married to this ſhame of women,
Whoſe vileneſs breeds her envie and our miſchief,
What can we look for but deſtruction?
Hor.I dare me thinks a little hear you now,
(The Court being ſurfeited too with wine and noiſe)
And could almoſt talk to the point it ſelf,
To your own ear.
(Looks about him at every word.]
’Tis fit ſomewhat were done:
I cannot ſay what: but if the wronged Queen
Be not reſtor’d, we ſhew ingratitude,
How much, I may not ſay: enough to damn us.
Hor.And though I will not ſpeak it: if the
Be not conveniently and ſpeedily deſtroy’d,
Though death dance with us in the enterprize,
We ſhall ſeem born more for our ſelves than Coun-
Lod.Brave noble reſolution!
Hor.Nay more, now I will ſpeak.
Lod.This way, good
Horatio.
[C7v]Hor.
and C O N C U B I N E
Hor.That way, or any way; If Poyſon, Sword,
Policy or Strength may do it-----
Lod.Speak lower, good
Horatio: ſee the Mig-
nion.
[Enter Flavello and divers Petitioners]
Hor.What for him? my Ladies Game-keeper,
that underſtands nothing but Monkeyes, Parrots,
ſhort-nos’d Dogs and Starlings; Maſter of her Ma-
Hor.Let him; he has no Soul to underſtand, nor
Language to anſwer a Man: he knows how to dyet,
diſple and perfume the ſmall Cattle he has charge of;
for which rare Art, and catching Spiders for princi-
pal Pug, he is rais’d prime man in his great Miſtreſſes
Lod.How the Petitioners flock to him!
Hor.Swarm rather, for they are Bees in his head;
Oh! he engroſſes all the Suits, and commends them
to the White Hand, whoſe diſpoſing will make the
whole Kingdom black in Mourning, if Fate by us pre-
vent not. See how he carries it! We might talk what
we would, for him. His well-ordered head is ſo taken
up with Particular Affaires, he mindes no General
But my good Lord, ’fore others Ears and Eyes,
Purſue we our Deſign as all were Spies:
You and the Common Good have won me.
Lod.O I embrace you.
Exeunt.
Scœn. V.
Enter Andrea with a Box.
Andr.Oh--Oh--and Oh-ho--O and alas! O and
alack for O--O--O--that ever a true Neapolitan born,
[C8]ſhould
The Q U E E N
ſhould live to ſee this day in
Sicily! there O-again,
O Queen--O me--what wilt thou do? O--O--what
ſhall I do? O--thou maiſt work and ſtarve; O--and I
may beg and live: O---but from thee I cannot live:
O--I cannot, nor I wonnot, ſo I wonnot.
[Enter Jago and Rugio.]
Jago.See, here’s poore
Andrea mourning as well
And all the reſt of the poor Queens caſt-awayes.
Rug.But I can tell him comfort.
Rug.Yes, and be glad on’t too.
Andr.Is my Queen Countrey-woman call’d back
Rug.No, but the Queen
Alinda has enquired for
thee, to entertain thee into her ſervice, whilſt we
and all the reſt of our late Queens ſervants are turn’d
out o’th’ Court, and now at this high dinner time too.
Andr.She would eat me, would ſhe not?
Jag.That would make it a Feaſt indeed.
Andr.But Ile not truſt her on a faſting night:
Rug.Well ſaid
Andrea, witty in thy ſorrow:
I know thou wilt back again for a new Miſtreſſe.
Andr.No, no, take you your courſe, and ſerve her
I have play’d the Fool too long, to play the Knave
Ile after my old Miſtreſſe.
Rug.Thou maiſt not ſerve her: that will be
brought within compaſs of Relief, and then thou
Andr.If I be hang’d for doing good, pray let it
not grieve you: and as I am an Innocent, Ile never
grieve for you though you be hang’d never ſo juſtly.
Both.We thank you good
Andrea.
Andr.Take you your ſwinge, let me take mine
[C8v]Jag.
and C O N C U B I N E.
Jago.Hark, the King drinks now to his new Queen.
Andr.So, having turn’d his old Wife out of door,
A man may drink and frolique with his who––––
VVould have thought it? did you think to catch me?
Andr.Catch me if you can: when it ſhall be
Treaſon to ſay there is an honeſt woman, Ile ſay my
Countrey-woman was juſtly condemn’d of Adultery:
and till then, I know what to ſay: Catch me if ye
Rug.There again: now the Queen drinks.
Andr.Poore woman, at what River?
Andr.O the new thing at home here; I will
not call her Queen, not I: my Countrey-woman is
Jag.Why is not ſhe thy Countrey-woman?
Andr.She was when ſhe was
Sforza’s Daughter:
But ſhe has turn’d a Father out of him.
Rug.As here come ſome to turn us out o’th’ Court.
Scœn. V.
Enter Horatio, Flavello, Guard, two or three Gentle-
men.
Flav.Away with them: out of the gates, away.
Hor.See, here are more of them: more of that
hated womans Retinue: away with all.
Rug.Beſeech you, good my Lord: I hope we are
Hor.As I am true to the Crown, not one of you
peſters the Court a minute longer: go, you are traſh
and trumpery: and Ile ſweep the Court of all of ye:
follow your Miſtreſſe: go.
DFlav.
The Q U E E N
Flav.The Fool my Lord ſhall ſtay: the Queen
ask’d for him.
Exeunt Omn. præter Andrea.
Hor.Yes yes, the Fool my Lord, ſhall ſtay.
Andr.The Fool my Lord will not ſtay.
Hor.Will not? how dar’ſt thou ſay ſo? ha,
Fool, ha?
[Seize and rifle his Pack.]
Andr.The Fool dare ſay more than the wiſeſt
Lord dares do amongſt ye: you will not take my
own proper goods from me, will ye?
Hor.See what he caries: I heard of Plate and
Flav.Let’s See, ſir, I will ſee.
[Opens the Box: Coxcomb, Bable, Bells, and Coat.]
Hor.Heyday, here’s ſtuff indeed!
Andr.Your VVardrope cannot matcht it: pray
give me all again; or if you will be the Kings and
Queens Takers with that extremitie to force my
goods from me, then preſent this to his Highneſs,
and this to Hers; and tell them, ’tis all the poor dis-
carded Fool could ſpare them.
Flav.No ſir, you ſhall take them with you, and a
whip for advantage, unleſs you’l ſtay and ſerve the
Andr.No ſir, to you with an
excuſee moy,
If you be your Queens Fool-taker, you may
In Countrey, Court and City quickly find
Fools upon Fools that I ſhall leave behind.
New Lords (you know the Proverb) make new Laws,
New Lawyers of an old make a new cauſe.
New workmen are delighted with new Tooles,
And her new Majeſty muſt have new Fools.
New fools ſhe wants, not having you about her,
VVhile the old Fool makes ſhift to live without her.
Fla.Let the Fool go my Lord, ’tis but a Fool the leſs,
For he’ll get wit by it, to wiſh himſelf here again.
Andr.If I get but enough to keep me from Court,
[D1v]I care
and C O N C U B I N E.
Flav.Farewell Fool, take your Trinkets
Andr.Farewell fine Lords,
Hor.The Court unclouded of this Factious crew,
VVill ſhine on us that to the Crown are true.
Exeunt.
Scœn. VI.
Enter Sforza and Keeper, as in Priſon.
Sfor.VVas ever man ſo hurried into thraldom,
And lock’d up in the ignorance of the cauſe,
Stronger and darker than his Priſon walls?
But I muſt not be Sepulchr’d alive,
And therefore Keeper, though thy office be
More Devilliſh than thy viſage, yet thy heart
May be humane: let me then conjure thee
To vent the ſecret forth but in a whiſper;
Or ſhouldſt thou utter’t in a Tempeſts voyce,
As loud as are my injuries, thou art ſafe:
I can be here no carry-Tale: I am faſt
In thine own cuſtody, thou ſeeſt:
I pray thee tell me, what’s laid unto my charge?
Keep.All I can ſay, ’Tis the Kings pleaſure, and
Sfor.Do you barke ſentences, Hell-hound?
Keep.My Lord, y’are off your Command, and
You much miſtake your ſelf and me.
Keep.Lions may rage in toyles: but whilſt they do,
They more enthral themſelves: will you ſit down,
And promiſe on your Honour not to force
My counſels from me? Ile deal fairly with you,
(My meaning is, to give him never a word)
D2Sfor.
The Q U E E N
Sfor.I will not lift a finger up againſt thee,
As I am a Souldier: now prithee tell me,
VVhat ſay they is my crime?
[ſhakes his head] nay
I can give it hearing:
[ſhruggs, &c.]
Or tell me firſt if thou wilt, how fares the Queen?
VVhat? art thou dumb to that too? Anſwer me,
Is my Antagoniſt
Petruccio
Repeal’d to Court yet? thence may ſpring my miſchief.
VVhy doſt not ſpeak? this is dogged ſilence,
In ſcorn of me, to mock my miſery.
I may not wrong the Honour of a Souldier
In my Revenge, or I would thrattle thee.
[he makes leggs.]
You’re very civil, Hell take your courteſie.
Keep.I pitie him: but muſt not dare to ſhew it.
It adds to ſome mens miſery, not to know it.
Exit.
Sfor.It is decreed of me, that I muſt ſuffer
This Barbarous crueltie; and Ile bravely bear it:
I ha’ not force theſe double walls to part,
Or mollifie the Jaylors harder heart.
May ſpirit then aſſiſt me to deſpiſe
And bear my ſcorn above my injuries.
Scœn. VII.
Enter Petruccio and Guard.
Petr.Revenge has caſt her ſelf into my hands,
Strangling the Life of
Sforza in theſe Lines:
His Head is in this graſp, but where is Honour?
Muſt that forſake this Breſt? muſt the pure heat
Of heavenly Honour, yeeld unto the ſcorch
Of Hell-bred baſe Revenge? it muſt not, cannot:
For as the Sun puts out all baſer Fires,
[D2v]Where
and C O N C U B I N E.
Where Honour ſhines, thought of Revenge expires.
Beſides, he is below my Anger now;
And has no Life but forfeited to Law,
Or the Kings Fury, I’ll not queſtion which;
Nor was it juſtlie, he gave me th’ Affront,
In being made Lord General, when I ſtood for’t.
But the Kings ſelfe, in his Election,
He wrong’d not me no more then I did him,
When th’ Honour was transfer’d from him to me.
That’s anſwer’d cleerly, I acquit thee,
Sforza.
But now my Loyaltie, how ſhall I diſcharge
That ſpecial Duty I am here commanded,
(Stand back I ſay) to ſee the Execution,
And bring the Head of
Sforza to the King?
What an addition here is of Advancement?
To make me firſt a General, then a Hangman:
I’ll do him better Service: Loyal
Horatio
Would think himſelf now damn’d, to leave a tittle
Of the Kings powerful pleaſure unfulfil’d.
Petr.I am to ſee and ſpeak with
Sforza.Keeper]
Keep.Then I doubt not but your Honour has
Petr.My Honour be your VVarrant: will not
Keep.I will not loſe the Kings Grace for all the
Petr.Do’ſt know me, or my place?
Keep.Yes, I both know and honour you, as far as
my own place gives me leave: but in this I muſt crave
pardon; you may not ſee him my Lord, by a leſs VVar-
rant then the Kings own Signet, and that fetches him
Petr.But have you been ſo ſtrict to all men elſe?
Has no man chang’d a vvord vvith him?
D3Theſe
The Q U E E N
Theſe Keys commanded him, I can aſſure you,
Not even the Prince himſelf, who much deſir’d it.
I look’d as black on him, as upon you now.
I am no white Priſon-Keeper, I, to venture
Mine own Neck for a Priſoner’s, at a price,
And give condemn’d men leave to run away:
No, I am the black Jaylor, I, and ’tis thought,
Lineally deſcended from
Cerberus.
Petr.I muſt commend thy Care; ſee, there’s the
Keep.I’ll fetch the Priſoner.
May it pleaſe you to come forth, my Lord?
Sfor.Have I then liv’d to hear Mans voice again?
Keep.Here’s the Lord Marſhal, and chief Gene-
Of the Kings Forces, come to ſpeak with you.
Sfor.Thoſe Titles once were mine, but now I
Attend his pleaſure that is Maſter of them.
Petr.All leave the Room, but be at hand.
Guard.VVe ſhall.
Exeunt Keeper and Guard.
Scœn. VIII.
Sfor.My firſt object from my long obſcurity,
The man that hates me moſt of all the world?
It is: his news cannot be good. not good?
The better: ’tis beſt to know the worſt; he cannot
Petr.My Lord, I do preſume I am unwelcom,
Becauſe you are poſſeſs’d I never lov’d you:
Sfor.The Court yields me ſuch Complement;
No ampler Comforts in’t. But y’are deceiv’d,
For you are welcom, ſowre captious Lord, y’are
[D3v]Be-
and C O N C U B I N E.
Becauſe (love me or love me not) you ſpeak.
I have been here theſe two and twenty dayes,
And never heard the voice of Man till now:
Meat I have found, and Lodging; but for Language,
In what part of the world I am, I know not.
Proceed; I value your words well, you ſee,
That give you ſix for one; why do you not ſpeak?
I have been us’d to talk with men that love me not,
And more with Enemies, I dare beſworn,
Then Friends: come, ſpeak, I pray, what is’t you
Petr.Alas! I pity him: his too too much vexation
Sfor.Will you not ſpeak and
Petr.Pray let me ask you firſt; Have you been
So ſtrictly from the Speech of all men?
Sfor.E’er ſince I was committed, and from the
Of vvhy I vvas committed too; nay, he that keeps
’Till now he call’d me forth, never ſpake a vvord:
If I ask’d him, what News? here he vvas vvith me:
Or when he heard from Cuurt? then there again:
Or, why I vvas committed? ſtill the ſame anſwer.
So that I could inform my ſelf of nothing.
Come, if thou bee’ſt an honeſt Enemy,
As thou doſt wiſh my throat cut, tell me ſomething.
Petr.You ſeem to take no notice of the cauſe of
Sfor.Further than this I cannot: ’Twas the Kings
Treaſon was cry’d; a Guard: away with him:
But for what cauſe, unleſs it were for drawing
My ſword upon (O that Rebellions Girle!)
D4To
The Q U E E N
To ſave her from the danger of his luſt,
(VVhich I tell you I was doubtful of) and ſo ſir,
Let me ask you, is ſhe ſtill about the Queen?
(Queen.
Sfor.And the Queen loves her?
Sfor.Nay if you be a Souldier, now ſpeak truely.
Petr.The Queen and ſhee’s all one.
The King yet keepes fair quarter with her.
VVomen are quickly jealous.
I’m confident, of all theſe great proceedings.
Poor man! I pity him: but Ile put him to it.
VVill you now anſwer me as y’are a Souldier
Sfor.You have engag’d me.
Petr.’T were ſhame he ſhould die ignorant of at
The Accuſations are laid againſt him.
Sfor.Come ſir, your Articles?
Of an intended Treaſon ’gainſt the King.
Sfor.Umh, umh, umh: he ſhould not be my Judge
It is ſome Devilliſh dream of his, or elſe
That Policie that Princes purchaſe Hell by,
With ſtrong aſſurance without all exception;
That is, when Souldiers men of beſt deſert
Have merited more then they have means to give,
To cut their lives by whom they onely live.
Petr.You flie now from the queſtion: y’are en-
by the Honour of a Souldier
(gag’d
Unto that Accuſation: guiltie or not guiltie?
Sfor.I am not guiltie, as I am a Souldier;
And in that Oath I would not be forſworn,
[D4v]To
and C O N C U B I N E.
To ſave as many lives, were they within me,
As periſh’d by my Sword to ſave his One.
Petr.In that I am ſatisfied: now to the next,
If you will hear it; you ſhall promiſe me
To anſwer without paſſion I or no.
Sfor.I will do what I can.
Of fowl Adulterie with the Queen
Eulalia.
Sfor.No Sir, nor dares there be
Such a ſuggeſtion in the heart of Hell.
And were he there, that thought, or could but dream
Of ſuch a Scandal, I’ld ſqueeze it out on’s Brains.
Petr.Then I muſt hold you to your promiſe Sir.
[Enter Guard.]
Sfor.A wreſtling towards; away weſt, away.
Petr.Forbear I pray.
[Guard retire.]
Sfor.He comes but to inſult and to torment me.
Petr.My Lord you much forget, is not this Paſſion?
Sfor.Paſſion of heart! he hopes not for Salvation
That hears with patience but the repetition
Of ſuch a Blaſphemie. I muſt not die,
Until the world be vindicated from
The redamnation ſuch an error threatens.
Petr.You ſee I could oppreſs you; but all forbear
Sfor.Do you come to mad me?
Petr.If you will be calm, Ile tell you what I come
Sfor.As ſetled as a Rock beneath a mountain
Here will I ſit, and hear thy loudeſt malice.
Petr.If this man be not innocent, vertue lives not.
Sfor.Now tell me what you come for; and be ſure
You ask no more abominable queſtions,
VVhilſt calmly I clear theſe, thus: By the Honour
And faith of a true Souldier, I am clear
[D5]Of
The Q U E E N
Of theſe ſuggeſted crimes, which before Heaven
(Which knows my Innocencie) I do not urge
To ſave my life from the Kings violent Fury,
Nor any way to cloſe with thee in Friendſhip,
Now that my fortune is at worſt. So, ſpeak:
’Tis long a coming: I begin to think
It is ſome good, you are ſo loath to utter ’t.
Petr.It is, if you can apprehend it ſo.
My Lord, I take you for my friend, and come
To make my moan to you; inſomuch as now
I do conceive you Noble, Vertuous, Honeſt.
Sfor.Foh! this is worſe than all the reſt, this ſtinks
Of the Court-putrefaction, Flatterie, groſsly.
But on I prithee: talk is ſuch a noveltie,
Petr.I could not ſee your vertue, when it ſhin’d
Thorow the radiant favours of the King:
It dazled me with envie then: but now,
Like the red Sun through cold and myſtie va-
I can behold it at the full.
Sfor.So, ſo: umh, whu: ſo much for my vertues:
What’s your buſineſs now?
Petr.I ſay I come to make my moan to you,
Groaning beneath a weightie Injury
The King has thrown upon me.
Something I warrant, that he would have begg’d;
The making of a Knight, or ſome ſuch foolerie:
Petr.In putting a baſe office on me.
Sfor.Is the great Marſhals and chief Generals
Petr.No Sir, the Hangmans Office. Read that----
I am commanded there, and warranted
VVith preſent ſpeed to bring your Head to him.
[D5v]Sfor.
and C O N C U B I N E.
Sfor.A prayer or two, by his great leave and yours,
And you ſhall have it inſtantly.
Petr.My Lord, you ſhall not undervalue’t ſo:
That Honour which has won me to you, ſhall
Work better for your preſervation.
I have much more to tell you, and ſtrong Reaſons
Why you ſhould live: of the Queens infinite wrongs
And yours, wrought by your Daughters cruel Am-
Sfor.This is a nobleneſs beyond Example:
Petr.There you ſee my ſtrength:
If now for truth and Honours cauſe I ſtrain
A point of Loyaltie, you will engage
Your Honour to ſecure me?
Sfor.I hold my Honour equal to the beſt,
And prize it ſtill ſo far above my life,
That to ſave Kingdoms Ile not forfeit it.
Here in the ſight of Heaven I do engage it,
Petr.I ask no better. Keeper!
[Enter Keeper.]
Petr.Diſmiſs that Guard, and
Petr.Now come my Lord, vertue may be caſt by;
But never overcome by Tyrannie.
Sfor.VVars Sword, Laws Axe, or Tyrannies fell
May overcome my Perſon, not my life.
For that is yours
Petruccio.
Exeunt Ambo.
[D6]ACT.
