ACT II. SCENE I.
Enter Pantaloni, Guadagni, Nicolo, with a Zaffies
habit under his arme.
Pan.IS this
Checquino’s houſe, your Advocate?
Gua.It is, and
Proſpero your learned Councell
Is with him here, attending too, our comming.
Pan.Tis well, Give me my writings
Nicolo,
Pleaſe you to enter
: I’le diſpatch my man,
Exit. Guad.
And follow inſtantly. Now
Nicolo,
About the ſerious buſines
Nicolo,
In which this morning I inſtructed you.
Nic.For your revenge ſir.
Pan.Right my Apprehenſion
On that diſcourteous, curſed
Curtezan,
Twill breed me more delight, then all the dalliances
I could have found in her moſt free ambraces;
I hug my quick and ſweet invention for it;
Here take this
gold; this bright refulgent
gold,
Twenty Checquines, and promiſe twenty more
On the performance of the brave exploy’t
[I 3v]Twill
The Novella.
Twill take unto my wiſh, I doe foreſee’t.
Nic.Twill be ſir, ſuch a notable Revenge
That the report of it in after-ages
Will either mortifie concupiſcence
In young laſcivious Harlots; or, at leaſt,
Fright out of’ em their itch of wronging age:
They ſhall no more dare to put youthfull tricks
Nic.Sli’d ſir, and if you ſhould not be revengd,
An old man ſhould not ſtep in the
Bordello
Without the taunts of Boyes and Gondeliers,
Crying take heed, old man, you be not ſerv’d
As the
Movella fitted
Pantaloni.
So, in ſhort time, the City were well ſerv’d
When age ſhall be aſham,d to crawle to lechery.
Pan.Right, witty Knave. Goe heartily about it,
Thinke what a Maſter tis thou doſt it for,
That has no ſlender tie upon thy duty;
One that has bred thee from a youngling up
Nic.I muſt acknowledge it.
Pan.And
Nicolo, it was no petty kindnes
To manumize your Father from the Galley
Nic.Yet muſt I heare it――――?
Pan.But i’le urge thee no further. Boy be carefull;
Worke but this for me with effect and ſpeed,
And bind me as a Father to thy need.
Exit
Nic.You have even ſpoyl’d all now. I had as good a
And thought to ha’ gone as heartily about
(mind
This peece of villany as the Devill, that
Is in my Maſter could deviſe, or wiſh
Till that ore-doing ſpirit put me out;
Could he not ſee ’twas well; and miſchievous
I 4Enough
The Novella.
Enough in conſcience, but himſelfe muſt croſſe it
?
Dos he thinke by redeeming of my Father
To ſlave me with his boaſts, and foule upbraydings
?
Had he ſtill rowd i’th’ gally, I not knowing,
The toyle, the ſmart and griefe had been his own
:
Now I inherit what was then his paine,
Hearing continually the claſh of’s care,
And his fell ſtripes, out of this Bablers mouth,
Which more then kills my thanks; it wreaks my Spleen.
To brag of benefits one hath beſtowne
Doth make the beſt ſeeme leſſe, and moſt ſeem none:
So often times the greateſt curteſie
Is by the doer made an injury.
Enter Fabritio.
Fab.Nicolo well met, I ſaw you houſe my Father,
And waited for you. Come you ſhall draw neare.
This is a neare friends Lodging Gentlemen,
(Piſo, Fran-
My fathers ſpeciall man I told you of;
(ciſco, Hora.
Pray bid him welcome.
(at a Table,
Hor.Moſt intirely,
(Wine, &c.
Pleaſe you to ſit ſir: Here’s a ſhort potation.
Pi.But good
Lyatico I aſſure you ſir
I’le be your taſter to quit feare of danger,
Piſo
And now i’le let you know we have made oath
drinks.
Upon this nimble maſter of invention
This ſprightly liquor to be firme, and faithfull
To one another in a preſent project.
Take you the lame, and grow in one with us.
Nic.May I not aſke what end your project aimes at?
Fra.Nor what, nor unto whoſe――――
We carry that about us ſhall end you,
They draw
And preſently, if you comply not with us,
Stillettoes
Nic.Nay, nay, by faire meanes Gentlemen I
I am apt enough to miſchiefe of my ſelfe.
[I 4v]Looke
The Novella.
Looke yee. I ſweare with you.
He drinks.
Tis for the good of your young Maſter here.
Nic.Then you would uſe me in ſome treachery
Pi.Thou art a Soothſayer.
Nic.Look you, i’le ſweare againe, I like your oath,
Your deep
Lyatic oath here, wondrous well.
He drinks
Fab.Tis well done
Nicolo: try the bottome of’t――
thrice.
Nic.I will comply now and complot with you,
And was indifferently prepar’d before.
Provided alwayes that it tend not to
Fab.Couldſt thinke me ſuch a Villaine?
Nic.Nay, if it were, ’twere no diſparagement
To ſtake my head with yours. But Gentlemen,
Pleaſe yee fall roundly now upon the buſines,
I have now ſworne enough,
To theſe intergatories. Firſt do you know
If the old men
Guadagni and
Pantaloni
Doe hold their purpoſe for their match to morrow
Betwixt
Fabritio here, and
Flavia?
Nic.They are marrying of ’em now at their Lawyers,
By Deed and Covenant, under Hand and Seale.
I left them, and their Bookes there now together,
And for the Prieſt to morrow is the day.
Hor.Is not
Fabritio miſt at home this morning?
Nic.No, not at all, the old man’s mind’s ſo carried
Upon the wings of this new marriage fortune―――
I cry you mercy ſir, you are the Gentleman
I thinke, that ſhould have had her.
Nic.In good time may you I’le do ſomething for you.
Fab.Honeſt, deſerving
Nic.
[I 5]Nic.
The Novella.
My Maſter ſent in my young Maſters name,
(The more to indeare his ſervice and his care
To the young Lady) that the Merchanteſſe,
The rich Shee pedler of the
Merceria
Should viſit her to day with all her wares,
For her to take her choyce to deck her Brideſhip;
If you know how to plough now with that Heyfar
You may perhaps convey a meſſage to her.
Hor.I know her, and will fit you with directions.
Fra.Thou haſt given a hint, for which I will renown
Pi.But
Nicolo, where was your reverend Maſter
Attended by your ſelfe before day-light?
Fab.Prithee inquire not further, ’twas not he:
Nic.The doubtfull light deceav’d you ſir.
Pi.No more then Noon ifaith, a man may ſpie
An old whore-maſter in the darkeſt night
Like an old Cat, by th’ gloring of his eyes.
Will his old Mutton-mongerſhip nere leave?
He is already known ſufficiently
Through the City for his gift that way;
And yet he will deny his ſonne free choyce,
And force him marry one hee not affects.
Hor.That is his drift, whereby he may inherit
From him the ſame licenciouſneſſe; and make
The World acknowledge him the more his Son.
Pi.But has he made the purchace? has he bought
The famous peece of fleſh, the rare
Novella?
Nic.I could unſhale a plot.
Hor.Nere doubt but doe’t then.
Pi.My noble
Nicolo out with’t I ſay.
Nic.I would intreat the favour of this
Senate
I might unfold it only unto one.
Fra.Take your free choyce.
[I 5v]Nic.
The Novella.
Nic.To you young Maſter then,
Take heede wee render not ridiculous
Your Father to the wildneſſe of their youth
:
But to your ſelfe I will diſcloſe a ſecret
That may be wrought to your advantage.
Nic.Tis true, my Maſter was with the
Novella,
Drawne by the looſe deſires of wanton fleſh;
But ſuch a foule affront he did receave
As juſtly doth provoke his dire revenge,
Which he hath truſted me to execute.
Fab.How
Nicolo? but firſt what was th’ affront?
Nic.He bargain’d with her; and for ſome large price
Shee yeilded to be his. But in the night
In the condition’d bed was laid a
Moore;
A hideous and deteſted
Blackamore,
Which he (demanding light to pleaſe his eye,
As old men uſe all motives)
Diſcoverd and inrag’d, forſooke the houſe;
Affrighted and aſham’d to aſke his coyne againe.
Fab.But ſeekes Revenge! How, how, good
Ni-
Nic.Thus ſir, you know what common diſrepute
Falls upon Man or Woman that is found
Converſing with the common City-hangman,
That neareſt Kinred after ſuch converſe,
Shun their ſociety, as they would doe him
(The Hangmans ſelfe) ſo odious are they held
Except it be thoſe officers allowd
By the
State-publick to negotiate with him.
Fab.I know it
Nicolo. But what can follow
?
Nic.Tis plotted that the Hangman ſhall go to her,
And be diſcover’d with her in ſuch ſort,
As her diſgrace ſhall force her fly the City,
And I have undertaken to effect it.
[I 6]Fab.
The Novella.
Fab.It muſt be then by bribing of the Hangman
:
And how canſt thou do that with thine own ſafety?
Thou mayſt be ſo diſcovered and ſo hated.
Nic.For that obſerve the politique invention
Of my old Maſter
! the habit of a
Zaffi,
One or th’inferiour Miniſters of Juſtice,
That walkes betweene the
Senate, and their Friend
The Executioner of their commands.
Fab.But what diſguiſe ſhall ſhrowd the Hangman
thither, whoſe own ſhape is as horrid as the Plague?
Nic.The habit of ſome ſtranger in the City,
Which here is gold to purchace.
Nay more thou haſt inſpir’d mee
Nicolo!
I ſhall find way by this, to breake the contract
My Father would inforce; preſerve his credit,
And ſave the poore
Novella from the ſame
My father threatens by his own diſgrace
Fab.Enough: I’le truſt thee. Keepe the gold thy ſelf:
Give me this Habit. Get thy ſelfe another
In all points like it, and in that returne
Unto my Father, confidently tell him
The Hangman undertakes it, and at five,
Soone in the Evening, in ſtrangers habit,
Fab.I’le ſee’t perform’d,
Truſt to my word and care, and thy reward.
Nic.I leave all to you ſir. And crave my diſmis-
Fab.Moſt friendly, Farewell
Nicolo.
Exit. Nic.
He has given me plot enough, if I but worke it;
[I 6v]And
The Novella.
And it produce not Comick ſport i’th’end
I muſt ſubſcribe my Wit is not my Friend,
I muſt crave your aſſiſtance Gentlemen.
Hor.We have beene plotting too.
Fra.And though our proj ct run not the ſame way,
It may conclude with yours to crown the day.
Pi.So to your ſeverall wayes.
Hor.I am for the
Novella.
Exeunt Omnes.
ACT II. SCENE II.
Victoria above, looking in a Glaſſe, Jacomo, Paulo,
by-named Burgio.
Vic.So I am ready: And truſt me
Jacconetta
My pretty Moore, (for ſo I ſtill muſt call thee
For thy deare Maſters ſake that gave thee to me)
Thou art grown ſkilfull in theſe quaint attires,
So lately unacquainted with my wearing:
Thou haſt plaid the good beginner at this dreſſing,
And by thine induſtry and further practiſe,
I doubt not but my Knowledge will grow ripe.
Pau.And by that Knowledge, you your ſelfe ſoone
O! could theſe Creatures grow ſtill towards ripeneſſe;
Or, being ripe, abide ſo, and no further,
What excellent fruit they were!
Vic.VVhat ſay you
Borgio?
Pau.I ſay among the twenty thouſand
Curtezans
In and about this City, none becomes
The dreſſing, or the habit like your ſelfe;
Your moſt unparallel’d ſelfe! But, nobleſt Lady,
[I 7]Thinke
The Novella.
Thinke tis your perſon beautifies the Dreſſe,
Vic.Why not it my perſon?
Pau.Yes, as the flame the fuell;
To worke it into coales, and ſo to aſhes.
Vic.Still
Borgio in your old morality!
Pau.Theſe Tires, theſe Chaines, theſe Paintings, and
Are but the ſprigs and leaves the butchers uſe
To ſet out fleſh to ſale with; or, at beſt,
But the gay
Garland.s which adorne the Beaſt
Prepar’d for Sacrifice ――――
Pau.And as thoſe Beaſts, ſo ſenſeleſſe are you women
Of the moſt certaine danger you put on,
With your vaine glorious gayety; chips and ſtrawes,
To kindle fire of luſt, in whoſe lew’d flame
Sinkes (with
Troyes Buildings)
Natures choyceſt
Vic.I would I underſtood this miſery!
Deale freely with me
Borgio, what new art
Haſt thou in practiſe, that thou ſetſt a face
Shiningly varniſh’d with Divinity
On a profeſſion, that makes Nature vile
In her own ſhame? Luſt’s inſtrument!
Nay caſe of inſtruments holding all meanes
For propagation and maintaining of it;
To make thy Gaine out of its dregs and fragments.
Tell me, doſt thinke by preaching modeſty
To quit thee of the baſeneſſe of thy trade;
A poore neceſſitous
Bravo? or haſt hope
To live upon my honeſty, and yet be ſtill
Pau.I would give o’re, would you; and change my
[I 7v]Vic.
The Novella.
Jac.What meane you
Borgio, would you now ſpoile
Did you inſtruct her in this way of profit,
And no leſſe pleaſant too, then profitable
(As moſt of my Bookes titles are) whereby
Shee was ſo well reſolved to goe on―――
Pau.Hold thy peace foole
: ſhee will runne on the
Thou knowſt not how much harme, preaching has done
’Mongſt women. She will prove the only Sweep-ſtake
Jac.O are you there Devill?
Vic.Sir, leave this grumbling, or i’le turne you off
Amongſt your Brothers, and your Sons
Ruffianos,
To lurch i’th’night betwixt eleaven and two
To rob and drown for prey; till being taken
Immediate Hanging followes.
Pau.I’m now your Creature;
My noble reſolute Miſtris; now I adore you
:
Now you ſhine bright; your bravery now becomes you,
Yet (let me tell you under faire correction)
I have ſome cauſe to hinder your deſires,
And theyrs that ſeeke you more, yet, for a time.
Pau.You know I was preferrd to you for a
Bravo
Of long and deare experience
: I have ſerv’d
Six, the moſt famous
Dames, this City bred
Theſe ſixty yeares; none ſcorning my adviſe,
By which, and their endeavours they grew up
To purſe the price of
Providences; which beſtowd
The moſt in publique, ſome in pious uſes
Purchas’d them fame, almoſt Canonization.
The laſt and leaſt of them
Margarita Emiliana
Founded the
Auguſtinian Monaſtry
[I8]I
The Novella.
I ſhowd you late: where ſhee has daily prayers.
Theſe women, whom ſucceſſively I ſerv’d,
Fell not by raſh adventure unto all
Great
Fortunes offers; but by ſound adviſe
(Which kept their Bodies ſound and rich’d their coffers)
Were long e’re they embrac’d; by which their price
And beauty grew of greater eſtimation,
My profit in this too is unneglected:
For long ſuſpenſe, and tedious Expectation
Bring me more certaine fees; where, if you fell
Imediatly to work, my work were done,
And your own too, perhaps too ſoon: witnes the falls
That
Pox and
Poverty have brought on many!
When their youths flame was ſpent and they rejected,
When others of their
Siſterhood were embrac’d
Vic.This fellow ſpeakes my thoughts.
Borgio, I thought
You had reſpect to your particular profit
In all this winding warineſſe for my good.
Pau.You may conceive, ’twould grieve me, that (where
You have continuall new, and bounteous ſuitors,
That yeild me fees for the bare ſight of you)
You ſhould in yeilding to their common uſe
Send one man cloyd away, t’affright another
Vic.Borgio, no more of this,
A deare friend put you to me, for whoſe ſake
I hitherto have follow’d your adviſe,
In hoyſting up the price of my
virginity.
Jac.To ſuch a rate no common purſe dares venture,
Nor common folkes preſume t’approach the houſe.
Vic.And ſuch as did attempt, by offring leſſe,
I have ſent back with ſhame; as the old
youth
Laſt night, for which I thanke thee
Jacconetta.
[I 8v]Jac.
The Novella.
Jac.I thinke I coold his grave concupiſcence.
Vic.And therefore, doubt not, carefull
Borgio,
Unleſſe I meet a huſband by the way
I will not ſtoope this moneth at a leſſe rate,
Then the propoſed ſum and your conſent.
Pau.I thanke you more then if you had poſſeſs’d
Me of the value of that ſum propos’d.
Jac.He meanes her Maydenhead
! Ifaith good ſir,
The mark’s grown out of your old chaps, or elſe
Hang me is I believ’d you, by that little
Vic.So now about our buſineſſe.
Some of my viſitants I know are neare,
Wayt circumſpectly
Borgio.
Pau.You need not doubt me.
Exit
Vic.There is ſome hidden vertue in this fellow,
Or dangerous ill: but whether let it be;
As was my B rth my purpoſe ſhall be free.
Make fit my Chamber
Jaconet. But firſt
Give me my Lute; and ſet me for the ſigne
Of what I meane to be, the fam’d
Novella.
Song.
Whilſt ſhe playes and ſings above, Paulo waits below.
Many Gallants paſſe over the ſtage gazing at her.
Piſo is received in by Paulo, after him a French
Cavalier, then a brave Spaniard, and after him a
glorious German. Paulo takes fees of all as they
enter the houſe.
The Song ended, Paulo appeares above with
Victoria.
Vic.Now
Borgio, how ſpeakes your muſter roll?
Pau.I have an army royall
Of Princely ſpirits, ready for incounter.
Vic.But one at once good
Borgio.
KPau,
The Novella.
Pau.I have encamp’d them each in ſ verall quarter.
Here lies the no leſſe politick then ſtout
Italian force, and there your ſprightly
French;
Here the brave
Spaniard, there the
German bold;
Here the
Polonian, and
Sclavonian there;
Vic.Pray thee hold. No more.
Pau.’Tis not your houſe can hold, (would I admit ’em)
One of each ſeverall nation would throng in
To make his battery on your virgin Fort.
The rich
Piazza, on her greateſt Mart
Boaſts not more Nations; nor
St. Marke himſelfe
The underſtanding of more Languages
Then I (could I find houſe-roome) could receave,
To be made one by your interpretation
O what a Daring glaſſe is ſparkling beauty;
Fetching ambition from above the p tch
Of towring Eagles, or Sky-touching La ks
Down with a glance into the Nets of Love!
Vic.Praythee ſpeake nearer home, who haſt thou
Pau.I have cull’d from the pack a ſpeciall prince;
Foure glittering Gallants; one of
Italy,
For our deare Countries ſake; But then a
Monſieur,
A joviall French-man, all of flame and ſpirit.
Vic.I ſhall not dare to meddle with his glory
For feare I fall with
Semele, who next?
Pau.A
Spaniard next, that, to adorne his pride,
Weares an Epitome of both the
Indies.
Vic.I ſaw his punctuality paſſe by.
Pau.And did you note his ſtiffe reſervedneſſe
?
He dares not cough for breaking of his chaine,
But then there is a,
Dutchman, (
Cargo luſtick!)
A jolly ſtrong chind
German, princely borne;
A
Landsgrave at the leaſt; whoſe very bluntneſſe
[K 1v]Promiſes
The Novella.
Promiſes more then the ſharp-ſet
Italian,
The fiery
Frenchman, or the doughty
Diego
In all their eager purſuit.
You have beſtowd them all in ſeverall Roomes
?
Pau.O like fierce Beaſts, from ſent of one another.
Vic.Then firſt, in faire requitall of the Muſick,
I doe imagine ſome of them beſtowd
On me, this morning e’re my Love appeares
To feed their eyes, let Muſick feaſt their eares.
Exeunt Om.
