Actus Secundus. Scæna Prima.
Enter Alberto, Physitian, and a Chirurgion.
Phys.
Have patience, Noble Sir; your son Cæsario
Will recover without question.
Surgeon. A slight wound.
Though it pierc't his body, it hath miss'd the vitals.
Phys. My life for't, he shall take the air again within these ten dayes.
Alber. O but from a friend,
To receive this bloody measure from a friend!
If that a man should meet a violent death,
In a place where he had taken sanctuary,
Would it not grieve him? such all Florence held
Their friendship, and 'tis that which multiplies
The injury.
Physi. Have patience worthy Signior.
Alber. I do protest, as I am Man and Soldier,
If I had buried him in a wave at Sea,
(Lost in some honorable action)
I would not, to the saltness of his grave,
Have added the least tear; but these quarrels
Enter Mariana, and Clarissa.
Bred out of game and wine, I had as live
He should have died of a Surfet.
Maria. Oh what comfort! How is it with our Son Sir?
Alber. His Work-masters
Bear me in hand here, as my Lawyer does,
When I have a crackt Title, or bad Sute in Law,
All shall go well.
Maria. I pray you Gentlemen, what think you of his wound.
Physi. 'Tis but a scratch, nothing to danger.
Claris. But he receiv'd it from a friend,
And the unkindness ta'en at that, may kill him.
Mari. Let me see him:
Physi. By no means, he slumbers.
Mari. Then I cannot believe you,
When you tell me there's hope of him.
Alber. Yet many Ladies
Do give more faith to their Physitian
Than to their Confessor.
Claris. O my poor lost brother,
And friend more dear than Brother.
Alber. More loud instruments
To disturb his slumbers! goe, goe, take Caroch:
And as you love me, you and the Girle retire
To our Summer house, i'th' Country; I'll be with you
Within these two days.
Maria. I am yours in all things,
Though with much sorrow to leave him. [Exeunt Maria, Claris.
Alber. I pray you Gentlemen,
With best observance tend your Patient;
The loss of my heir-male, lies now a bleeding.
Enter Mentivole.
And think what payment his recovery
Shall show'r upon you,
Of all men breathing; [Exeunt Physitian, Chirur.
Wherefore do you arrive here? Are you mad?
My injury begins to bleed afresh
At sight of you; why this affront of yours
I receive more malitious than the other.
Your hurt was only danger to my son:
But your sight to me is death; Why come you hither?
Do you come to view the wounds, which you have made?
And glory in them?
Menti. Rather worthy Sir, to pour Oyl into them.
Alber. I am a Soldier Sir,
Least part of a Courtier, and understand
By your smooth Oyl,
Your present flattery.
Menti. Sir, for my Fathers sake acknowledge me
To be born a Gentleman, no slave; I ever
Held flatterers of that breed; do not misconstrue
In your distaste of me, the true intent
Of my coming hither, for I do protest
I do not come to tell you I am sorry
For your sons hurt.
Alber. Not sorry?
Menti. No not sorry; I have to the lowest ebbe, lost all my fury:
But I must not lose my honesty; 'twas he
Gave heat unto the injury, which return'd
(Like a Petar, ill lighted, into 'th' bosome
Of him, gave fire to't) yet I hope his hurt,
Is not so dangerous, but he may recover;
When if it please him, call me to account,
For the loss of so much blood, I shall be ready
To do him noble reason.
Alber. You are arm'd me thinks with wondrous confidence.
Menti. O with the best Sir;
For I bring penitence, and satisfaction.
Alber. Satisfaction? Why I heard you say but now,
You were not sorry for his wounds.
Menti. Nor am I: the satisfaction which I bring Sir, is to you;
You are a Gentleman ne'er injur'd me;
One ever lov'd my Father, the right way,
And most approv'd of noble amity.
Yet I have run my sword quite through your heart,
And slightly hurt your son; for't may be [f]ear'd,
A grief ta'en at these years for your sons loss,
May hazard yours: And therefore I am sent
By him that has most interest in your sorrow;
Who having chid me almost to the ruin
Of a disheritance, for violating
So continued and so sacred a friendship
Of 50 Winters standing: such a friendship,
That ever did continue like the spring;
Ne'er saw the fall o'th' leaf; by him I am sent
To say the wrong I have done Sir, is to you:
And that I have quite lost him for a Father,
Until I find your pardon; nay there follows
A weightier deprivation; his Estate
I could with a less number of sighs part with.
Fortune might attend my youth, and my deservings
In any Climate: but a Fathers blessing,
To settle and confirm that fortune, no where;
But only here. Your pardon, give me that;
And when you have done, kill me; for 'tis that
Takes from me the effect of excommunication;
A Fathers heavy curse.
Alber. Nay, may that curse
Light on himself, for sending thee in this minute:
When I am grown as deaf to all compassion,
As the cruellest Sea-fight, or most horrid tempest.
That I had drown'd i'th' Sea a thousand duckets,
Thou hadst not made this visit: rash young man,
Thou tak'st me in an ill Planet, and hast cause
To curse thy Father; for I do protest,
If I had met thee in any part o'th' World,
But under my own roofe, I would have kill'd thee.
Within there.—Enter Physitian, Chirurgion, and Servants.
Look you!
Here's a triumph sent for the death of your young Master.
Serv. Shall we kill him?
Alber. No, I'll not be so unhospitable; but Sir,
By my life, I vow to take assurance from you,
That right hand never more shall strike my son.
Menti. That will be easily protested.
Alber. Not easily, when it must be exacted, and a bloody seal to't.
Bind him, and cut off's right hand presently:
Fair words shall never satisfie foul deeds.
Chop's hand off.
Menti. You cannot be so unrighteous, to your own honor.
Phy. O Sir, collect your self;
And recall your bloody purpose.
Alber. My intents of this nature, do ever come to action.
Chirur. Then I must fetch another stickler.— [Exit.
Alber. Yet I do grieve at heart;
And I do curse thy Father heartily,
That's the cause of my dishonor; sending thee
In such an hour, when I am apt for mischief:
Apt, as a Dutchman after a Sea-fight,
When his enemy kneels afore him; come dispatch.
Phys. Intreat him, Noble Sir.
Menti. You shall excuse me;
Whatsoever he dares do, that I dare suffer.
Enter Cæsario, and Chirurgion.
Cæsar. Oh Sir, for honors sake stay your foul purpose,
For if you do proceed thus cruelly,
There is no question in the wound you give him,
I shall bleed to death for't.
Alber. Thou art not of my temper,
What I purpose, cannot be alter'd.
Serv. Sir; the Duke
With all speed expects you. You must instantly
Ship all your followers, and to sea.
Alber. My blessing stay with thee upon this condition,
Take away his use of fighting; as thou hop'st
To be accounted for my son, perform't.— [Exit.
Cesar. You hear what I am injoyn'd to.
Menti. Pray thee take it,
Only this ring, this best esteem'd Jewel:
I will not give't to'th' hangman chops it off;
It is too dear a relique. I'll remove it nearer my heart.
Cæsar. Ha, that Ring's my Sisters.
The Ring I injoyn'd her never part withal
Without my knowledge; come, Sir, we are friends
Pardon my fathers heat, and melancholy;
Two violent Fevers which he caught at Sea,
And cannot yet shake off: only one promise
I must injoyn you to, and seriously.
Hereafter you shall never draw a Sword
To the prejudice of my life.
Menti. By my best hopes I shall not.
Cæsar. I pray deliver me your sword
On that condition.
Menti. I shall Sir, may it hereafter
Ever fight on your part.
Cæsar. Noble Sir, I thank you;
But for performance of your vow, I intreat
Some gage from you.
Menti. Any Sir.
Cæsar. Deliver me that ring.
Menti. Ha, this Ring? indeed this Jewel binds me,
If you knew the vertue of it, never more
To draw my sword against you.
Cæsar. Therefore I will have it.
Menti. You may not.
Cæsar. Come: you must.
I that by violence could take your hand,
Can inforce this from you; this is a token Sir,
That we may prove friends hereafter. Fare you well.
Phys. Why did you ceise his Sword Sir?
Cesar. To perform what my Father bade me,
I have for the present ta'en away his
Use of fighting.
Phys. Better so,
Than take that which your Father meant. [Exeunt Manet, Mentivole.
Menti. Was ever the like usage? O that Ring!
Dearer than life, Whither is honor fled?
Cesario. Thou art unmanly in each part,
To seize my sword first, and then split my heart. [Exit.
Enter Host, and Clown.
Host. Thy Master that lodges here in my Osteria,
Is a rare man of art, they say he's a Witch.
Clow. A Witch? Nay, he's one step of the Ladder to preferment higher, he is a Conjurer.
Host. Is that his higher title?
Clow. Yes, I assure you, for a Conjurer is the Devils Master, and commands him; whereas a Witch is the Devils Prentice, and obeys him.
Host. Bound Prentice to the Devil!
Clow. Bound and inroll'd I assure you, he cannot start; and therefore I would never wish any Gentleman to turn Witch.
Host. Why Man?
Clow. Oh he loses his Gentility by it, the Devil in this case cannot help him, he must go to the Herald for new Armes believe it.
Host. As I am true Inkeeper, yet a Gentleman born,
I'll ne'er turn Witch for that trick;
And thou hast been a great Traveller?
Clow. No indeed, not I Sir.
Host. Come, you are modest.
Clow. No, I am not modest, for I told you a lye, that you might the better understand I have been a Traveller.
Host. So Sir, they say your Master is a great Physitian too.
Clow. He was no fool told you that, I assure you.
Host. And you have been in England? but they say,
Ladies in England take a great deal of Physick.
Clow. Both wayes on my reputation.
Host. So 'tis to be understood:
But they say, Ladies there take Physick for fashion.
Clow. Yes Sir, and many times dye to keep fashion.
Host. How? dye to keep fashion!
Clow. Yes, I have known a Lady sick of the small Pocks, onely to keep her face from Pitholes, take cold, strike them in again, kick up the heels, and vanish.
Host. There was kicking up the heels with a witness.
Clow. No Sir; I confess a good face has many times been the motive to the kicking up of the heels with a witn[e]ss: but this was not.
Enter Hostess, and Bianca.
Host. Here comes my wife and daughter.
Clow. You have a prety commodity of this night-worm?
Host. Why Man?
Clow. She is a pretty lure to draw custom to your ordinary.
Host. Do'st think I keep her to that purpose?
Clow. When a Dove-house is empty, there is cuminseed used to purloine from the rest of the neighbors; in England you have several Adamants, to draw in spurs and rapiers; one keeps silk-worms in a Gallery: A Milliner has choice of Monkies, and Paraketoes; another shewes bawdy East-Indian Pictures, worse than ever were Aretines: a Goldsmith keeps his Wife wedged into his shop like a Mermaid, nothing of her to be seen (thats Woman) but her upper part.
Host. Nothing but her upper part?
Clow. Nothing but her upper bodies, and he lives at the more hearts ease.
Host. What's the reason?
Clow. Because her nether part can give no temptation; by your leave, Sir, I'll tend my Master, and instantly be with you for a cup of Cherally this hot weather.
Host. A nimble pated Rascal, come hither Daughter,
When was Cesario here?
Bian. Sir, not this fortnight.
Host. I do not like his visits, commonly
He comes by Owl-light, both the time and manner
Is suspitious; I do not like it.
Bian. Sir, the Gentleman
Is every way so noble, that you need not
Question his intent of coming, though you did;
Pray Sir preserve that good opinion of me,
That though the custome of the place I was born in,
Makes me familiar to every guest,
I shall in all things keep my self a stranger
To the vices they bring with them.
Hostis. Right my daughter:
She has the right strain of her Mother.
Host. Of her Mother?
And I would speak, I know from whence she took it;
When I was as young, I was as honest.
Hostess. Leave your prating.
And study to be drunk; and abuse your guests over and over.
Enter Forobosco, and Clown.
Host. Peace Wife. My honorable guest.
Foro. My indear'd Landlord?
And the rest o'th' complements o'th' house.
Host. Breakfast is ready Sir;
It waites only the tide of your stomach.
Clow. And mine gapes for't like a stale Oyster.
Ere you go to bed, fail not of that I pray. [—Exeunt all but Forobosco, and Clown.
Foro. We will instantly be with you;
Now we are all fellows.
Nine a Clock, and no Clyents come
Yet, sure thou do'st not set up bills enough.
Clow. I have set up bills in abundance.
Foro. What Bills?
Clow. Marry for curing of all diseases,
Recovery of stoln goods,
And a thousand such impossibilities.
Foro. The place is unlucky.
Clow. No certain, 'tis scarcity of mony; do not you hear
the Lawyers complain of it? Men have as much Malice as
ever they had to wrangle, but they have no Mony: Whither
should this Mony be travell'd?
Foro. To the Devil I think.
Clow. 'Tis with his Cofferer I am certain, that's the Usurer.
Foro. Our cheating does not prosper so well as it was wont to do.
Clow. No sure, why in England we coo'd cozen 'em as familiarly, as if we had travell'd with a Brief, or a Lottery.
Foro. I'th' Low-countries we did pretty well.
Clow. So so: as long as we kept the Mop-headed butter-boxes sober; marry when they were drunk, then they grew buzards: You should have them reel their heads together, and deliberate; your Dutchman indeed, when he is foxt, is like a Fox; for when he's sunk in drink, quite earth to a Mans thinking, 'tis full Exchange time with him, then he's subtlest; but your Switzer, 'twas nothing to cheat him.
Foro. Nothing?
Clow. No, nor conscience to be made of it; for since nature afore-hand cozen'd him of his wit, 'twas the less sin for us to cozen him of his Mony.
Foro. But these Italians are more nimble-pated, we must have some new trick for them; I protest but that our Hostess's daughter is a sweet Lass, and draws great resort to'th' house, we were as good draw teeth a horseback.
Clow. I told 'em in the Market-place you could conjure, and no body would believe me: but ere long I will make 'em believe you can conjure with such a figuary.
Foro. What language shall's conjure in? high Dutch I think, that's full i'th' mouth.
Clow. No, no, Spanish, that roars best; and will appear more dreadful.
Foro. Prethee tell me thy conceit thou hast to gull them.
Clow. No, no, I will not stael it; but my dear Jews-trump, for thou art but my instrument, I am the plotter, and when we have cozen'd 'em most titely, thou shalt steal away the Inn-keepers daughter, I'll provide my self of another moveable: and we will most purely retire our selves to Geneva.
Foro. Thou art the compass I sail by.
Enter Baptista and Mentivole.
Bap. Was ever expectation of so Noble
A requital answered with such contumely!
A wild Numidian that had suck'd a Tigress,
Would not have been so barbarous; Did he threat
To cut thy hand off?
Ment. Yes Sir, and his slaves were ready to perform't.
Bapt. What hind'red it?
Ment. Only his sons intreaty.
Bapt. Noble youth,
I wish thou wert not of his blood; thy pitty
Gives me a hope thou art not.
Ment. You mistake Sir,
The injury that followed from the son,
Was worse than the fathers; he did first disarme
And took from me a Jewel, which I prize
Above my hand or life.
Bap. Take thy sword from thee?
He stole it like a Thief rather, he could not
I'th' Field deprive thee of it.
Ment. He took it from me,
And sent me forth so thin, and so unmade up,
As if I had been a Foot-boy.
Bap. O my fury!
I must now ask thee forgiveness, that my rashness,
Bred out of too much friendship, did expose thee
To so eminent a danger; which I vow
I will revenge on the whole Family:
All the calamities of my whole life,
My banishment from Genoa, my wifes loss
Compar'd to this indignity, is nothing;
Their Family shall repair't; it shall be to them
Like a plague, when the Dog-star reigns most hot:
An Italian's revenge may pause, but's ne'er forgot. [Exit.
Ment. I would I had conceal'd this from my Father,
For my interest in Clarissa; my care now
Must be to untangle this division,
That our most equal flames may be united;
And from these various and perturbed streames,
Rise, like a sweet Morn, after terrible dreams.— [Exit.
Enter Clarissa and Cæsario.
Clar. Brother, I am happy in your recovery.
Cæs. And I Sister, am ever best pleased in your happiness:
But I miss a toy should be on your finger.
Clar. My Ring; this morning when I wash't
I put it off, 'tis in my Window.
Ces. Where's your Looking-glass?
Clar. Here, Sir.
Ces. 'Tis a fair one.
Clar. 'Tis pure Chrystal.
Ces. Can a Diamond cut in Crystal? let me see,
I'll grave my name in't.
Clar. Oh, you'll spoyl my glass.
Would you not have your brother in your eye?
Ces. I had thought he had been Planted in your heart,
Look you, the Diamond cuts quaintly, you are cozen'd,
Your Chrystal is too britle.
Clar. 'Tis the Ring
I gave unto Mentivole, sure the same.
You put me to amazement Sir, and horror;
How came you by that Ring?
Ces. Does the blood rise?
Clar. Pray Sir resolve me, O for pitty do;
And take from me a trembling at the heart,
That else will kill me: for I too much fear
Nothing but Death could ravish it from his hand
That wore it.
Cesar. Was it given to Mentivola on that condition?
Clar. Tell me of his health first.
And then I'll tell you any thing.
Cesar. By my life he's well,
In better health than I am.
Clar. Then it was Sir.
Cesar. Then shall I ever hate thee, Oh thou false one;
Hast thou a Faith to give unto a friend,
And break it to a brother? Did I not,
By all the tyes of blood importune thee
Never to part with it without my knowledge?
Thou might'st have given it to a Muliter,
And made a contrail with him in a stable,
At as cheap a price of my vengeance: never more
Shall a Womans trust beguile me; You are all
Like Relicks: you may well be look't upon,
But come a Man to'th' handling of you once,
You fall in pieces.
Clar. Dear Sir, I have no way
Look't either beneath reason, or my self,
In my election; there's parity in our blood,
And in our fortunes, antient amity
Betwixt our parents: to which wants nothing,
But the Fruit of blest Marriage between us,
To add to their posterities: nor does now
Any impeachment rise, except the sad
And unexpected quarrel, which divided
So noble, and so excellent a friendship,
Which as I ne'er had Magick to foresee,
So I could not prevent.
Cæsar. Well, you must give me leave
To have a hand in your disposing, I shall,
In the absence of my Father, be your Guardian;
His Suit must pass through my office. Mentivole,
He has too much of my blood already; he has,
And he get's no more of't—
Wherefore weep you Mother?
Enter Mariana, and a Sailor.
Marian. 'Tis occasion'd by a sorrow,
Wherein you have a Child's part, and the mainest,
Your Father's dead.
Cæsar. Dead?
Marian. There's one can relate the rest.
Sailor. I can Sir, your Father's drown'd,
Most unfortunately drown'd.
Cæsar. How? In a tempest?
Sailor. No Sir, in a calm,
Calm as this evening; the Gunner being drunk,
Forgot to fasten the Ordnance to their ports,
When came a sudden gust, which tumbled them
All to the Starboord side, o'erturn'd the Ship,
And sunk her in a moment, some six men
That were upon the deck were sav'd: the rest
Perish'd with your Father.
Claris. O my dearest Father—
Cesar. I pray thee leave us.
Maria. I have a sorrow of another nature, equal to the former.
Cesar. And most commonly they come together.
Maria. The Family of the Baptisti
Are grown to faction, and upon distast
Of the injury late offer'd in my house,
Have vow'd a most severe, and fell revenge
'Gainst all our family, but especially
'Gainst you my dear Cæsario.
Cæsar. Let them threat, I am prepar'd to oppose them.
Maria. And is your loss then
Of so easie an estimation? What comfort
Have I but in your life, and your late danger
Presents afore me what I am to suffer,
Should you miscarry; therefore I'll advise you
When the Funeral is over, you would travel,
Both to prevent their fury, and wear out th' injury.
Cæsar. No Mother, I will not travel,
So in my absence he may marry my Sister,
I will not travel certain.
Maria. O my Cesario,
Whom I respect and love 'bove my own life,
Indeed with a kind of dotage, he shall never
Go forth o' doors, but the contrary faction
Will indanger's life, and then am I most wretched.
I am thinking of a strange prevention,
Which I shall witness with a bleeding eye,
Fondness sometimes is worse than cruelty.— [Exeunt.