The malcontent. By Iohn Marston. 1604

SCENA TERTIA.

A Song.

Enter Maleuole after the Song.

See he comes; now shall you heare the extremity of a Malecontent: he is as free as ayre; he blowes ouer euery man. And sir whence come you now?

Mal.

From the publick place of much dissimulation;

Piet.

What didst there?

Mal.

Talke with a Vsurer; take vp at Intetest.

Piet.

I wonder what religion thou art?

Mal.

Of a Souldiers religion.

Pietr.

And what doost thou thinke makes most Infidels now?

Mal.

Sects, sects, I haue seene seeming Piety change her roabe so oft, that sure none but some arch-diuell can shape her a new Peticote.

Pietro.

Of a religious pollicie.

Mal.

But damnation on a politique religion.

Pietro.

But whats the common newes abroade Maleuole, thou dogst rumor still.

Mal.

Common newes? why common words are, God saue yee, Fare yee well: common actions, Flattery and Co∣senage: common things, Women and Cuckolds: and how do's my little Ferrard: a yee lecherous Animall, my little Ferret, he goes sucking vp & downe the Pallace into euery Hens nest like a Weesell: & to what doost thou addict thy time to now, more then to those Antique painted drabs that are stil affected of young Courtiers, Flattery, Pride & Ven•…•…ry.

Ferrard.

I study languages: who doost thinke to be the best linguist of our age?

Mal.

Phew, the Diuell let him possesse thee, heele teach thee to speake all languages, most readily and strangely, and great reason mary, hees traueld greatly ithe worlde; and is euery where.

Ferrard.

Saue ith Court.

M•…•…l.

I saue ith Court: and how do's my old Muckill ouerspred with fresh snow▪ thou halfe a mā halfe a Goate,* 1.1 all a Beast: how do's thy young wife old huddle?

Bili•…•….

Out you improuident rascall.

Mal.

Doe, kick thou hugely hornd olde Dukes Oxe, good Maister Make-pleece.

Pietro.

How doost thou liue now a dayes Maleuole?

Mal.

Why like the Knight S. Patrik Penlobrans, with killing a Spiders for my Ladies Munckey.

Pie.

How do'st spend the night, I heere thou neuer sleepst?

Mal.

O no, but dreame the most fantasticall: O heauen: O fubbery, fubbery.

Pietro.

Dreame, what dreamst?

Mal.

Why me thinkes I see that Signior pawnd his foot∣cloth, that Metreza her Plate, this madam takes phisick, that tother Mounsieur may minister to her: here is a Pandar Iew∣eld: there a fellow in shift of Satten this day, that could not shift a shirt tother night, here a Paris supports that Hellen,

theres a Lady Guineuer beares vp that sir Lancelot. Dreames, dreames, visions, fantasies, Chimeras, imaginations, trickes, conceites, * 1.2 Sir Tristram Trimtram come a loft lacke a napes with a whim wham, heres a Knight of the land of Catito shall play at trap with any Page in Europe; Doe the sword daunce, with any Morris▪dauncer in Christendome; ride at the Ring till the finne of his eyes looke as blew as the welkin, and runne the wilde-goose chase euen with Pompey the huge.

Pietro.

You runne.

Mal.

To the diuell: now Signor Guerchino; that thou from a most pittied prisoner shouldst grow a most loathd flatterer: Alas poore Celso, thy starres opprest, thou art an ho∣nest Lord, tis pitty.

Equato.

Ist pitty?

Mal.

I marry ist Philosophicall Equato, and tis pitty that thou being so excellent a Scholler by Art, shouldst be so ri∣culous a foole by Nature: I haue a thing to tell you Duke; bid vm auant, bid vm auant.

Pietro.

Leaue vs, leaue vs, now sir what ist?

Exeunt all sauing Pietro and Maleuole

Mal.

Duke thou art a Beco, a Corn•…•…to.

Pietro.

How?

Mal.

Thou art a Cuckold.

Pietro.

Speake; vnshale him quick.

Mal.

With most tumbler-like nimblenes.

Pietro.

Who? by whom? I burst with desire.

Mal.

Mendozo is the man makes thee a horn'd beast; Duke 'tis Mendozo cornutes thee.

Pietro.

What conformance, relate, short, short.

Mal.

As a Lawyers beard,

There is an old Crone in the Court, her name is Maquerelle, Shee is my Mistris sooth to say, and she doth euer tell me,

Blirt a rime; blirt a rime; Maquerelle is a cunning Bawde, I am an honest villaine, thy wife is a close Drab, and thou art a notorious Cuckold, farewell Duke.

Pietro.

Stay▪ stay.

Mal,

Dull, dull Duke, can lazy patience make lame re∣uenge; O God for a woman to make a man that which God neuer created, neuer made.

Pietro.

What did God neuer make?

Mal.

A Cockold: To be made a thing thats hud-winkt with kindnesse whilst euery rascall philips his browes; to haue a Cox-combe with egregious hornes pind to a Lords back, euery page sporting himselfe with delightfull laugh∣ter, whilst he must be the last must know it; Pistols and Po∣niards, Pistols and Poinards.

Pietro.

Death and damnation.

Mal.

Lightning and thunder.

Pietro.

Vengeance and torture.

Mal.

Catzo.

Pietro.

O reuenge.

Mal.

I would dam him and all his generation, my owne hands should do it; ha I would not trust heauen with my vengeance any thing.

Pietro.

Any thing, any thing Maleuole thou shalt see in∣stantly what temper my spirit houlds; farewell, remember, I forget thee not, farewell.

Exit Pietro.

Notes

• * 1.1

  To Bilios•…•….
• * 1.2

  To Pre∣pass•…•….