The malcontent. By Iohn Marston. 1604

SCENA SEXTA.

Enter Farnese vshering Aurelia, Emillia and Maquerelle bearing vp her traine, Beancha attending: all goe out but Aurelia, Maquerelle and Farneze.

Aure.

And ist possible? Mendozo slight me, possible?

Far.

Possible? what can be strange in him thats drunke with fauour, Groes insolent with grace, speake Maquerelle, speake.

Maque.

To speake feelingly, more, more richely in sollid sence then worthlesse words, giue me those Iewels of your eares to receiue my inforced dutie, as for my part tis well knowne I can put vp any thing; can beare patiently with any man: But when I heard hee wronged your pretious sweetnesse, I was inforced to take deepe offence; Tis most certaine he loues Emillia with high appetite; and as she told

me (as you knowe we woemen impart our secrets one to a∣nother) when she repulsed his suite, in that he was possessed with your indeered grace: Mendozo most ingratfully re∣nounced all fayth to you.

Fer.

Nay, cald you, speake Maquerelle, speake.

Maq.

By heauen witch? dride bisquet, and contested blushlesly hee lou'd you but for a spurt or soe.

Fer.

For maintenance.

Maq.

Aduancement and regarde.

Aur.

O villaine? O impudent Mendozo.

Maq

Nay he is the rustiest iawde, the fowlest mouthd knaue in rayling against our sex: he will rayle agen women.

Aur.

How? how?

Maq.

I am asham'd to speakt, I.

Aur.

I loue to hate him, speake.

Maq.

Why when Emillia scornde his base vnsteddines the blacke throated rascall scoulded, and sedd.

Aur.

What?

Maq.

Troth tis too shamelesse,

Aur.

What saide he?

Maq.

Why that at foure women were fooles, at foure∣teene Drabbes, at fortie Bawdes, at fourescore witches, and a hundreth Cats.

Aur.

O vnlimitable impudencie!

Fer.

But as for poore Fernezes fixed hart, Was neuer shadelesse meadow drier parcht, Vnder the scortching heate of heauens dog, Then is my hart with your inforcing eyes.

Maq.

A hotte simile.

Fer.

Your smiles haue bin my heauē, your frownes my hel, O pitty then; Grace should with beauty d well.

Maq.

Reasonable perfect bir-lady.

Aur.

I will loue thee, be it but in dispight, Of that Mendozo, witch! Farneze, witch! Ferneze thou art the Dutches fauorite, Be faithfull, priuate, but tis dangerous,

Fer.

His loue is liuelesse, that for loue feares breath, The worst thats due to sinne, O would't were death.

Aur.

Enioy my fauor, I wil be sick instantly & take phisick, Therefore in depth of night, visit

Maq.

Visit her chamber, but conditionally you shall not offend her bed: by this Diamond.

Fer.

By this Diamond.

Giues it to Maquerelle.

Maq.

Nortary longer then you please: by this Ruby.

Fer.

By this Ruby.

Maq.

And that the doore shall not creake.

Fer.

And that the doore shall not creake.

Mal.

Nay but sweare.

Ferne.

By this purse.

Maq.

Goe to, Ile keepe your oathes for you: remem∣ber, visit.

Enter Mendozo reading a Sonnet.

Aur.

Dry'd bisquet? looke where the base wretch comes.

Men.

Beauties life, Heauens modell, Loues Queene.

Maq.

Thats his Aemilia.

Men.

Natures triumph, best of Earth.

Maq.

Meaning Emillia.

Mend.

Thou onely wonder that the world hath seene.

Maq.

Thats Emilia.

Aur.

Must I then here her praisd? Mendozo.

Mend.

Madam, your excellency is gratiously incountred; I haue bin writing passionate flashes in honor of—

Exit Fer.

Aur.

Out villaine, villaine, O iudgement where haue bin my eies? what bewitched election made me doate on thee? what sorcery made me loue thee? but be gone, bury thy head; O that I could doe more then loath thee: Hence worst of ill, No reason else, my reason is my will.

Exit with Maquer.

Mend.

Women? nay furies, nay worse, for they torment Onely the bad, but women good and bad.

Damnation of mankinde, breath hast thou praisd them for this: And ist you Ferneze are wrigled into smock grace; fit

sure, O that I could raile against these monsters in nature, models of hell, curse of the earth, women that dare attempt any thing, and what they attempt they care not how they accomplish, without all premeditation or preuention; rashe in asking, desperate in working, impatient in suffering, ex∣treame in desiring, slaues vnto appetite, mistresses in dissem∣bling, onely constant in vnconstancie, onely perfect in coū∣terfetting: their words are fained, their eyes forg'd, their sights dissembled, their lookes counterfeit, their haire false, their giuen hopes deceitfull, their very breath artificiall:

Their blood is their onely God: Bad clothes, and old age are onely the Diuels they tremble at:

That I could raile now.