The malcontent. By Iohn Marston. 1604

SCENA QVARTA.

Enter Prepasso ioynes to Bilioso▪ two pages with lightes, Fer∣rard, Mendozo, at the other dore two pages with lights, and the Captaine leading in Maria, the Duke meetes Maria, a•…•… closeth with her, the rest fall backe.

Men.

Madam, with gentle eare receiue my suite, A kingdomes safety should o're pa•…•…ze slight rites, Marriage is meerely Natures policy: Then since vnlesse our royall beds be ioynd, Danger and ciuill tumul•…•… frights the sta•…•…e, Be wise as you are faire, giue way to fa•…•….

Mar:

What wouldst thou, thou affliction to our house? Thou euer diuell, twas th•…•… that banishedst my truely noble Lord.

Men▪

I?

Mar:

I, by th•…•… plo•…•…e •…•…hy •…•…hy blac•…•… •…•…agems, Twelue Moons haue suffred change since I be held

The lou•…•…d presence of my de•…•…st Lord. O thou faire worse than death, he partes but soule From a weake body, but thou soule from soule Disseuerst, that which Gods owne hand did kni•…•…. Thou scant of honor, full of di•…•…elish wi•…•….

Men:

Weele checke your too intemperate Iauishnes, I I can, and will.

Mar:

What canst?

Men:

Go to, in banishment thy husband dies.

Mar:

He euer is at home thats euer wise.

Men.

Youst neuer meete more •…•…eason should Loue controule,

Mar.

Not meete?

She that de•…•…re loues, her loue's still in her soule.

Men.

You are but a woman Lady, you must yeelde.

Mar:

O saue me thou innated bashfulnes, Thou onely ornament of womans modestie.

Men:

Modesty? Death Ile torment thee,

Mar:

Do, vrge all torments, all afflictions trie, Ile die, my Lords, as long as I can die.

Men:

Thou obstinate, thou shalt die: captaine, that La∣dies life is forfeited to Iustice, we haue examined her,

And we do finde, she hath impoisoned The re•…•…erend Hermite, therefore we command Se•…•…rest custody. Nay, if youle dooes no good, Youst dooes no harme, a tyrants peace is blood.

Mar▪

O thou art mercifull, O gratious diuell, Rather by much let me condemned be, For seeming murder than be •…•…amn'd for thee. Ile mourne no more, come girt my browes with floures, Reuell and daunce, soule, now thy wish thou hast, Die like a Bride, poore heart thou shalt die chaste.

Enter Aurelia in mo•…•…rning habit.

Life is a frost of could felicitie,

Aur.

And death the thaw of all our vanitie. Wast not an honest Priest that wrote so?

Men.

Who? let her in.

Bili.

Forbeare.

P•…•….

Forbear•…•….

Aur.

Alas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 where.

Sad misery, dispight your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doores▪ Will enter euen in court.

Vnt•…•… Mari•…•….

Bili.

Peace.

Aur.

I ha done; one word, take heede, I ha done.

Enter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wi•…•… lo•…•… d•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Mer.

Cilleman Merc•…•…, the God of ghostes, From glomie shades that spread the lower coastes, Calles fower high famed Genoa Dukes to come, And make this presence their 〈◊〉〈◊〉: To passe away this high triumphall night, With song and daunces, courts more soft delight.

Aur.

Are you God of ghostes, I haue a sute depending in hell betwixt me and my conscience, I would •…•…aine haue thee helpe me to an advocate.

Bil.

Mercurie shalbe your lawier Lady,

Aur.

Nay faith, Mercurie haz too good a face to be a right lawier.

Pre.

Peace, forbeare: Mercurie presents the ma•…•…ke.

Cornets: The song to the Cornets, which playing the mask enters.

Enter Maleuole, Pietro, Ferneze, and Celso in white robes, with Dukes Crownes vpon lawrell, wreathes, pistolets and short swordes vnder thier roabes.

Men.

Celso, Celso, court Maria for our loue Lady, be gratious, yet grace.

Mar.

With me Sir?

Mal.

Yes more loued then my breath:* 1.1 With you Ile dance.

Mar.

Why then you dance with death, But come Sir, I was nere more apt for mirth. Death giues eternitie a glorious breath•…•… O, to die honourd, who would feare to die.

Mal:

They die in feare who liue in villanie.

Men.

Yes, beleeue him Ladie, and be rulde by him.

Pietro,

Madam with me?* 1.2

Aur.

Wouldst then be miserable?

Pietro,

I neede not wish.

Aur.

O, yet forbeare my hand, away, fly, fly,

O seeke not her that onely 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to •…•…y.

Pietro,

Poore loued soule.

Aur.

What, wouldst court miserie?

Pietro,

Yes.

Aur.

Sheele come too soone O my gree•…•…'d heart.

Pietro

Lady ha done, ha, doone. Come downe lets dance, be once from sorrow free.

Aur.

Art a sad man?

Pietro,

Yes sweete.

Aur.

Then weele agree.

Ferneze takes Maquerelle, and Celso Beanche: then the cornets sownd the measure, on change, and rest.

Fer:

Beleeue it Lady, shal I sweare, let me inioy you in* 1.3 priuate, and Ile marrie you by my soule.

Bean.

I had rather you would sweare by your body: I think that would proue the more regarded othe with you.

Fer.

Ile sweare by them both, to please you.

Bea.

O▪ dam them not both, to please me, for Gods sake.

Eer.

Faith swete creature let me inioy you to night, and Ile marry you to morrow fortnight, by my troth lo.

Maq.

On his •…•…roth lo, beleeue him not, that kinde of cunnicatching is as stale as fir Oliuer Anchoues perfumde ierkin: promise of matrimony by a yoong Gallant, to bring a virgin Lady into a fooles paradise: make her a great woman, and then cast her off: tis as common as naturall to a Courtier, as jelosie to a Citizen, gluttony to a Puritan, wisdome to an Alderman, pride to a Tayler, or an empty to one of these sixepenny damnations: of his troth lo, be∣leeue him not, traps to catch polecats.

Mal.

Keepe your face constant, let no suddaine passion speake in your eies.* 1.4

Mar.

O my Altofront.

Pietro

A tyrants jelosies are verie nimble, you receiue it all.* 1.5

Aur.

My heart though not my knees doth v•…•…bly fall, Lo as the earth to thee.

Pietro.

Peace, next change, no words.

Mar.

〈1 line〉〈1 line〉

Cornets so•…•…nde the measure 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪

Men.

Maleuole▪

They enuiron Mendozo •…•…∣ding their Pistolls on him.

Mal.

No.

Men.

Altofront, Duke Lorenzo Fer•…•…, hah?

All,

Duke 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Duke Altofront.

Cornets, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Men.

Are we surprizde? what strange delusions •…•…cke Our sences, do I dreame? or haue I dream•…•… This two daies space? where am I?

They 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpon Mendozo.

Mal.

Where an arch villaine i•…•….

Men.

O lend me breath to liue til I am fit to dy. For peace with heauen, for your owne soules sake Vouchsafe me life.

Pietro.

Ignoble villaine, whome neither h•…•…en nor hell, goodnesse of God or man could once make good.

Mal.

Base trecherour wretch, what grace •…•…anst thou expect, That hast growne impudent in gracelesnesse.

Men.

O life!

Mal.

Slaue, take thy life. Wert thou defenced through blood and woundes, The sternest horror of a ciuill fight, Would I atcheeue thee, but prostrat at my feete, I scorne to hurt thee, tis the heart of slaues That daines to triumph ou•…•…r peasants 〈◊〉〈◊〉. For such thou art since 〈◊〉〈◊〉 d•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 A man mong •…•…ouarkes, but a glorious so•…•…le▪* 1.6 You are ioyd spirits, wi•…•…e your long •…•…et 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Maleuole kickes o•…•…t Mendozo.

Hence with this man: an Eagle takes not flies. You to your vowes to Pietro & Aureli•…•…, and thou vnto the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. You to my worst friend I would 〈◊〉〈◊〉 giue: Thou art a perfect olde knau•…•… all pleased liue▪ You two vnto my breast, thou to my heart▪ And as for me I heere assume my right, To which I hope all's pleasd: to all god night.

Cornets a florish. Exeunt. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Notes

• * 1.1

  •…•…aleuole taks •…•…s wife to •…•…unce.
• * 1.2

  •…•…etro takes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wife Au∣•…•…ia to dance
• * 1.3

  To Beanch•…•….
• * 1.4

  To Maria.
• * 1.5

  To Aurelia.
• * 1.6

  To Pietro and Aur•…•…lia. To Mendozo To Maquerel: To Bilioso. To Celso and the Captaine: To Maria.