The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN L161 — O-1096 THE PL A YS AND POEMS OF CYRIL TOURNEUR. THE PLAYS AND POEMS OF CYRIL tOURNEUR EDITED WM^ CDutical Entrouuciion anU l^Totes By JOHN CHURTON COLLINS IN TWO VOLUMES.--VOL, IL CHATTO AND IE 0 tt 13 0 n WINDUS, 1878 PICCADILLY o THE REVENGERS TRAG.EDIE As it hath been sundry times acted by the Kings Maiestie s Seruants AT LONDON Printed by G. Eld, and are to be soul at his house in Fleet-lane, at the signe of the Printers-Presse 1608 VOL. II. ^ I 6^2 ^ V. 2. Dramatis Persons The old Dak. Lussurioso Spurio Ambitioso Supervacuo Vindici Hippolito Antonio The Duchess' younger son Castiza Her Mother The Duchess Lords Judges Attendants Executioner &c. his son his bastard son Brothers to Lussurioso the Revenger his brother an aged lord Sister to Vindici 142070 THE REUENGERS TRAG^EDIE. ACT I. SC^. 1. Enter Vindici, the Duke, Dittchesse, LussuRioso her soniie, Spurio the bastard, with a trahie, passe oner the Stage with Torch-light. Vindici, UKE. royall letcher, goe, gray hayrde adultery, I And thou his sonne as impious steept as hee : j And thou his bastard, true-begott in euill : And thou his Dutchesse that will doe with Diuill, Foure ex'lent Characters. — 0, that marrow-lesse age Should stuffe the hollow Bones with dambd de- sires, And 'stead of heate kindle infernall fires 6 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Within the spend-thrift veynes of a drye Duke, A parcht and juicelesse luxur. O God ! One That has scarce bloud inough to Hue upon, — And hee to ryot it like a sonne and heyre ? O the thought of that Turnes my abused heart-strings into fret. Thou sallow picture of my poysoned loue, My studies ornament, thou shell of Death, Once the bright face of my betrothed Lady, When life and beauty naturally fild out These ragged imperfections ; When two heauen-pointed Diamonds were set In those unsightly rings ; then 'twas a face So farre beyond the artificiall shine Of any woman's bought complexion. That the uprightest man (if such there be, That sinne but seauen times a day) broke custom.e And made up eight with looking after her. Oh, she was able to ha' made a Usurer's sonne Melt all his patrimony in a kisse, And what his father fiftie yeares told To haue consumde, and yet his sute beene cold. But oh accursed Pallace ! THE REVENGERS TRAGALDIE. 7 Thee, when thou wert appareld in thy flesh, The old Duke poyson'd. Because thy purer part would not consent Unto his palsey-lust ; for old men lust-full Do show like young men angry, eager, violent, Outbidden, like their limited performances. O ware an old man hot, and vicious ! Age as in gold in lust is couetous. Vengence, thou murder's Quit-rent, and whereby Thou show'st thy selfe Tennant to Tragedy, Oh keepe thy day, houre, minute, I beseech, For those thou hast determind. Hum ! who ere knew Murder unpayd ? Faith, giue Reuenge her due ; Sha's kept touch hetherto ; — be merry, merry ; — Aduance thee, O thou terror to fat folkes To haue their cosdy three-pilde flesh worne off As bare as this ; — for banquets, ease, and laughter Can make great men, as greatnesse goes by clay ; But wise men little are more great then they. Enter his brother Hippolito. Hip. Still sighing o're deaths vizard ? 8 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, Vind, Brother, welcome. What comfort bringst thou? how go things at Court ? Hip, In silke and siluer, brother : neuer brauer. Vmd> Puh, Thou playst upon my meaning ; pree-thee say Has that bald Madam, Opportunity, Yet thought upon 's ? Speake, are we happy yet ? Thy wrongs and mine are for one scabberd fit. Hip, It may proue happinesse. Vind, What is't may proue ? Giue me to taste. Hi^. Giue me your hearing, then. You know my place at Court ? Vi7id. Aye j the Dukes Chamber. But 'tis a maruaile thou'rt not turnd out yet 1 Hip, Faith, I have beene shoou'd at, but 'twas still my hap To hold by 'th Duchesse' skirt; you gesse at that, — Whome such a Coate keepes up can nere fall flat. But to the purpose. Last euening; predecessor unto this, THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 9 The Duke's sonne warily enquired for me, Whose pleasure I attended : he began, By policy to open and unhuske me About the time and common rumour : But I had so much wit to keepe my thoughts Up in their built houses, yet afforded him An idle satisfaction without danger. But the whole ayme, and scope of his intent Ended in this, conjuring me in priuate To seeke some strange-digested fellow forth : Of ill-contented nature, either disgracst In former times, or by new groomes displacst Since his Step-mother's nuptialls ; such a bloud, A man that were for euill onely good ; To giue you the true word, — some base coyned Pander ! Vind, I reach you, for I know his heate is such, Were there as many Concubines as Ladies He would not be contaynd, he must flie out : I wonder how ill-featur'd, vile-proportion'd That one should be, if she were made for woman, Whom at the Insurrection of his lust He would refuse for once ? Heart, I thinke none lo THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE, Next to a skull, tho' more unsound than one. Each face he meetes he strongly doates upon. Hip, Brother, y'aue truly spoke him. He knowes not you, but I'le sweare you know him. Vind, And therefore I'le put on that knaue for once, And be a right man then, a man a'th Time ; For to be honest is not to be iW world. Brother, I'le be that strange-composed fellow. Hip, And I'le prefer you, brother. Vind, Go to then, — The small'st aduantage fattens wronged mea It may point out occasion ; if I meete her, I'll hold her by the fore-top fast ynough ; Or like the Fi^ejich Moale heaue up haire and all. I haue a habit that wil fit it quaintly. Here comes our Mother. Hip, And sister. Vind, We must quoyne. Women are apt, you know, to take false money, But I dare stake my soule for these two creatures ; Onely excuse excepted, that they'le swallow, Because their sexe is easie in beleefe. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, II {Enter the IMother and Castiza.] MotJu What newes from Court, sonne Carlo ? Hip. Faith, IMother, Tis whispered there the Duchesse' yongest sonne Has playd a Rape on Lord Antonio's wife. MotJu On that relligious Lady ! Cast, Royal-blood monster ! He deserues to die, If Italy had no more hopes but he. Vind, Sister, y'aue sentenc'd most direct and true ; The Lawe's a woman, and would she were you* Mother, I must take leaue of you. Moth, Leaue for what ? Vin. I intend speedy trauaile. Hip, That he does, Madam. Mo, Speedy indeed 1 Vind, For since my worthy father's funerall. My life's unnaturally to me, e'en compeld As if I liu'd now when I should be dead. Moth, Indeed, he was a worthy Gentleman, Had his estate beene fellow to his mind. Vind. The Duke did much deject him. 12 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Moth. Much? Viitd. Too much ! And though disgrace oft smotherd in his spirit, When it would mount, surely I think hee dyed Of discontent, — the nobleman's consumption. Moth. Most sure he did ! Vind. Did he, 'lack ? you know all. You were his mid-night secretary. Moth. No. He was too wise to trust me with his thoughts. Vind. Y' faith then, father, thou wast wise indeed, — Wiues are but made to go to bed and feede." Come, mother, sister : you'll bring me onward, brother ? Hip. I will. Vind. I'll quickly turne into another. Exeimt. [SCENE II.] Enter the old Ditke^ Lussurioso his sonne^ the Diichesse : the Bastardy the Diichesse two sonnes Ambitioso and SuPERUACUO ; the third her youngest brought out with Officers for the Rape : Two Judges. Dtcke. Duchesse, it is your youngest sonne ; we're sory THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 13 His violent Act has e'en drawne bloud of honor, And stain'd our honors ; Throwne inck upon the for-head of our state, Which enuious spirits will dip their pens into After our death, — and blot us in our Toombes. For that which would seeme treason in our Hues Is laughter when we're dead. Who dares now whisper That dares not then speake out, and e'en proclaime, With lowd words and broad pens our closest shame ? Ji^d, Your grace hath spoke like to your siluer yeares Full of confirmed grauity ; — for what is it to haue A flattering false insculption on a Toombe, And in men's hearts reproch ? The bowel'd Corps, May be seard in ; but, (with free tongue I speake) The faults of great men through their searde clothes breake. Duk, They do, we're sory for 't. It is our fate To Hue in feare, and die to Hue in hate. I leaue him to your sentance. Doome him, Lords : The fact is great, whilst I sit by and sigh. Duch. My gratious Lord, I pray, be mercifull. 14 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, Although his trespasse far exceed his yeares, Thinke him to be your owne as I am yours, Call him not sonne in law: the law I feare Will fall too soone upon his name and him ; Temper his fault with pitty. Licss. Good my Lord — Then twill not taste so bitter and unpleasant Upon the Judge's pallat ; for offences Gilt ore with mercy, show like fayrest women, Good onely for their beauties, which washt off No sin is uglier. Amb. I beseech your grace, Be soft and mild, let not Relentesse Law Looke with an iron for-head on our brother. SpiL He yeelds small comfort yet ;. 'hope he shall die ; And if a bastard's wish might stand in force, Would all the court were turned into a corse. JDuc, No pitty yet ? must I rise fruitlesse then ? A wonder in a woman ; are my knees, Of such lowe mettall that without Respect i,/udg. Let the offender stand forth, Tis the Duke's pleasure that Impartiall Doome Shall take fast hold of his uncleane attempt. THE REVENGERS TRAGJEDIE, 15 A Rape ! why tis the very core of lust, Double Adultery. Jnnl, So Sir. 2.Jicd, And which was worse, Committed on the Lord Antonio's wife. That generall-honest Lady. Confesse my Lord, What mou'd you to *t ? Jtcni, Why flesh and blood my Lord. What should moue men unto a woman else ? Luss. O do not jest thy doome ; trust not an axe Or sword too far ; the Law is a wise serpent And quickly can beguile thee of thy life. Tho' marriage onely has made thee my brother, I loue thee so far, play not with thy Death. Jimi, I thanke you, 'troth ; good admonitions, Yaith, If I'd the grace now to make use of them. \,Jiid, That Ladye's name has spread such a faire wing Ouer all Italy ; that if our Tongs Were sparing toward the Fact, Judgment it selfe Would be condemned, and suffer in mens' thoughts. Juni, Well then, 'tis done, and it would please me well Were it to doe agen. Sure she's a Goddesse, 1 6 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. For I'd no power to see her, and to liue ; It falls out true in this, for I must die. Her beauty was ordaynd to be my scaffold, And yet me thinks I might be easier 'sess'd. My fault being sport, let me but die in jest. T./ud. This be the sentence ; — JDiit O keep't upon your Tongue, let it not slip ; Death too soone steales out of a Lawyer's lip. Be not so cruell-wise. i./ucig. Your Grace must pardon us, Tis but the Justice of the Lawe. Dtii, The Lawe Is growne more subtill than a woman should be. Spu, Now, now he dies ; rid 'em away. Z>ut O what it is to haue a old-coole Duke, To bee as slack in tongue, as in performance. \,Judg. Confirmed, this be the doome irreuocable. Dut. Oh! i./udg. To-morrow early Dut Pray be a bed, my Lord. 1,/udg. Your Grace much wrongs your selfe. THE REVENGERS TRACEDIE, 17 AmhL No, 'tis that tongue ; Your too much right does do us too much wrong. i./iidg. Let that offender JDut Liue, and be in health. \.Jud, Be on a Scaffold — Duke, Hold, hold, my Lord. Spu, Pox on't. What makes my Dad speake now ? Duke, We will defer the judgement till next sitting. In the meane time let him be kept close prisoner: Guard, beare him hence. Amhi, Brother, this makes for thee ; Feare not, wee'll haue a trick to set thee free. Juni, Brother, I will expect it from you both ; And in that hope I rest. Super, Farewell, be merry. Exit with a garde. Spit, Delay'd, defer d ; nay, then, if judgement haue cold bloud, Flattery and bribes will kill it. Ditke, About it then, my Lords, with your best powers ; — More serious businesse calls upon our houres. Maiient Executioner and Duchess. VOL. 11. 2 i i8 THE REVENGERS TRAGyEDIE. Dili. Was't euer knowne step-Dutchesse was so milde, And calrne as I ? Some now would plot his death, With easie Doctors, those loose-liuing men. And make his witherd Grace fall to his Graue, And keepe Church better. Some second wife would doe this, and dispatch Her double-loathed Lord at meate or sleepe. Indeed 'tis true an old man's twice a childe, — Mine cannot speake ; one of his single words Would quite haue freed my yongest, deerest, sonne From death or durance, and haue made him walke With a bold foote upon the thornie law, Whose Prickles should bow under him ; but 'tis not, And therefore wedlock-faith shall be forgot. I'll kill him in his fore-head ; hate there feede ; That wound is deepest tho' it neuer bleed. And here comes hee whom my heart points unto^ His bastard sonne, but my loue's true-begot. Many a wealthy letter haue I sent him, Sweld up with Jewels ; and the timorous man Is yet but coldly kinde. That Jewel's mine that quiuers in his eare, THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Mocking his Maister's chilnesse and vaine feare. Ha's spide me now. £nter Spurio. SpL Madame, your Grace so priuate ? My duety on your hand. Did. Upon my hand, sir ? troth, I thinke you'd feare To kisse my hand too, if my lip stood there. Sj>i. Witnesse I would not, IMadam. Dut Tis a wonder ; For ceremonie has made many fooles. It is as easie way unto a Dutchesse, As to a Hatted-dame, (if her loue answer) — But that by timorous honors, pale respects, Idle degrees of feare, men make their wayes Hard of themselues. What haue you thought of me ? SpiL Madam, I euer thinke of you in duty — Regard and JDuf, Puh ! upon my loue, I meane. Spi. I would 'twere loue, but ^tis a fowler name Than lust. You are my father's wife ; your Grace may gesse now, What I could call it. 20 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, Diit, Why, th'art his sonne but falsely ; Tis a hard question whether he begot thee. Spii. 'I faith, 'tis true too ; I'm an uncertaine man. Of more uncertaine woman. May be his groome 'ath' stable begot me ; you know I know not. Hee could ride a horse well, (a shrowd suspi- tion, marry) hee was wondrous tall^, hee had his length, i'faith, for peeping ouer halfe-shut holy-day windowes. Men would desire him light; when he was a foote. He made a goodly show under a Pent-house, — And when he rid, his Hatt would check the signes, And clatter Barbers' Basons. Dut, Nay, set you a horse back once, You'll nere light off. Spu, Indeed I am a beggar. Dut, That's more the signe thou'rt Great. — But to our loue. Let it stand firme both in thy thought and minde. That the Duke was thy Father, — as no doubt then Hee bid faire for't, — thy injurie is the more. For had hee cut thee a right Diamond, THE RE UENGERS TRA GyEDIE.. 2 1 Thou had'st beene next set in the Duke-dome's Ring, When his worne selfe, like Age's easie slaue, Had dropt out of the Collet into th' Graue. What wrong can equall this ? canst thou be tame And thinke uppon't ? Spi, No, mad and thinke upon't. But. AVho would not be reueng'd of such a father, E'en in the worst way ? I would thanke that sinne, That could most injure him, and bee in league with it. O what a griefe 'tis, that a man should Hue But once 'ith' world, and then to Hue a Bastard, The curse a' the wombe, the theefe of Nature, Begot against the seauenth commandement, Halfe damn'd in the conception, by the justice Of that unbribed euerlasting law. Spi. O, I'd a hot-back'd Diuill to my father. nut. Would not this mad e'en patience, make bloud rough ? Who but an Eunuch would not sinne ? his bed By one false minute disinherited. 22 THE REVENGERS TRAGyEDIE. Spu, Aye, there's the vengeance that my birth was wrapt in. I'll be reuenged for all. Now, hate, begin : I'll call foule Incest but a Veniall sinne. Dut, Cold still ! in vaine then must a Dutchesse woo ? SpiL Madam, I blush to say what I will doo. Diit. Thence flew sweet comfort. Earnest, and farewell Spii, Oh one incestuous kiss picks open hell. Did, 'Faith now, old Duke, my vengeance shall reach high: I'll arme thy brow with woman's Herauldie. Exit, SpzL Duke, thou didst do me wrong, and by thy Act Adultery is my nature. 'Faith if the truth were knowne I was begot After some gluttonous dinner; some stirring dish Was my first father ; when deepe healths went round. And Ladies' cheeks were painted red with Wine, Their tongues as short and nimble as their heeles. Uttering words sweet and thick, and when they rose Were merrily dispos'd to fall agen. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 23 In such a whisp'ring and with-drawing houre, When base male-Bawdes kept Centinell at staire- head, Was I stol'n softly. Oh ! damnation met The sinne of feasts, drunken adultery. I feele it swell me ; my reuenge is just, I was begot in impudent Wine and Lust. Step mother, I consent to thy desires ; I loue thy mischiefe well, but I hate thee, And those three Cubs thy sonnes, wishing con- fusion Death and disgrace may be their Epitaphs. As for my brother, the Dukes onely sonne, Whose birth is more beholding to report Than mine, and yet perhaps as falsely sowne, (Women must not be trusted with their owne) I'll loose my dayes upon him, hate-all I. Duke, on thy browe I'll drawe my Bastardie ; For indeed a bastard by nature should make cuckolds. Because he is the sonne of a Cuckold-maker. Exit. 24 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. [SCENE III.] iLTiter ViNDici a7zd Hippolito. Vindici 271 disguise to atteiid LussuRioso the Dukes sonne. Vi7id, What, brother ? am I farre inough from myselfe ? Hijj, As if another man had beene sent whole Into the world, and none wist how he came. Vi7id. It will confirme me bould, the child^a' th' Court — Let blushes dwell i' th' Country. Impudence; Thou Goddesse of the pallace, Mistris of Mis- tresses, To whom the costly-perfum'd people pray, Strike thou my fore-head into dauntlesse Marble ; Mine eyes to steady Saphires. Turne my visage, And if I must needes glow, let me blush inward. That this immodest season may not spy That sch oiler in my cheekes, foole bashfullnes — That Maide in the old time^ whose flush of Grace Would neuer suffer hereto get good cloaths. Our Maides are wiser; and are lesse asham'd, Saue G7'ace the bawde I seldome heare Grace nam^. THE REVENGERS TRAGALDIE. Hip, Nay, brother, you reach out a'th' Verge now. 'Sfoote, The Dukes sonne ! settle your lookes. Vmd, Pray let me not be doubted Hip, ]\Iy Lord. Ltiss, Hipohto — be absent — leaue us. Hip. My Lord after long search, wary inquiries, And politick siftings I made choice of yon fellow^, Whom I gesse rare for many deepe employments. This our age swims within him, and if Time Had so much hayre, I should take him for Time. He is so neere kinne to this present minute. Litss, 'Tis inough. We thanke thee \ yet words are but great men's blanckes ; Gold, tho' it be dumb, does utter the best thankes. Hip, Your plenteous honor ! An ex'lent fellow, my Lord. Exit Hippolito. Litss, So, giue us leaue ; Welcom.e, bee not far off, we must bee better acquainted. Tush ; be bould with us, — thy liand. 26 THE REVENGERS TRAGAiDlE, Vmd, With all my heart iTaith ! How dost, sweete Muskcat, When shall we lie togither ? Luss, Wondrous Knaue ! Gather him into bouldnesse ; 'Sfoote, the slaue's Already as familiar as an Ague And shakes me at his pleasure. Friend, I can Forget my selfe in priuate, but else where I pray, do you remember me. Vind. Oh, very well, sir — ; I conster my selfe sawcy. Licss, What hast beene ? Of what profession ? Vind. A bone-setter. Lilss. A bone-setter ? Vind, A bawde, my Lord ; One that setts bones togither. Luss. Notable bluntnesse ! Fit, fit for me, e'en traynd up to my hand ! Thou hast beene Scriuener to much knauery then. Vind. S'foote, to abundance, sir : I haue beene witnesse To the surrenders of a thousand virgins : And not so little ; I haue seene Patrimonies washt a' peices, THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 27 Fruit-fields turnd into bastards, And in a world of Acres Not so much dust due to the heire fvvas left to, As would well grauell a petition. LiLSs, Fine villaine ! troth, I like him wondrously Hee's e'en shapt for my purpose. Then thou knowst I'th' world strange lust. Vind, O Dutch lust ! fulsome lust ! y Druncken procreation which begets so many drunckards, Some father dreads not (gonne to bedde in wine) To slide from the mother And cling the daughter in law ; Some Uncles are adulterous with their Neeces, Brothers with brothers^ wiues ; O howre of Incest ! Any kin now, next to the Rim' a'th' sister Is man's meate in these dayes ; and in the morning When they are up and drest, and their maske on Who can perceiue this, saue that eternal eye That sees through flesh and all ? Well, — if any thing be damned It will be twelue a'clock at night, — that twelue 28 THE REUENGERS TRACED IE. Will never 'scape : It is the Jitdas of the howers, wherein Honest saluation is betray'd to sin. Liiss, Introth, it is too — but let this talke glide — ■ It is our bloud to erre, tho' hell gap't wide ; Ladies know Lucifer fell, yet still are proude, Now, sir, wert thou as secret as thou'rt subtil And deepely fadom'd into all estates, I would embrace thee for a neere employment, And thou shouFdst swell in money, and be able To make lame beggars crouch to thee. Vind, My Lord, Secret ! I nere had that disease a'th' mother, I praise my father. Why are men made close But to keepe thoughts in best ? I grant you this Tell but some woman a secret ouer night. Your doctor may finde it in the vrinall i'th' morning. But, my Lord Ltcss, So, thou'rt confirmd in race And thus I enter thee. Gives Jiiin money, Vi?td, This Indian Diuill THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, 29 Will quickly enter any man but a Usurer ; He preuents that by entering the diuill first. Liiss. Attend me. I am past my depth in lust, And I must swim or drowne. All my desires Are leueld at a Virgin not far from court, To whom I haue conuey'd by Messenger Many waxt Lines full of my neatest spirit, And Jewells that were able to rauish her Without the helpe of man ; all which and more Shee, foolish chast, sent back the messengers Receiuing frownes for answeres. Vind, Possible ! Tis a rare Phoenix, whosoere she bee, If your desires be such, she so repugnant, In troth my Lord I'd be reueng'd and marry her. Liiss, Tush ! the doury of her bloud and of her fortunes Are both too meane, — good inough to be bad with. I'm one of that number can defend Marriage is good ; yet rather keepe a friend. Giue me my bed by stealth — there's true delight What breeds a loathing in't but night by night ? Vind, A very fine relligion ! 30 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Ltiss, Therefore thus ; I'll trust thee in the businesse of my heart, Because I see thee well experienc't In this Luxurious day wherein we breathe. Go thou, and with a smooth enchaunting tongue Bewitch her eares, and Couzen her of all Grace ; Enter upon the portion of her soule Her honour, which she calls her chastity, And bring it into expence ; for honesty Is like a stock of money lay'd to sleepe Which, nere so little broke, doe's neuer keep. Vmd, You haue giu't the Tang i'faith my Lord, Make knowne the Lady to me, and my braine Shall swell with strange Inuention. I will moue it Till I expire with speaking and drop downe, Without a word to saue me, — but I'll worke Ltiss. We thanke thee, and will raise thee. Receiue her name, it is the only daughter to Madame Gra- tiana, the late widdow. Vmd, Oh my sister ! my sister ! [Aside] Luss. Why dost walke aside ? Vi7td, My Lord, I was thinking how I might begin ; THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 35 As thus, ''oh Ladie "—or twenty hundred deuices; . Her very bodkin will put a man in. Ltiss, Aye, or the wagging of her haire. Vind, No, that shall put you in, my Lord. Luss. Shal't? Why, content. Dost know the daughter then ? Vind, O, ex'Ient well by sight. Licss. That was her brother That did prefer thee to us. Vi7id, My Lord, I think so : I knew I had seene him some where. Lnss, And therefore, prythee, let thy heart to him Be as a Virgin, close. Vind, Oh, my good Lord. Liiss, We may laugh at that simple age within him. Vind Ha ! ha ! ha ! Luss. Himselfe being made the subtill instrument To winde up a good fellow. Vind, That's I, my Lord. Lnss, That's thou. To entice and worke his sister. Vind, A pure nouice ! Licss, Twas finely managed. 32 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, Vind. Gallantly carried. A pretty perfam'd villaine. LiLss. I'ue bethought me. If she prooue chast still, and immoueable, Venture upon the Mother, and with giftes As I will furnish thee, begin with her. Vind. O fie, fie, that's the wrong end, my Lord. Tis meere impossible that a mother by any gifts should become a bawde to her owne Daughter 1 Litss, Nay, then, I see thou'rt but a puny in the subtill Mistery of a woman : — why, 'tis held now no dainty dish : The name Is so in league with age, that now adaies It does Eclipse three quarters of a Mother. Viml Does't so, my Lord ? Let me alone, then, to Eclipse the fourth. Luss, Why, well sayd. Come, I'll furnish thee ; but first Sweare to be true in all. Vind, True. Lnss^ Nay, but sweare. Vind, Sweare ? . . . I hope your honor little doubts my fayth. THE KEUENGERS TRACED IE. Luss, Yet, for my humour's sake, 'cause I loue swearing. ViJid, Cause you loue swearing ? 'slud I will. Luss. Wh}^, inough ; Ere long looke to be of better stuff. Vind. That will do well indeed, my Lord. Luss, Attend me. Exit, Vmd. Oh I Now let me burst. I'ue eaten noble poyson. We are made strange fellowes, brother, innocent villaines. Wilt not be angry when thou heaf st on't, thinkst thou? I'faith thou shalt. Sweare me to foule my sister ! Sword, I durst make a promise of him to thee; Thou shalt dis-heire him ; it shall be thine honor. And yet, now angry froath is downe in me, It would not proue the meanest policy In this disguize to try the fayth of both. Another might haue had the selfe same ofRce, Some slaue that would have wrought effectually, Aye, and perhaps ore-wrought 'em. Therefore I, Being thought trauayl'd, will apply my selfe VOL. II. 34 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Unto the selfe same forme, forget my nature As if no part about me were kin to 'em, So touch 'em tho' I durst almost for good Venture my lands in heauen upon their blood. Exit, [SCENE IV.] Enter the discontented Lord Antonio, whose wife the Duchesses yoiigest Sonne raiiisht — he Discouering the body of her dead to certaine Lords ; and Hippolito. L,Ant, Draw neerer, Lords, and be sad witnesses Of a fayre comely building newly fall'n, Being falsely undermined : violent rape Has play'd a glorious act. Behold, my Lords, A sight that strikes man out of me. Piero, That vertuous Lady ! L,Ant, Precedent for wives ! Hip, The blush of many weomen; whose chast pre- sence Would e'n call shame up to their cheekes And make pale wanton sinners haue good colours. ' Z.^;//. Dead ! TEE REUEXGERS TRAG^DIE. 35 Her honor first drunke poyson, and her life, Being fellowes in one house, did pledge her honour. Piero, O greefe of many ! L. Ant. I mark'd not this before, A prayer Booke the pillow to her cheeke ; This was her rich confection, and another Plac'd in her right hand with a leafe tuckt up Poynting to these words Melius virtide viori^ Qitam per Dedems viiiere. True and effectuall it is indeed. Hip. My Lord, since you invite us to your sorrowes Let's truely taste 'em, that with equall comfort As to our selues, we may relieue your wrongs. We have greefe too, that yet walkes without tongue Cu7'CB leues loqiitmtur, Maiores stupenf, L. Ant. You deale with truth, my Lord. Lend me but your Attentions, and I'll cut Long greefe into short words. Last reuelling night, When Torch-light made an artificiall noone About the Court, some Courtiers in the maske 36 THE REVENGERS TRAGALDIE, Putting on better faces than their owne, Being full of frawde and flattery — amongst whome The Duchesse's yongest sonne (that moth to honor) Fiird up a Roome ; and, with long lust to eat Into my wearing, amongst all the Ladyes, Singled out that deare forme, who euer liu'd As cold in Lust as shee is now in death, (Which that step-Duches' Monster knew too well.) And therefore in the height of all the reuells. When Musick was heard lowdest, Courtiers busiest, And Ladies great with laughter; — O Vitious minute ! Unfit, but for relation, to be spoke of, — Then, with a face more impudent then his vizard, He harried her amidst a throng of Panders, That liue uppon damnation of both kindes, And fed the rauenous vulture of his lust. — . O death to thinke on't ! She, her honor forc'd Deem'd it a nobler dowry for her name To die with poyson, then to liue with shame. Hip, A wondrous Lady, of rare fire compact. Sha's made her name an Empresse by that act. THE REVENGERS TRAG^DIE, 37 Ficro. My Lord, what iudgement follovves the offender ? L.Anf, Taith, none my Lord : it cooles and is defer'd. Fiero. Delay the doome for rape ? Z. Ant. O, you must note who 'tis should die ; The Duchesse' sonne : shee'll looke to be a sauer, Judgment in this age is near kin to fauour. Hip. Nay, then, step forth thou Bribelesse officer ! I bind you all in Steele to bind you surely. Here let your oaths m.eet to be kept and payd, Which else will stick e like rust and shame the blade. Strengthen my vow, that if, at the next sitting, Jndgment speake all in gold, and spare the bloud Of such a serpent, — e'en before their seats — To let his soule out, which long time was found Guilty in heauen. All. We sweare it, and will act it. L.Ant. Kind Gentlemen, I thanke you in mine Ire. Hip. 'Twerepitty The ruins of so faire a Monument Should not be dipt in the defacer s bloud. I Piero. Her funerall shall be wealthy, for her name \ 38 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Merits a toombe of pearle. My Lord Antonio, For this time wipe your Lady from your eyes ; No doubt our greefe and youres may one day court it, When we are more familiar with Reuenge. L.Ant, That is my comfort, Gentlemen, and I joy In this one happines aboue the rest. Which will be call'd a miracle at last ; That being an old man, I'd a wife so chaste. Exeimt. THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE, 39 ACTUS. 2. SC^. 1. Enter Castiza the sister. Cast, How hardly shall that mayden be beset Whose onely fortunes are her constant thoughts ! That has no other childe's-part but her honor. That keepes her lovve and empty in estate. Maydes and their honors are like poore be- ginners — Were not sinne rich there would be fewer sinners. Why had not vertue a revennue ? well, I know the cause, — 'twou'd haue impouerish'd hell. How now Dondolo ? Enter Dondolo. Don. Madonna there is one as they say a thing of flesh and blood, — a man I take him by his beard — that would very desireously mouth to mouth with you. Cast, What's that ? Don. Show his teeth in your company. Cast, I understand thee not. Don, Why, speake with you. Madonna. 40 THE REVENGERS TRAGALDIE. Cast Why say so, mad-man, and cut off a great deale of dirty way. Had it not beene better spoke in ordinary words, that one would speake with me ? Don, Ha ! ha ! that's as ordinary as two shillings. I would striue a litle to show my selfe in my place ; a Gentleman-usher scornes to use the Phrase and fancie of a seruingman. Cast, Yours be your own sir ; go, direct him hither, I hope some happy tidings from my brother That lately trauayl'd, whome my soule affects. Here he comes. Enter Vindici her h'other disguised, Vind, Lady, the best of wishes to your sexe Faire skins and new gownes. Cast, Oh they shall thanke you sir. Whence this ? Vind. Oh from a deere and worthy friend Mighty Cast, From whome ? Vind, The Duke's sonne. Cast, Receiue that. A hoxe ^atJi ea7'e to her brother, I swore I would put anger in my hand THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 41 And passe the Virgin limits of my selfe To him that next appear'd in that base office To be his sinnes' Attorney. Beare to him That figure of my hate upon thy cheek e Whilst 'tis yet hot, and I'll reward thee for't. Tell him my honor shall haue a rich name When seuerall harlots shall share his with shame. Farewell commend me to him in my hate. Exit. Vind. It is the sweetest Boxe that ere my nose came nye, The finest drawne-worke cuffe that ere was worne; I'll loue this blowe for euer, and this cheeke Shall still hence forward take the wall of this. O I'm aboue my tong : most constant sister In this, thou hast right honorable showne Many are call'd by their honour that haue none. Thou art approu'd for euer in my thoughts. It is not in the power of words to taynt thee. And yet for the saluation of my oath, As my resolue in that poynt, I will lay Hard siege unto my Mother, tho' I know A Syren's tongue could not bewitch her so. 42 THE REUENGERS TRACED IE. Masse ! fitly here she comes ! thankes my dis- guize. Madame, good afternoone. E7ite7' Gratiana. Moth, Y'are welcome sir. Vind, The Next of Italy commends him to you, Our mighty expectation, the Dukes sonne. Moth, I thinke my selfe much honor'd, that he pleases To ranck me in his thoughts. Vind. So may you, Lady, One that is like to be our suddaine Duke, — The Crowne gapes for him euery tide and then — Commander o're us all. — Do but thinke on him How blest were they now that could pleasure him E'en with any thing almost ! Moth, Aye, saue their honor. Vi7id. Tut, one would let a Httle of that go too And nere be scene in't ; nere be scene in% marke you. I'd winck, and let it go. Moth, Marry, but I would not. THE REUENGERS TRACED IE, 43 Vind, ]\Iarry, but I would I hope. I know you would too, If you'd that bloud now which you gaue your daughter, To her indeed 'tis, this wheele comes about. That man that must be all this, perhaps ere morn- ing (For his white father does but moulde away) Has long desir'd your daughter. Moth. Desir'd? Vind, Nay, but heare me. He desires now, that will command hereafter. Therefore be w^ise, I speake as more a friend To you, than him. Madame I know y'are poore And 'lack the day ! there are too many poore Ladies already. Why should you vex the number ? 'tis despis'd, Liue wealthy, rightly understand the world, And chide away that foolish Country-girle Keepes company with your daughter, chastity. Moth, Oh fie, fie ! the riches of the world cannot hire a mother to such a most unnaturall taske. Vind, No, but a thousand Angells can 44 THE REVENGERS TRAG^DIE. Men haue no power, Angells must worke you to't. The world descends mto such base-borne euills That forty Angells can make fourscore diuills. There will be fooles still I perceiue, — still fooles Would I be poore, dejected, scorn'd of greatnesse, Swept from the Pallace, and see other daughters Spring with the dewe a'th' Court, hauing mine owne So much desired and lou'd — by the Dukes sonne ? No, I would raise my state upon her brest And call her eyes my Tennants ; I would count My yearely maintenance upon her cheekes, Take Coach upon her lip, and all her partes Should keepe men after men, and I would ride In pleasure upon pleasure. You tooke great paines for her, once when it was, Let her requite it now tho* it be but some, You brought her forth, she may well bring you home. MotJu O heauens ! this ouer-comes me ! Vind. Not I hope already. [Aside.] Moth. It is too strong for me ; men know that know us^ THE REVENGERS TRAGyEDIE, 45 We are so weake their words can ouerthrow us [Aside.] He toucht me neerely, made my vertues bate, When his tongue struck upon my poore estate. Vind, I e'en quake to proceede. My spirit turnes edge I feare me she's unmotherd, yet I'll venture. [Aside.] That woman is all male whome none can Enter. What thinke you now Lady — speake, are you wiser What sayd aduancement to you ? thus it sayd — The daughters fall lifts up the mother's head, Did it not Madame ? but I'll sweare it does In many places : tut, this age feares no man ^Tis no shame to be bad, because 'tis so common. Moth, Aye, that's the comfort on't. Vind, The comfort on't ! I keepe these best for last. Can these perswade you To forget heauen — and Moth. Aye, these are they Vind Oh! Moth, That enchant our sexe These are the means that gouerne our affections — that woman 46 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Will not be troubled with the mother long, That see the comfortable shine of you. I blush to thinke what for your sakes I'll do 1 Vind, O suffring heauen ! with thy inuisible finger [Aside.] E'en at this instant turne the pretious side Of both mine eye-balls inward, not to see my selfe. Moth. Looke you sir. Vind. Holla ! Moth, Let this thank e your paines. Vind, O y'are kind, Madame. Moth, I'll see how I can moue. Vind, Yours words will sting. Moth. If she be still chast, I'll nere call her mine. Viiid, Spoke truer then you meant it. Moth, Daughter Castiza. Cast, Madam. Vind. O shee's yonder Meete her [Aside.] Troupes of celestiall Soldiers, gard her heart. Yon dam has deuills enough to take her part. Cast. Madam, what makes yon euill-offic*d man In presence of you ? THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 47 Moth, Why? Cast. He lately brought Immodest writing sent from the Dukes sonne, To tempt me to dishonorable Act. Moth, Dishonorable Act ! good honorable foole That wouldst be honest 'cause thou wouldst be so, Producing no one reason but thy will And t'has a good report^ prettely commended But pray by whome ? meane people, ignorant people ; The better sort I'm sure cannot abide it. And by what rule should st we square out our Hues But by our better actions ? Oh, if thou knew'st What 'twere to lose it, thou would neuer keepe it But there's a cold curse laid upon all Maydes, Whilst others clip the Sunne, they clasp the shades Virginity is paradise lockt up You cannot come by your selues without fee And 'twas decreed that man should keepe the key Deny aduancement ! Treasure! the Dukes sonne! Cast, I cry your mercy, Lady, I mlstooke you, — Pray did you see my Mother? Which way went you? Pray God I haue not lost her. 48 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, Vind, Prittily put by. Moth, Are you as proud tb me as coye to him ? Doe you not know me now? Cast, Why are you shee ? The world's so changed one shape into another, It is a wise childe now that knowes her mother. Vind, Most right i'faith. Moth, I owe your cheeke my hand For that presumption now, but I'll forget it Come, you shall leaue those childish 'hauiours And understand your Time, Fortunes flow to you AVhat will you be a Girle ? If all fear'd drowning that spye wanes a shoare, Gold would grow rich and all the Marchants poore. Cast. It is a pritty saying of a wicked one ; but me thinkes now It does not show so well out of your mouth, Better in his. Vind, Taith, bad inough in both Were I in earnest, as He seeme no lesse. tAside.] I wonder Lady'your owne mother's words THE REVENGERS TRAGMDTE. 49 Cannot be taken, nor stand in full force. 'Tis honestie you urge, — what's honestie ? 'Tis but heauen's beggar. And what woman is so foolish to keepe honesty And be not able to keepe her-selfe ? No, Times are growne wiser, and will keep lesse charge. A Maide that has small portion now intends To breake up house, and Hue upon her friends. How blest are you, you haue happinesse alone, Others must fall to thousands, you to one Sufficient in him-selfe to make your fore-head Dazle the world with Jewels, and petitionary people Start at your presence. Moth. Ob, if I were yong, I should be rauisht. Cast, Aye, to lose your honor. Vlnd. 'Slid how can you lose your honor To deale with my Lords Grace ? Hee'll adde more honour to it by his Title, — Your mother will tell you how. Moth, That I will. Vind. O thinke upon the pleasure of the Pallace Secured ease and state ; the stirring meates VOL. 11. 4 50 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, Ready to moue out of the dishes, that e'en now quicken when they're eaten Banquets abroad by Torch-light, musicks, sports Eare-headed vassailes that had nere the fortune To keepe on their owne Hats, but let homes weare 'em. Nine Coaches waiting hurry, hurry, hurry. — Cast, Aye, to the Diuill. Vmd. Aye, to the Diuill — to the Duke, by my faith. Moth, Aye, to the Duke, daughter you'd scorne to thinke a'th' Diuill, an you were there once. Vind, True, for most there are as proud as he, for his heart i'faith. Who'd sit at home in a neglected roome, Dealing her short-liu'd beauty to the pictures That are as uselesse as old men ? When those, Poorer in face and fortunes than herselfe, Walke with a hundred Acres on their backs, Faire Meadowes cut into Greene fore parts — oh It was the greatest blessing euer happened to woman THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, 51 When Farmers' sonnes agreed, and met agen To wash their hands, and come up Gentlemen. The common wealth has flourisht, euer since Lands that were mete by the Rod, — that labor's spar'd, — Taylors ride downe and measure 'em by the yeard. Faire trees, those comely fore-tops of the Field Are cut to maintaine head-tires, much untold. All thriues but chastity 3 she lyes a cold. Nay shall I come neerer to you ? marke but this Why are so few honest women, but because 'tis the poorer profession. That's accounted best, that's best followed : least in trade, least in fashion and that's not honesty, beleeue it, and doe but note the loue and deiected price of it. Lose but a pearle^ we search but cannot brooke it^ But that once gone, who is so mad to looke it ? Mother, Troth, he sayes true. Cast, False, I defie you both. 1 haue endur'd you with an eare of fire, Your Tongues haue struck hotte yrons on my face. Mother, come from that poysonous woman there. Mother. Where ? 52 THE REVENGERS TRAG^DIE. Cast, Do you not see her ? Shee's too inward then, Slaue perish in thy office, you heauvens please Hence forth to make the Mother a disease Which first begins with me, yet I've out-gone you. Exit Viiid. O Angels clap your wings upon the skyes, And giue this Virgin Christall plaudities Moth, Peeuish, coy, foolish ; — but returne this answer My Lord shall be most welcome, when his pleasure Conducts him this way, I will sway my owne. Women with women can worke best alone Exit Vind. Indeed I'll tell him so. O more unciuill more unnaturall Then those base titled creatures that looke downe- ward. Why does not heauen turne black, or with a frowne Undoo the world ? why does not the earth start up And strike the sinnes that tread uppon't — oh Wert not for gold and women there would be no damnation Hell would looke like a Lord's great Kitchin without fire in't. But t'was decreed before the world began, THE REVENGERS TRAG^DIE. 53 That they should be the hookes to catch at man Exit [SCENE IL] Enter Lussurioso with Hippolito Vindicie's brother, Luss. I much applaud thy judgement, thou art well read in a fellow, And t'is the deepest Arte to studie man. I know this, which I neuer learnt in schooles, The world's diuided into knaues and fooles. Hip, Knaue in your face my Lord, Behind your back Luss. And I much thanke thee that thou hast preferd A fellow of discourse well mingled. And whose braine Time hath seasoned. Hip, True, my Lord We shall finde season once I hope. O villaine To make such an unnaturall slave of me — but — [Aside.] Luss, Masse, here he comes Hip, And now shall I haue free leaue to depart Luss, Your absence — leaue us. 54 THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE. Hip. Are not my thoughts true ? [Aside] I must remooue, but brother you may stay Heart, we are both made Bawdes a new found way. Exit. L71SS. Now we're an euen number; a third man's dangerous Especially her brother, say, be free, Haue I a pleasure toward ? Vind. Oh my Lord. Liiss. Rauish me in thine answer, art thou rare ? Hast thou beguilde her of saluation And rubb'd hell ore with hunny ? is she a woman ? Vind. In all but in desire Luss. Then shee's in nothing, I bate in courage now Vind, The words I brought Might well haue made indifferent honest naught A right good woman in these days is changde Into white money, with lesse labour farre. Many a Maide has turn'd to Mahomet With easier working. I durst undertake Upon the pawne and forfeit of my life With halfe those words to fiat a Puritane's wife THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, 55 But she is closse and good, yet tis a doubt by this time ; oh the mother the mother — Liiss, I neuer thought their sex had beene a wonder Untill this minute. WTiat fruite from the mother ? Vind, How must I blister my soule, be forsworne Or shame the woman that receiu'd mee first ? I will be true, thou liu'st not to proclaime ; Spoke to a dying man shame has no shame [Aside.] ]\Iy Lord — Liiss. Who's that ? Vind, Here's none but I, my Lord Liiss, What would thy haste utter ? Vind, Comfort Luss, Welcome Vmd, The Maide being dull, hauing no minde to travell Into unknowne lands, what did I straight But set spurs to the Mother ? Golden spurs Will put her to a false gallop in a trice. Luss, Is't possible that in this The mother should be dambd before the daughter ? Vind. Oh that's good manners, my Lord, the mother for her age must goe foremost you know 56 THE REVENGERS TRAG^DIE, Licss. Thou'st spoke that true — but where comes in this comfort ? Vind. In a fine place my Lord. The unnaturall mother Did with her tong so hard beset her honor, That the poore foole was struck with silent wonder, Yet still the maid, like an unlighted taper, Was cold and chast, saue that her Mothers breath Did blowe fire on her cheekes, the girle departed, But the good antient Madam halfe mad, threwe me These promissing words which I tooke deepely note of — My Lord shall be most welcome — " Liiss, Taith, 1 thanke her — Vi7id. " When his pleasure conducts him this way/* Ltiss. That shall be soone, i' faith. Vind, I will sway mine own. Luss. Shee does the wiser, I commend her for't. Vind. Women with women can worke best alone. Liiss. By this light, and so they can. Giue 'em their due, men are not comparable to 'em. Vind, No, that's true, for you shall haue one woman knit THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, 57 more in an hower than any man can Rauell agen in seauen and twenty yeare. Ltiss, Now my desires are happy, I'll make 'em free-men now. Thou art a pretious fellow, faith I loue thee Be wise and make it thy reuennew — beg — leg What office couldst thou be Ambitious for ? Vind. Office my Lord? Marry, if I might haue my wish I would haue one that was neuer beg'd yet Luss. Nay, then thou canst haue none. Vi?id, Yes, my Lord, I could picke out another office yet, nay and keepe a horse and drab uppon't. Luss. Pry'thee, good bluntness, tell me. Vind, Why I would desire but this my Lord — to haue all the fees behind the Arras and all the far- thingales that fall plumpe about twelue a clock at nigh upon the Rushes. Luss, Thou'rt a mad apprehensiue knaue j dost thinke to make any great purchase of that ? Vind, O tis an unknowne thing, my Lord. I wonder t'as been mist so long. Lnss, Well, this night 111 visit her, and 'tis till then 58 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. A yeare in my desires — farewell, attend Trust me with thy preferment. Exit Vi7id. My lou'd Lord Oh shall I kill him a'th' wrong-side now ? No. Sword thou wast neuer a back- biter yet. ril pierce him to his face, he shall die looking upon me. Thy veines are sweld with lust, this shall unfill 'em. Great men were Gods if beggers could not kil 'em. Forgiue me heauen to call my mother wicked. 0 lessen not my daies upon the earth, 1 cannot honor her. By this I feare me Her tongue has turned my sister unto use. I was a villaine not to be forsworne To this our lecherous hope, the Duke's sonne. For Lawiers, Merchants, some diuines and all Count beneficiall periury a sin small. It shall go hard yet but 111 guard her honor And keepe the portes sure. Enter Hippol. Hip. Brother how goes the world? I would know newes of you, But I haue newes to tell you. THE REVENGERS TRAGJEDIE. K — PYnd. What in the name of knauery ? Hip, Knauery fayth. This vicious old Duke's worthily abus'd The pen of his bastard writes him cuckold ! Find. His bastard ? Bip. Pray beleeve it, he and the Duchesse By night meete in their linnen, they have beene seene By staire-foote pandars ! Find, Oh sin foule and deepe ! Great faults are winckt at, when the Duke's asleepe. See, see, here comes the Spurio. JIiJ>. Monstrous Luxur ! Find. Unbrac'd — two of his valiant bawdes with him. O there's a wicked whisper : hell is in his eare. Stay, let's obserue his passage. EnUr Spurio and Servants. Spu, Oh but are you sure on 't ? Ser, My Lord most sure on't, for 'twas spoke by one, That is most inward with the Duke's Sonne's lust, That he intends within this houre to steale THE REVENGERS TRAG^DIE. Unto Hippolito's sister, whose chaste life The mother has corrupted for his use. Spu, Sweete word ! sweete occasion 1 'faith then, brother I'll disinherit you in as short time As I was when I was begot in haste, ril dam you at your pleasure pretious deede ! After your lust oh ! 'twill be fine to bleede. Come let our passing out be soft and wary. Exeunt Vind. Marke there, there, that step now to the Duches. This their second meeting writes the Duke Cuck- old With new additions, his home's newly reviv'd. Night ! thou that lookst like funerall Heraulds fees Torne downe betimes 'ith' morning, thou hangst fittly To Grace those sins that haue no grace at all Now 'tis full sea a bed ouer the world ; There's juggling of all sides, some that were Maides E'en at Sun set, are now perhaps i'th' Toale-booke. This woman, in immodest thin apparell, THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 6i Lets in her friend by water j here a Dame, Cunning, nayles lether-hindges to a dore To auoide proclamation. Now Cuckolds are a quoyPiing apace, apace, apace, apace. And careful sisters spinne that thread i'th' night That does maintaine them and their bawdes ith daie. Hip, You flow well brother. Vi7id. Pull ! I'm shallow yet Too sparing and too modest Shall I tell thee ? If euery trick were told that's dealt by night That are few here that would not blush out right. Hip, I am of that beleefe too. Who's this comes ? Vi7id, The Dukes sonne up so late ? — brother fall back And you shall learne some mischeife. My good Lord Luss, Piato ! why the man I wisht for. Come I do embrace this season for the fittest To tast of that yong Lady. Vind, Heart and hell ! Hip, Dambd villaine ! 62 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Vind. I'ue no way now to crosse it, but to kill him. ; Ljiss. Come only thou and I. Vind, My Lord, my Lord. Liiss, Why dost thou start us ? Vind. I'de almost forgot — the bastard — Luss. What of him? Vind. This night — this houre — this minute — now — Luss, What? what? Vind. Shadowes the Duchesse — Luss, Horrible word ! Vind. And like strong poyson eates Into the Duke your father's fore-head. Luss, Oh ! Vind, He makes home royall. Luss, Most ignoble slaue ! Viiid, This is the fruite of two beds. Licss. I am mad. Vind, That passage he trod warily. Luss, He did ? Vind, And husht his villaines euery step he tooke. Luss, His villaines ! He confound them. Vind, Take 'em finely, finely now. Luss, The Duchess Chamber-doore shall not controule mee. Exeunt, Hip, Good, happy, swift, there's gunpowder 'ith' Court, AVilde fire at mid -night, in this heedlesse fury THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, 63 He may show violence to crosse himselfe. I'll follow the Euent. Exit Lnss. Where is that villaine ? Enter agaiiie, Vind. Softly, my Lord, and you may take 'em twisted. Luss, I care not how. Vind, Oh ! 'twill be glorious To kill 'em doubled, when they're heapt. Be soft, my Lord. Lnss, Away. My spleene is not so lazy— thus and thus I'll shake their eye-lids ope and with my sword Shut 'em agen for euer. Villaine ! Strumpet ! Duke, You upper Guard defend us ! Dut. Treason ! treason ! Duke. O take mee not in sleepe ! I haue great sins--I must haue dales, Nay months, deere sonne, with penitential heaues To lift 'em out and not to die uncleere. O thou wilt kill me both in heauen and here ! Luss, I am amazde to death. Duke, Nay villaine traytor 64 THE REVENGERS TRAGAlDIE. Worse than the fowlest Epithite, now He gripe thee Amongst the Lawyers — Guard ! Enter Nobles and sonnes. 1 . Noble. How comes the quiet of your Grace disturbd ? £>uke. This boye, that should be my selfe after mee, Would be my selfe before me, and in heate Of that ambition bloudily rusht in, Intending to depose me in my bed. 2, Noble, Duty and naturall loyalty for-fend ! Dut He calld his Father villaine and me strumpet A word that I abhorre to file my lips with. AmbL That was not so well done, Brother. Luss, I am abus'd—I know there's no excuse can do me good. Vind, Tis now good policie to be from sight. His vicious purpose to our sisters honour Is crost beyond our thought. HiJ>. You little dreamt his Father slept heere. Vind. O 'twas farre beyond me. But since it fell so without fright-full word THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 65 Would he had kild him— 'twould haue easde our swords. Duke. Be comforted, our Duchesse : he shall dye. Ltiss. Where's this slaue-pander now? out of mine eye Guiltie of this abuse. Dissemble a flight E?iter Spurio with his villaines, Spu. Vare villaines, Fablers, You haue knaue's chins and harlot's tongues — you lie— And I will dam you with one meale a day. 1, Ser. O good my Lord ! Spu. 'Sbloud you shall neuer sup. 2. Ser. O I beseech you sir Spu. To let my sword catch cold so long and misse him ! I. Sei'. Troth my Lord 'twas his intent to meete there. Spu. Heart, hee's yonder ! Ha ! what newes here ? is the day out 'ath 'socket That it is Noone at Mid-night, the Court up ? How comes the Guard so sawcie with his elbowes ? Luss. The Bastard here ? VOL. II. 5 66 THE REVENGERS TRAGAiDIE, Nay then the truth of my intent shall out. My Lord and Father heare me. Duke. Beare him hence. Luss, I can with loyaltie excuse. Duke. Excuse ? to prison with the Villaine. Death shall not long lag after him. Spu, Good, i'faith then 'tis not much amisse. Luss. Brothers, my best release lies on your tongues, I pray perswade for mee. AinbL It is our duties : make your selfe sure of us. Spu. We'll sweate in pleading. Luss, And I may line to thanke you. Exeunt, Ambu No, thy death shall thanke me better. Spu. Hee's gone : I'll after him And know his trespasse, seeme to beare a part In all his ills, but with a Puritane heart. Exit. Ambu Now brother, let our hate and loue be wouen So subtilly together, that in speaking one word for his life, We may make three for his death. The craftiest pleader gets most gold for breath. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, 67 Sup, Set on. I'll not be farre behinde you brother. Duke, Is't possible a sonne should bee disobedient as farre as the sword? it is the highest; he can goe no farther. Atnbi, My gratious Lord take pitty Duke. Pitty, boyes ? Amhi, Nay, wee'd be loth to mooue your Grace too much, Wee know the trespasse is unpardonable, Black, wicked, and unnaturall. Sup, In a Sonne ! oh Monstrous ! Ambu Yet my Lord A Duke's soft hand stroakes the rough head of law And makes it lye smooth. Duke, But my hand shall nere do't. Ambi, That as you please, my Lord. Sup, We must needs confesse Some father would haue enterd into hate So deadly pointed, that before his eyes Hee would ha' seene the execution sound Without corrupted fauor, Ambi, But my Lord 5—2 68 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, Your Grace may liue the wonder of all times In pardning that offence which neuer yet Had face to beg a pardon. Duke, Hunny, hoWs this? Ambi. Forgiue him, good my Lord : hee's your owne sonne And I must .needs say 'twas the villier done. Sup, Hee's the next heire yet this true reason gathers None can possesse that dispossesse their fathers. Be mercifuU Duke, Here's no Step-mother's wit. I'll trie 'em both upon their loue and hate. Ambi, Be mercifull — altho' Duke. You haue pre- uail'd. Thy wrath like flaming waxe hath spent it selfe. I know it was some peeuish Moone in him : — Goe, let him bee releasd. Sup, 'Sfoote how now Brother ? Ambu Your Grace doth please to speake beside your spleene. ^ I would it were so happy ! Duke. Why goe j re- lease him. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, 69 Sup, O my good Lord I know the fault's too weighty And full of generall loathing ; too inhumaine, Rather by all mens voyces worthy death. DiLke, Tis true too. Here then, receiue this signet; doome shall passe. Direct it to the Judges ; he shall dye Ere many dayes — make haste. AmhL All speed that may be. We could haue wisht his burthen not so sore. We knew your Grace did but delay before. Exeunt, Duke. Here's Enuie with a poore thin couer on't, Like Scarlet hid in lawne, easily spide through. This their ambition by the Mothers side Is dangerous and for safetie must be purg'd, I will preuent their enuies. Sure it was But some mistaken furie in our sonne Which these aspiring boyes would climb e upon. He shall bee released suddainly. Enter Nobles. 1. Noble, Good morning to your Grace. Duke, Welcome my Lords. 2, Noble, Our knees shall take away the office of our feete for euer, THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE, Unlesse your Grace bestow a father's eye Upon the Clouded fortunes of your sonne, And in compassionate vertue grant him that Which make e'en meane men happy — ^liberty. Duke. How seriously their loues and honors woo For that which I am about to pray them doo. Which, rise, my Lords, your knees signe his re- lease, We freely pardon him. I. Noble. YJe owe your Grace much thankes and he much JDuke. It well becomes that Judge to nod at crimes , That does commit greater himselfe and Hues, / / I may forgiue a disobedient error / That expect pardon for adultery, And in my old dales am a youth in lust Many a beauty haue I tumd to poyson In the deniall, couetous of all. Age hot is like a Monster to be scene : My haires are white and yet my sinnes are Greene., , duety. Exeunt. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 71 ACT 3. SCENE 1. Enter Ambitioso and Superuacuo. Sup. Brother, let my opinion sway you once, I speake it for the best, to haue him die Surest and soonest ; if the signet come Unto the judges' hands, why then his doome Will be defer'd till sittings and Court-daies Juries and further. Fayths are bought and sold Oths in these daies are but the skin of gold. Amhu In troth 'tis true too ! Sup. Then let's set by the ludges And fall to the Officers, 'tis but mistaking The Duke our father's meaning, and v/here he nam'd * Ere many dales', 'tis but forgetting that And haue him die i' th' morning. Amhi. Excellent ! Then am I heire Duke in a minute ! * Sup. Nay, 72 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. An he were once pufft out, here is a pmne Should quickly prick your bladder. AmbL Blest occasion. . He being packt, weell haue some trick and wile To winde our yonger brother out of prison That lies in for the Rape, the Ladle's dead And people's thoughts will soone be buried. Sup. We may with safty do't and Hue and feede. The Duchesse' sonnes are too proud to bleed. Ambi. We are, yfaith, to say true. — Come let's not linger. I'll to the Officers ; go you before And set an edge upon the Executioner. Sup. Let me alone to grind. Exit. Ambi. Meete farewell. I am next now, I rise in that place Where thou'rt cut olf; upon thy Neck, kind brother The falling of one head lifts up another. Exit. [SCENE IL] Enter with the Nobles Lussurioso from pryson. Luss. My Lords, I am so much indebted to your loues For this O this deliuery. THE REVENGERS TRAGAiDIE, 73 \,Nob.VM\, our dueties, my Lord, unto the hopes that growe in you. Liiss. If ere I Hue to be my selfe lll thanke you. O Hberty, thou sweete and heauenly Dame, But hell for pryson is too milde a name. Exeunt. [SCENE III.] Eiiter Ambitioso and Superuacuo zuith officers. Amb, Officers, here's the Duke's signet, your firme warrant, Brings the command of present death along with it Unto our brother the Duke's sonne ; we are sory That we are so unnaturally employed In such an unkinde office, fitter farre For enemies than brothers. Super, But you know the Duke's command must be obey'd. I. Offi, It must and shal, my Lord, this morning then, — So suddainely. Amh. Aye alasse, poore good soule, Hee must breake fast betimes, the executioner Stands ready to put forth his cowardly valour. 74 THE REVENGERS TRAGALDIE. 2. Offi. Already. Super. Already iTaith, O sir destruction hies And that is least Impudent soonest dyes. I. Offi, Troth, you say true my Lord, we take our leaue Our Office shall be found, wee'll not delay The third part of a minute. Amh. Therein you showe Your selves good men and upright. Officers Pray let him die as priuat as he may, Doe him that fauour, for the gaping people Will but trouble him at his prayers, And make him curse and sweare, and so die black. Will you be so far kind ? 1. Offi, It shall be done my Lord. A77ib. Why we do thanke you, if we liue to be You shall haue a better office. 2. Offi, Your good Lordship. Super, Commend us to the scaffold in our teares. I. Offi. Weell weepe and doe your commendations. Exeunt, Amb, Fine fooles in office. Sup, Things fall out so fit. THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE, 75 Ambi. So happily, come brother, ere next clock His head will be made serue a bigger block. Exeunt, SCENE IV. Enter in pryson Junior Brother Jicni. Keeper Keep, My Lord. Juni. No news lately from our brothers, Are they unmindfuU of us ? Keep, My Lord a messenger came newly in, And brought this from 'em. Juni. Nothing but paper comforts I look'd for my deliuery before this Had they beene worth their oths. — Prithee be from us. — Now what say you forsooth, speake out I pray, Letter Brother be of good cheer e 'Slud it begins like a whore with good cheere. Thou shalt not be long a prisoner. Not sixe and thirty yeare like a banqrout I tninke so We haue thought upon a deuice to get thee out by tricke 76 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, By a tricke ? Pox a' your tricke, an it be so long playing. A7id so rest comfo7'ted be merry and expect it sud- dainely. Be merry, hang merry, draw and quarter merry, I'll be mad Is't not strange that a man should lie in a whole month for a woman? Well wee shall see how suddaine our brothers will bee in their promise. I must expect still a tricke. I shall not be long a prisoner ? How now what newes ? Keep, Bad newes my Lord, I am discharged of you. Jtmi, Slave call'st thou that bad newes ? I thanke you brothers. ' Keep, My Lord 'twill proue so, here come the officers Into whose hands I must commit you. Juni. Ha, Officers, what why ? I. Offi, You must pardon us, my Lord Our Office must be sound ; here is our warrant The signet from the Duke, you must straight suffer. Jtmi. Suffer ! I'll suffer you to be gon. I'll suffer you THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 77 To come no more. What would you haue me suffer ? 2. Offi, My Lord, those words were better chang'd to praiers, The time's but briefe with you, prepare to die. JiinL Sure tis not so. 3. Offi, It is too true my Lord. JunL I tell you 'tis not, for the Duke my father Defer'd me till next sitting, and I looke E'en euery minute, threescore times an houre, For a release, a trick wrought by my brothers. 1. Offi, A trick my Lord? if you expect such comfort Your hope's as fruitlesse as a barren woman. Your brothers were the unhappy messengers.' That brought this powerfuU token for your death. Junior, My brothers ? no, no. 2. Offi, 'Tis most true m.y Lord. Junior, My brothers to bring a warrant for my death ! How strange this showes ! 3. Offi, There's no delaying time.. Junior. Desire 'em hether — -call 'em up— my brothers. They shall deny it to your facii^. 78 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, i.Offi.M.y Lord They're far ynough by this, at least, at Court And this most strickt command they left behinde 'em When griefe swum in their eyes, they showed like brothers Brim-full of heauy sorrow ; but the Duke Must haue his pleasure. Junior, His pleasure ? I. Offi. These were their last words which my memory beares — Commend us to the Scaffold in our teares. Junior. Pox drye their teares. What should I do with teares ? I hate 'em worse then any Cittizen's sonne Can hate salt water. Here came a letter now New-bleeding from their Pens, scarce stinted yet Would I'd beene torne in peeces when I tore it. Looke you, officious whoresons, words of comfort Not long a Prisoner. I. Offi, It sayes true in that sir, for you must sufifer pre- sently. Junior. A villanous Duns upon the letter, knauish exposi- tion THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, 79 Looke you then here sir : We^ll get thee out by a trick — sayes hee. 2. Offi. That may hold too sir, for you know a trick is commonly foure Gardes, which was meant by us foure officers. Junior, Worse and worse dealing. I. Offi, The houre beckens us : The heads-man waites • lift up your eyes to heauen. Junior. I thanke you' faith, good pritty holsome counsell — I should looke up to heauen as you sedd, Whilst he behinde me cozens me of my head. Aye that's the trick ! 3. Offi. You delay too long my Lord. Junior. Stay, good Authoritie's Bastards. Since I must Through Brothers' periurie dye, O let me venome Their soules with curses ! i. Offi. Come 'tis no time to curse. Tunior. Must I bleed then without respect of signe ? Well My fault was sweet sport, which the world ap- proues. I dye for that which euery woman loues. Exeunt. 8o THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, [SCENE V] E7iter ViNDici with Hippolito his brother, — -Vind. O sweete, delectable, rare, happy rauishing ! Hip. Why whaf s the matter brother ? Vind. O 'tis able To make a man spring up and knock his for-head Against yon siluar seeling. Hip, Pre-thee tell mee Why may I pertake with you ? You vowde once To giue me share to euery tragick thought. Vind. Byth' Masse I thinke I did too. Then I'll diuide it to thee. The old Duke Thinking my outward shape and inward heart Are cut out of one peice (for he that prates his secrets His heart stands 'ath' side) hires me by price To greete him with a Lady In some fit place vaylde from the eyes a'th' Court, Some darkened blushlesse Angle that is guilty Of his fore-fathers lusts and great-folkes riots, To which I easily (to maintaine my shape) THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 8i Consented and did wish his impudent grace To meete her here in this un-sunned lodge, Where-in 'tis night at noone, and here the rather, Because, unto the torturing of his soule, The Bastard and the Duchesse haue appoynted Their meeting too in this luxurious circle, Which most afflicting sight will kill his eyes Before we kill the rest of him. Hip. Twill 'yfaith, most dreadfully dif -.ted I see not how you could haue mist me brother. Vind. True, but the violence of my joy forgot it. Hip. Aye, but where's that Lady now ? Vind. Oh at that word Tme lost againe. you cannot finde me yet I'me in a throng of happy Apprehensions. Hee's suted for a Lady. I haue tooke care For a delitious lip, a sparkling eye. You shall be witnesse brother. Be ready, stand with your hat off. Exit. Hip. Troth I wonder what Lady it should be. Yet 'tis no v/onder now I thinke againe VOL. II. 6 82 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, To haue a Lady stoope to a Duke that stoopes unto his men. 'Tis common to be common through the world And there's more priuate common shadowing vices Than those who are knowne both by their names and prices. Tis part of my alleagance to stand bare To the Duke's Concubine, — and here she comes! Re enter NmViiQi with the skull of his loue drestup in tires. X Vind. Madame his grace will not be absent long. Secret ? Ne're doubt us Madame^ 'twill be worth Three veluet gownes to your Ladyship — knowne ? Few Ladies respect^that disgrace a poore thin shell. 'Tis the best grace you haue to do it well I'll saue your hand that labour, I'll unmaske you. Hip. Why brother 1 brother ! Vind, Art thou beguild now 'tut, a Lady can At such all-hid beguile a wiser man. Haue I not fitted the old surfetter With a quaint piece of beauty ? Age and bare bone Are e'er allied in action, here's an eye Able to tempt a great man to serue God THE REVENGERS TRACKED IE, A prety hanging lip that has forgot now to dis- semble, Me thinkes this mouth should make a swearer tremble, A drunckard claspe his teeth and not undo 'em To suffer wet damnation to run through 'em. Here's a cheeke keepes her colour, — let the winde go whistle, Spout Raine, we fea^re thee not — be hot or cold All's one with us \ and is not he absurd Vv'hose fortunes are upon their faces set That feare no other God but winde and wet ? Hip, Brother y'aue spoke that right. Is this the forme that liuing shone so bright ? - Vind. The very same. And now me-thinkes I could e'en chide my seli'e For doating on her beauty, tho' her death Shall be reueng'd after no common action. Does the Silke-worme expend her yellow labours For thee ? for thee does she undoe herselfe ? Are Lordships sold to maintaine Ladyships For the poore benefit of a bewitching minute ? Why does yon fellow falsify hie-waies 6 — 2 84 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. And put his life betweene the Judge's lippes ? To refine such a thing, keepes horse and men To beate their valours for her ? Surely wee're all mad people, and they Whome we thinke are, are not, we mistake those 'Tis we are mad in scence, they but in clothes. Hip. Faith and in clothes too we — giue us our due. Viitd. Does euery proud and selfe-affecting Dame Camphire her face for this, and grieue her Maker In sinfull baths of milke ? — when many an infant starues For her superfluous out-side, all for this ? Who now bids twenty pound a night, prepares Musick, perfumes, and sweete-meates ? All are husht. Thou maist lie chast now ! It were fine me-thinkes To haue thee seene at Eeuells, forgetful! feasts And uncleane Brothells ! sure 'twould fright the sinner And make him a good coward ; put a Reueller Out of his Antick amble. And cloye an Epicure with empty dishes ! Here might a scornefull and ambitious woman THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 85 Looke through and through her selfe, see Ladies, with false formes j You deceiue men, but cannot deceiue wormes. Now to my tragick business. Looke you brother I haue not fashioned this onely for show And uselesse property, no, it shall beare a part E'ene in its owne Reuenge. This very skull, Whose Mistris the Duke poysoned, with this drug The mortall curse of the earth shall be reuengd In the like straine, and kisse his lippes to death. As much as the dumbe thing can, he shall feele, What fayles in poyson wee'l supply in Steele. Hip. Brother^ I do applaud thy constant vengeance, \j The quaintnesse of thy malice aboue thought, i/^- Vind. So 'tis layde on. Now come and welcome Duke, I haue her for thee. I protest it, brother, Me thinkes she makes almost as faire a fine As some old gentlewoman in a Periwig. Hide thy face now for shame. Thou hadst neede haue a Maske now ; *Tis vaine when beauty flowes, but when it fleetes This would become graues better than the streetes. 86 THE REVENGERS TRAGyEDIE, Hip. You haue my voice in that ; harke, the Duke's come. Vind. Peace, let's obserue what company he brings And how he does absent 'em ; for you knowe Hee'll wish all priuate, brother fall you back a little With the bony Lady. Hip. That I will. Vind, So, so ; now nine years vengeance crowde into a minute ! Duke, You shall haue leaue to leaue us, with this charge Upon your Hues, if we be mist by th' Duchesse, . Or any of the Nobles, to giue out We're priuately rid forth. Vind. Oh happinesse ! Duke. With some few honorable gentlemen you may say,-— You may name those that are away from Court. Gentle. Your will and pleasure shall be done, my Lord. Vind. Priuately rid forth ! He striues to make sure worke on't, — your good grace Duke. Piato, well done; hast brought her? What Lady is't? Vind. Faith my Lord a Country Lady, a little bashfull THE REVENGERS TRAGyEDlE, S7 at first, as most of them are, but after the first kisse, my Lord, the worst is past with them ; your grace knowes now what you haue to doo — she's som.e-what a graue looke with her — but Duk^, I loue that best, conduct her. Vtnd. Haue at all. N Dtikc. In grauest lookes the Greatest faultes seerae lesse Giue me that sin that's rob'd in Holines. Vifid. Back v/ith the Torch : brother raise the perfumes. Duke. How sweete can a Duke breathe! age has no fault Pleasure should meete in a perfumed mist. Lady, sweetly encountred. I came from Court I must bee bould with you. Oh 1 what's this ! oh ! Vind. Royall villaine ! white diuill ! Duke. Oh ! Vind. Brother place the torch here, that his affrighted eye-balls May start into those hollowes. Duke, dost knowe Yon dreadfull vizard ? view it well, 'tis the skull Of Gloriana whom thou poysonedst last. Lhike. Oh, 't'as poysoned me ! Vi?ui. Didst not know that till now ? \ 88 THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE. Duke, What are you two ? Vifid, Villaines all three, — the very ragged bone Has beene sufficiently reueng'd. Duke. Oh Hippolito, call treason. Hip, Yes my good Lord, treason ! treason 1 treason ! Stamping on him, Duke, Then Tme betrayde. Vind, Alasse poore Lecher in the hands of knaues 1 A slauish Duke is baser then his slaues. Duke, My teeth are eaten out. Vind, Hadst any left ? Hip, I thinke but few. Vind, Then those that did eate are eaten. Duke. O my tongue ! Vind. Your tongue ! 'Twill teach you to kisse closer, Not like a slobbering Dutchman ; you haue eyes still Looke monster what a Lady hast thou made me My once bethrothed wife. Duke, Is it thou villaine ? nay then Vind, 'Tis I, 'tis Vindici, 'tis I. Hip. And let this comfort thee. Our Lord and Father THE REVENGERS TRAGAiDlE, 89 Fell sick upon the infection of thy frownes And dyed in sadnesse ; be that thy hope of life. Duke, Oh 1 Vind, He had his tong, yet greefe made him die speechlesse. Puh, tis but early yet ! now I'll begin To stick thy soule with Ulcers : I will make Thy spirit grieuous sore, it shall not rest But like some pestilent man tosse in thy brest. Marke me duke Thou'rt a renowned, high, and mighty Cuckold. Duke, Oh! Vind, Thy Bastard, thy bastard rides a hunting in thy browe. Duke. Millions of deaths ! Vind, Nay to afflict thee more Here in this lodge they meete for damned clips, Those eyes shall see the incest of their lips. Duke, Is there a hell besides this, villaines ? Vind. Vil- laine Nay heauen is just, scornes are the hire of scornes I nere knew yet Adulterer without homes. 90 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Hip. Once ere they dye 'tis quitted. Vind, Harke the musicke. Their banquet is preparde ; they're coming. Duke. Oh kill me not with that sight ! Vind. Thou shalt not lose that sight for all thy Duke- doome. D-uke. Traytors 1 murderers ! Vind. What is not thy tongue eaten out yet ? Then wee'il inuent a silence ; brother stifle the Torch. Duke. Treason ! murther ! Vind. Nay faith, wee'U haue you husht now with thy dagger ; Naile downe his tongue, and mine shall keepe possession About his heart, if he but gaspe hee dyes. We dread not death to quittance injuries. Brother if he but winck, not brooking the foule object, Let our two other hands teare up his lids, And make his eyes like Comets shine through bloud. THE REVENGERS TRACKED IE. 91 When the bad bleedes, then is the Tragedie good. Hip. Whist, brother, the musick's at our eare ! they come. E7ifer the Bastard meeting the Uiickesse, Spu. Had not that kisse a taste of sinne, 'twere sweete. jyiitch. AVhy there's no pleasure sweet but it is sinfull. ] Spu. True, such a bitter sweetnesse fate has giuen Best side to us is the worst side to heauen. Lniich, Push ! come, 'tis the old Duke thy doubtfull Father. The thought of him rubs heauen in thy way, But I protest, by yonder waxen fire Forget him, or I'll poyson him, Spu. Madam, you urge a thought which nere had life, So deadly doe I loath him for my birth, That if hee tooke mee haspt within his bed I would adde murther to adultery And with my sword giue up his yeares to death. Dutch. Why now thou'rt sociable, let's in and feast. Lowd'st Musick sound ; pleasure is Banquet's guest Exeunt. 92 THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE. Duke. I cannot brooke Vitid, The Brooke is turned to bloud. Hip, Thanks to lowd Musick. Vind. *Twas our friend indeed. 'Tis state in Musicke for a Duke to bleed. The Duke-dome wants a head, tho' yet unknowne. As fast as they peepe up, lets cut 'em downe. Exeimt, [SCENE VI] ' Enter the Dutchesse two sonnes, Ambitioso and Superu- ACUO. Amb. Was not his execution rarely plotted ? We are the Duke's sonnes now. Super. Aye, you may thanke my policie for that. Amb. Your policie for what ? Super. Why was't not my inuention brother To slip the Judges, and in lesser compasse Did I not draw the modell of his death Aduizing you to suddaine officers And e'en extemporall execution ? Amb. Heart, 'twas a thing I thought on too. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, 93 Super. You thought on't too ! sfoote slander not your thoughts With glorious untruth. I know 'twas from you. Amb. Sir, I say 'twas in my head. Super. Aye, like your braines then Nere to come out as long as you liu'd. Amb. You'd haue the honor on t forsooth that your wit Lead him to the scaffold. Super. Since it is my due I'll publish't, but I'll ha't in spite of you. Amb. Me thinkes y'are much too bould, you should a little Remember us brother next to be honest Duke. Super. Aye, it shall be as easie for you to be Duke As to be honest, and that's neuer i'faith. Amb. Well, cold he is by this time, and because Wee're both ambitious be it our amity And let the glory be shar'd equally. Super. I am content to that. Amb. This night our younger brother shall out of prison; I haue a trick. Siiper. A trick ? pre-thee what is't ? 94 THE REVENGERS TR A G.ED IE. Amb. Weell get him out by a wile. Super, Pre-thee what wile ? Amb. No sir you shall not know it till't be done For then you'd sweare 'twere yours. Super, How now? whats he? Amb, One of the officers. Super. Desired newes ! A7?ib, How now my friend ? Off. My Lords, under your pardon I am allotted To that desertlesse office, to present you With the yet bleeding head. Super. Ha, ha ! excellent ! Amb. All's sure our owne. Brother, canst weepe thinkst thou? 'Tvvouid grace our Flattery much ; thinke of some Dame Twill teach thee to dissemble. Super, I haue thought. Now for your selfe. ' Amb. Our sorrowes are so fluent Our eyes ore-flow our tongs, words spoke in teares Are like the murmures of the waters, the sound Is lowdly heard, but cannot be distinguisht. THE REVENGERS TRACE DIE, 95 Super. How dyed he pray? O^. O fiill of rage and spleene. Super. He dyed most valiantly then : we're glad to heare it. Off'. We could not woe him once to pray. ^ Amb. He showd himselfe a Gentleman in that : giue him his due. Off. But in the stead of prayer he drew forth oaths. Super. Then did hee pray, deere heart, Although you understood him not. Off". My Lords, E'en at his last, with pardon bee it spoake, Hee curst you both. Super. Hee curst us ? 'lasse good soule ! Amb. It was not in our powers, but the Dukes pleasure. Finely dissembled at both-sides. Sweete fate ! O happy opportunitie ! Enter LussuRioso. Luss. Now my Lords. Both. Oh ! Imss. Why doe you shunne mee Brothers ? You may come neerer now ' The sauor of the prison has for-sooke mee. 96 THE REUENGERS TRACED IE, I thanke such kinde Lords as your selues I'm free. Amb. Aliue ! Super. In health ! Amb. Released ? We were both e'en amazd with joy to see it. Ltiss. I am much to thanke you. Super, Faith, we spared no tong unto my Lord the Duke. Amb, I know your deliuery brother Had not beene halfe so sudden but for us. Super. O how we pleaded ! Luss, Most deseruing brothers ! In my best studies I will thinke of it Exit Luss. Amb, O death and vengeance ! Super, Hell and tor- ments ! Amb, Slaue, cam*st thou to delude us ? Off, Dehide you my Lords ? Super, Aye villaine, where's this head now ? Off, Why heere, my Lord. Just after his deliuery you both came THE REUENGERS TRAGMDIE, 07 With warrant from the Duke to be-head your brother. Amb. Aye, our brother — the Duke's sonne. Off. The Duke's sonne, my Lord, had his release before you came. Amb. Whose head's that then ? Off. His whom you left command for — your owne brother's ! Amb. Our brother's ? O furies ! Sitpe7\ Plagues ! Amb. Confusions ! Super. Darkenesse I Amb. Diuills ! Super. Fell it out so accursedly ? Amb. Sodamnedly? Super. Villain e I'll braine thee with it. Off. O my good Lord! Super. The Diuill ouer-take thee ! Amb, O fatall ! Super. O prodigious to our blouds ! Amb. Did we dis- semble ? Super. Did we make our teares woemen for thee ? Amb. Laugh and rejoyce for thee ? Super. Bring warrant for thy death ? VOL. II. 7 98 THE REUENGERS TRAGMDIE. Amb, Mock off thy head ? Super, You had a trick ! You had a wile forsooth ! Amb, A murren meete 'em ! there's none of these wiles that euer come to good. I see now there is nothing sure in mortalitie but mortalitie. Well no more words. Shalt be reuengd iTaith. Come, throw off clouds now brother, thinke of vengeance And deeper settled hate. Sirrah, sit fast Wee'll pull downe all, but thou shalt downe at last. Exeunt, THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 99 ACT. 4. SCEN. I. Enter LussuRioso with Hippolito. Luss, Hippolito ! Hip, My Lord, Has your good Lordship ought to command me in? Luss. I pre-thee leaue us. Hip. How's this ? come — and leaue us ! Luss. Hip- polito ! Hip. Your honor, I stand ready for - any dutious emploiment. Luss. 'Heart, what mak'st thou here ? 4 Hip. A pritty Lordly humor ! He bids me to bee present, to depart ! Something has stung his honor. Luss. Bee neerer, draw neerer. Y'are not so good me-thinkes. Tme angry with you. Hip. With me my Lord ? I'me angry with my selfe for't, Luss. You did preferre a goodly fellow to me. loo THE REUENGERS TRACED IE. 'Twas wittily elected, 'twas, I thought He'd beene a villaine, and he prooues a Knaue ! To mee a Knaue ! Hip. I chose him for the best, my Lord. 'Tis much my sorrow if neglect in him Breed discontent in you. Luss. Neglect ! 'Twas Will (Judge of it) Firmely to tell of an incredible Act, Not to be thought, lesse to be spoken of, ^Twixt my Step-mother and the Bastard — Oh ! Incestuous sweetes betweene 'em. Hip. Fye, my Lord ! Luss. I, in kinde loyaltie to my father's fore-head. Made this a desperate arme, and in that furie Committed treason on the lawfull bed. And with my sword e'en ras'd my father's bosome, For which I was within a stroake of death. Hip. Alack, I'me sorry. 'Sfoote, just upon the stroake. [Aside] Jars in my brother. 'Twill be villainous Musick ! Viiid. My honored Lord ! Eiiter Vindict. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. lOI Liiss. Away, pre-thee forsake us ! Hereafter wee'll not know thee. Vind. Not know me, my Lord ? Your Lordship cannot choose. Liiss, Begon, I say ! Thou art a false knaue. Viiid. Why the easier to be knowne, my Lord ! Luss. Tush, I shall prooue too bitter ; with a word Make thee a perpetuall prisoner. And laye this yron-age upon thee. Vi?id. Mum, — For there's a doome would make a woman dumb. Missing the bastard, next him the winde's come about. Now 'tis my brother's turne to stay, mine to goe out. Liiss. 'He's greatly moou'd me. Exit Vind. Hip, Much to blame, i' faith ! Liiss. But I'll recouer to his ruine. 'Twas told me lately, I know not whether falslie, that you'd a brother. Hip. Who ? I ? Yes, my good Lord, I haue a brother. 102 THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE, L21SS. How chance the Court neere saw him ? Of what nature ? How does he apply his houres ? Hip. Faith, to curse Fates Who, as he thinkes, ordain'd him to be poore. 'Keepes at home full of want and discontent. Ztiss. There's hope in him ; for discontent and want Is the best clay to mould a villaine of. Hippolito, wish him to repaire to us. If there be ought in him to please our bloud For thy sake wee'll aduance him, and build faire His meanest fortunes ; for it is in us To reare up Towers from cottages. Hip. It is so, my Lord. He will attend your honour ; — But hee's a man in whom much melancholy dwels. Lziss. Why, the better ! Bring him to Court. Hip. W^ith willingnesse and speed. Whom he cast off e'en now, must now succeed. /Brother, disguise must off. I In thine owne shape now I'll prefer thee to him. \ How strangely does himselfe worke to undo him ! Exit. THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE. 103 Luss, This fellow will come fitly ; he shall kill That other slaue that did abuse my spleene And made it swell to Treason. I haue put Much of my heart into him ; he must dye. He that knowes great mens' secrets and proues slight, That man nere Hues to see his Beard turne white. Aye, he shall speede him. I'll employ thee, brother. Slaues are but Nayles to driue out one another ! Hee being of black condition, sutable To want and ill content, hope of preferment Will grinde him to an Edge. The Nobles enter. 1 . Noble. Good dayes unto your honour ! Luss. My kinde Lords, I do return the like. 2. Noble. Sawe you my Lord the Duke ? Luss. My Lord and Father, is he from Court ? I . Noble. Hee's sure from Court. But where, which way his pleasure tooke we know not ; Nor can wee heare on't. Lmss. Here come those should tell. Sawe you my Lord and Father 104 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, 3. Noble. Not since two houres before noone, my Lord ; And then he priuately ridde forth. Luss, Oh hee's rode forth ! 1. Noble. Twas wondrous priuately. 2. Noble, There's none i'th Court had any knowledge on't. Luss, His grace is old and sudden. 'Tis no treason To say the Duke my Father has a humor, Or such a Toye about him. What in us Would appeare light, in him seemes vertuous. 3. Noble. 'Tis Oracle, my Lord. Exeunt. [SCENE IL] Enter ViNDici and Hippolito. Vind. out of his disguise. Hip. So, so ! Airs as it should be. Tare your selfe. Vind, How that great villaine puts me to my shifts ! Hip, Hee that did lately in disguize reject thee Shall, now thou art thy selfe, as much respect thee. Vind, 'Twill be the quainter fallacie. But, brother, 'Sfoote, what use will hee put me to now, think'st thou? Hip, Nay, you must pardon me in that ; I know not. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 105 He's some employment for you, but what 'tis Hee and his Secretary the Diuell knowes best Vind, Well, I must suite my toung to his desires What colour soere they be ; hoping at last To pile up all my ^yishes on his brest. Hip. Faith, Brother, he himselfe showes the way ! Vind, Now the Duke is dead, the realme is clad in claye, His death being not yet knowne, under his name The people still are gouern'd. Well, thou his Sonne Art not long-liu'd : thou shalt not joy his death. To kill thee then I should most honour thee ; For 'twould stand firme in euery man's beliefe Thou'dst a kinde child and onely dye'dst with griefe. Hip. You fetch about well, but let's talke in present. How will you appeare in fashion different, As well as in apparrell, to make all things pos- sible ? If you be but once tript wee fall for euer. It is not the least pollicie to bee doubtfull : You must change tongue — familiar was your first. Vind, Why, I'll beare me in some straine of melancholie io6 THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE, And string my selfe with heauy-sounding Wyre, Like such an Instrument that speakes Merry things sadly. Hip. Then 'tis as I meant. I gaue you out at first in discontent. Vind, I'll turne my selfe, and then Hip, 'Sfoote, here he comes ! Hast thought uppon't ? Vind, Salute him : feare not me. Luss, Hippolito ! Hip. Your Lordship. Luss, What's he yonder ? Hip, 'Tis Vindici, my discontented Brother, Whom, 'cording to your will, I haue brought to Court. Luss, Is that thy brother? beshrew me, a good presence ! I wonder 'has beene from the Court so long ! Come neerer. Hip, Brother, Lord Lussurioso, the Duke's sonne. Luss. Be more neere to us ; welcome ; neerer yet. Vind, How don you ? god you god den ! Snatches off his hat and makes legs to him. Luss. We thanke thee. THE REVENGERS TRACKED IE. 107 How strangly such a coarse-homely salute Showes in the Pallace, where we greete in fire Nimble and desperate tongues ! Should we name God in a salutation, 'twould neere be stood on't, — Heauen 1 Tell me! what has made thee so melancholy ? Vind, Why, going to Law ! Liiss. Why, will that make a man mellancholy ? Vind, Yes, to looke long upon inck and black buckrom. I went mee to law in Anrio Qiiadragesimo seamdo, and I waded out of it Anno sexagesimo tertio. Luss, W^hat, three and twenty years in law ? Vind, I haue knowne those that haue beene fine and fifty, and all about Pullin and Pigges. Luss, Nay it bee possible such men should breathe To vex the Tearmes so much ? Vind, 'Tis foode to some, my Lord. There are olde men at the present that are so poysoned with the affectation of law-words (hauing had many suites canvast) that their common talke is nothing but Barbery Lattin : they cannot so much as pray, io8 THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE. but in law, that their sinnes may be remould with a writ of Error, and their soules fecht up to heauen with a fafarara. It seemes most strange to me. Yet all the world meetes round in the same bent ; Where the heart's set there goes the tongues con- sent. How dost apply thy studies, fellow ? Vind. Study ? Why to thinke how a great rich man lies a dying, and a poore Cobler toales the bell for him. How he cannot depart the world and see the great chest stand before him, when he lies speechlesse how hee will point you readily to all the boxes ; and when hee is past all memory, as the gosseps gesse, then thinkes hee of forfet- tures and obligations. Nay, when to all mens' hearings he whurles and rottes in the throate hee's busie threat'ning his poore Tennants. And this would last me now some seauen yeares thinking, or there abouts ; but I haue a Con- ceit a'comming in picture upon this. I drawe it my selfe, which i'faith, la ! I'll present to your honor. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 109 You shall not chose but like it, for your Lordship Shall giue me nothing for it. Luss. Nay, you misstake me then. For I am publisht bountifull enough. Let's taste of your conceit. Vind. In picture, my Lord ? Luss, Aye, in picture. Vind. Marry, this it is A usiiring Father to he boy- Img in hell, and his sonne and Heire with a Whore dancing oner him. Hip. Has't pafd him to the quicke. [Aside] Luss. The conceit's pritty iTaith ; But tak't upon my life 'twill nere be likt. Vind. No ? Why I'm sure the whore will be likt w^ell enough. Hip. Aye, if she were out a'th' picture, hee'd like her then himselfe. Vind. And as for the sonne and heire, — he shall be an eyesore to no young Reuellers, for he shall bee drawne in cloth of gold breeches. Luss. And thou hast put my meaning in the pockets, And canst not draw that out. My thought was this : — no THE REVENGERS TRAGALDIE, To see the picture of a usuring father Boyling in hell ; our richmen would nere like it. Vind, O true ! I cry you heartily mercy ! I know the reason, for some of 'em had rather be damn'd indeed, then damn'd in colours. Luss, A parlous melancholy ! Has wit enough To murder any man, and I'll giue him meanes. I thinke thou art ill-monied. Vind, Money ? ho, ho ! 'Tas beene my want so long 'tis now my scoffe. I'ue ene forgot what colour siluer's of. Luss, It hits as I could wish. Vind. I get good cloths Of those that dread my humour, and for table- roome I feed on those that cannot be rid of me. Luss, Somewhat to set thee up withall. Vind, O mine eyes ! Luss. How now, man ? Vmd, Almost strucke blind. This bright unusuall shine to me seemes proud : I dare not looke till the sunne be in a cloud. Luss. I thinke I shall affect his melancholy. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, m How are they now ? Vind. The better for your asking. jLuss. You shall be better yet, if you but fasten Truly on my intent. Now y'are both present I will unbrace such a closse priuate villayne Unto your vengfull swords, the like nere heard of, Who hath disgraced you much and injur'd us. Hip. Disgraced us, my Lord ? Luss, Aye, Hippolito. I kept it here till now, that both your angers Might meete him at once. Vijzd. I'm couetous To know the villayne. Luss. You know him j that slaue Pandar, Piato, whome we threatened last With irons in perpetuall prisonment. Vind. All this is I ! Hip. Is't he, my Lord ? Luss. I'll tell you. You first prefer'd him to me. Vind. Did you, brother ? Hip. I did indeed Luss. And the ungreatfull villayne To quit that kindnes strongly wrought with me — 112 THE REVENGERS TRAG^DIE, Being as you see a likely man for pleasure — With jewels to corrupt your virgin sister ! Bip. O villaine ! Vind, He shall surely die that did it. Luss. I, far from thinking any Virgin harme, Especially knowing her to be as chaste As that part which scarce suffers to be toucht — ■ Th' eye — would not endure him. Vind. Would you not, my Lord ? 'Twas wondrous honorably donne ! Ltiss, But with some fine frownes kept him out. Vind. Out, slaue ! Ltiss. What did me he but in reuenge of that Went of his owne free will to make infirme Your sister's honor, whome I honor with my soule For chaste respect ; and not preuayling there (As 'twas but desperate folly to attempt it) In meere spleene, by the way, way-laies your mother, Whose honor being a coward as it seemes Yeelded by little force. Vi7id. Coward indeed ! Luss, He proud of their aduantage, as he thought, THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE. 11.3 Brought me these newes for happy ; but I — Heauen forgiue mee for't Vi7id. What did your honour ? Liiss, In rage pusht him from mee^ Trampled beneath his throate, spurn'd him, and bruiz'd. Indeed I was too cruell, to say troth. Hip, Most Nobly managde ! Vind. Has not heauen an eare? Is all the lightning wasted ? [Aside] Liiss. If I now were so impatient in a modest cause, What should you be ? Vind, Full mad ! He shall not Hue To see the Moone change. Lnss, He's about the Pallace. Hippolito intice him this way, that thy brother May take full marke of him. Hip, 'Heart, that shall not neede, my Lord, I can direct him so far. Luss, Yet for my hate's sake Go winde him this way, I'll see him blec^de my selfe. VOL. II. 8 114 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Hip, What now, brother? Vi/id, Nay, e'en what you will : y'are put to it, brother ! Iiip. An impossible taske, I'll sweare, [Aside] To bring him hither that's already here. Exit Hippo. Luss, Thy name ? I haue forgot it. Vind, Vindici, my Lord. Luss. 'Tis a good name that. Vi7zd, Aye, a Reuenger. Znss. It does betoken courage; — thou shouldst be valiant And kill thine enemies. Vi7td, That's my hope, my Lord. Ltiss, This slaue is one. Vi7id. I'll doome him. Imss, Then I'll praise thee. Do thou obserue me best and I'll best raise thee. Vijid, Indeed I thanke you. Re-entei' Hip. Luss. Now Hippolito, where's the slaue Pandar ? Llip, Your good Lordship Would haue a loathsome sight of him, much offensiue ! THE REUENGERS TRACE DIE. Hee's not in case now to be scene, my Lord. The worst of all the deadly sinnes is in him — That beggerly damnation — drunkennesse. Luss. Then he's a double-slaue ! Vind, 'Twas well conuaide upon a suddaine wit. [Aside] Liiss, What, are you both Firmely resolued ? I'll see him dead my selfe. Vi7id, Or else let not us liue. Luss. YoQ may direct your brother to take note of him. Hip, I shall. Ltiss. Rise but in this, and you shall neuer fall. Vi7td. Your honour's Vassayles. Luss, This was wisely carried. [Aside] Deepe policie in us makes fooles of such. Then must a slauedie when he knowes too much. Exit Luss. Vind. O thou almighty patience ! 'tis my wonder That such a fellow, impudent and wicked, Should not be clouen as he stood. Or with a secret winde burst open. 8—2 1 1 6 THE RE UENGERS TRA G^DIE. Is there no thunder left ? or is't kept up In stock for heauier vengeance ? There it goes ! [Thunder] Hip, Brother, we lose our selues. Vind, But I haue found it. 'Twill hold, 'tis sure ; thankes, thankes to any spirit That mingled it 'mongst my inuentions. Hip. What is't ? VL7id. 'Tis sound and good. Thou shalt partake it, — I'm hir'd to kill my selfe— Hip, True. Vind, Pree-thee marke it, — And the old Duke being dead, but not conuaide — • For he's already mist too, and you know Murder will peepe out of the closest huske Hip, Most true ! Vind, What say you then to this deuice, If we drest up the body of the Duke ? Hip, In that disguise of yours ? Vind, Y'are quick : y'aue reacht it. Hip, I like it wonderously. THE REVENGERS TRAG^DIE. 117 Vind. And being in drinck, as you haue publisht him, To lean him on his elbowe, as if sleepe had caught him, Which claimes most interest in such sluggy men. Hip, Good yet, but here's a doubt ; We, thought by th' Duke's sonne to kill that pandar, Shall, when he is knowne, be thought to kill the Duke. Vind, Neither, O thankes. it is substantial! For that disguize being on him which I wore It will be thought I, which he calls the Pandar, did kil the Duke and fled away in his apparell, leauing him so disguiz'd to auoide swift pur- suite. Hip, Firmer and firmer ! Vind, Nay, doubt not 'tis in graine : I warrant it hold collour Hip, Let's about it. Vind, But by the way too, now I thinke on't, brother, Let's conjure that base diuill out of our Mother. Exeimt, ii8 THE REVENGERS TRAG^.DIE. [SCENE III.] Entei' the Diiches anne in arme with the Bastard ; he seemeth lasciiiiously. After them, E?tter Superuacuo runnijig with a rapier ; his Brother stops him, Spu, Madam, unlock your selfe. Should it be scene, Your arme would be suspected. Duch, Who is^t that dares suspect or this or these ? May not we deale our fauors where we please ? Spu. I'm confident you may. Exeimt, Amh. 'Sfoot, brother, hold. Sup. Wouldst let the Bastard shame us ? Amb. Hold, hold, brother ! There's fitter time then now. Slip. Now, when I see it. Amb. 'Tis too much scene already. Sup. Scene and knowne ! The Nobler she's, the baser is shee growne. Amh. If she were bent lasciuiously — the fault Of mighty women that sleepe soft — O death ! THE REVENGERS TRAG^EDIE. 119 Must she needes chuse such an unequall sinner To make all worse ? Sup. A Bastard ! the Dukes Bastard ! Shame heapt on shame ! Amb, O our disgrace ! Most women haue small waste the world through- out, But their desires are thousand miles about. Sup, Come, stay not here : let's after and preuent ; Or els they'll sinne faster then weele repent. Exeunt, [SCENE IV.] Enter Vindici and Hippolito, h-ingmg out their Mother^ one by one shoulder, and the other by the other, with daggers i7i their hands. Vindi. O thou for whom no name is bad ynough ! Aloth. What meane my sonnes ? What will you murder me ? Vind, Wicked, unnaturall Parent ! Hip. Feend of women ! 120 THE REVENGERS TRAG^DIE. Moth. Oh ! are sonnes turned monsters ? Helpe ! Vind, In vaine. Moth, Are you so barbarous to set Iron nipples Upon the breast that gaue you suck ? Vind, That breast Is turn'd to Quarled poyson. Moth, Cut not your daies for't ! Am not I your mother? Vind, Thou dost usurpe that title now by fraud, For in that shell of mother breeds a bawde. Moth, A bawde ? O name far loathsomer than hell ! Hip. It should be so, knew'st thou thy Office well. Moth, I hate it. Vind. Ah, is't possible, thou onely ? You powers on hie That women should dissemble when they die ! Moth, Dissemble? Vind. Did not the Duke's sonne direct A fellow, of the world's condition, hither, That did corrupt all that was good in thee, Made thee unciuilly forget thy selfe, And worke our sister to his lust ? Moth. Who I ? THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 121 That had beene monstrous ! I defie that man For any such intent. None Hues so pure, But shall be soiFd with slander. Good sonne, Beleiue it not. Vind, Oh, I'm in doubt >^ jVhether I'm my selfe or no. Stay, let me looke agen upon this face. — Who shall be sau'd when mothers haue no grace ? Hip. 'T would make one halfe dispaire. Vi7id. I was the man. Defie me now ! let's see ! do't modestly ' Moth, O hell unto my soule ! Vind. In that disguize I, sent from the Duke's sonne, Tryed you, and found you base mettell, As any villaine might haue done. Moth. O no ! No tongue but yours could haue bewitcht me so. Vind. O nimble in damnation, quick in tune ! There is no diuill could strike fire so soone. I am confuted in a word. 122 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Moth. O sonnes, forgiue me ! To my selfe I'll proue more true. You that should honor me, I kneele to you. Vt7td. A mother to giue ayme to her owne daughter ! HiJ>. True, brother, how far beyond nature to't ! Tho' many Mothers do't. Vi7id, Nay, an you draw teares once, go you to bed. Wee will make iron blush, and change to red. Brother, it raines ; 'twill spoile your dagger, house it. Hip. 'Tis done. Vmd. Y'faith 'tis a sweete shower : it does much good. The fruitfull grounds and meadowes of her soule Have beene long dry. Powre downe, thou blessed dew ! Rise Mother ; troth, this shower has made you higher. Moth, O you heauens, take this infectious spot out of my soule ! Ill rince it in seauen waters of mine eyes. Make my teares salt ynough to taste of grace. THE REVENGERS TRAG^EDIE. 123 To weepe is to our sexe naturally giuen ; But to weepe truely, that's a gift from heauen ! Vind, Nay, I'll kisse you now ; kisse her, brother. Let's marry her to our soules wherein's no lust, And honorably loue her. Hip, Let it be. Vlnd, For honest women are so seld and rare, 'Tis good to cherish those poore few that are. Oh you of easie waxe, do but imagine. Now the disease has left you, how leprously That Office would haue cling'd unto your forehead ! All mothers that had any gracefull hue Would haue worne maskes, to hide their face at you. i It would haue growne to this at your foule name Greene-collour'd maides would haue turn'd red with shame ! Hip. And then our sister full of hire and bassenesse ! Vijtd. There had beene boyling lead again ! Duke's Sonne's great Concubine ! A drab of State, a cloath, a siluer slut ! To haue her traine borne up, and her soule traile i'th' durt— Great !— 124 THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE, Hip, Too miserably great ; rich^ to be eternally wicked ! Vmd, O common madnesse ! Aske but the thriuing'st harlot in cold bloud ; Shee'd giue the world to make her honour good. Perhaps you'll say, — but onely to th' Duke's sonne, In priuate ; why, shee first begins with one Who afterward to thousand prooues a whore. Breake ice in once place, it will crack in more. Moth. Most certainly applyed ! Hip, Oh Brother, you forget our businesse ! Vind, And well remembred ! Joye's a subtill elfe. """^ I thinke man's happiest when he forgets himselfe. Farewell, once dryed, now holy-watred Meade ! Our hearts weare Feathers that before wore Lead. Moth. I'll giue you this, — that one I neuer knew Plead better for and 'gainst the Diuill then you. Vind, You make me proud on't. Hip, Commend us in all vertue to our Sister. Vind, Aye, for the loue of heauen, to that true maide. Moth, With my best words. Vind, Why, that was motherly said ! Exeu7it, THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE. 125 Moth, I wonder now what fury did transport me ! I feel good thoughts begin to settle in me. Oh, with what fore-head can I looke on her, Whose honor I'ue so impiouslie beset ! And here shee comes. Enter Castiza. Cast. Now, mother, you haue wrought with me so strongly,' That what for my aduancement, as to calme The trouble of your tongue, I am content Moth, Content ? to what ? Cast, To do as you haue wisht me : — To prostitute my brest to the Duke's sonne, And put my selfe to common Usury. Moth, I hope you will not so. Cast. Hope you I will not ? That's not the hope you looke to be saued in. Moth. Truth, but it is. Cast. Do not deceiue your selfe. I am, as you, e'en out of Marble wrought. What would you now ? are yee not pleasde yet with me ? 126 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. You shall not wish me to be more lasciuious Then I intend to be. MotL Strike not me cold. Cast. How often haue you charged me on your blessing To be a cursed woman 1 When you knew Your blessing had no force to make me lewd, You laide your curse upon me — that did more, — The mother's curse is heauy ; where that fights, Sonnes set in storme and daughters lose their lights. Moth. Good childe, deare maide, if there be any sparke Of heauenly intellectuall fire within thee, 0 let my breath reuiue it to a flame ! Put not all out with woman's wilfull follies. 1 am recouer'd of that foule disease That haunts too many mothers. Kinde, forgiue me ; Make me not sick in health ! If then My words preuailde when they were wickednesse, Hov/ much more now when they are just and good ! Cast. I wonder what you meane ! Are not you she For whose infect perswasions I could scarce THE REVENGERS TRAG^.DIE. 127 Kneele out my prayers, and had much adoo, In three houres reading, to untwist so much Of the black serpent as you wound about me ? Alotli. 'Tis unfruitfull, held tedious to repeate what's past. I'm now your present Mother. Cast. Tush, now 'tis too late ! Moth. Bethinke agen. Thou know'st not what thou say'st. Cast. No ? Deny aduancement ? treasure ? the Dukes Sonne ? Moth. O see ! I spoke those words, and now they poyson me. What will the deed do then ? Aduancement, — True I as high as shame can pitch. For Treasure, who ere knew a harlot rich ? Or could build by the purchase of her sinne An hospitall to keepe their bastards in ? The Duke's sonne ! Oh, when woemen are yong Courtiers they are sure to be old beggars ! To know the miseries most harlots taste Thou'dst wish thy selfe unborne when thou art unchast. I J 28 THE REUENGERS TRACED IE. Cast, O mother, let me twine about your necke, And kisse^u till my soule melt on your lips ! I did but this to trie you. Moth. O speake truth ! Cast. Indeed I did not ; for no tong has force To alter me from honest If maydens would, men's words could haue no power. A vergin's honor is a christall Tower, Which, being weake, is guarded with good spirits. Untill she basely yeelds, no ill inherits. Moth. O happy child, Yaith, and thy birth hath saued me ! 'Mongst thousand daughters happiest of all others, Be thou a glasse for maides, and I for mothers. Exeunt. I THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 129 ACT 5. SCNE. I. Efiter ViNDici and Hippolito. Vind, So, so ! he leanes well. Take heede you wake him not, brother ! Hip. I warrant you my life for yours. Vind. That's a good lay, — for I must kill my selfe ! Brother, that's I : that fits for me ; do you marke it. And I must stand ready here to make away my s^lfe yonder ! I must sit to bee kild, and stand to kill my selfe ! I could vary it not so Uttle as thrice ouer agen ; 'tas some eight returnes like Michelmas Tearme ! Hip. That's enow a' conscience ! Vi7id. But, sirrah, does the Duke's sonne come single ? Hip. No, there's the hell on't ! his faith's too feeble to go alone ! Hee brings flesh-flies after him, that will buzze against supper-time, and hum for his coming out. Vind. Ah, the fly-flop of vengeance beate 'em to peeces ! Here was the sweetest occasion, the fittest VOL. II. 9 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. houre, to haue made my reuenge familiar with him ! — show him the body of the Duke his father, and how quaintly he died like a Poli- titian in hugger-mugger, made no man ac- quainted with it ; — and in Catastrophe slay him ouer his father's brest — and oh, I'me mad to lose such a sweete opportunity ! Hip, Nay tush, pree-thee be content ! there's no remedy present. May not hereafter times open in as faire faces as this ? Vind. They may, if they can paint so well. HiJ). Come now, to auoide all suspition, let's forsake this roome and be going to meete the Duke's Sonne. Ent Luss. Vind. Content ! Tme for any wether ! 'Heart, step closse, here hee comes ! Hip. My honor'd Lord. Luss. O me ! you both present ? Vind, E'en newly, my Lord — just as your Lordship enter'd now. About this place we had notice giuen hee should bee, but in some loathsome plight or other. THE REUENGERS TRACED IE. Hip, Came your honour priuate ? Zuss. Priuate inough for this ! onely a few Attend my comming out. Hip, Death rotte those few. [Aside] Luss, Stay, yonder's the slaue ! Vind. 'Masse, there's the slaue indeed, my Lord ! Tis a good child ! he calls his Father slaue. Luss. Aye, that's the villaine, the damnd villaine ! Softly, Tread easie ! Vind. Pah, 1 warrant you, my Lord, Wee'll stifle in our breaths ! Luss, That will do well. Base rogue, thou sleepest thy last. 'Tis policie To haue him kild in's sleepe, for if he wakt Hee would betray all to them. Vind, But, my Lord Luss. Ha, what sayst ? Vind, Shall we kill him now hee's drunke ? Luss, Aye,, best of all. Vind. Why then hee will nere Hue to be sober ! Luss, No matter ; let him reele to hell. Vind, But being so full of liquor I feare hee will put out all the fire. 9—2 132 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, Luss, Thou art a mad beast ! Vind, And leaue none to warme your Lordship's Golls withalL For he that dyes drunke falls into hell fire like a Bucket o'water, qush, qush ! Liiss. Come, be ready \ nake your swords ; thinke of your wrongs ! This slaue has injur'd you. Vind, Troth, so he has ; and he has paide well for't. Luss, Meete with him now. Vind. You'll beare us out, my Lord ? Luss, Puh, am I a Lord for nothing, thinke you ? Quickly now. Vind. Sa, sa, sa ! thumpe, there he lyes ! Luss, Nimbly done ! ha ! — Oh, villaines, murderers ! 'Tis the old Duke my father ! Vind, That's a jest. Luss, What, stiffe and colde already ? O pardon me to call you from your names ! 'Tis none of your deed. — That villaine Piato, Whom you thought now to kill, has murder'd him, And left him thus disguiz'd. Hip. And not un- likely. THE REVENGERS TRAGMDTE, 133 Vind, O rascall ! was he not asham'd To put the Duke into a greasie doublet ? Luss, He has beene cold and stiff, who knowes how long. Vind. Marry, that do I ! [Aside] Luss, No words, I pray, of any thing intended. Vind. Oh, my Lord ! Hip. I would faine haue your Lordship thinke that we haue small reason to prate. Luss. 'Faith, thou say'st true ! I'll forth-with send to Court For all the Nobles, Bastard, Duchesse, all j How here by miracle wee found him dead, And in his rayment that foule villaine fled. Vijid. That will be the best way, my Lord, to cleere us all : let's cast about to be cleere. Luss. Ho, Nencio, Sordido, and the rest ! Enter all. \. Servant. My Lord. 2. Servant. My Lord. Luss. Be witnesses of a strange spectacle ! Choosing for priuate conference that sad roome, We found the Duke my father gealde in bloud. 134 THE REUENGERS TRAGMDIE, I. Servant. My Lord the Duke ! — ■ — Run, hie thee, Nencio ; Startle the Court by signifying so much. Vind, Thus much by wit a deep Reuenger can When murder's knowne ; to be the cleerest man WeVe farthest off, — and with as bould an eye Suruay his body as the standers by. Luss, My Royall father ! too basely let bloud By a maleuolent slaue ! Hip, Harke, he calls thee slaue agen ! Vind. Has lost ; — he may. Luss, O sight, looke hether ! his lips are gnawn with poyson ! Vind, How ? his lips ? — By th' masse they bee ! Luss, O villaine ! O roague ! O slaue ! O rascall 1 Hip, O good deceite, he quits him with like tearmes ! J. Servant. Where? 2. Servant, Which way? Amb, Ouer what roofe hangs this prodigious Comet In deadly fire ? Luss. Behold, behold, my Lords, the Duke my father's murder'd by a vassail that owes this habit and here left disguisde ! THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 135 Duch, My Lord and husband 1 2. Servant, Reuerend Maiesty ! I. Servant, I haue seene these cloths often attending on him. Vind. That Nobleman has bin i'th' Country, for he does not lie ! Slip. Learne of our mother : lef s dissemble too. I am glad hee's vanisht ; so I hope are you ! A7nb, Aye, you may take my word for't. Spur, Old Dad dead ? I, one of his cast sinnes, will send the Fates Most hearty commendations by his owne sonne. I'll tug in the new streame till strength be done ! Ltiss. Where be those two that did affirme to us My Lord the Duke was priuately rid forth ? I. Servant, O pardon us, my Lords ! hee gaue that charge. Upon our Hues, if he were mist at Court To answer so : hee rode not any where ; We left him priuate with that fellow here. Vijid, Confirmde ! Luss. O heauens, that false charge was his death ! Impudent Beggars, durst you to our face 136 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Maintaine such a false answer ? Beare him straight to execution. I. Servant, My Lord ! Luss. Urge me no more in this ! The excuse may be call'd halfe the murther. Vind. Y'aue sentenc'd well ! Luss, Away, see it be done. Vind, Could you not stick ? See what confession doth ! Who would not lie when men are hang'd for truth ? Hip, Brother, how happy is our vengeance ! Vind, Why it hits ,— Past the apprehension of indifferent wits. My Lord, let post horse be sent Into all places to intrap the villaine. Vind. Post-horse ! ha, ha ! Nob. My Lord, we're some-thing bould to know our duty. Your father's accidentally departed : The titles that were due to him meete you. Luss, Meete me ? I'me not at leisure, my good Lord. I'ue many greefes to dispatch out a'th' way. Welcome sweete titles ! Talke to me, my Lords, Of sepulchers and mighty Emperor^s bones. That's thought for me. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 137 Vind, So, one may see by this How forraine markets goe ! Courtiers haue feete a'th' nines and tongues a'th' twellues • They flatters Dukes and Dukes flatter them-selues. Nob, My Lord, it is your shine must comfort us. Luss, Alas, I shine in teares like the Sunne in Aprill. Nob. You're now my Lord grace. Luss. My Lord grace ! I perceiue you'll haue it so. Nob. 'Tis but your owne. Luss, Then heauens giue me grace to be so ! Vind. He praies wel for him-selfe ! Nob. Madame, all sorrowes Must runne their circles into joyes. No doubt but time Wil make the murderer bring forth him-selfe. Vind. He were an Asse then, y'faith ! Nob. In the meane season Let us bethinke the latest funerall-honors Due to the Duke's cold bodie,— and withall, Calling to memory our new happinesse, 138 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE, Spreade in his royall sonne, Lords, Gentlemen, Prepare for Reuells. Vind, Reuells ! A'^ob, Time hath seuerall falls. Greefes lift up joyes, feastes put downe funeralls. Luss. Come then, my Lords, my fauors to you all. The Duchesse is expected fowly bent. — I'll beginne Dukedome with her banishment ! Hip, Reuells ! Exeunt Duke, Nobles^ and Duchesse, Vind, Aye, that's the word : we are firme yet ! Strike one straine more and then we crowne our wit. Exeu, Bro. Spu, Well, haue the fayrest marke — so said the Duke when he begot me, And if I misse his heart or neere about, — Then haue at any. A Bastard scornes to be out ! Sup, Not'st thou that Spurio, brother ? Amb, Yes, I note him to our shame. Sup, He shall not Hue, his haire shall not grow much longer ! In this time of Reuells tricks may be set a' foote. Seest thou yon new Moone ? It shall out-liue the Duke by much. This hand shall dispossesse him ; then we're mighty ! THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 139 A maske is Treason's licence, that build upon ; 'Tis murder's best face when a vizard's on ! Exit Super. Amb. Is't so ? Tis very good ! • And do you thinke to be Duke then, kinde brother ? I'll see faire play. Drop one, and there lies t'other ! Exit Ambi. [SCENE IL] Enter Vindici and Hippolito, with Piero and other Lords. Vind, My Lords, be all of Musick : strike old griefs into other countries That flow in too much milke, and haue faint liuers, Not daring to stab home their discontents. Let our hid flames breake out, as fire, as lightning, To blast this villanous Dukedome vext with sinne. Winde up your soules to their full height agen. Piero. How ? i. Servant. Which way ? 3. Servant. Any way. Our wrongs are such, We cannot justly be reueng'd too much. I40 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. Vind. You shall haue all enough ! — Reuels are toward, And those few Nobles that haue long suppressed you Are busied to the furnishing of a Maske, And do affect to make a pleasant taile on't. The Masking suites are fashioning — now comes in That which must glad us all — wee to take patterne Of all those suites, — the colour, trimming, fashion, E'en to an undistinguisht hayre almost. Then entering first, obseruing the true forme Within a straine or two, we shall finde leasure To steale our swords out handsomly ; And when they thinke their pleasure sweete and good, In midst of all their joyes they shall sigh bloud ! Fiero. Weightily ! effectually ! 3. Serva7it Before the t'other Maskers come Vind. We're gone, — all done and past. Fiero. But how for the Duke's guard ? Vind. Let that alone. By one and one their strengths shall be drunke downe. THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 141 Hip. There are fiue hundred Gentlemen in the action, That will apply them-selues and not stand idle. Fiero. Oh, let us hug your bosomes ! Viiid, Come, my Lords, Prepare for deeds ; let other times haue words. Exeunt, [SCENE III.] In a dum shew the possessing of the young Duke with all his Nobles, Then sounding Musick, A furnisht table is brought forth; then enters the Duke and his Nobles to the banquet, A biasing-star appear eth. Noble, Many harmonious houres and choisest pleasures Fill up the royall numbers of your yeares ! Luss. My Lords, we're pleased to thanke you ; tho' we know *Tis but your duty now to wish it so. Nob. That shine makes us all happy. 3. N'ob, His Grace frounes ! 2.N'ob, Yet we must say he smiles, i. Nob, I thinke we must. 142 THE REVENGERS TRAG^DIE. Luss. That foule — incontinent Duchesse we haue banisht. The Bastard shall not Hue ! After these Reuells I'll begin strange ones ! Hee and the stepsonnes Shall pay their lines for the first subsidies. We 'must not frowne so soone, else 't'ad beene now ! 1. Nob, My gratious Lord, please you prepare for pleasure ? The maske is not far off. Luss. We are for pleasure. Beshrew thee, what art thou madst me start ? Thou hast committed treason. — A blazing star ! \,Noh. A blazing star ! O where, my Lord ? Luss, Spy out. 2, Nob, See, see, my Lords, a wondrous-dreadfull one ! Luss. I am not pleas'd at that ill-knotted fire, That bushing-staring star. Am I not Duke ? It should not quake me now; — had it appeared Before, it I might then haue justly fear'd ! But yet they say, whom art and learning Weds, When stars were locks they threaten great mens heads. Is it so ? You are read, my Lords. THE REUENGERS TRACED IE. M3 1, Nob. May it please your Grace, It showes great anger. Luss, That does not please our Grace. 2. Nob, Yet here's the comfort, my Lord. Many times When it seemes most, it threatens farthest off. Luss, Faith, and I thinke so too ! I. Nob, Beside, ray Lord, You're gracefully establisht with the loues Of all your subjects ; and for naturall death, I hope it will be threescore years a comming. Lnss. True, no more but threescore years ! I. A"(?<^. Fourescore I hope, my Lord. 2. Nob. And fiue- score 1. -Ty.Nob. But 'tis my hope, my Lord, you shall nere die. Luss, Giue me thy hand \ these others I rebuke. He that hopes so is fittest for a Duke ! Thou shalt sit next me. Take your places. Lords : We're ready now for sports ; let 'em set on. You thing, we shall forget you quite anon ! 2^. Nob, I heare 'em comming, my Lord. 144 THE REVENGERS TRAGALDIE. Enter the Make of Reuengers : the two Brothers and two Liiss, Ah, 'tis well ! Brothers and Bastard, you dance next in hell ! At the end steale out their swords, and these foure kill the foure at Table in their Chaires, It thunders. Vind. Marke, Thunder ! Dost know thy kue, thou big-voyc'st cryer ? Dukes groanes are thunder's watch-words. Hip. So, my Lords ! You haue ynough ! Vind. Come, let's away ! No lingring ! Exeunt. Hip. Follow, goe ! Vind. No power is angry when the lust-ful die. When thunder claps heauen likes the tragedy. Luss. Oh, oh! Enter the other jMaskk of extended murderers — Stepsons, Bastard, and a fourth man — comming in dauncing. The Duke recouers a little in voyce and groanes — calls a guard, treason. Lords more. The Reuengers daunce. Exit Vind. THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE, 145 At which they all start out of their measure, and turning towards the Table they jinde them all to be murdered. Spur, Whose groane was that ? Luss, Treason, a guard ! Amb, How now, all murdered ? Super, Murder'd ! 4. Noble, And those his Nobles ! Amb. Here's a labour sau'd ! I thought to haue sped him. 'Sbloud, how came this ? Spur, Then I proclaime my selfe, now I am Duke. Amb, Thou Duke ! brother, thou liest ! Spur, Slaue, so dost thou ! 4. Noble, Base villayne, has thou slaine my Lord and Maister ? Enter the first men, Vind, Pistolls, treason, murder ! Help, guard my Lord the Duke ! Hip, Lay hold upon this Traytor ! Luss. Oh ! Vind, Alasse, the Duke is murder'd ! Hip, And the Nobles ! Vind, Surgeons, Surgeons ! — Heart, do'es he breath so long ! VOL. II. 10 146 THE REVENGERS TRAGAiDIE, Ant, A piteous tragaedy, able to make An old man's eyes bloud-shot ! Luss, Oh ! Vmd, Looke to my Lord the Duke ! (A vengeance throttle him !) Confesse, thou murdrous and unhallowed man, Didst thou kill all these ? 4. Noble. None but the Bastard I. Vind. How came the Duke slaine then ? 4. Noble, We found him so. Luss, O villaine ! Vind, Harke ! Luss, Those in the maskedid murder us. Vind, La' you now sir. O marble impudence, will you confesse now ? 4. Noble, 'Slud, 'tis all false ! Ant, Away with that foule monster Dipt in a Prince's bloud. 4. Noble. 'Heart, 'tis a lye ! A7tt. Let him haue bitter execution. Vind. New marrow, no I cannot be exprest, [Aside] How faires my Lord the Duke ? Luss, Farewel to all. THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE, 147 He that climes highest has the greatest fall. My tong is out of office. Vi7id. Ayre, Gentlemen, ayre ! Now thoult not prate on't ! 'twas Vindici murdred thee. Luss. Oh ! Vind. Murdred thy Father. Luss, Oh ! [Dies] Vind. And I am " he-tell no-body." So, so ! the Duke's departed ! Ant. It was a deadly hand that wounded him ! The rest, ambitious who should rule and sway After his death, were so made all away. Vind, My Lord was unlikely. Hip, Now the hope Of Italy lyes in your reuerend )^ares. Vind. Your hayre will make the siluer age agen, When there were fewer, but more honest men. Ant. The burden's weighty and will presse age downe. May I so rule that heauen may keepe the crowne Vind, The rape of your good Lady has beene quited With death on death. Ant, Just is the Lawe aboue ! 148 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. But of all things it puts me most to wonder How the old Duke came murdered. Vind. O my Lord ! Ant It was the strangeliest carried ! I'ue not heard of the like. Hip, 'Twas all donne for the best, my Lord. Find. All for your Grace^s good ! We may be bould to speake it now. ^ 'Twas some-what witty carried, tbo' we say it. V'Twas we two murdered hiju. Ant You two ? Vind, None else i'faith, my Lord. Nay, 'twas well managed ! Ant Lay hands upon those villaines ! Vind. How ? On us? Ant, Beare 'em to speedy execution. Vind, 'Heart, was't not for your good, my Lord ? Ant My good ! Away with'em ! Such an ould man as he ! You that would murder him would murder me. Vind, Is't come about? IIiJ>, 'Sfoote, brother, you begun ! THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. 149 Vind. May not we set as well as the Duke's sonne ? Thou hast no conscience ; are we not reueng'd ? Is there one enemy left aliue amongst those? *Tis time to die when we're our selues our foes. eunt^ I50 THE REUENGERS TRACED IE, Ant, How subtilly was that murder clos'd ! Beare up Those tragick bodies. 'Tis a heauy season ! Pray heauen their bloud may wash away all treason ! Exit. FINIS. NOTES TO THE REUENGER'S TRAG^DIE. ACT I. This first scene Toumeur modelled no doubt on Chettle's Hoffmanns Tragedy, where the hero Hoffman is represented as soliloquising over the skeleton of his murdered father and swearing to revenge him. Venici stands of course with the skull of his murdered mistress in his hand, and is doubtless on the upper stage, which was a balcony raised eight or ten feet from the ground (see among many others Middleton's Family of Love, act i. sc. iii,, and Dyce's note; also Witch, act iv. sc. iii.), while the other characters pass along the ordinary stage below him. Should siuffe, A necessary emendation for the would of the quartos. A parched and juiceless luxiir. Luxury was the term used to express incontinence, the Lat. lux- uria. Cf. Shakespeare, passim, and Middleton's Gaine of Chess : In a room fill'd all with Aretine's pictures more than the twelve labours of Luxury ;" and Fletcher's Purple Island, vii, 20 : With sweltering heart in flames of Luxury, Luxur means therefore a person given to lust or luxury. And what his father fifty yearh told. This lengthened syllable is a trace of the old English still lingering 152 THE REVENGERS TRACED IE. on ; among many other instances see Shakespeare's RUL ILy iiL iii, 9 : ' " Your Grace mistakes, only to be brief Left I his title out and First Part of Henry VI. i. iii. 5 : " Who's there that knockes so imperiously See too Abbott's Shakespearian Grammar, p. 385. Tounieur is fond of it. Cf. infra : The Dutches sonnes are too proud to bleed." "Not since two houres before noon, my Lord." To this our lecherous hope the Dukes son." ** Nimble and desperate tongues should we name" Told, i.e. counted. Costly three-pifd flesh : Three-pile was the most delicate and costly kind of velvet. The Dramatists are full of allusions to it. Cf. Winter^ s Tale, iv. ii. ; Mad World, my Masters, act i. : I'll tell him how you wish it, and I'll wear My wits to the third pile.'" For the adjective in metaphorical sense, cf. Fletcher's Scornful Lady, iii. i. : You snuff at all but three-piPd people ;" Measure for Measure, i. ii. ; Lovers Labour's Lost, v. ii. Has that bald Madame, etc. Mr. Hazlitt will I hope forgive me relieving the dulness of these notes by recording his reading of this line, Has that bald madman opportunity, etc." Had it not been for what follows some lines after- NOTES. 153 "^-ards one might be tempted to conjecture bawd. Cf. Hey wood's I- aire Maide of the West^ act i. Win oportunity She's the best bawd. " Or like the French mole, etc. This is of course an allusion to one of the usual effects of the Lues Venerea, It would be impertinent to cite any of the innumer- able references to this and other effects of the disease to be found in the old dramatists, though it may not be impertinent to refer to Fracastorius' magnificent poem entitled Syphilis, or Francesca Maria Molza's exquisite elegies. But see Gifford's note on You should give him a French crown for it," in Ben Jonson's Every Man out oj his Humour, Wives are but made, etc. vSo thought Euripides, who preferred, however, like Palladas, the alternative of burying to feeding them : '^Jlaaa yvt/rf ^oXoc tar dyaddg '^x^rai Svo atpag Trjv fi'iav iv 6akdfi(i), ttjv fiiav iv Oavdrii)" Yu'll bring me onward, i.e., accompany or escort. Cf. Hey wood's Woman Killed with Kindness: And she went very lovingly to bring him on his way to horse." Insculption, i.e. to carve or engrave. Cf. Massinger's Bashful Lover, act iv. sc. i. : A glorious name Lnsculped on pyramids to eternity ;" and Merchant of Venice, act ii. sc. vii. Boweld corps, i.e., disembowelled. It was usual to take out the intestines for the sake of embalming the corpse. 154 THE REVENGERS TRAGMDIE. Should take fast hold. Quartos read first. I alter with Reed and Collier. Why flesh and bloody my Lord, Provokes an allusion to Fra Lippi Lippo, who makes use of the same words in circumstances which may possibly have led to the same climax. She^s a godess^ for Fd no power to see her and to live. A gracefully profane allusion to the preposterous epiphany in Exodus xxxiii. I might be easier sess''d. The quartos read ceased. Your too much rights etc. A reminiscence of Cicero, De Officiis i. lo: Summum jus, summ^ injuria factum est jam tritum sermone proverbium." Cf. 2\soyewof Malta y act i. : Your extreme right does me exceeding wrong." For the same play on the words cf. Sophocles, CEd\ReXy 1067-8: ** Ta X(p(Tra aoi Xkyu) Ta \ And on the Acheronticke maine doth float e- Th' olimpique Globe is now a hollow ball The huge concauitie blacke Plutoe's hall. Where shall I stand, that I may freely view Earth's stage compleate with tragicke sceans of wo ? No meade, no grove, whose comfortizing hew Might make sad Terror my sad minde fofgoe ? No sun-grac'd mount soule-frighting horrors foe ? No sun-grac'd mount ? how can the sun mounts grace When mountaines seeke his countenance to deface ? THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, 193 See, see, that mount that was the worlde's admire, The stately Pyramis of glorious price, Whose seau'n hill'd head did ouer all aspire, Is now transform'd to Hydra-headed vice : Her hellish braine-pan of each enterprice. On sinne's full number (loe) she is erect ; For why ? Great Pluto was her Architect, Blacke Auarice makes sale of Holines, And steeming luxurie doth broach her* lust; Red-tyrannizing wrath doth soules oppresse, And cankred Enuie falsifies all trust, enrich her coffers with soule-choaking dust ; On slowth and gluttonie they build their blisse, Whereon they raise Ambition's Pyramis. The frame's too slender for continuance. Too earthly high for soules to builde vpon ; And of her strength my only esperance Is for to see her sad confusion ; Whose vapours are the worlde's infection. Her high esteeme is of high heau'n despis'd ; O see ere long her Babel Babelliz'd. VOL. II. ^3 194 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. Where shall I finde a safe all-peacefull seat, To whose prospect the worlde's circumference Presents it selfe ? high love I thee intreate Let Dodon's groue be lauish in expence, And scaffoldize her oakes for my defence. Forgive me God, for help doth not consist In Dodon's groue, nor a Dodonian fist. Where shall I stand ? O heau'n conduct me now ; loue, Israellize my tongue, and let my voyce Preuayle with thee ; shew me the manner how To free me from this change : O soule rejoyce, For heau'n hath free'd me from black hel's annoies. O see, O see, loue sets me free from thrall, Such is his loue to them that on him call. Loe, where I stand vpon a stedfast rocke, Whose peerlesse trust is free from all compare, See how it brookes the Phlegetonticke shocke. And bides what foemen to each other share. The raging sea on this side doth it dare. On that side flames ; such is the earthly state Of those from earth seeke them to alienate. THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, 195 Now eies prepare, and be your sight as cleare As is the Skie, when none but Phaeton's sire Inhabites it : for O (alas) I feare They will be dazled with smoake and fier, That with repulse of heau'n doth downe retire, Heart, teach my tongue, directed by mine eie, To be the Chorus to this tragedie. Marke, you spectators of this tragicke act (If any rest vnmetamorphosed), O you whose soules with hel are not contract, Whose sacred light is not extinguished 3 Whose intellectuall tapers are not fed With Hell's flame : marke the transformation Wrought by the charmes of this rebellion. That sacred female which appeared to him, Who was inspir'd with heau'ns intelligence, Who was the last that drunke vpon the brim Of deepe diuining sacred influence : That heau'nly one, of glorious eminence ; She, whom Apollo clothed with his robe. And plac'd hir feet vpon th' inconstant globe. 196 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. So cloath'd, his mantle might her shelter be, To shrowde her safe from Acheronticke mistes : So plac'd, hir ground might feede hir egencie, Farre as it on necessitie Gonsistes ; And not t' exceede the bound of heau'nly listes So cloath'd, she might to heau'n her minde applie : So plac'd, to vse it in necessitie. But (marke, O woe !) her high rebellious starres, (Their minds ambitioniz'd) do seeke her fall, And hauing dim'd the Sun with smoaky warres, Haue found his dearest one how to appall ; And mixe her honny with the bitterest gall. See how her eies are fixed on the globe Which, which, (O wo 1) hath quite transformed her robe. Her robe, that like the Sun did clearly shine, Is now transformed vnto an earthy coate Of massive gold : because she did combine Affection with the Moon, and did remote Her heart from heau'n's book, where her name was wrote. The globe takes head, that was her footstoole set : And from her head doth pull her coronet. THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. 197 Her twelve starred glorious coronet, (which loue Did make her temples' rich enuironrie, And, for the more to manifest his loue, Encircled them with faire imbrodetie Of sacred lights in ayre-cleare azurie) She is depriued off, and doth begin To be the couerture of laethall sin. The vine's -^donides ; dead Murcianie ; Smooth Philoxenus ; murder's ground ; Disquiet Eriphila ; hel's Syrenie ; Philocrematos ; the soule's deepe wound ; And whatso els in Hydra's head is found ; Do maske themselues within her pleasing smile : And so with deadly sinne the world beguile. What dreadfull sight (O) do mine eies behold? See, frosty age, that should direct aright The grassie braine, (that is in vice so bold), With heedie doctrine and celestiall light Hath bin conuersing with hell's taper, night, Whose diuelish charmes, like Circe's sorcerie^ Have metamorphosde Eos' Eonie. 198 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. Apolloe's herauld, that was wont to cheare Night-wounded soules with bright celest'all raies ; Faire Phosphorus (whose looke was wont to feare Infernall hagges, that haunt frequented wayes, To drawe the soule to hell that wand'ring strayes), Is naetamorphosde to a torch of hell; And makes his mansion-house blacke horror's cell. Whose deepe foundation's raisde from Phlegeton, The fi'rie riuer of blacke Orcus hall : Whence pillers rise, which do themselues vpon Quadrangle wise, vphold Erebus wall : Worlde's trustlesse trust, soule's vnmistrusted fall. Birds, vines, and flowres, and eu'ry sundry fruite Do compasse it ; for best that place they sute. For since the spirit the bodie's prisoner, Of heau'nly substance wholy is compact : And since the flesh, the soule's imprisoner, Of excrementale earth is wholy fact : Since this with that itselfe cannot contract, Needes must the soule (the earthly prison doubled For all earth's pleasures' slime) be smothered. THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. 199 From out the lake a bridge ascends thereto, Whereon in female shape a serpent stands, Who eies her eie, or views her blew vain'd brow, With sence-bereauing gloses she inchaunts, And when she sees a worldling blind that haunts The pleasure that doth seeme there to be found : She soothes with Leucrocutanized sound. Thence leades an entrie to a shining hal, Bedeckt with flowers of the fairest hew, The Thrush, the Lark, and night's-ioy nightingale There minulize their pleasing laies anew, This welcome to the bitter bed of rue ; This little roome will scarce two wights containe, T' enioy their ioy, and there in pleasure raigne. But next thereto adioynes a spacious roome. More fairely farre adorned than the other : (O woe to him at sinne-awhaping doome. That to these shadowes hath his mind giu'n ouer), For (0) he neuer shall his soule recouer ; If this sweet sinne still feedes him with her smacke : And his repentant hand him hales not backe. -200 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHO::>IS. The fraudfuU floore of this deceitfull place Is all of quagmires, to entrap the wight That treades thereon : yet couer'd o're with grasse Of youthfall hew, al pleasing to earth's sight. For so doth Satan worke his diu'lish spight. This roome will centuries of worldes containe, How small mirth's place, how large the place of paine. Whoere's deceiu'd by this illusion. Must surely fall into this deepe abisse, Downe to the horror of deepe Phlegeton, Whose fi'ry flames like vultures gnaw on flesh ; Yet iote of it neuer consumed is. O let no wight trust to this worldly sheene : For such ioyes hate, of God, best loued beene. Erinnis' purueyor, young elth I meane, Teares vp our mother's wombe to finde hir slime. And doth ysearch her bowells ^all vncleane, For noysome filth ; the poyson of our time, (Base dunghill slaue) for meanes for his to clinie ; So may he well, for now earth's baddest good, Makes eu'ry peasant seeme of gentle blood. THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. 201 Yet certis, if the naked truth I say, Nor from the golden mine comes gentry true, Nor can this age, the next, and so for ay Ech his succeeding age with it indue : For it's no heritage to heires t' ensue. But shines in them to heau'n their minde that giue, Then who doth so, in him doth gentrie Hue. O that old age (that kept the treasuries Of great Apollo once) whose faltering tongue Intreates old earth performe his obsequies, Should now by hell be metamorphosde yong, And with desire of soule-infecting dong, Seeke unto vice, weake infancie to winne, And make his heart Epithesis of sinne. The oldest man, saith ech day, one day more, One day ? nay sure a twelve-months' time f will be, Ere seriant death will call me at my doore ; Craz d drooping age, why can thine eies not see Pale death arresting tender infancie ? O that his memory thee still would tell, Now out of me might death my breath expelL 202 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. Where are the centinels ? the armed watch, Who draw their breath from Phoebus' treasurie ? Somnus, awake ; vnlocke the rustie latch, That leades into the caue's somniferie, Rowze vp the watch, lull'd with world's Syrenie, Somnus, awake, pull off their golden maske. And bid them strait finderesize their taske. Somnus, awake : hell and the world conspire ; Pan is transformed, and al his flocke neere drown'd ; Pan that from heau'n receiu'd his due paid hyre, He that was wont, vpon the fertile ground Of Arcadie to feed, wherein was found. No golden India that might preuent. That high estate of poore, meane, rich content. Pan, that was wont to make his quiet life, Th' exordium of ech soule-sweet argument ; Fan, that was wont to make his zmde of strife, The period of ech sentence of Content ; Tempered with surrop of heau'n's document, Pan, that was once a cleere Epitimie : Is now transform'd to hot Epithymie. THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. 203 O, where are they, Apollo did appoint^ To guard Arcadia's sea-enuironed banckes ? The ocean's monarch, whom loue did annoint. The great controller of the whaly ranckes Is landed on Arcadia's tender flankes. Enuie's protector, Pan, witK gold hath fed : And Pan with gold is metamorphosed. Wealth^s shipwracke ; India's minerie ; The pearly pibble which the Ocean keepes ; The Treasure-house of Neptune's Thetisie ; The faire sweete poison of th' infernall deepes, Hell's twinckling instrument that neuer sleepes ; Is that great gift Tridentifer presents. To make faire passage for his foule intents. O see that head that once was couered With fleecy wooll, that hung on earth-low brakes, Is scarce contented now, it selfe to wed, With what Eriphila from India takes, Now Pan of gold, himselfe a Cornet makes. His eies that 'fore were cleare lycophosie^ Now cannot see but in a minery. 204 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. His hand to pawes, his sheep-hooke to a mace, Are metamorphosed ; his heart (whose height Did ne're before o're-peere Arcadia's face) With cloud-high thoughts aspiring high is fraught, And chaoiz'd Ideas of conceit, Doth make his gesture seem a troubled skie : And fills his count'nance with sad meteoric. Awake, O heau'n and all thy powers awake. For Pan hath sold his flocke to Thetis' pheer : O how the center of my soule doth quake. That barbarous India should ouer-peer Fruiteful Arcadia, the world's great Peere ] Hot fiery dust, with trickling teares e^en weeps, To see Arcadia's flockes drown'd in the deeps. O how vnworthie's he a heard to be. That leaues his flocke for ech temptation ! As, into magistrates ech man may see, When by the means of vice th' are call'd vpon, To execute their duteous function ; O eu'n as they are knowne, when vap'rous vice, Breathes forth a mist of blacke iniquities ; THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, 205 Eu'n so a shepheard tells where to hee's bent, When mighty loue after long summer's ioy, (Of high eelestiall kindnes to vs lent) Doth please vs trie with winter's sharp annoy ; Or tempt his heart with earthly seeming ioy, Which time, if he with care his flock doth feed, Shewes loue to 's flock, and hate to 's earthly meed. But though I speake 'gainst this hypocrisie, This hellish ill, o'remasked with holinesse, Na'thlesse I neither can, nor wil deny, That if thereby we reaue no wight of blisse, We may preuent our earthly wretchednesse. For lawfull 'tis our owne harme to preuent, If not by ill we compasse our intent. Is't possible the world should yet affoord, More cause of woe, then yet mine eies haue seene? Can Pluto in his horror's cave yet hoord. More woe then in this tragicke sceane hath beene ? Is't true I see ? Or do I ouerweene ? O, O, I see more then I can expresse. Amazed with sence-confounding wretchednesse. 2g6 the transformed METAMORPHOSIS, In Delta that's enuiron'd with the sea, The hills and dales with heards are peopled, That tend their tender flockes vpon the lea, And tune sweet laies vnto their pipes of reed, Meanewhile their flockes vpon the hillockes feed j And sometime nibble on the buskie root, That did his tender bud but lately shoote. Long while the heards enioy'd this sweet content, Not fearing wolues that might their flocks molest : (For nothing harbored neare that harm them meant) And this content long might they have possest, Had not a beast spoird this their sweetned rest. Whether the soile him bred, or foes him brought, I doubt ; seemes, some that Deltae's damage sought. Among the shrubbes had set him priuily i To spoyle the lambes that sometime did estray ; ^ Nor onely thus deuour'd them theeuishly/'j But oft allured them from out their way. With such chaung'd voice, no mortal wight could say Bift that the notes were voice of man he sung : O what deceit is lodged in the tongue ? THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. 207 l^his dayly spoyle through ech man's eare did runne, At length Mavortio, a gallant Knight, The meane whereby his Country honor wonne, Heard of the harme wrought by Hyenna's spight : Scarce heard he of the spoyle, but that his sprite iEthereall (not hable to endure His heart should knowledge of such harme immure An houre, and th' wrong rest vnirrooted out) Him draue^ as sail-swel'd barks are droue by wind, And strait he arm'd him (mounting 's prancer stout) ; He forward pricks, spurr'd by a noble mind, Awaited on by Truth, his Page, full kind. And by a 'squire that artfull strength was call'd : Seem'd, Hercules him could not haue appall'd : Thus (pricking on the plaine) at last he ey'd The grisly beast as in her den she lay. Tearing a lamb with iawes farre stretched awide, A seely lambkin which she made her pray. Straight with a courage bold began assay How he could buckle with the monsters force : Not meaning once to harbor mild remorce. 2o8 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, Downe he alighted from his milk-white steed, And gaue him Veramount to walk o' th' plaine \ Then stept to th' monster with a wise-bold heed, Thou monstrous fiend (quoth he) thy pray refrain^ For with my sword He work thy mortall paine : The beast gan looke as one that were adrad, Fearing her future hap would proue full bad. At length, as one that from a traunee awakes^ She stretched foorth her self vpon the ground ; And to her cursed tongue herselfe betakes, Hoping hir speech wold yield best aid that stound. Faire Sir, (quoth &he) t'is said this soile hath found, That I have brought this Countries good to spoyle : But (Knight) belieue me, I have t'ane much toile. To feare the wolues with changed voyce of tong,. When they have e'en beene ready to assaile The ewes that haue beene suckling their yong : Then hath my speech their purpose causde to faile : My very heart doth bleede ; O how I waile To thinke vpon the spoyle the wolues would make ; Did not my Care them force their prey forsake ? THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. 209 To her Syrenian song, the Knight gaue eare, And noted in her speech how subtill Arte, Her gesture framde to eu'ry word so neare, That (had he beene a man of massiue hart) He would haue melted at her Mermaide's part : But he being a Knight of noble spirit : Her tongue could not him of his heart dis'nherit But spurred him to reuenge the spoyle she made ; (Commixt with poyson of hypocrisie) He strait vnsheathes his trusty steeled blade, And (silent) doth demonstrate presently, The bottome of his mind effectually. Soone as she feeles the smart, she startes abacke. And (for defence) with poyson hellie blacke For hurled from her wide stretcht foaming threat, She thinkes t' infect the vninfected Knight : But stowt Mavortio wore a steeled coate, So iunctly ioynted, that in all their sight, Her hellish poyson neuer enter might ; (All were it natur'd still to search for way :) To saue hir life by hir foes' Hue's decay. VOL. II. 14 210 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. Short had the fight bin, had she only beene, (And great his honour by hir only death) But eu'ry drop of bloud his sword all keene, Causde issue from hir noysome steeming breath, Transformed were to monsters on the heath. All with their poyson like a rounding ring : The good encombred Knight encompassing. So that the more that she entroped him, (By deadly gaspes) the conquest soone would end ; The more his labour sprung : and seemed to dim Eftsomes (alas) the hope his toile did send. Yet he of all was victor in the end. And for this act vntill the end his fame. Will through the world high raise Mavortio's name. The Knight (about to sheathe) chanc'd turne his eie, And spies the multitude that him enround : Nay (then quoth he) no time approacheth nie, To take our leaues of this thiefe-harb'ring ground Before Apollo Thetis lap hath found, They all shall die \ if heau'n doth smiling stand : Viewing the heart of his Mavortio's hand. THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, 211 His 'squire with artfull courage aides his Knight : Both vsde their blades vnto so good auaile, That who had ei'd this bloudy fi'rie fight, Might here see maimed wights low creeping traile Their owne hew'd limbes, there gasping iawes that waile To see their limbs lopt from their bodies lie, On hugie heapes, like vnto mountain es high. And tvvixt the streams of steaming blod swift running With bloudles trunks, lop'd heads, legs^ thighs and armes, Vpon the riuer like dead fishes swimming ; Ere Sol with Neptune sleeped, slept their harmes ; All being shooke with death's all deadly charmes. O happy houre ! that so Mavortio ioy'd : To see the monsters by his arme destroyed. This noble conquest made him famoized, By all the heards throughout the Deltan soile, Who vow'd his name should be aeternized, (Despight of Fortune and her trustlesse foyle) In memorizing lines, which worldly broyle, Nor Enuie's canker, neuer should deface, Long as the world retaines her worldly face. 14—2 212 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, O peerelesse worth ! O worth Mavortian ! Heau'n vpholding Atlas ; warrens melodie ; Knight of the lilly ; heauen's champion • Arte's patron ; Muses' dearest Adonie ; Vrania's soule refreshing Castalie ; Worthy the world ; the world not worthy thee : That art deem'd worthy of the deitie. Of heauen it selfe, that but eu'n now lamented The sun-fall of thy selfe, whom heau'n (disdained) Whom heau'n's high trinaty was not contented, That in the world thy spirit be contained, But there shuld dwel where loue himself remained ; For that on earth thy spirit earth directed, Heau'n hath thy spirit for high heau'n elected. While heau'n did daigne the world should him inioy, The ninefold Sorory themselves exiled, Euen from their natiue home to art's annoy, From twin-topt mount, vnto a place defiled, (Where pined writ and starved art compiled) Their harm they knew, and harm with heart imbraced, To nurse their deare heart by their cheap art graced. THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, 213 Graced by nurses (art's nurse highly grac'd him) Who fed him with pure marrow of the Muses ; And when he list, with moisture to refresh him, He drunke cleare Helicon : cleare from abuses, He bent his mind to pure Vranian vses, Vranianie him did to heau'n vpreare : And made to man, him demi-god appeare. Since wisedome then vpreares a man to heau'n, Since wisedome then (that doth high God adore) When he of all that earth yeelds is bereau'n, When all els failes, doth God-like him decore, O world erect thy bHsse on wisedome's lore. The greatest man decores not wisedome's home : But wisedome doth the meanest wight adorne. Pieria's darling ; cleare-streaming Helicon ; Boeotia's pearle ; the nine voic'd harmony ; Heart crj'stalline \ tongue pure Castalion ; Delta's Adamant ; EUzium's melody ; Vrania's selfe, that sung coelestially ; Was then for Mars apt, by the Muses nurs'd, For Mars his knights, are 'squires to th' muses first. 214 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, Downe to the world descended Mars at length, When the Pierides had knit the veines, That from his heart did giue his body strength With soule'-sweet Manna, marrow of the reines \ Downe he descended, and no whit disdaines To line on earth, leaning the sacred skies Only the muses deare to Martialize. But (O) when Delta's hope, the muses' wonder, Foe's feare, feare's foe, loue's martialist, On Thetis gan like to a fearefull thunder Make Hydra shake with a Dodonian fist ; When Delta deem'd her selfe in him thus blest. Then Delta of her hope was quite bereaued ; See how the world is by the world deceiued ! The Phoebus of his soile, scarce shew'd his sheen. And fac'd the West with smiling Aurory, When fatall Neptune with his trident keene, (Behind him) hal'd him to his Thetisie, But loue downe sent swift-winged Mercurie, And charged him to lay him 's wings vpon, And be the conuoy of his champion. THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. 215 Vv'hen Mercurie approch'd the seat of loue, With Mavors spirit on his winged arme ; loue daign'd descend downe from his seat aboue, And him imbraced with all heau'nly charme. Aboue the lofty skies, deuoid of harme Sits Mavors spirit, as a demi-god : Instead of Mars, swaying his warlike rod. While Mars himselfe goes wandring vp and downe, Associated with the sacred brood, That hand in hand (like an enchaining rowne) Encompasse him : eu'n dead with want of food If want may heau'n hurt with deadly bood) Much teen they bide in search for such an one : Whom they may make their nurs'rie's paragon. A pitchie night encurtained with clowdes (That kept from it heau'n's star-bright comforture Is the sole Theater that them enshrowdes ; Fogs, damps, trees, stones, their sole encompassure, To whom they mone, black todes giue responsure ; Their woe is like vnto that wretches paine. Whom ('s parents dead) no man will entertaine. 2i6 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. Before that death by life had stellified Great Mavors spirit in the loftie skie : Before his spirit in heau'n was deified, Mars and the Muses had their dignity, ; The sacred sisters did him aptifie For Mars : he kindly fed his parents' want, And made that plenty which before was scant. But now (O woe) they long may go vnfed. Ayde (mighty loue) for Nilus' Crocodiles Are battring in the pure Castalian head. Pure horse-foot Helicon, their filth defiles, Art, like -Egyptian dogs, must scape their wiles. O dreary woe ! the Muses did but sup, And are infected with that pois'nous cup. How like blacke Orcus lookes this dampy caue, This obscure dungeon of Cimmerian sin, This hugy hell ! my spirit gins to raue, To see blacke Pluto banquetting within The once-form'd world with his faire Proserpin. O see the world, all is by heau'n reiected, Now that the sacred Muses are infected. THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, 217 See, where Vrania, onelie's seated on The twin-top'd hill, the steepie craggy mount, That ouer-peeres, (once) cristall Helicon : There bides she eu'ry storme, that once was wont To bathe her selfe in the Castalian fount. Yet this me gladdes, though she of ioy be reau'n, Yet is she now come neerer vnto heau'n. O Where's Mavortio ? may the Muses say : And haue the heau'ns bereaued vs of blisse ? O heau'ns ! nay O sweet heau'n-fed Muses stay. Exclaime not on the sacred heau'ns for this : But as a mother (that her childe doth misse) Lament ; and be your heart from despaire wonne : Your wombe may bring forth such another sonne. And as thy sunne not still could face the north. But by his falling reaued thee of day ; (Because the day light's by the night put forth) Nor can thy night's blacke hew endure alway : Then hope sweet Delta hope, from murmure stay, Thy Pheebus slumbreth but in Thetis' lap : Hee'l rise before thou thinkst of such a hap. 2i8 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. See that same rocke, the rocke of my defence, Is metamorphosde to an Vnicorne : Whose shining eies of glorious eminence, Doth all the world with brightnes cleare adorne, And with loue's strength, hir life-preserving horne. Hath purified the cristallized fount. That streames along the valley of Artes' mount. Her streaming rayes haue pierc'd the cloudie skies. And made heau'ns traitors blush to see their shame ; Cleared the world of her black vironries, And with pale feare doth all their treason tame. Delta's Bellonian, (name of peerelesse fame) Hath free'd Apollo from their treacherie, And plac'd him in his former dignitie. Come, come, you wights that are transformed quite, Eliza will you retransforme againe ; Come star-crown'd female and receiue thy sight, Let all the world wash in her boundlesse maine, And for their paine receiue a double gaine. My very soule with heau'nly pleasure's fed, To see th' transform'd metamorphosed. THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, 219 Vrania sits amid Pernassus vale, O're shelterd with an aire-cleare Canopie : O sense's nurse ! soule-sweet refreshing dale, God's nectar ; heau'n's sweet ambrosianie ; Conuert each riuer to pure Casta! ie. That India it selfe, may sweetly raise. Her well tun'd notes in high lehouah's praise. THE EPILOGUE. OW are the pitchie Curtains (that enclosde The heau'nly radiance of Apollo's shine) Drawne backe : and all that inhel's caue reposd Are dauncing chearely in a siluer twine, With heau'n's Vrania, shaming Proserpine. Heirs Phlegetontike torches are put forth : And now the Sunne doth face the frosty north. Sacred Apollo cheeres the lightsome day, And swan-plum'd Phoebe gards the star-faire night. Lest Pluto's forester, should cause estray, Darke Cosmo's Pilgrims wandring without light ] Heau'n's sacred lights agree in one consent, Heau'n's sacred lights agree in one consent, To drive the clowdes from foorth the firmament. THE EPILOGUE. 221 Now is the Moone not blemisht with a cloud, Nor any lampe (that should illuminate And lighten eu'ry thing that heau'n doth shrowd) Darkned ; or else my sight gin's to abate, And 's reaued of it's intellectuate. Each obscure caue is lightned by the day : Or else mine eyes are forced to estray. But when my heart was vrged fourth to breath, Fell accents of soule-terrifying paine ; My subject was a heau'nly taper's death ; Night was my lampe ; my inke, heVs pitchy maine : Then blame me not, if m.y wittes light did waine, Since but with night I could with none conferre In this my Epinyctall register. FINJS. NOTES TO THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. Errorie. That is, state of wandering. In the original and Latin sense of the word: **Who persuades me to wander willingly into," etc. We may mention once for all that the termination *'ie" in this poem — when it is appended to words not naturally ending in *' y " — usually has the force of **a state or condition of." Cf. *'hor- rorie Endimionie being in the state of Endymion, in a state of sleep; Murcianie, in a state of sloth; "eonie," **azurie," **som- niferie." It is merely an abused and perverted extension of the Latin '*ia," as in prudentia, infantia^ etc., and our *'cy" as in infancy." In the word **sororie" it would seem to = hood, sister- hood. Cymerianized. A night made like that of the Cimmerii. The epithet Cimmerian is common enough in our classics, even as late as Campbell, who speaks in his Pleasures of Hope of * * Cimmerian darkness in the parting soul. " Phlegetontike. A word which seems to have had a great charm for Tourneur, is, of course, by metonymy for hellish. To gaze upon, etc. To gaze upon that which is darkening or ob- scuring my youth. Cadaverie = Cadaver = corpse. NOTES, 223 Geomantike, This word is an adjective formed indirectly from the Greek, and directly from the Italian geoinante^ explained by Florio to be a sorcerer that works by circles or pricks on the earth," or geomontia, the art of enchanting by circles or pricks in the earth. It means here, then, What sorcerer's jaw," or ** What sorcerer is howling in my ears," etc. Ecchoized. This barbarous word simply = echoed. Chaoized conceit What confused image, or imagination. C^r^7y= Cautiously, as often. Eviternal. The uncontracted form of eternal. Plutonizcd = Made like Pluto ; made my heavenly shape a hellish shape. Lycophosed. Cf. infra^ " His eyes that 'fore were pure lycopho- sie." This is a good instance of Toumeur's Alexandrianism. The word means sun-clear," or made like the sun. XvK:60a>^, from which it is immediately taken, signifies twilight, or, as the old com- mentators, who derived it from \vkoq^ a wolf, explain, the time when wolves prowl. But in a curious passage in Macrobius's Sa- turnalia, lib. i. cap. 17, we learn that the sun was worshipped under the name of a wolf, and that the word \vkoq, was synonymous with sol, or, in other words, with light. **\vkov autem solem vocari etiam Lycopolitana Thebaidos civitas testimonio est quse pari relli- gione A pollinem itemque lupum hoc est \vk.ov colit, in utroque solem venerans." With objects' contrarieties etc. An image probably suggested by the logical square of opposition. This appears to mean, **Lo, my eyes, whether they be dazzled with all the woes that confront them and so are dimmed, or whether they pierce into clear pure air, and so are clear, still, however that may be, they discern a transformation." Mercuric — Jehovah. All through the poem he confuses as gro- 224 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, tesquely as Sannazarius and Vida the classical with the Christian mythology. Awake, 0 heaven, etc. The best commentary on these two stanzas, which I shall not make myself ridiculous by attempting to explain, is a similarly portentous passage in Dryden's Annus Mira- bilis : Then we upon our orb's last verge shall go And see the ocean leaning on the sky, From thence our rolling neighbours we shall know, And on the lunar world securely pry." The unsteadfast matHs control. He is now, I presume, beginning to touch on the corruption of the foremost men in the Church, It may be over-subtle to suspect there is an allusion to Innocent IIL*s famous and favourite image of the secular power being the moon, the lesser light — as the spiritual power is the sun, the greater light. Innocent vested both these powers in the Church ; Tourneur may have separated the powers, but preserved the image. We may then interpret, ** The lights that should animate truth have sold them- selves to forward the interest of the secular power," as Clement VIIL actually did assist Spain. With — arterizing. The printed copy reads with, which I have altered into will. The monstrous word arterizing I interpret thus : It is taken from the Italian arteggiare, which Florio explains as ** to artize, to live by an art, to show art or skill." Tourneur adds the syllable ** er " to suit the purposes of his verse, and so it will mean, *'With all the art, or skill, or the strength possessed by you can apply." Orcus, Hell. Endimonie, State of Endymion \ state of sleep ; lethargy. Vesperugoe is the evening star; cf. Plautus, Amphitruo, i. i. 119 : ** Nec Jugulae, neque Vesperugo neque Vergiliae recidunt." NOTES. 225 The formed chaos^ etc. An awkward oxymoron. The general meaning is that the whole universe has gone — in ccelum. Mounts grace. 7.^., grace mountains. Brain-pan. I.e., skull; so the head which frames or devises. Cf. Henry VI. Part II. iv. 10 : Many a time but for a sallet my brain-pan had been cleft with a brown-bill." Sins full nufnber. Seven deadly sins. An ingenious allusion to her Seven Hills. Luxurie. See note on act i. sc. I. of the Revenger^ s Tragedy. Esperance^ etc. A French word which has held its own. Cf. Lear, iv. i. etc.: ^* Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear." Babel babellized. Her impious Babel coming to the fate of Babel, Let Dodon's grove. It would seem that he is making a desperate appeal to the naval power of England to put things right. The oak-groves of Dodona were of course very celebrated. Howel wrote a work called Dodona' s Grove. The verses which preface it may serve to illustrate Tourneur's reference : ** From the pure air of Greece, th' ancient source Of Learning, and Philosophie's chief source, Dodona sends her trees to re-salute The Queen of Isles. " See also Hall, book iii. sat. I. Dodonian fist. Is Toumerian for any assistance which can come from Dodona ? Fist = hand = arm = physical help. Of those, etc. Of those who seek to estrange themselves from the world. That sacred female, etc. An allusion to Revelation xii. i. **i\nd there appeared a great VOL. II. 15 226 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS, wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." And having dimmed the sun, etc. Cf» Revelation ix. 2 : * * And there arose a smoke out of the pit as the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke," etc. For these references to the Apocalypse I am indebted to the kindness of the Rev. A. B, Grpsait. And mix her honey, etc. Cf. before Feeds my taste with honey smacking gall." Affection with the moon, etc. Cf. former note on stanza 10. Remote her heart, etc. What barbarous precedent he may have for turning a past parti- ciple into a transitive verb, I know not. Her twelve starred, etc. Cf. Revelations xii. i. Embrodelie. Embroidery, a not uncommon form of the word. The Vines, ^donides, etc. The general meaning of this stanza is drunkenness— - sloth, gluttony murderous hypocrisy, strife and avarice are latent in her fair ex- terior. He condenses the vices typified by certain mythological or historical personages and the vices denoted by the derivation of their names. Thus, y^donides = drunkenness, for the Edonides (as the word should rather be spelt) were the priestesses of Bacchus, so called because they celebrated their rites on Mount Edon. See the commentators on Ovid, Met. ii. 65. Murcianie^'^\o\}oi, for Murcia was apparently the Goddess of Sloth; see Drakenborch on Livy, lib. i. cap. 33: ^''Murcia quasi Murtea. Murtea autem primo dicta fuerat vel quia myrtus Veneri NOTES. 227 5:acra, vel a Myrteto," etc. *^ Alii Murciam desidice deam fuisse qua homines murcidos sive ignavos faceret. The word means here then sloth, a state of sloth, the termination 'Me" being added, as in Endemonie," etc., and the n inserted for the sake of euphony. Smooth — Philoxenus. Gluttony and murderous hypocrisy. **The smyler with the knyf under his cloke " —Philoxenus was a noto- rious glutton. " ^ikol^tvoq Xlxvoq i]v Kai Ya(TTepog T/rrwr," as ^lian, Var. Hist., x. 9, informs in a chapter which tells rather a pointless anecdote about him. See plenty on the interesting individual in AthencEUs, lib. i. 8, 9, 10. He is said to have wished to have the neck of a crane that the pleasures of the palate might be prolonged. Murder's ground. He now deals with the vice suggested by the name 0t\6^€i^og, or hospitable, and calls him the ground on which murder bases its accents, or its tune, ground being an old musical term : i.e., the smooth-toned pipe on which murder plays ; in other words, he pretends hospitality that he may work his murderous purpose. Disquiet Eriphila. Another false quantity = personified avarice, as in stanza 47, ' * with what Eriphila from India takes, " an allusion of course to Eriphyle, the wife of Amphiaraus, who betrayed her husband for a golden necklace ; also personification of Strife or Dis- cord, from 0tX6^ and tpiq, (piXri ipLdog. Tourneur has amply proved himself capable of playing this trick with the genitive case, and transposing the words. Philocrematos. Avarice, a name coined simply from the deriva tion (pikEiv and xpVf^^y cpiXbg and xpVf^^T(>Q' Grassie, Probably from the Italian grasso, expl. Florio, fat, rich, fertile. Frostie age. If there is any particular allusion here it may refer to Bancroft, who in 1597 was made Bishop of London, and was virtually Archbishop of Canterbury, as Whitgift, now old and infirm, entrusted everything to him. Bancroft was excessively unpopular 15—2 228 THE TRANSFORMED METAMORPHOSIS. with the poets of the age, and was popularly suspected of abetting and favouring the Papists. See particularly Sir John Harrington's Brief View of the Church, etc. , where he defends Bancroft against , the charge of papacy, etc. Eos, Eonie. Have changed or metamorphosed morning, etc. Properly Eos, state of being Eos, or morning. To fear. I.e., to scare or terrify. Cf. Measure for Measure, act ii. sc . I . : Setting it up to fear the birds of prey.'* Whose deep foundations, etc. For the general meaning of the following stanzas see Introduc- tion. Who ever her eie, etc. I.e., She stands there and with flatteries that bereave him of his senses enchants everyone who meets her eye or gazes on her brow. Leucrocutanized sound. This monstrous word may be explained, I think, in two ways ; of the first interpretation I am doubtful, of the second tolerably confident. 1. With a voice or with accents whetted by the thought of gain to be obtained from getting the worldling into her power ; from lucrum and acutus, or rather acutare, a barbarous word for which vid. Du Cange Glossary. Tourneur would be quite capable of giving acutus the force of a past participle from acutare. A man who could write Erebus, with the **e" long, see stanza 31, would be equal to anything, 2. With the strains of a Leucrocuta, which we will leave honest Florio to describe. " A beast that hath all his teeth of one piece, as big as an ass, with neck, tail, and breast like a lion, and a head like a camel, and counterfeits the voice of a man." See art. Leu- crocuta in his World of Words. She soothes, that is to say, with a strain which is the voice of a foul and frightful monster. NOTES. 229 Minulize. Probably for minurize, which is taken directly from the Greek fiivvpi^eiv to sing or warble, through the Latin mzmird^^, which means the same. Sin-awhaping. Sin-confounding. To awhape is to terrify or confound. Cf. Chaucer : passi??i. x\nd Spenser : Deeply do your sad words my wits awhape,^^ quoted by Nares. Eetk. For eald — young age, so youth ; though the word is used occasionally for youth. Cf. Fairfax' Tasso : For the guard Of noble Raimond from his tender eild." Epithesis of sin. This is a sense of the Greek word l7ri9e