-— •- — -~^f

PRINTED FOR THE MALONE SOCIETY BY

FREDERICK HALL AT THE

OXFORD UNIVERSITY

PRESS

ANTONIO AND MELLIDA & ANTONIO'S REVENGE

BY JOHN MARSTON

1602

THE MALONE SOCIETY

REPRINTS

1921

AS

This reprint of Antonio and Mellida and Antonio* s Revenge (otherwise i & 2 Antonio and Mellida) has been prepared under the direction of the General Editor.

July 1922.

W. W. Greg.

1079101

The two plays here reprinted were thus entered in the Register of the Stationers' Company :

14.° Octobris [1601]

Entred for their Copye vnder the handes of the wardens a booke called The mathew Lownes ffyrst and second partes of the play called Anthonio and meJida . . . vjd Thomas ffyssher provided that he gett laufull licence for yt.

[Arber's Transcript, III. 193.]

The following transfers are also found :

10 Aprilis i6ij

Entred vnto him for his Copies by Consent of a full Court holden this day Thomas Lownes all the estate right title and Interest which Mathew Lownes his father deceased had in the Copies hereafter mencioned, saveing to euery man his and euerye of their rightes to them or anye of them. xiiij5

viz1 [30 items including] His parte of Anthonie Mclida

[Arber's Transcript, IV. 176.] 30 Maij 162,7

Assigned ouer vnto them by Thomas Lownes and by Consent of a full Master Humphry Court all the estate right and Interest which he hath or had in the Copies Lownes

hereafter mencioned xijs Robert Younge

[x} items including] his parte of Anthonie Melida./

[Arber's Transcript, IV. 180.]

6° Novembris 16x8

Assigned ouer vnto them by master Humphrey lownes at a full Court Master Ggorge holden the z8th of lune last all his estate right Title and interest in thecole Copies hereafter named xiiij3 M*scer George

vjzt / Latham

[31 items including] His parte of Anthony and Melida./

[Arber's Transcript, IV. ^c^.'\

6° Decembris 1630

Assigned ouer vnto him by order of a Court of the 4th of October last and Master Younge by the Consentes, of Master Cole and master latham All their estate right title and interest in the Copies hereafter menconed which were the Copies of master Humfrey Lownes. and assigned vnto them the said master

Cole and master Latham, 5° [tic] Novembris. 1 6 18 xiij3

[30 items including] Antony and Melida his part

[Arber's Transcript, IV. '

Apparently due licence was, in the first instance, obtained, for an edition appeared with the date 1602, the first part, Antonio and Mellida, as published by Mathew Lownes and Thomas Fisher jointly, the second, Antonio** Revenge, by Thomas Fisher alone, while each bore Fisher's halcyon device on the title-page. The books are quartos printed (badly in some respects) in the usual roman type of a body approxi mating to modern English (20 11. =95- mm.), and appear from the ornaments to have come from the press of Richard Bradock. Copies are not uncommon and are found in the British Museum, the Bodleian Library, and the Dyce collection at South Kensington. The British Museum possesses two copies of the first part: in one (11773. c- f) the outer bottom corner of B 4 is torn away, the other (£43. c. 78) wants the title. The Museum and Bodleian copies have been collated throughout in preparing the present reprint, while the Dyce copy has been consulted on all points of uncertainty. A few differences have been discovered.

The plays again appeared as the first and second of John Marston's < Works ' in the octavo collection of 163 3. This was an unintelligent stationer's reprint produced for William Sheares during the author's absence and apparently contrary to his wishes, for his name was later removed from the remain ing portion of the stock. Copies are in the British Museum (e.g. 1077. b. 2 and 644. a. 23 for the two states) and else where. It does not appear how Sheares acquired his interest in these plays.

The numbering of acts and scenes added in the margin of the present reprint follows Bullen's edition except in the last act of the second part, in which he accidentally marked two first scenes.

VI

LIST OF VARIANT, DOUBTFUL, OR IRREGULAR READINGS.

The actual literal errors are not many, nor are the doubtful readings apart from punctuation, which is further treated in the final note. A few variants between different copies have been observed and are here included. Errors and corruptions are fairly frequent, but it has not been thought necessary to note irregularities previously recorded by Bullen. Certain variations of the 1633 edition which seemed of interest have been added, but no attempt has been made at a complete collation.

PART

Ded.

I^ beau tie (there is a quite indistinguishable mark be tween u and t)

T.-L I M.

Text. ?3 blinks (163 3 blinds)

cefure. (so BM*} BM*, Bodl.,

and Dyce read cefure :, and

1633 cenfure :) 140 then (so 1633) 173 heathy (1633 beauy) 14.5- Heaues (163 3 Heavens) 193-4 Cor. \nets 303 aud 350 but - (I(^3 but

35:1 pree the (so 1633)

410 fwouned. (1633 fwounded.)

477 honour (1^33 honour.)

600 a: (1633 a — :)

6o^ offices (1633 offices.)

603 Parafite (1633 Parafite.)

604 to (1633 to — )

'606 fpurres (1633 fpurres.) 634 for (1633 for - ) 688 thought (original thought)

wax (1633 was) 745 an faith, (so 1633)

poin-|ting (1633 pain-|ting) my (1633 my—)

787

i.

869 88? 886 891

976 980

1008

1016 1036

1087 109*) 1 100

noz 1103 1 1 06 1109 1 14.1

1168

i -zoo my

fate (1633 fate — )

take (1633 take—)

amongmy

brith; (1633 birth;)

defpite (1633 *n defpight)

palling pafling (1633 pafling)

wine, (so 1633)

1 perfec-jction

that (1633 that—)

manlinefle (1633 manlinefle _ \

accourted (1633 courted) Free the (1633 Prthee) me (1633 me — ) . as (so 1633) the the (163 3 the) lip (to 1633) little (so 1633) red (to 1633) Fla. (1633 Bal.} amiable (so 1633) euer(i633 ever) (the type of this line is some

what loose, but EM * has the

correct divisions) or (so 1633) teares (i6»33 teares.) me me (1633 mee) honour (163 3 honours)

Vll

1x65 Holds (163 3 Hold) 1x71 from (163 3 from - ) 1x73 beene (163? beene - 1x74. skinp(i633 skinp - )

good (1633 g°od - ) 1x87 lukes

ix^x AfTay (1633 Aflay — ) 1316 fay (1633 fay — ) 1331 diuels laft (but the space appa

rently fell out and the s tended

to shift]

1336 and (1633 and — ) 1375 felfe:

1404. and (1633 and — ) 14.10 but (1633 but — •) 14.3 5- on (1633 one) 1445- and (so 1633) 145-4 bacciOy (so 1633) 1475- defsio: (so 1633) 145:6 puo lejfer (so 1633) 145-7 pole/er(so 1633) 1461 pimpero (so 1633) 1461 cofempite rno (so 1633) 1464 trembls 1471 fweect

1495- was (1633 was - ) 1501 a (1633 a - ) 1 506 here, (apparently comma of smaller

fount : 1633 here.) 1 5- 1 x father (1633 rather - ) 1 5*10 popme. (1633 pompe.) 1 7 xx begins ( 163 3 beginnes to) 1 5-16 compleat (1633 compleat — ) i5-x8 prick (163 3 prick - )

15-31

1546 15-61

1 5 69

1608 1 6xo 1 6 xx 1689 1718

1744

I75TX

will

Ant:

heart (to BAT1; BM*, Bod!.,

Dycey and 1633 reat^ heart,) vfe (so BJM*; 1633 reads ufe

•while BM2, Bodl., and Dyce

have vfe :) ^ forehore | horfe.

(1633 fore-horfe.)

a -

)

1806 1888 1896 1898 15*00 15140

1943 15)5-0 I5>6x I5>8x

him (1633 now (163 3 now you «u»7/(i633 thou luodde. (1633 wood.) price. (1633 PrizeO Ba. (the point is a quite indistin guishable mark)

haue (1633 ^aue - ) times j (perhaps times, as the

dot may •well be accidental :

1633 times;) fixt(i633 fixt — ) wete

my (1633 my - ) Lord (1633 Lord———) Lord (1633 Lord - ) being (1633 being - ) father- (hyphen not quite certain :

1633

fpeach-(i633 fpeech.) no (1633 no.) c.w. Now (original N ow) GEntlemen^ (the E is broken and resembles F)

3 1 fcale- (163 3 fcale.) 5-x that (1633 that )

60 ground: (so 1633)

6 1 reported (1633 reported

PART 2.

74 had (1633 had •• — )

pleafe (1633 pleafe )

85- me (1633 me — ) -) 93 head (1633 head — )

Vlll

94 113 i?x

153

173

Z34 140

had (1^33 had — )

it- (1633 it.)

Madam (163 3 Madam———)

vouchfafe. (point not quite cer tain: 1633 vouchfafe,)

Tke

as (1633 as )

Pandulpho Feliche,

(1633 Pan-|dulpho, Feliche,)

eyes, (possibly eyes,)

3 1 a

379

4x7 439 446 4? 6 463 464 474 504

<; 5 7 565-

58?

6% I

630 693

711 717

parrs

Of (original Qf )

.flf<7- (hyphen not quite certain)

to(r633 to - )

Ramnr't (1633 P/Vr. Ramm't)

maine, (1633 maime,)

fwouned, (1633 fwounded,)

(hall

log-likedolts.

comfort (1633 comfort — )

heade- (1633 head.)

canft-(i633 canft.)

we. (1633 we — )

fiege (so BM: Bodl. and Dyce

read fiege; and 1633 fiege,) liege ; (so BM: BodL, Dyce, and

1633 read liege,) my . . . my (1633 thy . . . thy) conclude (1633 conclude — ) vnderftands-

(1633 un-|derftands.) flauifh

of (1^33 of - ) often (an I has dropped out Before

this: 1633 I often) And 1 doe

mortalitie- (1633 mortality.) and (1633 and — ) greefull, (1633 griefefull,)

731 prince ( 163 3 Prince- - )

744 cheeks (so 1633)

746? Lord (1633 Lord———)

770 my (163 3 my—)

780 with (so 1633)

788 heart- (163 3 heart.)

800 heart, with (1633 heart from)

814 die- (1633 die.)

816 breaft-(i^33 breft,)

8x4—9 as verse in 1633 divided ' . . .

Tragoedian,). . . ftraines.| . . .

you,| . . . wrongs,) . . .

thoughts] . . . doe. 841 hand : eno (original hand.-eno

probably for hande : no •while

1633 has hand: no) 875 c.w. Ant 884 Piero- (1633 Piero.) 887 though (1633 though.) 89z fufpect (1633 fufpect.) 896 forget (so 1633) 898 grace (163 3 grace — ) 907 lie

9*x chok'tft (1633 choak'dft) 9x7 remorfe (1633 remorfe - ) 918 lie 931 importunate

(1633 importunate.) 970 She

983 Church. (1633 Church.) 996 intellectt 1000 blefled

ion reuenge- (1^33 revenge.) 1047 panting (1633 panting - ) antri^ (1^33

vos

)

1063 idle (1633 idle - ) 1065- Sepulcher, (1633 Sepulcher.) noz budding (original budding) 1114 wounds (1633 wounds -r-)

IX

1161 1167

1 1 80

1187 1184 1305- 1335- 1339 1346

135-4 1367 1389 14x3 1434 1435- 1487

1489 1496 1497 15-05-

16101

Ofvengeance

father (1633 father — )

kill- (163 3 kill.)

night-crowes (hyphen not quite

certain}

pury (1633 putry) Hymniall (1633 Hymenaeall) thiuks

afliime (1633 au^ume •-)

twhart (1633 thwart)

to (1633 to )

Macheueil, (1633 Machevell^ is is (1633 is) capeable (1633 capable)

and (1633 and )

Imaigin'd (1633 Imagin'd) -5- moft | moft (1633 moft) of of (1633 of) diuel ; (so Dyce : BM and Bodl.

read diuel,; [sic] and 1633

devill ;)

Which (1633 Which )

breaft (1633 breaft,)

die (1633 die.)

ahout

your (1633 your . •)

not (1633 not )

to (163 3 to )

Foole, (1633 Ba. Foole,) 1633 and (1633 and - ) 1644 ls J6 1S -

Florentine )

1670 will (an I has dropped out before thiSj the head being apparently still visible before the C of the next line : 1633 I will)

1704 bofome- (1633 bofome.)

1708 tiuhart ( 1 63 3 thwart}

1856 Exit (1633 Exit.}

1887 Florentine (1633

1890 Venice (id>33 ^«*«* 1941 £*/'/( 1 63 3 exit.} 1948 Of (f/". catch-word} 1971 vnprtiall 1973 that (i6"33 that— 1976 haue. (1633 haue 1999 torc-hbearer. 1017 bodie (1633 body 1040 to (1633 to.)

1048 blacke

1049 duugeon

105-3 faurling (1633 fnarling)

1064 fonne (1633 /0»»e.)

115-5- then (1633 then - )

a 1 81-3 v'mdicta. \ FINIS, (so 1633)

)

.)

)

The printing of the itfoz edition is not in general bad except in the matter of punctuation, which gives a great deal of trouble in several ways. To begin with, the printer, especially towards the end of his task, used an astonishing collection of badly-cast or otherwise eccentric points. He had in particular something that looks at first sight like a small comma, but is almost certainly in fact a badly-cast full stop, and has been rendered as such in the reprint. Sometimes an ordinary round full stop appears a little raised : this peculiarity has been disregarded. At others it is very much raised, and has been printed as reversed. But besides the ordinary round stop, the printer used a point which sometimes appears square and some times quite amorphous, raised to about in the position of a hyphen. This

has been rendered by a special point in this position, but no further notice has been taken of it. It appears to be always intended for a full point, and was so treated in the reprint of 1633.

Further the plays contain a large number of interrupted speeches, and these were evidently as a rule left unpointed in the manuscript from which the original edition was printed. The compositor appears to have followed the manuscript. In one instance near the beginning indeed he used a very long rule to indicate the break, but usually he put no final point whatever, though he may in some cases have used a hyphen. It is all the more diffi cult to be certain as to his practice because he has undoubtedly in some cases used a hyphen by mistake for a full stop (for instance after a speaker's name) and moreover some of his hyphens are very badly cast, and tend to resemble his square point. It has been the endeavour of the foregoing list to record all instances of possibly broken speeches and to show in each case how they were rendered in the 1633 reprint.

LIST OF CHARACTERS

in the order of their appearance in the play.

[gentlemen about Venetian court.

the

(Those marked * appear in the first second part.)

ANTONIO, son of Andrugio.

PIERO SFORZA, doge of Venice. *FELICHE,

BALURDO,

ALBERTO,

FOROBOSCO,

CASTILIO, *CATZ,O, page to Castilio. *DiLDo, page to Balurdo.

MELLIDA, daughter of Piero. *ROSSALINE, niece of Piero. *FLAVIA, a gentlewoman attendant on Mellida.

GALEATZO, son of the Duke of Florence.

part only, those marked f only in the

MATZAGENTE, son of the Duke of Milan.

ANDRUGIO, duke of Genoa.

Lucio, his friend and follower. *a Page to Andrugio. *a Painter.

f CASPAR STROTZO, confidant of Piero. fMARiA, widow of Andrugio. f NUTRICHE, her attendant. fPANDULPHo, father of Felice, ftwo Pages, f JULIO, son of Piero. ftwo Senators of Venice.

Pages, attendants, a herald, waiting. women, a torch-bearer.

xi

The superscription of a letter (i, 1. 103?) gives Castillo's full name as c Sig. Castilio Balthazar '. Lucio is written Luceo in some places in part z. Strotzo frequently appears as Strozzo, a better spelling but contrary to the author's general practice. Nutriche is not, of course, a proper name, but is treated as such, and may point to some Italian source. Pandulpho, or Pandulfo, twice appears as Pandulpho Feliche (a, 11. 113, 779). The two Pages of z, III. i (11. 973, 980, 981) belong to Piero's court ; they appear as mutes in part i (11. zzo, i68z-3), while in part z at least four are required altogether (z, 1. i8zi). The torch-bearer of z, 1. 1999 is presumably one of them. The page who enters with Castilio in z, I. ii (1. ^^^) may be Catzo ; he does not speak. Similarly one of the mute waiting-women in z, IV. i (1. 14.68) is presumably Flavia, but she is not named. Feliche appears in part z apparently as a corpse only (though Bullen makes him a ghost), at any rate he has no part. Andrugio only appears in part z as a ghost. Castilio, Catzo, and Dildo enter at 11. zzo-i, but speak first at 11. 5-4,1, 47z, and 469 respectively (where there is some confusion as to mastership). Galeatzo and Matzagente appear at 11. Z9z and 514, in i, I. i, but speak only in the following act at 11. 669 and 66^ respectively. Andrugio's page presumably enters at 1. 1x78, but is first mentioned at I. 1386 : he evidently sings at 1. 141 1, and no doubt the speech beginning without prefix at 1. 1474 is his; otherwise he only speaks 1. 15-5-8 (which evidently belongs to him and not to Dildo, who really leaves the stage at 1. 1539).

At i, 1. 1178, the direction reads: 'Enter Andrugio, Lucio, Cole, and NorwodV The last two names can hardly be anything but those of actors, though none so called are otherwise known. It does not follow that they played the parts of Andrugio and Lucio — probably not, since the page and possibly another attendant enter with them.

The collotype reproductions of Antonio and Mellida (A i and A 3 rectos) are from the Bodleian copy, those &$ Antonio's Revenge (A i and A 2 rectos) from that in the British Museum.

Xll

THE

HISTORYOF

- Antonio and

Mellida.

The firft part.

s if bath been* fundry times atted, by the chtldrcnof- Paules,

Written by /. -a/.

Lo NDON

«f Pnntcd for M 'Athene Lmnti^ and Thomas Fifier^ and arctobclouidem Saint Duiiitaiis Church -y aide.

The T/ay called dhtonioancf

Melhda.

Indudtion.

) Antoni^ fmbefit^ So- tkptrUin tfoit hwds: biting thtkfj u& «u& their tppvelL r>

Omcurs,co.ue: themufique will founde ftraighc for entraado* Are ycc r eadk 3 arc j*cpcrfe<$b ________ fF^JFaich,wcraniayourpQrts:bm wee

arc ignorant in what mould we muft raft our A&orsc . W Jiomc doc you pcrfonatc?

o': then thus frame your exterior ftwpc> To hatitie forme of elate maieftic; As if you held t!K palfey fhakinghcad Of reeling chauncejvnder your fortunes belt, Jo flii^cfl VaflaTage^rowe big in thought, A^wolne with glory of fuccesfullarnics. ;

'f*e*lf that be alljfeare not,lle futc it righn J^Vho can notbe proud^ftroak vp the haire, and ftrutf ^.Truth;fuch ranke cuftome w grownc popularj And no w the vulgar fafhton ft rides as wide, And ftalkes as proud,vpon die weakeft fttks Of the ilight'ft fortunes,as if Heretics, O^.burly At lot- fhouldrod vp their ftate. - 'A ppod: but whQSpca^^OU^1 - /::,: ^

ftht play forccth.mctoa<ft.twi> thediftrcffcd Duke o(G*tM9 ami *?. gen tlcpKin ., enamoured OD the La*

taine the port of her, he proifd alwafes d^fiufeous in : his worth being much vndcrpoi&d by the vne- A? ucrt

ANTONIOS

Reuene.

Tbefccondfort.

s it hath beencfundry times by the children of Paules,

Written by /« Ji/.

• LONDON

^T P Dinted for Thorn* Fifier, and arc to be fouUcia Saint Dunftans Church-yardc.

•CL

Antonios Reucnge,

f The fecond part of the Hiftorie of ufntonio andMettida.

H E rawifh danke of dumziciriater rampt The fluent fummers vaineand drizling fleece ' Chilleth the wan bleak cheek of the numd earth, Whilft fnarling gufh nibble the iuyccles leaues. From the nak'tfhuddring branchy and pils thcikinnc From off the foft and delicate afpcdcs, O, now,me thinks5a fulien tragtck Sceane Would fuhc the tinnc,with pleating congruence. May we be happie in our wcake deuoyer, And all pane pleaf d in moft wi(Kt content: But (Weate of Hm-tUtcm neie beget So blcft an iffuc. Therefore we proclaime, If any fpirit breathes within this round, Vncapable of waightic p^Qfion (As from his birth5being hugged in the armes, And nuzzled rwixt the breves of happinefle)

Who

THE

HISTORY OF

Antonio and

Mellida.

The firfl part.

it hath beenefundry times acted, ~by the children 0/Taules.

Written by I. M.

LONDON

H Printed for Mathewe Lownes^ and Thomas Fijher, and

are to be foulde in Saint Dunftans Church-yarde.

1602.

To the onely rewarder, and moft iuft

poifer of tenuous merits, the moft hono*

rably renowned No-body, bountious Me-

ccenas of Poetry^ and Lord Protector of opprefled innocence, Do, Dedicoque.

IN C E it bath flowed with the current of my humorous bloode, to affect (a little too much) to be ferioujly fantafticall : here take (moft re- \fpected Patron) the rvorthlejfe prefent of my 10 ijlighter idlenes. If you vouchfafnot hisprotectio ^ 0 thou fweeteft perfectio (Female beau tie) Jhield mee from the flopping ofvineger bottles. Which moft wijhedfa- uour ifitfaile me j then. Si nequeo flectere fuperos, A- cheronta mouebo. Butyet, Honours redeemer, vertues aduancer, religions fhelter, and pieties fofterer, Yet, yet I faint not in defpaire of thy gratious affection & protection: to which 1 onely Jhall euer reft moft feruingmanlike^ obfequi- oujly making legs, andftanding (after our free-borne Englijh garbe) bare headed. 20

Thy onely affied flaue, and admirer, / M.

A2

The Play called Antonio and

Mellida.

Induction. !»*•

*|J Enter Galeatzo, Pieroy Alberto^ Antonio, Forobofco, Ba-

lurdo, Matzagente, & Feliche, with parts in their bands :

hauing cloakes cafl ouer their apparell.

Ome firs, come : the muiique will founde ftraight for entrance- Are yee readie, are yee perfect ?

Pier. Faith, we can fay our parts : but wee

are ignorant in what mould we muft caft our Actors. Albert. Whome doe you perfonate? to

Pie. Piero, Duke of Venice.

Alb. O, ho : then thus frame your exterior fhape, To hautie forme of elate maieftie ; As if you held the palfey making head Of reeling chaunce, vnder your fortunes belt, In ftricteft vaflalage : growe big in thought, As fwolne with glory of fuccesfull armes.

Pie. If that be all, feare not, He fute it right. Who can not be proud, ftroak vp the haire, and ftrut !

AL Truth : fuch ranke cuftome is growne popular; 20 And now the vulgar fafhion itrides as wide, And ftalkes as proud, vpon the weakeft ftilts Of the flight'ft fortunes, as if Hercules^ Or burly Atlas fhouldred vp their ftate.

Pi. Good : but whome act you ?

Alb. The neceffitie of the play forceth me to act two parts ; Andrugio, the diilrefled Duke of Genoa, and Alberto, a Venetian gentleman, enamoured on the La- die Roffaline : whofe fortunes being too weake to fuf- taine the port of her, he prou'd alwaies defaftrous in 3° loue : his worth being much vnderpoifed by the vne-

A 3 uen

The firft part of

uen fcale, that currants all thinges by the outwarde ftamp of opinio. Gal. Wei, and what doft thou play!3

Ba. The part of all the world.

Alb. The part of all the world? What's that?

Bal. The foole. I in good deede law now, I play Ba- lurdo, a wealthie mountbanking Burgomafco's heire of Venice.

Alb. Ha, ha : one, whofe foppifh nature might feem great, only for wife mens recreation; and, like a luice- 4o lefle barke, to preferue the fap of more ftrenuous fpi- rits. A feruile hounde, that loues the fent of forerun ning fafhion, like an emptie hollow vault, ftill giuing an eccho to wit : greedily champing what any other well valued iudgement had before hand fhew'd. Foro. Ha, ha, ha : tolerably good, good faith fweet wag.

Alb. Vmh, why tolerably good, good faith fweet wag ? Go, goe ; you flatter me.

Foro. Right, I but dilpofe my fpeach to the habit of my part. Alb. Why, what plaies he > To Fetiche. $0

Fe. The wolfe, that eats into the breaft of Princes ; that breeds the Lethargy and falling ficknefle in honour ; makes luftice looke afquint, and blinks the eye of me rited rewarde from viewing defertfull vertue.

Alb. Whats all this Periphrafis P ha ?

Fe. The fubftance of a fupple-chapt flatterer.

Alb. O, doth he play Forobofco^ the Parafite ? Good i- faith. Sirrah, you muft feeme now as glib and Itraight in outward femblance, as a Ladies buske ; though in wardly, as crofle as a paire of Tailors legs : hailing a 60 tongue as nimble as his needle, with feruile patches of glauering flattery, to ftitch vp the bracks of vnworthi- ly honourd.

Fo.

Antonio and Mellida.

Fo. I warrant you, I warrant you, you fhall fee mee prooue the very Perewig to couer the balde pate of brainelefle gentilitie.

Ho, I will fo tickle the fenfe of bella gratiofa madonna^ with the titillation of Hyperbolical! praife, that He ftrike it in the nick, in the very nick, chuck.

Pel. Thou promifeft more, than I hope any Specta- 70 tor giues faith of performance : but why looke you fo duskie ? ha ? To Antonio.

Ant. I was neuer worfe fitted fince the natiuitie of my Actorfhippe : I {halt be hift at, on my life now.

Pel. Why, what muft you play ?

Ant. Faith,! know not what: an Hermaphrodite; two parts in one : my true perfon being Antonio, fon to the Duke of Genoa ; though for the loue of Mellida, Pieros daughter, I take this fained prefence of an Amazon, cal ling my felfe Florizell, and I know not what. I a voice 80 to play a lady ! I fhall nere doe it.

Al. O, an Amazon fhould haue fuch a voice, virago- like. Not play two parts in one ? away, away : tis com mon fafhion. Nay if you cannot bear two fubtle frots vnder one hood, Ideot goe by, goe by j off this worlds ftage. O times impuritie !

An. I, but whe vfe hath taught me actio, to hit the right point of a Ladies part, I mall growe ignorant when I muft turne young Prince againe, how but to trufle my hofe. (breaches ftill. 9°

Fe. Tufh neuer put them off: for women weare the

Mat. By the bright honour of a Millanoife, and there- fplendent fulgor of this fteele, I will defende the femi nine to death; and ding his fpirit to the verge of hell, that dares diuulge a Ladies preiudice. Exit Ant. & AL

Fel.

The firft part of

Pel. Rampum fcrampum, mount tuftie Tamburlaine. What rattling thunderclappe breakes from his lips ?

Alb. O, 'tis natiuetohis part. For, acting a moderne Eragadoch vnder the perfon of Matzagente, the Duke of Millaines fonne, it may feeme to fuite with good fa- 100 fhion of coherence.

Pie. But me thinks he fpeakes with a fpruce Attick ac cent of adulterate Spanifh.

Al. So 'tis refolu'd. For^Mi/lane being halfe Spanifh, halfe high Dutch, -and halfe Italians, the blood of chi- feft houfes, is corrupt and mungrel'd : fo that you fhal fee a fellow vaine-glorious, for a Spaniard ; gluttonous, for a Dutchman ; proud,for an Italian ; and a fantaftick Ideot, for all. Such a one conceipt this Matzagente.

Fe. But I haue a part allotted mee, which I haue nei- no ther able apprehenfion to conceipt, nor what I con ceipt gratious abilitie to vtter. (of thy fpirit.

Gal. Whoop, in the old cut ? good (hew vs a draught

Fel. Tis fteddie, and muft feeme fo impregnably fortreft with his own cotent, that no enuious thought could euer inuade his fpirit : neuer furueying any man fo vnmeafuredly happie, whome I thought not iuftly hatefull for fome true impouerifhment : neuer behol ding any fauour of Madam Felicity gracing another, which his well bounded content perfwaded not to 120 hang in the front of his owne fortune : and therefore as farre from enuying any man, as he valued all men infinitely diftant from accomplifht beatitude. Thefe natiue adiuncts appropriate to me the name of Feli- che. But laft, good thy humour. Exit Alb.

A. Tis to be defcrib'd by fignes & tokens. For vnlefle I were pofleft with a legio of fpirits, 'tis impoffible to be

made per-

Antonio and Mellida.

perfpicuous by any vtterance : For fometimes he mull take auftere ftate, as for the perfon of Galeatzo, the forme of the duke of Florence, & poflefle his exteriour 130 prefence with a formall maieftie : keepe popularitie in diitance, and on the fudden fling his honour fo pro digally into a common Arme, that hee may feeme to giue vp his indifcretion to the mercy of vulgar cefure. Now as folemne as a trauailer, and as graue as a Puri- tanes ruffe : with the fame breath as flight and fcat- terd in his fafhion as as as a a any thing. Now, as fweet and neat as a Barbours cafting-bottle ; ftraight as ilouenly as the yeafty brealt of an Ale-knight : now, lamenting: then charing: ftraight laughing : then 14°

Feli. What then ?

Anto. Faith I know not what : 'tad bene a right part for Proteus or Gew : ho, blinde Gew would ha don't rarely, rarely.

Felt. I feare it is not poffible to limme fo many per- fons in fo fmall a tablet as the compaffe of our playes afford.

Anto. Right : therefore I haue heard that thofe per- fons, as he & you Fetich e^ that are but (lightly drawen in this Comedie, mould receiue more exact accom-ijo plifhment in a fecond Part : which, if this obtaine gra- tious acceptance, meanes to try his fortune.

Fell. Peace, here comes the Prologue, cleare the Stage.

Exeunt.

B The

Thefirft Parte of

TI The Prologue.

r~TVHE wreath of pleafure, and delicious fweetes, -•- Begirt the gentle front of this faire troope : Select, and moft refpected Auditours, For wits fake doe not dreame of miracles. i<*o

Alas, we (hall but falter, if you lay The leaft fad waight of an vnufed hope, Vpon our weakenefle : onely we giue vp The woorthlefle prefent of flight idleneffe, To your authentick cenfure ; O that our Mufe Had thofe abftrufe and fynowy faculties, That with a ftraine of frelh inuention She might prefle out the raritie of Art ; The pur'ft elixed ioyce of rich conceipt, In your attentiue eares ; that with the lip 170

Of gratious elocution, we might drinke A found caroufe vnto your health of wit. But O, the heathy drynefle of her braine, Foyle to your fertile Ipirits, is aftiam'd To breath her blufhing numbers to fuch eares : Yet (moft ingenious) deigne to vaile our wants ; With fleeke acceptance, polifh thefe rude Sceanes: And if our flightneffe your large hope beguiles, Check not with bended brow, but dimpled fmiles.

Exit Prologue. 180

ACT.

Antonio and Mellida.

ACTVS PRIMVS.

If The Cornets found a battle within.

If Enter Antonio, difguifed like an Amazon.

, wilt not break! & them abhorred life thou ftill breath in my enraged bloud? Vaines, fynewes, arteries, why crack yee not ? Burft and diuul'ft, with anguifli of my griefe. Can man by no meanes creepe out of himfelfe, And leaue the flough of viperous griefe behinde ? Antonio^ halt thou feene a fight at fea, As horrid as the hideous day of doome ; Betwixt thy father, duke of Genoa, And proud Piero, the Venetian Prince > In which the fea hath fwolne with Genoas bloud, And made fpring tydes with the warme reeking gore, That gufht from out our Gallies fcupper holes ; In which, thy father, poore Andrugio, Lyes funk, or leapt into the armes of chaunce, Choakt with the laboring Oceans brackifh fome ; Who euen, defpite Pieros cancred hate, Would with an armed hand Lane feiz'd thy lone, And linkt thee to the beautious Mellida. Haue I outliu'd the death of all thefe hopes ? Haue I felt anguifli pourd into my heart, Burning like Balfamum in tender wounds ; And yet doll Hue ! could not the fretting fea Haue rowl'd me vp in wrinkles of his browe?

B 2 Is

Thefirft Parte of

Is death grower) coy ? or grim confulion nice ? That it will not accompany a wretch, But I muft needs be caft on Venice ftioare ? And try new fortunes with this ilrange difguife ? To purchafe my adored Mellida.

The Cornets found a flourijh : ceafe. Harke how Piero^s triumphs beat the ayre, O rugged mifchiefe how thou grat'ft my heart ! Take fpirit, blood, difguife, be confident : Make a firme Hand, here refts the hope of all, Lower then hell, there is no depth to fall.

The Cornets found a Synnet: Enter Fetiche and Alberto , Caftilio and Forobofco, a Page carying a Jhield: Piero in Armour : Catzo and Dildo and Balurdo : All thefe (fauing Piero) armed with Petronels: Beeing entred^ they make a ft and in diuided foyles.

Piero. Victorious Fortune, with tryumphant hand, Hurleth my glory 'bout this ball of earth, Whil'ft the Venetian Duke is heaued vp On wings of faire fuccefle, to ouer-looke The low caft ruines of his enemies, To fee my ielfe ador'd, and Genoa quake, My fate is firmer then mifchance can make.

Feli. Stand, the ground trembleth.

Piero. Hah? an earthquake?

Ball. Oh, I fmell a found.

Fell. Piero ftay, for I defcry a fume, Creeping from out the bofome of the deepe, The breath of darkenefle, fatall when 'tis whift

In

Antonio and Mellida.

In greatnes ftomacke : this fame fmoake, calPd pride,

Take heede lEe?le lift thee to improuidence,

And breake thy necke from fteepe fecuritie,

Shee'le make thee grudge to let lehoua fliare

In thy fucceflefull battailes : O, fhee's ominous,

Inticeth princes to deuour heauen,

Swallow omnipotence, out-ftare dread fate,

Subdue Eternitie in giant thought,

Heaues vp their hurt with fwelling, puft conceit,

Till their foules burft with venom'd Arrogance :

Beware Piero, Rome it felfe hath tried,

Confulions traine blowes vp this Babell pride.

Pier. Pifll, Dimitto fuperos, fumma votorum attigi.

Alberto, haft thou yeelded vp our fixt decree

Vnto the Genoan Embafladour?

Are they content if that their duke returne,

To fend his, and his fonne Antonios head,

As pledges tteept in bloud? to gaine their peace ?

^ fleek-brow'd inter tain,

They all embrace it as moft gratious.

Pier. Are Proclamations fent through Italy ^ That whofoeuer brings Andrugios head, Or young Antbonios, fliall be guerdoned With twentie thoufand double Piftolets, And be indeened to Pieros loue ?

Forob. They are fent euery way: found policy. Sweete Lord.

Pel. Confufion to thefe limber Sycophants. No fooner mifchief's borne in regenty, But flattery chriitens it with pollicy. tadte.

B 3 Pier. Why

The firft Parte of

Why then : 0 me Celitum excelfifsimum !

The inteftine malice, and inueterate hate

I alwaies bore to that Andrugio,

Glories in triumph ore his mifery : 270

Nor fhall that carpet-boy Antonio

Match with my daughter, fweet cheekt Mellida.

No, the publick power makes my faction ftrong.

Pel. Ill, when publick power ftregthneth priuate wrog. Pie. Tis horfe-like, not for man, to know his force. Pel. Tis god-like, for a man to feele remorfe. Pie. Pifh, I profecute my families reuenge,

Which He purfue with fuch a burning chace

Till I haue dri'd vp all Andrugios bloud ;

Weake rage, that with flight pittie is withftoode. 280 Tf The Cornets found a florijh.

What meanes that frefh triumphall florifh found ? Alb. The prince ofMi/tane, and young Florence heir

Approach to gratulate your victorie.

Pie. Weele girt them with an ample waite of loue j

Conduct them to our prefence royally.

Let vollies of the great Artillery

From of our gallies banks play prodigall,

And foud lowd welcome fro their bellowing mouths.

Exit Piero tantum. 190

If The Cornets found a Cynet. Enter aboue^ Mellida, Rof- f aline and Flauia : Enter belowe^ Galeatzo with atten dants: Piero meetetb Inm^ embracetb $ at which the Cor. nets found a florijh : Piero and Galeatzo exeunt: the reft flandflill. (thers guard ?

Mel/. What prince was that palled through my fa-

F/a.

Antonio and Mellida.

Fla. Twas Galeatzo, the young Florentine.

Rof. Troth, one that will beliege thy maidenhead, Enter the wals yfaith (fweet Mellida) If that thy flankers be not Canon proofe. 300

MelL Oh Mary Ambree, good, thy iudgement wench ; Thy bright elections cleere, what will he prooue >

Rofs. Hath a fhojrt finger aud a naked chinne ; A sjdpping eye, dare lay my iudgemenT"(faith) His loue is glibbery ; there's no hold ont, wench : Giue me a husband whofe afpect is firme, A full cheekt gallant, with a bouncing thigh : Oh, he is the Paradizo dell madonne contento.

Mel/. Euen fuch a one was my Antonio.

T[ The Cornets found a Cynet. 3 10

Roffa. By my nine and thirteth feruant (fweete) Thou art in loue, but Hand on tiptoed faire, Here comes Saint Triflram Tirlery whiffe yfaith. ^[ Enter Matzagente, Piero meeteshim^embraceth; at which

the Cornets found a florijh : they two ft and, vjingfeeming

complements, whilft the Sceane paffeth aboue.

MelL S. Marke, S. Marke, what kind of thing appears?

Rofs. For fancies paffion, fpit vpon him ; figh : His face is varnifht : in the name of loue, What country bred that creature? 310

MelL What is he Flauia ?

Fla. The heire of Millane, Segnior Matzagent.

Rofs. Matzagent ? now by my pleafures hope, He is made like a tilting ftaffe ; and lookes For all the world like an ore-rofted pigge : A great Tobacco taker too, thats flat.

B4 For

The firft Parte of

For his££es_looke as if they had bene hung In the fmoake of his nofe.

Mell. What hufband, wil he prooue fweete Rojjaline ?

Roff. Auoidhim : for he hath a dwindled legge, 330

A lowe forehead, and a thinne cole-black beard, And will be iealous too, beleeue it fweete : For his chin fweats, and hath a gander neck, A thinne lippe, and a little monkifh eye : Pretious, what a ilender wafte he hath ! He lookes like a May-pole, or a notched flick : Heele fnap in two at euery little ftraine. Giue me a hufband that will fill mine armes, Of iteddie iudgement, quicke and nimble fenfe : Fooles relifh not a Ladies excellence. 340

Exeunt all on the lower Stage : at which the Cornets found a

flori/h^ and a peale ofjhot is viuen.

Mell. The tryumph's ended, but looke RoJJaline^ What gloomy foule in ftrange accuftrements Walkes on the pauement.

Roffa. Good fweete lets to her, pree the Mellida.

MelL How couetous thou art of nouelties !

Roffa. Pifh, tis our nature to defire things That are thought ftrangers to the common cut.

Mell. I am exceeding willing, but— 35°

Roff. But what > pree the goe downe,lets fee her face: God fend that neither wit nor beauty wants Thofe tempting fweets, affections Adamants. Exeunt. Anto. Come downe, fhe comes like : O, no Simile Is pretious, choyce, or elegant enough To illuftrate her defcent : leape heart, fhe comes,

She

Antonio and Mellida.

She comes : fmile heauen, and fofteft Southern winde Kifle her cheeke gently with perfumed breath. She comes : Creations puritie, admir'd, Ador'd, amazing raritie, (he comes. 360

O now Antonio prefle thy fpirit forth In following paffion, knit thy fenfes clofe, Heape vp thy powers, double all thy man : Tf Enter Mellida^ Roffaline, and Flauia. She comes. O how her eyes dart wonder on my heart ! Mount bloode^ foule to my lips, taft Hebes cup : Stand tirme on decke, when beauties clofe right's vp.

Mel. Ladie, your Itrange habit doth beget Our pregnant thoughts, euen great of much defire, To be acquaint with your condition. 37°

Roffa. Good fweete Lady, without more ceremonies, What country claims your birth, & fweet your name ?

Anto. In hope your bountie will extend it felfe, In felfe fame nature of faire curteiie, He fhunne all nicenefle ; my nam's Florizell^ My country Scytbia^ I am Amazon, Caft on this more by furie of the fea. (names.

Rojf. Nay faith, fweete creature, weele not vaile our It pleaf'd the Font to dip me Raff aline : That Ladie beares the name of Mellida^ 380

The duke of Venice daughter.

Anto. Madam, I am oblig'd to kifle your hand, By impofition of a now dead man. To Mellida kifsinp her hand.

Roffa. Now by my troth, I long beyond all thought, To know the man ; fweet beauty deigne his name.

C Anto. Lady,

The firft part of

Anto, Ladie, the circumftance is tedious.

Rof. Troth not a whit ; good faire, lets haue it all : I loue not, I, to haue a iot left out, If the tale come from a lou'd Orator. 39°

Anto. Vouchfafe me then your hufh't obferuances. Vehement in purfuite of ftrange nouelties, After long trauaile through the Afian maine, I fhipt my hopefull thoughts for Britany ; Longing to viewe great natures miracle, The glorie of our fex, whofe fame doth ftrike Remoteft eares with adoration. Say ling fome two monthes with inconftant winds, We view'd the gliftering Venetian forts ; To which we made : when loe, fome three leagues off, 40o We might defcry a horred fpectacle : The ifliie of black ibry ftrow'd the fea, With tattered carcafles of fplittedjhrrjs» Halfe finking, burning, Heating, topiie turuie. Not farre from thefe fad ruines of fell rage, We might behold a creature prefle the waues j Senfelefle he fprauld, all notcht with gaping wounds : To him we made, and (fhort) we tooke him vp : The firft word that he fpake was, Mellida ; And then he fwouned. 410

Me/I. Aye me !

Anto. Why figh yon, faire ?

Rofs. Nothing but little humours : good fweet,on.

Anto. His wounds being dreft, and life recouered, We gan difcourfe ; when loe, the fea grewe mad, His bowels rumbling with winde paffion,

Straight

Antonio and Mellida.

Straight fwarthy darknefle popt out Phoebus eye, And blurd the iocund face of bright cheekt day ; Whilit crudl'd fogges masked euen darknefle brow : Heauen bad's good night, and the rocks gron'd 4*0

At the inteftine vprore of the maine. Now guftie fiawes ftrook vp the very heeles Of our maine maft, whilft the keene lightning fhot Through the black bowels of the quaking ayre : Straight chops a waue, and in his fliftred panch Downe fals our fhip, and there he breaks his neck : Which in an inftant vp was belkt againe. When thus this martyrd foule began to ligh ; Giue me your hand (quoth he) now doe you grafpe Th'vnequall mirrour of ragg'd mifery : " 430

Is't not a horrid ftormer1 O, well fhap't fweete, (wouds, " Could your quicke^eye ftrike through thefe gained " You fhould beholde a heart, a heart, faire creature, Raging more wilde then is this franticke fea. VVolt doe me a fauour, if thou chance furuiue > But vilit Venice^ kifle the pretious white Of my moft ; nay all all Epithites are bale To attribute to gratious Mellida : Tell her the fpirit of Antonio

Wifheth his laft gafpe breath'd vpon her breaft. " 44° Rof. Why weepes foft hearted Florifell> Ant. Alas, the flintie rocks groand at his plaints. Tell her (quoth he) that her obdurate lire Hath crackt his bofome ; therewithall he wept, And thus figh't on. The fea is merciful ; Looke how it gapes to bury all my griefe :

€2 Well,

The firft part of

Well, thou (halt haue it, thou fhalt be his toumbe :

My faith in my loue liue ; in thee, dy woe,

Dye vnmatcht anguifh, dye Antonio :

With that he totterd from the reeling decke, 450

And downe he funke.

RoJJl Pleafures bodie, what makes my Lady weepe ?

Mell. Nothing, fweet Roffaline, but the ayer's fharpe. My fathers Palace, Madam, will be proud To entertaine your prefence, if youle daine To make repofe within. Aye me !

Ant. Ladie our fafhion is not curious.

Roff. Faith all the nobler, tis more generous.

Mell. Shall I then know how fortune fell at laft, What fuccour came, or what ft range fate infew'd ? 4<*°

Ant. Moft willingly : but this fame court is vaft, And publike to the ttaring multitude.

RoJJa. Sweet Lady, nay good fweet, now by my troth Weele be bedfellowes : durt on complement froth. Exeunt; Rojfaline giuing Antonio the way.

ACTVS SECVNDVS. *.,

Tf Enter Catzo (with a Capon) eating^ Dildo following

him. D/7.TTAH Catzo, your matter wants a cleane tren-

•tJ- cher : doe you heare ? 470

Balurdo cals for your diminutiue attendance. Catz. The belly hath no eares Dtldo. Dil. Good pugge giue me fome capon.

Catz. No

Antonio and Mellida.

Catz. No capon, no not a bitte yee fmooth bully; ca pon's no meat for Dildo: milke, milke,yee glibbery vr- chin, is foode for infants.

Dil. Vpon mine honour

Cat. Your honour with a paugh? flid, noweuery lack an Apes loads his backe with the golden coat of ho nour ; euery AfTe puts on the Lyons skinne and roars 480 his honour, vpon your honour. By my Ladies panta- ble, I feare 1 fhall liue to heare a Vintners boy cry ; tis rich neat Canary, vpon my honour.

Dil. My ftomack's vp.

Cat. I think thou art hungry.

Dil. The match of furie is lighted, faftned to the lin- ftock of rage, and will prefently fet fire to the touch- hole of intemperance, difcharging the double coulue- ring of my incenfement in the face of thy opprobrious fpeach. 49°

Cat. He ftop the barrell thus; god Dildo, fet notfireto the touch-hole.

Dil. My rage is ftopt, and I wil eate to the health of the foole thy mafter Caflilio.

Cat. And I will fuck the iuyce of the capon, to the health of the Idiot thy mafter Ealurdo.

Dil. Faith, our matters are like a cafe of Rapiers Ihea- thed in one fcabberd of folly.

Cat. Right dutch blades. But was't not rare fport at the fea-battle, whilft rounce robble hobble roard from joo the fhip fides, to viewe our matters pluck their plumes and droppe their feathers, for feare of being men of marke.

C \ Dil. Slud

The firft part of

Dill. Slud (cri'd Signior Balurdo) O for Don Befsiclers armour,in the Mirror of Knighthood : what coil's here ? O for an armour, Canon proofe : O, more cable, more fetherbeds, more fetherbeds, more cable, till hee had as much as my cable hatband, to fence him. If Enter Flauia in hafte^ with a rebato.

Catz. Buxome Flauia : can youfing? fong, fong. *10

Fla. My fweete Dildo^ I am not for you at this time : Madam RoJJhline ftayes for a frefh ruffe to appeare in the prefence : fweete away.

Dil. Twill not be fo put off, delicate, delicious, fpark eyed, fleek skind, fleder wafted, clean legd,rarely fhap't.

Fla. Who, He be at all your ieruice another feafon : nay faith trier's reafon in all things.

Dil. Would I were reafon then, that I might be in all things.

Cat. The breefe and the femiquauer is, wee muft 720 haue the defcant you made vpon our names, ere you depart.

Fla . Faith, the fong will feeme to come off hardly.

Catz. Troth not a whit, if you feeme to come off quickly.

Fla. Peart Catzo, knock it luftily then.

C A N T A N T. Tf Enter Forobofco^ with two torches : Caftilio Jinging fan-

tajlically : Roff aline running a Caranto pafe, and Balur-

do : Fetiche following, wondring at them all. 53°

Foro. Make place gentlemen j pages, hold torches, the prince approacheth the prefence.

'Dill. What fqueaking cart- wheel haue we here ? ha ?

Make

Antonio and Mellida.

Make place gentlemen, pages holde torches, the prince approacheth the prefence.

Rof. Faugh, what a Itrong fent's here, fome bodie vfeth to weare focks.

Bal. By this faire candle light, tis not my feete, I ne- uer wore focks iince I fuckt pappe.

Rofs. Sauourly put off. ?4°

Cajl. Hah, her wit ftings, blifters, galles off the skinne with the tart acrimony of her fharpe quicknefTe : by fweetenefTe, fhe is the very Pallas that flewe out of Iu- piters brainepan. Delicious creature, vouchfafe mee your feruice : by the puritie of bounty, I fhall be .proud of fuch bondage.

Rofs. I vouchfafe it ; be my flaue. SigniorBalurdo,w\\t thou be my feruant too ?

Ba. O god : forfoothin very good earneft,law, you wold make me as a man Ihould fay, as a man fhould fay. 550 Fe. Sludfweet beauty, will you deign him your feruice?

Rof. O,your foole is your only feruant. But good Fe- liche why art thou fo fad ? a pennie for thy thought, ma.

Fell. I fell not my thought fo cheap : I valewe my meditation at a higher rate.

Ball. In good fober fadnefle, fweet miftris, you fhould haue had my thought for a penny : by this crimfonSat- ten that coft eleuen millings, thirteene pence, three pence, halfe pennie a yard, that you fhould, law.

Rof. What was thy thought, good feruant? $<Jo

Ba. Marrieforfoothjhovv manie ftrikeof peafewould feed a hog fat againft Chriftide. (fence.

Ro. Paugh ; feruant rnboutmy rheum,itfoilesthepre-

€4 Caft.Ey

The firft part of

Cafli. By my wealthieft thought, you grace my fhoo with an vnmeafured honour : I will preferue the foale of it, as a moft facred relique, for this feruice.

Rcjf. He fpit in thy mouth, and thou wilt, to grace thee.

Feluh. O that the ftomack of this quealie age Digeftes, or brookes fuch raw vnfeafoned gobs, 570

And vomits not them forth ! O flauifh fots. Seruant quoth you ? faugh : if a dogge fhould craue And beg her feruice, he fhould haue it ilraight : Sheed giue him fauours too ; to lick her feete, Or fetch her fanne, or fome fuch drudgery : A good dogs office, which thefe amorills Tryumph of: tis rare, well giue her more Afle, More fot, as long as dropping of her nofe Is fworne rich pearle by fuch low flaues as thofe.

Rojf. Flauia, attend me to attire me. ?8o

Exit Roffaline and Flauia.

Balur. In fad good earneft, fir, you haue toucht the very bare of naked truth ; my filk (locking hath a good glofle, and I thanke my planets, my legge is not alto gether vnpropitioufly fhap't. There's a word : vnpro- pitioufly ? I thinke I lhall fpeake vnpropitioufly as well as any courtier in Italy.

Foro. So helpe me your fweete bounty, you haue the moll gracefull prefence, applafiue elecuty, amazing volubility, polifht adornation, delicious aifabilitie. 590

Fel. Whop : fut how he tickles yon trout vnder the gilles ! you lhall fee him take him by and by, with gro ping flattery.

Foro. That

Antonio and Mellida.

Foro. That euer rauifht the eare of wonder. By your fweete felfe, then whome I knowe not a more exquiiite, illuftrate, accomplifhed, pure, refpected, a- dor'd, obferued, pretious, reall, magnanimous, bofi- tious : if you haue an idle rich caft ierkin, or fo, it fhall not be caft away, if j hah ? heres a foreheade, an eye, a heade, a haire, that would make a : or if you haue a- 600 ny fpare paire of filuer fpurs, ile doe you as much right in all kinde offices

Pel. Of a kinde Parafite

Foro. As any of my meane fortunes fhall be able to

Balur. As I am true Chriftian now, thou haft wonne the fpurres

Fell. For flattery.

O how I hate that fame Egyptian loufe ; A rotten maggot, that lines by ftinking filtW Of tainted fpirits: vengeance to fuch dogs, I 610

That fprout by gnawing fenfelefle carion. ' Tf Enter Alberto.

Alb. Gallants, faw you my miftrefle, the Ladie Rof- f aline ?

Foro. My miftrefle, the Ladie Rojfaline, left the pre- fence euen now.

Caftt. My miftrefle, the Ladie Roffaline, withdrewe her gratious afpect euen now.

Balur. My miftrefle, the Ladie Roffaline, withdrewe her gratious afpect euen now. 610

Felich. Well faid eccho.

Alb. My miftrefle, and his miftrefle, and your mi ftrefle, & the dogs miftrefle : pretious dear heauen, that

D Alberto

Thefirft Parte of

Alberto liues, to haue fuch riuals.

Slid, I haue bin fearching euery priuate rome,

Corner, and fecret angle of the court :

And yet, and yet, and yet fhe liues conceal'd.

Good fweete Fetiche^ tell me how to finde

My bright fac't miftrefle out.

Pel. Why man, cry out for lanthorne and candle- light. For tis your onely way, to finde your bright fla ming wench, with your light burning torch : for moft commonly, thefe light creatures liue in darknefle.

Alb. Away you heretike, youle be burnt for

Pel. Goe, you amorous hound, follow the fent of your miftrefle Ihooe ; away.

Foro. Make a faire prefence, boyes, aduance your lightes : The Princefle makes approach.

Bal. And pleafe the gods, now in very good deede, 64o law, you fhal fee me tickle the meafures for the heaues. Doe my hangers fhowe ?

Tf Enter Pieroy Antonio^ Mellida, Rof saline^ Galeatzo, Mat- zagente, Alberto^ and Flauia. As they enter^ Fetiche^ & Caftilio make a rankefor the Duke topaffe through. Foro- bofco vjhers the Duke to his ft ate : then whilft Pierofpea- keth his firft fpeachy Mellida is taken by Galeatzo and Matzagente, to daunce ; they fupporting her : Rojfa- line^ in like maner, by Alberto and Balurdo : Flauia^ by Feliche and Caftilio.

Pier. Beauti-

Antonio and Mellida.

Pie. Beautious Amazon, fit, and feat your thoughts In the repofure of moft foft content. Sound mufick there. Nay daughter, cleare your eyes, From thefe dull fogs of miftie dif content : Look fprightly girl. What > though Antonio* s droun'd, That peeuilh aotard on thy excellence, That hated ifliie of Andrugio : Yet maift thou tryumph in my victories ; Since, loe, the high borne bloodes of Italy Sue for thy feate of loue. Let mujique found. 66°

Beautie and youth run defcant on loues ground.

Mafz. Ladie, erect your gratious fummetry : Shine in the fpheare of fweete affection : Your eye as heauie, as the heart of night.

Mel/. My thoughts are as black as your bearde, my fortunes as ill proportioned as your legs ; and all the powers of my minde, as leaden as your wit, and as duitie as your face is fwarthy.

Gal. Faith fweet,ile lay thee on the lips for that ieft.

Mell. I pree thee intrude not on a dead mans right. 67o

Gal. No, but the liuings iuft pofleflion. Thy lips, and loue, are mine.

Mell. Youneretookefeizinonthemyet: forbeare: There's not a vacant corner of my heart, But all is fild with deade Antonios lofle. Then vrge no more ; O leaue to loue at all ; Tis lefle difgracefull, not to mount, then fail.

Mat. Bright and refulgent Ladie, daine your eare : You fee this blade, had it a courtly lip, It would diuulge my valour, plead my loue, 680

D 2 luftle

Thefirft Parte of

luftle that skipping feeble amorift

Out of your loues feat; I am Matzagent. (eare

Gale. Harke thee, I pray thee taint not thy fweete With that fots gabble ; By thy beautious cheeke, He is the flagging'ft bulrufh that ere droopt With each flight mift of raine. But with pleaf'd eye Smile on my courtfhippe.

Mel. What faid you fir ? alas my thought wax fixt Vpon another obiect. Good, forbeare : I lhall but weepe. Aye me, what bootes a teare ! Come, come, lets daunce. O muficke thou diltilPft More fweetnefle in vs then this iarring world : Both time and meafure from thy ftraines doe breath, Whilft from the channell of this durt doth flowe Nothing but timelefle griefe, vnmeafured woe.

Anto. O how impatience cramps my cracked veins, And cruddles thicke my blood, with boiling rage !

0 eyes, why leape you not like thunderbolts, Or canon bullets in my riuals face ;

Oy me infeliche mifero^ o lamenteuol fato ! 7oo

Alber. What meanes the Lady fal vpon the groud > Rojf. Belike the falling ficknefle. (wilde :

Anto. I cannot brooke this light, my thoughts grow

Here lies a wretch, on whome heauen neuer fmilde. Rojf. What feruant, nere a word, and I here man ?

1 would fhoot fome fpeach forth, to llrike the time With pleafing touch of amorous complement.

Say fweete, wliat keepes thy minde, what think'ft thou Alb. Nothing. on?

Roffa. Whats that nothing ? 710

Alb. A

Antonio and Mellida.

Alb. A womans conftancie.

Rojfa. Good, why, would'ft thou haue vs fluts, & ne- uer fhift the veftur of our thoughts ? Away for fhame.

Alb. O no, thart too conftant to afflict my heart, Too too firme fixed in vnmooued fcorne.

RoJjT. Pifh, pifh ; I fixed in vnmooued fcorne ? Why, He loue thee to night.

Alb. But whome to morrow >

RoJ/T. Faith, as the toy puts me in the head.

Bal. And pleafed the marble heauens, now would I might be the toy, to put you in the head, kindly to con- ceipt my my my : pray you giue in an Epithite for

Pel. Roaring, roaring. (loue.

O loue thou haft murdred me, made me a fliadowe, and you heare not Balurdo, but Balurdos ghoft.

Rojfa. Can a ghoft fpeake ?

Bal. Scuruily, as I doe.

Rojf. And walke?

Bal. After their fafhion.

Roff. And eate apples ? 73°

Bal. In a fort, in their garbe.

Feli. Free thee Flauia be my miftrefle.

Fla. Your reafon, good Fetiche >

Fel. Faith, I haue nineteene miftrefles alreadie, and I not much difdeigne that thou fhold'ft make vp the ful fcore.

Fla. Oh, I heare you make common places of your miftrefles, to performe the office of memory by. Pray you, in auncient times were not thofe fatten hofe ? In good faith, now they are new dyed, pinkt & fcoured, 740

D 3 they

Thefirft Parte of

they fhowe as well as if they were new. What, mute Balurdo >

Fell. I in faith,& twere not forprinting,and painting, my breech, and your face would be out of reparation.

Sal. I, an faith, and twere not for printing, & poin ting, my breech, and your face would be out of repa ration.

Pel. Good againe, Echo.

Fla. Thou art, by nature, too foule to be affected.

Felt. And thou, by Art, too faire to be beloued. 7?° By wits life, moft fparke fpirits, but hard chance. La ty dine.

fie. Gallants, the night growes old ; & downy fleep Courts vs, to entertaine his company : Our tyred lymbes, bruf'd in the morning fight, Intreat foft reft, and gentle hufht repofe. Fill out Greeke wines ; prepare frefh creffit-light : Weele haue a banquet : Princes, then good night.

U The Cornets found a Synnet, and the Duke goes out in ftate. As they are going out^ Antonio ftayes Mellida : 760 the reft Exeunt.

(you ? An. What meanes thefe fcattred looks ? why tremble

Why quake your thoughts, in your diltracted eyes ?

Collect your fpirits, Madam ; what doe you fee ?

Doft not beholde a ghoft ?

Look, look where he ftalks, wrapt vp in clouds of grief,

Darting his fowle, vpon thy wondring eyes.

Looke, he comes towards thee; fee, he ftretcheth out

His

Antonio and Mellida.

Hrs wretched armes to girt thy loued waite, 770

With a moft wilht embrace : fee'ft him not yet >

Nor yet ? Ha, Mellida ; thou well maift erre :

For looke ; he walkes not like Antonio :

Like that Antonio, that this morning fhone,

In glittering habilliments of armes,

To feize his loue, fpight of her fathers fpite :

But like himfelfe, wretched, and miferable,

Banifht, forlorne, defpairing, ftrook quite through,

With finking griefe, rowld vp in feauen-fould doubles

Of plagues, vanquifhable : harke, he fpeakes to thee. 78o

Mell. Alas, I can not heare, nor fee him.

Anto. Why > al this night about the roome he ftalkt, And groand, and houl'd, with raging paffion, To view his loue (life blood of all his hopes, Crowne of his fortunes) clipt by ftrangers armes. Looke but behinde thee.

Mel. O, Antonio ; my Lord, my Loue, my

An. Leaue paffion, fweet ; for time, place,aire, &earth, Are all our foes : feare, and be iealous j faire, Lets fly. 79°

Mell. Deare heart ; ha, whether ?

Anio. O, tis no matter whether, but lets fly. Ha ! now I thinke ont, I haue nere a home : No father, friend, no country to imbrace Thefe wretched limbes : the world, the All that is, Is all my foe : a prince not worth a doite : Onelie my head is hoifed to high rate, Worth twentie thoufand double Piftolets, To him that can but ftrike it from thefe ihoulders.

D4 But

Thefirft Parte of

But come fweete creature, thou fhalt be my home ; 800

My father, country, riches, and my friend :

My all, my foule ; and thou and I will Hue :

(Lets thinke like what) and thou and I will liue

Like vnmatcht mirrors of calamitie.

The iealous eare of night eaue-drops our talke.

Holde thee,thers a iewell ; & look thee,thers a note

That will direct thee when, where, how to fly ;

Bid me adieu.

Mell. Farewell bleak mifery.

Anto. Stay fweet, lets kifle before you goe. 810

Mel: Farewell deare foule.

Anto. Farewell my life, my heart.

ACTVS TERTIVS. u,.

\ Enter Andrugio in armour ', Lucio with a Jheepeheard gowne in his band^ and a Page.

(flakes,

Andr. T S not yon gleame, the flmddering morne that J^ With filuer tinctur, the eaft vierge of heauen?

Lu. I thinke it is,fo pleafe your excellence. Andr. Away, I haue no excellence to pleafe. 8io

Free the obferue the cuftome of the world, That onely flatters greatnefle, States exalts. And pleafe my excellence ! O Lucio. Thou haft bin euer held refpected deare, Euen pretious to Andrugios inmoft loue. Good, flatter not. Nay, if thou giu'ft not faith That I am wretched, O read that, read that.

Piero

Antonio and Mellida.

Piero Sforza, to the Italian Princes, fortune.

EXCELLENT^ the iufi ouerthrowe, Andrugio 83 tooke in the Venetian gulfe, bath fo ajjured the Geno- waies of the iuflice of his caufe, and the hatefulnejfe of his perfon, that they haue bani/hthim and all his family : and, for confirmation of their peace with vs, haue vowed, that if he, or hisfonne, can be attached, to fend vs both their heads. Wee therefore, by force of our vnited league, forbid you to harbour him, or his blood: but if you apprehend his perfon, we intreatyou to fend him, or his head, to vs. For wee vorve by the honour of our blood, to recompense any man that bringeth his head, with twentie thoufand double Piftolets, g4 and the indeering to our choyfefl loue.

From Venice : PIERO SFORZA.

Andr. My thoughts are fixt in contemplation Why this huge earth, this monltrous animal, That eates her children, fhould not haue eyes & ears. Philofophie maintaines that Natur's wife, And formes no vfelefle or vnperfect thing. Did Nature make the earth, or the earth Nature ? For earthly durt makes all things, makes the man, Moulds me vp honour; and like a cunning Dutchma, Paints me a puppit euen with feeming breath, And giues a fot appearance of a foule. Goe to, goe to -, thou lieft Philofophy.

E Nature

The jfirfl part of

Nature formes things vnperfect, vfelefle, vaine. Why made fhe not the earth with eyes and eares ? That fhe might fee defert, and heare mens plaints : That when a foule is fplitted, funke with griefe, He might fall thus, vpon the breaft of earth ; And in her eare, halloo his mifery : Exclaming thus. O thou all bearing earth, (mouths, 8£o Which men doe gape for, till thou cramft their And choakft their throts with duft : Ochaune thy breft, And let me iinke into thee. Looke who knocks j Andrugio cals. But O, (he's deafe and blinde. A wretch, but leane reliefe on earth can finde.

Lu. Sweet Lord, abandon paffion, and difarme. Since by the fortune of the tumbling lea, We are rowl'd vp, ypon the Venice marfh, Lets clip all fortune, leaft more lowring fate

And. More lowring fate? O Lucio, choakthat breath. 870 Now I defie chaunce. Fortunes browe hath frown'd, Euen to the vtmoft wrinkle it can bend : Her venom's fpit. Alas, what country refts, What fonne, what comfort that fhe can depriue ? Tryumphes not Venice in my ouerthrow ? Gapes not my natiue country for my blood? Lies not my fonne tomb'd in the fwelling maine ? And yet more lowring fate ? There's nothing left Vnto Andrugio^ but Andrugio :

And that nor mifchief, force, diftrefle,nor helcan take. 880 Fortune my fortunes, not my minde fhall fhake. Lu. Speake like your felfe: but giue me leaue,my Lord, To wifh your fafetie. If you are but feene,

Your

Antonio and Mellida.

Your armes difplay you ; therefore put them off, And take (foes?

And. Would'ft thou haue me go vnarm'd amongmy Being befieg'd by paffion, entring lifts, To combat with defpaire and mightie griefe : My foule beleaguerd with the crufhing ftrength Of lharpe impatience. Ha Lucio^ goe vnarm'd ? 890

Come foule, refume the valour of thy brith ; My lelfe, my felfe will dare all oppolits : He mutter forces, an vnuanquifht power : Cornets of horfe mail prefle th'vngratefull earth ; This hollow wombed mafle mail inly grone, And murmur to fuftaine the waight of armes : Gaftly amazement, with vpftarted haire, Shall hurry on before, and v flier vs, Whil'ft trumpets clamour, with a found of death.

Lu. Peace, good my Lord, your fpeach is al too light. 900 Alas, furuey your fortunes, looke what's left Of all your forces, and your vtmoft hopes > A weake old man, a Page, and your poore felfe.

And. Andrugio Hues, and a faire caufe of armes, Why that's an armie all inuincible. He who hath that, hath a battalion Royal, armour of proofe, huge troups of barbed fteeds, Maine fquares of pikes, millions of harguebulh. O, a faire caule ftands firme, and will abide. Legions of Angels fight vpon her fide. 910

Lu. Then, noble fpirit,flide in ftrange difguife, Vnto fome gratious Prince, and foiourne there, Till time, and fortune giue reuenge firme meanes.

£2 And. No

The firft part of

And. No, ile not truft the honour of a man : Golde is growne great, and makes perfdioufneffe A common water in moft Princes Courts : He's in the Chekle-roule : Ile not truft my blood ; I know none breathing, but will cogge a dye For twentie thoufand double Piftolets. How goes the time? 9io

Luc. I faw no funne to day.

And. No fun wil fhine, where poor Andrugio breaths. My foule growes heauie : boy let's haue a fong : Weele ling yet, faith, euen defpite of fate.

C A N T A N T.

And. Tis a good boy, & by my troth, well fung. O, and thou felt'ft my griefe, I warrant thee, Thou would'ft haue ftrook diuilion to the height ; And made the life of muficke breath: hold boy: why fo? For Gods fake call me not Andrugio^ 930

That I may foone forget what I haue bin. For heauens name, name not Antonio ; That I may not remember he was mine. Well, ere yon funne fet, ile (hew my felfe my felfe, Worthy my blood. I was a Duke ; that's all. No matter whether, but from whence we fall. Exeunt.

U Enter Fetiche walking^ vnbraft. in.

Fe. Caftilio ? Alberto ? Balurdo ? none vp ? Forobofco ? Flattery, nor thou vp yet : Then there's no Courtier ftirring : that's firme truth ? 940 I cannot fleepe : Fetiche feldome refts

In

Antonio and Mellida.

In thefe court lodgings. I haue walkt all night,

To fee if the nocturnall court delights

Could force me enuie their felicitie :

And by plaine troth j I will confefle plaine troth :

I enuie nothing, but the Trauenfe light.

O, had it eyes, and eares, and tongues, it might

See fport, heare fpeach of moft ftrange furquedries.

O, if that candle-light were made a Poet,

He would prooue a rare firking Satyrift, 9*°

And drawe the core forth of impoftum'd fin.

Well, I thanke heauen yet, that my content

Can enuie nothing, but poore candle-light.

As for the other glittering copper fpangs,

That gliften in the tyer of the Court,

Praife God, I eyther hate, or pittie them.

Well, here ile fleepe till that the fceane of vp

Is paft at Court. O calme hufht rich content,

Is there a being bleflednefle without thee ? (reft>

How foft thou down'ft the couch where thou dolt 96°

Nectar to life, thou fweet Ambrofian feaft.

If Enter Cajlilio and bis Page : Caflilio with a cafting bottle of fweete water in his nand^ Crinkling himfelfe.

Cafl. Am not I a moft fweete youth now ?

Cat. Yes, when your throat's perfum'd ; your verie Doe fmell of Amber greece. O flay fir, ftay ; (words Sprinkle fome fweete water to your Ihooes heeles. That your miftrefle may fwear you haue a fweet foot.

Cafl. Good, very good, very paffing paffinggood.

E 3 Pel.

The firft part of

Pel. Fut,what trebble minikin fqueaks there,ha? good? 970 very good, very very good >

Caflt. I will warble to the delicious concaue of my Miftrefle eare : and ftrike her thoughts with The pleafing touch of my voice.

C A N T A N T.

Cafl. Fetiche^ health, fortune, mirth, and wine,

Pel. To thee my loue diuine.

Cafl. I drinke to thee, fweeting.

Pel. Plague on thee for an Afle.

Cafl. Now thou haft feene the Court ; by the perfec- 980 ction of it, doft not enuie it >

Pel I wonder it doth not enuie me. Why man, I haue bene borne vpon the fpirits wings, The foules fwift Pe?afusy the fantaile : And from the height of contemplation, Haue view'd the feeble ioynts men totter on. I enuie none ; but hate, or pittie all. For when I viewe, with an intentiue thought, That creature faire ; butproud ; him rich, but fot : Th'other wittie ; but vnmeafured arrogant : 99°

Him great ; yet boundlefle in ambition : Him high borne ; but of bafe life : to'ther feard ; Yet feared feares, and fears moft, to be molt loued : Him wife ; but made a foole for publick vfe : Th'other learned, but felfe-opinionate : When I difcourfe all thefe, and fee my felfe Nor faire, nor rich, nor wittie, great, nor fear'd :

Yet

Antonio and Mellida.

Yet amply futed, with all full content : Lord, how I clap my hands, and fmooth my brow, Rubbing my quiet bofbme, tolling vp rooo

A gratefull fpirit to omnipotence !

Caft. Ha, ha : but if thou knew'ft my happinefle, Thou wouldft euen grate away thy foule to duft, In enuy of my fweete beatitude : I can not ileepe for kifles ; I can not reft For Ladies letters, that importune me With fuch vnufed vehemence of loue, Straight to folicit them, that

Fell. Confufion feize me, but I thinke thou lyeft. Why fhould I not be fought to then afwell? IQIO

Put, me thinks, I am as like a man. Troth, I haue a good head of haire, a cheeke Not as yet wan'd ; a legge, faith, in the full. I ha not a red beard, take not tobacco much : And Slid, for other parts of manlinefie

Cafl. Pew waw, you nere accourted them in pompe :

Put your good parts in prefence, gratioufly. Ha, and you had, why they would ha come of, sprung To your armes : and fu'd,and prai'd, andvow'd ; Iol°

And opened all their fweetnefle to your loue.

Pel. There are a number of fuch things, as then Haue often vrg'd me to fuch loofe beliefe : But S'lid you all doe lye, you all doe lie. I haue put on good cloathes, and fmugd my face, Strook a faire wench, with a fmart fpeaking eye : Courted in all forts, blunt, and paffionate ;

E4 Had

The firft part of

Had opportunitie put them to the ah : And, by this light, I finde them wondrous chafte, Impregnable ; perchance a kifle, or fo : 1030

But for the reft, O moft inexorable.

Cafl. Nay then ifaith, pree thee looke here. If Shelves him thefuperfcription ofafeeming Letter.

Fel. To her moft efleemed^ lou?d^ and generous feruant, Sig. Caflilio Balthazar.

Pree the from whome comes this ? faith I muft fee. From her that is denoted to thee^ in mojl priuatefrveetes of loue^ Roffaline.

Nay, god's my comfort, I muft fee the reft ; I muft,/^;// ceremonie, faith I muft. I04°

Fetiche takes arvay the letter by force.

Cafl. O, you fpoyle my ruffe, vnfet my haire ; good away.

Fel. Item for ftrait canuas, thirteene pence, halfe penny. Item for an elle and a halfe of taffata to couer your olde canuas dubblet, foureteen millings, & three pence. S'light, this a tailors bill.

Cafl. In footh it is the outfide of her letter; on which I tooke the copie of a tailors bill.

Dil. But tis not croft, I am fure of that. Lord haue mercie on him, his credit hath giuen vp the laft gafpe. Faith ile leaue him ; for hee lookes as melancholy as a wench the firft night me Exit.

Feli. Honeft musk-cod, twill not be fo ftitched toge ther ; take that, and that, and belie no Ladies loue : fweare no more by lefu : this Madam, that Ladie ; hence goe, forfweare the prefence, trauaile three years

to

Antonio and Mellida.

to bury this baftinado : atioide, puffe pafte, auoide.

Caffl. And tell not my Ladie mother. Well, as I am true gentleman, if fhe had not wild me on her bleffing, 1060 not to fpoyle my face ; if I could not finde in my heart to fight, would I might nere eate a Potatoe pye more.

If Enter Balurdo, backward; Dildo following him with a looking glajfe in one hand, & a candle in the other hand: Flauia following him backward^ with a looking glajfe in one hand, and a candle in the other ; Rojfaline following her. Balurdo and Rojfaline ftand fetting of faces : andfo the Sceane begins.

o

Pel. More foole, more rare fooles ! O, for time and place, long enough, and large enough, to acte thefe 1070 fooles ! Here might be made a rare Scene of folly, if the plat could beare it.

Bal. By the fuger-candy sky, holde vp the glafle higher, that I may Tee to fweare in fafliion. O, one loofe more would ha made them fhine ; gods neakes, they would haue ftione like my myltreile browe. Euen fo the Duke frownes for all this Curlbnd world : oh that gerne kils, it kils. By my golden What's the richeft thing about me >

Dil. Your teeth. I08o

Bal. By my golden teeth, hold vp j that I may put in : hold vp, I fay, that I may fee to put on my gloues.

Dil. O,delicious fweet cheekt mafter,if you difcharge but one glance from the leuell of that fet face : O, you will ftrike a wench j youle make any wench loue you.

F Balur. By

The firft Parte of

Balur. By lefu, I think I am as elegant a Courtier, as How lik'ft thou my fuite >

Catz. All, beyond all, noperegal: you are wondred at, for an aile.

Eal. Well, Dildoy no chriften creature fhall knowe 1090 hereafter, what I will doe for thee heretofore.

Rof. Here wants a little white, Flauia.

Dil. I, but mafter,you haue one little fait ; you fleepe open mouth'd.

Ball. Pewe, thou ieftft. In good fadnefle, He haue a looking glafle nail'd to the the teftarn of the bed, that I may fee when I fleep, whether tis fb, or not; take heed you lye not : goe to, take heede you lie not.

Fla. By my troth,you looke as like the princefle,now I, but her lip is lip is a little redder, a very little redder : but by the helpe of Art, or Nature, ere I chage my perewigge, mine fhall be as red Fla. O, I, that face,that eye,that fmile,that writhing of your bodie, that wanton dandling of your fan, becoms prethely, fo fweethly, tis euen the goodeft Ladie that breathes, the moft amiable Faith the fringe of

your fattin peticote is ript. Good faith madam, they fay you are the moft bounteous Lady to your women, that euer O moft delitious beautie ! Good Madam

let me kith it.

H Enter Piero.

Felt. Rare fport, rare fport ! A female foole,and a fe male flatterer.

Roff. Bodie a mee, the Duke : away the glafle. Pie. Take vp your paper, Rojfaline.

Raff. Not

Antonio and Mellida.

Rojfa. Not mine, my Lord.

Pie. Not yours, my Ladie ? He fee what tis.

Bat. And how does my fweete miftrefle ? O Ladie deare, euen as tis an olde fay, Tis an old horfe can nei ther wighy, nor wagge his taile : euen fo doe I holde my let face ftill : euen fo, tis a bad courtier that can nei ther difcourfe, nor blow his nofe.

Pie. Meet me at Abrahams, the lewes, where I bought my Amazons difguife. A fhippe lies in the port, ready bound for England ; make hafte, come priuate.

^f Enter Caflilio, Forobofco.

Antonio, Forobofco, Alberto, Felicbe, Caftilio, Balurdo ? run, keepe the Palace, poft to the ports, goe to my daugh ters chamber : whether now ? feud to the lewes, ftay, runne to the gates, ftop the gundolets, let none pafle 1130 the marfh, doe all at once. Antonio ? his head, his head. Keep you the Court, the reft ftand ftill, or runne, or goe, or fhoute, or learch, or feud, or call, or hang, or doe doe doe, fu fu fu, fomthing : I know not who who who, what I do do do, nor who who who, where I am.

0 trifta traditriche, rea, ribalda fortuna, Negando mi vindetta mi caufafera morte.

Fd. Ha ha ha. I could breake my fplene at his im patience. 1140

Anto. Alma & gratiofa fortuna Jiate fauorevole, Et fortunati Jiano vuoti del mia dulce Mellida, Mel lida.

Mel. Alas Antonio, I haue loft thy note.

Thefirjt Parte of

A number mount my ftaires ; ile ftraight returne.

Pel. Antonio ^

Be not affright, fweete Prince ; appeafe thy feare, Buckle thy fpirits vp, put all thy wits In wimble action, or thou art furpriz'd.

Anto. I care not.

Pel. Art mad, or defperate ? or

Anto. Both,both,all,all : I pree theelet meely ; Spight of you all, I can, and I will dy.

Pel. You are diitraught j O, this is madnefle breath.

An. Each man take hence life, but no man death : Hee's a good fellow, and keepes open houfe : A thoufand thoufand waies lead to his gate, To his wide mouth'd porch : when niggard life Hath but one little, little wicket through. We wring our felues into this wretched world, To pule, and weepe, exclaime, to curfe and raile, To fret, and ban the fates, to ftrike the earth As I doe now. Antonio, curfe thy birth, And die.

Pel. Nay, heauens my comfort, now you are peruerfe ; You know I alwaies lou'd you ; pree thee Hue. Wilt thou ftrike deade thy friends, drawe mourning teares

An. Alas, Fetiche, I ha nere a friend ; No country, father, brother, kinfman left To weepe my fate, or figh my funerall : I roule but vp and downe, and fill a feat In the darke caue of dusky mifery. (^ey>

Feli. Fore heauen,the Duke comes: hold you, take my

Slinke

Antonio and Mellida.

Slinke to my chamber, looke you ; that is it :

There fhall you finde a fuite I wore at fea :

Take it, and flippe away. Nay, pretious,

If youle be peeuifh, by this light, He fweare,

Thou raiPdft vpon thy loue before thou dyedft,

And call'd her ftrumpet. 1180

Ant. Sheele not credit thee.

Pel. Tut, that's all one : ile defame thy loue ; And make thy deade trunke held in vile regard.

Ant. Wilt needs haue it fo > why then Antonio^ Viue efperanza^ in defpetto dellfato.

U Enter Pieroy Galeatzo^ Matzagente, Forobofco, Ba- lurdo, and Caftilio^ with weapons.

Piero. O,my fweet Princes, was't not brauely found ? Euen there I found the note, euen there it lay. I kifle the place for ioy, that there it lay. o

This way he went, here let vs make a ftand : Ile keepe this gate my felfe : O gallant youth ! Ile drinke caroufe vnto your countries health,

^[ Enter Antonio. Euen in Antonio*s {cull.

Sal. Lord blefle vs : his breath is more fearefull then a Sergeants voice, when he cries ; I arreft.

Ant. Stoppe Antonio^ keepe, keepe Antonio.

Piero. Where, where man, where ?

Ant. Here, here : let me me purfue him downe the marfh.

Pie. Hold, there's my fignet, take a gundelet :

F 3 Bring

Thefirft Parte of

Bring me his head, his head, and by mine honour, He make thee the wealthieft Mariner that breathes.

Anto. lie fweate my bloode out, till I haue himfafe.

Pie. Speake heartily ifaith, good Mariner. O, wee will mount in tryumph : foone, at night, He fet his head vp. Lets thinke where.

Bat. Vp on his fhoulders, that's the fitteft place for it. If it be not as fit as if it were made for them; fay, Ba- lurdo, thou art a fot, an afle.

If Enter Mellida in Pages attire, dauncing.

Pie. Sprightly, ifaith. In troth he's fomwhat like My daughter Mellida : but alas poore foule, Her honour heeles, god knowes, are halfe fo light.

Mel. Efcap't I am, fpite of my fathers fpight.

Pie. Ho, this will warme my bofome ere I fleepe. If Enter Flauia running.

Fla. O my Lorti, your daughter.

Pie. I, I, my daughter's fafe enough, I warrant thee. This vengeance on the boy will lengthen out My daies vnmeafuredly. It fhall be chronicled, time to come ; Piero Sforza flewe Andrugio's fonne.

Fla. I, but my Lord, your daughter.

Pie. I, I, my good wench, fhe is fafe enough.

Fla. O, then, my Lord, you know fhe's run away.

Pie. Run away, away, how run away ? (ther.

Fla. She's vanifht in an inftante, none knowes whe-

Pie. Purfue, purfue, fly, run, poft, feud away. 1130

^f Fetiche Jing; And was not good king Salomon. Fly, call, run, rowe,ride, cry,ihout,hurry,hafte :

Hafte

Antonio and Mellida.

Hafte, hurry, fhoute, cry, ride, rowe, run, call, fly Backward and forward, euery way about. Maldetta fortuna chy condura forta Che faro, che diroypurfugir tanto mall

Cafl. Twas you that ftrnck me euen now: was it not?

Fel. It was I that ft ruck you euen now.

Cafl. You baftinadoed me, I take it.

Fel. I baftinadoed you, and you tooke it.

Cafl. Faithfir, I haue the richeft Tobacco inthecourt for you; I would be glad to make you fatisfaction, if I haue wronged you. I would not the Sun mould fet v- pon your anger ; giue me your hand.

Fel. Content faith, fo thou'lt breede no more fuch I hate not man, but mans lewd qualities. (lies.

ACTVS QVARTVS.

T[ Enter Antonio^ in hisfea gowne running. Ant. OTOP, flop Antonio^ ftay Antonio.

^Vaine breath, vaine breath, Antonio's loft; He can not finde himfelfe, not feize himfelfe. • Alas, this that you fee, is not Antonio^ His fpirit houers in Piero's Court, Hurling about his agill faculties, To apprehend the fight of Mellida : But poore, poore foule, wanting apt inftruments To fpeake or fee, ftands dumbe and blinde, fad fpirit, Roul'd vp in gloomie clouds as black as ayer, Through which the ruftie coach of Night is drawne : Tis fo, ile giue you inftance that tis fo.

F 4 Con-

iv. /

Thejirft Parte of

Conceipt you me. As hauing clafp't a rofe

Within my palme, the rofe being tane away,

My hand retaines a little breath of fweete :

So may mans trunke ; his fpirit flipt awaie,

Holds ftill a faint perfume of his fweet gheft.

Tis fo ; for when difcurfiue powers flie out,

And rome in progrefle, through the bouds of heauen,

The foule it felfe gallops along with them,

As chiefetaine of this winged troope of thought,

Whilft the dull lodge of fpirit ftandeth wafte, 1170

Vntill the foule returne from What waft I faid ?

O, this is naught, but fpeckling melancholic.

I haue beene

That Morpheus tender skinp Cofen germane

Beare with me good

Mellida : clod vpon clod thus fall.

Hell is beneath $ yet heauen is ouer all.

If Enter Andrugio^ Lucio, Coley and Norrvod. And. Come Lucio^ lets goe eat : what haft thou got > Rootes, rootes ? alas, they are feeded, new cut vp. O, thou haft wronged Nature, Lucio : But bootes not much j thou but purfu'ft the world, That cuts off vertue, fore it comes to growth, Leaft it mould feed, and fo orerun her fonne, Dull pore-blinde error. Giue me water, boy. There is no poifon in't I hope, they fay That lukes in maflie plate : and yet the earth Is fo infected with a generall plague, That hee's moft wife, that thinks there's no man foole:

Right

Antonio and Mellida.

Right prudent, that efteemes no creature iuft : 1*90

Great policy the lead things to miftruil.

Giue me Aflay How we mock greatnefle now !

Lu. A ftrong conceipt is rich, fo moft men deeme : If not to be, tis comfort yet to feeme.

And. Why man, I neuer was a Prince till now. Tis not the bared pate, the bended knees, Guilt tipftaues, Tyrrian purple, chaires of ftate, Troopes of pide butterflies, that flutter ftill In greatnefle fummer, that confirme a prince : Tis not the vnfauory breath of multitudes, 1300

Showting and clapping, with confufed dinne ; That makes a Prince. No Lucio^ he's a king, A true right king, that dares doe aught, faue wrong, Feares nothing mortall, but to be vniuft, Who is not blowne vp with the flattering puffes Of fpungy Sycophants : Who ftands vnmou'd, Defpight the iultling of opinion : Who can enioy himfelfe, maugre the throng That ftriue to prefle his quiet out of him : Who fits vpon hues footeftoole, as I doe, 1310

Adoring, not affecting, maieftie : Whofe brow is wreathed with the filuer crowne Of cleare content : this, Lucio^ is a king. And of this empire, euery man's poflelt, That's worth his foule.

Lu. My Lord, the Genowaies had wont to fay

And. Name not the Genowaies : that very word Vnkings me quite, makes me vile paflions flaue. O, you that made open the glibbery Ice

G Of

The Jirft part of

Of vulgar fauour, vie we Andrugio. J320

Was neuer Prince with more applaufe confirm'd,

With louder fhouts of tryumph launched out

Into the furgy maine of gouernment :

Was neuer Prince with more defpight caft out,

Left fhipwrackt, banifht, on more guiltlefle ground.

O rotten props of the craz'd multitude,

How you ftil double, faulter, vnder the lighteft chance

That ftraines your vaines. Alas, one battle loft,

Your whorifh loue, your drunken healths, your houts

and fhouts, r33°

Your fmooth God faue's, and all your diuels laft

That tempts our quiet, to your hell of throngs.

Spit on me Lucio, for 1 am turnd flaue :

Obferue how paffion domineres ore me.

Lu. No wonder, noble Lord, hauing loft a fonne, A country, crowne, and

And. 1 Lucio, hauing loft a fonne, a fonne, A country, houfe, crowne, fonne. 0 lares, mifereri lares. Which mall I firft deplore > My fonne, my fonne, My deare fweete boy, my deare Antonio. J34<>

Ant. Antonio ?

And. I, eccho, I ; I meane Antonio.

Ant. Antonio, who meanes Antonio ?

And. Where art ? what art ? know'ft thou Antonio >

Ant. Yes.

And. Liues hee ?

Ant. No.

And. Where lies hee deade ?

Ant. Here.

And.

Antonio and Mellida.

And. Where? '3*°

Ant. Here.

Andr. Art thou Antonio ?

Ant. I thinke I am. (felfe ?

And. Doft thou but think? What, doft not know thy

Ant. He is a foole that thinkshe knowes himfelfe.

And. Vponthy faith to heauen, giue thy name.

Ant. I were not worthy of Andrugio's blood, If I denied my name's Antonio.

And. I were not worthy to be calPd thy father, If I denied my name Andrugio. 116°

And doft thou liue ? O, let me kifle thy cheeke, And deaw thy browe with trickling drops of ioy. Now heauens will be done : for I haue liu'd To fee my ioy, my fonne Antonio. Giue me thy hand ; now fortune doe thy worft, His blood, that lapt thy fpirit in the wombe, Thus (in his loue) will make his armes thy tombe.

Ant. Blefle not the bodie with your twining armes, Which is accurft of heauen. O, what black finne Hath bin committed by our auntient houfe, 1370

Whofe fcalding vengeance lights vpon our heads, That thus the world, and fortune cafts vs out, As loathed obiects, ruines branded flaues.

And. Doe not expoftulate the heauens will : But, O, remember to forget thy felfe : Forget remembrance what thou once haft bin. Come, creepe with me from out this open ay re. Euen trees haue tongues, and will betray our life- I am a railing of our houfe, my boy :

G 2 Which

The firft part of

Which fortune will not enuie, tis fo meane, 1380

And like the world (all durt) there lhalt thou rippe The inwards of thy fortunes, in mine eares, Whilft I fit weeping, blinde with paffions teares : Then ile begin, and weele fuch order keepe, That one fhall ftill tell greefes, the other weepe.

If Exit Afidrugio, leaning Antonio^ and his Page. Ant. Ile follow you. Boy, pree thee ftay a little. Thou haft had a good voice, if this colde marfhe, Wherein we lurke, haue not corrupted it. Tf Enter Mellida^flanding out ofj/ght^ in her Pages fuite. 1390 I pree thee ling, but lirra (marke you me) Let each note breath the heart of paflion, The fad extracture of extreameft griefe. Make me a ftraine ; Ipeake, groning like a bell, That towles departing foules. Breath me a point that may inforce me weepe, To wring my hands, to breake my curfed breaft, Raue, and exclaime, lie groueling on the earth, Straight ftart vp frantick, crying, Mellida. Sing but, Antomo hath loft Mellida^ 1400

And thou (halt fee mee (like a man polled) Howie out fuch paflion, that euen this brinifh marlh Will fqueafe out teares, from out his fpungy cheekes, The rocks euen groane, and Pree thee, pree thee ling : Or I lhall nere ha done when I am in. Tis harder for me end, then to begin.

H The boy runnes a note^ Antonio breakes it. For Ipoke thee boy, my griefe that hath no end,

I

Antonio and Mellida.

I may begin to playne, but pree thee fing. 1410

C A N T A N T.

Mel/. Heauen keepe you fir.

An. Heauen keepe you from me, fir.

Mell. I mull be acquainted with you, fir.

Ant. Wherefore ? Art thou infected with mifery, SearM with the anguifli of calamitie ? Art thou true forrow, hearty griefe, canft weepe ? I am not for thee if thou canft not raue, ^ Antonio fa/s on the ground.

Fall flat on the ground, and thus exclaime on heauen ; 1410 O trifling Nature, why enfpiredft thou breath

Mell. Stay fir, I thinke you named Mellida.

Ant. Know'ft thou Mellida >

Mel. Yes.

Ant. Haft thou feene Mellida ?

Mell. Yes.

Ant. Then haft thou feene the glory of her fex, The mufick of Nature, the vnequall'd luftre Of vnmatched excellence, the vnited fweete Of heauens graces, the moft adored beautie, J43°

That euer ftrooke amazement in the world.

Mell. You feeme to loue her.

Ant. With my very foule.

Mell. Shele not requite it : all her loue is fixt Vpon a gallant, on Antonio, The Duke ofGenoas fonne. I was her Page : And often as 1 waited, me would figh ;

G3 O

The firft part of

O, deere Antonio ; and to ftrengthen thought,

Would clip my neck, and kifle, and kifle me thus.

Therefore leaue louing her : fa, faith me thinks, 144°

Her beautie is not halfe fo rauifhing

As you difcourfe of; ihe hath a freckled face,

A lowe forehead, and a lumpifh eye.

Ant. O heauen, that I fhould heare fuch blafphemie. Boy, rogue, thou lieft, and Spauento dell mio core dolce Mellida, Di graua morte reft or o vero dolce Mellida^ Celefta faluatrice fovrana Mellida Del miofperar; trofeo vero Mellida.

Mel. Diletta & foaue anima mia Antonio^ 1470

Godeuole belezza cortefe Antonio. Signior mio & virginal amore bell3 Antonio Gufto delli met fen ft, car Antonio.

Ant. 0 fuamifce il cor in vn foaue baccio^

Mel. Murono i fenji nel defiato defsio:

Ant. Nel Cielo puo leffer belta pia cbiara.

Mel. Nel mondo polejjer belta pia cbiara ?

Ant. Dammi vn baccio da quella bocca beata^ Bafsiammiy cogher Paura odorata Che infua neggia in quello dolce labra.

Mel. Dammi pimpero del tuo jgradif amore Che bea me^ cofempiterno bonore^ Co/I, cofi mi conuerra morir.

Good fweet, fcout ore the marfh : for my heart trembls At euery little breath that ftrikes my eare, When thou returneft : and ile difcourfe How I deceiu'd the Court : then thou fhall tell

How

Antonio and Mellida.

How thou efcapt'fl the watch : weele point our fpeech With amorous kiffing, kiffing comaes, and euen fuck The liquid breath from out each others lips. 1470

4nt. Dul clod, no man but fuch fweeet fauour clips. I goe, and yet my panting blood perfwades me ftay. Turne coward in her fight ? away, away. I thinke confufion of Babell is falne vpon thefe louers, that they change their language ; but I feare mee, my matter hauing but fained the perfon of a woman, hath got their vnfained imperfection, and is growne double tongu'd : as for Mellida, fhe were no woman, if fhee could not yeelde ftrange language. But howfoeuer, if I fhould fit in iudgement, tis an errour eafier to be par- t48° doned by the auditors, then excufed by the authours ; and yet fome priuate refpect may rebate the edge of the keener cenfure.

If Enter Piero, Caftilio, Matzagente, Forobofco, Fetiche, Galeatzo, Balurdo, and his Page, at another dore.

Pie. This way fliee took : fearch, my fweet gentleme. How now Balurdo, canft thou meete with any body ?

Sal. As I am true gentleman, I made my horfe fweat, that he hath nere a dry thread on him : and I can meete with no liuing creature, but men & beaftes. In good 1490 fadnefle, I would haue fworne I had feene Mellida e- uen now : for I fawe a thing ftirre vnder a hedge, and I peep't, and I fpyed a thing : and I peer'd, and I tweerd vnderneath : and truly a right wife man might haue beene deceiued : for it was

04 Piero.

The firft part of

Pie. What, in the name of heauen ?

Ba/. A dun cowe.

Pel Sh'ad nere a kettle on her head ?

Pie. Boy, didlt thou fee a yong Lady pafle this way?

Gal. Why fpeake you not? iyoo

Ba!. Gods neakes, proud elfe, giue the Duke reue- rence, ftand bare with a Whogh ! heauens bleile me : Mellida^ Mellida.

Pie. Where man, where >

Ealur. Turnd man, turnd man : women weare the breaches, loe here,

Pie. Light and vnduteous ! kneele not, peeuifh elfe, Speake not, entreate not, fhame vnto my houfe, Curfe to my honour. Where's Antonio ? Thou trait refle to my hate, what is he fhipt For England now ? well whimpering harlot, hence.

Mel!. Good father

Pie. Good me no goods. Seeft thou that fprightly youth ? ere thou canit tearme to morrow morning old, thou fhalt call him thy husband, Lord and loue.

Mel. Ay me.

Pie. Blirt on your ay mees, gard her fafely hence. Drag her away, ile be your gard to night. Young Prince, mount vp your fpirits, and prepare To folemnize your Nuptials eue with popme.

Gal. The time is fcant : now nimble wits appeare : Phoebus begins gleame, the welkin's cleare.

Exeunt alt, but Balurdo and his Page.

Bal. Now nimble wits appeare: ile my felfe appeare, Balurdo3 s felfe, that in quick wit doth furpafle,

Will

Antonio and Mellida.

Will fhew the fubftance of a compleat

Dil. Afle, afle.

Sal. lie mount my courfer, and moft gallantly prick

Dil. Gallantly prick is too long, and Hands hardly in the verfe, fir. 1*30

Bal. He fpeake pure rime, and will fo brauely pranke it, that ile tofle loue like a pranke, pranke it : a rime for pranke it?

Dil. Blankit.

Bal. That ile tofle loue, like a dogge in a blanket : ha ha, in deede law. I thinke, ha ha; I thinke ha ha, I think I mall tickle the Mufes. And I ftrike it not deade, fay, Balurdo, thou art an arrant fot.

Dil. Balurdo^ thou art an arrant fot.

^1 Enter Andrugio and Antonio wreathed together^ 1*4° Lucio.

And. Now, come vnited force of chap-falne death : Come, power of fretting anguifh, leaue diftrefle. O, thus infoulded, we haue breads of proofe, Gainft all the venom'd ftings of mifery.

Ant: Father, now I haue an antidote, Gainft all the poyfon that the world can breath. My Mellida^ my Mellida doth blefle This bleak wafte with her prefence. How now boy, Why doft thou weepe? alas, where's Mellida ?

Ant. Ay me, my Lord.

And. A fodden horror doth inuade my blood, My finewes tremble, and my panting heart Scuds round about my bofome to goe out,

H Dreading

Thefirft Parte of

Dreading the aflailant, horrid paffion. O, be no tyrant, kill me with one blowe. Speake quickly, briefely boy.

Pa~ Her father found, and feif 'd her, fhe is gone.

And. Son, heat thy bloode, be not frofe vp with grief. Courage, fweet boy, linke not beneath the waight 15^0 Of crufhing mifchiefe. O where's thy dantlefle heart Thy fathers fpirit ! I renounce thy blood, If thou forfake thy valour.

Lu. See how his grief fpeakes in his flow-pac't fteps : Alas, tis more than he can vtter, let him goe. Dumbe folitary path belt futeth woe.

And. Giue me my armes, my armour Lucio.

Lu. Deare Lord, what means this rage, when lacking Scarce fafes your life, will you in armour rife ? vfe

And. Fortune feares valour, prefleth cowardize. 1570

Lu. Then valour gets applaufe, when it hath place, And meanes to blaze it.

And. Nunquam potejl non effe.

Lu. Patience, my Lord, may bring your ils fome end.

And. What patience, friend, can ruin'd hopes atted ? Come, let me die like old Andrugio : Worthy my birth. O blood-true-honour'd graues Are farre more blefled then bafelife of flaues. Exeunt.

A C T V S Q V I N T V S.

Tf Enter Balurdo, a Painter with trvo futures^ Dildo.

Bat.

v.

Antonio and Mellida.

Bat. \ ND are you a painter fir, can you drawe, can JL\. you drawe?

Pay. Yes fir.

Ba. Indeed e lawe ? now fo can my fathers forehore horfe. And are thefe the workmanfhippe of your hands ?

Payn. I did lymne them.

Bal. Lymne them? a good word, lymne them : whofe picture is this? Anno Domini 1599. Beleeue mee, matter Anno Domini was of a good fettled age when you lymn'd him. 1799. yeares old ? Lets fee the other. Etattjfua 24. Bir Ladie he is fomwhat younger. Belike mafter Etatisftue was Anno Dominies fonne.

Pa. Is not your mafter a

Dil. He hath a little procliuitie to him

Pa. Procliuitie, good youth ? I thank you for your courtly procliuitie.

Bal. Approach good fir. I did fend for you to drawe me a deuife, an Imprezza, by Sinecdocbe a Mo ft. By Pkcebus crymfon tafFata mantle, I thinke I fpeake as melodioully, looke you fir, how thinke you ont? I wold haue you paint mee, for my deuice, a good fat legge of ewe mutton, fwimming in ftewde broth of plummes (boy keele your mouth, it runnes ouer) and the word mail be j Holde my dijh, rvkiift If pill my pottage. Sure, in my confcience, twould be the moft fweete deuice, now

Pa. Twould fent of kitchin-ftuffe too much.

Bal. Gods neakes, now 1 remember mee, I ha

H 2 the

The firft Parte of

the rareft deuife in my head that euer breathed. Can you paint me a driueling reeling fong, & let the word be, Vh.

Payn. A belch.

Bal. O, no no : Vh, paint me vh, or nothing.

Pay . It can not be done lir, but by a feeming kinde of drunkenneire.

Bal. No ? well, let me aue a good maffie ring, with your owne poefie grauen in it, that muft fing a fmall trebble, worde for word, thus; And if you, will my true louer bey Come follow e mee to the greene rvodde.

Pa. O Lord, iir, I can not make a picture fing. B. Why ? z5lid, I haue feen painted things fing as fweet: But I hau't will tickle it, for a conceipt ifaith. If Enter Fetiche^ and Alberto.

Alb. O deare Fetiche^ giue me thy deuice. How mail I purchafe loue of Rojf aline >

Fel. S'will, flatter her foundly.

Alb. Her loue is fuch, I can not flatter her : 1630

But with my vtmoft vehemence of fpeach, I haue ador'd her beauties.

Fel. Halt writ good mouing vnaffected rimes to her.

Alb. O, yes, Fetiche^ but me fcornes my writ.

Fel. Haft thou presented her with fumptuous gifts ?

Alb. Alas, my fortunes are too weake to offer them.

Fell. O, then I haue it, ile tell thee what to doe.

Alb. What, good F cliche ?

Fel. Goe and hang thy felfe, I fay, goe hang thy felfe, 1^4°

Antonio and Mellida.

If that thou canft not giue, goe hang thy felfe : He rime thee dead, or verfe thee to the rope. How thinktt thou of a Poet that fung thus ; Munera fola pacant^ fola addunt munera formam : Munere folicites Pallada, Cypris erit. Munera^ munera.

Alb. He goe and breath my woes vnto the rocks, And fpend my griefe vpon the deafeft feas. He weepe my paffion to the fenfelefle trees, And load moft folitarie ayre with plaints. For wods, trees, fea, or rocky Appenine, Is not fo ruthlefle as my Rojj aline. Farewell deare friend, expect no more of mee, Here ends my part, in this loues Comedy. Exit Alb.

Exit Paynter.

Fel. Now matter Balurdo, whether are you going, ha?

Bal. Signior Fetiche^ how doe you faith, & by my troth, how doe you ?

Fel. Whether art thou going, bully ?

Bal. And as heauen helpe mee, how doe you ? How, doe you ifaith he ?

Fel. Whether art going man ?

Ball. O god, to the Court, ile be willing to giue you grace and good countnance, if I may but fee you in the prefence. v Fel. O to court ? farewell.

Bal. If you fee one in a yellow taffata dubblet, cut vpon carnation valure, a greene hat, a blewe paire of veluet hofe, a gilt rapier, and an orenge tauny pair of worfted filke ftockings, thats I, thats I. 1*70

H3 Fel.

1660

Thefirft Parte of

Pel. Very good, farewell.

Bal. Ho, you fhall knowe me as eafily, I ha bought mee a newe greene feather with a red fprig, you fhall fee my wrought fhirt hang out at my breeches, you fhall know me.

Pel. Very good, very good, farewell.

Sail. Marrie in the maske twill be fomewhat harde. But if you heare any bodie fpeake fo wittily, that hee makes all the roome laugh ; that's I, that's I. Farewell good Signior. 1680

T[ Enter Forobofco^ Caflilio^ a boy carying a gilt harpe : Pi- erOj Mellida in night apparrell^ Rojf aline , Flauia^ two Pages.

Pier. Aduance the mufiques prize, now capring wits, Rife to your higheft mount ; let choyce delight Garland the browe of this tryumphant night. Sfoote, a fits like Lucifer himfelfe.

Rcjfa. Good fweete Duke, firft let their voyces (train for muficks price. Giue mee the golden harpe : faith with your fauour, ile be vmperefle. i69o

Pi. Sweet neece cotent : boyes cleare your voice & fing.

i. CANT AT.

Roffa. By this gould, I had rather haue a feruant with a fhort nofe, and a thinne haire, then haue fuch a high ftretcht minikin voice.

Pie. Faire neece, your reafon ?

Roffa.

Antonio and Mellida.

Rojf. By the fweete of loue, I fhould feare extreame- ly that he were an Eunuch.

Caffl. Sparke fpirit, how like you his voice ?

Roff. Spark fpirit, how like you his voice ? 1700

So helpe me, youth, thy voice fqueakes like a dry cork fhoe : come, come ; lets heare the next.

2. CAN TAT.

Pie. Truft me, a good ftrong meane. Wellfungmy boy.

Tf Enter Balurdo.

~Bal. Hold, hold,hold : are yee blind, could you not fee my voice comming for the harpe. And I knock not di- uilion on the head, take hence the harpe, make mee a flip, and let me goe but for ninepence. Sir Marke, ftrike 1710 vp for mafter Balurdo.

. C A N T A T.

ludgemet gentlemen, iudgemet. Waft not aboue line ? I appeale to your mouthes that heard my fong. Doe me right, and dub me knight Balurdo.

Rof. Kneele downe, and ile dub thee knight of the golden harpe. (iiluer fiddleftick.

Ba. Indeed law, doe, and ile make you Ladie of the

Roff. Come, kneele, kneele.

^[ Enter a Page to Balurdo. 172,0

Bal. My troth, I thank you,it hathneuer a whiftlein't. Ro. Naie, good fweet cuz raife vp your drooping eies,

H4 and

Thefirft Parte of

& 1 were at the point of To haue & to hold, from this day forward, I would be afham'd to looke thus lum- pim. What, my prettie Cuz, tis but the lofle of an od maidenhead : fhall's daunce ? thou art fo fad, harke in mine eare. I was about to fay, but ile forbeare.

Sa. I come, I come, more then moft hunny-fuckle fweete Ladies, pine not for my prefence, ile returne in pompe. Well fpoke fir leffrey Ealurdo. As I am a true 1730 knight, I feele honourable eloquence begin to grope mee alreadie. Exit.

Pie. Faith, mad neece, I wonder when thou wilt marrie ?

RoJJa. Faith, kinde vncle, when men abandon ielofy, forfake taking of Tobacco, and ceafe to weare their beardes fo rudely long. Oh, to haue a husband with a mouth continually fmoaking, with a bufh of furs on the ridge of his chinne, readie ftill to flop into his fo- ming chaps j ah, tis more than molt intolerable. 174°

Pier. Nay faith, fweete neece, I was mightie ftrong in thought we mould haue fhut vp night with an ould Comedie : the Prince of Millane mall haue Meilida, & thou fhouldft haue

Rof. No bodie, good fweete vncle. I tell you, fir, I haue 39' feruants, and my munkey that makes the for tieth. Now I loue al of them lightly for fomething, but affect none of them ferioufly for any thing. One's a paffionate foole, and hee flatters mee aboue beliefe : the fecond's a teaftie ape, and hee railes at me beyond reafon : the third's as graue as fome Cenfor, and hee ftrokes vp his muftachoes three times j and makes fix

plots

Antonio and Mellida.

plots of fet faces, before he fpeakes one wife word : the fourth's as dry, as the burre of an heartichoke; the fifth paints, arid hath alwaies a good colour for what hee fpeakes : the fixt

Pie. Stay, ftay, fweet neece, what makes you thus fuf- pect young gallants worth.

Rojf. Oh, when I fee one were a perewig, I dreade his haire; another wallowe in a greate iloppe, I miftrutt 17*0 the proportion of his thigh ; and wears a ruffled boot, I feare thefafhion of his legge. Thus, fomething in each thing, one tricke in euery thing makes me miftruft im perfection in all parts ; and there's the full point of my addiction.

The Cornets found a cynet. If Enter Galeatzo, Matzagente^ and Ealurdo in

maskery. Pier. The roome's too fcant: boyes,ftandin there, clofe.

Mel. In faith, faire fir, I am too fad to daunce. 177°

Pie. How's that, how's that ? too fad? By heauen dance, And grace him to, or, goe to, I fay no more.

Me II. A bimimg_glafle4 the VJOT& fplendente Pbosbo ? Tis too curious, I conceipt it not.

Gal. Faith,iletelthee. Ilenolongerburne,thenyoule fhine and fmile vpon my loue. For looke yee faireft, by your pure fweets,

I doe not dote vpon your excellence. And faith, vnlefle you fhed your brighteft beames Of funny fauour, and acceptiue grace 1780

Vpon my tender loue, I doe not burne: Marry but fhine, and ile reflect your beames,

I With

The firft part of

with feruent ardor. Faith I wold be loath to flatter thee faire foule, becaufe I loue, not doat, court like thyhuf- band ; which thy father fweares, to morrowe morne I muft be. This is all, and now from henceforth, trult me Mellida, He not fpeake one wife word to thee more.

Mell. I truft yee.

Gal. By my troth, He fpeak pure foole to thee now.

Mel. You will fpeake the liker your felfe. '79°

Gal. Good faith, He accept of the cockefcombe, fo you will not refufe the bable.

Mel. Nay good fweet, keepe them both, I am ena- mour'd of neither.

Gal. Goe to, I muft take you downe for this. Lende me your eare.

Rof. A gloweworme, the word ? Splcndefcit tantum te- nebris.

M0te. O,Ladie,theglowewormefigurates my valour: which fhineth brightest in molt darke, difmall and hor- 1800 rid atchieuements.

Rojf. Or rather, your glowe worme reprefents your wit, which only feems to haue fire in it, though indeed tis but an ignis fatuus^ and fhines onely in the darke deade night of fooles admiration.

Matz. Ladie, my wit hath fpurs,if itwete difpoPd to ride you.

Roffl Faith fir, your wits fpurs haue but walking ro wels ; dull, blunt, they will not drawe blood : the gen tlemen vfhers may admit them the Prefence, for anie wrong they can doe to Ladies.

Bal. Truely,Ihaue ftrained a note aboue Ela,fora de-

uife j

Antonio and Mellida.

uife ; looke you, tis a faire rul'd finging bookc : the word, Perfect^ if it were prickt.

Fla. Though you are mask't, I can guefle who you are by your wit. You are not the exquilite Balurdo^ the mod rarely fhap't Balurdo>

Ba. Who, I? No I am not fir leffrey Balurdo. I am not as well knowne by my wit, as an alehoufe by a red lat tice. I am not worthy to loue and be belou'd ofFlauia. i8zo

Fla. I will not fcorne to fauour fuch good parts, as are applauded in your rarett felfe.

Bal. Truely, you fpeake wifely, and like a lantlewo- man of foureteene yeares of age- You know the ftone called lapis ; the nearer it comes to the fire, the hotter it is : and the bird, which the Geometricians cal Auis^ the farther it is from the earth, the nearer it is to the heauen : and loue, the nigher it is to the flame, the more remote (therVa word, remote) the more remote it is from the froft. Your wit is quicke,a little thinge 1830 pleafeth a young Ladie, and a fmal fauour contenteth an ould Courtier- and fo, fweete miftrefle I trufle my codpeece point. ^f Enter Feliche.

Pier. What might import this florifh? bring vs word.

Fel. Stand away : here's fuch a companie of flibotes, hulling about this galleafle of greatnefle, that there's no boarding him. Doe you heare yon thing call'd, Duke?

Pie. How now blunt Feliche^ what's the newes >

Fel. Yonder's a knight, hath brought Andrugws \ 840 head, & craues admittance to your chaire of ftate.

If Cornets found a Cynet : enter Andrugio in armour.

1 2 Con-

The firft part of

Pie. Conduct him with attendance fumptuous, Sound all the pleafing inftruments of ioy : Make tryumph, ftand on tiptoe whil'ft wee meete :

0 fight moft gratious, O reuenge moft fweete !

And. We votve^ by the honour of our birth^ to recompence any man that bringeth Andrugio's head^ with trventie thou- fand double Piftolets^ and the endeering to our choyfeft loue.

Pie. We ftillwith moft vnmou'd refolu'd confirme 1850 Our large munificence : and here breath A fad and folemne proteftation : When I recall this vowe, O, let our houfe Be euen commaunded, ftaind, and trampled on, As worthlefle rubbifh of nobilitie.

And. Then, here, Piero^ is Andruvios head, Royally casked in a helme of tteele : Giue me thy loue, and take it. My dauntlefle foule Hath that vnbounded vigor in his fpirits, That it can beare more ranke indignitie, i8do

With lefle impatience, then thy cancred hate Can fting and venome his vntainted worth, With the moft viperous found of malice. Strike j O, let no glimfe of honour light thy thoughts, If there be any heat of royall breath Creeping in thy vaines, O ftifle it. Be ftill thy felfe, bloodie and trecherous. Fame not thy houfe with an admired acte Of princely pittie. Piero, I am come, To foyle thy houfe with an eternall blot 1870

Of fauage crueltie ; ftrike, or bid me ftrike.

1 pray my death ; that thy nere dying fhame

Might

Antonio and Mellida.

Might Hue immortall to pofteritie.

Come, be a princely hangman, ftoppe my breath.

0 dread thou fhame, no more then I dread death. Pie. We are amaz'd, our royall fpirits numm'd,

In ftiffe aftonifht wonder at thy prowefle,

Moft mightie, valiant, and high towring heart.

We bluih, and turne our hate vpon our felues,

For hating fuch an vnpeer'd excellence. 1880

1 ioy my ftate : him whome I loath'd before, That now I honour, loue ; nay more, adore.

\ The ftill Flutes found a mournfull Cynet. Enter

a Cofin.

But ftay : what tragick fpectacle appeares, Whofe bodie beare you in that mournefull hearfe ?

Lu. The breathleiTe trunke of young Antonio.

Me!/. Antonio (aye me) my Lord, my loue, my

And. Sweete pretious iflue of moft honor 'd blood, Rjch hope, ripe vertue, O vn timely loffe. 1890

Come hither friend. Free thee doe not weepe: Why, I am glad hee's deade, he mail not fee His fathers vanquifht, by his enemie. Euen in princely honour, nay pree thee fpeake. How dy'd the wretched boy ?

Lu. My Lord

And. I hope he dyed yet like my fonne, ifaith.

Lu. Alas, my Lord

And. He died vnforft, I truft, and valiantly.

Lu. Poore gentleman, being 19°°

And. Did his hand make, or his eye looke dull, His thoughts reele, fearefull when he ftruck the ftroke?

1 3 And

The firft part of

And if they did, He rend them out the hearfe, Rip vp his cearecloth, mangle his bleake face ; That when he comes to heauen, the powers diuine Shall nere take notice that he was my fonne. lie quite difclaime his birth: nay pree thee fpeake : And twere not hoopt with fteel, my breft wold break.

M*?/. O that my fpirit in a figh could mount, Into the Spheare, where thy fweet foule doth reft. 1910

Pie. O that my teares, bedeawing thy wan cheeke, Could make new fpirit fprout in thy could blood.

BaL Verely,helookesaspittifully,asapoore70/w: as I am true knight, I could weepe like a fton'd horfe.

And. Villaine, tis thou haft murdred my fonne. Thy vnrelenting fpirit (thou black dogge, That took'ft no paffion of his fatall loue) Hath forft him giue his life vntimely end.

Pie. Oh that my life, her loue,my deareft blood Would but redeeme one minute of his breath. 19*°

Ant. I feize that breath. Stad not amaz'd, great ftates : I rife from death, that neuer liu'd till now. Piero^ keepe thy vowe, and I enioy More vnexprefTed height of happinefle, Then power of thought can reach : if not, loe here There Hands my toumbe, and here a pleaiing ftage : Moft wifht fpectators of my Tragedie, To this end haue I fain'd, that her faire eye, For whome I liu'd, might blefle me ere I die- Mell. Can breath depaint my vncoceiued thoughts? 1930 Can words defcribe my infinite delight, Of feeing thee, my Lord Antonio ?

O

Antonio and Mellida.

0 no; conceipt, breath, paffion, words be dumbe, Whil'ir. I inftill the deawe of my fweete blifle, In the foft preflure of a melting kifle ;

Sic ^ fie iuuat ire fub vmbras.

Pie. Fairefonne(now lie be proud to call thee fonne) Enioy me thus ; my verie breaft is thine : Poflefle me freely, I am wholly thine.

Ant. Deare father- 194°

And. Sweet fon, fweet fon ; I can fpeake no more : My ioyes paffion flowes aboue the fhoare, And choakes the current of my fpeach-

Pie. Young Florence prince, to you my lips muft beg, For a remittance of your intereft.

Gal. In your faire daughter, with all my thought, So helpe me faith, the naked truth He vnfold ; He that was nere hot, will foone be cold.

Pie. No man els makes claime vnto her.

Matz. The valiant fpeake truth in briefe : no

Bal. Trulie,forfir Jeffrey Ealurdojne. difclaimesto haue had anie thing in her.

Pie. Then here I giue her to Antonio. Royall, valiant, moft refpected prince, Let'sclippeour hands; He thus obferue my vowe ;

1 promif'd twentie thoufand double Piftolets, With the indeering to my deareft loue,

To him that brought thy head ; thine be the golde,

To folemnize our houfes vnitie :

My loue be thine, the all I haue be thine.

Fill vs frefh wine, the forme weele take by this :

Weele drinke a health, while they two fip a kifle.

14 Now

1950

The firft part of

Now, there remaines no difcord that can found Harfh accents to the eare of our accord : So pleafe your neece to match.

Rofs. Troth vncle,when myfweet fac't cuzhath tolde ine how fhe likes the thing, call'd wedlock; may be lie take a furuey of the checkroll of my feruants; & he that hath the belt parts of, He pricke him downe for my husband.

Eal. For paflion of loue now, remember me to my miftrefle,Lady Rof saline^ when fhe is pricking down the good parts of her feruants. As I am true knight, I grow Itiffe : I (hall carry it.

Pie. I will.

Sound Lidian wires, once make a pleafing note, On Nectar ftreames of your fweete ayres, to flote.

Ant. Here ends the comick crofles of true loue : Oh may the paflage moft fuccesfull proue. FINIS. 1980

Epilogus.

GEntlemen^ though I remain e an armed Epilogue^ I Jland not as a peremptory chalenger of defert^ either for him that compofed the Comedy, or for vs that acted it: but a moft fubmisfuefupplyantfor both. What imperfection you hauefeene in vs, leaue with vs^ & weele amend it; what hath pleafedyou^ take withyou^ cherijh it. Youjhallnotbe more ready to embrace any thing comendable, then we will endea- uour to amend all things reproueable. What we are, is by your fauour. What wejhall be, refts all in your applaufiue incou- 1990 ragements. Exit.

ANTONIOS

Re

uensre.

The fecond part.

^4s it hath beenefundry times acted, by the children 0/Paules.

Written by /. M.

LONDON

Printed for Thomas Fifher, and are to be foulde in Saint Dunftans Church-yarde. I 6 Q 2,.

Antonios Reuenge.

The fccond part of the Hiftorie of Antonio and Mellida.

y The Prologue.

THE rawifh danke of clumzie winter ramps The fluent fummers vaine : and drizling fleete Chilleth the wan bleak cheek of the numd earth, Whilft fnarling gufts nibble the iuyceles leaues, From the nak't fhuddring branch ; and pils the fkinne From otF the foft and delicate afpectes. O, now, me thinks, a fullen tragick Sceane Would fuite the time, with pleaiing congruence. May we be happie in our weake deuoyer, 10

And all parte pleaf'd in moft wifht content: But fweate of Hercules can nere beget So bleft an ifliie. Therefore we proclaime, If any fpirit breathes within this round, Vncapable of waightie paffion (As from his birth, being hugged in the armes, And nuzzled twixt the breaites of happinefle)

A 2 Who

The fecond part of

Who winkes, and fhuts his apprehenfion vp From common fenfe of what men were, and are, Who would not knowe what men muft be ; let fuch *° Hurrie amaine from our black vifag'd fhowes: We fhall affright their eyes. But if a breaft, Nail'd to the earth with griefe: if any heart Pierc't through with anguilh, pant within this ring : If there be any blood, whole heate is choakt And ftifled with true fenfe of mifery : If ought of thefe ftraines fill this confort vp, Th'arriue moft welcome. O that our power Could lackie, or keepe wing with our deiires ; That with vnufed paize of ftile and fenfe, 30

We might waigh mafly in iudicious fcale- Yet heere's the prop that doth fupport our hopes ; When our Sceanes falter, or inuention halts, Your fauour will giue crutches to our faults. Exit.

ACT. I. SCEN.I.

If Enter Piero, vnbract, his armes bare, fmeerd in blood, a poniard in one hand bloodie, and a torch in the other, Strotzo following him with a corde.

Pie. 1 PC, Gafper Strotzo, binde Feliches trunke

|^ Vnto the panting fide of Mellida. Exit Str. 4° Tis yet dead night, yet al the earth is cloucht In the dull leaden hand of fnoring fleepe: No breath difturbs the quiet of the ayre. No fpirit moues vpon the breaft of earth,

Saue

Antonio and Mellida.

Saue howling dogs, nightcrowes, & fcreeching owls, Saue meager ghofts, Piero, and black thoughts. One, two. Lord, in two houres what a toplefle mount Of vnpeer'd mifchiefe, haue thefe hands caft vp !

^J Enter Strotzo.

I can fcarce coope triumphing vengeance vp, 50

From burfting forth in bragart paffion.

Str. My Lord, tis firmely faide that Pie. Andrugio fleepes in peace : this braine hath choakt The organ of his breaft. Fetiche hangs, But as a baite vpon the line of death, To tice on mifchiefe. I am great in blood, Vnequald in reuenge. You horrid fcouts, That centinell fwart night, giue lowde applaufe From your large palms. Firft know, my hart was raif 'd Vnto Andrugios life, vpon this ground : tfo

Sir. Duke, tis reported

Pie. We both were riuals in our May of blood, Vnto Maria, faire Ferraras heire. He wan the Ladie, to my honours death : And from her fweetes, cropt this Antonio : For which, I burnt in inward fweltring hate, And feftred rankling malice in my breaft, Till I might belke reuenge vpon his eyes : And now (6 blefled now) tis done. Hell, night, Giue lowde applaufe to my hypocrilie. 70

When his bright valour euen dazled fenfe, In offring his owne heade, publick reproach Had blurd my name. Speake Strotzo, had it not? If then I had Str. It had, fo pleafe

A 3 Piero.

The fecond part of

Pier. What had fo pleafe ? Vnfeafoned Sycophant, Piero Sforza is no nummed Lord, Senfelefle of all true touch ; ftroake not the head Of infant fpeach, till it be fully borne. Goe to.

Strot. How now ? Fut, He not fmother your fpeach. 80

Pie. Nay, right thine eyes: twas but a little fplene: (Huge plunge !

Sinnsgrorvne a Jlaue^ and muft obferue flight euils. Huge villaines are in fore3 1 to clarve all diuels.} Pirn, fweete thy thoughts, and giue me

Str. Stroake not the heade of infant fpeach? Goe to?

Pie. Nay, calme this ftorme. I euer held thy breait More fecret, and more firme in league of blood, Then to be Itruck in heate with each (light puffe. Giue me thy eares ; Huge infamie 90

Prefle downe my honour j if euen then, when His frefh act of prowefle bloom'd out full, I had tane vengeance on his hated head

Str. Why it had

Pier. Could I auoyde to giue a feeming graunt Vnto fruition of Antonios loue ?

Str. No.

Pie. And didft thou euer fee, a ludas kifle, With a more couert touch of fleering hate ?

Stro. No. ioc

Pie. And hauing clipt them with pretence of loue, Haue I not crufht them with a cruell wring ?

Strot. Yes.

Piero. Say, faith, didft thou ere heare, or reade, or fee

Such

Antonio and Mellida.

Such happie vengeance, vnfufpected death ?

That I mould drop ftrong poyfon in the boawle,

Which I my felfe carouPt vnto his health,

And future fortune of our vnitie,

That it fhould worke even in the hufht of night,

And ftrangle him on fodaine; thatfaire fhowe no

Of death, for the exceffiue ioy of his fate,

Might choake the murder? Ha Strotzo, is't not rare ?

Nay, but waigh it- Then Fetiche ftabd

(Whofe finking thought frighted my confcious hart)

And laid by Mellida, to flop the match,

And hale on mifchiefe. This all in one night ?

Is't to be equalPd thinkft thou ? O, I could eate

Thy fumbling throat, for thy lagd cenfure- Fut,

Is't not rare ?

Str. Yes. iio

Pie. No? yes? nothing but no, andyes,dull lumpe? Canft thou not hony me with fluent fpeach, And euen adore my toplefle villany ? Will I not blaft my owne blood for reuenge ? Mull not thou ftraight be periur'd for reuenge ? And yet no creature dreame tis my reuenge. Will I not turne a glorious bridall morne Vnto a Stygian night ? Yet naught but no, and yes ?

Str. I would haue told you, if the incubus^ That rides your bofome, would haue patience: J3°

It is reported, that in priuate ftate, Maria , Genoas Dutchefle, makes to Court, Longing to fee him, whom me nere fhall fee, Her Lord Andrugio. Belike fhe hath receiu'd

A 4 The

Thefecond Parte of

The newes of reconciliation : Reconciliation with a death ? Poore Ladie fhall but finde poore comfort in't.

Pie. O, let me fwoone for ioy. By heauen, I thinke I ha faid my prayers, within this month at leaft ; I am fo boundlefle happie. Doth (he come ? 140

By this warme reeking goare, He marrie her. Looke I not now like an inamorate ? (ther ; ha ?

Poyfon the father, butcher the fon, & marry the mo- Strotzo, to bed : fnort in fecureft fleepe : For fee, the dapple gray courfers of the morne Beat vp the light with their bright filuer hooues, And chafe it through the skye. To bed, to bed. This morne my vengeance mall be amply fed. Exit.

SCENA SECVNDA.

7.

TJ Enter Luceo^ Maria, and Nutriche. 15°

Mar. OT A Y gentle Luceo, and vouchfafe thy hand. Lu. Oo, Madam

Ma. Nay, pree thee giue me leaue to fay, vouchfafe. Submifle intreats befeeme my humble fate. Here let vs fit. O Luceo, fortunes gilt Is rubd quite off from my flight tin-foil d Itate, And poore Maria muft appeare vngrac't Of the bright fulgor of glolPd maieftie.

Luc. Cheer vp your fpirits Madam j fairer chance Then that which courts your prefence inftantly, 160

Can not be formd by the quick mould of thought.

Maria.

Antonio and Mellida.

Man. Art thou afliir'd the dukes are reconcil'd ? Shall my wombes honour wed faire Mellida ? Will heauen at length grant harbour to my head ? Shall I once more clip my Andrugio ? And wreath my armes about Antonio's necke ? Or is glib rumor growne a parafite, Holding a falfe glafle to my fbrrowes eyes, Making the wrinkl'd front of griefe feeme faire, Though tis much riueld with abortiue care. 17°

Lu. Moft virtuous Princefle, banifh ftraggling feare; Keepe league with comfort. For thefe eyes beheld Tke Dukes vnited ; yon faint glimmering light Nere peeped through the crannies of the eaft, Since I beheld them drinke a found caroufe, In fparkling Bacchus, Vnto cache others health ; Your fonne aflur'd to beautious Mellida : And all clouds clear'd of threatning difcontent.

Ma. What age is morning of? l8°

Lu. I thinke 'bout fiue.

Ma. Nutriche^ Nutriche.

Nu. Beihrow your fingers marry, you haue difturb'd the pleafure of the fineft dreame. O God, I was euen comming to it lawe. O lefu, twas comming of the fwe- teft. He tell you now, me thought I was maried, and mee thought I fpent (O Lord why did you wake mee) and mee thought I fpent three fpur Roials on the Fid- lers for ftriking vp a frefh hornepipe. Saint l^rfula^ I was euen going to bed, & you, mee thought, my huf- 19° band was euen putting out the tapers, when you, Lord

B I

The fecond part of

I fhall neuer haue fuch a dreame come vpon mee, as long as

Ma. Peace idle creature, peace. When will the Court rife ?

Lu. Madam, twere beft you tooke fome lodging vp, And lay in priuate till the foile of griefe Were cleard your cheeke, and new burnifht luftre Cloath'd your prefence, 'fore you fa we the Dukes, And enterd, 'mong the proud Venetian States. *

Mar. No Lucia, my deare Lord's wife, and knowes That tiniill glitter, or rich purfled robes, Curled haires, hung full of fparkling Carcanets, Are not the true adornements of a wife. So long as wiues are faithfull, modeft, chafte, Wife Lords affect them. Vertue doth not wafte, With each flight flame of crackling vanitie. A modeft eye forceth affection, Whileft outward gainefle light lookes but entice. Fairer then Natures faire is fowleft vice. She that loues Art, to get her cheeke more louers, Much outward gaudes flight inward grace difcouers. I care not to feeme faire, but to my Lord. Thofe that ftriue moft to pleafe moft ftrangers fight, Follie may iudge moft faire, wifdome moft light.

H Mujique founds a jhort ftraine. But harke, foft muiique gently mooues the ayre : I thinke the bridegroom's vp. Lucio, ftand clofe. O, now Marya, chalenge griefe to ftay Thy ioyes encounter. Looke Lucia, tis cleare day.

SCE-

Antonio and Mellida. SCENA TERTIA. ,,-,-

(cowr.)

*[[ Enter Antonio, Galeatzo, Matzagente, Balurdo, Pandulpho Fetiche, Alberto, Forobofco, Ca- flilio, and a Page.

(hath drawne

Ant. ~T\ARKNESSE is fled: looke, infant morn -•--'Bright filuer curtains, 'bout the couch of And now Auroras horfe trots azure rings, (night : Breathing faire light about the firmament, Stand, what's that ? 230

Mat. And if a horned diuell fhould burft forth, I would pafle on him with a mortall ftocke.

Alb. Oh, a horned diuell would prooue ominous, Vnto a bridegroomes eyes.

Mat. A horned diuel? good, good : ha ha ha, very good. Al Good tand prince laugh not. By the ioyes of loue, When thou doft girne, thy rufty face doth looke Like the head of a rofted rabbit : fie vpont.

Bal. By my troth, me thinks his nofe is iuft colour de Mat. I tel theefoole, my nofe will abide no ieft. (Roy t40 Bal. No in truth,! doe not ieaft, I fpeake truth. Truth is the touchftone of all things : and if your nofe will not abide the truth, your nofe will not abide the touch : and if your nofe will not abide the touch, your nofe is a copper nofe, and muft be naiPd vp for a flip. Mat. I fcorne to retort the obtufe ieaft of a foole.

Balurdo drawes out his writing tables, and writes. Bal. Retort and obtufe, good words, very good words.

B 2 * Gal.

Thefecond Parte of

Gal. YoungPrince, looke fprightly ; fie,a bridegroom fadde !

Bal. In truth,if he were retort, and obtufe, no quefti- on, hee would bee merrie : but and pleafe my Genius^ I will be moft retort and obtufe ere night. He tell you, what He beare foone at night in my fhielde, for my deuice.

Gal. What, good Balurdo ?

Bal. O, doe me right : fir Gefferey Balurdo : fir, fir, as long as yee Hue, fir.

Gal. What, good fir Gefferey Balurdo ? Ba. Marry forfooth, He carrie for my deuice, my grand fathers great ftone-horf, flinging vp his head, & ierking out his left legge. The word ; Wighy Purt. As I am a true knight, wiPt not bee moft retort and obtufe, ha ? Ant. Blowe hence thefe faplefle ieftes. I tell you bloods My fpirit's heauie, and the iuyce of life Creepes (lowly through my ftifhed arteries. Laft fleep, my fenfe was fteep't in horrid dreames : Three parrs of night were fwallow'd in the gulfe Of rauenous time, when to my flumbring powers, Two meager ghofts made apparition. (wounds :

The on's breaft feem'd frelh pauncht with bleeding Whofe bubling gore fprang in frighted eyes. The other ghoft afliim'd my fathers fliape : Both cride Reuenge. At which my trembling ioynts (Iced quite ouer with a froz'd cold fweate) Leap't forth the fheets. Three times I gafp't at (hades : And thrice, deluded by erroneous fenle, I forc't my thoughts make (land ; when loe, I op't

A

Antonio and Mellida.

A large bay window, through which the night Struck terror to my foule. The verge of heauen *8o

Was ringd with flames, and all the vpper vault Thick lac't with flakes of fire j in midft whereof A blazing Comet fhot his threatning traine luft on my face. Viewing thefe prodigies, I bow'd my naked knee, and pierc't the ftarre, With an outfacing eye ; pronouncing thus ; Deus imperat a/Iris. At which, my nofe ftraight bled : Then doubPd I my word, fb flunke to bed. Ba. Verely, fir Gefferey had a monftrous ftrange dream thelaft night. For mee thought I dreamt I was afleepe, 190 and me thought the ground yaun'd and belkt vp the abhominable gholt of a misfhapen Simile, with two vgly Pages ; the one called matter, euen as going be fore ; and the other Mounfer, euen fo following after ; whiPft Signior Simile ftalked molt prodigioufly in the midft. At which I bewrayed the fearefulnefle of my nature : and being readie to forfake the fortrefle of my wit, ftart vp, called for a cleane fliirt, eate a mefle of broth, and with that I awakt.

Ant. I pree thee peace. I tell you gentlemen, 300 The frightfull lhades of night yet fhake my braine : My gellied blood's not thaw'd : the fulphur damps, That flowe in winged lightning 'bout my couch, Yet ftick within my fenfe, my fbule is great, In expectation of dire prodigies.

Pan. Tut, my young Prince, let not thy fortunes fee Their Lord a coward. He, thats nobly borne, Abhorres to feare. Bafe feare's the brand of flaues.

B3 He

Thefecond Parte of

Hee that obferues, purfues, flinks back for fright, Was neuer caft in mould of noble fpright. 310

Ga. Tufh, there's a fun will ftraight exhale thefe damps Of chilling feare. Come, mal's falute the bride ?

Ant. CaftiltO) I pree the mixe thy breath with his : Sing one of Signior Renaldos ayres, To roufe the flumbring bride from gluttoning, In furfet of fuperfluous fleepe. Good Signior, fing.

C A N T A N T.

What meanes this filence and vnmooued calme ! Boy, winde thy Cornet : force the leaden gates Of lafie fleepe fly open, with thy breath. 310

My Mellida not vp ? not ftirring yet ? vmh.

Ma- That voice, fhould be my fonnes Antonio s. Antonio ?

Ant. Here, who cals ? here ftands Antonio.

Mari. Sweete fonne.

Ant. Deare mother.

Ma. Faire honour of a chaft and loyall bed, Thy fathers beautie, thy fad mothers loue, Were I as powrefull as the voice of fate, Felicitie compleat fhould fweete thy ftate : 33°

But all the bleflings, that a poore banifht wretch, Can powre vpon thy heade, take gentle fonne : Liue, gratious youth, to clofe thy mothers eyes, Lou'd of thy parents, till their lateft hower : How cheares my Lord, thy father ? O fweet boy, Part of him thus I clip, my deare, deare ioy.

Ant.

Antonio and Mellida.

Ant. Madam, laft night I kift his princely hand, And tooke a treafur'd bleffing from his lips : O mother, you arriue in lubile,

And firme attonement of all boyftrous rage : 34°

Pleafure, vnited loue, protefted faith, Guard my lou'd father, as fworne Penfioners : The Dukes are leagu'd in firmeft bond of loue, And you arriue euen in the Solfticie, And higheft point of fun-fhine happinefle.

^f One windes a Cornet "within. Harke Madam, how yon Cornet ierketh vp His ttraind fhrill accents, in the capering ayre ; As proud to fummon vp my bright cheek Jt loue. Now, mother, ope wide expectation : 3?°

Let loofe your ampleft fenfe, to entertaine Th'impremon of an obiect of fuch worth, That life's too poore to

Gal. Nay leaue Hyperboles.

Ant. I tel thee prince, that prefence ftraight appears, Of which thou canft not forme Hyperboles, The trophy of tryumphing excellence : The heart of beautie, Mellida appeares. See, looke, the curtaine ftirs, fliine natures pride, Loues vitall fpirit, deare Antonio's bride. 16°

^f The Cur tarns drawne, and the bodie of Feliche^flabd

thick with wounds^ appeares hung vp. What villaine bloods the window of my loue > What flaue hath hung yon gorie enligne vp, In flat defiance of humanitie ? Awake thou faire vnfpotted puritie.

B 4 Deaths

Thefecond Parte of

Death's at thy windowe, awake bright Mellida : Antonio cals.

SCENA QVARTA. /. «

(con*.)

If Enter Piero as at firfl, with Forobofco. 37°

Pie. \T\T H O giues thefe il-befitting attributes V V Of chaft, vnfpotted, bright, to Mellida, He lies as lowde as thunder, fhee's vnchaft, Tainted, impure, blacke as the foule of hell. Tf He drawes his rapier, offers to runne at Piero : but Maria holds his arme & ftaies him.

Ant. Dog, I will make the eate thy vomit vp, Which thou haft belk't gainft taintlefle Mellida. Ramm't quicklie downe, that it may not rife vp To imbraid my thoughts. Behold my ftomack's : 38° Strike me quite through with the relentlefle edge Of raging furie. Boy, He kill thy loue Pandulfe Fetiche, I haue ftabd thy fonne : Looke, yet his lifeblood reekes vpon this fteele. Albert, yon hangs thy friend. Haue none of you Courage of vengeance ? Forget I am your Duke. Thinke Mellida is not Pieros bloode. Imagine on flight ground, lie blaft his honour. Suppofe I fawe not that inceftuous flaue, Clipping the ftrumpet, with luxurious twines : 39°

O, numme my fenfe of anguifh, caft my life In a dead fleepe, whilft lawe cuts ofFyonmaine, Yon putred vlcer of my roiall bloode.

Foro. Keepe league with reafon, gratious Soueraigne.

Pie.

Antonio and Mellida.

Pie. There glowe no fparkes of reafon in the world ; All are rak't vp in afhie beaftlinefle. The bulke of man's as darke as Erebus^ No branch of Reaibns light hangs in his trunke : There Hues no reafon to keepe league withall. I ha no reafon to be reafonable. 4°°

Her wedding eue, linkt to the noble blood Of my molt firmely reconciled friend, And found euen clingd in fenfualitie ! O heauen ! O heauen ! Were fhe as neare my heart As is my liuer, I would rend her off.

SCENA QVINTA. /. «

(cow*.)

^f Enter Strozzo.

Str. TTtTHITHER, O whither fhal I hurle vaft V V griefe ?

Pier. Here, into my breaft: tis a place built wide 410 By fate, to giue receipt to boundlefle woes. Str. O noj here throb thofe hearts, which I muft cleaue With my keene pearcing newes. Andrugws dead.

Pier. Dead?

Ma. O me moft miferable.

Pie. Dead, alas, how dead? Giue feeming pasjion. Fut weepe, act, faine. Dead, alas, how dead ? Str. The vaft delights of his large fodaine ioyes Opned his powers fo wide, that's natiue heate So prodigally flow'd, t'exterior parts, 4*0

That thinner Citadell was left vnmand, And fo furpriz'd on fodaine by colde death.

C Ma. O

The fecond part of

Man. O fatal, difaftrous, curled, difmall ! Choake breath and life. I breath, I Hue too long. Andrugio my Lord, I come, I come.

Pie. Be cheerefull Princefle, help Caftilio, The Ladle's fwouned, helpe to beare her in. Slow comfort to huge cares, is fwifteft fin.

Bal. Courage, courage fweet Ladie, tis fir Gefferey Ba- lurdo bids you courage- Truly I am as nimble as an E- 430 lephant about a Ladie.

Pan. Dead? Ant. Dead. Alb. Dead?

An. Why now the womb of mifchiefe is deliuer'd, Of the prodigious iiTue of the night.

Pan. Ha, ha, ha.

Ant. My father dead, my loue attaint of luft : Thats a large lye, as valt as fpatious hell : Poore guiltlefle Ladie. O accurfed lye. What, whome, whether, which fhall I firft lament ? A deade father, a difhonour'd wife. Stand. 44°

Me thinkes I feele the frame of nature make. Cracks not the ioynts of earth to beare my woes ? Alb. Sweet Prince, be patient. Ant. S'lid fir, I will not in defpight of thee. Patience is flaue to fooles : a chaine that's fixt Onely to poftes, and fenflefle log-likedolts.

Alb. Tis reafons glorie to commaund affects.

An. Lies thy cold father dead, his glofled eyes New clofed vp by thy fad mothers hands? Haft thou a loue as fpotlefle as the browe 4J°

Of cleareft heauen, blurd with falfe defames ? Are thy moyft entrals crumpled vp with griefe

Of

Antonio and Mellida.

Of parching mifchiefs ? Tel me, does thy hart With punching anguifh fpur thy galled ribs ? Then come and let's fit and weep & wreath our arms : He heare thy counfell. Alb. Take comfort

Ant. Confufion to all comfort : I defie it. Comfort's a Parafite, a flattring lack : And melts refolu'd defpaire. O boundlefle woe, If there be any black yet vnknowen griefe : 4*°

If there be any horror yet vnfelt, Vnthought of mifchiefe in thy fiendlike power, Dafh it vpon my miferable heade- Make me more wretch, more curfed if thou canlt- O, now my fate is more than I could feare : My woes more waightie than my fbule can beare. Exit

Pan. Ha, ha, ha.

Al. Why laugh you vncle ? Thats my cuz, your fon, Whole breft hangs cafed in his cluttered gore.

Pa. True man, true: why, wherfore fhould I weepe? 470 Come fit, kinde Nephew : come on : thou and I Will talke as Chorus to this tragedie. Intreat the mufick ftraine their inftruments, With a flight touch whilft we. Say on fair cuz.

Alb. He was the very hope of Italy, Mujickfoundsfoftly. The blooming honour of your drooping age. P. True cuz, true. They fay that men of hope are crufht: Good are fuppreft by bafe defertlefle clods, ' That Itifle gafping vertue. Look fweet youth, How prouident our quick Venetians are, 48°

Leaft houes of iades fhould trample on my boy: Looke how they lift him vp to eminence, Heaue him, boue reach of flefh. Ha, ha, ha.

C 2 Alb.

The fecond part of

Alb. Vncle, this laughter ill becomes your griefe.

Pan. Would'ft haue me cry, run rauing vp & down, For my fons lofle ? would'ft haue me turn rank mad, Or wring my face with mimick action ; Stampe, curie, weepe, rage, & then my bofome ftrike ? Away tis apifh action, player-like.

If hee is guiltlefle, why fhould teares be fpent ? 490

Thrice blefled foule that dyeth innocent. If he is leapred with fo foule a guilt, Why fhould a figh be lent, a teare be fpilt ? The gripe of chaunce is weake, to wring a teare, From him that knowes what fortitude fhould beare. Liften young blood. Tis not true valors pride, To fwagger, quarrel!, fweare, ftampe, raue, and chide, To ftab in fume of blood, to keepe lowde coyle, To bandie factions in domeftick broyles, To dare the act of Sins, whofe filth excels joo

The blackeft cuftomes of blinde Infidels. No, my lou'd youth : he may of valour vaunt ; Whom fortunes lowdeft thunder can not daunt, Whom fretful gaules of chance, fterne fortunes fiege Makes not his reafon flinke, the foules faire liege ; Whofe well paif'd action euer refts vpon Not giddie humours, but difcretion. This heart in valour euen loue out-goes : loue is without, but this 'boue fenfe of woes : And fuch a one eternitie : Behold, ?io

Good morrow fonne : thou bidft a fig for colde. Sound lowder mufick : let my breath exact, You ftrike fad Tones vnto this difmall act.

ACT

Antonio and Mellida.

ACT. ii. SCEN. i.

The Cornets found a cynet.

Tf Enter two mourners with torches, two with ftreamers: Caftilio & Forobofco, with torches: a Heralde bearing Andrunds helme & fword, the coffin: Maria fupported by Lucio and Alberto, Antonio by himfelfe: Piero, and Strozzo talking: Galeatzo and Matzagente, Balurdo G? Pandulfo : the coffin fet downe : helme,fworde, and ftr ea rners hung vp, placed by the Herald: wbifft Antonio and Maria wet their handkerchers with their teares, kiffe them, and lay them on the hearfe, kneeling : allgoe out but Piero. Cornets ceafe, and he fpeakes.

Pie. Y~J OT ther thou cearcloth that infolds the flelh IK Of my loath'd foe; moulder to crubling duft :

Obliuion choake the paflage of thy fame. Trophees of honor'd birth droppe quickly downe : Let naught of him, but what was vitious, liue. Though thou art deade, thinke not my hate is dead: I haue but newly twone my arme in the curld locks Of fnakie vengeance. Pale beetle-brow'd hate But newly buftles vp. Sweet wrong, I clap thy thoughts. O let me hug my bofome, rub my breaft, In hope of what may happe. Andrugio rots : Antonio liues : vmh : how long > ha, ha ; how long?

C 3 Ant.

Thefecond Parte of

Antonio packt hence, He his mother wed,

Then cleare my daughter of fuppofed luft,

Wed her to Florence heire. O excellent. 54°

Venice^ Genoa, Florence^ at my becke,

At Piero's nod. Balurdo, 6 ho.

O, twill be rare, all vnfufpected donne.

I haue bin nurft in blood, and ftill haue fuckt

The fteeme of reeking gore. Balurdo, ho ?

^ Enter Balurdo with a beard, halfe ofy halfe on. Ba. When my beard is on, moft noble prince, when my beard is on.

Pier. Why, what doft thou with a beard > Ba. In truth, one tolde me that my wit was balde, & ?j° that a Meremaide was halfe fifh, and halfe fifh : and therefore to fpeake wifely, like one of your counfell, as indeede it hath pleafed you to make me, not onely being a foole, of your counfell, but alfo to make me of your counfell, being a foole ; If my wit be bald, and a Mermaid be halfe fifh and halfe cunger, then I muft be forced to conclude the tyring man hath not glewd on my beard halfe faft, enough. Gods bores, it wil not ftick to fal off. (while ?

Pie^ Doft thou know what thou haft fpoken all this J5° Ba. O Lord Duke, I would be forie of that. Many men can vtter that which, no man, but themfelues can conceiue : but I thanke a good wit, I haue the gift to fpeake that which neither any man els, nor my felfe vnderftands-

Pi. Thou art wife. He that fpeaks he knows not what, fhal neuer fin againft his own confcience : go to, thou

art

Antonio and Mellida.

art wife.

Ba. Wife? O no. I haue a little naturall difcretion, or fo : but for wife, I am fomewhat prudent: but for wife, 570 6 Lord.

Pie. Hold, take thofe keyes, open the Caftle vault, & put in Mellida-

Bal. And put in Mellida ? well, let me alone.

PL Bid Forobofco, and Caftilio guard, Indeere thy felfe Piero's intimate.

Bal. Indeere, and intimate: good, I afliire you. I will indeere and intimate Mellida into the diigeon prefetly.

Pie. Will Pandulfo Fetiche waite on me ?

Ba- I will make him come, molt retort and obtufe, to 580 you prefently. I thinke, fir Jeffrey talks like a counfeller. Go to, gods neaks, I thinke I tickle it-

Pie. He feeme to winde yon foole with kindeft arme. He that's ambitious minded, and but man, Muft haue his followers beafts, dubd flauifh fots : Whofe feruice is obedience, and whofe wit Reacheth no further then to admire their Lord, And ftare in adoration of his worth- I loue, a flaue rak't out of common mud Should feeme to fit in counfell with my heart- $90

High honoured blood's too fquemifh to aflent, And lend a hand to an ignoble act. Poyfon from roles who could ere abftract? How now Pandulfo^ weeping for thy fonne ?

€4 SCE-

Thefecond Parte of

SCENA SECVNDA.

Enter Pandulfo.

(com.)

no, Piero, weeping for my iinnes : (fonne. Had I bin a good father, he had bin a gratious

Pie. Pollution muft be purg'd. (flefh,

Pan. Why taintft thou then the ayre with ftench of 600 And humane putrifactions noyfome fent ? I pray his bodie. Who lefle boone can craue, Than to beftowe vpon the deade, his graue ?

Pie. Graue? why ? think'ft thou he deferues a graue, That hath defil'd the temple of

Pan. Peace, peace :

Me thinks I heare a humming murmur creepe From out his gelli'd wounds. Looke on thofe lips, Thofe now lawne pillowes, on whofe tender foftnefle, Chafte modeft fpeach, dealing from out his breaft, 610 Had wont to reft it felfe, as loath to poaft From out fo faire an Inne: look, look, they feeme to ftir, And breath defyance to black obloquie.

Pie. Think'ft thou thy fonne could fuffer wrongfully?

Pan. A wife man wrongfully, but neuer wrong Can take : his breaft's of fuch well tempered proofe, It may be rac'd, not pearc't by fauage tooth Of foaming malice : fliowers of dartes may darke Heauens ample browe : but not ftrike out a fparke ; Much lefle pearce the Suns cheek. Such fongs as thefe, 620

I

Antonio and Mellida.

often dittied till my boy did fleepe : But now I turne plaine foole (alas) I weepe. (deade :

Pie. Fore heauen he makes me fhrug : wold a were He is a vertuous man. What has our court to doe With vertue, in the diuels name ! Pandulpbo, harke. My luftfull daughter dies : ftart not, fhe dies. I purfue iuftice, I loue fanctitie, And an vndefiled temple of pure thoughts. Shall I fpeake freely ? Good Andnigws dead : And 1 doe feare a fetch; but (vmh) would I durft fpeake. £30 I doe miftruft ; but (vmh) death : is he all, all man : Hath he no part of mother in him, ha ? No licorifh womanifh inquilitiuenelle >

Pan. Andrugios deade !

Pie. I, and I feare, his owne vnnaturall blood, To whome he gaue life, hath giuen death for life. How could he come on, I fee falfe fufpect Is vicde ; wrung hardly in a vertuous heart. Well, I could giue you reafon for my doubts. You are of honoured birth, my very friende. ^4°

You know how god-like tis to roote out fin. Antonio is a villaine. Will you ioyne In oath with me, againft the traitors life, And fweare, you knewe, he fought his fathers death ? I lou'd him well, yet I loue iuftice more : Our friends we ftiould affect, iuftice adore.

Pan. My Lord, the clapper of my mouth's not glibd With court oyle, twill not ftrike on both fides yet.

Pie. Tis iuft that fubiectes acte commaunds of kings.

Pan. Commaund then iuft and honorable things. £50

D Pie.

The fecond part of

Pie. Euen fo my felfe then will traduce his guilt.

Pan. Beware, take heed leaft guiltlefle blood be fpilt.

Pie. Where onely honeft deeds to kings are free, It is no empire, but a beggery. Pan. Where more than noble deeds to kings are free, It is no empire, but a tyranny.

Pie. Tufh iuicelefle graybeard, tis immunity, Proper to princes, that our ftate exactes, Our fubiects not alone to beare, but praife our acts.

Pan. O, but that prince that worthfull praife afpires, 660 From hearts, and not from lips, applaufe defires.

Pie. Pilh, true praife, the brow of common men doth Falfe, only girts the temple of a king. (ring>

He that hath ftrength, and's ignorant of power, He was not made to rule, but to be ruPd.

Pan. Tis praife to doe, not what we can , but fhould.

Pie. Hence doting Stoick: bymyhopeofblifle, He make thee wretched.

Pan. Defyance to thy power, thou rifted lawne. Now, by the lou'd heauen, fooner thou fhalt *7°

Rince thy foule ribs from the black filth of finne, That foots thy heart, then make me wretched. Pifh, Thou can ft not coupe me vp. Hadft thou a laile With trebble walles, like antick Babilon, Pandulpho can get out. I tell thee Duke, I haue ould Fortunatus wifhing cappe : And* can be where I lift, euen in a trice. lie fkippe from earth into the armes of heauen : And from tryumphall arch of bleflednefle, Spit on thy froathy breaft. Thou canit not flaue 680

Or

Antonio and Mellida.

Or banifh me ; I will be free at home,

Maugre the bearde of greatnefle- The port holes

Of fheathed fpirit are nere corb'd vp :

But ftill Hand open readie to difcharge

Their pretious (hot into the fhrowds of heauen-

Pie. O torture ! flaue, I banifh thee the towne, Thy natiue feate of birth-

Pa. How proud thoufpeak'ft! ItelltheeDuke,theblafts Of the fwolne cheekt winds, nor all the breath of kings Can puffe me out my natiue feat of birth- *9°

The earth's my bodies, and the heauen's my foules Moft natiue place of birth, which they will keepe : Defpite the menace of mortalitie- Why Duke :

That's not my natiue place, where I was rockt. A wife mans home is wherefoere he is wife. Now that, from man, not from the place doth rife. Pie. Wold I were deafe (6 plague) hence dotard wretch : Tread not in court. All that thou haft, I feize- His quiet's firmer then I can difeafe.

Pan. Goe, boaft vnto thy flattring Sycophants j Pandulpbos flaue, Piero hath orethrowne. Loofe Fortunes rags are loft ; my owne's my owne.

K P zero's going out^ lookes backe. Exeunt at feuerall

doores.

Tis true Piero, thy vext heart fhall fee, Thou haft but tript my ilaue, not conquerd mee.

Dz SCE-

The fecond part of

SCENA TERTIA.

Tf Enter Antonio with a booke, Lucia, Alberto, Antonio in blacks. 71°

Alb. T^TAY fweet be comforted, take counfell and -L^l Ant. Alberto, peace : that griefe is wanton fick, Whofe ftomacke can digeft and brooke the dyet Of ftale ill reliiht counfell. Pigmie cares Can fhelter vnder patience fhield : but gyant griefes Will burft all couert.

Lu. My Lord, tis fupper time.

Ant. Drinke deepe Alberto : eate, good Lucio : But my pin'd heart lhall eat on naught but woe.

Alb. My Lord, we dare not leaue you thus alone. 7ZO

Ant. You cannot leaue Antonio alone. The chamber of my breaft is euen throngd, With firme attendance, that forfweares to flinch- I haue a thing fits here ; it is not griefe, Tis not defpaire, nor the moil plague That the moft wretched are infected with : But the moft greefull, defpairing, wretched, Accurfed, miferable. O, for heauens fake Forfake me now ; you fee how light I am, And yet you force me to defame my patience. 730

Lu. Faire gentle prince

Ant. Away, thy voice is hatefull : thou doft buzze,

And

Antonio and Mellida.

And beat my eares with intimations

That Mellida, that Mellida is light,

And ftained with adulterous luxury :

I cannot brook't. I tell the Lucio,

Sooner will I giue faith, that vertue's {cant

In princes courts, will be adorn'd with wreath

Of choyce refpect, and indeerd intimate.

Sooner will I beleeue that friendfhips raine. 740

Will curbe ambition from vtilitie,

Then Mellida is light. Alas poore foule,

Didft ere fee her (good heart) haft heard her fpeake ?

Kinde, kinde foule. Incredulitie it felfe (cheeks

Would not be fo brafie hearted, as fufpect fo modeft

Lu. My Lord

Ant. Away, a felfe-one guilt doth onely hatch diftruft : But a chafte thought's as farre from doubt, as luft. I intreat you leaue me.

Alb. Will you endeauour to forget your griefe ? 750

Ant. Ifaith I will, good friend, Ifaith I will. He come and eate with you. Alberto, fee, I am taking Phyficke, heer's Philofophie. Good honeft leaue me, He drinke wine anone.

Alb. Since you enforce vs, faire prince, we are gone.

Exeunt Alberto and Lucio. U Antonio reades.

A. Fertefortiter : hoc eft quo deum antecedatis. Ille enim ex tra fatientiam malorum ; vosfupra. Con temnite dolorem: aut foluetur^ aut foluet. Contemnite fortuna : nullu telu, quo 760 feriret animum babet. Pifh, thy mother was not lately widdowed,

D3 Thy

Thefecond Parte of

Thy deare affied loue, lately defam'd,

With blemifh of foule luft, when thou wrot'ft thus.

Thou wrapt in furres, beaking thy lymbs 'fore fiers,

Forbidft the froze Zone to fhudder. Ha,ha : tis naught,

But fomie bubling of a fleamie braine,

Naught els but fmoake. O what danke marrifh fpirit,

But would be fyred with impatience,

At my No more, no more : he that was neuer bleft, 770

With height of birth, faire expectation

Of mounted fortunes, knowes not what it is

To be the pittied obiect of the worlde.

O, poore Antonio^ thou maift ligh.

Mell- Aye me.

Ant- And curie.

Pan. Black powers.

Ant. And cry.

Ma. O heauen.

Ant. And clofe laments with 780

Alb. O me moft miferable.

Pan. Woe for my deare deare fbnne.

Mar. Woe for my deare, deare husband.

Mel. Woe for my deare deare loue.

Ant. Woe for me all, clofe all your woes in me : In me Antonio^ ha > Where liue thefe founds > I can fee nothing j griefe's inuifible, And lurkes in fecret angles of the heart- Come iigh againe, Antonio beares his part.

Mell. O here, here is a vent to paffe my fighes. 790 I haue furcharg'd the dungeon with my plaints. Prifon, and heart will burft, if void of vent-

I

Antonio and Mellida.

I, that is Phoebe, emprefle of the night,

That gins to mount ; 6 chafteit deitie :

If I be falfe to my Antonio^

If the leaft fbyle of luft fmeers my pure loue,

Make me more wretched, make me more accurft

Then infamie, torture, death, hell and heauen

Can bound with ampleft power of thought : if not,

Purge my poore heart, with defamations blot. 800

Ant. Purge my poore heart from defamations blot ! Poore heart, how like her vertuous felfe me fpeakes. Mellida^ deare Mellida, it is Antonio : Slinke not away, tis thy Antonio.

Mel. How found you out, my Lord (alas) I knowe Tis eaiie in this age, to finde out woe. I haue a fute to you.

Ant. What is't, deare foule ?

Mell. Kill me, Ifaith He winke, not ftir a iot- For God fake kill mee : infooth, lou'd youth, 8l°

I am much iniur'd ; looke, fee how I creeps I cannot wreake my wrong, but figh and weepe-

An~ May I be curfed, but 1 credit thee-

Mell. To morrowe 1 muft die-

An. Alas, for what ?

Mell For louing thee ; tis true my fweeteft breaft- I muft die falfely : fo muft thou, deare heart. Nets are a knitting to intrappe thy life. Thy fathers death muft make a Paradice To my (I fhame to call him) father. Tell me fweet, 8l° Shall I die thine ? doft loue mee (till, and ftill ?

D 4 Ant. I

Thefecond Parte of

Ant> I doe.

Mell- Then welcome heauens will.

Ant. Madam, I will not fwell like a Tragedian, in for ced paflion of affected ftraines.

If 1 had prefent power of ought but pittying you, I would be as readie to redrefle your wrongs, as to pur- fue your loue. Throngs of thoughts crowde for their paffage, fomewhat I will doe.

Reach me thy hand : thinke this is honors bent, 830

To Hue vnflau'd, to die innocent.

Mel. Let me entreat a fauour, gratious loue. Be patient, fee me die, good doe not weepe : Goe fup, fweete chuck, drinke, and fecurely fleepe.

Ant. I faith I cannot, but He force my face To palliate my licknefle.

Mell. Giue me thy hand. Peace on thy bofome dwel : Thats all my woe can breath : kifle. Thus farewell.

Ant. Farewell : my heart is great of thoughts, Stay doue : 84o

And therefore I muft fpeake : but what ? 6 Loue ! By this white hand : eno more : reade in thefe teares, What crufhing anguifh thy Antonio beares.

Antonio kiffetb Mellidas band: then Mellida goes from the grate.

Mel. God night good harte. (part.

Ant. Thus heate from blood, thus foules from bodies T[ Enter Piero and Strozzo.

Pie. Hegreeues,laughei$/r0;2;s0: laugh, he weepes. Hath he teares? 6 pleafure! hath he teares? 850

Now doe I fcourge Andrugio with fteele whips

Antonio and Mellida.

Of knottie vengeance. Strozzo, caufe me ftraight Some plaining dittie to augment defpaire. Tryumph Piero : harke, he groanes, 6 rare !

Ant. Beholde a proftrate wretch laid on his toumbe. His Epitaph, thus ; Ne plus vltra. Ho. Let none out-woe me : mine's Herculean woe.

C A N T A N T.

Exit Piero at the end of the fong.

SCENA QVARTA. "•«

(cont.)

TI Enter Maria. 861

Ant. TV/T AY I be more curfed then heauen can make If I am not more wretched (me 5

Then man can conceiue me. Sore forlorne Orphant, what omnipotence can make thee happie ?

Mar. How now fweete fonne ? good youth, what doft thou ?

Ant. Weepe, weepe.

Mar. Doft naught but weepe, weepe ?

Ant. Yes mother, I do figh, and wring my hands, 87o Beat my poore breaft, and wreath my tender armes. Harke yee ; He tel you wondrous ftrange, ftrage news.

Ma. What my good boy, ftarke mad ?

Ant- I am not.

Ma. Alas, is that ftrange newes >

E Ant

Thefecond Parte of

Ant. Strange news ? why mother, is't not wondrous I am not mad ? I run not frantick, ha ? (ftrange

Knowing my fathers trunke fcarce colde, your loue Is fought by him that doth purfue my life ? Seeing the beautie of creation, 880

Antonio's bride, pure heart, defam'd, and ftoad Vnder the hatches of obfcuring earth. Heu quo labor, quo vota ceciderunt mea !

^[ Enter Piero-

Pie. Good euening to the faire Antonio, Moft happie fortune, fweete fucceeding time, Rich hope : think not thy fate a bankrout though

Ant. Vmh, the diuell in his good time and tide for- fake thee.

Pie. How now ? harke yee Prince. 890

An. God be with you.

Pie. Nay, noble blood, I hope yee not fufpect An. Sufpect, I fcorn't. Here's cap & leg ; good night: Thou that wants power, with diflemblance fight-

Exit Antonio- Pier. Madam, O that you could remeber to forget Ma. I had a hufband and a happie fonne. Pi. Moft powreful beautie, that inchanting grace Ma. Talke not of beautie, nor inchanting grace. My hufband's deade, my fon's diftraught, accurft. 9oo Come, 1 muft vent my griefes, or heart will burft.

Exit Maria.

Pie. Shee's gone (& yet fhe's here) me hath left a print Of her fweete graces fixt within my heart, As frefli as is her face. He marrie her.

Shee's

Antonio and Mellida.

Shee's moft fair, true, moft chaite, moft falfe : becaufe Moft faire, tis firme lie marrie her.

SCENA QVINTA. (

If Enter Strotzo. Str. TV/IY Lord. 910

Piero. Ha, Strotzo^ my other fbule, my life, Deare, haft thou fteePd the point of thy relolue ? Wilt not turne edge in execution ?

Str. No.

Pie. Doe it with rare paffion, and prefent thy guilt, As if twere wrung out with thy confcience gripe. Sweare that my daughter's innocent of luft, And that Antonio brib'd thee to defame Her maiden honour, on inueterate hate Vnto my bloode; and that thy hand was feed 9*°

By his large bountie, for his fathers death. Sweare plainly that thou chok'tit Andrugio^ By his fons onely egging. Rufh me in WhiPft Mellida prepares her felfe to die : Halter about thy necke, and with fuch fighs, Laments and acclamations lyfen it, As if impulfiue power of remorfe

Str. lie weepe-

Pie. I,I,fall on thy face and cry ; why fuffer you So lewde a flaue as Strotzo is to breath ? 93°

Str. lie beg a ftrangling, growe importunate

Pie. As if thy life were loathfome to thee : then I Catch ftraight the cords end; and, as much incenf'd With thy damn'd mifchiefes, offer a rude hand,

£2 As

The fecond part of

As readie to girde in thy pipe of breath : But on the fodaine ftraight He ftand amaz'd, And fall in exclamations of thy vertues.

Str. Applaud my agonies, and penitence.

Pie. Thy honeft ftomack, that could not difgeft The crudities of murder : but furcharg'd, 940

Vomited'ft them vp in Chriftian pietie.

Str. Then clip me in your armes. Pie. And call thee brother, mount thee ftraight to ftate, Make thee of counfell ; tut, tut, what not, what not ? Thinke ont, be confident, purfue the plot.

Str. Looke here's a troop, a true rogues lips are mute. I doe not vfe to fpeake, but execute.

He lay es finger on his mouthy and drawes his dagger.

Pie. So, fo ; run headlong to confufion : Thou flight brain'd mifchiefe, thou art made as durt, 950 To plafter vp the bracks of my defects. He wring what may be fqueaPd from out his vfe : And good night Strozzo. Swell plump bold heart. For now thy tide of vengeance rowleth in : O now Tragcedia Cothurnata mounts. Piero's thoughts are fixt on dire exploites. Pell mell: confufion, and black murder guides The organs of my fpirit : fhrinke not heart. Capienda rebus in mails praceps via eft.

FINIS ACTVS SECVNDI. »6°

AC-

Antonio and Mellida. ACT. in. SCEN.'i.

K A dumb ejh owe. The cornets founding for the Acte. If Enter Caflilio and Forobofco, Alberto and Balurdo, with polaxes : Strozzo talking with Piero, feemeth to fend out Strotzo. ExitStrotzo. Enter Strotzo, Maria, Nutricbe, and Luceo. Piero paffeth through his guard, and talkes with her withfeeming amoroufnejfe :Jbe feemeth to r elect his fuite,flyes to the toumbe, kneeles, and klffeth it. Piero bribes Nutriche and Lucio : they goe to her, feeminp to folicite his fuite. Sbe rifeth, offers to goe out, Piero flay- 970 eth her, teares open his breaft, imbraceth and kiffetb her, andfo they goe all out in State.

II Enter two pages, the one with two tapers, the other with a chafing difh : a perfume in it. Antonio, in his night gowne, and a night cap, vnbrac t, following after.

An. T*HE black iades of fwart night trot foggy rings Bout heauens browe- (12) Tis now ftarke deade night. Is this Saint Markes Church ?

1. Pa. It is, my Lord. 98o Ant. Where ftands my fathers hearle ?

2. Pa. Thofeftreamersbearehisarmes. I,thatisit. Ant. Set tapers to the toumbe, & lampe the Church-

Giue me the fire. Now depart and fleepe. Exeunt pages.

E3 'I

The fecond part of

I purifie the ayre with odorous fume. (weight.

Graues, valts, and toumbes, groane not to beare my

Colde flefh, bleake trunkes, wrapt in your half-rot

fhrowdes,

I prefle you foftly, with a tender foote.

Moft honour'd fepulchre, vouchfafe a wretch, 990

Leaue to weepe ore thee. Toumb, lie not be long

Ere I creepe in thee, and with bloodlefle lips

Kifle my cold fathers cheeke. I pree thee, graue,

Prouide foft mould to wrap my carcafle in.

Thou royal fpirit of Andrugio, where ere thou houerft

(Ayrie intellect!) I heaue vp tapers to thee (viewe thy

In celebration of dewe obfequies. fon)

Once euery night, He dewe thy funerall hearfe

With my religious teares.

0 blefled father of a curfed ion, 1000 Thou diedft moft happie, fince thou liuedft not

To fee thy fonne moft wretched, and thy wife PurfuM by him that feekes my guiltlefle blood. O, in what orbe thy mightie fpirit foares, Stoop and beat downe this rifing fog of fhame, That ftriues to blur thy blood, and girt defame About my innocent and fpotlefle browes. Non eft mori miferum^fed mifert mori.

And. Thy pangs of anguifh rip my cerecloth vp : And loe the ghoaft of ould Andrugw 1010

Forfakes his coffin. Antonio, reuenge-

1 was impoyfon'd by Piero's hand : Reuenge my bloode ; take fpirit gentle boy : Reuenge my bloode. Thy Mellida^ is chalte :

Only

Antonio and Mellida.

Onely to fruftrate thy purfuite in loue,

Is blaz'd vnchafte. Thy mother yeelds confent

To be his wife, & giue his bloode a fbnne,

That made her husbandlefle, and doth complot

To make her fbnlefle : but before I touch

The banks of reft, my ghoft fhall vifite her. iozo

Thou vigor of my youth, iuyce of my loue,

Seize on reuenge, grafpe the fterne bended front

Of frowning vengeance, with vnpaized clutch.

Alarum Nemejis^ rouze vp thy blood,

Inuent fbme ttratageme of vengeance :

Which but to thinke on, may like lightning glide,

With horor through thy breaft ; remember this.

Scelera non vlcifceris^ nifi vincis. Exit Andrugio's ghoft.

SCENA SECVNDA. -•;

(cont.)

Tf Enter Maria, her haire about her eares: Nutriche, 1030 and LuciO) with Pages^ and torches.

Ma. TTY THERE left you him? fhewe mee

V V good boyes, away. Nut. Gods mee, your haire. Ma. Nurfe, tis not yet prowde day : The neat gay miftes of the light's not vp, Her cheekes not yet flurd ouer with the paint Of borrowed crimfbne j the vnpranked world

E 4 Wears

Thefecond Parte of

Wears yet the night-cloathes : let flare my loofed hair.

I fcorne the prefence of the night. 1040

Where's my boy ? Run : He range about the Church,

Like frantick Bachanell^ or lafons wife,

Inuoking all the fpirits of the graues,

To tell me where. Hah ? O my poore wretched blood,

What doft thou vp at midnight, my kinde boy >

Deare fbule, to bed : 6 thou haft ftruck a fright

Vnto thy mothers panting

0 quifquis noua

Supplicia functis dirus vmbrarum arbiter

DijponiS) quisquis exefo iaces 1050

Pauidusfub antri^ quifquis venturi times

Montis ruinam, quifquis auidorum feres.

Rictus leonum, & dira furiarum agmina,

Implicitus borresy Antonii vocem excipe

Properantis ad vos Vldfcar.

Ma. Alas my fbn's diftraught. Sweete boy appeafe

Thy mutining affections.

Ant. By the aftonning terror of fwart night, By the infectious damps of clammie graues, And by the mould that prefleth downe 10^0

My deade fathers fculle : He be reueng'd.

Ma. Wherefore ? on whom ? for what ? go, go to bed Good dutious fbnne. Ho, but thy idle

An. So I may fleepe toumb'd in an honour'd hearfe, So may my bones reft in that Sepulcher,

Ma. Forget not dutie fonne : to bed, to bed.

An. May I be cur fed by my fathers ghoft, And blafted with incenled breath of heauen,

Antonio and Mellida.

If my heart beat on ought but vengeance,

May I be numd with horror, and my vaines 1070

Pucker with fing'ing torture, if my braine

Difgeft a thought, but of dire vengeance :

May I be fetter'd llaue to coward Chaunce,

If blood, heart, braine, plot ought faue vengeance.

Ma. Wilt thou to bed ? I wonder when thou fleepft Ifaith thou look'ft funk-ey'd ; go couch thy head : Now faith tis idle : fweet, fweet fonne to bed.

Ant. I haue a prayer or two, to offer vp, For the good, good Prince, my moft deare, dear Lord, The Duke Piero, and your vertuous felfe : 1080

And then when thofe prayers haue obtained fuccefle, In footh lie come (beleeue it now) and couch My heade in downie moulde : but firft lie fee You fafely laide- lie bring yee all to bed. Piero^ Maria, Strotzo^ Luceo, He fee you all laid : He bringe you all to bed, And then, ifaith, He come and couch my head, And fleepe in peace.

Ma. Looke then, wee goe before.

Exeunt all but .Antonio. 1090

Ant. I, fb you mufb, before we touch the fliore Of wifht reuenge. O you departed foules, That lodge in coffin'd trunkes, which my feet prefle (If Pythagorian Axiomes be true, Of fpirits tranfmigration) fleete no more To humane bodies, rather Hue in fwine, Inhabit wolues flefh, Icorpions, dogs, and toads, Rather then man. The curfe of heauen raines

F In

Thefecond Parte of

In plagues vnlimitted through all his dales.

His mature age growes onely mature vice, noo

And ripens onely to corrupt and rot

The budding hopes of infant modeftie-

Still ftriuing to be more then man, he prooues

More then a diuell, diuelifh fufpect, diuelifh crueltie :

All hell-ftraid iuyce is powred to his vaines,

Making him drunke with fuming furquedries,

Contempt of heauen, vntam'd arrogance,

Luft, ftate, pride, murder.

And. Murder. ^

Pel. Murder. \ From aboue and beneath.

Pa. Murder. 3

Ant. I, I will murder : graues and ghofts Fright me no more, He fuck red vengeance Out of Pieros wounds Piero' s wounds. Enter two boyes^ with Piero in his night gown & night cap.

Pie. Maria, loue Maria : Ihe tooke this He. Left you her here ? On lights : away : I thinke we fhall not warme our beds to day. If Enter lulio^ Forobofco, and Caftilio.

lul. Ho, father ? father >

Pie. How now Iulio, my little prettie fonne ? Why fufier you the childe to walke fo late.

Foro. He will not fleepe, but cals to followe you, Crying that bug-beares & fpirits haunted him.

Antonio offers to come nere and flab ^ Piero presently

Ant. No, not fo. (withdrawes.

This fhall be fought for ; He force him feede on life Till he fhall loath it. This fhall be the clofe

Of

Antonio and Mellida.

Ofvengeance ftraine.

Pie. Away there : Pages, leade on faft with light- 1 130 The Church is full of damps : tis yet deade night. Exit all, fauing lulio.

SCENA TERTIA. ">•>

(cont.)

lul T> R OTHER Antonio, are you here ifaith r

•D Why doe you frowne? Indeed my lifter faid, That I Ihould call you brother, that (he did, When you were married to her. Bufle me ; good Truth, I loue you better then my father, deede.

Ant. Thy father ? Gratious, 6 bounteous heauen ! I doe adore thy luftice ; Venit in noflras manus n4o

Tandem vindicta, venit & tota qutdem.

lul- Truth, iince my mother dyed, I lou'd you beft. Something hath angred you ; pray you look merily.

Ant. I will laugh, and dimple my thinne cheeke, With capring ioy ; chuck, my heart doth leape To grafpe thy bofome. Time, place, and blood, How fit you clofe togither ! Heauens tones Strike not fuch mufick to immortall foules, As your accordance fweetes my bread withall. Me thinks I pafe vpon the front of loue, \ 150

And kick corruption with a fcornefull heele, Griping this flefh, difdaine mortalitie. O that I knewe which ioynt, which fide, which lim Were father all, and had no mother in't : That I might rip it vaine by vaine j and carue reuenge In bleeding races : but Iince 'tis mixt together, Haue at aduenture, pel mell, no reuerfe.

F 2 Come

Thefecond Parte of

Come hither boy. This is Andrugio's hearfe.

lul. O God, youle hurt me. For my lifters fake, Pray you doe not hurt me. And you kill me, deede, He tell my father

An. O, for thy fitters fake, I flagge reuenge.

Andr. Reuenge.

Ant. Stay, ftay, deare father, fright mine eyes no more. Reuenge as fwift as lightning burfteth forth, And cleares his heart. Come, prettie tender childe, It is not thee I hate, not thee I kill- Thy fathers blood that flowes within thy veines, Is it I loath 5 is that, Reuenge muft fucke. I loue thy foule : and were thy heart lapt vp In any flefh, but in Piero's bloode, I would thus kifle it : but being his : thus, thus, And thus He punch it. Abandon feares. WhiPft thy wounds bleede, my browes fhall gufh out teares-

lull. So you will loue me, doe euen what you will.

Ant. Now barkes the Wolfe againft the full cheekt Moone.

Now Lyons halfe-clamd entrals roare for food. Now croakes the toad, & night-crowes fcreech aloud, "80 Fluttering 'bout cafements of departing foules. Now gapes the graues, and through their yawnes let Imprifon'd fpirits to reuifit earth : (loofe

And now fwarte night, to fwell thy hower out, Behold I fpurt warme bloode in thy blacke eyes.

From vnder the ft age a groane.

Ant. Howie not thou pury mould, groan not ye graues .

Be

Antonio and Mellida.

Be dumbe all breath. Here ftands Andrugws fonne,

Worthie his father. So : I feele no breath-

His iawes are falne, his diflodg'd foule is fled : 1190

And now there's nothing, but Piero ^ left.

He is all Piero, father all. This blood,

This breaft, this heart, Piero all :

Whome thus I mangle. Spright of lulyo,

Forget this was thy trunke. I liue thy friend.

Maift thou be twined with the foftft imbrace

Of cleare eternitie : but thy fathers blood,

I thus make incenfe of, to vengeance.

Ghoft of my poyfoned Syre, fucke this fume :

To fweete reuenge perfume thy circling ayre, izoo

With fmoake of bloode. I fprinkle round his goare,

And dewe thy hearfe, with thefe frefh reeking drops.

Loe thus I heaue my blood-died handes to heauen :

Euen like infatiate hell, ftill crying ; More.

My heart hath thirfting Dropfies after goare.

Sound peace, and reft, to Church, night ghofts, and

graues.

Blood cries for bloode ; and murder murder craues.

SCENA QVARTA.

K Enter two Pages with torches. Marya, her hay re loofe^ mo and Nutriche.

, fie; to morrowe your wedding day, and weepe ! Gods my comfort. Andrugio could do well : Piero may doe better. I haue had foure hufbands

FS my

The fecond part of

my felfe. The firft I called, Sweete Duck', the fecond, Deare Heart : the third, Prettie Purge : But the fourth,

*— -O •

molt fweete, deare, prettie, all in all : he was the verie cockeall of a hufband. What, Ladie ? your fkinne is fmooth, your bloode warme, your cheeke freih, your eye quick : change of pafture makes fat calues: choice of linnen, cleane bodies ; and (no queftion) variety of hufbands perfect wiues. I would you fhould knowe it, as fewe teeth as I haue in my heade, I haue red A- ristotles Problemes, which faith ; that woman receiueth perfection by the man. What then be the men ? Goe to, to bed, lye on your backe, dream not on Piero. I fay no more : to morrowe is your wedding : doe, dreame not of Piero.

TJ Enter Balurdo with a bafe Vyole.

Ma. What an idle prate thou keep'ft? good nurfe 1230 goe fleepe. I haue a mightie tafke of teares to weepe.

BaL Ladie, with a moft retort and obtufe legge I kifle the curled locks of your loofe haire. The Duke hath fent you the moll muficall fir Gefferey, with his not bafe, but moft innobled Viole, to rock your baby thoughts in the Cradle of fleepe.

Ma. I giue the noble Duke refpectiue thanks.

Bal. Refpectiue ; truely a verie prettie word. Indeed Madam, I haue the moft refpectiue fiddle. Did you e- 1240 uer fmell a more fweete founde. My dittie mutt goe thus ; verie wittie, I allure you : I my felfe in an humo rous paflion made it, to the tune of my miftrelle Nu- trlches beautie. Indeede, verie prettie, verie retort, and

ob-

Antonio and Mellida.

obtufe j He affaire you tis thus*

My miftreffe eye doth oyle my ioynts,

And makes my fingers nimble : 0 loue, come on, vntruffe your points,

My fiddleftick wants Rozzen. My Ladies dugges are allfofmooth,

That no flejh muft them handle : Her eyes doejhine,for to fay footh,

Like a newe fnuffed candle. Mar. Truelie, verie patheticall, and vnuulgar. Ba. Patheticall, and vnuulgar ; words of worth, ex cellent words. In footh, Madam, I haue taken a murre, which makes my nofe run moft patheticallie, and vn- vulgarlie. Haue you anie Tobacco ? Ma. Good Signior, your fong. Ba. Inftantlie, molt vnvulgarlie, at your feruice. Truelie, here's the moft patheticall rozzen- Vmh.

CANTANT.

Ma. In footh, moft knightlie fung, & like fir Gefferey. Ba. Why, looke you Ladie, I was wade a knight on ly for my voice ; & a counfeller, only for my wit.

Ma. I beleeue it. God night, gentle fir, god night. Bal. You will giue me leaue to take my leaue of my miftrefle, and I will do it moft famoufly in rime. Farewell, adieu : Saith thy hue true.

As to part loath. 1170

Time bids vs parte^ Mine orone fweete heart,

God bleffe vs both. Exit Balurdo.

Ma. God night Nutriche. Pages, leaue the roome. The life of night growes fhort, tis almott dead. Exeunt Pages and Nutriche.

F4 O

The fecond part of

O thou cold widdowe bed, fometime thrice bleft, By the warme preflure of my fleeping Lord : Open thy leaues, and whilft on thee I treade, Groane out. Alas, my deare Andrugio's deade.

Maria draroeth the court aine: and the ghoft of 1280 Andrugio is dijplayed^ fitting on the bed. Amazing terror, what portent is this ?

SCENA Q VINT A. ///.*

(cont.)

And. TAI S L O Y A L to our Hymniall rites,

-L-' What raging heat rains in thy ftrupet blood ? Haft thou fo foone forgot Andrugio ? Are our loue-bands fo quickly cancelled > Where Hues thy plighted faith vnto this breaft ?

0 weake Marya \ Go to, calme thy feares.

1 pardon thee, poore foule. O fhed no teares, 1190 Thy fexe is weake. That black incarnate fiende

May trippe thy faith, that hath orethrowne my life :

I was impoyfonM by P zero's hand.

loyne with my fonne, to bend vp ftraind reuenge.

Maintaine a feeming fauour to his fuite,

Till time may forme our vengeance abfolute.

If Enter Antonio^ hisarmes bloody : a torch and a

poniard. •

An. See, vnamaz'd, I will beholde thy face, Outftare the terror of thy grimme afpect, 13°°

Daring the horred'ft obiect of the night. Looke how I fmoake in blood, reeking the fteame

Of

Antonio and Mellida.

Of foming vengeance. O my foule's inthroan'd In the tryumphant chariot of reuenge. Me thinks I am all ayre, and feele no waight Of humane dirt clogge. This is lulios bloode. Rich mufique, father ; this is lulws blood. Why Hues that mother ?

And. Pardon ignorance. Fly deare Antonio : Once more aflume difguife, and dog the Court 1310

In fained habit, till Piero's blood May euen ore-flowe the brimme of full reuenge.

Exit Antonio.

Peace, and all blefled fortunes to you both. Fly thou from Court, be pearelefle in reuenge : Sleepe thou in relt, loe here I clofe thy couch. Exit Maria to her bed^ Andrugio drawing the

Curtaines.

And now yee footie courfers of the night, Hurrie your chariot into hels black wombe. T310

Darkenefle, make flight ; Graues, eat your dead again : Let's repofleffe our fhrowdes. Why lags delay ? Mount fparkling brightnefle, giue the world his day. Exit Andrugio.

Explicit Actus tertius.

G ACT.

Thefecond Pane of ACT. mi. SCEN. i.

^f Enter Antonio in a fooles habit, with a little toy of a walnut Jh ell y and f ope, to make bubbles: Maria, and Alberto.

Ma. AWAY with this difguife in any hand. 1330

Alb. ./\Fie, tis vnfuting to your elate fpirite :

Rather put on fome tranflhap't caualier,

Some habit of a fpitting Critick, whofe mouth

Voids nothing but gentile and vnuulgar

Rheume of cenfiire : rather aflume

Ant. Why then fhould I put on the verie flefh Of folid folly. No, this cockfcombe is a crowne Which I affect, euen with vnbounded zeale. Al. Twil twhart your plot, diigrace your high refolue.

An. By wifdomes heart there is no eflence mortal, 1340 That I can enuie, but a plumpe cheekt foole : O, he hath a patent of immunities Confirm'd by cuftome, feald by pollicie, As large as fpatious thought.

Alb. You can not prefle among the courtiers, And haue accefle to

An. What ? not a foole ? Why friend, a golden afle, A babl'd foole are foie canonicall, Whil'ft pale cheekt wifdome, and leane ribd arte

Are

Antonio and Mellida.

Are kept in diftance at the halberts point : 13*°

All held Apocrypha, not worth furuey.

Why, by the Genius of that Florentine,

Deepe, deepe obferuing, found brain'd Macheueil,

He is is not wife that ftriues not to feeme foole.

When will the Duke holde feed Intelligence,

Keepe warie obferuation in large pay,

To dogge a fooles act ?

Mar. I, but fuch faining, known, difgraceth much.

An. Pifh, moft things that morally adhere to foules, Wholly exift in drunke opinion : 13^0

Whofe reeling cenfure, if I valew not, It valewes naught.

Ma. You are tranfported with too flight a thought, If you but meditate of what is paft, And what you plot to pafle.

Ant. Euen in that, note a fooles beatitude : He is not capeable of paffion, Wanting the power of diftinction, He beares an vnturnd fayle with euery winde : Blowe Eaft, blowe Weft, he ftirs his courfe alike. 1370 I neuer fawe a foole leane : the chub-fac't fop Shines fleeke with full cramm'd fat of happinefle, Whil'ft ftudious contemplation fucks the iuyce From wifards cheekes : who making curious fearch For Natures fecrets, the firft innating caufe Laughes them to fcorne, as man doth bufie Apes When they will zanie men. Had heauen bin kinde, Creating me an honett fenfeleffe dolt, A good poore foole, I fhould want fenfe to feele

G2 The

The flings of anguifh fhoot through euery vaine, *38° I fhould not know what twere to loofe a father : I fhould be deade of fenfe, to viewe defame Blur my bright loue ; I could n©t thus run mad. As one confounded in a maze of mifchiefe, Staggerd, ftarke feld with brufing ftroke of chance. I fhould not fhoote mine eyes into the earth, Poring for mifchiefe, that might counterpoise

If Enter Lu ceo. mifchiefe, murder and How now Lucio ?

Lu. My Lord, the Duke, with the Venetian States, 139° Approach the great hall to iudge Mellida.

Ant. Askt he for lulio yet ?

Lu. No motion of him : dare you truft this habit ?

An. Alberto^ fee you ftreight rumour me dead : Leaue me, good mother, leaue me Luceo, Forfake me all. Now patience hoope my fides,

Exeunt omnes^ fauing Antonio. With fteeled ribs, leaft I doe burft my breaft With ftruggling paffions. Now difguife ftand bolde. Poore fcorned habits, oft choyce foules infould. 14°°

If The Cornets found a Cynet.

SCENA SECVNDA. „,<

(co»t.

If Enter Caftilio, Forobofco, Balurdo^ &Alberto, with pol~ axes: Luceo bare. Piero G? Maria talking together: two Senators^ Galeatzo^ and Matzagente, Nutriche.

Pie.

Antonio and Mellida.

Pie. TNT RE AT me not: ther's not a beauty Hues, I Hath that imperiall predominance

Ore my affectes, as your inchanting graces : Yet giue me leaue to be my felfe.

Ant. A villaine.

Pier. luft.

Ant. Moft iuft.

Pie. Moft iuft and vpright in our iudgement feat. Were 'Mellida mine eye, with fuch a blemifh Of moft loath'd loofenefle, I would fcratch it out. Produce the ftrumpet in her bridal! robes, That fhe may blufh t'appeare fo white in fhowe, And blacke in inward fubftance. Bring her in.

Exeunt Forobofco and Caftilio.

I holde Antonio^ for his fathers fake, 1410

So verie dearely, fo entirely choyce, That knewe I but a thought of preiudice, Imaigin'd 'gainft his high innobled blood, I would maintaine a mortall feude, vndying hate Gainft the conceiuers life. And fhall luftice fleepe In flelhly Lethargic, for myne owne bloods fauour, When the fweete prince hath fo apparant fcorne By my (I wil not call her) daughter. Goe, Conduct in the loued youth Antonio :

Exit Alberto to fetch Antonio. 1430

He fhall beholde me fpurne my priuate good. Piero loues his honour more then's blood.

Ant. The diuell he does more then both.

Ea. Stand backe there, foole ; I do hate a foole moft

moft pathetically. O thefe that hlue no fappe of of re-

G 3 tort

The fecond part of

tort and obtufe wit in them : faugh.

Ant. Puffe, holde world : puffe, hold bubble ; PufFe, holde world : puffe, breake not behinde : puffe, thou art full of winde ; puffe, keepe vp by winde : puffe, 'tis broake : & now I laugh like a good foole at the breath i44o of mine owne lips, he, he, he, he, he.

Sal. You foole.

Ant. You foole, puffe.

Ba. I cannot difgeft thee, the vmmlgar foole. Goe foole.

Pier. Forbeare, Ealurdo^ let the foole alone. Come hither (fie to) Is he your foole ?

Ma. Yes, my lou'd Lord.

Pi. Would all the States in Venice were like thee. O then I were fecur'd. 145°

He that's a villaine, or but meanely fowl'd, Muft ftil conuerfe, and cling to routes of fooles, That can not fearch the leakes of his defectes. O, your vnfalted frelh foole is your onely man : Thefe vinegar tart fpirits are too pearcing, Too fearching in the vnglewd ioynts of fhaken wits. Finde they a chinke, they'l wriggle in and in, And eat like fait fea in his lid do we ribs, Till they haue opened all his rotten parts, Vnto the vaunting furge of bafe contempt, And funke the toiled galleafle in depth Of whirlepoole Scorne. Giue me an honelt fopp : Dud a dud a ? why loe fir, this takes he As grateful now, as a Monopolie.

SCE-

Antonio and Mellida.

SCENA TERTIA. r.,

(COM.)

If The flill flu tes found f oft ly.

If Enter Forobofco, and Caflilio: Mellida fupp or ted by two waiting women.

Mel!. /ILL honour to this royall confluence.

Pie. ,/l.Forbeare (impure) to blot bright honours 1470

With thy defiled lips. The fluxe of finne (name,

Flowes from thy tainted bodie : thou fo foule,

So all difhonour'd, canft no honour giue,

No wifh of good, that can haue good effect

To this graue fenate, and illuftrate bloodes.

Why ftaies the doome of death ?

i . Sen. Who rifeth vp to manifeft her guilt > 2. Sen. You muft produce apparant proofe, my Lord.

Pie. Why, where is Strotzo ? he that fwore he faw The verie acte : and vow'd that Fetiche fled 1480

Vpon his light : on which, I brake the breaft Of the adulterous letcher, with fiue itabbes. Goe fetch in Strotzo. Now thou impudent, If thou haft any droppe of modeft bloode Shrowded within thy cheeks ; blufh, blufh for fhame, That rumor yet may fay, thou felt'ft defame.

Me!/. Produce the diuel j let your Strotzo come : I can defeat his ftrongeft argument, Which

G 4 Pie.

The fecond part of

Pie. With what? (hands, 1490

Melt. With teares, with blufhes, fighes, & clafped With innocent vpreared armes to heauen : With my vnnookt fimplicitie. Thefe, thefe Muft, will, can only quit my heart of guilt. Heauen permits not taintlefle blood be fpilt. If no remorfe liue in your fauage breaft

Piero. Then thou muft die

Mel/. Yet dying, He be bleft.

Piero. Accurft by me.

Me!/. Yet bleft, in that I ftroue i?00

To liue, and die

Pie. My hate.

Me//. Antonyo's loue.

Ant. Antonio's loue ! U Enter Strotzo, a corde about his necke.

Stro. O what vaft ocean of repentant teares Can clean fe my breaft from the polluting filth Of vlcerous iinne ! Supreame Efficient, Why cleau'tt thou not my breaft with thunderbolts Of wingd reuenge ? 1510

Pie. What meanes this paffion >

An. What villanie are they decocting now ? Vmh.

Str. In me conuertite ferrum^ 0 proceres. Nihil ifte^ nee ifta.

Pie> Lay holde on him. What ftrange portent is this ?

Str. I will not flinch. Death, hel more grimlyftare Within my heart, then in your threatning browes- Record, thou threefolde garde of dreadeft power, What I here fpeake, is forced from my lips,

By

Antonio and Mellida.

By the pulfiue ftraine of confcience, I haue a mount of mifchiefe clogs my fbule, As waightie as the high-nol'd Appenine : Which I muft ftraight difgorge, or breaft will burft. I haue defam'd this Ladie wrongfully, By mitigation of Antonio : Whofe reeling loue, toft on each fancies furge, Began to loath before it fully ioyed. Exit Forobofco.

Pie. Goe, feize Antonio, guard him ftrongly in.

Str. By his ambition, being only brib'd, Feed by his impious hand, I poyfoned His aged father : that his thirftie hope Might quench their dropfie of afpiring drought, With full vnbounded quaffe.

Pie. Seize me Antonio.

Str. O why permit you now fuch fcum of filth As Strotzo is, to line, and taint the ayre, With his infectious breath !

Pie. My felfe will be thy ftrangler, vnmatcht flaue. TI Piero comes from his chaire^fnatcheth the cords end, G? Caftilio aydeth him ; both ftrangle Strotzo.

Str. Now change your

Pie. I, pluck Caftilio : I change my humour ? plucke Caftilio.

Dye, with thy deathes intreats euen in thy iawes. Now, now, now, now, now, my plot begins to worke. Why, thus mould States-men doe, That cleaue through knots of craggie pollicies, Vfe men like wedges, one ftrike out another ;

H Till

Thefecond Parte of

Till by degrees the tough and knurly trunke 1550

Be riu'd in funder. Where's Antonio ? If Enter Alberto, running.

Alb. O black accurfed fate. ^/z/owyo'/drownM.

Pie. Speake, on thy faith, on thy allegeance, fpeake.

Alb. As I doe loue Piero, he is drownde.

Ant. In an inundation of amazement.

Mel/. I, is this the clofe of all my ftraines in loue ? O me moft wretched maide.

Pie. Antonio drownde ? how ? how? Antonio drownd?

Alb. Diftraught and rauing, from a turrets top 15^0 He threwe his bodie in the high fwolne fea, And as he headlong toplie turuie dingd downe, He ftill cri'd Mellida.

Ant. My loues bright crowne.

Me/I. He ftill cry'd Mellida > (ioy,

Pier. Daughter, me thinks your eyes fhould fparkle Your bofome rife on tiptoe at this news.

Mel/. Aye me.

Pie. How now ? Ay me ? why, art not great of thanks To gratious heauen, for the iult reuenge 1570

Vpon the author of thy obloquies !

Ma. Sweete beautie, I could Jfigh as faft as you, But that I knowe that, which I weepe to knowe, His fortunes mould be fuch he dare not fhowe His open prefence.

Me II. I knowe he lou'd me dearely, dearely, I : And lince I cannot liue with him, I dye. Pie. Fore heauen, her fpeach falters, look me fwouns. Conuey her vp into her priuate bed.

Maria,

Antonio and Mellida.

If MartO) Nutriche, and the Ladies beare out Mellida,

as being fwouned. I hope fheele liue. If not

An>Antonios dead, the foole wil follow too, he, he, he. Now workes the fceane ; quick obferuation feud To coate the plot, or els the path is loft : My verie felfe am gone, my way is fled : I, all is loft, if Mellida is deade. Exit Antonio.

Pie. Alberto^ I am kinde, Alberto^ kinde. I am fbrie for thy couz, ifaith I am. Goe, take him downe, and beare him to his father : Let him be buried, looke yee, He pay the prieft.

Alb. Pleafe you to admit his father to the Court ?

Piero. No.

Al. Pleafe you to reftore his lands & goods againe ?

Piero. No.

Alb. Pleafe you vouchfafe him lodging in the city ?

Pie. Gods fut, no, thou odde vnciuill fellow: I thinke you doe forget iir, where you are.

Alb. I know you doe forget Iir, where you mult be.

Foro. You are too malepert, ifaith you are. Your honour might doe well to

Alb. Peace Parafite, thou bur, that only fticks Vnto the nappe of greatnefle.

Pie. Away with that fame yelping cur, away.

Alb. I, I am gone : but marke, Piero^ this. There is a thing cald fcourging Nemejis. Exit Alb.

Bal. Gods neakes he has wrong, that he has : and S'fut, and I were as he, I would beare no coles, lawe I, I begin to fwell, pufie.

H 2 Piero

Thefecond Parte of

Pie. How now foole, fop, foole? Foole, fop, foole ? Marry muffe. I pray you, how ma- nie fooles haue you feene goe in a fuite of Sattin ? I hope yet, I doe not look a foole ifaith : a foole ? Gods bores, I fcorn't with my heele. S'neaks, and I were worth but three hundred pound a yeare more, I could fweare richly : nay, but as poore as I am, I will iweare the fellowe hath wrong.

Piero. Young Galeatzo ? I, a proper man. Florence, a goodly citie : it mall be fb. He marrie her to him inltantly. Then Genoa mine, by my Marines match, Which He folemnize ere next fetting Sun. Thus Venice, Florence, Genoa, ftrongly leagu'd. Excellent, excellent. He conquer Rome, Pop out the light of bright religion : And then, helter fkelter, all cock fure.

Ba. Goe to, tis iuft, the man hath wrong : go to.

Pie. Goe to, thou malt haue right. Go to Caflilio, Clap him into the Palace dungeon : Lappe him in rags, and let him feede on flime 1630

That fmeares the dungeon cheeke. Away with him.

Bal. In verie good truth now, He nere do fb more ; this one time and

Pie. Away with him, obferue it ftrictly, goe.

Ba. Why then, 6 wight, alas poore knight. O, welladay, fir Gefferey. Let Poets roare, And all deplore : for now I bid you god night. Exit Balurdo with Caflilio.

Ma. O pittious end of loue : 6 too too rude hand

Of

Antonio and Mellida.

Of vnrefpectiue death ! Alas, fweete maide.

Pi. Forbear me heauen. What intend thefe plaints ?

Mar. The beautie of admir'd creation, The life of modeft vnmixt puritie, Our fexes glorie, Mellida is

Pie. What ? 6 heauen, what >

Ma. Deade.

Pie- May it not fad your thoughts, how ?

Ma. Being laid vpon her bed, Ihe grafpt my had, And kiffing it, fpake thus ; Thou very pore, Why doft not weepe ? The lewell of thy browe, The rich adornement, that inchac't thy breaft, Is loft : thy fon, my loue is loft, is deade. And doe I Hue to lay Antonio V deade ? And haue I liu'd to fee his vertues blurd, With guiltlefTe blots ! O world thou art too fubtile, For honeft natures to conuerfe withall- Therefore He leaue thee ; farewell mart of woe, I fly to clip my loue, Antonio- With that her head funk down vpon her breft : Her cheeke chang'd earth, her fenfes flept in reft : 1660 Vntill my foole, that prefPd vnto the bed, Screch't out fo lowd, that he brought back her foule, Calde her againe, that her bright eyes gan ope, And ftarde vpon him : he audatious foole, Dar'd kifle her hand, wifht her foft reft, lou'd bride ; She fumbled out, thanks good, and fo fhe dide.

Piero. And fo fhe dide : I doe not vfe to weepe : But by thy loue (out of whofe fertile fweete, I hope for as faire fruite) I am deepe fad :

H3 I

The fecond part of

will not Itay my mariage for all this. Caftilio ForobofcO) all

Straine all your wits, winde vp inuention Vnto his higheft bent : to fweete this night, Make vs drinke Lethe by your queint conceipts ; That for two daies, obliuion fmother griefe : But when my daughters exequies approach, Let's all turne fighers. Come, defpight of fate,