FLAVIA

The Lord our husband, We mean, unkind! four hours are almost passed, (But twelve short minutes wanting by the glass) Since we broke company, was never (gentlemen) Poor Princess used so? Trimly spoken. When we were common, mortal, and a subject, As other creatures of heavens making are, (the more the pity) bless us! how we waited For the huge play day when the Pageants fluttered About the City, for we then were certain, The Madam courtiers, would vouchsafe to visit us, And call us by our names, and eat our viands: Nay give us leave to fit at the upper end of our own Tables, telling us how welcome They make us, when we came to Court: full little Dreamt I at that time of the wind that blue me Up to the Weathercock of honours, now Are thrust upon me, but we bear the burden, Were't twice as much as it's, the next great feast, We'll grace the City wives (poor souls) and see How they'le behave themselves, before our presence. You two shall wait on us. Beleeve't you are so And you shall find Us readier in your pleasures, Then you in your obedience, fie methinks I have and excellent humour to be pettish; A little toysome, it's a pretty sign Of breeding, i'st not fit? I indeed Long for some strange good things now. I must be with child then, An't be but for the public Jollity, Or loose my longings, which were mighty pity. Let him stay, The fellow I have seen, and now remember His name, Fabricio. Give it from him. Friend we have read, and weighed the sum Of what your Scrivener, which in effect Is meant your counsel learned, ha drawn for ye: It's a fair hand insooth, but the contents Somewhat unseasonable, for let us tell ye, Y'ave been a spender, a vain spender, wasted Your stock of credit, and of Wares unthristily. You are a faulty man, and should we urge Our Lord as often for supplies, as shame, Or wants drive you to ask, it might be construed And impudence, which we desie, and Impudence, Base in base Women, but in Noble sinful. Are ye not ashamed yet of your self? Pray gentlemen, Retire awhile; this fellow shall resolve Some doubts that stick about me. To thee Fabricto, o the change is cruel Since I find some small leisure, I must justify, Thou art unworthy of the name of man. These holy vows, which we by bonds of Faith, Recorded in the register of Truth, Were kept by me unbroken, no assaults Of guists of courtship from the great and wanton, No threats, nor sense of poverty (to which Thy riots had betrayed me) could betray My warrantable thoughts, to impure folly. Why wouldst thou force me miserable? Did I complain? My sleeps between thine arms, were even as found, My dreams as harmless, my contents as free, As when the best of plenty crowned our bride bed. Amongst some of a mean, but quiet fortune, Distrust of what they call their own, or Jealousy Of those whom in their bosoms they possess Without control, begets a self unworthiness; For which fear, or what is worst desire, Or paltry gain, they practice art, and labour to Pander their own wives: those wives whose innocence Stranger to language, spoke obedience only, And such a wife was Flaviam to Fabritio. Call not Thy wickedness thy lose; without my knowledge Thou souldst me, and in open court protestodst A precontract unto another, falsely To justify a separation, wherein Could I offend to be believed thy Strumpet, In best sense and Adulteress? so conceived In all opinions, that I am shook off, Even from mine own blood, which although I boast Not Noble, yet 'twas not mean, for Romanello Mine only brother, shuns me, and abhors To own me for his sister. I live happy In this great Lords love, now, but could his cunning Have trained me to dishonour, we had never Been sundered by'th temptation of his purchase. In Fabritio, I am little proud of My unsought honours, and so far from triumph, That I am not more fool, to such as honour me, Then to my self, who hate this antique carriage! Keep those Ducats; I shall provide you better: 'twere a bravery, Could you forget the place wherein y'ave rendered Your name for ever hateful. You may prosper In Spain, in France, or elsewhere, as in Italy. Beside, you are a scholar bred, however You interrupted study with commerce, I'll think of your supplies, mean time, pray, storm not At my behaviour t'ee, I have forgotten acquaintance With mine own—keep your first distance— O my stomach Wambles at fight of—sick, sick, I am sick— I saint at heart—kiss me, nay prithee quickly, Or I shall sown—y'ave stayed a sweet while from me. And this companion to—beshrew him. Prettily mended. Now we have our own Lord here: I shall never Endure to spare you long out of my sighed. See what the thing presented. We must not Be troubled with his needs, a wanting creature Is monstruous, is as ominous—fie, upon't. Dispatch the silly Mushroom once for all, And send him with some pittance out o'th country, Where we may hear no more of him. We'll prove no less t'ee. You must not loiter lazily, And speak about the town my friend in taverns, In gaming houses, nor Sneak after dinner To public shows, to interludes, in riot, To some lewd painted baggage, tricked up gawdily, Like one of us; o fie upon they giblets! I have been told they ride in coaches, flaunt it In brave rises, so rich, that it is scarce possible How to distinguish one of these vile naughty packs, From true and arrant Ladies—they'le inveigle Your substance and your body, think on that, I say your body, look to't, Is't not found counsel? New world, where's that I pray? good, if you light on A Parrot or a Monkey that has qualities Of a new fashion, think on me. Prithee sweetest Hark in your ear—beshrew't, the brim of your hat Struck in mine eye— Dissemble honest tears The griefs my heart does labour in— smarts Unmeasurably. Yes, I find it. Do you love me? Answer in sober sadness, I'm your wife now; I know my place and power. Such it should be Were you as other husbands: it's granted, A woman of my state may Like good clothes, Choice diet, many servants, change of merriments, All these I do enjoy; and wherefore not? Great Ladies should command their own delights, And yet for all this, I am used but homely, But I am served even well enough. Pray pardon me; I do confess I'm foolish, very foolish; Trust me indeed I am, for I could cry Mine eyes out, being in the weeping humour: You know I have a Brother. Right, right, since you bosomed My latter youth, he never would vouchsafe As much as to come near me. O, it mads me, Being but two, that we should live at distance; As if I were a Castaway, and you For your partly take no care on't nor attempted To draw him hither. Yea marry must you, Or else you love not me; not see my Brother? Yes I will see him, so I will, will see him. You hear't,—o my good Lord, deer gentle, prithee, You shan't be angry; alas I know poor Gentleman, A bears a troubled mind: but let us meet And talk a little, we perhaps may chide At first, shed some few tears, and then be quiet; There's all. And in requital, Believe I shall say something that may settle A constancy of peace, for which thoul't thank me. Dull and phlegmatic. Brother, I come— Why d'yee slight me? For what one act of mine, even from my Childhood, Which may deliver my deserts inferior Or to our Births or Family; is Nature Become, in your contempt of me, a Monster? Pensive and unfortunate, Wanting a Brother's bosom to disburthen More griefs, then female weakness can keep league with; Let worst of malice, voye'd in loud report, Spit what le dares invent against my actions; And it shall never find a power to blemish My mention, other then beseems a patient: I not repine at lownesses; and the Fortune's Which I attend on now, are as I valve them, No new creation to a looser liberty: Your strangeness only may beget a change In wild opinion. His Wife it's known I am; and in that title, Obedient to a service; else, of greatness The quiet of my wish was never ambitious. As worthily, as dearly. Safety, of mine Honour, Instructed such deceit. Witness This brace of sprightly Gallants, whose confederacy Presumed to plot a siege. Still as Lord Julio Pursued his Contract with the man (o pardon If I forget to name him) by whose poverty Of honest truth, I was renounced in Marriage. These two, entrusted for a secret , By tokens, letters, message, in their , Proffered their own devotions, as they them, Almost unto and impudence; regardless Of him, on whose supportance they . Baited thus to vexation, I assumed A dulness of simplicity; till afterwards Lost to my City, Freedom, and now entered Into this present state of my Condition; (Concluding henceforth absolute security From their lascivious Villainies) I continued My former custom of ridiculous lightness, As they did their pursuit; acquaint my Lord, were To-have ruined their best certainty of living: But that might yield suspicion in my nature; And woman may be virtuous without mischief, To such as tempt them. For that Justice I did command them hither, for a privacy In conference betwixt Flaviam and her brother Needed no Secretary's such as these are: Now Romanello, thou art every refuge I sly for right to; if I be thy Sister, And not a Bastard, answer their confession, Or threaten vengeance, with perpetual silence. Not by me, Sir. Brother, this day was meant a holiday, For feast on every side. Sooth I believe him. Brother his intercourse of conference, Appears at once perplexed, but withal sensible. Goodness prosper it. Indeed Varieties of entertainment here Have so exceeded all account of plenty, That you have left (great Sir) no rarities Except and equal welcome which may purchase Opinion of a common Hospitality. Jewels, my Lord. He's now dead to the world And lives to heaven, a Saints reward him; My only loved Lord, all your fears are henceforth Confined unto a sweet and happy penance. Beauty's incomparable. A fate as happy May crown you with a full content. Brother, here's noble choice. You have been In private with our fellow Peers now: shanot we Know how the business stands, sure in some country, Ladies are privy Counsellors, I warrant ye: Are they not think ye? there the land is (doubtless) Most politicly governed; all the women We are swords and Breeches, I have herd most certainly, Such sights were exc'lent. Fancy and Judgement are a Plays full matter: If we have er'd in one, right you the latter. Not yet returned.