DAMON

Go in and bid Nevola and his fellows come hither that I may tell them what they shall go about, and go you into my study, there upon the shelf you shall find a roll of writings which John of the Dean made to my father, when he sold him the Grange ferme, endorced with both their names: bring it hither to me. Go, I will prepare other manner of writings for you than ̄ you are aware of. Oh fools that trust any ma ̄ but them selves now adays, o spiteful fortune, thou dost me wro ̄ g I think, that from the depth of Hell pit thou hast sent me this servant to be the subversion of me and all mine, come hither sirs and hear what I shall say unto you: go in to my study, where you shall find Dulippo, step to him all at once, take him and with a cord that I have laid on the table for the nonce, bind him hand and foot, carry him into the dungeo ̄ under the steers, make fast the door and bring me the kay, it hangs by upon a pin ou the wall, dispatch and do this gear as privily as you can, and thou Nevola come hither to me again with speed. Alas how shall I be revenged of this extreme des pite? if I punish my servant according to his devilish de serts, I shall heap further cares upon mine own head, for to such detestable offences no punishment can seem sufficient, but only death: & in such cases it is not lawful for a man to be his own carver, the laws are ord yned, and officers appointed to minister justice for the redress of wrongs: and if to the potestates I complain me, I shall publish mine own reproach to the world: yea, what should it prevail me to use all the punishments that can be devised? the thing once done can not be undone. My daughter is deflowered, and utterly dishonested, how can I then wipe that blot off my brow? and on whom shall I seek revenge? Alas, alas, I my self have be the cause of all these cares, and have deserved to bear the punishment of all these mishaps. Alas, I should not have committed my dearest darling in custody to so careless a creature as this old Nurse: for we see by common proof, that these old women be either peevish, or to pitiful: either easily inclined to evil, or quickly corrupted with bribes and re wards. Oh wife, my good wife (that now liest cold in the graven) now may I well bewail the want of Thee, and mourning now may I bemoan that I miss Thee: if thou hadst lived, such was thy government of the least things, that thou wouldst prudently have provided for the preser uation of this pearl: a costly jewel may I well accompt his, that hath been my chief comfort in youth, and is now become the coro we of mine age. Oh Polynesta, full evil hast thou requ ed the clemency of thy careful father, and yet to excuse Thee guiltless before God, and to condemn Thee guilty before the world, I can count none other but my wretched self the caitiff and causer of all my cares: for of all the endue ties that are requisite in humane life, only obedience is by the parents to be required of the child, where on y e other side the pare ̄ ts are bound, first to beget them, then to bring the ̄ forth, after to nourish them, to preserve them from bo dily perils in the cradle, from danger of soul by godly e ducation, to match them in comfort inclined to virtue, to banish them all idle and wanton company, to allow them sufficient for their sustentation, to cut of excess the open gate of sin, seldom or never to smile on them unless it be to their encouragement in virtue, and finally, to provide them marriages in time continued ̄ venient, lest neglected of us, they learn to set either to much or to little by themselves: five years are passed since I might have married his, when by con tinuall excuses I have prolonged it to my own perdition: Alas, I should have considered, she is a collop of my own flesh, what should I think to make his a princess? Alas a las, a poor kingdom have I now caught to endue his with: it is too true, that of all sorrows this is the head source and chief fountain of all furies: the goods of the world are in certain, the gains to be rejoiced at, and the lose not great lie to be lamented, only the children cast away, cutteth the parents throat with the knife of inward care, which knife will kill me surely, I make none other account. Well, go then Nevola and seek master Casteling the jailer, he dwells by S. Antony's gate, desire him to lend me a pair of the fetters he uses for his prisoners, and come again quickly. Hear you, if he ask what I would do with them, say you Can ̄ not tell, and tell neither him nor any other, what is become of Dulippo. Thou liest old drab, but I would advise you tell me the truth, or I will make those old bones rattle in your skin. Why? where should he talk with Thee? What did you here? And what cause could Pasiphilo have to talk of it, unless thou began the matter first? Alas, alas, what shall I do then? in at doors old whore, I will pluck that tonge of thine out by the roots one day. Alas it grieveth me more that Pasiphilo knoweth it, than all the rest: he that will have a thing kept secret, let him tell it to Pasiphilo, the people shall know it, and as many as have ears and no more: by this time he hath told it in a hundredth places. Cleander was the First, Erostrato the second, and so from one to another throughout the city. Alas, what dower, what marriage shall I now prepare for my daughter? Oh poor dolorous Damon, more miserable than misery it self, would God it were true that Polinesta, told me ere while: that he who hath deflowered his, is of no servile estate, as hitherto he hath be supposed in my service: but that he is a gentleman born of a good paren tage in Sicilia. Alas, small riches should content me, if he be but of and honest family, but I fear that he hath devised these toys to allure my daughters love. Well I will go ex amine his again, my mind gives me that I shall perceive by his tale whither it be true or not. But is not this Pasi philo that comes out of my neighbours house? what the devil aileth him to leap and laugh so Like a fool in the high way? What the devil would he with me? What will he tell me, in the name of God? What news Pasiphilo, that thou art so merry? And that I have need of Pasiphilo. How knowest thou? What, in Erostratos house? Well, then I perceive it is eve ̄ as Polinesta told me. Yea: But I thought it but a tale. Cleander? what to do? Nay I will first go hear the story of this Dulipo, be it Dulipo or Erostrato that I hear within, before I speak with Philogano. Worthy gentleman, you friendship, your alliance, and the nobility of your birth are such, as I have much more cause to desire them of you, than you to request of me that which is already granted: therefore I gladly, and will lingly receive the same, and think my self most happy now of all my life passed, that I have got ̄ so towards a son in law to my self, and so worthy a father in law to my daughter, yea and much the greater is my contentation, since this worthy gentleman master Cleander, does hold himself satisfied. And now behold your son. Pasiphilo hath said well, will it please you to go in sir? Away with them now. Marry I will tell Thee Nevola, to make a right end of our supposes, lay one of those bolts in the fire, and make Thee a suppository as long as mine arm, God save the same ple. Nobles and gentlemen, if you suppose that our suppo ses have given you sufficient cause of delight, show some token, whereby we may suppose you are content.