HELENA

As a stranger. As things for which he hath traveled, it's easy For him that hath the liberty of many Grounds to pick himself a choys Nosegay, And he that hath traveled so many Countries, Out of every one peculiarizing what's best; With what small difficulty may such a one Appear complemental? And the performance may perhaps prove Like His journey, long. That there's many one cannot pray so well as He, that is better benefic't. Only this, that I have power in my self to say More then I have yet either promised him, or You to utter. I needs must say Sir, it becomes you well, Graces your person, and your person it: I Like both Stuff and fashion. Ilettry your faith, Have you in all the countries you have traveled Never made proof of Lady? Nay, I thought what I should find you, trust a stran gers love as gold to court the wind. If then such numbers, Why, after all these trials make you me The last of all your sales? Now you flatter. For me? Which should I be?—pray give And then expect my answer. Should this be true, that you prefer this face Before the beauty's of so many climbs: And that your life and means solely depend, There to expose it freely, I should much Digress from honour, to neglect such love, And should I not in unseen Virtue strive To equal that seen beauty you so praise, I should then much wrong that great character You have bestowed upon me. Pray good mother, A little pardon me; how shall I know What here you promise, you can there make good. As truth then I accept it, and am yours. Not in death, T'shall with me to my grave. These I vow, And pray you keep this token with that care That I shall your commands, on this presume. Of which, through all Hesperia you may boast, Though my face please, yet shall my virtue most. How long is't since those Gentlemen of Spain arrived here? Reach me my Ring. Dost ask that question? that of the basin? Speak not again upon thy life, where is the water? Find it again, or loose thy self, inconsiderate girl, how are my Hope's betrayed through thy rash negligence, was myblood pleasant for this? my thoughts, Joyful for this?—how now, hast found it? How, never? Then loose thy self, my Hope's are lost for ever, torches and lights there, find it again, or never see me more. Thou tellest me wonders, cheated of my Ring, by a cun ning man, and a crafty Spaniard? the cozenage was premeditate: a Spaniard was he? So may a cheat, or a pickpurse; the better body, the plam ner the habit, paint clothes were devised for ruined eeling, and fluttish walls, It's the Apparel of the mind, crowns thee with n Noble. And freely pardon thee; receive a few directions for our voyage. You're welcome sir; would you any thing with us? To a Woman? by no means, we want discretion to keep our own. Your reason Sir? A fellow of a bold aspect, and such a one, were I assum read of his carriage, as would much avail me in my voyage; Art willing to serve? And such a man do I want; You have been in Spain then? Didst hear no talk of and English -man there, One Farrers— My brother Prisoner? This news wings me for my voyage. Thy bade news inforces me; I'll make that my continued lour, at least that Gentleman is my brother; and cost it the last penny of my Dower, I will not see him want; I'll furnish our voyage Instantly. So is all goodness else, we have nothing new, but oaths and diseases. Even where fate leads me, we are all her slaves And have no dwellings of our own. This then is Spain, into which continent You promised to conduct me. And what this Cities name? As I remember: I never was in Civil, but being here, How shall we best dispose us? This fellow, as I recollect my self, Was servant to the noble Bonavida. Is there in them such danger? Yes, and a traveller. Why, hast thou a master to suffer? Strange, most strange, I will inquire this further, Ith' mean time, canst help us to a lodging? amongst all these Courtiers, point me our the man? Enough, no more. Stay. As you are Royal, And worthy of those honours a changed your head, Defer that bloody business now in hand, To right and injured woman. That in which Ki gs Resemble most the Gods: Justice. My Nation foreign: birth, not high degree'd, No e e y way ignoble: for my quality, Some that resume to know me, c ll me Libertine, Wanton and w ld wench; nay, a Courtesan: But were I looser then ere Lais was, It should not bar me justice. See you this pantofle? It a rich pair, till the base felony, Of one of this your Court divided them; For being lodged, and nobly entertained, Was not alone content to vitiate Both fame and body, and to take full surfeit Of that my prostitution, but unworthy The title of a noble Gentleman, He stole the slipper there, that fellows this, Valued at no less then a Thousand Crowns. You are all gracious, And I'll make bold to use the benefit Of this your Clemency. Sir look up: you are no whit Like the man. And have I found thee villain? Thinkest thou Maje sty can be protection for a common thief? This is that base felonious impudent, Shame to his Nation, scandal to his birth, And a disgrace unto that Royal Court, In which he seems protected. Justice Queen, Justice great sir, let not this High tribunal. So famous by that Virgin, sent from heaven, That bears the sword and balance, now be taxed Of favour, or connivance. I challenge then this man for stealing from me The fellow to this slipper. That night, when I became thy Paramour, breasted thee, in these arms received that e Into my free Embraces, and imparted The lavish store of such voluptuous sweets, I lent with all profuseness What says my Page to this? Give me thy oath of that. Let them swear. Both have sworn: And Princes, as you hope to crown your heads With that perpetual wreathe, which shall last ever, Cast on a poor dejected innocent Virgin Your eyes, of grace and pity: what sin is't? Or who can be the patron to such evil? That a poor innocent Maid, spotless in thought, And pure in heart, born without spleen and gall: That never injured creature: never had heart To think of wrong, or ponder injury; That such a one in her white innocence, Striving to live peculiar in the compass Of her own virtues, Notwithstanding these Should be sought out by strangers, persacured Made infamous, even there where she was made For imitation, hist at in her Country, Abandoned of her mother, kindred, friends: Depraved in foreign Climes, scorned every where, And even in Princes Courts, reputed vile: Oh pity, pity this. Then behold. The strangest calling imposed on me That ere was laid on Virgin; I am she For whom this noble Sir hath undertook. And wrongly stands convicted, this that body So stained and fully by these barbarous tongues, That even in scolding lies justice, for heaven Hath forced them to swear truth, they never saw me, How am I then polluted gracious Queen? How can such find competitors in virtue, That will not give it countenance: had those murdered me, As they have killed my same and havock't that, A pitied and crowned martyr I had died, That am in censure now, a condemned heretic, And mere Apostate to all womanhood; And what I ever made my President, Sincerity and goodness: Villains blush, And Sir, out gaze their falsehood, Queen be just; Least in the Occan of that prize you steal, You shipwreck all your glories. How should I know that Ring to be the same Of which my credulous maid was by these two Cheated and robbed, most treacherously betrayed; That Carkanet you wear, peruse it well, Hath both my name and picture. Marks sufficient To prove me no imposter. Does your gilded. Bow you so low already? let your penitence There stay you, least your sins weight cleave the earth, And sink you down to hell. O fit, you are my brother. Came there no letters along with they from Spain? some note there? Has Bonavid. that name me thinks revives me, I dare not tax him of neglect, and yet I am very pleasant this morning, lets have a song R saram: I would have the subject love, and yet modest to, and yet a little wanton, yet chased and innocent as dreams of coals, and hearst thou? where Bonavida's name vouch safes to grace the ditty, there let music speak in its smoothest phrase, and most courtly singing, stay, thou art a jewel to pre tious to e washed with, thou Wertenberg given to deer purpose: ho nour'd with this, lie there. And I have done, a drier. Thy absence Bonavid, makes each minute seem and hour and thy delay, makes infant time look old, and were't not for this pledge of thy affection— Rosara, Maid. 'Twas not so much for the value of the thing, As to improverish the oath of the wearer; some crafty sunner had a hand in't: or it might be Bonavida's plot, to try my loyalty: and yet it relishes too much baseness to come from so noble and au thour; how ever, shall I see this, turn coward, and Like a falling Tower, bury my beauty in my own Ruin S? no, rather Like the glorious Sun, dissolve, and scatter these clouds of Infamy. It is re solved, I'll after em to Spain: Your purpose Rosara. Since you tax me of jest, I charge you Sir Henceforth to speak all earnest, or stand mute, Against a Felon, robber a base thiese. Harboured in this your Court.