PETROCELLA

I'll be so bold as stretch them on the tenters and they do And Jewels must be set in gold father, I'll not loose the least dram of my lustre. To a good end if my Aim be steady. Hear you the News at Court. alas poor Sea-calf: it's not his love I angle for, I fish deeper streams and for a richer draught, have you not herd of Bonavida's Fortune's? Which he may easily do, her Prerogative of birth set apart what blemish do you see in me that I may not be the woman? And the Sun with a Burning glass: Come, come, you're dimsighted Father, could you see with my eyes, and judge with my understanding, your comparison would hold é contrario I assure you: thy hasty news? Would speak with me; ( Bonavide in my Conscience) Is't not so fellow? It can be none but he, give me fresh ornaments, see your error now father, Cupid and Venus, rich and new attires: Bonavide come? live in my cheek sweet beauty: Eloquen e at tend my tongue, and perfection my behaviour: Came he on horseback or Caroach't. Certainly he having lost his labour in foreign search he meets his Hope's at home, the more my honour still: fly and admit him. Your counsel father, shall I seem strange of fami liar, wanton or serious, affable or peevish, I am as full of humours as and April day of variety, how shall I bear my self? Valladaura I hate, this gentleman acquainted with my beauty, revealed it to Bonavide: Sir you have bound me to you, and comes to usher him to my presence. We stay his coming, pray Sir so return him. His, your Master's Bonavide's. Be your own Oh Edipus and dissolve them then. My Fortune's fly of to strong a wing, to stoop so low a pitch, is not Bonavida come yet? What, this mean creature? Nay, Valladaura. Come, be not passionate, though I know both my worth and beauty, and understand what Orb they move into I am not so much infected with that same Court-sickness Philantia, or selflove, to scorn the service of any generous Spirit. In sober conference then, what bounded service, have you ever done my beauty, that may challenge the least interest in my love? What did you? They are tonguetide, and cannot speak for blushing, pret ty ornaments for a soldier, how came you by them ? honestly I should have said what you are forced to acknowledge that my beauty had been the better man. 'Twas I confess somewhat to takethese wounds, yet in my mind he that gives the cognizance has more reason to boast of it, than he that wears it: show me the man that gave you these wounds and I'll commend his valour. Good reason, he has paid you soundly for't afore hand. So I thought, for you wear a livery of his, cut to the skin and lin worser with Crimson: had you gin't him, I should have cane you for the Master. But pardon me, I foare too high for a serving man, your ear, I am modest, away, High to the subur es, bribe some honest Barbarsurgeon to wash off your dishonour and hea e your intamy. That done once, learn this tenet of the war, The honour's more to give than wear a scar. Each coward may do that. I hear say Bonavida's returned: To see what a virtue lives in this Spanish continent, especially amongst yellow-haired wenches; Jason, when he went in quest of the Golden-Fleece, found it in Spain, there's a Moral in that, and that great Hercules, so talked on amongst the Greeks, after all his travels through Asia, Africa, and Eum rope, coming to this Country, into the Island called Calais; he that, unless Poets lie, lay with Fifty Ladies in one night, and God Nine and forty Boys, marry I must tell you, the last was a Girl; was there so tired with one woman; that he gave over all his travels, retired home to his Country, Like a man taken down, and in memory of his adventure: where he reated his pillar, writ that most methodical Motto you speak of; No further. Why, what's he? Yes, or commpanion. He speaks well. It seems then he's a cutter. I think you would gladly fell whom you have so late lie bought, else you would never have spoke him thus: If you have any such purpose; It may be, there be those that, but surren der up your bargen, would be glad to help you to your money. I Never herd a fellow since my years, taught me how to distinguish I from good, to talk in this strange Key; how English this? What are thou in thy Country? What here? Whose? Valladaura's? As you are a Soldier, And Englishman, have hope to be redeemed From this your scorned bondage you sustain, Have comfort in your Mother, and fair Sister, Renown so blazed in the ears of Spain, Hope to re-breathe that air you tasted first. So tell me— Your apprehension catched And almost was in sheaf. Love me? Give me but To sleep upon't. You have vanquished me At mine own weapon: noble sir, I love you: And what my heart dur to never tell my tongue Least it should blab my thoughts, at last I speak And iterate, I love you. You are sad Sir, Be so no more, it you have been dejected It lies in me to mount you to that height, You could not aim at greater, I am yours. These lips that only witness it in air Now with this truth confirm it. Sir, you seem passionate, As if my answer pleased not. Sh e to doo't? I am she. That beg to be implyde so, name a danger Whose very face would fright all womanhood, And manhood put in trance, nay whose aspect Would ague such, as should but hear it told: But to the sad beholder, prove Like those That gazed upon Medusa's snaky locks, And turned them into Marble: That see and more Should you but speak't I'de do. You're the more beholding to me, and courtesy that comes from a woman freely, is worth twenty pleasures infor to, neither would I have you tax my love of immodesty: nor think I pur pose to make you pay for the nursery of another men pleasure, though it be common with some at Court; I have a kind of thing within me called conscience, only I love you, and out of a come passionate charity purpose to marry you. Out before it's thoroughly lighted? such matches were ner kindled at Hymen's altar, have you sufficient certificate of my love now? Whom do you seek? Read in my brow, do you not see his name Writ inted letters? Base Vallad ura's — Alive again! blessed star— Choked in my revenge, This Joys me yet, that tho'l missed thy life, I reached thy friends. That slave wooed me for you, so much the sweeter by that, The thought of my revenge. White-livered peasant, I have given him a endue recompense. Would, would, would. Would you have me turn Crocodile, and weep, Fer rers, Mont Ferrers, prithee come help me to laugh a little. By this blood of a Turtle, and that's a chaste oath, he never did. Do but name the word, abuse by love, and I'll kill him indeed; what should he do? He came to bed, and for his eyes take, slept with me, yet never so much as kissed me, but I con fesse, I gave him twenty. Have heart and faith, Noble Mont Ferrers. Pray sir, why should this beauty trouble you. If one of your acquaintance. Sir, what does this concern you? Yes he, that fellow there. I perceive, Your coming is to make me think you noble, Would you persuade me deem your friend a God? For only such make men, are you a gentleman? Tell me that? Come, come, I know you to be no such man, You are a Soldier, valiant, and renowned, Your carriage tried by land, and proved at Sea, Of which, I have herd such full expression No contradiction can persuade you less, And in this faith I am constant. Raised by your merit To be a common argument through Spain. And speech at Princes Tables, for your worth Your presence when you please to expos it abroad, Attracts all eyes, and draw them after you And these that understand you call their friends, And pointing through the streets, say, this is he, This that brave and noble Englishman, Whom Soldiers strive to make their president, And other men their wonder. Speak't at once. Nay, but we'll admit no pause. Sir, you do not, I do proclaimt you do not, stay, I charge you, Or as you say, you have been Fortune's scorn , So ever prove to woman. And in a word? Pronounce it then. Would, would, would. Pretty faith. How speak you that? I v w it by my honour, my best Hope's And all that I wish gracious, nam e it then, For I am in a longing in my soul, To show my loves expression. I'll doe't as I am a Virgin. Lie it within mortality, I'll doe't. I will: that which appears in you So terrible to speak, I'll joy to act, And take pride in performance. What? Soldier, What? Unkind man, thou hast killed me. But in this, Pray Sir can you be serious? Then I am l st, Now ba r than this fellow termed himself, To him that was on earth most miserable: I am now become a Vassal, Nay, despised, I that but once to day, thought my self rival, For face and virtue, to the peerclesse Queen , Both these have prostituted to a slave, To be more lave than he, but shall he thus Behold in me this passion to usurp Triumph in my disgrace, and boast abroad Of this so poor a conquest? No Peirocella recollect thy self, Preserve thy honour, though against thy spirit, And where thy heart is sick, complain thy heel, Let not thy seen grief please him. Poor exile! o, with what slight attribute Shall I devise to give thee expression? Thou all that ba enesse thou hast termed thy self, Thou look' to now I should whine and p le and weep Hang about thy neck, submit, and kneel for grace, As if thou Wertenberg that brave man so reported! Know I am no such Creature, neither think I There can be ought good in thee, saving this Which was the last, that thou hast plighted me, To one more worthy one, whose very shadow I prize, above thy being, one whose actions Were never taxed in any thing save this To ransom such a—what thou knowest thy self Him I'll both love and marry, hence, depart: O heaven, how far my tongue speaks from my heart! I did, to tell thee a word of which no ear is worthy but thine own, I love thee. Let not your tomming betray your folly, though it be common with Ladies, twould show very lin a Courtier. I con fesse I seemed strange to you, till I was acquainted with your worth. Ene as you find me, that's with more faults than virtues but see, my father and some of my best friends, to whom I have read the story of my love, come in person to dispatch the Nuptials. All this we know, nor do we desire to hear over again, what was before related; but had you spoke more in his praise, then you have done, which it may be is your purpose; I find nothing, but may well come within the compass of his merit, and my belief. Which though I hated him, I must acknowledge Him noble that way. He was never mine: for though you joined our hands, My heart ne' e a man to it; and how ever duty Lives at command, Love cannot be infore'd, And rather then live bound to one I love not, I have bought my freedom with his life. Not to dissemble, some impulsive Nuntio's have wrought very strangely for you but examine not particulars: suffice, I say I love you and you dare not take my word, I can put you in no better security. All this while you are beholding to my beauty, & I nothing in debt to your valour, which for ought I gather, is nothing at all I'll give my self one, call me Murtheress; A Name I am proud of.