BACHA

Now you have won the treasure, 'Tis my request that you would leave me thus: And never see these empty walls again, I know you will do so, and well you may: For there is nothing in em thats worth A glance, I loath my self, and am become Another woman; One me thinks with whom I want acquaintance. You have a deeper reach in evil then I: 'Tis passed my thought. Good Sir do, that I may know there is a Wrong beyond what you have done me. You are right a man: when they have witched us into misery, poor innocent souls, They lay the fault on us: But be it so- For prince Leucippus sake I will bear anything. What should I do with these? they will not deck my mind. Coming from you: This point is of as high Esteem with me, as all pearl and gold: nothing but good be ever with or near you. Just as you are a Dosen I esteem you: No more, does he think I would prostitute My self for love: it was the love of these pearls And gold that won me, I confess I lust more after him then anyother, And would at any rate if I had store, Purchase his fellowship: but being poor, I'll both enjoy his body and his purse, And he a Prince, never think my self the worse. Whose that? What does he say Sir? if you be a Prince Show it, and tell the truth. For Gods sake speak. Heaven bless your Grace. One that had but so much modesty left, as to blush, Or shrink a little at his first encounter, Had been undone; where I come off with honour, And gain too: they that never would be tracked In any course, by the most subtle sense, Must bear it through with frontlets impudence. Who is it? Cupid grant he may be taken. To a poor widows house that knows no end Of her ill fortune: your Highness is most welcome. As a person in whom all graces are, I cannot Sir, unless you be pleased to make a mirth out of my rudeness: and that I hope your pit tie will not let ye, the subject is so barren: Bite King Bite, I'll let you play a while. He looks Like his old father upon his back, Crying to get Aboard. Sir, you may command and unwilling woman to obey vee: but heaven knows — Welcome most noble sir, whose fame is come Hither before you: out alas you scorn me, And teach me what to do. Far unworthy of that name God knows: But trust me, here before these Lords, I am no more but Nurse unto the Duke; Nor will I breed a faction in the State, It is too much for me that I am raised Unto his bed, and will remain the servant Of you that did it. Shall I beg my Lords This Room in private for the Prince and me? Nay but swear then that I may be at peace, For I do feel a weakness in my self, That can deny you nothing, if you tempt me, I shall embrace fin as it were a friend, and run to meet it Yes, Alaualta. Then lets be merry He tell you, we are alone: What then? you make my smiling now Break into laughter: what think you is to be done then? Pray, that were a way indeed To pass the time, but I will make you blush, To see a bashful woman teach a man What we should do alone, try again If you can find it out. Yes, be not ashamed: You did it not your self, I will forgive you. Leave these melancholy moods, That I may swear thee welcome on thy lips A thousand times. I me careless, and do weigh The world, my life, and all my after Hope's Nothing without thy Love, mistake me not: Thy Love, as I have had it, free and open As wedlock is, within it self, what say you? Pity me, behold a Duchess Kneels for thy mercy, and I swear to you, Though I should lie with you, it is no Lust, For it desires no change, I could with you Content my self: what answer will you give? Shall I be contemd? thou art a beast, worse the ̄ a savage beast, To let a Lady kneel, to beg that thing Which a right man would offer. Pray you get you hence With your goodly humour, I am weary of you extremely. A men, Sir get you gone; Am I denied? it does not trouble me That I have moved, but that I am refused: I have lost my patience: I will make him know Lust is not Love, for Lust will find a mate While there are men, and so will I: & more Then one, or twenty: yonder is Timantus, A fellow void of any worth, to raise himself And therefore Like to catch at any evil That will but pluck him up, him will I make Mine own: Timantus. And you shall find sir what a blessing heaven gave you in such a son. The subject of our commendations is it self grown so infinite in goodness, that all the glory we can lay upon it, though we should open volumes of his praises, is a mere modesty in his expression, and shows him lame still, Like and ill wrought piece won ting proportion. Else he were a God: yet so near as he is, he comes to heaven, that we may see so far as flesh can point us things only worthy them, and only these in all his actions. A would have lived upon the comfort of him, fed on his growing Hope's. I know no friends, nor being, but his virtues. But words cannot express him sir: why what a shape Heaven has conceived him in, o Nature made him up! So you must: for less then admiration loses this godlike man. I would not have my love Sir: Make my tongue Show me so much a woman: as to praise Or dispraise, where my will is, without reason Or general allowance of the people. All, I have seed for truth, and they must do it, And dote upon him: love him, and admire him. For in this youth and noble forwardness All things are bound together that are kingly A fitness to bear rule And sovereignty, not made to know command I have done Sir though unwilling, and pardon me. He cannot escape me. Have you spoken with the noble men? Till yet be the prince, you need no more instructions. That fool that willingly provokes a woman, Has made him self another evil Angel, And a new Hell, to which all other torments Are but mere pastime: Now my Noble Lords You must excuse me that unmannerly We have broke your private business. Faith my Lord Agenor: 'Tis so good a cause I am confident, you cannot lose by it. I thank you, and will let you know the busi ness: So I may have your helps, never be doubtful, For 'tis so joust a cause, and will to you Upon the knowledge, seem so honourable, That I assure my self your willing hearts Will strait be for me in it. Good Lords delay no time since 'tis your good Pleasures to think my counsel good, & by no means Let the prince know it, whose affections Will stir mainly against it; beside his Father, May hold him dangerous, if it be not carried So that his forward will apreare not in it, Go, and be happy. May be he knows not of it. Alas: help for the love of heaven, Make way through me first, for he is your father, No sir, no. I told the Duke as much before. That it was only and ambition, Nursed in you by your youth, provoked you thus, Which age would take away. No indeed sir. My Lord, what I can do for him he shall come manned me. And have you none, love and obedience, You ever faithful Servants to employ In this strange story of impiety, But me a Mother, Must I be your strumpet? To lay black treason upon and in him, In whom all sweetness was: in whom my love Was proud'de, to have a being, in whom Justice, And all the gods for our imaginations Can work into a man, were more then virtues, Ambition down to Hell, where thou Wertenberg fosterd Thou hast poisoned the best soul, the purest, whitest, And merest innocentest it self that ever Men's greedy Hope's gave life to. Oh what a combat duty and affection Breeds in my blood. Oh use your mercy: you have a brave subject To bestow it on, I'll forgive him Sir: and for his Wrong to me, I'll be before ye. Nothing but heats of youth Sir. But I forget all: and am half ashamed To press a man so far. Where is the Duke? for Gods sake bring me to him. Double the Guard. Fare thee well. I shall never see so brave a Ge ̄ tl: Would I could weep out his offences. What a base Whore is this, that after all My ways for her advancement, should so poorly make virtue her undoer, and choose this time, The King being deadly sick: and I intending A present marriage with some foreign Prince, To strengthen and secure my self. She writes here Like a wise Gentle woman; She will not stay: And the example of her deer brother, makes her Fear her self, to whom she means to fly. Now poverty and Lechery which is thy end, rot thee, where ere to goest with all thy goodness. This comes as pat as wishes: thou shalt pre sently away Timantus. Thou art a weak shallow fool: get thee a disguise, and withal, when thou comest before him, have a Letter feigned to deliver him; and then, as thou hast ever hope of goodness by me, or after me, strike one home stroke that shall not need another: darest thou speak, darest thou? if thou fallest off, go be a Rogue a again, and lie and Pander to procure thy meat: darest thou speak to me. Away, no more, then I'll raise and Army while the King yet lives, if all the means and power I have can do it I cannot tell. Why how now saucy Lords? Do not you know me Lords? Would, would, would. Would, would, would, I hope yet I shall come too late to find him. Hell take you all, if there be a place Of torment that exceeds that, get you thither: And till the devils have you, may your lives Be one continued plague, and such a one, That knows no friends nor ending. May all ages that shall succeed curse you as I do: And if it be possible, I ask it heaven, That your base issues may be ever Monsters, That must for shame of nature and succession, Be drowned Like dogs Would I had breath to please you. Now let heaven fallen, I am at the worst of evils, a thing so miserable wretched, that every thing, the last of humane comforts hath left me: I will not be so base and cold, to live and wait the mercies of these men I hate: no, 'tis joust I die, since Fortune hath left me my step dissent attends me: hand, strike thou home, I have soul enough to guide; and let all know, as I stood a Queen, the same I'll fallen, and one with me. Have you God the spoil You thirsted for. Oh tyranny of men! Lenc. I pray thee leave. Your envy is Heaven knows, Beyond the reach of all our feeble Sex: What pain alas could it have be to you, If I had kept mine honour? you might still Have be a prince, and still this Countries Heir, That innocent Guard, which I till now had kept, For my defence, my virtue, did it seem So dangerous in a State, that your self came to suppress it. Leave me my tears a while, And to my joust rage give a little place: What saucy man are you, that without leave, Enter upon a Widow's mournful house? You hinder a dead man from many tears. Who did deserve more then the world can shed, Though they should weep themselves to Images: If not for of me, yet of your self A way, for you can bring no comfort to me. But you may carry hence, you know not what. Nay sorrow is infectious. Has he then told him all. Oh he has not told. Sir I beseech you pardon My wild tongue, directed by a weak distempord head, madded with grief: Alas I did not know You were my Sovereign; but now you may Command my poor unworthy life, Which will be none I hope ere long. Sir, though you be my King, whom I will Serve in all joust causes: yet when wrongfully You seek to take mine Honour, I will rise Thus and defy you; for it is a Jewel Dearer then you can give, which while I keep, (Though in this lowly house) I shall esteem My self above the Princes of the earth That are without it. If the Prince your son, Whom you accuse me with, know how to speak Dishonour of me, if he do not do it, The plagues of hell light on him, may he never Govern this Kingdom: here I challenge him Before the face of heaven, my Liege, and these, To speak the worst he can: if he will lie, To loose a woman's fame, I'll say he is Like you (I think I cannot call him worse.) He's dead, that with his life would have defended My reputation, and I forced to play (That which I am) the foolish woman, And use my liberal tongue. This Fellow lies as lightly, as if he were in cut Taffeta. Alas good Almanac get thee to Bed, and tell what weather we shall have to morrow. I must still enjoy him: Yet there is still left in me a spark of woman, That wishes he would move it, but he stands, As if he grew there with his eyes on earth, Sir, you and I when we were last together Kept not this distance as we were afraid Of blasting by our selves. Nay, I care not For all your Railings: They will Batter walls And take in Towns, as soon as trouble me Tell him, I care not, I shall undo you only, which is no matter. Had the gods loved me, that my unworthy womb had bred this brave man. Done with? o good gods what frailties this pass by us without reverence! Nay good sir be at peace, I dare swear he knew not of it. All will go ill, deny it boldly sir, trust me he cannot prove it by you. Yowl make all worse too with your facing it. My being: for another tongue to tell it, Cease, a mother! some good man that dares Speak for his King and Country: I am full Of too much woman's pity: yet o Heaven, Since it concerns the safety of my sovereign Let it not be a cruelty in me Nor draw a Mother's name in question, Amongst unborn people, to give up that man: To law and Justice that unrighteously Has sought his sathers death: be dease, be dease Sir, Your Son is the Offendor, Now have you all, Would I might never speak again. I must confess he loved me: Somewhat beyond a Son, and still pursued it With such a Lust: I will not say Ambition, That clean sorgetting all obedience, And only following his first heat unto me, He hotly fought your death, and me in Marriage. Run away, the devil be her guide. Yes you may tell the world And do you think I am so vain to hope You will not: you can tell the world but this, That I am a widow, full of tears in show, My Husband dead: And one that loved me so Hardly, a week forgotten my modesty, And caught with youth and greatness, Gave my self to live in sin with you: This you may tell: And this I do deserve. My sorrow shows me Elder then I am by many years? Now Heaven defend me, your whore shall never: I thank the Gods, I have a little left me to keep me warm, and honest: if your grace take not that, I seek no more. It would be but a cold sighed to you: This is the father of S. George a footback, Can such dry Mumming talk. Now he's in the Toil, isle hold him fast. I understand you not, Love I adore thee, Sir, on my knees I give you hearty thanks, for so much Honouring your humble Handmaid above her birth: Far more her weak deservings. I dare-not trust the Enuiou: tongues of all that must repine at my vnwor thy rising. Beside, you have many fair ones in your kingdom Born to such Worth: o turn your self about And make a Noble choice. Amen Sir. You may think that I have done you wrong in this strange marriage, But it was no fault of mine: The world had called me mad, had I refused The King: nor laid I any train to catch him, It was your own Oaths did it. Grown so godly: this must not be. And I will be to you, no other then a natural Mother ought: And for my honesty, so you will swear Never to urge me, I shall keep it safe from any other. Swear not: I cannot move him, this sad talk Of things passed help, does not become us well. Shall I send one for my Musicians and weel dance? Lord how full of wise formality you are grown Of late: but you were telling me You could have wished that I had married you, If you will swear so yet, I'll make away the King. Thou knowest well Thou Wertenberg, by chance a means of this my raising: Brought the Duke to me, and though t'were but chase I must reward thee. Oh deer Sir: you are a father, and those I oyes To you speak in your heart, not in your tongue. It works. What a fowl Age is this, when Virtue is Made a sword to smite the virtuous? Alas, alas! And thou shalt find it to thy best content. But do it then entirely, and in every thing, And'tell me, Couldst thou now think that thing Thou wouldst not do for me? Then thou art right. Go to my Lodging, and I'll follow thee With my instruction I do see already, This prin ce that did but now contemn me, dead: Yet will I never speak and evil word Unto his Father of him till I have wonnc A belief I love him, but I'll make His virtues his undoing, and my praises Shall be so many swords against his breast, Which once performed, I'll make Urania My Daughter, the Kings heir, and plant my Issue, In this large Throne: Nor shall it be withstood, They that begin in Lust, must end in blood. Then for all his wisdom, valour, Good Fortune, and all those Friends of honour, They are in him as free and natural as passion In a Woman. I have gin thee poison Of more infection then the Dragons tooth Or the gross Air over heated. It shall not need your wonder, this it is; The Duke you know is old, and rather subject To ease and prayers now, then all those troubles, Cares, and continual watchings, that attend A Kingdoms safety, therefore to prevent The fallen of such a flourishing Estate As this has ever be, and to put off The murmur of the people that increase Against my government, which the gods knows I only feel the trouble of: I present The prince unto your loves, a Gent. In whom all Excellencies are knit together, All pieces of a true man, let your prayers Win from the Duke half his Vexation, That he may undertake it, whose discretion I must confess, though it be from the Father, Yet now is stronger, and more apt to govern. 'Tis not my own desire, but all the Lands I know the weakness of it. I must teach you then; Come, kiss me. Were you made and Eunuch, since you went he ̄ ce? yet they have more desire then I can find in you: How found was I to beg thy love? He force thee to my will Dost thou not know that I can make the King Dote as my list? yield quickly, or by Heaven I'll have thee kept in prison for my purpose, Where I will make thee serve my turn, and have thee fed With such meats as best shall fit my ends And not thy health, why dost not speak to me? And when thou dost displease me, and art grown Less able to perform; then I will have thee Killed and forgotten: Are you stricken dumb? To the Prince, and take the Messenger for guide. Oh sir, can any thing come sweeter to you, or strike a deeper joy into your heart then your sons virtue? Oh whither will ye me cross affections pull me? Fortune, Fate, & you whose powers direct our actions, And dwell within us: you that are Angels Guiding to virtue, wherefore have you given So strong a hand to cuill? wherefore suffered A Temple of your own, you Deities Where your fair selves dwelled only, & your goodness Thus to be soiled with sin? I do believe you, and your self too: Lord what a fine old Zany my Love has made him? Is' mine, I am sure: Heaven make me thankful for him. For whom? Such Additions may be for your ease Sir, Not my honesty: I am well in being single, good Sir seek another, I am no meat for money. Gods keep you: Do you hear Sir: pray give me a point to wear. I shall find time for this. Dead!