VITELLI

You make no scruple of and oath then? I wonder sirrah What's your Religion? And what in Tunis, Will you turn Turk here? You are a Kna e sir, Lea king your Roguery think upon my business, It is no time to fool now Remember where you are too! though this Mars time, We are allowde free trading, and with safety. Temper your tongue and meddle not with the Turks, Their manners, nor Religion. And had been well served; Haste to the Shop and set my Wares in order I will not long be absent? I believe thee. Oh welcome sir, stay of my steps in this life, And guide to all my blessed Hope's hereafter. What comforts sir? have your endeavours posper'd? Have we tirde Fortune's malice with our sufferings? Is she at length after so many frowns Pleased to vouchsafe one cheerful look upon us? I find not How this may profit us. Would! his name Is poison to me. I have done sir. 'Tis my sister It must be she, my better Angel tells me 'Tis poor Paulina. Farewell all disguises I'll show in my revenge that I am Noble. No sir, my virtuous anger Makes every vein and artery, I feel in me The strength of twenty men, and being armed With my good cause to wreak wronged innocence I dare alone run to the viceroys Court And with this Poigniard before his face. Dig out Grimaldies heart. Would you have me tame now; Can I know my sister Mewde up in his Serragli , and in danger Not alone to lose her honour, but her soul, The hell-breed Villain by too? that has sold both To black destruction, and not haste to send him To the Devil his tutor? to be patient now, Were in another name to play the Pander To the Viceroys lose embraces, and cry aim While he by force, or flattery compels her To yield her fair name up to his foul lust, And after turn Apostata to the faith That she was breed in. You have Charmde me sir And I obey in all things; Pray you pardon The weakness of my passion. Sir, you mistake me I am too full of woe, to entertain One thought of pleasure: though all Europes Queen Kneeled at my feet, and Cour ed me: much less To mix with such; Whose difference of faith Must of necessity: (or I must grant My self forgetful of all you have taught me) Strangle such ba e desires. We must be patient —Old Grimaldy? You' still be prating. Peace sirrah, make no noise, these are not people To be jested with. Your Ladyships servant; And if in worth or Title you are more, My ignorance plead my pardon. Take down the looking glass: here is a mirror Steelde so exactly, neither taking from Nor flattering the object, it returns To the beholder, that Narcissus might (And never grow enamoured of himself:) View his fair feature in't. Here China dishes to serve in a Banquet, Though the volouptus Persian sat a guest. Here Crystal glasses, such as Ganymede Did fill with Nectar to the Thunderer When he drank to Alcides, and received him In the fellowship of the gods: true to the owners Corinthian plate studded with Diamonds, Concealed oft deadly poison; This pure metal So innocent is, and faithful to the Mistress Or Master that possesses it: that rather Then hold one drop that's venomous, of it self It flies in pieces, and deludes the Traitor. Here's a Picture Madame The master pecce of Michael Angel , Our great Italian workman; here's another So perfect at all parts that had Pygmalion See ne this, his prayers had been made to Venus, To have given it life, and his Carved ivory Image By poets never remembered. They are indeed The rarest beauty's of the Christian world And no where to be equaled. With your pardon Madame I am incredculous. Is she gone: No matter. Said she ought else? How! remove the wares Do it without reply. The Sultans niece! I have herd among the Turks for any Lady To show her face bore, argues love, or speaks Her deadly hatred. What should I fear, my fortune Is sunk so low: there cannot fallen upon me Ought worth my shunning. I will run the hazard: She may be a means to free distressed Paulina. Or if offended, at the worst, to die Is a full perjod to calamity. To aynt now being thus far, Would argue me of Cowardice. Donusa. Is not this Tempe, or the blessed shades, Where innocent Spirits reside? Or do I dream, And this a heavenly vision? Howsoever It is a sighed too glorious to behold For such a wretch as I am. Can this be? May I believe my senses? Dare I think I have a memory? Or that you are That excellent creature, that of late disdain'de not To look on my poor trifles. Did I know. Great Lady your commands, or to what purpose This personated passion tends, (since it A crime in me deserving death, to think It is your own: I should to make you sport Take any shape you please to impose upon me: And with joy strive to serve you. I am overwhelmed: With the weight of happiness you throw upon me. Nor can it fallen in my imagination, What wrong I ere have done you: and much less How Like a Royal Merchant to return Your great magnificence. What can be added To that which I already have received, I cannot comprehend. Excuse me Madame, What imputation so ere the world Is pleased to lay upon us: in my self I am so innocent that I know not what 'tis That I should offer. That latter blow Has beat all chaste thoughts from me. There's for your pains, forget not My humblest service to the best of Ladies. Do not doubt me, There's gold, be thou free too And Master of my shop, and all the wares We brought from Venice. Dear sir This place affords not privacy for discourse But I can tell you wonders, my rich habit Deserves least admiration; the nothing That can fallen in the compass of your wishes Though it were to redeem a thousand slaves From the Turkish galleys, or at home to erect Some pious work, to shame all Hospitals, But I am master of the means. As I walk I'll tell you more. What is't? speak freely Leave your prating. That were a petty trial Not worth one so long taught, and exercised Under so graven a master. Reverend Francisco My friend, my father, in that word, my all; Rest confident, you shall hear something of me That will redeem me in your good opinion, Or judge me lost for ever. Send Gazet (She shall give order that he may have entrance) To acquaint you with my Fortune's. You are still, Although the sating of your lust hath sullied The immaculate whiteness of your Virgin beauty's, Too fair for me to look on. And though pureness, The sword with which you ever fought, and conquered, Is ravished from you by unchaste desires, You are too strong for flesh and blood to treat with, Though iron grates were interposed between us, To warrant me from treason. That humane frailty I took from my mother, That, as my youth increased, grew stronger on me, That still pursues me, and though once recovered In scorn of reason, and what's more, religion, A gain seeks to betray me. I will stop Mine ears against these charms, which if Ulysses Could live again, and he are this second Siren, Though bound with Cables to his Mast, his Ship too Fastened with all her Anchors, this enchantment Would force him in despite of all resistance, To leap into the Sea, and follow her, Although destruction with outstretched arms, Stood ready to receive him. What defences Can lust raise to maintain a precipice The better, I expected A Turkish Faith. What punishment So ere I undergo, I am still a Christian. I have almost gained The end of the raze, and will not aynt, or tire now. 'Tis not in man I'll stand encounter, charge me home. What strong poison Is wrapped up in these sugared pills? You speak in riddles. What burden, or what mistress? or what fetters? Are those you point at? Would! But that I know The Devil thy Tutor fills each partly about thee, And that I cannot play the exorcist To dispossess thee, unless I should tear Thy body limb by limb, and throw it to The furies that expect it, I would now Pluck out that wicked tongue, that hath blaspheme That great omnipotency at whose nod The fabric of the World shakes. Dare you bring Your I gling Prophet in comparison with inscrutable, and infinite essence made this all, and comprehends his work? The place is too profane to mention him Whose only name is sacred. Oh Donusa! How much in my compassion I suffer, That thou, on whom this most excelling form And faculties of discourse, beyond a woman, Were by his liberal gift conferred, shouldst still Remain in ignorance of him that gave it? I will not foul my mouth to speak the Sorceries Of your seducer, his base birth, his whoredoms, His strange impostures; nor deliver how He taught a Pigeon to feed in his ear, Then made his credulous followers believe It was and Angel that instructed him In the framing of his Alcoran. Pray you mark me. The sixth, Something before the setting of the Sun We take ur last leave of his fading light, And with our souls eyes seek for beams eternal, Yet there's one scruple with which I am much Perplexed, and troubled, which I know you can Resolve me of. You confirm me, I will find a way to do it. In the mean time Your holy vows assist me. You shall see me act This last Scene to the life. That's my end, my all. A joyful preparation! To whose bounty Owe we our thanks for gracing thus our Himen? The notes though dreadful to the ear, found here As our Epithalamium were sung By a Celestial choir, and a full Chorus Assure us future happiness. These that lead me Gaze not with wanton eyes upon my bride, Nor for their service are repaid by me With jealousy's, or fears; nor do they envy My passage to those pleasures from which death Cannot deter me. Great sir pardon me; Imagination of the joys I haste to, Made me forget my duty, but the form And ceremony passed, I will attend you, And with our constant resolution feast you, Not with course cates, forgotten assoon as tasted, But such as shall, while you have memory, Be pleasing to the palate. We being now to take our latest leave And grown of one belief, I do desire I may have your allowance to perform it But in the fashion which we Christians use Upon the Like occasions. My service; haste Gazet to the next spring, And bring me of it. Great sir, I'll tell you, Each country hath it's own peculiar rites, Some when they are to die drink store of wine, Which poured in liberally does oft beget A bastard valour, with which armed, they bear The not to be declined charge of death With l sse fear, and astonishment; Others take Drugs to procure a heavy sleep, that so They may insensibly recei e the means That casts them in and everlasting slumber; Others—Oh welcome. How do you entertain it my Donusa? Feel you no alteration? No new motives? No unexpected aids that may confirm you In that to which you were inclined before? Oh Devil! Paulina to fallen off thus? 'tis to me More terrible then death, and Like and earthquake Totters this walking building (such I am) And in my sudden ruin would prevent, By choking up at once my vital spirits, This pompous preparation for my death. But I am lost; that good man, good Francisco Delivered me a paper which till now I wanted leisure to peruse. Oh 'tis well! He has restored all, and I at peace again With my Paulina. YOu have hirde a Shop then? Sir as I am a sinful man, I can not But Like one suffer. What wonder look I on! I'll search above And suddenly attend you. Donusa. How I shake In my constant resolution and my flesh Rebellious to my better partly now tells me, As if it were a strong defence of frailty. A Hermit in a desert trenchd with prayers Could not resist this battery. I am grown already Skilful in the mystery. Though the Devil Stood by, and rorde, I follow: now I find That Virtue's but a word, and no sure guard If set upon by beauty, and reward. This applause Confirmed in your allowan e joys me more, Then if a thousand full cramed Theaters Should clap their eager hands to witness that The Scene I act did please, and they admire it. But these are (father) but beginnings, not The ends of my high aims. I grant to have mastered The rebel appetite of flesh and blood Was far above my strength; and still owe for it To that great power that lent it. But when I Shall make't apparent, the grim looks of death Affright me not, and that I can put off The fond desire of life (that Like a garment Covers, and clothes our frailty) hastening to My Martyrdom, as to a heavenly banquet, To which I was a choice invited guest. Then you may boldly say, you did not plough Or trust the barren, and ungrateful lands With the fruitful grain of your religious counsels. Your intent to win me To be of your belief proceeded from Your fear to die. Can there be strength in that Religion, that suffers us to tremble At that which every day, nay hour we hast to? Cherish it It is a Heavenly prompter, entertain This holy motion, and wear on your forehead The Sacred badge he arms His servants with, You shall, Like me, with scorn look down upon All engines tyranny can advance to batter Your constant resolution. Then you shall Look truly air, when your minds pureness wers Your onward beauty's. Welcome Father. Should I spare cost, or not wear cheerful looks Upon my wedding day, it were ominous And showed I did repent it, which I dare not, It being a marriage, howsoever sad In the first ceremonies that confirm it, That will for ever arm me against fears, Repentance, doubts, or jealousy's, and bring Perpetual comforts, peace of mind, and quiet To the glad couple. This sir, my Bride Wh m I first courted, and then won (not with Lose lays, poor flatteries, apish compliments, But Sacred, and Religious zeal ) yet wants The holy badge that should proclaim her fit For these Celestial Nuptialis; willing she is, I know, to wear it, as the choicest jewel Or her fair forehead; but to you, that well Could do that work of Grace, I know the Viceroy Will never grant access. Now in a case Of this necessity, I would gladly learn, Whither in me a layman, without order, It may not be religious, and lawful As we go to our death's to do that office? One suit sir, And willingly I cease to be a beggar, And that you may with more security hear it, Know 'tis not life I'll ask, nor to defer Our death's, but a few minutes. Now the use of yours? The clearness of this is a perfect sign Of innocence, and as this washes off Stains, and pollutions from the things we wear, Thrown thus upon the forehead, it hath power To purge those spots that cleve upon the mind, We partly now, blessed one, To meet hereafter in a Kingdom, where Hells malice shall not reach us. I will not dispute What she commands but serve it. There's something more in this then means to cloy A hungry appetite, which I must discover. She, willed me search the amid. Thus, thus I pierce it: Would! what is this? a scroll bound up in packthread? What may the mystery be? Son, let down this packethread, at the West win dow of the Castle. By it you shall draw up a Ladder of ropes, by which you may descend, your dearest Donusa with the rest of your friends, below attend you. Heaven prosper you. Leave me, or I am lost again, no prayers, No penitence, can redeem me. I am a cowar'd, I will see and here you, The trial else is nothing, Nor the conquest, My temperance shall crown me with hereafter, Worthy to be remembered. Up my virtue And holy thoughts, and resolutions arm me, Against this fierce temptation; give me voice Tuned to a zealous anger to express At what and ouerualue I have purchased, The wanton treasure of your Virgin bounties, That in their false fruition heap upon me Despair, and horror; that I could with that ease Redeem my forfeit innocence, or cast up The poison I received into my entrails, From the alluring cup of your enticements As now I do deliver back the price, Welcome. 'Tis and overthrow That will outshine all victories. Oh Donusa, Die in my faith Like me, and 'tis a marriage At which celestial Angels shalt be waiters, And such as have been Sainted welcome us, Are you confirmed? Heaven is merciful, And will not suffer you to want a man, To do that sacred office, built upon it. See where my bride appears! in what full luster? As if the Virgins that bear up her train, Had long contended to receive and honour Above their births, in doing her this service. Nor comes she fearful to meet those delights, Which once passed over, immortal pleasures follow. I needs not therefore comfort, or encourage Her forward steps, and I should offer wrong To her minds fortitude, should I but ask How she can brook the rough high going Sea, Over whose foamy back our ship well rig'd With hope and strong assurance must transport us. Nor will I tell her when we reach the Haven (Which tempests shall not hinder) what loud welcome Shall entertain us; nor commend the place, To tell whose least perfection would strike dumb The eloquence of all boasted in story, Though joined together. The owner of that blessed name Donusa, Which Like a potent charm, although pronounc'de By my profane, but much unworthier tongue, Hath brought me safe to this forbidden place, Where Christian yet never trodden. And to what end, great Lady pardon me, That I presume to ask, did your command Command me hither? or what am I? to whom You should vouchsafe your favours; nay, your anger's? If any wild or uncollected speech Offensively delivered, or my doubt Of your unknown perfections, have displeased you, You wrong your indignation, to pronounce Your self my sentence: to have seen you only, And to have touchde that fortune-making hand, Will with delight weigh down all tortures, that A flinty hangmans rage could execute, Or rigide tyranny command with pleasure. Sir, as you are my confessor, you stand bound Not to reveal what ever I discover In that Religious way: nor dare I doubt you. Let it suffice, you have made me see my follies, And wrought perhaps compunction; For I would not Appear and Hyppocrite. But when you impose A penance on me, beyond flesh, and blood To undergo: you must instruct me how To put off the condition of a man: Or if not pardon, at the least, excuse My disobedience. Yet despair not sir, For though I take mine own way, I shall do Something that may hereafter to my glory, Speak me your Scholar. I am Schooled sir, And will hereafter to my utmost strength Study to be my self. Dear Sir what is it? All blessings wait upon you. Here are company; Defend me my good Angel, I behold A Basilisk! What a privilege her name bears. 'Tis wondrous strange! (The Captine of the Ianiz ies, ) If the great Officer The guardian of the inner port deny not, I am ravished: That I might ever dream thus.