ANTIFRONT

No more, I know thy love tends to the stopping of my longing and my resolution: thou knowest that I no longer now am Signior: Flore ̄ ce hath God and other gouer nor, and one step back in state of Majesty, is a greater fallen then to a meaner man that loses all: Beside, thou knowest our Daughters they are fled, the true inheritors of Florence right, and mighty Piso now usurps our regal seat: puis sant in power and mighty in his wrong, hath mounted Falcon-like into the sky of state, seized on our feebleness, and beat our weakness down. And therefore now I am resolved to find my two lost Children out, or Like as Phae tun in pride did ride, so I in grief will pace the world about. Farewell, some strange disguise I needs must take both for my stealth away, as for my passage on the way: and yet my Fortune's fallen, disguisement is to great if pleased the heavens, but their wills still are laws, all is but Justice & our sins the cause: cuor forterompe catiua sort. But I am not sir, for I am sick. Poor. Money. Yes. Fleire. Oh Signior, you may snuff out your smoke here Signior, and save your oath too, here are no Cuckold ma kers. No, not I; isle not make my nose a read Herring, isle not hang him ith' smoke. What! shall we embrace? shall we have rednosed Corporals here: what you rogue? will you turn Sumner? away you whale-nosd rogue away, go, snufle, snufle in the Ocean, away you slave. Indeed Madam, drink lightens the head, the heart, the heals, the pot, the purse; but it makes heavy chamberpots, full bowels, and foul rooms enough. Faith for mine own partly when I had a stomach, I should Like it best in it own naked kind, without any sauce at all. Faith they say your Ladies cannot endure the old fashion Spur, they say it hangs to a men heel Like a Wheelbarrow, but they love the fine little Scots Spur, it makes the Court Gennet curvet, curvet Gall lantly. If I should tell you, I fear your Ladyships would be angry. I would be loath to displease you. Faith they say your Ladyships are a couple of state lie Courtesans. By my troth they said stately whores. Oh my good preferrer, how does your worship, you are a stranger here. Oh my Lord, you are a welcome man. I, I, I, Come: but my good Lord yowl be a well come man, for I have herd her often swear, that had she such a Husband, a man so richly decked in virtuous orna ments, she would forsake this life, herself, nay, her very being, to be your's; Oh my good Lord, she loves you dearly. Why my good Lord? But say she may turn my Lord. Oh my Lord, penitence does purge a spotted soul, and better leave sin late then not at all: and I do know my Lord, that for your love from her immodest life sheel turn. Great, great: a kisses his hand with and excellent grace, and a will leire and fleire upon am, he's partly their Physician, a makes am Suppositories, and gives am Glisters. No, no, no. I, I, hoe, whose within there? Whither are you going? Come, come I'll prefer you both, thou shalt serve a Countryman of mine, he's going to travail: shalt go with him, & thou shalt serve one of my Ladies. Then let them march both hand in hand in one way. Oh God, I think the path to hell that women tread is brother then the way men go: how they walk by cou ples to the Devil? I delivered your letter sir, and she thanks you for't: Faith not well, she has taken physic, and your gen tleman usher there ministers to her: she's very great, and she says she feels much stirring in her belly. Send her and Oaten cake, t'is a good Northern token: sir Ralph Shave sent his Mistress one, but I think a meant to ride a journey on her, and thought Oats would make her travel well. You'll go alone sir. For nothing else? I wonder you would be knighted sir, since your more ney is so long a coming, that you cannot maintain your knighthood gallantly. Get you a good wife? Why look you sir, speak but the Golden tongue very perfectly, marry you must speak it well, and call some great Lord cousin: will get you a better wife then three hundred pound jointure. You may report you have Coalpits too,, t'is a warm commodity I can tell you: they may be sent about by water; if they never come, as your money doth not, you may curse the winds, or complain of Ship wrack: and then thought be a lie t'is drowned. True? Gods my life, she's a wise woman that will go as far as new Castle to search the depth of a Coalpit for your truth. But I am sure heel bring his honesty no nearer him there; but that comes about by water too as his money does. Oh yes sir, I often find her in deep contemplation. I, with their Instruments. And I hope I should discharge the place suffici ently: for I have learning enough to take a bribe, and wit enough to be proud: but whither are you going now sir? You will not speak with am now; for my Ladies will speak with none but Gentlemen. What Knights before Gentlemen, say you? Thats strange, they were wont to be Gentlemen before they were knighted: but for this news I'll follow you. To her again man, do not leave her, the Moon is now upon change, she will turn. But believe me my little Gallants, ye play the Boys well. Save you Signior. I am a Florentine born. I shall remember still not to forget what you give me in charge. I would be loath to be found otherwise. Now come away my Customers, I hope I am fitted for and Apothecary s'hart I think ime turned conjurer, for I have no sooner called but the Devils are appeared, what do ye lack Gentlemen? My Master is gone into Italy sir, but if you want any thing, isle use you well, if you want any drugs to make Lotiums, any Restringent Powders, any Aquam Mirabilis, any Cordial receipts, or any Precious poisons? Excellent good sir, as ever was tasted, look you sir, this poisons by the smell, this by the sighed, and this by the tastes. Am I sure on't? why tak't upon my credit, 'twill poi son any vermin, except it be a woman, for 'twill poison a Cat sir. Oh sir 'tis very cheap, considering the goodness on't. I pray sir your name. Come, come, thou didst but dream thou Wertenberg in hell. And how long was't ere thou camest thither? Oh sir, there's the conscience on't, say the Plaintiff be in one line, and the defendant in and other, they being ene mies, were't either conscience or honesty in the Clerk to thrust them no near together, that they might go to gither by ears? but i'faith what good fellowship was there in hell? Why are there a company of Porters in hell? And good reason, why could not she have kept her Trade, and been a Puritane, as well as a Puritane keep her Religion, and yet be of her Trade? Why was he damned? I prethe what wast? Were there no Lawyers in hell? Well, Gentlemen, since by the heavens pleasure I have been appointed to save your lives, let me entreat you to keep your selves secret till the sequel of this act ion shall need your presence. I pray look here then. But being revealed they may affirm it. How say you boys to this letter? Here my Lord. I tax you to your word, Signior Antifront yet lives, And heeres his elder Daughter whom himself But now condemned to die: and heeres the younger Left for you, the poisoned men are here a live again, Who did but dream of death, but yet do Live to enrich a nuptial bed to you two, And now since every thing so well does sort, Let all be pleased in this our comic sport, Where's Petoune? he shall have his Mistress too, He most deserves, for he did hotly woe, If we partly friends, your hands unto us lend, What was not well, weel next strive to amend. Idem be loath to die in't. In none. In a Town. I, and as wisemen as you Asses too, Oh are you there Piso? your father is my good Lord, but no more of that yet. No, nor I care not greatly for them that do, for your swaggerer is but Like your walking spur, a gingles much but heel never prick. He's a mad fellow will love any of you all, lon her then a pissing while. Because I have cause. My nose. God. He thats before me. I have ever been a Courtier. I think so, for I am sure here were a couple of gen tlemen last night that scoured their pieces. How can they? they spend when others get. I can compare your Gentleman, and your Mar chant, to nothing so fitly as your Flay and your Louse: I had rather trust your louse with a hundred pound, then your Flay with for tie; for your Louse, Like the Merchant, stands too't, you shall know where to find him, but your Flay, Like the Gentleman, if you take him not at first sighed a slips from you. And good reason too (Madam) would you have a man be troubled with a wife, as long as he lives for nothing? A gives money to his wench, to be as soon rid of her as he has done with her. Oh Madam, to keep the custom of the City, one lie to be light heeled. The City is Like a Commodie, both in parts and in apparel, and your Gallants are the Actors: for he that yesterday played the Gentleman, now plays the Beggar; she that played the Way ting-woman, now plays the Quean; he that played the married-man, now plays the Cuckold; and she that played the Lady, now plays the Painter. Then for their apparel, they have change too: for she that wore the Petticoat, now wears the Breech; he that wore the Coxcomb, now wears the feather; the Gentle man that wore the long Sword, now wears the short Hanger; and he that could scarce get Velvet for his Cape, has now linde his Cloak throughout with it. Well enough, if they did not catch their meat so; it comes no sooner from Table, but tone fellow has a fat Duck by the rumpe, tother a slippery Ele by the tail, and and old Courtier that best knew the tricks on't, was mumbling of a Cunny in a corner alone by him self. I shall offend your Ladyships. Faith Like Thisbe in the play, a has almost killed himself with the scabbard: but hark you Knight, you'll be a welcome man to my younger Lady, I protest she thinks worthily of you. Upon my word sir, to my knowledge she is and honest Gentlewoman, yet the world may chance speak ill of her. Why I have herd some say Penelope was a Punk, having no reason to suspect her, but because she set up late a nights, when was but to undo that which she did by day. I have herd some say Hercules was a coward because he did not fight at single Rapier Like a gallant, but with a Club. Why, you're inth' right, I have herd some say, you were a very needy Knight, and that you had but one shirt to your back when you came first to this town; Nay more, when your Lackey carried it to the Laun dress, it was found to be a woman's smock, that you had borrowed: but what? should my Lady, or I believe this now? Prethe show these Gentlemen up into the great Chamber, and give my Ladies notice of their being here, have a little business my Lords, Heel conduct ye, ye shall find a couple of your acquaintance there. Exeunt: manet Fleir. Could I but work Lord Piso, and my eldest daughter, to make am both affect and love each other, that marriage might unite their hearts together: Oh then there were as sured hope we might redeem our honours lost, and regain our right in Florence. And for this Knight though he be poor, yet would he married were unto Feli In For of a loving husbands awful eye, Sets right the woman's steps that went awry. Heaven I know has grace enough in store, To make most chaste, a most lascivious whore. How now? who have we there? a couple of footmen? How now my little fireworks of wit? what? flashes and flames? tell me true, were you never Ushers to some great men Coach-mares? did yove never run bore before them? Upon my life then, they be plums, and the stones make her swell. Under your Cloak sir, under your Cloak. Oh you're of a French humour sir, as inconstant as impa cient: I think you have scarce the patience to tell the clock when it strikes. Not till you be richly married. Thats because her mouth waters at it. Very true, she every day sings John for the King, and at Up tails all, she's perfect. Excellent, excellent sir, far better then your Scot tish Iigges. Look ye signior, thats she: whose love means to assault your brains, since you have blown up your own sconce with Tobacco. And you come to her Signior you must come to her as country Gentlewomen do into the fashion, that is: in the tail and latter end on't. As in poison, or in a punk, for the better whore the worse woman ever. I thank you sir, I have sold you a poison my old elders, 'twill make and sleep indeed, and I thank God that's the worst 'twill do, well, farewell Master Apothecary. I must now Like a friend entreat your shop to have a special care of it self. Good master Mittimus therein shall you much oblige me to be thankful. Oh all-directing power yield good aspect, And to my purpose give a blessed end, My intent is good, Oh let it so succeed, And be auspicious still to each good deed. Good master Mittimus, I shall both deliver your masters commendations, and the Ring. But I prithee how broad was the way to hell? Who didst see there? Which is the elder Brother? Why then my Lord, we thus must now proceed, they that spilled innocent blood themselves must bleed; but Ladies I have herd you had a man called Fleire, what's be come of him? Well Ladies, then we here pronounce this sentence that you must die among the rest. And Italian: Caught I hope: hold hook and line, he's fast by heaven. A good service. I cannot tell, 'tis as I Like the man. Oh great great madam, your whore is for every ras call but your Courtesan is for your Courtier. Oh my gracious knight, and whither are you two bound now? Faith there was much good meat, but me thought your fair Lady was your only dish. But alas they are your common people, they are Like your Slippers, they are always gaping, their mouths are never shut. Alas Madam, their tongues are Like your dry lea there shoes, always creaking: But alas Madam, I do not believe them, because I know the conditions of the slaves; Why I'll tell you, their tongues are Like the Jack of a Clock, still in la bour. Excellent news y faith, excellent news, then the court will grow rich. Faith and you shall find my two Ladies as ready for you two: Come, come, I'll put you in the way of all flesh, I'll send you to Gravesend, I'll see you in the Tilt-boat, When you are there, ship your selves: in, in, in. Yea? and will you to the Southward i'faith? will you to the confines of Italy my Gallants? take heed how you go Northwards, 'tis a dangerous Coast, jest not with't in Winter, therefore go Southwards my Gall lants, Southwards hoe: I have shipped two Gallants in a storm, I fear they have spent their main Masts by this time, and are coming home again: but if you will Southwards, my hearts of gold, I'll ship you in pomp, I'll send ye under the very line, where the Sun's at hottest. No great enemies, a quarrel rose between us. Why, if any lie with them a whole night, I make the bed ith' morning, and for that I have two pence, and that's a penny a sheet. Now boys, you have a couple of goodly masters, How? sister, nay now I smell you i'faith, doy' hear, doy' hear, whose Fiddlers are you two? what In struments do you bear I pray? Giacomo. I pray sir does Justice Ferrio dwell here? Good Master Mittimus I would very willingly speak with your Master. Truly Master Mittimus my business is but this: to morrow the Italian Lord, and Sir John Have-little are to be arraigned, and your master being the chief Judge of the Court, without this presence or licence, the rest can do nothing: wherefore Doctor Caius intreats to know his pleasure in this business. But didst thou see more of them that were damned I hope we shall have no more Citizens damned for that fault. Why are there so many of them there? What time wast? I prithee where? Learned Doctors, Doctor Ferrio commends him to you, and because sickness hath laid so strong a hand upon his weak decrepit body, which doth detain his presence, he intreats you to accept of me in his place, and as assurance of his earnest desire thereof, he has sent this well known ring as a token to you. I, you Ladies, my Lord I pray you, read this letter. Where are the Pages? You'll not be angry with me. And indeed Madam ̄ I said so, for in truth I was very a ̄ gry with 'am, but they said you were for every seruingma ̄ too. Yes indeed Madam, I hope I have touched you now. Nay, thats Like lie, never trust a fellow that will flat ter, fleire, and fawn for four nobles a year. Yes Madam, a may touched when 'tis at the Laun dresses. Yes Madame, to deliver you a letter or so. Oh Madam! why? since blue coats were left oft, the kissing of the hand is the serving men badge, you shall know him by't: but Madam, I speak something boldly of you now and then, when I am out of your hearing, to hear what the world will say of you, for you know thats the way to pump filthy words out of their mouths, if there be any in them. I assure your Ladyships, I love you, and am sorry for you from my soul, although you know it not. I shall be very vigilant of your reputations. Who comes here a Gods-name? Oh, my gallant ruffles it out in silk, where have you been all this while? Faith I pray once a week dost thou pray oftener? No, questionless no. Save you Gallants: Oh Signior Petoune, shall you and I be friends again? Nay if the Father be of the peace, I see no reason the Son should fight. Why then upon this hand I hear arrest you both, upon your lives.