CARRACUS

Not find my friend, sure some malignant planet, Rules over this night, and envying the content, Which I in thought possess, debars me thus, From what is more then happy, the loved presence of a deer friend and love, I, and thy heart deer friend: As how I prithee Albert: Whom I have found, thanks to thy faith, and heaven. But had not she a light, when you came first? See we are now come to the chamber window. Maria. Who would not do so, having passed it thee, Cannot be framed of aught but treachery: Fairest descend, that by our hence departing, We may make firm the bliss of our content. I will do now so; but not at other times. Faithts no great matter which: Yet we will take it hence, that it may breed Many confused opinions in the house Of your escape here: Albert you shall bear it: It may be you may chance to practice that way; Which when you do, may your attempts so prove As mine have done, most fortunate in love. No fairest, we are now even at them: Come, do you follow Albert? Why thou base villain, was my dearest friend here, and couldst not make him stay? Hence thou vntuter'd slave. But couldst thou Albert come so never my door, and not vouch safe the comfort of thy presence? Hath my good fortune caused thee to repine? And seeing my state so full replete with good, Canst thou withdraw thy love to lessen it? What could so move thee, was it because I married? Didst thou imagine I infringed my faith, For that a woman did participate In equal share with thee? Cannot my friendship Be firm to thee, because 'tis deer to her; Yet no more deer to her then firm to thee: Believe me Albert; thou dost little think, How much thy absence gives cause of discontent, But isle impute it only to neglect, It is neglect indeed when friends neglect The sighed of friends, and say 'tis troublesome; Only ask how they do, and so fare well: Showing and outward kind of seeming duty, Which in the rules of manhood is obsern'd And think full well they have perform worser their task, When of their friends health they do only ask, Not caring how they are, or how distressed, It is enough they have their loves expressed, In bore enquiry, and in these times too Friendships so cold that few so much will do: And am not I beholding then to Albert, He after knowledge of our being well, Said he was truly glad on't: o rare friend! If he be unkind how many more may mend; But whither am I carried by unkindness? Why should not I as well set light by friendship, Since I have seen a man whom I late thought, Had been composed of nothing but of faith, Prove so regardless of his friends content. I am not angry sweet, though if I were, Thy bright aspect would soon allay my rage; But my Maria, it does something move me, That our friend Albert so forgets himself. I will surmise so too, and only think, Some serious business hinders Alberts presence: But what ring's that Maria on your finger? At what time fairest? Yare disposed to riddle, pray lets see't, I partly know it, where wast you found it? How, in your Chamber? Oh think thy self Maria what thou art: This is the ring of Albert treacherous man, He that enjoyed thy virgin chastity: I never did ascend into thy chamber; But all that cold night through the frozen field, Went seeking of that wretch, who never sought me; But found what his lust sought, for dearest thee. All breath be first extinguish, within there ho? No, no, sheele die Nurse, for she said she would, and she had not said so, tad be another matter, but you know Nurse she never told a lie, I will believe her, for she speaks all truth. See how they steal away my fair Maria, But I will follow after her as far, As Orpheus did to gain his souls delight, And Pluto's self shall know, although I am not Skilful in music, yet I can be mad, And force my loves enjoyment in despite Of hels black fury; but stay, stay Carracus, Where is thy knowledge, and that rational sense, Which heaven; great Architect endued thee with? All sunk beneath the weight of lumpish nature? Are our diviner parts no noblier free, Then to be tortured by the weak assailments Of earth-sprung griefs? why is man then accounted The head commander of this universe, Next the Creator, when a little storm Of nature's fury straight ore'whelmes his judgement, But mines no little storm, 'tis a tempest So full of raging self-consuming woe, That nought but ruin follows expectation: O my Maria, what unheard of sin Have any of thine Ancestors enacted, That all their shame should be poured thus on thee; Or what incestuous spirit, cruel Albert Left hels vast womb for to enter thee, And do a mischief of such treachery. O Nurse, how is't with Maria? If ere thy tongue did utter pleasing words, Let it now do so, or hereafter ere be dumb in sorrow. 'Tis dead indeed, how did you know it so Nurse? That my heart was dead, sure thou hast served Dame nature's self, and knowest the inward secrets Of all our hidden powers, isle love thee for't; And if thou wilt teach me that unknown skill, Shalt see what wonder Carracus will do; I'll dive into the breast of hateful Albert, And see how his black soul is round encompassed By fearful fiends, o I would do strange things, And know to whose cause Lawyers will incline, When they had fees on both sides, view the thoughts Of forlorn widows when their Knights have left them; Search through the guts of grearnes, and behold What several sin best pleased them, thence Idem descend Into the bowels of some pocky fit: And tell to leachers all the pains he felt, That they thereby might warned be from lust, Troth 'twill be rare, isle study presently. I find my brains too shallow far for study, What need I care for being a Rethmetitian, Let Citizens sons stand and they will for Ciphers; Why should I teach them and go beat my brains, To instruct unapt, and vnconceauing dolts, And when all's done, my art that should be samed, Will by gross imitation be but shamed, Your judgement Madam? But can Maria so forget her self, As to debar us thus of her attendance? O is she so, come then lets softly steal Into her chamber, if she be a sleep I'll laugh shalt see enough, and thou shalt weep, Softly good long coat, softly. Upon what cause gay-man? Let me peruse them, if they do portend To the States good, your answer shall be sudden, Your entertainment friendly; but if otherwise, Our meanest subject shall divide thy greatness, You'd best look too't Ambassador. Ambassador, I find your Master's will Treats to the good of somewhat, what it is You have your answer, and may now depart. But stay, I h forgotten quite our chiefest affairs, Your Master further writes some three lines lower, Of one Maria that is wife to me, That she and I should travel now with you Unto his presence. But brother lord we cannot go this journey. Come then weel in, and strive to woe your sister, I would not seen her sir, at least these three days, They keep her in a Chamber, and tell me She's fast a sleep still, you and isle go see, What a way have I come, yet I know not whither, The airs so cold this winter season, I'm sure a fool, would any but and ass Leave a warm matted chamber and a bed, To run thus in the cold, and which is more, To seek a woman, a slight thing called woman, Creatures, with curious nature framed as I suppose, For rend receivers to her treasury; And why I think so now, I'll give you instance; Most men do know that nature's self hath made them, Most profitable members, then if so. By often trading in the common wealth They needs must be enriched, why very good, To whom ought beauty then repay this gain Which she by nature's gift hath profited; But unto nature? why all this I grant, Why then they shall no more be called woman, For I will style them thus, scorning their leave, Those that for nature do much rend receive. This is a wood sure, and as I have read, In woods are Echo's which will answer men, To every question which they do propound: Oh are you there, have at you then i'faith, Echo canst tell me whither men or women Are for the most partly damned? Of both indeed, how true this Echo speaks, Echo, now tell me if amongst 1000. women, There be one chaste, or none? Why so I think, better and better still: Now further Echo, in a world of men, Is there one faithful to his friend, or no? Thou speakest most true, for I have found it so; Who said thou wast a woman Echo lies, Thou couldst not then answer so much of truth, Once more good Echo, Was my Maria false by her own desire, Or wast against her will? Troth't may be so, but canst thou tell, Whither she be dead or not? Not dead. Then without question she does surely live: But I do trouble thee too much, therefore good speak truth, farewell. How quick it answers, o that Councillors Would thus refolue men's doubts without a fee. How many country Clients then might rest Free from undoing, no plodding pleader then Would purchase great poffessions with his tongue; Were I some demigod, or had that power, I'de straight make this Echo here a judge; Hee'd spend his judgement in the open court, As now to me, without being once solicited In's private chamber, 'tis not bribes could win Him to oversway men's right, nor could he be Led to damnation for a little pelf; He would not harbour malice in his heart, Or envious hatred, base despite or grudge, But be and upright, joust, and equal Judge; But now imagine that I should confront Treacherous Albert, who hath raised my front. But I fear this idle prate hath Made me quite forget my cinque pace. he danceth. Oh are you come sir, I was sending the Tauerne-boy for you, I have been practising here, and can do none of my lofty tricks. To blow it out, troth I most kindly thank you, Heres friendship to the life; but father whay-beard, Why should you think me void of reasons fire, My youthful days being in the height of knowledge? I must confess your old years gains experience; But that's so much orer-ul'd by dotage, That what you think experience shall effect, Short memory destroys, what say you now sir? Am I mad now, that can answer thus To all intergatories? How did you know my sorrows sir? What though I have lost a wife, Must I be therefore grieved; am I not happy To be so freed of a continual trouble? Had many a man such fortune as I, In what a heaven would they think themselves? Being released of all those threatening clouds, Which in the angry skies, called women's brows, Fit ever menacing tempestuous storms: But yet I needs must tell you, old December, My wife was clear of this; within her brow, Sh'ad not a wrinkle nor a storming frown; But Like a smooth well polish Inory. It seemed so pleasant to the looker on, She was so kind, of nature so gentle, That if sh'ad done a fault shee'd straight go die for't: Was not she then a rare one? What weepest thou aged Nestor? Take comfort man, Troy was ordained by fate To yield to us, which we will ruinate. Is it clear water sir, and very fresh? For I am thirsty; gives it a better relish Then a cup of dead wine with sties in't? Faster then you I believe sir. Thanks unto heavens & thee thou holy man, I have attained what does adorn men being, That precious Jemme of reason, by which solely, We are discerned from rude and brutish beasts, No other difference being betwixt us and them. How to repay this more then earthly kindness, Lies not within my power, but in his That hath endued thee with celestial gifts, To whom I'll pray, he may bestow on thee What thou deservest, blessed immortality. Indeed they were, and to, a deer wife lost; Yet I forgive him, as I wish the heavens May pardon me. Lives my Maria then? what gracious planet Gave thee safe conduct to these desert woods? Alas Maria! I am so far indebted To him already, for the late recovery of My own weakness, that 'tis impossible For us to attribute sufficient thanks, For such abundant good. Oh sir, despair not for your course of life (were your sins far more odious then they be) Does move compassion and pure clemency In the al-ruling Judge, whose powerful mercy Oreswayes his justice, and extends it self To all repentant minds, he's happier far That sins, and can repent him of his sin; Then the self justifier, who does surmise By his own works to gain salvation, Seeming to reach at heaven and clasp damnation: You then are happy, and our penitent friend, To whose wished presence please you now to bring us, That in our gladsome arms we enfold His much esteemed person, and forgive The injuries of his rash follies passed. Is it you Alberts self that hath preserved us? Oh blessed bewailer of thy misery! From which, right worthy friend, its now high time You be released, come then you shall with us, Our first and chiefest welcome my Maria, We shall receive at your good father's house; Who, as I do remember, in my frenzy Sent a kind letter which desired our presence. Then you neglect the comforts heaven does send, To your abided on earth, if you stay here Your life may end in torture, by the cruelty Of some wild ravenous beasts, but if amongst men When you depart, the faithful prayers of many Will much avail, to crown your soul with bliss. Thus by the breach of faith, our friendships knit In stronger bonds of love. Sir, I must desire you to forget all injuries, if, in not be king my self, I offered you any. Noble, and freeborn Haddit, welcome. Come my Maria and repent nt friend, We three have tasted worst of misery, Which now add joy to our felicity. The horses stand at the appointed place, And nights dark coverture, makes firm our safety, My friend is surely fallen into a slumber, On some bank hereabout, I will call him, Friend, Albert, Albert. Come fair Maria the troubles of this night, Are as forerunners to ensuing pleasures, And noble friend although now Carracus Seems in the gaining of this beauteous prize, To keep from you so much of his loved treasure, Which ought not be mixted, yet his heart Shall so far strive in your wished happiness, That if the lose and ruin of it self can but avail your good