LYSANDER

MOrrow Brother; Not ready yet? So much for the face. None, but Fortune send you well to wear it: for she best knows how you God it. Not all? A thing to be heartily wished; but brother, take heed you be not gulled, be not too forward. May we not know't? The quality of it may be such as a laugh will not be ill bestowed vpon't; pray heaven I call not Arsace sister. How's that? how's that? But if this Deity should draw you up in a basket to your Countesses window, and there let you hang for all the wits in the Town to shoot at: how then? All this savours of the blind Goddess you speak of. I am therein most confident. As for example. What of that? You loose time Brother in discourse, by this had you boar up with the Lady and clapped her aboard, for I know your confidence will not dwell long in the sir vice. It shall go hard but weel hear your entertain meant for your confidence sake. A good pleasant dream. These diseases do, brother, take heed of them: Fare you well; Take heed you be not baffeld. This braving wooer, hath the success expected; The favour I obtained, made me witness to the sport; And let his Confidence be sure, I'll give it him home. The news by this, is blown through the four quarters of the City. Alas good Confidence: but the happiness is he has a forehead of proof; the stain shall never stick there whatsoever his reproach be. WHat? in discourse? What? my noble Lord? What means your Lordship then to hang that head that hath been so erected; it knocks Sir at your bo some to come in and hide it self. I hope by this time it needs fear no horns. What blanqueted? Oh the Gods! spurned out by Grooms Like a base Bisogno? thrust out by'th head and shoulders? What has thy wits fine engine taken cold? art stuffed inth head? canst answer nothing? Now the Gods forbid that this opinion should run in a blood. Dogs and Cats do. Well Brother, in earnest, you have now set your confidence to school, from whence I hope it has brought home such a lesson as will instruct his master never after to begin such attempts as end in laughter. My confidence? in what? Wherein? Why brother know you ought that may impeach my confidence, as this success may yours? hath your ob servation discovered any such frailty in my wife (for that is your aim I know) then let me know it. That's scarce a Brother's speech. If there be ought wherein your Brother's good might any way be questioned can you conceal it from his bosom? Then must I press you further. You spoke (as to your self, but yet I overheard) as if you knew some dispo sition of weakness where I most had fixed my trust. I chal lenge you to let me know what was. Why? What then? I think none: I know not. Passing ill. No: do you know cause to make me? I can discover nothing in her looks. Go, I'll not be long. I'll follow you. SO now we are our selves. Brother, that ill relished speech you let slip from your tongue, hath taken so deep hold of my thoughts, that they will never give me rest, till I be re solved what 'twas you said, you know, touching my wife. By truth it self you did: I overheard you. Come, it shall nothing move me, whatsoever it be; pray thee un fold briefly what you know. You shall not leave me so unsatisfied; tell me what 'tis you know. Perhaps I shall. A deer experiment, then I must rise again to be resolved. All the Furies in hell attend thee; has given me a Bone to tire on with a pestilence; slight know? What can he know? what can his eye observe More then mine own, or the most piercing sighed That ever viewed her? by this light I think Her privatest thought may dare the eye of heaven, And challenge th'enuious world to witness it. I know him for a wild corrupted youth, Whom profane Ruffians, Squires to Bawds, & Strumpets, Drunkards, speud out of Taverns, into'th Sinks Of Tap-houses, and Stews, Revolts from manhood; Debauched perdu's, have by their companies Turned Devil Like themselves, and stuffed his soul With damned opinions, and unhallowed thoughts Of womanhood, of all humanity, Nay Deity it self. I pray thee wife show but thy self a woman; and be silent: question no more the reason of my journey, which our great Viceroys charge urged in this letter does enforce me to. But let me wonder at this frailty yet; would she in so short time wear out his memory, so soon wipe from her eyes, nay, from her heart, whom I my self, and this whole I'll beside, still remember with grief, the impres sion of his lose taking worthily such root in us; how think you Wife? No wife. Well, all this rids not my business; wife you shall be there to partake the unexpected honour of our House. Lycus, and I will make it our recreation by the way, to think of your Revels and Nuptial sports; Brother my stay hath been for you; Wife pray thee be gone, and soon prepare for the solemnity, a Month returns me. Fare-will. Occurrents call ye them; soul shame confound them all; that impregnable Fort of chastity and loyalty, that amazement of the world; Oh ye Deities could no thing restrain her? I took her spirit to be too haughty for such a depression. Me thinks yet shame should have controlled so sudden and appetite. Not all brother. No, I will not. Neither, I will believe nothing but what trial en forces; will you hold your promise for the governing of this project with skill, and secrecy? None in the world. Forge any death, so you can force belief. Say I was poisoned, drowned. Any thing, so you assist it with likely circumstance, I need not instruct you: that must be your employment Lycus. By this hand split her Weazand. Mewd up close, some short days journey hence, Lycus shall know the place, write still how all things pass, brother adieu; all joy attend you. I should be Like a man that hears a tale And heeds it not; one absent from himself, my wife shall attend the Countess, and my Son. And Hope's she with these heavy notes and cries to call him from the dead? in these five days hath she but made him stir a finger or fetch one gasp of that forsam ken life she mourns? Come, honoured Mistress; I admire your virtues; But must reprove this vain excess of moan; Rouse your self Lady, and look up from death, Well said, 'tis well; stay by my hand and rise. This Face hath been maintained with better housewifry. Well then, eat my wench, Let obstinacy starve. Fallen to. Slight tell me Lady, Are you resolved to die? If that be so, Choose not (for shame) a base, and beggars death: Die not for hunger, Like a Spartan Lady; Fallen valiantly upon a sword, or drink Noble death, expel your grief with poison. There it's, seize it.—Tush you dare not die. Come Wench thou hast not lost a husband; Thou shalt eat, th'art now within The place where I command. It's a frenzy he is possessed with, and will not be cured but by some violent remedy. And you shall favour me so much to make me a spectator of the Scene. But is she (say you) already accessible for Suitors? I thought she would have stood so stiffly on her Widow vow, that she would not endure the sighed of a Suitor. But by your leave Lycus, Penelope is not so wise as her husband Ulysses, for he fearing the jaws of the Syren, stopped his ears with wax against her voice. They that fear the Adders sting, will not come near her hissing. Is any Suitor with her now? And how then shall my brother presume of accept tance? yet I hold it much more under her contentment, to marry such a Nasty braggart, then under her honour to wed my brother: A Gentleman (though I sai't) more ho nourably descended than that Lord: who perhaps, for all his Ancestry would be much troubled to name you the place where his Father was born. Thanks good friend Lycus. Exit. He takes Thar. aside. Will you not resolve me brother? WElcome friend Lycus. He parted hence but now. Yes, he bids me die for further trial of her constan cy. So think not I. Well, I must yet be further satisfied; And vent this humour by some strain of wit, Somewhat I'll do; but what, I know not yet. Come do not load me with volumes of persuasion; I am resolved, if she be gold she may abide the taste, lets away, I wonder where this wild brother is. I am a Soldier of the watch and must enter. Do the dead speak? open or I'll force it open. What wretched souls are you that thus by night lurk here amongst the dead? Lady, I am Sentinel, Set in this hallowed place, to watch and guard On forfeit of my life, these monuments From Rape, and spoiled of sacrilegious hands, And save the bodies, that without you see Of crucified offenders; that no friends May bear them hence, to honoured burial. You misname the children. For what you term affliction now, in you Is but self-humour; voluntary Penance Imposed upon your self: and you lament As did the Satire once, that ran affrighted From that horns found that he himself had winded. Which humour to abate, my counsel tending your termed affliction, What I for Physic give, you take for poison. I tell you honoured Mistress, these ingredients Are wholesome, though perhaps they seem untoothsome. Dear Ghost be wise, and pity your fair self Thus, by your self unnaturally afflicted: Chide back, heart-breaking groans, clear up those lamps, Restore them to their first creation: Windows for light; not sluices made for tears. Beat not the senseless air with needless cries, Baneful to life, and bootless to the dead. This is the Inn, where all Deucalion's raze Sooner or later, must take up their lodging; No privilege can free us from this prison; No tears, no prayers, can redeem from hence A captived soul; Make use of what you see: Let this affrighting spectacle of death Teach you to nourish life. Well said; eat, and protest, or I'll protest And do thou eat; thou eatest against thy will, That's it thou wouldst say. And under such a protestation Thou lost' thy Maidenhead. For your own sake good Lady forget this husband, Come you are now become a happy Widow, A blessedness that many would be glad of. That and your husbands Inventory together, Will raise you up husbands enough. What think you of me? Well, I have done. And well done frailty; proface, how likest thou it. There 'tis, carouse. Hold pledge me now. Do so, take it. 'Tis well done; do me right. Marry have I wench; A woman's Pothecary. This will do well anon. Well said wench, oil it well; 'twill make it slide well. This wench is learned; And what sales he? Right; and adds further, that you women are a kind of spinners; if their legs be plucked off, yet still they'le wag them; so will you your tongues. With what and easy change does this same weakness Of women, slip from one extreme to another? All these attractions take no hold of her; No not to take refection; IT must not be thus. Well said wench; Tickle that Helicon. But shall we quit the field with this disgrace Given to our Oratory? Both not gain So much ground of her as to make her eat? Come, let me kiss thee wench; wilt undertake To make thy Mistress eat? Well said: the morning hasts; next night expect me. Very good. Exiturus. What else; shalt have enough: Oh Cynthia, heir of her bright purity, Whose name thou dost inherit; Thou disdainest (Severed from all concretion) to feed Upon the base food of gross Elements. Thou all art soul; All immortality. Thou fasts for Nectar and Ambrosia, Which till thou findest, and eatest above the stars, To all food here thou biddest celestial wars. Exit. What's here? The maid hath certainly prevailed with her; me thinks those clouds that last night covered her looks are now dispersed: I'll try this further. Save you Lady. With all my heart sweet heart; by your patience La die; why this bears some shape of life yet. Damosel, th'ast performed a service of high reckoning, which cannot perish unrewarded. A wholesome poison it is Lady, if I may be judge; of which sort here is one better bottle more. Wine is ordained to raise such hearts as sink, Whom woeful stars distemper; let him drink. I am most glad I have been some mean to this partly of your recovery, and will drink to the rest of it. Wine is ordained to raise such hearts as sink, Whom woeful stars distemper; let him drink. Good sooth Lady you're honoured in her service; I would have you live, and she would have you live freely; without which life is but death. To live freely is to feast our appetites freely; without which humans are stones; to the satisfaction whereof I drink Lady. Oh happy stars. And now pardon Lady; me thinks these are all of a piece. The world! should one so rare as your self, respect the vulgar world? What of the vulgar? Who hates not the vulgar, de serves not love of the virtuous. And to affect praise of that we despise, how ridiculous it is? 'Tis late; I must away. Tempt not my stay, 'tis dangerous. The law is strict, and not to be dispensed with. If any Sentinel be too late in's watch, or that by his neglect one of the crucified bo die should be stolen from the cross, his life buys it. What? shall we ever dwell here amongst the Antipodes? Shall I not enjoy the honour of my fortune in public? fit in Lysander's chair? Reign in his wealth? Mark that again. Out vpon't, Opinion the blind Goddess of Fools, Foe to the virtuous; and only friend to undeserving persons, con temne it. Thou knowest thou hast done virtuously; thou hast strangely sorrowed for thy husband, followed him to death; fur there thou couldst not, thou hast buried thy self quick. (Oh that 'twere true) spent more tears over his carcase, then would serve a whole City of saddest widows in a plague time; beside sighings, and swoonings, not to be credited. Right, Opinion and Fashion. Sfoot what call you time? to hast wept these four whole days. Look you there; never upon five whole days. Hell be thy home, Huge Monsters damn ye, and your whole creation, Oh ye Gods; in the height of her mourning in a Tomb, within sighed of so many death's! her husbands be leeu'd body in her eye. He dead, a few days before; this mir rour of Nuptial chastity; this Votress of widdow-constan cy: to change her faith; exchange kisses, embraces, with a stranger; and but my shame withstood, to give the utmost earnest of her love, to and eight-penny Sentinel: in effect, to prostitute her self upon her husbands Coffin! Lust, impiety, hell, womanhood it self, add if you can one step to this. Enough. (slincks away.) Pray thee disturb me not; put out the lights. No. I am sought for. A crucified body is stolen while I loi ter'd here; and I must die for't, (Damnation) I believe thee. It is, revenge it heaven. Canero. What? thy husbands body? Oh heart hold in, check thy rebellious motion. I can not doo't; my heart will not permit My hands to execute a second murder. The truth is I am he that slew thy husband. It was this hand that bathed my reeking sword In his life blood, while he cried out for mercy, But I remorseless, panch't him, cut his throat, He with his last breath crying, Cynthia. Out upon the Monster. Go, tell the Governor; Let me be brought To die for that most famous villainy; Not for this miching base transgression Of tenant negligence. Oh I am infinitely obliged. Would? thy husbands body? Hang't up you say, in steed of that that's stolen; Yet I his murderer, is that your meaning? Thy love amazes me, The point is yet how we shall get it thither, Would? Tie a halter about's neck, and drag him to the Gall lowes: shall I my love? All the infernal plagues dwell in thy soul; I'll fetch a crow of iron to break the coffin. As I wish thy damnation. Shut the Tomb. Oh I could tear my self into Atomes; off with this Antic, the shirt that Hercules wore for his wife, was not more bane full. Is't possible there should be such a latitude in the Sphere of this sex, to entertain such and extension of mischief, and not turn Devil. What is a woman? what are the worst when the best are so passed naming? As men Like this let them try their wives again. Put women to the test; discover them; paint them, paint them ten parts more then they do themselves, ra there then look on them as they are; Their wits are but pain ted that dislike their painting. Thou foolish thirster after idle secrets, And ill's abroad; look home, and store & choke thee; There sticks and Achelons horn of all, Copy enough. As much as Alizon of streams receives, Or lofty Ilea shows of shady leaves. Enter Tharsalio. Who's that? My brother's voice; what makes he here about so un timely? I'll slip him. Exiturus. A friend. Not long, some two hours before night. Yes, yes. I have herd all. How is that assured? Are you sure there came no Soldier to her nor brought her victuals? Why some Soldier of the watch, that attends the exe cut bodies: well brother I am in hast; to morrow shall sup ply this nights defect of conference; Adieu. Exit. Lys. I, so I have, most prodigiously constant, Here's a rare halter to hug him with. You can tell best that loaded it. Hast thou prepared weak nature to digest A sighed so much distasteful; hastser'd thy heart I bleed not at the bloody spectacle? Hast armed thy fearful eyes against th'affront Of such a direful object? Thy murdered husband ghastly staring on thee; His wounds gaping to affright thee; his body soiled with Gore? before heaven my heart shrugs at it. Oh most valiant love! I was thinking with my self as I came; how if this Brake to light; his body known; (As many notes might make it) would it not fix Upon thy fame, and unremoved Brand Of shame, and hate; they that in former times Adored thy virtue; would they not abhor Thy Loathest memory? Neither fear nor shame? you are steel toth' Proof (but I shall iron you): Come then lets to work. Alas poor Corpse how many martyrdoms Must thou endure? mangled by me a villain, And now exposed to foul shame of the Gibbet? Before, piety, there is somewhat in me strives Against the deed, my very arm relents To strike a stroke so inhumane, To wound a hallowed hearse? suppose it mine, Would not my Ghost start up and fly upon thee? How now? He catches at her throat. And I look on? give me the iron. Pray thee sweet, let it not be said the savage act was thine; deliver me the engine. Wilt thou first? art not thou the most. Would? cross-capers? What have I done? Oh let me lie and grieve, and speak no more. Pray thee soldier use thine office with better tem per. Oh brother, this jealous frenzy has born me head long to ruin. Irrevocably. But brother for the bestowing of this hearse in the monument of our Family, and the marshalling of a Fu nerall. Say that with abstinence you should unloose the knot of life: Suppose that in this Tomb for your deer Spouse, you should entomb your self a living Corpse; Say that be before your hour without endue Summons from the Fates, you send your hasty soul to hell: can your deer Spouse take notice of your faith and constancy? Shall your deer Spouse revive to give you thanks? No, your moans are idle. Go to I say, be counsail'd; raise your self: Enjoy the fruits of life, there's viands for you, Now, live for a better husband. No? will you none? I have herd all related since my arrival, weel meet to morrow.