Why well I warrant you: did you not mark how humbly she carried her self to us on her marriage day, acknowledging her own unworthiness, and that she would be our servant.

Dor.

But mark what's done.

Nis.

Regard not shew.

Age.

O God! I knew her when I have been off'red her to be brought to my bed for five : whether it could have been perform'd or no, I know not.

Nis.

Her Daughters a pretty Lady.

Dor.

Yes: and having had but mean bringing up, it talks the pretilest and innocentliest, the Queen will be so angry to hear her betray her breeding by her language: but I am perswaded she's well dispos'd.

Agenor.

I think better than her Mother.

Nis.

Come, we stay too long.

[Exeunt.

Enter Leucippus, and Ismenus

Isme.

How now man, strook dead with a tale?

Leu.

No, but with a truth.

Isme.

Stand your self: can you endure blows, and shrink at words?

Leu.

Thou knowst I have told thee all.

Isme.

But that all's nothing to make you thus: your Sisters dead.

Leu.

That's much, but not the most.

Isme.

Why, for the other let her marry and hang, 'tis no purpos'd fault of yours: and if your Father will needs have your cast Whore, you shall shew the duty of a child better in being contented, and bidding much good doe his good old heart with her, than in repining thus at it; let her go: what, there are more wenches man, we'll have another.

Leu.

O thou art vain, thou knowst I doe not love her:

What shall I doe? I would my tongue had led me

To any other thing, but blasphemy,

So I had mist commending of this woman,

Whom I must reverence now: she is my Mother,

My sin

Ismenus

has wrought all this ill:

And I beseech thee, to be warn'd by me,

And doe not lye, if any man should aske thee

But

How thou dost

, or

What a clock 'tis now

Be sure thou doe not lye, make no excuse

For him that is most near thee: never let

The most officious falsehood scape thy tongue,

For they above (that are intirely truth)

Will make that seed, which thou hast sown

Of lyes, yield miseries a thousand fold

Upon thine head, as they have done on mine.

Enter Timantus

Tim.

Sir, your Highness is welcome home, the

Duke

and

Queen

will presently come forth to you.

Leu.

I'll wait on them.

Tima.

Worthy

Ismenus

, I pray you, have you sped in your wars?

Isme.

This Rogue mocks me. Well

Timantus

, Pray how have you sped here at at shovelboord?

Tim.

Faith reasonable. How many Towns have you taken in this Summer?

Isme.

How many Stags have you been at the death of this grass?

Tima.

A number: 'Pray how is the Province settled?

Isme.

Prethee how does the dun Nag?

Tim.

I think you mock me my Lord.

Isme.

Mock thee? Yes by my troth doe I: why what wouldst thou have me doe with thee? Art good for any thing else?

Enter Leontius, Bacha, Dorialus, Agenor, Nisus, Telamon

Leu.

My good

Ismenus

, hold me by the wrist:

And if thou see'st me fainting, wring me hard,

For I shall swoon again else. —

[Kneels.

Leon.

Welcome my son; rise, I did send for thee

Back from the province, by thy Mothers counsell,

Thy good Mother here, who loves thee well:

She would not let me venture all my joy

Amongst my enemies: I thank thee for her,

And none but thee, I took her on thy word.

Leucip.

Pinch harder.

Leon.

And she shall bid thee welcome: I have now

Some near affairs, but I will drink a Health

To thee anon: Come

Telamon

, grown

Lustier, I thank thee for't, since I marryed;

I can stand now alone, why

Telamon

And never stagger.

[Exit Leontius, Telamon.

Bac.

Welcome most noble Sir, whose fame is come

Hither before you: out alas you scorn me,

And teach me what to doe.

Leu.

No, you are my Mother.

Bacha.

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 rais'd

Unto his bed, and will remain the servant

Of you that did it.

Leu.

Madam I will serve you

As shall become me. O dissembling woman!

Whom I must reverence though. Take from thy

Quiver, sure-aim'd

Apollo

; one of thy swift darts,

Headed with thy consuming golden beams,

And let it melt this body into mist,

That none may find it.

Bac.

Shall I beg my Lords

This Room in private for the

Prince

and me?

[Exeunt all but Leu. and Bach.

Leu.

What will she say now?

Bach.

I must still enjoy him:

Yet there is still left in me a spark of woman,

That wishes he ould 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.

Leu.

Madam 'tis true, Heaven pardon it.

Bach.

Amen Sir.

You may think that I have done you wrong in this strange marriage.

Leu.

'Tis past now.

Bach.

But it was no fault of mine:

The world had call'd me mad, had I refus'd

The King: nor layd I any train to catch him,

It was your own Oaths did it.

Leu.

'Tis a truth: that takes my sleep away, but

Would to Heaven, if it had so been pleas'd, you had

Refus'd him, though I had gratifi'd that courtesie

With having you my self: But since 'tis thus,

I doe beseech you that you will be honest

From henceforth; and not abuse his credulous Age,

Which you may easily doe. As for my self

What I can say, you know alas too well

Is ty'd within me, here it will sit like lead,

But shall offend no other, it will pluck me

Back from my ent'rance into any mirth,

As if a servant came, and whisper'd with me

Of some friends death, but I will bear my self,

To you, with all the due obedience

A son owes to a Mother: more than this,

Is not in me, but I must leave the rest to the

Just gods: who in their blessed time,

When they have given me punishment enough,

For my rash Sin, will mercifully find

As unexpected means to ease my grief

As they did now to bring it.

Bac.

Grown so godly? this must not be.

And I will be to you, no other than a natural Mother ought;

And for my honesty, so you will swear

Never to urge me, I shall keep it safe from any other.

Leu.

Bless me I should urge you?

Bacha.

Nay but swear then that I may be at peace,

For I doe feel a weakness in my self,

That can denie you nothing, if you tempt me,

I shall embrace Sin as it were a friend, and run to meet it.

Leu.

If you knew how far

It were from me, you would not urge an Oath.

But for your satisfaction, when I tempt you.

Bac.

Swear not: I cannot move him, this sad talk

Of things past help, does not become us well.

Shall I send one for my

Musicians

, and we'll dance?

Leu.

Dance Madam?

Bac.

Yes,

Alavalta

Leu.

I cannot dance Madam.

Bac.

Then lets be merry.

Leu.

I am as my

Fortunes

bid me.

Do not you see me sowr?

Bac.

Yes.

And why think you I smile?

Leu.

I am so far from any joy my self,

I cannot fancie a cause of mirth.

Bac.

I'll tell you, we are alone:

Leu.

Alone?

Bac.

Yes.

Leu.

'Tis true: what then?

Bac.

What then? you make my smiling now

Break into laughter: what think you is to be done then?

Leu.

We shou'd pray to Heaven for mercy.

Bacha.

Pray? that were a way indeed

To pass the time: but I will make you blush,

To see a bashfull woman teach a man

What we should doe alone: try again

If you can find it out.

Leu.

I dare not think I understand you.

Bac.

I must teach you then; Come, kiss me.

Leu.

Kiss you?

Bac.

Yes, be not asham'd:

You did it not your self, I will forgive you.

Leuc.

Keep you displeas'd gods, the due respect

I ought to bear unto this wicked woman,

As she is now my Mother, Haste within me,

Lest I add sins to sins, till no repentance will cure me.

Bac.

Leave these melancholly moods,

That I may swear thee welcome on thy Lipps

A thousand times.

Leuc.

Pray leave this wicked talk,

You doe not know to what my Fathers wrong

May urge me.

Bac.

I'm careless, and doe weigh

The world, my life, and all my after hopes

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?

Leu.

Nothing.

Bac.

Pitty me, behold a Duchess

Kneels for thy mercie, and I swear to you

Though I should lye with you, it is no Lust,

For it desires no change, I could with you

Content my self; what answer will you give?

Leuc.

They that can answer must be less amaz'd,

Than I am now: you see my tears deliver

My meaning to you.

Bac.

Shall I be contem'd? thou art a beast, worse than a savage beast,

To let a Lady kneel, to beg that thing

Which a right man would offer.

Leu.

'Tis your will Heaven: but let me bear me like

My self, how ever she does.

Bac.

Were you made an

Eunuch

, since you went hence?

Yet they have more desire than I can find in you:

How fond was I to beg thy love! I'll 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

Kill'd and forgotten: Are you striken dumb?

Leu.

All you have nam'd but making of me sin

With you, you may command, but never that;

Say what you will, I'll hear you as becomes me,

If you speak, I will not follow your counsell,

Neither will I tell the world to your disgrace,

But give you the just honor

That is due from me to my Father's wife.

Bac.

Lord how full of wise formality you grown

Of late: but you were telling me

You could have wisht that I had marry'd you,

If you will swear so yet, I'll make away the King.

Leuc.

You are a strumpet.

Bacha.

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 undoe you only, which is no matter.

Leu.

I appeal to you still, and for ever, that are

And cannot be other, Madam, I see 'tis in your power

To work your will on him: And I desire you

To lay what trains you will for my wish'd death,

But suffer him to find his quiet grave

In peace; Alas he never did you wrong,

And farther I beseech you pardon me,

For the ill word I gave you, for how ever

You may deserve, it became not me

To call you so, but passion urges me

I know not whither: my heart break now, & ease me ever.

Bacha.

Pray you get you hence

With your goodly humor, I am weary of you extreamely:

Leu.

Trust me, so am I of my self too:

Madam, I'll take my leave; gods set all right.

Bacha.

Amen, Sir, get you gon;

Am I deny'd? it does not trouble me

That I have mov'd, but that I am refus'd:

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: and more

Enter

Timantus

Than 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

Timantus.

Madam?

Bac.

Thou know'st well

Thou wert by chance, a means of this my raising:

Brought the Duke to me, and though 'twere but chance

I must reward thee.

Tim.

I shall bend my service unto your Highness.

Bacha.

But do it then entirely, and in every thing,

And tell me, couldst thou now think that thing

Thou wouldst not do for me?

Timant.

No by my soul Madam.

Bacha.

Then thou art right.

Go to my Lodging, and I'll follow thee.

[

Exit

Timantus.

With my instruction I do see already,

This Prince that did but now contemn me, dead:

Yet will I never speak an evil word

Unto his Father of him, till I have won

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 perform'd, 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.

[Exit.

Enter

Dorialus, Agenor, Nisus

Doria.

We live to know a fine time, Gentl.

Nis.

And a fine Duke, that through his doting age

Suffers him to be a child again

Under his Wives tuition.

Agen.

All the Land holds in that tenor too: in womans

service? sure we shall learn to spinn.

Dor.

No, that's too honest: we shall have other

Liberal Sciences taught us too soon;

Lying, and flattering, those are the studies now:

And Murther shortly I know, will be humanity, Gent.

If we live here we must be knaves, believe it.

Nisus.

I cannot tell my Lord

Dorialus

, though my

Own nature hate it, if all determine to be knaves,

I'll try what I can do upon my self: that's certain,

I will not have my throat cut for my goodness,

The virtue will not quit the pain.

Age.

But pray you tell me,

Why is the

Prince

, now ripe and full experient,

Not made a dore in the State?

Nis.

Because he is honest.

Enter Timantus

Tim.

Goodness attend your Honors.

Dor.

You must not be amongst us then.

Tim.

The

Dutchess

, whose humble servant I am proud to be, would speak with you.

Age.

Sir, we are pleas'd to wait: when is it?

Tim.

An hour hence my good Lords, and so I leave my service.

Dor.

This is one of her Ferrets that she bolts business out withall: this fellow, if he were well ript, has all the linings of a knave within him: how slye he looks!

Nis.

Have we nothing about our cloaths that he may catch at?

Agenor.

O my conscience, there's no treason in my dublet, if there be, my elbows will discover it, they are out.

Dor.

Faith, and all the harm that I can find in mine is, that they are not pay'd for; let him make what he can of that, so he discharge that. Come, let's go.

[Exeunt.

Enter Bach, Leontius, Tella

Bac.

And you shall find Sir what blessing heaven gave you in such a son.

Le.

Pray

gods

, I may, Let's walk & change our subject.

Bac.

O Sir, can any thing come sweeter to you, or strike a deeper joy into your heart than your son's virtue?

Leon.

I allow his virtues: but 'tis not handsome thus to feed my self with such moderate praises of mine own.

Bac.

The subject of our comendations 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 shews him lame still, like an ill wrought peece wanting proportion.

Leo.

Yet still he is a man, and subject still to more inordinate vices, than our love can give him blessing.

Bac.

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.

Leon.

This is too much my Queen.

Bach.

Had the

gods

lov'd me; that my unworthy womb had bred this brave man.

Leon.

Still you run wrong.

Bach.

I would have liv'd upon the comfort of him; fed on his growing hopes.

Leo.

This touches me.

Bach.

I know no friends, nor Being, but his virtues.

Le.

You have laid out words enough upon a subject.

Bach.

But words cannot express him Sir: why what a shape Heaven has conceiv'd him in, oh Nature made him up!

Leon.

I wonder

Dutchess

Bach.

So you must: for less than admiration loses this godlike man.

Leon.

Have you done with him?

Bach.

Done with? O good gods what frailties thus pass by us without reverence!

Leon.

I see no such perfection.

Bac.

O dear Sir: you are a father, and those joys

To you, speak in your heart, not in your tongue.

Leo.

This leaves a tast behind it worse than physick.

Bac.

Then for all his wisdome, valour,

Good fortune, and all those friends of honor,

They are in him as free and natural, as passions

In a Woman.

Leon.

You make me blush at all these years

To see how blindly you have flung your praises

Upon a Boy, a very child, and worthless,

Whilst I live, of these Honors.

Bac.

I would not have my love Sir, make my tongue

Shew me so much a woman: as to praise

Or dispraise, where my will is, without reason,

Or generall allowance of the people.

Leon.

Allowance of the people, what allow they?

Bac.

All, I have sed for truth, and they must do it,

And doat upon him: love him, and admire him.

Leon.

How's that?

Bac.

For in this youth and noble forwardness

All things are bound together that are kingly,

A fitness to bear rule:

Leon.

No more.

Bac.

And Sovereignty not made to know command.

Leon.

I have sed, no more.

Bac.

I have done Sir, though unwilling, and pardon me.

Leon.

I do, not a word more.

Bac.

I have gi'n thee poyson

Of more infection than the Dragons tooth,

Or the gross Air o'er heated.

Leon.

Timantus

when saw you the Prince?

Tim.

I left him now Sir.

Leon.

Tell me truely, out of your free opinion without

courting. How you like him.

Tim.

How I like him?

Leon.

Yes: for you in conversation may see more

Than a Father.

Bac.

It works.

Timantus.

Your Grace has chosen out an ill observer.

Leon.

Yes, I mean of his ill: you talk rightly.

Tim.

But you take me wrong: All I know by him

I dare deliver boldly: He is the storehouse

And head of virtue; your great self excepted,

That feeds the Kingdome.

Leon.

These are flatteries: speak me his vices, there you

do a service worth a Fathers thanks.

Tim.

Sir, I cannot. If there be any, sure they are the

times which I could wish less dangerous.

But pardon me, I am too bold.

Leon.

are not, forward and open what these dangers are.

Timan.

Nay, good Sir.

Leon.

Nay, fall not off again, I will have all.

Timan.

Alas Sir, what am I, you should believe

My eyes or ears, so subtle to observe

Faults in a State: all my main business

Is service to your Grace, and necessaries

For my poor life.

Leon.

Do not displease me Sirrah,

But that you know tell me, and presently.

Timan.

Since your Grace will have it

I'll speak it freely: Alwayes my obedience

And love preserv'd unto the Prince.

Leon.

Prethee to the matter.

Tim.

For Sir, if you consider

How like a Sun in all his great employments,

How full of heat.

Leon.

Make me understand what I desire.

Tim.

And then at his return.

Leon.

Do not anger me.

Tim.

Then thus Sir: All mislike ye,

As they would do the gods, if they did dwell with 'em.

Leon.

What?

Tim.

Talke and prate, as their ignorant rages

Leads 'em without Alleageance or Religion.

For Heavens sake have a care of your own person:

I cannot tell, their wickedness may lead

Farther than I dare think yet.

Leo.

O base people.

Tim.

Yet the Prince, for whom this is pretended may

Persuade 'em, and no doubt will: virtue is ever watchfull,

But be you still secur'd and comforted.

Leon.

Heaven how have I offended, that this rod

So heavy and unnaturall, should fall upon me

When I am old and helpless.

Tim.

Brave Gentl. that such a madding love should follow

thee, to rob thee of a Father:

All the Court is full of dangerous whispers.

Leon.

I perceive it, and 'spight of all their strengths

Will make my safety: I'll cut him shorter.

I'll cut him shorter first, then let him rule.

Bach.

What a foul Age is this, when Virtue is made a

sword to smite the virtuous! Alas, alas:

Leon.

I'll teach him to fly lower.

Tim.

By no means Sir, rather, make more your love,

And hold your favor to him: for 'tis now

Impossible to yoke him, if his thoughts,

As I must ne'er believe, run with their rages,

He never was so innocent, but what reason

His Grace has to withdraw his love from me,

And other good men that are near your person,

I cannot yet find out: I know my duty

Has ever been attending.

Leon.

'Tis too plain: He means to play the villain,

I'll prevent him, not a word more of this, be private.

[Exit Leontius.

Tim.

Madam 'tis done.

Bac.

He cannot escape me. Have you spoken with the noble men?

Tim.

Yes Madam they are here: I wait a farther service.

Bac.

Till the Prince, you need no more

instructions.

Tim.

No, I have it.

[Exit Timantus.

Enter Dorialus, Nisus, Agenor

Bac.

That fool that willingly provoks a woman,

Has made himself another evill Angell,

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.

Agen.

Your good Grace may command us, and that.

Bac.

Faith my Lord

Agenor

: 'Tis so good a cause

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