Enter Gentille and Casta. Gent. He's here still.-How is't, noble lord? Methinks, sir, You look a little wildly?-Is it that way? Is't her you stare on so? I've spied your fire, sir, But dare not stay the flaming: come! Lav. Sweet creature, Excellent beauty, do me but the happiness Of such fair chronicles as great ones are, Daily instructing us that live below you, Lav. I cannot answer; Sh' has struck me dumb with wonder. [Exeunt. Lav. She's gone, and with her all light, and has left me Dark as my black desires. Oh, devil lust, How dost thou hug my blood, and whisper to me, There is no day again, no time, no living, Enter Maria. My eating, and my sleeping, but her beauty, And how to work it. Maria. Health to my lord Lavall!—Nay, good sir, do not turn with such displeasure! I come not to afflict your new-born pleasures. My honour'd mistress-Neither let that vex you, For nothing is intended, but safe to you. Lav. What of your mistress? I am full of business. Maria. I will be short, my lord. She, loving Considering the unequal tie between ye, In recompense of which, this is her suit, sir, When weary nights have cloy'd you up with kisses, (As such must come) the honour of a mistress, The honour but to let her see those eyes, (Those eyes she dotes on, more than gods on goodness) And but to kiss you only; with this prayer, (A prayer only to awake your pity) And on her knees she made it, that this night You'll bless her with your company at supper. Lav. I like this well; and, now I think on't better, I'll make a present use from this occasionMaria. Nay, good my lord, be not so cruel to her, Because she has been yours! Lav. And to mine own end A rare way I will work. Maria. Can love for ever, The love of her, my lord, so perish in you?As you desire in your desires to prosper! What gallaut under Heav'n, but Anjou's heir, then Can brag so fair a wife, and sweet a mistress? Good, noble lord! Lav. You misapply me, Mary; Nor do I want true pity to your lady: Pity and love tell me, too much I've wrong'd her To dare to see her more: yet if her sweetness Can entertain a mediation, (And it must be a great one that can cure me) My love again, as far as honour bids me, My service, and myself Maria. That's nobly spoken! [know her; Lav. Shall hourly see her; want shall never Nor where she has bestow'd her love, repent Maria. Now whither drives he? [ner. Lav. I have heard, Maria, That no two women in the world more lov'd, Than thy good mistress and Gentille's fair daughter. [heard a truth, my lord; Maria. What may this mean?--You've But since the secret love betwixt you two, My mistress durst not entertain such friendship: Casta is quick, and of a piercing judgment, And quickly will find out a flaw. Lav. Hold, Mary: [banquet, Shrink not; 'tis good gold, wench: prepare a And get that Casta thither; for she's a creature So full of forcible divine persuasion, Maria. I'll do my best, sir: But she's too fearful, coy, and scrupulous, To leave her father's house so late; and bashful At any man's appearance, that, I fear, sir, Twill prove impossible. Lav. There's more gold, Mary; And fain thy mistress wondrous sick, to death, wench! Per. Yes; by much force he got it, But none else knew; upon his promise too, And honour, to conceal it faithfully 'Till my return: to further which, he told me, My business being ended, from the duke Ile would procure a pension for my service, Able to make my inistress a fit husband. Maria. But are you sure of this? Per. Sure as my sight, wench. Maria. Then is your lord a base dissembling villain, A devil lord, the damn'd lord of all lewdness, And has betray'd you, and undone my mistress, My poor sweet mistress (ob, that lecher lord!) Who, poor soul, since was married! Per. To whom, Maria? [him! Maria. To that unlucky lord, a plague upon Whose hot horse-appetite being allay'd once With her chaste joys, married again (scarce cool'd, The torches yet not out the yellow Hymen Lighted about the bed, the songs yet sounding) Marine's young noble daughter Hellena, Whose mischief stands at door next. Oh, that recreant! Fer. Ob, villain! oh, most unmanly falshood! Nay, then, I see my letters were betray'd too. Oh, I am full of this, great with his mischiefs, Loaden and burst! Come, lead me to my lady. Maria. I cannot, sir; Lavall keeps her conceal'd: her: [man. Besides, her griefs are such, she will see no Per. I must, and will go to her; I will see [furthest! There be my friend, or this shall be thy Maria. Hold, and I'll help thee! But first you shall swear to me, As you are true and gentle, as you hate This beastly and base lord, where I shall place you, [you, (Which shall be within sight) 'till I discharge Whate'er you see or hear, to make no motion. Per. I do, by Heaven! Maria. Stay here about the house then, 'Till it be later; yet, the time's not perfect: There at the back-door I'll attend you truly. Per. Oh, monstrous, monstrous, beastly villain! [Exit. Maria. How cross this falls, and from all expectation! [knows: And what the end shall be, Heav'n only yet Only I wish, and hope. But I forget still; Casta must be the bait, or all miscarries. Yet, I thank Heav'n, I find no such great He must away; the duke and his fair lady, He will not go to bed, 'till by Lavall I dare not do it: I beseech your pardon. Gent. Are you sure he is there? Shal. Yes, very sure. Gent. Then I am sure, I will: Open, or I must force. [it. Shal. Pray you stay! he is not, As good a neighbour, tho' I say it, and as Shal. 'Tis a good hearing, sir. Gent. But for your lie, Shalloone, [ing; Shul. A fair good night, sir! [Exit. Enter Gabriella, Casta,and Maria with a taper. Casta. 'Faith, friend, I was even going-to my bed, When your maid told me of your sudden sickness: But from my grave (so truly I love you) I think your name would raise me. You look ill [lour; Since last I saw you, much decay'd in co [rage, As your maid frighted me withall: take couAnd give your sickness course! Some grief you have got sweetness. That feeds within upon your tender spirits, Casta. Out with it, i'God's name! that knocks there? Casta. How came he here? Heav'n bless Gab. Sit still, and be not fearful. Custa. I am betray'd! [1 come, Lav. Nay, start not, lady! 'tis for you that And for your beauty: 'tis for you, Lavall Honours this night; to you the sacred shrine I humbly bow, offering my vows and prayers; To you I live. Gab. In with the powder quickly! Of the most beauteous and divine fair Casta, R. 36 Sir Pandarus.] See Troilus and Cressida. I will unlock, wench, as Mr. Sympson would read, and at first sight the same change occurred to me, but the old reading is certainly sense, and a stronger sense, viz. That she would lock up all her secrets in Casta's breast, which she must lay her hand on or point to while she speaks. Seward. 33 Under this glorious beast-insulting man.] This compound word must be strained very much, to force into any meaning that will suit the context. Mr. Sympson therefore agrees with me in supposing it corrupt. I had read, Under this glorious beast; insulting man, but his conjecture, though not quite so near the trace of letters, makes better sense, and I therefore prefer it, Under this glorious base insulting man. Seward. He is called beast more than once before: base comes in but poorly here. Gab. Gab. Fear him not; I'll die first.And who shall pledge you? Lav. Thou shalt, thou tann'd gipsey! And worship to that brightness give, cold Tartar![inistress, By Heaven, you shall not stir! You are my The glory of my love, the great adventure, The mistress of my heart, and she my whore! Gab. Thou liest, base, beastly lord! drunker than anger, [basely! Thou sous'd lord, got by a surfeit, thou liest Nay, stir not! I dare tell thee so.--Sit you still. If I be whore, it is in marrying thee, Almost those very words, my constancy? What goddess have I not been, or what goodness? What star, that is of any name in Heaven, Or brightness? Which of all the virtues (But drunkenness, and drabbing, thy two morals) [sweeter? Have not I reach'd to? what spring was ever What Scythian snow so white? what crystal chaster? [Hang thee, Is not thy new wife now the same too? Base bigamist, thou honour of ill women39! Casta. How's this? Oh, Heav'n defend me! Gab. Thou salt-itch, For whom no cure but ever-burning brimstone Can be imagin'd! Lav. Ha, ha, ha! Gab. Dost thou laugh, thou breaker Of all law, all religion? of all faith Thou foul contemner! Lav. Peace, thou paltry woman And sit by me, sweet. Gab. By the devil? Lav. Come, And lull me with delights. Gab. It works amain now. [shadows Lav. Give me such kisses as the queen of Gave to the sleeping boy she stole at Latmos; Lock round about, in snaky wreaths closefolded, Those rosy arms about my neck, oh, Venus! Gab. Fear not, I sav. Lav. Thou admirable sweetness, Distil thy blessings like those silver drops, That, falling on fair grounds, rise all in roses; Shoot me a thousand darts from those fair eyes, [stand 'em ; And thro' my heart transfix 'em all, I'll Send me a thousand smiles, and presently Ill catch 'em in mine eyes, and by Love's power 39 Base bigamist, thou honour of ill women.] Thou horror of all women: Turn 'em to Cupids all, and fling 'em on thee. How high she looks, and heav'nly !-More wine for me! [be not fearful! Gab. Give him more wine; and, good friend, Luv. Here on my knee, thou goddess of delights, This lusty grape I offer to thy beauties: So let me take fair Semele in the other, Casta. Oh! [nectar, [He falls down and sleeps. Maria. So; now he is safe awhile. Gab. Lock all the doors, wench; Then for my wrongs! Per. Now I'll appear to know all. Gab. Be quick, quick, good Maria, sure and sudden. Per. Stay! I must in first. Gab. Oh, my conscience! It is young Perolot: oh, my stung conscience! It is my first and noblest love. Maria. Leave wondering, And recollect yourself: the man is living; Equally wrong'd as you, and by that devil. Per. 'Tis most true, lady; your unhappy fortune I grieve for as for mine own; your fault forgive too, ears If it be one. This is no time for kisses: But HONOUR of ILL women may mean a man in request with prostitutes: so he is afterwards called SALT-itch, &c. and immediately before, Base bigamist. 4° Look round about, &c.] So all copies but first folio. VOL. III. 4 H Gab. Enter Spirit. Lav. What have I done? Spirit. That that has mark'd thy soul, man. Lav. And art thou come again, thou dismal Spirit? Spirit. Yes, to devour thy last. Spirit. Thy hour is come: succession, honour, pleasure, And all the lustre thou so long hast look'd for, Must here have end: summon thy sins before thee. Lav. Oh, my affrighted soul! Thy own best servant by thy own hand slain: Lav. Oh, my misery! Oh, whither shall I fly? Spirit. Thou hast no faith, fool. Hark to thy knell! [Sings, and vanishes. Lav. Millions of sins muster about mine eyes now; [Horror, Murders, ambitions, lust, false faiths: Oh, In what a stormy form of death thou rid'st now! Methinks I see all tortures, fires, and frosts, Deep-sinking caves, where nothing but despair dwells, The baleful birds of night hovering about 'em; Maria. Cease these laments! [lives yet. They are too poor for vengeance: Lavall Gab. Then thus I dry all sorrows from these eyes; [devil! Fury and rage possess 'em now! Damn'd Lav. Ha! Gab. This for young Perolot! Lav. But one short hour to cure me! Oh, be not cruel : Oh! oh! Maria. Hark, they knock! [Knock within. Make haste, for Heav'n's sake, mistress! Gab. This for Casta! Lav. Oh, oh, oh, oh! [He dies. Maria. He's dead; come, quickly! let's away with him, 'Twill be too late else. Gab. Help, help, up to the chamber! Enter Duke, Hellena, Gentille, Casta, and Duke. What frights are these? Gent. I'm sure here's one past frighting. Bring the lights nearer: I've enough already. Out, out, mine eyes! Look, Casta. Lord. Tis young Perolot! [tlewoman! Duke. When came he over? Hold the gen She sinks; and bear her off. Casta. Oh, my dear brother! [Exit. Gent. There is a time for all; for me, I And very shortly. Murder'd? [hope too, [Gabriella, Maria, with Lavall's body, above. 41 Take him dead-drunk, &c.] This horrid sentiment seems to have been adopted from a similar one in Hamlet; where that prince, debating on the purposed death of the King, says, When he is drunk, asleep, or in his rage; 'Or in the incestuous pleasures of his bed, "That has no relish of salvation in't: Then trip him, that his heels may kick at Heaven; R. Duke. |