Enter a Servant. *Serv. Oh, sir, the duke Medina!Leon. What of the duke Medina? Serv. Oh, sweet gentleman, is almost slain. Marg. Away, away, and help him, all the house help. [Exit Servant. Leon. How, slain? why Margarita, Why, wife! sure some new device they have on foot again, Some trick upon my credit; I shall meet it. Enter Duke, Margarita, SancHIO, ALONZO, Marg. How came ye hurt, sir? My cause was nought, for 'twas about your honour: Leon. Help, gentlemen, to carry him; Duke. I thank ye, noble sir, Leon. To bed with him, and, wife, give your at If you have more hurt dukes or gentlemen, Thy spirits purg'd, for those are they that fire ye; Marg. I have lost myself, sir, And all that was my base self, disobedience. [Kneels. My wantonness, my stubbornness I have lost too, And now by that pure faith good wives are crown'd with, By your own nobleness Enter ALTEA. Leon. I take ye up, and wear ye next my heart See you be worth it:-Now what with you? Alt. I come to tell my lady, There is a fulsome fellow would fain speak with her. Leon. 'Tis Cacafogo, go and entertain him, And draw him on with hopes. Marg. I shall observe ye. Leon. I have a rare design upon that gentleman, And you must work too- Alt. I shall, sir, most willingly. Leon. Away then both, and keep him close in some place From the duke's sight; and keep the duke in too : Make 'em believe both, I'll find time to cure 'em. [Exeunt. Enter PEREZ, and ESTIFANIA, with a Pistol and a Dagger. Per. Why how dar'st thou meet me again, thou rebel, And know'st how thou hast used me thrice, thou rascal? Were there not ways enough to fly my vengeance, 1 How like a sheep-biting rogue taken i'th' manner, Nor ever a string to lead thee to Elysium? Estif. I know you have mercy. Per. If I had tons of mercy thou deserv'st none. What new trick is now a-foot, and what new houses Have you i' th' air, what orchards in apparition? What canst thou say for thy life? Estif. Little or nothing. I know you'll kill me, and I know 'tis useless Per. Do, a very little, For I have farther business than thy killing. I have money yet to borrow; speak when you are ready. [Shews a pistol. Estif. Now, now sir, now Do you swear, great captain, have you seen a spirit? · Per. Do you wear guns?— Estif. I am a soldier's wife, sir, And by that privilege I may be arm'd. I'll put you to your best. Marg. Secure yourself, sir; give me the candle, Pass away in silence. [Exeunt LEON and ALTEA [She knocks. Duke. Who's there? Oh, oh. Duke. [Within.] Have yé brought me comfort Come forth, 'tis F; come gently out, I'll help ye. Come softly too; how do you? Duke. Are there none here? Let me look round; we cannot be too wary. [Noise below. Oh, let me bless this hour! are you alone, sweet friend? Marg. Alone to comfort you. [CAGA, makes a noisé below. Duke. What's that you tumble? I have heard a noise this half hour under me, Marg. The fat thing's mad i' th' cellar, out. What do you fear? come, sit down by me chearfully; My husband's safe; how do your wounds? Now what's the news, and let's discourse more My wounds I counterfeited cunningly, friendly, And talk of our affairs in peace. Per. Let me see, Prithee let me see thy gun, 'tis a very pretty one. Per. Hold ye, villain! what, thine own husband? Be in's own wits: there, there's a thousand ducats. Estif. When will you redeem your jewels? I You see for what; we must keep touch. And get as many more; I'll make thee famous. Estif. Come along with me; If that be vanished, there be more to hire, sir. Per. I see I am an ass when thou art near me. [Exeunt. Enter LEON, MARGARITA, and ALTEA, with a Alt. Yes, and i' th' cellar fast, And there he stays his good hour till I call him; He will make dainty music among the sack-butts. I have put him just, sir, under the duke's chamber. Leon. It is the better. Alt. Has given me royally, And to my lady a whole load of portigues. [Noise below. And feigned the quarrel too, to enjoy you, sweet; Let's lose no time. Hark, the same noise again. Marg. What noise? why look ye pale? I hear no stirring. This goblin in the vault will be so tippled ! You are not well, I know by your flying fancy; Your body's ill at ease; your wounds Duke. I have none; I am as lusty and as full of health, High in my blood !— Marg. Weak in your blood, you would say; How wretched is my case, willing to please ye, And find you so disabled! Duke. Believe me, lady. Marg. I know you will venture all you have Your life, I know; but is it fit I spoil ye? Cac. [Below.] Here's to the duke. I heard it plainly sound. Marg. You are hurt mortally, And fitter for your prayers, sir, than pleasure. What starts you make! I would not kiss you wantonly Forthe world's wealth: have I secured my husband, Cac. [Below.] I come, I come. Marg. And bless us both, for sure this is the Leon. Better and better still. Go, Margarita, I plainly heard it now; he will come to fetch ye; Now play your prize; you say you dare be honest, | A very spirit, for he spoke under ground, VOL. III. I And spoke to you just as you would have snatcht | And leave your youth, your honour, and your O' that condition I had leapt a window. Marg. And that's the least leap, if you mean to 'scape, sir.. Why what a frantic man were you to come here, What a weak man to counterfeit deep wounds, To wound another deeper? Duke. Are you honest then? Murg. Yes, then, and now, and ever, and excellent honest, And exercise this pastime but to shew ye, Great men are fools sometimes as well as wretches. Would you were well hurt, with any hope of life, Cut to the brains, or run clean through the body, To get out quietly as you got in, sir. I wish it like a friend that loves you dearly; For if my husband take ye, and take ye thus a counterfeit, One that would clip his credit out of his honour, There is no mercy, nor an hour of pity; Duke. Would I were off fair! If ever lady caught me in a trap more- You say you love me; come, come, bravely now, Betray it in mine own house, wrong my husband, Like a night-thief, thou dar'st not name by daylight? Duke. I am most miserable. Marg. You are indeed, And, like a foolish thing, you have made yourself so; Could not your own discretion tell ye, sir, Your spells nor power can never reach my body; Mark me but this, and then, sir, be most miserable; 'Tis sacrilege to violate a wedlock; You rob two temples, make yourself twice guilty, You ruin hers, and spot her noble husband's. Duke. Let me begone; I'll never more attempt ye. Marg. You cannot go, 'tis not in me to save ye; Dare ye do ill, and poorly then shrink under it? Were I the duke Medina, I would fight now, For you must fight, and bravely, it concerns you. You do me double wrong if you sneak off, sir, And all the world would say I loved a coward; And you must die too, for you will be killed, never prosper. Leon. Who's this? the devil in the vault? Alt. 'Tis he, sir, and as lovingly drunk as though he had studied it. Cac. Give me a cup of sack, and kiss me, lady; Kiss my sweet face, and make thy husband cuckold; An ocean of sweet sack; shall we speak treason? Leon. He is devilish drunk. Duke. I had thought he had been a devil, He made as many noises, and as horrible. Leon. Oh, a true lover, sir, will lament loudly. Which of the butts is your mistress? Cac. Butt in thy belly. Leon. There's two in thine, I'm sure, 'tis grown so monstrous. Caca. Butt in thy face. Leon. Go carry him to sleep; A fool's love should be drunk; he has paid well for't too. When he is sober, let him out to rail, Enter PEREZ and ESTIFANIA. Per. Good sir, 'tis very good; would I had a house too, ye, For there is no talking in the open air; See it but once more. But I shall cry for anger. Leon. I must laugh a little; And now I have done, coz, thou shalt live with me, My merry coz, the world shall not divorce us; Thou art a valiant man, and thou shalt never want; Will this content thee? Per. I'll cry, and then I'll be thankful, Ef. If I prove otherwise, let me beg first. Hold, this is yours, some recompence for service; Use it to nobler ends than he that gave it. Alt. And I must needs attend my mistress. Alt. Yes indeed, good brother; Marg. Is she your sister? Leon. Yes indeed, good wife, And my best sister; For she proved so, wench, When she deceived you with a loving husband, But it must be lovingly, and like a sister; Wear 'em before the bullet, and in blood too; We are Virtue's servants. Duke. And all the world shall know, a noble mind Duke. And this is yours, your true commis- Makes women beautiful, and envy blind. sion, sir; [Exeunt, EPILOGUE. Good night, our worthy friends, and may you part Each with as merry and as free a heart And give a blessing to our labouring ends, Enter PETER and ANTHONY, two serving Men. Pet. WOULD we were remov'd from this town, Anthony, That we might taste some quiet; for mine own part, I'm almost melted with continual trotting Of who knows whom or where. Serve wenching soldiers! I'll serve a priest in Lent first, and eat bell-ropes. Tell me but this; to what end came we hither? Pet. Shew your uses, Anthony. Not any thing, I take it, nor that thing Answer me that; resolve me there, good Anthony. To find; or, if found, how to enjoy? Are men's Ant. To serve their uses. brains |