The Works of Sir John Suckling in prose and verse/The Goblins
The Goblins
A Comedy.
Presented at the Private House in Black Fryers, by His Majesties servants.
WRITTEN
By Sir JOHN SUCKLING.
London,
Printed for Humphrey Moseley, and are to be sold at his shop, at the Signe of the Princes Armes in St Pauls Churchyard.
MDCXLVI.
PROLOGUE
Wit in a prologue poets justly may
Style a new imposition on a play.
When Shakespeare, Beaumont, Fletcher, rul'd the stage,
There scarce were ten good palates in the age;
More curious cooks than guests; for men would eat5
Most heartily of any kind of meat.
And then what strange variety! each play
A feast for epicures, and that each day!
But mark how oddly it is come about,
And how unluckily it now falls out:10
The palates are grown higher, number increas'd,
And there wants that which should make up the feast;
And yet y'are so unconscionable, you'd have
Forsooth of late, that which they never gave;
Banquets before, and after15
Now pox on him that first good prologue writ!
He left a kind of rent-charge upon wit;
Which if succeeding poets fail to pay,
They forfeit all their worth; and that's their play:
Y'have ladies' humours, and y'are grown to that,20
You will not like the man, 'less that his boots and hat
Be right; no play, unless the prologue be
And ep'logue writ to curiosity.
Well, gentles, 'tis the grievance of the place,
And pray consider't, for here's just the case;25
The richness of the ground is gone and spent,
Men's brains grow barren, and you raise the rent.
Dramatis Personæ
| Prince, | in love with Sabrina. | |
| Orsabrin, | brother to the Prince, yet unknown. | |
| Samorat, | belov'd of Sabrina. | |
| Philatel, | brothers to Sabrina. | |
| Torcular, | ||
| Nassurat, | Cavaliers, friends to Samorat. | |
| Pellegrin, | ||
| Tamoren, | king of the thieves, disguised in devil's habit. | |
| Peridor, | ambitious of Reginella, disguis'd in devil's habit. | |
| Stramador, | a courtier, servant to the Prince. | |
| Ardellan, | formerly servants to Orsabrin's father. | |
| Piramont, | ||
| Phontrel, | servant to Philatel. | |
| Sabrina, | beloved by Samorat. | |
| Reginella, | in love with Orsabrin. | |
| Phemilia, | Sabrina's maid. | |
Captain and Soldiers.
Two Judges.
Two Lawyers.
Two Serjeants.
Gaoler.
Constable.
Tailor.
Two Drawers.
Fiddlers.
Clowns and Wenches.
Thieves, disguised in devils' habits, living underground by the woods.
Guard. Attendants.
The Scene, Francelia.
THE GOBLINS
ACT I
Scene I
Enter as to a duel, Samorat, Philatel, Torcular
Samorat. But, my lords,
May not this harsh business yet be left undone?
Must you hate me, because I love your sister?
And can you hate at no less rate than death?
Philatel. No, at no less:5
Thou art the blaster of our fortunes;
The envious cloud that darkens all our day.
While she thus prodigally and fondly throws
Away her love on thee, she has not where
Withal to pay a debt unto the Prince.10
Samorat. Is this all?
Torcular. Faith,
What, if in short we do not think you worthy
Of her?
Samorat. I swear that shall not make a quarrel.15
I think so too;
Have urg'd it often to myself;
Against myself have sworn't as oft to her.
Pray, let this satisfy.
Philatel. Sure, Torcular, he thinks we come to talk.20
Look you, sir.[Draws
And, brother, since his friend has fail'd him,
Do you retire.
Torcular. Excuse me, Philatel;
I have an equal interest in this,
And fortune shall decide it.25
Philatel. It will not need; he's come.
Enter Orsabrin
Orsabrin. Mercury protect me! what are these?
The brothers of the highway!
Philatel. A stranger, by his habit.
Torcular. And, by his looks,30
A gentleman. Sir, will you make one?
We want a fourth.
Orsabrin. I shall be robb'd with a trick now!
Samorat. My lords, excuse me!
This is not civil: in what concerns myself,35
None but myself must suffer.
Orsabrin. A duel, by this light!
Now has his modesty and t'other's forwardness warm'd me.[Goes towards them
Gentlemen,
I wear a sword, and commonly in readiness.40
If you want one, speak, sir: I do not fear
Much suffering.[To Samorat
Samorat. Y'are noble, sir;
I know not how t' invite you to it:
Yet there is justice on my side; and since45
You please to be a witness to our actions,
'Tis fit you know our story.
Orsabrin. No story, sir, I beseech you;
The cause is good enough as 'tis: it may
Be spoil'd i' th' telling.
Philatel. Come, we trifle then.50
Samorat. It is impossible to preserve, I see,
My honour, and respect to her:
And since you know this too, my lord,
It is not handsome in you thus to press me.
But come[Torcular beckons to Orsabrin55
Orsabrin. O! I understand you, sir.[Exeunt
[Philatel and Samorat fight
Philatel. In posture still!
[Samorat receives a slight wound
O, y'are mortal then, it seems.
Samorat. Thou hast undone thyself, rash man;
For with this blood thou hast let out a spirit60
Will vex thee to thy grave.
Samorat. I'm cool again.
Here, my lord,
And let this present bind your friendship.
Philatel. Yes, thus[Runs at him65
Samorat. Treacherous and low! Re-enter Orsabrin
Orsabrin. I have drill'd my gentleman. I have made as many
Holes in him as would sink a ship royal
In sight of the haven. How now?
[Samorat upon his knee
'Sfoot,70
Yonder's another going that way too:
Now have I forgot of which side I'm on!
No matter:
I'll help the weakest: there's some justice in that.
Philatel. The villain sure has slain my brother.75
If I have any friends above, guide now
My hand unto his heart!
[Orsabrin puts it by; runs at him. Samorat steps in
Samorat. Hold, noble youth; destroy me not with kindness!
Men will say he could have kill'd me; and that
In justice should not be. For honour's sake,80
Leave us together.
Orsabrin. 'Tis not my business, fighting![Puts up
Th' employment's yours, sir. If you need me,
I am within your call.[Exit
Samorat. The gods reward thee!
Now, Philatel, thy worst!85
[They fight again, and close; Samorat forces his sword
Re-enter Orsabrin
Orsabrin. Hell and the furies are broke loose upon us!
Shift for yourself, sir.
[Fly into the woods several ways, pursued by thieves in devils' habits
Re-enter Torcular, weak with bleeding
Torcular. It will not be—my body is a jade:
I feel it tire and languish under me.
Those thoughts came to my soul, like screech-owls to90
A sick man's window.
Enter Thieves back again
Thieves. Here, here!
Torcular. O, I am fetch'd away alive!
[They bind him and carry him away. Exeunt
Re-enter Orsabrin
Orsabrin. Now the good gods preserve my senses right,
For they were never in more danger!95
I' th' name of doubt, what could this be?
Sure, 'twas a conjurer I dealt withal;
And, while I thought him busy at his prayers,
'Twas at his circle, levying this regiment.
Here they are again!100
Re-enter Samorat
Samorat. Friend—Stranger—Noble youth
Orsabrin. Here, here!
Samorat. Shift, shift the place,
The wood is dangerous: as you love safety,
Follow me. [Exeunt105
Re-enter Philatel
Philatel. Th' have left the place;
And yet I cannot find the body anywhere.
Maybe, he did not kill him then,
But he recover 'd strength, and reach'd the town.
It may be not too. O, that this hour110
Could be call'd back again! But 'tis too late;
And time must cure the wound that's given by fate.[Exit
Re-enter Samorat and Orsabrin
Orsabrin. I' th' shape of lions too, sometimes, and bears?
Samorat. Often, sir.
Orsabrin. Pray, unriddle.
Samorat. The wiser sort
Do think them thieves, which but assume these forms115
To rob more powerfully.
Orsabrin. Why does not then
The state set out some forces, and suppress them?
Samorat. It often has, sir, but without success.
Orsabrin. How so?
Samorat. During the time those levies are abroad,120
Not one of them appears. There have been,
That have attempted under ground; but of those,
As of the dead, there has been no return.
Orsabrin. Strange!
Samorat. The common people think them125
A race of honest and familiar devils;
For they do hurt to none, unless resisted.
They seldom take away, but with exchange;
And to the poor they often give; return
The hurt and sick recover'd;130
Reward or punish, as they do find cause.
Orsabrin. How, cause?
Samorat. Why, sir, they blind still those they take,
And make them tell the stories of their lives;
Which known, they do accordingly.135
Orsabrin. You make me wonder, sir.
How long is't since they thus have troubled you?
Samorat. It was immediately upon
The great deciding day, fought 'twixt the two
Pretending families, the Tamorens140
And the Orsabrins.
Orsabrin. Ha! Orsabrin?
Samorat. But, sir, that story's sad and tedious:
W'are ent'ring now the town, a place less safe
Than were the woods, since Torcular is slain.145
Orsabrin. How, sir?
Samorat. Yes.
He was the brother to the Prince's mistress;
The lov'd one too.
If we do prize ourselves at any rate,150
We must embark, and change the clime: there is
No safety here.
Orsabrin. Hum!
Samorat. The little stay we make,
Must be in some dark corner of the town;155
From whence, the day hurried to th' other world.
We'll sally out, to order for our journey.
That I am forc'd to this, it grieves me not;
But, gentle youth, that you should for my sake
Orsabrin. Sir,160
Lose not a thought on that: a storm at sea
Threw me on land, and now a storm on land
Drives me to sea again.
Scene II
Enter Nassurat and Pellegrin
Nassurat. Why, suppose 'tis to a wench, you would not go with me, would you?
Pellegrin. To choose—to choose!
Nassurat. Then there's no remedy.
[Flings down his hat, unbuttons himself, draws
Pellegrin. What dost mean?
Nassurat. Why, since I cannot leave you alive,5
I will try to leave you dead.
Pellegrin. I thank you kindly, sir, very kindly. Now the
Sedgly curse upon thee, and the great fiend ride through
thee booted and spurr'd, with a scythe on his neck! Pox
on thee, I'll see thee hang'd first! 'Sfoot, you shall make10
none of your fine points of honour up at my charge! Take
your course, if you be so hot: be doing, be doing.[Exit
Nassurat. I am got free of him at last. There was no
other way: h'as been as troublesome as a woman that
would be lov'd, whether a man would or not; and has15
watch'd me, as if he had been my creditor's serjeant: if
they should have dispatch'd in the meantime, there would
be fine opinions of me. I must cut his throat in earnest,
if it should be so.[Exit
Scene III.
Enter Tamoren and Peridor, with other Thieves, and Torcular
A horn sounds
Thieves. A prize! A prize! A prize!
Peridor. Some duel, sir, was fought this morning: this,
Weaken'd with loss of blood, we took; the rest
Escap'd.
Tamoren. He's fitter for our surgeon than for us;5
Hereafter we'll examine him.[Again a shout
Thieves. A prize! A prize! A prize!
[They set them down, Ardellan, Piramont
Tamoren.
Bring them, bring them, bring them in,
See, if they have mortal sin:
Pinch them as you dance about,10
Pinch them, till the truth come out.
Peridor. What art?
Ardellan. Extremely poor and miserable.
Peridor. 'Tis well, 'tis well, proceed: nobody will
Take that away from me. Fear not. What country?
Ardellan. Francelia.
Peridor. Thy name?
Ardellan. Ardellan.
Peridor. And thine?15
Piramont. Piramont.
Peridor. Thy story?
Ardellan. What story?
Peridor. Thy life, thy life.[Pinch him
Ardellan. Hold, hold: you shall have it. [He sighs.] It was upon
The great defeat given by the Tamorens
Unto the Orsabrins, that the old prince,
For safety of the young, committed him20
Unto the trust of Garradan, and some
Few servants more, 'mongst whom I fill'd a place.
Tamoren. Ha! Garradan?
Ardellan. Yes.
Tamoren. Speak out, and set me nearer.
So, void the place [to Attend.]. Proceed.
Ardellan. We put to sea, but had scarce lost the sight25
Of land, ere we were made a prey to pirates:
There Garradan, resisting the first board,
Chang'd life with death; with him the servants too.
All but myself and Piramont.
Under these pirates ever since30
Was Orsabrin brought up;
And into several countries did they carry him.
Tamoren. Knew Orsabrin himself?
Ardellan. Oh no, his spirit was too great: we durst
Not tell him anything, but waited for35
Some accident might throw us on Francelia;
'Bout which we hover'd often, and we were near
It now; but Heaven decreed it otherwise.[He sighs
Tamoren. Why dost thou sigh?
Ardellan. Why do I sigh indeed!
For tears cannot recall him: last night,40
About the second watch, the winds broke loose,
And vex'd our ship so long, that it began
To reel and totter, and, like a drunken man,
Took in so fast his liquor, that it sunk
Down i' th' place.45
Tamoren. How did you 'scape?
Ardellan. I bound myself unto a mast, and did
Advise my master to do so;
For which he struck me only, and said I did
Consult too much with fear.50
Tamoren. 'Tis a sad story. Within there!
Let them have wine and fire. But hark you.[Whispers
Enter Thieves, with a Poet.
Thieves. A prize! A prize! A prize!
Peridor. Set him down.
Poet. And for the blue,[Sings55
Give him a cup of sack, 'twill mend his hue.
Peridor. Drunk, as I live! [Pinch him, pinch him.] What art?
Poet. I am a poet,
A poor dabbler in rhyme.
Peridor. Come, confess, confess.
Poet. I do confess, I do want money.60
Peridor. By the description he's a poet indeed.
Well, proceed.[Pinch him
Poet. What d'you mean, pox on you?
Prithee, let me alone.
Some candles here!65
And fill us t'other quart, and fill us,
Rogue, drawer, t'other quart.
Some small-beer.
And for the blue,
Give him a cup of sack, 'twill mend his hue.70
Tamoren. Set him by, till he's sober.
Come, let's go see our duellist drest.[Exeunt
Scene IV.
Enter Tailor and two Serjeants
Tailor. He's something tall; and, for his chin, it has
No bush below: marry, a little wool,
As much as an unripe peach doth wear; just
Enough to speak him drawing towards a man.
Serj. Is he of fury? Will he foin, and give5
The mortal touch?
Tailor. O no, he seldom wears
His sword.
Serj. Topo is the word, if he do:
Thy debt, my little myrmidon?
Tailor. A yard and a half, I assure you, without abatement.10
Serj. 'Tis well, 'tis wondrous well:
Is he retir'd into this house of pleasure?
Tailor. One of these he's entered:
'Tis but a little waiting, you shall find me
At the next tavern.15
Serj. Stand close; I hear one coming.[Exit
Enter Orsabrin
Orsabrin. This house is sure no seminary for Lucreces:
Then the matron was so over-diligent;
And, when I ask'd for meat or drink, she look'd
As if I had mistook myself, and call'd20
For a wrong thing.
Well, 'tis but a night; and part of it I'll spend
In seeing of this town, so famous in
Our tales at sea.
Serj. Look, look! muffled, and as melancholy after't as a25
gamester upon loss: upon him, upon him!
Orsabrin. How now, my friends; why do you use me thus?
Serj. Quietly; 'twill be your best way.
Orsabrin. Best way, for what?
Serj. Why, 'tis your best way, because there will be30
no other. Topo is the word; and you must along.
Orsabrin. Is that the word? Why, then, this is my sword.[Run away
Serj. Murder, murder, murder! h'as kill'd the Prince's
officer: murder, murder, murder!
Orsabrin. I must not stay, I hear them swarm.[Exit35
Enter Constable, People
Constable. Where is he, where is he?
Serj. Here, here! Oh, a man-mender, a man-mender!
H' as broach'd me in so many places, all
The liquor in my body will run out.
Constable. In good sooth,40
Neighbour, h'as tapp'd you at the wrong end too;
He has been busy with you here behind,
As one would say; lend a hand, some of you,
And the rest follow me.[Exeunt
Enter Orsabrin
Orsabrin. Still pursu'd! which way now? I see no passage;45
I must attempt this wall. O, a lucky door,
And open![Exit
Enters again
Where am I now? A garden, and
A handsome house!
If't be thy will, a porch to't, and I'm made;
'Twill be the better lodging of the two.[Goes to the porch50
Enter Phemilia
Phemilia. O, welcome, welcome, sir!
My lady hath been in such frights for you.
Orsabrin. Hum! for me!
Phemilia. And thought you would not come to-night.
Orsabrin. Troth, I might very well have fail'd her.[Aside55
Phemilia. She's in the gallery, alone i' th' dark.
Orsabrin. Good, very good.
Phemilia. And is so melancholy.
Orsabrin. Hum!
Phemilia. Have you shut the garden doors?
Come, I'll bring you to her; enter, enter.60
Orsabrin. Yes, I will enter:
He who has lost himself, makes no great venter.[Exeunt
ACT II
Scene I
Enter Sabrina, Orsabrin
Sabrina. Oh, welcome!
Welcome, as open air to prisoners;
I have had such fears for you.
Orsabrin. She's warm, and soft as lovers' language:
She spoke, too, prettily. Now have I forgot5
All the danger I was in.[Aside
Sabrina. What have you done to-day, my better part?
Orsabrin. Kind little rogue!
I could say the finest things to her, methinks;
But then she would discover me:10
The best way will be to fall to quietly.[Aside. Kisses her
Sabrina. How now, my Samorat!
What saucy heat hath stol'n into thy blood,
And height'ned thee to this? I fear you are
Not well.15
Orsabrin. 'Sfoot! 'tis a Platonic:
Now cannot I so much as talk that way neither.[Aside
Sabrina. Why are you silent, sir?
Come, I know you have been in the field to-day.
Orsabrin. How does she know that?[Aside20
Sabrina. If you have kill'd my brother, speak: it is
No new thing that true love should be unfortunate.
Orsabrin. 'Twas her brother I kill'd then!
Would I were with my devils again!
I got well [rid] of them: that will be here impossible.25
Enter Phemilia
Phemilia. Oh, madam, madam, y'are undone!
The garden walls are scal'd: a flood of people
Are entering th' house.
Orsabrin. Good!
Why here's variety of ruin yet.[Aside30
Sabrina. 'Tis so:
The feet of justice, like to those of time,
Move quick, and will destroy (I fear) as sure.
Oh, sir,
What will you do? there is no vent'ring forth.35
My closet is the safest: enter there,
While I go down and meet their fury, hinder
The search, if possible.[Exit
Orsabrin. Her closet? yea, where's that?
And, if I could find it, what should I do there?40
She will return. I will venture out.[Exit
Enter the Prince, Philatel, Phontrel, Company, Music
Philatel. The lightest airs; 'twill make them more secure.
Upon my life he'll visit her to-night.[Music plays, and sings
Prince. Nor she nor any lesser light appears:
The calm and silence 'bout the place45
Persuades me she does sleep.
Philatel. It may not be:
But hold, it is enough: let us retire.
Behind this pillar, Phontrel, is thy place;
As thou didst love thy master, show thy care:
You to the other gate; there's thy ladder.[Exeunt50
Re-enter Sabrina
Sabrina. Come forth, my Samorat, come forth.
Our fears were false, it was the Prince with music.
Samorat, Samorat! He sleeps:—Samorat!
Or else he's gone to find me out i' th' gallery;
Samorat, Samorat! it must be so.[Exit55
Re-enter Orsabrin
Orsabrin. This house is full of thresholds and trapdoors.
I have been i' th' cellar, where the maids lie too—
I laid my hand, groping for my way,
Upon one of them, and she began to squeak.
Would I were at sea again i' th' storm!60
Oh, a door: though the devil were the porter,
And kept the gate, I'd out.
Enter Samorat
Ha! guarded! taken in a trap?
Nay, I will out, and there's no other but this.
[Retires and draws, runs at him; another pass, they close
Samorat. Philatel in ambush, on my life!65
Re-enter Sabrina and Phemilia with a light
Sabrina. Where should he be?
Ha!
Good heavens, what a spectacle is this! my Samorat!
Some apparition, sure!
[They discover one another by the light, throw away their weapons, and embrace
Samorat. My noble friend!
What angry and malicious planet govern'd70
At this point of time?
Sabrina. My wonder does grow higher.
Orsabrin. That which governs ever: I seldom knew it better.
Samorat. It does amaze me, sir, to find you here:
How enter'd you this place?
Orsabrin. Forc'd by unruly men i' th' street.75
Sabrina. Now the mistake is plain.
Orsabrin. Are you not hurt?
Samorat. No; but you bleed.
Orsabrin. I do indeed, but 'tis not here; this is
A scratch: it is within, to see this beauty;
For by all circumstance it was her brother80
Whom my unlucky sword found out to-day.
Sabrina. Oh, my too cruel fancy![Weeps
Samorat. It was indeed
Thy sword, but not thy fault; I am the cause
Of all these ills. Why do you weep, Sabrina?
Sabrina. Unkind unto thyself and me,85
The tempest this sad news has rais'd within me
I would have laid with tears, but thou disturb'st me.
O Samorat,
Hadst thou consulted but with love as much
As honour, this had never been.90
Samorat. I have no love for thee, that has not had
So strict an union with honour still,
That in all things they were concern 'd alike;
And, if there could be a division made,
It would be found, honour had here the leaner share:95
'Twas love that told me 'twas unfit that you
Should love a coward.
Sabrina. These handsome words
Are now as if one bound up wounds with silk,
Or with fine knots, which do not help the cure,
Or make it heal the sooner. O Samorat,100
This accident lies on our love like to
Some foul disease which, though it kill it not,
Yet will't destroy the beauty; disfigure't so,
That 'twill look ugly to the world hereafter.
Samorat. Must then the acts of fate be crimes of men?105
And shall a death he pull'd upon himself
Be laid on others?
Remember, sweet, how often you have said
It in the face of heaven, that 'twas no love,
Which length of time or cruelty of chance110
Could lessen or remove. Oh, kill me not
That way, Sabrina! This is the nobler.
Take it, and give it entrance anywhere[Kneels, and presents his sword
But here; for you so fill that place, that you
Must wound yourself.
Orsabrin. Am I so slight a thing?115
So bankrupt? So unanswerable in this world
That, being principally in the debt,
Another must be call'd upon, and I
Not once look'd after?
Madam,120
Why d'you throw away your tears on one
That's irrecoverable?
Sabrina. Why? Therefore, sir,
Because he's irrecoverable.
Orsabrin. But why on him? he did not make him so.
Sabrina. I do confess my anger is unjust,125
But not my sorrow, sir.
Forgive these tears, my Samorat:
The debts of nature must be paid, though from
The stock of love:
Should they not, sir?130
Samorat. Yes:
But thus the precious minutes pass; and time,
Ere I have breath'd the sighs due to our parting,
Will be calling for me.
Sabrina. Parting!
Samorat. Oh yes, Sabrina! I must part,135
As day does from the world, not to return
Till night be gone, till this dark cloud be over.
Here to be found were foolishly to make
A present of my life unto mine enemy.
Retire into thy chamber, fair; there thou140
Shalt know all.
Sabrina. I know too much already.[Exeunt
Re-enter Phontrel
Phontrel. Hold rope for me, and then hold rope for him.
Why, this is the wisdom of the law now: a prince loses a
subject, and does not think himself paid for the loss, till145
he loses another. Well! I will do my endeavour to
make him a saver; for this was Samorat.[Exit
Scene II
Enter Samorat and Orsabrin bleeding
Orsabrin. Let it bleed on. You shall not stir, I swear.
Samorat. Now, by the friendship that I owe thee, and
The gods beside, I will.
Noble youth,
Were there no danger in the wound, yet would5
The loss of blood make thee unfit for travel.
My servants wait me for direction—
With them my surgeon; I'll bring him instantly.
Pray, go back.[Exeunt
Enter Philatel with Guard
He places them at the door
Philatel. There! You to the other gate;
The rest follow me.[Exeunt10
Re-enter Orsabrin with Sabrina
Sabrina. Hark! a noise, sir!
The tread's too loud to be my Samorat's.
Enter the Searchers to them
Searchers. Which way? which way?
Sabrina. Some villainy's in hand. Step in here, sir;
Quick, quick.[Locks him in her closet15
Re-enter Philatel and Guard
They pass over the stage
Philatel. Look everywhere.
[He dragging out his sister
Protect thy brother's murderer?
Tell me, where thou hast hid him!
Or, by my father's ashes, I will search
In every vein thou hast about thee for him.
[Orsabrin (within the closet) bounces thrice at the door: it flies open
Orsabrin. Ere such a villainy should be, the gods20
Would lend unto a single arm such strength,
It should have power to punish an army such
As thou art.
Philatel. O, are you here, sir?
Orsabrin. Yes, I am here, sir.[Fight
Philatel. Kill her![Sabrina interposes25
Orsabrin. O, save thyself, fair excellence,
And leave me to my fate.
[The Guard comes behind him, and catches hold of his arms
Base!
Philatel. So, bring him! One!—the other is not far.[Exeunt Enter Sabrina with Phemilia
Sabrina. Run, run, Phemilia, to the garden walls,
And meet my Samorat. Tell him, O tell him—anything.30
Charge him, by all our loves,
He instantly take horse and put to sea.
There is more safety in a storm, than where
My brother is.[Exeunt
ACT III
Scene I
Enter Peridor and the other Thieves
Stramador is led in: they dance about him and sing
Thieves. A prize! A prize! A prize!
Peridor. Bring him forth, bring him forth.
Welcome, welcome, mortal wight,
To the mansion of the night.
Good or bad, thy life discover;5
Truly all thy deeds declare;
For about thee spirits hover,
That can tell, tell what they are.
Pinch him, if he speak not true;
Pinch him, pinch him black and blue.10
Peridor. What art thou?
Stramador. I was a man.
Peridor. Of whence?
Stramador. The court.
Peridor. Whither now bound?
Stramador. To my own house.
Peridor. Thy name?
Stramador. Stramador.
Peridor. O, you fill a place about
His grace, and keep out men of parts, d'you not?15
Stramador. Yes.
Peridor. A foolish utensil of state
Which, like old plate upon a gaudy day,
'S brought forth to make a show, and that is all:
For of no use y'are. Y' had best deny this.20
Stramador. O no!
Peridor. Or that you do want wit,
And then talk loud, to make that pass for it.
You think there is no wisdom but in form,
Nor any knowledge like to that of whispers.25
Stramador. Right, right!
Peridor. Then, you can hate,
And fawn upon a man at the same time:
And dare not urge the vices of another,
You are so foul yourself.30
So the Prince seldom hears truth.
Stramador. O, very seldom.
Peridor. And did you never give his grace odd counsels;
And, when you saw they did not prosper,
Persuade him take them on himself?
Stramador. Yes, yes, often.35
Peridor. Get baths of sulphur quick, and flaming oils;
This crime is new, and will deserve it.
He has inverted all the rule of state,
Confounded policy.
There is some reason why a subject40
Should suffer for the errors of his prince;
But, why a prince should bear the faults of's ministers,—
None, none at all.—Caldrons of brimstone there!
Thief. Great judge of this infernal place, allow
Him yet the mercy of the court.
Stramador. Kind devil!45
Peridor. Let him be boil'd in scalding lead a while,
T'enure and prepare him for the other.
Stramador. O, hear me, hear me!
Peridor. Stay!
Now I have better thought upon't, he shall50
To earth again;
For villainy is catching, and will spread.
He will enlarge our empire much;
Then we're sure of him at any time.
So, 'tis enough. Where's our governor?[Exeunt55
Scene II
Enter Gaoler, Samorat, Nassurat, Pellegrin, and three others in disguise
Gaoler. His hair curls naturally: a handsome youth!
Samorat. The same. [Drinks to him] Is there no speaking with him?
He owes me a trifling sum.
Gaoler. Sure, sir, the debt is something desperate;
There is no hopes he will be brought to clear5
With the world:
⟨He⟩ struck me but for persuading him to make
Even with heaven.
He is as surly as an old lion, and
As sullen as a bullfinch.10
He never ate since he was taken, gentlemen!
Samorat. I must needs speak with him.
Hark in thy ear.
Gaoler. Not for all the world.
Samorat. Nay, I do but motion such a thing.
Gaoler. Is this the business, gentlemen? Fare you well.15
Samorat. There is no choice of ways then.
[They run after the Gaoler, draw their daggers, and set on to his breast
Stir not! If thou but think'st a noise, or breath'st
Aloud, thou breath'st thy last. So, bind him now.
[They bind the Gaoler
Undo quickly, quickly—his jerkin, his hat!
Nassurat. What will you do? None of these beards will serve;20
There's not an eye of white in them.
Pellegrin. Pull out the silver'd ones in his, and stick
Them in the other.
Nassurat. Cut them, cut them out. The bush will suit
Well enough with a grace still.25
[They put a false beard on the Gaoler, and gag him
Samorat. Desperate wounds must have desperate cures:
Extremes must thus be serv'd. You know your parts.[Exit in the Gaoler's habit
Nassurat. Fear not: let us alone.[They sing a catch
Some drink! what, boy, some drink!
Fill it up, fill it up to the brink.30
When the pots cry clink,
And the pockets chink,
Then 'tis a merry world.
To the best, to the best, have at her;
And a pox take the woman-hater!—35
The Prince of Darkness is a gentleman:
Mahu, Mahu is his name.—
How d'you, sir?[To the Gaoler gagg'd
You gape, as if you were sleepy.
Good faith, he looks like an O yes!40
Pellegrin. Or as if he had overstrain'd himself
At a deep note in a ballad.
Nassurat. What think you of an oyster at a low ebb?
Some liquor for him!
You will not be a pimp for life, you rogue,45
Nor hold a door to save a gentleman.
You are—pox on him, what he is, Pellegrin?
If you love me, let's stifle him, and say
'Twas a sudden judgment upon him for swearing.
The posture will confirm it.50
Pellegrin. We're in excellent humour;
Let's have another bottle, and give out
That Ann, my wife, is dead.
Shall I, gentlemen?
Nassurat. Rare rogue in buckram, let me bite thee.55
Before me thou shalt go out wit, and upon
As good terms as some of those in the ballad, too.
Pellegrin. Shall I so? Why then, foutre for the Guise!
Saints shall accrue; and ours shall be
The black-ey'd beauties of the time.60
I'll tickle you for old ends of plays.[They sing
Around, around, around.
Around, around, around.
Somebody's at the door![Knocking at the door
Pr'ythee, pr'ythee: sirrah, sirrah, try thy skill.65
Nassurat. Who's there?
Enter a Messenger
Messenger. One Sturgelot a gaoler here?
Nassurat. Such a one there was, my friend, but he's gone
Above an hour ago.
Now did this rogue whisper in his heart, that's a lie;70
And for that very reason I'll cut his throat.
Pellegrin. No, pr'ythee now,—for thinking?
Thou shalt not take the pains; the law shall do't.
Nassurat. How, how?
Pellegrin. Marry, we'll write it over, when we're gone,75
He join'd in the plot, and put himself into
This posture, merely to disguise it to
The world.
Nassurat. Excellent! Here's to thee for that conceit!
We should have made rare statesmen, we are so witty in80
our mischief! Another song, and so let's go: it will be
time.[They sing
A health to the nut-brown lass,
With the hazel eyes: let it pass.
She that has good eyes,85
Has good thighs.
Let it pass, let it pass.
As much to the lively grey;
'Tis as good i' th' night as day:
She that has good eyes,90
Has good thighs.
Drink away, drink away.
I pledge, I pledge: what ho! some wine!
Here's to thine, and to thine!
The colours are divine.95
But O the black, the black!
Give me as much again, and let't be sack.
She that has good eyes,
Has good thighs,
And, it may be, a better knack.[They knock100
Enter a Drawer.
Nassurat. A reckoning, boy. There. [Pay him.]
Dost hear? Here's a friend of ours has forgotten himself
a little, as they call it: the wine has got into his head, as
the frost into his hand; he is benumbed, and has no use of
himself for the present.110
Boy. Hum, sir[Smiles
Nassurat. Prithee, lock the door; and when he comes to
himself, tell him he shall find us at the old place. He
knows where.
Boy. I will, sir.[Exeunt120
Scene III
Enter Orsabrin, in prison
Orsabrin. To die! Ay, what's that?
For yet I never thought on't seriously.
It may be 'tis—hum!—it may be 'tis not, too.
Enter Samorat as the Gaoler; he undoes his fetters
Ha![As amaz'd
What happy intercession wrought this change?5
To whose kind prayers owe I this, my friend?
Samorat. Unto thy virtue, noble youth;
The gods delight in that as well as prayers.
I am
Orsabrin. Nay, nay.10
Be what thou wilt, I will not question it.
Undo, undo.
Samorat. —thy friend Samorat.
Orsabrin. Ha!
Samorat. Lay by thy wonder, and put on these clothes:
In this disguise thou'lt pass unto the prison gates;
There you shall find one that is taught to know you.15
He will conduct you to the corner of the wood;
And there my horses wait us.
I'll throw this gaoler off in some odd place.
Orsabrin. My better angel![Exeunt
Scene IV
Enter Peridor with the other Thieves
Peridor. It is e'en
As hard a world for thieves as honest men:
Nothing to be got; no prize stirring.
1st Thief. None, but one with horses,
Who seem'd to stay for some that were to come;5
And that has made us wait thus long.
Peridor. A lean day's work, but what remedy?
Lawyers, that rob men with their own consent,
Have had the same. Come, call in our perdues:
We will away[They whistle10
Enter Orsabrin, as seeking the horses
Orsabrin. I hear them now; yonder they are.
Peridor. Hallo! Who are these? any of ours?
Thief. No, stand close; they shall be presently.
Yield! yield!
Orsabrin. Again betray'd!15
There is no end of my misfortune!
Mischief vexes me like a quotidian;
It intermits a little, and returns,
Ere I have lost the memory of
My former fit
Peridor. Sentences, sentences!20
Away with him,—away with him![Exeunt
Scene V
Enter Gaoler and Drawers over the stage
Gaoler. I am the gaoler.
Undone, undone! conspiracy! a cheat!
My prisoner, my prisoner![Exeunt
Scene VI
Enter Samorat
Samorat. No men, nor horses! Some strange mistake!
Maybe, th'are sheltered in the wood.[Exit
Scene VII
Enter Peridor and other Thieves, examining the young Lord Torcular that was hurt
Peridor. And, if a lady did but step aside
To fetch a mask or so, you follow'd after still,
As if she had gone proud? Ha! Is't not so?
Torcular. Yes.
Peridor. And, if you were us'd but civilly in a place,5
You gave out doubtful words upon't, to make
Men think you did enjoy?
Torcular. O yes, yes.
Peridor. Made love to every piece of cri'd-up beauty,
And swore the same things over to them.10
Torcular. The very same
Peridor. Abominable!
Had he but sworn new things yet, 't had been tolerable.
[One of them reads the sum of the confession
Thief. Let me see, let me see. Hum! 'Court ladies
eight, of which two great ones. Country ladies twelve;15
termers all.'
Peridor. Is this right?
Torcular. Very right.
Thief. Citizens' wives of several trades: he cannot count them.
Chambermaids and country wenches, about thirty, of which20
The greater part the night before they were married, or else upon the day!
Peridor. A modest reckoning! Is this all?
Torcular. No, I will be just to a scruple.
Peridor. Well said, well said: out with it.
Torcular. Put down two old ladies more.25
Peridor. I' th' name of wonder, how could he think of old
In such variety of young?
Torcular. Alas! I could never be quiet for them.
Peridor. Poor gentleman!
Well, what's to be done with him now? Shall he30
Be thrown into the caldron with the cuckolds?
Thief. Or with the jealous? that's the hotter place.
Peridor. Thou mistakest; 'tis the same: they go together
still. Jealous and cuckolds differ no otherwise than
sheriff and alderman: a little time makes the one th' other.35
What think you of gelding him, and sending him to earth
again amongst his women? 'Twould be like throwing a
dead fly into an ant's nest; there should be such tearing
and pulling, and getting up upon him, they would worry
the poor thing to death!40
1st Thief. Excellent! Or leave a string, as they do
sometimes in young colts. Desire and impotence would
be a rare punishment.
Peridor. Fie, fie, the common disease of age! every old man has it.
Enter Tamoren and more Thieves, leading Orsabrin
A prize, a prize, a prize![Horns blow, brass pots beat on45
Orsabrin. This must be hell, by the noise!
Tamoren. Set him down, set him down: bring forth
The newest rack and flaming pinching-irons.
This is a stubborn piece of flesh: 'twould have broke loose.
Orsabrin. So,50
This comes of wishing myself with devils again!
Peridor. What art?
Orsabrin. The slave of chance; one of Fortune's fools:
A thing she kept alive on earth to make her sport.
Peridor. Thy name?55
Orsabrin. Orsabrin.
Peridor. Ha! he that liv'd with pirates?
Was lately in a storm?
Orsabrin. The very same.
Tamoren. Such respect as you have paid to me—
[Whispers with Peridor
Prepare to revels, all that can be thought on;60
But let each man still keep his shape.[Exit
[They unbind him. All bow to him
[Music and a dance]
Orsabrin. Ha! another false smile of Fortune?
[They bring out several suits of clothes and a banquet
Is this the place
The gowned clerks do fright men so on earth with?
Would I had been here before!
Master devil, to whose use are these set out?
Peridor. To yours, sir.65
Orsabrin. I'll make bold to change a little.
[Takes a hat, dresses himself
Could you not
Afford a good plain sword to all this gallantry?
Peridor. We'll see, sir.
Orsabrin. A thousand times civiller
Than men, and better natur'd!
Enter Tamoren and Reginella
Tamoren. All leave the room.70
Peridor. I like not this.[Exeunt
Tamoren. Cupid, do thou the rest!
A blunter arrow, and but slackly drawn,
Would perfect what's begun:
When young and handsome meet, the work's half done.[Exit75
Orsabrin. She cannot be
Less than a goddess, and't must be Proserpine.
I'll speak to her, though Pluto's self stood by—
Thou beauteous queen of this dark world, that mak'st
A place so like a hell so like a heaven!80
Instruct me in what form I must approach thee,
And how adore thee.
Reginella. Tell me what thou art first; for such a creature
Mine eyes did never yet behold!
Orsabrin. I am that which they name above a man.85
I' th' wat'ry elements I much have liv'd;
Hnd there they term me Orsabrin.
Aave you a name, too?
Reginella. Why do you ask?
Orsabrin. Because I'd call upon it in a storm,90
And save a ship from perishing sometimes.
Reginella. 'Tis Reginella.
Orsabrin. Are you a woman, too?
I never was in earnest until now.
Reginella. I know not what I am; for like myself
I never yet saw any.
Orsabrin. Nor ever shall.95
O! how came you hither? Sure, you were betray 'd.
Will you leave this place, and live with such as I am?
Reginella. Why may not you live here with me?
Orsabrin. Yes;
But I'd carry thee where there is a glorious light;100
Where all above is spread a canopy,
Studded with twinkling gems,
Beauteous as lovers' eyes; and underneath
Carpets of flow'ry meads to tread on:
A thousand thousand pleasures, which this place105
Can ne'er afford thee.
Reginella. Indeed.
Orsabrin. Yes, indeed.
I'll bring thee unto shady walks,
And groves fringed with silver purling streams,
Where thou shalt hear soft-feathered quiristers
Sing sweetly to thee of their own accord.110
I'll fill thy lap with early flowers;
And whilst thou bind'st them up mysterious ways,
I'll tell thee pretty tales, and sigh by thee;
Thus press thy hand, and warm it thus with kisses.
Reginella. Will you indeed?115
Re-enter Tamoren and Peridor above, with others
Tamoren. Fond girl! Her rashness
Sullies the glory of her beauty: 'twill make
The conquest cheap, and weaken my designs!
Go part them instantly, and blind him as before.
Be you his keeper, Peridor.120
Peridor. Yes, I will keep him.
Orsabrin. Her eyes like lightning shoot into my heart:
They'll melt it into nothing, ere I can
Present it to her! Sweet excellence!
Enter Thieves, and blind him
Ha!125
Why is this hateful curtain drawn before my eyes?
If I have sinn'd, give me some other punishment:
Let me but look on her still, and double it!
O, whither, whither do you hurry me?[Carry him away
Peridor. Madam, you must in.130
Reginella. Ay me! what's this?
Must![Exit
Enter other Devils
1st Thief. We have had such sport! Yonder's the
rarest poet without, h'as made all his confession in blank
verse; not left a god nor a goddess in heaven, but fetch'd135
them all down for witnesses. H'as made such a description
of Styx and the Ferry, and verily thinks he has past
them! Enquires for the bless'd shades, and asks much
after certain British blades; one Shakespeare and Fletcher:
and grew so peremptory at last, he would be carried where140
they were.
2nd Thief. And what did you with him?
1st Thief. Mounting him upon a coal-staff, which
(tossing him something high) he apprehended to be
Pegasus. So we have left him to tell strange lies; which145
he'll turn into verse; and some wise people hereafter into
religion.[Exeunt
ACT IV
Scene I
Enter Samorat, Nassurat, and Pellegrin
Nassurat. Good faith, 'tis wondrous well. We have e'en done
Like eager disputers; and with much ado
Are got to be just where we were. This is
The corner of the wood.
Samorat. Ha! 'tis indeed!
Pellegrin. Had we no walking fire,5
Nor saucer-ey'd devil of these woods that led us?
Now am I as weary as a married man after the first week;
and have no more desire to move forwards than a post-
horse that has pass'd his stage.
Nassurat. 'Sfoot, yonder's the night too, stealing away10
with her black gown about her, like a kind wench that had
staid out the last minute with a man.
Pellegrin. What shall we do, gentlemen? I apprehend
falling into this gaoler's hands strangely. He'd use us
worse than we did him.15
Nassurat. And that was ill enough, of conscience. What
think you of turning beggars? Many good gentlemen
have done't. Or thieves?
Pellegrin. That's the same thing at court: begging is but
a kind of robbing the exchequer.20
Nassurat. Look! four fathom and a half O O S in con-
templation of his mistress. There's a feast! You and I
are out now, Pellegrin. 'Tis a pretty trick, this enjoying
in absence! What a rare invention 'twould be, if a man
could find out a way to make it real!25
Pellegrin. Dost think there's nothing in't, as 'tis?
Nassurat. Nothing, nothing. Didst never hear of a
dead Alexander rais'd to talk with a man? Love's a
learned conjurer, and with the glass of fancy will do as
strange things! You thrust out a hand: your mistress30
thrusts out another. You shake that hand: that shakes
you again. You put out a lip: she puts out hers. Talk
to her: she shall answer you. Marry, when you come to
grasp all this, it is but air.
Samorat [as out of his study]. It was unlucky.35
Gentlemen,
The day appears: this is no place to stay in:
Let's to some neighbouring cottage. Maybe,
The searchers will neglect the nearer places;
And this will best advance unto our safety.40
Enter Fiddlers
Nassurat. Who are there?
1st Fiddler. Now, if the spirit of melancholy should possess 'em?
2nd Fiddler. Why, if it should, an honourable retreat.
Nassurat. I have the rarest fancy in my head. Whither are you bound, my friends, so early?
1st Fiddler. To a wedding, sir.45
Nassurat. A wedding? I told you so. Whose?
1st Fiddler. A country wench's here hard by, one Erblin's daughter.
Nassurat. Good. Erblin! the very place! to see how
things fall out! Hold, here's money for you. Hark you,
you must assist me in a small design.50
1st Fiddler. Anything.
Samorat. What dost mean?
Nassurat. Let me alone—I have a plot upon a wench.
1st Fiddler. Your worship is merry.
Nassurat. Yes, faith, to see her only. Look you, some55
of you shall go back to th' town and leave us your coats.
My friend and I are excellent at a little instrument; and
then we'll sing catches rarely.
Pellegrin. I understand thee not.
Nassurat. Thou hast no more forecast than a squirrel,60
and hast less wise consideration about thee. Is there a
way safer than this? dost think what we have done will
not be spread beyond this place with every light? Should
we now enter any house thus near the town, and stay all
day, 'twould be suspicious: what pretence have we?65
Pellegrin. He speaks reason, Samorat.
Samorat. I do not like it.
Should anything fall out, 'twould not look well;
I'd not be found so much out of myself,
So far from home as this disguise would make me,70
Almost for certainty of safety.
Nassurat. Certainty! why, this will give it us. Pray
let me govern once.
Samorat. Well,
You suffer'd first with me: now 'tis my turn.75
Pellegrin. Prithee, name not suffering.
Nassurat. Come, come, your coats! our beards will suit
rarely to them. There's more money. Not a word of
anything, as you tender
1st Fiddler. O, sir!80
Nassurat. And see you carry't gravely too! Now, afore
me, Pellegrin's rarely translated! 'Sfoot, they'll appre-
hend the head of the bass-viol as soon as thee, thou art so
like it! Only, I must confess, that has a little the better
face.85
Pellegrin. Has it so? Pox on thee, thou look'st like, I
cannot tell what.
Nassurat. Why, so I would, fool: th' end of my disguise
is to have none know what I am.
Enter a Devil
Look, look, a devil airing himself! I'll catch him like a90
mole, ere he can get underground.
Pellegrin. Nassurat, Nassurat!
Nassurat. Pox on that noise, he's earth'd! Prithee,
let's watch him, and see whether he'll heave again.
Pellegrin. Art mad?95
Nassurat. By this light, three or four of their skins, and
we'd rob! 'Twould be the better way. Come, come, let's
go.[Exeunt
Enter Captain and Soldiers
Captain. Let the horse skirt about this place: we'll make
A search within.[Exeunt and enter again100
Now disperse:
I' th' hollow of the wood we'll meet again.[Exit
Re-enter Samorat, Nassurat, Pellegrin, and Fiddlers
Soldiers. Who goes there? Speak! O, they are fiddlers!
Saw you no men nor horse i' th' wood to-day
As you came along?105
Nassurat. Speak, speak, rogue.[He pulls one of the Fiddlers by the skirt
1st Fiddler. None, sir.
Soldiers. Pass on.[Exeunt
Nassurat. Gentlemen, what say you to th' invention
now? I'm a rogue, if I do not think I was design'd for110
the helm of state: I am so full of nimble stratagems,
that I should have ordered affairs, and carried it against
the stream of a faction with as much ease as a skipper
would laver it against the wind.[Exeunt
Re-enter Captain and Soldiers, meeting
Captain. What, no news of any?115
Soldiers. No, not a man stirring.
Enter other Soldiers: they cry
Soho! away, away!
Captain. What? any discovery?
Soldier. Yes, the horse has staid three fellows, fiddlers
they call themselves. There's something in't: they look120
suspiciously. One of them has offer'd at confession once or
twice, like a weak stomach at vomiting; but 'twould not
out.
Captain. A little cold iron thrust down his throat will
fetch it up. I am excellent at discovery, and can draw a125
secret out of a knave with as much dexterity as a barber-
surgeon would a hollow tooth. Let's join forces with
them.[Exeunt
Scene II
Orsabrin discovered in prison, bound
Orsabrin. Sure 'tis eternal night with me! would this
Were all too!
For I begin to think the rest is true,
Which I have read in books, and that there's more
To follow.5
Enter Reginella
Reginella. Sure this is he[She unbinds him
Orsabrin. The pure and first-created light broke through
The chaos thus!
Keep off, keep off, thou brighter excellence,
Thou fair divinity! if thou com'st near,10
(So tempting is the shape thou now assum'st),
I shall grow saucy in desire again,
And entertain bold hopes, which will but draw
More and fresh punishment upon me.
Reginella. I see y'are angry, sir: but, if you kill15
Me too, I meant no ill. That which brought me hither
Was a desire I have to be with you
Rather than those I live with. This is all,
Believe't.
Orsabrin. With me? O thou kind innocence, witness all20
That can punish falsehood, that I could live with thee,
Even in this dark and narrow prison, and think
All happiness confin'd within the walls!
O, hadst thou but as much of love as I!
Reginella. Of love! What's that?25
Orsabrin. Why, 'tis a thing that's had, before 'tis known;
A gentle flame, that steals into a heart,
And makes it like one object so, that it scarce cares
For any other delights, when that is present;
And is in pain, when 't's gone; thinks of that alone,30
And quarrels with all other thoughts that would
Intrude, and so divert it.
Reginella. If this be love, sure I have some of it.
It is no ill thing, is it, sir?
Orsabrin. O, most divine:
The best of all the gods strangely abound in't;35
And mortals could not live without it: it is
The soul of virtue and the life of life.
Reginella. Sure, I should learn it, sir, if you would teach it.
Orsabrin. Alas, thou taught'st it me;
It came with looking thus—40
[They gaze upon one another
Enter Peridor
Peridor. I will no longer be conceal'd, but tell
Her what I am, before this smooth-fac'd youth
Hath taken all the room up in her heart.
Ha!
Unbound!45
And, sure, by her! Hell and furies!
What, ho! within there—
Enter other Thieves
Practice escapes?—
Get me new irons to lead him unto death.
Orsabrin. I am so used to this, it takes away50
The sense of it; I cannot think it strange.
Reginella. Alas! he never did intend to go.
Use him, for my sake, kindly!
I was not wont to be deni'd. Ah me!
They are hard-hearted all. What shall I do?55
I'll to my governor, he'll not be thus cruel.[Exeunt
Scene III
Enter Samorat, Nassurat, and Pellegrin
Nassurat. 'Tis a rare wench, she i' th' blue stockings:
what a complexion she had, when she was warm! 'Tis
a hard question of these country wenches, which are
simpler, their beauties or themselves. There's as much
difference betwixt a town-lady and one of these, as there5
is betwixt a wild pheasant and a tame.
Pellegrin. Right. There goes such essencing, washing,
perfuming, daubing to th' other, that they are the least
part of themselves. Indeed, there's so much sauce a man
cannot taste the meat.10
Nassurat. Let me kiss thee for that. By this light, I
hate a woman drest up to her height worse than I do sugar
with muscadine: it leaves no room for me to imagine I
could improve her, if she were mine. It looks like a jade,
with his tail tied up with ribbons, going to a fair to be sold.15
Pellegrin. No, no, thou hatest it out of another reason,
Nassurat.
Nassurat. Prithee, what's that?
Pellegrin. Why, th'are so fine, th'are of no use that day.
Nassurat. Pellegrin is in good feeling! Sirrah, didst20
mark the lass i' th' green upon yellow, how she bridled
in her head, and danc'd a stroke in and a stroke out, like a
young fillet training to a pace?
Pellegrin. And how she kist, as if she had been sealing
and delivering herself up to the use of him that came25
last; parted with her sweetheart's lips still as unwillingly
and untowardly as soft wax from a dry seal?
Nassurat. True; and, when she kisses a gentleman, she
makes a curtsey, as who should say the favour was on his side.
What dull fools are we, to besiege a face three months for30
that trifle! Sometimes it holds out longer; and then this
is the sweeter flesh too!
Enter Fiddlers
Fiddler. You shall have horses ready at the time,
And good ones too (if there be truth in drink);
And, for your letters, they are there by this.35
Samorat. An excellent officer!
Enter Wedding of Clowns
Clown. Tut, tut, tut! that's a good one, i' faith! not dance? Come,
Come, strike up.
[They dance: in that time enter Soldiers muffled up in their cloaks
Samorat. Who are those that eye us so severely?
Belong they to the wedding?
Fiddlers. I know 'em not.40
Clown. Gentlemen, will't please you dance?
[Clowns offer their women to them to dance
Soldier. No, keep your women: we'll take out others here.
Samorat! if I mistake not!
Samorat. Ha! betray'd![A bustle
Clown. How now! what's the matter? abuse our fiddlers!
2nd Soldier. These are no fiddlers, fools. Obey the45
Prince's officers, unless you desire to go to prison too.
Samorat. The thought of what must follow disquiets not
At all; but tamely thus to be surpris'd
In so unhandsome a disguise.[They carry him away
Pellegrin. Is't even so? Why then50
'Farewell the plumed troops and the big wars,
Which made ambition virtue.'
Nassurat. Ay, ay; let them go, let them go.
Pellegrin. Have you ever a stratagem, Nassurat?
'Twould be very seasonable. What think you now?55
Are you designed for the helm of state? Can you laver
against this tempest?
Nassurat. Prithee, let me alone: I am thinking for life.
Pellegrin. Yes, 'tis for life, indeed; would 'twere not!
Clown. This is very strange: let's follow after, and see60
if we can understand it.[Exeunt
Scene IV
Enter Peridor, Orsabrin
Peridor. A mere phantasm, rais'd by art to try thee.
Orsabrin. Good kind devil, try me once more:
Help me to the sight of this phantasm again.
Peridor. Thou art undone.
Wert thou not amorous in th' other world?5
Didst not love women?
Orsabrin. Who did hate them?
Peridor. Why, there's it:
Thou thought'st there was no danger in the sin,
Because 'twas common.
Above the half of that vast multitude,10
Which fills this place, women sent hither; and they
Are highliest punished still, that love the handsomest.
Orsabrin. A very lying devil this, certainly!
Peridor. All that had their women with you,
Suffer with us.15
Orsabrin. By your friendship's favour, though,
There's no justice in that: some of them
Suffered enough, in all conscience, by 'em there.
Peridor. O, this is now your mirth;
But when you shall be pinch'd into a jelly,20
Or made into a cramp all over, these
Will be sad truths.
Orsabrin. He talks oddly now; I do not like it. Dost hear?
Prithee, exchange some of thy good counsel for deeds.
If thou be'st25
An honest devil (as thou seem'st to be),
Put a sword into my hand, and help me to
The sight of this apparition again.
Peridor. Well,
Something I'll do for thee, or rather for30
Myself.[Exeunt
Enter two other Devils
1st Devil. Come, let's go relieve our poet.
2nd Devil. How?
Relieve him? He's released, is he not?
1st Devil. No, no:35
Bersat bethought himself at the mouth of the cave,
And found he would be necessary to
Our masque to-night. We have set him with his feet
In a great tub of water, in which he dabbles,
And believes it to be Helicon. There he's contriving40
'I th' honour of Mercury, who, I have told him,
Comes this night of a message from Jupiter
To Pluto, and is feasted here by him.
Enter Thieves with Poet
Devil. O, they have fetch'd him off!
Poet. Querer per solo Querer,45
Or he that made the 'Fairy Queen.'
1st Thief. No, none of these:
They are by themselves, in some other place;
But here's he that writ Tamerlane.
Poet. I beseech you,50
Bring me to him; there's something in his scene
Betwixt the empresses a little high
And cloudy: I would resolve myself.
1st Thief. You shall, sir.
Let me see—the author of the 'Bold Beauchamps,'
And 'England's Joy.'55
Poet. The last was a well-writ piece, I assure you;
A Briton, I take it, and Shakespeare's very way.
I desire to see the man.
1st Thief. Excuse me; no seeing here.
The gods, in compliment to Homer,60
Do make all poets poor above, and we,
All blind below. But you shall confess, sir.
Follow.[Exeunt
Scene V
Enter Peridor, Orsabrin
Orsabrin. Ha!
Light and the fresh air again! The place I know too;
The very same I fought the duel in.
The devil was in the right:
This was a mere apparition; but 'twas5
A handsome one; it left impressions here,
Such as the fairest substance I shall e'er
Behold will scarce deface. Well, I must resolve;
But what, or where? Ay, that's the question.
The town's unsafe, there's no returning thither:10
And then the port[Some Clowns pass over hastily
Ha! what means the busy haste of these?
[Calls to one] Honest friend! dost hear? No. What's the matter, pray?
Clown. Gentlemen, gentlemen!
Orsabrin. That's good satisfaction, indeed!15
[To another] Prithee,
Good fellow, tell me: what causes all this hurry?
Enter another
Clown. One Samorat is led to prison, sir,
And another gentleman about Lord Torcular.
Orsabrin. Ha! Samorat!20
There is no mean nor end of Fortune's malice!
O, 'tis insufferable: I'm made a boy
Whipt on another's back. Cruel! I'll not
Endure 't, by Heaven! He shall die for me:
I will not hold a wretched life upon25
Such wretched terms.
Enter Tamoren, Peridor, and others
Tamoren. Fly, fly, abroad! Search every place,
And bring him back! Thou hast undone us all
With thy neglect; destroy'd the hopes we had
To be ourselves again. I shall run mad30
With anger! Fly, begone
Nassurat. Pellegrin, let's second this: right or wrong, 'tis best for us.
Pellegrin. Observe, observe!190
Prince. What shouts are those?
Stramador. Soldiers of Tamoren's,
The first: the second was the people's, who
Much press to see their long-lost prince.
Philatel. Sir, 'tis most evident, and all agrees.
This was his colour'd hair,195
His hair, though altered much with time.
You wear too strange a face upon this news.
Sir, you have found a brother:
I, Torcular: the kingdom, happiness;
For here the plague of robberies will end.200
It is a glorious day.
Prince. It is indeed! I am amaz'd, not sad;
Wonder does keep the passage so, nothing will out.
Brother (for so my kinder stars will have it),
I here receive you as the bounty of205
The gods—a blessing I did not expect.
And, in return to them, this day Francelia
Ever shall keep holy.
Orsabrin. Fortune, by much abusing me, has so
Dulled my faith, I cannot credit anything.210
I know not how to own such happiness.
Prince. Let not your doubts lessen your joys:
If you have had disasters heretofore,
They were but given to heighten what's to come.
Nassurat. Here's as strange a turn, as if 'twere the fifth act in a play!215
Pellegrin. I'm sure 'tis a good turn for us.
Orsabrin. Sir,
Why stands that lady so neglected there,
That does deserve to be the business
Of mankind? O ye gods, since you'll be kind220
And bountiful, let it be here.
As fearfully as jealous husbands ask
After some secrets, which they dare not know;
Or as forbidden lovers meet i' th' night,
Come I to thee (and 'tis no ill sign this;225
Since flames, when they burn highest, tremble most),
O, should she now deny me!
Reginella. I know not perfectly what all this means;
But I do find some happiness is near,
And I am pleas'd, because I see you are.230
Orsabrin. She understands me not!—
Prince. He seems t' have passion for her.
Tamoren. Sir, in my dark commands these flames broke out
Equally violent, at first sight; and 'twas
The hope I had to reconcile myself.235
Orsabrin. It is a holy magic, that will make
Of you and I but one.
Reginella. Anything that you would ask me, sure I might grant.
Orsabrin. Hark, gentlemen, she does consent:
What wants there else?240
Peridor. My hopes grow cold; I have undone myself.[Aside
Prince. Nothing:
We all join in this: the long-liv'd feud
Between the families here dies. This day
The hymenæal torches shall burn bright,—245
So bright, that they shall dim the light of all
That went before. See, Sabrina too!
Enter Sabrina
Tamoren. Sir, I must have much of pardon,
Not for myself alone, but for all mine.
Prince. Rise! hadst thou not deserv'd what now thou su'st for,250
This day should know no clouds.
[Peridor kneels to Tamoren
Tamoren. Taught by the Prince's mercy, I forgive too.
Sabrina. Frighted hither, sir![To Samorat
They told me you would not accept the Prince's mercy.
Samorat. Art thou not further yet in thy intelligence?255
See, thy brother lives!
Sabrina. My brother!
Torcular. And 'tis the least of wonders has fall'n out.
Orsabrin. Yes, such a one as you are, fair; [To Reginella, who looks at Sabrina] and you
Shall be acquainted.260
Samorat. [To Philatel and Torcular] O, could your hate, my lords, now;
Or [to the Prince] your love die!
Philatel. Thy merit has prevail'd
With me.
Torcular. And me.
Prince. And has almost with me.
Samorat,
Thou dost not doubt thy mistress' constancy?265
Samorat. No, sir.
Prince. Then I will beg of her,
That, till the sun returns to visit us,
She will not give away herself for ever. Although
My hopes are faint, yet I would have 'em hopes;270
And, in such jolly hours as now attend us,
I would not be a desperate thing, one made
Up wholly of despair.
Sabrina. You, that so freely gave me Samorat's life,
Which was in danger, most justly, justly, may275
Be suffer'd to attempt upon my love,
Which is in none.
Prince. What says my noble rival?
Samorat. Sir,
Y'are kind in this, and wisely do provide
I should not surfeit; for here is happiness280
Enough besides, to last the sun's return.
Nassurat. You and I are but savers with all this,
Pellegrin: but, by the Lord, 'tis well we came off as we
did: all was at stake.
Prince. Come, no more whispers here:285
Let's in, and there unriddle to each other;
For I have much to ask.
Orsabrin. A life! a friend! a brother! and a mistress!
O, what a day was here! Gently, my joys, distil,
Lest you should break the vessel you should fill.290
EPILOGUE
And how, and how, in faith—a pretty plot;
And smartly carried through too, was it not?
And the devils, how? well; and the fighting?
Well too; a fool, and't had been just old writing.
O, what a monster-wit must that man have,5
That could please all which now their twelvepence gave!
High characters (cries one); and he would see
Things that ne'er were, nor are, nor ne'er will be.
Romances, cries easy souls; and then they swear
The play's well writ, though scarce a good line's there.10
The women—O, if Stephen should be kill'd,
Or miss the lady, how the plot is spill'd!
And into how many pieces a poor play
Is taken still before the second day,
Like a strange beauty newly come to court!15
And, to say truth, good faith, 'tis all the sport.
One will like all the ill things in a play,
Another some o' th' good, but the wrong way;
So that from one poor play there comes t'arise
At several tables several comedies.20
The ill is only here, that 't may fall out
In plays as faces; and who goes about
To take asunder, oft destroys (we know)
What altogether made a pretty show.