Of what you were, I am your son: Perform it! [Exit.
Brun. Am I a woman, and no more power in
To tie this tiger up? a soul to no end?
Have I got shame, and lost my will? Brunhalt,
From this accursed hour forget thou bor'st him,
Or any part of thy blood gave him living!
Let him be to thee an antipathy,
A thing thy nature sweats at, and turns backward:
Throw all the mischiefs on him that thyself,
Or women worse than thou art, have invented,
And kill him drunk, or doubtful!
Enter BAWDBER, PROTALDYE, and LECURE.
Baw. Such a sweat
I never was in yet! clipt of my minstrels,
My toys to prick up wenches withal? uphold me;
It runs like snow-balls through me!
My slaves, my running thoughts, my executions!
Baw. Lord, how she looks!
Brun. Hell take you all!
Baw. We shall be gelt.
Brun. Your mistress,
Your old and honour'd mistress, you tir'd curtals,
Suffers for your base sins! I must be cloister'd,
Mew'd up to make me virtuous: Who can help
this?
Now you stand still, like statues! Come, Protaldye!
One kiss before I perish, kiss me strongly !
Another, and a third!
Lec. I fear not gelding,
As long as she holds this way.
Enter THEODORET, MARTELL, &c.
Theod. Tho' I assure myself, Martell, your
counsel
Had no end but allegiance and my honour,
Yet I am jealous, I have pass'd the bounds
Of a son's duty: For, suppose her worse
Than your report, not by bare circumstance
But evident proof confirm'd, has given her out;
Yet since all weaknesses in a kingdom are
No more to be severely punish'd, than
The faults of kings are, by the Thunderer,
As oft as they offend, to be reveng'd;
If not for piety, yet for policy,
Since some are of necessity to be spar'd,
I might, and now I wish I had not look'd
With such strict eyes into her follies.
A duty well discharg'd is never follow'd By sad repentance; nor did your highness ever
That unlick'd lump of mine, will win thy mis- Make payment of the debt you ow'd her, better
Must I be chaste, Protaldye?
Prot. Thus, and thus, lady!
Than in your late reproofs, not of her, but
Those crimes that made her worthy of reproof.
The most remarkable point in which kings differ
Brun. It shall be so: Let him seek fools for From private men, is that they not alone
Here is my cloister.
Lec. But what safety, madam,
Find you in staying here ?
Brun. Th'hast hit my meaning:
I will to Thierry, son of my blessings,
And there complain me, tell my tale so subtilly, That the cold stones shall sweat, and statues mourn;
And thou shalt weep, Protaldye, in my witness:
And these forswear.
Baw. Yes; any thing but gelding!
I am not yet in quiet, noble lady:
Let it be done to-night, for without doubt
To-morrow we are capons!
Brun. Sleep shall not seize me,
Nor any food befriend me but thy kisses,
Ere I forsake this desart. I live honest?
He may as well bid dead men walk! I humbled,
Or bent below my power? let night-dogs tear me,
And goblins ride me in my sleep to jelly,
Ere I forsake my sphere!]
Lec. This place you will.
Stand bound to be in themselves innocent,
But that all such as are allied to them
In nearness, or dependence, by their care
Should be free from suspicion of all crime:
And you have reap'd a double benefit
From this last great act: First, in the restraint
Of her lost pleasures you remove th' example
From others of the like licentiousness;
Then when 'tis known that your severity
Extended to your mother, who dares hope for
The least indulgence or connivance in
The easiest slips that may prove dangerous
To you, or to the kingdom?
Your reasons good, Martell, if, as she is
My mother, she had been my subject, or
That only here she could make challenge to
A place of being: But I know her temper,
And fear (if such a word become a king)
That in discovering her, I have let loose
A tigress, whose rage, being shut up in darkness,
Was grievous only to herself; which, brought
Into the view of light, her cruelty,
Provok'd by her own shame, will turn on him
That foolishly presum'd to let her see
The loath'd shape of her own deformity.
Mart. Beasts of that nature, when rebellious threats
Begin to appear only in their eyes,
Or any motion that may give suspicion
Of the least violence, should be chained up;
Their fangs and teeth, and all their means of hurt
Par'd off, and knock'd out; and so made unable
To do ill, they would soon begin to loath it.
I'll apply nothing; but had your grace done,
Or would do yet, what your less-forward zeal
In words did only threaten, far less danger
Would grow from acting it on her, than may
Perhaps have being from her apprehension
Of what may once be practis'd: For, believe it,
Who, confident of his own power, presumes
To spend threats on an enemy, that hath means
To shun the worst they can effect, gives armour
To keep off his own strength; nay, more, disarms
Himself, and lies unguarded 'gainst all harms
Or doubt or malice may produce.
And such a desperate cure I would have us'd,
If the intemperate patient had not been
So near me as a mother; but to her,
And from me, gentle unguents only were
To be applied: And as physicians,
When they are sick of fevers, eat themselves
Such viands as by their directions are
Forbid to others, tho' alike diseas'd;
So she, considering what she is, may challenge
Those cordials to restore her, by her birth
And privilege, which at no suit must be
Granted to others.
Mart. May your pious care
Effect but what it aim'd at! I am silent.
Enter DE VITRY.
Theod. What laugh'd you at, sir?
Vitry. I have some occasion,
I should not else; and the same cause perhaps
That makes me do so, may beget in you
A contrary effect.
Theod. Why, what's the matter?
Vitry. I see, and joy to see, that sometimes poor men
(And most of such are good) stand more indebted For means to breathe to such as are held vicious, Than those that wear, like hypocrites, on their foreheads
Th' ambitious titles of just men and virtuous.
Mart. Speak to the purpose!
Vitry. Who would e'er have thought The good old queen, your highness' reverend mother,
Into whose house (which was an academe,
In which all principles of lust were practis'd)
No soldier might presume to set his foot;
At whose most blessed intercession
All offices in the state were charitably
Conferr'd on panders, o'er-worn, chamber-wrest-
lers,
And such physicians as knew how to kill
With safety, under the pretence of saving,
And such-like children of a monstrous peace;
That she, I say, should at the length provide
That men of war, and honest younger brothers,
That would not owe their feeding to their cod-
piece,
Should be esteem'd of more than moths or drones,
The last night left the court; and, as 'tis more Then said, for 'tis confirm'd by such as met her, She's fled unto your brother.
Theod. How!
Vitry. Nay, storm not;
For if that wicked tongue of hers hath not
Forgot its pace, and Thierry be a prince
Of such a fiery temper as report
Has given him out for, you shall have cause to use
Such poor men as myself; and thank us too
For coming to you, and without petitions:
Pray Heav'n reward the good old woman for❜t!
Mart. I foresaw this.
Theod. I hear a tempest coming,
That sings mine and my kingdom's ruin. Haste,
And cause a troop of horse to fetch her back!
Yet stay! why should I use means to bring in
A plague, that of herself hath left me? Muster
Our soldiers up! we'll stand upon our guard;
For we shall be attempted. Yet forbear!
The inequality of our powers will yield me
Nothing but loss in their defeature: Something
Must be done, and done suddenly. Save your
labour !
In this I'll use no counsel but mine own:
That course, tho' dangerous, is best. Command
Our daughter be in readiness to attend us!
Martell, your company; and, honest Vitry,
Thou wilt along with me?
Vitry. Yes, any where;
To be worse than I'm here, is past my fear.
Enter THIERRY, BRUNHALT, BAWDBER,
The fam'd night-labour of strong Hercules,
Yet is the master of a continence
That so can temper it, that I forbear
Their daughters, and their wives; whose hands, tho' strong,
Thi. You are here in a sanctuary; and that As yet have never drawn by unjust mean
(Who, since he hath forgot to be a son,
I much disdain to think of as a brother)
Had better, in despite of all the gods,
Their proper wealth into my treasury !-
But I grow glorious-and let them beware
That, in their least repining at my pleasures,
They change not a mild prince (for, if provok'd,
To have raz'd their temples, and spurn'd down I dare and will be so) into a tyrant!
Than, in his impious abuse of you,
To have call'd on my just anger.
Brun. Princely son,
And in this worthy of a nearer name,
I have, in the relation of my wrongs,
Been modest, and no word my tongue deliver❜d
To express my insupportable injuries,
But gave my heart a wound: Nor has my grief
Being from what I suffer; but that he,
Degenerate as he is, should be the actor
Of my extremes, and force me to divide
The fires of brotherly affection,
Which should make but one flame.
As it deserves, shall burn no more, if or
The tears of orphans, widows, or all such
As dare acknowledge him to be their lord,
Join'd to your wrongs, with his heart-blood have
power
To put it out: And you, and these your servants,
Who in our favours shall find cause to know,
In that they left not you, how dear we hold them,
Shall give Theodoret to understand
His ignorance of the prizeless jewel which
He did possess in you, mother, in you;
Of which I am more proud to be the owner,
Than if th' absolute rule of all the world
Were offer'd to this hand. Once more, you're
welcome!
Which with all ceremony due to greatness
I would make known, but that our just revenge
Admits not of delay. Your hand, lord-general!
Enter PROTALDYE, with Soldiers.
Brun. Your favour and his merit, I may say, Have made him such; but I am jealous how Your subjects will receive it.
Thi. How! my subjects?
What do you make of me? Oh, Heaven! my subjects?
How base should I esteem the name of prince,
If that poor dust were any thing before
The whirlwind of my absolute cominand!
Let 'em be happy, and rest so contented,
They pay the tribute of their hearts and knees
To such a prince, that not alone has power
To keep his own, but to encrease it; that,
Altho' he hath a body may add to
Brun. You see there's hope that we shall rule again,
And your fall'n fortunes rise.
Baw. I hope your highness
Is pleas'd that I should still hold my place with
For I have been so long us'd to provide you Fresh bits of flesh since mine grew stale, that surely,
If cashier'd now, I shall prove a bad caterer
In the fish-market of cold chastity.
Lec. For me, I am your own; nor, since I first Knew what it was to serve you, have remember'd I had a soul, but such an one whose essence Depended wholly on your highness' pleasure; And therefore, madam
Brun. Rest assur'd you are
Such instruments we must not lose.
Lec. Baw. Our service!
Thi. You've viewed them then? what's your
opinion of them?
In this dull time of peace, we have prepared 'em Apt for the war; ha?
Prot. Sir, they have limbs
That promise strength sufficient, and rich armours,
The soldier's best-lov'd wealth: More, it appears
They have been drill'd, nay, very prettily drill'd;
For many of them can discharge their musquets
Without the danger of throwing off their heads,
Or being offensive to the standers-by,
By sweating too much backwards: Nay, I find
They know the right and left-hand file, and may,
With some impulsion, no doubt be brought
Το
pass the A, B, C, of war, and come
Unto the horn-book.
Thi. Well, that care is yours;
And see that you effect it.
Prot. I am slow
To promise much; but if within ten days,
By precepts and examples, not drawn from
Worm-eaten precedents, of the Roman wars,
But from mine own, I make them not transcend
All that e'er yet bore arms, let it be said
Protaldye brags, which would be unto me
As hateful as to be esteem'd a coward!
For, sir, few captains know the way to win him,
And make the soldier valiant. You shall see me
Lie with them in their trenches, talk, and drink,
And be together drunk; and, what seems stranger,
We'll sometimes wench together, which, once
practis'd,
And with some other care and hidden arts,
They being all made mine, I'll breathe into them
Such fearless resolution and such fervor,
That, tho' I brought them to besiege a fort
Whose walls were steeple-high, and cannon-proof,
Not to be undermin'd, they should fly up
Like swallows; and, the parapet once won,
For proof of their obedience, if will'd them,
They should leap down again; and what is more,
By some directions they should have from me,
Not break their necks.
Thi. This is above belief.
To make thee sensible of that horror, which
They ever bear about them, that like Nero-
Like, said I thou art worse; since thou dar'st
strive
In her defame to murder thine alive.
Theod. That she that long since had the bold
Be a bad woman, (tho' I wish some other
Should so report her) could not want the cunning,
Since they go hand in hand, to lay fair colours
On her black crimes, I was resolv'd before;
Nor make I doubt but that she hath impoison'd
Your good opinion of me, and so far
Incens'd your rage against me, that too late
Brun. Sir, on my knowledge, tho' he hath I come to plead my innocence.
spoke much,
He's able to do more.
Lec. She means on her.
Brun. And howsoever in his thankfulness, For some few favours done him by myself, He left Austracia; not Theodoret,
Tho' he was chiefly aim'd at, could have laid,
With all his dukedom's power, that shame upon
him,
Which in his barbarous malice to my honour,
He swore with threats t' effect.
Believe you, madam.-Thou art one degree
Grown nearer to my heart, and I am proud
To have in thee so glorious a plant
Transported hither: In thy conduct, we
Go on assured of conquest; our remove
Shall be with the next sun.
Brun. To excuse
Thy impious scandals rather!
Prot. Rather forc'd with fear
To be compell'd to come.
Thi. Forbear!
Theod. This moves not me; and yet, had I not been
Transported on my own integrity,
I neither am so odious to my subjects,
Nor yet so barren of defence, but that
By force I could have justified my guilt,
Had I been faulty: But since Innocence
Is to itself an hundred thousand guards,
And that there is no son, but tho' he owe'
That name to an ill mother, but stands bound
Rather to take away with his own danger
From th' number of her faults, than for his own
Security, to add unto them: This,
This hath made me to prevent th' expence
Enter THEODORET, Memberge, MARTELL, and Of blood on both sides; the injuries, the rapes,
Silent thus long, and am yet unresolv'd
Whether to entertain thee on my sword,
As fits a parricide of a mother's honour;
Or whether, being a prince, I yet stand bound
(Tho' thou art bere condemn'd) to give thee hear-
ing,
Before I execute. What foolish hope,
(Nay, pray you forbear) or desperate madness rather,
(Unless thou com'st assur'd, I stand in debt
As far to all impiety as thyself)
Has made thee bring thy neck unto the axe?
Since looking only here, it cannot but
Draw fresh blood from thy scar'd-up conscience,
(Pages, that ever wait upon the war)
The account of all which, since you are the cause,
Believe it, would have been requir'd from you;
Rather I say to offer up my daughter,
Who living only could revenge my death,
With my heart-blood a sacrifice to your anger,
Than that you should draw on your head more
Than yet you have deserv'd.
Thi. I do begin
To feel an alteration in my nature,
And, in his full-sail'd confidence, a shower
Of gentle rain, that falling on the fire
Of my hot rage hath quench'd it. Ha! I would
Once more speak roughly to him, and I will;
Yet there is something whispers to me, that
I have said too much: How is my heart divided
Between the duty of a son, and love
Due to a brother! Yet I am sway'd here,
And must ask of you, how 'tis possible
You can affect me, that have learn'd to hate
Where you should pay all love?
Theod. Which, join'd with duty,
Upon my knees I should be proud to tender,
Had she not us'd herself so many swords
To cut those bonds that tied me to it.
No more of that!
Theod. Alas, it is a theme
I take no pleasure to discourse of: 'Would
It could as soon be buried to the world,
As it should die to me! nay more, I wish
(Next to my part of Heav'n) that she would spend
The last part of her life so here, that all
Indifferent judges might condemn me for
A most malicious slanderer, nay, text it
Upon my forehead. If you hate me, mother,
Put me to such a shame; pray you do! Believe it,
There is no glory that may fall upon me,
Can equal the delight I should receive
In that disgrace; provided the repeal
Of your long-banish'd virtues, and good name
Usher'd me to it.
Thi. See, she shews herself
easy mother, which her tears confirm ! Theod. 'Tis a good sign; the comfortablest rain I ever saw.
Thi. Embrace!-Why, this is well:
May never more but love in you, and duty
On your part, rise between you!
Baw. Do you hear. lord-general?
See all things be prepar❜d to entertain her:
Nay, let me have your companies! there's a forest
In the midway shall yield us hunting sport,
To ease our travel: I'll not have a brow
But shall wear mirth upon it; therefore clear them!
We'll wash away all sorrow in glad feasts;
And th' war we meant to men, we'll make on
beasts.
[Exeunt omnes præter BRUN. BAW. PROT. LEC. Brun. Oh, that I had the magick to transform
Into the shape of such, that your own hounds
Might tear you piece-meal! Are you so stupid?
No word of comfort? Have I fed your mouths
From my excess of moisture, with such cost,
And can you yield no other retribution,
But to devour your maker? pandar, sponge,
Impoisoner, all grown barren?
That are our mover, and for whom alone
We live, have fail'd yourself, in giving way
Does not your new-stamp'd honour on the sudden To th' reconcilement of your sons.
Begin to grow sick?
Prot. Yes; I find it fit,
That, putting off my armour, I should think of Some honest hospital to retire to.
Altho' I am a bawd, yet being a lord,
They cannot whip me for't: What's your opinion?
Lec. The beadle will resolve you, for I cannot; There's something that more near concerns myself
That calls upon me.
Mart. Note but yonder scarabes,
That liv'd upon the dung of her base pleasures; How from the fear that she may yet prove honest Hang down their wicked heads!
Vitry. What's that to me?
Tho' they and all the polecats of the court
Were truss'd together, I perceive not how
It can advantage me a cardecue,
To help to keep me honest.
Enter a Post.
Post. These letters will resolve your grace. Thi. What speak they?— [Reuds. How all things meet to make me this day happy! See, mother, brother, to your reconcilement Another blessing, almost equal to it, Is coming tow'rds me! my contracted wife Ordella, daughter of wise Datarick, The king of Arragon, is on our confines: Then, to arrive at such a time, when you Are happily here to honour with your presence Our long-deferr'd, but much wish'd nuptial, Falls out above expression! Heav'n be pleas'd That I may use these blessings pour'd on me With moderation!
Brun. Hell and furies aid me,
That I may have power to avert the plagues,
That press upon me!
Thi. Two days' journey, say'st thou?
You had prevented, or would teach us how
They might again be sever'd, we could easily
Remove all other hind'rances that stop
The passage of your pleasures.
Baw. And for me,
If I fail in my office to provide you
Fresh delicates, hang me!
Brun. Oh, you are dull, and find not The cause of my vexation; their reconcilement s a mock castle built upon the sand By children, which, when I am pleas'd to o'erthrow,
I can with ease spurn down.
Lec. If so, from whence
Grows your affliction?
Brun. My grief comes along
With the new queen, in whose grace all my power
Must suffer shipwreck: For me now,
That hitherto have kept the first, to know
A second place, or yield the least precedence
To any other, 's death! to have my sleeps
Less enquir'd after, or my rising up
Saluted with less reverence, or my gates
Empty of suitors, or the king's great favours
To pass thro' any hand but mine, or he
Himself to be directed by another,
Would be to me-Do you understand me yet?
No means to prevent this?
Prot. Fame gives her out To be a woman of a chastity
Not to be wrought upon; and therefore, madam, For me, tho' I have pleas'd you, to attempt her Were to no purpose.
Brun. Tush, some other way!
Baw. Faith, I know none else; all my bringing-up
Aim'd at no other learning.
Lec. Give me leave!
If my art fail me not, I have thought on
A speeding project.
Brun. What is't? but effect it,
We will set forth to meet her. In the mean time, And thou shalt be my Esculapius;
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