  Enter Atticvs, Iago, Nicanor, two Iudges, Notarie, and Attendants. Att. How full of troubles is the state of Kings, Abroad with Foes, at home, with faithlesse Friends, Within with cares, without, a thousand feares? Yet all summ’d vp together, doth not make Such an impression in our troubled thoughts, As this one Act of disobedience In our owne Issue. Iag. Gracious Soueraigne, yet for that high respect, Be fauourable: she is your Daughter. 1. Iud. And the onely hope Of all Sicilie, since Lorenzo’s losse. Att. Bring to the Barre the Prisoners: this offence Hath lost in vs a Father and a Friend, And cals for Iustice from vs, as a King: Yet thinke not, Lords, but ’tis with griefe of mind, Nor can a Father easly forget a Daughter, Whom hee once so dearely lou’d: Yet we had rather become Issulesse, Then leaue it noted to Posteritie, An Act of such Iniustice. 2. Iud. Yet, dread Liege, Oh, doe not too much aggrauate the crime. Rather impute it to their childish loue. Att. To loue, my Lords? if that were lowable, What Act so vile, but might be so excus’d? The Murderer, that sheddeth guiltlesse bloud, Might plead, it was for loue of his Reuenge, The Felon likewise might excuse his theft, With loue of money, and the Traytor too Might say, It was for loue of Soueraigntie. And indeed, all offenders so might plead. "A Barre." Therefore, my Lords, you that sit here to Iudge, Let all respect of persons be forgot, And deale vprightly, that you may resemble The highest Iudge, whose seat on Earth you hold: And for you know, the Lawes of Sicilie Forbid to punish two, for one offence, Let your care be to find the principall, The Primus Motor that begun the cause; For the effect (you see) is but the issue That one of them may worthily receiue Deserued death; the other, may be sent (As lesse offending) into banishment. "Exit King."
1. Iudg. Th’offence wherewith you both stand tax’d withall, Appeares so manifest in grosse, that now We need not question all particulars In publique here: yet your triall shall Be honourable, as your Persons were Before this blacke Impression. Therefore say, Which of you two begun th’occasion, By any meanes, direct or indirect? And answer truely, as you looke for grace. Lis. ’Twas I, my honour’d Lords. Leo. My Lords, ’twas I. Lis. Let not this honourable Court be swaid By false suggestions; that the fault was mine, Appeares as manifest as mid-dayes Sunne, ’Twas I that first attempted, su’d, and prai’d, Vs’d all the subtile engins Art could inuent, Or Nature yeeld, to force affection, Onely to gaine the royall Princesse loue; For what can Women aboue weakenesse act? Or, what Fort’s so strong, but yeelds at length To a continued siege? Th’attempt, I knew, was hard and dangerous: Therefore more honourable in the conquest; Which ere I would haue left, I would ha’ past More dangers then ere Iason vnder-went. Then, since you see (my Lords) the guilt was mine, Pardon the Princesse, Mee to death resigne. Leo. Pardon (my Lords) Lisandro, let me dye: If euer you’le performe an act of iustice Shall make you truely famous, doe it here, Here vpon me; the guilt alone is mine: ’Twas this alluring face, and tempting smiles, That drew on his affections. Say that Hee Did first commence the suit; the fault was mine In yeelding to it: ’Tis a greater shame For women to consent, then men to aske: And yet, before he spoke, I had ingag’d My heart and loue to him, vnask’d, vnpraid; And then (you know) how soone our eyes discouers The true affection that we beare our Louers: Then since the guilt alone remaines in Mee, Let me be iudg’d, and set Lisandro free. 2. Iudg. This knot is intricate. Lis. ’Tis fallacie. Who can alledge one Article ’gainst her? Th’offence was, breaking of the Kings command, That none, on paine of death, should visit her, Vnlesse appoynted by the King himselfe; And that alone was mine: ’Twas my deuice; I tooke the borrowed shape; I broke the Law, And I must suffer for’t: Then doe not wrong Her spotlesse Chastitie. 4. Iudg. How, Chastitie? Lis. If any here conceiue her otherwise, That very thought will damne him: She’s as chaste As ere your Mothers in their cradles were, For any act committed. 2. Iudg. Harder still. 1. Iudg. A confused Labyrinth: we shal ne’r wind out. Leo. My Lords, beleeue him not; the guilt lies here: ’Twas I that sent him that deluding shape, In which he got admittance; The offence Rests onely here: And therefore (good my Lords) Let the condemning sentence passe on mee; Or else, I will protest to all the world, You are vniust; And take my death vpon’t. Lis. Fie, Madam, how you wrong your innocence! And seeming (Lady) to be pittifull To mee, you are most cruell; for my life Should be a willing sacrifice to death, To expiate the guilt of my offence. Remember what continuall paines I tooke, By messages, intreaties, gifts, and prayers, To win your fauour, deare Leonida, Iustice in this will be Impietie, Vnlesse it here be shew’d. I beg it may. Leo. I beg against him: He is innocent; The fact alone was mine: I was the first, The middle, and the end; And Iustice here must end. Or ’tis iniustice. Heral. Atticus, King of Sicilia, to all his louing Subiects sendeth greeting: Whereas there is a doubtfull question to be decided in publique disputation, which concernes the honour of all men in generall, that is to say, Whether the Man or the Woman in loue, stand guilty of the greatest offence: Know therefore, if that any man, of what estate or condition soeuer, will vndertake to defend the equitie of men, against the false imputations of women, let vm repayre to the Court, they shall be honourably entertayned, graciously admitted, and well rewarded. God saue the King. Omnes. Heauen preserue his Grace. Mis. Fortune, I doe adore thee for this newes: Why, here’s the thing I lookt for; ’tis a prize Will make me euer famous. Herald, stay, I will maintaine the Challenge, and approue That women are first tempters vnto loue. I’le blazon forth their colours in such sort, Shall make their painted cheekes looke red, for vm To haue them noted theirs, that all may know That women onely are the cause of woe. Omnes. A Champion, a Champion! "Exeunt." Enter a Woman with a Proclamation, and as many Women as may be, with a Trumpet afore them. Lor. Aurelia, Queene, by the especiall priuiledge of the Maiestie of Sicilia, to all Ladies, gentle and others, of the Female Sex, sends greeting: Whereas there is a question to be decided in publike disputation before, an Honourable Assembly of both parts, that is, whether the man or the woman in loue comit the greatest offence, by giuing the first and principall occasion of sinning: therefore know, that if any woman will vndertake to defend the innocency of women, against the false imputations of detracting men, let her repaire to the Court, shee shall bee honourably entertayned, graciously admitted, and well rewarded. "God saue the Queene." Omnes. Heauens preserue her. Lor. I doe accept it, tis a cause so iust, In equitie and vertue, in defence Of wronged women, whose distressed fames Lye buried in contempt, whose Champion I doe professe my selfe, and doe desire No greater glorie, then to haue that name. What woman can indure to heare the Wrongs, Slanders, Reproches, and base Forgeries, That base men vaunt forth, to dimme the rayes Of our weake tender Sex? But they shall know, Themselues, not women, are the cause of woe. A Champion, a Champion. "Exeunt Omnes." Enter Atticus, Misogynos, two Iudges, Notarie, Cryer, and Attendants——And then Lisandro, and Hortensia guarded. Att. That Equitie and Iustice both may meet, In paralels, like to Apollo’s Twinnes, We haue ordayn’d this Session. In the which Let all vnequall and impartiall thoughts Be laid aside; with such regard of truth, As not the name of Daughter, or the Bloud Which we call ours, running in her veines, May any way diuert vs. Therefore goe on, And take your seat, stout Champion, and preuaile, As is the truth you deale for, in this doubtfull, And much ambiguous businesse. Mis. So I wish—— "Passe to his seat with Trumpets." Enter to them Aurelia, leading Atlanta, Loretta, and two or three more women. Aur. Braue Amazonian beautie, learned Atlanta, Now is it time your intellectuall powers, Of wit and iudgement shou’d aduance themselues Against the forked tongues of Slanderers, That pierce the spotlesse innocence of women, And poyson sweetnesse with the breath of Malice. So on, and take thy seat! It is our trust, Th’euent will prosper, for our cause is iust. Atlan. That makes me confident—— "Passe to the seat." Att. Prepare the Court. Cry. O yes! O yes! O yes! If there be any man——or woman——in this Honourable Court——that can produce——any lawfull cause——against either of the Aduocates——why they should not bee admitted——Let them now speake, or for euer hereafter hold their peace—— Att. ’Tis well. Now sweare the Iudges. Not. Yee shall sweare by the sacred hand of Atticus, not to respect the person of either of the Offendors: but iustly and truly to waigh and ballance the Reasons and Arguments of the deputed Aduocates, and thereupon to determine and proceed in iudgement, according to the Lawes of this Iland, as you tender the pleasure of Royall Atticus. Both Iudg. To this we freely sweare. Att. Now then, to your Arguments. Aur. Atlanta, for poore innocent women. Att. Misogynos for the men. Atlan. It is an honour farre beyond my weaknesse, (Most equall Iudges) that I am accepted, I but a woman, before men to plead, Dumbe feare and bashfulnesse to speake before Bold Orators of State, men graue and wise, That can at euery breathing pause, correct The slipp’ry passages of a womans speech: But yet withall my hopes are doubly arm’d. 1. Iudg. How doubly arm’d? 2. Iudg. Presume not more then Reason. Atlan. First, that my bashfull weaknesse claymes excuse, And is to speake before such temp’rate Iudges, Who in their wisdome will, no doubt, conniue At small defects in me a silly woman. 1. Law. Smoothly put on. 2. Law. A quaint insinuation. Atlan. Next, that the cause I handle, is so iust, And full of truth, as were corruption seated Vpon your hearts (as who can euer doubt Wisdome shou’d so decline) I wou’d not feare, But that my pregnant Reasons soone shou’d purge, And clense your secret bosomes from vntruth. 1. Law. A promising Exordium. 2. Law. The successe is all. Atlan. I need not tell you what I come to prooue: That rayling Woman-hater hath alreadie With his foule breath belcht forth into the Ayre, The shamelesse cause in question, and doth charge The supple wax, the courteous natur’d woman, As blamefull for receiuing the impression Of Iron hearted man, in whom is grauen, With curious and deceiuing Art, foule shapes And stamps of much abhord impietie. Wou’d any man, once hauing fixt his Seale To any Deed, though after he repent The Fact so done, rayle at the supple Wax, As though that were the cause of his vndoing? O idle leuitie! Wax hath’s vse, And woman easly beares the mans abuse. 1. Law. Here’s a by-blow. 2. Law. How can my Fencer ward it? Stay: he comes on. Mis. Hum. Doe you wax vpon me? as if man Once hauing fixt the Seale of Armes of loue, On waxen-harted woman, though another Came after him, and did adulterate The stampe imprinted on her, she, forsooth, Must still be held excus’d. ’Tis weake, and fond, And woman-like: you flye on waxen wings, That melt against the Sunne. Therefore attend, And I will proue vnto this honour’d Court, In all their passions women are impetuous, And beyond men, ten times more violent. Atlan. I grant you that. But who begins the motion, And is first agent? for as I conceiue, That’s the cause in question. Mis. Deluding woman. Atlan. Flattring and periur’d man. Mis. Did not th’inticing beautie of a woman, Set Troy on fire? Atlan. Did not man first begin To tempt that beautie with the fire of lust? Mis. Beautie first tempts to lust. Atlan. Lust tempteth Beautie: Witnesse the vowes, the oaths, the protestations, And Crocodile teares of base dissembling men, To winne their shamelesse purpose: Whereof missing, Then but obserue their Gifts, their Messages, Their wanton Letters, and their amorous Sonnets, Whereby they vent the smoke of their affections, Readie to blind poore women, and put out The Eye of Reason. But if still they faile, Then come they on with vndermining cunning, And with our Maides, our Pages and Attendants, Corruptly worke and make insinuation, Whilst they at hand with fained languishment, Make shew as if they meant to dye for loue, When they but swelter in the reeke of Lust. But heere’s not all: for if this all preuaile not, Then are they vp againe, and with pale cheekes, Like some poore Starueling, or some Mimick Ghost, They stalke into the presence of their Mistris, Fold vp their armes, hang downe their wanton heads, Cast loue-sicke glances, and as wofull Comma’s, In this dumbe Oratorie, now and then they breathe A passionate sigh, whereat the gentle nature Of milde compassionate woman once relenting, Straight they fall out into such sweet complaints Of their sad suffrings, tuning words of Art, Able to melt a gentle Eye in teares, As they doe speake. Then with officious dutie, They licke a Moat off from her vpper garment, Dust her curl’d Ruffe with their too busie fingers, As if some dust were there: and many toyes They vse to please, till side by side they ioyne, And palme with palme supplies the amorous heart, To pay a wanton kisse on Loues faire lips, And then the Prize is wonne. Iudge therefore, Lords, Whether the guilt doth lye on vs or them, And as your Wisdomes find, saue or condemne. A Plaudite by the women, with shouts, crying, Atlanta, Atlanta, Atlanta! Lisan. Truth hath she said in all. Hort. O, but the Art of Woman—— 1. Iud. Silence! you haue no voice in Court. 2. Iud. You haue your Aduocates, therefore must not speake. 1. Law. These Allegations are vnanswerable. 2. Law. The Court must needs allow them. Mis. Bragge not too fast! for all this glorious speech, Is but a painted Pageant, made to vsher Some homely Scauenger, and is borne vp, Vpon the backes of Porters. It wants true worth, To carrie State, and vsher learned Iudgement Into this Court. For what a foolish reason, Is it to say, Lust tempteth garish Beautie, Because men court their wanton Mistresses, In sundry formes of Complement? There’s not A Citie Tradesman throughout all the Streets, From the East Chappell, to the Westerne Palace, But knowes full well the garish setting out Of Beautie in their shops, will call in Customers To cheapen ware: Beautie set forth to sale, Wantons the bloud, and is mans tempting Stale. 1. Law. How boldly he comes on? 2. Law. But marke his reasons. Mis. And this is woman, who well knowes her strength, And trimmes her Beautie forth in blushing Pride, To draw as doth the wanton Morning Sunne, The eyes of men to gaze. But marke their natures, And from their Cradles you shall see them take Delight in making Babies, deuising Christnings, Bidding of Gossips, calling to Vp-sittings, And then to Festiuals, and solemne Churchings, In imitation of the wanton ends, Their riper yeeres will ayme at. But goe further, And looke vpon the very Mother of Mischiefe, Who as her Daughters ripen, and doe bud Their youthfull Spring, straight she instructs them how To set a glosse on Beautie, adde a lustre To the defects of Nature, how to vse The mysterie of Painting, Curling, Powdring, And with strange Periwigs, pin knots, Bordrings, To deck them vp like to a Vintners Bush, For men to gaze at on a Midsummer Night, 1. Law. The tyde begins to turne. 2. Law. Women goe downe. Mis. This done, they are instructed by like Art, How to giue entertainment, and keepe distance With all their Sutors, Friends, and Fauourites, When to deny, and when to feed their hopes, Now to draw on, and then againe put off, To frowne and smile, to weepe and laugh out-right, All in a breath, and all to trayne poore man Into his ruine: Nay, by Art they know How to forme all their gesture, how to adde A Venus Mole on euery wanton cheeke, To make a gracefull dimple when she laughes: And (if her teeth be bad) to lispe and simper, Thereby to hide that imperfection: And these once learn’d, what wants the Tempter now, To snare the stoutest Champion of men? Therefore, graue Iudges, let me thus conclude: Man tempts not woman, woman doth him delude. A Plaudite by the Men with shouts, crying, Misogynos, Misogynos, Misogynos! 1. Law. Women, looke to’t, the Fencer giues you a veney. 2. Law. Beleeue it, he hits home. Mis. Nay, I wou’d speake. What Tyrannies, Oppressions, Massacres, Women stand guiltie of: and which is more, What Cities haue beene sackt and ruinate, Kingdomes subuerted, Lands depopulated, Monarchies ended? and all these by women. Atlan. Base snarling Dogge, bite out thy slandrous tongue, And spit it in the face of Innocence, That at once all thy rancour may haue end: And doe not still opprobriously condemne Woman that bred thee, who in nothing more Is guiltie of dishonour to her Sex: But that she hath brought forth so base a Viper, To teare her reputation in his teeth, As thou hast done. Mis. O doe not scold, good woman! 1. Iud. Goe to the purpose. Atlan. I forgot my selfe: Therefore, graue Iudges, let this base Impostor Tell me one man that euer gaue his life, To keepe his vow safe and inuiolate, Against the assaults of Lust: and for that one, He find a thousand women, that to keepe Their Chastities and Honours vndefil’d, Haue laid their liues downe at base Tyrants feet. A Plaudite by Women, crying, Atlanta, Atlanta, Atlanta! 1. Law. This is but a flourish. 2. Law. The Fencers Schoole-play beares it. Mis. What hath beene is not now: The Kalender Of Women Saints is fild vp long agoe: For now a vniuersall leprosie, Like to an Inundation, ouer-flowes, And breakes vpon you all: scarce one is free From wanton lightnesse and vaine leuitie. Atlan. None like to Nero, and Heliogabulus. Mis. Yes, wanton Hellen and Cleopatra. Atlan. I cou’d name more. Mis. I, ten for one, of Women. Atlan. Sense-pleasing Sardanapalus is beyond All Women that can be nam’d. Mis. Ile name you one Beyond all Men, th’insatiate Messalina: Who when she had to satisfie her lust, Imbrac’d the change of Louers, and was weakened So farre, she could no longer hold it out: And being askt if then she were satisfied, She answerered, No: for though she then were tyr’d, No change could satisfie her appetite. A Plaudite by the Men, crying, Misogynos, Misogynos, Misogynos. Atlan. O monstrous impietie! Aur. Stop the Detractors mouth: Away with him. Women. Teare him in pieces. Not. Silence in the Court. Attic. It is enough: my Lords, proceed to iudgement; And lead away Misogynos to his Chamber. The two Lawyers lead Misogynos away. 1. Iudge. Read the decree. Not. We the sworne Iudges of this present Court, In equall ballance hauing weigh’d the reasons, And allegations of both Aduocates, In their late Declamations, doe adiudge, And here conclude that—— Attic. Read out. Not. That women are the first and worst temptations To loue and lustfull folly: and to this We are here present, ready to subscribe. Atlan. You are impartiall, and we doe appeale From you to Iudges more indifferent: You are all men, and in this weightie businesse, Graue Women should haue sate as Iudges with you. Aur. ’Tis true, ’tis true: Let vs haue iustice. Attic. It is decreed already; attend the iudgement. Aur. Yet at the last let your Aurelia kneele, And for the Ofspring of your loynes and mine, Begge fauour. Attic. Peace. Aur. You alwayes haue bin iust In other causes; Will you in your owne Be so vniust, seuere, nay tyrannous? The very Beasts, by naturall instinct, Preserue their issue; and will you be then, More cruell and vnnaturall then they? Attic. Arise; and know, A King is like a Starre, By which each Subiect, as a Mariner, Must steere his course. Iustice in Vs is ample, From whom Inferiors will deriue example. Aur. Oh, be not so obdurate! Attic. I’le heare no more. Atlan. Yet, gracious Sir, for my indeuouring paines, (Though fruitlesse now) let mee (a Stranger) beg One boone—— Attic. But not the Atlan. Since she must die; I beg she may not basely Be hurried forth amongst vnciuill men; But that your Queene, and I, and some few others, With any one of your attendant Lords, May see her execution. Attic. Take your desire. Leo. The blessed Heauens be thankfull to Atlanta. Lis. And crowne her with all blessings. Attic. Take my thanks too. And now, my Lords, proceed, And giue your finall censure. |
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