  Enter Iago and Sforza, seuerall. Sfor. Health to your Honour. Iag. Noble Sforza, thankes. Sfor. Haue you not heard the newes? Iag. Of what, my Lord? Sfor. Lisandro, and the Princesse. Iag. Not as yet. Sfor. Then I’le resolue you. Iag. Pray you doe, my Lord. Sfor. The Aduocates both vsed their vtmost skill, To iustifie and quit the Sex they stood for, With arguments, and reasons so profound On eyther side, that it was hard to say, Which way the scale of Iustice would incline. Iag. I ioy to heare it; And to say the truth, Both Sexes equally should beare the blame; For both offend alike. But pray’ proceed. Sfor. At length, the Aduocate that stood for vs, Preuail’d so farre, with his forc’d Oratorie, The Lord Nicanor too, abetting him, That maugre all the Amazonians wit, Which was (indeed) beyond expression, The sentence past against the female Sex; And the poore Princesse is adiudg’d to death. Iag. The Heauens forbid! The Princesse doom’d to die? Sfor. Too true, my Lord: I heard the words pronounc’d. Iag. A sentence most vniust, and tyrannous. Where’s the Detractor? Sfor. Crown’d with Victorie, And intertain’d with Triumph. Iag. That iust Heauen Should suffer such an impious wretch to live! I must goe looke the Princesse; when must she dye? Sfor. To morrow’s Sun beholds a daughters fall. Iag. A Sunne must rise to night, to dimme that Sunne, From the beholding such a horrid deed. ’Twas cruell in a King, for such a fact; But in a Father, it is tyrannie. Enter Misogynos. Sfor. Forbeare, my Lord, the times are dangerous. See! here’s the Champion. Iag. Looke how the Slaue glories in his conquest, How insolent he stalkes! Shall we indure such saucie impudence? Sfor. Put vp, put vp, my Lord, He is not worth our indignation: Let vs a-while obserue him for some sport. Enter Scanfardoe. Scan. My noble Fencer, I congratulate Your braue atchieuements in the last dayes triumph. Mis. I thanke you, Scholler. Was’t not brauely done? Scanf. Done like thy selfe: the spirits of Mantua And old Diogenes doubled in thee. Mis. I thinke, I haue giuen The Female reputation such a wound, Will not be cured in haste. Enter two Gentlemen. Iag. Ha, ha, ha, ha; Pernicious slaue. 1. Gent. Worthie Misogynos. 2. Gent. Noble Champion, We doe applaud Your merit, in the report Of your late conquest. Mis. Thanke you, Gentlemen Truth will preuaile, you see. I speake not for my selfe, in my owne quarrel; But the generall good of all men in the world. 1. Gent. We know it, Sir. Iag. Degenerate Monster, how he iustifies His slandrous forgeries? Mis. But, Gentlemen, How goes the rumour? What do’s the Multitude report of mee? 1. Gent. Oh Sir, the Men applaud you infinitely; But the Women—— Mis. I respect not them: Their curses are my prayers. Iag. Oh damn’d Rogue! 1. Gent. If you’le be rul’d by me, go shew your selfe Amongst them all in publique: O 'twill fret Their very galls in pieces. Iag. That was well. Some body second that, and we shall see Excellent pastime; for they’le ne’r indure His sight with any patience. Scanf. Doe i’faith That they may see you haue conquer’d. Mis. And I will. But should they grow outragious— 2. Gent. Feare not that: we’le all along with ye. Mis. Will you conduct me safe vnto my Schoole? Scan. I, I, we’le be your Gard. "Exeunt." Sfor. Oh what a Coward ’tis? Iag. You doe him wrong: He fights not with his hands, but with his tongue. Why doe I trifle time? I’le to the Court; This crueltie afflicts my very soule. Good my Lord, ioyne with me; we’le to the King, And see if wee can alter this decree. Oh ’tis a royall Princesse, faire, and chaste! Sfor. But her disdaine, my Lord, hath bin the cause Of many hopefull Youths vntimely end; ’Tis that has harden’d both the Commons hearts, And many a noble Peeres, Iag. Why, what of that? It is not fit affection should be forc’d: Let’s kneele vnto his Grace for her release. Iustice (like Lightning) euer should appeare To few mens ruine, but to all mens feare. "Exit." Scen. II.Enter Nicanor, and a Gentleman. Nic. The Princesse suffers then? Gent. This Morning, Sir, Vnlesse the mercie of the King be found More then is yet expected. Nic. Oh my heart, Canst thou indure to heare that heauie sound, And wilt not burst with griefe? Gent. Nay, good my Lord: Nic. Oh, worthie Sir, you did not know the ioyes That we all lost in her. She was the hope, And onely comfort of Sicilia; And the last Branch was l
, I vs’d my best of skill to saue his life: But all, I feare, in vaine: the mortall wound I find incurable: yet I prolong’d His life a little, that he yet drawes breath: Goe you and visit him with vtmost speed: The Queene and I will follow. Iag. Goe? Ile runne. "Exit Iago." Aur. Was euer Father so vnmercifull, But for that Monster that was cause of this, That bloudie, cruell, and inhumane wretch, That slanderous Detractor of our Sex: That Misogynos, that blasphemous Slaue? I will be so reueng’d. Enter Clowne. Atlan. Madame, no more, He is not worth your wrath: Let me alone with him. Clow. Whist, doe you heare? Atlan. How now, what art thou? Clow. Not your Seruant, and yet a Messenger, No Seruingman, and yet an Vsher too. Atlan. What are you then, Sir? speake. Clow. That can resolue you, and yet cannot speake, I am no Foole, I am a Fencer, Sir. Aur. A Fencer, sirrah? ha, what Countrey-man? Clow. This Countrey-man, forsooth, but yet borne in England. Aur. How? borne in England, & this Countrey-man? Clow. I haue bin borne in many Countreyes, Madame, But I thinke I am best be this Countrey-man, For many take me for a silly one. Aur. For a silly one? Clow. I, a silly one. Atlan. Oh, Madame, I haue such welcomenesse! Aur. For me, what is’t? Atlan. The baytes of women haue preuented vs, And hee has intrapt himselfe. Aur. How, by what accident? Atlan. Loue, Madame, loue, read that. Aur. How’s this? To the most wise and vertuous Amazon, Chiefe pride and glorie of the Female Sex. A promising induction: what’s within? Magnanimous Ladie, maruell not, That your once Aduersary do’s submit himselfe To your vnconquer’d beautie. Atlan. Cunning Slaue. Aur. Rather impute it to the power of loue, Whose heauenly influence hath wrought in me, So strange a Metamorphosis. Atlan. The very quintessence of flatterie. Aur. In so much, I vow hereafter, to spend all my dayes, Deuoted to your seruice, it shall be To expiate my former blasphemies: My desire is shortly to visit you. Atlan. It shall be to your cost then. Aur. To make testimony of my hearty contrition, Till when and euer I will protest my selfe, To be the conuerted Misogynist. Atlan. Ha, ha, ha, why, this is excellent! Beyond imagination. Aur. You must not slip this oportunitie. Atlan. Ile not let passe a minute: his owne man Ile make an instrument to feed his Follies with a kind acceptance, and when he comes, Let me alone to plot his punishment. Aur. Excellent Atlanta, I applaud thy wit. Atlan. Ile make him an example to all men, That dares calumniate a womans fame. Attend an answere, Ile reward thee well. Clow. I thanke your Madame-ship, Ime glad o’ this, Tis the best hit that euer Fencer gaue. "Exeunt." Enter Atticus, Iago, Sforza, and Nicanor. Att. How took the Girle her death? did she not raue? Exclaime vpon me for the Iustice done By a iust Father? how tooke Naples sonne His Exile from our Land? What, no man speake? My Lords, whence springs this alteration? Why stand you thus amaz’d? Methinks your eyes Are fixt in Meditation; and all here Seeme like so many sencelesse Statues, As if your soules had suffer’d an eclipse, Betwixt your iudgements and affections: Is it not so? 'Sdeath, no man answers? Iago, you can tell: I’me sure you saw The execution of Leonida, Not yet a sillable? If once agen We doe but aske the question, Death tyes vp Your soules for euer. Call a Heads-man there. If for our daughter this dumbe griefe proceed, Why should not We lament as well as you? I was her father; whose deare life I priz’d Aboue mine owne, before she did transgresse: And, could the Law haue so bin satisfi’d. Mine should ha’ paid the ransome of her cryme. But, that the World should know our equitie, Were she a thousand daughters she should die. Iag. I can forbeare no longer. Then (Sir) know, It was about that time, when as the Sunne Had newly climb’d ouer the Easterne hils, To glad the world with his diurnall heat, When the sad ministers of Iustice tooke Your daughter from the bosome of the Queene Whom now she had instructed to receiue Deaths cold imbraces with alacritie: Which she so well had learn’d, that shee did striue, Like a too forward Scholler, to exceed Her Teachers doctrine, So cheerefully she went vnto the Block, As if shee’d past vnto her nuptiall bed. And as the trembling Bride when she espies The Bridegroome hastily vnclothe himselfe, And now beginning to approch the bed, Then she began to quake and shrinke away, To shun the separation of that head, Which is ima Nic. This Physick works too strongly, and may proue a deadly potion. Sforza, good my Lord, if any anger be ’twixt you and I, let it lye buried now; and let’s deuise some pastime to suppresse this heauinesse. A melancholy King makes a sad Court. Iag. Of the Kings welfare. I, with all my heart. Sfor. Who’le vndertake this charge? Nic. I will, my Lord: Let the deuice be mine. Iag. I’le get the Amazon to ioyne with you: Her rare inuention, and experience too, In forraine Countries may auaile you much, In some new quaint conceit. Nic. Doe, good my Lord: I’de ha’t assoone presented as I could. Iag. Tonight, if it be possible: farewell. I must goe looke her out. Nic. Ha, ha, ha, ha. So by this meanes, I shall expresse may selfe Studious and carefull. Scen. III.Enter Atlanta and Avrelia. Aur. But dost thou thinke hee’le come? Att. He cannot chuse. I sent him such a louing answer backe By his Solliciter, able to make An Eunuch to come with the conceit. The houre’s almost at hand. Madam, command A banquet be set forth: My charge shall be Enter with a Banquet, Women. To giue him intertainement: whilst your Grace, Loretta, and the Ladies of your traine, Or any others you shall please to appoint, Be ready to surprise him. So ’tis well. Now leaue the rest to mee. Aur. My deare Atlanta, I commend thy care. Att. Call it my dutie, Madam, and the loue I owe to sacred vertue, to defend The same of women. All withdraw awhile, "Ex. Women." I thinke I heare him comming. I, ’tis he. Or smallest title of inueteracie, They shall not breathe a minute. Must a Prince Be checkt, and schooled, pursued and scolded at, For executing Iustice? Nic. Royall, Sir. Be pleased, to cast away these Discontents. Iago’s sorrie for his bold offence. The Queene repents her too, and all the Court Is clowded o’r with griefe: your sadnesse, Sir, Fils euery Subiects heart with heauinesse. Will’t please your Highnesse to behold some pastime, There is a Maske and other sports prepar’d: Prepared to solace you, To steale away your sorrowes. King. Who’s that spoke? Nicanor, is’t hee? I thought as much: I knew no other would be halfe so kind, Nor carefull of our health: doe what thou wilt, We will deny nothing that thou demandest, My dearest Comforter, stay to my age, The hope of Sicilie lyes now in thee. Come sit by vs, weele see what new deuice Thy diligence——Nic. My dutie. King. Hath studied to delight thy Soueraigne. Come sit, Nicanor. Nic. Pardon, Sir, awhile, Ile giue command to see it straight perform’d, And instantly returne. King. Make no delay: We haue no ioy but in thy companie. Nic. Nor I no Hell, but thy continuance. Ile present that will shorten it, I hope. King. Sforza, thou louest me too: come neerer vs: But old Iago is a froward Lord, Honest, but lenatiue, ore-swaid too much With pitt e against Iustice, that’s not good: Indeed it is not in a Counsellar. And he has too much of woman, otherwise He might be Ruler of a Monarchie, For policie and wisdome. Sforza sit, Take you your places to behold this Maske. Enter Nicanor. Nic. Now they are readie. King. Let vm enter then. Come sit by vs, Nicanor, and describe The meaning, as they enter. Enter Iago, and the Queene. Iag. Heere your Grace May vndiscouered sit, and view the Maske, And see how ’tis affected by the King: I know, 'twill nip him to the verie soule. The Maskers. "Enter Musike, dance." Nic. He that leads the Dance, Is called wilfull Ignorance. King. The next that pryes on euery side, As if feare his feet did guide, Is held a wretch of base condition, He is titled false Suspition. Nic. The third is of a bolder Faction, But more deadly, ’tis Detraction. The last is Crueltie, a King that long, In seeming good, did sacred Iustice wrong. King. This Moral’s meant by me: by heauen it is, By Heauen, indeed: for nothing else had power To make me see my Follies. I confesse, ’Twas wilfull Ignorance, and Selfe-conceit, Sooth’d with Hypocrisie, that drew me first Into suspition of my Daughters loue, And call’d it Disobedience: false Suspect, ’Twas thou possest me, that Leonida Was spotted and vnchaste. Nic. So, now it workes. King. And then Detraction prou’d a deadly Foe. Iag. I knew ’twould take effect. Aur. Most happily. King. I am that King did sacred Iustice wrong, Vnder a shew of Iustice, now ’tis plaine, It was my crueltie, not her desert, That sacrific’d my Child to pallid Death. Lisandro flew himselfe, but I, not he Must answere for that guiltlesse bloud was spilt: For I was Authour on’t, my Crueltie, Diuorcing two such Louers, was the cause That drew him to despayre. How they all gaze, Whisper together, and then point at me, As if they here had being! yes they haue: But it shall proue a restlesse bed for them. Why doe they not begin? Enter Repentance. Nic. Belike they want some of their companie. King. But stay, who’s that descends so prosperously, With such sweet sounding Musike? All obserue. Musike, dance. Nic. See how the splendor of that Maiestie, That came from Heauen, hath disperst away Suspition, Ignorance, and Crueltie, And instantly o’rcome Detraction too, Those enemies to vertue, foes to man, Are vanisht from my sight, and from my heart. But let Repentance stay. Ha, shallow Foole, Doe I so slightly bid her? On my knees, She must be followed, call’d and su’d vnto. And by continuall Prayers, woo’d, and wonne, Which I will neuer cease, if not too late. I doe repent me, let this Sacrifice Make satisfaction for those fore-past Crimes My ignorant soule committed. Repen. ’Tis accepted. Imbrace me freely, rise: neuer too late To call vpon Repentance. Nic. I am trapt. Oh, the great Deuill! whose deuice was this? Now all will be reueal’d, I neuer dream’t Vpon Repentance, I: but now I see, Truth will discouer all mens Trecherie. King. Liue euer in my bosome. What meanes this? Enter Lorenzo, Lisandro, Leonida, a Siluan Nymph. |
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