Serv. Oh, sweet gentleman, Is almost slain. Marg. Away, away, and help him! All the house help! [Exeunt MARG, and Serv. Leon. How! slain?-Why, Margarita! why, wife! Sure, some new device they have afoot again, Alone, and in a storm, than rule one woman. Enter DUKE, led in by MARGARITA, SANCHIO, ALONZO, and Servant. Marg. How came you hurt, sir? Duke. I fell out with my friend, the noble colonel ; My cause was naught, for 'twas about your honour, That ere I perish, I may shew my penitence! Leon. Help, gentlemen, to carry him. There shall be nothing in this house, my lord, Duke. I thank you, noble sir. Leon. To bed with him; and, wife, give your I do not think these ten months will recover him. Leon. Does he hire my house to play the fool in? Or does it stand on fairy ground? We're haunted! Are all men and their wives troubled with dreams thus? Marg. What ail you, sir? Leon. Nay, what ail you, sweet wife, To put these daily pastimes on my patience? Marg. You have done handsomely, I must confess, sir. Leon. Have I not kept thee waking like a hawk? And watch'd thee with delights to satisfy thee, The very tithes of which had won a widow? Marg. Alas, I pity you. Leon. Thou'lt make me angry; "hou never saw'st me mad yet. Marg. You are always, You carry a kind of Bedlam still about you. If you have more hurt dukes or gentlemen, Thy spirits purg'd, for those are they that fire you; Marg. I've lost myself, sir, And all that was my base self, disobedience; [Kneels. My wantonness, my stubbornness, I've lost too: And now, by that pure faith good wives are crown'd By your own nobleness Leon. I take you up, [with, And wear you next my heart; see you be worth it. How like a sheep-biting rogue, taken i' th' manner, Nor never a string, to lead thee to Elysium? Estif. I know you've mercy. [Kneels. Perez. If I had tons of mercy, thou deserv'st none. What new trick's now afoot, and what new houses Enter LEON, MARGARITA, and ALTEA, with a taper. Altea. Yes, and i' th' cellar fast, And there he stays his good hour till I call him; He will make dainty music 'mong the sack-buts. I've put him just, sir, under the duke's chamber. Leon. It is the better. Altea. He has giv'n me royally, And to my lady a whole load of portigues. Leon. Better and better still.-Go, Margarita, Now play your prize :-You say you dare be honest; I'll put you to your best. Marg. Secure yourself, sir; Give me the candle; pass away in silence. [Exeunt LEON and ALTEA. MARG. knocks. Duke. [Within.] Who's there? Oh, oh! Marg. My lord! Duke. [Within.] Have you brought me comfort? Marg. I have, my lord: Come forth; 'tis I. Come gently out; I'll help Duke. I've none; I am as lusty, and as full of health, High in my blood Marg. Weak in your blood, you would say. How wretched is my case, willing to please you, And find you so disable! Duke. Believe me, lady Marg. I know, you'll venture all you have to satisfy me, Your life I know; but is it fit I spoil you? Cac. [Below.] Here's to the duke! I heard it plainly sound. Marg. You are hurt mortally, And fitter for your prayers, sir, than pleasure. wantonly, You are a wicked man, and sure this haunts you: 'Would you were out o' th' house! Duke. I would I were, O' that condition I had leap'd a window. Marg. And that's the least leap, if you mean to 'scape, sir. Why, what a frantic man were you to come here, What a weak man to counterfeit deep wounds, To wound another deeper! Duke. Are you honest then? Marg. Yes, then, and now, and ever; and excellent honest, And exercise this pastime but to shew you, I wish it like a friend that loves you dearly; Duke. 'Would I were off fair! If ever lady caught me in a trap more Marg. If you be well and lusty-fie, fie; shake not! Could not your own discretion tell you, sir, And all those dear delights you worshipp'd here. A drunken devil too, to plague your villainy. In the next yard, if you dare venture drowning: Duke. I would not die so wretchedly. But down then; say the rope be rotten? 'tis huge high too. Duke. Have you no mercy? Marg. Now you are frighted thoroughly, And find what 'tis to play the fool in folly, And see with clear eyes your detested vice, I'll be your guard. Duke. And I'll be your true servant, Ever from this hour virtuously to love you, Chastely and modestly to look upon you, And here I seal it. Marg. I may kiss a stranger, For you must now be so. Enter LEON, JUAN, ALONZO, and SANCHIO, Leon. How do you, my lord? Methinks you look but poorly on this matter. Has my wife wounded you? you were well before. 'Pray, sir, be comforted; I have forgot all, Truly forgiven too.-Wife, you are a right one, And now with unknown nations I dare trust you. Juan. No more feign'd fights, my lord; they never prosper. Enter ALTEA and CACAFOGo, drunk. Leon. Who's this? the devil in the vault? And as lovingly drunk, as though he had studied it. An ocean of sweet sack!-Shall we speak treason? Leon. He's devilish drunk. Duke. I had thought he had been a devil; He made as many noises, and as horrible. Cac. Butt in thy belly! Leon. There's two in thine I'm sure, 'tis grown Cac. Butt in thy face! [so monstrous. Leon. Go, carry him to sleep. A fool's love should be drunk; he has paid well for't too. When he is sober, let him out to rail, Or hang himself; there will be no loss of him. [Exeunt CACAFOGO and Servant. Enter PEREZ and ESTIFANIA. Leon. Who's this? my Mahound cousin? Perez. Good, sir; 'tis very good! 'Would I'd a house, too! (For there's no talking in the open air) Leon. I must laugh a little, And now I've done.-Coz, thou shalt live with me, My merry coz; the world shall not divorce us. Perez. I'll cry, and then I'll be thankful, Estif. If I prove otherwise, let me beg first. Use it to nobler ends than he that gave it. Duke. And this is yours, your true commission, sir. Now you are a captain. [TO LEON. [Kisses her. Leon. You're a noble prince, sir; And now a soldier, gentlemen. Omnes. We all rejoice in't. Juan. Sir, I shall wait upon you through all Alon. And I. [fortunes. Altea. And I must needs attend my mistress. Leon. Will you go, sister? Altea. Yes, indeed, good brother; I have two ties, my own blood, and my mistress. Marg. Is she your sister? Leon. Yes, indeed, good wife, And my best sister; for she prov'd so, wench, When she deceiv'd you with a loving husband. Altea. I would not deal so truly for a stranger. Mary. Well, I could chide you; But it must be lovingly, and like a sister.- Juan. Your colours you must wear, and wear 'em proudly, Wear 'em before the bullet, and in blood too: And all the world shall know we're Virtue's servants. Duke, And all the world shall know, a noble Makes women beautiful, and envy blind. [mind [Exeunt. THE EPILOGUE. Good night, our worthy friends! and may you part As you came hither! To those noble eyes, SCENE I.-The Street. Enter GASPERO and MELITUS. ACT I. Mel. Sir, you're the very friend I wish'd to meet with, I have a large discourse invites your ear Gas. And what concerns it? Mel. The sadly thriving progress of the loves Gas. Alas, Melitus, I should guess the best By th' admiral of Venice, on a merchant The wars were scarce begun, but he, in fear Hath monied Cassilane the general. Mel. What, without other pledges than Cassilane's, Bare promise of repayment? Gas. No, it may be He has some pretty lordship to retire to; The Senate should be thankful, otherwise They should annihilate one of those laws For which this kingdom is throughout the world Unfollowed and admired. Mel. What laws are these, sir? Let me so much importune you. Gas. You shall, And they be worth your knowledge: Briefly thus: Whoe'er he be that can detect apparently Another of ingratitude, for any Received benefit, the plaintiff may Require th' offender's life; unless he please Freely and willingly to grant remission. |