The Dramatic Works of Massinger and Ford

Vas. I cannot hold any longer. You, sir, are you grown insolent in your butcheries? have at you.

Gio. Come, I am arm'd to meet thee. [They fight. Vas. No! will it not be yet? if this will not, another shall. Not yet? I shall fit you anonVENGEANCE!

The Banditti rush in.

for know, my lord, I am by birth a Spaniard, brought forth my country in my youth by lord Soranzo's father; whom, whilst he lived, I served faithfully; since whose death I have been to this man, as I was to him. What I have done, was duty, and I repent nothing, but that the loss of my life had not ransomed his.

Car. Say, fellow, know'st thou any yet un

Gio. Welcome! come more of you; whate'er Of council in this incest? you be,

I dare your worst

[Falls.

[They surround and wound him. Oh I can stand no longer; feeble arms, Have you so soon lost strength? Vas. Now, you are welcome, sir!-Away, my masters, all is done; shift for yourselves, your reward is your own; shift for yourselves.

[Aside to Band. [Exeunt.

Band. Away, away! Vas. How do you, my lord? See you this? [pointing to G10.] how is't?

Sor. Dead; but in death well pleas'd, that I have liv'd

To see my wrongs reveng'd on that black devil.—
O Vasques, to thy bosom let me give
My last of breath; let not that lecher live-
Oh!-

[Dies. Vas. The reward of peace and rest be with [you], my ever dearest lord and master!

Gio. Whose hand gave me this wound? Vas. Mine, sir; I was your first man; have you enough?

Gio. I thank thee, thou hast done for me But what I would have else done on myself. Art sure thy lord is dead?

Vas. Oh impudent slave!

As sure as I am sure to see thee die.

Car. Think on thy life and end, and call for mercy.

Gio. Mercy? why, I have found it in this justice. Car. Strive yet to cry to Heaven.

[nam'd, Vas. Yes, an old woman, sometime guardian to this murder'd lady.

Car. And what's become of her?

Vas. Within this room she is; whose eyes, after her confession, I caused to be put out, but kept alive, to confirm what from Giovanni's own mouth you have heard. Now, my lord, what I have done you may judge of; and let your own wisdom be a judge in your own reason.

Car. Peace! first this woman, chief in these My sentence is, that forthwith she be ta'en [effects, Out of the city, for example's sake,

There to be burnt to ashes.

Don. 'Tis most just.

Car. Be it your charge, Donado, see it done. Don. I shall.

Vas. What for me? if death, 'tis welcome; I have been honest to the son, as I was to the father.

Car. Take up these slaughter'd bodies, see them buried;

And all the gold and jewels, or whatsoever,
Confiscate by the canons of the church,
We seize upon to the Pope's proper use.
Rich. (Discovers himself.) Your grace's par-
don; thus long I liv'd disguised,

To see the effect of pride and lust at once
Brought both to shameful ends.

Car. What! Richardetto, whom we thought for
Don. Sir, was it you-

Rich. Your friend.

Car. We shall have time

To talk at large of all; but never yet Incest and murder have so strangely met.

[dead?

Of one so young, so rich in nature's store, Who could not say, 'Tis PITY SHE'S A Whore? [Exeunt.

THE BROKEN HEART.

TO THE MOST WORTHY DESERVER OF THE NOBLEST TITLES IN HONOUR,

WILLIAM,

LORD CRAVEN, BARON OF HAMSTEED-MARSHALL.

MY LORD,-The glory of a great name, acquired by a greater glory of action, hath in all ages lived the truest chronicle to his own memory. In the practice of which argument, your growth to perfection, even in youth, hath appeared so sincere, so unflattering a penman, that posterity cannot with more delight read the merit of noble endeavours, than noble endeavours merit thanks from posterity to be read with delight. Many nations, many eyes have been witnesses of your deserts, and loved them; be pleased, then, with the freedom of your own name, to admit one amongst all, particularly into the list of such as honour a fair example of nobility. There is a kind of humble ambition, not uncommendable, when the silence of study breaks forth into discourse, coveting rather encouragement than applause; yet herein censure commonly is too severe an auditor, without the moderation of an able patronage. I have ever been slow in courtship of greatness, not ignorant of such defects as are frequent to opinion: but the justice of your inclination to industry, emboldens my weakness of confidence to relish an experience of your mercy, as many brave dangers have tasted of your courage. Your Lordship strove to be known to the world, when the world knew you least, by voluntary, but excellent attempts: Like allowance I plead of being known to your Lordship (in this low presumption,) by tendering, to a favourable entertainment, a devotion offered from a heart, that can be as truly sensible of any least respect, as ever profess the owner in my best, my readiest services, a lover of your natural love to virtue, JOHN FORD.

SCENE I.-A Room in CROTOLON's House.

Enter CROTOLON and ORGILUS.

Crot. Dally not further; I will know the reason That speeds thee to this journey.

Org. "Reason?" good sir,

I can yield many.

Crot. Give me one, a good one;

Such I expect, and ere we part must have:

For Ithocles, her brother, proud of youth,
And prouder in his power, nourish'd closely
The memory of former discontents,
To glory in revenge. By cunning partly,
Partly by threats, he woos at once and forces
His virtuous sister to admit a marriage
With Bassanes, a nobleman, in honour
And riches, I confess, beyond my fortunes--
Crot. All this is no sound reason to importune

"Athens!" pray, why to Athens? you intend not My leave for thy departure.

To kick against the world, turn cynic, stoic,
Or read the logic lecture, or become

An Areopagite, and judge in cases

Touching the commonwealth; for, as I take it,
The budding of your chin cannot prognosticate
So grave an honour.

Org. All this I acknowledge.

Org. Now it follows.

Beauteous Penthea, wedded to this torture
By an insulting brother, being secretly
Compell'd to yield her virgin freedom up
To him, who never can usurp her heart,
Before contracted mine; is now so yoked
To a most barbarous thraldom, misery,

Crot. You do! then, son, if books and love of Affliction, that he savours not humanity,

[times

Fury, and rage had broach'd in blood, and some-
With death to such confederates, as sided
With now dead Thrasus and yourself, my lord;
Our present king, Amyclas, reconciled
Your eager swords, and seal'd a gentle peace:
Friends you profess'd yourselves; which to con-
A resolution for a lasting league
Betwixt your families, was entertained,
By joining, in a Hymenean bond,

Me and the fair Penthea, only daughter
To Thrasus.

Crot. What of this?

Org. Much, much, dear sir.

[firm,

A freedom of converse, an interchange
Of holy and chaste love, so fix'd our souls
In a firm growth of union, that no time
Can eat into the pledge :- -we had enjoy'd
The sweets our vows expected, had not cruelty
Prevented all those triumphs we prepared for,
By Thrasus his untimely death.

Crot. Most certain.

Org. From this time sprouted up that poisonous
stalk

Of aconite, whose ripened fruit hath ravish'd
All health, all comfort of a happy life:

The man that calls her wife, considers truly
What heaven of perfections he is lord of,
By thinking fair Penthea his; this thought
Begets a kind of monster-love, which love
Is nurse unto a fear so strong, and servile,
As brands all dotage with a jealousy.
All eyes who gaze upon that shrine of beauty,
He doth resolve, do homage to the miracle;
Some one, he is assured, may now or then
(If opportunity but sort) prevail :

So much, out of a self-unworthiness,

His fears transport him!-not that he finds cause
In her obedience, but his own distrust.

Crot. You spin out your discourse.
Org. My griefs are violent-
For knowing how the maid was heretofore
Courted by me, his jealousies grow wild

That I should steal again into her favours,

And undermine her virtues; which the gods
Know, I nor dare, nor dream of: hence, from

I undertake a voluntary exile;
First, by my absence to take off the cares
Of jealous Bassanes; but chiefly, sir,
To free Penthea from a hell on earth:
Lastly, to lose the memory of something,
Her presence makes to live in me afresh.

[hence,

Crot. Enough, my Orgilus, enough. To Athens,
I give a full consent;-alas, good lady !—
We shall hear from thee often?

Mistake me not; far, far 'tis from my thought,
As far from any wish of mine, to hinder
Preferment to an honourable bed,

Or fitting fortune; thou art young and handsome;
And 'twere injustice,-more, a tyranny,
Not to advance thy merit: trust me, sister,
It shall be my first care to see thee match'd
As may become thy choice, and our contents.
I have your oath.

Euph. You have; but mean you, brother,
To leave us, as you say?

Crot. Aye, aye, Euphranea.

He has just grounds direct him; I will prove

A father and a brother to thee.

Triumphs and peace upon his conquering sword.
Laconia is a monarchy at length;

Hath in this latter war trod under foot
Messene's pride; Messene bows her neck
To Lacedemon's royalty. O, 'twas

A glorious victory, and doth deserve
More than a chronicle; a temple, lords,
A temple to the name of Ithocles.
Where didst thou leave him, Prophilus?
Pro. At Pephon,

Most gracious sovereign; twenty of the noblest
Of the Messenians there attend your pleasure,
For such conditions as you shall propose,

In settling peace, and liberty of life.

Amyc. When comes your friend the general? Pro. He promised

To follow with all speed convenient.

Enter CROTOLON, CALANTHA, EUPHRANEA, CHRISTALLA, and PHILEMA with a garland.

[news,

Amyc. Our daughter! dear Calantha, the happy The conquest of Messene, hath already Enrich'd thy knowledge.

Cal. With the circumstance

And manner of the fight, related faithfully
By Prophilus himself-but, pray, sir, tell me,
How doth the youthful general demean
His actions in these fortunes?

Pro. Excellent princess,

Your own fair eyes may soon report a truth
Unto your judgment, with what moderation,
Calmness of nature, measure, bounds, and limits
Of thankfulness and joy, he doth digest
Such amplitude of his success, as would,
In others, moulded of a spirit less clear,
Advance them to comparison with heaven:
But Ithocles-

sanctuary,

Delight of Sparta, treasure of my bosom,
Mine own, own Ithocles !

Ith. Your humblest subject.

Arm. Proud of the blood I claim an interest in, As brother to thy mother, I embrace thee, Right noble nephew.

Ith. Sir, your love's too partial.
Crot. Our country speaks by me, who by thy
valour,

Wisdom, and service, shares in this great action;
Returning thee, in part of thy due merits,
A general welcome.

Ith. You exceed in bounty.

Cal. Christalla, Philema, the chaplet. [Takes the chaplet from them.] Ithocles, Upon the wings of fame, the singular

And chosen fortune of an high attempt,
Is borne so past the view of common sight,
That I myself, with mine own hands, have wrought
To crown thy temples, this Provincial garland;
Accept, wear, and enjoy it as our gift
Deserv'd, not purchased.

Ith. You are a royal maid.

Amyc. She is, in all, our daughter.
Ith. Let me blush,

Acknowledging how poorly I have serv'd,
What nothings I have done, compared with the
Heap'd on the issue of a willing mind; [honours
In that lay mine ability, that only:
For who is he so sluggish from his birth,
So little worthy of a name or country,
That owes not out of gratitude for life
A debt of service, in what kind soever,
Safety, or counsel of the commonwealth
Requires, for payment?

Cal. He speaks truth.

Ith. Whom heaven

Is pleased to style victorious, there, to such,
Applause runs madding, like the drunken priests
In Bacchus' sacrifices, without reason,
Voicing the leader-on a demi-god;

Whenas, indeed, each common soldier's blood
Drops down as current coin in that hard purchase,
As his, whose much more delicate condition
Hath suck'd the milk of ease: judgment commands,
But resolution executes. I use not,
Before this royal presence, these fit slights,
As in contempt of such as can direct;
My speech hath other end; not to attribute

All praise to one man's fortune, which is strengthen'd

By many hands :—for instance, here is Prophilus,
A gentleman (I cannot flatter truth)

Of much desert; and, though in other rank,
Both Hemophil and Groneas were not missing
To wish their country's peace; for, in a word,
All there did strive their best, and 'twas our duty.
Amyc. Courtiers turn soldiers !-We vouchsafe
our hand; [HEM, and GRON. kiss his hand.
Observe your great example.

Hem. With all diligence.
Gron. Obsequiously and hourly.
Amyc. Some repose

After these toils is needful. We must think on
Conditions for the conquer'd; they expect them.
On!-Come, my Ithocles.

Euph. Sir, with your favour,

I need not a supporter.

Pro. Fate instructs me.

[Exit AMYc. attended; ITH., CAL, &c.-AS CHRIS, and PHIL. are following CAL., they are detained by HEм. and GRON.

Chris. With me?

Phil. Indeed I dare not stay.

Chris. You lie beyond all modesty;-forbear me. Hem. I'll make thee mistress of a city, 'tis Mine own by conquest.

Chris. By petition;-sue for't

In forma pauperis.—“ City ?” kennel.—Gallants!
Off with your feathers, put on aprons, gallants;
Learn to reel, thrum, or trim a lady's dog,
And be good quiet souls of peace, hobgoblins!
Hem. Christalla!

Gron. Practise to drill hogs, in hope

To share in the acorns.-Soldiers! corncutters,
But not so valiant; they oft times draw blood,
Which you durst never do. When you have prac-
More wit, or more civility, we'll rank you [tis'd
I' th' list of men; till then, brave things at arms,
Dare not to speak to us,-most potent Groneas!
Phil. And Hemophil the hardy-at your ser-
[Exeunt CHRIS, and PHIL.
Gron. They scorn us as they did before we went.
Hem. Hang them, let us scorn them; and be
Gron. Shall we?
Hem. We will; and when we slight them thus,
Instead of following them, they'll follow us;

vices.

[revenged.

Pray [now], in earnest, how many men apiece

Have you two been the death of?

Gron. 'Faith, not many;

We were composed of mercy.

Hem. For our daring,

Hides not the secrets of thy soul within thee

From their quick-piercing eyes, which dive at all

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