Classic Poem

Actus tertius : Scena prima

Fredericke, Emilia.

Fred. Divinest Lady,
I hope your late refusall of my love,
Is alter'd now by your more gentle pitty,
My constancie carries more strength about it,
Then to be blasted with your first repulse,
In the same righteous cause of my affection
I must again be advocate, and hope
My sute will be effected.
Emilia. Alas, my Lord,
Make me not thus the subject of your mirth,
Or complement, your soule is too secure
In its owne manly vertues from surprize
Of weake affection, especially of mine
Who am so worthlesse in my selfe, I cannot
Boast those high glories, as to be victorious
Over so brave a Conquerour.
Fred. Those bright eyes,
Like Heavens blest light, when from a mist of clouds
He peepes, and gilds the earth with brightnesse, can
Quicken and fire even marble hearts with love,
Thaw soules of ice, my Emilia ,
A malefactors feares are more upon him,
E're he doe come to's triall, then when he heares
The Judge pronounce the sentence of his death :
'Tis so with me, and I should be more blest,
To heare that voyce of yours,
That Angels voyce (too sweet for such dire use)
With a severe refusall strike me dead,
Then live tormented in a sad suspence,
Ignorant of my destiny.
Emilia. My Lord,
If I should frame my Virgin thoughts to love,
They should be fixt on you, but I'm so well
Content, and setled in a Virgin life,
I cannot wish to change it.
Frc. Not to imbrace
A larger stock of happines, Emilia ,
Virginity is but a single good,
A happinesse which like a misers wealth,
Is as from others, so from your owne use,
Lock'd up and closely cabin'd, since it not admits
Communication of its good, when you
Shall in the state of marriage freely taste
Natures choice pleasures, that same happinesse
You were created for.
Emil. You have prevail'd Sir;
You who are still victorious o're your foes,
Must needs remaine a Conqueror o're your friends.
My Lord, receive me freely, I am yours
For ever.
Fred. This chaste kisse shall seale the contract.
Come my Emilia. love is such a wealth,
As must be gain'd by free consent, not stealth.

Scena Secunda.

Wallenstein, Dutchesse, Newman, Terzki, Kintzki, Illawe.

Wallenf. Are they agreed yet, Newman.
Newm. Faith my Lord,
The Virgin Lady's something fearefull, feares
A man of warre should board her, left his charge
Should make her keele split, my Lord Fredricke
Is of that rough demeanour, spight of my
Instructions, he will never learne to woe
In the due phrase and garbe.
Wallenf. I doe admire,
The fond base carriage of our giddy youth
In love affaires, and grieve to see my sonnes,
(Who should inherit from me my great spirit,
As well as fortune) so degenerate from
My masculine courage; when ith' blooming pride
Of my green youth I flourish'd, my desires
Aym'd alwayes rather in the tented field
To spend my houres, then on a downy Couch,
To see the face of a sterne enemy besmear'd with blood,
Pleas'd me farre better then a Ladies lookes.
Dutch. And yet you vow'd,
E're you won me, my Lord, you ne're saw object,
That so much pleas'd your appetite.
Wallenf. Perhaps I might,
For the obtaining of my ends, descend
From my great spirit so much, as to decline
To idle Courtship, the birds and beasts will doe it
To sate their appetites, the fiery Steed,
(That in the servor of a fight, oft times
Neighs courage to his rider) when provok'd
With eager heat, will licke and bite his female
Into the same desire: The Sparrowes bill,
And with a chirping rhetoricke, seeme to court
Enjoyment of their wishes, which fulfil'd
Dull as their heads, they couch beneath their wings,
And in a slumber, forfeit all remembrance
Of their past pleasures: Yet infatiate man,
In his desire more hot then Steeds or Sparrowes,
Will to obtaine it, quite devest his soule
Of all that's masculine in him, and transforme
His very being into woman.
Newm. Sure,
My Lord intends to write some Proclamation.
'Gainst wearing holland smockes, some furious Edict
'Gainst charitable leaguerers: I've knowne him,
(And so have you my Lords) for all this heat
'Gainst woman-hood, pursue a sutlers froe,
(And she had but one eye neither, with as much zeale,
As e're knight-errand did his faire Lindabrides,
Or Claridiana.

Ent. Frcdrick, Emilia.

Tert. My Lord, your son and faire Emilia.
Newm. The quarrel's reconcil'd, Ile lay my life on't.
Wallens. Beauteous Lady,
The contract 'twixt me and your father, touching
The marriage 'twixt my son and your faire selfe, I hope
By your consent is ratified: my boy
Lookes sprightly, as if he were new return'd
From a triumphant victory.
Fred. My Lord,
I am so much a master of my wishes,
By being blest in this faire Ladies love,
I cannot wish a happinesse above
What I possesse, onely would you be pleas'd,
To destiny the most welcome houre for
The consummation of our Nuptials.
Wallens. 'Tshall be accomplish'd
With all the speed that preparations can
Be made for the solemnity. Your newes sir.

Int. Page.

Page. My Lord, there's Colonell Gordon , and some others
Newly arriv'd from Egers, beg admittance
Into your presence.
Wallens. Let them enter,
They are my noble friends. Madam take
The bright Emilia to your charge: Fredrick you
Have leave to wait on your Mistris. Worthy friends.

Int. Gordon, Lesle, Butler.

You're dearely welcome, I presume the businesse
Must be of much importance, that could draw
You (without giving us first notice of it)
From Egers hither.
Lesle. Mighty Sir, our foutunes,
Our honours, lives, whatsoe're we can call ours,
Are such a debt to you, that we'r ingag'd,
To sacrifice them all in any service
For you, especially in this affaire
We'r now arriv'd about, since it concernes
Your precious life, which by that tyrant Caesar ,
At halfe the price and value of his Empire,
Is set to sale.
Wallens. Horror! as how, good Colorell.
Lesle. When you shall know sir
The traytors (such his malice would have made them)
Pick'd out for the assasinates of your person,
You'l blesse you from his trecheries, as from
Infectious damps, for the men, best Generall,
Are of such bosome trust, so neere ally'd
To all your councels, 't had been as easie for them
To have acted your sad ruine, as it is
For me to speake this.
Tert. Very strange, pray name them.
Lesle. Even our selves,
Our faithfull innocent selves, were those same monsters,
Design'd for to put in act his purpose, who
'Cause we were mercenaries in this warfare,
He thought as easily we would sell our faiths,
Courted us therefore with whole piles of honours,
Mountaines of titles, mines of endlesse riches:
But where our honours stand in competition,
These are but frivolous baits, trifles for children
To play and toy withall, our faiths are chrystall,
Which poison cannot vitiate.
Wallens. And our love
Shall strive by yours to take a faire example,
How to requite your truth, but pray what answer,
Return'd you to this man more great in mischiefes,
Then he's in power or title.
Lesle. Entertain'd
His proffer'd bounties with a specious shew
Of thankfulnesse, nay promis'd to effect
His damn'd intent, besought him not to imploy
Any other instruments but our selves t'accomplish
The ruine of your person: by this meanes
To free your deare life from the eminent danger,
Of being by others aym'd at.
Tert. These strangers loves
Surpasse credit.
Wallens. To thanke you
For this same deare preservall of my life,
Best friends, were to admit your action might,
Receive by gratitude a satisfaction,
But pray divide my soule, my life and fortunes,
Are at your disposition: noble Lords,
That this base Emperour seekes to take my life
By trechery, is an apparant signe,
He feares that I should live, and halfe victorious
E're blow be strucken, are they whom their foes
Dread, e're they doe behold them: let's go on then,
Arm'd with our aides, backt with our causes justice,
'Gainst this insulting Emperour, and resolve
To pull the tyrant from his Throne, destroy
His very name, his memory, his ashes,
With as much easie freedome, as rough windes
Demolish crasie buildings. Colonel Gordon ,
Some five dayes hence we shall arrive at Egers ,
There to make preparation for the Nuptials,
Betwixt our sonne and faire Emilia .
Come Lords, since we amongst our selves are true,
Conquest is ours, which we'l with speed pursue.

Scena tertia.

Albertus solus.

Alber. To be in love, nay to be so in love,
To put off all our reason and discourse,
Which does distinguish us from savage beasts,
To dote upon a face (which like a mirrour,
Sully'd by any breath) by the least sicknesse,
Growes pale and ghastly: Is not this meere madnesse,
Why should't inhabit here then: sure the soule,
As 'tis a spirit of a subtle essence,
A forme as thin and pure, as is an Angels,
Can ne're be author of these wild desires,
So opposite to its nature, they'r all fleshly,
Sordid, as is the clay this frame's compos'd of.
Shall the soule,
The noble soule, be slave to these wild passions,
And bow beneath their waight: ha Isabella .

Int. Isab.

All reason, sense and soule are in her lookes,
There's no discourse beyond them: cruell faire one,
Are you still resolute to persist in your
Strange tyranny, and scorne my constant love.
Isabel. Doe not sir
Abuse that sacred title, which the Saints,
And powers celestiall glory in, by ascribing
It to your loose desires, pray rather cloth them
In their owne attribute, terme them your lust sir,
Your wild irregular lust, which like those fire drakes,
Mis-guiding nighted travellers, will lead you
Forth of the faire path of your fame and vertue,
To unavoided ruine.
Alber. This is coynesse,
A cunning coynesse, to make me esteeme
At a high rate, that jewell which you seeme
To part from so unwillingly (Merchants use it
To put bad wares away:) deare Isabella ,
Thinke what excessive honour thou shalt reape,
In the exchange of one poore triviall gemme,
And that but meerely imaginary, a voyce,
And unsubstantiall essence, yet for that
Thou shalt have reall pleasures, such as Queenes,
Prone to delicious luxury, would covet
To sate their appetites: Think Isabella ,
That hardest Marble, though not cut by force,
By oft diffusion of salt drops, is brought
Into what ever forme the Carvers fancie
Before had destin'd it: your heart's that substance,
And will by frequent oratory of teares,
Be brought to weare the perfect stampe, the figure
Of my affection on it
Isabel. Thus besieg'd,
It is high time, I summon up my vertue,
All that is good, about me, to assist
My resolution; Sir, I would be loath,
That you should see me angry, 'tis a passion
My modesty is unacquainted with,
Yet in this cause, deare to me as my honour,
I needs must chide your passion: O consider,
Looke what a precipice of certaine ruine,
Your violent will (as on some dangerous rocke,
That strikes what e're dashes upon't, in pieces)
Has cast your heedlesse youth upon: my Lord,
Why should you venter your whole stock of goodnesse,
Upon forbidden Merchandize, a prize
Which the most barbarous pirats to the Lawes
Of morall honesty, would feare to seize on,
Both for its sanctity and triviall value.
Alb. I'm thunder strucke.
Isab. What foolish thiefe, my Lord, would rob an Altar,
Be guilty of the sacriledge, to gaine
A brazen censor: why should you then affect
A sin so great, as spoiling me of honour,
For such a poore gaine, as the satisfying
Your sensuall appetite; think, good my Lord,
The pleasures you so covet, are but like flattering mornings,
That shew the rising Sun in his full brightnesse,
Yet doe e're night bury his head in tempests.
Alb. I'm disinchanted, all the charmes are fled,
That hung like mists about my soule, and rob'd it
Of the faire light of vertue: excellent Angel,
You have that power in goodnesse, as shall teach
Wonder, that child of ignorance, a faith,
No woman can be bad: I doe confesse,
Big with the rage of my intemperate lust,
I came to blast your purity, but am
Become its perfect convert, so reclaym'd
By your best goodnesse from these soule intentions,
Hell has not strength enough to tempt my frailty,
Toth' like wild loosenesse; pray sweet forgive me,
Seale it with one chaste kisse, and henceforth let me
Adore you as the faver of my honour,
My truth and fames preserver.
Isab. I am glad
I've wrought this reclamation on your folly,
And trust me, I shall ever love this in you,
Though my more humble thoughts shall ne're aspire
To affect your person.
Alb. Had you yeelded to my desires,
Been no whit vertuous, I should have esteem'd you,
(My looser heat by your consent extinguish'd)
But as a faire house haunted with goblins,
Which none will enter to possesse, and blest me
From the prodigious building; when now,
Big with the chaste assurance of your vertue,
I doe beseech you by your love, your mercy,
Looke on my innocent love, more spotlesse
Then are the thoughts of babes, which ne're knew foulenesse,
Accept me for your husband, start not Lady,
By your faire selfe I meane it, doe intreat it
As my extent of happinesse.
Isab. This my Lord,
Is too extreme oth' other sid, as much
Too meane I hold my selfe to be your wife,
As my owne fame and honour did esteeme me
Too good to be your prostitute: My Lord,
The wiving Vine that 'bout the friendly Elme,
Twines her soft limbes, and weaves a leavie mantle
For her supporting Lover, dares not venter,
To mix her humble boughes, with the imbraces
Of the more lofty Cedar: 'Twixt us two
Is the same difference: Love my Lord and hope
A nobler choice, a Lady of your owne
Ranke; all the ends my poore ambition
Shall ever ayme, shall be to love your worth,
But ne're aspire your Nuptials.
Alber. You're too humble,
Impose too meane a value on a gemme,
Kings would be proud to weare, deare Isabella ,
Let not thy modest sweetnesse interpose
A new impediment 'twixt my lawfull flames,
And thy owne Vestall chastity, let not feare,
(To thy sex incident) of my fathers wrath
Stagger thy resolution; thou shalt be
To me, my father, mother, brother, friend,
My all of happinesse; if we cannot here
In peace injoy our wishes, we will love
Like Turtles in a Desart, onely blest
In one anothers company.

Enter Fred. Newm.

New. Why look you sir, yonder's the cock oth game,
About to tred yon ginny hen, they'r billing ;
Shall we retire, my Lord, perhaps they are going to't,
And 'twould be a shame to spoile their sport.
Fred. I am resolv'd, I'le speake to him.
Newm. Your pleasure must be accomplish'd,
But take heed we draw not the Virgins curses on us
Both, take heed on't, it will fall heavy.
Alber. Surpriz'd, and by my brother, prethy sweet
Withdraw, I would not have thy timorous eares,
Frighted with his loud anger.
Fred. Save you brother,
You've parted with your Mistresse, pray tell me,
Does she kisse well, has she a fragrant lip?
Are her demeanours courtly, apt to ravish?
Are you resolv'd to run away with her,
And stain the honour of our family,
For her sweet sake?
Alber. Gentle brother,
You speak a language I nor understand,
Nor value much the meaning. In your love
I medled not, and 't had been manners in you,
Not to have intruded upon mine, your presence
Being unrequired.
Fred. You'r very confident,
Young Gallant, in defence of your brave Mistresse,
I know you are in love, bravely in love
With a trim Chamber-maid, a thing made up
Of a cast Taffatie gowne of an old Wardrobe :
Degenerate brother, were I not assur'd
Of your chaste mothers vertues, I should question,
Whither my father got you, but I'm come
To disinchant thy senses from the charmes,
That hatefull witch throwes on them, but resolve
Quickly to quit her, or by Heaven shee'd better
Commix with lightning.
Alber. Pray, good brother use
Your threats upon your Corporals, or stampe
At your tame Lancepresados, when they doe not
Performe your charge ; your rage upon your boyes,
Were more becomming, then upon your brother :
If you will sit, and with attentive patience,
Marke what I shall deliver, I will give you
Reasons for my intentions, but if not,
You may depart unsatisfied.
Fred. Well Sir, be briefe, I shall attend you.
Alb. In briefe, I love faire Isabella , so
As honour, not the vicious heat of youth,
Commands me to affect, I love her vertue,
And have in that as noble, rich a dowry,
As the addition of estate and blood,
Which you have acquir'd in your late happy match
With young Emilia .
Fred. Dare you, boy, name her,
And my Emilia as paralels.
Alb. Why, good brother,
Though she transcends her in her birth and fortunes,
Yet in the rare indowments of her minde,
She is her equall, vertue has a soul as precious
In peasants as in Princes, 'tis a birth-right
None can deprive them of, who truly have it.
'Tis so with Isabella .
Fred. You doe intend to marry her.
Alb. Yes brother.
Fred. Shee is a Whore.
Alb. 'Tis a most scandalous lye, and on your heart,
Ile prove her chaste and vertuous as Emilia ,
As your Emilia .
Fred. Have at you.

Fnt, Tertzhi, Kintzki, Newman, Illawe.

Newm. Help to beat down their swords, my Lords,
Death, Fredrick , Albertus , what doe you meane?
Let's beat them both, hart I thinke you'r drunk
With Lubccks beere or Brunswicks Mum.
Kint. For shame
Put up your angry weapons.
New. How fell you out Gentlemen, how fell you out.
Tert. It was a sad misfortune, nor would I
It should arrive unto our Generals notice,
For halfe my Earledome: 'Las my Lord you bleed.
Alb. No matter,
My blood could ne're in more holy use
Have been imploy'd.
New. Now the heat's over, do you not both thinke
Your selves a paire of coxcombs, come shake hands,
I will make you both stark drunke, but I will have you
Good friends agen, brothers fall out, for shame,
Brothers fall out.