A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 115

MARIA. 'Tis one you lost, love, when I did bestow A jewel of far greater worth on you.

CAR. At what time, fairest?

MARIA. As if you knew not! why d'ye make't so strange?

CAR. You are dispos'd to riddle; pray, let's see't.

I partly know it: where was't you found it?

MARIA. Why, in my chamber, that most gladsome night, When you enrich'd your love by my escape.

CAR. How! in your chamber?

MARIA. Sure, Carracus, I will be angry with you, If you seem so forgetful. I took it up, Then when you left my lodge, and went away, Glad of your conquest, for to seek your friend, Why stand you so amaz'd, sir? I hope that kindness, Which then you reap'd, doth not prevail So in your thoughts, as that you think me light.

CAR. O, think thyself, Maria, what thou art!

This is the ring of Albert, treacherous man!

He that enjoy'd thy virgin chast.i.ty.

I never did ascend into thy chamber.

But all that cold night, through the frozen field, Went seeking of that wretch, who ne'er sought me; But found what his l.u.s.t sought for, dearest thee.

MARIA. I have heard enough, my Carracus, to bereave Me of this little breath. [_She swoons._

CAR. All breath be first Extinguished. Within there, ho!

_Enter_ NURSE _and_ SERVANTS.

O nurse! see here, Maria says she'll die.

NURSE. Marry, G.o.d forbid! O mistress, mistress, mistress! she has breath yet; she's but in a trance: good sir, take comfort, she'll recover by and by.

CAR. No, no, she'll die, nurse, for she said she would, an' she had not said so, 't had been another matter; but you know, nurse, she ne'er told a lie: I will believe her, for she speaks all truth.

NURSE. His memory begin's to fail him. Come, let's bear This heavy spectacle from forth his presence; The heavens will lend a hand, I hope, of comfort. [_Exeunt._

CARRACUS _manet_.

CAR. See, how they steal away my fair Maria!

But I will follow after her, as far As Orpheus did to gain his soul's delight; And Pluto's self shall know, although I am not Skilful in music, yet I can be mad, And force my love's enjoyment, in despite Of h.e.l.l's black fury. But stay, stay, Carracus.

Where is thy knowledge and that rational sense, Which heaven's great architect endued thee with?

All sunk beneath the weight of lumpish nature?

Are our diviner parts no n.o.blier free, Than to be tortur'd by the weak a.s.sailments Of earthsprung griefs? Why is man, then, accounted The head commander of this universe, Next the Creator, when a little storm Of nature's fury straight o'erwhelms his judgment?

But mine's no little storm, it is a tempest So full of raging, self-consuming woe, That nought but ruin follows expectation.

O my Maria, what unheard-of sin Have any of thine ancestors enacted, That all their shame should be pour'd thus on thee?

Or what incestuous spirit, cruel Albert, Left h.e.l.l's vast womb for to enter thee, And do a mischief of such treachery?

_Enter_ NURSE, _weeping_.

O nurse, how is it with Maria?

If e'er thy tongue did utter pleasing words, Let it now do so, or hereafter e'er Be dumb in sorrow.

NURSE. Good sir, take comfort; I am forced to speak What will not please: your chaste wife, sir, is dead.

CAR. 'Tis dead, indeed! how did you know 'twas so, nurse?

NURSE. What, sir?

CAR. That my heart was dead: sure, thou hast serv'd Dame Nature's self, and know'st the inward secrets Of all our hidden powers: I'll love thee for't; And, if thou wilt teach me that unknown skill, Shalt see what wonders Carracus will do: I'll dive into the breast of hateful Albert, And see how his black soul is round encompa.s.s'd By fearful fiends. O, I would do strange things!

I'd know to whose cause lawyers will incline When they have[383] fees on both sides; view the thoughts Of forlorn widows, when their knights have left them; Search through the guts of greatness, and behold What several sin best pleased them: thence I'd descend Into the bowels of some pocky sir, And tell to lechers all the pains he felt, That they thereby might warned be from l.u.s.t.

Troth, 'twill be rare! I'll study it presently.

NURSE. Alas! he is distracted! what a sin Am I partaker of, by telling him So curs'd an untruth? But 'twas my mistress' will.

Who is recovered; though her griefs never Can be recover'd. She hath vow'd with tears Her own perpetual banishment; therefore to him Death were not more displeasing than if I Had told her lasting absence.

CAR. I find my brain's too shallow far for study.

What need I care for being a 'rithmetician?

Let citizens' sons stand, an' they will, for cyphers: Why should I teach them, and go beat my brains To instruct unapt and unconceiving dolts; And, when all's done, my art, that should be fam'd, Will by gross imitation be but sham'd?

Your judgment, madam?

NURSE. Good sir, walk in; we'll send for learned men, That can allay your frenzy.

CAR. But can Maria so forget herself, As to debar us thus of her attendance?

NURSE. She's within, sir, pray you, will you walk to her?

CAR. O, is she so! Come, then, let's softly steal Into her chamber; if she be asleep, I'll laugh, shalt see, enough, and thou shalt weep.

Softly, good long-coat, softly. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ MARIA _in page's apparel_.

MAR. Cease now thy steps, Maria, and look back Upon that place where distress'd Carracus Hath his sad being; from whose virtuous bosom Shame hath constrained me fly, ne'er to return.

I will go seek some unfrequented path Either in desert woods or wilderness, There to bewail my innocent mishaps, Which heaven hath justly poured down on me, In punis.h.i.+ng my disobediency.

_Enter_ YOUNG LORD WEALTHY.

O, see my brother! [_Exit_ MARIA.

Y. LORD W. Ho, you three-foot-and-a-half! Why, page, I say! 'Sfoot, he is vanished as suddenly as a dumb show.[384] If a lord had lost his way now, so he had been served. But let me see: as I take it, this is the house of Carracus. A very fair building, but it looks as if 'twere dead; I can see no breath come out of the chimneys. But I shall know the state on't by and by, by the looks of some servingman. What ho, within here! [_Beats at the door._

_Enter_ SERVANT.

SER. Good sir, you have your arms at liberty.

Wilt please you to withdraw your action of battery?

Y. LORD W. Yes, indeed, now you have made your appearance. Is thy living-giver within, sir?

SER. You mean my master, sir?

Y. LORD W. You have hit it, sir, praised be your understanding. I am to have conference with him; would you admit my presence?