Act 1
SCENE I
Enter TRAPPOLIN, solus.
TRA. My wench Flametta is a dear rogue, the pretty fool dotes on me. My Lord Barbarino can do nothing with her; his pistolles and jewels she cares not for. And 'tis a handsome thing; no pomatum e'er touch'd her lips or paint her cheeks, yet are they cherries and roses. I am most happy to be what I am, and to have the love of such a one as she.
Enter FLAMETTA.
FLA. Good morrow Trappolin, how does my love?
TRA. First let us kiss, and after I will tell. For ever thine, Flametta.
FLA. Oh thanks my dear.
Enter BARBARINO.
BAR. The villain Trappolin has a handsome wench, and which angers me, an honest one; I have spent many weeks about her, but never could do any good. She will not neither for love or money. And see where they are a-talking together!
TRA. Yonder is my Lord Barbarino. My dear Flametta -- I am your honour's servant -- this free promise of thine I can never enough thank thee for -- At your lordship's command -- How happily shall we live together in marriage both loving so well and truly -- Your honour's humble slave -- Let us kiss again -- Your poor vassal my lord -- Thus will we spend our days in these delights, so will we kiss, Flametta -- I beseech your honour to pardon me -- We ne'er will be aweary of ourselves if thou dost sigh, thy Trappolin will weep -- Your honour shall command me always -- And when thou sing'st, thy Trappolin will dance.
FLA. And I am thine, my honest Trappolin. And ever will be constant unto thee.
TRA. I'll attend your honour presently.
FLA. There's no man alive shall make me prove unfaithful unto thee, so much I love.
TRA. Your lordship must pardon me, a little I am something busy.
FLA. My Trappolin shall not bestow a kiss, but I will pay it him with usury. It is impossible for thee to be more thy Flametta's, than Flametta's thine.
TRA. I will come to your honour presently.
FLA. Pardon, sweetheart, that now I must be gone. My stay another time shall make amends. A kiss, my dear, my lovely Trappolin; with such I shall be never satisfied.
Exit.
TRA. Farewell my dear rogue. My lord, I come. Your honour must pardon me; you saw how I was employ'd. I could not leave the poor fool. Your lordship sees she loves me, and protest her labour is not lost. Now, if your honour hath anything to command me, I am ready -- Trappolino your poor servant.
BAR. You are a saucy peremptory villain! And I have well perceiv'd your base demeanour. Although I see the wench is yours, you shall repent the freedom of your evil language. Be sure you shall!
Exit.
TRA. Good morrow, my lord. Let him do his worst -- I care not a rush for him. He would ha' my wench, and I am glad I abus'd him. I ha' made his honour something choleric; let him digest it how he will.
Exit.
Enter LAVINIO the Great Duke, PRUDENTIA, BARBARINO, MACHAVIL, and others.
LAV. The Tuscan glory have we yet upheld,
And from the fierce assaults of enemies
Rescued our cities set them in a peace.
As happy as the gods did e'er vouchsafe,
Sforza the Duke of Milan, our old friend,
Who hath in all our wars still sent us aid,
Hath promised me the matchless Isabella,
His sister, for my wife; and seeing now
We have no more to do with enemies,
I will to Milan go and marry her;
And quickly unto Florence will return,
Where I will celebrate our nuptial
With that magnificence becomes our state.
You whom I ever have found faithful to me,
Lord Barbarino, and Lord Machavil,
To you I do commit the government
Of Tuscany until I return shall;
And full commission to do what you
See necessary, for the good of Florence.
My dear Prudentia, the only joy
Of our deceased father, the last duke --
Live happy and enjoy your own desires,
Which I do know are virtuous all.
PRU. Most noble sir, it is impossible
That I should happy be and you not present.
But I am unworthy to beseech your stay.
Go and be fortunate, in a worthy choice,
While I to Heaven pray for your safe return.
LAV. Dear sweet Prudentia, and also lords,
Look well unto my prisoner Brunetto,
Yet let him want nothing but a free release
For sure he is more than he seems to be.
I have been long about this journey now;
All things are ready. My Prudentia,
Farewell and, sister, be not melancholy,
For in few weeks I will return and bring
A sister home to keep thee company.
The beauteous Milanese.
PRU. And may she prove
According to your wishes noble sir.
BAR. And be a joy unto the Florentines.
MAC. And be a happy mother that there may
Not want an heir unto your highness.
LAV. Our thanks.
Onward; 'tis time I were upon my way.
Exeunt.
BAR. Now will I be reveng'd of Trappolin
Who hath so boldly to my face abus'd me.
I have authority to do't withal.
I'll make him to repent his sauciness.
Enter TRAPPOLIN.
He's here, but I will d' t as if by justice.
TRA. I can think of nothing but my pretty villain Flametta. O 'tis a dear rogue, and she says she loves me, and I know she does. When I have married her, I will betake me to the country, where we will live as jovial as the day is long.
Enter MATTEMORES the Spanish Captain.
MAT. I'll fight for Florence while I have a vein
To hold my heart from falling unto death,
Nor shall the Longobardy Mantuans
E'er win a flag while I am in the field!
I'd make the Tuscan duke to know the man
Whom he hath trusted to conduct his troops
Durst but Gonzaga ever stir again.
Methinks there is no nobler thing on earth
Than to see hills of bodies, lakes of blood,
No braver music than the martial drum,
Nor diapasons sweeter to the ear
Than unto it the warlike trumpets make.
When I but hear this harmony, I could
Full of delight venture my single person
Against an armed troop. Away with peace --
It is the canker and the bane of minds.
'Tis that which makes us to forget ourselves
And spend our lives in sensuality;
Then, glorious war, advance thy armed arm
That soldiers may have ways to show themselves.
Would Goths and Vandals once again would come
Int' Italy, or Moors into our Spain,
That Mattemores might wear out his sword
With hewing bones and cleaving armed men.
Each thing doth to his centre fall, and I
Would unto mine which is to fight or die.
Who art thou?
TRA. I?
MAT. Aye, you. What, are you too good to be asked?
TRA. I am Trappolin.
MAT. By that I know not. Art thou a man of war? Is Trappolin in any captain's roll? Is't writ?
TRA. Yes, Signior Captain, in the parson's book,
The day thereof my baptism is set down.
MAT. And in that honour oft hast thou e'er fought
With infidels and slain a score or two?
TRA. Not I, heavens be prais'd! A score or two said you, Captain? Then should I sure never escape, for I promise you, many an one is hang'd for killing of one.
MAT. Fie! what an ignorance is this.
Hast thou a mind to become now a soldier?
TRA. Indeed Signior Captain, I cannot resolve you, as yet I am about a wife; I'll ask her if she will turn soldier too, and then if I like it there's an end. But I pray you, Captain -- what is a soldier?
MAT. A soldier, Trappolin, is he that does
Venture his life a hundred times a day,
Would in his country's and his prince's cause
Stand cannon shot and wood of steeled pikes,
Would, when his body's full of wounds, all night
Lie in the field and sleep upon his helm.
TRA. Good Captain, pardon me; neither I nor Flametta will be soldiers. Heavens defend! Venture my life so many times a day? There is more safety and gain in turning thief! I love my country and prince well, but myself better. 'Tis good sleeping in a whole skin, 'tis better lying with Flametta in a warm bed. Marry, I had thought a soldier had not been such a fool! How many of them might there be in Florence, sir Captain?
MAT. Thou coward, many hundreds!
TRA. The gods send them more wit, that's e'en all that I can say. But, I pray you, sir Captain; now I think on't, persuade my father and mother, sisters, and uncles, and aunts, and all the kin I have to turn soldiers, that they may be kill'd quickly and I be their heir. I swear, Captain, you should lose nothing by 't. I would give you a good present for 't.
MAT. Base coward!
TRA. Good Captain, what is the meaning of coward? I have often heard that word, and would fain know the true meaning of it.
MAT. A coward is a fellow base, as thou:
One that doth spend his precious time in sloth,
Cares not what alterations kingdoms have,
So he at home may welter in his pleasures;
A fellow that had rather sit all day
Drinking tobacco and carousing cups
Than dye his sword in blood of enemies.
TRA. Why then, Captain, in faith I am a very coward! 'Tis better by half than a soldier. I know there is far more pleasure in a glass of good wine and a pipe of true Varines, than in bullets whizzing about one's ears and pikes or halberts or what you will a-beating out one's teeth.
MAT. Thou dunghill wretch!
TRA. Signior Captain, be not angry, for I vow I mean earnest I should never digest the soldiery life; nor am I sure would Flametta; and the gods help them that do.
MAT. Thou earthen minded slave, 'tis pity thou shouldst eat or drink that hast no better thoughts.
TRA. Not as long as I pay for' t. What the devil have I to do with your soldiery, sir Captain? Give me leave to be of my own mind and a coward, for I'm sure no wise man but would say as I do; let those follow your wars that are a-weary of their lives.
MAT. Thou art as dunghill a minded rascal as e'er I heard in my life! I would not for anything thou wast a Spaniard, thou wouldst be a slander to the whole nation; and, villain, I tell thee if thou wert one, I would kill thee. Mattemores would do it, and so I leave it.
Exit.
TRA. Farewell my Sir Don; go hang yourself! What have I to do with your wars, trow? For nothing would I venture to fight but Flametta, and for her I durst not exceed about it fisty cuffs or a bout with a little pair of cudgels, at the most. I should never endure to shoot off a gun -- not I! The very noise of it would make me endanger my breeches.
Enter HORATIO.
Brunetto, honest Brunetto, how dost do? Be merry, man; this time will have an end, man; and till it come, be as jovial as thou canst. Thou wouldst e'en a-bless'd thyself to have seen how I vex'd the patience of my Lord Barbarin.
HORA. You have not, sure?
TRA. Marry, but I have; and to the purpose too.
HORA. Then you are undone, Trappolin!
TRA. Why, man?
HORA. The Duke has left him and the Lord Machavil governors till his return.
TRA. The devil he has!
HORA. 'Tis very true.
TRA. Troth, then, I am but little better I fear.
Enter 4 OFFICERS.
1 OFF. That's he.
2 OFF. Lay hold on him.
TRA. Brunetto, I am undone! Thy Trappolin must to the jail. Pray you, my small friends, give me leave to speak but one word: remember me to my sugarcandy, Flametta.
3 OFF. Away with him!
4 OFF. To prison with the saucy rogue!
Exeunt.
HORA. I came to Mantua to aid the Duke,
My uncle, 'gainst his foes the Florentines;
Where, hearing every man to praise the beauty
Of sweet Prudentia, the report did win me.
Being taken in the wars, I was not sad,
Because I was to go where she did live;
But seeing so many Princes all desirous
To marry her, I knew the great Duke never
Would bestow her on Savoye's second son,
And therefore, yet, I have concealed myself;
Nor doth she know I am Horatio.
For want of opportunity I yet
Could ne'er so much as sigh within her hearing.
Enter PRUDENTIA and HIPOLITA.
HIP. The Lady Isabella, by her picture,
May be supposed to be a matchless fair one.
Each feature of her face is wondrous good,
And her fine head of hair's a curious colour.
PRU. In her we shall be happy all; for she,
The world reports, hath equal to her form
A noble and a virtuous mind. Who's that?
HIP. He is your brother's prisoner called Brunetto,
That in the wars of Mantua was took.
PRU. 'Tis a handsome man.
HIP. And thought of all the court a gentleman
Of good descent, but he hath not disclosed
His parentage to any.
PRU. Why doth he not?
HIP. That no man knows yet, besides himself.
PRU. How melancholy he doth seem.
HIP. He hath good cause for it, madam.
Who can be merry in captivity?
PRU. 'Tis true. A gentleman of good descent suppos'd,
I never saw a man of braver carriage,
Nor one that pleas'd me better than he doth.
Aha!
HIP. Why sigh you, madam?
PRU. To think of fortune! Perhaps this prisoner
Is of a house as good as the Medicis.
He hath lived before the wars of Mantua
In all the happiness you could desire,
And now we see him thus.
HIP. Methinks I hear him sigh.
PRU. And so do I.
Exit HORATIO.
HIP. He's gone.
PRU. But with how sad a gait!
Methinks I am not as I was before, Hipolita.
HIP. Madam?
PRU. Prithee, go tune my lute. I have a mind
To sing a little; I shall forget to play
If I so seldom use it.
HIP. I go, madam.
Exit HIPOLITA.
PRU. I have sent her hence, that I might search my heart;
For sure it is not as it lately was.
It is so full of thoughts, I cannot find
The free access into it I had wont.
What should the reason be? What have I done
To breed this alteration? Nothing, I.
Ere I came here, I felt myself as free
From this strange -- what it is I cannot tell.
The place is not bewitched, sure; nor have
I seen aught but this hapless prisoner.
Alas, poor gentleman, for in his looks
And in his carriage, I can guess him such.
How little to the fates art thou beholden,
To let thee live a prisoner thus! How now,
What is 't I say, talk of Brunetto? Oh,
I am in love; the gods will have it so.
Exit.
SCENE II
Enter BARBARINO, MACHAVIL, MATTEMORES and OFFICERS, leading TRAPPOLIN after them.
BAR. This man Lord Machavil is one of those
That doth in Florence nourish vice! He is
A pander, one that, if he sees a stranger,
Straight makes acquaintance with him; for what end,
Yourself may guess. So he may gain thereby,
He would betray our daughters, lead our sons
To brothels vicious and full of rottenness.
TRA. I wonder how the devil he came to know anything that I did?
BAR. This writing yesternight was presented to me.
Here: you may see what enormities he is guilty of.
TRA. His lordship would show himself a great hater of bawdry.
MAC. 'Tis good we did examine him.
MAT. And there is not such a coward in Tuscany! He's able to corrupt an army.
TRA. Signior Captain, never fear it, for I ne'er mean to come into one.
BAR. Bring him before us.
TRA. Ah, that I durst tell my lord's excellence why he deals thus with me. 'Tis for a wench; and yet how eager he is against bawdry!
OFF. Forward! Trappolin, go before their excellencies.
BAR. Sirrah, this paper doth not only show
You are a rogue; your looks declare you one.
Thou hast as ill a face as e'er I saw.
TRA. And yet Flametta think'st as good as his; I did not lie, and if I said: a better.
MAC. Ere we come to this panderism,
I'll examine him about other matters.
Sir, do you never use to carry pistols about you?
TRA. Sometimes and please your excellence, I do.
BAR. Write down that, notary.
TRA. What does your lordship mean? I did not steal them.
MAC. I know well enough what I do. Sirrah, you want to shoot somebody?
TRA. Beseech your honour to take me along with you: I mean money.
MAC. That's vain, then; notary, tear it out.
BAR. Do you ne'er carry other arms neither?
TRA. Many times, my lord.
BAR. Notary, down with it; he shall be talk'd with for that.
TRA. Your honour is deceiv'd again! I meant only arms upon seals, or scutcheons from the heralds.
MAC. This is nothing, notary; tear it out.
BAR. A pimp, I'm sure he is.
MAC. Do you never carry no love letters as from a gentleman to a lady, or a gentlewoman to a cavalier or so?
TRA. Oh, very oft my lord.
BAR. Do you so indeed? Notary, write it down.
TRA. Your honour must understand me: letters of love, of friendship, as when a lady writes unto her brother at Sienna, a wife to her husband at Pisa, a son to his mother at such a place, a father to his daughter married at such a town -- I am often hired and carry them to the post.
MAC. Notary, you must tear out this too.
BAR. But sirrah, to come nearer to the matter --
Do you not keep intelligence with whores?
Have you ne'er played the ruffian
By your means? Hath no man been provided of a lodging?
TRA. This I have no excuse for; the whole city knows me a pimp. (Aside) And that it is very nigh my living.
MAC. What say you, sirrah?
TRA. My lords, I am but a poor fellow and must live.
BAR. By bawdry?
TRA. 'Tis but a friend's part.
MAC. A wicked one's. Notary, down with this at large.
TRA. Alas, my lord! What hurt is it If I help a gentleman to a sound wench? Where is there any fault? Good your honours, consider me; think not I am a man alone in this business; that many others live by it as well as I.
BAR. What an impudency is this!
Not only to do ill, but to defend it
Is a transgression exceeds forgiveness.
TRA. Good my lord, take pity on me. Welladay, what should I do? I have not only done a favour in it for myself, but also a courtesy for many a gentleman.
MAC. Do not tear out that notary.
TRA. Beseech your honours, let him tear 't out.
BAR. What shall we do with this villain?
MAC. Why, let's hang him and there's an end of him.
TRA. That's true, i' faith. Consider, my lords, that never man was put to death for such a matter; but rather that they have been beloved and well paid by noble men and cavaliers.
MAC. Had we not best to condemn him to the galleys? Or let's banish him.
BAR. Aye, that's the best.
TRA. Beseech your honours, pity me!
MAC. After tomorrow, Trappolin, if thou be'st seen in Florence, thou shalt die behang'd; we banish thee for term of life, therefore, prepare against tomorrow to be gone.
TRA. Pray, your honours!
BAR. Notary, write down he's banish'd.
MAC. You rogue, it is irrevocable; and therefore make you ready.
TRA. I think I am the first man that ever was banish'd for such a matter! Were all of my profession in the city served so, I think we should make an army royal of us.
BAR. This matter is concluded. Trappolin,
Go seek your fortune, My Lord Machavil,
We may depart.
Exeunt.
MAT. Thou man of dirt, hadst thou a soldier been,
This banishment had never been pronounc'd.
TRA. But sir Captain, I fear I should have been kill'd, which is worse.
MAT. If for thy country 't had been a noble death.
TRA. I had rather live, Captain, than die nobly.
MAT. Thou man compos'd of sand! In vain I spend
My breath to talk with such a slave as thou.
Go and be hang'd, for so thou dost deserve,
And might I judge thee, it should be thy end.
Exit.
TRA. Thou brazen headed coxcomb! Mayst thou go to the devil with a drum before thee. I had as lief be banish'd out of my country and walk in peace, as be out on't in the wars.
Enter HORATIO.
Brunetto! O Brunetto, I must leave thee! I must begone, man, tomorrow. Farewell, Florence!
HORA. Why, what's the matter, Trappolin?
TRA. Why, I have banish'd the Lord Barberino and the Lord Machavil.
HORA. How? You banish'd them?
TRA. They have banish'd me or I them: 'tis all one ordered away, and the devil a bit a' money I have. Hast thou a mind to a wench, Brunetto? Or if thou hast no mind to one, knowest thou anybody that has? I'd fain be earning a little money.
HORA. I wish thee well! Live honest, Trappolin;
And so thou shalt be sure to prosper better.
This ring I give thee: sell it and the money
Spend to maintain thee.
TRA. Honest Brunetto, faith! An ere I can, I will requite thee fully. Farewell! I must also take my leave of my Flametta. We shall cry together, like unto schoolboys that are to be whipt.
Exit.
HORA. Alas, poor simple Trappolin! I pity
Thy fortune, yet 'tis better far than mine.
Of all mankind I am most miserable,
And lead a life would make a soul prove mortal.
Yet do I not repine. Most dear Prudentia,
I never can endure enough for thee
So that at last I may attain my wishes.
There's not a grief mankind did ever suffer,
Nor pain I would not pass to make thee mine.
Thou art the centre of my wishes all;
Horatio's thoughts upon thy beauty fall.
Enter PRUDENTIA.
PRU. O heavens be merciful, and if I tell
Him I am his, let him say he is mine!
I have a fire within my breast must out;
Longer I cannot hide it. If he now
Does not woo me, I shall solicit him.
How sad a pace he walks, how melancholy
Does he look! Love compels us unto things
In others we would scorn. I'll speak unto him
Because I fear he dares not unto me. -- Brunetto?
HORA. Divinest lady?
PRU. I thought a gentleman, for so I guess you,
Could have endured affliction better far
That in the wars durst venture so his person.
HORA. Most excellent Princess, many thousand men
Can suffer well the dangers of a battle;
But there are few or none at all that can
Bear out the passions of a mind afflicted.
PRU. Then you are discontent? Alas, you long for
Your liberty, and truth I cannot blame you.
HORA. Then should I hate myself being a slave to one
Whom I desire evermore to serve.
Ye that command the destinies of men,
Now let me die, and if I shall not prosper,
Know, noblest lady, that the prisoner
That speaks unto you is a Prince by birth.
I am Horatio, second son unto
The Duke of Savoy and the Piedmont Prince.
At Mantua, the fame of your perfections
Captiv'd my soul; and when that I was took
I did account myself a happy man,
Being to go where you did live. I know,
Most dearest Princess, that I am unworthy
So great a happiness as is your love;
Yet if you deny me witness, Heaven,
I never will return to Turin,
But here die languishing for your refusal.
The Duke, my father, soon would pay my ransom;
But thraldom for your sake I have esteemed
Above liberty and pleasures of a court.
PRU. My thanks, most gracious heavens, Brunetto is
A Prince! Most worthy, brave Horatio,
I scorn to dally with my happiness
Like some that love to counterfeit their joys.
Know I do love thee dear as my own soul,
And that if thou hadst now been silent, I
My heart unto thee had disclosed. Live happy!
And if it in my power lies, thou shalt.
HORA. Doubt, fear, despair, begone! I am a man
That envy not the blessed lives of Kings,
Now she hath deign'd to say these happy words,
I care not though all mankind threaten me.
Most excellent and mercifullest lady,
Y'ave raised me to a joy beyond my thoughts.
May all the gods requite you for this goodness,
And I wear out my life to do you service.
PRU. My dear Horatio, enough; I doubt not
Thy affection's equal unto mine. We will
Love while we live; and may we die forgotten
When we do cease to love, say I not well.
HORA. Admired Princess, you outspeak me much;
But never shall outlove me.
PRU. Heavens be kind,
And make us in two bodies have one mind.
Exeunt.