The fact I am charged with, and yield myself Most miserably guilty.
Roch. Heaven take mercy Upon your soul, then! It must leave your body.- Now free mine eyes; I dare unmoved look on her, And fortify my sentence with strong reasons. [CHAR. unbinds his eyes. Since that the politic law provides that servants, To whose care we commit our goods, shall die, If they abuse our trust; what can you look for, To whose charge this most hopeful lord gave up All he received from his brave ancestors, Or he could leave to his posterity,
His honour, wicked woman! in whose safety All his life's joys and comforts were locked up, Which thy hot lust, a thief, hath now stolen from him;
Char. Stay, just judge ;--may not what's lost By her one fault (for I am charitable, And charge her not with many) be forgotten In her fair life hereafter?
The wrong that's done to the chaste married bed Repentant tears can never expiate; And be assured, to pardon such a sin, Is an offence as great as to commit it. Char. I may not then forgive her? Roch. Nor she hope it.
Nor can she wish to live: No sun shall rise, But ere it set shall shew her ugly lust In a new shape, and every one more horrid. Nay, even those prayers, which with such humble fervour
She seems to send up yonder, are beat back; And all suits which her penitence can proffer, As soon as made, are with contempt thrown out Of all the courts of mercy.
Char. Let her die, then. Better prepared, I am sure, I could not take her, Nor she accuse her father as a judge, Partial against her.
Beaumel. I approve his sentence,
And kiss the executioner: My lust
Is now run from me in that blood, in which It was begot and nourished.
Roch. Is she dead, then?
Char. Yes, sir, this is her heart-blood, is it not?
Roch. And you have killed her?
Char. True, and did it by your doom. Roch. But I pronounced it
As a judge only, and a friend to justice, And, zealous in defence of your wronged honour, Broke all the ties of nature, and cast off The love and soft affection of a father. I, in your cause, put on a scarlet robe Of red-dyed cruelty; but, in return, You have advanced for me no flag of mercy. I looked on you as a wronged husband; but You closed your eyes against me as a father. O Beaumelle! my daughter!
Char. This is madness.
Roch. Keep from me!-Could not one good thought rise up,
To tell you that she was my age's comfort, Begot by a weak man, and born a woman, And could not, therefore, but partake of frailty? Or wherefore did not thankfulness step forth, To urge my many merits, which I may Object unto you, since you prove ungrateful, Flint-hearted Charalois!
Char. Nature does prevail above your virtue. Roch. No; it gives me eyes
To pierce the heart of your design against me: I find it now, it was my state was aimed at. A nobler match was sought for, and the hours I lived, grew tedious to you: my compassion Towards you hath rendered me most miserable, And foolish charity undone myself.
But there's a heaven above, from whose just wreak
No mists of policy can hide offenders.
Nov. sen. [within.] Force ope the doors!— Enter NOVALL sen. with Officers.
O monster! cannibal!
Lay hold on him. My son! my son!-O Rochfort,
'Twas you gave liberty to this bloody wolf, To worry all our comforts :-But this is No time to quarrel; now give your assistance For the revenge.
Roch. Call it a fitter name, Justice for innocent blood.
Char. Though all conspire Against that life which I am weary of, A little longer yet I'll strive to keep it, To shew, in spite of malice and their laws, His plea must speed, that hath an honest cause. [Exeunt.
Enter Tailor, and two Bailiffs with LILADAM, Lilad. Why, it is both most unconscionable and untimely,
To arrest a gallant for his clothes, before He has worn them out. Besides, you said you asked
My name in my lord's bond but for form only, And now you'll lay me up for it. Do not think The taking measure of a customer By a brace of varlets, though I rather wait Never so patiently, will prove a fashion Which any courtier or inns-of-court-man Would follow willingly.
Tail. There I believe you.
But, sir, I must have present monies, or
The learn'd conclude, the taylor and the serjeant, In the expression of a knave and thief, To be synonyina. Look, therefore, to it, And let us part in peace; I would be loth You should undo yourself.
Enter Old NOVALL and PONTALIER. Tail. To let you go
Were the next way. But, see! here's your old Grew suddenly out of a tailor's bodkin;
Let him but give his word I shall be paid, And you are free.
Lilad. 'Slid! I'll put him to it;
I can be but denied: or-what say you? His lordship owing me three times your debt, If you arrest him at my suit, and let me Go run before, to see the action entered, 'Twould be a witty jest!
Tail. I must have earnest: I cannot pay my debts so.
Pont. Can your lordship
Imagine, while I live, and wear a sword, Your son's death shall be unrevenged?
Nov. sen. I know not
These hangers from my vails and fees in hell; And where as now this beaver fits, full often A thrifty cap, composed of broad-cloth lists, Near-kin unto the cushion where I sat Cross-legged, and yet ungartered, hath been seen Our breakfasts, famous for the buttered loaves, I have with joy been oft acquainted with; And therefore use a conscience, though it be Forbidden in our hall towards other men, To me, that, as I have been, will again Be of the brotherhood.
Officer. I know him now;
He was a 'prentice to Le Robe at Orleance. Lilad. And from thence brought by my young lord, now dead,
Unto Dijon; and with him, till this hour, Have been received here for a complete mon- sieur :
Nor wonder at it; for, but tithe our gallants, Even those of the first rank, and you will find, In every ten, one, peradventure two, That smell rank of the dancing-school or fiddle, - The pantofle or pressing-iron :-But hereafter We'll talk of this. I will surrender up My suits again; there cannot be much loss: 'Tis but the turning of the lace, with one Addition more you know of, and what wants I will work out.
Tail. Then here our quarrel ends:
Rom. You have them ready?
Beaum. Yes; and they will speak
In wreak of that disgrace, they yet forbear
To shake their heads, or to revile me for
A murderer; they rather all put on
(As for great losses the old Romans used) A general face of sorrow, waited on
Their knowledge in this cause, when thou think'st By a sad murmur, breaking through their silence,
To have them called upon.
Rom. 'Tis well, and something
I can add to their evidence, to prove
And no eye but was readier with a tear To witness 'twas shed for me, than I could Discern a face made up with scorn against me. Why should I, then, though for unusual wrongs
This brave revenge, which they would have called I chose unusual means to right those wrongs,
A noble justice.
Beaum. In this you express
Condemn myself, as over partial
In my own cause?-Romont!
Rom. Best friend, well met!
(The breach, by my lord's want of you, new made By my heart's love to you, and join to that,
Rom. That friendship's raised on sand, Which every sudden gust of discontent, Or flowing of our passions, can change;
As if it ne'er had been:-But do you know Who are to sit on him?
Beaum. Monsieur Du Croy, Assisted by Charmi.
Rom. The advocate,
That pleaded for the marshal's funeral,
And was checked for it by Novall? Beaum. The same.
Rom. How fortunes that?
Beaum. Why, sir, my lord Novall, Being the accuser, cannot be the judge; Nor would grieved Rochfort, but lord Charalois (However he might wrong him by his power) Should have an equal hearing.
Rom. By my hopes
Of Charalois' acquittal, I lament That reverend old man's fortune.
Beaum. Had you seen him,
As to my grief I have, now promise patience, And ere it was believed, though spake by him That never brake his word, enraged again So far as to make war upon those hairs, Which not a barbarous Scythian durst presume To touch, but with a superstitious fear,
As something sacred ;—and then curse his daughter,
But with more frequent violence himself, As if he had been guilty of her fault,
By being incredulous of your report, You would not only judge him worthy pity,
But suffer with him.-But here comes the priso
Enter Officers, with CHARALOIS.
I dare not stay to do my duty to him; Yet, rest assured, all possible means in me To do him service, keeps you company. Rom. It is not doubted. [Erit BEAUMONT. Char. Why, yet, as I came hither,
The people, apt to mock calamity,
My thankfulness that still lives to the dead, i look upon you now with more true joy, Than when I saw you married.
Char. You have reason
To give you warrant for it. My falling off From such a friendship, with the scorn that answered
Your too prophetic counsel, may well move you To think your meeting me, going to my death, A fit encounter for that hate, which justly I have deserved from you.
Rom. Shall I still, then,
Speak truth, and be ill understood?
Char. You are not.
I'm conscious I have wronged you; and allow me Only a moral man, to look on you,
Whom foolishly I have abused and injured, Must of necessity be more terrible to me, Than any death the judges can pronounce From the tribunal which I am to plead at. Rom. Passion transports you. Char. For what I have done
To my false lady, or Novall, I can Give some apparent cause; but touching you, In my defence, childlike, I can say nothing But, I am sorry for it; a poor satisfaction! And yet, mistake me not; for it is more Than I will speak, to have my pardon signed For all I stand accused of.
Rom. You much weaken
The strength of your good cause, should you but think,
A man for doing well could entertain
A pardon, were it offered. You have given To blind and slow-paced justice wings and eyes, To see and overtake impieties,
Which from a cold proceeding had received Indulgence or protection.
Rom. Upon my soul! nor should the blood you challenged,
And took to cure your honour, breed more scruple
In your soft conscience, than if your sword Had been sheathed in a tyger or she-bear,
And tread on the oppressed, made no horns at That in their bowels would have made your tomb.
To injure innocence is more than murder:
But when inhuman lusts transform us, then As beasts we are to suffer, not like men To be lamented. Nor did Charalois ever Perform an act so worthy the applause Of a full theatre of perfect men, As he hath done in this. The glory got By overthrowing outward enemies,
Virtue, that was my patroness, betrayed me: For, entering, nay, possessing, this young man, It lent him such a powerful majesty,
To grace whate'er he undertook, that freely I gave myself up with my liberty, To be at his disposing. Had his person, Lovely I must confess, or far-famed valour,
Since strength and fortune are main sharers in it, Or any other seeming good, that yet
We cannot, but by pieces, call our own: But, when we conquer our intestine foes, Our passions bred within us, and of those The most rebellious tyrant, powerful love, Our reason suffering us to like no longer Than the fair object, being good, deserves it, That's a true victory! which, were great men Ambitious to achieve by your example, Setting no price upon the breach of faith, But loss of life, 'twould fright adultery Out of their families; and make lust appear As loathsome to us in the first consent, As when 'tis waited on by punishment.
Char. You have confirmed me. Who would love a woman,
That might enjoy, in such a man, a friend! You've made me know the justice of my cause, And marked me out the way how to defend it.
Rom. Continue to that resolution constant, And you shall, in contempt of their worst malice, Come off with honour.-Here they come.
Enter DU CROY, CHARMI, ROCHfort, No- VALL sen. PONTALIER, and BEAUMONT, Nov. sen. See, equal judges, with what confi- dence
The cruel murderer stands, as if he would Out-face the court and justice!
Roch. But look on him,
And you shall find (for still methinks I do, Though guilt hath dyed him black) something good in him,
That may perhaps work with a wiser man Than I have been, again to set him free, And give him all he has.
Charm. This is not well.
I would you had lived so, my lord, that I, Might rather have continued your poor servant, Than sit here as your judge.
Du Croy. I am sorry for you.
Roch. In no act of my life I have deserved This injury from the court, that any here Should thus uncivily usurp on what.. Is proper to me only.
Du Croy. What distaste Receives my lord?
Roch. You say you are sorry for him; A grief in which I must not have a partner. 'Tis I alone am sorry, that when I raised The building of my life, for seventy years, Upon so sure a ground, that all the vices Practised to ruin man, though brought against me,
Could never undermine, and no way left To send these gray hairs to the grave with sor-
Holds a near neighbourhood with ill, wrought
I might have borne it better: But, when good
And piety itself, in her best figure,
Were bribed to my destruction, can you blame
Though I forget to suffer like a man, Or rather act a woman?
Beaum. Good my lord!
Nov. sen. You hinder our proceeding. Charmi. And forget
The parts of an accuser.
Beaum. Pray you, remember
To use the temper, which to me you promised. Roch. Angels themselves must break, Beau
Beyond the strength and patience of angels. But I have done:-My good lord, pardon me, A weak old man, and, pray you, add to that, A miserable father; yet be careful That your compassion of my age, nor his, Move you to any thing, that may mis-become The place on which you sit.
Charmi. Read the indictment.
Char. It shall be needless; I myself, my lords,
Will be my own accuser, and confess All they can charge me with, nor will I spare To aggravate that guilt with circumstance, They seek to load me with; only I pray, That, as for them you will vouchsafe me hear ing,
I may not be denied it for myself,
When I shall urge by what unanswerable reasons I was compelled to what I did, which yet, Till you have taught me better, I repent. not. Roch. The motion's honest. Charmi. And 'tis freely granted.
Char. Then I confess, my lords, that I stood bound,
When, with my friends, even hope itself had left
To this man's charity for my liberty; Nor did his bounty end there, but began: For, after my enlargement, cherishing The good he did, he made me master of His only daughter and his whole estate. Great ties of thankfulness, I must acknowledge; Could any one, fee'd by you, press this further?- But yet consider, my most honour'd lords, If to receive a favour make a servant, And benefits are bonds to tie the taker To the imperious will of him that gives, There's none but slaves will receive courtesies, Since they must fetter us to our dishonours. Can it be called magnificence in a prince,
To pour down riches, with a liberal hand, Upon a poor man's wants, if that must bind him To play the soothing parasite to his vices? Or any man, because he saved my hand, Presume my head and heart are at his service? Or, did I stand engaged to buy my freedom (When my captivity was honourable)
By making myself here, and fame hereafter, Bond-slaves to men's scorn, and calumnious tongues?
Had his fair daughter's mind been like her fea
Or, for some little blemish, I had sought For my content elsewhere, wasting on others My body and her dower; my forehead then Deserved the brand of base ingratitude : But if obsequious usage, and fair warning, To keep her worth my love, could not preserve her
From being a whore, and yet no cunning one, So to offend, and yet the fault kept from me, What should I do? Let any free-born spirit Determine truly, if that thankfulness,
Choice form, with the whole world given for a dowry,
Could strengthen so an honest man with patience,
As with a willing neck to undergo The insupportable yoke of slave, or wittol! Charmi. What proof have you she did play false, besides
Char. Her own confession to her father. I ask him for a witness.
Roch. 'Tis most true.
I would not willingly blend my last words With an untruth.
Char. And then to clear myself,
Your lordship's pleasure.-For the fact, as of The former, I confess it; but with what Base wrongs I was unwillingly drawn to it, Το my few words there are some other proofs, To witness this for truth. When I was married, (For there I must begin) the slain Novall Was to my wife, in way of our French court- ship,
A most devoted servant; but yet aimed at Nothing but means to quench his wanton heat, His heart being never warmed by lawful fires, As mine was, lords: and though, on these pre- sumptions,
Joined to the hate between his house and mine, I might, with opportunity and ease,
Have found a way for my revenge, I did not; But still he had the freedom as before, When all was mine: and, told that he abused it With some unseemly licence, by my friend, My approved friend, Romont, I gave no credit To the reporter, but reproved him for it, As one uncourtly and malicious to him. What could I more, my lords? Yet, after this, He did continue in his first pursuit,
Hotter than ever, and at length obtained it; But, how it came to my most certain knowledge, For the dignity of the court, and my own honour,
Nov. sen. If all may be believed
That his great wealth was not the mark I shot at, I dare not say. But that I held it, when fair Beaumelle Fell from her virtue, like the fatal gold Which Brennus took from Delphos, whose pos-
Brought with it ruin to himself and army, Here's one in court, Beaumont, by whom I sent All grants and writings back which made it
Before his daughter died by his own sentence, As freely as, unasked, he gave it to me.
Beaum. They are here to be seen. Charmi. Open the casket. Peruse that deed of gift.
Rom. Half of the danger
Already is discharged: The other part As bravely, and you are not only free, But crowned with praise for ever. Du Croy. 'Tis apparent.
Charmi. Your state, my lord, again is yours. Roch. Not mine;
I am not of the world. If it can prosper, (And yet, being justly got, I'll not examine Why it should be so fatal) do you bestow it On pious uses: I'll go seek a grave.
And yet, for proof I die in peace, your pardon I ask; and, as you grant it me, may Heaven,
A pasionate prisoner speaks, who is so foolish, That durst be wicked, that will appear guilty? No, my grave lords; in his impunity But give example unto jealous men
To cut the throats they hate, and they will never Want matter or pretence for their bad ends. Charmi. You must find other proofs to strengthen these
But mere presumptions.
Du Croy. Or we shall hardly Allow your innocence.
Char. All your attempts
Shall fall on me, like brittle shafts on armour, That break themselves; or waves against a rock, That leave no sign of their ridiculous fury But foam and splinters: my innocence like these Shall stand triumphant, and your malice serve But for a trumpet to proclaim my conquest. Nor shall you, though you do the worst fate can, Howe'er condemn, affright an honest man.
Rom. May it please the court, I may be heard? Nov. sen. You come not
To rail again? But do-you shall not find Another Rochfort.
Rom. In Novall I cannot ;
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