Complete Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker

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Complete Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker Page 33

by Thomas Dekker

DIANA

  [Aside to ORIANA.] Madam, I know not; for much time is passed,

  Since he at Newkirk parted with us last.

  She must be widow if the merchant’s wife,

  But by this match, I think he’ll hardly thrive.

  LOD’WICK

  Master Villiers, you shall have justice, sir.

  Speak in your cause; you have free liberty.

  VILLIERS

  My Lord of Bullen, thus then stands my case:

  This gentlewoman whom my suit concerns,

  Being embark’d for England wit her daughter

  To seek her husband as she made report,

  Twixt Sluice in Flanders, where she went aboard,

  And Goodwin’s Sands, by sturdy, adverse winds

  Was beaten back upon the coast of France,

  And came to Rochelle, where my dwelling is.

  I, taking likeing of her, entertain’d her;

  Let her a house, convenient, as I thought,

  And lent her money to supply her wants;

  And afterwards, won by affection,

  I did solicit her in way of marriage.

  But still she did defer me with delays,

  Because she said her husband still did live;

  But for my kindness, if her husband died,

  She told me then I was the likest to speed.

  She, having got some moneyby her needle,

  Desired me to let her have a lease.

  The lease was drawn, to which she put her name,

  ‘Widow,” which here her own hand testifies;

  Which being thus confessed by herself,

  I, by her promise, claim her for my wife.

  LOD’WICK

  The cause is plain.

  ORIANA

  That he shall go without me.

  LOD’WICK

  Lady, what way have you to avoid this bond?

  Here is your hand set to confirm the deed.

  ORIANA

  [Aside.] But not my heart, and that I will be sworn.

  [Aloud.] Here’s one, I think, that hath had that to long

  To leave it now, or else I have more wrong.

  Unto the scrivener I referr’d the same,

  And he put that word ‘widow’ to my name.

  I humbly do entreat your highness’ favour,

  For if you knew where I had dwelt before,

  I think you would do that for me and more.

  LOD’WICK

  Speak, gentlewoman, where have you been bred?

  ORIANA

  I was attending in my younger years,

  And this sweet girl, though now thus mean and poor,

  Upon the duchess, the duke’s wife of Bullen;

  Though I say it, one that she loved once,

  Whilst she did flourish in prosperity;

  And had not fortune much impair’d her state,

  I had not now stood in such need of friends.[She weeps.

  But when the greatest into danger falls,

  The weakest still did go unto the walls.

  LOD’WICK

  ’Tis very true, that I have tried myself.

  Thy tears no longer can conceal my love.

  Rise, Oriana, rise my sweet Diana;

  Lod’wick’s true wife and his right virtuous.

  Embrace thy lost son, Frederick, once more,

  Whom we supposed never to have seen.

  With him receive a daughter, Brabant’s heir;

  He hath been foster father to thy boy,

  And both are here to full complete our joy.

  ORIANA

  My dear Frederick?

  DIANA

  My beloved brother?

  FERDINAND

  Oh, happy Frederick, finding such a mother,

  And such a sister, father, friends and all;

  Never a man did better fortune fall.

  LOD’WICK

  How say you, master merchant?Is your suit

  Void in law or no?Is she a widow now?

  VILLIERS

  No, my good lord, and I rejoice thereat.

  LOD’WICK

  Thanks,butwe will requite thy love and kindness

  Extended to them in necessity,

  And our reward thou shalt have liberally.

  Enter a Messenger.

  What news with thee, thou comest in such haste?

  MESSENGER

  His highness from his holy pilgrimage

  Is home return’d, and doth require your presence.

  LOD’WICK

  That’s but our duty.Welcome is our king.

  His highness now shall sentence trait’rous Anjou,

  According as his treacheries deserve;

  And all our joys shall be disclos’d to him,

  That have so happily this day befall’n.

  Thus time the saddest heart from sorrow calls,

  And helps the weak, long thrust unto the walls.[Exeunt.

  FINIS

  The Noble Spanish Soldier (c. 1602)

  The Noble Spanish Soldier was first entered into the Stationers’ Register on 16 May 1631. The entry made reference to a manuscript of ‘a tragedy called The Noble Spanish Soldier’ written by ‘Tho: Dekker’. There has been some discussion amongst scholars about whether Dekker was the sole author of the play due to the fact that on the title page of the 1634 quarto edition of the work, ‘SR’ is credited as the writer. The only known playwright of that era with those initials was Samuel Rowley, an actor and writer that composed works for the Admiral’s Men and was employed by theatrical manager, Philip Henslowe. However, it seems far more likely that Dekker is the author of the play and that the ‘SR’ that appeared on the title page was either an error or some type of code. The source for the play is likely to have been Jacques-Auguste de Thou’s ‘Historiarium sui temporis’, published in its entirety for the first time in 1620. Dekker would later rework sections of the play into a comedy in his 1624 work, The Welsh Ambassador, which helps to place the composition of The Noble Spanish Soldier to around 1621/22.

  The plot of the play centres on a power struggle between two competing factions of European nobility. The Spanish king has been courting Onaelia, niece of the duke of Medina, but suddenly rejects her and decides to marry Paulina, the daughter of the Duke of Florence. Balthazar, the eponymous noble solider, is tasked with murdering Onaelia, but he remains loyal to her, while the new Italian Queen becomes increasingly jealous and vindictive as she worries about securing her position. The tyrannical behaviour of the King is increasingly transferred on to his new wife as the play progresses, while he seeks to quell the rebellion of those loyal to the Duke of Medina and Onaelia. The character of Balthazar is somewhat morally complex despite his designation as ‘noble’, as he is content to kill an innocent man without expressing any remorse.

  The 1634 quarto printing of the play

  The opening scene of the play

  CONTENTS

  DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

  THE PRINTER TO THE READER

  ACT I SCENE 1

  ACT I SCENE 2

  ACT II SCENE 1

  ACT II SCENE 2

  ACT III SCENE ONE

  ACT III SCENE TWO

  ACT III SCENE THREE

  ACT IV SCENE ONE

  ACT IV SCENE TWO

  ACT V SCENE ONE

  ACT V SCENE TWO

  ACT V SCENE THREE

  ACT V SCENE FOUR

  The historian, Jacques Auguste de Thou

  DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

  King of Spain

  Cardinal, advisor to the King

  Count Malateste of Florence, confidant of the Queen

  Roderigo, Don of Spain, supporter of the King

  Valasco, Don of Spain, supporter of the King

  Lopez, Don of Spain, supporter of the King

  Duke of Medina, leader of the Faction

  Marquis Daenia, member of the Faction

  Alba, Don of Spain, member of the Faction

  Carlo, Don of Spain, member of the Fac
tion

  Alanzo, Captain of the Guard, member of the Faction

  Sebastian, illegitimate son of the King

  Balthazar, a Spanish soldier

  Cornego, servant to Onaelia

  Cockadillio, a courtier

  Signor No

  A Poet

  Queen of Spain, Paulina, daughter of Duke of Florence

  Onaelia, niece to the Duke of Medina, mother of Sebastian

  Juanna, maid to Onaelia

  Ladies in waiting

  Attendants, guards

  THE PRINTER TO THE READER

  UNDERSTANDING READER, I present this to your view, which has received applause in action. The poet might conceive a complete satisfaction upon the stage’s approbation; but the printer rests not there, knowing that that which was acted and approved upon the stage, might be no less acceptable in print. It is now communicated to you, whose leisure and knowledge admits of reading and reason. Your judgement now this Posthumous assures himself will well attest his predecessor’s endeavours to give content to men of the ablest quality, such as intelligent readers are here conceived to be. I could have troubled you with a longer epistle, but I fear to stay you from the book, which affords better words and matter than I can. So the work modestly depending in the scale of your judgement, the printer for his part craves your pardon, hoping by his promptness to do you greater service, as convenience shall enable him to give you more or better testimony of his entireness towards you.

  N.V.

  ACT I SCENE 1

  ENTER IN MAGNIFICENT state to the sound of loud music, the King and Queen, as from church, attended by the Cardinal, Count Malateste, Marquis Daenia, Roderigo, Valasco, Alba, Carlo, and ladies-in waiting. The King and Queen with courtly compliments salute and part. She [exits] with one half attending her. King, Cardinal and the other half stay, the King seeming angry and desirous to be rid of them. King, Cardinal, Daenia and others [remain].

  KING

  Give us what no man here is master of:

  Breath. Leave us pray, my father Cardinal

  Can by the physic of philosophy

  Set all again in order. Leave us pray.

  Exeunt [King and Cardinal remain].

  CARDINAL

  How is it with you, sir?

  KING

  As with a ship

  Now beat with storms, now safe. The storms are vanished

  And having you my Pilot, I not only

  See shore, but harbour; I to you will open

  The book of a black sin, deep printed in me.

  Oh father, my disease lies in my soul.

  CARDINAL

  The old wound sir?

  KING

  Yes that, it festers inwards.

  For though I have a beauty to my bed

  That even creation envies at, as wanting

  Stuff to make such another, yet on her pillow

  I lie by her, but an adulterer,

  And she as an adulteress. She is my queen

  And wife, yet but my strumpet though the church

  Set on the seal of marriage. Good Onaelia,

  Niece to our Lord High Constable of Spain

  Was precontracted mine.

  CARDINAL

  Yet when I stung

  Your conscience with remembrance of the act

  Your ears were deaf to counsel.

  KING

  I confess it.

  CARDINAL

  Now to untie the knot with your new Queen

  Would shake your crown half from your head.

  KING

  Even Troy, though she has wept her eyes out,

  Would find tears to wail my kingdom’s ruins.

  CARDINAL

  What will you do then?

  KING

  She has that contract written, sealed by you,

  And other churchmen witnesses unto it.

  A kingdom should be given for that paper.

  CARDINAL

  I would not, for what lies beneath the moon,

  Be made a wicked engine to break in pieces

  That holy contract.

  KING

  ’Tis my soul’s aim

  To tie it upon a faster knot.

  CARDINAL

  I do not see

  How you can with safe conscience get it from her.

  KING

  Oh I know

  I wrestle with a lioness. To imprison her

  And force her to it, I dare not. Death! What King

  Did ever say ‘I dare not’? I must have it;

  A bastard have I by her, and that cock

  Will have, I fear, sharp spurs, if he crow after

  Him that trod for him. Something must be done

  Both to the hen and the chicken. Haste you therefore

  To sad Onaelia, tell her I’m resolved

  To give my new hawk bells, and let her fly.

  My Queen, I’m weary of, and her will marry.

  To this, our text, add you what gloss you please;

  The secret drifts of kings are depthless seas.

  Exeunt

  ACT I SCENE 2

  A TABLE SET out covered with black. Two waxen tapers. The King’s [defaced] picture at one end and a crucifix at the other. Onaelia [dressed in black] walking discontentedly weeping to the crucifix.

  A Song.

  QUESTION

  Oh sorrow, sorrow, say where do’st thou dwell?

  ANSWER

  In the lowest room of hell.

  QUESTION

  Art thou born of human race?

  ANSWER

  No, no. I have a fury’s face.

  QUESTION

  Art thou in city, town or court?

  ANSWER

  I to every place resort.

  QUESTION

  O why into the world is sorrow sent?

  ANSWER

  Men afflicted best repent.

  QUESTION

  What dost thou feed on?

  ANSWER

  Broken sleep.

  QUESTION

  What takest thou take pleasure in?

  ANSWER

  To weep,

  To sigh, to sob, to pine, to groan,

  To wring my hands, to sit alone.

  QUESTION

  Oh when, oh when, shall sorrow quiet have?

  ANSWER

  Never, never, never, never,

  Never till she finds a grave.

  Enter Cornego.

  CORNEGO No lesson Madam but Lacrymae’s? If you had buried nine husbands, so much water as you might squeeze out of an onion had been tears enough to cast away upon fellows that cannot thank you. Come, be jovial.

  ONAELIA

  Sorrow becomes me best.

  CORNEGO

  A suit of laugh and lie down would wear better.

  ONAELIA

  What should I do to be merry, Cornego?

  CORNGO

  Be not sad.

  ONELIA

  But what’s the best mirth in the world?

  CORNEGO Marry this, to see much, say little, do little, get little, spend little and want nothing.

  ONELIA

  Oh, but there is a mirth beyond all these;

  This picture has so vexed me, I’m half mad,

  To spite it therefore, I’ll sing any song

  Thyself shall tune. Say then, what mirth is best?

  CORNEGO Why then Madam, what I knock out now is the very marrowbone of mirth and this it is.

  ONELIA

  Say on.

  CORNEGO The best mirth for a lawyer is to have fools to his clients; for citizens to have noblemen pay for their debts; for tailors to have store of satin brought in, for then how little soever their houses are, they will be sure to have large yards. The best mirth for bawds is to have fresh handsome whores, and for whores to have rich gulls come aboard their pinnaces , for then they are sure to build galleasses .

  ONELIA

  These to such souls are mirth, but to mine, none.

  Away.

  Ex
it Cornego, Enter Cardinal.

  CARDINAL

  Peace to you, Lady.

  ONELIA

  I will not sin so much as to hope for peace

  And ’tis a mock ill suits your gravity.

  CARDINAL

  I come to knit the nerves of your lost strength,

  To build your ruins up, to set you free

  From this your voluntary banishment,

  And give new being to your murdered fame.

  ONELIA

  What Aesculapius can do this?

  CARDINAL

  ’Tis from the King I come.

  ONELIA

  A name I hate.

  Oh, I am deaf now to your embassy.

  CARDINAL

  Hear what I speak.

  ONELIA

  Your language breathed from him

  Is death’s sad doom upon a wretch condemned.

  CARDINAL

  Is it such poison?

  ONELIA

  Yes, and were you crystal,

  What the King fills you with would make you break.

  You should my Lord, be like these robes you wear,

  Pure as the dye, and like that reverend shape

  Nurse thoughts as full of honour, zeal and purity.

  You should be the court-dial, and direct

  The King with constant motion, be ever beating,

  Like to clock-hammers, on his iron heart

  To make it sound clear and to feel remorse.

  You should unlock his soul, wake his dead conscience

  Which, like a drowsy sentinel, gives leave

  For sin’s vast armies to beleaguer him.

  His ruins will be asked for at your hands.

  CARDINAL

  I have raised up a scaffolding to save

  Both him and you from falling. Do but hear me.

  ONAELIA

  Be dumb for ever.

  CARDINAL

  Let your fears thus die:

  By all the sacred relics of the church

  And by my holy orders, what I minister

  Is even the spirit of health.

  ONAELIA

  I’ll drink it down into my soul at once.

  CARDINAL

  You shall.

  ONAELIA

  But swear.

  CARDINAL

  What conjurations can more bind my oath?

  ONAELIA

  But did you swear in earnest?

  CARDINAL

  Come, you trifle.

  ONAELIA

  No marvel, for my hopes have been so drowned

  I still despair, say on.

  CARDINAL

 

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