Lendle

An excerpt from the beginning of the play:

Dramatis Personæ.


MEN.

Ambrosio, A Nobleman of Spain.
Marcel, His Son.
Silvio, Supposed Bastard Son of Ambrosio.
Antonio, A German that has debauch'd Hippolyta.
Alonzo, A Flanders Colonel contracted to Hippolyta,
and newly arriv'd at Madrid.
Lovis, His Friend.
Carlo, Father to Lovis and Euphemia.
Haunce van Ezel, A Dutch Fop contracted to Euphemia,newly arriv'd at Madrid.
Gload, His Cash-keeper.
Pedro, An old Servant to Alonzo.


WOMEN.

Euphemia, In love with Alonzo.
Hippolyta, In love with Antonio, Daughter to Ambrosio.
Cleonte, In love with Silvio, Daughter to Ambrosio.
Clarinda, Sister unknown to Alonzo, in love with Marcel.
Dormida, Her Governess.
Francisca, Woman to Cleonte.
Olinda and Dorice, Two Maids to Euphemia.

The Scene, Madrid



ACT I.


SCENE I.


Enter Alonzo and Lovis in travelling habits, attended by Pedro and Gload.


Lo.

Dear Alonzo! I shall love a Church the better this month for giving me a sight of thee, whom I so little expected in this part of the World, and less in so sanctifi'd a place. What affair could be powerful enough to draw thee from the kind obliging Ladies of Brabant?


Alon.

First the sudden orders of my Prince Don John, and next a fair Lady.


Lo.

A Lady! can any of this Country relish with a man that has been us'd to the freedom of those of Bruxels, from whence I suppose you are now arriv'd?


Alon.

This morning landed, from such a storm, as set us all to making vows of conversion, (upon good conditions) and that indeed brought me to Church.


Lo.

In that very storm I landed too, but with less sense of danger than you, being diverted with a pleasant fellow that came along with me, and who is design'd to marry a sister of mine against my will—And now I think of him, Gload, where hast thou left this Master of thine?


Glo.

At the Inne, Sir, in as lamentable a pickle, as if he were still in the storm; recruiting his emptyed stomach with Brandy, and railing against all women-kind for your sisters sake, who has made him undertake this voyage.


Lo.

Well, I'll come to him, go home before.

[Exit Gload.

Alon.

Prethee what thing is this?


Lo.

Why, 'tis the Cashier to this Squire I spoke of, a man of business, and as wise as his Master, but the graver Coxcomb of the two. But this Lady, Alonzo, who is this Lady thou speak'st of? shall not I know her? we were wont to divide the spoils of Beauty, as well as those of war between us.


Lo.

Nay, then keep her to thy self, only let me know who 'tis that can debauch thee to that scandalous way of life; is she fair? will she recompence the folly?


Alon.

Faith I know not, I never saw her yet, but 'tis the sister of Marcell, whom we both knew last Summer in Flanders, and where he and I contracted such a friendship, that without other consideration he promis'd me Hippolyta, for that's his sisters name.



Lo.

But wo't thou really marry her?


Alon.

I consider my advantage in being allied to so considerable a man as Ambrosio, her father; I being now so unhappy as not to know my Birth or Parents.


Lo.

I have often heard of some such thing, but durst not ask the truth of it.


Alon.

'Tis so, all that I know of my self is, that a Spanish Souldier, who brought me up in the Army, dying, confest I was not his son, (which till then I believed) and at the age of twelve left me to shift for my self; the fortune he inricht me with was his Horse and Arms, with a few documents how to use them, as I had seen him do with good, success: This servant, and a Crucifix of value. [Points to Pedro. And from one degree to another, I arriv'd to what you knew me, Colonel of the Princes Regiment, and the glory of his favour.


Lo.

Honour is the Child of Vertue, and finds an owner every where.


Alon.

Oh, Sir, you are a Courtier, and have much the odds of a Souldier in parlies of this nature: But hither I am come—


Lo.

To be undone; faith thou lookst ill...