The Laws of Candy

Front matter (continued 2)

Reading edition

For such as are offenders.

Possenne

Though our ignorance

Cassilanes

engagements might asswage

Severity of justice, yet to shew

How no excuse should smooth a breach of Law,

I yield me to the trial of it.

Porphycio

So must I:

Great Prince of

Cyprus

, you are left

The only Moderator in this difference;

And as you are a Prince be a Protector

To wofull

Candy

Philander

What a Scene of miserie

Hath thine obdurate frowardness (old man)

Drawn on thy Countries bosom? and for that

Thy proud ambition could not mount so high

As to be stil'd thy Countries only Patron,

Thy malice hath descended to the depth

Of Hell, to be renowned in the Title

Of the destroyer? dost thou yet perceive

What curses all posterity will brand

Thy grave with? that at once hast rob'd this Kingdom

Of honour and of safety.

Erota

Children yet unborn

Will stop their ears when thou art nam'd.

Arcanes

The world will be too little to contain

The memorie of this detested deed;

The Furies will abhorr it.

Decius

What the sword

Could not enforce, your peevish thirst of honour

(A brave, cold, weak, imaginarie fame)

Hath brought on

Candy: Candy

groans, not these

That are to die.

Philander

'Tis happiness enough

For them, that they shall not survive to see

The wounds wherewith thou stab'st the land that gave

Thee life and name.

Decius

'Tis

Candy's

wrack shall feel--

Cassilanes

The mischief of your folly.

Porphycio Possenne

Annophel

I will not be entreated.

Cassilanes

Prethee

Annophel

Why would ye urge me to a mercy which

You in your self allow not?

Cassilanes

'Tis the Law,

That if the party who complains, remit

The offender, he is freed: is't not so Lords?

Porphycio Possenne

'Tis so.

Cassilanes

Antinous

, By my shame observe

What a close witch-craft popular applause is:

I am awak'd, and with clear eyes behold

The Lethargie wherein my reason long

Hath been be-charm'd: live, live, my matchless son,

Blest in thy Fathers blessing; much more blest

In thine own vertues: let me dew thy cheeks

With my unmanly tears: Rise, I forgive thee:

And good

Antinous

, if I shall be thy Father

Forgive me: I can speak no more.

Antinous

Dear Sir,

You new beget me now--Madam your pardon,

I heartily remit you.

Erota

I as freely

Discharge thee

Cassilane

Annophel

My gracious Lords,

Repute me not a blemish to my Sex,

In that I strove to cure a desperate evil

With a more violent remedy: your lives,

Your honours are your own.

Philander

Then with consent

Be reconcil'd on all sides: Please you Fathers

To take your places.

Possenne

Let us again ascend,

With joy and thankfulness to Heaven: and now

To other business Lords.

Enter Gaspero, and Melitus, with Gonzalo

Melitus

Two hours and more Sir,

The Senate hath been set.

Gonzalo

And I not know it?

Who sits with them?

Melitus

My Lord, the Prince of

Cyprus

Gonzalo

Gaspero,

Why how comes that to pass?

Gaspero

Some weighty cause

I warrant you.

Gonzalo

Now Lords the business? ha?

Who's here,

Erota

Porphycio

Secretarie do your charge

Upon that Traitor.

Gonzalo

Traitor?

Gaspero

Yes,

Gonzalo

, Traitor,

Of treason to the peace and state of

Candy

I do arrest thee.

Gonzalo

Me? thou Dog?

Enter Fernando, and Michael

Michael

With Licence

From this grave Senate, I arrest thee likewise

Of treason to the State of

Venice

Gonzalo

Ha?

Michael

here? nay then I see

I am undone.

Erota

I shall not be your Queen,

Your Dutchess, or your Empress.

Gonzalo

Dull, dull brain.

O I am fool'd!

Gaspero

Look Sir, do you know this hand?

Michael

Do you know this Seal? First, Lords, he writes to

Venice

To make a perfect league, during which time

He would in private keep some Troops in pay,

Bribe all the Centinels throughout this Kingdom,

Corrupt the Captains; at a Banquet poyson

The Prince, and greatest Peers, and in conclusion

Yield

Candy

slave to

Venice

Gaspero

Next, he contracted

With the Illustrious Princess, the Lady

Erota

In hope of marriage with her, to deliver

All the

Venetian

gallantry, and strength,

Upon their first arrival, to the mercy

Of her and

Candy

Erota

This is true,

Gonzalo

Let it be true: what then?

Possenne

My Lord Ambassadour,

What's your demand?

Michael

As likes the State of

Candy

Either to sentence him as he deserves

Here, or to send him like a slave to

Venice

Porphycio

We shall advise upon it.

Gonzalo

O the Devils,

That had not thrust this trick into my pate--

A Politician fool? destruction plague

Candy

and

Venice

both.

Possenne Porphycio

Away with him.

Melitus

Come Sir, I'le see you safe.

[Exeunt Gonz. Mel.

Erota

Lords, e're you part

Be witness to another change of wonder;

Antinous

, now be bold, before this presence,

Freely to speak, whether or no I us'd

The humblest means affection could contrive,

To gain thy love.

Antinous

Madam, I must confess it,

And ever am your servant.

Erota

Yes

Antinous

My servant, for my Lord thou shalt be never:

I here disclaim the interest thou hadst once

In my too passionate thoughts. Most noble Prince,

If yet a relique of thy wonted flames

Live warm within thy bosom, then I blush not

To offer up the assurance of my faith,

To thee that hast deserv'd it best.

Philander

O Madam,

You play with my calamity.

Erota

Let heaven

Record my truth for ever.

Philander

With more joy

Than I have words to utter, I accept it.

I also pawn you mine.

Erota

The man that in requital

Of noble and un-sought affection

Grows cruel, never lov'd, nor did

Antinous

Yet herein (Prince) ye are beholding to him;

For his neglect of me humbled a pride,

Which to a vertuous wife had been a Monster.

Philander

For which I'le rank him my deserving friend.

Antinous

Much comfort dwell with you, as I could wish

To him I honour most.

Cassilanes

O my

Antinous

My own, my own good son.

Fernando

One suit I have to make.

Philander

To whom

Fernando

Lord

Cassilane

to you.

Cassilanes

To me?

Fernando

This Lady

Hath promised to be mine.

Annophel

Your blessing Sir;

Brother your love.

Antinous

You cannot Sir bestow her

On a more noble Gentleman.

Cassilanes

Saist thou so?

Antinous

I confirm it. Here

Fernando

Live both as one; she is thine.

Antinous

And herein Sister,

I honour you for your wise setled love.

This is a day of Triumph, all Contentions

Are happily accorded:

Candy's

peace

Secur'd, and

Venice

vow'd a worthy friend.

[Exeunt.

APPENDIX

THE LAWS OF CANDY

The following variations are those of the 1st folio unless otherwise stated

p. 236 ll. 2--43. Not in 1st folio. [e-Text transcriber's note: This is the whole of the front matter, including cast and actor lists, with the exception of the title]

p. 237 l. 9. insolencie. l. 19. these many plagues.

p. 238 l. 15. 2nd folio] pretty. l. 16. But this. l. 21. are these.

p. 241 l. 40. 2nd folio misprints] aud.

p. 242 l. 12. and had.

p. 243 l. 31. you sit? [omits Sir].

p. 245 l. 7. And as if. l. 18. fuerie, then warrant,

p. 247 l. 32. 2nd folio] tell.

p. 248 l. 11. Lord. l. 13. Cassilanes.

p. 249 l. 9. add debters.

p. 251 l. 31. so manded.

p. 252 l. 11. so bold.

p. 253 l. 8. teaching there.

p. 254 l. 34. by Iolus. l. 38. 2nd folio misprints] bravel.

p. 255 l. 3. I am borne. l. 22. 2nd folio misprints] your.

p. 257 ll. 33 and 34. --with your blessings, Then growne. l. 37. even unto.

p. 259 l. 33. Omits If.

p. 260 l. 32. percusseere the.

p. 262 l. 20. 2nd folio] loss. l. 25. 2nd folio] Erot.

p. 266 l. 16. 2nd folio] Casp.

p. 267 l. 16. This tempest-wearied. l. 30. Pray.

p. 269 l. 4. Please. l. 13. Your much.

p. 270 l. 30. please.

p. 271 l. 21. thou didst. l. 22. lose by it.

p. 272 ll. 13 and 17. Adds stage directions] Musick. Musick againe. l. 22. Omits stage direction] Musick.

p. 273 l. 4. for it. l. 18. griefes. l. 24. A missing bracket has been added at the end of the line.

p. 274 l. 38. wake.

p. 275 l. 1. pray. l. 23. thy owne.

p. 277 l. 7. is it. l. 27. do arive. l. 31. crueller.

p. 279 l. 3. please ye. l. 9. would you. l. 30. 'has more 'gag'd.

p. 280 l. 31. spake.

p. 281 l. 10. do ye. l. 40. Ye are.

p. 282 l. 20. He? feare. l. 28. 2nd folio misprints] aod.

p. 283 l. 29. So a.

p. 286 l. 7. Porphino. l. 18. 2nd folio misprints] Mie.

p. 288 l. 18. 2nd folio misprints] Chornicled. l. 25. 'Has.

p. 291 l. 15. intreates.

p. 299 l. 16. Adds Finis.