Act 1 — ACT I. SCENE I.
Reading edition
Field between the two Houses.
Enter severally White Queen’s Pawn and Black Queen’s Pawn.
B. Q. Pawn. I ne’er see that face but my pity rises;
When I behold so clear a masterpiece
Of heaven’s art wrought out of dust and ashes,
And at next thought to give her lost eternally,
In being not ours, but the daughter of heresy,
My soul bleeds at mine eyes.
W. Q. Pawn. Where should truth speak,
If not in such a sorrow? they’re tears plainly:
Beshrew me, if she weep[528] not heartily!
What is my peace to her to take such pains in’t?
If I wander to loss, and with broad eyes
Yet miss the path she can run blindfold in
Through often exercise, why should my oversight,
Though in the best game that e’er Christian lost,
Raise the least spring of pity in her eyes?
’Tis doubtless a great charity; and no virtue
Could win me surer.
B. Q. Pawn. Blessed things prevail with’t!
If ever goodness made a gracious promise,
It is in yonder look: what little pains
Would build a fort for virtue to all memory
In that sweet creature, were the ground-work firmer![529]
W. Q. Pawn. It hath been all my glory to be firm
In what I have profess’d.
314B. Q. Pawn. That is the enemy
That steals your strength away, and fights against you,
Disarms[530] your soul even in the heat of battle;
Your firmness that way makes you more infirm
For the right Christian conflict. There I spied
A zealous primitive sparkle but now flew
From your devoted eye,
Able to blow up all the[531] heresies
That ever sate in council with your spirit.
And here comes he whose sanctimonious breath
Can[532] make that spark a flame: list to him, virgin,
At whose first entrance princes will fall prostrate;
Women are weaker vessels.
Enter Black Bishop’s Pawn.
W. Q. Pawn. By my penitence,
A comely presentation, and the habit
To admiration reverend!
B. Q. Pawn. But the heart, lady, so meek,
That as you see good Charity pictur’d still
With young ones in her arms, so will he cherish
All his young, tractable, sweet, obedient daughters
Even in his bosom, in his own dear bosom.
I am myself a secular Jesuitess,[533]
As many ladies are of worth[534] and greatness:
A second sort are Jesuits in voto,
Giving their vow unto the[535] Father General,
That’s the Black Bishop of our House, whose Pawn
315This gentleman now stands for, to receive
The college-habit at his holy pleasure.
W. Q. Pawn. But how are those in voto employ’d, lady,
Till they receive the habit?
B. Q. Pawn. They’re not idle;
He finds them all true labourers in the work
Of th' universal monarchy, which he
And his disciples principally aim at:
Those are maintain’d in many courts and palaces,
And are induc’d by[536] noble personages
Into great princes' services, and prove
Some councillors of state, some secretaries;
All serving in notes of intelligence—
As parish-clerks their mortuary-bills—
To the Father General: so are designs
Oft-times prevented, and important[537] secrets
Of states discover’d, yet no author found,
But they suspected oft that are most sound.
This mystery is too deep yet for your entrance;
And I offend to set your zeal so back:
Check’d by obedience with desire to hasten
Your progress to perfection, I commit you
To the great worker’s hands; to whose grave worth
I fit my reverence, as to you my wishes.
B. B. Pawn. Dost[538] find her supple?
B. Q. Pawn. There’s a little passage made.[539]
[Exit.
B. B. Pawn. Let me contemplate,
With holy wonder season my access,
And, by degrees, approach the sanctuary
316Of unmatch’d beauty, set in grace and goodness.
Amongst the daughters of men I have not found
A more Catholical aspèct: that eye
Doth promise single life and meek obedience;
Upon those lips, the sweet fresh buds of youth,
The holy dew of prayer lies, like pearl
Dropt from the opening eyelids of the morn[540]
Upon the bashful rose. How beauteously
A gentle fast, not rigorously impos’d
Would look upon that cheek! and how delightfully
The courteous physic of a tender penance,
Whose utmost cruelty should not exceed
The first fear of a bride, to beat down frailty,
Would work to sound health your long-fester’d judgment,
And make your merit, which, through erring ignorance,
Appears but spotted righteousness to me,
Far clearer than the innocence of infants!
W. Q. Pawn. To that good work I bow, and will become
Obedience' humblest daughter, since I find
Th' assistance of a sacred strength to aid me:
The labour is as easy to serve virtue
The right way, since ’tis she I ever serv’d
In my desire, though I transgress’d in judgment.
B. B. Pawn. That’s easily absolv’d amongst the rest:
You shall not find the virtue that you serve now
A sharp and cruel mistress; her ear’s open
To all your supplications; you may boldly
317And safely let in the most secret sin
Into her knowledge, which, like vanish’d man,
Never returns into the world again;
Fate locks not up more trulier.
W. Q. Pawn. To the guilty
That may appear some benefit.
B. B. Pawn. Who’s so innocent
That never stands in need on’t in some kind?
If every thought were blabb’d that’s so confest,
The very air we breathe would be unblest.—
Now to the work indeed, which is to catch
Her inclination; that’s the special use
We make of all our practice in all kingdoms;
For by discovering[541] their most secret frailties,
Things which, once ours, they must not hide from us
(That’s the first article in the creed we teach ’em),
Finding to what point their blood most inclines,
Know best to apt them then to our designs. [Aside.
Daughter, the sooner you disperse your errors,
The sooner you make haste to your recovery:
You must part with ’em; to be nice or modest
Towards this good action, is to imitate
The bashfulness of one conceals an ulcer,
For the uncomely parts that[542] tumour vexes,
Till’t be past cure. Resolve you thus far, lady;
The privat’st thought that runs to hide itself
In the most secret corner of your heart now,
Must be of my acquaintance, so familiarly
Never she-friend of your night-counsels[543] nearer.
318W. Q. Pawn. I stand not much in fear of any action
Guilty of that black time, most noble holiness.
I must confess, as in a sacred temple
Throng’d with an auditory, some come rather
To feed on human object than to taste
Of angels' food;
So in the congregation of quick thoughts,
Which are more infinite than such assemblies,
I cannot with truth’s safety speak for all:
Some have been wanderers, some fond,[544] some sinful,
But those found ever but poor entertainment,
They had small encouragement to come again.
The single life, which strongly I profess now,
Heaven pardon me! I was about to part from.
B. B. Pawn. Then you have pass’d through love?
W. Q. Pawn. But left no stain
In all my passage, sir, no print of wrong
For the most chaste maid that may trace my footsteps.
B. B. Pawn. How came you off so clear?
W. Q. Pawn. I was discharg’d
By an inhuman accident, which modesty
Forbids me to put any language to.
B. B. Pawn. How you forget yourself! all actions
Clad[545] in their proper language, though most sordid,
My ear is bound by duty to let in
And lock up everlastingly. Shall I help you?
He was not found to answer his creation:
A vestal virgin in a slip of grace
Could not deliver man’s loss modestlier:
’Twas the White Bishop’s Pawn.
319W. Q. Pawn. The same, blest sir.
B. B. Pawn. An heretic well pickled.
W. Q. Pawn. By base treachery,
And violence prepar’d by his competitor,[546]
The Black Knight’s Pawn, whom I shall ever hate for’t.
B. B. Pawn. ’Twas of revenges the unmanliest way
That ever rival took; a villany
That, for your sake, I'll ne’er absolve him of.
W. Q. Pawn. I wish it not so heavy.
B. B. Pawn. He must feel it:
I never yet gave absolution
To any crime of that unmanning nature.
It seems then you refus’d him for defect;
Therein you stand not pure from the desire
That other women have in ends of marriage:
Pardon my boldness, if I sift your goodness
To the last grain.
W. Q. Pawn. I reverence your pains, sir,
And must acknowledge custom to enjoy
What other women challenge and possess
More rul’d me than desire; for my desires
Dwell all in ignorance, and I'll never wish
To know that fond[547] way may redeem ’em thence.
B. B. Pawn. I never was so taken; beset doubly
Now with her judgment: what a strength it puts forth!
[Aside.
I bring work nearer to you: when you’ve seen
A masterpiece of man, compos’d by heaven
For a great prince’s favour, kingdom’s love;
So exact, envy could not find a place
To stick a blot on person or on fame;
320Have you not found ambition swell your wish then,
And desire stir your blood?
W. Q. Pawn. By virtue, never!
I've only in the dignity of the creature
Admir’d the maker’s glory.
B. B. Pawn. She’s impregnable;
A second siege must not fall off so tamely:
She’s one of those must be inform’d to know
A daughter’s duty, which some take untaught:
Her modesty brings her behind-hand much;
My old means I must fly to—yes, ’tis it. [Aside.
Please you, peruse this small tract of obedience;
'Twill help you forward well. [Gives a book.
W. Q. Pawn. Sir, that’s a virtue
I've ever thought on with a special reverence.
B. B. Pawn. You will conceive by that my power, your duty.
Enter White Bishop’s Pawn.
W. Q. Pawn. The knowledge will be precious of both, sir.
W. B. Pawn. What makes yon troubler of all
Christian waters
So near that blessed spring? but that I know
Her goodness is the rock from whence it issues
Unmoveable as fate, ’twould more afflict me
Than all my sufferings for her, which so long
As she holds constant to the House she comes of,
The whiteness of the cause, the side, the quality,
Are sacrifices to her worth and virtue;
And, though confin’d in my religious joys,
I[548] marry her and possess her. [Aside.
Enter Black Knight’s Pawn.
B. B. Pawn. Behold, lady,
321The two inhuman enemies, the Black Knight’s Pawn
And the White Bishop’s; the gelder and the gelded.
W. Q. Pawn. There’s my grief, my hate!
B. Kt.'s Pawn. What, in the Jesuit’s fingers? by this hand,
I'll give my part now for a parrot’s feather,
She never returns virtuous, ’tis impossible:
I'll undertake more wagers will be laid
Upon a usurer’s return from hell
Than upon hers from him now. Have I[549] been guilty
Of such base malice that my very conscience
Shakes at the memory of it,[550] and, when I look
To gather fruit, find nothing but the savin-tree,
Too frequent in nuns' orchards, and there planted,
By all conjecture, to destroy fruit[551] rather?
I'll be resolvèd[552] now. [Aside.]—Most noble virgin——
W. Q. Pawn. Ignoble villain! dare that unhallow’d tongue
Lay hold upon a sound so gracious?
What’s nobleness to thee, or virgin chastity?
They’re out of thy acquaintance: talk of violence
That shames creation, deeds would make night blush,
That’s company for thee. Hast thou the impudence
To court me with a leprosy upon thee
Able t' infect the walls of a great building?
B. B. Pawn. Son of offence, forbear! go, set your evil
Before your eyes; a penitential vesture
Would better become you, some shirt of hair.
322B. Kt.'s Pawn. And you a three-pound smock ’stead of an alb,
Robs safe and close: I feel a sting that’s worse too.
[Aside.
White Pawn, hast so much charity to accept
A reconcilement? make thine own conditions,
For I begin to be extremely burden’d.
W. B. Pawn. No truth or peace of that Black House protested
Is to be trusted; but for hope of quittance,
And warn’d by diffidence, I may entrap him soonest.
[Aside.
I admit conference.
B. Kt.'s Pawn. It’s a nobleness
That makes confusion cleave to all my merits.
[Exeunt W. B. Pawn and B. Kt.'s Pawn.
Enter Black Knight.
B. B. Pawn [to W. Q. Pawn]. That treatise will instruct you throughly.
B. Knight. So, so!
The business of the universal monarchy
Goes forward well now! the great college-pot,
That should be always boiling with the fuel
Of all intelligences possible
Through the Christian kingdoms. Is this fellow
Our prime incendiary, and one of those
That promis’d the White Kingdom seven years since
To our Black House? put a new daughter to him,
The great[555] work stands; he minds nor monarchy
323Nor hierarchy, diviner[556] principality.
I have bragg’d less,
But have[557] done more than all the conclave on ’em,
Take their assistant fathers in all parts,
Yea, and their Father General in to boot;
And what I've done,[558] I've done facetiously,
With pleasant subtlety and bewitching courtship,
Abus’d all my believers with delight,—
They took a comfort to be cozen’d by me:
To many a soul I've let in mortal poison,
Whose cheeks have crack’d with laughter to receive it;
I could so roll my pills in sugar’d syllables,
And strew such kindly mirth o’er all my mischief,
They took their bane in way of recreation,
As pleasure steals corruption into youth.
He spies me now: I must uphold his reverence,
Especially in public, though I know
Priapus, guardian of the cherry-gardens,
Bacchus' and Venus' chit, is not more vicious.
[Aside.
B. B. Pawn. Blessings' accumulation keep with you, sir!
B. Knight. Honour’s dissimulation be your due, sir!
W. Q. Pawn. How deep in duty his observance plunges!
His charge must needs be reverend. [Aside.
B. B. Pawn. I am confessor
324To this Black Knight too; you see devotion’s fruitful,
Sh’ath many sons and daughters.
B. Knight. I do this the more
T' amaze our adversaries to behold
And to beget a sound opinion
Of holiness in them and zeal in us,
[Exit W. Q. Pawn.
As also to invite the like obedience
In other pusills[561] by our meek example.— [Aside.
So, is your trifle vanish’d?
B. B. Pawn. Trifle call you her? ’tis a good Pawn, sir;
Sure she’s the second Pawn in the White House,
And to the opening of the game I hold her.
B. Knight. Ay, you
Hold well for that, I know your play of old:
If there were more Queen’s Pawns, you’d ply the game
A great deal harder. Now, sir, we’re in private;
But what for the great work, the main existence,[562]
The hope monarchal?
B. B. Pawn. It goes on in this.
B. Knight. In this! I cannot see’t.
B. B. Pawn. You may deny so
A dial’s motion, ’cause you cannot see
The hand move, or a wind that rends the cedar.
325B. Knight. Where stops the current of intelligence?
Your Father General, Bishop o' the Black House,
Complains for want of work.
B. B. Pawn. Here’s from all parts,
Sufficient to employ him; I receiv’d
A packet from th' Assistant Fathers lately;
Look, there is Anglica, this Gallica.
[Gives letters.
B. Knight. Ay, marry, sir, there’s some quick flesh in this.
B. B. Pawn. Germanica. [Gives letter.
B. Knight. I think they have seal’d this with butter.
B. B. Pawn. This Italica. [Gives letter.
B. Knight. They’ve put their pens the Hebrew way, methinks.
B. B. Pawn. Hispanica here. [Gives letter.
B. Knight. Hispanica! blind work ’tis; the Jesuit
Hath writ this with the juice of lemons sure,
It must be held close to the fire of purgatory
Ere’t can be read.
B. B. Pawn. You would not lose your jest, Knight,
Though it wounded your own fame.[563]
B. Knight. Curanda pecunia.
B. B. Pawn. Take heed, sir; we’re entrapp’d,—the White King’s Pawn.
Enter White King’s Pawn.
B. Knight. He’s made our own, man; half in voto yours,
His heart’s in the Black House: leave him to me.—
[Exit B. B. Pawn.
Most of all friends endear’d, preciously special!
326W. Kg.'s Pawn. You see my outside, but you know my heart, Knight,
Great difference in the colour. There’s some intelligence; [Gives letter.
And as more ripens, so your knowledge still
Shall prove the richer: there shall nothing happen,
Believe it, to extenuate your cause,
Or to oppress her friends, but I will strive
To cross it with my counsel, purse, and power;
Keep all supplies back both in means and men
That may raise strength against you. We must part:
I dare no longer of this theme discuss;
The ear of state is quick and jealious.[564]
B. Knight. Excellent estimation! thou art valu’d
Above the fleet of gold that came short home.
[Exit W. Kg.’s Pawn.
Poor Jesuit-ridden soul! how art thou fool’d
Out of thy faith, from thy allegiance drawn!
Which way soe’er thou tak’st, thou’rt a lost Pawn.
[Exit.