Read Ebook: The Noble Spanish Soldier by Dekker Thomas

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Ebook has 1727 lines and 46387 words, and 35 pages

John Price University College Worcester 1 June 2004

THE TEXT

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

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 Faction 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 <1> 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.

ACT 1 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 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 .

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 .

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 1 SCENE 2

A table set out covered with black. Two waxen tapers. The King's picture at one end and a crucifix at the other. Onaelia 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 <2> 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? <3> 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?

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