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Beaumont Francis
The Elder Brother

Actus 5. Scaena 1

Eustace, Egremont. Cowsy.

 
Turn'd out of doores and baffled! Egre. We share with you
In the affront. Cow. Yet beare it not like you
With such dejection. Eust. My Coach and horses made
The ransome of our cowardize. Lew. Cow. Pish, that's nothing,
Tis Damnum reparabile, and soone recover'd.
 

Egre. It is but feeding a suitor with false hopes, And after squeeze him with a dozen of oathes. You are new rigg'd, and this no more remembred.

 
Eust. And does the Court that should be the example
And Oracle of the Kingdome, read to us
No other doctrine! Egre. None that thrives so well
As that, within my knowledge. Cow. Flatterie rubbes out,
But since great men learne to admire themselves,
Tis something crest-falne. Egre. To be of no Religion,
Argues a subtle moral understanding,
And it is often cherisht. Eust. Pietie then,
And valour, nor to doe nor suffer wrong,
Are they no vertues? Egre. Rather vices, Eustace;
Fighting! What's fighting? It may be in fashion,
Among Provant swords, and buffe-jerkin men:
But w'us that swim in choice of silkes and Tissues;
Though in defence of that word reputation,
Which is indeed a kind of glorious nothing,
To lose a dram of blood must needs appeare
As coarse as to be honest. Eust. And all this
You seriously beleeve. Cow. It is a faith,
That we will die in, since from the black guard
To the grim Sir in office, there are few
Hold other Tenets. Eust. [N]ow my eyes are open,
And I behold a strong necessity
That keepes me knave and coward. Cow. Y'are the wiser.
 

Eust. Nor can I change my copy, if I purpose To be of your society. Egre. By no meanes.

Eust. Honour is nothing with you? Cow. A meere bubble, For what's growne common, is no more regarded.

Eust. My sword forc'd from me too, and still detain'd, You think's no blemish. Egre. Get me a battoone? Tis twenty times more courtlike, and less trouble.

Eust. And yet you weare a sword. Cow. Yes, and a good one, A Millan hilt, and a Damasco blade, For ornament, no use the Court allowes it.

 
Eust. Wil't not fight of it selfe? Cow. I nere tri'd this,
Yet I have worne as faire as any man,
I'me sure I've made my Cutler rich, and paid
For several weapons, Turkish and Toledo's,
Two thousand Crownes, and yet could never light
Upon a fighting one. Eust. Ile borrow this,
I like it well. Cow. Tis at your service Sir,
A lath in a velvet scabbard will serve my turne.
 
 
Eust. And now I have it leave me; y'are infectious,
The plague and leprosie of your baseness spreading
On all that doe come neere you; such as you
Render the Throne of Majesty, the Court
Suspected and contemptible, you are Scarabee's
That batten in her dung, and have no pallats
To taste her curious viands, and like Owles
Can onely see her night deformities,
But with the glorious splendor of her beauties
You are struck blinde as Moles, that undermine
The sumptuous building that allow'd you shelter,
You stick like running ulcers on her face,
And taint the pureness of her native candor,
And being bad servants, cause your masters goodness
To be disputed of; you make the Court
That is the abstract of all Academies,
To teach and practice noble undertakings,
(Where courage sits triumphant crown'd with Lawrel,
And wisedome loaded with the weight of honour)
A Schoole of vices. Egre. What sudden rapture's this?
 
 
Eust. A heavenly one that raising me from sloth and ignorance,
(In which your conversation long hath charm'd me)
Carries me up into the aire of action,
And knowledge of my selfe; even now I feele
But pleading onely in the Courts defence,
(Though far[r]e short of her merits and bright lustre)
A happy alteration, and full strength
To stand her Champion against all the world,
That throw aspersions on her. Cow. Sure hee'l beat us,
I see it in his eyes. Egre. A second Charles;
Pray look not Sir so furiously. Eust. Recant
What you have said, ye Mungrils, and licke up
The vomit you have cast upon the Court,
Where you unworthily have had warmth and breeding,
And sweare that you like Spiders, have made poyson
Of that which was a saving antidote.
 
 
Egre. We will sweare any thing. Cow. We honour the Court
As a most sacred place. Egre. And will make oath,
If you enjoyne us to't, nor knave nor fool,
Nor Coward living in it. Eust. Except you two,
You Rascals! Cow. Yes, we are all these, and more,
If you will have it so. Eust. And that until
You are again reform'd and growne new men,
You nere presume to name the Court, or presse
Into the Porters Lodge but for a penance,
To be disciplin'd for your roguery, and this done
With true contrition. Both. Yes Sir. Eust. You againe
May eat scraps and be thankful. Cow. Here's a cold breakfast
After a sharpe nights walking. Eust. Keepe your oathes,
And without grumbling vanish. Both. We are gone, Sir. Exeunt.
 
 
Eust. May all the poorenesse of my spirit goe with you,
The fetters of my thraldome are filed off:
And I at libertie to right my selfe,
And though my hope in Angellina's little,
My honour (unto which compar'd shee's nothing)
Shall like the Sun disperse those lowring Clouds
That yet obscure and dimme it; not the name
Of brother shall divert me, but from him,
That in the worlds opinion ruin'd me,
I will seek reparation, and call him
Unto a strict accompt. Ha! 'tis neere day,
And if the Muses friend rose-cheek'd Aurora,
Invite him to this solitary grove,
As I much hope she will, he seldome missing
To pay his vowes here to her, I shall hazard
To hinder his devotions—The doore opens— Enter Charles.
Tis he most certain, and by's side my sword,
Blest opportunity. Cha. I have oreslept my selfe,
And lost part of the morne, but Ile recover it:
Before I went to bed, I wrote some notes
Within my table-book, which I will now consider.
Ha! What meanes this? What do I with a sword?
Learn'd Mercurie needs not th'aide of Mars, and innocence
Is to it selfe a guard, yet since armes ever
Protect arts, I may justly weare and use it;
For since't was made my prize, I know not how
I'me growne in love with't and cannot eate nor study,
And much lesse walke without it: but I trifle,
Matters of more weight ask my judgement. Eust. Now Sir,
Treate of no other Theme, Ile keep you to it,
And see y'expound it well. Cha. Eustace! Eust. The same Sir,
Your younger brother, who as duty bindes him,
Hath all this night (turn'd out of doores) attended,
To bid good morrow t'ye. Cha. This not in scorne,
Commands me to returne it; Would you ought else?
 
 
Eust. O much, Sir, here I end not, but begin;
I must speak to you in another straine,
Than yet I ever us'd, and if the language
Appeare in the delivery rough and harsh,
You (being my Tutor) must condemne your selfe,
From whom I learn'd it. Cha. When I understand
(Bee't in what stile you please) what's your demand,
I shall endeavour in the self same phrase
To make an answer to the point. Eust. I come not
To lay claime to your birthright, 'tis your owne,
And 'tis fit you enjoy it, nor ask I from you
Your learning and deepe knowledge; (though I am not
A Schollar as you are) I know them Diamonds
By your sole industry, patience and labour
Forc'd from steepe rocks, and with much toile attended,
And but to few that prize their value granted,
And therefore without rival freely weare them.
 
 
Cha. These not repin'd at (as you seeme t'informe me)
The motion must be of a strange condition,
If I refuse to yeeld to't; therefore Eustace,
Without this tempest in your lookes propound it,
And feare not a denial. Eust. I require then,
(As from an enemy, and not a brother)
The reputation of a man of honour,
Not by a faire war wonne when I was waking,
But in my sleepe of folly ravish'd from me;
With these, the restitution of my sword,
With large acknowledgement of satisfaction,
My Coach, my Horses; I will part with life,
Ere lose one haire of them, and what concludes all,
My Mistress Angellina, as she was
Before the Musical Magick of thy tongue
Inchanted and seduc'd her. These perform'd,
And with submission, and done publiquely,
At my fathers and my Uncles intercession,
(That I put in too) I perhaps may listen
To termes of reconcilement; but if these
In every circumstance are not subscrib'd to,
To th' last gasp I defie thee. Cha. These are strict
Conditions to a brother. Eust. My rest is up,
Nor will I give less. Cha. I'me no Gamester, Eustace,
Yet I can guesse your resolution stands
To win or loose all; I rejoyce to find ye
Thus tender of your honour, and that at length
You understand what a wretched thing you were,
How deeply wounded by your selfe, and made
Almost incurable, in your owne hopes,
The dead flesh of pale cowardise growing over
Your festred reputation, which no balme
Or gentle unguent ever could make way to,
And I am happy, that I was the Surgeon
That did apply those burning corrosives
That render you already sensible
O th' danger you were plung'd in, in teaching you,
And by a faire gradation, how far[r]e,
And with what curious respect and care
The peace and credit of a man within,
(Which you nere thought till now) should be preferr'd
Before a gawdy outside; pray you fix here,
For so farre I go with you. Eust. This discourse
Is from the subject. Cha. Ile come to it brother,
But if you think to build upon my ruines,
You'l find a false foundation your high offers
Taught by the Masters of dependancies,
That by compounding differences 'tween others
Supply their owne necessities, with me
Will never carry't; As you are my brother,
I would dispence a little, but no more
Than honour can give way to; nor must I
Destroy that in my selfe I love in you;
And therefore let not hopes nor threats perswade you
I will descend to any composition
For which I may be censur'd. Eust. You shall fight then.
 
 
Cha. With much unwillingness with you, but if
There's no evasion— Eust. None. Cha. Heare yet a word
As for the sword and other fripperies,
In a faire way send for them, you shall have 'em.
But rather than surrender Angellina,
Or heare it againe mention'd, I oppose
My breast unto lowd thunder, cast behinde me
All ties of Nature. Eust. She detain'd, I'me deafe
To all perswasion. Cha. Guard thy selfe then Eustace,
I use no other Rhetorick. Mir. Clashing of swords [Enter Miram.]
So neere my house? brother oppos'd to brother!
Here is no fencing at halfe sword; hold, hold,
 
 
Charles, Eustace. Eust. Second him, or call in more helpe.
Come not betweene us, Ile not know nor spare you;
D'ye fight by th' booke? Cha. Tis you that wrong me, off Sir,
And suddenly, Ile conjure down the Spirit
That I have raised in him. Eust. Never, Charles,
Tis thine, and in thy death, be doubled in me.
 
 
Mir. I'me out of breath, yet trust not too much to't boyes,
For if you pawse not suddenly, and heare reason,
Doe, kill your Uncle, doe, but that I'me patient,
And not a cholerick old teasty foole,
Like your father, Ide daunce a matachin with you,
Should make you sweat your best blood for't; I would,
And it may be I will, Charles I command thee,
And Eustace I entreat thee, th'art a brave Spark,
A true tough-metal'd blade, and I begin
To love thee heartily, give me a fighting Courtier,
Ile cherish him for example; in our age
Th'are not born every day. Cha. You of late Sir,
In me lov'd learning. Mir. True, but take me w'ye, Charles,
'Twas when yong Eustace wore his heart in's breeches,
And fought his battailes in Complements and Cringes,
When's understanding wav'd in a flaunting feather,
And his best contemplation look'd no further
Than a new-fashion'd doublet, I confess then
The lofty noise your Greek made onely pleas'd me;
But now hee's turn'd an Oliver and a Rowland,
Nay the whole dozen of peeres are bound up in him:
Let me remember, when I was of his yeeres,
I did looke very like him; and did you see
My picture as I was then, you would sweare
That gallant Eustace (I meane, now he dares fight)
Was the true substance and the perfect figure.
Nay, nay, no anger, you shall have enough Charles.
 

Cha. Sure Sir, I shall not need addition from him.

 
Eust. Nor I from any, this shall decide my interest,
Though I am lost to all deserving men,
To all that men call good, for suffering tamely
Insufferable wrongs, and justly slighted
By yeelding to a minute of delay
In my revenge, and from that made a stranger
Unto my fathers house and favour, orewhelm'd
With all disgraces, yet I will mount upward,
And force my selfe a fortune, though my birth
And breeding doe deny it. Cha. Seek not Eustace,
By violence, what will be offerd to you
On easier composition; though I was not
Allied unto your weakness, you shall find me
A brother to your bravery of spirit,
And one that not compell'd to't by your sword,
(Which I must never feare) will share it with you
In all but Angellina. Mir. Nobly said Charles,
And learne from my experience, you may heare reason
And never maime your fighting; for your credit
Which you think you have lost, spare, Charles, and swinge me,
And soundly; three or foure walking cloakes
That weare no swords to guard 'em, yet deserve it,
Thou art made up againe. Eust. All this is lip-salve.
 
 
Mir. It shall be Hearts-ease, Eustace, ere I've done;
As for thy fathers anger, now thou dar'st fight,
Nere feare't, for I've the dowcets of his gravity
Fast in a string, I will so pinch and wring him,
That spight of his authority, thou shalt make
Thine owne conditions with him. Eust. Ile take leave
A little to consider. Cha. Here comes Andrew.
 

Mir. But without his Comical and learned face; What sad disaster, Andrew? And. You may read Sir, A Tragedy in my face. Mir. Art thou in earnest?

 
And. Yes, by my life Sir, and if now you help not,
And speedily, by force or by persuasion,
My good old Master (for now I pitie him) is
Ruin'd for ever. Cha. Ha, my father! And. He Sir.
 

Mir. By what meanes? speake. And. At the suit of Monsieur Lewis

 
His house is seiz'd upon, and he in person
Is under guard, (I saw it with these eyes Sir)
To be convey'd to Paris, and there sentenc'd.
 

Mir. Nay, then there is no jesting. Cha. Doe I live, And know my father injur'd? And. And what's worse Sir, My Lady Angellina– Eust. What of her?

And. Shee's carryed away too. Mir. How? And. While you were absent,

 
A crew of Monsieur Lewis friends and kinsmen
By force break in at th' back part of the house,
And took her away by violence; faithful Andrew,
(As this can witness for him) did his best,
In her defence, but 'twould not doe. Mir. Away,
And see our horses sadled, 'tis no time
To talke, but doe: Eustace, you now are offer'd
A spatious field, and in a pious war
To exercise you[r] valour, here's a cause,
And such a one, in which to fall is honourable,
Your duty and reverence due to a fathers name
Commanding it; but these unnatural jarres
Arising betweene brothers (should you prosper)
Would shame your victorie. Eust. I would doe much Sir,
But still my reputation! Mir. Charles shall give you
All decent satisfaction; nay joyne hands,
And heartily; why this is done like brothers;
And old as I am, in this cause that concerns
The honour of our family, Monsieur Lewis
(If reason cannot work) shall find and feele
There's hot blood in this arme, Ile lead you bravely.
 

Eust. And if I follow not, a Cowards name Be branded on my forehead. Cha. This Spirit makes you A sharer in my fortunes. Mir. And in mine, Of which (Brisac once freed, and Angellina Again in our possession) you shall know My heart speakes in my tongue. Eust. I dare not doubt it, Sir. Exeunt.

Actus V. Scaena II

Enter Lewis, Brisac, Angellina, Sylvia, Officers.

 
Lew. I'me deafe to all perswasions. Bri. I use none,
Nor doubt I, though a while my innocence suffers,
But when the King shall understand how false
Your malice hath inform'd him, he in justice
Must set me right againe. Ang. Sir, let not passion
So far[r]e transport you as to think in reason,
This violent course repaires, but ruins it;
That honour you would build up, you destroy;
What you would seeme to nourish, if respect
Of my preferment or my patern
May challenge your paternal love and care,
Why doe you, now good fortune has provided
A better husband for me than your hopes
Could ever fancy, strive to robb me of him?
In what is my Lord Charles defective Sir?
Unless deep learning be a blemish in him,
Or well proportion'd limbs be mulcts in Nature,
Or what you onely aim'd at, large revenewes
Are on the sudden growne distastful to you,
Of what can you accuse him? Lew. Of a rape
Done to honour, which thy ravenous lust
Made the consent to. Syl. Her lust! you are her father.
 

Lew. And you her Bawd. Syl. Were you ten Lords, 'tis false, The pureness of her chaste thoughts entertains not Such spotted instruments. Ang. As I have a soule Sir.

 
Lew. I am not to be alter'd; to sit downe
With this disgrace, would argue me a Peasant,
And not borne noble: all rigour that the Law
And that encrease of power by favour yeelds,
Shall be with all severity inflicted;
You have the Kings hand for't; no Bayle will serve,
And therefore at your perils Officers, away with 'em.
 

Bri. This is madness. Lew. Tell me so in open Court, And there Ile answer you. Mir. Well overtaken;

[Enter Mir. Char. Eust. Andrew.]

Cha. Ill if they dare resist. Eust. He that advances But one step forward dies. L. Shew the King's Writ.

Mir. Shew your discretion, 'twil become you better.

Cha. Y'are once more in my power, and if againe I part with you, let me for ever lose thee.

 
Eust. Force will not do't nor threats; accept this service
From your despair'd of Eustace. And. And beware
Your reverend Worship never more attempt
To search my Lilly-pot, you see what followes.
 
 
Lew. Is the Kings power contemn'd? Mir. No, but the torrent
O' your wilful folly stopp'd. And for you, good Sir,
If you would but be sensible, what can you wish
But the satisfaction of an obstinate Will.
That is not indear'd to you? rather than
Be cross'd in what you purpos'd, you'l undoe
Your daughters fame, the credit of your judgement,
And your old foolish neighbour; make your states,
And in a suite not worth a Cardecue,
A prey to advocates, and their buckram Scribes,
And after they have plum'd ye, returne home
Like a couple of naked Fowles without a feather.
 
 
Cha. This is a most strong truth Sir. Mir. No, no, Monsieur,
Let us be right Frenchmen, violent to charge,
But when our follies are repell'd by reason,
Tis fit that we retreat and nere come on more:
Observe my learned Charles, hee'l get thee a Nephew
On Angellina shall dispute in her belly,
And suck the Nurse by Logick: and here's Eustace,
He was an asse, but now is grown an Amadis;
Nor shall he want a Wife, if all my land
For a joynture can effect it: Y'are a good Lord,
And of a gentle nature, in your lookes
I see a kinde consent, and it shewes lovely:
And doe you heare old Foole? but Ile not chide,
Hereafter like me, ever doate on learning,
The meere beleefe is excellent, 'twill save you;
And next love valour, though you dare not fight
Your selfe, or fright a foolish Officer, 'young Eustace
Can doe it to a haire. And to conclude,
Let Andrew's Farm b'encreas'd, that is your penance,
You know for what, and see you rut no more,
You understand me, So embrace on all sides;
  Ile pay those Billmen, and make large amends;
  Provided we preserve you still our friends.– Exeunt.
 

[A few misprints in the above have been corrected in square brackets to agree with B.]

 

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