Enter from the Black House the Jesuitess Black Queen’s Pawn (a woman-pawn in black), [then] from the White House the Virgin White Queen’s Pawn (a woman-pawn in white)
JESUITESS BLACK QUEEN’S PAWN [as to herself]
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 that not ours, but the daughter of heresy),
My soul bleeds at mine eyes.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
[aside]
Where should truth speak
If not in such a sorrow? They’re tears plainly.
Beshrew me if she weep 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 eye?
It’s doubtless a great charity, and no virtue
Could win me surer.
JESUITESS BLACK QUEEN’S PAWN
[as to herself]
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.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
It has been all my glory to be firm
In what I have professed.
JESUITESS BLACK QUEEN’S PAWN
That is the enemy
That steals your strength away and lights against you,
Disarms your soul e’en in the heat of battle.
Your firmness that way make 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 heresies
That ever sat in council with your spirit,
Enter [from the Black House] the Black Bishop’s
Pawn (a Jesuit)
And here comes he whose sanctimonious breath
Can make that spark a flame. List to him, virgin —
At whose first entrance princes will fall prostrate;
Women are weaker vessels.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
By my penitence,
A comely presentation, and the habit
To admiration reverend.
JESUITESS BLACK QUEEN’S PAWN
But the heart, the heart, lady —
So meek, that as you see good Charity pictured still
With young ones in her arms, so will he cherish
All his young tractable sweet obedient daughters
E’en in his bosom, in his own dear bosom.
I am myself a secular Jesuitess,
As many ladies are of worth and greatness;
A second sort are Jesuits in voto,
Giving their vow in to the Father General
(That’s the Black Bishop of our House, whose pawn
This gentleman now stands for) to receive
The college habit at his holy pleasure.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
But how are those in voto employed, lady,
Till they receive the habit?
JESUITESS BLACK QUEEN’S PAWN
They’re not idle.
He finds ‘em all true labourers in the vineyard
Of th’universal monarchy, which he
And his disciples principally aim at.
Those are maintained in many courts and palaces
And are induced by noble personages
Into great princes’ services, and prove
Some counsellors of state, some secretaries,
All serving in notes of intelligence
(As parish clerks their mortuary bills)
To th’ Father General. So are designs
Oft times prevented and important secrets
Of state discovered, yet no author found,
But those suspected oft that are most sound.
[Jesuit Black Bishop’s Pawn gestures to Jesuitess Black Queen’s Pawn]
— This mystery is too deep yet for your entrance
And I offend to set your zeal so back.
Checked 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.
[Jesuitess Black Queen’s Pawn does obeisance to
Jesuit Black Bishop’s Pawn]
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
[aside to Black Queen’s Pawn]
Dost find her supple?
JESUITESS BLACK QUEEN’S PAWN
[aside to Black Bishop’s Pawn]
There’s a little passage made. Exit
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
Let me contemplate,
With holy wonder season my access,
And by degrees approach the sanctuary
Of unmatched beauty set in grace and goodness.
Amongst the daughters of men I have not found
A more catholical aspect. That eye
Does promise single life and meek obedience,
Upon whose lips (the sweet fresh buds of youth)
The holy dew of prayer lies like pearl
Dropped from the op’ning eyelids of the morn
Upon the bashful rose. How beauteously
A gentle fast (not rigorously imposed)
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 festered judgement
And make your merit (which, through erring ignorance,
Appears but spotted righteousness to me)
Far clearer than the innocence of infants.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S 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 it’s she I ever served
In my desire, though I transgressed in judgement.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
It’s easily absolved 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
And safely let in the most secret sin
Into her knowledge, which like vanished man
Never returns into the world again.
Fate locks not up more trulier.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
To the guilty
That may appear some benefit.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
Who is so innocent
That never stands in need on’t, in some kind?
If every thought were blabbed that’s so confessed,
The very air we breathe would be unblessed.
[Aside] 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 disclosing 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. —
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
Toward this good action is to imitate
The bashfulness of one conceals an ulcer
For the uncomely parts the tumor 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-counsel nearer.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S 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
Thronged 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, some sinful —
But those found ever but poor entertainment;
They’d small encouragement to come again.
The single life, which strongly I profess now,
Heaven pardon me, I was about to part from.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
Then you have passed through love?
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
But left no stain
In all my passage, sir, no print of wrong
For the most chaste maid that may trace my footsteps.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
How came you off so clear?
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
I was discharged
By an inhuman accident, which modesty
Forbids me to put any language to.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
How you forget yourself! All actions
Clad 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 prayer
Could not deliver man’s loss modestlier.
’Twas the White Bishop’s Pawn.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
The same, blest sir.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN [aside]
A Puritan well pickled.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
By base treachery
And violence prepared by his competitor,
The Black Knight’s Pawn, whom I shall ever hate for’t.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
’Twas of revenges the unmanliest way
That ever rival took — a villainy
That, for your sake, I’ll ne’er absolve him of.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
I wish it not so heavy.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
He must feel it.
I never yet gave absolution
To any crime of that unmanning nature.
It seems then you refused 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.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
I reverence your pains, sir,
And must acknowledge custom to enjoy
What other women challenge and possess
More ruled me than desire, for my desires
Dwell all in ignorance, and I’ll ne’er wish
To know that fond way may redeem them thence.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
[aside]
I never was so taken, beset doubly
Now with her judgement. What a strength it puts forth! —
I bring work nearer to you. When you’ve seen
A masterpiece of man (composed by heaven
For a great princess’ favour, kingdom’s love,
So exact envy could not find a place
To stick a blot on person or on fame)
Have you not found ambition swell your wish then
And desire stir your blood?
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
By virtue, never.
I’ve only in the dignity of the creature
Admired the Maker’s glory.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
[aside]
She’s impregnable.
A second siege must not fall off so tamely.
She’s one of those must be informed to know
A daughter’s duty, which some take untaught;
Her modesty brings her behindhand much.
My old means I must fly to; yes, ’tis it. —
[He takes a book from his pocket]
Please you peruse this small tract of obedience;
[He gives the book to her]
‘Twill help you forward well.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
Sir, that’s a virtue
I’ve ever thought on with especial reverence.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
You will conceive by that my pow’r, your duty.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
The knowledge will be precious of both, sir.
[She reads.] Enter [from the White House] White
Bishop’s Gelded Pawn
WHITE BISHOP’S GELDED PAWN
[aside]
What makes you troubler of all Christian waters
So near that blessed spring? But that I know
Her goodness is the rock from whence it issues
Unmovable as fast, ’twould more afflict me
Than all my suffrings 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 confined) in my religious joys
I marry her and possess her.
Enter [from the Black House] Black Knight’s Pawn Gelder [opposite White Bishop’s Gelded Pawn]
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
Behold, lady,
The two inhuman enemies: the Black Knight’s Pawn
And the White Bishop’s, the gelder and the gelded.
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
There’s my grief, my hate.
BLACK KNIGHT’S PAWN GELDER
[aside]
What, in the Jesuit’s lingers? 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 been guilty
Of such base malice that my very conscience
Shakes at the memory of it, 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 rather.
I will be resolved now. [To her] Most noble virgin —
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
Ignoble villain! Dare that unhallowed tongue
Lay hold upon a sound so gracious?
What’s nobleness to thee? or virgin chastity?
They’re not 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?
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
[to Black Knight’s Pawn Gelder]
Son of offence, forbear, go, set your evil
Before your eyes. A penitential vesture
Would better become ye, some shirt of hair.
BLACK KNIGHT’S PAWN GELDER
And you a three-pound smock ‘stead of an alb,
An epicene chasuble. [Aside] This holy felon
Robs safe and close. I feel a sting that’s worse too.
[He turns to the White Bishop’s Gelded Pawn]
White Pawn! Hast so much charity to accept
A reconcilement? Make thy own conditions,
For I begin to be extremely burdened.
WHITE BISHOP’S GELDED PAWN
[aside]
No truth or peace of that Black House protested
Is to be trusted; but, for hope of quittance
And warned by diffidence, I may entrap him soonest.
— I admit conference.
BLACK KNIGHT’S PAWN GELDER
It is a nobleness
That makes confusion cleave to all my merits.
Exeunt White Bishop’s Gelded Pawn and Black Knight’s Pawn Gelder
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
[to Virgin White Queen’s Pawn]
That treatise will instruct you fully.
[She reads.] Enter Black Knight Gondomar [from the Black House, behind]
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
[aside] 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
Thorough the Christian kingdoms. Is this fellow
Our prime incendiary? one of those
That promised the White Kingdom sev’n years since
To our Black House? Put a new daughter to him,
The great work stands;
He minds nor monarchy nor hierarchy
(Diviner principality). I brag less,
But have done more than all the conclave of ‘em,
Take their assistant fathers in all parts,
Yea, and their Father General in, to boot —
And what I’ve done I’ve done facetiously
With pleasant subtlety and bewitching courtship
Abused all my believers with delight;
They took a comfort to be cozened by me.
To many a soul I’ve let in mortal poison
Whose cheeks have cracked with laughter to receive it.
I could so roll my pills in sugared 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.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
Blessing’s accumulation keep with you, sir.
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
Honour’s dissimulation be your due, sir.
[He kneels to the Jesuit Black Bishop’s Pawn]
VIRGIN WHITE QUEEN’S PAWN
[aside]
How deep in duty his observance plunges.
His charge must needs be reverend.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN I am confessor
To this Black Knight too. You see devotion’s fruitful;
Sh’as many sons and daughters.
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
[aside] I do this the more
T’amaze our adversaries to behold
The reverence we do these guitonens
And to beget a sound opinion
Of holiness in them and zeal in us,
As also to invite the like obedience
In other pucelles by our meek example.
[Exit Virgin White Queen’s Pawn]
So, is your trifle vanished?
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
‘Trifle’ call you her? It’s a good pawn, sir.
Sure she’s the second pawn of the White House,
And to the op’ning of the game I hold her.
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
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 main work, the great existence,
The hope monarchal?
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
It goes on in this.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
You may deny so
A dial’s motion ‘cause you cannot see
The hand move, or a wind that rends the cedar.
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
Where stops the current of intelligence?
Your Father General, Bishop o’th’ Black House,
Complains for want of work.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
Here’s from all parts
Sufficient to employ him. I received
A packet from th’assistant fathers lately;
Look you, there’s Anglica, this Gallica —
[He gives papers to Black Knight Gondomar]
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
Ay, marry, sir, there’s some quick flesh in this.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
[giving paper] Germanica —
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
‘Think they’ve sealed this with butter.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
[giving paper] Italica, this —
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
They put their pens the Hebrew way, methinks.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
[giving paper]
Hispanica here.
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
Hispanica? Blind work, this.
The Jesuit has writ this with juice of lemons sure.
It must be held close to the fire of purgatory
Ere’t can be read.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
You will not lose your jest, knight,
Though’t wounded your own fame.
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
In this? I cannot see’t.
Enter [from the White House] White King’s Counsellor Pawn
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
Curanda pecunia.
JESUIT BLACK BISHOP’S PAWN
Take heed, sir, we’re entrapped. The White King’s
Pawn!
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
He’s made our own, man, half in voto yours.
His heart’s in the Black House. Leave him to me.
[Exit Jesuit Black Bishop’s Pawn]
Most of all friends endeared, preciously special!
WHITE KING’S COUNSELLOR PAWN
You see my outside, but you know my heart, knight;
Great difference in the colour. There’s some intelligence,
[Gives papers to Black Knight Gondomar]
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 f 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 not longer of this theme discuss;
The ear of state is quick and jeali’ous.
BLACK KNIGHT GONDOMAR
Excellent estimation, thou art valued
Above the fleet of gold that came short home.
Exit White King’s Counsellor Pawn
Poor Jesuit-ridden soul, how art thou fooled
Out of thy faith, from thy allegiance drawn,
Which way soe’er thou tak’st, thou’rt a lost pawn.
Exit
Finit Actus Primus