FOUR NEW PLAYS viz Tragy-Comedies The SIEGE of URBIN SELINDRA LOVE and FRIENDSHIP PANDORA A Comedy Written by Sr WILLIAM KILLIGREW Vice-Chamberlaine to Her MAJESTY OXFORD Printed by Hen Hall Printer to the UNIVERSITY for Ric Davis 1666. WIT like the World is so decrepit grown It wants some Crutch or Hint to lean upon Only you work alone it may be said Your Poems are created and not made You frame the stuff too we but shapes and features Our Poems are our Children yours your Creatures Just as God's Poem Earth so vast so fair Suspended in not built upon the Air Poised by its self like Archimede's Dove Your Fancy's made t' exist as ours to move We vex the Subject that we write upon Whilst all you Writ is Emanation Thus you retrieve Old Time for just as then The Golden Age was but the Iron Men So to Posterity it may be told Our Age is Iron but our Wits are Gold For tell me why the Golden Age mayn't hence Be styled from Wit as then from Innocence He that will choose your Fancy let him dread To wish for all your Wit without your Head What fan's the Ship the Cockboat would overturn And what in you 's but bright would elsewhere burn For Marcyas to be Pan were pretty fair Too much for Pan t' usurp Apollo's Chair T. P. Scholars your Studies and your Books lay by Unless you could with Art and Industry Something produce beyond what here is shown By one to whom your Learning is unknown Nature in him th' Effect of Art supplies With stories full of such varieties And proper Language for all Humours fit So wonderful for judgement and for wit That only he so aptly could Relate What his high Fancy could alone Create R. T. On PANDORA FOr me to praise your Play were to dispraise So weak a Bays can no great Trophy raise Yet my Respect commands me fix a Name To you no Glory Yet may prove my Shame Prose though indifferent yet passes still Verse if not Excellent most men count ill foils set off jewels such my Lines must be Then to be short is no ill policy I think there is Rich Sense and Language fit I think there 's many turns of sprightly Wit I 'm sure you reach what was your highest end To show her power on whom you now depend Whose Virtue hath so blessed an influence To make him Spiritual that more loud sense You like Clearcus were some thought too gay Now changed witness this Recantation Play Lodowick Carlisle In Honoratissimi Domini GULIELMI KILLIGRAEI & Regiae Catharinae Majestatis Vi-Camerarii Praeclaum & Inculpatissimum Drama Selindra Praconium QUòd prudens tua quòd modesta Musa Vitavit petulantiora Scenae Nec Lenocinium joci procacis Quod falsò ingenium student vocari Dum risum movet exuit Pudorem Inculpata tua at sonant Theatra Quod virgo proba quod stolata mater Quod purus positâ severitate Jàm post pulpita perlegat Sacerdos Quòd jurat tibi nullus Historionum aut Laeso numine quaeritur venustas Nec constat populo tuum Poema Impensis animae suae ut crumenae Quòd sermone humili urbium relicto Vernis sordidulis & institori Venam Nobilis Aulicumque spiras Dignum Caesaris aure cum requirens Summas Imperii levare curas Vult ut desipiat duabus horis Has dotes reputo tuas secundas Sed quòd cum veniunt ad implicata Cum Scena haereat & quòd impeditae Desperant animi exitum Fabellae Quâ vates veteres Jovem vocabant Ad parts poterit throno ut crepante Narrare ambigui dolos Theatri Atque ut vincula Gordiana quondam Pellaeus juvenis molesta tollunt Infulso gladio Undique plagâ Tu per nescio quam modò citatam Ex notâ tibi plebe Passionum Ut quodam noviter reflante vento Convertes aliò nouísque tota Compages operis rotis movetur Neglectis superisque & inferisque Per curam facilem domesticamque Affectum proprio è sinu petitum Salvas attonitos & haesitantes Hanc Artem tibi Killigraei solus Tu posces dubii hanc Strophen Theatri T. L. The Latin Verses Translated THat thy wise and modest Muse Flies the Stages Loser Use Not Baudry Wit does falsely Name And to move Laughter puts off Shame That thy Theatres Loud Noise May be Virgins chaste Applause And the stoled Matron grave Divine Their Lectures done may tend to thine That no Actor's made profane To debase God to raise thy strain And People forced that hear thy Play Their Money and their Souls to pay That thou leav'st Affected Phrase To the Shops to Use and Praise And breathest a Noble Courtly Vain Such as may Caesar entertain When he wearied would lay down The Burdens that attend a Crown Disband his So●ls severer Powers In Mirth and Ease dissolve two Hours These are thy Inferiors Arts These I call thy second Parts But when thou carriest on the Plot And all are lost i' th' subtle Knot When the Scene sticks to every thought And can to no Event be brought When thus of Old the Scene betrayed Poets called Gods unto their Aid Who by Power might do the thing Art could to no Issue bring As the Pellaean Prince that broke With a Rude and Downright stroke The Perplexed and Fatal Noose Which his skill could not Unloose Thou dost a Nobler Art profess And the Coyled Serpent canst no less Stretch out from every twisted Fold In which he lay invove and rolled Induce a Night and then a Day Wrap up all in Clouds and then display Th' easy and the even Design A Plot without a God Divine Let others bold pretending Penns Writ Acts of Gods that know not men's In this to Thee all must resign Th'surprize o'th● Scene is wholly Thine Of Pandora's not being Approved upon the Stage as a TRAGEDY SIr You should rather teach our Age the way Of judging well then thus have changed your Play You had obliged us by employing wit Not to reform Pandora but the Pit For as the Nightingale without the Throng Of other Birds alone attends her Song While the loud Daw his throat displaying draws The whole Assembly of his fellow Daws So must the Writer whose productions should Take with the vulgar be of vulgar Mould While Nobler Fancies make a flight too high For Common view and lessen as they fly Edmund Waller TO ENVY THou Snake that lurk'st under the Poet's Bays Envy confess thy Malice to these Plays Art thou not vexed to see the Plots well laid The Language pure and every Sentence weighed New Humours Passion wrought up to that height Men weep and yet their grief begets Delight All this by Nature done which shows the Arts Infuse themselves where they find Wit and Parts Out of these Premises we may infer Here will be no work for the Censurer The wiser Critic will do better first And for the Foolish let him do his worst R. Stapylton THE SIEGE OF URBINO A Tragicomedy Written by Sr WILLIAM KILLIGREW Vice-chamberlaine to Her MAjESTY OXFORD Printed by Hen Hall Printer to the UNIVERSITY for Ric Davis 1666. To the Author of the Siege of URBIN Sir I Have perused your Plays and in them find Abundant Riches to adorn the mind Beyond the pleasure of the Ears and Eyes Which are delighted most with Levitieses Selindra's Characters so great and good Maintained throughout if fully understood Shows none did ever better Plot contrive Or represent a Dead show more alive Pandora tells how virtuous Women may Make vicious men cast all their ills away Such wanton Wit in Ralliery so writ Virtue herself may hear and practise it I judge that by Ormasde's you design To teach how Friendship 's more than Love divine Yet have such Characters of both expressed You leave no Argument to choose the best This Siege of Urbino more than all does show That you true Images of Virtue know And to improve the world your skill impart That we may learn to imitate your Art 'T is want of wit and judgement in this Age If we discern not what adorns the Stage When passions high and to the life expressed Do not raise flames in every worthy breast When Florio with such subtle Art beguiles Our souls concern to mingle tears with smiles What more can Plays afford or we desire When to our Recreations we retire We wish for lines our reason may Command Not such as breaks our brains to understand You have a noble Pen and fancy such To be more Eloquent would be too much S. T. On the SIEGE of URBIN To the AUTHOR SIr since I had the happiness to read The Siege of Urbino I hear others plead That All may see 't and plead with such success That now you 'll wave the Stage and grace the Press 'T will much oblige the Nation for they 'll find Your Play stamped with the Figure of your Mind The Poëm's Noble nothing Vulgar in 't You coin not Bullion at the Common Mint As we do whose low souls no Art can raise Nay even when love 's infused into our Plays Slow as a Drug that in the body lies Our Fancy works yours like a Spirit flies Nor does your excellence alone consist In Love's soft Parleys you do Soldiers list And carry on designs of War and State Formed in a Camp and Court which you create And though new Poets like new Stars appear Yet still you rise above their highest Sphere 'T is true they write great Characters but then How o●ten speak their Great like meaner men You make a Prince do all things like a Prince That 's Argument sufficient to evince The Dictates that from deepest Reason slow Which learned Poets dream but of you know If then He that has greatest latitude Of Knowledge merit most I may conclude The ●aurell's yours justly transplanted now From off the scholar's to the Courtier 's brow R. Stapylton To his most Honoured Friend THE AUTHOR SIr When I read your Play methought I saw The persons Enter and go off you draw All Parts so speaking so to Life that I Felt my Ears cozened by my well pleased Fie And thought I heard the Actors which did there At once present a Play and Theatre All passages contrived by such just Laws As crown the best of Poets with Applause And challenge to your Wit the freshest Bays Which can be gathered from clapped Hands and Praise The whole Intrique a Labyrinth which you Through all the windings furnish with a Clue By which the wondering Traveller is Led Through ways past finding out but by your Thread The Plot and Scenes wrapped up in such disguise As when a fine Cloud darkens the bright Skies Yet so as this shade turns at length to Light And a fair  issues forth of Night The Lover's parts which tread our Modern Stage Are the Reproach and Dullness of our Age. Where a young Gallant fight for his Whore With a curled Rival at a Tavern Door The Drawers called to reconcile the fray With Parish Constable do make the play Your Fancy doth in higher Regions move And teach great Princes princes ways of Love Kindling in noblest Breasts the noblest fire Which to fruition by great Deeds aspire Thus your Lorenzo raised a generous Flame In his great Mistress by a Warlike Fame And made his wounds and Dangers first oblige His Silviana rescued from a Siege And thus your Florio did all Hearts surprise First by her Valiant Sword than conquering Eyes In whose concealed sex you both sex's place Mars in her Courage Venus in her Face Nor is 't a wonder if thus beautified Some wished her for their Bridegroom some their Bride Such Marriages are only framed by you Who know to he Loves priest and Poet too M. C. On the SIEGE of URBIN To the AUTHOR MIracle of Nature by no Arts taught Borne beyond Learning with such fancy fraught That all thy Poems do the World surprise To find such Treasure under such disguise Such parts with so great modesty concealed Doubles their value when they are revealed Thy Characters of Love and Friendship show Thy heart 's the Fountain whence those Virtues flow We Fictions write the Poet's chiefest part Thou paint'st thyself and thy own pattern Art E. F. The AUTHOR to the Reader Reader Instead of justifying my idle hours thus spent or beging your applause for what you may not like I desire you to excuse my confidence for Printing so high Compliments from my kind Friends who have here Poëtized in praise of what I fear you will not find Yet if no Stones be flung at me but by those that would be really displeased to be so praised I have hopes to escape till some other kind of martyrdom be found for Your most humble Servant W. K. The Actors Names of the Siege of Urbin The Duke of Urbino Camillo Alphonso Corbino Tigillo Borosco Longino Fernando Fernando five Strangers Luco five Strangers Florio five Strangers Pedro. five Strangers Maluezzo five Strangers Silviana the Duke's Sister Rossina four Ladies of quality Mariana four Ladies of quality Phisora four Ladies of quality Floremlla four Ladies of quality Clara Mariana's Maid Pages Officers Soldiers Surgeon Lodovico Duke of Ferrara His General Officers Soldiers PROLOGUE LAdies Our Author does by me declare Your Characters are still his chiefest care That what he does present to Public view he 'd have as Excellent as he thinks you If then his great respect does make him raise A Figure rarely practised in our days To set a Lustre on your sex that may Your reserved Virtues to the World display He hopes his Age his fancy may excuse If it fly low for a Romantic Muse But if the Florio's part approve He fears no men who dare pretend to love And then if all who love do like his play No matter what the rest o' th' World do say THE FIRST SCENE IN CELESTINAS BEDCHAMBER in PISA When the Curtain is drawn up CELESTINA is seen sitting by a Table in a rich Nightgown a Scarf over her head holding a Dagger in her Handkerchief she puts up her Scarf and speaks Celestina WHat noise was that or did I dream it seemed my Father's voice to hasten me to Church The dismal thought of that sad sound frights my Soul with apprehension of approaching misery a thousand Images of strange terrors do in various shapes appear and bring all the sad stories I ever heard of forced Marriage afresh into my memory if I consent to marry him or do at all comply the guilt of our ensuing evils will be mine My heart shrinks for fear at these Ideas of such ills to come that I will try to think myself into the other World She pulls her Scarf over her Face and sits a while silent There is no other way no remedy but this Dagger and now the last hour for my resolve I shame to tremble thus yet cannot choose I know one stroke will free me from an Age of misery to which compared the pains of death will seem delightful I only fear to go I know not where and childishly do dread I know not what these be the doubts create this shaking ●it which makes me fear this unsteady hand may miss my heart if I strike now and yet I must for I shall be another Man 's to morrow and then to kill myself will invade his Right it must be now I am now Mistress of myself and if I only harm myself where is the crime Who has the wrong Why then should self slaughter be a sin When I am dead my Father may relent and teach other Parents more humanity and so free many innocents' from like slavery if then so great a happiness unto myself accrue and so much good to others may ensue why do I doubt to Die a few thoughts more and I am ready She pulls down her Scarf again and sits silent Melina knocks aloud at the Door and cries out Melina Help Madam help for Heaven's sake help or I am lost Celestina frighted from her thoughts runs in haste to open the Door and leaves the Dagger on the Table Enter Melina Celestina What frights thee thus what danger threatened thee Melina Oh Madam the Villain fled as you approached Melina takes up the Dagger Ha! What use have you for this was it for this that I was now locked out aside Celestina She has deceived me by a trick and I must now dissemble Celestina sits again and pulls her Scarf over her Face Melina Madam 't is ominous to celebrate your Wedding Eve in sighs when the Sun sets in a dark Cloud we say the Morning will be foul Celestina True Melina but if the Sun do set in a red Sky the same Augurs say the Morning will prove fair Melina Some bright red Evenings make us judge so but a bloody coloured Sky often foreshows some dismal accident at hand Celestina No more thou hast for an hour or too reprieved me from the grave but this Handkerchief will do the work as well as that Dagger Melina now I am resolved to die Melina And I as fully bend to accompany your Ghost unto the other World die when you will Celestina Thou hast no Argument for death Melina Yes Madam I cannot part with you my sense of your many favours does work the same effect in me your troubles do bring you Celestina To lay thy blood on my head Melina will be cruelty not love and so create a sin upon my Soul I thought not of Melina 'T is in you to prevent that evil by preserving yourself and me who will not live without you have we not sucked the same Milk and ever since been bred together Celestina Did ever servant love a Mistress thus Melina Did ever Mistress love a servant as you have me more like a near relation than your made Celestina High gratitude thy returns are beyond my obligations But wouldst thou have me live and marry that Monster I abhor Mel. No I would have you put the Marriage off by a feigned sickness for a while and try some less dangerous remedy then Il●e assist Celest. I have twice done so and by it more insenced my angry Father who now has vowed dead or alive he will to morrow carry me to Church Mel. What if he do Celest. At the Altar then I 'll sacrifice my life if not now Mel. Is there no way but Death Celest. Yes I have a way to help myself if thou will here engage thy Faith not to reveal but to assist in my design my hard hearted Father shall not in such haste hurry me to Church my thoughts are honest and my actions shall be honourable say Melina shall I trust thee or must I die Mel I will engage so you will vow to me not to fall by your own hand Cele I do I do haist now my dearest friend fetch presently She embraces Melina my Bothers two new Suits he made long since for this solemnity they will fit us well We must be men Melina and immediately be gone Melina Men Madam Celestina I men in show Mel And whither then Celestina Nay if you raise doubts already my first resolve returns Melina Will you not admit me to consult in the affair you now think fit to trust me with Celest. Yes yes but we have no time to counsel now you have heard how Ferrara's  Duke prepares an Army for a War with Urbino and hopes by force to get the Princess Silviana for his Wife against her Brothers and her own consent Mel. I have heard such a discourse Celest. That discourse is true Melina and we must now haste to URBINO in our disguise there as Silvianas' Volunteer I 'll fight and try what my Romantic destiny will be a foreign enemy may give the death I seek which my own hands tremble at Mel But Madam Celestina No butts Melina you must now obey Make haste to shift our habits and away Exeunt THE SECOND SCENE Enter Fernando Luco and Maluezzo Fern. WE have escaped their out guards strangely they will be round about the Town this night Luco Luco Will you stay the siege Sir Fern I had not else come hither Maluezzo Have you an Argument and a concern worthy of such hazard Sir Fern I come led by my Fate to seek an Argument that may prove worthy of greater hazard than I shall meet with here men who put to Sea on great designs must not shrink at every Cloud in apprehension that a storm is near but if I find no business worthy my danger I can retreat at pleasure Maluezzo You will be engaged in honour and must not stir Fernan If so I shall abide it cheerfully Maluezzo go you back immediately while the way is open and see all done at home as I directed Maluezzo I shall be careful Sir Exit Maluezzo Fernan Luco take you a private lodging for me before it do grow dark and in this place or on the next Rampire you shall find me Exeunt severally Enter Florio and Pedro Florio Happy and blessed occasion for my cross fate the best here I may fall without the crime of my own hands acting in my long wished for Death here unknown without pity or reproach I may Sacrifice my loathed life to appease my enraged Father whose unnatural impositions have destroyed me Methinks Melina our disguise becomes us excellently well and this Town besieged will keep us undiscovered while we stay what says my fellow Soldier canst thou fight Pedro. If my Argument to put on Breeches were the same with yours Madam I should like this habit and your design much better than I do you fly the man you hate and I leave him I love to wait on you Florio I see thy Compliment in its best dress Fidelity but 't is now two late to sigh or to repent we are engaged past retreating and must on Pedro. I wonder Madam you do not shake to think what hazards you must run this looks like leaping into the Sea to avoid Shipwreck the cure more desperate than the evil you fly from Florio Not more desperate Melina I cannot fear nor fancy an evil beyond the embraces of that rich rotten Carcase my unkind Father would match me to as if guilding a sad heart would make it happy 'T is easy to consent to die when we consider how much better 't is to be in Heaven than here Melina Pedro. True Madam if we be sure this were the way thither but how shall we answer at the Resurrection for our Vira-goships' for ou● own and others blood thus shed if our Needles should prick our Fingers and those small wounds fester to Gangrenes that were to die in our own callings but this way to fall is a kind of self murder and beyond my Faith to merit Heaven by doing mischief to ourselves and others who have no way offended us Florio I have no thought of mischief in my heart towards any nor is my Nature less smooth than thine but my stars have ordained me a Rugged Fate that I cannot subdue Pedro. Allow all this the means you still propose are hopeless as the end you aim at How will drawn Swords look in our weak ha●s how soon will feeble strokes discover our faint hearts and lay us open to reproach Florio Thou art mistaken Melina 't is courage and not strength that is ●o necess●●y here when Multitudes fall on none can observe whose Sword does the Execution but thou shalt stay at home while my despair leads me where danger strikes the greatest terror thou knowst part of my younger days led with my banished Father in wild Mountains there trained for this work at hand but my business is now to die as thine to live 't is not thy Valour I engaged to this adventure but thy fidelity who after my decease must witness to the World the truth of my sad story lest our sex be scandalised you shall not ●ight Melina Pedro. If I survive will a relation from me your fellow wanderer have credit with the World I fear your flight from home and such a Romantic death may prove eternal scandal to your Name Innosence is not enough to justify so bold an Act Florio Conceal me then I carry here an innosence beyond the reach of Censure and though I fly that moving Sepulchre at home I have a courage that dares meet again my old acquaintance the Ravening Wolf and hungry Bear rather than be so buried while I live Melina Is all this danger to avoid the man that you dislike no inclination for another you would have Florio Had I been so weak as to like any I had not found strength for this bold adventure prithee sweet Melina do not betray me by thy fears I did believe thee bold and a fit Confident or I had near imparted my design Pedro. I must confess I did not fear to go at midnight in the dark through our long entries to meet my Lover those joys were ever above the thought of shadows but these dangers are of a higher Nature Madam our lives and Credits both at stake Florio Fie Melina dost thou own courage in actions void of Modesty and shrink when honour bids the hazard thou makest me tremble now indeed lest some guilt of thine should pull a cross Fate on us Pedro. Remove those thoughts of me and all your fears together for I am Armed with such a virtuous confidence as will shrink at no danger you dare look on but will vie Perils with you when occasions call me to it Florio Bravely resolved thus then let us in private practice how to wave our Swords lest we show ignorance when we have use of She draws with the Scabbard on them Why should not women's hearts agree with such a strength as our Arms have to manage this Sword 't is only custom and a tender Education makes us less bold and active than the bravest men the Amazons we read have done great things and my spirit prompts me to an honourable death before a wretched life which makes me thus endeavour to fall worthy a Noble Character for after times to pity or to praise and wonder at Pedro. I am now fully confirmed Madam and hope to see you fight like the brave Maid of Orleans who drove the English from those parts of France when almost all was Conquered by that Warlike Nation So that in after Ages your Renown May outshine hers that saved the Gallique Crown Florio If France do that bold Virgin's valour own Why should not we now make that wonder none Enter towards them Fernando muffled in a grey Cloak behind him five Banditee who seize on his Cloak he draws and fights till Florio and Pedro rescue him and beat off the Thiefs he returns starts as he embraces Florio Fernando To what Angels Face and Heroes Arm do I owe my Life or has great Mars put Venus' figure on my amazement is beyond the sense of my deliverance what are you Sir Florio A stranger here but now arrived Fern. Are not you hurt Florio I feel none Sir pray who were those assaulted you Fern Banditee who in such times of War stand in corners to take Cloaks Perd. If this be all the danger our drawn Swords will bring us I shall To Florio aside near be out Enter Luco Luco Are these Enemy's Sir Fern They are my good Angels Luco from Heaven sent to guard me have you taken lodgings Luco I have Fern But I must first attend you to your house Sir lest these To Florio Villains return upon you Florio We yet have none but were enquiring where to lodge when you came by us Luco The house that I now came from has Room for all Fern Pray let us lodge together that I may find some way to serve you who have engaged me so highly Florio We shall gladly be obliged as you desire and will wait on you Fern By your daring courage I judge you come to serve the Duke against this insulting Enemy as I do Florio We seek employment Fern Have you an address to any in this Court Florio We have none but come to serve as Volanteers Fern My purpose is the same we may do well to make our first visits presently to Court and show our intents to serve the Duke if you approve it let us see our Lodgings and then go Florio I shall be wholly guided by you Sir Fern Show the house Luco Methinks that face has in it something more Aside Then in my Life I ever saw before Exeunt Enter Duke with Camillo Lords and Officers Duke Has the Enemy taken spade in hand Camillo Cam Yes Sir and is already breaking ground Duke we 'll entertain 'em at break of day with a sharp Sally to give them an assay of what courages they are to meet with let our Troops be ready by day break Camillo All shall be ready Sir but methinks the night were fitter for our Sally Duke I like not Sallying in the Dark 't is subject to great mistakes and such accidents as often makes the best designs uncertain No Camillo the Sun shall see and show the vigour we charge with 't will raise our Hearts to higher actions than a dull shade is worthy of Our glitring Swords and our enraged Eyes Will show how much we do their War despise And amongst their Soldiers such amazement s●ing They shall not fly the Ruin that we bring Enter the Princess to them with Rossina and Phylora at one door At the other Enter an Officer with the four Strangers Fernando Florio Luco and Pedro a little after Duke Take courage Silviana this War will not prove so terrible as your fears suggest Princess My apprehension Sir is not more then does become my Sex when Nations are at stake and my interest must be decided by the hazards of a War is it not time to sigh and pray I and to tremble at the thought of such an evil though my innosence and your valour may be Crowned with Victory it must be purchased by the blood of Loyal Subjects Duke Let them who force the War shake at the event and answer for the evils Officer These Gentlemen new come to Town desire the Honour They salute the Duke to kiss your Highness' hand Duke You have chosen an ill time to visit URBINO Gentlemen when the Alarms and hazards of a besieged Town allows no hours for entertainment or for rest Fern To hazard we come hither Sir honoured Trophies gained in so just a War are glorious invitation to virtuous minds and fill our hearts with sure Predictions of a good success Duke You Prophesy like a friend and I have Faith for what you say do these youths belong to you Fern No Sir I met them but an hour since where they saved my life by rescuing me from five or six Banditee they come to serve you in this War Duke Your looks invite me to inquire your Country and qualities that I may find a fit employment for such worthy persons who set honour at so high a rate Fern My name is Fernando and his Florio my ambition Sir is not above a Volunteere I understand not to Command but Florio I confess looks like somewhat more than he is pleased to own Duke My fancy does concur with yours and I shall study to welcome both as well as this disturbed time permits me this occasion makes us wink at such Banditee for the present who are bold on all attempts and in this War may be of use but I should not have judged this fair youth fit to manage Arms Fern Your Highness will have other thoughts when you see Florio in the field the Enemy will find him man enough Duke What part of Italy is so happy as to have bred such early virtue Florio I am of Pisa Sir my business is to see the World and improve my knowledge by my Travels Fern Of PISA Florio know you any of note there Florio All Sir Fern Pray Sir let us two fight in the same Troop that we may emulate each others actions in your service Duke The contest will not be equal your looks will strike more terror in an Enemy then Gentle Florios' Sword can do I will prevail with this young Soldier if I can to secure the Ladies while we Sally his courage will abate their fears who apprehend more danger than is cause for Florio Sir I shall curse my soft faint looks if they belie my heart that covets to get honour by my Sword as much as he that can frown Speaks in Anger most I will either sally this night with Fernando or quit the Town before I sleep Duke This storm which I have raised is more bewitching lovely than thy calm gentle looks were The Duke embraces Florio If you have yours and I have my desire Let me again embrace what I admire Pedro. I pass for no body all this while but if my good Sword hold aside I 'll do I know not what Rossina The Dukes in love Madam and talks like one of us to this Adonis Princess They look great as if they would do service worthy my brother's highest compliments Enter to them Camillo the General Camillo We are all ready for the Sally Sir I wish your Highness would reserve yourself for the next occasion we shall have work enough of this kind the Enemy is strong Duke I will not be diverted but myself will lead you on here Camillo let these stranger's charge in your Troop next to yourself they appear to be of quality and no doubt have courage to merit what honours we can give 'um Camillo They shall be my care Sir Duke Call for my Arms 't is time that we make ready Retire lost your fears Silviana may Our best displease and doubting men dismay Exit Duke and Train Princess I have a heaviness about my heart Rossina which I cannot remove Rossina Your Highness too much apprehension of the Duke's danger looks like doubting those powers which protect Princes in all just causes Princess I cannot contradict you nor can I be less concerned because this War is on my account though I be guiltless the proved Prince of Ferrara demands our principality in Dowry by which he shows to have but small esteem of me the Dukedom must be entailed on me and my Brother tied from a second Marriage thus his ambition not his love makes War for the enlarging his Dominions Rossina Pray Madam be pleased to retire into the Castle the Duke is now on sallying As they are going off they meet Mariana and Phylora coming in haste Prin Whiter so fast Mariana why so frighted my Phylora Filora We came from the Tower next to the Port Madam Princess And from thence what saw you to beget this Terror Philora We saw the Duke all in Armour riding before his Troops with so much terror and such a dust that we durst stay no longer but ran trembling down to be near your Highness in this danger Prin So then our own Troops and their dust have conquered you stout Soldiers I thought by your amazed looks the Enemy had been entering of our Ports Let me have notice when my Brother does return Exeunt An alarm sounded a far off some Skirmishes than the Duke of URBINO worsted two Lords slain by him and himself in danger Retreats and is rescued by the Strangers Exeunt Florio and Pedro must not fight on the Stage through the whole play And then Reenter the Duke with the four Strangers followed by Camillo and officers with Carbino and Borosco two old Lords Duke Are Petruchio and Morosino both Dead Camillo Both slain Sir Duke They shall have solemn Funerals who did deserve more honour than I can give their Memories I saw 'em fall and hoping to relieve 'em had lost myself if brave Fernando with young Florio had not come timely in to save me I owe my life to you Gentlemen and must declare this great success is wholly due unto your Valours 't was you that Rallyed us when routed 't was you that forced the enemy to his first retreat and you have brought us off with honour when all was desperate Fern You over value our endeavours Sir 't was our good fate to come in timely but your own valours won the day Duke This humility looks greater than your actions Fernando I entreat you take Command of all our Horse in place of slain Petruchio and have the same suit to Florio that he will command my Guards in place of Morosino fallen Fern Your Highness has great Commanders here more worthy of this Honour I have such engagements on me that I can accept of no employment longer than this Seedge lasts Florio You over load me Sir with a charge too great for my years to undertake Duke Your Officers will ease you of all the painful part though I yet know you not My purpose is to show how much I prise That virtue which appears through your disguise Enter to them the Princess and Ladies She runs to the Duke Prin My prayers are heard and you are safe returned She runs to meet the Duke Duke I owe my life Silviana and you your thanks to these Gallant men Fernando has showed us how to command and how to fight and taught all the offices of a great Soldier Fern Your compliments are such Sir as I dare not Answer because I must not own them Duke Here I present you Silviana with this Ages wonder such The Duke takes Florio by the Hand Youth such Beauty and such a Courage as sends Thunder from his Arm with such lightning from those bright Eyes as did amaze the Enemy in fight and will in Peace with smiles subdue as many Princess If your discourse were not of War I should believe you did describe a Mistress rather than a man Duke You have said truer than you think Silviana for I shall court Florio as Mistress of all the Joys that I can fancy and love him like some divine substance I have no name for Florio You make me blush so much Sir that I must hide myself He is going Duke Stay Florio and I will talk no more thus but by my favours judge hereafter at what rate I value such a Miracle of Nature in show more fit for Venus than the rough discipline of Mars Florio shall be my bosom friend my surest guide to Virtue and Renown Florio I am wearied Sir and beg your permission to retire a while Duke Take your own time Florio Exit Florio Prin Brother is this Raillery or do you design to set up your young favourite for the Court Idol if so brave a man will allow such ●lattery we will all adore him too But suppose some Lady should gain an interest in Florio's heart how will you bear such a partner in his friendship Duke What you but jest of is my real wish that fair Rossina or some other Lady could lay such fetters on him as might keep him ever here And if my favour can invite any to this Victory on Florio I will make his Fortune suitable to Hers who ere she be Rossina I do submit to try my Fortune but how must I proceed I shall never learn to Woo Sir Prin You shall have our assistance Rossina Rossina If you can persuade him to love leave the rest to me Duke If Rossina be serious she shall want no assistance but Fernando can do more than all if he will join we may hope success Fern I shall be willing to Endeavour as you desire and doubt not aside but Florio will embrace such advancement as you design him I While he speaks this the Duke whispers with Silviana wish it heartily lest the Duke's dotage prefer him to his Sister who I fear may look on Florio with some concern before I gain an interest Silvianas' Eyes have struck me through Fame was short in her Relation Duke If it be not Rossinas good Fate to get his Love I invite you Ladies all to try the Magic of your several Beauties to engage him so by love that he may live here with us Princess What all at once the poor man will be smothered with Lady's hearts you 'll fright him from all our Sex Sir pray let Rossina try her single Fortune first Duke Let us retire and order this affair Within though it seem slight 't is worth our care Exeunt Duke Exeunt Duke and Princess Remains Camillo Borosco and Corbino Camillo The Duke is grown so fond of Florio he regards none of us Corbino 'T is two true I wish we did know how to help ourselves Borosco Methinks it were an easy work to raise such jealousies between Florio and Fernando as might make them destroy each other and save us the labour I have put fancies in bold Fernando's Head to make him Envy Florios' interest in the Duke and cast out words as if his aim were Silviana and as if the Duke complied Corbino I shall take my time to second what you say but let us consult farther you Camillo have the greatest loss of the Duke's savour and if I observe you right have envy and power enough to execute your Revenge we must not great things attempt without good advice Though our design want neither skill nor Wit Being ill it will ask power to manage it Camillo I shall contribute what I can to crush these strangers ere they grow too strong for us to grapple with but let us first advise the Duke if our counsels do not prevale Such Vipers must be smothered in the Nest Lest they in time do blast our Interest See the Duke returns Corbino speak you first and we will second what you say Enter Duke and Servant's Corbino Sir we have had a serious debate concerning the strangers and your favours to them which they have bravely merited but yet Sir some of your best Subjects have apprehension that your Value may grow less for them and they become remiss thereon Borosco He speaks my sense Sir I would not live to see you lose your people's hearts by such neglect of them Duke What is your opinion Camillo do I over value the benefits received from these new men Camillo I do believe you do Sir and have begot a censure by it I could wish were off again Duke Of what kind Camillo Camil. Of too much contempt of our own Nation with a kind of Adoration for the Strangers as if they alone defended URBINO and by their Swords only you expected Victory This Sir in duty we offer to your serious thoughts who have Commands ourselves too high to envy any honours you can place on them Duke I did look on their merits I confess above my recompense and by my favours hoped to raise their noble hearts to higher actions in this War But I shall be more cautious then to discontent my Loyal Subjects who grudge such benefit as I bestow on gallant men that saved my Life Camillo Has what I said offended Sir Duke No no 't is your love of me and care of my prosperity Exeunt SECOND ACT. Enter Fernando Florio with Luco and Pedro Fern NOble Florio we have had no time since we first met to congratulate our good Fortunes here Florio It multiplies my happiness that you approve the Duke's kindness to me Sir Fern 'T is somewhat extravagant I confess such violent affections seldom last Florio Florio I could wish his favour somewhat less lest it raise great men's envy on me Fern 'T is well weighed for I observe Camillo with other Lords look displeased at our advancement pray observe them better lest I mistake Florio I see it too and have endeavoured what I can to gain their loves Fern That is wisely done but you may secure your interest here by marrying into some great Family by whose power and Allies you will be looked on as a Native or at least be able to contest with any that shall design against you Florio What you mention was proffered me last night with old Corbino's wealthy Daughter Mariana and an hour after I was advised to treat with Camillo for his fair Niece Rossina Fern Which do you incline most too Florio They are Beauties both and seem equally endowed with Virtues fit for their great Births but I am preingaged and can comply with neither Fern So young and so constant is a wonder I see Borosco aside guesses right Silviana is his design I here the Duke intends to woo you for Rossina and I hope you wisely will consider what wealth and honours will be proposed with her and not in a Romantic gallantry prefer some slight promise made in your own Country before so great advancement Florio I shall never entertain a thought that may change my fixed heart from its first Centre to gain this Dukedom by it aside Fern. I do not like this 't is the Princess may I know if your heart inhabit here is any Lady of this Court so happy to gain an interest in Florio Florio No Lady here Sir I assure you but by my observations I find you are not free from a growing passion allow me but so much and I shall soon guess that Silviana can be only worthy of Fernando's He starts heart Why do you start why so amazed Sir can you doubt to trust a person you profess to value as you have done me Fernando Remove but one doubt and I am thine for ever does not your own desire that way raise your jealousy of me and make you inquire what you fear to find Florio By all that 's good I have no wish for Silviana but will serve Fernando with all my interest pray Sir believe and try me Fern. I do believe and will trust thee with my heart I love the Princess and would gladly make some trial towards my design to gain her which is the true cause of my engaging in this War and now Florio I assure you my quality is such as she may own my love for I am Florio Hold Sir I will know no argument but Fernando's worth to engage me to serve him Fern. You are my good Angel hither sent To guard and guide me in my Banishment They embrace Enter An Officer to Fernando Officer My Lord the Council of War stay till you come to 'em Fern. I follow Florio I have much to say when we meet next Exit Fernando Enter Duke and Lords to Florio Duke Why Florio do you absent yourself so much is Fernando a better friend than I who dote more on thee than Lovers on their Mistress Eyes when their kind hearts comply Florio Though Fernando be a Noble Friend he has but a second place in my heart your favours are above the reach of any other person in the World Duke Now you flatter me I can allow you to entertain a bosom Friend of the other Sex before me but no man Florio must be my Rival this jealousy speaks my esteem that willingly would have thee ever in my sight as the best object to fix my heart on that I may Emulate thy Virtues Florio May my ingratitude be highly punished when I do value man or Woman more than I do you Sir Embraces Florio Duke I have loved or have believed so and yet this Friendship aside makes me doubt it now unless Friendship be a mightier power than Love But we find no shrines set up nor any Altars burning Incense to this unknown Deity The Ancients sure were ignorant of this most excellent Divine Humanity called Friendship something is here about my Heart I never found before and of great value sure My Sister else would not have jealous fears to lose it The excellent Fernando has his dislikes too and many of my greatest Subjects cannot hide their Envy at my smiles on Florio There must be something more than I discern in this new kind of passion which I have no name for but an impulsive Friendship which I cannot nay I dare not wish were less Florios' person is clad in so rich Virtues as delights my Eyes and captivates my heart beyond all the beauteous Women I have seen so that while Florios' virtues lead me on I cannot doubt my fate nor slack my admiration Enter to them the Princess and Ladies Duke You look displeased Silviana and something pale of late Princess I want your wont kindness Sir how can my looks be cheerful when Florio like a sullen Cloud does interpose between the Sun that used to shine on me Duke You chide me kindly Silviana and in return I wish Florio were a Prince that I might part with him to you and by so rich a gift express my value of you both Princess My wish reaches only to enjoy your conversation as before I have no design to rob you of your Souls delight in Florio but do not like that he alone should have you to himself while I and all the World do seem neglected by which you suffer more than you discern Duke Suffer Silviana is it a Crime to value Virtue or to be grateful to the man has saved my life my favours duly weighed do not yet reach his merit Princess I undervalue not his worth Sir but grudge he should engross you to himself Duke Your judgement by this jealousy is Eclipsed else you would with me discern the inviting Arguments for such a friendship as I desire to fix here 't is Friendship Silviana a word so often used and so little understood that we lose the highest happiness this World affords not knowing how to improve so Divine a Virtue 't is unity of Souls the Saints enjoy above and take delight to see us practise here on Earth 't is Florios' Virtue I admire his rich heart I seek a Treasure of more worth than all the glittering honours I can ever heap on him Florio What answer can I make to this but blushes let my blushes Sir speak for the heart you prise so much too much Duke Come Silviana if you will smile on him for my sake he shall not rob you of my converse pray let him kiss your hand Enter Fernando in discontent the Princess goes to Florio and he kisses her hand Princess I will Sir for I have a full esteem of his great Virtue Florio merits much but not all your heart Sir I claim a Sister's part Florio if I can serve you here you may employ me to my Brother boldly Florio Madam I am many times surprised by the Duke's favours so much too high for me to own that I do wish 'em less Princess That is beyond my desire Sir I would not lessen his favour to you but would participate my Brother's love aside Fernando This is worse still the Duke sets him on to court his Sister but Florio is I hope too Noble to wrong me that trust him and yet the Princess is a high Temptation I must prevent the evil To the Duke I foresee or I am lost The Enemy's approaches do come on a pace Sir we must divert them with more frequent Sallies or they will lodge under our Walls within few days Duke I intent this night myself to Sally and with all my power to fall on their last work Fern That will be too much Sir I dare undertake with a small party to destroy all they have yet done Princess Pray brother leave this Sally to your Officers and not on all occasions hazard your own person may you not rely on Fernando for his Conduct Duke It shall now be so but you would never have me fight Silviana Fern Madam you honour me so much that I tremble at what I undertook I can encounter all the hazards of a War with less concern lest by an ill success I lessen your opinion of my conduct but yet thus Armed with your commands it were a crime to doubt Great Sir I beg the sole command this night Duke You shall Fernando and I will rest secure when so great skill and courage meet with such a Noble soul 't is to be trusted as myself were present The Duke presents him Fern I beg the honour Sir to kiss the Prince's hand for this great favour done me Duke My thanks to Silviana for this value of my friend Princess Fernando has already showed he needs no additions Sir Fernan. I can have no addition beyond your Highness' good opinion Exeunt Duke Princess and Train My hearts engaged by Silvianas' Eyes To waste itself in daily Sacrifice With smothered sighs my doubt full state bemoan Until the Priest and Alter make us one Exit Enter Camillo with Longino and the discontented Lords Camillo These Mushrums are grown steeple high already to persuade the Duke against them were to advance them higher Longino I differ in opinion from you all these strangers come to fight for us and you envy those civilities the Duke affords them Camillo Is it so necessary to have a favourite Longino and he a stranger too Longino You talk as if we were Princess and our Master at our dispose he must hear see and like only what agrees with our fancies or our appetites does please and so would make the Duke the only slave in his Dominions not allow him the freedom of a friend which is the highest humane consolation unhappy men whose malice and ill nature participate th● curse of Hell while you remain on Earth never discerning or at least not relishing those Angelical delights which virtuous hearts enjoy by loving and obliging one another in great Courts and seldom happy those Princes who permit detractors near them Camillo You are too severe Longino we have no Traitorous thoughts but set a true value on our Prince his favour which we fear to lose Longino I fear you have Malicious hearts and then I am not fit for your converse that grumble at what you ought to thank Heaven for take heed that your ingratitudes do not make our Lamb put on his Lion's skin and fright you into better manners Ex Lon Corbino We must not be so free before Longino he has a grain or two of simple honesty too much for us now he is gone we may proceed my Letter will destroy Fernando if you approve it and he gone young Florio will want skill to order his affairs against us all I say let us down with Fernando first Borosco Let us see this Letter you so much confide in The Forged LETTER as from the Enemy FErnando we wonder you so long delay what you so boldly undertaken we know you have credit any night you please to set open the South Port next our new work and let us in your reward is ready for you Yours L.L. Camillo This no doubt will raise a jealousy but from whom must this be sent by whom brought hither and how found Corbino I 'll say the Trumpet which came this morning to fetch a pass for a Herald about the interview did lose it I found it read it and myself will show it to the Duke who can disprove this Camillo Though I like not this shallow plot thus laid I will your Counsels with a better aid Exeunt Entrance Florio sitting and Pedro standing by as in Florios' lodging Florio I am entangled Melina in such snares as I shall near get out of Pedro. Pray Madam speak that I may understand your snares and entanglements be Riddles to me love is love and may be called so Florio Love Melina is there such affinity between love and hate as thou canst not distinguish them in me Pedro. I allow you to hate the old fool you fled from but methinks the Duke's favours with his so great merit might produce affection from the same Root that affords you hate to one who has no merit Florio Thy Argument may justify a gratitude fit for a Vestal Virgin to profess but love as I have heard is of another nature full of fine fancies and such gay delights as will near comply with my design to Die Pedro. True Madam but if you were so happy as to find an object fit to change your hate to love it would convert your thoughts from Death and be a good Argument to live Florio Where canst thou fancy such an object Melina fit to restore my thoughts to Joy or life Pedro. The Duke's love deserves a Multiplied return of kindness from you Florio Canst thou believe his friendship to me as a man can have any value for a woman wanderer though no degree of love have habitation in my heart my Judgement and Religion might persuade me to own so great a blessing if the Gods should send so strange deliverance so wonderful a change of Fate for my unworthiness Pedro. I like well these Judicious thought and will hope your Malady may in time find a cure good natures slow with gratitude and both together fill the World with love it is or it will be Love Madam though you yet discern it not Florio The Gods defend our Sex from such a precedent in me a Woman to love first would be a Prodigy Pedro All this I allow so you will love the Duke if he love you first Florio If thou dost think it possible that I can be in danger of such a slavery as love for heaven's sake show me a quick remedy For all the stories I have read present that passion worse than hate and in all Ages has produced examples to deter our Sex from Love though I am yet safe the Duke is somewhat more than other men Give me an Antidote Melina that I may be strong against the duke 's assault if he make any lest I find here a double invitation to the grave Pedro. You shall be provided Madam Florio He has a soul so full of Gallantry so rich in Virtue and so great renown I tremble at my second thoughts of thy discourse and would not for the World engage my freedom on the hazard of so high contest if thou hast a remedy against Love show it now that I may doubly Arm against so great an Enemy Pedro. I have a sure one Madam that which cured me and does cure all the World 't is the only approved remedy Florio And shall I have it if I stand in need Pedro. Yes if you please to Love him that Loves you and this is a remedy that seldom fails to cure by fruition Florio Thou art wanton merry and talk'st thou carest not what to make me so can having what we wish most lessen its value Pedro. 'T is but too plain by having our wish we come to know that our desires in love had raised our fancy above what we can ever find This knowledge doth so check the wing of fancy and desire that love as a thing once past his height must naturally decline and fade such is the general frailty of all Creatures to have the like certain period of decay This makes some of our Sages studied in the point now teach that virtuous transparent friendship is a greater and more durable felicity than love but I believe you Madam have your wish already to the first part of this opinion you are beloved where you love and will in time judge of the whole argument by your own experience Florio If Love be not Friendship too 't were a sad Fate to Love but I am so far from having what you wish me this way Melina that my despair is my unhappiness can the Duke love me a Woman as now a man when he shall find his favourite Florio such a counterfite will it not beget suspicions of my credit and all tho●e glorious actions I have done become my scandal Then if his doutage should pass by all these just exceptions may he not think my quality unfit to be his Wife These thoughts fill my fancy with such doubts Melina that when I consider my condition it makes me desperate Pedro. And gives me hopes of better days Madam when the Duke shall know you a Lady of the same blood with Princes and shall inquire the true cause of your disguise he will be more in love then now pray let me inform him and try your destiny Florio No Melina no I do conjure thee by thy first vow and now by all my interest not to discover me for if I outlive this Siege I will return and take a holy habit on me lest my sex suffer by my folly and the World think I came co seek a man rather than avoid one Pedro. Pray Madam Florio Hold I will here no Argument against my resolve obey me or you will destroy me Love thus I blow thee off Death is my business here Pedro. Though I do not approve what you think fit I know I must to your command submit Enter the Duke to them Duke Florio I observe you love to be retired of late and I who seek your company can seldom have it Florio My heart has no joy like pleasing you Sir and my retirements are most employed in studying how to show my gratitude that Embraces Florio you may not repent the Honours you heap so fast on me Duke That 's kindly said I hear Florio that Camillo proffers to settle a great Fortune on his Niece the Fair Rossina if you can love her which I do wish that I may not fear to lose what I see so much delight in Florio 'T is an honour I cannot accept Sir because my heart is preingaged unto another so fixed that nothing less than Death can ere dissolve it Duke 'T is a clear answer but to me so harsh I dare not inquire further and yet I must or by my doubts shall suffer more Does the Person you love so much live here or may she be brought to dwell with us Florio The last of these is not impossible and yet there is great difficulties to effect it pray Sir leave me to my own endeavours and I may bring what you desire to pass for your favours have so far engaged me that my Soul labours to contrive how I may live ever in your sight believe me Sir I know no Joys on Earth beyond your favours to me aside Duke Thou dost revive me Florio he looks so great that I could wish his fancy were fixed on Silviana may I yet know your quality I have some reason to inquire what may concern your happiness and mine Florio Your Highness does forget your promise not to press what does concern me not to reveal Duke You chide me handsomely I only had a sudden thought where to find a fit match for my dear Sister Silviana Florio I can fit her Sir with such a man as all the Ladies of the Court will envy 't is Fernando whose quality I know is greater than appears Duke Thou hast dashed all my hopes at once I did wish you Florio would have thought my Sister worthy of yourself Florio And much too worthy Sir I swear by all my hopes my heart is preingaged where only Death can separate Enter to them The Princess and Ladies Duke You come Silviana aptly to decide a difference between me and Florio I was inviteing him to offer up his heart to you but he prefers your happiness so much above his own that he recommends Fernando before himself Florio I Madam and do assure your Highness that Fernando's Birth does equal his great actions and will be worthy your best thoughts Duke Why thus concealed then Florio He is resolved by services to lay some obligations on you Sir before he do reveal himself as also to let the Princess see what for her sake he ventures ere he speak of Love Enter to them Corbino Borosco who gave the Duke an open Letter Carbino I found this letter at the Port Sir as it dropped from the Enemy's trumpet Duke To Fernando give it him Corbino Pray read it first Duke Why should I read his letter 't is not handsome Borosco Such Ceremony in a besieged Town may prove Prejuditiall pray Sir read it Duke Who opened it Corbino I did Sir when I saw an Enemy lose it 't was my duty to see the inside Duke reads it Duke This is the Enemy's design and was lost on purpose to be found to make us jealous of so brave a man that he may beat them no more Burn it and say nothing Fernando has given testimony of his Truth beyond the reach of scandal Florio Does any dare to question Fernando's truth Sir Corbino Pray Sir let Florio give his judgement on the letter then burn it Florio reads and smiles Florio This is easy to decipher this comes not from the Camp I suspect a nearer plot Fernando and myself are much envied for your favour Sir Borosco Does your Lordship reflect on me for such a guilt Florio If I did you should soon know it Corbino Pray Sir let not fine words deceive you but consider Aside to the Duke well all circumstances and then judge if Fernando may not probably be sent hither by the Enemy we know not who he is nor whence he comes have no caution for his Faith why may not he at the next Sally do what that Letter does invite 't is my duty Sir to advise you to send him out of the Town before the evil be too great to remedy Duke Your Zeal unto your Country Corbino makes you too bold to charge a seeming guilt upon a Person of his Worth grounded only from a letter let fallen on purpose to abuse us suppose they should Write the like to you I shall think how to find this mischief out and if within our own Walls so base an Act be proved it shall be severely punished Enter Fernando to them Duke Fernando you shall this night Sally with what force you please Florio Not till he has cleared himself Sir read this Fernando He reads it Fernando This is a ●light trick Sir the Enemy that Writ this is within our Walls my name is not Fernando Corbino If a disguised person there is more cause of jealousy than I saw before Florio Then raise a double Jealousy for my Name is not Florio when strangers would be concealed we change our Names not to be hid from you we dwell with but from those at home who may pursue Fernando and I are a like guilty Sir Duke I am not apt for Jealousies nor can I see so foul a guilt ●in Fernando's face Sir though Prudence might justify your restraint I am above fear this way be still free and command in chief this night the Sally shall be wholly as you order it Offers to go out Fernando This confidence would make a Traitor honest but Sir to secure your great Lords fear of me I will retire till I can Write an answer to the Enemy such as will soon assure my Innosence but yet on second thoughts I have a better way you will trust me Sir you say Duke I do Fernando Then will I this night by my Sally give them such an answer as that letter does deserve and if the guilt be within your own Walls I shall make them blush at my return for aspersing of my innosence Florio I will be Hostage Sir till his return and suffer Death if Fernando do prove false Duke Fernando cannot by this Sally more Confirm me than I am assured before Exeunt THIRD ACT. A cry within the Courts on Fire Then Enter some of the Guard 1 Guard Where is this Fire 2 Guard 'T is in Lord Corbinos Lodgings 3 Guard Knock knock louder Enter Servant's and Mariana at the Window Mariana Fire fire come up and help 't is in my Father's closet the Fire breaks out there A noise within Enter Duke Princess Rossina Florio and Train under the Window Duke From whence is the Mischief Borosco 'T is in Corbinos' lodging Sir I have sent after him Mariana above with men and maids throwing goods out of the Window Mariana The great danger is now over Sir Duke Pull down the next wall that it pass no further Mariana My Lord Borosco pray set some to guard our goods She throws down Bags of Money he heaps them up Borosco Have not our Enemies at home done this to divert us in the time of sally what news from Fernando Duke He is but now sallied hark the Alarm is begun Borosco And the Court on Fire at the same time 't were good to double all the guards there may be more danger in this Fire than yet appears Duke The guards are strong enough send more hands to quench the Fire Enter Florio Florio They have mastered the great slame Sir but not yet quenched the Fire Mariana throws down Bags and Boxes one Box opens and out fails Papers Duke Look to his Papers put them in again What 's here The Duke takes up a Paper a direction to Fernando see Florio Florio 'T is a soul copy of the forged Letter from the Enemy 't is the same hand Sir now you see our jealousies are just Duke I shame to see so great a villainy While they compare the Hana Enter Corbino in haste Corbino My Closet burnt and all my goods destroyed Oh unhappy man Duke It had been well thou hadst thyself been burnt in it look here vile wretch what this fire has brought to our hands thou may'st well tremble at such a crime for I will make thee an example to terrify this Nation from like villainy you of the Guard divide all this Treasure among yourselves for your pains in quenching of the Fire and Florio see this wretch a close Prisoner that Fernando may behold what punishment such treachery shall find from me Corbino Pardon great Sir loss of your wont favour begot this envy in me I beg your mercy Sir Duke Such mercy as so base a crime deserves expect while Fernando sheds his Blood for us you stamp a brand of Treason on so clear a merit So great a mischief with so base intent No villain but Corbino could invent away with him Enter Officer Duke What news from the Port Officer Fernando has slighted their last work Sir and beaten them out of their new Trenches he pursued so far that their whole Camp is now in Arms while your Troops retire in safety Fernando is by this time alighted at the Court. Duke Fernando has made good his undertaking let us meet him with our discovery to welcome his return what will you do Silviana Princess I shall attend that you may see I can To virtue bow though not adore the man Exeunt Enter Clara Mariana's Maid at one Door and Pedro at the other Clara. Pedro where is the Duke gone where the Princess and where be all our goods I saw you under the window when I threw down my red Cabinet pray where be they all Pedro. The Duke and Princess are gone to meet Fernando but before he went the Duke gave the Plunder of all the Traitor Corbinos goods unto his Guards who quenched the Fire Clara. If my Lord be twenty Traitors I am none all my goods were thrown down with his but that Red Cabinet Pedro dost thou know which of the Guard took that Pedro. You are concerned as if your Portion lay within that little compass were all your Jewels there Clara Clara. The greatest Treasure I have is there Letters Pedro Letters of Love from a Gentleman that Pedro. That what that has or would do something you are ashamed to own is 't not so or so Clara. Neither Pedro there is nothing in any Letters I shall blush at Pedro. That may be too but say are you so far gone as to admit of no other Suitor Clara. Leave this fooling Pedro he seeks me an honourable way Pedro. Which of the honourable ways sweet Clara Clara. Marriage Pedro. Then I am safe and may be merry without danger Clara. Now you have talked me out of my concern for my Cabinet pray inform me who Florio is and how it happens that he has no affection for any of our Ladies Pedro. If you will direct me to a Conjurer I shall inquire what Florio does impart to none Come Clara let us not trouble our heads with what your Lady or my Lord thinks but let us be merry when we meet He takes her Hand Clara. Keep your distance good Pedro and then be as merry as you please my credit is not in the Cabinet as you suppose nor yet am I at your dispose Pedro. Why so coy bright Beauty my approach is civil Clara. I can neither by your looks nor language discern that Pedro. If you were not engaged unto the letter man I should have shown my esteem of your perfections in a more serious way Clara I can now have no design but mirth since you declare for a pretender whose lines you lay up as Relics Clara. You did mistake me Pedro I only said that a Gentleman did seek but I told you not that he had found my heart which is yet as free as yours Pedro. I am catched and must come quickly off dear Clara I aside would advise you not to cast off a Gentleman who truly loves you on vain hopes of others like Clara. You are doubly deceived now Pedro I have no design on your sweet Face your Lord and you will be both secure in URBINO from being ravished by our Ladies or their Servants if you can direct who has my lost Cabinet I 'll thank ye if not Adieu good Pedro. Pedro. I am glad I am thus freed Exeunt severally Enter Duke and Train who meet from the other Door Fernando and Officers a Cry without of joy from the People Duke Fernando we bring you joyful hearts instead of such Triumphal ornaments as your high Actions merit Fernando You honour me too much Sir but if the Princess own my endeavours I may hope the scandal of that letter sticks not on me Duke We have found the foul copy of that forged Letter in Corbinos' Closet and the Author of it shall ere night suffer as he deserves Fernando Pray Sir forgive him as I do his design has done you good I had not ventured full so far but to wipe off that scandal and now Sir for Mariana's sake I beg that you will pardon her old Father Duke She shall have all his Lands immediately but I must deter others from the like horrid actions if I had believed him and imprisoned you what a mischief might that Barbarous beast have led me to Princes who pardon such crimes will near be free from the like Vipers who devour the good Names of the innocent 't is our work to cherish truth and virtue and to banish such Monsters as Corbino from the converse of men he is condemned to the Dungeon while he lives 't is fit that you retire Fernando Exeunt Duke and Train Florio and Fernando stay Florio Now they are gone I will congratulate your victory with some good hopes that Silviana may comply Fern. Florio is my good Angel still yet I must pity Thee Unhappy Youth exposed in●o a crowed Of Beauties where thou freely art allowed To look and choose invited to enjoy A full variety in hope to cloy Or ●ix thy fancies which by Nature grow Beyond the power of satisfying so Flo. If Youth of Beauty must be still afraid Why were those Glorious Objects ever made Beauty to Age is like a painted Fire Warms not though it create a faint desire That mocks the appetite of Old men's Eyes With Youthful wishes but near satisfies Cause Age repines much oftener than recants Past follies still lamenting what it wants Fern. If brightest Beauties cannot youth reclaim Nor raise an Old man's fancy to a flame By such experience taught we may conclude Our Passions do our judgements still delude Which leads us on to Idolise a Face Without enquiring the intrincique grace Florio take heed when Lovers soar too high They seldom find a lucky Destiny Flo. My fortune and my fate in love will near Be worth my care nor worthy of your fear I will within impart what I have done And show how Silviana may be won Florio embraces him Exeunt Enter Camillo and Borosco with three Officers Camillo Corbino is got o●● at Fernando's intercession and we are safe Borosco Safe indeed and freed from all employment in the State these strangers are now ●ix'd unless you Camillo help us to remove 'em Camillo I have away to do it if you Gentlemen will join to free yourselves from this foreign yoke All. We l live and die with great Camillo Camillo Thus then fellow Soldiers at the next general sally we will engage our two young Leaders into the midst of the Enemies and then retreat so suddenly they shall be cut in pieces ere they see their danger Borosco Good very good but when will this Sally be Camillo Suddenly I hope for since Fernando's return my scouts bring news that the Enemies whole forces are drawn up to countenance their men while they repair the works Fernando slighted so that when he has slept a little I will set Florio on Fire to seek their own destruction by begging the command myself that he and Fernando may take rest which will inflame them to go with us as private men Borosco Lose no time then for while such mischief cools We may be ' ta'en in our own traps like sooles Exeunt Enter the Princess with Rossina Philora and Floremella Princess How fairs Rossina does Florio yet approach Rossina He has no time yet Madam and I am not in h●ste Princess He loves but little that cannot sin ●e a time to show it Philora The love of such young men is like stubble set on Fire which gives so short a heat it warms not Princess What is your opinion of Fernando's gravity Philora He looks of late so much concerned with his great Offices that such inconsiderable things as we are not worth his thought and is preingaged to I believe Floremella 'T were well if any of us could get one of these constant Lovers to change our breed our young Gallants do throw their Hearts at Ladies ●ea●s so fast we cannot take them up before we find them tumbling at an others f●et Princess A very good state Argument Floremella if 'ft come to voting thou shalt have my voice For both or either of them at thy choice Enter Florio to them Florio Pray Madam let these Ladies stand a little off that I may impart an a●●ai●e of consequence Princess Rossina pray go not away you are out of hearing now Florio 'T is time Madam to let you know that Fernando loves and is of quality fit for you to own ● his respects so great he presumes not yet to beg the honour of one visit nor will own his quality until this war be over that his actions may parallel his greatness and yet for your sake Madam is become a volunteere Princess I am obliged my Lord to you that think me worthy of the man you honour most but I shall admit no courtships from the greatest Prince in a disguise nor is it fit for me to guess at what he designs to hide Florio My business now is only to invite your Highness to look● on Fernando's actions favourably and when his merit has raised such a value of him in your heart as you could wish he were a Prince I here engage m● honour you shall find him such Princess I have no wishes of that Nature Florio nor do I fancy such a Romance but who ere he be that wares such virtue in so bright a case he merits my civility Exeunt THE SCENE CHANGES Enter at one side Duke Camillo and Officers at the other side Enter Florio a little after Duke What you have urged Camillo I approve and you shall sally with what power you please since we have men enough our frequent skirmishes will weary their new Soldiers Florio Another sally Sir so soon Duke Camillo undertakes it with his Brigade alone you and Fernando shall both rest Florio Pray Sir lay no commands on us to stay at home when great Camillo sallies I know Fernando will be more troubled than myself our business here is to gain experience and we must lose no opportunity to learn Camillo Will Lord Florio allow us Natives no time to show our conduct and our courage to serve our Prince without his assistance as if he coveted the sole glory of the War Florio You do mistake me my Lord my business is to learn I have no thought to Eclipse your glorious actions which I desire to imitate and with your permission do beg the Duke's leave that Fernando and myself may ●ight as Volunteeres only to observe how you command Duke By no means Florio Florio I must not be denied Sir for I already suffer by my not sallying last your people say I have got honours and offices enough to keep me from farther hazards and this will be Fernando's fate too if he go not with Camillo Sir we are resolved to be in every sally which if you deny our credits will call us to ask your pass that so we may return to our Countries with our honours safe Duke If I cannot entreat nor yet command your stay I do unwillingly consent Camillo they are in your care Florio We will both wait on your Lordship Exeunt Duke and Florio Camillo Was not this well designed Borosco I knew how to inflame young Florio so as to press on to both their ruins we must charge home at first they once engaged we will retreat and leave them to a sure destruction Borosco His fancy of Volunteeres gives opportunity to place them both in our first Ranks without jealousy Camillo And by them I will place a score of my boldest men with direction that they suffer not the strangers to advance a foot before them for the honour of our Nation You Borosco shall stand with the Reserve just without the Port and my Order is not to move till I send for you which shall be too late to rescue our fine Gallants I have given Orders out already for a present sally we must make haste Before it do grow dark that no mistake Our thus well ordered plot may useless make A mischief well designed we count half done Before the active part be yet begun Exeunt Enter from one side Duke and Lords Enter on the other side Borosco Duke Is Camillo yet gone out Borosco They are and my Troops are drawing forth Duke Though I hope Camillo will have no need of your Reserve yet be vigilant Borosco be vigilant as you will answer it with your life I have by much entreaty prevailed with Florio to stay with me Borosco I shall observe my orders I have the General's direction Sir Duke And mine go now lest you be stayed for Longino Exit Boros● draw all my horse guards from the market place immediately unto the Port but go not out till I give you Orders I will be ready too Accidents in War do too often show That no experience can all harms foreknow Tigillo This is the strongest sally Sir you ever made and yet you apprehend it most Duke I do indeed take more care now then formerly because I now know the value of those I venture besides a slight mishap to us besieged may fright our friends abroad from sending in their promised aids I have intelligence Tigillo of some Treacherous design upon the stranger's lives Camillo envies them but if any Plot to their prejudice appear Camillos' life shall answer it Exeunt Enter Longino with an Officer Longino Never was sally thus trebly ordered we may thank Florio for all this providence and to say truth he does deserve it from the Duke and us though I fear Camillo loves him not hark they are at it now this is my Post. Officer All is not well the discontented Lords had private and late meetings Longino The Duke has Spies on them Enter the Duke and Florio with his Train Tigillo meets him from the other Door Tigillo Camillo does retreat Sir on the first charge retreats and hath left a small party engaged in ●ight Duke Longino Longino Sir Duke Lead my guards out and bid Borosco advance with speed or he shall Die for his delay Longino I shall Sir Exit Longino Duke This looks like a design as full of mischief as Camillos' heart of envy it makes me tremble to think what danger brave Fernando may be in Enter an Officer Officer Camillo retreats Sir in great haste without a stroke retreats nor will Borosco stir Longino cannot make him move Fernando is engaged past hope of rescue Florio Fernando is betrayed Sir we must be quick or he is lost Duke If Camillo still retreat the design is plain and time for me to hazard now Camillo dies for this base Act This is the plot this the treachery death and confusion fall on Camillo my Horse my Horse Exeunt THE SCENE CHANGES Enter the Duke Florio and Train Camillo and his men meet them at the Port. Duke Where is Fernando Camillo Lost by his own rashness Duke Or by your base retreat without a stroke destroyed there 's a reward for Treachery or Cowardice which you please faces about Kills him Tigillo I command thee on thy life to kill Borosco at the head of all his Troops and lead his men after me there mischief is too evident Exeunt Duke and Train Manet two Lords and by Camillo Camillo I have my due that did ill execute what I so well designed our Retreat was too sudden not to engage at all made our design Dies too plain 1 Lord. This confession will please the Duke 2 Lord. The noise grows lowed my Lord from the Tower we may see what is doing in the Camp A Charge afar off not lowed than a Retreat Then Enter Duke Florio Longino Tigillo and Officers Duke We came too late to rescue brave Fernando Tigillo Borosco is dead Sir as you commanded Duke I will reward thy courage and thy faith Tigillo a thousand curses follow those Traitors to their graves death cannot expiate their villainies But we must now consider how to redeem our Gallant friend Florio By a quick Sally give them no time to breath but with all your strength fall on their head Quarters and fetch him off by a strong hand give me the conduct Sir and if I fail I 'll fall in the attempt Duke This suits with Florios' gallantry and friendship to Fernando but if your success prove short of your design he and we may so be lost I rather think to ransom him for Gold Enter a Soldier taken with Fernando Soldier Fernando Sir is well and by the Enemy well used he has a small guard and a great Tent in the head Quarter I got the word and so escaped Exit Duke and Train Duke Let us consult within Florio Stay Soldier have you the word Soldier I have Sir 't is Ferrara Florio Dare you be my guide this night to fetch Fernando off if I with a few more do hazard to his Tent which you seem to know Soldier Yes Sir I dare die in such good company Florio No more take that purse and attend me at my Lodging I 'll suddenly be there Exeunt severally The SCENE changes to a Camp and in a great Tent appears the Duke of Ferrara with Fernando and Officers Ferrara Be not dejected Sir such accidents in War are frequent and the bravest men most subject to your misfortune Fernando To be your prisoner Sir is not my trouble but to be betrayed so basely forsaken by Camillo and the rest without a stroke looks like a Treachery you understand not it must be so Florio was too easily persuaded to abide at home there there was the design for my captivity that in my absence he may be the man what is my ransom Sir name the sum and I 'll procure it and return like a consuming flame amongst amongst Ferrara No sum no Ransom for if I understand you right the young favourite Florio has betrayed you he jealous that your services might outshine his pretences to the Princess Silviana and make void the Duke's solicitations on his behalf for thus my Camp discourses to my amaze and wonder that the fond Duke should reject me and choose so unknown a man as Florio but if his design be to raise a private Gentleman unto his Dukedom 't is great injustice to choose Florio before you I hope this angry man will do my business aside Fernando The Duke's doatage is so great on Florio that he knows no joy like his advancement But Florios falsehood calls my revenge to cut off all his hopes that way for if Silviana do consent to Crown his aspiring thoughts this hand shall at the Altar stab him to the heart Ferrara You are free Sir and this moment may depart all Ceremony laid aside I take my leave lose no time Sir in such affairs delays are dangerous Francisco command the Captain of the watch to attend Fernando to the City gate I wish you happiness Fernando I accept your favour to depart but am not yet resolved to what place Ferrara By all means return to URBINO Sir now you are free Let not Florio boast so strange a Victory Exit Ferrara Fernando sits sadly by a Table a while silent Fernando I understand all your kindness Duke but did not think I had appeared so tame so mean to remove Florio for his pretence Camillos' treachery was from a just envy because he lost that favour which I gained I can excuse him and Borosco on the same account but Florio to comply and the ungrateful Duke they merit my revenge If guilty both it is decreed The Duke and Florio both shall bleed While Fernando set silent Enter Florio alone the rest stand at Door Fernando starts up and draws Fernando Treason treason Florio draws and sides with Fernando Florio Guard thee Fernando I 'll die by thee but where is the Enemy I see no danger Fernando Thou art my danger what mischief brings thee hither in disguise Fer steps from Florio Florio Mischief Fernando have you no better welcome for a friend Fern For such a Friend that dared to sleep at home when I was lost Florio Oh barbarous you know the Duke's commands and importunities were such as I could not refuse to stay and you consented too yea I have blushed ever since and come now by a greater hazard to wipe off that shame which I could not prevent Fernando You rather come with this excuse to invite me to a second trust by which you and the rest may some more certain way destroy me but to such faithless friends I shall return no more Florio Does this hazard and my tried friendship merit such language the Duke too is well repaid for his severe justice on Camillo who himself with his own hand slew for his base Treachery to you and on his command Borosco fell by young Tigillos' Sword what expiation do you seek what satisfaction for Camillos' crime can you demand if all this be argument for so unworthy a distrust how can innocence be justified Pray Sir take more time to judge of this and now trust yourself with me I have the word and can securely pass I have a bold party too who stand ready at the Port to favour our Retreat Fernando I need them not I have my freedom and have taken leave can pass whither and when I please but my Judgement on all this I cannot suddenly sum up and therefore will not go Florio What testimony can you wish what assurance have beyond this voluntary hazard of my life to lead you to the Princess Silviana from whom you may inquire my friendship and my Faith if this be an abuse you have then a cause to show your courage and may call me to account but if all this convince you not leave me here a Prisoner in your place and so revenge those wrongs you only dream of Fernando No to betray is worse than to be betrayed I scorn to act a treachery that I so much condemn in others I am now resolved to go and to suspend all further thoughts of jealousy or discontent and if my passion for the Princess hath misled me into unworthy thoughts of you or of the Duke I shall gladly do any penance you 'll inflict Florio Your own sense for your mistake will prove a sharper penance than we can wish Fernando Though I have Arguments for my distrust Yet Florio and the Duke may both be just The End of the third Act. THE FOURTH ACT. Enter the Duke leaning on Florio 's shoulder followed by Fernando Longino Tigillo Lords and Officers Duke TO what strange height Florio will thy daring heart aspire at what point of honour rest that I may rejoice thy dangers past without new fears for more ensuing hazards coming on Florio The Gods directed what I did and friendship could expect no less Fernando would have done much more for me Sir Duke I do believe 't but yet methinks your large soul might afford some room for me so much a friend as to be considered in my concern for all the dangers you are in Florio Such a presumptuous thought in me had been a crime when great Fernando's life and fortune was at stake against a compliment Duke I yield Florio must ever conquer Be General Fernando and you Longino Command the Horse Tigillo take presently the City Keys from young Camillo and be you Governor of URBINO he shall know that obedience to his Prince is above his duty to a Father if any can make clear proof of more conspirators they shall have all their lands and goods for their reward now Fernando did I apprehend with cause were not my private cautions of Camillo worthy your best Providence Fernando I could not guests at Camillos' mischief I confess so great a malice from a gallant man I never met before but when Envy and Revenge Ambitions twin children do wed their Parent's cause no reason can so natural a rage withhold nor any limits such unbridled fury bound when the high hopes that all their fancies aimed at were cut off by those honours heaped on us This makes me reflect with some compassion on your severity to persons of their worth who had no crimes but what grew from too much value of your favour Sir I wish that our successes had been less or your rewards not full so much Though narrow hearted Princes often blush at merits beyond their wills to recompense yet some great souls like yours too often overvallew and reward such services as ours when a kind mention with a smile would amply satisfy pardon Sir my sorrow for the loss of those two great men who fell on my account that shortly must resign all the envied Offices I hold and thereby show how small an Argument their hasty Envy took for such a ruin as they designed on me which in few days might have been diverted for this Siege ended I must be gone Sir as I have frequently to you and them declared in public and now to leave so many mourner's where I have deserved so well will very much eclipse my memory when I am gone Duke I have no argument but their crime to justify their punishment though your clemency might have spared them a less severity would not become me 1 Lord. Camillo at his death confessed his guilt and exclaimed against his own too hasty a retreat Duke We know too much of their conspiracy Exeunt Enter the Princess with Philora and Ladies in her Chamber Princess I wonder why my brother stays thus long from seeing me Philora He has had but little time to order his affairs Camillo and Borosco being both dead their commands are of great consequence Ent Tigil Princess I have not heard of the like villainy what news Tigillo how does my brother Tigillo Well Madam but much troubled for Camillos' wickedness against those he so much loves he sent me to excuse his visit to your Highness until he have dispatched some great affairs that do require his presence Princess Are the two strangers well Tigillo Not both Madam Fernando has some hurts but nothing dangerous Princess Is not my brother much pleased to have his Florio safe returned Tigillo He is indeed somewhat fonder than I could wish but can your Highness' fancy a fitter subject for so high a concern who ere beheld a Nobler object for a Prince's favour Princess I do not know so fit a man to make his favourite as Florio but to dote so much on him as to consider none of us takes from my Brother's Judgement and lessens our love to him I am glad to see him pleased but to see him lost in admiration of a man is not well Rossina come Let us retire until the Duke appears To raise our hopes or satisfy our fears Exeunt As they are going off Enter a Servant Servant Madam there is an Officer without who desires access to your Highness he has a Paper in his hand he says of great concern and must himself deliver it Exit servant Silviana Admit him Tigillo pray stay in the next Room Exit Tigillo The Ladies stand off Enter Officer Officer Madam I come from the Enemy sent by the Duke of Ferrara to mingle with your Troops which sallied last amongst whom I got into the Town thus in private to excuse to you alone the mischiefs by this War brought on your People He offers her a Letter she refuses it Silviana No 't is beyond excuse Sir but why this to me in private if from Ferrara sent why not in public to the Duke Officer 'T is not his purpose Madam to humble himself unto your He knelt Brother though Ferrara do desire thus to lay himself at Silvianas' feet to show what love can do his courage is too high to stoop before the greatest Prince on Earth He rises Silviana Tell your high hearted Master then my brother's interest and mine are so mingled that neither his force nor subtlest Art can ere divide us tell him I despise his Love who with an Iron rod does woo his former Menaces became him better than this flattery I 'll hear no more Offers to go out Officer Then give Judgement Madam ere you go on the guilty person you despise for if my love cannot prevail to excuse what I have done Let me by your doom fall Ferrara is at your mercy Discovers himself Silviana Sir Your excuse is bolder than your Crime thus to surprise me in disguise is as offensive as your War and works the same effect in me who see through all your designs but can discern no love 't is our Dukedom you expect and so much labour for not me Ferrara This War and my disguise are both the effects of Love Madam and at worst can be looked on but as trials whether by your brothers or your own aversion I have been rejected I led my Army hither to remove his constraint on you as I suppose and now freely offer up myself a sacrifice to your dislike if by that I fall neglected such is the power of Love it makes the greatest dangers most delightful Silviana Such Romances take not me your first approaches and all your Treaties were accompanied with such unreasonable demands and such Rude threats as showed you were a man of Blood no Characters of gentle love appeared I remember also the Succession was your main Article that must be settled or you would not have me by which you bound my Brother from a second Marriage and would take me as an appendix to the Crown and through all this I must now discern your unvisible love no Sir though the principality must be my beauty's foil to raise esteem in you I can set a value on myself above the Dukedom you aim at Ferrara Madam Though I come hither lifted high on the delightful wings of hope despair must now be my Reserve for my Retreat yet thus by your scorns armed for your Revenge I shall rather smile then shrink at your Brother's malice after this repulse from you and shall glory here to fall love 's Martyr at your feet Silviana You shall be safe from all harms here Sir I will secure your safe return though I answer not your hope you shall not suffer Enter Tigil by this rash visit Tigillo pray see this Officer safe conveyed to his Campe. Ferrara No Madam now I have put off that cloud which did secure my passage hither by which my undertaking is performed to put it on again may look like fear as if I valued safety at a higher rate than Honour I will therefore with an open face Now I have kneeled at Silvianas' feet Pass on through all the dangers I can meet Silviana My endeavours and my wishes do concur for your security but if you suffer aught by your own rash choice I shall take care that you have no pretence to lay a blemish on my innocence Tigillo wait on the Duke as I direct I will answer it to my Brother Exit Princess and Ladies Tigillo I shall not doubt to do what you command Madam Ferrara I am sad to think Tigillo on those evils which Silviana compels me in honour now to Act. For since no submission can make her relent We are obliged to fight though we repent Exeunt Enter Florio as in his Chamber sitting sadly Pedro by Pedro. Madam What want you will you think yourself into the other World Florio I wish I were so happy no Melina I am doomed to more disasters here Pedro. Pray impart the trouble of your mind that I may argue on your griefs a little to divert you Florio Thou wilt raise my distemper higher by thy discourse but yet I 'll try I was thinking Melina how much better it had been to have stayed at home and suffered all my Father's anger still saying no to his unjust commands I might so have showed a much more becoming courage by such sufferings than thus by ●lying them for had he forced me to the Church so often threatened he could not there compel me to comply I might at worst have died on that account with honour as now with infamy Pedro. If you pursue these thoughts they will distract you 't is childish to look back when you must pursue the Fortune your first thoughts have led you to does not the Duke's love grow higher and higher still why then do you create evils in your fancy beyond what can happen Florio Oh Melina had I not better die then ever own myself a Woman when the Duke shall find the favourite he dotes on to be a transformed wanderer how will he hate himself and me for placing such a scorn on his great Name for ever I love and honour him so much I dare not seek the happiness I wish but must undiscovered die to save my reputation and his Fame Pedro. These are waking dreams Madam Florio And then if Fernando should discover me how will his honour be concerned what vengeance will his just anger find out for me there is but one way Melina besides Death Pedro. May I be trusted with it you have made me Sadder than I looked for Florio The Siege ended I 'll return and take a Cloister where I will wash away my shame in Penitential Tears and if I die before I do conjure thee Melina to conceal my sex I have adventured what I can to get an honourable death and 't will not be which makes me apprehend some sadder Fortune does attend me Pedro. Madam I have thus far against my judgement and my interest been wholly governed by you but now I see you will destroy yourself I am resolved to let Fernando or the Duke know your condition to prevent a greater evil Florio How Melina wilt thou betray my trust and prove a Traitor at the last thou dar'st not do so great a villainy Pedro. Rather than see you ruined I will do any thing what crimes what guilt frights you into this despair I will no longer be accessary to your destruction now I can bring you off with honour She offers to go off Florio rises and steps between Melina and the Door and draws Florio Stay Melina so now 't is my fault if you discover me by all my hopes ' le k●ll thee instantly unless thou dost now swear not to reveal me speak quickly for when thou art dead I will by my own hand die by thee offers at her Pedro. Hold and I will by this I swear as you desire But that I do a greater mischief fear Your threatened death should not have made me swear Enter the Duke who draws and offers at Pedro. Florio steps in Duke False villain to lift thy hand against thy Lord Florio steps between Florio I did assault him Sir in my unjust fury Duke Florio has no unjust fury Pedro must be faulty Florio By truth's self I swear he is not the fault was only mine Embraces and Pedro has made me see my error look Sir we are one again Duke I do believe it now But what then has caused this great distemper in you Florio am not I yet worthy to be trusted with your concerns Florio How can I express more value of your favours then I have Sir I wish not to live an hour beyond them by all that 's good I do speak Truth Duke I know not how to urge a trust you are resolved against but I plainly see you have a troubled heart say Pedro what is that afflicts your Lord is it within my reach Pedro. Had you come a minute sooner Sir you might have known but now I have sworn Florio Pedro no more Great Sir I do confess I have a grief which I do shame to own lest you should despise what you now seem pleased with for my heart knows no grief but doubts to hold your favour Duke You can have no interest that I will not make mine Speak Florio is it Silviana Florio No Sir but what ere it be I will in time o'ercome it and appear before you with a cheerful face again I beg you will no more inquire it for I am well already your kindness cures all the evils ever can belong to me Duke And do I appear so slight a man that you can fear my favours cannot last which still increase you wrong me much by so unjust a jealousy Florio No Sir 't is my own unworthiness that frights me lest I in time appear uncapable of these honours you allow me I find the stock of credit I have gained begins to fail so fast that my distractions make me giddy on the thought of a senister Fate Duke No more of this it troubles me I am now going to my Sister whom I have not seen since my last sally shall I have your company The Duke embraces him Florio I attend you Sir THE SCENE CHANGES They go off and Reenter at the Prince's Chamber with her Duke I have had so much to do Silviana I could not get free before and am now come to beg your assistance in an affair of mine Prin. Of what nature Sir your looks show trouble in your mind Duke My trouble is for Florio who has some hidden discontent that will I fear take him from us and I have hopes that you may find what he will not reveal to me Princess Do you take me for a wise Woman brother such as deal by Magic how is it possible that I should know Florios' heart if he 'll conceal it Duke I only wish you would inquire he may say more to you than me Princess I obey you Sir pray my Lord be pleased to satisfy the Duke by telling me what those troubles are he so much apprehends and if the cure do lie within my reach you shall command my best endeavours to serve you Florio I dare not dally with such Excellence one great trouble is lest Fernando my dear friend should perish by your neglects Madam Princess You see brother he has no concern of his own worth naming he dotes on Fernando more than you on him Florio I never can express more gratitude unto the Duke and you Madam then by recommending Fernando to your thoughts what can be fancied in a man more than we all see in him Princess Birth to equal mine Florio Does that only hinder Princess I cannot yet resolve you Florio I beg Sir that you will obtain me the Prince's leave to bring Fernando to kiss her hand Duke I shall not deny your suit Florio as you do mine Sister pray admit his visit when I appoint the time Princess You have my consent my Lord when the Duke approves it Flo. Madam I prize● this favour you allow More than wreathed Laurels on Fernando's brow Florio kisses her hand and leads her off not seeing Fernando Enter Enter Fernando who seeing this returns in anger Fernando This is a dagger at my heart Florio is false and I too tame Fernando going back Duke Fernando stay Fernando I beg your pardon Sir for interrupting of your privacies Duke We have done and were now parting What news from the Enemy Fernando Our out guards have ta'en a Prisoner who says on some intelligence from Ferrara they are resolved to storm us as their last hope and do prepare for it with speed Duke We will be ready for 'em Our Walls are strong and men so brave within Exeunt Omnes To startle at their storming were a sin Enter Florio and Pedro Florio I have got leave to bring Fernando to the Princess on a private visit but where to find him I know not 't is some happiness to do a friend that courtesy which none can do for me Pedro. Yes I could do more for you if you 'll permit me 't is strange that so much wit and courage should produce such folly and such fears I find my judgement is worth twenty such as yours and I must be bound by oath to make no use of it Florio Pray leave discoursing and find out Fernando I would speak with him make haste my heart grows light to think what joys I bring Fernando Exit Pedro. Enter Fernando to him Florio Oh Sir I have sent to seek you Fernando And too soon have found me thou great dissembler Florio What means Fernando by this injurious language to his friend Fernando I have no Ears to let in thy bewitching charms a second time Florio Was ever Injury like this what have I done to lose your favour Fernando Thou Courtest the Princess against thy faith given and my trust I have no words for such a Treachery as thine those flattering Eyes and thy false Tongue shall ne'er deceive me more Florio Can Fernando's great Soul admit so mean a thought of such a Faith as mine to serve him Fernando I have no time to talk Death is due for such a Treachery as thine were this place sit to throw my fury on Thee Florio You lessen your own worth Sir by raising groundless jealousies on me did not my love and innocence forbid I would by silence seem to own the guilt you fancy and with open Arms now meet the Death you threaten and I so often wish for But I am more your servant then you discern and dare not comply to bring so great an evil as shedding innocent blood on Prince Lorenzo's head Fernando Ha! dost thou know me Florio Yes Sir or I would not shun death proffered from your hand which I have by many hazards sought though not on this account yet I can show great Lorenzo a better Argument than his unjust jealousy to sheathe his sword here for I have too confident of my intrinsic Virtue contracted such high guilts your Highness never can forgive yet Silviana shall be yours Fernando Though I understand thee not thou hast said enough to raise my wonder above my anger till I know more Florio Have you never seen a Face like mine at Pisa Fernando Not that I remember or did ever know Florio Nor shall do now on second thoughts your unknown Enemy calls for Death Sir I have wronged you much and myself much more Florio opens his Arms Fernando No thou hast charmed me by some Magic spell I dare not touch thee who art thou Florio You should never know if by any hand but yours I could by death have been concealed can you not yet call to mind your unfortunate Cousin Celestina in this face have my crimes altered me so much Fernando Celestina as a man do all the wonders I have seen can it be Florio Too true Sir pray let your Sword now do what I have Sh● knelt so often sought from the Enemy I would die Sir 't was my business here and 't is high time that I were dead this place this hour is fit for such a sacrifice to wronged Innocence for I have defamed Innosence raised a scandal on the name of Virtue the honour of your great Family is concerned in my disguise if I survive this scandal I have raised your Lenity will be condemned as if you had complied and so the great Name of Florence will be howted at but when I am dead you may conceal my Name and not participate my shame who do now appear so strange a Monster to myself that I shall blush to death if your Sword prevent me not He Embraces and Raises her Fernando Is lovely Celestina then my envied Rival for the fair Silviana Florio You have no Rival Sir the Princess sent me now to bring you to her on a private visit do you believe me yet Fernando As an Angel sent from Heaven I believe thee but thy good news cannot stay these Tears for thyself now shed poor Celestina I have heard thy sad story and thy ill natured Father's Tyranny thou fled'st from all thy friends have mourned for thee as dead or so lost as never to be found again Florio I am not so happy Sir Fernando Nor I so miserable to lose so great a friend how shall I divide my heart between Silviana and Celestina to thee I owe my life twice saved and all my interest in Silviana by thy help gained all that I have my being and my bliss I must derive from thee my deer dear Celestina Celestina This kindness is more comfort than I did ever hope to find on Earth I wish that I coiuld die thus happy before the Duke does find his Florio is a counterfeit I fear His honour will engage him to despise A wand'ring Woman in so strange disguise Fernando Lay by thy fears and put on such a hope as will become thy Virtue and thy Birth this Romance will end well the fond Duke's friendship will soon turn to love when he shall see a possibility that Florio may be his dost thou love him Florio I have not dared to entertain a thought that might lead me to hopes of such a happiness on Earth Fernando Let that hope take its first rise now from my Endeavours for when I see my time to unmask us both I 'll do it for thy advantage Celestina but why did you thus long conceal yourself from me Florio Fear to offend you Sir which was my quarrel with Melina who thretned to discover me to you when the Duke found our Swords drawn Fernando Is Pedro Melina too where get you such manly hearts and vigour to act such wonders Florio Alas Sir I did but draw my Sword and wave it 'bout my head my weak blows were only in search of death but it seems the powers above propitious to my innocence have turned the rugged Fate I sought into glorious Trophies I deserve not discontent at first than despair threw me into all the dangers I could find but this discovery has reduced me to a Woman I can now tremble at my own shadow my courage is quite gone and I now shake to think what I have done Fernando You must hold up your Character till I see time to own you and to declare myself which shall be suddenly my dear Celestina thou   be my good Angel still we 'll visit the Princess and first reveal ourselves to her trust me to manage your interest with the Duke as you have mine with Silviania we must now prepare for the great Interview which the Enemy so much desires take courage Celestina Where Beauties force with virtue does combine They cannot fail to prosper a design Exeunt THE FIFTH ACT. Enter Clara and Pedro severally in great haste Clara. Dear Pedro take care of me they say we shall be stormed and sacked pray what is sacked Pedro. All the Maids above fifteen years old by the Enemy found in Town must be put in Sacks and thrown into the River Clara. This is a short warning to provide against so great an Evil but I hope you may find favour to preserve me sweet Pedro take me to thy care Pedro. I shall do my best for thee if I fall not in the Assault a good Day pretty one Offers to go she holds him Clara. Why in such haste Pedro. I am commanded to attend the Interview and must be gone Clara. I understand not what that is Pedro. Why 't is a Committee of Inspection on the Princess Silviana Clara. You confound me Pedro with hard words is it any thing about the Sacks and the River I am so afraid I know not what to do Pedro. Take courage Clara I will preserve you as my friend I shall be miss if I stay longer now Clara. Thank ye dear Pedro but I will hide myself how ever This young white livered Boy may courage lack To keep me from the River and the Sack Exeunt severally An Interview Enter At one Door the Duke of URBINO with Fernando Florio Lords Officers and Guards who range on that side Enter The Duke of Ferrara with Lords and Officers who range on the other side Enter The Princess Silviana with all the Ladies who stand under the SCENE between the Rows of Men. Urbino What be your demands Lodovico what is the Argument of this Parlye you have desired Ferrara Silviana is my Argument whom you detain more like a Prisoner than a Sister you ought to love and honour by matching with some Prince fitter for her Birth and Beauty than a Nunnery which your thrifty kindness would persuade her to Urbino And you bring us this War with your advice to teach us better purposes Ferrara I do lest my counsels prevail not I have at a distance professed love and treated long in vain which brings me now in Person to demand Silviana from captivity Urbino Is it her Person or my Dukedom you expect which invites you to this insolent way of Wooeing Ferrara 'T is both and what both our Parents did design when we were Children in case you left no issue Male. Urbino Silviana is now of Age to please herself and if she desire it I may treat farther on fit Terms Ferrara Madam I have waved the common way of wooing to appear before you with such an Army as will justify my love great as myself and worthy of your best favours which I fear your brother does obstruct Silviana I never heard till now that love and terror did inhabit in one breast fright me you may but win me never by the desolation you have made a lover by such bloody Characters set off is what ever I shall fly from Urbino Now Sir does this show my compulsion for a Nunnery Ferrara I see she has her lesson perfect you all comply to send me home with scorns yet I must lay before you the evils of a Town taken by assault where fire and sword do often without limits sway which is my last argument and what I hope will invite Fernando who knows the accidents of War to mediate such a Peace as will divert the desolation that may follow Fernando 'T will not become me to advise against the interest of the Prince I serve For if my intelligence be true your City of Ferrara is or will soon be in more danger of the Fire and Sword you mention than Urbino at present is 't were an Infamy irreparable to suffer the Princess Silviana to be ravished from her brother's Arms by one she is so much averse to such force Sir can have no pretence to love to the Duke Ferrara Are you of that opinion too Sir this confirms what I have heard and what in my Camp so freely is discoursed that your great General is an ambitious Lover But if Silviana can submit to so mean approaches I shall scorn the competition though in my just anger I lay this City Level with the Earth Fernando The mean General you slight so much has never yet presumed to look with confidence on the fair Princess Eyes so far from daring to pretend or own that love you so boldly guess at that my addresses are yet clothed in the humble habit of a Servant to be Silvianas' Soldier I account more honour then to be Ferrara's Duke Ferrara This insolence I shall in few Hours correct Fernando You judge amiss and will in few hours find this hand can crush Ferrara into Air When every drop of Blood in Urbino shed Shall be repaired with a Ferrarians head But that I dare not do any thing that looks like ingratitude for those favours I received when I was Prisoner in your Camp though I know the freedom which you gave was on design that my enraged Revenge might open you a way to your pretence for the Fair Princess yet benefits received must be owned as they appear unto the World and on that account I can forget these reproaches thrown out against you know not who and ask your pardon for my too hasty harsh reply and embrace you as my friend I and serve you too in any way that will not prejudice my Faith engaged unto this Princess Ferrara This calm language is more insolent than your pretence which I scorn alike Arm you for defence lest we give Laws to your high courages Madam I have no wish so ill for your contempt of me but I can sorrow to see you fall so low as this Soldier's love Fernando Madam Thus often urged I beg your leave to challenge this great Prince to a single Combat in your sight then judge by our success whether Fate approves of my humility or of his insolent Pats off his Periwig demands see Lodovico your Rival is your equal and my Army now by my command is at Ferrara's gates yet I●le take no advantage of my power so much more than yours but with my single sword will justify my love to Silviana does transend all your pretences and yet before we fight I once more proffer you my friendship with a faithful heart Ferrara Lorenzo Duke of Florence who we thought in France I accept the Combat and with my Sword will justify my claim against so brave an Enemy Urbino This combat I must not allow here Lodovico if you reject the Duke of Florence friendship and contemn mine you may retire in safety but if you please to storm us we are prepared to smile when you frown most Ferrara Those frowns you slight so may prove Fatal unto Urbin Exit Ferrara Urbino Why have you made such hazards in this disguise Sir Lorenzo My Father's sudden death called me in haste from France where I heard of this War threatening you I shall inform you at more leisure how I became concerned for Silviana which brought me in this disguise to her rescue Urbino How can I return this obligation to a Prince so much greater than myself Lorenzo One smile from Silviana will be a full recompense for all my service on that foundation I shall raise high hopes that she approves my love Silviana Smiles are but slight expressions of a grateful heart Sir but if you can build the Noble structure of true love on such uncertainties I must consider of so weighty a concern before I smile Love is a History so many ways described I do not know a harder riddle to expound than what Love is Lorenzo Love is indeed a Mystery full of such strange varieties that all the World endeavours to fix it according to their own fancies so absolutely contradictory in most men that some think loves Centric happiness will near be found though all pretend to have it But Madam I am guided by those Rules that Heaven directs my worship unto it my whole heart is wholly yours and my unforced Marriage is the undoubted Testimony of that truth all meaner passions which we in gaytye call love deserves a meaner name when I lay my life and fortune at your Feet and set my Crown upon your head I have no better arguments for Love Silviana Nor I a thought that contradicts what you have said Sir but dare not rashly answer your desires lest it suit not with the esteem you have of me Urbin No more of this now Silviana we must prepare for an assault 't is their last hope Lorenzo whom will you appoint for General Lorenzo Who but Silvianas' Soldier can pretend to that honour Sir give me your Orders as before Loren reads the Orders Urbino I obey this Paper does order every man his Post by which you see I have had thoughts of this before Lorenzo I wish Sir you would change Florios' Post and give him the charge to guard the Castle where the Princess may be by him secured from all accidents Duke I thank you for this care it shall be so Florio How have I deserved this from you Sir Loren. You have enough deserved my care Florio and I who know the Duke would account your loss next to his Town the greatest do justify my council to have you as safe as honour will allow Duke Lorenzo is my friend Florio But not mine give me leave then as I ought to lead my guards where yourself fights in person Sir and I will be content to change my Post. Lorenzo Let it be as he desires Sir yet I must again advise you to secure Florio next yourself he may prove worthy of all your care and of your highest favour Sir Duke He is already so but you speak in a mysterious tone methinks Lorenzo This assault I conceive will be their last attempt and I would gladly prevent a mischief that may trouble you I know Florios' worth now get my Arms Luco Luco They are ready Sir Exeunt Lorenzo and Luco Duke Lorenzo's words and his behaviour show Something of Florio more than I yet know Enter Town-Officers to the Duke 1 Officer Sir by the several noises in the Camp 't is evident they make ready for an assault 2 Officer We have fair warning to defend ourselves our men are mad to be upon the Wall Duke Led them presently unto their Ports as great Lorenzo shall direct 'T was bravely done to give us warning and to keep his word shows mettle Gentlemen where is Prince Lorenzo and where Florio gone 1 Officer We met them just now Sir in the Lobby which joins to the Princess Lodgings Duke This is no fit time for compliments go to your several commands I shall be with you suddenly Exeunt severally Enter Lorenzo Florio with the Princess in her Chamber the Ladies stand off Florio Madam Lorenzo begs the honour to kiss your hand before the assault begins that as your Soldier he may fight this day Princess Forenzos' merit justly may expect what I can serve him in Loren. Madam I seek not yet a favour beyond your owning of me for your Soldier I suppose my actions and my looks have better showed then now my language can how much I love Princess It did not become me to inquire more of you Sir than you were willing to reveal yet Florio long since did let fall words to make me know your quality did equal mine and I only wondered why you thought not fit to trust me with it Lorenzo Because I would first know your opinion of me Madam else my Name not I might have wooed for me and if thus I had been rejected I might have retired in my disguise without a pnblique scorn of being refused which Ferrara's prowed Duke would have much rejoiced at but if you Madam will so far honour me as to allow your Soldier now to kiss your hand on his hope of future happiness I have no doubt of our success Princess Yes and shall have my prayers for your Protection Lorenzo May your happiness equal your virtue's Madam I must hasten to the Walls He kisses her Hand Florio When I have brought the Princess to her lodgings I will find out the Duke and follow you Princess You shall go now Florio this is no time for Ceremony my brother is unsafe when you are from him Heaven guard the Innocent and only smite The bold invadors of another's Right Exeunt severally An Alarm far off Enter Officers they meet the Duke who enters at the other Dore. Officer The enemy comes on so fast Sir you can hardly reach your Posts in time Duke I come Lorenzo is by this time on the Walls haste every man unto his Post. Enter Florio Duke I was sending for you Florio call for my Arms and bring those I bespoke for Florio too we will put on our Arms together and fight near to one another make haste Enter with Arms for both they speak as they are Arming Florios' Arms are like those of Pallas Flor. Let me retire to the other Room Sir and put mine on there Duke No I will have you Arm here that I may see how my fancy sits you Florio I fear Sir that this may look like such a presumption as I dare not own to be thus habitted will raise a Censure on me Duke On my head let the Censure fall 't is my will make more haste lest we be missed Florio I am at your dispose Sir Duke Be vigilant but not over bold let judgement guide thy The Duke Arms as he speaks courage Florio that no blow fall in vain reserve thy greatest vigour till some eminent occasion call for such relief as may be worthy of thy hazard Florio I shall observe all your directions Sir my chief business is to guard your Person which if I do not let the Gods turn from me when I call on them He looks on Florio with wonder Duke I shall be safe in thy care I know methinks this Copy does equal the best Original I ever saw presenting Pallas stand off a while that now Pygmalion like I may adore the figure I have made though nature bravely had her part performed before yet Art and fancy I perceive may such additions give as will nature's best workmanship set off Florio You make me blush so much Sir that I shall forget to frown when I shake my javelin at the Enemy Duk. Thy smiles will make that weapon useless on all that do behold thee though we to Deities alone our Temples build and shrines set up if Florio be this day as prosperous as before I will for him a Golden Statue make that after ages our Palladium may extol above that unfortunate famed Patroness of Troy An Alarm within Florio Hark Sir we may be wished for while we dally here Duke Come then the Victory must sure be ours the Enemy will sooner charge a flaming Cloud than Florio in this dress Exeunt Enter the Princess with Phylora and Floremella Princess The assaults begun Phylora and my brother not yet there Philora Lorenzo order all and we are sat by his great courage and his skill in Arms and yet by this noise round the Town it seems the Walls are every where attached Princess 'T is so Philora and we are a lost prey to their greater numbers the Temple is a fitter place for us Philora The Gods are every where and our good wishes are received as prayers Princess That shout was from the Enemy now I despair Philora Your fears create mistakes Madam that shout was near us it must be from our own men that joyful noise was victory to us it can be nothing less than victory where is that courage sled you had the other day when I was frighted without cause Princess A Town thus stormed has somewhat more of terror in it than all the former sallies had my heart shrinks now with apprehension and dismay Enter an Officer Officer Madam The day is ours the Enemy is quite beaten off and the great Duke of Florence with Longino in the head of all our Horse is now sallied on the Rear of the Retreating Enemy Princess My thanks to Heaven for our success the several noises from the Walls created such variety of fears that I was much dismayed till you came in Officer There was argument enough for apprehension Madam for the Wall was gained and the Duke your Brother sore oppressed with multitudes was beaten off and fallen amidst the press where his high courage rather tired then vanquished had been lost if the all conquering Florio with his guards had not come timely in to his relief who with such vigour and such force renewed the fight that the amazed Enemy ran headlong from the Walls again and struck such terror in the rest of their assailing friends that altogether sled in great confusion to their Campe. Princess All this I do rejoice at but methinks those shouts of joy are changed into a dismal silence on the sudden why do not the streets ring with acclamations for our Victory good Heaven preserve the Duke I have some apprehension that he may be hurt Officer No hurt appeared at my departure only Florio was beaten down by an accidental shot at random from the slying Enemy after which I saw him stand though but weakly Princess Let us retire Phylora till my brother does arrive Exeunt Enter the Duke with others his Shirt bloody bearing in Florio near dead they set him in a Chair with Pedro helping to dress him Duke A Surgeon a Surgeon my Dukedom for a Surgeon gently gently set him down Florios' death strikes deep friendship I find takes faster hold on hearts than love poor youth he slew quick as lightning to my rescue and as I fell oppressed by Multitudes he scattered them like frighted Birds at an approaching storm and thus by saving me has lost himself by an accidental shot from the beaten flying Enemy but sure the Gods will not permit that so great virtue from the World be ta'en lest offended Nature into its first Chaos shrink Through sudden horror and a just disdain To hold the World up after Florio slain Enter Surgeons Duke Now Surgeon show your skill while I pour out my prayers to Heaven for his recovery He leans against the Wall and weeps Enter Silviana and Philora with Ladies Duke Oh Silviana I am undone Florio is slain friendship is ravished from the earth and all my joys sled with it speak Surgeon does he live Surgeon Here is life Sir but little hope of long continuance unless what we apply do suddenly show better signs Duke By what unknown crimes have I provoked Heaven when virtue is thus punished thus to show me Paradise and cast me into Hell is more than Nature can submit to and not repine Enter Lorenzo and Longino with the Duke of Ferrara prisoner and his Officers prisoners Lor. We bring you joy Sir and a full viory with this great prisoner Urbino Here is no room for joy Lorenzo I am destroyed by victory see where Death in Triumph sits prouder of that prey then for all the Heroes in past Ages fallen Lorenzo Ha! Florio slain how could this happen after I was gone and the day won I may now curse myself for not preventing this how short are those glittering joys we so much labour for when all the glories we have gained are in a moment turned into heart breaking griefs I am undone too Lorenzo weeps over Florios' head Urbino He received this wound in rescuing me can bold Lorenzo weep and be so much concerned for me is he as great in sorrow as in Arms will he outfight and now outweep me too ye Duke leans over Florios' Head on the other side powers Above if ever you hear prayers from a sad heart sent Let Florios soul and mine expyre together Oh Lorenzo you cannot fancy what I feel the loss of such a friend is unsupportable Lorenzo Alas Sir your sorrows will go higher yet when you know who Florio is I have a greater loss in Florio than you discern or can pretend to which will no longer now be hid hold Surgeon and let the Ladies help to undress her she is a Lady and my near relation Sir who loves you more than you love Florio He starts from the Chair Duke A Woman Lorenzo Oh do not mock me with a hope to make this loss beyond Mortality to bear a Woman let me gaze on this dying wonder till my Eyes drop out and loves me as I do Florio that is impossible this is a fatal blow indeed Oh Sister now your help Surgeon if she live thou shalt be whatever I can make thee great work work apply the rarest remedies some help from Heaven or I am lost a Woman Florio a Woman and in my rescue die and love me too Oh this is much too much to know and to outlive He lies on the ground Surgeon Pray Sir a little patience her Eyes have some small motion now Ladies your help is useful here The Duke rises Duke Gently dear Silviana kind Philora gently every touch she suffers grates on my heart Florio thy love was not well managed the more I think the more I am amazed give her life or strike me dead a Woman Lorenzo I Sir a Woman and of Noblest birth The Duke knelt and holds her Hand Duke I value not her birth 't is Virtue thus adorned that I adore He kneels and hold her head blessed figure of those shapes which do inhabit Heaven she looks up Silviana and may live run good Alphonso run Alphonso Whither Sir and why Duke Fetch my Mother's Diadem and Royal Robe fly now Alphonso Exit Alpho fly I have a thousand thoughts at once what Triumphs I will make what Trophies raise if my Fair Saint survive but if she die these glitring fancies will be drenched in Blood Lorenzo I will swim in blood to overtake her Ghost when ever she departs Surgeon Now she is dressed pray give her leave to rest a little Loren. My Prophetic soul foresaw some mighty evil towards when I desired that Florio might not fight to day Duke One word of Woman had prevented all to conceal her Sex Lorenzo was as cruel as unkind that known she had been safe and I most happy Lorenzo I now wish that I had broke my Oath to Celestina and run all hazards by it Duke Now I understand those her mysterious vow 's so often made to me which I then took for gratitude how blind was love rather how powerful is thy Deity Oh love what mighty things do those by thee inspired produce when the weak hands of this soft sex can raise such Emulation in the bravest men and can outdo us too in what they undertake how strangely dull was I that did not all this while by sympathetick Love her Sex discern through this disguise Enter Alphonso with Crown and Robes the Duke puts them on Florio as he slumbers Duke Help me Lorenzo to put on these Robes so now Sir you shall see that I do credit what you have said and in assurance of her love to me here in the sight of Heaven I take this Lady to my Wife thus she shall live or thus die my Duchess Silviana He looks at Florio earnestly Our victory does yet so dismal show No ruin could have caused a greater woe My heart my heart Lorenzo shrinks away so fast that I shall fall how dull were we Silviana to think such beauty could belong to man Leans on Alphonso Princess Or such courage be in Woman found Duke Lorenzo I am distracted with so many wonders breaking out at once that my shatred heart can yet find no joy to entertain so great a Guest as you nor inquire what accident did bring you hither Lorenzo Fame of Silvianas' Virtues brought me hither Sir where I unlooked for met poor Celestina my unhappy Cousin who Did from her Father's rigid kindness fly Led by her stars to this sad Destiny The Duke embraces him and weeps Princess Did ever any Age such mischief know Or two such courages such sorrow show Duke If Celestina live Urbino shall shine in Triumphs to speak Lorenzo's welcome but if she Die I have no life that I can call a minute mine I must not will not cannot survive so great a loss Princess She wakes she wakes and looks up cheerful The Duke knelt and holds her hand Duke Fly to the Temples and rich incense burn proclaim a public Feast throughout the Town let all the holy Orders in Procession go make solemn vow 's to Heaven for Celestinas life Now let the City there Devotions pay For Victory and keep this Holiday Celestina wakes speaks faintly Celestina Is this a vision or is it real what I see these Robes I understand not the Duke kneeling the Princess and Lorenzo weeping I do either dream or I am dead why all this to me Duke To the Duchess of URBINO this is due Heaven Celestina has heard my prayers and will I hope preserve your life to raise my despairing soul above the World if you consent Triumphant love with such resplendent Rays adorned will change these sullen Clouds into a glorious shine throughout my Land and every heart rejoice at our Felicities Celestina Lorenzo then has made himself and me known to you Sir which does beget such shame as makes my soul retire from what it most joys in can you value such a counterfeit as I Duke Can I be thankful for the greatest blessing men have on Earth all had been well if Lorenzo had declared you sooner Celestina My business was to die unknown lest my disguise should raise a scandal on my Name for ever Lorenzo knew me not till yesterday Duke This disguise Celestina has by mistakes brought all this evil on us let us no more mention it but implore Heaven for your recovery Lorenzo How will you dispose of your great prisoner Sir Urbino As my friend now Celestina lives these Arms shall be your only bonds while you are with us I owe all the felicities I now to Ferrara enjoy to you Sir I had near seen Florio nor found Lorenzo here without this War And if Lodovico can submit to what the Gods have thus decreed we may be ever friends but I shall impose no Rules for you to follow who are as free here as at Ferrara for I intent a Jubilee to all who will participate my joys Lodovico Though my success affords no argument for joy I can acknowledge your civilities and must submit unto those powers who order our designs according to their wills not ours Lorenzo I have a heart to serve Lodovico too if it may be received Lodovico Since victory has decided our contest 't were useless to hold up such animosity as can afford no remedy I shall therefore strive to regulate my heart unto my Fortune Duke We must now beg your pardon Sir and yours Silviana our high transports for these strange accident have too long diverted our respects for you Sir Lorenzo If Silviana do yet dare to own me little Ceremony will be needful here Princess If I had not long since seen through your disguise somewhat of greater worth than your low Equipage allowed you had not found so quick a passage to my heart Duke 'T is my part to join your hands now you avow your hearts united I wish you as much joy Sir as you have helped me to by Celestinas Love Loren. I can have none beyond what I rejoice to see you have Sir Duke How is it Celestina does your heart with your health comply to make me happy Celestina Yes Sir now all my doubts are vanished I have time to look back on my despairs with pleasure and to rejoice and wonder at your love so much beyond my merit or my hope Duke Though habits sexes often may divide They could not Celestinas virtues hide Which gave such Lustre to young Florios' name It raised my wonder and begot this ●lame Which ever must admire that blessed disguise When Florio showed me Celestinas Eyes Thus mighty Love Triumphed in friendship dressed Though his Magnetic Virtue seemed suppressed FINIS THE EPILOGUE To the SIEGE of URBIN EPILOGUES we know if well fitted may Either excuse or else set off the Play But our Fantastic Author does believe His Doublet may be wor'ne without a sleeve He will no Epilogue allow the Pit He says of late hath surfeited of Wit points to the Pit And therefore has this new rigged Pinnace Lanced Into these Deeps and now too far advanced Without a Rudder Yet if friends you may With gentle Gales this guidlesse Bark convey Through all its dangers to the wished Port And so prove Pilots of the noblest sort SELINDRA A Tragicomedy Written by Sr WILLIAM KILLIGREW OXFORD Printed for the Author and are to be sold by Ric Davis 1666. The Actors Names of Selindra LAscares Emperor of Greece Phillocles Lascares his Son Ordella Lascares his Daughter Secropius Lascares his Favourite Cleonel Secropius his Son Selindra A great Lady Attending Ordella and supposed Daughter of Periander but is Astella Princess of Hungary Periander A great Lord of Cyprus Three Ladies Attending Ordella Antillacus General of Greece Armanthus General of the Horse Antenor Great Lords of Greece Gillon Great Lords of Greece Officers Guards Servants Pages Trebello King of Hungary These appear not Barzanes his  Son These appear not Trebello's youngest Son Astella His only Daughter Orsanes General of Hungary Lords Officers Pollidor Hungarians Tennedor Hungarians Tecknor Hungarians Titius Hungarians Servants Hungarians SCENE Is the Emperor's Palace at Byzantium The FIRST ACT. Enter two Lords Antenor and Gillon Ante THis Rumour through the Town of Prince Phillocles being Crowned King of Hungary is beyond cregit Gillon Who is Author of this discourse Ante It has no Author a Packet to the Emperor is brought by the common Post who only said the last Post told him so Gillon And that last post might hear it from another What does the Emperor declare Ante We shall know now his Letters are in his hand Enter Lascares Emperor of Greece with Cecropius Cleonell and Guards Empe Have you yet Learned Cecropius from whence this Rumour comes concerning Hungary Cecro I can by no means find the Author Sir yet the whole Town is full of it 't is in all men's mouths that Prince Phillocles is Crowned King of Hungary yet none know why they say it Emp It cannot be these Letters are but three days old in which Antillacus only mentions Phillocles returned to Belgrade having chased the Germans home Enter the Princess Ordella Selindra and Ladies to them Emp Daughter I sent for you to partake the News these Letters bring they speak Phillocles his Victories over the bold Germans by which we gather he will be shortly here We will welcome his return Ordella with a solemn Triumph to raise his great thoughts to higher Actions To this end I sent for you to think of some new way to entertain the Princess Astella who no doubt your Brother will bring with him Or. Sir I am so pleased to hear my Brother 's well I cannot yet enjoy his Conquest Emp Cecropius be it your care to see these Triumphs ordered for Phillocles as they were for me when I returned Victorious out of Asia And Cleonel thy charge is to Summon all our Young Nobility unto a Royal Tournament and be thyself the Glory of our Court. Cle You make me blush Sir Cecro It shall be as you direct Sir but how soon does the Prince write his motion will be this way Emp My Letters are from our General Antillachus in haste who by the next doth promise a full relation Or Have you no Letters from my Brother Sir Empe Not yet Ordella which I much wonder at He kisses the Emperor's Hand Enter Armanthus in Mourning What news Armanthus Arman Sir the Prince sent me before to give you notice of his approach Emp His approach how near Arman He is about a League behind Sir Emp Is this habit and thy sad looks the signs of Victory are Phillocles and you alone returned Is all lost Armanthus Arman Your Army is safe Sir the Germans have quitted Hungary as you have heard and that Crown also has been offered unto Phillocles Emp And by him received I hear why then is this sad show why such sorrows in thy face while we were ordering Triumphs to receive Phillocles thou hast surprised us with such sadness as becomes ruined States only Arman 'T is for no less a loss I mourn Sir for by your Victories so sad a fate is befallen Hungary that all Noble Hearts will feel some sorrow for it though they merited no less Emp Make me know it Arman When we had freed Hungary from the German War and while the brave Prince Pollinesso with Phillocles was Conquering and returning from the German Confines back to Belgrade the old King Trebellio and his Eldest Son Barzanes repented the Conditions made with your Majesty for the re-delivery of Moldavia they forgot the benefit received by our Grecian Swords and prepare to send home Phillocles loaden with Scorns instead of Trophies Emp Strange insolence and as high a perjury as ever provoked Heaven what followed how did Pollinesso bear himself Arman The Young Prince Pollinesso was a firm Friend to Phillocles and endeavoured what he could to divert his Fathers and his Brothers wicked purposes Emp I 'll make the whole Nation shrink under my just Anger Arman It will not need Sir for as they securely sought to seize on Prince Phillocles who lodged in the same Castle with them it so pleased the gods that he by a quick securing of himself the same night the Plot was laid did accidentally occasion all their ruins though he intended no harm unto their persons Emp Their ruins are they dead all dead Arman They are Sir and their crimes not worthy of that sorrow the Prince has for them had not the innocent Pollinesso fallen with them Emp By what accident fell he Arman Pollinesso to do Phillocles Service was that fatal night concealed where he in a by-Room might discover his Father's wicked Counsels unto which he was never called by reason of his avowed love to Phillocles So that when we from the Prince's Lodgings surprised the Castle Gate the Alarm roused the Hungarians from their close Cowcil and discovered Pollinesso where he stood hid who being in that amaze compelled by his Father and Barzanes to fly with them unto a little Postern Gate to us unknown that led unto the River where all entering a small Fisher Boat they hasted down the stream to their own Camp which they found newly destroyed by our Army a mischief they designed that night on us frighted by this ruin they all return into their Boat and by a sudden wind that arose were all drowned in the rough Danube Emp Why had not Pollinesso notice of your purpose Arman We had no time nor could we come where he stood Concealed if Phillocles had delayed he had been lost and then our design being only to seize on Trebellio and Barzanes persons we could apprehend no danger towards Pollinesso Ordel Where is Astella how did she escape how does she bear her Father and her brother's loss how does she look on Phillocles and how become the Crown and Throne now they are her own Arman After this sad accident Phillocles was informed that Astella was conveyed away before the War on purpose to abuse him but where concealed none knew but those who were with Trabellio drowned Emp But how has Phillocles disposed the Affairs of Hungary Arman The Hungarians much amazed at Astellas' absence did urge Phillocles to accept the Crown as by the hand of Heaven thrown on him but he without delay delivered up the sole power and trust unto Orfanes and five more until Astella might be found and then by the consent of all he did command Antillacus in his return with the Army to take possession of Moldavia which by a double right is now again rejoined unto your Empire Sir Emp My Son has been two quick in ordering so great affairs Enter Prince Phillocles and Lords in mourning with Servant's he knelt and riseth He knelt and riseth Emp Phillocles the gods are just they have blessed thy undertake which thou shouldst not grieve but thank them for they have saved me a labour too in punishing those ingrateful perjured Princes Phil Had not Pollinesso fallen I had not cast away a sigh for all the rest for him my whole Life spent in sorrow is not enough he was as Noble as the others were unworthy he and I contracted such a Friendship you would have thought but one heart had given life to both Emp Thou hast done ill Phillocles so rashly to dispose so great Affairs without my Council I hear you have given away a Kingdom in a Compliment Phil Sir what I have done will not abate my interest there I have also made a promise to search for Astella in our Neighbour Islands where 't is most like she is concealed Emp That will be near as great a folly as the other to what purpose will you run such a bazzard rather meet our Army and return with it to Belgrade there let Astella find you securing her interest in her absence Phil I cannot with my Honour do it Sir Astella may then believe I sought the Ruin of her Family to gain the Crown on myself Emp What if she do you may at leisure inform her of the Truth I do Command you to lay by your further thought of this fond Journey to search for Astella is this a time to act Romances in when the whole whole World is in Combustion round us think better on it Phillocles Ordel. I hope my Brother will not throw himself on dangers without a good Argument to justify his Actions this new Journey gives me new fears for you a Phillocles Embraces his Sister Ordella and leads her out after the Emperor Phil I shall consider ere I go Ordella and at your Lodgings this night express my joy to see you Exeunt omnes b Only Selindra stays and sits in a Chair Sel Oh! Oh! Cle Selindra weeping has the sad tale of Hungary drawn these tears from your fair Eyes Madam Sel Good my Lord spare me a while I am not sit for Courtship now Cle I cannot with Honour leave you in the power of such an Enemy as your sorrow is Sel You cannot deliver me from a greater than yourself this time Cle That is not kindly said Selindra scarce Civil if you consider my long Love and my Respects S●l My Lord you know I ever shunned your Love and as much as in me lay avoided those respects you now upbraid me with Cle I do confess you have 't is therefore I now come to press you to declare if I may ever hope to gain more favour from you my suit is present Marriage may I hope for such happiness at last if not now Sel As I never have so I shall never give you cause to think it Cle So Fair so Innocent so Gentle and so severe I never saw before but I shall hope to find you in a better humour at some other time Selindra your Father interrupts me now Exit Cleonel Enter Periander to Selindra Sel Unhappy day that I was born and more unhappy this that I She Weeps have lived to hear such mischief on Oh Periander my Father and my Brothers are all Dead Murdered by Phillocles Betrayed and Slain by Pollinesso's dead my only comfort is for ever gone and yet I live to tell it Peri Madam the Crown of Hungary is now yours and Phillocles but the Instrument sent by the gods to punish your Parents crimes their perjury pulled this Judgement on their own heads Sel It does not become you my Lord to tell me so nor yet to think it if you consider Lascare's covetous nature and Phillocles ambitious spirit you might with me see all this was designed to ruin my Family and so to get the Crown unto themselves but I shall soon revenge it on dissembling Phillocles and bring such a Ruin into Greece as no time shall parallel here to Pollinesso Ghost I vow Phillocles his Life if ever I can safely reach it Peri Madam take heed lest you like them do pull a second mischief on yourself Phillocles you see is Noble he leaves the Crown She kneels to you when offered him by all your Subjects he loved Pollinesso you have no Argument against Phillocles he Laments him as much as you can Sel I Periander and in sorrow seeks me too no doubt but he would gladly have me in his power to murder Per I cannot think so but Madam you should now consider where you are and in whose power in my opinion you must keep this disguise with all the Art you can and lay by your sorrow for a while not practise any thing towards revenge nor by a look discover such a thought until I can go to Belgrade there make Orsanes and the rest know that you live that we may find some way to fetch you home with safety where you may with security prosecute your revenge Sel I shall take your advice my Lord now you comply in my revenge and study to disguise my grief till your return but can admit no thoughts but my revenge on Phillocles Pollinesso my dear Brother I will Celebrate thy Funerals in such a manner as shall speak my Love to thee and hate to him that murdered thee No Roman Pile e'er made so great a flame I 'll Sacrifice this Empire to thy Name Per Madam this passion will piscover and destroy you in spite Weeps of my Endeavours Sel I have now done my Lord indeed I have Peri I can have no Faith Madam unless you will now promise in presence of our gods to hide this anger and not to discover yourself till my return unless some Eminent necessity require for you will be lost when known unto Lascares Sel I do engage as you desire and shall Enter Ordella to them with Ladies Or In tears Selindra what cause hast thou to weep Per My present departure for Cyprus makes her thus Childish Or Will your stay there be long my Lord Per Not many day's Madam Or Come Selindra thou shalt go with me I 'll divert these Tears by showing thee my griefs which thou wilt be Concerned for if thou dost love me Exeunt Omnes THE SCEENE CHANGES Re-enter Ordella and Selindra in Ordella 's Chamber Sel Madam I am very sensible of your Grief and do not approve of the Prince his journey to search for Astella Or. You must not only not approve it Selindra but with me condemn it as a rash and hazardous undertaking besides the folly of seeking one he never saw one that he hath no engagement to What madness will it be for Phillocles to put himself within her power before he knows how she resents her Friend's deaths for if there were such affection between Astella and Pollinesso as is said the sight of Phillocles must needs raise a passion in her such as may destroy my aside Brother before his innocence can appear How 's this can these Tears fall for her Father's absence a few days or is it for what I utter Selindra Weeps I hope she is not so much concerned for Phillocles Selindra I do take it ill that you thus lament your Father's absence who runs no hazard above my sorrow for my Brother's dangerous Journey in search of Astella Sel Madam my tears were recalled by your Highness' sighs by your trouble for the Prince his Journey your favours have been such to me that I were unworthy if I should not weep as well as smile with you aside Or 'T is handsomely put off I thank thee Selindra and do so little doubt thy Love that I do beg thy best Arguments to assist me that we together may convince my Brother and prevail with him to stay Sel Madam I shall obey your commands and observe your directions as far as will become me but I do fear the Prince will condemn me of much rudeness if I shall interpose my vain opinions against his purposes good Madam do not put me to do what hereafter you will blame me for Or Fear it not Selindra I love thee better then to throw away thy credit so see where my brother comes Enter Phillocles Ordella meets him kindly yet sadly too Selindra aside Sel I have a hard task on me to compliment the man I hate to death Phil Why so sad my dear Sister your looks speak a sorrow through your smiles Ordel Can you ask and know yourself to be the cause of it can Phillocles be in danger and Ordella not be sad can you think smiles would become my face when my heart shrinks to think of your rash journey to seek Astella you know not where I can no more put off my fears than my affection for you Phil Dearest Ordella let not a mistaken cause of fear for me beget such a trouble in you there is no danger in my purposed Journey I shall only search the Grecian Isles where none dares do me harm you know I am engaged in honour to perform what I have so publicly declared and I am sure you love my Honour equal with my Person Ordel I do so and could I see the necessity you urge to search for Astella my passion should submit to your reason and that I may not flatter my own affection I shall now submit unto Selindra's opinion who has no reason to be partial to either of our arguments I prithee good Selindra speak freely what thou thinkest of my brother's Journey Selin Truly Sir if I may judge the Princess tells you what you should better consider of than I think you yet have not that I do apprehend any dangerous hazards in the Journey as she does nor can I find any arguments fit to persuade you from attempting dangers when your Honour calls you to them give me leave Sir only to ask how your Honour is concerned to make this search why do you intent so great a trouble to yourself from whence is this value of Astella who you never saw why does your Highness seek a Woman that has never obliged you nor you her but by the ruin of her Family incensed her Phil 'T is true that I have never seen nor obliged Astella in particular but I have by many hazards of my life endeavoured both the Fame of her Excelling Beauty and greater Virtue begot in me a desire to serve her and her whole Family which I did faithfully in freeing Hungary from the German yoke 't was an unhappy Fate befell her Parents by themselves pulled on them not by me intended in which sad loss I bear so great a share that I have no peace within until I have made my Innocence unto Astellas' self appear that she may see that I had no design to hurt the Prince's persons nor to Conquer Hungary Selin What you have bravely done in that War deserves a Trophy and from Astella no less value when she shall be well informed of all that past there till then Sir the Princess thinks it not fit for you to Visit Astella because we often see Great Princes Virtues does not answer the report Fame gives them Ordel Most true Selindra my heart presages a Ruin if you go could I lay by my affection to you and put on Astellas' cause I would undertake to confute those Arguments you so much trust in Methinks I see you kneeling and the enraged Astella deaf to all you say swelling with anger for brave Pollinesso's loss and ready to sacrifice your Life come Selindra if ever I have deserved love from thee show it now by assisting me my own way by thy best Language do thou stand forth and as Astella receives my over-confident Brother spare him not Selindra but suppose you had a Brother as dear to you as Pollinesso She pulls Selindra to Act Astella She stands before the Chair of State was to her and that beloved Brother by Phillocles his rash attempt sent to his untimely grave let lose some Tears to accompany those I have shed and for my sake put on a look so mixed with Majesty Grief and Anger as may present her Part thou play'st ay that look will do it Sel Madam You see my ready Obedience to your Commands but will the Prince permit such boldness Phil Yes Selindra since nothing else will satisfy my Sister I am content for once to bear a part in this Child's play on condition Ordella that you put off your sadness if I prevail Ordella I shall so you will stay at home if she do get the better of you He turn●s to Selindra and sees her looks angry Phil Content can Selindra frown in jest methinks she looks as if she would do it to the life Ordella Sel Yes Phillocles I can frown when I have just cause and will make thee repent this rash attempt to visit me thou hast beyond my hope put thyself into my power to punish Phil How that angry Cloud spreads Can those bright lights suffer an Eclipse and not portend some fatal Ruin what if they do shall I shake at Thunder that cannot reach me be concerned for an unjust anger no not though the gods did threat But Astella will not nourish a thought mis-be-coming her Virtue nor so much lessen her great name by a mistaken passion to harm a man whose endeavours were to serve her Selin A mistaken Passion Phillocles are not my Father and my Brothers dead though not by thy hand butchered yet by thy attempts they fell is not the glory of our name extinguished the honour of men fallen all lost in Pollinesso's death Phil Astellas' self is not more free than I was from intending evil to her friends they forced me to secure myself by which they were all lost their Plots and Perjuries pulled this Ruin on them only Pollinesso was not Guilty he would not comply with fierce Barzanes envious designs nor with his Fathers blacker purposes Pollinesso was a witness of my hazards in that War and did partake an equal share in them and in the Victory we often sealed our vows of Amity in our best bloods together which did beget so mutual a Love that our Souls moved ever one way I would rather have Died with Pollinesso then live thus to lament his loss by these unfeigned Tears I would Sel Thou speak'st a Language so pleasing to my Ears that I could wish my vow to Sacrifice thee to my Brother's Ghost had never passed my Lips for I can see and value all thy Noble actions and judge the guilt of my own friends that fell and can bear the loss of all but Pollinesso he you say died Innocent free from the other Crimes full of Honour rich in Virtue in the Blossom of his Age my only Joy fell and you my only hate shall die so too your Worth your Youth and your Innocence will make my oblation acceptable to those powers I have vowed you too vain man canst thou think Pollinesso's ghost will be appeased with words or tears if thou wert ever worthy my brother's love show it now in courageous dying to his memory for by all our gods thou diest a guard there She is interrupted by Ordella Ordella 'T is bravely done Selindra thou madest me start and shake to see thee look and hear thee speak with such awful majesty how is it Brother how do you think Astellas' self will receive you when one so unconcerned can use you thus do you yield yet have we the better argument Philocles and Selindra stand both amazed Phil Yes you have Ordel You 'll stay then Phil I think I shall Ordel My deer dear Selindra let me kiss thee thou hast obliged me beyond my power to gratify beyond my expression to acknowledge the Emperor and the whole Empire shall thank thee for Phillocles his safety come my brother let us now find my Father this change will please him Exeunt ambo Selin How near lost was I on his fresh mention of Pollinesso's death how dangerous a work did I undertake and how happily brought off by the Princess Ordella's timely interruption I thought myself within my strengths at Belgrade and Phillocles in my power to punish I must no more of these games 't is my disguise preserves my life and I do care only to live to be revenged on Phillocles the Author of all my sorrows Oh! but the Princess Ordella sits too near my heart to suffer that she is my friend if I destroy her beloved brother I wound her to death at lest give her the same intolerable grief for Phillocles I now suffer for Pollinesso Oh! horrid ingratitude Oh miserable Astella my Obligations to Ardella do infringe my vows to Heaven ye gods direct me so that these differing passions may not distract me I would do what should become me best and please you most though my own life in the attempt be lost Exit Selindra THE SECOND ACT. Enter Emperor Cecropius and Cleonel Emp WHat think you Cecropious of Phillocles his Love Cecr Mighty Sir what you have said was my thought when I first heard of the Prince his stay and had been now my Council as the best way to secure his Interest in Hungary by which Astella must submit unto the will of him that has already won hearts of all her people Cleon Sir you know I have long loved and long sought Selindra's Love and Lovers Eyes are quick to discover the like looks in others 't is my duty as well as my own Concern to tell your Majesty that I have observed Selindra's good looks to be the Orators that have put off the Prince his journey not his kind sister's importunity and when your own observation shall inform you better your Majesty will find this no causeless jealousy in me Cecropious What he tells you Sir is the whisper of the Court but I look on it slightly the Prince may have a mind to a Wench and Selindra is a pretty one but Sir in my opinion you should take no notice of such youthful passages the Prince cannot think her a fit Wife and then no matter who is his Mistress Emp Cecropious I do think it worthy my care to prevent an evil the Crown of Hungary can be no way mine but by Astella we see Selindra is rich in Beauty and more rich in Virtue if not by Birth great enough to be his Wife she is too good to be his wanton Mistress Phillocles is young and young men are apt to be in Love He is as gallant as great and if his affection should meet a repulse as 't is most like from Selindra these sparks we now see may grow to such a flame as neither we nor he can quench I will observe him and set spies on them Aside some of my own spies Cleonell may be jealous without a cause I will sift Ordella too Enter Phillocles to them in rich clothes with Ordella Selindra Lords Ladies and train all fine Emp Daughter you have wrought a good work on your brother thy Interest I see has prevailed beyond my entreaty or my Command I thank thee for it Ordella and am glad Phillocles to find that your Ears are open unto reason indeed the journey would not have suited with your other great actions I like well ●hy gallant spirit but I like not to hazard a Kingdom for a Compliment Phillocles Sir I do thus low beg pardon for my first disobedience She knelt to your commands and do confess my sister wrought my consent to stay yet I must tell you Sir 't was because her Arguments complied with your commands nor was your command her least Argument Emp Thus let me embrace the greatest comfort of my life thou He holds their Arms under his and walks as he speaks shalt set ever next my heart give me thy hand Ordella and thine Phillocles What wealth is there beyond these what joys beyond those I feel thus supported I am the envy of Princes may all the blessings Heaven can bestow fall on you both for this love and this obedience to your old dying Father tell me Phillocles how stands the affairs of Hungary I have had late intelligence that some Commotions do appear there if so since you have thus discreetly laid aside the search of Astella in my judgement 't will be next best that you repair to Belgrade with your Army there by your presence to keep the people in Obedience until Astella be found we know the Hungarians are a busy headed people Phillocles Phil. Sir I have left the Government of that State in those hands that will neglect no means to invite Astella home they love her Sir and do want no power to secure the Kingdom for her my presence at Belgrade would rather deter Astella then invite her home and may be justly thought I meant to force what I yet doubt to sue for In my opinion Sir I ought to hear more from thence before I stir that way but my opinion and my will shall submit to your Commands Emp Thou art still on thy Compliments but my grey Hairs are not convinced by such Arguments think better on what I propose though I do not command but only wish it while I instruct your Phillocles and the rest go off sister with my reasons that she and you may consult together He whispers with Ordella Ordel. I shall obey you Sir and weigh well what you have said I shall not be wanting in my care for Selindra nor in my love unto my Brother Emp I am satisfied Ordella and do only wonder why he will not lead the Army into Hungary where such apparent need is of his presence Ordella He will go if you will have him Sir Emp I will think further on it a day or two This while Cleonel Courts Selindra she shows dislike to him Emp Cleonel I see loses no time in the War he makes ply her hard young man those knit brows do often prove the Cipher to a smiling heart and yet Cleonel I must tell you that I approve not this whining way of Wooing most Women like to be approached with such Alacrity as shows the mettle men are made of where is thy heart young man Cle. Mighty Sir one frown from bright Selindras Eyes has power to shake me into Atoms to unman me quite Emp I think so and must myself Woo for thee how is it fair He speaks to Selindra one that you neglect such honour and such Wealth as Cleonel brings with him he is a man in my Eye worthy the greatest subject of my Empire Or is it the nice Lovers part you thus do act in Public while your united hearts delight in private say Selindra when shall our Court flourish in triumphs for your Wedding while Ordella provides Ornaments for you it shall be my care to set forth Cleonel like himself and fit for such a Mistress tell me when Selindra when shall this jolly time be come I must press you for my Friend Selin I am very sensible of this Honour you now do me Sir yet cannot choose but wonder why your Majesty thinks fit to press me to a public Answer Emp You have delayed it long enough 't is a good time to declare now Selin I obey Sir and do confess that I have ever had a true value of Cleonels' worth I have also observed your favour to him and do believe that he may make the best of Women happy but yet I think not fit to entertain his Love I have more Noble thoughts then to encourage him with hopes of what I never can afford him such a return as his merit may justly expect from one more worthy than myself I must declare that my purpose is not to marry but to attend the Princess so long as that honour may be permitted and her Highness' favour shall continue to me Emp May all thy wishes be ever on thee happy will that man be that gets such a Treasure as this fair Cabinet contains I am vanquished Cleonel and I advise thee to tear this Serpent from thy heart before it be too big for thee to grasp observe you this Ordella Phillocles are thy thoughts yet for Belgrade Phillo They shall be Sir if you Command it Exeunt Lascares Cecropius and Cleonel Phillo Ordella can you guests why my Father does now urge my absence that so late enforced my stay Ordel Does not the Affairs of Hungary require you there Phillo No Ordella I should not then wonder at his pressing me to go Enter Messenger Messen Madam the Emperor calls for you Ordel I 'll o'er take him presently I have much to say to you Brother pray stay my return good Selindra entertain him in my Chamber with Cleonels last Melancholy Song I like so well Phillocles and Selindra sit within the Scene THE SONG Cloris we see the offended Gods At first do show and shake their Rodds That they may rather threat then strike So we forego what they dislike These faulty streams shall flow no more Above their banks as heretofore Nor swelling tempest from my breast Henceforth thy Virgin cares molest All shall be fashioned to thy will So thou wilt let me Love thee still My Lips shall not a word let go That may offend to tell thee so But to dissemble or deny That I do Love thee were a lie Would stain my soul 't will prove a spot To look as if I Loved thee not Philo. This charity becomes you Madam and Cleonels lines I see are smiled on though himself be not but why did you with such severity in public disclaim his interest and seem to reject a man so worthy when the Emperor himself wooed for him Selin 'T is the Princess Ordella's pleasure that I should learn his Song Sir and not my fancy to the maker of it though his love and respects may challenge a greater compliment from me for I shall ever acknowledge obligations to Cleonel yet not think fit to treat a Marriage in my Father's absence by whom I shall be wholly ruled in that matter if he think fit to make that choice for me I must submit Philo. Give me leave Madam so far to interest myself in your Affairs as to ask if your thoughts for Cleonel be such that you will Phillocles takes her Hand she shows dislike not admit the like profession from another For though my Father cannot match him in his Dominions I believe that I can find you a Servant as faithful and as full of Love one every way as worthy your favours one that will outbid Cleonel to gain Selindra do but He offers to kiss her Hand Selin I beg your Highness' pardon for some time Exit Seli Phil Thus to leave me while I was speaking to her is a scorn I looked not for Selindra was not wont to be so rude nor I so foolish sure my looks and Language rendered me Ridiculous so slight that she blushed for me which to hide she thus withdrew leaving me to wonder at myself that am of late become what I want a Name for If this be Love and this the effects of Love I 'll tear the Monster from my heart and be myself again before it grow too mighty for me my hands cannot reach it no force can touch it 't is a subtle foe not to be compelled 't is reason only must prevail Selindra loves and dissembles her affection to Cleonel neglecting me how unworthy then am I that seek to separate united hearts how fond to Covet what another does enjoy how much am I now fallen below myself by this passion He throws himself on the Couch sadly Enter Ordella and Selindra Ordel When went my brother hence Selindra Selin He sits there Madam Ordel My Father I fear has too much cause for what he said Prithee leave us a while Selindra and let none disturb us Ordella goes to Phillocles he starts at her approach Phillo Oh Selindra Ordella She is not here why do you stare thus on me are you not well Phillo Only a little dull for want of sleep Ordella but why sent the Emperor for you in such haste Ordel To tell me that Phillocles does love Selindra and to inquire my thoughts of it I answered boldly that you were too Noble to dishonour Selindra and too wise to neglect Astella and a Crown for such an idle fancy I have confirmed him that you have not such a thought because I saw him troubled at it but what is this that thus distracts you Phil Ha! what says my dearest Sister Ordel Ye Gods defend that I be not mistaken Brother what have you done with yourself since I went hence Phillo My head is full of the Affairs of Hungary I was contriving how I should secure Astella in her Throne and thinking of a thousand other things but why did my Father send for thee Ordel This is very strange I told you why and you regard me not it was about Selindra Phillo About Selindra prithee Ordella let us talk of something else thou weepest Ordel. How can I choose but weep to see you thus distracted and all my hopes of future joys dying in me Phillocles has left to love me he dares not trust me with his heart he Loves and by dissembling seeks to hide his love from me that can die for him Phillo I am guilty Ordella thy charms o'ercome me and I do submit to thy severest judgement I do love Selindra and would do more than thou canst fancy to gain her Love now my heart lies open thou wilt find the wound is deep Ordella touch it gently my dear Sister Ordel 'T will not be cured then Phillocles I must lance it to the quick and you must endure to hear that Cleonel and she have been long contracted and only do disguise their Loves because Cecropius seeks Selindra for himself 't is only until her Father's return they thus dissemble it Phil Contracted Ordella thou hast blasted all my hopes destroyed me in the twinkling of an Eye the Gods have not a greater curse in store to throw upon me is this thy cure I shall sink under the burden of this remedy farewell Ordella farewell for ever for I am undone for ever Phillocles going out in haste turns back Orde Stay Phillocles I can cure thee yet I 'll struck thy wound and try how that will work they are not contracted that I ever heard it was my pure affection that thus abused your Ears by my Father's command I was in the bud to crush your love which by their pretended Contract I thought best to do can my Brother pardon my Zeal to serve him this way and yet trust my love Phil I can do both Ordella now thou hast restored me to life again come let us sit that I may at large declare my purpose concerning Selindra do you remember Ordella that day you made Selindra act Astella how I was then convinced and overcome by her how she spoke then and with what Majesty she appeared Methought then if Selindra were not borne a Queen yet she was designed to be one from the hour I loved her and you the occasion of my love I have since observed her strictly and well weighed all her perfections and considered Cleonels hopeless suit to gain her if she can afford me love Ordella I would wade deep in blood it would look like vanity to tell thee how great things I would do to win a value from her Ordel When I consider Selindra's Beauty and her worth I cannot blame your admiration of her truly Brother I do wish your desires upon you but know not how I can comply or how to serve you this way Phil I have weighed all kinds of Arguments Ordella and do allow them to be good worldly thoughts fit for Princes that have no other heaven on Earth then their Wealth and their Dominions I tell thee Ordella to be Emperor of all the World is poverthy without Selindra if thou lovest me thou wilt use thy interest to persuade her to cast off all thoughts for Cleonel and receive me who she yet shuns now my Sister speak comfort to my soul that must languish until you engage for me Ordella sits silent a while and he staring on her Ordel I have been thus long silent Phillocles to consider how I might comply with your desires and not break my Father's trust do but show me an honourable way and I will serve you with the same Zeal you wish it but if I should consent how can you avoid Cleonel or how disguise your love from my Father Phill we 'll think of twenty ways to blind the old man's eyes and as for Cleonel I will so overload him with Wealth and Honours that he shall gladly give up his interest in Selindra if he have any but if he refuse I will become his Rival publicly I will either carr● the fair prize or lose myself Ordella say now will you strain a Co●●plement with my Father's trust to save thy brother's life and honour Ordella Pardon me heaven if I offend by varying from my there 's trust to save my Brother's life and Honour Phillocles now I am yours employ me like a Sister that you love put me not to use artifices unworthy of that value the World now holds me at Phillip By all our Gods I 'll rather perish then permit thee to act any thing unworthily Dearest Ordella lose no time to make known my affection to Selindra while I seek Cleonel to make him mine Ord Since no argument can prevail against your passion I am content to be directed by you Phill Thou wilt make me happy than Ordella beyond all the State arguments The greatest Politician can invent Or brightest messenger from Heaven's scent Leads her off Enter Cleonel Cleo. This falls out well for my designs upon Selindra the Prince his absence will give me opportunity to effect what his presence might prevent for 't is now most evident that Selindra slights my Professions in hope of Phillocles who is become my Rival by subtleties I must therefore compass what my power and credit cannot reach the Prince is too mighty for me to contest with but this new Enter Phillocles War will do my work see where he comes how full of thoughts he is of late this love transforms us all Phil I 'll share the Empire with him if he consent if he will not I 'll force my way He sees Cleonel Cleo Sir The Emperor sent me to signify unto you the News from Belgrade that Astella is arrived there and is rejected by those you left to govern 't is his pleasure Sir that you prepare to march with all possible speed to her relief Phil I have just now received an express from thence which inform me of a Faction there that did hope to have set up a Counterfeit Astella but those Tumults are allayed the plot being discovered all the partakers fled the Country I therefore hold it fit to hear again from thence before I stir but if my Father will needs have his Army march into Hungary I shall advise him to confer the honour of that War Cleonell on you Cle. On me Sir I am neither worthy nor capable of so great a charge your Highness does me much honour in this thought but I must not presume to accept the favour lest the Emperor do think me so vain to seek it Phillo Why Cleonel thy forward youth promises great things and I know the Emperor will be pleased to see me join to heap honours on thy deserving head I will undertake it with my Father and shall not doubt to say thou wilt deserve the sole Command of all our Forces Aside Cleon If the Emperor consent I am cozened your Highness does load me with your Favours I shall not live to express my Gratitude much less to merit such honours Phill I tell thee Cleonel 't is in thy power to lay an Obligation on me such an Obligation Cleonel as half my Empire cannot recompense Say may I hope such kindness from thee but if it be not in thy heart do not flatter me into a hope of what I shall not find Cle Sir as you are my Prince my duty binds me to serve you with the hazard of my life and fortunes Phillip I thank thee for thy Love as I do all that will like thee say and do as much but I would have engagements unto thee beyond the common compliment of other Subjects Cle Your many favours Sir have so much obliged me beyond all others that your commands what ere they be shall make me happy Phil Take heed Cleonel do not engage too fast for I shall demand what thou hold'st dearer than thy life darest thou hear me now Cle Speak boldly Sir I am yours and all that 's mine is so I hope speaks aside he will discover his love to me Phil Thou art indeed my fate or I am thine I would have thee give up to me thy interest in Selindra dissolve all engagements between her and you my dearest friend thus thou mayest bequeath Phillocles Embraces him an Empire to me that I prise far above this I am born to start not at it for I will wear thee in my bosom thou shalt be the greatest and the richest man in Greece Cleon Without Selindra Phil ay without Selindra Cleo What is all Greece worth without Selindra good Sir give me leave a little to consider on this matter sure he has solicited Aside Selindra for himself and received a repulse it may well be that she has expressed to him some value of me beyond what I myself can yet discern he would not else thus rashly nay thus madly tempt me 't is so Sir do I mistake or you did demand that I should give my interest in Selindra up to you Phil. Thou dost not mistake 't is only that can make me happy Cleo And only that I cannot grant I can no more consent to part with the hope of such a happiness then with my interest in Heaven pray Sir find some other way to try my Faith Phil The Gods cannot give thee a means to oblige me another way themselves cannot bless me with a gift that I can prise beyond Selindra Cleo And you would have me debauch this young Lady for your private pleasure Phil By all that 's Holy I would marry her Cleo Marry her what shall then become of Hungary and Astella Phill Thou shalt have that Crown and her I 'll woo her for thee I 'll fight that Conquest o'er again and give it thee if she refuse Cleo Will you get the Emperor's comment to this exchange Phill Yes or I will do it without him Cleo All this shall to the Emperor but if you can do neither this Aside inestinable jewel you would have me throw away Phill Will it be thrown away if placed on me Cleo I might have put my words into a Courtlier phrase I do confess but I can never mould my heart to such a form as shall consent to make my tongue bettay it I swear by all that 's good I never can relinquish my interest in Selindra I do prize my weak hopes there above all the Wealth and Honours you can lay down to purchase it Phil He has abused me all this while to get the secret out which shall now consume him since he will not consent this base treachery shall be my first step to climb unto Selindra Phillocles stands silent musing Cleo I shall now persuade Lascares to believe that the Prince loves Selindra while he is musing I 'll steal off lest a tempest do fall Aside on me Cleonel is going out Phil Stay Cleonel I have more to say I have considered my rash suit and cannot with Justice quarrel with thee for not parting with such a Treasure as Selindra is but I must call thee to account for thy late smiles and false fawning on me and for thy base treacherous kindness by which thou hast betrayed me to reveal a secret too great to trust thee with Thus I lay by my greatness and as a private injured man I draw my Sword to kill thee Cleo But I must not lift up mine against my Prince I have been ever taught to draw my Sword in your defence and shall be as glad to serve you with it as I should be proud to use it in this cause against any other man I dare scarce show it you Sir He draws Phil I have now made myself thy equal by my rivalship in love either defend thyself or by heaven I 'll kill thee They fight Phillocles hurts and disarms Cleonel as the Emperor comes in Phillocles throws Cleonel his sword and goes out Enter the Emperor Cecropius and Attendants Emp What insolence is this so near us Cleonel this posture does not become you in this place Cleo You will pardon it Sir when you shall know I only drew to save my life not to offend the Prince who swelling with rage came like a ruin on me because I would not quit my interest in Selindra unto him to be his wife Sir Emp. Is this true Cleonel Cleo You 'll find it true Sir I could have had Astella and her Crown for my consent 't is some pleasure to deny another what I cannot get myself Emp He has not hurt thee Cleo Not much Sir you came in just as he fell on me Emp This must be timely cared for Cecropius send presently and fetch Selindra to your Lodgings this night she shall be your charge to morrow let her be sent back to Cyprus to her Father and be you sure Cecropius that Phillocles do neither see her nor send to her this night Enter Ordella Selindra with Ladies Cecro She is here Sir with the Princess Ordel Where is my Brother Sir Emp He is gone hence hurt Ordella I wish he were else fight forsooth for Love you now see what mischief your fondness to Selindra has produced your Brother's life endangered and the Empire tottering Cecropius take Selindra to your care as I commanded let her be sent home attended as befits her quality Ordella come you with me All goes off but Cecropius Cleonel and Selindra Exit Cleonel and harkens at the Scene Cecro Leave us a while Cleonel Madam you now see the evils I foretold are come to pass these young fiery spirits will never submit to suffer either to enjoy you do but consider how happy you may be by being mine though I am not so young yet many men of my years have made young Ladies happy of my love you have had long trial my Power my Honours and my Wealth will prove as pleasant as the smooth chin of Cleonel Phillocles his Wife you cannot be his Mistress I hope you scorn to be much may be said Lady on this argument but the time allows it not to morrow early you must to Sea unless you will bless me by being mine Cleo Is it even so my good Father I shall show you a trick for He peeps in your trick if my skill fail not Selin My Lord I must now give you the same answer I have ever done that I can never have affection for you Cecro No matter few old men's wives have any Sel My Lord I do submit unto the Emperor's commands pray let me be sent away Cecro 'T is my humble love begets this contempt I must try Aside her another way Madam you know the Emperor's humour well and you have heard how eagerly he covets to join Hungary to Greece by Phillocles his match with Astella and how much he abhors his love to you is evident The truth is Selindra you are this night by his command to be ravished by my Son Cleonel to that end sent thither which will allay the gallant Prince his appetite to marry you and remove all further fears of that matter 'T is yet in your own power Madam by obliging me to prevent Cleonels force who for undertaking so base an act aught to be despised Sel Ravished I 'll rather die then suffer Cleonel or yield to be your Wife the Gods will not permit such wickedness Cec Please you to retire unto your Lodging Lady There is no He leads her in and returns way to win this foolish Girl I am angered even to hate her yet cannot choose but love her but why should I lose this opportunity I may now do what I only invented for Cleonel I shall curse myself when she is gone and when no possibility is left wish it had been so it shall be if when I have ravished her she can consent I 'll marry her if she will not I 'll poison her and being dead at Sea hire the Mariners to throw her overboard I will about it while my Blood is high Venus' propitious be to my design I 'll offer Incense only at thy Shrine THE THIRD ACT. Enter Phillocles Phill. GIven to Cecropius custody that is to Cleonels' embraces I must see her is Cecropious or Cleonel within Serv They are Sir He knocks at Cecropius is Lodgings and enter three servants with swords Philo Is Selindra yet at rest Serv Yes Sir long since Phill Is it so late I do believe you do mistake and she is not Phillocles offers to enter and they stop him what means this rudeness Serv The Emperor has given command that neither your highness nor any from you should visit Selindra besides Sir all within are now at rest Phil My Father's command this is some design from Cleonel A noise within are they all at rest say you whence then is this noise I hear Serv We know not Sir This way the noise is Phill Hark the same noise again 't is within stand by Villains give way or I shall force my passage through your hearts by Goes out and returns Heaven 't is a Woman's voice it is Selindra's voice she calls for help too Selin Help oh help murder murder He hearkens at the Scene Phillocles Enters breaks open a Door within and Cecropious is seen struggling with Selindra Phillocles takes Cecropious by the Choler and as he offers to kill him Cleonel Enters and holds his Sword at Selindra 's breast Cleo By my Father's soul I will strike with thee Phillocles Phillocles Thou darest not be so barbarously base to harm such innocence Here they look at one another in this posture a while than Phillocles throws by Cecropius and runs at Cleonel he quits Selindra and meets Phillocles while they sight the others run out & raise the Court. Enter the Emperor with Train and Guard who part them Emp Phillocles I have thus long winked at your follies hoping that my mildness would have begot a better temper in you but I now see your sore requires a Corisive go to your Lodgings and as you value my displeasure move not from thence without my leave you of the Guard wait upon the Prince and let him not stir out as you Exit Phillocles with the Guard will answer it to me Cecropius let all leave us but yourself and now inform me of this Fray and how he came hither against my Command Exeunt omnes Cecro Mighty Sir the Prince forced my servants from the Door and found me threatening Selindra and frighting of her as if I meant a Rape which I only feigned intending to take off Phillocles his affection that way by which he might apply his thoughts towards Astella for if the Prince should marry Selindra how can Hungary be yours this Sir is the truth Emp I wish thou hadst done what thou only talkest of for this young man will ruin all my hopes of Hungary if we do not prevent him it must be poison Cecropius I see no less will do it Selindra Cleonel peeps in must die and that presently Cecro And shall Sir if you so direct by to morrow night it shall be done Emp Be it so then 't will be the least evil and the only way to secure all the rest let her be poisoned Exeunt ambo Enter Cleonel Cleo Poison her my curiosity was to good purpose at this time was ever grey hairs so wicked how to prevent this mischief I know not Selindra will never credit it from me yet I will urge her hard and if I do get belief and by this means bring my designs to pass I shall find Doors too strong for Phillocles to force Love and Venus guide me Cleonel goes out and returns Selindra flying before him with a knife drawn which she holds at her breast Sel Hold Cleonel if thou presumest to touch me this Knife shall be my rescue Cleo. Will this distance with my obedience and my humility remove He steps back and knelt your fears by Selindra's self I swear my only business is to save that life you threaten does my heart and my looks so ill agree that you can fear harm from me Selin Art not thou Cecropius' Son and does not his wild blood run in thy veins Cleo. No Madam I am no whit allied unto Cecropius the Ravisher he was a Man when he made me and is now become a Monster such as I dread to see Selindra under his Roof Sel My Lord that posture does neither become you nor me pray He rises and comes towards her come no nearer Cleo You will pardon my approach when you shall know the cause of this unseasonable Visit I have by accident o'er heard the Emperor give my Father order to poison you and he is providing to do it this next night Selin I am glad to hear they are grown so merciful death is less dreadful than his Rape but how can I credit this from you and how avoid it if I do Cleo Can Selindra believe my love could ere conceal such a mischief or that I will omit any endeavour to preserve her from it Selin Were not Cleonel a kin to the Ravisher I might believe he would detect a Poisoner Cleo If I tell you a false word may sudden plagues seize on me and if you please to make me the blessed Instrument of your escape the Honour will be ample recompense for any hazard I shall run I have Madam a strong Castle within the Forest about a League from hence thither I can convey you first and then whither you please Selin Pray my Lord leave me a few minutes that I may consider Exit Cleonel this great concern 't is very like that he who would have ravished may consent to poison twenty such as I rather than lose his hopes of Hungary I like well to fly from this near death but I like not to trust myself to Cleonel there may be more danger at his Castle then in the death I would fly from if I discover myself unto Ordella she will solicit me for Phillocles who I must ever hate this will prove more desperate than all the rest I must trust Cleonel though She calls Cleonel he be of a fiery Spirit his honour was never yet tainted I will look gently on him and engage him if I can to be true to me My Lord I He Enters have weighed my dangers and your council to avoid them and I will trust myself to you so you will swear to carry me directly unto Belgrade and not to your Castle I have friends in Hungary who will protect me and there I shall have time to consider of your hazards for me Cleo By our  gods I swear to do it by this fair hand I will observe my Oath and what ever else you shall command me though it be late we must this night depart you must make ready while I take order for my Servants and my Horses Selin May I not see the Princess  I go will not to morrow night be time enough Cleo To morrow night brings death beyond all power to hinder we should be going while we talk Let no fears disturb you Madam I can command the opening of the ports at any hour all shall be according to your wish Selin Heaven grant it Cleonel When I remember the strict vow you made It were Impiety to be afraid Exeunt severally Enter Phillocles and Guard Phil Let the Boy only stay and sing the Song I like The SONG Come come thou glorious object of my sight Oh my joy my Life my only Delight May this glad minute be Blessed to Eternity See how the glimmering Tapors of the Sky Do gaze and wonder at our Constancy How they crowd to behold What our arms do enfold How all do envy our Feliceties And grudge the Triumphs of Selindras Eyes How Cynthia seeks to shroud Her Crescent in you Cloud Where sad Night puts her sable mantle on Thy light mistaking hasteth to be gone Her Gloomy shades give way As at the approach of day And all the Planets shrink in doubt to be Eclipsed by a brighter Deity Look Oh look How the small Lights do fall And Adore What before The heavens have not shown Nor their Godheads known Such a faith Such a Love As may move Mighty jove From above To descend and remain Amongst Mortals again Phill Enough boy begun Enter Ordella to visit him as in her Chamber the Guard at the Door appearing Phill Thou art welcome Ordella let us sit and talk sadly Ordel My coming is to divert this sadness which you too much indulge Phill Does not my sorrow become me Ordella canst thou wish me merry when thou considerest my Condition who is there now in Greece more scorned than Phillocles Ordel Who more honoured thy Victories shine bright upon thee thy Virtues are unparallelled thyself adored by thy own Subject and by other Nations coveted let not my brother provoke the gods by his ingratitude Phil Thou art mistaken my dear Sister I am not that Phillocles thou meanest not he that chased the Germans out of Hungary I am one that Cleonel dares Rival and with a single Arm can check my force a poor contemned prisoner I am a man with half a soul thou seest do I not become my Goal Ordell I am sad myself to hear you talk thus but my Brother your affairs do require your present Counsel pray let us consider how Selindra may be secured from farther danger Phillocles starts up hastily Phill Is Selindra in danger speak Ordella what danger who dares threaten her Ordel You mistake me Brother I was about to tell you that ●n my opinion she will be safe at Cyprus and do think fit when she takes leave of me to let her know your love and resolution to marry her which will soon dash Cleonels hopes this I could not yet do by reason she was so suddenly committed to Cecropius your looks do fright me and your unquiet thoughts will ruin you Phil Thou art my only comfort thou shalt still direct and I 'll obey prithee Ordella chide me when I do amiss methinks thy looks speak good success I do approve her absence for a while at Cyprus because you like it and I will have patience too because you say 't is fit Ordello Patience will become you best and best suit with your affairs Phil Thou Councell'st well Ordella but canst not fancy what a broken heart endures my whole soul labours under the burden of my Love and to that is added her neglects more weighty and to this double load my Father's unjust anger falls up on me as if I were not sinking fast enough before Ordel My Father's anger will be soon over Phil I wish it not Ordella may his fierce anger urge him on to my destruction it will be handsomer to fall so then to perish by Selindra's scorns Ordel You raise imaginary evils that are not I am confident Selindra has no thought for Cleonel nor can I doubt but she will meet your love with as bright a flame as yours is Phi Oh! that I could suffer such a hope or such a thought possess me I would then meet my Father's frowns and blow away his thunder did Selindra love me I would wage a second War with heaven to gain her and be more proud to fall her Martyr in so high attempt then sit next to Jove with her neglects upon me Enter Antenor Ante Madam the Emperor sent me to see if Selindra were here with you Ordel What means my Father by this Is she not a Prisoner with Cecropius Ante She was but is now missing at which Cecropius is half mad Enter Antillacus to them Antil Madam I come to let you know that by daybreak Cleonel with Selindra past the Ports and about two hours after were met on that way that leads to his Castle Phil Let them that love me follow me Phillocles snatches Antillacus his Sword and runs at his Guard who give way As Phillocles goes out he meets Lascares and Cecropius and wounds Cecropius in the Arme. Emp. Traitor Villain stay all I do command you stay Antillachus See the Court-Gates locked that none go after him Cecropius do you retire and look to your hurt he meant it at thy heart old Man may thy Sons good Sword revenge it on him if they meet and he fall under it Ordel Oh Sir Let not your curses follow my Brother he has Afflictions enough without them Emp Peace Ordella thy tenderness doth too much nourish thy Brother's follies I would rather he should not be then be thus Effeminate I have fought many Battles and done great things to settle this Empire and think you it will be kept and Governed by a heart with a Dart in it Ordell Good Sir let not my Brother's single error put from your memory all his great Actions if you would speak mildly to him of his Love I do believe your Arguments may move him more than all this rigour can he has a Noble Spirit such as you did like and I know he loves you Sir Emp Let me know when he returns Exeunt Emperor Ordell Are any gone after Phillocles Enter to Ordella Armanthus Gillon Ladies Arman Yes Madam we think Antillacus is gone with Antenor Ordel But can they overtake him time enough before he reaches Cleonel Gillon No doubt they may Enter to them Antillacus and Antenor Ordell Not yet gone Antillacus Antil Madam all the Court-Gates are by the Emperors express command locked up and Guards set that no man now can pass Ordel Is it not madness to hazard him alone against Cleonel and his company My Lords do you mean to give obedience to this rash command and suffer Phillocles to perish thus when my Father's anger is allayed he 'll curse your modesty if not punish it in case my Brother do miscarry Antil Madam we have no way to follow the Prince unless yourself command the Guards to let us pass Ordel Come then with me I will stand my Father's anger when it goes highest rather than let my Brother fall thus neglected Exeunt omnes Enter Phlllocles Phlllo Those at the Castle do not hear of Cleonel nor expect him there sure Antillacus did mistake them or I him which way now to take I know not 'T is strange Antillacus and Antenor stay so long I must not quit this Road until they come Hark I hear men and Horses within the Wood my business is to search every where Love guide me to her Rescue or my Death Exit Phillocles Enter Cleonel leading Selindra followed by four Servants Cleo How is it now Madam your Spirits seem to be returned are you yet strong enough to ride on we have rested long Selin I hope I am 't was the blow which the bough gave my head makes me thus ill the bushes kept me from the ground so that my fall could not hurt me Cleo. The day is far spent Madam and we shall be no sooner missed then followed pray let us to horse there is a place near where we may rest for one night secure Selin My head grows diszey with this little motion I fear I cannot sit upon my Horse yet methinks you might hide me here in these thick bushes until night and when 't is dark find some better means to carry me away Cleo 'T will not be safe to stay longer so near our Enemies Enter Phillocles Phil 'T is Cleonel turn this way Traitor Cleonel holds up Selindra and sends his men to Phillocles Cleo Take the Prince without harm if you can Phil Am I not worthy thy own Sword Ravisher They Fight Phillocles runs desperately among the men passes them and comes up to Cleonel they all encompass him fight Selindra runs amongst them and parts 'em Selin I beg your patience Sir and do command thine Cleonel but here me speak I do conjure you both Phillocles brave Prince look on me with pity and on Cleonel with justice my life being sought several ways by Lascares and Cecropius I have endeavoured to preserve by flight you must therefore look on Cleonel as trusted and employed by me being engaged by Oath to carry me to Belgrade to my Friends there Phil Thou art betrayed Selindra lost for ever this is not the way to Belgrade you are now within a mile of his Castle this way leads to no other place thou  Villain canst thou smile at such a treachery Cleo. Yes Phillocles and will be my own carver now I must be first served here do you two carry her to Horse I 'll soon o'er take you He delivers Selindra to two of his men Selin To Horse Cleonel I 'll rather die then stir a foot that way Cleo Force her to Horse we have no time to talk Phil Force her thou cursed slave I 'll sacrifice thee ere she goes Cleonel and his two Men sight with Phillocles while the other two force off Selindra Selin The gods preserve the Prince help help murder treason treason Exeunt with Selindra Upon her cries enter six Travelors Pollidor the Chief Poll Let some help those that cry let others search the Wood I 'll towards the clashing Swords how 's this three to one Pollidor runs at Cleonel and diverts him just as Phillocles had killed one man at which instant the other man hurts Phillocles in the back and seeing this rescue he runs into the Wood Phillocles runs after him that fled believing it had been Cleonel whom he could not see because Pollidor having run Cleonel through the heart was fallen himself upon him who being by Cleonel run into the throat lay also as dead covering Cleonel Enter to them the rest of the Travelors with Selindra very weak who when they see Pollidor dead do let Selindra fall who lies on the ground while they take up Pollidor and dress his wounds Tene Cursed be that Woman accursed our Fate to lose our prince They dress him as they talk Teck Now the blood issues at the wound it may prove not mortal Titi. The blood only choked him as he lay you see his Eyes look cheerfully Knelt Tene Ye Gods if any do take care of Hungary look down on Pollinesso and restore him to us Selin What 's that he said was it Pollinesso that he named She looks up Titius The King will live thanks to heaven for his deliverance Selin They call him King too Pollinesso's name gives me Strength but that face is none of mine and yet that name makes that face lovely to me How I fool myself with vain hopes of what cannot be She lies down again sadly Ten How is it Sir your looks are lively and your wound though it did at first seem desperate is not very dangerous Polli My tongue moves heavily and painfully loss of blood makes me faint too how shall I travel with these wounds my stay here will be very dangerous and my Journey to Belgrade too long for one so weak as I am Ten The same Gods that have preserved you to this day will not let you fall thus He faints and slumbers Selin They talk of Belgrade too who can this be give me way that I may gaze on this wonder She rises crowds in amongst them and stairs on Pollidor Tene Away wild Woman thou Author of this mischief Selin He looks up again those Eyes are mine I know 'em now She offers to embrace him Tene Throw her off tear her away she disturbs him sure she is mad Yhey pull her from him Selin 'T is you are mad 't is you that love him not why do you hail me thus whither will you drag me did you not call him Pollnesso Titi. Yes Selin King Pollinesso Titi I think we did Selin That name is mine those wounds are mine then She offers to go to him but they hold her off Titi I wish they were Selin And so do I with all my heart pray let me go to him I can heal him with my tears I 'll suck his wounds well for I have heard wounds have been cured so Tene How comes his name in her mouth Teck 'T was not well done of us to name him as we did best to strangle her lest she discover us Titi. Shall I shoot her in the head though the Act be horrid 't is better she perish than all we Teck Let us first hear what she will say to him we shall have time enough to kill her after Selin I pray who are all you Tene We are the hurt man's servants Lady pray who are you by whom we have received such damage Selin If my Eyes deceive me not I may be happy but am yet the most miserable accursed Woman living Titi I think so too Aside Polli What Woman is that weeps so Tene 'T is she you rescued Sir Polli Did I rescue her loss of blood makes my Eyes dazzle and my fancy work even to a lightness that Face brings to my memory something that I have known why does she weep and why do you hold her so rudely Tenedor Pollidor and Selindra both look earnestly at each other Selin In charity to me Sir though they know it not for had they sooner let me know that Pollinesso lived my sudden joy had slain me Polli What is this she says Titi She is a Witch Sir I think Selin Does not my Brother know me yet have my sorrows wrought such a change that Pollinesso should not know me Polli Oh! my Astella pardon my dull sight for I am very weak He faints Selin Would I had died rather than be rescued at this rate so joyful and so sad a day I have not seen before Teck He does but slumber Madam and 't is good he should do so Selin But slumber say you it looks so like death that I would die to see it Tene Madam the Joy will outlive the sorrow of this day the Prince's hurt is without danger can your goodness pardon the rude words which myself and these Lords in our distraction speak Selin Alas my Lord I was not sensible of what you said my mind was so o're-loaden with my griefs and so intent on Pollinesso that I heard you not Now while my Brother takes this rest pray make me know how he escaped when my Father and Barzanes fell and why he has been thus long concealed Tene Madam in that sad day Pollinesso in vain attempting to save his Father was with myself and these you see here cast on a sandy bank from whence by good swimming we got to shore and have been since disguised for fear of Lascares in several Princes Courts soliciting for aid to force the Grecians to quit their stolen possession of Hungary when in the midst of Pollinesso's preparation he hears that Phillocles had resigned the Crown to be preserved for you This made us lay aside all further preparation for a War and thus disguised to pass this way to Belgrade It seems by destiny directed to your recsue Selin I shall find some fitter time for my own story 't were good that we removed my Brother he walks how are you Sir has this repose refreshed you Polli I am something better than I was Astella and shall soon be well now I may look on thee Selin And I most happy my brother you must give us leave to remove you to some place of rest and safety and you must be still concealed which these new wounds with your Periwig will be disguise enough Polli I shall be directed by you Sel You must also a little counterfeit your voice lest you be remembered by it for should Lascares know who were in his power all his hopes of Hungary would vanish until he saw you dead I am called Selindra here Poll Who were those Robbers and how came you amongst them Selin 'T was Cleonel who did beguile me after he had sworn to carry me to Belgrade was conveying me to his own Castle Pol Was not Cecropins' son and will not his death be our ruin if we stay here Sel My interest in the Princess Ordella will secure you and his guilt was such a crime as can expect no justice from the Law to touch you besides the rescue you brought the Prince will merit a reward but where is Phillocles where is the Prince we are all lost indeed if he be fallen I have been so much distracted that I missed him not till now Tecknor What Prince mean you Madam Selin Prince Phillocles 't was he my brother rescued run look search about the Wood for heaven sake search unfortunate Astella and unworthy that could thus long forget him now Polliness● lives I have no hate to Phillocles methinks his virtues now look gloriously upon him but how shall I look on Ordella if her beloved brother have lost his life to save my honour Pol Was it Phillocles that I found fight with Cleonel and his two men Selin 'T was he Polli 'T is strange I knew him not but I now remember as I came in he did pursue the man that fled into the Wood let some look that way Selindra I must glory in my wounds that have saved thee from false Cleonel and relieved Phillocles who my soul thirsts to see next thyself most dear to me Sel And mine trembles at his absence Enter Phillocles to them bloody and weary leaning on his Sword he calls before he is seen to Enter Phil Selindra Selindra is Selindra safe has she any mercy yet for Phillocles Selin She is safe and happy too now she sees you alive Sir my heart is so much disturbed by my fears and joys that I know not how to express she goes kindly to him my gratitude good Sir let these strangers dress your Wounds they have showed much skill on this hurt man Phil My Wounds are but slight scratches when Selindra smiles my joys are much more dangerous than my Wounds Selin My life Sir and my honour you have saved I must look on you with devotion pray be pleased to own these our Redeemers and give them some assurance of your Protection they fear Cleonel's death may by Cecropius' power with the Emperor prove their destruction Phill I will be their security Selindras Redeemers shall command my life of what Country are they Tene Hungarians Sir Men that since the late War have sought Fortunes in Foreign Lands and now on private Affairs were returning home Selindra brings Phillocles to Pollidor Phillo Unto you Sir I have a great Obligation such as my whole Life shall express my Zeal to serve you for by you Selindra lives Polli Sir I am rewarded much above my merit and shall bless the occasion that gave me power to serve you Enter Antillacus and Antenor Antilla Sir the emperor 's much enraged at Cecropius' hurt you gave him and at your departure stayed us till now Is this Cleonels or your own blood Sir Phillo 'T is neither Cleonel fell by that Noble hand whose timely aid delivered Selindra from a Rape and me from death My Arm Antillacus is grown weak of late and thy good Sword so dull it will do nothing in my hand Ante But Sir how comes it that you thus neglect your Wounds Phillo I have business of more weight to think on now Selindra smiles Antenor pray haste you back unto Ordella and desire her to be the first relator of Cleonels' death bid her tell my Father of his horrid Treachery and let her magnify these strangers sent by the gods to save the innocent and to chastise the perjured Ravisher make haste Antenor and tell Ordella that I am in Paradise Ante She will be glad to hear that you are well Sir Phillo Well Antenor why thou art well and so is he and he we are all well but I am blessed with all my heart can wish for tell my Sister the gentle and the fair Selindra smiles and let her think the rest I am all Air Antillacus pray thee help me to rub my Wounds a little smart may let me know that I am mortal Exit Antenor Antill If I mistake not Sir you 'll find smart enough in your Father's rage when he hears of Cleonels' death Phil Some anger will do well Antillacus to allay this joy within me Selin I have some fears too lest Cecropius' malice may ruin us you know his power Sir Phill Let not my Divinest Mistress have so mean a thought of my power to serve her let not a sad look appear on this day that you have deigned to smile on Phillocles Madam 't is time that we were moving towards the Town with our wounded Friend how must I call him Selin I think they call him Pollidor Sir though my confidence in you be equal to the value you are pleased to set on me I cannot choose but fear Lascares' anger when I think on Cleonel Phil Believe me Selindra I will rather die then let them suffer He leads off Selindra the rest take up Pollidor Phil Thus let us march in Triumph to the Town Aloud proclaiming Pollidor's renown While the Arched Heaven do Echo its content To see Selindra freed from Ravishment Exeunt Omnes THE FOURTH ACT. Enter Emperor Ordella Cecropius Antenor and Servant's Cecrop SIr I beg the due Execution of our Laws on Murderers Ordel And I Sir beg mercy for those that have saved my Brother's life Emp I may not hearken to thy suit Ordella the Laws must be inviolable to pardon such a Murder would pull down Vengeance on my own head on thine too on all our Family She weeps Cecro When you remember Cleonels faith and his many services I hope Sir you will not deny me Justice Emp. Cecropius you shall have Justice go you Antenor and command the Provost of the City that he seize Selindra and her fellow Murderers let them be all close Prisoners in the black Tower by to morrow this time shall their bloods be shed as they shed Cleonels Ordel Did you say Selindra should be Prisoner Sir Emp I did Ordel Good Sir call back Antenor till you have heard me speak Emp I may not Ordella Ordel Who can forbid you to be Merciful and just you break the Laws of Hospitality in this Selindra is a stranger she is innocent and cannot suffer justly Cleonel was full of horrid guilt and was cut off by a just hand the Travellers too have saved Phillocles his life good Sir let not Cecropius malice persuade you to do what you will blush to think on after Emp They shall have Justice and a Legal Trial Ordel Oh Sir where is your wont mercy whither is that goodness fled how have I lost your favour that cannot with my Tears nor Prayers prevale on your mistaken anger Enter Phillocles Antillacus and Armanthus Phill Is it your Majesty's Command that Selindra should be a Prisoner Emp Must I ask your leave Phil Though not my leave Sir I cannot choose but wonder at such rigour Emp You have leave to wonder on Phill Thus low Sir I do humbly beg Selindra's Enlargement and an equal Trial for those that rescued us He knelt Emp Selindra as chief accessary must abide the Sentence of the Law in this case of Cleonel Phillocles thy mean Love has drowned all my Favours and eclipsed all thy former actions from this time I shall study to forget thee unless thou wilt forget Selindra and lead the Army to relieve Astella Phill I shall obey you Sir in this and all things else so you will be pleased to send Selindra safe to Cyprus and set those innocent men free that saved my life Emp Degenerate fool I shall cure this disease in thee Cecropius send presently for the Judges Command them by virtue of this my Signet to put the Laws in present Execution upon thy Sons Murderers let the rigour of the Law pass on them all Phil Ye Gods to what purpose are men innocent why is virtue praised and taught us Good Sir consider how you do murder these innocents' with a show of Law and a pretence of Justice Emp How dare you talk thus Phil You make me desperate Sir Emp Do not raise my temper higher lest I cut thee off as if thou were 't no part of me they shall die Phill Had the Gods so pleased I wish myself the meanest of your Subject for I am now a slave unto your passions and must inherit the curse that 's due to all your guilts such as I shake to think on 'T is you Sir that have murdered Cleonel 't was your poison that Selindra fled from by your confining me you gave Cecropius first and Cleonel next the power to become Ravishers pray let the Law take notice of this It may free innocent persons Emp Who am I Is this Gallant my Son or my Sovereign Phil Sir I do see fire and fury in your Eyes and am prepared to meet it 't is better to die with those are Noble then to live thus neglected by my hand two of Cleonels' men fell 't is I am guilty of that sin of rescuing Selindra from a Rape let your Justice and your Laws grow famous by my blood 't will please Cecropius well by all our Gods I le not outlive those innocents' Emp 't is fit to take thee at thy word The Emperor Draws and Runs at Phillocles to kill him Ordella steps between Phil It will become your own hand best Ordel Have you another Son Sir when you have slain my Brother Phillocles is going out Emper Antenor call in my Guard and carry Phillocles to the New Castle see that he be safe and close there as you will answer it with your life I shall not trust you in the Army now Sir Hear all intercede Ordel Pray Sir  this severe command my Brother has no danger in him you saw he did not avoid death when your hand offered it Emp Antenor I will be obeyed by Heaven he dies that dares dispute my Will. Spaks aside Phill If I go to Prison Selindra dies there is none can help her He knelt and then I shall have time hereafter to lament her sad fate Sir I ask your pardon for the harsh words I uttered I did believe those truths might touch you and move compassion towards those you threaten so much rigour too but I now see your anger has decreed them dead and that you have the same thought for me my last suit is that since we may not live we may die together I shall submit to any kind of Death Sir But I have vowed to be no more confined Emp You of the Guard seize on him As the Guard comes toward him he draws Phil Against Imprisonment I shall endeavour what I can command my death Sir and I will welcome it Opens his Arms Emp Kill him Kill the Traitor dares none stir to do it Is my breath grown so weak I 'll try my own strength then The Emperor snatches a Partisan from one of the Guard and wounds Phillocles in the breast slightly Phillocles holding down his Sword opens his arms and receives the wound they search his wound set him in a Chair while the Emperor stands amazed at what he had done Ordell Oh my Brother 's slain how cruel and unnatural a deed is this Enter Cecropius Cecro The Surgeons say the Chief prisoner will not Live till Morning I beg Sir that the sentence may pass on the rest The Emperor gives Cecropius no answer only points to Phillocles le 's fall the Partisan till then in his hand and Exit with Cecropius Antil 'T was well the Emperor's age did not permit his force to act his will the wound has not past the bone Madam 't is but a slight cut in the flesh Arman 'T is time that you hasten to the Army for while Cecropius holds his power you cannot be safe here Ordell He advises well Brother until my Father be dispossessed of this evil spirit that reigns in him I wish you away too Phil I think it must be so the Soldiers I hope have not forgot their love to me My Dear Sister pray will you o'ertake my Father lest in this sit he slay all our Friends say that Selindra did sly willingly with Cleonel and that she regards not my Love say any thing to gain a little time until I may do something to relieve them Ordel I shall do my best Ordella at the Door meets the Emperor with Selindra in his hand and Pollidor led in he delivers Selindra to Ordella and points to them to set Pollidor by Phillocles then goes out with Cecropius and Servants Ordell What means my Father by this dumb show Polli Where are we now Tenedor Tene Truly Sir I know not but I see Friends here Polli Who are they Tene Those that brought you in were the Emperor and Cecropius you know Prince Phillocles that whispers with Selindra that other sure is the Princess Ordella Polli Is that the Princess Ordella Phill Your presence Madam gives me strength and your kind looks give life unto my drooping spirits Selin How miserable am I Sir that am the occasion of all these evils Phil Your own sufferings are the only evils to be lamented I could curse myself that brings such troubles on you but Madam we forget to comfort this Gallant man by whose Sword we enjoy our Lives Sir can you pardon me that undertook so much and can so little serve you Polli It was an injury Sir to think I would receive my life ransomed by your death Phill By my wound Pollidor I have appeased my Father's Rage by thy wounds Selindra Lives and through all these Clouds I see the Tempest ceasing cannot Selindra speak to him Selin I have a heart as full of Gratitude as yours Sir but not yet any means to show it I shall make it my business to serve him Phill. Has my Dear Sister no compliment for Pollidor by whose valour she enjoys Selindra and me Ordel Yes Phillocles I am studying how to express it for you two have left nothing for me to say Sir I can only thank you o'er again for my Brothers and my Friend's preservation by which you have obliged me and the whole Empire and do deserve some public Honour and high Recompense Polli What honour or what recompense can outweigh this you now heap on me Madam if what I have done be a service that you will own I have no wish beyond it I shall ever on this day keep a solemn Feast unto the Gods that did direct my course that way and gave me power to become as happy here as in Elysium Phill Let those Lodgings next to mime be made ready for Pollidor I will not trust him farther from me Antillacus go you with as little noise as may be to the Army and let the Soldiers know that I will suddenly be with them some lead out Pollidor Exeunt Omnes Enter the Emperor and Cecropius Cecro 'T was not revenge for Cleonel made me press your Majesty to do Justice on his Murderers but to cut off Selindra by which Phillocles might have no hindrance to gain Astella But Sir since you have freed the Prisoners and are content the Prince shall marry Selindra I have done if you Sir can lay by all thoughts of Astella and that Crown I shall soon forget a private loss Emp I must laugh Cecropius to see how thou art abused by my feigned show of kindness which I only did to heal the wound I gave had I another Son by whom I might gain Hungary Phillocles had found my Force answerable to my Anger but I confess I did relent upon a sudden thought which made me strike so feebly at him for now to lose Phillocles were to throw Hungary away and to destroy Selindra were by another kind of stroke to destroy Phillocles Cecro What other way have you Sir that I cannot yet fancy Emp A sure one Cecropius away that cannot fail I will give loose reins to my Son's Love let him run on and Joy in his beloved Selindra whose sweets once had and his young appetite allayed as most violent passions soon are than 't will be best to take away Selindra by a Poison than it may be done without suspicion while I urge on the Marriage join in all the Nuptial Jollities and put on such pleasing looks as shall make thee doubt my purpose though thou knowest my heart Cecro I see not yet how this can get Astella or that Crown Emp Thou art grown so dull of late that thou seest nothing while this joy lasts Astella may be found and then Selindra dying what can hinder Phillocles from getting Astella Cecro I do submit Sir and must applaud your purpose 't is a design I do confess much above my reach and the first mischief I have come short in Exewt ambo Pollidor seen in his Chamber Enter to him Phillocles and Ordella and Selindra the servants go off Phil You look cheerfully to day Pollidor we may hope to see you abroad shortly Polli I believe I might venture now Sir though my Surgeons be not of my mind but Sir how do you find the good old Emperor disposed Phil I like not my Father's smiles Pollidor his sudden starts into such extremes make me apprehend more danger in his kindness than his rage so that to prevent all further evils I have a purpose to repair unto the Army and 't is Ordella's wish as well as mine that Selindra would trust herself with me there Polli That may secure you both but will not Selindra's honour suffer Ordel Now that Selindra's interest and his are become one I see no reason she should fear to go nor indeed any scruple why their Marriage may not be privately and presently dispatched for while the business lingers thus they give hopes to such Endeavours as would divert it and do run daily hazards by staying here Phillo Ordella argues what my soul wishes but Selindra's looks do not consent to make me so soon happy Selin Sir my loooks do belie my heart if they show aught that would delay a happiness to you for I have none beyond yours But Sir above all other reasons Pollidor not being yet able to attend you if he be left behind will hardly escape Cecropius' fury Phil Most true Selindra he will be in danger I shall therefore attend his recovery without him I will not move nor will I put a thought in act without thy Council Ordel You have both said well but in my judgement this is no fit time for such Compliments when your lives are daily sought Polli If you be resolved to attend my recovery I shall propose a sudden fancy of mine to that purpose which may secure us Phill Speak it Pollidor Polli Suppose Selindra do ask the Princess leave to return to Cyprus and give out that she only expects her Father's coming to convey her thither Sir you may court Selindra publicly while she stays and she seem to neglect your love and put on a show of kindness unto me as in gratitude for my hazards in her redemption I will also counterfeit affection to Selindra and give out that I am of better quality than I seem This Sir if well managed will be ground enough to deceive their best Spies and for some time secure us all Phillocles I approve your thought Pollidor and if Selindra can undertake her part doubt not me I 'll put on such a seeming jealousy as shall puzzle the old Fox Cecropius himself Selindra I shall easily observe my directions and soon learn to be civil to a man I owe so much to Phillo Come Ordella while they practise love we will reconcile us to the Emperor and try to bring him on a present visit to Pollidor before this sit of his good nature leave him Ordel Selindra we must find you sitting in a more familiar way with Pollidor then ordinary conversation does allow Exeunt Phillocles and Ordella Selindra I shall obey you Madam Now they are gone we may enjoy ourselves this happy design of yours will afford us many hours of freedom Pollidor My soul is joyed to look on thee Astella Selin And my happiness too great to be expressed by words that you live makes this Earth a Paradise to me my heart can scarce make room for Phillocles it is so full of Pollinesso Polli I am all thine Astella She embraces him Enter to them Tenedor Tecknor and others Tenedor Is it time Sir that you retired to rest you spend your spirits by so much discourse which does retard your cure Teck You should neglect no means Sir for your recovery lest by a long stay here some accident unlooked for may make you known Tenedor I wonder Phillocles does not call to mind that he has seen you Pollidor He believes me dead as all others do but I shall observe the best rules for my recovery however Now Astella we have time to hear how you were conveyed from Belgrade pray make me know how you came hither Selin That same night that you departed to the Army and our first Ambassadors went towards Greece to implore Lascares' aid against the Germans I was by my Fathers own hand delivered unto Periander whom I was to call Father and by him was brought to Cyprus where the Plague then raging he transports me with his Family to this Town Pollidor How came you into the Court then Selin On the first Feast-day I went with Periander to the Temple that I might see the Emperor and the Printess Ordella where the Princess casting her Eyes on me found mine so fixed on her that I could not remove them but blushed and still looked on her by what power led I know not but she took a fancy to have me live with her which Periander durst show no dislike to thus was I to my great joy called to Court where I became a Companion to the Princess within a short time Cleonel had affection for me which did not free me from old Cecropius dotage of which with Prince Phillocles his worthy love you shall know hereafter for I have now held you too long from your repose Pollidor Dearest Astella thy words are balsam to my wounds Exeunt Lords Pollidor and Selindra embrace Enter Emperor Phillocles Ordella Cecropius and Train and see them Embracing Phillocles Your Majesty will not think this honour too much for Pollidor when you shall know he is of better quality than he seems ha what do I see They embrace and rise disturbed Emp That which should teach thee to have nobler thoughts Philloces think on this surprise Phil How they are disturbed Ordel They do it rarely well aside Emp Sir I am now come to excuse the imprisonment you had and to give you thanks for my son's life I shall now endeavour to recompense your merit rather than trouble you with words Poll Great Sir this honour with the many other favours I received do shame me to think that you allow me a merit I cannot own but if the Gods do give me life my only business shall be to seek occasions to serve you and yours Emp I shall contribute what I can to your health and will please myself with the expectation of great things from you While they talk the Emperor observes Phillocles courting Selindra and she neglecting him the Emperor observes Pollidor to be troubled at their Courtship and is pleased at it Poll Sir you oblige me beyond words to utter my sense of your favours Emp My purpose is to give you a kind welcome and a respect suitable to your worth and quality fair Maid I know not well how He goes to Selindra to frame my discourse to you whom I have so ill treated but I shall no more disturb your joys I do now make it my suit that you will defer your return to Cyprus I shall lay my commands on Ordella to deny you her consent to go Selin Sir The favours and honours I have received here are far beyond the ills you mention and my happiness such in the Princess Ordella's love that I lament the thoughts of my departure but when I consider the mischiefs past and foresee worse like to follow 't were madness not to fly them when my Father is returned I shall renew my suit to have the Princess leave to leave this place and until then make it my care to tend this hurt man my redeemer to whom I owe my life and honour Emp Selindra if I can add any thing unto thy happiness I shall do it gladly for thou art something more than ever I have found in Woman Exeunt Emperor and Cecropius Phill What thanks do we owe Pollidor for this disguise it takes Ordella beyond our hopes did you observe how my Father eyed us while he talked to Pollidor Ordella Yes and do believe Cecropius and he are gone to compare their notes for that Fox was very vigilant Phill Selindra let us enjoy this blessed minute Phillocles leads Selindra to the Couch and Ordella goes to Pollidor Ordel Sir While the two Lovers whisper pray oblige me with the knowledge of the occasion of your coming into these parts by which we have received so great an obligation and if you please to pass this time with the relation of your own story unless with yourself you would conceal it Poll Madam My story is not worthy your ears nor myself this honour yet I have a story such as will make me blush to utter though no crime do belong to it nor am I what I seem and yet not fit to appear other but Madam your commands are too high honours to be neglected my own resolutions shall give way and my nearest concerns submit to your will Ord I perceive you are disturbed at my curiosity to know what I believe you would conceal it may be you have vowed not to discover truly Sir for want of what to say I only said it Poll Madam I was surprised by your approach which made my tongue appear less ready than my heart to obey you your commands Madam are sufficient to dissolve any vows of mine and since you will vouchsafe to hear I shall relate Phillocles and Selindra come to them Phill How are you Sir Methinks your Eyes do show some anguish in your wounds do we not trouble you Here Phillocles and Selindra interrupt Pollidor which puts him into some passion for he now began to love Ordella Ord We have done ill to stay thus long Selindra 't is your fault you should have directed better Poll No Madam my hour to rest is not so precisely to be kept nor have I any pains upon me as the Prince thinks my wounds heal the faster for your company Ord You are civil Sir Poll Madam the Prince's kindness and his care is not at this time necessary pray Sir if your occasions call you not do not go yet Phill Pollidor we know your civility is great out discretion must not be the less I see you are disturbed and know your pains are great upon you make no reply we 'll soon visit you again come Ordella let us leave Selindra to her charge good rest unto my friend all joys unto my Mistress Exeunt Phillocles and Ordella Poll Beshrew your kindness at this time how like Tantalus was I Selin What mean you by this passion brother shall I call the Surgeons Poll No Selindra they have no skill in my disease Selin You speak and look as if you wanted sleep pray retire to rest Poll Rest Selindra where can I find rest Phillocles has taken all rest from me did you not observe how the Princess came to me and how she threw her favours on me when in the height of all my joy your approach destroyed me Selin If this be all I must smile to hear you sigh brother Poll All Selindra dost thou mock me are thy own flames so weak thou smilest at mine Selind I cannot choose but smile when I rejoice to see my wishes fall so fast upon me you love the Princess and she will love you she must she shall nay I doubt she does already and have some fear the work will be too easy if I undertake it Poll Now thou mockest me more than thou didst before prithee Selindra be serious and do not play with what torments me Selin What can be more serious then to make a marriage between so great a Princess and the King of Hungary pray where can she make a better choice or who can better plead your suit than I Look to your wounds brother leave this affair to me Exit Poll My best wishes do attend thee she has raised in me such doubtful hopes that they begin to vanish with her and such fears to lose what I never had do throng so fast upon me that on the sudden I am o'erwhelmed With doubts with joys with fears so strangely mixed My heart is Hell until my hopes be fixed THE FIFTH ACT. Enter Selindra pensive Cecropius meets her Cecro GOod day unto the bright Selindra Selin May your Lordship find many such She is going out Cecro Why do you sly me Madam I come in diligence to make known to you what concerns you more than any other business can towards which you make such haste from me Selin I fled not from your Lordship nor did I perceive that you had aught to say to me what is your pleasure now Cecro My business is to preserve you from a certain ruin and to set you above the reach of mischief as high in honour as you are in beauty and in virtue Selind I were much unworthy such a favour and not Mistress of any virtue if I should not return a befiting gratitude Cecro Know then Selindra you are designed unto your grave your wedding robe will prove your winding sheet if I prevent it not the Emperor puts on this show of kindness only to destroy you with less noise he does consent that Phillocles by a present marriage should satisfy his appetite after which you shall be poisoned that the Prince may have no object between him and Astella This by all our Grecian Gods is true and this I have consented to Selin Can there be such a wickedness amongst men Cecro Can you doubt it that have seen so much or can you think Lascares will consider such a life as yours when it does interpose between the Crown of Hungary and him Selin If this be so how can I avoid it shall I think you will betray the Emperor's trust to oblige me Cecro Madam if you would please to look on your faithful servant with equal Eyes and on your dangers with judicious thoughts you 'll see that Phillocles his love brings death and Pollidor methinks should not have gained an interest where Phillocles pretends Selin My Lord I must confess what you have said is worthy my most serious thoughts but my Lord 't is not fit that I treat farther in this affair until my Father doth return if you please to move him in it my obedience shall follow his will Cecro Of his consent I make no doubt my best Mistress joys and greatness do attend Selindra when she smiles on me She suffers him to kiss her Hand Selind But how can you secure yourself and me from Phillocles will not his rage raise a revenge as ruinous as this you would have me fly from Cecro Good Madam let not so mean a thought remain with you I have Lascares Sceptre in my hand and all the Frontier Towns in my Command the Soldiers too since Phillocles forsook them are become mine if my fair Mistress would by one kind look confirm my joys it would encourage me to let her see at what a rate I value her Selin I blush to think that I have smiled so much upon so short acquaintance Pray Heaven you have not a design to destroy me this way Cecro Can you think I will destroy my souls only joy to remove all such fears I will now put my life into your hands Selin How my Lord your life Cecro You have heard Madam how the Hungarian Army marches towards Grecce it does so drawn in by me to my aid they come to assist me to get Selindra and to set Lascares Crown upon her head if she will deserve it we are interrupted now think on me and thou shalt wear this Imperial Crown Selindra within few hours Exit Cecropius Enter to her Phillocles and Ordella Phil What has caused thy clouded brow Selindra has that viper vexed thee Selin He has frighted me and will anger us all if he be not prevented such horrid mischiefs he has in love to me revealed as I shake to think on Ordella To what tune run they Selin To several tunes some to Love some to private bloodshed others to public War and in sum to ruin all that 's good The Emperor will permit our marriage Sir and after poison me that you may have leisure to gain Astella but above all Cecropius treachery must be looked to He has called in the Hungarian Army to make me his by force he talked of a Crown too that I should wear if I would comply with him and at that word you interrupted us good Sir make it a little more your business to prevent these Devils and their designs Phill There is danger in this worthy our best care Selindra I see our stay here will still occasion new designs on us Ordel And you too late I fear will find my counsel good why may not I have credit to protect Pollidor in your absence Phill I think you may but yet 't is not fit to hazard such a friend to the fury of that Monster Cecropius besides Selindra is now engaged in honour to stay for him ●elin Truly Sir I think I am in honour bound not rashly to throw away a man that has preserved us both but Sir when you shall consider that his wounds do now permit him to walk abroad a few days more will get him strength to ride with us during which time I can secure all by dissembling a little kindness to Cecropius by which I shall also discover his treaty with the Hungarians Ordel Pollidor is much obliged to you Selindra I like well this noble humour in you Phill It does become her my dear Sister it shall be my care to look after Cecropius now and if necessity require I will remove him speedily I must leave you for some hours Ordella to attend my Father Farewell my bright Mistress pray let your care continue unto Pollidor and let not fall your kindness to Cecropius he may confess to you what no tortures can draw from him Exit Phillocles Selind It does concern me Sir Ord It does indeed Selindra thy gratitude to Pollidor looks handsomely methinks as he recovers health he grows comely he seems to me as if he were above the ordinary rank of men I dare say he has a Noble Soul Selin Madam you judge right did you converse as I do daily with him you should wonder at such worth methinks I see greatness in his looks and do observe that he holds in that lustre with more advantage than others show it forth Ord He is sure some great Prince disguised Selindra and a happy man he is that has found one that can discover his concealed perfections to the life Enter Tenedor to Selindra Tened Madam my Master is now awake and begs the favour of a visit Exit Tenedor Selin I shall follow your Lordship when I have brought the Princess to her Chamber Ord Is he a Lord too Selindra ●elin Did I call him Lord Madam Ord Ask when you see him next go Selindra this Ceremony to me is needless I shall find the way alone 't is fitter that you attend your charge Pollidors' wounds will not heal out of thy fight Selindra I cannot choose but wonder what kind of entertainment you can find for so many hours with so great a stranger as Pollidor speaks aside Selin Sure she is jealous and I have been too free in praising him Pollidor and I do spend more hours discoursing of Ordella's beauties then of all other matters he admires your perfections Madam his other wounds are slight compared with those he received from your eyes for Ordel Hold Selindra I delight not in such saucy thoughts from Pollidor nor does it become you to hear much less to relate them unto me I do fear Selindra you hope by this invention to dazzle my Eyes that I may not discover your own affection to this Pollidor take heed you fall not from that virtue you are valued for if you do deceive my trust or Phillocles his love you will be neither worthy his anger nor my pity Selin Let me fall under the weight of both your angers when I deserve ill from either of you your jealousy afflicts me Madam She weeps Ordell I hear my Brother coming retire that he may not see thy tears and meet me in the Garden after supper than I will hear more of this and till then suspend my Jndgment of thee Exit Selindra Enter Phillocles Phil Why went Selindra weeping out and what troubles you my Dear Sister Ordel. I am not troubled now Sir pray how did you find my Father in what temper is he Phill Well Ordella all is safe yet but I cannot be satisfied until you tell me why Selindra weeps your silence will beget doubts more troublesome than the knowledge can be Ordel 'T was nothing but an Argument that fell between us Phil That Argument Ordella if thou lov'st my peace that Argument Ordel I may wrong Selindra by it and trouble you without a cause when I am certainly informed you shall be so till then pray do not urge me farther Phil I am so weak a man in thy esteem thou darest not trust me with myself Ordella thy discourse will disturb me much unless thou lettest me know the whole matter Ordel My unwillingness to tell you is now become the only cause I fear to do it for I was questioning Selindra only about her frequent visits to Pollidor which it seems I put into such Language as made her weep this on my credit is the truth are you now satisfied Phil I am satisfied that we have the same thoughts your judgement on this matter confirms my Observations which till now took no hold on me If she prove false thus I can blow her off But Pollidor shall pay dear for his Treachery Enter to them Pollidor very weak in Rich  a staff in his hand Polli Madam 't is fit that I visit you before the Temple and pay my first vows at your shrine offering up a Life devoted to your Service Ordel You owe your health Sir next to the Gods unto Selindra's care such a gratitude I have not seen before nor such a zeal as hers to serve you Polli My obligations to Selindra I must rank after the Honours I have received from you Madam Pray Sir how does the Emperor He turns to Phillocles and Cecropius take this feigned love between Selindra and me how does it work with them Phill Since Selindra dwelled with you the whole Court believes it is a mutual Love only my Sister and myself have other thoughts Polli Those last words came coldly out I must remove this jealousy I am glad Sir that you are secured by it and I am joyed to have a hand in any thing that shall conduce to serve you I do profess my Medicines have not so much wrought my cure as the joy I have to see such unparallelled Virtues and Affections meet as is yours and the good Selindra's day day she tires her tongue in praising Phillocles and stiil grows fresh by talking of you Sir I cannot wish you greater happiness on Earth than you will have with her may it last while you last and may Eternal Curses light on those that wish it less Phil I thank you Sir and will hope to prosper as you pray for me and next to Selindra and my Sister place you by my heart Polli You Honour me too much and will make me proud I must take my leave Sir my strength is not yet enough confirmed to stay long abroad Exit Pollidor Phil The Gods go with thee thou Man of Honour Ordel What think you Brother of this Compliment Phil I think him really what he seems Ordel I wish I could do so too but when I call to mind that Selindra unto me did talk just thus of Pollidor as he now discoursed to you of her methinks it looks like a design Phil Does Pollidor presume to pretend to you Ordel So Selindra would have me think which indeed was the main cause of my anger and her Tears Phill I am not willing to be jealous nor yet so fond as not to be sensible when there is just cause Ordella let us smooth our brows and observe them farther such a guilt cannot be long hid and until we be confirmed by some better proof 't is unworthy in us to suspect them on our surmises only since what they do is by our direction Ordel 'T is not my nature to judge ill of any and I hope Selindra will deserve better I am converted and now we are thus secure why may not you go to the Army and leave Selindra with me Pollidor in your absence may Court her in public which will confirm my Father in his mistake when he sees me dislike it Phill I like it well Ordella what will you do this Evening Ordel I have some business for a while Selindra after supper will meet me in the Garden pray come to us there Phil Bid your Boy attend us with his Lute then it may so happen that I must take leave this night for I hear that the Hungarian Army comes on apace Enter Antenor to them Ante The Emperor sends you word Sir that Cecropius has delivered all the Frontier Towns to the Hungarians and himself advances in the head of that Army towards us Phil Dispatch a Post unto Antillacus bid him advance towards the Traitor I will this night set forth and by day break shall reach him Ante Sir Antillacus retreats before the Enemy his men fewer in Number are so disheartened by Cecropius' revolt they dare not look on the Hungarians Phil Let the Page call Pollidor to my Sister's Chamber presently we will take leave there and depart immediately Come Ordella this is somewhat quicker work than I expected bid my servants make what hast they can to meet me here at my return Exit omnes Enter Periander with a Lady as in Ordella 's Chamber Lady My Lord since you went hence the Court has been in daily Tumults about Phillocles his Love unto your Daughter Perian Is Selindra so much in favour with the Gods as to be looked on by Prince Phillocles Lady The Prince seeks no other Heaven but her and as the World thinks she neglects him and Loves one Pollidor Perian Madam I cannot raise my Faith to what you say nor can I joy in such a blessing until I know the Emperor does approve it pray Madam where may I find Selindra Lady She is now with the Princess in the Garden I shall let her know your Lordship is returned Exit Lady Perian You oblige me Madam though I have been long absent I have not been Idle nor could I well have made more haste hither cousidering how many great Affairs I have dispatched since I went hence Enter Selindra to him Selin Oh Sir you are welcome I have with some trouble and some fear expected your Return Peri Madam I stayed the longer by reason of those Tumults I found at Belgrade a false Astella was set up by Euticus and his faction but so soon as I made known that you lived both sides laid down their Arguments though not their Arms which I advised as the best means to bring you home in safety Selin But why does our Army enter Greece Perian That 's the riddle Madam the old Fox Cecropius gave notice to the Hungarians that the Emperor purposed in his own person to invade them since Phillocles had refused it and would by a conquest join that Crown to his Empire he insinuates also that if the Hungarians would assist him in his design he would make the Emperor unable to harm them by delivering up all the Frontier Towns into their hands Selin And what is his design Perian Only by their power to force the Emperor to deliver you and one Pollidor up to him This I persuaded Orsanes and the rest to hearken too and my long stay was to see the Towns delivered to Orsanes which is done and Cecropius foolled by his vain hopes Marches in the head of your Army which comes on apace only to receive your Commands Madam Selin The Gods reward you for I never can but here is News Periander beyond what you tell Pollinesso Lives lives here under the name of Pollidor and see where he comes Oh! my Brother we Enter Pollidor are happy above our wish this is Periander who has so much obliged me Polli I hope I shall live to thank you Sir Peri Sir I am rewarded in the good I have done if my services do prove such in your esteem Selin My Brother you must dispatch Periander back unto the Army to give Orsanes and the rest notice that you live Cecropius has rendered all the Towns and comes on demanding to have me delivered to his lust Poll We shall order him at leisure our care to inform Orsanes must indeed be speedy Periander though I cannot command I may entreat you that know our Affairs to return unto Orsanes and give him notice that I intent this night to set forth with Phillocles and will come over to him with my first opportunity bid him march fairly through the Country and take heed that Antillacus engage him not to fight till I Arrive if you ride hard you may be back with us before we part from hence for I hear Cecropius is not far off Peri By my speed Sir judge my Zeal to serve you Poll As you pass by my Lodgings pray send all my servants to attend me in the next Room from hence we shall take Horse this Evening Now Astella methinks the Gods do smile on Hungary and Exit Periander on us if Ordella would be gracious Pollinesso were most happy How does my Love prosper Astella Selin I can make no certain Judgement on it yet Poll Canst thou not procure me one smile before we part Selin 'T will not be possible if you depart this night I could wish we had more time because I now propose some pleasure in my woeing for you methinks the storms that I have raised look merrily now the calm is certain and so nigh I have so light a heart that I could play with dangers if any were within my reach They sit To them Enter Phillocles and Ordella who stand unseen behind them sitting on the Couch Poll Let me Embrace and Kiss thee my Dear Dear Selindra thou art so great a Joy unto my Soul that I lament to part one minute from thee when we meet next we shall Embrace more freely Embraces Selin That you must go from me grieves me must you needs go with Phillocles may you not stay one day longer with me She weeps Poll. I dare not do not weep thus thy Tears will prove ill Omens and I become a superstitious fool to fear I know not why Selin How can I choose but lament to part with what is dearer to me then my life pray do not go this night bestow this night on me Polli I swear thou makest me sad prithee speak more cheerfully and dry thy Eyes lest Phillocles perceive thy Tears and Ordella do discover us and so unmask us both before we be prepared Selin No matter for their jealousy are not we above the reach of malice now Phillocles draws and offering to strike is held by Ordella Polli Not yet Selindra we may be erelong till then 't is not good to provoke any it is by your advice to that we should be still disguised Selin Yes and 't is my opinion still but when Phillocles is gone who can discover us Phil The Gods who will not suffer such impiety to be longer hid let me lose Ordella and I will cut these twisted Monsters into Atoms that their united Souls may so expire together The Women part and hold them Polli Why thus enraged Sir Phil Canst thou ask false man we have heard and seen all that has passed between ye Poll It may be so and yet be mistaken in all you have heard and seen too Sir if you will have a little patience you shall see your mistake and be sorry for this injurious Language when you know to whom you speak Phillocles offers to run at him but is held by Ordella Selin Good Madam persuade the Prince to hear us and there will be no cause to fight Ordel Thou worst of Women how dares thy lips move towards me Selin For Heaven's sake Madam hear us you will too late repent this rashness else we are both as innocent as you can wish Ordel Brother you may do well to hear them and revenge at leisure pray lay by this anger for a while and take it up again when you see cause they are in your power to punish as you please Phill I thank thee Ordella they are so I am tame and now you may say on Poll Sir if you have heard and seen what passed between us I do confess you have reason for your anger and our fondness doth deserve blame but not death 't is true that we have negligently showed what we might better have concealed necessity therefore now compels us to discover what we yet meant not to do that our Innocency may no longer suffer Phil Your Innocence Exit Phillocles Polli Madam the Prince his absence gives me opportunity to beg your pardon for Selindra and myself who have too long hid our affections from you and ourselves also for she is my Sister and will ere long appear worthy Phillocles his best thoughts and I do hope myself when I shall dare to be myself may have leave to say my life is vowed to serve you Ordel Sir you are mistaken I am not to be deceved by this slight trick you would gain time to escape my brother's vengeance Polli No Madam you will shortly see I am above it and if Enter Phillocles with a Guard Phillo Seize on that Traitor Pollidor steps to the other Door and calls alone Poll Tenedor Periander Tecknor Treason what means this madness They enter and both parties stand ranged on either side Phillocles a reasonable man should hear another speak if I do not satisfy all your doubts you shall find that I dare meet your fury and shall raise storms as high as you can wish to see Phil Pray unfold this mystery I do attend you Pollidor leads Selindra to Phillocles who steps back from her Polli Let this pledge speak for us both for I can have no other interest then to give her up into your Arms Sir send your Guards off and this riddle shall be as easy and as pleasant as it now looks harsh Phillocles steps back Phillocles will blush when he shall know from whom he slyes and by whose hand offered to him Phil I understand you not nor do I care hark what noise is this Enter the Emperor with his Train and his Guard sword's drawn crying Arm Arm as they enter Emp What 's this a War within his own Walls Phillocles is this a time for private brawls when the Hungarians are at your Gates Phill I am ready to depart Sir and shall send them back much faster than they now come on I beg your pardon Sir for my neglect Enter Gillon Emp What News brings Gillon Gill. Antillacus sends you word Sir that you must prepare to receive him with the Army under the Town Walls his soldiers have so many panic fears he dares not lead them out to face the Enemy he also wishes that Prince Phillocles would draw out the Court Regiments to hearten his dejected men Emp I think 't were better to receive them within the Walls until their shame do outface their fears Tell Antillacus my old Arms are on and that I will myself strike the Traitor in the face Phil Hast back good Gillon and tell Antillacus if he can defend his Camp till I Arrive I wish him not to move this way my looks will send those ungrateful people home if not I have a flame within me will consume them all I beg your pardon Sir for my neglect Emp Repair it by your speedy succour I shall take present order for what the Town can afford us Exit the Emp Phil Ordella I have a War within that will consume me Orde I hope this great Affair will divert your thoughts and remove your trouble Phil For some few days it may farewell my Dear Sister and when I return you shall hear from me Sir To Pollidor Phillocles is going out Polli I shall not stay behind you Sir my wounds is not so ill are to keep me from waiting on you when this hurry and your anger is over I hope you will be at leisure to hear me out and be pleased rather to find you can be mistaken then me guilty Phil I will by no means suffer it 't will be no charity to permit you to hazard Selindra's interest by new dangers Polli Sir your scorns shall have no more power to stay me than your anger has I will along Phil But you shall not I do suspect you will betray me to your Countrymen and dare not trust you with me Pol All this will not do I know you do not doubt me that way and I do swear unless you break the bonds of Hospitality and do imprison me I will along Phil And I will rather do it then have your company if you desist not Poll Phillocles will not so much blemish his great Name imprison me that saved your life me that am vowed to stand or fall with you Sir I must chide you now you do too long hold up a causeless anger you know not why too long neglect the great Affair that calls you hence I will stay no longer for you but go do the work before you come Pollidor is going off Phill Stay Pollidor thou hast confounded all my reason such a mixture of Nobleness ne'er met with such a Treachery till now though I do know thee false and do resolve with my own hand to Kill thee I will trust thee this way and do now entreat thee to stay till to morrow that my Father comes Poll I Obey Phil Oh! my dear Sister once more farewell I am now fallen from Paradise to Hell Ordel The Gods go with you and your action bless While I retire and pray for your success Exeunt all but Pollidor and Selindra Poll We will be gone Selindra and face Phillocles in the head of our own Army what news Periander Enter Periander Peri Sir I am come to fetch you to your Army I can convey you thither before you are missed here Selin We are ready now how far off is the Army Peri You may hear their Drums Madam at the City Gates Poll Come let us hasten to our Troops When instruments of War from War release 'T is a good Omen to a happy peace Exeunt Enter at one Door the Emperor Phillocles Antillacus Armanthus Gillon and the Grecian Army Enter at the other Door Cecropius Orsanes and other Lords with the Hungarian Army Emp Thou art a bold ill man Cecropius thou art ungrateful to thy Country and my trust Cecro Sir I have but hid my gratitude under this old Armour which is only now put on to obtain what my prayers could not I demand justice Sir for Cleonels' blood which you have hitherto denied me in favour to his Murderers Emp This feigned modesty is more impudent than thy Arms are thou knowest I was more eager than thyself to do justice on those that slew thy Son and thou seest clearly our Laws cannot touch them for his fall Cecro Was not Cleonel slain by Pollidor and was not Selindra accessary and does not our Laws condemn such Murderers to Die Emp No thou knowest they do not thou knowest thy Son was by a just hand punished and that Pollidor deserves praise and reward Phil Good Sir spend no more breath on this vile man the slave is not worthy your anger Foolish Hungarians ingrateful perjured people Orsanes I did not look for this from you but my sword shall speak my vengeance Offers to Charge Orsan Prince Phillocles has not in Grcece a more faithful servant then Orsanes Pray Sir lay by this passion but a few minutes and you shall see that I have laboured hard to bring your own desires to their wished ends and Cecropius the main Agent in it all Phil Why do your Actions and your words so disagree Orsanes knows our Grecian hearts cannot be compelled when we have time to draw our Swords Orsan Great Sir your actions have enough declared your worth unto the World and to our Nation most which we shall ever own though now by some necessity compelled we do appear as enemies in the behalf of this good man who has engaged us to deliver up a Lady called Selindra and one Pollidor to his hands which he by strong arguments assured us would be for your and for our future happiness this done we are all at Phillocles command Phil Those two you mention are of late become unworthy of my thoughts yet your engagement was barbarous to undertake you know not what sound the charge A shout within Orsan Hold Phillocles I have entertained you with discourse thus long only till I might hear that shout behind us hark hark Sir Now the time is come for us to keep our Oaths made to Cecropius and to manifest our love to Phillocles make way there for the King The Hungarian Army opens and through them enter Pollinesso crowned leading in Astella Orsanes delivers them both unto Cecropius Phill What Riddle 's this what wonders do I see Takes her Hand Cecro Take away that shadow of a King to present death Orsanes and now Selindra you are once more at my dispose and you Sir that think you can command the World shall find this weak old Arm can justify my title here Orsan Have I now performed my oath unto the great Cecropius Cecro You have Orsan I must then set this Lady free from the danger of our Swords A shout of joy He delivers Astella to Pollinesso and knelt Orsan Long live the King of Hungary Cecro I am betrayed Phill Pollidor and Selindra why is he crowned Emp They are confederates with Cecropius on which design they have thus long lived amongst us Poll Orsanes lay that Monster at his Master's feet there to receive a Doom worthy his treachery and ingratitude They deliver up Cecropius Phill Pollidor what mean these mysteries Poll All respects to Phillocles Phil How comes Selindra then with thee and that Crown upon thy head I tell thee Pollidor if Selindra can neglect me I can contemn her and not envy thee that mis-becoming Crown thou wearest which I will tear from off thy swelling brows and trample on it when 't is mine by a second conquest Pollidor leads Selindra to Phillocles and he retires Poll. Will Phillocles forsake the List fly from such a foe send for the Princess Ordella then that we may meet on equal terms Phil You are merry Sir my gentle temper I see begets contempt from your great courage Poll No Sir you are mistaken still I am your servant and do value Phillocles more than he can contemn me Orsanes bring my Standard hither carry this and my Crown unto the Princess Ordella lay Gives him his Crown them at her feet and if she deigns to take them up tell her your King with his whole people do wait on her Commands Phil I understand not what these Riddles mean Poll If Phillocles be yet at leisure to hear me speak I shall soon remove this wonder Phil If Pollidor prove worthy I shall not trust my Eyes nor Ears for ever Poll But when Prince Phillocles shall know that Pollinesso speaks he will believe no hand has more right to deliver up Astella into his Arms than I Do you not know me yet Sir He pulls off his Periwig and patch from his Eye Phil Nor yet know myself Antillacus do I wake or is this a Phantosm that I think I see Phillocles stands amazed Ant 'T is as strange to me Sir Emp While my Sons wonder lasts let me embrace you Sir and obtain both yours and Astellas' pardon and chide you both in the same breath why did you suffer us to walk so long in this unhappy darkness and run so many hazards which this light would have avoided Poll There was no other way to obtain this light while Cecropius eclipsed your glory Sir Phil. Does Pollinesso live can he forget my crimes and forgive my blindness Pol Can Phillocles pardon my concealment by which he was so blinded They embrace Phill There is but one happiness on earth beyond holding Pollinesso thus Poll To me too there can be only one above it and that is Ordella's leave to love her but Sir have you no room for Selindra in your heart Points to Selindra Phil I dare not look that way I dare not have a hope so high as pardon from her I am so full of guilt that I dare not live longer to think of my unworthiness Offers to draw Selind What have I done Sir that you should be thus cruel to me will you not look on me Enter Ordella and Orsanes Phil I shall blush to death if you speak thus again Ast: Will Phillocles turn from me ever Phil Yes Madam as ashamed to look on you I have a guilt within that takes my manhood from me shall I dare to think you can forgive my unworthy jealousy Ast: If you can forgive me that provoked you to it I can meet you thus Phil And I fall as low as Earth will let me to receive your pardon They embrace He throws himself at her Feet Ord. I am so much amazed at what I see that I know not which way to turn me Emp This way Ordella if you will by me be guided to felicity this is Pollinesso's wish too if I mistake not The Emperor leads Ordella to Pollinesso Polli 'T is my ambition Sir my highest hope on this side Heaven Ord And my honour that Pollinesso has such thoughts for me but Sir 't will ask some time for me to raise my wishes to such a value of your worth that we may meet on equal terms Phil Pollinesso's merit and his worth is such that when he says he Loves 't is argument enough to gain the greatest Queen Ordella the God's smile upon us now and you Sir I hope concur with Heaven in our Felicities Emp My prayers and my blessings shall not be wanting let Pollinesso give sentence on Cecropius before we go unto the Temple Poll Let him live for ever banished from this happy Climate which he has so long polluted with his venomous breath Emp Antillacus see it done Exit with Cecropius Ast: Madam can you pardon my disguise Ord I cannot well tell what to answer to find Selindra worthy is a concern greater than Astella can be to me and that you now are Astella does not more raise my wonder then that you were Selindra does confirm my love and my respects to you Madam Ast: I have a heart too full of joy to keep this distance any longer The two Ladies embrace Phi We now loose time that might be better spent In sacrificing for this blessed event Emp. Led on then to the Temple and proclaim A public feast in bright Astellas' name While we do march in a triumphant state That all the City may participate Our joys now Phillocles captivity Is changed into a triple Victory FINIS LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP A Tragicomedy Written by Sr WILLIAM KILLIGREW Vice-Chamberlane to Her MAJESTY OXFORD Printed by Hen Hall Printer to the UNIVERSITY for Ric Davis 1666. The Actors Names of Ormasdes Cleandra Queen of Ci●her●a Ormasdes Her General a Prince of Greece Old Titus Admiral Young Titus his Son Cleobulus Great Lords of Cytherea Nearcus Great Lords of Cytherea Chiron Great Lords of Cytherea Ladies attending the Queen Servants to Ormasdes Doctors Guards Nearcus his Servants Ambassador from Valeriana King of Treconia Mariana his Sister Cleon Ambassador servants Erillos Ambassador servants Ladies to Mariana Other Servants to the Ambassador Pages Surgeons LOVE and FRIENDSHIP THE SCENE In the Island of Cytherea THE FIRST ACT. Enter Menetius and Nearcus A Messenger meets them Mess MY Lords the Queen sends me to let you know That she is safe and her whole Fleet secure Mene The Queen's safety is welcome News to all Though from the Castle top we saw the fight None could so clearly the success discern As to rejoice for her security Till you arrived Near 'T was bold and bravely done with less numbers To assault so great a Fleet so near home I wonder how they got Intelligence So just to know the Queen's return from Greece Mess To Assault us was far from their design They fell by chance amongst our Ships i' th' night As they were passing by found us secure And unprepared for such an accident So we together Sailed till day appeared Then our great Admiral and his brave Son With their two Squadrons did begin the Fight The Queen's Ship was attaqued on every side In which Ormasdes by the Gods was placed That by his hand Cleandra might be freed As by a Miracle her dangers such And his Achievements so beyond them all That my Relation ' would Romance appear To tell you how he acted every where Men I hope this accident will now persuade The Queen that she no more such journeys make Great Princes to such visits are not bound Where Compliments do so great danger bring Near Though Cleandra's visit may not admit Of a State Argument to justify A danger She had reason to return Some high respect unto the Grecian Court Where she so long in so great splendour lived Before she had this Citherean Crown Nor was it now amiss to show the Power And Glory of so great a Fleet as Greece Ne'er saw before by which our renewed League Will be more valued and our Nation feared Mene I have no Argument for a dispute This visit past she needs no other make But Sir how comes Ormasdes here again What great Affair occasions his return Near How can the Grecian Empire so long spare So great a Captain and so much beloved Messen That happy Emperor who has no War Did give Ormasdes liberty once more To grant Cleandra's suit for his return That he may now confirm what he has won Lest his late Trophies in the Zelnian War Be tumbled down for we may doubt those Kings Who border Zelnia will not long endure Such loss as will Cleandra's Crown secure Though her great Ancestor that Kingdom won And left it to his most unhappy Son Who all those Prince's Tributaries made That in Affection called him to their Aid Mene Hark Nearcus hark how the People shout As if the Queen were now come near the shore Pray Sir command the Guards advance with speed Unto the Port Nearcus I do fear The Queen may land while we are tri●ling here Exit Enter Cleandra Queen of Cytherea Ormasdes a Prince of Greece Her General with his Arm in a Scarf Old Titus Admiral Young Titus Lords Ladies and Train Admi The Gods have given you a full Victory And all your Fleet will be in Port by Noon Queen I have thanked the Gods Titus and do see Yours and your Sons merits in this great work But have not words that can express my thanks To brave Ormasdes for preserving me Had you seen my danger when the bold Turks With assured Victory my Cabin forced And how by his hand from that Ruin freed You would with me admire if not adore The force which Rescued with so great a Power My fear my wonder and my joy so mixed I had no time for any thought betwixt My danger and my safe deliverance Which did the price of that great work enhance The bloody Trophies of Ormasdes Sword Surpased what Mars to Hector did afford Ormasdes faints and leans on Young Titus Adm He faints this remove to Land makes him weak How do you Sir Ormas My soul Titus shrunk away much ashamed To hear my service by Cleandra famed Too much for any modest man to own That my weak Arm should rescue her alone Queen I am amazed thus suddenly to find The Gods so cruel who have been so kind Thus to Eclipse the joys they freely gave Shows they repent the mercy which did save Ormasdes death will now so dismal be I cannot sacrifice for Victory Unless the Fates this mischief do divert It will our Triumphs into Tears convert Y. Tit His wounds show not the danger you conceive Madam you Prophesy so great an ill The Fates themselves will tremble to fulfil Ormas I am well Madam only blush to hear That my slight wounds should be so much your care If great Cleandra do mean Acts admire Brave men will not to high Attempts aspire Enter to them Nearcus Cleobulus and Cithareans they Kiss Cleandras' hand a noise of joy within from the People Cleo Madam the public joy for your return Does show how much we did your absence mourn Queen My People's joy brings me great happiness And your love my Lords my true value has But still I must your gratitudes direct Unto Ormasdes by whose powerful hand Cleandra was preserved and now restored Ormas Madam you reward my small endeavours done With praise above the merit of a man Queen I can afford Ormasdes as much Worth And Honour as the Ancient Heroes had So he will me such gratitude allow As suits with my great benefits received What Fleet Nearcus lies within our Port Near 'T is from Treconia Madam here 's Arrived A brave Ambassador from that great King Who here has long expected your return His Equipage is Rich and with him shines A Lady he calls Sister hither come To wonder at the Glories of your Court While we do all admire their Princely Port Queen He shall have present Audience to excuse His long attendance give him a respect Beyond the reach or thought of a neglect Exit Nea Do you Nearcus bring him to us now Cleobulus what news from Zelnia Cl: The frontiers have been frequently attaqued Since you went hence but no great damage done Ormas I beg the honour Madam to chastise Those haughty Rebels for their Insolence Queen The whole World knows Ormasdes can command The fortune of a War why then should you As if your Name were yet obscure desire New dangers But you covet a Renown Beyond the value of the Zelnian Crown Else you 'd secure my People from their fear By your consent to be my Viceroy there Or Such proffered gifts from Princes are not used To be neglected and much less refused But I must not your Majesty permit To load me with an honour so unfit As will Eclipse the merit you allow When gifts shine brighter than my Actions do Queen Is there no way Ormasdes to remove These niceties must I for ever own Your benefits and make you no return How little do I seem to your great Eye Who scorn I should your service gratify Ormas I have in Greece all my relations left To serve you Madam and am hither come With a sixth zeal to wish and to obey What ever you command and only fear My inclination may my tongue direct To beg what you 'll deny though I affect Queen Though I your suit dislike I will consent And from your happiness raise my content Or With your permission Madam I would beg Leave to retire unto the little Lodge Within the Forest half a League from hence Where after all my Travels I may find Ease for my body and refresh my mind With the soft solace of a private life Free from Affairs and Courts Eternal strife Queen This is far beyond my fears Ormasdes 'T is no wonder you my favours slight When you do our society dislike But I will not your purpose now oppose Though I your counsels and your friendship lose Who in debates can speak in fight command And order all that in disorder stand Can nothing alter your desire from this Ormas Not unless troubles be preferred to bliss Queen Ormasdes it shall be as you desire And freely when you please you may retire Ormas Though I a while absent myself from Court I shall be ready to lay by my Books When you do call me to put Armour on Stories tell that great men the like have done Queen Though I know no example I believe What e'er Ormasdes shall make choice to do May be a precedent that will engage Brave men to follow in the future Age. Ormas Your Majesty in this has given me more content Than all the favours proffered me before Exit Ormasdes Y. Tit Is this his humour or some fancy grown From passion for some Love to us unknown Queen No Titus he has ever been observed A great contemner of Amores and does True friendship more esteem then idle love Y. Tit The more like now to be so much concerned When touched our mortal bodies are so frail That we may love and know not what we ail Why does your Majesty think friendship can With as much force as love transport a Man Queen Not to such frenzies as wild brains Create When fancy cannot change the course of Fate When love to Faces with the Face decay A virtuous Friendship will for ever sway I wish you Titus when he first retires To try how far your Friendship can prevail To get the secret from Ormasdes soul 'T is for his good that he his griefs impart True friendship will allow a little Art When the design does nothing more import But bringing of Ormasdes back to Court Tit I shall be joyed and happy if I can Bring back to Court so Excellent a Man Enter an Officer and Ormasdes Officer The Ambassador attends your Majesty Queen Admit Him The Queen sits Enter Ambassador and his Train Embas Madam my Master the Treconian King Salutes you in these Letters and by me Congratulates your Zelnian Victory But does lament that he no share acquired In that great Conquest he so much desired He was ambitious Madam to command In that near War and not as neuter stand When strangers merits do such Triumphs claim While he to you unknown sat still with shame But since Ormasdes conduct and his skill With such high Valour has fulfilled your will He envies not so great a Soldier's praise But would have shared in his Triumphant Bays Queen If I had known Valeriana's mind He might my thanks have shared and not repined Emb. I have commission also to propose A League between your Kingdoms and yourselves Such as new Conquered Zelnia will secure That Citherea's peace may long endure Your Beauty Madam more than Crowns invite Valerianus wishes to unite Your hearts and then your Sceptres may Be double fixed when both do love obey He begs that he in person may appear To plead his love and treat this great affair Queen Valerianus friendship I approve But never shall consent to treat of Love 'T would raise my dead Lords Ashes in his Urn If I should to a second Lover turn Your great King's proffered League I do embrace With fit Affection and a cheerful face Declaring to the World how I respect His person though I must his suit reject Emb I shall acquaint my Master and beg leave I may your Majesty's commands receive Without the Ceremonies that belong To a State audience in a formal throng Queen You shall have free access as you desire And now my Lord I must a Suitor be That your fair Sister will in Court appear Who I am told is come to visit me Emb That Madam should have been my next request That you my dearest Sister would permit To kiss your hand who does attend without Queen Will you Ormasdes please to bring her in And make my excuse who did not know She was so near Exit Ormas If you had brought her to the Audience She should have been as welcome as you wish Emb Though all the World adore Cleandras' Name On the faint notions of a Common Fame I now can testify and will declare Your virtues to your beauties equal are Queen Your compliments require not a reply You overvalew my civility Enter Ormasdes with Mariana Queen You do me and my Country honour more Then any Lady ever did before Mar: I have done myself a favour Madam And 't is your Majesty that honours me The fame of Cytherea I confess May Princes hither bring but my address Is to Cleandras' self that I might see The virtue famed for such Divinity Queen Madam if you such flatteries throw out You will your welcome spoil and make me doubt You rather come to mock then to admire On such another word I shall retire Mari I can be silent Madam while I live But must speak truth when you this freedom give Queen We then will change our argument and place Lest I do chide whom I intent to grace Exeunt all but Nearcus and Cleobulus Cleob Did you observe with what forced modesty The Ambassador suppressed his anger When his Master's suit so briskly was denied Near Yes and how sudden his sad looks changed When bright Cleandra did so soon admit His private visits as if himself were struck And did no further press his Master's suit Cle. I have other thoughts that made me believe The Lady he calls Sister is his Love Near Such things have been and Mariana may His Mistress be whose beauty in my Eye Does far surpass Cleandras' Majesty And now you put these thoughts into my head I did observe Marianus Eyes and his Did a long practised silent language show While they by turns did entertain the Queen Cleob But I had second thoughts led me to think I did sometimes perceive Mariana's Eyes On brave Ormasd●s fixed and seemed to take Such a survey as Purchasers do make Near I doubt Mariana has not an estate To purchase him at great Cleandras' rate Cleo Let us observe them better next and see If it be Art or their simplicity Exeunt Enter Ambassador and Mariana Emb I have undone myself Mariana For now beyond resistance I do love And find Cleandr will by her neglects Dash all my hopes and turn from my respects Mari There does not a just cause to me appear For such a doubt much less to raise despair Because Cleandr runs not at first sight Into the Arms of such a wand'ring Knight Though your State Arguments cannot procure To Treat she may but a short Siege endure When as yourself a King you do appear The Castle may be won by love or fear Emb No Mariana I have heard and seen Too much the brave Ormasdes stands between Me and my happiness his retirement Is to cloak their close Love and to prevent Pretenders or such scandal as would rise If openly in Court without disguise Such unproportioned love should ere be known Which shows they dare not their affections own Mar: What need such dissembling to hide that love Which all the Cithereans do approve And publicly do pray his great Renown Might be rewarded with Cleandra's Crown To public fame I therefore credit give They not in love but in true friendship live Emb Such friendship between man and woman may Amongst silly people make a holiday No Calendars of mine shall ere admit Of a Red Letter for a counterfeit Mar: The Gods defend Brother Emb Why Mariana what is your concern To blush because we do their crimes discern Can you believe that a Platonic flame Has power to Canonize Cleandras' Name Mar: I blush for you who now so boldly dare Against the person that you love declare Emb Your words and looks do not at all agree But shame for your Ormasdes infamy He is the man in Mariana's Eye Whose blushes would his vices justify Mari Though I his virtues honour and admire The glorious Actions of his life my heart Is not in any danger to be lost Emb When a heart is so well lost Mariana 'T will soon be found I did believe my own As fast fixed as yours yet at first sight Of the fair Queen 't was from its centre forced Mari ay Brother your business was to lose it Emb But the blind Deity considers not Our purposes he wounds at random still I wish thou wouldst ingeniously confess If in thy thoughts Ormasdes be not grown The handsomest and gallantest of men Whose famous actions in our western World May well excuse thy wonder and thy Love I wish thy beauties could his heart engage That I might have no Rival for the Queen Mari To oblige my dear brother I will try What may be done for your security Emb Thy whole life never can oblige me more Ormasdes is a great Prince in Greece And I for thee will make him greater yet By my additions in Treconia If you can think him worthy of your Love Our forces joined may double conquest gain When severed both endeavours may prove vain Mar: While you talk thus I had as good confess What you so much believe and do allow I gladly would obtain if I knew how Emb That was well said let us to Council then Suppose ● Court the Queen in my own shape Mar I think 't is best that you do first inquire How far the subtle Queen does stand engaged Unto Ormasdes that you may not kneel To her if she unto another bow Emb It will not be amiss that I inquire Of some great man in power who I may bribe Such as Cleandra's trust does most admit To plead my Master's cause and argue it What if I first Ormasdes self do try 'T will search his love and his fidelity Mari I am not fit to judge nor can advise But will with prayers assist your enterprise Emb I 'll visit him and if he guilty be I shall confound his great security Mari I fear you sooner will yourself destroy Then by your furious passions him annoy Emb Will you go with me to Ormasdes Lodge Lest I disturb his solitary Soul And with my rude breath harm the man you love Mari I 'd rather be the subject of your mirth Then great Ormasdes should such rage discern As from your Arguments will soon arise Emb No I 'll approach him with my gentle looks As calm and smooth as virgins when they smile Such as our tender yielding hearts beguile But if Ormasdes do a lover prove He will my hopes and fears to anger move Soon quench these Flames or make them brighter burn Do you attend the Queen till my return Exeunt severally Enter Ormasdes a Book in his hand as talking to Young Titus Orma I never lived till now you think me dead Does my dear friend believe what I have said Y. Titus Sir if the friendship you allow be more Than an Airy name you will now permit That I as freely speak as I do love Orm Titus' friendship would have honoured Cato And now myself am prouder of advise From Titus then for all my victories Tit Thus than Cleandra thinks and so do I This loneness will your sorrows multiply Passions concealed do nourish discontent But if revealed much mischief may prevent 'T is my ambition to obtain this trust If great Ormasdes thinks I dare be just Ormas By all our I know no discontent Nor has my quiet breast a passion in 't Titus Hold Ormasdes hear me out who now come To let you know that I and many more Who love you do believe that you repine Because Cleandra is so much reserved And dare not own the passion that you have If this be your trouble trust it to me And you shall soon perceive what I can do In satisfaction to your highest wish I do so far encourage and assure What I have mentioned Is the Nations hope Who pray that great Cleandra may comply In all that will Ormasdes satisfy Thus my affection has my heart expressed And I expect an answer I may trust Ormas What you have uttered Titus I believe And scorn to think such friendship can deceive By the same sacred tie I you conjure To credit me who seriously do vow I only chose this solitary life To ease my body and repose my mind I have no passion nor do grief sustain Nor have a wish beyond Cleandras' smile And Titus friendship which I 'll near beguile Titus Sir I am bound to credit what you say And shall no more endeavour by discourse To alter such well grounded purposes But must we never hope for your return To Court where you with the same freedom may Enjoy what private hours you can desire And not thus put the World so wholly off Which surely was with all its glories made For use of man and its felicities To be by us enjoyed without a crime Ormas Yes Titus but we vain men mistake And from our fickle Infancy propose Glittering felicities we never find For as we grow up to the enjoyments Of what riper years bring with them we see That our desires do daily higher grow And our fruitions but foundations lay T' entertain our busy brains a new way So that we seldom contentation have In what we do possess but forward look And only find some pleasure in the way Towards the end we aim at which obtained Brings not those real joys we did expect Only affords some relish which invites Our Idle fancies to seek new delights How unhappy then is our best happiness When no fruitions can our fond hearts bless Still subject to unsatisfied desires That from quenched Ashes does beget new Fires Thus all our Appetites do make us slaves And from our Cradles lead us to our graves Y. Titus Have the Gods only given us active souls And no objects fit for them to fix on Orma To think on those Gods will afford our hearts A full variety of lasting joys With which our earthly fancies cannot mix When on Celestial happiness we fix Titus I shall e'er long this argument revive And show how you are buried alive Where is that valour and that virtue gone Whither that courage fled I doted on Though you can passion and desire sustain You must not quit the Court as if disdain Of all the glories that a Court can give Could not persuade you there again to live I must now leave you to attend the Queen Exit Titus Ormas A clearer virtue I have never seen Exeunt omnes severally Enter the Queen Ambassador Mariana Old Titus and Train Emb Madam shall I return without a hope No gracious answer to my Master's suit Queen Mr Lord I fully have declared that way Embass Never to marry Madam Queen 'T is my opinion now Emb. Will you permit my Master to appear Whose person may bring Arguments to prove It necessary to allow his Love Queen By no means my Lord I shall not admit His visit if he come on that affair But must against his coming now declare Emb How can you Madam thus declare against A person and a passion you see not Or prejudge what you will think hereafter His presence may change this severity Queen I have considered all that can be said Urge it no more The Ambassador stands concerned Exit Queen and Train Mar: Brother Sir what do you all what strange looks Do you put on you will be discovered Emba ay Mariana 't is now my business To try if this Scene changing may not change Cleandra's stubborn heart when she shall see This borrowed habit thrown away if then She scorn my Love I will break off the League And in my own Right will a War declare For her so lately conquered Zelnian Crown And there will try if her concealed Gallant The great Ormasdes may once more be drawn From Sanctuary to defend her Right From my just rage I will now visit him Mari This humour is not fit for compliment Emb Fear not Mariana I 'll not wrangle now My business is to bribe that mighty man And make him plead my cause to the fair Queen But if I find him rotten at the heart I shall unmask him spite of all his Art Mari That is what I fear Exeunt THE SECOND ACT. Enter the Ambassador with Ormasdes who holds a Book in his hand they sit on Chairs by a Table Ormas YOur Lordship by this visit honours me Emb My visit brings you business of the State You must not take it for a Compliment Ormas What is your business then Emb I have observed Ormasdes the Queen's sense Is yours in her Affairs of Consequence She moves by you this brings me to consult My Master's Marriage for a full result For I conceive Valerianus Name Of so great Credit and so high a Fame That our two Nations by our Princes joined Though our surrounding neighbours were combined Our Territories would be safe and we Should thank the Gods for such Tranquillity But when a Lady Rules they may presume And their Rebellious Principles assume If great Ormasdes shall be called away And fair Cleandra left alone to sway Ormas I know Sir that Cleandra does esteem The stout Treconians friendship as she ought And I know she honours your brave young King Whose martial Acts have gained him through the World A character so noble and so great That she with joy this proffered League does treat Only dislikes the Marriage you propose On good State Arguments as I suppose In judgement and affection to her Son She will not raise a Rival to his Crown And for her angry Neighbours she believes The Zelnian War has so much wisdom taught They will not suddenly unurged provoke A Queen so powerful and so fortunate Emb Suppose Valcrianus take offence And look on this neglect as an affront Because he only did propose this League To introduce his suit which he conceives Will both our Nations equally advance But if laid by with scorn I suppose he then Do join with your old Enemies and claim His Father's Title to the Zelnian Crown What may the hazards and the issue be If a new war dispute your Victory Ormas I will not Prophecy the sad event That so unjust a War may justly bring Upon so Gallant and so wise a King Emb Suppose then that I have his Commission To lay by the Treaty of this new League Until the Marriage be agreed unto And if denied I must Proclaim his Right To Zelnia and your late Conquest bring To a new question with a Powerful King Ormas If Valerianus be so fixed we must No hazards fear in Wars that are so just Emb. Your great successes have high thoughts begot Above your Conquest which I value not But wish such evils as we now foresee May be avoided by our industry For 't will become your Wisdom and your Trust T' advise Cleandra to this happy Match Wherein if you prevail I have full power Now to confer on you the first and best Of our Treconian Principalities Ormas You do me wrong and are in this unjust To think that I will break Cleandra's trust Which I do value 'bove your Master's Crown And therefore boldly will advise the Queen Not to admit it his suit on Arguments Which must an evil consequence produce To her Sons Right if she Comply And by it lessen her own Dignity Emb If my employment anger did allow And my own Honour would permit to strike A Bookman this rude language I 'd correct Orm If the Queen's honour were not more concerned In a respect to your employment due You soon should find how little I do value you The Bookman would not from your Master take This Insolence but for Cleandras' sake I do forbear pray visit me no more Emb Fear it not when Valerianas' knows How little worth Cleandras' honour is He will this League and her Alliance scorn Who puts Ormasdes into this Disguise To hide her Lover from her People's Eyes Ormas This is beyond sufferance Ormasdes grapples with the Ambassador Enter the Queen Y. Titus and Train who part them Queen Hold Ormasdes I heard his Insolence Sir you have leave to go aboard your Fleet Where you only can be safe begun then Without reply be gone for if 't be known What you have said my People may revenge My wrong before your Master do me right Exit Emb in anger Ormasdes you must in this my will obey Your wont judgement must your passion sway While I by a quick War with Fire and Sword Require such Justice as he must afford Ormas Madam the Conduct of that War I beg Queen If you this passion will lay by till then You shall But no more of this anger now I came to take the Air this Afternoon But will defer it till another day Pray be pacified you shall not stir out I do entreat and do command you stay Titus stay you till this heat be over Exit Queen and Train Ormas Titus my friend I have a flame within That will consume my heart if you help not Y. Titus Do you doubt my assistance to serve you In any way you can prescribe a friend Or I 'll rather thank thee for 't then doubt thy love Th' Ambassador can this night hardly reach Coriola where we in a swift Boat By break of day to morrow may Arrive If some hours hence we in the dark embark Y. Titus I guess your purpose and I will obey Yet I would gladly have an Argument To justify what you intent to do Lest Foreign Princes should condemn our State That Laws of Nations rashly violate And so Cleandras' honour suffer more Then by his Insolence she did before Ormas How can he justify those words he spoke His rude language the Law of Nations broke For when a Public Minister puts off That Sacred shadow which should him protect And dares in such vild language give affronts To a much greater Monarch than his own That minute his Commission did expire When he his Cloak of Majesty laid by And like a Ruffian talked so lavishly Y. Titus This I confess is reason for revenge But if the World our Action not approve Pray think what we shall urge for our excuse In case we can no precedent produce Ormas A precedent Titus where will he show That Nations do Ambassadors allow To be so barbarously base as he When he dares make his Act a precedent I will another show and kill him for 't In the first Age no precedents were known And in ours this shall be my Creation 'T is not Cleandras' work nor is it thine The glory or the shame is only mine Titus my heart would break if I permit That man to brag as he will do at home How he has braved Ormasdes to his face And on Cleandra thrown so foul disgrace Y. Titus Since I your resolution cannot change Pray name the place and hour and I 'll not fail Ormas Some three hours hence we 'll at the Ferry meet Where a swift well-maned Boat you must provide My motion may some jealousy beget Of what we do intend and must perform If our best speed can but this Madman reach I shall his fury better manners teach Exeunt Enter Cleandra Mariana Old Titus Cleob and Ladies Queen Madam you are now got so near my heart That I am sad to think that we must part Mariana And I too soon do find that I too late Am now involved in my Brother's Fate We leave our hearts behind though we now fly This place by our impulsive Destiny My soul has not a wish can send me hence If I could stay on any just pretence Queen Why may you not stay here Mariana And let him go we will a friendship make Such as thy virtue justly may expect And my affection give if here you 'll live Mari I am unhappy Madam who must be At his dispose has done you injury So great that I must suffer while I live Queen Rather than you shall suffer I 'll forgive Mar: Your pardon is beyond your power I fear Unless you will admit his Master here Queen His pardon then is far beyond my reach If for his King his own concern be such And yours so much for him I must consent To part with both yet I could be content To see him for your sake I and forget What he so rashly has against me said Thy tears for him have satisfaction made Mar: My brother is already on his way And has ordered Boats for me to follow Where I expect to find his rage too high To hearken to such mercy as I bring Unless Cleandra will admit his King Queen I have not seen such useless rage before Whom but himself can his mad fury harm Mar: It is a Riddle I dare not expound Queen Dare not Mariana am I so low In your esteem you dare not let me know What you dare do this secret I confess Has only power to make me love thee less Mari I cannot I have sworn not yet to say What 't is to him I 'm doubly tied t' obey But since your goodness can so soon forgive So great a Crime I 'll try to bring him back And if I can prevail for his consent I 'll show the cause of his distemperment Queen You have his pardon and may now pursue Your own design to bring him back with you But if he choose to go and set you free Yourself shall be much welcomer to me Mar: Your words encourage me to take no leave But cherish hopes which may my heart deceive With present thoughts rather to smile then mourn As a good Omen to my quick return Queen You Nearcus shall conduct Mariana To Coriola and at your own house As you pass by pray treat her as my friend Near I shall be careful in it Madam Exeunt Nearcus and Mariana Queen I love her and am somewhat more concerned To part with her then I can make you see Adm. She has by her behaviour gained esteem From all the Court and from the Nation too Queen I wonder Titus none of you lament When so great Beauty from the Court is sent Admi Your Majesty has showed enough for all Queen I do mean Love Titus and did expect Her beauty should have fired a hundred hearts And by the powerful charms of her bright Eyes O're-ruled our Citherean Destinies Adm My heart Madam has been so often burnt There is no substance left that can take fire Indeed I wonder how the rest have scaped Cleob Nearcus and myself had other thoughts Of this great beauty which did secure us We do Mariana for his Mistress take Few Sister's Travel for a Brother's sake Queen How Cleobulus have you any ground For this to justify so vile a thought Cle Only the freedom which they daily used With this new way for Men who have no Wives To carry Sisters into Foreign Courts Queen Though not in use it does not sure deserve A censure so severe such Innocence In Mariana did to me appear That I should sooner judge her good if bad Then blemish such perfections by a thought It cannot be so Insolent a Gild He durst not own nor such a scandal raise On his own name and on his Country too I command you to suppress this thing I am ashamed a Cithereans heart Should entertain a thought of such a Crime We bring our own Worth in question then When we asperse the Worth of other men Cle They were but thoughts as rashly then ta'en up As now thrown out with no design to wrong The Innocent I wish her virtue may Our thoughts convince and she be justified Queen Keep firm there my Lord for all those who live Near Prince's Ears should weigh how they let fall A word that may a Woman's Honour blast If I were apt to credit your report And on your ground less jealousy affront Such virtue what a sin were it in you To make me guilty of so great a Crime Cleobulus I am sorry for my rash opinion Since it offends your Majesty so much Queen It is the bane of Courts when we permit Those near us to asperse the Innocent If our strict Laws for petty theft gives Death How much a greater punishment is due For robbing a good name a sin so vild And so unknown no punishment was made By way of Prophecy for crimes to come If I did think this malice from your heart I would for ever banish you my Court. Cleob Your Majesty does raise your anger now Above my guilt which had no mischief in 't Queen I am no farther angry with you now But take occasion to declare my sense Against all such as defame Innocence 'T is a Prince his chief business to be Just The Gods impose on us no higher Trust We have no petty faults to answer for Universal Justice is our great work And those who shall divert it to destroy The Fame or Fortune of an Enemy Deserves to be thrown off with Infamy Exit Queen and Ladies Remains the Admiral and Cleobulus Adm I have not seen the Queen in such a heat You have offended her some other way Cleob Not that I know of in this kind ever Adm What Devil made you talk thus to her now You knowing that she is so good herself She makes a doubt that any of her Sex Can do amiss and 't is great Nobleness Cleo There is a kind of pix Devil dwells In many Courts that haunts our idle heads And prompts us when we know not what to say To entertain great Princes with reports Of others so to please and pass the time This foolish spirit I think entered me Adm You gave Cleandra cause for your reproof For how can Princes judge Malice from Mirth When cunningly thrown out with specious shows Of probabilities when those aspersed Are never called to answer for themselves The Queen did excellently well to chide You whom she Loves that none may ere presume The like hereafter for if Princes be Born Credulous Malicious persons may Defame a Nation if they please this way Cleob I know I was to blame but from this day I 'll hold my peace till I know what to say Exeunt Enter Nearcus with Mariana and Servants at his House in their way to Coriola Mari Where are we now my Lord this house stands well Near It is my poor habitation Madam Here I must treat you by the Queen's command 'T is the midway unto Coriola Mar: 'T is a Noble and a most pleasant Seat Has it no Mistress Sir Are you single Nearcus I am only that way happy Madam Mariana You have a Mistress then or do you call It happiness that you as yet have none Near Will you please Madam to view the garden The rest of the Train stay looking on the Pictures and see them not go out Exit Nearcus with Mariana 1. Lady That piece methinks does look as if it lived 2 Lady I do prefer that smiling Figure first Whose hand is it my Lord Lord. I have not skill enough to know the hands Though I love Pictures pray observe the next Is not this sleeping Venus rarely done See how that Cupid in the Tree stands off 2 Lady 'T is rare indeed that satire and the rest Of the whole piece is excellently good 1 Lady Let us look into the next Room my Lord Lord. This way they went and this way must return They go out and return hastily Lord The Doors are locked and we can pass no way 1 Lady Is this by accident or on command Lord. Let us attend a while and we shall see From the next Chamber window where they be Exeunt Enter Nearcus with Mariana in the Garden Mar: I have no Argument for further talk And now am weary grown with this long walk Where is the beauty you so much admire Your praises have in me raised some desire To see this wonder of our Sex that I May judge your skill and with your choice comply Nearcus locks the Door and knelt Near She is here already oh she is here A brighter beauty never can appear Mar: Why d' ye lock the Door my Lord why kneel To me you make my heart some tremble feel By this surprise and I do doubtful stand What of kind Treachery you have in hand It looks yet like a Lionness betrayed Into the Toils I scorn to be afraid Near I have no Argument for either now But a distracted heart that knows not how T' excuse what I have done 't is love has brought Me to this Precipice and too late taught That I from hence shall headlong tumble down If you disdain to save oh do not frown Rather take this and while you may prevent Offers his Sword Your own near ruin and my rash intent That angry look and those enraged Eyes Pierce like quick Lightning from the stormy skies They melt my heart and make me trembling stand To beg what Love and Nature may command Mariana Love do the Cithereans by such Arts Such force and treachery win Lady's hearts Fie fie Nearcus this does not agree With Love nor with Cleandras' trust to thee I shame to find such ills and blush to chide Repent and I thy infamy will hide Oh! 't is the basest of all crimes to be Justly condemned for infidelity And with a treachery my trust beguile Beyond the story of the Crocodile Near What dares not love attempt when it goes high Like mine your ships are ready oh too nigh The wind is fair and I no time but this To woe no other means to reach my bliss The Queen's command and my desires here meet To throw my life and fortune at your feet That by this desperate course you now may see Your love or scorn I make my destiny Mar: Nearcus how would you prevail my dreams Instruct me not to answer such extremes Near I would have you Mistress of me and mine Before we part made so by vows Divine Mar: 'T is a short warning to a work so great Is this Cleandras Love and this your Treat To strangers do you think my lips my heart Does hold so loose as at first sight to part With it to you what do you find in me So slight that looks like so much levity Near If you 'll afford more time I will proceed With caution and respect and shall take heed How I offend if you 'll resolve to stay Or to comply my passion will obey If not I must this desperate course pursue And trust my ruin or success to you Who does in desperate attempts engage Can seldom at first sight th' event presage Love led me on and reason comes too late Now to retreat this Fortune is my Fate Mar: Your language and your looks do rather threat Then woe which does in me such scorn beget As to an Enemy that does invade That Innocence you have bereft of aid And boldly dare impose on a free heart What should be won by Love not such base Art Near Give me but time to woe and I will fear And tremble in your sight with zeal appear And the same duty I approach the Gods When my offences make me fear their Rods It is not I as your affairs do stand But high necessity makes me command That all the remnant of my life you may Triumph for my ambition 's to obey Mar: Think you by force that I shall ere think fit To yield myself to such a counterfeit I am not born unto so mean a Fate As to submit unto the man I hate Nor will I be thus frighted to comply With so contemptible a destiny Near I must confess I can by no disguise Lessen or hide the guilt of this surprise But by some greater crime more amply show That a distracted passion may soon know To act such evils as I fear to think But do not set me in despair thus sink Speak so as that I may some hope retain And you 'll restore me to myself again Mar: Stand by vild man and let me pass who waits Near None within call that now can help the fates Themselves have not the power to set you free Nor can you hope for safety but from me No storm at Sea nor in it ships on Fire Creates more terrors than my wild desire Brings me here is a Tempest in this breast Above all them since raging Love possessed My heart I am become a walking storm Reason and Virtue are both wracked no form Observed while this confusion bears the sway None knows to govern but must all obey If we cannot resist then to cry no Is madness when we must to ruin go Mar: I have no power but must my brothers will Obey I must his mind not yours fulfil Lest his great pride and anger may destroy What you 'd preserve and frustrate all your joy Near If my high birth and quality do prove Less than your own I will expect no love But hazard all my hopes on his consent Let his denial sign my punishment Mar: If your birth equal mine and he consent To join our hands I have no argument Against your hopes but must be Mistress still Of my own heart not part with my freewill Yet now Nearcus I do promise you What truth and honour dictates I will do Near Unless you both do ere you go comply You shall soon see that I know how to die Mar: Pray call my servants down that I may see Your truth and find myself at Liberty He calls at the Door Near Now Madam that my life 's at your dispose Yourself secure I humbly do propose You will before the Gods confirm by vow What you have freely promised to me now Mar: By all those powers I 'll keep my promise made And never fail to own what I have said Near It is enough a kiss of your fair hand Must satisfy the Man you may command Nearcus has no soul cannot be blessed Until his love with love you do invest Enter Servants and all go off together THE THIRD ACT. Enter the Ambassador as at Coriola with Cleon Erillos' and Train Embass THis Piazzo Cleon is Magnificent I have not seen any so Beautiful Cle It shows the Prince's Treasure and their minds Are alike great who can so soon Erect So vast a City which in every part Deserves to be as much admired as this Embass We may walk through it ere my Sister comes Erillos You may the River side is your best view Cleon There is a Boat now coming to the shore Erillos Those who land seem to be of Quality Embass I see no Woman yet with them appear They are very brave and come towards us Do any of you know who these may be Cleon Young Titus landed first but as I think It is Ormasdes who now leads the Troop Embass If so I must expect some angry words From the offended Queen Enter Ormasdes and Y. Titus with Servant's who come up close to the Ambassador without any respect Embass What means this kind of rudeness Gentlemen Ormas It speaks my business who am hither come To scourge that pride you so much glory in And with this hand that insolence chastise Which boldly durst endeavour to defame By base surmises great Cleandras' Name Titus I beg as you love my Honour He turns to Titus If I do fall let none come in to help Sir you shall have fair play that we may see To the Embass How Insolence and Courage do agree Titus makes room Emb I shall soon satisfy the doubt you make To his followers Stand off he dies that stirs to my relief Or by a word let fall does make me known They fight Ormasdes hurts and disarms him Enter Mariana and servants who run in and part them Mar: Ormasdes hold it is a King you wound It is Valerianus you fight with Ormas Myself a Prince of Greece of the same blood With our great Emperor will justify What I have done and to the World declare If any man do wrong me in disguise I do his Titles and himself despise Exit Ormasdes Titus and Train Mar: Oh Gods my prophetic soul did long since Foresee this Evil oh let not King Hold Valeriana there are no Gods Nor shall one Altar in my Kingdom stand To honour those we foolishly call Gods I will Erect new Temples unto Chance Which giddily thus governs us below Valeria Take heed Sir lest you do provoke those powers You now despise to punish your contempt King I will not own those Gods those empty names Who cannot shelter us from public shames Valeria The Gods be just and you are much to blame 'T was not Ormasdes who the King overcame It was his Virtue conquered your offence Your guilt gave Victory to Innosence King Will you become my Judge will you condemn My life and Honour A fit Sacrifice To your beloved Ormasdes fatal Sword Fool from this hour I do thy blood disclaim And will forget I ever knew thy Name Erillos let my goods be sent aboard I will not stay a minute longer here Then my necessity compels me to Valeria I have prevailed with the much injured Queen To lay her anger by and to forgive Those rash words you spoke and have her leave To bring you to her sight again with hopes She may her inclinations change when known Your fury did proceed from Love alone King My love is vanished and my heart too full Of my revenge to think of my return Till I can pull Cleandra from her Throne I hope Ormasdes will take care of you Who plead his cause and are to love so true Men Sir though your wounds be slight if you remove So soon we cannot answer for your life King I 'll rather die at Sea then live on shore Make haste good Cleon lead me to my Boat Cleon Will you leave the Princess in a strange land Thus unkindly cast her off for ever Because her Love did argue for your good King And thee that dares so boldly her excuse Who does my honour and her own abuse The Princess sounds Cleon Look Sir she dies your unkindness kills her King She cannot do herself and me more right Then to die now but she cannot depart While great Ormasdes Triumphs in her heart See how his Name her fainting soul revives She recovers Led on or I shall laugh to see her die That can raise Trophies for my infamy Exit King and Train Valeria What cruelty is this to leave me here Who love him better than he loves himself You 'll be all ruined if you stay with me Cleon What we have said has ruined us enough If his unruly rage can reach so far Mene. I think 't were best that you return to Court And do Cleandra's proffered friendship try I have all your Brother's Jewels here Which will defray your charges while you stay Valeriana 'T is a plentiful provision for us But where is young Nearcus all this while Cleon He has not yet appeared since we Arrived Enter to them Ormasdes Young Titus Nearcus and Servants Ormasdes stands off Near Madam can you forgive what I have done And own the Author of so great a crime Who saw not then a Princess in disguise But was captived by Mariana's Eyes Valeria My Lord I do forgive and shall forget So you repent and I will serve you too With all my power and interest in the Queen Near If that be all would I had guilty been Of greater crimes than my good natured sin Y. Titus Madam we hear your Brother is unkind But by Cleandra's favours you may find Some means to reconcile you unto him Valeria I am most happy in Cleandra's love Y. Titus Will you permit Ormasdes in your Boat Or shall he seek some other passage home Mar: I could have wished Ormasdes less concerned Or that his courage had not been so great But cannot quarrel him on this account He was obliged to right Cleandra's wrongs And must in Justice be applauded for 't Ormas Madam I thank the Gods for my success And now with the same breath can humbly beg That you 'll forgive what they so late approved Val Sir it will not become me his Sister Now to congratulate your Victory Who have just cause to mourn my Brother's Fate From whence my own misfortunes have their date Ormas Madam shall we attend you to your Boat Valeria Let Titus order all as he thinks fit I am ready now for my remove Exeunt Titus leads off Valeriana the rest follow Enter Cleobulus and Chiron Chy The Queen is troubled and her Guards are sent With speed Ormasdes Quarrel to prevent Cleob She must secure th' Ambassadors return Lest all our Neighbour Nations do complain And say we give occasion for a War Which the Treconians claim cannot pretend Nor the rejected Marriage justify Chiron Valerianus has an ancient claim To Zelnia which may beget a War If the Treconians do a quarrel seek There wants no title to a Prince provoked Cleob Ormasdes will rejoice to see that day Chy He is our Nation's Darling and deserves Cleandras' favour but methinks he looks As if his heart were higher than his head Cleo I have been lately chid for juggling looks And dare not say what I believe I see Enter to them Cleandra Old Titus and Ladies Queen You tell such wonders from Coriola That I want faith for them how comes this News Adm Madam a Messenger but not Arrived Saw the Combat done and heard Nearcus say They would attend Valerianas' back Unto your Majesty whereas the wonder Princes have been in foreign Courts disguised Queen But have you ever such strange humours found A Prince where Vice and Virtue is so mixed Adm No I have not nor such a precedent As now Ormasdes gives us to correct Such impudence as near before was known Queen If I were not concerned I should approve What he has done though now I must not own Adm For public thanks on his behalf I move Why should we thus our honest thoughts disguise When Virtuous Actions Virtue justifies Queen Had not Ormasdes stirred by Arms I might Compel his Master to have done me right Adm By War thousands of guiltless persons might Have suffered for one man's oversight Queen You have reason Titus and I shall Judge Ormasdes Act as he deserves from me Who with my Nation am so much obliged I must approve whatever he will own Let the young Princess lodgings be prepared Fit for my Friend and Sister to a King Enter to them Valeriana Y. Titus Nearcus and Servants Queen You are welcome Madam and I am glad To have you on these terms do not weep To part with what your virtue could not keep Val I am happy by my unhappiness For by your favour Madam I may find Some remedy for my afflicted mind Queen Be sure what Cytherea can afford Is yours and all Cleandra does command With me rejoice to see you safe returned But where is Ormasdes I must chide him Near He is retired Madam to avoid your sight Y. Titus Ormasdes thinks it duty and respect Not to appear at Court till you direct Queen Pray fetch him hither now I hope you can Exit Tit With me forgive so Excellent a man Whose passion never does his reason sway But follows on when virtue leads the way Valeria I have no anger to Ormasdes since Young Titus did my Brother's crime relate I hope this letting blood will do him good When this affront at home is understood Queen Your Justice and your Charity is great And I do see no reason but you may Admit Ormasdes in my company I am informed he has a slight hurt too Valeriana My furious Brother will be glad indeed That brave Ormasdes by his hand does bleed This accident if you 'll be pleased to call My Brother back may reconcile us all Queen I never shall consent to his desires Though I my anger and revenge remove In compliment to you whom I do love Enter to them Ormasdes and Young Titus Ormas Madam if doing Justice have displeased I do repent and now your pardon beg Queen Since his great insolence and your revenge No Age can parallel both must submit To such a censure as the World thinks fit Ormas Your pardon Madam is not all my suit I beg your interest to obtain like grace From this sad Lady my will Soul is vexed To see such innocence so much perplexed Queen I can now secure you there Ormasdes She does discreetly Judge what you have done Was what a man of honour could not shun Is not this truth Valeriana speak Valeria stands surprised Val Yes Madam I do think I did say so She sighs and weeps Queen What sudden change is this can your soft heart Conceal a thought of ill towards the man You have excused and seemed to smile upon Near She does love Ormasdes and I am lost Valeria weeps Queen Pray leave us all withdraw to the next Room Exeunt What have I said that can disturb you thus Impart your griefs and I will share in them Val I dare not show 'em with an open Face Queen And why you cannot have a guilt so great That I cannot forgive speak it freely Valeria Has not my face my guilty heart betrayed Queen I understand you not Valeria I am safe then and may my sorrow hide Aside Queen Madam what means this talking to yourself While I stand by neglected is your trust So great that you can doubt I will be just Valeria I doubt myself great Queen and fear not you Aside She 's jealous of me and my thoughts too true She loves Ormasdes and most unhappy I Am forced to smile on my own Tragedy I know no way to hide my broken heart Unless I do immediately depart Madam I beg your Pardon and your Pass I must begun lest I too late alas By my distempers here deserve your blame And raise my memory eternal shame Queen You are not well sure this distracted talk Requires Physicians to consult I 'll send Vale Oh no! there needs no more consult for this You only can restore me unto bliss Queen And can you doubt that I will not Valeria I ●ear so Queen What I can do be you assured I will Valeria What I desire may be more prized by you Then is the Citherean Diadem Will you know now and if not grant forgive For I am desperate on the sudden grown And am resolved to make my weakness known Queen Speak it aloud or in my bosom breath Embraces her The troubles of thy soul let not a thought Be hid but freely show how much you trust My love and you shall find me kind and just Valeria Do not you Madam value Ormasdes Person and his service above all men's Queen Yes I do Valeria You are Just and Worthy and I am Valeria faints Queen Help help some help there Enter Ormasdes Titus Nearcus and Ladies who take up Valeriana Nearcus 'T is love upon my life Aside Queen Leave us again the dangers over now Ormas I beg your permission to retire Queen My best wishes still attend Ormasdes Exit Ormasdes with the rest Valeria What can I say t' excuse what I have done Queen Speak plainly your full thoughts and I 'm your friend But if you longer dally with my love You will my friendship unto anger move Valeria I know you have discovered by my words That your esteem of him you boldly own Becomes the ground of my distraction Queen You love him then that look declares it now And so do I or I would ne'er consent To give him unto you if this cure grow Within my reach Ormasdes shall be yours Valeria Is not your Majesty engaged to him Queen Indeed I am not so in Love with him But I can second your desires and will With all my power endeavour to persuade Ormasdes that he meet with open Arms So great a blessing by the Gods designed Though I must part with what I value most Your passion never shall by me be crossed Valeria Madam your kindness to me flows so fast That I am now in danger to be lost By my abundant joy for this success You give of unexpected happiness Queen Remove these sullen clouds from thy fair Eyes And be thyself again for I will show Ormasdes suddenly how great a bliss The heavens prepare to Crown his Virtue with Valeria The Gods reward you with your highest wish That you may never want what you desire My spirits fail so fast I must retire Exit Her Maids lead her off leaning on them and showing much weakness Queen Do so what 's this I have so rashly done Thrown off Ormasdes I depended on Must I persuade him quit that interest here Which for my sake he purchased so dear How ill shall I repay his service past If I advise this banishment at last What a rash promise has my pity made By thus proposing my improper Ayed Though by the secret charms of Sympathy Her passion won my reason to comply I must on this employment Titus use My Honour will my active part excuse But if his Arguments should not prevail And by my nicety the business fail If she should perish so and I repent Too late that ill which I may yet prevent I must about it then and lose no time Lest my nice compliments do prove a crime My faith is past and I will now proceed Though brave Ormasdes do condemn the Deed. Exit with Train Enter Nearcus with Valeriana in her Chamber her Ladies stand off but go not out Near Madam my desperate State and high transport You may complain of though not blame me for 't Your Eyes like bright misguiding Fires betray My wand'ring soul and make me lose my way 'T is now too late to see that I am lost Led by those guides to this obdurate coast Where neither Rocks appear nor crossing Tides Yet this expected safety ruin hides But I must claim you by a solemn vow Made in the sight of Heaven and am come now To prove my Birth which you will not deny Is with your own of equal Quality These are such Arguments for your consent I cannot think you dare your vows repent Vale It cannot well be thought and much less said That I repent a promise never made How could such hasty words strict vows appear Which my surprise than made me speak in fear When you to seize me stretched those Lion's paws And threatened against all Hospitable Laws Worse than Death to me what might I not do To get from such a Monstrous Beast as you Near Did my humility such danger threat Or my submission with such horror treat Were it even so as you yourself have said I might my own conditions then have made Valeria Did you not all my Servants first exclude And me into a loneness so delude As that no rescue could be had to free Me from your Traitorous Captivity When you with humble looks strong fetters laid And words let fall which made my soul afraid And caused me use some little Art to gain Your trust that I my freedom might obtain Near 'T is true indeed and you reproach me well Or else you might another story tell For I confess I did too much to prove The humble passion of a gentle Love And much too little now to justify My high affections or my fact deny Had I with vigour my first step pursued You might have wished my vows with yours renewed Valeria You talk as now I at your mercy were As if you still might threat and I must fear But I shall make you know yourself and me If you proceed not with more modesty And shall soon let Cleandra understand How well you treated me on her command Near Though I do shake and tremble at your frown Cleandras' anger cannot bow me down For if my suffering no compassion move Nor your past vows make you regard my Love You shall then see how little I esteem This Life you will not with a smile redeem Valeria I am not thus ingrateful as you say So I may be secured another way I did not threat till you aspersed my Name By this false promise you unjustly claim For though your Birth flow from a Noble Spring 'T is something less than Daughter to a King And more I must the secret now impart That brave Ormasdes long since had my heart Near Madam I have no Plea beyond my Love If that do of too mean a value prove Think how your honour stands engaged by vow And that my All depends upon it now Yet here I do before the Gods profess To quit my Title if my Birth be less Val From Nearcus the Gods will me protect Who boldly must a subjects claim reject Near Which I am not but a Prince Nobly born As is Cleandra though you now do scorn The Man who laid his greatness at your feet Without a thought of Royalty to meet Your Virtue and your Beauty did engage My heart to Love and did create that rage You now so much condemn and make me shame I did no more who was so much to blame Val You do amaze me knows Cleandra this Near She yet does not but must do when I plead My Title to Valerianas' Bed For Madam you can only now be mine Made so by humane Laws and by Divine Val What ere you are I do much scorn to think Of being compelled and will strong poison drink Rather than be by such a trick betrayed Or of your scandalous reports afraid Your first attempt was base and now as vain Your hopes are you are a Prince I do disdain To have a thought for him who poorly can Demand what 's given to another man I must this Injury at last reveal And to the Queen for Justice now appeal Near I am content then let Cleandra judge Val I 'll hear no more Exit with Ladies Near What a strange heat I feel that always burn Yet do not waste cannot to Ashes turn But like a Fire-flaming Statue stand To warn the World not to approach this Land Ye Gods how cruel is your doom that she Melts not but should an Icy Mountain be Of power to kindle such tormenting Fires Where her own frozen heart has no desires Exit THE FOURTH ACT. Enter Cleandra with Ormasdes the Lords and Ladies stand off Queen I Shall allow your Argument for War If the Treconian do provoke so far But how shall I Valeriana free From her fierce Brothers great barbarity And how Estate her in her Mother's Land If her mad Brother should that right withstand Though she do now desire but what 's her own If he should die She must Ascend that Throne Ormas I have heard so and that by my rash Act She suffers which makes me repent the Fact Queen Her virtues do her beauty far excel And in my judgement have no parallel What is your thought will not the man be blessed Whom Gods with such felicities invest Ormas I doubt not Madam her perfections may In hearts of Men above her Sceptre sway Queen She has won me to a concern so high As if my own were the same Destiny With hers my thoughts do labour where to treat A Marriage with some Prince worthy so great A Queen can you Ormasdes find me one To recommend will Greece afford us none Ormas Madam if Cytherea can produce None fit for Greece there will need no excuse Queen I think so too unless Ormasdes will Himself thus my prophetic foul fulfil That does such glories and such joys foresee As may endure unto Eternity Ormas Me Madam does your Majesty think me A man worthy of so great Felicity Alas I am too old now to begin To Love you may as soon learn me to spin My Sword and Armour into Needle's turn As teach my Age in Youthful flames to burn Queen 'T is you Ormasdes are the man so blessed Her love to you she has to me confessed And me in honour has engaged to try If I can now persuade you to comply Ormas Madam I hope you do not thus abuse Your servant cause my nature does refuse Such correspondence with your Sex as might Engage a braver Man Oh do not fight Against my weakness that must now confess I never unto Lady made address And only chose this solitary place That I might here some quiet thoughts embrace Sure Madam you mistake how can it be That she should covet such Antipothy Can the good Gods to her be so unkind To let such excellence become so blind Queen Think you herself knows what herself desires Or that she has no sense of those quick fires That do consume her can you doubt such Love Which through despair did then so mortal prove That but to name Ormasdes she did Die Till you appeared to change that destiny And when you all retired she did confess Her life depended on her good success Your Glorious Acts had raised so loud a Fame That she was first in love with your great Name Which brought her hither with a full intent To Judge and Justify that Argument Ormas Madam I must believe what you avow And do so far your Argument allow That it has raised in me a greater War Then I was ever in and am so far From slighting this affair that I descry My certain Ruin by this Victory The Gods cannot afford less punishment If I refuse to hear and if consent I 'm lost to all my joys on Earth for Fa●e Has not in store nor can the Gods create An evil I fear more then to deny What you command though a sad Destiny Can nothing less than my destruction save This Excellence from an untimely Grave Queen If I could see this danger you foretell Ormasdes harms should make no other well Though Valeriana do my pity move Ormasdes friendship is before her Love In my esteem but if this match unite Your hearts it will our Children then invite To imitate our friendship and so ●ye Fast knots for everlasting Amity Ormas My mind can move my body any way But my hard heart will not my will obey My utmost power my soul to mourn shall teach 'Cause my Affection is beyond my reach Queen If you oppose not but your Ear will lend I doubt not but the Gods your heart will bend This way and your good nature in short time Will make you wish for what you judge my crime Ormas Although I cannot wish and must not choose I would not Madam willingly refuse What you advise but boldly meet my Fate That no one thought may a vain fear Create Lest you should judge my slackness for neglect Because I grasp not what I can't affect Queen Can you such pleasure take in this disguise Be thus retired and all that 's good despise When offered do you fear or scorn to meet This Excellence now fallen at your feet Is your great heart Ormasdes only made For dangerous attempts shall it be said This Paragon of all our Sex now dies Because Ormasdes does her Love despise Ormas No Madam I do suffer more than she Does for herself hers is my misery I dare not virtue with vain hopes abuse I cannot love and therefore do refuse To dally with so bright a Saint whose Shrine Compels all hearts to bow before 't but mine I am not capable of Love not blessed That way my heart 's with other flames possessed Queen All flames you feel would vanish did you see Valeriana in such misery As she endures now fetching her last breath Enquiring your health neglecting her own death Thus my compassion has her sorrows learned I weep her Tears while you stand unconcerned Ormas Madam your passion does my pity move Though my dull heart cannot consent to Love My resolution is now fixed I 'll try Myself to vanquish or her Martyr Die I swear I did not hear that she was ill And now it does my soul with horror fill For her concern no danger is so great But I will rather die in 't then retreat Queen 'T is bravely said but dare you try the effect Of one short visit after such neglect Ormas Thus provoked if your Majesty stands by I will not such a visit now deny Queen You speak and look as if you meant to fright Much rather then revive her by your sight Ormas Madam to Compliment I have no skill Nor can be pleased if loved against my will Yet sensible and civil I can be Though it do prove unfortunate to me Queen When shall I bring this comfort to revive Her fainting soul if she be still alive Ormas Is she really so weak so soon grown Thus ill I have no skill in this unknown Mystery of love but will boldly try What I can do for her recovery Queen High passions do weak bodies sooner bring To the Graves mouth than any other thing Her despairs are of a much longer date Though sudden sickness do break out thus late When I your humour did a first rehearse And showed how your whole life had been averse To Love she sighed and presently grew pale Despair that minute made her spirits fail And so transported by her fancy fell As if my doubts had rung her passing bell Orm Though I cannot speak nor do yet know how To look I 'm ready to attend you now Queen I fear so sudden and so great a joy As your approach may equally destroy Let me her heart prepare that by degrees She may but hope retain before she see The comfort that your visit brings and than Ormasdes may ere long prove best of Men. Ormas Madam I do myself to you submit Pray order me in all as you think fit Queen You shall then stand unseen while I do tell This welcome story which will make her well And then by what you 'll see you may observe How my true friendship will from both deserve Who have no wish beyond Ormasdes good When time shall make me rightly understood Ormas Madam I have now no more to say But that I will your Majesty obey Queen You shall not stir Ormasdes till I send Exit Queen and Train Enter to him Nearous Ormas Did you not meet Cleandra going out Near Yes but I have business of importance Pray let us withdraw and be more private Ormas Come this way then They go out and Re-entey Ormas Why have you drawn me to this inner Room Is the secret of so piercing quality That fewer Walls than these cannot contained Near It is my Lord of a high nature grown I must impart it to yourself alone You and I must kill one another now Ormas May not I live though you are pleased to die Near No Sir since 't is decreed that I must die I am resolved to have you Company There 's a Sword the same with mine defend you Ormas Hold a while May not I know the cause of this hatred Near I have no hatred yet endeavour must That we together may revert to dust Though you by chance have robbed me of my right I 'd not outlive Ormasdes if I might Ormas From whence does this strange kindness to me grow Say for I will not fight until I know Near This then will teach you to defend yourself Runs at him he puts his Sword by and holds him Ormas I shall call my Servants unless you now show The cause of this distracted fury Near I will Lets him go Valeriana's my Quarrel She throws neglects on me and dotes on you Ormas You are mistaken sure and much abused It is not possible She dotes on me Who never courted Lady in my life Near By all that 's good she told me so herself Ormas This must be some design beyond my reach But if true from whence does my guilt arise Who never heard of your pretence till now Nor have a serious thought for hers to me If such a folly do her heart possess Am I to answer for her guiltiness Near I do accuse you of no guilt at all But joy to think if by my hand you fall It will Create in her such misery As will adorn my death with Victory Ormas If such revenge and malice you intent Where is the Love that you so much pretend Near we 'll talk of that as our two souls expire She flattered me with hopes that blew my Fire She threw out vows to marry me and now In hope of you disowns that holy vow Ormas Made vows to marry you and yet love me Pray show me how this story does agree I swear I never had a thought of Love To Lady in my life and will now quit The interest you pretend rather than fight For such imaginary Dreams as this Near You must Fight Nearcus offers at him he rings a Bell. Enter Servants Ormas No disarm him so now leave us alone Exeunt Nearcus I have loved you and shall still If you 'll permit what does this story mean Near By Hea Valeriana did engage To marry me if my Birth equalled hers But now reputes in hope to marry you Ormas This story grows stranger and stranger still Does your Birth equal hers on which you ground Your Title and on which her vow was made Near It does Ormasdes and did hers exceed When I first urged that sacred Vow she made She but a Subject unto me appeared Ormas And are you other now Near Yes have you not heard that Prince Orontes Brother to our late King had a young Son Called Leonatus who by sad mishap Fencing with the Prince hurt him in the Eye Of which hurt he died and the King enraged Made vows to Sacrifice the Murderer As if the mischief purposely were done In order to his own Succession After Cleandra who was then married To a young Prince in Greece and settled there Orm I  often heard the Queen with sighs lament Her Brother's loss by that sad accident And say she pitied Leonatus' death As innocent for that unhappy youth She heard was drowned endeavouring to escape Her Father's Vengeance he unjustly vowed Near She was misinformed my Lord he yet lives 'T was by this fatal hand her brother fell And I accursed that have thus long survived To fall a mis-becoming Sacrifice To Love by a disdainful Lady's Eyes After so long concealment and so safe By Old Nearcus put in this disguise Bred as his Son but now I life despise And call to have that Justice on me done Which I have used much industry to shun Ormas You tell me wonders of a different kind Of which I shall inquire and if I find Valeriana stands engaged to you And all this story of yourself prove True I will my best endeavours soon employ This gross mistake of me to rectify Near If my address do find no good success The business of my life shall be to die And whether by your hand or by command From our great Queen it is the same to me The Princess must my life or death decree Ormas I shall conceal your Name until I see I may reveal it with security And in few hours if my desires succeed You shall from all your doubts and fears be freed Near You will oblige me ever if you do Exit Near Ormas My hour is come to wait upon the Queen Unto Valeriana where this News I hope will bring me off from the first Rock By Valeriana to be thus loved And by Cleandra for another wooed And by Nearcus killed I know not why To me is a new kind of Mystery Exit Enter Valeriana brought in very weak lying on a Couch with Physicians and Servants She speaks very faintly Valeria Is not the Queen returned to Court yet Lady No Madam Valeria I wish she were my heart dissolves so fast That I do find I shall few minutes last She faints Doctor Your fancy does your weakness much increase This passion is the worst of your disease Enter Queen and Ormasdes she sets him to stand unseen Doctor Oh Madam you are much wished for here Queen Let all withdraw I must be private now Only do you Ormasdes stand unseen How is it with my friend Val I 'm glad that you are come to close my Eyes My spirits waste so fast that I must die Queen I hope not yet Valeriana Val A lass Madam I had not lived till now But for the joy my broken heart conceives In hopes to hear Ormasdes is grown well Before I leave this World Queen 'T was the distemper of an Ague fit And he is now so far from being sick That he without begs leave to visit you Val Me did you say to visit me Madam Will Ormasdes visit me is it so Queen Yes he 's without and does by me desire You will admit him Why are you silent Now my endeavours prosper to your wish Val Does wise Cleandra think it will be sit That I in such a passion leave this World As I shall do if I see Ormasdes I shame to think that he should see me die Yet cannot choose but wish it heartily Queen Shall I call him in then why do you doubt Val. Oh Madam I dare not see him must not You have said something to bring him hither Makes me fear to see him it must not be Queen Pray see him and let this great crime be mine His presence may your troubled heart revive Val He cannot Madam for 't is now too late I do feel here the heavy hand of Death Is crushing me to Air She faints in the Queens Arms. Queen Ormasdes your help she dies she dies He draws and proffers to kill himself Ormas By all our Gods I will die with her then Queen She lives again Ormasdes your help now He flings away his Sword and helps So let her head lie a little from us He knelt and holds her hand Ormas For Heaven sake Madam tell what I must say Or what now must do is she not dead still Queen Does not her hand inform you that she lives Is it not warm Ormas Oh yes 't is warm but I who never dared Thus boldly touch a Lady's hand till now Understand not how to use it as I ought He kisses her Hand Queen There needs no other kindness than you show How is it now Valeriana Val Well Madam too well I fear to last so I dare not look that way because I blush To think how I have scandalised my Sex And how Ormasdes now is justified In his contempt of Women for my sake I have no power to take away my hand Yet dare not own to leave it with him longer Ormas Oh why what has Ormasdes ever done Justly to merit this dissertion Val Pray Madam say something in my behalf Either to hide or to excuse my shame Queen Turn this way then and let your Eyes excuse That guilt which will Ormasdes disabuse They turn her Ormas She looks desperately ill Queen 'T is only weakness and no danger in 't Pray call her Servants and let us retire Ormas Retire you have engaged me now so far That I must see the Battle won or lost Before I can consent to a Retreat Queen 'T is late and she must sleep Ormas Why Madam so she may though I be by I 'll sit as silent as the God of sleep And here attend while her tired servants rest Queen You will not watch all night Ormasdes Ormas Oh but I will Madam watch night by night Till she recover This is my fixed Post Appointed by the Gods not your command Nor any force has power to take me hence While this good Sword will hold for my defence Takes up his sword Queen Why so fierce and violent Ormasdes I am much joyed to see you thus concerned And on this quarrel am not like to fight With such a man at Arms by Candle-light Ormas For Heaven sake Madam pardon my rash words And disrespect unto your Majesty For I do scarce know what I say or do I am become a stranger to myself So suddenly transformed that I would hide Me from your sight if I durst stir from hence Queen I will forgive so you 'll let me direct Your future actions I 'll your Love protect Ormas If you 'll command I gladly will obey Queen You must submit to what she does appoint Ormas Most willingly Valeria sighs aloud and weeps Queen Does our discourse these sighs and tears produce Val You have said nothing that will need excuse These Tears slow from joy and gratitude To you great Queen who by this act include More pious pity then past stories tell To make Ormasdes counterfeit so well This thought raised those unruly sighs you heard And Madam now it makes my soul afraid To see so great a courage thus submit To flatter me because you think it fit At your command to put on this disguise In kindness unto one he does despise Queen Do you then think his kindness counterfeit Can his great soul consent to such deceit Valeria I can yet find no argument for ground To change so great contempt as I have found Into so high esteem as he does now By your advice in charity allow That my last minutes may some pleasure have He yields to send me smiling to my grave Queen You cannot judge so ill of him you love Nor can so brave a man so worthless prove Val I do confess I should be glad to find All real that I see and his great mind The same brave Character he had maintain Through his whole life and not that glory stain But if 't be real this comes now too late His kindness cannot change the course of Fate Queen Think not of Death for if you will endure The Trial I will undertake the Cure I see your sufferings do compassion move Which in most generous hearts does turn to Love Ormas Madam I know not what you do call love Nor how in that fantastic Sphere to move I cannot talk the language Lovers use When they design fair Ladies to abuse Nor can I yet by this experience guess If Love or a distraction does possess My heart give me but leave to watch this night That while you sleep I may my heart invite To tell me what it ails if it be Love What all the World allows I shall approve And then I 'll rather die then  forsake What I avow or what I undertake Queen Pray Madam give him leave to watch this night Some serious thoughts may set his fancy right He has lain often on the frozen ground On less occasion and more danger found Valeria I shall not rest then though you think it fit I shall condemn myself if I submit Queen 'T is somewhat more than custom does allow I must confess but how to help it now Who knows you see he is resolved to beat Us all if we but mention his Retreat Ormas Pray let not this my first suit be denied But give me leave to sit on yonder side As silent as sleep self my body shall Be fixed as is that figure on the Wall Queen Let him Valeriana pray consent 'T will prove his honour or his punishment Ormas Who can have more care who so fit as I To watch who am resolved with her to Die Good rest unto your Majesty He leads off the Queen Queen He 'll turn me out if I refuse to go But why Ormasdes do you tremble so Ormas This shaking fit may to a Fever turn And I  day in Love's bright flames may burn Exeunt omnes THE FIFTH ACT. Valeriana is discovered a sleep on a Couch with Doctors and Ladies all asleep about her Ormasdes rises from the ground at the Couch side Ormas ALl Eyes are shut all hearts can rest but mine I 've something here that will not let me sleep 't is Love I am bewitched or it is Love That thus disturbs my body and distracts My mind no other passion works like this Well then if it be Love where 's the wonder The wisest bravest and the greatest men Have been in Love as much or more than I But why then was I thus long without it Why did not bright Cleandras' Beauty burn Why was not this Fire kindled until now How comes Valeriana by this power To wound me deeper than Cleandra did My Kind loving heart how comes this to pass Valeriana sighs and groans aloud Ormas Ha! Her spirit by that sigh informs me That doubled groan struck through my wavering soul Oh thou Divinest power what ere thou art I do submit Valerianas' groans Are all sufficient Arguments for Love It seems my stony heart was proof against All charms but deep fetched sighs and dying groans By which 't is now made supple and so soft That it is ready to take any form That sick Valeriana shall direct Great God of Love forgive my past neglects And now restore this Lady to her health Then I with Insense will thy Altars load Thy Temple with those Trophies now adorn Which my whole life prepared for Mars and jove Since they allow me to submit to Love Valeria wakes and calls Valeria Drusilla Ormas Madam your Servants do all sleep but I. Valeria I would not have waked you Ormasdes Ormas You have not Madam I have not slept yet Pray let your Servant know what 't is you want Val I want assurance of a thing I doubt Ormas Can I give you that assurance Val Yes Ormas And will you not lay that command on me Val Do they all sleep Ormas They do Val Ormasdes I would know what I do fear You are pre-ingaged never to tell me Ormas By your fair self I swear I 'm not engaged In any kind but may and will impart What ever in my knowledge you inquire Val My first doubts does still remain that the Queen Upon assurance of my sudden death Has won you thus to flatter my last hours Like glittering Sunshine upon dying Flowers Ormas Madam by all that 's Holy she has not What shall I say what do to gain your Faith Val You have done it now I am satisfied And do believe all 's truth Ormasdes speaks But I do fear this truth appears too late Orm Why Madam have you made vows against me Will no repentance nor no penance serve To wash away my Sins against your Sex Will you that Universal quarrel wed And bring destruction on your servants head Val Vows Ormasdes and those against you made Oh do not take away the Joy you gave By such a thought I never wished nor prayed For blessing upon Earth beyond your Love Which you in charity so amply show That I do doubt I dream what I enjoy Ormas Madam you do now misjudge my passion To call that charity which may be love For aught I know this so late acquaintance With my new heart is short and my transports So great it must be madness if not love For give me leave to swear that I will know No other Joys than yours nor thoughts admit But with design to serve and honour you Val I do now wish the Gods my life would spare And make me worthy of Ormasdes care Ormas Madam you speak a Language of respect To me who merit nothing but neglect Your favours flow so fast they over-whelm My heart with joys and raise my soul so high It turns amazement into extacy Val I should not talk thus if I did not see 't 't is hard for you now to hide then show 't I do not fear your passion will go less But doubt by death to lose what I possess Ormas You cannot die Madam I have no fear To find so great a curse from Heaven sent I only doubt I sleep and fear to wake Lest this abundant bliss should vanquish quite And so involve me in Eternal Night May I presume to beg a favour yet Which will my fancy ●ix and so confirm My doubtful soul 't is real and no dream Val You may Ormas I beg that Ring you wear but if of price Too great for me pardon my Avarice Val 'T is a trifle ask something of more worth Ormas Sure nothing can of greater value be If you repent what you now promised me Val You ask what is not in my power to give My dying Mother with this Ring bequeathed Her curse if ever I did part with it But to the man I meant to make my Lord Ormas 'T is a charm not to be dissolved by me Who dare not touch it on the terms you name I was ambitious to wear it Madam But only as your servant not your Lord Val It never can be had on easier terms Ormasdes you must have this and me together Alive or dead you must have both or neither Ormas All my Limbs do tremble at what I hear I dare not understand the words you speak Lest my mistakes do give you an offence Beyond a pardon for such impudence Val You do not mistake me nor can you err If you 'll avow this kindness that you show Ormas By all our Gods I think my flame is Love I know no other name for what I feel But if you doubt propose a way to try And as it proves declare my destiny Val I will consider on some way to try But must submit unto this drowsiness For some minute's time 't will take me from you Pray Sir command the Music now to play He steps to the Door then Music plays a while Ormas She has talked herself into a Repose Now I will try to get a little Rest. That my tired fancy may at last be fixed Valeriana Counterfeits to sleep Ormasdes lies on the ground by her Couch and while he sleeps she puts the Ring on his finger then the Music ends Val So when he calls to mind what I have said He can expect no more than I now give Great goddess of pure hearts protect my fame And this rash act forgive which frights me now To such repentance with such sudden pain I am resolved to take it off again She offers to take it off and cannot His hand is so fast closed I cannot do 't And to wake him in the attempt is worse Such boldness may a double censure get I blush to think how rashly I begun And now repent the folly I have done His hand opens And now 't is mine again She takes off the Ring Music plays she sleeps in earnest while the Music is Oh blessed accident Enter the Queen and Train Queen Wake them not has Ormasdes walked to night From that corner hither in his sleep Did any of you hear them talk i' th' night Doctor Not I Madam First Lady Nor 1 Second Lady I heard none stir Madam Ormasdes wakes and upstarts Ormas The Queen is it so late Queen You have had a hard Lodging my Lord Ormas I have had the happiest night Madam And am Richer far than both the Indies Ormasdes starts and looks distractedly for something lost Ha! I am undone undone for ever Queen What look you for my Lord what have you lost Ormas I had it now just now on this finger I look for Treasure Madam worth the World He Searches 'T was no dream it must be here abouts I beg your pardon Madam for this search Which does concern my life and honour too Queen This is the strangest passion I ere ●aw Has your great loss no name to know it by Ormas Yes I have lost Valerianas' Ring Queen You did but dream see 't is on her Finger Ormas How 't is so indeed do I not dream now Or do the Gods us men with shadows mock When we do seek such great felicities As they allow us not to have below What a strange height of bliss am I fallen from Queen Has this one night such mutual friendship gained That the prophetic Ring could be obtained Ormas I know not what to say nor what to think I know not when I sleep or when I wake Yet must believe that Ring was mine this night And I have lost that Treasure Childishly Some kind friend strike me hard that I may feel I now am waking your pardon Madam For my disaster makes me almost mad Valeriana wakes Queen How have you slept Valeriana Val Very well Madam for one so weak Ormas Did you not wake about midnight Madam Val Not that I remember Ormas Was ever man so much abused in 's sleep Val Ormasdes what means your disordered looks Queen He finds his waking fancies are much less Delightful than his sleeping happiness Orm I dreamt Madam that Ring you prise so much Was this night by you put on my Finger When a thousand thousand joys fell on me Which now waking I have no name for Val My Ring Ormasdes and on your Finger And by me put on 't was a dream indeed I hope you do not waking think it fit That I should waking do so bold an act Ormas Madam it does not become me to say I wish what you do not allow nor dare I tell so great a lie as to deny The joy I dreamed of when I thought I saw And did believe I felt it once was mine Val 'T is far from my serious thoughts Ormasdes After such high passion as I have showed Now to raise any discontent in you But do not lessen your esteem of me By the acquisition of such favours As you yourself in others would condemn Have we not both at first sight done enough To justify what we profess I fear Too much on my part did not Cleandra Own all that she has done on my behalf Ormas I submit and will wish and think and do What the wise Queen and you advise me to Queen Ormasdes has not lost his time I see Nor my design for your recovery Fallen short the Gods in their good time will bring You to give and him to accept the Ring May your new friendship never know decay But freely both command and both obey I must now leave you for an hour or two Ormas leads the Queen to the Door and returns Ormas Madam is this a fit time to inquire Nearcus Story may I now desire You to unriddle the bold claim he makes Val You shall hereafter have it all at large Only know now he used a violence In show with such unparallelled deceits Such insolent demands so cunning couched His threats with humble looks so plain disguised That at first sight I found I was surprised Then to avoid his purpose I was forced To use such doubtful words to bring me off His madness did interpret his own way While I was safe by what I wisely said To farther my escape when so afraid Thus was Cleandras' trust and mine abused A base treachery was never used Ormas You have informed me fully of his fact I suddenly will find Nearcus out And hurl such vengeance on his cursed head Aside That all the World shall say 't is well he 's dead They carry off Valeriana Exeunt omnes Enter Nearcus Near 'T is strange I hear not of Ormasdes yet If he oblige me really I 'm his If not I shall resume my first resolves This his delay begets more jealousies Then my impatient burning heart can bear Enter Ormasdes Near Now Sir how have I prospered in your hands Ormas As you deserve Near How is that Ormas With much scorn rejected Near Is that my merit in your opinion Ormas In mine as in Cleandras and in all Who have heard the ground of your false claim Which the fair Princess and her Servants tell A Treachery so base an act so foul That all do think Nearcus has no soul. Near This you dare justify Ormas I had not dared to tell it else me thinks My looks might show my business was to find You out and now to let you know I must Defend the Princess in a cause so just Before I knew Valerianas' heart Or was at all acquainted with my own I judged your cause against her innocence But now informed the right from all I find No argument in Justice to compel Such a forced promise to Nearcus made Should now to Leonatus be performed Your juggling Arts and your disguised Name With your unworthy force o'er throws your claim Near You are become a subtle Orator Since you conversed with Ladies but I shall Your great Eloquence with this steel convince I am not to be frighted by big words We now must try the temper of our Swords Ormas We must indeed though I lament my hand Should harm a man unto the Queen allied Near Shall that scruple and this good Sword once more Teach you to call for help as heretofore Ormas I may change your opinion with my own Near Come then They Fight Ormasdes runs him through Disarms him Ormas Get Surgeons for Nearcus presently My hurt is slight Exit Ormasdes Enter Surgeons or Servants who carry off Nearcus Enter the Queen in Valerianas' Chamber with her and attended by Old Titus Old Nearcus Lords and Ladies a full Train Queen 'T is by your good nature Valeriana That this man's evil spirit threatens us Had you revealed Nearcus treachery His punishment had suited with his crime Val Madam I do confess my lenity May have emboldened him to higher ills Which my just complaint might have prevented But then how hard a censure should I gain By ruining so Eminent a man Who from his principles of honour fell Through love to me though I contemned his hopes His passion made me pity his distress So far as his first error to forgive In hope he might in better order live Queen You argue well and aught to justify Your gentle disposition to forgive Mercy does a young Princess much adorn But I am bound to vindicate myself My Nation suffers if I be not just To punish crimes like this I break my trust He is the first that ever da●'d asperse The Citherean Name by such a fact As no past Chronicle can parallel I shake to think how great your danger was And how much greater might have been my shame To trust a man who values not his fame Val Let not his faults your anger higher raise The punishment he feels by ill success Is a just doom for his unworthiness Queen His sentence must to after times appear Lest my story be blemished with a thought That I did wink at such a crime as this My people will exclaim the Gods will frown If such a wickedness unpunished pass He must die Valeriana his house Be burnt the ashes scattered in the Air With prayers t' appease our Citherian Gods We cannot offer a less Sacrifice Val For my sake let his doom be banishment If I have any favour in your Eyes Make not me guilty by that Sacrifice She knelt Queen Rise Madam you shall govern as you please Enter to them Ormasdes and Young Titus Queen Ormasdes are you hurt by that vild man Ormas It is too little to be called a wound I come now to beg Nearcus pardon 'T was I that did enforce him to this fight Val And I most wronged who freely do forgive Queen The wrong was done to me Valeriana I put you in his power my trust he broke My honour for your safety was engaged Our Nation suffers by his Villainy The Citherean honour calls for Justice Against so barbarous a breach of Faith Nor was it you provoked but were compelled By him to fight for innocence aspersed Ormas Madam though I shall never justify Nearcus actions his misfortune may Admit excuse Because humane nature Is subject to passions which the best men Can never manage as they ought how then May Valeriana's beauty guilty be That did excite Nearcus love and led Him into this distraction past his power To manage his own heart as we think best If so 't is she has turned him to a Beast But when your Majesty shall call to mind The gallant service by this Madman done You will then pity his Distraction Enter to them Nearcus brought in a Chair Queen What means this boldness Near Madam I come not to beg your pardon But to justify my actions and myself Against Ormasdes who does now withhold Valeriana my betrothed Wife Confirmed by vows in presence of the Gods Queen Now Ormasdes is he fit for pardon Ormas Yes Madam as a distracted person Near Why do you wrong my person and my cause To call my just Title a distraction Do me Justice Cleandra or give me Death Queen You may have both your wishes in good time Cleobulus guard him to the Castle Val Pray Madam let his doom be banishment Because his Crime went not beyond intent Queen Madam he must thank you for his life then Cleobulus see him a close prisoner Until his wounds permit his Banishment Near I do your proffered mercies all refuse And either Death or Valeriana choose Queen Led him to banishment make him obey Near Hold a little Cleandra look this way 't is Leonatus calls he who at foils The young Prince your Brother slew And fled your Father's rage until his death Then sheltered by this borrowed Name returned And in Nearcus Family secured By this disguise lived as his only Son Who died as I returned is it death yet Queen No this insolence shall not change your doom Nor your confessed disguise long known to me Force a punishment beyond the merit Of that sad mishap which I believe Was fatal accident no purposed crime Though my Father looked on his only Son By your hand slain with such revenging rage As might his loss become and him engage To throw out vows that Justice should pursue So great a Traitor as he then thought you For your succession after me became His fancy's object which increased your blame But I who have exactly been informed Of my dead Brother's love and yours now must For that sad accident to you be just Near I 'll rather quit my innocence than own Your mercy when you Justice do deny Give me the fair Princess or give me death Queen I cannot with Justice give you either How can I a free Princes will compel Or how Ormasdes true pretence deny Or how afford you death for that offence Which your unlucky hand did act by chance Near Would I had died the day of my return Since great Cleandra dares not do me Right But suffers false Ormasdes to possess What is my due I all your mercy scorn And will the worst of Tyranny endure Queen I have employed you as my Brother's friend Thus long not at his Murderer connived And until now by force compelled my face To frequent smiles in favour of your worth While my heart ached to think what you had done But you of late unworthy our great Name Have scandalised the Citherean Fame Boldly to own a Crime so great as may incense The World to question your first innosence Which clearly shows you are for mischief built That dared to entertain so base a guilt My mercy may prove sin unless betimes My Justice do prevent your farther crimes Near. Must I be held and baited thus to death Be torn and tortured by a Woman's breath Queen See my Command obeyed Cleobulus I shall take order for an Equipage Fit for your great and shall now confine You to an Island near from whence you may Return if you outlive me and mine Remove him hence Ne Hold a while curse on curse light on you all For this unjustice which you mercy call Tyrants cruel Tyrants your juggling Art Lay by and strike a Dagger through my heart If Ormasdes any honour have in store He 'll fight another bout upon the Shore As I take ship and if I chance to die My soul shall then applaud thy Victory And sing thy praise to the infernal Ghosts That they may choose thee Captain of their Hosts When thou comest down Let not a Lady's word Destroy by piercing deeper than thy sword Will you not answer cruel and unjust Ye Gods why put you Sceptres into women's trust Who crushes me to raise a Coward's Name Whom I will in the Elysium fields Defame No honoured Ghost of Troy shall there own thee The Grecian and the Roman Souls with me Will trample on thy Coward's neck with scorn Poor shadow of a gallant man only born To lie in Lady's laps perfumed and curled I 'll Post thee Coward in the other World They force him away on the Queen's back with her Hand Adm 't is strange that none of us should know him Y. Tit The general opinion he was drowned Made us not see through his disguise Admire But his strange passion does amaze me most Ormasdes wedding will his frenzy cure When love does see no possibility Desires and hopes will vanish by degrees Y. Tit We see despairs work often other ways Queen He has disturbed me but I 'll forget him Valeriana come let us consult The Ceremony of your Wedding-day Ormasdes joys and yours will blow away The farther thought of Leonatus' crimes Val Our Wedding Madam I see no reason For so great a haste now we are secure Or Madam since you have raised my hopes so high It were a sin to doubt my destiny Yet say when shall my thoughts so fixed remain That I may never think I dream again Val Ormasdes not too fast we must proceed With much discretion to so great a deed The Eyes of all this Nation do behold Our actions and may think my part too bold If I again shall do what I repent It would deserve a double punishment My overhasty Love was once my crime I must redeem that fault by taking time To finish what so violent begun Lest into greater errors I do run A year or two's delay will add much grace To our young Love which Time cannot deface Ormas Why have you led me forth with gentle gales Into this dangerous deep why filled my Sails With such propitious winds us would convey Me safe to my wished Port the nearest way Why do you now abstruct this happy course As if you wished for storms or something worse Why thus forsake the Light to sailith● dark As if you sought out hazards for this Bark In which you are the only freight that I Can fear to lose by my mortality Oh! do not then my Joys to time betray Lest you do ruin all by your delay Queen How Valeriana must this Scene of Love Fall from its height and now no farther move Does your quick conquest of Ormasdes make Him less worthy when we such prisoners take As might ourselves command if they will serve We cannot give them more than they deserve Consider well lest you yourself destroy If thus you do defer Ormasdes joy Val Madam you and the World too well do know My love to him can now no higher grow I only thus stand off lest he despise A conquest gained without an enterprise And that by injured Sex hereafter may Judge of my innocence by this delay Honour forbids that we in haste engage Rash actions often ill events presage Though I like a tall Ship that spreads her sails When she is carried on with prosperous gales To her wished Port do sigh to be delayed And blame the Remora by which I 'm stayed Ormas Honour and fancy at great distance stand You have no argument for this command But your own nice unnecessary thought By which your Virtue may become a fault 't is true that my neglects to Woman kind May urge that I should now no favour find Till my whole life be spent to gain a bliss To crown my latests hours with joys like this I do confess such judgement were my due From all the women in the World but you Who have no argument nor a pretence Why you should prove the Rod for my offence Val Ormasdes true I only now would prove By some short time the temper of your Love And show the World that mine was not in haste Though its first motion moved so fierce and fast It makes me blush to think that this great Queen And her whole Nation have such weakness seen As all commanding Love forced me to show Oh! 't is a bold attempt when Women woo Ormas What ere the vulgar think great Princes may The dictates of their greater souls obey 'T is a self-doubting sin when you alone Dare not avow what Gods and men do own Queen These cautious ways are only fit for such As have suspected virtues you are much Above the reach of Censures 't was I That wooed him first mine be the infamy Who boast the active part with the success And would not for the World it had been less It does become me now to see your hands United as your hearts If my commands Be slighted and myself not understood When I require what 's for your mutual good I shall repent the kindness I have shown And wish you never had Ormasdes known Val Madam when you command I must submit But will Ormasdes waking think it fit Now to accept this Ring and safer keep What he desires than when he last did sleep I had some pleasure and no little pain To put it on and steal it off again But now since Gods and you do all agree Receive this bond of my Captivity Ormas I kiss the hand that freely gives it now May thunder strike me dead when I do bow To other Earthly Power or wish a bliss That Heaven can give the Gods allowing this Ormasdes heart shall into incense turn And in bright flames before this Altar burn So long as my fair Saint does not despise To look upon so mean a Sacrifice To you great Queen I know not what to say How to express a gratitude that may Declare the glory of your life to be A perfect pattern for Posterity Qu. Brave Lord your Triumphs and your Trophies still Increase our wonder and our Nation fill With such Esteem as all my people may With Honour keep your Wedding Holiday And in our Story after Ages show Friendship and Virtue did together grow FINIS PANDORA A Comedy By S it WILLIAM KILLIGREW Vice-Chamberlaine to Her MAJESTY OXFORD Printed by Hen Hall Printer to the UNIVERSITY for Ric Davis 1666. The Names of the Actors The Prince of Syracuse Theodocia his Daughter Pandora a great Lady of the Prince his Family Lindamira a Lady of Quality Lonzartes Right Heir to the Principality Clearcus a Lord of the Prince his Kindred Silvander a young Lord of the Court. Aristonicus Three Councillors Clothero Three Councillors Ormuseus Three Councillors Teretia Ladies attending the Princess Philora Ladies attending the Princess Three more Attending Ladies For Pandora Three more Attending Ladies And Lindamira Men-Dancers Women-dancers Sanga Lackeys and Geta. Lackeys An Old-woman The PROLOGUE Lover's to You I come without a Bribe From one that boasts himself of your own Tribe And therefore hopes that your good Natures may On his behalf above your judgements sway What you 'll see here is natural all pretence He disavows to Wit or Eloquence With Friendship he presents you and with love Such as are wont in his free breast to move Such passions as he feels our Author writes And humours such as he observes indites From Conversation bringing to the Stage What he does think will please the presents Age. And if you do not grudge your time here spent He will accept it for a Compliment PANDORA OR THE CONVERTS The SCENE in Syracutia FIRST ACT. Enter Lonzartes and Clearchus in long Grey Cloaks over their Rich  with Sanga and Geta two Lacques carrying Lanterns the two Lords Enter a private House the two Servants stay San. COme Geta our Lords have no more use of us we may go sleep Geta. 'T is a fair time indeed to sleep when day begins to break this is a lewd life that our Lords do lead San Why man the Night was made for labourers to rest and for great Lords to Revel in come away Geta. My Lord is not half so ill as thine Sanga What 's that to thee or me come away we 'll go to Beggar's Hall and be as merry as our Lords Geta. No no I will no more ●ully my Credit in thy company I converse with our tall Dary-maid who affords me Honours thou canst not guess at Sanga Oh the great Felicities that do belong to chaste embraces as I imagine San I like Embraces well Geta I mean by Wedlock man San A Cox comb thou art and a Cuckold thou wilt be adieu Fool. Geta. Adieu Rogue Exeunt severally A noise within Re-enter Clearchus and Lonzartes in the Dark Clearcus Bots on thy slippery heels we are undone Lon. Let us draw and stand upon guard I hear some call within Cle What was that strange noise you made Lonza At the bottom of the stairs I fell which gave the Alarm to the Dogs and they waked all the Family Enter Old-Woman Woman Oh my Lord what have you done all the House are up pray stand close a while are you alone Cle Yes yes Exit Old-woman Lonz Thou art a very Villain Clearcus thus to betray a poor Wench that loves thee and to force me accept a Favour I abhor to think on Cle Be the blame mine I have no joy in any thing unless my friend participate If I have any skill in Woman you will thank me for this favour and say you never had the like of Angelica Lon Suppose she will not consent must I ravish her you say she knows not of my coming Cle I swear she does not Lonz Would I were out again these Romances please not me pray how must I proceed Cle Thus she is in Bed the Room is dark I 'll entertain her with discourse while you undress then I 'll retire and soon return with Light to let her see my friend and I must be as one man to her Lon I wonder all Women do not hate thee thou dost abuse all them that trust thee Cle You are deceived Lonzartes such silly Girls do take it for a compliment to recommend them to a Noble Friend Lonz Well I must now be subject to thy will and do submit to do what I detest me thinks this is a kind of Rape I undertake thou art too wild for my Converse Clearcus Clearcus Hold your peace Enter Old-Woman Woman Hist hist my Lord Cle Here here Woman Give me your hand softly softly follow me Exeunt Woman leading them off holding hands Enter the Old Prince of Syracuse with Silvander Aristonicus Clothero Ormuseus and Train Prlnce How does Lonzartes bear his Suppression Aristonicus now he is full-man grown Ariston Like a wise man Sir that will not seem to see what he cannot remedy Primero I have better thoughts for him than he has for himself if Clearcus spoil him not Ariston When more years have overcome some evils incident to youth I hope he will be worthy your highest favours Sir Prin Some of you should advise him to a little more sobriety than Clearcus will allow of I apprehend Silvander that the Corinthian will quarrel for my refusing to treat his Marriage with Theodosia whom I design another way she has aversion to him Silius The Princes may be excused for her dislike unto so fierce a man the Corinthian Prince is all Fire and fury which does fright not win affection Prin If Theodosia will be advised by me I shall provide better for her you know Lonzartes right Silvander if he were reclaimed I would wish him to my Daughter Silius I have some thoughts Sir that Lonzartes does consort with wild Clearcus and complies in all his Vanities only to avoid your jealousy of his higher thoughts of interest in the State he is no fool Sir Prin I wish it prove not too much his Nature to be so debauched for he has not higher thoughts of State-interest than I have for him he has been wronged Silvander and I will endeavour to do him right if he 'll be worthy of it Exeunt omnes Enter Lonzartes and Clearcus in a Garden Cle Why this grave face to me Lonzartes Lonz Thou art so wild that I have lost my credit by conversing with thee which I must redeem by keeping better company hereafter Cle Wisely resolved and in good time declared I have indeed observed that you of late converse with Ladies and delight in rich laced Satin and in Silver Petticoats as if you meant to turn Apostate from the freedom we have had and now seek your game in secret my Lonzartes Lonz If I should pray which is most Honourable and most suitable to my Quality The daily terror of getting such diseases as inhabit your dark houses has frighted me into better purposes Cle Your Quality I wish your Prince-ship had all the Ladies you desire so I might have like freedom with their Maids Lonz I shall not spoil your Market but leave you those cheap  at your own price Cle See the difference now between your Pride and my Humility you have studied learned discourses too such as must justify your conversion as you call it but have never weighed the difference of our crimes such thoughts Lonzartes do move my tender Conscience to take what I can find for ready money which I freely enjoy without those frights you daily feel Lon Thou dost mistake me and exclaimest against crimes I never understood Cle. You can counterfeit I know and may cozen all the World but me I will not give my freedom up to such follies as you serve to be Master of all your wishes Lon I shall not labour to convert you but will take leave to despise your mean ways while you envy mine Cle Envy by Violinus Eyes I do despise you and your ways and will wager any thing you dare that I enjoy this night a beauty more exact than any cloth of Gold-Dame you treat with I envy you no I pity you Lonzartes that after such experience at your years you should be fooled so confess now seriously if you have ever met a better shape a softer or a whiter skin or any more sweet or more bewitching fair and lovely than my Angelina Lonz If I have not what then Cle Why she shall be Fine and rich arrayed when I so please I can call her Sultaness too and by my fancy raise her above those the World allows of Lon I do believe thee and thy fancy alike extravagant Cle But why so serious on the sudden and so dull you shall have good Cheer and good Company to night at the old place Lonz I shall get an ill Conscience by it Cle That sauce agrees not with the Dainties we must feed on pray lay by your Conscience until morning Lonz I wish I were well rid of thee all thy Rhetorich shall never engage me to meet such company again Cle Why pray how can you spend your time better Lonz I do begin to hate myself and will love thee no longer Cle Very good Are not you the most debauched man in Syracuse except myself how come you by this impudence to blush for going to a merry meeting Is not your own Lodging beyond a Scandal are not all the Wenches in that Street your Pensioners not love me I will study to scorn you and your love for ever I despise a man that does forsake his Principles Lonz I begin to hate thy overmuch lewdness and to see my own Deformities Cle Not love me Lon Come I do love thee too well I love thee shall we go home and put off this meeting Cle Lonzartes though I do love your Friendship I do hate this Humour in you that thus would lay a blemish on me Enter to them Lindamira and Teretia not at first seen by them Ter See Lindamira the two wild Princes are in our way how shall we get by 'um Linz Put on a confidence beyond theirs and 't will amaze them Ter Can that be Lin I 'll be your Forlorn Hope do but second me and I 'll secure your pass this time You 'll see them start shoot aside as from a Basaliske the honest Woman Ter Barbarous I have heard indeed they eat all virtuous Women Lin They always look over us as if they saw us not but where they have an interest or hope to gain it they can like subtle Serpents humbly creep to flatter and betray He now sees the Ladies Cle A prize a prize Lonzartes each of us one let us reconcile for this booty and dispute at leisure yond close walk invites which will you assault Lin Neither they are both virtuous Cle Who knows that have they done sucking Lin Dost thou think there be none virtuous beyond their infancy Cle Yes much too many but I hope better of these give me the Woman and keep her virtue to yourself I 'll charge 'em both there may be a Critical minute for me fair Ladies To them Lin Hold my Lord you are out at first one of us is very brown I assure you Cle You do not think yourself so or if you do you think brown the best Madam Lin I do indeed think my Beauty such as may prejudice your Lordship if you dwell on it which gave me boldness to interrupt your set Speech lest you engage passed retreating our business is to find the Princess Cle And ours to entertain those who have nothing else to do Lin How would you entertain us my Lord Cle As young Gallants use to treat Fair Ladies with love and our best service Lin I have no employment for so great a Servant as your Lordship and for love I understand it not Cle That you may do is my ambition Lin Nay if you be come to ambition already I guess your love will grow to such a Monster in a moment that I dread the thought on 't Cle You cut me off so short you cannot apprehend what I would say Lin Therefore I do it because I do not care to hear Cle What have I done Madam to merit this neglect from you Lin In the behalf of all our sex I am the chosen Champion against all men who do believe all Women do admire 'um Cle When shall I have leave to speak that I may inform you better Lin When I have done Cle When will that be Lin When I am gone Cle How can you be informed in absence Lin As much as I desire to know I know already my good wishes shall attend your Lordship come Teretia we may find the Princess in the other walks Exeunt Lon Now Sir how do you like this Lady's mettle Cle Why well I like her and her humour very well Lon You thought her a sure prize Cle I did but hope so at the first now I am sure of her she is my own if ever we do meet alone by this severity she has cozened Teretia and you and confirmed me Lon I must laugh to think how thou art mistaken in this innocent freedom virtuous women use and would give a good sum to see thee but converse a Month or two with persons of Honour which I believe would reclaim thee and fix those virtues now lost in a Chaos of wild actions Cle I marry if you could show me a Woman that would not be won I would fancy some delight to pass away an hour to two at idle times but all that I do meet with are mine before I wish it so that I am always forced to stand upon my guard amongst amongst Lon That 's no wonder amongst those women you converse with shall I choose you a Mistress and if you get her let the reproach be mine Cle Shall she be worth my pains if so I will think on 't when I have time to throw away come will you go with me yet Lon I 'll stay here a while Cle I 'll go before then and make ready for you Exit Lon What pity 't is such parts should be so drowned Though I resolve to quit I 'm guilty still If longer I do countenance his ill Enter to him as in the Garden the Princess Theodocia Pandora Lindamira Teretia and Ladies and Silvander Theod Lonzartes I have been laughing at Lindamiras relation of Clearcus humour she says she has abused him his own way in the behalf of honest Women whom he declares against Lon The encounter indeed was pleasant but the success is beyond her guess for she thinks that her neglects have dashed his hopes by which he is grown confident that her seeming scorns were only to dazzle our Eyes while he doubts not to gain an interest Lin I wish him joy my Lord of his quick Victory the next encounter will decide this difference of Opinions Pan But how dare you Lindamira enter the lists of Wit with young Clearcus who has the sharpest tongue in Syracuse Lin There is no contest so easy his whole discourse to Women is ever of love or something like it and does believe that all our souls delight in nothing else which makes me interrupt him still as he begins and never hear him out Silius Is that civil to a person of his Quality The Is he not angry when you slight him so Lin No Madam I am his mirth and he is mine Lonz If Pandora would permit I do fancy his conversion might be wrought by her and his Eclipsed virtues made to shine brighter than his vices do Silius 'T will be a Noble undertaking Madam Lin I wish he were within my cure Pan we 'll join our forces Lindamira for I shall easily consent unto so good a work as may reclaim so great a person as Clearcus a man so near allied unto the Duke but how must this Charitable work be done Lonz If you Madam will admit his visits for a Month or two the cure of course will follow for he who never yet conversed with civil Woman will surely be concerned when he shall see the harmless mirth that virtue does allow to persons of your Quality Pan So I be obliged no further then to civil visits his birth does require that for him which I deny to no man Lin Leave the rest to me The How happy are you Cousin that may dispose of yourself as you please I must speak and look and move as my Father and the State directs me Pan Great Princes indeed are bound to some strict Rules most subjects understand not Lin Your Highness complains without a cause we hear the Duke will leave you to your own choice only he will recommend The When Parents recommend 't is so like command it frights me to think whom it may be Pan Now you are safe from the Corinthian have no fear until you see occasion for it The I wish my dear Cousin you would marry too I should then like it better I now dread to put on that yoke by all the World so much desired Pan Will my being in the pound get your Highness out of it why would you have me run the hazard to lose that happiness I now am sure of by a single life If mwn did ever appear in their own likeness we might choose some one amongst many worth the having but in our sights they are always disguised in such shapes and humours as they believe we like best and so cozen us and themselves too for if they make us unhappy it seldom fails but we make them so Lin No Oracle ever spoke truer I am of your Sect Madam as to matters of Faith yet I would gladly have a Husband though it be dangerous to put my heart into another's keeping And as my learned Author says to give my freedom up unto I know not whom nor ever can do till I have him this were a sad condition Madam if we had not the same Arts to cozen them that think to cozen us The Would I could get a merry heart like yours Lindamira Lin I 'll present your Highness with a piece of mine I have enough for both Enter Messenger Mess Madam the Prince calls for you The I attend him pray Cousin go with me to my Father Exeunt Ladies Lon A few such excellent Women would make this World a Paradise how have I walked in the dark till now how strongly been misled by my affection to Clearcus that have approved and acted in all his ills begun upon design and led on till custom has almost changed my nature but will no more now Enter Clearcus to him Cle How now Lonzartes walking alone take heed the Devil find thee not at leisure Lon A greater than thyself can hardly find me Cle Very gravely replied if I mistake not you are whimpering after some great Lady and now practising to play the fool wisely to spend your time adoring you know not who nor why Lon Thou art still i' th' wrong Cle Let us meet then at the old place to night Lon That 's a freedom I shall never take more you have converted me beyond all the Homilies I ever read you have made me ashamed of myself for being so long like you Cle Oh Hypocrite what new piece have you got that I must not be trusted with come tell me and I 'll cry up your Austere purpose and rail at your conversion as if I did believe it Lon When you see me next in ill company Lam then that Hypocrite you mention Cle Out upon these tender Consciences they spoil more mirth than they are worth let old folks hear Homilies while we enjoy the time we have and not whine away our youth on dreams of virtue which signify we know not what Lon Peace Clearcus thou are not half so ill as thou appearest but dost glory in talking worse than thou canst be Cle. What should we talk of more than what we most delight in Lon Of nothing less because we often do delight in what we ought not own Is 't not enough to offend the Gods through frailty which perverse nature does invite us to but we must provoke Heaven beyond sense and appetite by our discourse as if we studied to defy those Powers we ought to tremble at Cle I hate Hypocrisy Lon And I abhor to aggravate my crimes by such unnecessary boastings as thy wild brain delights in when I offend I am sorry for it dost thou all honesty despise all virtue slight Cle How Lonzartes will you confine honesty and virtue to the fruition of one Woman only Fie what a scandal is this to mankind as if there were no honesty nor virtue but in such chaste breasts as yours what an affront to this good company pray speak Gentlemen is any here of his opinion can you Lonzartes show me one young man that looks as he were guilty or any so old who would be thought so weak Is this a fit design to set up your Title to the Dukedom Lon I see this is not the hour for your Conversion Cle Nor shall ever live to see that hour I hope Lon Nor you I fear ever live to taste and relish the true felicity obtained by such a conquest on thyself but I will pray for thee and thy conversion Cle I had rather your Lordship were at jerusalem then see that day of my conversion what have I done Lonzartes to deserve such ill from you do not provoke me to a revenge Lon Revenge for what Cle Can you ask for what suppose the Gods should hear your prayers and turn my heart how miserable a man were I how should I spend my time for forty years to come Is it not enough to forsake your cause but you must seduce me too Lonzartes if you pray for me I shall curse you heartily I dare stay no longer with him Exit Clearcus Lon If this brave man this humour could expel His Virtues would his Vices far excel I have put on this Cloak of wantonness only to avoid being thought a serious man left the Duke grow jealous of my pretensions to his Crown while the Duke is civil and I am safe he shall be so too But if I find designs against me I have Friends and force enough to gain my right by this Oh but Theodocia does unman me quite when I look on her all these high thoughts do vanish and I become the humblest creature in the Court I have no Title that I ere shall own Unless she deign to raise me to the Throne THE SECOND ACT. Enter Lonzartes alone Clearcus hoarkning at the Door Lon OH Cloris Cloris what strange unwonted pains I feel what fears what new disease congeals my blood if it be love 't will not offend the Gods because my soul does now rejoice to find Beauty and Virtue so divine that both may be well worshipped at one Shrine Clearcus chaps him hard on the Shoulder Cle Are you talking in your sleep Lonzartes or is it some divine meditation thus transports you Lon You are too rude Clearcus Cle I cry you mercy Sir you can be angry than I see I thought your conversion had set you above such passions as we wicked men are subject to Lon I do confess thou didst make me start and speak hastily but I am not angry nor can be with thee Embraces him Cle I 'll try your temper presently Oh! Beauty and Virtue so Divine both may be worshipped in one shrine Ha ha ha Lon What of this you heard me repeat an old Song Cle An old Song to a new Tune Lonzartes dost thou pray for my Conversion this way must I get a Cloris to sigh after as thou dost I have heard all and have observed thee too I and do guess who Cloris is come tell me quickly that way to oblige me to silence for if by my own skill I do discover her I 'll lay thee open to the World tell me who Cloris is left I tell thee Adieu Exit Lonzar How can he discover that I love when I know it not yet myself Yet I may admire her and by my adoration of her Virtues Be by them from all meaner passions freed When this new virtue shall my vice exceed Exit Enter Geta. Geta. What the Devil ails my Lord his wont mirth is changed into hay ho's and twenty times a day he sends me on sleeveless Errands that he may be alone I think Lord Clearcus will prove the wisest man at last I have been five times this morning to inquire if the Princess be in health if she be stirring or if near ready if she go to the Temple And after Dinner I must inquire if she have dined if she comes forth in public if she ride abroad and thus twenty times a day he tires me with these silly Errands when I might ask them all at once and save much labour I 'll try if I can find some way to contract these Embassies 't is well for my Lord that his man is wiser than himself Exit Enter Silvander with Lindamira and her Maid Silvand Do not my looks Lindamira enough express what I would say Linda Yes to me who do discern your passion thus suppressed more clear then by those loud noises which some Lovers most delight in Silius But how shall I be assured this is not Raillery Lin Cannot you judge by my looks as well as I by yours what kind of security do you require I have no Citizens that will be bound for my good behaviour Silius A serious word or two with a kind look confirmed will secure me against the World Lin Will this look serve and I am yours suffice for words with this hand given from my heart engage beyond your wish Silius It does may I be Lin Nay no strong lines I beseech you make me not jealous by professing more than I expect Silius I am confirmed passed ever doubting more He kisses her Hand Lin I shall try your temper if my merry humour hold Silius 'T is that free innocence takes me Lin And that I can afford enough of at an easy rate Enter Clearcus to them Silvander goes off Lin Your Lordship was going another way pray let not me divert you my lodging is far off Cle Madam I have long sought an opportunity to kiss your hands there Lin You may do it here and save the labour of going so far for nothing Cle Do you call that honour nothing which I do prize above the World and would give all my interest on Earth to purchase one kiss of your fair hands by a free consent Lin The World is little beholding to your Lordship for so low a value that will give all your interest on Earth for a kiss of my Hand and this I must in civility look as if I did believe Cle I 'll swear it Madam Lin That 's as easy done as said but I am hard of Faith Cle How shall I obtain more credit Lin I 'll show you a short way bring me a conveyance of half your Land and you shall have two kisses of my hand three if you please and as you like your Market you may have more for the other half of your Estate and this is much cheaper then to give all the World at once for such an honour Cle Why do you mock me who truly love and honour you above all women by those Fair Eyes I do Lin How can I believe it when I know you talk thus to every woman that you meet Cle May my hopes near prosper if you are not the only object of my heart He offers to kiss her Hand Lin No touching good my Lord my affairs calls me away I must be gone Cle And I must wait on you home Madam Lin I 'll rather stay here this Twelvemonth then give your Lordship that trouble Cle Am I such a Monster in the opinion of all women as you make me Lin I must take care you make not me one Oh happy deliverance Enter to them Theodocia and Pandora and Silvander Cle This is such a piece of nicety as I near met before these are no company for me Exit The Stay Clearcus I would speak with you my Cousin Pandora tells me you Court Lindamira which herself does not much deny Cle I am practising I must confess how to talk to Ladies and have learned some speeches to that purpose whereof Lindamira has had her share Theod You have mocked her then and intent her only for your mirth He makes a leg Lin Methinks his silence and that leg shows more love to me than I know what to do with aside Silius Excellent Girl how she plays with his wanton humour Enter to them Lonzartes Cle Nay if Lonzartes fall on me too I shall be overwhelmed with wisdom Lon Now there is some hope of him his look is Civilised already Pan Are you not pleased Clearcus to see the whole Court concerned for you to see yourself so valued methinks it should stir up the Noble Blood of your great Ancestors to set you on to such actions as may outshine their stories and not lose one day more in your wild ways Cle Madam Your Language and your looks agree with your great Soul I can be proud to be so taught when the Princess Theodocia and you direct 't were great stupidity to show neglect but in my Opinion Madam one of a family is enough to be a Saint 't would take from great Lonzartes credit and render his conversion no rarity if I should become virtuous too in the same year The Pandora and I are much obliged to you for your good opinion of us I wish all our Sex were so too Cle. My opinion and my practice differ very much Madam I do honour virtue in your Sex as much as any man but my Talent lies the other way Lonzartes does enough illustrate the Platonic Name and Eminently maintain that high S●raffick flame which is above my reach Lon Tell me now Clearcus is there not more relish in this Conversation then with your Getinas and your Angelinas' that blush shows well there is some hopes of grace in that blush Cle Hold your prattling my conversion does not belong to you Lon I hope I may direct you to a Lady that will work that wonder Cle Hold your peace then till we be alone The we 'll be gone Pandora and not hinder so good a work you shall neither of you go with us about if you please Clearcus Lindamira may walk with you a little longer Cle No Madam I have enough of her already she out-wits me we shall near agree Lin I have got credit enough for a young Soldier by my honourable retreat from so hot a charge Exeunt Silvander and Ladies Lon Let us now pursue our Argument for thy Conversion Cle It comes on a pace what a fine Gentleman are you grown since the Spirit of Chastity has possessed you and you hope th●t I will live chaste that I may have the honour and felicity to be in love to be a fool to entangle myself in nets that I shall near get out of I 'll none of it Lon Let my old Friendship so far prevail that on my request you will sometimes converse with ●andora if thy visits do engage her to undertake thy cure and she do work that Miracle she must value what herself has made worthy of herself for so wilt thou be if thy wand'ring fancy were once fixed Cle So then all this bustle is to make me in love though you know I have been a thousand times in love already Lon I Clearcus I know thy thousands but I would have thee once in love Cle I never will be mad as you are yet to give you and the World satisfaction in this point I will condemn myself to one Month's penance and make experiment to look and talk as idly with Pandora as you do with your Divinest Cloris If I were sure Pandora were not to be won I could fancy a pretty kind of pastime by raising my desires to hopes of what I cannot have but I could never meet a Woman yet that was impregnable and my nature is not capable of being converted by any that I can conquer Pray Sup at my Chamber this night Lon I will not fail if you will go with me unto Pandora And visit her while this good motion 's warm Against all your fears I 'll fit you with a charm Cle I go Exeunt Enter Pandora with Lindamira and Ladies in her Chamber and Silvander Pand Lindamira you must be my second they will be two to one else Lin Gladly Madam I cannot wish a gentler Enemy then him that thinks he has me at his mercy Pan But if you be over-sharp upon him you may hinder the great work we undertake and make him hate all honest Women for our sakes Lin I shall use him with more Art and lead him on with hopes that all our Sex do scramble for him if I can fit his Fancy and his Wit I 'll engage him in a concern for you and then manage my young Gallant to my will till I confute his common places so often urged to the prejudice of Ladies I cannot fancy better sport then to see mad in love with you Madam Pan The Gods forbid I would not cure him at that rate for my own sake and his left that prove a greater evil than he now has I shall be very careful to give him no encouragement for thoughts of that nature my undertaking is not beyond a common civility as to all others of his Rank Lin That will do it if I mistake not and catch you both I hope here he comes Enter Lonzartes and Clearcus Lon Madam I have brought my Friend to kiss your hand Cle Thus far Madam in order to my engagement I have given you the trouble of the first visit I ever made against my will Pan Your Lordship does me honour came you now from Court Cle Yes Madam and left the Princess Theodocia in great compliments with her kind Father who has now declared against the proud Corinthian and given Theodocia her free choice where she please Pan You tell me News beyond my hopes this will raise the Princess drooping Spirits again I wonder she is not here by this time Lon The Duke and she are not yet parted Madam how now Lindamira are you tonguetyed no welcome for my Friend to encourage him to like of civil company You look as if you feared to lose your Gallant Cle No no she knows she has too fast hold of my heart to part so easily Lin 'T is honour enough for me to be in the number of your Martyrs Sir She Sighs Pan How long have you two been acquainted Lin Ever since last night Madam She Sighs Pan And dost thou sigh already Lin 'T is only to give you warning by my harms Pan I thank your care but I am armed against the World● Cle That 's good News Lonzartes there is some hope she has made firm resolves against Wedlock that I may assault her with security Aside Lon You may you may Cle Madam You speak as if you held mankind at a defiance Pan By way of Marriage I do but I can value all men that I see worthy Cle He must be a bold man who does design beyond the favours you allow but have you made vows against marriage Madam Pan No vows but such resolves as are unchangeable Lon You are severe to men Lin If all Women were of your opinion Madam how should the World be Peopled Cle I marry Madam that was well urged Pan. I thought Lindamira you would have been on my side Lin So I am when you are in the right this is our common cause Suppose you bring these two Lords and they bring twenty more to be of your judgement and this Heresy should spread what will become of us who think of nothing else but Marriage Lon She tells you true Madam when her own concern is at stake you may excuse her Pan I do and will make good my argument alone Cle Never to marry Madam Pan Never my Lord is my full resolve Cle You are the happiest and the wisest Lady living and I the joyfullest man if you 'll permit me to adore you at this distance for I am of your own opinion Madam Lin Two fanatics well met Pan So long as your respects be free from love my house is open to you Cle You are all witnesses that this Lady does adopt me her avowed Gallant on the conditions before mentioned you give me leave Madam to talk of love and to carry up this jest as high as he who really does love Pan I do so it be ever in public all private visits and all whisper are excepted Cle 'T is enough Madam This is a pretty kind of Entertainment I never thought of Lonzartes thou art in the right this will he sport beyond my hope Lon. But how does Lindamira like to see her new Gallant thus taken from her Cle 'T is her own fault she might have ●ix'd me another way if she had been wise Pan Indeed Lindamira I thought not of your concern and did conclude too rashy but I will use my interest on your behalf Lin 'T will not be needful Madam I know all his professions to you are meant to me Cle Very prettily contrived This is a new kind of wit I never heard of so than you are to love me in spite of your Teeth and I you and I you in spite of mine what will this come to at last Lon Mirth man all the year a constant mirth Is not this better than spending your time in a smoky house with your old Acquaintance Cle I cannot tell you that till I have tried this as long as I have the other Lin Pray my Lord do not peswade your Friend all this earnest is a jest I allow you as much mirth as you please so the conclusion be serious Pan We must leave the success unto the Fates Clearcus may in time have pity on you Lindamira he does not yet believe you are in earnest Cle Nor ever shall do Madam till I see her heart break and then 't will be too late Lin He dissembles well for so young a Scholar Madam Lon We have don● all well methinks and now 't is time that we retire Cle How soon may I make my next visit to you Madam Pan As often as you please my Lord at public hours Exeunt Silvander and the two Lords Lin How did I perform my part Madam Pan You fell too soon into your humour he sees you mock him Lin That 's all I aim at he has too much wit to be abused my only business is to let him see that he cannot cozen me I believe you will see this Scene changed at his next visit if I have any skill you will be troubled with him Pan I am armed at all points against all men and him most Enter Theodocia and Ladies The Oh Cousin I am freed from all my fears and come to rejoice with you Pan. I have rejoiced already Madam and have begun a Scene of mirth will hold us long Had your Highness come a little sooner you had found the late Convert Lonzartes and his Friend Clearcus here who is become my avowed Gallant and looks as if he liked our company already The Then you have hopes to cure him Pray order it so as I may come to your next meeting my heart is now so light that I could play with any thing Can I have no part in your Comedy Lin For two reasons your Highness can only be a looker on 't is petty Treason to make love to you though in jest and then your beauty is too dangerous to be dallied with these be edge-tools too sharp for us to play with The Why may not Princes participate in such innocent mirth● we make stricter Rules than need true virtue will shine through such thin clouds without a prejudice and be above the reach of vile Tongues Pan I Madam if you could show a rule to distinguish between Innocence and Gild But we often see that Angelical virtues are aspersed by malicious tongues and no quality exempt from rude censures Lin I differ in opinion Princes may enjoy harmless mirth as freely as we to be too much reserved does look like disguise The I would be so merry Lindamira as should defy all scandal and with an open face justify it to the World to wear always a stiff-state look is intolerable Pan Private persons may be bold that way when few Eyes observe But Princes are set on Pirameds' for all to see and imitate The You shall not fright me from your mirth with this grave Lecture are they not both my near Relations whom you endeavour to reclaim why may not I share it so worthy a design I fear Lindamira she doubts lest I may gain her Gallant from her Lin She may well be jealous if your Highness undertake him I shall have small hopes if you two quarrel for him The Why Lindamira is Silvander vanished Lin No Madam the more Trophies I can fairly get by Victories on others will raise his Conquest higher who gains me from the rest The Thou art safe and mayest say any thing Silvander is thy security against all scandal though you carry it thus unconcerned the secret spreads Lin 'T is time it should do so now we do own Our love 't is fit the secret should be known Your Highness may assist while you look on Though only we the active part do own The Let us retire to council then Exeunt Enter Teretia and Geta. Ter What is thy business honest Geta How does Lonzartes thy brave Lord Geta. My Lord is in good health of body Madam his brains are only out of order Ter How meanest thou Geta has he got a blow on his head Geta Only some fumes from his heart Madam makes his head addle 't is called the Spleen of late and much in fashion his Lordship does desire to know the Princess mind this morning what she means to do all day Ter This will be a hard question to the Princess fasting why would he know all this now Geta. Because he has some great affairs for me to manage and cannot spare me to ask so o●ten as I use to do Ter Of what nature be thy particular queries Geta Geta. He would know how she slept last night in what health now by what hour she will be dressed when to her devotions and then where she walks this morning and if she dine in public then how she intends to pass her time till night else I must come twenty times for what you may at once dispatch me Ter And does Lonzartes send thee to inquire all this at once Geta. These Women are so silly they cannot reach a deep design aside No but he does every day make me trouble myself and every body that I meet to ask these questions severally which I would do at once to show him I am a man of quick dispatch Ter Oh! is that the matter I can fit thee with one answer to all these Tell thy Lord the Princess did take cold last night and will keep her bed all day Geta. I like it well and wish her Highness would do so this month Ter. Out Traitor I 'll make thy Lord brain thee for that wish Geta Why Madam I meant no harm 't was but to save you the trouble and me the same questions to morrow and so on till Doomsday I think Ter Well Sirrah for this time I 'll not complain of you this Jest shall excuse your knavery Geta. This will be a playday for me I like this lying a Bed well Exeunt THE THIRD ACT. Enter Lonzartes and Clearcus Clear TEll me then who Cloris is Lon Thou art so mad I dare not trust thee Clear I will know now or break all friendship Lon I have not interest enough to make a visit yet and thou wouldst have me own that I do love before I do Clear Tell me but who she is what your hopes are and what you wish that I may join in your design Lon I have yet not design nor any hope for what I wish Clear But do you think any Woman may not be what you can wish if you approach her the right way Lon Thou art so much Devil grown thou canst not discern the Angelical nature that is in those who are virtuous of that Sex thou hast no tincture of goodness left but art become a Monster of mankind Clear All this will not fix your Herecy on me I shall never learn to flatter a few grave Matrons to be laughed at by all that are worth wishing for come shall I know Cloris yet this is the last time of ask Lon Ere long you shall if I do prosper in my pretence Clear Oh! is it come to a pretence then look to yourself lest I discover Cloris to the World and make you wish that you had trusted me Enter to them Theodocia Pandora Lindamira Teretia and Ladies and Silvander The Where did you leave my Father Lonzartes Lon I have not seen the Prince to day Madam The I was told that you were just now walking with him Cle That may well be Madam for his brains do crow of late do ye see how he stands Lonzartes the Princess speaks to ye Lon To me does your Highness command me any thing Silvander and Lindamira entertain themselves in whisper Cle Did not I tell you Madam that his brains are turned he neither hears nor sees of late The Idea of his Seraffick love takes him wholly up from all converse with us mortals Lon Hold your prating or I shall be angry Pan What has made you so grave of late Lonzartes all your wo●●ted mirth is gone Lon No man is always in good humour Madam Cle He 's in Love Madam on my knowledge o'er head and ears in Love Pan In Love Lonzartes I thought you had not been at leisure to be in Love 'T is your fault Clearcus that have not counselled your friend better Cle Thus am I chid for your follies who reject all my Counsels and refuse all my approved Antidotes which do preserve me against that Serpent you call Love while he conversed with me he was safe Madam Lonz Thou hast fooled enough Clearcus the Princess and all the company are weary of it If your Highness allow him this freedom he will grow troublesome The Is it Love Lonzartes or is Clearcus only merry with you Lon Your Highness knows him too well to credit all he says this way he is at this time very angry that I have chid him for his lewd life and hath with-drawn myself from his ill company which he im●putes to my being in Love Cle I say he is in Love most seriously in Love shall I unmask this grave Reformado and show you the Lady now The If Lonzartes be content I would gladly see her whom he thinks worthy of his heart Cle No matter for his consent Madam so you like it And thus I He holds them all to Lonzartes one by one begin my trial By your good leave Lady 't is not here nor is it this nor is it you Lady Lin I lament the loss of such an honour Lon Thou art become a pretty fool Clearcus dost thou not observe how all the Court do laugh at thee Cle Yes and shall make them laugh at you  I have done if Pandora will make the next trial Pan I am content to try what this will come to Cle Now Sir have at you 't is not your good fortune neither Madam The How can you make Lonzartes an amends for all this abuse Cle I will give him present satisfaction if your Highness will permit me to bring him to you The To me think you Lonzartes is in love with me Cle 't is a Cloris in the Clouds one much above his reach which you only are Madam The With all my heart I shall be proud to own his conversion as a Trophy of my Honour Cle See if his guilt do not make him avoid the trial stop him Lonzartes is going out there Lonzartes the Princess calls you Lon I 'll cut thy Throat He holds Lonzartes to the Princess Cle He threatens me guilty I 'll warrant now Madam do you see no alteration in his face no change yet speak all you a●e all assistants in this judgement Lonzartes throws him off in anger Lon It will disturb a Saint to be thus subject to the fancies of a fool The Be not disturbed Lonzartes you take this in earnest which we look on as a jest only to pass the time Clearcus has more wit then to be in earnest Lon I hope your Highness will not prefer his follies before my professions who disclaim such a presumption The If you turn this jest to earnest Lonzartes I shall believe Clearcus I take it now as Ralliery I wonder Lindamira you get not hold of some young Lover's heart Lin I have twenty in store Madam more than I know what to do with Pan Then you allow as many Lovers as you can get and mean to choose the best Lin I think 't is credit for Women to be admired and honoured by worthy men it shows a value to move so many to a general esteem and must be the Woman's fault if she deserve a censure The You are in the right Lindamira men may design but Women may destroy faster than they can build my thanks unto Clearcus for our mirth Cle Mirth ought to be our business Madam The angry Gods affords cross Fates to give Us griefs enough and troubles while we live Exeunt Lonzartes and Clearcus severally Enter the Prince and Lords who meet the Ladies going off Prince We were now discoursing of your Gallant Pandora have you hopes to work this miracle Pan This Lady and I have ventured our credits on his conversion Sir Prince To reclaim him were a good work but suppose he fall in Love with either of you Pan At his peril that let Lindamira look to herself I am safe Lin I have a sure retreat Sir 't is but seeming to comply and he 'll give o'er for he can love none that he can conquer and I am resolved rather to be vanquished than not to be rid of him when I see my time Silius Could all her Beauty with my love expire Her flowing Wit would still create new Fire Aside Enter to them Clearcus and Lonzartes Prince You two I know come now from exercising of your Troops Cle No Sir we went hence just now I wish my Troop here to guard me Prince Have you an Enemy in view Clearcus Cle I have many Sir that have robbed me of my peace I cannot sleep of late but have a thousand fancies which do set my brains on fire Prince Take heed it prove not love Cle That is the danger Sir for if Pandora do keep her resolve for single life I may be in love for I do feel strange alterations that I know not what to make of Lin Have you no affection left for me my Lord can you so soon forget your last night's professions Cle Now Sir you see how I am assaulted I shall be pulled in pieces presently Prince Silvander and I will secure you from Lindamira Cle If I were assured you could Sir I should like her wit and humour well but I fear if I should be in earnest she would be so too Lin You see his inclination is for me Madam so that what ever he shall say to you hereafter is meant to me Cle Nor so nor so sweet Lady I do respect Pandora above all her Sex you throw out hooks to catch young Gallant she neglects those are laid for her that 's my danger Prince What riddle is this Clearcus dost thou desire that thy desires may not be answered Cle Yes Sir from some persons for if my love be returned all ends in the fruition as most Examples show But if Pandora keep her resolve for single life than I can raise my fancy while I live to Adoration of her Beauty and that Virtue with a continual delight which will last while I last so she do never yield The You are then my Lord the happiest lover living for you will find my Cousin just as you wish Pan Pray Madam answer not too fast for me for if I find Clearcus a person of such Noble Nature beyond what I did ever hope to mee● in man I may change my Opinion of men for his sake and therefore 't is best to find some other sport lest we destroy each other He starts Cle Look you now I am Treypand ●he Start not Clearcus she but mocks you you are both engaged for ●his Month to entertain us and yourselves no going off now Pan I shall not break Covenants Cle Nor I Madam though I do sometimes remind you of your resolve against Marriage whereon depends my bliss secure me but of that and I am ever yours Pan I shall endeavour what I can to give you that satisfaction Cle I kiss your fair hand on that word which has given new life to my doubtful heart and now I do defy Lonzartes gravity to put his heart in a more loving dress than mine shall be hereafter Prince If Lonzartes can love too my wonder ceases The He is my servant Sir and has a chief part in the Comedy Prince I like your pastime well but me thinks Lonzartes looks as if he were compelled unto his part and will do it scurvily Lin That 's the sport Sir and will afford the more variety Lon I shall be glad Sir if I might be excused The By no means Servant what an affront is this that I must beg your favour in the face of the whole Court to own me Prince You must not be so grave Lonzartes all is for our mirth Cle Now Sir have not I done your work for you Lon Would thou wert hanged hold thy peace Cle Give me better words or I 'll talk aloud Lon Was ever man thus hampered between jest and earnest Lin They are comparing Notes in private there 's Treachery in their Faces I 'll play no more Prince When begins the love Clearcus this is only talking of it Cle It is begun already Sir if I had not valued this excellent Lady above the World I had not ta'en this care to secure my interest to a perpetuity Lin Madam you are not to believe a word of this for he has with the same grave Face sworn the same to me but yesterday Cle That was in jest Madam but now every action of my life shall justify each syllable I utter unto you Pan I shall endeavour to believe it my Lord● and yet allow you the same Christian liberty with Lindamira and the rest as you had before Cle Madam you speak as though you did not value my respects now my whole soul is set to serve and honour you alone Pan I must confess I cannot change my faith so fast as you do your discourse And then as I remember my lesson is to keep my distance lest I lose my lover Cle True Madam as to comply but you are to see and credit my ambitious love and to admit it with the same esteem I serve you Pan How can I do that and not return you love for love and than you will despise me pray my Lord at your next visit bring my part in Writing that I may not err in it Prince She is in the right Clearcus you now seem to seek such contradictions as all the Court will laugh at consult with Lonzartes against your next visit Exit Prince and Train Lon If he will follow my advice he may do well Sir now we are alone tell me what crotchets next prithee make me understand what thou wouldst have Pandora do Cle I think you were best release me the residue of my Month that I may go seek my wits where I last left them must I see none of my old friends until this Month be over Lon If you consider your promise not see one of them Cle Then shall I be lost if those preservatives be all forbid me I do find already love will be Predominant Lonz The better for you if it be let us now talk seriously suppose Pandora may be won can you fancy a happiness on Earth beyond having her Cle Yes I do fancy that having twenty is better than any one in Christendom Lon Thou dost not love then else that one beloved has more variety than a thousand Cle Make but that good I 'll marry her to morrow Lon You think then she is already at your dispose Cle When she once sees that I am in earnest she will be who will have her and the truth is Lonzartes I do like her best of all I ever talked with and have great fear that I shall be like other men who never value what they have which makes me covet what I cannot get Lon Suppose some other do obtain her while you are thus long resolving Cle Nay I am resolved no other shall ever have her Lon And you resolve for her too Cle Yes she cannot in honour engage to any while I pretend Lon Art thou turned fool to think thus be more serious or thou wilt be despised Cle Why do you not allow me some relief then to live a whole Month honest will put my blood into a flame I have tempted all I meet and all within these Walls prove honest Lon By your own experience then you will find that Courts are Nurseries of virtue and are only scandalised by such vild persons as would have the clearest innocence aspersed that their own guilts might be no wonder you find few virtuous persons amongst Censurers Cle That 's true but take heed Lonzartes you do not lead me into snares that will destroy me for I already find some inclination towards Pandora which I am ashamed to own lest I be laughed at Lon. You have reason for there can none of us believe thee Cle You have made me a fine Gentleman in a few days if Pandora be of your mind adieu to your Philosophical Love Lon I hope thou art too fast to free thyself Thou playest with flames which undiscovered bourn Until they do thy heart to Ashes turn Exit Lon Cle Did ever man betray himself as I have done by putting Fetters on in jest which already are become so fixed I cannot shake 'em off but must humbly beg to be allowed to worship that Divine Nature I so much despised in virtuous Women and must now confess If I do neither Faith nor Favour find The God of Love is just though he be blind Exit Note that all the Play through when Silvander and Lindamira speaks not th●y are to whisper in private discourse Enter Theodocia and Lindamira Lin If your Highness do consider Lonzartes' Worth and his great Birth as it deserves whose Ancestor was not many Ages since by yours but by this Dukedom on a nice point as I have heard so that to me Lonzartes' love looks like a Divine direction to his Restauration The I am of Pandora's mind for single life and have as small a value for that idle passion you call love as she Lin Your Highness may as well judge what they do in China as guess at our Felicities that Love I can kiss the ground that my Silvander treads on with more relish than all other joys can bring me The You have high fancies that lead you on to hopes which you may never find Lin Those hopes are more delightful then an Age of dull life without them if your Highness did converse as much with me as with Pandora I should convert you The Why do you not then change her severity against men Lin I had not the honour to be known to her before her heart was set another way but yet I●le try what I can do The I wish Silvander may answer your expectation Lindamira but if such honour and such bliss accompany your loves why thus long carried on i' th' dark and why not yet avowed Lin. 'T is now avowed unto the Duke though I took time to know my Gallant before I did admit his Love and on long trial found his silent looks did speak more truth than such loud noises as most passions make we whisper our hearts to one another with a sincerity beyond the reach of loud professions The You praise Silvander as if you meant to sell him Lin He is no Prince Madam and is therefore safe from you The The less safe if I so pleased do you believe his virtue and his love so great that I could not win him from you for a Friend of mine Lin I do and shall not think him a loss who can be won from me by the greatest Princess in the World The If I could once see such a man I might change my opinion Lin Why don't you try Lonzartes The He is too much concerned to be played with you dare not venture your fine man then Lin I dare and do desire it withal my heart and do voluntarily engage not to work against your Highness The And I am resolved to try his faith to you it may cure Lonzartes to see himself neglected when another's chosen though but in jest for I can pity though I do not love him Lin And 't is my desire to have Silvanders' faithful love made Eminent by this temptation Enter Lonzartes and Silvander to them The In what humour left you Clearcus my Lords Lon In such as does become his greatness Madam The Most brave men are often puffed up with vain glory that does Eclipse those virtues which themselves do over-value Lin Your Highness is severe to men but all are not so vain The Most are when we do value them too much yet I confess I am well pleased when I find men worthy my esteem Lin How does that appear when your Highness does despise mankind by your resolves against them The To show how much you are mistaken help me to unpin this Jewel wear this Silvander for my sake I 'll own it to the World that I do value men of Worth Silius Madam I understand not what this kind of favour means I hope your Highness does not choose me for mirth The Do you Silvander raise mirth from my Favour come with to Lin aside me Lindamira I do command you to stand near us within hearing I will not run the hazard of any Censure by this trial to satisfy my curiosity concerning Lovers such high Romantic Lovers who soar above the reach of all temptations Lin. I shall obey you Madam though I desire it not Exeunt Ladies The Men stand amazed Sil. Can you guests Lonzartes what this tends to Lon. 't is a Riddle far beyond my understanding Exit Lonz Lindamira Reenters to Silvander Lin. Wake wake Silvander the Sun shines bright upon thee Theodocia dotes on thy Virtues and will advance thy youth much faster than thy own wishes can propose Silius How Lindamira have you so mean thoughts of me Lin So high thoughts why may not the Princess neglect the Corinthian for you such things have been in story Silius You speak as if you wished it Lin Can I wish you well and not applaud it Silius You cannot fancy me a greater curse unless your own heart be turned against me Lin The Princess desires your company in the next Room I can stay no longer Exit Lindamira Silius I have so much to think on that I know not what to say the Princess unexpected favours with Lindamira's no concern begets such wonder as does amaze me I will not go and yet I must or make myself Ridiculous by judging what I cannot guess at Exit Enter Lonzartes Lon Have I thus long adored the Princess and still approached her with the same trembling I draw near the Altar for this scorn at last before my Face to Court a man she knows engaged unto another a man of so much lower quality than I this I confess does make my Faith stagger Silvander was as much surprised as I Lindamira too was out of tune If Theodocia can go less this change will be more my admiration than her virtue was Enter Lindamira passing in by him Lon Now Madam whither so fast Lin To see which way the wind blows pray my Lord where is your heart now Lon In the Princess lodgings with yours or can you tell me better where your own is Lin I change my mind so often that I know not where I left it last Lon Are you no more concerned Suppose Silvander change his opinion Princess have mighty power to overcome men's hearts Lin Why then his opinion will be changed I cannot value him that leaves to value me methinks my Lord the Princess favour to Silvander should abate your passion for her Lonzar My desires go no higher then to look and wonder at her perfections my Esteem cannot be called love beyond what Duty and Obedience does allow but how does Silvander receive this great Honour Lin They are now in private you may judge by his exalted looks when you see him next I am glad your Lordship is no more concerned Lon This is a forced discourse Lindamira pray do not mock me who have a true value of your worth Lin The truth is the Princess often angered at my confidence in Silvanders' love only now tries if she can shake his faith by higher propositions and my hope is that his Virtue may beget in her some better thoughts for men which will do your business and confirm mine for Silvander is above temptation and I think Lonzartes does deserve what he desires Lon You oblige me to say your confidence does merit the greatest faith from man but is Silvander of your Plot Lindam No 't would then be none nor I no trial have of his sincerity Lon These are dangerous sports and we too late may find them so the Princess and you are both too bold and do too much rely on your own beauties Lin If Silvander can be won I can smile at such a loss Lon 'T is easy to say so when you fear it not but I have seen stout hearts fall to pieces by such a blow you have settled my heart again and I advise you from these dangerous sports lest they blow up your joys when you are most secure we know our present minds but cannot foresee what we shall like to morrow Our Nature with such frailty is endowed 't is well if present moments be allowed Exeunt severally Enter Theodocia and Silvander two Ladies at a distance Lindamira is seen near observing them The Is your heart my Lord so fixed on Lindamira that no Person nor any Argument can e'er prevail with you to change Silius Our Soul's Madam are so united that I hope death can only make that separation The Can no Fortune nor any Quality invite you to Honours and Happiness beyond what you can ever hope from Lindamira Nor a greater Beauty disengage your heart from her Silius None can ever move me to a thought of change Madam The What if she have chosen higher and gives way for your preferment also Silius I can smile at all this when your Highness is so merry Lindamira and I Madam do understand a happiness can never be dissolve d we are above temptation The Suppose my Father be her choice will you pretend to love and hinder her advancement by your claim Suppose my dear Cousin Pandora have like affection unto you and puts on this severity to others in design only to gain you will you let such a Beauty of so high virtue and extraction die for you Silius Your Highness sure does fancy what is impossible but if all this were so I could die in gratitude to serve Pandora but do prefer Lindamira's love and virtue above the brightest beauty or greatest Empire this World has The Can there be such worth in men how have I been misinformed Aside Princes who do not converse know not the World they live in but take all on trust from others You believe that I am now in jest Silvander and do not deal so freely as I expect Silius By all thats I am sixth past altering if your Highness knew the joys which do accompany united hearts you would sooner undertake to pull down Stars from Heaven then hope a separation where true love Triumphs The I am fully satisfied that Lindamira has what she deserves a worthy Lover appear now Lindamira and call in Lonzartes with the rest I am converted Enter Lindamira with Lonzartes and Ladies The Here Madam you are coupled by the Gods Silvander does deserve your confidence Now wear that Jewel I before gave you in jest Sir as a mark of my Favour for your approved virtue Lindam Has your Highness any better thoughts for Marriage than you had The I have found an honest worthy man beyond my expectation Lonzartes you look sad Lon My heart is not so full of Feathers as it was but is of late become a lump of Lead The We have indeed been all too serious of late come Lindamira let us find some entertainment to refresh us on the Sea this Evening Lonzartes you and Clearcus may go with us if you please Exeunt all but Lonzartes Lon Your Highness does honour us what these various fancies tend to is above my understanding As Nature has framed Women of a more refined matter then us men so she has given to some Souls so much above ours Excellent that their Intrincique purity dazzles our Judgements more than their brightest Beauty does our Eyes Theodocia is certainly without blemish yet may have some notions of my love which she thinks not fit to cherish because she likes not me And yet may have a virtuous concern for my Birth and sufferings such as her good Nature is unwilling to destroy 'T is Theodocia's Excellencies makes me thus humbly seek my Right as her Gift else my Sword should make my way to ascend this Throne which is my own but no more of that yet For if I can be rightly understood My Love may save the expense of so much blood Exit THE FOURTH ACT. Pandora with Lindamira are seen sitting on a Couch Enter Clearcus to them they rise Cle. MAdam 'T is a felicity to love you though neglected by what Name then shall I call my Joy Now you allow my Love to what height raise my thoughts Shall I dare to enter upon such a state of bliss To be thus snatched into so much Light from the long Chaos I have lived in may prove more ruinous to me than that Hell I came from Pan My Lord you speak a new Language I understand not Cle Alas Madam I have this night seen Visions and do find my passion growing much above my own command For when I look on your Eyes I forget that there are Gods and shall do such Idolatry to you as will provoke them to make me more miserable than you can wish me happy But when I consider how vast a Chasm your resolves have made between us I sink into such an abyss of misery that I can ne'er get out of Pan I understand you less and less The more you say the more you do confound my judgement Lin All this Madam is only to let us see how he could talk if any Woman were worthy of his real love pray my Lord proceed I shall take Notes and edify Pulls out a Table-Book Cle Your mirth Madam is now out of season when every word I utter flows from my wounded heart Lin Why do you not speak to me then who can change my mind as often as yourself I was made for you this Lady is impregnable Cle I yield Lindamira let not your wit destroy a man that does submit to mercy I beg quarter Lin Oh! do you so Pan 'T is enough Lindamira that he does confess himself o'ercome let it be Registered amongst our Victories And now my Lord what is your next desire Cle My next Madam I have scarce begun with this you do mistake all I say for mirth Does not my looks and Language show an Alteration All those Chimeras that did possess my idle head are vanished and I become a serious man Your Miracle is already wrought and I now see the only way to my Felicity is to gain what I so much contemned Lin Excellently well Acted this might cozen twenty that did not know him Pan You shall do well my Lord to pursue this new path until you do obtain a general opinion of your virtue But I hope you would not have us credit it at first sight Cle Though my love cannot yet gain credit in your esteem do not deny me the joy to think that you see how much I love and honour you Pan This is too serious for our Comedy my Lord Cle Nothing can be too serious Madam to express my love by which the Gods are pleased to bring me to them thus by forbidding what might entice me to slight Paradise by having had you here 'T is fit then that I submit and raise a joy from what I am now too apt to repine at for 't is a blessing to be so fixed as Antidates my Elysium here on Earth this Soul's joy will endure like its own nature unto Eternity Pan What think you of this Lindamira Lind I think he is in love he talks such nonsense Pan You are cured then Clearcus and will unto the Prince confess your conversion if we call you to it Cle Propose a way for my acknowledgement and try Lin Let us take time Madam to consider of it lest we lose half the Entertainment by our haste and so spoil the jest Cle Madam let not this Lady's mirth prevail with your good nature to afflict a man who can live only by your smiles Pan I must confess I have some pain to hold in my smiles thus long for this serious way of fooling I expected not from you my Lord Cle Why Madam do you take all this for jest still Pan Yes indeed do I Cle By all the powers above I do Adore you next to them I Worship Lin That 's no Oath Madam for he Worships none Pan I have the same thoughts Lindamira and am safe Cle What a Monster am I grown give me credit Madam or give me death If I do not love you let jove strike me with sudden thunder or I will gladly seal what I have said with my best blood if nothing less will satisfy Pan Hold Clearcus He draws Lin Oh! let him alone he 'll not hurt himself he only hopes to fright us Pan My Lord you fright me now and since you think fit to turn our Comic Scene into a Tragedy I shall quit my part in it and from this time admit no farther visits from you Let us retire Lindamira his converse grows dangerous Exeunt Ladies Cle This had been my fate had I engaged a little farther and this the fruit of chaste virtuous love What a folly 't is to give our freedoms up unto the will of Women so humbly to obey those we are Created to command But I am safe yet and will now play with 'em at their own game and through a seeming sorrow for my rejection laugh at them who think to laugh at me Enter Lonzartes Lon A good day unto my Friend Cle You speak too late Lonzartes this is a fatal day and I am studying how I may make it more Eminent by Death then by my sufferings Lon Why what 's the matter man have you visited the Ladies before they are dressed and made 'em froward Cle Thy love Lonzartes has ruined me yet I thank thee for my conversion I shall now die a sober man Lon Thy looks speak some disaster tell me the worst that I may join to find a Remedy Cle In a word then I do love Pandora as she deserves and did so to the life express my love that in spite of Lindamiras mirth she did believe it and has forbid my farther visits Lon 'T is not possible that she can be so fooled she forbade thee in jest come let us go to her now Cle I 'll swear she did forbid me and in great anger turned from me I dare not go Lon This is pretty wouldst thou have me believe thou lovest Cle Lonzartes I am not in humour to be played with Lon Nor I in humour to be fooled what wouldst thou have me say when thou talk'st thus to me thou in love Ha ha Cle What shall I say what do to beget faith in thee Pandora's resolution against Marriage which I so much rejoiced at is fatally become my scourge and I must die or have her Lon That 's the only way to obtain belief do but hang thyself and then a Printed Ballad The Dary-Maids greatest Faith will make them swear thou died'st for love Cle Do my looks agree with so much jest does not my Face declare my heart does love Lon No nor ever can do to me wouldst thou have me belie myself that thou mayest laugh at me these shallow Plots are lost on me Exit Lonzartes Cle This is right had I been fooled into the Platonic pound I might have knocked my head against the Walls and never been believed Thus I blow away those bubbles ●hose airy Lectures of chaste love which lead silly mortals into slavery Ha Sanga Enter Sanga Sanga Your pleasure Sir Cle Go presently and summon all that merry Crew who danced the other day to sup with me this Night and bid the Music come Exit Sanga Sanga I go Sir Cle I will retreat while I am safe and be Armed against my Wise Virtuous chaste Friends with their Cobweb Nets so subtly laid to catch me Thus I throw all their Enchantments off And now like the Grand Seignor after some great Victory atcheived I will retire to my Seraglio Exit Enter the Duke with Theodocia Pandora Lindamira Teretia and Train and Silvander Duke You tell me a story beyond belief Theodocia Clear●us plays with you all this while he love The If Pandora be mistaken he will triumph over Womenkind for ever Pan I wish it were no worse Sir 't is I who now am to be pitied who for the common sport and for his good have brought an evil on myself I cannot bear Duke Why Pandora he is descended of our own Blood and his Estate proportionable to his Birth so that if you can raise his Virtues above his vices you 'll have no cause to murmur at his love Pan True Sir if I were nor engaged to a single life much might be said to set Clearcus' merits above mine Lin Is there no dispensation for such resolves Madam when it may be disputed whether the gods approve them They give us Laws enough we need none of our own making Pan My heart will ne'er consent to alter my resolves Lin We shall have enough to do then The. Let us all agree to laugh him out of it Lin You will find little cause for mirth when you see Clearcus next Madam The Can so few hours alter a man of his temper so much Lin He is ashamed of his first Principles and is angry at that shame He hates himself for loving and loves so much he dares not wish it less This mixture of passions does beget such a confusion of thoughts that makes him look as if he had fed on nought but sighs and tears this twelve Mounth and I fear we shall have cause to turn our laughter into sorrow for him Duke I 'll give him Commands that shall divert him come with me Theodocia Ezeunt Duke and Theodoci● Lin 'T is great pity so brave a man should be so lost Pan 'T is so Lindamira but how can it be helped must I become mad because he is so 'T was not a rash word by chance let fall but on debate and mature judgement because I saw none so happy after Marriage as before Why may not I then live and die as free as I was borne Lin You see why because the Gods do not allow so great felicity on Earth as might keep us from ever wishing to be with them pray who ever heard of a pair of true Lovers that desired to be in Heaven if they might stay here till Doomsday 'T is therefore for our good that such united hearts are so rarely to be found on Earth take heed Pandora that you bring not more evils on your head than you foresee Pan I must now bear my Fortune as I may Lin Though you have not met with many happy Marriages I have heard of some who all their lives have had a constant Spring of Love their passions so high and joys so great each striving to raise the others happiness above their own this I believe and hope for Methinks till I am married I am a thing laid by as if forgotten by the Gods Pan 'T is not high passions nor great joys I doubt to find but their continuance suppose the Gallant Lovers to the Wars be sent what terrors will possess their frighted Ladies till their return and if miscarry what will their whole lives have to joy at after Lin Those who stay at home may have equal dangers these are anticipated dreams of evils that may never happen than you conceive not the joy those dangers bring when they are over this World affords us nothing to relish our delights by but such accidents as love which some fears and dangers bring 'T is sharps make sweet the sweeter Pan But if I am satisfied with less joys without those pains you find so useful why must I try to gain more happiness then I do wish for when I have joys enough already Lin Joys enough Madam there is no such thing in Nature as enough of what we love Pan I am weary of this idle talk Lin And I know no better Entertainment Enter to them Lonzartes and Silvander Pan How think you Silvander is Clearcus what he seems Silius Lonzartes knows him best Madam Lon I do believe he loves though I seem not to credit him and am now resolved to play with his passion as he has done with mine 't will entertain the Princess rarely to see how I shall anger him Silius Is he enough fixed to be so abused for if neither Men nor Women have any faith in his budding love he may fly off for ever Lon I am now going to see what humour he is in Silius I 'll wait on you Pan Pray do and let me know how I must behave myself that would not hurt him Lin I can direct you best if you 'll trust yourself to me Pan I shall trust you as far as any in this affair let us consult within Exeunt Enter Clearcus and Sanga with Men and Women Dancers Cle Welcome my dear Friends I will be no more seduced by grave Lonzartes fooleries this night shall reunite us while we live Is the Music come San Not yet Sir Cle I have broke through their Nets and now the day and night are ours to Revel in we will be so merry that our hearts shall seem much lighter than our heels Enter Sanga Sanga Lonzartes and Silvander are without Cle They are come as I could wish I 'll entertain 'em as they deserve they are my kind chaste virtuous well-wishing spies pray Exeunt Dancers retire all into that Gallery while I dispatch my Court-Friends Sanga shut the windows close then call 'em in and say that I am grown sad of late monstrous sad Now for a grave face to suit with my Exit Sanga disquise I have some fear my sides will burst with holding in my laughter He sits in a sad posture Enter Sanga with Lonzartes and Silvander Sanga Softly pray for a strange Melancholy has seized him on the sudden He is now talking to Pandora Silius She is not here San He entertains her Idea in her absence with the same passion he would her the only sure way for a lover's happiness hark Cle Blessed Angel turn not away these tears must be my daily Incense offered at your feet if you refuse this Tribute from my captived heart you 'll turn the Elysium I enjoy to Hell Oh stay and take my Soul with thee that gentle look that Lon Why so sad fond lover let not one repulse dismay so great a Lon interrupts him Conqueror thy next charge may prove more prosperous we come to council thee Clearcus and to raise thy drooping Spirits by new hopes Cle Or to laugh at my affliction whose Soul is sunk so low by my despair that all my Spirits are vanished I must submit to my Cativity Lonzartes He sighs Lon That sigh had almost blown me over yet I am glad to see this and am now full satisfied thou art in love in love Clearcus let me embrace my fellow-Prisoner we will now shake our shackles to the same sad tune together Cle I know you come to mock me but I must bear it Lon Oh no! who can have so hard a heart we pity you and have some fears Pandora's heart will break when we relate your mighty sufferings but if I should sit thus in the dark would it create the like Angelical Idea in my brain Clearcus Cle This is barbarous to catch a Lion in your Toils and bait him like an Ass thus to render my passion Ridiculous will beget Pandora's scorn and may prove my destruction Lon If she discern not your passion how can she proportion her favours to your merit Cle Do I deserve this mirth from you thus to heighten my affliction Lon Do you not all that I can do this Twelvemonth will not bring me on equal terms for thy abuses remember how you held me to the Ladies and made me your mirth by which scandal you destroyed my credit with the Princess this is my revenge ha ha Cle 'T was a great scandal indeed to procure you the Princess leave to love her by my means you have obtained a happiness beyond your hopes which all your whining Poetry or your Eternal sighs could never reach for which special service prithee good sweet Lonzartes spare me by our old Friendship I do beg by Hangs on him thy own virtue and unparalleled chaste heart I do conjure thee not to raise a public mirth out of my Souls sorrow which you have brought me to Lon Well then if I find you do continue thus humbly penitent and truly thus afflicted I will show more mercy than I found from Embraces Clearcus you come cheer up we will sigh and condole together and if possible so order our sad hearts that both may the same moment break and infect the World with such a sorrow as may fright the Female Sex from like rigour unto men so shall we become a Noble Sacrifice to love for the good of a whole Nation or if you please we 'll send for some of our old Gang to dance and drink these Melancholy vapours from our hearts to let the Ladies see their Beauties are not so destructive as we make them believe Clearcus Embraces Lonzartes with great joy Cle I marry Lonzartes now thou talkest like a Philosopher now thou prescribest the only remedy for our disease Sanga bid the Music strike a cheerful Air and then call in those Friends in the next Room Nay if you allow this way of cure I shall soon expel loves venom from my heart into my heels Embraces Lon Lon What is all this Clearcus art thou mad still Lonzartes starts back Cle I am wise and do not mean to quit my cool pleasant flowery paths for your consuming flames of restless love who walk on tops of Steeples and at that height plead that your chaste desires are pleasing to the Gods But I who know the end of such fair flashes as at first appear with such folded Arms and down cast looks are but steps to approach the Lady's fingers ends Then by degrees grown bolder you aspire Till nought but ruin quench the subtle fire Enter Dancers Lon what dost thou mean by this mysterious language and this Rabble here Cle I mean to follow thy advice to sigh only when I make love to Ladies their backs turned I mean to dance and sing as often as I can that their neglects may pierce no deeper than their Eyes discern here Lonzartes this Girl will cure the bite of a Tarantula and drive the poison from thy heart Lon Out Hypocrite is this thy love unto Pandora was all thy passions counterfeit the other day Cle No 't was fairly growing up to equal thine in all sincerity of Noble thoughts But the nice Lady would not permit it to take so deep root as yours before she blasted all my hopes and in a moment let me see that love is like a bitter po●ion which many taste and flying away rather choosing their disease than so ill a relished remedy This made me return to my old Antidotes Lonzartes what think you of a heat or two before you go call in the Music Silius Pandora was to blame to throw him off so rashly Lon Let us retire Silvander this Air is infected Exeunt Lonzartes and Silvander Cle Go whine fond Lover go whine I say go whine While we cheer our hearts with Wenches and Wine I say go whine Exeunt omnes HERETHEY DANCE Enter Lonzartes Lindamira and Ladies Lin I do not wonder that he is fallen off 't was what I feared when his passion went so high I saw Pandora was concerned but we will bring it on again Lon You are mistaken Madam all he said then was jest for he is now as mad as ever I left him Incirculed with six wild men and as many wanton Girls prepared to Dance and Revel all the Night Lin There is no harm in Dancing my Lord unless they do catch cold you judge Clearcus by what is past but when I see him with Pandora next I 'll give my opinion of his concern Lon By what means may their meeting be procured Lin we 'll think on 't Enter Theodocia and Ladies to them The I am sorry Lonzartes that Pandora has cast off Clearcus which has occasioned his relapse when a little patience would have settled him in the way of virtue Lon 'T is every way what I expected not his love was as strange as his rejection and his relapse in the old humour beyond all the rest I know not what to think of him Lin Let us bring them once more together and I 'll undertake to guess at both their hearts it may be govern 'um Lon I Madam but how shall they be brought together when both would rather see a Basaliske than one another Lin You may be mistaken my Lord who judge by what you see when 't is our business and our virtue not to show our hearts till a full trial that men are worthy of them then you forget that Clearcus conversion must be by one he cannot conquer The But if he will neither conquer nor be subdued how can his conversion follow Lin If your Highness can contrive an interview I have a fancy in my head that may reconcile them and effect what we all wish The I will send presently for Pandora and entreat my Father to pretend some business to call Clearcus hither Lon He will suspect Lin Let him come no matter what he suspects The Do you Lonzartes once more see what humour he is in We must endeavour and not fear to try But trust the Event unto their destiny Exeunt severally Enter Duke with Silvander and Lords Duke I ever thought Clearcus did but mock and laugh at their designs his Brain is not yet ripe for serious Love But how does Theodocia look on Lonzartes Silius With much neglect Sir Duke That is not well have you Silvander instructed Lindamira that she may inform Theodocia of Lonzartes Title to this Dukedom and how much better than a Foreign Prince her Marrying him will be applauded by our people who are not ignorant of his pretence Silius I have Sir and the Princess gives a serious ear to it though she yet makes no reply a little of your Council and Authority I believe may incline her to a better value of him Duke That shall not be wanting Lonzartes is all that I can wish in a Successor and his love looks so without design that I will cherish it and try to win my Daughter to comply Silius Your Highness will gain a double interest in all your Subjects hearts by this honour to Lonzartes who has merits proportionable to your favour and his birth all which his love gives Lustre to Duke I see it Silvander and will recompense his Faith and his Humility with my advice to Theodocia who yet knows not his story Silius The Princess must needs hear what every body talks and all do wish Duke I shall now inform her fully of Lonzartes Right too long held from him bid him meet me at my Daughter's Chamber I will no longer hide my purpose for him His Birth and Virtue with his constant Love Declares he never can unworthy prove Exeunt THE FIFTH ACT. Enter Lonzartes and Clearcus Cle NO I 'll never see her more Lon Do you not love at all Cle Nor ever will methinks Love is like a smooth Water that invites men to Bath and tumble in it with delight until they be destroyed by Serpents which in the bottom undiscovered lie Lon What means this simile Cle This Serpents bite has Metamorphized you into a whining lover into the shadow of a man of late become a shape without a Soul why must I busy my head with such Chymeras' when I can please myself to my hearts wish my own way Prithee sweet suppressed Prince do not forsake me thus for specious shows of happiness or vaner hopes of better days than you will ever find in Court You are now safe but when you grow wise and serious it will in the Duke's head great jealousies create to let him see your Virtue may be dangerous and your pretence appear worthy of his fear Lon That hazard is better than what I now suffer in the opinion of my best Friends who believe this wildness is my Nature or such as may beget a habit in me which I can ne'er put off and thus my security in this disguise may become my ruin I wish I could persuade you Clearcus to show forth that Virtue all the World would wonder at Cle To what end I pray if the good Duke would give me employment fit for his Kinsman and worthy of my Sword I could soon be myself But now I have nothing else to do and therefore play away my time in folly and 't is a hard question which is best for we know that too much wisdom does undo more men than it advances or else begets Eternal slavery to State Affairs where the wisest ever walk on needles points I have weighed these things and do believe 't is better to maintain the peace and the security I now live in unregarded then to be advanced according to my birth Lon But you will lose the Duke's favour and become contemptible to the whole Court if you continue thus extravagant what design can I have by my desire to see you great and glorious Cle. Have I not tried and been misled yielded to your wise Maxims against my own better judgement and been rejected in the height of my endeavours to be as you call it great and glorious is not this true does not Pandora with the whole Court scorn me but for seeming wise Lon Yes in part 'cause they believe it not Cle I will no more of your advice till you can cure yourself Lon I have an Honourable Argument for my love Cle Who has not until he be despised Lon Was it not your own desire to be neglected did you not declare against all Women that you could conquer you left Pandora no way for Victory but by rejecting you so that I can conclude a good su●csess from what you raise despair Cle Ha! think you Pandora did reject me in compliance with my humour only Lonzar What else can she be angry with you for loving her too much Cle You do surprise me with a discourse I looked not for but I will be no more abused I will not see her Lonzar How can you be reconciled then shall she make love to you Cle No I abhor that thought beyond her anger a woman Woo that were preposterous Lon Will you treat by Ambassadors and Wed by Proxy Clear Nor so that 's only fit for Princes who cannot meet to treat Lon Will you have her if she declares she would have you Cle I shall never like her change of mind Lon Can ' you tell whether you would have her or not Cle That 's a harder question than the other Lon Will you have her by compulsion Cle. That were a Tyranny would make her hate me ever Lon Shall the Duke by his Prerogative power in spite of both your teeth compel you both to compliance Cle Let me think on this a little at first sight this looks likely to agree us if two impossibilities can make one possible this might do our business Lon Well what do you resolve Cle Nothing why do you tempt me to farther evils I know not what to resolve nor what to say but will no more of love my heart shakes at the thought of my last trial I blush to think how much less than man I was and how much more than Woman I created her in those few hours I loved Enter a Messenger Messen The Duke calls for Lonzartes Lon I 'll attend his Highness presently Cle I take you for my Friend Lonzartes do not discourse me into a Ruin you will share in Lon I have no Rule for friendship above my desire to see you happy Cle I believe it Sir and beg your pardon for my distracted language I must attend the Duke too Lon And I. Exeunt Enter Pandora and Lindamira Pan You tyre me Lindamira and chide me for a fault I cannot own I had no other way to free myself Lin You might have checked his approaches with somewhat less severity your rigour may beget despair in him Pan Dispair of what my undertaking was only on the Duke's command to afford him civil visits which I have done in hope of his conversion Lin You did give o'er before the work was perfected Pan You speak as if the design to set him free were to enslave me to the humour of a mad man Lin The wildest young men do often prove the soberest at the last and the truth is Madam we do all desire to see you and Clearcus convert one another so to beget that unity of hearts which the World seeks most Pan Do you believe that I who have a prejudice against the best of men can e'er esteem the worst Lin If Clearcus were under that notion I should have other thoughts but when I consider such men reclaimed do often make good Husbands I have hopes of him Pan If his wildness were his only fault time and experience might reclaim him Lin If these be your only Exceptions Madam I wish you would trust me to manage this affair Pan You must not talk me into an Intreque which I avoid I do not love him Lin You will do when you have him I know many have done so after Marriage who did not before Pan That is too bold a venture for me who have no faith in men and those Examples you mention so rarely to be found my courage dares not undertake it pray no more of this Lin The Princess desires your company at Court this Evening Pan I did intend to wait on her Enter Duke Theodocia and Lonzartes Duke I have given you Arguments enough on his behalf which his dejected looks you see declare Your favours Theodocia should not be restrained because his adoration is so great he dares not beg 'em come near Lonzartes The Lonzartes' Worth is understood beyond the weak Rhetoric of flattering words he cannot wish to be more valued than he is by me Lon Nor will I ever sue for favours beyond these you now afford me Madam may I confirm my hopes by understanding what you say my own way The You may for since my Father does so much advise for Marriage I may alter my opinion when I find just cause to value men above my resolves against them Lon For Heaven's sake Madam say no more my breast cannot contain these spreading joys you give me my hopes increase too fast for my despairing heart to comprehend these honours you allow without an Extacy Duke Theodocia I shall ne'er revoke the freedom I have given to make your own choice though I direct you to Lonzartes to whom our Ancestors have done wrong The This your indulgence Sir makes me more cautious how I proceed Marriage is a concern so great I dare not at once resolve it and the same day choose the man I can yet only say that I have altered my opinion in favour of Lonzartes Lon My Amazement and my concern are too great to answer Madam my felicity is above the reach of a reply Duke Theodocia I have given you my best Council and my full consent to please yourself The I thank you Sir and I will endeavour to regulate my heart to your advice and to Lonzartes wish give me but time to examine and approve what I am willing to submit to Enter Pandora and Lindamira to them with Silvander Duke How is it Madam that you quit the field before your undertaking be performed Pan I have done my part Sir which was on your command to allow him civil visits and to entertain the Princess I complied with Lindamira to try how our Raleary would work on him which did produce so unlooked for an effect that I was forced to quit my part to save myself Duke Were you in danger to be lost then I did not think Clearcus had prevailed so far but if he be reclaimed he will be worthy your esteem Pan Your Highness did mistake me I was in no danger to be lost through love nor at all concerned for a man who does declare against all worth in Women where he can get an interest pray Sir make me understand what you would have me do Duke We would have you marry Clearcus Pan Whether he will or no if I consent can you prevail with him Duke Do you comply we 'll try what we can do Pan I would not be Treypand into a Marriage I am so much averse to in confidence of his old humour think myself secure and be so lost Lin You may venture safely Madam you see he is so great a Coward that he only dares pursue them that fly him do but charge and he will run away Pan If I were sure of that I would seem any thing to be freed from farther trouble Lon Trust me Madam he is now worse than ever Duke Lonzartes pray use your interest to bring him to us now Exit Lonzartes The Do you think Cousin we have a design to harm you Pan No but your Highness disputes me into a condition yourself does not approve pray show me the way to this felicity that I may credit what you say by what you do The Will you then engage to marry Clearcus the same day I marry Pan Shall I choose your man as you would mine The Suppose I have already chosen Pan I thought your Highness had been of my opinion But if provided I give you joy The Now you run too fast the other way I am only towards marriage Pan That journey seldom proves long Madam when we look towards it Lin That was said like a sage Sibell the quintessence of truth in few words 't is but a willing mind and then Pan Prithee Lindamira help me to be rid of this uncertain man Lin I know no better council then to be in love with him or to seem so for if he should take you at your word and marry that may do your work for I once knew a Lady who chose to marry an importunate Suitor that she might be rid of him and was so for soon after marriage they parted and never met more Pan You are always in jest I would have serious council now Lin You have had my story twice over to no purpose Duke By all my observations I cannot judge whether Clearcus or you Pandora be most extravagant Lin Your Highness may do well to put them into the College of half mad Folks where they will either cure one another or become quite mad together when their disease is known some remedy may be found 't is now past judgement what either of them ail The Lindamira says well 't is very strange you will not declare so far as to let us see how we may serve you Pan Do but leave me to myself and I am well Madam The Many sick people are of that opinion when in most danger and must therefore by their friends be governed Pan As many healthy people think themselves sick when they are not and by seeking Remedies for nothing do create evils they never can find cure for such high passions as Lindamira's do never let us rest in peace but do create perpetual storms Lin You argue well Madam if a dull calm were the only happiness appointed us on Earth than one degree from being a sleep would prove our greatest bliss sure no age did  produce two such Icy-hearted Ladies as the Princess and you Enter to them Lonzartes and Clearcus Lin Here comes a Homely and a Jig hand in hand now for the second part to the same tune Of love me and love me not Duke Clearcus it troubles me to see you delight in a retired darkness or else to walk in such clouds as we cannot see through I would persuade you to regain Pandora's good opinion Cle Is the mystery of love to be discussed in public Sir Duke With us who are so near allied unto you both I think it may because we all know what you both profess in private and now desire to hear what you will face to face avow and we entreat you Pandora first to show why you threw off Clearcus Pan You do amaze me Sir to examine me as a Criminal Duke You have no cause for this displeasure Pandora but mis-judge our love and our respects we know your worth and would to the World Illustrate that virtue you design to smother by a single life I allow your purpose did become your younger days and did express an Angelical innocence but I question whether now on mature judgement you may not do better for yourself and us to reclaim Clearcus Pan You demand impossibilities from me for if I should change my mind he will change his too Pray show me a rule to reclaim him by before you do condemn me Duke We only desire you will afford him the same civility as did first induce him to adore that Virtue he despised before Pan I have done this The You did begin but you gave o'er too soon Lin And all her kindness but in jest too Madam which he discerned Duke How do you answer this Lindamira was of your Council Pan I undertook him but in jest and was by him enjoined to such severity as I performed and 't was then thought the only way to vindicate our Sex and to work his conversion which he at first did counterfeit so well as to deceive and fright me from his farther visits Lin Was his love so terrible Pan To me it was who thought him uncapable of ever having noble thoughts for any of our Sex Duke But when you found him growing worthy why did you not cherish that virtue as your own Creation Lin Because she feared her Virgin vow might be defiled by owning such a Manchild of her own begetting for he began to ask her blessing till she laughed him into so great anger that one day he proffered to kill himself which gave end unto our Comedy Pan If his cure had lain within the reach of Raleary I had gloried in my part but never shall consent to enslave myself unto the humours of a man who cannot be a minute in one mind his imaginations are beyond the Moon and would have he knows not what Duke Clearcus you have heard your charge Guilty or not Guilty Lin Guilty Sir Cle I shall never want your good word Madam Lindamira tells you true Sir I am guilty Duke Of what Cle Of all the crimes that offended Lady does object pray Sir pronounce my doom and put me out of pain Duke Will you submit then and obey it Cle If it can put me out of pain I will Duke I doubt it not my sentence is that you revive that love you showed unto Pandora lately Cle Oh Sir the very name of Love puts me into a shaking fit for Heaven's sake give me Halters Poisons Daggers any means to let out life rather than renew those torments which I felt that hour I loved Lin Pray Sir give me leave to put him some Interrogatories Duke Do so Lin Your Lordship has confessed that you have loved one hour and must have some reason why you loved no longer show us that reason or for ever hold your peace and submit to judgement The How Clearcus nonplussed by a Judge in Petticoats Clearcus stands mute Lin Why Madam many of our Sex have puzzled the wisest men give him leave to think a little but if what I have said has struck your Lordship dumb hold up your Finger 't is enough He has He hold it up nothing to say for himself but submits unto the mercy of the Court I understand him Sir and have now found a remedy for both their evils If you will trust me with your hand my Lord I will not harm it and if I have credit enough Madam to be trusted with your hand Clearcus gives his hand too pray lay it without fear on mine that I may try a charm I have to conjure out the evil Spirits that possess you both you may at your own pleasure take back your hands only let me hold 'em while I pronounce my charm within Pandora turns away Duk. Pandora I entreat you to try Lindamira's charm give her your hand she deals not with the Devil Pandora gives her hand Lin The Devil I work by Sir is truth dressed in her rich Robe of Innocence if truth do not convince both these Delinquents my charm will have no power on them My Lord you have in this great Assembly often said that you could never value any Woman you could win if now you have found this Lady as impregnable as you can wish she is your fate hold Sir remember you are dumb till I He proffers to speak have done Now Madam I must speak serious sense to you who stand here the expectation and the wish of all the Court yet I know you must not consent to give your hand to him nor in a look or word comply with what I say for if you yield Clearcus will forsake the Field I shall therefore only put your hands together no marriage nor no contract make only desire that you will thus hand in hand retire a while with me in private to apply my charm who now do pray that all the evils which ever did befall the most unhappy lovers may light on him or you that shall their hand remove before my charm does work now come with me Exeunt hand in hand Duke What the issue of this will be I cannot guess Now Theodocia I must remind you of Lonzartes who dares not approach you on his own behalf who is what you can wish to make you happy and I do again invite you to Crown his unparalleled Humility with a bliss he presumes not once to mention lest it offend you I have also a State Argument you understand not Theodocia your two interests in this Dukedom thus united will make it flourish Lonzartes has been wronged The I know his wrong Sir and have observed his sufferings or I had never dallied with his love Lonzartes' clear Soul is adorned with more glories than this Crown will bring him Duke If then your hearts agree give me your hands here Lonzartes is the best reward I have to encourage modesty and worth whey they do in one heart combine as now in thine Lon Great Sir I am so much surprised so overladen with my joys that I have nought but blushes to express my gratitude nor know I how to welcome this unlooked for honour from the Princess who deigns to raise her humblest Servant from her feet to set me on a Throne incirculed with more joys then that you now restore me to He kisses her hand The Keep still your Character Lonzartes as I will mine high transports in love are not long lived I fear Lon I shall be Madam whatever you direct though this unlooked for happiness do raise my heart above my own command for such an excess of joy is hard to manage Kisses her hand Enter Lindamira to them Lin I may now wish your Highness' Joy I hope now your Fannatick love conforms to the Law of Nations Now you may talk your pleasure against high passions Madam and methinks you Sir do look as if you liked this better than that wise Sect of airy Lovers whose Philosophy doth teach not to desire what they can never reach Lon You are Madam the best Philosopher I ever met and do deserve to have a Golden statue in Loves-Temple set Duke But how have you disposed of your Fantastic couple 't is that great work must Crown all your undertake Lindamira Lin That goes on excellently well Sir I have left them sitting on a Couch with their hands still ●ixt eagerly gazing on each others Eyes as if through them they could discern the inside of each others Hearts by their no motion and their steady looks I can foresee they will be of one mind suddenly The Why could not we see this Experiment Lin Oh Madam my charm will not work in company Lovers will seemingly despise what they like most only to deceive observing Eyes I believe they held off thus long for shame to own what they had so publicly declared against and to themselves will hardly dare to let their hearts appear these two days they must look themselves into an Agreement for no words can ever reconcile their first Principles If their hands do not their hearts discover I 'll no more pretend to charm a Lover The May we not peep at the hanging and stand unseen Duke Let us not turn this serious work into a jest unless Lindamimira do approve it none shall stir that way Lin I can place you so as you may see and hear too The Pray Sir be pleased to look on them our Testimony may be of use Duke Come then Lindam Your Highness must stand silent or you 'll hinder my Projection The We will we will Exeunt They all Re-enter behind the Couch and stand on each side of the Stage then is discovered Pandora and Clearcus holding hands and sitting on a Couch a while silent looking on each other then Clearcus proffers to kiss that hand he holds she puts him back with her other hand and turns her face from him He sighs Cle Turn not away those beauteous lights have guided me to Heaven nor look as if you were in pain to see my heart thus changed from a rude distraction to an ecstasy of Bliss from a deformed satire with a confused Chaos of dark thoughts and blacker actions by your glorious Beauties and brighter Virtues new formed into the Figure of a man Emulating those Excellencies I admire in you Oh turn this way and own what is your own Creation by your perfections raised from what was worse than nothing to something now too worthy to be cast away I should this happy hour believe myself were in Elysium did not this fair soft Hand and those bright Eyes assure me I yet live from whence some divine instinct teaches my rude nature to adore what I never understood before Pan I do not like to be thus long left alone to be exposed unto your passion and the World's censure Lindamira has deceived my trust I now see your plot and her design discover but will no longer suffer the abuse Offers to rise Cle Be not so cruel unto yourself and me think on the curse hangs over us if we remove our hands till she return Pan 'T is too much foolery to give faith to Cle Remember we complied to what she said by which her words are Registered in Heaven and have engaged the Gods by our consent Pan 'T was rashly done and I repent when will this subtle Sorceress return my innocence will justify my blind consent to which I was misled by my fidelity and trust and will no longer fear to take away my hand Offers to rise Cle Oh take not your hand away until the holy Charm have rectified your heart and therein created so much Charity as in a moment may remove your scorns and teach you love for I who so long slighted your neglects and fled all civil favours from your Sex do now tremble at the thought of parting hands until our hearts like them become united Pan Do you believe Lindamira Mistress of such Magic that her words have power to reconcile dissenting hearts like ours Cle Yes I find them work on me and hope the same effect on you else why sit we here obeying those commands she left why fear we to offend those powers she did invoke when you consider this I hope you dare not stir a finger towards such impiety Pan Though Lindamira's virtue be approved I was surprised by her enticing words and by the Duke compelled to do I know not what and therefore will no longer now obey Offers to rise he holds her Cle Stay oh stay and let the fatal curse strike me alone my guilts have merited what e'er can fall on me Do but command me to remove my hand and I 'll obey that you may see how much your power prevails above my fear of Lindamira's threats If so I may divert your harms I will against my Nature and my Faith destroy all hopes of future bliss to pull this ruin on myself which else may light on you Say must it be Pandora sits silent a while Pan If I command your hands remove and her curse should after follow you my unblemished innocence may suffer more than all your crimes can merit I have no faith in charms nor cause to apprehend her curses can reach me and yet My doubts and fears my reason does dismay I know not what to do nor what to say The Wonder is so great I am afraid Aside Some god this Serpent has an Angel made And now endowed him with Celestial Art To force obedience from my stubborn heart Cle 'T is worthy your consult before you do destroy a body and soul here a ready Sacrifice to set you free for now I find that Lindamira's charm does higher work And now again that dazzling light display Which did my heart in flame the other day Ye Gods I do implore your power to move Aside The bright Pandora to allow my love 'T will be the same if now Clearcus dies By Thunder struck or by Pandora's Eyes Pan Lindamira's virtue and her wit are much more powerful than her charms which I contemn but you my Lord have now by chance thrown out such words I shake to think on Your body and your Soul are now at stake you say and by your looks I read you think our Fortunes and our Fates depend on my reply and so do I this is then too great a work for so few minutes to dispatch we must look up Clearcus and from above seek aid 'T is piety when we our hearts submit To undergo what  the Gods think fit Cle 'T is so let us hasten to the Temple then there Celebrate They rise up This happy issue of so strange contest Wrought by the gods must by the gods be blessed He kisses her hand three or four times in joy Cle Where is this powerful Sibell gone whose Sacred Charms do disenchant fantastic hearts Lin I am here Sir with witness enough to hold Pandora to her word Cle Let me adore thy Divine virtue Lindamira who hath showed such skill to raise dead folks to life for we were dead in follies and are now become true converts Sir Duke This is great News you are both well come to your Wits again which does declare Lindamira a great Artist The What says Pandora for herself Pan I have both ways done too much either to excuse or justify myself silence becomes me Madam Lin Let the Clock strike twice before we credit what they say or else make all sure by I Clearcus take thee Pandora etc. Duke Lindamira is my Oracle give me your hand Pandora and yours Clearcus May they most wretched live and cursed die Who shall this knot endeavour to untie The My prayers concur with yours Sir and now dear Cousin what I wished is come to pass that you and I might on the same day be Married Thus for our good we see the Gods fulfil What they design though much against our will Pan Your great example Madam is sufficiennt to lead me from all my own resolves to follow you and if now Clearcus be reclaimed we must own all our happiness to Lindamira's wit who has conquered both when neither of us could subdue the other And now Clearcus I hope will seek occasions to show the World by his own actions the Noble stock he is descended from Cle By your permission Madam I shall set my heart towards my Prince his and my Country's Service I beg employment Sir on the next Galleys you send out lest idleness corrupt my busy brain Lin Mark that Sir he is already wavering Madam take heed how you take the spirit of uncertainty in the habit of a man Pan You speak too late the uncertain man is now my certain fate Cle Some diversions are necessary Madam to look on the same objects ever dulls and tires the best Eyes but Lindamira can say nothing I dare contradict Duke You shall command in Chief Clearcus to show the World the vigour you have too long hid Lon Joys on joys light on Clearcus head They embrace Cle May those joys be Multiplied on you Sir my Redeemer and now become my Prince Duk● We must conclude this happy day Lindamira by joining Silvanders' hand with yours if your mirth will give us leave to be so serious Lin That is a serious jest Sir I have long looked for Duk. Come near Silvander which of you two is most pleased now Both. I sir. Duke Who spoke first Both. I Sir Duke This is a good Omen to a joyful life may you be both as happy as ever love made any Silius We are happy to our wish Sir Lin He speaks for himself Sir on hopes of more than he may find Duke we 'll Celebrate these Weddings suddenly and see that Lindamira's praise be in loud Hymeneals Sung through all the City to encourage the like Virtuous and Noble undertake Lin I thank your Highness for your good opinion but shall love you for this gift of my Silvander above all your other favours Now Silvander Let us dwell Arm in Arm and daily show Our loves increase that all the World may know Our hearts Now the Fair Princess does confess That Wedlock may afford true Happiness EPILOGUE LADIES Our Author has so great Respect To your Fair Sex he fears some gross Defect In his best Characters may prove so short Of your perfections he needs pardon for 't If such sad fate do now attend his Play In 's Cloak thus muffled he will sneak away But if you liked he will on tiptoe go That all the World may the proud Author know FINIS