affirme That Lysander is sonne vnto the Count Utrante Lys. It was nature in me that made me so much Loue the Count Utrante you blessing Sir Clarin. It do's not grieue mee that you are My Brother Lys. And for my part I cannot adde To my owne happinesse if I might haue my wishes Now that you are my Sister for I did euer loue you As a Sister rather then as a Mistris Duke Diuine Clarinda I cannot claime your promise till a moneth be past There is some part of it to come but I hope You will not strictly stand vpon the time Clar. My Lord I should too much wrong my selfe though I did not Loue you in deferring of so great a blessing But the large testimony that you haue giuen Both of your worth and affection to me Haue turn'd that great affection in an instant That I bare Lysander as you could wish it Vpon you nay to say truth I euer lou'd you Though not so well as hee and held your worth As great Duke Deare Clarinda giue me not a surfet Lys. I feare the King will here consent whisper Duke But good Sir What made you desire me to beg your pardon Or what made you conceale your selfe so long Her My Lord I le tell you Your Lordship may remember for it is not Fiue yeares since that this my Friend the Count Utrante and my selfe were both suspected For poysoning of your child because we were His profest Enemies especially my selfe Which made me flye though I were innocent For it was knowne to many that the villaine Kild him for 's owne particular reuenge Yet my wicked Brother there perswaded the fellow At his death to say that we had set him on And got another rascall to witnesse with him That it was true my friend not hauing so great Enemies did stay to iustifie himselfe And for his paines was laid in prison and kept there For his lands till you got him releast And yet he was neuer brought vnto his tryall I ere I left this Country did leaue this Cabinet With my sonne or rather yours and withall The charge of looking in it when he should Be married After many a weary step abroad I came home to my Countrey and in disguise Haue liu'd here in the Forrest and saw my friends Full often although they knew not mee And hauing this occasion of doing your Lordship Seruice I thought it would be a sure meanes To get my pardon especially when things Were growne vnto the extreamest poynt Of danger I knew a timely remedy would be Most welcome then of all and that made me Conceale my selfe so long Lys. Cleo. We are resolu'd King My Lord I freely pardon you for I belieue It was indeed a lye inuented by your wicked Brother whom I doe giue you power to punish As you thinke good Her My Lord I then desire He may be kept a prisoner all his life For should he haue his liberty I know He would doe mischiefe that we should all Repent of Iaco. Brother thou art wise Thou shouldst haue beene the first that should Haue felt mine anger King Away with him Duk. I dare not speake for thee thou art so great A Villaine Exe. Guard with Iacomo King Come let vs set forwards to the Temple And pray the Gods to shower a blessing Upon this Couple What meanes my Sister Lysan and Cleon set swords ta their brests Cleo. Thus Sir Lysander and my selfe haue made a solemne Contract and with our bloods wee 'l seale it Either to goe thus to the Temple to be married Or to the graue King How Sister Cleo. What is it Sir in your opinion makes Lysander vnworthy of me King His blood compard with yours is base Cleo. But Sir his mind 's heroicke And who will compare the seruant with the Master The Body is no more vnto the Minde King What would you marry with a Subiect Cleo. Who would not Marry with a Subiect that is a King of Vertues Rather then with a King that 's gouern'd By his Vices Duke Sir you know the greatnesse of her Spirit If you will haue her to liue you must Consent Cleo. Brother you stand to vs Instead of destinie for you haue in your power Our threed of Life Say will you spin vs out A happy threed that we may liue to serue you Or will you cut it short Duke O be not cruell to your only Sister What 's all the out ward glory if you rob The mind of that which it delights in I know that your intention is to make Her happy doe not mistake the way Her mind is not taken with the glorious title Of a King for if it had shee might haue made Her choyce since all the neigbouring Kings Admire her No Sir shee aymes at that Which made men Kings at first Wisdome And Valour and should she search the world Shee cannot finde a man where they Doe meete so fully as in braue Lysander O Sir then be not cruell thinking to be Carefull of your Sister King Shee 's cruell to her selfe And rather let her perish by her rash hand Then so dishonour mee by marrying with A Subiect Cleo. Farewell then Cruell Brother Lysander let us part To meete agen for euer I le goe first Because my Brother shall not thinke of sauing me When you are dead Lys. No Madame Let me shew you the way and when I feele The paine I le tell you if it be too great For you to suffer King Hold take him Sister And be happy in him I loue thee more Then euer because I see thy minde is onely Fixt on true Worth without additions I learn'd of Count Orsinio to bring things To the extreamest poynt so to encrease The ioy it had beene a sinne to part Those Bodies whose very Soules seeme to bee Ioynd together Cleo. Brother may I perish When I forget this benefit or cease to pay To you my Lord my thankes for pleading so Lysanders Cause and mine Kin. Great Loue this day hath shewne his mighty power Without the helpe of Fortune In an houre He hath relieu'd from death and from despaire Foure of his truest Subiects and made faire This day that was o're-clouded let vs praise His power that in in a minute so can raise From misery to an excesse of Ioy And in an instant that content destroy He hath to vs beene iust this day as well as kinde Rewarding vertuous Loue let none then call him blinde Exeunt omnes THE EPILOGVE OVr Author feares there are some Rebell-hearts Whose dulnesse doth oppose Loues piercing darts These will bee apt to say the Plot was dull The Language rude and that 't was onely full Of grosse Absurdities for such as these Hee cares not now nor ere will strive to please For if your selues as Masters and Loues Friends Be pleasd with this sad Play hee hath his ends FINIS
The Deseruing FAUORITE As it was lately Acted first before the Kings Maiestie and since publikely at the BLACK-FRIERS By his MAJESTIES Seruants Written by LODOVVICKE CARLELL Esquire Gentle-man of the BOVVES and Groome of the King and Queenes Priuie Chamber AT LONDON Printed for MATHEVV RHODES 1629 TO MY VERY NOBLE AND approued Friends Mr. THOMAS CARIE Sonne to the Earle of Monmouth and Mr. WILLIAM MVRREY both of the Bed Chamber to his Maiestie A Approued Friends this Play which know at first was not design'd to trauell so farre as the common Stage is now prest for a greater iourney almost without my knowledge and to giue some stop to preiudicate opinions which may happily arise from the Authors knowne want of Learning I am bold to say you both approued the Plot and Language for your abilities to iudge I held them so great and belieue the world did so to that your approbation to this hath made me against the opinion euen of many friends continue to wast more paper If yee then flatter'd or were loth to discourage mee in this way which few delight to practice though most to see and censure yee are iustly punisht now when ye expect it not in being chosen Patrons of what 's presented to you thus plainly by your Seruant LOD CARLELL THE Printers Epigrammaticall Epistle to the vnderstanding Reader VNknowne to 'th Author this faire Courtly Piece Was drawne to 'th Presse not for a Golden Fleece As doe our Midan Mimickes of these Times Who hunt out Gaine with Reasons losse in rhymes Heaping together such indigested Stuffe Can scarce out-beare true Iudgements Counter-buffe He with a new choyce and familiar Straine Strikes full Conceit deepe in the Master-Veyne Stoopes not for drosse his profit was his pleasure Ha's for his Friends ransackt the Muses Treasure Brought thence such lustrous sparkling Iewels forth As well improue his Scoenes of reall Worth Prompt Wit ripe Art with Iudgement fell at strife How best t' expresse true Nature to the Life Yet fild with pleasing Language and so filde As best beseemes MINERVA'S high bred Child Accept these Straines as here you find 'em drest By mee the Printer All stand ready prest At your sole Seruice rightly vnderstand 'em And if more such I meet with still command 'em Yours obsequious in what 's good and vertuous I. R. ¶ THE PROLOGVE AS it was spoken before the KING DOe not expect strong Lines nor Mirth though they Iustly the Towne-wits and the Vulgar sway What hope haue we then that our Play can please This more Iudicious Presence wanting these We haue a hope the Author sayes this Night Loue in our weaknesse shall expresse his might He in each Noble brest himselfe will place The Subiect being all Loue then must finde grace Yes you may say if it bee well exprest Else loue doth censure him from out our brest Thus what he hop'd should helpe him if he erre In the expression turnes his Censurer I for the Author stand and in his Name Doe here renounce the glory or the shame Of this Nights worke Great Loue this Play is thine Worke Miracles and shew thy selfe Diuine Change these rude lines into a sweet smooth Straine Which were the weake effects of a dull Braine If in this Prologue Contradictions moue That best expresses it was writ by Loue THE NAMES OF THE ACTORS Mr. Benfield the King Mr. Taylor the Duke Mr. Lewin Iacomo Mr. Sharpe Lysander Mr. Swanstone the Count Vtrante Mr. Robinson Count Orsinio and Hermite Mr. Smith Gerard Women Iohn Honiman Clarinda Iohn Tomson Cleonarda Edward Horton Mariana Iaspero Bernardo Seruants Huntsmen c. THE FAVORITE Actus primus Scoena prima Enter Mariana and Lysander Mariana COme prethee tell me brother why ar't sad Lys. From thee my dearest Sister I haue not hid my neerest touching secrets Thou know'st how truly I did loue And how at last I gain'd my deare Clarinda Mari. I doe and wish that I could tell you such a secret of mine owne for of all men liuing I thinke you most happy Lys. Most miserable of men Mari. How can that be is not Clarinda yours In which were I a man I should beleeue More happinesse consisted then for to be a Monarch Lys. Clarinda yet is mine Mari. Nothing can take her from you but the graue I hope she is not sicke Lys. Nothing can take her from me deare Mariana But I must giue her Mar. Why loue you any one so wel to giue away your heart I know shee 's dearer to you Lys. She 's so much deerer to me then my heart That I must kill my heart if I doe giue her Mari. Be plaine sweet brother Lys. The Duke who is too neere a kin in loue And bloud to our dread Soueraigne to be deny'd Dyes for Clarinda Mar. Why thinke you shee 'l proue false Lys. Shee false Oh no It is I must play the traytor to my selfe Vertue doth vndermine my happinesse And blowes it vp I must release my interest In Clarinda that she may marry this loue-sicke Duke And saue his Life Mari. Why who compels it Lys. Gratitude compels it For to the Duke I owe my life and fortunes My fortunes when my wicked Vncle would haue Wrested from me by false witnesse that state Which I am now possest of which the Duke finding He imploy'd his power and so I had my right My life I then receiued when I was rescued By his valour from the dreadfull bore Which I too young thrust on by honor venterd to assayle Yet all these obligations touch me not so neere As doth the danger of the Count Utrante Clarinda's Father who hath beene long a prisoner For the same cause for which my Father fled Mari. He is now at liberty Lys. It is true he hath his liberty and greater honors Are propos'd if he can win his Daughter To marry with the Duke then he hath lost But on the other side if she denye And it doth wholly lie in me to make her grant Her Fathers head is in danger the King So passionately doth loue the Duke Mari. How came you by this miserable knowledge Lys. Sister you know I often visited The Count Utrante in the prison besides The wish'd occasions which I euer tooke To waite vpon his Daughter thither This he so gratefully accepted That now that he hath liberty He still sends for me where I chanc'd to be last night And as a friend heard when he did propound it to Clarinda Mari. Then he doth no way suspect there 's loue betwixt you But tell me Brother how poore Clarinda Did receiue her Fathers deadly proposition Lys. Her Father not belieuing that she would deny So great a blessing came with ioy to tell her That which once told forc'd teares from her faire eyes At which he being amazed desired to know The cause why she receiu'd his and her happinesse With somuch sorrow she answer'd him with broken sighes Offering to teare her haire which when I would not Giue
loue vnto your Grace made me so curious For I protest there is no man aliue That 's more ambitious to do your Lordship seruice It grieu'd my soule to see a man that so deseru'd So much neglected and abus'd Some of this is true Duke If thou wilt make thy fortune Bring me where vnseene I may ouerheare them Iaco. So your Grace will not discouer your selfe I le promise you once within three nights Duke By mine honour I will not performe Thy promise and I will make thee happie Iaco. Be sure you shew not At your returne to them the least distemper Duke Feare not that Exeunt Enter Clarinda Vtrante Lysander Bernardo Clar. Sir you haue shew'd vs many Pictures But aboue all the rest I like that of your Lords Ber. Madame I know my Lord would thinke him happie Would you accept the picture but much happier If you would take the substance Clar. It may be Sir I will Utran. Daughter I charge you on my blessing When the Duke returnes to vse him with respect Clar. Father I see you haue no skill you doe not know The craft we women vse to make men loue the more The smallest fauour I shall shew him after this harsh vsage Will make him thinke himsele in heauen Utran. Before you part when he comes backe I pray you vrge my restoration But first promise to marry him Clar. Leaue that to my Discretion Enter Duke Duke Gentle Lady I craue your pardon for my stay Which was drawne out beyond my expectation Lys. Me thinkes my Lord looks soure vpon me Clar. My Lord indeed I wondred how you stayd so long O rather how you liu'd your heart and you being parted For that you left behind you when you went Duke Madame I doe confesse it is a miracle Proceeding from your beauty that I could liue So long wanting a heart but trust me If my faithfull seruice cannot procure me yours But that you needs will send my owne againe The Miracle will then be alterd quite For now the Miracle consisteth in that I liue And yet you haue my heart and then it will Be a Miracle indeed if I doe liue after Your scorne shall giue it backe againe Clar. My Lord I see it was not bounty But hope of gaine made you giue me your heart For you expect that I should giue you mine By way of recompence which yet I cannot doe But that I may be sure they are true Miracles That you are pleas'd to say my Beauty worketh For there are many false ones here in Loues Religion I le take a Moneth for tryall of the truth All which time my charity compels me to keepe your heart For should I send it backs you say it would kill you Or worke another Miracle which I desire not In that time I shall be acquainted with your heart If then it doth appeare the same it now doth Clad in the same pure zeale that now it weares I le make a change and giue you mine for it For when a Moneth is once past come you And lead me to the Church I le not refuse to goe Du. Slaue that I was to trust that villaine Iacomo That told me she lou'd Lysander Deare Lady You haue in this comfortable answere Reuiu'd a dying man this mercy at the blocke Shewes you to be diuine and so an obiect Fit for my affection which hath beene still Aboue my reason but would you in the mean time Command me somthing where my faithfull seruice Might appeare more then in words I then should be Most happie Enter Seruants with a Banquet and stooles Clar. This offer I expected My Lord you know the iniuries my Father Hath receiu'd if you will see him righted His Lands and Honors backe to him restor'd Which is but Iustice for a bribe for euen iust causes Now haue need of bribery I le giue you thankes And trust me that is more then great men Should expect for doing iustice Duke Rather if it please you Let it be somthing wherein I shall haue no other tie Vpon me but only your command my honor Ties me to see this perform'd Clar. This once perform'd Since you so much desire it I will studie Some Command that may adde honor to you In the faire performance Utran. Come my Lord we will draw neare I see their parley 's at an end Duke Come sit faire Lady My Lord what sayes my Daughter Will shee yet yeeld to his owne happinesse Du. I hope she wil at last make me a fitter marke For Enuy in that I am belou'd of her Then for my present greatnesse Lys. My Lord there is no cause of Enuy for either The greatnesse of your honors being but the Iust Reward of your vnequal'd merit and for Clarinda Tho her worth be great as you can wish it Yet you doe well deserue her both for your worthy Loue And for the many fauors you haue done her Father Utran. My Lord belieue me he hath spoke my thoughts Duke Now when the King sent for me I had preuented Your Daughter in a command that she layd vpon me Concerning your restoring to your Landes But that the King was angry at something that I said Lys. I thought it had beene Impossible He could haue beene offended with your Grace Duke 'T is true at other times he could not But the Lords told me that his Sister Faire Cleonarda had receiud a hurt By rescuing of the hounds from the Stags fury When he stood at bay and that made him it may be So apt for to be angry Lys. Why did they suffer her so to endanger her selfe Du. My Lord she apprehends not danger Which you 'l confesse your selfe when you haue heard Me tell what I haue seene her doe Lys. This act to me my Lord is a sufficient testimony That she doth not feare for by the lawes of hunting It is not to any man thought a disparagement To giue way to a Stagge his head being hard Du. She is a Lady of that noble Spirit That she wants nothing but the person of a Man To be one her heart being equall To the most valiant with these eyes I saw her The King her brother being in the Forrest Breake from the company and pursue a wolfe Which the hounds following of a Stagge Did bring out of a thicket and being well horst She ply'd him with so many wounding shafts That he at length was forc'd to stay his course And seing there was no way to scape by flight He turnd for to reuenge the wounds he had Receiu'd in which he shew'd himselfe a beast indeed And led by bruitish fury for had he beene Indew'd with reason hee 'd haue tane the wounds She gaue for fauors and kist the instrument That honour'd him with death from her faire hand Lys. My Lord 't is strange a woman should do this Duke I was the near'st but ere I could come in She had cut off his head the seruice That I could doe her was to carry to the
haue giuen consent It may be I am deceiud in this my apprehension And that it is in loue he sends for me If it be so I shall be glad if not howeuer I will meete him according to his desire But first I le write a Letter to Clarinda It may be I shall neuer see her more If I come not home to night carry a Letter You shall find within vpon the Table to Clarinda Honour thou tiest vs men to strange conditions For rather then wee l lose the smallest part of thee We on an euen lay venture Soules and Bodies For so they doe that enter single Combats Exeunt Enter Cleonarda and Mariana Cleo. It is hot Mariana wee 'l rest our selues a while And when the day growes cooler haue another course Mari. I wonder how the Deere escaped the follow-dog Once pinch'd him Cleo. It was the bushes sau'd him Mari. Why will you course among the bushes Gerard the Keeper would haue brought you To a fairer course but you will neuer let Him goe along Cleo. I hate to haue a tutor in my sport I will finde and kill my Game my selfe What satisfaction is 't to me if by anothers skill I purchase any thing Mari, Yet you must haue Your husband chosen to your hand the King your Brother Will take that paines for you Cleo. He shall haue leaue to name me one But if I doe not thinke him worthy of me I le breake that Kingly custome of marrying For the good of the State since it makes Princes More miserable then Beggers for Beggers marry Only those they loue Mar. Madame it 's true we not alone in Princes See the bitter effects of such forc'd Marriages But euen in priuate Families Murders and Adulteries doe often wait vpon those Couples Whose Bodies are compeld by Parents or Friends To ioyne for worldly respects without the soules consent Cleo. 'T is true Mariana how many carefull Parents That loue their children dearly thinking To make them happy by marrying of them richly Make them miserable both here and in the other world Mari. Madame 't is very hot will you goe bathe your selfe In the Riuer Cleo. With all my heart Mariana It will refresh vs well against the Euening I am resolu'd to kill a Deere to night Without the Keepers helpe Exeunt Enter Duke and Lysander Lys. I hope your Grace hath not long staid for me Duke No Lysander you are come before My expectation though not before my wish You cannot guesse the cause that I sent for you Lys. My Lord I cannot Vnlesse fortune be so fauorable to giue me A faire and iust occasion by being your Second To hazzard that life for you which by your valour Was preserud but why to hope so great a blessing I cannot see since who within this Kingdome Dare injure you yet you commanded That I should come arm'd Du. For being my Second banish that thought And yet I meane to fight to day and for an iniury That is done to me and you Lysander shall fight to Not as a Second but a Principall Lys. With whom Duk. With me Lysander Lys. With you my Lord vpon what quarrell Duk. I will maintaine that I doe loue Clarinda Better then you and better doe deserue To be beloued by her Lys. My Lord I doe confesse it And so this cannot be a cause of quarrell She is your Mistris and deserues to be so There being no other worthy of your Seruice But for my part I haue no interest in her More then a friend Why should your grace thinke I loue her then so well to make my loue To her the quarrell Duke Lysander I did not thinke Th'adst beene so base to haue deny'd thy Mistris But I will further maintaine thou art thy selfe A Villaine a base dissembling lustfull one Lys. Had these words Which wound you deeper farre then they doe me Since they are scandalous come from another My sword should first haue answerd not my tongue But since you are one to whom I owe my life I le keepe another method First I le let you see The wrong you doe me which if you shall not Straight acknowledge our swords shall then decide Whether this title be my due or no And lest you may condemne me for an enemy As thinking me your debtor I le let you see That you my Lord are as much bound to me As I to you though you did saue my life Duk. Lysander doe not thinke You owe me any thing for sauing of your life The thankes if any was due to Fortune Who brought me thither for what I did A peasant might haue done you being your selfe Almost a Conqueror before I came Though sure enough for want of bloud to perish Had I not brought you home which yet indeed Was but my duty to helpe a wounded man But how Lysander I should stand ingag'd to you For greater obligations though this I grant Be small I cannot see Lys. Tho you should amplifie as you diminish What you did forme yet 't would neuer equall The pulling of my heart out of my brest For to giue you content Duke I cannot vnderstand your Riddle Yet feare it tends to base submission Lys. Duke be not deceiu'd for after the discouery Of that secret which I will tell you I le giue you an assurance with my sword I doe not feare Duk. What secret is this Lys. I did but now deny that I did loue Clarinda But now I call the heauens to witnesse Who must assist me in so iust a quarrell That I doe loue her equall with my life And now I will maintaine that I deserue To be better belou'd by her then you Duk. Come then may the truest Louer Proue the Victor Lys. First let me shew you How I acquit the obligation I ought you Clarinda loues me more then I can her yet though She thus loue me I out of my gratefulnesse to you Vsed the best part of my eloquence To perswade her to marry you and is not this A secret and a discharging of the debt I ow'd you Du. These eares indeed can witnes thou didst perswade her To marrie me but it was to satisfie Thy owne base ends thy lust and thy ambition Not out of thy gratitude to me as thou pretendst Lys. My lust the vestall Virgins that keepe in the holy fire Haue not more cold desires then I haue Duke I in her Fathers Garden late last night Overheard thee tempt that bright Angell Which my soule adores to acts of lust And with such mouing reasons that flesh and blood Could neuer haue resisted considering That she lou'd thee but that there was a power That gouernes aboue reason garded her From thy strong temptation Lys. My Lord that curiosity hath vndone you For I doe call the heauens to witnesse That what I then spake when I seemed vicious Was all dissembled intending you the fruit Of that dissimulation for when I once Haue made my selfe a peere vnworthy I thought that she would then
him Nay I hope you know it not your selfe Shall I belieue that your great heart that euer Yet contemn'd loue can on a sodaine in foure Or fiue daies knowledge be struck by my vnworthy Brothers slender merits and one that must Be periur'd too if he should loue you Cleo. Mariana take heed how you doe pursue This Subiect for if you doe I should begin To hate you are you not asham'd to contradict Your selfe How oft hath your owne tongue Giuen him the highest attributes of worth Nay you haue beene so lauish of his praises That I haue check'd you for it though I beliu'd Them to bee true because it comes Somthing too neere the praising of our selues To praise a Brother I am my selfe a witnesse Of his valour and his wit and those are sure The maine supporters to all other vertues Blush not Lysander to heare thine owne iust praises Except it be that I doe sully them in the deliuery Thou gau'st too sad a witnesse of thy valour In ouercomming him which through this Kingdome was esteemd the brauest man Lys. Madam a brauer man by farre then he Vnder whose sword he fell Fortune that did enuy His worth because his mind was fortified Aboue her reach applyed her selfe that day Vnto the ruine of his body and then though Neuer before nor since fought on my side Cle. When next I come I will intreat you tell me euery particular Accident through the whole Combate Lys. Most willingly for I by that Relation Shall make apparant the difference betwixt His worth and mine Exeunt Enter King Utrante and Attendant King So many dayes o'repast and yet no newes Of my deare Cozen whether he be aliue or dead Utran. Sir there is a Hermite Which hath brought sad newes King What of his death or that he 's deadly hurt Utran. Sir to your Maiesty he only will relate That which he hath to say and yet by the sadnesse Of his countenance know his newes is ill King Call him in Whilst with patience I fore-arme my selfe Enter Hermite Speake Father is the Duke dead what sad newes Is this you bring giue me my torment in a word Her Your feares are true indeed the Duke Is dead Kin. How doe you know Her Your Maiesty shall heare As I was gathering Rootes within the Forrest The best part of my foode casting my eye aside I saw a man lie weltring in his gore Straight I was strucken with a sodaine feare But Charitie preuailing aboue feare I stept to see if yet the soule had left That comely Mansion for so indeed it was Finding some sparks of life remaining I tooke A cordiall water which I euer carry with me And by the help of that I brought him to his senses So that he was able to deliuer these few words Death I embrace thee willingly thou being A farre lesse torment then for to liue And know Clarinda loues another better May she enioy Lysander whom now I doe Beleeue is worthy of her for I that Most vniustly went about to crosse it Must pay my life downe for my error Lysander I forgiue thee my death and so I hope the King and with that word the King He sunke betweene my armes and neuer Spoke word Kin. O what a man was this what marble heart That would not melt it selfe in teares to heare This sad relation but what became of the body Her There Sir begins occasion of new griefe Whilst I did vainly striue to call backe life Three barbarous theeues seeking some booty Came by chance that way and seeing his garments Rich they went about to strip him but hearing Of some noyse within the wood one of them Did aduise to carry him to their boat which lay Hard by within a Creeke I went about To hinder them and for my paines they did compel Me to carry the body vpon my shoulders Threatning to kill me if I did refuse But not content with this they made me row Them downe the streame three dayes together Vntill they came vnto their fellow Pirates King What did they with the body Her Threw it ouerbord when they had Rifled it first King How chance you came no sooner to tell This newes though yet too soone they are so ill Utran. I see the King did dearly loue him He weepes Her Sir the current of the water bare vs farther In three dayes then I was able to returne in ten King Giue the poore Hermite something Though his newes deserue it not Yet his sufferngs doth It is an addition to my griefe that when I parted With him last I seem'd to be offended with him For his dotage on Clarinda which he hath Dearely paid for and yet I cannot blame him For she is the fairest creature that yet I euer saw Enter Cleonarda O Sister we haue lost our dearest Kinsman And that which ads vnto my griefe is that I cannot Be reueng'd on him that kild him Cleo. Are you certaine Sir that he is dead or Who it was that kild him Ki. Too certaine of them both It was Lysander that kild him Whom If I euer get within my power The sharpest kinde of death that iustice can inflict Vpon him he shall feele Cleo. Say you so brother hee shall Not come within your power if I can helpe it then But royall brother if the Duke had kild Lysander I know you would haue pardoned him King Sister I thinke I should Cle. With what Iustice then can you pursue Lysanders life who as the Duke himselfe Informes you in his Letter sought Onely to maintaine what was his owne But on the other side the Duke like an vsurper Without any title would haue taken from him That which he valew'd farre aboue his life His Loue King It is not I That pursues Lysanders life but Iustice The Law condemnes him to dye Had it beene but a priuate man much more Being so neare a kin to me Cle. There is no Law but doth allow vs to defend Our selues Lysander did no more for who can denie He was compeld honor compeld him The Duke compeld him and loue which cannot be By noble minds resisted did aboue all compel him Then all the fault Lysander did commit in my Opinion is that hee was too slow needing Compulsion in so iust a cause and therefore Sir If you should apprehend Lysander though by The letter of the Law his life is forfeit Yet remember that mercy is the greatest atribute Belonging to those powrs whose substitute you are King Sister you often haue had occasion To shew your Charity in being a Suiter to mee For the liues of those that had offended Yet vntill now you neuer beg'd my mercy vnto any Cleo. Sir you neuer had occasion giuen you Till now to whet the sword of Iustice by your owne Particular reuenge that it might cut the deeper And being not intressed your mercy of it selfe Did blunt the edge and needed not my intercession King I do coniure you by my loue To speake no more
of this vnpleasing subiect For if I get Lysander once within my power I will sacrifice his heart-bloud to the Ghost Of my deceased Cozen Enter Clarinda Vtran. You know it is bootlesse The King is so incenst in begging mercy For Lysander you may proue cruell to your selfe And vnto me your Father Clar. O Sir how ill you doe requite Lysander His loue to you was the onely cause That puld these miseries vpon him For had not he so dearly tenderd you Fearing to draw on you the Kings displeasure We had long since bin married then this vnlucky Combat had not bin nor I had need of that Which now I am to beg Mercy great Sir Kin. Why know you where Lysander is Clar. O no but I doe feare he cannot escape Your hands King Why Lady Can you hope that if hee were taken I would pardon him hath he not kild the man That in the world was nearest to my heart I cannot grant this rise and by mine honor Aske or command what is within my power But this and it shall be perform'd Cla. Sir all the suite I le make since this cannot be granted is That in the selfe same houre that my Lysander Is to suffer I who haue beene the fountaine From whence these bloudy streames haue issu'd May be permitted to shew Lysander the darke Yet pleasing way to the Elizian Fields For though we could not here yet there we shall Enioy each other Cleo. Lysander shouldst thou proue false to her Though I my selfe were cause of thy inconstancie Yet I should hate thee King I hope you will better consider Of the generall losse the world shall sustaine In losing such a Iewell as your selfe Sister I will leave you to aduise her better And pray you vse her with your best respect Her worth and beauty doth deserue it My Lord Vtrante haue you in your daughters name Taken possession of all that was the Dukes As I commanded Utran. My Lord I haue the full possession But she doth vtterly refuse them King I know my Sister will aduise Her better Exe. manet Clar. Cleo. Cla. The Princesse is the fairest Creature That yet mine eyes euer beheld why does she looke So stedfastly vpon me Gracious Madame What see you in this worthlesse frame That so attracts your eyes Cleo. I see Clarinda In each particular of the whole frame Which thou term'st worthlesse an excesse of beauty Which in another Lady might breed enuy But by my life I take deligt to looke on thee Cla. And Madame may I perish If ere mine eyes yet met an obiect wherein I tooke halfe that delight that I doe now In looking vpon you were I a man And could frame to my selfe a Mistris by my wishes Hauing the wide world to choose in for each Particular to make vp the whole I should beleeue It were a fruitlesse labour if I went farther Then your selfe thus fram'd Cleo. Clarinda as I am Sister to a King I see I must partake of their misfortunes Which is to be grossly flatter'd but it may be You giue me this faire language by instinct For I haue pleasing newes to tell you If that you had come to Court I thought To haue sent for you which vnto you I know appeares most strange for till this houre I neuer had the happinesse to see you Clar. Madame it does indeed Cleo. It will appeare more strange When you shall know the cause for which I would haue sent for you Cla. Deare Lady what is it for Cleo. I would haue sent for you To know what you would haue giuen willingly To one that would vndertake to saue Lysanders life Clar. I cannot name you a particular But all that I haue or can giue Cleo. I meane not goods or money But could you bee content if it were A woman that could doe this To quit your interest in Lysander And giue him leaue to marry her Clar. If it should come to that I know I sooner should be willing Then I should draw him to giue his consent Cleo. It is nearer it then you belieue I know a Lady that hath sau'd his life already Cla. How beg'd his pardon of the King And vpon those conditions hath he giuen consent Cleo. He hath not yet but when he knowes Your minde I thinke he will Clar. Is she a hansome Lady and well borne Cleo. Not very hansome but her birth is great In both she equals me and in affection to Lysander you Clar. Madame I doe beseech you Leaue this too harsh discourse for it hardly Can be true since there is no Lady In this Kingdome that euer I saw That equals you in beauty yet The imagination that it may be so Doth from mine eyes draw teares and chases From my heart the vsuall heate Cleo. Weepe not Clarinda I cannot hold thee Longer in suspence I am the Lady that I meane And therefore chase away thy feare Clar. I neuer saw true cause of feare till now The tale you told appeares much likelier truth Now that you are the Lady then it did before For you haue in you that full excellency That would make Gods forsweare themselues If they had made an oath should you propose Your selfe as the reward of that their periury Shall I belieue then that Lysanders frailtie Can resist such an assault if you be so resolu'd Besides what Lady hath the power to beg Lysanders life at your incensed brothers hands But onely you that are his Sister Goe poore forsaken maide and melt thyselfe Away in teares and doe not liue to be an eye-sore To this noble Lady nor to vpbraid Lysander With his falshood Cleo. Stay sweet Clarinda And for as many teares as I haue made thee shed From those faire eyes so oft I le kisse the Crystall Fountaines from whence they flowed belieue me Dearest maide though I doe loue Lysander Yet I would not wrong thee for a world Of which to giue the more assurance Thou shalt see and speake with thy Lysander For thou art onely worthy of him He is now at Gerards Lodge within the Forrest None knowes of it but Gerard and his owne Sister Mariana how I brought him thither wounded I le take another time to tell you when you would See him you must goe disguis'd farewell Clarinda Be confident I loue you dearely I will stay No longer lest it should breed suspition Exit Clar. Madame your humble seruant How strange a tale is this yet sure it 's true Why should the Princesse say so else But can it be the Princesse loues Lysander Can it be otherwise if she doe know him If it be true sure Lysander will not neglect So great a blessing hence Iealousie the canker Of true loue that dost in time consume that Which did giue thee beeing why should I wrong Lysander to mistrust his faith till I haue Better cause I must to him and in disguise Which how to get my selfe I know not Enter Iacomo I must trust some body and who so fit
censure any of your actions Cleo. Lysander Must you goe to day Sure you doe not loue me as a Sister else You would not part so soone Lysan. By this kisse which I belieue shall be The last that I euer shall be blest with Did not my faith oblige me otherwayes I should loue you equall with Clarinda Nay had I knowne you first I should Haue lou'd you better but as it is I know you are so noble in you selfe That you wold hate me if I should proue inconstant Cleo. It is true it were a basenesse for which My iudgement would condemne you as vnworthy To be belou'd but yet I thinke my passion Would make me change that saying of louing Of the Treason yet hating of the Traitor For I should hate the Treason and yet I feare me Too much loue the Traitor Lys. It were impossible that you should loue A periur'd man Cleo. I doe but feare it I know your worth will neuer put it to the tryall Lys. Deare Princesse Gerard to whom I am much bound Hath horses ready for me so that there is Nothing wanting but your leaue to make My iourney happie Cleo. Which I vnwillingly doe grant you yet Pray the heauens to make your iourney prosperous O Mariana would I had neuer seene thy brother Or hauing seene him that I might enioy him For my Husband but I doe ill to wish anothers Right that happinesse belongs to faire Clarinda's Merits onely Lys. Go Gerard get the horses ready Ex. Ger. Cleo. Lysander let me heare from you And if you thinke it no way preiudiciall To your faith I pray you weare this fauor For my sake Lys. Madame most willingly And thinke it for the greatest honor that ere Was done me Within Crye round beset the house Cleo. What noyse is that Mariana Mari. Madame I le goe see O Madame we are vndone it is the King Who threatens to hang vp Gerard for concealing Of my Brother Lys. Deare Madame hide your selfe What will the King your Brother say If he doe finde you here Cleo. I will Lesander flye from his anger now That I may haue more power hereafter To doe thee seruice what will you doe Lysander It is no matter what becomes of me So that you be safe from the Kings anger Enter King Iacomo Attendants Gerard bound Guard Iaco. Sir set the house round lest he should scape At some backe dore King Be that thy charge take halfe the Guard I le search The house my selfe Where is this bloody Traytor Lys. Sir heare 's a bloody-handed though not a bloody Minded man that doth not yet deserue the title Of a Traitor I know it 's me you looke for King Bloudy villaine it 's thou indeed Lay hands on him Lys. Keepe off and heare me speake first And then I will deliuer vp my sword King What wouldst thou say Lys. I see poore Gerard bound whom I Compel'd to conceale me Kin. How couldst thou compell him Lys. Royall Sir with patience hear me When I by the assistance of Fortune not my valour Yet I did nothing basely had kild that noble Duke I was my selfe sore wounded so that I could not Flye out of your territories and well I knew Into what house so ere I came though they At first might pitty me not knowing What I had done yet when they once should know That I had kild the Duke they then I knew Would streight discouer me rather to gaine reward Or else to saue themselues from future danger Which to preuent I thought my safest course was For to compell Gerard whom well I knew Liu'd farre remote from company to sweare Not to discouer I was in his house Or else I threatned straight to kill him Hoping that rather then he would forsweare Himselfe he would conceale me wherein I was No whit deceiu'd Ger. If please your Maiestie He came into my house before I was aware With his sword drawne and setting of it To my brest threatning if I would not sweare For to conceale him to kill me instantly I not knowing what he had done Swore all that he would haue me Cleo. A God transformd into a humane shape Could doe or say no more then he hath done King But when thou knew'st that he had Kild the Duke how durst thou then Conceale him Lys. I then began to fright him with strange Examples of the cruell punishments that periur'd Men had felt and aw'd his conscience that way King So thou dost mine Lysander For I haue made a vow after that I had got thee Once within my power the Sun shall not Twice set til I had with a sacrifice of thy heart bloud Appeas'd my Kinsmans Ghost I dare not Be forsworne away with him to prison And Gerard Exeunt Lys. Ger. and Guard Cleo. It is then no time for to conceale my selfe O cruell Brother you haue in that rash oath Murdered all vertue that Mans fraile nature Is capable to receiue King I am amaz'd Tell me deare Sister what make you here I hope you know not of this villany Cleo. O doe not call a demi-god a villaine Though Fortune made his valiant arme The instrument to rob you of a worthy Kinsman King Sister you speake with passion as if You lou'd him Cleo. Yes Brother I doe loue him With all my heart I loue him which I will Manifest more then in words If you be cruell King Sister as you respect my fauour And your owne faire Name blemish not so Your royall blood by louing of a murderous Ingratefull villaine Cleo. O that you were no Brother to me Nor my King that I might satisfie mine Anger by a braue reuenge By louing of a murderous ingratefull villaine Cleo. O that you were no Brother to me Nor my King that I might satisfie mine anger By a braue reuenge by my life I would haue shed His heart bloud with my Iauelin that should Haue spoke this but your selfe but as it is I le let you see your error you might as well Call him a murderer that being assaulted By a barbarous thiefe kil'd him that would Haue rob'd him for so Lysander did and Whereas you call him ingrate there you doe Erre the Duke being his debtor and so Indeed is all the world for he hath left them Such a Story in his actions that hee that can But read and imitate them to the life Shall in another iuster age be made a God And worshipt for his vertues King Sister did you but see how ill These praises doe become you for you indeed Are drunke with affection you would leaue Them me I know when you recouer by the helpe Of reason you 'l hate your selfe and wish that all Y 'aue spoke or done this day were but a dreame Cleo. O neuer neuer poore Clarinda What will become of thee when thou shalt heare This killing Newes Exeunt Enter Clarinda and the Duke Duk. It grieues my heart that I haue brought thee wrong Clar. Sir must we lie here in the wood
all night Duke I feare there is no other remedie Clar. O my Lysander thou art lost I feare For euer and that same villaine Iacomo is cause of all There is some comfort yet I see a light sure it 's some house Duke For Charities sake open the Dore He knocks Enter Hermit Lord Sir where haue you beene Duke Mercy vpon vs how are we mistaken This is the old mans house where I haue beene Still since I came into the Forrest Cla. Pray heauen he did not misse his way a purpose Duk. Good Father if you haue any meate Fetch me some for this sweet youth I met him In the Forrest and would haue shewed him The way to Gerards Lodge but lost my selfe And wandred vp and downe till now Her Here here 's some meate I was my selfe at Gerards Lodge and saw those There whom you would little thinke Duke Who were there Her The King and his faire Sister Lysander bound as a Prisoner for killing Of the Duke Cla. O my Lysander's lost fals Duke Looke to the Boy he swoones speake Child what dost thou ayle Cla. That same who is Lysander now a prisoner And must die was the only cause I would So faine haue gone to Gerards Lodge For that villaine who had bound me I knew Would tell the King that Lysander was there And I would faine haue giuen him warning That he might haue fled because hee is Thy Kinsman Her Be not sad Boy for that I heard the Princesse sweare if the King Put to death Lysander that she will not out-liue Him and he too well loues his Sister To lose her so Cla. How Is the Princesse so in loue with him Her Indeed they say she is Duke Come and eat your meate you shall Goe to bed I know you ate weary Clar. Sir I cannot eate I had rather sleepe Her Come then I le shew thee to a Bed Clar. No Sir I le lie vpon the Rushes I neuer vse To lie with any body and I am sure Here in this house there are not many beds Her Come thou shalt lie alone There are two beds we two will lie together Clar. Please Sir to leaue me here I le go to bed No childe I le helpe thee Clar. If he should see my breasts I am vndone I will keepe on my doublet Her Goe to bed sweet childe wee 'l leaue thee Exeunt Actus quintus Scoena prima Enter Iaspero and Bernardo Ias. What newes at Court Ber. Sad newes belieue me Ias. Why must braue Lysander suffer to day Ber. The King hath sworne to haue his head off ere Sun-set Ias. The Kingdome will be poore in such a losse For he leaues none behind him worth his equall Ber. I but is 't not strange the King should grace That villaine Iacomo that did betray him Ias. His extreame loue vnto the Duke makes him Loue Iacomo who doth professe that he did not Discouer Lysander in hope of gaine but onely Out of loue to the Dukes memory Ber. At one o' th clocke he is to suffer let vs be there betimes and get a place neere the Scaffold to heare his last words Exe. Enter Utrante in blacke Utran. How blacke and sorrowfull this day lookes This day in which Lysander is to suffer Noble Lysander to whom my Child and I Are so much bound and yet hee is the cause Of both our ruines or rather I am cause It was my ambition to haue a Duke My Sonne in Law no it was my Clarinda's Beauty bred all this mischiefe and it was The Heauens that gaue Beauty to her Why did they then not blesse that gift in her But turne it to her curse Peace wretched man And argue not with those high powers But wait their pleasure and pray for their assistance Who can yet change this Scoene of blood into A Scoene of ioy and back returne thee thy Clarinda Enter a Seruant Ser. If 't please your Lordship my young Lady Is return'd and gone agen Vtran. How Ser. She hath beene in the house this houre as the maids tell me hath chang'd her cloaths and 's newly stolne out at the back-gate and gon toward Lysanders prison two of my fellowes are gone after her and I came back to tell your Lordship Exit Enter Cleonarda and Mariana Cleo. And do's the Kings cruel resolution hold still Mar. O Madam yes my poore Brother must dye to day Cleo. And wilt not thou dye with him speake Mariana Mar. Madame I could wish that I might not out-liue him Cle. Why sayst thou thou couldst wish hast thou not hands Or dost thou want a knife if so yet there 's many wayes to die Mar. Madame how strangely doe you talke Cleo. Why wouldst thou wish to liue After the vntimely death of such a Brother Ma. Madame we must not goe vntill the Gods do call vs Yet I bylieue it is the better place Cleo. The better place assure thy selfe of that they would Not else thus early call thither the best of Men I will follow Him where ere he goes to see Enter Iacomo Iac. Madame the King desires your company Cleo. Villaine had he none else to send but thee That didst betray Lysander hence from my sight Exeunt Enter Duke and Hermit Her What did you with the Boy Duke I left him at the Count Utrante's house He told me he dwelt there Her At what houre say they must Lysander suffer Duke At on of the clock faile not to be there And get neere the Scaffold Her You need not bid me Exeunt Floûrish Enter King Cleonarda Iacomo Mariana Attendants one of them in Habit of a Countreman King Sister beleeue me you haue told me such particular Arguments of Lysanders worth that I doe pitty His misfortunes much and haue quite lost my anger Yet Iustice must be satisfied Cleo. Sir the offence that he committed was but against The Law although he rob'd you of a Subiect You are aboue the Law and may remit it A King should in points of life and death Be like the Chancery in other cases and helpe By mercy against the cruell letter of the Law As the Chancery doth by conscience Especially when your owne conscience tels you That he was forc'd against his will to fight Kin. Sister it were an example too dangerous To pardon him that kild my next of blood It might encourage some to strike my selfe And therfore it is in vaine to plead for mercy Enter Utrante and Clarinda Vtran. O daughter let not your passionate loue Vnto Lysander make you accuse good Iacomo Cla. O Sir you are cozen'd he is a Diuell incarnate Iustice Iustice great Sir King Lady I thought your plea would haue beene mercy And not Iustice Clar. Sir I haue lost all hope of mercy but Iustice I hope you will grant me against that villaine Iacomo Iaco. Now haue at me but I haue fore-arm'd the King with such a tale that and mine owne impudence which neuer faild me shall well enough defend me Kin. Arise faire Clarinda and