bringing on the work C. Bl. O Plague what work Ras C. Car. Prethee be quiet Man are they to sit presently Obad. As soon as I can get ready my presence being material Exit C Car. What wert thou mad wou'dst thou have beaten The Clerk when thou wert going to compound With the Rascals his Masters C. Bl. The sight of any of the Villains stirs me Lieu. Come Colonels there 's no tristing Let 's make haste and prepare your business let 's not lose This sitting come along along Exeunt Enter Arbella at one Door Abel at another as if he saw her not and starts when he comes to her as Ruth had taught him Arb. What 's the meaning of this I 'll try to steal by him Abel Pardon Mistress my profound Contemplations In which I was so hid that you cou'd not see me Arb. This is a set Form they allow it In every thing but their Prayers Abel Now you shou'd speak Forsooth Arb. Ruth I have found you But I 'll spoil the Dialogue Aside What shou'd I say Sir Abel What you please Forsooth Arb. Why truly Sir 't is as you say I did not see you Enter Ruth as over hearing them and Peeps Ruth This is lucky Abel No Forsooth 't was I that was not to see you Arb. Why Sir wou'd your Mother be angry if you shou'd Abel No no quite contrary I 'll tell you that presently But first I must say that the weighty affairs lie Heavy upon my Neck and Shoulders Shrugs Arb. Wou'd he were ty'd Neck and Heels Aside This is a notable Wench look where the Rascal peeps too If I shou'd becken to her she 'd take no notice She 's resolv'd not to relieve me Aside Ab. Something I can do and that with some body That is with those that are some bodies Arb. Whist whist Beckons to Ruth and she shakes her head Prethee have some pity O unmerciful Girl Abel I know Parliament-men and Sequestrators I know Committee-men and Committee-men know me Arb. You have great acquaintance Sir Abel Yes they ask my opinion sometimes Arb. What weather 't will be have you any skill Sir Abel When the weather is not good we hold a Fast. Arb. And then it alters Abel Assuredly Arb. In good time no mercy Wench Abel Our profound Contemplations Are caused by the constervation of our Spirits For the Nations good we are in labour Arb. And I want a deliverance Hark ye Ruth Take off your Dog or I 'll turn Bear indeed Ruth I dare not my Mother will be angry Arb. O hang you Ab. You shall perceive that I have some power If you please to Arb. O I am pleased Sir that you shou'd have power I must look out my Hoods and Scarfs Sir 't is a most time to go Ab. If it were not for the weighty matters of State Which lie upon my shoulders my self wou'd look them Arb. O by no means Sir 't is below your greatness Some luck yet she never came seasonably before Enter Mrs. Day Mrs. Day Why how now Abel got so close to Mrs. Arbella So close indeed nay then I smell something Well Mr. Abel you have been so us'd to secresie In Council and weighty matters that you have it At your Fingers ends Nay look ye Mistress look ye Look ye mark Abel's Eyes ah there be looks Ruth thou art a good Girl I find Abel has got ground Ruth I forbore to come in till I saw your honour First enter but I have o'r heard all Mrs. Day And how has Abel behav'd himself Wench ha Ruth O beyond expectation if it were lawful I 'd undertake He 'd make nothing to get as many Womens good Wills as he speaks to he 'll not need much teaching You may turn him loose Arb. O this plaguy Wench Mrs. Day Sayest thou so Girl it shall be something In thy way a new Gown or so it may be a better penny Well said Abel I say I did think thou wou'dst come Out with a piece of thy Mothers at last But I had forgot the Committee are near upon sitting Ha Mrs. you are crafty you have made your Composition before-hand Ah this Abel's as bad As a whole Committee Take that Item from me Come make haste call the Coach Abel well said Abel I say Arb. We 'll fetch our things and follow you Exit Mrs. Day and Abel Now Wench canst thou ever hope to be forgiven Ruth Why what 's the matter Arb. The matter coud'st thou be so unmerciful To see me practic'd on and pelted at by a Blunderbuss Charg'd with nothing but proofs weighty affairs Spirit profound Contemplation and such like Ruth Why I was afraid to interrupt you I thought It convenient to give you what time I cou'd To make his young honour your Friend Arb. I am beholding to you I may cry quittance Ruth But did you mark Abel's Eyes Ah there were looks Arb. Nay prethee give off my hour 's approaching And I cann't be heartily merry till it be past Come let 's fetch our things Her Ladyships Honour will stay for us Ruth I 'll warrant ye my Brethren Abel is not in order yet He 's brushing a Hat almost a quarter of an hour And as long a driving the lint from his black Cloaths With his wet Thumb Arb. Come prethee hold thy peace I shall laugh in 's Face else when I see him come along Now for an old Shooe Exeunt A Table set out Enter the Committee as to sit and Obadiah ordering Books and Paper Obad. Shall I read your Honours last Order and give you The account of what you last debated Mr. Day I first crave your favours to communicate an Important matter to this honourable Board in which I shall Discover unto you my own sincerity And zeal to the good Cause 1. Proceed Sir Mr. Day The business is contained in this Letter 't is from No less a Man than the King and 't is to me as simple as I sit Here Is it your pleasures that our Clerk should read it 2. Yes pray give it him Obad. Reads Mr. Day We have received good intelligence of your great worth And ability especially in State-matters and therefore thought Fit to offer you any preferment or honour that you shall desire If you will become my intire Friend Pray remember my Love and Service to your discreet Wife and acquaint her With this whose wisdom I hear is great so recommending This to her and your wise consideration I remain Your Friend C. K. 2. C. K. Mr. Day I that 's for the King 2. I suspect who brought you this Letter Mr. Day O fie upon 't my Wife forgot that particular Why a Fellow left it for me and shrunk away when he had Done I warrant you he was afraid I shou'd have laid hold On him You see Brethren what I reject but I doubt not But to receive my reward and I have now a business To offer which in some measure may afford you an occasion 2. This
Suppose thou conquer'st wou'dst thou wander o'er The South-Sea Sands or the rough Northern Shore That parts thy spacious Kingdom from Peru And leaving Empire hopeless Love pursue Aca. By which of all my actions cou'd you guess Though more your Merit that my Love was less What prize can Empire with Orazia bear Or where Love fills the Breast what room for fear Mont. Let fair Orazia then the Sentence give Else he may die whom she desires to live Aca. Your greater merits bribe her to your side My weaker Title must by Arms be try'd Mont. Oh Tyrant Love how cruel are thy Laws I forfeit Friendship or betray thy Cause That Person whom I wou'd defend from all The World that Person by my hand must fall Aca. Our Lives we to each others Friendships owe But Love calls back what Friendship did bestow Love has its Cruelties but Friendship none And we now sight in Quarrels not our own Fight Enter Orazia Oraz. What noise is this Hold hold what cause cou'd be so great to move This furious hatred Mont. 'T was our surious Love Aca. Love which I hid till I had set you free And bought your pardon with my liberty That done I thought I less unjustly might With Montezuma for Orazia fight He has prevail'd and I must now confess His Fortune greater not my Passion less Yet cannot yield ye till his Sword remove A dying Rival that holds fast his Love Orazia Who ever falls 't is my Protector still And then the crime 's as great to dye as kill Acacis do not hopeless love pursue But live and this soft malady subdue Aca. You bid me live and yet command me dye I am not worth your care fly Madam fly While I fall here unpittied o'er this Plain Free from pursuit the faithless Mountains gain And these I charge as they wou'd have me think their Friendship true Leave me alone to serve and follow you Make haste fair Princess to avoid that fate Which does for your unhappy Father wait Orazia Is he then left to dye and shall he see Himself forsaken e'er his death by me Mont. What wou'd you do Orazia To Prison I 'll return And there in Fetters with my Father mourn Mont. That saves noâ— his but throws your Life away Orazia Duty shall give what nature once must pay Aca. Life is the gift which Heaven and Parents give And duty best preserves it if you live Orazia I shou'd but further from my Fountain fly And like an unfed stream run on and dye Urge me no more and do not grieve to see Your Honour rival'd by my Piety Exit She goes softly off and often looks back Mont. If Honour wou'd not shame wou'd lead the way I 'll back with her Aca. Stay Montezuma stay Thy Rival cannot let thee go alone My love will bear me though my blood is gone As they are going off Enter Zempoalla Traxalla the Indian that went to tell her and the rest and seizes them Zemp. Seize them Aca. Oh Montezuma thou art lost Orazia comes back Mont. No more proud heart thy useless Courage boast Courage thou curse of the unfortunate That canst encounter not resist ill fate Zemp. Acacis bleeds What barbarous hand has wounded thus my Son Mont. 'T was I by my unhappy Sword 't was done Thou bleed'st poor Prince and I am left to grieve My Rival's fall Trax. He bleeds but yet may live Aca. Friendship and love my failing strength renew I dare not dye when I shou'd live for you My death were now my crime as it wou'd be My guilt to live when I have set you free Thus I must still remain unfortunate Your Life and Death are equally my fate Orazia comes back Orazia A noise again alas what do I see Love thou didst once give place to Piety Now Piety let Love triumph awhile Here bind my hands come Montezuma smile At Fortune since thou sufferest for my sake Orazia will her Captive's Chains partake Mont. Now Fate thy worst Zemp. Lead to the Temple straight A Priest and Altar for these Lovers wait They shall be join'd they shall Trax. And I will prove Those joys in Vengeance which I want in Love Aca. I 'll quench your thirst with Blood and will destroy My self and with my self your cruel joy Now Montezuma since Orazia dyes I 'll fall before thee the first Sacrifice My title in her death shall exceed thine As much as in her life thy hopes did mine And when with our mixt blood the Altar's dy'd Then our new Title let the Gods decide Exeunt ACT V. SCENE I. The Scene opens and discovers the Temple of the Sun all of Gold and four Priests in habits of white and red Feathers attending by a bloody Altar as ready for Sacrifice Then Enter the Guards and Zempoalla and Traxalla Ynca Orazia and Montezuma bound as soon as they are plac'd the Priest sings SONG YOU to whom Victory we owe Whose glories rise By Sacrifice And from our fates below Never did yet your Altars shine Feasted with Blood so near divine Princes to whom we bow As they to you Thus you can ravish from a Throne And by their loss of power declare your own Zemp. NOW to inflict those punishments that are Due to the Authors of invasive War Who to deceive the oppressed World like you Invent false quarrels to conceal the true Ynca My quarrel was the same that all the Gods Must have to thee if there be any odds Betwixt those Titles that are bad or good To Crowns descended or usurpt by Blood Swell not with this success 't was not to thee But to this Man the Gods gave Victory Mont. Since I must perish by my own success Think my misfortunes more my Crimes the less And so forgiving make me pleas'd to dye Thus punish'd for this guilty Victory Ynca Death can make Vertue easie I forgive That word wou'd prove too hard were I to live The Honour of a Prince wou'd then deny But in the Grave all our distinctions dye Mont. Forgive me one thing yet to say I love Let it no more your scorn or anger move Since dying in one flame my ashes must Embrace and mingle with Orazia's dust Ynca Name thy bold love no more lest that last breath Which shou'd forgive I stisle with my death Orazia Oh my dear Father Oh why may not I Since you gave Life to me for you now dye Mont. 'T is I that wrought this mischief ought to fall A just and willing sacrifice for all Now Zempoalla be both just and kind And in my fate let me thy mercy find Be grateful then and grant me that esteem That as I live so dead I may redeem Oraz. O do not for her cruel mercy move None shou'd ask pity but from those they love Weeps Ynca Fond Girl to let thy disobedient Eyes Show a concern for him whom I despise Orazia How love and nature may divide a Breast At once by both their Pow'rs severely prest Yet Sir
Friend At last continuing still importunate She told me with a Smile 't was not her hate Nor love unto another was the cause She seem'd to be so cruel in these Laws Tir. When I lost my Brother Brave Artabaces whom I cou'd not call More Brother than a Friend for he was all I did not think a Friendship cou'd express It self so great to make his loss the less But thine my dear Sulpitius is above The Rules and Measures of the strictest Love You might have hop'd to see your Brother's joy Sprung from those harsh commands which mine destroy Sulp. My love unto Sertorius is not less I wish his Gratitude his Happiness To pay great Marcellina all Love's scores Whom every Roman but himself adores Why do you droop fie fie do not give way To your encroaching Griefs hope and obey In the mean time during your Banishment In my best Love and Care rest confident I 'll weary her with Pray'rs till I obtain Leave from her Lips to call you back again Ter. My hopes are only rais'd by thy kind Charms O let me always hold thee in my Arms. Embraoo Enter Sertorius Ser. I must go back and tell him 't is impossible Ha twisted Sulp. How my Brother I must say something quickly but what Brother perhaps you wonder Ser. Yes I do Sulp. I mean to see my kindness at this time So great to Tiridates but as a Friend I cou'd not be exempt from pity Sert. What pity does he need Sulp. It seems much more than you In the severe Commands of fair Hersilia He is for over banished no time nor hopes Allow'd to him you are too generous To swell upon his sinking Sert. That I despise Sulp. Pray give me leave at least to shew That pity which a Friend ought to bestow Perhaps the Reasons of a Friend may prove A Balm to cure the Wounds of hopeless Love Goes to Tiridates I cou'd not stay a minute Sir From telling you the happy News Which you may find writ in my Brother's looks The fair and just Hersilia has pronounc'd His Banishment for ever Enter Hersilia and Marcellina Ha Hersilia what new Confusions croud upon me How near my Plots are to discovery I must out-face Fortune and Honesty He steps to Sertorius hastily Brother give not Tiridates the advantage To seem more pleas'd than you in his Obedience I 'll instantly attempt to serve you Goes to Hersilia Madam this unexpected Happiness Adds to the greatness of it Hers. The coolness of the Evening and these Walks Invited out me and my Cousin Not thinking to have met so much good Company As you Prince Tiridates and Sertorius She curtsies to them and they bow and stand still Ha Marcellina a word Speaks aside with Marcellina D' ye not observe what an unusual distance Prince Tiridates and Sertorius keep Marc. I both observe and wonder Hers. Peace let 's be gone We have almost tir'd our selves Sir And were just now returning home Sulp. Permit me Madam to receive the Honour Of waiting on you I have something to acquaint you with Enter Servant Ser. Madam Your Sister the fair Verginia is just now Brought from the Vestals and begs to see you Hers. I long as much to look on her They say she is much alter'd This is strange Marcellina Looks at Tiridates and Sertorius Sulp. I will return presently till then be silent To Sertorius I wait upon you Madam Exeunt Manent Tiridates and Sertorius they stare at one another at last Sertorius speaks Sert. I hope you do not think that I forbore To speak my love and thoughts unto Hersilia Because a Rival did look on Tir. Nor did that hinder me to own my Love Sert. Your hopes upon her Father's friendship move Tir. The greatness of my love is its own aid Sert. Some use of empty Titles might be made There is a noise with Names of Princes brought Yet though her Father is with nothing caught Those that have conquer'd Princes need not show Respect to Titles which they can bestow Tir. Cou'd any Roman Sword find Victory As soon as you can with your Vanity A Prince indeed might tremble then to hear But now he smiles at what you 'd have him fear Sert. O you shall see that I can keep my word And shew no Roman e'er out-talk'd his Sword They draw and fight To this a greater Quarrel yet I joyn Hersilia's Cause they equally are mine Enter Sulpitius runs in and parts them Sulp. Hold hold hear me but speak From what hid Cause does all this Fury break Sert. Love is our Cause which we resolve to trust To our own Swords we 're sure that they are just Tir. 'T is mean to wait for one to be deny'd And to refer that which we may decide Death is the certain Umpire that makes friends With him that dies Hersilia's trouble ends Sert. Stand by and since you wear the double tyes Of Friend and Brother look with equal Eyes Sulp. Must Hersilia thus Be sav'd from trouble by the loss of Fame Your Swords will wound her yet unspotted Name No drop of blood vou shed but will remain Upon her injur'd Innocence a stain She will be equally oblig'd to hate The Victor's life the vanquish'd in his Fate Sert. She 's cruel now if she her hate shou'd show When I am dead 't is more than I shall know Sulp. Suppose she never wou'd your loves requite For what is'â— then you wou'd pretend to fight 'T is vain to strive for Empire that wou'd be Not gain'd but rather lost by Victory Sert. Yet without Conquest she is gain'd by none And only can be overcome by one Both in Hersilia cannot happy prove The Government is Monarchy in love Tir. Sulpitius now your troubles shall have end Left free to serve a Brother or a Friend He that first falls for one of us must dye Leaves you to t'other as his Legacy Sert. All the disputes of love are judg'd by fate And death makes room when life is grown too strait Offers to fight Sulp. Hold hear me a word Sert. Pish. Sulp. Of you I ask it Tiridates stay And let your reason this rash action weigh Tir. Love never waits on Reason but on chance But why shou'd you advise this temperance Bid me be cold and bring the Fever too Hersilia sent the banishment by you Sert. Ha Did my careful Brother bring you such news Tir. Yes and from Hersilia's cruel Lips Sert. I received just such another Message Can you tell Brother which was the Copy and Original Sulp. No. Tir. How Sert. Whence came they then Sulp. From me Sert. And your invention Sulp. Right D' you think Hersilia's lov'd by you alone Had I perceiv'd it easie to be done I wou'd have fool'd you both Why d' you stare D' you wonder that I love or that I dare A vow a Passion which both you proclaim I 'll be as loud as you in Love or Fame Sert. O Monster Sulp. See I am chang'd of your
opinion grown Draws Think Life and Love is useful but for one We shall but hinder one another still agree Which is my Man so Fate and Love for me Sert. Brave Tiridates This Villain 's baseness the first cause removes And makes the quarrel Nature's which was Love's To me 't is just the title to resign To let out his soul blood that will stain mine Nor will I on the score of Rivals fight And while I take my own injure your right But as his Executioner I 'll prove The Minister of Justice not of Love Sulp. Fight you by your own Rules I 'll make the Laws For my own Sword and Love shall be my Cause Offers to fight Tir. Hold hold Sertorius No seeming cause can check or cousen Fame Every thing will at last bear its own name You may stand by with justice and look on Nature is your excuse but I have none Sert. Nature did never yet send an excuse In her own whispers for her own abuse Sulp. Come come we trisle let some lots decide Which of your Fates with mine shall first be try'd Sert. Fortune has ever been too curst to me To trust her with my hopes of Victory But Tiridates now methinks we shew In our own Cause too quick in Loves too slow He that survives of us by love will be Entitled to revenge thy Treachery Tir. Thus I embrace the offer Offer to fight Sulp. Not so fast I will fight too and will not fight the last That mighty rate which nicely you assign Your love and honour I have sixt on mine Sert. My flesh trembles like shaking Earth when prest By tempests that want room within her Breast Through all my Veins there runs a boiling stood And makes a thousand pulses in my blood Tir. Stay Sertorius stay methinks we grow Too bold Hersilia's Sentence shou'd bestow Life or give Death we but like Rebels are While with our Swords Hersilia's Pow'r we share Come let us go like Friends in misery And from our Judges Lips learn which shall dye Sert. He does dissemble sure 't is noble Aside Brave Prince with your fair temper I am brought To reason by a Rival's Friendship taught Had you or I sunk under t'others hate The living wou'd have pittied his hard fate Though love condemns our grief may be the same For death 's all one brought by a Sword or Flame 'T were mean if love had not the pow'r to shew That gen'rous grief which honour can bestow They put up Why shou'd the steps rais'd by our honour prove Too hard to be ascended by our love Sulp. Good very good d' ye think to couzen me You practise to dissemble scurvily Tir. All treachery dwells only in thy Breast Sulp. Pish none are truly by themselves exprest He that seems Vertuous does but act a part And shews not his own Nature but his Art Sert. I can be tame no longer Draws and offers to run at him Tir. Sertorius stay Our Friendship must not yet oblige this way Sulp. O does the mask fall off Sert. Let us together then dispatch the Traytor Sulp. You dare not Your honours as my guard will stand You both scorn odds and I a single hand Sert. Tortures seize thee Tiridates Makes a sign to him Tir. Enough Sulp. I 'll follow too O you need say no more Ser. How meanly we must part never before Honour and Love shew'd such strange properties To keep all safe by being Enemies With their own niceness they themselves betray And while they both Command they both obey Exeunt at several doorâ— ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Emilius Hersilia Marcellina and Verginia vail'd Emil. WElcome my sweet my dear Verginia Off with this Cloud in thy own brightness shine And let my longing Eyes twist rayes with thine All my decaying joys grow warm and bring A heat which thaws me into youth again Ver. Are you my Father Sir Emil. I am sweet Innocence and richer in that title By Nature's gift than he that by his fame Of his own Country gains a Father's name Ver. Your Pardon Sir that I seem amaz'd I never saw a Man before Her Pray Sir give us leave To have a little share in her enjoyment Dearest Sister you look amaz'd or troubled Embraces her Ver. Pardon me dear Sister if you find Some small disturbance hang about my mind To be thus soon from a devotion brought Not more by precept than by custom taught Mar. Dear Cousin so much kindness yet express As to take pleasure in our happiness Ver. 'T were want of true Religion not to know Some joy in so much goodness which you shew Emil My dear Verginia I have found out a Man to make thee happy Whose Vertues and whose Fortunes shall contend Which are the greatest both without an end Ver. What does my Father mean Emil. Come Verginia Company troubles thee I see Be not amaz'd I must be fond of thee To wean thee from thy self till thou sha't find No room but for content within thy mind Exeunt Manent Hersilia and Marcellina Mar. How fair she is how full of Innocence All true content dwells with unpractis'd sense Her O Marcellina Though Knowledge does beget both Joy and Love Yet Vice and Sorrow too her issue prove Prest with the last the greatest numbers shew And the Worlds seeming mischief is to know Did you not wonder Marcellina At the strange distance that was kept so strictly By Tiridates and Sertorius Mar. I did and was as much amaz'd as you I wish no mischief happen for their looks Strove with a strange constraint Her Prince Tiridates too exprest the same Whose gentle temper I have always seen Like standing Water wearing still one face That had no tides to move it from its place Mar. Can you guess the cause Her Not in the least Mar. I need not ask it is enough that they are Rivals And both love you Her Such quarrels still my injury must prove Both may deserve but cannot have my love Love cannot like the wind its help convey To fill two sails though both are spread one way Mar. D' you love one of them Her Yes but not Sertorius Though freely I confess my love to thee Yet I forgive thy short return to me Which seems to violate our Friendship 's Laws But his ingratitude pleads in thy cause Since the acknowledgment wou'd lay a blame On thy great Soul or on thy cheeks a shame Mar. Be not deceiv'd Hersilia I wou'd not make my self so guilty prove And like a hidden sin disown my love Her Thus his ingratitude the more is shown Mar. By his ingratitude confess your own Where does the difference appear to be You cannot sigh for him nor he for me Her But you deserve much more than he can do Mar. He merits more than me he merits you Love pleads no cause for the unfortunate Choice rules above our pow'r as much as fate Love unrewarded may to Vertue grow But love for love like a design may shew Her
't is more guilt to talk than 't were to fight Sert. How weak these wild distractions make me prove I am taught when to fight and how to love Yet one thing more if in your Breast you have No mix'd designs but what are clear and brave Let us engage whoe'er is happy made To find Hersilia first and bring her aid That he shall make no use of his success Nor the least story of his Love express Till first by our own Swords our cause is try'd It is too great for Fortune to decide Tir. To keep this sacred here I freely vow You learn'd at first but teach me Honour now Sert. Till then let us embrace whoe'er Love guides Unto his bliss for t'other Fate provides Now to our Fortunes I 'll pursue the way Which leads through Numa's Grove Tir. But stay Where shall we meet Sert. Under those stately ranks Of Cypress Trees that shade the Tiber's Banks Near Mutius's House for still I apprehend That Man he 's Mischief's and my Brother's Friend Tir. Agreed in equal hopes now both are tied Sert. But when we meet our wishes must divide Exeunt Enter Artabaces Art How ignorant of every thing I move I know not where I go nor what I love Yet though she 's gone her Image still I find And I pursue what she has left behind Ah my dear Brother poor Tiridates Cast on these Shores I came to look out thee And by my Bonds or Death to set thee free But into other Fetters I am thrown Not by my honour but my Love put on Quite tir'd I seem like a hard-hunted Beast That does not seem to go but sinks to rest Spent Nature's weight hangs heavy on my Eyes Sleep can cure Fevers why not Miseries A Soul's disease can few Physicians find For Emp'ricks only practise on the mind Yet sleep her Image might convey to me And shew in Dreams what I must never see Enter two of Mutius men with Verginia still in a swoon 1. On on to the Tiber with her And Sacrifice her to Neptune 2. The Devil we will what Go twice as far as we need To try to be apprehended for Murderers The next Ditch will serve Ha what 's here A dead man ' slife a most excellent Companion for her If he be asleep let him wake and answer for 't Gently gently so lay her behind him They lay her behind Artabaces So now to Mutius and swear she was dead 1. I and cold too Exeunt Artabaces after a little time wakes Art Sure 't was that Beauty which appear'd so bright My Eyes by waking rob me of my sight When they were shut her Image did appear I star'd too boldly sure and made her fear Turns and sees her Ha! look where she is alas I do mistake For I dream still and think I am awake Some pitying Pow'r this Vision does bestow And helps me to deceive my Sorrow so She groans What 's that my Senses sure are not my own Can empty Dreams and airy Visions groan Her Eyes begin to move and shine with life Now sink again in Death's ungentle strife In doubtful Weather so the Sun resigns Sometimes his Light to Clouds and sometimes shines She lives again O cease your Cruelty And she 'll by that Example pity me She 〈◊〉 Ver. Oh me Have I not slept too long and am to blame Neglecting to attend the Sacred Flame Art Here is that Flame to which your Eyes did give Life first and promis'd it should always live Ver. Where are the Vestals then or where am I Some confus'd Thoughts now shake my Memory I do remember I was seiz'd upon By some rude men I thought there had been none Pray who are you Art Alas I have no Name But that which is my Trouble or my Shame Ver. Sure both my Eyes and Ears deceive me now Once I saw something look'd and spoke like you But by my fond Desires he was betray'd I ow'd him Life which with his Death I pay'd Weeps Art Those Flames you sent me to have let me live Perhaps reserv'd to dye by those you give Ver. Pray do not wrong me are you he indeed I feel some unknown Joys that do exceed The usual Measures of my Happiness I fear there may be guilt in the excess Art O do not fear that Pity e'er can prove A guilt in any shou'd it grow to Love Ver. Pity is Love and then it need not grow Art In the World 's common Charity 't is so Such Love is only in Obedience shown To those above the other is our own Ver. We shou'd deny our own Affections still Art These Passions are all Strangers to the Will When I first saw your Eyes my Heart was free Ver. O that I cou'd restore your Liberty Art That way there is no pity to be shown Restore not mine but try to lose your own Ver. Will that strange way a Remedy procure Can a Disease in one another cure Art In Love's Disease neither their Cures obtain But both grow well by one anothers pain Ver. I know not what you mean but I incline To think that your Misfortunes wou'd be mine Art May I not dare to wish a little more Ver. Take heed Our Wishes may be Faults when they exceed Art Do covetous men or the ambitious find Their vast Desires by any bounds confin'd If pow'rful Nature lets no Passion move Within known limits why alas shou'd Love Enter the two men of Mutius 1. On on we are dead men Look where she is alive too O happy Chance Ver. Help help these are the Villains Art Your business Rascals He steps before her 1. That Woman is our business Art You shall have her thus Dogs Fight kills one the other runs and as he pursues Enter Mutius and others behind him and seize him Art Unhand me Slaves Ver. O help Mut. You call for that you need not Art Slaves Dogs Mut. Ha what 's this Tigellinus dead Thy Life for his is justly forfeited Offers to run at Artabaces she steps between Ver. O hold I was the cause that stain'd his Innocence With that man's blood for 't was in my Defence Besides I 'm tir'd with Life and fit to dye Art There 's none so weary of a Life as I Yet if you Romans wou'd be thought such men Give me a Sword and try to take it then Mut. 'T is for her sake I do not punish thee This Fellow is not to be trusted free Aside Bring him along Art Slaves I will not go Mut. Drag him along Ver. O do not use him so Alas what d' you mean Mut. Why do I stay Thus trifling Madam come here lies our way Bring him alive or dead Exit Ver. Pray hold your hands Good Sir obey their Pow'r or my Commands Art Come lead me where you please how much above My Reason and my Courage is my Love Exeunt ACT IV. SCENE I. Enter Mutius and Verginia Mut. STill weeping Madam these are unkind Tears Love is ill paid
be so kind As but to tell me if it can be true That I have only lost my Eyes not you Ver. My Eyes shall still be yours when you have none But if you apprehend when yours are gone Some other object may my heart encline I 'll beg him if you will to burn out mine Cor. Come I must stay no longer If you dare Art Yes exquisite Villain I can stare On death in any shape Cor. Then gaze on this 'T will make brave Musick when you hear it hiss Puts his Irons in the water What say you does it sound unpleasantly Ver. What does he mean Cor. I 'll tell you instantly Stay I must fetch another Instrument Exit Corbulo Art His mischief varies only not intent Unless he means a gentle death to give That with my Life my torments may not live Enter Corbuio with a Sword Cor. See how you 're both mistaken Here I bring you fate to give and not to bear Here Sir at once receive this Sword and mine Thus to your Fortunes all my own I join Art I have seen sudden starts to mischief grow But turns to good are usually more slow Cort. What do you wonder at this change in me Needs Courage arm'd admit such Jealousie Follow me quickly while the Coast is clear To stay or wonder wou'd be faults like fear Art Forgive me Corbulo And since thou dost resolve to share in mine My gratitude will make my Fortunes thine O my Verginia My joys like Men in crowds press out so fast They stop by their own numbers and their haste Ver. I fear Disease may this health pursue For sudden Fortune has relapses too Art Banish these fears against the Plagues of Fate A Sword and Courage is a sure Receit Exeunt Enter Sulpitius with Claudius bringing in Hersilia Her Stay what d' you mean or whither shou'd we fly There 's something in all this like treachery Take heed lest I suspect some ill design Sul. Suspition will be more your 〈◊〉 than mine Enter Tiridates Her Ha Tiridates O Villain Tir. Look here false Man and see thy Death pursue Sul Death will as soon be sent from me as you Hold her fast Claudius that she now-may see Whose one her Conquest proves by victory Tir. 'T is brave thy Courage seems from Justice sent To make thee stay and meet thy punishment Sul. Is there a better or worse Cause in Love Where all their Titles by their 〈◊〉 prove Love's Thrones by Conquest only are made good Like Empire where there is no claim in Blood Enter Mutius Mut. How 's this Sulpitius stay thy Sword for thine Must ne'er engage without the help of mine Sul Stay Mutius do not so injurious be As to deprive my Love of Victory Look on that Sun whose power 's not less great Since she as well disposes life and heat Rob me not of my hopes while she stands by Love hovering seems to wait a Victory Tir. Not all your Swords can so successful prove Though they may reach my Life they can't her love Mut. Dispatch him Sir I have much more to say Though your Love does mine will not brook delay Sulp. Thine Mutius then Love has pow'r I see Her Sulpitius hold or be my Enemy Beyond the pow'r of Mercy to forgive Mut. Come come we trisle Sir he must not live Ha! Enter Artabaces with Verginia and Corbulo Art Whate'er this soul Play means Justice does guide Where Mutius is my Sword to t'other side Sir you seem to want What Mist does rise Or has not Corbulo put out my Eyes And I gaze on my Brother as I use to do Within my Mind Pray speak Sir Who are you Tir. Your happy Brother dear Artabaces And still the same in all things but my â—oy Fortune seems now grown weary to destroy Mut Ha! my Pris'ner by that treacherous Slave set free Art Why do you stare Mut. O it seems you can see Look there Sulpitius nothing less divine Than that cou'd charm a Heart so rough as mine These are our Rivals too just Fortune draws Our Swords together in an equal Cause Art Now know sierce Mutius though no Cause can be So great as Love to make an Enemyâ— Yet to raise up thy Horrour to a height Armenia's Prince is sent to bring thy Fate Now thou shalt see where Conquest be thy due And without numbers what thy Sword can do Her Sulpitius hold obey me yet at last And I 'll forgive all thy Offences past Sulp. While I am arm'd I never use to pray And Love commands me now not to obey Tir. We trifle Time Art Corbulo that charge is thine Cor. Kind Fate provides another Sword for mine Art Now idle Fortune modestly stand by And let just Love dispose of Victory They sight Mutius falls and Sulpitius stands staggering Tir. Now Sulpitius to whom's Hersilia due Sul. Wou'd she were so to any one but you Use your Advantage to the Unfortunate Honour is cruel that denies a Fate Must I fall thus and in Hersilia's sight I stand to talk that cannot go to fight Falls Tir. Sulpitius live As thou wert once my Friend my Friend still prove Sulp. That Life thou giv'st is Death unto my Love Hersilia now I beg your Cruelty I want no help to live but some to dye Art Brave Man I pity his ungentle Fate I wou'd have none that love Unfortunate Come Tiridates How trembling after Victory we go To pay Devotions which to Love we owe Fortune at last seems kind in her Designs To bring our Victory before our Shrines Tir. Ah Brother I am still unfortunate Not less by Honour now than once by Fate Art What 's this Tir. Fairest Hersilia can you pity me Not for your own but Honour's Cruelty I must not speak of Love yet though her â—yes Bind up my Tongue I thus may use my Eyes Art Fair Vestal Though Fortune now at last seems kind to me Without you smile 't is useless Victory Ver. My joys must always wait on your Success Since they take being from your Happiness I beg now to return from whence I came And there while I attend the sacred Flame My true Concerns for you shall never cease And pray for yours while I enjoy my peace Art Will you forsake me now and be less kind Than you once promis'd if I had been blind I had been happier then by Mistries Now I lose you that had but lost my Eyes Ver. Then you did need my help now you are free Does Love exceed the use of Charity Art Yet let not Charity your Love exceed But grant me Alms as long as I have need Ver. Alas the World is full of Storms I find I wou'd return for shelter to my mind Come dear Hersilia which way must we go Ah me why do you look upon me so At once I weep and tremble too my Tears Spring without Grief and without cause my Fears Enter Sertorius and Marcellina Sert. Look Marcellina see what Heaven bestows As a full Recompence of all
You must not for the World appear your self For then you will be thought the Author Of something I intend which will be fatal to you Dare you trust me in nothing Med. Well in this I dare Izabella Bid my Friends hide their Disguises And conceal themselves Iza I will Exit Izab. Mar. You remember there was a Letter Written to the Marquess of Alcara And Count Bruchero Med. I do Did you write it Mar. No more Questions now Med. But I will ask something For I grow willing to believe thee good Pray tell me Mar. Peace I hear a Noise Look If you see any coming Med. 'T is the King I trust you now Maria. Mar. Do so always then Enter the King D'Alva c. King Maria How now What 's this Mar. Pray Sir do not look upon him 'T will make the poor man so out of Countenance That I shall have no more Diversion It seems that Izabella and the Gardiner Contriv'd an Entertainment for me It was done just as your Majesty came D' Alva This is an odd Excuse King I shou'd have been sorry to have Interrupted your pleasures Mar. Pray Sir do not look at him He 'll be so asham'd King I will look on nothing but thy brightness Come Maria I fell in love with thee Then with thy Vertue which was hard to find In so much Beauty th' other is so common It bears no Rate there 's Poverty in Vice The hardest things to find bear greatest price Med. This is the likeliest thing Exeunt King Maria D'Alva To Vertue I ever saw Besides had she been vitious She would not have neglected her Revenge One of the pleasant'st Lusts ill Women have All may be Counterfeit and yet There may be such a thing as a good Woman Enter Izabella How now What news Iza All safe I must hast after them Med. Stay and prethee tell me my best Cozen Dost thou think Maria Vertuous Iza By Heaven I do Med. By Heaven I have a mind to do so too Iza I have observ'd things worthy of your knowledge Another time I will relate them to you Something she 's resolv'd to do I 'll watch To find it out So farewel I dare not stay Exit Izab. Med. I know not what to think I wou'd believe but yet my shaken Faith Creeps to its growth but slowly like an Infant Forc'd to a hasty Birth before its time Our lives and our devotions are but sickly When Aguish doubts their growing health controuls A shaken Faith 's the storm of tottering Souls Enter D' Alva Ha! D' Alva What has brought him back D' Alva Here 's the Apparition still I must be satisfied What are you Sir Med. One of Lerma's Angels D' Alva Lerma's Devils Med. See my Lord I meant his evil Angel D' Alva Oh my dear Lord Discovers himself Pardon my apprehension We tread upon such rough and narrow paths That any trick or error throws us down Med. Fear not my Lord I have discovered And broken as I hope the best foundation That Lerma builds upon D' Alva Let us delay no time but instantly To Council with the Marquess of Alcara And Count Bruchero they have something To impart that is of great Importance Med. To add to all I have secur'd the Witnesses Antonio and Catalina we 'll lose no time Whilst Lerma as I hear thinks I am fled And Joys in fullness of his growing power But let him swell fate never durst deny Bold Spirits to dispose of destiny Unshaken Trees that have the largest roots A bold and well-arm'd hand as well may throw As those whose Roots do not so deeply grow Exeunt SCENE II. Enter Lerma Ler. If my invention fail not I have yet Out-stript 'em all if my wing'd Mercury Keep touch in time The Court looks odly And every brow wears mysteries about 'em The fawning Rascals of it which like Cobwebs Shou'd be swept off methinks avoid me now Who us'd to crowd and stop my way with cringes Their smiles look like the grins of anger'd Monkeys But I am safe while my Maria's Charms Hang on the King and numb him to a Lethargy There 's some that are too great must be cut down Feign'd Accusations and a little time Will kill all wonder which is shorter liv'd Than dreams of Children or old Womens tales Enter Angelo Ang. My Lord. Ler. Ha! Death on thee I was serious Begon this was a guilty start Strikes him Ex. Angelo This Slave too will perhaps Grow wise and guess at something How hard it is in slippery ways To keep a steady Motion Enter Caldroon How now what news speak Cald. I am too narrow to contain It is too great to keep or to let out Ler. Curse on this form in thy Relations For thou dost practise on me like an Advocate Whose splenetive exordiums are more horrid Than the ill cause he wou'd make monstrous Cald. Your Daughter Sir Ler. Is sweeter than the Spring wreath'd in the Arms Of budding Flowers what more of her Cald. There can't be Man enough in you to hear it And then out-live it 't is so great a weight I almost sink to bring it Ler. And yet art such an Ass under thy burden As not to throw it off or tell it me And I have all thy weight Cald. You cannot hear it Ler Not if you do not tell it Cald. 'T will crush you Ler. It must be heavier than all the weight Of Peoples Curses and the great Ones Envies Thou dost not know one thing Caldroon Fortune and I did long ago agree I to make work for her and she for me Tell it me boldly and prethee now Caldroon Do not like those that bring a bitter Potion Make scurvy Faces at it as you give it Cald. Oh my Lord Dogs howlings or the groans of Mandrakes Wou'd be a Consort of soft Musick To this harsh thing I have to utter Ler. Thou 'st numb'd my Senses like a skilful Surgeon And now may'st strike I shall not feel thy Hand But come what of Maria Cald. She 's gone stole away Unknown by whom or whither Ler. This is a dangerous Wound indeed I know not where to search it Cald. My Lord I told you what 't wou'd come to Ler. Oh Sir you are a mighty Prophet Where was the King Cald. As they say asleep Ler. Could he sleep and his dull Soul without A dreaming Whisper that she was losing And when he wakes and misses her what then Cald. He will be troubled sure Ler. Troubles wear off from Kings they are too high To grieve and sorrow slides from them like falling drops From sides of houses they dare not hurt her sure Cald. It cannot be imagin'd that they dare Ler. She must appear again our rapid Motions Will bring us round again to that fair Sun If the King loves her too as sure he does Her Absence makes it Night with him I wonder what they meant by 't Cald. I cannot guess my Lord. Ler. Thou' rt shallow then they fondly
offer'd by chance And not design'd by him Enter Lerma in a Cardinal's Habit. They cry Room Hark he comes ha What 's this A Vision D' Alva A Mask I think not an Arraignment Alca. He has o'er-reach'd us all Ler. I see you are amaz'd my worthy Lords To find your Loves to Vertue made so useless As not to practise your admir'd Justice Perhaps you are so fond of that fair Mistress As that it mingled Passion with your Actions But now you may discharge your manag'd Witnesses That stand prepar'd against the Duke of Lerma Lerma the Cardinal cannot here be Try'd Be not so dull my Lords it shews uncharitable An envious Malice will be thought the Father Of such a Sadness nothing but Ruine please you Med. D' ye come hear to rail Ler. No to Preach it is my Office I did no sooner touch this Sacred Habit But I was fill'd with Notions D' Alva The Devil helps thee to ' em Ler. Still so uncharitable D' Alva Dost thou name any thing that 's good Ler. Ha ha ha Med. Are you so merry too Ler. Why wou'd you have me whine and beg from you A thing you never had and which I need not He that seeks Safety in a States-man's pity May as well run a Ship upon sharp Rocks And hope a Harbour nay if you are so dull You 'll make me laugh again 't is not ill sport To see your cruel Aims thus lost and cozen'd Cou'd you believe I meant to dye so tamely And quench the Thirst of your ambitious Envies With my desired Blood This holy Robe tells me it is my duty And I forgive but sure I may laugh at you Med. Impudence stand off Let us consult They whisper Ler. Do whistle out your Brains The Council will run mad they are angry I wou'd not take their way to Heaven I must preach Patience to 'em Now for an Oracle Med. You know 't is in our power to Confine you Ler. In that I have as well prevented you Here 's the Assignment of a holy Prison By my own choice and granted by his Holiness In that fair Monastery I rais'd my self Med. Subtle Devil Ler. I will not longer trouble you my Lords But leave you now to prey upon your selves He that devours the rest in time may be A Monster more o'ergrown than e'er I was When you are low and poor you are all Friends And in one fair pretence together join While every one conceals his own design It is your Countreys cause until full grown In long sought power then it proves your own When you seem good your Crimes are not the less Men have all new Creations by success Ambition like a wanton Womans hast Invites new Slaves grown weary of the last Mankind each others stories do repeat And Man to Man is a succeeding cheat So to this fate I leave you and shall joy To see those Crimes you blame your selves destroy May you all sink in fates for me you meant And be too dull your ruines to prevent That when you 're lost in this ambitious toil I in my safe retreat may sit and smile Exit D' Alva Here 's a strange change thanks to his Holiness Alca. We may blush to be thus cozen'd Med. Methinks the greatness of his Spirit stir'd me I cou'd almost forgive him Enter Maria led by Nuns and Izabella She discovers What More Masquerades How Maria Mar. Where or to whom shall I now bend My almost worn out Knees Alas the Deity From whom I shou'd hope mercy is not here How short are Kings of gods they 'r every where She weeps King Maria on her Knees Dare they suffer her to kneel Above and Descends To whom I bow Mar. How durst you to a King shut up the way Shou'd Saints deny a wretched Soul to pray Did I your safeties with such care design For you to take the Life that gave me mine Med. Her sorrow moves D' Alva Her Vertue more rise fair Maria. Mar. Speak must my Father dye if it be so We 'll both together to my Mother go D' Alva Fair vertuous Maid your Father lives Enter the King hastily Med. Ha! the King King Maria Tell me the wretch that ravisht thee from me That my Revenge great as his crime may be Mar. When you your Sacred Word to me did give My Father by your Mercy still shou'd live I stole away that you might be left free To be as just as merciful to me And durst not else but unto those above In Prayers for you confess my secret Love King Your Father is preserv'd from danger free And sav'd himself that had been sav'd by me He in a Holy Robe is now retir'd By danger urg'd by Heaven I hope inspir'd Mar. What an excess of Blessings Heaven can give Oh happy Father that does more than live With joy now to my Sacred Cell I 'll go I shou'd not weep but my fond tears will flow My Zeal it self has a temptation too I scarce shall pray for any thing but you King If you in leaving me so cruel prove Your Prayers will be as useless as your Love Mar. Time Sir alas will in a little space An Image drawn but faintly quite deface Love like a shadow while youth shines is shown But in old Ages darkness there is none King But all pure Love like glow-worms heatless fires Lives where it shines and with that Life expires Beauty like Time on Dials moves so flow That they who always gaze can't see it go Mar. But I must now leave Heaven Sir or you King The choice were easie were the question true Mar. Is not Heaven then the best felicity King But you as well may go to Heaven with me Mar. 'T is hard thorow the World to find the way If I talk long I shall my self betray Your Joys I study and deny my own Shou'd Lerma's Daughter share your Bed and Throne Farewel Sir when you think of this confess I lov'd you far beyond my happiness Going out King Stay yet and hear this Vow Spain's empty Throne Unless from you shall want succession Med. Now by my Sisters blessed Soul I share Between her Vertues and my Kings Despair Maria stay you must to Duty bow D' Alva You sav'd us all preserve your Nation now Alca. That Vertue still may flow from you their Spring Bru. And make a Nation happy with their King Mar. What shou'd I do King Defer your cruel thought Till by my grief you are more pitty taught Mar. This Sir is to o'ercome the easiest way My Forces will all lessen by delay Yet Sir in this I must submit to you And Heaven to teach my heart what 's best to do King Till then Let all that love me in my troubles join And let their griefs Allegiance pay to mine Let not a smile upon a Face be seen Till fair Maria yields to be my Queen Epilogue Spoken by M rs Ellen. MUch injur'd Gentlemen may you now please You true Committee of such Grievances Kindly to hear me now and I will show it We have been all ill us'd by this days Poet. 'T is our joint Cause I know you in your hearts Hate serious Plays as I do serious Parts To trouble us with Thoughts and State-designs A melancholy Plot ty'd with strong Lines I had not the least Part to day you see Troth he has neither writ for you nor me You are not hard to please though a Poet scarce Can make a Play yet he might make a Farce With small ridiculous things to stuff it full And make you pay to laugh not to be dull Henceforth against all sad and grave intregues We 'll make Offensive and Defensive Leagues And for all those that dare write Tragedy We 'll make a Law with a huge Penalty And yet few Poets so much Wealth possess Or Wit where you might levy a Distress Let the grave Poets then trouble but few Write Elegies on Men which few Men knew And few perhaps will read or let 'em write Rhimes for the Bell-man to be spoke at night This Poet may be pardon'd lest it be said You did condemn before the Law was made I mean if's Play be good I tell you True He thinks it is but pray now What think you FINIS