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
kill the Duke Kin. And by my Crowne since thou dost interpose thy selfe Betwixt the sword of Iustice and the Obiect It shall cut through thy life too with Lysanders If thou dost faile to proue what thou affirmest Lys. I doe beseech your Maiesty Let not this franticke man for so he seemes to be Out of his loue to me ruine himselfe I doe confesse againe it was this vnlucky hand And no other that kild the Duke Duke I call the heauens to witnesse it was I That was the cause he bled that day And well he did deserue it for thinking So vniustly to rob thee of Clarinda Who only dost deserue her King Carry the fellow hence Doe I sit here to heare a mad man talke Duke Call me not fellow I am as good A Gentleman as was the Duke your Cozen And were he now aliue hee would acknowledge it Kin. Away with him to Prison I le haue him Strangely punisht for this presumption Away with him Her Sir vpon my credit And men of my Profession should not lye he 's both In Birth and worth equall vnto the Duke Kin. Though I doe reuerence your Profession Yet I see no cause to belieue you For in this Kingdome there is none so worthy Her Sir yes euery way as worthy And one your Maiestie doth loue so well That if he aske you I know you will pardon Lord Lysander for his sake King Sure all the world 's infected One that I loued so well and equall to the Duke In Birth how canst thou proue this Her Thus I can proue it Discouer Duke To your great ioy and all the Kingdomes Kin. I am amaz'd art thou a Coniurer And from the quiet graue hath raised The beloued person of my Kinsman to delude me For thou wert he that said thou foundst his body Duke Ghosts doe not vse to pay their duty to The liuing Sir feele my hand I am your Seruant Kin. O my deare Cozen can this be true Duke Sir I will make all plaine but first I must Relieue the worthiest of men noble Lysander Send for Clarinda and tell her this glad newes Madame let me kisse your faire hands I euer honourd you but now I doe adore That high rais'd mind of yours that feares not To professe your loue to vertue though in distresse King Deare Cozen I do long to know by what meanes you were preseru'd Duke This reuerend man that did the pious act Can best resolue it you Kin. 'T was he that brought first word that he Had found your body by which we were resolued That you were dead he told his tale so punctually Duk. When I began to bee past danger of my Wounds I fram'd that tale about the thieues Intending to conceale my selfe and so to make Triall of your loue to me and of Clarinda's Loue vnto Lysander both which I finde Not to be equal'd Kin. Good Father tell vs how you found him Wounded and how you did preserue him Her Sir what I told you Concerning the finding of him wounded All that was true and how I did recouer him By a soueraigne water but that he after Dyed within my armes you see is false And yet he spoke those words that I deliuer'd As his dying speech he hauing then indeed No hope of life but heauen so order'd it That he recouer'd by my skill in Surgery In which Art I shall not boast to say That I am equall with the most skilfull of this age Which I thinke well appeares since I haue cured Him in so short a time yet I must attribute His sodaine curing to a soueraigne balme That an Egyptian gaue mee from which countrey I late came Kin. Holy man expect from me a great reward For you haue backe to me restor'd the comfort Of my life but where haue you since liued Or how came you by this disguise Enter Clarinda Duke I liu'd with him still in a little Cottage And he did fom the City fetch me disguises Diuine Clarinda pardon me I was your bedfellow And did not know my owne happinesse then If I had knowne you I would haue done Iust as I did I see you are amazd it was I That in disguise rescued you and sau'd your honor When that villaine would haue rauisht you In which I was most happy for I shall now present You so much the richer gift to your Lysander Here braue Lysander let me deliuer vp Into thine armes the Iewell of thy life And in that make some part of satisfaction For the wrong I did hee in compelling thee To fight for that which was thine owne before In iustice Lys. My Lord the seruice of my life hereafter Shall make manifest how much I honor you And with what ioy I doe receiue your guift Cle. I would haue giuen my life to haue redeem'd Lysanders where is the ioy then that I should feele For his deliuerance O I haue found the cause That doth suppresse it it 's enuy that Clarinda's Happier then my selfe why should I enuy that Which is her due both by his vowes and her Owne merit Lys. How sad the Princesse lookes I wonder Shee doth not speake to me Cle. Heart though thou burst the world shal not See I grieue or enuye Lysander and Clarinda May you be happie in your loues which I can neuer be Lys. Her noble heart will burst with griefe Would I had dyed or rather that I had two hearts By death I had beene free this way I am A debtor to the Princesse and that ingratitude Torments me worse then death King Call for the sacred Priest and let vs change That which we thought should haue been a Scoene O blood into a Scoene of ioy by ioyning Two despairing Louers hands together Du. O what a happy mans Lysander at this instant Compard with what he was halfe an houre since Imagination cannot reach it but on the other side How farre am I falne from that happinesse That I possest when faire Clarinda said That she would marry me within a month Enter Priest Kin. Come reuerent Sir performe an office Acceptable to the Gods Sister take you Lysanders Hand and Cozen you Clarinda's Cleo. O what a cruell office hath my brother put vpon me Duke I would this taske were past Vertue I see thou art a cruell Mistris Clar. I in my soule grieue for the Duke His manly eyes shed teares to performe this Office I would to heauen he were my Brother Or that Lysander were the consideration Of his worth and infinite affection Which hath appeard in all his actions Hath gaind much vpon me Priest Will you Lysander take Clarinda for Your Wife forsaking all other till the hand of death Arrest the one of you Her Say no Lysander Lys. Reuerend Sir why Her Because the Marriage is not lawfull Duke Can you proue it vnlawfull You sau'd my Life but I shall valew that no benefit Compar'd with this if you can proue Lysander and Clarinda cannot marry I le make you more then you
her leaue to doe she curst her beauty As the cause of all this mischiefe at last Considering who it was that spoke A Father that deseru'd an answere Her iudgement shut her passions in a lesse roome For hauing calm'd the tempest of her greefes She mildly answer'd that she was happy In his liberty though now she saw It was but giuen him to procure her bondage For such she did account all ties of marriage Made by the parents without the childs consent Though nere so rich or hononrable Mari. And hauing said so did she not cast her watry eyes Vpon you and in this sad yet pleasing language Tell you that she would not forsake you for the Duke Lys. It is true shee did so there is no tongue That can expresse the hearts of those that loue Like their owne eyes but Sister it will be late Before you reach the Forrest the Princesse too May wonder at your stay Mari. Brother it 's true but I so seldome see you That I 'le not goe vnlesse you promise to come and see me Lys. You know the strict command That none but those appointed should come neere the Lodge Mari. That is but your excuse I haue told you how often the Princesse Earnestly hath desir'd to see you yet you would neuer goe Lys. Sister I feare these sad occasions will hinder me But I will write Mari. Will you not come sixe miles to see a Sister That so dearely loues you Lys. Sister I know you loue nor will I be a debter You are both my Friend and Sister Exeunt Flourish Enter King Utrante and Attendants King My Lord Vtrante can you not then Perswade your Daughter to receiue a Blessing Which euen the greatest Ladies in this Kingdome Would desire on their knees Enter Duke and Followers Is this a Man to be neglected Though he were not A Kinsman to your King besides my Lord Remember you may draw vpon your selfe Our high displeasure by her refusall Duke Great Sir let not your loue and care of me Bar faire Clarinda the freedome of her choyce By threatning punishments vnto her Father If she choose not me for should she offended Which she might iustly be if I should seeme To force Loue from her it were not within your power Though that you would giue all that you possesse To make me satisfaction for the wrong King Yes I could make you satisfaction Though shee were offended by forcing her Into your armes to whom the wrong was done Duke Her Person Sir you might but not her Minde Which is indeed the obiect of my Loue That 's free from your subiection for it 's free From Loue a greater power by farre Utran. My Lord I thinke shee 's free from reason too For did that gouerne her she could not thus neglect Her happinesse or rather she may yet suspect your Lordship Doth not meane what you professe and from that feare Seemes coy till she be more assured Duke I cannot pluck my heart out of my brest To shew her I wish I could yet liue to doe her seruice There she might see her worth truely ingrauen In lasting Characters not to be razed out By the hand of Time nor which is more her scorne King Cozen if you will be rul'd by me I 'le make her leape with ioy into your armes Duke Sir so that it be by no way of violence I will obey you King In act I 'le vse no way of violence Yet I must threaten it Duke Sir if you threaten her you ruine me Her Sun-bright Eyes by faithfull seruice May in time shine gently on me and warme My frozen hopes But on the contrary Shee knowing that I 'm the cause of these your threatnings Will from her iust vext soule throw curses on me I would not see thee heauen of her faire face Clouded with any raised by my power to be a Monarch King You know my loue and you presume vpon it Take your owne way of loue deliuer vp your selfe Vnto her mercy that I would make at yours Would you be ruled go see your Mistris Tell her you loue her more then euer man did woman To proue which true pray her that shee 'l command you Taskes more dangerous then did the enuious Iuno To great Hercules all which you will performe With much more ease since you by her command Shall vndertake 'em whose vertue hath the power To arme you 'gainst a world of dangers doe Make her proud with praises and then see How she will torture you Duke Sir she may torture me and iustly too For my presumption since I haue dared To tell so much perfections that I loue Not being first made worthy by my suffering For her Vtran. My Lord if you 'l be pleas'd to grace my house This day she either shall requite your sufferings O I will deny her for a child of mine Duke My Lord most willing I would see faire Clarinda But not vpon such conditions nothing But gentle intreaties must be vs'd for tho the King Were pleas'd to say that my humility Would make her proud I would not haue a subiect Say not you that are her Father that she can Doe an act or thinke a thought that tends not To perfection King Come my Lords we will goe hunt a Stag to day And leaue my Cozen to his amorous thoughts Exe. K. Atten Duke I thanke your Maiestie for this dayes licence My Lord Vtrante shall I then see Clarinda And will you lend your best assistance To make me Master of a happinesse the world may enuy Utran. My Lord you make an Idol of a peeuish Girle Who hath indeed no worth but what you please To giue her in your opinion Duke I must not heare you thus blaspheme You might as well say Pallas wanted wisdome Diana chastitie or Venus beautie As say she wanted worth for euery seueral excellence That shin'd in them and made them By mens admirations Goddesses Flow mixt in her indeed shee hath Too much of Dians Ice about her heart And none of Venus heate but come my Lord I lose my selfe in her vast praises and so Deferre the ioy of seeing what I so commend Exe. Enter Iacomo and Lysander at seuerall dores Lys. Good morrow honest Iacomo is my young Ladie readie Iaco. She is my Lord Lys. And where 's her Father Iaco. He was this morning early sent for by the King Lys. Tell your Ladie I would speake with her Iaco. My Lord I will Exit Lys. The Count Utrante is happie in this honest seruant Let me before I doe perswade Clarinda consider well Surely that houre in which I see her led to the Temple And there made fast with Hymeneall rights vnto another Will be my vtmost limit and death is terrible Not where there is so glorious a reward propos'd As is her happinesse shee shall be happie And in her happinesse consisteth mine Haue I not often sworne I lou'd her better Then my selfe and this is onely left to make it good Enter
make the couenant perfect Clar. I see this is no way my Lord This rash oath you haue made may cost you deare Duke In that consider the greatnesse of my loue Clar. The greatnesse of your folly rather That thinke by threatning punishments to your selfe To make me pitty you when since I doe not loue you I am not toucht with any feeling of your greefes Duke If not for mine yet for your Goddesse sake Giue ouer your ill grounded resolution Enter Bernardo Ber. My Lord the King is newly lighted at the garden gate And in all hast cals for you Duke Madame the King to whom my person is a subiect Commands my presence and I must obey him But my heart which I haue made you Soueraigne of Shall stay to wait on you my returne must needs Be speedy since I leaue my heart at the mercy Of you my cruell enemy Clar. My Lord I shall so martyr it before I come agen That you will repent you Duke You cannot giue it deeper wounds Then you haue done already and in that Confidence I le leaue you Ber. Madame will it please you walke into the gallery There are some pictures will be worth your seeing Exeunt Actus secundus Scoena prima Enter King Attendants Iacomo Duke and Followers meeting King Will none go call the Duke Welcome deare Cozen You lost a braue chase to day but you had other game A foote what sayes your cruell Mistris will she loue you Duke I hope she will Sir she doth heare me speake King How heare you speake Duke Of loue I meane Sir King Fye passionate man Duke Why Sir doe you not thinke him happie Whom she will vouchsafe to heare King You know my loue hath made you what you are Out of an opinion that you deserud it Not for that you were my Kinsman I neuer yet deny'd What you would aske relying on your iudgement And your vertue Should you haue ask'd my Sister For your Wife I sooner should haue giuen consent And taxt your iudgement lesse then I doe now For doting on this Lady Call backe for shame then That iudgement which had wont to gouerne all Your actions and make me once more proud That I haue such a Kinsman whose iudgement Can controule his strongest passions euen loue it selfe When it is preiudiciall to his honor Duke Sir You haue alwayes beene a Father to me And studyed that which hath beene for my good Better then I could thinke I know your Maiesties Intent in this is to perswade me from that Which you belieue is preiudiciall to me But since without her loue gain'd the faire way Of seruice not by threatnings I can take ioy In nothing this world can afford me Pardon me Sir if I desire you to spare Your Counsell since I am capable of none Except you perswade me to loue more King Well Sir I will leaue you to your amorous passions See me no more till I send for you Exeunt King Atten Duke The King is mou'd Should he take from me all that he hath giu'n me Yet it were a happinesse if for her sake I lost it Iaco. My noble Lord Duke Friend what is your suit to me If it be reasonable it shall not bee deny'd For your young Ladies sake Iaco. My Lord the businesse I haue to deliuer Concernes your Grace Duke How me what is it speake Iaco. My Lord it is a secret and doth concerne Clarinda And therefore send your people off That with more freedome I may speake with you Duke Waite me without now speake Exeunt Seruants Iaco. What thinks your Lordship is the cause That moues Clarinda to neglect your Loue Du. The knowledge of her own worth and my vnworthines Which defect I hope in time my faithfull seruice Shall make good and she will loue me Iaco. Neuer my Lord Duke Why is her vow of Chastity already past Iaco. Shee vow Chastitie Duke Why villaine dost thou smile at that Think'st thou Diana's selfe is Chaster Iaco. Great Sir mistake me not I smile to thinke How she deceiues your Grace telling you She neuer meanes to marrie when I dare Pawne my life she is already contracted Duke Traitor to my best hopes Thou hast kindled in my brest a iealous fire That will consume me fiends take thee for thy newes Would thou hadst beene borne dumbe betrothd it cannot be Who durst presume knowing I lou'd her once To thinke of Loue much lesse to name it to her Iacom. My Lord if you will with patience heare me I will tell you whom Duke Speake quickly giue me that case For I vow the earth shall not long beare vs both I will not tell you vnlesse you will promise To follow my aduice which if you will I will shew you a cleare way to your desires Duke What do you riddle me is she contracted And can I by your counsell attaine my wishes No the House of Fate though they should all Take Counsell cannot backe restore the happinesse Th' ast rob'd me of in saying shee 's contracted Iaco. My Lord do not thus wast your selfe In fruitlesse passion but heare the remedy That I le propound Du. First let me know which of the Gods it is That in a mortall shape hath gain'd her loue That thou suspect'st she is contracted Or else some King that in disguise hath left His Kingdome to obtaine her Loue Who is worth many Kingdomes Name not a meaner Riuall if thou dost Expect I should belieue Iaco. My Lord it is a man to whom Your valorous hand gaue life Du. Curst be my hand then for that vnkinde office Against my heart name him Iaco. It is the young Lord Lysander Du. Take that ignorant foole Lysander Strikes him Iaco. How strucke is this my hop't reward By all that 's good I le be reueng'd Duke I was too rash She is a Woman and may dissemble Lysander to Is noble courteous valiant handsome But yet compar'd with me his fortunes nothing Alas that cannot barr loue out of a noble breast Such as Clarinda's is what wayes my Birth Or greatnesse with the King in her consideration Lysanders equall fortunes and her owne In that their Fathers suffer for one cause His banisht hers a prisoner till I releast him Hath I feare begot a mutuall loue betwixt them Friend prethee pardon me I was too rash I le heale thy hurt with gold Iaco. My Lord I am a Gentleman And were you not a Kinsman to the King The blow you gaue me might haue cost you deare Duke I le heale thy reputation and thy head With store of crownes here but prethee tell me What mou'd thee to discouer this to me Or how camst thou thy selfe to know of it I thinke her Father doth not Iaco. I thinke he doth not it is long since Since I suspected it and to assure my selfe The other night I crept behind the Arbour Where they vse to meet somtimes and soon by their Discourse I found what I suspected to be most true My
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
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
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
chances you then did not sooner Bring me this Letter Ber. I was commanded otherwayes by him King reads Royall Sir adde to the number of your many fauors the performance of this my last request What doth hee meane by this I pray you see Clarinda who is my wife possest of what was mine and withall pardon him that kils mee for I will compell him to fight How 's this Begin not after my death to deny me that which is iust since in my life time you neuer did see the will of the dead effected as you desire to haue your Testament perform'd after your death which I pray the Gods that it may be yet a long life O what a Character is here deliuer'd of a pure mind Which only seems to shew the greatnes of my losse The plainer his death is not yet certaine Let me not like a woman spend that time In fruitlesse lamentations which may perchance Afford a remedy but now it is night What shall I do call all the Court and let them all Disperse themselues each man a seuerall way He that brings word the Duke is aliue Shall haue a thousand pounds he is gone to fight A Combat with whom I know not but he that Apprehends the man that kild him shal haue his land Is there none here that knowes of any falling out Betweene him and some other Lord speake Is there none can tell me Iaco. And if it please your Maiesty I thinke I haue a guesse King Speake then Iaco. If he bee gone to fight it is with Young Lysander King Let one goe looke for Lysander presently What grudge was betwixt them or fell they lately out Iaco. I will tell your Maiesty in priuate I am a seruant to the Count Utrante and was imploy'd by that most noble Duke whom I doe feare sleepes now in death for to solicite his true loue to my young Lady which I did faithfully performe but I found all I did was vaine for shee long time hath beene in loue with young Lysander which when I knew I gaue the Duke straight notice this hath so farre incenst the Duke against Lysander that they are gone to fight King This that thou hast told is certaine true Else she would neuer haue deny'd to haue married With the Duke and for thy loue and faithfull seruice to him Which I beleeue is now no more for else by this time He would haue return'd I will requite thee Iaco. He was the noblest Gentleman That I shall euer know He weepes King Alas goodman he weepes He that can bring me word the Duke is aliue Redeemes his King from misery Exeunt manet Iaco. Iaco. I hope he neuer shall come backe aliue he knowes I am a villaine I was too forward in my offers to him til I had tried his dispositions better It is kindly done of him and of Lysander yet to spare my paines there now wants nothing of my wish but that the Duke be kild and I to find out where Lysander is then I shall be reueng'd vpon them both and be possest of that which is my due Lysanders land for so the King hath promis'd My way to find Lysander if he hath kild the Duke is for to giue Clarinda a firme beleefe that I doe dearly loue him for sure if he be liuing she shall heare of him and if I finde him I haue another villanie in my head which I will put in act besides my giuing notice of him to the King My villainy shall Vertue be in show For all shall thinke me honest Iacomo Exit Enter Clarinda with a Letter Clar. reades I feare the Duke hath notice of our loues for he hath sent to me to meete him armed I feare it is to fight if it be so and I suruiue the Combate I will send you word where I abide if I be kild I doe coniure you by your vertues not to to bee vngratefull vnto the Duke who you see doth not desire to liue without he may enioy you for his wife No my Lysander in that houre when I shall heare That thy faire soule is parted from thy body I will quickly follow thee Enter Seruant Seru. Madame the King is at the gate and in a rage Threatens your Fathers death and yours they say Lysander Hath kild the Duke Clar. I fear'd as much This comes of my dissembling Enter King Utrante and Attendants Utran. Why is your Maiestie offended with your Vassall Who as yet neuer so much as in a thought offended you King Where is that Inchantresse which you call Clarinda Clar. Here Sir is the vnhappy obiect of your anger King I am amaz'd I neuer till now saw true beauty Why kneele you Lady Clar. It is my duty Sir you are my Soueraigne King Rise faire Creature came I to chide and doe I kisse This is the force of Beauty who liues That can be offended with so sweet a Creature I cannot now blame the Duke for valuing Her so much I would she were the Daughter Of some neighbouring King that I without Disparagement might loue her but I forget My selfe these are poore humble thoughts And farre beneath the Maiestie of a King Lady I came to chide I feare you are the cause That I haue lost a Kinsman a worthy one In all the worlds opinion excepting yours Cla. Sir pardon me you were your selfe the cause By your excessiue loue to him for that made me Dissemble my affections to Lysander Fearing to daw your frownes vpon my Father Should I haue shew'd neglect vnto the Duke Kin. Who euer was the cause you shall not feele The punishment the Duke did truly loue you Lady which you shall see here in this Letter Apparantly may you see your error And grieue to death for your past folly In refusing the quintessence of Mankinde Read it not now you shall haue time to grieue in He shewes there in his Letter that you are his wife That by that meanes I might be drawne the sooner To performe his will which is that you should Be possest of that which was his and so you shall If hee be dead Cla. Sir I doe vtterly refuse it all that I desire Is that your Maiestie will giue me leaue To depart my griefes doe so oppresse me That I am sicke at heart King When you please Lady Exit Cla. My Lord how chanc'd it that you neuer told me That your Daughter lou'd Lysander Utran. Sir let me perish it I knew it I am amaz'd to heare it now Exeunt Enter Lysander and Mariana Lys. But Sister can you thinke it possible The Princesse should thus loue me Mar. Brother I know you see it your selfe Though you will not take notice of it Lys. Belieue me Mariana it doth grieue me much So great a Princesse should bee so vnhappy To loue a man whose heart is not his owne For he that had a heart at his disposing Could not denie to giue it her Ma. When she shal know you haue another Mistria She will call
backe her iudgement and quickly Free her selfe but Brother I doe feare You loue her too you looke and speake to her With more affection then well becomes your faith Being promis'd to Clarinda Lys. What would you haue me to doe Shall I not backe returne those courteous lookes That she the sauer of my life bestowes vpon me One knocks without Mar. I le see who it is Exit Enter Cleonacda Cleo. How hath your brother slept to night Mar. Exceeding well Madame Brother here is the Princesse Cleo. Lysander how doth your wounds Is your paine lessend Lys. Madame I haue no paine But that I feare I neuer shall be able to requite This vndeserued fauor Cleo. Let not that trouble you it is to me You owe the debt and I will find some way To pay my selfe that shall not make you poorer Lys. What shall I say each vertuous deed Rewards it selfe and that 's the coyne with which You must be paid or else you will be a loser Cleo. Tell me Lysander and tell me truely Haue you a Master Lys. I dare not lye Madame I haue one that loues me equally Cle. Lysander she hath reason were I your Mistris I thinke I should loue you better then my selfe But tell me Lysander what was the quarrell Betwixt the Duke and you Lys. Madame I cannot tel you without discouering That which I would gladly keepe conceald Yet why I should deny you the knowledge of any Secret my heart holds I cannot see except I should Be most vngratefull you being the only cause That I haue now a heart to keepe a secret in Cleo. What was it speake I long yet feare to know it Lys. The Duke and I were riuals Clarinda was the marke at which both aym'd Cleo. Which of you loued she best Lys. Madame she loued me best Wee being brought vp together Which was her great misfortune For had she knowne the Duke before me Her iudgement would haue taught her To loue the worthier And one indeed that loued her better At least with greater passion Cleo. But did not halfe so wel deserue to belou'd By her as you since hee did goe about To force loue or at the least to take from her The loued that which she most delighted in her seruant Lys. Hauing once remou'd me he hoped she Would accept of him who would haue made A worthier seruant farre since he had power To raise her to that glorious height of fortune Which well would haue become her merits But on the other side he knew the meanes Of my Fortune must needs obscure and darken Her perfections so that he out of loue To her rather then to himselfe desir'd To make her his Cle. He could not chuse but know that if he kild The man belou'd by her she needs must hate him If she were worthily constant if not Then he with danger of his life had purchas'd Her too dearly for I should still belieue If once she changd she alwayes would become The victors Prize Lys. Madame there was some vnlucky mistaking Betwixt vs or else we had not fought Cl. Would it had pleas'd heauen you had not fought Or that the Duke had scaped with life but since Your quarrell was not to be reconcild though I Doe blush to say so I am glad t' was he that perisht For I haue euer wisht you well I would not haue you thinke I am now in loue With you yet by my life I cannot say but I may be Hereafter tho I know you haue a Mistris Whose perfections darken mine giue me those Things to dresse his wounds with The wounds sure were giuen to me to make me happie In being toucht by your soft hands my wounds Can neuer heale my prayers are against it Because being well I cannot haue this blessing Cleo. What a strange alteration doe I feele now When I touch you a certaine coldnesse seizeth On my heart and all my blood flies to my face Sure I do loue you I ne're yet knew what it was For to dissemble if I loue I say so And if I hate I keepe it not conceald I will not giue a thought that is base A harbor in any brest what need I then Conceale my heart the praise Lysander Which was bestow'd vpon thee had bred in me A great desire to be my owne assurance Whether thou wert the master of so many Excellencies as fame bestow'd vpon thee And now that I doe find they rather doe Come short then any whit out-goe thy merit Wonder not that I though a Princesse am in loue With thee for I haue still profest to loue the Richest minde which is in thee compleat With the addition of a comly Personage Lys. I hope your Grace doth not mocke me Cleo. No by my life I take delight In looking vpon you Lys. I cannot thinke you are in earnest yet I will Answere you as if you were should you loue me Thinke you or would you wish that I should breake My forepast vowes vnto Clarinda Cle. No it must be for your worth if I do loue you And when your proue vnconstant you are No longer worthy Lys. If I be constant What fruit can you receiue from your affection A barren Loue will ill become So great a Princesse Cle. Be you still constant loue your Clarinda stil For when you cease to be so I shall hate you Only respect me as a Sister for when my reason Shall haue leaue to combate against my passion It will conuert it to a Sisterly affection Lys. Madame I know In that you say you loue me you doe it only For to make a tryall how strongly I am arm'd By my Clarinda's merits against inconstancie And I confesse if it were possible To vndermine my faith and blow my former Promises into the ayre your pleasing speech And those yet maiesticke glances Of your eyes were the only Instruments that yet I euer saw to doe it Cleo. But speake you as you thinke Lysander Lys. Else may I perish but mistake me not For though I could belieue your beauty And merit to be aboue Clarinda's Which is vnpossible either that it should be Or that I should belieue it yet where my word Is once past though all the tortures mans wit Can inuent should at one instant inuiron me To torture the minde and body yet I would not breake my faith Cle. May I be miserable if ere I perswade you to 't Yet I could wish that you did loue me And with a little passion but doe not make shew Of more then you doe truely feele thinking To please me for if I find it I shall be angry I will not hide a thought from you Mari. But Madame is it possible that You should loue him thus Cleo. I scorne for to dissemble for who stand I in feare of were the King my Brother here Sure I should not deny that I loued Lysander Mar. Madame I rather wish My Brother neuer had beene borne Then that the King should know you loue
by my Crowne Bring your sufficient proofe you shall haue Iustice But wel I know you hate good Iacomo because he did Discouer where your Lysander was Cla. Would I had bit my tongue out of my head When I gave it power to tell you where Lysander was Iaco. Your maiestie may marke by this how true the rest is that she hath to say Madame then you would seeme as if I had deceiu'd your trust and that you had to mee discouerd where Lysander was make me not so odious I neuer was a traitor had you to me discouer'd it wild horses should haue torne mee in a thousand pieces ere I would haue confest no this same countrey fellow one day being within the Lodge saw him and so discouerd it to me Cla. Though thou deny'st this with a brazen brow Yet thou canst not denie thou wouldst haue rauisht me When I did trust thee to goe along with me I being disguis'd then where I to thee discouer'd When Lysander was and more thou threatendst If I did not giue consent to thy base lust To murder mee when thou hadst done Because I should not tell Iaco. Madame I did not thinke that loue to any man could ere haue turnd that excellent wit of yours so ill away as thus vniustly to accuse a man that is innocent and one that honors you Enter Duke and Hermite Utran. Sir I doe grieue My Daughters loue vnto Lysander should Moue her for to seeke a most vniust reuenge Against good Iacomo whose like for honestie I know not in this Kingdome of his quality Clar. Sir here 's a witnesse that will confirme What I haue said for truth Duke What gentle Lady Cla. Sir 't was I that you rescu'd yesterday From a villaine that would haue rauisht me Duke Why Lady were you in such danger Iac. Marke you Sir she knowes of no such thing Cla. I was the Boy you found in the wood Whom this villaine would then haue rauisht Which then I told you was my master Du. I thought no boy could haue so sweet a face Indeed Sir t is most true I found this Lady bound And that same villaine as I thinke for I had but A glimpse of him in the bushes his feare making Him flie as soone as euer he saw me Clar. I beseech your Maiestie let him be hang'd For on my honor what I doe affirme is truth King Your affirmation is to me a hundred Witnesses yet it were in me iniustice to deny The combat 'gainst this gentleman that doth accuse Him on your behalfe if Iacomo desire it Duke Belieue it Sir he that will do such villanies Will neuer dare to fight Sir send him to the Galleyes If he will nor fight it shewes his guilt Iaco. Hell take you all I dare not fight might I haue all the world giuen I le rather to the Galleys I shall get out there with some tricke or other and then I le poyson twenty of you I le not discouer what I am that will but shew me more King Let him that rescu'd Clarinda haue the land That Iacomo should haue had for discouering where Lysander was call forth the prisoner and proceed to execution Enter Lysander Executioner Guard Lys. Weepe not Clarinda you may liue happily You and the Princesse may together make A kinde of Marriage each one strongly Flattering themselues the other is Lysander For each of you's Lysanders better part Pardon Clarinda that I borrow from That streame of loue a part to pay the Princesse Which euer yet ran constantly to the Ocean Of thy perfection only for now a gratefulnesse To her makes some of it run in another current For which I know thou being wise canst neuer Loue me lesse knowing that I haue loue enough For both since I can marry neither Cla. Lysander doe not thinke I grudge that part of Loue You pay the Princesse her merits faire transcending mine Besides you owe her for preseruing of your life And I haue beene the only cause that you must lose it But I le beare you company and in that pay the debt I owe you King Why stayes the Prisoner Lys. Onely to take A parting kisse then when you please I am prepar'd King What meane you Sister will yon make apparant To the world your folly Cleo. Sir doe not hinder me For if I may not here speake with him We will conuerse in death sooner then you belieue Lysander thou art going to thy lasting home And in thee all vertuous men must suffer They being but branches thou the root of all perfection Who will be Curteous Valiant since these are causes Of thy death for thou vnto the world didst manifest In thy last action with the Duke that thou wert Really possest of these but I in summing vp thy worth Doe but increase my griefe since I must part with thee The rich vnhappy owner for they haue only seru'd To reuiue thee and those that lou'd thee for them Poore Clarinda I from my owne conceptions Could weepe to thinke vpon the torment thou wilt feele When as the Axe shall seuer from thee loues Worthy person thy comely head worthy Most worthy in that it was the Cabinet appointed By the Gods to keepe their richest Iewell in His minde which is indeede an Index In which iudicious men may read as in a Booke The whole contents of all their excellence King Sister for shame doe not thus wrong Your selfe and me by throwing such high praises On a man condemn'd by Law Lysander Prepare thy selfe to die and take no notice of her Idle praises which if they could to any mortall Man be due they were to him for whom Thou now must suffer Lys. Sir I doe confesse it and am ready to receiue Your doome Cleo. I need not to a mind so fortifide as thine is Giue any Antidotes to arme thee against death Lys. All the encouragement that I will desire Shall bee a kisse of your faire hand Cleo Lysander thou knowst my soule embraceth thee These are the first teares that ere fell from mine eyes Although a woman which I am pleasd with Since it well expresses this is the greatest griefe That yet I euer felt Lys. This kisse Clarinda is thy due thou art The neerest to my heart in Iustice Clarin swoones King Looke to Clarinda carry her home Cleo. I thought she would haue out-gon me but now Mine shall be the glory who would liue in a world That 's bankrupt of all vertue Lys. kneeles Exec. I pray Sir forgiue me your death Lys. Friend doe thine office I forgiue thee Duke Hold villaine King How darest thou hinder the sword of Iustice From lighting where it is design'd Duke Sir if you execute this Lord you are a Tyrant King Why Sir will it bee tyranny in mee To execute the Law the fellow 's mad Lay hands on him Duke It is a cruell Law that doth condemne the innocent King Why is he innocent Duke Let me dye for 't if I doe not proue He did not
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