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
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
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
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
The Deseruing FAUORITE As it was lately Acted first before the Kings Maiestie and since publikely at the BLACK-FRIERS By his MAJESTIES Seruants Written by LODOVVICKE CARLELL Esquire Gentle-man of the BOVVES and Groome of the King and Queenes Priuie Chamber AT LONDON Printed for MATHEVV RHODES 1629 TO MY VERY NOBLE AND approued Friends Mr. THOMAS CARIE Sonne to the Earle of Monmouth and Mr. WILLIAM MVRREY both of the Bed Chamber to his Maiestie A Approued Friends this Play which know at first was not design'd to trauell so farre as the common Stage is now prest for a greater iourney almost without my knowledge and to giue some stop to preiudicate opinions which may happily arise from the Authors knowne want of Learning I am bold to say you both approued the Plot and Language for your abilities to iudge I held them so great and belieue the world did so to that your approbation to this hath made me against the opinion euen of many friends continue to wast more paper If yee then flatter'd or were loth to discourage mee in this way which few delight to practice though most to see and censure yee are iustly punisht now when ye expect it not in being chosen Patrons of what 's presented to you thus plainly by your Seruant LOD CARLELL THE Printers Epigrammaticall Epistle to the vnderstanding Reader VNknowne to 'th Author this faire Courtly Piece Was drawne to 'th Presse not for a Golden Fleece As doe our Midan Mimickes of these Times Who hunt out Gaine with Reasons losse in rhymes Heaping together such indigested Stuffe Can scarce out-beare true Iudgements Counter-buffe He with a new choyce and familiar Straine Strikes full Conceit deepe in the Master-Veyne Stoopes not for drosse his profit was his pleasure Ha's for his Friends ransackt the Muses Treasure Brought thence such lustrous sparkling Iewels forth As well improue his Scoenes of reall Worth Prompt Wit ripe Art with Iudgement fell at strife How best t' expresse true Nature to the Life Yet fild with pleasing Language and so filde As best beseemes MINERVA'S high bred Child Accept these Straines as here you find 'em drest By mee the Printer All stand ready prest At your sole Seruice rightly vnderstand 'em And if more such I meet with still command 'em Yours obsequious in what 's good and vertuous I. R. ¶ THE PROLOGVE AS it was spoken before the KING DOe not expect strong Lines nor Mirth though they Iustly the Towne-wits and the Vulgar sway What hope haue we then that our Play can please This more Iudicious Presence wanting these We haue a hope the Author sayes this Night Loue in our weaknesse shall expresse his might He in each Noble brest himselfe will place The Subiect being all Loue then must finde grace Yes you may say if it bee well exprest Else loue doth censure him from out our brest Thus what he hop'd should helpe him if he erre In the expression turnes his Censurer I for the Author stand and in his Name Doe here renounce the glory or the shame Of this Nights worke Great Loue this Play is thine Worke Miracles and shew thy selfe Diuine Change these rude lines into a sweet smooth Straine Which were the weake effects of a dull Braine If in this Prologue Contradictions moue That best expresses it was writ by Loue THE NAMES OF THE ACTORS Mr. Benfield the King Mr. Taylor the Duke Mr. Lewin Iacomo Mr. Sharpe Lysander Mr. Swanstone the Count Vtrante Mr. Robinson Count Orsinio and Hermite Mr. Smith Gerard Women Iohn Honiman Clarinda Iohn Tomson Cleonarda Edward Horton Mariana Iaspero Bernardo Seruants Huntsmen c. THE FAVORITE Actus primus Scoena prima Enter Mariana and Lysander Mariana COme prethee tell me brother why ar't sad Lys. From thee my dearest Sister I haue not hid my neerest touching secrets Thou know'st how truly I did loue And how at last I gain'd my deare Clarinda Mari. I doe and wish that I could tell you such a secret of mine owne for of all men liuing I thinke you most happy Lys. Most miserable of men Mari. How can that be is not Clarinda yours In which were I a man I should beleeue More happinesse consisted then for to be a Monarch Lys. Clarinda yet is mine Mari. Nothing can take her from you but the graue I hope she is not sicke Lys. Nothing can take her from me deare Mariana But I must giue her Mar. Why loue you any one so wel to giue away your heart I know shee 's dearer to you Lys. She 's so much deerer to me then my heart That I must kill my heart if I doe giue her Mari. Be plaine sweet brother Lys. The Duke who is too neere a kin in loue And bloud to our dread Soueraigne to be deny'd Dyes for Clarinda Mar. Why thinke you shee 'l proue false Lys. Shee false Oh no It is I must play the traytor to my selfe Vertue doth vndermine my happinesse And blowes it vp I must release my interest In Clarinda that she may marry this loue-sicke Duke And saue his Life Mari. Why who compels it Lys. Gratitude compels it For to the Duke I owe my life and fortunes My fortunes when my wicked Vncle would haue Wrested from me by false witnesse that state Which I am now possest of which the Duke finding He imploy'd his power and so I had my right My life I then receiued when I was rescued By his valour from the dreadfull bore Which I too young thrust on by honor venterd to assayle Yet all these obligations touch me not so neere As doth the danger of the Count Utrante Clarinda's Father who hath beene long a prisoner For the same cause for which my Father fled Mari. He is now at liberty Lys. It is true he hath his liberty and greater honors Are propos'd if he can win his Daughter To marry with the Duke then he hath lost But on the other side if she denye And it doth wholly lie in me to make her grant Her Fathers head is in danger the King So passionately doth loue the Duke Mari. How came you by this miserable knowledge Lys. Sister you know I often visited The Count Utrante in the prison besides The wish'd occasions which I euer tooke To waite vpon his Daughter thither This he so gratefully accepted That now that he hath liberty He still sends for me where I chanc'd to be last night And as a friend heard when he did propound it to Clarinda Mari. Then he doth no way suspect there 's loue betwixt you But tell me Brother how poore Clarinda Did receiue her Fathers deadly proposition Lys. Her Father not belieuing that she would deny So great a blessing came with ioy to tell her That which once told forc'd teares from her faire eyes At which he being amazed desired to know The cause why she receiu'd his and her happinesse With somuch sorrow she answer'd him with broken sighes Offering to teare her haire which when I would not Giue
loue vnto your Grace made me so curious For I protest there is no man aliue That 's more ambitious to do your Lordship seruice It grieu'd my soule to see a man that so deseru'd So much neglected and abus'd Some of this is true Duke If thou wilt make thy fortune Bring me where vnseene I may ouerheare them Iaco. So your Grace will not discouer your selfe I le promise you once within three nights Duke By mine honour I will not performe Thy promise and I will make thee happie Iaco. Be sure you shew not At your returne to them the least distemper Duke Feare not that Exeunt Enter Clarinda Vtrante Lysander Bernardo Clar. Sir you haue shew'd vs many Pictures But aboue all the rest I like that of your Lords Ber. Madame I know my Lord would thinke him happie Would you accept the picture but much happier If you would take the substance Clar. It may be Sir I will Utran. Daughter I charge you on my blessing When the Duke returnes to vse him with respect Clar. Father I see you haue no skill you doe not know The craft we women vse to make men loue the more The smallest fauour I shall shew him after this harsh vsage Will make him thinke himsele in heauen Utran. Before you part when he comes backe I pray you vrge my restoration But first promise to marry him Clar. Leaue that to my Discretion Enter Duke Duke Gentle Lady I craue your pardon for my stay Which was drawne out beyond my expectation Lys. Me thinkes my Lord looks soure vpon me Clar. My Lord indeed I wondred how you stayd so long O rather how you liu'd your heart and you being parted For that you left behind you when you went Duke Madame I doe confesse it is a miracle Proceeding from your beauty that I could liue So long wanting a heart but trust me If my faithfull seruice cannot procure me yours But that you needs will send my owne againe The Miracle will then be alterd quite For now the Miracle consisteth in that I liue And yet you haue my heart and then it will Be a Miracle indeed if I doe liue after Your scorne shall giue it backe againe Clar. My Lord I see it was not bounty But hope of gaine made you giue me your heart For you expect that I should giue you mine By way of recompence which yet I cannot doe But that I may be sure they are true Miracles That you are pleas'd to say my Beauty worketh For there are many false ones here in Loues Religion I le take a Moneth for tryall of the truth All which time my charity compels me to keepe your heart For should I send it backs you say it would kill you Or worke another Miracle which I desire not In that time I shall be acquainted with your heart If then it doth appeare the same it now doth Clad in the same pure zeale that now it weares I le make a change and giue you mine for it For when a Moneth is once past come you And lead me to the Church I le not refuse to goe Du. Slaue that I was to trust that villaine Iacomo That told me she lou'd Lysander Deare Lady You haue in this comfortable answere Reuiu'd a dying man this mercy at the blocke Shewes you to be diuine and so an obiect Fit for my affection which hath beene still Aboue my reason but would you in the mean time Command me somthing where my faithfull seruice Might appeare more then in words I then should be Most happie Enter Seruants with a Banquet and stooles Clar. This offer I expected My Lord you know the iniuries my Father Hath receiu'd if you will see him righted His Lands and Honors backe to him restor'd Which is but Iustice for a bribe for euen iust causes Now haue need of bribery I le giue you thankes And trust me that is more then great men Should expect for doing iustice Duke Rather if it please you Let it be somthing wherein I shall haue no other tie Vpon me but only your command my honor Ties me to see this perform'd Clar. This once perform'd Since you so much desire it I will studie Some Command that may adde honor to you In the faire performance Utran. Come my Lord we will draw neare I see their parley 's at an end Duke Come sit faire Lady My Lord what sayes my Daughter Will shee yet yeeld to his owne happinesse Du. I hope she wil at last make me a fitter marke For Enuy in that I am belou'd of her Then for my present greatnesse Lys. My Lord there is no cause of Enuy for either The greatnesse of your honors being but the Iust Reward of your vnequal'd merit and for Clarinda Tho her worth be great as you can wish it Yet you doe well deserue her both for your worthy Loue And for the many fauors you haue done her Father Utran. My Lord belieue me he hath spoke my thoughts Duke Now when the King sent for me I had preuented Your Daughter in a command that she layd vpon me Concerning your restoring to your Landes But that the King was angry at something that I said Lys. I thought it had beene Impossible He could haue beene offended with your Grace Duke 'T is true at other times he could not But the Lords told me that his Sister Faire Cleonarda had receiud a hurt By rescuing of the hounds from the Stags fury When he stood at bay and that made him it may be So apt for to be angry Lys. Why did they suffer her so to endanger her selfe Du. My Lord she apprehends not danger Which you 'l confesse your selfe when you haue heard Me tell what I haue seene her doe Lys. This act to me my Lord is a sufficient testimony That she doth not feare for by the lawes of hunting It is not to any man thought a disparagement To giue way to a Stagge his head being hard Du. She is a Lady of that noble Spirit That she wants nothing but the person of a Man To be one her heart being equall To the most valiant with these eyes I saw her The King her brother being in the Forrest Breake from the company and pursue a wolfe Which the hounds following of a Stagge Did bring out of a thicket and being well horst She ply'd him with so many wounding shafts That he at length was forc'd to stay his course And seing there was no way to scape by flight He turnd for to reuenge the wounds he had Receiu'd in which he shew'd himselfe a beast indeed And led by bruitish fury for had he beene Indew'd with reason hee 'd haue tane the wounds She gaue for fauors and kist the instrument That honour'd him with death from her faire hand Lys. My Lord 't is strange a woman should do this Duke I was the near'st but ere I could come in She had cut off his head the seruice That I could doe her was to carry to the
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
As honest Iacomo who I know loues Lysander Come hither honest Iacomo Iaco. Madame Clar. I know thou lou'st me And wilt doe any thing that I command thee Iaco. Madame I hope you make no doubt of it Clar. No thou shalt see I doe not doubt For I will make thee priuie to a secret That torture should not draw from me Iaco. If it be that that I suspect torture shall Hardly make me to conceale it Clar. What saist thou Iacomo Iaco. Madame I say although I should be rackt Yet what you tell me shall be still conceald Clar. I know it should come trusty Iacomo I le tell thee all the Story as wee goe Exeunt Actus quartus Scoena prima Enter Clarinda in disguise Iacomo Clar. How am I bound to thee for this disguise I thinke my Father if I had met him Could not haue knowne me how farre is it Yet to the Lodge Iaco. It is not aboue a Mile but are you sure He is there Clar. I would not else haue come so far a foote Nor put on this disguise Iaco. Madame if you be weary here is a faire Coole shade where you may rest your selfe a while Clar. Though I be faint and weary Yet I will not stay the great desire I haue To see Lysander doth support my weaknesse Iaco. But Madame I am weary and I haue No such strong desire as loue to carry me Clar. For shame say not so can you being a man And vs'd to walke be weary in so short a iourney Iaco. Madame you must refresh me with a kisse I cannot walke else Clar. How Iacomo Iaco. Why doth not the paines that I haue taken Deserue a greater recompence then that Clar. I doe confesse The paines that thou hast taken and I intend thee a reward equall to it But it amazes me to heare thee aske That which would trouble me to giue And yet to thee that shoul'st receiue it Doe no good at all Iaco. If it will trouble you to giue it then let Me take a kisse Clar. How strangely art thou transported With a fond desire Iaco. You will not kisse me then Clar. I prethee be not angry Iacomo I le giue thee that which is better Here take this Iewell yet let me tell thee The Duke would not thus boldly haue demanded What thou didst aske Iaco. He was a foole then And did not know his owne aduantage Which you shall find I doe you that Denyed me now a kisse shall giue me that Which you perchance the first night Would haue denyed your husband Cla. I do not like this what 's that honest Iacomo Iaco. Your Maidenhead Clar. How I know thou dost but speake this For to excuse thy selfe from going sit still I le find the way my selfe Iaco. Are you so crafty stay and heare me Clar. What sayst thou honest Iacomo Iaco. Not too honest neither I know you are wise and therefore I le vse no perswasions else but onely letting of you see the danger Clar. O I feare this villaine Iaco. Lysander you told me was at the Lodge and there the King shall find him except you will redeeme him from that danger by the losse of your Virginity I know you would bee well content to kisse me now but now it will not serue Clar. Will honest Iacomo then proue a villaine Iaco. Who would not proue a villaine for so sweet a recompence How I doe glory in this purchase of my wit the Duke striuing to gaine the happinesse I shall haue offer'd me paid downe his life for t besides he went about the ceremoniall way of Marriage but I shall meet my happinesse a neerer way which will be an addition to the pleasure Come are you resolu'd Clar. Why villaine dost thou prize Lysanders life Aboue mine honor Iaco. If for a word for honor is no more You can indure to see Lysander suffer cruell death It seemes you loue him little doe as you will Make hast vnto the Lodge you know the way well The King may chance be there before you As I will handle the businesse Clar. Stay Iacomo canst thou be such a villaine As thou dost seeme I doe not thinke Thou art in earnest Iaco. All torments that man did euer feele Light vpon me if I doe not performe What I say Clar. Then may they all light on thee For thou deseru'st them all Iaco. Stay Lady Clar. Dost thou relent I knew thou didst it but to trye mee Iaco. It is true indeed I did so Clar. I thought thou still wert honest Iaco. Be not deceiu'd I tried indeed if you would giue consent because the pleasure would haue beene the greater so but since I haue you once agen within my power I will inioy you whether you will or no Clar. Canst thou beleeue the heauens that haue the power To strike thee dead will suffer such a wicked Act Iaco. It is in vaine to striue or crye There is none to helpe you Clar. If the feare of Heauen Cannot deterre thee from this villanie Yet tremble at the punishments my Father And Lysander will inflict vpon thee For doe not thinke there 's any place that 's so remote But they will find thee out Iaco. Tush they shall still belieue mee to be Honest Iacomo Yet I will let the King know where Lysander is Clar. Why villaine dost thou thinke I will not Discouer thee Iaco. Yes I doe know you would but I will take a course with your Ladiship for telling when I haue done with you Clar. I know thou wilt not be so mercifull to kill me Iaco. Yes feare it not rather then I will be hang'd for a short minutes pleasure Clar. Then kill me first before thou dost dishonour me Iaco. It may bee you 'l bee of another mind anon and wish to liue The trees stand here too thin I le carry you into a thicker place Clar. Helpe Murder is there no power that will transforme me to a tree and saue my honor Iaco. Yes I le transforme you you may beare fruit too if you will be willing Exeunt Enter Duke disguis'd Duke How happy are those men that lead a Country life And in the nature of each seuerall creature View the great God of Natures power who can finde Nothing in the whole frame but either for the composition Or the existence is worth our admiration Within Clarinda Murder helpe helpe Murder Duke It was a womans voyce sure Exit Enter Iacomo Iaco. Slaue that I was that did not stop her mouth as well as bind her hands it was well the bushes were so thicke for had he once got sight of me he would haue coold my heate since I haue mist this pleasure my reuenge shall be the greater I le to the King and tell him what I know concerning Lysander which will ingraft me in his fauor and for Clarinda's accusall let mee alone Exit Enter Duke and Clarinda Duke Tell me prety Boy why did the villaine bind thee I thought thou hadst beene a woman
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