Dominic the Spanish Fryar Mr. Lee. THE SPANISH FRYAR OR THE Double Discovery ACT I. Alphonso Pedro meet with Souldiers on each side Drums c. Alph. STand give the Word Pedro. The Queen of Arragon Alph. Pedro how goes the night Pedr. She wears apace Alph. Then welcom day-light We shall have warm work on 't The Moore will ' gage His utmost Forces on this next Assault To win a Queen and Kingdom Pedro Pox o'th is Lyon-way of wooing though Is the Queen stirring yet Alph. She has not been abed but in her Chapel All night devoutly watch'd and brib'd the Saints With Vows for her Deliverance â— Pedro O Alphonso I fear they come too late her Father's crimes Sit heavy on her and weigh down her prayers A Crown usurp'd a lawfull King depos'd In bondage held debarr'd the common light His Children murther'd and his Friends destroy'd What can we leâ—s expect then what we feel And what we fear will follow Alph. Heav'n avert it Pedro Then Heav'n must not be Heav'n Judge the event By what has pass'd Th' Usurper joy'd not long His ill-got Crown 'T is true he dy'd in peace Unriddle that ye Pow'rs But left his Daughter Our present Queen ingag'd upon his death-bed To marry with young Bertran whose curs'd Father Had help'd to make him great Hence you well know this fatal War arose Because the Moore Abdalla with whose Troops Th' Usurper gain'd the Kingdom was refus'd And as an Infidel his Love despis'd Alph. Well we are Souldiers Pedâ—o and like Lawyers Plead for our Pay Pedro A good Cause wou'd doe well though It gives my Sword and Edge You see this Bertran Has now three times been beaten by the Moores What hope we have is in young Torrismond Your brother's Son Alph. He 's a succeâ—sfull Warriour And has the Souldiers hearts Upon the skirts Of Arragon our squander'd Troops he rallies Our Watchmen from the Tow'rs with longing Eyes Expect his swift Arrival Pedro It must be swift or it will come too late Alph. No more Duke Bertran Enter Bertran attended Bertr Relieve the Ceâ—t'rys that have watch'd all night To Ped. Now Collonel have you dispos'd your men That you stand idle herâ— Pedro Mine are drawn off To take a short repose Bertr Short let it be For from the Moorish Camp this hour and more There has been heard a distant humming noise Like Bees disturb'd and arming in their hives What Courage in our Souldiers Speak What hope Pedro As much as when Physicians shake their heads And bid their dying Patient think of Heav'n Our Walls are thinly mann'd our best Men slain The rest an heartless number spent with Watching And harass'd out with Duty Bertran Good-night all then Pedro Nay for my part 't is but a single life I have to lose I 'll plant my Colours down In the mid-breach and by 'em fix my foot Say a short Souldier's Pray'r to spare the trouble Of my few Friends above and then expect The next fair Bullet Alph. Never was known a night of such distraction Noise so confus'd and dreadfull Justling Crowds That run and know not whither Torches gliding Like Meteors by each other in the streets Pedro I met a reverend fat old gouty Fryar With a Paunch swoln so high his double Chin Might rest upon 't A true Son of the Church Fresh colour'd and well thriven on his Trade Come puffing with his greazy bald-pate Quire And fumbling o'er his Beads in such an Agony He told 'em false for fear About his Neck There hung a Wench the Labell of his Function Whom he shook off i'faith methought unkindly It seems the holy Stallion durst not score Another Sin before he left the world Enter a Captain Capt. To Arms My Lord to Arms. From the Moors Camp the noise grows louder still Rattling of Armour Trumpets Drums and Ataballes And sometimes Peals of Shouts that rend the Heav'ns Like Victory then Groans again and Howlings Like those of vanquish'd men But every Echo Goes fainter off and dyes in distant Sounds Bertran Some false Attaque expect on t'other side One to the Gunners on St. Iago's Tow'r Bid 'em for shame Level their Cannon lower On my Soul They 're all corrupted with the Gold of Barbary To carry over and not hurt the Moor. Enter second Captain 2. Capt. My Lord here 's fresh Intelligence arriv'd Our Army led by Valiant Torrismond Is now in hot Engagement with the Moors 'T is said within their Trenches Bertr I think all Fortune is reserv'd for him He might have sent us word though And then we cou'd have favour'd his Attempt With Sallies from the Town Alph. It cou'd not be We were so close block'd up that none cou'd peepe Upon the Walls and live But yet 't is time Bertr No 't is too late I will not hazard it On pain of Death let no man dare to sally Pedr. aside Oh Envy Envy how it works within him How now What means this Show Alph. 'T is a Procession The Queen is going to the great Cathedral To pray for our Success against the Moores Pedro Very good She usurps the Throne keeps the old king in Prison and at the same time is praying for a Blessing Oh Religion and Roguery how they go together A Procession of Priests and Choristers in white with Tapers follow'd by the Queen and Ladies goes over the Stage the Choristers singing Look down ye bless'd above look down Behold our weeping Matron's Tears Behold our tender Virgins Fears And with success our Armies crown Look down ye bless'd above look down Oh! save us save us and our State restore For Pitty Pitty Pitty we implore For Pitty Pitty Pitty we implore The Procession goes off and shout within Then enter Lorenzo who kneels to Alphonso Bertr to Alph. A joyfull Cry and see your Son Lorenzo Good news kind Heav'n Alph. to Lorenzo O welcome welcome Is the General safe How near our Army When shall we be succour'd Or Are we succour'd Are the Moores remov'd Answer these Questions first and then a Thousand more Answer 'em all together Lorenzo Yes when I have a thousand Tongues I will The General 's well His Army too is safe As Victory can make 'em The Moores King Is safe enough I warrant him for one At dawn of day our General cleâ—t his Pate Spight of his woollen Night-cap A â—light wound Perhaps he may recover Alphonso Thou reviv'st me Pedro By my computation now the Victory was gain'd before the Procession was made for it and yet it will go hard but the Priests will make a Miracle on 't Lorenzo Yes Faith we came like bold intruding Guests And took 'em unprepar'd to give us welcome Their Scouts we kill'd then found their Body sleeping And as they lay confus'd we stumbl'd o'er 'em And took what Joint came next Arms Heads or Leggs Somewhat undecently But when men want light They make but bungling work Bertr I 'll to the Queen And bear the News Pedro That 's young Lorenzo's
consequence That brings you here so often and unsent for Bert. Aside 'T is what I fear'd her words are cold enough To freeze a man to death May I presume To speak and to complain Qu. They who complain to Princes think 'em tame What Bull dare bellow or what Sheep dares bleat Within the Lion's den Bert. Yet men are suffer'd to put Heav'n in mind Of promis'd Blessings for they then are Debts Qu. My Lord Heav'n knows its own time when to give But you it seems charge me with Breach of Faith Bert. I hope I need not Madam But as when men in Sickness lingring lye They count the tedious hours by months and years So every day deferr'd to Dying Lovers Is a whole Age of pain Qu. What if I ne'er consent to make you mine My Father's Promise ties me not to time And Bonds without a Date they say are void Bert. Far be it from me to believe you bound Love is the freest motion of our minds O cou'd you see into my secret Soul There you might read your own Dominion doubled Both as a Queen and Mistress if you leave me Know I can dye but dare not be displeas'd Qu. Sure you affect Stupidity my Lord Or give me cause to think that when you lost Three Battels to the Moors you coldly stood As unconcern'd as now Bert. I did my best Fate was not in my power Qu. And with the like tame Gravity you saw A raw young Warrier take your bafled work And end it at a blow Bert. I humbly take my leave but they who blast Your good opinion of me may have cause To know I am no Coward He is going Qu. Bertran stay Aside This may produce some dismal consequence To him whom dearer then my Life I love To him Have I not manag'd my contrivance well To try your Love and make you doubt of mine Bert. Then was it but a Tryal Methinks I start as from some dreadfull Dream And often ask my self if yet I wake Aside This turns too quick to be without Design I 'll sound the bottom of 't e'er I believe Qu. I find your Love and wou'd reward it too But anxious Fears solicit my weak breast I fear my People's Faith That hot mouth'd Beast that bears against the Curb Hard to be broken even by lawfull Kings But harder by Usurpers Judge then my Lord with all these Cares opprest If I can think of Love Bert. Believe me Madam These Jealousies how ever large they spread Have but one Root the old imprison'd King Whose Lenity first pleas'd the gaping Crowd But when long tried and found supinely good Like Aesop's Logg they leapt upon his Back Your Father knew 'em well and when he mounted He rein'd 'em strongly and he spurr'd them hard And but he durst not doe it all at once He had not left alive this patient Saint This Anvil of Affronts but sent him hence To hold a peacefull Branch of Palm above And hymn it in the Quire Qu. You 've hit upon the very String which touch'd Echoes the Sound and Jars within my Soul There lies my Grief Bert. So long as there 's a Head Thither will all the mounting Spirits fly Lop that but off and then Qu. My Vertue shrinks from such an horrid Act. Bert. This 't is to have a Vertue out of season Mercy is good a very good dull Vertue But Kings mistake its timeing and are mild When manly Courage bids 'em be severe Better be cruel once then anxious ever Remove this threatning Danger from your Crown And then securely take the man you love Qu. walking aside Ha! let me think of that the Man I love 'T is true this Murther is the onely means That can secure my Throne to Torrismond Nay more this Execution done by Bertran Makes him the Object of the People's Hate Bert. Aside The more she thinks 't will work the stronger in her Qu. Aside How eloquent is Mischief to persuade Few are so wicked as to take delight In Crimes unprofitable nor do I If then I break divine and humane Laws No Bribe but Love cou'd gain so bad a Cause Bert. You answer nothing Qu. 'T is of deep Concernment And I a Woman ignorant and weak I leave it all to you think what you doe You doe for him I love Bert. Aside For him she loves She nam'd not me that may be Torrismond Whom she has thrice in private seen this day Then I am fairly caught in my own Snare I 'll think again Madam it shall be done And mine be all the blame Exit Bertr Qu. O that it were I wou'd not doe this Crime And yet like Heaven permit it to be done 〈…〉 â—ood grosly cheat us with Free-will 〈…〉 â—hat but what Heaven first decreed Our Actions then are neither good nor ill Since from eternal Causes they proceed Our Passions Fear and Anger Love and Hate Meer sensless Engines that are mov'd by Fate Like Ships on stormy Seas without a Guide Tost by the Winds and driven by the Tyde Enter Torrismond Tor. Am I not rudely bold and press too often Into your presence Madam If I am Qu. No more lest I shou'd chide you for your stay Where have you been and How cou'd you suppose That I cou'd live these two long hours without you Tor. O words to charm an Angel from his orb Welcome as kindly Showers to long parch'd Earth But I have been in such a dismal place Where Joy ne'er enters which the Sun ne'er cheers Bound in with Darkness over-spread with Damps Where I have seen if I cou'd say I saw The good old King majestick in his Bonds And ' midst his Griefs most venerably great By a dim winking Lamp which feebly broke The gloomy Vapors he lay stretch'd along Upon the unwholesom Earth his Eyes fix'd upward And ever and anon a silent Tear Stole down and trickl'd from his hoary Beard Qu. O Heaven what have I done my gentle Love Here end thy sad discourse and for my sake Cast off these fearfull melancholy thoughts Tor. My Heart is wither'd at that piteous Sight As early Blossoms are with Eastern blasts He sent for me and while I rais'd his Head He threw his aged Arms about my Neck And seeing that I wept he press'd me close So leaning Cheek to Cheek and Eyes to Eyes We mingled Tears in a dumb Scene of Sorrow Qu. Forbear you know not how you wound my Soul Tor. Can you have Grief and not have Pity too He told me when my Father did return He had a wondrous Secret to disclose He kiss'd me bless'd me nay he call'd me Son He prais'd my Courage pray'd for my Success He was so true a Father of his Countrey To thank me for defending ev'n his Foes Because they were his Subjects Qu. If they be then what am I Tor. The Sovereign of my Soul my Earthly Heaven Qu. And not your Queen Tor. You are so beautifull So wondrous fair you justifie Rebellion As if that faultless
none Except an Host from Heaven can make such haste To save my Crown as he will doe to seize it You saw he came surrounded with his Friends And knew besides our Army was remov'd To quarters too remote for sudden use Raym. Yet you may give Commission To some Bold man whose Loyalty you trust And let him raise the Train-bands of the City Queen Gross feeders Lion talkers Lamb-like fighters Raym. You do not know the Virtues of your City What pushing force they have some popular Chief More noisie than the rest but cries Halloo And in a trice the bellowing Herd come out The Gates are barr'd the Ways are barricado'd And One and All 's the Word true Cocks of th' Game That never ask for what or whom they fight But turn 'em out and shew 'em but a Foe Cry Liberty and that 's a Cause of Quarrel Queen There may be Danger in that boist'rous Rout Who knows when Fires are kindled for my Foes But some new Blast of wind may turn those Flames Against my Pallace Walls Raym. But still their Chief Must be some one whose Loyalty you trust Queen And who more proper for that Trust then you Whose Interests though unknown to you are mine Alphonso Pedro haste to raise the Rabble He shall appear to head ' em Raymon Aside to Alphonso and Pedro First seize Bertran And then insinuate to them that I bring Their lawfull Prince to place upon the Throne Alphon. Our lawfull Prince Raym. Fear not I can produce him Pedro to Alph. Now we want your Son Lorenzo what a mighty Faction Would he make for us of the City Wives With ô dear Husband my sweet honey Husband Won't you be for the Colonel if you love me Be for the Colonel ô he 's the finest man Exeunt Alphonso Pedro. Raym. Aside So now we have a Plot behind the Plot She thinks she 's in the depth of my Design And that it 's all for her but time shall show She onely lives to help me ruin others And last to fall her self Queen Now to you Raymond Can you guess no reason Why I repose such Confidence in you You needs must think There 's some more powerfull Cause then Loyalty Will you not speak to save a Lady's Blush Must I inform you 't is for Torrismond That all this Grace is shown Raym. Aside By all the Powers worse worse then what I fear'd Queen And yet what need I blush at such a Choice I love a man whom I am proud to love And am well pleas'd my Inclination gives What Gratitude would force ô pardon me I ne'er was covetous of Wealth before Yet think so vast a Treasure as your Son Too great for any private man's possession And him too rich a Jewel to be set In vulgar metal or for vulgar use Raym. Arm me with Patience Heaven Queen How Patience Raymond What exercise of Patience have you here What find you in my Crown to be contemn'd Or in my Person loath'd Have I a Queen Past by my Fellow-rulers of the World Whose vying Crowns lay glittering in my way As if the World were pav'd with Diadems Have I refus'd their Bloud to mix with yours And raise new Kings from so obscure a race Fate scarce knew where to find them when I call'd Have I heap'd on my Person Crown and State To load the Scale and weigh'd my self with Earth For you to spurn the Balance Raym. Bate the last and 't is what I would say Can I can any Loyal Subject see With Patience such a stoop from Sovereignty An Ocean pour'd upon a narrow Brook My Zeal for you must lay the Father by And plead my Countrie 's Cause against my Son What though his Heart be great his Actions gallant He wants a Crown to poise against a Crown Birth to match Birth and Power to balance Power Queen All these I have and these I can bestow But he brings Worth and Vertue to my Bed And Vertue is the Wealth which Tyrants want I stand in need of one whose Glories may Redeem my Crimes ally me to his Fame Dispell the Factions of my Foes on Earth Disarm the Justice of the Powers above Raym. The People never will endure this choice Queen If I endure it what imports it you Goe raise the Ministers of my Revenge Guide with your Breath this whirling Tempest round And see its Fury fall where I design At last a time for just Revenge is given Revenge the darling attribute of Heaven But man unlike his Maker bears too long Still more expos'd the more he pardons Wrong Great in forgiving and in suffering brave To be a Saint he makes himself a Slave Exit Queen Raymond solus Marriage with Torrismond it must not be By Heaven it must not be or if it be Law Justice Honour bid farwell to Earth For Heaven leaves all to Tyrants Enter Torrismond who kneels to him Tor. O ever welcome Sir But doubly now you come in such a time As if propitious Fortune took a care To swell my Tide of Joys to their full height And leave me nothing farther to desire Raym. I hope I come in time if not to make At least to save your Fortune and your Honour Take heed you steer your Vessel right my Son This Calm of Heaven this Mermayd's melody Into an unseen whirl-pool draws you fast And in a moment sinks you Tor. Fortune cannot And Fate can scarce I 've made the Port already And laugh securely at the lazy storm That wanted wings to reach me in the deep Your pardon Sir my duty calls me hence I go to find my Queen my earthly Goddess To whom I owe my Hopes my Life my Love Raym. You owe her more perhaps than you imagin Stay I command you stay and hear me first This hour 's the very Crisis of your Fate Your Good or Ill your Infamy or Fame And all the colour of your Life depends On this important Now. Tor. I see no danger The City Army Court espouse my Cause And more then all the Queen with publick favour Indulges my Pretensions to her Love Raym. Nay if possessing her can make you happy 'T is granted nothing hinders your Design Tor. If she can make me blest she onely can Empire and Wealth and all she brings beside Are but the Train and Trappings of her Love The sweetest kindest truest of her Sex In whose Possession years roule round on years And Joys in Circles meet new Joys again Kisses Embraces Languishing and Death Still from each other to each other move To crown the various seasons of our Love And doubt you if such Love can make me happy Raym. Yes for I think you love your Honour more Tor. And what can shock my Honour in a Queen Raym. A Tyrant an Usurper Tor. Grant the be When from the Conquerour we hold our Lives We yield our selves his Subjects from that hour For mutual Benefits make mutual Ties Raym. Why can you think I owe a Thief my Life