death their injuries forcd a new one in mee and blew the sparke untill the flame consumde 'um But had I beheld you before their danger it would have turnd my soule within mee changd mee from a Foe unto their partie I cannot now beleeve I had a Justice that there could bee any where you were iniurd in it so much my love doth mount above my griefe that it makes mee thinke I have onely lost your father Why weepe you thus Could that recall him I 'de beare you company and breake those stubborne gates which from my childe-hood to this present houre hath kept them backe and spend my whole store here But nothing can redeeme him let that common remedy which all apply and helpeth all give ease unto you that nothing can redeeme him O learne a strength of me that is the worst name for it to beare a fathers losse Let the innocence of mine excuse my violence to yours wee are the wretchedst two alive made so by our selves and can be onely happy in our selves Eudo. Oh O. Pall. Look on this it may bring you comfort with making out of love with the subiect of your griefe Hee delivers her that letter which hee found in the villaines pocket to murder him written by her brother Shee starts in the reading Eudo. Ha Pall. Falls not my deformityes away Eudo. Pallantus art thou Pallantus Pall. This is the first time I darde to be so Eudo. And to all this villany is signd Tymeus couldst thou be thus cruell thus basely cruell unworthy brother This hath made a mercy of all that hath befallen thee thou dost deserve to have thy punishments out-live thee to have engraven on thy Tombe Heere lies the treacherous bloody and to make thee monstrous have thy age adde to it The young Timeus that was subtile in his youth what remaines for mee that happinesse the most wretched doe enjoy is taken from me a worthy cause of griefe Now I can neither live nor die without a staine Pall. Can you yet read a resemblance but of Iustice in my Actions Eudo. I know not how to answere The tongue must bee as wicked as the will that did commit 'em that can defend such deeds had equity pointed all your Actions out given you Rules to work by told you how much how farre you must have gone you could not have done more justly there wants not any thing to crowne your iudgement but my death the onely issue of that sinnefull race I have a long time loathed my life and now I loath my selfe too I find I know not how a guiltinesse within me my fathers faults flow like his blood within mee Pall. You are not at all allide unto his vices Profane not then your goodnesse it is a sinne though you your selfe commit it that you was a Princesse was not your ambition but obedience you are onely guilty in thinking of your selfe so why then doe yue talke of death thus Eudo. Can any life be noble after such losses Pall. My selfe and the many which have suffered them doe thinke so and are receiv'd of all with pity and with honour can you expect to find lesse humanity you are not fallne so low but the greatest Prince would be proud to do you service T is vainenes to professe all civility is your due Eudo. You reward me good for bad before that I was certaine of a cause I slandered your vertues with those names foule deeds deserve or a worse nature could invent I falsely did apply to you that which was true in me Pall. You are a Iudge too cruell to your selfe I did deserve them at the least from you it was a noble passion and owed unto your friends had they beene worse yet if you 'de make amends where there was no wrong give one comfort to your selfe and I shall receive a million ample and satisfactory Eudo. You have given me many more than I did hope or wish for and removed those killing doubts within me I shall remember you no more the cause but mourner of my fathers death O that name of father how ever thou deserv'st thou dost deserve these teares of me Pall. Fall not to a relapse againe I dare not leave you thus Eudo. You may there is no danger in 't they were but teares and are already wipt away Pall All about you does minister to your griefe The King would gladly comfort you can you admit his visit Eudo. I finde hereafter that I may yet t is too soone Pray excuse me Pall. May peace and quiet returne to their home againe to this place Exeunt omnes Enter the King Aratus Phronimus Eunilochus attendants People Jove Neptune Apollo and the gods of Greece preserve and blesse the King King Through the happines of my people may I know no other ioy or sadnesse but what passes you still the middle way of blessings twixt the gods and me People The gods preserve your Majesty Ara. Sir give us leave too to ease our selves of that ioy that doth oppresse us how hath these your virtues rewarded all our travell made our deede honourable and to our faith have joynd discretion in shewing your selfe thus worthy of the place you are chose too you have made it plaine as none ought so none but your selfe can rule what praises will after-ages give us for this our loyalty Had you beene brought in with fire with blood with desolation as you with wonder are given a gift of peace in the height of warre yet your endowments would have made all innocent and like a yeare of good things made the bad forgotten Sir I hope you doe not thinke I flatter King My Lord I doe not you that have so many virtues for to live by neede no dishonest Arts nor by such waies seeke to endeare me when you have alreadie so really ingaged me that I am not able to give you a thankes much lesse a returne that 's equall not to say if I could what I would do deserving you and if you cannot in some kinde reward your selfe t is not in my power to doe it These praises you have given me doe tell if not what I am yet what I should be they shall not make mee proud but good nor will I glory in them but make them still my ayme I le first offer them to the gods and humbly from their hands pray for them againe and at the second gift account them mine Ara. These men wrought hard too for you King My Lord I know it and could I thanke them in 't I de stoope lower than the place from whence they raysed me Enter Clearchus Hianthe Haimantus Melissa Ladies to them Ara. See Sir what ioyes approch you your royall Sister King This way let me expresse a brothers love Before I speake it O my Sister y' are My Throne my Scepter and my Crowne or what Is more deare and estimable with me The Grace the Maiesty that rises from them Pardon if my much love make me a rude
to the Altar would have paid at her feet Thinke you wee could desire to save such enemies as you and not adore an enemy of her virtues Tim. Give me not scorne and honour in the same breath you have made me leave my selfe hate me not now I am nothing Pall. Now I meete you and first give me leave with this to throw away all danger that does threaten you He spills the poyson Next my request is if you dare trust me to leave this place and presently goe with me whether I shall lead you All but Comastes follow Pallantus Com. I breath am warme all alive The Sunne shines too I have not heard of any of his rayes in the other world T is earth I tread on at least if I am not mounted higher and yet I hope I am not in heaven for let them say what they will t is to bee dead to be there and I like not the society though they be Angels what doe I see I begin to mis-doubt I doe behold some such shapes here Faces heavenly and di Divine or else my fantasie abuses me if I be alive and on the earth then there was poyson in that cup A poxe o my curiositie He takes it and tasts a little of the bottome what need I have car'd whether I had beene so long as I found my selfe well I should have got fearefull honour if I had drunke my share By this I see 't was not a dreame nor swound I was in but all true story I did not thinke before it had beene in the power of all the Kings in the world to have given mee life when I was yet living but these thoughts shall passe And now I le looke before me presently I le to the new Court and though the King be chang'd not despaire to be the same man exit Enter Eudora Eudo. My father my brother why doe you flye mee your wellcome and lov'd shapes O my sad fantasie Enter Rodia Rod. Madam The King wishes you ioy and comfort Eudo. The King what King oh Rod. And desires to visit you Eudo. Returne all duty and service to the King Exit Rodia Enter Pallantus Pall. Joy attend you Madam Eudo. My Comforter Pall. Your unfortunate one to see that litle he had wrought with much care so soone decay'd againe yet I hope I shall this time be more happie in my cure before I brought but Physicke for your greife but now I bring you joy it selfe it makes me bold and assures me of my wellcome though thus without leave I enter He needs noe ceremony that can say your brother lives Eudo. My brother O where and how alas it cannot be why doe yee mocke my sadnes thus such false hopes as these make more wretched Pall. I dare not play with holy things nor would I deferr your hopes much lesse delu'd 'em he came along with me and stayd but till I had thus prepar'd his way I know to have given him you as you immagine had beene twice onely to have taken him away noe danger threatened him but his owne discontent The King among his first cares provided for his safety he shall himselfe confirme my words Enter Rodia Eudo. Pray stay I doe beleeve and aske you pardon but now I am certaine of him I would not at first shew any signes of joy I have thought a way to entertaine him Rodia fetch the paper that lyes within upon the Table so now Sr you may admit him Rodia goes out and brings the Letter written by Timeus to kill Pallantus Pallantus goes out and returnes with Timeus Tim. Here let me alone be happy without a covetous wish of what I have lost O Eudora wonder not at my excessive passion misery layes stronger bonds of love then nature and they are more one whom the same misfortune joynd together then whom the same wombe gave life Eudo. But stay my brother I knowledge that you say most true and was noe lesse surpriz'd at first to heare of this your safety for when I once beleev'd you dead that you were alive againe was a greater good then I could give credit to But when I consider the cause of my greefe and gladnesse and found it was merely the name of brother nay not so much the dishonor of our name onely with teares I threw away what with teares I sought for looke on this unworthy man Shee gives him the Letter Heere you are discected and see if I ought to mourne for any part being lost or rejoyce for any that safe in the whole Anotamy Pall. O be not too severe but suddenly give that joy you have prepared for him Eudo. Now I meet your love pardon me my brother I was to rejoyce at this your sadnesse before I could share with you in another joy Enter a Lady La. Madam the King 's hard by Pall. The King Eudo. Yes he sent before that he would visite me what will you doe Tim. Not see him willingly at this time Pall. Sir you need not he understands the nature of your losses and will not expect so suddenly to see you Eudo. Stay within till he be gone Exeunt Tim Rodia and Lady Pallantus Madam I 'le meet the King and meete upon him in Eudo. Did you say this was the King's mercy Pall. I did Madam Exit Pallantus Enter the King Pallantus as in talke with him Clearchus Hianthe Haimantus Aratus Phronimus Eurylochus and Attendants King And does she know of it yet Pall. She lives onely by the favour As the King drawes neere Eudora offers to kneele King Madam fall not so low we have already too much dejected you and would our selves gladly submit in recompence y' are still in the esteeme of all that which you have beene not by the sinnes of others but by your owne indowments admired Princesse and may a curse light light on those who shall dare to unthrone a Majesty which the gods themselves have seated we are come confident in these your virtues that you will not disdaine when nobly we endeavour it to have your greife lessened by your enemies Madam though unpropper yet we are willing comforters and have as true a sence of what you suffer as those who in a neerer name doe share their losses with you Eudo. Sr admit me to kneele before you I ought not to stand an equall height with Majesty and vertue so much above me what undeserving name is due to me when you are pleas'd to call your selfe an enemy if you are one it is to your selfe in thus prefering your mercy before your safety you have given my brother life to bring your owne in danger and removed my greife which hereafter may be the cause of it to your selfe Sr thinke me unworthy but not a scorner of these favours were my sorrowes heaver Thus offerd t were but religion to bow and to receive 'em King You make us all happy and shew a virtue above your sex in being able so much to love and yet to loose a
when they shall spie The powers that formerly vouchsaf't to tie Their lasting knot againe with the same grace With which they once incourag'd their embrace To smile upon their service 't will bring on In their deere Brests a Rare contention Of zeale to your delight Such grace commands A strife of duty though from joyned hands FINIS THE CONSPIRACIE Actus 1. Scena 1 Enter two servants preparing for a Banquet 1 SO dispatch dispatch what wines are those 2 The late present from the Merchants 1 T is well Enter Polyander Pol. Are all things ready fellowes the King 's on entring 1 They are my Lord Enter King Polyander Menetius Comastes Aratus Phronimus Eurylochus attendants King Ha ha ha no happinesse like the Fooles Comastes Com. No none Sir hee s mirth it selfe and the cause of it in others they say all pleasure is a shadow then that which wee enjoy is but the shadow of a shadow hardly the Picture of what he imbraces our Delights are faint thwarted by the Conscience started with feares and after an hower of pleasure a weeke of repentance in which time wee live by rule and not by custome laugh not though the jest bee good nor rage though at a just cause but sickly whisper out our sayings as though they were our last and eate our chickens with the curtaines drawne when the Foole lusts with his whole soule too and sinnes till hee 's weary knowes no Conscience but his want that way nor remorse but disability King Hah ha ha Com. Nature never shewed her liberality more than to those she was sparing of her best gifts to shee houses wisedome in a body full of decayes and requires her whole strength to beare off the ruine measures his legges with the spiders gives him pale and wan lookes scarce altered from the earth hee was made of where to the Ideot she bestowes a body equall with the bulke of trees and armes as Thunder-proofe makes him a strong a large and healthy foole King Ha ha ha Ara. Fit Lectures for such a Sholler King Well Comastes thou shalt not want for a coate if that will doe 't Com. Send me a minde to with it and you have not a greater present for your neighbour Princes King Come my Lords let 's sit and fill up our cups Make them like our joyes still full and flowing Thus it should be my Lords in a State that Knowes no troubles let unhappy Princes Whom losses doe afflict and feares affright Make yearely feasts But wee whose even affaires Doe follow one another and doe keepe There just Periods though the reines are loose And their guide sleepe seeming rather so to Have fallen out than so caus'd each day shall Bee a triumph each houre a feast Ara. Wee may chance to finde one out for Funeralls King A health to all and a long peace Com. You are mellancholly Aratus claps him somewhat rudely Ara. You are rude Comastes and let me tell you Pol. His Lordship is one of those which say their Prayers backward for the State and ends in black wishes Ara. You are the Foxes that thrive by it Phro. Aratus your anger is unseasonable and the King marks it King How now Aratus what 's the matter our table should know no frownes then least of all when we our selfe forbeares them Ara. Royall Sir I aske your pardon hee wakt mee something rudely and got a froward answer King What all dead fill another round our wine moves not here Polyander to thee what thinkst thou of Comastes happines Pol. I thinke Sir 't is as dull as foolish there cannot bee a sence of pleasure where there is so little sence Greatnesse is the center of all happinesse and felicity like our lands at first is tyed to the Crowne kings come nere unto the gods and are like them both in power and pleasure doe command all enjoy all are miserable onely in too much and want but what to wish for this is the dazeling happinesse T is vaine therefore to preferre private joyes before the Crowne-pleasures the King may throw by his greatnesse when he please and be poorely happy the beggar will nere sigh unto a Scepter King Why I Polyander ther 's some life in this a little heaven even in the apprehension Aratus art not thou of this opinion Ara. Not I Sir nor of my Lord the Foole 's there Kings are more miserable than they seeme Happy flattered by themselves and others Into a Ioy that is not and what they Feele they rather doe beleeve than finde so Yet I grant too a King may be happy But never as a King Felicity Is a purchase and no inheritance Nor hath the prerogative more than one Life in 't neither it dies still with the buyer Troubles are the good kings profession In the warres the first dart is throwne at him Where his happinesse is in a glorious death Or else his God-like rayes pluckt from him By some accursed hand and so falls lesse Happie being but wishd so by a poore Revenge hee knowes not Com. Very grave and unseasonable thus your Lordship gets the reputation of singularity which the vulgar suspect to be wisedome Ara. Sir you see how this place and my freenes are injurd King Mirth onely mirth Aratus he meanes 't would better become a counsaile than a banquet Enter Timeus King Timeus welcome nay keepe your seates would thou hadst beene partaker of our sports Time When that my actions or mine age shall make mee worthy of your ease and pleasures I shall be a thankefull sharer but till then your troubles will become me better than your sports and cares will sit more lovely on my brow than roses Sir those that are about you seeke to drowne your virtues Ara. Your Lordship meanes none here Time I name none here my Lord King Nay Timeus thou nere lookst friendly on our pleasures Time I must confesse Sir I had rather see you bloody than thus wet nor are my wishes impious Poliander Pol. My Lord Time How basely that smile becomes thee I had Rather thou hadst answered me with a blow Than such a looke I thought to have ask'd thee Something but I see thou art unworthy Of a brave demand Thy skill lies onely In the curiosity of a meale To say at the first touch a th tongue this is A Chian this a Falernian wine Streight by the colour of the flesh to know Whether the fowle were cram'd or whether fed Prithee Polyander how sat the wind When this Bore was slaine were not these apples Pulld the Moone increasing Degenerate I have seene thee put thy face into a frowne And wer 't so constant in that looke as if Thou hadst no other Pol. Sir when you shall finde or make a cause I le put them on againe here they le but sowre the entertainment Com. You see my Lord they are not drownd they live still under water Time Like thine beast King Prithee Timeus let us enjoy our mirth while the gods give
fall a little to our business Enter with wine if we must let 's to it stoutly and like Souldiers what say yee shall wee drinke a battle the triall of to morrowes victory I le take the Kings part against you all I am the strongest and when I have orecome I le send him word of the good omen t is worth a thousand of your paltry birds and oxe entralls t is a piece of service will gaine the favour from you all Poly. Come wee 'l undertake you begin that honour belongs to your side one brings Comastes a cup Com. Here 's how now what 's this what does such a boy doe in the warre disroole him I scorne to bee Captaine of such a youngster Poly. O whilst you live begin with your light Armature the Legionaries follow Com. Is that the trick on 't Here then for the King I throw the first reede this boy can manage no greater weapon He drinkes and they all pledge him Com. I marry there stands a rank of lusty fellowes a man may rely upon such valours their very looks wil orecome common stomacks I long to see them buckle to it this is too much sport Poly. Reach them downe then They fill a great Goblet to Comastes Com. Give it me and found an assault Pallas and victory for the King why I this was a tall fellow I don 't thinke but Alexander had alwaies a Guard of such attending on his Person He have a doozen of them and call them my twelve Labours Hee perceives Menetius hard set O for a shout a little noise would gaine the conquest Mene. In good time but not so easily Poly. You doe but dreame a victory yet Com. No helpe me then old Souldier Hee drinkes and shewes signes of faultring Men. Hold up Comastes for the greatnesse of your cause hold up you shew signes of fainting how now Com. Hah goe thy waies nere a Goblet the King has ere got the honour to struggle so long with me Poly. I feare wee must lose in loyalty you le nere orecome else Com. I warrant you I retired but to an ambush But who keepes the doore all this while Say the enemies should come and cut all our throates I can tell you I have read such pretty stories Poly. How now Comastes what words are these does Wine breed feares in you Com. A pox on this Warre t will bee my undoing I shall come out with some such roguish question or other at the Kings Table and have my bones broken by the Guard Mene The Wine workes not at all Comastes you begin not fast enough Com. Fill another So now bring me the Armour againe Poli. What will you doe with it Com. Bring it againe I say I 'le put mirth into you all pray let him helpe me that has nothing to doe One fetches it and he armes himselfe with some of it Men. Here will you take this Com. Noe I shall have noe need of that Mene. O I had forgot thy Face is allwayes arm'd enough Com. Well Sr when I returne I 'le pay you that As Comastes goes out and they all sit in expectation what he will doe one that was present at the Kings death enters Guard O the King 's kild All The King They all start up and draw their Swords Poli. Thou look'st distractedly speake it againe Guard Hee 's slaine my selfe was present at his fall Poli. By what accursed hand Guard That divell that wounded the Prince hath murderd him he was before his terror and was now his death Poli. O the heavy hand of Justice Is the Prince safe Guard Slaine too if report be true but by what hand I know not he left the King just before his fall to come hither and being that he is not heere we have much cause to feare the worst Enter Six Souldiers 1 Sol. Feare not now you have past the greatest danger when we have made an end of these there 's none left to punish us the King and Prince are killd and those which remaine we doe the busines for and will reward us richly according to the service and their great promises We have no other way to gaine ought by this alteration our pardons all that we can hope for if we still let us on presently least some others doe prevent us follow me I 'le give the first blow They walke up to the Captaines and when they looke upon 'em it dashes their resolution Poli. How now what gaze you at know you where you are does your feet leade you without the councell of your head get you to your quarter or I 'le stretch you up in 't The Souldiers retyre and goe out These Villains dare doe any thing Captaine follow 'em and see 'em punish't Exit Captaine What shall we doe here we stand like so many trunkes of men headles and livelesse none to obey nor able to command there is noe way can present us safety but this we are now in is the most unworthy danger So beasts when they have beene fed unto the slaughter submit unto it let us not stand still but resolve to turne our Swords upon our enemies or bend them against our owne brestes eyther wayes a victory and will bring us happines and glory Mene. I am for the last it is the safest way and in our griefes the noblest Enter the Captaine Cap. Sr These fellowes came to kill us one of the weakest on 'em when he saw himselfe laid hold on for his other fault suspecting he was discover'd out of mere guiltines confest that unwillingly he was brought into the plot by the perswation of his fellowes who in hope of preferment from the enemy had decreed on all our deathes he sayes too that himselfe and many more were attempted by some of the adverse party with promises and threates to lay downe their Armes and that the Campe is full of such commotors Poli. This then will confirme our former resolutions come let us number up our selves and if we are equall each man set his sword against his fellowes brest and with a friendly wound in spite of Fate or Fortune being our selves Lords of a greater power give happines to eyther Then these wild Beasts will deplore the losse of that they so indeavour to throw away and leape like head-lesse bodyes into flames and ruine As they thinke to kill themselves Timeus enters to them they run and kneele to him Poli. O! my Lord let us imbrace you with such a love as dead and revived friends would expresse to eyther to us you were dead and are alive againe And have bestowed this life we now enjoy we must not owe it to another Parent So is the Judge a Father to the guilty your sentence was past upon us and the hand held up to put it into practise when you as if from heaven you had fallen set all right that was in such confusion what trifles will the greatest dangers appeare to us Tim. Rise you have noe lesse quickened