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
all night Duke I feare there is no other remedie Clar. O my Lysander thou art lost I feare For euer and that same villaine Iacomo is cause of all There is some comfort yet I see a light sure it 's some house Duke For Charities sake open the Dore He knocks Enter Hermit Lord Sir where haue you beene Duke Mercy vpon vs how are we mistaken This is the old mans house where I haue beene Still since I came into the Forrest Cla. Pray heauen he did not misse his way a purpose Duk. Good Father if you haue any meate Fetch me some for this sweet youth I met him In the Forrest and would haue shewed him The way to Gerards Lodge but lost my selfe And wandred vp and downe till now Her Here here 's some meate I was my selfe at Gerards Lodge and saw those There whom you would little thinke Duke Who were there Her The King and his faire Sister Lysander bound as a Prisoner for killing Of the Duke Cla. O my Lysander's lost fals Duke Looke to the Boy he swoones speake Child what dost thou ayle Cla. That same who is Lysander now a prisoner And must die was the only cause I would So faine haue gone to Gerards Lodge For that villaine who had bound me I knew Would tell the King that Lysander was there And I would faine haue giuen him warning That he might haue fled because hee is Thy Kinsman Her Be not sad Boy for that I heard the Princesse sweare if the King Put to death Lysander that she will not out-liue Him and he too well loues his Sister To lose her so Cla. How Is the Princesse so in loue with him Her Indeed they say she is Duke Come and eat your meate you shall Goe to bed I know you ate weary Clar. Sir I cannot eate I had rather sleepe Her Come then I le shew thee to a Bed Clar. No Sir I le lie vpon the Rushes I neuer vse To lie with any body and I am sure Here in this house there are not many beds Her Come thou shalt lie alone There are two beds we two will lie together Clar. Please Sir to leaue me here I le go to bed No childe I le helpe thee Clar. If he should see my breasts I am vndone I will keepe on my doublet Her Goe to bed sweet childe wee 'l leaue thee Exeunt Actus quintus Scoena prima Enter Iaspero and Bernardo Ias. What newes at Court Ber. Sad newes belieue me Ias. Why must braue Lysander suffer to day Ber. The King hath sworne to haue his head off ere Sun-set Ias. The Kingdome will be poore in such a losse For he leaues none behind him worth his equall Ber. I but is 't not strange the King should grace That villaine Iacomo that did betray him Ias. His extreame loue vnto the Duke makes him Loue Iacomo who doth professe that he did not Discouer Lysander in hope of gaine but onely Out of loue to the Dukes memory Ber. At one o' th clocke he is to suffer let vs be there betimes and get a place neere the Scaffold to heare his last words Exe. Enter Utrante in blacke Utran. How blacke and sorrowfull this day lookes This day in which Lysander is to suffer Noble Lysander to whom my Child and I Are so much bound and yet hee is the cause Of both our ruines or rather I am cause It was my ambition to haue a Duke My Sonne in Law no it was my Clarinda's Beauty bred all this mischiefe and it was The Heauens that gaue Beauty to her Why did they then not blesse that gift in her But turne it to her curse Peace wretched man And argue not with those high powers But wait their pleasure and pray for their assistance Who can yet change this Scoene of blood into A Scoene of ioy and back returne thee thy Clarinda Enter a Seruant Ser. If 't please your Lordship my young Lady Is return'd and gone agen Vtran. How Ser. She hath beene in the house this houre as the maids tell me hath chang'd her cloaths and 's newly stolne out at the back-gate and gon toward Lysanders prison two of my fellowes are gone after her and I came back to tell your Lordship Exit Enter Cleonarda and Mariana Cleo. And do's the Kings cruel resolution hold still Mar. O Madam yes my poore Brother must dye to day Cleo. And wilt not thou dye with him speake Mariana Mar. Madame I could wish that I might not out-liue him Cle. Why sayst thou thou couldst wish hast thou not hands Or dost thou want a knife if so yet there 's many wayes to die Mar. Madame how strangely doe you talke Cleo. Why wouldst thou wish to liue After the vntimely death of such a Brother Ma. Madame we must not goe vntill the Gods do call vs Yet I bylieue it is the better place Cleo. The better place assure thy selfe of that they would Not else thus early call thither the best of Men I will follow Him where ere he goes to see Enter Iacomo Iac. Madame the King desires your company Cleo. Villaine had he none else to send but thee That didst betray Lysander hence from my sight Exeunt Enter Duke and Hermit Her What did you with the Boy Duke I left him at the Count Utrante's house He told me he dwelt there Her At what houre say they must Lysander suffer Duke At on of the clock faile not to be there And get neere the Scaffold Her You need not bid me Exeunt Floûrish Enter King Cleonarda Iacomo Mariana Attendants one of them in Habit of a Countreman King Sister beleeue me you haue told me such particular Arguments of Lysanders worth that I doe pitty His misfortunes much and haue quite lost my anger Yet Iustice must be satisfied Cleo. Sir the offence that he committed was but against The Law although he rob'd you of a Subiect You are aboue the Law and may remit it A King should in points of life and death Be like the Chancery in other cases and helpe By mercy against the cruell letter of the Law As the Chancery doth by conscience Especially when your owne conscience tels you That he was forc'd against his will to fight Kin. Sister it were an example too dangerous To pardon him that kild my next of blood It might encourage some to strike my selfe And therfore it is in vaine to plead for mercy Enter Utrante and Clarinda Vtran. O daughter let not your passionate loue Vnto Lysander make you accuse good Iacomo Cla. O Sir you are cozen'd he is a Diuell incarnate Iustice Iustice great Sir King Lady I thought your plea would haue beene mercy And not Iustice Clar. Sir I haue lost all hope of mercy but Iustice I hope you will grant me against that villaine Iacomo Iaco. Now haue at me but I haue fore-arm'd the King with such a tale that and mine owne impudence which neuer faild me shall well enough defend me Kin. Arise faire Clarinda and
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
her leaue to doe she curst her beauty As the cause of all this mischiefe at last Considering who it was that spoke A Father that deseru'd an answere Her iudgement shut her passions in a lesse roome For hauing calm'd the tempest of her greefes She mildly answer'd that she was happy In his liberty though now she saw It was but giuen him to procure her bondage For such she did account all ties of marriage Made by the parents without the childs consent Though nere so rich or hononrable Mari. And hauing said so did she not cast her watry eyes Vpon you and in this sad yet pleasing language Tell you that she would not forsake you for the Duke Lys. It is true shee did so there is no tongue That can expresse the hearts of those that loue Like their owne eyes but Sister it will be late Before you reach the Forrest the Princesse too May wonder at your stay Mari. Brother it 's true but I so seldome see you That I 'le not goe vnlesse you promise to come and see me Lys. You know the strict command That none but those appointed should come neere the Lodge Mari. That is but your excuse I haue told you how often the Princesse Earnestly hath desir'd to see you yet you would neuer goe Lys. Sister I feare these sad occasions will hinder me But I will write Mari. Will you not come sixe miles to see a Sister That so dearely loues you Lys. Sister I know you loue nor will I be a debter You are both my Friend and Sister Exeunt Flourish Enter King Utrante and Attendants King My Lord Vtrante can you not then Perswade your Daughter to receiue a Blessing Which euen the greatest Ladies in this Kingdome Would desire on their knees Enter Duke and Followers Is this a Man to be neglected Though he were not A Kinsman to your King besides my Lord Remember you may draw vpon your selfe Our high displeasure by her refusall Duke Great Sir let not your loue and care of me Bar faire Clarinda the freedome of her choyce By threatning punishments vnto her Father If she choose not me for should she offended Which she might iustly be if I should seeme To force Loue from her it were not within your power Though that you would giue all that you possesse To make me satisfaction for the wrong King Yes I could make you satisfaction Though shee were offended by forcing her Into your armes to whom the wrong was done Duke Her Person Sir you might but not her Minde Which is indeed the obiect of my Loue That 's free from your subiection for it 's free From Loue a greater power by farre Utran. My Lord I thinke shee 's free from reason too For did that gouerne her she could not thus neglect Her happinesse or rather she may yet suspect your Lordship Doth not meane what you professe and from that feare Seemes coy till she be more assured Duke I cannot pluck my heart out of my brest To shew her I wish I could yet liue to doe her seruice There she might see her worth truely ingrauen In lasting Characters not to be razed out By the hand of Time nor which is more her scorne King Cozen if you will be rul'd by me I 'le make her leape with ioy into your armes Duke Sir so that it be by no way of violence I will obey you King In act I 'le vse no way of violence Yet I must threaten it Duke Sir if you threaten her you ruine me Her Sun-bright Eyes by faithfull seruice May in time shine gently on me and warme My frozen hopes But on the contrary Shee knowing that I 'm the cause of these your threatnings Will from her iust vext soule throw curses on me I would not see thee heauen of her faire face Clouded with any raised by my power to be a Monarch King You know my loue and you presume vpon it Take your owne way of loue deliuer vp your selfe Vnto her mercy that I would make at yours Would you be ruled go see your Mistris Tell her you loue her more then euer man did woman To proue which true pray her that shee 'l command you Taskes more dangerous then did the enuious Iuno To great Hercules all which you will performe With much more ease since you by her command Shall vndertake 'em whose vertue hath the power To arme you 'gainst a world of dangers doe Make her proud with praises and then see How she will torture you Duke Sir she may torture me and iustly too For my presumption since I haue dared To tell so much perfections that I loue Not being first made worthy by my suffering For her Vtran. My Lord if you 'l be pleas'd to grace my house This day she either shall requite your sufferings O I will deny her for a child of mine Duke My Lord most willing I would see faire Clarinda But not vpon such conditions nothing But gentle intreaties must be vs'd for tho the King Were pleas'd to say that my humility Would make her proud I would not haue a subiect Say not you that are her Father that she can Doe an act or thinke a thought that tends not To perfection King Come my Lords we will goe hunt a Stag to day And leaue my Cozen to his amorous thoughts Exe. K. Atten Duke I thanke your Maiestie for this dayes licence My Lord Vtrante shall I then see Clarinda And will you lend your best assistance To make me Master of a happinesse the world may enuy Utran. My Lord you make an Idol of a peeuish Girle Who hath indeed no worth but what you please To giue her in your opinion Duke I must not heare you thus blaspheme You might as well say Pallas wanted wisdome Diana chastitie or Venus beautie As say she wanted worth for euery seueral excellence That shin'd in them and made them By mens admirations Goddesses Flow mixt in her indeed shee hath Too much of Dians Ice about her heart And none of Venus heate but come my Lord I lose my selfe in her vast praises and so Deferre the ioy of seeing what I so commend Exe. Enter Iacomo and Lysander at seuerall dores Lys. Good morrow honest Iacomo is my young Ladie readie Iaco. She is my Lord Lys. And where 's her Father Iaco. He was this morning early sent for by the King Lys. Tell your Ladie I would speake with her Iaco. My Lord I will Exit Lys. The Count Utrante is happie in this honest seruant Let me before I doe perswade Clarinda consider well Surely that houre in which I see her led to the Temple And there made fast with Hymeneall rights vnto another Will be my vtmost limit and death is terrible Not where there is so glorious a reward propos'd As is her happinesse shee shall be happie And in her happinesse consisteth mine Haue I not often sworne I lou'd her better Then my selfe and this is onely left to make it good Enter
haue turn'd The streame of her affection vpon you Du. Can this be true Sure feare makes him inuent this no sure He cannot bee a Coward Lysander Thou hast told me that if it be true Doth render thee a perfect man but not A perfect louer and trust me if there were A possibility that I could liue without Clarinda I should be friends with thee but since she Is the marke at which we both ayme the one must By the bloud of the other purchase that happines And therefore gard your selfe They fight Lys. My Lord the iniustice of your cause Not Fortune hath disarmed you and therfore yeeld Duke If feare of death could make me Forget Clarinda weare the Victors prize Then I perchance might yeeld but since it cannot Make vse of your aduantage Lys. I scorne to gaine a victory so poorely But to this man that sau'd my life Du. You are a noble enemy and haue so won Vpon me by my courtesie that could you Quit your interest in Clarinda I should with ioy Share fortunes with you Lys. We lose time for since we cannot both Enioy Clarinda both must not liue Lys. falls Du. Fortune I thank thee Now I am euen with you rise Lys. I owe you for my life we were but quit before I would our quarrell were of another nature Duke I would it were but as it is One of vs must lye colde vpon this grasse Before we part Fight Duke fals Lys. Ah poore Clarinda this is too sad a witnesse Of thy perfections would thou were here yet That I might take my last farewell Enter Cleonarda and Mariana Mar. O deare Madame what a sad obiect 's this Cleo. Bee not afraid See if the breath haue quite forsaken that body Lys. O my best loue Clarinda Receiue from my dying lips a dying kisse Cleo. How 's this Mari. Madame the breath hath quite forsaken this body as I thinke O my deare Brother Cleo. Is it Lysander then whom I haue long'd so much to see I saw him not since he came home from trauaile And much it grieues me that I see him thus This is the second time that I haue seene him Besmeard in bloud Mari. Deare Brother speake who hath hurt you Lys. Deare Sister What blest Angell hath brought you hither Cleo. This it no fit time for questions Mariana Let 's helpe him to the Lodge before his losse of bloud O'recome his spirits Lys. Faire and courteous Lady pardon me My sight did faile through my excessiue bleeding Which made me to mistake Mari. Brother it is the Princesse Lys. O Madame lead me no further then For you will curse your charity if you preserue me Cleo. Why Sir Lys. Because I haue by this vnlucky hand Robd you of such a Kinsman as our Soueraigne And your selfe were iustly proud of Cleo. Who is that Lys. The Duke who lyes there as you see Cleo. It cannot be Lys. Madame it is too true Cleo. Alas my Cozen Sir you haue an vnlucky hand indeed For you haue this day murdered two Iustice will at your hands require his blood Mar. O Madame say not so had you but eu'n now So great a care to saue his life and are you now So cruell to say that he must perish by the hand Of Iustice though he should scape these wounds Would not the Duke haue kild him if he could I le pawn my life vpon 't my Brother kild him fairly Cleo. What shall I doe if I helpe to preserue him That kild my Kinsman it is vnnaturall in me And I besides may lose my Brothers good opinion And should I be the cause that Mariana's brother perish I shall lose her for euer either shee 'l dye for griefe Or else shee 'l hate me I le doe as I did first intend My conscience tels me it is the nobler course Besides there is something I know not what it is Bids me preserue Lysander the great desire I had To see him bred from the generall commendations which The world bestowes vpon him imported somthing Mari. Deare Brother what was your quarrell Cleo. Come Sir be of good comfort neither your wounds Nor the cold hand of Iustice if it be Within my power to helpe it shall rob Your louing Sister of you shee is by me So well belou'd Mar. I want words to expresse how much I loue And honour you Lys. Madame I would not haue you goe about To preserue mee with your owne danger I meane the Kings displeasure besides I feare Your labour will be fruitlesse for if the Lodge Be not hard by sure I shall bleed to death Before we can come thither Cleo. It is but hard by Lys. Then I may liue to doe you seruice Rather let me perish before I trouble you Cleo. You are her Brother and cannot trouble me Wee 'l lay the body behind yon bush vntill we Send for it Exeunt Actus tertius Scoena prima Enter Cleonarda and Gerard Cleo. Can you not finde the Dukes body Say you Gerard Ger. No where Madame can I finde it And yet I haue sought it round about the place Where you appointed me I found the bloudy plot Where it had beene his horse I found to Tied fast to a tree Cleo. It is strange what can become of it Gerard Vpon your life keepe secret what you know And see that none come neere the Lodge I will send you all prouision necessary Pretending that Mariana is sicke Ger. Madame I feare she will be so indeed She doth so apprehend her Brothers danger Cleo. She hath no cause no wounds of his are mortall Or if they were I haue applyed such soueraigne remedies That they shall cure 'em but who shall be my Surgeon Loue I must flye to thee I feare for remedy I pray thee goe backe and see that all things be well And in the morning bring me word how she hath Slept to night Ger. Madame there shall bee nothing wanting That lyeth within my power Exit Cleo. How carefull am I Of his wounds me thinkes I would not Haue him dye for all the world fie Cleonarda Taken at the first sight with outward beauty Nor being assur'd first of the inward worth I wrong my selfe and him It was The inward brauery of his mind which all The Kingdome doth admire that turn'd my heart Which vntill now hath beene like adamant To Kings to melting Ice to him and not his Outward beauty that neuer could haue found A passage to my heart but that the way Was chalked out to it by his Fame but stay Whither doe my vaine imaginations carry me Though Lysander could in worth equall the Gods Yet it were not fit for me to loue him as a husband He is my Brothers Subiect shall he be my Master No To my old sports agen to morrow I will bee vp by breake of day And Reason as I chase the Stagge Shall chase these thoughts away Exit Enter King Bernardo Iacomo Attendants King When rode your Lord abroad Ber. Early this morning King How
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
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