noble natures a more pleasing taske To give rewards to Vertue then punishments To wicked folks I 'll in the first place shew How lovely justice looks when we are good And only sin makes her seem terrible Urania approach us Gentlem. Ah great King Vrania's place I doubt will nearer be The Bar then Throne King What mean'st thou Gent. See O see Those cheeks that lately beauty wore now pale With guilt Urania weeps King Her crime Gent. She'th lately had a childe King How know you this Gent. By a strange piece of chance For being sent in haste by my Lord Pyrrhus To bring herto you Majesty by chance I learnt of one o' th' servants of the Princess Near to what place he thought she was and when I made enquiry there at a small house I was acquinted at the woman told me She thought her I enquir'd for was i' th' house And asking of me many circumstances She told me surely it must be the same Only she did in private add she took her Not for a Virgin And as we thus discours'd Urania chanc'd to pass before the door A Virgin said I It may be she is married What hath she had a childe she told me Yes Though much in private but 't was very much Before her time and she affirms she 's married As did her mother who this morning left her At this I went in where I saw her enter And after some examinations she Confest she 'd had a childe but said withall She had a husband too and one who would Dare own her for his wife but would not tell me His name or dwelling and was very loath To move a foot with me but meerly by Constraint as ' t were King And is this truth Urania Lord. Speak to the King Urania It 's true King And who 's your Husband 2. Lord. Be not asham'd to name your Husband Madam 'T will be your shame if you name none Urania I 'm not Asham'd to name him but affraid King What is it Speak Vrania I dare not disobey and by my Lord I am authorized to name him when My Honour shall be question'd who 's more tender Of that then of his own Lord. Name him Urania It is The great Theander Queen The Prince King What are you marri'd Unto the Prince Theander Kneels Urania O pardon me great King That I refus'd not to be taken from A Cottage to the bosom of a Prince On such conditions as we dar'd to call The Gods to witness King Whether she be his wife Or only dare's affirm it though she were More to me then my hands or eyes she should Die ere I sleep The Prince in some few houres Will be in Town If what she says be false This news shall be his welcone But if true 'T is fit his coming be too late to save her Vran. Ah great Prince Pity the distress'd who hath No friend to plead her cause All I affirm Is truth Theander is my witness See Takes a letter out of her bosom That noble name This I receiv'd from him Not three days since King reads it and gives it the Queen King 'T is so But know Urania My Crown will prove too heavie for your off-spring Nor may I mingle blood with those small folks Who dwell in Cottages Heaven it seems Would not permit so foul a stain upon My Family but hath condemn'd to death What men in justice could not that poor infant VVhose only guilt was that it must be born No know Unania 't is enough you have been VVife to a Prince some months you 've liv'd enough In that small time Now 't will behove you to Prepare for death this day within three houres You are to loose your head ' cause 't is not fit To wear a Crown Marshal take her hence Let all things be prepar'd I 'll see her dead By two this afternoon Vran. Is there no mercy then Heaven help the friendless Such must never cry To men for help whose crime is poverty Exeunt Marshal and Vrania King My Lords had not this accident befallen me I 'd been too blest VVise Heaven doth see 't as fit In all our joys to give us some allays As in our sorrow comforts when our Sails Are fill'd with happiest winds then we most need Some heaviness to ballast us These are The ways of Heaven and we who are but earth Must all submit I am afflicted for The poor Vrania But the Gods have sure In death rewards for those who sometimes fall Nor for their crimes but through a kind of sad Necessity I 'm to proceed now to A far more willing task the sentencing Of those most wicked persons at the Bar. Neander I condemn to loose his head Tomorrow morning which I will have plac'd Over his Lodgings to shew those heads who dare Contrive their Princes harm do only meet VVith such advancement Geron I adjudge To die in Chayns that bunger may devour That little body malice yet hath left him A proper Lent for such a sinner And ' Cause what Phronesia did she did not know She ly'd but did not know the consequence Her I condemn only to banishment And thus I hope to expiate the thoughts I 've had of my chaste Queen and holy Priest Through those mens wickedness and teach the world That such who dare be traytors to their King Do on themselves the certain'st ruine bring Omnes Heaven bless the King and may our eyes still see Such Justice done on all that traytors be Exeunt Omnes Enter Cleantha and her Nource Cleantha Alas Vrania Now thou hast unriddl'd How thou couldst understand and yet accept not Endymions Love Poor Heart I pity thee Endymion now will be more banish'd when He hears Vraaia's dead Ah Urania VVould thou hadst a crime to die for that My just Endymion might less bewail thee VVhere can he now relieve himself If Vertue Be not security who can be safe Nource VVhy Madam here was now a marriage made According to your Highness principles Purely for Love without consideration Of Portion or equality or friends And here you see the end on 't Cleanth Silly woman Talk not so Idly Had they understood The force of Love who thus condemn'd Urania They ne'er had done it And shall we disesteem Religion ' cause folks often suffer for 't And think it is not true because 't hath Martyrs Wert thou not old thou mightst be brought to know There is a Gust in death when 't is for love That 's more then all that 's taste in all the world For the true measure of true love is death And what falls short of this was never love And therefore when those Tides do meet and strive And both swell high but love is highest still This is the truest satisfaction of The perfectst love For here it sees it self Indure the highest Test and then it feels The sum of delectation since it now Attains its perfect end and shews its object By one intense Act all
all but for the love of that poor Maid The Prince not ten months since took from a Cottage As he a hunting was and gave the fair Cleantha for a present Endym. Who Vrania Pyrrh Yes But stay I see him coming Enter King Let us retire It may be we shall hear Some of the thoughts that trouble him Endym. Husht King Ah! VVhere will this tyrant end Heav'n shall I still Be Priest and Sacrifice and Altar too Unto a passion I can satisfie But never conquer what poor things are Kings What poorer things are Nations to obey Him whom a petty Passion doth command Fate why was man made so ridiculous But I can quench my Flame And where my prayers Have not prevail'd my power can command Who in Arcadia dare resist my will But stay When this poor Maid sprung from a stock Low as the Cottage where she first saw light Shall call on Vertue and the Gods to keep Her body they too weakly have expos'd White as her soul which all the world cann't sully Shall I whom men call sacred and divine And look on as deriv'd from Ancestors VVho have not Tombs but Altars without shame And thousand blushes dare with ruder force To drive poor Vertue from her cleanest Temple And use that power the Gods have given me O'er others but t' offend them how I please By Heaven by Heaven I will not But I dy Oh I am mortal Men but flatter me Oh fate why were not Kings made more then Men Or why will people have us to be more Alas we govern others but our selves VVe cannot rule as our eyes that do see All other things but cannot see themselves I must submit I am a King but LOVE 'S a Deity I am resolv'd to trie Whether Urania will Love or die I 'll in and faithful Pyrrhus streight shall prove My fate Lords must be Pimps when Kings do love Exit King Pyrrhus and Endymion appeare again Pyrrh He 's gone Endym. But he first thought on your employment Pyrrh Truth I have had already but too much on 't Endym. Have you then been the Mercury between Him and the fair Urania Pyrrh Yes I have Already done what Language and Rewards Have power to do But she 's as deaf to this As blind to those She seemeth not to see Ought shine but Vertue Endym. But what can she say Poor Country Girl VVhere can she find words And resolution when you do assault her Pyrrh VVhy 'faith my Lord I 'll tell you VVhen I first Mention'd the business to her all alone Poor soul she blush'd as if already she Had done some harm by hearing of me speak VVhilst from her pretty eyes two Fountains run So true so native down her fairest Cheeks As if she thought her self oblig'd to cry ' Cause all the world was not so good as she Endym. aside Heaven how doth this carriage please me Pyrrh For my own part I know not what to say Her tears so innocently beg'd my pity That I was straight turn'd over to her side And had forgot the cause for which I strove 'Till rallying once again I once more gave A new assault and urg'd her to an answer All her reply was No then humbly pray'd me Not to be cruel to a poor weak maid VVho had not any thing in all the world To give her credit but her innocence VVith such success as this I often have Assail'd her vertue adding promises Of all things I could suppose might tempt her But all in vain This Ermyne will not be Perswaded from the whiteness she so loves Endym. And do you think the King will now use force Pyrrh You heard him what he said I cannot tell 'T is hard to say what men whom reason guides Intend to do much more whom passion rides But let 's away I would not have him know VVe were so neer the venting of his thoughts Endym. There comes my Lord Leander let 's away Exeunt severally Enter Neander Cleantha and Urania waiting on her Neand. How doth this hour transport my soul with Joy To have the blessed priviledge to be With fair Cleantha the best Princess Cleanth I 'm glad it makes some body happy Sir Neand. With her who hath my heart Cleanth Have it I Sir Pray my Lord then take it again for I would not be troubled with the keeping such a bauble for all the world Neand. She whom great Nature now grown wanton made To look upon and scorn her other works Cleanth My Lord I see you are resolv'd not to studie to no purpose You will have our your Complement let me say what I please But by the by I hope you will not be angry if I prove somewhat like my scornful Mother as you say and make you the first example of it Fare you well Neanth Nay Madam I beseech your Highness Cleand. Nay my Lord now I have put you out of your Complement I 'll tarry a little longer Neand. Madam You are cruel How do you kill Cleanth Kill Neander No sure for then you would be affraid to come neer me Neand. Great Princess You are cruel But I ne'er Could fear Death from so fair a hand as yours Cleanth Perchance you do your self the justice to think that such will not foul their fingers about you I beleeve indeed my Lord You fear Death least from the hands of a woman which is the reason you chuse to tarry here at Court among the Ladies rather then go to the War with the Prince Neand. Madam You Ladies have a Priviledge Cleanth Yes my Lord it 's sometimes a Priviledge to speak Truth Neand. 'Faith Madam You may say what you please Cleanth Pardon me my Lord it would please me much better if I could say you were in the war in Thessalia Neand. Why truly Madam I could give your Highness very good reasons why I went not to the war with the Prince Cleanth I believe you can my Lord and so can every body else that knows your Lordship It was because you were affraid Neand. Do not disgrace me so Madam I beseechy you It was for very different reasons Cleanth Truely my Lord You will give very much satisfaction to the world if you say what they are and very much undeceive them Neand. Why then Madam to tell you truly I am somewhat troubled with Corns so that I cannot without pain wear a riding Boot And then I am strangely subject to the Tooth-ake which makes me very unfit to lie in the Field Which indeed were the two main reasons made me to refuse the war Cleanth What pity it is so brave a minde should be thus unluckily hindred from shewing it self Neand. Madam I perceive you jeer me Cleanth What a quick apprehension you have my Lord And do not you perceive you merit it But the Queen will expect me and possibly Sir you are by this time somewhat satisfied with my company adieu Exeunt Cleanth and Urania Neand. Pox take her for me for all she is so great
a Lady But what an ass was I to be so out of countenance Well 'faith I even see I must go and be drunk to recover my self again for at the present by Jove I am damnably cow'd Exit Neand. Enter Endymion sol Endym. Alass my poor Urania how doth Thy harder fortune vindicate my choyce Who now dare say Endymion lov'd too low When he lov'd her that can make Princes die No more no more we must scorn Cottages These are the Rocks from whence our Jewels come Gold breeds in barren Hills the brightest Stars Shine ore the poorer Regions of the North. But say my dear why didst thou cast away Thy Beams to thaw that Ice which but makes clouds To sully thy own face Unwise Urania Let me a little chide thee now But Fool Can Urania chuse but to be fair Can she help it that she'th pretty eyes Or gather the soft Roses from her cheeks Is' t in her power to make her lips less coral Her Teeth less Pearls Or will her breasts obey her If she god bid them to be snow no more No poor Urania come we 'll both chide Nature 'T was she 't was she alone dealt hardly with thee When she made thee fairer then all others Or else 't was Fortune when she took thee from The fresh delights of thy still Hermitage There had'st thou liv'd and by some silver Brook Unenvied sang away thy softer hours And kill'd a thousand Shepherds with thy eyes There hadst thou gather'd Jewels from the Fields To deck thee with more beautious then thy Pearls And like a Queen hadst chang'd them every day There hadst thou never wept but for the fate Of some poor Lamb perchance which us'd to lay Her sleepy head upon thy lap No Kings Had threatned thee for being vertuous Nor Ladies envi'd thee for being fair Perfections then had been no sins but had Receiv'd the little Tributes which kinde nature Gives to those honest folks who dwell with her And had she been content she had been rich And folks thus rich can never be made poor But stay I hear some coming I 'll away And search her out may be she needs my help Exit Endym. Enter Queen and Phronesia Queen And is the old Knight so jealous Phronesia It may be you give him cause Phron. No other cause an 't please your Majesty but that I am with child Queen He knew not that you say untill this morning Phron. He knew not certain Madam till this morning But he hath more then doubted me these fourteen days Queen Why did he marry if he thought he could not get thee with child Phrones I cannot tell an 't please your Majesty Queen Why dost not ask him Phron. I have Queen And what saith he Phron. He told me Queen What did he tell thee Phron. An 't please your Majesty you cann't imagine his wicked intentions Queen What did he tell thee Phron. He told me he marryed only to keep me honest Queen But now it seems he is convinc'd 't is more then he can do Phrones Every man best knows his own abilities Queen Well Phronesia I must talk with you a little more But this place is not altogether so convenient for it Follow me Exeunt Queen and Phrones Enter Priest and Evadne Priest Well now Evadne my deat child thou art Come forth upon the Worlds great Stage and it Must be my care first to advise thee then To pray for thee And this is all that 's in My power to do The rest must be the Gods And thy part to perform Yet thou' rt innocent Oh mayst thou still be so my childe yet know'st not Ought but the holy practices of cells Where vertuous Matrons have instructed thee But now the Scene is chang'd the Queens commands Have brought thee to the Court to wait on her Th' imployment truely Noble and thou hast In her the brightest Pattern of true Vertue That all the world can boast of But thou'lt finde Few more besides whose wandering paths are safe Those of thy Sex thou 'lt find so strangely vain That they can think they 've curl'd and patch'd and wash'd Themselves even into little Deities They do believe that wanton men speak truth When to consume those hours they care not for They tell them that their eyes are more then Stars Their cheeks more rosie then the mornings face And coral learnt its redness from the lips And by degrees they do so strangely cheat Themselves poor souls into the fond belief That they not only are the fairest but The wisest too and will not be content With all the beauty without all the wit And now they are attain'd to that degree All must admire but none must merit them Until that Time too old to complement Takes from them all those little Ornaments Which wanton Nature had adorn'd them with And then they do awake the Dream is done The Market fall's and some distressed Knight Unenvi'd bears away what all had courted This is the common Fate of your poor Sex To pass by what is worse yet but too common When they get great opinions of themselves Therefore Evadne let me pray thee still Keep thy best Jewel thy humility For since thou ne'er wilt be more innocent Then now thou art thou ne'er wilt have more reason To think well of the self then thou hast now If thou wear'st better cloaths alas consider Each little little Flower that doth in Meadows grow Is better clad then thee yet is not proud Hence mayst thou shun that common vice of Courts Scorn and contempt of others which oft' have A nobler Vertue though a meaner fortune For know Evadne that this lower world In which we dwell is not distributed According to folks merits the Gods preserve That justice for those nobler Regions which Themselves inhabit Here the mighty are Like mighty Mountains high but seldom fertile The richest soyl is in low Valleys found Devotion oft-times weeps in humble cells Whilst under gilded roofs profaness sings This is this the world Evadne But to come To what I 've else to say Thy next temptation Will be to love for hardly 'twixt those Ills Of easie love and scorn do Maidens well Direct their course know thou wilt surely have Enough to court thee some cause 't is the mode Others because they 've nothing else to say And wiser folks because they think me rich But know Evadne that to marry is The greatest action of our lives and merits The greatest of our cares and therefore if Thou think'st me wiser then thy self commit This to my breast But above all I warn thee Against Neander Though thou see'st him rich In cloathes as if he would authorize vice Ye he 's a vain profane and idle person One that would make me hate the name of father Should he but call me so But who 's that yonder Evad. I think Sir his name is Geron. Priest It is so An impertiment old fellow that will trouble me Let 's away The
so too But let Cleantha's pleasure be to see Vertue affronting the Fools Deity Direct me my good Starrs and let me do Honour to him who so much honours you And if I needs so hard a Fate must prove As fall at last a Sacrifice to Love 'T will be my Glory when it shall be said Cleantha for the brave Endymion dy'd Exit Cleantha Finis Act. 2. ACTUS 3. Enter King He takes a turn or two and then to him Pyrrhus King GOod morrow to you my Lord. Pyrrh A good day to your Majesty A day as pleasant as your night hath been King Ah! I wish it indeed Pyrrh I hope your Majesty hath been well enough diverted this night King Yes my Lord though not as you suppose I 've been diverted from those wild desires That made me first unking my self and then Unlord my Confident But I 've ask'd pardon Of Heaven and my own Majesty and now I beg it too from thee my loyall Pyrrhus Forgive me that I have profan'd thy Faith By such Commands that thou art bound to ask Blest Heaven forgivenesse for thy Loyalty Pyrrh Your Majesty I hope will give me leave To wonder at this change and understand it When you shall please to think me fit to do so King Pyrrhus I 'le tell thee all VVhen now the night Grew black enough to hide a skulking action And Heaven had never an eye unshut to fee Her Representative on earth creep ' mongst Those poor defensless worms whom Nature ' th left An humble prey to every thing and no Asylum but the Dark I softly stole To yonder Grotto through the upper walks And there found my Urania But I found her I found her Pyrrhus not a Mistress but A Goddess rather which made me now to be No more her Lover but Idolater She onely whispered to me as she promis'd Yet never heard I any voice so loud And though her words were gentler far then those That holy Priests do speak to dying Saints Yet never Thunder signified so much And what did more impress what e'er she said Methought her whispers were my injur'd Queens Her manner just like hers And when she urg'd Among a thousand things the injury I did the faithfull'st Princess in the world Who now suppos'd me sick and was perchance Upon her knees offering up holy vowes For him who mockt both heaven and her and was Now breaking of that vow he made her when With sacrifice he call'd the Gods to witness When she urg'd this and wept and spake so like My poor deluded Queen Pyrrhus I trembl'd Almost perswaded that it was her Angel Spake through Urania's lips who for her sake Took care of me as something she much lov'd It would be long to tell thee all she said How oft she figh'd how bitterly she wept But the effect Urania still is chast And with her chaster lips hath promis'd to Invoke blest Heaven for my intended sin Pyrrh A happy night Indeed I ne'r took pleasure T o've serv'd your Majesty in this employment Untill this instant King But how dost think my Pyrrhus I shall reward Urania for this action Pyrrh Ten thousand wayes King No no I am unhappy I must undo the fair the chast Vrania Pyrrh And me with wonder too King Thou know'st she told me Endymion was her servant an high Fortune For one so mean and a rare one too VVho can love Vertue where he sees her poor And I shall be constrained to banish him To some remoter Isle unlesse he 'll be VVhich I much doubt content to marry her VVithin few dayes Pyr. This is all news King It is But Pyrrhus thou art worthy of my secrets And therefore know I 've lately learnt Cleantha Loves nothing but Endymion Though she have Thou know'n a Prince that courts her high in Birth And Fortune too one worthy our alliance Yet she slights all addresses and last night I was inform'd ' was onely for the sake Of this mean Lord which should the Prince but know He sure would scorn her for his Rivals sake The certainty I hope to know this day From our good Priest whom I 've employ'd to sound her And learn her resolutions whence I shall Discern Endymions fate Pyr. An 't please your Majesty But doth Endymion know Cleantha loves him King I 'm told he doth not All that can be gather'd Is but from some few words she was by chance O'er-heard to say unto her self too big For her own breasts confinement and too secret It seems for any others ear But heark what 's yonder Trumpets without Pyr. I doe believe Endymion is return'd King It 's likely Let us in and have his answer Ex. King Pyrrhus Enter Cleantha sol into the Garden She walks a while often fetching very deep sighs at last saith When every thing is green Must poor Cleantha onely wither and never Know a Spring Was I made onely high Like Rhodope and Haemus or the Alpes To dwell with everlasting winter to wear Snow When every valley Roses wears Cleantha Thou must die Then thou maist also be Happy as other folks The Grave looks wistly Like thy Fortune Then every bodies face Is pale as thine There there thou wilt not see Poor Villagers more blest in love then thee And there thou wilt be able make appear Cleantha and Endymion equall are Then possibly some of Cleantha's earth May prove a little flower and look fresher Then when it part of a great Princess was And shew the erring world Enter the Priest Heaven what shall I say To this good man now Pri. Good morrow to your Highness Heaven send you a good day Cleantha I shall not doubt it After so good a Prayer Good morrow Sir Priest Your Highness all alone 'T were too great boldness To aske what little pensiveness invited You to so much retirement whilst the day Is yet so young and you as young as it Clean. I cannot wonder Sir at what you ask When I consider in what vanities I usually have spent my mornings more Examining my Face then Self But late She sighs Repentance is a little commendable Pri. But yours Madam is not so Your morning yet Is younger then this dayes and you can still Pay First-fruits unto Vertue But fair Princess Pardon the freedom of your Priest we often Mistake our Melancholy for Repentance And think that sadness our souls health which is Indeed but the disease of our weak bodies Queen It 's likely Sir and likely that weak sort That I am of may thus oft be deluded But Heaven I hope hath pity for that weakness It made not stronger Priest Madam be pleas'd to know The onely reason why I urge this is The onely reason why I 've thus intruded Into your Highnesses Retirements now This is not Madam the first time I 've seen Your Highness walk alone and shun those places Which company did seem to make unhappy And often have I too observ'd you 've been Alone i' th' middle of a multitude
embrace Or is my destiny Grown paradoxicall and proves my Love To be true hatred Or doth Heaven revenge Other folk Pride and my Humility Oh Death Death Death thou art not half so cruel In thy destructions of the prosperous As in not killing wretches that would die She weeps 'T is thou canst make Cleantha happy and Preserve Endymion so 'T is onely thy Long night and thy dark bed that can give rest And sleep to sad Cleantha Enter Endymion Endym. Vrania Hath not done well to treat me thus Alas Could I divine the Kings command or durst I not obey him or refuse employment In which was Honour and Obedience too Unto my Prince and Service to my Countrey I took no leave of her but I have told her The reasons why my Love forbad it me Surely Urania's cruel She ought not sure To be thus angry and accuse me of Slighting a poor deluded Shepherdess When I have vow'd so oft to her my love Clean. Here comes my poor Endymion Endym. The Princess She is still gracious to me and I were Best to intreat her to perswade my now Provok'd Urania But she 's alone She steps aside a little Clean. Good morrow my Lord. Endym. Your pardon Madam if unthought of I Have rusht on your Retirement Cleanth Your presence Sir Will better it Pray what 's the news from Argos Endym. Madam the report was last night brought to Court Had nothing in 't of truth I found all quiet But onely for th' disturbance that we made Our selves by our arrival in the night Clean. I 'm glad my Lord your danger was no more Endym. You do oblige me Madam to undergo Much greater danger for your Highness then This could have prov'd Clean. My Lord you have already Purchas'd the name of my preserver with Your blood Endym. 'T was at too cheap a rate Clean. Indeed You ne'er can be in greater danger Endym. Madam The cause I fought for made the danger nothing They might have kill'd me but I could not die Clean. Your Nature 's to oblige my Lord. I shall Be happy when I find it in my power To let your Lordship know the great respect I have for that great Vertue which you own Endym. Madam 't hath been your Highness pleasure still To honour with too great respect the little Merits of your mean servant who 's advanc'd When numbred in the lowest rank of those That have been fortunate to do you service Clean. You adde still to my debts my Lord yet are No wise injurious since you make me rich In having such a noble Creditor But pray my Lord tell me as one concern'd Mach in your Fortunes who have so oblig'd me If it be fit for me to know and you Conceive that by my wishes or endeavours I any wise may stead you what 's the cause Your Lordship hath not worn of late that rest Upon your looks which heretofore appear'd A happy witness to the world you were A world unto your self still and with wise Content blest all your fortunes Endym. Ah! great Princess It is for you to wear that Rest who are Plac'd in that upper Region where there is No wind But for a little Bark i' th' midst Of a great Sea subject to every wave And all the winds she never must pretend To this blest state And for my troubles Midam Alas their objects will appear so small To your great Eye you 'd think I did affront you Should I dare say them to you Should the Lion in His midnight walks for prey hear some poor worms Complain for want of little drops of dew What pity could that generous creature have who never wanted small things for those poor Ambitions yet these are their concernments And but for want of these they pine and die There must be some proportion still to pity Between our selves and what we moan 't is hard For men to be ought sensible how Moats Press Flies to death Your Highness oft in jest Hath play'd away more then some poor men have Wrought all their life for Cleanth My Lord I cannot tell Whether possibly what is your trouble may Not be augmented by my knowing it Else shall I never think ought small that can So much affect you nor beneath my care To seek to remedy that gives you pain Endym. Great Princess you undo me with your Honours My blood turns all to blushes as a sham'd It had not all been shed for your sake when I had the honour to pour forth a little A sacrifice to your great merits Madam I must obey your Highnesses Command And thank you for it too since in your knowledge Of what afflicts me is my remedy Cleanth What will he tell me Heaven he knows I love him Aside Endym. Madam I long have lov'd Clean. Whom Sir Endym. The faire Urania who attends your Highness Clean. Forgive Aside Forgive me poor Endymion Endym. And have us'd A thousand arts to get her love and had Won her consent last night to be my wife Not doubting Madam but your Highness would Have favoured me in this adventure but My sudden being sent to Argos did Unhappily absolve this promise and I am accus'd by her for slighting of An innocent Shepherdess who was too forward In trusting me and in believing that I e'er would match to one of her mean fortune Clean. Indeed my Lord I never could have guess'd Your melancholy had so mean a cause I could not think you would so far dishonour Your Family and Name as to have courted So low a person Endym. Madam I well do know Urania was a Shepherdess and born In some low Cottage ' mongst those little folks Whom Honour seldome visits and are blest With nothing but their own content but she Like to a Star mistaken of his sphere Grew so conspucious ' mongst those dimmer lights That brave Theander had no sooner spy'd her But he became all wonder and would needs Dismiss all but my self to talk with her I do remember yet when first the Prince Ask'd her some little questions how poor soul She blusht and look'd upon her Lambs as if She 'd have them take her part Her answers were So innocent as if she 'd been begot By Prayer upon some Vestal This sweet carriage From this sweet person caus'd the Prince almost For one whole Summer ever when he hunted About those parts to spend his pleasant'st hours With this fair Shepherdess untill at last He had perswaded her for she was loath To leave what she well knew for what she knew not To leave her little flock and go with him At what time he esteem'd her fit to be A Pâ—esent for your Highness an Advancement Few Families can boast of since when I know not VVhether through your reflections on her Madam VVho was celestiall though obscure before She did become a Star or whether she Became a greater Imitator of Your Highnesses perfections then all others She hath so added unto Nature Art That she 's grown
chance to be seen by any in their passage thither This he asserted with much violence and at last after much discourse the Priest was perswaded by him to attend the Queen there in the habit of a woman instead of Neander whose enterance he had promised to hinder by shutting the door he was to pass at to get into the garden and thus when the Queen should begin to speak to him as her Lover he should then make know himself unto her and do his duty in justly blaming her for so unvertuous an action King Where ends this Lordreads on This the Priest did And he was not sooner entred into the grotto but he found the Queen there before him But the Queen seeming to expect his speaking first and he not allowing his lips to be provided on this subject told her plainly that she was mistaken of her Lover that he was her Priest and then producing a little light he had concealed in a dark Lanthorn he manifested himself and perfectly discerned the Queen although in a disguise The Queen thinking her self bound to give an account of her being there and yet very loath to speak the cause of it at last told him that as her Confessor she would reveal unto him that the King had of late somewhat an immoderate respect for a young lass named Urania belonging to the Princess and that having forced a promise from the poor maid she did by the Lord Endymions means easily perswade her self for the securing of the Kings honour to supply the place of the said Vrania they having agree'd to have no lights and to speak very low which she accordingly had done for some nights before and with such success that the King returned rather satisfied in his reason then his Love King All truth Lord reads on But having re-assumed his desires she had again this night a summons to the same taske from a woman of hers nam'd Phronesia which was the occasion of her being in that place But all this she did very passionately desire the Priest to be secret in in that it concerned so neerly the Kings honour King And what then Lord. On this we immediately sent for Geron who after many threats confess'd as followeth That the Lord Neander being crossed in his love to Evadne Daughter to the Priest by the Queen and Priest her Father was resolved on a revenge for them both and by removing them out of the way to accomplish his design of marrying Evadne To this end he promiseth to Geron great rewards for the contrivance of the business wo accidentally by his sculking up and down in every corner to watch his wife Phronesia of whom he is very jealous over-heard the agreement between Urania and Endymion concerning the Queens supplying her place in the Grotto On this foundation he founds the whole fabrick of his hellish plot For sending his wife Phronesia who having been horribly abused by him was willing notwithstanding to purchase his respect at any rate whatever unto the Queen as from Urania only with these words in her mouth That she humbly desired her Majesty to think of her royal promise at eleven of the clock that night and of the King as she had been pleased to do some few nights before the Queen he knew would on this resolve to be at that time in the Grotto After which he goes himself to the Priest and counts to him what is before repeated in the Priests confession And in the last place he had the impudence to come to your Majesty and tell you what your Majesty was pleased to inform us of And all this Neander and he were resolved to outface with oaths in case it should ever come to be examined for they supposed it probable that your Majesty would in fury have killed both the Queen and Priest on the place which was the reason for which Geron perswaded your Majesty to have Pistols or a Stilletto with you King Wicked Villains Lord. After this we sent for Neander who amaz'd at his condition confessed the whole business in the same manner As also Phronesia what Geron affirmed concerning her King Blest Heaven how are thy wayes just like thy orbs Involv'd within each other yet still we finde Thy judgments are like Comets that do blaze Affright but dye withall whilst that thy mercies Are like the Stars who oft-times are obscured But still remain the same behinde the clouds Pyrrh May all your doubts and fears thus terminate Lord. Thus are you shaken to be more confirm'd King Pyrrhus send for Urania she shall wear This day the just rewards of Vertue I Will visit my brave Queen who rather chose To die unjustly as a Criminal Then that her Lord should justly so be term'd For which I will proclaim my fault since she Will have the glory of concealing it Exit Pyrrhus Lord. Heaven bless your Majesty King My Lord. I 'd have the Councel with all speed remove Into the Hall where before all the Court I 'll bring my Queen in triumph there to hear Her base accusers sentenc'd Lord. It shall be done Exeunt King and Lord. Enter Evadne weeping Evad. Alas Evadne miserable Maid Why didst thou ever begg to leave thy cell Where thou didst never injure any one To see this place and here in some few weeks To do more mischief then whole Generations Can parallel Unfortunate Evadne It had been better thou hadst ever dwelt In those retirements where small sins seem great And great Devotions small where folks make conscience To taste of any thing that ever bled Then to be found there where the blood of Queens And Priests are sacrifices to the Malice Of wicked Men. It this to be at Court Ah poor poor Girl How hath thy Ignorance Deluded thee And 't was but just that she Who did begin to disobey her father Until he gave her new commands should be Punish'd by that which tempted her It is Enough she 's innocent although she prove Unfortunate Whatever Neander did Heaven knows I never knew Yet I much doubt I 'm somewhat guilty ' cause 't was for my sake Exit Evadne Enter the Lords of the Councel and seat themselves Enter a guard of Souldier with Neander Geron and Phronesia who are placed at the Bar as Prisoners to receive sentence Enter Musick then the King leading his Queen crown'd and in royal apparel after them the Priest They place themselves on high in the middle of the Councel and the Priest somewhat lower next the King Then this Song is sung Thus from the Prison to the Throne Vertue comes to claime her own And now appears Upon that Throne a Star Who lately at the Bar Stood only Jewel'd with her Tears 1. Great Queen 2. Great Queen Chorus Whoever was so well content To suffer and be innocent To suffer and be innocent Exit Musick Enter Gentleman leading Urania King The fair Vrania Madam I must this day Turns to the Queen Do honour to this Virgin And since it 's To
But say Endymion say She should look sad or sigh when thou depart'st How dost thou think at the same time to quell Two insurrections that at Argos and This sadder one in thy own breast My Dear I must not see thee I must onely make Some little paper happier then my self And write thee why Endymion is unblest Exit Endym. Enter King and Pyrrhus King Well Pyrrhus now our business is done This night Urania after all her pretty blushes and loathness to say Yes is mine Pyr. She is an 't please your Majesty and I am very glad of it knowing your Majesty's passion for the truth is I did very much doubt so much innocence would never have been overcome King She was loath indeed But Pyrrhus prithee see Endymion loyter not She was very passionate in that particular and all her promise is void if he be in towne by six of the clock this Even and it is neere so much already I think Pyr. I shall hasten him if he be not already gone King And then you must see yond Grotto prepared Pyr. It shall be fitted for the Scene of Love King The all I have to do is to make some fair pretence to the Queen for my absence this night Look where she comes Enter Queen alone Pyrrh I shall make haste to wait on your commands Ex. Pyrrh King How doth my Queen what all alone Queen Not now When I have found my Lord who is to me All company King Ah! thou hast found him none Thou 'st found him now disorder'd I 'm not well Qu. Alas I doubt you 've taken cold King I have But hope that this nights rest will make me well Qu. Sure Sir you don't do well to tarry here King I do not Madam I 'll retire Good night Kisseth her Qu. Nay give me leave Sir to attend you King No I will not draw you from the entertainment This pleasant evening will afford you here Qu. Alas my Prince you injure now your Queen To think that evening which gives Pain to you Can give her Pleasure King My dear I am not sick I onely am a little indispos'd I 'll beg thy pardon to retire this night But pray sup you and take no farther care Till at your own appartment I wait on you To morrow morning Queen Your will is still my Law King Once more goodnight Ex. King Queen sol Poore Prince poore Prince How little dost thou think How soon we two shall meet again and she Thou so much fly'st shall prove the very thing For which thou fly'st her How ridiculous Just Heaven doth make the wayes of men when they Forsake the wayes of Vertue This brave Prince At whose victorious Armies Greece now trembles When he contrives inglorious actions shall At the same time be pitied by his servants And a poor Girle shall upbraid him in Contriving to preserve him vertuous How do men ravel back to childhood when They cease to be thy Children sacred Vertue And need the care of every little person That what they call for may not do them harm Poor Prince I pity thee And oh that Heaven Shee kneeles May do so too And though the setting Sun Bode nought but darkness to the world yet may Some charitable Star vouchsafe one beam To his benighted breast lest wicked men Upbraid your wisdome that give Crowns and Scepters To those poor spirits who can softly creep At cowardly midnight to their beds of sin She riseth How happy should I be this tedious night In yonder Grotto to expect in vain And by my penance there to expiate Th' intended crime of my repenting Prince But I must haste Blest Heaven have pity on The folly of my poor deluded Lord. Exit Queen Enter Cleantha She takes two or three turns in the Garden and then breaks into these words Unfortunate Cleantha She walks a turn or two more Too fortunate In that which Fools call Happinesse She walks a little Fate Fate VVhy dost thou thus abuse the world to make Some high some low yet every one alike Unhappy whate'er our stations be VVe meet in this sad Center Misery Yet lest by knowing this we should rebel And every Generous soul turn Destiny Unto it self scorning thy tyranny And rather chusing not to be at all Then be thy sport thou hast contriv'd things so That every person thinks others more happy And that no breast knowes Misery like theirs But those whom thou dost destine to such Plagues As would break forth through private windows thou Dost place in mighty Palaces and with External splendour hid'st their inward Griefs From common eyes and mak'st them silly souls Admire what did they understand they 'd pity How many that behold Cleantha walk Attended by the proudest sparks of Greece And richer clad then Tulips in the Spring Do think her every minute happier far Then Cowards condemn'd are when their pardon 's read And every Lady in Arcadia But wretched when compar'd to her bright Fortune VVhilst poor Cleantha at that very minute Envies some Village-Maid that Russet weares The Livery of those sheep she doth attend But freely favours the poor Swain she loves And sleeps at night Cleantha's oft admir'd And her great titles reckon'd up whilest she Doth in her closet weep she is not less Heaven Heaven where was thy Mercy then VVhen thou mad'st Life so great a pain and Death A Sin Didst thou create great souls but to Affront them with thy greater power But stay Prophane Cleantha stay and be not more Unfortunate by being wicked too Endymion is all vertue and he would Hate a prophane Cleantha Poor Endymion How little dar'st thou think my thoughts or I Dare say them to thee Ah wretched wretched Princess VVhom Fate hath made greater then Happiness VVhat can I hope for should Endymion speak I then should hate him for his confidence A Crime of which he never can be guilty VVhen once he bled for me and conquer'd too And I on purpose chid my woman that She was unhandy onely ' cause my hand Ambitious was to wipe his wounds and give Him Balsam for the better Balsam of His blood poor Lord me thought he seem'd to wish The earth had been created lower that He might have lower bow'd to give me thanks And was so far from daring to presume That he did seem to make the distance more Betwixt himself and me by placing me Yet higher for my so great charity Nay should he speak in speaking he would forfeit The very thing I love him for that rest He findes in th' Elysium of his thoughts And those true satisfactions which he takes In being all the world unto himself But since my Love is vertuous as its Object VVhy should I stick to tell it all the world Nay why should I not rather glory in it To blush to say I love Endymion were To be asham'd to love Religion ' cause Her Priests are poor If Fortune ' th set him low Fools that are blind like her may do