sorrows Tears away Shee 's Courted by a Monarch whose Renown Does make him greater much then does his Crown To Conquer All he has resistless Pow'rs His Sword subdues His Sex his Vertues Ours Sev. Then let his Virtue which you so much Prize Suppress your Jealousie and dry your Eyes Virtue so Firm as nothing can Remove Aliz. Virtue is nothing but a Name in Love What cannot Love when he is Victor do Which makes me think their Change their Virtue too Sev. With equal Flames the King your Flames did meet And daily breath'd his Passion at your feet Myrtles when giv'n by You were Dearer held Than all those Lawrells Vanquish'd France did yield He went with Grief that Empire to subdue Hating what ever sever'd him from You. Aliz. I see his Change in spight of all his Art He suffers not but plays the Lovers part Sev. Let not such Thoughts be entertain'd by you He Courts you now more then he us'd to do Aliz. This does the Truth of what I said detect His Passion now is chang'd into Respect And Love which once was High and is decay'd Like the Sun setting casts the greater shade From all his secret Vows he does depart 'T is False Love onely needs the help of Art Sev. Such Doubts his Constancy may Over-throw Who Thinks him False provokes him to Be so Did you to him your cause of Grief unfold Aliz 'T would not deserve that Name could it be told She meanly Loves who slighted can admit Ought but her Love alone can tell her it Sev. No wonder Grief thus in your Breast does Reign When you from your Physician hide your Pain Let Him but hear from whence your Sorrow grows Aliz. 'T is Love and vain to tell him what he knows Sev. Then I will tell it him and he will fly Faster to You than to a Victory And quickly learn to clear his Fancy'd Fault Aliz. A Perfect Lover needs not to be taught And if he were with Lovers tâ—…ue Passion Fir'd He would not need to Learn hee 'd be Inspir'd Sev. At my request ease your distemper'd Mind And on my life you suddenly shall find To think him faulty is to think Amiss Aliz. He is too Guilty since I think he is Exeunt several wayes Enter Cleorin and Delaware Cleo. I hop'd your absence now three years compleat Had cur'd your Passion for Plantagenet And you would Fame to hopeless Love prefer Dela I courted Fame but more to merit Her Since I durst Love not having Fame atchiev'd Since I Ador'd her while her Husband liv'd Now that the Noble Kent three years is dead Now that with Lawrel War has Crown'd my Head How can you be dear Sister so unwise To think that Love can fall while Hope does rise Cleo. You know Dear Brother onely for your sake That I three years incessant care did take To make my self your Conquerours Confident But though I have accomplish'd my Intent Yet all I Gain'd by it is to believe She never your Addresses will Receive For since she lost her Lord the Noble Kent She thinks all time not paid to Grief mispent Dela In what you say much cause of Hope I find Since Grief tâ—… unwelcom'st Passion of the Mind She does admit within her to Reside Love the most welcome cannot be Deny'd Cleo. Do not your Hopes with such wild Fancies feed Her 's is a Grief which does from Love proceed You by your Passion strangely are mis-led Dela Is it then possible to Love the Dead We but to those Alive can Love express For when the Cause does die the Effect must cease Cleo. Your own strange Fate opposes what you said Your Love does Live and yet your hope is Dead Dela Since Love has over her Triumphant been My Flame is such to doubt Success were Sin Cleo. Nothing from Sorrow can her Soul remove And Grief is still an Enemy to Love But were her Grief subdu'd yet I must say A greater hind'rance does obstruct your way In the King's Heart a growing Flame does rise Which he discovers by his Sighs and Eyes He is the greatest Monarch of the Earth And greater by his Actions then his Birth Dela Had I her heart his Titles would not sway In Loves just ballance onely Love does weigh Cleo. The Nature of our Sex I 'le not disguise Our Servants Loves less than their Pow'rs we prise For but in Name alone their Hearts are ours But we effectually do share their Pow'rs Dela Yet Love would tell her 't is a greater thing To Conquer then it is to be a King Cleo. There 's something else which makes my Care more great Then all which I to you have mention'd yet You know the Prince of Wales did once appear Your Conquerours Lover and was lov'd by her And he to wed her gain'd the Kings Consent But unexpectedly she married Kent I often prest the Cause she would reveal Yet she the secret does from me conceal But though she on the Prince does lay the Blame Yet she will weep when she but hears his Name A thousand other Proofs do make me doubt That Fire is onely cover'd not put out Dela Ah Cleorin there 's none but I alive Of that Strange Marriage an account 〈◊〉 give You know when to the Wars of France I went I made a Friendship with the Earl of Kent Which in short time did grow so strong and high As when he found he of his Wounds should die He to strict silence first did me Engage Then told me how he gain'd his Marriage Which is so strange a story I dare swear She never can love him nor he love her Cleo. I will not beg you then to tell me why Since you have ty'd your self to secresie Brother I now must leave you for you know Our King does on King Iohn a Masque bestow To which he did Plantagenet invite And thither I must wait on her to night Dela Ah since you must be gone yet e're you go Let me at least what I may hope for know Cleo. The highest joy to which you can pretend Is that your Mistress you may make your Friend Dela If She does Friendship and not Love bestow At once she 'll make me blest and wretched too Cleo. She 'll meet your Friendship but your Love she 'll shun Despair must do what Reason should have done Dela This is a cruelty she should abhorre She should not do so much or should do more Exeunt several wayes Enter the King Alizia and Sevina Alizia 's Chamber King While your Suspition to such height does rise You wrong at once my Passion and your Eyes Ah Madam be no longer so unkind Since you to think me False must think me Blind How can you doubt of any change in me When such fair Eyes are your Security Aliz. Ah do not Sir condemn what I have done To doubt your Love does more declare my own 'T is Love not Jealousie which I detect Then for the causes sake excuse th' effect King Madam
still a Conquest most prefer Plan. They Tyrants are who to usurp delight King Who has most Bâ—…y has 〈◊〉 Love most right Plan. You wrong your Mistris while my Love you seek And I my Friend in hearing what you speak King To Love another after you are seen A greater wrong Madam in me had been I fully know the great debt which is due To your fair Eyes and to your Vâ—…tues too And it had been below them to have gain'd A Heart in which no Beauty e're has reign'd But mine before had yielded to the Pow'rs Of conquering Charmes which none excel but yours What greater merit can my Passion shew Then thus to leave Alizia to love you This of its vastness is a proof sublime Plan. Ah what you call your Merit is your Crime Since perfect Love in Justice must excel Falshood and her together cannot dwell King That perfect Love is just I grant is true And I prove mine is Just in Loving you Your Eyes which act the Change you so abhor Are my security I 'le change no more Since to the highest Beauty I pretend Blame not if by Degrees I reach that end And as my Love that blessing does pursue So now I find it onely shines in you Enter Alizia and Sevina Aliz. This Duty daily must be paid by me And though 't is late She starts back amaz'd seeing the King Oh Heaven what is 't I see Ah! would these Eyes rather than see this Sight Had been clos'd up by an eternal night King What is it Madam which you thus bâ—…oan Aliz. Can you ask that since you two are alone And at an hour so Guilty as it showes The Falseness of her Friendship and your Vows To me this Sight so vast a Grief does give As makes me wish rather to Die than Live King And Madam 't is some cause of Grief in me To find in you so strange a Jealousie Aliz. If you who do the Wrong Sir can admit Of Grief What then must I that Suffer it But Sir your cause of Grief shall be remov'd My Death shall shew you soon how well I lov'd To Plan. Go treacherous Woman False as thou art Fair Those Hopes you rais'd on your wrong'd Friends Despair Shall soon be blasted for my injur'd Ghost Shall still pursue you for those Joyes I lost Where e're you go revenge it shall invoke And shew you still that Heart your Falshood broke You still shall see it or shall hear it groan And it shall haunt you in his Bed and Throne She offers to go out Plan. Oh go not yet away Sev. At â—…east be pleas'd to hear what she can say Aliz. Whatever she can tell I do dispise I 'le not believe her Words above mine Eyes And I have seen so much as I â—…ow fly To seek out Death my onely Remedy Exeunt Alizia and Sevina Plan. So well her height'ned Spirit Sir I know As what she Threatens she too soon will do If by your instant Kindness or my Care We do not stop th' Effects of her Dispair Forgive me if I leave you to attend The Debts I owe to a Dispairing Friend The King stays her King Oh leave not your Adorer to pursue One who does hate you and usurp'd your due If to receive my Passion you decline Even her Dispair will be less great then mine Plan. Detaâ—…n me not She 'll die through our delay King And I shal die should you thus go away Plan. She needs my help King But does not it implore Plan. Her Case deserves it King Mine deserves it more Plan. Her Grief does wound me King So my Love should do Plan. Your Love 's her debt King 'T is onely due to you A great skreik within Plan. That Fatal Skreik must cut off our debate For my best speed I fear will come too late She breaks from the King and goes out hastily King She 's gone and left me in a deeper Grief Then her's to whom she flies to give Relief She does her Hatred to my Love prefer To me she 's Cruel but she 's Kind to her 'T is Fortune onely or resistless Fate Which governs all the World in Love and Hate The King stands musing a while Valeria's Brother thinking him gone comes from behind the Bed The King lifts up his eyes sees him and starts back Valeria's Brother runs into the Bed again King A Man and here and at this time of night How quickly did He vanish from my sight Does she a Visitant like this admit Though my bad Angel 't were I 'le speak to it The King draws his Sword and goes towards the Bed Who art thou and what is it brought thee here The King plucks Valeria's Brother out of the Bed who trembles but answers not His Tongue is ty'd by Guiltiness or Fear Prepare for Death or else resolve my Doubt He 's silent still what Ho who waiâ—…s without Enter two Courtiers running Since my Commands thy silence cannot break I 'le find ouâ—… Tortures which shall make thee speak Seize on this Mute and with him follow me They seize on Valeria's Brother Why should the Thrones of Kings so envy'd be When such strange Griefs assault me in one hour As make my Sorrows greater than my Pow'r Exeunt The End of the Fourth Act. THE FIFTH ACT. Enter King Edward and Lord Latymer King I Have in short told you my cause of Grief Which is as Just as 't is above Relief Ah! to forsake one in whose heart I Reign'd To Court another who my Flames disdain'd And such a Lovely Youth thus hid by her Are loads too heavy for my Soul to bear Lat. Though Sir the Fair Plantagenet may be Too justly blam'd for one Inconstancy Yet in all else her Vertue such hath been As to suspect it Sir would turn a Sin King Oh she who could for Kent my Son forgo What is it after which she might not do She must have given that Love for which she prest Were not her Heart by other Fires possest I 'le not defame her since she bears my name But she for ever has supprest my Flame Enter Sevina hastily Sev. If with your Love Sir for Alizia You have not thrown your Pity too away Be pleas'd to see where She Despairing lies And with your Hand vouchsafe to close her Eyes King Madam what is 't which her Dispair does move Sev. Oh ask not that when she has lost your Love She did a while that Misery suspect But when the certainty she did detect She had but that our strength was her Relief By one dire blow ended her Life and Grief When from her Hand the Weapon we did wrest Suâ—…h storms of Sighs did crow'd out of her Brest And from her Eyes such streams of Tears did flow As we repented that we stop'd the blow For sure the loss of Life is a less Ill Then that Despair which does possess her still But though we did one sort of Death prevent Yet she on dying Sir is so intent
so much Flame express As sure you could not but his Passion see Cleo. That 's not enough he should have told it me But what soe'r his Proofs of Love have been By me Dear Friend alas they were not seen For I so fear'd that I might act amiss In my own Love that I ne're minded his Blushes a Womans Passion may reveal But Men their Passion by their Words should tell Her Could he your Love more Generously seek Then to Deserve it and yet Nothing Speak Cleo. Rather what more could he have done amiss Then Lose my Love by so Concealing his A Love that is at once both Great and Strong While it doth Bind the Heart Sets Free the Tongue And lest that mine should make me Faulty prove I to my Honour Sacrific'd my Love So I did fear his Merit was so Great That asking Nothing he might All Things get Her How cruell is your Vertue or your Fate Which makes your Love produce th' Effects of Hate Cleo. Aretus yet more Cruelty does show That durst Love me yet durst not tell me so Her You doe him Double Wrong since his Respect You first Mistake then Punish as Neglect Such awfull Flames you in his Heart have bred As he thinks Silence ought his Love to plead He but defers to Speak what he does feel Till by his Actions you his Love may tell And to declare his Passion does delay Only to show it you the Noblest Way Cleo. Fatall Delay the Fatal'st that could be It loses me to him and him to me Yet such a High Respect to him I pay That on My Self I 'l Punish his Delay And since my Promise is to Tryphon made To Breake it Love it self shall not perswade That which for me your Friendship made me doe My Honour makes me now Perform for you Your Rivall I will never be again Her I for Aretus did a Love but feign That in your Blushes Madam I might see What by your Modesty was hid from me Yet had I lov'd I 'd not that Love pursue Since you best merit him as he does you But how can you so lust to Honour prove And yet resolve to be Unjust to Love Ah you much more then he have done amiss You prize your Word more then your Flame and his And by a Sacred Bond your self you Tye To him you hate and him you love you Fly Cleo I owe him less then I doe owe my Flame And fly not from his Love but from my Shame She to her Honour too Unjust does prove Who dares not value it above her Love Press me not then to Do what I should Shun Rather then be Unjust I 'l be Undone Those who are lost while Virtue they pursue In their Destruction find their Comfort too They goe out Enter Demetrius and Seleucus The SCENE Demetrius's Apartment Sel. Those were the Words which between us did pass Bul I perceive some Sadness in your Face Dem. My Heart and Face doe then but ill agree Since nothing could more welcome seem to me Sel. I cannot guess from whence your Joy should rise Since Tryphon told me 't was by your Advice That he did offer her to be his Queen And which is more that you employ'd had been To Court her to be Consort to his Throne Dem. All this and more then this I freely owne For I not only woo'd her to be Queen But her Consent to be it I did winn But why at this Seleucus do you start Sel. Alas what you have said has pierc'd my Heart Yet from my Friend I 'l not my self disguise The Charming Light of Cleopatra's Eyes Over my Soule the Victory did win But to herself this has a Secret been For my Demetrius I did judg it fit Not Words but Service should discover it That High Respect I did resolve was due To such a Beauty and such a Passion too Methinks at this which I have spoke you start I think her Beauties too have pierc'd your Heart Dem. How can you think for Tryphon I 'd appear If I my self had been in Love with her Sel. But why should you such Satisfaction show That he declines what you advis'd him to Ah sure your Liberty she did surprise Since first to Court her you did him advise I see what Beauty has made Tryphon doe What it has wrought in him it may in you And what I said such Change in you did move As I have Cause t'impute it to your Love Dem. If any Change does in my Looks appear 'T is not I vow that Im in Love with her Sel. Give me then leave there my Address to make Dem. That 's what I cannot Give but you may Take Sel. Neither for Tryphon nor your self to woo And yet deny me leave to court her too I cannot guess what 't is that you intend Dem. I were unfit to be Seleucus Friend Should I act otherwise â—…en now I doe For he who to one Friend does prove untrue That he may gaine another Friend's Esteem Deserves too justly to lose both of them Though I am yours above what I can say Yet I must be it too in Honours way In Friendship every other Tenure's ill By that mine has been held and shall be still Sel. Fate ore my hopes another Cloud does send I 'm Rival'd and by one that is your Friend But may you not acquaint me with his Name Who is my Fellow Martyr in this Flame Dem. No I 'l be just to both he shall not know You Rivall him or that he Rivals you Yet both thus farr shall be oblieg'd to me From Tryphon's Rivallship I 'l set you free But did he not acquaint you with her Name Who in his Heart has lighted such a Flame Sel. So vast a Cause of Joy to me it prov'd That he no longer Cleopatra lov'd As I did not remember to inquire Who this new Passion did in him inspire Dem. By what he said could you not gues at it Sel. Ah! he who Cleopatra's Love could quit The Pow'r of Love forever must forswear For could he Love who should he love but her Sure this new Love is but a Love of State But he for our return too much may waite Dem. I long to know to whom he does Submit As much as he that I 'l consent to it Exeunt Enter Nicanor Stratonice Aretus and Irene The SCENE Nicanor's Pallace Ire Sir that Demetrius may your Pardon winn That he made Tryphon court her for his Queen He bad me tell you every way hee 'l try To make that Love which he gave Life to Dy And hopes himself this night to let you know He has perform'd what he has promis'd you Nic. I at this Promise so much Joy admit As nought can Heighten but his doing it Stra. What e'r Demetrius hopes yet Sir I fear Tryphon will not decline his Love for her Nic. Demetrius Pow'r with him you know is Great Stra. The Pow'r of Beauty Sir is Greater yet And though th' Usurper were more fierce and
so much Cruelty Is 't not enough my Flame is scorn'd by you But you would make me help my Rival too And my Resentments higher to Inflame These Wrongs you do me under Friendships name Madam if this if this your Friendship be Ah give me Proofs then of your Cruelty Either bestow on me your Love or Hate This Tyranny surpasses that of Fate Fate onely made me Wretched but 't is you Alas would have me make my self so too To Love you is a Confidence so high As I for it do not refuse to Die But do not let your Doom be so severe As thus to make me my own Murtherer From those Fair Eyes which did my Love create I beg I may alone receive my Fate Plan. Oh why should you be griev'd to this Degree Love which does govern you does govern me 'T is Love gives Laws to us not we to it And to his boundless Pow'r we must submit Since by its Influence of my Love you miss I give you that which of next Value is And hope by Friendships Kindness to remove Your Grief for wanting Pow'r to give you Love Dela Ah Madam How can you that Friendship prize Which could destroy the Conquest of your Eyes And would against its nature make it prove A Rivals help and Mutherer of Love 'T is past the Pow'r of Friendship to bestow Such Joyes as those 't would ravish from me now Yet think not strange that I deny to you What I deny'd my Prince and General too For your Triumphant Eyes since his return Have made his Fire once quench'd more freely Burn This Fatal Secret he to me confess'd And unobey'd made me the like request But yet your Cruelty does his Surpass He did not know that I his Rival was But you who knew it strive to make me do What known to him Love had not forc'd him to Fortune both ways my Torments does advance By Friendships Knowledge and its Ignorance Plan. Ah! that Blest Secret which I learn from you Makes me with Greater Hopes my suit renew For 't were below your Vertue to undo At once my Lord a Friend and Mistress too Sure to that man Loves Pow'r was never known Who valu'd others Joyes above his own Consider since I lov'd him while I thought That his Inconstancy did cause his Fault If any other Love my Breast can fill When from your self I find he loves me still Since 't is my Fate onely the Prince to Love Since therefore all your Hopes must fruitless prove Assist your Prince and Mistress in distress And help that Love which nothing can suppress Quenching by such a Gen'rous Act you Flame From your Misfortune you 'll increase your Fame Retire my Lord and think on what I said I know when Love does once the Heart invade So Pow'rfull is that Passions Influence As 't is not easily remov'd from thence But when alone you weigh what 's ask'd by me Reason and Honour must Victorious be Dela Oh Madam though the Trouble be not light Of being thus commanded from your Sight Yet that torments me in a less Degree Then those Desires which here you lay on me Yet e're I go this Sacred Voyce receive I to Obey you Madam will so Strive As If I can my Flame I will suppress And on my Ruine raise my Happiness But if I quench not Fires which you create Accept the Duty and deplore the Fate Exit Delaware Plan. Go my dear Cleorin and lose no time Improve th ' Impression I have made on hâ—…m For that Blest Secret he reveald to me Shews that on him depends my Destiny Exeunt several wayes Enter Guesclin hastily who meets Delaware Guesc. My Lord I have been seeking you with News Which will at once Horror and Grief infuse My King and your Great Prince are both confin'd Dela From what Black Coast blows this Tempestuous Wind Guesc. By the Lord Latymer I understand They are imprison'd by your Kings command Dela The cause of it did he not let you know Guesc. 'T is what he could not or else would not do Let us by sev'ral ways imploy our care First to discover why they Prisoners are That known we may more hopefully apply To this Misfortune a quick Remedy Dela Let 's hasten to this Work for 't were a Crime In serving them to lose one moments time Exeunt several wayes The SCENE is Plantagenets Bed-Chamber Plantagenet and Valeria's Brother sitting and in Discourse Val. Bro. Th' Assurance Madam which to me you give With Joyes above expression I receive 'T is you alone those Blessings can extend Which both my Merit and my Hopes transcend Plan. You in such moving words your Love have shown As I m Justice could not less have done Some Time and Industry it will require Fairly to reach that End which we desire But leave it to my care if you think fit Val. Bro. She who must make my Fate should govern it While 't is in such fair hands it is secure Enter a Laâ—… hastily Lady Madam the King is almost at the door They both rise up hastily Plan. The King Oh strange Misfortune and so near Val. Bro. What would he think if he should see me here 'T will ruin all which we design'd to do Lady The King does come the way which he should go Exit Lady hastily Plan. By what dire Planet is he hither led I hear him hide your self within my Bed A noise within Valeria's Brother hides himself in Plantagenet's Bed She goes to meet the King Enter the King King Since I enjoy'd at last this long'd for time I hope you will not think it is a Crime Madam If I employ it now to say An Adoration to your Eyes I pay An Adoration Words would ill express For could I tell its Greatness 't would be less So high a Passion ne're was paid before And yet I blush Madam that 't is no more Plan. Do you consider Sir what now you say Such Vows you should but to Alizia pay Sir you mistake to her alone they 'r meant King Ah say not I mistake when I repent You may believe what I now say is true Since of most Love I speak and speak to you To you who have given mine such perfect strength As 't is uncapable of more but length That Falshood might Truths piercing sight escape It slowly moves and in a borrow'd shape But â—…uth which onely fears to be unknown Moves speedily and no disguise puts on Plan. 'T is strange this Love should grow so great so soon King The Dawning of it was a perfect Noon For what such Eyes Madam as yours create Must â—…each Perfection in their first Estate Yet since I did Alizia first Adore I grant I merit this neglect and more But you the name of Tyranuous will win Revenging a Misfortune as a Sin This usage too will an Injustice be You Wrong your Eyes while thus you Punish me Plan. Were there nought else ' I de not be false to her King Beauty should
him I owe For hee 's my Tyrant and my Rivall too Yet with the last I merit to be curs'd Since I to kill him needed but the first Dem. In killing him your Country you 'le expose Are. Not killing him I Cleopatra loose And he unworthy of her will appeare Who above all things does not value her Dem. This Truth with greater lustre may be seen If you would not oppose her being Queen Are. I le not oppose by taking Tryphons life Her being Queen but being a Tyrants wife Dem. Since she would have him as her Choice or Fate Shee 'l take suâ—… proofs of Love as proofs of Hate Are. Her Virtue which has still appear'd so High Sâ—…ews 't is a â—…arriage of Necessity Which hath engag'd me by one generous blow To fâ—… my Mistress and my Countrey too Farewell I le goe and act what I intend And If I â—…ll say you have lost a Freind Embracing him Dem. â—…eel'e perish in th' attempt Aretus stay And is thâ—… 〈◊〉 your câ—…e no other way Are. In 〈◊〉 question you mispend your breath In 〈◊〉 Love what Cure is there but Death Dem. You'â—…e meet your owne attempting his I fear Are. T is twice a Death to be depriv'd of her Farewell wast this for which you call'd me backe Dem. Stay Friend for I 'me contriving for your sake That which may â—…ach your End a safer way Suspend â—…h ' Attempt the remnant of this day Since in your Love you are engag'd so farr To serve you in it ' I le imploy my care You know the Pow'r which I with Tryphon have Are. This is but spoke th' Usurpers Life to save Dem. How 's this your self as me you now offend Can you suspect me and yet call me Freind Are. What I have said in such a Storm of Fate Deseâ—…ves your pitty rather then your Hate Doe not the Pardon which I beg deny T was my Distraction wrong'd you and not I. Dem. Alas I see you are or'come with Greif Are. Yet to my Sorrows 't would be some Releif Would you then Swear if you in your Designe Should faile you would assist me then in mine Dem. But will you swear his Death you 'le not attempt If from his Rivallshipp I you exempt Are. In such a vow myself I cannot Trust T is less to be Unhappy then Unjust Which I should be if I to you should give A promise that I 'de let th' Usurper live Dem. The Vow which I desire that you would make Is not for Tryphon's but for Syrias sake Are. Poor Syria since Demetrius thinks it good To bind me not to shed thy Tyrants Blood What greater Curse could Heaven on thee have sent Then make thy safety be thy Punishment Dem. Since 't is the will of Heaven we must submit What will you doe Are I 'le doe what shall be fit Dem. But will you then too no more condescend To loose a Rivall and oblige a Freind Are. Would you have me doe more then what is fit Dem. But will you Vow to make me Judge of it If By my Power with Tryphon and my Skill I make him cease to Rival you Dre I will Oh Cleopatra never Lover yet Did of his Passion give a Proof so great With such Devotion to your Eyes I bend As I pay them what I deny'd my Freind Nay for their sake and what more could I doe I spare the Tyrant of my countrey too If I in this Act against Duties Laws Let Love forgive the Effect which Love did cause Ah Freind from me you have extorted now That which I feare may prove a Guilty Vow But you are judge of all which gives me Rest. Dem. Can you then doubt what 's trusted to my Breast Are. You see I doe it not since I decline Even to inquire what you for me designe Dem. Feare not I 'le ner'e betray a Trust so High Are. When you betray me 't is high time to Dye Embracing him they goe out Enter Nicanor Stratonice Irene The SCENE Nicanor's Pallace Stra. I thought my Sister your consent had got Nic. So farr from getting that she askd it not Hermione to me has been Unjust I left my Cleopatra to her Trust And know not well which most I should Suspect Or her Unfaithfulness or her Neglect Th' Ambition of your Sister I foresee Will make her Wretched and will Hazard me For if she marryes Tryphon Shee 's undone And me hee 'le ruine if his Love she shun Ire Hermione and I have but one Breast And she to me did solemnly protest She not till 't was too late the Business knew And Sir laments for it as much as you Nic. In such a Fault she 'd show herself Unwise If she from you did not herself disguise Stra. Hermione is Innocent therein Sir 't is my sisters Fate or else her Sin Nic. You both absolve Hermione from Guilt Shew me on what your Confidence is built Stra. The cause of mine to you Sir I le relate She Loves my sister and does Tryphon Hate And would not Sir I know deserve your Frown To gaine for her own self the Syrian Crown Iren. I know she does Aretus much esteem And thinks your Daughter only merits him And to Hermione he told this day The Love he does to Cleopatra pay Besides she vow'd to me 't is her Intent In that Address to be her Confident Nic. Does then Aretus Cleopatra love 〈◊〉 And in that height I fear his Death 't will prove For when he knowes shee 'l be th' Usurpers Wife He will attempt his own or Tryphon's Life Nic. That Happiness at which I most did aime Is now fall'n on me but is fall'n in vaine That Height'ned Worth Aretus still has shewn Makes me esteem him above Tryphon's Throne My Stratonice Irene you and I Must for this Ill find a quick Remedy All must assault her in a several way On Cleopatra my Commands I 'll lay And with Hermione you two must joyne To make your Sister break off her Designe Stra. You may be of our best Endeavour sure But Sir I fear this Ill is past our Cure Nic. Those who of Feare in their Attempts admit Doe take the surest way to faile in it Her Resolutions cannot be above Her Duty Friendship and Aretus Love But we lose Time while we together stay And this Affair admits of no Delay They goe out several wayes Enter Cleopatra Hermione The SCENE a Garden and a Grove of Trees Her Forgive me Madam that I thus have prest To know the Grief which does invade your Breast For though when you in publick doe appeare Your Speech is Chearfull and your Looks are Clear Yet they are clouded when you are alone And every Word is brought forth with a Groan Cleo. That which you have observ'd alas is true Those various Actings to my Fate are due I ought since Destin'd to a Tyrants Throne Joyfull to seem yet mourn when I 'm alone Nor know I which my Soul does most subdue Feigning