Fate far worse then those Sicillians Whom his Victorious Arm has Lodg'd in Graves For we have not alone Conspired his fall But what will add more pleasure to revenge His Soul for that short time he lives on Earth Shall feel worse Torments then the damn'd endure O what a Scene have we in one night laid To ruine both a King a Queen and Fav'rite Org. Brother you yet forget the greatest Point The Plot we 've laid we can't perform alone But by the help of some that 's near the Queen We may with ease Accomplish our design Armena Confident to fair Semanthe I once did make some shew of kindness to And till the Fruit I tasted lov'd the Tree And tho' my passion does apace decline To further our design I 'le yet love on At least pretend I do she she shall aid us I know for the past pleasures we have had And for those many more she hopes t' enjoy She 'l be assisting to what e're I ask Men. But Orgillus will she be faithfull to us Org. That is indeed against her Sexes nature But if she 's secret till we 've workt our ends A bowl of Poison stops her tongue with ease Men. O thou art most Ingenions at contrivance By Heav'n I am all Extasy to think With what a brave Revenge I pay her scorn But Orgillus our Vengeance stops not there The Scene of blood will yet far higher grow For when the Hot the fiery Meleander The Brother to this scornfull piece of Beauty Shall from the King hear of his Sisters shame I know his boyling bloud will rise so high That his wild rage will be his own undoing Then then my Brother when the Royal Line Is by the King 's fierce Jealousy destroy'd Who then remains to take the Crown but me Ambition and Revenge have fired my Soul And I 'm Impatient till the work is done Org. Brother be Temperate for rashness often Spoils those designs that have with care been laid And roots up their Foundations See Armena Now smooth-fac'd flattery assist my Cause And dear dissimulation stand my Friend Retire my Menaphon it is not fit You should be seen till I have wrought her to us Men. I go and may success attend thy purpose Ex. Men. Enter Armena Org. Madam you 're grown a perfect stranger to me There was a time when it was otherwise Arm. There was indeed but now that time is past You did obtain my easy Love too soon And scorn the prize which was so quickly won Now other beauties do possess that heart Which once I thought my own but O fond fool Why did my vanity extend so far To think that I had Charms enough to keep One of that Sex which ne're were constant yet Org. Armena I confess I 've been unkind But oh it was not without wond'rous reason Arm. Did I e're give you cause No Orgillus The tender Mother of her sucking Infant Was never half fo fond as I of thee I must confess indeed I was below ye But sure my Love might make amends for that What cause then coud'st thou find so soon to slight me Org. O my best life think not 't was want of love No my Armenia I so truly love thee That to thee I 'le unclasp my burthen'd Soul Empty the store-house of my thoughts and heart Make my self poor of Secrets will not leave One thought untold that dwells within my breast Arm. What e're it be my Lord that does disturb you O Let me know 't that I may bear a part Org. Thou shalt my Love but oh take heed Armena Be very Cautious and keep close the secret For 't is so great my life relies upon 't Arm. Can Orgillus then doubt me Oh unkind That very word Confirms you do not love Org. Pardon me dearest I 'le distrust no more Know then the King the Queen and Ithocles Did all conspire my Ruine and disgrace I once was favour'd and belov'd at Court I was the darling of the King and People But when the King was wedded to Semanthe All that great love which he before had shewn me He took away at once from Orgillus And streight bestow'd it on Semanthe's Brother This I forgave and thought it was my duty To resign place to 'th Brother of my Queen But Oh a worse disgrace he threw upon me For Ithocles this upstart Favourite Crept into the opinion of the Queen And by her mediation to the King Got from me all the Offices I bore and gave 'em all to him This this Armenia hangs upon my Soul More heavy far then lies the Load on Atlas But didst thou Love didst thou but truly Love I yet might find a way to crown my peace Arm. O name it Orgillus and if I fail T' assist in ought that may produce thy quiet May I ne're taste the Joys that are on Earth Nor the Immortal pleasures dwell in Heav'n Org. Thou only Miracle of woman kind How cou'd I merit so much wond'rous Goodness Know then Armena to revenge my wrongs I have design'd the death o' th King and Queen But cannot do 't without thy kind assistance Arm. How Orgillus Org. What d' ye start Armena Nay then I have deliver'd up my life To one that has determin'd to betray me Arm. Indeed my Lord this is the only thing I shou'd i' th least have scrupled to have done But yet to shew how well how true I love I 'le strive in this to serve my Orgillus Org. O let me take thee Closer to my heart My dearest Saint my life my Soul my heav'n Arm. I must Confess I could not easily Embarque in a design of so much horrour But O my Lord you have receiv'd indignities Disgrace so infamous and wrongs so Lowd Enough to shake a Saint wrongs of that weight That I have wonder'd you cou'd bear and Love Nay but to think what crying Injuries What vile injustice the ingratitude Of a false Court has heap'd on my dear Lord Has sometimes Rowz'd that Gall that Just resentment Even in poor poor Armena that I 've wish'd A Masculine Nerve in this female Arm Able to weild a Sword in your hard cause And be my dearest injur'd Love's Avenger Org. My Beauteous Champion my Lovely Heroine In what a mighty Sum shall I be bound Arm. I must be gone the Queen will streight expect me But oh my Orgillus with thee I leave My Heart which shall be ever faithfull to thee And tho' the world my fault will disapprove I 'de venture more to serve the man I love Exit Arm. Manet Orgillus Org. Poor Loving fool with how much ease thou' rt caught That man that wou'd Successfull be in mischief Must by one means or other hook in woman Mischief's they 'r study mischief is their Trade And sure t' was for that only they were made For when a woman once in mischief Joyns She 's sure to gain whatever she designs Enter Menaphon Now Brother Tryumph things exceed our wishes I 've wrought
Of thy bless'd presence makes me feel new life On to the Temple where when we have given Our thanks to the great Powers that have preserv'd us Impatiently I 'le wait the approach of night Then wrap'd in loves Immortall Paradice I 'le revell in unutterable Bliss Exit Omnes Praetor Itholes Itho. Strike home dear Thunder end my ling'ring pains Did ever Lover feel my Pangs and live Never was man surrounded with my Glory Th' intire possessor of the Constant love Of one so Beauteous so divinely fair And yet am doom'd to famish in despair So the poor naked Slave diggs in the mine And sees the Glittering Ore around him shine But does with hopeless eyes that wealth behold Wretched and starv'd amidst a mine of Gold Exit The End of the Second Act. The Third ACT. SCENE I. Meleander discover'd in 's Night-Gown Mele. NIght Clad in black mourns for the loss of day And hides the Silver spangles of the Sky That not a spark is left to light the world Whilst quiet sleep the Nourisher of life Takes full possession on mortality All Creatures take their rest in soft repose No Spirit moves upon the breast of Earth But howling Dogs night-Crows and Screeching Owles Despairing Lovers and Pale Meager Ghosts Enter Lattinius Lattinius here why dost thou break thy rest This is an hour wretches shou'd only wake Why weeps my pretty Boy Latt To see your Sorrow And think it is not in my Power to help you For by those Sacred Guardians over us I cannot think that dang'rous Enterprize I wou'd refuse to purchase your content Mele. Alas my sufferings are past thy redress But yet I thank thee for thy care and Love I doat on one colder then Alpine Snow One that would rather dye to please my Rivall Then live the Empress of the World with me Is there a cure for this O there is none For were there any pittying God above Touch'd with Commiseration of my grief And shou'd descend to plead in my behalf By Heav'n I think she wou'd with scorn receive him Stand the Temptation of a Golden show'r And Jove himself in all his shapes unalter'd Latt Might I without offence declare my thoughts I 'de have you cast your eyes on other beauties Search natures Store and find some noble'r choice T' adorn your Nuptial bed Mel. O if I cou'd Embrace thy Counsell I were truly happy But know I love and dye for that dear Charmer And Cruell as she is must still persist Another Choice No 't is impossible The rest of that fair Compar'd with her Wou'd seem like drossy mettalls to pure Gold Latt O dismal sound in all this mighty Transport I find but little hopes for poor Statillia Aside But yet my Lord Mel. O talk no more Lattinius Unless thy words are praises of her beauty Describe each grace of the Divine Marcelia Let every thing thou utter'st sound her name And I will sit and listen to thy Musick As sweet as the Melodious Quires of Heav'n Or sure Salvation to departing Souls Latt Why should it be so sweet to hear the name Of one whose Pride is to be your Tormentor Who is the Cause of all your sighs Marcelia Who is 't that makes you curse your fate Marcelia Who is it that unmans you but Marcelia Who is 't that pays your constant love with scorn Who is 't that doats on Ithocles your Rivall Marcelia still whose very name is Musick Sweeter then the Melodious quires of Heav'n Marcelia is the cause Mel. No more I charge you For your Officious love grows troublesome Away begone and leave me to my thoughts Still art thou here Latt Alas I cannot leave you Upon my knees I beg if you e're lov'd Forgive my forward Zeal and let me serve you I 'le to this Cruell woman tell her all Describe each Pang that tears your Love-sick heart Count o're the hours you wast in sad Complaints If she was nurs'd by any thing but Tygers I doubt not but to move Compassion in her Try me my Lord Mel. Alas 't will be in vain She 's Colder then the North Impenitrable As Rocks of Adamant and scarce will hear A message sent from me Latt Fear not my Lord. Mel O I have wondrous reason But since I find thou wou'dst fain do me service For once I will Imploy thee tell her then If Possible each sigh thou 'st heard me utter How much above the world I prize her Love Tell her what dangers I wou'd undertake To Gain one smile from her wilt thou do this Latt Indeed my Lord I will Mel. My better self But see the morning-Star breaks from the East To tell the world her great Eye is awak'd To take his Journey to the western Vales. And now the Court begins to rise with him Go to her then my faithfull dear Lattinius Lay if thou canst my Dying Groans before her And Bath her feet with tears to move her Soul Latt I will do all that lies within my Power Mel. Farewell my Pretty Boy and some kind Angell Instruct thee with the means to gain her Pitty Exit Mele. Latt O misery was ever fate like mine To Languish for the love of that dear man Whose heart alass is Conquer'd by another The rest Of my more prosperous Sex compared with me Are Goddesses in Glitt'ring Chariots ride And make their Lovers vassalls to their Pride But I poor I seek mine and am deny'd Exit SCENE II. Enter Menaphon and Orgillus Men. Now Brother does the fatall time draw on That must or give me Death or full revenge For all the Scorn and slights were thrown on me By that Proud haughty and disdainfull Beauty This hour shall put an end to all her quiet For I will work the King to that degree Of Rage and Jealousy that if his Soul Can harbour any sence of those great wrongs As he most Certain shall believe is done him I know Immediate Death must be her Lot And sure destruction to the man you hate Org. O that the wish'd for deed were once effected That I might see this Rivall to my Glory Fix'd in a Dungeon or his hated Soul Sent to the place where I cou'd wish it Hell Men. Doubt not my Brother but that time 's at hand Look on the Liquor this small Glass Contains Infuse three drops of it i' th wine he drinks So many hours his Sences will be shut And Lay him in the Leaden hand of sleep Which when perform'd we may with as much ease Work our designs on him as 't is to think it Org. By Heav'n thy Plot deserves Eternall Fame But Brother near as we can guess the hour Let it be when the Queen prepares for Supper Armena at that time by Instructions Shall give Semanthe the same sleeping Draught Men. Haste then my Brother tell her our design Whilst I infect the King with Jealousy He comes this way retire leave me alone And doubt not but we shall have wish'd success Org. Farewell And in each
thy words have rais'd a storm within me I must have stronger reasons that she 's false Men. Why then to shew you Sir how much I love you And with what Zeal I 've strove to serve my King I 'le shew these two seeming Saints but Devills Even in the Act of sin that needs must damn ' em King Ha! In the Act it is impossible Men. It is indeed to Nick the very time But I will shew you something Comes so near You may with ease imagine what 's been done But know my Liege when these dark deeds are done 'T is when they 're very certain of your absence Therefore might I be worthy to advise Early i' th' morning make some slight pretence That may detain you till the following day Then if I do not give you certain Proof Of the Queens falshood cut me into Atoms King Is 't possible O this Land-Crocodile Made of Egyptian slime Accursed woman Wou'd when I first beheld her tempting face My eyes had met with Light'ning and instead Of hearing her Inchanting tongue the shreeks Of Mandrakes had made musick to my Slumbers Men. My Lord be Patient see before you doubt King I will nay thou sha't see me wond'rous Patient For yet I cannot think Semanthe false Tho' words like thine urg'd with such Confidence To any man but me wou'd turn him mad Farewell my Lord and see you keep your promise For if thou dost not Vengance Hell and Horrour Shall certainly attend thy Canker'd Soul Ex. King Manet Men. Men. Rowl on the Chariot Wheels of my dark Plot And bear my ends to their desired Marks He 's gone with black suspition in his heart And made his Soul a slave to Jealousy Let him go on on to the Gulph of Ruine As sure he shall when I have work'd my Ends Now to my Brother O thou Credulous King The Tortur'd Ghosts that dwell i' th' dark Abyss Have pleasant Hours to what thou sha't enjoy For when the black designs that I have laid Are brought to pass then then comes all thy pain And thou sha't never tast of Peace again Exit SCENE IV. The Scene drawn discovers Marcelia sitting Melancholly A Song within I. Were I with my Orinda bless'd Of the dear Maid Possess'd It wou'd in Angells Envy breed To see our Ioys shou'd theirs exceed One minute wou'd more bliss bestow Then they in Thousand Ages know II. All over Rapture when shall I With you in Transport lye On thy soft bosom to be plac'd To be by those dear Arms Embras'd Is better far then Diadems With all the Eastern useless Iems Marcelia Rises Mar. No more of this it suites not with my sorrow For one so wretched and so lost as I The Groans of Tortur'd Ghosts were fitter Musick O Ithocles Part'ner of my Afflictions With much more Joy and vast contentedness Wou'd I embrace my death within thy Arms Then live possess'd o' th' World thus sever'd from thee O King King O my too Cruell Unckle With what a weight of sorrow do you load me Be kind and give me ease by present Death Enter a Lady Lady One from Prince Meleander Craves Admittance Mar. Altho' I hate the name of him he comes from Yet that I may have Opportunity To vent my passion by my scorn admit him Ex. Lady Re-enter with Lattinius and Exits Latt Divinest Excellence whose Conquering eyes Have made a Captive of the best of Men Do not with scorn repay his faithfull love Ah Madam hither I am sent to lay His bleeding heart before you and inform you He can no longer live without your pitty His tortur'd Soul will quickly leave its Mansion Unless your kind Consent will make him happy Mar. My my Consent Hear me you bless'd above If I do ever entertain one thought Of love to any but my Ithocles Let me continue wretched still a Pris'ner And never know the bless'd content of Freedom This tell your Lord and let him know beside There 's not one torturing Pang within his breast But what 's doubled in mine and he the cause Then guess what pitty he must e're expect From one that suffers all this pain through him Latt Alas his Crime is caus'd by too much love Oh had you heard as I too oft have done The deep-fetch'd sighs have sprung from his sad heart The many Groans beheld the tears h 'as shed His broken slumbers and his restless thoughts You 'd sure make a more kind return then scorn Mar. Never Oh never 't is not in my power My life my heart my love is Ithocles's And ' Im too firmly fix'd e're to be Chang'd Latt O on my knees let me return my thanks Keep still keep still this constant resolution Bless'd be the Powers that have inspir'd your breast With this unshaken faith to Ithocles For shou'd you er'e consent to Meleander That day that gives you him must give me Death Mar. What means the Youth Latt O Look on poor Statillia On her who loves above her life that man Whom you can entertain with so much scorn But by the freindship that was once between us And by the constant love you bear my Brother Lock up this Secret as you 'd guard your life Lest the too fatall breath of a discovery Shou'd Seal my everlasting Banishment Shut from that Bliss his dearest presence gives For 't is there only that Statillia lives Mar. O rise thy Brother's Part'ner in my heart And what there is in my poor power to serve you You may with Confidence Command but Sister For so I now must call you since your Brother Is made the full possessor of my love You may be kind and let me see you often For 't is a wondrous Comfort to th' afflicted To have a kind Companion in their Sorrows Latt O do not doubt it for your Company Next Meleanders is my all I covet And sometimes to divert our mournfull hours We 'le sit and talk and sigh and weep and wish T' obtain our loves but O I fear in vain Mar. We know not that Heav'n Pities the Afflicted And time brings many won'drous things to pass Mean while we twins of misery and sorrow Will comfort one another like true friends We 'le equally share happiness and grief And beg some pittying God to send relief Ex. Omn. SCENE V. A Garden Enter King and Semanthe Sem. My Lord If I did e're possess your love If you have any kindness for Semanthe Tell me the meaning of your clowded brow And why you seem thus troubled King I have cause O my Semanthe in my last nights sleep My troubled fancy has been so perplex'd With dreadfull dreams and hideous Apparitions That take away my quiet for methought O dreadfull sight methought the verge of Heav'n Was Ring'd with flames and all the upper vault Thick laid with flakes of fire i' th midst of which A Blazing Comet shot his threat'ning tail Just in my face I thought 't was terrible But Oh what after came was that distracts me I
the Author be it spoken 't is the best I ever writ and By Gad as my Brother Bayes says I cou'd not have took more Pains about it had I been to have had Six-score Pounds for it at a Venture Besides whatever Confidence I may be taxt with to shew what respect I owe you I resolved when I writ it to use a Conscience in persecuting you and accordingly you 'll find I shall not tire my Reader with over much length the Bookseller was in no danger of swelling the Play to Price two Shillings and shall be thankful if he finds his Accounts in half the Summ. So much for my Conscience now for my Civility Look ye good Friends considering that greater Bodies move slow and the other weightier massier Sense now in Rehearsal and Study cou'd not so easily be hammer'd into the Players Heads nor got up fast enough I resolv'd the Town showd not be so disoblig'd as to have a whole Hillary-Term with never a new Play and so I understudy'd and jirckt up my little Whipster This lighter toy like a Dance between the Acts in pure Complausance I could instance several other Obligations of this kind but not willing to insist too much upon Merit for fear of running up into Supererrogation I am content to end with subscribing my self Your Humbe Servant Geo. Powell Gentlemen MY Friend against my will puts this Complement upon me had he not been a particular Acquaintance and a Brother-Actor I shou'd have took it as an Affront yet though he writ it I dare swear neither you nor I think it and so take it among ye Ad amicum in hujusce Tragoediae Authorem Grande decus scenae ludorum fama Theatri Gloria jam lauro tempora cinge tua Tam benè Romano tinxisti verba lepore Tam densis Phaleris pagina quaeque nitet Ut spectatores poterint fecisse Catones Et rigidos Curios Fabriciosque graves Non te Cecropiae damnent Pandionis arces Nec rodant numeros Critica turma tuos Ergò age non meritam dubites admittere famam Nec pigeat curae praemia ferre tuae Contemnas Rhoncos nostrae fastidia Romae Quae plusquà m nasos Rhinocerotis habet Ioannes Hodgson PROLOGUE Writ by Mr. Mountfort Spoken by Mrs. Knight NEW Plays is still the Cry of the whole Town Therefore to day young Powell gives you one The fellow never writ before this time And I am come to plead his Cause in Rhime You may be sure that writing is grown scarce When he sets up for Prose and I for Verse Variety of Plays like Women all Desire and both when had grow dull Women and Plays are both uncertain too We cannot swear they 'r sound till try'd by you If a Play 's bad 't is but three hours enduring But Women often cost you three months curing From an ill Play each to the Tavern runs Cursing the Poet and his memory drowns Drinking Damnation to him in six go downs Our Scribler don't at all you sharp Wits dread He writes as Bullies fight not for Renown but Bread Ive heard there goes a curse with Poetry Which many Authors know call'd Poverty But as for Players They can no greater curse then being Players deserve For write or not write we are sure to to starve You all are leaving us to serve the Nation Our men and we shall have a long Vacation One Plague by Fire this House hath undergone Let not another be by Famine shown Some for the Field in dismal Red prepare Others at Sea engage in men of War Woe be to us the weaker Vessels here What will become of every likely Lass If Shipton's Prophecy should come to pass One man will never serve seven Women sure When Women can intrigue with half a score What shall we do our falling Sex to prop The very day you march we shut up shop Bills must be writ to let each Tenement We may find Lodgers but they 'll pay no Rent Be kind then to us e're you go away Else we shall reap no Profit by this Play For Pyrat like no Purchase we 've no pay Dramatis Personae KIng of Cyprus Mr. Powell Meleander Brother to the Queen Mr. Allexander Ithocles in Love with Marcelia Mr. Williams The Treacherous Brothers Menaphon Mr. Mountfort Orgillus Mr. Hodgson WOMEN Semanthe Queen of Cyprus Mrs. Bowtell Marcelia Niece to the King Mrs. Bracegirdle Statilia Sister to Ithocles disguised in Boys Cloaths by the name of Lattinius in Love with Meleander Mrs. Butler Armena confident to Semanthe Mrs Jourden Pages Guards and Attendants SCENE Cyprus The First ACT. SCENE I. A Garden Enter Menaphon and Orgillus Men. O Orgillus thon talk'st in vain of comfort To one so wretched and so Curs'd as I For my Complaints have forc'd the Rocks the waters The very winds have sigh'd Brooks have murmur'd Their kind Commiserations of my sorrow Org. Despair not Menaphon you are not wretched Unless your own Impatience makes you so Why may not she in time be won to love As well as other women O my Brother Thou hast been bred in war and dost not know The Subtilty and Cunning of that Sex D' ye think because She has deny'd you once Men. Once one denyall yes a hundred slights Repulses Scorn all her disdain can vent Have been my dayly hourly persecution Org. A hundred is that all were their name Legion A Legion may be conquer'd fear it not For time can tame the Lion and the Tyger And with more ease a womans wandring fancy Men. I but so long to hope and be delay'd Is worse then Death to misery like mine Org. Perhaps your Sufferings may not long endure For womens minds Inconstant are and fickle Uncertain as the leaf blown with each wind And Flexible as is the bladed Grass The 'yl fly but ev'ry step wish they were t'ane What they deny they wish too were Snatch'd from 'em They 'l fight but allways wish to be overcome Men. I but Semanthe is not one of these Org. How know you that my Brother Men. O too well For when this Tyrant Love first Seiz'd my heart When my tormented Soul cou'd hold no longer I told her with a thousand sighs and tears The Secret which to keep wou'd have consum'd me With such a raging fire it flamed within I told her all the cause of my distress Yet she did not alone deny my suit But with a look of fury and disdain She gave these words Go wretch below my Anger May thy Ingratitude to him that Lov'd thee That rais'd thee Monster as thou art from nothing Dwell in thy mind till thou repent'st thy folly With that flew from me leaving me alone My Soul all burning like a blazing Etua And since If I but offer to approach her She turns from every word and ev'ry look That moves but for her pitty as the Pestilence Flew from my breath and Bassalisks from my eyes O Orgillus what canst thou now propose What Remedy is left to
path may Fortune be your Guide Ex. Org. Enter King Guards and Attendants King How now my Lord possess'd with serious thoughts Men. I 'm thinking Sir what 't is to wrong a King And in what pain that honest man must live That sees him wrong'd and dares not tell him on 't King I think that man who knows his Prince abus'd And yet conceals it from him most disloyall For sure it is a Crime unpardonable To think a wrong 'gainst an Annoynted head Men. But Sir when those that do it are in Power And a poor shrub is all that can accuse 'em He 'd hardly gain belief of what h 'as seen And death must pay the honest fool his wages King Not if he can shew Proof of what he says Men. My Liege I beg a moments Privacy For I 've a wond'rous secret to impart King Retire a while Ex. Attendants Now Menaphon your bus'ness Men. O Sir I 've such a Story as will scorch Your boyling veins into so hot a Feaver Will make your heart-strings burst and set a float The burning Lake within ' em King Ha! be quick Men. If it were possible I 'de keep it in But â—t has long strugled in my breast for vent My Lord I know too sure that you are wrong'd King Ha! Men. Wrong'd in the highest Point wrong'd in your honour Upon my knees I kiss this Prost'rate Earth And humbly beg that which my tongue shall speak Since it proceeds from nought but Love and duty May either be forgiven or forgot King You have it rise discharge an open breast Men. O my dread Leige my words will raise a Storm Able to stagger all your Royal reason I wish my Loyall heart could cover sin But love and my Allegiance bid me speak King Speak then and do not wrack me with delay Men. Women why were you made for man's affliction The first that ever made us tast of grief And last of whom in Torments we complain Ye Devills shap'd like Angells through whose deeds Our forked shames are made most visible No Soul of sense wou'd wrong bright Majesty Nor stain their blood with such Impurity King Nay good my Lord leave off this Mistick speech And give me knowledge from a plainer phraise Men. Then Plainly thus my Lord your bed's abus'd O foolish Zeal that makes me desperate Your Queen has sin'd and done a double wrong To you her self and sacred Chastity O she has lost her honour she that looks All health without within is all Contagion King How Menaphon Beware think where thou' rt going Endeavour not to blast Semanthes virtue Had'st thou thy sence about thee 't were impossible Thy tongue cou'd utter such blasphemous Sounds Therefore I pardon thee for what thou 'st said And think it only the effects of madness But if like this you add one Syllable more Thou dost Pronounce upon thy self a sentence That Earthquake-like will swallow thee Men. Let it open Better that I and thousands more shou'd perish Then live to see our Royall Lords Dishonour King Ha! Offers to draw Men. Do I lay my bosom bare before you Kill me because I love you and speak truth Is this the merit of a Roman faith Have I for this then play'd the watchfull Argos To sound the very depth of her designs I had been mad indeed a doating fool ' T' have told you this without I 'd had some proof But know my Leige did not your Rage devour you And passion too much oversway your reason I cou'd relate a tale so full of horrour 'T would startle all mankind to here it told But since I find you 'd rather hug your shame Then bravely to Revenge the wrongs you suffer Send to the Grave this forward Zealous fool That durst attempt to tell his King the truth King Had I Just cause I wou'd pursue such injuries Through fire ayr water earth nay were they all Shuffled again to Chaos but there 's none And therefore thou that hast Blasphem'd her virtue Sha't have thy Just reward Draws Men. Yet hold my Lord Since I am Enter'd in this desperate cause And you think Death to be my due reward Let me before the fatall Blow is given Beg one short minute not to Plead for life But let you know I dye for Loyallty King Which if thou dost Men. Which if I do not May the Immortall Powers at the last day Shut all the Shining Gates of Heav'n against me And hurl me head-long to the burning Lake King I know thou' rt Valliant and with valliant minds Slander is worse then theft or Sacrilege A step beyond the utmost Plagues of Hell And therefore I will hear what thou canst say Puts up his sword If thou canst shew me any Certain Proof Which by the Gods it is a Sin to think That my Semanthe's false instead of threats Thou sha't in ev'ry thing find favour from me But if thou dost not by my Fathers Soul Imagine what makes man most miserable And that shall fall upon thee Men. Willingly I do Embrace this kind Proposall Sir Know then the man or rather Stile him Monster That does thus Impiously defile your Bed Is Ithocles King Well Menaphon go on I 'le patiently hear every word you utter But shall expect strong proofs e're I believe Men. Which if I do not give my life 's the forfeit King I 've done Men. My Lord you know early this morning You went your self to take a view o' th' Army No body left behind but I and Ithocles For having long before had some suspition I did indeed neglect my duty too To try if I cou'd gain a farther Proof Of what before I but suspected only And having watch'd the Queen in the Garden I plac'd my self unseen behind the Bower When streight I spy'd Lord Ithocles approach With all the hast belonging to a Lover He flew to the Embraces of the Queen And sigh'd and gaz'd and kiss'd and Curs'd his fate That he cou'd not Possess that Heav'n alone She threw her snowy Armes about his Neck Imbrac'd him Close O Ithocles says she Thou darling of my Soul be ever thus Thus wise thus secret in the scene of love And keep it safe from the deluded King King What shou'd I think he durst not sure say this Were he not very Certain of the truth Besides the man was ever Counted honest Aside He 's young and handsome Valliant and discreet And I my self have prov'd his Loyalty These are not Marks belonging to a Villain O thou hast wak'd me and thy piercing words to him Have split my sence in sunder and cou'd I Live to behold at once the general end And see the World wrap'd in its funeral Flame When the Bright Sun shall lend its Beams to burn What he before brought forth and water serve Not to Extinguish but to Nurse the Fire It wou'd not give me half the Torturing Pangs As does the thoughts thou 'st raised within my breast But yet I must expect an Occular Proof For tho'