the work Therefore I give ' â—m up To thy Tuition till I shall return Victorious then we 'll determine of ' em Exeant Lewis and Briâ—ac Queen Did I for this ungrateful Traytor trust My honour in thy hands Clar. Did she for this Bestow her Princely smiles on thee prefer thee Rayse thee to honour and rewards above Nigr. No more I have no time for words or thoughts Of any thing but Justice take 'em hence And lodge 'em in that Dungeon which I told you Exeunt Fredigond and Clarmount forced out by Guards All goes as I could wish The King 's possest Aphelia has been Debaucht by Clarmount And this Nights work Strengthens that Faith for Clarmount being removed By his strange and sudden absence 't will be thought He lyes conceal'd and that concealment seem Th' effect of guilt by which I 'le work the King To a belief he thinks his crime discover'd And is retired t' avoyd the punishment What prospect of Revenge am I arriv'd to Their confidence in my Honesty destroys 'em What safer policy then seeming just The greatest prop of Treachery is Trust. Exeunt ACT the Fifth Scene the First The Scene a Prison Clarmount and Fredigond appear bound Enter Nigrello Clarm. ARt thou here Persidious Slave is this the gratitude Thou pay'st thy Royal Mistriss Queen Barbrous Villain Thou hast out-done even thy own Native soyle And made thy self a Monster more deform'd Then e're thy Africk bred Nigr. Go on Clarm. Oh Impudence Hear me ye sacred Pow'rs in punishment To such Ingratitude may you invent A Plague for yet your Vengeance never sent On all the sinners since the Worlds Creation One bad enough for him But if the Gods Are barren at Invention let 'em joyn All thâ—â—r old Plagues in one and if that prove Too light add my Gall to 't to make it weight Nigr. You 're not so good at Curses as I am At pardonâ—ng 'em Thus I reward your Rage Unbinds ' em Clarm. What means this Pageantry some fair disguise To palliate thy guilt Mock us with freedom To cut our throats more pleasantly Is 't not Enough to kill but you must have the vanity Of a Surprize in acting it Nigr. You wrong me Clarm. 'T is likely you 're so innocent the least Spot stains you First betray our privacy And thy Queens Honour then to have her seiz'd And drag'd by servile hands into a Dungeon Loaded with Chains and all to have th' occasion T' oblige her with the taking of 'em off agen How thin and how transparent are thy cheats Nigr. Sir t'undeceive you know that I am guiltless And though I was the man that seiz'd you sent you To Prison used all cruelty and rudeness I could invent 't was all design'd to serve you Queen He speaks like Oracles in Mysteries Nigr. And like them too speak truth Your Son betrayd you But by what information he surpriz'd you In so retired a place I know not but Finding you were betrayd and by the Prince Beset I at the Alarm strait joyn'd With the Confederates appeared their Friend Pursued the chace more eagerly then they And was the first and fiercest that aâ—â—acqued you I first proposed this Dungeon for you Lodging And as kind Fate would have it by that intrest My Service to the Prince in his recovery Had gain'd me in his breast It was thought honest And my design embraced Thus was I made Your Jaylour and thus your Deliverer Clarm. Can this be truth Queen He cant sure be so great A Villain as this makes him if 't be false We have found him honest this was not the first time That he has been the Guardian of our Honour In places too where had he then proved false Our Infancy had been more loud and our Disgrace more publick then by seizing us In so retired a place as this Why not A Villain then If he intended Treason Why mist he such much fairer opportunities To act it no he is he must be honest Clarm. Since your mistrust is gone mine too must vanish Nigr. But Madam Courtesies that cost us nothing Cannot be acts of Gratitude Fate I thank it To pay my Debts to you a glorious path has shown By saving your Lives I expose my own But danger's welcome in so great a cause Queen Nigrello kind Nigrello how I love thee Nigr. Your pious Son has such strict sense of Honour That though perhaps Nature may intercede for You For Clarmount he designs a death in Tortures But when he shall have heard I saved his Life What danger will my humble weakness run By the just anger of so great a Prince How easily am I crusht by such a hand Yet all this Madam I dare undertake When acted for my Royal Mrs. sake Queen My kind preserver I want words to thank thee Nigr. I ask no thanks all the requital I Desire is that you two would Love for ever Under the â—â—eltâ—r of so blest an Union I 'm certain to be safe whilst that Tye holdâ— That sacred tye of Love you'â— cast some thoughts On your poor humble Slave and guard him from An angry Princes rage But if that Chain Be ever broke my shaken fortune sinks And all I am expires and dyes if e're You cease to Love Queen If what we owe to thee Can by our Loves be paid doubt not your Debtors We are too Rich in Love e're to be Bankrupts Clarm. When we cease Loving we must cease to be Our Loves are Register'd in Heaven or if They be not yet they shall be Ye dull Destinies I 'le dictate while you write Our Love desires To last as long as Fate for I am serves 'T is as unchangeable To those fair Eyes I 'le dedicate my Life my Soul my Nigrello stamps and immediately a Company of Villains rush in with drawn Swords and massacre the Queen and Clarmount Nigr. Down down with them you Dogs one minutes Life May save their souls So you 've done well Lay their bodyes where I order'd And when I give the sign agen be ready Exeunt Villains carrying out Clarmount and Fredigond Revenge oh dear Revenge Name me the man In Story that e're prosecuted Vengeance So far as I have done Had I took their lives When they expected death they then might have Prepared for dying and death would have been all But now to raise 'em to the hopes of Life Nay and to work 'em up to vow the leading A profane Life in an unlawful Lust And whilst the impious Vow was sealing then To stop th' Adultrous breath just in that minute As damn'd their Souls is a revenge so charming But business now grows thick Here I have lodged Aphelia and expect the King Burn on Burn on my best loved Rage Ye infernal Furies Be kind and heighten my weak gall be but My Slaves to day and be my Saints to morrow Enter King and a Lord attending him Lord. The Castle is surrounded and their number Is twenty thousand and the greatest
betray'd Dum. There 's justice in our Cause Why not our Swords I 'le dye before I 'le yeild Lam. Than dye by me Yeild up your Sword or you shall fall by mine The Guards seize'em Dum. Must we be Prisoners then and Traytors too Lam. No. The first name's enough a name too haish For Souldiers Did not our King command it and the last Too horrid for Man-kind or ought but Devil The disobeying of a Kings so heinous That you deserved your death for your resistance His will is we are Prisoners but for Traytors Poysoners of Kings Know mighty Prince and You Whom Blood and Duty bids our King call Mother We 're injur'd baâ—ely wrong'd Madam from you Queen Yes 't is from Me you have receiv'd the name Of Murderers if you acquit your selves I shall be still the gracious Queen I was Till then expect Oh my much injur'd Lord What Vengeance hangs upon the blood of Kings But what more heavy burden on my heart A load that sinks me Go convey'em hence Let 'em be strictly guarded till to morrow Lam. Fetters or Death are things that we can bear Dum. 'T is not the Wrack that can our courage tame Our only Torture is a â—ullied Name The Queen well knows Queen Oh Sir command 'em hence I know too much to have so tame a sense Of my dear Lords lou'd blood Lam. But Sir Queen Away To Prison strait they kill me if they stay Who patiently can brook a Traytors sight But they who in a Traytors Crimes delight Exeunt Dumane and Lamot forced out by the Guards Enter Nigrello Clotair Madam dry up your tears Expect to hear that Justice done that 's due To a Murder'd Monarâ—hs Blood and Fathers too But to Aphelia first if kind Nigrello Be but successful in this Nights design This Night I 'le in her Arms my Passion Crown But stay My Father dyed but now his Fate calls down For thoughts of Vengeance and my tender breast Should be with dreams of piety possest With thoughts of Blood and Death of Funeral Beds Of Martyr'd Monarchs and of Traytors heads A Mothers Tears and walking Fathers Ghost Disturb'd i' th' other world for what in this was lost These should I think on but to night sleep sorrow For Love to night and for Revenge to morrow The world has much mistaken been to say That walking Spirits love the Night not Day Prisoners as well in Dungeons may delight They 're doom'd to shades and therefore pleas'd with Light It is not Ghosts but Lovers walk by Night Exit Manent onely Queen and Nigrello Queen Their Blood thou seest must for my Crimes be spilt Mine is the Innocence and theirs the Guilt But hold Nigrello say the Cloud we rais'd Should be transparent and my Arts that gave 'Em Fetters have not pow'r to work a Grave Suppose they clear themselves What though the King Has in a heat of fury built his Faith Upon my Tears and has decreed their death Yet when he comes to a more calm debate His senses may be cleared and we may find His Justice when more Tardy is less blind Nigr. Revenge that moves most slowly is most wise When it has fiercest hands has weakest eyes Queen But to dispel that fear be it your care To Poyson'em before their Tryal comes Which done I will give out and get it sworn They Poyson'd their own selves and chose that death T' avoid those fiercer torments that they knew Were to their guilt a Monarchs Murder due Do this and we are safe Perform this act And think what Debts you from your Queen contract Nigr. It shall be done and done without a pause Doubt not my Service in so great a Cause Exit Queen No Monster-Woman neither of 'em Bleeds My Vengeance aimes at more Heroick deeds My Rage shall at the Heads of Princes flye 'T is thou and thy Adulterate Race shall dye Exit Enter Lewis and Brisac Lew. Your Sister not return'd yet This late hour And her strange absense makes me all amazement Brisac My Father Sir is all Distraction for her In pious Rage one while he storms at Her Another at the Court So far i th' Night And his Aphelia â—absent he 's undone Courts are no Sanctuaries She no Vestal Then prays to Heav'n to mend the one and guard The other Lew. For her Virtue that I fear not I know whatever outward force may do Within She has no Traytor The Suns eye Views not a fairer outside nor can Heav'n Inspire a brighter Soul Brisac But Sir Nigrello Has just now sent me word that there 's a business Requires your Company and mine to Night In such a private Chamber for there 's something That 's near my Honour and your Heart in danger Lew. Then 't is no idle fear Shew me the place Ghosts keep your Beds you Centinels of Night Goblins and Specters do not walk your round A general Lethargy seize on this hour Whilst I alone the Watchman of the Night Will wake in spight of Fate Argus thy Eyes To find Aphelia and her Injuries Exeunt Enter Aphelia and Nigrello with a Light Aph. Into what Labyrinth do you lead me Sir Had you not used his Name which is to Me A strength 'gainst Terrour and himself so good Occasion cannot vary nor the night Youth nor his wilde desires otherwise A silent sorrow from my Eyes would steal And tell sad stories for me Nigr. You are too tender of your Honour Madam Leave your vain fears The Prince has no desires But what are just nor does he own that heat Which were you Snow would thaw a tear from you Aph. Is this the place appointed Nigr. Yes I 'le call him Here is a Book will bear you company Till my return Hither I send the King not that I mean To give him time to cool his burning Lust For Lewis shall present him in the fact And thus I shall indear my self to both Lewis enraged I 'm certain will conceive Such mortal hatred 'gainst his Lustful Brother For such an outrage offer'd to his Mistriss As will prepare his breast for the impressions I must make there My skill must faile me if I do not set Thy Crown upon thy Brothers head Clotair Thy Canker'd heart wants Lancing and thy Brother Shall by my Art administer that cure Which France will thank him for Thy Mother too With her Incarnate Devil Clarmount shall be The next whom my Revenge shall damne if Hell Be but as just as I for 't is their Right Hell then be kind and let 's joyn force to Night Exit Aph. Poor Ravisht Philoâ—el thy Lot was ill To meet that Violence from a Brother Enter Clotair in a Cloak Aphelia sits down and Reads Clot. She has Sworn Faith to Lewis and to woe her Into my Arms suppose 't were possible 'T is not a work of so few hours as I have To accompish it The flattery of to morrow Is a smooth Stile for a calm-blooded Lover But Seiges will not down
with my Complexion She has tyed her Soul to Lewis and a Parly Will scarce get a Surrender of a heart So fortified how'ere win her I must And the most likely way to do 't is as The World was Conquer'd once He was the Man That cut that Knot which was too hard t'untye I must confess I 've read that Force in Love's A sin that forfeits Souls But She 's so fair The pleasure can't be bought too dear Aph. I feel my heart burden'd with something ominous What if Nigrello should play foul and this Expected Lover should not be the Prince I dare not stand the hazard guide me Light Offers to go Clot. I must be Resolute Fair Lady Aph. What Man art thou That hidest thy face from Darkness and the Night What art thou speak And wherefore comest thou hither Clot. I come to find one Beautiful as thou art And am a Man willing to please a Woman Aph. I understand you not Clot. I will instruct you And 't is so smooth a Lesson and so easie That a good will is all the pains in learning it And when once learnt the Pleasure is so sweet The Practise so delightful that not the Worst memory in all our Sex could e're Forget it Come dear Madam closer yet And let our Souls lodge in our sence Aph. Help help Clot. None of your Clamours Lady Draws his Dagger If you rise one note higher you see your Death Aph. What Violence is this Why do you wrack me thus My hands are guilty of Crime do not torment ' em My heart and they have joyn'd in Prayers together For Mankind that is Holy if in that act They have not pray'd for you mend and be good The fault is none of theirs Clot. Come do not seem More holy than you are I know your heart Aph. Let your Dagger too Noble Sir strike home And Sacrifice a Soul to Chastity As pure and spotless as her Innocence Clot. This is not the best way Undisguises Know you Me Madam Aph. The Majesty of France Clot. Be not afraid Aph. I dare not fear 't is Treason to suspect My King can think an ill much worse to act it I know you 're Godlike good and have but tryed How far weak Woman could be Virtuous Clot. Pretty Simplicity thou art deceiv'd Thy Wit as well as Beauty wounds me It is thy Virtue moves me and thy Goodness Tempts me to acts of Evil Wert thou bad Or loose in thy Desires I then could stand And only gaze not â—urfeit on thy Beauty But as thou art there 's Witchcraft in thy face I must enjoy thee or not thou thy Life Enter Lewis and Brisac to the door Aph. Your are my King and may command my Life My Will to sin you cannot You may force Unhallowed deeds upon me spot my fame And when you 've done this Irrelâ—gious deed What Trophy or what Triumph will it bring More then a living scorn upon your Name The Ashes in your Urne will suffer for 't Virgins will sow their Curâ—es on your Grave Time blot your Princely Parentage and call Your very Birth in question Do not think This deed will lye conceal'd for Kings appear When great in sin Like to Prodigious Comets in the Aire At which all tongues are mute all eyes do stare Clot. I can endure no longer I 'm all fire Madam in vain Aph. Hold Royal Sir Clot. No more I am resolved and what I once resolve Is in the Book of Fate I must enjoy you And though by Force that blessing I extort Repine not at the loss of what though Princes Cannot restore they can repay for this Stolne pleasure I 'le be a Lover Friend and King Aph. Do not mistake great Sir These are too gentle names for Ravishers If you proceed and this black Crime take wing You will be neither Lover Friend nor King Lew. Hold hold my heart Can I endure Unhand me Lest I forget my self on thee Bris. Good Sir Remember 't is your Brother and the King Lew. Oh that I could forget it that I cou'd Shake off my Duty and renounce my Blood That like a Whirlwind I might rush upon him And bear him to Destruction Sir how can you Abuse such Innocence is 't not enough That you have wrong'd Clotilda Ravisht a Maid A Virgin of that Innocence of Life Might Saint her here on earth But you must add To your first Crime a second Violence The Gods must not forgive Enter Nigrello Clot. If you esteem A Monarchs friendship worth a Subjects care Express your Zeal more mannerly be a Brother And aid me in my desires Lew. Be a Man And shake a Nature off will damn you Clot. Traytor Boy Thy Fate moves in those words Draws Lew. And is it so Then King defend thy Life for I am swift As Lightning or the thought that Executes Draws Brisac Hold hold my Lord forbear Aph. Help help Enter Fredigond Clarmount Burbon and Attendants Nigr. Lewis o're acts the part that I design'd him For if he falls I 'm lost They fight and Lewis falls Aph. Oh my unhappy Lord Oh my swolne heart Queen Oh bloody King Thy hand has made those wounds For which the Vengeance of a Mothers Curse Abler in operation then Lightning Strike through thy body every Limb a Death A Husband and a Son lost in one Night Nigr. Damne her false tears she 's glad he is dead Aph. Now you have kill'd him wherefore do I live Clot. Remove that Syren from our wandring Eyes And house her in a Dungeon To Burbon Aph. A Dungeon Sir you and my Stars are kind If in that Dungeon I a Grave may find How great will Fame proclaim you if your Breath Be but propitious and pronounce my Death What different Fates can Majesty decree Your Cruelty kills him your Kindness me Exit Let out by Burbon Nigr. Great Sir I have a boon to beg Clot. What is 't Nigr. The body of the Prince I beg the ordering those Funeral Rites Which his high Birth deserves Clot. That care be thine Queen Oh thou Inhumane bloody Tyrant Clot. Mother Bestow your tears on those whom they can melt I am too hard for pitty And scorn to have my thoughts so ill employd To mourn for what my justice has destroy'd Exit Nigr. Dear Lewis The Glory I intended thee the punishment Of a base Tyrants Crimes chance has prevented But what I left Unpay'd to thee I 'le to thy Ghost make good Appease it first with Tears and then with Blood Exit with the Guards who carry off Lewis Manent onely Fredigond and Clarmount Fredig Now we begin to flourish this black Night Is only lighted by our Stars that smile Upon these actions and rejoyce to see Thee our dear Favourite so near a Crown But tell me Clarmount how did I act the Mother Clar. You wept for certain Queen Yes as an Actor in a Play would do Clarm. And I me-thinks could write you Subjects too I 'de teach you Love whose