Mat. Adulterer strumpet Lod. Oh! Luci. Oh! Clo. Vnhumane deede to kill both Mat. Both haue abus'd our glory both shall bleed Luci. how now what haue ye done my Lodowick bleeds Some sauage beast hath fixt his ruthles fange In my soft body Lodowick I faint Deere wake my Lodowick alas what meanes Your brest to be thus wet I' st blood or sweat Lod. Who troubles me Mat. Brother Lod. Who is that Mathias Mat. I accursed I Lod. Wher 's the good Hermet thanke him for his loue Yet tell him Ferdinand of Prussia Hath a long arme some murderer of his hath kild vs sleeping Luci. Kild thee oh no! I trust the carefull destinies deny So hard a fate 't is I alone am kild Come Lodowick and close vp my night-vaild eies That neuer may agen behold the day Hoff. What meanes Mathias He offers to Kill himselfe Mat. Hold me not Prince Otho I will reuenge my selfe vpon my selfe For Parricide for damned parricide I haue kild my brother sleeping in the armes Of the diuinest forme that e're held breath I haue kild loues Queene defac't with my foule hand The goodliest frame that euer nature built And driuen the graces from the mansion Wherein they haue continued from their birth She now being dead shee 'l dwell no more on earth Lod. What mooued you to it brother Mat. Iealous rage suspition by Prince Otho That Lucibell had fled with a base Greeke Oh me accursed I am borne to shame Clo. But I am wretcheder that from the loue Deuoted to the house of Saxony Haue thus begot this monster cruelty I lay within an arbour whence I saw The princesse and your selfe in this disguise Departing secretly my vncles court I iudg'd you for a Greeke as you appear'd Told Prince Mathias of your secret flight And hee led on by fury followed you Where thus deceased by night and your attire Hath rob'd your heart of life his owne of ioy Mat. Forgiue me brother pardon fairest maide And ere the icy hand of ashie death Fold your faire bodies in this sable vaile Discouer why you put on this disguise Lod. To scape the lustfull Duke of Prussia Who purpos'd this night to murder me And rauish her whom death hath made his pray My Lucibell whose lights are mask't with clouds That neuer will be cleard Hoff. My vncle fie who buz'd into your head This damned lie Lod. it 's no lie Luci. Noe lie 't is true 't is true The reuerent Hermet Rodorick told it vs Hoff. The Hermet is a villaine damn'd in hell Before the worlds creation if he sai 't My Princely vncle purpos'd such a thought Looke to the Princesse ther 's life in her Cheere vp your heart Prince Lodowicke courage man Your being of comfort may recouer her While I bring forth the Hermet and disprooue This false assertion Rodorick is a slaue A vile and irreligious hypocrite No Hermet but a diuell if he dare Affirme such falshood of Duke Ferdinand Enter Rodorigo Saxony and Austria Rodo. Rodorick is not as you report him sir Nor did he ere belie Duke Ferdinand Hoff. No did why then did you maliciously Aduise Prince Lodowick and faire Lucibell To flie the Prussian court this dismall night Rodo. Who I I spake not with them Lodo. Yes ye did Sax. Where was it that he spake with you tell vs where Lodo. At Dantzike in the Duke of Prussias court Sax. Who heard him besides you Lod. The Princesse Lucibell Luci. As heauen shall helpe my fleeting soule I did Aust. why speakes my dukedomes hope in hollow sounds Looke vp fayre child heer 's Saxony and I Thy father Lucibella looke on me I am not angry that thou fled'st away But come to grace thy nuptials prithee speake Luci. Father I thanke you Lodowick reach me thy hand How cold thou art death now assailes our hearts Hauing triumph't ouer the outward parts Farewell a while we die but part to meete Where ioyes are certaine pleasures endlesse sweet Father this latest boone of you I craue Let him and me lie in one bed and graue Moritur Aust. Oh me oh miserable wretched me Lod. Houer a little longer blessed soule glide not away too fast mine now forsaks his earthly mansion and on hopes gilt wings will gladly mount with thine where Angels sing celestiall ditties to the King of Kings brother adew your rashnesse I forgiue pardon me father pardon Austria your daughter is become a bride for death the dismall euen before her wedding day Hermet God pardon thee thy double tongue hath caus'd this errour but in peace farewell Hee that lifts vs to Heauen keepe thee from Hell Moritur Rod. Oh strange coniecture what should moue this Prince To charge me with such horrid cruelty Mat. I le tell thee hypocrite Sax Stay Mathias stay It is thy vncle Rodorigo and besides My honor and Duke Austria's shall bee gag'd He neuer parted from our company in his owne hermitage Since day declinde and glimmering twilight vsher'd in the night Hoff. Not from his hermitage Aust. Noe not he Hoff. I' st possible Aust. By Heauen he did not Hoff. Then there is villany practice and villainy Mathias hath bin wrong'd and drawne to kill His naturall brother with him to destroy The rarest peece of natures workmanship No doubt by practize and base villany The Hermet not at court strange wondrous Sax. Oh for my sonne and Austria's worthy childe Aust. Thou weep'st in scorne and very teare of thine Couers a smile Saxony I defie All truce all league of loue guard thee prowd Duke Thy sonnes haue made me childlesse I le haue thee Consort in death with my wrong'd girle and mee Hoff. Helpe Prince Mathias Hermet oh the Heauens The Austrian Duke sinkes downe vpon the earth Aust. Proud Iohn of Saxony ha'st thou no wound Sax. Not any Austria neither toucht I thee Aust. Somebody toucht me home vaine world farewell Dying I fall on my dead Lucibell Saxo. Sir what are you that take on you to parte It 's by your weapon that the Duke is falne Hoff. If I thought so I 'de fall vpon the point But I am innocent of such an ill Kill my good kinsman Duke of Austria Then were Prince Otho of Luningberg set downe In sad dispaires blacke booke to raue and die But I am free from such impiety Saxo. Are you Prince Otho of Luningberg Rodo. He is and heire apparent to Duke Ferdinand Sax. May be the Moone deceaues me and my griefe As well in the distinguishing of sounds As sight I haue heard of young Luningberg And seene him to at Hoffmans ouerthrow He lookt not like you neither spake like you Mat. Father 't is he Lorrique his man attends him That fellow which is all compos'd of mirth Of mirth of death why should I thinke of mirth After so foule a murder come lend hands To giue this Princely body funerall rites That I may sacrifice this hand and heart For my peace-offerings on theyr sepulchers Sax. Nay boy thou shall not
this hatefull plot Least we be circumuented Rod. True 't is to put on open armes Mat. T is now too late we are beset With souldiers we must fight and since it must be Let 's to 't valiantly Enter Dutchesse Lord with souldiers Lord Princes prepare not to resist your foes Wee are as firme as life vnto your blood The Dutchesse Martha greetes old Saxony Prince Mathias Rodorick and fayre Lucibell To me she hath discouer'd the damnd plots Of that perfidious Hoffman and hath sent These armed souldiers to attend on you Sax. We thanke her Highnes but we thinke in vaine Both you and we attend Lorrique lyes slaine By Hoffmans slye suspition best be ioyn'd To apprehend him publiquely Lord There is no need our Dutchesse hath apparrel'd Her speech in a greene liuery She salutes him faire but her heart Like his actions is attir'd In red and blew and sable ornaments Sax. But tell vs where they are Lord At hand she comes with him alone her plot is She comes in happy time for all your good Mat Cease words vse deedes Reuenge drawes nigh Sax. Come set his body like a scarcrow This bush shroud you this you Stand close true souldiers for reuenge Luc. I doe doe doe I pray you heartely doe stand close Enter Hoffman and Dutchesse Hoff. I wonder much why you aske me for Lorrique What is Lorrique to you or what to me I tell you he is damn'd enquire no more His name is hatefuller then death Mar. Heauen what alterations these Can I beleeue you loue mee as you swore When you are so inconstant to your friend Hoff. He is noe friend of mine whom you affect Pardon me Madam such a fury raignes Ouer my boyling blood that I enuy Any one on whom you cast an amorous eye Mar. What growne so louing marry heauen defend Wee shall deceiue you if you dote on vs For I haue sworne to lead a widdowes life And neuer more to be tearm'd married wife Hoff. I but you must Mar. Must vse not force I pray Hoff. Yeild to my loue and then with meekest words And the most humble actions I le intreat Your sacred beauty deny me I le turne fire More wild then wrath come then agree If not to marry yet in vnseene sports To quench these Lawlesse heates that burne in me Mar. What my adopted son become my louer And make a want on minion of his mother Now fie vpon you fie y' are too obsceane If like your words your thoughts appeare vncleane Hoff. By heauen I doe not ieast goe to belieue me 'T is well you laugh smile on I like this Say will you yeild Mar. At the first fie noe That were an abiect course but let vs walke Into some couert there are pretty caues Lucky to louers suites for Virgil sings That Dido being driuen by a sharpe storme Into a Lybian caue was there intic'd By siluer-tongu'd Aeneas to affect And should you serue me soe I were vndone Disgrac'd in Germany by euery Boore Who in their rymes woud iest at Marthas name Calling her mynion to her cozen son Hoff. Fayrer then Dido or loues amorous Queene I know a caue where in the bright dayes eyes Look't neuer but a skance through a small creeke Or little cranny of the fretted scarre There I haue sometimes liu'd there are fit seates To sit and chat and coll and kisse and steale Loues hidden pleasures come are you disposd To venter entrance if you be assay 'T is death to quicke desire vse no delay Mar. Vertue and modesty bids me say noe Yet trust me Hoffman tha' rt so sweet a man And so belou'd of me that I must goe Hoff. I am crown'd the King of pleasure Mar. Hatefull slaue thou goest to meete destruction in the caue Hoff. S'death who stands here What 's that Lorriques pale ghost I am amaz'd nay slaue stand of Thy weapons sure the prize is ours Mar. Come forth deere friends murder is in our powers Sax. Yeild thee base son of shame Hoff. How now what 's here am I betrayd By dotage by the falshood of a face Oh wretched foole falne by a womans hand From high reuenges spheare the blisse of soules Sax. Cut out the murtherers tongue Hoff. What doe you meane Whom haue I murder'd wherefore bind yee me Mar. They are Iustices to punish thy bare bones Looke with thy blood-shed eyes on these bare bones And tell me that which dead Lorrique confest Who i st thou villained that least who wa st Hoff. Why Otho thy sons and that 's my fathers by him Mar. O mercilesse and cruell murtherer To leaue me childlesse Luc. And mee husbandlesse Mat. Me brotherlesse oh smooth tongu'd hypocrite How thou didst draw me to my brothers death Sax. Talke noe more to him he seekes dignity Reason he should receaue his desperate hire And weare his crowne made flaming hot with fire Bring forth the burning crowne there Enter a Lord with the Crowne Hoff Doe old dog thou helpst to worry my dead Father And must thou kill me too 't is well 't is fit I that had sworne vnto my fathers soule To be reueng'd on Austria Saxony Prussia Luningberg and all there heires Had prosper'd in the downefall of some fiue Had onely three to offer to the fiends And then must fall in loue oh wretched eyes That haue betray'd my heart bee you accurst And as the melting drops run from my brows Soe fall they on the strings that guide your heart Whereby their oylye heat may cracke them first I soe boyle on thou foolish idle braine For giuing entertainement to loues thoughts A man resolu'd in blood bound by a vow For noe lesse vengeance then his fathers death Yet become amorous of his foes wife Oh sin against all conceit worthy this shame And all the tortures that the world can name Mar. Call vpon heauen base wretch thinke on thy soule Hoff. In charity and prayer To no purpose without charity Sax. We pardon thee and pray for thy soules health Hoff. Soe doe not I for yours nor pardon you You kild my father my most warlike father Thus as you deale by me you did by him But I deserue it that haue slackt reuenge Through fickle beauty and a womans fraud But Hell the hope of all dispayring men That wring the poore and eate the people vp As greedy beasts the haruest of their spring That Hell where cowards haue their seats prepar'd And barbarous asses such as haue rob'd souldiers of Reward and punish true desert with scorned death FINIS
sullen stand If thou meane peace giue me thy Princely hand Sax. Thus doe I plight thee troth and promise peace Aust. Nay but thy eyes agree not with thy heart In vowes of combination ther 's a grace That shewes the intention in the outward face Looke cherefully or I expect no league Sax. First giue me leaue to view a while the person Of this Helmet Austria note him well Is he not like your brother Rodorick Aust. Hee 's like him but I heard he lost his life Long since in Persia by the Sophies warres Rod. I heard so much my Lords but that report Was purely fain'd spread by my erring tongue As double as my heart when I was yonge I am that Rodorick that aspir'd your throne That vile false brother who with rebell breath Drawne sword and trecherous heart threatned your death Sax. My brother I nay then i'faith old Iohn lay by Thy sorrowing thoughts turne to thy wonted veyne And be madd Iohn of Saxony againe Mad Rodorick art aliue my mothers sonne Her ioy and her last birth oh she coniur'd me To vse thee thus and yet I banisht thee Body of me I was vnkinde I know But thou deseru'st it then but let it goe Say thou wilt leaue this life thus truly idle And liue a Statesman thou shalt share in raigne Commanding all but me thy soueraigne Rod. I thanke your Highnes I will thinke on it But for my sinnes this sufferance is more fit Sax. Tut title tatle tell not me of sinne Now Austria once againe thy Princely hand I le looke thee in the face and smile and sweare If any of my sonnes haue wrong'd thy child I le helpe thee in reuenging it my selfe But if as I beleeue they meane but honor As it appeareth by these iusts proclaim'd Then thou shalt be content to name him thine And thy faire daughter I le account as mine Aust. Agreed Sax. Ah Austria t' was a world when you and I Ran these Carreers but now we are stiffe and drie Aust. I am glad you are so pleasant my good Lord Sax. T' was my old mood but I was soone turn'd sad With ouer grieuing for this long lost lad And now the Boy is growne as old as I His very face as full of grauity Rod. Please your Graces enter I know the seruants that attend one me By the appointment of Duke Ferdinand By this haue couered Sax. Why then let 's in brother I trust and brother Hold you this hand Rodorick hold thou the other By heauen my heart with happinesse is crow'nd In that my long lost brother now is found Exeunt Enter Clois Hoffman solus Hoff. so run on fate my destinies are good Reuenge hath made me great by shedding blood I am suppos'd the heire of Luningberg By which I am of Prussia Prince elect Good who is wrong'd by this Onely a foole And 't is not fit that idiots should beare rule Enter Lorrique Lo. My Lord I haue as you inioyn'd intic't Saxons elder sonne to talke with you and heere hee comes with his most excellent amorous and admirable Lady Hoff. Ha'st thou the Hermets weeds for my disguise Lor. All ready fit fit in the next chamber your beard is point-vice not a haire amisse Hoff Faithfull Lorrique in thy vnfaithfulnes I kisse thy cheeke and giue thee in that kisse The moitie of all my earthly blisse Exit Lor. Good I am halfe a Monarke halfe a fiend Blood I begun in and in blood must end yet this Clois is an honest villaine ha's conscience in his killing of men he kils none but his fathers enemies and there issue 't is admirable 't is excellent 't is well 't is meritorious where in heauen no hell Enter Lodowick and Lucibella Lod. Now friend where is prince Otho Lor. Sad sir and grieued Luci. Why prithee why Lor. Alas I know not why The hermet Rodorigo talkt with him Somewhat of you and somewhat of the Duke About surprizing you and murdering Lodowick Or such a thing nay sure 't was such a thing Luci. Surprizing me and murdering Lodowicke Lod. By whom by what complot Lor. Sure by the Duke the Duke 's an odd old lad I know this night ther 's set a double guard And ther 's some tricke in that but patience Heere comes the Hermet holy reuerent man Enter Clois Hoffman like a hermet Somewhat important wings his aged feete With speedy nimblenesse heauen graunt that all be well Clois. Princes in pitty of your youth your loue Your vertues and what not that may moue ruth I offer you the tender of your liues Which yet you may preserue but if you stay Death and destruction waiteth your delay Lod, Who hath conspir'd our deathes speake reuerent man Clo. The Duke of Prussia doating on this face Worthy indeed of wonder being so faire This night hath plotted first to murder you The guard are set that you may not escape Within without and round about the court Onely one way thorow Prince Otho his lodging Is left heere is the key and for more proofe Of my great zeale and care on with these robes Within are Grecian habits for your heads Nay if you loue life do not stand amaz'd But take the path toward my hermitage Yet I aduize you that you goe not in There may be plots to for ought I know But turne downe by the riuer ther 's a way Leads to a little Chappell in that porch Stay till I visit you with better newes Lod. I will but call my brother and then goe Clo. That were a going neuer to returne I 'le send him after you be well assur'd Luci. Oh god the Duke of Prussia grown thus false such shewes of freindship and so little faith Lod. Come Lucibella le ts embrace this meane Duke Ferdinand shall with a sorrowing heart Repent this base dishonourable plot Father our fortunes if they sort aright shall with continuall thankfulnesse require This vertuous and this charitable care Farwell wee 'l wait thee in the Chappell porch Bring Prince Mathias our kind brother thither And thou shalt add good works to charity Once more farewell Lorrique ther 's for thee Commend me to thy Lord tell him this wronge Of his false vncle shall meere full reuenge But doe to him our duties Come chast faire We must not now by tilt and turnameut Maintayne thy honor for thy champion Knight Is for'st by treason to vnwilling flight Exit Clo. so runne to mischiefe Oh my deare Lorrique When I haue summ'd vp my account of death And rob'd those fathers of there lifes and ioy That rob'd mee of my ioy my fathers life Thus thy hand claspt in mine wee 'l walke and meditate And boast in the reuenges I haue wrought That done I le seat thee by my throne of state And make thee riuall in those gouernments That by thy secrecy thou list'st me to Shalt be a Duke at least Lor. I thanke your Grace but pray resolue me what you now intend To these three Princes
Luc. To me a sleepe And to my harmelesse Lodowick in my armes Mat. On on that deed is writ among the acts of guilt A brothers sword a brothers life blood spilt Sax. Proceed what 's next kild he not Austria Ler. He did Luc. O villaine did he kill my Father And make my brother kill my husband too Sax. Goe forward Lor. After all those hated murders He taught the foolish prince in the disguise Of a French Doctor to prepare a poyson Which was the death of Princely Ferdinand Next plot hee purpos'd your graces death And had opposd my strength of my teares You had bin murder'd as you lay a sleepe Sax. Let 's heare no more seeke out the hated wretch And with due torture let his life be forc'd From his despised body Rod. Doe I pray Sax. All the Land will helpe And each man be a iustice in this act Mar. Well I that neuer knew reuenges power Haue entertaind her newly in my brest Determine what 's to doe Luc. Euen what you will would I were with my Lodowick a sleepe In the Elizian fieldes where no feares dwell For earth appeares as vile to me as hell Lor. Let me be Prologue to your scene of wrath And as the Romane Cateline resolu'd His doubtfull followers by exhausting blood From the liue body so draw mine cast mine Vpon the troubled and offended earth Offer blood fit for an infernall sacrifice Wine is not powr'd but on celestiall offrings Therefore I aduise you As you hope to thriue in your reuenge smite me That haue bin pander to this iniury Mar. Thou merit'st death indeede Mat. Stay iudge him not let me a little plead in his excuse And this one sentence serues a man compel'd To euill acts cannot be iustly held A wilfull malefactor the law still Lookes vpon the deede ne're on the will Besides although I grant the matter small And very safe to rayse a multitude That by their power might ceaze the murderer Yet two especiall reasons crosse that course First many hauing notice of our plot One babling tongue may vtter out intent And Hoffman being warn'd is surely arm'd Hauing the fort and treasure in his powre And be his cause more then notorious ill He may with gold maintaine it at his will Scape vs for no doubt hee 's full of sleights Besides Reuenge should haue proportion By slye deceit he acted euery wronge And by deceit I would haue him intrapt Then the reuenge were fit iust and square And t' would more vex him that is all compos'd Of craft and subtilty to be outstript In his owne fashion then a hundred deaths Therefore by my aduice pardon Lorrique Vpon condition that he lay some plot To intercept the other Om. We are agreede Lor. Your mercy doth all bounds of hope exceed And if you will repose that trust in me By all the protestations truth can make Before the Sun haue run his mid-dayes course I will to morrow yeeld him to your handes Sax. Shew vs the meanes Lor. The meanes is in the Dutchesse pollicy If she can smooth the murder but a while Mar. I le turn deceit to ouerthrow his fraud Lor. Then with faire words his flatteries entertayne And when he doth importune you for loue Desire him first to shew you the first place Where he beheld Prince Charles after the wracke Say you haue earnestly entreated me But I haue lead you in a labyrinth Of noe effect he full of heate and lust Glad of occasion will no doubt alone Conduct you to this fatall horrid caue Thi king by force or fayre meanes to attaine His false hearts longing and your honors stayne But being in the height of his base pride The Duke the Hermet Lodowick and my selfe Will change his pleasures into wretched And redeemelesse misery Sax. The plot is good Madam are you agreed Mar. To any thing how euer desperate Luc. I but by your leaue Lady and Lords all what if This knaue that has bin play the knaue still And tell tales out of schoole how then Lor. I know not what to sweare by but noe soule Longs for the sight of endlesse happinesse With more desire then mine thirsts for his death By all the gods that shall giue ill men life I am resolu'd chiefe agent in his end Mat. We credit thee ioyne hands and ring him round Kneele on his head lay our right hands and sweare Vengeance against Hoffman Om. Vengeance vengeance fall On him or suddaine death vpon vs all Sax Come part we to the caue You to the Court Iustice dig murthers graue Exit Lorrique and Martha Luc. Nay I le come my wits are mine agen Now faith growes firme to punish faithlesse men Exeunt Enter Hoffman and all the traine that attended the Dutchesse first Hoff. Not to be found hell which way is she gon Lord Her Highnes charg'd vs to call you her son The mistery we know not but we know You are not Princely Otho of Luningberg Hoff. Noe matter what I am tell me the way she went With that Lorrique speake or by heauen Hell shall receiue you all Enter Martha and Lorrique Lord Be not in rag'd she comes And with her comes trusty Lorrique Hoff. Madam I fear'd you and my heart was sicke With doubt some ouer-desperate accident Had drawne you to the melancholy pathes That lye within the verge of this rough scarre Mar. Your doubt was but an Embrio I indeed Desir'd Lorrique to bring me to the place Where you beheld the shipwracke of my son And he hath led me vp and downe the wood But neuer brought me to the fatall beach Hoff. It were not fit you should see the sad place That still seemes dismall since the Princes death Lord Dead is our soueraigne Lord the Prince dead Mar. Inquire no more of that I will anon Resolue you of his fate this time for beare Esteeme this gentleman your Lord and Prince Lor. Wee hold him soe sith you command vs so Hoff. Will you goe forward Madam Mar. Willingly soe you will promise mee to walke to morrow And see the Earth that gently did receiue My sons wrack't body from the churlish fome Hoff. I le wayt vpon your Grace set forward there Trickes and deuices longings well 't is good I le swim to my desires through seas of blood Exeunt Lor. Fox you 'l be taken hunter you are falne Into the pit you dig'd I laught to see How I out-strip the Prince of villany Hoffman for me told such a smoothing tale That had not this strange accident befalne In finding of the caue I had bin held More deere then euer in the Dutchesse eyes But now shee 'l hold me hard what ere she say Yet is her word past that shee 'l pardon me And I haue wealth hoor'd vp which I le beare To some strange place rich men liue any where Enter Hoffman Hoff. What are you gadding sir what mooues your flight Coyne not excuses in your crouching come What cause haue you to flie and seeke strange hoords For your