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A28808
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Marcelia, or, The treacherous friend a tragicomedy : as it is acted at the Theatre-Royal by His Majesties servants / written by Mrs. F. Boothby.
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Boothby, F. (Frances), fl. 1670.
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1670
(1670)
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Wing B3742; ESTC R19454
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51,171
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96
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Potions to expel the gross humors of our inclinations not one Cordial allow'd of live or die sink or swim not one satisfaction to be had till the Voyage is ended I am not old enough yet to think of Fasting and Prayer when I have some years over my head I shall begin to do as other Grave ones have done before me leave those Vices that will no longer keep me company and think of Heaven out of necessity Per. Nay I dare swear thou wilt not endeavour to go thither till thou art a Criple both by diseases and time if Death will let thee live so long Luc. I believe thou would'st be as glad as I that thy life was Copy-hold-Land that as one were out thou mightest renew another I hate such Fools us cannot be content With pleasures which that World to this hath lent Exeunt Omnes The End of the third Act. Act IV. Scene I. The Scene chang'd to Lyons Enter Lotharicus passing one way and Euryalus another Eury. Ha! my dearest Friend Lotharicus what unexpected accident of Fortune has given me this happiness at Lyons Loth. Her most malicious one to me Eury. How Does our meeting after so long an absence prove so unwelcome Time has a changing power over all things then I see Loth. Do not injure so much that friendship I have preserv'd so faithfully and will continue to my Grave that little time my griefs will let me live Eury. I fear Marcelia's dead and dare not ask The sadness of thy look confirms it to me Loth. She is indeed and I that Death no longer can out-live Eury. Poor Sister Poor Marcelia Loth. You need not grieve my Lord she 's only dead to me Eury. Can you believe I can be so insensible of loosing in a Sister what you so much lament the loss of in a Mistris If she had perfections that rendred her worthy of your sorrow they have as just a claim to mine Loth. Oh dear Euryalus it is not the death she ows to Nature makes me sad it is her death to me and all the Vows she made me Eury. How do you tell me she 's unworthy grown so lost to Virtue Lotharicus do not strain friendship up so high by charging of my Blood with Crimes Loth. I give them not that name but I with joy would empty all my veins and let life out so that my knowledge gave my words the Lye Eury. Grown false without a Cause Loth. I say not so I will not make her Accusation more guilty then it is Eury. I understand not this mysterious Language if you have basely given her reason for to change condemn not the effect of your own Act but draw and justifie your injuring me in her Loth. She has a cause from her Ambition but my Love was never yet so Criminal to give her any You are like to have the King your Brother that will render you I suppose contented though it make your friend still miserable Eury. How the King Loth. Yes I give not this account for fear of fighting you know I dare and can defend my life though now death would become so welcome I should unwillingly resist it Eury. Ne're think a Crown can come in competition with my friendship I love my Sov'reign as a Loyal Subject will give my Life and Fortunes to preserve his Rights and him This is my duties Obligation But I had rather give Marcelia to thy Arms then see her plac'd upon his Throne nor shall she sit there and triumph over thy injur'd joys Loth. I cannot wish my generous friend that you should make your sense of my unhappiness an injury to your Fortunes Eury. I 'le sink 'em all but I 'le restore thee to thy lost contentment I 'le teach her ignorant Soul that Acts of Honor is the Noblest greatness I had rather have her live in Fame for Virtue when she 's dead then in a Title Loth. Pray force not her inclinations I had rather still be miserable then make her so from your Power Gifts of constraint though in themselves the highest blessing are burthensome Her person without her heart can be no happiness and both I know you cannot give me the possession of Eury. No more my friend How long do you intend to stay in these parts Loth. But till to morrow My thoughts are restless and I follow them Eury. How far do you intend to travel Loth. Till I arrive at my wish'd journeys end Eury. What place is that Loth. 'T is Death 't is Death my Friend till then I 'le rove about the World and give my self no constant habitation Exeunt The Scene changes Scene 2. Enter Marcelia and Desha Marc. My Brother is come to Lyons I hear I will go write him word how false Lotharicus is proved Go send the Page where I bid you Desha Yes Madam Exit Desha Marc. What strange effects of Fortune do I prove How variously she in my life doth move A Prince so brave and in his Power so great Forc'd to beg favors humbly at my feet She never for thy glory more could do Then she in that Marcelia did for you Pride could not raise nor swell my hopes more high Then she has given me Power to satisfie Nor can she bring my heart to more distress Then she has done in all my happiness Then bribes me with a Crown to be content And makes Ambition prove Loves Monument But love if true did never Power know That greater then it self could ever grow But that of Heaven when it within the Soul Does monstrous prove and Virtue would controul No no I still must love whilst I have breath Nothing can give my passion date but death But that Lotharicus mayn't pleasure take To think that his doth sleep and mine doth wake I 'le force my courage give me to thee King Though I shall be a heartless offering And on a Throne in secret mourn that Fare Destroy'd his Love and rais'd me to such State As Princes ought I then will act my part Not make my face prospective to my heart Nor give the Kings contentment cause to doubt When his confin'd my Love does wander out My griefs and passions all shall inward burn The brave their bodies makes their troubles Urn. Exit Scene changes to a Garden Scene 3. Enter Perilla and Arcasia Arcas This fine Evening methinks should fill the Garden full of company Enter Moriphanus Graculus and Boys Ha! what have we here A Knight of the Sun upon my life Per. You are mistaken he goes for an Outlandish Lord. Arc. Prethee what 's his name Per. Moriphanus Arc. Oh I know him now at least in Character he seeks to be your Servant Per. You are much deceiv'd it is to be my Master The first time of his Visit he speaks all Matrimony and left the discourse of Love for the second Interview Marriage is the Captain I will assure you of his discourse and Love the Lievtenant Arc. Nay 't is well if affection has any
find a cruel Judg I fear they must by heightning thy guilt help to abate their own I 'l go to the Court my self and hear his sentence and share his sufferings if my interest cannot take him off I 'l try my power first then show my resolution Eur. Thou mak'st a generous and brave Resolve we both will go together I 'l there discover my self and help to justifie my Friend and if there be occasion against his guilty adversary It will be time to go Marcelia Marc. My dear Lotharicus thou now shalt find When most distrest Marcelia is most kind Exeunt Scene 8. Enter King Melynet and all the Lords Guards and Attendants King talks to Melinet King I am sorry having ever had so great an esteem of Lotharicus he should give me cause to condemn him for his Rashness but Reason is destroy'd in the wisest men when passion does command Bring in Lotharicus Enter Lotharicus with a Guard at one door and Euryalus and Marcelia at another King What makes me happy in thy presence now Marcelia Marc. Though 't is not fit Sir Women hither come Yet I most humbly beg to hear his doom King Nothing 's unfit Marcelia does desire Or of her King or Servant can require Loth. There stands my torture greater than I can aside Receive from the command or power of man She comes to feast her pride onely to see How much my Passion still does fetter me Inhumane Woman lost to all that sense Which thy soft Sex to suff'rers do dispense King What was the cause Lotharicus that arm'd your malice against the life of Melynet Loth. My injurius Sir King In your opinion Were every man a fitting and allow'd of Judg in 's own cause we need not then have Ministers of Justice Loth. I question not the prudence of consider'd and allow'd of Laws Sir though now I sought not their assistance But Sir in my own defence I humbly do present your Majesty this Paper which renders me incapable their benefit and made me strive by my own hand to take what I can never expect to have by any other means King How have you forfeited your right in that kind more than your other fellow-subjects Loth. You 'l in that Paper find Sir The King reads and changes countenance grows into fury turns to Melynet King Traytor what hast thou done is this thy hand is it I know it is wherewith th' hast set the feal of my dishonor charge me with the consent of Murther and mountain up my promises their recompence Here Read it publickly my brow wears not a guilt so dark to keep it in obscurity although I ow that intended kindness to brave Lotharicus's Loyalty Peregrine reads Per. Du-Prette be sure and speedy in the death of Lotharicus the King is impatient till he hears it he will double thy rewards I promised King There 's enough Turns to Melynet How durst thou assume the injuring thy Soveraign so Though I Marcelia lov'd I never did design to buy her favors at the price of all my Honors By noble ways I bid thee seek to gain me her affection but not by guilt and treacherous baseness Villain The share thy veins has in her blood gives thee thy life but never after this day see thy incensed Monarch's face again But how came you by this Letter Lotharicus Loth. Sir one Philampras which was hir'd amongst others by Du-prette Melynet's man to assasin me understanding by Du-prette's Discourse that he had moneys in his Portmantue watch'd his opportunity to take it aways and finding this Letter there thought he should make more advantage by that from my Reward that his promis'd recompence for my Murther so left the money to prevent Duprette's sudden missing of his Paper and coming with my man to discover it found me as they then supposed kill'd but after on my Recovery deliver'd it into my hands King Oh! how seriously ought Princes first to weigh the lives and souls of men before they draw them to their bosoms for Favorites that are vitious are the Cankers of Kings Courts and eat in their Soveraigns bosoms Mel. Sir King Hold say no more thy breath 's infectious grown And on my Fame has Killing poyson thrown Guard take him away Mel. Vain joys of mortal Life you fly so fast Man hardly knows you are before y' are past Yet we on you do our affections lay As if we here eternally should stay Honor thou now dost give my soul a view Of what I left when first I banish'd you O Virtue how have I bin led astray From thy fair paths into this Lab'rinth way I thought my Fortune on a Rock did stand But Guilts foundation still proves foolish sand When man by Crimes does plots for greatness lay Heav'n justly frowns and takes his hopes away But though my Life bears characters of shame My Death shall leave behind a better Fame They that won't fall must not on danger stand We carry not our Fates in our own hand Exit King Though Love Lotharicus did make me be Thy Rival I was ne'er thy Enemy At lest to take thy life by ways obscure My soul such abject thoughts scorn to endure To witness it I this for thee will do Marcelia freely shall chuse me or you Loth. Marcelia Sir cannot disputethe choice Against my self your Goodness has my voice And she long since has learn'd to be so wise To leave Lotharicus for such a prize Pardon me Sir that I am sad that she Found not such motives for her love in me Mar. I never more desir'd than what in you I did enjoy when I believ'd you true But when by Melynet I was inform'd I and my love was for Arcasia scorn'd I then such Reason had to entertain So great a Monarch and so high a Flame That all I for his Passion since did do Can no condemning censure find for you Honor and Virtue still have bin my guid My Life has strictly to their Rules bin ty'd Loth. Since Melynet made me so false appear You need not more your actions for to clear But still as they justly more splendid grow My heart does more despairing sorrow know King Which of us two Madam shall happy be Mar. Heav'n leaves me not to an Election free Both so deserve Sir that If I should chuse I 'd be unjust to him I did refuse Oh Gods what punishment do you design Marcelia that neither must be mine Love will not let me my Lotharicus leave Nor Honor won't permit I him receive The King whispers to Peregrine Exit Pereg. King To shew that I will still be here within points to his brest What I am by my birth my passions King My Empire there by Reasons power maintain As well as to my Crown new Crowns to gain I out of Honor will this Justice do Against my Love Marcelia give to you Thou art already of her Heart possest And with her Person now I 'l make thee blest Loth. Sir King No more oppose thy bliss with gen'rous strife May you be happy in each others life My heart to my Calinda I 'l restore Whose due it was by faith and love before Marcelia and Lotharicus kneel Loth. May Fortune showr such Blessings on your head That over all the World your power be spread That every Monarch that enjoys a Throne May that possession from your bounty own Eur. Now take the Blessing which I Sir do give When you are call'd from hence to Heav'n to live And may my Friend prove joys so high refin'd he embraces Loth. To equal the vast compass of his mind Enter Calinda and Peregrine Cal. Sir I am come my Duty to express King To me Calinda can own nothing less In publick I my heart away did take And I 'l in publick Restitution make Cal. Your Will can strangely of your Heart dispose My Will as yet o'r mine no Empire knows King Yet it may yours perswade and command mine King You should not then Marceliaes Love decline King Madam you have all Reason to express As much as you can say in scorns excess But Heav'n the greatest faults that are forgive 'T is noble when we may kill to let live Cal. Had you bin still Sir to that Maxim true I had not then bin scorn'd nor left by you When you the life did take of all my joy You show'd not the left pity to destroy But you would have I find a Womans breast With more Compassion and more Love possest King I 'd have thy Heart again thy Love renew Since mine does burn with a fresh Flame to you Calinda with my Life I would redeem What I have done to call back thy esteem Cal. Your Majesty can strangely overcome Scarce wish a Victory before 't is won That price my Heart will never let you pay Love's Gen'ral there and yields you up the day King And if I e'er again that gift abuse May Heav'n all prayers that I make refuse I much admir'd thy Excellence heretofore But now Idolater shall turn and thee adore I did not think this would have bin the close Man may design but Heav'n will still dispose Exeunt Omnes EPILOGUE NOw I am sure all look that I should say Something like asking pardon for the Play With low submission and I can't tell what Excuse her Writing Language and her Plot As crafty Poets Guilty cry their Wit To make you less severe in lashing it But faith she scorns such undermining ways Of blowing up your pity into praise Nor will she do her spirit so much wrong To beg what does not to her brow belong She says they 're fools force Fate before they be Resolv'd to meet with any Destiny But this revenge she 's sure to have on those They 'l Cowards be esteem'd that give her blows Which strangely takes her knowing that ye must Be to your Honor or your Wit unjust Mark how maliciously her snares sh 'as laid Praise or Condemn you 're equally betray'd FINIS