your Woes Mar. Harsilia and Verginia Let me embrace you both lest I shou'd wrong My Love which else wou'd stay from one too long Her Dear Marcellina Joy seems perfect now Nor Love nor Fortune gives it without you Tir. Sertorius I now demand my Freedom from your Sword In spight of Torments I have kept my word And silently endur'd my Miseries Though all the while wrack'd by Hersilia's Eyes Sert. To such strict Honour all Rewards are due All I once hop'd I now resign to you Here fair Hersilia may you as happy prove In his as I in Marcellina's Love Tir. How all my Happiness together flows If with Hersilia's Love your Friendship grows Her If I deny it wou'd ingrateful shew I give not Love but pay you what I owe. Sert. How Mutius and Sulpitius too Dead both together Sul. No wou'd it were true Mutius you see has better Luck than I He 's quiet past the sense of Misery Sert. By whom fell Mutius Art By the Unfortunate One that came here to fetch not bring a Fate While Tiridates liv'd and was not free I blush'd at my own Life and Liberty Hither I come either or both to pay But lost my Freedom by another way 'T is I Armenia's wretched Prince whom yet Rome wants to make her Victory compleat Let Tiridates live and let me find But a swift Death and Rome's as great as kind Ter. Sertorius if your Friendship can extend To love Rome's Enemy because my Friend No Conquest that you ever gain'd before Can exceed this or will become you more Sert. Dear Tiridates were he not to you So lov'd a Brother to his worth were due All that you ask 't is more than Victory Thus to embrace so brave an Enemy Art You Romans all the World sure must obey Since you know how to Conquer every way Tir. Permit me fair Hersilia to present Him whose dear Loss I did so long lament Ver. If for my sake you can more Love bestow My Life and Honour unto him I owe. Her Either of these are tyes enough to prove Strict Bonds not Motives to oblige my Love Mar. My Debts Sir and Hersilia's are the same Art You oblige one has nothing but a Name My Heart though not o'ercome by Miseries I lost a Conquest to Verginia's Eyes While I was mis'rable she did express Concerns like Love but they are all grown less For she will now forsake the World and me Good gods give me again my misery Dear Corbulo repent and make me blind For when I 'm wretched she 'll again be kind Ver. What have I done that you shou'd tempt your Fate And beg the gods to be unfortunate Art Did you not say you wou'd forsake me now Ver. To go to Heaven do I fly from you There by my Pray'rs my Love will best be try'd You shall have more than all the World beside Art It is a strange Devotion takes away The Happiness for which it seems to pray Enter Emilius and others Ver. My Father Emil. Ha Hersilia and Verginia Does not the sondness of my Eyes betray O let me thus confirm my Happiness Till my Embraces grow to weariness My Joys encrease Ha! Marcellina too All Comforts next to them are brought by you And since Sertorius finds his Happiness In yours to Tiridates I 'll express My promis'd Care that he may happy prove Like you in mine and his Hersilia's love Tir. Those Blessings that you give are such a store I almost blush that I must ask you more See Sir my long-lost Brother that here brought His Life for mine and his own Ruine sought Our Country gave the Roman Victories Its King 's now vanquish'd by a Roman's Eyes Yet Sir your pity will like Justice shew To pay a Love where she a Life does owe. Ver. I owe him Sir my Life I do confess And mean to pay him more than Love not less I wou'd return and see the World no more And there for him unwearied Heaven implore Emil. No dear Verginia such a Piety That robs me of thy sight were guilt in thee Nor need you fear brave Prince your own Success Our Gratitude enjoyns your Happiness Art Fair Vestal since you must no more return To those pity the Flames that in me burn You shall for ever have a Vestal's Name And like them always keep alive a Flame Ver. Since 't is my Father's pleasure that I stay 'T is you that make me willing to obey Press me no more till I by Time may prove In yours as well instructed as my Love Art That breath all my Misfortunes blows away The loss of Scepters Love can over-pay Sert. Brave Sir y 'ave lost no Crown for you shall find A Prince that loves the Conquest of the Mind The great Augustus whose bright Nature brings More surer Conquest than his Sword or Kings Take up that wretched Man that nothing may Hang heavy on the Joys of this bright Day He 's still my Brother and may yet repent A hopeless Love must be his punishment How all our Joys are set in foils of Woes As after Darkness Light the brighter shews So from our Sorrows all our Joys encrease And unto Love Rome owes a Friend and Peace EPILOGUE Spoken by M r Lacy who is suppos'd to enter as intending to speak the Epilogue for the TRAGEDY BY your leave Gentlem How what do I see How all alive Then there 's no use for me ' Troth I rejoice you are reviv'd agen And so farewel good living Gentlemen 1. Nay Mr. Lacy. La. What wou'd you have with me I can't speak Epilogues ex tempore The Poet has done craftily to day H 'as spoil'd my Epilogue perhaps his Play H 'as cur'd 'em all a very pretty prank And from a Poet turn'd a Mountebank Well If nothing pleases but Variety I 'll turn Rageu into a Tragedy When Lacy like a whining Lover dies Though you hate Tragedies 't will wet your Eyes Letters of Marque are granted every where And one Prize-Office is kept always here All that are Phlegmatick are Enemies Which makes Poets and Dutchmen certain Prize All that I wish is that the Dutch may fight With as ill fortune as we Poets write I thought to have spoke something of the Play But you 'll think what you please whate'er I say FINIS THE Great Favourite OR THE DUKE OF LERMA A TRAGEDY As it was Acted at the THEATRE-ROYAL By His MAJESTY's Servants Written by the Honourable Sir ROBERT HOWARD LONDON Printed for Henry Herringman and are to be Sold by R. Bentley J. Tonson F. Saunders and T. Bennet M DC XCII TO THE READER I Cannot plead the usual Excuse for Publishing this Trisle which is commonly the Subject of most Prefaces by charging it upon the Importunity of Friends for I confess I was my self willing at the first Desire of Mr. Herringman to Print it not for any great Opinion that I had entertain'd but for the Opinion that others were pleas'd to express which being told me
one cruelty Mar. I sho'd confess too much shou'd I deny King Wou'd you more cruel than you are appear Mar. Pray Sir be gone I 've said too much I fear King Maria Mar. If you have pity Sir be gone Leave me to blush a little while alone King Farewel I 'll love though you shou'd still design To hide your own and ne'er to pity mine Exit Mar. Among what Rocks I steer a dangerous course My duty to a King and to a Father My Countries shaken honour and my own Calling at once upon me to take heed There 's something more than this yet shakes my heart But I will throw the Ague off lest I That to direct others their way design Shou'd my self want a friend to show me mine Enter Lerma Ler. Have you prevail'd Mar. Yes Sir but Ler. No matter for a Reason or a Circumstance Give 'em me and still maintain thy power That I may pay Allegiance to thy eyes So now retire for the Court begins to fill Exit Maria. Enter Alcara and Bruchero They come she was dispatcht in happy time Bru. See the full sail of Spain Alca. Strike and pass by Ler. The King by me salutes you Lerma throws them the Warrants and Exit Alca. This was a running Lottery Mine's a good prize the Vice-Roy Ship of Naples Bru. Mine of Navarre Alca. Why this great man drops Kingdoms As a full-plum'd Hawk mews her loose Feathers And never cares who stoops to take 'em up Bruce He has some other meaning in 't Alca. 'T is certain his bounty else had never Showr'd on us Enter the Archbishop and Caldroon Alca. See these are of his Council Bru. And now come sweating with their fond complements Arch. My Lords you are much engag'd Unto his Grace the Duke of Lerma Bru. We have the Bonds about us Cald. Oh such another friend as Lerma The Earth holds not Alca. 'T is believ'd Arch. Had you but seen how he implor'd the King Pleaded your worths and your abilities I think you wou'd have thought as now you may Nature had ti'd him to you in some bond Bru. The Duke is as he ever was Covetous to scatter Favours though unask'd Cal. I and so careful of the Men he marks To make Election of in his great Thoughts That when they sleep he wakes to make 'em great As I dare swear you never thought of this Alca. Not I I vow to you Cald. I hope my Lord it shall not be forgotten Arch. That were too foul Ingratitude Bru. Oh never my Lord and to assure the Duke Arch. 'T is well so may you prosper Exit Arch. and Caldroon Alca. What think you now Bru. T is Rank you and I my Lord Are busie and stand too much in his way Our remove will give his Actions scope Alca. H 'as wove his curst Inventions cunningly How he threw his guilty Favours to us And durst not stay to take our Thanks Here 's more Intelligence see the Duke Enter Medina leading Izabella veil'd He has got something too Med. Your way 's now clear there 's one Will bring you to your Attendance Remember to bring Maria to the Garden At the appointed time Izab. I will not fail on my part Exit Alca. You have got a fair Charge my Lord. Med. When you know all you 'll say so Bru. We two my Lord are banish'd Med. Banish'd Alca. But to honourable Employments Med. We have trifl'd then too long And suffer'd this black Cloud to grow too big Whose breaking will drown us all Bru. See here the Sentence of our Banishments Enter a Woman veil'd puts a Letter into Alcara's hand and Exit Alcara reads and seems amaz'd Bru. What 's this that vanish'd Bru. Some secret Invitation Bru. How now man what not impart It to your Friends Alca. Yes read Bruchero reads To the Marquiss of Alcara YOU and your Friend Count Bruchero will receive two Patents for your honourable Banishment 't will not be unpleasant to the King if you pretend Sickness or Business to defer going to your Employments This Advice admire not at but follow Bru. This is strange Med. The Advice is good no matter who sent it Nor could it come from any common hand The Business is too young to be acquainted With any thing but one that knew its birth Alca. 'T is true and we must put it off Bru. And yet it may prove dangerous Med. The danger 's only in accepting it If we disperse our selves he 'll catch us up Like a flowen Covey besides the Letter says The King will not be displeas'd there is some Mole That heaves for us unseen Count Bruchero You shall pretend that to prevent all Rumours You 'll perfect your Accounts before you go You my Lord must pretend sickness And seem to keep your Chamber Prescribing to your Doctors a Receipt To make them say as you do and in hard words Set forth a dangerous Distemper Alca. Good but what success attends on this Med. That we must wait for honest designs Justly resemble our Devotions Which we must pay and wait for the Reward Yet this I 'll add to strengthen your resolves I have some designs I think cann't fail me Shall shake the great foundation Lerma laid We search deep Mines and if the veins but hold We purchase all the Wealth we wish to have And if it fails we dig a noble Grave Exeunt SCENE III. Enter Caldroon with Letters Cald. Mischiefs with Plagues engender every where And beget new Diseases the Queen's Murder Is more than whisper'd now and the Duke's Daughter Is Indian talk the 'tother World is full on 't And which is more than all the Messenger That brought that fatal Letter to the Queen In which her death was seal'd is by Medina Sent for in private whom we thought asleep But wak'd too soon before our careful Friend Cou'd stop him in his close attempt The Storm has overtook our greatest speed Nor can the Duke himself find out a shelter I 'll instantly entomb my new got wealth In a disguis'd Chappel which I 've consecrated To my dead Ancestors that may save me yet 'T is pity to take ill pains to rake up wealth Which at the last can purchase us no more Than a mean life which we enjoy'd before Enter Lerma and the Archbishop The Duke and trouble in his face I 'll step aside a little Exit Ler. Said he he would not go Arch. Till his Accounts were level'd Ler. And Alcara is sick Arch. 'T is so given out Ler. They have me in the wind There is some secret trick in this or else They durst not slight me thus it must be so My violent motion grows already slow I 'll weather falls about me every way I try to take proves heavy travelling Arch. The peoples cries grow loud Ler. The gaul'd Rascals wince at my oppressions They are like swarms of Bees when up and buzzing They light on any thing Alcara and Bruchero That dare dispute their Sovereign's Command Give
unsuccessfully I still o'recome I brought a Rival not a Captive home Yet I may be deceiv'd but 't is too late To clear those doubts my stay brings certain fate Aside Come Prince you shall to Mexico return Where your sad Armies do your absence mourn And in one Battle I will gain you more Than I have made you lose in three before Aca No Montezuma though you change your side I as a Prisoner am by Honour ty'd Mont. You are my Prisoner and I set you free Aca. 'T were baseness â—o accept such Liberty Mont. From him that Conquer'd you it shou'd be fought Aca. No but from him for whom my Conqueror fought Mont. Still you are mine his Gift has made you so Aca. He gave me to his General not his Foe Mont. How poorly have you pleaded Honours Laws Yet shun the greatest in your Country's Cause Aca. What succour can the Captive give the Free Mont. A needless Captive is an Enemy In painted Honour you wou'd seem to shine But 't wou'd be clouded were your wrongs like mine Aca. When Choler such unbridled power can have Thy Vertue seems but thy revenge's Slave If such injustice shou'd my Honour stain My Aid wou'd prove my Nations loss not gain Mont. Be cousend by thy guilty honesty To make thy self thy Countrey 's Enemy Aca. I do not mean in the next Fight to stain My Sword in Blood of any Mexican But will be present in the fatal strife To guard Orazia's and the Ynca's Life Mont. Orazia's Life fond Man First guard thy own Her Safety she must owe to me alone Aca. Your Sword that does such Wonders cannot be In an ill Cause secure of Victory Mont. Hark hark Noise of trampling Aca. What noise is this invades my ears Fly Montezuma fly the Guards are near To favour your Retreat I 'le freely pay That Life which you so frankly gave this day Mont. I must retire but those that follow me Pursue their Deaths and not their Victory Ex. Mont. Aca. Our Quarrels kinder than our Friendships prove You for my Country Fight I for your Love Enter Ynca and Guards Ynca I was to blame to leave this mad Man free Perhaps he may revolt to th' Enemy Or stay and raise some fatal Mutiny Aca. Stop your Pursuits for they must pass through me Ynca Where is the slave Aca. Gon. Ynca Whither Aca. O're the Plain Where he may soon the Camp or City gain Ynca Curse on my dull neglect And yet I do less cause of wonder find That he is gone than that thou stayest behind Aca. My treatment since you took me was so free It wanted but the name of liberty I with less shame can still your Captive live Than take that freedom which you did not give Ynca Thou brave young Man that hast thy years out-done And losing Liberty hast Honour won I must my self thy Honour's Rival make And give that freedom which thou wou'dst not take Go and be safe Aca. But that you may be so Your dangers must be past before I go Fierce Montezuma will for sight prepare And bend on you the fury of the War Which by my presence I will turn away If Fortune gives my Mexicans the Day Ynca Come then we are alike to honour just Thou to be trusted thus and I to trust Ex. all Enter Zempoalla Traxalla and Attendants Zemp. O my Acacis Does not my grief Traxalla seem too rude Thus to press out before my Gratitude Has paid my debts to you yet it does move My Rage and Grief to see those Powers above Punish such Men as if they be Divine They know will most Adore and least Repine Trax. Those that can only mourn when they are crost May lose themselves with grieving for the lost Rather to your retreated Troops appear And let them see a Woman void of fear The shame of that may call their Spirits home Were the Prince safe we were not overcome Though we retir'd O his too youthful heat That thrust him where the dangers were so great Heaven wanted power his Person to protect From that which he had Courage to neglect But since he 's lost let us draw forth and pay His Fun'ral Rites in Blood that we are they May in our Fates perform his Obsequies And make Death Triumph when Acacis dies Zemp. That Courage thou hast shown in Fight seems less Than this amidst Despair to have Excess Let thy great deeds force Fate to change her mind He that courts Fortune boldly makes her kind Trax. If e'r Traxalla so successful proves May be then say he hopes as well as Loves And that aspiring Passion boldly own Which gave my Prince his Fate and you his Throne I did not feel Remorse to see his Blood â—ow from the spring of life into a flood Nor did it look like Treason since to me You were a Sovereign much more great than he Zemp. He was my Brother yet I scorn'd to pay Nature's mean debts but threw those Bonds away When his own Issue did my hopes remove Not only from his Empire but his Love You that in all my wrongs then bore a part Now need not doubt a place within my heart I cou'd not offer you my Crown and Bed Till Fame and Envy with long time were dead But Fortune now does happily present Occasions fit to second my intent Your Valour may regain the Publick Love And make the Peoples Choice their Queens approve Shout Hark hark what noise is this that strikes my Ear Trax. 'T is not a sound that should beget a fear Such Shouts as these have I heard often fly From Conquering Armies crown'd with Victory Zemp. Great God of Vengeance here I firmly vow Make but my Mexicans successful now And with a thousand Feasts thy flames I 'll feed All that I take shall on thy Altars bleed Princes themselves shall fall and make thy Shrine Dy'd with their blood in glorious blushes shine Enter Messenger Trax. How now What News is this that makes thy haste a flight Mess. Such as brings Victory without a Fight The Prince Acaces lives Zemp. Oh I am blest Mess. Reserve some joy till I have told the rest He 's safe and only wants his liberty But that great Man that carries Victory Where e'er he goes that mighty Man by whom In three set Battels we were overcome Ill us'd it seems by his ungrateful King Does to our Camp his Fate and Valour bring The Troops gaze on him as if some bright Star Shot to their Aids call him the God of War Whilst he as if all Conquest did of right Belong to him bids them prepare to fight Which if they shou'd delay one hour he swears He 'll leave them to their Dangers or their Fears And Shame which is th' ignoble Cowards choice At this the Army seem'd to have one Voice United in a shout and call'd upon The God-like Stranger Lead us lead us on Make haste Great Sir lest you should come too late To share with them in
my new Prince I thus my homage pay Your Reign is short young King Zemp. Traxalla stay 'T is to my hand that he must owe his fate I will revenge at once my love and hate She sets a Dagger to Montezuma's Breast Trax. Strike strike the conquering Enemy is near My Guards are press'd while you detain me here Zemp. Dye then ungrateful dye Amexia's Son Shall never triumph on Acacis Throne Thy death must my unhappy flames remove Now where is thy defence against my love She cuts the Cords and gives him the Dagger Trax. Am I betrayed He draws and thrusts at Montezuma he puts it by and kills him Mont. So may all Rebels dye This end has Treason join'd with Cruelty Zemp. Live thou whom I must love and yet must hate She gave thee Life who knows it brings her fate Mont. Life is a trifle which I wou'd not take But for Orazia's and her Father's sake Now Ynca hate me if thou canst for he Whom thou hast scorn'd will dye or rescue thee As he goes to attacque the Guards with Traxalla's Sword Enter Amexia Garrucca Indians driving some of the other Party before them Gar. He lives ye Gods he lives great Queen see here Your coming joys and your departing fear Amex. Wonder and joy so fast together flow Their haste to pass has made their passage slow Like strugling Waters in a Vessel pent Whose crowding drops choak up the narrow Vent My Son She imbraces him Mont. I am amaz'd it cannot be That fate has such a joy in store for me Amex. Can I not gain belief that this is true Mont. It is my fortune I suspect not you Gar. First ask him if he old Garrucca know Mont. My honoured Father let me fall thus low Gar. Forbear great Prince 't is I must pay to you That adoration as my Sovereign's due For from my humble Race you did not spring You are the Issue of our Murthered King Sent by that Traytor to his blest abode Whom to be made a King he made a God The story is too full of fate to tell Or what strange fortune our lost Queen befel Amex. That sad relation longer time will crave I liv'd obscure he bred you in a Cave But kept the mighty secret from your Ear Lest heat of blood to some strange course shou'd steer Your youth Mont. I owe him all that now I am He taught me first the noble thirst of fame Shew'd me the baseness of unmanly fear Till th' unlick'd Whelp I pluck'd from the rough Bear And made the Ounce and Tyger give me way While from their hungry Jaws I snatch'd the Prey 'T was he that charg'd my young arms first with toils And drest me glorious in my Salvage spoils Gar. You spent in shady Forest all the day And joy'd returning to shew me the Prey To tell the story to describe the place With all the pleasures of the boasted chase Till sit for arms I reav'd you from your sport To train your Youth in the Peruvian Court I left you there and ever since have been The sad attendant of my exil'd Queen Zemp. My fatal Dream comes to my memory That Lion whom I held in bonds was he Amexia was the Dove that broke his Chains What now but Zempoalla's death remains Mont. Pardon fair Princess if I must delay My love a while my gratitude to pay Live Zempoalla free from dangers live For present merits I past crimes forgive Oh might she hope Orazia's Pardon too Orazia I wou'd have none condemn'd for loving you In me her merit much her fault o'er powers She sought my Life but she preserv'd me yours Amex. Taught by my own I pity her estate And wish her penitence but not her fate Ynca I wou'd not be the last to bid her live Kings best revenge their wrongs when they forgive Zemp. I cannot yet forget what I have been Wou'd you give life to her that was a Queen Must you then give and must I take there 's yet One way that 's by refusing to be great You bid me live bid me be wretched too Think think what Pride unthron'd must undergo Look on this youth Amexia look and then Suppose him yours and bid me live again A greater sweetness on these Lips there grows Than breath shut out from a new folded Rose What lovely charms on these cold Cheeks appear Cou'd any one hate death and see it here But thou art gone Mont. O that you wou'd believe Acacis lives in me and cease to grieve Zemp Yes I will cease to grieve and cease to be His Soul stays watching in his wound for me All that cou'd render Life desir'd is gone Orazia has my Love and you my Throne And Death Acacis yet I need not dye You leave me Mistriss of my destiny In spight of Dreams how am I pleas'd to see Heavens truth or falshood shou'd depend on me But I will help the Gods The greatest proof of Courage we can give Is then to dye when we have to power live Kills her self Mont. How fatally that instrument of death Was hid Amex. She has expir'd her latest breath Mont. But there lies one to whom all grief is due Orazia None e'er was so unhappy and so true Mont. Your Pardon Royal Sir Ynca You have my Love Gives him Oraz. Amex. The Gods my Son your happy choice approve Mont. Come my Orazia then and pay with me Leads her to Acacis Some tears to poor Acacis memory So strange a fate for Men the Gods ordain Our clearest Sun shine shou'd be mixt with rain How equally our joys and sorrows move Death's fatal triumphs join'd with those of Love Love Crowns the dead and death Crowns him that lives Each gains the Conquest which the other gives Exeunt omnes EPILOGUE to the INDIAN QUEEN Spoken by Montezuma YOU see what Shifts we are inforc'd to try To help out Wit with some Variety Shows may be found that never yet were seen 'T is hard to find such Wit as ne'er has been You have seen all that this old World cou'd do We therefore try the fortune of the new And hope it is below your aim to hit At untaught Nature with your practis'd Wit Our naked Indians then when Wits appear Wou'd as soon chuse to have the Spaniards here 'T is true y'have marks enough the Plot the Show The Poet's Scenes nay more the Painter's too If all this fail considering the cost 'T is a true Voyage to the Indies lost But if you smile on all then these designs Like the imperfect Treasure of our Minds 'T will pass for currant wheresoe'er they go When to your bounteous hands their stamps they owe FINIS THE VESTAL VIRGIN OR THE Roman Ladies A TRAGEDY Written by the Honourable Sir ROBERT HOWARD LONDON Printed for Henry Herringman and are to be Sold by R. Bentley J. Tonson F. Saunders and T. Bennet M DC XCII Dramatis Personae Emilius A Roman Senator of great Quality Sertorius One that had been a General
practis'd to stare and swell strangely Sulp. Let him swell and burst it matters not Who are these Mutius Mut. Quiet Rogues they were brave Souldiers Sulp. Have they lost their Spirits Mut. I know not they are out of practice They have been bob'd They might be train'd again perhaps and enter'd Sulp. This way a little Mutius you are my Friend Mut. I wou'd cut any Man's throat That said the contrary Sulp. I must use your Sword Mutius Mut. Here it hangs ready 't is almost rusty Sulp. Be not startled when I tell you 'T is against my Brother Mut. Let it be against your Father 'T is all one to me Sulp. The quarrel is Hersilia Mut. A Woman is the worst that cou'd be Are you to fight who shall have her Sulp. That she must only judge Mut. So then shall we fight to make her sport A parcel of such Lovers Wou'd make excellent pastime in the Amphitheatre I had an easier way with my Damsels Kind or cruel they never scap'd me Sulp. Not if you cou'd come at 'em Mutius Mut. If they were hid in Houses I made 'em bolt with Fire And pitch'd my toils on all sides ready for ' em Sulp. Ha 1. Noble Mutius farewel we 'll wait on you Another time Sulp Pray let your Friends stay a little Mut. Stay Gentlemen Sulp. Fire a House Mutius Mut. There 's no such way the coyest then Will leap into the next Man's Arms I have been thank'd for saving them Out of the very Fire that I kindled Sulp. I hey may live to love Hersilia Seems troubled Mut. If we kill 'em 't is two to one however That you 'll ne'er have her Sulp. Dare these Men stick by us Mut. Pay 'em well and let the business Be wicked enough Then never fear ' em Sulp. They shall eat Gold Mut. ' Troth I believe they can digest it too Sulp. Thou hast put wild thoughts into my head If I shou'd fail she crowns their Victory Or if Prince Tiridates falls by me I must live hated by her You Pow'rs above Let either Death or Life reward my Love Mut. You are troubled Sir I did not talk To save the â—ighting part I wou'd serve you in your love Through greater dangers Sulp. O Mutius advise me something My blood and thoughts stand still within my Breast Reason's asleep and torments seem aâ— rest Mut. Why I have told you my best stratagem If you get her Father's House but fir'd Let us alone we 'll help to quench it And in the hurry we may get your Mistress There 's no suspicion waits on such disorders Sulp. Dear Mutuis thou reviv'st my drooping Soul There is no other way left probable Enter Claudius a Servant See Mutius Fortune seconds thy advice Here 's one may prove the Instrument walk off Claudius welcome here I have been short in my Rewards Gives him money Claud. You have been Sir too bountiful To my small services Sulp. I have a business if thou dar'st attempt it Shall treble thy Rewards and yet leave me thy debtor Claud. Name it Sir and think it done Sulp. Thou know'st How unsuccessful I am like to prove One Act of thine may help me to Hersilia Then think what thy reward shall be Claud. Speak but the thing Sir Sulp. Presently then in some convenient place Set fire on thy Master's House do not wonder I 'll have those ready that shall quench it quickly And in the hurry under pretence of help Bring Hersilia forth at the East-gate That looks towards the Tiber There I 'll wait for her and by my happiness Measure thy own Rewards Claud. Whither shall we fly Sir Sulp. Trouble not thy self leave that to me Dar'st thou do it Claud. When wou'd you have it done Sir Sulp Presently before suspicion can have time to grow Claud. I 'll do it Sir be sure that you wait ready Sulp. Be gone about it let me see it flame Before an hour 's expir'd trust to me And have no fears Claud. I know an unfrequented room Fit for my purpose I 'll do it instantly Expect me at the East-gate Ex. Claud. Sulp. I will not fail 'T is done Mutius 't is a fire already That Fellow is a Servant to Emilius Whom I have made my Slave with Brâ—bes He 's gone about it Are your Friends prepar'd Mut. Beyond sick Men ready to dye for you Sulp. 'T is well I 'll place you in your several stations That she may scape no way Then if we can but carry off our plunder Mut. Pish the fire will have all the Enemies We shall have none Sulp. Where shall our Rendezvouz be Mut At my House of pleasure That stands upon the Tiber That will be least suspected because I live Most in the City besides we have the River To help us to escape if need require Sulp. No better place Gentlemen Pray observe such orders as my Friend Mutius gives you He shall have money to reward you Equal to all your services and beyond modest wishes 1 2. Doubt us not Sir we will be punctual Sulp. Come Mutius as we go We will agree on the particulars Justice has took away all my compassion And when their flames in cruel brightness shine I 'll smile since there was none that pittied mine Exeunt Enter Sertorius and Caska Sert. Have you plac'd the Horses where I appointed Cask Yes Sir Ser. I have but one thing more then to enjoyn thee If I shou'd fall by Tiridates Sword Carry the News thy self unto Hersilia And watch her as thou woud'st an Arrow shot To see whether it hit or no. Cask To what purpose Sir Sert. If she had any pity for me living Her sorrow for me dead will shew it Caska But how Sir shou'd I send you word Sert. 'T is true abundance travel through the Grave But there 's not one of all the multitude Will carry more than his own News about him Why shou'd things so remote beget such strife Beyond our knowledge and beyond our life Succession thus some to fond Joys betray For whose vain hopes their ruine must make way Enter Tiridates Cask Prince Tiridates Sir Sert. O 't is well leave us now Caska And watch where I appointed If Tiridates comes without me Let him receive those helps that I shou'd have Cask This is a cruel Service Sir Sert. Dispute it not Exit Caska Tir. Your pardon Sertorius that I seem'd thus slow I was enforced to make some little stay To 'scape Sulpitius he and Mutius Were earnest in Discourse Sert. May be they are looking us Mutius is bold Nor is that base Sulpitius less than he And thus much Tiridates I 'll acknowledge Had they now met us with their Swords about 'em I shou'd with much more pleasure as your Friend Have took my share against ' em Draws Tir. Assisted by Sertorius I shou'd have been As sure of Conquest as he is now of Victory Draws I have one motion only left to make He that survives â—eâ— him go tell
dismal Tragedy I do suppose that few expected me But when I saw things grow so Tragical I thought the Poet wou'd have kill'd us all And craftily perhaps so to prevent An Epilogue when all his Wit was spent Besides having been once a Poet it does breed A foolish Itch to see how others speed Troth we Poets have had ill Success of late But what you call our Faults we call our Fate I have rais'd a Scheme and find that Poets are Damn'd with the Influence of the Blazing-Star Here has been Rhime good store and very fit For well-made Noise sometimes has past for Wit ' I wou'd make you smile To see what confus'd Faces Poets make This walks about and cries 't will never take There 's not one word of Mirth nor Show nor Dance A Man of Farce thought I might then advance For I had promis'd and I think you know it A proper Crown for the next dullest Poet. Your Judgment is desir'd and pray be free Whether this shall be Crown'd by You or Me. Thus it was Acted the Comical way the Alteration beginning in ACT IV. towards the latter end after these words And injur'd Love Sulp. Come Madam fly the sight of what you hate If he pursue us stop him with his fate Ser. She call'd me Monster and implor'd their aid Hersilia or her Virtue is betray'd Slaves let me pass 1. Stop or we 'll make you stay Sert. When 't is deny'd I use to force my way They sight he kills one Marcellina enters and takes up his Sword and kills another the rest fly Sert. How like a helping Deity you prove At once your pow'r has given Life and Love Mar. What Love Sertorius Sert. That which was due Once to Hersilia is now so to you Mar. Take heed for though this Passion seems to be A gratitude 't is still Inconstancy Sert. If Love admits a change though it does grow From Virtue will the change a Vice still shew Mar. I fear it must for Constancy 's above All other Virtues that belong to Love Sert. If Virtue meerly dwells in Constancy By that strange Rule then all Mankind shou'd be Firm to the error which they first embrac'd For error is no more than Love ill plac'd Mar. By this large rule if ever you confess Your Love ill plac'd 't is just to love me less If Love to those that most oblige is due Fortune disposes of your Love not you Sert. In Love's adventures Fortune busie shews But 't is not she but you the Love bestows What diff'rence in this Argument is shewn To shake my Love and to confirm your own Mar. Mine is the same and never can be less Sert. Yours will enough secure my happiness Come Fairest let us thus pursue our Friends Where you begin to help misfortune ends Thus as you are appear a Deity Like an arm'd Pallas crown'd with Victory Exeunt In ACT V. the Alteration begins at these Words Cor. Am I thus paid Stay Sir If it must be done I will not for a little squeamishness Lose my Rewards at last Mut. O I thought you wou'd repent Ver. This is a strange Religion to be taught To shew repentance but for one good thought Mut. Well then you are resolv'd Cor. I 'll do 't Sir as unconcern'd As you are to command it Mut. Take her away and instantly about it Ver. The Gods wou'd think that I enough had paid Were my Tears measur'd or my Sorrows weigh'd Exeunt Enter a Veteran Vet. Sir Titus brings word He saw Sulpitius with a Woman By Numa's Grove his haste shew'd some disorder Mut. What luck is this thus to be call'd away I wou'd have made a little longer stay But I 'll haste back It must not be delay'd For ought I know Sulpitius may want aid No thought I have but comes clogg'd with a doubt When ever busie Man does but step out From his own usual track he does confer More power on Fortune than belong'd to her Exit The Scene opens and Corbulo appears busie heating his Irons Enter Mutius peeping Mut. O I am satisfi'd When thou hast done My best Corbulo turn him out alone To wander up and down in his own night And let him seek his way without his sight Exit Cor. He was jealous sure Now to my business Within there Titus go fetch the Pris'ner and then Enter Titus Wait at the Gate that opens on the Tiber And stir not till I call 't is Mutius's Orders Tit. Well we know it Exit Titus goes out and fetches in Artabaces Cor. Come Sir are you ready Art For what Cor. For darkness Art Hadst thou said for death T' had been more gentle I 'll not waste my breath To ask for pity bless but my last sight To let Verginia come and say Good-night Cor. Time's precious Art Mischief was ne'er so hasty but t'wou'd stay If dying Men ask'd a short time to pray So in the midst of all your Cruelties Allow me this devotion of my Eyes Cor. Well such a small Request I 'll not deny Art Then I forgive thy former Treachery Exit Corbulo I 've copied fair Verginia's Eyes within Perhaps it wants a little finishing My last looks in my heart will perfect all And make the Copy serve th' Original Enter Corbulo with Verginia Corbulo goes to his Irons Forgive me Sacred Virgin if my Eyes Begg'd their last looks might be your Legacies Ver. What do you mean what is he doing there What horrid instruments does he prepare Art Such as must rob me always of your sight And without Death bring a perpetual night O do not weep I seem to shrink under the load of fate Not as 't is mine but as it proves your weight Ver. My fears for you as kind and grateful are Lest in your suff'rings I shou'd want a share My grief seems great for want of miseries I shou'd not weep if I might lose my Eyes Art O do not grieve see for your sake I 'll prove Injurious to my self more to my Love To make your sorrow prove the less for me Know that you love your Country's Enemy Th' unfortunate Armenian Prince that strove Against all Roman Conquests but your Love Ver. Love will admit no such concerns in me Because y 'ave been my Country's Enemy Shou'd therefore my uninjur'd love decline I fear it hardly wou'd had you been mine Art Yet think my Love 's grown to a sad excess When it s own greatness makes me wish yours less Cor. Come are you ready Art Yes for miseries Cor. Here are hot Looking-Glasses for your Eyes Ver. Before your own let 'em true Mirrors stand And shew how Death stays blushing in your hand Cor. My Irons cool Ver. What gentleness they shew They from forc'd heats to cooler natures grow Art Fortune and Interest are disposers grown Of Men they have no natures of their own Fair Vestal let your sacred hand receive This kiss as pure as they and when you find My Eyes are sunk in darkness