as Cleve himself You that are made my Lord for other Pleasures Nem. Is this then the reward of all my Passion As if there cou'd be any Happiness For this disconsolate despairing Wretch But in your Love alone Princess C. You 're pleas'd my Lord That I shou'd entertain you and I will Before this dear Remembrancer of Cleve We 'll talk of murder'd Love And you shall hear From this abandon'd part of him that was How much you have been lov'd Nem. Ha! Madam Princess C. Yes Sighing I speak it Sir you have inspir'd me With something which I never felt before That pleas'd and pain'd the quicknings of first Love Nor fear'd him then when with his Infant Beams He dawn'd upon my chill and senseless Blood. But Oh! when he had reach'd his fierce Meridian How different was his form that Angel Face With his short Rayes shot to a glaring God. I grew inflam'd burnt inward and the Breath Of the grown Tyrant parch'd my Heart to Ashes Nor need I blush to make you this Confession Because my Lord 't is done without a Crime Nem. Because for this most blest discovery I am resolv'd to kneel an Age before you Princess C. Rise I conjure you rise I 've told you nothing But what you knew my Lord too well before Not but I always vow'd to keep those Rules My Duty shou'd prescribe Nem. Strike me not dead With Duty 's name by Heav'n I Swear you 're free As Air as Waters Winds or open Wilds There is no Form of Obligation now Nay let me say for Duty O forgive me 'T is utmost Duty now to keep that Love You have confess'd for me Princess C. 'T is Duty 's Charge The voice of Honour and the cry of Love That I shou'd fly from Paris as a Pest That I shou'd wear these Rags of Life away In Sunless Caves in Dungeons of Despair Where I shou'd never think of Man agen But more particularly that of you For Reasons yet unknown Nem. Unknown they are And wou'd to Heav'n they might be ever so Since 't is impossible they shou'd be just Nay Madam let me say the Ghost of Cleve Princess C. Ah! Sir how dare you mention that dear name That drains my Eyes and cries to Heav'n for Blood. Name it no more without the Consequence For 't is but too too true you were the Cause Of Cleve's untimely Death I Swear I think No less than if you had stabb'd him through the Heart Nem. O! Cruel Princess but why shou'd I answer When thus you raise the shadow of a reason To ruin me for ever Is it a fault To Love Then blame not me No Madam no But blame your self who told it to your Husband But Oh! you wou'd not argue thus against me If ever you had lov'd You have deceiv'd your self and flatter'd me Why am I thrown else from the Glorious Height Snatch'd in a moment from my blissful State And hurl'd like Lightning by the hand of Fate Prineess C. Be satisfi'd my Lord you are not flatter'd I have such Love for you that Duties bar Wou'd prove too weak to hinder our Engagement But there is more Nem. More Fancy more Chimera But let it come I 'll stand the stalking Nothing And when the bladder'd Air wou'd turn the Ballance I 'll cast in Love substantial pondrous Love Eternal Love and hurl him to the Beam. But speak and if a Hell of Separation Must part my Soul and Body do not Rack me But let the Poyson steal into my Veins And Damn me mildly Madam as you can Princess C. Hear then my bosom thought 'T is the last time I e'er shall see you and 't is a poor reward For such a Love yet Sir 't is all I have And you must ask no more Nem. Be Witness Heav'n Of my Obedience I will ask her nothing Princess C. Know then my Lord you 're free and I am so Free for the eternal Bond of Marriage My Heart too is inclin'd by Love like yours Nor can I fear the censuring World shou'd blame us But now my Lord What Power on Earth can give Security that Bond shall prove Eternal Nem. Ha! Madam Princess C. Silence silence I command you No no Nemours I know the World too well You have a Sense too nice for long Enjoyment Cleve was the Man that only cou'd love long Nor can I think his passion wou'd have lasted But that he found I cou'd have none for him 'T is Obstacle Ascent and Lets and Bars That whet the Appetite of Love and Glory These are the fuel for that fiery Passion But when the flashy stubble we remove The God goes out and there 's an end of Love. Nem. Ah Madam I 'm not able to contain But must perforce break your commands to answer Once to be yours is to be for ever yours Yours only without thought of other Woman Princess C. Why this sounds well and natural till you 're cloid But Oh! when one satiety has pall'd you You sicken at each view and ev'ry glance Betrays your guilty Soul and says you loath her I know it Sir you have the well-bred cast Of Gallantry and Parts to gain success And do but think when various Forms have charm'd you How I shou'd bear the cross returns of Love Nem. Ah Madam now I find you 're prejudic'd To blast my hopes Princes C. 'T is Reason all calm Reason Nature affirms no violent thing can last I know 't I see 't ev'ry new Face that came Wou'd charm you from me Ha! and cou'd I Love To see that Fatal day and see you scorn me To hear the Ghost of Cleve each hour upbraid me No 't is impossible with all my Passion Not to submit to these Almighty Reasons For this I brave your noblest Qualities I 'll keep your Form at distance curb my Soul Despair of Smiles and Tears and Prayers and Oaths And all the Blandishments of Perjur'd Love I will I must I shall nay now I can Defie to Death the lovely Traytor Man. Nem. No. Madam think not you shall carry 't thus 'T is not allowable 't is past example 'T is most unnatural unjust and monstrous And were the rest of Women thus resolv'd You wou'd destroy the purpose of Creation What when I have the happiness to please When Heav'n and Earth combine to make us happy Will you defeat the aim of Destiny By most unparallel'd extreams of Vertue Which therefore take away it s very Being Princess C. Away I must not answer but conjure you Never to seek occasion more to see me Farewel 'T is past Nem. I cannot let you go I 'll follow on my Knees and hold your Robe Till you have promis'd me that I shall see you To shew you how each day by slow degrees I dye away This you shall grant by Heav'n Or you shall see my Blood let out before you Princess C. Alas Nemours O Heav'n why must it be That I shou'd charge you with the death of Cleve Alass why
Mephostophilus as this too Cel. O! my Dear there are not such a pair of Fiends upon Earth agen Why they look upon 't as a Favour to our Sex if they Ravish a Woman for you must know they were formerly Heads of the Banditti Pol. Well and I must praise thy Discretion in Sacrificing thy Body for o' my Conscience if they had seen this Smock-face of mine I had gone to pot too before my Execution Cel. They sent their Pages this Morning to know whether it was our pleasure to have your Throats cut But we answered 'em all was well and desir'd 'em as ever they hop'd to see us agen to stir no further in the matter Pol. Mum Mum dear sweet Soul secure my Life and thou shalt command me for the future with as full a swing as thou canst desire only like those that use that exercise let it be too and fro sometimes at home and sometimes abroad and we 'll be as merry as the day is long Cel. Be thou but true to me and like the Indian Wives I 'll not out-live thee Pol. And I 'll Swear now that was kindly said as I hope for mercy but it makes me weep what burn for me And shall I not return I will I will I will return when thou dost burn Enter St. Andre Elianor Nay when thy Body in the Fire appears My Ghost shall rise and quench it with his Tears St. A. All Flesh is Grass that 's certain we 're all Mortal the Court 's in Mourning for the Prince of Cleve the Vidam of Chartres is extreamly griev'd Heark you Poltrot sure as I am alive he dy'd of Jealousie Well Nelle for this last care of thine I Swear to be constant to thy Sheets and as thou sayst I think it will not be amiss to tye me to thee now and then for fear of the worst Ha! Poltrot Pol. Ha! Bully I heard your kind Expressions to your Nelle and I 'll Swear I 'll vie thee with who shall love most for I 'll Swear these daily Examples make my hair stand an end Cut my Throat and rip me open he shall Cuckold me all over first like the Man in the Almanack nay he shall Ravish her while I hold the door to my own deflow'ring SCENE II. Tournon Nemours Nem. REsolv'd never to see me more and give up her Honour to the Dauphin that puling sniveling Prince that looks as if he suck'd still or were always in a Milk Diet for the Sins of his Florentine Mother Tour. Bless me you are jealous Nem. I confess it The last time I had her in Disguise she made such Discoveries as I shall never forget Lose her I must not no I 'll lose a Limb first therefore go tell her tell her the Prince of Cleve's Death has wrought my Conversion I grow weary of my wild Courses repent of my Sins am resolv'd to leave off Whoreing and marry his Wife Tour. So the Town talks indeed Nem. The Town is as it always was and will be a Talk a Hum a Buz and a great Lye Do as I bid thee and tell her just as you left me I was going to make my Court to the Princess upon her Husband's Tomb which is true too I mean a Visit by the way of Consolation not but I knew it the only opportunity to catch a Woman in the undress of her Soul nay I wou'd choose such a time for my life and 't is like the rest of those starts and one of the Secrets of their Nature Why they melt nay in Plagues Fire Famine War or any great Calamity Mark it Let a man stand but right before 'em and like hunted Hares they run into his lap Tour. But who 's the Instrument to bring you to her Nem. Her Uncle the Vidam she lies at his House immur'd in a dark room with her Husband's Image in her view and so resolves he says for Death However I 'll sound her in the ebb of her Soul if my Boat run aground 't is but calling for Marguerite and she 'll weep a Tide that shall set me afloat agen As thus I 'll lay the Dauphin in her dish nose her in the Tiptoe of her Pride Railing Lying Laming Hanging Drowning Dying and she comes about agen Exit Tour. Go thy ways Petronius nay if he were dying too with his Veins cut he wou'd call for Wine Fiddles and Whores and laugh himself into the other World. Enter La March. Where 's Marguerite La M. She follows like a Wind with swollen Cheeks ruffled Hair and glareing Eyes the Princess of Cleve has found her Fury nor will she yet believe it SCENE III. The Princess of Cleve Irene in Mourning Song as the Princess kneels at the State. Princess C. DEad thou dear Lord Yet from thy Throne of Bliss If any thing on Earth be worth thy view Look down and hear me hear my Sighs and Vows Till Death has made me cold and Wax like thee Water shall be my Drink and Herbs my Food The Marble of my Chappel be my Bed The Altars Steps my Pillows while all night Stretch'd out I groaning lye upon the Floor Beat my swoll'n Breasts and thy dear loss deplore Iren. Ah! Madam what a Life have you propos'd Princess C. Too little all for an Offence like mine Yet Death will shortly purge my dross away For Oh! Irene where 's the Joy I find it here Yes I shall dye without those violent means That might have hazarded my Soul O Heaven O thou that seest my Heart and know'st my Terrors Wilt thou forgive those Crimes I cou'd not help And wou'd not hide Iren. Doubt not but your Account Shall stand as fair in his Eternal Book As any Saints above Princess C. Take take me then From this bad World quench these Rebellious thoughts For Oh! I have a pang a longing wish To see the Luckless Face of lov'd Nemours To gaze a while and take one last Farewel Like one that is too loose a Limb 'T is gone It was corrupt a Gangreen to my Honour Yet I methinks wou'd view the bleeding part Shudder a little Weep and grudge at parting But by the Soul of my triumphant Saint I swear this longing is without a guilt Nor shall it ever be by my appointment Enter Nemours Iren. But if he shou'd attempt this cruel visit How wou'd your Heart receive him Princess C. With such Temper So clear and calm in height of my Misfortune As thou thy self perhaps wou'dst wonder at Iren. Ha! but he 's here Princess C. Is 't possible my Lord Has then my Uncle thus betray'd my Honour Nem. Start not nor wonder Madam but forgive The Vidam who has thus entrap'd your Virtue To end a ling'ring Wretch That dies for Love Princess C. For Love my Lord is this a time for Love In Tears and Blacks the Livery of Death But what 's your hope if I shou'd stay to hear you Ah! What can you expect from rigorous Vertue From Chastity as cold
State Life and Honour Tour. Yet all this will be lost when you are married to Marguerite Nem. Never by Heaven I 'm thine with all the heat and vigorous Inspiration of an unflesh'd Lover and so will be while young Limbs and Lechery hold together and that 's a Bond methinks shou'd last till Doomsday Tour. But do you believe if Marguerite shou'd know Nem. The question 's too grave when and where shall I see the Gems thou hast in store Tour. By Noon or thereabouts take a turn in Lunemburg Garden and one if not both shall meet you Nem. And thou'lt appear in Person Tour. With Colours flying a Handkerchief held out and yet methinks it goes against my Conscience Nem. Away that serious look has made thee old Conscience and Consideration in a young Woman too It makes a Bawd of thee before thy time Nay now thou put'st me in Poetick Rapture And I must quote Ronsard to punish thee Call all your Wives to Council and prepare To Tempt Dissemble Flatter Lye and Swear To make her mine use all your utmost skill Vertue An ill-bred crosness in the will Honour a Notion Piety a Cheat Prove but successful Bawds and you are great Come thou wilt meet me Tour. 'T is resolv'd I will till which time thou dear Man Nem. Thou pretty Woman Tour. Thou very dear Man. Nem. Thou very pretty Woman one Kiss Tour. Hey Ho Nem. Now all the Gods go with thee Tour. A word my Lord you are acquainted with these Fops set 'em in the modish way of abusing their Wives they are turning already and that will certainly bring 'em about Nem. Bellamore shall do 't with less suspicion farewell Exit Tour. Hey Iaques Enter Jaques with the Vidam Iaq. Ha! my grave Lord of Chartres welcome as Health as Wine and taking Whores and tell me now the bus'ness of the Court. Vid. Hold it Nemours for ever at defiance Fogs of ill humour damps of Melancholy Old Maids of fifty choak'd with eternal Vapours Stuff it with fulsome Honour dozing Vertue And everlasting dullness husk it round Since he that was the Life the Soul of Pleasure Count Rosidore is dead Nem. Then we may say Wit was and Satyr is a Carcass now I thought his last Debauch wou'd be his Death But is it certain Vid. Yes I saw him dust I saw the mighty thing a nothing made Huddled with Worms and swept to that cold Den Where Kings lye crumbled just like other Men. Nem. Nay then let 's Rave and Elegize together Where Rosidore is now but common clay Whom every wiser Emmet bears away And lays him up against a Winters day He was the Spirit of Wit and had such an art in guilding his Failures that it was hard not to love his Faults He never spoke a Witty thing twice tho to different Persons his Imperfections were catching and his Genius was so Luxuriant that he was forc'd to tame it with a Hesitation in his Speech to keep it in view But oh how awkard how insipid how poor and wretchedly dull is the imitation of those that have all the affectation of his Verse and none of his Wit. Enter Jaques Iaq. My Lord Monsieur Poltrot desires to kiss your Grace's hand Nem. Let 's have him to drive away our Melancholy Vid. I wonder what pleasure you can take in such dull Dogs Asses Fools Nem. But this is a particular Fool Man Fate 's own Fool and perhaps it will never hit the like again he 's ever the same thing yet always pleasing in short he 's a finish'd Fool and has a fine Wife add to this his late leaving the Court of France and going to England to learn breeding Enter Poltrot Pol. My Lord Duke your Grace's most obedient humble Servant My Lord of Chartres and Monsieur Iaques yours Monsieur St. Andre desires your Grace's presence at a Serenade of mine and his together And I must tell your Grace by the way he is a great Master and the fondest thing of my Labours Nem. And the greatest Oaf in the World. Pol. How my Lord Vid. The whole Court wonders you will keep him company Nem. Such a passive Raskal he had his Shins broke last night in the Presence and were it not fear'd you wou'd second him he wou'd be kick'd out of all Society Pol. I Second him my Lord I 'll see him Damn'd e'er I 'll be Second to any Fool in Christendom For to tell your Grace the truth I keep him company and lye at his House because I intend to lye with his Wife a trick I learnt since I went into England where o' my Conscience Cuckoldom is the Destiny of above half the Nation Nem. Indeed Pol. O there 's not such another Drinking Scowring Roaring Whoreing Nation in the World And for little London to my knowledge if a Bill were taken of the weekly Cuckolds it wou'd amount to more than the Number of Christnings and Burials put together Vid. What and were you acquainted with the Wits Pol. O Lord Sir I liv'd in the City a whole year together my Lord Mayor and I and the Common-Council were sworn Brothers I cou'd sing you twenty Catches and Drolls that I made for their Feast-days but at present I 'll only hint you one or two Nem. Pray do us the Favour Sir. Pol. Why look you Sir this is one of my chief ones and I 'll assure your Grace 't was much Sung at Court too O to Bed to me to Bed to me c. Nem. Excellent incomparable Pol. Why is it not my Lord This is no Kickshaw there 's substance in the Air and weight in the words nay I 'll give your Grace a taste of another the Tune is let me see Ay Ay Give me the Lass that is true Country bred But I 'll present your Grace with some words of my own that I made on my Wife before I married her as she sate singing one day in a low Parlour and playing on the Virginals Nem. For Heavens sake oblige us dear pleasant Creature Pol. I 'll swear I 'm so ticklish you 'll put me out my Lord for I am as wanton as any little Bartholomew Bore-Pig Viâ— Dear soft delicate Rogue sing Pol. Nay I protest my Lord I vow and swear but you 'll make me run to a Whore Lord Sir what do you mean Nem. Come then begin Poltrot Sings PHillis is soft Phillis is plump And Beauty made up this delicate lump Like a Rose bud she looks like a Lilly she smells And her Voice is a Note above sweet Philomel's Now a little Smutty my Lord is the fashion II. Her Breasts are two Hillocks where Hearts lye and pant In the Herbage so soft for a thing that they want But Mum Sir for that tho a notable Iest For if I shou'd name it you 'd call me a Beast Enter St. Andre without his Hat and Wig. St. A. My Lord the Serenade is just begun and if you don't come just in the nick I beg your Grace's
wond'rous well And yet you knew not what Speak like a Friend What is the cause my Lord Nem. Shall I deal plainly with you I 'm not well P. C. I do believe it how hap'ned the Distemper Nem. It is too deep to search Nor can I tell you P. C. Then you 're no Friend Shou'd Cleve thus answer to Nemours I cannot Say rather that you will not trust a Man You do not love Nem. By Heav'n I do P. C. By Heav'n you do Yet 't is too deep to search For such a shallow Friend Nem. Of all Mankind You ought not P. C. Nay the rest Nem. It is not fit Be satisfied I 'll bear it to my Grave Whate'er it be P. C. You are in Love my Lord And if you do not Swear But where 's the need You start you change you are another Man You blush you 're all constraint you turn away Nem. Why take it then 't is true I am in Love In Torture Racks in all the Hells of Love Of hopeless restless and eternal Love. P. C. Her name my Lord. Nem. Her name my Lord to you P. C. To me Confusion Plagues and Death upon me Why not to me And wherefore did you say Of all Mankind I ought not There you stopt But wou'd have said To pry into this business Yet speak to ease the Troubles of my Soul By all our Friendship by the Life thou gav'st me I do conjure thee thunder in my Ears 'T is Chartres that thou lov'st Chartres my Wife Nem. Your Wife my Lord P. C. My Wife my Lord and I must have you own it Nem. I will not tell you Sir who 't is I love Yet think me not so base were it your Wife That all the subtlest Wit of Earth or Hell Shou'd make me vent a Secret of that nature To any Man on Earth much less to you P. C. Yet you cou'd basely tell it to the Vidam And he to all the Court But I waste time By all the boiling Venom of my Passion I 'll make you own it e'er we part Dispatch Say thou hast Whor'd my Wife Damnation on me Pronounce me Cuckold Nem. But then I give my self the Lye Who told you just before I wou'd not speak Tho I had done it Which I swear I have not Beside I fear you are going Mad. P. C. Draw then and make it up For if thou dost not own what I demand What you both know and have complotted on me Tho neither will confess I swear agen That one of us must fall Nem. Then take my Life P. C. I will by Heav'n if thou refuse me Justice Draw then for if thou dost not I will kill thee And tell my Wife thou basely didst confess Thy Guilt at last in hopes to save thy Life Nem That is a blast indeed that Honour shrinks at Therefore I draw but Oh! be witness Heav'n With such a trembling Hand and bleeding Heart As if I were to fight against my Father Therefore I beg thee by the name of Friend Which once with half this Suit wou'd have dissolv'd thee I beg thee gentle Cleve to hold thy hand P. C. I 'm Deaf as Death that calls for one or both Cleve is disarm'd Nemours gives him his Sword agen Nem. Then give it me I arm thy hand agen Against my Heart against this Heart that loves thee Thrust then for by the Blood that bears my Life Thou shalt not know the name of her I love Not but I swear upon the point of Death Your Wife 's as clear from me as Heav'n first made her P. C. No more my Lord you 've giv'n me twice my Life Nem. Are you not hurt P. C. Alass 't is not so well I have no Wound but that which Honour makes And yet there 's something cold upon my Heart I hope 't is Death and I shall shortly pay you With Chartres love for you deserve her better Nem. No Sir you shall not you shall live my Lord And long enjoy your beauteous vertuous Bride You shall Dear Prince why are you then so cold P. C. I cannot speak But thus and thus there 's something rises here Nem. I 'll wait you home nay shake these drops away And hang upon my arm P. C. I will do any thing So you will promise never to upbraid me Nem. I swear I will not P. C. But will you love me too As formerly Nem. I swear far more than ever P. C. Thou know'st my Nature soft yet Oh such Love Such Love as mine and injur'd as I thought Wou'd spleen the Gaul-less Turtle wou'd it not Nem. It wou'd by Heav'n You make a Woman of me Weeping P. C. Why any thing thou sayst to humour me Yet it is kind and I must love these Tears I hope my Heart will break and then we 're ev'n Yet if this cruel Love thy Cleve shou'd kill Remember after Death thou lov'st me still Exeunt SCENE II. Enter Tournon with the Vidam Tour. SO let that corner be your Post and as soon as ever you see St. Andre come stalking in his Dream slip to his Lady and when you have agreed upon the Writings I 'll be ready to bring you oâ—â— with a Witness Vid. Thou Dear obliging Tour. No more o' that away mark but how easily those that are gifted with Discretion bring things about in the name of Goodness let Men and Women have their Risks but still be careful of the Main Here 's a hot-headed Lord goes mad for a prating Girl Treats her Presents her Flames for her Dies for her till the Fool complies for pure Love and when the bus'ness fails is forc'd to live at last by the love of his Footmen but she that makes a firm Bargain is commonly thought a great Soul for my Lord having consider'd on 't thinks her a Person of depth and so resolves to have it out of her But why do I talk so my self when there 's something to do certainly I shou'd have made a rare Speaker in a Parliament of Women or a notable Head to a Female Jury when his Lordship gravely puts the question whither it be Satis or Non Satis or Nunquam Satis and we bring it in Ignoramus Ha! but who comes here I must attend for Bellamore Enter Poltrot Celia over-hearing Pol. My Wife and I went to Bed together and I 'll warrant full she was of Expectation so white and clean and much inclin'd to laugh and lay at her full length as who wou'd say come eat me Cel. Said she so sweet Sir Pol. Not a bit by the Lord not I not I Cel. Alas nice Gentleman Pol. A Farmer wou'd say this was barbarously done because he loves Beef But I have Plover in reserve Ha! St. Andre heark I hear him bustle O Lord how my heart goes pit a pat nay I dreamt last night I was Gelt Enter St. Andre in his sleep The Vidam goes in 'T is he 't is he by the twilight I see him Ay now the politick head
's lodg'd Ne. Now do I know the Precise will call me damn'd Rogue for wronging my Friend especially such a soft sweet natur'd Friend as this gentle Prince Verily I say they lye in their Throats were the gravest of 'em in my condition and thought it shou'd never be known they wou'd rouze up the Spirit cast the dapper Cloak leave off their humming and haing and fall too like a Man of Honour Exit Pedro. I 'll face him till he enters the Bower and then call my Lord. Ex. Scene the Bower Lights Song The Princess of Cleve Irene SONG LOvely Selina Innocent and Free From all the dangerous Arts of Love Thus in a Melancholy Grove Enjoy'd the sweetness of her Privacy Till th' envious Gods designing to undo her Dispatcht the Swain not unlike them to wo her It was not long e'er the design did take A gentle Youth born to perswade Deceiv'd the too too easie Maid Her Scrip and Garlands soon she did forsake And rashly told the Secrets of her Heart Which the fond Man would ever more impart False Florimel Ioy of my Heart said she 'T is hard to Love and Love in vain To Love and not be Lov'd again And why shou'd Love and Prudence disagree Pity ye Powers that sit at ease above If e'er you knew what 't is to be in Love. Princess C. Alas Irene I do believe Nemours The Man thou represents him yet Oh! Heav'n And Oh my Heart in spite of my resolves Spite of those matchless Virtues of my Husband I love the Man my reason bids me hate Yet grant me some few hours ye Saints to live That I may try what Innocence so arm'd As mine with vows can do in such a cause The War 's begun the War of Love and Vertue And I am fixt to conquer or to dye Iren. Your Fate is hard and since you honour'd me With the important Secret of your Life I 've labour'd for the Remedy of Love. Princess C. I must to Death own thee my better Angel Thou know'st the struglings of my wounded Soul Hast seen me strive against this lawless Passion Till I have lain like Slaves upon the Rack My Veins half burst my weary Eye-balls fixt My Brows all cover'd with big drops of Sweat Which strangling Grief wrung from my tortur'd Brain Ir. Alass I weep to see you thus agen Princess C. Thou hast heard me curse the hour when first I saw The fatal charming Face of lov'd Nemours Hast heard the Death-bed Counsel of my Mother Yet what can this avail spite of my Soul The Nightly Warnings from her dreadful Shroud I love Nemours I languish for Nemours And when I think to banish him my Breast My Heart rebels I feel a gorgeing pain That choaks me up tremblings from Head to Foot A shog of Blood and Spirits Mad-mens Fears Convulsions gnawing Griefs and angry Tears Enter Nemours Ha! but behold My Lord Nem. O! Pardon me Spare me a minute's space and I am gone Princes C. Is this a time Sir Nem. O! I must speak or dye Princess C. Dye then e'er thus presume to violate The Honour of your Friend your own and mine Nem. Yet hear me and I swear by all things Sacred Never to see you more Princess C. Speak then And keep your word P. C. Horrour and Death Nem. Did you but know what 't is to love like me Without a dawn of Bliss to dream all day To pass the night in broken sleeps away Toss'd in the restless tides of Hopes and Fears With Eyes for ever running o'er with Tears To leave my Couch and fly to beds of Flow'rs T' invoke the Stars to curse the dragging hours To talk like Mad-men to the Groves and Bow'rs Cou'd you know this yet blame my tortur'd Love If thus it throws my Body at your Feet Oh! fly not hence Vouchsafe but just to view me in despair I ask not Love but Pity from the Fair. Princess C. O Heavens inspire my Heart Nem. The Heavenly Powers Accept the poorest Sacrifice we bring A Slave to them 's as welcome as a King. Behold a Slave that Glories in your Chains Ah! with some shew of Mercy view my Pains Your piercing Eyes have made their splendid way Where Lightning cou'd not pass Even through my Soul their pointed Lustre goes And Sacred Smart upon my Spirit throws Yet I your Wounds with as much Zeal desire As Sinners that wou'd pass to Bliss through Fire Yes Madam I must love you to my Death I 'll sigh your name with my last gasp of Breath Princess C. No more I have heard you Sir as you desir'd Enter the Prince of Cleve Reply not but withdraw if possible Fix to your word and let us trust our Fates Be gon I charge you speak not but retire Exit Nem. P. C. Excellent Woman and Oh! matchless Friend Love Friendship Honour Poison Daggers Death Falls Princess C. O Heaven Irene help help the Prince my Lord. My Dearest Cleve wake from this Dream of Death And hear me speak P. C. Curse on my Disposition That thus permits me bear the Wounds of Honour And Oh! thou foolish gentle love-sick Heart Why didst thou let my hand from stabbing both Princess C. Behold 't is yet my Lord within your Power To give me Death P. C. I do entreat thee leave me I 'm bound for Death my self and I wou'd make My passage easie if you wou'd permit me All that I ask thee for the Heart I gave thee And for the Life I love in thy behalf Is that thou'dst leave me to my self a while And this poor honest Friend Princess C. I wou'd obey you But cannot stir I know I know my Lord You think that I design'd to meet Nemours This night but by the Powers above I Swear P. C. O! do not Swear for Chartres credit me There is a Power that can and will revenge Therefore dear Soul for I must love thee still If thou wilt speak confess repent thy fault And thou perhaps may'st find a door of Mercy For me by all my hopes of Heav'n I swear I freely now forgive thee Oh! my Heart Pedro thy arm let me to bed Princess C. And do you then refuse My help P. C. In Honour Chartres after such a Fall I ought not to permit that thou shou'dst touch me Princess C. But Sir I will your arm I 'll hold you all Thus in the closest strictest dearest Clasps Nor shall you dye believing my Dishonor I swear I knew not of Nemours his coming Nor had I spoke those words which yet were guiltless Had he not vow'd never to see me more By our first Meeting by our Nuptial Joys By my dead Mother's Ghost by your own Spirit Which Oh! I fear is taking leave for ever I swear that this is true P. C. I do believe thee Thou hast such Power such Charms in those dear Lips As might perswade me that I am not dying Off Pedro by my most untimely Fate I swear I 'm reconcil'd and heark thee
met we not e'er I engag'd To my dead Lord And why did Fate divide us Nem. Fate does not No 'T is you that cross both Fortune Heav'n and Fate 'T is you obstruct my Bliss 't is you impose Such Laws as neither Sense nor Vertue warrant Princess C. 'T is true my Lord I offer much to duty Which but subsists in thought therefore have patience Expect what time with such a love as mine May work in your behalf my Husband 's death So bleeding fresh I see him in the Pangs Nay look methinks I see his Image rise And point an everlasting Separation Yet Oh! it shall not be without a Tear. Nem. O! stay Princess C. Let go believe no other Man Cou'd thus have wrought me but your self to Love Nem. Stay then Princess C. I dare not Think I love you still Nem. I do But stay and speak it o'er agen Princess C. Believe that I shall love you to my death Nem. I will. But live and love me Princess C. Off I charge you Believe this parting wounds me like the Fate Of Cleve or worse Believe but Oh! farewel Nem. Believe but what That last thought I implore Princess C. Believe that you shall never see me more Exit Enter the Vidam Vid. Well and how goes the Game What on the Knee a gather'd Brow and a large dew upon it Nay than you are a looser Nem. Didst thou see her pass Vid. I did she wrung me by the hand and sigh'd Then look'd back twice And totter'd on the threshold at the door Nem. Believe that you shall never see me more she Lyes I 'll Wager my State I Bed her eighteen months three weeks hence at half an hour past two in the Morning Vid. Why Faith and that 's as exact as e'er an Astrologer of 'em all Nem. Give me thy hand Vidam I know the Souls of Women better than they know themselves I know the Ingredients just that make 'em up All to loose Grains the subtlest volatile Atoms With the whole Mish-mash of their Composition Heark there without the voice of Marguerite Now thou shalt see a Battle worth the gazing Mark but how easily my reason flings her And yet at last I 'll swing into Friendship Because I love her Enter Bellamore Bell. The Princess shall I stop her Nem. No let her come With flying Colours and with beat of Drum Like the Fanatick I 'll but rub me down And then have at her Vidam stay you here By Heav'n I 'm jealous of this changeable Stuff Therefore the hits will be the livelier o' both sides The Dauphin but no more she comes she comes Enter Marguerite pushing Bellamore Marg. Be gon Villain Devil Fury Monster of a Man. Nem. But hear me but six words in private Enter Poltrot Celia Pol. And I swear by this lascivious bit of Beauty I will cleave to my Celia for Better for Worse in Searge Grogrum or Crape though a Queen shou'd come in my way in Beaten Gold Nem. What then Gentlemen I perceive there have been Wars at home Pol. Not a Battle my Lord only a Charge a Charge sounded or so Nem. What was it a Trumpet or through a Horn Sir Pol. A Horn Sir a Horn Sir no Sir 't was not a Horn Sir Only my Celia was a little disdainful but we are Friends agen Sir and what then Sir Nem. Come come all Friends were Tournon here I wou'd forgive her a litte Scorn in a pretty Woman so it be not too much affected is a Charm to new Friendship therefore let each Man take his Fair one by the hand thus lay it to his Lips and Swear a whole Life's Constancy St. A. As I will to my Nelle though I haule Cats at Sea or cry Small-coal and for him that upbraids her I 'll have more Bobs than Democritus when he cry'd Poor-Jack There 's more Pride in Diogenes or under a Puritan's Cap than in a King's Crown Nem. For my part the Death of the Prince of Cleve upon second thoughts has so truly wrought a change in me as nothing else but a Miracle cou'd For first I see and loath my Debaucheries Next while I am in Health I am resolv'd to give satisfaction to all I have wrong'd and first to this Lady whom I will make my Wife before all this Company e'er we part This I hope whenever I dye will convince the World of the Ingenuity of my Repentance because I had the power to go on He well Repents that will not Sin yet can But Death-bed Sorrow rarely shews the Man. THE EPILOGUE WHat is this Wit which Cowley cou'd not name The rare Inducement to a perfect Fame The Art of Nature curious in a Frame Is it a Whig a Trimmer or a Tory Or an Old Fop forgotten in the Story 'T is Honour veil'd in Honesty's Disguise Or Cesar like a Fencer in a Prize 'T is Pindar's Ramble Nature in Misrule A Politician acted by a Fool. 'T is all Variety that Arts can give The Danaid's filling of a Leakey Sieve The Valleys Sweets and the distilling Spring The brimming Bacchus that the Muses bring To drink the Health of England's Glorious King. A Statesman thoughtful for a Clown revil'd A Pestle and a Mortar for a Child 'T is a true Principle but hardly shown An Artificial Sigh a Virgins Groan When the first night her Lover layes her on 'T is like a Lass that Gads to gather May 'T is like the Comedy you have to day A Bulling Gallant in a wanton Play. FINIS