her in Marriage The Young Earl at sight of the Lady was so surpriz'd with Love that he began to court her for himself and concealing the Kings Intentions got her Fathers consent Hereupon the Earl posted to the King told him that the Lady was fair indeed but nothing answerable to the fame that went of her yet desir'd the King that he might marry her as being her Fathers Heir thereby to raise his Fortunes The King consented and he took another Journey to consummate the Marriage Soon after the Fame of her Beauty began to spread more than before The King began to doubt he had been abus'd and to find out the truth sent the Earl word that he would come and hunt with him in his Park Ethelwold fearing the Event and to cover his deceit from the Kings Eyes acquainted his Wife with the wrong he had done both her and the King and earnestly requested her to deform her self what she could either in Dress or otherwise lest the King whose Amorous inclination was not unknown shou'd chance to be attracted But she considering that now was the time to make the most of her Beauty and longing to be a Queen wou'd not be accessary to her own wrong Against his coming she us'd all her Art in Dressing put on her Richest Cloaths and omitted nothing might make her appear charming in his Eyes which took effect for the King at first sight was struck with admiration and in mind resolv'd to recover his intercepted right and to punish the Interloper of his destin'd Spouse But hid his resentments under a clear brow appointing as was usual a day of Hunting in a Forrest now call'd Harewood where in the midst of the Sport singling out the Earl struck him through with a Dart of Javelin It chanced that the Earl's base Son coming by upon the Fact the King sternly ask'd him How he lik'd this Game He submisly reply'd That Whatever pleas'd the King must not displease him The King for this Answer took an Affection to the Youth and ever after highly favour'd him making amends in the Son for what he had done to the Father Alfreda was not long a Widow for after this he made her his Queen who to expiate her former Husband's death though therein she had no hand cover'd the place of his blood shed with a Monastery of Nunns to sing over him This King built the Monastery of Ramsey in Hampshire He Reigned Sixteen years Liv'd Seven and thirty and with great Funeral Pomp was Buried in the Abby of Glassenbury These only are his Faults upon Record rather to be wonder'd how they were so few and so soon left he coming at Sixteen to the Licence of a Scepter and that his Virtues were so many and so mature he dying before the age wherein Wisdom can in others attain to any ripeness However with him dy'd all the Saxon Glory After him was nothing heard but their Decline and Ruine For the Fact of Ethelwold's Death this King is Censur'd by most Historians as Cruel and Tyrannical but consider'd well it may be judg'd more favourably and that no Man of sensible spirit but in his place without extraordinary Perfection wou'd have done the like for next to Life what worse Treason cou'd have been committed against him From this last Act of his I draw the Argument of this Play taking notice of no passage of his Life but his Love to Alfreda I have introduced new Persons to raise a Plott and vary'd from the Chronicle to better the Character of the King Knowing that the Criticks in Poetry are more Censorious and Severe than the Historians Several Forreign Authors have writ upon this part of the Story some have disguis'd it under borrow'd Names but all of 'em were at a loss when they came towards a conclusion and have left it imperfect fearing to blemish the Character of the King I found it difficult but hope I have succeeded so well as to make the last Act the best and the Catastrophe in that point not blameable the Husband receives his death from another hand whence it appears just yet accidental I have mix'd with it a run of Comedy but not after the manner of our Old Tragi-Comedies where one half of the Play are Heroes and the other Mechanicks and Buffoons The Character of Durzo I presume is so well judg'd that none may count his presence in the Court impertinent or unsuitable to the business of the Place But I submit all to a free Censure careless of the Fate of any trifle in this nature Farewell ERRATA PAge 11. line 18. r. Oswo. Come p. 25. l. 12. f. then will I r. then I will p. 36. l. 25. f. Vere off r. Sheere off p. 143. l. 15. f. to your r. o're your PROLOGUE to EDGAR THis Play at least Ten Years ago was writt A time when th' Author had more Zeal than Witt But pondring on 't he found it wou'd not do Without Romantick Love and mighty show And nothing pleas'd you in those dayes but Rymes From Four to Seven we daily rung the Chymes Long did you hear and long the sound did please But now Y◠are surfeited and Verse grows a Disease Well he forbore and well has nick'd the time If Sense may do that is not shodd with Ryme If Heroes too that are no more than men May be allow'd to tread the Stage agen If Lovers may be Lovers yet not by fits Rave and discourse like Folks beside their witts But if you 'll still have Poets wrack their Brain For Sense that shall your Understandings strain To Verse we will return And once more let the Goss-Hawk fancy fly That beats the Aire and flutters in the Sky Sports for a while in view but takes a flight On th◠sudden and flyes clearly out of sight Still there remains the Musick of her Heells And all you hear's the gingle of her Bells But Humane Actions now in Playes allow And bus'ness such as does from Nature slow Let not what 's natural be counted Low We have no Rant no Rapture nor high flight The Poet makes us Men and Women all to Night The Persons Names Edgar King of the West Saxons By Mr. Mohun Ethelwold A Lord and Favourite in Court By Mr Goodman Ruthin An Ambitious designing Lord Father to the Queen By Mr. Burt. Aldernald A Young Admiral Brother to Alfreda By Mr. Clark Oswold A Gentleman of the Court Brother to Hillaria By Mr. Wiltshire Durzo A Blunt Sea Captain By Mr. Grissin Courtiers and Guards  WOMEN The Queen By Mrs. Knight Matilda The Princess By Mrs. Bowtell Alfreda Bride to Ethelwold and Daughter to Ordgare Earl of Devonshire By Mrs. Frances Baker Hillaria A Young Lady at Court By Mrs. Katherine Baker Alicia Confident to the Princess By Mrs. Rutter Court Ladies and Attendants  The SCENE Mercia or Middle England ACT I. SCENE I. The Curtain drawn up an Altar is discovered Aldernald giving Alfreda to Ethelwold in Marriage an Abbot
KING EDGAR AND ALFREDA A Tragi-Comedy Acted at the Theatre-Royal Written By EDWARD RAVENSCROFT Gent. Illud quod medium est atque inter utrumque probamus Mart. LONDON Printed for M. Turner near Turn-Style in Holbourn M.DC.LXXVII READER INstead of a Preface I will only treat you with the Life of Edgar as I find it in our English Chronicles No Romance Affords more variety in so few words and the pleasure of reading it will recompence the trouble The LIFE of EDGAR King of the West Saxons EDgar by his Brother's death became King of all England at Sixteen Years of age but his Coronation when and where and by whom is uncertain Some say he was Crown'd at Kingston upon Thames by Otho Archbishop of Canterbury in the First Year of his Reign others say not till the Twelfth and William of Malmsbury not till the Thirtieth Another Chronicle saith in his Eleventh year and that in the City of Bath by the hands of Dunstan whom he call'd home out of Flanders where he liv'd in Exile This King had no Warr all his Reign yet always well prepar'd for Warr he govern'd the Kingdome in great Peace Honour and Prosperity gaining thence the Sirname of Peaceable The Saxons acknowledg'd him their sole Soveraign without Division of Provinces and Titles under him ended the Heptarchy till then the Land was cantl'd out into Seven Principalities His Acts were some Virtuous some Politick some Just and some Pious and some with a mixture of Vice but those related to Women His Care and Wisdome was great in guarding the Coast round with Ships to the Number of Three thousand six hundred which he divided into Four Squadrons to sayl to and fro about the Four Quarters of the Land meeting each other Thus he kept out wisely the Force of Strangers prevented Foreign Warr and secur'd the Coasts from Pyrats He would himself sayl round his Kingdome once every Summer In the Winter and Spring time he usually Rode the Circuit as a Judge Itinerant through all his Provinces to see Justice well administer'd and the poor not oppressed he severely punish'd his Judges if he found them corrupted with Bribes To repress Drunkenness which the Danes had brought in he made a Law ordaining a size by certain pinns in the Cup with penalty to any that shou'd presume to drink deeper then the Mark. To clear the Land from Wolves which in his dayes did great annoyance to his Country he wholly remitted the Tribute imposed on the Princes of Wales by King Athelston appointing in lieu thereof a certain Number of Wolves yearly to be paid whereof the Prince of North Wales for his part was to pay Three hundred which continu'd for Three years space and in the fourth year there was not a Wolf to be found and so the Tribute ceas'd Towards the end of his Reign the Welsh-men mov'd some Rebellion against whom he went with a Mighty Army and chastis'd the Authors but when his Souldiers had gotten great Spoyls and made prey upon the Innocent Country people he commanded them to restore it all back again which if it made some few English angry it pleas'd the whole Country of the Welsh and rais'd him high in their admiration His Pious Acts were that he built and re-edify'd seven and forty Monasteries and meant to have made them up Fifty but was prevented by Death In his Progress going to Chester he summon'd to his Court there all the Kings that held of him took homage of them their names are Kened King of Scots Malcolm of Cumberland Maccuse of the Iles Five of Wales Duffnall Howell Griffith Iago Iudethil These he had in such awe that going one day into a Gally he caus'd them to take each man an Oar and row him down the River Dee whilst himself sate at the Stern saying That his Successors might then glory to be Kings of England when they had such Honour done them The same Year he gave to Kened the Scottish King many Rich Presents and the whole Country of Lawdian or Lothien to hold of him on condition That he and his Successors shou'd repair to the English Court at high Festivals when the King sate Crown'd gave him also many Lodging places by the way which till the dayes of Henry the Second were still held by the Kings of Scotland He was of Stature not tall of body slender yet so well made that in strength he chose to contend with such as were thought strongest and dislik'd nothing more then that they shou'd spare him for Respect or fear to hurt him Kened King of Scots then in the Court of Edgar sitting one day at Table was heard to say jestingly among his Servants He wondered how so many Provinces could be held in subjection by such a little dapper man His words were brought to the King's Ear he sends for Kened as about some private business and in talk drawing him forth to a secret place produces two Swords gave one of them to Kened And now saith he it shall be try'd which ought to be the Subject for it is shameful for a King to boast at Table and shrink in Fight Kened abash'd demanded his pardon for what he had simply spoken and no way intended in contempt or to his disparagement wherewith the King was satisfy'd His Faults were that he deflowr'd a sacred Nunn call'd Wolsechild on whom yet he begot a Saint the Chaste Edyth After her he took another Virgin out by force call'd Ethelfâ—ede where she was placed by her Friends to avoid his pursuit For her excellent Beauty she was call'd Ethelfâ—ed the White He kept her as his Concubine but liv'd not obstinately in the offence for sharply reproved by the Archbishop Dunstan he submitted to seven years penance Another Story there goes of him that he chanc'd to hear of a Virgin Daughter to a Western Duke exceedingly prais'd for Beauty and coming to Andover commanded her to his Bed The Mother not daring flatly to deny yet abhorring that her Daughter shou'd be so deflowr'd brought in the dark her Maid to him dress'd in her Daughters Cloaths A Wench it seems not unhandsom nor unwitty who supply'd the place of her Young Lady In the Morning making haste to rise daylight scarce yet appearing was by the King ask'd Why she made such haste She answered To do the Work her Lady had set her not daring to hazard her displeasure by a longer stay By which words the King perceiv'd the Deceit and turn'd it to a Jest. But so well lik'd her company that he kept her with him advanc'd her in Honour above her Mistress and made her take place of her in publick Lov'd her and accompany'd her only till he marry'd Alfreda Alfreda was the only Daughter of Ordgar Duke of Devonshire Founder of Tavestock Abby in that County She was extreamly cry'd up for a Beauty the King hearing the loud Commendations sent his Favourite Earl Ethelwold to see her intending if she were found such as answer'd report to demand
Treason King Guards Alfr. Treason Ald. Retire Sir I 'le stand 'twixt you and danger King Lights lights The King goes off Ald. Who 's there stand Eth. I will not Ald. Stand or dye Eth. Avoid be gone Ald. Who e're thou art thou shalt They fight Alfr. Oh Madam speak Oh she 's dead Ald. Thy Career is stopt Eth. falls We shall see who thou art Alfr. I heard Swords clash Oh my fears Ald. Who 's there Alfr. A Woman half dead with fear Ald. Is not that Alfreda's voice Alfr. Brother Ald. What 's the matter Alfr. Oh the Queen the Queen is murder'd Ald. Here then lies the Murderer Alfr. Oh what have you done you have kill'd the King Ald. The King Enter Matilda Ladies and Lights at one door The King Oswald Durzo Courtiers and Guards at the other Osw. What Cryes are these Alfr. The Queen is murder'd Mat. Murder'd She 's dead Runs to the body Ald. See the King is safe Alfr. The Innocent then is fal'n by your hand And the guilty Murderer lives Tyrant Barbarian Murderer King Why this unjust Accusation Alfr. Me you thought you had murder'd But the mistake proves yet more fatal Than your Intention there behold your Queen The best of Women murder'd King Murder'd by whom had he ten thousand lives My revenge should reach 'em all Alfr. Oh rare Dissembler Osw. This is my Lord Ethelwold Alfr. My Husband slain too Oh Monster Monster Oh my dear Lord Runs to embrace Eth. Eth. False Woman King Whence proceeds all this Who can clear this Riddle Eth. If any can quickly let 'em speak Before my little breath that 's left is spent I would not die in so much ignorance Ald. Attempting your flight you Fell by my Sword To Eth. Alfr. And the Queen by thy barbarous hand To the King Mistaking her for me you kill'd her Eth. I struck that blow to punish thy Lust To Alfreda And Falshood Alfr. Now I find the Fatal error After you left me at the Grotto Sir To think what Answer I should give your love Which you had urg'd with so much violence I resolv'd to feign a kind compliance Thinking it was you that return'd I put the Queen into his hand whom my Intreaties had drawn into the Garden And who by my Perswasions there stood ready To be lead off in the dark instead of me Eth. What do I hear King You conspir'd my breach of Vows Alfr. Them we judg'd unlawful we hop'd Her Embraces might reconcile your love And call home your wandring loose affections Eth. Oh Innocence What Expiation can I make Alfr. Live live my Lord. Eth. My Death 's ascertain'd and the time draws nigh Oh had I dy'd this truth unreveal'd The joys of Heaven could not have made me blest King I grieve the Tragical Event Here are some can witness my Innocence I came to make a tryal of thy Virtue And if I found it absolute to send for Thy Husband and thy Brother In their hearing to act the Scene o're agen In Ethelwold's breast I was sure The lees of Jealousie were yet remaining When I retired 't was not with expectation Or desire that thou should'st change thy mind But to accomplish that Design Oswald I sent To call thy Husband where I thought I had fix'd him and in the interim I declar'd thus much to you Aldernald Ald. You did Sir King But how came Ethelwold to the unlucky And untimely knowledge of our meeting Eth. My Lord Ruthin discover'd that to me Alfr. And I to him Eth. His Discovery waken'd my Jealousie King And of all this mischief is the cause Ruth How strangely Fate baffles humane Reason In all designs man's Prudence frames And where our Wisdom most labours for success Le ts us our greatest disappointments meet Eth. Give me thy hand Alfreda That e're I am depriv'd of the Glory I may dispose of what I could not merit With my last breath Sir I bequeath her to You Accept the Legacy I resign her As dying Penitents restore ill-gotten Wealth King Thy Penitence to Heaven is not more grateful Than this Gift to me Eth. The Fatal minute crowds on apace If in my death Alfreda you permit I retain an Interest in you Love the King For I am Thine no more Alfr. Ah my Lord King Curs'd Instrument here behold the end To Ruthin Of all thy Polices Here see the painted bubble of Ambition Broken and all thy Hopes dash'd to air Ruth Nothing remains in the world I value now In a Cloyster I 'le spend the remainder of my life Where I 'le thank Heaven which timely lets me see How fruitless and how vain are Earthly hopes Alfr. Ah Sir he 's dead no Sigh nor breath remains King Alfreda weep not Each precious drop that falls from your bright eyes Will raise in me an envy of his death Alfr. I Know your heart does feel a tenderness King His and the Queens death I grieve But Fate 's hand was in 't and Justice Seem'd to strike the blow Forbear thy tears and now only remember Thou art his Legacy Alfr. To requite that Generous act I ask Supplies To found a Monastery o're the place of his Interment King 'T is granted This more I 'le do to merit thee Blush not Matilda nor wonder Alderlnald King takes Ald. and Matilda's hands and joyns em If uniting thus your hands I reveal The Secrets of your hearts Love of your Souls has a strict union made And Vows which Heaven records have seal'd it This I learnt to night from your discourse Whilst here in the Garden I stood conceal'd Take her brave young man Ald. Here I possess what does transport And lead my Soul to an Elizium King Now Alfreda to my Throne ascend Bright as the Constellation that shin'd At thy Nativity and cast its glorious Influence on thee Alfr. One Month I dedicate to Virgin-Widdowhood Sir the rest of my whole life to you Captain why stand you single are Not you a Lover too Durz. Yes and this is the very thing I love Durzo To reward your merit and promote Your Love we make you our Rear-Admiral Mat. Hillaria you must now strike sail to him Hill Madam did not your Example encourage me I durst not give my heart to a Soldier Durz. I thank your Grace now I 'le board her to rights Hill Now Captain we are sailing out of the Haven Of Love into the tempestuous Sea of Matrimony King You must a while forget Wars rough Alarms Love does invite you to reap gentler Spoils To you most Kind Fortune the Glory gives In these more pleasing Triumphs to advance Whilst she delays my happiness But when Alfreda's month of Widdowhood is past Our Solemnities shall raise new joys Then we with Nuptial Rites will consummate The yet imperfect bounty of our Fate FINIS EPILOGVE FAin I would ask your Iudgments of the Play But you imploy your Wit still the wrong way You reckon up the Faults tho near so small Pass by the Good and so like none at all You Criticks are like Sives you onely shew The Bran and let the finest Flower run thro But do not now impute it for a Crime That we do mention Guns in Edgar's time Nor let the Critick that is deeply read In Baker Stow and Hollinshead Cry Daâ— me the Poet is mistaken here For Ethelwold was kill'd hunting the Deer To these Objections this he bid me say They writ a Chronicle but he a play Poets may as they please with Truth make bold And Stories to the best advantage mould How easily might the Remedy have been By alt'ring Names or changing of the Scene Tho not these faults yet others you 'd have found Your Censures give to every play a wound Leave off this finding fault it spoils Delight Commend what 's good t' encourage them that write When ye wou'd pleasure in enjoyment find Who calls his Mistresses Defects to mind We 'l think upon her Charms the more to raise The Fancy to a Pitch As 't is in Love so let it be your rule at Playes
King has th' advantage King Sit down and play my Game if this end Before my Return begin another Oswald Exeunt the King and Oswold A Courtier sits down to play After a while Ethelwold rises Eth. Cousen I 'le trust my Game to your management Pray use your skill 'till my Return Exit Another Courtier sits down to play The Scene shuts upon them Scene 4th Enter the Queen and Alfreda in the Garden Queen This Secret you have reveal'd takes from me All suspicions of your Virtue I have not now one jealous thought of you But the King still does and will love you Alfr. But after this night I will no more Be seen at Court not that I doubt my Virtue Or my Courage no Madam 't is for your sake I go because I know my absence will with More speed and ease restore you to the King's love I would else stand my ground and my Virtue Should from this Trial grow exemplar Queen Let the excess of love I bear the King Excuse the wrongs my Jealousies have done Which are so much the greater because The Virtue they have offended is so highly eminent Alfr. That my Honour may not receive a blemish From this nights private conference I have intreated your presence in the Garden Assisted by the darkness of the night You may unperceiv'd by the King Hear our Discourse and thence know his intents Queen My heart is on the sudden much opprest Something fills my mind with sad presages And makes me grow suspicious of th' event Alfr. Those thoughts are the dictates of your Melancholly Queen I would fain retreat Alfr. Oh Madam let me importune your stay To witness for me if by any chance Our meeting be discover'd that nothing past Injurious to my Lord or unworthy A Ladies publick vindication Queen Hark I heard the Garden-gate clap too Alfr. He is coming stand conceal'd The Queen absconds Enter the King and Oswold in disguise with a dark Lanthorn and a naked Sword King Here expect my Return To Oswold Alfr. Who 's there The King advances King 'T is I the King Oh my Alfreda Oh most blest and happy minute of my life Alfr. Why are you Sir so much rejoyc'd King How sweet are stollen minutes in love Of this kind compliance That be the Reward Puts a Casket of Iewels into Alfreda's hand Alfr. What is it Sir King A rich Present of Jewels Wealth enough to purchale a Kingdom Or ransom a Captive Monarch Alfr. To receive so rich a Present from you Will surely bring my Honour into question And to my Husband's Jealousies Add the censures of the world King Take 'em and with 'em take my heart Take me a King one that has power To authorize and justifie his Love One that will be thy Lover and Protector Alfr. Sir I have now a Lover and Protector That has than yours a more unlimited Power King Than mine Alfr. My honour forfeited your Power can weak Defence afford None to my face perchance May dare to call me Strumpet but in Their hearts they 'l brand me with that Title And there call you Tyrant Now I have Heaven for my Protector Heaven that Protects the virtuous and the innocent King Sin repeated and to a Habit grown Removes us from the state of Virtue But one single act will not destroy Thy Innocence Alfr. For ever it would blot my Soul and Darken my honour King The world shall never know it Alfr. It never shall for I will never King Oh hold Alfr. What wouâ—d you Sir King Lead me to thy Apartment And there make satisfaction for Ethelwold's Crimes I would have thee Give thy self up to me and love Alfr. Your discourse is too urging I can no longer bear it King Speak lower Alfr. Let them speak low that speak amiss I speak what I ought and fear not to be heard King Are you then resolv'd not to comply Alfr. From a woman of my quality That Question for an Answer merits Silence or Death King Comply then and kill me after Alfr. No kill me first and live in peace kill me And with my bloud quench your unlawful fires King Behold a King that languishes A King that courts you with His Wealth and State and to your merits Dedicates his Life and Honours Alfr. Oh King Here at your feet a wretched woman falls That with her tears and prayers beseeches you That asks for nothing but her Liberty And except her honour gives you all And to ransom That offers her life King Without that you give me nothing Alfr. I give you all I can King Your love Alfr. That is my Husband 's Right King He is a Traitor and his life is mine Alfr. Your Pardon has acquitted him King He is still in my power his Life And your Honour are at my mercy Alfr. Your word is past and cannot be recall'd King I am a King and can do what I please And now Alfreda as a King I speak I love and must enjoy Alfr. Since as a King you have declar'd your mind And as Monarch of these Dominions I will return you my Answer As I am a Queen of my own free Will And Mistress of my Affections Your Love from me shall meet with no return If me you love with hopeless fires you burn King I can act too as a King but in deeds You want power to shew your self a Queen See there Gives a sign Oswald at a distance shews a Light and a naked Sword Alfr. What means this Sight King See there the fate of Traitors Of such Traitors as is Ethelwold Alfr. What shall I do King Besides the fate that threatens him consider You are a Woman alone defenceless I have Power have Followers and am resolute Retreat not you are guarded on every side Alfr. Sir I request one favour King What is 't Alfr. Sir give me but my choice which to part with My Honour or my Life King Life must not be at your dispose I love I burn and must quench my Flame Alfr. If I consent not what can you do King Force you Alfr. who values not life fears not force King Force must prevail Alfr. Then force oppos'd by force must be The remedy You are resolv'd to attempt my Honour King I am resolv'd to procure my peace Alfr. To this then I owe my deliverance Puls out a dagger To this which my care provided for a refuge Come begin your assault Come Sir make your Amorous approaches See I 'me ready to receive your Imbraces King What art thou doing my Life Oh Alfreda what are your intentions Alfr. Approach not If you do You press this forward to my heart Tho you 'd not grant me my choice which to part with Life or Honour yet I 'le give you your freedom To see me live with honour or with honour die If barbarous man I snatch my life from thee My Honour will eternally be safe King Oh cruel one what do I behold Alfr. A woman that has courage above her Sex
And honour equal to the best You behold a Ladies hand arm'd against Her own soft breast and ready T' encounter Death to 'scape thy Tyranny One that by death will immortalize her Name King Unheard of bravery Alfr. Pause not but away hence Or this minute is my last Resolve with speed for I am resolute King I would not kill thee cruel one Alfr. Be gone then Sacrilegious man King If in despair I part I die Alfr. Your longer stay kills me King Live and I 'le be gone Alfr. Be gone that I may live King She has a hardned Virtue she 's brave To the last degree Alfr. If you return this posture I resume King Grant me Alfreda one request Alfr. It must be very small King Consent I may leave thee a few minutes And find thee here at my return In my absence think on Ethelwold's Treason Think by his guilt how wretched I am made That some attonement for his crimes should be That for his grant of life thou art indebted Alfr. I will King Love is the sum I ask This night let me be blest with thy Imbraces And after live ever free from importunities Alfr. Sir King A sudden answer cannot be favourable Keep it back 'till my return but then Let thy first words declare thy Resolution Alfr. They shall Alfreda enters the Grotto The King goes to Oswold Oswold appears King Thy unalterable Resolution Oswald Osw. Sir King She 's invincible What other woman could have stood this test Calms delude her not nor Storm affright her Go bring Ethelwold into the Garden I 'le act it o're again let him stand conceal'd Tell him I do this to give him a proof That his past Suspicions wrong'd her Virtue And to root out remaining jealousies Find out her Brother too Enter Alicia with Lights Aldernald and Matilda at a distance What Lights are these Alic. Go forward with your Lights To the Princes Lodgings Exit Lights Osw. The Princess is going to bed And Aldernald attends her cross the Garden King Go quickly bring Ethelwold here I 'le speak to him my self Exit Oswald Ald. Love has the the same dimensions as our Souls It 's as impossible that either should admit Degrees as Parts Mat Yes Aldernald I want no Arguments to convince me That a real Lover's flame breaks forth like Lightning in a moment and at one flash Shews all that Heaven inflam'd in which it is Ald. This obliging acknowledgment makes my hopes Grow up to confidence that as you have done me An Act of Grace with circumstances so Convincing to give my Passion Language And to raise my humble thoughts to an Aspiring flame that now you will compleat My happiness and let me here receive Assurance that this presumption of my love Is not esteem'd a Crime Mat. In my blushes you may read my mind They too officiously betray my heart And like the Flag set up in Towns besieg'd Give joyful notice of Surrender Ald. The blessings this minute gives are greater Than all my former life e're knew King Their conference will hold too long The king makes a noise Mat. What noise was that Ald. I heard some one tread Mat. Quickly let 's shift our ground Or rather quit me here that we may not Be surpriz'd together and our love from Thence discours'd in publick The King treads agen Ald. The noise is that way this leads to your Lodgings Mat. I 'le find the way alone Ald. Let me not lose one step of this pleasant Journey And by the way I 'le make you Vows shall shew My love of an Immortal birth Exeunt Aldernald and Matilda The King follows them Enter the Queen and Alfreda Queen They are gone Alfr. It was Aldernald's voice Queen 'T was he and the Princess Success attend their Vows But what do you resolve on the King Will soon return Alfr. I have found the means he shall meet a kind Reception when he finds me compliant to his love Hee 'l be all on fire and in eager hast Hurry me away I 'le speak to him And to all he says return an Answer But when he leads me off I 'le step back And into his hand put yours The Night is favourable to our design 'T is very dark me he shall court But you he must enjoy Queen A fainting joy spreads gently o're my breast But how can that approach my heart In the crowd of so many fears Ald. Madam be comforted your Embraces have charms Will re-instate you in his love Make him repent his rash unlawful Oath And establish a blest peace betwixt you Queen I fear the deceit will more enrage him Alfr. It cannot at least your issue if it successful Prove to that degree will inherit his Crown Queen Hark I hear a noise in the Garden Alfr. Be near me let me hold your hand in mine When I deliver you to his suffer your self To be led in the dark to my Apartment Queen You instruct and Love perswades me to comply Enter Ethelwold Eth. No Whisper yet has reach'd my Ear They 're very still in their Amours Oh they cannot vent their breath for Kisses They are close close and silent I am near the place Alfr. Sir is it you Eth. 'T is I. Alfr. I fear my late Repulse has much incens'd you That it has arm'd your Love with Rage And now that you return with fiercer resolutions And more determin'd to execute your purpose But now with love alone make your approach For since your departure I have considered Your promise which o'recomes my obstinacy Pardon me Sir for first transgressions Are not without great reluctancy From one bred up in the strict Rules of Virtue Honour parts not without strong convulsions As life from men by nature strong and Healthful If this night I yield to your Embraces Will you no more disturb my quiet Shall I not again be urg'd by you To wrong my Honour and my Lord Eth. Never Alfr. Shall your Hate not persecute him Nor your Love me Shall both then live in peace Eth. Ever Alfr. This one thing more Sir you must promise Remov'd from hence to use no more discourse Lest your voice betray my Honour Nor expect any light in my Apartment Let all be done in silence and in darkness Now I have consented I hate the light And should you see my face you 'd find it all confus'd Let Night conceal my Blushes and my Guilt Eth. It shall Alfreda puts the Queens hand into his and changes places Enter King and Aldernald King Oswold's not yet return'd Ethelwold kisses the Queens hand and draws out a Dagger Ald. This may better Ethelwold's opinion Of her it cannot mine What she has already done is proof enough To me and should be so to him Alfr. Now Sir take my hand and as you please Dispose of me but take care to preserve my Honour Eth. I will Pistols the Queen Die false lascivious Woman She falls Queen Oh I am kill'd Alfr. Oh Murder Treason Treason Murder Ald.