am innocent And euer haue bin from all immoderate thoughts and Actions that carrie such rewards along with em Tima. Syr all I know my duety must reueale My country and my loue commaund it from mee For whom I le lay my life downe this night comming A Counsell is appointed by the Duke To sit about your apprehension If you dare trust my faith which by all good things Shall euer watch about you Goe along And to a place I le guide you where no word Shall scape without your hearing Nor no plot Without discouering to you which once known you haue your answers and preuention Is. You are not so mad to go shift of this fellow you shall bee rul'd once by a wise man rats bane get you gone or L. Peace peace for shame thy loue is too suspitious t is away offered to preserue my life and I will take it be my Guide Timantus and doe not minde this angry man thou knowst him I may liue to requite thee Ti. Sir this seruice is done for vertues sake not for reward how euer he may hold me Is. The great pox on you but thou hast that curse so much t will grow a blessing in thee shortly Sir for wisdomes sake court not your death I am your friend and subiect and I shall lose in both if I lou'd you not I would laugh at you and see you run your neck into the noose and cry a Woodcocke Leu. So much of man and so much fearefull fye prethee haue peace within thee I shall liue yet many a golden day to hold thee heere deerest and neerest to me Goe on Timantus I charge you by your loue no more no more Exeunt Leuc. Tim. Is. Goe and let your owne rod whip you I pity you And dog if he miscarry thou shalt pay for t I le study for thy punishment and it shall last Longer and sharper then a tedious Winter Till thou blasphemst and then thou diest and dambst Exit Enter Leontius and Tellamon Leon. I wonder the Dutchesse comes not Tet. She has hard sir your will to speake with her But there is some thing leaden at her heart Pray God it be not mortall that euen keepes her From conuersation with her selfe Enter the Dutchesse B. O whither will yee me crosse affections pull me Fortune Fate you whose powers direct our actions And dwell within vs you that are Angells Guiding to vertue wherefore haue you giuen So strong a hand to euill wherefore sufferd A Temple of your owne you Deities Where your faire selues dwelt onely your goodnes Thus to be soyld with sinne Leon. Heauen blesse vs all From whence coms this distemper speak my faire one Bac. And haue you none loue and obedience You euer faithfull Seruants to imploy In this strange story of impietie But mee a Mother Must I bee your strumpet To lay blacke treason vpon and in him In whome all sweetnes was in whom my loue Was proud'de to haue a being in whome Iustice And all the gods for our imaginations Can worke into a man were more then vertues Ambition downe to Hell where thou wert fosterd Thou hast poysond the best soule the purest whitest And meerest innocentst it selfe that euer Mens greedy hopes gaue life to Leon. This is still stranger lay this treason Open to my correction Bac. O what a combat duety and affection Breedes in my bloud Leon. If thou concealst him may Beside my death the curses of the Countrey Troubles of conscience and a wretched ende Bring thee vnto a poore forgotten graue Bach. My being for another tongue to tell it Cease a mother some good man that dares Speake for his King and Countrey I am full Of too much womans pittie yet ô Heauen Since it concernes the safety of my soueraigne Let it not be a cruelty in mee Nor draw a Mothers name in question Amongst vnborne people to giue vp that man To law and Iustice that vnrighteously Has sought his fathers death be dease be dease Syr Your Sonne is the Offendor Now haue you all Would I might neuer speake againe Leon. My Sonne Heauen helpe mee No more I thought it and since His life is growne so dangerous Let them that Gaue him take him Hee shall dye And with him all my feares Bac. O vse your mercie you haue a braue subiect To bestowe it on I le forgiue him Syr and for his Wrong to mee I le be before yee Leon. Durst his villenie extend to thee Bac. Nothing but heates of youth Syr Leon. Vppon my life hee sought my Bed Bach. I must confesse he loued mee Somewhat beyond a Sonne and still pursude it With such a Lust I will not say Ambition That cleane forgetting all obedience And onely following his first heate vnto mee Hee hotely fought your death and me in Marriage Leon. O Villaine Bac. But I forget all and am halfe ashamde To presse a man so farre Enter Timantus Where is the Duke for Gods sake bring me to him Leon. Here I am Each corner of the Dukedome Sends new affrights forth what wouldst thou speake Timantus I cannot Sir my feare tyes vp my tongue Leon. Why what 's the matter Take thy courage To thee and boldly speake where are the Guard In the Gods name cut with it Tim. Treason treason Leon. In whome Bac. Double the Guard Timantus There is a fellow Syr Leon. Leaue shaking man Timant. 'T is not for feare but wonder Leon Well Timant. There is a fellow Syr close i th Lobby You othe Guarde looke to the dore there Leon. But let me knowe the businesse Tima. O that the hearts of men shuld be so hardned Against so good a Duke for Gods sake Syr Seeke meanes to saue your selfe This wretched slaue Has his sword in his hand I knowe his heart Oh it hath almost killd mee with the thought of it Leon. Where is hee Enter the Guard and bring him in Timant. The Lobby Syr close in a corner Looke to your selues for Heauens sake Mee thinkes hee is here already Fellowes of the Guard be valiant Leon. Goe sirs and apprehend him Treason shall Neuer dare mee in mine owne Gates Tim. T is done There they bring the Prince in Bac: And thou shalt finde it to thy best content Lesn. Are these the comforts of my Age They re happy that ende theyr dayes Contented With a little and liue aloofe from dangers to a King Euery coutent doth a newe perill bring O let mee liue no longer shame of Nature Bastard to Honour Traytor Murderer Diuell in a humane shape A way with him Hee shall not breath his hote infection here Leuc. Syr heare mee Leon. Am I or hee your Duke away with im To a close prison your Highnes now shall know Such branches must be cropt before they growe Leuc. What euer Fortune comes I bid it welcome My innocencie is my Armor Gods preserue you Exit Bac. Fare thee well I shal neuer see so braue a Gētl Would I could weepe out his offences
CVPIDS REVENGE As it hath beene diuers times Acted by the Children of her Maiesties Reuels ¶ By Iohn Fletcher LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede for Iohas Harison and are to bee solde at the Golden Anker in Pater-Noster-Row 1615 The Printer to the Reader IT is a custome vsed by some Writers in this Age to Dedicate their Playes to worthy persons as well as their other works and there is reason for it because they are the best Mineruaes of their braine and expresse more puritie of conceit in the ingenious circle of an Actor Scaene then is to be found in the vast circumference of larger Volumnes and therefore worthy an answerable Mecoenas to honour and bee honoured by them But not bauing any such Epistle from the Authour in regard I am not acquainted with him I haue made bilde my selfe without his consent to dedicate this Play to the Iuditious in generall of what degree soeuer not insinuating herein with any he they neuer so great that want iudgement for to them it belongs not though they pay for it more then in this respect that like AEsops Cocke hauing met with a precious Stone by accident they knew not the true vse thereof but had rather haue a Barlie-corne to their humour then a perfect Diamond But leauing them to their ignorance I once againe dedicate this Booke to the Iuditious some where of I haue heard commend it to be excellent who because they saw it Acted and knew what they spake are the better to be beleeued and for my part I censure it thus That I neuer red a better CVPIDS REVENG ¶ Act. pri Sceana pri Enter Dorialus Agenor Nisus Agenor TRust me my Lord Dorialus I had mist of this if you had not call'd me I thought the Princesses birth day had beene to morrow Nisus Why did your Lordship sleepe out the day Dor. I maruell what the Duke meant to make such an idle vow Nis. Idle why Dor. Is 't not idle to sweare to graunt his Daughter any thing she shall aske on her byrth day she may aske an impossible thing and I pray heauen she doe not aske an vnfit thing at one time or other t is dangerous trusting a mans vow vpon the discretion on 's daughter Age. I wonder most at the Marquesse her brother who is alwaies vehemently forward to haue her desires graunted Dor. Hee 's acquainted with 'em before Age. Shee 's doubtlesse very chaste and vertuous Dor. So is Leucippus her Brother Nis. Shee 's twenty yeere old I wonder She aske not a Husband Dor. That were a folly in her hauing refus'd all the Great Princes in one part of the world Shee le dye a Maide Age. Shee may aske but one may she Nis. A hundred times this day if shee will And indeed euery day is such a day for though The Duke has vow'd it onely on this day He keepes it euery day he can deny Her nothing Cornets Enter Hidaspes Leucippus Leontius Timantus Tellamon Leon. Come fayre Hidaspes thou art Dutchesse to day Art thou prepard to aske thou knowest My oath will force performance And Leucippus if she now aske ought that shall Or would haue performance After my death when by the helpe of heauen This Land is thine accursed be thy race May every one forget thou art my sonne And so their owne obedience Leuci. Mightie Sir I doe not wish to know that fatall houre That is to make me King but if I doe I shall most hastily and like a sonne Performe your graunts to all chiefely to her Remember that you aske what wee Agreed vpon Leon. Are you prepard then speake Hida. Most Royall Sir I am prepard Nor shall my will exceede a Virgins bounds What I request shall both at once bring Me a full content Leon. So it euer does Thou onely comfort of my feeble age Make knowne thy good desire For I dare sweare thou lou'st me Hidas. This is it I begge And on my knees The people of your Land The Lycians are through all the Nations That know their name noted to haue in vse A vaine and fruitlesse Superstition So much more hatefull that it beares the shew Of true Religion and is nothing else But a selfe-pleasing bold lasciuiousnes Leon. What is it Hidas. Many Ages before this When euery man got to himselfe a Trade And was laborious in that chosen course Hating an idle life farre worse then death Some one that gaue himselfe to wine and sloth Which breed lasciuious thoughts And found himselfe conioynd For that by euery painefull man To take his staine away framde to himselfe A god whom he pretented to obey In being thus dishonest for a name He call'd him Cupid This created god Mans nature being euer credulous Of any vice that takes part with his blood Had ready followers enow and since In euery age they grew especially Amongst your Subiects who doe yet remaine Adorers of that drowsie Deitie Which drinke inuented and the winged Boy For so they call him has his sacrifices These loose naked statutes through the Land And in euery Village nay the palace Is not free from 'em This is my request That these erected obsceane Images May be pluckt downe and burnt and euery man That offers to 'em any sacrifice may lose his life Leon. But be aduis'd my fayrest daughter if he be A god he will expresse it vpon thee my childe Which heauen auert Leucip. There is no such power But the opinion of him fills the Land With lustfull sinnes euery young man and mayd That feele the least desire to one another Dare not suppresse it for they thinke it is Blinde Cupids motion and he is a god Leon. This makes our youth vnchaste I am resolu'd Nephew Ismenus breake the Statues downe Here in the palace and command the Citie Doe the like let proclamations Be drawne and hastily sent through the Land To the same purpose Ismen. Sir I will breake downe none my selfe But I will deliuer your command Hand I will haue none in t for I like it not Leon. Goe and command it Pleasure of my life Wouldst thou ought else Make many thousand suits They must and shall be graunted Hid. Nothing else Ezit Ismenus Leon. But goe and meditate on other suites Some sixe daies hence I le giue thee audience againe And by a new oath binde my selfe to keepe it Aske largely for thy selfe dearer then life In whom I may be bold to call my selfe More fortunate then any in my age I will deny thee nothing Leu. T was well done Sister Exeunt all but these three Lords Nis. How like you this request my Lords Dor. I know not yet I am so full of wonder We shall be gods our selues shortly And we pull 'em out of heauen o'th is fashion Age. We shall haue wenches now when we can Catch 'em and we transgresse thus Nis. And we abuse the gods once t is a Iustice We should be held at hard meate for my part I le eene make ready for mine owne
may thinke that I haue done you wrong in this strange marriage Leu T is past now Bac: But it was no fault of mine The world had calld me madde had I refusde The King nor layde I any traine to catch him It was your owne Oathes did it Leuc: T is a truth that takes my sleepe away but Woud to Heauen if it had so beene pleasde you had Refusde him though I had gratifide that courtesie With hauing you my selfe But since t is thus I doe beseech you that you will bee honest From henceforth and not abuse his credulous Age Which you may easily doe As for my selfe What I can say you know alas too well Is tyde within me here it will sit like lead But shall offend no other it will plucke mee Backe from my entrance into any myrth As if a seruant came and whisperd with mee Of some Friends death but I will beare my selfe To you with all the due obedience A sonne owes to a Mother more then this Is not in mee but I must leaue the rest to the Iust gods who in their blessed time When they haue giuen me punishment enough For my rash sinne will mercifully finde As vnexpected meanes to ease my griefe As they did now to bring it Bac: Growne so godly this must not bee And I wil be to you no other then a natural Mother ought And for my honestie so you will sweare Neuer to vrge me I shall keep it safe from any other Leu. Blesse mee I should vrge you Bac. Nay but sweare then that I may be at peace For I doe feele a weaknesse in my selfe That can denie you nothing if you tempt me I shall embrace finne as it were a frend and runne to meet it Leu. If you know how farre It were from mee you would not vrge an Oath But for your satistaction when I tempt you Bac: Sweare not I cannot moue him this sad talke Of things past helpe does not become vs well Shall I send one for my Musitions and wee le daunce Leu. Dance Madame Bac. Yes Alaualta Leu. I canot dance Madam Bac. Then le ts be mery Leu. I am as my Fortunes bidde me Doe not you see mee sowre Leu. Yes And why thinke you I smile Leu. I am so farre from any ioy my selfe I cannot fancie a cause of myrth Bac. He tell you we are alone Leu. Alone Bac. Yes Leu. T is true what then Bac. What then you make my smiling now Break into laughter what think you is to be don then Leu. We should pray to Heauen for mercie Bac. Pray that were a way indeede To passe the time but I will make you blush To see a bashfull woman teach a man What wee should doe alone trye againe If you can finde it out Leu. I dare not thinke I vnderstand you Ba. I must teach you then Come kisse me Leu. Kisse you Bac. Yes be not ashamde You did it not your selfe I will forgiue you Leue. Keepe you displeased gods the due respect I ought to beare vnto this wicked woman As shee is now my Mother Hast within mee Least I adde sins to sinnes till no repentance will cure mee Bac. Leaue these melancholly moodes That I may sweare thee welcome on thy lippes A thousand times Leuc. Pray leaue this wicked talke You doe not knowe to what my Fathers wrong May vrge mee Bac. I me carelesse and doe weigh The world my life and all my after hopes Nothing without thy Loue mistake me not Thy Loue as I haue had it free and open As wedlock is within it selfe what say you Leu. No-thing Bac. Pitty me beholde a Duchesse Kneeles for thy mercie and I sweare to you Though I should lye with you it is no Lust For it desires no change I could with you Content my selfe what answere will you giue Leuc. They that can answere must be lesse amazde Then I am now you see my teares deliuer My meaning to you Bac. Shall I be contemd thou art a beast worse thē a sauage beast To let a Lady kneele to begge that thing Which a right man would offer Leu. T is your will Heauen but let me beare me like My selfe how euer shee does Ba. Were you made an Eunuch since you went hēce yet they haue more desire then I can finde in you How fond was I to beg thy loue He force thee to my will Doest thou not know that I can make the King Dote as my list yeeld quickly or by Heauen I le haue thee kept in prison for my purpose Where I will make thee serue my turne and haue thee fed With such meates as best shall sit my endes And not thy health why doest not speake to mee And when thou doest displease mee and art growne Lesse able to performe then I will haue thee Kill'd and forgotten Are you striken dumbe Leu. All you haue nam'de but making of me sinne With you you may commaund but neuer that Say what you will I le heare you as becomes me If you speake I will not follow your counsell Neither will I tell the world to your disgrace But giue you the iust honour That is due from me to my Fathers wife Bac: Lord how full of wise formality you are grown Of late but you were telling mee You could haue wisht that I had marry'd you If you will sweare so yet I le make away the King Leuc. You are a strumpet Bach. Nay I care not For all your Raylings They will Batter walls And take in Townes as soone as trouble mee Tell him I care not I shall vndoe you only which is no matter Leuc: I appeale to you still and for euer that are And cannot be other Madame I see t is in your power To worke your will on him And I desire you To lay what traines you will for my wished death But suffer him to finde his quiet graue In peace Alas he neuer did you wrong And further I beseech you pardon mee For the ill word I gaue you for how euer You may deserue it became not mee To call you so but passion vrges mee I know not whether my heart breake now ease mee euer Bac. Pray you get you hence With your goodly humor I am weary of you extreamly Leuc. Trust mee so am I of my selfe too Madame I le take my leaue gods set all right Bac. Amen Syr get you gone Am I denyde it does not trouble mee That I haue mou'd but that I am refusde I haue lost my patience I will make him know Lust is not Loue for Lust will finde a mate While there are men and so will I more Enter Timantus Then one or twenty yonder is Timantus A fellow voyde of any worth to raise himselfe And therfore like to catch at any euill That will but plucke him vppe him will I make Mine owne Timantus Timantus Maddame Bac: Thou knowest well Thou wert by chance a meanes of this my raising Brought the Duke to me and though t' were but chace
le draw gode shall make you skippe away to the Prince Bac. Ha ha ha I hope yet I shall come too late to finde him Cornets Cupid from aboue Enter Loucippus Vrana Leu with a bloudy handkercher Leu. Alas poore boy why dost thou follow me What canst thou hope for I am poore as thou art Vra. In good feth I shall be weell and rich enough If you will loue me and not put me from you L. Why dost thou choose out me boy to vndo thee Alas for pitty take another Master That may be able to deserue thy loue In breeding thee hereafter me thou knowst not More then my misery and therefore canst not Looke for rewards at my hands would I were able My pretty knaue to doe thee any kindnes truely Good boy I would vpon my faith thy harmelesse Innocense mooues me at heart wilt thou goe Saue thy selfe why doest thou weepe Alas I doe not chide thee Urania I cannot tell if I goe from you Syr I shall nere dawne day more Pray if you can I will bee true To you Let mee waite on you If I were a man I would fight for you Sure you haue some ill-willers I would slay vm Leu. Such harmelesse soules are euer Prophets well I take thy wish thou shalt be with mee still But prithee eate then my good Boy Thou wilt die my childe If thou fasts one day more This foure dayes thou hast tasted nothing Goe into the Caue and eate Thou shalt finde something for thee to bring thy bloud agen and thy faire collour Ura. I can not eate God thanke you But I le eate to morrow Leuc. Thow 't bee dead by that time Ur. I should be well then for you will not loue me Leu. Indeed I will This is the prettiest passion that ere I felt yet why dost you looke so earnestly vpon me Vra. You haue fayre eyes Master Leu. Sure the Boy dotes why dost thou sigh my childe Vra. To thinke that such a fine man should liue and no gay Lady loue him Leu. Thou wilt loue me Vra. Yes sure till I dye and when I am in heauen I le eene wish for you Leu. And I le come to thee Boy This is a loue I neuer yet heard tell of come thou art sleepy childe goe in and I le sit with thee heauen what portends this Vra. You are sad but I am not sleepy woulde I could doe ought to make you merry shall I sing Leu. If thou wilt good Boy Leu. Alas my boy that thou shouldst comfort me and art farre worse then I Enter Timantus with a letter disguised Vra. Lawe Master there 's one looke to your sen Leu. What art thou that in this dismall place Which nothing could finde out but misery Thus boldly stept Comfort was neuer here Here is nor foode nor beds nor any house Built by a better Architect then beasts And ere you get dwelling from one of them You must fight for it if you conquer him He is your meate if not you must be his Tim. I come to you for if I not mistake you are the Prince from that most Noble Lord Ismenus with a Letter Ura. Alas I feare I shall be discouered now Leu. Now I feele my selfe the poorest of all mortall things Where is he that reciues such courtesies But he has meanes to shew his gratefulnes Some way or other I haue none at all I know not how to speake so much as well Of thee but to these trees Leucippus opening the Letter the whilst Timantus runnes at him and Vrania steppes before Tim. His Letters speake him sir Vra. Gods keepe me but fro knowing him till I dye aye me sure I cannot liue a day ô thou foule Traytor How doe you Master Leu. How dost thou my childe alas looke on his it may make thee repentant to behold those innocent drops that thou hast drawne from thence Vra. T is nothing sir and you be well Tim. O pardon me know you me now sir Leu. How couldst thou finde me out Tima. We intercepted a Letter from Ismenus and the bearer directed me Leu. Stand vp Timantus boldly The world conceiues that thou art guilty Of diuers treasons to the State and me But ô farre be it from the innocence Of a iust man to giue a traytor death Without a tryall here thy Country is not To purge thee or condemne thee therefore A nobler tryall then thou dost deserue Rather then none at all here I accuse thee Before the face of heauen to be a traytor Both to the Duke my father and to me and the Whole Land speake is it so or no Tim. T is true sir pardon me Leu. Take heed Timantus how thou dost cast away thy selfe I must proceede to execution hastily if thou confesse it speake once againe i st so or no Tim. I am not guilty sir Fight here the Prince gets his sword and giues it him Leu. Gods and thy sword acquit thee here it is Timantus I will not vse any violence against your Highnesse Leu. At thy perill then for this must be thy tryall and from hence forth looke to thy selfe Timantus drawes his sword and runnes at him when he turnes aside Tim. I doe beseech you sir let me not fight Leu. Vp vp againe Timantus There is no way but this beleeue me Now if Fye fie Timantus is there no Vsage can recouer thee from basenesse wert thou Longer to conuerse with men I would haue chidde Thee for this be all thy faults for giuen Tim. O spare me sir I am not fit for death Leu. I thinke thou art not yet trust me fitter then for life Yet tell mee ere my breath be gone knowst of any other plots against me Tim. Of none Leu. What course wouldst thou haue taken when thou hadst kild me Tim. I would hane tane your Page and maried her Leu. What Page Tim. Your boy there Dyes Urania sounds Leu. Is he falne mad in death what does he meane Some good God help me at the worst how dost thou Let not thy misery vexe me thou shalt haue What thy poore heart can wish I am a Prince And I will keepe thee in the gayest cloathes And the finest things that euer pretty boy had giuen him Vra. I know you well enough Feth I am dying and now you know all too Le. But stir vp thy selfe looke what a Iewell here is See how it glisters what a pretty shew Will this make in thy little eare ha speake Eate but a bit and take it Vra. Doe you not know me Leu. I prethee minde thy health why that 's well sayd my good boy smile still Vra. I shall smile till death an I see you I am Vrania your sister-in-law Leu. How Vra. I am Vrania Leu. Dulnesse did ceaze me now I know thee well Alas why camst thou hither Vra. Feth for loue I would not let you know till I was dying for you could not loue mee my Mother was so naught Leu. I will loue thee or any thing what