Potions to expel the gross humors of our inclinations not one Cordial allow'd of live or die sink or swim not one satisfaction to be had till the Voyage is ended I am not old enough yet to think of Fasting and Prayer when I have some years over my head I shall begin to do as other Grave ones have done before me leave those Vices that will no longer keep me company and think of Heaven out of necessity Per. Nay I dare swear thou wilt not endeavour to go thither till thou art a Criple both by diseases and time if Death will let thee live so long Luc. I believe thou would'st be as glad as I that thy life was Copy-hold-Land that as one were out thou mightest renew another I hate such Fools us cannot be content With pleasures which that World to this hath lent Exeunt Omnes The End of the third Act. Act IV. Scene I. The Scene chang'd to Lyons Enter Lotharicus passing one way and Euryalus another Eury. Ha! my dearest Friend Lotharicus what unexpected accident of Fortune has given me this happiness at Lyons Loth. Her most malicious one to me Eury. How Does our meeting after so long an absence prove so unwelcome Time has a changing power over all things then I see Loth. Do not injure so much that friendship I have preserv'd so faithfully and will continue to my Grave that little time my griefs will let me live Eury. I fear Marcelia's dead and dare not ask The sadness of thy look confirms it to me Loth. She is indeed and I that Death no longer can out-live Eury. Poor Sister Poor Marcelia Loth. You need not grieve my Lord she 's only dead to me Eury. Can you believe I can be so insensible of loosing in a Sister what you so much lament the loss of in a Mistris If she had perfections that rendred her worthy of your sorrow they have as just a claim to mine Loth. Oh dear Euryalus it is not the death she ows to Nature makes me sad it is her death to me and all the Vows she made me Eury. How do you tell me she 's unworthy grown so lost to Virtue Lotharicus do not strain friendship up so high by charging of my Blood with Crimes Loth. I give them not that name but I with joy would empty all my veins and let life out so that my knowledge gave my words the Lye Eury. Grown false without a Cause Loth. I say not so I will not make her Accusation more guilty then it is Eury. I understand not this mysterious Language if you have basely given her reason for to change condemn not the effect of your own Act but draw and justifie your injuring me in her Loth. She has a cause from her Ambition but my Love was never yet so Criminal to give her any You are like to have the King your Brother that will render you I suppose contented though it make your friend still miserable Eury. How the King Loth. Yes I give not this account for fear of fighting you know I dare and can defend my life though now death would become so welcome I should unwillingly resist it Eury. Ne're think a Crown can come in competition with my friendship I love my Sov'reign as a Loyal Subject will give my Life and Fortunes to preserve his Rights and him This is my duties Obligation But I had rather give Marcelia to thy Arms then see her plac'd upon his Throne nor shall she sit there and triumph over thy injur'd joys Loth. I cannot wish my generous friend that you should make your sense of my unhappiness an injury to your Fortunes Eury. I 'le sink 'em all but I 'le restore thee to thy lost contentment I 'le teach her ignorant Soul that Acts of Honor is the Noblest greatness I had rather have her live in Fame for Virtue when she 's dead then in a Title Loth. Pray force not her inclinations I had rather still be miserable then make her so from your Power Gifts of constraint though in themselves the highest blessing are burthensome Her person without her heart can be no happiness and both I know you cannot give me the possession of Eury. No more my friend How long do you intend to stay in these parts Loth. But till to morrow My thoughts are restless and I follow them Eury. How far do you intend to travel Loth. Till I arrive at my wish'd journeys end Eury. What place is that Loth. 'T is Death 't is Death my Friend till then I 'le rove about the World and give my self no constant habitation Exeunt The Scene changes Scene 2. Enter Marcelia and Desha Marc. My Brother is come to Lyons I hear I will go write him word how false Lotharicus is proved Go send the Page where I bid you Desha Yes Madam Exit Desha Marc. What strange effects of Fortune do I prove How variously she in my life doth move A Prince so brave and in his Power so great Forc'd to beg favors humbly at my feet She never for thy glory more could do Then she in that Marcelia did for you Pride could not raise nor swell my hopes more high Then she has given me Power to satisfie Nor can she bring my heart to more distress Then she has done in all my happiness Then bribes me with a Crown to be content And makes Ambition prove Loves Monument But love if true did never Power know That greater then it self could ever grow But that of Heaven when it within the Soul Does monstrous prove and Virtue would controul No no I still must love whilst I have breath Nothing can give my passion date but death But that Lotharicus mayn't pleasure take To think that his doth sleep and mine doth wake I 'le force my courage give me to thee King Though I shall be a heartless offering And on a Throne in secret mourn that Fare Destroy'd his Love and rais'd me to such State As Princes ought I then will act my part Not make my face prospective to my heart Nor give the Kings contentment cause to doubt When his confin'd my Love does wander out My griefs and passions all shall inward burn The brave their bodies makes their troubles Urn. Exit Scene changes to a Garden Scene 3. Enter Perilla and Arcasia Arcas This fine Evening methinks should fill the Garden full of company Enter Moriphanus Graculus and Boys Ha! what have we here A Knight of the Sun upon my life Per. You are mistaken he goes for an Outlandish Lord. Arc. Prethee what 's his name Per. Moriphanus Arc. Oh I know him now at least in Character he seeks to be your Servant Per. You are much deceiv'd it is to be my Master The first time of his Visit he speaks all Matrimony and left the discourse of Love for the second Interview Marriage is the Captain I will assure you of his discourse and Love the Lievtenant Arc. Nay 't is well if affection has any
do it this seven years I am sure I have business for every particular day and if I appoint ten or twenty years hence and am call'd to take my place of Honor in the other world before then you 'l say I am not a man of my word a Knave a Cheat a Rascal or some such thing Therefore it shall be a Duel in the other world Grac. O brave my Lord that will do rarely But who shall be your Seconds Mor. Hold thy prating I 'le nominate my self who shall be both our Seconds He shall have Alexander the Great and the Maid of Orleance and I 'le have Sampson and William the Conquerour Grac. I my Lord do so stand to your hold for you may lend Sampson if you list one of your Jaw-bones and then he shall fight with Alexander the Great Luc. If you will fight or dare fight fight now for your Mistris we 'll find another quarrel to exercise your courage in th' other world Mor. I tell you I will not fight a stroak till the time appointed so I may have some cowardly dog-trick or other put upon me I 'le have all that ever liv'd from the Creation to that day stand by when I Duel to see that there is fair play And so no more of that I 'm in great hast and must leave your angry Honors Luc. Hold hold Mor. I 'le neither hold nor stay I am going to the Cutlers to bespeak weapons against the time appointed and d' ye hear be sure you meet me there Exeunt Scene 8. Enter Melyent reading a Letter Mel. Lotharicus dead thou hast bravely done And justly the reward of Death hast won Which thou shalt have but e're thou com'st at it Thou must another Tragedy commit My Fortune now is almost made secure There is but one blow more it can endure Euryalus thou must not live to be An interposing Cloud ' twixt that and me For e're my greatness shall be so withstood I 'le make my passage through a Sea of Blood My Soul is with too towring hopes possest To be by thoughts of Conscience now supprest Nor shall Euryalus prolong the date VVhich I have given for his dying Fate Exit Scene 9. Enter Euryalus in disguize and Desha Eur. Pray go tell your Lady here is a Gentleman has business of importance with her and desires to tell it her in private Desh I shall acquaint her Sir Exit Desha Eur. All things are in this Kingdome as plentiful and prosperous as if that none but Saints inhabited it But surely Sin 's infection is grown high VVhen Monarchs once their Souls with Murders Dye For they are Suns on which the Subjects gaze To gather rules for mannaging their ways How strictly then are they to Virtue ty'd VVho by Example are a Nations Guide Enter Marcelia puts her back Marc. Oh my dear Brother dear Euryalus how He Eur. Thou' rt grown unworthy of such kindnesh now It is not love has brought me back but hate Marc. Oh Heaven what have I done to make you say 't Eur. What have you not could base and barb'rous be Murder Lotharicus dishonour me Marc. I kill Lotharicus Heaven knows that I False as he is to save his life would die For worlds I would not live that grief to know Eur. What Devil helps thee to dissemble so Has that black Favorite of Hell's design Taught thee this virtue with the rest to joyn Was 't not enough you did his life betray To serve your pride made that be took away But with your curs'd malicious blasting breath Strive in his Fame to give him second death Or did your Soul such sharp reprovements give To your false heart that fear'd to let him live Could bubling Greatness thy ambition swell To such a height to send thee Post to Hell Marc. I have no guilt I hope can bring me there But in my Grave you 'l throw me by dispair For nothing's left to make me wish to stay If my Lotharicus be took away Where he in ashes is I 'd rather be Then here possess the whole worlds Monarchy Thy deadliest stroak thou now hast given Fate Marcelia's strength cannot support the weight In life I nothing now but horrors see Since earth is rob'd Lotharicus of thee All it possess'd of great and brave now lies Gluttonous Death thy malice Sacrifice Since thou his Noble life refus'd to spare No longer this unhappy one forbear I court thy cold imbraces to this breast For till my soul 's with his I ne're shall rest And sure it can't be long before it be Since grief and love both strive to set it free Eur. What 's this I see certain I 'm in a dream Falshood cannot pretend such high extream Marcelia what to judge I do not know Since for his death you so much passion show Marc. Judge what you will my Innocence you 'l prove By that which quickly will your doubts remove Eur. Then 't is that dev'lish Melynet has laid That plot which both his Love and Life betraid Treacherous Serpent Monster of Mankind How could thy Noble Blood such tincture find Or thy false Soul permit thee to divide Two hearts which thou did'st find so strongly ty'd For he did for thy change such trouble show As nothing but the highest flame could know His daily wishes were he might expire Because he had out-liv'd Marcelia's fire Points to her head Marc. Add add no more least reason quit this place And after that then this be left by Grace Her heart I am a Mortal and no more can show Of power in my passons overthrow Eur. To raise thy miseries I do not design But I would have thee th' top of Honor climb Refuse the King then do thy Honor right To shew that greatness dazles not thy sight For his consent was given to the fact And marrying him thou wilt his guilt contract Marc. I 'le sooner be to a dead body joyn'd Then ever in his guilty Arms confin'd No no Euryalus his Crown can't take That Love away his Virtues could not shake From one revenge I gave him my consent And from this second I 'le his hopes prevent Eur. Dear dear Marcelia my most Noble part Thou mak'st me jealous of thy generous heart Lotharicus will surely in his Grave Rejoyce to see thou art so true and brave For Melynet wh ' has rais'd him self so great By strangling Virtue in it's proper Seat I 'le trust this Arm to find me out the way The price of Murder in his heart to pay The King is by that awful name secute Subjects are bound what they do to endure Heav'n reserves it self the punishing them They are not here to give account to men Who strikes at them Divinity gives a blow Whos 's Vice-Roys Monarchs all are here below Exeunt The End of the Fourth Act. Act V. Scene I. Enter Moriphanus and Graculus Mor. A very likely matter indeed that she should refuse to marry me because I would not fight for her No no
may be so for time does slowly pass That runs by high Afflictions Hour-glass Exeunt Scene 6. Enter Euryalus reading a Letter Eur. It thou had'st such reason for thy change I do not blame thee then Marcelia I would I had receiv'd thy Letter sooner e're Lotharicus and I had parted I would have justified thou Nobly did'st to slight him and entertain the Kings Address since he so basely left thee for another nor shall he scape the punishment of his Perjuries for I will follow him to give him death Enter Du-Prette and two Villains fighting 1. Vill. Did'st thou think to make us do thy work and cheat us of our wages we pursu'd thee hither to Lyons to give thee death for thy deceit They wound him he falls Enter Euryalus passing and two Footmen Du-Fr Oh Lotharicus Lotharicus thy murder is reveng'd Oh Heaven how constantly you still pursue Eur. Ha! what art thou that talk'st of Lotharicus murder Tell me or I will take that remnant of thy life away and by thy words host that black guilt upon it Speak quickly Du-Pr. Sit 't is not the threat of Death can force me to confess since I shall make my life by doing it a forfeiture to Justice But from repentance and remorse I tell my name 's Du-Prette and I know you to be my Lord Euryalus I 'le say no more whilst Witnesses are by now take my life and if you think it fit or if you let me longer live I will inform you all I know that which shall give your Courage and your Sword new edge and Noble work Eur. Help carry him off The Footmen take him up Look that thou dost as promis'd then discover I 'le spare one Villain to betray another Exeunt Scene changes Scene 7. Enter Lucidore and Peregrine Luc. That little Trumpeter Cupid has so perpetually sounded in my thoughts the Widdows Perfoctions her Wit her Beauty and her Wealth as he has caus'd an uproar in my heart and some of my own Subjects has listed themselves Souldiers under her Command Per. Which prethee are turn'd Rebels Luc. My Will my Inclinations my Covetousness and my Vanity to take her from the rest of my Servants and they so â—â—outly fight my former resolutions and my reason that hang me I believe they 'l get the day and tumble me head-long into a Married Life and make me grow grey and grave with a Whither-go-ye squalling Kitlings and Curtain Lectures Per. Certainly thou art a strange lover of Hell that thou wilt be running into it before thy time Luc. No you mistake Marriage is a preparative for another place both by the mortification of it and the honesty Enter Moriphanus Graculus and Footmen Per. Your Rival has bin to see the Widdow Luc. I 'le Rival his Coxcomb if he comes any more there Do you hear Sir Turns to Moriphanus I am inform'd you are the Widdow Perilla's servant Mor. I scorn your words I her servant I 'd have you to know I think to make her my Wife and she thinks to make me her Husband I her servant Luc. Well whatsoe're she thinks you had best think of her no more or win her now by your Sword Mor. Win her did not I tell you just now I have won her already and I am not such a Fool to fight for any thing that 's my own Stake another Lady to her and have at you who shall have both Luc. But then you shall fight Mor. Shall fight Luc. I shall fight or be beaten Mor. Oh I thought you had bin a man of that Authority to have made me fight whither I would or no. I tell you then Sir I love her so well I 'd sooner be beaten for her sake then fight for any woman in the world besides Per. This is a rare Coward we 'll have excellent sport with him Luc. Why you may take your own Election either fight be beaten or forbear coming there Mor. Well Sir since I may take my own choice I 'le take time to consider of it I won't resolve on any thing too hastily Grac. My Lord you know your own certain mind already and had as good tell it before you go Moriphanus offers to go off and Lucidore takes him by the sleeve Luc. Nay you are not like to stir till you have Sir Mor. Why Sir then I will because I don't much care if I do Studies And now Sir I have consider'd of it I 'le neither sight nor be beaten for any woman as long as there 's God's plenty of them in the world Here 's a quarter and a do about a woman indeed Luc. Why then you 'l come no more there Mor. No that I won't But what if she comes to me I warrant you 'l go and challenge her too and fight with her you think she 's to be won by fighting but alas you are deceiv'd she is not to be won by the Blade there 's a Bill in the case which you know not of which will prevail before the Sword Luc. But it shan't be long before I know the Bill and the business Mor. But what if I will not tell you am I bound to tell you all that I know Luc. No not if you 'l fight but you must otherwise I tell you that Mor. You should not need to press me thus to fight had I not made a vow the last man I kill'd in seven years never to answer not make a challenge to any man living no you should have no cause to call upon me twice Grac. To run away A side Mor. You 'd find I would not be abus'd O that the time were expir'd you put me into such a rage that my passion must vent it self some way Falls a crying and turns to Grac. Graculus did'st never hear that fighting was Physical Grac. Not I upon my life my Lord. Mor. Why then if thou dar'st take my word for it it is Grac. But Sir what makes you weep Mor. My vow Graculus my vow Wipes his eyes Per. Your pretence of a vow is but an excuse for your Cowardice Grac. Why in troth my Lord if I were as you I would fight and for once break a vow made in cold blood now your courage is so spur'd and chaf'd with these quarrolling Lords Mor. Let me see let me see Hum no way Studies left to break this rotten Engagement and fight Grac. Yes my Lord you may easily break it where 't is rotten Luc. If you can find none in your Conscience send but for half a dozen Advocates give 'em double fees and they 'l find you one in theirs and a point in Law to make it good Mor. If it can be done by them I 'le make my own Conscience do 't as well and save me that charges And suppose I am resolv'd to fight there 's more to be consider'd of then just that there 's time weapon and place Per. That you shall have the liberty to Elect. Mor. Well then let me consider as to the time I can't
justly mourn his death Mel. No doubt Sir he does deserve it and did not your Majesties concern ballance my sorrow the loss of such a friend would cause much greater trouble in my Soul But all things Sir does and shall still give place unto my duty King I doubt thee not in any thing my Melynet But does Marcelia know yet of Lotharicus death Mel. No Sir but intend she shall King Prethee do for I shall long to know how she does take it 'T is natural in Lovers to be curious in the search of that which gives them the highest troubles and when there is a real wanting cause our jealousies do commonly create us some suppositions and mine does strongly work in doubts for all her seeming kindnesses and promises they 're all but empty nothings to that passion her heart once had and I fear still conceals for dead Lotharicus Mel. I cannot think it Sir but I will soon inform my self and give your Majesty satisfaction Exeunt Scene 4. Enter Peregrine Perilla and Arcasia in a Garden A Table set out with several Meats and Wine with Attendance Pereg. I could wish I had given my Lord Lucidore an invitation Peril I wish you had for he is most excellent company Per. And much your servant I am sure Madam he is one of your secret Lovers that has not yet made discovery of his flame but it will not be long before the fire break out I am confident Arc. I do not think he is constant enough to think and say all at one time he loves Peril Indeed he does not seem to be of a humor that his heart should be in any danger of ever being made a womans prisoner Per. Would he were here to answer for himself I could find of my heart to send one of my Boys to find him out Arc. You 'l put him upon 24 hours search then When he goes out in a morning by report he is commonly lost all that day to any Enquirers But perhaps his usual curiosity of seeing the Beauties may bring him hither anone Peril Why does he take such pains to be rid of his liberty to come here to seek for a Conqueror Pereg. No Madam it was his Opinion of his own invincible strength made him so bold to attempt the danger He us'd to swear as long as Cupid was a Child he fear'd him not he had not so poor a spirit to be worsted by a Boy If he liv'd so long till he came to be a man which he had bin these two thousand years a coming to and not one jot the forwarder yet he would then stand upon his guard against him Enter Musick Mus My Lord Lucidore sent us hither to give your Lordship a new Lesson Per. I thank him I wish his Lordship had come himself too They all laugh The Musick espying the Boys coming at the other end of the Stage with a dish begin to play Boy 'T is very hot it burns my fingers and 't is very heavy too we 'll set it down and dance a little risk They dance Enter a Mercury with a great Chasiâ—-dish of Coals reaches up the dish sets it thereon Mercury Why what have you done Boys the dish is quite cold you forget you carry'd your Lords Love which is a Native of Freezland Boy Why can it be cold already Merc. Cold already I hot and cold and cold and hot a hundred times over to a hundred several Ladies Takes up the Coals and blows under it Boy Pray stay a little and we 'll go fetch some Bellows and make it boil Merc. Be quick Exeunt Boys Enter presently again with two more Boys each with Bellows They dance with Mercury in the middle with the dish and fire in his hand every one by turns blowing under the Dish The dance ended Exeunt Boys Mercury comes up with the dish to the Table Merc. My Lord Lucidore presents this to you Madam Exit Perilla opens the dish there is the form of a Hart made with wings in it a Copy of Verses directed to the Incomparable Widow They all laugh extremely Pereg. What is in it Madam Peril Nothing but a copy of Verses Arc. But I am much taken with the Case they came in I have a great conceit all mens hearts are thus provided they are so soon here and there and every where Pereg. All mens are not Madam some are fix'd Arc. That is then where the Ladies get to them by some more then common device and clip their wings But Perilla the Verses we will participate as far forth as the hearing the Courtship Perilla reads the Verses Perilla Widdow Faith I will tell thee true My heart's inflam'd and 't is by you But my passion will decay If you make too long delay Flames that with most vigor burn Soonest into ashes turn Then resolve and quickly too Shall I stay or bid adieu Foolish Lovers that do place All their pleasures in one face Let them for favors long expect I soon will have or soon neglect This is not common Courtships way But since I lov'd you 't is a day And if you cannot pay the score Y' are poor and I will trust no more I 've ways my Fortunes to undo Without the help of lending you I can both drink and game and swear Does this not tempt you 〈◊〉 tell me fair Yet I 'l a kinder Husband be Than those that sin more secretly But if you proudly now deny To love me Faith I will not dy Enter Lucidore with Three Trumpeters Almeric standing at a distance as not to be seen Luc. Sound a Charge Trumpeters sound Perilla Why you make Love in open court my Lord. Luc. I do so Madam to prevent the scandal of the world which would go near else to say I stole your consent if you and I should marry Perilla But why did you make your Trumpeters sound a Charge Luc. It is the assault of my Love against your Liberty unless you will come presently to party and give me some hopes of an honorable peace betwixt us nay I have began my war in perfect form I have sent two or three Heralds to proclaim it in the Market-place Perilla Yet for all that you have not done like a fair Enemy to surprize me without any knowledge of such an intention Luc. All stratagems are allow'd of Madam Could you expect I would give you notice to fortific your self against my siege Faith I 'ad bin an ignorant Souldier then indeed Arc. No my Lord she could not in justice for if you had she would have so strengthen'd her self with an Army of Reasons of her own and from her Friends that her heart would have prov'd another Candy impregnable Per. And quite tire out the Turkish Emperors Constancy Luc. But I hope my fair Widow will not be so cruel to wrack my expectations so long for if she should I have no more to confess than I will confess now that is that I love her infinitely passionately unexpressibly as
than a Phoenix and thou talk'st of them As if they were as common as Fishes And did like them increase and multiply Mel. Well your Servant Exit Melynet Val. I wonder whether the King still intends the Marriage of Calinda there are many Wagers in the town about it Alm. O! Monarchs and Subjects are two different things And a sudden rise to eminent Honour or Fortune Commonly proves like the Turks Mutes to an old Affection strangle in quite and 't is whisper'd By the most knowing that the Kings Love has at present the cold fit of an aguish distemper on it to that Lady But well are you for my company this afternoon or not For I am design'd to go home I am promis'd the sight of A fellow that will needs be thought a Lord They say he 'l make a man dy with laughing Val. Then I 'm resolv'd not to see him to day For I have a great mind to live ill to morrow And for this afternoon I 'll throw it away Amongst the Ladies Exeunt Scene 2. Enter Calinda and Ericina Eric Let not your grief take yet such full possession Of your heart till more of time gives the assurance Of what is onely now your passions fear Cal. Alas Ericina it is that uncertainty Which makes Loves greatest Hell were I but once Assur'd I should be less concern'd But whilst I doubt I nothing can resolve Reason and scorn which then would prove my cure I am now by that unhappy motive that you urge To lessen my affections forbid their use For 't is not his new acquired greatness Can keep my heart in slavery It was His Noble Mind I lov'd And that the greatest Ebb of Fortune could ne'er have given change to Indeed I did adore his virtues and made Him Soveraign of my heart despising in My thoughts for him all those that onely could Pretend advantages in Wealth which possibly They did inherit by their Fathers crimes But if I find he is turn'd Apostate To what gave being to my Passion I shall depose him here to let him see Points to her heart His Honour lost his Crowns despis'd by me Eric If the assurance of his unconstancie Will prove so much less afflicting than the fear Force your belief to that Conclusion His actions afford enough of cause Cal. Ah! Ericina thou then dost think him chang'd Eric It ill would suit the Friendship I profess Still by dissembling my thoughts to his advantage To help to shipwrack so your quiet Urging the Uncertainty of what I must confess I do no longer doubt Cal. Nor I no longer that I 'm quite undone Aside Eric And I will tell you Cal. Oh hold Ericina Keep to thy self those thoughts which if set free With furious floods of grief would deluge me Eric Can you believe your ruine I design Whose life is dearer to me far than mine No Calinda what I have done was only but to try Whether the Cure your Reason did propose Your Courage could endure the application of Cal. How could your pity let you make experiments On my Misfortune to improve your knowledg Or what of satisfaction do you find From the assurance that my tongue had boasted Without consulting of my heart the resolution Of that indifferencie and change if he Prove false my soul can never find for him You us'd to take so great an interest in My sufferings as made their weight seem less But you unkindly now do seek to multiply my griess and they already overpress my Mind Eric My love can easily forgive the highest Injuries with which you charge my innocence For I perceive the disquiet of your thoughts dethrones Your Reason But 't is hard to be Physician Where the Disease admits such alteration As makes the Remedie uncertain Enter Page Page Madam my Lord Valasco with some Ladies Are come to wait upon you Cal. Go let them know I 'll attend them How ill does Conversation suit my mind Who can in nothing now contentment find Exeunt Scene 3. Enter Almeric and Peregrine Per. This Kingdom has known strange and wonderful Changes since my absence for who wo'd e'er ha' thought Sigismond should have come to be our Soveraign Heaven having given so many just Pretenders To th' Grown before his Right could put in claim Alm. 'T is true Peregrine but Fortunes children Are always heirs to what she pleases And all his actions both in Peace and War Have still been crown'd with such success and glory As made him justly thought one of her Darling sons And though there are many whose wants in worth And height of Envy made them strive to clip His Honours wings yet I must needs confess I think he merits what he wears Per. I doubt not your Opinion but with what A kind of temper did he at first demean Himself in his new Soveraignty Alm. With such a Moderation as shew'd he thought The weighty troubles that do attend the Crown Of a well governing Prince would far exceed The pleasure of an expected Power and Greatness Per. Yet we see those cares which Crowns create Are burthens which all the great ones of the world Do strive to carry to which when right of birth Is wanting they make usurping Power and Treasons guilt become their unresisted title And certainly what is so often purchased By th' death of Millions and the height of Crimes When lawfully acquir'd may well excuse A more than common joy exprest in such An elevated Fortune Alm. No doubt it does and 't was the general expectation and our surprize the greater finding his looks And actions shew such an unmov'd indifferencie Per. That might beget amazement for sudden satisfaction or high cares seldom or never keep within those bounds Reason or policie prescribes them But he resolv'd to shew by something far from common in Mankind Fortune was Just not blind in giving him a Sceptre But who amongst all the Court is likely to carry The name of Favorite Alm. He that possesses the greatest share is Melynet Nephew to the late Lord Euryalus that was the fair Marcelia's Father His growth in greatness was like a Mushrom so suddain which has begot much wonder in the Court Enter Lucidore Oh Lucidore Luc. Nay hold no quarreling I have been suffering Sufficiently for my breach of promise Alm. Why pr'ythee what Disaster that the knowledg may make some satisfaction For I dare swear it is some Comical accident Luc. If to lose a Mans Reason first and then all his Money be matter of Mirth it is so for that 's the true character of my condition Alm. As how Luc. Why just as I left you the other night I met with our new Favourite and straight my brain was seiz'd with a piece of policy to try if I could drink away his Understanding and keep so much of my own to play the Justice of Peace with him and sift out the Reason of his so much admir'd greatness with the King but I like other Statesmen fail'd in my
away Lotharicus draws to defend himself Loth. I would willingly die but not by the hands of Villains He fights bravely kills one of the Villains they wound him in many places and he falls 3 Vill. He 's gone to Heaven or Hell and has took one of us with him for his Attendance Du-Pr. Are you sure he 's dead 3. Vill. I sure enough unless he has more lives then one Du-Pr. For fear he should not I 'le give him my last blessing 1 Vill. Hold he 's dead I 'le warrant Pulls out a Pistol you and the noise of that going off will bring in company and betray us If you are not satisfied we 'll open two or three Casements more to let his Soul pass out by but 't is unnecessary Hark I hear a noise let 's fly we shall be taken They go back to wound him again and hear a noise 3 Vill. What shall we do with our dead companion 1 Vill. Leave him he is not known here Exeunt omnes Enter Meraspas and Philampras and two other men with Torches Phil. Pray let us make all the hast we can I have bin all this Evening to find you or your Lord out Meras Had not your business bin of such high importance to my Lord as you say I would have borrow'd an hours time longer to have drank with my friends here 1 Man Another time will do as well we will go with you as far as the house and there take our leaves to morrow we 'll meet again Meras I wonder what it is a clock Phil. Between eleven and twelve 2 Man What 's that lies yonder 1 Man steps forth 1 Man Ha! a Gentleman kill'd Meras Heaven bless my Lord. Goes to him and looks O it is my Lord It is my Lord that 's murthered Oh cursed Villains that have done this and cursed I that was not with him to have hope to defend his life or lost my own in endeavouring of it What shall I do 2 Man There is no remedy now poor Gentleman Meras Pray help me take up his Body and carry it home Exeunt with Body of Lotharicus Scene changes to a Garden Scene 5. Enter Calinda and Ericina Eric Are you resolv'd still to give up your self to so much sadness Is it so great a wonder to find men false that you no better are prepar'd from reasonable expectation to meet this change and common trouble Cal. It is true Ericina our afflictions do usually receive abatement from not being single Sufferers but love admits not of allays like other ills nor is that humor in my mind so generally to be boasted of Besides Love when it first takes Possession of our hearts deprives us of our Reason and that 's the chief resisting strength by which we opposition make against all other accidents of Fortunes malice Eric I cannot think a Passion by Gods and Men so Deified can carry in it so much destructive danger for if it robs our Souls of Reason it makes us like to Beasts And certainly Heaven ne're design'd that Metamorphosis from whence we have receiv'd the highest proof of that All-conquering Passion Besides some with their Reason make their Choice and what it does approve it may subsist with or banish it if it too far intrude That Reason is very weak and sluggish that suffers and Passion to grow so strong as to supplant it Cal. I do not wish thee so much ill as 't is unhappily to Love or else I should be glad to see how you would rule your inclinations which I confess you mannage well in supposition Would mine were governed by fancy too I Player-like could raign as well as you We can unmov'd hear others sufferings tell Which if our own we should not bear it well Eric You can no trouble have but what is mine My love does make my share as great as thine Unkind Calinda what is 't you intend To punish your false Lover in your Friend Can his inconstancy make you despise That friendship which you once so much did prize If you so great injustice will allow Ne're censure him he did not break his Vow And who the self-same Errors will commit In prudence ought in others pardon it Cal. You of injustice talk whilst only I Find from you both so much you fain would die Friendship and Love to me are cruel grown I wish to Heav'n that I had neither known Were yours true you would not mine suspect Our doubt grows strongest from our own defect You on my Love a blemish fain would throw That in your change you might less guilty show Those that are wise do setting Suns forsake And with the rising ones their friendships make You know who 't is has set his heart on fire Improve your int'rest e're the flame expire Love that plays Truant once without a cause Will still an Out-law be to Honor's Laws And days whose mornings do appear most bright Are often over-cast before 't is night If she his seeming passion entertain His half-made vows will cost his eyes some rain Eric She cannot greater show'rs for Love let fall Then I shall do for friendships Funeral Calinda by my death you soon will know Whither to that I have bin true or no Then I am sure that you will grow more just And shed some tears for your unkind mistrust Cal. If that can cure thy griefs my doubts have bred I 'le make my eyes another Deluge shed Dear Ericina can y' a pardon give To an offence makes me unfit to live Eric I can forgive much more then you can do Love in that kind ne're yet a limit knew Cal. I grieve to think I should a debt contract Of which I cannot pay the Int'rest back Eric And I am sad to see your heart possest Still with that Love which gives your thoughts no rest Cal. Thy charming voice would make them calmer grow Eric I 'd sing and ne're give off if I thought so Cal. Sing then that Song my humor suits and mind I 'le sit down here if thou wilt be so kind She sits down and leans melancholly upon her arm SONG Eric 1. Oh you powerful Gods if I must be An injur'd Off'ring to Love's Deity Grant my revenge this Plague on men That Women ne're may love agen Then I 'le with joy submit unto my Fate Which by your Justice gives their Empire date 2 Depose that proud insulting Boy Who most is pleas'd when he can most destroy O! let the World no longer govern'd be By such a Blind and Childish Deity For if you Gods be in your Power severe We shall adore you not from love but fear 3 But if you 'l his Divinity maintain O're men false men confine his â—oâ—â—'ring raign And when their Hearts Love's greatest torments prove Let that not pity but our laughter move Thus scorn'd and lost to all their wishes aim Let Rage Despair and Death then end their flame 'T is very late my dear Calinda and we had best be gone Cal. It
much as ever any man did or will love any of the Sex I do indeed Dear Widow but now if you should heep me in a great deal of pain by making a Chancery-suit of our Affections 't is ten to one but I shall rather deny all this truth again than endure such an endless torment Per. Faith Widow you must now resolve this new fashion'd suiter will have his alms or his answer quickly Arc. I Madam you must needs tell my Lord what you 'l do you don't know what an injury you may do him by keeping him long in suspense for if his heart should have taken post to any other place how do you think his body should know where to find it Perilla We 'l petition the King to introduce here the English Law that is if he loses it between sun and â—un the County must make it good Per. That is if it were stollen Madam Perilla Well if it has run away or lost it self then he must have it cry'd Luc. Never think of these ways to baffle me out of my Heart Madam in plain terms you have stoln it and if you stir out of this Garden without restitution or my consent to keep it hang me if I send not a Hue and Cry after you Perilla It seems my Lord you are very sharp set to my Estate if you possest that I believe you would easily bequeath my person for a Legacy to my next Heir Luc. Lord Madam that you should think so As if a Rich Mistris were to be prefer'd before a Mistris Rich. Do you think I am so ill bred to displace your Title so to put money before it No it shall never take the precedency It is as much as I desire that I am certain it is one of your attendants for where Marriage is made and that a servant to neither party there is always to be sure but beggarly house-keeping and I love good company as my life Perilla Well I will not injure my wit so much to take seven years consideration to make up at last a bad bargain as if a great deal of time were requisite to undo ones self in when a quarter of an hour will serve turn as well and precipitated indiscretions always will admit of more excuse than premeditated follies This gives you nay consent so soon my Lord. Luc. I care not from whence the line come so long as it draws to my Center I 'l accept it good or bad according to the old Rule of Marriage Perilla Well once within this month we shall both repent it after the Parson has ty'd us together Luc. If we do and the worst come to the worst 't is but one of us making a journey into the other world and unmarrying our selves and when it comes we 'l have fair play draw who shall go Perilla A very just bargain Per. Nothing will break your agreement then I see Luc. But first we 'l try to break each others heart Exeunt Scene 5. Enter Lotharicus in a Disguise Loth. It is some pleasure since I could nor dy at least to think that I shall now revenge my wrongs my self on my intended Murtherer and by giving him his merited Death punish the false Marcelia too And in the bud of her wish'd Queenships honor Nip hâ—r support that treacherous Favorite from her She little think Lotharicus doth live So great a ruine to her hopes to give Here he must pass and in this place I 'l stay And make Death complement him in the way Enter Melynet with two boys Lotharicus meets him Mel. Boys go where I bid you Ha! what 's that comes there Loth. An injur'd Lover brought by his despair Lotharicus Mel. That 's false I 'm sure I know thou sayst not true Loth. His Ghost is rise to give thy crimes their due Villain I live and with this sword will show In my revenge whether 't be true or no I all my wrongs upon thy heart will write Mel. No more of words but let us to 't and sight Boast not before we do the vict'ry try Perhaps it may prove your own lot to dy Loth. I could have made my self of that secure But that my Courage Treach'ry can't endure Mel. I 'l thank thy Courage and the debt will pay By taking thy unhappy life away Loth. Fall on then They fight Melynet gives back Ha! methinks you back do start As if my kindness touch'd you to the heart Mel. What it has done I soon will make thee find What think you now Sir are you paid in kind They fight still Enter Valasco Peregrine they draw and come between them Per. Hold this is no good exercise Loth. The best that can be Sir to us Per. How Lotharicus Loth. The same Sir Per. What wonder 's this and fighting with his so beloved friend my Lord Melynet Loth. The wonder is far greater that occasion'd it Val. My Lord Melynet I am glad we have prevented the hazard of your life to farther Revenge Mel. You have obstructed me in a Revenge Which I could curse you for for by preventing Of his Death I am undone aside Loth. We 'l not take our leaves one of another we shall have opportunity to meet in some other place Exeunt severally Scene 3. Enter King and Almeric King I have not seen Melynet to day I wonder much he is not come Alm. Doubtless it will not be long before he does attend your Majesty Enter Valasco King Have you not seen Melynet my Lord Val. Yes and it please your Majesty I came from him he is wounded King How by what means Val. My Lord Lotharicus is return'd in disguise and has set upon him as he was going to Marcelia King Thou dost mistake Lotharicus is dead I 'l assure you Val. And please your Majesty he has got such favor in the other world to come and live again for I am sure it is not half an hour since Peregrine and I parted them King Are you sure 't is he Val. As sure as my name is Valasco King What should the meaning of this be Go and cause him to be brought before me I 'l hear the motion of this bold attempt upon the life of Melynet my self Are his wounds dangerous Val. No Sir very slight they have both some little hurt King Sure Lotharicus's jealousie has caus'd this quarrel with Melynet because he knows I have a value for him and by that concludes that he has injur'd him to Marcelia Alm. And please your Majesty Love from so strong an argument may be excus'd to grow suspicious Exeunt Scene 7. Enter Marcelia meeting Euryalus Eur. I am come to tell thee strange news Marcelia Lotharicus is alive in the Town he has wounded Melynet and is a Prisoner for it by the Kings command and is to be brought before him to the Court the business is made very foul as if he had surpriz'd him cowardly Mar. What a compound of joy and sorrow have you given me Poor Lotharicus thou wilt
find a cruel Judg I fear they must by heightning thy guilt help to abate their own I 'l go to the Court my self and hear his sentence and share his sufferings if my interest cannot take him off I 'l try my power first then show my resolution Eur. Thou mak'st a generous and brave Resolve we both will go together I 'l there discover my self and help to justifie my Friend and if there be occasion against his guilty adversary It will be time to go Marcelia Marc. My dear Lotharicus thou now shalt find When most distrest Marcelia is most kind Exeunt Scene 8. Enter King Melynet and all the Lords Guards and Attendants King talks to Melinet King I am sorry having ever had so great an esteem of Lotharicus he should give me cause to condemn him for his Rashness but Reason is destroy'd in the wisest men when passion does command Bring in Lotharicus Enter Lotharicus with a Guard at one door and Euryalus and Marcelia at another King What makes me happy in thy presence now Marcelia Marc. Though 't is not fit Sir Women hither come Yet I most humbly beg to hear his doom King Nothing 's unfit Marcelia does desire Or of her King or Servant can require Loth. There stands my torture greater than I can aside Receive from the command or power of man She comes to feast her pride onely to see How much my Passion still does fetter me Inhumane Woman lost to all that sense Which thy soft Sex to suff'rers do dispense King What was the cause Lotharicus that arm'd your malice against the life of Melynet Loth. My injurius Sir King In your opinion Were every man a fitting and allow'd of Judg in 's own cause we need not then have Ministers of Justice Loth. I question not the prudence of consider'd and allow'd of Laws Sir though now I sought not their assistance But Sir in my own defence I humbly do present your Majesty this Paper which renders me incapable their benefit and made me strive by my own hand to take what I can never expect to have by any other means King How have you forfeited your right in that kind more than your other fellow-subjects Loth. You 'l in that Paper find Sir The King reads and changes countenance grows into fury turns to Melynet King Traytor what hast thou done is this thy hand is it I know it is wherewith th' hast set the feal of my dishonor charge me with the consent of Murther and mountain up my promises their recompence Here Read it publickly my brow wears not a guilt so dark to keep it in obscurity although I ow that intended kindness to brave Lotharicus's Loyalty Peregrine reads Per. Du-Prette be sure and speedy in the death of Lotharicus the King is impatient till he hears it he will double thy rewards I promised King There 's enough Turns to Melynet How durst thou assume the injuring thy Soveraign so Though I Marcelia lov'd I never did design to buy her favors at the price of all my Honors By noble ways I bid thee seek to gain me her affection but not by guilt and treacherous baseness Villain The share thy veins has in her blood gives thee thy life but never after this day see thy incensed Monarch's face again But how came you by this Letter Lotharicus Loth. Sir one Philampras which was hir'd amongst others by Du-prette Melynet's man to assasin me understanding by Du-prette's Discourse that he had moneys in his Portmantue watch'd his opportunity to take it aways and finding this Letter there thought he should make more advantage by that from my Reward that his promis'd recompence for my Murther so left the money to prevent Duprette's sudden missing of his Paper and coming with my man to discover it found me as they then supposed kill'd but after on my Recovery deliver'd it into my hands King Oh! how seriously ought Princes first to weigh the lives and souls of men before they draw them to their bosoms for Favorites that are vitious are the Cankers of Kings Courts and eat in their Soveraigns bosoms Mel. Sir King Hold say no more thy breath 's infectious grown And on my Fame has Killing poyson thrown Guard take him away Mel. Vain joys of mortal Life you fly so fast Man hardly knows you are before y' are past Yet we on you do our affections lay As if we here eternally should stay Honor thou now dost give my soul a view Of what I left when first I banish'd you O Virtue how have I bin led astray From thy fair paths into this Lab'rinth way I thought my Fortune on a Rock did stand But Guilts foundation still proves foolish sand When man by Crimes does plots for greatness lay Heav'n justly frowns and takes his hopes away But though my Life bears characters of shame My Death shall leave behind a better Fame They that won't fall must not on danger stand We carry not our Fates in our own hand Exit King Though Love Lotharicus did make me be Thy Rival I was ne'er thy Enemy At lest to take thy life by ways obscure My soul such abject thoughts scorn to endure To witness it I this for thee will do Marcelia freely shall chuse me or you Loth. Marcelia Sir cannot disputethe choice Against my self your Goodness has my voice And she long since has learn'd to be so wise To leave Lotharicus for such a prize Pardon me Sir that I am sad that she Found not such motives for her love in me Mar. I never more desir'd than what in you I did enjoy when I believ'd you true But when by Melynet I was inform'd I and my love was for Arcasia scorn'd I then such Reason had to entertain So great a Monarch and so high a Flame That all I for his Passion since did do Can no condemning censure find for you Honor and Virtue still have bin my guid My Life has strictly to their Rules bin ty'd Loth. Since Melynet made me so false appear You need not more your actions for to clear But still as they justly more splendid grow My heart does more despairing sorrow know King Which of us two Madam shall happy be Mar. Heav'n leaves me not to an Election free Both so deserve Sir that If I should chuse I 'd be unjust to him I did refuse Oh Gods what punishment do you design Marcelia that neither must be mine Love will not let me my Lotharicus leave Nor Honor won't permit I him receive The King whispers to Peregrine Exit Pereg. King To shew that I will still be here within points to his brest What I am by my birth my passions King My Empire there by Reasons power maintain As well as to my Crown new Crowns to gain I out of Honor will this Justice do Against my Love Marcelia give to you Thou art already of her Heart possest And with her Person now I 'l make thee blest Loth. Sir King No more oppose thy bliss with gen'rous strife May you be happy in each others life My heart to my Calinda I 'l restore Whose due it was by faith and love before Marcelia and Lotharicus kneel Loth. May Fortune showr such Blessings on your head That over all the World your power be spread That every Monarch that enjoys a Throne May that possession from your bounty own Eur. Now take the Blessing which I Sir do give When you are call'd from hence to Heav'n to live And may my Friend prove joys so high refin'd he embraces Loth. To equal the vast compass of his mind Enter Calinda and Peregrine Cal. Sir I am come my Duty to express King To me Calinda can own nothing less In publick I my heart away did take And I 'l in publick Restitution make Cal. Your Will can strangely of your Heart dispose My Will as yet o'r mine no Empire knows King Yet it may yours perswade and command mine King You should not then Marceliaes Love decline King Madam you have all Reason to express As much as you can say in scorns excess But Heav'n the greatest faults that are forgive 'T is noble when we may kill to let live Cal. Had you bin still Sir to that Maxim true I had not then bin scorn'd nor left by you When you the life did take of all my joy You show'd not the left pity to destroy But you would have I find a Womans breast With more Compassion and more Love possest King I 'd have thy Heart again thy Love renew Since mine does burn with a fresh Flame to you Calinda with my Life I would redeem What I have done to call back thy esteem Cal. Your Majesty can strangely overcome Scarce wish a Victory before 't is won That price my Heart will never let you pay Love's Gen'ral there and yields you up the day King And if I e'er again that gift abuse May Heav'n all prayers that I make refuse I much admir'd thy Excellence heretofore But now Idolater shall turn and thee adore I did not think this would have bin the close Man may design but Heav'n will still dispose Exeunt Omnes EPILOGUE NOw I am sure all look that I should say Something like asking pardon for the Play With low submission and I can't tell what Excuse her Writing Language and her Plot As crafty Poets Guilty cry their Wit To make you less severe in lashing it But faith she scorns such undermining ways Of blowing up your pity into praise Nor will she do her spirit so much wrong To beg what does not to her brow belong She says they 're fools force Fate before they be Resolv'd to meet with any Destiny But this revenge she 's sure to have on those They 'l Cowards be esteem'd that give her blows Which strangely takes her knowing that ye must Be to your Honor or your Wit unjust Mark how maliciously her snares sh 'as laid Praise or Condemn you 're equally betray'd FINIS