Let me embrace thee this is a design Has shot life through me Nigr. By this means you may Convert the Tyrants Sword to his own Ruine Instead of your suppressing the Confederates Joyn his own Army to assist their Cause Lew. I am satisfied an am resolv'd to study All arts and means for my Revenge Revenge Can't be too fierce moved by so just a cause An Injur'd Mistress and a Murder'd Father Nigr. Since your mind 's bent on honourable ends I have one more will try you Lew. Name it then Nigr. Your Mother stoops to actions that abhor The Light and this Night meets if not prevented Lew. My soul finds out the Man is it not Clarmount Nigr. The same Lew. Are Pallaces such Scenes of Villany Had not the Court enough of Hell before in 't Conduct me where I may but seize this Monster That his stain'd blood Enter Burbon Lamot Dumane and Brisaâ— Nigr. Change your discourse and looks Your Friends attend you Lew. Gentlemen you 're welcome My almost Brother once I thank you To Brisack And kindly greet this brave Assembly whose Great spirits look for stirring Opposites But there your expectation will be lost For I 'le take care your danger shall be small And your resistance flender Sirs your pardon I 've business of Importance with Brisâ—â— That robs me of your company some minutes But I'lâ— repair that loss at our next meeting But take this in my stead I 'le share your Cause Lam. Our Lives and Fortunes Sir lye at your feet Exit Lewis and Brisac Burbon Are your men bold and daring resolute To run your fate indifferent Rich not Poor That only fight for Bread such oft betray The sinews of a well-knit plot for gain When these fight as well to defend as win Dum. Mine know nor fear nor death souls of that fire They 'l catch a Bullet flying scale a Wall Batt'led with Enemies stand breaches laugh at The thunder of the Canon call it Musick Fitter a Ladys Chamber than the Field When o're their heads the Element is Seeld Darkend with Darts they 'l fight under the shades And ask no other Roof to hide their heads in They fear not Jove and had the Gyants been But half so spirited they had Dethroned him Such are the Men I lead Burb. Well kind Dumane I see they want no Herauld that have got Your Friendship Dum. Sir I speak 'em as I love ' em Lam. In good old Childricks raign before his Queen Had taught him Revels and untaught him War Before her wanton Lust had sheathed his Sword To give her treacherous Poyson pow'r of death I knew that they had valour and a cause To shew it in Nor has the rust of Peace Blunted their edge they are as fierce as ever Burb. They 're Souldiers fit to Sack a Kingdom then Dum. And share the spoyle Burb. Were 't come to that sport once Lam. Burbon it must oâ— some of us must fall The Ulcerous State is ripe and we must launce iâ— Exeunt Scene the Second The Scene a Room of State Enter Aphâ—lia Aph. I am a Prisoner still But why so fair A Prison and so kiâ—d an entertâ—inment After he had pronounced so harsh a doom I cannot guess the cause unless it spring From the Conversion of my cruel King If that 's the cause as ye kind pow'rs I hope 't is Enter Nigrello Nigr. Now for my disguise This Lodging and this Entertainmeâ—t's my design Aside The King I have perswaded to this mildness As the more easie way to win her heart Then Cruelty But on the same foundation I seem to raise his hopes I 've built his ruine Aph. What read'st thou in the Book of Fate Nigrello What is Heav'ns pleasure Quick make hast and crown My hopes speak thou canst read The Language of my Stars the will of Destinyâ— For thou canst tell how looks my angry King Nigr. Madam he 's now a King indeed no more Your Tyrant witness his strange Reformation Now Madam he intends to make you happy In giving not accepting of your heart This milder usage he designs a Prologue This vanquisht passion and your alter'd 〈◊〉 The Generous the Good the Courteous 〈◊〉 Has been so much your Friend Aph. Clarâ—ount my Friend Nigr. Your Influence is so great that this kind man Has used such force spoke such convincing reason That the Converted King adores your Faith Charm'd with your constancy resolves to cherish it Aph. Can I believe my Ears Nigr. If you belief So tardy be stay till your Eyes confirm it And when your generous King gives your fair hand To Lewis call your Slave your Oracle Aph. What extasy doest thou inspire But Clarmouâ— Was he the Kings Converter his strange pow'r Both in the Kings and Peoples hearts I 've heard of But his strange kindness in my Cause is wondrous Nigr. No doubt the Prince may have engag'd him in 't But what'ere motive led him on It was a bold and brave attempt T' oppose the passion of a raging King Aph. What Recompence does so much kindness merit Nigr. No more then you can pay Send him your thanks And the Debt's cancell'd Aph. Yes by thee I 'le send 'em Tell him from me how high a sense what value Nigr. Madam my Will exceeds my Pow'r to serve you I doubt my little Eloquence so much That you 'd oblige your humble Slave to trust Your nobler thoughts to Paper Aph. Who waits there Enter Attendant Bring Pen and Paper Exit Attendant and brings in Pen Ink and paper and Aphelia sits down and writes Nigr. I have my wish A Letter does the business Aside Enter Brisac Noble Bâ—isac Bris. How fares our mourning Sister Nigr. Hist I have worâ—t her up â— to a belief Of Clarmounts Friendship and the Kings conversion And you are comeâ—th happy minute to Confirm her in 't Brif The King has sent me hither To Court my Sister for him But the Laws Of Friendship and of Nature ought to be Obey'd before thâ—unjust commands of Kings His Love is Tyranny an Invasion of What Vows Oaths the Seals of Heav'n have made His Brothers right The serving of my Friend And Sister then is a design so just That all the Cheats I use and shapes I take Are pardonâ—d for their glorious cause sake Moved by the tyes of Friendship and of Blood The means are lawful where the end 's so good Aph. Oh my dear Brother welcome Kind Nigrello Tells me my miseries draw near an end The King 's no more my Lover but my Friend Bris. If his wild Loves Conversion is so great What 's his Devotion then that makes the Proselite How great is the obliging Clarmounts Friendship Aph. How great I think it is read there and see Bris. Reads the Letter My Lord My Transports of joy have been such as your favours merited when I consider the furious Love of a Tempestuous King I cannot but reflect on the danger of your kindness in wrestling with that Love and the
universal pow'r does rule Far as the Light equal in Cell and Court Love the Worlds business and the Stages sport Enter Nigrello Queen And Sir to shew how apt a Scholar I 'le be At Night make me a visit and instruct me The Courts disorder for these late mischances By kind Nigrelloes help and your Disguise Renders your Visits easie and unsuspected Then all our Cares a quiet rest shall take All other Passions sleep when Love's awake Exeunt Clarmount and Fredigond Nigr. There you shall sleep your last I 'le to the King And he shall take you in the very act And that I may not seem the unkind discoverer Of his Dishonour and his Mothers Guilt I 'le set on fire the Queens Apartment That so I may disturb 'em more securely And yet the Plot not mine I 'le tell the King Unless there 's present help his Mother burns Waked by the Alarme Of such a bold intruder as the Fire I 'le scorch the sweating Satyr from his den Till the rowz'd Monster to escape that Fate Shall rush into th' Kings very Armes a toyle That 's strong enough to hold him if there 's Gall Or Honour in a Tyrants breast to punish So infamous and publick a disgrace T'extract a Letcher from a Flaming Bed A rare Alembick excellent Chymistry All my misfortune is I must my self Be an assistant to this amourous meeting A kind Procurer to a Royal Strumpet But let that pass for an exployt so rare There is no dress But what Revenge dares wear Exit The end of the Second Act. ACT the Third After Fire cryed Enter Clotair Nigrello Lords and Guards Nigr. LOok how it flames I fear some Trechery Beat at her Chamber door cry it aloud And let your voyce be Thunder to this Lightning Guards Fire Fire Clot. Mother awake left you do sleep for ever Force open the door Guards Fire Fire Nigr. It 's fortified against strength you must call louder Clot. Madam awake awake Your sleep was never so like Death as now Enter Frâ—digond above in her Night Gown Queen What Impudence is this dares be so rude He had better rowz'd a sleeping Lyoness Then thus have broke my slumbers What art thou Clot. Look The fire will give you light 't is I your Son Fly from that Chamber or you 're lost The Court Is all on Fire Queen Let it burn I 've lost my Credit everlastingly Aside Enter Clarmount above in a Night-Gown behind her Clarm. What shall we do in this Necessity We shall be taken and you shamed for ever Let us bethink our selves what shall we do To the Queen Queen I know not what Curse on this blazing light No Art no Magick no Devil of our side Kind Fates I have it Clarmount in my Closet Lyes th' Habit that my Husband wore last Night When he was Poyson'd put on that and with Part of the same Disguise you enter'd in Make up the form of the dead King which sight With the surprize that I 'le put on shall so Amaze him till you have past by him safely Do not appear to me I did not wrong thee To Clar. Seek out the Beds of those that caus'd thy Death And howl to them thy pittiful Complaints Clot. Whom do you hold discourse with with the Ayre Queen Oh Son Such horrid Apparitions Have I beheld have quite unwitted me Your Fathers Ghost most terribly frightful Has thrice this dismal Night appear'd to me In his right hand he bore a shining Cup Which to his mouth he rais'd with looks so gay As if he drank a health to some young Bride The aiery Potion drank strait in a sume He threw the seeming Goblet to the ground And with an alter'd look assumed a paleness More death like then the frost his Age and Cares Made him in Life-time wear To Heav'n he pointed Thrice did he cry Revenge and at that word Sprung through the Roof which now stands bare to Heav'n Where he did rain down Fire which here you see Clot. Behold it comes Queen Oh fear it not my Son Descends Enter Clarmount disguised in the habit of Childrick his face discâ—lour'd white Clot. My Fathers form exactly who could think The Devil were so good at Picture-drawingâ— Pray Heav'n he be not Ceremonious for I find my self but ill provided forâ— A Complement If it be Injuries Break open Monuments and disturb the Dead I 'le â—ee thy rights perform'd If thou desirest To be appeas'd with Blood Blood thou shalt have Or if that 's not enough I 'le build thee Temples Thou shalt have Altars humane Sacrificeâ— Do but depart thy presence does not please me Thou art not Company for Flesh and Blood Exit Clarm. Enter Queen below Queen How fares our Son Clot. Fares Mother as a Man Would fare that never saw the Devil before He was a Stranger to me and surpriz'd me Nigr. The Villain has outhwitted me Aside Clot. If Revenge Maneâ—t only King Queen Nigrel Will do the work Nigrello bring the Prisoners Nigr. Dumane Sir and Lamot Clot. Yes them Nigr. Oh Sir Your Princely care for your great Mothers danger Diverted me from interrupting your More pious thoughts or else I had inform'd you That but just now their Jaylour brought me word That they have took a draught of Poyson but How got he knows not to escape those tortures It is imagin'd that their guilty Conscience Expected would attend so damn'd a Crime They have prevented Justice and are dead Clot. Poyson'd and dead Nigr. Poyson'd and Damn'd for sure Heav'n that ordains The Murderers of Kings such easie Deaths Designs the greater torments for their Souls Queen Poyson'd By Poyson my great Lord expired Is Providence so barren to Decree Martyr and Murderers one Destiny Heaven that fore sees the Falls Seals the Tombs Of Monarchs had decreed severer Dooms For Traytors had it felt my sufferings My griefs my pains my sense of Murder'd Kings Exit Clot. His Poysoners Dead and yet his Ghost disturb'd Or are there more of the Conspiracy Whose Deaths his troubled shade comes to demand Nigr. What shade Clot. My Fathers Spirit in his very habit Here from my Mothers Chamber it came forth Nigr. His habit had it on his very habit Clot. His habit so I say the very dress He wore last night when the accursed Poyson Impoverisht France to enâ—ich Heaven Nigr. That habit As I remeraber was last night put off In the Queens Bed chamberâ— the King was in Her Lodging seiz'd with the first pains of that Qutragious Poyson in the mid'st of whose Tormâ—nting heat in pious Duty T' administer some ease by th' help of Ayre His Garments from his Body we tore off Stript from which burden to my certain knowledg That habit never stir'd from thence till now And the Disguise his Ghostly Visage wore I 'm confident was more Pleasant to the Queen When 't enter'd thither though so terrible When it departed thence Ha ha ha Clot. Why this ridiculous Mirth Nigr. The Devil
Sir came from your Mothers Bed chamber She can raise a Spirit But such an old dry heary Apparition 'T is well 't was but a Vision for I know So well her Constitution That 't is a younger substance must pleas Her But Clarmount thanks t' his Stars under that frozen out side Clot. How What say you Nigr. Sir not t' abuse your Patience He has had as free access to her as e're Your Father had Clot. But art thou sure on 't Nigr. Ha! What a look was there to ask that question Aside Sir if I 've wrong'd your Honour or her Virtue May the just Gods Clot. No troubling Heaven to witness it Tell me art confident Nigr. Of what Clot. What have we Been talking of Th'intrigue between my Mother And Clarmount Nigr. By your unconcern for her Dishonour I suspect you understand me not Clot. 'Sdeath but I do Where lyes the Mystery My Mother holds an amorous League with Clarmount And the next Night after her Husbands Death Admitted him t' her Bed and then for fear Of a Discovery disguis'd him In her Dead Husbands habit Wit I love thee By Heav'ns 't was witty Nigr. Does it please you Sir Clot. Please me Yes above expression I would not Have mist this knowledg for a Kingdoms wealth Good kind Informer tell me does she practise These wanton Revels often Bless my Eares With the discovery speak is it often Nigr. Sir you amaze me to be thus transported I thought the news would not have been so welcome Clot. Not welcome Yes I pardon her and thank her I find the sin of Lust is not so Capital My Father but last Night by Poyson Dyed And I at the same time by Lust inflamed Lest the concern due to a Fathers Murder To flye into a Mistresses embrace I but a Father lost and by that loss I gain'd a Throne She lost a King and Husband And with that loss a Crown Yeâ— Love had power To make her losses King and Crown forget And the next Night flye to a Lovers Arms. Why then should I be troubled when my sin If it be one runs in my Blood My Mother Was kind before me and if Such pleasant harmless Crimes must needs be punisht My Parents then Ought to be sufferers for my Offences Nature's in fault I act but what I 'm born to Nigr. Shall Clarmâ—â—â—â— live then shall this Insolent Villain Profane your Blood and have his own unspilâ— Clot. I hate th' Offender though I love the Guilt She is my Mother and her Favourites Blood Must expiate the injuries of Majesty He dyes for 't Think not Because I practise it I can forgive it What Nature pardons Honour punishes But say how fares Aphelia Nigr. Wrapt in sorrow As her ill fate requires Clot. As so much Beauty Does not deserve I once was of a Nature Unmoved by any thing in Woman-kind But the Enjoyment I esteem'd 'em Vassals To our desires not Soveraigns over ' em But why her Beauty Virtue or her wrongs Have alâ—eâ—'d me I know not but am sensible Of a strange Change of which I feel th' effects But cannot tell the Cause a shining light Shoots through me and my yeilding heart gives way Where the Usurping Guest raigns Lord and I his Slave obey Exit Nigr. So far I 'm happy Clarmounts Doom is Sealed I know he has so much Honour that I doubt not His profecution of so infamous And black a guilt and though his own stains cannot His Mothers I am sure will fret his Heart strings Enter Lewis disguis'd Lew. My kind Preserver my dear dear Nigrello Nigr. Sir your recovery to life the health Of France the Hopes of Kingdoms and the pride Of Europe Lew. Hold Nigrello by my life That life â— owe to thee thou flatterâ—â—t me Heav'n when it gave me breath ordain'd me for My Countreys humble Slave â— and now thou hast Restored that Breath they Creature Nigr. Sir no more The action has so well it self rewarded That I 'm o'repaid with half this Complement But Sir why do you walk abroad so soon Your wounds being so fresh the Ayre may hurt you Lew. Oh fear not that the cause that brings me hither Has perfected my cure I come to ask My fair Aphelias safety Nigr. Sir be satisfied Her Life her Honour and her Love are safe The king 't is true Doats on her even to madness After you had faln and he had in blind rage Sent her to Prison toucht with sudden sense Of his own Guâ—lt her Innocence and Wrongs And the bright stamp her Beauty had imprinted He 's grown so Passionate and chang'd a Lover As 't may be feared that if no other means Can conquer her He'â— Marry her t' enjoy her Lew. Marry her The voyce of Schreichowls o're the Graves of Traytors Is Musick to this Language Nigr. Cease your Fears Your Image in her Bosom and my power Step in between A crown can neither tempt her Nor shall he wrong her Let my Arts alone To countermine her Danger and his Lust. Lew. Your Friendship kind Nigrello Nigr. Call it Justice A service due to injur'd Innocence But Sir as I 'm a suffering Ladys Champion Be you a bleeding Kingdoms I 've a story Will wrack your Ears and scorch your Royal blood Into a Feavour Duâ—ane and Lamâ—t The Kings suspected Murderers you know Were sent to Prison But your Zealous Brother Out of a pious horrour even to hear The story of a Fathers Death repeated Gave me Commission privately in Prison To Poyson 'em before their Tryal came Lew. Good Gods What do I hear Nigr. Then 't was resolved To have it publisht to the World they poyson'd Themselves t' avoyd that certain Execution It would be thought they expected and deserved And thus this Artâ—fice he imagin'd would Silence all farther dangerous inquiries Into so great a secret Lew. Hell and Devils But kind Nigrello as my preservation Convinces me thou' rt honest yet Nigr. Yes Sir I guess your trouble you would have me prove This Imputation yes 't is just I shou'd And though you 've found me honest yet believe My honesty in such a weighty cause No farther then your eyes Then to convince you That I had the disposal of their Lives Instead of Poysoning 'em I have releast ' em Lew. Releast ' em Nigr. Yes and satisfied the King Whose confidence in my dispatch had made him Apt for th' impression that he thinks 'em dead And to confirm you in few hours you 'l hear The train has took and that the City's loud With the discourse both of their Guilt and Deaths Lew. Thou hast a Wit great as thy Loyalty And their deliverance is a proof of both This process of a Fathers Death has rowz'd My Soul and shew'd me Horrors in a shape Too terrible to enter Loyal hearts And not bring thoughts of Vengeance with them France 'T is I must disabuse thee Nigr. Sir the Prisoners Thus Rescued for my safety walk in Clouds And under borrow'd Names
they I intend Shall visit you and make the business plain Lew. My Resentments Of my wrong'd Fathers death a while must pause I 'le Right a Kings but first a Mistress's Cause Nigr. Sir I 'le contrive to place you where you 'l hear What passes the next interview between 'em But keep on your disguise wear your Mask still 'T is not yet known you live which if it were Your access would be difficult besides You 'l have the greater tryal of her Faith By th' greater hate she expresses to your Murd'rer Which your disclosed Recovery would frustrate Lew. Do this and I am blest What scene of Love Could be more pleasant Be my self Spectatour Of my Loves Funeral Rites Behold the Tears Aphelia pays my Tomb What voyce more charming What nobler Monument nay what Bliss more high Than Love paid to a Lovers Memory No Constancy like what Death cannot shake What Saint would not this Paradise forsake Could he invisibly to Earth return To see a faithful Mistress at his Urne Exit Nigr. How my designs succâ—eed which that they 're just Heav'n by his preservation has confirm'd In saving of his Life to make him Agent In my Revenge The King though I know he hates him VVill be extreamly glad of his Recovery If but t' appease his murmuring peoples Anger VVho he knows are more then Mourners for his Death And for the Prince whose heart my Services To him and his Aphelia have made mine His Mistress's Injuries and Fathers Murder VVhich I have artfully made the Kings Guilt VVill raise a fire within him Too hot and fierce to smother or be stopt Till it break out in a Rebellion VVhich His Interest in the French hearts will animate VVhat could I wish for more then to engage The fury of a Kingdom in my Rage Exit Scene the Second The Scene a Dungeon Aphelia is discover'd on a Couch Enter Clotair King Now I am justly punisht for my sins That Violence I offer'd to thy Honour Thou on my Breast hast acted Ravisht thence My Freedom and my Heart All thoughts of rest And hopes of Peace are banisht from this Seat Thy Tyrant-pow'r has seiz'd Nay Crown and Life Turn Vassals at thy feet they prostrate lye Yet though their Fall is low their Object 's high Though at thy Feet they humble homage pay Up to thy Eyes they look the Heavens to which they pray And if she be not all Disdain all Marble I 'le shake her pious constancy to Lewis Make her admire my Love if not reward it Aph. The King Rises King Is this a Lodging for so fair a Guest Is this a Shrine for such a Saint Is this A Temple fit for such a bright Divinity VVho waits without there Enter Burbon Burb. Royal Sir your pleasure King How came this Lady hither Burb. By command From you King Lyar and Slave from Me Strikes him My Guards there Enter Guards Here kill that Dog but stay A death so gentle VVould be an act of Mercy not of Justice Oh impudence unpardonable I send so great a Beauty to a Dungeon Convey him hence and let him dye by tortures Wrackt limb from limb let his torn Carcass bleed And feel such pains so black a Guilt and such A Blasphemy deserves A Dungeon Burb. Hold great Sir do but remember King Good Gods The Traytor has the Impudence To speak Be gone Has not thy tongue been guilty Enough already but thou still darest breath After so damn'd a Lye A Dungeon Heav'ns Aph. Let me Sir be his Advocate Thus low kneels King Aphelia on her knees That posture Madam From such a fair Petitioner's too humble When paid to Heav'n Commanding Lady rise And be obey'd Aph. Great Sir remember 't was Your act of Grace that doom'd me to this Lodging A Lodging fit for an Inhabitant So wrapt in Sorrows and disguis'd in Tears That any nobler roofe would mock my Fortune The darkness of the place becomes her Griefs That dwells in 't King VVere you then brought here by my Command Aph. By your Command Sir and the Breath That gave that kind command pronounced a Fate So glorious that I am bound to honour My Sentencer this melancholy place Agrees both with my wishes and misfortunes You in this favour just and generous prove So dark a scene befits a mourning Love King If you affirm it Madam what you say Is Oracle 'T was I that sent you hither You came by my command into this Dungeon But durst the Slave obey that breath that sent you Away with him to th' VVrack and let his tortures Be doubled How obey me Villain Obedience To a command so barb'rous and so monstrous Deserves more than an enraged King can utter Or torments act What if you had been commanded To Whore your Sister Stab your Father Ravish Your Mother Curse your God or Kill your King Dog would you have obey'd and done all this Away with him Aph. Stay Sir remember 't was His King commanded him and had the deed He acted been a Crime as this was none This was a blessing and so great a blessing As on my Knees I would have beg'd from Heav'n Yet sure your hand can't punish what your tongue Was Authour of King I Author of why Madam 'T is therefore that I punish him I Authour I do not doubt it in the least I was the only cause I gave the Sentence I order'd you this Lodging and no wonder Had I not made attempt to Ravish you Had I not Kill'd my Brother And do ye think Less then a Mad-man could commit such outrage A Man all Rage all Lunacy all Devil But this dull sottish ignorant Slave obey'd me Obey me are the looks And deeds of Kings no better understood Be gone His ignorance forfeits his Life What could he have done more to merit death Then to think Mad-men ought to be obey'd To Tortures Aph. Hold If I have any pow'r King If you have any Pow'r Pow'r did you say I 'de quit my Kingdom and turn Anchoret Or Pilgrim if I thought that Heav'n had more Aph. You are too kind That little pow'r I have Is in my Tears let those Sir beg his Life King Is it your pleasure Madam he should live Aph. Yes for what you 're pleas'd to call a Crime I think he merits a reward not punishment King You bid him live live then and live unpunisht Thank Her But Slave next let me hear you 've ransackt A Temple raz'd a Pallace burnt a City And if this Lady pardons you you Live Your Pleasure is so absolute your Pow'r So uncontroulable what you forgive So free from punishment that your Mercy Madam Would shut up Hell and make Damnation cease Had you but half that Influence over Heav'n You have o're Me. Aph. These shining Titles Sir Believe me are too gay But since you 're pleas'd Thus to adorn me with these borrow'd glories I will persue the Character you lend me And beg a favour greater than his Life King
the work Therefore I give ' â—m up To thy Tuition till I shall return Victorious then we 'll determine of ' em Exeant Lewis and Briâ—ac Queen Did I for this ungrateful Traytor trust My honour in thy hands Clar. Did she for this Bestow her Princely smiles on thee prefer thee Rayse thee to honour and rewards above Nigr. No more I have no time for words or thoughts Of any thing but Justice take 'em hence And lodge 'em in that Dungeon which I told you Exeunt Fredigond and Clarmount forced out by Guards All goes as I could wish The King 's possest Aphelia has been Debaucht by Clarmount And this Nights work Strengthens that Faith for Clarmount being removed By his strange and sudden absence 't will be thought He lyes conceal'd and that concealment seem Th' effect of guilt by which I 'le work the King To a belief he thinks his crime discover'd And is retired t' avoyd the punishment What prospect of Revenge am I arriv'd to Their confidence in my Honesty destroys 'em What safer policy then seeming just The greatest prop of Treachery is Trust. Exeunt ACT the Fifth Scene the First The Scene a Prison Clarmount and Fredigond appear bound Enter Nigrello Clarm. ARt thou here Persidious Slave is this the gratitude Thou pay'st thy Royal Mistriss Queen Barbrous Villain Thou hast out-done even thy own Native soyle And made thy self a Monster more deform'd Then e're thy Africk bred Nigr. Go on Clarm. Oh Impudence Hear me ye sacred Pow'rs in punishment To such Ingratitude may you invent A Plague for yet your Vengeance never sent On all the sinners since the Worlds Creation One bad enough for him But if the Gods Are barren at Invention let 'em joyn All thâ—â—r old Plagues in one and if that prove Too light add my Gall to 't to make it weight Nigr. You 're not so good at Curses as I am At pardonâ—ng 'em Thus I reward your Rage Unbinds ' em Clarm. What means this Pageantry some fair disguise To palliate thy guilt Mock us with freedom To cut our throats more pleasantly Is 't not Enough to kill but you must have the vanity Of a Surprize in acting it Nigr. You wrong me Clarm. 'T is likely you 're so innocent the least Spot stains you First betray our privacy And thy Queens Honour then to have her seiz'd And drag'd by servile hands into a Dungeon Loaded with Chains and all to have th' occasion T' oblige her with the taking of 'em off agen How thin and how transparent are thy cheats Nigr. Sir t'undeceive you know that I am guiltless And though I was the man that seiz'd you sent you To Prison used all cruelty and rudeness I could invent 't was all design'd to serve you Queen He speaks like Oracles in Mysteries Nigr. And like them too speak truth Your Son betrayd you But by what information he surpriz'd you In so retired a place I know not but Finding you were betrayd and by the Prince Beset I at the Alarm strait joyn'd With the Confederates appeared their Friend Pursued the chace more eagerly then they And was the first and fiercest that aâ—â—acqued you I first proposed this Dungeon for you Lodging And as kind Fate would have it by that intrest My Service to the Prince in his recovery Had gain'd me in his breast It was thought honest And my design embraced Thus was I made Your Jaylour and thus your Deliverer Clarm. Can this be truth Queen He cant sure be so great A Villain as this makes him if 't be false We have found him honest this was not the first time That he has been the Guardian of our Honour In places too where had he then proved false Our Infancy had been more loud and our Disgrace more publick then by seizing us In so retired a place as this Why not A Villain then If he intended Treason Why mist he such much fairer opportunities To act it no he is he must be honest Clarm. Since your mistrust is gone mine too must vanish Nigr. But Madam Courtesies that cost us nothing Cannot be acts of Gratitude Fate I thank it To pay my Debts to you a glorious path has shown By saving your Lives I expose my own But danger's welcome in so great a cause Queen Nigrello kind Nigrello how I love thee Nigr. Your pious Son has such strict sense of Honour That though perhaps Nature may intercede for You For Clarmount he designs a death in Tortures But when he shall have heard I saved his Life What danger will my humble weakness run By the just anger of so great a Prince How easily am I crusht by such a hand Yet all this Madam I dare undertake When acted for my Royal Mrs. sake Queen My kind preserver I want words to thank thee Nigr. I ask no thanks all the requital I Desire is that you two would Love for ever Under the â—â—eltâ—r of so blest an Union I 'm certain to be safe whilst that Tye holdâ— That sacred tye of Love you'â— cast some thoughts On your poor humble Slave and guard him from An angry Princes rage But if that Chain Be ever broke my shaken fortune sinks And all I am expires and dyes if e're You cease to Love Queen If what we owe to thee Can by our Loves be paid doubt not your Debtors We are too Rich in Love e're to be Bankrupts Clarm. When we cease Loving we must cease to be Our Loves are Register'd in Heaven or if They be not yet they shall be Ye dull Destinies I 'le dictate while you write Our Love desires To last as long as Fate for I am serves 'T is as unchangeable To those fair Eyes I 'le dedicate my Life my Soul my Nigrello stamps and immediately a Company of Villains rush in with drawn Swords and massacre the Queen and Clarmount Nigr. Down down with them you Dogs one minutes Life May save their souls So you 've done well Lay their bodyes where I order'd And when I give the sign agen be ready Exeunt Villains carrying out Clarmount and Fredigond Revenge oh dear Revenge Name me the man In Story that e're prosecuted Vengeance So far as I have done Had I took their lives When they expected death they then might have Prepared for dying and death would have been all But now to raise 'em to the hopes of Life Nay and to work 'em up to vow the leading A profane Life in an unlawful Lust And whilst the impious Vow was sealing then To stop th' Adultrous breath just in that minute As damn'd their Souls is a revenge so charming But business now grows thick Here I have lodged Aphelia and expect the King Burn on Burn on my best loved Rage Ye infernal Furies Be kind and heighten my weak gall be but My Slaves to day and be my Saints to morrow Enter King and a Lord attending him Lord. The Castle is surrounded and their number Is twenty thousand and the greatest
burn the Temple where his Ashes sleep And raze his Tomb to be reveng'd on 's dust for 't But now I think on 't thou shalt live for tortures I know there must be greater heads then thine In this Conspiracy which I 'le wrack from thee Then my Revenge I 'le take when 't will be glorious Less then a Massacre would be too mean A Sacrifice t' Aphelias injur'd Honour Nigr. That trouble shall be saved I doubt not Sir But you 'l believe me e're l 've done King Believe thee Slave I 'de not believe an Angel Should a Messenger from Heav'n bring me this News I would turn Athest to affront him for 't Nigrello gives him Aphelias Letter What 's this a Letter to Clarmount Reads My Lord My transports of joy have been such as your Favours merited When I consider the furious Love of a Tempestuouâ— King I cannot but reflect on the danger of your kindness in wrestling with that Love and the glory of it in subduing it Pursue that generous friendship that has been so well begun and take into the number of your Admirers the humblest of your Servants Aphelia The danger of his kindness in wrestling with my Love and his glory in subduing it That Friendship which has been so well begun then it seems He 's a more pow'rful Rival then his King Somthing a loving stile stay here 's a Postcript When I am Married and a Queen our stolne pleasures will be more difficult but shall not be less desired nor less grateful to yours still Aphelia Reads What pretty sorgery is this Betray her Virgin-honour make stolne meetings Aphelia Clarmounts Whore Nigr. Oh no Sir The World has found a gentler name his Mrs. I see Sir you are startled cease your wonder Is she not fair and in this loving Age A little Gallantry's a Venial sin King Slave do you sport with me confess who forged This Blasphemy For'tis no more her writing Then thou' rt a Saint Nigr. 'T is hers I saw her write it And when she had done she gave 't me to deliver But Curiosity made me so rude To break it open which when I had read My Loyalty made me present it here To save your honour from a Syrens charms And guard my Prince from a loose Wantons arms King Thou ly'st there 's not one word on 't hers Has Lewis Corrupted thy fideliry I suspect It is his plot but I will force the secret From thy black soul or tear thy heart-strings out Nigr. I 'm not Subornd That Letter is Aphelias She wrote it and I 'le prove it I confess She 's Beautiful but what though she be fair Must that conclude she 's honest King Hold thy Athestick tongue Or speak and dye Nigr. Great Sir King Peace Slave thou that infect'st all Peace Nigr. Why are you thus distemper'd let not truth Make you so wild a Tempest Were it false Or that I sought the ruine of your Peace Your Youth or Honour then it were a time To swell to this extravagance of passion But being truth King Truth Dog avoyd my sight Fly where the ruder world ill verst in Kindred Promiscuously combines without distinction Where every Man is every Womans Husband These are a People that might bear with thee And fit for thee to dwell with Nigr. Yes Royal Sir I 'm gone but th' only way For me t' avoyd your sight must be to dye Nothing but death can separate your Slave Your loyal faithful Slave from his loved Lord His honour'd and adored Lord But if death 's My doom pray let your humble Vassal beg Kneels An honourable death Sir from your hand Let it in glory come that death which I Deserve when my great Master thinks me false But e're you give me honour right your own Rises Sir if I do not prove All I have said send my black soul to Hell Damnation for abusing Majesty Is a just due Hers and your wrongs demand King Leave off your Protestations can her Fame Be question'd or disputed Nigr. Not by one Who is all passion but by Reason King Then Let Reason be the judge I 'le show it her Nigr. Do Sir But hold She 's not so impudent in sin to own So foul a Paper If she should disown it As if you show it her no doubt she will You 've but my word for 't Then for better proof Let her be sent for and at her approach Do you retire unseen to over-hear us The first thing that I 'm certain she will ask me Will be about that Letter the discourse Between us will convince you that she sent it And make perhaps more large discoveries Of her false heart then this has pow'r to do King It is impossible her Character Gives this black scrowl the lye She cannot be That Monster which this Letter represents her Were she Unchast why then did she refuse A profferd Crown I offer'd Marriage to her And Marriage that 's the veile to Unchastity You see she shun'd Did she not choose her death Before my Love Were she in league with Clarmount Why would she for my Brothers Love have dyed Were all this truth where 's all her Vows to Lewis Her scorn of Life and her desire of Heav'n To meet him there Nigr. Where are they where they should be In the smooth tongue and oyley words of subtle Woman Where are they why Sir can't you guess Is the pretence of Constancy and Honour Such news in Woman kind Did not you love her And courted by a King could she do less Were she a Devil then appear an Angel She had promis'd Marriage to your Brother But Must you conclude her Chast for courting Death To follow him what a strange bold request Was it to beg her Death from him she knew Loved her too well to grant it her The favour She askt she ne're expected to obtain King How 's this Nigr. And for the conduct of her Love to Lewis Examine it and where 's her mighty Faith She 'd hate you as his Murderer and Love Her Murder'd Lovers memory She 'd choose To be his Sacrifice before your Queen 'T was a brave Character and she pursued it But search its depth 't was Interest an Artifice To heighten your esteem of her How common Is it to make a Conquest difficult To raise the value on 't For after all She 's not invincible nor he so pow'rful But she could yeild at last Did she not tell you That that high fate you had markt out for her Would be both welcome great and glorious And so in loving duty and kind Loyalty Her heart was at her Kings disposal King Hold I 'le hear no more Nigr. But Royal Sir you must Though the bold speaker dyes for 't When you 've Marry'd her She has her ends For then what with your Pride For your hard Conquest and your high assurance Both of her Love and Honour which her great And pious Character confirms she 's certain To raise your Passion to
part Are Childricks Souldiers Souls of blood and fire A fiercer Troop and spirits more resolved Life never put in action King Let 'em come on This Castle will endure A Fortnights Siege Before which time 's expired My Brother with the noblest blood of France Whom I have Commission'd to suppress their out-rage Shall lash these Rebels for their insolence Leave us Nigrello Exit Lord. Nigr. Sir King Bring Aphelia in Exit Nigrello Love thou hast had thy flight now Hate take thine Whilst my blind Faith believed her Chast my Faith Made my Devotion I believ'd that Heav'n Was lodged in her and so I kneelt and worshipt But now I see I have misplaced my prayers And find that Idol-Beauty I adored No true Divinity To expiate My misled Zeal I 'le put the false light out And down in dust low as the grave degrade That painted God my Superstition made Enter Nigrello and Aphelia Aph. Is this my King why wears your angry brow So dark a Cloud I have deserved no frowns Yet by the calculation of your looks I find I have not long to Live Nigr. Yes Live Confess and turn thy Fate Tell me what damnd Infernal Fury tempted thee to quit Thy Innocence and leave a stain behind it So deep as spreads Contagion o're thy Soul Aph. How Royal Sir what means King Hold Confess thy Crimes but make 'em not too horrid Say that thy sin was not so black say that The lustful Villain offer'd Marriage to thee And by a Trecherous and Perfidious craft Gilded the sin till it look'd fair and lovely Abused thy tender years and weaker knowledge To take a possession of thy Virgin Honour Before the deeds were sealed that should convey it Say he betray'd thee Aph. Hold Sir King That too much still Say that he gave thee philters and so poyson'd Thy purer Nature till the infectious herbs Had stupified that sense which was the guard Of thy untainted Honour till thy Soveraign Reason was from its Royal seat deposed And so thy Frenzy not thy Lust undid thee Aph. I am all horrour King Hold That shape 's too black still Say that the Villain did it by surprize Found thee alone or sleeping and his Dagger Pointed against thy heart by force extorted The fatal prize whilst fear not guilt betray'd thee Say any thing to make thee seem less monstrous Whilst I behold that face I love so well still I would not have thee â—aln from all that 's good I â—ain would think thee Virtuous if I could Aph. Stay Royal Sir and hear an injur'd Maid I 've felt the Tyranny of Prisons Chains My Soveraigns frowns and those I 've born with courage But t' hear my King accuse me of a Crime Of which my thoughts nor dreams were never guilty If I betray'd my Virtue I must lay The Scene of Treason in some strange dark place As Sun ne're saw For after such a stain I could not look Light in the face and live King How impudent is Lust she never thought Not she nor dreamt an ill Because some Charity For her Soul and some little kindness for her Beauty Made me so fond to wish her Crime might be As little as it could she at next word Has Innocence enough to stock a Saint And takes the borrow'd Name without a blush Aph. Mistaken Sir you are abused What Monster Has some malicious Traytor rendred me King Ask your Gallant your Clarmount Aph. You distract me Clarmount Sir what of him King You 'd have me tell you The sport 's so Ravishing that by this Light She 's for the pleasure of the repetition on 't Aph. Why do you shake my tender sense offer Such Violence to my chast ears Indeed If you could read my Soul you would not talk So like a Stranger to 't What-ever malice Conspires against your quiet and my Life By my best hopes of Heav'n Heav'n that should guard The fame of Virtue and the peace of Kings I 'm injur'd basely wrong'd and am so far From what my King suspects me that I never spoke To Clarmount King You 're wondrous good at signs then Sure you rated Your Honour at low price to make no words At parting with it 'Sdeath not speak to himâ— What numerous Crimes Attend on Lust All other sins came singly The Murder kills a Man the Sacrilegious Plunders a Temple the Blasphemer Curses His God and who makes more on 't But a Woman That 's Damnd in Lust commits all sorts of sins The Hypocrite she must be she appears The thing she is not Perjury's her study For she protests for Chastity If she Marries Her antidated Monster in the Bridal Night Wrapt in false light snaâ—ches at unknown joys And cheated with a Conquest that required Not half the pains he takes sor't thinks he has gain'd An infinite spoyle when Heav'n knows long since The Mine was ransackt and the Treasure gone And next perhaps the Issue of her Groom Or Page is made her cousen'd Husbands Heir And thus not only her own blood 's defiled But the base Canker spreads through Families And so one minutes sin leaves stains to Ages But to unridle this dumb show of Virtue Though you were modest and you durst not speakâ— I 'le try if you dare read Is not that yours Shews her the Letter Aph. Yes Sir and where 's the offence of this King She 's witty with me Where 's the offence on 't says she Aph. What 's this I see what a black line is here Reads Be careful of my Honour when I am Married and a Queen our stolne pleasures will be more difficult but shall not be less desired nor less grateful to yours still Aphelia The greatest favour that you e're can grant me Tell me who gave you this Nigr. I gave it him Aph. I am betrayd This false Nigrellâ— told me That Clarmount had prevail'd with you to quit All Love to me and give me to your Brother And then perswaded me to write my thanks To Clarmount in acknowledgment of such An eminent favour I surprized at such A sudden bliss what by my Brother who Confirm'd his words King Brisac too in the Treason Aph. And my own passionate desires too apt To take impression from so fair a stamp Which ease believ'd so wisht a story and In height of extasy exprest my sense Of Clarmounts Friendship in that Letter to him Which this unkind ill man to spot my fame And shake your peace has Treacherously corrupted And by that last forg'd line subverted all My innocent meaning King Did you write that Postscript Nigr. Yes King And abused her Innocence Nigr. Aye Sir King Can I believe my Ears Nigr. I know no reason To th'contrary King How Slave Art thou in earnest Nigr. Why Sir do I look As if I jested King Death Hell and the Devii Nigr. Death Hell and Devil you do well to call 'em But trouble not your self they 're near enough To come without a call King I 'm all