and on which her vow was made Near. It does Ormasdes and did hers exceed When I first urg'd that sacred vow she made She but a Subject unto me appear'd Ormas And are you other now Near. Yes have you not heard that Prince Orontes Brother to our late King had a young Son Call'd Leonatus who by sad mishap Fencing with the Prince hurt him in the Eye Of which hurt he dyed and the King inrag'd Made vowes to Sacrifice the Murtherer As if the mischief purposely were done In order to his own Succession After Cleandra who was then married To a young Prince in Greece and setl'd there Orm. I 'ave often heard the Queen with sighs lament Her Brothers loss by that sad accident And say she pittied Leonatus death As innocent for that unhappy youth She heard was drown'd endeavouring to escape Her Fathers Vengeance he unjustly vow'd Near. She was mis-inform'd my Lord he yet lives 'T was by this fatall hand her brother fell And I accurs'd that have thus long surviv'd To fall a mis-becoming Sacrifice To Love by a disdainful Ladies Eyes After so long concealment and so safe By Old Nearcus put in this disguise Bred as his Son but now I Life despise And call to have that Justice on me done Which I have us'd much industry to shun Ormas You tell me wonders of a different kind Of which I shall enquire and if I find Valeriana stands ingag'd to you And all this story of your self prove True I will my best endeavors soon imploy This gross mistake of me to rectifie Near. If my address do find no good success The business of my life shall be to dye And whether by your hand or by command From our great Queen it is the same to me The Princess must my Life or Death decree Ormas I shall conceal your Name untill I see I may reveal it with securitie And in few hours if my desires succeed You shall from all your doubts and fears be freed Near. You will oblige me ever if you do Exit Nearcus Ormas My hour is come to wait upon the Queen Unto Valeriana where this Newes I hope will bring me off from the first Rock By Valeriana to be thus lov'd And by Cleandra for another woo'd And by Nearcus kill'd I know not why To me is a new kind of Misterie Exit Enter Valeriana brought in very weak lying in a Couch with Physitians and Servants She speaks very faintly Valeri Is not the Queen return'd to Court yet Lady No Madam Valeri I wish she were my heart dessolves so fast That I do find I shall few minutes last She faints Doct. Your fancy does your weakness much increase This passion is the worst of your disease Enter Queen and Ormasdes she sets him to stand unseen Doctor Oh Madam you are much wish'd for here Queen Let all withdraw I must be private now Onely do you Ormasdes stand unseen How is it with my friend Vale. I 'm glad that you are come to close my Eyes My spirits wast so fast that I must dye Queen I hope not yet Valeriana Vale. Alass Madam I had not liv'd till now But for the joy my broken heart conceives In hopes to hear Ormasdes is grown well Before I leave this world Queen T was the distemper of an Ague fit And he is now so far from being sick That he without begs leave to visit you Vale. Me did you say to visit me Madam Will Ormasdes visit me is it so Queen Yes He 's without and does by me desire You will admit him Why are you silent Now my endeavours prosper to your wish Vale. Does wise Cleandra think it will be fit That I in such a passion leave this World As I shall do if I see Ormasdes I shame to think that he should see me dye Yet cannot chuse but wish it heartily Queen Shall I call him in then why do you doubt Vale. Oh Madam I dare not see him must not You have said something to bring him hither Makes me fear to see him it must not be Que. Pray see him and let this great crime be mine His presence may your troubl'd heartrevive Vale. He cannot Madam for t is now too late I do feel here the heavy hand of Death Is crushing me to Ayre She faints in the Queens Armes Queen Ormasdes your help she dies she dies He draws and proffers to kill himself Ormas By all our Gods I will dye with her then Queen She lives again Ormasdes your help now He flings away his Sword and helps So let her head lye a little from us He kneels and holds her hand Ormas For Heav'n sake Madam tell what I must say Or what now must do is she not dead still Queen Does not her hand inform you that she lives Is it not warm Ormas Oh yes t is warm but I who never dar'd Thus boldly touch a Ladies hand till now Understand not how to use it as I ought He Kisses her hand Que. There needs no other kindness then you shew How is it now Valeriana Vale. Well Madam to well I fear to last so I dare not look that way because I blush To think how I have scandaliz'd my Sex And how Ormasdes now is justified In his contempt of Women for my sake I have no power to take away my hand Yet dare not own to leave it with him longer Ormas Oh why what has Ormasdes ever done Justly to merrit this dissertion Vale. Pray Madam say something in my behalf Either to hide or to excuse my shame Queen Turn this way then and let your Eyes excuse That guilt which will Ormasdes disabuse They turn her Ormas She looks desperately ill Queen T is only weakness and no danger in 't Pray call her Servants and let us retire Ormas Retire you have engag'd me now so far That I must see the Battle won or lost Before I can consent to a Retreat Queen T is late and she must sleep Ormas Why Madam so she may though I be by I 'le sit as silent as the God of sleep And here attend while her tir'd servants rest Queen You will not watch all night Ormasdes Ormas Oh but I will Madam watch night by night Till she recover This is my fixt Post Appointed by the Gods not your command Nor any force has power to take me hence While this good sword will hold for my defence Takes up his Sword Queen Why so fierce and violent Ormasdes I am much joy'd to see you thus concern'd And on this quarrel am not like to fight With such a man at Armes by candle light Or. For Heav'n sake Madam pardon my rash words And disrespect unto your Majesty For I do scaree know what I say or do I am become a stranger to my self So suddainly transform'd that I would hide Me from your â—…ight if I durst stir from hence Queen I will forgive so you 'l let me direct Your future actions I 'le your Love
Vale. You shall hereafter have it all at large Only know now he us'd a violence In shew with such unparallel'd deceits Such insolent demands so cunning couch'd His threats with humble looks so plain disguis'd That at first fight I found I was surpriz'd Then to avoid his purpose I was forc'd To use such doubtfull wordâ—… to bring me off His madness did interpret his own way While I was safe by what I wisely said To farther my escape when so afraid Thus was Cleandras trust and mine abus'd A baser treachery was never us'd Ormas You have inform'd me fully of his fact I suddainly will find Nearcus out And hurle such vengeance on his curs'd head Aside That all the World shall say t is well he 's dead They carry off Valeriana Exeunt omnes Enter Nearcus Near. T is strange I hear not of Ormasdes yet If he oblige me really I 'm his If not I shall resume my first resolves This his delay begets more jealousies Then my impatient burning heart can bear Enter Ormasdes Nea. Now Sir how have I prosper'd in your hands Ormasdes As you deserve Nearcus How is that Ormas With much scorn rejected Near. Is that my meâ—…rit in your opinion Ormas In mine as in Cleandras and in all Who have heard the ground of your false claim Which the fair Princess and her Servants tell A Treachery so base an act so foul That all do think Nearcus has no soul. Near. This you dare justifie Ormas I had not dar'd to tell it else me thinks My looks might shew my business was to find You out and now to let you know I must Defend the Princess in a cause so just Before I knew Valerianas heart Or was at all acquainted with my own I Judg'd your cause against her innocence But now inform'd the right from all I find No argument in Justice to compell Such a forc'd promise to Nearcus made Should now to Leonatus be perform'd Your juggling Arts and your disguised Name With your unworthy force ore-throws your claim Near. You are become a subtle Orator Since you convers'd with Ladies but I shall Your great Eloquence with this steele convince I am not to be frighted by big words We now must try the temper of our swords Ormas We must indeed though I lament my hand Should harm a man unto the Queen aly'd Ne. Shall that scruple this good sword once more Teach you to call for help as heretofore Ormas I may change your opinion with my own Near. Come then They Fight Ormasdes runs him through Disarmes him Ormas Get Surgeons for Nearcus presently My hurt is slight Exit Ormasdes Enter Surgeons or Servants who carry off Nearcus Enter the Queen in Valerianas Chamber with her and attended by Old Titus Old Nearcus Lords and Ladies a full Train Queen T is by your good nature Valeriana That this mans evil spirit threatens us Had you reveal'd Nearcus treachâ—…ry His punishment had suted with his crime Vale. Madam I do confess my leâ—…ity May have imbolden'd him to higher ills Which my just complaint might have prevented But then how hard a censure should I again By ruining so Eminent a man Who from his principles of honour fell Through love to me though I coÌ„temn'd his hopes His passion made me pitty his distress So far as his first errour to forgive In hope he might in better order live Queen You argue well and ought to justifie Your gentle disposition to forgive Mercy does 〈◊〉 young Princess much adorn But I am bound to vindicate my self My Nation suffers if I be not just To puniâ—… crimes like this I break my trust He is the first that ever dar'd asperse The Citherean Name by such a fact As no past Chronicle can parallel I shake to think how great your danger was And how much greater might have been my shame To trust a man who values not his fame Vale. Let not his faults your anger higher raise The punishment he feels by ill success Is a just doom for his unworthiness Queen His sentence must to after times appear Least my story be blemish'd with a thought That I did wink at such a crime as this My people will exclaim the Gods will frown If such a wickedness unpunisht pass He must dyâ—… Valeriana his house Be burnt the ashes scatter'd in the Ayre With prayerst ' appease our Citâ—…erian Gods We cannot offer a less Sacrifice Vale. For my saâ—…e let his doom be banishment If I have any favour in your Eyes Make not me guilty by that Sacrifice She knâ—… Queen Rise Mâ—…dam you shall govern as you please Enter to them Ormasdes and Young Titus Queen Ormasdes are you huâ—…t by that vil'd mâ—… Ormas It is too littlâ—… to be call'd a wound I come now to beg Nearcus pardon T was I that did inforce him to this fight Vale. And I most wrong'd who freely do forgive Queen The wrong was done to me Valeriana I put you in his power my trust he broke My honour for your safety was ingag'd Our Nation sâ—…ffers by his Villany The Citherean honour calls for Justice Against so barbarous a breach of Faith Nor was it you provok'd but were compell'd By him to fight for innocence aspers'd Ormas Madam though I shall never justifie Nearcus actions his misfortune may Admit excuse Because humane nature Is subject to passions which the best men Can never mannage as they ought how then May Valeriana's beauty guilty be That did excite Nearcus love and led Him into this distraction past his power To manage his own heart as we think best If so t is she has turn'd him to a Beast But when your Majesty shall call to mind The gallant service by this Mad-man done You will then pitty his Distraction Enter to them Nearcus brought in a Chair Queen What means this boldness Near. Madam I come not to beg your pardon But to justifie my actions and my self Against Ormasdes who does now with-hold Valeriana my betroathed Wife Coâ—…rm'd by vows in presence of the Gods Queen Now Ormasdes is he fit for pardon Ormas Yes Madam as a distracted person Near. Why do you wrong my person and my cause To call my just Title a distraction Do me Justice Cleandra or give me death Queen You may have both your wishes in good time Cleobulus guard him to the Castle Vale. Pray Madam let his doom be banishment Because his Crime went not beyond intent Queen Madam he must thank you for his life then Cleobulus see him a close prisoner Untill his wounds permit his banishment Near. I do your proffer'd mercies all refuse And either Death or Valeriana chuse Queen Lead him to banishment make him obey Near. Hold alittle Cleandra looke this way T is Leonatus calls he who at foyles The young Prince your Brother slew And fled your Fathers rage untill his death Then shelter'd by this borrow'd Name return'd And in Nearcus Family secur'd By this disguise liv'd as his onely Son
I do command you to suppress this thing I am asham'd a Cithereans heart Should entertain a thought of such a crime We bring our own Worth in question then When we asperse the Worth of other men Cle. They were but thoughts as rashly then tain up As now thrown out with no design to wrong The Innocent I wish her virtue may Our thoughts convince and she be justified Queen Keep firm there my Lord for all those who live Near Princes Eares should weigh how they let fall A word that may a Womans Honour blast If I were apt to credit your report And on your groundless jealousie affront Such virtue what a sin were it in you To make me guilty of so great a Crime Cleobulus I am sorry for my rash opinion Since it offends your Majesty so much Queen It is the baine of Courts when we permit Those near us to asperse the Innocent If our strict Laws for petty theft gives Death How much a greater punishment is due For Robbing a good name a sin so vil'd And so unknown no punishment was made By way of Prophesie for crimes to come If I did think this malice from your heart I would for ever banish you my Court. Cleobulus Your Majesty does raise your anger now Above my guilt which had no mischief in 't Queen I am no farther angry with you now But take occasion to declare my sence Against all such as defame Innocence 'T is a Prince his chief business to be Just The Gods impose on us no higher Trust We have no petty faults to answer for Universal Justice is our great work And those who shall divert it to destroy The Fame or Fortune of an Enemy Deserves to be thrown off with Infamy Exit Queen and Ladies Remains the Admiral and Cleobulus Admiral I have not seen the Queen in such a heat You have offended her some other way Cleobulus Not that I know of in this kind ever Admi. What Devil made you talk thus to her now You knowing that she is so good herself She makes a doubt that any of her Sex Can do amiss and t is great Nobleness Cleo. There is a kind of piâ—…e Devil dwells In many Courts that haunts our idle heads And prompts us when we know not what to say To Entertain great Princes with reports Of others so to please and pass the time This foolish spirit I think entred me Admiral You gave Cleandra cause for your reproof For how can Princes judge Malice for Mirth When cunningly thrown out with specious shews Of probabilities when those aspers'd Are never call'd to ansâ—… for themselves The Queen did Excellently well to chide You whom she loves that none may ere presume The like hereafter for if Princes be Born Credulous Malitious persons may Defame a Nation if they please this way Cleobulus I know I was to blame but from this day I 'le hold my peace till I know what to say Exeunt Enter Nearcus with Mariana and Servants at his House Mari. well Where are we now my Lord this house stands Nearcus It is my poor habitation Madam Here I must treat you by the Queens command 'T is the mid-way unto Coriola Mariana 'T is a Noble and a most pleasant Seat Has it no Mistris Sir Are you fingle Nearcus I am only that way happy Madam Mariana You have a Mistris then or do you call It happiness that you as yet have none Nearcus Will you please Madam to view the garden The rest of the Train stay looking on the Pictures and see them not go out Exit Nearcus with Mariana 1. Lady That piece methinks does look as if it liv'd 2. Lady I do prefer that smiling Figure first Whose hand is it my Lord Lord. I have not skill enough to know the hands Though I love Pictures pray observe the next Is â—…ot this sleeping â—…us rarely done See how that Cupid 〈◊〉 the Tree stands off 2. Lady T is rare indeed that Satyr and the rest Of the whole piece is excellently good 1. Lady Let us look into the next room my Lord Lord. This way they went this way must return They go out and return hastily Lord. The doors are lock'd and we can pass no way 1. Lady Is this by accident or on command Lord. Let us attend a while and we shall see From the next Chamber window where they be Exeunt Enter Nearcus with Mariana in the Garden Mariana I have no Argument for further talk And now am weary grown with this long walk Where is the beauty you so much admire Your praises have in me rais'd some desire To see this wonder of our Sex that I May judge your skill and with your choice coÌ„ply Nearcus locks the door and kneeles Nearcus She is here already oh she is here A brighter beauty never can appear Mari. Why d' ye lock the door my Lord why kneele To me you make my heart some tremblings feele By this surprise and I do doubtfull stand What of kind Treachery you have in hand It looks yet like a Lioâ—…ness betray'd Into the Toyles I scorn to be afraid Nearcus I have no Argument for either now But a distracted heart that knows not how T' excuse what I have done t is love has brought Me to this Precipis and too late taught That I from hence shall head-long tumble down If you disdain to save oh do not frown Offers his Sword Rather take this and while you may prevent Your own near ruine and my rash intent That angry look and those enraged Eyes Pierce like quick Lightning from the stormy skies They melt my heart make me â—…mbling stand To beg what Love and Nature may Command Mariana Love do the Cithereans by such Arts Such force and treachery win Ladies hearts Fie â—…e Nearcus this does not agree With Love nor with Cleandras trust to thee I shame to find such ills and blush to chide Repent and I thy Infamy will hide Oh! t is the basest of all crimes to be Justly condemn'd for infidelity And with a treachery my trust beguile Beyond the story of the Crocadile Ne. What dares not love attempt when it goes high Like mine your ships are ready oh to nigh The wind is fair and I no time but this To woe no other means to reach my bliss The Queens command and my desires here meet To throw my life and fortune at your feet That by this desperate course you now may see Your love or scorn I make my destenie Mari Nearcus how would you prevail my dreams Instruct me not to answer such extreams Nearcus I would have you Mistris of me and mine Before we part made so by vowes Divine Mariana T is a short warning to a work so great Is this Cleandras Love and this your Treat To strangers do you think my lips my heart Does hold so loose as at first sight to part With it to you what do you find in me So slight that looks like so much
my reach Queen If you oppose not but your ear will lend I doubt not but the Gods your heart will bend This way and your good nature in short time Will make you wish for what you judge my crime Ormas Although I cannot wish and must not chuse I would not Madam willingly refuse What you advise but boldly meet my Fate That no one thought may a vain fear Create Lest you should judge my slackness for neglect Because I graspe not what I cann't affect Queen Can you such pleasure tak in this disguise Be thus retir'd and all that 's good despise When offer'd do you fear or scorn to meet This Excellence now fallen at your feet Is your great heart Ormasdes onely made For dangerous attempts shall it be said This Parragon of all our Sex now dyes Because Ormasdes does her Love despise Ormas No Madam I do suffer more then she Does for her self hers is my miserie I dare not virtue with vain hopes abuse I cannot love and therefore do refuse To dally with so bright a Saint whose Shrine Compells all hearts to bow before 't but mine I am not capable of Love not blest That way my heart 's with other flames possest Queen All flames you feel would vanish did you see Valeriana in such misery As she endure now fetching her last breath Enquiring your health neglecting her own death Thus my compassion has her sorrows learn'd I weep her tears while you stand unconcern'd Ormas Madam your passion does my pitty move Though my dull heart cannot consent to Love My resolution is now fixt I 'le try My self to vanquish or her Martyr Dye I swear I did not hear that she was ill And now it does my soul with horrour fill For her concern no danger is so great But I will rather dye in 't then retreat Queen T is bravely said but dare you try the effect Of one short visit after such neglect Ormas Thus provok'd if your Majesty stands by I will not such a visit now deny Queen You speak and look as if you meant to fright Much rather then revive her by your sight Ormas Madam to Complement I have no skill Nor can be pleas'd if lov'd against my will Yet sensible and civil I can be Though it do prove unfortunate to me Queen When shall I bring this comfort to revive Her fainting soul if she be still alive Ormas Is she really so weak so soon grown Thus ill I have no skill in this unknown Mystery of love but will boldly try What I can do for her recovery Queen High passions do weak bodies sooner bring To the Graves mouth then any other thing Her despairs are of a much longer date Though suddain sickness do break out thus late When I your humour did at first reherse And shew'd how your whole life had been averse To Love she sigh'd and presently grew pale Despair that minute made her spirits fail And so transported by her fancy fell As if my doubts had rung her passing bell Orm. Though I cannot speak nor do yet know how To look I 'm ready to attend you now Queen I fear so suddain and so great a joy As your approach may equally destroy Let me her heart prepare that by degrees She may but hope retain before she sees The comfort that your visit brings and then Ormasdes may ere long prove best of Men. Ormas Madam I do my self to you submit Pray order me in all as you think fit Queen You shall then stand unseen while I do tell This welcome story which will make her well And then by what you 'l see you may observe How my true friendship will from both deserve Who have no wish beyond Ormasdes good When time shall make me rightly understand Ormas Madam I have now no more to say But that I will your Majesty obey Queen You shall not stir Ormasdes till I send Exit Queen and Train Enter to him Nearcus Ormas Did you not meet Cleandra going out Near. Yes but I have business of importance Pray let us withdraw and be more private Ormas Come this way then They go out and Re-enter Ormas Why have you drawn me to this inner room Is the secret of so piercing quality That fewer walls then these cannot contain't Near. It is my Lord of a high nature grown I must impart it to your self alone You and I must kill one another now Orma May not I live though you are pleas'd to die Near. No Sir since t is decreed that I must die I am resolv'd to have your Company There 's a sword the same w th mine defend you Ormasdes Hold a while May not I know the cause of this hatred Near. I have no hatred yet endeavor must That we together may revert to dust Though you by chance have rob'd me of my right I 'de not out-live Ormasdes if I might Or. From whēce dos this strange kindnes to me grow Say for I will not fight untill I know Near. This then will teach you to defend your self Runs at him he put his Sword by and holds him Ormas I shall call my Servants unless you now show The cause of this distracted fury Near. I will Lets him go Valeriana's my Quarrel She throws neglects on me and dotes on you Ormas You are mistaken sure and much abus'd It is not possible She dotes on me Who never Courted Lady in my life Near. By all that 's good she told me so her self Ormas This must be some design beyond my reach But if true from whence does my guilt arise Who never heard of your pretence till now Nor have a serious thought for hers to me If such a folly do her heart possess Am I to answer for her guiltiness Near. I do accuse you of no guilt at all But joy to think if by my hand you fall It will Create in her such miserie As will adorn my death with Victorie Ormas If such revenge and malice you intend Where is the Love that you so much pretend Near. We 'l talk of that as our two souls expire She flatter'd me with hopes that blew my fire She threw out vowes to marry me and now In hope of you disowns that holy vow Ormas Made vows to marry you and yet love me Pray shew me how this story does agree I swear I never had a thought of Love To Lady in my life and will now quit The intrest you pretend rather then fight For such imaginary Dreams as this Nearcus You must Fight Nearcus offers at him he rings a Bell Enter Servants Ormas No disarm him so now leave us alone Exeunt Nearcus I have lov'd you and shall still If you 'l permit what does this story mean Near. By Hea Valeriana did ingage To marry me if my birth equal'd hers But now repents in hope to marry you Ormas This story grows stranger and stranger still Does your birth equal hers on which you ground Your Title
protect Ormas If you 'l command I gladly will obey Queen You must submit to what she does appoint Ormas Most willingly Valeriana sighs aloud and weeps Qu. Does our discourse these sighs tears produce Vale. You have said nothing that will need excuse These tears flow from joy and gratitude To you great Queen who by this act include More pious pitty then past stories tell To make Ormasdes counterfeit so well This thought raisd those unruly sighs you heard And Madam now it makes my soul affraid To see so great a courage thus submit To flatter me because you think it fit At your command to put on this disguise In kindness unto one he does despise Queen Do you then think his kindness counterfeit Can his great soul consent to such deceit Vale. I can yet find no argument for ground To change so great contempt as I have found Into so high esteem as he does now By your advice in charity allow That my last minutes may some pleasure have He yields to send me smiling to my grave Queen You cannot judge so ill of him you love Nor can so brave a man so worthless prove Vale. I do confess I should be glad to find All real that I see and his great mind The same brave Character he had maintain Through his whole life and not that glory stain But if 't be real this comes now too late His kindness cannot change the course of Fate Queen Think not of Death for if you will endure The Tryall I will undertake the cure I see your sufferings do compassion move Which in most genrous hearts does turn to Love Ormas Madam I know not what you do call love Nor how in that fantastick Sphear to move I cannot talk the language Lovers use When they design fair Ladies to abuse Nor can I yet by this experience guess If Love or a distraction does possess My heart give me but leave to watch this night That while you sleep I may my heart invite To tell me what it aâ—…ls if it be â—…ove What all the World allows I shall approve And then I 'le rather dye then e're forsake What I avow or what I undertake Q Pray Madam give him leave to watch this night Some serious thoughts may set his fancy right He has lyen often on the frozen ground On less occasion and more danger found Vale. I shall not rest then though you think it fit I shall condemn my self if I submit Queen T is somewhat more then custome does allow I must confess but how to help it now Who knows you see he is resolv'd to beat Us all if we but mention his Retreat Ormas Pray let not this my first sute be deny'd But give me leave to â—…it on yonder side As silent as â—…leep self my body shall Be fixt as is that figure on the wall Queen Let him Valeriana pray consent 'T will prove his honor or his punishment Ormas Who can have more care who so fit as I To watch who am resolv'd with her to Dye Good rest unto your Majesty He leads off the Queen Queen He 'l turn me out if I refuse to go But why Ormasdes do you tremble so Ormas This shaking fit may to a Feavor turn And I e're day in Loves bright flames may burn Exeunt Omnes THE FIFTH ACT. Valeriana is discover'd asleep on a Couch with Doctors and Ladies all asleep about her Ormasdes rises from the ground at the Couch side ORMASDES ALl eyes are shut all hearts can rest but mine I 've somthing here that will not let me sleep T is Love I am bewitch'd or it is Love That thus disturbs my body and distracts My mind no other passion works like this Well then if it be Love where 's the wonder The wifest bravest and the greatest men Have been in Love as much or more then I But why then was I thus long without it Why did not bright Cleandras beauty burn Why was not this fire kindl'd untill now How comes Valeriana by this power To wound me deeper then Cleandra did My Kind Loving Heart how comes this to pass Valeriana sighs and groans aloud Ormas Ha! Her spirit by that sigh informs me That doubl'd groan struck through my wavring soul Oh thou Divinest power what ere thou art I do submit Valerianas groans Are all sufficient arguments for Love It seems my stony heart was proof against All charms but deep fetch'd sighs dying grons By which t is now made supple and so soft That it is ready to take any form That sick Valeriana shall direct Great God of Love forgive my past neglects And now restore this Lady to her health Then I with Insense will thy Altars load Thy Temple with those Trophies now adorn Which my whole life prepar'd for Mars and Jove Since they allow me to submit to love Valeriana wakes and calls Vale. Drusilla Ormas Madam your Servants do all sleep but I. Vale. I would not have wak'd you Ormasdes Ormas You have not Madam I have not slept yet Pray let your Servant know what t is you want Vale. I want assurance of a thing I doubt Ormas Can I give you that assurance Vale. Yes Ormas And will you not lay that command on me Vale. Do they all sleep Ormas They do Vale. Ormasdes I would know what I do fear You are pre-ingag'd never to tell me Ormas By your fair self I swear I 'm not ingag'd In any kind but may and will impart What ever in my knowledge you inquire Vale. My first doubts does still remain that the Queen Upon assurance of my suddain death Has won you thus to flatter my last hours Like glittering Sun-shine upon dying Flowers Ormas Madam by all that 's holy she has not What shall I say what do to gain your faith Vale. You have done it now I am satisfied And do believe all 's truth Ormasdes speaks But I do sear this truth appears too late Orm. Why Madam have you made yows against me Will no repentance nor no pennance serve To wash away my Sins against your Sex Will you that Universal quarrel wed And bring distruction on your Servants head Vale. Vows Ormasdes and those against you made Oh do not take away the Joy you gave By such a thought I never wish'd nor pray'd For blessing upon Earth beyond your Love Which you in charity so amply shew That I do doubt I dream what I injoy Ormas Madam you do now misjudge my passion To call that charity which may be love For ought I know this so late acquaintance With my new heart is short and my transports So great it must be madness if not love For give me leave to swear that I will know No other Joys then yours nor thoughts admit But with design to serve and honour you Vale. I do now wish the Gods my life would spare And make me worthy of Ormasdes care Ormas Madam you speak a Language of respect
Who dyed as I return'd is it death yet Qu No this insolence shall not change your doom Nor your confeâ—…t disguise long known to me Force a punishment beyond the merrit Of that sad mishap which I believe Was fatall accident no purpos'd crime Though my Father look'd on his onely Son By your hand slain with such revenging rage As might his loss become and him ingage To throw out yows that Justice should persue So great a Traytor as he then thought you For your succession after me became His fancies object which encreas'd your blame But I who have exactly been inform'd Of my dead Brothers love and yours now must For that sad accident to you be just Near. I 'le rather quit my innocence then own Your mercy when you Justice do deny Give me the fair Princess or give me death Queen I cannot with Justice give you either How can I a free Princes will compell Or how Ormasdes true pretence deâ—…y Or how afford you death for that offence Which your unluckie hand did act by chance Near. Wou'd I had dyed the day of my return Since great Cleandra dares not do me Right But suffers false Ormasdes to possess What is my due Tall your mercy scorn And will the worst of Tyranny enduâ—…e Queen I have imploy'd you as my Brothers friend Thus long not at his Murtherer conniv'd And untill now by force compell'd my face To frequent smiles in favor of your worth While my heart ak'd to think what you had done But you of late unworthy our great Name Have scandaliz'd the Citherean Fame Boldly to own a Crime so great as may insence The world to question your first innocense Which clearly shews you are for mischief built That dar'd to entertain so base aguilt My mercy may prove sin unless betimes My Justice do prevent your farther crimes Near. Must I be held and baited thus to death Be torn and tortur'd by a womans breath Queen See my Command obey'd Cleobulus I shall take order for an Equipage Fit for your great birth and shall now confine You to an Island near from whence you may Return if you out-live me and mine Remove him hence Ne. Hold a while curse on curse light on you all For this unjustice which you mercy calâ—… Tyrants cruel Tyrants your juggling Art Lay by and strike a Dagger through my heart If Ormasdes any honour have in store He 'l fight another bout upon the Shore As I take ship and if I chance to Dye My soul shall then applaud thy Victory And sing thy praise to the infernal Ghosts That they may chuse thee Captain of their Hosts When thou com'st down Let not a Ladies word Dâ—…stroy by piercing deeper then thy sword Will you not answer cruel and unjust Ye gods why put you Scepters into womens trust Who crushes me to raise a Cowards Name Whom I will in the Elizium fields Defame No honor'd Ghost of Troy shall there own thee The Grecian and the Roman Souls with me Will trample on thy Cowards neck with scorn Poor shadow of a gallant man only born To lye in Ladies laps perfum'd and curl'd I 'le Post thee â—…oward in the other World They force him away on the Queen beck with heâ—… hand Admi. T is strange that none of us should know him Young Titus The general opinion he was drown'd Made us not see through his disguise Admir But his strange passion does amaze me most Ormasdes wedding will his frenzy cure When love does see no possibility Desires and hopes will vanish by degrees You. Titus We see dispairs work often other wayes Queen He has disturb'd me but I 'le forget him Valeriana come let us consult The Ceremony of your Wedding day Ormasdes joys and yours will blow away The farther thought of Leonatus crimes Vale. Our Wedding Madam I see no reason For so great a hast now we are secure Or. Madam since you have rais'd my hopes so high It were a sin to doubt my destiny Yet say when shall my thoughts so fixt remain That I may never think I dream again Vale. Ormasdes not too fast we must proceed With much discretion to so great a deed The eyes of all this Nation do behold Our actions and may think my part too bold If I again shall do what I repent It would deserve a double punishment My over-hasty Love was once my crime I must redeem that fault by taking time To finish what so violent begun Least into greater errours I do run A year or two's delay will add much grace To our young Love which Time cannot deface Orma Why have you led me forth with gentle gales Into this dangerous deep why fill'd my sailes With such propitious winds as would convey Me safe to my wish'd Port the nearest way Why do you now abstruct this happy course As if you wish'd for storms or somthing worse Why thus foâ—… sake the Light to sail i th' dark As if you sought out hazzards for this Bark In which you are the onely fraight that I Can fear to lose by my mortality Oh! do not then my Joyes to time betray Least you do ruine all by your delay Queen How Valeriana must this Scene of Love Fall from its height and now no farther move Does your quick conquest of Ormasdes make Him less worthy when we such pris'ners take As might our selves command if they will serve We cannot give them more then they deserve Consider well least you your self destroy If thus you do defer Ormasdes joy Vale. Madam you and the world too well do know My Love to him can now no higher grow I onely thus stand off least he despise A conquest gain'd without an enterprize And that my injur'd Sex hereafter may Judge of my innocence by this delay Honour forbids that we in hast ingage Rash actions often ill events presage Though I like a tall ship that spreads her sails When she is carried on with prosperous gales To her wish'd Port do sigh to be delay'd And blame the Remora by which I 'm staid Ormas Honour and Fancy at great distance stand You have no argument for this command But your own nice unnecessary thought By which your virtue may become a fault T is true that my neglects to woman kind May urge that I should now no favour find Till my whole life be spent to gain a bliss To crown my latests hours with joyes like this I do confess such judgement were my due From all the women in the world but you Who have no argument nor a pretence Why you should prove the Rod for my offence Vale. Ormasdes true I only now would prove By some short time the temper of your Love And shew the world that mine was not in hast Though its first motion mov'd so fierce and fast It makes me blush to think that this great Queen And her whole Nation have such weakness seen As all commanding Love forc'd me to show Oh! t is a bold attempt when