her leaue to doe she curst her beauty As the cause of all this mischiefe at last Considering who it was that spoke A Father that deseru'd an answere Her iudgement shut her passions in a lesse roome For hauing calm'd the tempest of her greefes She mildly answer'd that she was happy In his liberty though now she saw It was but giuen him to procure her bondage For such she did account all ties of marriage Made by the parents without the childs consent Though nere so rich or hononrable Mari. And hauing said so did she not cast her watry eyes Vpon you and in this sad yet pleasing language Tell you that she would not forsake you for the Duke Lys. It is true shee did so there is no tongue That can expresse the hearts of those that loue Like their owne eyes but Sister it will be late Before you reach the Forrest the Princesse too May wonder at your stay Mari. Brother it 's true but I so seldome see you That I 'le not goe vnlesse you promise to come and see me Lys. You know the strict command That none but those appointed should come neere the Lodge Mari. That is but your excuse I haue told you how often the Princesse Earnestly hath desir'd to see you yet you would neuer goe Lys. Sister I feare these sad occasions will hinder me But I will write Mari. Will you not come sixe miles to see a Sister That so dearely loues you Lys. Sister I know you loue nor will I be a debter You are both my Friend and Sister Exeunt Flourish Enter King Utrante and Attendants King My Lord Vtrante can you not then Perswade your Daughter to receiue a Blessing Which euen the greatest Ladies in this Kingdome Would desire on their knees Enter Duke and Followers Is this a Man to be neglected Though he were not A Kinsman to your King besides my Lord Remember you may draw vpon your selfe Our high displeasure by her refusall Duke Great Sir let not your loue and care of me Bar faire Clarinda the freedome of her choyce By threatning punishments vnto her Father If she choose not me for should she offended Which she might iustly be if I should seeme To force Loue from her it were not within your power Though that you would giue all that you possesse To make me satisfaction for the wrong King Yes I could make you satisfaction Though shee were offended by forcing her Into your armes to whom the wrong was done Duke Her Person Sir you might but not her Minde Which is indeed the obiect of my Loue That 's free from your subiection for it 's free From Loue a greater power by farre Utran. My Lord I thinke shee 's free from reason too For did that gouerne her she could not thus neglect Her happinesse or rather she may yet suspect your Lordship Doth not meane what you professe and from that feare Seemes coy till she be more assured Duke I cannot pluck my heart out of my brest To shew her I wish I could yet liue to doe her seruice There she might see her worth truely ingrauen In lasting Characters not to be razed out By the hand of Time nor which is more her scorne King Cozen if you will be rul'd by me I 'le make her leape with ioy into your armes Duke Sir so that it be by no way of violence I will obey you King In act I 'le vse no way of violence Yet I must threaten it Duke Sir if you threaten her you ruine me Her Sun-bright Eyes by faithfull seruice May in time shine gently on me and warme My frozen hopes But on the contrary Shee knowing that I 'm the cause of these your threatnings Will from her iust vext soule throw curses on me I would not see thee heauen of her faire face Clouded with any raised by my power to be a Monarch King You know my loue and you presume vpon it Take your owne way of loue deliuer vp your selfe Vnto her mercy that I would make at yours Would you be ruled go see your Mistris Tell her you loue her more then euer man did woman To proue which true pray her that shee 'l command you Taskes more dangerous then did the enuious Iuno To great Hercules all which you will performe With much more ease since you by her command Shall vndertake 'em whose vertue hath the power To arme you 'gainst a world of dangers doe Make her proud with praises and then see How she will torture you Duke Sir she may torture me and iustly too For my presumption since I haue dared To tell so much perfections that I loue Not being first made worthy by my suffering For her Vtran. My Lord if you 'l be pleas'd to grace my house This day she either shall requite your sufferings O I will deny her for a child of mine Duke My Lord most willing I would see faire Clarinda But not vpon such conditions nothing But gentle intreaties must be vs'd for tho the King Were pleas'd to say that my humility Would make her proud I would not haue a subiect Say not you that are her Father that she can Doe an act or thinke a thought that tends not To perfection King Come my Lords we will goe hunt a Stag to day And leaue my Cozen to his amorous thoughts Exe. K. Atten Duke I thanke your Maiestie for this dayes licence My Lord Vtrante shall I then see Clarinda And will you lend your best assistance To make me Master of a happinesse the world may enuy Utran. My Lord you make an Idol of a peeuish Girle Who hath indeed no worth but what you please To giue her in your opinion Duke I must not heare you thus blaspheme You might as well say Pallas wanted wisdome Diana chastitie or Venus beautie As say she wanted worth for euery seueral excellence That shin'd in them and made them By mens admirations Goddesses Flow mixt in her indeed shee hath Too much of Dians Ice about her heart And none of Venus heate but come my Lord I lose my selfe in her vast praises and so Deferre the ioy of seeing what I so commend Exe. Enter Iacomo and Lysander at seuerall dores Lys. Good morrow honest Iacomo is my young Ladie readie Iaco. She is my Lord Lys. And where 's her Father Iaco. He was this morning early sent for by the King Lys. Tell your Ladie I would speake with her Iaco. My Lord I will Exit Lys. The Count Utrante is happie in this honest seruant Let me before I doe perswade Clarinda consider well Surely that houre in which I see her led to the Temple And there made fast with Hymeneall rights vnto another Will be my vtmost limit and death is terrible Not where there is so glorious a reward propos'd As is her happinesse shee shall be happie And in her happinesse consisteth mine Haue I not often sworne I lou'd her better Then my selfe and this is onely left to make it good Enter
haue turn'd The streame of her affection vpon you Du. Can this be true Sure feare makes him inuent this no sure He cannot bee a Coward Lysander Thou hast told me that if it be true Doth render thee a perfect man but not A perfect louer and trust me if there were A possibility that I could liue without Clarinda I should be friends with thee but since she Is the marke at which we both ayme the one must By the bloud of the other purchase that happines And therefore gard your selfe They fight Lys. My Lord the iniustice of your cause Not Fortune hath disarmed you and therfore yeeld Duke If feare of death could make me Forget Clarinda weare the Victors prize Then I perchance might yeeld but since it cannot Make vse of your aduantage Lys. I scorne to gaine a victory so poorely But to this man that sau'd my life Du. You are a noble enemy and haue so won Vpon me by my courtesie that could you Quit your interest in Clarinda I should with ioy Share fortunes with you Lys. We lose time for since we cannot both Enioy Clarinda both must not liue Lys. falls Du. Fortune I thank thee Now I am euen with you rise Lys. I owe you for my life we were but quit before I would our quarrell were of another nature Duke I would it were but as it is One of vs must lye colde vpon this grasse Before we part Fight Duke fals Lys. Ah poore Clarinda this is too sad a witnesse Of thy perfections would thou were here yet That I might take my last farewell Enter Cleonarda and Mariana Mar. O deare Madame what a sad obiect 's this Cleo. Bee not afraid See if the breath haue quite forsaken that body Lys. O my best loue Clarinda Receiue from my dying lips a dying kisse Cleo. How 's this Mari. Madame the breath hath quite forsaken this body as I thinke O my deare Brother Cleo. Is it Lysander then whom I haue long'd so much to see I saw him not since he came home from trauaile And much it grieues me that I see him thus This is the second time that I haue seene him Besmeard in bloud Mari. Deare Brother speake who hath hurt you Lys. Deare Sister What blest Angell hath brought you hither Cleo. This it no fit time for questions Mariana Let 's helpe him to the Lodge before his losse of bloud O'recome his spirits Lys. Faire and courteous Lady pardon me My sight did faile through my excessiue bleeding Which made me to mistake Mari. Brother it is the Princesse Lys. O Madame lead me no further then For you will curse your charity if you preserue me Cleo. Why Sir Lys. Because I haue by this vnlucky hand Robd you of such a Kinsman as our Soueraigne And your selfe were iustly proud of Cleo. Who is that Lys. The Duke who lyes there as you see Cleo. It cannot be Lys. Madame it is too true Cleo. Alas my Cozen Sir you haue an vnlucky hand indeed For you haue this day murdered two Iustice will at your hands require his blood Mar. O Madame say not so had you but eu'n now So great a care to saue his life and are you now So cruell to say that he must perish by the hand Of Iustice though he should scape these wounds Would not the Duke haue kild him if he could I le pawn my life vpon 't my Brother kild him fairly Cleo. What shall I doe if I helpe to preserue him That kild my Kinsman it is vnnaturall in me And I besides may lose my Brothers good opinion And should I be the cause that Mariana's brother perish I shall lose her for euer either shee 'l dye for griefe Or else shee 'l hate me I le doe as I did first intend My conscience tels me it is the nobler course Besides there is something I know not what it is Bids me preserue Lysander the great desire I had To see him bred from the generall commendations which The world bestowes vpon him imported somthing Mari. Deare Brother what was your quarrell Cleo. Come Sir be of good comfort neither your wounds Nor the cold hand of Iustice if it be Within my power to helpe it shall rob Your louing Sister of you shee is by me So well belou'd Mar. I want words to expresse how much I loue And honour you Lys. Madame I would not haue you goe about To preserue mee with your owne danger I meane the Kings displeasure besides I feare Your labour will be fruitlesse for if the Lodge Be not hard by sure I shall bleed to death Before we can come thither Cleo. It is but hard by Lys. Then I may liue to doe you seruice Rather let me perish before I trouble you Cleo. You are her Brother and cannot trouble me Wee 'l lay the body behind yon bush vntill we Send for it Exeunt Actus tertius Scoena prima Enter Cleonarda and Gerard Cleo. Can you not finde the Dukes body Say you Gerard Ger. No where Madame can I finde it And yet I haue sought it round about the place Where you appointed me I found the bloudy plot Where it had beene his horse I found to Tied fast to a tree Cleo. It is strange what can become of it Gerard Vpon your life keepe secret what you know And see that none come neere the Lodge I will send you all prouision necessary Pretending that Mariana is sicke Ger. Madame I feare she will be so indeed She doth so apprehend her Brothers danger Cleo. She hath no cause no wounds of his are mortall Or if they were I haue applyed such soueraigne remedies That they shall cure 'em but who shall be my Surgeon Loue I must flye to thee I feare for remedy I pray thee goe backe and see that all things be well And in the morning bring me word how she hath Slept to night Ger. Madame there shall bee nothing wanting That lyeth within my power Exit Cleo. How carefull am I Of his wounds me thinkes I would not Haue him dye for all the world fie Cleonarda Taken at the first sight with outward beauty Nor being assur'd first of the inward worth I wrong my selfe and him It was The inward brauery of his mind which all The Kingdome doth admire that turn'd my heart Which vntill now hath beene like adamant To Kings to melting Ice to him and not his Outward beauty that neuer could haue found A passage to my heart but that the way Was chalked out to it by his Fame but stay Whither doe my vaine imaginations carry me Though Lysander could in worth equall the Gods Yet it were not fit for me to loue him as a husband He is my Brothers Subiect shall he be my Master No To my old sports agen to morrow I will bee vp by breake of day And Reason as I chase the Stagge Shall chase these thoughts away Exit Enter King Bernardo Iacomo Attendants King When rode your Lord abroad Ber. Early this morning King How
make the couenant perfect Clar. I see this is no way my Lord This rash oath you haue made may cost you deare Duke In that consider the greatnesse of my loue Clar. The greatnesse of your folly rather That thinke by threatning punishments to your selfe To make me pitty you when since I doe not loue you I am not toucht with any feeling of your greefes Duke If not for mine yet for your Goddesse sake Giue ouer your ill grounded resolution Enter Bernardo Ber. My Lord the King is newly lighted at the garden gate And in all hast cals for you Duke Madame the King to whom my person is a subiect Commands my presence and I must obey him But my heart which I haue made you Soueraigne of Shall stay to wait on you my returne must needs Be speedy since I leaue my heart at the mercy Of you my cruell enemy Clar. My Lord I shall so martyr it before I come agen That you will repent you Duke You cannot giue it deeper wounds Then you haue done already and in that Confidence I le leaue you Ber. Madame will it please you walke into the gallery There are some pictures will be worth your seeing Exeunt Actus secundus Scoena prima Enter King Attendants Iacomo Duke and Followers meeting King Will none go call the Duke Welcome deare Cozen You lost a braue chase to day but you had other game A foote what sayes your cruell Mistris will she loue you Duke I hope she will Sir she doth heare me speake King How heare you speake Duke Of loue I meane Sir King Fye passionate man Duke Why Sir doe you not thinke him happie Whom she will vouchsafe to heare King You know my loue hath made you what you are Out of an opinion that you deserud it Not for that you were my Kinsman I neuer yet deny'd What you would aske relying on your iudgement And your vertue Should you haue ask'd my Sister For your Wife I sooner should haue giuen consent And taxt your iudgement lesse then I doe now For doting on this Lady Call backe for shame then That iudgement which had wont to gouerne all Your actions and make me once more proud That I haue such a Kinsman whose iudgement Can controule his strongest passions euen loue it selfe When it is preiudiciall to his honor Duke Sir You haue alwayes beene a Father to me And studyed that which hath beene for my good Better then I could thinke I know your Maiesties Intent in this is to perswade me from that Which you belieue is preiudiciall to me But since without her loue gain'd the faire way Of seruice not by threatnings I can take ioy In nothing this world can afford me Pardon me Sir if I desire you to spare Your Counsell since I am capable of none Except you perswade me to loue more King Well Sir I will leaue you to your amorous passions See me no more till I send for you Exeunt King Atten Duke The King is mou'd Should he take from me all that he hath giu'n me Yet it were a happinesse if for her sake I lost it Iaco. My noble Lord Duke Friend what is your suit to me If it be reasonable it shall not bee deny'd For your young Ladies sake Iaco. My Lord the businesse I haue to deliuer Concernes your Grace Duke How me what is it speake Iaco. My Lord it is a secret and doth concerne Clarinda And therefore send your people off That with more freedome I may speake with you Duke Waite me without now speake Exeunt Seruants Iaco. What thinks your Lordship is the cause That moues Clarinda to neglect your Loue Du. The knowledge of her own worth and my vnworthines Which defect I hope in time my faithfull seruice Shall make good and she will loue me Iaco. Neuer my Lord Duke Why is her vow of Chastity already past Iaco. Shee vow Chastitie Duke Why villaine dost thou smile at that Think'st thou Diana's selfe is Chaster Iaco. Great Sir mistake me not I smile to thinke How she deceiues your Grace telling you She neuer meanes to marrie when I dare Pawne my life she is already contracted Duke Traitor to my best hopes Thou hast kindled in my brest a iealous fire That will consume me fiends take thee for thy newes Would thou hadst beene borne dumbe betrothd it cannot be Who durst presume knowing I lou'd her once To thinke of Loue much lesse to name it to her Iacom. My Lord if you will with patience heare me I will tell you whom Duke Speake quickly giue me that case For I vow the earth shall not long beare vs both I will not tell you vnlesse you will promise To follow my aduice which if you will I will shew you a cleare way to your desires Duke What do you riddle me is she contracted And can I by your counsell attaine my wishes No the House of Fate though they should all Take Counsell cannot backe restore the happinesse Th' ast rob'd me of in saying shee 's contracted Iaco. My Lord do not thus wast your selfe In fruitlesse passion but heare the remedy That I le propound Du. First let me know which of the Gods it is That in a mortall shape hath gain'd her loue That thou suspect'st she is contracted Or else some King that in disguise hath left His Kingdome to obtaine her Loue Who is worth many Kingdomes Name not a meaner Riuall if thou dost Expect I should belieue Iaco. My Lord it is a man to whom Your valorous hand gaue life Du. Curst be my hand then for that vnkinde office Against my heart name him Iaco. It is the young Lord Lysander Du. Take that ignorant foole Lysander Strikes him Iaco. How strucke is this my hop't reward By all that 's good I le be reueng'd Duke I was too rash She is a Woman and may dissemble Lysander to Is noble courteous valiant handsome But yet compar'd with me his fortunes nothing Alas that cannot barr loue out of a noble breast Such as Clarinda's is what wayes my Birth Or greatnesse with the King in her consideration Lysanders equall fortunes and her owne In that their Fathers suffer for one cause His banisht hers a prisoner till I releast him Hath I feare begot a mutuall loue betwixt them Friend prethee pardon me I was too rash I le heale thy hurt with gold Iaco. My Lord I am a Gentleman And were you not a Kinsman to the King The blow you gaue me might haue cost you deare Duke I le heale thy reputation and thy head With store of crownes here but prethee tell me What mou'd thee to discouer this to me Or how camst thou thy selfe to know of it I thinke her Father doth not Iaco. I thinke he doth not it is long since Since I suspected it and to assure my selfe The other night I crept behind the Arbour Where they vse to meet somtimes and soon by their Discourse I found what I suspected to be most true My
loue vnto your Grace made me so curious For I protest there is no man aliue That 's more ambitious to do your Lordship seruice It grieu'd my soule to see a man that so deseru'd So much neglected and abus'd Some of this is true Duke If thou wilt make thy fortune Bring me where vnseene I may ouerheare them Iaco. So your Grace will not discouer your selfe I le promise you once within three nights Duke By mine honour I will not performe Thy promise and I will make thee happie Iaco. Be sure you shew not At your returne to them the least distemper Duke Feare not that Exeunt Enter Clarinda Vtrante Lysander Bernardo Clar. Sir you haue shew'd vs many Pictures But aboue all the rest I like that of your Lords Ber. Madame I know my Lord would thinke him happie Would you accept the picture but much happier If you would take the substance Clar. It may be Sir I will Utran. Daughter I charge you on my blessing When the Duke returnes to vse him with respect Clar. Father I see you haue no skill you doe not know The craft we women vse to make men loue the more The smallest fauour I shall shew him after this harsh vsage Will make him thinke himsele in heauen Utran. Before you part when he comes backe I pray you vrge my restoration But first promise to marry him Clar. Leaue that to my Discretion Enter Duke Duke Gentle Lady I craue your pardon for my stay Which was drawne out beyond my expectation Lys. Me thinkes my Lord looks soure vpon me Clar. My Lord indeed I wondred how you stayd so long O rather how you liu'd your heart and you being parted For that you left behind you when you went Duke Madame I doe confesse it is a miracle Proceeding from your beauty that I could liue So long wanting a heart but trust me If my faithfull seruice cannot procure me yours But that you needs will send my owne againe The Miracle will then be alterd quite For now the Miracle consisteth in that I liue And yet you haue my heart and then it will Be a Miracle indeed if I doe liue after Your scorne shall giue it backe againe Clar. My Lord I see it was not bounty But hope of gaine made you giue me your heart For you expect that I should giue you mine By way of recompence which yet I cannot doe But that I may be sure they are true Miracles That you are pleas'd to say my Beauty worketh For there are many false ones here in Loues Religion I le take a Moneth for tryall of the truth All which time my charity compels me to keepe your heart For should I send it backs you say it would kill you Or worke another Miracle which I desire not In that time I shall be acquainted with your heart If then it doth appeare the same it now doth Clad in the same pure zeale that now it weares I le make a change and giue you mine for it For when a Moneth is once past come you And lead me to the Church I le not refuse to goe Du. Slaue that I was to trust that villaine Iacomo That told me she lou'd Lysander Deare Lady You haue in this comfortable answere Reuiu'd a dying man this mercy at the blocke Shewes you to be diuine and so an obiect Fit for my affection which hath beene still Aboue my reason but would you in the mean time Command me somthing where my faithfull seruice Might appeare more then in words I then should be Most happie Enter Seruants with a Banquet and stooles Clar. This offer I expected My Lord you know the iniuries my Father Hath receiu'd if you will see him righted His Lands and Honors backe to him restor'd Which is but Iustice for a bribe for euen iust causes Now haue need of bribery I le giue you thankes And trust me that is more then great men Should expect for doing iustice Duke Rather if it please you Let it be somthing wherein I shall haue no other tie Vpon me but only your command my honor Ties me to see this perform'd Clar. This once perform'd Since you so much desire it I will studie Some Command that may adde honor to you In the faire performance Utran. Come my Lord we will draw neare I see their parley 's at an end Duke Come sit faire Lady My Lord what sayes my Daughter Will shee yet yeeld to his owne happinesse Du. I hope she wil at last make me a fitter marke For Enuy in that I am belou'd of her Then for my present greatnesse Lys. My Lord there is no cause of Enuy for either The greatnesse of your honors being but the Iust Reward of your vnequal'd merit and for Clarinda Tho her worth be great as you can wish it Yet you doe well deserue her both for your worthy Loue And for the many fauors you haue done her Father Utran. My Lord belieue me he hath spoke my thoughts Duke Now when the King sent for me I had preuented Your Daughter in a command that she layd vpon me Concerning your restoring to your Landes But that the King was angry at something that I said Lys. I thought it had beene Impossible He could haue beene offended with your Grace Duke 'T is true at other times he could not But the Lords told me that his Sister Faire Cleonarda had receiud a hurt By rescuing of the hounds from the Stags fury When he stood at bay and that made him it may be So apt for to be angry Lys. Why did they suffer her so to endanger her selfe Du. My Lord she apprehends not danger Which you 'l confesse your selfe when you haue heard Me tell what I haue seene her doe Lys. This act to me my Lord is a sufficient testimony That she doth not feare for by the lawes of hunting It is not to any man thought a disparagement To giue way to a Stagge his head being hard Du. She is a Lady of that noble Spirit That she wants nothing but the person of a Man To be one her heart being equall To the most valiant with these eyes I saw her The King her brother being in the Forrest Breake from the company and pursue a wolfe Which the hounds following of a Stagge Did bring out of a thicket and being well horst She ply'd him with so many wounding shafts That he at length was forc'd to stay his course And seing there was no way to scape by flight He turnd for to reuenge the wounds he had Receiu'd in which he shew'd himselfe a beast indeed And led by bruitish fury for had he beene Indew'd with reason hee 'd haue tane the wounds She gaue for fauors and kist the instrument That honour'd him with death from her faire hand Lys. My Lord 't is strange a woman should do this Duke I was the near'st but ere I could come in She had cut off his head the seruice That I could doe her was to carry to the
King Her brother that Trophee of her Victory Whilst she followed the hownds and so fled From the hearing of her owne iust praises Which all with admiration did bestow vpon her Utran. But that your Grace doth tell it I should not thinke a woman could doe this Clar. My Lord did I loue you so well as to be iealous These praises of the Princesse were apt food For it to feed on Duke Madame I honour her as the beloued Sister Of my Soueraigne but adore you as my Goddesse At whose blest shrine I offer vp my life and fortunes Clar. My Lord I should accompt it as the most acceptable Seruice that you could doe to bring me to kisse the hands Of this much to be admir'd Lady Duke Madame once euery week She comes to see the King And the King euery time he hunts failes not To see her when next she comes to the Court I will wait vpon you to her Clar. What is the reason She liues not with her brother at the Court Since he so dearly loues her as they say Du. It 's certaine no Brother loues a Sister better For there 's no Brother hath a Sister so worthy You hauing neuer a Brother Clar. My Lord 't is late And though heretofore the company of a Father Were a sufficient buckler to beare off slanders darts Yet now world is changed growne so vicious That Fathers are become the likeliest Instruments Of sin and women are not to satisfie themselues Alone with being good but they must giue the world A firme beliefe of all their actions That they are so there may be some seing me here Thus late that will not sticke to say my honour Is the bribe paid for my Fathers restoration Du. Though there were found one enuious woman foolish And wicked to report it for both these she must be There could not sure be found another Fiend Of the same stampe that would belieue it I dare not though I wish it bid you stay longer I will wait vpon you to your Coach Clar. My Lord it shall not need Utran. My Lord I hope it will not be long Before this ceremony of parting will be quite lost And that you will not be so farre asunder Duke In hope of that blest houre I liue Clar. Doe not too strongly apprehend your happinesse A month 's a long time all things are vncertaine Especially the promises of women Exeunt Enter Iacomo Iaco. Fortune I see thou art a friend to working spirits Thou wouldst not else haue giuen me this occasion So soone to compasse my ends by I ouer-heard Clarinda When she intreated Lysander to meete her in the Accustom'd place and thither will I bring the Duke He from Clarinda's promise of Marriage Is now growne something doubtfull whether that Which I did tell him be true or no but now his owne eare Shall be his witnesse for which seruice he cannot choose But both loue an reward me But I lose precious time which wise men euer Consider of but fooles seldome or neuer Exit Enter Clarinda and Lysander as in an Arbour in the night Lys. Had you not sent me word I had not come to night It is so darke Clar. It is darke indeed the fitter for one orecharged With griefe in heart as I am Lys. Why deare Clarinda are you not resolu'd To marry with the Duke Clar. I see Lysander you doe not loue me now Nor wish my happinesse you would not else Perswade me from louing you wherein it only Can consist Lys. Will you still for the ayery name of Constant Rob your selfe of a substantiall happinesse Besides thinke what duty bids you doe it In respect of your Father if he should marry He must needs fall into the Kings displeasure He being his Kinsman so what happinesse Could you inioy Will you be rul'd by me And I le shew you a direct way to happinesse Doe you loue me as you professe Enter Duke and Iacomo Clar. You know I loue you more Then I haue words to vtter Lys. Yet you would neuer giue consent to marry me Though it were still my Suite alleadging That our fortunes were too meane and had we Without Marriage inioy'd the sweets of loue It had been dangerous vnto your honour Should you haue prou'd with child but will be now Secure in that respect if you marry with the Duke And for our difficulty in meeting 'T will adde to our delights now euery time That we shall meete in secret will farre passe A wedding-night in ioy stolne pleasures giue An appetite secure delights but cloy Duke O my vext soule Must I then heare a villaine speake thus to her I loue and not reuenge it presently Iaco. My Lord remember your Oath Clar. Lysander why d' ye stare so and look pale Your hayre stands vp an end as if your sense Began to faile you sure you are falne mad Nay I doe hope you are so for if you be not I am more miserable then if you were For can Lysander be himselfe and speake thus To his Clarinda No he cannot either Lysander Is chang'd from what he was or else he neuer Was what I esteemd him either of which Makes me most miserable Lys. You would seeme to thinke me mad when indeed Your selfe are so you would not else thus weepe When I aduise you to that which will be most to our content Clar. Pardon me Lysander that I haue seemed For to beleeue for sure I did no more That which you haue spoke proceeded from your heart Lys. Why doe you thinke that I dissembled in what I said Clar. Yes Lysander I know you did dissemble For if you did not you were a loathed villaine Lys. I doe confesse if I were that Lysander Which I haue seem'd to be it were impossible For me to thinke what I haue spoke but know Clarinda Though hitherto I haue seemed To carry in my brest a flame so pure That neuer yet a sparke of Lust appear'd It hath beene a dissembled shew of modestie Only to cozen you and if Clarinda The requitall of my affecton be that which Hinders you from these great honors be not deceiu'd For you shall haue more power then to requite it When you are greater we are now equall But when you are a Dutchesse then t' enioy you Will be a double pleasure then you shall haue Occasion to expresse your loue in my aduancement Duke I le kill him instantly Iaco. Your oath my Lord Duke The merit of the act being so iust Will expiate the sinne of periurie Iaco. My Lord Duke What shall I heare her whom I haue ador'd Almost with as much zeale as I haue offer'd vp My prayers to the Gods tempted to acts of Lust And not reuenge it Iaco. My Lord heare me but speake and then doe what you will if you should thus in the night and in the house of the Count Utrante kill Lord Lysander your honour Clarinda's and her Fathers would be tainted and so breed strange combustions but
if you be resolu'd that he must die which in my iudgement is most necessary if you still loue Clarinda I will vndertake for to dispatch him by some meanes or other but should you now here in Clarinda's presence kill him she loues her mind is so noble she would neuer indure you Duke This is a villaine an incarnate Diuell Yet will I follow some part of his counsell Lead me the way backe vnseene I le stay no longer For if I heare him speake againe in that base Key I shall doe that which I hereafter may repent No I le take the noblest way to my reuengement Exit Lys. Clarinda you haue long beene silent What is it you consider of if it bee my words You must needs find them full of reason Clar. I le seeme as base as he would haue me And so find out whether he speaks this from His heart or no Clar. I must confesse that this which you haue spoken Stands with good reason and reason is the rule By which we ought to square our actions Dare I belieue that you would counsell me To any thing but that which will be most For my content and for the Duke will it not be Farre lesse to his content not to enioy at all Me whom he loues then if he should possesse me And yet you haue a share with him in my embracings For what is that husband worse whose wife abuses him If she haue but the wit to keepe it from his knowledge Lys. It is true the Duke is so noble and doth withall So truely loue you that it will quite banish All base distrust so that we might with all security Inioy our loues Clar. Leaue leaue Lys. Or if he should find out our craft How soone might we dispatch him by poyson There haue beene such things done Clar. You doe ouer-act your part I see the end you ayme at your vertue shewes it selfe Quite through that maske of vice which loue to me And to my Father made you put on you thought If you could haue giuen me a beliefe Of your vnworthines that then I would haue giuen Consent to haue married with the Duke Leaue your dissembling then since y' are discouerd Lest you offend the Gods I only seem'd To giue applause to what you said to finde Your crafte Lys. I see my heart lies open to you You haue spoken my very thoughts indeed This was my end Clar. Lysander I perceiue that your affection Is altogether gouern'd by your reason For which if it be possible I loue you more Because it well becomes a man to doe so But I should hate my selfe if I should loue According to your rule which I will manifest For here I take the heauens to witnesse That if within three dayes you do not marry me I le kill my selfe speake quickly for if you do not Loue me it is a greater mercy to tell me so That I may dye then to perswade me To loue another that being impossible But death is easie Lys. Clarinda you haue ouercome by this rash oath My resolution for I perceiue the fates Had fore-ordain'd we should enioy each other After such reall testimonies to make our loue the firmer I doe with ioy embrace what you compell Me to by your rash oath and if your Father Wilfully will stay and not flye with vs Rather then I will euer draw teares From those bright eyes I so dearly loue wee 'l leaue him to the danger Exeunt Enter the Duke with two Letters Duke Shall I stil loue one that neglects my faithfull seruice Alacke I cannot helpe it now I yeelded vp My heart at the first summons her faire eyes made Me thought it was a kind of treason once To doubt that she was not the soueraigne of all hearts Thus she that came to Court to beg her Fathers liberty Had not that granted only but that I who beg'd It for her became my selfe her prisoner And neuer man was prouder of his bondage Then I was what though she loue a villaine Whose intemperate lust and base dissembling Kather deserues her hate yet shee is faire And vertuous still it is my part to let her See her error tho with the danger of my life If I suruiue the combat and that she know For what respect I fought she cannot choose But loue me and if the heauens haue so ordained That I must fall vnder Lysanders sword Yet I haue written that which shall giue a better Testimony that I did loue her more then he Who waits there Enter Francisco and Bernardo Fran. My Lord Duke I meane to ride abroad this morning And if I come not backe at night carry this letter To the King Bernardo carry this presently Vnto the young Lord Lysander Exeunt Enter Iacome Iaco. My plots are dasht the Duke doth turne his eyes vpon me as though he would looke me dead I shall gaine hate on all sides if I bee not wary and cunningly dissemble reuenge and profit are the ends I ayme at since I haue mist the one I le make the other sure Lysander I doe hate thee for comming into the world to rob me of my land yet I doe thinke thou art not onely false my Brother did tricks which when I would haue proued in open Court the Dukes power boulstred vp against me but I doe hope I shall bee now reueng'd vpon them both I le poyson the Duke my selfe and to the King accuse Lysander as if he had done it fearing that the Duke should rob him of his Mistris I haue a seruant shall sweare what I would haue him I keepe him for the purpose since the Duke would not giue me leaue to vse my drugges for him he shall himselfe taste of them lest for that kindnesse I offer'd him I should my selfe bee punish'd Hee that to honor looks is not for my blacke ends Reuenge profit I le pursue through blood of foes and friends Enter Lysander and Bernardo Lys. Where is the Duke Sir Ber. He is this morning ridden forth Whither I doe not know Lys. Your Letter Sir do's not require an answere It will not be long before I see his Grace my selfe Ber. Good morrow to your Lordship Lys. Good morrow Sir I le read them once more ouer Hee reads Though the small number of Lines seeme not to require it Lysander I wait for you at the great Elme within the Forrest make hast and to preuent danger come arm'd Few words but I belieue a Prologue to much mischiefe I feare that my affection and Clarinda's Is to the Duke discouer'd and now disdaine And anger to be out-riual'd boyle within his brest If it be so he takes the noblest way To vse no other force but his owne arme But how shall I imploy my Sword to take His life that gaue me mine my conscience tels me Though it be not apparant to the world That I am euen with him for that since I to him Would haue giuen vp my interest in Clarinda Would she
chances you then did not sooner Bring me this Letter Ber. I was commanded otherwayes by him King reads Royall Sir adde to the number of your many fauors the performance of this my last request What doth hee meane by this I pray you see Clarinda who is my wife possest of what was mine and withall pardon him that kils mee for I will compell him to fight How 's this Begin not after my death to deny me that which is iust since in my life time you neuer did see the will of the dead effected as you desire to haue your Testament perform'd after your death which I pray the Gods that it may be yet a long life O what a Character is here deliuer'd of a pure mind Which only seems to shew the greatnes of my losse The plainer his death is not yet certaine Let me not like a woman spend that time In fruitlesse lamentations which may perchance Afford a remedy but now it is night What shall I do call all the Court and let them all Disperse themselues each man a seuerall way He that brings word the Duke is aliue Shall haue a thousand pounds he is gone to fight A Combat with whom I know not but he that Apprehends the man that kild him shal haue his land Is there none here that knowes of any falling out Betweene him and some other Lord speake Is there none can tell me Iaco. And if it please your Maiesty I thinke I haue a guesse King Speake then Iaco. If he bee gone to fight it is with Young Lysander King Let one goe looke for Lysander presently What grudge was betwixt them or fell they lately out Iaco. I will tell your Maiesty in priuate I am a seruant to the Count Utrante and was imploy'd by that most noble Duke whom I doe feare sleepes now in death for to solicite his true loue to my young Lady which I did faithfully performe but I found all I did was vaine for shee long time hath beene in loue with young Lysander which when I knew I gaue the Duke straight notice this hath so farre incenst the Duke against Lysander that they are gone to fight King This that thou hast told is certaine true Else she would neuer haue deny'd to haue married With the Duke and for thy loue and faithfull seruice to him Which I beleeue is now no more for else by this time He would haue return'd I will requite thee Iaco. He was the noblest Gentleman That I shall euer know He weepes King Alas goodman he weepes He that can bring me word the Duke is aliue Redeemes his King from misery Exeunt manet Iaco. Iaco. I hope he neuer shall come backe aliue he knowes I am a villaine I was too forward in my offers to him til I had tried his dispositions better It is kindly done of him and of Lysander yet to spare my paines there now wants nothing of my wish but that the Duke be kild and I to find out where Lysander is then I shall be reueng'd vpon them both and be possest of that which is my due Lysanders land for so the King hath promis'd My way to find Lysander if he hath kild the Duke is for to giue Clarinda a firme beleefe that I doe dearly loue him for sure if he be liuing she shall heare of him and if I finde him I haue another villanie in my head which I will put in act besides my giuing notice of him to the King My villainy shall Vertue be in show For all shall thinke me honest Iacomo Exit Enter Clarinda with a Letter Clar. reades I feare the Duke hath notice of our loues for he hath sent to me to meete him armed I feare it is to fight if it be so and I suruiue the Combate I will send you word where I abide if I be kild I doe coniure you by your vertues not to to bee vngratefull vnto the Duke who you see doth not desire to liue without he may enioy you for his wife No my Lysander in that houre when I shall heare That thy faire soule is parted from thy body I will quickly follow thee Enter Seruant Seru. Madame the King is at the gate and in a rage Threatens your Fathers death and yours they say Lysander Hath kild the Duke Clar. I fear'd as much This comes of my dissembling Enter King Utrante and Attendants Utran. Why is your Maiestie offended with your Vassall Who as yet neuer so much as in a thought offended you King Where is that Inchantresse which you call Clarinda Clar. Here Sir is the vnhappy obiect of your anger King I am amaz'd I neuer till now saw true beauty Why kneele you Lady Clar. It is my duty Sir you are my Soueraigne King Rise faire Creature came I to chide and doe I kisse This is the force of Beauty who liues That can be offended with so sweet a Creature I cannot now blame the Duke for valuing Her so much I would she were the Daughter Of some neighbouring King that I without Disparagement might loue her but I forget My selfe these are poore humble thoughts And farre beneath the Maiestie of a King Lady I came to chide I feare you are the cause That I haue lost a Kinsman a worthy one In all the worlds opinion excepting yours Cla. Sir pardon me you were your selfe the cause By your excessiue loue to him for that made me Dissemble my affections to Lysander Fearing to daw your frownes vpon my Father Should I haue shew'd neglect vnto the Duke Kin. Who euer was the cause you shall not feele The punishment the Duke did truly loue you Lady which you shall see here in this Letter Apparantly may you see your error And grieue to death for your past folly In refusing the quintessence of Mankinde Read it not now you shall haue time to grieue in He shewes there in his Letter that you are his wife That by that meanes I might be drawne the sooner To performe his will which is that you should Be possest of that which was his and so you shall If hee be dead Cla. Sir I doe vtterly refuse it all that I desire Is that your Maiestie will giue me leaue To depart my griefes doe so oppresse me That I am sicke at heart King When you please Lady Exit Cla. My Lord how chanc'd it that you neuer told me That your Daughter lou'd Lysander Utran. Sir let me perish it I knew it I am amaz'd to heare it now Exeunt Enter Lysander and Mariana Lys. But Sister can you thinke it possible The Princesse should thus loue me Mar. Brother I know you see it your selfe Though you will not take notice of it Lys. Belieue me Mariana it doth grieue me much So great a Princesse should bee so vnhappy To loue a man whose heart is not his owne For he that had a heart at his disposing Could not denie to giue it her Ma. When she shal know you haue another Mistria She will call
of this vnpleasing subiect For if I get Lysander once within my power I will sacrifice his heart-bloud to the Ghost Of my deceased Cozen Enter Clarinda Vtran. You know it is bootlesse The King is so incenst in begging mercy For Lysander you may proue cruell to your selfe And vnto me your Father Clar. O Sir how ill you doe requite Lysander His loue to you was the onely cause That puld these miseries vpon him For had not he so dearly tenderd you Fearing to draw on you the Kings displeasure We had long since bin married then this vnlucky Combat had not bin nor I had need of that Which now I am to beg Mercy great Sir Kin. Why know you where Lysander is Clar. O no but I doe feare he cannot escape Your hands King Why Lady Can you hope that if hee were taken I would pardon him hath he not kild the man That in the world was nearest to my heart I cannot grant this rise and by mine honor Aske or command what is within my power But this and it shall be perform'd Cla. Sir all the suite I le make since this cannot be granted is That in the selfe same houre that my Lysander Is to suffer I who haue beene the fountaine From whence these bloudy streames haue issu'd May be permitted to shew Lysander the darke Yet pleasing way to the Elizian Fields For though we could not here yet there we shall Enioy each other Cleo. Lysander shouldst thou proue false to her Though I my selfe were cause of thy inconstancie Yet I should hate thee King I hope you will better consider Of the generall losse the world shall sustaine In losing such a Iewell as your selfe Sister I will leave you to aduise her better And pray you vse her with your best respect Her worth and beauty doth deserue it My Lord Vtrante haue you in your daughters name Taken possession of all that was the Dukes As I commanded Utran. My Lord I haue the full possession But she doth vtterly refuse them King I know my Sister will aduise Her better Exe. manet Clar. Cleo. Cla. The Princesse is the fairest Creature That yet mine eyes euer beheld why does she looke So stedfastly vpon me Gracious Madame What see you in this worthlesse frame That so attracts your eyes Cleo. I see Clarinda In each particular of the whole frame Which thou term'st worthlesse an excesse of beauty Which in another Lady might breed enuy But by my life I take deligt to looke on thee Cla. And Madame may I perish If ere mine eyes yet met an obiect wherein I tooke halfe that delight that I doe now In looking vpon you were I a man And could frame to my selfe a Mistris by my wishes Hauing the wide world to choose in for each Particular to make vp the whole I should beleeue It were a fruitlesse labour if I went farther Then your selfe thus fram'd Cleo. Clarinda as I am Sister to a King I see I must partake of their misfortunes Which is to be grossly flatter'd but it may be You giue me this faire language by instinct For I haue pleasing newes to tell you If that you had come to Court I thought To haue sent for you which vnto you I know appeares most strange for till this houre I neuer had the happinesse to see you Clar. Madame it does indeed Cleo. It will appeare more strange When you shall know the cause for which I would haue sent for you Cla. Deare Lady what is it for Cleo. I would haue sent for you To know what you would haue giuen willingly To one that would vndertake to saue Lysanders life Clar. I cannot name you a particular But all that I haue or can giue Cleo. I meane not goods or money But could you bee content if it were A woman that could doe this To quit your interest in Lysander And giue him leaue to marry her Clar. If it should come to that I know I sooner should be willing Then I should draw him to giue his consent Cleo. It is nearer it then you belieue I know a Lady that hath sau'd his life already Cla. How beg'd his pardon of the King And vpon those conditions hath he giuen consent Cleo. He hath not yet but when he knowes Your minde I thinke he will Clar. Is she a hansome Lady and well borne Cleo. Not very hansome but her birth is great In both she equals me and in affection to Lysander you Clar. Madame I doe beseech you Leaue this too harsh discourse for it hardly Can be true since there is no Lady In this Kingdome that euer I saw That equals you in beauty yet The imagination that it may be so Doth from mine eyes draw teares and chases From my heart the vsuall heate Cleo. Weepe not Clarinda I cannot hold thee Longer in suspence I am the Lady that I meane And therefore chase away thy feare Clar. I neuer saw true cause of feare till now The tale you told appeares much likelier truth Now that you are the Lady then it did before For you haue in you that full excellency That would make Gods forsweare themselues If they had made an oath should you propose Your selfe as the reward of that their periury Shall I belieue then that Lysanders frailtie Can resist such an assault if you be so resolu'd Besides what Lady hath the power to beg Lysanders life at your incensed brothers hands But onely you that are his Sister Goe poore forsaken maide and melt thyselfe Away in teares and doe not liue to be an eye-sore To this noble Lady nor to vpbraid Lysander With his falshood Cleo. Stay sweet Clarinda And for as many teares as I haue made thee shed From those faire eyes so oft I le kisse the Crystall Fountaines from whence they flowed belieue me Dearest maide though I doe loue Lysander Yet I would not wrong thee for a world Of which to giue the more assurance Thou shalt see and speake with thy Lysander For thou art onely worthy of him He is now at Gerards Lodge within the Forrest None knowes of it but Gerard and his owne Sister Mariana how I brought him thither wounded I le take another time to tell you when you would See him you must goe disguis'd farewell Clarinda Be confident I loue you dearely I will stay No longer lest it should breed suspition Exit Clar. Madame your humble seruant How strange a tale is this yet sure it 's true Why should the Princesse say so else But can it be the Princesse loues Lysander Can it be otherwise if she doe know him If it be true sure Lysander will not neglect So great a blessing hence Iealousie the canker Of true loue that dost in time consume that Which did giue thee beeing why should I wrong Lysander to mistrust his faith till I haue Better cause I must to him and in disguise Which how to get my selfe I know not Enter Iacomo I must trust some body and who so fit
by my Crowne Bring your sufficient proofe you shall haue Iustice But wel I know you hate good Iacomo because he did Discouer where your Lysander was Cla. Would I had bit my tongue out of my head When I gave it power to tell you where Lysander was Iaco. Your maiestie may marke by this how true the rest is that she hath to say Madame then you would seeme as if I had deceiu'd your trust and that you had to mee discouerd where Lysander was make me not so odious I neuer was a traitor had you to me discouer'd it wild horses should haue torne mee in a thousand pieces ere I would haue confest no this same countrey fellow one day being within the Lodge saw him and so discouerd it to me Cla. Though thou deny'st this with a brazen brow Yet thou canst not denie thou wouldst haue rauisht me When I did trust thee to goe along with me I being disguis'd then where I to thee discouer'd When Lysander was and more thou threatendst If I did not giue consent to thy base lust To murder mee when thou hadst done Because I should not tell Iaco. Madame I did not thinke that loue to any man could ere haue turnd that excellent wit of yours so ill away as thus vniustly to accuse a man that is innocent and one that honors you Enter Duke and Hermite Utran. Sir I doe grieue My Daughters loue vnto Lysander should Moue her for to seeke a most vniust reuenge Against good Iacomo whose like for honestie I know not in this Kingdome of his quality Clar. Sir here 's a witnesse that will confirme What I haue said for truth Duke What gentle Lady Cla. Sir 't was I that you rescu'd yesterday From a villaine that would haue rauisht me Duke Why Lady were you in such danger Iac. Marke you Sir she knowes of no such thing Cla. I was the Boy you found in the wood Whom this villaine would then haue rauisht Which then I told you was my master Du. I thought no boy could haue so sweet a face Indeed Sir t is most true I found this Lady bound And that same villaine as I thinke for I had but A glimpse of him in the bushes his feare making Him flie as soone as euer he saw me Clar. I beseech your Maiestie let him be hang'd For on my honor what I doe affirme is truth King Your affirmation is to me a hundred Witnesses yet it were in me iniustice to deny The combat 'gainst this gentleman that doth accuse Him on your behalfe if Iacomo desire it Duke Belieue it Sir he that will do such villanies Will neuer dare to fight Sir send him to the Galleyes If he will nor fight it shewes his guilt Iaco. Hell take you all I dare not fight might I haue all the world giuen I le rather to the Galleys I shall get out there with some tricke or other and then I le poyson twenty of you I le not discouer what I am that will but shew me more King Let him that rescu'd Clarinda haue the land That Iacomo should haue had for discouering where Lysander was call forth the prisoner and proceed to execution Enter Lysander Executioner Guard Lys. Weepe not Clarinda you may liue happily You and the Princesse may together make A kinde of Marriage each one strongly Flattering themselues the other is Lysander For each of you's Lysanders better part Pardon Clarinda that I borrow from That streame of loue a part to pay the Princesse Which euer yet ran constantly to the Ocean Of thy perfection only for now a gratefulnesse To her makes some of it run in another current For which I know thou being wise canst neuer Loue me lesse knowing that I haue loue enough For both since I can marry neither Cla. Lysander doe not thinke I grudge that part of Loue You pay the Princesse her merits faire transcending mine Besides you owe her for preseruing of your life And I haue beene the only cause that you must lose it But I le beare you company and in that pay the debt I owe you King Why stayes the Prisoner Lys. Onely to take A parting kisse then when you please I am prepar'd King What meane you Sister will yon make apparant To the world your folly Cleo. Sir doe not hinder me For if I may not here speake with him We will conuerse in death sooner then you belieue Lysander thou art going to thy lasting home And in thee all vertuous men must suffer They being but branches thou the root of all perfection Who will be Curteous Valiant since these are causes Of thy death for thou vnto the world didst manifest In thy last action with the Duke that thou wert Really possest of these but I in summing vp thy worth Doe but increase my griefe since I must part with thee The rich vnhappy owner for they haue only seru'd To reuiue thee and those that lou'd thee for them Poore Clarinda I from my owne conceptions Could weepe to thinke vpon the torment thou wilt feele When as the Axe shall seuer from thee loues Worthy person thy comely head worthy Most worthy in that it was the Cabinet appointed By the Gods to keepe their richest Iewell in His minde which is indeede an Index In which iudicious men may read as in a Booke The whole contents of all their excellence King Sister for shame doe not thus wrong Your selfe and me by throwing such high praises On a man condemn'd by Law Lysander Prepare thy selfe to die and take no notice of her Idle praises which if they could to any mortall Man be due they were to him for whom Thou now must suffer Lys. Sir I doe confesse it and am ready to receiue Your doome Cleo. I need not to a mind so fortifide as thine is Giue any Antidotes to arme thee against death Lys. All the encouragement that I will desire Shall bee a kisse of your faire hand Cleo Lysander thou knowst my soule embraceth thee These are the first teares that ere fell from mine eyes Although a woman which I am pleasd with Since it well expresses this is the greatest griefe That yet I euer felt Lys. This kisse Clarinda is thy due thou art The neerest to my heart in Iustice Clarin swoones King Looke to Clarinda carry her home Cleo. I thought she would haue out-gon me but now Mine shall be the glory who would liue in a world That 's bankrupt of all vertue Lys. kneeles Exec. I pray Sir forgiue me your death Lys. Friend doe thine office I forgiue thee Duke Hold villaine King How darest thou hinder the sword of Iustice From lighting where it is design'd Duke Sir if you execute this Lord you are a Tyrant King Why Sir will it bee tyranny in mee To execute the Law the fellow 's mad Lay hands on him Duke It is a cruell Law that doth condemne the innocent King Why is he innocent Duke Let me dye for 't if I doe not proue He did not
kill the Duke Kin. And by my Crowne since thou dost interpose thy selfe Betwixt the sword of Iustice and the Obiect It shall cut through thy life too with Lysanders If thou dost faile to proue what thou affirmest Lys. I doe beseech your Maiesty Let not this franticke man for so he seemes to be Out of his loue to me ruine himselfe I doe confesse againe it was this vnlucky hand And no other that kild the Duke Duke I call the heauens to witnesse it was I That was the cause he bled that day And well he did deserue it for thinking So vniustly to rob thee of Clarinda Who only dost deserue her King Carry the fellow hence Doe I sit here to heare a mad man talke Duke Call me not fellow I am as good A Gentleman as was the Duke your Cozen And were he now aliue hee would acknowledge it Kin. Away with him to Prison I le haue him Strangely punisht for this presumption Away with him Her Sir vpon my credit And men of my Profession should not lye he 's both In Birth and worth equall vnto the Duke Kin. Though I doe reuerence your Profession Yet I see no cause to belieue you For in this Kingdome there is none so worthy Her Sir yes euery way as worthy And one your Maiestie doth loue so well That if he aske you I know you will pardon Lord Lysander for his sake King Sure all the world 's infected One that I loued so well and equall to the Duke In Birth how canst thou proue this Her Thus I can proue it Discouer Duke To your great ioy and all the Kingdomes Kin. I am amaz'd art thou a Coniurer And from the quiet graue hath raised The beloued person of my Kinsman to delude me For thou wert he that said thou foundst his body Duke Ghosts doe not vse to pay their duty to The liuing Sir feele my hand I am your Seruant Kin. O my deare Cozen can this be true Duke Sir I will make all plaine but first I must Relieue the worthiest of men noble Lysander Send for Clarinda and tell her this glad newes Madame let me kisse your faire hands I euer honourd you but now I doe adore That high rais'd mind of yours that feares not To professe your loue to vertue though in distresse King Deare Cozen I do long to know by what meanes you were preseru'd Duke This reuerend man that did the pious act Can best resolue it you Kin. 'T was he that brought first word that he Had found your body by which we were resolued That you were dead he told his tale so punctually Duk. When I began to bee past danger of my Wounds I fram'd that tale about the thieues Intending to conceale my selfe and so to make Triall of your loue to me and of Clarinda's Loue vnto Lysander both which I finde Not to be equal'd Kin. Good Father tell vs how you found him Wounded and how you did preserue him Her Sir what I told you Concerning the finding of him wounded All that was true and how I did recouer him By a soueraigne water but that he after Dyed within my armes you see is false And yet he spoke those words that I deliuer'd As his dying speech he hauing then indeed No hope of life but heauen so order'd it That he recouer'd by my skill in Surgery In which Art I shall not boast to say That I am equall with the most skilfull of this age Which I thinke well appeares since I haue cured Him in so short a time yet I must attribute His sodaine curing to a soueraigne balme That an Egyptian gaue mee from which countrey I late came Kin. Holy man expect from me a great reward For you haue backe to me restor'd the comfort Of my life but where haue you since liued Or how came you by this disguise Enter Clarinda Duke I liu'd with him still in a little Cottage And he did fom the City fetch me disguises Diuine Clarinda pardon me I was your bedfellow And did not know my owne happinesse then If I had knowne you I would haue done Iust as I did I see you are amazd it was I That in disguise rescued you and sau'd your honor When that villaine would haue rauisht you In which I was most happy for I shall now present You so much the richer gift to your Lysander Here braue Lysander let me deliuer vp Into thine armes the Iewell of thy life And in that make some part of satisfaction For the wrong I did hee in compelling thee To fight for that which was thine owne before In iustice Lys. My Lord the seruice of my life hereafter Shall make manifest how much I honor you And with what ioy I doe receiue your guift Cle. I would haue giuen my life to haue redeem'd Lysanders where is the ioy then that I should feele For his deliuerance O I haue found the cause That doth suppresse it it 's enuy that Clarinda's Happier then my selfe why should I enuy that Which is her due both by his vowes and her Owne merit Lys. How sad the Princesse lookes I wonder Shee doth not speake to me Cle. Heart though thou burst the world shal not See I grieue or enuye Lysander and Clarinda May you be happie in your loues which I can neuer be Lys. Her noble heart will burst with griefe Would I had dyed or rather that I had two hearts By death I had beene free this way I am A debtor to the Princesse and that ingratitude Torments me worse then death King Call for the sacred Priest and let vs change That which we thought should haue been a Scoene O blood into a Scoene of ioy by ioyning Two despairing Louers hands together Du. O what a happy mans Lysander at this instant Compard with what he was halfe an houre since Imagination cannot reach it but on the other side How farre am I falne from that happinesse That I possest when faire Clarinda said That she would marry me within a month Enter Priest Kin. Come reuerent Sir performe an office Acceptable to the Gods Sister take you Lysanders Hand and Cozen you Clarinda's Cleo. O what a cruell office hath my brother put vpon me Duke I would this taske were past Vertue I see thou art a cruell Mistris Clar. I in my soule grieue for the Duke His manly eyes shed teares to performe this Office I would to heauen he were my Brother Or that Lysander were the consideration Of his worth and infinite affection Which hath appeard in all his actions Hath gaind much vpon me Priest Will you Lysander take Clarinda for Your Wife forsaking all other till the hand of death Arrest the one of you Her Say no Lysander Lys. Reuerend Sir why Her Because the Marriage is not lawfull Duke Can you proue it vnlawfull You sau'd my Life but I shall valew that no benefit Compar'd with this if you can proue Lysander and Clarinda cannot marry I le make you more then you
can wish to be Her Lysander did not your Father When you last parted with him giue you A little Cabinet in which he bid you looke When you should marry on his blessing Not before not at your death Lys. It is true he did so but I Was so distracted betwixt ioy and griefe That I had quite forgot it Her Send for it with all haste Kin. What can this Cabinet produce to stop The Marriage Cleo. I cannot plead desert Thou God of Loue because I haue so short a while Beene subiect to thy Lawes but well thou knowst If thou oblige me to become thy subiect By giuing me Lysander that I shall More extoll thy power then any Subiect That thou hast but on the contrary If thou dost not assist mee I will returne againe Vnto Diana thy vtter enemy and in her seruice Spend the loath'd remnant of my life Enter with a Cabinet Paper in it Kin. The Cabinet is come Duk. I make no doubt If 't be within thy power thou God of Loue But thou wilt grant to me thy truest Subiect The wishes of my heart but I doe feare a greater Power then thine doth ouer-rule the destinies Her Here Sir read that paper there you shall Finde what you doe little thinke King reads Lysander I doe giue you leaue to marry whom you doe thinke sit because I know you are able to make a worthy Choyce onely Clarinda you cannot marry for she is your Sister Lys. How my Sister Duke Loue thou hast heard my prayer though I were Ignorant and knew not what to aske Kin. I am amaz'd sure this is Witch-craft Duke Sir I beseech you proue this to be true Her My Lord if you will beg a Pardon from the King It is for a fault that was neuer proued against me I then will make all things so plaine that no man shall deny it Enter Messenger Mes. And please your Maiesty Iacomo is proued to be The Count Orsinio's Brother Her My Lord let him be brought hee le helpe to the clearing of the discourse I am to make Duke Sir I must beg a pardon for the sauer of my life Kin. What hath he done I pardon him be 't what it wil Her Then Sir behold a banisht man puls off his beard Kin. The Count Orsinio Lys. My Father your blessing Sir Utran. My deare friend welcome Enter Iacomo Duke Sir I le not bid you welcome Till you make it plaine it can be no Marriage Iaco. My Brother Her O thou wicked villaine art thou aliue yet I might haue knowne thee by thy villanies Through thy disguises Du. Good my Lord proceed vnto your discouery Her My second wife being barraine I had No hope of Issue Male for I had Mariana There by my first and it did grieue my Soule To thinke that villaine there should be my heyre For he dayly practiz'd mischiefe before vnheard of It was not long before my wife obserued That the chiefe cause of all my discontent Grew from her barrennesse and she being fearefull That my affection might decline as did my hope Of Issue thought of a strange and most vnwonted Meanes to make her selfe appeare a happy mother My friends Wife here the Count Utrante Finding her selfe to bee with Childe my Wife By helpe of Art did seeme so too but strange To see how gold will worke for by a somme of Money my Wife did worke the Mid-wiues Nurse And Doctor to cozen the true Mother of her Child When ere she should be brought to bed Kin. How was that possible Her Most easie Sir as they did handle it The Child was borne and prou'd a Boy As my Wife wisht for had it beene a Girle It could not then haue eas'd me of my griefe My land being tied vpon the Heyres Male Duke Good Sir proceed Her The Nurse was by the Doctor straight Commanded to carry into the next roome the child Alleaging that it was most necessary The Mother after so much labour should Sleepe which the Childs crying might hinder Within a short space comes in the Mid-wife Pittifully weeping telling the Mother That the Child could hardly liue but straight The Nurse she entring the Chamber cried out Alas the Child is dead the wofull Mother Falling in a swoone had almost made That sorrow reall for her which then but Counterfeited for the Child Duke The Child then was not dead Her No Sir the crafty Nurse Had by a back-dore conuaid it out o' th house By helpe of another Nurse that she had there For the purpose hauing recouer'd The Mother out of her trance the poore Lady Desir'd to see her late comfort though now Her only cause of sorrow the dead Child But the Doctor vtterly denyed that Alleaging that would but increase her sorrow Which might impeach her health My friend here was not then at home And who durst contradict the Doctor In such a case Kin. Was there No seruants in the house Did none of them Aske for the Childe Her Sir to preuent that They had before prouided a piece of wood Shapt like a Childe and about that they put A winding sheete King But what excuse then made they For their haste in dressing of it For the graue that was not then Scarce cold Her For that they told the seruants The Childe being deform'd they made such haste To hide it from the neighbours that they Might not be witnesses of their Ladies shame In bringing such a Monster into the world The Nurse the same night came and told my Wife What they had done and she aduising with Her agents the next night after seem'd To fall in labour and by the helpe of those Her creatures made perfect by their former practise She cozen'd me and the world by making vs Belieue that she had truly brought me forth a son I did a thousand times kisse my young heyre And by my carefull education and his owne Braue naturall parts hee 's growne to be What now you find Lysander for he 's the same King But how came you to know Lysander was not your naturall sonne and these Particulars Her My Wife Sir Being vpon her death bed she found her conscience Troubled with this deceit and could not Depart in peace till she had freely told me Of this strange Story I still conceal'd it Out of my iust anger against my wicked Brother Besides that great affection which I bare Lysander Continued still and is now so great That if your Maiestie by your Prerogatiue Will but confirme it I doe adopt him for my Heire King It shall Iaco. Thus Sir was I defeated of my right My Lord the Duke there by his power though I did proue this in the open Court by witnesse of the Nurse and Midwife yet he made mee to be banisht as an iniurer of others Duke I doe confesse the wrong I did thee Though ignorant and for to make thee satisfaction I will be a suitor to the King in thy behalfe Sir now vpon my knowledge I dare
affirme That Lysander is sonne vnto the Count Utrante Lys. It was nature in me that made me so much Loue the Count Utrante you blessing Sir Clarin. It do's not grieue mee that you are My Brother Lys. And for my part I cannot adde To my owne happinesse if I might haue my wishes Now that you are my Sister for I did euer loue you As a Sister rather then as a Mistris Duke Diuine Clarinda I cannot claime your promise till a moneth be past There is some part of it to come but I hope You will not strictly stand vpon the time Clar. My Lord I should too much wrong my selfe though I did not Loue you in deferring of so great a blessing But the large testimony that you haue giuen Both of your worth and affection to me Haue turn'd that great affection in an instant That I bare Lysander as you could wish it Vpon you nay to say truth I euer lou'd you Though not so well as hee and held your worth As great Duke Deare Clarinda giue me not a surfet Lys. I feare the King will here consent whisper Duke But good Sir What made you desire me to beg your pardon Or what made you conceale your selfe so long Her My Lord I le tell you Your Lordship may remember for it is not Fiue yeares since that this my Friend the Count Utrante and my selfe were both suspected For poysoning of your child because we were His profest Enemies especially my selfe Which made me flye though I were innocent For it was knowne to many that the villaine Kild him for 's owne particular reuenge Yet my wicked Brother there perswaded the fellow At his death to say that we had set him on And got another rascall to witnesse with him That it was true my friend not hauing so great Enemies did stay to iustifie himselfe And for his paines was laid in prison and kept there For his lands till you got him releast And yet he was neuer brought vnto his tryall I ere I left this Country did leaue this Cabinet With my sonne or rather yours and withall The charge of looking in it when he should Be married After many a weary step abroad I came home to my Countrey and in disguise Haue liu'd here in the Forrest and saw my friends Full often although they knew not mee And hauing this occasion of doing your Lordship Seruice I thought it would be a sure meanes To get my pardon especially when things Were growne vnto the extreamest poynt Of danger I knew a timely remedy would be Most welcome then of all and that made me Conceale my selfe so long Lys. Cleo. We are resolu'd King My Lord I freely pardon you for I belieue It was indeed a lye inuented by your wicked Brother whom I doe giue you power to punish As you thinke good Her My Lord I then desire He may be kept a prisoner all his life For should he haue his liberty I know He would doe mischiefe that we should all Repent of Iaco. Brother thou art wise Thou shouldst haue beene the first that should Haue felt mine anger King Away with him Duk. I dare not speake for thee thou art so great A Villaine Exe. Guard with Iacomo King Come let vs set forwards to the Temple And pray the Gods to shower a blessing Upon this Couple What meanes my Sister Lysan and Cleon set swords ta their brests Cleo. Thus Sir Lysander and my selfe haue made a solemne Contract and with our bloods wee 'l seale it Either to goe thus to the Temple to be married Or to the graue King How Sister Cleo. What is it Sir in your opinion makes Lysander vnworthy of me King His blood compard with yours is base Cleo. But Sir his mind 's heroicke And who will compare the seruant with the Master The Body is no more vnto the Minde King What would you marry with a Subiect Cleo. Who would not Marry with a Subiect that is a King of Vertues Rather then with a King that 's gouern'd By his Vices Duke Sir you know the greatnesse of her Spirit If you will haue her to liue you must Consent Cleo. Brother you stand to vs Instead of destinie for you haue in your power Our threed of Life Say will you spin vs out A happy threed that we may liue to serue you Or will you cut it short Duke O be not cruell to your only Sister What 's all the out ward glory if you rob The mind of that which it delights in I know that your intention is to make Her happy doe not mistake the way Her mind is not taken with the glorious title Of a King for if it had shee might haue made Her choyce since all the neigbouring Kings Admire her No Sir shee aymes at that Which made men Kings at first Wisdome And Valour and should she search the world Shee cannot finde a man where they Doe meete so fully as in braue Lysander O Sir then be not cruell thinking to be Carefull of your Sister King Shee 's cruell to her selfe And rather let her perish by her rash hand Then so dishonour mee by marrying with A Subiect Cleo. Farewell then Cruell Brother Lysander let us part To meete agen for euer I le goe first Because my Brother shall not thinke of sauing me When you are dead Lys. No Madame Let me shew you the way and when I feele The paine I le tell you if it be too great For you to suffer King Hold take him Sister And be happy in him I loue thee more Then euer because I see thy minde is onely Fixt on true Worth without additions I learn'd of Count Orsinio to bring things To the extreamest poynt so to encrease The ioy it had beene a sinne to part Those Bodies whose very Soules seeme to bee Ioynd together Cleo. Brother may I perish When I forget this benefit or cease to pay To you my Lord my thankes for pleading so Lysanders Cause and mine Kin. Great Loue this day hath shewne his mighty power Without the helpe of Fortune In an houre He hath relieu'd from death and from despaire Foure of his truest Subiects and made faire This day that was o're-clouded let vs praise His power that in in a minute so can raise From misery to an excesse of Ioy And in an instant that content destroy He hath to vs beene iust this day as well as kinde Rewarding vertuous Loue let none then call him blinde Exeunt omnes THE EPILOGVE OVr Author feares there are some Rebell-hearts Whose dulnesse doth oppose Loues piercing darts These will bee apt to say the Plot was dull The Language rude and that 't was onely full Of grosse Absurdities for such as these Hee cares not now nor ere will strive to please For if your selues as Masters and Loues Friends Be pleasd with this sad Play hee hath his ends FINIS