ask her of you King By Heaven I will prevent that Insolence Have I been prodigal in 's Praise for this Yes he shall be received Who waits Enter Fabio Fabio My Lord King Speak is Cesario with the Army near Fab. My Lord as I 'm inform'd and commonly My Information's good he does not want A full Days March and will be here to night King Give Order that no Man go forth to meet him Until our Pleasure 's further known Command The Governour place a Guard about the Gates Let no Man's Face appear upon your Life Fab. Why does your Majesty think I will fail In the Performance of your Orders No! When I do that may I King Begone I say and fool some other time Exit Fab. Who wou'd repose in Man whose vast Ambition Wou'd strive to mount above the Rebel-Giants Cesario I will quell thy haughty Pride Who durst attempt the Daughter of thy King Yet she too owns a fault that equals thine Degenerate Princess can such Low-born Passion Stir this course Ferment in thy Royal Blood Run thy rich Veins no purer Folly Frailty Frenzy Oh Woman Woman to thy share they fall Thou sweep'st the Heap and hast engross'd 'em all Exeunt ACT II. Enter Cesario Vincentio Sigismond and Soldiers Cesario COmmand a Halt 1 Soldier Halt 2 Soldier Halt 3 Soldier Halt Cesar. The King sure had Intelligence Vincentio Most certain Cesar. 'T is strange Is it not possible we have mistook the Place Transported with our Victory Speak Gentlemen is 't so or do we dream Vincent Those Walls Are certainly the same and that the City Peopled when we set out and full of Prayers For our Success Sigism It may be they reserve Their welcome till we march into the City Vincent Nay they may have some Conceit Cesar. A general Silence like Night dwells round about us And no sign that Men inhabit here Have we won abroad to lose our selves at home Or what is worse Has whilst we went some Monster landed here Made the Place desolate devoured the Natives And made 'em creep into their Mother Earth Sigism Not one Salute for our Return such cold reception Cesar. Sure they don't take us for their Enemies Captain enquire the Cause let none else move Yet stay sure it must be some strange Mortality And yet that cannot be Have we brought home Their Safeties purchas'd through so many Horrours And is this all the payment for our Conquest To shut the Gates upon us Vincent Force 'em open ' sDeath let us shake their Walls about their Ears They are asleep sure Cesar. Such another Rashness Forfeits thy Head Go to Be temperate As I grudge none the Merit of their Valour I must hear none so bold Vincent I 've done Sir Cesar. Subjects are bound to fight for Princes They not ty'd to the Reward of every Service I look upon thee now dy'd o'er in Blood And have forgot thy Errour give no breath To such a Thought hereafter Honour pays Double where Kings neglect and he Indeed is valiant that forgets to be rewarded Sigism This is cold Comfort for a Knapsack-Man Cesar. And yet 't is strange the King shou'd thus neglect us This is cheap Entertainment for a Conquerour Is 't not Vincentio Misery of Soldiers When they have sweat Blood for their Countries Honour They lie at others Mercy Vincent They have slept since and dreamt not of our Sufferings Cesar. There 's something would fain mutiny within me Strangle these Snakes betimes Cesario So fold up your Ensigns throw off all the Pride That may express a Triumph we 'll march on As we had over-bought our Victory Vincent The Gates are open now and we discover A Woman by her Habit coming this Way Cesar. Alone more strange and fatal It may be 't is my Genius come to give A Melancholy Warning of my Death As Brutus had from his I 'll stand my Destiny Yet bearing the Resemblance of a Woman It will less terrifie Who should this be Enter Urania veil'd Lady Who e'er you are there 's something in that Cloud That mournful Cloud which speaks some wondrous Sadness Would I 'd the Power to dispossesâ— your Sorrow Urania My dear Cesario Cesar. My beloved Urania I 'm now rewarded had Cesario taken Into his Body VVounds not to be number'd This Kiss had cur'd 'em all or but one Drop Of this rich Balsom for I know thy Tears Are shed for Joy to see Cesario safe The King with all the Glories of his Province Cannot do greater Honour to his General For I 've a greater Empire in thy Love Than Fame or Victory has ever boasted My Life My Soul Uranio Uran. Call again that Temper which has made Cesario Honour'd And if my Tears which carry something more Thâ—n Joy to welcome home my most loved Lord Affect you with no Sadness which I wish not View well my Looks which I have not put on To counterfeit a Grief and they will tell you There is necessity for you to know Somewhat to check the Current of your Triumph Cesar. I was too careless Of thy sad Looks my Joy to see thy Face Made me distinguish nothing else proceed And punish my too prodigal Embraces It is not fit I be in one Thought blest And thou in such a Livery Uran. When you say You 've strength enough to entertain the Knowledge Of such an Injury Cesar. If it only point at me Speak it at once I am collected And dare all Shafts that level at this Head If it concern thy self let it not flow too fast But rather let my Ears receive it By such Degrees as may not kill too soon But leave me some Life only to revenge it Uran. The King although my Father I must speak The King for whom you shed your Blood abroad Has ill-rewarded you at home Cesar. Speak how Uran. Since your departure here arriv'd a Prince From Thessaly permitted by my Father To make his Court to me which I resisted His Personal Visits Messages rich Presents Left me not quiet to enjoy my self I told him I had given my Faith already Contracted yours Impatient of my Answers He urg'd his Greatness vow'd he would possess me Yet I resisted still and still am free Preserv'd and welcome home my dearest Lord. Cesar. Is 't possible Uran. This is but half the Story By his Command none dare salute your Victory Or pour their glad Hearts forth at your Return Nay more Unless I yield to wed the Prince And you your self too grant your free Consent Has vow'd your everlasting Banishment And in it murders me for when you 're gone I cannot will not must not dare not live Cesar. Yes live Urania tho' you live my Rival's Let not the Icy arms of Death infold thee Better thy Sex beside were all extinguisht And thou the only God-like Woman left T' adorn the VVorld Vincentio dost hear this VVe must ask pardon that we have been valiant Repent our Duties and that Victory VVe bought so dear
Garlands Crown And grudge him not your Wealth Ah Shepherds as you prize your own Pray for great Strephon's Health King No more no more cease all your Harmony It suits not with a Wretch so curst as I Yet why unpitying Heaven this hard Decree There might have been some milder Doom for me Why was my Daughter Destin'd to punish him who gave her Breath And by her Flight to seal a Father's Death Enter Fabio hastily Fabio Where 's the King King Here what portends thy Haste and busie Countenance Fab. Haste my good Lord When Fortune points me out the Instrument And happy Messenger to please my King Do I not ought to fly like Mercury And pour the Joy into his Royal Ears King Has thy Intelligence brought me any Knowledge Of Ferdinand Speak is Urania found Fab. The News I bring my gracious Lord Concerns the Prince and how my Heart flows o'er That I am pointed out by Heaven The first and happy Messenger King Proceed and we 'll reward thee Fab. Reward alas All my Ambition aims but at your Favour My Soul was never Mercenary It is my Duty to wear out my Life In Services for you and the whole State Whereof although I am no able Member King He 's mad Fab. It is with Joy then my good Lord. King Tell me thy News in short or thy Life pays for 't Fab. Alas my Life is the least thing to be minded He is no faithful Subject would refuse To kill his Wife and Children after that To hang himself to do his King a Service King Villain why dost thou wrack my Expectation Answer me quickly without Circumstance Where is the Prince be brief or Fab. The Prince I know not my good Lord. King Traytor didst not prepare me to expect News of the Prince pronouncing thy self happy In being the Messenger Is he in health answer to that Fab. Indeed my Lord I know not King Hang up the Slave I shall become the Scorn Of my own Subjects Fab. But with your Royal Licence I am able To produce those that do King Where whom speak that and quickly save thy Life Fab. He waits without Sir King Haste and bring him in Ex. Fab. Re-enter Fabio with Oswell Oswell Health to the King the Prince my Master Sir With fair Urania and the General I left within less than a League o' th' City And came before to bring the joyful Tidings King Are they then found thou welcome Harbinger Seiz'd and brought back Oh! let the Satyrs dance it The sweet Birds sing it let the Winds be wanton And as they softly with an Evening Whisper Steal through the curled Locks of the lofty Woods Let 'em in their sweet Language seem to murmur This was the Day that Crown'd a King's Revenge Enter Messenger Messeng. My Lord Prince Ferdinand King Conduct him in Enter Ferdinand Thou welcom'st Guest my Court yet ever harbour'd Oh I want Power to recompense thy Care Where be the Fugitives Speak Ferdinand Ferd. They wait without my Lord. King Bring 'em in Exit Fabio Re-enter with Cesario and Urania guarded Cesario and Urania kneel Cesar. With my Soul trembling like a fearful Criminal With Terrour struck at sight of his great Judge Behold the wretched poor Cesario falls Not to beg Life since Death I have deserv'd But that you 'd Mercy shew to this dear Innocence A Virgin though my Bride Uran. O Royal Sir I kneel to you as Heaven when I offend Not to beg Life unless my dear Cesario By your Consent be given to my Arms. King Rise I 've heard you both and Sir your Suit will grant Death thou hast merited Death thou shalt have Thy Torments by degrees shall rise to kill thee And what will plague thy Soul thy Latest Gasp Shall see Urania married to this Prince Cesar. It is a studied Tyranny but Sir All this and more I 'd bear might she live happy Uran. Live my Cesario I Canst thou think I 'll live Live in the Arms of him my Soul abhors No cruel Father Nature shall not bind me I will forget 't was you that gave me Life And in despight of Duty be his Bride We 'll mount above far far beyond your reach Where in a glorious Clowd we 'll Arm in Arm Look down and smile with Scorn on that gay nothing King Furies and Death then I will quite put off The name of Father take as little notice Thou art my Off-spring as the surly North Does of the Snow which when it has engender'd It 's wild Breath scatters through the Earth forgotten Ferd. Sir she 's your Daughter King Do not call her so There 's not one drop of my Blood in her Veins She makes her self a Bastard and deserves To be cut off like a disorder'd Branch Disgracing the fair Tree from whence she sprung Ferd. But yet my Lord. King I 'm deaf inexorable as Seas To th'Prayers of Mariners Oswell be 't your care To lodge that hated Slave in a dark Dungeon And confine her close Prisoner to her Chamber Ex. King Ferd. Attended Cesa Is this for Kindness or for Cruelty Ah no he gives me this short moment's sight That I may lose my Heaven with greater torment Uran. No my Cesario we 'll both die together For when thou' rt gone oh what a weary Load Will Life be to me But when you see me die will you be kind And pity my hard fate when you behold My panting Breast laid open and that Heart Where my dear Lord once Reign'd all torn and mangled Will you look pale and with a trembling sigh Let a kind Pearl fall trickling from your Eye Say will you do all this for poor Urania Cesa Not do all this for thee If th' inraged King Will wreak his barbarous Vengeance in thy Veins Thy sacred Veins and the unthinking Gods Dare see it done shall not I mourn for thee Doubt not that pious Tribute of my Eyes Shall not my Dew fall at thy setting Sun Not weep to see thee bleed I 'll make my Eyes Start from their Spheres to view the killing object And when thy sweetness draws near to Heaven My fainting bleeding Heart Shall just keep Life enough to break with thine Uran. My kindest Lord now with full Tides of Joy I can meet death since he has made me thine My Soul 's all Rapture all Delight grim Death Whose ghastly Visage frights the trembling World To me 's all Gay and with a charming Smile Does with sweet Wreaths and Flowery Garlands come My Bridal Pleasures Blossom on my Tomb. Cesa Now you transport my ravisht sense too high The worth of Ages and thy Sex's glory Is all summ'd up in thee but must you die Must this Celestial Light fall like a Meteor This blooming Spring fade like a wither'd Autumn Must this fair Book of Life writ by Heaven's Hand The Legend of a God be all defac'd And must I see it done oh my Urania I never was a Toward till this moment Osw. My Lord we wait too
which they 'd bound their Faiths Appease them first which when you have perform'd A private way may finish your Revenge King Must I then crouch and fawn to crawling Mud Wou'd I cou'd Curse the Traytors from the Earth But oh the wretched State of Kings my Fate Will force my Tongue to flatter where I hate Ex. Ferd. Dost thou not think thy self secur'd from harm And with Triumphant smiles dispise our fury Dost thou not think the threatning storm that 's near Will cast thee safe ashore and Shipwrack me Cesar. How silly and how vain is credulous Man Thy Fear suggests what never enters here I see the Woman brooding in thy Eyes And thy Soul bursting with envenom'd Malice And oh how poor is he that 's Passion 's Slave Let me be stript of all my Soul holds dear Rob me of Life and what 's more priz'd Urania Yet thou shou'dst see how my undaunted Soul Cou'd bear it all and smiling quit the World Ferd. I 'll try this boasted Courage 't is resolv'd This hour 's thy last in spite of what can threaten Thou tak'st the Free-hold of my Soul away Urania and that are but one Creature 's Death I have been a tame Fool all this while Swallow'd my Poison in a fruitless hope But my Revenge as heavy as Iove's wrath Wrapt in a Thunder-bolt is falling on thee Cesar. Aâ—d I can thus undaunted stand the stroke Yes barbarous Prince appear in thy true Colours Shake off that dull effeminate Clog Humanity And if the least remains of Vertue Honour Hang soft upon thy Soul freeze freeze thy Veins Crust'em to Rock and wall thy heart in Marble Inexorable as the Grave and deaf as Death Bath in my Blood and mount me to the Stars But know when from my glorious Constellation I shall look down upon that dark Abyss Where thou ly'st howling in eternal Flames I 'll scorn thee then as I defie thee now Ferd. Oh! I am vanquisht by this noble Spirit Come to my Arms my Arms nay to my Heart There take possession and remain for ever Cesario thou sha't find that I have Honour Equals my Love Oswell retire a while But first your Sword and as you love your Master Ask me not why nor yet dispute my Orders Osw. I 've ever learnt Obedience to my Prince Tho' I much fear the fatal Consequence Ex. Oswell Ferd. Cesario this imbrace makes me thy Friend And with it take this more surprising Present Since 't is decree'd that one of us must fall Let Fortune hold the Scale if 't is my Fate A long farewel at once to Life and Love But if 't is doom'd this Hand must give thee Death Oh make but this return with thy last Breath Call me thy Friend and make Urania mine Cesar. By Heaven you have with Honour conquer'd me And here I lift a Sword against that Life Which witness for me Gods how fain I 'd save Nay were there any way to preserve both But by resigning of the bright Urania Were I as great as the young Macedonian Whose Conquering Arms subdu'd the spacious VVorld I 'd quit all Titles to those vanquisht Crowns And build my Happiness on Love and Friendship Ferd. It will not be we cannot both possess her And either to resign's Impossible Therefore delay no longer if thou dost I here call back the name of Friend again And will proceed as an inveterate Foe Cesa But this Embrace and then proceed to blood Embrace Now Fate ordain me Love or give me Death Ferd. Thou hast thy wish Urania now is thine Fight and both wounded And may those powers that give her to your Arms Crown all your Days and Nights with endless Joys Ferd. falls Cesa That wish is kind but oh it comes too late For Death has been too busy with us both And we both fall each others Sacrifice Falls Enter King Tachmas Sigismond Oswell and Souldiers Osw. Behold my Lord the fatal deed is done See where th' unhappy Rivals Arm in Arm Are mixing Blood as they have join'd their Souls Tach. How fares my Brother Cesa Near my last safe Harbour Let me the little time I have to live Imploy in begging Pardon of my King And one kind farewel word to my Urania King Haste haste and bring that most unhappy Innocence Made wretched by a Fathers harsh Decree Cesa O Brother Place me nearer to my Friend No more my Enemy yet still my Rival My generous Rival still though't be in Death Ferd. My dear Cesario I must bid farewel For cruel Death too hasty draggs me hence Urania hates me and 't is time to die But whither I shall go too cruel Fair The shades of black Despair can only tell Pusht from the World by thy Disdain and Scorn I drop into the dark side of Eternity Dies Cesar. Farewel thou Royal Convert of true Honour Enter Ardel. Ardel. Where where 's the King oh Sir the poor Urania King Ha! what of her Ardel. If Horrour and Confusion Will lend me Breath to speak Unhappy Princess Alarm'd by the false Oswell's treach'rous Tongue That your Commands had given Cesario death Her generous Despair for her dear Lord In her own Breast has plung'd her fatal Dagger Cesar. For me this was too much Oh Love thy Altar Was never loaden with so rich a Victim Ardel. And all the small remains of life that 's left her She comes to sigh out in his dying Arms. Enter Urania bleeding her hair hanging loose led by two Women Uran. Lead lead me to this dismal scene of Horrour Place me but near to my poor dying Lord And in his Arms I 'll quit the World with pleasure Cesar. Ye cruel Powers this stabs my very Soul Is there no Help no Art no succouring Angels To save her Life Uran. Wer 't in the Power of Fate The precious Balm of thy king Tears wou'd do 't But 't is too late King My dear unhappy Daughter What has thy Rashness done Uran. Nothing but only paid The Debts of dying Love tho' cruel Fate Divorc'd me from his Arms and cancell'd all Our marriage Joys yet in the Grave in that Cold Bridal Bed I shall not be deny'd To lie a sleeping Virgin by thy side King Of all these Ruines only I am Authour Cesar. Can then my kind and generous Princess Leave all her Greatness all her blooming Youth Let those dear Eyes those sparkling Twins of Love And all that mighty Mass of infinite Beauty Lie undistinguish'd in the common Heap Of mouldring Dust ghostly as Death and wither'd As naked scraggy Roots of unborn Flowers And all for her unhappy worthless Slave Uran. Cou'd I do less to shew I lov'd Cesario The meanest of my Sex can live and love Each common Spark inspires that feeble heat To die for Love is only truly great Nor is this all the Glory of my Death You God's I bring my Innocence to Heaven Free from Loves grosser and impurer Charms I die a Virgin in my Husbands Arms. Dies Cesa She 's dead she 's dead meet her you Gods oh meet her Throw open all the shining Gates of Heaven And sally out thick as the Beams of Day To her Immortal Praise new tune your Spheres At her dear Feet your brightest Diadems lay For this is Beauties Coronation Day But still in all her Heavenly Pomp she wants Her Loyal Slave I come dear Saint I come Oh let thy Soul one moment stay its slight And take mine with thee to Eternal Light Dies Enter Sigismond Sig. Forgive dread Sir the uagrateful sounds I bring The popular fury and your Armies Rage For their Dear General and Princes Blood Is swell'd so high that where the Storm will break I tremble but to think their Impious murmurs No less than at your Royal Scepter fly King My Scepter why 't is what I 'm weary of It may be Tachmas 't will to thee descend But when the Royal Helm is in thy hand Oh let my Wrack thy warning Seamark stand Shun but my Guilt and with a prosperous Tyde Safe from my Rock the Royal Vessel Guide Exeunt omnes EPILOGUE Spoken by M rs Knight Written by Mr. Durfey AS a young sprightly Widow of the Town That had some year 's the marriage Comforts known Believing She had once the best of Men Resolves to try her Fortune o'er agin So our Young scribling Fool that found before Your kind Indulgence needs must write once more Plagu'd with an Itch that does through Poets run Who once being enter'd never can have done He says my Intercession cannot fail And that a pleading Female must prevail I told him I shou'd never help his Play As having ne'er oblig'd I mean your way And that in times of War you Women chuse Iust like Iack-Boots only for present use Till your Convenience serv'd to stand at door Then laid by by the Footman to be wore Bus'ness of Love moves now no tender Passion Your Heads are buzz'd with bus'ness of the Nation And when your Ladies sigh for a soft word Tou roar Boy bring my Pistols fetch my Sword What Hopes then I cou'd have he well might guess Pray Heav'n these jarring days may quickly cease Women and Misers always pray for peace Plunder of Gold the Miser's fear does move Ours that we shall not plunder'd be of Love For to say truth tho' Souldiers all are brave They 're the worst Lovers that our Sex can have For now adays their duty grows so hard They 're always Resty when they mount our Guard However I must try my Luck If then There chance to be amongst you Gentlemen Any so kind to hear what I can say Them I invoke in favour of this Play It has some Wit tho' mix'd with many a Fau't Some little Fancy too but as for Plot There are so many New ones found elsewhere He thought not worth his time to make one here And therefore tho' you can't that Part applaud Clap now for there 's a Pumpkin Plot abread FINIS
my Lord Whatever Spight you owe his prosp'rous Love 'T is hard to envy him his Sword 's Success For should that fail a Kingdom might be lost Ferd. A Kingdom Death were the whole World at stake How light the balanc'd Universe would weigh With the Possession of the fair Urania Such Beauty and such Charms I shall run mad And my Desires by opposition grow more violent And without vent will burst me Osw. Who could have thought a Masculine Soul like yours Should sink beneath a Shock so feeble Shall this poor Diminutive thing this little Rival Whom with your Breath you may blow out o' th' World Raise such a storm within you Ferd. No he sha'not I 've found my self again and will be calm No thou too pityless Urania spight Of all my lowring Fate my unkind Planets And those fair cruel Eyes my angry Stars I will not lose my hold Enter Fabio Ferd. How now what News with you Fabio An 't please your Grace an humble Creature of yours proud o' th' least Occasion to express how faithfully my Heart is fixt to serve you Ferd. What 's your Business Fab. I have Business of some Consequence I had not been so bold else to disturb your Princely Conference For I durst never assume that impudent Garb That other Courtiers are known by My Devotion has been still t' appear In modest Services Ferd. Well Sir to 'th Point Fab. It were a Point of deep Neglect to keep Your Grace in Expectation yet Delays Make Joys the sweeter Arrows that fly compass Arrive with as much Happiness to the Mark As those that are shot point-blank Ferd. This Courtier loves to hear himself talk Be not so impertinent we know your Care Fab. And Cost my Lord I hope For they that hold Intelligence abroad To benefit their Countrey must not make Idols of their Estates and 't is a Happiness To sell their Fortunes for their Prince's Smiles Which I am confident you will vouchsafe When you have heard my News Ferd. Would you 'd vouchsafe to let me hear it Fab. Vouchsafe my Lord alas You may command my Tongue my Hands my Feet My Head I should account that Limb superfluous That would not be cut off to do you Service Ferd. I do command thee Silence dost hear Silence Fab. Silence my Good Lord is a Vertue I know But where the Tongue has something to deliver That may delight my Prince's Ear and so forth Ferd. 's Death Dog Torment me not but tell your News Fab. My News my good Lord concerns the General Ferd. What of him Is he kill'd Fab. The Stars forbid he is return'd my Lord Triumphant Brave and Glorious Ferd. Be dumb Another Syllable I 'll have thy Tongue out Fab. My Tongue my Lord. Ferd. Thy Tongue my buzzing Flesh-fly Was all your Circumstance for this Begone Fab. It would be a Piece of Rudeness my Lord Unpardonable not to obey a Prince For your Grace is sensible That to we Courtiers The Tongue is so very useful a Member Ferd. Slave Ex. Fab. bowing Am I become a Jesting-stock for Fools Oswell My Lord you are too open-breasted To let this Fellow see into your Heart Wise men disguise their Councels till things are ripe Ferd. The News has rent my Soul I feel new Armies in my Breast Swords Javelins All a whole Field of clashing War within me But ha the King the Subtilty of Serpents Inspire me now and something below Man Spight Malice Woman's Malice enter here Enter the King King Oh Ferdinand I am all Joy Cesario beloved Cesario is return'd with Conquest And Sicily no more dares be our Foe Cesario's Sword cuts with so keen an Edge And drives that formidable Fame before him His very Name alone without an Army Is more than half the Conquerour Ferd. His Name alone my Lord though he have conquer'd We must consider Sir your Soldiers Courage Their Valour stands the Basis of his Pyramid Their Sweat and Blood that Crown'd him but alas All the whole Trophies of a conquer'd Field Wreath only Garlands for the Leaders Brow The General 's still the mighty Man he wears The Conqu'ring Bays whose Wounds soever pay for 't Whilst the poor Soldier like the Slave i' th' Mine Bears the least part of the rich Oar he digs for King How Ferdinand Ferd. Nay Sir I do not envy him King You envy him indeed I hope you do not Since 't was for me he fought and for his Country Ferd. Right 't was for you he fought and 't is the Cause That often prospers which without his Valour Had stood its own Defender for there waits A Guardian-Angel on a Righteous Cause And when that arms Heaven battels on its side King In all this ill-timed Rhetorick methinks You speak as if you envy'd his Success And wear a Face of Sorrow for his Fortune Ferd. Who I my gracious Lord King Yes you my Lord Speak tell me does he not deserve all Honours That I can give or he has Power to ask Ferd. Indeed I think he does not King Ha! what 's that Ferd. Pardon me Royal Sir and hear me Speak If Subjects spend their Blood in their Kings Cause Forbid it Heaven they should not be rewarded But how or what Rewards must they expect Wou'd you in Recompence of this his Conquest Give him your Crown King No Sir nor wou'd he ask it Ferd. How know you that King I know him to be Loyal Know that he wears a Sword which only fights For his King's Honour and his Country's Safety Whilst his clear Soul runs purer than to suck A Poyson from that cankered Weed Ambition Ferd. I think otherwise And wou'd you give me leave can prove it to you You know not Sir how high his Fancy soars Or to what Pitch his towring Pride wou'd reach For he that aims to be his Monarch's Son Would never rest till he had gain'd his Crown King My Lord this Riddle wants an OEdipus For 't is beyond my Fathom to expound it But were Cesario Guilty of such Baseness I would esteem him as my greatest Foe And drive him from my Bosom as Infectious As a Crown'd Head I owe my self that Justice Ferd. Then I dare boldly speak you know my Liege By a King 's Sacred Promise you are bound To make Urania mine Would it not be a stain Upon your Royal Name to have a Subject Spight of his great Master's Vow By treacherous Ways to gain his Daughter's Love And make himself by stealth your Kingdoms Heir King Who is it dares do that Ferd. That dares Cesario By Heaven Urania own'd a Love for him Own'd it to me who wooed by your Permission And if you meet his Conquests with this Triumph 'T will make your Subjects think he does deserve her The Army then will pay him not you Homage And every Voice sound nought but proud Cesario King Can this be true Ferd. Your Daughter will confess it And if you mount his airy Thoughts too high He himself will not blush to
VVe shou'd have dy'd abroad And then perhaps been talkt of in the Crowd Of honest men for giving up those Lives VVhich for our service they may now take from us VVe are not yet i' th' Snare and have the power To stifle their designs Vincent The Soldiers hearts are yours Cesar. No no Vincentio let 'em be the King 's If such as they forget their Office we Must keep our Thoughts unstain'd I 'll to the King But without any Train Sigis. In this you do not consult your Safety Cesar. Safety is a Lecture To be read to Children But for me I carry My own Security within The King I know Is gracious tho' at present His Passion reigns too strongly in his Breast Uran. Hear me Cesario e'er you see the King Hear me or poor Urania's lost for ever Cesar. VVhat says my Love Uran. Swear then to grant my Suit And I will name the means to make us happy Cesar. Oh speak And bless my Ears with the dear Sound Uran. Command your Soldiers first to greater distance Cesar. waves his hand the Soldiers fall back You see Cesario how our Hopes are crost And if you love as you have often swore You will not stop at any thing to gain me Cesar. Propose a Means that may not blot my Fame Nor make me Traytor to my Sovereign Not all the Dangers that can threaten Man Shall barr Cesario from Urania's Arms. Uran. Were it not better in some distant Clime To live and love and peaceably possess The small Remainder of our Lives to come What though we quit all glittering Pomp and Greatness The busie noisy Flatteries of Court We shall enjoy Content in that alone Is Greatness Power VVealth Honour all summ'd up Cesar. I cannot guess thy Meaning Instruct me plainer what you 'd have me do Uran. Since then the King will ne'er let me be thine Let 's in the dead of Night retire from Court And to th' Arcadian Plains direct our Steps There amongst Nymphs and Shepherds we may live And quite forget that we were ever great Cesar. My Soul my more than Life now thou art too kind But can my dear Urania born a Princess Nurs'd up in all the Tenderness of Power The Pride the Pomp and Glory of a Court From her Arch'd Roofs and Golden Towers descend To homely VVeeds and humble Cottages And all for worthless me Uran. For thee my Love Thou Lord of all my Joys Cells Caves and Desarts Are Palaces with thee Oh my Cesario There there where True Love reigns is only Empire Cesar. Thou Angel-kind and more than Angel fair Sigism My Lord the King comes this way Uran. Now Cesario thou hast thy Choice Love or Ambition Either to challenge bravely or resign me poorly But yet might I instruct you in your Choice Since rather than wed Ferdinand this hand Should give me Death yet Oh If I must die Let me expire in Pleasure not in Torment If thou disclaimst me slighted and despised In that distracted Thought I shall die wretched But if my dearest Lord will Nobly own me Charm'd with that Bliss then I can breath out Life Like Saints in Martyrdome not one weak Nerve Or shivering sigh shall of the Dart complain But the great cause shall sweeten all the pain Cesa Guide me you Gods in this Unhappy Labyrinth Enter King Ferdinand Oswell Fabio c. Cesa kneels Most Royal Sir Alas you too much honour The poor Cesario who at your Feet Lays all his Lawrels the fair Grove That your kind Sun has warm'd and cherisht King Did I not give you a strict Charge that none 〈◊〉 pass the Gates Tell me how she came hither To Fab. Fab. Indeed an 't please your Majesty you did Give Order that no Man shou'd but she said She was a Woman and I askt no farther King Hence you Buffoon Cesario rise I shall not flatter you Nor indeed have I any Grace for him Who durst attempt to steal my Kingdoms Heir Cesa Thus prostrate to the Earth I sue for Pardon That my ambitious Passion soars so high But oh there 's Irresistless Force in Love The Gods have felt it then can Man withstand it Such is my Fate nay kill me 't is the same For though I know 't is Death to ask the Gift Yet on my Knees I beg the fair Urania King What says the Traytor off thy Breath will blast me I see it like a Mist infect the Air. Good Gods was ever Insolence like this But sure I dream this cannot be Cesario Vincentio Souldiers speak is this your General Ferd. Yes yes Great Sir This is that Valiant Man That fought for Loyalty and not Ambition Now you may see for what he drew his Sword 'T was for Urania that he fought and Conquer'd 'T is she 't is she that must be his reward O Sir deny him not make him your Son Mould that course humble Clay t' Imperial Honour And mix it with the Royal Blood of Naples Cesa This humble Clay what saist thou haughty Lord By Heaven that Tongue did not the King protect it Had better challenge Iove and all his Thunder Thou titled Vanity thou Courtier made for peace How much my Merits for the fair Urania Exceed thy poor Pretences thou all Feather Too tender for the very VVind to ruffle When VVars loud Trumpet in a Field of Death Call'd me to wounds and dy'd me o'er in Blood Thou slepst securely lull'd on Beds of Downe Less soft than the effeminate Lord that fill'd ' em King Be silent Traytor this is perfect Raving Your Valour has been paid in the Success What you have done was Duty Cesar. True it was I must confess that it was Duty all King To shew us then you have not mix'd our Cause With private and particular Revenge Resolve before tomorrow Sun appears To quit Urania to Prince Ferdinand Or be for ever banisht from Our Kingdom And Daughter resolve you to meet his Love And make Cesario to your Heart a Stranger Or else expect to feel the worst of Tortures Consult your safest way Come Gentlemen And from a grateful King you all shall find The just Reward that 's due to Truth and Honour Uran. Ah my prophetick Fear To night Cesario Aside Cesar. To night my fair Remembrancer Aside to Uran. Exeunt King Ferd. Osw. Fab. Vincent Sigism and Soldiers Manent Cesario and Urania Cesar. Good Heaven Can this be real what all gone I that this morning was the Lord of Thousands Am not the Owner now of one poor Servant Banisht from Love or Naples this is hard But yet indeed 't is not a wonder here In this unhospitable Court of Naples So my unhappy Brother fell before me Who for the slaying of this King's Court Minion VVas doom'd for ever from his Native Soil Oh Tachmas what e'er Corner of the VVorld Now hides thy exil'd Head Thy wretched Brother The poor Cesario too must share thy Fate Yes we will hasten to some Rural Seat And never more in Cursed Courts be
of gold return Cesa My Friend and Brother my Beloved kind Tachmas This fainting sweetness wants thy helping care Your Roots and Water are not for her diet Is there no way to purchase other food Tac. Hard by there is a little Neighbouring Village Where we may be supplied with necessaries Cesa Droop not fair Flower since we may yet find Peace Though now we 're like the first unhappy pair Cast from that Paradise where once we were Like Fugitives banisht our native home And destin'd through unpeopled Worlds to roam Yet we may hope a smiling Morn more fair For sure to banish all unjust dispair Such truth as thine is Heavens peculiar care Ex. omnes The End of the Third Act. ACT IV. SCENE I. Urania Sola Ura. HOW long my Dear Cesario shall I want Thy presence to drive all these troubles hence My Soul is heavy and my Eye-lids feel A pressing weight that fain won'd shut out light And let in Peace hush my lull'd Sorrows silent And give my feeble strength a short repose More Clouds do gather round my Eyes 't is strange I am not us'd to be inclin'd to sleep Whilst the day shines I 'll take what nature offers It may discharge my waking Melancholy Sits down I feel it gently slide upon my Sences Take me you Heavenly Rulers to your Care And let my Dreams be nothing but Cesario Lies down Enter Ferdinand and Oswell Attendants Ferd. I cannot find 'em sure the Prince of Darkness Or some of his Commission'd Fiends have snatcht 'em From the Orb of Light to hide their guilty shames In his own sable shades black as their Crimes There 's not a Corner in this spreading Realm But we have searcht with strictest diligence Osw. My Lord here lies a Woman Dead I think Ferd. A Woman ha By Heaven and Earth 't is she And wrapt in the dull leaden Arms of sleep But where 's Cesario Where lies he Conceal'd I 've happiness by halves if he escapes Osw. He cannot be far off 't were best my Lord Behind yon Thicket to conceal your self Till you have got 'em both within your Snave Ferd. You Counsel well Let us a while retire By Heaven I keep a Jubilee within me Riot in Joy and Revel in delight To think how bravely I shall take revenge Ex. Uran. Defend me Heaven Do I dream still or wake Uran. wakes What horrid Visions have appear'd before me Methought I saw Cesario gash'd with Wounds And Ferdinand all o'er dy'd in his Blood Whilst my Unkind and Cruel Father stood Triumphing over him and with a smile Rejoic'd to see his Soul and Body part But why shou'd I give credit to a Dream An airy Vision fram'd by 〈◊〉 fancy Deluding my weak sence with 〈◊〉 and shadow Enter Cesario with a Basket of Meat Tachmas with Drink Cesa Look up Urania cast thy Sorrow off See I have brought thee Food to cheer thy Spirits They all sit down Angels protect her with how much delight She feeds upon the homely fare of Peasants Enter Ferdinand Oswell and Attendants Ferd. Do you not want Attendants to your Banquet Nay let not us disturb you we are Friends And only come to take repast with you Cesa Curst Fate The Guards seize Cesario and Tachmas Surpriz'd Unarm'd and made so tame a Sacrifice Uran. Now now I see too late my Dreams were true Tach. Oh Sir I beg you wou'd not let me suffer Alas I 'm Innocent my Charity Oblig'd me to assist the miserabl◠Let not your Vengeance fall on an old Man But spare my Age. Ferd. Thou art below my anger Be gone and keep thy Life not worth my taking Tach. How has my Hypocrite Tongue belyed my Heart Think not mistaken Tyrant that the fear Aside Of Death makes me so poor a Suppliant When I descend thus low I only stoop To borrow Life to lend it my Cesario Ex. Tach. Ferd. Now Sir for you To Cesario Cesa Me I despise thy rage Let all the Tortures Malice can invent Be laid on me I can endure 'em all But do not dare to touch that Angel-Form Whose unexampled Vertue is alone Enough t' atone for all her Sexes Frailty Take heed how you provoke the Gods by hurting That brighest nearest Image of themselves Ferd. Young angry Sir spend not your Breath in vain Keep it to curse the Hour thou saw'st that Face I have a Scourge for thee I have bold Lord Fierce as the Vengeance of an angry God And swifter than a Pestilence for You To Uran. In whom I once had treasur'd up my Soul You 're in my Power my Love is turn'd to Hate And thou before thy Face shalt see her die To Cesario Cesar. O bloody Tyrant aim your Rage at me Send me to Ruine kill me wrack me burn me Do any thing so you 'll but save her Life Think when you murder that Celestial Form You wound all Mankind at the dismal Blow Not only all the mourning Globe the Gods Themselves will suffer when such Vertue bleeds Ferd. Most amorous Raptures Uran. Do not touch one Hair Of that dear Gallant God-like Man on mine My Head alone pour all your impious Vengeance Live my kind dearest Lord. Ferd. Not Fate shall save him Nor Heaven it self keep thee from my Revenge Uran. How I disdain thy Rage 〈◊〉 shew thy Malice Kill me as barbarously as thou art base But as I die I 'll send my last kind Looks Sighs Prayers and Life into Cesario's Eyes Nay though you scatter all my sprinkled Ashes Around the World each Atome of my Dust Shall find a Soul and fly into his Bosome Cesar. O mighty Love Ferd. So brave nay then I 'll find a means to tame you Attend me to my Chariot with the Princess But to your Horse's Tayl tye fast that Slave And drag 〈◊〉 to the King Uran. Hold Hold yet hold You do not sure mean this Barbarity How can you look on him and be so cruel See how he stands like a tame suffering Saint And smiles i' th' midst of all his Miseries If not for him shew pity then to me And though he be your Prisoner use him nobly Ferd. I 'm deaf to all Intreaties Drag him forward Ex. Omnes The King discover'd melancholy some Attendants standing by him A Song and Symphony of Musick within SONG VVritten by a Person of Quality 1. LONG time alas our Mournful Swains Have been with Fears oppress'd And pensive walk'd along the Plains Pitying their Flocks distress Their Fences all were open laid No Ewes their Lambs cou'd keep Foxes and Rav'nous Wolves were made The Guardians of their Sheep 2. Pan was not worshipp'd as before But saw his learned Rules And Iustice all turn'd out of door By Arbitrary Fools Phillis for Pan her Charms engag'd But cou'd no Pity draw They sacrific'd to Pagan rage Phillis as well as Law 3. At length came Strephon on the Plain At whose dread Sight did run And vanish each Tyrannick Swain Like Mists before the Sun Then his Brave Head with