FATIMA I may assure my self then ere we part That Adibar shall have no free admittancâ— To your society I have already Told you that formerly he loved me But now I know that you give laws to 〈◊〉 And I have cause to hope that if you scorn 〈◊〉 He may return unto his first subjection ZAIDA Fatima be assur'd than he shall be Repuls'd his love will be but troublesomâ— But if you love me forget not to feign Some kindnes for my brother I beseech For my sake give him cause to hope a little FATIMA Adieu I promise you that at next meetinâ— I will receive him better Exit 〈◊〉 SCENE II. ZAIDA MEDINA ZAIDA WHat think'st thou Of fair Fatima and of her request MEDINA â— think that Adibar is not a person â—o be despis'd ZAIDA True but I am too proud T' accept a heart that hath been conquered By any other and would now be mine Trough an inconstancie but if I durst To love MEDINA Why stop you Madam ZAIDA Oh Medina I must not speak the rest MEDINA â—ut I divine it You are in love and I have cause to judge â—hat it is with Almansor that fair stranger ZAIDA Who I in love with him MEDINA â—hy not I pray you Is that a crime ZAIDA Oh do not name that love â—hich is no other but a fair esteem MEDINA There is so little difference between Esteem and love that oftentimes we take thâ— One for the other and are so deceiv'd ZAIDA I cannot but remember that my brother In his last voyage did conclude my marriagâ— In Argier that he who 's design'd to be My husband is heer shortly to arrive And that my heart ought to reserve it self Wholy for him Besides in thy opinion Would it not argue a great weaknes in me To love this stranger though my brothâ—â— friend Who hath not been above a moneth amonâ— And whose desert as yet 's unknown unto MEDINA Seeing this Stranger who 's not of the vulâ— Deserves to be caressed of your brother There 's reason to believe that he deserves To be your Lover and I can't conceive Why your mouth will conceal the flâ—â— which is So cleerly for him in your eyes and counâ—â—â—nance As often as he commeth with your brotheâ— To visit you your looks seem to be fix'd Wholy one him and at the same time also I observ'd often that the stranger ey'd you With the same ardour ZAIDA Prethee speak in earnest Did'st see him to behold me oftentimes MEDINA You ask it me with very much impresse mâ— I do believe in lesse time then an howr That you have question'd me upon this 〈◊〉 More then a hundred times your curiosity Gives me a full assurance that his looks Displease you not nor wound your modesty ZAIDA Alas can one in justice be offended To be belov'd MEDINA If his love pleaseth you I think his person Will please you equally ZAIDA I consider him Without interpreter but perhaps he loves Elsewhere and I may be unpleasing to him MEDINA Madam although you fain would cover it This fond suspition publisheth your flame Iealousy alwaies is daughter of love ZAIDA vvould it pleas'd Heaven that he were free and that He thought me fair But I see him come forth Gomella's house I 'l satisfy my self In sounding of his soul upon this bank I will repose my self and feign to sleep MEDINA VVhat 's your design I cannot comprehend it ZAIDA VVithdraw anon thou 't understand it better SCENE III. ALMANSOR ZAIDA ALMANSOR Gâ—mella is expecting his return In visit heer I may conveniently Dream of my new love Heaven do I not see Vnder that flourishing shade the beautious subject Of my sad sufferings Love in this encounter Seemeth to flatter me sufficiently It is the lovely Zaida without doubt How sweetly and with what tranquility Doth that fair one repose whil'st wretched Languish with the disease which she procures me Surely she cannot hear me now I may Speak at this present unto her of love And not offend her but alas the rigour Of my sad destiny is great when I Presume to speak I fear that she may hear me You that have taught me the true use of sighs Dear object of my joy and of my griefs Suffer my amorous and silent soul Tâ—expresse its secret passion before you And to complain heer of a thousand evills Which you have made me suffer yet unknown Vnto your self and you resplendent sources Of all my fires from whence I have derivâ—d Such violent heats fair charming eyes the authors Of my captivity enjoy the rest Which your have taken from me If I see The poppies which shut up your lids be noâ— Offended that you lose your lights the Sun Is subject to the same eclipse and can No more then you dispense himself thereof Zaida feigning her self in a dream ZAID Almansor ALM. Sure she dreams ZAIDA Oh! rigourous torment To burn to languish and not dare to speak it Alas ALMANSOR O Heaven what heare I ZAIDA We resent One and the same heat ALMANSOR Oh! that it were true ZAIDA My modesty excuse me ALMANSOR O favourable sleepâ— ZAIDA Cruel constraints When shal we be content when shall our plaints Have end ALMANSOR In this great extasie of joy All my respects are vain to give her thanks I 'l kisse her fair hands He kisseth her hands ZAIDA Hold insolent whence doth proceed this boldnes feigning to awake ALMANSOR What have I done aside I came to give you thanks ZAIDA For what ALMANSOR T is for your goodnes ZAIDA How I know not I 'm sure I never gave you any matter For this acknowledgment who ever will Consult th' apparence of the thing shal find That I have much indifference for you But though I had lesse was it fit to trouble My rest in making your acknowledgement ALMANZOR Excuse my transport beautious Shepheardesse If I had lesse lov'd I had been lesse guilty In this occasion a Wary Lover Would have expressed little love in shewing Too much respect and whatsoer my crime bâ— It would be pardoned if you slept stil But alas my good fortune is soon chang'd I find that you awake but to afflict me Your eyes in taking unto them again Their grace and lustre take unto them also At the same time their usual cruelty And that most charming hope which I so littlâ— Enjoyed vanish'd with your sleep ZAIDA This is An ill expression of your self that word Of hope gives me astonishment I never Gave it nor took it yet from any person ALMANZOR If I might dare to credit your discourse At least you had not an aversion for me Nothing would be equall to my good fortune You would not find my presence trouble so me I should be used better I should be Esteem'd and possibly ZAIDA Proceed ALMANZOR I might be Belov'd ZAIDA Belov'd of whom if you magine Of me you are mistaken ALMAZOR Notwithstanding You honored me so much to tell me so If I may but believe your voice I have Place in your
Brother To love his sister so THERSANDER The love wherewith I am assaulted and would make thee see Exceeds that of a brother it begets Complaints and Sighs it driveth to despair And kills the love we bear unto a Sisteâ— Makes not so many sufferings but J love DIANA J divine whom thou burnest with desire To speak unto me here of Celiaâ—s love THERSANDER Thou do'st divine right J take a great pleasure To speak of it with thee methinks I see her Still when J look on thee how fit I find thee To be the faithfull guardian of my love Assur'd of thy fidelity and that Thy heart is alwaies mine DIANA Thou need'st not doubt it THERSANDER O my dear DIANA Brother I 'm not ignorant How dear I am unto thee THIMANTES Thy fair eyes DIANA How flatter and court thy sister By thy discourse THERSANDER I cannot speak unto thee Thou interrupt'st me still DIANA Th' advice is worth it and I 'l give rhee notice That from esteem they pass to love for thee That scarce arrivedst thou unto this place But thy good fortune without any trouble Gain'd thee the conquest of a heart for which Great Kings will envie thee it is Melissa's THERSANDER O Gods what dost thou say DIANA What doth astonish thee I see how thou art troubled to believe it This great heart finds no place yet in thy faith To make thee happy in 't I must imbrace thee She speaks softly to him in imbracing him The Nymph hears our discourse 't is fit thou feign She speaks loud again Wilt thou not yield to this excess of honour Think that thy Celia in this conjuncture Hath no resentment in her heart against thee Nor murmurs at it THERSANDER In this extasie Wherein I am through this excess of honour I 'm seeking of my self but cannot find me How dare to love the Nymph t' aspire to her No my ambition 's not so criminal DIANA Under those high respects J see thy love THERSANDER How can I otherwise express it Sister If the Nymph tempts me and will make a crime on 't It shall then have the name but of a lawfull Respect and if I see occasion T' express me further on this point this lawfull Respect shall bear the bolder name of love DIANA Brother it hath that name and J am ready To boast unto her her illustrious conquest But the Sun J perceive plungeth himself I' th' waters and the shadows seise the tops O' th' Mountains it is time now to betake me Unto Melissa but behold she comes Melissa comes forth from the place where she was hidden MELISSA What serious discourse have you together DIANA Our subject is of Love of Mistresses Of Servants and of Sighs MELISSA What! hath Thersander Already gotten him a Mistress THERSANDER Madam I have too little merit and address Besides to serve to honour and obey you I have no other thought our discourse was Your goodness for us which my heart shall ever Record as in a Register of Brass Where my acknowledgements shall never pass SCENA III. MELINTUS MELISSA DIANA THERSANDER MELINTVS calling HO Clidamant MELISSA It is enough let 's go I hear some noise and would not be seen here I' th' night Exeunt Melissa Diana Thersander MELINTUS continuing to call Ismenia Clidamant they hear But flie me and the night robs my sight of them But this is not Ismenia and I am Deceived much if I saw not the gate The stature and the gesture of Diana Yes Clidamant abus'd me with a lie Diana builds his fortune at my cost And that note which he would conceal from me Without doubt was subscrib'd with her fair hand Yes 't was Dianaes though he read Ismenia To spare my grief a little and my trouble How simple was J that J followed Not close upon his steps but soft methinks J hear a noise perhaps it may be he SCENA IV. CLIDAMANT MELINTUS CLIDAMANT O Night lend me thy silence make these woods To hold their peace in th' absence of the day And let no sound be heard here but my love At last I 'm happily delivered from A troublesome companion that would Obstruct my fortune that same jealous Shepheard Without respect and faith MELINTUS I 'm much oblig'd Unto thee for this noble character Thou giv'st me in despight of all my care And cunning thou art come without my company To see thy lovely Mistress CLIDAMANT I came here To meet another person for my Mistress I have already spoken with her fully MELINTUS Yes if mine eyes deceiv'd me not thou talkd'st Unto Diana and seeing me follow Ye both fled at one time these Woods conceal'd you CLIDAMANT Good Gods what saiest thou to me MELINTUS But I 'l be More wise another time and heed you better CLIDAMANT I understand not what this language means But this distrust doth me an injury Why covet'st thou t' accompany me thus Since th' object that expecteth me forbids it Desirest thou to publish secret passions Ismenia in thy sight gave me those Tables 'T is she that doth expect me at the place Appointed for Diana she knows nothing Of this invention if thou canst injoy That lovely Shepheardess and think not me Guilty of any treason I seek only Ismenia and shun society In this affair Shepheard retire thy self And leave my love in peace why wouldst thou do me So ill an office MELINTUS This appointed meeting Denotes some artifice I observ'd lately At our last Games the amorous commerce That pass'd between Diana and thy self So many kind respects such gentle glances And private whisperings forming the suspicion That still awakes me CLIDAMANT Cease to trouble me And thy self too unnecessarily Our discourse only was an effect of Civility I say again I leave Diana to thee oh how perfectly I hate those vain suspicions and condemn them MELINTUS Ismenia's very free she would have had Boldness enough to express her love by day Why should she make choice of the night to speak it Why dar'd she not to utter it in words But writ it to thee CLIDAMANT In vain jealous Shepheard Thou askest me that question all that I Can say unto thee is that I am sent for I cannot tell thee more if the occasion Be good or bad if J could satisfie thee Upon that point believ 't thou should'st excuse me MELINTUS I 'l follow thee where ere thou goest CLIDAMANT Oh Gods What a Tormentor have I MELINTUS I attend thee CLIDAMANT Then stay thou here I 'l leave the place unto thee I feign to withdraw to withdraw him also softly Exit MELINTUS What! leav'st thou me alone and cunningly Hid'st me those secrets which yet I must know Feign as much as thou wilt in spight of thee I will â—ind out to which of those two objects Thou giv'st thy faith and dost direct they vows I 'l be a witness of thy secret love Another shall inform me on 't Thimantes Will tell me all the Plot to him I 'l go And give him notice
tempests of my spirit Exit Zegry ORMIN I will indeavour with permission of The holy Prophet to hear such successe As I desire SCENE II. ORMIM alone WHereto shall I resolve me in this sad Extremity shall I sollicit now My Rivall gainst my self in the behalf Of an ingratfull Master that doth wrong me And though he appeares blind to my disadvantage Shall I approve my self so more then he What shall I presse th' effect of what I fear Shall I give him content at my sad cost By a constraint so cruell and shall I Become my self the faithfull Minister Of the injustices which he doth do me No no let us not serve with so much heat To trouble us yet with a new misfortune A person who cost me so many tears If I must die at least let me not give Arms for to peirce my heart o' th contrary Let me act so that he may hope for nothing From fair Fatima let me without scruple Betray this false one and deprive him of A good which would become so fa'tal to me I should ground all the hope that 's left unto me Vpon the losse of his But how is this That at these words I tremble with affright I find my heart already riseth up Against me in behalf of this false Master Alas how cruel and perfidious Soer he be I cannot fail of faith To wards him but must love and serve him truly 'T is so resolv'd my anger must give place Vnto the love that raigneth in my bosom An ill example never justifies A crime let us deliberate no more But what 's the noise I hear it is Fatima That passeth and Charifa follows her SCENE III. FATIMA CHARIFA ORMIN FATIMA THis foul contemps which Zaida offers me Provokes me highly â—o far was this false one From hindering Adibar to visit her As she engag'd herself in promise to me That she accepted kindly of his hand To disoblige me t is an injury Of such a nature as requires reveng CHARIFA The affront is known unto your self you saw it With your own eyes and to speak truely Madame The injustice is extream FATIMA Know that my anget Is so too let us enter it is late This night shall give us counsell ORMIN I 'l go one And stay no longer las I dare not open My mouth nor keep it shut Love I beseech thee Mingle at least some good in the great masse Of my misfortunes graunt that in demanding All things of her she grant me nothing for him aside Madame shall I find so much goodnes from you As to allow me the sweet liberty To leave this letter heer in your fair hands It commeth from a Louer the most passionate Of all those which the Lustre of your eyes Hath made slaves and who not withstanding all The love wherewith his soul is seis'd hath griven you Some cause of plaint FATIMA Of plaint i st Adibar That writes vnto me Softly to Charifa CHARIFA Wtihout doubt t is he My heart doth tell me so FATIMA What would that false one Desire of me ORMIN How cruell is this sweetnes To me aside The end of his desires is to Appear before you highly to detest His insoleÌ„t crime he would expresse the trouble Wherewirh his soul is press'd to the Divinity Iustly offended and receive in making His fault worthy to be forgot a pardon Or death at your fair feet FATIMA I desire not His death but I would have him live and hope How late soever his repentance comes I love it and 't is welcome My heart is Already pacified by thy discourse ORMIN I have for my misfortune too well sped aside FATIMA Le ts see with what air in this letter he Vtters his thought we will go in to read it And to give answer since he is no longer Obstinate in his coldnes I will send His pardon sign'd and seal'd ORMIN How full of joy Will Zegry be at my return FATIMA What say you Zegry ORMIN T is he that sends me he will kisse The words where with y 'ave flatter'd him Fatima tearing his letter FATIMA This is My answer go and carry it unto him Exit Fatima SCENE IV. ORMIN CHARIFA ORMIN THis in equality astonisheth And puzleth me Charifa CHARIFA No good night ORMIN Hear me I pray thee CHARIFA I take no delight To talk with fools ORMIN Stay yet a little CHARIFA I have not the leisure Adieu fair prater ORMIN Be not so ungentle My haÌ„d shall speak gould to supply my mouth CHARIFA I do'nt believe thee ORMIN Believe the event From Zegry take this diamond CHARIFA To betraye And sell my Mistresse God defend I will not Receive it ORMIN Be not such a simple creature CHARIFA I take it then to please thee but accept it Vnto a good intent the stone 's not false At least I think so ORMIN Thou mayst be assur'd on 't T is very fair and perfect CHARIFA Pardon me My words might seem t'imply a doubt that I Suspected thee but I am innocent ORMIN Wilt thou not tell me by what fatall errour Thy mistresse humour chang'd so suddenly And how it came that only at the name Of Zegry her heart presently grew cold Although enflam'd with my discourse before CHARIFA I love thee but too well and if rhou wilt Be secret I 'l discover unto thee This secret of importance this hid mistery ORMIN Thou wilt oblige me much speak I 'm discreet And will concea'lt as closely as thy selfe CHARIFA Fatima then loves Adibar asmuch As she doth hate thy Master but for her Adibar by a pleasant fair return Hath no lesse coldnes then thy master love Thou knowst that thou art not yet known of her And that love oftentimes troubleth the brain Hence was it that at first she did believe That Adibar sent thee to speak to her But since she knew her errour she was mad I hear a noise let us speak soft I fear We should be heard SCENE V. ALABEZ ORMIN CHARIFA ALABEZ THe Devill where thinks my Master That I should meet with Ormin it is night And I can't find my way CHARIFA Prethee be still ORMIN Let me alone thy honour is not much In danger with me CHARIFA Foh my diamond Is fallen from my finger ORMIN Without doubt The grasse conceals it from our sight CHARIFA We may Seek it a good while ere we find it heer ORMIN Yes in this manner I 'le go fetch a light Exit Ormin SCENE VI. ALABEZ CHARIFA CHARIFA Return I 've found it taking him for Ormin ALABEZ I should know that voice It is Charifa strange what might she do So late heer in these woods I will approach A little neerer aside CHARIFA Thou but jests with me Kisse me no more if thou dost I 'l retire ALABEZ A rare piece this I must hear all CHARIFA Yes really Promise me to be quiet or I 'l leave thee This is a little too much liberty At first I am a maid that stands upon My reputation and fear evill tongues
a quarrel with him to accoâ—d it Chuse of us two him whom thou think'st most faithfull I am content to stand unto my fortune ISMENIA Thimantes what say you THIMANTES J agree to 't ISMENIA to CLIDAMANT Then thus for him J do confess I love him A little but for thee nothing at all My mouth interprets truely what my heart thinks CLIDAMANT O the most fickle and most want on issue Of the inconstant sex thou lov'st a momenâ— J love a moment also ISMENIA Notwithstanding J have a secret to impart unto thee CLIDAMANT A Secret in thy heart loseth its name In less time then a minute without doubt ISMENIA Thou thought'st last night that I discours'd with thee At th' Eccho of the Garden CLIDAMANT Yes ISMENIA But what If thou wert then deceiv'd and that another In my place counterfeited there my voice CLIDAMANT What hast thou told me ISMENIA That which may be true CLIDAMANT J cannot comprehend it nor find thee Thou dost do nothing but deceive at all times And in all places thou canst turn thy heart And eyes into all sences how an other Possess my place ISMENIA What if by this advise J gained thee the heart of a fair Mistress One that 's illustrious and of noble blood And who after the Nymph hath the chief rank CLIDAMANT Well feign thy fill thou may'st speak what thou list I 'm henceforth in no humour but to laugh ISMENIA If by the greatest oaths wherein my honour Can be ingag'd thou wilt believe the truth Of what J told thee that another person Beside my self receiv'd thy vows last night J hope thou wilt find out some fitter Epithits Then false and wavering for me CLIDAMANT After such An obligation my charity Would sway me much ISMENIA Then solemnly J swear It was Parthenia in my place to whom Thou didst express thy love she borrowed My name and shape and thine eyes suffered This sweet imposture CLIDAMANT Still thou dost abuse me J knew thee by thy voice ISMENIA When we spake loud 'T was I that spake then presently Parthenia Advancing in my place discovered softly Her soul and thought unto thee after this Iudge if I have deserv'd from thee or no. CLIDAMANT How is it possible that she to whose High rank I should not dare t' aspire unto So much as in a thought that she to whom I durst not speak a word in way of plaint That she to whom my high respect conceal'd My amity should yet feel pitty for me Alas this cannot be 't is sin to think it ISMENIA Thou shalt see if I lie and how sh' esteems thee I wait her here CLIDAMANT Therein I should obtain The hight of my ambition for this favour Oh let me kiss thy hands and die with pleasure SCENA III. PARTHENIA ISMENIA CLIDAMANTES THIMANTES PARTHENIA WHat spectacle is this I see Ismenia Sports with my fortune if I trouble you I will retire continue that rare favour Who freely gives the hands may give the heart ISMENIA Ha! Madam really you are a novice In love I gave him intimation of The arriâ—fice we us'd and he at first Received my discourse with so much joy That he crav'd from me that civility Unto what jealous strange suspitions Are you drawn by this object he but aim'd To kiss my hand and you are like to die for 't Trouble your self no more thus to no purpose PARTHEIA Ismenia thou restor'st me life and rest I love thee Clidamant this jealous fit Methinks might well have spared me the shame Of telling it CLIDAMANT Fair Nymph believe PARTHENIA Bur let us Enter into this Wood. CLIDAMANT I wish the Eccho Sometimes a friend to Lovers would redouble My voice in saying to you that J love And make you to repeat my words J love PARTHENIA Ismenia be a faithful witness of Our chast amours and come along with us To hear what we discourse Thimantes be Discreet and secret THIMANTES Madam I 'm all silence See what a strange unnecessary evil Is that a jealous person doth sustain Foolish Melintus how thou art deceiv'd In thinking that Diana is the object Gf Clidamant's affection here she comes Discoursing with her brother J will leave them SCENA IV. DIANA THERSANDER DIANA LEt us consider what we are to do She loves thee infinitely and J have Command from her to speak to thee again In her behalf THERSANDER Advise me what to do DIANA Since the Nymph loves thee with such passion As I perceive she doth 't is fit thou flatter Her grief a little otherwise I fear That I shall lose thee after having found thee What mischief can she not do when provoked THERSANDER Since there needs but to feign all will succeed DIANA In the mean time Ismenia will be carefull To inquire for us when the Merchant-ship That 's bound for Sevill will be fully ready To set sail from the harbour we shall hire him To land us where we will till when our care Must be not to offend the Nymph for fear She ruine us she 'l presently be here She 's come already act the Lover well Dissemble handsomly therein consists All that we can expect SCENA V. MELISSA DIANA THERSANDER MELISSA A Word Diana Hast thou remov'd that fatal obstacle Which came to intetrupt the pleasant course Of my affections hast thou setled My lifes content and razed Celia Out of thy Brothers spirit DIANA His heart follows Where my voice and his glory calleth him And cheerfully yieldeth obedience To such sweet Laws MELISSA Blessed Interpreter Of a most ardent love hast thou advis'd hiâ— To keep it secret DIANA Only that point Madam J have forgotten but J will redeem it And tell him on 't before you if you please That I go for him MELISSA Go and bring him hither DIANA softly Feign handsomly unto her THERSANDER softly to Diana Fear it not I 'l speak before her but of you and to you And yet not make her jealous Then he saith to Melissa by whose side is Diana whom he looks upon THERSANDER aloud Could you doubt My heart should be so stupid and insensible Of my felicity how happy is My fortune and how gentle was the storm That gave me this bless'd port whereof great Kings Are jealous What proud Conqueror would not Submit and lay his arms down with himself At the fair feet of such a charming object A rude obdurate rock would be consum'd The coldest Marble would be kindled by it Yes Madam a fair eye but openeth Its lid here 't is day the nights black shadows Fly only from the Sun of those bright eyes Her fires too at the sight of them grow pale I must confess then Madam that J love them And that J live more in this beauteous object Then in my self my spirit is charmed with A happiness unparallell'd when J Think that J love them and am lov'd again MELISSA Come thou but feignest love do not abuse me THERSANDER O Gods what do you say Madam J love Or rather J adore
dye t is but just too great a merit Is often a great crime in ruining This Rivall I may gaine what I desire And if he perish not my hope must perish Let 's see if the successe answeareth my wish SCENA OCTAVA Valerio The Duke Iacinta Guards Valerio OH Sir t is done he 's dead in vaine he did Indeavour to defend himselfe he fell Peirc'd with a thousand mortall stroaks his soul Found overtures ynough to sallie forth His bloody body covered o'r with wounds Iacinta Oh! stay Sir Comming forth of Climenes house Duke Thy cares are superfluous I am reveng'd Iacinta and Fabritio Is dead Iacinta Oh if you love Climene enter not Into the house she 's scarce recovered yet Of a great faintnes which seisâ—d on her spirits Duke The blood which I have shed will cost her teares I will not goe to add unto her griefes But retire me a while in the meane time Valerio let it be your charge to goe Vnto Fabritios Father to acquaint him With his sonnes death and further let him know That for his rash and sawcy insolence He hath receav'd but a just recompense The End of the first Act. AGTVS SECVNDVS SCENA PRIMA Isabella Clarina In a Chamber Isabella WHo enters there Clarina Madame it is Valerio Who from the Duke Discourseth with your Father Isabella What pressing busines might bring him here Clarina To tell you I should be a Prophetesse Isabella A message at this hower's not ordinarie Clarina It doth appeare as strang to me as you Isabella Let us expect the issue on 't and change Discourse Clarina You faine would have me speak of Carlos Madame confesse it Isabella I cannot deny But I am pleased when I heare him praysâ—d Clarina I should not be in my right sense if I Should speake ill of him he is a brave man And of a Liberall and obliging nature He merits much Isabella But in what manner did he enrertaine Th' intelligence thou gav'st him that my humour Towards him was inclined to more sweetnes And rhat my heart at last dispos'd it selfe To love him CLARINA With transports and extasies Which cannot be express'd ISABELLA Hast thou bene careful To tell him cunninglie according to Those rules I gave thee that to doe him service Thou didst betray thy Mistresse and gav'st him That notice without my consent CLARINA Yes Madame I tould him so and verie handsomlie But your strang love surpriseth me you feare that he should know it and yet tell it him If he lesse knew it would you be more pleasâ—d What humourous fancies are in Lovers spirits ISABELLA Though I love Carlos be it reason or Fancie that guides me I believe I doe My selfe wrong when I doe justice to him The bashfulnes which Heaven hath put into Our Sex for bids us to be free in what Concernes the point of love nor must we think any thing lawfull in relation to 't And by that power which I know not my selfe I cannot without blushing say I love It seemeth that our eyes made to tame hearts When those that were our captives doe become Our conquerours although they finde the dart Lovely and charming that subjected us Cannot without some shame behould this change The art to despise love my heart no longer Can practise but o Heaven whom see I Carlos So late here in my chamber SCENA SECUNDA CARLOS ISABELLA CLARINA CARLOS PArdon me This bold intrusion seeing the dore open I could not but lay hould of the occasion And following my love I thought I might With out offending you with disrespect Enter to cast my selfe at your faire feet ISABELLA How fancie you that I can be so little Respectfull of my honour as to suffer A vissit from you without being offended No Sir your hope deceives you and this libertie You take denoteth in you little love Or too much Vanitie can I believe You love me well in giving to your selfe A licence thus to make foule-mouth'd detraction In veigh against me or can you imagine Without great folliâ— in your selfe that I Can approve this designe so little modest And not b'offended at it CARLOS Though I can Produce some reason here for my defence I hould me criminall since I offend you And should but little profit to persist In the opinion of my innocence When your faire mouth condemnes me ISABELLA I condemne you T is very true and for your punishment I bannish you you must goe forth Carlos I dare not Appeale upon your sentence but retire I obey with regreet but without murmur Isabella How Sir begone so soone what motives pray you Induce you thereunto Carlos Since you ordaine it I must depart t is fitt that I obey you Isabella I should think Carlos that you obey here Some what too quickly for a perfect Lover Believing that you lov'd me I appear'd Too proud and scornefull t' is an assur'd maxime That one loves coldly what he quitteth easily Love is but il expressed by respects Who readilie obeyes knowes not to love Carlos I am astonished at this discourse Can you Complaine I quit you Isabella When I obey you gainst my sentiment When my love glittereth in my submission And when by a kinde heat which is not common My happines displeaseth me when it Offendeth you what would you then have said If seeking onelie my owne saâ—isfaction I had preferred my desires and wishes Before yours in what manner can I please you If in obeying you I anger you Isabella You argue too well for a man in love VVhere love is strong reason is impotent The one can't be establish'd whilst the other Subsists sometimes a mayd would be resisted And obstinatelie lov'd gainst her consent And as her close desires are verie seldome Express d she often speaketh with intent To meet a contradiction and to be Enforced unto that which she desires According to this maxime possibly I have on this occasion discours'd Conrrarie to my sentiment and perhaps I should be so farre from believing me Injur'd thereby that you would have oblig'd me In not obeying me Carlos I 'm rap'd in pleasant wonder if those words Astonish me they charme me more if I Must stay to please you nothing is more easie Then to content you fully in that point Seeing obedience is not pleasing to you I will stay Madame and will not obey Isabella It is too late begone my mind is chang'd Occasion is lost assoone as ' pass'd You would have too much pride and I should have Too little if after such a confession I should detaine you here Carlos This order is Severe and rigourous Isabella But it is just I love not alwaies to be disobey'd Follow Clarina goe and have a care You be not seen O Heaven I heare my Father Clarina Alas we are undone perhaps he doubted Of your intelligence enter forthwith Into this closet SCENA TERTIA. Alphonso Clarina Isabella ALPHONSO Oh Daughter daughter ISABELLA He appeareth furious aside I read my sad misfortune in his eyes
charms there ALABEZ Are you besotted wil you not salute her ZEGRY No to perform that complement I 'le give her A visit when I shall have without doubt My soul lesse in disorder ALABEZ For mâ— part Who do not love so daintily I will Without deferring it make my addresse ZEGRY Without discovering our selves we may From hence know by the usage of the servant In what esteem the Master is at present SCENE IV. ALABEZ CHARIFA FATIMA ZEGRY ORMIN ALABEZ SWeet Beauties welcome from what quarters come you CHARIFA What means this insolent Go on your way ALABEZ How 's this instead of kisses and embraces As I expected I am quarrelâ—d with Charifa whence this change CHARIFA Begone and leave us ALABEZ Thou actest well the scornfull FATIMA What 's that follow Which followes us CHARIFA T is an impertinent Whom I know not ALABEZ I am much changed then Since this last voyage but thy soul is chaÌ„g'd And not my visage without doubt thy Mistresse Hath better eyes and more wit she will know An old and a familiar acquaintance FATIMA who are you then ALABEZ My Masters Slave FATIMA What Master ALABEZ Should you not know him neither Is his name raz'd out of your memory FATIMA Assuredly Charifa this man's mad ALABEZ How Madam is it possible you can Forget the valiant Zegry FATIMA Zegry ZEGRY Heaven What strange inconstancy is this who ever Could have imagin'd it aside ALABEZ That noble and illustrious successour Of those brave warriers who even in Spain Have gathered Lawrells and brought home faire spoils Madam your faithfull Lover Zaida's brother FATIMA Oh! I remember him ZEGRY False and Ingratefull ALABEZ You ask not how he doth FATIMA What interest Have I in his sweet person happily He 's dead ALABEZ He is indeed FATIMA We are all mortall The Prophet hath his soul. CHARIFA A faith full servant Would have accompanied his Master why Art thou not dead too ALABEZ Only to â—nrage thee Zegry discovering himself ZEGRY The Prophet hath his soul o false Fatima Is 't thus you do expresse your goodness to me Deceitfull object my return I see Displeaseth you who would despise me dead Must hate me living I disturb with pleasure That faithless joy which the delightfull news Of my feign'd death procur'd you I live still Ingratefull but I live no more for you Mâ— passion is transformâ—d all into fury As much as I lov'd you I now despise you My heart shakes of so rigourous a yoak Love raiseth no more sighs nor fires within me Only I sigh that I us'd so much care To please you and if I burn yet it is With anger not with love ORMIN Oh this successe Answereth my wishes fully aside FATIMA This confession Surpriseth but no way afflicteth me My first discourse should make you understand That I 'm not very tender hearted to you And me thinks after such a cleer contempt As was expressed there you might believe Nothing should trouble me that comes from you Vnless your amourous addresse I have A thousand other Lovers braver far Then you and therefore I daign not to put you In the rank of my conquests ZEGRY Sure your pride Is greater then your beauty the charm is Dissolv'd wherein I formerly was held T is true I sometime thought you beautifull But I was amourous and therefore not To be believed having now my spirit No more disordered you cease to be fair And I to be abused whereas you Pleased me formerly it was because It is impossible for me when I Am lov'd to be insensible FATIMA I love you Heaven what a strange opinion is this I never had but strong aversion for you All your indeavours serv'd but to displease me But though I hated you I lov'd your Sister And â—t was for her sake that I feign'd to have Some pitty for your passions her prayer A hundred times restainâ—d my hate you sware That your daies did depend upon my sight And yeelding unto her desites I did Enforce mine eyes to smile when my heart frown'd To the end not to be cause of your death ZEGRY Your eyes have never made a mortall wound FATIMA Take heed that your do not revive again One Only of my looks darted more gently Can change this violent anger into love But I am verie nice of such a look It is too rich a price Sir for your conquest I limit my desires to see you never Adieu become wise and leave me in peace Exit Fatima SCENE V. ZEGRY ALABEZ ORMIN ZEGRY YEs false Fatima I will become wise Thy contempt is unjust but mine is lawfull Since thou pretendest but to make thee hated I will obey thee thy unworthy trophy My heart shal be no more his charmes are broken His flames are quench'd Alabez follow her Close at the heels even unto her house But have a care not to discover thee ORMIN Her pride 's unjust and not to be endur'd Your change herein is but too equitable O how wel should you do to free your heart From the imperious captivity Of such a cruel conquerour you are Born with too many fair advantages To obtain nothing but eternall wrongs There are Sir other beauties in the world VVhich would be glad to share their flame with yours To imitate your sighs and which would tell you That the resplendent honour of a crown Is beneath that to be beloved of An object that one loves Contempt in love Deâ—erves to be repayed with contempt And who refuseth is not worthy of For the most part the person that 's refus'd ZEGRY How great my griefs are and how grievous is This proud contempt o light and wavering Sex O black ingratitude since love began To trouble Lovers was there ever torment Equall to mine I feel my heart infected VVith all imaginary griefs ORMIN Oh? Sir Believe me I know some that are much more To be lamented and if what I know VVere reveald to you you should have great cause Of comfort by it ZEGRY Oh speak and divert The grief which doth oppresse me oftentimes A wretch is pleased in his misery VVhen he sees that he suffers not alone ORMIN O love I pray thee make his heart grow tender At the recitall of the evill which he Hath caused me oh make him Sensible Of my sad sufferings aside A young Beauty Sir VVhose name and birth if you please I 'l conceal Through decency only thus much I'I tell you That she was neer to me and lov'd me deerly Scarce yet attained to the fifteenth yeer When love and marriage was proposed to her And she commanded to expect for husband A man too lovely and to much belov'd And who for his part was so farre from being Warmâ—d with a mutuall flame that he unlawfully Took an affection for another object His faithfull Lover with grief understood it But yet a worse misfortune afterward Surprised her th' ingratefull brak th' accord Of the approaching marriage and departed For a long voyage without seeing her I can assure you
for thee Th Imployment if I could revenge my self Without thee and I had already seen The punishment of Zegry If I would Have usâ—d Gomellas service thy arm only Must wash the stam of from tby brow take all The reuenge to thee as th' affront's all thine Seeme no more until thou hast reveng'd Thy Sister Goe seek find and punish fully Her barbarous ravisher adiew perform Thy duty and make thy self to appear A worthy branch of that illâ—strions stock Of Heros from whose loines thou art desceÌ„ded To end our common miseries and fears Go thou to shed blood I goe to shed tears Exit Lindarache SCENE II. ALMANSOR alone ALMANSOR OH heard extremitiâ—s oh cruel violence Alas the friend that doth oblige me is The enemy that wrongs me I owe then My safety unto him that robs me of My honour aÌ„d the man that sav'd the brother Hath ruined the Sister in this case What counsell should I take shall I become Ingratefull or be infamous shal I Break the bond of a holy amity Shal I let forth the blood which preserv'd mine That blood in which love will that I have Interest And to say all the blood of my fair Mistresse She comes forth and without doubt aymeth here Honour will that I fly but Love restrains me SCENE III. ALMANSOR ZAIDA MEDINA ZAIDA HE dares not to advance his crime intimidates him We will passe by the traitor without speaking A word ALMANSOR Deare object of all mâ— affections Charme of my Spirits ZAIDA Surely you are mistaken You would speak to some other ALMANSOR Suffer me T' expresse my passion unto your faire eyes Love ZAIDA You take me without doubt for Fatima ALMANSOR How for Fatima this woâ—d doth acquaint me Confusedly with the unjust suspition From whence this chang springs possibly you have Believed that I seck to please her seeing The league that it between me and her Father But Heaven and Love my conquerour be witnes That your fair Image wholy doth possesse My heart that to remove you thence Fatima Is altogether incapable that I look on Al that is lovely in her without love And that as sensible only of the darts Of your rare beauties I confine my thoughts And actions to civilities for her ZAIDA How do you look upon Fatima then With an indifference Let me see how far His impudence will go aside ALMANSOR Can you doubt of it you that have tied all My senses with such sweet and pressing bonds Can you suspect with any justice Madam My heart of treachery my oaths of falshood And believe that my soul hath so much blacknes As to betray my Mistresse my friend And my Deliverer could you imagine Without being deceivâ—d that having once Beheld you one could love elsewhere oh no For me to be inflam'd with a new fire You are too charming and I 'm too much charm'd ZAIDA Too much charm'd monster of perfidiousnes Wilt thou abuse me then after thou hast Betray'd me and with an unworthy love Carried away wilt thou join impudence To infidelity ALMANSOR To inâ—idelity What say you Zaida this discourse confounds me ZAIDA I see it plainly wretch wer 't thou lesse wicked Thou would'st be lesse confounded an ingratefull Still blusheth at reproaches ALMANSOR An ingratefull ZAIDA Doth that word trouble thee and fearest thou The name of an ingratefull person more Then foul ingratitude it self ALMANSOR I know not The cause of this your anger should I never So much examine me I still should find My conscience innocent ZAIDA In thy accompt then T is nothing to deceive a maid to wrong Thy friend to fail thy faith to love Fatima Lastly ALMANSOR I say you ZAIDA Yes thee ALMANSOR Oh â— believe me I love her not ZAIDA Dar'st thou to say it yet Dost thou not love her when thou dost adore her Thy false equivocations cannot heer Abuse me I know that thou art to morrow To marry her ALMANSOR To matry her o Heaven believe it not I swear ZAIDA No no forbeare I believe not The oaths of one that 's perjur'd every one Knows of this mariage ALMANSOR Who told it you ZAIDA A certaine person ALMANSOR Whosoe'r it be That certain person ly'd Tell me his name And my just anger presently shall carry him The reward of his false intelligence ZAIDA Goe punish then Fatima it was she Her self that told it me ALMANSOR Oh give lesse credit Ador able Wonder to such false discourses ZAIDA Good God! who ever saw such impudence ALMANSOR The mariage which she hath forged is A falsity bear witnesse thou dread Master Of Heaven that this I speak is truth but if I lie let thy hand with a thunderbolt Strike me unto the center of the earth Let my name be foreuer odious If the fire which I feel proceedeth not wholy from your fair eyes and if my heart Ever conceived for Fatima any thing Beyond a weak esteem ZAIDA I must sift yet This brazen face more throughly aside How wilt thou prove The truth of thy assertion ALMANSOR I can produce A hundred proofs to disabuse you presently ZAIDA I 'l have but one and that too very easie To put an end to the suspitions Which I 've coÌ„ceiv'd of thee give me forthwith Both thy hand and thy faith ALMANSOR I give it you With an excesse of yoy but what would I Give her a hand that must destroy her brother And plung it self in his most noble blood aside ZAIDA What dost thou answer me so ill for such Rare bounties dost thou murmur to thy selfe Grow pale and study as if thou resent'st ill What I propose ALMANSOR Madam clean contrary I was rap'd with th'unexpected honour And happines wherewith I saw me filled And th' excesse of my joy transported me I feare through my obedience to betray you To make detraction to speak against you And to treat Zegry too unciviliy In giving without his consent my hand And faith but this weak fear yeilds to my flame Duty prevails not now upon my soul And cannot take from me the glorious purpose Of giving you my heart and hand together ZAIDA Thou thinkest on 't too late my mind is chang'd And n'er shall chaÌ„ge again know that I feign'd Only to try thee that excesse of goodnes And thy fires for Fatima presently Burst forth ALMANSOR Oh! I had never any for her ZAIDA Thy deceit's plain enough I 'm very well Assured of this fatall mariage When I press'd thee to passe thy faith unto me I faw that thy remorses for Fatima Accused thee and thy confusion Confirmed me in my belieft that she Receiv'd the faith which I demanded of thee ALMANSOR I offer it unto you ZAIDA No thou caust not Dispose of it Thou hast already given it And wilt abuse me ALMANSOR You abuse your self Wiih too much warines ZAIDA Hast thou the boldnes To reply yet Go go to thy Fatima To morrow is your mariage day I know it She hath affections for thee fince thou hast Refused me ALMANSOR Hear
the four corners of the World she rules So sweetly that crime onely feels her anger And as she is descended from the blood Of Zoroastres she knows well the vertue Of Herbs and th' influence of every star She understands the secret misteries Of Magick and sometimes makes use of it To serve her interests there is no Prince Nor Monarch that stands not in fear of her And suffereth her not to raign in peace For his own safety MERCATOR I know this Asyle And charming residence looks not with envy Upon the Court o' th' King of Portugal Besides I am not ignorant that the fair Ismenia drawn here by the sweet report Of these inchanting pleasures to enjoy them In quiet left the favour of her Queen And that this beauty by a sudden change Adds 〈…〉 lustre to this Paradise MELINTUS See where she comes Diana too with her I must in private speak unto this fair one An interest of love obligeth me Continually to make her my devotions MERCATOR Go Sir and prosper may your Saint prove sweet And gentle as those South-gales I expect In my embarkment Exit Mercator SCENA II. DIANA MELINTUS ISMENIA DIANA not seeing MELINTUS DIANA TRue I hate that horrid noise Now my free thought releas'd from such a trouble Enjoyes it self MELINTUS to DIANA So soon to quit the sports What was your fancy DIANA To avoid discourse That troubled me and here I meet with new MELINTUS Can such a subject as brings homage to you Produce th' effect you speak DIANA What doth not please me Both troubles and offends me MELINTUS You will one day Quit those disdainful rigours DIANA Yes when you Have neither hope nor love MELINTUS D' ye entertain Every one thus that loves you DIANA If he be such As you I use him just in the same manner MELINTUS Surely the Shepheard Clidamant speeds better DIANA 'T is then assuredly because he doth not Resemble you MELINTUS He entertain'd discourse With you in gentle whispers at the Sports DIANA I do confess it We talk'd of you and of your little skill MELINTUS Your subject was more serious without doubt DIANA What e'r it was yours I am sure offends me Remove this hated object from mine eyes Your presence will at last provoke my anger MELINTUS Can one displease you speaking of your Loves Thou Husband'st for him that so sweet discourse ISMENIA Every one knows that who but speaks Melintus Speaks jealous MELINTUS It is no secret what men think of thee Every one knows that who speaks but Ismenia Speaks cocket ISMENIA Really thou hast much reason To be afflicted at that late discourse Clidamant merits much and I 'le oblige him DIANA Leave us MELINTUS He doth expect you and I trouble you But wee 'l find out a way to cross his fortune Exit Melintus DIANA to ISMENIA He thinks that Clidaemant enjoys my love ISMENIA Thou hast no reason Shepheardess to draw him Out of his errour in the mean time wilt thou Not yield thee to the faithful services The prayers and tears of the devout Thersander Wilt thou not love him yet he that encourag'd By thy fair presence only to please thee Hath gain'd so many prizes who to give Thy anger no pretence though he loves much Can more be silent since the ardent flame Wherewith he burns for thee is only known To me unto Thimantes and thy self DIANA Ne'r speak unto me of it ISMENIA What! still cruel But hearken I will give thee an advise Shall touch thee whilst we may we should lay hold of The flying time he only maketh beauties And he destroys them in the lovely season That thine lasts use the gifts which nature gives thee Thou wilt one day lose this fair lustre which So charmeth hearts and be an object of Contempt as now thou art of adoration DIANA Rather that love whose Orator thou art Yet know'st his use so little doth times office 'T is he that withereth a face the cares The troubles and the griefs which by his means Possess a heart deface the lovely features And mow the flowers he is like time the Tyrant Of all things he in a few dayes dryes up Our Roses and our Lillies ISMENIA Shepheardess Such fear hath smal foundation quit this thought For thy own interest when love is once Lodg'd in the heart the ey hath then more light The face receiveth thence its full perfection Then we esteem us then we please our selves And know our utmost value we correct By art even to the least defect we call Our Glass to counsel in the ordering Our gate our carriage and our countenance There our eye cheers with smiles or kills with frowns Or faintly darts its glances or with strength Either to wound neer hand or further of Therefore once more for thy own interest I say unto thee love at least a little Thersander that adores thee DIANA Really Thou dost surprise me to speak thus unto me Thou that hast never yet had love nor thought Tending to that sick passion thou that mak'st So many Lovers only for thy glory Without remembring one of them thou that Pleasest thy self by turns in their discourse Thou that wilt gain all conserve thee nothing Thou sufferest Thimantes to adore thee To day but tell me wilt thou entertain His love to morrow ISMENIA I love but I have alwayes had my method In love the Lover that is troublesome Unto me is my Lover for a day I burn not yet for love nor do I sigh for 't I make a sport on 't still but ne'r a torment In thrusting no one of I 'm every day Attended by a multitude of servants That present courtship to me and all strive Who shall be formost on whom I command And raign as Princess they suppose they please me In putting up my praises when I go Unto the Temple they fail not to follow And carefully to tread in all my steps I am not pleas'd to see in such brave Shepheards A troop of slaves attending on my train I please them all in flattering their desires I 'm much delighted when I make them jealous Provided that their jealousy extend not So far as to betake themselves to arms For th' honour of my beauty◠this high point Of evidences might perhaps enrage Even all my other lovers DIANA Ha! how ill Thou know'st love and his maximes I behold Thy changes as so many crimes for my part If my heart were ta'ne with an object once I could not pass from love unto contempt I should be fix'd unto my first Idea And that God wholly should possess my thoughts ISMENIA Well then Diana love if thou think'st fit Beyond the grave and make so fair a fire Arise beneath thy ashes DIANA Oh alas ISMENIA What signify those sighs DIANA They signify The sorrow of the heart ISMENIA But whence proceeds That sorrow is it from thy brothers death Or from some lovers come deal plainly with me Dost thou not love Thersander yet at last DIANA No I
the Nimph hath crown'd My valour with these prizes here I come To lay them at thy feet with them my heart If thou wilt triumph on this festival day Suffer at least thy conquest in thy sight That 's all th' ambition of this captive heart DIANA Captive to me if so make it change Master I freely do release it break its chain Thy self if thy design be not to have me Free it with my own hand THERSANDER Alas it is not Its liberty that I desire DIANA Then let it Live still a slave and sigh THERSANDER How Shepheardess Refuse a heart this precious present which Is alwayes worth a Temple and the Gods Think well upon it it becomes thy justice Not to despise this noble sacrifice Since I give but the same victime and incense Unto the powers above in my opinion Our Goddess in the Temple is less fair And thou dost bear the bright name of Diana As well as she DIANA Since this rich present is Of such high value as 't is worthy of A Temple and the Gods I believe Shepheard That it becomes my justice not t' accept This noble sacrifice and I should wrong Our puissant Gods in daring to partake Their glory and to share their incense with them My name 's Diana to thy eyes I 'm fair But I am not a Goddess like to her THERSANDER Although thou hast no Temple nor no Altars Thou mak'st thy self adored 't is to day Thy festival which I have celebrated I have no other worship nor no other Diana the fire of my love is not A profane fire and if some spark thereof Warm not thy breast a little I must suffer The violent heat on 't DIANA Rather I advise thee Quench it with my contempts this remedy Will cure thee that thou shalt complain no more THERSANDER Good Gods what remedy is this which thou Offerest me here I must dye Shepheardess If thou cur'st so flatter at least I pray thee With one sole word the love which thou hast rais'd If I'm not happy make me think I am so Alas I cannot hear a single syllable To succour me if thus thou curest Shepheardess I must dye there is no prevention for 't ISMENIA Why carriest thou a heart still so rebellious To love THIMANTES Why dost thou persecute with scorn This faithful Shepheard DIANA It is best be gone THERSANDER Yet thrust of thy disdain if thou wilt spare My hand my death finish the forming of The sword that kils me one word more of hate And I die presently before thine eys Speak answer me ISMENIA No more here comes the Nymph DIANA Happy arrival which hath freed me from So great a tâ—ouble THERSANDER Well for my part then I 'le try the temper of the marble rocks My plaints may pierce them though they could not move A Virgins heart to pitty much lesse love SCENA V. MELISSA PARTHENIA DIANA ISMENIA THIMANTES CLIDAMANT MELINTUS MELISSA SInce a full year and more that I have govern'd This happy Island in the right and lawful Line and succession of my Ancestours By the death of my Sister and since first Diana's feasts were celebrated here Never so many Laurels crown'd your heads Nor ever any day ordain'd for pastime Hath entertain'd mine eyes with such delight Every one striving to bear hence the prize Propos'd to his contention shew'd his skill Both at the Course and Lute how handsomly Thersander did behave him at these exercises With what a grace he acted every thing How charming was his port and if I may Say what I think of him he must be sprung Either from Kings or Gods how happy is Thimantes in his friendship THIMANTES This happiness which I enjoy's not new It hath a longer date then from to day His name is precious to me 't was my fortune To have the benefit of his acquaintance At my last voyage I saw his arrival From his own native country at the Court O' th King of Portugal the sympathy Of humors which one man hath with another Tied us together in so firm a friendship That having met him sad and full of thought I prevail'd with him as to bring him here In hope that in this quiet region where Melissa reigns he should lose all his grief MELISSA Indeed although that prosperous Shepheard hath Received all the prizes from my hand Wherewith he 's crown'd I find him notwithstanding Stil melancholy may not this be in him Some sad effect of love blest Shepheardess Who e'r thou art thrice happy is thy fortune In which this noble stranger bound his choice He is so far above the common merit That a Nymph should not much abase her self In loving him CLIDAMANT Indeed he merits much And we esteem him all we love his vertues Without being jealous of them PARTHENIA Clidamant Comes nothing short of him in my opinion ISMENIA Thimantes too will go as far as he DIANA Another time Melintus without doubt Will perform better MELINTVS Yes when you shal turn Your eys on that side MELISSA Shepheards once again Prepare I pray you for the Nuptials Of Thirsis with Parthenia Neece that Shepheard Is worthy of you and you are not ignorant That I intend as soon as he returns To make him as I hope your happy husband PARTHENIA aside Yes if my heart can suffer violence MELISSA In the mean time let 's go unto the Temple Our thanks and our devotions to pay Vnto the Gods on this so glorious day The end of the first Act. ACTUS II. SCENA I. ISMENIA THERSANDER THIMANTES ISMENIA 'T Is true Thersander I have done for thee Asmuch as possibly I could I made Thy sighs thy constancy thy faith appear For to perswade her but I lost my labour Diana is insensible her heart Which loves sweet applications cannot touch Among so many rocks is become rock THERSANDER What shall I doe Thimantes what a rude And rigorous fortune steers my destiny THIMANTES Quit that ingrateful and come forth of slavery THERSANDER How shall I come forth I 'm born miserable Under the frowning and the fatal aspect Of an ungentle Star which in despight Of all my studies to defend me from it Pursues Cleagenor under the name Of poor Thersander ISMENIA Softly What is that I hear Good Gods THIMANTES Thersander what hast thou discover'd Hath thy own mouth betrayed thus thy secret See into what great danger thy imprudence Puts thee at present fearest thou no more Nearchus and his power THERSANDER No I fear nothing After this sentence but seek death for since It is resolv'd by fate that I must die What matter is it by what arm it be Whether Nearchus or Diana kill me ISMENIA Oh Gods how happy is he softly Hath not she For whom thou diest had some intelligence That thy heart loves elsewhere if it be so And that thy inconstancy procures thy torment Thou wrongfully accusest her of cruelty THERSANDER Quite contrary this love wherewith thou seest My heart disturb'd is a sure testimony Of my
procures my grief Let me not speak him spare my cheeks those blushes ISMENIA I cannot a sigh carries not so far You love but what more is beyond my skil To understand unless your self unfold That sigh unto me by its cause PARTHENIA 'T is true I love ISMENIA But whom PARTHENIA 'T is ISMENIA Outwith't PARTHENIA Clidamant ISMENIA Behold a handsom way to name a Lover Ha! how you fear your lips should touch upon it One must draw 't word by word out of your mouth You have then but one lover really 'T is well as 't happens had you lists of them As I have which I name and reckon over Every hour of the day your bashfullness Would well become you love is a fair fruit But then it must be gathered modesty Leaves it to fall and wither but I pray you What will Melissa say to 't who intends To match her Neece to Thirsis PARTHENIA Oh! I hate That Thâ—rsis and shall be even in despair If the Nymph force me to observe my duty In that parâ—icular yet I would keep it Without disturbance if the love I bear To Clidamant should not return me his For to speak truly I am violent Where honour doth ingage me therefore would I Have his heart to be sounded and as I Find it dispos'd I should pursue my love Or quench my flame ISMENIA Speak unto him your self Nothing 's more easie PARTHENIA But Ismenia Thou hast a wit would help me if I should Speak to him he hath little understanding If he should not know that I first was taken And I should sin against the rule of maids To make such a confession ISMENIA You may write then PARTHENIA That is all one still the same point of honour Forbids it me my Letter would discover My love and make him boast thereof perhaps To my dishonour if he might have once That mark on 't in his hand ISMENIA Let him then Divine it if he be Astrologer PARTHENIA Treat not my passion thus with railery ISMENIA I must then serve you in it I perceive Well I 'l about it with my best invention I 'l write a Letter to him and invite him By a feign'd love as soon as it is night To meet me at the Eccho of the Garden To entertain us there PARTHENIA So in my absence Thou shalt discern his thought ISMENIA This business Concerns you Madam and requires your presence You shall speak softly to him and in those Sweet moments you shall understand much better What his thoughts are and thus you may your self To find out if he loves speak of your self PARTHENIA Thou wilt be present too ISMENIA Yes J ' l so well Contrive it that he shal believe undoubtedly That it is I that speak PARTHENIA But how can we Speak to the Eccho for thou know'st the Nymph As soon as it is night retires her self And then we cannot come there what devise now Hast thou that we may speak to him ISMENIA Cannot we Speak to him from the terrass which joins close Unto the Garden you know that you can Conveniently come there at any hour From your apartment 't is upon this ground And these conjunctures that I 've ta'n the plot For my invention PARTHENIA J admire thy wit T is wonderfull industrious and ready ISMENIA I 'l write the Letter here before your eyes Behold the paper for it PARTHENIA How these are Thy writing Tables ISMENIA They can speak of Passions Discreet and secret J ' l about my business And use my smoothest stile PARTHENIA Especially Appoint him wel the hour and place of meeting How redevable am J to thy wit For this great favour what do J not ow thee For this good office thou giv'st me again Life and repose ISMENIA See what J write unto him In two words for you they are very pressing And will ingage him to be take himself Unto the place appointed to know more PARTHENIA 'T is very well it rests now how to giv ' 't him ISMENIA Leave me the care of that but here he comes SCENA V. MELINTUS CLIDAMANT PARTHENIA ISMENIA MELINTUS to CLIDAMANT YEs J have heard Diana is his sister CLIDAMANT to PARTHENIA Madam Melintus and my self are going To seek Thersander to congratulare With him his happy meeting with his sister ISMENIA to CLIDAMANT seftly Thersander's happy and thou art no lesse Since thy good fortune offereth it self Unto thy hand from whence thou mai'st expect All that thou canst desire without that jealous PARTHENIA to ISMENIA Come let us go the Nymph expecteth us ISMENIA softly to CLIDAMANT Having no opportunity at present To speak unto thee read J think 't will please thee CLIDAMANT Read it J think 't will please thee what i' th name Of wonder doth she mean MELINTUS Take but the pain To open and to read it thou shalt find CLIDAMANT J think J may make thine eys witnesses Of what it doth contain there 's nothing in it Secret or serious Ismenia loves To jest and to be talk'd of and this is Some new piece of her wonted merry wit MELINTUS J am impatient prethee open it CLIDAMANT Let me see what divertisement is here Which she expounds good fortune what is this He reads List of my Lovers by an exact order Of Alphabet 'T is very well put of But so far forth as J can see yet neither Obseâ—ve J here Melintus or my self MELINTUS For my part J renounce there turn the leaf Go on CLIDAMANT reads Stanza's of Dorilas upon inconstancy 'T is true Ismenia thou art fair But more inconstant then the air And every Lover is a Mark Exposed to thy humourous dart As soon as he meets thy disdain He flies to death to cure his pain And makes but one large step in all From his bright glory to his fall With these defects yet thou canst charm But I 'l not love for fear of harm Yet J approve all things in thee Yea even to thy inconstancy And will not to incur thy hate Jealous Melintus imitate Whose humour every thing offends And nothing pleaseth but its ends CLIDAMANT Melintus what sai'st thou unto them MELINTUS J see for what design she put those Tables Into thy hand J call'd her cocket lately And that it seems provok'd her to rerurn me The injury with one of the same nature CLIDAMANT continues to read Sonnet of Silvio my most faithfull Lover A Madrigal of Thirsis what 's this follows Unto the Shepheard Clidamant CLIDAMANT Melintus Am J not purblinde see if this name doth Strike thine eyes thus like mine Melintus looking into the writing Tables MELINTUS Nothing 's more certain It is address'd to thee thou art more happy Then thou imagin'st CLIDAMANT reads As soon as the dark shadows of the night Hang o'r the light At th' Eccho of the Garden let us meet But be discreet 'T is love invites thee more anon When w' 're alone Ismenia Melintus would take the writing Tables MELINTUS Prethee let me see them Grant me this favour not
then J believe Thou do'st disguise the truth and read'st Ismenia When 't is subscrib'd Diana CLIDAMANT Oh fond jealous How long wilt thou thus be thy own tormenter MELINTUS Yet shew them me CLIDAMANT To cure thy troubled spirit J'l first o'rcome thy curiosity And since the discreet Lover what vain heat So ever presseth thee never shews thus His Mistress name MELINTUS But CLIDAMANT Quit those blind suspicions as soon As it is night I 'l go unto the Eccho Alone and with our noise I 'm all a fire To know what she will tell me in the mean time Let 's go unto the Nymph to seek Thersander MELINTUS softly To be more sure and to inform my self Yet fuller of thy faith in this my doubt I 'l to the Eccho too and â—ind it out The end of the second Act. ACTUS III. SCENA I. MELISSA DIANA MELISSA I Say to thee again that J receive Much pleasute at this news that thou Diana Art sister to the generous Thersander He hath inform'd me with the strange misfortune Which separated on the churlish Sea The Brother from the Sister in what place Upon a plank escaped from the wrack The storm remov'd him from the anger of Th' inraged Sea what countries he hath seen What pains and troubles he hath undergone Lastly he nam'd the happy fortune which Conducted him to us here I thank Heaven That made thee know him I 'm as sensible Of this content as thou canst be thy self He is so highly qualified that he 's worthy The name of King ye both shal find with me A Sanctuary and what ever fortune Ye have I will partake it good or bad My fortunes ye shall bare too so that all things Between us shall be common I believe Diana towards me will be so well Dispos'd of her part and that whatsoever Concerns me will touch her DIANA Madam I should Be barbarously ingratefull otherwise I still remember that being on the Shore Cast as a wretched wrack there by the floods Expecting every minute deaths approach I met with you my port and sanctuary Oh that I have not power for all this goodness T' express how much acknowledgement I have MELISSA Thou hast DIANA How Madam MELISSA In expecting nothing But death as I do now thou canst be to me At thy turn both my port and sanctuary Thou canst subdue the enemy that braves mâ— That of a Soveraign will make a slave He 's in thy power thou canst abate his courage DIANA What is that enemy which troubles you MELISSA He 's one whose Magick can enchant the arms Of the most Valiant he can draw tears from The most Heroick nothing is so strong Which he can't compass and without respect To any place or person whatsoever He equally distributeth his flames DIANA I know him not yet by this Character MELISSA How know'st thou not that tyrant of great Monarcks That famous Conqueror of Conquerours Who notwithstanding is but a blind child DIANA If J durst to express me J believe I know him MELISSA Speak it freely DIANA I 'm mistaken Or I have seen love painted in such colours Blind and a child yet a great Conquerour MELISSA 'T is the same love whereof I speak unto thee DIANA Who is the happy Lover that procures Your martyrdome MELISSA Alas could'st thou not spare me The shame to speak him cover gentle night Immediately those places and my brow With the same colour so to please my heat I love but let us finish since I 've said I love Thersander is my object DIANA What My Brother MELISSA He If his heart be a prize Not easie to be gain'd there 's nothing which I would spare for him I would arm to have him Nought should oppose me every obstacle J would o'rcome already by some words Which he observ'd not spoken by the bie My love was half expressed DIANA As he should not Dare to pretend unto so great an honour He would be criminal if he believed To understand you MELISSA Well then be thou here The mouth and true interpreter of my heart Express the kind heat of my timerous soul Tell him that I 'm a subject to his Laws That he may boldly fix his thoughts upon The person of Melissa and not fear To be condemn'd that his ambition May soar so high a pitch and not be check'd That he may sigh the same sighs with a King Husband thar heart for me to which mine aims But let him not think that it comes from me My honour would receive a prejudice By such a thought thou only shalt acquaint him With this as from thy self DIANA J understand you He must needs yield to this I 'l do your will MELISSA As soon as he appears I will retire me And from one of these places I shall hear Every word that you speak one to another In reference to my flame DIANA I should methinks Act with more freeness if J were to treat With him alone MELISSA No J will hear my self What he thinks of me J can best of all Trust mine own ears and eyes in this affair DIANA But Madam after all MELISSA Shepheardess The thing 's resolv'd thou need'st not say no more Untill he come J pray thee entertain These woods here with some air and let us see If the Eccho will answer to thy discourse DIANA Your prayer is a command some plaints of love Shall make the subject of it MELISSA What thou wilt DIANAS Song Ye Trees ye Rocks perfumed Valleys sweet And charming Zephirs murmuring fountains keep My griefs close in your bosome you alone Are witnesses unto my fires and mone Tell me if my sad heart not daring to Delare it it self at least may sigh its woe May sigh its woe Eccho Well then my sighs make no noise as pe passe The airy Regions only breath alas Vnto the â—eart that sent you forth since I Can't speak to thee dear object of my cry Let th' Ecco that 's attentive say for me That if I love as sure I do 't is thee 't is thee Eccho SCENA II. THERSANDER MELISSA DIANA THERSANDER DIana's here about her voice assures me MELISSA to DIANA softly Thy Brother comes here take this opportunity Be sure thou speak unto him loud enough Thou art my only hope I go from hence To hear and to observe thee DIANA softly We are undone Thersander will discover all in speaking THERSANDER 'T is now no longer time to utter sighs Let us resume our joy and dry our tears Crown our sad spirits with flowers and think no more of Our pass'd misfortunes let 's form our discourse Of the most pleasant thoughts and let us chat Of love DIANA Let me alone I 'l entertain thee Upon that subject THEERSANDER It belongs to me To speak of that and when I do consider With what darts in my heart DIANA I know it well 'T is of a longer date then from to day That I have read thy heart and I believe That never any one hath seen a
of the assignation He 'l come to let me know sure if Diana Appeareth there or if it be Ismenia J shall do him a mischief when Thimantes Shall see his Mistress appoint secret meetings To others then himself at such an hour He hath a poor spirit if he loves her still So shall I have pleasure in my resentment In weakning the â—ierceness of Ismenia And of her servant I 'l to him immediately SCENA V. PARTHENIA ISMENIA PARTHENIA upon the terrass I Hear a noise Ismenia is 't not Clidamant ISMENIA Fear not we shall hear of him presently PARTHENIA J hear no more noise all is husht and still Only the night and silence raigneth here ISMENIA Hark J hear something let us handsomly Dissemble now PARTHENIA Oh how I feel my soul Seised with love and fear SCENA VI. CLIDAMANT ISMENIA PARTHENIA CLIDAMANT NO person follows me J am at liberty jealous Melintus Haunteth my steps no more ISMENIA Madam 't is he CLIDAMANT Well I 'l go on ro instruct me what Ismenia Hath to impart unto me in these Gardens Ismenia ISMENIA Clidamant CLIDAMANT Is it thee Ismenia ISMENIA Yes I expect thee CLIDAMANT Thou may'st have pretence T' accuse my tardy comming but a jealous ISMENIA It is enough thou art belov'd assure thee Draw neer but let us speak soft I 'm afraid We should be heard Put your self in my place and take this opportunity softly SCENA VII THIMANTES CLIDAMANT PARTHENIA ISMENIA THIMANTES Speaking to Melintus behind the Stage I Am oblig'd to thee for this advertisement If J find at the Eccho either of them Diana or Ismenia believe me I 'l faithfully report it to remove Thy trouble if J can Ismenia Appoints me very often here to meet her Where notwithstanding her inconstancy Her mouth in secret giveth me the hope Of a most constant love and for a pledge Of her faith never any but my self At those hours entertains discourse with her I 'l to her now and charge her with this crime Of comming here without acquainting me I 'l approach softly without making noise Lest it might raise a scandal in the night Ismenia CLIDAMANT quitting Parth. Some noise hath struck mine ear I 'l return to you Exit PARTHENIA O what feat is comparable To mine Ismenia come to me presently CLIDAMANT speaking to Thimantes whom he takes for Melintus Melintus really I can no longer Suffer your importunity why should you Imagine that J am the Author of Your trouble J speak to no person herâ— But to the Shepheardess Ismenia J tell thee once again she sent for me And J am certain that the note is written And signed with her hand 't is true this fair one Sighs only for the love of me her mouth Hath told it me already and I answer Unto her fires with a mutual heat Assure your self and settle upon this My faithfull protestation that Diana Ne'r made me sigh THIMANTES softly O most persidious CLIDAMANT See what an injury you do me now To satisfie you yet more fully hold There are the writing Tables see her name Examin't well and take repose at last Without disturbing mine D' ye place your glory In persecuting me THIMANTES softly Shame of my love Depart my memory J have wherewith Both to reproach and to convict thy falshood And when I 've done it treacherous spirit I 'l quit thee And then J shall be satisfied CLIDAMANT Melintus What is 't thou murmur'st yet J must break with thee If this stâ—ange humour lasts in acting thus You will loâ—â— all your friends your jealous head And strange fantastick humours but he 's gone I will return unto the object which Both charms and loves me PARTHENIA to ISMENIA There 's our discourse Make an end on 't thy self CLIDAMANT I 'm rid at last Of my impertinent jealous Melintus Hath left me now ISMENIA Adieu let us retire I 'm certainly inform'd that thy ambition Aspireth to Parthenia in vain then Thou holdest me discourse CLIDAMANT In two words J will tell thee that J have Too full a knowledge of the eminence Of her condition as to dare to lift My hope so high Oh if I durst to love her But being less ambitious J obey My duty and J better know my self Adieu until to morrow PARTHENIA to ISMENIA Oh Ismenia What content have J and how skilfull art thou In this affair of love I do admire Thy wit and thy invention the thing Answered my wish ISMENIA By this discourse of his You may perceive love under that respect Like fire under its ashes 't is not lately Your charms have taken him PARTHENIA In the mean time ISMENIA In the mean time live all fair wits say J Without me you had been reduc'd unto A sad condition to die with grief And love without expressing it PARTHENIA 'T is late Come in the absence of the day let 's prove If sleep will follow on the steps of love The end of the Third Act. ACTUS IV. SCENA I. THIMANTES ISMENIA THIMANTES HOw in the night persidious to exasperate My anger dar'st thou to grant private meetings To any but my self yea in the night Without light and attendance in the Garden Thou entertain'dst the Shepheard Clidamant ISMENIA How 's this Thimantes in a rage O Gods Who would have thought it THIMANTES Wilt thou say that J Complain now without reason that J have A crack'd brain and bleer'd eyes it is too long Inconstant to arrest thy spirits behold This witness it hath told me every thing Yet J should not believe that thou wert guilty If such an evidence accus'd thee not But since J dis-ingage my faith to thee This very instant J restore thy papers And will have nothing more to do with thee ISMENIA Well let it be so then J doubt it not But J shall be providâ—d in good time When one forsakes me presently another Offers his service otherwise J should In this unlucky moment of thy change Be destitute of an officious Lover But thanks unto the Gods more then one calls me His Mistress and J shall have no less courtship And press for thy departure these notes here Express the names of those that I 've subjected I 'l blot thee presently out of my Table-book THIMANTES Light Shepheardess ISMENIA For all this J am troubled For thy disquiet without further jesting Know that this trouble which possesseth thee Proceeds but from a fiction speedily I 'l clear it to thee only have but patience To stay here till the Shepheard Clidamant Arrives before whom I have order to Discover the deceit and then I know Thou wilt excuse me for it here he comes SCENA II. CLIDAMANT ISMENIA THIMANTES CLIDAMANT HAve J not staid too long suspect me not Thimantes J was sent for well what is Your pleasure ISMENIA Thy misfortune is extream Thimantes cannot suffer that another Should love me and one that accompt intends To measure with thee sword and arm to day CLIDAMANT He is my friend and therefore J am loath To have
MELISSA How hast thou then Dispos'd of Celia that reign'd o'r thy heart THERSANDER That affair's ordered well I 've put her interests Into my Sisters hands sh' 'ath promis'd me To make all fair of that side and will answer To me for her MELISSA Hast thou not boasted to me That her eyes were the object of thy love That for thy sake she cherished the light Of the alternate day and that they would Cover themselves with an eternal night If thou shouldst cease to live or to be faithfull Think well of thy part what th' ast promised Be firm be constant fail not in that point Consider not at all this supream greatness Stick to thine object love it for it self And have no interest for thy ambition Flatter thee with the honour to possess her Look only if she loves thee not if she Enricheth thee the beauty whom thou serv'st Should be thy crown all greatness whatsoever Should be esteem'd in thy accompt beneath it THERSANDER Ne'r doubt it Madam J shall have those thoughts Greatness shall never blind me so far forth As to oblige me to forget my love Which alwaies shall pure as the day â—tar burn Base interest shall never sully me DIANA I 'l tell my Brother now what I forgate To THERSANDER If thou know'st well to love know thou as wel To hold thy peace love like the other Gods Is not without his secrets he is serv'd Sometimes by hearts that can't express themselves Take heed how thou provoke his jealous power Adore his Altars but adore in silence For silence is a part of his Religion And oftentimes this fierce God is offended At his own name if any thing hereof Should be known in the Isle thou art undone Love without speaking of it that 's the law Which is imposed on thee she for her part Will love thee likewise use the secret well Melissa otherwise would die with grief J know th' excess of love wherewith thy soul Is filled but for thy own interest Put a seal on thy mouth MELISSA Yes have a care That none suspect our love I 'l take my time To publish it in the mean time I 'l study Thy setâ—lement and thy repose which makes That of my life this free confession now Would call up envy from her Cell and make Our greatest Hero's to dispute with thee What J have promis'd thee thine enemies Judge then how precious thy obedience is Since all thy good and happiness depends Upon thy silence THERSANDER Sure J should be strucken With a strange blindness if J observ'd not This your command J will obey so well That Madam even you your self shal doubt Whether J love or whether you J love MELISSA In the mean time thy sister shall assist me And have the ordering of our Amours Believe what she shall say since I will make her My only bosom friend unto whose trust J will commit the secrets of my heart THERSANDER J will make use of her in the same manner Enter Melintus he speaks to Melissa MELINTUS Madam a Jeweller that useth still To come unto the Games desires accesse Unto your presence MELISSA Cause him to come in This Sevil Merchant cometh every year To sell and traffick in the Island with us SCENA VI. MELISSA MERCATOR THERSANDER DIANA MELINTUS MELISSA SHall you remain sometime yet on our shore MERCATOR I stay but for your Passport to depart Every year Madam by your Highness bounty My traffick thrives so well that whatsoever Commodities I bring unto your Isle J carry nothing back you empty still My casket now I 'l shew you if you please such rarities as can be had no where But in my hands MELISSA Let 's see them MERCATOR Here 's a Diamond Darts flame of all sides MELISSA 'T is a sparkling stone I like his lustre MERCATOR Will you have it Madam MELISSA I 'l tell you presently shew all at once Then I shall soon chuse let me see that Coral MERCATOR The piece is very fair till now your Isle Hath never seen the like MELISSA And what 's that other MERCATOR A piece of Amber-greece Madam 't is rare And of great price I have pass'd divers Seas To purchase it alone 't is worth as much As all my casket DIANA For my part J cannot See any thing that 's new here MERCATOR Shepheardess This rope of Pearl is very rich and new 'T would make you look more fair more gay more sparkling MELISSA Without those Ornaments of Art she is Charming enough she needs no strange additions She maketh all our Shepheards die for love But for all this though you are fair without them I will bestow them on you if you like them What saies Diana DIANA Madam your great bounties MELISSA Lay them aside MERCATOR But Madam look upon This Master-piece of Art it is the Portrait In little of the King of Andalousia MELISSA He 's one of the best made that I have seen And who is this MERCATOR It is his favourite Nearchus sometime Prince of Pichery Who by a beauty fatal through her charms Gave up his arms and life unto his Rival A gallant Gentleman his name Cleagenor THERSANDER the first line softly May I believe good Gods how he observes me But are you certain of Nearehus death MERCATOR He return'd sorely wounded from the fight And died four daies after as all know MELISSA His valour seems yet painted in his face MERCATOR But he that conquer'd him had more by much Behold his Portrait THERSANDER softly Oh! what sheweth he MELISSA Is this that valiiant Cleagenor MERCATOR Yes 't is his picture THERSANDER softly O unlucky â—ccident MERCATOR Of all those that J had this only 's left me Th' offended King commanded me to carry them Unto all places where J went and traffick'd That so he might be known and then arrested For after this great Combat to secure His head from pursuit he took flight immediately MELISSA Thersander in my judgement nothing can Better resemble you J think your sister Will say as much THERSANDER Madam we see that Nature Sports sometimes in her works and makes some feitures In faces to resemble somewhat neerly MELISSA This Merchant I believe 's of my opinion MERCATOR Madam without doubt 't is Cleagenor THERSANDER The thing is little certain on the faith And bare ground of a Portrait MERCATOR Sir you are The very same I am confirmed now In my first thoughts all that which hitherto Hindered me to judge so was the name of Thersander and the habit of a Shepheard THERSANDER Who J Cleagenor MERCATOR Yes Sir J saw you The last yeer in the fortunate Isâ—â—nds and Not above four moneths since in Portugal Sevll's your native Country since you meet here Your safety to what purpose should you cover Those things with silence MELISSA Sure you need not blush Thersander at this fair acknowledgement THERSANDER I confess Madam that J blush a little Not that mine arm hath not done all that which It ought
of them shal see That they may suffer equally each other To die and to revive this punishment Is strange and cruell but 't is that I use In my revenges come why loiter we In our design my heart like flint shall be Insensible of their calamity The end of the Fourth Act. ACTUS V. SCENA I. CLIDAMANT PARTHENIA CLIDAMANT MIne eyes and ears ne'r saw nor heard the like The miserable cryes of those poor Lovers Fill all these places with astonishment Thersander and Diana are so charg'd I could scarce know them as I now came from them Pale death by turns skipping from face to face Can't make them yet to dye unto their love But Madam is it true what 's publish'd here Among the people that those strange inchantments Come from Melissa PARTHENIA Yes they are the works Of her Art without doubt she could do more yet Nothing 's too hard for her the destiny Of mortals seems to be held in her hands And as she pleaseth she disposeth it What can she not do when she is in choler The miserable Thirsis feels th' effect And rigour of her power by sad experience Hath not fame yet inform'd you with his sufferings CLIDAMANT Yes Madam J have heard them fully spoken PARTHENIA You know then that he lov'd Roselia And so deceiv'd the expectation And desire of the Nymph who hitherto Design'd him for my husband and knows not That I have love for you to her commands This Shepheard was Rebellious what did she Roselia was fair she became sick She wept she pined she complain'd the brightnes Of her fair eyes extinguish'd in a moment The whiteness of her Lillies as soon faded And of so many beauties there remain'd Only the place where sometime their seat was Her Lover that perceiv'd her taken from him Seeks her in every place but cannot find her That was a Master-piece of her Apprentiship But this without doubt is another work Of higer knowledge if in her resentment But for my interest she made poor Thirsis A miserable Lover judge how far She may be carried mov'd at her offence In her revenge for her own interest CLIDAMANT If the Nymph knew the love I have for you I could expect no other usage from her She would without doubt cause me to be carried unto some fearfull Island where I should Be rendered miserable all my days But let her art do what it can against me Imployed by her hate it shall work nothing Upon my faith to do it prejudice Oh! could I flatter me with the same hope That you would have like constancy for me PARTHENIA You nâ—ed not doubt of it I 'm wholly yours My love is strong and little fears her anger I 'l keep it still sincere and firm unto you And you shall find me constant unto death Should she destroy me with her power kil me I 'le rather dye my self then my affection My life can't pay the debt J owe unto you SCENA II. ISMENIA THIMANTES PARTHENIA CLIDAMANT ISMENIA WHat strange news do we hear is it true Madam That by th' effects of fortune and inchantment Thesander and Diana dye â—by turns And live again to wail their miseries PARTHENIA Ismenia t is too true they are inchanted THIMANTES If I durst speak my thoughts what I 've heard They impute this injustice to the Nymph PARTHENIA It is not to be doubted but she is The Author of it and this cruel punishment Denoteth that she studies high revenge When she 's offended CLIDAMANT Whatso'er her power be Which causeth fear let us go presently With our complaint unto her in my judgement This is no way to make her self obey'd Fear is the parent not of love but hate And that same fatal art which her revenge Calls to her aid establisheth her crime And not her power But here J see she comes SCENA III. MELISSA MELINTUS CLIDAMAT PARTHENIA THIMANTES ISMENIA MELISSA to MELINTUS WHat doth this stroak surprize thee MELINTUS Truly Madam Their punishment's too great and all the Jsland Murmureth at it MELISSA Shepheards what say you Can J revenge me of an injury CLIDAMANT Yes Madam and th' estate wherin y 'ave put them Hath made all those their friends that envi'd them Hear our petitions for them and be pleas'd To do them justice what have they committed Worthy of such a punishment for having Hid their love from you lived in your Court Under the name of brother and of sister Deceiv'd the hope and envy of their Rivals Conserv'd their honour and perhaps their life â—s this so great a crime as should be punish'd By charmes which have no end must they be made To dye and to revive continually By turns and by a strange unworthy fate The living be inforc'd successively Still to lament the dead their pittious cryes And hideous clamours give both souls mouths Unto those rocks to join in plaints with me The whole Isle's moved with them and disturb'd PARTHENIA Madam I join in this petition Vouchsafe to hear me O forbear to dart Thunder and wrath upon this happy place Where the Gods liberally pour upon mortals So many anâ— so great felicities Begin not to disturb the sweet repose Of an abode that 's savoured by Heaven To please those Shepheards whose devotions May fâ—x upon some other Sanctuary More safe and other Soveraigns more sweet THIMANTES Yes Madam stop the mouth of this sad murmur Let it be smotherâ—d this inchantment hath Continued too long break break the charm And pacifie our spirits immediately Which are astonished at this proceeding ISMENIA If in the freedom which J use too frequently My mouth might dare to speak and not displease you I should then tell you that this rigid course You take would leave you here nor Shepheardesses Nor Shepheards they would seek this place no more For their retrait and sanctuary but shun it Like a destroying rock and this fair Iland The glory of the world would be a wilderness To enjoy subjects rule your passions better And be more soveraign over your self MELISSA Shepheards and Shepheardesses your discourses Astonish and surprize me know my Art Is a sufficient warrant for my actions J could do greater yet and stranger too Though this which you have seen seemeth unjust Unto you have you any right or priviledge To complain to me and to murmur thus Much less to reprehend and censure me How should the bold Shepheard Thersander dare To injure me and to deride my power Should he presume to lay aside his duty And respect for me and I wink at it That so can punish such an insolence Presume it not the blood of Zoroastres Is not yet born under so ill a star J know its influence better and can use it To the destruction of those that wrong me Yes Shepheards I am skilful in the qualities Of herbs and roots and as I have occasion J chuse them some for poyson some for medicine When I wil I prescribe some to confound The memorie and to
Jnsensible of so much grief as she Suffers by your means oh let pitty yet Disarm your anger the Inchanted Lovers Have suffered enough Nymph break the charm MELISSA Yes I am touch'd at last J must confess And really am sorry for the evil Which they have drawn through their temerity Upon themselves but though their grief appeaseth My anger now the charm which I have made J can't undo to tell you truly Shepheards Jt is so strong that onely a Divinity Can break the chance on 't t is decree'd by fate That it shall last yet longer and J cannot Prevent it though it be my proper work THIMANTES How cannot you prevent it heavenly Gods What saying's this no no you have not left Your anger but retain it still and willing To punish them and to revenge your wrong Will make of them a lasting spectacle Unto the eyes of all and to excuse Your self the better of this cruelty Would put it off to some Divinity But the Gods by our prayers and tears appeas'd Jnspight of your attempts wil stop your charms Yes Madam the great Gods condemn your plots They are the Soveraigns and absolute Masters Of destiny we hope all things from them And that they 'l suffer crime no longer here To raign and tyranize Thou Goddess which Art in this place ador'd which holdest fate And fortune in thy hands which hatest crime and whose cares keep the Shepheards that serve thee In this delightful Island look upon The sad estate whereto love hath reduc'd Two miserable Lovers whom the Nymph Pursues with horrid cruelty to death By fatal charmes destroy the power of them And render to this government again The liberty to love and to declare it Thunder and lightning PARTHENIA Ha! what a sudden flash of lightning's this That strikes mine eyes and what a clap of thunder Shakes all this place ISMENIA With what a thick black cloud The Skie is cover'd MELISSA I believe Heaven trembles And its Arch openeth behold the Goddess Descends and maketh sign as if she 'd speak We must give audience SCENA Ultima The Goddesse DIANA DIANA YOur prayers are heard let nothing trouble you Fair Celia and her Lover both shal live And love for ever their afflictions Are ended and I have dissolv'd the charm No accident shall henceforth trouble them They stir'd up pity in you now they may Make you to envy them search all Records You 'l find no subject equal to their love THERSANDER to DIANA By what inchantment is thy life restor'd DIANA to THERSANDER By what inchantment do'st thou live again The Goddesse continues I 'l recompense their inexemplar vertues And pay the price of their affection To consummate their happy Nuptials I 'l ope my Temple and assure you all Of my protection 'T is my pleasure also That the love of the Shepheard Clidamant Be at the same time crown'd with Hymen's honours And that he end his daies with sweet Parthenia That henceforth he command in the Isle with her My justice hath made choice of them to reign The Nymph I do degrade she is too criminal And dispense you of your obedience to her I 'l make the power of her Art unusefull And free this Island from all future fear And danger but to save her from the Thunder Of the offended Gods I will recive her Into my Temple which shall be her Sanctuary Her Sex hath ' long enough ruled the Province I 'l change the order of its Government And henceforth it shall be under the power And wise administration of a Prince Which shall be of the blood of Clidamant From father unto son Melissa seeing the Goddess to ascend MELISSA I confesse Goddesse You do me justice in approving crime One makes himself a complice without you The Gods high Soveraigns Masters and disposers Of destiny would sure have punish'd me With death I go into your Temple now To imploy other charms to wash away My criminal defilements with my tears To pray unto the immortal powers whilst J Have breath and so disarm them at your Altars But to the end her law may be fullfill'd In every point Cleagenor fail not To love your Celia THERSANDER O how redevable Am I to your rare goodness MELISSA Clidamant Enjoy what you deserve accept Parthenia With her the crown and succeed happily The rank which I freely resign unto you CLIDAMANT You command still and keep your Soveraign rank When the raign is conferr'd upon your blood And by all my respects I shall express That 't is but in your name that I 'l be Master PARTHENIA Though Heavens kind hand chuseth a husband for me Since you allow him I 'l hold him of you And will possess no honour here nor power But to express the more my service to you And my acknowledgements THIMANTES Ismenia Must we not couple too ISMENIA Yes if the Goddess Had said it we 'l defer our marriage Till she descends again CLIDAMANT Ismenia I command in this place now and J will it ISMENIA Since you will have it I accept his vows Of faithfull service If Melintus too Hath shaken of his jealousie J must Be reconcil'd with him MELINTUS Well J agree to 't Let us remain friends CLIDAMANT Heaven hath promis'd us That we shall all be happy let us go Forthwith unto the Temple to conclude This triple marriage and henceforth we shall Honour this day as a great Festival FINIS ERRATA PAge the 5. for Scene I. read Scena I. page ibid. line the 5. for you read your p. 48. l. 20. for bare r. share p. 69. l. 5. for my r. thy p. 74. l. 20. for lov'd r. belov'd p. 99. l. 4. write in the margent Clidamant p. 102. l. 25. for nam r. flame p. 96. l. 8. for exaltation r. exhalation p. 97. l. 2. for he r. she THE AMOVROVS FANTASME TRAGI-COMEDY THE AMOROUS FANTASME A Tragi-Comedy By Sir William Lower Knight Amico Rosa Inimico Spina LONDON Printed for Fr. Kirkman at the Iohn Fletchers Head over against the Angel-Inn on the backside of St. Clements without Temple-Bar 1661. TO HER HIGHNESSE THE PRINCESSE ROYALL MADAM IN presuming to dedicate this imperfect Peece to the most accomplish'd Princesse of the Earth I confesse to shew much more ambition then discretion more rashnes then solid reason and moderation but seeing ordinarily that the greatest Persons have the least pride and the most charity I cast my selfe wholy upon your clemency and fly the test of your judgment which being so exact would doubly condemne me first in the designe it selfe next in the conduct and consequence of it as being a composition weak and unworthy of so high a Patronage If it may serve to divert Your Highnesse in some vacant hower when your sublime thoughts are suspended I have the onely end I aime at and shall glory in the honour and happines to introduce some thing with the New Yeere which may give you the least satisfaction My conclusion is a most humble petition for
ALPHONSO Can I live after such high injuries ISABELLA What is the Matter Sir ALPHONSO How demandest thou Dost thou not plainelie see in the excesse Of my quick griefes that I am burthered with The greatest of misfortunes ISABELLA What misfortune Oh! Father ALPHONSO Isabella Isabella I must no more be called by that name ISABELLA I feign'd in vaine t is best to confesse all ALPHONSO O fatall chang Heaven who could'er have thought it ISABELLA Sir I beseech you heare me ALPHONSO What would'st thou That I should heare I know now but to well What that love costeth me which taketh pleasure In blood and teares and hideth deadlie poisons When it shewes flowers Isabella I confesse Alphonso Oh how often Our expectations are deceiv'd in'wishing Children we wish troubles and punishments Isab. If his death Alph. Yes his death is certaine Isabella Suffer That by my teares Alphonso Thou sheddest them in vaine Isabella Father revenge is easie Alphonso But alas What should I enterprise against the Duke Isabella The Duke What say you Alphonso Art thou ignorant That my sonne by his order receiv'd death Isabella I know it not oh miserable destinie Alphonso Valerio from him brought me the sad newes And would enforce me to agree with him That he in killing him did not unjustly Isabella What crueltie is this wa st not ynough Through an unjust and barbarous constraint To forbid you a just revenge but even To complaine of the injurie Alphonso True Daughter To punish yet my sonne after his death They will I understand it and not murmur It seemes they have a minde that I should goe To kisse the hand that murthets me as being Stained and smoaking yet writh my sonnes blood Isabella But Sâ—r consider in this sad conjuncture That my deare Brothers body doth expect Interment Alphonso Yes I have tooke care for that By order from me it is to be brought To this apartement SCENA QUINTA Licastes Alpbonso Isabella Clarina Licastes THe death Sir of your sonne is but to certaine W 'ave brought his body into the next chaÌ„ber Some little distance from this place we found it Stript and so much disfigured with wounds That we should not have judg'd it to be his If seeking carefully we had not found His coate not farre of and a little further His hatâ—â— The thing which troubleth me most In this misfortune is that having made A fruitles search all over for the rest Of his habillements I could not finde Any one of them and can not imagine Who should have tane them thence Alphonso Vnhappie Sonne Of an unfortunate Father Licastes Sir you may From hence see this sad object if you please To cause that curtaine to be drawn aside aside Alphonso Draw it Licastes let me see my sorrow We would be private everie one retire The curtaine is drawne and he sees upon a bed a murthered body I cannot in this Lamentable object Discerne one feature of my Sonne and scarce Will my confusion give me leave to know Him whom I have begotten lying thus In such a mangled condition Sonne if it may be lawfull in the sad Estate wherein our miseries have put us For me to use that name sometime so sweet I must then say unto thee that this spectacle Makes me to feel thy wounds more sensibly Then thou thy selfe didst when thou didst receive them Thy miserable destinie and mine Differs not much the blood which thou shed'st is The purest in my veines the arme whose rigour Hasted thy death gave not the fatall stroak Through thy heart but it entered in my bowells And if we differ any thing in such A miserable fortune t is in this That I still feel the pressing evills which thou Sufferest no more Sources of my afflictions Deepe wounds which appeare now but bloody mouths Whose silent accents seeme here to solissit My arme to a reveng know that a subject Houlds not his Soveraignes fate betwene his haÌ„ds In vaine ye aske reveng ' gainst such a blood Alas here I can offer you no other But what my heart makes to flow from mine eyes Isabella The crueltie o' th' Duke Sir should be punish'd Alphonso He is my Prince although in my concernement A tyrant subjects destinies depend Vpon their Soveraignes a crime becomes Iust in their hands and if at any time Those earthlie Gods ought to be punished ' It must be by a thunder bolt from Heaven In this case I should make but vaine attempts If the Duke dye shall my Sonne live againe But what chance brings Clarina here in such Distracted haste SCENA QUINTA Clarina Alpbonso Isabella Clarina Oh Signeur oh Madame Alphonso VVhat ayles thee art thou mad Clarina Oh I have seene Alphonso what hast thou seene that troubleth thee so much Clarina I have seene I have seene Alphonso VVhat hast thou seene Speake I conjure thee Clarina Since then I must speake it I 've seene a dead man walke Alphonso Th' ast lost thy reason Clarina Nothing 's more true that fearefull Fantasme followes My steps I heare him he pursues me save me Isabella It is my Brother Alphonso Straung It is my Sonne SCENA SEXTA Alphonso Fabritio Isabella Alphonso Sonne is my soule sure or am I deceiv'd Is this but an illusion which I see But a vaine object formed by my fancy If so finish my life heere with my errour Mayst thou yet be i' th' number of the living Fabritio i st thy body that I see Or i st thy shadow comest thou to fill me With joy or with affright come satisfie me Let me embrace thee Fabritio I see the light Sir and I finde here charms Since you esteeme my life at such a rate As to lament it lost not but as injur'd By love and fortune they should not doe to me A favour to deprive me of the light But though they should oblige me very much In the condition wherein my soule Is now to quench my feirce flame with my blood And though my blood thus shed would make my fortune More sweet I would conserve it since t is yours Alphonso How comes it that thou hast so strong a hatred For life thou canst not doubt Climenes love The passion of the Duke alarumes thee Too much if thou lou'st much thou art no lesse Belou'd Fabritio A faire appearance oftentimes Beareth false wittnes I assur'd my selfe Too much of her fidelitie and though I could doubt the report my senses made me I have too sure a testimonie of her Perfidiousnes since her owne mouth confirm'd it She entertain'd in amourous discourse My happie Rivall with so passionate An air that I forgate both my respect Vnto the Duke and the care of my life In uttering my despight the Duke possess'd Strongly with love and hate gave expresse order Vnto his Guards to kill me but I knowing That my defence then was unprofitable Vnder a dark porch sought my sanctuarie Whilst an unfortunate stranger walking that way They took to apprehend me in the darke Was suddenlie