with my Complexion She has tyed her Soul to Lewis and a Parly Will scarce get a Surrender of a heart So fortified how'ere win her I must And the most likely way to do 't is as The World was Conquer'd once He was the Man That cut that Knot which was too hard t'untye I must confess I 've read that Force in Love's A sin that forfeits Souls But She 's so fair The pleasure can't be bought too dear Aph. I feel my heart burden'd with something ominous What if Nigrello should play foul and this Expected Lover should not be the Prince I dare not stand the hazard guide me Light Offers to go Clot. I must be Resolute Fair Lady Aph. What Man art thou That hidest thy face from Darkness and the Night What art thou speak And wherefore comest thou hither Clot. I come to find one Beautiful as thou art And am a Man willing to please a Woman Aph. I understand you not Clot. I will instruct you And 't is so smooth a Lesson and so easie That a good will is all the pains in learning it And when once learnt the Pleasure is so sweet The Practise so delightful that not the Worst memory in all our Sex could e're Forget it Come dear Madam closer yet And let our Souls lodge in our sence Aph. Help help Clot. None of your Clamours Lady Draws his Dagger If you rise one note higher you see your Death Aph. What Violence is this Why do you wrack me thus My hands are guilty of Crime do not torment ' em My heart and they have joyn'd in Prayers together For Mankind that is Holy if in that act They have not pray'd for you mend and be good The fault is none of theirs Clot. Come do not seem More holy than you are I know your heart Aph. Let your Dagger too Noble Sir strike home And Sacrifice a Soul to Chastity As pure and spotless as her Innocence Clot. This is not the best way Undisguises Know you Me Madam Aph. The Majesty of France Clot. Be not afraid Aph. I dare not fear 't is Treason to suspect My King can think an ill much worse to act it I know you 're Godlike good and have but tryed How far weak Woman could be Virtuous Clot. Pretty Simplicity thou art deceiv'd Thy Wit as well as Beauty wounds me It is thy Virtue moves me and thy Goodness Tempts me to acts of Evil Wert thou bad Or loose in thy Desires I then could stand And only gaze not â—urfeit on thy Beauty But as thou art there 's Witchcraft in thy face I must enjoy thee or not thou thy Life Enter Lewis and Brisac to the door Aph. Your are my King and may command my Life My Will to sin you cannot You may force Unhallowed deeds upon me spot my fame And when you 've done this Irrelâ—gious deed What Trophy or what Triumph will it bring More then a living scorn upon your Name The Ashes in your Urne will suffer for 't Virgins will sow their Curâ—es on your Grave Time blot your Princely Parentage and call Your very Birth in question Do not think This deed will lye conceal'd for Kings appear When great in sin Like to Prodigious Comets in the Aire At which all tongues are mute all eyes do stare Clot. I can endure no longer I 'm all fire Madam in vain Aph. Hold Royal Sir Clot. No more I am resolved and what I once resolve Is in the Book of Fate I must enjoy you And though by Force that blessing I extort Repine not at the loss of what though Princes Cannot restore they can repay for this Stolne pleasure I 'le be a Lover Friend and King Aph. Do not mistake great Sir These are too gentle names for Ravishers If you proceed and this black Crime take wing You will be neither Lover Friend nor King Lew. Hold hold my heart Can I endure Unhand me Lest I forget my self on thee Bris. Good Sir Remember 't is your Brother and the King Lew. Oh that I could forget it that I cou'd Shake off my Duty and renounce my Blood That like a Whirlwind I might rush upon him And bear him to Destruction Sir how can you Abuse such Innocence is 't not enough That you have wrong'd Clotilda Ravisht a Maid A Virgin of that Innocence of Life Might Saint her here on earth But you must add To your first Crime a second Violence The Gods must not forgive Enter Nigrello Clot. If you esteem A Monarchs friendship worth a Subjects care Express your Zeal more mannerly be a Brother And aid me in my desires Lew. Be a Man And shake a Nature off will damn you Clot. Traytor Boy Thy Fate moves in those words Draws Lew. And is it so Then King defend thy Life for I am swift As Lightning or the thought that Executes Draws Brisac Hold hold my Lord forbear Aph. Help help Enter Fredigond Clarmount Burbon and Attendants Nigr. Lewis o're acts the part that I design'd him For if he falls I 'm lost They fight and Lewis falls Aph. Oh my unhappy Lord Oh my swolne heart Queen Oh bloody King Thy hand has made those wounds For which the Vengeance of a Mothers Curse Abler in operation then Lightning Strike through thy body every Limb a Death A Husband and a Son lost in one Night Nigr. Damne her false tears she 's glad he is dead Aph. Now you have kill'd him wherefore do I live Clot. Remove that Syren from our wandring Eyes And house her in a Dungeon To Burbon Aph. A Dungeon Sir you and my Stars are kind If in that Dungeon I a Grave may find How great will Fame proclaim you if your Breath Be but propitious and pronounce my Death What different Fates can Majesty decree Your Cruelty kills him your Kindness me Exit Let out by Burbon Nigr. Great Sir I have a boon to beg Clot. What is 't Nigr. The body of the Prince I beg the ordering those Funeral Rites Which his high Birth deserves Clot. That care be thine Queen Oh thou Inhumane bloody Tyrant Clot. Mother Bestow your tears on those whom they can melt I am too hard for pitty And scorn to have my thoughts so ill employd To mourn for what my justice has destroy'd Exit Nigr. Dear Lewis The Glory I intended thee the punishment Of a base Tyrants Crimes chance has prevented But what I left Unpay'd to thee I 'le to thy Ghost make good Appease it first with Tears and then with Blood Exit with the Guards who carry off Lewis Manent onely Fredigond and Clarmount Fredig Now we begin to flourish this black Night Is only lighted by our Stars that smile Upon these actions and rejoyce to see Thee our dear Favourite so near a Crown But tell me Clarmount how did I act the Mother Clar. You wept for certain Queen Yes as an Actor in a Play would do Clarm. And I me-thinks could write you Subjects too I 'de teach you Love whose
especially When she is the occasion Great Sir say What is 't I would not do to save your Life And to divert my threatn'd Countreys danger I am all Duty when those are at stake And all Obedience King And do I command Lew. Oh my wrackt Patience Oh my blasted hopes Curse on my Plot Is this her Constancy Aside King Oh my large hopes How high me-thinks I rise How big me-thinks I grow What Empires nay What Worlds has this Commission made me Lord of Fair Creature must I then assume that part The Gods should only act inspire your will And teach you how t' obey Aph. Your humblest Slave Submits her Fate should wait upon your pleasure Lew. I am all torture King In my Name command Our Marshal and our other Officers Of State to give this Answer to the Rebels Aphelia I have made my Queen and an Affront don to her Sacred Person drew That rage from me that took my Brothers Life Yet 't was no more than what our Laws for his Offence would have required howe're I 'm sorry They 've lost a Favourite and I a Brother Bid 'em lay down their Arms and with their pardon Pronounce 'em free from all the Impositions Duties and Taxes due to th' Crown of France For three whole years Lew. Curst instrument of Hell Aside King Which Act of Grace say was their Queens request Exeunt Burbon and the other Gentleman Now to the Temple to confirm my Bliss Madam Aph. Sir I attend you King Then lead on Aph. Now in one act I 'le serve my King my Countrey and my Love Mistaken Prince I to the Temple go Not to be made thy Queen but Sacrifice Forgive me Heav'n for 't is a just disguise Which does from Love and from Allegiance spring It is my Loyalty that Cheats my King Aside Lewis undiscovers and comes in to them Lew. I can hold no longer King Lewis alive Nigr. The Queen She faints Aph. faints Lew. Still let her sleep sleep on For if she wakes she will appear too monstrous An object for frayle eyes to see keep their senses Oh that in Nature there were left an arâ— Could teach me to forget I ever loved This her great Master-piece Oh well built Frame VVhy doest thou harbour such unhallow'd Guests If that our Vows are Register'd in Heaven Why are they broke on Earth unkind Aphelia Oh I run mad King Rule your disorder'd Tongue Lewis what 's past I am content to think It was our Brother spoke and not our Subject Lew. I had forgot my self yet well remember That Gorgon has transformed me into Stone And since that time my Language has been harsh My words too heavy for my tongue too Earthly I was not Born so Sir When She was just My thoughts and language bore a fairer stamp But now she 's a Disease that turns my Blood And makes my veins run poyson that each sense Groans at the alteration King You 've done ill And must be taught so You capitulate Not with your Equal She 's your Queen Lew. My Queen Aph. My Lewis living Lew. Yes he lives to see You Perjur'd King Perjur'd By the Gods for such A Blasphemy thy forfeit life and soul But 't is our Wedding-day and you 've our Pardon Recover'd by your care To Nigr. Nigr. The wound you gave him proved not mortal but I 'm sorry that I brought him hither so Unluckily to interrupt you King No. You have done well I 'm glad of his Recovery For my murmuring Kingdoms sake and for my own I 'm glad to see him here to envy at My Bliss and see his Mrs. share my Crown Come my fair Innocence Aph. Stay Royal Sir Kneels And grant your pardon here 't is I that want it King How Madam Aph. I have wrong'd you King Wrong'd me Aph. Yes I promis'd to attend you to the Temple But my design of going thither was Not to be Clotairs Queen but Lewis's Martyr King Go on Lew. Go on Aph. But I 'm a Loyal Cous'ner I feared the Tumults that demanded mine Might in blind Rage assault your sacred Life And since no otherwise you 'd calm their fury My kind submission was but a design T' appease a Kingdom and preserve a King Which when I had perform'd their Arms laid down And all your danger gone I was resolved Before the Priest the Altar and that bright High Presence they attend on to refuse A Crown and beg a death and with that death Your Princely pardon that I durst not cancel Recor'ds in Heav'n my Love and Vows to Lewis Lew. Oh my Blest Saint King Saint Devil Woman-Devil Oh I 'm distracted I 'm thy own Aphelia Thou hast inspired me and I by thy example Can be as great a fury as thou art And to begin that Cruelty thou hast taught me Here. Calls in his Gâ—ards Seize her and convey her where the light May be as great a stranger to her Eyes As is my Passion to her Soul that Sun To the Capt. of the Guards who seizes her Which She once sees again thou seest no more Away Lew. Hold barbarous King can your wild rage Be so inhumane King Hold What man art thou That darest with impious hands seize on that Beauty To the Capt. of the Guards Forbear was ever Violence so profane To touch a thing so much Divine Capt. of the Guards Great Sir King Cut off his hold He lets her go Ha! 't is the fair Aphelia The fair Aphelia No the false Aphelia The falsest of her Sex the Cruellest That e're had Eyes to Charm and Scorn to kill Seize her again I did forget my self Her Treachery and Cruelty have banisht All that was Sacred in her She 's no Saint now All her Divinity 's expired she 's turn'd A Monster as deform'd as chang'd and black As Angels when they fell Away with her Lew. Hold your rude hands take my Life before she goes Offers to draw upon the Guards who disarm him Aph. Lewis farewell To Love and Life farewell The worst that I can suffer is but death Which if I do Know at that hour when I my Life resign My Blood 's his Sacrifice but my Heart thine Exit Guarded Lew. Stay bloody Dogs King Thou' rt a rash Fool to struggle for a Beauty Must be a Queen or nothing Twixt extreams In common things there is a Mean as Light And Darkness there 's a Dawn 'twixt Day and Night But such bright forms no middle course can have She rises to a Throne or sinks t' a Grave Exit Lew. I 'le follow him and brave the Tyrants rage Nigr. Stay for her Safety I 'le my Life engage Be calm and you 're secure Lew. You saved my Life And I 'le entrust you with defending hers Thus far I 'm blest I 've heard with how much Zeal In constancy to Me She scorn'd a King And when my Hirelings made that false Alarme How freely her demanded head she offer'd And chose the Temple for the place to publish
LOVE AND REVENGE A Tragedy Acted at the DUKE'S THEATRE Written by Elkanah Settle Servant to his MAJESTY LONDON Printed for William Cademan and are to be sold at the Sign of the Popes-head in the New-Exchange in the Strand 1675. TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS and most RENOWNED PRINCE WILLIAM DUKE OF NEWCASTLE ONE OF HIS MAJESTIES most Honourable Privy Council and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter c. May it please your Grace THat so worthless a Present to so Eminent a Person is a piece of Arrogance I am as Conscious as I am that your Grace has Goodness to Pardon it for if sins of Presumption could not be forgiven the punishment of Offences would put a restraint on Virtue and make Mercy one of the noblest Ornaments of Greatness a Stranger to it and at that rate a Patron would be as confined as a Iudge who at the same time he is a Kings Representative and presides over Iustice is a Slave to it whilst his Sentence is but the voyce of Law his Favour or Cruelty not voluntary but prescribed Your Patronage is not so bounded your Favours are unlimited and your Grace can execute a more peculiar Kingly power You can give Pardons and by your Smiles create Merit where you do not find it But above that Title of a favourer of Poetry which single Attribute were enough to make the Muses your Votaries the World is sensible of your Conspicuous Eminence in more adorable Qualities In a Duke of Newcastle Wit has found a Pillar Valour a Pattern Loyalty a Standart and England a Patriot In which rank of Heroes so placed and so adorned your Grace has the advantage over both the ancient Worthyes and those of the present Age. For when Homer or Virgil Character'd Greatness with them the Walls of Cityes were built by the Hands of Gods their Heroes descended from Deities and their Divinities personally Interested in National Quarrels whilst the almost fabulous Gallantry they painted was set off by False Lights and so their Presidents of Glory were but things of Noyse and works of Art But your Grace lives in an Age where History and Poetry are the Representations of Nature and he that describes your Worth draws your true Self and Story must render you Illustrious by Glories that are your Own And when Fame which will preserve your Memory longer then Marble can your Ashes shall speak of a Newcastle its Authority will be undisputable as its Subject is unimitable Nor can this Age should it joyn the Noblest Blood and the most forward Courage in one Person raise your Equal For Loyalty now under a Flourishing King is but like Ripe Fruits in Summer The kindness of the Season the Blessing of the warm Sun take off their Rarity and lessen their Price But you my Lord are the truest and noblest Miracle of Honour whose Arms whose Policy and whose Fortunes were Vigorously engaged and as Gloriously signaliz'd under a great but drooping Cause whose Fidelity was ripend by the Influence of a declining Sun Thus the faithful Newcastle laid a foundation for Immortality and to compleat so fair a Structure Fate conspired with his just and sacred Ambition For when Rebellion durst strike at Majesty and the Quarrel of a threatned King had made Newcastle an Assertour of his Countreys Freedom Victory waited on his Arms and added Gems to his Coronet when it deserted a Crown wherever he led in Person Conquest attended him and his Royal Cause had never sunk had Newcastle admitted of Rivals had all its Champions been as great Favourites of Fortune as He. But Providence as it had more particularly obliged your Grace with extraordinary Parts and Ornaments of Nature so it adjusted the Laurels which it gave you to the Merit of the Brow that wore them Nor did your Honours spring only from the Trophies of the Field the Harvest of War Your Glory began its Ascension before it had those steps Conquest and Triumph to mount upon His late Majesty of ever blessed Memory out of the Deserving Nobility of England singled out your Grace for the Care of a Nations Hopes the Tuition of a Prince of Wales So visible were your Sacred principles of Honour that they were thought fit to be precepts for an Heir to a Crown and by that pow'rful inspirer Education to be imprinted in the Bosom of a growing Majesty In which high Trust your Grace reacht that height which Seneca could not arrive to He though in his Learning and Integrity he resembled You met not your Success in the stubborn Nero. Providence has justly lengthen'd out your happy Life to see the prosperous Raign of a Great a Pious and Gracious Monarch in your Royal Charge Thus whilst your Matchless Gallantry has rendred your Character so great in the Records of Fame and your Worth an Object for a Kingdoms Veneration in the vast numbers of those whom the Admiration of your Virtues has made your Creatures I in presenting you an ill Play have made the meanest Offering to your Grace yet I humbly beg you would not condemn an Effect that has a Cause so powerful Every one cannot be deserving in Crowds not to have your Admirers numerous is as impossible as 't is for your Grace to bid your Fame spread thus far and no farther whilst That knows no bounds They must be Infinite which is the only justification of Your Graces Most Devoted most Humble and most Obedient Servant Elkanah Settle PROLOGUE PLays without Scâ—ne Machin or Dance to hiâ— Must make up the defect of shew with Wit As sometimes course Girle takes in homely Gown Whose Beauty though 't is little is her own Before a gaudy Fluâ—terer of the Town So 't is with Plays and though a Gaudy sight Song Dance and shew more briskly move delight And there th' advantage get o're plain drest sense Yet Wit and Object have this difference As poor raw Girls express in their Loves Arms With untaught Kindness their unpractis'd Charms Whilst a Town-Mistriss with a much more gay And lively aire does th' amourous Wanton play Yet they in this perfection get the start Their Excellence is Nature hers but Art Yet still 't is Object has a pow'r most strong Nature 't is true delights you but not long 'T is fine Plays draw an everlasting throng So with plain Girls one Night or two you 'l sleep But a gay Mistris for whole years you 'l keep Yet though you kindness lyes another way Our modest Authour humbly begs he may Crowd in this Entertainment for one Night Divert though not content your Appetite EPILOGUE Spoken by Nigrello in a Mans Habit but in a white Wig and her Face discover'd LAdies this Play our Author stole from you Here he your Anger there your Influence drew And whilst such Love and such Revenge he made He both your Honour and your Charms survey'd From you then let this Play Protection take Whilst Beauties judge the Characters they make But such a
betray'd Dum. There 's justice in our Cause Why not our Swords I 'le dye before I 'le yeild Lam. Than dye by me Yeild up your Sword or you shall fall by mine The Guards seize'em Dum. Must we be Prisoners then and Traytors too Lam. No. The first name's enough a name too haish For Souldiers Did not our King command it and the last Too horrid for Man-kind or ought but Devil The disobeying of a Kings so heinous That you deserved your death for your resistance His will is we are Prisoners but for Traytors Poysoners of Kings Know mighty Prince and You Whom Blood and Duty bids our King call Mother We 're injur'd baâ—ely wrong'd Madam from you Queen Yes 't is from Me you have receiv'd the name Of Murderers if you acquit your selves I shall be still the gracious Queen I was Till then expect Oh my much injur'd Lord What Vengeance hangs upon the blood of Kings But what more heavy burden on my heart A load that sinks me Go convey'em hence Let 'em be strictly guarded till to morrow Lam. Fetters or Death are things that we can bear Dum. 'T is not the Wrack that can our courage tame Our only Torture is a â—ullied Name The Queen well knows Queen Oh Sir command 'em hence I know too much to have so tame a sense Of my dear Lords lou'd blood Lam. But Sir Queen Away To Prison strait they kill me if they stay Who patiently can brook a Traytors sight But they who in a Traytors Crimes delight Exeunt Dumane and Lamot forced out by the Guards Enter Nigrello Clotair Madam dry up your tears Expect to hear that Justice done that 's due To a Murder'd Monarâ—hs Blood and Fathers too But to Aphelia first if kind Nigrello Be but successful in this Nights design This Night I 'le in her Arms my Passion Crown But stay My Father dyed but now his Fate calls down For thoughts of Vengeance and my tender breast Should be with dreams of piety possest With thoughts of Blood and Death of Funeral Beds Of Martyr'd Monarchs and of Traytors heads A Mothers Tears and walking Fathers Ghost Disturb'd i' th' other world for what in this was lost These should I think on but to night sleep sorrow For Love to night and for Revenge to morrow The world has much mistaken been to say That walking Spirits love the Night not Day Prisoners as well in Dungeons may delight They 're doom'd to shades and therefore pleas'd with Light It is not Ghosts but Lovers walk by Night Exit Manent onely Queen and Nigrello Queen Their Blood thou seest must for my Crimes be spilt Mine is the Innocence and theirs the Guilt But hold Nigrello say the Cloud we rais'd Should be transparent and my Arts that gave 'Em Fetters have not pow'r to work a Grave Suppose they clear themselves What though the King Has in a heat of fury built his Faith Upon my Tears and has decreed their death Yet when he comes to a more calm debate His senses may be cleared and we may find His Justice when more Tardy is less blind Nigr. Revenge that moves most slowly is most wise When it has fiercest hands has weakest eyes Queen But to dispel that fear be it your care To Poyson'em before their Tryal comes Which done I will give out and get it sworn They Poyson'd their own selves and chose that death T' avoid those fiercer torments that they knew Were to their guilt a Monarchs Murder due Do this and we are safe Perform this act And think what Debts you from your Queen contract Nigr. It shall be done and done without a pause Doubt not my Service in so great a Cause Exit Queen No Monster-Woman neither of 'em Bleeds My Vengeance aimes at more Heroick deeds My Rage shall at the Heads of Princes flye 'T is thou and thy Adulterate Race shall dye Exit Enter Lewis and Brisac Lew. Your Sister not return'd yet This late hour And her strange absense makes me all amazement Brisac My Father Sir is all Distraction for her In pious Rage one while he storms at Her Another at the Court So far i th' Night And his Aphelia â—absent he 's undone Courts are no Sanctuaries She no Vestal Then prays to Heav'n to mend the one and guard The other Lew. For her Virtue that I fear not I know whatever outward force may do Within She has no Traytor The Suns eye Views not a fairer outside nor can Heav'n Inspire a brighter Soul Brisac But Sir Nigrello Has just now sent me word that there 's a business Requires your Company and mine to Night In such a private Chamber for there 's something That 's near my Honour and your Heart in danger Lew. Then 't is no idle fear Shew me the place Ghosts keep your Beds you Centinels of Night Goblins and Specters do not walk your round A general Lethargy seize on this hour Whilst I alone the Watchman of the Night Will wake in spight of Fate Argus thy Eyes To find Aphelia and her Injuries Exeunt Enter Aphelia and Nigrello with a Light Aph. Into what Labyrinth do you lead me Sir Had you not used his Name which is to Me A strength 'gainst Terrour and himself so good Occasion cannot vary nor the night Youth nor his wilde desires otherwise A silent sorrow from my Eyes would steal And tell sad stories for me Nigr. You are too tender of your Honour Madam Leave your vain fears The Prince has no desires But what are just nor does he own that heat Which were you Snow would thaw a tear from you Aph. Is this the place appointed Nigr. Yes I 'le call him Here is a Book will bear you company Till my return Hither I send the King not that I mean To give him time to cool his burning Lust For Lewis shall present him in the fact And thus I shall indear my self to both Lewis enraged I 'm certain will conceive Such mortal hatred 'gainst his Lustful Brother For such an outrage offer'd to his Mistriss As will prepare his breast for the impressions I must make there My skill must faile me if I do not set Thy Crown upon thy Brothers head Clotair Thy Canker'd heart wants Lancing and thy Brother Shall by my Art administer that cure Which France will thank him for Thy Mother too With her Incarnate Devil Clarmount shall be The next whom my Revenge shall damne if Hell Be but as just as I for 't is their Right Hell then be kind and let 's joyn force to Night Exit Aph. Poor Ravisht Philoâ—el thy Lot was ill To meet that Violence from a Brother Enter Clotair in a Cloak Aphelia sits down and Reads Clot. She has Sworn Faith to Lewis and to woe her Into my Arms suppose 't were possible 'T is not a work of so few hours as I have To accompish it The flattery of to morrow Is a smooth Stile for a calm-blooded Lover But Seiges will not down
they I intend Shall visit you and make the business plain Lew. My Resentments Of my wrong'd Fathers death a while must pause I 'le Right a Kings but first a Mistress's Cause Nigr. Sir I 'le contrive to place you where you 'l hear What passes the next interview between 'em But keep on your disguise wear your Mask still 'T is not yet known you live which if it were Your access would be difficult besides You 'l have the greater tryal of her Faith By th' greater hate she expresses to your Murd'rer Which your disclosed Recovery would frustrate Lew. Do this and I am blest What scene of Love Could be more pleasant Be my self Spectatour Of my Loves Funeral Rites Behold the Tears Aphelia pays my Tomb What voyce more charming What nobler Monument nay what Bliss more high Than Love paid to a Lovers Memory No Constancy like what Death cannot shake What Saint would not this Paradise forsake Could he invisibly to Earth return To see a faithful Mistress at his Urne Exit Nigr. How my designs succâ—eed which that they 're just Heav'n by his preservation has confirm'd In saving of his Life to make him Agent In my Revenge The King though I know he hates him VVill be extreamly glad of his Recovery If but t' appease his murmuring peoples Anger VVho he knows are more then Mourners for his Death And for the Prince whose heart my Services To him and his Aphelia have made mine His Mistress's Injuries and Fathers Murder VVhich I have artfully made the Kings Guilt VVill raise a fire within him Too hot and fierce to smother or be stopt Till it break out in a Rebellion VVhich His Interest in the French hearts will animate VVhat could I wish for more then to engage The fury of a Kingdom in my Rage Exit Scene the Second The Scene a Dungeon Aphelia is discover'd on a Couch Enter Clotair King Now I am justly punisht for my sins That Violence I offer'd to thy Honour Thou on my Breast hast acted Ravisht thence My Freedom and my Heart All thoughts of rest And hopes of Peace are banisht from this Seat Thy Tyrant-pow'r has seiz'd Nay Crown and Life Turn Vassals at thy feet they prostrate lye Yet though their Fall is low their Object 's high Though at thy Feet they humble homage pay Up to thy Eyes they look the Heavens to which they pray And if she be not all Disdain all Marble I 'le shake her pious constancy to Lewis Make her admire my Love if not reward it Aph. The King Rises King Is this a Lodging for so fair a Guest Is this a Shrine for such a Saint Is this A Temple fit for such a bright Divinity VVho waits without there Enter Burbon Burb. Royal Sir your pleasure King How came this Lady hither Burb. By command From you King Lyar and Slave from Me Strikes him My Guards there Enter Guards Here kill that Dog but stay A death so gentle VVould be an act of Mercy not of Justice Oh impudence unpardonable I send so great a Beauty to a Dungeon Convey him hence and let him dye by tortures Wrackt limb from limb let his torn Carcass bleed And feel such pains so black a Guilt and such A Blasphemy deserves A Dungeon Burb. Hold great Sir do but remember King Good Gods The Traytor has the Impudence To speak Be gone Has not thy tongue been guilty Enough already but thou still darest breath After so damn'd a Lye A Dungeon Heav'ns Aph. Let me Sir be his Advocate Thus low kneels King Aphelia on her knees That posture Madam From such a fair Petitioner's too humble When paid to Heav'n Commanding Lady rise And be obey'd Aph. Great Sir remember 't was Your act of Grace that doom'd me to this Lodging A Lodging fit for an Inhabitant So wrapt in Sorrows and disguis'd in Tears That any nobler roofe would mock my Fortune The darkness of the place becomes her Griefs That dwells in 't King VVere you then brought here by my Command Aph. By your Command Sir and the Breath That gave that kind command pronounced a Fate So glorious that I am bound to honour My Sentencer this melancholy place Agrees both with my wishes and misfortunes You in this favour just and generous prove So dark a scene befits a mourning Love King If you affirm it Madam what you say Is Oracle 'T was I that sent you hither You came by my command into this Dungeon But durst the Slave obey that breath that sent you Away with him to th' VVrack and let his tortures Be doubled How obey me Villain Obedience To a command so barb'rous and so monstrous Deserves more than an enraged King can utter Or torments act What if you had been commanded To Whore your Sister Stab your Father Ravish Your Mother Curse your God or Kill your King Dog would you have obey'd and done all this Away with him Aph. Stay Sir remember 't was His King commanded him and had the deed He acted been a Crime as this was none This was a blessing and so great a blessing As on my Knees I would have beg'd from Heav'n Yet sure your hand can't punish what your tongue Was Authour of King I Author of why Madam 'T is therefore that I punish him I Authour I do not doubt it in the least I was the only cause I gave the Sentence I order'd you this Lodging and no wonder Had I not made attempt to Ravish you Had I not Kill'd my Brother And do ye think Less then a Mad-man could commit such outrage A Man all Rage all Lunacy all Devil But this dull sottish ignorant Slave obey'd me Obey me are the looks And deeds of Kings no better understood Be gone His ignorance forfeits his Life What could he have done more to merit death Then to think Mad-men ought to be obey'd To Tortures Aph. Hold If I have any pow'r King If you have any Pow'r Pow'r did you say I 'de quit my Kingdom and turn Anchoret Or Pilgrim if I thought that Heav'n had more Aph. You are too kind That little pow'r I have Is in my Tears let those Sir beg his Life King Is it your pleasure Madam he should live Aph. Yes for what you 're pleas'd to call a Crime I think he merits a reward not punishment King You bid him live live then and live unpunisht Thank Her But Slave next let me hear you 've ransackt A Temple raz'd a Pallace burnt a City And if this Lady pardons you you Live Your Pleasure is so absolute your Pow'r So uncontroulable what you forgive So free from punishment that your Mercy Madam Would shut up Hell and make Damnation cease Had you but half that Influence over Heav'n You have o're Me. Aph. These shining Titles Sir Believe me are too gay But since you 're pleas'd Thus to adorn me with these borrow'd glories I will persue the Character you lend me And beg a favour greater than his Life King
Her scorn of Life and Crowns in Love to Me. And for my Brothers rage I 'le not be troubled Let Love Despair and all things else conspire What though he be a King no power 's so great But what force cannot shake Art may defeat As subtle Enemies high Tow'rs assayl They undermine what is too high to scale Exeuent ACT the Fourth Scene the First Enter Nigrello Nigr. CUrse on this whining Passion Th'amourous King Minds Love so much that he forgets his Honour Aphelias Charms have so possest his thoughts That all things else lye by I have as good As call'd him Bastard and his Mother Whore Yet Clarmount wears his head All other interests Neglected lye where Soveraign Woman reigns I scorn so tardy a Revenge I 'le keep My rage awake though thine dull King can sleep Enter Fredigond Queen Mischief grows lean Nigrello all my plots Turn head upon themselves Nigr. 'T is very strange Your Bed-chamber take fire â—th'very miâ—ute Of pleasure and security For certain Some subtle Devil crosses your designs Queen Subtle No I 'le swear for him none oth'subtlest For by this light I out-wittâ—d him and all His politicks With what majestick grace Did the old reverend Goblin stalk away Whilst th' amaz'd King and his stout-hearted train Turn'd pale and lookt as ghastly at the sight As I 've seen Brutus picture look in Tapestry Staring on Cesars Ghost Was not the escape Of Clarmount in my Husbands shape most excellent Nigr. Yes Madam it was lucky But what Guard Do you design against all future dangers What next do you resolve on Queen My dull Ethiope I will instruct thy blackness Learn to know My Reputation 's sickned and my Fame Is lookt into with narrow eyes at Court Therefore it 's thus decreed I will remove And sequester my self from Company Nigr. Good Queen Thou know'st where Childrick oftentimes retired When fits of piety rest his soul Took him â—ith ' head Nigr. Madam I know the place Queen There I and Clarmount will securely meet The Cave that leads to th'Postern-gate Will give him entiance at all hours unseen Nigr. Madam your Wit 's as glorious as your Love Queen I will away to Night I cannot brook My Frantick Sons wild passion for Aphelia If as I fear he will he Marrys her He has undone my hopes on Earth for ever Therefore Nigrello let my Clarmount be Acquainted with our new designs Nigr. What else Queen If by the conduct of thy subtle brain Thou could'st remove Nigr. Aphelia or the King The Prince or all is it not so Queen Thou hast a Wit which does engender thoughts As Regal as our own when Fate blows fair Set out and prosper In a brave design I wish no better head nor hand then thine Farewell Remember Me. Exit Nigr. You shall be thought on fear it not but how Should I prevent her Lust this second time Before the third she may repent and so May save her Soul which my Revenge would damn Yet I 'le prevent her and contrive it so She shant repent nor shall Hell lose a Subject Thou and thy Tyrant Son shall meet one Fate But I 'le begin with you In Reverence To Age thou Beldam as the elder Sinner I will take care shalt be the elder Devil Enter Lewis and Lamot disguis'd Lam. Where shall we meet you Lew. Here. I 'le wait your coming Expect me here Exit Lamot Nigrellâ— are we safe Nigr. Safe Sir and private Lew. I am glad I 've found thee I 've business to impart Nigr. And so have I. Lew. Mine is of honourable consequence And does require thy aid Nigr. So does mine yours Lew. My fair Aphelia is Nigr. Your Brothers Prisoner What then His Wife she ne're shall be Lew. But say His Lust should seize her Honour or his Rage Her Life Tyrant and Ravisher are names He has been too well acquainted with already Suppose Aphelia meets Clotild as fate Nigr. Suppose you dead and me asleep whilst you Are living and I waking 't is impossible Lew. Thy Courage I adore Lead on Commander I 'le follow and obey Nigr. Then take this path And Conquer First you know he loves her Virtue Doats on her to Distraction not because She 's only Fair but Chast. Her beautious mind And her fair form within makes her his Saint His Heav'n and whate're names th'Idolatry Of Love can give her Then to take away That adoration you must first displace The Saint leave the Shriâ—e empty and remove That Virtue and that Chastity he doates on Lew. Bless me where will this end Nigr. She must be Strumpeted Lew. Death and destruction what a word was that Nigr. Hold Sir do not mistake 't is a hard word But I 've no time for Eloquence She must Appear not be that Creature His wild Frenzy Must have a desperate Cure He must be told And be by Circumstance convinced She 's Loose Dishonest and Unchast Lew. A strange foundation Nigr. But 't is a sure one Lew. But Nigrello say Where shall we lay the Scene Unchast with whom Nigr. Sir if you 'l trust my choyce let it be Clâ—rmount He is a Villain and the imputation Suppose your Jealous Brother takes his head for 't Will do but â—ustice Lew. Well Grant him the Man Nigr. You have some of Aphelias Letters by you Lew. Yes Nigr. What if you forged her hand and in her name Wrote Love from her to Clarmount And to prove it Put in some hints of a lost Maiden-head Larded with some big words such as stolne pleasures Embraces or Enjoyment or what else You shall think fit Lew. Her Lover and betray her Nigrello for thy friendship take my thanks The Treason I 'de embrace but be the Traytor Nigr. But can you yeild to see her Ravisht Murder'd Or what 's worse Married Married to your Brother That Traytor you must be or one of these Is certainly her fate Lew. Is there no way Nigr. None Sir but this and if her Safety or Your Love be worth your Care resolve Lew. I 'le do 't â—Tiwxt Love and Honour Interest ends the strife I 'le prostitute her Fame to save her Life Nigr. Now you resolve you shall not your consent Shall be enough the labour shall be mine And that the story may not seem a cheat Or a design of yours by me to serve her I will appear her Friend so little that If he designs to punish her Unchastity I 'le aggravate her Guilt and spur him on To Justice but take care he ne're shall act it I 'le raise the Thunder but divert the blow Lew. What debts must I for so much kindness owe Nigr. You too must put on the disguise of hate Seem satisfied she 's false and slight and scorn her All Rivalship between you being once ceast At news of the Rebellion set on foot He will raise Arms to check it and no doubt You being the fittest object in his Kingdom As you may manage it make you their Leader Lew.
Let me embrace thee this is a design Has shot life through me Nigr. By this means you may Convert the Tyrants Sword to his own Ruine Instead of your suppressing the Confederates Joyn his own Army to assist their Cause Lew. I am satisfied an am resolv'd to study All arts and means for my Revenge Revenge Can't be too fierce moved by so just a cause An Injur'd Mistress and a Murder'd Father Nigr. Since your mind 's bent on honourable ends I have one more will try you Lew. Name it then Nigr. Your Mother stoops to actions that abhor The Light and this Night meets if not prevented Lew. My soul finds out the Man is it not Clarmount Nigr. The same Lew. Are Pallaces such Scenes of Villany Had not the Court enough of Hell before in 't Conduct me where I may but seize this Monster That his stain'd blood Enter Burbon Lamot Dumane and Brisaâ— Nigr. Change your discourse and looks Your Friends attend you Lew. Gentlemen you 're welcome My almost Brother once I thank you To Brisack And kindly greet this brave Assembly whose Great spirits look for stirring Opposites But there your expectation will be lost For I 'le take care your danger shall be small And your resistance flender Sirs your pardon I 've business of Importance with Brisâ—â— That robs me of your company some minutes But I'lâ— repair that loss at our next meeting But take this in my stead I 'le share your Cause Lam. Our Lives and Fortunes Sir lye at your feet Exit Lewis and Brisac Burbon Are your men bold and daring resolute To run your fate indifferent Rich not Poor That only fight for Bread such oft betray The sinews of a well-knit plot for gain When these fight as well to defend as win Dum. Mine know nor fear nor death souls of that fire They 'l catch a Bullet flying scale a Wall Batt'led with Enemies stand breaches laugh at The thunder of the Canon call it Musick Fitter a Ladys Chamber than the Field When o're their heads the Element is Seeld Darkend with Darts they 'l fight under the shades And ask no other Roof to hide their heads in They fear not Jove and had the Gyants been But half so spirited they had Dethroned him Such are the Men I lead Burb. Well kind Dumane I see they want no Herauld that have got Your Friendship Dum. Sir I speak 'em as I love ' em Lam. In good old Childricks raign before his Queen Had taught him Revels and untaught him War Before her wanton Lust had sheathed his Sword To give her treacherous Poyson pow'r of death I knew that they had valour and a cause To shew it in Nor has the rust of Peace Blunted their edge they are as fierce as ever Burb. They 're Souldiers fit to Sack a Kingdom then Dum. And share the spoyle Burb. Were 't come to that sport once Lam. Burbon it must oâ— some of us must fall The Ulcerous State is ripe and we must launce iâ— Exeunt Scene the Second The Scene a Room of State Enter Aphâ—lia Aph. I am a Prisoner still But why so fair A Prison and so kiâ—d an entertâ—inment After he had pronounced so harsh a doom I cannot guess the cause unless it spring From the Conversion of my cruel King If that 's the cause as ye kind pow'rs I hope 't is Enter Nigrello Nigr. Now for my disguise This Lodging and this Entertainmeâ—t's my design Aside The King I have perswaded to this mildness As the more easie way to win her heart Then Cruelty But on the same foundation I seem to raise his hopes I 've built his ruine Aph. What read'st thou in the Book of Fate Nigrello What is Heav'ns pleasure Quick make hast and crown My hopes speak thou canst read The Language of my Stars the will of Destinyâ— For thou canst tell how looks my angry King Nigr. Madam he 's now a King indeed no more Your Tyrant witness his strange Reformation Now Madam he intends to make you happy In giving not accepting of your heart This milder usage he designs a Prologue This vanquisht passion and your alter'd 〈◊〉 The Generous the Good the Courteous 〈◊〉 Has been so much your Friend Aph. Clarâ—ount my Friend Nigr. Your Influence is so great that this kind man Has used such force spoke such convincing reason That the Converted King adores your Faith Charm'd with your constancy resolves to cherish it Aph. Can I believe my Ears Nigr. If you belief So tardy be stay till your Eyes confirm it And when your generous King gives your fair hand To Lewis call your Slave your Oracle Aph. What extasy doest thou inspire But Clarmouâ— Was he the Kings Converter his strange pow'r Both in the Kings and Peoples hearts I 've heard of But his strange kindness in my Cause is wondrous Nigr. No doubt the Prince may have engag'd him in 't But what'ere motive led him on It was a bold and brave attempt T' oppose the passion of a raging King Aph. What Recompence does so much kindness merit Nigr. No more then you can pay Send him your thanks And the Debt's cancell'd Aph. Yes by thee I 'le send 'em Tell him from me how high a sense what value Nigr. Madam my Will exceeds my Pow'r to serve you I doubt my little Eloquence so much That you 'd oblige your humble Slave to trust Your nobler thoughts to Paper Aph. Who waits there Enter Attendant Bring Pen and Paper Exit Attendant and brings in Pen Ink and paper and Aphelia sits down and writes Nigr. I have my wish A Letter does the business Aside Enter Brisac Noble Bâ—isac Bris. How fares our mourning Sister Nigr. Hist I have worâ—t her up â— to a belief Of Clarmounts Friendship and the Kings conversion And you are comeâ—th happy minute to Confirm her in 't Brif The King has sent me hither To Court my Sister for him But the Laws Of Friendship and of Nature ought to be Obey'd before thâ—unjust commands of Kings His Love is Tyranny an Invasion of What Vows Oaths the Seals of Heav'n have made His Brothers right The serving of my Friend And Sister then is a design so just That all the Cheats I use and shapes I take Are pardonâ—d for their glorious cause sake Moved by the tyes of Friendship and of Blood The means are lawful where the end 's so good Aph. Oh my dear Brother welcome Kind Nigrello Tells me my miseries draw near an end The King 's no more my Lover but my Friend Bris. If his wild Loves Conversion is so great What 's his Devotion then that makes the Proselite How great is the obliging Clarmounts Friendship Aph. How great I think it is read there and see Bris. Reads the Letter My Lord My Transports of joy have been such as your favours merited when I consider the furious Love of a Tempestuous King I cannot but reflect on the danger of your kindness in wrestling with that Love and the