it's Verity VVhich by a thousand and ten thousand words It would have took a poor diluted pleasure To have imperfectly exprest Aside Nource Heaven bless me I do not wonder Lovers oft run Maz'd That think at this strange rate 'T will crack my skull To hear it longer Madam will you not see The execution Cleant. Not for ten thousand VVorlds Nource It is at hand Cleant. Poor Urania I Can find no friends on earth to help thee now I will address my self to Heaven for thee VVho only can reprieve what Great-folks have Condemn'd to Ruine and 's the sole defence Through all the world unto weak-innocence Exeunt Cleantha and Nource There appears a Scaffold covered with black with many Spectators about it The King is present himself to see the Execution done before the Prince his arrival which was at hand Enter Urania in Black weeping led by two of the Princess's Servants in Black King Poor heart did I not fear the Prince's coming I would not see so sad a spectacle But I 'll retire a little I 'd have her live As long 's she may Urania casts her eyes on the Executioner Sheriff Retire 'till you are call'd to do your office Exit Executioner The Two Gentlemen who attend her conduct her to the Rayls of the Scaffold where having wip'd her eyes she speaks thus to the People Vran. Did any thing but my own innocence Lie now at stake which now is all I 've left To comfort me I should not dare to speak Before so many Persons But though I Must quire despair of Mercy in this world I hope I may find Charity and that Good folks will credit a poor dying Person Although she bring no witness but her vows All I am now condemn'd for is my Birth That I was meanly born which seems indeed A Punishment but not a Crime or if It were I could not help it sure for this I 'm doom'd to suffer and my poverty Must be reliev'd with death But though I can Find no forgiveness in the world I 'm glad I find it in my self I freely can Forgive who e'er have injurâ—d me if any Have done so for I cannot tell and this Is some ease to me though perchance the living Do little heed the pardons of the dead I do not know I ever hurted any But if I have I hope they will forgive me Only my Lord Endymion I did once Delude to save my life would Heaven I had not But he is merciful to others though He'th met with little for himself I do Confess I 'm marri'd to the Prince But he He sure will witness for me 't was the Effect Of his own choyce I never did presume To think it ere he told me 't should be so Since when how faithful I have been unto him VVitness O'Heaven and those powers who know The thoughts of every one and only dare To quit whom Kings condemn And though I must For this now suffer death I cannot wish It never had been so because it was The Prince his pleasure whom to contradict VVere more then death to me And yet I feel That death is bitter 'T is an enemy Looks cruelly on those who have no friends To speak a little comfort to them 'T is hard To undergo the greatest Task alone But 't is my Fate and Heaven must be obey'd VVhose ways although they seem obscure to men Are known unto it self whole eyes increase VVith it's own dark ness still And 't were not hard Now men have jud'd me thus unfit to live VVould Heaven assure me I am fit to die 'T is a long Hazard that folks run in death And a short warning rather doth disturb Then fit those for it whose poor judgments ne'er Judge well but when they doubt themselves Wer 't not For this I could be well content though young To find that Quiet in a Grave I 've mist Among the living and close up those eyes That have of late beheld so little pleasure And that must see the brave Theander blam'd For his unworthy choyce his judgment question'd VVhich were a living death not to be bought VVith all this world can give But I too long Detain you with complaints whose business is To see me die Live happy brave Theander May all thy sorrows die with thy Vrania And all those joys live with thee which she took In thy contents May'st thou be Happy in A princess Great as thy own Merits Bright As thy own eyes and Vertuous as Are all thy Thoughts and may she honour thee As truly as thy poor Vrania did Enter Executioner She weeps Execut. Are you ready Madam Uran. VVho is this Sir Gent. Madam Vran. VVho is it Sir Gent. Madam It is your destiny Uran. Is this he Sir can you instruct me what I am to do I never yet saw any body die Gent. You must kneel down Vran. How will he strike Gent. VVith all the mercy that he can Execut. Madam when You 've ended all you have to say be pleas'd To kneel Your face that way And give some sign When I shall strike Vran. Pray Sirs be near me VVhen I do fall I cannot tell what postures Death may allow of Gent. You have our promise Madam Vran. And when I 'm dead pray Sirs pray Sirs permit None but my Mother fit me for my Grave She will be careful of me she will pay Holy Devotions for me and bedew With pious tears that Face she still hath lov'd And may blest Heaven give comfort in her sorrows And all those Stars which have been hard to me Be merciful to her May my Misfortune VVork on her only a more true content In the low Sphere she so securely moves in Blest Heaven assist me Sirs farewell Present My humble Service to my noble Princess With thanks for all her favours in my Life And charity in death The gods reward Your mercy Gentlemen Blest Heaven assist me She kneels and the Executioner bares her neck Uran. Pray expect the sign Execut. I shall Enter in haste Parthenia Urania's Mother Parth. Stay stay the fatal blow The King hearing the noyse comes forth King VVhat 's this Parth. A miserable Mother come to save Her only Childe King Executioner do your office Quick Parth. Great King Dread Soveraign hear Hear a distressed Mother Hear for their sakes That at your death must hear you King What will you say Parth. My Childe is innocent King Do your office Executioner Parth. O! stay stay Great King Vrania is A Princess born Her father was a King King What say you Parth. Vrania's father was a King Great but unfortunate The King of Thrace King It is not possible The King of Thrace And what are you Parth. Great King I 'm now your Subject My name Parthenia and my habitation A little Cottage But I once was known By th' name of Cleopatra great in Brith But greater in misfortune and was wife To Pyrocles the Vertuous Prince of Thrace Of whom all that remains besides
THE Revvards of Vertue A COMEDIE By J. F. Gent. LONDON Printed by Ja. Cottrel for Hen. Fletcher at the three Gilt Cups in St. Pauls Church-yard 1661. The Persons BASILIUS the King THEANDER the Prince The PRIST PYRRHUS a Lord of the Court the Kings confident NEANDER a vain Lord of high birth ENDYMION a Lord of a small fortune GERON an old jealous Knight husband to PHRONESIA The QUEEN CLEANTHA a young Princess Neece to the QUEEN URANIA a young Shepherdess waiting on CLEANTHA EVADNE daughter to the PRIEST newly come to the Court. PHRONESIA an ordinary Court-Madam belonging to the QUEEN PARTHENIA Mother to URANIA The Scoene Arcadia Actus 1. Scoena 1. Enter Pyrrhus Neander and Endymion Pyrrh BElieve 't my Lords they say the Prince doth wonders Neand. They say he kils a world of men indeed But 'faith I think the wonder'd greater been Had he made but half so many live Pyrrh Perchance my Lord you 'd have him turn Physitian Nean. Rather then Butcher 't is the nobler Trade Pyrrh Why but they are his enemies he kills Men that offend and do deserve to die Neand. Oh! then I think you 'll praise the Hang-man next You give a definition of his Trade Pyrrh If I do not mistake your humour Sir You never were much taken with this dying It is a thing I do confess doth mar A Courtier much Neand. Why faith my Lord 't is true Let broken Merchants and the busie rout Who durt the Streets when their designs miscarry Cry that there 's nothing certain in this world I think there 's less in that which is to come Here I am sure of something I 'm a Lord And live with Men. But to be turn'd a grazing In the Elysian-Fields that men do talk of Among Philosophers ne'er could make a leg Who purblind grew with viewing of those Stars Ne'er made them worth a groat and took strange pains In measuring Sea and Land when they 'd more need To have a Taylor come and measure them In troth my Lord here 's blessed Companie Who would not change this world for such a life Endym. Fie fie Neander This is too prophane And rellisheth far more of beast then man Neand. My Lord I ask you pardon I 'd forgot You are a Vertiosi 'T is my Lord Pyrrhus That makes me wander from my argument By putting me in mind o' th' world to come A Theam indeed on which few men speak sence But to the matter first propos'd My Lord The thing I only stuck at was that you So wise a man should give so mighty Names To killing Men. Why celebrate the Plague What General ever did destroy like that Or study glorious Titles for old-age That kills all those whom nothing else can kill Great Warriors are but the journey-men Of fatal Atropos whose swords she useth To cut mens lives off but to save her sheers Which else had sure been edgeless long ago With too much work and we for ought I see By this time might have all immortal been Having by long dying worn out Death it self Endymion smiles Pyrrh My Lord 'faith he that dares dispute with you Must be a cunning Sophister I see Must be content to give you victory Without receiving truth in exchange for 't Neand. The truth is my Lords in short you have all the wit though I have all the talk Fare you well I believe I shall not much mar your discourse by my absence nor will you much mend my manners by your presence adieu Exit Neand. Pyrrh 'T is a mad Lord as e'er was born 't were pretty If possible to sit within his skull And take a Prospect of his giddy thoughts Which do like Centaurs seem half Man half Beast Endym. He 's too prophane and chuseth to buy wit At the expence of Friends Religion And all but Ladies smiles which he more values Then honest Men do the kinde looks of Heaven Pyrrh And nothing hates like Reputation won By Arms. He hates all Deities for Mars his sake And swears that Generals onely famous grow By valiant Friends or cowardly Enemies Or what is worse by some mean piece of chance Endym. The truth's my Lord 't is pretty to observe How little Princes and great Generals Contribute oft-times to the fame they win How often hath't been found that noblest mindes With too short arms have fought with fatal Stars And have endeavoured with their dearest blood To mollifie those Diamonds where dwell The fate of Kingdoms and at last have fallen By vulgar hands unable now to do More for their cause then dy and have been lost Among the sacrifies of their own swords No more remembred then poor Villagers Whose ashes sleep beneath the common flowers That every meadow wears whilst other men With trembling hands have caught a victory And on pale fore-heads worn triumphant bayes Pyrrh Believe 't 't is true Endym. Besides my Lord I 've thought A thousand times in times of War when we Lift up our hands to Heaven for victory Suppose some Virgin Shepherdess whose soul 'S as chast and clean as the cold spring where she Quench's all her thirsts being told of enemies That seek to fright the long-enjoyed Peace Of our Arcadia hence with sound of Drums And with Horse Trumpets Warlike Ayrs to drown The harmless Musick of her Oaten Reedes Should in the passion of her troubled spright Repair to some small Fane such as the Gods Hear poor folks from and there on humble knees Lift up her trembling hands to holy Pan And beg his helps it 's possible to think That Heaven which counts the purest vows most rich May not permit her still to weep in vain But grant her wish for would the Gods ne'er hear The pray'rs of poor folks they 'd ne'er bid them pray And so in the next Action happeneth out The Gods still using means the enemy May be defeated The glory of all this Is attributed to the General And none but he 's spoke loud of for the Act Whilst she from whose so unaffected tears His Lawrel sprung for ever dwells unknown Pyrrh Your Lordship doth not doubt the Prince his merit Endym. By no means Sir I know the Prince a man Who owns a soul of that vast magnitude That flesh did never circumscribe a greater And merits so much from the vertuous world By 's rare example that the world it self VVere but too mean a present to require him All that I say is what I 've thought upon Some hours of sweet retirement when I 've sat And view'd the fleeting state of poor man-kind A thing too giddy to be understood Pyrrh Indeed the Prince doth more then give us hopes Arcadia shall command those Provinces VVho lately thought our long and happy Peace Had soft'ned so our mindes that now we were Fit to be lorded over by their wills But strange it is to see the King so little Joy'd with the news that still he wears a face More troubled then Cicilian Seas in storms And
can do it shall be the sweetest part of my revenge That I will live and tread and spit upon their Graves But who comes here Geron A Rogue for my purpose it may be Here is a fellow now that will be glad to be hang'd on any terms in the world that hath been more plagu'd with one Wife then I have been with all my Mistresses Geron How is it Geron. How is what my Lord But let it be what it Will I don't care three pence how it be Neand. How Geron why so sullen I mean how is it with you Sir Ger. With me my Lord why just as folks say it is with the Devil I goe up and downe and carry my Hell with me Nean. What say you to a bottle of wine in my chamber Geron to quench it Ger. As much to that as to any thing else Nean. Come along then Ex. Nean. Geron. Enter Endymion with his hands bound attended by a Guard of Souldiers Endym. VVhy may I not see the Princess For whom I 'm banished before I go Offic. No no along 1. Sould. Pray Sir walk a little faster 2. Sould. Prethee let the Gentleman alone Soft and fair goeth farre and the Gentleman considers he hath farre to goe Endym. casts his eyes towards Cleantha 's apartment Endym. Farewell then brave Cleantha maist thou never Once think Endymion suffers for thy sake And farewell dear Vrania I will love thee On those hard Rocks I now must dwell upon Off. VVhat 's this muttering along 2. Soul Good Gentleman he 's loath to leave the Princess I 'll warrant him 1. Here she comes Enter Cleantha two Ladies following her Clean. Unmoved As if he went to meet those Triumphs which His worth alone deserves Endym. The Princess Great Princess pardon He takes off his hat with his two hands as they are bound and kneels to her My glorious sufferings Forgive me that I ever saw the light or liv'd a minute That you are injur'd thus by him whose being 'S not worth your meanest thought Clean. Ah my Endymion She le ts fall some tears Affront not poor Cleantha Endymion stoops down to kiss the bottom of her garment which she perceiving gives him her hand which he kisseth Clean. Rise brave Endymion 't is my misfortune Thou art too low already He riseth Endym. Fortune made Me low to be advanced by a hand More worthy then her own Clean. My noble Lord I have undone thee What can I give thee now In recompence of Liberty and all The pleasures of this life which thou must lose In a sad banishment for her who onely Can be afflicted at thy sufferings Endym. Madam you have enough to give to pay So mean a debt if you will call it one A thousand times Clean. Name it and take it deare Endymion though it be my life Endym. Madam Then grant me this request use every Art To make your hours as blest as I shall pray They may be many And never let a thought E'er represent to your remembrance more Unfortunate Endymion Then shall I see Among the Desolations of my Fortune This cheerfull Green The brave Cleantha's happy She wears a Crown and lives adore'd what then Though poor Endymion suffer banishment Though he Officers Sir this is what was forbidden us to permit you You must away Sir Takes him by the arm Cleanth Impudent Villain dar'st thou interrupt A person I am talking with Offic. Yes Madam VVhen I have the Kings commands to do so Endym. Madam These persons do their duty they are the hands Of Fate that pull me from you Sacred Princess All that is bliss attend you He kneels to kiss her hand She stoops and kisseth him Cleant. My Lord farewel Know that Cleantha loves thee and will never She gives him a Ring Be happy 'till Endymion make her so Endym. I cannot doubt but Heaven will prosper what 'S so like it self Blest Princess take my Prayers Heaven thinks not fit t' intrust me with ought else Exit Cleant. with her attendants Endym. sol Thus Fate directs me what I now must do To serve my Shepherdess and Princess too Endymion Falls but to the first he dies A Lover to the last a Sacrifice Exit Endym. and his guard Enter Evadne and to her Neander at which she seems troubled and willing to haste from him Neand. My dear and why so fast What hast thou wounded Thy poor Neander and now fly'st him Your servant Fairest Evadne Why this haste Evad. My Lord you will Oblige me much if you permit it and Be pleas'd to think there is a reason for it And ask it not Neand. Must then Neander die And never know his crime Cruel Evadne Give me that ease in death to let me know How I 've deserv'd it Speak my dear Evadne Tell me the reason Evad. My Lord I 'm but a childe And all my reason is obedience Neand. Obedience to that Priest Evad. Sir he 's my Father Neand. Who more esteems a heavie-headed fool Who 's but afraid to swear thinks most old women Are Witches and that dead-folks walk although Not worth a groat then him who owns at once A generous Fortune with a generous Soul Evad. Sir he 's my Father and who injures him Ne'er pleaseth me His part is to command Mine is obedience Neand. Nay Evadne pray Hear this before you go 't will be the fruit Of your obedience think ne'er of marying till You see three caps a narrow band a mouth Mishap'd By my Truly and the Cough Exit Evadne Neand. I perceive you 'll hear no more of your servant Madam adieu What simpleton in all Arcadia but this Priest would not have married his daughter to my estate had I been the veryest coxcomb in Greece Why so he might but have said his daughter My Lady such a one and talked of her Gentleman-ushers her Pages and her women who would ever have stood upon it whether her husband had been a Philosopher or as they call it an honest man Poor Evadne Thy Mother died too soon for thee she good woman I 'll warrant her would have made a hard shift to have sate at the upper end of my Lord Neanders Table to have had occasion to make up a fine mouth and said My service to you Son Neander before all the company and then to have said to Evadne Daughter you don't help my Lord. She good woman would have thought of these things and he shall go to her to learn more wit shortly Evadne I am mad but it cann't be Mad as I am but I will marry thee Exit Neand. Enter Cleantha and her Nource Cleant. Nource where 's Endymion now Nource He 's where he wants good company I believe poor Lord. Cleant. Nource say not so because his steadfast minde Still leaves him with himself and thus he'th still The best of company My dear Endymion Nource Come come Madam your Highness must study to forget him now and think of some other body Cleanth Forget him foolish-woman I
embrace Or is my destiny Grown paradoxicall and proves my Love To be true hatred Or doth Heaven revenge Other folk Pride and my Humility Oh Death Death Death thou art not half so cruel In thy destructions of the prosperous As in not killing wretches that would die She weeps 'T is thou canst make Cleantha happy and Preserve Endymion so 'T is onely thy Long night and thy dark bed that can give rest And sleep to sad Cleantha Enter Endymion Endym. Vrania Hath not done well to treat me thus Alas Could I divine the Kings command or durst I not obey him or refuse employment In which was Honour and Obedience too Unto my Prince and Service to my Countrey I took no leave of her but I have told her The reasons why my Love forbad it me Surely Urania's cruel She ought not sure To be thus angry and accuse me of Slighting a poor deluded Shepherdess When I have vow'd so oft to her my love Clean. Here comes my poor Endymion Endym. The Princess She is still gracious to me and I were Best to intreat her to perswade my now Provok'd Urania But she 's alone She steps aside a little Clean. Good morrow my Lord. Endym. Your pardon Madam if unthought of I Have rusht on your Retirement Cleanth Your presence Sir Will better it Pray what 's the news from Argos Endym. Madam the report was last night brought to Court Had nothing in 't of truth I found all quiet But onely for th' disturbance that we made Our selves by our arrival in the night Clean. I 'm glad my Lord your danger was no more Endym. You do oblige me Madam to undergo Much greater danger for your Highness then This could have prov'd Clean. My Lord you have already Purchas'd the name of my preserver with Your blood Endym. 'T was at too cheap a rate Clean. Indeed You ne'er can be in greater danger Endym. Madam The cause I fought for made the danger nothing They might have kill'd me but I could not die Clean. Your Nature 's to oblige my Lord. I shall Be happy when I find it in my power To let your Lordship know the great respect I have for that great Vertue which you own Endym. Madam 't hath been your Highness pleasure still To honour with too great respect the little Merits of your mean servant who 's advanc'd When numbred in the lowest rank of those That have been fortunate to do you service Clean. You adde still to my debts my Lord yet are No wise injurious since you make me rich In having such a noble Creditor But pray my Lord tell me as one concern'd Mach in your Fortunes who have so oblig'd me If it be fit for me to know and you Conceive that by my wishes or endeavours I any wise may stead you what 's the cause Your Lordship hath not worn of late that rest Upon your looks which heretofore appear'd A happy witness to the world you were A world unto your self still and with wise Content blest all your fortunes Endym. Ah! great Princess It is for you to wear that Rest who are Plac'd in that upper Region where there is No wind But for a little Bark i' th' midst Of a great Sea subject to every wave And all the winds she never must pretend To this blest state And for my troubles Midam Alas their objects will appear so small To your great Eye you 'd think I did affront you Should I dare say them to you Should the Lion in His midnight walks for prey hear some poor worms Complain for want of little drops of dew What pity could that generous creature have who never wanted small things for those poor Ambitions yet these are their concernments And but for want of these they pine and die There must be some proportion still to pity Between our selves and what we moan 't is hard For men to be ought sensible how Moats Press Flies to death Your Highness oft in jest Hath play'd away more then some poor men have Wrought all their life for Cleanth My Lord I cannot tell Whether possibly what is your trouble may Not be augmented by my knowing it Else shall I never think ought small that can So much affect you nor beneath my care To seek to remedy that gives you pain Endym. Great Princess you undo me with your Honours My blood turns all to blushes as a sham'd It had not all been shed for your sake when I had the honour to pour forth a little A sacrifice to your great merits Madam I must obey your Highnesses Command And thank you for it too since in your knowledge Of what afflicts me is my remedy Cleanth What will he tell me Heaven he knows I love him Aside Endym. Madam I long have lov'd Clean. Whom Sir Endym. The faire Urania who attends your Highness Clean. Forgive Aside Forgive me poor Endymion Endym. And have us'd A thousand arts to get her love and had Won her consent last night to be my wife Not doubting Madam but your Highness would Have favoured me in this adventure but My sudden being sent to Argos did Unhappily absolve this promise and I am accus'd by her for slighting of An innocent Shepherdess who was too forward In trusting me and in believing that I e'er would match to one of her mean fortune Clean. Indeed my Lord I never could have guess'd Your melancholy had so mean a cause I could not think you would so far dishonour Your Family and Name as to have courted So low a person Endym. Madam I well do know Urania was a Shepherdess and born In some low Cottage ' mongst those little folks Whom Honour seldome visits and are blest With nothing but their own content but she Like to a Star mistaken of his sphere Grew so conspucious ' mongst those dimmer lights That brave Theander had no sooner spy'd her But he became all wonder and would needs Dismiss all but my self to talk with her I do remember yet when first the Prince Ask'd her some little questions how poor soul She blusht and look'd upon her Lambs as if She 'd have them take her part Her answers were So innocent as if she 'd been begot By Prayer upon some Vestal This sweet carriage From this sweet person caus'd the Prince almost For one whole Summer ever when he hunted About those parts to spend his pleasant'st hours With this fair Shepherdess untill at last He had perswaded her for she was loath To leave what she well knew for what she knew not To leave her little flock and go with him At what time he esteem'd her fit to be A Pâ—esent for your Highness an Advancement Few Families can boast of since when I know not VVhether through your reflections on her Madam VVho was celestiall though obscure before She did become a Star or whether she Became a greater Imitator of Your Highnesses perfections then all others She hath so added unto Nature Art That she 's grown
noble natures a more pleasing taske To give rewards to Vertue then punishments To wicked folks I 'll in the first place shew How lovely justice looks when we are good And only sin makes her seem terrible Urania approach us Gentlem. Ah great King Vrania's place I doubt will nearer be The Bar then Throne King What mean'st thou Gent. See O see Those cheeks that lately beauty wore now pale With guilt Urania weeps King Her crime Gent. She'th lately had a childe King How know you this Gent. By a strange piece of chance For being sent in haste by my Lord Pyrrhus To bring herto you Majesty by chance I learnt of one o' th' servants of the Princess Near to what place he thought she was and when I made enquiry there at a small house I was acquinted at the woman told me She thought her I enquir'd for was i' th' house And asking of me many circumstances She told me surely it must be the same Only she did in private add she took her Not for a Virgin And as we thus discours'd Urania chanc'd to pass before the door A Virgin said I It may be she is married What hath she had a childe she told me Yes Though much in private but 't was very much Before her time and she affirms she 's married As did her mother who this morning left her At this I went in where I saw her enter And after some examinations she Confest she 'd had a childe but said withall She had a husband too and one who would Dare own her for his wife but would not tell me His name or dwelling and was very loath To move a foot with me but meerly by Constraint as ' t were King And is this truth Urania Lord. Speak to the King Urania It 's true King And who 's your Husband 2. Lord. Be not asham'd to name your Husband Madam 'T will be your shame if you name none Urania I 'm not Asham'd to name him but affraid King What is it Speak Vrania I dare not disobey and by my Lord I am authorized to name him when My Honour shall be question'd who 's more tender Of that then of his own Lord. Name him Urania It is The great Theander Queen The Prince King What are you marri'd Unto the Prince Theander Kneels Urania O pardon me great King That I refus'd not to be taken from A Cottage to the bosom of a Prince On such conditions as we dar'd to call The Gods to witness King Whether she be his wife Or only dare's affirm it though she were More to me then my hands or eyes she should Die ere I sleep The Prince in some few houres Will be in Town If what she says be false This news shall be his welcone But if true 'T is fit his coming be too late to save her Vran. Ah great Prince Pity the distress'd who hath No friend to plead her cause All I affirm Is truth Theander is my witness See Takes a letter out of her bosom That noble name This I receiv'd from him Not three days since King reads it and gives it the Queen King 'T is so But know Urania My Crown will prove too heavie for your off-spring Nor may I mingle blood with those small folks Who dwell in Cottages Heaven it seems Would not permit so foul a stain upon My Family but hath condemn'd to death What men in justice could not that poor infant VVhose only guilt was that it must be born No know Unania 't is enough you have been VVife to a Prince some months you 've liv'd enough In that small time Now 't will behove you to Prepare for death this day within three houres You are to loose your head ' cause 't is not fit To wear a Crown Marshal take her hence Let all things be prepar'd I 'll see her dead By two this afternoon Vran. Is there no mercy then Heaven help the friendless Such must never cry To men for help whose crime is poverty Exeunt Marshal and Vrania King My Lords had not this accident befallen me I 'd been too blest VVise Heaven doth see 't as fit In all our joys to give us some allays As in our sorrow comforts when our Sails Are fill'd with happiest winds then we most need Some heaviness to ballast us These are The ways of Heaven and we who are but earth Must all submit I am afflicted for The poor Vrania But the Gods have sure In death rewards for those who sometimes fall Nor for their crimes but through a kind of sad Necessity I 'm to proceed now to A far more willing task the sentencing Of those most wicked persons at the Bar. Neander I condemn to loose his head Tomorrow morning which I will have plac'd Over his Lodgings to shew those heads who dare Contrive their Princes harm do only meet VVith such advancement Geron I adjudge To die in Chayns that bunger may devour That little body malice yet hath left him A proper Lent for such a sinner And ' Cause what Phronesia did she did not know She ly'd but did not know the consequence Her I condemn only to banishment And thus I hope to expiate the thoughts I 've had of my chaste Queen and holy Priest Through those mens wickedness and teach the world That such who dare be traytors to their King Do on themselves the certain'st ruine bring Omnes Heaven bless the King and may our eyes still see Such Justice done on all that traytors be Exeunt Omnes Enter Cleantha and her Nource Cleantha Alas Vrania Now thou hast unriddl'd How thou couldst understand and yet accept not Endymions Love Poor Heart I pity thee Endymion now will be more banish'd when He hears Vraaia's dead Ah Urania VVould thou hadst a crime to die for that My just Endymion might less bewail thee VVhere can he now relieve himself If Vertue Be not security who can be safe Nource VVhy Madam here was now a marriage made According to your Highness principles Purely for Love without consideration Of Portion or equality or friends And here you see the end on 't Cleanth Silly woman Talk not so Idly Had they understood The force of Love who thus condemn'd Urania They ne'er had done it And shall we disesteem Religion ' cause folks often suffer for 't And think it is not true because 't hath Martyrs Wert thou not old thou mightst be brought to know There is a Gust in death when 't is for love That 's more then all that 's taste in all the world For the true measure of true love is death And what falls short of this was never love And therefore when those Tides do meet and strive And both swell high but love is highest still This is the truest satisfaction of The perfectst love For here it sees it self Indure the highest Test and then it feels The sum of delectation since it now Attains its perfect end and shews its object By one intense Act all
your Vrania I shall be thankful for the honour you Too early do vouchsafe me Theand. I must obey What Heaven knows when I shall understand Salutes Cleopatra This is an earlier tribute then I thought Embraceth Urania who cries on him To pay yourlips My dear Urania why Dost thou conspire to my distraction Why This Black And why these tears King Heaven bless you both And may your Loves encrease still with your days May you be fresh as spring as Autumn fruitful And know no Winter of adversity And Heaven that hath done wonders in your Loves May it do wonders in th' effects of it They both bow to the King and then step a little aside and talk together Enter Priest Priest A day full of wonders King Aday All miracle How merciful is Heaven To those it loves Who would be ever Bad When Vertuous folks are thus rewarded in The midst of their distress The Prince returns to the company again Theand. Cozen Salutes the Princess Your pardon Happy is this meeting I am oblig'd for all the joy I see Bows to the company Start out of sorrow now at my return Cleant. Heaven give you joy of your Urania Theand. You have oblig'd me Madam that you have Dealt still so gently with your servant Cleant. She ne'er Had been esteemed so had you esteem'd Me worthy of your Councel Sir but now I shall indeavour to repay her all Those services I have receiv'd from her Theand. She 's still your servant Cozen. Cleant. Aside How can there be such mirth when brave Lives sadly in an unjust banishment Endymion Theand. I long to ease my wonder and to know The story of great Cleopatra how She'th been so long obscur'd to all the world But to her self King We 'll find a scene for that Less like the face of sorrow 'T is enough Urania is a Princess and had Fortune In ought but in her blindness been like justice Had worn the Crown of Thrace Only my Daughter My dear Urania ask me on this place I so have injur'd thee what I shall do To expiate my ignorance of thy worth Ask what thou wilt I shall not find a tongue To give thee a denyal Vran. Great Prince I do not Want a request had I but merit to Deserve it first then confidence to ask it King Ask it or you chuse the perfect'st way To disoblige me What is it Uran. It is Endymions Liberty 'T was by his goodness I liv'd to see this day whose only Cloud Is his confinement Pardon the boldness Sir You 're pleas'd to give me and the gratitude I hope the Gods will never take from me King You have my word do with it what you please Endymion shall have his liberty I shall give order for it Theand. Your pardon Sir If your commands already are obey'd Endymion is return'd I met him ere He was imbarq'd and having been inform'd From my Urania all his cares for her I stay'd him hoping from your goodness to Obtain his pardon For the love Cleantha So truly bears him I have no more to say Against it then against my own I bare To my Urania when I thought her less And since the Gods have made her great for me 'T will be but gratitude in me to do Some of their business for them and reward So brave a Vertue as Endymion owns And make him great for his Cleantha too Especially since by their goodness I Have power to do it The war in Thessaly Hath found a happy end And there I 've left Those hands which made that Scepter stoop who now Want but a scoene to do new wonders in And this may prove rebellious Thrace if you Dread Sir approve it fit I wear that Crown Vrania gives me In this expedition And in this conquest too the brave Endymion Shall be my second What shall I not expect from Such Vertue and such Valour when they meet King I have of late receiv'd such mercies that I cannot think of any thing which looks Like cruelty And in my condemnations Heaven hath done miracles to keep me from Horrid injustice Therefore wonder not All that you ask is so soon granted you Cleantha take then thy Endymion be More blest in him then greatness e'er could make thee Cleantha bows Queen And now you 're doing works of mercy Sir Hear one intreaty more not for their sakes For whom I ask but for this days sake which Hath been a day of mercy to us all Let not Neander nor old Geron die A banishment for life will more prepare Them for their deaths and thus your mercy shall Best fit them for the mercy of the Gods King What you propose hath much of piety And mercy too the works of this day and Mayn't be deni'd And now I 've one request To you my honour'd Priest because I 'd give Joy to all honest hearts this day your leave That Pyrrhus my best confident may serve The fair Evadne Priest Great Prince I am oblig'd My poor Evadne is so much your care It shall be mine she still shall think that best Your majesty is pleas'd to chuse for her Enter Endymion Theand. Endymion Why so slowly to thy joys Reap here the fruits of gratitude and mercy And see those Stars again thou dost adore Takes him by the hand and leads him to Cleantha who kneels down and kisseth her hand Cleant. VVelcome my Lord. Queen My Lord you 're welcome from your banishment King You 've only now this Ladies leave to ask For any thing you 'd have Endym. I 'm happy in Your royal mercy Sir and hope in time To be so too in hers King You need not fear Your sentence when Cleantha is your judge But let us all away and satisfie Our selves with what we 've so long travell'd with And let the world learn from this story though Heaven may a while correct the Vertuous Yet will it wipe their eyes again and make Their Faces whiter with their tears Innocence Conceal'd is the stolen-pleasure of the Gods VVhich never ends in shame as that of men Doth oft-times do but like the Sun breaks forth VVhen it hath gratifi'd another world And to our unexpecting eyes appears More Glorious through it's late obscurity Priest Unvertuous folks a while may find some Rest But in the end the good are only blest Exeunt Omn. FINIS