my self is due As Fortune favours so shall I advance The Interest of Naples or of France Enter Prince of Sallerne But ha the fierce young Prince of Sallerne here How dares he thus among the Guards appear Sal. Trivultio seek not to retrieve the Guard Shew several men Armed I will from no Accesses be debar'd Nay my unbounded Power to let you see The King shall have no other Guards but me 'T is to my interest ye high honours doe Those who make Idols must preserve 'um too Tri. I know your Interest Sir and wish your Power Were something less or Loyalty were more Sal. My Loyalty Go talk of that to dull obedient Fools Whom Laws and â—ame pedantick virtue rules My Honour 's safe in that my Cause is good And I am Loyal to my Fathers bloud And shall be bold in such a glorious Cause To tread on Kings and Loyalty and Laws By Natures high commands my Sword I draw And Natures dictates are the highest Law Tri. No doubt to Natures universal Sway Ironice All Laws must bow and Kingdoms must obey But Sir Imperious Nature might have chose A fitter time for her Commands then those When King and Kingdom are embroyl'd in war That for the Crime of one all punisht are If 't is a Crime for Monarchs to defend Their Crowns from every Sacrilegious hand But Power it seems can Change the names of things Treason Virtue and make Rebels Kings But grant your Fathers bloud unjustly spilt Must Naples suffer for their Monarchs guilt Sal. Sir I 'le Revenge my Fathers bloud on all That saw and dares survive his Funerall On all that to his Execution came And did not set all Naples in a flame Blaspheme the Heavens and in transports of Rage ' Gainst Kings and Gods in some high act engage Tri. No doubt 't was pity when he lost his Head But all mankind had suffer'd in his stead Ironcie But I must wait a more important care Sal. Stay Sir and to the King this Message bear Tell him that now his Father I 've chastis'd My high Revenges are in part suffic'd That when h'ath wipt his Eyes which for a while Must drop some tears for the old Kings Exile I am content my Passion to subdue And if he please our Friendship to renew And that th' Alliance may eternal prove I 've thought his Sister worthy of my Love And shall descend t' accept her as my Bride If I 'me petition'd for 't on every side But if my Alliance he dares disesteem Tell him I both his Sister scorn and him To wear his Crown were to descend too low Him and that trifle I 'le on Charles bestow Ex. Tri. To what prodigious heights his Spirit flyes The Fates and Crowns of Monarchs to despise These are Portentous Signs and I 'me afraid The Crown will fall from our young Monarchs head And with its heavy fall 't will ruine those Who fondly in its support their lives expose Too long I 've born the weight for no Reward Now time calls loud my Fortunes to regard And leave this barren place Which for this twenty years with bloud I 've sown And nothing reapt but beggerly Renown Exit Enter Charles Lewis of Orleance Mompensier Guards The Scene a fair Country before the Walls of Naples Ch. The day draws on the Sun appears in view And we to day have much brave work to do Send in my name a Herauld to the Town Tell King Alphonso I demand the Crown That Crown his Ancestours usurpt from mine And he the third Usurper of his Line Detains if he refuse bid him prepare For all the worst Calamities of War Lew. They dare not Sir oppose your mighty Claim The World 's subdu'd already with your Fame The Italian States like Herds to Covert flye Whilst you are like a whirlwind passing by Yes Rome her self declines her sacred head And by obsequious fawning shews her dread But this lost Kingdom upon whom the Ball Folded in Clouds of Fire designs to fall Shakes with the fears of its approching doom Whilst smoking a far off they see it come Mom. Yes Sir your Power like an impetuous tide Breaks down their yielding banks on every side That raving with despair they wildly run I' th midst of all those dangers they would shun Our spies within have all disorders sound The King is banisht and his Son is Crown'd Hurried into the Throne by crowds of those Whom now instead of guarding they oppose Within their City 's of a blazing Fire Without their Army ready to Retire Nor Town nor Army will their King obey That you will meet no Enemy to day Ch. Yes Sir the Rebels are my Enemies And every Kings concern as well as his Rebellion is a Monster would devour The Kingly dignity and Sovereign power A sort of Atheism that doth Crowns blaspheme And stiles the Sacred Power of Kings a dream And as blasphemers call the Heavenly powers To arm their Thunder this awakens ours Go to the King then e're it proves too late To Momp And if you find the Rebels desperate The party strong and the young King afraid He cannot conquer 'um I 'le lend him aid When that is done tell him the Crown 's my right And I expect that he resign or fight Mom. Great Sir I shall obey Cha. Next to the Town Proclaim that I all Rebels shall disown For though 't is true I am their lawful Prince To whom they all allegiance owe yet since Titles of Kings are Mysteries too high Above the reach of ev'ry vulgar eye They must the present shrines of power adore And pry into their duty and no more For those with new Religions will be bold Who dare with high contempt profane the old And he who doth his own false God despise And with atheistick pride and scorn denies That worship which he thinks is but his due Would do the same if he ador'd the true Bid 'um be Loyal then whilst we dispute And their false worship I with arms confute Exit Act 2. The Scene A Room in the Palace Ferdinand Mompensier Ascaneo Trivultio Ferd. Your masters haughty message I despise Who knows not how to conquer but surprise He ows his victories to my distress As he derives his title from success And has my Vassals into fears betray'd With th' empty noises which his fame hath made But they are ready by a brave defence To cloud his fame and blast his false pretence Then let him know his proffer'd aid I slight And dare retain my Crown if he dare fight Perhaps his army is in some distress With tedious marches want and weariness To pay the debt he on my fame hath laid I 'le send the Rebels Forces to his aid Mom. I shall acquaint him Sir Ferd. Trivultio go To the proud enemy my Standards show And in the form that I my army drew Advance my Troops and fix 'um in their view Triv. The armies Sir already are so near That now they in each others
strange Lands betake Themselves they voluntary Captives make Ferd. Madam 't is ture but you come arm'd with power Which makes me Captive and you Conquerour A power so charming all things must obey And where 't is seen will have Imperial sway Cor. Nor subject nor a Captive then from whence Arises Sir this high and great pretence Of power t' imprison here a Sovereign Queen Ferd. From that Whence all rebellions in the world have been From flaming zeal Which to all order we destructive find And loves a zealous rapture of the mind Cor. You act those things of which you are asham'd Then zeal and love must for your crimes be blam'd So to those virtues you injurious prove And bring an ill repute on zeal and love But Sir you better reasons can relate Some secret Cause or Interest of state Or pride to let your Kingly power appear You exercise it first on strangers here And you make wars as you have well exprest On those who Sir are like your self distrest But you had enemies enough before First conquer those e're you make wars on more Ferd. Madam perhaps 't was interest of state Since on your aid depends my Kingdoms fate For what can a despairing Monarch do To save his Crown who is condemn'd by you Cor. I know not what despair 't is you pretend Nor yet what aid a depos'd Queen can lend Did I enjoy my Crown perhaps I might Support another injur'd Princes Right But then I never would afford my aid To those by whom I was a Prisoner made Fer. You with the same devotion are detain'd As Heav'n with Prayers and Incense oft is chain'd Who seldom frowns on a devout offence And ne're chastises sacred violence Cor. What is 't I hear his love too generous grows And like rash Valour doth it self expose To mighty dangers which it can defeat Aside And from which Honour suffers no retreat These trifling follies Sir you may forbear To Ferd. Your Kingdom rather do's require your care And if your Cause and Title Sir are just You may your Life and Crown to Heav'n intrust Whom in your aid I often shall implore And in my state you can expect no more Exit Cor. Syl. Gonsalv Fer. Are they too trifling Yes fair Queen with you Who those tormenting follies never knew How shall I bear this pang it is above My strength t' endure or courage to remove Enter a Messenger in hast 1. Mes Your army Sir with high impatience waits Your presence whilst the French approch the Gates Enter a second 2. Mes The Crouds once more Sir are rebellious grown Threatning to let the French into the Town Fer. Let City Army Kingdom perish all And share in their unhappy Monarch's fall Insulting love will no compassion learn And nothing else is worthy my concern But since the fair Cornelia will be gone I 'le guard her hence and hast to be undone And see her Admiral Enter Gonsalvo Your Fleet conveigh From hence no longer for my Orders stay Gon. Y'oblige us Royal Sir with your consent But we are still confin'd for since I went A Fleet of Galleys row'd in with the Tyde And fill the Harbours mouth on every side And the Admiral that doth his Flag advance In his main top displayes the Arms of France Fer. Ha! from my enemies shall I receive Aside That kindness which the Queen disdains to give The pow'rs of all mankind shall ne're detain Those Glories here my service cannot gain Remain a while I will your passage clear I le send to Sea and first I 'le fight 'em there Exit Gons Ferdinand is going out and is met by Ascanio who enters in hast Asc Ah! Sir with speed this traitrous Town forsake And to some place of strength your self betake The false Trivultio to the French is fled And hath some Thousands of your army lead The Citizens within once more rebel And your Guards side with those whom they should quel And whilst we wait your Orders to engage City and army both are in a rage Nay seek your life and are resolv'd to buy With their Kings bloud the Kingdoms liberty Ferd. How with my bloud the Rebels safety bought The slaves dare dye e're entertain that thought No my brave friend let not thy Loyalty Betray thy Soul into kind fears for me Army and Rebels both shall at the sight Of me Fear their own thoughts and shall not dare but fight As for Trivultio if Charles is brave From him he 'l the rewards of Treason have If not let Charles and all the Traytors joyn 'T wil from his Glory take and add to mine Exit Enter Charles Trivultio and Guard The Scene a fair Countrey before Naples Ch. And is my fame so little in this place Thou dar'st adventure on an act so base I thought my deeds my temper might have shewn And that my Character was better known But thou in malice would'st be entertain'd To stain the many Laurels I have gain'd Thy King despairing to preserve his Crown Would thus by arts make War on my renown Tri. Sir I came here on no such false design Nor is that Monarch any King of mine Though I have serv'd that Kingdom twenty years But of that long apprentiship appears No fruit but loss of bloud and many scars And some small fame got by success in Wars And now grown old and poor if I desire To serve some other Monarch or retire May n't I my service as I please bestow Hard fate of Souldiers if it must be so Ch. And had'st thou such a low esteem of me That I would entertain thy Vilany And doth thy Mercenary Treason dare Thy fortunes with the falls of Kings repair If from that service did no profit spring It was reward enough to serve a King And for a King 't had been a Souldiers pride For no reward but glory to have died But since for gain th' ast to my banners fled Thy Treason I 'le reward and send thy head To Ferdinand unless thou dost from hence Withdraw thy Troops and fight in his defence Trivultio goes out and enters in hast the D. of Orleance Lew. Sir they have made a sally from the Town And all the force they have is pouring down The fierce young King doth in the head appear Dispeâ—sing death and slaughter ev'ry where And what success he finds he doth pursue Through all your Squadrons Sir to seek out you Enter Mompensier Mom. The enemy Sir doth your Guards assault And all those men that lately did revolt Repent their Crimes and do your Guards betray Whilst through your Troops King Ferdinand cuts his way Ch. Go Sacrifice the Villanes at my feet Let 'em my anger feel whilst I go meet The brave young King and since he 's hither flown Afford him yet one tryal for his Crown Ex. om The Third Act. The Scene of the Field continues Enter Trivultio and an Officer Tri. No hopes my ruin'd honour to regain Off. No hopes your men are either
when fortune do's remove All I esteem my Glory Crown and love And which encreases my impatience more By Charles's gallantry I 'm triumph'd o're Who gives me freedom but to make me wear Those hated Chains no Royal mind can bear Soft Musick within Ferd. Ha! would they flatter my imperious grief These fond diversions give but small relief Asc Ah Sir for Heavens sake Enter Ascanio in hast Ferd. What hast thou seen Asc An airy fantome or the Cyprian Queen Listening to find whence these soft airs should come I chanc'd to look in an adjoyning room And saw two shapes lean on a silken bed They seem'd too fair and lively for the dead And if in some transport I have not been They are Irene and the Cyprian Queen Ferd. Thou dream'st Or else their disturb'd spirits wander here To pursue me their guilty murderer Ferd. and Asc go out The Scene is drawn and Cornelia and Irene are presented asleep upon a Couch and at their feet Sylvia The King and Ascanio enter Ferd. What is 't I see I dye with high surprize Some fair enchautment do's delude my eyes And in a Vision do's my Queen restore In all the beams her living beauty wore Asc Surely they live or else the waves and wind Has all their beauties faithfully resign'd Ferd. The lovely Vision strikes a Sacred awe Into my Soul Let 's near the Altar draw Where the fare shape enshrin'd in beauty lyes Lest it too quickly vanish from our eyes Ferd. and Asc go to the Couch and kneeling kiss the Hands of Cor. and Iren. Ferd. She gently breaths her hand is soft and warm This cannot be some fair deceitful charm With all the devout rev'rence which we pry Into some grear and sacred Mystery I 'le draw the Scene which from my longing sight Vainly conceals a Mystery so bright Wake my ador'd Cornelia wake and see Impatient Ferdinand upon his knee Watching to see thy eyes their light display Like devout Persians for the dawning day Cor. and Iren. wake Cor. Where am I now Bless me the powers divine What voice is that that calls Ferd. Fair Queen 't is mine Cor. The King Ferd. Your poor adorer one that dyes With the high rapture of excessive joys What kind power sent you here on Angels wings To bless the world and save the lives of Kings Cor. That gentle power of pity which we find Sways in the Empire of each gen'rous mind I was inform'd you did my death bemone And now you 've lost both freedom and a Throne I thought 't was cruelty To let a meer delusion ask a share Of tears when real grief had none to spare Ferd. Oh! What a melting joy o're flows my breast Like drooping flowers with morning Dew opprest But Heavens How did you scape the fatal day Cor. We in another Galley got away To the next shore where in a Grove we stay'd Till fields and plains were gloomy as the shade Then all in darkness solitude and fear We wander'd on the shore we knew not where Still trembling at each little noise we heard Til near the morn we met some of the Guard Of whom I beg'd safe conduct to the Town And though they knew me not yet I must own They shew'd me all the due respect became My sexes honour and their Nations fame And brought me here where I decreed to stay For some few hours and sail by break of day When by a message from me you had known That all was well and I in safety gone Ferd. Ah! will you shew me Heaven in all its light And then for ever close it from my sight Cor. Alas Sir you attempt a vain design Only to wed your miseries to mine Suppose I should so kind and yielding prove Only t' oblige your importuning love W' are of our Crowns bereft where should we flye In what dark Cave should we obscurely die Ferd. Madam forgive me that without a Throne My bold pretences I still dare to own But if th' ador'd Cornelia lov'd like me A Cell or Grotto would a Kingdom be Asc Now my Irene we are blest again The joys through so much danger we obtain Let us preserve As one would the rich treasure which he saves By unexpected aid from Rocks and Waves Iren. You know my heart is yours but we must wait Our Princes fortunes and th' events of fate An alarm Ferd. Whence is this Asc There 's some contention grown I fear 'twixt the French Army and the Town But see the Princess Enter Julia with a Guard Jul. Ah Royal Brother as e're For being great and good you 'd honour'd be Go save the life of your brave enemy Who midst slain Guards do's now forsaken stand Whilst barb'rous Traytors do his life demand And using your great name for their pretence Do act their Treasons with high insolence This from the Palace eastern Towre I 've seen Where by his Guards I have protected been Ferd. This is bold Salerne and my Sister too Her fond revenge and malice to pursue Jul. My Sister is too faulty in 't I fear But be not Sir too much displeas'd with her You know whence her high passion do's arise Spare her and her bold followers chastise Ferd. I go with passion Madam I implore To Cor. You will not leave us in this fatal hour Nor take away the aid your presence brings As sent from Heaven in the support of Kings Cor. Sir 't is so generous To save your Royal foe in his distress That in that cause I wish you all success Ferd. Sir I commit the Ladies to your Guard To one of the Guard Ex. Ferd. and Asc Your Loyal service shall not want reward As the Guard is conducting out the Ladies they are met by Mompensier who enters in bast Momp Hold Hold The Ladies must not move from hence This place alone is left for their defence The enrag'd Dutchess strives to seize the Towre And w 're too few to guard it from her power VVhat more is done I could not understand But to an Officer I gave command Enter an Officer The news To bring the news and see he 's here Off. All 's well King Ferdinands's leap'd into the throng And like a god drives all the crowd along The Dutchess has receiv'd a wound in fight And to the Domo ta'ne a speedy flight Momp Blest news I 'le on the Battlements and see The valiant Kings pursue their victory But see another comes in hast Enter another Messenger 2. Off. Undone undone VVith all your Guards to th' Kings assistance run The Town is all with Troops of Bandits fill'd Lead by a Traytor to whom all parties yield And the mock title of a King do's bear And with success pursues us every where Cor. Oh Heavens Cor. Jul. seem to saint and are suported by their women Momp runs out as to the Kings assistance enter Ferdinand with a Guard chasing Salerne Sal. Oh curse and is my glory thus betray'd Ferd. Help help the King I do