whom he offers to sink under it No Basilino thou shalt not thus acquit thy selfe of all those obligations I can challenge as a Father and a King by this out-suffering all the benefits that ever those names can â—'re conferre Enter Basilino King Throw off my Basilino the supposâ—tion of those clouds which hang upon Thee thou art deceiv'd if thou believest thy looks are dark or over-cast The bright obedience of thy soul shines through them and hath dissolv'd those clouds that shaddowed me into these drops which fall but now like Sun-shine showres in signe of faire weather therefore now upon this condition of thy so full obedience I may venture Basilino to command thee any thing and I will keep thee in the exercise of this thy virtue therefore I command thee now to enjoy thy first choice thy intended travell upon what conditions thy owne discretion shall make when thou art gon and not before It were a sinne not to reward thy duty with full Liberty rather then engage it and in all that 's left to me to expresse a trust of thee I shall which is in this not to enquire the cause of this thy resolution but believe it is fitter for thee to act then me to aske I have onely this to demand of thee that thou would'st not make me so impoverish't by this grant that I have nothing else to give to Basilino Accept of my first offer added to thy choice and leave me some request even as a benefit to engage thee by my performance of it to thee like observance of my latest will which I shall wish no other prosecution of by Basilino than that the world shall find me of his imparted wishes in his absence Basilino I must again in this remov'd extreame wish for silence to comprise an answer which no words can carry You have been Sir so exact in this your blessing as you have put it into a name that doth improve it my obedience You are Sir now so inrich't in this your libeâ—ality as I can ask you now a blessing allmost equall to your first the protection of the heavenly Fidamira In which I dare boast some retribution of your benefits having in her given you a subject for the exercise of all the worth vertue that even you are King of Then Sir your leave to part immediatly with Agenor only that this your gratious gift may be extraordinary in every point That the grant and the receit may be together and I the sooner may begin to praise the divinity of this your goodesse King Stay and take these blessings with thee If it be fame hath prest thee by giving thee in hand already a share of publick honor may thy succesfull daring carry thee so soon to such a height of true renown as thou mayst quickly be so much above the praise of personal activeness as even honor it self may soon restrain thee to command And may that send thee home to this I keep but for thee If it be Love's attractiveness that drives thee from us maist thou obtain unknown without the help of any title showen which mayst thou give her in reward not condition What e're it be that parts us Basilino let it be thine own successe and not my distresse that may bring us soon to meet For Fidamâ—ria you shall not be able to go so far nor so conceal'd but my strange care of her shall be told you as the wonder of the time Basilino The consciousnesse of my selfe of being your son is an advantage â—am scrupulous of in my undertaking and I shall not so distrust my selfe as to seeke more by my professing it It is a title Sir I will leave here and you shall not heare you have a son abroad but by my obedience to any of your Summons upon which I kisse your royall hands King I must look off this parting With all my blood Fare well Agenor I look to hear from you of Basilino what 's unfit from him Agenor Best of Kings and fathers remaine in peace till the loud glories of your son repay you these in tears of joy Exeunt Prince and Agenor King Do any of you know where Fidamira lives Timante I do Sir King Go then presently and take some of the guard with you and bring her hither with all honor and no show of violence Timante I shall Sir Exeunt Enter Fidamira Fidamira 'T is strange this sudden resolution of the Prince Sure this is that he told me I should hear of when he went away Enter Agenor Agenor The life of man protracted to a miracle were yet too short to tell the wonder of thy faith much more that instant is but left me now for admiration of it The Prince is instantly resolv'd to leave his fathers Kingdome and hath obtain'd his leave And hath chosen me the only partner of his thoughts and his companion in his meane disguise So as heaven finding thy vertue such as it might easily draw into a miracle resolved to raise it more eminence by this farther tryall And I for this their end am punished with love and trust of Basilino The time we had resolv'd for consummation of our wishes we must now differr till our return Sure Fidamira thou hast refin'd thy selfe so neere Divinity thou art above the being enjoy'd by sense And it were insolence in me to hope for such a temptation in this absence as you have mett with but even the love of Queens is not so impossible as my embracing it The Prince's parting doth depend on nothing now but my returne Which he is almost as impatient of as I of staying here which is a blessing I repine so much to leave as I have need of 't Fidamira It is a strange resolve Agenor there is a â—ranscendency in that young man above the fate of Princes and could any action endear Agenor to me it should be Basilino's trust For the differring of our wishes the occasion is so strange it doth import the will of heaven And for the tryall of my faith it is too easie and assured a thing for heaven to intend if heaven meaneth a miracle in mine it must by it's intirenesse after the breach of yours which to me would seem such a miracle I should not wonder though my own should be preserved for my affliction But this sad Digression hath no reason for it but the distracted sense of your departure Go then Agenor and serve that glorious Prince with such succesfull faith as he may think at your returne not knowing of our loves by the opinion of thy faith that nature meant our faith 's only to match one another and for improvement of our joyes he may have his share in the bestowing them stay not for any thing but for a confirmation of my wish Agenor How opportune a blessing is this last command of Fidamira's by which she doth appropriate my faith so solely to her selfe as she applyes my duty to the Prince as meritorious unto
joy of finding a son You must have all my soul a while till I have discharged my selfe of what I owe your father In whose name I am to beg of you and conjure all this society whom I esteem so justly blessed as I doubt not of their wishes to my successe to joyne with me in a pretence I am to deliver to you in the name of the King and of a Nation which by me now begs reliefe of you This Society understands you so well as I may better aske of them then tell them what a blessing your company is And if it be such an one to strangers let them judge what a joy it will be to a father to whom you have been so long a stranger And though it seemed misfortune cannot afford you lesse then a Crown yet you ought not to make that Crown which nature hath made yours unfortunate Therefore heare the distresses of the King your father that cry so lowd in the complaints of the losse of you as they hear not the cries of all his kingdom for their exposure to the first strong power that will seize it His age must quickly leave the first invader for his heir You know your brother and your sister the Prince Palant and the Princesse Miranda perished both infants at the seige of the cursed Pamlona Since the King your father having destin'd you to the Prince of Castile a Prince thought a match for your vertue as well as your condition In the time of this treaty you fled attended only by my son I upon whose trust this misfortune lay like Treason have been ever since in the search of you and now the gods have been pleased to blesse my dispaire with what they have so long denied my hope the finding you Madam I must now addresse my selfe not only to you but all this society for judgment of this pretence of a King and a Nation which in a new way demands reliefe not by admittance but dismission Bel. I must confesse Romero all you have alledg'd against me But in my defence desire this faire Society whose judgments would be injured in my unnaturallnesse to beleeve that even these and the honor of this place did not divert me from the sense of my fathers afflictions whose reliefe I did deferr to bring thee more intire after the Prince his marriage should have removed all subject of dispute between us Here I resolve to stay till then confident that my fathers consent to the estimation of my selfe in the expression of my equall unwillingnesse â—o that his passion to Fidamira did avow would justify my presumption on his patience Rom. This was a sense Madam you ought your vertue while the Prince's unsensiblenesse seem'd to provoke it to a valuation of its selfe But now the same vertue that did convict him will plead for his acquittance Now as your goodnesse ought not to avert it selfe from his repentance which his leaving Fidamira and his journey devoted to your pardon do assure therefore Madam in my mind you owe the King your father this satisfaction for all his sufferings A returne of a full obedience â—or all the hazard he hath runn with you I have heard 〈◊〉 late that he hath pittied so the Prince as your admission of him into yours would bâ— a joy that would indâ—are your presence I remitt my selfe to this Society And bâ—g of them that if their judgments agree with 〈◊〉 thâ—ir prayers may do so too Gem. We have our own interests me-thinkâ— that ask our sollicitations that we that know thâ— blessing of such a Queen may still enjoy it both exalâ—â—d for hersâ—lâ—â— and us Cam. Even this our derived light of Soveraignty must grow brighter so drawn from a more glorious body then it was ere before All. We all joyne in this â—uppâ—ication for the Pâ—ince Kâ—ng I think my 〈…〉 the good fâ—rtune I owe this place to contribute what my power affâ—rds to all the wishâ—s of this Society And my admiratioâ— to you Madam engageth me to what I owe my countrey and my Prince to lett you know that I wâ—s lately a witnâ—ssâ— of the Kings wishâ—s to the hâ—ppy conjuâ—ction of the Prince and Princessâ— of Navarr And I am so assâ—red of his consent as I dare answer for it with my life Bâ—l. I wish the King and Prince so much happinesse as it were presumption in me to think I could afford it them Let me aske you some questions of my father Romero Gem. Mâ—thinks Moramente you are too cold an interceder for the Prince that are so much concerned in all his wishes Mor. Therefore Gemella I may be thought too partiall to hâ—m Your uninterested prayers may challenge more successâ— Now Genorio you that can report Princes lives away so easily can you speake me dead too and be beleeved For only so thou canst get trust of me againe when I perceive thou canst deceive all the world Did not some such Angell tell you of Bellesa's love as of Saphira's death Gen. Consider Sir how meritorious this report proveâ— to your life and you may think that an Angell prompted iâ— for your justification to the Princesse and the rest of the world to whom your vow was known Doth not this your beliefe approve to her the cessation of your designe which else might have been objected to you even by her And must not the sense that you expressâ—d then of her death indeare you to her now And when you know the reason of this my report even the falshood of it will justify my trust to you Bâ—â— Sure â—oramente knows the Prince best of any body I will inforâ—e my selfe of him And take his counsell bâ—fore I do resâ—lve Gem. You cannot resolve better Bâ—llesa goes a part with Moramente Bel. What say you Moramente Have I not chosen a 〈◊〉 counsâ—llâ—â— in â—his cause Now you know me fully and 〈…〉 givâ— mâ— your advice For I am resolved to be 〈◊〉 bâ— you in the disposing of my selfe 〈◊〉 Coâ—fident of what you say Madam I shall beg of 〈…〉 â—he Prince 〈◊〉 Iâ— your charity Moramente so much above your lovâ— Mor. No Madam It is my love that is so humble as to expect nothing but by charity And if my intercession for the Prince obtaine pardon for him I shall esteeme it as a favour done to me Bel. I thought you would desire nothing but pardon for him and for your sake Moramente it will be easy for me to yeeld to as much as you shall desire for him Mor. I will no longer seeme to owe you lesse Madam then I do I do accept this pardon which is so strange an one as it makes me a Prince and the same that you have pardoned And to deserve this grace I do resigne it back to you and so expose my â—elfe to all your wills without claiming any thing that your not knowing me might seeme to engage you to You already are acquainted with my story which I must thus farr inlarge That taking
question King That cannot be call'd a gift I owe it Mor. My quarrel to thee Genorio cannot be great enough to consent unto thy misery I must needs pitty thee Genorio There can be nothing that hath thus reconciled me to you that can be call'd misfortune Tell me Sir what I am beholding to you for this your pitty Mor. O Genorio Fidamira Gen. Is it to her I must still owe more and more Mor. The more thou knowest her Genorio the more thou art to be pittied My father is in love with her and is resolved to marry her Gen. Mine shall not then be the least contribution to the wonder of this day for your sake I can resolve never to see her more and so make my happinesse the sacrifice of this solemnity Mor. Stay Genorio let 's think a little how to make you rather an offerer than an immolation Rom. Is this certain Sir that he was saved at the sack of Pamlona and this jewel found about him King 'T is as certain as any thing on earth and that my Son then being a child i' th camp begg'd his life of me which he hath since loved better then his owne because he ought that and this was due to him Rom. Then I beleeve 't will be to your brave mind some satisfaction to let you know how happily this your mercy was disposed So as it may seeme a reparation for all other losses having in this one blessed a whole nation This is the Prince Palante you have saved I that was trusted with him and the government of Pamlona can assure it Now you may remember Sir that you surprised the Town when I was absent two Princes were then in my charge this and a daughter of the Kings both infants The general execution that was committed then left us no hope of safety for these Princes And since the King having this Princesse Saphira hath razed out the memory of any losse and now the finding of the Prince Palante must be a joy to the King and her scarce to be beleeved They did not come from Paradise Let me then beg of you to be a witnesse to this claime that I shall make Romero goes to Genorio Now Sir I must not only challenge this jewel but you too Gen. You will lose in the value of this jewel by taking me with it I am not so ill natur'd as it would not adde to my misfortune to be owned by any body Rom. I am so happy as I can change you from what you do beleeve your self and so part you and your misfortunes Gen. Grow not too confident upon this dayes successe undertake not such a difficulty as the making me happy Rom. You can have no such personall afflictions as the blessing of a nation will not out-weigh Therefore be pleased to know your selfe and it may be you will find your misfortunes depend on that mistake Gen. If you could teach me to forget my self that were a more probable way Rom. Would you not think your self happy to make these two Princes a return of all their benefits Geno I will not hazard to be more miserable by the frustration of such a hope Rom. You that did remit me to the king even now for knowledge of your self will not refuse him credit Therefore be pleased to put off that unfortunate name Genorio and call your selfe Prince Palante Son to the now blessed king of Navar. Gen. What plot is this Sir between your father and this Gentleman King 'T is to make you what heaven hath destin'd you a happy Prince Rom. This jâ—well I have so enquired after is the witnesse of what the King hath bin pleased to acquaint you with In the last warre between the King your father and this brave Prince I had the honour to be trusted with the town Pamlona and the persons of all the King children who had then only your selfe and a yoâ—ng Princesse called Miranda your sister The town in my absence was surprised and the impartial execution that was committed to the incensed Soâ—ldiers destroyed all our hope of either of your safeties Now the King assures me that you were then brought to him with this jewel about you whoâ—e command saved your life by the intercession of the Prince The time which hath changed all things else about you but this jewel leaves my memory no other certainty Your sister had another too which concurring with the Kings relation makes it unquestionable It seems even your infancy had some such divinity in it as did infuse a soul into that body should have taken yours away and so at once inlarge your obligation and invest your self with the power of acquittance too to thâ—se brave Princes King All this I am a witnesse to and I think my Sons memory will retain this marke of his charity this jewell which was then about you Mor. If this jewel be a certain mark of your birth I can assure you that you were brought to me with it and then I call'd you Agenor a name fitted to the not-knowing who you were Rom. I dare say upon this security your father will willingly put his kingdome into your hands therefore put off this amazement and put on your self Paâ—ante Mor. Why are you thus sad at the taking leave of Genorio and Agenor Gen. I can say nothing at all in answer of what you have said but can object one thing which you cannot answer How can I be Bellesa's brother Rom. As shee 's your sister by father and mother Gen. You that are so mistaken in her may easily be so in me She is a creation of her self apart from all things there can be nothing so neer her as brother or sister Should I call her sister King Call your self Palante and give me leave to embrace you so then this your reverence to her will oblige you to answer to what nature shall direct her to call you Mor. This is the last emission of it selfe your dying passion makes as it contests with nature whose reviving is the others death therefore I do not wonder at the force of it and I do not fear but you will share joyes with me in that little I hope to owe Bellesa of your brother and from this instant that I hope indebts me to you Gen. The improvement of my life must be the same still of my obligation unto you Sir that must owe it you Nor could it be a part of a discharge for me to begin but now to joy in Bellesa's loving you but I did it then when my passion unto her made a burthen unto my life Mor. Have you this blessing to give that my fathers having Fidamira shall prove your wish Gen. I have now only that devotion left you had for the Princesse of Navarre for expiation of my fault Mor. Conceale this purpose awhile and you may chance find her where I found Saphira Geâ— This change of my fortune if it prove happy to me Romero will assure me of a
glorious life glutted with prayses of out-doing all your sex may looke back on me for a more transcendenâ—honour by this Mark of how much you have out-done yourselfe and so present you with an unhop'd for joy which is the only retribution I can hope to make you Till then let me and sinn be at a distance from your thoughts Basilino Farewell fair maid you shall soon hear of resolutions shall some way deserve those good wishes you have now advanced Fidâ—mira May all the blessings which I would wish you which are unexpressible fall down as wonders on you Agenor solâ—s The Prince stayed long with Fidamira and is now going hastily to the King his fatheâ— His looks me-thinke imply some strange resolve He purposed now to make his last attempt and to venture even his crown to take my Fiâ—amira whose virtue 's such as I beleeve her beauty was bestowed upon her to prove a tryall of it worthy of her glorying in And the earth hath not a fitter then the just offers of this worthy Prince O here he comes Basilino hastily Basilino O Agenor had I now leisure equall to my sense of Fidamira's goodnesse I should not defer a minute from the making thee admire her She hath made me happier then I did hope I am resolv'd Agenor and I have allready so disposed my father as I beleeve the second time will carry his consent come Agenor let 's not lose a minute Agenor Stay I beseech you Sir a while that I may be acquainted with your will and so know how to argue for you Basilino Come away Agenor I 'le tell you as I go The King may intend to imploy your credit with me to disswade me but I 'le convince you by the way I shall but reel along between my shaking feare and shaking trust of Fidamira The King Osorio Timante Leave us all How much allay have all Princes treasures in them even those that they are ordained to coyn themselves for blessings their children even these rich Images do somtimes prove burdens not treasures to them I am in this distresse The name of King which doth exalt the blessings of a Father is only that which doth forbid me the indulgence of a common parent Were he intirely mine I could let my judgment fall into a complacency of this his wish but as I am but as it were his guardian to account to all my Kingdome for him I must not consent to expose this State to such a hazard as his absence when I stand as it were propt up by him I am resolved to offer him rather to quit the thought of the Princesse of Navarâ—e and to give him my consent to marry Fidamira whom they say he loves with a paâ—sion able to controle his reason much more his follies Basilinâ— Agenor King I have my Basilino been so affected with thy wishes as when by the enquiring of my collected thoughts I could find no reason to approve of thy intended seperation from us I did addict them all to search for an excuse of the indulgency of my consent And thou art so unhappy in thy birth as I have multitudes to satisfie on whom wisdome it selfe can seldome have its operation much lesse a naturall â—â—â—dernesse can move against it In what a strange distresse am I whom reason doth appoint to displease him in this world I love the best for others satisfaction for my own interests which are such as I cannot repeale without reproaching Basilino of unnaturallnesse in preferring of his fancies so before them I will by silence give him leave to passe by and remit them all into his power as a Suiter not a Judge and for my part do make him King of this his wish by my consent Basilino Oh Sir King Hold Basilino I made you thus a King that you might have somewhat to give worthy a Father's asking and that the deposition of this your wish might be by your gift to me not my refusall of it And now I do conjure you Basilino by the power of a King that hath deposed himself rather to pray than to command to change this your desire of leaving us into any other you can think of and stay here and by the gods we wish may move you with us the agreement to it shall be esteem'd a blessing to us Basil. O that the angry gods would pitty me so much that I might now obey you in a fatall silence It is not a feather'd fancy that carrieth me to fly above my will but a weighty misfortune that bears me down before you to demand ease for my oppression which I must have some time and distance to discharge my self of Nor hath my curse been so defective in any circumstance as to distract me quite and so free me from the sense of all your interests but it seems to admit an unsensiblenesse of all my own to keep me wholly from the survey of you whose contradiction of my ease is the refinedst torment But I could provide by engagement to you Sir against any important prejudice my absence may but threaten if I might hope as well to lâ—ighten that weight I should else think too heavy to strive under I could acquaint your Majesty with my arrivall and my residence in every severall place and by my promise to return upon any summons should import but even your fears secure you from any prejudice of my distance which I would condition should not be out of the limits of France or Spain Now Sir have pitty of one whom you have rob'd of praise by making him a King against his will and this submission of my self unto your will think a sacrifice worthy of a father and a King to value And for your large offer Sir I am so reduced I had but this one to ask of you the which to ease you I am content to deny my self Exit the Prince sadly Agenor stayes King O Agenor Is not Basilino unjust to add unto my sorrowes by his sharing with me in them Into what a parallel of misery are we both come by thus our meeting one another Agen. In this agreement Sir where your misfortunes meet and not your wishes a subject may interpose himself and break off the accord I do not see Sir how the hazard of the Princes desires equall's that of yours you endanger Sir the losâ—e of your own wish in the possessing it for you shall rather keep a Prisoner then a Son and by his Liberty on those conditions he hath proposed you shall be more secured than by his Residence your people by the fame of Him from all neighbouring nations shall think he is a Prince of them too and therefore feare you more My opinion is you consent to his first choice upon those tearmes he desires to take it King There is Agenor such a darknesse spread over Basilino as ore-casts my reason and cleares up his to me Me-thinks I see this his obedience set too heavy on him as it oppresseth me for
had resolved me not to submit the pleasures of my bed to a minority in any thing Therefore he that could intend to kill his son to impossibilitate his joyes will easily do it to assure them Which if he would promise on the beleefe of his brave minde that had advanced me to such proofes of it I would advance his possession of me even this night before the ceremoniall rites He agreed to this with so much joy he seemed to have made and not destroyed a son That night I having taken up the time on such a pawne as this made presently the best of it and layd it out so as I thought the use of it should pay the principall Therefore I sent instantly to the son and by tokens that I had taken from the father as pledges of his word assured him his death was purposed by his father and that night That there did remain no time for any thing but flight This he believing did fly instantly Which I assured of my next part was now to unmask my virtue whose vizard grew offensive Therefore thus winged with innocence I did resolve to fly over these seas which part our neighbouring lands leaving a Letter which might clear my virtue from that black engagement I had made And coming hither the kinde gods presented me with the selfe equall report of so divine a body as it offers it to the releife of all nations sexes and my arrivall here I cannot ascribe to lesse then a divine direction Thus have you heard a Story whose strangenesse needs so much of your pitty it must first aske your credit as a charity which if you do vouchsafe I cannot doubt a fair commiseration And the newnesse of this my pretence brings somewhat with it as a recompence for my admission an enlargement of the powerfull vertue of this place which by receiving me into this happinessâ— shall shew it cannot only disappoint Fortune's malignity but Nature's too Queen Votorio collect the voyees Votorio No vote opposeth the admission Gemella Nature Madam hath by my humility lightned so the darke misfortune of my birth as ambition whose colour is my contrary seemes so unlovely to me as I shall wish nothing but rest and solitude whose shades best fit with me Bellesa Let the oath and habit be given her Exeunt Enter Bonorio Bono How much doth heaven approve of this compassion It hath allready payd me with all the blessings earth affords and hath made the King the recompencer of my happy disobedience He hath since Fidamira's flight heaped so much fortune and honor on me as if he meant that amazement should take up all my senses and leave me none to lament her love with which sorrow seemes to him his prerogative she would admitt no partner in it But I have a pain deeper then any guesse can reach to allay Such a one as the name of father forbids the cure of The king is gone this way his afflictions make my curse inevitable for even their releife the finding Fidamira must prove her losse to me Exit Enter King King O Fidamira thy feares have blemished even thy innocence in this unjust affliction of thy Prince that had no thought but how to shew that Princes are happy in the meanes of setting vertue in its truest light If this purposed remove of thee out of thy Fathers house did shake thee into needless fears 't was thy humility that did not know that thy transcendent merit was so much that a King could not spare the smallest circumstance in all his power to honor it enough So what I was forced to do even to avoyd omission thou didst avoyd for an excesse Was it not paine enough for me to part with Basilino without the addition of this strange heavy curse That his returne should prove a torment to me For so it must by this distresse of Fidamira whose happinesse I only was to account for upon his request O that he were come back that I might free the name of King from such misfortunes and resigning to his gâ—iltlesse youth break off this thred by ruder motions and not stay till it wear out with age I would my selfe undergoe a boundlesse pilgrimage which though it had no end but expiation of my guilt to Basilino by the expiration of my selfe I 'de undergoe it so Most of those I sent in search of her allready are returned and with their silent sadnesse bring mourning only for their answers Into how wilde a divination have my straying sorrowes led me here alone and they have brought me to a way whose shady melancholy seemes to invite me to begin my Pilgrimage Here comes one too whose lookes forespeak his newes What have you found her Gen. Who should I have found King Canst thou looke so and aske Who Is there so much sorrow left in all the rest of the world as thou pretendest to and not imployed in Fâ—damira What art thou that seemest so boldly sad to vye with me Gen. This is the king I must dissemble I am one that may allow you any subject you can choose about your selfe and then dispute afflictions with you I am a voted Pilgâ—ime whose wandring motions seeke their ayme hopeles of so much rest as even the knowledge of the end they are directed to King Alas thou art so short of me as even thy misery is my wish Were it in my choyce to be a Pilgrim or a King I 'de chuse thy curse for ease If you have nothing else to vye with me you may add this unto your greifs if you did meane they should exceed all others they being now outsorrowed by me whose condition if you knew would shame all your complaints Gen. My sorrowes Sir do ly so heavy on me I cannot rayse them up so high as a relation yours must be leighter needs that you can lift them so high as your mouth King This dumb dejection of your selfe under the pressure of affliction may as well imply your weaknesse as the sorrowes weight And silence so may equall all pretensions unto misery Therefore raise your complaints so high to put them in a ballance against mine to try the which out-weighs Gen. I am content to leighten yours to weigh with you I have loved and have been so neere injoying as the disappoyntment did double the paine by the reflex of that which lightt on her I loved by this differring of our joys which I am now more distanced from than I was ever neere King I did resist and overcome a passion whose opposition had but left me one pain in all the world greater than it and that fell on me the disappointment of hiâ— love for whose successe I only could have yeelded and I remainâ— guilty in the opinion of them both aâ— the defeater of their joyes The one I shall ne're see againe to undeceive The other I must see so guiltily deceived as he unjustly must condâ—mne his father Gen. This is the only misery I do confesse I could allow
a pitty to This is a lending of your senses to others torments whose joyes only they cannot tast Your own wishes in my minde could not releeve you since they tend only to others ends I do allow you so much advantage Sir as I confesse your present misery is above my feares But give me leave to aske as a stranger to your country and your story Whether this Fidamira that you named be yet a live Methinks her death might ease you much King Kind pilgrime In the absence of my son jealous of so much comfort as my care my cursed fate guided her the only way unto my guilt her flight I do not think her dead no more then a disguise may be a preparation to it As death may have a better pretence to seise her then as not her selfe than in the lively illustration of her selfe to whom all lives are due And to let thee see kind Pilgrime how due to me this thy ingenuous yeelding was I will direct thee to an ease of all thy miseries while mine are unreleevable I 'le terminate thy aimelesse course and point thee out to such an end whose saâ—e attainder shall center thy sorrowes up in rest You have heard sure of the Shepherds Paradise whose peaceable bounds have that strange virtue from the gods as to include all those within a peacefull acquiescence that are admitted there Thither repaire for though you have not griefe enough to weigh with mine yet your misfortune 's full enough for a pretence to be received even there And when you finde the smiles of that smooth place laugh at your wrinkled sorrowes past then for my sake dispute your joyes with those contented soules For you may sooner there outvie all their delights than my distresses should you run on in this sad maze till you did measure all the world and end your dayes Gen. I will submit my selfe to your directions Sir but to an end differing so farr from what you do prescribe as mine shall be in a defiance unto peace I will even there raise up new sorrowes which my distâ—acted soul shall there erect for trophies got from the contâ—sting virtue of that place which my sad life shall so defeate as all those joyes that shall incompasse me shall by the deadnesse of my sense serve but to prove my miseries the more compleat King Follow my counsell freind it may be the virtue of this place may be so strong it shall incline your own willingnesse towards your releefe I must leave you and I am sure not far out of your way towards my advice Gen. The gods be with you Sir and may you live to be a wonder in the contrary extreame of what you now are Alas good King how patient have I been to allow your sorrowes victory striving with mine which these were too that you brought forth For Fidamira's flight belongs simply to me and hath no comfort but the admiration of her virtues which this happy meeting with the King hath so exalted as the wonder mingles with the sense of my disappointment and so tempers it into a hopefull patience The kings counsell is so good it will serve for more then he intends it and I hope for as much joy to him as he meant ease to me I will goe back directly to the Prince and now assure him that the Princesse of Navarr is dead to stop his fathers course And as I finde his thoughts are fixt or moved from Fidamira so contrive his returne the which will quickly unconceal my Fidamira who must needs be hid in some neighbouring privacy secure from her virtuous feares This penance of not seeing her I take as due unto these faulty eyes that have been pleased with another object Which now redeemed shall make me watch their straying motions with a stricter care Beauty shall slide from them as it falls Like smooth things lighting upon crystall balls Whose touch doth part and not together fix Their own agreeing makes them cannot mix So beauty in mine eye shall meet with such I cannot fix but passe as it doth touch Exit Enter Bellesa Moramente Martiro Bel. That which you reported of the Prince Moramente is now fully confirmed by this Moor that we admitted last She past that way she said and so describes his person and his parts it seemes a miracle that faith or honor could have virtue to râ—sist his will Mora. I know the Prince Madam so well I wonder more at the unfitnesse of his wishes than at the gods refusall Which was a gentle punishment of his forgetting selfe And I beleeve wherever he is gone heaven will direct him to a choyce between which and his owne there shall be as much odds as between his choosing and the gods Bel You beleeve then Moramente he will love again by a high successe shall know he was reserved by heaven for more then he could wish at first you think heaven doth allow of love 's twice Mora. As it doth intend Madam all good should rise to its perfection our minds are but love's pupills at the first Which fit themselves but to proceed and take degrees and so our second love is a degree wherein our soules attaine to experience that imploys it selfe in loves refinement So not by the first step but by this gradation Love ascends unto its highest Bel. I will allow you Moramente Love is no irradiation of a light into our soules whose first instant brightness is in its perfection But may not the first spark be kept alive and raised unto as high a light as can the second which is kindled still by putting out the first Mora. T is not an extinction of the flame 't is but a change of the materiall that fomented it so second loves have this advantage they being the first instant in that height the first was long agrowing to and have the first comparison to rayse themselves by which must prove it higher by having got above it Bel. These degrees of elevation Mâ—ramente you require in Love inferr this consequence that love should be a continuall motion by change aspiring to transcendency For it comparison doth raise it so he is to blame that takes but one For by your inference the number must exalt noâ—last unto the greatest height Your inconstancy doth not concerne us so as you should strive to prove it a virtue to us Mora. In this degree Madam which I have named Love comes to touch a point after which all motion is a declination I do not allow loves leightnesse or variety contributors unto its heighth I do agree the glory of it is in a consistency in this elevation the second love attaines to because the first cannot know how high it is Had I thought inconstancy a virtue Madam I ne're had been blest with this so great a joy as seeing you Bel. What Moramente sayes Martiro seemes to justify the Prince his second love and so to make his cause a president to plead his own by
not grant the Prince his soon returne so crown'd with his desires as he may think he brings more joy with him then even your crown can promise him And this is Sir my only wish And it is so propitious to me as it makes your Majesty all the returne I can e're hope for those your offered benefits the wishing of you all increase of joyes and glories King Do not wonder Fidamira at the title I took on me I spake to you in Basilino's name and it was not unproper in the performance of his will to use his name And I am afraid I shall too truely take upon me The wish which you have chosen hath so indebted me unto you as I must speak something now in my own name and retract the promise I had made to Basilino to possesse my self of all my power which I think yet too little to tempt thy modesty to the choice of any thing it doth containe But do not Fidamira in duty to your King reduce him to repine at his condition in having nothing to present you with but wishes back again Fidamira In all humility and reverence to your power Sir I thus fall down to beg of you and that which only as a King you can bestow Libâ—rty Which I have chosen as the greatest blessing Kings are trusted with to satisfie your Majâ—sty in the obligation you desire to marke me with And I trust so much to your goodnesse as I think I need not bring the gods to plead for my dismission whose cause hath furnished me with this â—ute unto your Majesty the perâ—ormance of some vowes which will require privacy to perfect and thus your Majesty shall set me at Liberty that am yet in bonds unto my vowes Kiâ—g You have made so stâ—ange a choice â—â—damira as the unwilling giving it endeares the guift and that which doth perswade me most unto this grant is that you shall take from me that which is dearer to me than all you leave me your company and while you do avoid the merit of my actions you cannot disappoint my sufferings of some desert unto you Therefore you shall chuse what place agreeâ— best with your intent If you will accept this Pallace I 'le leave it to you and your privacy shall be secured to you by a guard that shall not come so nâ—â—re you as to let you know you have a house Chuse what Temple you like best and the entrance shall be denied to any other that no impure breath may mixe with yours But Fidamira these your devotions perfected I shall expect you do accept our Court for Sanctuary to that Saint-like innocence shines about you It were impiety to let you live in the crowd of common persons and your owne piety will enjoyne you to allow my daughter your companion as a pattern for virtuoâ—s youth Fidamira It would be to me Sir a retreat out of my selfe to be any where but in my father's house Whither I beseech you Sir I may have leave to return and remaine some few dayes after which I shall obey your Majesty with that devotion which is due to those whose Image you are believing Sir you will command nothing but what shall be meritorious to obey you in King You shall be Fidamira reconducted to your fathers house and there remain undisturbed till your own pleasure gives me admission to you Who waites without Enter Osorio Timante Carry back again Fidimira to her father's house Timante How hath this face displeas'd the King thaâ— was resolv'd before he saw her to lodge her in the Pallace with such prepared honour as raised all the Court in to a wonder of the cause Me-thinks I find now more then eâ—re I â—ould have guess't Exeunt Exeunt all but the King King O what a mock was this to aske me liberty while she was captivating me I had not so much power left as to keep her here when she would go She is so much already Mistresse of my will as she disposeth of it even against it selfe Whither shall I repaire for Liberty that am besieged by my owne guard these traiâ—erous eyes I must condemne them to perpetuall darknesse or they 'l betray me to such a light as will darken all my other senses even by the inflammation of them Will Love be content with no lesse Trophy than the inversion even of Nature â—â—â—ning the branches down into the ground and â—ake the rootes to bud and blossome in the aire Must Love needs have a garland of such prodigious flowers Now Basilino I find thou hast left me somewhat to do fâ—r thee worthy of a King to brag of the wrestling with these passions for thy sake which else I shall imâ—â—â—ce and let into my heart as an inlargement of it and my life But I will so allay this heat By taking Thee into its seate As it still shall be withstood As if I liv'd but by thy blood Act the Second Pantamora Camena Melidoâ—o Martiro Voâ—orio Genorio Belâ—eza and all the Shepheardesses Belleza chosen Queen Pantamora delivering the Crown to Votorio Panta ANd I into your hands resigne The Sphere wherein our Majesty doth sâ—ine Which mov'd and govern'd by a heavenly force Thus every yeare doth terminate its course Votor The gods Bellese by the voyces of your sisters have chose you Queen and you must now takâ— your Throne with this Oath I am to give you for the faire observance of all those conditions you are trusted with this Crown upon Which are the faithfull executions of the Lawes we live under and reigne over Read the Oath Bel. Give me leave fair Sisters while I am yet my selfe before I do become your Creature and so more obliged to wonder at your goodnesse to renounce all merit to this honour unlesse the being surprised by it may passe for any which if my person do not prove enough my forreigne birth will certifie much more Which as it will advance me towards your particular civilites must needs remove me from the pretension of this eminence amongst you Therefore your former favours can onely give a râ—ason for this excuse that to recover the desperate debt I owe you all you have resolv'd to lend me more so to 〈◊〉 me to make a retribution may comprise them all and for this end I may avow a joy in this your choice which I shall study so to justifie your judgements in by the complying both with the obligations of your debtor and your Queen as when I shall resigne that I shall have purchas 't one I shall esteem as much a creditour to you all Cam. We too Bellesa are deputed in the name of all to assist the ceremony of your Oath and the publication of the Lawes Vot Proceed Bellesa to the reading of the Oath Bel. By beauty Innocence and all that 's faire I Bellesa as a Queen do sweare To keep the honour and the regall due Without exacting any thing that 's new And to assume no more to me than
is made lighter still and is made currant by â—llayâ— So woemen like gold lose of their valew for the good they doe I cannot yet resolve to abate soe much from what I love so well my selfe as to submit to a propriety Meli. Nuptiall bonds Camena do not convey you over to the propriety of him they are delivered to they rather do enlarge the owning of your selfe For they make the same as your selfe what you vouchsafe to joyne unto it So you are still owned but by your selfe inlarged Dâ— not fright me then Camena with that word submission when all I wish is but this Identity To become moâ—â— subject to you because we do dispose of nothing so freely as our selves Cam. That which in our freedome Melidoro is an aâ—surance against these bonds after our engagement doâ— expose us most to the penalty of them This Identity 〈◊〉 man and wife this aggravates our faults as it implyâ— the husbands sufferings for them This interesteth that whose tendernesse hardens our lives unto us a husbandâ— honor which is so delicate as breath nay imagination wounds it and our afflictions are presently ministred foâ— remedies and all our suffering made legall by this Identity Therefore Melidoro I will not hazard the blessing oâ— my love to you by making you My-selfe who have a title dearer to me farr Meli. T is an affected cruelty Camena to punish me for possibility of sinning and not to leave me so much as your love to joy in by this ascription of my punishment to that No Camena this is a deceit full of apparition of your love which like the Sun now it is setting seems to draw neere us when it is remotest therefore now I must expect a following darkenesse Cam. Marke Melidoro how you that would decline mens easines to jealousy are allready insensibly crept into it Enter Votorio Voto Melidoro and Camena I come to warn you both to the Convocation The Queen hath appoynted to day for the hearing of a new Pretender the hour is neere at hand Cam. We will both go along Exeunt Enter Fidamira called Gemella Gem. My innocence hath strengthened even the weakest part of me so as to defeate the kings persute And now secured from those feares lest I should once enjoy a thoughtlesse ease I find a care rise up before me how I should disguise my story Fortune hath provided such an excesse for me as I might spare the halfe lest my distresse may seem so irremediable as to exclude me from this ease The strangenesse of my curse is such as it excludes all beleefe otherwise then that my complaint is vaine And t is no discretion to alledge the love of Princes for a misfortune I must therefore degrade them of that quality and relate them but as father and son this will interest both sexes in my pity who am fled hither choosing so to make peace for others to come and begg my own Enter Queen and the Society Queen The pretender is allready here le ts take our places and give her audience Gem. The very introduction to my story Ladies may be a pretence enough unto your pitties that I am reduced to begg beleefe of you in that which above all things derogates from your selves That your contrariety could be beloved And that which will avert you Gentlemen from the credit of it is that it may seem a scandall to have this love imputed unto men unto whose colours this of mine may seeme a staine and not an ornament Thus I am so miserable as before I plead my cause to make my judges justly parties against me but this wonder past and pardoned then the consequence may easily be beleeved because it is successively naturall A Father and a Son being the subjects of this wonder The passion of the son was first The father followed it unknown to the son of which the father meant to apply the first discovery only to benum and dead what was left of life This was that only pretence which the fury â—ealousy did allow the son which had perswaded as it seemes the father that the blacknesse of his thoughts would match the colour Nature had ment to sute with mine And the gods know I was so equally averse to both as they had made our colours The fathers purpose seemed to him past defeat and finding me one day so constantly unmoved with all those stormes lover's complaints do raise at last this swelling sadnesse broke into a rage and vâ—wed revâ—nge The which the strangnâ—sse of might be discrâ—ditâ—d in my beleefe had not the wonder of his love presaged unnaturall events He said he would reduce himselfe to a condition should defeat even my pitty and in revenge of my crosse-will would frustrate even my power of helping him And there he seemed to prove this purpose was designed above since nature had curst him unto the making of his cursâ— his son Whose making was not thought enough but his end too was destined to him and even for such a cause as was a greater torment then the act Therefore he said his thoughts condemned his son of more then parricide his intercepting of my love to him and he should be sacrificed to this suspition So little did the love of twice himselfe prevaile set by his love to me And this he said he did acquaint me with that my virtue which had been his tormentor might have the paine of being the cause and knowing this detestable effect without the meanes of a prevention which his instant execution should make impossible And thus he seemed to fly from me as if the pleasure of this act already had displaced that of his being with me Then I counselled by virtue in this strange surprise which seeing as her self she had not power to divert this rage did prompt me to disguise her into a shape might please his fancy for a while and so delude this fury by its own resemblance Then I persuing him with haste stayd him seeming to embrace his rage not wrestle with it Then I told him that I did allow this brave resolve as a temptation high enough to justifie my yeelding to And I could never have thought to have mett a humor worthy the matching mine unto I told him mine was none of those warme tender hearts that sighes could blow into a flame It had an adamantine temper which only blood can soften and that he had done like to that Painter that had the figure of a lyon running mad and wanting â—othing but the foame to represent grew so distracted with despaire of hitting it as in a rage he threw his pencil at it and by this chance did rarely perfect his abandoned worke and so his fury had throwing it selfe into so high despaire made up that figure which only could have taken me I told him that his feares were true and that his son was guilty of interposing between him and me But his offence was only naturall not active against him whose having of a son
this place in the way of my designe of seeking your pardon I was stayed here by you So I have promised my selfe to plead it as your selfe you shall excuse So that the dispute will be between Saphira and Bellesa And now Madam to be no longer guilty of concealing any thing from you I must let you know that that stranger which so boldly answered for the King might safely do it For it is the King my father Of whâ—se being here you know the reason and the time just as I do for I have but now discovered him Now Madam I do so entirely prostrate my selfe unto your will as I forgeâ— any thing that might direct me to an expectation and bow my selfe to take your pleasure on me Bel. Thus then Moramente I retract all I have fayd as Bellesa but ' tiâ— to say more as Saphira Me thinks fate it selfe is so much interested in this our union as it seemes to have directed all which your humility can call a fault Therefore now I confirme my promise of being counselled by you in the dâ—sposing of my selfe as farr as my fathers consent shall go along with it which we may safely expect for the perfection not retardance of our joys Mor. Vouchsafe to call me your selfe Madam and so beleeve you shall alwayes be counselled and obeyed together Bel. Moramente hath prevailed so much with me as I have not onely forgiven the Prince but resolve to entertain such thoughts of him hereafter as his affection shall present worthy of me Gemella You are born for no lesse then the blessing of nations King Give me leave Madam to present the Prince to you that he may lose no more time in the application of himself to the desert of your farther pitty Bel. He hath lost no time in that If he were now to begin I should not so soon assure you Sir that I trust you so much that if I had one to answer for me as you may for him upon your two words I should not fear to engage my self King By this it seemes you know I am his father Madam and you would not doubt how much I should joy to have the blessing of that name enlarg'd so far as to comprize you Bel. You that are a father Sir know so well what I owe unto that name as I beleeve you will chose to aske it of him whose giving it must justifie my joyning Now Sir give me leave to retire to the new Election that I may not be charged so much as with the breach of an order here nor be reproached by the impatience of her whose beauty and vertue is destin'd to the reward of this happy day We will leave you Sir with your Son the time cannot seem long to you King I forget to day Madam I am a King and only one that joyes a fathers name If you will have me remember I am a King it shall be to obey you with more merit Bel. Come Ladyes let 's to the election we shall return presently and returne a present worthy of a King a fair and vertuous Queen Gem. I beseech you Sir conceale me still King I am all obedience here Bellesa Bell. Let me Camena desire your voyce to follow mine to day Though it seeme to oppose your reason for a while It shall not do so long Cam. I resigne my voyce so freely to you Madam it shall not be mine so much as to ask a reason They all go out to the Election Mor. Now Sir be pleased to transferr all my joyes with your blessing upon Basilino King I will not own to day so old a joy as the name of Basilino This is thy birth-day wherein all 's new and lowe more to thy name Moramente then thou dost to me for Bâ—silino Mor. You may Sir for a just improvement of your joyes derive mine from the blessings Heaven ought you that have had credit enough to crown me with your fondest wish Kâ—ng I have Moramente private joyes of mine own Thou knowest not yet enough not to need the ascâ—iption of all thine to me And I will own only the giving thee that happines the knowing them Which it may be thy goodnature will allow an equallshare with all thine own But first shew me the highest of thy good fortune Feare not mine will rise unto an equall parallel Mor. I owe somuch to my good fortune I was not long a seeking it You know Sir it is now a yeare since I left you And my curiosity was imploved I think by heaven to bring me hither fiâ—st to the Election of the Queen And coming into this peacefull harbour my sailes were taken off and I coming a passenger put my selfe into service here The difficulties I have met with cannot be expressed bâ—t in the same words that made them This Princesse is a creature no body can guâ—sse at but by knowing her to be a woman A great while in a seeming neglect of all the lovâ—â—y witt could make her own made love which none but its own maâ—er could understand But since she hath 〈◊〉 pleased to interpret it so fairely as you Sir underst and it too This opinion of her being dead Genorâ—â— is to answer for And now at this Election I was resolved to bring you back thâ—t which you have thus advanced unto your selfe the joyes of a contented father King I must tell you in private how I came thus to anticipate my joyes Romero Give me lâ—ave to consider well this Jewell Sir Gen. You have been so luckie in finding what you have lost to day as I may feare you will challenge it Romero If I could challenge it rightly you should get by it 'T is the same Are you now at so much leisure as to tell me how you came by it Gen. I can direct you how you shall know Ask the King or Prince I know nothing of my selfe but what they have told me What a reviving happinesse is this sight of the divine Bâ—llesâ— Your eyes that were this morning two expiring lamps flame in a chearefull brightnesse Now Nature by Beâ—lâ—sa's perfections can repaire her own defects Romero How happie are you then whose youth hath so long reâ—â—iv'd new vigor from those beames Gen. I am so happie Sir I will not hazard this present with expectation of more which you might give me King I have told you all which you must keepe concealed Mâ—r. Is Gemella Fidamira and you in love with her and do resolve to marry her King You will beleeve me when I shall tell you I love her as much as you can Bellesa Methinks Moramente you seem troubled Is it that any body should love as well as you Mor. 'T is but the admiration of the strangenesse of this day Rom. Give me leave I beseech you Sir to begge somewhat of you this day wherein there is no joy left you to come but giving King It is no longer mine whatsoever you desire Rom. 'T is but a true answer to a
two in an intercession for me to the Queen I will not somuch undeserve her pardon as to desire her love Bel. Were your fault greater then my credit with her her own goodnesse would assure you pardon T is but the imputation of ill offices Gen. T is more I perceive then you know Madam I pray you lend me this vaile not to cover but to reveale it For it is so black a fault as passion even through this colour wil lighten it Let this Fidamira that proved a cover to your innocence prove one unto my guilt Gem. I had so long ago forgiven you as I was afraid you would have asked somewhat of me I must have refused you Since you are so civill as to think my good wishes usefull to your happinesse I must esteeme that a satisfaction for any thing you can remember which I had long forgot Therefore put off this which is now the only marke for my memory Bel. Can you tell Moramente my brothers fault to Fidamira Mor. I beleeve I can Madam Bel. Pray tell me I long to know it The King takes Fidamira aside And Romero looking on her jewell talkes to her father King Now Fidamira it is time for me to challenge the reward of my obedience which I think so meritorious as I shall aske no lesse theâ— your selfe for recompence My joyes are yet to come I have had no sense of all that you have had to day I have reserved all my soule for this blessing I beg of you I am noâ— yet happy only in the power of dispensing with the election Gem. O Sir settle your happinesse on the joyes of King and Father and be not so cruell to me as to make me guilty of your discontent to day since it is not in my power to satisfy you King I am so unhappy that you Madam that have had till now so much power over your selfe should lose it now for its confirmation Gem. The having had so much power over my selfe is that which restraines me now the having made a vow of chastity which is not in my power to recall King What strange crosses do my passion meet first it was to contest with Nature now with Heaven Bel. If I had known this story Palante I should not so easily have owned you for my brother But 't is forgiven you now Gen. Had I sooner known you for my sister Madam I should not have been in need of this forgivenesse Rom. Then this is certainly she Will you be pleased to heare me Sir in the behalfe of this worthy man King Alas Romero it is not his fault I impute nothing to him Bel. What sudden cloud is this Sir that overcasts all our joyes King 'T is Madam that no body askes me any thing but pardon to day And I would give any thing my selfe and it will not be accepted Rom. Will you be pleased to heare me sum up all the wonders of this day This is the Princesse Miranda This gentleman her suposed Father hath by my knowledg of a jewell and a mark upon her arme confest to me that he saved her life at the same time when the Prince saved the Prince Palante's and to avoyd the ruine you had pronounced agâ—inst such a disobedience he own'd her for his child and hath so bred her ever since Bo. This Sir upon my conscience upon Romero'â— challenge bids me acrew and joy in these meanes of retribution unto her whom I owe all your benefits the giving her the knowledge of her selfe King This Bonorio is a merit to me above the being her father as it will helpe to 〈◊〉 me from a desire would have disquieted the peace of this blessed day Gem. I must acknowledg more to you Bonorio then to a father whose giving life is but casuall but mine was given me by the hazard of yours Bon. You have given me meanes to despise death which is my despaire Mor. There was but this one point wanting to close up all the blessings the circle of this world containes Bel. Lovely Miranda sure heaven did desert the knowledge of you till the acquaintance with your Prince should make the finding you a sister such a joy as now it proves Gem. Matchlesse Saphira I cannot now taxe nature for any of my wants since she may answer me She did reserve all that she could give for you And it is too much for me to come so neer as being sister to such perfections Bel. What I will thank nature most for is for that instinct by which she did perswade me to love you so as Gemella Gen. There is none can challenge so much joy in this discovery as I dare Miranda For I have not only found a sister but my selfe worthy to be a brother to you both then before as nature now makes my inconstancy her predomination not the defection of my faith Kâ—nâ— Nature and heaven joyning now have mastered my passion Now Miranda I must ask you pardon that my cruelty should indebt you to another for your life And heaven foâ—bids me now so much the wishing the defeature of your vow as it directs me to present you with the reward of it And since your vow hath chosen this residence I will propose to the Societie the confirming you Queen during your life Bel. You have spoke Sir all our wishes All. We agree to it with joy Gem. I accept this as an accomplishment of your prediction Moramente of my never being injoyed â—y mâ—n And methinks heaven gave me a prevision into this your happinesse which I dare assure you of Bellesa's love which you do now possesse May by you only be made more or lesse Mor. I will leave her only the power of improving it and will but own an incapacity of ever contribuâ—ing to the lessening of it Bel. I will now ease your complement Sir of having nothing asked you to daie I will aske a blessing will add to my sense of this dayes happinesse It is so great a suite Sir I will joyne Moramente with me to obtaine it leave for my brother to be received a servant to the Princesse Mirabella your daughter for whose beauty fame promiseth as much as her birth assureth for her vertue King This day is so auspicious to my wishes as it affords me all my suites I will advance somwhat to you Madam this promise that she is allready by your desire ready for Prince Palante's acceptance or refusall Mor. There can be no dispute or scruple Madam but this disparity between his sister and mine If he will be content with so unequall a choice Gen. This raiseth the value of my new condition by the procurement of such an honor as the Princesse Mirabella whose perfections seeme rather to add unto the lusture of your crown then to need to be sett there to â—hine Therefore I shall beg Sir that you will procure me to be accepted Gem. Bellesa was to bring in the last joy Sure now all this day's miracles are perfected
Mor. I have a suite more to you Sir that you would be pleased to let me keep this happy name Moramente King You may in gratitude qualify that name that hath served you so Bel. And I will keepe Bellesa all my life Mor. There is no life Madam that name is so due to aâ— yours Bel. What say you Melidoro and Camena You are tuned for your parts in the consorts of this day Cam. I am so transported with your joyes Madam I have forgot my selfe Mel. Give me leave then to remember you of your promise if Bellesa left the Society with Moramente Mor. All is dâ—e that was promised on that condition Cam. Then Melidoro you are master of your wish Beâ— We will carry you to Court with us where we will be witnesses of your joyes You see Pantamora every one that durst scarce hope their wishes possessed of them to day and your security only left empty 〈◊〉 I shall stay here Madam and learn to assure my wishâ—s by bounding them within the peace of this blessed plâ—ce Bel. Come Martiro I have nothing to think on now but the making thee happy which is so hard it will require my stâ—dy Mar. That may be easily Madam by leaving me here and receiving this offering May you alwayes carry with you my accomplished wishes and prayers instead of me gives her a paper Bel. These be verses Maâ—tiro pray read them Mar. Reason and Wonder are so reconcil'd In you as married they have had a child Whos 's first conception was the birth Of more then was conceiv'd before on earth So Love that did so long in labour lye Deliver'd of impossibility Is now at last and so can never more B'in danger of miscarrying as before For your divine example needs must prove The heighth of vertue doth consist in love So Love shining in you by this reflex Raiseth both light and heat to either sex Since your example doth to all declare None innocent that love not nay not faire For they can neither handsome be nor true That may and yet refuse to be as you If any thing impossible be now In love t is that your vertue may allow For even your loving doth become a proof It is impossible to love you enough Bel. These I understand Martiro and will answer them with a wish to you May your elected solitude enlarge and fill your soul at once with such delightfull thoughts as you may never thinke that you want any thing but time Mar. Your wishes are divine Madam and must fulfill themselves Mor. Will you be pleased to think Madam who we shal dispatch to the King your father with these news and to desire his consent to the Prince Palante's wish and mine Rom. Let me begge this commission that I may imploy this new life that you have given me on your service King None can be so fit as Romero that can informe the king of all that 's past Bel. I will write by you to my father who I thinke will not know my brother's and sister's hands 'T is no time Sister to performe the rites of your inthronement Mir. There can be nothing welcome to me so neer the loving you Bellesa Bel. I will promise Miranda if Moramente will joyn with me to come hither once a year Moramente Promise me Madam never to doubt your will Bon. Give me leave Madam to make the last suite to be received into the Society without the publication of a pretence Mira. 'T is a grace Sir you may be sure of since it is in my power King Among all these joyes 't is no wonder if no body think of sleeping Let 's retire Madam to that rest may prepare us for to morrows ceremonies where these couples must be beholding to your dismission Mar. It becomes me Madam to leave the last wish with you May you have all the joyes of innocence Injoying too all the delights of sense May you live long and know not till you 'r told T' endear your beautie's wonder You are old And when heavens heat shall draw you to the sky May you transfigur'd not disfigur'd dye FINIS