are low Which first made Fate and then to Fate did bow Nor War nor Love Sir are Resistless Powers Both have their Happy as Unhappy Hours But he who does for one Mischance Dispair Can ne're be prosperous in Love or War As I have told you what has rais'd your Grief So now I will present you some Relief For my informer Sir to me has swore That though the Prince your Mistress does Adore He hath not yet his Love to her disclos'd She therefore Sir has hopefully propos'd That you this moment to the Prince would go And let him from your self this Passion know His Friendship for you and so great a Trust Will make him cease to Love or be Unjust If Sir he does the first your End you win And by the last make Rivalship no Sin This Sir which She Proposes I approve King No Friendship ever yet could conquer Love He to that Passion vainly does pretend Who can resign his Mistris to his Friend I scarce can relish what she does advise It seems to me nor Generous nor Wise For in vain hopes of what it ne're will do I clearer shall the lesser Friendship show My Friendship too were guilty of a Crime Should his do more for me then mine for him Guesc. But e're her Council Sir you Disapprove Consider if you can forsake your Love King Sooner then I my Passion will forgo I will forsake my Crown and Friendship too Guesc. Then pray Sir follow what she does Advise And you will find 't is Generous and wise If to the Prince you first your Passion own You first do that which he first should have done And lay that Blame on him while this you do Which justly else he might have charg'd on you Since you will Court the Mistress of your Friend This is the fairest way to reach your End King I will approve that which you last did say And to attempt it will not time delay Exeunt King Guesclin and Page Val. Bro. In which of both does he not Guilty prove In his Dissembling or his change of Love There is but one way left that I can see To Cure or Punish his Inconstancy Exit Enter Plantagenet and Cleorin Cleo. Guesclin did shew no little Discontent When I refus'd the Gifts his King had sent Who since this way he does Successless prove He will himself declare to you his Love And Madam I believe King Edward too Will suddenly disclose his Flame to you Plan. Oh Cleorin how cruel is my Fate That those should Love me most whom most I Hate And he whom most I love in spight of 's Fault I fear of me scarce does admit a Thought Enter to them Alizia and Sevina Aliz. Excuse me Madam if I take this time T' accuse your Beauty of a seeming Crime That Friendship which on me you did bestow Does make it just I should yet call it so Plan. Madam I am Surpriz'd at what you say For that great Friendship which to you I pay Does make me confident I ne're could do What may be call'd a seeming Crime by you Let me but know my Charge and you will see You are more Faulty in Suspecting me Aliz. From the first hour in which you did descend To bless me with the Title of your Friend I so much valu'd it as Heaven does know I strove to Merit what you did bestow Which makes what e're I did in serving you To be at once my Joy and Duty too And though your Goodness often would confess I serv'd you above all you could express Yet I was higher Griev'd I did no more Then I was Pleas'd with all I did before Plan. Madam to prove my Debt you need not strive I 'le own my self the ungratefull'st Soul alive If since our Friendship I did e're admit A thought which might but seem unfit for it Aliz. Ah Madam can you say what now you do And have your Face exempt from blushes too Or do you think it is a Friendly thing To rob me of my Lover and my King One who till now preserv'd so pure a Flame As made hime greater for his Love then Fame If this be held a Friendly Act by you Pursue such friendly Acts and Kill me too To me a much less Cruelty 't would prove To rob me of my Life than of my Love For our past Friendships sake you shouâ—…d noâ—… give Wounds worse than Death and after let me live Your Cruelty grants half of my Request Then let your Pity Madam grant the rest Accept this Weapon and no longer shun To let your Hand cure what your Eyes have done Presenting her a Dagger Plan. I am amaz'd at what you say and do I 'le sooner wound my self with it than you Aliz Ah 't is your kindness to the King I see Hinders your granting what is beg'd by me His Image Madam you but love too well You fear to strike the Shrine where it does dwell But for that Reason what I ask dispence Since onely Death can banish it from thence Else to you Conquest 't will some trouble give To know he in your Rivals heart does live Plan. Can you believe I 'll share that Monarcks Bed By whose Command my Father lost his Head My Father who was Unkle too to him And who in Virtue to such height did climb As a whole day he on the Scaffold stood E're they could find out one would shed his Blood King Edwards double Guilt my soul does fright First he usurp'd on his own Fathers right Then stain'd a Scaffold with his Unkles gore For striving his wrong'd Brother to restore Aliz. You should not charge your Fathers death on him Since 't was his Pow'r not he which did that Crime His Chancellours while he was under age Cloath'd with his name th' injustice of their rage For which when he had reach'd his Fourteenth year He put to death the Guilty Mortimer And to appease you for that Murtherers Sin He now does Court you to become his Queen Plan. I thought from Nature you had understood There 's no Atonement for a Fathers Blood Then do not think I 'le ever Condescend At once to injure Nature and my Friend Aliz Have you forgot how you were almost won Madam to wed your Father's Murth'rers Son If onely Love prevail'd so far with you What cannot Love and thirst of Empire do Plan. Into a high Injustice I had run Had I ascrib'd the Kings guilt to his Son Aliz. You with a worse Injustice can dispence You charge the King with Mortimers Offence A Fathers Guilt a Son may undergo But Kings partake not Sins which Subjects do Plan. If on the Prince his Birth a Guilt did lay He with his Tears did wash that Guilt away Aliz. The Princes Grief was Weak the Kings was Strong The Prince Deplor'd the King Reveng'd your Wrong The King did more if rightly understood The Son gave you but Tears the Father Blood Plan. 'T will easier to a Cruel Prince appear To spill a Subjects
Provinces your Sword has Won Ask me to share with you the English Crown And that true Kindness with does me dispose Still to deny you Her would grant you Those Prin. The Empire of the world I should Disdain Unless Plantagenet with me did Reign No Charms would in that Throne to me appear Without I had your leave to place Her there But if you grant me what I now implore I cannot Ask nor can you Give me more King When first her Beauties in your Heart did Reign I had design'd to Marry you in Spain And the consent I of Don Pedro won By which you had Succeeded to his Crown But by affection for you I was led To give you leave Plantagenet to Wed. What Act of greater Kindness could be shown Then yield your Love should lose so fair a Throne You have lost Spain by your first Fatal Flame And by your second you will lose your Fame Those Wreaths which Conquer'd France for you have made By such a Guilty Fire will quickly fade Prin. I doubt not Sir but by my Sword to gain As large a Monarchy as that of Spain Fortune the Valiant may to Thrones prefer But 't is by Sufferings I must Conquer her King Ah Prince since nor your Reason nor your Fame Can cure you of so Criminal a Flame I 'le try if my Commands can make you do What Fame and Reason cannot lead you to I here enjoy you Son by every thing Which binds you to your Father and your King This sinful Love without delay decline Which should your Horror cause as well as mine For if this Passion longer you pursue You 'll lose your Fame your King and Father too Exeunt King and Lord Latymer Prin. Two Ills he offers one he bids me choose I must my Mistress or my Father Loose Why should he strive by Nature to remove The highest bond of Nature that of Love Though Nat'ral 't is t' Obey a Fathers call Yet to love her is much more Natural Since he would have me yield to Natures sway Where she most Rules there I should most Obey Dela Since She your King your Father and your Friend Oppose your Love give to your Love an End Any of them the Conquest ought to Win Then to Oppose all Four will prove a Sin Prin. Ah Delaware the Sin were much more Great Should I now cease to love Plantagenet Then I to kill my self I must needs consent My Love and Life being of like extent Dela Your Passion is Unjust while 't is so Great You pay Loves Score with what is Natures debt If in your Love so prodigal you are With what Sir will you pay your Fathers Care Prin. Ah 't is his Love for her noâ—… care for me Which makes him treat me with such Cruelty Against all Rules of Justice he does go Making himself both Judge and Party too If to Love her who wrong'd me be a Crime The self-same cause makes Love a Fault in him Dela More by a King and Father may be done Then may be by a Subject and a Son Let calmer Thoughts you to your Duty bring Pronounce the names of Father and of King With that Respect which is to either due And yield to those Effects 't will work in you Those Pow'rful Names will then Victorious be Prin. I find in either dwells Divinity For nothing less of Force enough could prove To hinder me to speak to her I Love This is the very utmost I can do And this Heav'n knows will prove my Torment too Dela Silence Sir is but half of what you owe You should suppress your Inclination too Prin. My Inclinations must be let alone For though 't is Mine yet it is not my own Dela Onely to Lovers this Distinction's known How can it Sir be yours and not your own Prin. Subjects who from their King the Pow'r have gâ—… Are still his Subjects though he Rules them not Oh Friend in my Condition there appears Two Motions like to those which Rule the Sphears My Love the Rapid Motion I may call My Duty to my King the Natural Which while it does it's Regular Course obey Loves Rapid Motion hurries it away Exeunt The End of the Third Act. THE FOURTH ACT. The Scene opening King Edward and Lord Latymer appear in a Garden discoursing Lat. SIr 't is past doubt the' Intelligence is true King What the French King the Princes Rival too Lat. And to so great a Height as I believe A period to their Friendship it will give For never any yet could soar above The fierce Resentments of a Rivalls Love King Friendship between them two can hardly be Of so much Strength as Nature is in me Since Love in me does Nature's Force subdue Doubt not in them 't will Conquer Friendship too 'T is the Prerogative of her Bright Eyes For Love of them to breake all other Ties Lat. Is it then just you on the Prince should lay Commands above his Pow'r Sir to obey King Oh Latymer I grant I am to Blame But 't is not Love alone does me Inflame Glory in that I act does bear a part Glory does fire my Mind as Love my Heart Nothing for me seems Worthy to Pursue But what my Son Attempting Fail'd to do Since he to such an Envied Fame does rise Mine will Burn dimme if it Outshine not his Lat. Oh Sir can you who have such Glory won Grow Jealous of the Glory of your Son King He never Glory Lov'd who could Admit Of any thing which might Outrival it From this Resolve nothing can me remove Nature must yield to Glory and to Love Enter King John and the Prince who lock the Chamber-door Lat. Sir I perceive the Prince and the French King Something Important does them hither bring For they are come alone and lock the gate If Sir conceal'd a while you here will wait Perhaps you 'll learn what in their Loves they 'll Do. King That 's a discourse deserves my list'ning to King Edward and Lord Latymer conceal themselves behind the Scene King Io. 'T is such a Secret as shall clearly show The perfect Friendship which to you I owe Since what to tell my self is scarcely fit I to your Secresie shall now commit Prin. Though nothing can to me more Pleasure give Then Proofs Sir of your Frienship to receive Yet among Friends there may such Secrets be As to disclose them were an Injury But you too well the Laws of Friendship know And are too Generous to use me so King Io. That Friend must to himself appear Unjust Who takes as Injuries the Marks of Trust Yet tell me Sir what can that Secret be Which to Reveal would be an Injury Prin. Shoul'd you have brib'd your Guards to set you free 'T would be an Injury to tell it me For I should be what ever I should do False to my King and Father or to you King Io. Could I corrupt or else his Guards deceive I 'de not return to France without his
Why was this Play then by the Author writ A. In fear 't is said of being call'd a Wit And many a Man does doubt that it his Friend Ere three hours hence he will have reach'd his end N. Take heed if at this rate we gable ◅re Our Poet will attain his end before A. For fear of that 't is best we should be gone N. What without Prologue A. I 'm resolv'd to have none For some on Wit that needless Tax did lay Which Poets now are grown too poor to pay But yet as mettled School-boyes set to cuff Will not confess that they have done enough Though dea◅ly weary till spectators do At once both part and call them good Boys too But then these Cussers monstrous joyful are Iust thus it would with all our Poets fare Would you decree what I for them implore Poets with Prologues nere should meddle more 'T is the best thing you for your selves could do For Prologues first tire Poets and then you If you 'l not do 't while in your power it lies They 'l do it of themselves if they be wise Our Poets tyr'd and has with Prologues donē But those which yet are fresh let them cuff on The Persons Names Tryphon The King Aretus and Demetrius Friends Seleucus Capt. of Tryphon's Guard Nicanor Father to Cleopatra and Stratonice Tryphon's Freeman Cleopatra and Stratonice Sisters Hermione Confident to Cleopatra Irene Confident to Stratonice Tryphon THE FIRST ACT. The SCENE is the Garden of Tryphon's Palace in Antioch Demetrius and Aretus Dem. TRyphon I grant through Seas of blood has gone To force his passage to the Sy◅ian Throne But how men gain their Pow'r the Gods do not So much regard as how 't is us'd when got Our Murther'd King Antiochus did own That Tryphons Father did restore his Crown Which made him trust the Sons ambitious youth With so much pow'r as did corrupt his truth This our dead Prince discover'd but too late Which did provoke Tryphon to act his fate For Kings should not to too great Subjects shew They mean their ruine till they act it too And he almost deserves to lose his Throne Who makes a Subject's power exceed his own Are. What ever you in his defence have brought Rather then lessen doth augment his fault For what could show this Tyrant more unjust Then to abuse such gratitude and trust Trust which the wicked often does reclame This monstr'ous wickedness does more inflame That he repents nothing can us perswade Since what makes others good has made him bad Dem. When once Ambition does the mind devour Men Sacrifice their Vertue to their Pow'r Antiochus had rais'd him up so high As he was either to usurp or die And when he had perceiv'd the Kings distrust He made him think that what was safe was just Are. Oh let him not be pleaded for by you Who did his King depose and murther too Lest on your self th' Usurpers blood you bring Dem. 'T is less to kill then to arraign a King And he who does an Empires loss endure Cannot think death a punishment but cure Are. But Actions should be taken as they' are meant Dem. To vindicate him is not my intent Since all which can in his excuse be said Is that his Pride his Virtue has betray'd Are. No glimps of vertue e're in him could shine Who kill'd his King and all the Royal line Dem. After he had the chief of it supprest He thought it was unsafe to save the rest Are. Ambition made him act the Parricide And Cruelty must then preserve his Pride By the same rule he ought to shed the blood Of all his Country-men that dare be good Then from the Throne let us th' Usurper fling To save our selves and to Revenge the King For should we to this Tyranny submit We shall deserve as well as suffer it And to the virtuous 't will much more appear Such a misfortune to deserve then bear That Tryphon calls you favourite I know But to his Fear alone that name you ow Yet though the kindness which he feigns were true Even layes the ground of what I call you to From you he merits death since he hath dar'd To hope such Friendship could such Guilt have spar'd Dem. Whom Tryphon fears he doth to death pursue And if he fear'd me he might kill me too But that he fears me not he could not give A stronger proof then that he lets me live Yet do not think his friendship such a charm As from revenge it could confine my arme But if my patience you a sin esteem It springs from Love to Syria not to him For since the Royal line are made away Were Tryphon kill'd who should the Scepter sway All the Ambitious for the Throne would fight For where none has the Title all have Right Thus while we cast a bloody Tyrant down By Blood we raise another to the Crown 'T is this 't is this which chiefly frightens me We may change Tyrants not the Tyranny Where Force is Title Force must make it good And who comes in by Armes must reign by Blood Are. Banish such groundless fears for he alone Who kills the Tyrant should ascend his Throne Who from this Tyranny does Syria free All will confess deserves our King to be If by your Arm this generous Act is done Saving the Kingdom will deserve the Crown Dem. Oh my Aretus should I yield to this T' would then be my Ambition punish'd his And he 's unfit a Tyrant to dethrone Who with his Countreys ends dare mix his own Since Tryphon is call'd King I 'le rather bear His Tyranny then be his Murtherer That name Aretus is a sacred thing Are. But Tryphon's an Usurper not a King Ah shall he keep his blood from being spilt By taking off that name which makes his guilt If such a principle we should endure Then the most guilty would be most secure Dem. What ever sins to gain a Crown are done The God's do pardon when they put it on We ought when Heav'ns Vicegerent does a Crime To leave to Heav'n the right to punish him Those who for wrongs their Monarchs murther act Worse sins then they can punish they contract And while his favour I so much possess My Pow'r will hinder any new excess Are. But from new crimes while Tryphon you withhold You bribe our swords from punishing the old Dem. He that 's so bad as to gain pow'r by Blood Some reparation makes if he turn good And 't is my hope as much as 't is my care To fill his Court with those who virtuous are If Virtue in his Court it self advance Vice there will soon grow out of countenance That he no more into new crimes may fall Hee 'll make this day Nicanor General And our Seleucus free from Vice as Fear Shall head the guards Tryphon Nicanor Seleucus and Tryphon's Guards But Tryphon does appear Who must not see me since he sent me now On an affair which you at
his Knowledge to Declare And what he Sayes I hope you will Believe King Ed. To what he speaks I still will Credit give Dela I should be too Unworthy of this Trust Should I abuse a King so Great and Just When to the Warrs of Aquitaine I went I made a Friendship with the Earl of Kent Who in a Charge did such deep Wounds receive As finding that he had not long to Live A Messenger in hast for me he sent As soon as e'r I came into his Tent He told me Something on his Heart did lye Which griev'd him more then he was Griev'd to Dye Then in my Hand he did this Letter lay And in a Sigh his Soul did fly away Prin. When you have heard it Read it will Afford Proof of her Vertue King Ed. Read it then my Lord. The Earl of KENT to the Lord DELAVVARE MY Death forces me to discover by what Arts I obtained from the Prince of Wales the faire Plantagenet Before He ador'd her I did and as soon as he fell in Love not knowing mine he made me his Confident but the King being against the match the Prince the better to cloud his reall passion for Plantagenet seem'd to have one for the fair Aurelia but still trusted me with the Superscription Cypher and Seale which he used when he writ to my Plantagenet and I had the fatal employment of carrying all their Letters At length the Glory the Prince wonn at Cressy joyn'd with his grief for the King's denyal conquer'd his Father and the Day was appointed for his marrying Plantagenet which if not prevented I found would be the Day of my Death This I imparted to my Mother who had no small ascendant over Plantagenet and by my Mothers advice I got the Prince to write a Letter to Aurelia whom I seem'd to be passionatly in Love with wherein he beg'd her pardon for having counterfeited a Love to her when his was otherwise disposed of but to repair it he earnestly recommended me to her affection as most worthy of it This Letter I seal'd and superscribed with the Cypher the Prince alwayes made use of to Plantagenet Prince's passion for Aurelia that this letter being delivered to Plantagenet Prince's Prince's inconstancie that in the dictates of those resentments she gave her self to me whereunto my Mothers Friendship with her did highly contribute The Prince in despair undertakes the war with France and I soon after disguised to all but you follow'd him in hope by some great action to wash off the Guilt my Love forced me to contract but here I met my Death Tell them all this and that I hope their hatred to me will be buried in my Grave Dela This Letter till this day I have conceal'd For Causes Sir unfit to be Reveal'd Prin. I hope you find in what he did relate She was not Guilty but Unfortunate King Ed. I must confess these Arts which Kent did use Doe her forsaking you too much Excuse Prin. Since this has wash'd off her imagin'd Stain Give me your leave to love her Sir again King Ed. I would not have defam'd her but I see To cure his Love there 's but that Remedy No Prince the Sin she did last night Commit Makes her for ever for your Love unfit Prin. Oh Heaven must I endure a new Assault Tell me I beg you Sir this Fansied Fault For she is of such an unblemish'd Fame As I can give it well no better Name But Sir to try me this perhaps is done King Ed. I doe not use to trifle with my Son And I beleive you I credit what I said When I my self found hid within her Bed A Lovely Youth who since is dumb with Fear My Lord bring instantly that Pris'ner here to Latimer Exit Latimer Prince Though I my self what you have said should see Yet I would think my Eyes were False not She. King Ed Since to your Witness I did credit give Methinks what I have said You should Believe Prin. Forgive me if her Vertue and my Love Forc'd me to speak what may your Anger move Fate never man to such a streight did bring I must offend my Mistress or my King Esteem her Guilty or not Credit you That Sir I cannot this I Dare not Doe Enter Latimer and Valeria's Brother King Io. Valeria's Brother Love is just I see Since he Revenges my inconstancy And makes him punish his fair Sister 's wrong King Ed. If still thy Fear has not ty'd up thy Tongue Discover to the King and to my Son How thou by Charmes Plantagenet hast won I found thee in her Bed there 's no Excuse Valer. Broth. Sir that 's a place which few men would refuse Enter Plantagenet Alizia Cleorin Sevina and all the Women Shall not one moment stay thy Destiny Plan. The Words and Anger of the King are High Alizia Sir and I but now did hear That with this Gentleman you Angry were We come to beg you to forgive his Crime King Ed. Of all the World you should not plead for Him For you by it so Great a Guilt do show As I had rather but suspect then know Plan. I know not what you mean by what you said King Ed. You know not too you hid him in your Bed Plan. Who could to you that Secret Sir declare Kig Io. Oh Heaven does she Confess then he was there Val. Bro That Sir I hope is no Offence to you do King Io. False Youth to me what worse Wrong could'st thou Val Bro. I thought my Sister had your Heart possest King Io. But did'st thou not from her to me protest She bid thee help me if I ere should be In Love with any one more Fair then She Val. Bro. And doe you Sir confess that you are so King Io. Those Charming Eyes must every Heart ore'throw Val. Bro. This Guilt in you will cause her Death I fear King Io. Thy Guilt to me is more then mine to her What do'st thou aile thou tremblest and lookst pale Val. Admire not Grief does or ' my soul prevail When to Valeria's self such Words you said taking off her Disguise As Sir does make her wish that she were Dead But though she 's killd by your Inconstancy Yet in your Armes she begs your leave to Dye she faints Plantagenet holds her up Plan. She faints Ah Sir that Guilty Change in you King Io. Oh Madam blame not what you made me doe Plan. Sir 't is not Just to charge your Fault on me King Ed. Is it Valeria then King Io. Yes Yes 't is she Her Broth'rs face so much resembles hers As I deluded by the clothes she wears Did to her self my Change in Love avow Prince The Clouds of my Despair do vanish now And Charming Hopes in me begin to Reign Plan. Give her more Air for now she Breaths again Valeria is set in a Chair King Ed. Oh I the fair Plantagenet did wrong Prince The Proofs that she is Guiltless are so strong As I now
beg you will no more deferr To give me leave to make my Court to her Alizia Sir in the Princes Suit I also Joyne King Ed. Her Vertue now does with such Lustre Shine As to Repair my having Injur'd it I his Addresses to her doe permit Prince In this more then a Father you appear Tâ—…s less to Give me Life then Grant me Her But Sir before this Blessing I pursue I must do Justice to my Rivall too Sir I did promise you on her to wait speaks to K. Iohn And from her Sentence to receive my Fate This Promise I am ready to Performe King Io. No Heart did ere endure so Fierce a Storm Who can support those burthens which I bear My Vowes confirm me here my Passion there By leaving her my Noblest Hopes I end And by not leaving her I Wrong my Friend Some Sacred Pow'r teach me what I should doe Plan. Your Honour â—…indes you Sir to keep your Vow She told me Sir that Sacred Oath you Swore That you no other Beauty would Adore And though you often for her Love did press Yet still Misfortune brought to you Distress She never could though she did often strive Perswade herself his Passion to receive But then all Danger Sir She did Despise And came to Visit you in this Disguise But oh what Horror did her Soule invade When she o're heard what you to Guesclin said Of that unhappy Love you had for me She for that wound no better Cure could see Then to make me her freind and Confident King Io. Ah what for me could Fortune worse invent Love she deny'd when t' would have made me Joy And onely gives it now 't is to Destroy Plan. This Sir by Vow she ty'd me to conceal Till you to me your Passion should reveal Beleiving that would be the fittest time To tell you and Convince you of your Crime In which I promis'd my Assistance too All I have told you hapned Sir when you to King Ed. Did unexpected visit me last night Which put us both into so great a fright I least Ill Thoughts in you it might create Finding a man suppos'd with me so late And she to be discover'd did so dread As Sir I did conceal her in my Bed Where I forgot her in my Freinds Despair King Io. Madam we wait till you your Doom Declare Plan. Oh let not Sir my Sentence make you Doe What Love and Honour now doe call you to She Merits you so Bright her Love does Shine And Sir the Prince of Wales possesses mine Behold the fair Valeria does revive If you 'l Aske Pardon she 'll a Pardon Give She your past Fault but for a Dâ—…eam will take If Sir she finds you True when she does wake King Io. I can no more your Pow'r so high does rise Refist your Sentence then I could your Eyes And those Commands which now on me you say I beg you will Assist me to Obey Plan. You have your King so wounded with your Grief To Valeria That he as much as you does need Releif King Io. With an Afflicted Soul I waite on you To my own Fault and beg your Pardon too Madam I hope a Love which ne're shall Dye Will expiate one short Inconstancy Valeria Ah! though I ne're more Reparation fought Then Sir that you should see and owne your Fault Yet you my Heart so wounded by your Crime As to recover it requires some Time King Io. Though I this Penance Madam must deplore Yet I must grant my Fault does merit more Prince Now Sir to raise our Joys above Increase To this great King give Liberty and Peace King Ed. Those Offers which I always did Decline To Gratify you both I now will Signe King Io. While in this way my Freedome you Restore You and the Prince make me your Pâ—…s'ner more Your former Conquest Sir to tâ—…is must Yield This wins my Friendship â—…t but won the Feild King Ed. This is a Conquest we delight to owne 'T is more to gain your Friendship then your Throne Now all th' Alarm 's of Love and War shall cease And yeild their roomes to the soft Joyes of Peace The Curtaine falls PROLOGUE TO THE KING THe Poet Sir has offer'd to your sight An English prince whose Fame appear'd so Bright As never any since his time was known To shine with clearer Lustre but your Own For though Immortal Honour he did gain By conquering France and by restoring Spain Yet Sir you brought Three Kingdomes to Remorse And gain'd by Vertue more then he by Force Which Sir on you a greater Name bestows By conquering Them by whom he conquered Those 'T is more by Vertue England to o'recome Then by the English to beat Christendome As when the Universe was to be made The Vast Design was on the Waters laid So you in Conquering it like Method keep Laying your first Foundation in the Deep Though the Black Prince so happy Sir did prove As to be Crown'd with Victory and Love Yet Sir he knows from you he may receive A Nobler Crown then War or Love can give This makes him like the Poet trembling stand Till Sir that Crown be given him by your Hand FINIS Tryphon A TRAGEDY As it was Acted By his HIGHNESS THE Duke of YORK 's SERVANTS Written by the RIGHT HONOURABLE THE Earl of Orrery LONDON Printed by T. N. for H. Herringman at the Sign of the Blue Anchor in the lower walk of the New Exchange 1669. THE PROLOGUE Spoke By Mr Nokes and Mr Angell A. HOld hold N. Why Sir A. What is 't you mean to say N. I mean to speak the Prologue to the Play A. Therefore to stop you I esteem it fit N. The Poet then will not be thought a Wit A. A wit Forsooth N. Yes Sir a wit A. What 's that N. A wit is in one word I know not what A. Of that kind Title give your Poet Ioy. A wit is then in French A je ne scay quoi A modish Name N. Yet Sir that Name to gain How many of our Writers crack their brain A. That 's a mistake for who 'd that Name contract Must e're he Court it first his brain have crackt To be a Wit believe me Sir 't is true Is the worst State a Man can Fall into The Wits first vow is that they none will spare But jeer at every Creature that they dare And the No-Wits these Wits so dis esteem That they give Money oft to hiss at them 'T is the Wits Nature or at best their Fate Others to scorn and one another hate They would be Sultans if they had their will For each of them would all his Brothers kill N. Hold Sir the Wits you too severely school A. I say to be a Wit 's to be a Fool For who but such a Creature would not grudge T' have any one for half a Crown his Iudge Nay toil that he such a wise Act may do Then lets the Players get the half Crown too N.
night shall know Demet. and Aret. go out several ways Try No no Nicanor I can truly own My safety made me chiefly take the Crown Antiochus had rais'd me to such height As I had felt what was an Empire's weight And scarce th' Ambitious would be brought to reign If with the Pomps of Pow'r they knew the Pain But when false doubts of me his mind did fill Then whom he Rais'd he had design'd to Kill And though the Father plac'd him in the Throne Yet this return he would have made the Son Finding that he or I must be opprest I of two evils did embrace the least Since to my Services he was severe From him what might not his best Subjects fear Which shows my Countreys good in what was done As much did urge me to it as my own Nica. Sir you have known me long and that my heart In what I speak disdains the vails of art If therefore you would now my silence break Be not offended if I freely speak Try Nought you can say such an offence will be As doubting freedom can be so to me Nica. Then Sir my mind I 'le freely speak to you Yet with that reverence which to Kings is due I know your Fathers Valour and your own Did to Antiochus restore his Throne Since for your King you did that Service do Ah Sir forget not 't was your duty too Subjects too oft whose services are great Consider that as merit which is debt And have the ruine of their Kings design'd Judging them cruel when not over-kind Those are sad truths which Histories oft show Judge Sir if this has been your case or no. Try I need nâ—… clearer proof to let you see That once Antiochus was kind to me Then when he alter'd and my murther meant I by his ruine could my own prevent To me his kindness he had largely shown Trusting me with a Pow'r above his own Had he but told me he 'd that Power recall I at his feet would have resign'd it all But why because he rais'd me up so high Should he conclude I merited to Die If he did erre placing me where I stood Why must his fault be washt off with my Blood Nica. Ah Sir though this had been the state of things Yet subjects Sir should die to save their Kings Much rather they their own death should endure Then by their King 's their Safety 's to procure And Virtue does oblige us where 't is strong Rather to suffer then to act a wrong Try But Natures Dictates which no man can wave Obliges every one his Life to save Nica. Nature whose Dictates in defence you bring Ties subjects â—…y their Deaths to save their King Nature is Reason Sir and that does show More to our Kings then to ourselves we owe Form a subjects Death but one does fall But a King's Life contains the Life of All. Seleu Yet though your Safety Sir did you Incline To Kill your King you might have spar'd his Line Oh Sir you needed not their Bloods have spilt Try Their Births to me Seleucus made their Guilt Who his own Murther by his Monarch's Shuns Makes it more certain if he spares his Sons Sel. But though to save the Sons unsafe was held Why was Antiochus the grandchild kill'd An Infant who was then not two years old Try Whatever of his Death my Foes have told Yet to you both here solemnly I Vow That child for ought I know is living now And one who oft informes me what is True Tell 's me Nicanor he 's conceall'd by you Nica. I doe not doubt but many there may be Too apt to give ill Characters of me But Sir I think if you reflection make With what Affront the King from me did take The Generals place you 'l scarce believe he durst To one so wrong'd commit so great a Trust Yet if you think it true Try Nicanor hold 'T is not what I believe but what I 'm told And to convince you what I say is true The Generals Office I restore to you If I to Syria meant not to be Just I would not lodge in you so great a Trust A Trust which if I use the Syrians ill Gives power to punish me and Pow'r gives Will Nic. That Trust which Sir you now on me would lay Does merit more then I have Pow'r to pay But when my King did wrong me I did swear No publick Office I again would bear Forgive me Sir since 't is a Sacred Vow Makes me decline what you have offer'd now I should for such a Trust appear unfit If I forswore my self accepting it Try Take heed for if this Offer be refus'd I may believe you Justly are accus'd Nic. You should methinkss much rather Sir from thence See my Foes Malice and my Innocence Were I possest of the Thrones lawfull heir Why should I wave a Pow'r might place him there Try But if you would accept what I restore That Action would convince me of it more For since your Vertue binds you to be just 'T would bind you too not to betray your Trust Yet I 'l believe 't is nothing but your Vow Keeps you from taking what I offer'd now You shall therein by me no more be prest And that you may still on my Friendship rest Demetrius is this day imploy'd by me In an Affair shall let Nicanor see That I have made it now my chiefest End To make him by a sacred tye my Friend Seleucus whose High Worth deserves Rewards Shall from this day be Captain of my Guards Sel. This Trust I 'l strive to merit by my Care Nic. Those clearliest show that they your Servants are Who at your Faults judge it a sin to winke And tell you Truths which others scar ce dare think Sel. Those who their Princes flatter May be thought Guiltier then those who have against them fought Since more by Flattery have been undone Then have been ruin'd by Rebellion Nic. Monarchs those servants highest should esteem Who when they err dare not but tell it them And he who does by Force a Throne obtain Ought to repair it by a Generous Reign Try This Freedome and the Council which you give As Proofs of both your Friendships I receive And I resolve my Reign shall be so good As shall outweigh my want of right by Blood They all goe out Enter Cleopatra Stratonice Irene and Hermione The SCENE Nicanor's Pallace Stra. That sacred Friendship which so firm has stood And joyns us more than Nature does by Blood Makes me not fear dear Sister you 'l believe That 't is my Envy this advice does give Demetrius has but too officious been Perswading Tryphon to make you his Queen Improve his Error to exalt your Fame And scorn both Tryphon's scepter and his Flame You 'l merit to a lawful Throne to rise If an unlawfull one you can despise Since greater to the Vertuous t will appear A Crown to Merit then a Crown to Wear Cleo. Though Tryphon did
As from Plantagenet I now am come Who dares not Sir one moment leave the room To tell you that th' Assurance of your Love Can onely these resolves of Death remove Despair alas so pow'rful is in her 'T will be too late should you the Cure defer King Ah lead me then where my Alizia lies For in her Sorrow I so Sympathize As I alas without disguise may swear Her grief wounds Me much more than it does Her Exeunt Enter Delaware and Cleorin Cleo. 'T is a strange Secret which you have reveal'd But why alas was it so long conceal'd Repair that Fatal Sin you did commit And fly to tell your Prince and Mistress it Dela As all those Sins which for a Crown are done Heaven does absolve when Heaven does put it on So all those Crimes which are perform'd in Love Do lose that name when we successless prove Cleo. But since of yours you cannot hope Relief Do not delay to cure your Prince's Grief Dela Ah my dear Sister if my hopes were fled You soon should see your wretched Brother dead But who in Love does as a Lover strive Lives while he Hopes and Hopes while he does Live Cleo. Ah! to such empty Hopes impose an end By making Blest your Mistress Prince and Friend So losing of your Hopes you soon will see A greater blessing then your Hopes can be Has Love the Pow'r to sink the Soul so low As to deny what Vertue bids you do What Nobler Fate can Love give to your pain Then to deserve that Love you cannot gain Dela Should I this Secret to them both confess 'T will rather raise then make their Troubles less While under their Delusion they remain Their just resentment robs them of their Pain But were that happy Fallacy remov'd She with such Passion by the King is lov'd As they can ne're possess what I shall lose And 't will in them a lesser Grief infuse Never a hope of Union to admit Then be so near and after miss of it Besides the Kingdom may be plung'd in War When such a Son and Father Rivals aâ—…e Cleo. Ah! you should blush to talk at such a rate Make not your Crime an interest of State Better that War you dream'd of should ensue Then you should shun what Honour bids you do Oh 't is in you too Guilty a Distrust When you fear ought more then to be Unjust Consider should the Prince or she e're know That Secret you to me discover now Dela I fear not that 't is onely known to you Cleo. Yes but it is Dela to whom Cleo. You know it too Ah! little Honour in your Soul does shine Should not your Knowledge fright you more then mine To what low State Love does a Lover bring Is your own witness then so slight a thing Let Vertue and not Fear make you repent Guilt is a greater Ill than Punishment Have you not found what I have said is true Studies a while Dela My Passion strives my Vertue to subdue Pity your Brother whom Love Masters so As he does fear what Honour bids him do Pity your self for it is you alone This hopeless guilty Passion must Dethrone Cleo. To conquer Love there needs but little skill Since none can want the Pow'r who has the Will Dela There 's none does want the Pow'r his Hopes to kill But to Destroy them who can have the Will Cleo. Your Care were finish'd were it but begun Dela Ah this is easier said then it is done Yet I from you this double good have got To know my Debt and grieve I pay it not Cleo. Who grieves he does not what he can and ought Is guilty of his Torment as his Fault Dela Ah! you did never yet the Torment prove Which springs from Honour that disputes with Love Cleo The Torment lies in the Dispute alone Let Honour Conquer and the Torment 's gone Dela But Love assumes o're me so strange a right As 't is at once my Torment and Delight Cleo. You 'll find if Vertues Dictates you pursue Greater Delights exempt from Torments too For though successless Love be no small pain Yet Guilt in Love wounds deeper than Disdain Dela Oh Cleorin that which you have now said Has in my Soul such an Impression made As I perceive Love made me too long stay And Honour now would lead me in the way To that bright Guide I am inclin'd to Trust I 'le rather be Unhappy then Unjust Cleo. Such Charms in following Vertue you will find Dela Ah! should you press me more you 'd be unkind Do not all Honour of my change ingross Leave me part of it to support my Loss Cleo. 'T is not to Vertue that you now resort If it wants strength its own self to support 'T is onely Sin not suffering that it fears It grows the stronger the more weight it bears Dela I know in all it 's own support 't will prove Unless in quitting such a Charming Love Then think it is my Wisdom not my Fault If I seek every help in this Assault Sister Farewell I will retire a while That I may Love and Vertue reconcile Consider well what such a Love must be As with your Vertue dares to disagree Exeunt several wayes The Scene opens Alizia appears lying on a Couch King Edward Plantagenet Latymer Sevina and Women Attendants standing about the Couch Aliz. Ah 't is enough to Die Sir by your Hate Too much your Triumph thus to Celebrate Yet I repine not since you come to see That your Contentment is so dear to me As when I found my Life oppos'd your Love I chose by Death that trouble to remove And I implore your Pardon since the debt Is onely paying and not pay'd you yet But Sir my Rival can declare for me 'T is not my Fau't though it my Trouble be For she her Cruelty is grown so high Makes Death my wish yet hinders me to die King Oh I am come to wait upon you now That I may be both Just to her and you I must contess that her Inchanting Eye Did for a while my Guilty Heart Surprise But what I now shall tell you is as true Madam 't was I not she was false to you Her Friendship for you did the Conquest get I did Assault but could not vanquish it Do not believe that what is spoke by me Is onely to suppress your Jealousie That I thereby the safer Pow'r may win To persevere in and repeat my Sin Oh no that Love and Grief which you have shown Has all the Magick of her Eyes o'rethrown On Fancies Wings I my past flight did take But 't is on Tryals Wings that I fly back Aliz. Alas if Words could cure a broken Heart Those you 've now spoke would have that Pow'r or Art They come too late they should have come before Life you can take away but not restore But Sir the loss of mine my joy shall be If in my Death my matchless Love you see For Sir to
draws a Ponyard and viewing it saith My Hand is yet of this Bright Scepter sure Which for my Sufferings is a Certain Cure Thus arm'd I will my Enemies outbrave And spight of Fate deserve a Glorious Grave Ah Stratonice if thou my Heart couldst see thou 'dst find I only grieve at leaving thee Such Charmes are in thine Eyes Arcas cryes within Arcas They come they come Tryphon rises lifting up his Hand with the Ponyard in it Try Then I no longer will deferr my Doom Nicanor Demetrius Arâ—…tus Seleucus rush in with their Swords drawn followed by the Guards All make a stand seeing Tryphon in that Posture Though of my Death your Treacheries may boast The Triumph yet of your Revenge is lost Since Heaven designs this my last hour shall be Thus I my self act what the Gods decree Stabs himself Pleas'd that my Fate within my own Pow'r lyes And that in Death I can my foes despise I dye content since my last breath can boast That I your Plot of Murth'ring me have crost Tryphon dyes Nic. The Tyrant with himself has been at strife To make his Death as Guilty as his Life Dem. 'T was â—…ust this Execution he should doe That as he wrong'd us he may right us too Are. Yet I must Grieve at that which all Rejoyce Death should have been his Punishment not Choice Sel. His thirst of Humane Blood so great was growne As he rather then spare it spilt his owne One of the Guard leads in Arcas bound Guard Arcas confesses 't was he cry'd they come Arc. I do expect but doe not Fear your Doom Dem. Let him in safety to his Country goe Are. For our Revenge this Object is too low Sel. See how he shakes Guard let him be unbound Nic. We should prize Faithfulness where e'r 't is found The Guard unbind Arcas Are. To show I merit what I now enjoy The Freedome you bestow I thus imploy Arcas runs to Tryphon takes the Bloody Poniard which lay by him and with it stabs himself That Death you thought I fear'd I run to meet And dye content since at-my-Masters feet He fals dead at Tryphons feet Nic. Arcas deserv'd who could so bravely Doe A better Fate and better Master too Are. Tryphon deserved his Gratitude to have Him he did free and all the rest enslave Sel. Arcas I wrong'd thinking he shook for Feare Enter Cleopatra Stratonice Hermione and Irene Cleo. The news of Tryphon's Death hath brought us here We heard that he by his own Hand did Dye Sel. See where he now Pale as his Guilt does lye They all goe towards the dead Body Cleo. This sight at once my Joy and Grief does raise Sâ—…ra 'T is an ignoble Triumph thus to gaze Sir let his Body be from hence convey'd He by his Death for all his Crimes has paid Sel. Since by the Justice done by Tryphons Hand The Throne of Syria does now empty stand And since the Tyrant to confirm his sway The Royall Line at once did make away Princes 't were 〈◊〉 we instantly agreed Who is the Worthiest Person to succeed And since his Merit only can pretend I judge Nicaâ—… should the Throne ascend Dem. Seleucus you my motion but prevent Are. I to whatboth propose with Joy consent To you alone the Syriâ—… Crown is due Nic. Excuse me Sir it does belong to you Nicanor kneels to Aretus Admire not that my self I prostrate thus Since now I kneel before Antiochus They all start and seem amaâ—…ed Preserv'd by Heaven from Tryphons bloody Pow'r To all the blessings of this glorious Hour Your Father Sir who found he did designe Are. takes Nica. up T' Usurp the Crown and kill the Royall Line Sent you that night by a safe hand to me Hoping that I shut up in privacy For when the King revoak'd the Generals place I in Retirement mourn'd out my Disgrace Might best protect you from the Tyrants Rage This noble Trust did all my Griefs asswage Dem. 'T was a high Proof that he your Virtue knew Since whil'st he Wrong'd you he did trust you too Nic. Out of my House but still within my Care You by the Gods till now protected were Under the name of Leâ—…'s son you went The Prince by whom you first to me were sent Who when your Father and the King was kill'd O'recome by Greif his Life to Death did yeild In reading this short Letter Sir you 'll know Why what you are till now I durst not show He gives Aretus a Letter Aretus reads Antiochus to Nicanor SInce Heaven this Ruine throwes on us I trust you with Antiochus Let him by you with Care be bred But till you see the Tyrant dead Oh I conjure you grant me this Let not himself know who he is Th' Affront my Father cast on you forgive And let me still in your Remembrance live ANTIOCHUS Aretus gives the Letter to Demetrius and Seleucus Sel. If 't is the Prince's hand the hand I know It is his writing Dem. His subscription too Nic. My Testimony were enough alone Since I thereby doe gain the Syrian Throne To which by all your Votes you would me bring Sel. We all acknowledge that you are our King Are. Though a lost Crown the Gods to me restore Two things there are which yet I value more Oh would to Heaven Seleucus that I knew How to be just both to my Love and you Sel. Under such loads of Guilt my self I find That I though forc'd by Love your Death design'd As I the Greatest Sufferings ought to bear And therefore yield t' indure the loss of Her A hopeless Love to the best End I bring Pleasing by it my Mistress and my King Bless'd if the Sin caus'd by my Love and Fate By this Atonement I can expiate Are. This Generous Act which now you for me doe Does most obliege me and Amaze me too Embracing him To Cleo. Now Madam I dare humbly beg of you To take that Heart which to your Eyes is due They make me know that 't is a greater thing To be their Captive then to be their King A King who does as his chief Glory own The Power of laying at your feet a Crown In taking it you 'l Raise his Joys above All things except your Beauty and his Love Nicanor who to me does Empire give I hope will yield that you should let me Live Which I shall not till I your Pleasure know Nic. The Duty Sir she to her King does owe. Cleo. That Love for which so Generously you sue I give not to your Title but to you Are. Though from your Father I receive a Throne Yet now you give me more then he has done Amidst these Joys which Heaven on me does send I dare not be Unmindful of my Friend Demetrius Sir Adores Fair Stratonice Nic. Sir I with Joy consent that she be his Dem. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Madam so Guilty I have been to you That I scarce dare for your Forgiveness Sue Mercy it self but rarely does bestow At