others love That all my actions might pass unobserv'd But here comes Clariana with the Moor I must obscure Enter Prince Clariana Clar. Now we 're in private I must claim your promise Prince Past passages I 'll first relate And thence the future calculate You 've lov'd and been belov'd long since By this same Kingdomes Heir a Prince Ter. Say you so I 'll listen nearer Prince Whâ—se vertues are his crimes the love The people bear him some fears move Within his fathers breast but he Can't be guilty of disloyalty Clar. Your speech is Oracle let me entreat The Issues of our love Prince By the influence of your Stars Nought should threaten it but Wars Yet in this Ascendent-line Venus doth so swiftly joyn The God of War that you may prove Most happy in the Prince his love Clar. Can you not be more positive and tell Each accident that shall befal our loves Prince 'T is not in the power of Art Such high secrets to impart For tho' we read within the Skies Heavens dark-hidden mysteries They 're so obscurely there exprest That by most they are but guest If I may judge by what 's reveal'd And that the Stars have nought conceal'd Then this I boldly dare foretel Your loves will happy prove all well Ter. A pretty equivocating Prophet Clar. May all the Gods say Amen to your prediction Could you but tell me where he now resides At your own rate I would the secret buy Prince I cannot by the Stars for your desire Would too much time and study both require Yet am I not so unskilful in my Art But that in a short space I could impart A larger knowledge and by Magick pow'r Transport the Prince i' th' compass of an hour From his conceal'd aboad but that would wrong Too much his peace the other way 's too long Ter. A strange Promiser yet I have heard that Magick hath rais'd dead men from the Grave Clar. Besides my thanks as an acknowledgement Of your high learning and so fam'd deserts I do beseech you wear this Jewel Prince As Vertues badge upon my brest May fortune make you ever blest Exit Clariana Ter. A notable cunning Raskal he may be useful in my designe upon the Princes love so the plot is form'd I 'll but confirm my faith by certain questions of the particulars of my actions past and straight employ him Ter. Hail reverend Sir Prince The Stars protect you what 's your will Ter. With what a state he nods I am inform'd That by laborious and unwearied study You have obtain'd the sacred skill Of Divination and telling all futurities Prince Your information hath not wrong'd you Sir Ter. Might I assume the boldness to desire You would inform me of some passages That nearly do concern me and how therein I ought my self comport for to avoid The perils of my fate I should Be bountiful in my acknowledgements Prince Lend's your hand If every circle be well scann'd Within the Tablet of your hand It doth most evidently show You to a Prince's bounty owe All that you are Ter. The Devil 's in his tongue sure or near it to inform him Prince You seem amaz'd But your wonder will be rais'd When unto you I do realte How almost from a starving state You were advanced to this height Pray then do your Advancer right Plead well his cause to him be just Or you will soon return to dust Exit Ter. His knowledge startles me and more in this Then all he hath declar'd these secrets Were onely known unto the Prince and me H' hath a strange Genius I must make him mine If Gold or Promises have power to work Upon his dark-complexion'd face I 'll him corrupt none ere resisted Gold 'T would purchase Heaven were it to be sold I 'll finde him out Exit Scoena Quinta Lussurio Livia Maligno Luss DEnials are all vain they must not pass for currant I am too well assur'd both of your love to me and hatred to Maligno Liv. The last was well guest of a blind Prophet but how I should love you when or for what are all without my memory Lus Your Modesty bars confession but in your looks I plainly read your heart do you remember the Mirtle-Grove Oh Lussurio dear Lussurio Liv. Is the Fool mad Lus I must devise some way to let him know I love Do you remember this Liv. What should this mean Lus Some sparks of affection Lady which not stifled would break into a flame To be plain your love to me was over-heard and I being full of pity loth that so fair a creature should pine for me am come to make a tender of my person Liv. Some Wag hath workt upon his easie faith Intending to make sport which I 'll not hinder I love wit a life there is no pleasure Comparable to making fools Ha ha ha Enter Mal. Yonder 's Maligno too I spy him peeping If I don't play my part I am no woman Oh ho Lus Did not I tell you this you must conceal Your love alas poor soul she swoons Dear Livia Feigns to swoon Mal. See she 's within his arms how the Slave hugs her Liv. Oh Lussurio Lus Madam I am here I am here to serve you love you any thing you shall command Liv. If you love me fight Maligno he 's the man I hate Lus Let me receive a warrant from your lips and through seas of blood I 'll swim to the performance of your will Mal. Oh the Devil how he slavers her Would my eyes were Basilisks to look him dead Liv. I hope you 'll make a noble use of this discovery for had you not o'er-heard my love it should have quite consum'd my heart but since so unexpectedly you come to know it dissimulation's vain So I commit Maligno to your fury Lussurio shakes her by the hand Mal. What a letcherous gripe was there Would this Blade were in thy Guts to cool thee If wishes could destroy or curses kill I 'd be reveng'd of all my enemies Lus Account him dead he is so base a Coward I 'll use no other VVeapon then my looks Liv. God-a-mercy Fear he dares not look upon a sword Ha ha ha what a rare Duel will these Herculean spirits make I shall guess your love by your suddain execution Exit Livia behinde the Scoene Lus Thunder destroys not quicker then my rage He comes Ha ha ha Mal. Y' are very pleasant Sir fools laugh at shadows Lus If I laugh I have cause so wise men laugh at fools You saw Livia here a pretty Maid and of a handsome fortune Mal. And what of her did she tickle your spleen Liv. Perhaps all men are not of the same complexion I may be worth her smiles whilst others seem toads in her eyes Mal. I seem a Toad Lus Basto I 've said Mal. Enough to consume thee Scondrel Lus Ha ha ha sure now they 'll draw Mal. But that I scorn to stain my sword in blood So base
THE Ungrateful Favourite A TRAGEDY WRITTEN By a Person of Honour Ficta voluptatis causa sint proxima veris. Horat. de Arte Poet. Licensed May 11. 1664. Roger L'Estrange LONDON Printed by J. Cottrel for Samuel Speed at the Rainbow neer the Inner Temple-gate in Fleetstreet 1664. Drammatis Personae KING of Naples Old and timorous fears to be dethron'd by his Son AMINTOR the Prince His Son Generous and Popular yet full of respect and duty to the King a Lover of Clariana VALERIO a Count In love with the Princess and after General for the King TERRAEFILIUS An unknown person fancied by the Prince for his rare parts and qualities and by him advanced to highest Dignities call'd in Court Calisto DUKE of Calabria A Favourer of the Prince and Father to Clariana FRANGYPANE A Noble-Man endu'd with Courage and other brave qualities which are destroy'd by the infection of Love and Poetry He is in love with Livia MALIGNO LUSSURIO Two Sycophants that batten upon the Kings weakness and great enemies to the Prince HORTENSIO Lieutenant to Valerio a worthy Gentleman Captains Souldiers a Spirit Messenger JULIANA The Princess in love with Valerio CLARIANA The Dukes Daughter in love with the Prince LIVIA A Lady attending the Princess belov'd by Frangypane Ladies Scoene NAPLES PROLOGUE Enter a Drunkard a Morice-dancer a Buffoon a Bawd a Whore and a She-Gypsie they dance an Antick Which done Enter Tragedy in state in a Crimson Robe held up by two Roman Gladiators a Crown upon her head a Scepter in one hand and a Ponyard in the other at whose entrance the Dancers all start back Tragedy YOu seem amaz'd pray let me wonder too I have more cause to stand amaz'd thin you To see your mimick faces usher in So deep a Tragedy Those that have seen My Crimson Visage on the Stage before Expect designes both deep and dark nay more Counsels of Kings disclos'd They look to see Me usher'd in with wonted Majesty No light Morice Sure the Author 's frantick To present for a Prologue such an Antick Or else he humours those that are so few Can like things so extravagantly new I mean that are judicious some think fit To number Dances in the rank of Wit Such may his entrance please whilst onely they Of deeper judgement do applaud his Play THE Ungrateful Favourite ACTUS PRIMUS Scoena Prima Prince Terraefilius Prince THou lovest us Terraefilius Ter. Love you my Lord What man dare question it That hath a life or may be mortal Would I could finde a word apt to express it And then some action to make good that word My love would throw me on the enterprize And banish by performance the least doubt Might bring my Love or Duty in suspect Prince Neither is doubted Terraefilius I do believe and cherish both Ter. Give 't my Lord the name of Duty onely A Vassal's love unto his Prince is such Or if you please of Gratitude for all Those Favours those Seas of Princely Favours Your Bounty prodigally shower'd on me Prince I count them Terraefilius well bestow'd When Princes meet with a clear faithful Breast One who nor flatters nor betrays his trust As I have done in thee they ought esteem 't The richest Jewel in their Diadem When Hunting accidentally I found thee Clad in the roughness of a Souldiers Garb Then did I see Desert shine through thy Rags A valiant look linkt to an honest heart And since thy vertue hath made good all my Predictions of thee Ter. Your Grace doth ruine my small stock of worth Quite bankrupt my hopes which are by service To deserve your favour But Nature's poor In but affording me a single life Scarce valuable to loose in your defence The sum of all my riches is your love Prince In which Exchequer thou shalt finde no waste Nor study wanting to advance thy State For I designe Vertue a Triumph in Thy Greatness therefore Terraefilius I will prefer thee to my Fathers love Endear thee to his heart such honest Souls Should still cohabit with a Monarchs ear Ter. Your Grace doth seem to love me Yet you would loose me Prince Loose thee Terraefilius I 'd advance thee Ter. Thus to advance me is to cast me down Honesty dares not lurk too near a Crown Policy undermines and ruines her Truth 's an unwelcome Guest unto a King Whose ears have been the Inns of flattery Who never yet knew one truth of himself Or of his people Pardon my honest bluntness And next consider if a man that knows His duty binds him speak his honest thoughts T' inform his Prince of those abuse his ear And let him know his Peoples Grievances Can be a Grateful Favourite Prince You must learn to Temporize Ter. Yes be a Dog and fawn upon each Lord be injured and give thanks that is the thriving way never speak a truth but when it is injurious detract from true deserts and praise shallow great ones to their ruine Prince Thou hast the Theory now try to practise Ter. To be a Knave a Politick Courtier had I somewhat of the Fool too they were very fortunate properties Prince Although the Place seem such an Antipode Unto thy honest Nature when thou know'st My Interest urgeth my Commands thou 'lt flee Swister then Lightning to perform my wish I know thou wilt Ter. Were the Devil there as Vices are his Agents your interest would make me dare him too and to promote it vanquish him Prince Thy bluntness savours much of manly truth I 'll therefore use no further circumstance But open the very soul of my designe In placing thee at Court which is to finde Out such as are my enemies and do Infect my Fathers Soul with Jealousie Insinuating to his fearful thoughts My Popularity Which when thou hast Discovered at leisure we 'll contrive Their overthrow Two of those Slaves are now Within the level of my just Revenge But so endear'd unto my Fathers Soul He 'd think 't a violence unto himself Should we but touch them Ter. Give me Sir their Names I 'll mark them out for Hell immediately Prince You shall have fit Directions You can't Be ignorant how I have suffered And still suffer through my Fathers weakness Of whom I now am rather fear'd then lov'd The many Penances I 've undergone To gain the good Opinion of the King Must likewise be familiar to your thoughts Who can best witness the obscurity In which I 've liv'd how much below my birth Wedding my self unto a solitude Little beseeming such a Kingdomes Heir All to regain the Kings Opinion Of my Loyalty A thing impossible Unless by Policy I could remove Those brace of Leeches that do hourly feed Upon my Fathers weakness His Aged Fears Ter. I 'm bound to serve you Did your Highness know How loth I am to leave you what a contest There 's grown between my Duty and my Love You 'd surely pity me But I serve you Though I 'm banisht from you that 's my comfort
time you now were with them they believe Y' are but retired to your Country-house To setch them some pecuniary supplies You must continue still the false report Of my being gone to head some other Troops That lie concealed in a place remote Expecting a fit opportunity Upon advantage to disclose themselves For this will raise a terrour in the King Still keep their wisest Counsels in suspence That they 'll be long resolving what to do At worst they will not dare employ their force Against our Army in Calabria For fear our rumour'd forces here at home Should suddainly the King and Court surprize Duke I shall observe all your directions And make a Politick use from time to time Of these blanks by your Princely hand subscrib'd On Terraefilius specially whom I mistrust Prince Let not your Zeal my Lord so injure him Y' are both my friends yet Terraefilius Is of so dear concern unto my Soul I sooner should mistrust my self then him Nature hath molded all his faculties As if she intended him fair Vertues Shrine And Education hath so strengthened Those Natural Seeds of Honesty that In spight of Envy they must ever flourish Duke I wish your confidence meet no deceit Your Nature is too Noble to mistrust But if his intimacy with the King You 'd justly weigh in Reasons equal Scale And how since his endearment the old King's Ill-grounded Hatred to your self 's increast 'T were worthy a suspicion Prince Well I am content to try his Loyalty Duke I wish you finde all false however you 'll be Near enough to dive into his Policy Enter Juliana Clariana Prince No more here comes my Clariana and My Sister I hope I 'm far from knowledge Now my Lord we must but sigh a parting wish And separate Duke Wishing your Highness safety I am gone I hope to meet you next time on your Throne Prince Not whilst my Father lives for I would prove Not Heir unto his Kingdome but his Love Exit Duke Jul. I am glad howe'er my Brother is escap'd Since that the King design'd him for a Prison Clar. Such a restraint his Spirit could ne'er brook His Noble Soul would scorn to be confin'd And grown intemperate with injuries Might have expos'd his body unto some Contagious and Pestilential Fever Or more distractive Melancholy kill'd him Jul. So may the Wars thou hast not nam'd my fear Which was the secret murther of the Prince My credulous Fathers nature being apt By bloody Villains to be workt upon But now my Brother hath a spacious field To justifie his innocence or die In the Bed of Honour Clar. Die dear Madam that word 's destructive to us all Jul. He was not born immortal Clariana We all must die Death is to none a shame But those whose vitious lives do merit blame Prince I honour thy bravery of spirit My Clariana's more effeminate Fit for loves Dulcet charms yet is her Soul With Vertues much enrich'd though Pity most Within her Breast her Excellence may boast He goes to them Hail gentle Ladies you both are Much less fortunate then fair I read a sorrow on your brow And by a secret knowledge know The true cause of all your woe Clar. What 's this a Soothsayer Jul. One that pretends to Augury it seems I 'll try his Art Takes her by the hand Prince Sacred Madam as you stand This appears a Princess hand Mars and Venus do conjoyn Here within this amorous Line By which Art doth make us know You affect Valerio Jul. A strange knowledge Clariana Clar. It amazes me Jul. Pray proceed Prince By this Triangle Mars his square He should now be gone to th' War And by this same Line of Life You may live to be his Wife Though he be gone with bloody mind He shall ne'er your Brother find His aim is War Blood his intent Yet in his soul he 's innocent Jul. Stranger still Prince In your ear Madam by the way One thing I have more to say 'T is in your power to command And withhold Valerio's hand Vse your interest do this good Save your Lover and much blood Else on you will lie the guilt Of all the blood that 's to be spilt Clar. Take his counsel Madam for sure his Art 's Divine and he by th' Gods from Heaven sent Our dangers to foretel our griefs prevent Jul. Most learned Sir let us entreat your stay That we may yeild just Honours to your Art Prince Madam you shall command it Jul. You honour us whilst we enjoy your skill We 're careless of our fate and fear no ill Exeunt Scoena Quarta Terraefilius Lussurio Maligno Prince Clariana Tor. 'T is as I tell thee she loves thee dearly dotes on thee almost to death Lus Dear Calisto may I credit this Livia love me Ter. Thou art the very Idol of her soul Her Titular Saint As I was walking Two hours since behind the Mirtle-Grove Under a Cypress Tree I Livia spyed In such a posture as I soon did guess Love was the cause of her retirement Which moved my curiosity to draw Nearer where undiscern'd I over-heard Her thus complain unto her self Livia How hard 's thy fate to be belov'd by one Unworthy of thy love and to affect Lussurio dear Lussurio With which Her tears so plentifully flowed they stopt A while her Speech but taking truce with grief Lus What follow'd then my dear Calisto Ter. She said I must devise some way to let him know I love and how withal I hate Maligno betwixt whom and me Nature hath plac'd such an Antipathy I cannot live till he 's destroy'd and by Lussurio Lus I would I had the heart I 'd do it straight and merit her Ter. 'T is a strange longing Sir but Womens appetites are very exorbitant especially when they 're in love Lus It is her longing moves me Ter. Nay y' are oblig'd in conscience since she loves you and hateth for your sake Maligno thus Lus Nay I 'd do it willingly but for two rubs the danger Calisto and a certain natural aversion from spilling humane blood Ter. 'T is considerable but my life 's at your service Here he comes observe that frown and neglect not this opportunity to see your Mistress Lus Ha ha ha He hath received but a frothy entertainment Mal. How merry the Slave is Exit Ter. Hath he not cause that triumphs in his Mistresses favours He hath wearied me with amorous passages were I as you I would not bear the affront Mal. Were I confirm'd you promis'd visible proof Ter. Well remembred make haste you 'll finde them now together you soon may guess what men and women do in private Mal. If I finde him there he dies Exit Ter. Yes fifty odd years hence Although these Slaves Want Policy to dive in my designes Envy may make them vigilant to mark My actions Malice many times gives Wit I therefore thought it Wisdome to create This difference to keep them so employ'd In countermining of each
At first like a strong ship that makes the waves Rebound and shew their angry foam about Her Ribs she did repulse your love whereat I seem'd a little to draw off that with A double force I might return to storm Her resolution as at last I did Leaving Loves softer Theam to which her heart Seem'd an Antagonist I had recourse To what deceives the World Hypocrisie Which I did cloath in such a pious Garb Religion might have smil'd t' have seen her self So Ap'd With pious tears I did bemoan Her Fate yet on my knees at the same time Intreat her to embrace 't assuring her With a thousand imprecations strengthen'd By twice as many oaths that she 'd be cause In her withstanding of her Destiny Of the whole ruine of her Fathers state Her Brothers life incur the Peoples hate Ter. Excellent Hypocrite That we two might Incorporate and overthrow the World With Policy Was not the Princess mov'd Prin. Beyond expression startled in her thoughts Her Hate and Piety were so intermixt As barr'd all resolution You she seem'd To hate with all the malice of a Woman Contemning your Alliance with a scorn Might equal Cleopatra's when Caesar thought T' have led her a base Captive unto Rome T' adorn his Triumphs Yet Religion Mixt with a zealous fear t' offend the Gods Made her more apt to listen to my words Which her ears faster drunk then her confus'd And much perplex'd Imagination could Digest or indeed duely weigh To tell You all her Doubts and how I did resolve them Too tedious were suffice it that at last She was convinc'd Ter. But by what happy means Let me know every circumstance that I may adore the brain which did contrive it Prin. When nothing could prevail and I perceiv'd She was inclin'd with Conscience to dispence And hazard all I threatned I took a Pen and straight drew a Scheme before her Eyes Whereby I seem'd to calculate your Birth And soon convinced her too credulous faith You were a Prince led hither by the Stars For the accomplishment o' th' Gods Decrees Whereat she seem'd transported in her soul And crediting my words began to love Ter. Y 'ave render'd me too happy were my life Consum'd i' th' satisfaction of this service I should still die ungrateful Prin. This service Sir will scarce deserve your thanks Try me in something may be worth your love Ter. After this service past what canst thou do May equally oblige me Prince Sir I can bring the Prince the onely man That stands between you and your proudest hopes Into your power the old King I look on As a meer shadow I know your interest Ter. The Devil hath inspir'd him with my own thoughts Thou talk'st of blessings rather to be wisht Then hop'd for or effected Prince Be not incredulous my Art improv'd By my great Zeal to serve you will make me Work greater Miracles Ter. Your courtesies confound me I must crave Some time to prize them as I ought but if I thrive in my ambitious hopes you must Divide the Empire Prince Is your ambition there Y' are somewhat wide Aside If all hit right 't is you that must divide But not my Crown They that by crimes aspire Should be cut short that they may grow no higher Ter. It shall be so Come Sir let 's to the King 'T is much about the time he did appoint The Princes death we will contrive by th' way Danger doth threaten evils at a stay Exeunt Scoena Quarta Livia Juliana Clariana Lussurio Maligno Liv. DEar Frangypane how noble was thy love To die for me what generous sparks lie hid And smother'd in extravagant Fancies Thy Noble death hath gain'd more then thy life Could ever purchase thee my Love Jul. Prethee listen for the Wench is run Distracted sure since Frangypane's death And so transported that a Lord did die For love of her she 's quite Platonick grown And doats upon his Ghost Clar. How Love doth play with Mortals Liv. Holy Soul that gracest th' Elizium shades With thy blest company and rendrest us Unhappy by thy absence hear my Vow My Heart hereafter shall be ever thine And free from all Terrestrial Love aspire By thy example to become Divine And flee towards thee because it can no higher Jul. How she 's exalted Liv. No Mortals touch shall ere pollute my lip Nor lustful gripe provoke a wanton smile Nor amorous fingers be allow'd to skip Into my Bosom lest they should beguile Thee of my love and me of that same part I 'd wholly dedicate to thee my heart Clar. She 's high-flown in love Jul. A true Platonick a very Spirit in Flesh SONG Livia To love's a trifle but to love like me Would pose Loves Deity She best on earth's esteem'd to love Doth constant'st to her object prove But I much higher move Loving an Object though it absent be In this who equals me But what talk I here of Equality As if each common man Might vie with Frangypane Had other Lovers but a Saint like mine So worthy and divine Their Offering too would be as high As mine unto his Sanity With what good justice can I tax a want of love in others then Or my own Vertues raise From what is onely due unto his praise I lov'd not's earth nor is it I Now love bis immortality But he that elevates my Soul so high Clar. Sure she 's inspired Jul. With her deceas'd Lovers Genius Enter Lussurio Maligno Clar. He spoke Raptures and she sings them but here Her living Lovers come shall 's make some sport Jul. 'T were pleasant sure to see them fight they 'll snarl they say like Dogs at a Country-wicket and draw their swords but 't is to wound the Air for if one makes a pass the other retires Livia made me the prettieff relation Clar. They look indeed as if they were of the Peace Lus To set a period to our fatal War Which might produce the shedding of much blood I am content Mal. And so am I Him that she chuses happy be his lot Jul. Livia here are those will disturb your meditations Clar. The Wench is in beaven sure already Her thoughts are with Frangypane Mal. Do you begin Lus The Princess is here she 'll laugh at us Jul. Let me alone I 'll warrant you some mirth Lussurio Lus An' please your Highness Jul. Y' are a diligent servant we love you well and having heard the love you bear our Maid of Honour resolve to recompence your merit by making it a Match She is an Heiress Sir Lus Your Highness bounty so confounds me I can't express my thanks my very Soul 's your slave Jul. Your modesty deserves our favour Go send that Fellow to us I hear he is a Pretender We can distinguish merit Lus I hope so Madam I 'll be as observant as your Puppy-Dog Jul. Mark then my beck when thus I hold my finger Cease Livia carry her to my Chappel Where you shall find a Priest