approach one sally of her Breath repells But yet the Women of her Shape and Face May well enough for Countrey Beauties pass Thus I with Fame in nothing did accord My Tongue blaspheming what my Heart ador'd And by this Artifice did so work and move The King that he consented to my Love Which I pretended was by Interest led That so I might the heir of Cornwall wed Alfr. At once to wrong me yet to Love pretend I judg'd the same a Lover and a Friend Perhaps in truth these blemishes you find And rambling Fame that talk'd so loud was blind The best is if this Face a Tempest raise One sally of my Breath will all appease That if you rest from other Crimes secure You safely may the shock of this endure Ethelw Still fatally to my destruction bent Vain Woman go pursue your dire intent Alfr. The King may yet some small suspicions bear One sight of me those dangerous doubts will clear Ethelw Your beauty who denies denies the Sun To your large Glass have I not seen you run There all intent intemperately gaze Fill your stretch'd eyes with the reflected rays And in that luxury consume the day Till drunk with the sweet draught you reel'd away Alfr. I might my beauty prize in some degree When I your love and low respects did see That Conquest seem'd a Miracle for me Nor might I think that England can afford Then Ethelwold a more illustrious Lord. Ethelw O tongue too subtle for a Lover's heart Let us divide and both submit in part Be you content your self unseen to see And I indulge your curiosity Cover those Beams and let that natural Light Obscur'd by Art less fiercely strike the Sight My Crime may lurk beneath your Twilight-ray Laid open you discovering all your Day Your Face disguis'd I may securely pass Alfr. With what foul Blots would you Heav'ns gifts disgrace Heav'ns that in earnest angry oft retort What we affect or counterfeit in sport Ethelw Vexatious still Dispute not but obey Alfr. To my Obedience my Disputes make way Let me your Grief and worst Misfortunes share But Fraud and Wrong I dare not tamper there Ethelw Howe're you to your Face allow no part Your many words declare you false at Heart Scarce are we joyn'd the Marriage-knot scarce ty'd How many Jarrs and Jealousies divide Blaze on dire Comet may thy Influence be To Crowns and Empires fatall as to me Alfr. Whither do your rash words and passion fly To calm your mind my utmost power I 'll try If I receive advantage from my Dress 'T is that I you might with advantage please If wanting this your Love be not impair'd These Ornaments I readily discard Pulls off her Patches Ethelw Those Trifles did your Beauty but rebate If this be all you 'll doe how desperate is my state Pull out those Eyes and then my work is done To what extremes will my resentment run Pulls her away Exeunt SCENE VIII Queen returns with Women Ethelg. Shew not my Nuptialls now to England more Then Syria Greece or Rome e're saw before More Kings their Homage to my Edgar pay Then Planets to the Monarch of the Day He sits on high illustrious and large They blow and tugg and launch along his Barge SCENE IX The King in a Triumphant Barge appears within the Scenes rowed by eight Kings towards the Stage c. The Kings enter in procession with their gilded Oars after them Edgar with Alfrid in his hand his eyes fixt on her Ethelwold behind The Kings successively salute Edgar 1. King The Hands that lately shining Scepters bore Learning new tasks are blister'd with the Oar. A Homage ever shall be paid by me To him that rules and that defends the Sea 2. King His part of Earth to every Prince is due Whilst on the Waters none is King but You. 3. King In narrow bounds are our Dominions pent The strongest Winds fall dead their last breath spent E're they attain your Empire 's vast extent 4. King The spacious Heaven and Nature's care scarce stretch So far as your immense Dominions reach 5. King Nothing is seen that your large Power confines Except in Globes imaginary Lines 6. King What Nation dares your Dictates disobey He shakes the Earth who can the Ocean sway 7. King Your Sea without you to assert your Power Invades and conquers the rebellious Shore Stretches its swelling Arms and grasps each Land And combats all that own not your Command 8. King Your Sails must lowr when Winds and Storms are high And on the Water all but Heav'n defie Edgar What art thou from whence what far-distant Coast Sends thee proud Spoils and vanquisht Kings to boast To Alfrid Those Eyes do all our Pomp and Glory brave And in the midst of Triumph make me Slave Now all the Homage which was lately paid By me resign'd at your fair Feet is laid From what height is my Pride untimely thrown Snow which some lofty Mountain's head doth crown When the South-wind's warm breath once issues forth Thus shrinks dissolves and sinks into the Earth Why was this Face or why not sooner seen Yet after all thou shalt be thou art Queen Speak Nymph asswage my pain Alfr. So new a thing It is for me to see or hear a King My Eye 's too weak to look on Majesty And Tongue unskill'd to fashion a Reply Edg. Proceed sweet Harm'nie Let your Tongue Love sing And your tun'd Heart consent in every string Let every Sense to Love's soft Charms incline Alfr. Might I presume or any thing define Your words seem aim'd at one in equal Sphere And ill descend into a Subject's ear Unfit for Love we dread your Majestie And low to that at distance prostrate lie Edg. All Majesty and Distance I disown If Subject born you are my Sovereign grown You all Divine with radiant Beauty crown'd In me the very thought of Power confound Pardon bright Form if I approach too near A sudden raw unpractis'd Worshipper Alfr. If Beauty were a thing to be ador'd England would be like barbarous Egypt stor'd In every Grange you might an Idol see And nothing rare or singular in me Edg. There 's something in you sure divinely rare Am I a Slave to every Maid that 's fair Me you accuse your self whilst you impair No common Planets in your Birth were joyn'd No influence for common Fates assign'd I feel the power resistless infinite Then Majesty more strong and more then Beauty sweet My burning Veins prove your full Presence there And my astonisht Soul declares you every-where Alfr. 'T is Glory Sir 't is Glory that inflames Your mighty Soul which still of Glory dreams Whose Image wanders bright before your eyes And you to that more nobly sacrifice Those Hymns are not to Humane kind addrest Nor Edgar's Soul to earthly Frames debas't Edg. 'T is my good Angell that I hear and see My Eyes and Ears confess a Deitie Yet my Devotions were not pure the Man Aside The Earthly
encounter reach'd his Heart And for your Breast there wanted not a Dart. His Wounds he doth not unrevenged mourn For every Shaft was made a just Return Alfr. Lately my Lord before our Marriage-vow Soft were your Looks and gentle was your Brow And melting Words did all with Sweetness flow Now Storms and Troubles in your Eyes I reade And in your Face no peacefull Colours spread And from your Tongue mysterious Language breaks Which nought to me or but your Anger speaks Ethel We to a fair Appearance rashly wed And never see the loathsome Serpent hid What you call Mysterie I might reveal Those Mysteries you understand too well Exit Ethelw Ethelg. You wept the King was mov'd at your Distress So bright a Nymph how could a King doe less Hence 't is presum'd that your Design prevails An Inference that 's like your Beautie false Alfr. Let not my Vertue share in the Disgrace However out of Favour is my Face But if my Heart could like my Face be seen Your Brow to me might still remain serene Ethelg. The King intended you his Royal Bride Till Ethelwold your Beautie 's Charms bely'd Perswaded this you hugg the glittering Dream And now set up to play your After-game Editha never did such things suggest Nor into her Caball the new Designer list Alfr. The King's intent I scruple not to own From Ethelwold not from Editha known But for the rest your Highness what inclines To judge of me as fit for Court-designs Ethelg. Oh none so proper so compleatly fit Where Malice makes the Instrument not Wit How close soe're they hatch within your Breast I 'll find them out or shall destroy the Nest. Exeunt as frighted Edg. and Lew. appearing with drawn Swords SCENE VI. Edgar and Lewis appear within the Scene and advance to the Stage Lew. When your rais'd Visour did your Face betray And I perceiv'd 't was at your Feet I lay That chance my flying spirits did recall And then I seem'd to triumph in my Fall And with warm heart I thank'd the Heavenly powers Since yet no Arms e're vanquish'd me but yours But what most deep my troubled heart have pierc't Are those false Rumours Ethelwold disperst They wound me still Edg. I cannot but confide And trust your words having your Valour try'd Lying a low and recreant Mind declares For every man will speak the Truth who dares Nor doth the Armour try'd appear of proof Lew. That that alone is evidence enough 'Gainst him in stead of having Safety thence 'T was your Address defended your Defence He comes Edg. My Guards too to his party drawn Lew. Yet in your Cause you shall not die alone The Life you gave shall be as freely spent Edg. Rule your brave Heat till sure of their intent SCENE VII Enter Ethelwold Guards Are these our Guards or your confederate Crew To Ethelw Intend you Force or would vain Fraud pursue Ethelw Death in no form so terrible appears Kneeling presents his Sword As doth that Face which your Displeasure bears How can I see and how sustain that Brow At me which never levell'd Frown till now I am condemn'd I know what Doubts infest I see the black inextricable Mist Which round my labouring Innocence is spred And yet the worst your Ear is from me fled Edg. My Ear is not to your Defence refus'd Yet must not be by a vain Cant abus'd With less Regret I others Treason hear To Ethelwold Then but in you the least Suspicion bear In all important Pleasures you had part Sharing at once my Kingdom and my Heart How many Nobles did his Piques displace Who now retir'd live murmuring in Disgrace Wilmott his place nor Cavendish had lost If I in ought could Ethelwold have crost As Earth Heav'ns Favours these ours entertain Send back unwholsome Vapours for our Rain Thus men to whom Prosperity is stale Despise that Heav'n whence they deriv'd it all Puft up and grown by long Indulgence proud That makes them Atheists which should make them good Friendship is amongst Equals onely fixt And Kindnesses reciprocally mixt Whilst still on us the Counterfeit impose The Regall State no reall Friendship knows All Friendship here is in vile Flattery lost A Friend 's a Jewel that no Crown can boast But tax not my proceedings as unkind To Ethelwold If you till I know farther be confin'd Ethelg. 'T is the Queen's Father you to prison send Enter Queen Alfrid The Guards take off Ethelwold The Queen steps in and releases him Edg. And more then all Relation 't is my Friend Ethelg. This ominous on our Nuptiall-day must be Edg. 'T is ominous but to our Enemie But think not that with Rigour I proceed For if your Heart is troubled mine doth bleed Exeunt Queen c. SCENE VIII Again in Tears whence springs this fatall Grief Can I can all my Kingdoms give relief To Alfr. This sight alone would all my Joys controul How every Drop falls bitter on my Soul Alfr. Can Ethelwold have merited your Hate And I not have my portion in his fate Edgar Recall him had the bloud of Kings been spilt Those Tears would purge and expiate the Guilt Behold the Wretch through your Compassion free'd Ethelwold is brought back Yet more then he ' lass I your pity need My Soul enthrall'd and Senses all restrain'd My Tongue sticks fast my very Words are chain'd A Fire within devours me yet must I To you alone to you who kill me fly And onely there expect my Remedie Alfr. If I may answer Language thus obscure I cannot own the faculty to cure Those Pains and that Distemper you endure Edg. Love is my Pain my sole Distemper Love But answer this and all my Griefs remove Alfr. My humble state cannot this Honour bear Nor understand what now I seem to hear Howe're your Trouble since within you find Vertue 's the onely Physick for the Mind Edg. Whate're Distemper does the Mind infest First from the Body is deriv'd the Pest. And for the Cure no other method's known The Cure begins where the Disease begun Alfr. You in a heat too rashly that prefer Which cooler thoughts would instantly abhor And for a seeming Ill your vain Relief A reall turns and more outrageous Grief Edg. We two shall meet yet not from Vertue stray Though to my Joys dark and unknown's the way Something Divine some Inspiration fills And my fir'd Breast a sacred Fury swells By Love or some more gentle Muse possest I prophesie my self in your Embraces blest Alfr. This would sound sweet where a Belief might rise My Heart is deaf t' Impossibilities You by firm Bands from these Desires are ty'd To Edg. And me no weaker Obstacles divide Such Difficulties ne're to be surpast And rigid Bars by Fate betwixt us cast Law Justice Honour all oppose this Love And there 's no Faith that may such Rocks remove Edg. I know the Rampires that obstruct my Will Yet with more rage does the wild Torrent swell Ye Powers what have
EDGAR OR THE English Monarch AN HEROICK TRAGEDY By Mr. THOMAS RYMER Servant to Their Majesties The Second Edition LONDON Printed for Iames Knapton at the Crown in St. Pauls-Church-yard 1693. TO THE KING GReat Sir whose Throne amidst the Waters set O're all design'd by God and Nature Great Here in that fam'd long-wisht unheard-of Spot Stedfast on which planting Your Royall Foot You turn the Other World You give it Law You Arbitrate and all its Motions awe This Honour was to England early pay'd And thus Your great Fore-runner Edgar sway'd Yet were his Ships a weak though Numerous Train Silent they pass'd meer Infants of the Main Grown up Yours speak in not a Mortall Strain Threaten and loud above the Billows beat Your dread Commands which trembling Rocks repeat Whilst Edgar joyfull from his farthest Skies Looks down and listens to the God-like Voice When Hercules with Jason left the Shoar Pale Greece despair'd to see her Worthies more Charybdis gap'd and Scylla's Dogs did howl Who this could bear was then a daring Soul All Monsters seem'd in those Heroick days Your Pleasure-boat with ruder Danger plays If launcht in that bold Age of Poetry Each Ship of Yours had bin a God o' th' Sea Or Jove his Form in this Disguise that shrowds Who having left the Air and easie Clouds Below a rougher Element controlls And Thunder o're more solid Water rouls This made Divining Priests of old preferr The Oak as sacred to the Thunderer The Oak of old that in Dodona reign'd Now Oracles Your onely Forrests send Which promise Seas and Empire without End Grafted on these the fairest Lawrells grow And Wreaths that best adorn an English Brow This Navall Power made Edgar's chiefest Pride Four thousand Sail spred o're the Ocean wide Whence Terrour on remotest Shoars was thrown When Halcyon-days and Plenty blest his own Thus whilst Your Flags wav'd high for Homage call And angry Nations let their Topsails fall With Peace Your larger Empire happy made Rests undisturb'd rejoycing in the Shade High on His Throne and fill'd with Royall Care Thus You alone great Edgar's Person bear Vnking'd in Love we represent him here Advertisement THIS I call an Heroick Tragedy having in it chiefly sought occasions to extoll the English Monarchy and having writ it in that Verse which with Cowley Denham and Waller I take to be most proper for Epic Poetry The Tragedy ends Prosperously a sort of Tragedy that rarely succeeds man being apter to pity the Distressed then to rejoyce with the Prosperous Yet this sort seems principally to have pleased Euripides and is necessary here for the Design first above mentioned I doubted indeed whether Rhyme was proper for Tragedy Not that I thought it unnaturall for questionless 't is more naturall to speak in Rhyme then to speak English this we owe to the Nurse the former to the Poet. Nor can that be said unnaturall where Nature is help'd and improv'd But Rhyme is rather sweet then grave unless temper'd with so must Thought and with such Pomp of words as suits not with that Sorrow and Lamentation which Tragedy ordinarily requires And therefore of the two Rhyme is the more proper for this sort of Tragedy which ends happily The Histories examined nothing in the Fable can seem Romantick or affected But I must appeal from the late Epitomizers who make Edgar point-blank guilty of Ethelwold's Death without any sufficient ground from Antiquity Persons Represented Edgar King of England Lewis the IV. King of France incognito Kenneth King of Scotland Ethelwold Edgar's Favourite Editha Sister to Edgar Gunilda Sister to the King of Denmark Alfrid The Duke of Cornwall's Daughter Ethelgede Ethelwold's Daughter Dunstan Arch-Bishop of Canterbury A Secretary of State Embassadours Two French Statesmen Guards Attendants The time of the Representation from Twelve at Noon to Ten at Night EDGAR A TRAGEDY ACT I. SCENE I. Landschap of a River Trees Palace c. Editha Edith PRincess a Title boading miserie Curst in the Sex more curst in the Degree Our every Look makes an Affair of State And every Sigh provokes a grave Debate No popular Insurrections with such Care Inspected as our rising Passions are Love like our breath the Will 's vain power defies Sooner the heart then its emotions dies Yet we Dissembling with a faithless Frown Meanly severe our secret Care disown Though still the Darling which our Looks detest Onely retir'd lies panting in our breast Unhappy Women equally a prey If sway'd or if our Inclinations sway Either with Nature we down th' easie stream By Flow'rie banks to sure Destruction swim Or 'gainst Wind and Tide Honour doth us draw To barren Rocks there on lean Hopes to gnaw These anxious thoughts ah whither shall I trace I now too near the tender Secret press I love the Stranger this too well I know Because I Jealous of Gunilda grow But here she haunts me still SCENE II. Enter Gunilda Gun However slow Your tongue howe're unwilling to reveal Yet some new Care your eyes more kindly tell That heart that firm and very Rock before Shakes by some gust from a Remoter shore Edi. From France you cannot apprehend the storm There an Usurper does the Throne deform From Germany no Emp'rour can appear Since Otho fell my younger Sister's share Otho who now of late is call'd the Great The others I descend not to repeat No such new care did my free thoughts enflame Onely the last night's Ball diverted them Gun The Stranger there I could with a particular eye have seen Were but his bloud as noble as his meen Sweetness did not the Majesty betray Nor Majesty his Sweetness fright away That wheresoe're he would a Heart invade His Looks at once seem by kind Nature made Able to force or ready to perswade Together there such state and mildness met He seem'd at once agreeable and great Edi. How with his praise my Jealous heart she wounds Aside And now how harsh the ill-tim'd musick founds Methinks I something in his face did see To Gun Something that speaks him of no Low degree Gun He Monarch-like did in the Crowd prevail And on himself drew the Regards of all Another Edgar some began to cry Others that he might ev'n with Edgar vie Till Edgar's presence clear'd the growing Doubt Whose beams like a strong Torrent breaking out Instantly bore the young Usurper down And in all minds confirm'd his shaken Throne But see he comes SCENE III. Enter Lewis The Ladies since the Turnament was past On some cross winds your late arrival cast To Lew. Else who your softer Gallantries have seen Had witness of your Manly vertues been Edi. Our English there by rougher shocks maintain That honour they in mild encounters gain Lew. They small success must to their arms presage Who 'gainst the English in the Lists engage And they however whom the Brave might spare Must fall a certain conquest to the Fair. What Knights did fortune to that glory raise As from so fair a
mouth to merit praise Gun After Nine days in furious Justs had past Each Courage grew more prodigall the Last The sport so hot shockt our relenting sight Which scarce could bear the Terrible delight Each Nation then their pride abated found Their boldest Knights were strow'd upon the ground There Spaniards low were with new stiffness laid And there the Germans lusty Limms were spread There Osmin lay his eye-balls roll'd in death And there Almanzor grinning for new breath Too late repenting they from Africk came So far in quest of an uncertain Fame Their mighty Victour was for Edgar known By his address through his disguise that shone Edi. That was not Edgar he by Edgar dar'd With Spear reverst his low respects preferr'd Unknown he came unknown he left the Field And did the prize to those he vanquish'd yield Gun When boasting Ethelwold was headlong thrown Your favours straight the Stranger 's arms did crown You did his Spear so eminently grace To Ed. Your Ring for meaner trophies left no place Lew. That stranger Knight invok'd Editha's name And ow'd his Conquest where he own'd his Flame Edi. His secrets by some Magick Line you sound Lew. The Magick is all in this Circle bound Shews a ring SCENE IV. Enter Serjeants and Souldiers seise Lewis Serj. You must to prison Lew. What 's the hainous Crime Serj. Ask Ethelwold and learn the rest of him Lew. Vertue renounce and Gallantry abjure Since they are not in English Courts secure They carry him off SCENE V. Edi. If here brave Strangers thus are entertain'd All men must fly th' in hospitable Land Avoid our shore and in the Storms at Sea 'Mongst Sands and Rocks find more humanitie Gun This hour be rac'd from out King Edgar's Reign Else it might all the other bright days stain Some Minister in this abus'd his Trust For 't is below a King to be unjust Edi. These Fav'rites on that Royall power incroach No Subject without Sacriledge can touch And still believe their Thunder idlely spends But when it some illustrious Ruin sends Gun In this the hand of Ethelwold is seen He acts the King now that his Daughter's Queen Edi. And let her reign unenvy'd as unprais'd To that high rank in spite of Honour rais'd That title on Gunilda if bestow'd With Joy I to the dignity had bow'd Gun Betroth'd to Kenneth I for Scotland sail'd 'Gainst our intent when adverse winds prevail'd And I by storms was forc'd upon your shore Where Edgar's Love disorder'd me yet more His Love for so I constru'd that Address Which did but his Civilities express But Heaven disprov'd that faithless change in me And angry smil'd at my Unconstancy Edi. Yet Kenneth did no fault that errour think Or else his Love did at the Frailty wink And he unchang'd your wavering purpose knew And something to his Constancy is due Gun I ignorant still and constant had remain'd Had never I the sight of England gain'd But here Edi. Who here since Edgar claims no place Who here that can your vow'd affections press Or Kenneth's first and justest Title shake Gun Those vows and ties how easily Edgar brake And here since Edgar from that Conquest fled Are others not unworthy to succeed Who may consummate what he but begun Edi. The Queen I must her hated presence shun Exeunt SCENE VI. Enter Ethelgede and Women Ethelg. Stars ever in this kind position rest And Fortune be thy giddy turnings ceast Now fix thy Wheel and set it by to rust Once it appears thou art to Merit Just. Was Fortune blind when she bestow'd this grace Never was Crown so fitted with a face Looks in a glass From every Look I glance a conquering dart At every Step I trample on a Heart An Air of greatness in each feature reigns And Royall bloud distends my Nobler veins My Soul is great and now each thought grown big Begins to labour with some State intrigue Editha shall submit that haughty brow Shall understand she is my Subject now Such Insolencies Let it not be said A Diadem e're adorn'd this Royall head Let not this body issue bear that may Enter Ethelwold and Alfrid In after-times the English Scepter sway Never of me let Infant King be born If I forget her ill-dissembled scorn Father for I still the Relation own To Ethelwold Though in effect we with Crown'd heads have none Father SCENE VII Ethelw I have not Leisure now to hear My mind is stung with a more pressing Care Exeunt Queen c. Alfr. Your Cares seem mixt with an unkind allay And symptoms of a sickning Love betray Ethel Should you be seen nought can my fate repell I know that face and know the King too well Alfr. You knowing these in doubt my vertue call Ethel Rather my life on which the storm must fall 'Gainst which you Edgar's certain Fury whet You caus'd my Crime and now would punish it Oh that you lay in some dark village chain'd And there remote of Marriage-bonds complain'd But always Fate Man's downfall when decreed Puts out his eyes and blinds us e're we bleed Alfr. Your mind appearing in this Doubtfull dress The worst if known could terrifie me less Ethel My death will that suffice you is the worst Be Women and their witchcraft Beauty curst Beauty thou pois'nous Flower thou painted skin Frailty without and Impotence within Vain wandring Meteor which so soon as known Art lost thou glow'st seducest and art gone Light which dost more then thickest darkness blind Angel in shew but in effect a Fiend From Paradise where Golden Freedom shines Thou send'st to dig and drudge in endless mines Alfr. You fret suspect complain accuse inveigh Whilst ignorant in guilty paths I stray Some grief the quiet of your breast controuls In it there some uneasie secret rouls From thence alone this strange distraction springs Ethel Then out it flies my Love shall lend it wings Take it but yet it is so near my Life Both go together Alfr. Safely to your Wife For so the Priest hath call'd me Ethelw Then I 'll trie Your Love or having made confession die The King by fame did of your Beauty hear And Alfred's name chim'd sweetly in his ear Each day did your Perfections more unfold And every day were greater wonders told With this Renown he was so far possest Unseen you were admitted to his breast But lest a Love from some mistake might grow He sends express the certainty to know I was his Favourite to that degree That he repos'd this Confidence in me With Loyall thoughts and Just intentions fraught I came I saw and Loyalty forgot Thus treacherous made I back return to Court Swifter and surely falser then Report Said I The prospect is at distance fair But undeceives who-ever views it near Some handsome features are in Alfred seen But these disgrac'd by an uncomely meen The Brow serene and a bright rolling Eye But then the Nose stands fair for Raillery And though her Lip with invitation swells Th'