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
is and by Heav'n design'd a Part of Me My dearest inmost Part Thus hurry'd on Ah! whither will my raving Fancy run You are her Brother Alfr. She no Brother had The onely Child was that unhappy Maid Edg. Then you have known her Alfr. Seen her heretofore Edg. I saw admir'd and ne'r examin'd more Whom do's she blest with name of Parents make Alfr. The Duke of Cornwall doth that Name partake Edg. Your Words directly to that Alfrid lead Whom I and all my Stars had mine decreed Shall His Embraces that bright Form prophane Whom Sacrilege and blackest Treasons stain Who this Affront to Me and Heav'n durst give Yet after have the Impudence to Live But Traitour I thy Fraud shall counterplot I will untie or surely cut the Knot My Title 's good He courted her he sped And did her onely as my Proxy bed Alfr. The Ceremony went not yet so far She by strict Oath engag'd him to forbear The Marriage-Bed till that three Nights were past Of which three Nights this following is the last Edg. Heav'n this great Work is thine thy Care I see Since Alfrid is reserv'd entire for me I 'll search her out Going meets Ethelwold stops and looks angry on him SCENE IX Ethel Restore restore my Wife Or take what I can better want my Life Edg. Thy Wife what jealous Frenzie turns his Brain Where is this Wife where is she But refrain From calling Alfrid so that Claim forbear And ne'r presume to make a Title there Where is my Alfrid Ethelwold seises her This is her Disguise What fatall Mist conceal'd her from my Eyes What time was lost Blind to my Happiness I pine and die yet what I want possess Monster of Impudence yield yield her me Snatches her Ethelw draws Ethelw I owe no Faith to naked Majesty Without his Guards King 's but an empty Word The Scepter 's his who wields the better Sword Edgar makes at him throws him down disarms him Edg. Live wretched man thy Crimes do thee pursue And former Guilt still spurs thee on to new Live but depart and leave this Pledge with me Ethelw A low base Soul would call this Clemency The Crimes I acted were on Alfrid's score And were it in my power I 'd push at more You grant me Life a Gift that I despise And rob me of the onely thing I prize I 'll call her Mine with my last Gasp of breath Grasps her And with cold Arms still grasp her after Death Edg. By Fraud you got and would by Force maintain Let not too far thy mad Presumption strain Can I see this Takes her from him Alfr. Let not your Royall Hand By a rash man's distemper'd Bloud be stain'd If Alfrid's Tears may any thing avail Ah! let not now their Intercession fail Edg. Your Words with me such Sway shall always bear Those you may trust and need not wast a Tear But plead not Heav'n did you together knit Heav'n ne'r could be a Party to the Cheat. Alfr. This sudden Passion with the Day arose And now may with the setting Sun repose The silent Night and Sleep's refreshing Dew May to your troubled Mind its Calms renew You then what 's fit more clearly may discern And I a Vertuous Wife's Obedience learn Though you may charge my Marriage with Deceit Your's stands a firm irrefragable Lett. Edg. Were She more close preserv'd then feign'd by Greece Th' Hesperian Gold or the Phryxean Fleece By watching Dragons fiery Bulls secur'd 'Mongst Rocks of Brass or Adamant immur'd Or 'mongst eternall Ice beyond the Pole Did stormy Seas of Fire about her roll Yet would I trust to Love's almighty Power And Heav'ns high Aid more confident implore She though within my Arms by Fortune put Stands inaccessible and more remote Ah Vertue too severe too plainly I The Flaming Sword the angry Guardian see And Paradise for ever shut to me Yet surely I a certain Door discern The Bars give back and easie Hindges turn Reason exalts a fair conspicuous Head And beckens me to where my Wishes lead And tells that yet no perfect Marriage past Nor I by other Ceremony fast With you alone by Proxy firmly ty'd Which Contract good makes all the following void Alfr. Blind with Desire we each faint Glimmering watch And for sound Reason empty Shadows catch If for your Agent Ethelwold was meant I as his own did give him my Consent Did give my Hand did solemn Words repeat Designing nothing to equivocate Though by your Plea amus'd my Reason bow My Conscience will no other Husband know Edg. From all your Doubts I shall your Conscience clear Mine is the Law and the Interpreter Nor must I now your Inclinations fear Are they unjust SCENE X. Enter Ethelgede Ethelgede The guilty Couple flies Not daring stand th' Encounter of mine Eyes They turn away She makes up to them 'T is Vertue makes me bold the Name of Queen I coldly wear whilst Alfrid thrusts between Me and the Substance Up to Justice yield This Sorceress long and wrongfully withheld To Edgar From me and from her Lord my Father I In both your Ears the Law the Law will cry Edg. I shall not here alledge a Sovereign's Will Nor by your Father's Rules be justly Ill Whose dangerous Pencill would all Monarchs draw With Sword in Hand and at their Feet the Law Ethelg. They to your Royall Hand the Sword who join By the same right a Dagger place in mine Pulls out a Dagger Which her Heart's Bloud shall feel Edg. I will not hear These Threats far hence the empty Flashes bear Ethelg. Is not my Rage though from your Person ty'd Strong and let loose on all the World beside This as a Queen I will not be deny'd Edg. Leave her I almost took into my Bed To Alfrid Exeunt This Wasp Ethelg. This Wasp shall sting your Minion dead SCENE XI Ethelgede sola Fall on fall on Sword Poison Thunder Hell The Earth Air Seas with Death and Horrour fill Each Curse each Plague my rouz'd Revenge shall try Furies Medea hear assist me I Have the same Cause have the same perfect Will I onely onely want the Godlike Skill And can no Devil inspire my ready Breast My Spirit groans with Magick Rage opprest Start not the Rocks nor aged Mountains reel Nor yet my Might do's the cleft Center feel The Poles the Stars on heaps th' affrighted Moon On All on All my hot Revenge is thrown Oh! I have found where I can pain him most He shall no more his Wooden Castles boast His Navall Glory dearest Darling pride Ev'n in the Harbours whilst secure they ride See on each Hulk a fiery Storm is hurl'd And rising Flames around the Top-mast curl'd Dismally bright illustrate Edgar's World He pours out Sighs and casts an helpless Look And now his Eyes are melting with the Smoak Exit ACT V. SCENE I. Garden Alfrid Woman with the Light Alfr. PRess me no more nor Arguments pursue Too taking sweet too flattering to be true Wom. The
will forthwith your Commission seal Exeunt all SCENE VIII Ethelwold solus with Dagger in hand Ethelw A timely Chance the Secret did reveal With This I 'll guard the Treasures you would steal Another reaps my Harvest whilst I starve For my Part onely Husks and Chaff they carve I must forbear her Bed by Oath made Poor And here in secret she breaks up the Store How intricate the Heart of Woman is No Eye no Sun can pierce the dark Abyss I yet will share Howe're she may deny My Love I my Revenge will satisfy With This I 'll force her till that Heat I cloy Holds Dagger And through the Body I 'll her Soul enjoy I will lie close and with one free Home-thrust Asswage both her insatiate Pride and Lust. I' th' Dark and with my Own I may be bold The next shall find his Entertainment cold The King's Embraces give her Ecstasies In Mine she more effectually dies Exit SCENE IX Enter Edgar a Souldier presses after him with a Torch Edg. Press me no farther I command withdraw Sould. I 'll speak and then your Anger undergoe Edg. What is 't you with this rude Impatience crave Sould. 'T is Loyall Rudeness that your Life would save This way I heard a Man He gnash'd his Teeth with Discontent And rav'd and mutter'd Treason as he went SCENE X. Enter Alfrid running looks earnestly on the King Alfr. A Man I thought it had your Highness been Seiz'd and has barbarously slain the Queen Enter Woman Wom. The Murth'rer too fell with her I discern'd And heard methought the Stabs that she return'd Broken with Throbs she these Last words did strain Take bloudy Tyrant take thy Gift again Edg. Who can expound this bloudy Mystery Her Words say in her Thoughts she murther'd Me. ' Las not by Malice but Revenge enflam'd At her Assassin not the King she aim'd Our Bubble-Hopes most brittle when most fair Which swelling shine and vanish into Air. SCENE XI Enter Guards Lights Lewis Kenneth c. Sould. Her Father whate're Fury spurr'd him on Souldier returns Duke Ethelwold this horrid thing hath done Edg. Duke Ethelwold Sould. In their mixt Goar he swims And with stiff Arms still grasps her congeal'd Lims Alfr. My cruell Stars this fatall Train have laid And to the Snare I have the Queen betray'd Edg. You guilty it a blacker Crime would seem To suspect You then 't was to murther Them No bloudy Stain on your bright Form impress'd Nor on these Hands can any Guilt be trac'd Takes her by the hand Alfr. ' Las I the Queen to your Embraces sent And see how Fate has wrested mine Intent Edg. Fate or the Hand of Providence appears And now the rugged Walk to my Contentment clears Heav'n has unravell'd now the dark Decree And the high Source of my just Love I see By Ethelwold and humane Cunning crost Till he in his deep Policy is lost ' Las I forgive him who but for her sake All Loyalty and strongest Ties would break This is an happy unexpected Leap To Alfrid Now Innocent I all my Wishes reap Now Alfrid's Mine my now undoubted Right For ever Mine for ever my Delight Lew. Now in an Hour to brave Desires so just I will not the Success of mine Distrust This I give back into your Royall Hands Gives up his Commission Edg. This seems as in Contempt of our Commands Or that great Souls in Dangers most delight And void of those the easie Honour slight Lew. Your Highness will more just my Scruples rate Inform'd who 't is you did Commissionate The King of France behold him in your Power Edg. In what thick Darkness wander'd I before Are you that Injur'd Prince Lew. Th' Usurper dead France has at length my Juster Title weigh'd And own'd me King while I am Vassall here Edg. That from the English you unkindly fear Shall We your generous Confidence abuse A nobler Course to Greatness here we chuse Lew. No Greatness e're was equall to your Mind Like Heav'n by nothing but it self confin'd Whose Actions such illustrious Aspect bear That Monarchs who would copy them despair Edg. For my Reply I shall not Language seek My Deeds will more effectually speak Whilst here my Court is honour'd with your Stay In all with Me You equally shall sway And when for France you quit the English Shore Half of my Navy shall conduct you o're Two thousand Frigats in the Downs that ride Shall all be on that glorious Work employ'd Lew. Yet for all this I rest that desperate Slave Whom I may say not all your Power can save Your Royall Bounty on the Wretch is lost By a severer Power your Sentence crost A Power that now even in your Presence reigns And whilst you Freedome grant condemns to Chains Edg. Some Vision checks the Freedome I approve Lew. What you this empty Vision call is Love Edg. A King of France and doubtfull of his Claim All Hearts must melt before that sovereign Flame Lew. You will except when I Editha name Edg. I freely that Alliance shall embrace And where can she her Love more nobly place Thus Fortune both my Sisters will advance That German Empress This the Queen of France And if like me she balances Desert With a less Crown she might accept your Heart Lew. Yet Madam yet is your Consent deny'd My Joys wou'd flow your Rigour checks the Tide Edi. The Splendours of a Kingdom fill your Eyes Each Object else beneath your Prospect lies Lew. Were all the Glory of the World in view I should be blind to All the rest but You. A Kingdom then Content to me can yield When your fair Hand shall the same Scepter wield I rather here wou'd lie fixt at your Feet Then in a Throne from You divided sit Edi. You whilst eclipst may think an Object bright That will shine dim when you regain your Light When Crown'd and on your Throne consult your Mind Thence if you still these Inclinations find They may be more authentickly exprest In Pomp of solemn Embassie addrest Edg. The King himself his own Embassadour What can contribute to your Honour more He must not wait with tedious Forms amus'd But as a King and as my Friend be us'd Edi. Statesmen abroad maliciously wise Will say we make of the French King a Prize That he with vile Advantage basely trapt By Marriage onely other Bonds escap'd Edg. These Difficulties you so nicely move Are none or are however none to Love Gives him her hand Take her one Hour one Priest our Hands may joyn And the same Stars shall on our Nuptialls shine Ken. Your Will Great Sir must ever be obey'd When you Command or when you but Perswade Would you on my behalf exert your Power This too might prove My favourable Hour For Me with fair Gunilda interpose Edg. This Conduct an excessive Passion shows And in your Breast do's such a Flame confess That the Combustion in your Kingdom 's less Ken. That Trouble 's past and our