Heroes K. Yes and they honour 'em with publick Triumphs D. They shame 'em rather for to me a Triumph Appears a publick sacrifice to Insolence Adoring Pride as they did Plagues and Feavers If ever I had seen a Roman Triumph I shou'd ha' pittied the poor Conquerour To see the tender man fallen so sick By the ill savours of a field of slaughter That he came home with his Head bound with Laurel Gasping in Chariots for the Peoples breath K. For ever cou'd I hear thee thus discourse But I have business must divert our talk D. Yes Sir I hear the King of England's landed K. He is D. He leads a very gallant Nation â—ve tried 'em oft in Battels and in Sieges They despise Walls and Trenches they are so us'd To cross the Ocean they laugh at Trenches K. My Son despises ' em D. He 's too brave His too hot Martial Fires burn out the Eyes Of his clear Understanding K. His too hot Amorous Fires have kindled this ill War D. Now dare not I enquire into this Story Aside For I 've been Thunder-stricken with report K. If he be married as I fear he is A War is like to be his fair Wife's Portion And a rich Portion too in the esteem Of him and his licentious followers Du. War is the harvest Sir of all ill men In War they may be Brutes with reputation K. Now let me whisper thee about thy Father La Mar. This Duke here keep 's a talking with the King He hopes to hold himself up with his Wit Pshaw Wit 's a thing will never do at Court. K. Now Sir's I charge you all do not report Or think the Duke is shaken in my favour Because his Father 's fallen his Father like A heavy lumbring beam in a house-top Did rather press him down than hold him up To honour the Dukes merit then shall be Esteem'd by me as merit and so Sirs embrace him La Ma. Oh! I am in a very fine condition Who have affronted and oppos'd his Father I thought their damn'd great Family was ruin'd Pox o' these Court intrigues a man is trapt And snapt he knows not how to turn himself Why is the King so fond of this same Vendosme He is no dresser do but see how awkardly His damn'd Crevat is tyed Were I a King I 'de hang a man shou'd come into my presence With suell a damn'd Crevat and tyed so slovenly Then he is no Dancer neither What 's he good for Oh! he is a Wit forsooth Hang all these Witts They are good for nothing but to jear and scribble This Vendosme must be lov'd because his tongue Hangs well I wou'd his neck were hung as well But 't is in vain to mutter I must flatter him My noble Lord your Graces humble Servant Du. Honest La Marre how dost La Ma. Ever in health And in good Fortune when your Grace is so Du. I thank thee good La Marre La Ma. My Lord I m'e tyed By most particular strong Obligations To your Grace's Family I owe my Fortunes To your most noble Fathers Love and Bounty Du. I will succeed him in his Love to thee La Ma. So now my Interest which was off the Hinges Is naild on fast again but I will go Shortly behind the Door and clinch the Nail I 'le make him a particular Address At his own Lodgings and then all is done Then I 'le not fail to make my Court to him Almost at all his Levyes and his Couchees K. Come in with me my Lord I must talke more with you Exeunt Du. I will attend you sir my soul is troubled Where e're I go I meet a wandring rumour Louize is the Dauphins secret Mistress I heard it in the Army but the sound Was then as feeble as the distant Murmurs Of a great River mingling with the Sea But now I am come near this Rivers fall 'T is louder than the Cataracts of Nile If this be true Doomesday is near and all the Heavens are falling I know not what to think of it for every where I meet a choaking dust such as is made After removing all a Palace Furniture If she be gone the World in my esteem Is all bare Walls nothing remains in it But Dust and Feathers Like a Turkish Inne And the fowl Steps where Plunderers have been Exit ACTUS TERTIUS Enter Great Constable alone SCENE His Apartment in the Court. Const ALL seiz'd at once Is this the good effect Of my wise Plots Oh! my unquiet spirit Sure some men's souls are given'm for plagues My soul to me is all the Plagues of Egypt My thoughts are Froggs and Flies and Lice and Locusts When Honours are rain'd down on any other A Plague of Hail is rain'd down upon me When men's Prosperity shines hot upon me My poysonous nature breaks out all in Boyles Oh! Come My Lord let 's meditate revenge Enter La Force La For. Had we been wise we ner'e had needed it Const Were the King wise we ner'e had liv'd to plot it The King 's unskill'd in gallant wicked Men Undo us and not send us to the Devil The Devil for that shall send us to the King No Man so brave as he who dares be wicked Ill ha's no Friend to trust to but it s own Bastard Success the off-spring of its strength La. For. Know you your Son 's arriv'd Const Is he La For. He is Const So that 's good news I am prepar'd to cheat him In pious dress I 'le steal into his Bosom As Knaves they say do in St. Francis habit Cheat Heaven and creep into old Abraham's Bosom La For. I doubt he will not be deceiv'd so easily Const Oh! he who ha's foolish good nature in him Ha's a soft Girll the Portress of his Breast Who will be easily mov'd to ope the Door Enter a Servant Ser. The Duke my Lord is come Const Oh! bring him La For. I 'le leave you for a while Const Do good my Lord. Exit La Force Enter Duke of Vendosm My Son and have I liv'd to see thy Face I thank my Enemies they leave me thee A greater Joy than all they have taken from me Duk. Now is my Father falling to his Arts Aside To strive to work me to his practices Const Son I despair'd to see thee any more Duk. Why so my Lord Const My Heart is almost broken Duk. What break 's your Heart Const Disgraces I am thrust To my Grave's brink by injuries and dishonours Duk. I hear you have fallen into the King's displeasure Const Into the Dauphin's rage Duk. For what desert Const Do any rise or fall in Courts by merit A want of faults is often a great fault How fond are some great men of Fools and Dwarfs Because they are good Foiles but tall desert Does often sawcily o'relook a Prince I am no Dwarf to let great Fools stride 'ore me To the King's Breast Duk. And shall that break your Heart If I disdain'd to be
Lord have mercy on ' em Lou. Besides a hundred Witnesses La Guard 's Acquaintance heard you Du. Your acquaintance Mistress You are the Witch I find has rais'd this storm Assisted by some Devil of your acquaintance La Gu. Oh! Du. Tell the Treachery or I will rip thee And search for it in every vein thou hast La Gu. Indeed my Lord I 'me innocent Du. Thou lyest No eyes but thine beheld our secret Loves And none cou'd come behind us but thy self And give us such a deadly deadly fall La Gu. Oh! Pardon me and I 'le confess Du. I will La Gu. Swear Du. Then I swear La Gu. The Dauphin then perceiving The Princess constant in her love to you Got all those Letters forg'd brib'd all those Witnesses To blast your Interest and forc'd me to help him Du. Enough be gon had I not sworn to pardon thee Yet I must do 't Nature give 's man a Sacrament In his own blood never to hurt a Woman But quickly fly lest I break both those Oaths Con. Most ex'lent Lyar To La Gu. between the Scenes La Gu. Ex'lent Devil you are Ex. Du. I am decreed I find to kill the Dauphin Const See in what season my Stars bring the Daup. Aside Lou. Oh! Lou. Weep's faint's fall's into the Duke's Arms At that instant the Constable brings in the Dauphin and shews 'em to him Daup. Ha! Const Oh! Peace Sir let us listen to 'em I left 'em kissing Daup. Kissing Const Kissing close Sir Lou. For this I do abhor and loath the Dauphin I am resolv'd he ne're shall touch me more Daup. Oh! Whore Const Pray silence Sir For I 'de feign have you Be fully satisfied Lou. His Love and Glory Were both to me a tastless Witches Feast They vanishe when so e're your Name was nam'd Like those Delusions at the name of Heaven Dau. I 've heard enough I 'le feast you you damn'd Whom Du. The Dauphin Dauphin draw's wound 's Louize she falls The Duke draw's fight 's disarm's the Dauphin Dau. Villain draw upon thy Prince Go call the Guard Const Yes and I 'le call the King To let him see the Virtues of his Favourite Exit Daup. What! Wilt thou kill me Traytour Du. No I will not The Flowers of Graves and Moss of Royal Sculls Protect your Head Daup. Bold slave talk thus imperiously To a great Prince Du. To a great Prince a Dwarf Whom men wou'd never see did you not stand Upon your Kingly Ancestors high Monuments Oh! Heaven That I must see that Beautious Innocence Rowl in her Blood and let her Murderer live ' Cause a King got him Daup. How that Beautious Innocence That Whore o' thine but I ha' cool'd her Blood Du. Oh! He will pull my Sword upon his Breast As he stands in a raging threatning posture Enter the King Constable Guard Const Now you may see Sir what a youth this is Daup. Hold kill him not take him alive I charge you Your virtuous man here has abus'd my Bed And ' cause I have discover'd him wou'd murder me Du. How we are wrong'd Daup. You wrong'd Du. Yes by your self Daup. By me Was ever heard such Impudence Away with him Exit a Guard with the Duke Const What shall be done with her Daup. I care not what 's done with her let Doggs eat her Hold now I think on 't search her for a Picture Off. Sir here 's a Picture newly fallen from her Daup. Look here the Picture of her damn'd Adulterer This have I seen Oh! I 'me too mad to talk K. I 'me carried from my Reason with amazement In all this shame behold proud boy the punishment Of thy bold disobedience to my Will And now for Vendosme's sake I 'le never Love Nor Trust man more Exit Daup. Away with that lewd Woman Louize is carried off And now your Son since he boast's Innocence I will have wrack't and do you see it done Const I see it done Daup. Ay Sir if you expect I keep my Promise Const. If Daup. Ay! If. Const. If. Daup. If. I put him upon this to make him odious Aside And then I 'le throw him off I know him for A turbulent great Rogue and I abhor him Ex. Const. Brought to an If already I am fool'd My Fortunes hung on such a rotten twigg Enter La Force La For. Ha! in distraction What 's the matter with you Const. Oh! If if if La For. What do you mean by If Const. I am possest possest by Fiends call'd Tyrants And all my stomack 's full of Ropes and Axes Oh! for a lusty draught of luke-warm Blood The Dauphin's blood to make me throw 'em up La For. I do not understand you at all Const. How shou'd you Your Head and mine hang both upon an If. La For. What mean's that If Const. The Dauphin has deluded me Has made me tumble down my Son my Pillar Now he 's destroying me and you and all La For. Me Const. You. La For. The Devil 's in your unlucky Friendship I will take horse and out o' Town this minute Const. Take Horse take Arms Go mount my Son 's brave Troops And ride 'em o're the Heads of these false Tyrants La For. They are not such Asses to be rid so easily Upon an expedition to the Moon Const. Oh! take a Tube and shew 'em all a World Of Glory in that Moon and golden Mines there Plundering and Ravishing then tell 'em all They will be all Cashier'd and without pay Or rather in their General 's Coyn be paid Be wrack'd for Traytours torn to single money La For. Must he be wrack't Const. By me his Father La For. Barbarous Const. That grieves me not I 'de make no more to kill Such a tame Fool than to spill so much Milk La For. What though your Son Const. Were all mankind my Children I wou'd hang half to rule the other half My Honours Honours grieve me Go raise the Army I 'me trusted with my Son and I will tempt him Or force him out to 'em either will do If he be with 'em though in close Confinement 'T will do that will be judg'd a shew Go go He pawses so my Whirle-pool sucks 'em in Aside He shall be dipt in this I 'le not come near it La For. He mingles Reason so with all his Knavery None can divide the Ratsbane from the Honey And I shall swallow 't though it rot my Head off Const. Rot Head and Tail and every part o' me I had rather lose 'em all in noble strife Than let 'em mouldy in a quiet Life Ex. Finis Actus Quarti ACTUS QUINTUS A Prison the Duke Du. WHO look's upon this World and not beyond it To the abodes it leads to must believe it The bloody Slaughter-house of some Ill Power Rather than the contrivance of a Good one Ev'ry thing here breeds misery to man The Sea breeds Storms to sink him If he flies To Shore for Ayd The Shore breeds
He said my Lord his Excellence was resolv'd To be at Court this Afternoon at farthest Const His Excellence his Excellence is an Ass Aside A Fellow full of Honesty Morality Of Loyalty Philosophy and Foolery But I have laid a Bait to try his Morals Ha! Knocking Enter a Servant Serv. Count La Force my Lord desires Admission to your Lordship Const Bring him in Enter La Force Const Friend you astonish me how dare you approach The unhealthy shade of an old blasted Tree None come to me but he who wants a Gibbet And fain would hang himself the decent'st way La For. I was your Friend my Lord when you were honest No sordid Flatterer of Tyranny Before you climb'd the Mountains of Advancement To feed on Winds as Spanish Horses do Const My Lord you love those Winds as much as I do And hate the Fogs that haunt the dirty Vales. La For. That Dirt is bred by Tempests from above From Clouds of Tyranny where you have liv'd And torn the Kingdom by the thundring power Of Constable of France Const You wou'd ha' mounted To the same Clouds and made a Marshal's Staff A Witches Staff to carry you aloft Cou'd you ha' got one but you were deni'd it The King might cheaper have burnt all his Forests Than sav'd that Staff for you and your good Friends Set in revenge the Kingdom in a Flame La For. I made that Fire to melt down all our Chains I hate to see my Countrymen abus'd Const Hence with dissembling we know one another You and I wou'd not care our Countrymen Were all to Horses turn'd so we might ride ' em La For. I do deny 't I hate to ride my Country Const But I hate more my Country should be ridden By Cowards in the Army Fools in Council Who can endure to see the honest Industries Of many scores of men plunder'd by Law To feed a Fool who is not half a Man La For. Well is Brisac the Dauphin's Favourite To have your Offices Const So 't is design'd La For. Cannot your Son the King 's great Favourite Whom he created lately Duke of Vendosme Assist you Const He A studious moral Fool A Moth who has so long been fed on Books His Skin is Paper and his Blood is Ink. Insensible of all delights of Man La For. Of all Const Almost of all La For. What does he love Const Only his Book his Friend his Honesty And when the King and Kingdom have occasion He love's his Sword else it might rust for ever He would not draw it to procure himself The Empire of the World he says He needs it not And he call's him a miserable Wretch Who needs the Universe to make him happy La For. His temper differs much from yours Const From mine He walks directly backwards from my Steps I wonder in what posture I begot him Or in what humour Surely I was thinking Of something else and if I was I cannot Imagin how he should creep through my Loins Like Alpheus through the Sea and never season Himself with any relish of my Nature La For. Sure he rush'd from you in a mighty Torrent Const Rather I threw him from me with abhorrence La For. Then you can hope for little and from him Const Oh! Yes I have observ'd in my Philosophy Nature an Enemy to Tyranny Doe's alwaies leave some tender place unguarded About unmatchable vast harnest Animals Where Death may give the World revenge and freedom So this proud Fellow's Spirit more invincible Than Whales than Crocodiles or Elephants Ha's a soft place his Heart which has been wounded By the small Needles of a Woman's Eye La For. Then doe's he love Const He does La For. Whom for Heaven's sake Const She whom all love that wonder of the World Madamoiselle de Guise La For. that beautious Creature And what success ha s he Const They are contracted La For. And no one hear of it Const He keep 's it secret I know not why but such ha's been his humour La For. And what of this Const The Dauphin is his Rival La For. Ha! Then is she the talk't of hidden Beauty The Dauphin make's secret addresses to Const The same La For. Good Heaven What doe's the Dauphin mean Is not the match with Burgundy concluded Const It is and therefore is this kept so secret By the King 's strict Commands who strove to break it But cou'd not La For. How came you to find it out Const A Servant of my own happen'd to love Madamoiselle's chief Woman and sole Confident Whom I perceiving always vext and thoughtful With a Face full of Guilt strictly examin'd And got it out of him and how his Mistriss And he design'd to ruin my Son's Interest And raise their Fortunes by this greater Marriage La For. Here was a Mine cut to your Hand already Const It was I pardon'd him bid him proceed Because he serv'd in it his Prince the Dauphin And I woul'd join with ' em Whilst I was plotting Fortune which always take's into her Favour A hundred Villains for one honest Man Gave my Design a noble rise brought news To Court that whilst my Son quartered at Metz He and the fair young Princess of Lorrain Had charm'd each other La For. This inconstancy Wou'd enrage Madamoiselle de Guise to madness For she is the haughtiest young Woman living Const Yes had you seen her Letters you wou'd say so My Instrument her Woman always brought 'em to me I 'de see if they were fit to go at opening 'em I thought I had untied a Witch's knot And let a Tempest out La For. And you I warrant Answer'd these Letters in your Son's hand counterfeited Const Exactly guess'd I stop't the good Fool 's Letters Wherein the Wretch prov'd himself very innocent And in their room I sent my forged ones to her Wherein I made my Son own the inconstancy Desire a mutual release of Vows He wou'd give her the Glories of the Dauphin If she 'd give him the beauties of his Princess La For. Did she not tear the Letters and her Hair Const Yes and her Flesh and to compleat her madness I brib'd some cowardly Officers my Son Had thrown out of his Army to attest All my false Letters said and more how he Spoke of her openly with much contempt La For. Was ever a design manag'd like this The Dauphin after this sure had small difficulty To press her to accept his Love and Glory Const That you may guess La For. What are they married then Const They were the other night in such great Privacy The King scarce know's it yet La Force But can the Dauphin's Amour be wholly hidden from your Son Const No but he nere distrusts his Mistriss's falshood He only think 's her jealous and sent Messengers T' appease her anger whom she wou'd not see La For. Most excellent Const Now when my Son returns I will charge all my tricks upon the
now occasion I know you hear the King of England's landed Daup. I am glad of it 't is Summer now in France Fear sinks the blood in your old Counsellors Veins As a cold hand does Water in a Weather-glass You cannot guess the Weather then by them Now frosty Peace is gone the Weather 's hot So hot 't shall scorch the English Troops and make 'em Sweat all their Souls away in bloody Baths K. I doubt it for I know 'em a brave Nation If we ' ere get the better it must be By fasting longer and by hiding better Behind thick Woods and by broad Lakes and Rivers By trusting to our Trees not to our Men To our cold Rivers not to our hot Blood For if they ever come to blows they beat us Daup. These ate your Vendosm's cold Imaginations K. He ha's a cooler Head but hotter Heart Then thou hast that brave youth thou enviest Daup. I envy him I scorn him he 's a Dutch-man He ha's no spark of the French fire in 's nature No more true Conduct than his Father Honesty I 'le drive'em both out of the Court and Army K. I 'le part with thee before the Duke of Vendosme Daup. Value the the son of a Traytour above me I 'le humble the proud slave when e're I see him Exit K. 'T is very well You king it sir betimes Enter a Gentleman Gent. Sir the Great Constable attends without K. Let him attend he has offended me Did not his Son 's great merits plead for him I 'de ruine him howe're I 'le let him know I understand his actions and resent e'm Enter the Great Constable La Marre and other Courtiers Pass by and look scornfully upon him Const How many Ages will they make me wait Ha! Is it so indeed And am I fallen Into these wretches scorn Nay then I know How the wind blows You sir who like a fly to La Are blind in Autumn when the cold approaches Marre And the tall trees begin to shed their leaves And is it Autumn with me then indeed Do you not see me Sir Must I for ever Attend here ha La Ma. My Lord I cannot mind All men's affairs and businesses not I. Const All men's affairs Sir do you level me with all men La Ma. I must wait on the King's business And the Kings business must be done my Lord. Const I prethee what 's that business thou attendest on To carry Charcoale in to air his Shirt I know thee thou wert once my menial Servant And I preferr'd thee to the place thou holdest La Ma. 'T is true my Lord You laid an obligation on me But what then I am now his Majesties And his Majesties business must be done Const His Majesties business La M. Nay my Lord I fear you not I know what the King said of you just now And what the Dauphin said to me this morning You 'l never come in play again I 'me sure And so your Lordships servant Exit Const Villaine and Fool How such a Slave like dirt flies in his teeth And dirties him who raises it from the Earth Enter La Force La For. My Lord the King has gotten Information Of all your Plots give 'em 'ore they will ruine you Like Vipers they will tear their Mothers bowels That gave 'em being Const Ha! got Information Then like a whorish Woman once discovered I will grow impudent Lye in in publick Of my Designs I 'le fling 'em in the World As carelesly as Nature does all Monsters Never appointing certain times of Birth My Monsters shall be born with Teeth and Fangs too La For. You will undo your self take good advice And live at ease Const I cannot in disgrace La For. You have a vast estate Const I am a Begger When I want all the Wealth I value Power La For. You have great Palaces Const Great Gaoles great Dungeons Dark horrid Dungeons now the light of all My honour is gone out Enter the King attended La For. See! See! the King Take good advice before you ruine all Const Ha! he regard's me not Oh! torment torment Sir with your pardon I must speak with you Are you resolv'd Sir on your own destruction For let me tell you Sir I am your Eyes And you let Traitors tear me from your Head And then conduct you blindfold to destruction You find it not but Sir I do with Sorrow K. Hence with thy Tears they fall upon the Ground And there discover thy dissembling Face There is no Hell to thee like a low Fortune And when thou art in Hell thou art a Devil Tormenting both thy self and all the World Rebellion first did light thee to the Court I have permitted so many to light Themselves to greatness by that filthy Flambeau That all the Louvre's blackned with the smoke And all my Councils strongly smell of Knaves But I 'le chace them and that ill practice from me In short for thy Son's sake I fully pardon All thy past Faults and give thee thy Estate Go home and live in ease and honesty Be wise accept this favour whilest 't is offer'd La For. Do do accept it Aside Const Peace I will be damn'd first Sir can I either live in ease or honesty When by retiring I resign you up To those who seek your Life K. Ha! Const Sir 'T is true K. And who are those Const They are such whose impious hands The tyes of nature one wou'd think shou'd hold From deeds so horrid K. Who dost mean My Son La F. Oh! have a care retreate You 'r on a Precipice Aside Const Let me alone Aside We are told by Philosophers The principles of Death spring from our Natures He who intends your Death sprung from your Loynes La For. He will undoe himself Aside Const Sir it is truth And his beloved Brisac is his chief Counsellour K. Know if each word thou saist swell not with truth The breath of Plagues should be less fatal to thee Then that that form'd and vented this foul Charge Const So so an honest man has great encouragement To serve his Prince 't is well I have a Conscience Enter the Dauphin and Brisac K. Here they are both come answer for your selves The Constable accuses both of you Of blackest Treasons Daup. How accuses me Const Yes you Sir Take my Head for speaking Truth I 'le proudly suffer Martyrdome for Loyalty What dost thou charge me with Const With close Designs To get Brisac my Offices that he May assist you to get the King 's great Office Daup. Oh! Villaine Villaine Const I can prove it Sir Bris Oh! Sir I kneel and call Heaven to my witness Const You may call long enough before he 'l come Sir to oppose this impious Design Was that that made me bear th'uneasy Court When it was grown such an unpleasant Clime I saw not in a year one summers day My Enemies were a perpetual storm And you permitted 'em to blow upon me Yet for your safety I
my Prince's Dwarf I wou'd scorn more to be his Marble Statue To weep when ever the Court weather's damp Const Damp it is stormy one tempestious blast Tore from me all my shining Robes at once Duk. They were too heavy for your Years to carry For all the envy of the Kingdom hung on ' em Const But they have drest up Fools and Blocks in ' em Such blockish Fools are rais'd one wou'd imagin The Court is rather pitching of the Bar Then raising Men to Honour I can name Some Counsellors who cannot speak good sence The Wretches have no other use of Tongues Then Dogs of Tails to wag 'em when they fawn The shining Tongue of their chief leading Orator Ha's neither edge nor point but finely scabberded In Velvet Words is like a Sword of State Borne before publick business for a shew Duk. Why shou'd this grieve you Const I abhor that Fools Shou'd go before me in Command and Power Duk. He is not honour'd most who goe's before Mace and Sword bearers go before a King Methinks when e're I see Authority Lugger a heavy Fool upon her Sholders Before me I have State bestowed upon me And have a Leaden Mace carried before me Const Come 't is unnatural Fools shou'd be uppermost D. 'T is very natural vain things shou'd be uppermost In such a World of Vanity as this Where massy substances of things sink down And nothing stay 's but Colours Sounds and Shadows What mighty things derive their power from Colours Courts owe their Majesty to Pomp and Shew Altars their Adoration to their Ornaments Women their Lovers to their Paint and Washes Fools their esteem to Perewigs and Ribbons How many Trades are there that live by tones The cheating Beggar whine's our Money from us The Player by his tone will make us weep When Men's substantial sorrows cannot do it An Orator will set the World a dancing After his pipe when Reason cannot stir it Fanatick canting Priests will o'return Kingdoms Only by tones and thumping upon Pulpits And silly human heards as soon as e're They hear the wooden thunder prick up Ears And Tails and frighted run they know not whither Const Go angle not for me with rotten Hairs The combings of Philosophers old Pates We have all our several Passions that command us I am a Slave to Honour and Ambition And thou to fair Madamoselle de Guise Du. Ha! Starts Const Have I touch'd you Sir Now Sir suppose This beantious parcel of your Soul this parcel This soul of yours were torn out of your Body Wou'd you not feel it ha Du. He stabbs me Aside In my old Wound Const Oh! Are you startled Sir Say she were Whor'd Sir Du. Oh! I am abus'd Aside All all agree about this cursed story Const What now you are awake I have rous'd you Out of your Dream of Stoical Phylosophy And you have Blood and Passions stirring in you I thought your Veins were only Veins in Marble Du. No no my Lord I am a Man no Statue No Pasquin only to hang Libels on Const Then since thou art a Man and hast some feeling I will not say she 's whor'd but I will say A married man enjoys her Du. Do not say it my Lord. Const 'T is true I have seen 'em folded in embraces Have seen their souls skip from their Eyes and dance On wanton looks like Tumblers upon Ropes Have seen their tilting Lipps meet close and grapple As they wou'd tugg each other from their Faces Then with what breath their pleasant strife had left 'em They 'd fling with scorn out of their laughing mouthes The Name of Vendosme more they scarce cou'd say But when they had breath they 'd cry Phi-lo-so-pher Du. Who does she play this modest game withall Const With one whose Sport you dare not spoil The Dauphin Du. Oh! It is so This Woman has been false To get a Crown Oh! Const Are you pain'd Be comforted You quickly shall have ease for know your death Is plotted by 'em both Du. My Death Const Your Death I 'me ruin'd cause I know all their Designs For now Court secrets are like Fairy's Revels Or Witches Conventicles men are spoiled With sudden blasts that either tell or see ' em They do not spare their Fovourites and Creatures Brisac once lov'd both by the King and Dauphin Because he honestly oppos'd your Murder Is falsely charg'd with Treason and tormented To make him own it and name you a party Du. Can there be wickedness enough in Hell To furnish out with truth this horrid Story Const I know thy thoughts are calling me a lyar Ho! there Enter a Servant Ser. My Lord. Const Open those folding Doors The Scene is drawn and Brisac is shewn bloody and asleep Sleeps he Ser. He 's fallen into so deep a sleep Hâ—s sense is sunk out of the loudest call Const I gave him Opium to ease his pains I cou'd not bear to hear his piercing groans Now Sir I hope you will believe your Eyes Du. This horrid barb'rous sight confounds my soul Const Oh! now it works him I shall fool him finely Aside D. I 'le search the depth of this though it reach Hell Aside Wake him Ser. We cannot Du. Cannot you Ser. We cannot Du. Then shut the door I cannot see him longer I 'me strangely mov'd Const What if we went to Prayers And recommend to Heaven the King and Dauphin Du. To Prayers To Arms fit Weapons to reveng us But I am justly serv'd for having th' Impudence To put on Vertue in this dirty World And drag the Robes of Angels on a dunghil Const Indeed those Robes starve every man that wear ' em Du. But I did only put 'em on to act in Const To act in Du. Yes and wrapt my self so cunningly The Devil with all his Flambeaus cou'd not see me Const How Art thou not what thou pretend'st to be A man of Vertue Loyalty and Honour Du. The pretty jingling of the Chains of Fools Const Ha! Is it so this is most wonderful I always thought thee a poor Mountaineer That liv'd on Vertue 's cold and barren Hill Till all thy blood was froze and sense benumm'd Du. No no my blood is hot and my pulse beat 's As strong as any man's ring's all the Changes Of Love Ambition Fury and revenge I 'le give my self Revenge my Country Freedom I will transform my enslav'd Nation From Mules and burthen-bearing Beasts to Men. No beast is half so wretched as a Frenchman He always has a Bridle in his mouth And he has nothing but his Bit to champ on Const Right He is forc'd to give his Meat for Salt Du. He 's flead and salted Const He 's a pickled Mandrake An Englishman will eat him for a Sallad And pluck him by the roots out of his Trenches When e're he has a mind in spite of all The pretty Gardning way you now have got Of keeping your Muskmellons from the Weather No wonder the stout English always beat
are ready for your Journey Du. I 'me ready then Now will I seek some place Where I may nevermore see any thing Like Man or Woman specially like Woman In some dark Forrest will I live whose Shades May guard my Eyes securely from the Moon Because 't is bright and changing like a Woman Therefore I 'le never see 't but in Eclipse Barren shall be the Earth and so bemum'd And mortifi'd with shade not all the Court-ship Nor golden proffers of the Sun shall woe it Or bribe it to one smile because if Flattery Riches and Pomp can gain it 't is a Woman I will want breath e're let the winds approach me Because they 'r like th' inconstant sight of Woman I never will see Summers vanishing dew Nor Winters shining Ice ' cause both like Woman The Dew turn's Air when once the Sun has kiss'd it And Woman in enjoyment proves Delusion Something less real than the dreams of fancy The Ice dissolves under the Sun 's bright smiles And Woman always yield's when glory tempt's And then what e're is built upon her sink's Enter a Servant Ser. Monsieur La Marre my Lord attends without Du. La Marre What has that Fool to do with me Ser. He say's he has a Message from the King Du. He lyes the King would send a wiser Messenger But since he use's the King's Name admit him Serv. goes out and introudces La Marre La Ma. Now I 'le establish a firm Interest in him Aside Your Grace's most obedient humble Servant I am extreamly joyful for your Graces Glorious suceess your Grace ha's done strange Marvels His Majesty has a very vast esteem for you He and I have talk't of you a thousand times Du. I thank you Sir Well to be short good Sir Have you any business with me La Ma. To be short There is no person in the World my Lord More in esteem both with the King and Dauphin And for my own part Du. For your part I mean Sir Have you any business with me La M Business my Lord Only that I 'me your Graces humble servant And so forth and to pay my high respects And so forth and so forth I know your Grace Ha's heard the great Court news the Dauphin's Marriage With Madamoiselle de Guise is now made publick Truth is she is a very curious creature Devil take me if she be not Du. Now I find it This senceless Rogue is put on to abuse me La Ma. What think 's your Grace Wou'd not so sweet a Creature Refresh you finely after a Campagne In short there will be a great Ball to night The King the Dauphin and his beauteous Bride Do all expect your Grace to be a Dancer Du. Plain plain abuse Sir When was I a Dancer My foot shall dance upon no Earth but this Kicks him La Ma. How Kick my Lord What do you mean by this Du. You are put on by some to abuse me Sirrah La Ma. You are put on by some to abuse me rather My Lord I do not understand the meaning of it I shall not put up this Offer's to Draw Du. Shall you not Sir The Duke offers to draw La Marre putts up La M. I shall at present but the King shall know this I am more considerable with the King Than you believe Du. Indeed there are in Court Too many such soft Heads as yours embroyder'd And made State-Cushions for great men to lean on And Fortune often jump's from Heaven upon ' em La M. Soft Heads and Cushions Come my Lord be it known to you His Majesties Servants are not to be call'd Fools and Soft-heads by e're a Peer of you all The King shall know this He 'l not take it well All this is cause I did affront his Father I 'le do his Fathers business for this trick Exit Du. I find all Courts are apt like all great Mountains To breed such little Cattel and these Runts Do often draw weighty Affairs along But oh the Insolence of this Vile Woman To set her fools upon me to abuse me Oh! there is Thunder forming in my Soul Now shou'd I meet my Father and his Firebrands Off shou'd I go and rend the Court in pieces He said he 'd bring me hither his Conspirators I 'le run for fear the strong Temptation seize me Exit The Scene is drawn the Dauphin and Louize are sat in State and entertain'd with Musick and Dancing The Entertainment ended Enter the Duke He sees the Dauphin Caressing Louize A SONG 1. LOng long had great Amintor lain At Celia's feet and wept in vain Not all his Youth his Love or Glory But once cou'd make her hear his Story One smile she to that Youth deny'd For whom a thousand Beauties dyed Chor. Yet all the while fair Celia prov'd So haughty so cruel she secretly Lov'd 2. Still still he bravely bore his Pain With Patience took her proud Disdain Though all her Looks with Wounds did fill him And every Word did almost kill him To see her or to hear her Speak He was content his Heart shou'd break Chor. Yet all the while fair Celia prov'd So haughty so cruel she secretly Lov'd 3. But beautiful Celia now fearing His Heart should grow hard with long bearing Not willing to Lose him Doe's gentlier Use him And drive's away all his Dispairing Oh now brave Amintor no Pitty afford Thou hast got her by Storm now put all to th' Sword To the Altar of Modesty if she wou'd fly It is but an Image and there let her dye 4. Now Celia for Pitty is crying But oh the Delight of that Dying Her Soul cannot shew it Her soul doe's not know it Her Soul in a Rapture is flying Love like the Great Turk in his Pleasures doe's sport With Mutes in the innermost parts of his Court He drives the dull Counsellor Thinking away And himself and his Mutes out o' Breath he doe's play Du. Oh! What infernal Spirit brought me hither I am decreed for Wickedness I shall Destroy that Prince in spite of all that poor Court Houshold-stuff that Imagery about him Daup. Ha! Vendosme there Leave me a while my Love Lou. I will but I will watch you do not hurt him Aside For still I love him spight of all his falshood Exit Du. He 's coming My Heart swells that my Ribbs bend Like Bowes of Steel ready to shoot my Soul at him Daup. Sir you have long sor'd or'e my head but now I 'le bring you down Where is your Commission Du. How My Commission Where it shall remain Till the King takes it Sir in my own keeping Daup. How Shall Dauphin puts his Hand to his Sword Enter Louize Lou. Oh! hold my Lord Daup. What dost thou mean Lou. Oh! to hurt him will pierce your Father's heart I beg you then upon my knees be calm Da. What Storm so rude which such a beautious Halcyon Cannot soon calme Traytor this Angel here Has given thee life But know thou art preserv'd
who go out Du. I want a Sword Const Take mine The Constable gives the Duke his Sword who draws it Du. Now know my Lord I 've once out-witted you I 've div'd into you and I find your Plots You have stir'd up my Army to Rebellion And now you fain wou'd fool me out to Head ' em Const A Guard there Du. Silence Or you ne're speak more I know the Reverence I ow a Father I 'le no more violate you than an Altar But we may wipe away dirt from an Altar And I wou'd free you from this dirty World In whose foul Womb you labour like a Mole And when you 'r dragg'd into the Light of Innocence You are sick like things out of their Element Since no perswasions then can make you Honest Nor keep you Quiet Locks and Walls shall do it Both for my Prince's sake and for your own Into the Chair so with me to the King Const Oh! Slave Du. Into the Chair Const Priest-ridden Slave Who all thy insipid Life hast been transfusing The sheepish thoughts of Priests into thy head Dost know no way but what those wooden Hands Direct thee to Du. Into the Chair Const I heard A Lover once in a Rapture tell his Mistress Her Mother fed on Roses sure when I Got thee I was confin'd to a milk diet Du. Into the Chair Const I 'le not into the Chair Draws a long Tuck out of a Cane I am provided for you Sir a Guard there Enter a Guard Secure this Traytor here he has disarm'd me To make escape Now Sir I 'le handle you Bind him and get the Wrack prepar'd with speed The Guard Bind the Duke Oh! thou Fool Fool ridiculous vertuous Fool I cannot speak my mind I shall betray my self Thou mightst have been King Aside to the Duke Du. A glorious Villain Const Crown'd on that Scaffold where thy Head shall fall Enter one of the Guard Gu. My Lord the Wounded Princess does desire Admission to the Duke she says she has Some things of Consequence she wou'd reveal Const They are guilty then and she is a Strumpet Admit her Enter Louize in a Chair her Woman helps her out Lou. Oh! My Lord. Du. Help her she faints In such fair Ruines Heaven would have lain If the ill Angels had subdu'd the good Lou. Oh! Du. Such a Groan a breaking Sphere wou'd give Lou. My Lord. Du. How does my Love Lou. Exceeding ill And yet not ill enough for one whose sins Has brought such ills on you Du. Your Sins Lou. Oh yes My Pride and Jealousie did ruine both of us 'T was wicked Sacriledge to let hot Rage Melt down your Golden Image in my mind Du. Your Love which never wander'd once from me Where it was born doe's talk of me as those Do of their Native Country's who ne're travel'd I cannot talk or think too much of you The thoughts you Lov'd me once will make me think my self Above an Angel and this sight of you Make me disrelish all the Heavenly Visions I say this openly before the World I scorn to tarry till we meet in Death And whisper it behind the Globe in private Du. Did e're till now two Lovers find such Joys In the cold barren space between two Worlds How do these Pleasures guild the Gates of Death Make pleasant Walkes to lead up to the Shades Const This is the Innocent Pair Lou. Unnatural Tyrant My Soul is often comming to my Wound And seeing you start's back and think 's you Hell Const I find your Wound has much corrupted Blood in 't Lou. I faint Du. Oh! help Lou. Farwell thou Paradise I 'me driven from thee by a Flaming Sword And for the sin of Eve believing Lyes But to a better World than Eve was chas't To Heaven There 's one no doubt for were there none There wou'd be one o' purpose made for you Dyes Du. She 's going She 's gone whilst th' iron Hand Of Death broke this fair Diamond in pieces What Sparks flew round each Richer than a World Enter the Dauphin Daup. What do I see Oh! Torment Torment Hell How durst you suffer this Const Sir she desir'd Admission on pretence she wou'd Confess And only came to Dye in his Embraces Daup. Oh! Hot Egyptian Lust a Lust which burn's In Damp's of Death and makes the Grave a Brothel Vendosme You till this Moment like a Torrent Have born me down like a small floating Weed But here you shall run under Ground for ever Du. But I shall rise again in Paradise Where I shall mixe with this Pure Stream for ever But Sir you take his Life who gave you Yours Daup. Thou give me Life Yes as the Crows and Ravens Give me my Eyes they dare not pick e'm out Thou Buzzard durst not light on me an Eagle For thy last Perch thou knew'st wou'd be a Gibbet Du. Sir I 'le boldly tell you more In me You fling away the Fortune of the Kingdom Daup. If France's Fortune be so Beggarly Then I do well to fling it on a Dunghil Du. The Crown you hope to Heir hang 's on this Arm. Daup. I 'd scorn to wear a Feather that had hung On such a Pin. Du. That Scorn a Rod shall Scourge Cut from the Cypress that shall shade my Tombe Shortly you 'l strive to make another me Out of my Dust mingled with all my Tears And all your Souls But my proud Dust will slight you My loss is nothing but a World which alwayes Appear'd to me a painted treacherous Whore That lead's to Hell the Fools and Knaves that love her And is a Hell to the Brave Men that scorn her Daup. Sir for the Satisfaction of the World You must confess your Crimes Du. You know us Innocent Daup. How dar'st thou tell me this Dost thou not see That Wrack there Ha! Du. Yes and I see 't is Wood A Limb of some old fallen Son of Earth And I will not be made to speak a Falshood By any Sons of Earth or Sons of Kings Daup. Intollerable lead him to the Wrack Exit Duke with a Guard Const You see how faithfully I 've serv'd you Sir Daup. Against your Son Const Yes Sir I 've gone indeed Against the stream of Nature to serve you Daup. Can I then think thou wilt be true to me If thou could'st go so easily to Mischief When thou wert shackled with the Chains of Nature How swiftly wilt thou run when thou art free Know Fool I 've made thee work thy own destruction I 've thrown thee at thy Son and made you dash Each other in pieces like two Earthen Vessels Con. Ha! did you mean by Favours which you promis'd me Only to make me Hangman to my Son Da. Princes no more shou'd keep their words with Villains Than Priests with Hereticks Const Oh! Horrour horrour I have fed your Revenge with my Blood 's Quintessence The Blood of him I got in my hot Youth And now you break your League and seek my Life Daup. I
hast thou thrown me on hooks as Turks do slaves Then would'st thou have me hang alive in torments No I will rather have my Limbs feed Crows Then poorly live to be the scorn of Fools For a wise Man the Image of a God To creep to Fools scarce Images of Men I 'le as soon worship golden Calves with Jews Or with the Sumatrans a Monkeys Tooth My Glory that ha's kept me ever waking Is out now send me t'eternal darkness And young man do you pray pray heartily Be sure you get to Heaven for if your piety Shou'd crack and let you fall to Hell where I am I 'le plague you worse than all the Devils there Ex. K. What a black Demon had I ne're my Throne Enter La Marre La Ma. Now will I fix my self The Constable a Prisoner Daup. Seize that fellow You shall be hang'd Sir La Ma. Oh! Sir Daup. Yes Sirrah you are a great Rogue La Ma. You wou'd not hang me were I a great Rogue Well 't is as foolish to play Villany As Money with a Man of a great Stock He can throw out and out and still play on We once throw out we are thrown to the Devil Whither they come at last for when all 's done The Devil's Box get's all Daup. My poor Louize K. Noble Youth Hast thou had such great wrongs yet give my Son His Life and me my Crown Du. Princes are sacred What e're Religion Rebels may pretend Murderers of Kings are Worshippers of Devils For none but Devils are worshipâ— by such Sacrifices They who derive all Power from the People Do basely basterdise it with that Buckleâ— Which fell from Heaven to protect Innocence They protect Villany No sacrilege Greater then when a Rebel with his Sword Dare's cut the hand of Heaven from King's Commissions To hide the Devil's mark upon his own I lifted up my Arm against the Dauphin It ought to have dy'd and rotted in the Air. Daup. I fully pardon you Du. Then I dye joyfully K. Talk'st thou of Dying Du. I received two Wounds In the last Battle Sir upon my Breast Which now are torn far into Deaths Dominions The Duke shows his Breast bloody K. Oh! miserable Sight Da. Oh! blasting Sight K. Here falls a Pharaoh's Tower Ephesian Temple The Cost of Ages Wonder of Eternity Duke You guild a vanishing Shadow May I have leave Sir To the Dauphin To sleep in Death by her who was your Princess But in the Grave there 's no Propriety In Death's dark ruinous Empire all lye's waste Daup. You shall have that and all befitting Honours Duke Then come cold Bride to my as cold Embrace The Grave 's our Bed and Death our Bridal-Night None will disturb or envy our Delight Ex. THE EPILOGUE Spoken by Mr. Haines who Acted La Marre FInding sad Plays so good success have bad To make this Tragedy exceeding said The Author doom'd me to be hang'd to Night But now I hop'd I shou'd be hang'dout right For I 've three plagues no flesh and blood can bear I am a Poet Married and a Player A Wife ha's e're since Eve been thought an evil The first that danc'd at Weddings was the Devil At the first Wedding all Mankind miscarried Old Adam ne're was wicked 'till he married And Poetry of curses never fail'd Homer his Rags on all his race entail'd He was an old blind Beggar and so poor He starv'd the Dog that led him and the Curre To have revenge on Poets got in spite Criticks who worry all that dare to write But 'till of late a Player was a toy That either sex lik'd well enough t enjoy Happy the Spark that cou'd a Night carouse With a whole Sharer once of either House Nay Women once in our acquaintance crept You hardly will believe me I was kept But I and all of us are fallen so low Nothing will keep us but Bum Bailiffs now Now no divertisement do'es pleasure bring The Pope ha's set his foot in ev'ry thing His Priests and Poets have conspir'd our fall Priests by bad Plots Poets by none at all And Poets like the Jesuits of the times Will hang and damn e're they will own their Crimes Like Fryan Bacon 's Brazen Head they 'l speak Just what they please and then in peices break 'T is strange fond Nature often takes great pains To build Brass Fore-heads to defend no brains Well Sirs damn Plays and Poets as you please But pray suppâ—rt a Play-house for your ease Ladies some Journeys to Hide Park may spare Our empty Play-House ha's enough fresh Air. And Gallants pray support us not for Plays But to find Ladies here in rainy days FINIS