so vast a height That all she wishes is her own What greater Security for a loose Womans pleasure Then the fond kindness of an amourous Husband Such liberty and safety waits on Marriage That Clarmount then securely King Cease this rudeness They who raise Thunder may not be so bold To sport with it Yonder it comes Nigr. What Sir King That wondrous thing thou talk'st of Nigr. Retire but for a minute if I do not Prove all I 've told you let my Blood appease Your Anger and her Injuries The King abscoâ—ds Enter Aphelia Aph. Nigrello Nigr. The generous and the worthy Clarmount thanks you Aph. My Letter you pâ—esented King Can 't be true She owns that impious Libell Nigr. Yes and he Accepted it with so much joy such extasie No common influence could raise Aph. Kind Sir I am your Debtor King Yes in justice She ought to pay her Bawd his Office merits it Aph. He is a generous and a faithful Friend And whilst th'obliged Aphelia has breath T' express and pow'r to gratifie his favours I 'le pay my thanks in heaping honours on him King How fond she is She can't forbear to praise him If her loose tongue can be so Prodigal To one whom she supposes thinks her honest What are her private thoughts I am distracted Aph. This kind good man King Damnation seize him for 't 'T is but too plain Since she can be Unchast If such a sacred form can bear such stains I cannot wonder at the ancient Romans That made their Gods Adulterers Nigrello What read'st thou in our brow Nigr. A fond desire To be deceived A flattering kind of hope That fair Apâ—elia may be honest still King A setled resolution my black Genius Not to be alter'd by the brackish Tears That flow in pregnant eyes of easie Woman Aph. Why looks my King so alter'd What strange errour Has Fate committed for if any ill Attend so good a King 't is Heav'ns mistake It can't be so unjust as to design it What chance has made this change you look as if A load hung on your thoughts King Yes did man kind Think half so bad of Hell as I of thee There would not be a Sinner in the World Aph. Am I so terrible There was a time Your language flow'd more gently and Aphelia Appear'd less frightful Where 's the alteration Trust me my Lord I feel it not I fear Some Villany has your pure thoughts infected King Why did the over-sight of Heav'n lay out Such vast expence to Beautifie a Face And form the Soul of such a different mould Crule Aphelia cruel to thy self T' obscure such Excellence Eclipse such Light Is that a Brow fit for eternal Night How could a wanton heat or loose desire Lodge in that Breast till the fair seat took fire Whose spreading flames have all your glories crusht Ruin'd your Fame and laid your Pride in dust Why this strange fall why this Lethardick passion I am too milde for an affronted King Thy Treasons are too loud to be discours'd So tamely Oh thou infamous base Woman What sawcy Devil tempted thy hot blood To prostitute thy Virtue shame thy Birth Betray thy Credulous King and damn thy Soul Aph. I am all horrour Oh my startled senses What means my King King To use thee just as coursly As thou hast done thy honour Take her hence Aph. Sir do but hear me King Convey her hence and let her talk to morrow My ears have been too busie for one day Aph. Then I am satisfied if I have leave To speak my Innocence before my Death I thank kind Heav'n my courage is so high Whate're's my doom I can obey and dye Exit Nigrello leading Aphelia King If so much Innocence and so much Beauty Can be corrupted if Aphelia can Turn Whore why may not all man kind Mistrust their Fathers and suspect their Births Their Mothers are less fair and why more honest Who knows but whilst the Husbands arms embrace The seeming honest Wife her wanton fancy May in a stragling fit fix on a Satyr Or some more lustful favourite and her issue Though 't is got lawfully be conceiv'd a Bastard Exit Scene the last The Scene a Grotto Enter Lewis Brisac Souldiers with a Page carrying a dark Lanthorn Lew. Upon your Lives let no man pass that way Make that your Post. Bris. Your Grace shall be obey'd Lew. So if the darkness of the place protects him If he escapes my hands he 'l fall in yours Exeunt The Scene open'd Clarmount and Fredigond are discover'd together Enter Lewis Clarm. Here all our joys are safe no envious eyes No rudeness will this humble Seat surprize Nor can ill Fate our secure Loves betray No fire can guide a Jealous King this way Fred. Oh my dear Clarmount 't was unkindly done To have my pleasures hinder'd by my Son Considering 't was I that made him King 'T was I that set his Fathers soul on wing Lew. Ye Gods what a discovery have I made Had she a hand too in my Fathers Murder Aside Fred. And yet Heav'n knows how I abhor'd the sin Yet for thy sake could act it o're agen To kill a Husband was a crime so horrid As startled me to enter in my thoughts Till Love presented me objects so gay As instantly drew the dark Scene away Clarm. We are betray'd Lew. Stir Traytor and thou dyest Holds a Dagger at his Breast Brisac Enter Brisac Nigrello and Souldiers Bris. My Lord. Lew. That Monster is thy charge Clarm. Nigrello in the Plot. Oh credulous Fool Lew. Thou glorious Light that in thy natural Orbe Did'st comfortably shine upon this Kingdom How is thy worth Ecclips'd what a dull darkness Hangs round about thy Fame in all this piece To every limb whereof I once owed duty I know not now where to find out my Mother Queen The Devil and disobedience blinds your eyes Lew. Oh that I had no eyes so you no shame Murder your Husband to arrive at Lust And then to lay the blame on Innocence Blush blush thou worse then Woman Queen Ha ha Leâ— Hold my heart You 're impudent in sin has your lustful Villain Made you thus Valiant Queen How darest thou cloath thy speech in such a phrase To me thy Mother Lew. Adultrate Woman shame of Royalty I blush to call thee Mother yes to think it Whilst I reflect upon thy tainted blood I doubt the pureness of my own The spring head Defiled who knows but the under stream may be Corrupted I am all distraction And dare not talk too long on such a subject Least wildness conquering my softer sense Thrust forth my hand into an act of horrour Queen Insolent Boy wilt thou turn Parracidâ— Lew. The justice of my cause would well excuse Me if I should Nigrello Nigr. Sir your pleasure Lew. Nature forbids me spill my Mothers blood And Clarmount is unfit for my Revenge For I must study torments for the Villain This is the Night that the Confederates Begin
Sir came from your Mothers Bed chamber She can raise a Spirit But such an old dry heary Apparition 'T is well 't was but a Vision for I know So well her Constitution That 't is a younger substance must pleas Her But Clarmount thanks t' his Stars under that frozen out side Clot. How What say you Nigr. Sir not t' abuse your Patience He has had as free access to her as e're Your Father had Clot. But art thou sure on 't Nigr. Ha! What a look was there to ask that question Aside Sir if I 've wrong'd your Honour or her Virtue May the just Gods Clot. No troubling Heaven to witness it Tell me art confident Nigr. Of what Clot. What have we Been talking of Th'intrigue between my Mother And Clarmount Nigr. By your unconcern for her Dishonour I suspect you understand me not Clot. 'Sdeath but I do Where lyes the Mystery My Mother holds an amorous League with Clarmount And the next Night after her Husbands Death Admitted him t' her Bed and then for fear Of a Discovery disguis'd him In her Dead Husbands habit Wit I love thee By Heav'ns 't was witty Nigr. Does it please you Sir Clot. Please me Yes above expression I would not Have mist this knowledg for a Kingdoms wealth Good kind Informer tell me does she practise These wanton Revels often Bless my Eares With the discovery speak is it often Nigr. Sir you amaze me to be thus transported I thought the news would not have been so welcome Clot. Not welcome Yes I pardon her and thank her I find the sin of Lust is not so Capital My Father but last Night by Poyson Dyed And I at the same time by Lust inflamed Lest the concern due to a Fathers Murder To flye into a Mistresses embrace I but a Father lost and by that loss I gain'd a Throne She lost a King and Husband And with that loss a Crown Yeâ— Love had power To make her losses King and Crown forget And the next Night flye to a Lovers Arms. Why then should I be troubled when my sin If it be one runs in my Blood My Mother Was kind before me and if Such pleasant harmless Crimes must needs be punisht My Parents then Ought to be sufferers for my Offences Nature's in fault I act but what I 'm born to Nigr. Shall Clarmâ—â—â—â— live then shall this Insolent Villain Profane your Blood and have his own unspilâ— Clot. I hate th' Offender though I love the Guilt She is my Mother and her Favourites Blood Must expiate the injuries of Majesty He dyes for 't Think not Because I practise it I can forgive it What Nature pardons Honour punishes But say how fares Aphelia Nigr. Wrapt in sorrow As her ill fate requires Clot. As so much Beauty Does not deserve I once was of a Nature Unmoved by any thing in Woman-kind But the Enjoyment I esteem'd 'em Vassals To our desires not Soveraigns over ' em But why her Beauty Virtue or her wrongs Have alâ—eâ—'d me I know not but am sensible Of a strange Change of which I feel th' effects But cannot tell the Cause a shining light Shoots through me and my yeilding heart gives way Where the Usurping Guest raigns Lord and I his Slave obey Exit Nigr. So far I 'm happy Clarmounts Doom is Sealed I know he has so much Honour that I doubt not His profecution of so infamous And black a guilt and though his own stains cannot His Mothers I am sure will fret his Heart strings Enter Lewis disguis'd Lew. My kind Preserver my dear dear Nigrello Nigr. Sir your recovery to life the health Of France the Hopes of Kingdoms and the pride Of Europe Lew. Hold Nigrello by my life That life â— owe to thee thou flatterâ—â—t me Heav'n when it gave me breath ordain'd me for My Countreys humble Slave â— and now thou hast Restored that Breath they Creature Nigr. Sir no more The action has so well it self rewarded That I 'm o'repaid with half this Complement But Sir why do you walk abroad so soon Your wounds being so fresh the Ayre may hurt you Lew. Oh fear not that the cause that brings me hither Has perfected my cure I come to ask My fair Aphelias safety Nigr. Sir be satisfied Her Life her Honour and her Love are safe The king 't is true Doats on her even to madness After you had faln and he had in blind rage Sent her to Prison toucht with sudden sense Of his own Guâ—lt her Innocence and Wrongs And the bright stamp her Beauty had imprinted He 's grown so Passionate and chang'd a Lover As 't may be feared that if no other means Can conquer her He'â— Marry her t' enjoy her Lew. Marry her The voyce of Schreichowls o're the Graves of Traytors Is Musick to this Language Nigr. Cease your Fears Your Image in her Bosom and my power Step in between A crown can neither tempt her Nor shall he wrong her Let my Arts alone To countermine her Danger and his Lust. Lew. Your Friendship kind Nigrello Nigr. Call it Justice A service due to injur'd Innocence But Sir as I 'm a suffering Ladys Champion Be you a bleeding Kingdoms I 've a story Will wrack your Ears and scorch your Royal blood Into a Feavour Duâ—ane and Lamâ—t The Kings suspected Murderers you know Were sent to Prison But your Zealous Brother Out of a pious horrour even to hear The story of a Fathers Death repeated Gave me Commission privately in Prison To Poyson 'em before their Tryal came Lew. Good Gods What do I hear Nigr. Then 't was resolved To have it publisht to the World they poyson'd Themselves t' avoyd that certain Execution It would be thought they expected and deserved And thus this Artâ—fice he imagin'd would Silence all farther dangerous inquiries Into so great a secret Lew. Hell and Devils But kind Nigrello as my preservation Convinces me thou' rt honest yet Nigr. Yes Sir I guess your trouble you would have me prove This Imputation yes 't is just I shou'd And though you 've found me honest yet believe My honesty in such a weighty cause No farther then your eyes Then to convince you That I had the disposal of their Lives Instead of Poysoning 'em I have releast ' em Lew. Releast ' em Nigr. Yes and satisfied the King Whose confidence in my dispatch had made him Apt for th' impression that he thinks 'em dead And to confirm you in few hours you 'l hear The train has took and that the City's loud With the discourse both of their Guilt and Deaths Lew. Thou hast a Wit great as thy Loyalty And their deliverance is a proof of both This process of a Fathers Death has rowz'd My Soul and shew'd me Horrors in a shape Too terrible to enter Loyal hearts And not bring thoughts of Vengeance with them France 'T is I must disabuse thee Nigr. Sir the Prisoners Thus Rescued for my safety walk in Clouds And under borrow'd Names
Fair Excellence what is 't Aph. My Death King Your Death Aph. Is the Request so wonderful My Lewis Is gone before And do you think that Patience In Heaven's a greater Virtue than on Earth When he was living hee 'd have been distracted With half so long an absence from Aphelia And do you think Heav'n where the Sun and Stars Have kept one course so many thousand years There where the Saints sing one Eternal song Where Bliss without decrease has held so long Can you think Heav'n harbours Inconstancy My Lewis when he took his last farewell Left all the world but me behind he bore My Image with him to the skyes and there Expects the sad Original should follow He is impaâ—ient languishes desires And thinks compar'd to Love the Staâ—s dimne Fires Think 's he 's but half in Heaven in his blest seat Wants Me to make his Paradise compleat I come I come Oh my most gracious King By your command let my freed Soul take wing He can't be blest without me And as you Gave him his Death give him his Glory too This Blessing you in Justice ought to grant You made the Martyr and now make the Saint King Madam is Love so barb'rous that it must Depend on Cruelty to make it constant Does it delight in blood that it requires A Mrs. Murder for a Lovers Monument No no He 'l be a Saint a milder way Your pity makes him blest without your Death My happy Brother happy in his Fall Who dyes deplored by fair Aphelia was Your Slave Conquerors may their Slaves out-live And though one of your Trophies is destroy'd Those eyes that made that shine as bright as ever And can make more of which see here the greatest France at thy feet tread on his Royalty Kneels Or if thy Nature knows not to forgive Which to believe were impious take this Sword T' appease the troubled Spirit of thy Love I find a speaking pity in thy eyes Which thence will drop upon thy gentle tongue And cry Live Clotair my unhappy Loves Repenting Murd'rer live Aph. The Penitence Of Kings would expiate a Nations sins Sure then their own may be forgiven His blood Heav'n pardon you for I do King Then I 'm pardon'd There cannot be an act you pass but Heav'n Will sign to But dear Madam in this state Of Innocence to which your Mercy has Restored me let me offer up a heart To fair Aphelia for a Sacrifice I am a full and perfect Convert now Both Murderer and Ravisher repents My heart grown Virtuous and unspotted now Approaches you with Adoration looks With piety on what it once profaned Accept a Love a Love so pure so true Nothing but You could raise nothing but You Reward Aph. Hold Sir You are my King but though Things are exempt from Laws their Crimes above Th'examining of Justice from a Judâ— Yet Kings may guilty stand at Loves Tribunal I can condemne you yet great Sir I do not But though I do not and his death I pardon Honour obey and reverence a King I can but Love I can't My heart his Right His Province I can never make a seat For any second Lord much less his Murd'rer They who forgive a Crime may not reward it King Oh my hard fate Oh more then cruel Woman Is this to honour reverence and obey A King to scorn him or can the requiting My Love be the rewaâ—ding of my Crime Oh Cruelty Concern'd so much for Blood I shed in my wild rage and moved so little At Ruines you design at deaths you give With a firm look fixt and resolved to kill Enter Lewis and Nigrello to the door Nigr. Stand here unseen and you are safe Lew. The Plot That thou hast layd to try her constancy Is excellent Nigr. He 's here expect th' event on 't Enter Burbon in hast Burbon Forgive my hasty rudeness for my Cause Requires it Sir the City 's up in Arms Your Subjects in Rebellion and their sury Seems by Revenge inspired Revenge they cry Their Rage is grounded on your Brothers Death And they 're resolved as the Incendiary Of his destruction t' have Aphelia's blood Lew. As I could wish Burbon Great Sir bethink your self King Aphelias blood The common Multitude advance their Arms Against her sacred Head Oh Hellish outrage The Gyants when they besieged Heaven attempted To Dethrone Iupiter with less impiety Her Blood Enter in hast a second Gentleman Second Gent. Great Sir your frighted Guards o're-pow'rd Your Pallace they have enter'd and resolve To lay it level with the ground if what Their loud and baâ—barous rage calls Justice this Fair Lady's Life do not appease their fury King Her Life t' appease â—em By that Life they ask Her precious Life the Sacred'st Oath That I can swear their Insolence has damn'd ' em Go instantly and tell the Rebels I Am her Protector and she shall not dye Aph. Hold gracious Sir revoke that harsh decree Tell 'em I am their Martyr and my Death King Be gon and say as I command you hast Aph. Oh no Sir say that I 'le submit and dye Consider but what dangers you will shun Think how much blood you 'l by my Sentence spare And can you be so cruel when the opening Of one poor Virgins veins that hates her Life And begs her Death repaires a Kingdoms health Lew. Oh my best Angel Oh my full-blown joys Aside King You cruel Woman how can you request That which your eyes forbid Whilst I gaze there And feel that Love their Light inspires I 'de see My Empire set on float and France lye deeper In humane gore then e're the Deluge laid The sunk Foundations of the drowning World E're I 'de behold one drop of yours let out Aph. Oh you forget your self What Marriner Would not throw over-board a worthless Fraight T' avoyd a Shipwrack King But what Fool or Mad-man Would throw away his Wealth his Life his Soul His Heav'n t' avoid that storm his courage scornes Tell the bold Rebels I 'm in person here And as I know Rebellion shrinks at nothing I 'le satisfie their rage a nobler way That blow their Impious hands dare aim at hers I through my Breast will intercept their King Their Victim sure th' Impetuous tide will stop Go then and do as I command Aph. No stay Kings are not safe in raging Crowds their fury May Murder you King What then what if they do What can the Man you hate be worth the saying Aph. Sir though I cannot Love yet my Allegiance Will never let me see my Soveraign bleed The sacred Blood of Kings King The Blood of Kings A toy a trifle do you understandâ— Your pow'r so little to esteem his Life You scorn worthy your care You wrong your self To cast a thought on such an abject thing As a poor hated Lover though a King Dull Sir be gon Aph. No kind Sir stay Dread Lord Rebellion is a thing too terrible For a soft Virgins ears
they I intend Shall visit you and make the business plain Lew. My Resentments Of my wrong'd Fathers death a while must pause I 'le Right a Kings but first a Mistress's Cause Nigr. Sir I 'le contrive to place you where you 'l hear What passes the next interview between 'em But keep on your disguise wear your Mask still 'T is not yet known you live which if it were Your access would be difficult besides You 'l have the greater tryal of her Faith By th' greater hate she expresses to your Murd'rer Which your disclosed Recovery would frustrate Lew. Do this and I am blest What scene of Love Could be more pleasant Be my self Spectatour Of my Loves Funeral Rites Behold the Tears Aphelia pays my Tomb What voyce more charming What nobler Monument nay what Bliss more high Than Love paid to a Lovers Memory No Constancy like what Death cannot shake What Saint would not this Paradise forsake Could he invisibly to Earth return To see a faithful Mistress at his Urne Exit Nigr. How my designs succâ—eed which that they 're just Heav'n by his preservation has confirm'd In saving of his Life to make him Agent In my Revenge The King though I know he hates him VVill be extreamly glad of his Recovery If but t' appease his murmuring peoples Anger VVho he knows are more then Mourners for his Death And for the Prince whose heart my Services To him and his Aphelia have made mine His Mistress's Injuries and Fathers Murder VVhich I have artfully made the Kings Guilt VVill raise a fire within him Too hot and fierce to smother or be stopt Till it break out in a Rebellion VVhich His Interest in the French hearts will animate VVhat could I wish for more then to engage The fury of a Kingdom in my Rage Exit Scene the Second The Scene a Dungeon Aphelia is discover'd on a Couch Enter Clotair King Now I am justly punisht for my sins That Violence I offer'd to thy Honour Thou on my Breast hast acted Ravisht thence My Freedom and my Heart All thoughts of rest And hopes of Peace are banisht from this Seat Thy Tyrant-pow'r has seiz'd Nay Crown and Life Turn Vassals at thy feet they prostrate lye Yet though their Fall is low their Object 's high Though at thy Feet they humble homage pay Up to thy Eyes they look the Heavens to which they pray And if she be not all Disdain all Marble I 'le shake her pious constancy to Lewis Make her admire my Love if not reward it Aph. The King Rises King Is this a Lodging for so fair a Guest Is this a Shrine for such a Saint Is this A Temple fit for such a bright Divinity VVho waits without there Enter Burbon Burb. Royal Sir your pleasure King How came this Lady hither Burb. By command From you King Lyar and Slave from Me Strikes him My Guards there Enter Guards Here kill that Dog but stay A death so gentle VVould be an act of Mercy not of Justice Oh impudence unpardonable I send so great a Beauty to a Dungeon Convey him hence and let him dye by tortures Wrackt limb from limb let his torn Carcass bleed And feel such pains so black a Guilt and such A Blasphemy deserves A Dungeon Burb. Hold great Sir do but remember King Good Gods The Traytor has the Impudence To speak Be gone Has not thy tongue been guilty Enough already but thou still darest breath After so damn'd a Lye A Dungeon Heav'ns Aph. Let me Sir be his Advocate Thus low kneels King Aphelia on her knees That posture Madam From such a fair Petitioner's too humble When paid to Heav'n Commanding Lady rise And be obey'd Aph. Great Sir remember 't was Your act of Grace that doom'd me to this Lodging A Lodging fit for an Inhabitant So wrapt in Sorrows and disguis'd in Tears That any nobler roofe would mock my Fortune The darkness of the place becomes her Griefs That dwells in 't King VVere you then brought here by my Command Aph. By your Command Sir and the Breath That gave that kind command pronounced a Fate So glorious that I am bound to honour My Sentencer this melancholy place Agrees both with my wishes and misfortunes You in this favour just and generous prove So dark a scene befits a mourning Love King If you affirm it Madam what you say Is Oracle 'T was I that sent you hither You came by my command into this Dungeon But durst the Slave obey that breath that sent you Away with him to th' VVrack and let his tortures Be doubled How obey me Villain Obedience To a command so barb'rous and so monstrous Deserves more than an enraged King can utter Or torments act What if you had been commanded To Whore your Sister Stab your Father Ravish Your Mother Curse your God or Kill your King Dog would you have obey'd and done all this Away with him Aph. Stay Sir remember 't was His King commanded him and had the deed He acted been a Crime as this was none This was a blessing and so great a blessing As on my Knees I would have beg'd from Heav'n Yet sure your hand can't punish what your tongue Was Authour of King I Author of why Madam 'T is therefore that I punish him I Authour I do not doubt it in the least I was the only cause I gave the Sentence I order'd you this Lodging and no wonder Had I not made attempt to Ravish you Had I not Kill'd my Brother And do ye think Less then a Mad-man could commit such outrage A Man all Rage all Lunacy all Devil But this dull sottish ignorant Slave obey'd me Obey me are the looks And deeds of Kings no better understood Be gone His ignorance forfeits his Life What could he have done more to merit death Then to think Mad-men ought to be obey'd To Tortures Aph. Hold If I have any pow'r King If you have any Pow'r Pow'r did you say I 'de quit my Kingdom and turn Anchoret Or Pilgrim if I thought that Heav'n had more Aph. You are too kind That little pow'r I have Is in my Tears let those Sir beg his Life King Is it your pleasure Madam he should live Aph. Yes for what you 're pleas'd to call a Crime I think he merits a reward not punishment King You bid him live live then and live unpunisht Thank Her But Slave next let me hear you 've ransackt A Temple raz'd a Pallace burnt a City And if this Lady pardons you you Live Your Pleasure is so absolute your Pow'r So uncontroulable what you forgive So free from punishment that your Mercy Madam Would shut up Hell and make Damnation cease Had you but half that Influence over Heav'n You have o're Me. Aph. These shining Titles Sir Believe me are too gay But since you 're pleas'd Thus to adorn me with these borrow'd glories I will persue the Character you lend me And beg a favour greater than his Life King
glory of it in subduing it Pursue the generous Friendship that has been so well begâ—n and take into the number of your Admirers the humblest of yor Servants Aphelia 'T is well his worth too high you cannot raise The first reward of all good deeds is praise She fits down and Seals the Letter Nigr. Those lines with some addition of my own Shall make all my design secure I 'le drive The cheat on with such Impudence and courage That all his furious rage shall not deter me Nor all his arts disprove me Gives him the Letter Aph. Here Nigrellâ— Nigr. I 'le flye to serve you but before I go I ought to tell you that the King intends To visit you and though he comes to take His last farewell to Love yet you must think Lovers quit Ladies just as Garrisons Surrender in their fall their Pride 's so great They willingly would have their yeilding look As little as it can like a defeat The King no doubt though in his vanquisht passion Will make some Love say some kind amorous things And if you 'l take my Councel let your Answers Be mild and gentle Exit Nigrello Bris. The advice is good And you 'l oblige your self if you pursue it 'T is a vain glory that attends a Lover Never to say he quits and when Hope dyes The Gallantry of Love still lives is charm'd With kindness but in shadow takes delight Even in its being deceiv'd Love 's th' only passion Takes pleasure to be flatter'd in dispair Aph. Can a feign'd look or a dissembled smile Oblige so good so generous a King Such Treachery I scorn no he deserves A nobler usage His resigning me To Lewis has so charm'd me that I cannot Pay him too much My Friendship Kindness all The faculties of my Soul but what my Vows To Heav'n and Lewis do except are his Come glorious Lover storm an easie Breast Take all my heart has liberty to part with This brave refigning me has gain'd such pow'â— Lewis had ne're a Rival till this hour Bris. Madam I see him coming take no notice Either of our discourse or his conversion 'T is more than I dare answer it anticipates The Gallantry and the surprize of great Designs to have â—em told e're they are acted Enter King King What Vulture gripes me here Ha what art thou If thou be'st so Jealousy mount and be gone Fly to the vulgar bosom whose cheap thoughts Despair their own performance in a King Thou show'st a Nature retrograde to Honour Suppose She Loves and has vow'd constancy To Lewis must it follow that her heart Cannot be moved 'T is but my fears that say so I 'le boldly on and tire her till she yeild Is She not fair Beauty 's a spark of Heav'n And all that 's Heavenly may be moved 't is only Th' Infernal pow'rs that are inexorable What brow wears our fair Tyrant Is a Brother To Bris. More pow'rful then a King Does â—he unmoved Admit thy Mediation in my Cause Or am I still that unshaped thing whose name Has terror in 't Does still each sound that breaths My hated name strike horrour through her veins And shake that Seat where my proud Brother raigns Bris. I found her not so cruel as I wisht her The Conquest was so easie that my pains In serving you were less then I desired King The Conquest How what say you Bris. Sir the Cloud That hinder'd her the prospect of her bliss Is gone the pow'r of Majesty and Love Has the long mist dispelâ—d She is restored To sense and reason King Is Aphelia kind Bris. Yes to her self She understands the Love Of Kings and why she understood no sooner She does confess her senses have been more Dazled then darken'd King My kind Advocate Oh that I had a Sister for thy sake As Cruel and if possible as fair That I might pay thee back this kindness They Madam who Divinitys approach To her Seek out for prosperous hours to breath their Vows in Which attribute of Heav'n Divine Aphelia Mercy or Justice is the mighty work Of this days fate Have you markt out this hour For lending ear to your Adorers Prayers Or forming Thunder for Offenders crimes Aph. If there is any thing Divine or Sacred Lodged in this Breast 't is Royal Sir your Creature For this poor humble roof cannot be built For such a Guest unless you 're pleased to raise it And if you 'd have me Sainted you of all men Should have lest cause to ask how I 'm inclin'd Who makes the Saint may well expect it kind King I am transported If this sudden kindness Be truth 't is Miracle Bris. If it be false Punish her Treason on her Brothers heart By my Allegiance and my hopes of Bliss She entertains no wish nor thought t' abuse you King This Language speaks thee â—air Aphelias Brother Thy Breath else could not be so near allied To hers to carry so much charm such Heav'n in 't They Madam who would mighty Structures rayse To her Search the Foundation first on which they build The highest flight of my Ambition is To know my pow'r in fair Aphelâ—as heart Enter Nigrello Aph. Your pow'r in that you shall distrust no more 'T is all that Loyalty and Gratitude Can make it my Prophetick thoughts have told me You will be kind and as my Soveraign ought To have disposal of your Vassals Fates And that high Fate you have markt out for me I doubt not will be welcome great and glorious And as I 'm satisfied 't will be all these Great Sir t' obey you shall not only be My duty but my hopes Bris. How prettily They drive on the mistake Nigr. The plot works rarely Bris. But stop 'em e're it goes too far Nigr. Great Sir I 've somthing for your Ear. King Another time Nigr. None but this minute will suffice Your safety And honour are cocern'd King And what of them Be quick I 'm too full of thought to talk Nigr. My story is so fiery that it must Move slow for if it should break out too fiercely It will do Violence to your Ear disturb If not displease you King But it shall not I 've but Just now receiv'd the promise of her heart And do you think it lyes in Fortunes pow'r To shake my quiet at so blest an hour Out with it speak the worst thou hast to say My Joy's too great t' admit of an allay Bris. Let us withdraw perhaps they would be private Exeunt Briâ—ac and Aphelia Nigr. But shall I have yor pardon King Yes dispatch then Nigr. Your Mistrerss is not King What Nigr. Not Chast. King Not Chast Had'st thou ten thosand lives not one of them Should scape my Justice for so damn'd a lye Nigr. You promis'd me my pardon King How thy pardon I would not give 't my Father no not his Ghost Should but his shadow from his Grave rise up To speak but one such word for the Impiety I 'de