Courage reigns He their glad Veins with generous Fire distends And to each Heart the brave Infection sends From Edgar 't is that England's Glory grows Prot. More then one Edgar Fate to England owes These retiring Tritons dance They retiring 3 Sirens arise out of the Sea and sing THE SONG 1. Siren. LOve the Ambrosia of the Blest 'T is Love in Heav'n that makes the Feast O Mortalls Mortalls come and tast 2. Sir Whilst jingling Honour strives for place And Vertue sets her ugly Face The Moments the sweet Moments pass 3. Sir It cools alas how fast it cools Fall to ye men ye men with Souls And Ceremony leave to Fools All. When Nature invites And keen Appetites Care tearing your Hearts and tormenting Is some Devil in the way That creates your Delay Or a Bug of some Bigott's inventing Three Celestiall Sirens approach skymming on the surface of the waters The former Sirens dive hastily and disappear These looking after them say 1. Sir Fly Monsters fly with your deceitfull Breath That warbling strikes and pleases unto Death Each tender ear ev'n yet the Accents wound And th' Air yet trembles with the impious Sound 2. Sir A Heav'nly Voice and Beauty they prophane With the unblest abominable Train Which their false boasted Pleasures do's detect Sweet to the Sense but Poison in effect 3. Sir Great Edgar from those Charms is safe To all but those of Glory deaf Glory whose Chariot drives an height 'Bove the rude Jolt of sensuall Delight And hurry of low Passions Victory On silver Wings and Triumph with them fly These 3 dance and after they retiring the Sea seems troubled Andromeda appears ty'd to a Rock a great Sea-monster making towards her Perseus is seen in the Air on Pegasus with his Scimitar and Gorgon Shield When Edgar abruptly starting up turns from the Masque and with Face towards the Pit speaks Edg. Glory had once th' Ascendant Glorie's Dart Did from all other Flames my Breast assert Which raging now torment m' enfeebled Heart A Dream of Majesty a King no more These Shows are now less Shadows then my Power They represent Love's utmost Malice try'd Has me dethron'd degraded and destroy'd If ought survive if ought of me remain 'T is but the sense of an immortall Pain Love I obey and Captive follow thee To Solitude a fitter Scene for me Exit Edgar gone all in a consternation goe of and the Scene changes to a Garden SCENE I. Enter Lewis solus Lewis Unhappy Princes who a just War make And onely Arms when necessary take For me yet cruell Heav'ns determine worse Against my own to head a forrein Force By those that no Allegeance owe obey'd Born to protect the Nation I invade They have the Blows yet I partake the Pain A Subject lost in every Foe that 's slain My Mind 's distress'd whilst my bold War succeeds My Heart at every Wound they suffer bleeds The English must my juster Cause decide Whilst them I in new paths of Glory guide How can the Continent their Shock sustain Whose Arms ev'n force an Empire on the Main But I shall teach them thus perhaps a way That France may wish untaught another day In France again their fatall Banners spread This Heav'n avert I love their Vertue but their Valour dread Ambition blunted by these soft Regrets My Love provokes and to fierce Action whets 'T is not my Crown alone that I forgoe But with my Crown I lose Editha too Let Kingdoms my Despair in Ashes mourn A meaner Flame the Universe will burn SCENE II. Enter two old French Statesmen They on their Knees say Both. Long live King Lewis 1. Statesm The Usurper gone France with one Voice recalls you to your Throne Your Absence they lament Lew. Is Rodulph dead 2. Statesm And to the just Reproach of Heav'n in Bed Yet his black Soul did th' Air and Heav'n deform And dying Breath did bluster to a Storm As if the Troubles since he ceas'd to live Which to the Earth he could no longer give He still would through the Aiery Regions drive 1. Statesm The Day which did his last black Night precede The bloudy Tyrant had your Death decreed And hearing that to th' English Court you fled Sent two Embassadours to demand your Head 2. Statesm But these things may in vacant hours be said Our Bark my Liege waits ready to convey You safe e're Fame the Secret shall betray Kings caught on forrein Ground are lawfull Prize And for a King what Ransom can suffice Lew. I my Condition may some time conceal But cannot from this Court so rudely steal Nor can I fear the Danger you foretell Knowing the King and English Hearts so well 1. Statesm Their generous Minds as nobly you report But who can find an English-man at Court No private Mind can any Courts controll All mov'd by Interest their common Soul 2. Statesm Hot Places those where Vertue cannot look But withers dies and vanishes in Smoak 1. Statesm The private Love is ended that he bore Since you are now the Private man no more To ruine all your Cause he might advance And loving you declar'd his Hate to France 2. Statesm Your Kingdome he may without Wrong invade Till Articles and formall Leagues are made Friendship with Kings requires a certain Date Engross'd and seal'd on Instruments of State Nor this 'gainst crafty Counsels a Defence Who weaker Words suborn against the Sense To sacred Interest their bald Heads they nod That they adore and know no other God 1. Statesm Possess your Kingdom first and then send back Embassadours your Complements to make Lew. Is that the Court Your Message do's invite Me thither and from thence your Maximes fright Maximes within the English Verge not known Nor shall in France whilst I possess the Throne Pardon me King to Friendship if unjust I yield unwilling to a Friend's Distrust Aside I on my Throne shall mourn with the Disgrace If in your Breast I forfeited my place Attend me there till I in such Disguise Points to a distant place Return as shall deceive observing Eyes Exeunt Statesmen SCENE III. Lewis solus For my Ambition Fortune could no more Yet am I after all this Fortune poor Ambition is not all I will not move One Step from hence till prosperous in my Love No Power no Scepters shall allure me hence Love too shall feast though at my Pride's expence Blest Omen see her Image strikes mine Eyes Heav'n guides her hither SCENE IV. Enter Editha Madam To Editha Edi. That false Tongue No more I 'll hear Lew. Alas I Triumph sung Aside Too hasty cheated by an empty Dream Yet free from Guilt I may the Tempest stemme To Editha Edi. An Innocence presume not to perswade These Eyes beheld the Conference which you had The strict new League and Interchanges made Lew. She saw me with Gunilda late embroil'd When Kenneth was in the same Errour toil'd Aside What League what Conference Edi. New Allies to make With Strangers
He whose hand do's the French Scepter sway Edi. Then all your Meen and fine Address was made To gain me to a curst Usurper's Bed Whom Conscience with a silent Scourge shall tear And pale-fac'd Ghosts from my Embraces scare Whose Throne by bloudy Scaffolds is upheld And by Slaves guarded who their Master kill'd Lew. His Throne is fixt and the Foundation good 'T is not less firm if cemented with Bloud Right is a Notion may the Simple sting But with the Wise Possession makes the King Edi. Your Speech a strange and insolent Doctrine bears And Maximes yet unknown to English ears Rather to the true Prince did he survive ' Midst his Distress I would my person give With him partake his Indigence and Toil Lurking in Holes or wandring in Exile Howe're from Land to Land from Coast to Coast By restless Storms of adverse Fortune tost I 'd rather with him all Disgraces bear Then guilty Pomps with your Usurper share Lew. I 'm made a Convert and relent to find Those generous Transports of your noble Mind And envy not the Tyrant's haughtie State But rather his whom you commiserate Howe're forlorn abandon'd and undone Your Favours the Dethron'd and Banish'd crown Since for his Loss you bear that generous sense Here at your Feet behold that Injur'd Prince Edi. You give at once too much to be receiv'd Nor can in this be suddenly believ'd And yet your Merits so possess my Mind That I believe as by my Heart inclin'd And to the King will straight make known your Case His greatest Pride is Injuries to redress And he shall in your Right his Arms advance Fates will that English Arms give Law to France Lew. Yet all that I and all that they can gain To me must prove without your Favour vain Edi. I own'd your Merits in a private Dress Their Lustre will not shine in Purple less Exit Editha SCENE VI. Enter at the same Door Gunilda Lew. I from my Kingdome as by Shipwreck hurl'd Losing but Earth find a new Golden world What-ever Loss or Troubles on me fall Aside Editha is a Recompence for all One Jewell that alone outweighs a Crown Gun Ah that my Heart were to this Stranger known Too much already hath with Kenneth past If Words or Vows can make a Woman fast But why am I regardless what of old Our Prophets in their Runick Rymes foretold Of what Import the world should find the Knot A Danish Maid join'd to a Royall Scot Whose Issue throughout the whole Isle shall spread An Empire fixt under one onely Head Perhaps for this Event a longer time is set As the slow Birth of an uncommon Fate Stay Stranger stay suspend your present Care To Lew. I for your Breast a higher Secret bear A Princess loves you Lew. You too much express This ah you onely in my Favour guess Gun One word might serve where the Affair is nice Nor ought you press to tell a Secret twice Lew. Regards she me Gun Her Inclinations are Best known to me her Griefs I more then share Lew. Blest Angel Day-star to my Happiness Since I th' Ambition of my Soul confess Some Token give t' indulge a weak Belief For still I struggle with black Doubts Gun That Strife Is wilfully continu'd All are slow And hardly learn what they are loth to know Lew. If Chymist at his Furnace pale and old With wishing eyes pursues his Faiery Gold If famisht Marr'ner from the ragged Beach A Ship in view his suppliant Arms do's stretch I with more ardour this Discovery trace Treasure to me and ev'n my Life is less Display the truth my Heart so hotly seeks Gun Her Tongue her Eyes her every Action speaks Lew. I never from the Princess could perceive Ought to encourage Hope or Me to live Gun Princess his Thoughts are on Editha bent And on a Rock I pour my sad Complaint Aside You have my Words but cannot read my Sense So blinded by a brighter Influence Since Modesty do's plainer Language fear Take this this Picture for th' Interpreter Gives her Picture SCENE VII Enter Kenneth by surprize and draws She trembles Lewis draws She clings about Lewis Ken. Friendship and Heav'ns lo I your Thunder bear And shall your Justice from this Outrage clear Lew. Suspect me false I 'm ready to engage Not willing 'gainst a rash ill-grounded Rage First hear Ken. From that bright Sanctuary break Nor in those Arms inglorious Safety seek Are those white Arms and little Lims so strong Yield me that Pledge the Witness of my Wrong Gun And shall not I be heard He offers at Lewis She clings to Kenneth Ken. Oh powerfull Breath What Magick force resistless strong as Death Disarms my Fury My Resentment sleeps And o're my Rage a lazie Patience creeps My stormy Mind by a sweet Dew appeas'd And flagging Veins of burning Bloud are eas'd My Will by a soft Violence constrain'd She lets him goe And I all wholly to Obedience chain'd Yield me yield me that fatall Pledge with which She made thee to thine own Destruction rich Lew. To what is claim'd you the just Title lose Whilst to my Right you Threats and Force oppose To your calm Bloud I might the Gift resign But if that you will have it your's 't is mine Since a Friend's name I cannot yet devest Knowing your Pulse I may impute the rest As wild Distempers of a Love unblest I am not false nor shall your Right invade Draws out the Picture Gun Ungratefull is my Honour thus betrai'd Aside Lew. Take it and with it this Assurance take I importun'd she gave it for your sake Gun What sudden Shame and Trouble blots my Face With how much Art he labours my Disgrace Ken. Image of her who fills and rules my Heart She cruell is insensible thou art Design'd for me ah touch that Note agen I hear not this unless I hear it plain Looking on the Picture Said you for me I cannot hold my Joys Yet Unbelief all Weights and Shackles tries Her Modesty and Conscious eyes cast down Allow me not my present Bliss to own Exit Gunilda I though at distance her fair Steps will trace Till I obtain or perish in the Race Exit Kenneth ACT IV. Masque A tempestuous Sea is represented Neptune heaving the Billows with his Fork Edgar with Alfrid entring the Tritons sound their Shells a sudden Calm Neptune lays his Trident at Edgar 's Feet The other Sea-gods Proteus and Nereus make likewise Obeisance to him and Proteus speaks Proteus 'T is now what I foretold that th' English Oak By Heav'ns of old was destin'd for our Yoak And that our Necks no longer should be free When from their Thames those Ships launch out to Sea Ner. The English Power that cannot be withstood Springs rather from their Courage then their Wood. And if that Valour once were ebbing found The boasted Keels would basely rot a-ground Nept. From one great Prince how much a Nation gains In every Breast his Soul and
Gown agrees and all Opinions joyn You are th' undoubted onely lawfull Queen Alfr. Riches and Honour glaring in their sight The Doctours squint and rarely see aright A surer Guide Heav'n for my Conduct made Wom. But thus the Snare to your Advantage laid Who would not wink and wish her self betray'd Alfr. Leave tempting me the glorious Hour is nigh Wom. What Hour Alfr. The Hour our Hell-born Jealousy Tormenting Doubts and vain Desires shall die Wom. What mean these Words how dismally they sound Alfr. I to the King am by fast Promise bound To meet him here I shar'd his amorous Grief And for his Pains did thus design Relief Wom. Hear I this Language from your Mouth escape Rather the Fruit of lawfull Process reap Before the World you might enjoy your Will Yet rather seek the false Delight to steal Waving a Title authoriz'd by Day Alfr. Let not your Thoughts these black Surmises sway Though in the Dark I shall not lose my Way Goe and beseech the Queen immediately Beseech her hither goe without Reply Exit Woman SCENE II. Alfrid Alfr. Tempted with all the Charms of Royall State Something I find I can more highly rate Some Sense I feel some Grudgings still remain And yet Ambition murmurs but in vain Where Vertue a more noble Pride do's reign My Innocence more solid Glory brings Then from the Pomp of guilty Greatness springs This gives me Courage in this Fort secure I all the Storms of Jealous Rage endure My sending for the Queen I fear may be Misconstru'd as a rude Affront in me SCENE III. Enter Ethelgede and Woman Ethelgede Provok'd by this outrageous Insolence I come but 't is to punish your Offence Alfr. Necessity and the Occasion known You will not on my humble Duty frown To a few Words vouchsafe a patient Ear And after let me your Displeasure bear Ethelg. Then speak Alfr. Knowing what Grief your Mind do's sting Suspicious of my Conduct with the King Ethelg. Say I suspect your Villany I see 't I know it all Alf. Behold me at your Feet Kneels Ethelg. What feign'd Remorse what Strategem is here Alfr. By all in Heav'n we Sacred call I swear I am to You and to my Honour Just And here presume to vanquish your Distrust This Night your Grief and painfull Doubts shall clear In these dark Paths your Wishes shall not erre Permitting my Advice to be your Guide Ethelg. Rise and no longer this strange Secret hide Alfr. This day I in a Labyrinth have worn Where still I met the King at every turn Within some stubborn Conflict shakes his Breast For this his Words and every Look confest But whither his distracted Motions lead You better guess who have in Courts bin bred Yet lest to me he might some Favour aim Which you alone by Marriage-right may claim Ethelg. What now remains be short Alfr. Within this Hour He in the Dark will trace me to that Bowr There We together may his Coming wait And lest your Silence any Doubt create My Voice shall him as he approaches guide Whilst silently into his Arms you glide And having once asswag'd his Amorous Heat He will applaud the innocent Deceit And your Embraces such Success may find As to your Love may him for ever bind Ethelg. The Secret's out yet will not this atone For all the Ill by your Inchantments done An Injur'd Love can never be repair'd For this Night my Revenge shall be deferr'd And you shall take the Respite for Reward The King has all the day in Darkness been Else you had not been courted for the Queen Alfr. You cannot yet your Jealousies digest Something yet swells and boils within your Breast But I can better your Reproaches bear Then from the glorious Paths of Vertue erre Despise abhorre affront abuse me still I shall not be for your Requitall Ill. Forbear and let us to the Place be gone Lest his Impatience slower Time outrun Exeunt SCENE IV. Enter Edgar He appears at the Door with the Secretary of State as importun'd by him but breaks from him and after some steps stops Edg. Heav'n taxes Greatness with proportion'd Care A King not one Day to himself can spare By a new Pain and wild Distractions crost This almost I insensible have lost Yet I this Minute from my Love may snatch What rests unfinisht that requires Dispatch Turns to the Secretary Secret The Scots in Arms against their King declare For yielding to become your Homager The Welsh rebell and this Advantage take From their stiff Neck the English Yoak to shake Edg. Or rather struggling it uneasie make What else requires our Care Secret Within still wait The French Embassadours importunate For your last Answer Edg. That they had before If not yet pleas'd conduct them to the Door Exit Secretary SCENE V. Edgar solus My warmer Bloud and Spirits that briskly fly Inform me that the happy Hour is nigh And from my Breast all publick Cares would fling The Man I feel grows stronger then the King Yet more one Minute's Truce for publick Good I 'll shake thee off Rebellious Flesh and Bloud That Minute past then Passions take your swing Till the King's Work is done I will be King SCENE VI. Enter Secretary with Embassadours Edg. I must be short I all that you demand To Embass. Already and your Reasons understand The Titular King your Master's Enemy You say did here to Sanctuary fly Too far your Power and blind Revenge would stretch If you would those in my Protection reach But if that Injur'd Prince to me unknown Were here my Kingdom should be as his own My Crown should lie at stake till his were wone I would and in such manner send him back As on his Throne should the proud Rebell shake You next crave Leave which modestly is done To build a little Navy of your own Which to perswade your Reasons are no more Then mine for building Castles on your Shoar In my Dominions nor th' Indulgence slight I give you Leave to Traffick not to Fight I shall your Trade 'gainst Piracies ensure If Forty hundred Sail the Seas can scour But I am told e're this Address was made You the Foundation of this Fleet had laid And then I in your Complements return Must send one Ship shall your Armado burn Not that we value all your Navall Power Could every Ship like Fish spawn Thousands more We should chastize and check the monstrous Brood Our Trees bewitch'd and curst were in the Bud If English Oak dreads ought that 's made of Wood. SCENE VII Serjeants enter with Lewis bound in Disguise Serjeants We took him in Disguise prepar'd to fly Edg. I 'll hear no more This Opportunity Is welcome since I in some measure may To Lew. The Honour I too long have ow'd you pay You shall be Admirall and for greater State Ten hundred Frigats on your Flag shall wait To burn or see their Infant-Navy knockt To pieces e're on the Salt waves 't is rockt My self