save thy Brother Org. What Remedy Time Patience Opportunity The fiercest Torrents of a womans Passion Has both its Ebbs and Flows her tide of Hate Strong as it is and bears down all before it May turn and turn to Love try her again You know the King now Wars with the Sicillians And leaves the Queen and Kingdom to your Care Cou'd any thing more favour your design Brother be ruled by me you know this Garden Is ev'ry night her walk before she sleeps Here meet with her and once more own your passion If she refuses you again forget her And leave the Scornfull Beauty to her self Men. Forget Semanthe 't is impossible Sooner the Glorious Sun shall turn its Course Motion and Nature their great work give o're And the Eternall Axis Rowle no more Enter Semanthe Org. Brother no more the Queen is coming this way Now if you ever hope to gain your wishes Be bold and your undaunted Passion speak Mean while I will retire to yonder Grove That Secresy and Silence may befriend you Exit Org. Men. Oh how I burn when I behold that face Turn turn Semanthe Cruell woman turn Sem. Bless me what mournfull Sound was that Men. Mournfull indeed And from the wretched'st man that sound was sent That ever sigh'd for Beauty great as your's Sem. This villain here how my heart shakes to see him aside What mean you Menaphon to him â—en O I must speak Though Death with Torments Tyrants ne're found out Stood ready for me I must say I love you Sem. As a Subject and t' will become you Men. O Gracious Princess if that blessed form kneels E're harbour'd pity for a wretch distressâ—d Shew some to me to me whom violent love Has tortur'd on the wrack of fruitless hope And anchor'd down my Soul in Seas of woe Sem. I understand you not Men. Then farewell Circumstance rises And since you are not pleas'd to understand me Tho' I have oft discours'd this Subject to you But by a plain and easy way of speech All Superstitious reverence layd by I love you as a man and as a man I wou'd enjoy you why d' ye start and fly me I am no monster and you 'r but a woman A woman made to yield and by example Told it is Lawfull favours of this nature Are in our Age no Miracles I' th greatest And therefore Madam approaching her Sem. Villain stand farther off Ungratefull Monster A Crime which Creatures wanting reason fly from Are all the Princely Bounties Favours Honours Which with some prejudice to his own wisdom Thy Lord and Raiser has Confer'd upon thee In such a short time bury'd has he made thee From one obscure allmost without name The envy of great Fortunes have I grac'd thee Beyond thy Rank and entertain'd thee as A Friend and not a servant and is this This Insolent attempt upon my Honour The fair return of both our ventured favours Men. Hear my excuse Sem. The fall'n Angells may plead mercy And with as much assurance as thou hope it This is not the first time Your treach'rous tongue has utter'd this wild outrage Think not I 'le Longer bear your Insolence What Smiles what friendships has my Lord showr'd on thee What a vast trust has he reposed in thee By leaving both his Kingdom and my self To thy protectian Villain think on this And let it quench the Feavour in thy bloud Men. All this I've done and many a weary night Have call'd these thoughts to my most strict rememb'rance Brought my soul up to honours bar and try'd The Cause of love at Conscience high Tribunall But oh in vain for now too late I find There is no Medicine for a tortur'd mind But freedom from the torture it sustains Therefore Divinest Princess Sem. Cease your Insolence Darst thou again with thy invenom'd breath After I had forbid thee strive to tempt me To Act a deed which my soul shakes to think on Know Traytor to reward this sawcy boldness I will not only paint thy barb'rous Guilt In its most hideous black Infernal form And to the Injur'd King present the Gorgon But rouse too my own Justice and Revenge Th' unquall'd Crime with forfeit of thy Head offers to go Men. Stay stay bright Angell hear me but one word O! tho' my fault deserves a Punishment Men. kneels she returns Greater then his who stole Joves fire from Heav'n Be you Compassionate and shew some mercy I must confess my fault unpardonable But oh consider what the force of Love is But yet indeed to own a love to you Was too presumptuous and I do repent it Sem. Can it be hoped After a practise so abhorr'd as thine Repentance e're can find thee Men. By your self By your bright self divinest Queen I swear And all those Powers that guard your Innocence Henceforth I never will in word or deed Make Repetition of my Lawless Love 'T is not the fear of Death makes me sue thus But a loath'd detestation of my madness That makes me wish to live to have your pardon Which Granted in your presence whom I 've wrong'd I 'le let out that Ranck bloud which caus'd my folly Sem. No rise rise Menaphon you have my pardon And shall my favour if you keep your Oath But if you do not by the Pow'rs that rule us By all the fury of an injur'd Princess I 'le lay aside all thoughts of gentle pitty And when thy life shall answer thy black deed Stand by with pleasure to behold thee bleed Ex. Sem. Manet Men. Men. She 's Gone for ever gone and I am lost Ne're speak of Love on forfeit of my life O why was I pick'd out from all Mankind To fix my Love on so much scorn and beauty And why since fate had destin'd me to love her Should any other man in peace possess her No if he do may fortune still pursue me With all her utmost and severest malice O 't would be rare revenge for my scorn'd passion To throw a burning brand in the Kings breast And make his Soul feel tortures great as mine Work stronger in my heart thou dear revenge For thou art now all Musick to my sense Enter Orgillus Whose there My Brother Orgillus Org. The same What have you spoke to her Men. Yes I have sued Kneel'd wept and begg'd but tears and vows and words Move her no more then Summer winds a Rock She threat'ned to discover to the King All that I ever mention'd of my love Which had she done I know my Orgillus My Life must needs have been the fatall forfiet Which to prevent I 've bound my self by Oath Never to mention my rash love again Org. And will you keep that Oath Men. By Heav'n I will But yet I will not loose her unreveng'd This King that detains all my happyness Shall live in Torments great as I endure Curss'd Jealousy that Poys'ner of Content Shall put an end to all his quiet here And O take heed Semanthe for the Plot
Armenia up to such a height Sh 'as vow'd to second us in our Revenge Men. 'T is well but let us hast to meet the King Hark Trumpets Drums and Shouts afar off Those Shouts inform us he is near the City And if our Plot goes right near to his Grave Again Good Heav'n Shouts nearer With how much Joy they wellcome him to Death Come Orgillus let us go meet this man Who Swell'd with Conquest comes with Tryumph on Trumpets and Drums on one side On the Other Violins Flutes and other Musick Enter on one side the King Meleander Lattimus Captains Guards On the other The Queen Ithocles Marcelia Menaphon Orgillus and Armena attend The King and Semanthe meet and Embrace King O my Semanthe take me to thy breast And let me Grow for ever in thy Arms. By Heav'n my Joys are much too great to bear Shou'd I gaze longer on this Charming fair Such killing brightness from her eyes she 'd cast I shou'd not have the power to stand before ' em Sem. My Lord my life O how shall I express My wonderous Bliss to see you safe return'd I swear I think the Joys of Heaven too poor To put in ballance with this one bless'd hour King My dear dear happyness my all I prize I swear my Lords and O bear witness for me You mighty Powers that have in war preserv'd me I Joy not half so much in all my Conquests As I do now in this dear happy minute Clasping Semanthe in my Longing Arms. Whilst the King goes and Salutes Marcelia Meleander comes towards the Queen Sem. O wellcome Brother wellcome Meleander From all the dreadfull hazards of the war Wellcome above the world next my Lov'd Lord. presents Lattimus Mele. I thank you Royall Sister and I beg Your favour for this youth my lifes preserver Lattinius Kneels and kisses the Queens hand Itho. The more I look upon that Lovely youth The more I see of poor Statilia in him My Sister who before this war fled from me aside Whither I know not nor for what strange Cause Men. Health and Success attend your Majesty Kneeling May all the Glories that your Arms have won Be doubled on you and your Conqu'ring Sword Be ever thus Successful 'gainst your foes King Rise Menaphon my true my faithfull freind O what return is in my power sufficient To recompence thee for thy wonderous care Of my Semanthe and my Kingdoms safety I swear cou'd I bestow a Crown upon thee 'T would be too little to requite thy merits Men. What I have done was nothing but my duty And wou'd do more if more were in my power To serve my Royall Lord. King I know thou wou'dst I know thy honesty To be as great as ever dwelt in man And know besides that shou'd I spend my Life In thanks to Heav'n for making me so bless'd With Loyall Subjects faithful valiant Warriours But above all with my Semanthes Love 'T would be too little O my brightest Star Let me again infold the next my heart Thus breathe my Soul into thy throbbing bosome I cou'd grow mad with my excese of bliss And end my Life this moment in thy arms Men. How soon this mighty Scene of love will vanish When once he finds my Poyson working in him aside Itho. My Royall Lord since you 're so bless'd by fate And Heav'n has given you all you can desire Let me implore who want your Royall favour Your kind Consent to make your vassall happy King O Ithocles if ought is in my power To recompence thy Loyallty and Courage Be quick and let me know how I may serve thee Itho. Great Sir upon my knees I beg forgiveness That I presume to ask so great a gift But love Reigns strongly in my tortur'd breast And tho' I 'me loved by her my Soul most Covets 'T is your Consent alone can make me happy Since 't is Marcelia Sir for whom I sue Mele Ha! for Marcelia Lord thou suest in vain For tho' I yet ne're own'd my Love to her I 've Long been her Adorer And have the Kings Consent to make her mine Latt Then I am Lost Aside King 'T is true brave Ithocles Before I knew thy Love I 'de given my promise And never can consent she shall be thine Whilst one so pow'rfull stands in Competition Mar. O Sir upon my knees let me intreat you Force not my Inclinations 't is most true That I have given my heart to Ithocles And never can consent to love another Meleander is too noble sure to seek The love of one that must deny his passion Mele. Why Cruell fair am I so far unworthy That you should scorn me thus to please a Rivall He cannot more then I adore Marcelia Nor Venture more to shew how much he loves I have the King's Consent Itho. But I Marcelia's Mar. And when I e're consent to love another Heav'n shut your bright gates against me banish me From the bless'd Realms of your Immortal day May I King No more thou Cheap Ignoble fool That durst to own a Love without my knowledge To you my Lord I ever shew'd such kindness to Itho. As might have kept you from so base an Act To Court thus privately a Niece of mine Forget her and I 'le own thee still my Friend Persist in it and thy Life answers for it Itho. Forget her No if I must lose Marcelia Death is the kindest thing you can bestow And I wou'd now most willingly embrace it Since I must never hope t' obtain my Love For you my Lord it shews most base in you to Mele. To offer to invade Anothers right Our hearts our Souls are join'd by Solemn Contract And tho' the King's Consent on my side 's wanting Her Constant heart is never to be Chang'd Therefore I know your Courtship will be vain Latt Pray Heav'n it be Aside King Well Sir leave that to time But now to shew how much thy vanity And thy unlook'd for suit has mov'd thy King As you respect my favour I command you Never make mention of thy impious love to Itho. For if thou dost by the great victory My arms have gain'd over the bold Suillians Thou shallt no more behold the face of day But in a Dungeon dark as your loves were I 'le make thee end the remnant of thy days Sem. My Gracious Lord let me intreat this mercy To Calm your rage 'gainst the unhappy Ithocles Consider love's the Occasion of his Crime Whose power alass your Royall self have felt And know 't is Irresistable King O pardon me thou Mirrour of thy Sex That I bestow one minute from thy arms But shall Semanthes Brother plead in vain He who feels flames as great as Ithocles It must not be by Heav'n my love it must not Conduct Marcelia straight to her Apartment to Armena And let none visit her without my Order Exit Marcelia weeping with Armena Come my Semanthe after all the Hazards That do attend on war the happyness
The fatall Plot that 's working in my Brain Aims at no less a Price for my Scorn'd love Then her too haughty life who has refus'd me Org. Is all your violent love then come to this Have you so soon forgot Semanthes beauty Is that bright Angell you so late admir'd Become so very low in your esteem That you can talk of Aiming at her life Men. O Orgillus didst thou but know as I do The Pangs the Tortures of a slighted love Thou woud'st not wonder at this sudden Change For when ill treated it turns all to hate And the then darling of our Soul's revenge Enter Nearchus How now the news with you Nea. Lord Ithocles is just arriv'd at Court And brings the news of the Kings victory Men. How victory Oh bane to all my hopes Had he but brought news of his Funerall aside This scornfull beauty then perhaps might yeild Org. Lord Ithocles the Herauld of his Tryumphs Is he the Harbinger Curse of the name Nea. Yes my good Lord he is Exit Nea. Men. Nearchus leave us Now Brother Orgillus I do remember the Kings wedding day Was Celebrated with all Martiall Pastimes with Tilts and Tournaments at the Solemnity Where Ithocles this Fav'rite of the Kings Got an Immortall fame to your dishonour Org. Dishonour yes and such dishonour too Sprung from a cause so weak that th'asham'd world Repeats it with a blush because this upstart In that days Tournament had the kind luck Only to Guide a Fortunate Launce against me A little to my disadvantage Chance Meer Chance the sport of Fortune for Heav'n knows For years I 've worn the Glory of the Lifts And ne're was foyl'd before but cause Semanthe Was pleas'd to give the Triumph of the day The Golden Lot of that one single chance To Ithocles the fond Uxorious King To please his Queen must sacrifice his Soldier The vain applause of this new-made Favourite Seduced his Royall reason to that poor Ingratitude that the exalted Ithocles Was mounted in my honours to Command That very Army which I 've led so often To Victory for this forgetfull King Men. Forgetfull yes Remembrance is a stranger to ingratitude Org. Had he perform'd some mighty feat in War To out-strip me in renown subdued some Kingdom Which my weak sword had lost then 't had been Justice T'o're-leap my head and seize my forfeit Lawrells But for a worthless prize a sportive Trophey For foyling me in a poor idle Tournament To have my blasted Glories all torn from me Degraded lost stript naked to adorn This Insolent rifler with my borrow'd Plumes Is canker to my Soul and ev'ry vein Run poyson at the thought Men. O just Resentments And sure my brother can't forget that time Org. Forget it Menaphon Impossible By Heav'n it grates my very Soul to think on 't O I have worn him still within my mind And wanted but an Opportunity To pluck this growing Phaeton from his Glory Men. Now is the time O Orgillus my brain Is full of Glorious thoughts for our revenge Methinks I have already in my view A Mapp of all the Mischiefs I intend To rid my thoughts of this proud scornfull beauty And thee of Ithocles the Man thou hatest Wilt thou be faithfull to me Org. Can you doubt it When you conspire the fall of Ithocles What is it I would fail t' assist you in The Mighty Conqueror of the Universe Ran not more Hazard's in his years of War Then I wou'd do to take Revenge on him Men. Come to my breast My Brother and my friend Was ever change like mine Some moments since My Soul was all a-burning fire of Love But that hot Love is in an instant gone And all my thoughts are now Revenge alone Ex. Om. The Scene Changes to the Pallace Enter Ithocles meeting Marcelia Mar. Wellcome my Lord my life my Ithocles Wellcome O wellcome from the hands of war Itho. O my Marcelia do I once more view thee Once more behold those dear those charming eyes By Heav'n my Love the King with all his Conquests Cannot have half the Joy thy presence gives me Mar. My dearest Ithocles my best lov'd Lord O what a long and tedious Separation Has this war made between us but for all The fears I 've felt the many tears I 've shed To think upon the many dangers you were in This happy minute makes a full amends Itho. Speak on and bless my ears with the dear Sound Of that Celestiall voice Musique more sweet Then is the Murmur of a slow pac'd Brook When 't is with thousand little Pebbles crost Or the Winds Pratling 'mongst the wanton Leafs Mar. But oh my Lord when the heat of fight Your Sword imbrued in bloud and your fierce mind Employ'd about the bus'ness of the War Then your Marcelia was not thought upon Itho. My unkind dear why dost thou wrong me so By Heav'n the thoughts of thee inspir'd my Courage And when I look'd upon the bold Sicillians And knew 't was they detain'd me from thy Arms I flew more fierce then Thunder from a Cloud And beat down all that did oppose my fury Not think of thee why thou wert all my thoughts And ev'ry dream still shew'd me my Marcelia And when the King wou'd to divert his cares With Feasts and Revells pass away the time I have retir'd alone into my Tent And bless'd my self with thinking on Marcelia Mar. And will you ever Love thus Itho. When I do not The Flouds shall run back to their Springs again The Woolf shall fly and fear the silly Lamb. But my best life when shall we Crown our Joys When will the dear the happy minute come That Marriage must for ever make thee mine What tho' the Cruel hand of War did part us Now that is past let us deferr no longer But make me bless'd above the rest of Men. Mar. My Lord you know the King's consent is wanting And tho' I do and will for ever love you I dare not Wed without his free Permission Since he has both a King and Uncles Power But more of that my Lord when he returns My duty calls me to attend the Queen And I dare stay no longer O my Lord I had a thousand thousand things to tell you When next we meet for we shall meet again I will Command some happy longer minute And then compleat kind loves unfinish'd murmurs Itho. My better self after so long an absence You may with safety grant one happiness A kiss from those fair Lips wou'd be no sin Good Night my Love thou dearest best of women The thoughts of thy bright Charms wou'd turn me mad But that I live in hopes I shall posses'em Thy beauteous Image fleets before my Eyes And shews the wond'rous Heav'n I so much prize Exeunt The End of the First Act. The Second ACT. SCENE I. Enter Menaphon and Orgillus Men. HE Comes my Brother Cyprus Monarch comes Wrap'd up with Joy for his success i' th' War To meet a
And smile above when thou false Menaphon Sha't grin below and though I leave the world In poor deluded eyes and Popular breath A Cank'red bloated thing the hour will come When Fame's Recanting Trump shall sound my innocence Murder may hush and guiltless blood may flumber But oh they never sleep the hour will come When the story of my Fate aud the dark Leagues And black Caballs against Semanthe's Honour And both our lives shall be all all disclosed Whilst our amazing murther turns a spectre Shall fright you with the form King I 'll hear no more I came not here to have my Royal justice Arraign'd but executed guilt so harden'd As durst offend like thee can never want A forehead too as hard'ned to deny it Take him away by Heav'n my feeble rage Ex. Guards with Itho. the Scene shuts Is plumed with Down and falls like feather'd snow But rowze my Bolts of Fate and murder'd Love Thy sleeping furies wake but oh Semanthe Though this avenging Sword my honour draws Proud of the Justice yet I mourn the cause And oh though pleas'd I send thee to the Grave I live to kill what I wou'd dye to save Enter Lattinius hastily and kneels to the King Lat. Oh Sir As you 'd secure your everlasting peace And dearer Soul and guard a groaning Kingdom From the impending plagues of guiltless blood Save save Semanthe's Life King What means the Boy Lat. By the bright Guardians of the Throne she 's innocent Oh injur'd Sir that shame of the Creation Pointing to Meda Th' incarnate Devil Menaphon in a Wood Has babourously butcher'd his own Brother Who found by Huntsmen in his gasping Pangs Had just Remains of Life enough to open That most infernal Mass of Forgery Against the vertuous Queen's immaculate Honour Men. Sure the youth raves Lat. By Heav'n my Lord 't is true But fly and save her life e're 't is too late Then lend your Leizure to the hideous story Prepare your eares to ake and Soul to tremble King Haste Amyclas and stop the Execution Lat. Oh fly Sir with a posting Angels speed An Angel to redeem To Amyclas as he 's going off Ex Amy. running Orgillus wounded brought in by Huntsmen Menaphon starts Men. Ha! my Brother Vengeance and Hell my Plots are all unravell'd Curse on my erring hand Aside Org. Save save the Queen Oh Sir she 's innocent her spotless truth White as our Souls are black my Trayt'rous Brother And wicked self by false Armena's help Mixt a Lethargick potion for the Queen And Ithocles and in the operation Of the curst sleeping Drugg we lay'd 'em senceless Clasp'd Arm in Arm all Artifice and delusion To rob you of your peace and her her life Men. Thou cack'ling craven slave Draws and runs at him is seiz'd by the Guards King Disarm the Traytor Go on my dying Penitent Org. Alass I cannot more Armena's murder'd Ghost Raises a sullen fame from nights dark coast Diet. My sence grows dim and in a mist I 'm lost King Hah dead Is the stupendious tale of horrour done And dost thou Monster live to heat it Men. Yes And doubly damn'd I did not live to act it King Thou art a Traytor of so black a die But haste unbind the Guiltless Ithocles Bid him come down to meet a Flood of Honour The Acclamations of an Ecchoing Kingdom And the Rewards of a repenting King Ex. an Attendant But for thee Monster To Menaphon Men. Call your self that Monster For such I 'd made you had my Plot succeeded But since the proud Semanthe's scorn has given me That stroke of Fate that all her bolts beyond it Will prove but edgless Plagues I dare thy worst Know I defie at once both Hell and thee King Damnation was there ever Dungeon Jayle Or Gibbet that cou'd match this hardn'd Infidel But do I talk and let the Villain live Away with him And his own snare be his own fate the doom Of Ithocles see executed instantly On that Infernal slave but yet thou devil So Grand thou' rt fitter to be Lucifer's Tormenter then he thine repent and save If possible thy bloated Soul Men. Repent a Scull which has for Ages lain i' th' Earth Shall sooner Pray then I. I do Repent I 've mist my ends for had that piece of Pride Ended her hated Life in scorching flames I wou'd have borne the hottest plagues of Hell Rattled the Chains of my Internal Goal As Peals of Joy that I had left thee here With greater torments than I felt below Have smil'd to think on thy distracted Soul And laught when all the damn'd besides did howl Exit Men. Guarded King Most hiddeous Villain Was slighted Lust then The lighting Fire-brand to this Hellish Train Enter Queen attended Ha! by my wrongs that Injur'd Beauty lives My Joys like rustling Winds lockt up in Caves Do bustle for a Vent Oh! to my breast Yet Closer Closer thou dear banisht Peace Torrents of Extasies transporting Joyes But oh Divinest Innocence is there That Beam of mercy in th' Immortal Treasury As can forgive my faults Queen Name 'em no more My Joy to find you know my Innocence Makes me forget that I was ever wrong'd Nay had I dyd 't had pleased my murder'd Ghost To see my vertue to the World Proclaimed Enter Marcelia King But see Marcelia Oh what Recompence Is there in Nature for the wrongs Iâ—ve done thee Mar. Most Royal Sir there is a Recompence Wou'd Cancel all the Injuries was done To me and to th' unhappy Ithocles Queen I know thy meaning and I hope Marcelia The King will not deny his free Consent Enter Ithocles Attended Mel. Aside I fear her meaning tends to my destruction King Oh thou bright worthy Come to my Arms my Arms Oh no that Circle Is too Unhallow'd to Infold such Goodness No let me first deserve t' embrace thee take This fair Attonement for the wrongs I 've done thee Itho. Oh my Exalted bliss Gives him Marcelia Mel. And my Confusion aside Remember Sir the Promise of a King It was to me you gave Marcelia King Ah! Take heed bold man croak that loath'd sound no more I have rewarded Virtue and crown'd Love And if before to my unprincely shame I promised ought to wrong this faithful Pair Perhaps that guilty Promise drew down Heav'n against me And 't is just I have appeas'd The wrath of that black Sin Mar. No Meleander Persue not hopeless Love nor tempt the frown Of Heaven by cherishing a lawless Fire No take this worthier and kinder Beauty gives him Statilia No more Lattinius but the fair Statilia Omn. Statilia Itho. Ha! my Sister Stat. Yes my Brother The same unhappy Maid Mar. Transform'd by Love But take her to your Arms and hide her Blushes She 's Love that can deserve you though I want it King Brother and Friend for he that weds our Favour In fair Statilia I must call him both Accept this Present from my hand giving Stat. Queen And mine To bind the Royal Seal Mel. My Heart heaves up and struggles in my Breast When I but look on fair Marcelias Face But she is lost to me for ever lost And one more kind there is that seeks my Love I will no more persue a hopeless Game But fix my Heart on her that has deserv'd it aside Oh! on my knees Statilia let me beg to her A Pardon for the Injuries I 've done thee Accept a Heart that now is all thy own Enter Mr. Harris The Scene drawn discovers Men. Executed being flung from a Battlement upon Spikes Bass. According to your Majesties Command The Traitor Menaphon received his doom King Behold Semanthe the curst Instrument Of all our Woes Queen Remove the dismal sight the Scene shuts He was a Villain and a cruel one Yet I cou'd freely have forgiven him King Thou beauteous Miracle of woman kind Let all the Kingdom share my mighty Joy Brother Marcelia Ithocles Statilia Was ever man redeem'd like me from ruin O what a Precipice have we escap'd How near we all were to the Gulph of Ruin Till thou blest Soul brought us this Halcyon Gale Lat. The great Reward does far exceed my hopes Aside King Oh! give me leave As one that wearied with the Toil at Sea And now on wisht for Shore has fixt his feet He looks about and glad's his Thoughts and Eyes With sight o' th' green cloath'd ground and leafy Trees So let me gaze agen on those dear Eyes Nothing but kisses to thy Lips discourse Oh! My Semanthe to my Arms return Where loves rekindling Fire shall brighter burn Whilst all the wrongs to Beauty so Divine Shall be but foils to make the Diamond shine Exeunt omnes EPILOGUE Writ by Mr. Mountsort Spoken by Mrs. Butler in Mans Apparel OUR Scribler could not find a better way Then singling me a Champion for his Play My Manhood and his Wit are much at one The want of both in us are too well known Excuse him 't is his Tryal just such another As some poor under-witted elder Brother Whose hasty Father did young Bride Beleaguer And got the Honey-moon weak Brat too eager Faith Gentlemen be kind to his first born I may perhaps do you as good a turn Be not too harsh you Critticks of the Pit To damn his Play wou'd look like spite not wit See 't but three days and fill the House the last He shall not trouble you again in haste Besides each Creditor he has is here And if your Actions seem to him severe They 'll bring all theirs against him that they swear Ladies on you his chiefest hopes rely Your Goodness may command their Courtesie None dare oppose whatever you esteem If then they 're cruel may you prove so to them 'T is Charity when begg'd to give relief If not we must put on with Irish Brief And as at Church the Gatherers stand at Door So ours with Plates shall Cry Pray Remember the Poor These Lines were spoken the third day in the Room of the last thirteen Lines He thanks the goodness of his this days Friends You 've fill'd the House and he has gain'd his ends FINIS