Empyrcall heaven To side the gods where Pallas and chast Phoebe Arm'd chiefely with the weapons of their vertues Keepe all the Masculin deities in awe This our designe may well exalt us thither As their good deeds did them that in defence Of that all sho'd hold dearest our honours Ladies Doe now expose our selves to death and what A cruell vicious revengefull Tyrant May inflict on us if vanquish'd Yet this act Of ours we must not vainely boast of for The little birds will with their beaks and wings Offend the ravishers of their young issue What then should we performe thinke you that farre Passe these yeild up your bodies basely to Foule rape and lust and so to infamie For ever No no farre be this from us Honour'd virgins that have such armes to wield These cutting weapons being too to fight authoriz'd By the examples of the noblest women Semiramis Zenobia faire Cinana Sister unto great Macedon stout Alvilda Cumilla and the Amazonian Queenes Great Mithridates Queene and severall others Are patterns now for us to imitate O most brave patterns Yet this we may say That our chast glories shall passe theirs as farre As th' worth of our intentions doth exceed The cause they undertooke nor ought you doubt it Let then the King of Denmarke fight where he list We will pursue no other than our worst And strongest adversary in 's owne squadron Where I as first will loose my life or give A suddaine end to his blacke purposes That fought a conquest on our chastities Elsinor. Thy vertues and example Neece that are not To be reach'd by any imitation At least of our endeavours doe farre more Excite our courages then Hermes could Were he now here to play the Orator Lead on then you shall find us no bad seconds Scania I have more than a womans longing to begin Land I know Fatyma though she be not great Has not the least desire to fight among us Fatyma Stay till you see me knocke some great ones downe Untill when I shall well remit your prayses Land Then follow me and as you see me wooe The Swedish King to his doe you so too Exeunt A march Enter Reyner Valdemar Inguar Hubba and one or two or more Souldiers with Axes Reyner It 's my chiefe comfort noble Cymbrians Subjects and friends to be your guide to day Against a valiant wicked adversary And for our right th' inheritance of this kingdome To shew that vertue and the cause doe more Prevayle than any humane fortitude Or setl'd Councels when they 're joyn'd to vice And by injustice seeke to advance their states Which wisely our forefathers mask'd beneath The fables of the Titans 'gainst the gods But it sho'd seeme the vertue of our foes Wisedome and valour has forsooke'em by Their palliardise by ease and hourely ryot This kingdome being more fatall unto them Then Capua was to Hannibal and therefore Not worth your meanest feares I must not then Inlarge my selfe in words too farre because You need 'em not nor need you be beholding Unto the fames of your brave Ancestors Those valiant Cymbrians that almost gave An end to Rome the Mistris of the world And not in her declyning dayes when her Owne vices had confounded her as when The Gothes and Vandals now our enemies Did trample on her being downe before She liv'd full man when great King Beleus Did on the borders of rich Jtaly Vanquish three of her bravest Generals Sylanus Coepio and Manilius This if you please you may consider and That our foes are more famous for their whoredomes Than conquering of Norway Reflect also How for this cause we are assisted by An Angel troope of chast and noble Ladies Whom neyther losse of life or other evils Can fright from seeking to revenge the wrongs Done to their Sex their parents and their friends Then let 's not shame our selves now in their presence Or to posteritie by being out-gone By women in a battle Lastly consider The everlasting honour due to vertue Of which we now shall make a glorious purchase Hub. I am affraid you will consider sir So long of these women untill you forget What you applaud so feelingly your vertue Rey. Thou' rt alwayes merry Hubba honest withall And from my heart I wish that each man here Performe a Souldiers parts no worse than thou We shall not then be beaten Vald. Let 's march on sir And you shall quickly find the meanest of 'em Valiant and strong to purchase what 's your birth-right Rey. Then let us move and prosper too as we Affect injustice or impietie Exeunt A march Enter Frollo Hasmond Gotar and two or three more with Axes Frollo We must not loose our confidence brave Warriors Though we be taken somewhat tardy by A sort of raw fresh-water souldiers weake Unmartiall women fitter for night encounters And some poore fugitive Norwegian rebels Conquer'd and beaten oft by us before What then although our numbers be the lesse Yet not by much the glory of the adventure Would not be worth the paines we under tooke else Besides if we consider what our Ancestors Have by their never-equall'd vallors oft Perform'd against the noblest nations of The world this our designe is nothing nothing To what they did What we have done our selves And meane to doe hereafter Notwithstanding Let me commend unto your memories After a generall fashion for now The time exacts deeds more than words what some Of their large conquests were not onely in Europe Which was all theirs a most but in Affricke a third and richest part of th' world Which from the Ocean unto Nyle they won And from the Mid-land Sea to the torrid Zone Great Rome her selfe that wisedome boasted most And next her vallor was by our fathers taken Pillag'd and burnt foure times at least and her Large Empyre brought to nothing She master'd all We master'd her And will not now degenerate first of ours What though men say we are not religious Religion is but a toy and first invented By politicke States to keepe fooles in awe And of all men observed least by themselves If she but thwart the least of their intendments They glorifie her much for their owne ends And that 's even almost all and so may we Yet honour by warre riches and our pleasure Shall be the Altars and the gods we 'll bow to In our free mindes and what we gaine we 'l keepe King Reyner therefore was not wise in seeking To dispossesse the bravest Nation breathing Of what they have atchiev'd by the right of conquest And shall I hope in snatching at our Crowne By your more pow'rfull armes soone misse his own Ex. Allarums A good while after the allarums are begun Enter Frolle and a gentleman Frol. Furies and plagues these wild wild bloudy whores Fight like so many Tygers without the least Apprehension of feare or any kind Of mercy the pursie Danes come nothing neere 'em Having cut off our vauntgard and right wing They presse on our
be proclaym'd in open Market shortly Inguar Who should the object be Vald. Who but Volsca de gente Camilla Th' fairest and best of women brave Landgartha Hubba is sent on paine of his best joynt To fetch her hither from whence ere she part Her duty and th' Kings gracious affection Consider'd she may be glad to yeeld to his Commands as I hope her sister will to my Intreaties to serve her Inguar I beleeve you ill finde Your selfe mistaken in those vertuous Ladies Enter the foure Ladies in womans apparell with Swords on and Hubba Land The gods defend so good and mercifull A Prince I know it 's but a cold that troubles His grace Hub. Not so Madame I can assure you His disease proceeds rather of heate He burnes Extreamely and it s thought by some that his Physitians cannot cure him Land I hope They are deceiv'd that thinke so Vald. Welcome to Court Faire Ladies Which till now that you lighten it With the divine splendor of your beauties Was darker than a dungeon and but a Hell Compar'd unto the Paradise of the Campe Where in the fruition of your pleasing'st Conversations being rapt beyond our selves With hope of future favours we in you Plac'd the whole summe of our felicities Land You are merrily dispos'd it seemes sir Which to be plaine becomes you but most foulely The King being sicke when all and chiefly you Sho'd and not for ceremony onely put A darke face of sorrow on and contayne Their slippery tongues from talking over-idlely Some may conceive your mirth proceeds from being Next heire to him in bloud Vald. It rather springs Sweet Lady from your comming now to cure him Land Which with a joyfull heart I sho'd performe If I knew how Pray you therefore kind sir Be somewhat cleerer in what you conceive Vald. 'ts quickly learnt nature will teach you Madame His grace will shew you too you will not prove Ieeringly Perverse Land Are you so blinde a Goate to forget Gives him a box on which all draw and Scania steps in Frollo so soone to open your eyes take that Scan. Pray sister hold What doe you meane to quarell On a surmise I know the Lord Valdemars Intents are noble and much more the Kings Elsin. Y' are to blame Neece to be so suddaine in such A fond conceit Land Doe we come to be abus'd I 'll backe agen For your part sir you shall Exit and the other three follow her Not fayle to meete me when and where you list Hub. His grace will now run mad indeed Vald. Lord Inguar As you love me follow that severe Lady And reduce her if ever you did ought for A friend to mildnesse and this way backe or I Am lost for ever to the King and people Exit Inguar Captaine goe thou too once more for my sake Hub. And as you meane to doe forsweare my selfe That you meant no hurt I have already told her A hundred lyes at least and am now o' th' faith That double the number will scarce serve to quiet her It 's such another untoward piece of flesh Exit Hub. Vald. She is an excellent Mistris and has taught Ieeringly Me such a Lesson I have cause to thanke her For she has given me patience and wisedome Honesty too I thinke The flat truth is She has wrought strangely with me very strangely The ravishing notes of a Cycilian Cyren Could not so have taken my Eare and from thence My heart with a most alluring kinde of Delight as the smart-touch of her white hand has It strucke into me such a love To her sister I meane that came so kindly Betwixt us as I doe now account my selfe A gainer by the blow in hope to gaine What I now love so much and nobly too Well they will come backe this way againe I know And I must sing a very dolefull ditty A Palinode or pray where they may see me Being a thing I 've onely done but twice These seven yeares once that I went to sea Secondly and lastly before the last battle Exit Reyner is discover'd on a Couch and a gentleman with him Rey. Are th' Ladies come yet to Court Gent. They are sir And will soone be here Enter Inguar Hubb Rey. Whos 's that Gent. My Lord Inguar Rey. Where have you left the Ladies Ing. Comming after Sir Sad and much troubl'd for your want of health Enter the 4. Ladies Scan. You 'll be extreamely hated if you use So much exception on so little cause Land If he accost me any more with his Base jeering countenance and whorish language My sword shall for such kindnesse kisse his middrisse Fat Pray pacifie your minde you need not stand At so much distance Rey. Are not they come yet Hub. They now are here by much adoe Rey. Good Inguar Intreat 'em to approach Inguar Madame the King Desires you wo'd be pleas'd to draw neerer Rey. You honour me sweet Ladies in this visit Which beyond expression adds comfort Vnto a wretched sickely man Chayres there Pray you sit downe y' are all exceeding welcome Land Our duty charg'd us sir to obey your summons Yet our affection to your grace's welfare And to that depends of it the generall good Of the republicke were the chiefe motives To our journey Scan. And being able sir to stead you In loving wishes onely we must expect With griefe to see his weaknesse whose good health We most desire your highnesse royall pleasure Rey. Thankes worthy Ladies We must also pay You in good wishes being otherwise Too indigent to cancell what we are Ingag'd to you for many wayes We have beene still opprest since your departure From us whose vertuous presence was all The comfort we had with a heavy sadnesse Nourish'd by griefe nor doe we ever hope To see the Sunne againe but at a window Land The gods defend you sir from giving way To such despayre Enter Vald. Vald. I follow after like A Theefe aloofe to see what good successe The King has in his love suite and to venter For my particular as he makes his voyage Scan. Your Majestie must never entertayne Darke melancholy thoughts but quite cashire 'em Vald. Her voyce sounds sweeter then the celestiall spheres In their harmonious motion I am more Then ravish'd when I heare it and thinke I shall Fall sicke too or runne franticke ere 't belong Fat I heard no meane Physitian often say Sir That Musicke and mirth were good for sickely men Rey. Bid the Boy sing the Song we made of Love Song Love's farre more pow'rfull than a King And wiser then most Statesmen are For it commands him and doth spring In them strange thoughts in both much care Beside th' affaires o' th' Common-wealth To crouch and to obey Nay more It makes 'em loose all joy and health And not be the men they were before Vntill wise love all pow'rfull love The gracious Physitian prove Land This is a very loving song Your grace made but the contents of it
Landgartha A Tragie-Comedy as it was presented in the new Theater in Dublin with good applause being an Ancient story VVritten by H. B. HORAT Hunc socci cepere pedem grandesque cothurni Printed at Dublin Anno 1641 The persons of the Play Frollo King of Sweland and conqueror of Norway Hasmond and Gotar two courtiers to Frollo Landgartha a Norwegian Lady Scania sister to Landgartha Elsinora Aunt to both Fatyma cousin to Land Scan Marfisa an humorous gentlewoman cousin to Fatyma Fredericke and Wermond two noble men of Norway Reyner King of Denmarke Valdemar neer cousin to Reyner Inguar a Danish noble man Hubba an humorous merry Danish Captaine Cowsell and Radgee two foolish Coxcombes Rolfo a Drawer Harrold a competitor for Denmarke Eric his brother Lothaire a German noble man Vraca daughter to Frollo Two posts a Scout two Gentl Phoebus Pallas Pryam Hector Achylles and Satyres in a maske which may be Acted by the forenam'd persons THE EPISTLE Dedicatorie To all faire indifferent faire vertuous that are not faire and magnanimous Ladies I Have here plac'd a patterne yea more then one Ladies for you to imitate Chastity and other vertues joyn'd to beauty vertue single and manly fortitude in the female Sexe doe here present themselves unto you What you cannot reach one way take another know that the form faculties of the minde doe farre excell in worth those of the body Yet both joyn'd as in Landgartha is of all the most excellent in regard that that externall beauty allures nay commands the minde of man that affects visible objects to the love of vertue which it selfe do's possesse and suffers as most coveted greater combats in the resisting of vice Bodily force too in a woman were it but to defend it's owne Fort is a perfection though it cannot be expected but from a few of you it will be sufficient that you never fall willingly but in the way of honour If I have not draw'n this faire visage as a chiefe Arts man I hope yet you will say that I have made it indifferent handsome and that my good will to effect it after the best fashion for your sakes will notwithstanding my weaknesse purchase an excuse at least for my boldnesse both in undertaking the worke and in offering of it in part a poore braine borne Infant of mine that covets to looke at the light to be cherish'd by such hands as yours to kneele at the feete of your pietie Whatsoever it be or whosoever got it let it be yours as is The affectionate honourer of your perfections Henry Burnell Patri suo Charissimo operis Encomium MUltiplici ratione sator mea carmina quamvis Non limata tuis jungo nempe ipse petisti Cui teneor parere libens formosa virago Huc me vestra movet virtutis dotibus exors In fraecte potius carnis qua compede solvi Certa fuit foedat a foret quam crimine cujus Iactatis Pyrrhae decus immortale resurgit Nobilitus gestis ad quod praecordia magna Laetitia diffufa mihi quando auribus hausi Arrectis genitor te per quem essentia à quo Impetrata mihi fruor quibus omnia culte Consulto graviter cum suavitate venuste Praegnantem causam peragisse Sed indere amoris Non probo delicias quod te fecisse sequntum Historia belle sciteque jocantem Latificando alios non te mens certa revolvit Aliud Melpomena tua tela parens contexta Thalia et judicio quamvis non trutinanda meo est Me tua sed certam solers facundia verax expertorum hominum fama diurna facit Te nullis potuisse tuis errare decorum omnimodo Scenis sed tennisse triplex Nempe modum retinendo docent ut scripta sagacit Flacci personae temporis atque loci Ad te à Invernis flexit victoria vatem partibus his cedunt Brutiginaeque tibi Fama quidem tendet quacunque auratus Apollo se tua tu vives dum vehet amnis aquas Tu pater Aenio deducens vertice musas gloria non fallor posteritatis eris Terra tuas certum est exhauriet extera laudes clarescet scriptis insula nostra tuis Eleonora Burnell To his worthy to be much honoured Cousin Henry Burnell Esq. on this his Tragie-Comedy c. THough my prayse cannot adde ought here Yet give Me leave Cousin to rayse my selfe and live Past time with thee for what thou writ'st is fine Pleasant profound chaste morall and divine Beyond the childish flashes of this age Affected non-sence and Canarian rage Or Garagantuan foppery Not one word That 's immateriall do'st thou affoord Vaine or superfiuous Thy phrase is good Nay strong and elegant though understood Not by light-headed ignorance that do's admire Strange language only Wave vote flames and fire Tempests and whirlewinds Scorpions and Hags Are stuffe that take such though indeed but rags Base rags that they patch on and thou do'st scorne Or any dialect that is much worne Though by the best thy words thou mak'st to fit Not contrary th' Conceptions of thy wit And though thou England never saw'st Yet this Let others boast of their owne faculties Or being Sonne to Iohnson I dare say That thou art farre more like to Ben then they That lay clayme as heires to him wrongfully For he survives now only but in thee And his owne lines the rest degenerate Nay I can more affirme and truly that In some things thou do'st passe him being more sweet More modest mylde lesse tedious Thy owne feer Goe thou on stoutly then if thou proceed Him though 't be much in all points thou 'lt exceed Io. Bermingham Ad nobilissimum ingeniosissimum dissertissimumque suum amicum Dominum Henricum Burnellum operis Elogium VEllera laturus signorum principis anceps Ausonides lecto milite cepit iter Mox longos tentare sinus votoque potiri Aeolios cives Ioniumque domans Mascula casta decens suavisque Henrice virago Sola tibi invicta pubis ad instar adest Ergo procellosae Niseidis atque Charibdis Securus turbae carbasa pande Notis Pande palam cedro tua digna volumina Meci Multorumque prius pensa bilance virûm Pande nihil mancum nil non laudabile nil quod Sympathicum non est symmetriaeque tenor Currum Phoebus equis sic sic robusta Bootes Septem concordi plaustra Trione regit Magnes gnarorum in rabiem Marpesia cautes Quorum Cerberea toxica fauce sluunt Carmine sublimi morum icon stilus honesti Calcar virtuti es criminibusque jugum Perâ—g Minervali tutus munimine fiet Nobilior studijs gens tua clara tuis Munera vive tibi fulvo mage grata metallo Aequora dum biberint proxima signa polo. Philippus Patricius Prologue delivered by an Amazon with a Battle-Axe in her hand THe best of English Poets for the Stage Such was the envie nicenesse and the rage Of pettish weakelings and detracting fooles That
maine battle too and force It to give ground Goe fly thou and charge Hasmond To fetch the reare with speed up that we may Exit gentl. There being no other hope for safety left us Upon one desperat onslaught hazard all Enter Scania Scan. I am glad I 've met you sir Frol. A pretty fine peece aside I wo'd faine save this I sho'd preferre Thy beautie unto ought that 's ours prove kind And gentle unto thee sweet-heart if thou 'lt But yeeld Scania To thy imbraces that must a' had My sister me and forty more We now Shall see what you can doe 'gainst one Come quickly Then vnto your guard sir or I shall soone send forth Your too hot bloud to coole your lustfull heart Frol. Plague on you for a company of spitefull Venomous tong'd bitches Ye had rather lye With the worst Hynde of your owne than the best of us Scan. Villaine I 'll answer thee another way Offers to fight on which Land enters Land Hold sister This must only be my mate Goe seeke you out another somewhere else Exit Scania Frol. Art thou Landgartha or some supernall goddesse Descended in her fairer shape to make A conquest now on Frollo that must yeeld Himselfe thy captive Land Thou once call'dst me subject And I am come to tender my alleageance To your ungracious wickednesse thus stricks at him Frol. Hold for heavens sake hold and patiently But take my faithfull vow Doe thou withdraw Thy troopes from our defeat and by the Olympian Gods I shall no sooner Have strucke King Reyner with his punie Danes But I 'll make thee my Queene Land Thy Concubyne Frol. All miseries light on me then for ever Or if I ever mixe with woman but Thy selfe for thou art worthy of a Mars A Hercules or Iupiter Land And have Fully resolv'd never to kisse any man But him that shall first master me in fight You are best therefore looke well to your selfe sir Or I shall quickly marry your hearts bloud To this weapon They fight he 's hurt Frol. I bleed you see let which Serve as an offering to appease thy wrath Conceiv'd against a wretch that now repents Here Rey. Vald. Inguar Hubb are discovered Unfainedly his former evill life May the gods chiefe attribute then mercy Find roome for me a Convertite in thy Noble and vertuous soule and I shall still Become thy pious imitator be Govern'd by thee in all thing and thy husband By heaven and all I will Land But I hope you shall not For I must try your manhood once againe They fight and she strikes him downe Reyn. O brave mayde Frol. Faire Furie thou hast kill'd me Hell take thee for 't my love is now cool'd indeed But I will be reveng'd I cannot cannot rise The losse of bloud and paine strike faint my pow'rs That I were now on high transform'd Atlas This being no fable but a truth that I Might cut the axle-tree of heaven in two And tumble downe the gods and breake their necks Proud gods if such there be Then like Enceladus Loaden with flaming Etna I sho'd turne And shake out all the starres The sunne and with That fire burne all to cinders Thus I 'd turne O divels I cannot but doe feele a pitchy Cloud darker than night hang o'r my drowsie temples And must there is no remedy descend to stalke A long th' infernall waves or wafted over Grapple with the damned Furies receive my soule You beastly Hags then that shall torment you more Than you can any Dyes Land The gods are now reveng'd On thee by me libidinous Woolfe foule Tyrant Rey. And rid me worthy Lady of a dangerous Adversary Land I doe beseech sir Kneels on one knee As my duty onely to receive that Vnto them and your grace though a woman Rey. This to me Madame is too great an honour Pray stand up I should rather kneele to you Whose beauty and incomparable vertues Exact no slender adoration From all those that love goodnesse or the image Of heaven in your face We must acknowledge Notwithstanding our right to the crowne of Norway What pow'r soe'r we have in 't gain'd and confirm'd Chiefly by you that are our strongest friend Land Your poore and humble vassall that desires No other recompence for her small service Than your Kingly licence to remaine When your foes are wholly vanquish'd from all Imployment sever'd to leade a solitary Quiet life being compell'd in the defence Of what I ever most esteemed to match Thus amongst men which I did not covet but The contrary Rey. You will not wrong the world The race of man sweet Lady so to robb it Of such lustre nay of all light by Dedicating of what is onely good in 't Your selfe to solitude Land I must no be Compell'd to any state of life sir Rey. You cannot Madame I see that and by your force my foes Now put to flight I shall continue alwayes Not onely a meere servant but for ever Your bondman not to offend you i' th' least thought Enter Scania Elsinora Fat Vald. Here be other noble friends sir to whom you Stand bound in no small summes Elsinor. Of Princely favour Onely Rey. Rise faire Ladies you shall command Vs being your creature Hub they 're delicate fine wenches pretty youths Land You are now sir To consider how to use your victory Scania For us we shall hereafter we doubt not Partake the fruits of your most Royall bounty Which we shall begge more for the generall Good than our particular interests sir Rey. You shall be the Law-makers to your selves For those by whom we raigne shall be our guides In the meane time thou Valdemar and Inguar Pursue the flying foe but most with mercie Not of circumspection yet least th' Van Turne by some accident by us not thought on Save all that yeeld whom we doe meane to send Home ransomelesse to see if that benefit May worke a peace betwixt us If it doe not We shall the next time be the more excus'd In our extending of severitie Come Ladies we 'll to counsell to conclude Concerning what we have by you subdu'd The second Act Enter Valdemar and Jnguar Vald. It 's a strange humor that has seaz'd upon him whatsoever the cause be Inguar When you are Ignorant of it all others must be so Vald. He discovers nothing to me save onely That he is full and that he often sayes Of griefe and heavinesse and sometimes sicke Ing. His sicknesse may in time prove dangerous If some fit remedy be not apply'd Vald. He 'll heare of none I urg'd his Physitians At which he storm'd and bad me leave him to Himselfe and since I dare not come in sight Ingar. It 's a deadly malady that will admit Of no cure We are best put Captaine Hubba Or the wise Cowsell on him for the wit Of the one and th' others folly may remove More of that griefe he speaks on than good counsell Enter Rey. Vald. Here
not To be apply'd to you sir that may command If pow'r and person can compell the best And fairest Lady i' th' world to be yours In a noble way and otherwise your vertue forbids it Rey. It does indeed forbid us what is vicious And seeing we doe not hope for life we must Crave your kinde pardon now to heare us tell Th' occasion of our sicknesse briefly thus You are the onely cause on 't Land How I my liege My knowledge sayes not so Rey. Your beautie vallor And all the perfections parted to others But in you conjoyn'd protest it and I For one can sweare it But being repell'd By a severely-awing rigor from your brow Yet sweet withall though killing and being told Of a sad purpose y' have never to marry We now are fall'n thus low beneath the Center Of deepe despaire and sorrow and desire You will say something eyther to hasten our death Or to recall it by a loving sentence Land I must take sometime then to deliberate Aside Rey. Being yours in that you may command us She goes aside the Ladies with her Land We expected no such entertaynment Elsin. My minde foretold me still of some disaster Scan. Notwithstanding your resolution Not to marry you have not vow'd against Obedience to a man in that friendly Yoake of Wedlocke The Kings sound affection Is not then to be rejected if you ever Take any Land If I doe he shall be the man Fatyma You must not study now long for some answer Elsin. He 's desperatly ill and if you sho'd Give him a flat deniall we might be All seazed on heere at Court and some villanie Committed on us being to defend our selves Too few by many Scan. They shall take our lives Ere we 'll endure to be defil'd Fatyma And with The losse of some of theirs Rey. Have you consider'd Yet of the doome y' are to pronounce Elsinora All stand Warily on their guard Land Your poore subjects sir Must rather expect in duty your commands Rey. Nay sweet Lady Doe not increase my torment By adding affliction to misery With a complement but something say that May appertaine to th' matter to rid me Quickely of my paine Land It 's sure I have not Although I ever meant it bound my selfe Unto a single life Rey. Then dearest Lady Consider who I am and what I now am Lodg'd thus for though I clayme you not as by desert Or dutie Yet being your Prince you owe me Some regard and all I e'r must glory in Shall be to make you Queene of what is ours Land May it please you Sir Rey. Pray you sit and speake Or I must rise if weakenesse will permit She sits and the rest stand Land Had I beene ambitious when you were not Crown'd King of Norway I could then perchance Have written Queene unto your prejudice But for that Frollo once intended foulely I that could not affect vice did refuse What he with earnestnesse and many Oathes Sought to confirme and was his bane at last Though I beleev'd that what he said he meant Now therefore Sir your affection grounded In way of honour without taint of basenesse With such exterior signes too of deepe love To me unworthy of so great a Prince I cannot nor will my heart permit it but In way of gratefulnesse reciprocally Requite with love againe as dutie binds Nay more then so But yet gracious Sir I that am meane and poore to be your Consort And that things of this kinde are oft repented Doe now beseech you to decline a while The vehemencie of your fleete desires And take full time to thinke on what you doe Were 't but to take a neerer view of me And that in all points For know sir the honour You now affoord me compar'd to th' infamie That would redound to both of us and to others By whom you are to be advis'd if ought Sho'd chance amisse when things were consumate Is nothing would but heighten your disgrace Your wise demurre too I shall take as full payment For all my services and rest devoted More deepely yours and evermore continue Your loyall subject onely sir Rey. I was sure Noblest and best of Ladies That your words Being such as now they are could not but worke A cure upon me See I can stand up Nay goe I 'll throw my Cap off too Some of you Give me a Hat I will walke with you forth Into the Gallery and tell you there I have consider'd so much what you are Though not to your full value this being Impossible that if you thinke me not Unworthy as indeed I am for you We shall soone be Man and Wife To morrow I 'll wayte on you further into the Garden Hub. And there in one of the little bawdy houses Aside Seale the Covenant if it be receiv'd Though he were sure to die in an houre after Elsin. I see she does affect him in good earnest Aside But wisedome bids be silent This poore kingdome Being already torne too much by tyrannie and troubles Things past our helpe with patience must be borne Untill a fit time Rey. Lady Elsinora Me thinkes you doe not signe our loving motion With a friendly countenance Elsin. I hope great Sir You will be pleased to entertayne farre better thoughts Of your humblest hand-mayd Rey. I hope we shall Land In licensing our departure for some small time Dayes five or sixe and for a private Cause You will for ever bind us sir to your commands And to returne with all convenient speed To obey your Highnesse pleasure in all points Rey. That ask'd agen would throw me on my Couch Never to rise Vald. Madame I sho'd make bold To stop your journey though the King were pleas'd To grant his licence for you I must say Somewhat roughly saluted my left eare With your right hand as these can witnesse for me Land For which you are resolv'd to challenge me But not to be your wife I gave you no Such promise Vald. I must have satisfaction Land You may declare what that is when you list Vald. Nay you shall know it now and thus it sounds That you perswade this Lady to become Takes Scan. by the hand My second For love has strucke me too so sore A cuffe caus'd by her beautie and what else Is good in her in my opinion Superlatively that I shall ne'r be rid O' th' paine on 't unlesse you that are like to be My Cossen advance me higher to the honour To be your brother We shall then be kind friends Land She is not my warde and may take whom she fancies I may my selfe repent to be perswaded Rey. Speake Ladie doe you like the man He is As good a Gentleman as We are Say Will you have him Scan. You make me blush sir to aske Me such a question Vald. Nay then it 's granted Scan. I will not grant at first nor shall you say Hereafter I deceiv'd you Fat You deceive Your selfe Well Madame I perceive we
After our nuptials She more but most Of all thy owne Lady For it 's for her sake Thou so affect'st both us Scan. I could not wish To a' met a kinder man Land His kindnesse makes You oft asham'd you say nor wo'd I have The King so over fond of me Vald. You stand Confirm'd Madame in the pow'r your merits Hold to charme his faculties to your obeysance Land You deliver that sir to picke a thanke from My Sister at whom you point in that language Scan. I doe beleeve he does which yet must be Conceiv'd onely to proceed from his ill-plac'd Affection not my desert to answer His much lesse your perfections being But a poore Pigmie compar'd to the greatnesse Of the worth in you Rey. This friendly Complement We will passe over and now Valdemar To apt our apprehensions the more To the true understanding of your Maske You may tell us somewhat of your scope in 't Vald. That is sufficiently inform'd i' the thing It selfe though lame it be The matter being All propheticall I found in an old Worme-eaten Booke in the Lady Elsinora's Library And I sho'd wrong your judgement And my owne labour though of little value By staling of it before hand Fr. It 's a fine tale And cannot but please unlesse it meet such minds As are not to be pleas'd Elsin. There is no Fustian Non sense Winde or fopperie in 't Rey. It matters not What some odd envious foole sayes that grieves most At th' goodnesse of what he disprayses and wo'd Be glad 't were worse We despise affected stuffe Or a strayn'd kind of Eloquence being the smoake And fruits or a vaineglorious and an empty braine No flattery dwels we know in this Let it begin The Maske First enter six Satyrs and dance a short nimble anticke to no Musicke or at most to a single Violine at the end of which enter Phoebus with Bow and Arrowes Phoeb. A way unmanner'd deities though hope Rayse you unto this mirth for Troy Your scope In 't form'd at the counsell of the higher gods Makes not the issue of their Periods So fortunate as you doe now suppose In your inferior knowledges to dispose For Hectors safetie whom Aracides Madded for his lov'd Menetiades Flyes to destroy Nor can the Fates divert But that fierce horrid man will soone convert All unto sad destruction unlesse We the pryme gods and demi-gods suppresse His force not otherwise to be resisted Get you away from hence then and in stead Of frisk in these pleasant vales of I de Expose your aydes to th' utmost can be try'd For Pryam and his issue ne'r till now In danger of an utter overthrow And my owne labour though of little value By staling of it before hand Fr. It 's a fine tale And cannot but please unlesse it meet such minds As are not to be pleas'd Elsin. There is no Fustian Non sense Winde or fopperie in 't Rey. It matters not What some odd envious foole sayes that grieves most At th' goodnesse of what he disprayses and wo'd Be glad 't were worse We despise affected stuffe Or astrayn'd kind of Eloquence being the smoake And fruits of a vaineglorious and an empty braine No flattery dwels we know in this Let it begin The Maske First enter six Satyrs and dance a short nimble anticke to no Musicke or at most to a single Violine at the end of which enter Phoebus with Bow and Arrowes Phoeb. Away unmanner'd deities though hope Rayse you unto this mirth for Troy Your scope In 't form'd at the counsell of the higher gods Makes not the issue of their Periods So fortunate as you doe now suppose In your inferior knowledges to dispose For Hectors safetie whom Aracides Madded for his lov'd Menetiades Flyes to destroy Nor can the Fates divert But that fierce horrid man will soone convert All unto sad destruction unlesse We the pryme gods and demi-gods suppresse His force not otherwise to be resisted Get you away from hence then and instead Of frisk in these pleasant vales of I de Expose your aydes to th' utmost can be try'd For Pryam and his issue ne'r till now In danger of an utter overthrow Song Though Hector now be dead his name And memory shall last while fame Sounds her low'd Trumpet lov'd admir'd By his example shall be fir'd To acts heroicke future ages And Prophets sacred in their rages Shall by his vertues be install'd And he by all a worthy call'd Hectors body is taken away about the middle of the Song after the end of it Enter Phoebus and Pryam Phoeb. Much honour'd and deere old man did'st not heare How the Jdalian deities forbeare Not sacred loving Nymphs and griev'd like thee To chant a mirthfull pleasing melody Glad for the future glory of thy sonne Reason sho'd governe and a faire fame wonne Is of mans humane life the chiefest part Chiefest in Hector and shall not depart From thy for-ever-most-fam'd house For know Th' gods on thy line of Dardunus will bestow The largest Empyres which to thee I 'll now Show for thy comfort that thou sho'dst not bow Too much dejected in thy minde to what They in their Counsels doe predestinate Pry. Heavens brightest eye I 'll doe what lyes in me To obey thy will and my sowre destinie Phoeb. My tale in two parts I doe thus impart A Prince from Troy hereafter shall depart When Troy takes end as all dominion Of mortals must whose chance will fetch him on The Lybian shores and upon Latium next Before which time and after though oft vex'd By the high-minded Juno for her hates Conceiv'd against the Troians Yet the Fates Have destin'd him that throne of Latium Marrying the daughter of its King From him The Royall seate first chang'd to Alba shall Descend two Princes twins for which a fall Their mother takes from Mars a votresse she Compell'd unto that state Impietie In an ambitious kinsman to be drown'd Sends both the Infants who sav'd by chance are found Of a she-woolfe and nourish'd with her Teats Till by a sheepheard found and by brave feats Made know'n to be themselves they build a Towne Which shall be call'd Rome and shall weare the Crowne Of the worlds Monarchy hundreds of yeares This is the first part of my tale Pry. My feares And sorrow which till now I did suppose Could not be done th' hast heal'd Disclose The other part deare god that 's left untould Phoeb. Which in no obscure termes I doe unfould A Prince call'd Brutus of the Troian race Third to the first spoke of being in the chace Of wild beasts by unlucky fate he kils Sylvius his Father with the shaft he drils At other game Which fact so much doth bend The Latines against Brutus him they send To sad exile Who after a time arrives At a brave spatious Iland that derives Her name from white rocks being a little world With other Troians before met and hurl'd Too on misfortunes A towne call'd new
Troy He builds here th' Land cals Brutaine doth enjoy The whole as King and his posteritie For many ages shall raigne there as he Sometimes in pow'r and plentie conquering The neighbor Nations sometimes these for nothing But 's subject unto change on earth afflict Againe Troy's Brutaines in their owne district Of which a certaine people and call'd Danes Cymbrians by some will prove their worst of banes But shall be beaten backe not without paine At length in processe of much time shall raigne In this faire I le a Prince one way descended Of Troian race I' th' other side extended Vp by the Royall bloud of Danes unto A warlike King call'd Reyner that shall wooe And wed a Lady Amazonian Landgartha nam'd which Prince shall be the man Having his subjects in their loves combyn'd Who shall to evils onely be confin'd By their owne sad dissentions being of all Earths men the properest and most martiall To exalt thy bloud He shall by 's right enjoy The Land of Danes and in this place where Troy Now stands shall Conquer and build it againe Will also Conquer Greece and there restrayne Th' impieties of wicked men Thus Fate I have layd ope to thee to consolate Thy selfe and sad Queene Now I must away For from the gods I 've made too long a stay Exeunt ambo Vald. Your Majesties have now seene all even as I found recorded in the foresayd Booke How true heaven onely knowes Yet all may prove true Being not impossible if men be wise Rey. And not destroy themselves as it 's there spoke Our part on 't has hit right and so may that And now Valdemar to requite thy love All rise My Queene and I will make your Maske compleate By being your dancers Enter Hub. Marf without her sword her Gowne untuck'd Hub. I must first beg your Pardon to leade the measure sir for I have Brought a fine friendly dancer with me and We will so foot it Rey. Hubba thou alwayes comm'st in pudding time Land Let 's stand I long to see Marfisa dance Here Hubba and Marfisa Dance the whip of Donboyne merrily Rey. This was excellent We shall but shame ourselves In following of you Come let us begin Here they dance the grand Dance in foure Couple Reyner and Landgartha Valdemar and Scania Fredericke and Elsinora Inguar and Fatyma Rey. So Cousin we have made you some amends For your part of the Maske and now you shall Being so kinde a husband conduct your Lady Unto her Chamber and there use her kindly Too as she deserves Our Aunt and Cousin may After all this noyse also retyre and say In solitude and silence th' many prayers They have omitted all the day As for The Queenes grace she must give me leave To usher her to bed Land Must That in such A servant were too peremptory But If you plead your title King I 'll answer That I know how to fight and have ere now Stoop'd a too hasty Prince Therefore good sir You are best speake me faire or I may put you Beside your sweet hopes And give you some what of the sowre to taste Rey. That and to kill me were all one For which I now and ever will humbly intreat As a poore suppliant with you to treat Exeunt omnes The fourth Act Enter Reyner musing at one doore and Hubba to him at the other Rey. Is Inguar yet return'd from th' Fleet Hub. Not yet sir Rey. Let him be quickly sent for then be gone Exit Hubba A poore gentlewoman an ordinary Noble mans daughter to have catch'd me thus Whom Cesar would rejoyce to have made his sonne Some horrid plague confound her modesty And her for me for now I care not for her Though I dissemble it because I dare not She is so damn'd valiant doe otherwise Till I have got from hence For she being So belov'd too of the Norwegians might Cut short my life and passage But yet Reyner Thinke how exceeding worthy she is of love And of a Prince thinke of her vertue doe Thinke of her beautie myldnesse vallor and What else no no I will not will not love her For I have tooke enough of what I most lov'd Which I confesse could not but please my Palat Enter Vald But here comes Valdemar who like an Asse Still dotes on his wife I 'll not therefore trust him Vald. Your resolution to be gone for Denmarke Men doe admire and I must tell you sir Seeing you will needs be constant in so bad A purpose some doe feare your projects are Ignoble I then as one that lov'd you once And will doe still unlesse you forfeyte your selfe Wo'd be your adviser if you dare take advice Rey. Y' are too sawcie and what I have resolv'd on I will not alter Must we be curb'd by you In tendering the welfare of our subjects Shall Denmarke be still forgotten Vald. That colour Dyes but very poorely though you stalke with it The fall of your obstreperous passion to Your Queene sir people take notice of though she Poore Lady asham'd to be deceiv'd or scorn'd Say nothing of it restrayn'd too by her love To you But we that are your Countriemen Whom you mainely dishonour in 't can have No such patience Rey. Our affection to our Lov'd faire Consort though you be pleas'd to doubt it Will not be question'd but by your slanderous tongue Vald. You cannot sir Nay shall not maske your blacke Intentions so from me they doe appeare Too many And she whom you most wrong is more Then worthy of you had you but the wisedome And grace to thinke so still But be assur'd When she is rid o' th' burthen she now carries She 'll be reveng'd at full for her dishonour And snatch the Crownes you weare from of your trech'rous Temples Rey. You will not play the Traytor in Conspiring with her Vald. Though I sho'd not sir You need not doubt but Harrolld will who thinkes His right to Denmarke as good as yours to Norway Rey. That Christian dogshead and yours too had beene chopt off ere this had I not beene a foole Vald. If you durst you make me now beleeve that had Beene so But I 'll make shift to save one of 's Enter Ing. Hubba And thinke you 'll hardly save your selfe from t' other Rey. You may doe what you lift and so will I Are all the Shipping ready Ing. They are sir but Rey. Come spare your breath I know what you wo'd say Hub. Wo'd all the Cables and Sayles were burnt You brought us hither with the hazard of our lives To gaine this kingdome for you and now you have it You 'll wisely gi' 't away and fetch 'em all Upon our backes Rey. Who made you a Counseller There 's your reward strikes him Hub. I shall take more then this Ere long if I sticke to you Vald. You doe well To practise before hand Offers to draw so does Vald. Ing. steps in Rey. Traytor doe you upbrayd
our heads upon a Scaffold For Reyner having cast the faire Landgartha Off of whom he was not worthy and by A dreadfull precipice fall'n from much goodnesse He will not stop at his first fault But hurri'd By the guiltinesse of his Conscience Runne headlong downe the hill upon the rocke Of dangerous mischiefe to which he 's now ingag'd Eric She is a Lady of so stout a heart That when she finds him base although she lov'd him Exceedingly shee cannot but be reveng'd For her repudiation and disgrace Har. And may prove our strong friend to ruine him That has threatned and that not privatly To rid himselfe on us Eric And will if he can You may by his death then that wo'd be yours Settle your selfe securely in his kingdomes By matching and partaking now with her Har. Brother the man whose deitie we adore And who to give us rest still liv'd without it Can witnesse for me could I but perswade My minde by any probabilitie 't were possible for me to live in peace here And not have my throat cut although my right Unto the Crowne of Denmarke be apparant My title while I slept or wak'd sho'd sleepe As when King Reyner liv'd a vertuous kind man For I delight not in th' expence of bloud Though I feare not to spend my owne in a Iust cause But seeing all rest is deni'd me As the strong law of nature binds I must Shift for my selfe the best I may Which shall not Be effected by base trechery or murder Nor doe I chiefly yet meane to rely On th' brave Landgartha's assistance whom the Love of a wife and hope of reconcilement May urge beyond all spirit of revenge Eric What is 't you meane to plot then for our safetie Har. We 'll to the pious Christian Emperor Lewis the Debonaire who as you know Do's oft solicite me to plead my right To th' Crowne by dent of sword that being the best Nay onely Patent Reyner has to show for 't Though he from 's father got it which doth lessen Much his guilt Eric It 's not his guilt that now most troubles him But by more sinne to guard it Har. Twelve thousand Expert Souldiers that lye neere here o' th' borders Of Germany I may have when I list To adde with all speed to our owne sure friends And unto others that will fall in troopes From now dishonour'd Reyner for his base Adultery intended with Vraca To strengthen himselfe against his wife and me Eric Vnheard of madnesse so vilely to betray And to 's owne ruine a poore and vertuous Lady That but for him and his damn'd shamelesse lyes Had never marry'd any Being withall As 't is reported most extreamely faire Farre farre beyond the other Har. Such are the follies Of humane nature when it is forsaken Of him that made it But we 'll now make use on 't Eric You sho'd be suddaine least we be layd hold on And to take him unprepar'd Har. When night ascends Her sable charyot we will both of us Mounted on our best horses post away And be I hope ere we be miss'd pass'd danger Come let us therefore in and loose no time Which in necessitie 's a fatall crime Exeunt The fift Act Enter Valdomar and Jnguar Vald. You are happy beyond expectation In your Embassage for all men did conceive And very probably the Queene would ayde With th' utmost of her pow'r Harrold in his Designe for Denmarke But she noble Lady Although in outward show she have not granted What you demand I know such is her vertue And loving nature is comming in her minde Now to assist your most ungracious King Ing. For which in chiefe he is to you beholding Though he deserv'd it not at his departure But now Contrition has wipt off his guilt Though not the punishment before the gods Nor is there any hope left us on earth But what we now may gaine here by your meanes Vald. Had you but beene a witnesse of her griefes Able to rive a heart of steele you had Melted as we almost did into teares Especially when she heard of th' infamous Marryage with Swealands daughter told her by A whispering flatterer how then she tore Her golden hayre and us'd such cruelty On her faire limmes which had wellneere ended her Notwithstanding what we could doe to hinder 't Cursing the time when she e'r saw a Dane Not for her husbands renogading most But the losse of her virginitie and foule Disgrace Ing. We heard of all Yet were compell'd By strong necessitie perforce to build On her heroicke goodnesse and your worth Vald. 't was well conceiv'd and better put to tryall That compulsion may worke peace agen Ing. Here the divine Lady comes her selfe unto us Enter Landgartha Scania Elsinora Fatyma Marfisa in womans apparell with Swords on Land Although Lord Inguar your soveraigne and my Unkind husband were rather to expect Sharpe warre and hate then any ayde from me In his distresse having as farre as 't lay In him disgrac'd me by his flight and as I 'd us'd false play with others yet my love To him deepely engraven in my heart Ioyn'd to my owne innocence and merit has As all may see got the upper-hand and stopt My once intended course of strict revenge Though he enjoy another wife now the Mistris Of what is mine by bond Ing. Most gracious Queene I can say nothing to excuse his guilt Or lessen it but that your vertue shines The brighter for his deepe ingratitude Which now 's the greatest Corrosive to himselfe And cause of all his evils by the losse Of in a manner all was his before And that his act has render'd both of you Famous to all the world in different manners You as the glorious mirrour of all worth But him with griefe I speake it for 's offence Scan. Which now deare Madame as it is repented Exacts your mercy more then punishment Elsin. To prove a lasting Pyramid to all Succeeding times of such a noble act Vald. It can yeeld you no benefit to ruine Him and his poore subjects being also yours And in their loves they 're yours Fat Much more then his I doe beleeve Ing. Madame I can depose it To Fatyma And that they 've ever deem'd it their chiefe glory To have had her for their Queene their hearts he lost When he lost her nor is there ought can rayse The minds o' th' few that now sticke to him but her Strong assistance and the try'd vallor of the Norwegian Ladies that before Gave us the victory against the Swedes Land King Reyner and your selfe Lord Inguar have Too many friends here to be deni'd in what Our pow'r may stead him or you demand And I 'm the more induc'd to pardon his fault That I acknowledge my selfe faultie too And which my heart has oft accus'd me for With no small griefe in granting that to him Vnder the flattering title of marryage which I Resolv'd ne'r to a' lost and
sad passion and the continuance of it Rey. Seeing you deare Lady in love and wisedome Esteeme that my best course I shall be dumbe As night calme as the calm'st evening after A stormy day Scania let 's follow where she went then Exeunt Enter Harrold and Eric Har. After our losse and watching these two nights I cannot brother the toyle of our journey Lying so heavy too on my tyr'd body But sleepe a little though it be dangerous Eric My neede 's no lesse a little sleepe will serve Har. Let 's take it here then the place being solitary They sleepe and a sweet solemne Musicke of Recorders is heard then enter an Angel Ang. Heaven has decreed another day Shall gaine what you have lost Your way Take both as you were forc'd before Unto the pious Emperor One of you shall be King whose seed Shall be so too untill 't all bleed Then when that issue is extinct Norway and Denmarkes whole precinct Shall be rul'd by Landgartha's line And Reyners Her the pow'rs divine Will for her Morall vertues turne A Christian ere she come to th' Urne Yeeld faith to this For without doubt What I have sayd shall come about Exit Ang. then Eric stirs and wakes Har. Eric Sir you sleepe exceeding soundly Pray wake Har. I now am fresh enough Come let 's be gone Eric Dream't you nothing while you slept Har. No did you Eric Me thought I heard a most heavenly Musicke And that an Angel did appeare and wish'd us Betake our selves againe to th' Emperor That what we lost another day sho'd purchase And that the faire Landgartha as the reward Of her Morall vertues would be made Christian Before she di'd Har. Though we afford no credit Vnto such dreames Yet we must steere our course That way there being after so great a losse No comfort left where our foes are so strong Eric Heaven will in time I hope revenge our wrong Exeunt Enter Cowsell and Radgee Cow Come brother Radgee it is now concluded We shall never part agen Rad. O deare brother I never had a good day on 't much lesse A good night since being barr'd the comfort of your Sweet conversation you parted from me Cow Nay brother I can howle the same sad Madrigall Too For looke you brother we were all so frighted By those fat-foggy Germans who men say Are nothing but flesh and belly that we durst Allow no time for mirth and drinking Rad. Very Strange that brother For they say themselves are Exceeding good fellowes Cow Iust of that seize Rad. I 'll tell you more what I heard spoken of 'em Brother they 're sowre and never worth the trusting Or honest i' their bargaines untill they Be drunke or at least halfe drunke Cow That 's as true Brother as that you and I drunke halfe a score Flaggons yesternight a peece The North winde Is not so bitter in a morning till he Has tooke a buttrum or his Wine Rad. And then Makes as good Musicke as a Bag-pipe when it 's Full blow'n What doe you thinke of the Swedes brother Cow They are not yet altogether so good drinkers As th' Germans are but well fall'n to 't of late Which makes me suppose brother they 'll be beaten Out too For besides the King will no more kisse The Queene Vraca as 't is spoken But sticke To 's owne old Camrade being indeed the fairer Rad. Yet in my opinion brother his Grace Being marry'd to both sho'd doe exceeding well To keepe both still Sleepe betwixt both a' nights And imbrace both by turnes What say you brother Cow What But to concurre with you and for many Good and convincing reasons 's for example The King being kept so warme on both sides by Two such delicate cre'tures 't were impossible He sho'd catch cold I or perchance be troubl'd With Coughs Scyaticas or other bone-ach And to have Swealand and Norway at command Were a matter of no small importance You conceive me brother Cow Few wise men better In part But stand aside themselves are comming Florish Enter Reyner Landgartha Valdemar Vraca Scania Inguar Elsinora Fatyma Hubba and Marfisa the Norwegian Ladies in womans apparell with Swords on Marfisa with her Gown untuck'd and sword on Ing. You will not gracious Madame thus deceive The expectations of your poore and loving People whose whole hopes comfort safetie nay all We can for the present or hereafter call ours Are but benefits deriv'd from the fountaine Of your warme bountie at whose goodnesse yet We most rejoyce Doe not then deare Empresse strike Sorrow to our lately bleeding hearts that still Pant and not slowly by our former feares And the sore stripes we tooke Which but for you For ever were incurable and now By your forsaking of us will fester worse Then before Land That you neede not feare Lord Inguar For I shall ne'r be wanting in my care And love unto this Nation Leaving here The best halfe of our Army now behinde us To prevent all future mischiefes Jng. Our dishonour In your departure we shall ne'r recover Rey. My offence which now 's my worst affliction With what it does occasion all may see Tooke origen and issue more of humane Frayltie and foolish pride then want of love To you or of desert in you to merit A better and more pow'rfull man then I am Th' worlds onely Monarch if there were but one For which I without your mercie to restore me Once more unto your heart as to my kingdomes Must spend my dayes which shall not then be many Like to a sickely beast without a soule Land My heart shall still receive you But on my word Th' rest of my body you shall not enjoy sir I now am gaunt you see All though you must not have a feeling of it And if I doe play false my belly will show 't Questionlesse For I am fruitfull if I sho'd be touch'd Vald. Although but weakly Madame On you and this your kinde friend but that I wav'd Him for my husband that despis'd me as His honest Mate and wo'd a' lov'd me for By-blowes Therefore enjoy him still for I suppose You are a Hen that must be trod Vrac. That 's more then you know or I hope shall finde Rey. She shall ne'r enjoy me nor has not Of a long time I 'll sweare if that will serve Land It shall not sir beleeve it Yet ne'r feare You shall be arm'd i' th' front by me which is A wrong this other Lady cannot doe you If she wo'd Vrac. I 'll leave that now for you that have The abler bodie Land And you the frayler minde But if you chop words with me thus or insult I may for a farwell cracke your birds necke Before we part Vrac. I must not stand so neere You then She steps behinde Reyner and holds him betwixt Langartha and her selfe Rey. Nor I prove any safeguard for you Steps from betwixt them But sho'd take part with her whom I love best And has
best right unto me Urac. That you say To flatter her and for meere feare But if I had you in private I know what you Wo'd sing and play too if I sho'd but yeeld Land runs at her and Elsinora steps in Elsin. What doe you meane Land That I will ne'r have him That is resolv'd Elsin. Your resolution I must say in that is worse then madnesse Land I 'll not quarrell with you Aunt Yet doe admire A Lady of your know'n modestie should be So farre mistaken and in such a cause Elsin. It 's you that are mistaken I confesse I was at first an opposit in your love Vnto the King but seeing you would needs Yeeld then your virgin Forte unto his Hignesse I now wo'd have you take what wives doe use And let me still live chaste that doe professe it Scan. My Aunt sayes more to me I am sure she did All ought to live according their vocation And not preposterously prove aliens to it Nor will it serve to say he tore the bond Now that he 's sorry for 't For still the generall good Must be preferr'd to all particular Merit or that devotion that may By foolish zeale prove a too great offence Land I must heare more opinions ere I part From my strong purpose therefore sir adieu Be mercifull in chiefe unto your subjects To allure their hearts by love that being the tye That will hold strongest never can be broken Vnlesse by fooles or mad men For that partie That sho'd tend any mischiefe 'gainst a good Prince Were first to kill all his subjects being the Kings friends Or perish himselfe by his fatall and bad Purpose Be just and vertuous and you neede not Feare poyson poynards or conspiracie To end Norway shall be preserv'd for your young sonne And as for me though yours I 'll end my life An honest widdow or forsaken wife Exit with Elsinora Fatyma Marfisa Vald. I must take leave too Rey. Farewell worthiest Cousin Scan. You know the way to Norway Sir and if I might advise so wise a King to follow Us thither and not slowly that honourable Obligation would so bind your Queene Being seconded by us your friends and reason That I beleeve what now she does denie She wo'd then grant especially when she Perceives you constant in your vow'd affection For this perchance she do's to tempt and try you Nay I am sure she do's and that she will be Yours againe if you persever in your love to her In the meane time I shall not fayle to prove Your grace's faithfull loving advocate Rey. In you the anchor of my trust lyes only fix'd Deare sister I must follow your advise kisses her Exit Scania Valdemar Rad. O brother brother must we part at last They imbrace Exeunt Cow Radgee Cow No no get afore I 'll steale along with you Rey. Inguar Did'st thinke our hopes sho'd end in this Ing. It may prove better and I hope it will sit Rey. Accursed Fate of man of foolish man That cannot prize a Iewell while he has it Till it be lost and then his griefe is vaine Vaine and unprofitable when no hope Is left to finde it which I feare 's my case Our miserie the mirror 's made by which We onely see our faults our dangerous wounds Which likely then can never be recur'd Being Gangreene filthy sores that doe Corrode So farre into the very soule of man That they hale to sad desperation To which point I 'm almost arriv'd the Gemme I lost being so rich as all earths Potentates A richer could not boast Which if I finde not Strucke with my dyre misfortune my owne hand Shall send my spirit to the Stygian strand Exit with Ing. Hub. Vrac. And seeing I 've walk'd astray I will from hence By future good to expiate my offence Exit in the middle FINIS EPILOGVE Scania that spoke the Prologue now delivers the Epilogue apparelled as in the last Scene with her Sword and Belt in her hand THough our Author cares not how his Play may take Yet cause he purposes not to forsake In his affection any Worthy here He hath sent me 'fore the Court breake up to appeare For him agen to see how it hath pleas'd For notwithstanding he meanes to be eas'd For ever of th' like taske Yet from his heart He wishes you and he sho'd fairely part And this he more for him desir'd me say Where others spend a yeare about a Play Picking a sentence here a word from thence This Tragie-Comedy with the expence Of lesse then two Moneths time he pen'd For he 's not too ambitious of the dignitie Of a prime Poet which he needs must know The Muses chiefe Apollo doth bestow But very rarely Himselfe he knowes too Better i' th' Art then some that to be so Thought worthy maligne him If this please you It 's all he 'll aske of Hellicon Adieu Heere they take their places but the King and the Queene under a Canopie * Peeps into the pot * they kisse Some but not of best judgements were offended at the Conclusion of this Play in regard Landgartha tooke not then what she was perswaded to by so many the Kings kind night-imbraces To which kind of people that know not what they say I answer omitting all other reasons that a Tragie-Comedy sho'd neither end Comically or Tragically but betwixt both which Decorum I did my best to observe not to goe against Art to please the over-amorous To the rest of bablers I despise any answer This Play was first Acted on S. Patricks day 1639. with the allowance of the Master of Revels