Dearest from thy heart It is some pretty trick of Love and Art Yet sure you do not so my passion doubt You need to take these ways to find it out Marcelia turns aside Marc. I scorn much Art but I could rage express To see he 'd fool me with a new Address Turns to him Indeed I do not and I must confess With the same truth my own is grown much less Loth. I am surpriz'd Can you unblushing say You have your Faith and Honor thrown away Come come no more you 'l make my fears too strong Marc. I care not what they are so you 'd be gone Loth. What is 't you mean Marcelia what to do Marc. No more nor less but tell you what is true I 'm chang'd Is that so great a wonder grown There are examples from both Sexes known I wish you 'd leave me now I fain would be From Conversation as from Passion free This is no Complement I must confess But without study 't is my humors dress Loth. Are you Marcelia that I did adore I may be gone grief lets me say no more Exit Marc. He 's gone and does a seeming passion show sighs Such as none hardly from a true can know It is no wonder Women ruin'd be If all can counterfeit as well as he Sits down Enter Melynet Mel. What new misfortune does your Soul oppress Marc. Lotharicus has bin here you now may guess Mel. For him still sad Fie fie you are too blame To let your Love so much your courage shame Marc. When Love and Reason has a War begun Grief can't be hid until the Vict'ries won Mel. If he were here I 'm sure he was so wise With his first flame his fecond to disguize I know he with great oaths confirm'd his Passion He did not else dissemble well in fashion Marc. He did as much as Love could make those do That found their Mistris false when they were true Mel. That sight I hope straight mov'd you to belief Marc. It did not that but it encreas'd my grief No I have done what I but ill could do I scorn'd him much to keep my word with you I hope that time will make it natural grow Till then my heart will never quiet know Mel. No more no more of these sad thoughts I am come to beg a favor of you it is to go to Court with me to night and see the Mask it will divert you much Marc. Such sights to sickned joys sorrows augment A Grave can only now give me content Mel. I must not nor I will not be deny'd Marc. I 'm by my promise to your counsels ty'd Exeunt Scene 4. Enter Moriphanus Graculus and Footmen Mor. There 's to be some doings to day at Court 't is the King Birth-day Graculus thee and I 'le go see 't Grac. I wish we could my Lord but they 'l not let us in Mor. Not let us in that 's a good one not let us in Walks up and down and looks upon himself pulls out a great deal of money Not let us in what think'st thou Graculus will not good store of these tempt Besides I am as gallant as the proudest of them and as impudent as the best And I 'le tell thee Graculus they shall not keep us out I 'le fill my Hat of these and cry Make room Courtiers Grac. That I confess my Lord will be an excellent Orator for us it is the most taking Language to speak in to all persons 't is strangely intelligible But my Lord let you and I do a frolick for once You are infinitely brave and I am in my worst Cloaths and for sport's sake let us see which shall get in firft Let me carry the full Exchequer in my pocket and do you carry an Eloquent Oration which shall be pick'd out for your purpose from some of Cicero's works Mor. Tell not me of works as long as I carry a Key shall do the work for us both Exeunt Scene 5. Enter Lotharicus Loth. How weak is man to place so much of his contentment in a Woman whose change depends on their unconstant humors not their Reason Those joys must needs be still uncertain of which they are Foundations Ha! now I think of it Melynet told me she â—â—d ingag'd him to carry her to Court Sure she does â—â—sign some Conquest there perhaps Ambition has supplanted Love Oh Jealousie thou Torturer of the heart I find thou now begin'st to seize my Soul I 'le be there too By strict observance I 'le her thoughts discover See if I 'm scorn'd in hopes of some new Lover Exit Scene 6. Enter several Lords and Ladies and take their Seats Presently after the King Lucidore Perigrine Almeric and other Attendants The King looks round and bows to all the Ladies King Look to your hearts my Lords to night Love is resolv'd I find to set them all to work He has sent so many Beauties hither I fear I shall go off my self a Prisoner Per. If you become ingag'd Sir 't is all our duties to attend your Majesty Luc. I am gone already Alm. How Lucidore what 's become of your Mistris Luc. Faith ev'n crouded up in a corner of my heart out of civility to make these Ladies room King Which is the Beauty that has charm'd thee Lucidore Luc. Your Majesty would laugh if I should tell you how that devillish little blind God has serv'd me King Prethee let me hear then Luc. Faith Sir that the Ladies might not fall out about the Conquest he has made me in Love with all with every one he has compounded their several Beauties and given it me at once in a Pill King So many Ladies taken in Love-powder at once I confess is a good large proportion Luc. All my hopes is they 'l prove like Leaden Bullets one make another pass King Well well Lucidore Cupid will find his time to make you love in earnest grow tame and melancholly Val. Sir he has a Mistris for all he talks thus madly and has ingag'd that we shall see her King He 's mad indeed then Luc. Does your Majesty think that Love will bring me into my wits King I think it can hardly put thee farther out Luc. Well if he turns once a mender of Head-pieces by my consent he shall be imploy'd first among Statesmen that sit at the Stern in Government of Nations As for my particular I 'le dispence with my own cure till he has done his work in that kind for the general good ought to be prefer'd before private interest Alm. He has found him an imployment will hold him tack till the day of Judgment without having any thing to do with private brains The King talks to Almeric Moriphanus knocks to get in Valasco looks out sees him and turns to Lucidore Val. O' my Conscience here is the supposed Lord at the door we have heard so much talk of by his incomparable dress Luc. Prethee let him in he 'll make us very merry It
much as ever any man did or will love any of the Sex I do indeed Dear Widow but now if you should heep me in a great deal of pain by making a Chancery-suit of our Affections 't is ten to one but I shall rather deny all this truth again than endure such an endless torment Per. Faith Widow you must now resolve this new fashion'd suiter will have his alms or his answer quickly Arc. I Madam you must needs tell my Lord what you 'l do you don't know what an injury you may do him by keeping him long in suspense for if his heart should have taken post to any other place how do you think his body should know where to find it Perilla We 'l petition the King to introduce here the English Law that is if he loses it between sun and â—un the County must make it good Per. That is if it were stollen Madam Perilla Well if it has run away or lost it self then he must have it cry'd Luc. Never think of these ways to baffle me out of my Heart Madam in plain terms you have stoln it and if you stir out of this Garden without restitution or my consent to keep it hang me if I send not a Hue and Cry after you Perilla It seems my Lord you are very sharp set to my Estate if you possest that I believe you would easily bequeath my person for a Legacy to my next Heir Luc. Lord Madam that you should think so As if a Rich Mistris were to be prefer'd before a Mistris Rich. Do you think I am so ill bred to displace your Title so to put money before it No it shall never take the precedency It is as much as I desire that I am certain it is one of your attendants for where Marriage is made and that a servant to neither party there is always to be sure but beggarly house-keeping and I love good company as my life Perilla Well I will not injure my wit so much to take seven years consideration to make up at last a bad bargain as if a great deal of time were requisite to undo ones self in when a quarter of an hour will serve turn as well and precipitated indiscretions always will admit of more excuse than premeditated follies This gives you nay consent so soon my Lord. Luc. I care not from whence the line come so long as it draws to my Center I 'l accept it good or bad according to the old Rule of Marriage Perilla Well once within this month we shall both repent it after the Parson has ty'd us together Luc. If we do and the worst come to the worst 't is but one of us making a journey into the other world and unmarrying our selves and when it comes we 'l have fair play draw who shall go Perilla A very just bargain Per. Nothing will break your agreement then I see Luc. But first we 'l try to break each others heart Exeunt Scene 5. Enter Lotharicus in a Disguise Loth. It is some pleasure since I could nor dy at least to think that I shall now revenge my wrongs my self on my intended Murtherer and by giving him his merited Death punish the false Marcelia too And in the bud of her wish'd Queenships honor Nip hâ—r support that treacherous Favorite from her She little think Lotharicus doth live So great a ruine to her hopes to give Here he must pass and in this place I 'l stay And make Death complement him in the way Enter Melynet with two boys Lotharicus meets him Mel. Boys go where I bid you Ha! what 's that comes there Loth. An injur'd Lover brought by his despair Lotharicus Mel. That 's false I 'm sure I know thou sayst not true Loth. His Ghost is rise to give thy crimes their due Villain I live and with this sword will show In my revenge whether 't be true or no I all my wrongs upon thy heart will write Mel. No more of words but let us to 't and sight Boast not before we do the vict'ry try Perhaps it may prove your own lot to dy Loth. I could have made my self of that secure But that my Courage Treach'ry can't endure Mel. I 'l thank thy Courage and the debt will pay By taking thy unhappy life away Loth. Fall on then They fight Melynet gives back Ha! methinks you back do start As if my kindness touch'd you to the heart Mel. What it has done I soon will make thee find What think you now Sir are you paid in kind They fight still Enter Valasco Peregrine they draw and come between them Per. Hold this is no good exercise Loth. The best that can be Sir to us Per. How Lotharicus Loth. The same Sir Per. What wonder 's this and fighting with his so beloved friend my Lord Melynet Loth. The wonder is far greater that occasion'd it Val. My Lord Melynet I am glad we have prevented the hazard of your life to farther Revenge Mel. You have obstructed me in a Revenge Which I could curse you for for by preventing Of his Death I am undone aside Loth. We 'l not take our leaves one of another we shall have opportunity to meet in some other place Exeunt severally Scene 3. Enter King and Almeric King I have not seen Melynet to day I wonder much he is not come Alm. Doubtless it will not be long before he does attend your Majesty Enter Valasco King Have you not seen Melynet my Lord Val. Yes and it please your Majesty I came from him he is wounded King How by what means Val. My Lord Lotharicus is return'd in disguise and has set upon him as he was going to Marcelia King Thou dost mistake Lotharicus is dead I 'l assure you Val. And please your Majesty he has got such favor in the other world to come and live again for I am sure it is not half an hour since Peregrine and I parted them King Are you sure 't is he Val. As sure as my name is Valasco King What should the meaning of this be Go and cause him to be brought before me I 'l hear the motion of this bold attempt upon the life of Melynet my self Are his wounds dangerous Val. No Sir very slight they have both some little hurt King Sure Lotharicus's jealousie has caus'd this quarrel with Melynet because he knows I have a value for him and by that concludes that he has injur'd him to Marcelia Alm. And please your Majesty Love from so strong an argument may be excus'd to grow suspicious Exeunt Scene 7. Enter Marcelia meeting Euryalus Eur. I am come to tell thee strange news Marcelia Lotharicus is alive in the Town he has wounded Melynet and is a Prisoner for it by the Kings command and is to be brought before him to the Court the business is made very foul as if he had surpriz'd him cowardly Mar. What a compound of joy and sorrow have you given me Poor Lotharicus thou wilt
hopes Loth. You are too eminently deserving for to need such an impostor help but Melinet be confident I will speak the truth with all the earnestness a Friend can urge to promise more were to exceed my power Mel. If you could perswade her to the Gardens you would have greater opportunity and more of time Loth. I will and use all my interest Mel. Pray be secret in it Loth. You need not fear she has too many Pretenders that would becom concern'd Mel. I fear you not to any but Marcelia Loth. Well be confident she shall not know it Mel. Give me your hand and honor upon it Loth. There 't is an Oath I never broke yet and so farewell for I must go and see her your servant Mel. I would go too but I saw her but last night and she likes not my company she will needs have it that I am melancholy grown Exeunt Scene 3. Enter Graculus and a company of Beggar-boys Grac. Come Boys let me see you make your legs whilst I have it in my head how it may be done for I have bin at the Dancing-schole a purpose to learn my self that I might correct you upon knowledg Come my brave Boys the most mannerly shall have the best Livery The Boys put off their hats and make several ridiculous Congies Excellent well done I do not think ther 's a parcel of better bred Boys in Town considering their Qualities Let me see you run Boys They run Oh bravely done they are so nimble of heel they 'l quickly run out of a Foot-body into a Gentleman of the Chamber Boy Would you would let us go Sir to the Dancing-School that we might see the fashion of it I warrant you we would observe and have some of it away with us Grac. These Rogues would watch their time and be stealing take heed of that Boys at the end of that hangs a Halter Never go beyond the Rules of Cheating by that you will secure your Necks and it will put a value on your Wit it is a general quality and much approv'd He that has never made use of it has never bin truly in the Fashion Your Gentile Cheats they go to Gaming-houses your Complementing Cheats frequent Ladies Lodgings your Flattering Cheats follow Courts your Learned Cheats the Barr your Seditious Cheats the Pulpit And such Cheats as you and I may be and I thank Mercury I am Noble-mens-services or the places about Fools Prodigals or allow'd of Mad-men which is the same But you must be secret Boys keep your tongues idle and set your wits to work and in a short time we will be our Masters Equals in Fortune keep men our selves and be company for the best Enter Valasco and Perigrine Val. What 's that Fellow going to do with those Boys Per. I warrant he is some Parish Officer and is having them to some House of Correction Val. I 'le ask him Prethee Friend what dost thou intend to do with those Boys Grac. Perform one of the works of mercy on them cloath the naked put 'em into Liveries and let 'em out like Hackney-Coaches It will be no small conveniency to younger Brothers when they go a woing to make themselves Fortunes among some of the She slender-wits with full Purses who are so taken with a Feather Pages and Footmen that they had rather marry a man well attended without either brain or money then any one of more substance and less shew I hope you are no Courtiers Gentlemen Val. Why prethee Grac. For fear you should beg a Fine for my having the benefit of my brain for my Fortune or get my design prohibited but if you do ther 's thousands will curse you who according to their occasions would be glad I most heartily to know where to encrease or lessen their Retinue as their Purses would permit 'em which is most commonly a young huffing Gallants very uncertain friend Val. Do you hear this jearing Rascal Per. It was ever so your ordinary Fellows have no Breeding they 'l throw out their jests at any time let it light where it will though their Crowns be crack'd for it and though they be blunt Fellows their words many times have sharp edges Val. Well farewell Friend if we are no Courtiers one of us has bin a Souldier and they ought by their Profession to be as good at begging Grac. That 's true but they are not so successful they commonly act like themselves bluntly without consideration and are usually denied without much ceremony therefore if one of you is still a Souldier you might be heartily glad if the King could unanimate you and set you up in his Armory that when he had no Wars you might have no wants Per. Well God a-mercy Tell-troth Grac. Come Boys I 'le go case you first Exit per with Valasco Then have you to my Lord in Whimsey Scene 4. Enter Melynet and presently after a Page Page Sir here is a Letter my Lord Lotharicus sent when you were abroad Exeunt Breaks it open and reads Mel. My Lord I have perswaded your Fair Mistris to the Gardens this night where if you think fit you may take the opportunity of discovering your Passion if not I will according to my promise be your faithful Advocate and hope to place you in that esteem in her thoughts as may give you what is but Justice the Precedency of all the rest of your Rivals which is a service passionately courted by Your faithful servant Lotharicus And must be treacherously rewarded Base Fortune that offers me no other ways to come to Greatness but by the paths of Infamy But hold Honor forbear thy whispers in my Soul I 'm too far gone thou sound'st retreat too late And now for Virtues pay no more will wait I 'le not rewards in th' other world expect And present benefits for hope neglect It is Ambition's Dictates I pursue And following them I cannot stay with you Then toss my Soul no more in Tempests so Nor make my Conscience thus my Fortunes Foe Go and in Princes minds take up thy Seat I 'le not forget thee quite when once I 'm great Marcelia I am coming to throw such rage and jealousie into thy heart as shall like Lightning consume thy love for thy Lotharicus I 'le raise a Tempest that shall destroy him and give no warning by a Thunder-clap Exit Scene 5. Enter Marcelia and Desha Marc. Methinks this day has time much longer then usually they are strangely long to me at least it seems so How ha's done to thee Desha As others Madam I have no cause to make me judge this days motion slower then the rest Marc. No more have I. Desh It would not seem so tedious then in passing But Madam I much wonder My Lord Lotharicus has not bin here to day Marc. Very well apply'd but the hours took not their increase I will assure you from his absence not but that his company would have made 'em much more pleasant I confess
Desh And by consequence not so long Marc. I wish my Cousin Melynet were here and yet his conversation now is not very diverting The flowing of his Fortune has given his Mirth an Ebb. Enter a Page Page Madam here is my Lord Melynet Exit Page Desh Madam you see your wishes has their grant as soon as ask'd Enter Melynet Marc. Cousin your servant you were the last I was talking of and sure I am you are the first I see Mel. I dare not credit such a Complement two such Obligations are too eminently great at once for any but Lotharicus Marc. If you knew how unkind he has bin to day you would not judge so Mel. Alas I know Sighs Marc. What Mel. I know not what I was about to say my head 's so full of business one thought drives out another Marc. Sure whatsoe're they are they are but troublesome reflections they have chang'd your humor strangely But pray Cousin tell me What is it that so much destroys the quiet of your mind and makes you wear so sad a countenance You need no fear to trust me with a secret though I am a Woman My friendship cannot let me see you so much a stranger to your wonted temper without desire to bear a part of your misfortune Mel. I do so little doubt your kindness that I fear your love would make you take the greatest share and that almost certain knowledge makes me keep it from you But leave this discourse Has not Lotharicus bin here to day Marc. No Cousin he has not bin so kind Mel. Not here to day poor Cousin Sighs Marc. What 's the matter dear Melynet tell me You look surpriz'd is not Lotharicus well Mel. Very well Marc. Why did you sigh and look so sad Mel. Sure you mistook And if I did it was only pitying your condition I know the time must seem tedious when an expected Lover does not come And if you please to make it less appear we 'l take a walk into the Gardens Marc. I shall willingly accept that offer for some Air after so hot a day will not appear unpleasant Exeunt Scene 6. Enter Lotharicus and Arcasia in a Garden Loth. Are you still resolv'd then to make all your servants equally unhappy Madam Shall not he be bless'd to boast the glory of your favours Arcas I am so far my Lord from putting such a value on my weak Merits that I conceive he would be most unfortunate that I should chuse and therefore being so equally oblig'd to all for their esteem I will never be so injuriously unjust to any Loth. I am sorry I must prove so unfortunate a Suppliant for one whom I so much esteem and does so well deserve Arcas My Lord I should but ill demonstrate the friendship that I have still profess'd to pay you if my consent to your request should give you power to wrong your friend so far You see I am too sollicitous to keep up your interest in all hearts as well as mine e're to consent to be the cause that you should justly forfeit it Loth. I 'le stand the hazard Madam of all dangers in that kind my fears are far greater from my unsuccessful suit and therefore 't is in vain to think to complement me out of my request that Court-quality I am too well acquainted with to be deceiv'd in Madam Arcas I see my Lord our intentions want Interpreters as well as Languages they are so seldome undertood in their true meaning But since you will force me in my own vindication to make good what I 've said I think you do not love your friend or else you 'd not prefer him where you have given such convincing proofs you did not like for if you had you would have doubtless ask'd the service for your self as well as have bespoken it for another It takes I could laugh extremly aside to see how strangely I have surpriz'd him and how seriously he is studying complementally to word a Tragical Denial to my Comical Affection I perceive my Lord you little thought to have found a Courtship where you came to make one but persons of Merit are often subject to such accidents I have heard some swear they have had a hundred of them in their days nay some more then Arithmetick could number I hope your Conquest is not yet arriv'd to such a large accompt You see my Lord how different our intentions are I strive to gain you for my self and you to win my for another Loth. I know Madam the greatness of your heart too well to have the vanity to think you would throw away your favours on one whose wants in all things worthy such a blessing forbids his boldness to attempt to beg it Arcas My Lord pray spare that confidence in your friend behalf which for your self do so much decline And to recompence that Obligation I will no longer fright you with my pretended Passion I am your friend in substance your Lover but in Chimera But I thought it Justice to deprive his heatr of quiet that came to rob my Soul of Reason They walk up and down and talk softly he makes several bows and submissions to her Enter Melynet and Marcelia Marc. There 's Lotharicus Cousin Mel. Where Ha! Lotharicus and she with him Marc. Who is it Cousin do you know her Mel. No matter who she is or whether she were at all Marc. I am afraid and yet I know not what I fear I 'le go meet her and see who she is see if I know her Mel. Her name 's Arcasia go not for the world you are undone and if you do Marc. Why what secret does your Soul contain by which you judge I must be so unfortunate I must and will go Mel. Pray stay your Passion will betray too much Love and make that prove his scorn which once created all his happiness Come let us be gone Marc. Cousin you are unkind to put my till-now setled joys upon the rack of so much fear I cannot stir I here shall fix like a cold Marble Statue See how he does his Adorations pay Thus poor Marcelia he did thee betray Methinks his Soul should shake to let Heaven see his Perjury But Cousin could you as I am sure you did know he was false and keep me ignorant of his being so Mel. I must confess I did and found it too weighty for my friendship to support and thought your Love would prove less able Marc. He then is false unhappy knowledge that comes so much too late and yet so too too soon Mel. If your Courage equal but your other Excellencies and that you will command your Passion to obey your Reason I will secure you a Revenge shall equal his High Perjury And make him burst with rage or else return And in the Hell of his past falshood burn But you must never let him know that you do think him chang'd for then all that you act he will suppose the violence of your
admittance Exeunt all but the King King Were Friendship half so diligent as Love's impationt Melynet had e're this crown'd my desires with some assurance of success or left me to the force of my Dispair for hopes and fears are the Gonvulsions of the mind Fantastick Fortune that madest me both at once a King and Captive fettering my heart when thou didst Crown my head By Acts like these 't is Love does make us know He in his Slaves does no distinction show When by a Sov'raigns right I Millions sway That makes me most a Womans Power obey I that my Neighb'ring Kingdoms keep in fear Can nothing bring to daunt this passion here Points to his heart It braves my Courage and my Honour too Oh Conquering Love what is 't thou canst not do Thou tumblest mighty Empires to the ground Nothing beyond thy Circulation's found Enter Melynet Mel. Welcome my dearest Friend beyond all wishes but Marcelia's Love I dare not ask thee yet I fain would know What I shall hear too soon or else too slow Mel. Sure Sir my Looks does not a Sentence wear To give your wishes reason to dispair My Face would ill interpret then the joy I have and bring you if it hopes destroy King Does my fair Mistris then my Love allow Tell me Melynet tell me quickly how I am impatient thou did'st never know What Passion was thy answer comes so slow Will she for me her lov'd Lotharicus quit Mel. Love is a Child she 'l rule it with her wit I find Sir nothing so powerful in her heart to give your Majesties hopes discouragement Something has lately hap'ned by which Lotharicus has lost some ground in her affection and that which makes me almost confident Sir of your success is she seems much more to doubt the truth I tell her of your Love then disapprove it and where that is strongly urg'd the Present never is unwelcome King 'T is true but their desires of taking in of heart proceeds not always from their Inclinations it is the general humor of that Sex to glory in the number of their Sacrifices yet hardly will allow in their whole lives to pay the interest of one Offering back Mel. Were they as cautious in their gifts of Love as you conclude them Sir their Sex had ne're bin tax'd of so much Levity King My fears are only now she will not change and if she does I then shall fear as much she 'll change again How can he happy be whose unkind Fate Gives in his grearest joy a doubting State Mel. Never give way Sir to thoughts so injurious to your quiet her Reason will soon shake off her Feverish Reliques of Affection to Lotharicus they will perhaps some little time make a weak opposition but the Antidote I have given her of your Majesties inclinations will infallibly expel that poyson King I 'l go and visit her presently Melynet that from my own experimented hopes as well as thine I may secure my heart Mel. Sir if I may without offense perswade your Maesty defer it till the solemnity of your Birth-day's past I then will bring her to the Court and there the particular honor that your Majesty may do her by a publick Address giving by that the Lawrel to her beauty from the other fair ones will infinitely conduce unto the conquest There is no surer way than baiting of their pride to catch their hearts King I will expect that seeming Age of time How I shall pass it none but those can tell That heav'n has seen and yet must stay in hell Exeunt The End of the Second Act. Act III. Scene I. Enter Lucidore Luc. I must go look my longing Lords and whet up their desires of seeing my Mistress with a day or two's expectation longer the sight will come too cheap else and lessen their obligations if I afford it at their first request Enter Valasco Almeric Peregrine Val. Oh my Lord you are well met we were coming to you for performance of your promise we could hold out no longer you have raised our hopes to such a height of expectation Alm. I' faith the fancy of her beauty does so hant our imaginations we cannot sleep nor eat quietly for conceiting of her what I dare swear shall never prove Luc. Well conceit her what you please you are not like to see her this two long days and so farewel Per. Nay we 'l go with thee and hant thy ghost till thou let'st us see the desired apparition Exeunt Scene 2. Enter Lotharicus at one door and Melinet at another Loth. I do not think but we were both of us upon one design going in pursuit of one another Mel. You have reason to believe my Lord I carry a passion in my heart sufficiently impatient till I know my doom which you ere this had found the effect of but that Marcelia has kept me some hours her Prisoner to make me promise to carry her to Court Loth. I then perceive I am discarded from that service and were you any but the person that you are I should grow jealous of you Mel. To divert you from that humor pray satisfie my wishes how do you find Arcasia's inclinations I durst not come my self and stand the Sentence Loth. I cannot give you hopes as you deserve her resolution seems at present to be fix'd still to be Mistress of her own freedom She says the service of no man living shall prevail to buy her out I hope time may change her humor Womens first resolutions seldome stand good in Law against their second thoughts This for your satisfaction you have no Rival that 's more fortunate Mel. If I must not possess her heart I 'le pleasure take at least to think no other does And hope while 't is to an Election free Fortune at last may kindly give it me Exeunt Scene 3. Enter Marcelia Marc. How shall I force my self to shew disdain Since still in spight of me he here will raign Love will not quit this place to rage or scorn Points to her heart But keeps his Int'rest as the Eldest born Reason and Honor whither are ye gone That I this Childish Passion find so strong Will you be slaves to Love resign the Field So many Odds and yet so poorly yield But 't is not much our weak Sex should submit Since Man's couragious Soul can't Master it Enter Page Page My Lord Lotharicus is come Madam Exit Page Marc. Well Enter Lotharicus at a distance He comes Grief now retire act here thy Tragick part Points to her heart But do not make my eyes betray my heart Loth. I 'm come Marcelia Goes to imbrace her Marc. Whither pray so fast Puts him back They often fall that make too much of hast Loth. Has my forc'd absence made you angry grow Marc. You do mistake your coming makes me so Loth. Ha! what 's this I hear I know it cannot be Thou art not chang'd thus to thy self nor me This coldness comes not
Potions to expel the gross humors of our inclinations not one Cordial allow'd of live or die sink or swim not one satisfaction to be had till the Voyage is ended I am not old enough yet to think of Fasting and Prayer when I have some years over my head I shall begin to do as other Grave ones have done before me leave those Vices that will no longer keep me company and think of Heaven out of necessity Per. Nay I dare swear thou wilt not endeavour to go thither till thou art a Criple both by diseases and time if Death will let thee live so long Luc. I believe thou would'st be as glad as I that thy life was Copy-hold-Land that as one were out thou mightest renew another I hate such Fools us cannot be content With pleasures which that World to this hath lent Exeunt Omnes The End of the third Act. Act IV. Scene I. The Scene chang'd to Lyons Enter Lotharicus passing one way and Euryalus another Eury. Ha! my dearest Friend Lotharicus what unexpected accident of Fortune has given me this happiness at Lyons Loth. Her most malicious one to me Eury. How Does our meeting after so long an absence prove so unwelcome Time has a changing power over all things then I see Loth. Do not injure so much that friendship I have preserv'd so faithfully and will continue to my Grave that little time my griefs will let me live Eury. I fear Marcelia's dead and dare not ask The sadness of thy look confirms it to me Loth. She is indeed and I that Death no longer can out-live Eury. Poor Sister Poor Marcelia Loth. You need not grieve my Lord she 's only dead to me Eury. Can you believe I can be so insensible of loosing in a Sister what you so much lament the loss of in a Mistris If she had perfections that rendred her worthy of your sorrow they have as just a claim to mine Loth. Oh dear Euryalus it is not the death she ows to Nature makes me sad it is her death to me and all the Vows she made me Eury. How do you tell me she 's unworthy grown so lost to Virtue Lotharicus do not strain friendship up so high by charging of my Blood with Crimes Loth. I give them not that name but I with joy would empty all my veins and let life out so that my knowledge gave my words the Lye Eury. Grown false without a Cause Loth. I say not so I will not make her Accusation more guilty then it is Eury. I understand not this mysterious Language if you have basely given her reason for to change condemn not the effect of your own Act but draw and justifie your injuring me in her Loth. She has a cause from her Ambition but my Love was never yet so Criminal to give her any You are like to have the King your Brother that will render you I suppose contented though it make your friend still miserable Eury. How the King Loth. Yes I give not this account for fear of fighting you know I dare and can defend my life though now death would become so welcome I should unwillingly resist it Eury. Ne're think a Crown can come in competition with my friendship I love my Sov'reign as a Loyal Subject will give my Life and Fortunes to preserve his Rights and him This is my duties Obligation But I had rather give Marcelia to thy Arms then see her plac'd upon his Throne nor shall she sit there and triumph over thy injur'd joys Loth. I cannot wish my generous friend that you should make your sense of my unhappiness an injury to your Fortunes Eury. I 'le sink 'em all but I 'le restore thee to thy lost contentment I 'le teach her ignorant Soul that Acts of Honor is the Noblest greatness I had rather have her live in Fame for Virtue when she 's dead then in a Title Loth. Pray force not her inclinations I had rather still be miserable then make her so from your Power Gifts of constraint though in themselves the highest blessing are burthensome Her person without her heart can be no happiness and both I know you cannot give me the possession of Eury. No more my friend How long do you intend to stay in these parts Loth. But till to morrow My thoughts are restless and I follow them Eury. How far do you intend to travel Loth. Till I arrive at my wish'd journeys end Eury. What place is that Loth. 'T is Death 't is Death my Friend till then I 'le rove about the World and give my self no constant habitation Exeunt The Scene changes Scene 2. Enter Marcelia and Desha Marc. My Brother is come to Lyons I hear I will go write him word how false Lotharicus is proved Go send the Page where I bid you Desha Yes Madam Exit Desha Marc. What strange effects of Fortune do I prove How variously she in my life doth move A Prince so brave and in his Power so great Forc'd to beg favors humbly at my feet She never for thy glory more could do Then she in that Marcelia did for you Pride could not raise nor swell my hopes more high Then she has given me Power to satisfie Nor can she bring my heart to more distress Then she has done in all my happiness Then bribes me with a Crown to be content And makes Ambition prove Loves Monument But love if true did never Power know That greater then it self could ever grow But that of Heaven when it within the Soul Does monstrous prove and Virtue would controul No no I still must love whilst I have breath Nothing can give my passion date but death But that Lotharicus mayn't pleasure take To think that his doth sleep and mine doth wake I 'le force my courage give me to thee King Though I shall be a heartless offering And on a Throne in secret mourn that Fare Destroy'd his Love and rais'd me to such State As Princes ought I then will act my part Not make my face prospective to my heart Nor give the Kings contentment cause to doubt When his confin'd my Love does wander out My griefs and passions all shall inward burn The brave their bodies makes their troubles Urn. Exit Scene changes to a Garden Scene 3. Enter Perilla and Arcasia Arcas This fine Evening methinks should fill the Garden full of company Enter Moriphanus Graculus and Boys Ha! what have we here A Knight of the Sun upon my life Per. You are mistaken he goes for an Outlandish Lord. Arc. Prethee what 's his name Per. Moriphanus Arc. Oh I know him now at least in Character he seeks to be your Servant Per. You are much deceiv'd it is to be my Master The first time of his Visit he speaks all Matrimony and left the discourse of Love for the second Interview Marriage is the Captain I will assure you of his discourse and Love the Lievtenant Arc. Nay 't is well if affection has any
away Lotharicus draws to defend himself Loth. I would willingly die but not by the hands of Villains He fights bravely kills one of the Villains they wound him in many places and he falls 3 Vill. He 's gone to Heaven or Hell and has took one of us with him for his Attendance Du-Pr. Are you sure he 's dead 3. Vill. I sure enough unless he has more lives then one Du-Pr. For fear he should not I 'le give him my last blessing 1 Vill. Hold he 's dead I 'le warrant Pulls out a Pistol you and the noise of that going off will bring in company and betray us If you are not satisfied we 'll open two or three Casements more to let his Soul pass out by but 't is unnecessary Hark I hear a noise let 's fly we shall be taken They go back to wound him again and hear a noise 3 Vill. What shall we do with our dead companion 1 Vill. Leave him he is not known here Exeunt omnes Enter Meraspas and Philampras and two other men with Torches Phil. Pray let us make all the hast we can I have bin all this Evening to find you or your Lord out Meras Had not your business bin of such high importance to my Lord as you say I would have borrow'd an hours time longer to have drank with my friends here 1 Man Another time will do as well we will go with you as far as the house and there take our leaves to morrow we 'll meet again Meras I wonder what it is a clock Phil. Between eleven and twelve 2 Man What 's that lies yonder 1 Man steps forth 1 Man Ha! a Gentleman kill'd Meras Heaven bless my Lord. Goes to him and looks O it is my Lord It is my Lord that 's murthered Oh cursed Villains that have done this and cursed I that was not with him to have hope to defend his life or lost my own in endeavouring of it What shall I do 2 Man There is no remedy now poor Gentleman Meras Pray help me take up his Body and carry it home Exeunt with Body of Lotharicus Scene changes to a Garden Scene 5. Enter Calinda and Ericina Eric Are you resolv'd still to give up your self to so much sadness Is it so great a wonder to find men false that you no better are prepar'd from reasonable expectation to meet this change and common trouble Cal. It is true Ericina our afflictions do usually receive abatement from not being single Sufferers but love admits not of allays like other ills nor is that humor in my mind so generally to be boasted of Besides Love when it first takes Possession of our hearts deprives us of our Reason and that 's the chief resisting strength by which we opposition make against all other accidents of Fortunes malice Eric I cannot think a Passion by Gods and Men so Deified can carry in it so much destructive danger for if it robs our Souls of Reason it makes us like to Beasts And certainly Heaven ne're design'd that Metamorphosis from whence we have receiv'd the highest proof of that All-conquering Passion Besides some with their Reason make their Choice and what it does approve it may subsist with or banish it if it too far intrude That Reason is very weak and sluggish that suffers and Passion to grow so strong as to supplant it Cal. I do not wish thee so much ill as 't is unhappily to Love or else I should be glad to see how you would rule your inclinations which I confess you mannage well in supposition Would mine were governed by fancy too I Player-like could raign as well as you We can unmov'd hear others sufferings tell Which if our own we should not bear it well Eric You can no trouble have but what is mine My love does make my share as great as thine Unkind Calinda what is 't you intend To punish your false Lover in your Friend Can his inconstancy make you despise That friendship which you once so much did prize If you so great injustice will allow Ne're censure him he did not break his Vow And who the self-same Errors will commit In prudence ought in others pardon it Cal. You of injustice talk whilst only I Find from you both so much you fain would die Friendship and Love to me are cruel grown I wish to Heav'n that I had neither known Were yours true you would not mine suspect Our doubt grows strongest from our own defect You on my Love a blemish fain would throw That in your change you might less guilty show Those that are wise do setting Suns forsake And with the rising ones their friendships make You know who 't is has set his heart on fire Improve your int'rest e're the flame expire Love that plays Truant once without a cause Will still an Out-law be to Honor's Laws And days whose mornings do appear most bright Are often over-cast before 't is night If she his seeming passion entertain His half-made vows will cost his eyes some rain Eric She cannot greater show'rs for Love let fall Then I shall do for friendships Funeral Calinda by my death you soon will know Whither to that I have bin true or no Then I am sure that you will grow more just And shed some tears for your unkind mistrust Cal. If that can cure thy griefs my doubts have bred I 'le make my eyes another Deluge shed Dear Ericina can y' a pardon give To an offence makes me unfit to live Eric I can forgive much more then you can do Love in that kind ne're yet a limit knew Cal. I grieve to think I should a debt contract Of which I cannot pay the Int'rest back Eric And I am sad to see your heart possest Still with that Love which gives your thoughts no rest Cal. Thy charming voice would make them calmer grow Eric I 'd sing and ne're give off if I thought so Cal. Sing then that Song my humor suits and mind I 'le sit down here if thou wilt be so kind She sits down and leans melancholly upon her arm SONG Eric 1. Oh you powerful Gods if I must be An injur'd Off'ring to Love's Deity Grant my revenge this Plague on men That Women ne're may love agen Then I 'le with joy submit unto my Fate Which by your Justice gives their Empire date 2 Depose that proud insulting Boy Who most is pleas'd when he can most destroy O! let the World no longer govern'd be By such a Blind and Childish Deity For if you Gods be in your Power severe We shall adore you not from love but fear 3 But if you 'l his Divinity maintain O're men false men confine his â—oâ—â—'ring raign And when their Hearts Love's greatest torments prove Let that not pity but our laughter move Thus scorn'd and lost to all their wishes aim Let Rage Despair and Death then end their flame 'T is very late my dear Calinda and we had best be gone Cal. It
justly mourn his death Mel. No doubt Sir he does deserve it and did not your Majesties concern ballance my sorrow the loss of such a friend would cause much greater trouble in my Soul But all things Sir does and shall still give place unto my duty King I doubt thee not in any thing my Melynet But does Marcelia know yet of Lotharicus death Mel. No Sir but intend she shall King Prethee do for I shall long to know how she does take it 'T is natural in Lovers to be curious in the search of that which gives them the highest troubles and when there is a real wanting cause our jealousies do commonly create us some suppositions and mine does strongly work in doubts for all her seeming kindnesses and promises they 're all but empty nothings to that passion her heart once had and I fear still conceals for dead Lotharicus Mel. I cannot think it Sir but I will soon inform my self and give your Majesty satisfaction Exeunt Scene 4. Enter Peregrine Perilla and Arcasia in a Garden A Table set out with several Meats and Wine with Attendance Pereg. I could wish I had given my Lord Lucidore an invitation Peril I wish you had for he is most excellent company Per. And much your servant I am sure Madam he is one of your secret Lovers that has not yet made discovery of his flame but it will not be long before the fire break out I am confident Arc. I do not think he is constant enough to think and say all at one time he loves Peril Indeed he does not seem to be of a humor that his heart should be in any danger of ever being made a womans prisoner Per. Would he were here to answer for himself I could find of my heart to send one of my Boys to find him out Arc. You 'l put him upon 24 hours search then When he goes out in a morning by report he is commonly lost all that day to any Enquirers But perhaps his usual curiosity of seeing the Beauties may bring him hither anone Peril Why does he take such pains to be rid of his liberty to come here to seek for a Conqueror Pereg. No Madam it was his Opinion of his own invincible strength made him so bold to attempt the danger He us'd to swear as long as Cupid was a Child he fear'd him not he had not so poor a spirit to be worsted by a Boy If he liv'd so long till he came to be a man which he had bin these two thousand years a coming to and not one jot the forwarder yet he would then stand upon his guard against him Enter Musick Mus My Lord Lucidore sent us hither to give your Lordship a new Lesson Per. I thank him I wish his Lordship had come himself too They all laugh The Musick espying the Boys coming at the other end of the Stage with a dish begin to play Boy 'T is very hot it burns my fingers and 't is very heavy too we 'll set it down and dance a little risk They dance Enter a Mercury with a great Chasiâ—-dish of Coals reaches up the dish sets it thereon Mercury Why what have you done Boys the dish is quite cold you forget you carry'd your Lords Love which is a Native of Freezland Boy Why can it be cold already Merc. Cold already I hot and cold and cold and hot a hundred times over to a hundred several Ladies Takes up the Coals and blows under it Boy Pray stay a little and we 'll go fetch some Bellows and make it boil Merc. Be quick Exeunt Boys Enter presently again with two more Boys each with Bellows They dance with Mercury in the middle with the dish and fire in his hand every one by turns blowing under the Dish The dance ended Exeunt Boys Mercury comes up with the dish to the Table Merc. My Lord Lucidore presents this to you Madam Exit Perilla opens the dish there is the form of a Hart made with wings in it a Copy of Verses directed to the Incomparable Widow They all laugh extremely Pereg. What is in it Madam Peril Nothing but a copy of Verses Arc. But I am much taken with the Case they came in I have a great conceit all mens hearts are thus provided they are so soon here and there and every where Pereg. All mens are not Madam some are fix'd Arc. That is then where the Ladies get to them by some more then common device and clip their wings But Perilla the Verses we will participate as far forth as the hearing the Courtship Perilla reads the Verses Perilla Widdow Faith I will tell thee true My heart's inflam'd and 't is by you But my passion will decay If you make too long delay Flames that with most vigor burn Soonest into ashes turn Then resolve and quickly too Shall I stay or bid adieu Foolish Lovers that do place All their pleasures in one face Let them for favors long expect I soon will have or soon neglect This is not common Courtships way But since I lov'd you 't is a day And if you cannot pay the score Y' are poor and I will trust no more I 've ways my Fortunes to undo Without the help of lending you I can both drink and game and swear Does this not tempt you 〈◊〉 tell me fair Yet I 'l a kinder Husband be Than those that sin more secretly But if you proudly now deny To love me Faith I will not dy Enter Lucidore with Three Trumpeters Almeric standing at a distance as not to be seen Luc. Sound a Charge Trumpeters sound Perilla Why you make Love in open court my Lord. Luc. I do so Madam to prevent the scandal of the world which would go near else to say I stole your consent if you and I should marry Perilla But why did you make your Trumpeters sound a Charge Luc. It is the assault of my Love against your Liberty unless you will come presently to party and give me some hopes of an honorable peace betwixt us nay I have began my war in perfect form I have sent two or three Heralds to proclaim it in the Market-place Perilla Yet for all that you have not done like a fair Enemy to surprize me without any knowledge of such an intention Luc. All stratagems are allow'd of Madam Could you expect I would give you notice to fortific your self against my siege Faith I 'ad bin an ignorant Souldier then indeed Arc. No my Lord she could not in justice for if you had she would have so strengthen'd her self with an Army of Reasons of her own and from her Friends that her heart would have prov'd another Candy impregnable Per. And quite tire out the Turkish Emperors Constancy Luc. But I hope my fair Widow will not be so cruel to wrack my expectations so long for if she should I have no more to confess than I will confess now that is that I love her infinitely passionately unexpressibly as
will be more divertisement to the King and Ladies then the Masque Val. But he has brought a whole Regiment of Footmen with him Luc. Keep them out but let him in prethee Enter Moriphanus and Graculus Lucidore goes to the King Luc. And please your Majesty here 's a suppos'd Lord will make you laugh He takes himself I believe for an Ambassador he comes from Yellow-land a Country adjacent to Green-land I am confident by his dress King I confess if his in-side be like his King smiles out he will not be wanting to us for sport I think you must attaque him Lucidore Moriphanus looks much upon himself and walks up towards Lucidore Luc. I see he 'll begin with me first and please your Majesty Mor. I hear there is to be dancing here to night so I was resolv'd to come and make one with the rest of my fellow Noble-men Luc. You wrong your self my Lord if you think here 's any one fit to be your fellow you are not to be match'd in ne're a Court in Christendome Mor. No Sir I came not with that intention my heart is dispos'd of and therefore you 'l loose your labour loose your labour in troth to speak in the behalf of any of these Ladies if they were in love to death with me for all that I can do for them after I have said Dye they must and dead they were is God have mercy of their Souls Luc. 'T is a hard case for you all Ladies you hear the doleful answer before you ask the question To Graculus Pray what 's your inexorable Lords name Grac. He 's of an antient Family I assure you Sir he 's ally'd to above three parts of the world his name Mor-if-an-ass which is by interpretation turning it backward If an Ass there 's more Luc. I am inform'd of your Pedigree my Lord by your man I am acquainted with abundance of your house I thank ' em they have made me very merry Mor. I believe your Lordship they 'l let none be sad of their acquaintance every one that comes into their companies or mine we look upon as one of us Enter Melynet and Marcelia at one door and Lotharicus at another privately The King looks earnestly on Marcelia King Melynet you are a happy man and will be no less envy'd whose interest could bring so great a wonder to the Court to night so daz'ling a Sun at mid-night Mel. She will be much more envy'd Sir and if she shine fo in your Sphear King Bring here that conquering Beauty Marc. I know the distance of a Subject Sir too well proudly to take what I have so little Title to by Birth or Nature King By one 't is lefs then you deserve and you already have gain'd that interest here Points to his heart you easily may make the other undisputed too Marc. Victories so much above belief excuse those that your Majesty gives them to for your divertisement from a Reply King But you have no cause Madam to plead that reason for your silence you know your power too well but you decline to own it from other Motives which in your answer possibly would speak you cruel Marc. I know none Sir shall ever keep me from the due sense of what your Majesty is and what I am and if I both remember well I hope my actions never shall offend my duty King But if time Marcelia gives me no more of happiness then that I shall be at as great a loss as now Love does require to be answer'd with something of the same Species of its own Marc. Who wants the one Sir in that measure as their condition and their obligations ought to have it never pays the other well The King talks to her softly she smiles and seems satisfied with what he says King Come fair Marcelia I wish it may prove worthy the honor of thy view The King leads her off all the rest of the Lords and Ladies follow Moriphanus catches one of the Ladies and says Mor. By your leave my Lady I am resolv'd to lay hold of you for my share She laughs He leads her out under the arm Lotharicus stays behind and grows into a rage at the Kings Courting Marcelia Loth. Hell and its Furies Oh I must be gone My Rage will for my Reason prove too strong Woman what art thou but mans tempting shame That did'st at first his soul with weakness stain And still that power keep and still betray Oh that some Plague had took you all away False Sex that neither truth nor love does know But what ambitious pride can overthrow Thou Storm of Jealousie thy sury lay Or else my duty will be cast away Oh Love how you those raging Billows rowl Which whirl-winds of dispair raise in my soul Hold hold Revenge if thou the Vict'ry gain I shall my Honor with some Murther stain It is my King that does my Rival grow That Name is Sacred Reason keep it so Cruel Marcelia since thou false would'st prove Why did you place so high your change in Love Had any other rob'd me of my rest My Sword should search my quiet in his brest Hence hence false woman thou' rt unworthy grown Still in this injur'd heart to keep thy Throne In vain Lotharicus thou hop'st relief Till death does give it by the force of grief Exit Scene 7. Enter Masquers c. The Masque ended King You are sad Marcelia you take no pleasure in these divertisements Marc. I must confess Sir my humor was ever dull unfit for mirth King If you continue it I shall become so too by Sympathy Exeunt Omnes The King leading out Marcelia Scene 8. Enter Lotharicus Loth. My heart affords my soul no rest But I will leave the Kingdom go and try Whether my Love will with her absence dye That is a cure in Infant Passions known But thine Lotharicus too strong is grown She in thy Soul her Empire will possess Not all thy Power can make her Power less Enter Melynet Mel. My Lord I 'm come as much oppress'd with trouble from my Friendship as I am sure you must be from your Love to see your self so wrong'd by an unconstant Woman Loth. Her injuries to me will prove advantages to you therefore you have no reason to share my grief no more then I can take contentment in those joys her change may bring you in the increasing favors of the King Mel. My Soul is not so mean to wish to build my rising Honor on my Friends misfortunes No Lotharicus whatsoe're you think my heart is generous enough to be content that they should ebb to nothing if that could bring Marcelia back to what she ought to be and make you happy Loth. No more dear Melynet you are too brave and I too base to doubt thee But I have receiv'd such wrongs from Love as something may excuse my questioning of Friendship Mel. It may and justly does you 're wrong'd indeed we both are injur'd for she