Here 's one at hand will have small pity on you Vran. Oh my Lord pity me pity a distressed Maid She kneels Pyrrh Vrania pity your self and pity a Prince that loves you Come do not cast away thy self You 're young And if you please have many years to live And pleasant ones Be wise ere 't be too late Uran. My Lord what shall I do Pyrrh Why love the King Say but the word and hee 'l presently be here Vran. And must I loose my Innocence Pyrrh Come come Urania live The King will streight be with you I 'le turn the Lock and keep you sure till then Ex. Pyrrh and locks the door Vran. sol Unhappy Maid wretched Vrania Thou art undone for evermore undone Lost to the World or Innocence Thy choice Is either to be wicked or to die To loose thy Virginpurity or life Ay me unblest What black what fatal Star Shone sad misfortune at thy birth How happy How blest hadst thou been still hadst thou still dwelt ' Mongst those who wear poor cloaths and honour Vertue Whose chaster Loves made Love a Deity What will thy Mother say when she shall hear Vrania is not Innocent And what Will thy brave Love think who ne'er approacht thee But with a flame as pure as that which burns On holy Vesta's Altars No no die Die die unfortunate but chaste Urania Never be thrifty of that blood which must But serve to blush that it preserv'd it self Endymion from behind an Arbor Endym. 'T is not safe to tarry longer Poor Soul her love To me may prove her ruine Now I see She loves me and I must improve my time He appears My dear Vrania Why these Tears Uran. Is this Endymions Ghost Endym. No 't is his Body Madam He imbraceth her Vran. Then ne'er more welcome Dear my Lord Urania is undone Endym. Not so because Endymion lives Know Urania's ruine never can be writ But in Endymions blood Uran. Undone beyond Endymions help because to help her is To be a Traytor now Endym. If to assist My Queen be to rebell then let me wear The glorious Name of Traytor Vran. Ah! my Lord You know not what I mean Endym. Yes yes my Dear Yond Arbor was my covert whilst I heard Pyrrhus assault thy Noble Innocence Uran. And can you help me now my Lord Endym. I can And I will shew you how I can But know Know my Urania I have lov'd thee long And lov'd thee with a holy flame My Hopes And all my Longings have as vertuous been As those of pious Votaries who court Strait-lac'd Religion All my sighs and tears Have been as pure as are those Gales and Springs That in Elysium do refresh the Blest And yet thou hast not pitied him that loves thee Even though thy very Nature be as gentle As Morning dew just melting into Ayr. And shall I languish thus and die Must Love His Martyrs have as well as other Gods Sure no Vrania he hath no Rewards Beyond this Life How can he gratifie His Martyrs then The cold Inhabitants Of Graves do not desire but dwell alone And never Think like aged Priests and Nuns Help then thy dying Lover and he 'll change His Love to adoration since thou wantst Nothing but pity to become Divine Uran. What shall I serve you in my Lord Endym. Permit Me to enjoy the Title of thy Servant And pay my fire with equal flames again Uran. My Lord I were ungrateful if I should not Endym. Then be not so But to be short I doubt The Kings approach and therefore if thou 'lt promise This night to sleep within mine Arms being first Authoriz'd so to do by Hymen's Priest I 'le free thee from the Kings illicite Love Vran. My Lord I will But satisfie me how Endym. You must appoint the King to meet you here In yonder Grotto and oblige him to The language and the time of Love soft whispers And the Night and I 'll prepare Some other Body to supply your place Vran. Ah! Who will be so wicked as to do 't Endym. Enough Vran. Sure 't is impossible it cannot be What Woman would consent to such an Act Endym. Ten thousand Madam Vran. Would they They let them not I 'll rather chuse a thousand times to die Then own a wretched life sav'd at the Rate Of so much Wickedness Endym. Come be content Chaste Soul the Queen her self shall be the Person I 'll tell her all thy story and I doubt not But she 'll preserve thy Innocence and love it Uran. Thrive brave Endymion thrive in all thy Loves That hast for Love redeem'd and redeem'd too Without a Sacrifice a wretched Maid Nought but whose Blood could have preserv'd her White Endym. My Dear I must retire I fear the King Thou hast a Part to act and so have I. Be happy fair Urania I am blest That my imployment is to do thee service Ex. Endym. as at a private door Uran. sol Poor poor Endymion in what little point Will all the Vertue and Religion end Of thy contrivances How doth thy Fate In the contempt of all that 's brave and worthy Play with thy Noble Actions and endeavour In pride to make Vertue ridiculous Poor poor Endymion How could I now weep If tears were able but to wash away The blackness of thy Fate Now thou hast thought And thought by paths white as the milky-way To lead me from the Labyrinth of my Woes The next thing I must think must be to cheat All thy innocent expectations which Are every of them Honours to my self And condescentions in thy Noble Soul Whilst thou in melting language tell'st my tale And giv'st me so much value by thy words That she who is a Queen shall condescend And love that condescention too to pity The Daughter of an humble Villager And to become her self her Substitute Whilst thou dost this and for no recompence But to bestow on me what were more fit For Temples far a pure unspotted Love I must endeavour at that very time To frustrate all thy hopes and only give My fained promise to the King on this Condition That Endymion must be sent So far from Court that he do not return Until to morrow Sun see us again And my engagement to him be made void And to effect my purpose the more surely I must endeavour to perswade the King That he hath often courted me and hath So wary eyes upon me that I doubt I shall not be secure but by his absence And thus I must reward the brave Endymion But I will recompence thee with my tears And since I cannot sat is fie thy flame I 'll weep it out Poor poor Endymion She weeps How must I cry to see thee like a Ball Toss'd vainly up and down even by those two Blinde Gamesters Love and Fortune Enter Pyrrhus Pyrrh And why with showres allay you thus you beams Uran. You are the Messenger of Sorrow Sir Pyrrh In bringing the sad news a Prince attends Your
so too But let Cleantha's pleasure be to see Vertue affronting the Fools Deity Direct me my good Starrs and let me do Honour to him who so much honours you And if I needs so hard a Fate must prove As fall at last a Sacrifice to Love 'T will be my Glory when it shall be said Cleantha for the brave Endymion dy'd Exit Cleantha Finis Act. 2. ACTUS 3. Enter King He takes a turn or two and then to him Pyrrhus King GOod morrow to you my Lord. Pyrrh A good day to your Majesty A day as pleasant as your night hath been King Ah! I wish it indeed Pyrrh I hope your Majesty hath been well enough diverted this night King Yes my Lord though not as you suppose I 've been diverted from those wild desires That made me first unking my self and then Unlord my Confident But I 've ask'd pardon Of Heaven and my own Majesty and now I beg it too from thee my loyall Pyrrhus Forgive me that I have profan'd thy Faith By such Commands that thou art bound to ask Blest Heaven forgivenesse for thy Loyalty Pyrrh Your Majesty I hope will give me leave To wonder at this change and understand it When you shall please to think me fit to do so King Pyrrhus I 'le tell thee all VVhen now the night Grew black enough to hide a skulking action And Heaven had never an eye unshut to fee Her Representative on earth creep ' mongst Those poor defensless worms whom Nature ' th left An humble prey to every thing and no Asylum but the Dark I softly stole To yonder Grotto through the upper walks And there found my Urania But I found her I found her Pyrrhus not a Mistress but A Goddess rather which made me now to be No more her Lover but Idolater She onely whispered to me as she promis'd Yet never heard I any voice so loud And though her words were gentler far then those That holy Priests do speak to dying Saints Yet never Thunder signified so much And what did more impress what e'er she said Methought her whispers were my injur'd Queens Her manner just like hers And when she urg'd Among a thousand things the injury I did the faithfull'st Princess in the world Who now suppos'd me sick and was perchance Upon her knees offering up holy vowes For him who mockt both heaven and her and was Now breaking of that vow he made her when With sacrifice he call'd the Gods to witness When she urg'd this and wept and spake so like My poor deluded Queen Pyrrhus I trembl'd Almost perswaded that it was her Angel Spake through Urania's lips who for her sake Took care of me as something she much lov'd It would be long to tell thee all she said How oft she figh'd how bitterly she wept But the effect Urania still is chast And with her chaster lips hath promis'd to Invoke blest Heaven for my intended sin Pyrrh A happy night Indeed I ne'r took pleasure T o've serv'd your Majesty in this employment Untill this instant King But how dost think my Pyrrhus I shall reward Urania for this action Pyrrh Ten thousand wayes King No no I am unhappy I must undo the fair the chast Vrania Pyrrh And me with wonder too King Thou know'st she told me Endymion was her servant an high Fortune For one so mean and a rare one too VVho can love Vertue where he sees her poor And I shall be constrained to banish him To some remoter Isle unlesse he 'll be VVhich I much doubt content to marry her VVithin few dayes Pyr. This is all news King It is But Pyrrhus thou art worthy of my secrets And therefore know I 've lately learnt Cleantha Loves nothing but Endymion Though she have Thou know'n a Prince that courts her high in Birth And Fortune too one worthy our alliance Yet she slights all addresses and last night I was inform'd ' was onely for the sake Of this mean Lord which should the Prince but know He sure would scorn her for his Rivals sake The certainty I hope to know this day From our good Priest whom I 've employ'd to sound her And learn her resolutions whence I shall Discern Endymions fate Pyr. An 't please your Majesty But doth Endymion know Cleantha loves him King I 'm told he doth not All that can be gather'd Is but from some few words she was by chance O'er-heard to say unto her self too big For her own breasts confinement and too secret It seems for any others ear But heark what 's yonder Trumpets without Pyr. I doe believe Endymion is return'd King It 's likely Let us in and have his answer Ex. King Pyrrhus Enter Cleantha sol into the Garden She walks a while often fetching very deep sighs at last saith When every thing is green Must poor Cleantha onely wither and never Know a Spring Was I made onely high Like Rhodope and Haemus or the Alpes To dwell with everlasting winter to wear Snow When every valley Roses wears Cleantha Thou must die Then thou maist also be Happy as other folks The Grave looks wistly Like thy Fortune Then every bodies face Is pale as thine There there thou wilt not see Poor Villagers more blest in love then thee And there thou wilt be able make appear Cleantha and Endymion equall are Then possibly some of Cleantha's earth May prove a little flower and look fresher Then when it part of a great Princess was And shew the erring world Enter the Priest Heaven what shall I say To this good man now Pri. Good morrow to your Highness Heaven send you a good day Cleantha I shall not doubt it After so good a Prayer Good morrow Sir Priest Your Highness all alone 'T were too great boldness To aske what little pensiveness invited You to so much retirement whilst the day Is yet so young and you as young as it Clean. I cannot wonder Sir at what you ask When I consider in what vanities I usually have spent my mornings more Examining my Face then Self But late She sighs Repentance is a little commendable Pri. But yours Madam is not so Your morning yet Is younger then this dayes and you can still Pay First-fruits unto Vertue But fair Princess Pardon the freedom of your Priest we often Mistake our Melancholy for Repentance And think that sadness our souls health which is Indeed but the disease of our weak bodies Queen It 's likely Sir and likely that weak sort That I am of may thus oft be deluded But Heaven I hope hath pity for that weakness It made not stronger Priest Madam be pleas'd to know The onely reason why I urge this is The onely reason why I 've thus intruded Into your Highnesses Retirements now This is not Madam the first time I 've seen Your Highness walk alone and shun those places Which company did seem to make unhappy And often have I too observ'd you 've been Alone i' th' middle of a multitude
chance to be seen by any in their passage thither This he asserted with much violence and at last after much discourse the Priest was perswaded by him to attend the Queen there in the habit of a woman instead of Neander whose enterance he had promised to hinder by shutting the door he was to pass at to get into the garden and thus when the Queen should begin to speak to him as her Lover he should then make know himself unto her and do his duty in justly blaming her for so unvertuous an action King Where ends this Lordreads on This the Priest did And he was not sooner entred into the grotto but he found the Queen there before him But the Queen seeming to expect his speaking first and he not allowing his lips to be provided on this subject told her plainly that she was mistaken of her Lover that he was her Priest and then producing a little light he had concealed in a dark Lanthorn he manifested himself and perfectly discerned the Queen although in a disguise The Queen thinking her self bound to give an account of her being there and yet very loath to speak the cause of it at last told him that as her Confessor she would reveal unto him that the King had of late somewhat an immoderate respect for a young lass named Urania belonging to the Princess and that having forced a promise from the poor maid she did by the Lord Endymions means easily perswade her self for the securing of the Kings honour to supply the place of the said Vrania they having agree'd to have no lights and to speak very low which she accordingly had done for some nights before and with such success that the King returned rather satisfied in his reason then his Love King All truth Lord reads on But having re-assumed his desires she had again this night a summons to the same taske from a woman of hers nam'd Phronesia which was the occasion of her being in that place But all this she did very passionately desire the Priest to be secret in in that it concerned so neerly the Kings honour King And what then Lord. On this we immediately sent for Geron who after many threats confess'd as followeth That the Lord Neander being crossed in his love to Evadne Daughter to the Priest by the Queen and Priest her Father was resolved on a revenge for them both and by removing them out of the way to accomplish his design of marrying Evadne To this end he promiseth to Geron great rewards for the contrivance of the business wo accidentally by his sculking up and down in every corner to watch his wife Phronesia of whom he is very jealous over-heard the agreement between Urania and Endymion concerning the Queens supplying her place in the Grotto On this foundation he founds the whole fabrick of his hellish plot For sending his wife Phronesia who having been horribly abused by him was willing notwithstanding to purchase his respect at any rate whatever unto the Queen as from Urania only with these words in her mouth That she humbly desired her Majesty to think of her royal promise at eleven of the clock that night and of the King as she had been pleased to do some few nights before the Queen he knew would on this resolve to be at that time in the Grotto After which he goes himself to the Priest and counts to him what is before repeated in the Priests confession And in the last place he had the impudence to come to your Majesty and tell you what your Majesty was pleased to inform us of And all this Neander and he were resolved to outface with oaths in case it should ever come to be examined for they supposed it probable that your Majesty would in fury have killed both the Queen and Priest on the place which was the reason for which Geron perswaded your Majesty to have Pistols or a Stilletto with you King Wicked Villains Lord. After this we sent for Neander who amaz'd at his condition confessed the whole business in the same manner As also Phronesia what Geron affirmed concerning her King Blest Heaven how are thy wayes just like thy orbs Involv'd within each other yet still we finde Thy judgments are like Comets that do blaze Affright but dye withall whilst that thy mercies Are like the Stars who oft-times are obscured But still remain the same behinde the clouds Pyrrh May all your doubts and fears thus terminate Lord. Thus are you shaken to be more confirm'd King Pyrrhus send for Urania she shall wear This day the just rewards of Vertue I Will visit my brave Queen who rather chose To die unjustly as a Criminal Then that her Lord should justly so be term'd For which I will proclaim my fault since she Will have the glory of concealing it Exit Pyrrhus Lord. Heaven bless your Majesty King My Lord. I 'd have the Councel with all speed remove Into the Hall where before all the Court I 'll bring my Queen in triumph there to hear Her base accusers sentenc'd Lord. It shall be done Exeunt King and Lord. Enter Evadne weeping Evad. Alas Evadne miserable Maid Why didst thou ever begg to leave thy cell Where thou didst never injure any one To see this place and here in some few weeks To do more mischief then whole Generations Can parallel Unfortunate Evadne It had been better thou hadst ever dwelt In those retirements where small sins seem great And great Devotions small where folks make conscience To taste of any thing that ever bled Then to be found there where the blood of Queens And Priests are sacrifices to the Malice Of wicked Men. It this to be at Court Ah poor poor Girl How hath thy Ignorance Deluded thee And 't was but just that she Who did begin to disobey her father Until he gave her new commands should be Punish'd by that which tempted her It is Enough she 's innocent although she prove Unfortunate Whatever Neander did Heaven knows I never knew Yet I much doubt I 'm somewhat guilty ' cause 't was for my sake Exit Evadne Enter the Lords of the Councel and seat themselves Enter a guard of Souldier with Neander Geron and Phronesia who are placed at the Bar as Prisoners to receive sentence Enter Musick then the King leading his Queen crown'd and in royal apparel after them the Priest They place themselves on high in the middle of the Councel and the Priest somewhat lower next the King Then this Song is sung Thus from the Prison to the Throne Vertue comes to claime her own And now appears Upon that Throne a Star Who lately at the Bar Stood only Jewel'd with her Tears 1. Great Queen 2. Great Queen Chorus Whoever was so well content To suffer and be innocent To suffer and be innocent Exit Musick Enter Gentleman leading Urania King The fair Vrania Madam I must this day Turns to the Queen Do honour to this Virgin And since it 's To
your Vrania I shall be thankful for the honour you Too early do vouchsafe me Theand. I must obey What Heaven knows when I shall understand Salutes Cleopatra This is an earlier tribute then I thought Embraceth Urania who cries on him To pay yourlips My dear Urania why Dost thou conspire to my distraction Why This Black And why these tears King Heaven bless you both And may your Loves encrease still with your days May you be fresh as spring as Autumn fruitful And know no Winter of adversity And Heaven that hath done wonders in your Loves May it do wonders in th' effects of it They both bow to the King and then step a little aside and talk together Enter Priest Priest A day full of wonders King Aday All miracle How merciful is Heaven To those it loves Who would be ever Bad When Vertuous folks are thus rewarded in The midst of their distress The Prince returns to the company again Theand. Cozen Salutes the Princess Your pardon Happy is this meeting I am oblig'd for all the joy I see Bows to the company Start out of sorrow now at my return Cleant. Heaven give you joy of your Urania Theand. You have oblig'd me Madam that you have Dealt still so gently with your servant Cleant. She ne'er Had been esteemed so had you esteem'd Me worthy of your Councel Sir but now I shall indeavour to repay her all Those services I have receiv'd from her Theand. She 's still your servant Cozen. Cleant. Aside How can there be such mirth when brave Lives sadly in an unjust banishment Endymion Theand. I long to ease my wonder and to know The story of great Cleopatra how She'th been so long obscur'd to all the world But to her self King We 'll find a scene for that Less like the face of sorrow 'T is enough Urania is a Princess and had Fortune In ought but in her blindness been like justice Had worn the Crown of Thrace Only my Daughter My dear Urania ask me on this place I so have injur'd thee what I shall do To expiate my ignorance of thy worth Ask what thou wilt I shall not find a tongue To give thee a denyal Vran. Great Prince I do not Want a request had I but merit to Deserve it first then confidence to ask it King Ask it or you chuse the perfect'st way To disoblige me What is it Uran. It is Endymions Liberty 'T was by his goodness I liv'd to see this day whose only Cloud Is his confinement Pardon the boldness Sir You 're pleas'd to give me and the gratitude I hope the Gods will never take from me King You have my word do with it what you please Endymion shall have his liberty I shall give order for it Theand. Your pardon Sir If your commands already are obey'd Endymion is return'd I met him ere He was imbarq'd and having been inform'd From my Urania all his cares for her I stay'd him hoping from your goodness to Obtain his pardon For the love Cleantha So truly bears him I have no more to say Against it then against my own I bare To my Urania when I thought her less And since the Gods have made her great for me 'T will be but gratitude in me to do Some of their business for them and reward So brave a Vertue as Endymion owns And make him great for his Cleantha too Especially since by their goodness I Have power to do it The war in Thessaly Hath found a happy end And there I 've left Those hands which made that Scepter stoop who now Want but a scoene to do new wonders in And this may prove rebellious Thrace if you Dread Sir approve it fit I wear that Crown Vrania gives me In this expedition And in this conquest too the brave Endymion Shall be my second What shall I not expect from Such Vertue and such Valour when they meet King I have of late receiv'd such mercies that I cannot think of any thing which looks Like cruelty And in my condemnations Heaven hath done miracles to keep me from Horrid injustice Therefore wonder not All that you ask is so soon granted you Cleantha take then thy Endymion be More blest in him then greatness e'er could make thee Cleantha bows Queen And now you 're doing works of mercy Sir Hear one intreaty more not for their sakes For whom I ask but for this days sake which Hath been a day of mercy to us all Let not Neander nor old Geron die A banishment for life will more prepare Them for their deaths and thus your mercy shall Best fit them for the mercy of the Gods King What you propose hath much of piety And mercy too the works of this day and Mayn't be deni'd And now I 've one request To you my honour'd Priest because I 'd give Joy to all honest hearts this day your leave That Pyrrhus my best confident may serve The fair Evadne Priest Great Prince I am oblig'd My poor Evadne is so much your care It shall be mine she still shall think that best Your majesty is pleas'd to chuse for her Enter Endymion Theand. Endymion Why so slowly to thy joys Reap here the fruits of gratitude and mercy And see those Stars again thou dost adore Takes him by the hand and leads him to Cleantha who kneels down and kisseth her hand Cleant. VVelcome my Lord. Queen My Lord you 're welcome from your banishment King You 've only now this Ladies leave to ask For any thing you 'd have Endym. I 'm happy in Your royal mercy Sir and hope in time To be so too in hers King You need not fear Your sentence when Cleantha is your judge But let us all away and satisfie Our selves with what we 've so long travell'd with And let the world learn from this story though Heaven may a while correct the Vertuous Yet will it wipe their eyes again and make Their Faces whiter with their tears Innocence Conceal'd is the stolen-pleasure of the Gods VVhich never ends in shame as that of men Doth oft-times do but like the Sun breaks forth VVhen it hath gratifi'd another world And to our unexpecting eyes appears More Glorious through it's late obscurity Priest Unvertuous folks a while may find some Rest But in the end the good are only blest Exeunt Omn. FINIS
THE Revvards of Vertue A COMEDIE By J. F. Gent. LONDON Printed by Ja. Cottrel for Hen. Fletcher at the three Gilt Cups in St. Pauls Church-yard 1661. The Persons BASILIUS the King THEANDER the Prince The PRIST PYRRHUS a Lord of the Court the Kings confident NEANDER a vain Lord of high birth ENDYMION a Lord of a small fortune GERON an old jealous Knight husband to PHRONESIA The QUEEN CLEANTHA a young Princess Neece to the QUEEN URANIA a young Shepherdess waiting on CLEANTHA EVADNE daughter to the PRIEST newly come to the Court. PHRONESIA an ordinary Court-Madam belonging to the QUEEN PARTHENIA Mother to URANIA The Scoene Arcadia Actus 1. Scoena 1. Enter Pyrrhus Neander and Endymion Pyrrh BElieve 't my Lords they say the Prince doth wonders Neand. They say he kils a world of men indeed But 'faith I think the wonder'd greater been Had he made but half so many live Pyrrh Perchance my Lord you 'd have him turn Physitian Nean. Rather then Butcher 't is the nobler Trade Pyrrh Why but they are his enemies he kills Men that offend and do deserve to die Neand. Oh! then I think you 'll praise the Hang-man next You give a definition of his Trade Pyrrh If I do not mistake your humour Sir You never were much taken with this dying It is a thing I do confess doth mar A Courtier much Neand. Why faith my Lord 't is true Let broken Merchants and the busie rout Who durt the Streets when their designs miscarry Cry that there 's nothing certain in this world I think there 's less in that which is to come Here I am sure of something I 'm a Lord And live with Men. But to be turn'd a grazing In the Elysian-Fields that men do talk of Among Philosophers ne'er could make a leg Who purblind grew with viewing of those Stars Ne'er made them worth a groat and took strange pains In measuring Sea and Land when they 'd more need To have a Taylor come and measure them In troth my Lord here 's blessed Companie Who would not change this world for such a life Endym. Fie fie Neander This is too prophane And rellisheth far more of beast then man Neand. My Lord I ask you pardon I 'd forgot You are a Vertiosi 'T is my Lord Pyrrhus That makes me wander from my argument By putting me in mind o' th' world to come A Theam indeed on which few men speak sence But to the matter first propos'd My Lord The thing I only stuck at was that you So wise a man should give so mighty Names To killing Men. Why celebrate the Plague What General ever did destroy like that Or study glorious Titles for old-age That kills all those whom nothing else can kill Great Warriors are but the journey-men Of fatal Atropos whose swords she useth To cut mens lives off but to save her sheers Which else had sure been edgeless long ago With too much work and we for ought I see By this time might have all immortal been Having by long dying worn out Death it self Endymion smiles Pyrrh My Lord 'faith he that dares dispute with you Must be a cunning Sophister I see Must be content to give you victory Without receiving truth in exchange for 't Neand. The truth is my Lords in short you have all the wit though I have all the talk Fare you well I believe I shall not much mar your discourse by my absence nor will you much mend my manners by your presence adieu Exit Neand. Pyrrh 'T is a mad Lord as e'er was born 't were pretty If possible to sit within his skull And take a Prospect of his giddy thoughts Which do like Centaurs seem half Man half Beast Endym. He 's too prophane and chuseth to buy wit At the expence of Friends Religion And all but Ladies smiles which he more values Then honest Men do the kinde looks of Heaven Pyrrh And nothing hates like Reputation won By Arms. He hates all Deities for Mars his sake And swears that Generals onely famous grow By valiant Friends or cowardly Enemies Or what is worse by some mean piece of chance Endym. The truth's my Lord 't is pretty to observe How little Princes and great Generals Contribute oft-times to the fame they win How often hath't been found that noblest mindes With too short arms have fought with fatal Stars And have endeavoured with their dearest blood To mollifie those Diamonds where dwell The fate of Kingdoms and at last have fallen By vulgar hands unable now to do More for their cause then dy and have been lost Among the sacrifies of their own swords No more remembred then poor Villagers Whose ashes sleep beneath the common flowers That every meadow wears whilst other men With trembling hands have caught a victory And on pale fore-heads worn triumphant bayes Pyrrh Believe 't 't is true Endym. Besides my Lord I 've thought A thousand times in times of War when we Lift up our hands to Heaven for victory Suppose some Virgin Shepherdess whose soul 'S as chast and clean as the cold spring where she Quench's all her thirsts being told of enemies That seek to fright the long-enjoyed Peace Of our Arcadia hence with sound of Drums And with Horse Trumpets Warlike Ayrs to drown The harmless Musick of her Oaten Reedes Should in the passion of her troubled spright Repair to some small Fane such as the Gods Hear poor folks from and there on humble knees Lift up her trembling hands to holy Pan And beg his helps it 's possible to think That Heaven which counts the purest vows most rich May not permit her still to weep in vain But grant her wish for would the Gods ne'er hear The pray'rs of poor folks they 'd ne'er bid them pray And so in the next Action happeneth out The Gods still using means the enemy May be defeated The glory of all this Is attributed to the General And none but he 's spoke loud of for the Act Whilst she from whose so unaffected tears His Lawrel sprung for ever dwells unknown Pyrrh Your Lordship doth not doubt the Prince his merit Endym. By no means Sir I know the Prince a man Who owns a soul of that vast magnitude That flesh did never circumscribe a greater And merits so much from the vertuous world By 's rare example that the world it self VVere but too mean a present to require him All that I say is what I 've thought upon Some hours of sweet retirement when I 've sat And view'd the fleeting state of poor man-kind A thing too giddy to be understood Pyrrh Indeed the Prince doth more then give us hopes Arcadia shall command those Provinces VVho lately thought our long and happy Peace Had soft'ned so our mindes that now we were Fit to be lorded over by their wills But strange it is to see the King so little Joy'd with the news that still he wears a face More troubled then Cicilian Seas in storms And
all but for the love of that poor Maid The Prince not ten months since took from a Cottage As he a hunting was and gave the fair Cleantha for a present Endym. Who Vrania Pyrrh Yes But stay I see him coming Enter King Let us retire It may be we shall hear Some of the thoughts that trouble him Endym. Husht King Ah! VVhere will this tyrant end Heav'n shall I still Be Priest and Sacrifice and Altar too Unto a passion I can satisfie But never conquer what poor things are Kings What poorer things are Nations to obey Him whom a petty Passion doth command Fate why was man made so ridiculous But I can quench my Flame And where my prayers Have not prevail'd my power can command Who in Arcadia dare resist my will But stay When this poor Maid sprung from a stock Low as the Cottage where she first saw light Shall call on Vertue and the Gods to keep Her body they too weakly have expos'd White as her soul which all the world cann't sully Shall I whom men call sacred and divine And look on as deriv'd from Ancestors VVho have not Tombs but Altars without shame And thousand blushes dare with ruder force To drive poor Vertue from her cleanest Temple And use that power the Gods have given me O'er others but t' offend them how I please By Heaven by Heaven I will not But I dy Oh I am mortal Men but flatter me Oh fate why were not Kings made more then Men Or why will people have us to be more Alas we govern others but our selves VVe cannot rule as our eyes that do see All other things but cannot see themselves I must submit I am a King but LOVE 'S a Deity I am resolv'd to trie Whether Urania will Love or die I 'll in and faithful Pyrrhus streight shall prove My fate Lords must be Pimps when Kings do love Exit King Pyrrhus and Endymion appeare again Pyrrh He 's gone Endym. But he first thought on your employment Pyrrh Truth I have had already but too much on 't Endym. Have you then been the Mercury between Him and the fair Urania Pyrrh Yes I have Already done what Language and Rewards Have power to do But she 's as deaf to this As blind to those She seemeth not to see Ought shine but Vertue Endym. But what can she say Poor Country Girl VVhere can she find words And resolution when you do assault her Pyrrh VVhy 'faith my Lord I 'll tell you VVhen I first Mention'd the business to her all alone Poor soul she blush'd as if already she Had done some harm by hearing of me speak VVhilst from her pretty eyes two Fountains run So true so native down her fairest Cheeks As if she thought her self oblig'd to cry ' Cause all the world was not so good as she Endym. aside Heaven how doth this carriage please me Pyrrh For my own part I know not what to say Her tears so innocently beg'd my pity That I was straight turn'd over to her side And had forgot the cause for which I strove 'Till rallying once again I once more gave A new assault and urg'd her to an answer All her reply was No then humbly pray'd me Not to be cruel to a poor weak maid VVho had not any thing in all the world To give her credit but her innocence VVith such success as this I often have Assail'd her vertue adding promises Of all things I could suppose might tempt her But all in vain This Ermyne will not be Perswaded from the whiteness she so loves Endym. And do you think the King will now use force Pyrrh You heard him what he said I cannot tell 'T is hard to say what men whom reason guides Intend to do much more whom passion rides But let 's away I would not have him know VVe were so neer the venting of his thoughts Endym. There comes my Lord Leander let 's away Exeunt severally Enter Neander Cleantha and Urania waiting on her Neand. How doth this hour transport my soul with Joy To have the blessed priviledge to be With fair Cleantha the best Princess Cleanth I 'm glad it makes some body happy Sir Neand. With her who hath my heart Cleanth Have it I Sir Pray my Lord then take it again for I would not be troubled with the keeping such a bauble for all the world Neand. She whom great Nature now grown wanton made To look upon and scorn her other works Cleanth My Lord I see you are resolv'd not to studie to no purpose You will have our your Complement let me say what I please But by the by I hope you will not be angry if I prove somewhat like my scornful Mother as you say and make you the first example of it Fare you well Neanth Nay Madam I beseech your Highness Cleand. Nay my Lord now I have put you out of your Complement I 'll tarry a little longer Neand. Madam You are cruel How do you kill Cleanth Kill Neander No sure for then you would be affraid to come neer me Neand. Great Princess You are cruel But I ne'er Could fear Death from so fair a hand as yours Cleanth Perchance you do your self the justice to think that such will not foul their fingers about you I beleeve indeed my Lord You fear Death least from the hands of a woman which is the reason you chuse to tarry here at Court among the Ladies rather then go to the War with the Prince Neand. Madam You Ladies have a Priviledge Cleanth Yes my Lord it 's sometimes a Priviledge to speak Truth Neand. 'Faith Madam You may say what you please Cleanth Pardon me my Lord it would please me much better if I could say you were in the war in Thessalia Neand. Why truly Madam I could give your Highness very good reasons why I went not to the war with the Prince Cleanth I believe you can my Lord and so can every body else that knows your Lordship It was because you were affraid Neand. Do not disgrace me so Madam I beseechy you It was for very different reasons Cleanth Truely my Lord You will give very much satisfaction to the world if you say what they are and very much undeceive them Neand. Why then Madam to tell you truly I am somewhat troubled with Corns so that I cannot without pain wear a riding Boot And then I am strangely subject to the Tooth-ake which makes me very unfit to lie in the Field Which indeed were the two main reasons made me to refuse the war Cleanth What pity it is so brave a minde should be thus unluckily hindred from shewing it self Neand. Madam I perceive you jeer me Cleanth What a quick apprehension you have my Lord And do not you perceive you merit it But the Queen will expect me and possibly Sir you are by this time somewhat satisfied with my company adieu Exeunt Cleanth and Urania Neand. Pox take her for me for all she is so great
Arcadia he In doing so would make her full as great As I should be Ambitious Rivers whilst They needs will strive to joyn with greater Floods Do adde indeed to them but lose themselves Whilst those that court some smaller Brook at once Encrease their Waters and preserve their Names Pri. Mâ—dam you will do well to heed that whilst You seek t' encrease your Waters you do not Encrease your Years too Mighty Floods you know Glide smooth yet bear down all whilst little Brooks Murmure at Pebles in their way and have Their courses oft obstructed And Madam what What is a Name to the unfortunate What is a Name to those whose Names must live But in their Epitaph if you do wed A Prince the faire Cleantha will adorn His Chronicle and that in recompence Will make that Name immortall as her Merit But if you will in common Chanels run Poor neighbour-Towns may know your Name but Mapps Will heed you not And then the brave Cleantha Will set with her own face and th' injut'd world Shall lose her best Example to those Ages Are yet to come and thus Cleantha will Undoe her self and all Posterity Cleanth You almost do undoe my reason with Your language Sir But you well know Sir should I by each action of my life endeavour To be forgotten in all Chronicle And leave it in my Will to have my Name Ne'er mention'd more this very Will of mine Would live to all Posterity Comets As soon may unobserved pass among Astrologers as any Princess can Among Historians But alas Sir what What 's my Remembrance when I am dead To be compar'd to the Contents of Life Shall I be wretched all the day because I 'd have folks talk of me when I 'm asleep What is it if it be hereafter said Cleantha was the Queen of Macedon When poor Cleantha's but a little earth If I love nothing but Endymion Nothing but him can make me happy Sir And if I love nothing in him but his Vertue And his brave Soul and can be well content To lose a Crown and Title of a Queen To sind those better treasures though I stoop To take them up 't will be more glory and Eternity unto my Name then if Like petty Countrey folks I do dispense With Love for my convenience and wed What I may chance to like in time with help Of some good Counsel and Necessity This Sir will be an act will give my Name An honourable mention in the mouthes Of Priests and holy folks as oft as they Instruct men that the Gods sometimes reward Vertue in this world or that Vertue is To be preferr'd before a Crown or Scepter For then it will be said Endymion's vertue Won him a Princess and Cleantha did Esteem a brave Endymion much above A Prince and Diadem And thus my Greatness At once shall make it self more great and serve T' embalm the bravest person in the world And make him like my self immortal too For whist men write Cleantha's Story since Like her it will be nought without Endymion The brave Endymion must be mentioned too That else perchance might have been numbred ' monstg Those precious things whose loss the world bewails And thus I shall oblige Posterity More in Endymion then my self and shall Give like a Goddess immortality To what was mortall in it self and had Dy'd but for me This Sir I onely say To answer your objection and I name Endymion ' cause you nam'd him as I did The Rose and Violet when you were pleas'd To instance in them Priest Heaven would it were but so Madam as errour ne'er can be more happy Then in your mouth nor more secure who give It so much beauty with your language and Strength with your Wit so can it never be More dangerous And therefore pardon me If I no longer do occasion you To shew th' omnipotency of your wit In almost making Errour Truth and tell you What 's surely true Madam I have not thus Presum'd to interrupt this your Retirement I found you in on any confidence Meerly my own but onely in obedience Unto the King's Command your Royall Unkle Who understands howe'er you little think it You love Endymion Heaven would not conceall So great an ill from him who may prevent it And hath commanded me to use my best Endeavours to disswade you from an action So much beneath your self and contrary To his desires who with so dear affection Hath ever treated you And now refus'd To speak to you himself lest that his passion Should move too violent ' gainst what he hates And disoblige what he so dearly loves To this so true and tender a regard Of this your Royal Unkle Madam what Regardfull answer will you now command Me to return him She rests a while Clean. Sir I cannot tell What way the King should know what you affirm Since I ne'er said so much to any person I dare not think you would betray me Sir That were profane But if you must indeed Return some answer to the King be pleas'd To tell him As I ever yet have been Obedient to him as my Unkle so I still do think my self oblig'd to be Supposing as he hath not hitherto His Goodness never will command cut what Shall be within my power t' obey him in Pri. Madam this answer hath much Latitude Clean. It promiseth Sir all I can You will not Have me to promise more I hope Priest But is it In your Highness power to love the Prince Of Macedon and not to love Endymion Clean. I think Sir Love's as much within my power As 't is in any other body's Pri. Madam I must intreat your Highness for an answer A little more direct unto the question You 'l pardon me I hope I 'm to deliver It to a King Clean. And to receive it from A Princesse and a Maid Pri. Madam I shall Be loath to tell the King you love the Lord Endymion And may be you 'll be sorry To see him banisht to some distant Isle There to bewail his own perfections that He ' th pleas'd too much and wish a thousand times You had not thus undone him with your love Injure not Madam thus a Lord who else May number many happy daies and live An honour to his Countrey and grow old And die among his Kindred and his Friends Clean. Sir this would be strange justice that my Love Should be Endymion's Crime Priest 'T will prove so Madam Clean. He may be sufferer but not criminall And Heaven will do justice when men do not She being ready to cry fetcheth a sigh and goes as towards her appartment Pri. Your humble servant Madam Ex. Priest Cleantha perceiving the Priest gone giveth way to her tears and remains still speaking thus to her selfe Clean. Wretched Cleantha Is thy Love a Crime A crime to him thou lov'st Must it be ruine Unto a person if thou but affect'st him Have I some plague that I must thus destroy Whom I
bright to every eye and Lords And greatest persons of the Court are proud To say Urania favours them to wear The Title of her Servant as a Gem Too rich to be examin'd whence she came For her low Birth Madam this morning sprung First to our eyes from yonder barren hill And so will thousand Stars at night though this And they and she are lights from Heaven all Their rise is mean or noble only from Our situation so is hers You cast Your eyes upon her from the hight of Birth And fortune too and see her low whilst that Some other Princess Born as high but not Beneath so happy Stars beholds her through The thicker Medium of her Tears and thinks Her Birth more noble ' cause more free and less Subject to Fate that doth like Thunder oft O'erturn vast Oaks whilst Rue and Vervin stands Her Loves are free without which we may wear Fetters of gold but they are Fetters still And fit as hard as Iron though more rich Whilst many great folks are constrain'd to wed By Law and Policie and marry those Old Men in Council shall think fit who have So many years for gotten love and hate Now all but wealth and Empire ' cause themselves Have nothing else to boast of left Cleantha being not able longer to contain her self at this goes abruptly from Endym. to a Sun-Dial which stood not far from the walk where she lets fall some tears her back being towards Endymion and says with a low voice Cleantha Now thou art not fond Endymion saith Thou art unhappy And wilt thou say so And leave me so Endymion No my passion Is now Authoriz'd and I 'll speak She wipes her eyes My Lord Would you think it were so late already Endym Indeed Endym. Comes to the Dial. I cou'd not think it had been night so late But every part of Heaven hasts to see What it so loves and favours your bright self Cleant. Well my Lord I do not wonder much So great a Wit should thus maintain so great A Paradox since that in nothing less It can find its true exercise But say And tell me truly should I make 't my care To chuse a Mistress for you fair as Urania If thousands may be judges and as Vertuous Because she truely honours Vertue but Extracted from a Family would give Luster to yours although it were as mean As hers you court now say would you not leave Urania for her who doth seem to me To undervaule your respects Tell me my Lord. Endym. pauseth a while Madam should your highness condescend to chuse A Torment for me it were impudence In me to chuse ought else But that 's all blest Which is so like Urania Cleant. So like to her Vrania's body's fair but what 's that mind Which cannot apprehend the true contents Of being bound with sacred chaynes to him Who in her Closet and alone can be The whole world to her unto whom she may Bring all her doubts and tell her sorrows and Repeat her joyes and have his censure on them What is that minde which cannot value such True satisfactions more perchance then Crowns And Sceptres which is more then e'er Vrania Doth ever hope for sure Endym. Great Princess could I own Half those perfections I might happy be Without Vrania But Urania knows She may find thousands of more merit then The poor Endymion who durst never measure Himself but by the passion he had for her Cleant. Sure 't was his modesty He might have thriven Much better possibly had his ambition Been greater much They oft-times take more payns Who look for Pins then those who finde out Stars Endym. They do and are unfortunate But know Know highest Princess those may search for such Small things you 're pleas'd to name who only have A little candle of as small a value But those who seek out Stars must be provided VVith Arts and Glasses and such costly things As humble folkes must be content to want Cleant. Those coyer Stars indeed which so retire Their little eyes in Heavens vast Bosom do They say require those things you mention but For others of more magnitude you need Only to fix your eyes and they 'll appear By their own light and all you have to do Is to receive those Beams they cast upon you Endym. You cannot erre great Princess But 't is hard To fix our eyes aright upon that part Of Heaven where those Stars inhabit if VVe have not some directions first Cleant. Indeed Those who look downwards ought to be directed To look above them to the highest sphere For there the Stars are then I 'm apt to think Their task will not prove hard She blusheth My Lord I blush Thus to instruct you in Astronomy Endym. No wonder Madam if I 'm proud of what You blush at and esteem this my best knowledge VVhich your unbounded wit perhaps to morrow Will with much greater reason quite deny Clean. My Lord you think no woman's ever constant To what she saith a day but your Urania But till you 've try'd pray have more charity You 'll after have more Faith 'T is late my Lord You have oblig'd me with your company Exit Clean. Endym. sol VVhat meant this last discourse Heaven blest Heaven VVas 't not enough to lose my dear Urania Unless I also did adore the hand VVhich snatch'd her from me Cleantha love Endymion The great the pure Cleantha All my hopes In rich and holy Incense stifled are The worlds best light hath burnt my Phenix with A thousand Spices but Fool â— it cannot be Can brave Cleantha love the poor Endymion Cleantha pardon this wild thought forgive The proud Endymion Never may he know Thy noble breast harbour a thought so low Exit Endym Finis Act. 3. ACTUS 4. Enter Neander sol in a fury Neand. I Wonder who the Devil intends I shall marry with for marry I will by Heaven though the Match be made in Hell I have been a servant as they call it that is I have sworn and ly'd and spent money upon every Lady of Quality in the whole Court yet I am still so far from having a Wife among them all as the veryest Eunuch in the Great Turks Seraglio is from having a Child among all those wenches Indeed I never was in any probability unless in my own conceit of winning any one but the sweet Evadne and now that the Queen and her ugly Father should cross me should forbid her to speak to me to see me it is what I cannot I will not bear though Fate it selfe say I shall do it No I have been told that most old folks when the Wine of Love is worn our in them live some years by its Vinegar Spight and I will do the same I am resolved and that old gray Priest and his Mistress the Queen shall be my subjects And yet I am not ambitious to shew my valour so far as to be hang'd for it neither This if I