condescend Or else my Grief my tortur'd Life shall end Dela Such were the Arts us'd by the Earl of Kent As both seem'd Guilty yet were Innocent Cleo. Madam while you such scrupulous Vertue show The Prince may of your Love suspicious grow That moveing sorrow which he does express Invites your kindness now to make it cease Plan. Sooner then you such Grief Sir shall admit I will obey what ever you think fit I rather Sir will an Injustice doe To my own self then seem unkind to you Prin. Ah Madam in those happy words I find You are to me at once both Just and Kind No Satisfaction e're was hop'd by me But that you might that Innocency see Which Delaware's great Friendship made appear Who is thereby for ever setled here Where Madam next to you he still shall grow Dela Ah could a Prince ought to his Subject owe I might then think to me you are in debt Prin. To me your Friendship has bin always great Yet I must Tax it of a seeming wrong Since this blest Secret you conceal'd so long Cleo. What Justice does this seeming wrong excuse Shall Sir present you with more welcome news While your great Father was in Love with her He as a Subject Sir had cause to fear A Secret so important to declare As might perhaps have caus'd a Civill War But Sir now that the King has this blest day Resum'd his Love for fair Alizia And has by Vowes which oft he did repeat Renounc'd his Passion for Plantagenet Which from her sef this very hour we know My Brother lost no time to tell it you Prin. These charming Words which now from you I hear His Justice shews and ends my greatest Fear Nothing from Heaven was left me to implore But that my Father Rivall'd me no more Cleo. What fitter time can Fortune give to you Then thus your Ends in Love still to pursue Lose not one Moment of it for perhaps Those Conquering Eyes may make him soon relaps Prin. What you advise your care of me does show Forgive me Madam If I leave you now Since 't is so vast a Blessing to implore As granted I shall never leave you more Plan. That Grant the noblest Blessing Sir would be Could it make you as happy as 't will me The Prince offers to goe out Dela Stay Sir I scorn your Goodness to abuse Or own your Pardon to her Feign'd Excuse Fear made me not the Secret Sir conceal Nor the King's Change the Secret now reveal For those were Motives of such mean degree As Sir I blush that they were nam'd for me Those Reasons Sir of which shee did make use Obtain'd but did not Merit your Excuse My guilty Doubts a while have kept me Dumb But Love and Honour have those doubts oâ—…e'come Plan. My Cleorin what will your Brother doe Cleo. I am as ignorant of it as you Dela Now all the Truth shall be to you reveal'd For 't is too Glorious Sir to be conceal'd Know Sir those Beauties which did conquer you Became while Kent did live my Conquerors too At Poitiers they did me to Glory bring And made me grace your Triumph with a King And though some Honour I acquir'd that day Yet Sir that prosperous Action I may say Did on no score to me so welcome prove As making me more fit to Court her Love Rais'd by this thought for England Sir I came Where soon her Beauties did revive your Flame And Fortune against me was so much bent As you your Rival made your Confident And by a Cruelty unknown to you You in your Love my help Commanded too Prin. I â—…m amaz'd my Lord at what you say Dela Though that Command I wanted pow'r to Obey Yet â—…eaven my witness is how much I strove To make my Duty overcome my Love But when I found by what I did endure That she alone the Wounds she gave could cure I meant the Secret never to disclose And when your Father did your Flame oppose I try'd your Love by reason to subdue But that attempt Sir proveing fruitles too Inspir'd by Love or guided by Despair I to her self my Passion did declare Cleo. Of this Discovery I Fear the event Plan. It merits Wonder and not Punishment Dela But when I for her Favour Sir did sue Alas she said her Love was given to you So given as nothing could recall her Grant Since your forsakeing her that pow'r did want And in her Words and Accents made appear Her Flames for you did equall yours for her Convinc'd by this that following my Design Would blast your joyes but not procure memine In which I was confirm'd by Cleorin The Noble Fatal Conquest I did win And forc'ed my self that Secret to declare Which builds your Blessings on my own Despair Cleor. Yet Glory must on that Despair attend In which you serv'd your Mistress Prince and Friend Dela Though Sir t was much your Mistress to adore To help you while your Rival yet is more Now Sir my Story to an end is brought Or Praise my merit or condemn my Fault Prin. Oh you so nobly have orecome your flame As your Despair cannot transcend your Fame That Heightned Friendship which our Loves secures In our Contentment will present you yours Your Friendship yet on me such Debts does lay As I must too Despair those Debts to pay Plan. 'T is Nobler much if you dare credit me To be th' Obliger than th' Obleig'd to be But in that Heart your Prince did first obtain By Freindship plac'd you shall for ever Reign Dela If ought could cure the Grief of loosing you What you both said that Miracle would doe Exeunt Enter King Edward King Iohn Lord Latimer Count Guesclin and all the Men. King Ed. What as a Lover could I less have Done Hearing what past betwixt you and my Son Strange are th' Effects which Jealousy produce But fully Sir to purchase your Excuse I come to visit you and let you know That I no more a Rival am to you My Anger though 't were great yet it was Short K. Iohn Sir I admire no more at your Transport O're hearing all we in the garden said But you have now full Reparation made Enter Delaware and Prince Prin. Sir I more Greive I did a Fault Commit Then I am Pleas'd that you have Pardon'd it But Sir I hope that Freedome you 'd restore Is but an Earnest that you 'l grant me more My Great Request Sir is Renew'd by me Granting me that is more then Liberty Such Strange Discoveries I have made this day As all the favour for which now I pray Is that to let me court her you 'll consent When you your self have judg'd her Innocent King Ed. But will you cease to court her when I prove You being judge she Merits not your Love Prin. This by my Duty Sir I promise you K. Ed. Then what you beg'd of me I grant you too Prince Be pleas'd then Sir to order Delaware Without Reserve
him I owe For hee 's my Tyrant and my Rivall too Yet with the last I merit to be curs'd Since I to kill him needed but the first Dem. In killing him your Country you 'le expose Are. Not killing him I Cleopatra loose And he unworthy of her will appeare Who above all things does not value her Dem. This Truth with greater lustre may be seen If you would not oppose her being Queen Are. I le not oppose by taking Tryphons life Her being Queen but being a Tyrants wife Dem. Since she would have him as her Choice or Fate Shee 'l take suâ—… proofs of Love as proofs of Hate Are. Her Virtue which has still appear'd so High Sâ—…ews 't is a â—…arriage of Necessity Which hath engag'd me by one generous blow To fâ—… my Mistress and my Countrey too Farewell I le goe and act what I intend And If I â—…ll say you have lost a Freind Embracing him Dem. â—…eel'e perish in th' attempt Aretus stay And is thâ—… 〈◊〉 your câ—…e no other way Are. In 〈◊〉 question you mispend your breath In 〈◊〉 Love what Cure is there but Death Dem. You'â—…e meet your owne attempting his I fear Are. T is twice a Death to be depriv'd of her Farewell wast this for which you call'd me backe Dem. Stay Friend for I 'me contriving for your sake That which may â—…ach your End a safer way Suspend â—…h ' Attempt the remnant of this day Since in your Love you are engag'd so farr To serve you in it ' I le imploy my care You know the Pow'r which I with Tryphon have Are. This is but spoke th' Usurpers Life to save Dem. How 's this your self as me you now offend Can you suspect me and yet call me Freind Are. What I have said in such a Storm of Fate Deseâ—…ves your pitty rather then your Hate Doe not the Pardon which I beg deny T was my Distraction wrong'd you and not I. Dem. Alas I see you are or'come with Greif Are. Yet to my Sorrows 't would be some Releif Would you then Swear if you in your Designe Should faile you would assist me then in mine Dem. But will you swear his Death you 'le not attempt If from his Rivallshipp I you exempt Are. In such a vow myself I cannot Trust T is less to be Unhappy then Unjust Which I should be if I to you should give A promise that I 'de let th' Usurper live Dem. The Vow which I desire that you would make Is not for Tryphon's but for Syrias sake Are. Poor Syria since Demetrius thinks it good To bind me not to shed thy Tyrants Blood What greater Curse could Heaven on thee have sent Then make thy safety be thy Punishment Dem. Since 't is the will of Heaven we must submit What will you doe Are I 'le doe what shall be fit Dem. But will you then too no more condescend To loose a Rivall and oblige a Freind Are. Would you have me doe more then what is fit Dem. But will you Vow to make me Judge of it If By my Power with Tryphon and my Skill I make him cease to Rival you Dre I will Oh Cleopatra never Lover yet Did of his Passion give a Proof so great With such Devotion to your Eyes I bend As I pay them what I deny'd my Freind Nay for their sake and what more could I doe I spare the Tyrant of my countrey too If I in this Act against Duties Laws Let Love forgive the Effect which Love did cause Ah Freind from me you have extorted now That which I feare may prove a Guilty Vow But you are judge of all which gives me Rest. Dem. Can you then doubt what 's trusted to my Breast Are. You see I doe it not since I decline Even to inquire what you for me designe Dem. Feare not I 'le ner'e betray a Trust so High Are. When you betray me 't is high time to Dye Embracing him they goe out Enter Nicanor Stratonice Irene The SCENE Nicanor's Pallace Stra. I thought my Sister your consent had got Nic. So farr from getting that she askd it not Hermione to me has been Unjust I left my Cleopatra to her Trust And know not well which most I should Suspect Or her Unfaithfulness or her Neglect Th' Ambition of your Sister I foresee Will make her Wretched and will Hazard me For if she marryes Tryphon Shee 's undone And me hee 'le ruine if his Love she shun Ire Hermione and I have but one Breast And she to me did solemnly protest She not till 't was too late the Business knew And Sir laments for it as much as you Nic. In such a Fault she 'd show herself Unwise If she from you did not herself disguise Stra. Hermione is Innocent therein Sir 't is my sisters Fate or else her Sin Nic. You both absolve Hermione from Guilt Shew me on what your Confidence is built Stra. The cause of mine to you Sir I le relate She Loves my sister and does Tryphon Hate And would not Sir I know deserve your Frown To gaine for her own self the Syrian Crown Iren. I know she does Aretus much esteem And thinks your Daughter only merits him And to Hermione he told this day The Love he does to Cleopatra pay Besides she vow'd to me 't is her Intent In that Address to be her Confident Nic. Does then Aretus Cleopatra love 〈◊〉 And in that height I fear his Death 't will prove For when he knowes shee 'l be th' Usurpers Wife He will attempt his own or Tryphon's Life Nic. That Happiness at which I most did aime Is now fall'n on me but is fall'n in vaine That Height'ned Worth Aretus still has shewn Makes me esteem him above Tryphon's Throne My Stratonice Irene you and I Must for this Ill find a quick Remedy All must assault her in a several way On Cleopatra my Commands I 'll lay And with Hermione you two must joyne To make your Sister break off her Designe Stra. You may be of our best Endeavour sure But Sir I fear this Ill is past our Cure Nic. Those who of Feare in their Attempts admit Doe take the surest way to faile in it Her Resolutions cannot be above Her Duty Friendship and Aretus Love But we lose Time while we together stay And this Affair admits of no Delay They goe out several wayes Enter Cleopatra Hermione The SCENE a Garden and a Grove of Trees Her Forgive me Madam that I thus have prest To know the Grief which does invade your Breast For though when you in publick doe appeare Your Speech is Chearfull and your Looks are Clear Yet they are clouded when you are alone And every Word is brought forth with a Groan Cleo. That which you have observ'd alas is true Those various Actings to my Fate are due I ought since Destin'd to a Tyrants Throne Joyfull to seem yet mourn when I 'm alone Nor know I which my Soul does most subdue Feigning
So many heaps of Frenchmen there were slain As into Hills they seem'd to change the Plain And all those Clouds their Horses feet had rais'd Were with the Blood of their dead Riders laid Two Lords arm'd like King Iohn were in the Field And by our Princes hand they both were kill'd In doing which he did prodigious things For though they were Not yet they fought like Kings While in the Field wars bloody Game was plaid Guesclin did sally and was Prisoner made King In your Relation you omit one thing I fain would hear 't is how you took the King Dela Sir In the heat of Battel 't was my chance To fight with and to take King Iohn of France 'T was Fortune onely favour'd me in this King Your Modesty great as your Valour is For here my Soâ—… to me at large does write The Honour which you purchas'd in the Fight And all those brave Attempts which you did make Before your Regal Prisoner you did take Nothing which you perform'd from me is hid Dela He writes what I 'de have Done not what I Did When the French King into my pow'r did fall I did conduct him to our General Who then was giving of Rewards to those Who took two hundred Colours from your Foes Amidst those Glorious Trophies Sir he stood His Armour cover'd all with dust and blood Those sights afresh the Captive King did wound King None in a Nobler Posture could be found Dela When to the Prince I nam'd King Iohn of France He hastily to meet him did advance And to his Prisoner did as humbly bow As Sir he could have done had it been You. King He did therein what did a Prince befit Fierce in the Fight and Humble after it Dela The King then said since Fortune does decree I should be taken by my Enemy Part of the wounds she gives she also cures Since now I fall into such hands as Yours I am your Prisoner Sir and come to know The end you aim at by my being so The Prince in whom all Vertues do reside Pitying the Kings misfortune thus reply'd That mighty Prince to which I most pretend Is from an Enemy you 'll turn a Friend And if you 'll grant what now is begg'd by me I 'le prize it more then this dayes Victory These words the Prince with such an Accent grac'd As by the King he closely was embrac'd Who told him in this Action you have shown You have more ways to Conquer me then one And Sir to prove this does my Mind subdue That which you ask of Me I beg of You. King This last Success transcends the other Three 'T is more to Gain then Beat an Enemy Dela All things to tell you too much time would take But then so strict a Friendship they did make As Our Prince vow'd he would sollicit you To grant the King a Peace and Freedom too Then by a Generosity Sublime He did that night at sopper wait on Him By which that Vanquish'd Monarch well might boast He there Receiv'd more Honour then he Lost. King My Son in this did such High Worth express As I more value It then his Sccess Dela The List of all â—…hose 〈◊〉 which we took Are by the Prince presented in this Book Gives the King a Book All things secur'd which we had won by force He with King Iohn for England steer'd his course The wind so favour'd him as yesterday He safely landed in Southampton-Bay From whence he sent me Post to let you know They both tomorrow Sir will wait on you King For their Reception every thing prepare Which may your joys and your Respects declare I 'le treat this Royal Pris'ner at a rate Proportion'd to his Title not his Fate My Actions not my Words shall let you see How much brave Youth You are esteem'd by Me. Exeunt The Scene is a Garden and a Grotta in which Alizia Peirce lies as in a slumber Enter Sevina who playes upon the Lute when she has done Alizia rises embraces her and sayes Aliz. Ah my dear Friend it is in vain you strive To give that Ease which onely Death can give Sev. This is the day you promis'd I should know That Fatal Sorrow under which You bow I thought the Charms of Musick might abate The Grief which springs from what you will relate Aliz. Too mean a thought you of my Grief admit In thinking any thing can Lessen it Who would not all delights of Life decline That had a Soul so out of Tune as Mine Sev. Do not from such a Friend your self refrain My Help may put your Soul in Tune again 'T is to your Promise Madam that I trust Let not your Sorrow make you prove Unjust If Grief should make you to such Wrong submit You will Deserve as well as Suffer it Eliz. My Fatal Promise why do you pursue Though Old Griefs when related turn to New Yet you no longer shall of me complain I 'le rather Heighten then Deserve my Pain You know Dear Friend when to this Court I came My Eyes did all our bravest youths Inflame And in that happy state I liv'd a while When Fortune did betray me with a smile Or rather Love against my Peace did fight And to revenge his Power which I did ssight Made Edward our Victorious Monarch be One of those Many who did Sigh for Me. All other Flames but His I did deride They rather made my Trouble than my Pride But this when told me made me quickly know Love is a God to which all Hearts must bow Sev. 'T is certain every Creature that hath Breath Is no more priviledg'd from Love than Death Think you what is your Duty is your Crime Or else do you repent you Conquer'd Him Aliz. Oh had you heard in what a Mourning way He the first time his Passion did display And had you seen that Grief and matchless Grace Which did at once Cloud and Adorn his Face You had admir'd such Differing Charmes to see But more admir'd had they not Conquer'd Me. Sev. I was your Confident in that Bright Fire Which Both did in each others breast Inspire A Fire might teach all Lovers how to Burn Then sure 't is something else which makes you Mourn Aliz. Oh if he had been still to that Bright Flame As Faithful and as Constant as I am Justice her self no Fire could higher prize But that Blest Fire in which the Martyr Dies But he is False Sev. If what you say were true Madam my Friendship must have seen it too 'T is Jealousie which has usurp'd Love's place Aliz. Love has more piercing eyes then Friendship has From the Suns sight you may the World remove Sooner than hide from Lovers change in Love His Glorious Flame from me in Clouds is set And he Adores the fair Plantagenet To that Bright Widow he his Heart does yield Sev. Alas since her Brave Lord in France was kill'd She onely doth the Pow'r of Grief obey Aliz. How soon does Love wipe
there is but one degree you know 'Twixt doubting I am false and thinking so Aliz. To you no clearer Proof Sir I can give I think you are not false then that I live For did I doubt you guilty of that wrong My death should tell it you and not my tongue King The pow'r of Kindness Madam you confound Making your Love the Sword with which you wound If from this day my Ruine you will date Then by some other Weapon act my fate Your Anger Misery enough does prove Without ascribing of it to your Love 'T were better far I fell by your Disdain Then have your Love my blessing turn to Pain Aliz. What I have said too warmly you pursue King How can you love him whom you think untrue Admire not what you said so much does move Since if you think me false I lose your love Against such groundless Fear there 's no defence Aliz. Love feels no greater Torment then Suspense Since she who truly Loves had rather know Her Lover false than always think him so For 't is an ill more sensible and high To Live tormented still then 't is to Die But you may end those Torments I deplore If you will never see my Rival more King This is a Remedy severe and new Rudeness to her must Kindness be to you And of my Love can you no proof admit But what will make me for your Love unfit Aliz. Ah were I Blest or Curst to such degree As that you thought some other lov'd by Me I would for ever from his sight be gone And would in your contentment find my own Were your Affections but for me as great Then you no more would see Plantagenet King She is the nearest Kinswoman I have Her Lord too in my Service found his Grave Nature and Honour these respects approve And make that Duty which you doubt is Love Aliz. Alas were you not chang'd you would not be Civil to her rather than kind to me King Will this your Fatal Jealousie remove I swear I never spake to her of Love Aliz. Love is not alwayes by Discourse made known It may be spoken in a Look or Groan Some in those wayes more Passion can dispense Then others by the Charms of Eloquence Your Oath I fear is dictated by Art Your Tongue is innocent but not your Heart King This Madam too much your unkindness shows You neither will believe my Love nor Vows Aliz. Do not admire my Doubts and Fears are high When you that easie cure of them deny I saw you gaze on her much more then you Did gaze on me when I did know you true Which to my Torment Sir does let me see You lov'd Me not or lov'd Her more then Me Man's Art to such a height could never rise As love from a true Lover to disguise Oh Sir it is high time I let you know Though Love is blind yet Lovers are not so King He never yet the height of Love has known Who onely found it in a Look or Groan When I to you that Passion did express Which Madam onely with my Life shall cease Though many Looks and Sighs to you I sent Yet by Discourse too I did give it vent If through all passages it does not press It soon will kill the heart it does possess Love is so vast a Passion as the breast Is much too small to hold so great a Guest Aliz. Great Love is like great Grief and all Sir hold That Grief is weak or small which can be told Enter Lord Latymer who whispers to the King King Madam A pressing business calls me now Be therefore satisfied with this strict Vow My carriage to Plantagenet shall be Such as shall make you grant you 've injur'd me Exeunt King and Lord Latymer Aliz. Now my Sevina think you not that I Had a sufficient ground for Jealousie Sev. Madam you had but give me leave to say You to suppress it took a hopeless way Aliz. To what way else could I have had recourse Sev. A Lover never was brought back by force But since he raises Jealousie in you Madam resolve to make him Jealous too You by a double Right must gain his Heart First own it to your Beauty then your Art Love is like Health which all men value most Not while it is possest but when 't is lost Aliz. I 'le rather bear Misfortunes worst Assault Then own my blessing to a seeming Fault If what you now propose I should approve Virtue would blush at my Success in Love Honour alone shall guide my Actions still Rather than I will do I 'le suffer Ill My Rival nor the King shall ever say To gain my Right I took a guilty way She has the Happier I the Nobler part She may Possess but I Deserve his Heart Exeunt The end of the first Act. The Curtain fals THE SECOND ACT. The First SCENE The Curtain being drawn up King Edward the Third King Iohn of France and the Prince of Wales appear seated on one side of the Theater waited on by the Count of Guesclin the Lord Latymer the Lord Delaware and other Lords with the King's Guards On the other side of the Theater are seated Plantagenet Alizia Cleorin Sevina and other Ladies The Scene opens two Scenes of Clouds appear the one within the other in the hollow of each Cloud are Women and men richly apparell'd who sing in Dialogue and Chorus as the Clouds descend to the Stage then the Women and Men enter upon the Theater and dance afterwards return into the Clouds which insensibly rise all of them singing until the Clouds are ascended to their full height then onely the Scene of the Kings magnificent Palace does appear all the Company arise King Ed. SInce you are Pris'ner by the fate of War I shall not onely make it Sir my Care Your Grief by such diversions to allay But quickly too to take their Cause away Two pow'rful Motives me to this perswade The Friendship Sir you with my Son have made And that rare Fortitude which you have shown In Poictiers Field and after it was won King Jo. Sir Of that Fatal place I 'le not complain Since 〈◊〉 in it his Friendship did obtain Which I so prize as I 'de the loss repeat Rather then miss a happiness so great Embracing the Prince Prince As much as Virtue Fortune does out-shine So much your Victory surpasses mine A treaty will my bonds on you untie But yours on me will last eternally King Ed. That Treaty we to morrow will begin And you shall find I 'le so proceed therein As you and all the world Sir shall confess Justice shall guide me in it not Success Doubt not but what I promise shall be done T is what I ow my Honour and my Son King Jo. Thus using your Success the world will see How justly you deserve your Victory Force in rough Fetters may the Body bind But onely Friendship Captivates the Mind King Ed. It is already Sir
yields to one by whom he was Betray'd Pr. I glory more my Love that Wrong o'recame Then I can Grieve that I so Injur'd am What to my Flame a Remedy can grant When her Inconstancy that Power does want I find do what she will in me she 'll Reign Her Eyes give deeper Wounds then her Disdain Dela What her Disdain did want the Power to do Let Honours Dictates now perswade you to And Sir to arm you for this just Assault Know she has said her Mariage was your Fault Ah 't was enough the Injury to do Without attributing the Guilt to You. Malice it self at nothing worse could aim She kills your Love and then would kill your Fame And Sir to shew her Fault all Faults surpass She of the First makes use to act the Last Pr. Ah do not think this can my Love subdue Since what she charg'd me with I wish were True I at my Miseries would scarce repine Had I the Pow'r to make her Failings mine My Love for her would make me be content To have her Guilt and my own Punishment Yet I have nam'd but half the Weight I bear My Father is in Love with her I hear And I am much mistaken if last Night She the French King Subdu'd not at first Sight By which I find I must the Field maintain Against my King my Friend and her Disdain But though worse Crosses should my Hopes befall My pow'rfull Love would Overcome them all Disswade me not but try for me to win The Friendship of thy Sister Cleorin She most of all my Conquerours mind does sway Reply not if thou Lov'st Me but Obey Exit Prince Delaware alone Dela Some Fatal Planet at my Birth did Reign Since all things which should Cure Augment my pain My Sister who at last for me did get To be the Favorite to Plantagenet Which from Despair till now my Soul did free My Prince makes use of now to ruine me My Love he aims not onely to destroy But to obtain that End does Me employ Not doing it I Disobedience show And if I do it I my Love o'rethrow That Secret dying Kent reveal'd to me Which rais'd my Hopes now makes my Misery My Mistress I betray while 't is conceal'd And should betray my Love were it reveal'd What ever happens I must Wretched prove For I must Lose or not Deserve her Love Thus from Wars Dangers Crown'd with Bayes I rise Onely to fall the greater Sacrifice Yet of a Remedy I will not doubt Love which has Led me in may Lead me out Exeunt The End of the Second Act. THE THIRD ACT. The SCENE is King John's Apartment Enter King John and a Page Page THe fair Valeria has her Brother sent T' attend you Sir in your imprisonment His Sister from the Duke of Lancaster Obtain'd a Pass which brought him safely here He is but newly lighted at your Gate And begs your leave that he on you may walt King Valeria's Brother sure it cannot be Page Sir I but say the words he said to me King Which of her Brothers os't Page That Brother Sir Who e're his face was hurt resembled het King Call him Exit Page How can I on the Brother look Whose Sister is by me so soon forsook But who the Bright Plantagenet shall see Must be unjust or else must pardon me Enter the Page with Valeria's Brother whom the King embraces King You are so like your Sister I should know You were her Brother though none told me so She may increase my Debt as she thinks â—…t But nothing can the Sence I have of it The Battel I have lost I hope that She Ascribes to my Ill Fate and not to Me Fortune alas too Tyrannous would prove If what has lost my Crown should lose her Love Val. Bro. Since for your Mistress you of her made Choice She at the loss Sir does almost rejoyce For it presents her with a proof that shows Her Love is past the reach of Fortunes Blows She 'll grieve at nothing your ill Fate can do Unless at that which fevers her from you King Never Affection to this height did rise It proves her Love is matchless as her Eyes And makes me scarce repine at what I bear Since it does shew how I am lov'd by her Val. Bro. She of her Love a higher Proof does show In what she has commanded me to do For Sir She knows that England still affords Beauties which are Resistless as her Swords And has enjoyn'd me if you here should be In Love with any one more Fair then She I should assist you Sir in your Amours And Sink her Happiness to Heighten yours King She does at once in what she bid you do Declare her Love and run no hazard too For he who once is made Valeria's prize Is arm'd against all Wounds from others Eyes Enter Guesclin The King goes hastily to meet him to the other side of the Valeria's Brother list'ning to them 'T is with impatience Guesclin I have staid To learn from you the Progress you have made Guesc. In vain I try by Presents Sir to win The Assistance of the Beauteous Clâ—…in She as I 'me told was preingag'd before King Whoever told you that could tell you more Guesc. By Gifts I won a Lady who of late The Honour on your Mistress had to wait Who told me and assur'd me it was true The Prince of Wales does love your Mistress too King In this my Cruel Fate on me does send The greatest curse which I could apprehend Must I the Prince or else my Fortune blame Who thus does rival me in Love and Fame Guesc. How can you justly Sir this News deplore Since I but tell you what you thought before 'T is the least Wonder does in Love befall To think a Mistress is Ador'd by all I as a Lover to that Thought was bound But now that Thought a Certainty is found Which justly in my Soul does grief infuse Guesc. She has acquainted me with stranger News She told me Sir this is the second time The Bright Plantagenet was lov'd by him He by Despair to the French Wars was sent She leaving him to wed the Earl of Kent But she the cause of it could not relate King How strange and intricate a Pow'r is Fate The Prince of Wales finds in a slighted Flame The Noblest of all wayes to raise his Fame Glory does heal what Love made him endure And his Dispair presents him with his Cure He mist her Love a while that he might be More worthy of it by his Conquering Me A happy Planet at his Birth did Reign A seeming Loss brings him a double Gain While Fate with me so cruelly does act As by one Loss a greater I contract Successless Love his way to Fame does prove And loss of Fame does make my way to Love Guesc. You wrong your Vertue by this strange Debate The Brave are still the makers of their Fate 'T is onely Sir those men whose Souls
Blood then shed a Tear But those true Show'rs wept by the Prince of Wales To judge him Innocent with me prevails Aliz. This does but shew the King what he should Do He need but Weep to be judg'd Guiltless too Or if yet Guilty held with little Pain A Lovers Tears will wash off any Stain Plan. Though your not Crediting what I have spoke My just Resentment does too much provoke Yet that you may my Friendship clearly see Evâ—…n while you shew that you have none for me Since what I said has not prevail'd with you I will Convince you by this Solemn Vow I swear the King nor any e're to me Mention'd that Love which makes your Jealousie And should he e're for me a Passion have Rather than wed the King I 'le wed my Grave These Vows your Friendship should to me restore Sev. You cannot Ask nor can she Promise more Cleo. Such Vowes as these should your Belief perswade And Friendship thus Renew'd is Stronger made Aliz. Ah Madam now my Trouble is more high Then it was lately by my Jealousie You could impose no Penance so Sublime As thus to Shew me and Forgive my Crime What ends one Pain a greater does begin Since all my Grief for your imagin'd Sin Did not so much my wounded Mind Subdue As does the Grief of having Injur'd you Yet who can wonder that I Jealous grew Of so much Beauty and such Vertue too The Perfectness of both you now have shown The Last has pardon'd what the First has done Plan. If what I did might to Reward pretend You give the greatest being still my Friend Embraces her Aliz. And may I be depriv'd of Life and Fame When e're again I lose that Glorious Name Exeunt Enter King Edward and Lord Latymer as in Discourse Laty. To me th' assurance she did twice repeat King What! that my Son Adores Plantagenet Laty. And with a Passion Sir that does appear More fierce then that which he first paid to her King Ah can he be so mean to Love again One who his former Passion did Disdain One who was Guilty of so strange a Crime As to give Kent that Heart she Promis'd him And that her Scorn she might the more Display Wedded a Rival on his wedding day At least that day which was for him design'd Laty. Love never was to Reasons Rules confin'd For 't is a Passion Sir which onely knows Such Laws as on it self it will Impose King But Honour should oblige him to Abhor One by whose Guilt he was Betray'd before Laty. A Lover thinks that no Dishonour lies In twice submitting to his Mistress Eyes We soon may Love and Fortune reconcile When either of them after Frowning Smile King Oh Latymer the News thou dost impart Does with a Double wound afflict my Heart First that my Son by such a Love should dare To blast those Glories he has won in War Then that his Flames should be to her Address'd Without whose Love I never can be Blest Laty. starts Why dost thou start is it so strange a thing That so much Beauty should Subdue thy King Rather admire I did not sooner bow To such Bright Eyes then that I do it now The Greatest Men that e're the World did Grace Have still allow'd to Love the Highest Place Caesar who gained many a Glorious Field Yet did to Cleopatra's Beauties yield Laty. Had he not won many a Glorious Field That Love had been but as his Weakness held His Conquests make us think his Soul Sublime And many Victories Excuse one Crime King Whatever in my Love is judg'd amiss I 'le expiate by Actions Great as his Laty. But how Sir can you well Condemn your Son For Doing that which by your self is Done Since both of you Purpose the same Design King His Case my Lord does differ much from mine For though we both Plantagenet Adore Yet he has been Betray'd by her before The difference is exceeding great you see She has Affronted him but Conquer'd me Love is at worst a Noble Frailty thought But Love when Scorn'd is justly held a Fault Laty. May I be Pardon'd if I speak my heart King what ' ere you think you freely may impart Laty. May not the Prince then Sir as justly say You are more faulty to Alizia You cease to love her in whose Heart you Reign'd And he but loves her who his Love disdain'd He with the best of Loves extreams is curst But you seem guilty of the very worst His Fault is Sir the lesser of the two You too Inconstant are and she too True King O do not wound me by reminding things Which rather Trouble than Repentance brings Laty. The Fault which you Confess will you Pursue Kiâ—…g We should not Sin and yet we dayly do I owe Alizia more then you can say But what I owe her I want pow'r to pay Plantagenet should onely Wonders do She makes my Fault and does excuse it too Enter to them the Prince and Delaware Prince Sir I am come to make you a Request Which if deny'd I never can be Blest 'T is a Request I beg you to Admit And beg your Pardon too for making it King I 'le grant what e're you ask though ne're so great If t does not concern Plantagenet Prin. Sir It relates to her in some degree But it exceeding'y relates to Me. King Then you are come I doubt to ask again My leave that she may twice your Love disdain Since there is nothing else I can believe Unfit for you to Ask or me to Give And yet that Sin Honour should so detest As you should never make it your request Prin. If 't is a Sin to love her Sir I fear That every Man must Sin that Looks on her King Loving of her which is her Beauties Due From any other is a Sin in you Prin. How can it Sir by you be justly thought That what is Mandkinds Duty is my Fault King You know what Scorn she did to you dispence And in such ways as Height'ned the Offence Without the Blemish of that double Stain She had within your Heart deserv'd to Reign Prin. But had not I through those Fierce Tryals run I had not Merited what I had Won King Too far she in those Guilty Tryals went When she abandon'd you to Marry Kent Prin. His Fate is Nobler who Deserves but Fails Then his who Merits not and yet Prevails King But those Fierce Tryals which she us'd you to Makes her Incapable to Merit you For should she love you now 't would be too late The Wrongs of Honour what can expiate Prin. Her Love when e're Conferr'd will Overpay The Affronts of Scorn and Tortures of Delay Against her Beauties 't were the greatest Fault To think her Love can be too dearly bought King Rather that cruell'st Injury she gave Should all your Scorn and all your Hatred have Then do not Hope I ever will allow That by my leave she twice should Injure you Ask all those
it And Sir you are oblig'd by Honours Laws T' excuse Effects where Friendship is the Cause Prin. Admire not that my Rival I reprove For too much Friendship and too little Love But pardon me since I therein express I prize her Right above my Happiness King Ah generous Prince such Vertues shine in you That you in Love as War must all subdue Prin. Since Sir together we resolve to go And from Plantagenet our Fate to know 'T is fit that we no longer should defer To beg her leave this night to wait on her King But e're we know the Sentence she will give Let us from one another Sir receive A mutual Vow that still we Friends will be Prin. That to our Friendship were an injury It is its own Security you know And does more strongly bind than any Vow Against our Friendship Love in vain contends For though we Rivals are wee 'll both be Friends Yet give your Friend that pity he does seek Who to obey Loves Law must Natures break Exeunt King Edward and Lord Latymer King Never an Act so Insolent was done Affronted by my Pris'ner and my Son Both know Plantagenet is lov'd by me And yet my Rivals both presume to be In my Revenging it I 'le lose no Time Their Sufferings shall be equal to their Crime I 'le make them feel that 't is a dangerous thing To dare to court the Mistress of a King Lat. I beg you not for their sakes but your own Let first this storm of Anger be o'reblown ' Ere you determine what is fit to do Then such Resolves you safely may pursue If Patience guide you not they will esteem Your Passion onely Sir does punish them King Delay in the Affront they cast on me Would be not Patience but Stupidity Lat. Consider I beseech you Sir how they The â—…ow'r of Love not Reasons Pow'r obey Such strange Effects that Passion does produce As for all â—…aults Love is its own Excuse Love does our Noblest Faculties controul 'T is in effect the Feaver of the Soul King My Lord such talk as this I 'le not admit Share not their Guilt by thus excusing it But follow them and let them understand They now are both confin'd by my command This night in which their Love they should have shown I am determin'd to declare my own Since by their Love my Pow'r they injure so I by my Pow'r their Love will punish too Exeunt several wayes Plantagenet Delaware Cleorin The Scene Plantagenets Chamber Dela Those Fires of Love have still most 〈◊〉 been Which though they highly Burn'd have Burn'd unseen And under those which I discover'd now For many years my Conquer'd Heart did bow Admire not yet I could so long disguise From your own Sight the Acting of your Eyes For though the Sun on the Earths face but shines Yet by his Influence he does ripen Mines Your Eyes which Shine at least as Bright as He Perform like him things which you could not see But yet this Breast in which your Beauty Shin'd May boast of Love purer than Gold Refin'd Your Eyes alone perform within may Heart More then the Sun on Mines though help'd by Art As it was just my Love I should display So 't is as just your Will I should Obey Which I shall do when you but speak the word Though 't were to pierce my Heart with my own Sword And nothing in that Action I shall fear But to offend your Image which is there Plan. My Lord I think you from your Sister know The Friendship which I always had for you Yet since your words th' occasion does admit I will my self give you a Proof of it Though your declaring of your Love for me Is in it self no little Injury Yet for my Friendships sake I 'le pardon you If you th' Offence will not again pursue Dela Madam your Justice should this Usage blame You cloud your Cruelty with Friendships name As Judges to the Tortur'd Respite give To lengthen Pain but not to make them live Such Usage yet were for that Servant sit Who durst Adore you and not tell you it Though 't is some Guilt to say I Die for you Yet is that Guilt Madam a Duty too Ah Madam sure you ought not to deny To take the Debt or bid the Debter die You Sentence is too Heavy or too Light You either should me Kill or Save me quite Plan. Since by your self my Lord I now am told Your Love for me is more refin'd than Gold I 'le put it to a Tryal but so vast As never yet that Courted Metal past Know then my Love for which so much you strive Is not alas in my own Pow'r to give The Prince of Wales Dela In Pity say no more Fate never had a Curse like this in store Rais'd to the Charming'st Hope of all the World Into Despair I now from thence am hurl'd You keep that Word to which your self you ty'd And Try me more then ever Gold was Try'd That Glitterring Earth when it has pass'd the Fire Is the Refiners Wonder and Desire But I having Loves Fiery Tryal past Like the Neglected Dross away am cast Cleo. Oh Brother had not Love your Mind deprav'd You 'd think you were not Cast away but Sav'd The Crime you act she calmly does reform Dela Ah! such a Calm is worse than any Storm Cleo. How can the Princess more obliging prove Than to give Friendship when she cannot Love Dela Oh Sister he who to her Love aspires To nothing less can limit his Desires Loves Pow'r must always Friendships pow'r outdo For Love at once is Love and Friendship too Cleo. You should with Joy what she bestows receive She Gives in Friendship all she has to Give And to convince you hers is Great and True She the first hour her Secrets Trusts with you Dela Since to Receive my Love she does deny She by her Anger ought to make me Die That 's the best Proof of Friendship she can give And therefore that alone I can receive He for her Love does grant himself unfit Who can be won t' outlive the loss of it Plan. What I have yet perform'd can but pretend To let you see how much I am your Friend But that my Lord which now I do Design Shall let you see how much I think you mine For by your Councel and Assistance too The life of all my Hopes I will pursue Admire not Shame thus in my Face prevails When I confess I love the Prince of Wales For though th' Affront which I from you receiv'd Does make me blush that after it I liv'd Yet I whether by Weakness or by Fate Still Love that Prince whom I ought most to Hate And how that Love with Honour to pursue Is that in which I ask advice of you Dela starts For he esteems you in such high Degree As you the fittest are to give it me Dela Oh Fate Oh Love why do you both agree To give such Beauty
so much Cruelty Is 't not enough my Flame is scorn'd by you But you would make me help my Rival too And my Resentments higher to Inflame These Wrongs you do me under Friendships name Madam if this if this your Friendship be Ah give me Proofs then of your Cruelty Either bestow on me your Love or Hate This Tyranny surpasses that of Fate Fate onely made me Wretched but 't is you Alas would have me make my self so too To Love you is a Confidence so high As I for it do not refuse to Die But do not let your Doom be so severe As thus to make me my own Murtherer From those Fair Eyes which did my Love create I beg I may alone receive my Fate Plan. Oh why should you be griev'd to this Degree Love which does govern you does govern me 'T is Love gives Laws to us not we to it And to his boundless Pow'r we must submit Since by its Influence of my Love you miss I give you that which of next Value is And hope by Friendships Kindness to remove Your Grief for wanting Pow'r to give you Love Dela Ah Madam How can you that Friendship prize Which could destroy the Conquest of your Eyes And would against its nature make it prove A Rivals help and Mutherer of Love 'T is past the Pow'r of Friendship to bestow Such Joyes as those 't would ravish from me now Yet think not strange that I deny to you What I deny'd my Prince and General too For your Triumphant Eyes since his return Have made his Fire once quench'd more freely Burn This Fatal Secret he to me confess'd And unobey'd made me the like request But yet your Cruelty does his Surpass He did not know that I his Rival was But you who knew it strive to make me do What known to him Love had not forc'd him to Fortune both ways my Torments does advance By Friendships Knowledge and its Ignorance Plan. Ah! that Blest Secret which I learn from you Makes me with Greater Hopes my suit renew For 't were below your Vertue to undo At once my Lord a Friend and Mistress too Sure to that man Loves Pow'r was never known Who valu'd others Joyes above his own Consider since I lov'd him while I thought That his Inconstancy did cause his Fault If any other Love my Breast can fill When from your self I find he loves me still Since 't is my Fate onely the Prince to Love Since therefore all your Hopes must fruitless prove Assist your Prince and Mistress in distress And help that Love which nothing can suppress Quenching by such a Gen'rous Act you Flame From your Misfortune you 'll increase your Fame Retire my Lord and think on what I said I know when Love does once the Heart invade So Pow'rfull is that Passions Influence As 't is not easily remov'd from thence But when alone you weigh what 's ask'd by me Reason and Honour must Victorious be Dela Oh Madam though the Trouble be not light Of being thus commanded from your Sight Yet that torments me in a less Degree Then those Desires which here you lay on me Yet e're I go this Sacred Voyce receive I to Obey you Madam will so Strive As If I can my Flame I will suppress And on my Ruine raise my Happiness But if I quench not Fires which you create Accept the Duty and deplore the Fate Exit Delaware Plan. Go my dear Cleorin and lose no time Improve th ' Impression I have made on hâ—…m For that Blest Secret he reveald to me Shews that on him depends my Destiny Exeunt several wayes Enter Guesclin hastily who meets Delaware Guesc. My Lord I have been seeking you with News Which will at once Horror and Grief infuse My King and your Great Prince are both confin'd Dela From what Black Coast blows this Tempestuous Wind Guesc. By the Lord Latymer I understand They are imprison'd by your Kings command Dela The cause of it did he not let you know Guesc. 'T is what he could not or else would not do Let us by sev'ral ways imploy our care First to discover why they Prisoners are That known we may more hopefully apply To this Misfortune a quick Remedy Dela Let 's hasten to this Work for 't were a Crime In serving them to lose one moments time Exeunt several wayes The SCENE is Plantagenets Bed-Chamber Plantagenet and Valeria's Brother sitting and in Discourse Val. Bro. Th' Assurance Madam which to me you give With Joyes above expression I receive 'T is you alone those Blessings can extend Which both my Merit and my Hopes transcend Plan. You in such moving words your Love have shown As I m Justice could not less have done Some Time and Industry it will require Fairly to reach that End which we desire But leave it to my care if you think fit Val. Bro. She who must make my Fate should govern it While 't is in such fair hands it is secure Enter a Laâ—… hastily Lady Madam the King is almost at the door They both rise up hastily Plan. The King Oh strange Misfortune and so near Val. Bro. What would he think if he should see me here 'T will ruin all which we design'd to do Lady The King does come the way which he should go Exit Lady hastily Plan. By what dire Planet is he hither led I hear him hide your self within my Bed A noise within Valeria's Brother hides himself in Plantagenet's Bed She goes to meet the King Enter the King King Since I enjoy'd at last this long'd for time I hope you will not think it is a Crime Madam If I employ it now to say An Adoration to your Eyes I pay An Adoration Words would ill express For could I tell its Greatness 't would be less So high a Passion ne're was paid before And yet I blush Madam that 't is no more Plan. Do you consider Sir what now you say Such Vows you should but to Alizia pay Sir you mistake to her alone they 'r meant King Ah say not I mistake when I repent You may believe what I now say is true Since of most Love I speak and speak to you To you who have given mine such perfect strength As 't is uncapable of more but length That Falshood might Truths piercing sight escape It slowly moves and in a borrow'd shape But â—…uth which onely fears to be unknown Moves speedily and no disguise puts on Plan. 'T is strange this Love should grow so great so soon King The Dawning of it was a perfect Noon For what such Eyes Madam as yours create Must â—…each Perfection in their first Estate Yet since I did Alizia first Adore I grant I merit this neglect and more But you the name of Tyranuous will win Revenging a Misfortune as a Sin This usage too will an Injustice be You Wrong your Eyes while thus you Punish me Plan. Were there nought else ' I de not be false to her King Beauty should
still a Conquest most prefer Plan. They Tyrants are who to usurp delight King Who has most Bâ—…y has 〈◊〉 Love most right Plan. You wrong your Mistris while my Love you seek And I my Friend in hearing what you speak King To Love another after you are seen A greater wrong Madam in me had been I fully know the great debt which is due To your fair Eyes and to your Vâ—…tues too And it had been below them to have gain'd A Heart in which no Beauty e're has reign'd But mine before had yielded to the Pow'rs Of conquering Charmes which none excel but yours What greater merit can my Passion shew Then thus to leave Alizia to love you This of its vastness is a proof sublime Plan. Ah what you call your Merit is your Crime Since perfect Love in Justice must excel Falshood and her together cannot dwell King That perfect Love is just I grant is true And I prove mine is Just in Loving you Your Eyes which act the Change you so abhor Are my security I 'le change no more Since to the highest Beauty I pretend Blame not if by Degrees I reach that end And as my Love that blessing does pursue So now I find it onely shines in you Enter Alizia and Sevina Aliz. This Duty daily must be paid by me And though 't is late She starts back amaz'd seeing the King Oh Heaven what is 't I see Ah! would these Eyes rather than see this Sight Had been clos'd up by an eternal night King What is it Madam which you thus bâ—…oan Aliz. Can you ask that since you two are alone And at an hour so Guilty as it showes The Falseness of her Friendship and your Vows To me this Sight so vast a Grief does give As makes me wish rather to Die than Live King And Madam 't is some cause of Grief in me To find in you so strange a Jealousie Aliz. If you who do the Wrong Sir can admit Of Grief What then must I that Suffer it But Sir your cause of Grief shall be remov'd My Death shall shew you soon how well I lov'd To Plan. Go treacherous Woman False as thou art Fair Those Hopes you rais'd on your wrong'd Friends Despair Shall soon be blasted for my injur'd Ghost Shall still pursue you for those Joyes I lost Where e're you go revenge it shall invoke And shew you still that Heart your Falshood broke You still shall see it or shall hear it groan And it shall haunt you in his Bed and Throne She offers to go out Plan. Oh go not yet away Sev. At â—…east be pleas'd to hear what she can say Aliz. Whatever she can tell I do dispise I 'le not believe her Words above mine Eyes And I have seen so much as I â—…ow fly To seek out Death my onely Remedy Exeunt Alizia and Sevina Plan. So well her height'ned Spirit Sir I know As what she Threatens she too soon will do If by your instant Kindness or my Care We do not stop th' Effects of her Dispair Forgive me if I leave you to attend The Debts I owe to a Dispairing Friend The King stays her King Oh leave not your Adorer to pursue One who does hate you and usurp'd your due If to receive my Passion you decline Even her Dispair will be less great then mine Plan. Detaâ—…n me not She 'll die through our delay King And I shal die should you thus go away Plan. She needs my help King But does not it implore Plan. Her Case deserves it King Mine deserves it more Plan. Her Grief does wound me King So my Love should do Plan. Your Love 's her debt King 'T is onely due to you A great skreik within Plan. That Fatal Skreik must cut off our debate For my best speed I fear will come too late She breaks from the King and goes out hastily King She 's gone and left me in a deeper Grief Then her's to whom she flies to give Relief She does her Hatred to my Love prefer To me she 's Cruel but she 's Kind to her 'T is Fortune onely or resistless Fate Which governs all the World in Love and Hate The King stands musing a while Valeria's Brother thinking him gone comes from behind the Bed The King lifts up his eyes sees him and starts back Valeria's Brother runs into the Bed again King A Man and here and at this time of night How quickly did He vanish from my sight Does she a Visitant like this admit Though my bad Angel 't were I 'le speak to it The King draws his Sword and goes towards the Bed Who art thou and what is it brought thee here The King plucks Valeria's Brother out of the Bed who trembles but answers not His Tongue is ty'd by Guiltiness or Fear Prepare for Death or else resolve my Doubt He 's silent still what Ho who waiâ—…s without Enter two Courtiers running Since my Commands thy silence cannot break I 'le find ouâ—… Tortures which shall make thee speak Seize on this Mute and with him follow me They seize on Valeria's Brother Why should the Thrones of Kings so envy'd be When such strange Griefs assault me in one hour As make my Sorrows greater than my Pow'r Exeunt The End of the Fourth Act. THE FIFTH ACT. Enter King Edward and Lord Latymer King I Have in short told you my cause of Grief Which is as Just as 't is above Relief Ah! to forsake one in whose heart I Reign'd To Court another who my Flames disdain'd And such a Lovely Youth thus hid by her Are loads too heavy for my Soul to bear Lat. Though Sir the Fair Plantagenet may be Too justly blam'd for one Inconstancy Yet in all else her Vertue such hath been As to suspect it Sir would turn a Sin King Oh she who could for Kent my Son forgo What is it after which she might not do She must have given that Love for which she prest Were not her Heart by other Fires possest I 'le not defame her since she bears my name But she for ever has supprest my Flame Enter Sevina hastily Sev. If with your Love Sir for Alizia You have not thrown your Pity too away Be pleas'd to see where She Despairing lies And with your Hand vouchsafe to close her Eyes King Madam what is 't which her Dispair does move Sev. Oh ask not that when she has lost your Love She did a while that Misery suspect But when the certainty she did detect She had but that our strength was her Relief By one dire blow ended her Life and Grief When from her Hand the Weapon we did wrest Suâ—…h storms of Sighs did crow'd out of her Brest And from her Eyes such streams of Tears did flow As we repented that we stop'd the blow For sure the loss of Life is a less Ill Then that Despair which does possess her still But though we did one sort of Death prevent Yet she on dying Sir is so intent
his Knowledge to Declare And what he Sayes I hope you will Believe King Ed. To what he speaks I still will Credit give Dela I should be too Unworthy of this Trust Should I abuse a King so Great and Just When to the Warrs of Aquitaine I went I made a Friendship with the Earl of Kent Who in a Charge did such deep Wounds receive As finding that he had not long to Live A Messenger in hast for me he sent As soon as e'r I came into his Tent He told me Something on his Heart did lye Which griev'd him more then he was Griev'd to Dye Then in my Hand he did this Letter lay And in a Sigh his Soul did fly away Prin. When you have heard it Read it will Afford Proof of her Vertue King Ed. Read it then my Lord. The Earl of KENT to the Lord DELAVVARE MY Death forces me to discover by what Arts I obtained from the Prince of Wales the faire Plantagenet Before He ador'd her I did and as soon as he fell in Love not knowing mine he made me his Confident but the King being against the match the Prince the better to cloud his reall passion for Plantagenet seem'd to have one for the fair Aurelia but still trusted me with the Superscription Cypher and Seale which he used when he writ to my Plantagenet and I had the fatal employment of carrying all their Letters At length the Glory the Prince wonn at Cressy joyn'd with his grief for the King's denyal conquer'd his Father and the Day was appointed for his marrying Plantagenet which if not prevented I found would be the Day of my Death This I imparted to my Mother who had no small ascendant over Plantagenet and by my Mothers advice I got the Prince to write a Letter to Aurelia whom I seem'd to be passionatly in Love with wherein he beg'd her pardon for having counterfeited a Love to her when his was otherwise disposed of but to repair it he earnestly recommended me to her affection as most worthy of it This Letter I seal'd and superscribed with the Cypher the Prince alwayes made use of to Plantagenet Prince's passion for Aurelia that this letter being delivered to Plantagenet Prince's Prince's inconstancie that in the dictates of those resentments she gave her self to me whereunto my Mothers Friendship with her did highly contribute The Prince in despair undertakes the war with France and I soon after disguised to all but you follow'd him in hope by some great action to wash off the Guilt my Love forced me to contract but here I met my Death Tell them all this and that I hope their hatred to me will be buried in my Grave Dela This Letter till this day I have conceal'd For Causes Sir unfit to be Reveal'd Prin. I hope you find in what he did relate She was not Guilty but Unfortunate King Ed. I must confess these Arts which Kent did use Doe her forsaking you too much Excuse Prin. Since this has wash'd off her imagin'd Stain Give me your leave to love her Sir again King Ed. I would not have defam'd her but I see To cure his Love there 's but that Remedy No Prince the Sin she did last night Commit Makes her for ever for your Love unfit Prin. Oh Heaven must I endure a new Assault Tell me I beg you Sir this Fansied Fault For she is of such an unblemish'd Fame As I can give it well no better Name But Sir to try me this perhaps is done King Ed. I doe not use to trifle with my Son And I beleive you I credit what I said When I my self found hid within her Bed A Lovely Youth who since is dumb with Fear My Lord bring instantly that Pris'ner here to Latimer Exit Latimer Prince Though I my self what you have said should see Yet I would think my Eyes were False not She. King Ed Since to your Witness I did credit give Methinks what I have said You should Believe Prin. Forgive me if her Vertue and my Love Forc'd me to speak what may your Anger move Fate never man to such a streight did bring I must offend my Mistress or my King Esteem her Guilty or not Credit you That Sir I cannot this I Dare not Doe Enter Latimer and Valeria's Brother King Io. Valeria's Brother Love is just I see Since he Revenges my inconstancy And makes him punish his fair Sister 's wrong King Ed. If still thy Fear has not ty'd up thy Tongue Discover to the King and to my Son How thou by Charmes Plantagenet hast won I found thee in her Bed there 's no Excuse Valer. Broth. Sir that 's a place which few men would refuse Enter Plantagenet Alizia Cleorin Sevina and all the Women Shall not one moment stay thy Destiny Plan. The Words and Anger of the King are High Alizia Sir and I but now did hear That with this Gentleman you Angry were We come to beg you to forgive his Crime King Ed. Of all the World you should not plead for Him For you by it so Great a Guilt do show As I had rather but suspect then know Plan. I know not what you mean by what you said King Ed. You know not too you hid him in your Bed Plan. Who could to you that Secret Sir declare Kig Io. Oh Heaven does she Confess then he was there Val. Bro That Sir I hope is no Offence to you do King Io. False Youth to me what worse Wrong could'st thou Val Bro. I thought my Sister had your Heart possest King Io. But did'st thou not from her to me protest She bid thee help me if I ere should be In Love with any one more Fair then She Val. Bro. And doe you Sir confess that you are so King Io. Those Charming Eyes must every Heart ore'throw Val. Bro. This Guilt in you will cause her Death I fear King Io. Thy Guilt to me is more then mine to her What do'st thou aile thou tremblest and lookst pale Val. Admire not Grief does or ' my soul prevail When to Valeria's self such Words you said taking off her Disguise As Sir does make her wish that she were Dead But though she 's killd by your Inconstancy Yet in your Armes she begs your leave to Dye she faints Plantagenet holds her up Plan. She faints Ah Sir that Guilty Change in you King Io. Oh Madam blame not what you made me doe Plan. Sir 't is not Just to charge your Fault on me King Ed. Is it Valeria then King Io. Yes Yes 't is she Her Broth'rs face so much resembles hers As I deluded by the clothes she wears Did to her self my Change in Love avow Prince The Clouds of my Despair do vanish now And Charming Hopes in me begin to Reign Plan. Give her more Air for now she Breaths again Valeria is set in a Chair King Ed. Oh I the fair Plantagenet did wrong Prince The Proofs that she is Guiltless are so strong As I now
beg you will no more deferr To give me leave to make my Court to her Alizia Sir in the Princes Suit I also Joyne King Ed. Her Vertue now does with such Lustre Shine As to Repair my having Injur'd it I his Addresses to her doe permit Prince In this more then a Father you appear Tâ—…s less to Give me Life then Grant me Her But Sir before this Blessing I pursue I must do Justice to my Rivall too Sir I did promise you on her to wait speaks to K. Iohn And from her Sentence to receive my Fate This Promise I am ready to Performe King Io. No Heart did ere endure so Fierce a Storm Who can support those burthens which I bear My Vowes confirm me here my Passion there By leaving her my Noblest Hopes I end And by not leaving her I Wrong my Friend Some Sacred Pow'r teach me what I should doe Plan. Your Honour â—…indes you Sir to keep your Vow She told me Sir that Sacred Oath you Swore That you no other Beauty would Adore And though you often for her Love did press Yet still Misfortune brought to you Distress She never could though she did often strive Perswade herself his Passion to receive But then all Danger Sir She did Despise And came to Visit you in this Disguise But oh what Horror did her Soule invade When she o're heard what you to Guesclin said Of that unhappy Love you had for me She for that wound no better Cure could see Then to make me her freind and Confident King Io. Ah what for me could Fortune worse invent Love she deny'd when t' would have made me Joy And onely gives it now 't is to Destroy Plan. This Sir by Vow she ty'd me to conceal Till you to me your Passion should reveal Beleiving that would be the fittest time To tell you and Convince you of your Crime In which I promis'd my Assistance too All I have told you hapned Sir when you to King Ed. Did unexpected visit me last night Which put us both into so great a fright I least Ill Thoughts in you it might create Finding a man suppos'd with me so late And she to be discover'd did so dread As Sir I did conceal her in my Bed Where I forgot her in my Freinds Despair King Io. Madam we wait till you your Doom Declare Plan. Oh let not Sir my Sentence make you Doe What Love and Honour now doe call you to She Merits you so Bright her Love does Shine And Sir the Prince of Wales possesses mine Behold the fair Valeria does revive If you 'l Aske Pardon she 'll a Pardon Give She your past Fault but for a Dâ—…eam will take If Sir she finds you True when she does wake King Io. I can no more your Pow'r so high does rise Refist your Sentence then I could your Eyes And those Commands which now on me you say I beg you will Assist me to Obey Plan. You have your King so wounded with your Grief To Valeria That he as much as you does need Releif King Io. With an Afflicted Soul I waite on you To my own Fault and beg your Pardon too Madam I hope a Love which ne're shall Dye Will expiate one short Inconstancy Valeria Ah! though I ne're more Reparation fought Then Sir that you should see and owne your Fault Yet you my Heart so wounded by your Crime As to recover it requires some Time King Io. Though I this Penance Madam must deplore Yet I must grant my Fault does merit more Prince Now Sir to raise our Joys above Increase To this great King give Liberty and Peace King Ed. Those Offers which I always did Decline To Gratify you both I now will Signe King Io. While in this way my Freedome you Restore You and the Prince make me your Pâ—…s'ner more Your former Conquest Sir to tâ—…is must Yield This wins my Friendship â—…t but won the Feild King Ed. This is a Conquest we delight to owne 'T is more to gain your Friendship then your Throne Now all th' Alarm 's of Love and War shall cease And yeild their roomes to the soft Joyes of Peace The Curtaine falls PROLOGUE TO THE KING THe Poet Sir has offer'd to your sight An English prince whose Fame appear'd so Bright As never any since his time was known To shine with clearer Lustre but your Own For though Immortal Honour he did gain By conquering France and by restoring Spain Yet Sir you brought Three Kingdomes to Remorse And gain'd by Vertue more then he by Force Which Sir on you a greater Name bestows By conquering Them by whom he conquered Those 'T is more by Vertue England to o'recome Then by the English to beat Christendome As when the Universe was to be made The Vast Design was on the Waters laid So you in Conquering it like Method keep Laying your first Foundation in the Deep Though the Black Prince so happy Sir did prove As to be Crown'd with Victory and Love Yet Sir he knows from you he may receive A Nobler Crown then War or Love can give This makes him like the Poet trembling stand Till Sir that Crown be given him by your Hand FINIS Tryphon A TRAGEDY As it was Acted By his HIGHNESS THE Duke of YORK 's SERVANTS Written by the RIGHT HONOURABLE THE Earl of Orrery LONDON Printed by T. N. for H. Herringman at the Sign of the Blue Anchor in the lower walk of the New Exchange 1669. THE PROLOGUE Spoke By Mr Nokes and Mr Angell A. HOld hold N. Why Sir A. What is 't you mean to say N. I mean to speak the Prologue to the Play A. Therefore to stop you I esteem it fit N. The Poet then will not be thought a Wit A. A wit Forsooth N. Yes Sir a wit A. What 's that N. A wit is in one word I know not what A. Of that kind Title give your Poet Ioy. A wit is then in French A je ne scay quoi A modish Name N. Yet Sir that Name to gain How many of our Writers crack their brain A. That 's a mistake for who 'd that Name contract Must e're he Court it first his brain have crackt To be a Wit believe me Sir 't is true Is the worst State a Man can Fall into The Wits first vow is that they none will spare But jeer at every Creature that they dare And the No-Wits these Wits so dis esteem That they give Money oft to hiss at them 'T is the Wits Nature or at best their Fate Others to scorn and one another hate They would be Sultans if they had their will For each of them would all his Brothers kill N. Hold Sir the Wits you too severely school A. I say to be a Wit 's to be a Fool For who but such a Creature would not grudge T' have any one for half a Crown his Iudge Nay toil that he such a wise Act may do Then lets the Players get the half Crown too N.
soon some late but all must Burn at last Your Fate you rather should Applaud then Blame Since you must Burn that 't is in such a Flame Try To wear her Chaines Seleucus is to Me A Happiness transcending Liberty Then doe no longer think it is my Love But 't is my Friendship does my Torment prove Since with Demetrius I did once contract I never yet in Thought or Word or Act Yielded to what might it in Question call But now I feare Seleucus that I shall For while that he by me employ'd has been To Court fair Cleopatra for my Queen This other Beauty has so Conquer'd me As without her thy Prince must Wretched be Which justly my Demetrius will offend Hard choice when I must wrong my Love or Friend Sel. Is this Sir the Misfortune you Lament Try You ask as if Fate could a Worse have sent Sel. Demetrius would not Merit your Esteem If that which makes your Joy should Trouble him Try Yet that I shall offend him I must Grieve Sel. Such an Offence as this hee 'l soon Forgive Try My Grief though he forgave it would not end 'T is sad to need the Pardon of a Freind Sel. 'T is more when Fortune does a Subject bring To such a height as to Forgive his King That Glory will the heaviest Wrong outweigh Try Through all this Darkness I might see some Day If my Demetrius e're in Love had bin For then hee 'd judge this Change my Fate not Sin Lovers still pay to Love a deep Respect And where Love is Causes excuse th' Effect Sel. At my request Sir banish all your Care Leave it to me to manage this Affair Try Ah if to this thou giv'st a Happy End Thou hast for ever made thy King thy Freind Embracing him 'T is not enough that he forgives my Sin He must be still my Friend as he hath been For know I need my Sorrows to remove As much his Freindship as my conquerors Love Since if to Win the Last I Lose the First I shall thereby at once be Blest and Curst They goe out The End of the second Act THE THIRD ACT. The SCENE an obscure grove Enter Cleopatra and Hermione Cleo. DOe not my Deare Hermione admire That to this Gloomy Grove I did retire Since here I thought I could my Heart Reveal While the kind Shade my Blushes did Conceal But now I find I 'm in as High a Fright To tell my Fate in Darkness as in Light Shame like the World when it in Chaos lay Knows not distinction betwixt Night and Day Ah judge what are my Troubles since I fear Their sad Relation from my self to hear Her No such Just cause of Grief your Fate can send As Madam at this rate to use your Friend 'T is by that Pow'rfull Name I beg again That you 'l from me no longer hold your Pain Perhaps I may the Cause of it remove Cleo. Oh tell me first have you been e're in Love Her Why Madam doe you ask Cleo. Because I know That none can ease my Pain that is not so Her I was but Love to Friendship did submit Cleo. Ah 't was not Love if ought could Conquer it You lov'd not well or knew his Pow'r but Ill That say you were in Love and are not still The Name of Love for Love it self you took Since Reall Love can never be forsook Had yours been True you might as well have swore You doe not Live as that you Love no more Her What you have spoken does methinks declare You to the Pow'r of Love no stranger are But would you thus reproach me if you knew That what you now condemn I did for you Cleo. Why did you cease to be in Love for me Her By many Proofs I did so clearly see That such a Pleasing Sadness conquer'd you As I to Love could judge it only due And since Your Heart and Mine were still so like I fear'd one Arrow both of us did strike Cleo. Ah say not that your Heart resembles Mine Since you once Lov'd and could your Love decline Not can I fancy who this Man can be Whom you could leave yet think could Conquer me Her Aretus is Cleo. Aretus did your name Her And at that word your Face is in a Flame What Friendship should have done your Blushes doe They are to me more Kind and Just then you Why has Hermione been thus abus'd Cleo. May not one blush that 's wrongfully accus'd Her But my Belief on a sure ground is built I see your Love to him to me your Guilt Madam a Blush when Love is in the case Is in Effect the Conscience of the Face Though in this Secret you my Faith did doubt Deny it not now I have found it out Cleo. Too much your Friendship I have Wrong'd and Try'd My Blushes tell you what my Words deny'd Alas I fear I for Aretus prove That Fatall State the World does call in Love Yet doe not since I did but Hide my Flame Condemn my Friendship but Commend my Shame Nor blame me if to you I fear'd to show What of my self I am asham'd to know But my Hermione since you could see That Pow'rfull Passion which has Conquer'd me Spight of my Care to Cloud it oh I fear It may to others as to you appear Should that befall me which so much I dread Honour and Grief would justly strike me dead Her That Fear you ought not Madam to admit Cleo. How did you then come to discover it Her That Grief which when retir'd you still exprest Made me Suspect what now you have confest For she who Greives while courted by a King Shews that such Grief alone from Love can spring And when I found you Lov'd I quickly knew Your Love could be but to Aretus due Which since you have acknowledg'd give me leave To aske why Tryphon's Love you did receave Was not Ambiton in your soul too strong Cleo. Doe not at once my Love and Viâ—…tue wrong For if I had Aretus Passion known I would have valu'd it above a Throne Her But now t is known why is it not embrac'd Cleo. Because my word was first to Tryphon past Her As you my Love so I your Love must blame Since you before your Love prefer your Fame Cleo. I should appear unfit for his Esteem Did I not value more my Word then Him And this great Pleasure to my Act is due That which does lose me him deserves him too Ah why did not Aretus let me see That Passion which you say he has for me Before my Promise was to Tryphon past Her But why to give it did you make such hast Cleo. I fear'd that he who did my Heart subdue Would my Hermione have seen it too And I his Love for ever would decline Rather then he should first discover mine T was fitter since I ow'd it to my Fame To suffer Ruine then to merit Shame Her But e're you did admit the Kings Address Aretus looks did
Gods let me not see That you can have so Low a thought of me For then I 'l rather my own Death Pursue Then owe the saving of our Lives to you I would have had you to my Love pretend By ways which were proportion'd to the End And would have had you though your Hopes were Crost Yet to have Merited what you have Lost More Grief in such Revenge I might then find Then in this mean one you have now design'd For when true Honor in a Soul does Raigne To bâ—… ingratefull is the fowlest Staine And she must in her Breast feel more Remorse That is orecome by Merit then by Force Seleu. Merit would have but plaid a Hopeless part When he by Inclination had your Heart Madam it would have much encreast my woe To have Deserv'd you and have Lost you too Cleo. And yet both these had been an Easier Fate Then not to Merit me and Merit Hate Ah! when you thought that he my Heart had won By that which you call Incination You then should by Desert and not Despaire Have cast him thence and fixt Seleucus there This might perhaps have been perform'd by you Had you reveng'd my Wrongs and Syria's too And this Perhaps though Late may yet be done Sel. Ah Madam I to your Revenge will run If you to me will now a Promise give That when 't is acted you 'l my Love receive Cleo. Ah Run not thus into another Fault Love would not be what t is could it be bought Arâ—… Why Madam should he now rewarded be For doing that from which he hinders me Pay not so high a price for our Repreive Cleo. My Love Aretus is my own to give Arâ—…t Yet to your Love give him not a pretence By that which cannot wash off his Offence Cleo. Death would to me Seleucus happier prove Then if I made a Bargain for my Love Seleu. Madam I beg that it your Gift might be Cleo. Doing your Duty you should trust to me Stra. Alass why should you her Unkindness dread When so much Merit on your side shall plead Nic. Consider should you run your Fatal way The present Times and Times to come will say Because Seleucus in his Love had fail'd He on his Country Tyrannie â—…tayl'd A Sin so black t' were better to submit To slighted Love then bear the Guilt of it Cleo. But though to sell my Love I do abhom She offers to kneel and be hinders her Yet on my knees your Virtue I Implore To free your Country and remove our Fears And to those Pray'rs behold I add these Tears She weeps Since t' was your Love forc'd you to doe these Wrongs This Reparation to your Love belongs Seleucus Mâ—…ses a while gazing on Cleopatra Seleu. Love â—…l with a resistless Power appears When Beauty Pleads the Cause and speaks in Tears The fiercest storms which over Souls has Pow'r Cannot but be supprest by such a Show'r I Can no Longer my hard Temper keep 'T is less to Loose you then thus make you weep In you and in my Services I 'l trust They shall be Great and you I know are Just Thus Clouds a while may the Suns Light Confine But when they Vanish it does brighter shine Sel. to Are. Now brave Aretus wee 'l together prove Who has the Highest Title to her Love Are. When of most Merit you can truly boast Then I deserve she should to me be Lost. Dem. to Stra. Madam your Wrongs call me with them to go So does the Duty I to Syria Owe. Sel. Then against Tryphon Let us all declare The Guards which I have brought my Creatures are And I even Long till I his Blood have spilt The Victim due both to my Love and Guilt We must this Moment kill him by surprise Our Safety now in Expedion Lies Nica. Deme. Aret. and Seleucus goes out Cleo. Sure 't is the Gods that thus their Hearts Incline Stra. And may the Gods smile too on their designe Cleo. You both must to the Tyrants Pallace go To Hermione and Irene And Let us hourly all that Passes know Cleopatra Stratonice Hermione and Irene goe out The SCENE is Tryphons Pallace Tryphon alone Demetrius Knowes ' ere now that t is a thing Too bold to be a Rival to a King And in his Ruine Stratonice shall see Nothing is dearer then her Love to me Nor dare Nicanor my Address detâ—…st Who by such Proofe he finds I 'm not in Jest Aretus still so proud A heart did show As I long ow'd him what I pay him now My faithfull Freed Man Arcas I have sent Sooner to learn of my Revenge th' Event Arcas Runs in hastily and affrighted Arcas Sir you are lost Try What makes thee so affraid Ar. Oh Sir you by Seleucus are Betray'd Try This News my Soul do's with Amazement â—…ill Arcas He 's Joyn'd with those whom he was sent to kill My hast hath almost robb'd me of my Breath And Sir with them your Guards conspire your Death The People too call for your head aloud And to those Traitors in whole troops they croud Try Arcas who told this fatal news to thee Ar. Sir what I tell you I my self did see And through the streets they March'd at such a rate As they must now be near the Pallace Gate Which is abandon'd Sir by all the Guards Brib'd by Seleucus Arts or his Rewards If you would fly you should not loose your time Try Death 's but a Punishment but Flight a Crime I 'l rather Loose my Life then they shall see That ought which they can do can frighten me The name of King by no base act I 'l Blot Nor Dying loose the Fame my Life has got Arcas Were but these Words Sir to the Syrians known They yet would grant that you deserve the Throne To me you seem so Generous and High That fighting by your side I mean to Die Try Dost thou then think I will with Traytors fight Ar. Sir you disdain to save your self by Flight Try But who like me a Kingdom did Command Should scorn to Die by any Subjects hand No No he Merits not to fill a Throne Who when Fate calls dares not imploy his own 'T would be the Traytors Glory as their Guilt If they could say that they my Blood had spilt Go watch their coming in the outward Roome And when they Enter say aloud they Come Mean while for such a Death I will prepare As shall Deserve thy kindness and thy care Arcas stays weeping and fixes his eyes on Tryphon Will Arcas then my last Request deny Ar. Sir I but begg that I with you may Dye Try They will surprise me by this fond delay Arc. Since you will have it so I must obey Arcas goes out Try This turn I owe to Cleopatra's Eyes Yet since I am depriv'd of Stratonice My Death which they united do conspire Is not my Fear but that which I Desire Tryphon goes to an elevated place like a Throne seats himself in 〈◊〉 then