you 're most to Kings inclin'd Because your Stars have one for you design'd But if such charms the very name does bring Think what 's the honour then to make a King Gab. I 'm now a Slave such thoughts become not me Guise If you will love a King you shall be free Gab. I love none else and that is but his due Guise You love a King then Gab. Yes tho it be you Guise Vouchsafe your hand Upon your Iuror look takes it By this fair hand and thus I kiss the Book kisses it Next day by this time I will set you free But one Oath more Again And once again for more security Exeunt Guise and Pericart Gab. Thy help Armida for the storm grows high Armid I heard him and my counter Plots will try I have gain'd Pericart and am to go This hour unto a Friend whose faith I know We must shift cloaths and you depart in mine And so you may escape his bad design Gab. You have all thanks that gratitude can give And to requite you I must only live But when the Duke returns and misses me Armida what will then become of thee Armid I know his Spirits fierce but brave and true And he 'l respect me for regarding you I 'l no excuses frame as for a crime Since in his need I 'd do as much for him Gab. But dearest Friend why should thy love for me Be more advent'rous than my love for thee Armid Madam his Passion 's like a furious wind And Love 's the raging tempest of the mind If a fair stately Cedar stand i' th' way Scorning the Winds rough courtship to obey Its blustring rage will more and more abound In hopes to lay the Cedar on the ground But if when he returns the Cedar's gone And he no object have to blow upon He 'l rage a while but soon his fury lay And he himself will blow his Storm away Gab. Thy wit has Empire in 't I 'l not contest I hope thy Genius guides thee for the best Exeunt SCENE II. The Court Enter Chateauneuf Bonneval Chaten Altho my Fortune's bad it is not strange Since the Kings heart is so inclin'd to change His thoughts can ne'r be fixt you may as soon Cut out and fit a Vesture for the Moon Inconstant winds to fewer points will vere Than he to Ladies if he think 'em fair Bon. You have too tender and too quick a sense Which catches at the shadows of offence And yet this jealousie does plainly prove You claim no small share in great Henry's love Chat. I 'l either have no share or I 'l have all They who love right can never lower fall True Lovers all like greatest Gamesters set And will not let By-standers have a Bet. Bon. Like Men both great and rich you have such store Scarce with conveniency you can manage more Yet still like them you are so greedy found Envying the poor to look but on your Ground Chat. Desist my Friend it would ev'n patience vex Custome and Nature both against our Sex Nature 's a Bungler not to make us strong As th' other Sex to vindicate a wrong To seek amends for any great abuse In them is Honour impudence in us Enter King Grillon He and Bonneval aside King Madam I 'm told by Grillon you 're severe In your discourse as I inconstant were Of what you tax me you may guilty prove And injure Truth that Confident of Love Chat. Whereshall we seek for Truth that injur'd Maid Despis'd on Earth is to Astraea fled In Cottages despis'd she may remain For I alas have searcht the Court in vain King You wrong your self such doubtings to pursue Why should not I persist in loving you Chat. Believe it Sir I now can plainly see You share not any part of love with me Else you 'd the causes of my doubts perceive As well as I the causes you do give With what content and pride your love I 'd own But I have lost it and for one unknown King That Iealousie is rash I daily see 't But ne'r before knew it so indiscreet Can you believe I should my love withdraw From your fair eyes for those I never saw As I should leave the Sun and its known light To search for greater in the womb of night Chat. Yet Fancy most inclines to what is new And knowledge cannot please as hopes can do When Grillon's frantick praises speaks his Prize O Heav'ns what joy what love shoots from your eys Your loose Imaginations are surpriz'd And I forfond Chymera's am despis'd King There is no hope to alter such a doubt When I have made my Love so fairly out Has not my Kingdome taxt me of the Crime Of slighting other Beauties of the Time Great Criminals justly condemn'd to death Begg'd a new life and gain'd it in your breath Honour and Riches which the World beguile From Heav'n it self were purchas'd with your smile What then can more be said My Love t' advance You Madam govern him who governs France Chat. To what we wish how eas'ly we incline My doubts disperse and joys begin to shine I am content so you 'l a Promise make You 'l not my Love for this Unknown forsake And when she 's found tho you must her prefer Yet you will look on me as much as her And tho you cannot Love me half so well I 'l not believe it so you do not tell I 'd rather have you Murder me this Night Then let me live to morrow for a slight King Thy merit and thy beauty thou maist trust Whilst I am wise or generous or just Exit Chat. Grillon about your charge but first command Turning to him Larchant to wait me here Gril. I 'm now unchain'd Gets from Bonneval She followes and said Bon. You vow'd to talk a day with me Gril. 'T is right And so I will but now it is almost night Ext. Gril. and Bon. Enter Larchant King Larchant how hast thou sped Larch As I desir'd No sooner come for Grillon she inquir'd My proffer'd service took and thankt me for 't By which pretence I got her to the Court King How is her Beauty Larch O Sir so refind It dazles th' Eye and strikes the ravisht mind All o'r warm Christal Sir with Sun beams lin'd Strugling for ease th' imprison'd splendor lyes And breaks the Iayl thro' th' Windows of her Eyes King I long to see this Wonder Now hold proof Distracted Heart and hold fast Chateauneuf Exeunt SCENE III. Guises Lodgings Enter Guise Cardinal Pericart Guise THis divelish Fry'r with his strange Scenes of fate Has much confus'd my thoughts and present State Of Blood and Honour who would hazard run To do what must now in few days be done Let us lye close upon our Guard aud wait The timely ripening of approaching fate I know I 'm not by Heav'n design'd to do 't Since here is something that disswades me fro't Points to 's breast Card. Rather 't is your ill
Gabriel Larch Behold Sir more than all your France can boast King A Beauty wherein Nature spar'd no cost No Mortal sure Gab. Sir your poor subject born King Fair sweet and fresher than a Summers morn Salutes her Has France such treasures in 't Let haughty Spain Ne'r boast her Quarries nor her Mines again Gab. Great Princes Sir sometimes low subjects raise As you are pleas'd to lift me up with praise It speaks your pow'r and humours your great mind To show what you can do when you 're inclin'd King Let not my sudden Love make it seem less Because the greatest things have their increase Perfection Madam and that 's only you Can free a heart at first and keep it true Gab. Loves at first sight like inflam'd follies are Seem like to Stars i' th' Sky but fix not there King If in this cruelty you still proceed You 'l make my Love a Meteor then indeed They threaten misery to all beneath And seldome blaze but 'gainst a Prince's death O Chateauneuf thy goodness I must try I either must inconstant prove or dy Chat. Your change instead of blame has my applause Since now inconstant for so good a Cause Your pardon Sir I am inconstant too And now will change my Love as well as you Heav'n is my choice who would for Lovers care When Kings inconstant or else mortal are Come Bonneval associate of my Vow Bon. Madam I never thought of this 'till now I 'l wait upon you tho till I be fit When that will be Heav'n knows but 't is not yet Chat. Come Bonneval let 's from the Court retire Where satisfaction never meets desire Where raging Passions all our Souls distress Searching for pleasures that can never please Where one of those great Torments always move Either to be belov'd or else to Love Exeunt Chat. and Bon. Gab. Your pardon Sir have I my freedome here King Free as your thoughts Gab. Then Sir I must declare My Love is tender conscienc'd as I am And ne'r will enter on anothers claim Whilst there are Free-Estates enow to buy I 'l ne'r a controverted Title try Nor build on others ruines King yet 't is known Rome that the Empire of the World did own From others less Estates its own did raise Gab. But must success legitimate our praise Then Caesar Sir may be accounted just Wh ' inslav'd that Rome to Tyranny and Lust. King Madam that way my Love shall ne'r proceed Rather than raise your blush my heart shall bleed Gab. I see my safety through your vertue shine Your honour is security for mine King Madam to gain the honour of your Love By services and Pray'rs I 'l only move And those obtain all blessings from above Exeunt King Larchant Gab. My better half I have not thee imbrac'd Imbraces Arm. Our miseries I hope are well near pass'd Thoughts of your fate methinks a doubt does bring Whether your Stars or beauty gain'd the King Gab. You have forgot He must my State advance Who is not now but shall be King of France But this crown'd Man or that shall never move My faithful Passion from my unknown Love He has left one here so lawfully possest Will grant admittance to no other Guest I 'm all inflam'd and scorch'd so with desire I have not fuel for another fire Arm. Madam some happy turn you now must have For when Heav'n did you from that Ruine save It vouch'd a future blessing Thus when night Is past we may expect the morning light Gab. Come let us walk and some close Arbour find And thou shalt hear some workings of my mind A Song I made for my sad fate design'd Exeunt Enter Navar. Nav. Thy Conquest Love how far wilt thou pursue What wilt thou triumph o'r my ruines too Is 't not enough to stormand take the Town Nay plunder too but thou wilt burn it down Cupid before ne'r show'd such pow'rful charms To fix his Trophies in the midst of Arms. Courage and Glory claim'd in me a part Yet He out-rival'd both and won my heart ' Midst Swords and Death he at his Prey did fly And seiz'd on 't in the face of Victory But tho I may be of my Conqu'rour proud Yet I Ixion like still court a Cloud Enter Grillon Navar not seeing him I Love I know not whom my Love is blind And seeks about for one it cannot find Gril. We 'r both betwitch'd then for 't is my fate too And I am Sir as much to seek as you Nav. I' th' Wood at Blois where thou didst take my part I got the Victory but lost my heart Gril. Death Sir and so did I. Nav. Her I adore Deserv'd all admiration Gril. Mine did more Nav. Her beauty did above all others shine She was some Angel Gril. So I doubt was mine For she is flown from Earth Nav. So is mine too Let 's make strict search Gril. Sir I will wait on you 'T would be a plaguy Spite tho when all 's known If both these beauties Sir should prove but one They hear the tuning of a voice and Essays at a Tune Navar steals out towards the Arbour Gril. steps and lissens to this SONG by Gabril unseen LOve shot himself into my breast like flame And soon as ever there he came My heart was all in fire Nothing so scorching as Desire Yet in those flames I fry And tho I ev'ry minute try I cannot cannot oh I cannot dy Like Love I 'm blind stark blind although I see No object fits my Eyes but He. I had him once in view When like departing breath he flew Each night I wishing lie Wasting my soul in every Sigh Yet cannot cannot oh I cannot dy My Soul can never from my Body part ' Til I find him who has my heart When I that blessing spy O I betwixt his Arms could dy But 'till I be possest Of joys that now are only guest I cannot cannot oh I cannot rest Gril. My Ears are now bewitch'd as were my Eyes And I must love that beauty and this voice Suppose they should be parted I 'd be loath To have but one of them Faith I 'l have both Exit Enter Gabriel and Armida Navar follows and stops Gabriel Nav. O! Madam I upon my knees implore That you would let me look a little more I ne'r to any purpose look'd before Enter Grillon Gab. Your Eyes were ill imploy'd then Gril. Death 't is true This is the Voice and this the Beauty too Where have those Eys been hid or where have miâ—â— That all this time I could not see 'em shine Armi. You love her voice you lov'd her Eys before Gril. I love her voice her Eyes I love all o'r Was not my Iudgment right Sir this is she Nav. I Grillon nay the world must rival thee Madam I 've seen you Gab. Bless me who are you She fairts in Armid `sa ms I am not wel Methinks I 've seen you too Nav. O for some Cordials Grillon
Passions ought now to retreat And I by his example must be great Enter Navar putting up his Sword and Plessis and Guards Nav. Sir here I come humbly to beg of you T' accept those services which were your due And tho with that great honour they are grac'd They 'l but attone for my offences pass'd King Sir I was passionate as well as you Gril. Death who can tell the faultiest of the too Nav. Nature in all our souls sows precious seeds Vertues are flowers and Vices are the Weeds Gril. Your souls those curious Gardens are not free But you your passions have as well as we King We were not men else Sir to let you know That I can be as generous as you Of your three Presents here I thus dispose My life and Grillon I will only chuse This third so rich a recompence will be Points to Gab. and gives her That with one favour here I pay for three Nav. This royal gift contains so vast a sum It pays for all my services to come King Dear Chateneuf thou formerly we'rt given To acts of mercy imitate then Heaven Forgiveness without crimes had never been As Sun-beams after Clouds more chearful seen My roving Heart neglectful of its rest Forsook the lovely Palace of your breast Then Idly for another rang'd about And found one there but justly was shut out Points at Gab. Th' afflicted Prodigal does home retire Stript from all vanities of loose desire Half-starv'd it begs refreshment at your fire Chat. 'T is only Pitty now that can me move King Let me gain Pitty and I 'l merit Love Nor can you doubt my Passion to be true Since I leave Gabriel and return to you Gril. In all my Love designs yet I am crost To Bonneval Bon. I scorn a Gamster that to all has lost Gril. My Title 's forfeit then to womankind Yet I a nobler Mistress hope to find 'T is Madam Honour she delights in War She is a Mistress worth contending for This Leaguer-Lady for in Camps she 's bred Does all the Beauties of the Court exceed She asks no Riches but those gain'd in Wars Wounds for her Ioynter for her Iewels Scars Vict'ry and Fame she does for Portion yield At last her Marriage bed some well fought Field And then to prove her Virgin vertue good Her Mayden-head is alwayes got in Blood Nav. Such a description and so drawn to th' Life Plainly declares th' hast gain'd her to thy Wife Now I 've more hopes than e're I had before Since Grillon thou wilt rival me no more Gril. Not Sir in Love troth 't is not worth the while Love's favours are but like an April smile Clouded each day or wept away in showers King But Sir you better know to use your hours To Navar. It is a maxime amongst Lovers known All time is lost but when they are alone Takes out Chateauneus Exeunt omnes praeter Navar and Gabriel Nav. 'T is a great truth of which we make small use Why should we such a precious treasure lose We are not yet alone Gab. Here 's no one by Nav. Too many Madam since there 's you and I. Gab. I 'l then withdraw and leave you here alone Nav. You 'l leave but half of me when you are gone Gab. I understand you not Nav. Ah! this does prove You are unknowing in the rules of Love We talk we look we touch yet still are poor And ' midst of such enjoyments long for more There is a thing we know not call'd delight Nor never shall until our Souls unite Love is in Union plac'd And whilst we 're two We Love not we alass but only woo Gab. I know not then how Lover's souls can joyn Unless when mine is yours and yours is mine Nav. How can we at this distance gain such blisses Unless we breath 'em mutually in chast kisses Madam when Heav'n does Soul and Body joyn O! that is Love And that Love is divine Gab. But whilst our souls alternately rejoyce And rest contented in their purer choice Why should our Bodies with their sensu'l weight Retard our Souls in their more active flight Nav. Madam 't is true our glorious souls praeside Our Bodies and our greatest actions guide No Love within the Body can begin Without assistance from that God within Yet both must act whilst they on Earth reside Their faculties are vainly else imploy'd Gab. My Love as lasting as my soul receive For I no mortal thing to you would give You more oblig'd me than the World can do And by that rule I would be thankful too Nav. You in your nice distinctions cruel prove To keep the Body and bestow your Love Like those who rich Estates and Iewels give Yet will not yield possession whilst they live Gab. To the most precious gist I was inclin'd Because 'till Death Love cannot be refin'd Nav. That credit Love has lost let us restore A d by our Loves show what it was before Love and the World together did begin And did out-shine the Sun Before it clouded was with sin Such pure such unmixt joyes our souls shall swell As Virgins guess and Saints can only tell Exeunt SCENE IV. The Presence Chamber Enter King Revol Grillon Larchant Guards Gril. WHat makes you sad Sir King O! A dream last night Methought the Room was silver'd o'r with Light But such a light as darted gentle beams As clear and cool as those that glide o'r streams The Roof seem'd open and so seem'd the sky From whence a shining light did more than fly It hover'd o'r my Head when soon there came This Apparition through a door of flame The Chariot was less bright than his Attire His Lips were bloody and his Eyes like fire He in his right hand held a flaming Blade Threatning me thus he thundred out and said My name is Vengeance and I must be paid Rev. To look for truth from Dreams is full as vain As to hope counsel from a crazy brain Sleep is the Stage and Fancy makes the Play The thoughts at night act what they conn'd by day A Dream 's a Play Sir and a Play 's a dream Both aëry Descents of an idle Theme King What e're this Vision may to thee appear I 'm sure it makes a Deep impression here The threats of Vengeance most to those belong Who use that pow'r Heav'n gave 'em to do wrong One I committed which wounds deeply here Points to 's breast I mean the bus'ness of the Massacre 'T was in this Room where we did it conclude I well remember in this place I stood I hate it since methinks it smells of blood Enter Guesile Gues A youth Sir seiz'd by Guards I now have brought But his chief bus'ness I have vainly sought I took him for a spy and all means try'd To trap him but he all things well apply'd He has Instructions which he 'l tell to none Unless unto your Majesty alone King Bring him in Larchant Exit Larchant Gues Sir he says
my Honour has a share With your desires and both united are There needs no argument my heart to move And without Cupid's pow'r I then may Love King A faint content like unto theirs who lye Languishing without hopes but must not dye But Time and Truth may remedies reveal And what has wounded now at last may heal Grillon about your charge Exeunt King and Chateauneuf Gril. I cannot stay To Bonneval staying him And this discourse requires a Summers day Bon. This you indiff'rency enough does prove We 're seldome weary of the things we Love Gril. 'T is true when one has nothing else to do But who can mannage Love and bus'ness too Bon. Love claims the present hour the next you may Bestow on our bus'ness Gril. Death Another day I 'l tyre you out with Love and making moan Ev'n from the rising to the setting Sun Nay if you please we will talk down the Moon Bon. Grillon on this condition you are free Exit Bon. Gril. O Heav'n The blest delight of liberty Exit Grillon Explicit Act. I. ACT. II. SCENE I. The Wood near Blois Enter Gabriel Armida Arm. I Now find true what I have often read A Crown brings trouble to the owners Head For Since you only were for one design'd Your sleeps have been as restless as your mind Gab. Armida yet thou knowst not Gabriel right Content I value and a Crown can slight I 'm only fearful least such dreams advance Ambitious Guise to seek the Crown of France Fierce are the working Passions of his mind His Soul 's tho to Ambition most inclin'd Venus without a Crown he would disdain And love or hate or any thing to reign Arm. This should not you disturb He must succeed In his desires if by the Stars decreed Gab. Yet if I now should to his Love incline His Treason and Ambition would be mine And if a Crown should chance to be my lot By Love-designs it only shall be got Arm. Well Madam we shall make a better choice Of observations when we come to Blois Gab. Your Pericart by promise comes to day And from the Fry'rs will thither us convey Under the shady Trees let 's walk a while Both Time and expectation to beguile Exeunt Enter Captain Soldiers going out Capt. Into our Ambush some must fall Ly close To Soldiers going All ways are lawful to entrap our Foes Enter a Soldier Sold. Upon the Hill 'twixt this and Orleans Right-hand the Road I ' spy some Horse advance Capt. How many may they be Sold. Some three or four Capt. Why did you stir unless they had been more Sold. Methought they more and more begant ' appear Capt. Some dreadful Troop of Thistles Sold. Gad I swear I saw 'em move Capt. Some Troop of horn'd Beasts Or Trees with waving Plumes upon their Crests Dost think they were not Clouds Sold. I know not well I 'l try once more and then may surely tell Exit Enter first Soldier Sold. Two Ladies Sir are fall'n into our snare Capt. Dost think I came with Women to make War Sold. When seen you 'l think it much the safer choice To charge the strongest Regiment in Blois Capt. Are they so beautiful Sold. Gad Captain more Than you or all the World e'r saw before Capt. Go bring 'em in Sure they can do no harm Exit Sold. I 'm cold and they may serve to make me warm Enter second Soldier with Ladies Gad beautiful Fair Lady I 'm for you The other you may share betwixt you two They hand her Arm. runs out Arm. Heav'n lend me Wings I Sold. There after thee I 'l flye Rather than miss my Quarry Exit 2 Sold. So will I. Exit Capt. Come Madam Come Hands Gabriel Gab. What do you mean to do Capt. I am in Love Gab. 'T is now no time to woo Bless me Your looks are strange Capt. I mean to prove All ways to quench my raging flames of Love Gab. I 'l dye first Strives with her Capt. How Deny me such a bliss Which when I have obtaind you cannot miss Gab. Not miss mine Honour Capt. No 't is very right No more then miss your shadow in the night I am resolv'd Forces her out Gab. Iust Heav'n vouchsafe your aid Cries loudly as she 's dragg'd forth Unto a Virgin treacherously betray'd Exeunt Enter Scouting Souldier Sold. How gone I was afraid to come again 'Till Trees and Beasts and Thistles turn to men Flies out Enter Navar arm'd with Soldiers Nav. This way I heard the cry He pursues after clashing Swords brings in Gabriel Gab. Upon my knee I pay my thanks thou true Divinity Thou canst be nothing less since thou hast shown Both help and pity when all hopes were gone Nav. You Guardian-Angels I must tax your care For suff'ring this to what end shine you there That one as fair as you and as divine Should need alass a mortals help like mine Gab. O Sir disparage not those heav'nly pow'rs Their vigilance is far more quick than ours By what is past we only guide our sense Then rule our actions by the consequence But they foresee what never yet was done And so prevent a fate that 's hurrying on As by your blest assistance here was shown Those Guardian-Angels do not then condemn They brought you here or you are one of them Nav. My inclinations yield unto the charms O' th' God of War and I was born to Arms But never knew before a Cause so just I 've resku'd Chastity and routed Lust. The Grecian Hero did the World subdue I 've gain'd more glory in protecting you Gab. I hope the action Sir is your reward At least if these my Virgins pray'rs be heard May all the blessings that attend the prayers Of Virgin Saints when they are fre'd from tears May all the Crowns and glorious recompence Of Martyrs Chastity and Innocence Be your reward I cannot you requite Nav. Madam you 've more than done it by your sight Gab. Your favour vies with Heaven's for Heav'n but gave My sense of Honour My Honour you did save Enter a Souldier 1. Sold. To horse to horse fresh Squadrons Sir are nigh Nav. Madam I 'le make your safety good or die A Second Souldier 2 Sold. Fresh Parties rise from all parts of the Wood As Cadmus it with Dragons teeth had sow'd Nav. Vouchsafe your hand By this blest touch inspir'd My Courage and my Resolution 's fir'd Thus Madam will I charge and all must flie draws his sword with her in the other hand By my sword conquer'd or your brighter Eye Let 'em be ne'r so strong and brave they shall Or by my Thunder or your Lightning fall Exeunt Enter Captain and Souldiers Cap. Command the Ambush all to rise with haste Charge with such fury to redeem what 's past Exeunt Enter Gabrel Gab. Whilst there 's a Providence I need not fear His worth and vertue have oblig'd Heaven's care The Guards He set o'r me are kill'd and I Expos'd again and
know not where to flie Exit Enter Grillon and Souldiers Gril. Death I am come too short 'T was briskly fought But will make large amends when I come to 't Enter Captain and Souldiers Capt. Let 's beat this party out they 'l quickly run And then the Plunder and the Fields our own Yield or you die to Grillon Gril. Dog seest thou in my face The least point of a line that looks so base Were 't thou now Iove himself in that disguise In thy Arms Thunder Lightning in thy Eyes Thus would I charge and to thy ruin prove Grillon would die or trample upon Iove All fight Cap. How Grillon Then we 're lost Offers to flie Gril. Fool Wilt thou flie Stays him And lose the fame by Grillon's hands to die I 'le be more kind and here the favour 's shewn Consulting thus thy glory and my own Kills him and beats his Party off Enter Navar and Souldiers Gril. Ha! Who art thou that looks so like a Man A thing I met not here since I began Thou art worthy of my Sword Offers to fight Sould. Hold 'T is Navar. Gril. Death Sir what made you venture out so far Your Valour 's great and great should be your care Nav. This Party of Du Mayns I have pursu'd Until I lodg'd them here within the Wood. Being resolv'd to see the Coast was clear Before I marcht and I shall soon be here Enter a Souldier What makes thy haste The news Soul Your Scoutes Sir ' spy Two Squadrons of Du Mayn's that hover nigh Nav. To horse Soul To horse Nav. My service to the King to Grillon My Arms and duty to his aid I 'le bring Grillon farewell be watchful Exit Navar cum suis. Gril. When y 're gone I shall too many be altho alone Command 'em sound to horse Exeunt Milites Enter a Souldier Soul The King is near Hearing the fight Gril. I shall attend him here Command some in to carry off the Dead Exit Souldier Enter Souldiers with Gabriel Soul This Woman Sir we took she swiftly fled Her fear speaks guilt Gril. Ha! What art thou I see Sure thou art either Fame or Victory I could not love thee else Whate'r thou art Thou art the first e'r conquer'd Grillons heart Gab. Talk not of conqu'ring Sir I beg your aid Altho I see my Enemy there dead Points to the Captain Gril. Were all the World thy Foes let Grillon be Thy Champion they should be as dead as he Souldiers leading in Armida Soul We found this other Sir in the same case Gab. O my Armida let me thee imbrace Imbrace Art thou in safety Dear Armida tell Armid O dearest Madam that you were as well Gab. Blest be our fate Imbrace again Gril. Let me as happy be Offers also she puts him by Death Madam know I love you more than she Gab. Let your requests then Sir declare that love Gril. How Daunted I can neither speak or move Stands amaz'd Armi. The place of our abode is very near Gab. Our wishes and good Fortune wait you here Exeunt Gabriel and Armida Grillon walking confus'd and arms cross Enter King Revol Larchant Guesile and Guards King What Apparition's that that walketh there Revol 'T is Grillon or his Ghost Sir King Le ts hear Listens Grillon not seeing them Gril. Who would believe a Woman could obtain A Conquest here ne'r purchast yet by Man My Spirit 's flat their former vigours cease Trumpets sound harsh and now no longer please My humour 's chang'd I can no more delight To whet my Sword or keep my Armour bright King who e'r rob'd Grillon of his former mind Discovering himself Was much to me but more to France unkind Who is the Thief Gril. A Woman Sir I lie An Angel Some Court Lady of the Skie O Sir Your Grillon's lost your Grillon's gone Ne'r more expect to see his Armour on Perfum'd and curl'd in Silks he 'l dance all day All night his limbs on downy Quilts he 'l lay And sing his threats and smile his frowns away King Whence is this change Gril. Beauty Sir is the cause Beauty that conquers Kings and tramples Laws King Consult thy glory Gril. Farewell War and Fame My breast must cherish now another flame King What is this Beauty she ev'n makes thee mad Gril. O Sir she 's something more than can be said Fancy a Sword drawn at a trembling Foe Brighter than mine brighter than Cherubs know Her Beauty shines at once and conquers so Her Brows are ready bent like English Bowes And can as easily conquer France as those Her Eyes two bullets shot with swifter flame Than ever yet from murd'ring engine came King How he describes her in his Martial phrase And acts a Souldier in a Ladies praise Where is she Grillon Gril. Sir I know not well King Who is she Man Gril. Death Sir I cannot tell King Thy Iuno must not be to us allow'd And thou art jealous tho she 's in a cloud Gril. Had I the pow'r to reach the Sun that Eye Of Heav'n it self I 'd pluck it from the Skie Least it should look and love as much as I. Revol There are not Arguments enough to prove Grillon's high Soul can stoop so low as Love Cupid but vainly aims his slender dart Against the breast-plate of a vig'rous heart To that weak Passion only they 're inclin'd Who have the deep Consumption of the mind King You cannot blame him if the Lady be But half so fair as he describ'd to me Gril. Remember how I prais'd her Sir to you 'T was very much and yet far less than true Gather those praises all into one Store Add thousands and she merits thousands more King Well here 's some comfort left altho she 's fled We have the Souldier tho we 've lost the Maid Gril. No prize at all you had as good have none For what 's a Souldier when his heart is gone King To bring thee succour I did hither move Expecting War but am surpriz'd with Love Gril. What War 'Sdeath Sir what had I more to do When Cowards flie let other men pursue Grillon below himself can never move I conquer'd first and then had time to love The King Sir of Navar was here and fought To Blois his Army will be quickly brought King The stubborn Leaguers then confront we shall And make them either yield to us or fall Order our march to Blois Gril. Pray leave me here She said the place of her abode was near King In thy attempts may'st thou successful prove And as in War so triumph now in Love Exeunt omnes praeter Grillon Gril. Tho from their trouble I my self have sav'd I 'm Pris'ner still to my own thoughts enslav'd There 's no confinement like that of the mind All other Bondage may releasements find Those eyes that fetter'd me must set me free No other help for my captivity With what despair my strongest hopes are crost Since both my Iailor and the Keyes are lost
you if I die or live Nav. More certain favours to your life I owe Than the World nay than my hopes can e'r bestow Talk not of dying Sir It nums the sense And deads the very thoughts of recompence King The League is not so tender Sir as you I wear their Mark but my revenge is due Shews sense of pain Both from my Honour and my Iustice too Chyr How are you Sir King The pains I now indure Denounce my Sentence I am past your cure Chyrurgions view the wound and look distractedly Gril. What say'st thou Man Chyr His Bowels ah are pierc'd King My doom is past and cannot be revers'd Here all this time the Chyrurgions are busie Gril. Thy tongue 's as fatal as the Villains knife O! that with mine I could redeem his life I soon would like the balsome tree be found Distilling drops of blood to cure his wound So both of us might add to honour's score I finish mine and he might purchase more King Ladies forbear My wound has wept enough Ladies weep My Soul 'gainst stabs but not 'gainst tears is proof Gab. If Sir my Tears could do you any good I 'de ope the flood-gates and the streams let loose Nay gladly weep my self into a Flood The nat'ral Balsam Virgins do produce Chat. Poor hopeless Maid I have receiv'd a wound More deep than that the Villain gave to you That you when too unkind I only found And now must lose you when both kind and true King May you more happy in all fortunes prove And for your kind grief now gain joyes in Love My End hastes on my last breath does declare And you all know 't my brother of Navar Is next in blood and my immediate Heir Forgive my Enemies for Heav'n will be So just both to avenge it self and me And for Religion I onely pray Heav'n would direct you in the safest way To turn you Sir to mine is vain to try Since oh this wound speaks louder far than I. Nav. Grief has distracted me and ty'd my tongue And rob'd me of all sense but of your wrong King My soul from ev'ry faculty now flies And hovers at the Windows of my Eyes 'T will take it's flight just at my next fetcht groan My dearest friends farewel Oh! Groans and dies Rev. Now 't is flown Chat. Heav'n was my choice before and now shall be Farewel all Loves dear soul unless for thee Weeps Nav. In death it was his duty to forgive As to do justice is our parts that live Let us indeavour then with all our might Both to revenge his wrong and gain my right I am your King and will point out the way To Honour and oblige you to obey Ples Let 's now to Rheims Sir make a quick advance And with that sacred Oyl anoint your Head Which was by Heav'n sent purposely to France To raise a new King when the old on 's dead Rev. The King 's last Will Sir makes your Title good You are his Heir by Will as well as Blood Gril. I 'l Love and serve you for no other thing But that you 're very valiant and my King Nav. I thank you all You all shall largely share Both in my Royal favours and my care Madam you knew so much of me before To Gabriel It is a needless thing now to say more Only some diff'rence by this change is grown I can present you with a double Crown Then turns to the Men. Love shall not die tho for a time it cease We 'l first try War then the delights of Peace The Curtain falls FINIS THE EPILOGUE Intended to be spoken by a Woman T Is very hard whilst Fortune was our Foe You should dissert us for her being so We were your Fav'rites and none before Lost that preferment by their own being poor Small cause that you should with that Whore conspire To send us Famine 'cause she sent us Fire The Scenes compos'd of Oyl and porous Firr Added to th' ruine of the Theater And 't was a judgement in the Poets Phrase That Plays and Play-house perisht by a blaze Caus'd by those gaudy Scenes that spoil good Plays But why for this should we forsaken be It was our House alas was burnt not we And yet from hence might some suspition come Since it first kindled in our lowest Room The Fire did seize on all both Brick and Wood But we more lucky were in Flesh and Blood If we be poor what then We 're honest tho And that 's the thing we fear that loses you 'T is not our faults if our Estates be low But 't will be yours if we continue so Faith let us both amend Espernon's Life Book 4. p. 190. Tragedies of this Age pag. 143.
he 's sent By divers Friends and the first President Who if your Majesty appoint a day Thorough a Port your Forces will convey Enter Larchant Clement pressing to the King Larch Stay Fellow where you are why do you thrust Gues Speak out here 's none but whom the King will trust Clem. Pardon me Sir my bus'ness is more great Than either he or you imagine yet King Let him come near He comes to th' King Gril. I know not what I doubt King Now thy chief bus'ness speak but speak more out Clem. This is my bus'ness Sir As the King leans to him he stabs him King O! I am slain Takes the Knife out of his wound and stabs him Take thy Knife Villain thus and thus again Rev. Run for the Surgeons soon Gril. Damn'd Rogue Take that Runs him through he falls Gues How kill'd Rev. O! You have done you know not what We ne'r shall know th' Abettors of the Plot. Clem. Your hands have seal'd the bargain now and given Me just possession of my purchast Heaven Dies Gril. How feel you Sir your self Is the danger past Gues Where are these Surgeons They make little hast King I feel no pain but hold it least it bleed Rev. O more than hellish execrable deed Exeunt Confus'd running over the Stage by Chirurgions c. and Guards marching after Grillon Enter Guesile Plessis Gues All will be well I hope if he get rest The Surgeons say all danger then is past They have great hopes it is a slanting stroak Then his small pain Makes 'em to hope his Bowels are not broke Ples May Heav'n confirm it Whilst we here attend Methinks the time we cannot better spend Than to observe what I did lately hear Gues What was 't about Ples About the Massacre Viz. King Charls and 's Mother for 't was in their Reign The Cardinal of Guise and of Lorrain The Duke of Anjou who is now our King Whom Guise into the horrid Plot did bring Those six consulted and pronounc'd the doom And pray observe it in this very Room Vengeance is terrible but 't is divine You know by whom 't is said Vengeance is mine First Charls began cut off in 's very prime And by a judgement suited to the crime He dy'd in blood who living shed such store And then was plung'd nay drown'd in his own Gore The fire of Vengeance which none can restrain Did melt the Glue that cimented each vain Those little Channels quickly made their way To th'Brooks those to the River those to th' Sea Which overflow'd like an impetuous Tide And did thro' th' sluices of his Body glide Gues Then follow'd next the old Priest of Lorrain Who Christians had for Sacrifices slain Ples His punishment was also in his blood Not by an overflowing of the flood But heated by some mistick fire within It boil'd away i' th' Caldron of his skin Pale Ghosts before his dying Eyes did swim They first accus'd and then distracted him He raging dy'd His last breath like a storm fro's breast did fly And met a greater tempest in the sky Gues Then for the Duke and Cardinal of Guise We lately saw their bloody Tragedies Ples The old Queen's soul most servilly did wait First on the Guise's crime then on their fate And tho one punishment they could not have They had one guilt and might have had one Grave Her shrivel'd veins for such crimes could not quit But in her childrens blood she paid for it Gues Ther 's none alive now but our wounded Prince Whom doubtless Heav'n has pardon'd long time since And who I hope has many years to live Ples Yet future Ages will this judgement give 'T was just that in the place where once he stood Condemning Innocents he lost his blood Gues Great were the Iudgements Ples But more great the crime I think he was in Poland at that time Gues True Plessis and I waited on him there Ples Strange that no Ghosts o' th' murder'd did appear And with loud shriekings strike his tingling Ear O! 'T was a dismal night Gues Which to declare Will shortenth ' time of our attendance here Ples I need not aggravate the crime nor tell The murd'rous design 't is known too well Marg'ret of Valois marri'd to Navar That sacred tye of Love they made their snare Thus Marriage is their Sacrament they Sign Their horrid Plot and then instead of Wine They quench their thirst's with blood like Catiline No State no Sex ' scap'd their unmanly rage They neither pitty'd Youth nor rev'renc'd Age. The Cross which Heav'n gave as a glorious sign Of Victory to the great Constantine This Ensign first display'd i' th' Starry-Field To which The Persian Sun and Turkish Moon did yield Nay which The Blood of God himself did more than guild This sacred Badge's function they invade The Cross they upon ev'ry hat displaid Ten thousand Souls were forc't that fatal night From Bodies pale to take an untim'd flight Lovers in midst of soft imbraces die Their Souls t' each other in their last breaths fly Then joyn i' th' vapours of a dying sigh Babes nuzling on stab'd Mothers breasts awake And gushing blood alas for milk they take Thin Ghosts those airy Chariots of our Souls Hover'd all o'r the Town in num'rous Shoals Attending Guides that might their wayes prepare Thorough the pathless Regions of the Air. Now cryes of dying Persons ' wake the Sun As Indians with loud clamours call the Moon Now horrid Scenes were offer'd to our Eyes The ground was pav'd with Carkasses the Skies Were hid with Clouds which from spilt blood did rise Gues Loud is the cry of blood 't is louder far Than peals of Thunder when they rend the Air. Their dying groans eccho'd to Poland soon Where we with scorn and hate were look'd upon The very Tartars who their Children fill With blood of slaves whom purposely they kill Whose Bodies are first kneaded up with blood Which is as much their substance as their food They ev'n did those Murd'rers condemn Of such a crime as ne'r was known to them Enter a Chyrurgion Chyr The King inquires for you Gues Are all things well Chyr 'Till th'wound is open'd Sir we cannot tell SCENA ultima The Royal Bed-Chamber The King on 's Couch Navar seated by him Grillon Revol Larchant Gabriel Chateauneuf and Chyrurgions Guessle Plessis at the other door Attendants King Grieve not my Friends I feel but little pain A sign they say I may be well again Strange was my dream and th' event too soon Gril. But Sir the work of Vengeance is not done He hovers there Sir or if gone he be H' has his Commission left and Sword with me Nav. Grillon thy vengeance shall have its desire We 'l purge that treach'rous Town with sword and fire Gril. May I but kindle 't tho i' th' midst I fry Then like the Phoenix I 'le triumphant die King My thanks Sir for your love and care I give And shall requite