that men in love are blind You love not yet you see not well we find How can that face in reason you dislike Which with such admiration us does strike Had you but wit for to conceive the good That you may reap to match into that blood Were she deform'd for that you woo'd not stand But quickly do what we do you command Prince There is no good I value like a wife With whom a man must live with all his life Coo'd I but marry for a day or two And put her off when I 'de a mind to do To take a creature that I coo'd not love Woo'd not unto me inconvenient prove But when I wed her for an unknown time Knowing that not to love is no small crime Your Highness shall do well to let me chuse One I can love and like a Princess use As for ought else Heaven knows I 'de rather die Then live and not obey your Majestie King Then do what Heaven commands for 't is Heavens will That you your Fathers pleasure shoo'd fulfill Prince But shoo'd my Father bid me do a thing May I so boldly speak unto the King Which is unjust or otherwise not fit For me to do woo'd Heaven allow of it King Who shall be judge of that which you call fit Prince None but just Heaven Great Sir shall judge of it King But Heaven ordain'd us here to judge below Of things as we shall please we 'le have you know Prince But if you judge amiss another day As well as others you must for it pay Exeunt The second Scene Enter Nonantious alone and afterwards Francina and hearkens Nonant DId I but know what I do go about I woo'd not be so forward without doubt As to pronounce the sentence of my death As I must do so with my proper breath To court a Mistress was it ever known To love another done of one alone Coo'd one example only be but found I might have cause to think my sences sound But there is none none yet was ever known To be so foolish but my self alone Then do it not then I shall disobey Do or not do criminal ev'ry way Of evils chuse the lesser of the two They are so equal I know not which to do My love to fair Francina bids me not My duty to my Prince can't be forgot How both the ballance hold so just and true That willing both I know not which to do But why shoo'd I love her who me does scorn Eccho Because thy love 's no bastard but true born Nonant Why do her good who me does use so ill Eccho 'Cause 't is thy duty and thy Princes will Nonant Then I will doâ—t to make my love appear Both to my Prince and to my Saint so dear Fran. Well what 's your business with me I was told To ask for me again you were so bold Nonant I was implease you Madam it is true So bold as yesterday to ask for you But you were not at home which made me now So bold again which you 'le I hope allow I come not now as I was wont to do My love and passion to make known to you With chosen words to court you to be kind And think you cruel 'cause that I was blind No no I know my merit is too poor For to importune you so any more I must confess I soared then too high To let my fancy after you to fly My business now is of another kind If you 'le have patience for to hear my mind And faith to credit what I 've charge to say Which I woo'd rather do then disobey Fran. And faith to credit what you ve charge to say Doubt not of that if me become it may Nonant To be a Princess woo'd become you well And in a stately Pallace alwayes dwell Have maids of Honour 'bout you to attend And Lords of quality at hand to send On all occasions to make known your will To such as you woo'd have it to fulfill Fran. I understand you not or speak more plain Or else your words will be but spent in vain Nonant Then to be brief and make you understand The Prince does love you and did me command On my allegiance for to tell you so And press you likewise to believe me too Fran. The Prince love me it cannot be believ'd Unless I had a mind to be deceiv'd Alas my faith is not so sawcy yet Into my thoughts it eas'ly to admit Nonant You may believe me Madam it is true And very certain what I say to you Fran To me my birth and breeding is so known That if 't were not but only that alone It were enough no doubt to humble me And me possess with incredulity Nonant Were you that which you say your self to be The Prince stands not in need of dignity He has sufficient for himself and you Were you less noble and less vertuous too Fran. I question not the truth thereof but you I rather think this of your self do do To try if that the name of Queen can move And tempt my resolution for to love Nonant Ah Madam you are cruel to think so More cruel far then in the scorn you shew That I shoo'd be so wicked and so base ' Tabuse not only you but too his Grace I am no Devil Madam you may say And think your pleasure while that I obey For had the Prince not urg'd me o're and o're As I have told you Madam heretofore To make his royal passion known to you Which then I said I was unfit to do I nee're had medled in this love affair The fruit whereof I coo'd not hope to share Helas Heaven knows I careful was to sound And look with diligence into his wound Shewing unto him ' t woo'd not fitting be By reason of the great disparity 'Twixt you and him which he did seem to slight And value for your sake extreamly light To see if it were dangerous or no Before I woo'd resolve to let you know When finding it to be a wound indeed And that he mortally for you did bleed I feared to be guilty of his death In such a case to spare to o'pe my breath Fran. I know not which is greater of these two Your love or wisdom if that you say true But I am firm resolv'd to wed with none And so unto the Prince pray make it known Exeunt The third Scene Enter Zorates Selucious and Admiral Zorates WE must by all means quickly out of hanâ— Seize on the strongest places of the Land Which that we may perform and better do We must declare and to the people shew That the Militia to us does belong And that without our care they can't be strong Nor yet secure so much as for an how'r From any forreign or Domestique pow'r Then put in such in whom we may confide Whose zeal unto the Kingdom has been try'd And thrust out those whom justly we suspect The common good at all not to
Do as you 've done use them extreamly rude King But that will but provoke them more and more Car. The way to keep them down 's to keep them poor For shoo'd your Highness let them wealthy grow And suffer them no misery to know They woo'd on all occasions able be For to rebell against your Majestie King But we have pas't our Royal word to ease Them of their taxes if that them will please Card. Then you have done that which you will repent Think you they will with that themselves content No no upon my word they will pull down If that they can from off your head your Crown I know too well the nature of those men How that there 's not amongst them one in ten Which truly loves the title of a King So is it to them such an odious thing They woo'd that all men shoo'd in common live And have no Law but what themselves do give Marshal enters Marsh. Your Lord High Admiral implease your Grace Was even now arrested 'fore my face And carry'd to the Castle in all hast There close pâ—isoner to be shut up fast King What says our Marshal speak it once again For to conceive you we have mighty pain Card. I cannot blame your Highness 't is a thing Sufficient to astonish any King Marsh. Your Admiral implease you Sir I say Was carry'd even now by force away King Who is 't that was so sawcy and so bold Without our order on him to lay hold Marsh. The men which did the other day by Bill Present unto your Grace your peoples will King Our Admiral in prison can it be Just Heavens tho 't cost our Crown wee 'le set him free We will not long there suffer him to lie And too much less consent he e're shall die To us his services are too well known To let him under such a burthen groan We cannot with him so un-King-like deal Who has so much oblig'd our Common-weal No no wee 'le make those blacker souls to know That more respect to us they ought to shew Then to arrest without our Royal leave Any which we don 't criminal conceive Think they we hold this Scepter here in vain And over us will suffer them to raign Men namely which more cruel are then wise Which God and all Religion do despise Or think they wee 'le content us with the name Of King and not in power be the same No no by Heaven wee 'le make their pride to fall And will be King or else not King at all Go fetch the heads of those two Monsters straite And clap them fast upon the City gate To serve for terror and example too To any that hereafter so woo'd do And break the prison doors to set him free For wee 'le not stay until they op'ned be Marsh. Implease your Grace I 'le make what speed I may Your Majesty in this for to obey Exit Card. This is the language of a King indeed And of such men the means for to be free'd Shoo'd not your Highness with such rigour deal You 'de quickly overthrow your Common-weal It is no little danger for to give The rains to such which know not how to live King 'T is true my Lord but yet too strict a course Oftimes does make some men but ten times worse Had we to deal with men of wit and sence They coo'd not be misâ—ed by ought pretence Pray Heaven our Kingdom and our Crown defend From that which we so much do apprehend Car. What can your Highness apprehend I 'de know Considering that you have no forraign foe King A Domestick one is worse my Lord by far Shoo'd we be forced to a Civil war Card. That 's not likely they may perchance rebell But long resist believ 't they cannot tell Because you do possess implease your Grace Ev'ry Town of strength and war-like place King VVell hap how 't will we Heaven to witness take VVe will not strike until that us they make And 't shall be with regret and sorrow too So 'gainst our Subjects to be forc't to do Enter Spedicious with a dispatch from Spain Sped My Lord does humbly kiss your Highness hands And too with all sent me with these commands 'T is news implease your Majesty from Spain To tell you how the match they entertain King Here kiss our hand how does your Master well Has no mischance him in the way befell Sped No none implease your Majestie he did Arrive with acclamations at Madrid So joyful were the people for to hear The cause and Subject of his coming there King T is well our business needs must take effect Since that the common people it affect Exeunt The fourth Scene Enter Francina alone Franc. THe Prince love me and so against my will Repeat and urge me him for to fulfill Good Heavens what kind of man and Lover's he So for another to transported be As be more earnest in the Princes cause Then in his own as then I found he was VVas it for want of Love why then did he Press it with so much importunity Since that he coo'd not chuse but know the good Must needs redown to me and all my blood And if he lov'd me as I do believe VVhy did he seek a Rival to receive It was because I might a Princess be No doubt which is in love a mysterie That on his own content shoo'd so contem To let his Mistress wear a Diadem Oh love not to be equall'd now I must Or love again or else be most unjust He that my scorn and slight coo'd not offend Ought in all reason to my love pretend 'T is not a Crown can pluck away the dart VVhich love has shot so deep into my heart Nor yet much less the name of Queen remove The resolution I have took to love Such poor respects in love ought not to be Nor will I suffer they shall be in me No no but I will love without respect Since he himself for me can so neglect Prince enters Prince Dear Madam all alone what have you none To tell your grief to but your self alone Or is 't a secret you will not impart Least you shoo'd meet with a deceitful heart Trust me sweet Madam with 't I will not deal So much unlike a Prince as it reveal Fran. That Sir I hope you 'le think not I do fear Shoo'd I to make it known to you forbear It may be such a foolish trifling thing Not worth the ear of him that will be King Prince Madam if it be fit to move you so It cannot be unfit for me to know Pray tell it me that I may likewise grieve The matter merits it I do believe Fran. That which in justice ought to make me weep Ought not in reason for to break your sleep For all the world I woo'd not speak that thing Which might unto your Highness sorrow bring Prince Ah dear Madam your words are killing sweet To make them good I wish
you thought it meet Then shoo'd I happy be and be at rest Enjoying that which cannot be exprest Fran. It cannot be exprest 't is true indeed The subject which does make my heart to bleed Prince You do not or you will not me conceive So loth you are the truth for to believe Fran. Implease you Sir I neere was backward yet To credit that which might not be unfit Prince Ah Heav'ns but you want faith to credit me Or if you don 't you kill me willingly Fran. How kill the Prince here take the Traitress life Prince I ask no more then you to be my wife Fran. Your wife implease you Sir and woo'd you be Unto your self so much your enemy As take a creature to your Princely bed So little worth so poorly born and bred No no it cannot be I know you jest Prince By all the Gods I do not I protest Fran. Swear what you please my duty will not let My faith be tempted for to credit it I know too well my merit and your own It to admit into my thoughts alone Prince Trust me I burn but with so chaste a flame That Virgins without sin may have the same Fran. A Princess woo'd implease your Highness be A fitter object for your amity Prince What 's fit for me good Madam do not so Better then I my self pretend to know That 's not the business we have now in hand Nor did e're Love upon such terms yet stand Fran. Although you are a Prince you are less free Then one of us which are of low degree You cannot of your self your self dispose And not the hearts of all your subjects lose If love be blind and shoots without respect The King is not nor will he you neglect To let you marry where your fancy takes Except he sees it for the Kingdom makes So are you subject to the Rules of State And ought in reason his consent to waite Prince Madam as I 'me a Prince so will I be As well as others in affection free I value not the love and will of those Who for so small a thing will be my foes Do you but give consent and I 'le not waite Nor yet subscribe to any Rules of State Fran. Woo'd you that I to please you shoo'd consenâ— And King and all your Subjects discontent D' you make so little reck'ning of me Sir As your content before my good prefer In this appears you do not truly love For if you did you woo'd more kinder prove Prince Is it to hate you Madam and contemâ— To set upon your head a Diadem No no in it appears I honour you And that my passion is both just and true Wherefore fair soul do not so cruel prove As call that disrespect which men call love Fran. What glory is 't upon my head to place A Crown of gold and lose it â—ith disgrace A Country Clown I swear I 'de rather wed Then with such fears approach a Princes bed Prince These are fantastique fears which do pâ—oceed From want of Love which make ill humours breed Did but his flames once warm and heat your brest You of such doubts woo'd soon be dispossest Dear Madam make your Prince no longer sue For that which is by love and duty due Fran. I know my duty bids me to obey But but my love implease you Sir says nay I cannot give my heart to more then one Which having done is now no more my own Prince What have I a Rival then good now tell Me Madam where that sawcy man does dwell That I may make his passion for to know That to his Prince he more respect does owe Then to presume to court where I do love Although the object may him justly move Yet I was told that no man coo'd perswade You for to break the vow that you had made Of living chast and single all your life And to no earthly creature to be wife Fran. You hearing that why does your Highness seek The oath which I have took to make me break It is no small offence to Heav'n above You know so perjur'd and forsworn to prove Prince Were you forsworn in pitty of my heat Heav'n woo'd forgive you sure it is so great Fran. 'T is true I said so but it was to try And exercise his love and constancy Prince And who is it sweet Madam be not coy To name the man that must those joyes enjoy Fran. A friend of yours and one that did so plead Your cause that he has made my soul to bleed Prince A friend of mine if ever he was so He must henceforward be my mortal foe Fran. How his mortal foe Sir you cannot sure Be so ingrate to him which sought to cure Your love-sick soul with so much care and pains As if that he thereof shoo'd reap the gains Ah Heav'ns is 't possible that one shoo'd love And yet with zeal so for another move What said he not or what did he omit Which might be able my consent to get Prince He is a Traytor Madam and I must Both to my passion and his sin be just Fran. He is no Traytour Sir his honest soul Woo'd rather die then do a thing so foul Prince Instead of aid and giving me relief He has usurp't my place and mockt my grief Fran. He has not it usurp't it is his due And fitter too for him then 't is for you Exeunt The fourth ACT the first Scene Enter King and Cardinal King WE 're glad my Lord our business takes so well With Spain in case our people shoo'd rebell For they will be to us a prop and stay And on occasion help us ev'ry way Card. So that they may the better do I heare For certain there 's a peace concluding there Which for your Majesty will greatly make By reason of this match if it does take King We must my Lord a Navy out of hand Make fit to fetch that Princess to our Land Who shortly as our Letters say will be Prepar'd and ready for to put to Sea This matter does our Admiral require Of whom to hear no news we much admire Card. Perhaps he finds resistance in the way And that by fair means they will not obey King If that by fair means they will not consent We will make them by foul it to repent Enter Marshal How now Marshal what have you done the feat What moves you thus and makes you have this heat Where 's our Admiral Marsh Implease you Sir There 's in the City such a coyle and stir Upon the knowledge of your Highness will That ev'ry one betakes him to his Bill And such like weapons as he can procure To save the one and keep the other sure For to be short they say they 'le sooner die Then give up either to your Majestie As for your Admiral they are agree'd By law against him quickly to proceed And if they find him worthy not of Death They will by no means take away his breath King
Ah Heav'ns Ah Earth will they give us the Law And be obey'd when they shoo'd stand in awe They shall be so but they must tarry till We power want to execute our will Go muster up the Countries ev'ry where And tell them 't is our pleasure they appear Before our Royal Pallace two dayes hence To serve us in a thing of consequence While we in â—erson go for to demand My Lord and those two Traytours at their hand Whom if they do refuse us wee 'le proclaim Ev'ry several man to be the same My Lord wee 'le leave the Navy to your care And out of hand a Fleet for to prepare Card. Who shall implease your Grace go out with it King He that shall seem unto your wisdom fit Exeunt The second Scene Enter Symphrona in a Nuns habit alone Sym. A Dieu delights of you I take my leave As of false joyes which cannot more deceive Farewell fond hopes to you I bid adieu As foes which me more mischief cannot do If here below it is Heav'ns sacred will That I must stay and so journer be still Think not to tempt me with your golden shews Which seem our friends but prove our mortal foes No no I 'le not my heart on trifles set Which us forsake so soon as we them get I 'le something else more constant surely chuse Then that which is so given to abuse A still Religious life henceforth shall be My Hope my Joy my Love and Liberty All the pastime and pleasure I will take Shall be with Hallelujahs Heav'n to shake Before whose Altars I will daily burn Incense from me his anger for to turn With watchings and with fastings Iâ—le subdue The idle thoughts which I am subject too And have an eye still on those Joyes above Of which I 'me now enamour'd and in love Francina enters Fran. Dear Madam why thus cloathed like a Nun As if you were asham'd to see the Sun Wherefore this longer vail these blacks and whites Which are Monastick and Religious Rites And damage much your Beauty ev'ry way As darkness is injurious to the day Off off with them and like your self appear And do not thus Ecclipse our Hemispheare Sym. Madam I know my beauty too too well To think such pow'r shoo'd in my person dwell I leave that force and vertue unto you Which ev'ry one does know is but your due As for these whites and blacks I woo'd not them Forsake I vow to wear a Diadem There 's more content in these poor simple weeds More pleasure â—ar in saying oâ—re these beads Believe me Madam then in all the sport And brave Apparel which is worn at Court Those are but trifles if compar'd with these The thought alone of which does me displease Fran. Madam such language yet was never known To part from any but the spleen alone Especially from one so young as you Which you shoo'd seek by Physick to subdue For 't is a naughty evil and withall Begets a worse which we green sickness call 'T were pitty such a handsom piece as you By such rude means shoo'd so yourself undo Shoo'd by such stricter observations dry That softer skin so in a Nunnery You may no doubt please Heav'n another way And in a Congregation likewise pray As well as Cloyster'd up within a wall In silks and sattens too if that be all Dear Madam think what you do go about And that 't is ten to one if you hold out Sym. There 's nothing like unto a willing mind Which Heav'n be praysed strong in me I find As for the spleen I woo'd that you shoo'd know This zeal does nothing unto that humour owe. No no sweet Madam 't is so pure a flame That if you knew 't you woo'd not blame the same Fran. I do not blame it Madam but I know These holy thoughts do from my brother grow Had he not been took by the Turks at Sea You nee're had thought upon a Nunnery Sym. Heav'n who does so wisely order all To whom we subject are both great and small Decreed'd no doubt from all Eternity That this my good from his mischance shoo'd be To whose misfortune I 'me content to owe This resolution since it must be so Fran. But Madam 't is not for devotion sake If ought respect makes you this course to take That which is pleasing unto Heav'n above Is when one does so meerly out of love But as I 've said perhaps my brother may By some devise escape and get away Which if he shoo'd you 'le wish when 't is too late That e're you enter'd so severe a Gate Sym. Madam 't is true I care not who does know I love my Lord 'bove ought that 's here below Except my honour which I do esteem Equal with that which one cannot redeem Yet when in competition Heav'n shall come Your Brother by your favour must make room Since that to Heav'n I do not only owe My present being but my soul you know To whom I am resolv'd my self to vow Shoo'd he arrive for to disswade me now Fran. Look where he is as if that he were sent Bellarious enters By kinder Heav'n to hinder your intent Welcome dear brother from the Turkish Coast Whom we did fear for ever we had lost Ah Heav'ns may I believe and trust my sight Or isâ—t his spirit intervenes my light Speak brother speak and with your voice make good Thaâ— which your outward shew makes understood Bell. As men o'recome with Joy do silent seem Until their former spirits they redeem So I dear Sister with such like excess Am stricken dumb and cannot it express To see Symphrona whom I long'd to see But with more passion then can utter'd be Fair Symphrona whose absence was to to me More pain by far then my captivity What! is my Symphrona likewise dumb Or else heard-hearted is she now become Does my appearance Madam trouble you That you so sad and heavy now do shew Alas I wisht my freedom but to have Only the honour for to be your slave Which if you do deny me I shall be Sorry that e're I sought my liberty Sym. The same excess whereof you spake of now So ev'ry part about me seiz'd I vow That had the world the purchase been to speak To purchase it I had been then to seek So much I do rejoyce at your return But sorry am that you for me shoo'd burn Bell. For whom within my breast shoo'd I have fire If that for you I may not have desire Sym. For those my Lord which merit more then I For 〈◊〉 short I 've vow'd Virginity Bell. Indeed your habit sayes so but your mind I do believe more gentle and more kind Sym. My inside and my outside are alike Bell. Ah Heav'ns how me with wonder you do strike Recall those words except it be your will That they forthwith shoo'd murder me and kill Sym. I woo'd if that I coo'd but 't is too late I must not love and yet
THE Heroick-Lover OR THE INFANTA OF SPAIN By George Cartwright of Fullham Gent. LONDON Printed by R. W. for Iohn Symmes at the Cross-Keyes in S. Pauls Church-Yard near the little North-door 1661. TO THE High and Mighty MONARCH OF GREAT BRITTAIN CHARLES the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Resplendid Sir I Had both consideration and modesty enough to have forborn this sawcy atempt in the Dedication of this Heroick-Lover to Your Royal Self but when I called to mind the many and extraordinary favours Your Majestie received aâ— the Spanish Court in Your sad necessitated retirement thither who next to Heaven were both the Preservers and Restorers oâ— Your Royal Person here I should have committed a double sin in recommending the protection of this Infanta to any other but Your Majestie the one of ingratitude to their unparallel'd courtesie and the other of injury and offence to Your sacred Majestie in presuming that any was more willing or more able to defend her then Your Greater Self It is a Poem consisting more of fatal Truth then flying Fancy penn'd many years ago but not published till now the Muses among our sad misfortunes here suffering an Ecclipse which I hope Your most Illustrious Rayes will over-power and give an encouragement suitable to so high and noble a faculty as other your Majesties Ancestors have done more especially that never to be forgotten Martyr and Mirror of our Age Your Majesties most Resplendent Father What discountenance soever it shall meet withall in the world so it hath but the honour of Your Royal approbation it will be more then sufficient to protect Your Majesties most Humble and Loyal Subject George Cartwright The ACTORS The Scene in Poland The King Of Poland The Prince His Son in love with Francina but married to Princess Flora the Iâ—fanta of Spain The Princess Flora the Infanta of Spain The Princes wife The Cardinal The Kings Favourite The Lord High Admiral Of Poland The Lord Marshal Of Poland The Lord Controuler Of the Kings Houshold Zorates Lord High-Chamberlain Selucious Lord President Nonantioâ—s A Noble man and the Princes confident in love with Francina Bellarious A young Lord brother to Francina and in love with Symphrona who in his return from France was took by the Turks at Sea and afterwards escaped and then turned Hermit Francina A handsom Lady beloved of the Prince who upon the death of Nonâ—ntious tuâ—ned â—un Symphrona A beautiful Lady Mistress to Bellarious who upon the report he was taken by the Turks turned Nun fearing he would never get his freedom Sotus and Lycas Two of the 〈◊〉 Houshold servants Expedâ—cous Servant to the Lord Controuler Crocus Servant to the Lord Chamberlain Guard and divers otherâ—â— THE Heroick-Lover OR THE INFANTA of Spain The first Act the first Scene Enter Lycas and Sotus Lycas KIngs with their Greatness have their troubles too And many times are puzled what to do Shifting from place to place to find out rest So are their heads with discontent possest According to the Nature of the times Or else proceeding from their proper crimes Requiring sometimes more then is their due Or else refus'd what them belongs unto No man not knowing so to hold the scale As hinder King or Subject to bewail Sotus Good faith 't was ever so and so 't will be So long as at the Court dwells Flattery So long as private end shall challange place As only Favourite unto his Grace How is it likely he should see aright When he must see but by anothers sight Lycas Which is the cause so many men complain And that so few do come away with gain Did mens requests come to the Princes ear More courteous to them sure he would appear Then let them sue for that which is but just So many years as now adayes men must Sotus The City's weary and the Countrey too And something shortly murmure for to do They will no longer have the King abus'd Nor let themselves so rigidly be us'd But how to do 't they are not yet agreed Out of the Court such netles for to weed Lycas Pray Heaven they may do all things for the best Procuring to the King and Kingdom rest Shoo'd they reform things with too strict a course Instead of mending they woo'd make things worse It is no small a matter to know how To win a King and make a Subject bow Sotus Report sayes that they do intend by Bill Unto the King to shew his Subjects will How that they are by Taxes so opprest They cannot live nor in their houses rest For Maltuties which have thereof the charge To scrue the people by Commission large Gave from the Cardinal whom they 'le demand For satisfaction at his Royal hand Lycas They may demand but 't will be but in vain For of his Grace they will not him obtain Sotus If that by fair means they can't compass it They will by foul endeavour him to get Exeunt The second Scene Enter Prince alone Prince HAd I my fair one in this silent Grove To tell my passion and declare my love How short this day woo'd unto me then seem And how much give its howers to redeem Where at my ease I might behold and court And fear no living creature to report The stolen blisses which I might receive If she were pleased so to give me leave Tell her how ev'ry day augments my flame And that 't is she alone can quench the same How much her eyes have made a Prince a slave Which does rejoyce that honour for to have Enter Nonantius Non. The King your Father sent me you to seek And tell you too that with you he woo'd speak Prince I am not lost except it be in love To tell how much the object me do's move But where 's his Highness 't is not long ago I left his Grace pursuing of a Doe Nonant He is return'd implease you and does set Now with his Counsel of the Cabinet Prince Well I come but before I hence depart I must and will disclose to thee my heart Of all my Fathers Subjects thee alone I have pickt out to make my passion known I doubt not of thy secrecy and zeal And therefore with thee I will plainly deal 'T is fair Francina lodges in my brest And moves me so I cannot take my rest I prethee tell her that I love her so And press her likewise to believe me too That for her sake I value not my Crown Nor yet my Fathers nor my Subjects frown Nor Heaven it self shoo'd Heaven oppose my heat My passion is for her so monstrous great Non. Sir may I speak and not your Highness move She merits well but not from you such love You are a Prince and heir unto a King Which is upon my word no little thing Consider well your birth and your degree And you will yield 't is your infirmity To love with passion one so much below Your rank
I cannot hate aside Bell. Good Gods was ever Lover like to me Compar'd with this sweet is Captivity Sweet is the usage of a Turk I swear For half so cruel they did nee're appear Fran. You are Symphrona too too constant now Sym. Woo'd you with Heav'n that I shoo'd break my vow Bell. She 's rather too inconstant you may say Sym. Rather but careful Heav'n for to obey Bell. Heav'n is too just to bid you do a thing Which to another will such damage bring And to your self if you remember how When I departed you did constant vow Sym. Am I inconstant 'cause I heard you were Took by the Turks to be in bondage there Who then believing you woo'd nee're escape Made me transform my self into this shape And too likewise with none but Heav'n to wed So loathsom to me was anothers bed Which vow now I have made I mean to keep Did I not know the profit I shall reap Bell. You were too hasty Madam for to make A vow which you did mean such root shoo'd take As nought but Death shoo'd cansel and make void Then there 's no hopes by you to be enjoy'd Sym. No none at all the most that I can do Is to go home my Lord and pray for you Exit Bell. Ah Sister how is it likely I shoo'd live When she that giveth life denyes to give Fran. 'T is very strange that one that did so love Shoo'd to so rash a vow so constant prove I cannot chuse but blame in this your chance This had not been had you not gone to France Bell. But did she love me sister are you sure Did she for me ought trouble e're endure Fran. She did upon my word so much that I Nee're thought shee 'd stand to this so constantly Bell. The greater's my misfortune if she did Wherefore to grieve I must not be forbid Exeunt The third Scene Enter Zorates and Selucious Zor THE City their affection to us shew If that the Countrey will but do so too We shall be able to reform the King And in this Kingdom ev'ry living thing We out of hand the Admiral must try All sorts of people for to satisfie Whom if we find by Law to merit Death We must not spare to take away his breath 'T is better one shoo'd perish then that all Shoo'd run the hazard utterly to fall Selu The King this morning very early went Into the City with a full intent For to lay hold on us and set him free Shewing unto them his authority Who as I hear what words so e're he us'd Both he and we unto him were refus'd What he will do it does not yet appear But if the City stand's we need not fear Zor My life for yours they will be to us true And do likewise what in them lies to do They have already of their own accord In our defence pluckt out and drawn their sword What will they do then for the common cause For their Religion Liberty and Laws That which I fear and which does give me pain Is this same match concluded now with Spain Selu If that be all it needs not trouble you Since they have work enough at home to do That marriage for the present cannot be Much advantagious to his Majestie By reason that they are so poor become They cannot give a considerable summ So much the war betwixt the French and them Has ruined that glorious Diadem Zor To try them farther we must to them make A proposition the Cardinal to take Shewing unto them how we cannot be So long as he does live in surety Which if with zeal we find them to embrace We need not fear to disoblige his Grace For all unto our wishes woo'd succeed Were we but of that Animal once rid Exeunt The fourth Scene Enter Prince alone Prince HOw Nature was deceiv'd when she made me No doubt but her intent was I shoo'd be Free from all manner of contempt and scorn When she design'd a Prince I shoo'd be born Unhappy Planet under whom this earth Received first its form and then its birth Why did'st thou destine me unto a Crown Yet make me more unhappy then a Clown For which of all my Subjects I woo'd know Does more then I unto thy malice owe Or rather why did Love make me presume To chuse a lodging wâ—ere there was no room To strike so deep into my brest a Dart For one that is not Mistress of her heart Ah Heav'ns have I not reason to complain To be a Prince and yet to sue in vain To court my Subject and to be refus'd And by him who I trusted thus abus'd Good Gods whom with our secrets shall we trust If that our bosom friends prove so unjust To whom shall we our thoughts communicate If those whom we oblige prove so ingrate Had he dealt freely with me and made known His passion to me but by sign alone I shoo'd have had compassion on his flame 'T is ten to one and nee're have mov'd the same Or had I once believ'd or else but known That Love had but possest her thoughts alone By all that 's just I do protest and vow I had contemn'd and scorn'd her long e're now I shoo'd have unto Reason then obey'd And by my passion been not so o'resway'd As so against my honour to commit An action of a Prince so much unfit As love a creature which can find her heart To any the least favour to impart Non. Sir 't is my fortune still to b'in the way Nonaâ—tioâ—s enters When that the King has ought to you to say His pleasure is you shoo'd attend him straite Implease you at the privy Garden Gate Prince It is thy fortune rather thou mayst boast To be a Traytor what face so e're thou shewst Non. A Traytor Sir It is so rude a sound The name without the guilt my soul does wound I hope you think not so what e're you say Or if you do here take away my Day Let him not live a minuit longer Sir That does your life not 'fore his own prefer But let the Traytor an example be By your quick vengeance to posterity Prince No no my friend 't is fit thou shoo'dst have time For to repent and likewise know thy crime I woo'd not do thy soul such wrong I swear As send it unto Hell for any Fair. Non. For any Fair good Heav'n who is 't I 'de know Can be so fair to make me thither go Where dwells the creature that I so shoo'd love As for her sake a Traytor I woo'd prove Prince Thou know'st her lodging better then I do VVhat ignorance soever thou may'st shew Yes yes thou do'st false-hearted as thou art In whom no vertue ever yet had part Thou know'st Francina do'st not very well 'T is there 't is there thy sawcy love does dwell 'T is there 't is there thy passion does pretend Offending so at once thy Prince and friend Good Heav'ns who woo'd have
thought thou woo'dst have prov'd So much ingrate as such a thing have mov'd Consid'ring that to thee I made it known As to a person I esteemâ—d alone As one I thought so honest and so true It was but just and reason so to do Yet notwithstanding thou hast dealt with me As if I had been thy sworn enemy And made no conscience to betray the trust I put in thee which I conceiv'd so just Say didst thou love her or did she love thee Fore thee I chose my messenger to be VVhy did'st thou then to me not make it known That I might have resolv'd t' have let 't alone Or if thou saw'st my passion was so great That nought but Death coo'd take away the heat VVhy did'st thou not in duty to my flame Hazard thy life for to maintain the same Prefer thy Princes ease before â—hy own Had'st thou been honest thou woo'dst so have done Speak man thou waxest pale when thou shood'st blush As if thoâ— car'dst not for thy sin a rush Ah Heavens what height of wickedness is this Not to be sorry when one does amiss Confess thy fault before I send thy earth Unto the place where 't was before thy birth Repent repent thou knowest thy offence And at the least say something in pretence VVhat art thou deaf or hast thou lost thy speech Or does thy guilt to thee this silence teach Speak Traytor speak for to prevent my arm Before thou answer'st me to do thee harm Non. Sir were I guilty as you think I am I shoo'd be glad you woo'd correct the same Nor woo'd I speak your fury to prevent Had I this present any such intent It woo'd implease you Sir be somewhat rude Me by my silence faulty to conclude The news you tell me is to me so strange That quite and clean it does my nature change As when some sudden mischief we do hear We pale and speechless presently appear I must confess I have Francina lovâ—d And some such thing unto her likewise mov'd But 't was before your passion did appear And for my motion I was nee're the near For did you know but with what scorn and pride She answer'd me Sir and my sute deny'd You 'd pitty me and say she was too blame To use so hardly such an honest flame Which was the reason I was loth to move You may be pleas'd to call to mind your Love For fear Sir that your business for my sake Might not unto your wishes fully take Prince That fear was needless I must tell thee since It was a message sent her from a Prince What scorn so e're she might have us'd to thee Was no conclusion shee 'd do so to me Go go this is a very poor pretence And little serves to colour thy offence Non. Just Heav'n which knows the hearts of all full well Will never send my soul for this to Hell VVere I but faulty only but in this I might presume I never did amiss As for such fear you say there was no need How oft are men forc't for their Right to plead And after all their pains likewise at last For want of a good Pleader too are cast Yet did you know or woo'd you but believe The pains I took to make her to conceive Her interest and how you loved her You woo'd not judge so hardly of me Sir Prince Men judge thou know'st of things by the event And I from her own mouth pass my judgement Non. From her own mouth what is 't implease your Grace Prince That thou hast in her heart the chiefest place Non. That she loves me Oh Sir it cannot be Since she woo'd never marry she told me I will not say your Highness is deceiv'd But I may say 't is hard to be believ'd D' you think it likely she woo'd me prefer My birth and fortune 'fore your self great Sir No no 't is not whatever she may say She does but with my former passion play VVomen Sir too ambitious are you know To let a Crown and Scepter so to go Had she a mind to go to any's bed She woo'd no doubt your Highness quickly wed The name of Queen is such a pleasing bit That ev'ry one is greedy after it Prince VVhich makes me think thou hast by Magick art Rather abus'd then fairly got her heart For if 't were otherwise why shoo'dst thou gain That with such ease which I cannot with pain Non. That I to gain her heart shoo'd witchcraft use And so not only her but you abuse Oh Sir you told me you woo'd send this earth Unto the place where 't was before its birth Do do it quickly for to rid my pain And me remove from that which you call gain Let not this body which is so possest Here in this world Sir any longer rest But send it headlong quickly down to Hell There with its black Companions for to dwell Yet 'fore I die here on my bended knee Do I bequeath Francina willingly All all the interest which I have in her Henceforward I do give unto you Sir And wish she may so to your wishes prove That you may nee're repent you e're did love I know she is too poor a gift for you But I can do no more then I can do Since that my life to you is so suspect 'T is fit my Death shoo'd witness my respect Stobs himself Prince Hold goodness hold I woo'd not be the cause That thou shoo'dst so transgress Dame Natures Laws As be unto thy self so much unkind Because my passion is so monstrous blind He goes Ah Heav'ns woo'd I had now the pow'r To keep Death hence but only for an how'r To let him see before he shuts his eyes How this last action does me sacrifize To thank his kindness and to let him know How much unto his vertue I do owe. He stirs not yet good Gods assist my hand To raise him up and likewise make him stand I was too blame by Heav'n I was unjust To recompence his pains with such mistrust I feel no breath there does no life appear What woo'd Francina say were she now here To see her dearest Dear thus speechless lye Upon the ground and I here standing by See where she comes as if she summon'd were By his last breath this instant to appear Francina enters Fran. I dreamt last night a very scurvy dream Which strange unto my soul I vow does seem Which is the cause of this my coming here Not out of hopes 't is true but out of fear At twelve a Clock the hower I do keep I was no sooner laid to go to sleep But presently into my thoughts did come My Lord past by this way unto his Tomb. Something there was about the Prince likewise But in a fâ—ight I striving for to rise Was the occasion I forgot the rest Being at that time with too much possest Prince Something of me good Madam be so kind As for my sake to call it unto mind That I
and Greatness as we all do know Prince Come come I know this is but for to try How hot my flame is and my constancy Thou lov'st me and my ease I know too well In this opinion ever for to dwell Thought I but otherwise by my soul I vow One minuit more I woo'd not thee allow She is a Princess and of better blood Then I my self by how much she 's more good 'T is not enough to be a Princess born Except she vertues have to her adorn She 's by vertue what others are by birth Which is we know full well the nobler earth Non. Without all doubt it is but you may have A Princess both wayes and your honour save Prince Think'st thou that I can any honour loose A handsom vertuous Lady for to choose No no I cannot do what I command And I will to the other hazard stand Non. Since that your Highness is resolv'd to love Make choice of one that 's fitter it to move To tell my own alas I am too weak How can I then anothers passion speak Prince I will not trust another only thou Of all the world this business best can'st do Non. Then I will do my utmost though I die Since doing so I serve your Majestie Exeunt The third Scene Enter King Cardinal Admiral Marshall and Controuler in Counsel King 'T Is time my Lords the Prince shoo'd have a wife To be a stay and comfort to his life His age and Ours do it require with speed The Kingdom of our issue having need Wherefore your Counsels we shall gladly take To help us our election for to make Card. Sir like a Father you do kindly deal Both with the Prince and with the Common-weal There is no man but must confess the care Your Grace does take since all men it must share Admiral Your goodness likewise equally commend Since our advice to ask you condescend King Then freely deal with us and also plain If 't will not proper be to match with Spain Control Sir since that I may freely speak my heart I think it not convenient for my part My reason is that now the King of Spain Is scarce in case his Kingdom to maintain How then will he be able for to lend Succours if need shoo'd be to help a friend I rather think the Danish Princess shoo'd More sitter be if that your Highness woo'd Be pleased to accept it at his hand Which by Embassador he does demand Besides the wealth that Kingdoms does possess With plenty so of all things in excess To be ally'd unto that Crown woo'd be More advantagious to your Majestie He being near unto you seated so He woo'd no doubt offend you more being foe And if your friend he 's proper to defend And at an howers warning succours send But I am weak and simple and may err Wherefore it to your judgements I referr Marsh. My Lord says true that Spain in such a case Can by no means aid or assist your Grace But that which makes me chiefly of his mind Is that your Highness will not Pistols find Which make without dispute the strongest hold For you can nothing do without you 've gold And if that you have store your Highness may Prevent a foe your Kingdom to inveigh And with it keep your Subjects too in awe If they shoo'd chance to grumble at your Law As for to match into the Danish Land I know not how it will with honour stand They having broke their word with you you know You promising to aide not long ago Wherein they plainly shew'd their love and zeal Both to your Highness and to your Common-weal I rather think the Swedish Princess might In this your choice pretend the greatest right For as she 's rich so by the Laws o' the Land She like a Prince has power to command Which is a thing not common ev'â—y where That women to a Scepter shoo'd be heir In taking her into the Princes bed A Crown and Scepter you will likewise wed Admir Sir I do think and likewise will maintain That 't is most proper for to match with Spain 'T is true the reasons that my Lords do give Are very strong if Spain shoo'd alwayes live In war and never hope to have a peace Which f'rought we know to moâ—row next may cease We ought in weighty maters of the State Wink at the present and the future waiâ—e Except in case your Majestie shoo'd be Urg'd to embrace by some necessity Which as I know there is none yet so great As off this match your Majesty to beat The King of Dâ—nmark all men know full well So tim'rous is that hee 'd not stick to sell The dearest friend he has himself to free From the oppression of an enemy Nor woo'd his friendship were it firm and good So useful be as t'other to your blood As for the Swedish Princess who takes her Must look to wed into a world of stir Except he 'le worship or at least permit That they the Gods shoo'd serve as they think fit Car. These Lords dread Sir the business so have scand And argu'd to and fro we have in hand That they have left not much for me to say Therein unto your Majesty this day Yet what more I know I 'le be bold to speak Since my advice it pleases you to seek As I conceive the matter in debate Is to find out th' advantage of the State Now Sir the question that will hence arise Is which of these you chiefly ought to prise A mighty Monarch in another sphere Or else a Prince less powerful that 's near As 't has been said the King of Spain 't is true Is at this present very hard put to Yet is he not as men do think so poor But that he can afford you Pistols store Which is as much as if he men did lend Were you compel'd your Kingdom to defend As for the King of Denmarks amity So much as 'tother 't will not useful be My reason is that as he has less pow'r So is he false and changing ev'ry hour The Swedish Princess as my Lord well said Is most improper for the Prince to wed By reason of his Faith and her belief Wâ—ich doubtless daily 'twixt them will cause strife Besides the private fears that will arise That your Grace their Errours shoo'd favourizâ— Thus all things layd together sure with Spain It is most fit to match their loves to gain King We have with great attention heard you all One word unto the ground not letting fall Wherein we see we are not in one thing More happy then in you in being King To whom we are obliged very much Your love and counsel unto us are such And 't is resolv'd but whom shall we ordain Our Lord Ambassador to go to Spain To let hâ—s Greatness for to understand That we that Princess for our Prince demand Car. My Lord Controuler please your Grace would be Extreamly fit to tell 't his
Majestie King Then you our Lord Ambassador we chuse Commanding you your power for to use In our behalf to compass this affair And for that journey quickly to prepare As for your full instructions they are these How that his Highness woo'd vouchsafe and please To honour us to match into our Race That we may be ally'd unto his Grace And thereupon give him to understand That we the Princess Flora do demand In marriage with the Prince our eldest son Who will be King when we are dead and gon Thereto be careful likewise for to add That with his Highness we shoo'd be most glad To make 'gainst all if he 'le so please to do A league offensive and defensive too As for the marriage summ you shoo'd demand We think it better to his pleasure stand He like himself if he inclines to hear Without all doubt will honourably appear Yet if in case you shoo'd be urg'd the summ Five hundred thousand pounds woo'd us become Our Admiral will order take you shall For one of our best Ships not stay at all Controul Since me your Majesty has chosen out Of all the most unworthy without doubt To serve your Highness in this great affair I will with diligence my self prepare And do what in me lyes for to discharge The trust your Grace does put in me so large Within this two dayes I will put to Sea If that the wind shall favourable be The fourth Scene Enter Symphrona and Francina Sym. NO news dear Madam of my Lords return But half so much as I did he but burn No doubt but quickly he woo'd come away And make more hast loves tribute for to pay Out of his memory am I then cast 'Cause in my bosom him I 've kept so chast Must I rewarded be with such neglect Because I 've had for him so much respect 'T is more then cruel if it must be so But â—'le not him condemn until I know Fran. I wonder at his stay and 't is most strange But I am sure his love will never change You are sweet Madam plac't too near his heart With his consent from thence to e're depart Some chance or other may be in the way As often haps to cause him to delay Which troubles him no doubt as much as you To which he fears to make you privy too Sym. What chance can there be I 'de not sooner hear Then so at all to hear not from my Dear I may imagine that which is not true In such a case as often Lovers do A thousand things present to our belief Which entertain'd abuse and mock our grief Were it not better to hear the truth at large Then with so many doubts our minds to charge Fran. It is not by your favour alwayes meet To hear the truth of what we may regreet Especially for us who by our sex Are weak and apt at little things to vex Sym. Term you that little which I term my all You will not do so when in love you fall Exeunt The second ACT the first Scene Enter King Prince Zorates and Selucious with a Petition and divers others Zorates WE come implease you Sir for to present As from your loving Subjects being sent This humble Bill and to intreat withall You woo'd be pleas'd to quit the Cardinal And leave him to the mercy of the Law Which he contemns and will not stand in awe These twenty years your people have endur'd Without all hopes to have their ease procur'd With mighty patience all things at his hands Which he still exercis'd as your commands Now what with taxes they are grown so poor They are not able for to give you more Except you 'd have their wives and children die For want of bread to pay your Majestie Which they believe you woo'd be loth to do Which makes them to your Highness now to sue King D' you know my masters what you do demand The Cardinal requesting at our hand Sure if you did you woo'd not be so bold To ask the man which does our Scepter hold Which does from falling off preserve our Crown And all mens lives that are in this same Town Who like a faithful Shepherd watches so Both night and day to keep us from our foe Where had we been long since had not his care Preserved us from falling in the snare The Turk for want of faith for us prepar'd The good whereof you equally have shar'd And woo'd you we shoo'd be so void of sense Him so unlike a King to recompence No no we won't nor can we yet forget All his past cares although that you can it And more then that we make it to be death For any so to us to ' ope his breath As for your taxes we will order take That more they shall not make your heads to ake Prince What monstrous men implease your Grace are these Whom nothing but a Cardinal will please King Retire and leave the Prince and us alone Exeunt We sent for you to make our pleasure known We are you see already old and gray And shortly must our debt to nature pay Before we die we shoo'd be glad to see You well bestow'd to have posterity We with our Counsel have debated which May be the most convenient match and rich At last we have concluded that with Spain You marry must if they 'le it entertain Besides the private interest of State Which shoo'd perswade you to imbrace it strait She is extreamly fair and vertuous too A fitting Princess ev'ry way for you Witness this Picture if we say not true Shews picture Which as Don Stato sayes to life he drew We out of hand have ordered for to go Our Lord Ambassador their minds to know Who tells us that to morrow without fail If that the wind holds good he 'le set up sail SIR Prince As you are King and I your son and heir I shoo'd be sorry wilful to appear I am your Subject therefore ought to shew By my example others what to do Yet Sir I cannot chuse but blame my Fate To tye my love to any act of State In this although a Prince I see I have Not freedom like a Subject or a slave Command or order any man woo'd you To marry one he had no mind unto I do believe your Highness is too just To will in such a case that any must For Heaven sake I intreat you not to be To any less severe then unto me I am your son bone of your very bone And can you be so cruel to your own You cannot sure nor will 't I hope you move To tell you that this face I cannot love There 's something in her nose and in her eyes Views 〈◊〉 picture Which with my fancy does not sympathize The colour of her hair is too too brown And by her looks she seems on me to frown As if that nature did prognosticate That there woo'd be 'twixt us less love then hate King We use to say