not answer I am already Satisfied Gent. I see you know not me You are a shallow fellow Clind. And you so deep a puddle No plummet can find the bottom You have no ground sir So fare you well My cautious Monsieur Exeunt Enter Agenor and Clorinda Age. O dear Clorinda how powerfully thy beauties Now present themselves and minute gather strength By these thy sufferings What cause hast thou and I To curse my base inconstancie Clo. How sir are you so ingrate to heaven That for your sake favour'd that vice so far To give it the reward of vertue happiness And that so great in your Austela That all men else are poor compared Enter Austela Age. My Austela Au It is well I am denied then Age. Did she not court you as a man The heart she took from me through you could not Receive your sex denying Entertain Is yet so tainted in the tender of it That I for ever must repent the change I made O Clorinda would this hand When it was join'd in hers had rotted off Clo. Do you believe to cure inconstancie And breach of faith by new inconstancie I see it was a vice dwelt in your blood Age. It is no inconstancie to cast an eye back On your vertue too late instructed By present misery Clo. It is enough this does express how miserable You might have been But know your happiness is perfect The Queen prompted by jealousie the fruit of Ardent love suspected me a woman And your former Mistress and took this way of courting me To be assured Age Your vertue bids you make this fair construction Ent. Austel Clo. She comes her sight begets new trouble Would I had chang'd this habit for my winding-sheet Au. Sir I am glad to find my chamber can afford you So good company Clo. Absence at any rate I must be gone Your Majesties pardon Exit Au. It seems you have cured him Age You made him sick had I not reason It is fit I remedy your errors Au. You have so many of your own It will take your time up Age. But there 's one especially that troubles me Au. You would change a wife would you not Age. Do your thoughts prompt you to that question Au. It is time when you deny me Age. There was a time I might Au. Had your hand rotted off the present trouble Had been saved You are an unconstant man Which granted both are miserable Age. Both are no less in being jealous Which you must grant you are Au. Having such cause love could not be without it Age. But having certainty that vertue is gone Love ceasing ends that trouble Au. The object of our guilt shall be our Judge Age. I doe not understand your riddle who do you mean Au. One that to me cannot be partiall your Mistress Age. Your servant Au. Yes Clorinda Age. But doe you think that you stand clear in honor Au. You cannot hope it sure but there 's the more For me to pardon Come all your passages of love Are plain yours and your brother Clarimants Perswade Clorinda that I think her still a man Lest modesty make her forsake the Court And both use means to make her love your brother These little quarrels where the hearts are good The body of our Love keeps firm like letting blood Enter Clindor and 1. 1. Come thou shalt lend me ten Crowns As I am an honest man I le pay thee Clind. Gain that opinion with me first You see the Money 's ready 1. Why thou hast known me long Did I ever deceive thee Clind. No for I ever took thee for a Shark A Fellow too that would abuse me In my poverty in words 1. It was but in Merriment I swear I ever Loved thee truly Clind. Yes and I wil requite it I know that mony Would but dull your Wit spoil Industry I finde it by my self that care keeps close My Purse 1. Refuse a Comrade little Coyn â—Iis poor Clind But yet the custome of the Rich and things Must be proportion'd to our Fortune 1. 'T is well Fortune and you are friends That makes you proud Clind. I have a sense of her great benefits I were a Fool else 1. Well! I may live to repay this scorn Clind. Yes sooner then the Money you would borrow Which makes me ask no Bond. 1. Come prethee supply me and leave fooling Clind. Spare your own pains Sir you have done enough 1 As I am clad I am not fit for any honest company Clind. Nor cloath'd in Scarlet trust me 1. You are a base Fellow the Tide may turn Clind. O admirable fruit of poverty Valour infus'd I vow Yet remember Friend quarrels are dangerous 1. Tell me of danger Clind. I cry you mercy Sir I had forgot you were poor Nay if you be outragious I must leave you 1. We shall meet agen Exit Clind. Yes no doubt on 't how calm and temperate Will Money make one a man might almost pull me By the Nose yet I not angry such admirable satisfactions Here. Enter Selina This Youth I have seen oft had a strange Mind to talk to him yet still the brat avoids me Stay my pretty knave shall I borrow a word or two Sel. On good security you will ask no more Clind. Why is your Mistress staying for you iâ— the Lobby Sel. If she were what would you give to supplâ— my room Clind. I do believe what ever it were she would repay the sum Sel. O fie you look not like an Amorist thaâ— face would fright her Clind. A martial one Adonis was not alwayeâ— favourite Mars had his turn Sel. Were you that Deity your reign is out Clind. But I can prove a Jupiter and court your Mistress in a shower Of gold and that I take it in all times is powerful More then your face Sel. Descend descend and shew yourself a simple Mortal Else I shall leave you Clind. Tell me first what Country you are of My mind gives me I have seen that face Sel. You have a foolish mind that does abuse you So fare you well Clind. And so have you a foolish tongue that does betray you A certain coy disdainful look too that stiles youâ— woman Sel. How sir you shall find me masculine take that Strikes him Clind. This cannot hide you confess your sex and name Or by this light I will untruss your points And then you know what follows Sel. Sir you in this restraint preserve my modesty It was my desire that you should know me I dare not say you are the cause of this disguise Yet you may think your pleasure Clind. Now by this light have I mind to beat thee As a man for all the scorns thou hast put upon me For as a woman I am sure thou wilt abuse me Especially if thou pretend'st to love me Sel. Your scorn 's so just that I must suffer it Seems to weep Clind. How let 's see no moisture spare spare your Linen good Selina Sel. Oh whither shall
And turns him how she please but when I consider It is no wonder she hath a depth of policie Which all my art could never fathom True Blinded by my love I could not reach her aims But stood I free she wanting the advantage Of loves power upon me how poor and shallow Were the arts of all the sex But as it is Fortune hath given this silly Prince The power to crush me into nothing Breaks his contract with me touching Clorinda Which was the soul of all my undertaking Is there no way to right my self yes This could revenge my wrongs on him But then I perish in the act and leave Clorinda To be enjoy'd by Clarimant that must not be No ere my Rival shall so happy prove I to my hate will sacrifice my love Exit Act. 5. Scaen. 1. Enter Cleon Clorinda Prince following Clo. SIr pardon this disturbance of your thoughts Cle. Your presence rather fairest Lady May rectifie any disorder Since you are all a harmony of sweetness Clo. Sir I perceive your power great with this noble Prince And I believe so much a friend to him That he would hearken to your councel If you would join with reason and so perswade him To set Prince Clarimant and the Princess at liberty I think it were an act would shew much friendship To him and for your self gain what reward You would desire from both the Kings Cle. I have observed most beautiful Clorinda Such an excess of nobleness in you I scarcely dare express what I would undertake To serve you but then you really Must let me know all your desires Clo. It is Cleon. Cle. Lady dare you adventure to speak your wishes Clo. I have done so Cle. That Clarimant and the Princess should be Delivered I do believe is your desire But is that all are you pleas'd to be here Clo. Why should I not am I not nobly used Cle I know those who are wicked fear not To break an oath but such whose heart Is fill'd with vertue as I am sure yours is Would not be perjur'd for the world Clo. To what tends this Cle. That you do swear not to discover What I shall propose touching your service Clo. You need not doubt if it do suit With what I have exprest is my desire Cle. My end shall be the same their liberty and yours Though happily our ways to that may differ Clo. My liberty Cle. Yes yours the most desired Swear and then hear what I propose Clo. I do so far as vertue binds Cle. That tye all men have on you Clo. If your intents be fair why will you ask A stronger obligation then Cle. I dare not speak my thoughts without an oath Clo. What can he mean I swear never to speak Of that you shall propound nor need I Since the Prince does overhear Cle. Then know I am not ignorant how you dissemble With this treacherous Prince whom you And all the world must hate Clo. This will undo me I hate the Prince Cle. Yes Lady deadly yet less then I. Pr. 'T is well Cle. All for your sake and for that noble Prince If you consent this hand if Clarimant's Be not more able to effect it Shall take revenge and right our general wrongs Clo I do complain of none If I did how could this be effected Cle. With ease nay more it is not impossible The deed done to escape to shore in the ship-boat Into which the Prince and you the night assisting May get before Enter Prince It is impossible you are deceiv'd A Guard there Ent. Guard and Sailors Seise the Villain Cle. How what mean you sir All that I spoke Was but to let you see how she abused you And this the plot that Clarimant and she had laid You know upon your life depends my happiness Pr. Mine in thy death This cunning cannot save you Cleon. Cle. Nor do I wish it should If you indeed believe me guilty Pr. Bind him I will have thee tortur'd limb from limb Till thou confess all truth Clo. Let me intreat sir for his life However I am by him accused Pr. For hating me which I have too much reason To believe is truth Clo. How can you think so Did I not place you to overhear him Pr. But knew not what he would deliver See Clarimant fast bound and Madam My cabin this night shall be your chamber Clo. Perhaps my death-bed Lost for ever Exeunt Enter Selina bound O you just Gods how all my treasons Against my sweet and innocent Mistress are return'd Upon my head Prince Clarimant I am thy murdress To the fair Olinda by my means betraid O horror what will my torments be for this Hereafter in the other world All this For love of thee false Cleon have I done Thy cursed brain gave birth to all my plots Is this the Crown thou mad'st me fondly hope for And shall I die without revenge revenge My hands fast bound there 's nothing left that I can Reach thee with but curses fruitless curses He shall live happy gain a Kingdom and Clorinda By her a Kingdom why should I pitty her then It is she that is the ground of all my misery His love to her makes me thus wretched For Clarimant he may hereafter marry with Olinda All but my self may yet be happy Must I alone die wretched contemn'd and scorn'd Why do I longer live my guilt and miseries so great You Gods or Fiends remove me from this miserable Earth and let me feel new punishments If punishments there be hereafter These they cannot exceed how sweet were yet Revenge O for revenge that Cleon's heart Were in my hand false Cleon's no way Exit Enter Clorinda Olinda Clo. O dearest Olinda what are the miseries That we are faln into Thinking to rid my self Of a false Vilain I have brought ruine On us all no art can help us now Oh the hard choice to marry with this traitor Prince or Clarimant must die Olind. It were better you consent to marry with the Prince Then that Prince Clarimant should suffer Let not him die however Clo. I know your love to Clarimant Makes you perswade me thus and I would quickly yield Did not my oath to Clarimant forbid But would kill my self ere go to bed Olind. I must confess I love the Prince Be not offended that I say so It was your perswasion first since I have seen Such noble actions as raises him so far Above all other men that they appear Not worthy of a thought And yet my love And estimation of your vertue 's such I gladly would submit nay much rejoice To see such merits join'd Enter Prince Clarimant bound and Guard Pr. Clarimant behold your Judge for know Clorinda This minute you must give consent to marry me And go to bed or else immediately his head Goes off Clo. A cruel choice Olind. Base man canst thou expect to scape the hand Of justice after such cruelty Pr. It is not from you Madam that I
this Clo. My Lord I know not well some discontent Age. Are we alone is there no other eye but that of Heaven beholds us Clo. None that I know Age. Blest opportunity still I am fearful for your sake I would not have our loves discover'd now by chance Which with such art and care hath been so long Conceal'd from all men but my brother Clo. I would it had been so from him too sir Age. Why do you fear he will discover us Clo. O no sir but Age. But what Clo. The gods were witness enough for me sir 'T were my glory were it known if in your fortune But a slave I should with joy proclaim to all The world what your interest were in me But for your sake considering how you father Frowns already I scarce dare to my self Whisper the joy of being yours Age. My father let not that trouble you We will be free as he ere long and our commands Better obeyed Clo. O speak not again my fears how sir better obeyed Age. By those that love me and will live and die with me Clo. Die with you sir why should that come in question Age. Only as an expression of my friends affection Clo. But sir were all men what they seem That which I fear you do intend is that Which heaven cannot approve take heed of disobedience sir Age. Why doest thou plead against thy self against thy joyes And mine Now as I am I dare not look on these Bright eyes the comforts of my life nor touch this hand These lips not speak but by the assistance Of my brother Clo. This is a freedom sir modesty could not allow Did we oft meet and as it is do not again Expect it Age. Why dearest are you so nice you do noâ— love me Your hand you will not sure refuse me Clo. I shall sir if you presume upon an opportuâ—nity Age. You never did deny that favor to my brotheâ— As my substitute Clo. It is confest and that in publike too More willingly I there would grant him any modeâ—â— Favor then here to you in private Age. That 's strange Clo. Do we not often give those praises to a persoâ— Absent which modesty would make us blush To speak unto himself Age. It seems I must be only favored by attorny Clo. Not so the mind being the noblest part I' st not enough if that be happy Age. Yes if it could subsist without a body Which since it cannot dearest mistres if you 'll be just The beauties of your person must in some measure Satisfie the flames that they create Offers to kiss her Clo. Sir I believe you will not think 't is a forc'd modesty That I put on though I should tell you I am not pleas'd At all to be alone with you yet how much I do love you it were in vain to speak That love enjoins as you will keep your faith To me not to disturb the quiet of your Father And this Kingdom likely to be yours Do not expect to find them faithful in the time To come to whom you shall teach falshood By your own example Age. Happily I have no such design we are ingrate To fortune and to Love in spending this happy Opportunity on any other subject Then what may tend unto his glory Clo. I see Sir I must leave you or my modesty Age. Dear do not frown pardon those faults Your beauties and my love engage me in Clo. Should I grant that for an excuse sufficient Where should we find a guilty or immodest person Since all immoderate desires do find a beauty In their object which promises a pleasure By enjoying My love then yours is of a purer Kind and fit it should as growing from A nobler cause your greater merit Be witness heaven I never yielded yet To any thought or motion wherein your happiness Had not precedence Age. Should I pretend to what you do appropriate The greatest love 't would shew presumption Yet here I offer what you dare not perform To me a free unlimited disposing Of my person and my will Clo. I take you at your word and though your Humble servant as a Mistress do impose These two commands Be modest in your love And patient in your expectation of a Crown Let all things be mature and ripen'd to perfection Then they are sweet and lovely but on the Contrary many infirmities accompany Abortive births seldom or never lasting She offers to go away Age. Sure you will not leave me thus Clo. Yes sir I must The greatness of my love commands me Remember your promise Age. You do express it strangely Would you stay longer if you loved me less Clo. With much more confidence I tremble sir lest Some unwelcom person should find us here Alone if there were company with whom you Might discourse I should stand by and hear you With delight look on you with much more Now apprehension of discovery takes away All pleasure from me Age. If we must ever live with this constraint upon us Where are the joys of love It rests not sure Alone in being beloved but in possession He that despairs in love hath a more happy fate Then I You do not love me sure what have I More then words to build my faith upon If you have pitty in you be more kind Or free me from my last engagement Clo. Not for a million Age. Trust me I shall not hold my self sufficiently Obliged unless I seal my promise on your lip Clo. He that will break his word no other tie Can hold him Age. Yet never any fearful Creditor Such you appear to be refused an Obligation Clo. This is the last you ever as a Mistress Shall receive from me Age. May your last words prove happily prophetick Clo. Think on your promise sir Exit Age. I do so sweet was the engagement That whilst I think on it even then It prompts me to the breaking the only way For to attain a greater bliss in her Promises Made in prejudice of Love I should be most profane To keep nor can she be offended however fear And modesty in her forbad me to attempt Power and her dear Embraces are alike The objects of my soul shall danger then make me retire No danger thrusts me on and tells me there 's noâ— safety But in arms which well imployed cancels my fault Unto my father and smooths Clorinda's brow â—he cannot be so cruel to herself to frown On disobedience that presents a Crown Exit Act. 2. Scaen. 1. Enter Clarimant â—lar O Fool for ever thou hast forfeited thy bliss She never will endure to hear thee speak Or look upon her more What falshood â—ust she think me guilty of I am so sensible Of my offence that though she would admit me â—durst never see her more How poor a value then â—ears life Enter Agenor with a Picture Brother Clar Ha! Age. How strangely you are alter'd Clar. You do not erre sir I was not wont to be thus sad Age. Nor
do I hope you will continue long so Your grief may prove infectious pray shake it off You shall not else keep company with my Clorinda Clar. I never will sir Age. How brother Clar. This sadness will not leave me Age. Come by all our interests I conjure you â—peak freely what troubles you Clar. Then sir in short you have undone me Age. I dearest brother Clar. Yes you Did you not enjoin â—â—at I should make in publike address to your Mistress 〈◊〉 which received opinion you might be freer 〈◊〉 your love Age. Had you engaged me in the like I should with joy have done it Clar. My care was such to do it to the life That I am really become what I did personate Are not you then the cause that I am miserable Age. What do I hear can there be truth in this If it be so speak it again Cla. 'T is that I never must deny I love her more then I do life Age. Or faith or honour do you not Cla. Sure I believe nothing with her can stand iâ— competion long Yet I will never see her more Age. It is not fit you should What do I feel Can the meer name of Rival trouble me Yes with the addition that he is my brother But whither am I falling Assist me Reason Let me but weigh my Mistresses unequal'd beauty And her greater merit and that must prove Both his excuse and my assurance Cla. I fear sir you are angry Not that I valuâ— Any danger but that I would not have you so unjusâ— Age. Trust me I am not brother I will admit you as a friendly Rival Make her inconstant once and I shall gladly quit herâ— Cla. Had you so mean a thought of her or me It were an injury I could not suffer Age. Come come upon my life I have not Some business brother of the highest importance Commands me from you perhaps from Court erâ— long And that I may assure you of my love and trust Carry from me this Picture to my dearest Mistress Clar. Sir I beseech you pardon me I would noâ— see her When I may avoid it there 's too much danger In the object Age. Remember she 's your Brothers Mistress that will protect you Cla. I never did forget pray send it by some other Offers the Picture back Age. I shall believe you do indeed intend to wooe My mistress from me since you refuse to appear to her My friend and messenger Cla. Sir I will do it but henceforth never misdoubt The strengths you hold upon me for I in it â—o break a resolution equal to a vow Age. Farewell Exit Clar. How hard a fate is mine to what cross actions â—oth our passions move I flie from what I wish Yet to assist anothers flame I grant what so my own I had denied Oh no it is not thus â—or every action rightly weighed it will be found Our own advantage is the proper center Where all lines meet For if I truâ—y apprehended â— discontent from seeing her I should not sure â—ave yielded to the inforcement of my brother â—o 't is with me as with those men who are â—y nature strongly tempted to some lust â—â—as'd in the sin yet grant no guilt Only alleadging for excuse They must Exit Enter Cleon and Selina Cle. Sweet Selina it is not now that I shall need â—o make a declaration of my love â—ou long have known the engagement of my heart Sel. My Lord my obligations are so great â—hat you may justly claim the utmost of my power â—oward the accomplishment of your desires Cle. I have been too unthankful to so true a friend But be assured that thou shalt have my best Of fortunes with me in the mean time wear this To keep me in thy memory Sel. It needs not sir I have already too many testâ—â—moniâ— Of your favor to forget Cle. When was Prince Clarimant with thy Ladâ— Sel. When was he not I fear sir her affection To him is so rooted that it will grow for ever Yet I have used those arts you taught me And some female practises of mine but all in vain But sir despair not since as yet you never Did make known your love to her and were she My mind she soon would make a difference Betwixt a boy a child and such a man as you Cle. Friendship doth blind thee more then â—o does me The frost I wear upon my locks will keep My fire from kindling in her breast Whilst equal youth and beauty in the Prince Gives nourishment unto a mutual flame Sel. I hope it will Aside Cle. Yet prethee say that I would speak with hâ— And have a care none overhear our conference Sel. My Lord I shall endeavour it she 's now 〈◊〉 the garden Exit Sâ—â— Cle. It is not love alone unto the Princess persoâ— I know I cannot be so faithless to my own designs No 't is her interest to the Crown engages me As much as does her beauty or her wit And yet she holds by those when I do see Or hear her speak great power upon me But I must watch my flame no spark let fall That may give any light of my affection to her In a third person I must try her Since she 's of humane race a woman to her mothâ—â— Whether from her be not derived some seeds Of the first female weaknesses ambition and Inconstancie which if I find I 'll nourish them And in their growth my hopes but if I see Such powerful charm no alteration move She claims my adoration cures my love Enter Clorinda Selina She comes be firm my resolution The splendor of her eyes is powerful already My designs meet with confusion Love gives the lye To my ambition triumphs o're my discretion And tels me that a Crown 's an aiery nothing Compared with the possessing of her personal Beauty what wonders will the magick of Her tongue perform Clo. What means this Cle. 'T is best I should at once profess my love And in her scorn receive a glorious death Stay let me be a King first and then to offer Up my self to my great Deity Brings no dishonor to her shrine Clo. My Lord did you not desire to speak with me Cle. Madam I did and the affair is of such weight That though I had consulted with my self before I durst not utter it without a second thought And none but your dear self to hear it Clo. Leave us Exit Selina Cle. Madam amongst those many whom your perfections Have devoted to your service though not so happy As with others to express my zeal There 's none without exception I dare speak it Would sooner undertake or hazard more to serve you This if you can believe I dare enlarge my self If not I must be satisfied with this expression Clo. My Lord if I be not mistaken you are a frienâ— To those whom all know I do value highly that Were I ignorant of your own worth Is argument enough for my
esteem and trust Cle. I here do call the Gods to witness That all my study all my friendship tends to youâ— advantage Nor is the Prince at all considerable to me But as he is your servant but for your sake I wish he were the the Monarch of the world For how so much perfection can be ordain'd To bless a Subjects bed comes not within The compass of my faith and Prince Clarimant Is never like to be a King Clo. To what tends this Cle. But had your love been plac'd upon his brother As his is upon you ere long your beauties Might have found their proper foil a Crown To set â—hem off as a bright constellation there All eyes might look on you with wonder And delight but in a Subjects name your glorie Are obscured Clo. Either the Prince as being his friend Hath made discovery to him of our loves Or he hath found cause to suspect Cle. Madam I see what I have spoke begets youâ— trouble Clo. I must confess it sir can it do less When I shall hear a person of your merit A friend as you profess perswading me To quit my faith for the vain expectation Of a Crown Cle. Madam the Crown will soon be his as certaiâ— As he loves you and both as certain as I live Clo. It is impossible that Prince Agenor he should love And never speak his passion Cle. No more then it was in me Clo. How sir in you Cle. Madam I will confess a secret to you â— burn with a more zealous consuming fire Then ever yet was kindled in a mortals breast Have often seen my Mistress spoke to her Had opportunities alone as now with you Yet such was my respect to her I never durst Express my passion Then Madam from the purity Of my affection judge of the Prince And reward his sufferings Clo. I must try him Can this be possible Cle. Iove strike me with his thunder If what I now have said be not a truth Clo. My Lord if it be thus I shall at least find pitty For his sufferings my best of wishes too For your success in love Cle. Would you be pleas'd when I shall let you know Her name to be my advocate I cannot doubt My happiness Clo. Sure he means me Alas my Lord what you desire I should perform for any worthy person Much more for you since what I shall perswade Must tend for certain to her happiness Cle. Can I ask more she courts me to discover Enter Selina Divinest Lady The Prince your servant desires admittance Cle. Hell take him Madam be pleas'd to grant me The honor of your hand as an assurance Of your promis'd favor Clo. If you believe I have the power to serve you In your love name but the time and person I am ready to assist you were it this minute Cle. I should too much presume upon your favoâ— The Prince your servant being so near attending Clo. Do not mistake sir he may stay Cle. Why am I fearful dare I believe my self 〈◊〉 happy That you would miss the Prince's company a minuteâ— To pleasure me Clo. Yes by my life two minutes nor is' t in 〈◊〉 Meer curiosity to know the loves of others But that I hold my self obliged no longer To be ignorant of one whose worth and beauty Hath the force to ad your conquest to Lov 's triumph Yours who have been still observed victorious In the subduing every other passion To force an inclination is an act of power Where every common beauty can subdue the amorous Cle. Not to have yielded homage here had been a flat Rebellion since all hearts are a tribute due To her perfections which justice will inforce you To confess when you know how much she doth Resemble you Clo. 'T is plain he loves rather would have me think so My Lord your last words give me cause to doubt Not so much your attaining as the over-value Of the purchase and that I may not have a less esteem Of you I must confess I do not wish to know her now Enter Selina and Clarimant Sel. Madam the Prince Cle. How shall I understand this dark Enigma Hope or despair 't is time must cleer it Sir I presume to have that interest in you You will not be offended at your stay For the injury name your own satisfaction Clar. So kind Madam to me who have no other merit But obedience how can there be an injury Clo. In this unjust acknowledgment much modesty appears How winning must your words and actions be When they are accompanied with truth Clar. That only must be truth with me Which you are pleas'd to have so I will not own A faculty that prompts me to a contradiction Yet never could I yield to my own praise But as I am dignified in being your creature Clo. In being so absolutely mine you make me richer In my own esteem then all additions which the world Can yield besides Cle. This Lady can dissemble but with whom she does so I am yet to learn It is not fit I should disturb This harmony the God of love is hovering Not far off delighted with the musick Of these melting accents For I a profest opposite To all his sweetness have forfeited my manners by my stay Clor. Not so my Lord the excess of kindness I have shewed Prince Clarimant Must clear all suspition in this Lord If he had any that I love Agenor Cle. Sir be happy in this Princess to my wish Which hath a latitude as great as you can Think Your Father by my means if I may boast A service to my Princely friend highly approves The match All happiness attend you both Exit Clar. How fortune mocks me Clo. Struck with a sudden sadness sir Selina Ex. Sel. Call for my servants I 'll go to Court Have you any service to command me sir Clar Madam I see you fain would change the Scene How soon are you weary of his company To whom just now you did profess so much Clo. Not weary sir but yet I hope That you have not forgot to whom All those professions were intended Clar. Yet they were spoke to me the words accompanied With proper accents your eyes to speak Loves language And here before Lord Cleon with more perswasive Eloquence then ever Clo 'T is true it makes me almost blush to think How much I courted you Heaven knows I could not for the world have spoke Or lookt so on your brother the reason was I feared that Cleon did suspect whom I did Love indeed Clar. And you to cozen him used me so over-kindly At first I doubt not but you laid the plot Of thus disguising your affection Clo. You speak as if you did repent the obligation You have laid upon your brother and my self Clar. Do you esteem it one Clo. A great one sir believe Clar. Heaven knows I not repent it then But can you think that when you look and speak With passion whoever hears must not be moved
this time they are at the gates Lucid. O heavens my fears are faln upon us Age. What 's to be done Clind. Let us make good the gates against them Age. There 's none dares touch my person Lucid. Believe it not sir there is no fafety Your Fathers jealousies are wrought to a strange Height and those whom you least suspect I fear conspire your ruine to advance Your brother to the Crown Age. Who do you mean Lucid. Lord Cleon. Age. It is impossible Clind. I saw Prince Clarimant and him together And Cleon's words were to the Captain of the guarâ— Bring him alive or dead Lucid. Sir be advised there is no safety In the Kingdom for you until this storm blow oveâ— Age. What shall I flie Lucid. Rather then fall I know there 's thousanâ— Will live and dye with with you but here they aâ— not Enter Lord. The Guard Sir do approach the house on every sidâ— Clind. Make sure the gates Lucid. That will not do 't fire soon will opeâ— therâ— Down with them Fire the gates Within a crying Lucid. Hark! Age. Let 's force our passage through them They clash their swords within Exeunt Enter Clindor and four Guard Clind. My friends this care is needless why do you hold me I am not mad I. Mad sir we do not think it Clind. Nor can I swim I do assure you I. What then Clind. Then you are sure I cannot scape your hands as the Prince did I. No sir we 'll look to you for that Bring him away before the King Clind. Before the King of what will you accuse me I. For being accessary of the Princes flight Cl. O 't is well then we 'll ev'n hang for company I. For company Cl. Even so if I be accessary you let him scape I. Why could we help it when he leapt into the river Cl. Had your Zeal been so hot to serve the King as you do now make shew of You would have dows'd in over head and ears 2. What drown our selves Cl. Yes any thing in zeal My zeal to justice shall hang all you and my self Too for in my conscience we deserve it what shrinâ— for a little water I. He tels us true our fault will be esteem'd as great as his Cl. Come come along my friends we must before the King I. Very pretty Clind. You will not find so when my most nobâ— Lord Cleon shall with the King Judge of your actions I. Well Captain we acquit you I find indeed We should be fools to accuse each other Clind. Speak for your selves c. Enter Old King Clarimant Cleon. O. K. Urge nought in his excuse he 's a boâ— Traitor And he shall know his birth is no excuse For disobedience Clar. Sir I dare pawn my life my brother neveâ— diâ— Nor does intend ill to your Royal person O. K. If it were so am not I wounded in mâ— Ministers Enter Capt. This natural tenderness of thine a Brothers Condemns him most unnatural to me a Father Now speak is the Traitor coming to assault us Capt. No sir but he is scap'd our hands Cle. How scap'd Capt. He resolutely made his passage through uâ— And we pursuing to take him he with Lucidor Leapt into the river and swam to a small piâ—ace Of his own that always lay there for his Pleasure in which they are put to sea Cle. With all speed make to the shore and seâ— what course They hold if he sir in despair should go into Newâ—streâ— With whose King you now have difference About the staying of your ships of treasure And the Isle of Cires no doubt much danger Threatens your self and State to prevent which Straight raise an Army and make Prince Clarimant Your General that being in readiness You may prevent any attempt Agenor Or the enemy can make against you O. K. Be all things ordered by thy faith and judgment Thy care must be my preservation I do commit all power into thy hands Hearken to him my dearest Clarimant In what he shall advise thee my age And griefs I find will quickly wear me out â—'ll to my chamber Give order careful Faithful Cleon. Exeunt King Clar and others Cle. Yes I shall be careful to take order An order with you all Father and sons Now my designs work prosperously Only the late discovery that Selina made Does trouble me Agenor not Clarimant My Rival is by her beloved but all Do love Clorinda yet now Agenor's gone She happily may change her love to Clarimant Who is opinion now stands fairest for the Crown Rather I hope by this she hates him As the cause of all Agenor's misery So far Selina is by me instructed â—o insinuate whom I of late have wrought To a belief that I do love her person But Clorinda's quality and title As being those steps by which I hope of ascend The throne See where she comes speak my sweet Agent how moves our plot Enter Selina with a Letter seal'd and writ out Sel. Not well too fast I fear Cle. As how Sel. Obeying your directions my Lady hath contracted â—o much hatred against Prince Clarimant â—he scarcely can endure to hear him named Resolves never to see him more Cle. Is not this well 't is all as I could wish Sel. Thus far 't is true but now Agenor's gonâ— She so much apprehends the importunity Of Prince Clarimants affection that she 's resolvâ— Past all perswasion in a disguise To seek for the Agenor which if she find She satisfies her love however cures her fears Cle. My cunning hath undone me Thus chance oft triumphs over wisdom But what there is some remedy in every ill Let me think it what disguise soft may she not With you dissemble as you with her And she does yet love Clarimant and not Agenoâ— Sel No I have that here does assure me She hates Prince Clarimant Cle. What is' t a Letter O let me see it Sel. By no means sir you cannot close it But the Prince will find it hath been broken Cle. You do not know my skill Sel. I need not trust it upon my life I 'll tell yoâ— Every word that it contains she read it to me Cle. Nay then I fear she did abuse you All Lovers are dissemblers and she I fear Is a cunning one Sel. What she hath done I know not But now her sorrows and her passions Are so rais'd the heart 's transparent Cle. There may be greatest art Sel. Such broken sighs and floods of tears Agenor's name still call'd upon Gives me assurance of her love to him Cle. Change but the name the griefs may still 〈◊〉 Counterfeit I sigh and vow Clorinda Instructed by ambition but yet my heart Is more Selina's Kisses her Sel. Well my Lord you may abuse me Cle. Prethee let me see the Letter Sel. The words are few and I can write them down Pray sir do not desire what may undo My credit with my Lady which truth is I do only value as it may advance
your ends Enter Clarimant Cle. The Prince Make shew as if you only Did of me enquire for him Sel. My Lord Cle. There Lady is Prince Clarimant whom you Enquire for If he do read it here I shall Observe his action Sel. From Clorinda this accompanied with all misfortunes Clar. How Sel. Pardon the duty of a servant Clar. Stay Lady Sel. I must receive no answer Exit Clar. Since from her hand however I receive it Thus Kisses it Cle. Certain she hath abused Selina He kift the paper as knowing the inside Differs from the superscription Clar. reads Of Lovers most injurious of Brothers falsest Of all Mankind the worst Yet know I wish now What before I only griev'd for that Clarimant Should love Clorinda may it be to madness If less only because the sense of torment May be more in which alone I can expect A diminution of that grief which by thy means I suffer Thine everlasting enemy Clorinda Clar. So long my Saint O you Gods do I deserve this Yes I do for she like you is just And we blaspheme when we in thought repine As not conceiving how though certainly We have offended my guilt is clear 'T is crime enough to be the accidental cause Of misery to her Cle. This sure is real sadness Selina I believe thee now Exit Cleon. Clar. Let me examine have I not through ambition Or hope to gain Clorinda for my self Been aiding to my Brothers wrongs Sure I am guilty I but think I did My best to appease my Father yes the Gods know And she as being divine may see my real Love to him not only as my brother But my friend did either want and could be So supplied how gladly would I pour this Blood into their empty veins and yet she Hates me thus perhaps my brother does so too What 's that nothing 'T is true if I durst Wholly yield my heart He meanly does deserve a Lovers name That can know mixture in his grief or flame Exit Enter Agenor and Lucidor disguis'd Lucid. Though you have lost your Country for the present All your hopes dasht in the minute of your greatest Expectation yet sir consider the hand of fortune That presses you thus low may as she turns The wheel raise you agen Age. Never oh never 't is not the hand of fortune But my guilt that bears me down Justice The justice of the Gods lies heavy on me Treason and disobedience till now I never Found their weight Lucid. I know not sir what you call Treason Though what you did intend succeeded not â— hold your fortune to be better now Then in in your Fathers Court you are safe in this Country and your own disposer neither of which â— take it was allowed you there Age. Why do you injure truth and seek to lessen My foul faults Think not to make my grief Diminish so rather express your friendship In yielding as I do so shall you quickly Be inform'd that our crimes are so great No punishment can be too much and I have now No joy but in this burden of my sorrows Lucid. Nor I in my particular no grief so great As in the lightness of my purse Age. We have enough these Jewels will From want secure us for I am resolv'd Never to quit this habit and condition Since justice hath impos'd it as a punishment For my ambition Enter Two I. Make haste make haste sure we shall come Too late Age. Let 's leave the street Exeunt Enter Two 1. Do you think we shall get neer to see Sure she 'll chuse one of the strange Princes 2. Troth who can tell Newstrea affords Handsomer men then they 1. Indeed she 's past fifteen I 'll warrant she has A Sweetheart some at her age have two Or three 2. Trust me she 's the wiser to have plenty When age comes they 'll drop like leaves In Autumn Exeunt Enter with all the glory can be King Austella three Princes Lords Ladies Sister and People King Daughter this is the day Wherein you have full power To dispose my Kingdom nay more Your self Austel This freedom sir of choice which customâ— And your Majesty allows is that wherein My bondage will consist nay all this Glorious troop appear to me no other Then if they came with joy to see me Put into the grave alive K. How daughter Aust Many Virgins sir that have been forc'd to Marry those they did not love have rather Chosen death as the less evil K. I understand you not call you this force Where the election's absolutely free Aust I grant sir I am free to choose But if I would not chuse at all does not The same constraint still rest upon me Pardon great Princes whose expectation To enjoy me and a Crown have drawn you From your Countries you are all indifferent In my eye nor does my knowledg of your merits Which I confess is great perswade that in The choice of any one I shall be happy And where the wife is discontented the husband sure If he have real worth cannot be pleas'd K. From the knowledg of the liberal power The law allows and the necessity of a successor You cannot but have often thought on this dayes Ceremony Let not a fained modesty Or be it real prevail above your duty and your reason The ripeness of your years may justly challenge All delight and here a Husband and the assurance Of a Crown attend you She weeps If these do make you weep What can cause joy in woman Since you are My daughter I dare not think that you have plac'd Your love on any man you are ashamed to name Aust The Gods are witness sir I never saw that person Yet whom I thought worthy to exchange My heart with but custom sir and you impose On me the prostitution of my love perhaps to one Who wer 't not for the Crown I bring Nay even with that addition will happily refuse me 1 Pr. Refuse you Madam 2 Pr. He must not sure be mortal That dare aspire a greater happiness 3 Pr. The Gods have left heaven for mortals Then here there never was a greater cause Aust Princes these words do fitly wait upon The action you are now engag'd in I do not doubt you should refuse me But I perhaps may choose one whose affection Is already given how miserable am I then Since there to be refused were the less mischief For his acceptance only grants a perjur'd And ambitious husband K. How vain are these excuses since the custom And my age inforce a choice Aust Like one condemned I beg for mercy Cross not the course of nature even beasts sir Do not couple till they wooe K. Plead not the rights of nature since those you wrong By thus refusing marriage On your posterity Depends the safety of my State and I nor can Nor will dispence with what custom and law Appoint Aust The law doubtless was made in favor of The daughter to make her happy in
a free Choice which almost never is allowed to Princes But where like priviledges are if not demanded They 'r not inforct Those Countries where the Book 's allowed to save the forfeit life For theft 't is but if askt so when a Virgin Saves a life and gains a husband Yet have they in those offers been refused And death embrac'd by the delinquent Then wonder not that I a Princess to miss A husband which being inforc'd I needs must hate Do that which common persons have perform'd My seeming disobedience set against Their forfeit life Justice will force These Princes and your sacred Majesty confess That I have reason on my side however will And custom plead for you King Fond Austella too late I fear thou wilt repent This pride of soul it is no other cause Makes thee thus peevish My Lords your ear Aust Ha! what object meets mine eyes sure there is Somthing like a charm that works upon me Can this be natural fie Austella Consider these Princes had no power Let not a glance then of a strangers eye Kindle an amorous fire about thy Virgin heart Age. The Princess eyes are fixt upon me And they are glorious ones believe me friend 1 Pr. Sir we are all agreed the honour to be your Son in law which thus we still may be Is that we covet King Know Austella since you refuse the priviledges Of your birth and thus neglect my safety And the State that reason which you so much plead Invests your sister with all those priviledges Which once belong'd to you Austel Ah me that I had sooner seâ—n or never Sist My sister sir will be better advs'id I know Austel I wish sir I had not so far transgrest But do your pleasure King My pleasure dearest Austella is to make thee yet What nature did ordain thee if thou wilt chuse A husband Aust I shall sir so you will promise What the law requires upon your part King 'T is vain to make a second promise With the Crown I took that Oath Austel These Princes and all that hear me know that I Can chuse but one I hope none will repine Since for my self I chuse I Pr. None dares be so unjust to question the actions Of a Goddess such all true Lovers Ever should esteem their Mistress Austel Sir in obedience to your royal will I am resolved to give away my self Stay pause Austella It is no less How rash how fatal may that bounty prove Shall the deceitfullest of all my senses Be more powerful then reason duty Or my resolution No no my eyes Though as a woman I receive with joy The beams which you convey yet as a Princess On whom depends the good of others Reason and vertue ought to sway me more Age. Is' t not extremely dark upon the sudden Lucid. Just as it was Age. O friend I am undone for ever K. Daughter why do you hold us all upon the Rack Of expectation Aust In an affair of so high consequence Blame me not sir though I advise Were you to give away A Kingdom you would do so I shall not only sir Do that but likewise take from many Especially these Princes a Kingdom and your Daughter And yet to ballance all these discontents Please but one person K. Yes dearest Austella your self in your free choice Of him whoe're he be Aust You encourage me but I sir from my care Of these your subjects for whom I am to chuse A King as well as for my self a husband Humbly desire the Ceremonial part Of this days custom may be dispenc'd with And where the manner was to praise the Gods For him was chosen son in law and so successor To the Crown you now would with more reason And a righter set devotion go to the Temple And invoke those heavenly powers to inspire me With their wisdoms in my election which I wil make At my return K. I know not how I or these Princes or these people Can refuse you a request so just and pious â—ending to all our goods Set forward to the Temple Exeunt Enter people passing over by degrees talking Enter Austella and a Lady Are not those strangers I sent for come Thom. Madam they wait your pleasure Aust Wait why did you suffer it Oh bring them in Yet stay Thom. What contradiction's here Aust How hard a part necessity hath thrust upon me Time till for this cause I never wisht Thy motion slower desire them enter Ex. Lady Enter Agenor Lucidor Age. O you Gods was this the Lady that sent for us Aust Noble strangers for such your looks do promise I took the boldness to send for you to know A truth which from our natives or my fathers Subjects 't is not like I shall since all are apt Still to approve the customs of their Nation Lucid. Madam when you are pleas'd to make me and my son Know your demands so far as our abilities inform Truth shall not suffer Aust Say you the same sir Age. 'T were alike vain as to dissemble with Divinity Not to speak truth to you Aust What I demand is how you do approve Those actions of which you were late witnesses Age. I must esteem that Kingdom made happy By a custom where their prosperity And future bliss depends on your election Who have no doubt the care of heaven to govern What you do as well as 't is exprest In the harmonious composing of your person Aust This flattery makes me despair to find That truth which I expected and you promis'd Yet necessity does urge me to demand A bolder question What Country do you hold Produces the greatest beauties Age. Madam this Kingdom even this place contains More then the world besides Aust These words methinks fall from your tongue As if you had been taught by Love to speak Hyperboles You have a Mistress I perceive Age. Ah me Aust Speak have you not Lucid. She loves you on my life Aust Oh I fear Lucid. What mean you sir Madam I know the Prince Aust How sir Lucid. The Prince of Love I mean Queen Venus Child Had never any power yet o're my son The war hath ever been his Mistress Aust How gladly would I flatter my desires With a belief of something even above my hopes The words were strangely broken and abrupt Is he your father sir Age. Madam you are the first that ever seem'd to doubt it Au. I must confess I do withall whate'r he says I must believe you are a Lover Age. Madam one truth 's in both the latter I will swear or seal it with my blood Au. How sir Age. That I do love Au. How long have you done so Age. Since the first minute that I saw the object Of my passion Au. I must increase your wonder at the strictness Of my examination Hath many days past Since your passion first took birth Age. Though it may seem an arrogance approaching Madness yet truth which you enjoin And all must reverence forces me
my sufferings past Your promise or present tender of my service Have power to gain your good opinion At least consider where you are give me not cause By your unkindness back to reflect upon my own Advantage your happiness forgot I tender you once more A servant and a husband Acceptance Makes me equal to a God in happiness If you deny 't is in my power to take A sweet revenge Clo. Revenge my Lord I know not what you mean Cle. Certain you do suspect but I 'll inform you fully Sure you forget your sex else you would rather give Then have me force a pleasure from you Clo. How Villain Offers to embrace her Cle. Come Madam you are mine I must return kisses Embraces for those frowns nor art nor force Can free you from me Clo. Unhand me Can you believe to scape heavens justice After an act so foul Cle. So foul so fair Yes often I do hope to do the same 'T was well attempted but now it shall assist The owner Yield or I 'll pierce that Unrelenting heart She offers to draw his sword Clo. Traitor thou darest not She spits at him Cle. 'T is true not kill you had you done me wrongsâ— Above what mankind ever suffered You cannot move me otherwise then to Infinity of love yield but consent And be a sharer in my joy Clo. Villain think of the punishment that does attend thee Rather from the just Gods yet kill me And I will pray to heaven for mercy on thee Cle. Your beauty and my love both plead against you But you may think me cold to talk thus long We must remove into a thicker place Clo. Help help you Gods murder treason help Exeunt Enter Agenor It is impossible this Bore can scape Having so many wounds sure I shall track him By his blood Within Clo. Help oh help Traitor Age. Ha! 't is sure a womans voice Exit Enter Agenor Cleon Clorinda Age. Rude slave how canst thou injure so much sweetness Cle. I must not speak but do Fights Clo. O heavens 't is he guard him you powers Cle. Hold oh hold and hear me Clo. O my dear Lord believe not ought he says Age. Ha! what voice As Age. turns Cleo. thrusts at him Villain and Traitor both Cle. Oh Dyes Clo. Are you not hurt Pardon you Powers whom I so oft blasphemed In my despair Deliverance and by this hand O my joys you grow too fast upon me Age. 'T is she the too much injured Clorinda Why should I know her that have so much Forgot my self and vertue O my shame Clo. Why hang you down your head these unbefitting clothes Nor you nor I should blush at Since love did both provide and put them on Age. Your love to me Clo. Ha My love to you you cannot think My heart is capable of other love Age. I wish I could For then my falshood had been so much less Clo. Dear sir what is it in me that offends your eys Age. This face if it have less of beauty Yet even that loss since caus'd by sorrow For your misfortunes merits from you more love Age. Nor face nor habit dearest Clorinda but Clo. But what strangely unkind Age. Oh here receive this sword rip up my breast And see what 's written in my heart there There thou shalt find the cause of this distraction Clo. No jealousie I hope nor apprehension That I have suffer'd rape my person so Become unworthy of your love If either way Defiled I should not dare to approach thus near you Age. Then pardon me divinest Maid this seeming coldness That only grows from my respect to injured vertue Clo How sir Iâ— what are you guilty of Be it an offence committed against me Pardon your self with promise of amends And I will seal it on this Princely hand That gave so late life to my dying honor Age. O do not touch that hand It was too active in your wrongs Clo. Ha! O my fears I dare not question more And yet I must my torment cannot well be greaterâ— Your hand this hand speak oh speak Age. What Clo. This hand which you so often have approachâ— With trembling reverence mine this hand Which to your letters set assured the free gift Of your heart to me hath not persumed to give it To another sure Age. O yes this hand hath instrumentally bequeath'd My heart unto another with all the ceremonial Rights of marriage Clo. Married Oh me pain danger and disgrace Fruits of a faithful love behold your recompence Weeps O men false men Why then these tears rather revenge Such wrongs cry loud and make a feeble arm Like mine heavens instrument of justice Age. Strike where you please but if you will be just Here this is the seat of falshood here dwels The traitor Clo. But hear the miserable Offers to kill herself Age. O dearest Clorinda add not unto my breach Of faith the guilt of murder for your sweet innocence Could know no spot but as by me infected Clo. Why do you make shews of repentance And yet persist in injuries You seem to grieve For having made me wretched yet force me To continue miserable Age. 'T is to prevent your misery and mine that I restrain you You had wont to enjoin and teach me temperance Remember that Clo. O bid me not remember 't is loss of memory Alone can ease my torments and 't is a study Since you will have me live that I must practise Age. Live and live happily or else I never can do so Live as my friend my dearest sister Clo. That is a title had nature framed me such I had been happy in Your brother now or kinsman For I have lost my modesty so far Ever to take a womans habit and whilst I so Forget my sex I likewise may forget part of my grief Age. Then as my friend I will communicate my fortunes To you where you will find though nothing Worthy of a pardon yet somthing near a fair Excuse it Beauty and a Crown bear estimation Clo. I know you mean your wife O me why did I name her Be not so weak my resolution I shall discover who I am so move her hate Or scorn and then you will repent my being Near you Age. I know I never shall Clo. I am no Rival 't is sin with passion To affect you now since lawfully anothers right This temperance I shall endeavour however I will do no wicked office or seek to make Appear her vertue or her beauty less Since they are your excuse my satisfaction grows From their excess Exeunt Act. 5. Scaen. 1. Enter King reading a Letter three Princes Lords Austella Au. To force me chuse a husband yet bar the rights Or marriage But I must bear it since my Father And my King esteem it fit 1 Pr. What is the number of the Kings army sir K. Ten thousand Horse 2 Pr. What Foot K. None that appears but doubtless they are coming After Princes you may now
manifest your love To me and to my daughter by raising forces To assist me in this need 3 Pr. You have a powerful enemy and doubtless By some injury highly incens'd K. Rather his power far exceeds mine 'T is that which makes me crave assistance from you My daughter although married is yet a Virgin 'T is possible in time that she may prove a widow These arguments may witness to you I mislike her choice 1 Pr. Indeed she looks as if she were not pleas'd 2 Pr. But shall we credit this Lay he not with her K. Not by my honor perhaps he never shall Though all were carried formally to please the people Who are enamour'd of him now more then My daughter is 3 Pr. Sir though I cannot think there 's likelihood That any of us should ever enjoy your daughter Yet I will promise what assistance I can give 2 Pr. The like do I and for that cause we 'll take Our leaves K. I rather thought you would have writ for forces And with your personal assistance and advice Help to secure this City 1 Pr. So we should lose our selves to no purpose The King will suddenly with his Troops of horse If his design lie hither appear before the walls And close us in where if we leave you now We may return hereafter to your rescue K. I dare not force although I would perswade you All 3. Lady we wish much happiness Till we return to serve you Ex Princes K. Now thou fond girl thou mayst perceive what Thou hast done to chuse a husband of the common Rank these Princes might have been a bulwark To defend against the powerful foe Whate'r they seem they for thy sake Will not prove enemies I fear Au. If you have done no wrong sir why should you Fear This King whom you believe comes to Invade hath his dependance from the Gods And they can change or overturn all his designs K. Thus thou didst ever speak with piety And wisdom which made me in thy choice Expect a worthy son in law Enter Agenor But thou hast brought shame and disgrace upon me Exit Aust The Gods give this allay unto my joy Lest in possessing you I should contemn Their happiness Weeps Age. My dearest Mistress for by that title I must call you He that does give you cause to weep Could have no other priviledge but that of Father to defend his heart from shedding Crimson drops But since it is your will I must with patience hear yours and my Injuries Au. Alas my Lord consider his years Make him incapable to feel our fires Titles and riches only please old age And with those favors Princes often die Age. But yet his memory methinks might tell Him by looking upon you what his desires Were when he married and certain Madam You have little of your mother in you That can obey so cold a precept Where heaven allows too only man forbids Au. But yet that man 's my Father and my King Age. Remember that my interest in what is just Exceeds both these pardon the violence of My desires which makes me urge this truth Since it arises from your beauties but haply You do repent your choice won by your Fathers threats or promises Au. Although unkind yet I must grant you Not unjust in this suspition Those sparks Which quickly grow a flame do oft As hastily extinguish perhaps you know This by experience that you so quickly Find my guilt indeed before it had a being But what you may instruct me to hereafter By your example Age. No more fair soul I only urg'd it To obtain that which your Father bars me from Your bed we must not differ thus being one And yet such gentle quarrels only divide us So as to behold the beauty of each others Love proving at last the proper cement Of a true affection Au. Upon a reconcilement friends they say Are ever kindest What is' t you can deny Me then Age. Nothing that 's in my power to grant Au. Tell me your name and country my dear husband Age. When I do really possess that title By this kiss I will Au. Are we not married Age. But I am ashamed to tell my name or quality And yet my wife a maid When I do know you Perfectly you shall do me Au. Now you are wanton and I do not love you But where 's the pretty youth you promis'd me Age. He will not tell you who I am believe me Au. Well I 'll not ask pray you let me see him Age. You shall he waits without remember That she knows not who I am Enter Clorinda A lovely beauty what majesty dwels in her eye How earnestly she looks upon me He hath not sure betray'd me to her scorn Au. I never saw so sweet a Youth That blush becomes him strangely Age. Mistress I here present a Kinsman to you One that hath given such testimonies Of his love to me I never shall forget Au. You cannot speak that goodness which his looks Not promise however the tye that is Betwixt you does oblige me Clo. I am betrayed and she does know me Au. Are you not well sir Clo. Madam I have a grief of a sad nature Does oppress me Au. Of body or of mind Clo. Of both and if I not express it my heart will burst Age. What can this mean Clo. Looking upon your beauty and considering Your happy fortune ay me The very posture Your are now in adds to my affliction Oh I am sick Age. Fond man what have I done Au. Call for some Cordial Clo. No Madam now it needs not the qualm begins To pass perhaps you wonder Madam That the love betwixt you two should move This passion Au. Indeed I think it strange unless you do believe That he hath made a choice unworthy of him Clo. By all the Gods I never saw a Lady yet That I could think each way so excellent And for your love to him no story 's known That equals your affection Aust What might the cause then be of your distemper Clo. I had an only sister which of all the world I loved â—nd she was sued to by many Princes â—ne above her far in birth but more in merit â—t least she thought so such power hath vows â—nd shews of service I oft have known them sit â—s you do now their hands fast join'd their eyes â—â—xt upon either their sighs with all the eloquence â—f love vowing an everlasting constancie â—â—t O false Agenor Age. Lost for ever Clo. So was he call'd he soon forsook her for another Mistress Au. 'T was not the Prince of Burgonia that loved your sister Clo. Yes he that loved and left her and his faith for ever Au. It was no wonder he betray'd his Father â—â—t certainly some heavy punishment attends him â—heresoe'r he is Clo. Perhaps he wanders up and down to make more women â—retched Au. He 's too much hated to return back to his Country Age. Oh misery Clo. Madam I
by my sister was enjoin'd to seek him â—hrough the world Age. Now she discovers all Au. Whither Age. I know the story he hath told it â—nd made me strangely sad Trust me I am much â—ispleas'd that you should â—ear it for that cause â—he King too I know will wonder where you are Au. Let him I needs must hear the rest â—nd did you ever find the perjur'd Prince Sit down again Clo. Madam I think I shall discover him Age. It were as good he did himself Clo. I heard what Country he was fled to Who in his company Au. What Country 's made unhappy by so base A burden yet I have heard his person Promis'd much a handsom man Clo. Madam trust me my sister had in him All outward arguments that might produce A passion only you know there was no faith Within yet there was written in his face All nobleness which I dare say you will confess I have his picture Age. Nay then Au. What mean you Age. I would not see a Piece where Nature Is so much disgrac'd Clo. Good heavens what have I done with it I lookt on it this day Age. O you Gods what mercy 's this she shewsâ— me Enter Lady Thom. The King calls for you Clo. Sure Madam I have left it at my chamber Au. I pray you find it I must see it Clo. Yes Madam Alas you need it noâ— that have The substance Justice commands this should remain with me True shadow real misery Exeunt Enter Clarimant Clindor Merchant Captain and Soldiers Clar. If that you have inform'd me be not truth Expect to suffer death for on your word I have alter'd my design given the King Time to gather men into the City so as if now He will be obstinate he may endure a siege Some days Mer. With pardon sir there can be no great inconveniencie By what I did inform the Herald you have sent Will soon return with answer to your demand But for your Brothers marriage to the Princess Austella there were so many witnesses of that My testimony will ere long be useless Clar. Good heavens can it be possible My brother married And not unto Clorinda False Agenor Clind. She may be dead sir Clar. Ha! what sayst thou Scriech-owl That thought Begets a fear that chils my heatt One way or other there is death sure Leave me All leave me Exeunt all but Clar. I see no way for comfort the least of mischief Is to have a Traitor to my brother But rather be Agenor false then she be dead In him our sex is only stain'd in her the joy And excellence of both is lost for ever Heaven could not be so cruel Vertue and all pure thoughts Now by her happy influence are gathering strength I know it by my self and should she fall Unripened for the grave the Gods losing in her Their brightest image must likewise want Much of their adoration If she were dead He that so soon can love again may she alive As well forget his faith Then she thus injured May reflect a comfortable beam on me Vain and irrational hopes his breach of faith Were equal to her death and dare I think That she can do an act imperfect To admit a second love But powerful time No time can make me cease to be his brother Yet even beyond all these if I remain my self There is no hope since her injunction was That I should never see or speak to her And even since that upon mistakes degrees of hatred Are increas'd my griefs summ'd up my miseries Are such as they do leave no comfort But in their abundance whose weight must quickly Press me to the grave These miracles do only grow from love That grief in their excess should comforts prove Exit Enter King Avarice thou bane of man that steal'st into Our souls with promises of happiness But ever pay'st us with disturbance The same in its effect is Pride that sets A gloss upon our selves and actions And throws contempt on others more deserving Covetous to keep a treasure made me detain What I unjustly stood possest of Ambition made me use with scorn and injury My daughters husband even whilst he was in birth Although unknown that which I wisht a Prince And now when I do know his blood and value Fear of this storm that hovers o're my head Must force me to deliver him up to his brother Although he be in birth that brothers King O you just Powers thus do you make the Breaches of your laws for our own covetous And ambitious ends the proper instruments To execute your wrath by Most noble Prince The injuries that I have done to you and Justice â—â—mbles me thus low upon my knees â—o beg your pardon Enter Agenor Austella severally Au. Ay me This scorn exceeds all former wrongs Age. Sir what you do intend by this I know not â—ut well I know the posture cannot suit you â—ou are my Father sir 't is not your cruelty Or injustice shall make me fail in duty â—he sense of my first breach that way â—till dwells within me Rise sir I do beseech you K. I would not till you pardon Au. Alas sir why do you mock us thus For all our injuries must be the same Howe'r you strive for to divide us K. No Austella these tears be witness of My real sorrow The Gods inspired thee When thou chose this worthy Prince Au. How sir K. But found me too unworthy of a beam of light Till now that knowledg proves my greatest curse Since our misfortunes are remediless Au. You have too soon sir rob'd me of the joy To know he is a Prince by this expression Of your fears for something that 's to come But sir in this you were indeed the faulty person Age. I fear I shall be found such Au. Could you conceal such joys from me But I must pardon you all faults You are a Prince I dare not chide you Age. Upon your hand let me express my thanks But will you freely pardon for what I have Conceal'd Au. Gladly I do Age. You will not sure Au. Be your doubts clear's by this Kisses him K. Daughter you grant what you should beg Let that inform you who your husband is A Letter My injuries to him and our misfortunes Au. Still your conclusions fright me Good sir read it your self Or rather in some gentler circumstantial way Inform what it expresses K. First know this paper does contain the Kings Demands who with his Army hath now inclos'd The City which how we can deny or grant Au. Pray read sir K. reads Your own injustice hath drawn me into your Country Yet I take so kindly the alliance you have contracted With my brother Agenor Au. Agenor K. reads That if you will deliver up the Isle of Ceris belonging To my Crown and my Brother to me alive I will quit Your Country well satisfied with my charge but if in Any part of this you fail of an exact performance To
morrow I hope to make my own conditions Be advised by him who appearing your worst enemy May in this councel prove your greatest friend Clarimant Au. Oh Agenor Age. Now can you pardon Au. Now can I die O fate where have you plac'd my love Age. Do you repent I ne'r was false to you Nor ever can be Au. Let not my Father hear I must forgive You are my husband K. I cannot blame your sorrow your fortune does command A plenteous showre in which I willingly could bear a part If reason did not tell me councel and advice Better becomes my quality I mean not councel From my self to you but that we all advise Since equally concern'd what 's to be done Age. Methinks justice and reason both chalkt out the way Of your proceeding K. As how dear son Au. Too late sir from your heart you yield that attribute K. Austella thy reproof is just Age. With pardon sir it is not all the fault is mine And justice bids me bear the punishment Yield sir to all my brother Clarimant desires Since by his speedy unexpected coming Your forces nor supplies from others can be useful K. The treasure and the Isle most willingly I will surrender Would it pleas'd heaven we all were there Gainst that no forces could prevail But to deliver you that by your death He may secure himself first let destruction Seise on me already ripen'd for the grave My brother sir did ever love me Perhaps so as his brother but now you are His King in justice but self-respects will point you Out the object of his fear not of his reverence Age. He cannot be so impious to kill me Au. You shall not trust him Age. Consider then what hazard all must run The lives of thousands a Kingdoms utter ruine K. Alas 't is true Age. You may perish too but in my hazard all Are safe 't were madness to dispute it further Au. What safety and you lost Age. No loss if you consider truly what I merit You are a Virgin yet I freely give you back Your vows justly you might revoke them As not intended to a perjured person Such you now find I was Au. But such I hope you are not now to me Age. Think me such if I miscarry 'T will make your grief the less Au. But my guilt more in that suspition Did I not think you loved me yet duty Does command me share in all that you can suffer But confident your heart is here till death Not then I must not leave you K. The glory of the action makes you too partial To your selves we must dispute this further With my Councel Au. In vain you will dispute if you intend to part What heaven hath join'd which rules both power and art Exeunt Enter Philant and Strato Phi. Well I perceive that we shall lose a noble Prince How happy had we been in his succession Stra. Without all doubt the King his brother Will soon by police or force destroy him Possession of a Crown will kill all natural Respects of blood Phi. But why then should we not resist Justice hath a strong arm Stra. Yet in apparent dangers fear still overcomes Our faith and courage but here 's impossibility Our City though great and populous hath but poor walls The Kings army now his Footmen likewise Are come up are not without a miracle To be resisted Phi. But was 't not most dishonorable to invade us Without proclaiming war Stra. To speak to you the truth it was but justice Did not our King detain a mass of treasure To which he had no right Phi. 'T is true but Stra. But what Come come all unjust actions However they seem profitable for the present Involve a curse within them which when we find We must not lay the blame on others The best way to appease the Gods When we have done amiss is to confess Then mercy follows or our blows wound less Exe. Enter Clindor and Soldiers 1 So. Think you they will surrender the treasure And yield Agenor to our King or bide the brunt Of war Clind. I 'll tell thee what I fear and what I wish And if thou doest not so thou art an ass 1 So. Well speak Cli. I fear they will surrender I wish they would not O Lads might we but come to one assault We should be Lords we that do venture blows Where in these Treaties we are sure to have The worst on 't If peace be the conclusion Would I had been imployed upon the Treaty 1 So. Why what wouldst thou have done Cl. Heard no reason nor offer'd any the first condition Should have been that all the handsom young Women and maids in the City should have come Stark naked to have known our pleasure Then the rich men with their jewels and bags Of mony then the King with a rope about his neck 1 So. Stay there Clind. That may be your period 't is not mine Then for the Prince Agenor 1. What of him Clind. Nothing but good I love him well He was a stirring youth and bountiful But yet not like our King were the people not So base he should might I advise be left Viceroy To govern and I to govern him 1 So. In my conscience should our King shew him that favour Thou would'st perswade him to rebell against hiâ— brother Clind. By this light I think I should I love to be in action strangely 1 So. That love may chance to bring you to a preferment You have courted long and in my conscience well deserv'd Others that were less worthy when Agenor fled I saw advanc'd Clind. I understand you now you are a bitter Rascal And here 's my hand if ere there be more broils For this thy kind remembrance I 'll cut thy throat 1 So. I thank you sir I 'll look for 't Exeunt Enter Clarimant Captains Attendants Souldiers Clar. See all things order'd as I gave command I long to see the perjur'd Traitor That I may do a justice To my Fathers ghost and injur'd Mistress Enter Clindor The King his daughter Austella are coming With your brother Prince Agenor Clar. Traitor Agenor It seems they mean To bear him company in death Attend them in Do all just as I did direct Enter Agenor Austella King Lucidor Age. Brother you see the advantage of your power Forces this visit Cla. 'T will prove to you a sad one Seise the Rebel Capt. In the dead and living Kings names we do arrest you Age. And I in my own name your King In justice command you hold Au. O sir She Kneels Clar. Rise Madam your intercestion must not interpose In this alone of power to save the lives Of many Princes Age. Just heaven he 's taken This was the mischief I fear'd Cla. No Madam justice alone commands me to surrender This where it is due The Captains put the Crown on Agenor's head Omnes Long live Agenor King of Burgonia K. This is not real sure Age. What mockery is
and Attendants K. Most noble Prince though you may well believe The forces you have brought unto my aid I shall not use yet I must ever be ambitious To requite that love which caus'd your diligence Nay I shall think my happiness defective Although great till fortune point some way Wherein I may express my gratitude to you Pr. Most royal Sir fortune hath been to me Auspicious more then had I proved Austela's Choice and this expression you have made Imboldens me to let you know wherein K. Sir I beseech you name it Pr. Know sir not my ambition to enjoy your Kingdom Could so far blind my judgment but that I ever Found your younger daughter Olinda in herself The more deserving love especially from me I would not sir say more lest I should seem To boast a happiness which merit never can attain But by infinity of service and much suffering K. Indeed I did observe whilst you were in my Court You much more did converse with her then with Austela Who ever was reserved If Olinda's affability Have gain'd your good opinion your courtship hers It is a happiness beyond which I dare not expect If it be less then this and that by the freedom Of her humor you believe your interest greater Then indeed it is yet there will only be Better occasion for my love to shew it self Pr. My actions shall ever witness for me How I prize your royal favour Exeunt Enter Clindor and 1. 1. Did you not lately murmure against peace Cryed up war as the only blessing Clind. Yes I did so 1. I scarce remember your sword did ever purchase Such gay Caparisons Clind. I see thou art a very simple Fellow This is the harvest of the war the King Whom we did terrifie made Presents unto us Commanders If thou canst shew me where Soldiers Are made much of in cold blood then I will Magnifie thy mouldy mistress Peace Till then Bellona thou art my Patroness 1. Thou talkest as if thou hadst done some mighty Matters and yet I fear thou art a Coward Clind. I love you sir too well to let you suffer Such a grief as fear for me Draw 1. Draw are you mad or is your wit so great To spoil Your memory were not two shot to death that were Seen fighting Clind. Very pretty you grow valiant to abuse me Because their valor found a punishment The Prince Justice sir I beseech you Enter Clarimant and Attendants Clar. For what or against whom Cli. He told me sir he thought I was a Coward Clar. Perhaps you have given him cause to think so Clind. Better and better But sir may men speak all they think Clar. Why not I do so and never will again Dissemble Clind. But may I sir Clar. Yes so it be not blasphemy or treason Clind. How sir do you distinguish treason Clar. Look what the Law says Clind. Pox on the Law Clar. How Clind. I cry your Highness mercy I had forgot the Law was so Near kin to you This scurvy fellow has made me mad Clar. You would not live without law Clind. No I beseech your Highness grant me the Law Clar. Most willingly Clind. The law of Arms sir and let him prove me a Coward He draws Before your Highness and see how I will defend my self Clar. I know not how in justice I can pardon this Unless I do pronounce you mad Clind. I do beseech your Highness do so Clar. Sure you are mad Clind. Then I may kill this Rascal and your law cannot â—ang me Offers to strike Clar. Bind him to prevent mischief Clind. Any thing to save my honor let me not have my hands â—ose wear a sword and be call'd Coward Clar. He did but think so Cli. Let him not think aloud then in my hearing Clar. Come I will end the difference I do pronounce â—ou are no Coward and him a fool for thinking so â—e friends Clind. Not with a fool you shall excuse me sir Ex. Cli. c. Clar. Be gone and leave me Why do I give this intermission to my sorrows â—lorinda's Pleas'd I should be miserable â—â—nce in no other way in that I will content her â—ut this obedience yields a satisfaction â—nd satisfaction fits not perfect sufferings Which she the perfectest of creatures feels â— can no more admit to be less miserable â—hen my Mistress then I could be content to be More happy is there no way to change my fate With hers O no her torment rises from the â—alshood of her Lover where she had plac'd her joys Mine in the not attaining of a Love Where I dare not pretend to merit â— am a happy man if by comparison I judge Enter Agenor Austella Age. Still alone dear brother Au. Most noble sir why do you thus retire your self From those who know no satisfaction Greater then your company I must pretend The interest of a sister now you shall not Hide your passion nor the cause from me I know 't is Love Clar. Madam it is confest But since despair Is and must ever be the only issue of my love I would not have those I esteem Engaged with me in misery Au. Can you be so unjust to your own merits To despair Clar. So just to her perfections Au. If not a Judge of this at least make me Your Advocate yet all my eloquence Will rest in shewing her the happiness That she refuses Clar. Madam she is not capable of any increase She 's dead to me and all mankind Au. How mean you by a figure or dead indeed Age. I 'll take her off from this discourse Lest she discover Clorinda in disguise Dear Austella in vain you strive to comfort him That can know none his Mistress dead Au. Rather in vain I strive to know what both Resolve to hide from me It was not curiosity sir But a desire to serve you That belief Will speak my pardon Exit Age. I fear she is displeas'd Clar. Reason hath too much power over her fouâ— To be displeas'd without a cause I hold her Every way so perfect that I durst make A full discovery crave her assistance But then Clorinda would more justly hate Age. O brother speak no more of hate it is impossible If ever she did love me You have my Intrust But much more prevailing must your unequal'd merit Prove Clar. Merit dear brother it is impossible Since what I have done or shall ever do Grows from her influence upon me Age. I see that I am yet to learn what it is To be a perfect Lover Clar. Rather you have not practis'd what you know Age. Brother I must confess it is my shame Though not my grief since my inconstancie Hath made me but more happy Clar. How Age. Frown not I mean more happy As my inconstancie leaves you Clorinda free And if she prove averse to your desires Her constancie to me admits of a just censure Not applause Clar. If you believe you have a power in her After your
breach of faith such as may aid me In my love she is not that perfection That I adore and by such yielding Could not make me happy Age. Then you propose a love without a possibility Of satisfaction Clar. Yes if it suit not with her excellence The Gods sometimes appoint us such sad fates That 't is our duty to pursue and glory in our misery Age. I see a miracle must make you happy Be not displeas'd that I invoke the Deity In your behalf and Brother know that those Who would be held the most devout Esteem things just and worthy because they do Proceed from a divine power not that they are Agreeing to our faith or understanding Clar. Brother what you would undertake in my behalf Becomes your love to offer but not mine to accept A person truly humbled by sense of his unworthiness Sure dares not hope And to admit an Advocate Supposes that nay merit in himself or in the Intercessor or which is worse an easiness To be overcome with words Any of this Is such impiety my love cannot be guilty of Her being his perfection all things great or good Clorinda nam'd in that is understood Exeunt Enter Prince and Olinda Pr. Dear Lady let me know how I have lost Your favour Ol. First let me know why you believe you Ever had it Pr. When I was here a suitor to your sister You did not then look with such scorn upon me Ol. Be so again to any other and I will give you cause To think me every whit as kind Here you discourse of Love express a sense Of what you do prosess to suffer by way of Martyrdom perhaps accompanied with a sad sigh Or two Pr. And can you yet be crueller when you your self Have caus'd a nobler passion then what I made But shew of to Austela Ol. It seems then you can counterfeit Pr. I must confess but yet Ol. Nay spare excuses As I live I like you the better For it and if you love me now know this to comfort you We only can agree in being dissemblers Offers to go Enter Clorinda and Selina as in discourse Olind. Most noble sir methinks my Genius Should have inform'd me the happiness of your approach And yet 't is fit I leave you now But there does stay my best of wishes Exit Sel. She had like to have said her heart Alas poor Lady how love does fool thee Pr. It must be so this stranger is the cause Of her neglect to me With what unwillingness She parted from him I will not cannot suffer This second affront I shall become the scorn Of all men Exit and justles Clorinda Clo. What means this But why Selina when I call'd Came you not to help me Sel. Alas Madam I was fast Clo. Could you so quickly be so sound asleep Sel. Weary with travel But Madam what said Agenor The King I now must call him when he perceived It was Lord Cleon his trusted friend That he had slain Clo. He does not know it yet nor ever shall For since his passion to me procured his death His faults be buried with him Besides I know It would have been no little torment to Agenor To find such falshood Sel. Is it possible that you can yet consider him Otherwise then to revenge his falshood Clo. If thou hadst ever truly loved Thou couldst not ask me such a question Clarimant I must not stay Enter Clarimant Clar. Sir though you have hitherto found means to avoid me Yet having now the opportunity I needs must press you to a short discourse And such a one as will require the absence Of your servant Clo. I must obey necessity Leave me Sel. Is it possible he does not know her Exit Sel. Clar. I see you wear a sword and make no question But you know or think you do how to maintain With it the assertions of your tongue Clo. In what Clar. Is it possible that you can ask yet since I must I wil refresh your memory and whet my own revenge By repetition You as a brother did pretend You had more interest to right Clorinda's wrongs Then I her servant Clo. And proved it did I not Clar. In part the oratory of your tongue prevail'd And I condemn'd my self but honor forc'd me Make appeal unto my sword and there you must Orecom me too before I quit so dear a cause draws Clo. Truth told me then and bids me still maintain That I am most concern'd in what Clorinda suffers Draws too Clar. Your resolution pleases above expression Which forces me an enemy to beg the favour To kiss that hand though it may prove to me An instrument of death Clo. Keep off I dare not trust a reconciled foe Much less an enemy profest Imploy your sword Whose force I fear less then the impoison'd flattery Of your tongue Clar. Then guard your self your breast lies open Clo. You shall not find it so if you dare strike Clar. Alas it is too true you have a guard which I Can never force and since invisible it is fit I yield Here to confess my self orecome is to triumph But if you hold your victory your shame which much I fear Then purge that stain with my heart-blood A sacrifice most justly due to your disdain Clo. A Cowards blood can have no vertue in it Offers to go Clar. Stay Clo. Imploy your sword then and nobly take revenge Upon your enemy I swear that act Will with me raise you to the highest estimation Clar. O Clorinda that word pronounc'd Think what you do enjoin me Clo. I fear'd before you knew me But thought it fitter to practise the masculine part I am to play with you then with another Perhaps with some I have to do where my Discovery is my ruine Thus much confident Of your esteem I dare discover Clar. What musick 's in these words Clo. Trust me Prince Clarimant I am much pleas'd To see you Clar. Madam assure me that I do not dream Clo. Believe me every sense is free Only your joy is too much rais'd Clar. Too much when you speak to me and not in anger Clo. Contain your self for know 't is in your Power To make me happy Clar. In mine witness you Godâ— There is no bar betwixt you and your wish Clo. None but your will Clar. My will That and my other faculties Were ever yours Clo. Swear it Clar. By all that 's sacred it is and ever shall be so For you can will nothing but what is just And noble Clo. My will then is to which yours must assent That you do kill me Clar. How Clo. A miserable life consider'd death is the happiness Opposed That you must give me or be perjur'd Clar. That Clarimant should kill Clorinda Self-murder is esteem'd the highest guilt And yet this doubles it I am deluded By some spirit for what proportion Bears this imposition to your excellent sweetness Clo It bears proportion to my sorrows Clar. Could death be granted as
and your power Clo. I grieve for both and know no remedy so good As a perpetual absence Clar. Know dear Clorinda it was a thankful heart That sent those few drops forth to kiss your hand For so great favours your cruel resolution Sends them back their errand scarce perform'd For see I bleed no more but know withall 'T is the destruction of the fountain the coldness Of despair must quickly freeze all motion Au. I owe a reverence to that blood upon this hand O let me kiss it as a most sacred relique Of the truest Lover the sex did ever boast Offers to weep That spot Clorinda you may wipe away But never shall the memory of him Whom you thus cruelly do murder By disdain Clo. Madam free from that guilt I cannot apprehend A punishment The Gods are just they be my witness If I had happiness to give I should prefer This Prince before my self But I am such a peece Of earth so sunk beneath all joys That should I yield what he can ask Yet I must lie like lead upon his heart Au. Yet for the present sure It is fit you speak comfort to him Clo. Comfort from me 't is contradiction To my being who am made up of misery Au. Pray come near and speak to him Clo. I am so careful that I would not hurt him Au. Brother be confident her rigor cannot last I shall perswade her to relent Clar. O Madam you mistake she only hath the beauties And not the weaknesses usually depending on her sex Her resolutions have their ground from reason ever And know no change till it command How can she then esteem the less deserving brother Worthy her love when he that most deserved Foully betraid her Life could only prove No curse if I might be assur'd she would Forgive the injury she suffers by the trouble Of my love to hope her pitty of my torments Is much above my faith Clo. Madam too long we have disturb'd the Prince Our absence would be more conducing to his health Au. There is a care his merits methinks should command Over your gratitude which that you not apply Too late you may repent Clo. I so much wish his health and happiness That I will ever pray that he may never find Disquiet thought and to my prayers likewise add My latest counsel Forget Clorinda and make her happy Clar. Forget Clorinda and make her happy How can I understand this cruel sentence Au. Waste not your spirits sir I think I understand her And it shall not be long ere I procure her To explain herself Clar. You are the comfort of my love and life Exeunt Enter Prince Cleon. Pr. What do I owe my stars that did direct me To this place where I find safety for my person Cure for my wounds and such a friend who chalks me Out a way to all I can desire on earth Cle. Follow my counsel and be constant in it You are the master of your wish Pr. Constant can there be other ends propos'd Powerful to change me Revenge for my disgrace And the possession of that Kingdom I aim'd at In Austela now to prove mine with one I more esteem The fair Olinda But how when this is done I ever can requite your pains Cle. It pays it self and to secure you more Of my intention and performance Know I am not the man I have appeared But one whom both revenge and love does likewise Animate Enter Druid My Instrument returns When we have heard what 's his intelligence I will lay my self more fully open And we 'll conclude how to pursue what we design What is thy news good Druid As you could wish Cle. We 'll hear 't within Exeunt Enter Clorinda and Selina Clo. A man so holy and so knowing sayst thou That can give comâ—orts to all griefs Call back the peace that is fled from any mind Sel. Certainly Madam the spirit of the Gods Dwels in him or rather he is a God descended To the earth to comfort the distressed world I am confident had you but once discours'd with him You would not be thus sad Clo. O fool the Gods themselves have not a cure for me But death If he their substitute would give me that Then I would visit him most gladly Prethee leave me Sel. Well Madam I grieve you have not faith To trust my words My words nay all the City Speaks him Wonderful for sanctity and knowledg Clo Well perhaps I will see him Prethee now leave me Sel. Alas Madam I cannot whilst you are thus sad Clo. I am not so thou but deceivest thy self Or if I be company makes me worse Sel. Madam since I must yet still my duty Presses you to receive this comfort Clo. Well be gone I will think on it Ex. Selina Why do I trifle time out thus when every hour I feel a torment more then death can be Besides if I were gone from the impossibility To enjoy me Prince Clarimants affection Might abate and yet when I consider His love appears none of those sickly passions Which time can triumph over since I believe it such Where is my gratitude to see him languish Nay to see him die die of those wounds That he for me received I never can forget His blood fresh streaming from his wounds At my approach that faithful witness of his joy More worthy of belief then if a thousand tongues Or pens should be imployed I find my self More wretched now then ever fitter to die For if I live I to my own shall add His sufferings too And yet methinks that should be Pleasing To grieve for him is to discharge Part of that debt I owe I would not be ungrateful Live then Clorinda till thou find'st some way To make him happy No it is impossible Since I cannot â—e so yet I may seem content And by that seeming give him real blessing And see fortune presents an object that confirms my hopes It may be done at least I will endeavour Enter Olinda Olind. Dearest Clorinda not less dear because a woman For such perfections in a man I solely could not Have possest my own defects barring that happiness But as a woman sure none can pretend With greater merit to your favour All my wants supplied by my firm love Which cannot know another object then your fair self Clo. I must esteem my self most happy In the continuance of your love Rather your friendship for all affection Is from us proper to the better sex Olind. Which sure is ours you being a woman Clo. Your sister will not grant you that Whose example you ought to follow in acknowledging Love and superiority due to the men Especially such men as the King Agenor And his more worthy brother Clarimant Olind. These words of Clarimant if heard Would cause a general joy through all the Court But he himself must know his happiness by degrees Lest the excess again disturb his health Since your last visit he is miraculously recover'd Clo.
You attribute to me what is more justly due Unto the King and Queen's nay your sweet conversation Methinks you four would be most aptly join'd Two brothers and two sisters whose perfections All the world cannot equal Olind. Dear Clorinda I must not understand you Or if I do you have a mean opinion Of my Judgment less of my Constancie Which did but now profess my heart for ever only yours Clo. I take for granted that your heart is mine Which I express in that I would dispose it And so I would do my own if I had any But know that what I once do give I never reassume Or if I had a heart could that be worthy Clarimant Another had despised Olind. What now you speak to me expresses your respect to him And so must not displease for I confess His merits are so great that in his happiness All that love vertue must be sharers But I beseech you do not entertain a thought That you can breed a change in him or me Dear Clorinda your vertue and your beauty Is the object of our Loves such a conformity As may arise from that betwixt Prince Clarimant And me is only fit Clo. I for my part do ask no more but that your lines Of love do meet in me But reason in him Friendship in you may give me power in time To tie a happy knot this hope the Gods inspire me with Olind. Take heed they needs must be offended with you For a hope that is so unjust Clo. Dare you refer your self unto their sentence Olind. I dare do any thing that you think fit But this I know you cannot Clo. Heaven knows that I desire it Olind. But do not hope it when two wills oppose you Clo. Yet when the Gods shall give their sentence Your will and Clarimant's it all your vows be true Must then submit to mine Olind. Should we grant our obedience how have the Gods Or can they unto us declare their will Clo. That great Deity that did infuse A reasonable soul into us mortals Inthron'd that Reason as a King to govern All our actions But beyond this I am inform'd Nor is it possible but you must know it That here without the City in a sacred Grove There lives a man so pious and so knowing The will of heaven that all men in distress Or doubt repair to him and find a happy issue Of their troubles Olind. It is most true his fame is great If curiosity do move you to go visit him I gladly will attend you but since I have resisted What you commanded dear Clorinda No mortal man must change me Clo. I love this firmness in you the fitter you Will prove hereafter for Clarimants affection In hearts of wax Love easily impressions make But those of diamonds hardly new forms take Exeunt Enter Agenor and Clindor Age. Clindor I make no doubt your joy is not the least To see your Master thus recover'd of his wounds Clind. Faith sir his outward wounds are pretty well But there 's a foolish shaft sticks in his heart The little Archer should be whipt for shooting Soldiers What has he to do with us Age. He aims still at the noblest marks Clind. But those sir that are wise wear privy coats And then his darts prove but burbolts and drop down At our feet And is not that sir better then by our whining Or in verse or prose make these she-gossips think themselves Our Deities who by creation rather are our slaves Age. I see thou art an enemy to Love Clind. Just as to Idleness why are we not in arms Methinks there is now a brave occasion Age. How we have no enemies Clind. Let 's make some then But sir you have a cause Of just revenge against that base Prince which hurt your Brother Let 's fall upon his Country they say a rich one And he no doubt lies here obscured to do some mischief At least let us seise upon his ships here in the road Age. It were dishonorable He came to the assistance of the King my father And for his sake I rather do desire his friendship However he appears not to receive it Clind. That shews his hatred he may be in his Country Raising forces to invade your Kingdom in your absence Prevent him sir and seise on his it is a shame sir To lie here hugging a wife wasting your best of youth On poor delights Age. Thou knowst not what it is to be rich in pleasure Clind. Yes to have mony purchas'd by my sword Age. Is it not as well to have it without blows Clind. Not by the half If your Majesty should give me now A thousand crowns in the mind I am in I swear I scarce would give you thanks for it Age. Well Clindor I had such an intention but since I see It will be no more acceptable it shall be reserv'd for some other Clind. Your Majesty if you please may lend me such a sum At the first City taken by assault I shall pay it Age. The war is so distant from my thoughts So long I cannot spare it Clind. Nay as you please sir I am full Age. Able to lend me are you not I am a stranger here And may need gold Clind. Make haste sir back to Burgonia your credit 's good there And to say truth I wonder why you stay so long Your subjects will believe you have forgot them Your fathers death sir left things much unsetled Age. Clindor I thank you for your care 't is worth my thought And shall be worth to you the thousand crowns we spake of Nor shall you pay so much as thanks to me Only be careful of my brother he is full of melancholy For which I know no better cure then your company Clind. He shall not stir a foot without me But this same foolish Love does trouble us A little Bout sir In the field War war would cure us all Exeunt Enter Clarimant and Clorinda Clar. Divine Clorinda how quickly is my joy To see you here lost by the cruelty of your commands All your neglect was just but now to bid me Cease to love you nay to impose a new affection It is such a studied tyrannie that I in this particular To Gods and men may justifie my disobedience To Clorinda Clo. I must not hope that any argument That I have used can be of equal force With her perfections if they want power 'T is vain to plead it further but henceforth Be assured I never shall impose any command Upon you nor will I ever see you more If with convenience I may avoid you Clar. Stay you cannot think it is possible I should obey you Clo. I think you will not rather so fare you well Clar. O stay was ever man so wretched May I not be allowed some time to try If I can be unconstant Clo. Yes Clar. How long Clo. Two or three days Clar. Oh! years years will not do it sure not an age I cannot
suffer such a thought To pierce my heart Is much more easie O give me leave to do that Rather then you shall see your character So deeply printed there that not Clorinda's self Can ere deface it not by this injury Although the greatest that ever yet was offer'd To a faithful love Clo. Tears from those manly eyes it is not fit I urge it more But know withall it is impiety in you To hope I ever can be yours For though no contract past betwixt me And the King your brother I hold my self Unfit to be anothers wife my vows of being Ever his are sure in heaven recorded Think seriously of this but withall be assured That person does not live to whom I hold My self so much obliged as to Prince Clarimant The Gods grant you much peace Nay greater happiness then they permit me to bestow Exit Clo. Clar. Thunder and musick in one voice despair and joy â—et reason bids me hope from her last word The heart that pitties once may love afford Exit Enter Clorinda Selina Clo. Selina I am now resolved to see this Holy man and if he be what you relate Hereafter I shall credit you Prince Clarimant And fair Olinda too will go along Let it be order'd so if possible That none take notice of our going Sel. That may with much ease be effected Some houres As in the morning he wholly dedicates To his devotions and does admit of none to visit him But persons of your quality are not obliged to any rule Clo. It fals out happily be ready then to guide us Sel. Madam I shall not fail and if you find him not above What you expect for ever banish me your favor Exeunt Enter King Austela K. Austela I much wonder why this Unhappy Prince appears not Au. Doubtless sir he is shipt the sense of his disgrace Will hinder him for ever appearing in this Court K. Why shoâ—ld you think so his action was not such As you would make it although Clorinda Were a woman he knew it not but as a rival In your sisters love did wound her Au. That is true sir it is not that which I alleadgâ— In his disgrace but that he with such odds Could not defend himself from Clarimant K. It was his misfortune and not want of courage Nor can I think that he consented To that assistance which his servants gave However I must value him a friend For such he shewed himself in my distress Nor shall he suffer in my Kingdom if it lie In my power to serve him Au. I am not sir to counsel you but for my part The little knowledg I had of him does make me wish Never to see my sister married to him And I am confident if not inforc'd She never will receive him for a husband K. It is not come to that I rather fear His wounds were mortal and should he thus be lost And no accompt given of his life or death It might be prejudicial to my honor All neighbour Princes would avoid my Court for ever Au. It were no loss if they were all like him K. Daughter I find you are so partial for your Husbands brother that you forget my interest quite Au. I cannot be so severed by a husband As to forget a loving father My sisters good Obliges to speak thus much for whom I must believe Prince Clarimant would prove A nobler husband then this Prince You so much seem to favour K. It is true but his affection 's setled on Clorinda sure Never to be altered Au. You know not sir what time may do Clorinda's self labours to make Prince Clarimant Change his affection to my sister For her She vows never to marry as having lost Agenor Whom she loved This I both gather by mine Own observance and likewise know it from my sister To whom Clorinda hath in part exprest as much K. Things standing so I must confess if honor And my word engag'd permit I quickly should consent Au. You would have reason I know Agenor So much loves his brother that he might be perswaded After your death to live here and leave the government Of Burgonia to Clarimant K. It were a high point of state could it be so And we should aptly pay the care we owe Unto this Kingdom That State is much more happy Where the Prince himself remains Then howsoever govern'd by a Substitute Au. Add to this what happiness it were for me To live here in that Kingdom which I By your favour brought my husband K. My dear Austela I rejoice in thy instruction My daughter and my Tutor to thy cleer Judgment I leave the managing of this affair Exeunt Enter Cleon and Druid Dru. Will you not let them see my art Cle. No no it were loss of time Pr. On peril of your lives keep close till you be call'd Enter Prince and Sailors Cle. Speak not of calling As soon as you perceive them once entred This thicket break forth and seise them If any men come in their company Unless they yield kill them whilst we convey Away the Ladies to the ship Where lies the Boat Who guides to that Sail. Fast by here in a Creek Pr. But why should not we rather let them come Unto his Cell then we might better seise them Cle. Oh by no means he must remain here still In the same reputation untill by poison Or some other way the King Agenor be dispatcht And then come to receive a Dâ—kedom For thy recompence or else a halter Dru. Doubt not I will deserve it Pr. My mind misgives me that they will not come Cle. Oh fear it not both love and curiosity Advance their steps either of which Hath power to make young people run The boy that brings them hath his interest too I judge it near the time Ent. Sailor I see them coming Cle. Stand close Enter Selina Clorinda Clarimant Olinda Clindor Sel. Madam it is but a little farther Within the Wood. Clind. Whilst they enquire for Oracles I 'll talk with you It is a notable witty rogue The place methinks invites Ent. Sailors Clar. Traitors Clo. Help help you Gods Pr. Make good ' gainst them Cle. Lose no time Ex. Pr. Cle. Clor. Olind. Enter Clarimant and Clindor Clar. O Clindor that we had wings In the fight Sailors are kill'd Exeunt Act. 4. Scaen. 1. Enter King Agenor Austela and Attendants K. 'T Is strange that they should be so long returning It is not a mile without the City Age. It seems they find a pleasing entertainment Enter Clindor wounded Au. O my heart what object 's this Age. Clindor what mean these wounds Clind. To kill me sir I think and if they do It matters not life hath with me no value Your Brother 's lost Age. How lost Clind. Surpris'd by the base Prince of Aquitain As they were going to see the holy Druid Au. O heavens and whither carried Clind. To his Fleet that lies here in the Road. Prince Clarimant and I