wond'rous well And yet you knew not what Speak like a Friend What is the cause my Lord Nem. Shall I deal plainly with you I 'm not well P. C. I do believe it how hap'ned the Distemper Nem. It is too deep to search Nor can I tell you P. C. Then you 're no Friend Shou'd Cleve thus answer to Nemours I cannot Say rather that you will not trust a Man You do not love Nem. By Heav'n I do P. C. By Heav'n you do Yet 't is too deep to search For such a shallow Friend Nem. Of all Mankind You ought not P. C. Nay the rest Nem. It is not fit Be satisfied I 'll bear it to my Grave Whate'er it be P. C. You are in Love my Lord And if you do not Swear But where 's the need You start you change you are another Man You blush you 're all constraint you turn away Nem. Why take it then 't is true I am in Love In Torture Racks in all the Hells of Love Of hopeless restless and eternal Love. P. C. Her name my Lord. Nem. Her name my Lord to you P. C. To me Confusion Plagues and Death upon me Why not to me And wherefore did you say Of all Mankind I ought not There you stopt But wou'd have said To pry into this business Yet speak to ease the Troubles of my Soul By all our Friendship by the Life thou gav'st me I do conjure thee thunder in my Ears 'T is Chartres that thou lov'st Chartres my Wife Nem. Your Wife my Lord P. C. My Wife my Lord and I must have you own it Nem. I will not tell you Sir who 't is I love Yet think me not so base were it your Wife That all the subtlest Wit of Earth or Hell Shou'd make me vent a Secret of that nature To any Man on Earth much less to you P. C. Yet you cou'd basely tell it to the Vidam And he to all the Court But I waste time By all the boiling Venom of my Passion I 'll make you own it e'er we part Dispatch Say thou hast Whor'd my Wife Damnation on me Pronounce me Cuckold Nem. But then I give my self the Lye Who told you just before I wou'd not speak Tho I had done it Which I swear I have not Beside I fear you are going Mad. P. C. Draw then and make it up For if thou dost not own what I demand What you both know and have complotted on me Tho neither will confess I swear agen That one of us must fall Nem. Then take my Life P. C. I will by Heav'n if thou refuse me Justice Draw then for if thou dost not I will kill thee And tell my Wife thou basely didst confess Thy Guilt at last in hopes to save thy Life Nem That is a blast indeed that Honour shrinks at Therefore I draw but Oh! be witness Heav'n With such a trembling Hand and bleeding Heart As if I were to fight against my Father Therefore I beg thee by the name of Friend Which once with half this Suit wou'd have dissolv'd thee I beg thee gentle Cleve to hold thy hand P. C. I 'm Deaf as Death that calls for one or both Cleve is disarm'd Nemours gives him his Sword agen Nem. Then give it me I arm thy hand agen Against my Heart against this Heart that loves thee Thrust then for by the Blood that bears my Life Thou shalt not know the name of her I love Not but I swear upon the point of Death Your Wife 's as clear from me as Heav'n first made her P. C. No more my Lord you 've giv'n me twice my Life Nem. Are you not hurt P. C. Alass 't is not so well I have no Wound but that which Honour makes And yet there 's something cold upon my Heart I hope 't is Death and I shall shortly pay you With Chartres love for you deserve her better Nem. No Sir you shall not you shall live my Lord And long enjoy your beauteous vertuous Bride You shall Dear Prince why are you then so cold P. C. I cannot speak But thus and thus there 's something rises here Nem. I 'll wait you home nay shake these drops away And hang upon my arm P. C. I will do any thing So you will promise never to upbraid me Nem. I swear I will not P. C. But will you love me too As formerly Nem. I swear far more than ever P. C. Thou know'st my Nature soft yet Oh such Love Such Love as mine and injur'd as I thought Wou'd spleen the Gaul-less Turtle wou'd it not Nem. It wou'd by Heav'n You make a Woman of me Weeping P. C. Why any thing thou sayst to humour me Yet it is kind and I must love these Tears I hope my Heart will break and then we 're ev'n Yet if this cruel Love thy Cleve shou'd kill Remember after Death thou lov'st me still Exeunt SCENE II. Enter Tournon with the Vidam Tour. SO let that corner be your Post and as soon as ever you see St. Andre come stalking in his Dream slip to his Lady and when you have agreed upon the Writings I 'll be ready to bring you oâ—â— with a Witness Vid. Thou Dear obliging Tour. No more o' that away mark but how easily those that are gifted with Discretion bring things about in the name of Goodness let Men and Women have their Risks but still be careful of the Main Here 's a hot-headed Lord goes mad for a prating Girl Treats her Presents her Flames for her Dies for her till the Fool complies for pure Love and when the bus'ness fails is forc'd to live at last by the love of his Footmen but she that makes a firm Bargain is commonly thought a great Soul for my Lord having consider'd on 't thinks her a Person of depth and so resolves to have it out of her But why do I talk so my self when there 's something to do certainly I shou'd have made a rare Speaker in a Parliament of Women or a notable Head to a Female Jury when his Lordship gravely puts the question whither it be Satis or Non Satis or Nunquam Satis and we bring it in Ignoramus Ha! but who comes here I must attend for Bellamore Enter Poltrot Celia over-hearing Pol. My Wife and I went to Bed together and I 'll warrant full she was of Expectation so white and clean and much inclin'd to laugh and lay at her full length as who wou'd say come eat me Cel. Said she so sweet Sir Pol. Not a bit by the Lord not I not I Cel. Alas nice Gentleman Pol. A Farmer wou'd say this was barbarously done because he loves Beef But I have Plover in reserve Ha! St. Andre heark I hear him bustle O Lord how my heart goes pit a pat nay I dreamt last night I was Gelt Enter St. Andre in his sleep The Vidam goes in 'T is he 't is he by the twilight I see him Ay now the politick head
's lodg'd Ne. Now do I know the Precise will call me damn'd Rogue for wronging my Friend especially such a soft sweet natur'd Friend as this gentle Prince Verily I say they lye in their Throats were the gravest of 'em in my condition and thought it shou'd never be known they wou'd rouze up the Spirit cast the dapper Cloak leave off their humming and haing and fall too like a Man of Honour Exit Pedro. I 'll face him till he enters the Bower and then call my Lord. Ex. Scene the Bower Lights Song The Princess of Cleve Irene SONG LOvely Selina Innocent and Free From all the dangerous Arts of Love Thus in a Melancholy Grove Enjoy'd the sweetness of her Privacy Till th' envious Gods designing to undo her Dispatcht the Swain not unlike them to wo her It was not long e'er the design did take A gentle Youth born to perswade Deceiv'd the too too easie Maid Her Scrip and Garlands soon she did forsake And rashly told the Secrets of her Heart Which the fond Man would ever more impart False Florimel Ioy of my Heart said she 'T is hard to Love and Love in vain To Love and not be Lov'd again And why shou'd Love and Prudence disagree Pity ye Powers that sit at ease above If e'er you knew what 't is to be in Love. Princess C. Alas Irene I do believe Nemours The Man thou represents him yet Oh! Heav'n And Oh my Heart in spite of my resolves Spite of those matchless Virtues of my Husband I love the Man my reason bids me hate Yet grant me some few hours ye Saints to live That I may try what Innocence so arm'd As mine with vows can do in such a cause The War 's begun the War of Love and Vertue And I am fixt to conquer or to dye Iren. Your Fate is hard and since you honour'd me With the important Secret of your Life I 've labour'd for the Remedy of Love. Princess C. I must to Death own thee my better Angel Thou know'st the struglings of my wounded Soul Hast seen me strive against this lawless Passion Till I have lain like Slaves upon the Rack My Veins half burst my weary Eye-balls fixt My Brows all cover'd with big drops of Sweat Which strangling Grief wrung from my tortur'd Brain Ir. Alass I weep to see you thus agen Princess C. Thou hast heard me curse the hour when first I saw The fatal charming Face of lov'd Nemours Hast heard the Death-bed Counsel of my Mother Yet what can this avail spite of my Soul The Nightly Warnings from her dreadful Shroud I love Nemours I languish for Nemours And when I think to banish him my Breast My Heart rebels I feel a gorgeing pain That choaks me up tremblings from Head to Foot A shog of Blood and Spirits Mad-mens Fears Convulsions gnawing Griefs and angry Tears Enter Nemours Ha! but behold My Lord Nem. O! Pardon me Spare me a minute's space and I am gone Princes C. Is this a time Sir Nem. O! I must speak or dye Princess C. Dye then e'er thus presume to violate The Honour of your Friend your own and mine Nem. Yet hear me and I swear by all things Sacred Never to see you more Princess C. Speak then And keep your word P. C. Horrour and Death Nem. Did you but know what 't is to love like me Without a dawn of Bliss to dream all day To pass the night in broken sleeps away Toss'd in the restless tides of Hopes and Fears With Eyes for ever running o'er with Tears To leave my Couch and fly to beds of Flow'rs T' invoke the Stars to curse the dragging hours To talk like Mad-men to the Groves and Bow'rs Cou'd you know this yet blame my tortur'd Love If thus it throws my Body at your Feet Oh! fly not hence Vouchsafe but just to view me in despair I ask not Love but Pity from the Fair. Princess C. O Heavens inspire my Heart Nem. The Heavenly Powers Accept the poorest Sacrifice we bring A Slave to them 's as welcome as a King. Behold a Slave that Glories in your Chains Ah! with some shew of Mercy view my Pains Your piercing Eyes have made their splendid way Where Lightning cou'd not pass Even through my Soul their pointed Lustre goes And Sacred Smart upon my Spirit throws Yet I your Wounds with as much Zeal desire As Sinners that wou'd pass to Bliss through Fire Yes Madam I must love you to my Death I 'll sigh your name with my last gasp of Breath Princess C. No more I have heard you Sir as you desir'd Enter the Prince of Cleve Reply not but withdraw if possible Fix to your word and let us trust our Fates Be gon I charge you speak not but retire Exit Nem. P. C. Excellent Woman and Oh! matchless Friend Love Friendship Honour Poison Daggers Death Falls Princess C. O Heaven Irene help help the Prince my Lord. My Dearest Cleve wake from this Dream of Death And hear me speak P. C. Curse on my Disposition That thus permits me bear the Wounds of Honour And Oh! thou foolish gentle love-sick Heart Why didst thou let my hand from stabbing both Princess C. Behold 't is yet my Lord within your Power To give me Death P. C. I do entreat thee leave me I 'm bound for Death my self and I wou'd make My passage easie if you wou'd permit me All that I ask thee for the Heart I gave thee And for the Life I love in thy behalf Is that thou'dst leave me to my self a while And this poor honest Friend Princess C. I wou'd obey you But cannot stir I know I know my Lord You think that I design'd to meet Nemours This night but by the Powers above I Swear P. C. O! do not Swear for Chartres credit me There is a Power that can and will revenge Therefore dear Soul for I must love thee still If thou wilt speak confess repent thy fault And thou perhaps may'st find a door of Mercy For me by all my hopes of Heav'n I swear I freely now forgive thee Oh! my Heart Pedro thy arm let me to bed Princess C. And do you then refuse My help P. C. In Honour Chartres after such a Fall I ought not to permit that thou shou'dst touch me Princess C. But Sir I will your arm I 'll hold you all Thus in the closest strictest dearest Clasps Nor shall you dye believing my Dishonor I swear I knew not of Nemours his coming Nor had I spoke those words which yet were guiltless Had he not vow'd never to see me more By our first Meeting by our Nuptial Joys By my dead Mother's Ghost by your own Spirit Which Oh! I fear is taking leave for ever I swear that this is true P. C. I do believe thee Thou hast such Power such Charms in those dear Lips As might perswade me that I am not dying Off Pedro by my most untimely Fate I swear I 'm reconcil'd and heark thee
as Cleve himself You that are made my Lord for other Pleasures Nem. Is this then the reward of all my Passion As if there cou'd be any Happiness For this disconsolate despairing Wretch But in your Love alone Princess C. You 're pleas'd my Lord That I shou'd entertain you and I will Before this dear Remembrancer of Cleve We 'll talk of murder'd Love And you shall hear From this abandon'd part of him that was How much you have been lov'd Nem. Ha! Madam Princess C. Yes Sighing I speak it Sir you have inspir'd me With something which I never felt before That pleas'd and pain'd the quicknings of first Love Nor fear'd him then when with his Infant Beams He dawn'd upon my chill and senseless Blood. But Oh! when he had reach'd his fierce Meridian How different was his form that Angel Face With his short Rayes shot to a glaring God. I grew inflam'd burnt inward and the Breath Of the grown Tyrant parch'd my Heart to Ashes Nor need I blush to make you this Confession Because my Lord 't is done without a Crime Nem. Because for this most blest discovery I am resolv'd to kneel an Age before you Princess C. Rise I conjure you rise I 've told you nothing But what you knew my Lord too well before Not but I always vow'd to keep those Rules My Duty shou'd prescribe Nem. Strike me not dead With Duty 's name by Heav'n I Swear you 're free As Air as Waters Winds or open Wilds There is no Form of Obligation now Nay let me say for Duty O forgive me 'T is utmost Duty now to keep that Love You have confess'd for me Princess C. 'T is Duty 's Charge The voice of Honour and the cry of Love That I shou'd fly from Paris as a Pest That I shou'd wear these Rags of Life away In Sunless Caves in Dungeons of Despair Where I shou'd never think of Man agen But more particularly that of you For Reasons yet unknown Nem. Unknown they are And wou'd to Heav'n they might be ever so Since 't is impossible they shou'd be just Nay Madam let me say the Ghost of Cleve Princess C. Ah! Sir how dare you mention that dear name That drains my Eyes and cries to Heav'n for Blood. Name it no more without the Consequence For 't is but too too true you were the Cause Of Cleve's untimely Death I Swear I think No less than if you had stabb'd him through the Heart Nem. O! Cruel Princess but why shou'd I answer When thus you raise the shadow of a reason To ruin me for ever Is it a fault To Love Then blame not me No Madam no But blame your self who told it to your Husband But Oh! you wou'd not argue thus against me If ever you had lov'd You have deceiv'd your self and flatter'd me Why am I thrown else from the Glorious Height Snatch'd in a moment from my blissful State And hurl'd like Lightning by the hand of Fate Prineess C. Be satisfi'd my Lord you are not flatter'd I have such Love for you that Duties bar Wou'd prove too weak to hinder our Engagement But there is more Nem. More Fancy more Chimera But let it come I 'll stand the stalking Nothing And when the bladder'd Air wou'd turn the Ballance I 'll cast in Love substantial pondrous Love Eternal Love and hurl him to the Beam. But speak and if a Hell of Separation Must part my Soul and Body do not Rack me But let the Poyson steal into my Veins And Damn me mildly Madam as you can Princess C. Hear then my bosom thought 'T is the last time I e'er shall see you and 't is a poor reward For such a Love yet Sir 't is all I have And you must ask no more Nem. Be Witness Heav'n Of my Obedience I will ask her nothing Princess C. Know then my Lord you 're free and I am so Free for the eternal Bond of Marriage My Heart too is inclin'd by Love like yours Nor can I fear the censuring World shou'd blame us But now my Lord What Power on Earth can give Security that Bond shall prove Eternal Nem. Ha! Madam Princess C. Silence silence I command you No no Nemours I know the World too well You have a Sense too nice for long Enjoyment Cleve was the Man that only cou'd love long Nor can I think his passion wou'd have lasted But that he found I cou'd have none for him 'T is Obstacle Ascent and Lets and Bars That whet the Appetite of Love and Glory These are the fuel for that fiery Passion But when the flashy stubble we remove The God goes out and there 's an end of Love. Nem. Ah Madam I 'm not able to contain But must perforce break your commands to answer Once to be yours is to be for ever yours Yours only without thought of other Woman Princess C. Why this sounds well and natural till you 're cloid But Oh! when one satiety has pall'd you You sicken at each view and ev'ry glance Betrays your guilty Soul and says you loath her I know it Sir you have the well-bred cast Of Gallantry and Parts to gain success And do but think when various Forms have charm'd you How I shou'd bear the cross returns of Love Nem. Ah Madam now I find you 're prejudic'd To blast my hopes Princes C. 'T is Reason all calm Reason Nature affirms no violent thing can last I know 't I see 't ev'ry new Face that came Wou'd charm you from me Ha! and cou'd I Love To see that Fatal day and see you scorn me To hear the Ghost of Cleve each hour upbraid me No 't is impossible with all my Passion Not to submit to these Almighty Reasons For this I brave your noblest Qualities I 'll keep your Form at distance curb my Soul Despair of Smiles and Tears and Prayers and Oaths And all the Blandishments of Perjur'd Love I will I must I shall nay now I can Defie to Death the lovely Traytor Man. Nem. No. Madam think not you shall carry 't thus 'T is not allowable 't is past example 'T is most unnatural unjust and monstrous And were the rest of Women thus resolv'd You wou'd destroy the purpose of Creation What when I have the happiness to please When Heav'n and Earth combine to make us happy Will you defeat the aim of Destiny By most unparallel'd extreams of Vertue Which therefore take away it s very Being Princess C. Away I must not answer but conjure you Never to seek occasion more to see me Farewel 'T is past Nem. I cannot let you go I 'll follow on my Knees and hold your Robe Till you have promis'd me that I shall see you To shew you how each day by slow degrees I dye away This you shall grant by Heav'n Or you shall see my Blood let out before you Princess C. Alas Nemours O Heav'n why must it be That I shou'd charge you with the death of Cleve Alass why
fear But speak for ever and I 'll ever hear Repeat and let the Ecchoes deal it round While list'ning Angels bend to catch the Sound Nay Sigh and Weep drain all thy precious Store Be kind as now and I 'll complain no more Exit Princess C. Was ever Man so worthy to be lov'd So good so gentle soft a Disposition As if no Gaul had mixt with his Creation So tender and so fearful to displease No barbarous Heart but thine wou'd stop his entrance But thou Inhumane banisht him from his own And while the Lordly Master lyes without Enter Iren. Thou Trait'ress Riotests with a Thief within Iren. Ah Madam what new Grief Princess C. Alass Iren Thou Treasurer of my thoughts What shall I do how shall I chase Nemours That Robber Ravisher of my Repose Iren. For the great care you wish may I enquire Whether you think the Duke insensible Indifferent to the rest of Woman-kind Princess C. I must confess I did not think him so Tho now I do But wou'd give half my Blood To think him otherwise Iren. Without the Expense There take your wish a Letter which he dropt In the Tennis-court given the Queen Dauphin By her Page and sent to you to read for your Diversion Princess C. Alas Iren Why trembles thus my Hand why beats my Heart But let us Read Reads Your affection has been divided betwixt me and another you are False a Traytor to the truest Love never see me more Princess C. Ah 't is too plain I thought as much before but Oh! we are too apt to excuse the faults of those we love and fond of our own undoing Support me Oh to bear this dreadful pang This stab to all my gather'd Resolution Iren. Read it agen and call Revenge to aid you Princess C. Perhaps he makes his boast too of the Conquest For Oh! my Heart he knows too well my Passion But as thou hast inspir'd me I 'll revenge The Affront and cast him from my Poyson'd Breast To make him room that merits all my thoughts Enter the Prince of Cleve with Nemours P. C. Madam there is a Letter fall'n by accident into your hands my Friend comes in behalf of the Vidam of Chartres to retrieve it when I am dismiss'd from the King my Lord I 'll wait you here again Nem. My Lord P. C. Not a step further Exit P. C. Nem. Madam I come most humbly to enquire whether the Dauphin Queen sent you a Letter which the Vidam lost Princess C. Sir you had better Find the Queen Dauphin out tell her the truth For she 's inform'd the Letter is your own Nem. Ah Madam I have nothing to confess In this Affair or if I had believe me Believe these Sighs that will not be kept in I shou'd not tell it to the Dauphin Queen But to the purpose Know my Lord of Chartres Receiv'd the Note you saw from Madam Tournon A former Mistress But the Secret's this The Sister of our Henry long has lov'd him Princess C. I thought the King intended her for Savoy Nem. True Madam but the Vidam is belov'd In short he dropt the Letter and desir'd For fear of her he loves that I wou'd own it I promis'd too to trace the Business for him And if 't were possible regain the Letter Princess C. The Vidam then has shewn but small Discretion Being engag'd so high Why did he not burn the Letter Nem. But Madam shall I dare presume to say 'T is hard to be in Love and to be wise Oh did you know like him like him Like me What 't is to languish in those restless Fires Princess C. Iren Iren restore the Duke his Letter Enter Iren. Nem. Madam You 've bound me ever to your Service But I 'll retire and study to repay If ought but death can quit the Obligation Exit Princess C. O 't is too much I 'm lost I 'm lost agen The Duke has clear'd himself to the confusion Of all my settl'd Rage and vow'd Revenge And now he shews more lovely than before He comes agen to wake my sleeping Passion To rouze me into Torture O the Racks Of hopeless Love it shoots it glows it burns And thou alas shalt shortly close my Eyes Iren. Alas you 're pale already Princess C. Oh Iren Methinks I see Fate set two Bowls before me Poyson and Health a Husband and Nemours But see with what a whirl my Passions move I loath the Cordial of my Husband's Love But when Nemours my Fancy does recal The Bane's so sweet that I cou'd drink it all Finis Actus Primi ACT II. SCENE I. Tournon La March. Tour. IT works my Dear it works beyond belief The Letter which he lost has sprung a Mine That shatters all the Court each Jealous Dutchess Concludes her Man concern'd and strait employs A Confident to find the Mystery out But that which takes the Queen and makes me dye With Pleasure is that Marguerite thinks Spite of the Imprecations of Nemours The Letter sent to him La M. I see 'em move this way Tour. Hast to St. Andre's Palace watch their Wives till I appear I have promis'd Nemours an Afternoon Assignation with 'em in Luxemburg Garden but I will antedate the bus'ness as he is waiting and set Marguerite upon him just as he meets 'em which will heighten the design be gone while I attend the bus'ness here Exit La March. Enter Nemours Marguerite Nem. You have heard me more than once Affirm the Vidam if you 'll give him leave Will own it to your Face Marg. Hear hear him Heav'n By all Extreams thou art False therefore be gone For if I look upon thee in this Rage I shall do mischief speak not but away Nemours beckens the Vidam they steal off Enter Tournon Tour. Madam the Duke has taken you at your word and is gone with the Vidam I made bold to over-hear part of your Discourse because I have more of his Infidelity to tell you Betwixt one and two in Luxemburg Garden he has appointed some Ladies Marg. Furies and Hell Tour. Have Patience for an hour I 'll bring you to the place where if you please you may flesh your Fingers in the Blood of those young Women whom he meets to enjoy Marg. No no I have a better Cast if I can conquer this rising Spleen How long will it be e'er your call me Tour. An hour or thereabouts Marg. And by that time I 'll put on a Disguise fail not Tour. But what do you intend Marg. I know not yet my self Revenge Tour. You had a Lover once Francis the Dauphin Marg. Be that then the last Card I know not what The Dauphin shall I 'll do 't and openly affront him And as the little Worshippers adore me Spy the Duke out and leaning on the Prince Enquire who 's that It shall be so I will Revenge Revenge and shew thy self true Woman Down then proud Heart down Woman down I 'll try I 'll do
to death spare 'em not El. Or it may be we mistake all this while and their pitiful looks are caused by loving too much Vid. Right Madam a little too Uxorious Ha Ha! St. A. Now have not I one word to say but stand to endure all Jerks like a School-boy with my Shirt up Pol. I 'll have one fling at 'em tho' I dye for 't why Ladies you 'll overshoot your selves at this rate Must we only be the Butts to bear all your Railery methinks you might spend one Arrow at random and take off that Daw that Chatters so near you Gad and I think I paid 'em there Cel. Butts and Daw Let me never Laugh agen if they be not Witty too Why you pleasant Rogues Z'life I cou'd Kiss 'em if they did not stink of Matrimony St. A. Mum Mum Mum. Did not I tell you 't was a madness to speak to ' em El. They envy my Friend too here this pleasant Companion Cel. This dear agreeable Person Nem. Ay Damme Madam the Rogues envy us El. What a gentle Aspect Cel. How proper and Airy El. See here 's Blood in this Face Vid. Pure Blood Madam at your Service Cel. Will you walk dear Sir give me your hand El. And me yours Nem. Come you dear ravishing Rogues Your Servant Mr. Butts Vid. Gentle Mr. Butts El. Adieu sweet Mr. Butts Cel. Witty Mr. Butts Ha Ha Ha! Exeunt Nem. Vid. Cel. El. St. A. Well I 'll to a Dutchess Pol. Lord thou art always so high-flown Hast thou never a cast Countess for me St. A. Come along to the Ball and thou shalt see the Duke of Nemours is the Gallant to night and Treats at his Palace because 't is the King's Birth-day Let me see what new Fancy for the Masquerade Oh! I have it Because the Town is much taken with Fortune-telling I 'll act the Dumb Man the Highlander that made such a noise and thou shalt be my Interpreter Come along and as we go I 'll instruct thee in the Signs Pol. Dear Rogue let 's practise a little before we stir As what sign for Lechery because we may Nick our Wives St. A. Why thus that 's a glanting squeez'd Eye or thus for a moist Hand or thus for a Whore in a corner or thus for downright Cuckolding Pol. Well I swear this will be rare sport and so my damn'd Spouse I am resolv'd to tickle her with a squeez'd Eye and a moist Hand and a Whore in a corner till she confess her self guilty of downright Cuckoldom then in revenge for her last Impudence Sue for a Divorce And holding to her Face the flying Label Call her in open Court the Whore of Babel Exeunt SCENE II. The Prince and Princess of Cleve P. C. MAdam the King commands me to attend His Daughter into Spain and further adds Because no Princess Rivals you in Fame You will oblige the Court in going with me Princess C. My Lord I am prepar'd and leave the Court With such a Joy as wou'd admit no bounds P. C. As wou'd admit no bounds and why because It takes you from the Charms which you wou'd shun This is a Vertue of such height indeed As none but you can boast nor I deplore But Madam Rumor says the King intends To joyn another with me Princess C. Who my Lord P. C. 'T was thought at first the Chevalier de Guise Princess C. He is your Friend nor cou'd the King choose better P. C. I say at first 't was thought the Duke of Guise But I was since instructed by the Queen That Honour 's fixt upon the Duke Nemours Princess C. Nemours my Lord P. C. Most certain Princess C. For what reason P. C. Because I mov'd the Dauphin Queen to gain him Princess C. 'T was rashly done against your Interest mov'd P. C. Perhaps 't is not too late yet to supplant him Princess C. Do 't then be quick Nemours will share your Honours Eclipse your Glory P. C. Ha I must confess The Soldiers love him and he bears the Palm Already from the Marshals of the Field Princess C. And in the Court he 's call'd the Rising Star You see each night at every Entertainment Where he moves what Troops of Beauties follow How the Queens praise him and all Eyes admire him P. C. Ha! Chartres Princess C. Ah! my Lord what have I done P. C. Nothing my Chartres but admire Nemours O Heaven and Earth and if I had but Patience To hear you out how had you lost your self On that Eternal Object of your Love No Madam no 't is false 't is no Nemours 'T was my invention to find out the truth Your trouble has convinc'd me 't is Nemours Which curst Discovery in another Woman I shou'd have made by her too eager Joy. Why speak you Not you 're shock'd with your own Vertue The resolution of your Justice aws you Which cannot dares not give it self the Lye. Princess C. My Lord my Love my Life Alas my Cleve O pity me I know not what to answer I 'm mortally asham'd I 'm on the Rack But spare this humble Passion Take me with you Where I may never see a Man again P. C. O Rise my Chartres Rise if possible I 'll force thee to be mine in spite of Fate My constant Martyrdom and deathless Kindness My more than Mortal Patience in these Sufferings Shall poize his noblest Qualities O Heav'n No fear my Chartres tho these Sorrows fall That I suspect thy Glory thou hast strength To curb this Passion in that else may end us All that I ask thee is to bend thy Heart Princess C. I 'll break it P. C. Turn it from Nemours Nemours But Oh! that name presents thy danger greater Look to thy Honour then and look to mine I ask it as thy Lover and thy Husband I beg it as a Man whose Life depends Upon thy Breath that offers thee a Heart All bleeding with the Wounds of Mortal Love All hack'd and gash'd and stab'd and mangled o'er And yet a Heart so true in spite of pain As ne'er yet lov'd nor ever shall again Exit P.C. Enter Irene Iren. Ha! Madam speak how is it with your Heart Princess C. As with a timorous Slave condemn'd to Torments That still cries out he cannot will not bear it And yet bears on Iren. Ah Madam I wou'd speak If you cou'd bear the dreadful News I bring Princess C. Alas thou canst not add to grief like mine Iren. May I demand then if you have not told The Secret to your Husband Princess C. Ha! Iren Why dost thou ask Iren. Because but now Tournon a Lady of the Queens Told me 't is blaz'd at Court Nemours confessed He is belov'd by one of such nice Virtue That fearing lest the Passion might betray her She own'd confess'd and told it to her Husband Princess C. Death and Despair But does Nemours avow it Iren. He own'd it to the Vidam who agen Told it to Madam Tournon she to others
Pardon for interrupting you But if you have a mind to hear the sweetest Airs in the World Nem. With all my heart Sir Pol. Nay since your Grace has put my hand in I 'll sing you my Lord before you go the softest thing compos'd in the Nonage of my Muse yet such a one as our best Authors borrow from Nay I 'll be judg'd by your Grace if they do not steal their Dying from my Killing St. A. Nay prithee Poltrot thou art so impertinent Pol. No more impertinent than your self Sir nor do I doubt Sir but my Character shall be drawn by the Poets for a Man of Wit and Sense Sir as well as your self Sir Vid. Ay I 'll be sworn shall it Pol. For I know how to Repartee with the best to Rally my Wife to kick her too if I please Sir to make Similes as fast as Hops Sir tho I lay a dying slap dash Sir quickly off and quickly on Sir and as round as a Hoop Sir St. A. I grant you Dear Bully all this but let 's have your Song another time because mine are begun Pol. Nay look you Dear Rogue mine is but a Prologue to your Play and by your leave his Grace has a mind to hear it and he shall hear it Sir Nem. Ay and will hear it Sir tho the Great Turk were at St. Dennis's Gate come along my Orpheus and then Sir we 'll follow you to the Prince of Cleve's Ballad When Phoebus had fetch'd c. Exeunt Singing SCENE III. The Prince of Cleve ' s Palace Musick SONG IN a Room for Delight the Landskip of Love Like a shady old Lawn With the Curtains half drawn My Love and I lay in the cool of the day Till our Ioyes did remove II. So fierce was our Fight and so smart e'ry stroak That Love the little Scout Was put to the Rout His Bow was unbent e'ry Arrow was spent And his Quiver all broke Enter Vidam Nemours Nem. I have lost my Letter and by your Description It must be that which the Queen read at Court. But are you sure the Princess of Cleve has seen it Vid. Why are you so concern'd does your wild Love Turn that way too She is too Grave Nem. Too Grave as if I cou'd not laugh with this and try with that and veer with every gust of Passion But has she seen it Vid. She has the Letter the Queen Dauphin sent it her Nem. Then you must own it on occasion and whatever else I shall put upon your Person Vid. Why Nem. Lest it shou'd reach the Ears of Marguerite For Oh my Vidam 't is such a ranting Devil If she believes this Letter mine when next We meet beware my Locks and Eyes No more But this remember that you own it Exit Enter St. Andre and Poltrot St. A. His Bow was unbent c. Singing with Poltrot Come my Lord we 'll have all over agen Enter the Prince of Cleve Vid. See we have rais'd the Prince of Cleve My Lord good Morrow P. C. Good morrow my good Lord Save you my dear Nemours Pol. Give you Joy my Lord What a little blew under the Eyes Ha Ha St. A. Give you Joy my Lord Ha my Lord Ha. Holds up 3 Fing Pol. Ha my Lord Ha Holding up five Fingers P. C. You are merry Gentlemen I am not in the vein Therefore Dear Chartres take these Fingers hence St. A. My Lord you look a little heavy shall we Dance Sing Fence take the Air Ride Vid. Come away Sir the Prince is indispos'd St. A. Gad I remember now I talk of riding at the Tournament of Mete as I was riding the great Horse Vid. Leave off your Lying and come along St. A. With three pushes of Pike and six hits of Sword I wounded the Duke of Ferrara Duke of Millain Duke of Parma Prince of Cleve P. C. My Lord I was not there St. A. My Lord I beg your Lordships pardon I meant the Vidam of Chartres Vid. You Lye I was then at Rome St. A. My Lord Pol. Ha Ha Lord Lord how this World is given to Lying Ha Come come you 're damnably out come away St. A. My Lord I beg your pardon I see you are indispos'd besides the Queen oblig'd me this Morning to let 'em choose Colours for my Complexion Vid. Heark you will you go or shall I Pulling him off by the Nose St. A. My Friend my Lord you see is a little Familiar but I am ever your Highness's most humble faithful obedient Servant Exeunt Manet P. Cleve Full of himself the happy Man is gone Why was not I too cast in such a Mould To think like him or not to think at all Enter the Princess of Cleve Had he a Bride like me Earth wou'd not bear him But Oh I wish that it might cover me Since Chartres cannot love me Oh I found it Last night I found it in her cold Embraces Her Lips too cold Cold as the Dew of Death And still whene'er I prest her in my arms I found my Bosom all afloat with Tears Princess C. He weeps O Heaven my Lord the Prince of Cleve P. C. My Life my Dearest part Princess C. Why Sighs my Lord What have I done Sir thus to discompose you P. C. Nothing Princess C. Ah Sir there is a Grief within And you wou'd hide it from me P. C. Nothing my Chartres nothing here but Love. Princess C. Alas my Lord you hide that Secret from me Which I must know or think you never lov'd me P. C. Ah Princess that you lov'd but half so well Princess C. I have it then you think me Criminal And tax my Honour P. C. Oh forbid it Heaven But since you press me Madam let me ask you Why when the Princess led you to the Altar Why cak'd the Tears upon your Bloodless Face Why sigh'd you when your hand was clasp'd with mine As if your Heart your Heart refus'd to joyn Princess C. Ah Sir P. C. Behold you 're dash'd with the remembrance Why when my Hopes were fierce and Joys grew strong Why were you carri'd like a Coarse along When like a Victim by my side you lay Why did you Gasp why did you Swoon away O speak You have a Soul so open and so clear That if there be a Fault it must appear Princess C. Alas you are not skill'd in Beauties cares For Oh! when once the god his Wrath declares And Stygian Oaths have wing'd the bloody Dart To make its passage thro the Virgins Heart She hides her Wound and hasting to the Grove Scarce whisp'ring to the Winds her conscious Love. The touch of him she loves she 'll not endure But Weeps and Bleeds and strives against the Cure So judge of me when any Grief appears Believe my Sighs are kind and trust my Tears P. C. Vanish my Doubts and Jealousies be gon On thy lov'd Bosom let me break my Joy O only Sweets that Fill but never Cloy And was it was it only Virgins
howe'er thou usest me I am thy Creature still to make and mould me Thy cringing crawling Slave and will adore The hand that kills me Princess C. O you are too good And I must never hope for Pardon Yet I cou'd excuse it but my Lord I will not Know then I cannot speak P. C. Nor I by Heav'n Princes C. I Love. P. C. Go on Princess C. I love you as my Soul. P. C. Ha But the rest Princess C. Alas alas I dare not P. C. Why then farewel for ever Princess C. Stay and take it Take the extreamest Pang of tortur'd Vertue Take all I love I love thee Cleve as Life But Oh! I love I love another more P. C. Oh Chartres Oh Princess C. Why did you rack me then You were resolv'd and now you have it all P. C. All Chartres All Why can there then be more But rise and know I by this Kiss forgive thee Thou hast made me wretched by the clearest proof Of perfect Honour that e'er flow'd from Woman But crown the misery which you have begun And let me know who 't is you wou'd avoid Who is the happy man that had the power To burn that Heart which I cou'd never warm Princess C. Forgive me Sir in this Prudence commands Eternal silence P. C. Ha! if silent now Why didst thou speak at all If here thou stop'st I shall conclude that which I thought thy vertue A start of passion which thou cou'dst not hide And now Vexation gnaws thy guilty Soul With a too late Repentance for confessing His name Princess C. You shall not know it Yes my Lord Now a too late Repentance tears my Soul And tells me I have done amiss to trust you Yet by my hopes of ease at last by Death I swear my Love has never yet appear'd To any Man but you P. C. Weep not my Chartres for howe'er my Tongue Upbraid thy Fame my Heart still worships thee And by the Blood that chills me round I swear From this sad Moment I 'll ne'er urge thee more All that I beg of thee is not to hate me Princess C. The study of my Life shall be to love you P. C. Never Oh never I were mad to hope it Yet thou shalt give me leave to fold thy hand To press it with my Lips to sigh upon it And wash it with my Tears Princess C. I cannot bear this kindness without dying P. C. Nay we will walk and talk sometimes together Like Age we 'll call to mind the Pleasures past Pleasures like theirs which never shall return For Oh! my Chartres since thy Heart 's estrang'd The pleasure of thy Beauty is no more Yet I each night will see thee softly laid Kneel by thy side and when thy Vows are paid Take one last kiss e'er I to Death retire Wish that the Heav'ns had giv'n us equal fire Then sigh it cannot be and so expire Exeunt Enter Nemours She Loves she Loves and I 'm the happy Man She has avow'd it past all president Before her Husbands Face Ha! but from Love like hers such daring virtue That like a bleeding Quarry lately chas'd Plunges among the Waves or turns at Bay What is there to expect But let it come The worst can happ'n yet 't is glorious still To bring to such Extreams so chast a mind And charm to love the wisest of her Kind Enter Vidam Ah Vidam I cou'd tell thee such a Story of such a Friend of mine the oddest prettiest out of the way of bus'ness but thou art so flippant there 's no trusting thee Vid. Tournon says the Flag 's held out Nem. Tournon be Damn'd Know then but be secret there is a Friend of mine belov'd But by a Soul so Vertuous Vid. That was too much Nem. That quite from the method of all Womankind she told it to her Husband Vid. That 's strange indeed And how did her Husband like it Nem. Why after a tedious passionate Discourse approved her carriage and swore he lov'd her more than ever so they cry'd and kiss'd and went away most lovingly together Vid. Why then she Cuckolds him to rights nor can he take the Law of her and I 'll be judge by any Bawd in Christendom And so my Lord farewell I have bus'ness of my own and Tournon waits you Nem. But heark you Frank I have occasion for you and must press thee I hope to no unwellcome Office only a Second Vid. With all my heart my Lord the time and place Nem. Just now in Luxemburg Garden betwixt one and two a Challenge from a couple the smartest briskest prettiest Tilting Ladies Vid. Your Servant Sir and as you thrive let me hear from your Grace and so Fate speed your Plow Exit Enter Tournon with Marguerite Nem. And so Fate speed your Plow and you go to that and I shall tell you Sir 't was not handsomly done to leave me thus to the Mercy of two unreasonable Women at once Tour. You have him now in view and so I leave you Exit Tour. Marg. Stand Sir. Nem. To a Lady while I have breath Marg. Wou'd you not fall to a Lady too if she shou'd ask the Favour Nem. Ay Gad any pretty Woman may bring me upon my Knees at her pleasure Marg. O Devil Nem. Prithee my dear soft warm Rogue let thee and I be kind Marg. And Kiss you were going to say Nem. Z'Life how pat she hits me why thou and I were made for one another Let 's try how our Lips fit Marg. Is that your fitting Nem. 'Fore Heaven she 's wond'rous quick Nay my Dear and you go to that I can fit you every way Marg. You are a notorious talker Nem. And a better doer prithee try Marg. As if that were to do now Nem. Nay then I 'm sure of thee for never was a Woman mine once but was mine always Marg. Know then you are a heavy sluggish Fellow but I see there is no more Faith in Man than Woman Cork and Feathers Nem. Make a Shittlecork that 's Woman let me if you please be Battledoor and by Gad for a day and a night I 'll keep up with any Fellow in Christendom Marg. Come away then and I 'll keep count I warrant you Monster Villain Nem. Now is the Devil and I as great as ever I come my Dear But then what becomes of my other Dears For whom I was Prim'd and Charg'd Marg. Why dont you come my Dear Nem. There with that sweet word she cock'd me Marg. Lord how you tremble Nem. There the Pan flash'd Marg. I 'll set my Teeth in you Nem. Now I go off O Man O Woman O Flesh O Devil Finis Actus Secundi ACT III. SCENE I. The Vidam Tournon Tour. A Woman in Love with another and confess it to her Husband What wou'd I give to know her Without all question Nemours is the Person belov'd Vid. That 's plain by his eagerness in the Discovery he forc'd me to hear him whether I wou'd or no
smelling Art But sweet by nature as just peeping Violets Or op'ning Buds Marg. Than you do love me Nem. O! I cou'd dye methinks this very hour But for the luscious hopes of thousand more And all like these yet when I must go out Let it be thus with beauty laughing by me Songs Lutes and Canopeis while I Sacrifice To thee the last dear ebbing drop of Love. But show me now that face Marg. No you dissemble you say the same thing to every one you meet I thought once indeed to have fixt my Heart upon you but I 'm off agen and am resolv'd you shall never see me Nem. You dally come by all the kindness past Marg. Swear then Nem. What Marg. Never to touch your dear Domestick she That lives in Shades to all the World but me Do you guess I know you now Nem. I do and swear but are these equal Terms that you shall never touch a Man but me Marg. I will But how can you convince me Oaths with you Libertines of Honour are to little purpose Nem. But this must satisfie thee there is more pleasure in thee after Enjoyment than in her and all Womankind before it thou hast Inspiration Extasie and Transport all these bewitching Joys that make men mad Marg. Unmasking And thou Villany Treachery Perjury all those Monstrous Diabolical Arts that seduce Young Virgins from their Innocent homes to set 'em on the High-way to Hell and Damnation Nem. Ha! Ha! my Marguerite is 't possible Marg. Call me not yours nor think of me agen I am convinc'd you're Traytors all alike And from this hour renounce you Not but Ill be reveng'd Yes I will try the Joys of Life like you But not with Men of Quality you Devils of Honour No I will satisfie My Pride Disdain Rage and Revenge more safely By all the Powers of Heav'n and Earth I will I 'll change my loving lying Tinsel Lord For an obedient wholsome drudging Fool. Nem. Why this will make the matter easie to both Take you your Ramble Madam and I 'll take mine But is 't possible for one of your nice tast To Bed a Fool Marg. To choose to choose my Lord A Fool now by my Will and pride of Heart There 's Freedom Fancy and Creation in 't He truckles to the Frown and cries forgive me Besides the moulding of him without blushing And what wou'd Woman more now view the other Your Man of Sense that vaunts despotick Pow'r The reels precisely home at break of day Thunders the House brains half the Family Cries where 's my Whore what will she Stew till Doomsday When she appears and kindly goes to help him Roars out a Shop a walking-shop of Scents Flavours of Physick and the clammy Bath The stench of Orange-flow'rs the Devil Pulvilio These these he cries are the Blest Husband's Joys Nem. I swear most natural and unaffected Ha! Ha Marg. But if he chance to use her civilly Take heed there 's covert malice in his Smiles Millions to one the Villain has been Whoreing And comes to try Experiments on her Besides a thousand under Plots and Crosses Prescribing silence still where-e'er he comes No chat he cries of Colours Points or Fashions Nem. Preach on Divine Ha Ha Marg. Let me not hear you ask my sickly Lady Whither she found Obstructions at the Waters Nem. Fye that 's Obscene Marg. Thus Damns the Affectation of our Prattle And Swears he 'll Gag the Clack or what is worse Nem. Nay hold Marg. Send for the new found Lock Nem. What Mad Marg. Do Villain Traytor Contrive this Mischief if thou canst for me Send thou the Padlock but I 'll find the Key Exit Nem. Whir goes the Partridge on the purring Wing Yet when I see my time I must recall her For she has admirable things in her such as if I gain not the Princess of Cleve may fix me to her without nauseating the Vice of Constancy Ha! Bellamore Enter Bellamore What News my Dear Ha Hast thou found her Speak Bell. I have Nem. Where how when and by what means Bell. After I had enquir'd after the Prince's Health I ask'd a Woman of his Lady who told me She was retir'd into the great Bower in the Garden Nem. The very place where first I saw and lov'd her When after I had sav'd the Prince's Life He brought me late one ev'ning to the view There Love and Friendship first began My Love remains and Friendship as Much as Man can have for his Cuckold Nay I know not that Man upon Earth I love so well or cou'd take so much from as this hopeful Prince of Cleve Didst thou see her in the Garden Bell. My Lord I did where she appear'd like her that gave Acteon Horns with all her Nimphs about her busie in tyeing Knots which she took from Baskets of Ribbons that they brought her and methought she ti'd and unti'd 'em so prettily as if she had been at Cross Questions or knew not what she did her Face her Neck and Arms quite bare Nem. No more if I live I 'll see her to night for the Heroick Vein comes upon me Death and the Devil what shall become of the back-stair Lady then Heark thee Bellamore take this Key dost thou hear Rogue go to St. Andre's House through the Garden up the back-stairs push open the door and be blest Hell can't I be in two places at once Heark thee give her this and this and this and when thou bitest her with a parting blow sigh out Nemours Bell. I 'll do 't Enter the Prince of Cleve Nem. Go to Tournon for the rest she 'll instruct thee in the Management Away Exit Bell. Ha! he comes up but slowly yet he sees me Perhaps he 's Jealous why then I 'm jealous too Hypocrisie and Softness with all the Arts of Woman Tip my Tongue P. C. I come my Lord to ask you if you love me Nem. Love thee my Cleve by Heav'n e'er yet I saw thee Thus were my Prayers still offer'd to the Fates If I must choose a Friend grant me ye Powers The Man I love may seize my Heart at once Guide him the perfect temper of your selves With ev'ry manly Grace and shining Vertue Add yet the bloom of Beauty to his Youth That I may make a Mistress of him too P. C. O Heav'n Nem. That at first view our Souls may kindle And like two Tapers kindly mix their Beams I knelt and pray'd and wept for such a Blessing And they return'd me more than I cou'd ask All that was Good or Great or Just in thee P. C. You say you love me I must make the proof For you have brought it to a doubt Nem. In what P. C. In this you have not giv'n me all your Heart You Muse of late ev'n on my Bridal day I saw you sit with a too thoughtful brow You sigh'd and hung your Head upon your Hand Nay in the midst of Laughter You started blush'd and cry'd 't was
met we not e'er I engag'd To my dead Lord And why did Fate divide us Nem. Fate does not No 'T is you that cross both Fortune Heav'n and Fate 'T is you obstruct my Bliss 't is you impose Such Laws as neither Sense nor Vertue warrant Princess C. 'T is true my Lord I offer much to duty Which but subsists in thought therefore have patience Expect what time with such a love as mine May work in your behalf my Husband 's death So bleeding fresh I see him in the Pangs Nay look methinks I see his Image rise And point an everlasting Separation Yet Oh! it shall not be without a Tear. Nem. O! stay Princess C. Let go believe no other Man Cou'd thus have wrought me but your self to Love Nem. Stay then Princess C. I dare not Think I love you still Nem. I do But stay and speak it o'er agen Princess C. Believe that I shall love you to my death Nem. I will. But live and love me Princess C. Off I charge you Believe this parting wounds me like the Fate Of Cleve or worse Believe but Oh! farewel Nem. Believe but what That last thought I implore Princess C. Believe that you shall never see me more Exit Enter the Vidam Vid. Well and how goes the Game What on the Knee a gather'd Brow and a large dew upon it Nay than you are a looser Nem. Didst thou see her pass Vid. I did she wrung me by the hand and sigh'd Then look'd back twice And totter'd on the threshold at the door Nem. Believe that you shall never see me more she Lyes I 'll Wager my State I Bed her eighteen months three weeks hence at half an hour past two in the Morning Vid. Why Faith and that 's as exact as e'er an Astrologer of 'em all Nem. Give me thy hand Vidam I know the Souls of Women better than they know themselves I know the Ingredients just that make 'em up All to loose Grains the subtlest volatile Atoms With the whole Mish-mash of their Composition Heark there without the voice of Marguerite Now thou shalt see a Battle worth the gazing Mark but how easily my reason flings her And yet at last I 'll swing into Friendship Because I love her Enter Bellamore Bell. The Princess shall I stop her Nem. No let her come With flying Colours and with beat of Drum Like the Fanatick I 'll but rub me down And then have at her Vidam stay you here By Heav'n I 'm jealous of this changeable Stuff Therefore the hits will be the livelier o' both sides The Dauphin but no more she comes she comes Enter Marguerite pushing Bellamore Marg. Be gon Villain Devil Fury Monster of a Man. Nem. But hear me but six words in private Enter Poltrot Celia Pol. And I swear by this lascivious bit of Beauty I will cleave to my Celia for Better for Worse in Searge Grogrum or Crape though a Queen shou'd come in my way in Beaten Gold Nem. What then Gentlemen I perceive there have been Wars at home Pol. Not a Battle my Lord only a Charge a Charge sounded or so Nem. What was it a Trumpet or through a Horn Sir Pol. A Horn Sir a Horn Sir no Sir 't was not a Horn Sir Only my Celia was a little disdainful but we are Friends agen Sir and what then Sir Nem. Come come all Friends were Tournon here I wou'd forgive her a litte Scorn in a pretty Woman so it be not too much affected is a Charm to new Friendship therefore let each Man take his Fair one by the hand thus lay it to his Lips and Swear a whole Life's Constancy St. A. As I will to my Nelle though I haule Cats at Sea or cry Small-coal and for him that upbraids her I 'll have more Bobs than Democritus when he cry'd Poor-Jack There 's more Pride in Diogenes or under a Puritan's Cap than in a King's Crown Nem. For my part the Death of the Prince of Cleve upon second thoughts has so truly wrought a change in me as nothing else but a Miracle cou'd For first I see and loath my Debaucheries Next while I am in Health I am resolv'd to give satisfaction to all I have wrong'd and first to this Lady whom I will make my Wife before all this Company e'er we part This I hope whenever I dye will convince the World of the Ingenuity of my Repentance because I had the power to go on He well Repents that will not Sin yet can But Death-bed Sorrow rarely shews the Man. THE EPILOGUE WHat is this Wit which Cowley cou'd not name The rare Inducement to a perfect Fame The Art of Nature curious in a Frame Is it a Whig a Trimmer or a Tory Or an Old Fop forgotten in the Story 'T is Honour veil'd in Honesty's Disguise Or Cesar like a Fencer in a Prize 'T is Pindar's Ramble Nature in Misrule A Politician acted by a Fool. 'T is all Variety that Arts can give The Danaid's filling of a Leakey Sieve The Valleys Sweets and the distilling Spring The brimming Bacchus that the Muses bring To drink the Health of England's Glorious King. A Statesman thoughtful for a Clown revil'd A Pestle and a Mortar for a Child 'T is a true Principle but hardly shown An Artificial Sigh a Virgins Groan When the first night her Lover layes her on 'T is like a Lass that Gads to gather May 'T is like the Comedy you have to day A Bulling Gallant in a wanton Play. FINIS
me and reply to the words of my mouth Nem. I shall truly Tour. Say then Hast thou not defil'd thy self with any Dalilah since last you felt upon my Neck and loved much Nem. Nay verily Tour. Have you not overheated your Body with adulterate Wines have you not been at a Play nor touch'd Fruit after the leud Orange Women Nem. I am unpolluted Tour. And yet methinks there is not the same colour in your cheeks nor does the Spirit dance in your Eye as formerly why do you not approach me Unmasking Nem. Tournon turn'd Heretick why thou dear Raskal this is such a new Frolick that though I am engag'd as deep as Damnation to another thou shalt not 'scape me Marg. claps him on the shoulder Mar. I love a Man that keeps the Commandment of his word Nem. And I a Woman that breaks hers with her Husband yet loves her Neighbour as her self I wou'd fain be in private with you Cel. And I with you because I am resolv'd never to see you more Nem. Never to see me more the reason Cel. Because I hate you Nem. And yet I believe you love me too because you are precise to the Minute Cel. True yet I hate you justly heartily and maliciously Nem. By Gad and I 'll love the as heartily justly and maliciously as thou canst love me for thy blood come away Riddle and I 'll unfold thee Exeunt Poltrot St. Andre disguis'd with Elianora L. Poltrot coming up to 'em Elia. But is it true indeed that your Friend can tell all the actions of our Life past present and to come yet cannot speak one word Pol. O he 's infallible why what did you never hear of your second-sight men your Dumb High-landers that tell Fortunes why you wou'd think the Devil in Hell were in him he speaks exactly Elia. I thought you had said he was Dumb Pol. Right but I am his Interpreter and when the fit comes on him he blows through me like a Trunk and strait I become his speaking Trumpet L. P. Pray Sir may not I have my Fortune told me too Pol. Ay and there were a thousand of you he will run you 'em over like the Chriss cross-row and never miss a tittle he shall tell ye his name that cry'd God bless you when you sneez'd last tell you when you wink'd last when and where you scratch'd last and where you sate o' Saturday Elia. Pray let him tell us then for we are Sisters our Tempers and Conditions whither married or unmarried with all the Impertinences thereunto belonging Pol. I 'll speak to him Son of the Sun and Emperor of the Stars St. A. Ha Ha Pol. Look ye look ye he 's pleas'd to tell you but you must go near him for he must look in your hand touch your Face Breasts and where-ever else he pleases St. A. Makes Horns with both his hands puts his Finger in his Mouth and Laughs Pol. In nomine domine Bomine I protest I am confounded well Ladies I cou'd not have thought it had been in you but 't is certainly true and I must out with it first he says you are both married you are both Libidinous beyond example and your Husbands are the greatest Cornutors in Christendom Elia. L. P. Indeed Pol. Ay indeed indeed and indeed He says you are a couple of Messalina's and the Stews cannot satisfie you he says your thoughts are swell'd with a Carnosity nay you have the Green Sickness of the Soul which runs upon nothing but weighing Stallions churning Boars and bellowing Bulls L. P. O! I confess I confess But for Heav'n sake dear Sir Let it not take Air for then we are both undone Elia. O! Undone undone Sir if our Husbands shou'd know it for they are a couple of the Jealousest troublesome impertinent Cuckolds alive Pol. Alack Alack O Iezabel but I will have my Eunuchs fling her from the Window and the Dogs shall eat her L. P. But pray Sir ask him how many times Pol. What how many times you have Cuckolded ' em Elia. Spare our Modesty you make the Blood so flush in our Faces Pol. But by Iove I 'll let it out I 'll hold her by the Muzzle and stick her like a Pig L. P. Will you speak to him Sir Pol. See he understands you without it he says your Iniquities are innumerable your Fornications like the hairs of your head and your Adulteries like the Sands on the Sea shore that you are all Fish downward that Lot's Wife is fresh to you and that when you were little Girls of Seven you were so wanton your Mother 's ty'd your hands behind you Elia. All this we confess to be true but we confess too if Fate had found out any sort of Tools but those leaden Rogues our Husbands L. P. Whose Wits are as dull as their Appetites El. Mine such a Utensil as is not fit to wedge a Block L. P. Nor mine the Beetle to drive him St. A. Nay then 't is time to uncase and be reveng'd L. P. Heark you Strumpet El. Ha Ha Ha are you not fitted finely L.P. You must turn Fortune-tellers must you Eli. And think we cou'd not know you L. P. Well Gentlemen shall homely Beck go down with you at last Pol. But didst thou know me then indeed L. P. As if that sweet Voice of yours cou'd be disguis'd in any shape Pol. Nay I confess I have a whirl in my Voice a warble that is particular El. And what say you Sir shall musty Wife come into Grace agen St. A. She shall and here 's my hand on 't all Friends Nell and when I leave thee agen may I be Cuckold in earnest Pol. Certain as I live all this proceeded from his Lady my dreaming Cuckold Wife cou'd never think on 't well I am resolv'd this very night when he Rambles in his sleep to watch him slip to his Wife and say nothing Hey Come come where are these Dancers a little Diversion and then for Bed. Dance Tour. to Elia. I have lock'd the Vidam in your Closet who will be sure to watch your Husbands rising therefore be not surpriz'd Exit Tournon St. A. Come well let 's away to bed El. And what then St. A. Nay Gad that I can't tell for what with Dancing Singing Fencing and my last Dutchess I am very Drowzy Pol. And so am I perhaps our Wives have giv'n us Opium lest we shou'd disturb 'em in the night Eli. Don't these Men deserve to be fitted Cel. They do and Fortune grant they may Hear us O! hear us good Heav'n for we pray heartily Bxeunt as Nemours and Marguerite enter Nem. Was ever Man so blest with such possession Thou Ebbing Flowing Ravishing Racking Joy A Skin so white and soft the yielding Mould Le ts not the Fingers stay upon the dint But from the beauteous Dimples slips 'em down To pleasures that must be without a name Yet Hands and Arms and Breasts we may remember And that which I so love no