was entirely yours when we did part Is from that high and blest condition flown I blushing say 't is now no more my own The Duke of Bedford by the noblest force That e're subdu'd a heart into remorse Did with such joint success act his design That I took his and then resign'd him mine Prin. Kath. Dear Princes I shall now admire no more What you have mention'd of Loves art and power Nor that so high in that discourse you went Since you but spoke your own experiment Prin. An. If Madam you had present been to see The softness of those Charms which conquer'd me You 'd wonder more that long I held the field Then that at last I willingly did yield Prin. Kath. The English Archers may victorious grow Where Love begins the conquest with his bow Prin. An. After we had this sacred friendship made He told me though his brother would invade This Kingdom to regain what was his due Yet the chief conquest he design'd was you He told me too though England still affords Beauties resistless as the English Swords Yet none of them prevail'd though ne're so bright Like your victorious picture at first sight Then he implor'd that when to you I came I would prepare you to receive his flame A flame which all things else must needs out-do Since by him cherish'd and inspir'd by you This Madam was the cause why I have prest To find if e're your heart were prepossest Let France by you be freed from her distress This happy union will procure her peace Prin. Kath. If me he lov'd her blood he then would spare Loves gentle voice is never heard in War Prin. An. Yet like a King to you he does pretend Glory he makes his way and Love his end Prin. Kath. Where bloud does cry can I a Lover hear Prin. An. When glory pleads what then can stop your Ear Enter a Lady Lady Madam the Council is assembled now And e're it sits the Queen would speak with you Prin. Kath. I come too long by Love we have been stay'd I will consider all that you have said Prin. An. Madam be pleas'd to think upon it so That France to you may her redemption owe. Exeunt THE SECOND ACT. Enter the King Duke of Exeter Duke of Bedford Earl of Warwick and Tudor King MY Lord of Warwick you may give to all The French of note the rites of Funeral It is a debt which to the dead we pay Rewarding Courage ev'n in those we slay Warwick It shall be done King Brother it will be fit The Pris'ners you to stronger Guards commit They shall a Court within our Army see And in it nothing want but liberty Bed They shall be safe yet have some freedom too King Uncle the great request I make to you Is to preserve our wounded men with care 'T is by their courage we victorious are Exeter They shall be serv'd with all they can desire We must that valour serve which you admire Exeunt Exeter Bedford Warwick Tudor Though this great day th'expecting world may see Your Title both to France and Victory And though no Conquerour alive or dead With nobler wreaths did ever crown his head Yet pardon me if I presume to say I see a sadness mis-becomes this day This day in which your friends and foes confess Nothing can make you greater nothing less So fixt are Fortunes Wheels they cannot turn Then Sir permit only the French to mourn The loss of York and Suffolk though too great Should not out-weigh your Enemies defeat If Sir your Wars cost not some lives like these You would not Conquests make but miracles Who in his Princes service finds a Grave Rather our envy than our grief should have And fighting in your sight who for you dyes Is blest enough without such Obsequies If to their death such envy'd grief you give You 'l make us then repent that we do live Sir for the living's sake your grief decline And let your looks clear as your glories shine King So great a loss as is above relief Even on this day might justifie my grief He who of friendship knows the sacred ties Will value more his Friends than Victories But that just sorrow which thou wouldst remove Is not a tribute paid to Death but Love If Fame or Power only in me did sway I could not have been seen in Clouds to day 'T is Love's fierce Fire which does my heart devour Less to be quench'd than heats of Fame or Power Tudor She must do more than Woman e're could do Resisting such a King and Conqu'rour too You though her eyes should brightest beams emit May safe in shades under your Laurels sit King My Laurels might a safe refreshment prove To any other heat but that of Love Their sacred force 'gainst Thunder only lies Not against lightning shot from conqu'ring eyes Whose pow'r like that of lightning I have felt My breast they wound not yet my heart they melt Tudor May I not know who does my King subdue King Saying I love I need not tell thee who VVho of the Planets speaks of brightest beams Need not say after 't is the Sun he means Tudor The Sun by all is mention'd at one rate But Fancy alters beauties estimate Were it not Fancy which that value gave All Lovers then would but one Mistress have King Such adoration Fancy cannot raise As to this beauty sight and reason pays For he whose heart Love can to ashes turn Must feel her eyes alone have right to burn But that this ignorance thou may'st decline Know I adore the Princess Katherine Loves Rebels by her eyes are kept in awe She reigns in France spight of the Salique Law Tudor Will not Loves heat make Glories flame expire King No Tudor it will rather raise it higher For none should aim at this exalted state Who makes not glory first his Advocate This was the cause when Charls her father sent Embassadours my conquest to prevent And this bright beauty offer'd for my Bride But with her as her Dowry France deny'd I shun'd the match knowing her beauties were No price for Peace but the reward of War My vows and passion she might justly scorn Did I not Crown her Queen where she was born And raise her boundless beauties to supply What a rude Law does to her Sex deny Tudor Perhaps your flame had with more lustre shone Had you for it declin'd the Gallick Throne For love of her to quit in France your right Is more then 't is to conquer it in fight Nor can you hope her passions flame to raise When with her Countries blood you stain your Bays King Dear Tudor I perceive because thou art A Subject thou mistak'st a Monarchs heart Those who from Royal veins derive their blood Find only in a Throne what 's great and good Sure Nature in her would much rather see Her Son then Brother rule this Monarchy Tudor A Love like this was never known before The Father you 'l
depose the Child adore Your Love will be in proofs of hatred shown You on her Countries ruines build her Throne This strange design Sir does my wonder raise King A Love like mine moves not in common waies Such unexampl'd things I 'le strive to do That when I reach to what I now pursue When men name one who lov'd to a degree Ne're known before they 'l say he lov'd like me Prepare thy self to go within an hour To the French Court as my Embassadour And let them know if they resign up France Mine both by Conquest and Inheritance They shun such force as cannot be withstood They shew their justice and they spare their blood Success now asks but what I ask'd before Tudor He that at first ask'd all can ask no more Much is not in the proffer I shall make King Yes it is much to ask what I can take And to accept from them that Crown which I Have giv'n me from the hand of Victory Tudor in this they cannot but confess I make my mercy hinder my success Tudor It might be then convenient that I try'd T' obtain with France the Princess for your Bride Since you as well for her as France contend Without her you 'l not reach your noblest end King She justly Tudor might my passion hate If Love's high int'rest I should mix with state If I this great concern by Treaty move 'T will be below her Beauty and my Love That blessing must in nobler ways be sought Though Heav'n may be bestow'd 't is never bought But that which chiefly makes me send thee now Is that my Friend should let my Princess know My flames are such as Martyr'd Saints sustain The glory of them takes away the pain Exeunt Tudor Was ever such a Curse impos'd by Fate His favour wounds much deeper then his hate I must unworthy or else wretched prove Be false to Honour or else false to Love To which of both shall I precedence give I 'm kill'd by this by that unfit to live But stay why should not I even I alone Raise Love and Honour to a height unknown If for his sake my passion I forego In that great Act I pay him all I owe Who for his King against his Love does act Pays Debts much greater then he can contract Nor are these all th' advantages will flow From that great action I intend to do If I her right above my Love prefer In that by losing I shall merit her And to obtain not merit her will prove Less then to lose her and deserve her Love 'T is worthy of my flame and of her eyes To make love be to love a sacrifice Exeunt Enter Queen Duke of Burgundy the Constable Earl of Charaloys and Count de Chastel Queen The fatal cause why we assemble now We by the worst of sad experience know Heav'n does at once on this our Empire showre All the fierce marks of anger and of power The King my Lord whose head and heart and hand Should be imploy'd our ruine to withstand Under his old disease still worser grows Yields to his pain as France does to his Foes Yet is he not unhappy in that state Which makes him not to feel the wounds of Fate The Dauphin whose green years make him unfit In such a storm at Empires helm to sit Yet for that great and dang'rous place does press And missing it forsake us in distress As these two miseries assault us here So th' English late success fills all with fear Yet France surviving such destructive blows Ev'n in her ruine still her greatness shows By your wise help she hopes yet to be freed And on your breasts she leans her weary head Shall we again by Battel try our Fate Or with the English King Capitulate Const. Our shoulders but attend for heavier weight If in the Field we shun to try our Fate For doubtless Madam he less Vertue shows Who yields to than who falls by fortunes blows Rome though she lost four Fields to Hannibal Her valour rais'd ev'n in her Fortunes fall Her steady vertue did all storms suppress And made her Empress of the Universe I would not doubt but we at length should find A Roman Fate had we a Roman mind De Chast. Those who too hastily with Victors treat Make them too proud who were before too great Such condiscention would to fear dispose Your Subjects hearts and elevate your Foes Let not Posterity have cause to say That you lost France and lost her in one day Const. The chance of Arms are still alternative Fortune one day does take next day does give And all the English fame will be o'rethrown If we of twenty Fields can win but one All thoughts of Treaties Madam then despise Which but excuses fear whilst we seem wise Burg. Madam what the great Constable does say Becomes that place you rais'd him to this day He who the head of all your Armies is Safe Counsels should obey but not advise If to my judgment you will please to trust Chuse not what great appears but what is just Madam it is alone by Arms you reign O're Anjou Normandy and Aquitane Those three the noblest Provinces of France Are th' English King 's confest Inheritance What-ever of prescription Gown-men write Yet length of time changes not wrong to right Why should you not er'e things are desp'rate grown By giving what is his preserve your own Keeping those Countries will at last be found A Gangreen the corrupt will eat the sound Ear. of Char. Justice is more then but an empty word Therefore whilst that assists the English Sword Success will alwaies to their side resort And every Field will be an Agin-Court Burg. Can Councils prosp'rous be or Armies strong Both aiming to perpetuate a wrong If after this fair offer he pursue The War our Swords will act what his does now If he accepts it as no doubt he must You will be safe as soon as you are just Pursue the Acts of Justice those alone Have pow'r to save and to exalt a Throne Enter Blamount Blam Young Tudor is arriv'd and craves to be With speed admitted to your Majesty By those few words which have between us past I find his message does require some haste Queen Know you what 't is which does him hither bring Blam Some overtures of peace from th' English King Blamount whispers in the Queens Ear. Queen Yes I consent and give her notice I Expect she should receive him civilly Exit Blamount My Lords I find your judgments various are Two are for Treaty th' other two for War Such reasons you for both opinions give That I with reason either may receive But Tudor being come does surely bring Something important from the English King 'T is fit our resolutions we defer Till I his bus'ness in his message hear Exeunt Enter Princess Katherine and Blamount Blam Madam what I have said the Queen will own Prin. Kath. What That with Tudor I should speak
alone Blam He for that honour Madam now does stay Prin. Kath. Since by the Queen commanded I obey Exit Blamount Enter Tudor Tudor Though Madam this high honour does excel What deeds can merit or what words can tell It shall no cause of new presumption be I 'le not repeat what you condemn'd in me I then presum'd to tell you of a Fire Your Eyes did ina Subjects heart inspire But Madam now th' assurance which I bring Is that your beauties have subdu'd a King A King renown'd by all the voice of Fame The least he has of Monarch is the name He only Love and Glory does pursue Which makes him Conquer France and yield to you And by th'unhappi'st of his Subjects says He at your feet his Heart and Laurel lays Judge what his Vertues are and what my Fate Which makes his Rival turn his Advocate Prin. Kath. Tudor what first you spoke made me not fear That Rival was a word I e're should hear For you in that repeat the past offence Which made me lately banish you from hence If by his worth your King claims my esteem Why grieve you that you plead to gain it him Tudor Ah Madam may I not your pardon crave For grieving when I part from all I have A Father when he sees his only Son Condemn'd to death for what he could not shun Though to the right of justice he submit May well be pardon'd if he mourns for it By double Dictates Madam I am led My loss makes me lament my justice plead But all my sorrows soon will lose their name If you raise him for whom I ruin'd am A Prince who only does as his just due Deserve to love you and be lov'd by you Prin. Kath. Has yet the Queen ought of this business known Tudor I had but leave to wait on you alone Those common paths of Kings mine will not tread To see by Picture and by proxy wed He 'l make his Court at an unusual rate His is a love of liking not of state And says he does not for a Mistress sue To France but humbly begs your self of you Prin. Kath. I but by Picture did to him appear Tudor Yes he has seen you in my Character 'T is far above the labour'd art of man To draw a Mistress as a Lover can Your Picture took his sight but you will find My words alone did Captivate his mind Though you may think the pencils pow'r is great It aims to paint a fire but not a heat Much less a heat which does from Love arise And which is kindled by his Mistress eyes The Pencil to my words resign'd the place Those drew your Soul that painted but your face Madam 't was I who told him how your mind With greater lustre then your beauty shin'd That from the Charms of your discourse and shape Men could no more then from your eyes escape And I may justly Madam be afraid He saw in me you acted all I said And to revenge that which you call'd a crime I on this Embassy am sent by him Prin. Kath. Tudor into a new relapse you fall You seem'd to mourn at your loves Funeral And I on that assurance pardon'd you Tudor I told you what was then not what is now If other words have wander'd in my talk The Ghost then of my murder'd love did walk And like a Ghost to none it shall appear But before you who are the Murtherer Prin. Kath. If you 'l to my esteem your self restore Let me by it be visited no more Tudor Madam I 'le strive t' obey you from this hour But since the dead have o're their Ghosts no power If mine again the trespass should commit My last request is that you 'l pardon it And to so sad a love some sorrow give Which troubles you when dead as when alive But for my King I must my suit renew And beg to know what I must say from you If to accept his passion you incline You 'l make his happiness your own and mine Since you deny what for my self I move Let me against my self successful prove Prin. Kath. You may acquaint the King all you have said Have in my thoughts a fit impression made That I as all who have but heard his name Believe his merit has acquir'd his fame Though I with passion wish that he had chose To raise his glory on remoter Foes I never more can his address receive Till from the Queen he has procur'd me leave Tudor Why do you Madam words so cruel speak Make him not for you to another seek Since in that way should he successful prove 'T will rather shew you can obey then love Only to you let him his blessings own Prin. Kath. I have declar'd my resolution Tudor To what then must the wretched Tudor trust Prin. Kath. To find his euer in what he grants is just Tudor How can that heal him which does make his wound Yet to obey you Madam he is bound But if hereafter you should chance to hear Some dying sighs which may offend your Ear Forc'd from him by the fiercest griefs assault Be pleas'd to pity not condemn the fault Exit Tudor Prin. Kath. Oh! why is Love call'd Natures highest Law When Title Man's invention does it awe But 't is the strength which reason does impart That makes my blood give rules thus to my heart If Nature reason on us did bestow Love Natures dictate 't would not overthrow But reason is a bright resistless fire Which Heav'n not Nature does in us inspire It is not Natures Child but Natures King And o're loves height does us to glory bring As bodies are below and Souls above So much should reason be preferr'd to Love Since Glory is the Souls most proper Sphere It does but wander when it moves not there This makes that King who Courts me France subdue And makes me flye what else I would pursue THE THRID ACT. Enter King Henry Tudor Tudor WHat I have said shews all that I have done The Daughter by the Mother must be won Those Sir who serving Heav'n to Heav'n pretend By others mediation reach that end King That obligation Tudor I 'le decline She shall be all her own that must be mine 'T is for her glory she her self should give The greatest gift that I can e're receive If from her will I differ can she hate My being for her int'rest obstinate Tudor offers to speak Go what I told thee Tudor must be done He ne're meets Honour who does danger shun Tudor A Subject must not with his King contend King Subject thou art more thou art my Friend Make haste for I will only stay behind Till I have orders for the Treaty sign'd Exeunt several ways Enter Duke of Burgundy and Charaloys Burg. No Son the Treaty must not so proceed Lest of my help the Queen should have no need That envy'd pow'r which makes me useful here Is the effect not of her Love but fear Whilst things
told King Why with thy King should there such trifling be With Friendship too which sacred is as he Tudor My grief is yet close pris'ner in my Breast Whilst there confin'd 't will only me molest But may disquiet you when got from home Complaints when past relief grow troublesome King That grief does far all other griefs transcend Which greater grows when trusted to a Friend Friendship in noble hearts would never reign If Friendships duty should be Friendships pain For ease of sorrow Friends from Heaven were sent Tudor dispatch and try th' experiment Tudor Why should you press me Sir it will not out King Those fear their Cure who their Physicians doubt Tudor Force me not Sir to tell you what can be No ease to you and yet a rack to me King Tell it I say Tudor I 'le tell it though I dye I am in Love King In Love and so am I. Is this the strangest story e're was known Tudor Pray Heav'n you think not so e're it be done King Proceed Tudor She Sir who does my heart subdue Is by my Friend ador'd with passion too And which is worse his passion he did tell To me e're mine I durst to him reveal And worser yet that Friend does me employ T' assist his Love whilst I my own destroy I lose my Mistress if I condescend To this not doing it I lose my Friend But which is worst of all I 'le not deny He does deserve her so much more then I That should she for my sake make him despair She must be more unjust then she is fair And whilst she does admit of my address The wrong I do destroys my happiness King 'T is difficult What hast thou fixt upon Tudor What I thought just I have already done King Why then is so much time in sorrow spent For what is justly done canst thou repent Tudor In what I did such justice I have shown That I would do 't again were it undone But Sir I cannot yet that grief remove Which springs from Friendship that contests with Love As after storms the Sea does troubled show Though the fierce Winds which mov'd it cease to blow King No wonder griefs wild Sea so high is wrought Since in your Breast Friendship and Love have fought But tell me now thy Friends and Mistress name For whom your self you nobly overcame He who you think deserves much more then you I must conclude deserves my Friendship too Tudor Oh Sir in that your pardon I implore Too much is said force me to say no more King Tudor that man must high in merit be For whom you 'l do more then you 'l trust with me Tudor kneels Tudor Forgive me Sir if more I dare not say Let me in silence mourn my Life away King Rise but no more I thee my Friend will call For he 's no Friend if not a Friend in all In part thou shew'st me what I whole would see A half Friend's worse then a whole Enemy Thy silence by a stricter way I 'le break By thy Allegiance I command thee speak Tudor Oh do not think my Soul is sunk so low That ought can act what Friendship could not do King Thy want of it this passion from me draws Excuse th' effects of which thou art the cause No longer Tudor at this rate contend With him who is thy King and more thy Friend Embraces him Tudor The charming name of Friend will make me speak When even my King could not my silence break You are that Friend whose name I would conceal Who is the Mistress then I need not tell Shee too did this revealment Sir constrain What but my pain could have disclos'd my pain King Oh why so late dost thou this truth avow Tudor I fear too early I have told it now King Thus to have us'd thy Friendship breeds a pain Which nothing can transcend but her disdain Tudor But had I told it sooner Sir to you Could you have then done more then you can now Since all I ask for what you make me say Is but your pardon that I durst obey King My ignorance alone has made me do What Love it self could not have forc'd me to Tudor Though Sir the Charms of Lovers hopes are sweet Yet mine I freely prostrate at your feet King My Rival thus in Love thou shun'st to be Yet thus in honour dost out-rival me I to no Monarch e're that glory gave Much less my Subject shall that glory have If Tudor you would now suppress your flame To shew your Friendship or exalt your fame That act on neither score I will allow For I 'm in both as much concern'd as you So greatly Tudor thou hast done for me As nought can pay it but the same for thee Tudor I cannot Sir imagine your design King To be your Advocate as you were mine And give you leave your passion to pursue And which is more I do command you too Tudor Forgive me if this offer I refuse King Resolve to take it or thy King to lose Tudor Then I 'le embrace it and dispute no more And give me leave a pardon to implore From all the better World who Lovers are From all who shall be so and all that were That I against them did so guilty prove As to consider ought in Love but Love King Tudor this gallantry obliges more Then all thy pleading for me did before But if I ever can attend again That Sov'raign Beauty which does o're us reign I 'le give her then such Characters of thee As shall out-speak what thou hast said of me We then will be each others Advocate And from her sentence each receive his Fate Tudor Though this is more then I could hope yet still That which revives my hopes my hopes does kill For when describing me you please to add All that you think is likely to perswade Even that a surer way will rather prove To shew your Vertue then advance my Love King Fear not you may succeed though drawing you I shall but Copy what for me you drew Tudor Yet those will find who justly ballance things I only Subjects taught but you teach Kings Exeunt THE FIFTH ACT. Enter the King the Duke of Exeter the Duke of Bedford and Tudor King OUR good successes come together still And as the good concur so do the ill I have observ'd it Uncle have not you Fâ—â—t 'T is Sir as worthy notice as 't is true King This seems methinks t' accuse their ignorance Who attribute our great events to chance For though it may when slowly one event Follows another look like accident Yet when together many swiftly joyn It shews a power which rules us by design Whilst we succeed at Land to Heav'n we owe The Triumph of a Naval overthrow Brother your tongue may claim the right alone To tell what Heav'n by your brave hand has done Bedf. But little fame where many Conqu'rours were Could justly fall to any single share When we had sail'd
be the dictates only of my fear If you were gone I 'le to my self confess Such vertue and respect you did express That what I thought an Age had not the power To act in me you acted in one hour Now Sir you should retire and give a Maid The ease to blush alone for what she said King Madam I go but go so charm'd from hence Both by your eyes and vertues influence That 't is impossible for me to know To which I most of Adoration owe. But if the humblest duty highest fire Which man ere shew'd or love did e're inspire Can be oblations fitting to be paid You 'l ne're need blush for what you now have said Enter La Marr. La Marr. Sir Blamount stays for you This is your way Prin. Kath. She is your Guide take heed Sir of delay Exeunt La Marr King Who can or Love or Reasons Pow'r express One oft does more then th' other often less Reason makes me a Subjects passion flye Love o're a King gains such a Victory As makes him venture life and what is far More great his growing Glories of the War That he his passion only might relate And from my lips might hear his doubtful Fate Sure to return some love for love so great Is not to give a gift but pay a debt Exeunt Enter Dauphin and de Chastel Dauph Oh Friend if I had kill'd him in that fight My Glory I had rais'd to such a height That maugre all my Mothers arts and hate I had restor'd and I had rul'd the State All their successes had with him been dead For he 's his Armies Soul as well as head Why did my Stars so fair a hope afford Leaving O France thy Fortune to my Sword Yet not to kill or perish by my Foe But both my Life and Sword I to him owe De Chast. Your mind Sir is too great to feel despair For one ill chance in Duel or in War Dauph To be o'recome would be the greatest curse If to out-live that Fate were not a worse The first perhaps was Fortunes fault alone But Friend the last too clearly is my own De Chast. If of that stain your heart has such a sense Let 's wash it off in 's blood e're he go hence Dauph Should the first act of life which he did give Meanly the Giver of his life deprive Because blind Fortune guilty is to me Shall I to my own self more guilty be No my De Chastel though he be my Foe Yet he hath still most gen'rously been so And by no Acts of mine he ne're shall dye Unless by such as rais'd him up so high De Chast. Let me then single your revenge pursue Dauph Who to a Crime consents does act it too If it were fit the act it self I 'de do And what 's unfit shall not be done by you De Chast. I hope Sir then the Treaty I begun Will put you in so high a posture soon That the disgrace which but a few now sees Shall in the Eyes of crowds of Witnesses Be so wash'd off as shall your sorrow cure Dauph Thy hope 's uncertain my disgrace is sure But what of good is meant for me by Fate Thou ought'st to hasten or 't will come too late Exeunt Enter Warwick and Tudor Disguis'd Warw. Blamount desir'd us to expect him here Tudor The King did never shew us how to fear Else we should tremble now at Blamount's stay Warw. Would Love had led the King a safer way Kings in whose chances Nations fall or rise Hazard too much in private Gallantries The odds against them checks their luck and skill Tudor 'T is true but Loves great Gamesters reckon still Whilst boldly they the stake that 's fairest chuse What they may win and not what they may lose Enter Blamount Blam The King hath sent for you I 'le bring you straight Where he is safe out of the reach of Fate You must to horse I 'le tell you what has past Tudor You free us from a pain too great to last Exeunt Enter Princess Katherine and Princess Anne Prin. Kath. My fear did then my reason overthrow I could scarce think much less know what to do Prin. An. Why did you not by positive commands Restrain at least the King of England's hands Prin. Kath. Should I so much my Brothers safety prize As to procure it by mean remedies Ah! since 't was only Love brought Henry here Should I have made his Love his Murderer The Dauphin to the King injurious was Heaven would not let those wrongs unpunish'd pass Prin. An. His wrongs more then your own your anger move Prin. Kath. That 's what I owe my Vertue not his Love Prin. An. I doubt the Dauphin some rash thing will do Prin. Kath. La Marr was to attend our interview Who did corrupted by De Chastel bring The Dauphin to observe me with the King I from the terrour of their Fight did flye And met her who to salve her Treachery Having a full command of all the keys Dispos'd their passage forth by sev'ral ways Blamount with all the Friends that he could get I have engag'd to second his Retreat I hope my care in that will happy prove Prin. An. Where there is so much care there is some love Prin. Kath. I know not whether it be love or no But such great things he did both say and do That I dear friend insensibly am led To think that may be true which now you sed Who can when such a Victor will advance Resist that vertue which does conquer France Prin. An. The proof he lately gave you of his flame Madam is such as is above a name All trodden ways in Love he does despise As things below his passion and your Eyes Prin. Kath. Condemn not then my being in some pain Till I assurance of his safety gain Which blessing that I may the sooner know This proof of Friendship mine does beg of you That we dividedly our selves concern Which of us first the welcom news shall learn Prin. An. I 'le still obey what-ever you command And what I hear you straight shall understand Prin. Kath. May Heaven so guide the King that I may hear He is beyond the prospect of my fear Exeunt THE FOURTH ACT. The Curtain being drawn up The Duke of Burgundy the Constable Earl of Charaloys and the Bishop of Arras are seen sitting at one side of a Table attended by the French Officers of State on the other side are seated the Duke of Exeter Duke of Bedford the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Earl of Warwick attended by the English Burg. SInce all my Lords is done by us and you Which is as previous to a Treaty due Delays in the affair should be abhor'd Those impious are when peace may be restor'd Therefore my Lords 't were fit you would express On what conditions you will grant a peace Exet. Those who our right and strength well understand Need not be told that we all
as ignorance could make a crime I did employ him in my suit to you But knew not then that he ador'd you too But I declare which some amends may be That he at least in all things equals me Unless in Title but 't is greater far A Crown to merit then a Crown to wear Can Title in that Ballance e're prevail Where Love is Merit and you hold the Scale I wave whatever may your favour move Except the Title of the highest Love Speak for thy self if I have lessen'd thee Tudor Only my silence Sir should plead for me King Thy love when I employ'd thee was unknown I minded no mans sorrows but mine own Nor where so many shafts were shot in me Could think any before had wounded thee Tudor All Sir that in my cause is said by you At once is for me and against me too Howe're I 'le rather speak then quite despair Since she is just and you my Rival are Yet Sir this diff'rence to my case is due You speak for me but I resign for you Prin. Kath. He who resigns his Love though for his King Does as he is a Lover a low thing But as a Subject a high Crime does do Being at once Subject and Rebel too For whilst to Regal pow'r he does submit He casts off Love a greater pow'r then it Tudor I fear you now are glad of a pretence To punish what you cannot recompence Else could you think Loves pow'r I do not know Because my Love all others does out-go If I by that seem guilty in your Eye Oh happy guilt which raises Love so high For I but shew in what I now have done That I your Int'rest prize above my own Prin. Kath. But justly I admire how you can prove So true to Friendship and so false to Love Since in effect they both are but the same Only the Sex gives them a diff'rent name Tudor You Friendship tax for being too sublime And make its duty ev'n to Love a Crime Prin. Kath. Your King does give you a brave Rivals leave But you seem loth that license to receive Of these which for my wonder is more fit The leave he gave or your not using it Tudor The Giver may such gifts as these esteem I can but by refusing merit them And Madam since 't is evident that you Can never pay what to us both is due Why will you call that act in me a crime By which we both may justice do to him Nor blame me that my Friendship 's debt I paid By thus resigning what I never had Let me my death without reproaches crave Prin. Kath. At once you my disdain and pardon have Tudor But why should you disdain that which to you Obedience shews to him my Duty too Prin. Kath. It is a Duty he will not receive Tudor But you to love you have deny'd me leave Prin. Kath. He who makes love at a true Lovers height Does ne're ask leave but takes it as his right Tudor Have you design'd in what you 'd have me do To make me lose my King and Mistress too In losing of the last I 'm so accurst As you 'l in pity let me keep the first Prin. Kath. I 'de have you Sir in that which I intend Express that you did merit such a Friend I would have had you too to let him see That you were not unworthy to love me But making such an ill Retreat you seem No more to merit bravely me or him What greater thing or meaner could you do Then dare at once to love and quit me too I would have had you like your self appear And not with Friendships name disguise your fear Nor tell him he to your respect does owe That which alone my justice does bestow I would have had you nobly fall by it And not thus meanly uncompell'd submit Tudor Madam with you no longer I 'le contend Since in the way we differ not the end Sir though she thinks my condemnation fit Yet without sighs I to her doom submit For one joys loss another joy secures What loses me her favour merits yours King Whilst Tudor you for me your claim deny I gain the Field and you the Victory Your's is the Nobler mine the happier share I 'm the oblig'd but you th' obliger are Prin. Kath. In leaving me as worthy of your Friend You to the utmost rate my worth commend Whilst with that value I to him am brought You shew a Friendship worthy to be fought Be but my Friend as you to him have been Letting out Love to keep your Friendship in And make forsaken Love contented seem Then I 'le your Friendship Sir like Love esteem Enter Queen Chareloys Duke of Bedford and Princess Anne Queen I 'm come to tell you Sir that we have sign'd All that can France to your protection bind The States have judg'd to banishment my Son And as we promis'd have entayl'd the Crown Charl. And Sir in all their names one from each State Attending both your Thrones shall supplicate That they in publick their Decree may give Which only from their justice you receive Queen That publick form Sir may a little wait Till we our Nuptial Rites shall Celebrate My thoughts are fully to my Daughter known King But from her self would I might know her own Prin. Kath. I of your Love shall too unworthy be When I deny that it has conquer'd me King He who the glory has to conquer you Does without War more then the World subdue Bedf. Heav'n meant not you alone should happy be Behold Sir what it has reserv'd for me Confirm'd by her and by her Brother too Charl. The gift is perfect when allow'd by you King I can but adde the Ceremonial part You had the substance when you had the heart Prin. Ann. I cannot adde to what I gave before Unless in saying I could give no more Queen Crowds of impatient Subjects wait within To see the Nuptials of their King and Queen The Sacred Prelate in the Temple stays And longs to mingle Myrtle with your Bays It were offensive to admit delay She Sir will follow when I lead the way Exeunt Enter the Dauphin Dauph Revenge and pride my reason have betray'd And both have rul'd what both should have obey'd This Duke did with his life his sins resign Which in his blood are written down for mine Revenge of all thy Charms Oh let me find But one t' appease the Tempest of my mind Let none to the success of mischief trust I 'le rather be unhappy then unjust Enter De Chastel hastily De Chast. You cannot your new Levies now employ To storm or to besiege the Queen in Troyé Sir to prevent our courage and her fear The King of England is in person there The Bride 's prepar'd the King and Duke agreed The trembling States have treach'rously decreed During your Fathers life the King shall be Admitted to a boundless Regencie And after his decease their Law declares The Crown shall