 | The Coronation |  |
Actus Quartus.
Enter Cassander, Eubulus, Souldier.Cas.
VVheres the Captaine of the Castle?
Sol.
Heele attend your honours presently.
Cas.
Give him knowledge we expect him.
Sol.
I shall my Lord.
Exit.
Cas.
He is my creature, feare not,
And shall runne any course that we propound.
My Lord, I like the substance of your plot,
Tis promising, but matters of this consequence
Are not so easily perfect, and it does
Concerne our heads to build upon secure
Principles, though Seleucus, I confesse,
Carry a high, and daring spirit in him,
Tis hard to thrust upon the state new setled
Any impostor, and we know not yet
Whether heele undertake to play the Prince;
Or if he should accept it, with what cunning
He can behave himselfe.
Cas.
My Lord, affaires
Of such a glorious nature, are halfe finish'd
When they beginne with confidence.
Fub.
Admit
He want no art, nor courage, it must rest
Vpon the people to receive his title,
And with what danger their uncertaine breath
May flatter ours, Demetrius scarcely warme
In the Kings seate, I may suspect.
Cas.
That reason
Makes for our part, for if it be so probable,
That young Demetrius should be living, why
May not we worke them to beleeve Leonatus
The eldest sonne was by some tricke preserv'd
And now would clame his owne: there were two sons,
Who in their Fathers life we supposed dead,
May not we finde a circumstance to make
This seeme as cleare as t'other, let the vulgar
Be once possest, weele carry Epire from
Demetrius, and the world.
Eub.
I could be pleasd
To see my sonne a King.
Enter Poleanus.
The Captaines here.
Pol.
I waite your Lordships pleasure.
Cas.
We come to visit your late prisoner,
I will not doubt, but you intreate him fairely.
Be fortunate in any occasion
To have exprest your service.
Pol.
Sir, the knowledge
Of my honourable Lord his Father, will
Instruct me to behave my selfe with all
Respects becomming me, to such a sonne.
Cas.
These things will least
Obleige you, but how beares he his restraint?
Pol.
As one whose soule's above it.
Eub.
Patiently?
Pol.
With contempt rather of the great command
Which made him prisoner, he will talke sometimes
So strangely to himselfe.
Eub.
Hee's here.
Enter Seleucus.
Sel.
Why was I borne to be a subject? 'tis
Soone answer'd, sure my Father was no Prince,
Thats all, the same ingredience use to make
A man, as active, though not royall blood
Went to my composition, and I
Was gotten with as good a will perhaps,
And my birth cost my mother as much sorrow,
As I had beene borne an Emperour.
Cas.
While I looke
Vpon him, something in his face presents
A King indeed.
Eub.
He does resemble much
Thedosius too.
Cas.
Whose sonne we would pretend him,
This will advance our plot,
Sel.
Tis but a name,
And meere opinion, that preferres one man
Above another, Ile imagine then
I am a Prince, or some brave thing on earth,
And see what followes, but it must not be
My single voyce will carry it, the name
Of King must be attended with a troope
He mounts, and once exalted threatens Heaven,
And all the starres: how to acquire this noyse,
And be the thing I talke of, men have rise
From a more cheape nobility to Empires,
From darke originalls, and sordid blood,
Nay some that had no fathers, sons of the earth,
And flying people, have aspir'd to Kingdomes,
Made nations tremble, any have practis'd frownes
To awe the world, their memory is glorious,
And I would hugge them in their shades, but whats
All this to me, that am I know not what,
And lesse in expectation?
Pol.
Are you serious?
Cas.
Will you assist, and runne a fate with us.
Pol.
Command my life, I owe it to your favour.
Sel.
Arcadius was once as farre from being
As I, and had we not so cunningly
Beene reconcil'd, or one, or both had gone
To seeke our fortunes in another world;
What's the device now? If my death be next,
The summons shall not make me once looke pale.
Cas.
Chide your too vaine suspitions, we bring
A life, and liberty, with what else can make
Thy ambition happie, th'ast a glorious flame
We come to advance it.
Sel.
How?
Cas.
Have but a will,
And be what thy owne thoughts dare prompt thee to,
A King.
Sel.
You doe not mocke me Gentlemen,
You are my father sir.
Eub.
This minute shall
Declare it my Seleucus, our hearts swel'd
With joy, with duty rather, oh my boy!
Sel.
What's the mistery?
Pol.
You must be a King.
Cas.
Seleucus, stay thou art too incredulous,
Be so rewarded.
Eub.
I pronounce thee King
Vnlesse thy spirit be turn'd coward, and
Thou faint to accept it.
Sel.
King of what?
Cas.
Of Epire.
Sel.
Although the Queen since she sent me hither
Were gone to Heaven I know not how
That title could devolve to me.
Cas.
We have
No Queene, since he that should have marryed her,
Is prov'd her youngest brother, and now King
In his owne title.
Sel.
Thanke you Gentlemen,
There's hope for me.
Cas.
Why, you dare fight with him
And need be, for the Kingdome.
Sel.
With Arcadius,
If youle make stakes, my life against his crowne,
Ile fight with him, and you, and your fine sonne,
And all the Courtiers one after another.
Cas.
'T wonot come to that.
Sel.
I am of your Lordships minde, so fare you well
Cas.
Yet stay and heare
Sel.
What? that you have betraide me,
Doe, tell your King, my life is growne a burden,
And Ile confesse, and make your soules looke pale,
To see how nimble mine shall leape this battlement
Of flesh, and dying, laugh at your poore malice.
Omnes.
No more, long, live Leonatus King of Epire.
Sel.
Leonatus, who's that?
Cas.
Be bold and be a King, our braines have beene
Working to raise you to this height, here are
None but friends, dare you but call your selfe
Leonatus, and but justifie with confidence
What weele proclaime you, if we doe not bring
The Crowne to your head, we will forfeit ours.
The state is in distraction, Arcadius
Is prov'd a King, there was an elder brother,
If you dare but pronounce, you are the same,
Forget you are my sonne.
Pol.
These are no trifles, sir, all is plotted
To assure your greatnesse, if you will be wise,
And take the faire occasion that's presented.
Sel.
Arcadius, you say, is lawfull King,
And now to depose him, you would make me
An elder brother, is't not so?
Cas.
Most right.
Sel.
Nay, right or wrong, if this be your true meaning.
Omnes.
Vpon our lives.
Sel.
Ile venture mine, but with your pardon,
Whose braine was this? from whom tooke this plot life?
Eub.
My Lord Cassander.
Sel.
And you are of his minde? and you? and thinke
This may be done?
Eub.
The destinies shall not crosse us, if you have
Spirit to undertake it.
Sel.
Vndertake it?
I am not us'd to complement, Ile owe
My life to you, my fortunes to your Lordship,
Compose me as you please, and when y'ave made
Me what you promise, you shall both divide
Me equally, one word my Lord, I had rather
Live in the prison still, then be a propency
To advance his politicke ends.
Eub.
Have no suspition.
Cas.
So, so, I see Demetrius heeles already
Trip'd up, and Ile dispatch him out oth' way,
Which gone, I can depose this at my leasure
Being an Impostor, then my sonne stands faire,
And may peece with the Princesse, we lose time,
What thinke you, if we first surprize the Court,
While you command the Castle, we shall curbe
All opposition.
Eub.
Let's proclaime him first.
They gain'd to us, weele fall upon the Court.
Cas.
Vnlesse Demetrius yeeld himselfe he bleeds.
Sel.
Who dares call treason sinne, when it succeeds?
Exeunt Omnes
Enter Sophia and Charilla.
Cha.
Madam, you are too passionate, and lose
The greatnesse of your soule, with the expence
Of too much griefe, for that which providence
Hath eas'd you of, the burden of a state
Above your tender bearing.
Sop.
Thar't a foole,
And canst not reach the spirit of a Lady,
Borne great as I was, and made onely lesse
By a too cruell destiny, above
Our tender bearing? what goes richer to
The composition of man, then ours?
Our soule as free, and spacious, our heart's
As great, our will as large, each thought as active,
And in this onely man more proud then wee,
That would have us lesse capable of Empire,
But search the stories, and the name of Queene
Shines bright with glory, and some precedents
Above mans imitation.
Cha.
I grant it
For the honour of our sex, nor have you, Madam,
By any weakenesse forfeited command,
He that succeeds, in justice, was before you,
And you have gain'd more in a royall brother
Then you could lose by your resigne of Epire.
Sop.
This I allow Charilla, I ha done;
Tis not the thought I am deposd afflicts me,
At the same time I feele a joy to know
My Brother living: no, there is another
Wound in me above cure.
Cha.
Vertue forbid.
Sop.
Canst finde me out a Surgeon for that?
Cha.
For what?
My bleeding fame.
Cha.
Oh doe not injure
Your owne cleare innocence.
Sop.
Doe not flatter me,
I have beene guilty of an act, will make
All love in women questioned, is not that
A blot upon a Virgins name? my birth
Cannot extenuate my shame, I am
Become the staine of Epire.
Cha.
Tis but
Your owne opinon, Madam, which presents
Something to fright your selfe, which cannot
Be in the same shape so horrid to our sense.
Sop.
Thou wod'st but canst not appeare ignorant,
Did not the Court, nay, the whole Kingdome, take
Notice I lov'd Lisimachus?
Cha.
True Madam.
Sop.
No. I was false
Though counseld by my Father to affect him,
I had my politicke ends upon Cassander,
To be absolute Queene, flattering his son with hopes
Of love and marriage, when that very day
I blush to thinke I wrong'd Lisimachus,
That noble Gentleman, but heaven punish'd me;
For though to know Demetrius was a blessing,
Yet who will not impute it my dishonour.
Cha.
Madam, you yet may recompence Lisimachus,
If you affect him now, you were not false
To him whom then you lov'd not, if you can
Finde any gentle passion in your soule
To entertaine his thought, no doubt his heart,
Though sad, retaines a noble will to meet it,
His love was firme to you, and cannot be
Vnrooted with one storme.
Sop.
He will not sure
Trust any language from her tongue that mock'd him,
Although my soule doth weepe for't, and is punish'd
To love him above the world.
Cha.
Hees here
As fate would have him reconcild, be free,
And speake your thoughts.
Lisi.
If Madam I appeare
Too bold, your charity will signe my pardon:
I heard you were not well, which made me haste
To pay the duty of an humble visite.
Sop.
You doe not mocke me sir.
Lisi.
I am confident
You thinke me not so lost to manners, in
The knowledge of your person, to bring with me
Such rudenesse, I have nothing to present,
But a heart full of wishes for your health,
And what else may be added to your happinesse.
Sop.
I thought you had beene sensible.
Lisi.
How Madam?
Sop.
A man of understanding, can you spend
One prayer for me, remembring the dishonour
I have done Lisimachus?
Lisi.
Nothing can deface that part of my
Religion in me, not to pray for you.
Sop.
It is not then impossible you may
Forgive me too, indeed I have a soule
Is full of penitence, and something else,
If blushing would allow to give't a name.
Lisi.
What Madam?
Sop.
Love, a love that should redeeme
My past offence, and make me white againe.
Lisi.
I hope no sadnesse can possesse your thoughts
For me, I am not worthy of this sorrow,
But if you meane it any satisfaction
For what your will hath made me suffer, 'tis
But a strange overflow of charity,
To keepe me still alive, be your selfe Madam,
And let no cause of mine, be guilty of
This rape upon your eyes, my name's not worth
The least of all your teares.
You thinke em counterfeit.
Lisi.
Although I may
Suspect a womans smile hereafter, yet
I would beleeve their wet eyes, and if this
Be what you promise, for my sake, I have
But one reply.
Sop.
I waite it.
Lisi.
I have now
Another Mistresse.
Sop.
Stay.
Lisi.
To whom I have made
Since your revolt from me, a new chaste vow,
Which not the second malice of my fate
Shall violate, and she deserves it Madam,
Even for that wherein you are excellent,
Beauty, in which she shines equall to you
Her vertue, if she but maintaine what now
She is Mistresse of, beyond all competition,
So rich it cannot know to be improv'd,
At least in my esteeme, I may offend,
But truth shall justifie, I have not flatterd her,
I beg your pardon, and to leave my duty
Vpon your hand, all that is good flow in you.
Exit.
Sop.
Did he not say Charilla, that he had
Another Mistresse?
Cha.
Such a sound me thought
Came from him.
Sop.
Let's remove, here's too much ayre,
The sad note multiplies.
Cha.
Take courage Madam,
And my advice, he has another Mistresse,
If he have twenty, be you wise, and crosse him
With entertaining twice as many servants,
And when he sees your humour heele returne,
And sue for any Livery, grieve for this,
It must be she, 'tis Polidora has
Taken his heart, she live my rivall,
How does the thought inflame me.
Polidora?
Sop.
And yet she does but justly, and he too;
I would have rob'd her of Arcadius heart,
And they will both have this revenge on me,
But something will rebell.
Exit.
Enter Demetrius, Philocles, Lisander.
De.
The house is desolate, none comes forth to meete us,
Shees slow to entertaine us, Philocles,
I prethee tell me, did she weare no cloud
Vpon her brow, wast freely that she said
We should be welcome.
Phi.
To my apprehension,
Yet tis my wonder she appeares not.
Lisa.
She nor any other,
Sure there's some conceite
To excuse it.
Dem.
Stay, who's this? observe what followes?
Phi.
Fortune? some maske to entertaine you sir.
Enter Fortune crown'd, attended with Youth, Health, and Pleasure.
For.
Not yet? what silence doth inhabite here?
No preparation to bid Fortune welcome!
Fortune the genious of the world, have we
Descended from our pride, and state to come
So farre attended with our darlings, Youth
Pleasure, and Health, to be neglected thus?
Sure this is not the place? call hither Fame.
Enter Fame.
Fa.
What would great Fortune?
For.
Know,
Who dwels here.
Fa.
Once more I report great Queene,
This is the house of Love.
For.
It cannot be,
This place has too much shade, and lookes as if
It had beene quite forgotten of the Spring,
And sunne beames Love, affect society
And heate, here all is cold as the haires of Winter,
Of passengers, no object of delight,
To take the wandring eyes, no song, no grone
Of Lovers, no complaint of Willow garlands,
Love has a Beacon upon his palace top
Of flaming hearts, to call the weary pilgrime
To rest, and dwell with him, I see no fire
To threaten, or to warme, can Love dwell here?
Fa.
If there be noble love upon the world,
Trust Fame, and finde it here.
For.
Make good your boast
and bring him to us.
De.
What does meane all this?
Lisa.
I told you sir we should have some device,
Enter Love.
There's Cupid now, that little Gentleman,
Has troubled every masque at Court this seven yeare.
Dem.
No more.
Love.
Welcome to Love, how much you honor me!
It had become me, that upon your summons
I should have waited upon mighty Fortune,
But since you have vouchsafed to visite me;
All the delights Love can invent, shall flow
To entertaine you, Musicke through the ayre
Shoote your inticing harmony.
For.
We came to dance and revell with you
Lov.
I am poore
In my ambition, and want thought to reach
How much you honor Love.
Dance.
Enter Honour.
Hon.
What intrusion's this?
Whom doe you seeke here.
Lov.
Tis Honour.
For.
He'e my servant.
Lov.
Fortune is come to visit us.
Hon.
And has
Corrupted Love, is this thy faith to her,
On whom we both waite, to betray her thus
And be no more companion to honour
I blush to know thee, whole beleeve there can
Be truth in Love hereafter?
Lov.
I have found
My eyes, and see my shame, and with it, this
Proud sorceresse, from whom, and all her charmes,
I flye agen to Honour, be my guard,
Without thee I am lost and cannot boast,
The merit of a name.
For.
Dispis'd? I shall
Remember this affront.
Dem.
What morral's this?
Exeunt.
Enter Honour with the Crowne upon a mourning Cushion.
What melancholly object strikes a suddaine
Chillnesse through all my veines, and turnes me Ice?
It is the same I sent, the very same,
As the first pledge of her insuing greatnesse,
Why in this mourning livery, if she live
To whom I sent it? ha, what shape of sorrow?
Enter Polidora in mourning.
It is not Polidora, she was faire
Enough, and wanted not the setting off
With such a blacke, if thou beest Polidora,
Why mournes my love? it neither does become
Thy fortune nor my joyes.
Pol.
But it becomes
My griefes, this habit fits a funerall,
And it were sinne, my Lord, not to lament
A friend new dead.
Dem.
And I yet living? can
A sorrow enter but upon thy garment,
Or discomplexion thy attire, whilst I
Enjoy a life for thee? who can deserve
Weigh'd with thy living comforts, but a peice
Of all this Ceremony? give him a name
Pol.
He was Arcadius.
Arcadius?
Pol.
A Gentleman that lov'd me dearely once,
And does compell these poore, and fruitlesse drops,
Which willingly would fall upon his hearse,
To imbalme him twice.
Dem.
And are you sure hees dead?
Pol.
As sure as you're living sir, and yet
I did not close his eyes, but he is dead,
And I shall never see the same Arcadius,
He was a man so rich in all that's good,
At least J thought him so, so perfect in
The rules of honour, whom alone to imitate
Were glory in a Prince, Nature her selfe
Till his creation wrought imperfectly,
As she had made but try all of the rest,
To mould him excellent.
Dem.
And is he dead?
Come, shame him not with praises, recollect
Thy scattered hopes, and let me tell my best,
And dearest Polidora, that he lives,
Still lives to honour thee.
Pol.
Lives, where?
Dem.
Looke here.
Am not I worth your knowledge?
Pol.
And my duty,
You are Demetrius King of Epire, sir.
I could not easily mistake him so,
To whom I gave my heart.
Dem.
Mine is not chang'd,
But still hath fed upon thy memory,
These honours, and additions of state
Are lent me for thy sake, be not so strange,
Let me not lose my entertainement now
I am improv'd, and raisd unto the height,
Beneath which, I did blush to aske thy love.
Pol.
Give me your pardon sir, Arcadius,
At our last meeting without argument
To move him more then his affection to me,
And to confirme his heart was truely mine,
He wish'd, I tremble to remember it,
When he forsooke his Polidora's love.
That Heaven might kill his happinesse on earth:
Was not this nobly said, did not this promise
A truth to shame the Turtles?
Dem.
And his heart
Is still the same, and I thy coustant Lover.
Pol.
Give me your leave I pray, I would not say
Arcadius was perjur'd, but the same day
Forgetting all his promises, and oathes,
While yet they hung upon his lips, forsooke me,
Dee not remember this too, gave his faith
From me, transported with the noyse of greatnesse,
And would be marryed to a Kingdome.
Dem.
But heaven permitted not I should dispose
What was ordain'd for thee.
Pol.
It was not vertue
In him, for sure he found no checke, no sting
In his owne bosome, but gave freely all
The reines to blind ambition.
Dem.
I am wounded,
The thought of thee ith' throng of all my joyes,
Like poyson powr'd in Nectar, turnes me franticke,
Deare, if Arcadius have made a fault,
Let not Demetrius be punish'd for't,
He pleads that ever will be constant to thee.
Pol.
Shall I beleeve mans flatteries agen,
Lose my sweete rest, and peace of thought agen,
Be drawne by you, from the streight paths of vertue
Into the maze of Love.
Dem.
I see compassion in thy eye, that chides me
If I have either soule, but what's containd
Within these words, or if one sillable
Of their full force, be not made good by me,
May all relenting thoughts in you take end,
And thy disdaine be doubled, from thy pardon,
Fix with a rubricke in my Calender,
As an auspicious time to entertaine
Affaires of weight with Princes, thinke who now
Intreates thy mercy, come thou sha't be kinde,
And divide titles with me
Pol,
Heare me sir,
I lov'd you once for vertue, and have not
A thought so much unguarded as to be wonne
From my truth, and innocence with any
Motives of state to affect you,
Your bright temptation mournes while it staies here
Nor can the triumph of glory, which made you
Forget me, so court my opinion backe,
Were you no King, I should be sooner drawne
Againe to love you, but tis now too late,
A low obedience shall become me best:
May all the joyes I want
Still waite on you, if time hereafter tell you
That sorrow for your fault hath strucke me dead,
May one soft teare drop from your eye, in pitty
Bedew my hearse, and I shall sleepe securely
I have but one word more for goodnesse sake,
For your owne honour sir correct your passion
To her you shall love next, and I forgive you.
Exit.
Dem.
Her heart is frozen up, nor can warme prayers
Thaw it to any softnesse.
Phi.
Ile fetch her sir againe.
Dem.
Perswade her not.
Phi.
You give your passion too much leave to triumph.
Seeke in another what she denies.
Enter Macarius
Mac.
Where's the King? oh sir, you are undone,
A dangerous treason is a foote.
Dem.
What treason?
Mac.
Cassander, and Eubulus have proclaim'd
Another King, whom they pretend to be
Leonatus your elder brother, he that was,
Dem.
Ha?
Mac.
The easie Epirotes
Gather in multitudes to advance his title,
They have seased upon the Court, secure your person
Whilst we raise power to curbe this insurrection.
Ant.
Lose no time then.
Dem.
We will not arme one man,
Speake it agen, have I a brother living?
And must be no King.
Mac.
What meanes your grace?
Dem.
This newes doth speake me happy, it exalts
My heart, and makes me capable of more
Then twenty Kingdomes.
Phi.
Will you not sir, stand
Vpon your guard?
Dem.
Ile stand upon my honour,
Mercy releives me.
Lisa.
Will you lose the Kingdome?
Dem.
The worlds too poore to bribe me, leave
Me all, lest you extenuate my fame, and I
Be thought to have redeem'd it by your counsell,
You shall not share one scruple in the honour;
Titles may set a glosse upon our name,
But vertue onely is the soule of Fame.
Mac.
He's strangely possest Gentlemen.
Exeunt Omnes.
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