 | The Swisser |  |
SCÆNA SECVNDA
[A Room in the House of Arioldus.]Two SERVANTS bring in a table with bookes. ARIOLDVS followes.
Seru.
Come, come, dispatch, my lord wilbee heere presently.
Ariol.
Is the boy gon?
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Hee is, my lord.
Ariol.
Hee tooke
His parting sadly, did hee not?
Seru.
Hee did.
Exit SERVANT.
Ariol.
Alas, poore youth! 'twas much against his mind
To leaue mee soe. ([Taking up his] Bookes.)
But theise are freinds indeed!
Heere we may see our selues depainted better
Then by reflexion; theise vncase the soule,
Rip vp the inward man, and there discouer
The various Humours, Passions, Indigences,
That do possesse vs. How are wee abus'd
By this smooth flattering outside, train'd along
Through the calme Pleasures of ye world, still climing,
And neuer looking downe? O Quietnes!
Thou Peacefull Paradize! Me thinks I stand
Vnshaken, on some loftie Pyramed,
And with my minds Eye see the world in motion.
What hurrying vp and downe, what paines, what Plots
For their vncertaine ends? How they doe swarme,
To raile, Colloge, whisper, betray, and All
In seuerall postures like so many Antiques,
Heere one a murdring, there another hanging:
And the Accuser, nay the Judge, as guiltie
As hee that suffers. Oh world, world!
I am aboue thee now.
Enter ANDRVCHO.
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Noble Arioldus!
Happie in thy retirement.
Ariol.
Worthy Aribert!
Thou art (amongst a peruerse multitude)
An honest lord still. How doth this disguise
Shroud thy hard banishment?
Andru.
Why, well. The King
Minds not such vnderlings as I present now;
Besids, my haire is so o'regrowne, it hinders
Any suspect.
Ariol.
But how dost thou keepe in?
Andru.
By a free fooling, and wild Carriage,
I gaine vpon his humour; hee delights
To haue mee bite the World; calls mee his Bandogg;
And I doe lay about mee, ther's foule Matter
Enough to worke on, without forcing Nature.
Ariol.
To much, to much, my freind: And heere I liue
Out a' the World, yett in't. How mild and gentle
Lookes euery thing about mee? Ther's no feare
To fall beneath this; I am now without
The reach of fauor or disgrace.
Andru.
'Tis true.
But who is borne for himselfe? Tyme spreads his wings
Ouer our fates; we haue no lasting Beeing.
How small a thrid is life? Why should wee prize it?
'Tis better ventur'd for our Countries safetie,
Then spun out longer thus.
Ariol.
Right, Aribert.
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That I doe Cocker thus; but since wee liue
Necessitated vnto Tyme, and Fate,
Which well we cannot change, lett vs liue Happie.
That is the Crowne Men toyle for. Who wo'd plod,
And breake their morning sleepes, watch at all howers,
Act any base and seruile Offices;
Cringe, fawne, and Creepe; nay, more then their good names,
Brand their black Consciences with horrid Crimes,
But to gett Riches, which they thinke their Happines?
The wily and smooth Orator wo'd be silent,
The Souldier fight no more, the Laborer
Sett at his ease, and bruised Mariner
By dangerous rocks ne're crosse the foming Maine
But to liue Happily: why should I toyle
For what I haue already? I enioy it.
Andru.
Yett Noblenes sho'd not obscure it selfe,
But show the World, that it dares stand ye brunt
Of the most threatning Danger.
Ariol.
This I grant too,
When in a free Scale euerie Action's waygh'd
And not by Priuate and rash Judgments censur'd
To their most Enuious Ends.
Andru.
Encounter with 'em.
Ariol.
Then I must vse their Weapon: Villanie.
Noe! I will sett and smile heere, lett the men
That doe desire to rise, learne to sooth Vice
And imitate Deformities; I'le beare
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Which no rude storme shall threaten.
Andru.
But I'le push for't.
Before I'le ha' my name trod vnder foot
By such wild beasts, I'le wriggle hard to sting 'em.
I haue bene two yeares banisht, through the mallice
Of Parasits and Rogues; and poore Eugenia,
My onely daughter, (after long attempts
Vrg'd by the King against her Honor) coming
To find mee out, made euen account with Death.
Ariol.
Alas, good Ladie!
Andru.
I did thinke to visett
The Court but for a tyme, yet hardned now,
And confident, thus shapt, I may find out
Which are my Enemies. But I forgett—
This discourse hindred my entents; Timentes
Must try the fortune of another Battaile;
O 'tis a slack skind youth! The good lord Clephis
Mett the kings anger for yee.
Ariol.
Why for mee?
Andru.
He stood to haue you Generall.
Ariol.
Indeed,
Hee's truly Noble, but my thoughts are fixt
Within another Orbe.
[Enter] SERVANT.
Ser.
My lord, heer's Iseas
Desires to haue accesse.
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I will withdrawe. [Andrucho goes behind the arras.]
[Enter] ISEAS.
Ise.
Worthyest of Lords, my Duty, which hath sought
Euer to Win vpon your Noblenes,
Commands my presence, to preuent your knowledge:
The King is coming hether.
Ariol.
Sir, I thanke yee.
Ise.
My seruices shall waite your lordships wishes.
Exit ISE.
[Reenter ANDRVCHO.]
Ariol.
What sho'd this meane?
Andru.
Some new deuice! (Knock [within.])
Agen!
[Enter SERVANT.]
Ser.
Here is Asprandus.
Ariol.
Lett him haue admittance.
[ANDRVCHO goes again behind the arras.]
[Enter] ASPRANDVS.
Aspra.
If my indeauors haue not laid their hopes
To grow at your feet, noblest Lord, it was
More through a want of meanes then will. I'me glad
To fixe on this occasion now; the Souldiers
Will haue no Generall but you; the King
Cannot remoue their Resolutions
Neither with threats nor Promises. The Seruice,
Which I haue euer vow'd you, shall hearafter
Show it selfe more officious to your Goodness.
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I thanke ye, Sir.
Exit [ASPRANDVS].
[Reenter ANDRVCHO.]
Andru.
Were theise two fellowes heere,
Since your Retirement?
Ariol.
Neuer.
Andru.
O they glide
Still with the streame. Good Rogues! Theise are shroud simptomes
Of some new alteration by their Croking;
They flutter still about the Fauoritt,
Where they doe build their filthy nests, and lett him
Decline but ne're so little, they are gon
To the next riser.
[Enter SERVANT.]
Seru.
Heer's the lord Antharis.
Andru.
Hey day! hey day! more Rogues yett!
[Hides again behind the arras.]
[Enter] ANTHARIS.
Antha.
My lord,
That I haue euer honor'd you, my greife
For your retiring can bring silent prouffs;
Which I forbeare—
Andru.
(within).
Beleeue him not, hee lyes.
Antha.
And that I loue you, your owne Vertues may
Confirme it strongly, hauing alwayes found
Such Noblenes as would invite the best
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Made the king know your worth; that worth yt euer
Did speake it selfe, lay buried in his Judgement,
Till I reuiu'd it; now it doth appeare
In its true lusture. Hee hath chose you Generall,
(By my aduice) against the present foe;
Be noble like your selfe. I come to tell yee
So, to prepare your thoughts.
Ariol.
What you haue said
Of Truth in my behalfe, my lord, I thanke yee;
But for the charge of Generall, 'tis a taske
Fitt for an abler man.
Antha.
None more deserues it.
This seruice I haue added to the many,
You haue, and shall command.
Exit ANTH.
Andru.
Oh! I co'd burst!
Plotts! Plotts! this Pollititian
Is caught in his owne noose. Hee moue the King!
What Villanie is this? The good wee haue
Must come from them, the Bad, the Prince must beare;
This is fine iuggling—
Ariol.
'Tis so, Aribert.
Who treads the Maze of the Tymes Laborynth
Shall find some doubtfull wayes; my hart presages
A fatall Yssue: I am loth to leaue
The Quiet of this life.
[Enter SERVANT.]
Seru.
The King, my lord.
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Now, I must hide indeed.
Exit ANDRVCHO.
[Enter] KING, CLEPHIS, Attendants.
King.
Cousin, I see
Thy vertue, now, through all mens Eyes, and I
Must chide my selfe for being blind so long.
I come to rauish thee from the soft Bosome
Of thy blest Peace, to manage rugged Warr;
I must confesse it is the Souldiers Act;
Lett not that hold thee back, I wish it too.
Thy Country calls for't, and the brauing foe
Growes Confident, vpon our Backwardnes;
Thy Vertue must repell 'em. Doe not plead!
I know thou canst say much—I ha' bene vnkind—
Prithe forgiue mee.
Ariol.
If my Breast were Stone,
This Noblenes wo'd melt mee. You haue wonne
More by your goodnes, then your greatest Anger
Can e're distory. Were euerie haire a life,
They would be all to little to expresse
A gratitude for this.
King.
O noble Cousin—
Tyme is too quick with vs; wee must away,
The Enemie approaches fast.
Ariol.
Hee comes
But to his ruine. [To his Servant.]
Bring out my good Sword.
Is it not rustie? [To the King.]
O Sir, you haue putt
Fresh Power into mee; I ha' purg'd my selfe
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To boast my Actions, I durst boldly tell yee,
The Enemie this day shall feele what Power
A Princes fauor can infuse into
A loyall Subiects breast.
King.
Goe, and bee happie!
Exeunt [all except CLEPHIS].
Clep.
A kingdome hath sound nerues when thus they agree.
Nothing doth strengthen more then Vnitie.
Exit.
Souldiers.
[within].
Arioldus! Arioldus! Arioldus!
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