University of Virginia Library

Scena III.

Enter Clovis at one door, Aphelia and a Page at the other with a Torch.
Clo.
My best Mistress,
What Angel brought you hither? for I know
Millions attend your goodness.

Aph.
My Lord?

Clo.
Why do you cast such stranger eyes upon me?
You were not wont to cloth your browes with scorn,
Nor dart such deadly looks; can my mistress
Be angry with her servant? my offence,
If slowness in my visits, i'l hereafter
Grow to your threshold; why weep you now?
Trust me divinest fair thine eyes seed pearl,
Bracelets for Gods to wear about their armes.

Aph.
I am too fond, and yet he swears he loves me,
I have believ'd him too, for I have found
A Godlike nature in him, and a truth
Hitherto constant.

Clo.
Sweetest fair the cause?

Aph.
If this should be dissembled, not your heart,
And having won my souls affection,
Should on a judgement more retir'd to state,
Smile at your perjuries, and leave me in love,
What ill-bred tales the world would make of me.

Clo.
That jealousie i'l strangle; take this Ring,
As I that Diamond dazel'd by thine eyes,
Whose beauty sickned 'cause ecclips'd by thine;
Be these the mutual pledges of our love,
Our Marriage before our Marriage,
And curs'd be he that separates our love,
Though France be one, or what is greater Jove.
Are your fears over now?

Alp.
My Lord, I dare no ill, and therefore doubt none.

Enter King, Queen, Clotaire, Landrey, Dumain, Lamot, Eunuch, Lords, Ladyes, Guard.
King.
Approach our person nearer, for methinks
Y'have honest faces, if your hearts keep touch
T'your outward semblance, y'are a pair
Nothing but death shall force from me.

Qu.
Good, good, this Physick works.

(aside.
Eu.
Madam, is't done?

Qu.
I my black Genius, such a fatal dram
I have administred, will wing his soul
With expedition to the other world,
His part essential like a wearied Ghost
This night forsakes her Inn, when fled and gone,
Who knows where it shall lodge: mark his looks,
See'st thou not death thron'd in his hollow eye,
Great tyrant over Nature?

Eu.
With looks inquisite I have beheld him,
But see no alteration.

Qu.
Thou art a fool, and wantst the optique nerves
To pry into my Arts; where I lay trains,
Death comes before the grief, the sulphurous match
Destroyes the powder with a motion slow
To what I work with; as Autumn aged leaf,
In youth the prime and glory of the Grove,
Not to be graspt with hand, falls with a puff,
And what we could not touch but now, we tread on,
So Childrick—

King.
Lend me thine arm Dumain, I now not what,
But on the sudden—

(Dumain & Lamot about the King.
Qu.
How the Nats play and buz about the fire
Must consume them.

Eu.
'Tis rare, observant Cockscomes.

Clota.
What Star's unshe'rd and walks upon the Earth,
Making our night a noon? methinks her sight
Does cure blindnesse, and lend darknesse light,
Castrato—

(Clotair pulls the Eunuch aside.
Eu.
No more, we are observ'd, my Lord.

Clot.
What Ladyes that?

Eu.
That French India with a Mine upon her back,
With whom your Brother holds discourse?

Clot.
The same.

Eu.
The chast and beautifull Aphelia.

Clot.
Indeed shee's wondrous fair, nature hath much
Befriended her, art sure shee's honest?

Eu.
Snow's not purer;
No vestal Virgin at the Aultar bears
A soul so incorrupt, so void of flame
That's loosly active.

Clot.
Castrato, be as our self, get but that Lady for me;
Thou understand'st me.

Eu.
Shee dotes upon your Brother, by which means
I'l think upon some plot.

Clot.
The Masque ended wee will talk further on't.

King.
Defer our pastimes till another night,
I am not well at ease.

Duma.
Lights, lights for his Majesty.

Clot. & Clovis.
How is it with your grace our Royal Father?

Eu.
Dumain, Lamot, your feet are in the snare,
Fredigond hunts, and when she hunts beware.

(The Eunuch talks with Aphelia aside.
Lam.
What sayes the slave?

Dum.
No matter what, mind we his Majesty.

King.
There is an Ætna in me,
The air I draw returnes illuminate,
Philosophy thy Element of fire's here.

Qu.
His Grace grows worse and worse, support him
Gently friends; O my dear Husband, O my gentle Lord.

Exeunt omnes.
Aphe.
I credit your report, & will obey,
(Manent Eunuch and Aphelia.
His mind is honourable like his parentage;
His single name has arm'd me, pray lead on.

(Exe. Alp. & Eu.
Lam.
O woe, woe, woe.

Enter Lamot.
Clot.
Horror and death.

Enter Clotaire.
Clo.
O dismall fatal hour.

(Enter Clovis, Fredigond, the Queen Landry, Dumain, Guard Attendants.
Qu.
with Childrick end
The World.

Dum.
Have patience gentle Queen.

Qu.
Stand from me,
Preach patience to the Sea when the rude windes
Swell her ambitious billowes 'bove the clouds,
And if thou tutor'st them to peace and silence,
I'l be as calm as they.

Clot.
The treason here, and not the Traytor,
Quite confounds me.

Qu.
Doubt ye the Traytors?
I've brought a pair of Vipers to the Court,
Warm'd and reliev'd them with a sting to kill us;
Who could be Authors of this deed but they?
His new bosome friends have slain him,
Lay hands upon the villains.

Dum.
We are betraid Lamot, basely beset with snares.

Lam.
Justice fight thou my cause with thine own sword.

Qu.
O villains, would ye let them scape?
Two men to passe the strength of all our guard?
This mads me.

Clot.
Make after them and bring them back,
Or by my Fathers soul ye sleep your last.
Aphelia, oh Aphelia, shee'l not from my mind,
I may command her now.
Come Mother, Brother, Friends, come let us go,
King ne'r receiv'd a Crown so full of woe.

Exe. omnes.