University of Virginia Library

ACT THE FIRST.

Paulina sleeping under a Tree; Joanna sitting by and singing—The Scene a Grove and Gardens.
The Song.

Jo.
Oh cursed Duke! Africa ne're bred
A Monster like thee, to forsake my Princess
After th'a'dst married her, and thus entic'd her
From all the Glories of her Fathers Court,
To follow thee, vanquisht, wandring exile,
Unhappy Victory, that brought thee captive
To Muscovy, and more unhappy she
To sacrifice her heart, her life, her honour,
To one so false. But I shall wake her, see,
She starts!—
Her soul is walking in a Grove of dreams,
And there some mournful Vision entertains
Her sad despairing thoughts: See! see! a Ponyard,
How came she by that fatal Instrument?
She stabbs at something; oh! she makes me tremble,
I'le snatch it from her!—

Paul.
Oh! ungrateful man!—
wakes
And dost thou then deride at my misfortunes?
Is this the recompence of my too fond
Unfortunate love? dye in thy Mistress arms.
Bleed! fall! Ha! gone! whither? where am I?
Was it a dream?

Jo.
She's had some frightful dream
I see.—

Paul.
Joanna, did nothing pass that way?
Yes, sure there did; 'twas Curland and his Mistress,
They embrac't, and smil'd at me, and then they vanisht;
See! there he stands all wrapt in white, that, that;

Jo.
Oh! the good heavens, she is grown distracted.
Madam, what i'st you see?

Paul.
Look there! there!
Is not that he? that tall and shining and thing?
He's dead, and I have wrongfully accus'd him.

Jo.
That, that's the Moonshine, nothing else in deed,
A stream of light that glances through the Trees.

Paul.
see, now it vanishes.

Jo.
And now a Cloud
Covers the Moon; it is no more. Come Madam,
The dewey Vapours of the night are cold;
The shade is melancholly, and the air unwholsome:
Pray to your chamber Madam.

Paul.
Ah! never, never
Was any so unfortunate as I,
weeps.
What shall I do? and whither shall I go?

Jo.
Oh! do not weep thus, you will break my heart;
I hope the Duke will prove a man of honour yet,
You do not know what accidents have hapned.

Paul.
No, no, he's hid in his fair Princess arms:
But perjur'd man, I'le chase thee from thy bowers
Of love, I'le steep, I'le steep thy joyes in blood,
In thy heart-blood, I'le stab it till the poisonous
Serpentine dew, drops weeping at my feet;
Oh! me unfortunate, what shall I do?

weeps.
Enter Alexey running.
Jo.
Poor Lady—

Alex.
Madam;

Jo.
Whose that?

Alex.
'Tis I, the Princess, is she there?

Jo.
The Princess, blunderheaded old Souldier!
Thou wilt betray us:

Paul.
Who, Count Alexey!

Alex.
Oh! Madam, I'm out of breath with running;
The Duke's come.

Paul.
What is't thou say'st? the Duke:

Alex.
Madam, for certain he was seen this evening,
To fling a Letter in Count Sharnofskyes Coach,
And upon this, the Troops are all alarum'd;
The Cardinal sits close in his Caball.
Orders are issued out to secure his friends,
Chiefly, Count Sharnofsky, and the Princess,
The Guards are drawing up, about the Palace:
In the interim, five thousand crowns are proffer'd
To any one, that will discover him.

Paul.
Did I not say, that I should hear some news?
I thought my dream was a forerunner of him,
This news congeals my blood; what shall we do?

Jo.
Had we not best go in?

Alex.
No, no, the Guards
Are searching every house, and we being strangers
Perhaps may meet with incivility.
Enter Guards with lights, and drawn swords, followed by Landlord.
Hark, they'r i'th'house already, see, they come
To search the Gardens; Madam, take no notice.

Guard.
Come Sir, now we must catechise your Garden.

Land.

I, I, do Sir, my Garden's a good boy, he can
say his Catechise.

Guard.
Nay ben't so joculary Sir, we have power
To carry you before the Cardinal if we please.

Land.

Carry me, and my house too afore the Cardinal if you please
Sir, set us but here again where you found us, and I am contented.

Guard.

Here are people; who are you Sir?

To Paul.
Paul.

A stranger Sir:

Guard.

A stranger Sir, what stranger Sir?

Paul.

A Russian Sir; a Pristaffe's son of Archangelo.

Guard.

Your name Sir!

Paul.

Basiliwich.

Jo.

I see, my Princess hath a quick invention,

Guard.

And who are these?

Paul.

My servants, Sir.

Guard.

'Tis well, keep in your Lodgings Sir, there must be account
given of you, come to the next house.

Ex. Guards.

Land.

Go, and a good riddance on you, here's a pudder, ho! see if
none of my Cups, or Silver Spoons be missing.

Paul.
Now all's over, I'le retire to my chamber,
Revenge appears to me in shapes so horrid,
It fright's my soul, call for a light.

Jo.
A light for my Master's Landlord,

Land.

Ho, there a light for the Gentleman,
Exit Paul. Jo. Alex.
Well, how bravely were I made now, could I but light upon the Duke!
five thousand crowns! that is to say, five times ten hundred crowns! most
monstrous, prodigious, Gigantique, Pedantique, unarithmetical Sum; why,

this would make me a Duke, well, I'le go to a Conjurer to find him; but
hold then, the Rogue will find him for himself. But then I'le make him
believe, I am a Conjurer as well as himself, and make him be glad to go
half shares. But hark, I hear talking.

Enter Demetrius and Battista, a Porter with a Cloakbag.
Dem.
Never was any thing so fortunate,
To hear of him just at my arrival.
Ile into the town and search for him immediately.

Bat.
Hold, my Lord, are ye mad? whether do you go?
To rush into a Town throng'd with arm'd men
So late at night, and all the Guards about,
And you a stranger too? come Sir, 'tis time
We rather went somewhere to seek a lodging:
All Inns, and publique houses are taken up,
And for ought I see we're like to lie i'th'streets to night.

Dem.
I care not where I lye,
For I cannot rest in body or soul,
Until I find this most ungrateful Duke.

Land.
What do these people babling in my Garden
All this while, and say never a word to me?
This 'tis to let it lye unfenc't;

Dem.
Look, I see a man!
And I am got into a Garden here:
Whose there?

Land.
Nay, who's there, an' you go to that?
Here's one that hath authority to be here.

Bat.
The Master of the house I do perceive,
And by his tone a kind of Letter of Lodgings;
I'le ask the Question;
Sir, we are strangers, newly come to Town,
Could you afford us any room in your house?

Land.
I cannot tell Sir whether I can or no;
According as I like you; Bring a light here.

Dem.
Nay then w'are well enough, take up my rooms,
Ne're stand agreeing with him, give him twenty
Thirty, forty, a hundred crowns a week, what he
Hath a mind to,
I'le into Town—I grow impatient.

Exit.
Bat.
Oh! heavens, Sir, whether do you go
To rush in armed crowdes so late, a stranger;
Curse on all rashness, I must follow him,
For fear some mischief happens to him.
Landlord, look to the things, provide our rooms;
We'l return within this half hour, or never.

Ex.
Land.
Ha! gone and left their Cloak-bags with me;
What kind of fellows are these? some High-way men
I know by their hast;
But sure I'm in a dream; is this a Cloak bag?
Let's see what weather, 'tis; it doth not rain Cloak-bags?
Come I'le go see what's in it, ho! a light there.

Ser.
Here Sir:—

Enter a servant with a Candle.
Land.
Nay here Sir.
Here's a Cloakbag dropt i'my mouth,
Come let's see the Entrails of this beast.
A rich Chesticore with Diamond buttons;
Enough, enough, I'm satisfied,
These are stollen goods as sure as I am here.
And now what shall I do with this Cloakbag?

Shall I keep the Cloakbag?—or shall I cry the Cloakbag? or shall I sell
the Cloakbag; nay, then I may chance to stretch for the Cloakbag; so I
may if I should keep the Cloakbag, if the right owner should come with
an Officer, and find the Cloakbag; why then the Devil take the Cloakbag,
for never was any one so plagued with a Cloakbag, well, if no body
comes to claim the Cloakbag, I'le sell the Cloakbag, buy Land, and
marry a Lady with the Cloakbag, and then be Dub'd a Knight of the
Order of the Cloakbag.

Ex.
Enter Ladislaus and Theodore: The Scene continues.
Lad.
Ungrateful men! and do they thus reward me,
For all the blood I've shed in their defence,
To set my head to sale,
That head which once these flatt'ring Poles would cry
Their State could live no more without then I.

Theo.
I wish your Highness had not flung that Letter,
It seems you were discover'd—I'me amaz'd
Which way.

Lad.
Sharnofsky hath betrayed me?
Thus had he done, had I expos'd my person
Instead of a trifling paper, or had sent thee,
He would have wrackt thee to discover me.

Theo.
But I'de have been torn limb from limb first.

Lad.
I doubt not thy fidelity good Theodore;
I've ever found thee generous and faithful;
More generous then those, whose birth and Grandeur,
Obliges them to higher pretence of Honour.
Good heavens, what's this world! I should have sooner
Suspected Angels then the Count or Princess.

Theod.
Good Sir, do not discompose your Soul
With these suspicions of your noble friends
'Till you know more.

Lad.
My noble friends! ah, Theodore,
I have no friends, my fortune, fame, and honour,
Heaven, and Earth, and she whom I adore
Above 'um all deserts me; nothing adheres to me
But my own courage. I see the Count and she
Convert the news of my escape from Moscow,
By the generous kindness of the Russian Princess,
Into pretences to disguise their falshood;
To ruine my interests, and unite their own,
To marry, and to aspire to the Crown.
All Poland sees it; and the Card'nal dreads u'm
Much more then me? and all this great alarum
You'l find, aimes at their lives, as well as mine.

The.
Ah! do not credit Sir the common Vogue.

Lad.
Come Theodore, 'tis true; but that I've learnt
How to command my passions as well as Armies;
And owe more reverence to my own memory,
Then after death to have my head plac'd aloft
On some old Tower, to feed the greedy eyes
Of my proud Enemies, this very instant
Shanofsky's soul or mine, should fleet in air.

The.
Well Sir, I say no more, I only beg you
Take into some house, you see what danger
You'r in; the Guards are searching all about,
And here we wander up and down i'th'dark,
Only what sickly light the Moon will lend us.
But Sir, I think we're got into a Garden.

Lad.
On the backside of a house; knock, Theodore.

Knocks, and enter Landlord with a light.
Land.
Who's there? well, this is not to be endur'd;
Every one gets into my backside:
If my Landlord will not fence it, I'le promise him
I'le do't, and stop it in his Rent, well, whats the
Business with you, now? more Cloakbags?

Theo.
Sir, we are strangers—newly come to Town
And are in great want of Lodgings,
If you could furnish us, name your own price,
By this Gold we'l not refuse it you.

Gives him money.
Land.
Let's look on you, according as I like you:
By this Gold you have good honest faces,
I have a room for you.

Theo.
Thank you Sir, pray, what other Lodgers have you?
We ask you, 'cause we would be very private.

Land.

I have none at present but some fidling women, that come from
Cracow, to see the choosing of the new King, a young Gentleman and a
Cloakbag.

Lad.
VVhat doth this fellow mean by this Cloakbag?

Theo.
Your Highness hath hap'ned very fortunately.

Aside to Lad.
Land.
Well, but how did you pass the Guards so late?
For here's a heavy pudder about the Duke of Curland;
He's come to Town it seems in disguize;
And here's five thousand crowns bid for his head.
Happy man be his dole that catches him;
For my part, I don't expect so good luck,
Five thousand Crowns and a Cloakbag are too much for one night.

The.
I perceive this fellow's none of the honestest,
Aside
I! here's a great alarum, what's the matter?

Land.
Why Sir, the Duke of Curland, look ye, you must know,
VVas a great favourite of the last Kings,
And he contracted him to his Daughter,
And intended to marry him to her, but then it hap'ned
The Muscoviters invaded us with a great army;
The Duke, Sir, upon a simple quibble of Honour,
Goes General of our Army against 'um,
I was a Corporal under him at the same time.

Tho.
De'e hear, my Lord? pray keep your disguize close.

Land.
And thought forsooth to have come back in triumph,
And married the Lady, and he was taken prisoner,
And ne're comes back at all.

Lad.
That was unfortunate.

Land.

Now Sir it seems he hath given 'um the slip out of Muscovy,
by the help o'the Russian Princess, and they are run away together;
and here he lies lurking in Poland to fit his business; and now all
the Ban and the Arrierban, are met arm'd in the field, to choose a King,
he's come to Town in disguise, and so there's a heavy bussle, the
Cardinal on one side, and the Princess on the t'other, and between u'm
both he's got into Lobbs pound, and I am very glad on't; he's but
a kind of a pittiful whiffling small-beer Duke; I ne're was drunk
thrice in his house, all the time he was here. I can go into the Cardinals
Cellar, and tye my nose to one barrel, and my horse to another, and
tope who shall tope most for a wager; and he a sneaking hide-bound
Duke of a Duke, hates the sight of us true Spaniels, that will take water
at any time, dive o're head and ears in Liquor, and he would
smell a red nose, as far as a Teale would Gunpowder.

Lad.

How am I tormented with this fellow?

Aside
The.

He's not to be endured.

Land.

And now he's come to Town, to be King, yes he shall be
King, when I am Emperour of Morocco, or Muster-Master General of

Bautam: we'l ha' no such thin-gut Kings, that shall in half a year
dye o'the Gripes, and whilest he lives, shall starve the English Beer Merchants,
set a Tax upon the Tap, and an Excise upon Rednoses:
and there's one Count Sharnofsky, too, such another ambitious
dry-chops, he hath not the grace to love good drink, and yet he hath
the impudence to aime at the Crown. 'Tis true, he doth not goggle at
it so plain, as Mr. Mumpsimus o'Curland doth; but he doth as I do now,
he squints at it fearfully, and he hath an
(Landlord squints, and makes grim-faces.)
itch at the Princess too; but I hope the
Cardinal will feage 'um all; I hate such ambitious tantalizing Rascals;
a loyal boy I have been from my cradle.

The.
This Villain, I could kill him.

aside
Lad.
Shall I be for ever tortur'd with this fellow?
aside.
You'r not at leasure then to shew us our Chambers
Landlord.

Land.
Yes, yes; come, come:

(Enter a servant.
Ser.
Sir! here's the Gentleman about the Cloakbag

(Enter Demetrius, and Battista.
Land.
Oh! Mr. Cloakbag you'r welcome Sir;

Bat.
Come Landlord will you shew us our chambers?

Lad.
One of my fellow lodgers, see if you know him Theodore.

Theo. looks upon Dem.
Dem.
No news.

Bat.
What news can you expect Sir?

Dem.
That heaven would be so just to direct me to him.

Theo.
I do not know him Sir,
aside to Lad.
And yet me thinks I've seen a face like his
In Muscovy.

Lad.
Come let us to our chambers.
Landlord we'l follow you.

Land.
Stay behind some body
And light the Cloakbag.

Ex. Land. Lad. and Theo.
Bat.
Come good Sir, conquer your impatience,
You'l find him soon enough, perhaps on a Throne;
And speedily, he who in passion now
Is proclaim'd Traytor, shall shortly with applause
Be proclaim'd King; this is a Feavourish fit
Of the State-sick Cardinal; nor doth the Duke
Come hither in disguise, on no design.

Dem.
But heark thee; when they make him King o'Poland,
They will not make him God of Poland,
And Immortal; will they?

Bat.
No Sir, he'l be Mortal
No doubt.

Dem.
If he'l be mortal, I am satisfied.
Go, I am weary, light me to my chamber:
I shall dream o'the Duke!

Ex.
Enter Francisca. The Scene a Room in the Palace.
Fran.
Treason. Treason, the Princess will be murder'd.

Enter Emilia.
Em.
Oh Francisca, what's the matter?
Here's a noise of Souldiers about the Palace,
And every one runs shrieking up and down:
Oh! my heart akes.

Fran.
Oh! there's the strangest news.
The Duke's come, and sent a Letter to the Princess
By Count Sharnofsky, and all the Towns alarum'd,
The Guards they say are come to search the Palace,
And we're afraid the wicked Cardinal
Designs the Princess death.

Em:
Oh horrid Tyrant!
But see, she comes.

Enter Juliana in her nightgear, with a flaming paper in her hand, followed by Hypolita, and Sharnofsky with his sword drawn.
Jul.
Ha! must I dye, for being abus'd, affronted
By that false man? hath he betray'd my honour,
And doth he now throw in his hand Granado's
To blow my life up too? thus in the flames
Thy Scrawle shall dye; and as it pines to ashes,
Then wanders in the wind, so dies for ever
Thy memory in my soul; and if thy image
Appear but to my thoughts, but in a dream,
I'le hate that dream, and I will stab that thought
As I'le do thee, if e're thou dost approach me.
Now call up all my servants, bid 'um arm.

Sh.
Ha! fling a Letter, and disguise himself,
aside:
What means this mighty caution of the Dukes?
Dost thou mistrust my honour? if thou dost,
I may in just revenge distrust thine;
And let me tell thee, if thou dost design
To wrong the Princess, and surprize the Crown,
I in this tempest will not fall alone,
Thou shalt destroy my fortunes and thy own.

Enter a Gentleman running.
Gent.

Madam, the Guards are broke into the Palace, the Common
Hall glitters with naked swords, and hither they are running in confusion;
escape, or you'l be murder'd; hark they'r come, they've overtaken
me; Madam you'r lost.

Jul.
And let 'um come, I'le look the Villains dead
And let me see who dare's assassinate
The yet surviving Majesty of their dead King,

Sh.
Who dares, shall fall as victimes to his shade.
But see, the Count Colimsky, ha! our friends
Betray us.

Enter Colimsky with his sword drawn.
Col.
Madam, for heavens sake retire
With all the speed you can, your life's design'd;
My Lord Grand Marshal hath Orders from the Councel
To seize you both, the Troops are drawing up;
News of the Dukes arrival haunts each ear,
Just like a frightful Spectre; Letters
Are intercepted by the Cardinal
Written by you my Lord, of horrid consequence.

Sh:
By me!

Col.
By you, to Dorosensko General of the Tartars
To assist you with fifty thousand men,
Ten thousand Cassacques should be sure to second him,
That y'ad decreed upon a time prefixt
To fire the City, kill the Cardinal,
Dissolve the General Diett in the Tumult,
Seize the Crown.

Sh.
Monster of Villany,
Thou Scarlet prodigy, Polands glaring Comet,
Barbarous Idol, not content with blood,
But must have Kingdoms victim'd at thy Altars!
Almighty powers, I kneel, I kneel, if ever, ever
One thought;

Col.
No more I do believe your innocence,
And therefore stole away from the Cabal
To give you intelligence, what horrid Spells
Are made, what Spirits conjur'd up
Against you, in our Magicians Grotto,
And here I've brought a hundred resolute
Young Gentlemen, whose swords shall cut the Charm,
And yet secure the Princesses retreat
And yours; if you'l accept their generous kindness,
Then Madam hasten, let us loose no time,
Each minute now is precious as the Indies.

Jul.
Pious Cardinal, my Guardian Angel,
Heavenly Tyrant, little thinks my Royal Father
How he hath left me to the Guardianship
Of Dragons that devour me.

Col.
Oh undone!
We have lost time, all, all to arms.

Noise of arms without.
Sh.
Call up the Princesses servants, arm, arm.

Enter Ossolinsky, Cassonofsky, and Lubo, and Guard.
Wom.
Murder, murder.

Casso.
Now the long wish't for time o'my revenge
On the old Tyrant that affronted me,
Is come; but ha? Colimsky here.

Osso.
Are you there Traytor?

Col.
Are you here, cheated bubbles?

Casso.
This too honest fellow hath prevented us:
aside.
You'l answer for this Treason to the General Diett.

Col.
With my sword in hand in th'interim
My Princess shall not fall an Indian Martyr
Under the Chariot wheeles of your great Pagod;
Your Idol shall not have such noble victimes.

Shar.
Let us not stand disputing.

Osso., Lub.
Seize the Traytors.

Casso.

I, you may say, seize the Traytors, long enough you might have
had the wit to have come with a stronger party.

[All fight, Osso. Casso. Lub. retreat pursued by Sh. and Col.
Wom.
Murder, Murder.

Jul.
Oh! bloody Cardinal. Royall shade
Of my great Father, hide thy glorious head,
And see not my oppressions.

Enter Col. and Sh. as from victory.
Col.
Now all's clear:
My Lord conveigh the Princess by a private way
To the Monastery of Sancta Clara; there's a Vault
Where you may lie secure for an hour or two;
In th'interim I'le go place a Guard in my house,
And then conduct you thither: my Gardens
Lye just opposite to the Monastery,
And there's a private way, where you may pass secure;
And then for our greater preparations.

Sh.
Come Madam,
The tempest is begun, let's bravely through.

Jul.
Lead on my Lord,
I'm none of those, who when the storm prevails,
Creep to the winds, and humbly strike the Sails.