 | A Pastorall Called The Arcadia |  |
Actus Quintus.
Enter Smipathus, Pamela, Philoclea.Pam.
Good Master jaylor you might be so curteous in your
office to let vs see these Gentlemen,
Sim.
Madam I dare not,
Pam.
'Tis well you dare obay King Philonax and be a rebell to
me, the time may come you will repent,
Sim.
Confident that you will keepe your princely words not to
interupt or change any discourse with 'em, I have brought you
where you may tho at some distance heare 'em, they are preparing
for musique, 'tis all I dare consent to, neither durst I tell
them you should be with in reach of their voyces
Pam.
Well sir we are content
Song
Phi.
Weel-speake with 'em but in your hearing,
Pam.
Doe not intreate him sister, pray have a speciall remembrance
to let 'em want aire and necessaries, youl' forfeit your
place if you make conscience to be over honest to 'em.
Sim.
I am sorrie Madam you accuse my nature
Which never yet was observ'd cruell, I
Would be as just to your commands.
Pam.
So it seemes
Sim.
Were these misfortunes over
Pam.
Good sir no tedious excuses nor Apollogy but proceede
you and your great Master Philonax, and he will make you his
treasurer, or trust you with his great seale, you cannot choose but
be an excellent keeper.
Phi.
What will become of us?
Pam.
Nay what will become at'h Princes, there's my feare,
would they were free againe, and had but their good swords to
second their innocence, I am mad to thinke what a condition we
are falne to, prithee Philoclea shed some teares for me, if I weepe
now it must be for anger that we cannot helpe 'em, but let the
gray-beards looke too't, for if they suffer, unlesse they send me of
an errand after them, not a head that nodded to their sentence,
shall know where to finde Shoulders to support 'em
Phi.
'Las sister I want drops for my owne greefe
My fathers death,
Pam.
My father, that that hath open'd
The spring agen
Phi.
And although guilty of his bloud, for so
I must in dutie weepe for her.
Pam.
My mother
That word strikes double sorrow, and doth call
A floud to drown my eyes, shall we not see her?
Phi.
She could not kill him sure, did ever greefe
So soone make such a paire of Orphants, our
Fortunes are so strange and thicke, posterity
Will thinke our storie fiction, and yet
It seemes th'are not so great to breake our hearts
A'th suddaine, I would willingly dye too
But I remember Pyrocles
Pam.
And I my deere lov'd Musidorus, at which name
My teares dry up, and blacke revenge prepares
Thy throne within my bloud, but Simpathus
Sim.
Madam
Pam.
Are not the Princes sent for yet?
Sim.
Not yet
Pam.
I prithee tell me how they looke; what say they to thee?
Phi.
Doe they name us?
Sim.
It hath been all their question, how both their
Princely mistresses doe fare, for so
They call you Ladyes, when I answer well
Their joy shootes up in prayers that you may still
Continue safe.
Phi.
Doe they not raile sometimes and curse?
Sim.
I never heard'em
Pam.
Canst thou be such a foole then to beleeve
They are murderers?
Sim.
I doe not beleeve they are
Pam.
Doe not if thou darst be a Knave, and try if the Divell will
beare you out in't, we must not see 'em
Sim.
Alas Madam
Pam.
Nor speake to our mother,
Sim.
I am commanded
Pam.
Thou shat not deny us a little discourse with Dametas my
old governor since we have no other company.
Sim.
You shall
Phi.
His presence could be never more unwelcome
Beside his follies will but ill agree
With our affliction
Pam.
They cannot hurt
Vs sister I have a brest as deepely charg'd
As thine although I flatter it, 'tis no sinne
To enable vs for bearing—how de'e Governor?
Enter Dametas
How dee Madam, 'een as you see, as ill as this iron age
can make a man
Pam.
What will they doe with thee?
Dam.
They cannot use me worse then they have; for I am
hang'd in chaines already, I have had three whippings into the
bargaine to, if they hold such a hand over me long, I shall never be
able to sleepe in a whole skin.
Pam.
Had you any hand in my fathers death?
Dam.
Hand, I was so farre from having any hand, that I had not
so much as a finger in't, no your mother poisond him with a base
violl.
Phi.
Oh, misery!
Dam.
But Madam, I did not thinke you had been so dishonest,
and you had meant to runne away with any body I thought you
would have told me so, I see a woman and a wet eele have
both slipperie tailes.
Pam.
You ran away from me.
Dam.
Who I runne? I was never so good a foote man in my life,
alas I was tould by that rascall Dorus where a great deale of gold
was buried, and I went simply with a resolution after I came
home to build halfe a dozen Churches, but now I heare say there
is a Gallowes built to my hands, and I must hang ding dong like
a bell in the wodden steeple.
Pam.
Speake well of Dorus sirra, you had more neede to pray
for him.
Dam.
Heaven convert him then, and tho he live when I am
dead he may be rotten as soone as I
Phi.
Who sent you sirra to my Chamber?
Dam.
Sent me, the Divell; and I ha thriv'd accordingly, would
my wife had broke her necke when I tooke you together.
Pam.
Your wife.
Dam.
Or my daughter, or you or any body to save the loose of my
owne sweete Madam speake a good word for me, and Ile—
speake annother for you, my evidence will be heard, and I care
Not what I sweare; 'tis not for the King hee's dead, I looke
Every minute for a voyce to call me to the Sessions.
Within. Dametas
Dam.
Hey there 'tis already, as ever you hope to be married
while your maiden heads are sweete; save me from the Gallowes,
for if I be once hang'd I shall never be my owne
man agen.
Exit.
Phi.
They are very hasty to arraigne em, Pyrocles
With which Ile wearie heaven or tire my selfe
For thy successe.
Recorders. Flourish.
Pam.
I would doe so but I
Feare my revenge will kill my charity.
Exeunt.
Enter Evarchus, Philonax and Simpathus, The Bere.
Euax.
My Lord your sorrow and not my ambition
Hath made me Iudge to day, therefore attend
The proofe of your election, I came
With purpose of a visit to your Master
But now salute his hearse, and weare a title
Of your Protector, in whch name I gave command
The prisoners should be sent for.
Sim.
'Tis done, and they are readie;
Philon.
My Lord my part to day is to accuse
And not side in compassion.
Enter Gynecia, Musidorus, Pyrocles and Dametas guarded: a Barre set out.
Eu.
That the Queene?
Philon.
Yes, My Lord
Eu.
She shewes a much deiected Lady.
Philon.
Has she not cause?
Eu.
Those the pretended Princess
Of comely presence both, what's he?
Philon.
Dametas to whose trust the King gave up
Pamela his eldest daughter.
Eu.
Where is she?
Philon.
Accompanied with her sister in the Castle
Their presence might occasion some tumult,
Nor doe the Arcadian Lawes allow proceeding
Against the next of bloud, as they permit not
She should determine any thing her selfe
Till yeares or marriage enable her.
Dam.
I will forgive thee Philonax for more malice then thou
hast brought against my life, for being so honest to Pamela,
Philon.
Sir I looke not for your thankes
Pyr.
As you are honorable, I beseech you
I'th name of sacred Iustice, ere you further
Proceed against our facts declare what you
Determine of Philolea, who is all Innocence
And most unjustly suffers, tho in thought
Eu.
She must become a recluse
And all her life with strict profession
Of Chastity repaire her blemish'd honor.
Pyr.
A Vestall?
Not if I live, yet if I die it carries
This comfort none hereafter shall enjoy
The faire Philoclea.
Eu.
Now to the Queene
Philon.
Madam stand to the barre.
Gy.
My barr indeede which I have laide my selfe
To bring my honor to a fall and ruine.
Oh my deere Lord my teares doe now enbalme thee,
My blood shall quickly follow.
Philon.
As you are just
Let not her sorrow tempt you to forget
What sin she hath committed, I want words
To expresse the horror of the deede which will
Throw shame on all her sex.
Gy.
Stay Philonax sh'at have.
What thou desirest, I have been a judge already
Vpon my selfe and doe not desire life,
That am condem'd by my owne killing sentence
I doe againe confesse I was the murderer
Of your and my Lord, robd Arcadia and
My children of a father, I, none but I
Poyson'd Basilius
Pyr.
Palladius dost heare?
Mus.
Vnfortunate Lady,
Gy.
And what could Philonax say more against me?
There remaines onely to obay your Iudgement
Which cannot come in any shape of death
Too horrid for my sinne I'me very weary
Of this bad world, be just and take a life
From me that else will groane it selfe away
And mocke your Iustice.
Philon.
You heare my Lord?
Evar.
And thus proceede to sentence
Having confest, to spare your proofe how much
She hath offended, an example to all times
We censure thus, she shall presently
Be carried to prison where she may
Have foode but only to sustaine her life
Vntill her husbands buriall, with whom
To keepe his body company from which
Her cruelty divorc'd his soule.
Gy.
Ya're Iust.
Pyr.
My heart weepes for her
Mus,
'Tis a severe sentence.
Gy.
Who binds my hands? Basilius I come
To die a living guest in thy sad tombe.
Exit.
Philon.
The others to the barre
Eva.
What are their names?
Pyr.
Daiphantas of Licia mine
Mus.
Mine Palladius of Iberia.
Ev.
We do not dispute their titles heere, they are
Privat persons, you may proceede.
Phil.
I shall, and with as much brevitie
Ev.
Choose whom you'l first accuse.
Philon.
Then first this Daiphantas, this Zelmane
This what you will, for he hath yet no name
Nor shape that we can trust to, having knowledge
Of our late masters solitary life,
Came not without a purpose of this treachery
And by the cunning of Gynecia
Ith habit of a woman was received
As an unsuspected guest, enjoy'd the freedome,
Of those whom the King plac'd neerest his bosome,
His children not more deere, treason thus fortified
They soone conspird the death of this good King,
A cave this Gentlewomans, lodging was
The fatall sceane where the unhappy Queene
By his direction forc'd his deere life from him.
I omit what lustfull motive prompted her
That with more licence she might twine with this
Hermophrodite, and that they had appointed
Where they might meete when this blacke deede was done,
But heaven was mercifull and prevented her
Flight by the happy comming in of Shepheards
In the meane time transported with the confidence
Of her performance, that he might not leave
He hastily makes up to Philocleas Chamber,
Whereby the mingling (what he could) her shame
With his offence, he easily might enforce
Her to be accessarie to her fathers death.
And under her protection, and her sisters
(Gainst whom they knew we were not to rebell)
Seize with one gripe the state, but heaven preserv'd
All by the unexpected comming up
Of this Dametas.
Dam.
Yes heaven and I preserv'd all.
Philon.
Who sought then for Pamela
Which the other Princely theefe had stolen away,
And finding these, I meane Philoclea
And this young man together, found occasion
To inclose the ravisher till by command
They were apprehended: thus you have in short
His wicked storie, and what punishment
Will not be thought a mercy to that monster
That kills a King, dishonoreth a Queene,
And violates the daughter?
Pyr.
In things promoted with such cunning mixture
'Tis hard to shape a square and direct answer.
My accusers sordid and malicious railing
More greevious to my tender sence of honor
Then death can be, I forget him
A thing beneath my anger and arm'd with
My owne simplicity doubt not to assure
How much my cause is iniur'd, know Grave Iudge
This prince and I drawne hither by the fame
Of the rare beauties in Basilius daughters
Knowing that with their parents they liv'd heere
Secluded from the world, where no accesse
In our owne persons was to be expected,
Put on these formes as soonest might conduce
To make our loves knowne: this Palladius
Became so fortunate that his Princely Mistris
Consented to forsake, and trust his conduct
Was not so happy, for I did not cherrish
A greater flame, yet modest, of Philoclea
Then her weake father in my sex deceiv'd
Retain'd of me, that tyr'd with his solicites
I had no time to perfect my desires
With his faire daughter,
Till under collour of some devotions
I made a cave my lodging to invite
Basilius thether, with full hope to enjoy me,
But this revealing to the Queene, she tooke
My place to make the old King see his follies.
In the meane time I must confesse I went
To bright Philocleas Chamber hoping to
Win her by all the charmes of noble love
To leave Arcadia; but she unhappily
Obeying her owne Genius gave no
Consent, when in the midst of my securitie
I know not by what meanes I was made prisoner.
And heere's the thred to guide through this laborinth,
Methinkes your man of mightie tongue should blush
To have spent his rage so poorely.
Ev.
What is all this to the death of the old King?
Pyr.
By all the gods I am innocent
The Queene hath absolu'd me, as for Philoclea
If you will call't a cryme in that I lov'd her
I am and shall be guiltie, but had never
A thought so rude to force her unstain'd chastity;
Or if the honor of this excellent Lady
Suffer it'h blind opinion of the world
Our marriage not my death may cure all wounds
Malice can fasten on her name.
Philon.
Oh impudence.
Ev.
If this be all you have to say proceede
To his confederate.
Philon.
The imagination how miserable
These juglers would have made us and our Country
If their disguise had prosper'd, strikes a terror
Therefore to omit his practice in the murder
Which you may easily collect by circumstance
This is enough to call him a foule traytor
He did attempt to steale away out princesse
The hope and treasure of Arcadia
And taken in the fact dares not deny it,
Had he no other cryme to answer for
This pulls severe death on him, and to insist
Vpon offences of so foule a nature
Were to distrust your wisdome or your Iustice.
Thou to ther shame of mankinde speake to this.
Mus.
Not for thy sake who in this misery
Hast only merrited to be my scorne
But for the truth I answer, pardon sir
If passion make me not remember language
That should become this place, this ill tongu'd man
That with such vehemence accuseth thus
Is himselfe guilty.
Philon.
How?
Mus.
Of a more hatefull vice, ingratitude.
Is this the paiment for our services
Which once thy tongue acknowledged had desev'd
Statues to the eternall memory
Of the preservers of your King and Country?
Is all the vallor of this young man cancell'd
When Rebells had advanc'd their daring swords
High as the throat of your old King, his wife
And trembling daughters, is the time forgotten
When wild beasts had prepared their riotous mawes
To bury the deere pledges of your kingdome?
Oh where had been my treason or his rape
Had they been then devourd? the ground has not
Drunke up the blood so perfectly, but there
Remaines a coulour to teach impious men
To blush for their ingratitude, have we
Beene carelesse of our lives to preserve
The King when danger threatend horror to him
Should be his murderers, we had not sav'd
To be our selves the hangmen? but I'me charg'd
For stealing of your Princesse, can your breathes
Acknowledge her your Soveraigne, and allow
No faith to what she sayes, you have degraded
My blood from honor, and vnlesse you make me
Lesse then her subject I was bound to obay
When she commanded I should waite upon her,
But you'l object I counsell'd her, I did
And justifie the act, she was confinde
Too narrowly, and I durst leade her to
A throane above the Majesty her birth
Can challenge in Arcadia, love whose force
The gods have not resisted may plead for me.
Ev.
Is this all?
Mus.
Tho it want method 'tis enough to vindicate
My honor from his base aspertion.
Ev.
To him you call Dametas
Dam.
Not guilty my Lord, as I hope to be sav'd not guilty.
Philon.
Neglect of the great charge with which the King
Our Master trusted him summes up his fault.
Dam.
I was made a gould-finder, I desire Iustice for him and
Mercy for my selfe.
Philon.
Silence.
Eu.
I have heard you with attention, and whereas
To the Kings death (the unhappy cause of this
Assembly) you have answer'd with deniall
Which you thinke fortified by the Queenes
Selfes only accusation, I must tell you
It frees you not, for tho no manifest proofes
Yet circumstances well examin'd make you
The accidentall causes of his murder.
For the other part of your offence I finde not
You have deny'd your guilt, but onely use
Qualification and excuse; your services
In themselves high and honorable, allow you
No priviledge to offend, but give your blacke faults
In equall guilt, for tho you first conveid
Away Pamela, his intention was
Earely as yours, and by the rules of justice
The will stands for the act, both ravished
Although not of the Ladies from themselves
Yet from their parents and their countrie, which
By all the Grecian Lawes is paid with death.
Thus then I must pronounce Daiphantas shall
Be throwne from some high tower to meete his death,
Palladius loose his head before Sunne-set
The executioner shall be Dametas
Which office of the common hangman he
Shall for his whole life execute, a punishment
For his neglect of duty.
Dam.
must I be hangman? oh brave, heaven preserve your
Lordship, I shall quickly learne the trade, and if ever any of your
honors have occasion to use me, I will owe you a good turne, and in
token I have beene bound to you the knot of my dutifull affection,
shall tell a tale in your eare you shall thanke me when you are
hang'd, come your wayes, but I beseech your Lordship, I may be
allow'd a man some times I would be loath to hange or to behead
myselfe, my wife or my owne kindred, but if it happen there be
more worke then he can turne his hands to, I will not sticke with
him to hang my selfe, provide you malefactors and let me alone for
halters.
Enter Callander and Calodoulus
Cala.
Hold stay the prisoners my Lord Protector
Calo.
Oh my Lord
Mus.
My servant Calodoulus by thy duty
Reveale us not.
Calo.
Let me rather be dumbe eternally
Then two such princes be lost by my silence.
Ev.
My sonne and Nephew are they living?
Calo.
Your owne Pyrocles and his Princely Nephew
Cala.
Aske your father blessing, unhand 'em rascalls.
Philon.
The two most famous Princes in the world.
Mus.
'Tis Evarchus thy father Pyrocles, my vncle king of
Macedon, all yee gods, my heart is extaside with ioy,
My father
Ev.
My blessing and my teares you both devide.
Witnesse with me, yee immortall powers this day
I have done nothing, but what justice and
Your native lawes require, without the knowledge
How neere they were to my owne blood, but since
They are prou'd my Sonne and Nephew
Endow'd by nature richly, and how merriting
The fame and love of all the world before
This accident, I leave to your owne thoughts,
Besides these two I have no joyes of life.
Cala.
Excellent Evarchus; why did you change your names?
Pyr.
To prevent the dishonor of our blood
If we had suffer'd.
Ev.
But I have judg'd already and if right
I have not wrong'd, vnlesse the name
Of child have power to alter sacred Iustice
You both must dye, though when I speake your death
It creeps upon my heart.
Mus.
We dreame, is this thy father Pyrocles?
Ev.
Away with em.
Mus.
'Tis most tyranicall he is thy sonne.
Thou wot not be a murderer of thy owne?
Make not thy name hated of all the world
When it shall say hereafter Pyrocles
Had no fault in him but he was thy sonne.
Pyr.
For me I am his owne and being so
Dispos'd of by his Iustice; to whom rather
I hop'd to have been a comfort then a shame
I kisse my sentence; but you cannot place
Your Kinsman in the sacrifice his mother
And countrie pleade a title he is theirs
Oh save my princely cosen
Ev.
Sure I shannot live
Long after them, and Gentlemen if I dye
Before I leave Arcadia let my ashes
Mingle with theirs:
Bas.
oh oh oh
Dam.
My Lord, Gentlemen, there's something stirs and groans
Come backe.
Basilius alive, assist him Philonax.
He breathes, what streames of joy runne through me?
Send for Gynecia and his daughters.
Bas.
Why am I supported thus like a dead man?
What are you?
Ev.
Evarchus your old friend.
Bas.
I ha seene that face before, 'tis like sweete Zelmane.
Ev.
My sonne
Pyr.
But was a conterfeit Zelmane
Bas.
Wonders, and you?
Ev.
My Nephew, prince of Thessaly
Enter Gynecia, Pamela and Philoclea,
Mus.
Tho late your servant Dorus
Bas.
Very strange; Gynecia
Gy.
My deere Lord return'd
A thousand kisses welcome him to life
Which I was wearie of in thy losse.
Bas.
My daughters
Pam.
Oh my father
Bas.
Are you Philonax?
Ev.
Your trusty servant
Philon.
The oracle is accomplish'd.
Bas.
You amase me, let me collect
Phi.
Oh my sweet Pyrocles
Pam.
We shall not be divor'd I hope agen
Pyr.
I am your servant ever.
Mus.
Devinest Mistris
Ev.
Your soules I see are married
Let me present these princes to be your sonnes
Bas.
Is this reall?
Gy.
'Tis dangerous to expect the storie.
I fear'd the drinke, but it may be his vertue
To encrease his love to me, Ile tell you more within sir.
Philon.
Let me obtaine your pardons
Ev.
To his Chamber leade him gently
Bas.
All is strange.
Mus.
Never was day so full of happy change
Florish.
| A Pastorall Called The Arcadia | |