University of Virginia Library

The first Scene

Enter King, Prince, Zorates and Selucious with a Petition, and divers others.
Zorates.
We come implease you Sir, for to present,
As from your loving Subjects, being sent,
This humble Bill, and to intreat withall,
You woo'd be pleas'd, to quit the Cardinal.
And leave him to the mercy of the Law,
Which he contemns, and will not stand in awe.
Thefe twenty years, your people have endur'd,
Without all hopes, to have their ease procur'd,
With mighty patience, all things at his hands,
Which he still exercis'd, as your commands,
Now what with taxes, they are grown so poor,
They are not able for to give you more:
Except you'd have, their wives, and children, die,
For want of bread, to pay your Majestie.
Which they believe, you woo'd be loth to do,
Which makes them to your Highness, now to sue.

King.
D'you know my masters, what you do demand,
The Cardinal requesting at our hand?
Sure if you did, you woo'd not be so bold,
To ask the man, which does our Scepter hold.
Which does from falling off, preserve our Crown,
And all mens lives, that are in this same Town:
Who like a faithful Shepherd, watches so,
Both night and day, to keep us from our foe.
Where had we been long since, had not his care.
Preserved us, from falling in the snare,
The Turk, for want of faith, for us prepar'd,
The good whereof, you equally have shar'd?
And woo'd you we shoo'd be so void of sense,
Him so unlike a King, to recompence?
No, no, we won't, nor can we yet forget,
All his past cares, although that you can it.
And more then that, we make it to be death,
For any so to us, to 'ope his breath.
As for your taxes, we will order take,
That more they shall not make, your heads to ake.

Prince.
What monstrous men, implease your Grace are these,
Whom nothing but a Cardinal, will please!

King.
Retire, and leave the Prince, and us alone;
Exeunt.
We sent for you, to make our pleasure known.
We are you see, already old, and gray,
And shortly must, our debt to nature pay.
Before we die, we shoo'd be glad to see,
You well bestow'd, to have posterity.
We with our Counsel, have debated which,
May be the most convenient match, and rich.
At last, we have concluded, that with Spain,
You marry must, if they'le it entertain.
Besides the private interest of State,
Which shoo'd perswade you, to imbrace it strait.
She is extreamly fair, and vertuous too,
A fitting Princess, ev'ry way for you.
Witness this Picture, if we say not true,
Shews picture.
Which as Don Stato sayes, to life he drew.
We out of hand, have ordered for to go,
Our Lord Ambassador, their minds to know.
Who tells us that to morrow, without fail,
If that the wind holds good, he'le set up sail.

SIR

Prince.
As you are King, and I your son and heir,
I shoo'd be sorry, wilful to appear.
I am your Subject, therefore ought to shew,
By my example, others what to do.
Yet Sir, I cannot chuse, but blame my Fate,
To tye my love, to any act of State.
In this, although a Prince, I see I have,
Not freedom, like a Subject, or a slave.
Command, or order any man, woo'd you,
To marry one, he had no mind unto?
I do believe, your Highness is too just,
To will in such a case, that any must.
For Heaven sake, I intreat you not to be,
To any, less severe, then unto me.
I am your son, bone of your very bone,
And can you be so cruel, to your own?
You cannot sure, nor will't I hope you move,
To tell you, that this face I cannot love.
There's something in her nose, and in her eyes,
Views the picture.
Which with my fancy, does not sympathize.
The colour of her hair, is too too brown,
And by her looks, she seems on me to frown:
As if that nature, did prognosticate,
That there woo'd be, 'twixt us, less love then hate.

King.
We use to say, that men in love are blind;
You love not, yet you see not, well we find.
How can that face, in reason you dislike,
Which with such admiration, us does strike?
Had you but wit, for to conceive the good,
That you may reap, to match into that blood:
Were she deform'd, for that you woo'd not stand,
But quickly do, what we do you command.

Prince.
There is no good, I value like a wife,
With whom a man must live with all his life.
Coo'd I but marry for a day, or two,
And put her off, when I'de a mind to do:
To take a creature, that I coo'd not love,
Woo'd not unto me, inconvenient prove.
But when I wed her, for an unknown time,
Knowing that not to love, is no small crime:
Your Highness shall do well, to let me chuse,
One I can love, and like a Princess use.
As for ought else, Heaven knows I'de rather die,
Then live, and not obey your Majestie.

King.
Then do what Heaven commands, for 'tis Heavens will,
That you your Fathers pleasure, shoo'd fulfill.

Prince.
But shoo'd my Father, bid me do a thing,
(May I so boldly speak unto the King)
Which is unjust, or otherwise not fit,
For me to do, woo'd Heaven allow of it?

King.
Who shall be judge, of that which you call fit?

Prince.
None but just Heaven, Great Sir, shall judge of it.

King.
But Heaven ordain'd us here, to judge below,
Of things as we shall please, we'le have you know.

Prince.
But if you judge amiss, another day,
As well as others, you must for it pay.

Exeunt.