University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

The Royal Saloon.
The Curtain rising, discovers LADISLAUS, HONORIA, FERDINAND, EUGENIUS, BAPTISTA, &c. attended by ACANTHE, and the Court.
FULL CHORUS.
Crown'd with conquest! view the chief,
Destin'd for the state's relief!
Valour bids the wreath be bound,
To entwine his temples round:
Bids us such a hero prize,
And exalt him to the skies!

LADISLAUS.
This courtesy
To the General, my Honoria, keeps fair rank
With all your virtues!
After your warfare,
[To Ferdinand.
Look on our court delights; but first from your
Relation, with delighted ears, I'll hear
The music of your war, which must be sweet,
Ending in victory.

FERDINAND.
Not to trouble
Your Majesties with the description of a battle,
Too full of horror for the place, I'll be as brief as possible.
It was well fought on both sides, and almost
With equal fortune; it continuing doubtful
Upon whose tents plum'd victory would take
Her glorious stand. Impatient of delay,
With the flower of our prime gentlemen, I charg'd
Their main battalia, and with their assistance
Broke in; but when I was almost assur'd
They were routed, by a stratagem
Of the subtle Turk,
Rallying up his troops on either side,
I found myself so far engag'd (for I
Must not conceal my faults) that I knew not
Which way, with honor, to retreat.

EUBULUS.
I like
A general that tells his faults, and is not
Ambitious to engross unto himself
All honor, as some have; in which, with justice,
They could not claim a share.

FERDINAND.
Being thus hemm'd in,
Their scymetars rag'd amongst us; and my horse
Kill'd under me, I every minute look'd for
An honorable end, and that was all
My hope could fashion to me. Circled thus
With death and horror, as one sent from heav'n,
This man of men, with some choice horse that follow'd
[To Eugenius.
His brave example, did pursue the track
His sword cut for them; and (but that I see him
Already blush to hear what, he being present,
I know would wish unspoken) I should say, Sir,
By what he did, we boldly may believe
All that is writ of ancient heroes!

EUGENIUS.
General,
Pray spare the feelings of an humble soldier.

EUBULUS.
Do not blush
To hear a truth, here are a pair of Monsieurs,
[To Ubaldo and Ricardo.
Had they been in your place, would have run away,
And ne'er chang'd countenance.

UBALDO.
We have your good word still.

EUBULUS.
And shall while you deserve it.

LADISLAUS.
Silence!—on:

FERDINAND.
He, as I said, like dreadful light'ning thrown
From Jove's broad shield, dispers'd the armed host
With which I was environ'd. Horse and man
Shrunk under his strong arm: more with his looks
Frighted, the valiant fled; with which encourag'd,
My soldiers, like young eagles, preying under
The wings of their fierce dam, bravely came on.
By him I was remounted, inspir'd
With treble courage, and such as fled before
Boldly made head again; and to confirm 'em,
It suddenly was apparent that the fortune
Of the day was ours. Each soldier and commander
Perform'd his part; but this was the great wheel
By which the lesser mov'd, and all rewards
And signs of honor to him alone belong.

LADISLAUS.
And they shall
Deservedly fall on him.
To the banquet now—prepare to entertain 'em.

[The Masques retire repeating the Chorus.
HONORIA.
Permit me, Sir, to hope
That your commanders,
Especially this stranger, may as I,
In my discretion shall think good, receive
What's due to their deserts.

LADISLAUS.
What you determine
Shall know no alteration.

EUBULUS.
The soldier
Is like to have good usage when he depends
Upon her pleasure.

HONORIA.
With you, Sir,
[To Eugenius.
I will begin; and as, in my esteem,
You are most eminent, expect to have
What's fit for me to give, and you to take;
Bring me my casket, and with speed:
[Acanthe goes out, and returns immediately with a Casket.
See here!
The lapidary's idol! gold is trash!
A poor salary sit for grooms—wear these
As studed stars within your circling shield;
Call them Honoria's gift,
Who loves not a valiant soldier; yet not to take
From the magnificence of the King, I will
Dispense his bounty too, but as a page
To wait on mine: for other losses take
An hundred thousand crowns: your hand, dear Sir,
And this shall be thy warrant.
[Takes off the King's Signet.
Are you pleas'd, Sir,
With what I've done?

LADISLAUS.
Yes, my Queen, and confirm it
With this addition of mine own: you have, Sir,
From our lov'd Queen receiv'd some recompence
For your life, hazarded in the late action;
And that we may follow her great example
In cherishing her love, ask what your heart can wish!

EUGENIUS.
If wealth were my ambition, by the Queen
I am made rich already, to th' amazement
Of all that see, or shall hereafter read
The story of her bounty.—If to spend
The remnant of my life in deeds of arms,
No region is more fertile of good Knights,
From whom my knowledge that way may be better'd,
Than this your warlike Hungary:—but, alas! Sir,
I am not my own, being by destiny,
Which I cannot resist, forc'd to prefer
My country's homely smoke, before the fire
With which your bounties warm me—All then I ask,
Dread Sir, is but your gracious license for
My departure.

LADISLAUS.
Whither?

EUGENIUS.
To my own home, Sir; just on the frontier of your realm:
My own poor home, which will, at my return,
Grow rich by your munificence. I am here
But a body without a soul; and till I find it
In the embraces of a constant wife,
Whose beauteous excellencies know no rival,
I am but half myself.

HONORIA.
And is she then
So chaste and fair as you infer?
Have I liv'd to hear this?

(Aside.)
EUGENIUS.
O, Madam!
Though it must argue weakness in me, thus
To shew my wealth before an armed host,
By praising of my wife, only to fan
The flame of love in others to admire her,
Such is my confidence in her virtue,
Though in my absence, she were now besieg'd
By a strong party of lascivious wooers—
Here is th' assurance of her unsapp'd honor!

[Kisses the Picture.
LADISLAUS.
What's that?

HONORIA.
How—have I liv'd to hear my fame excell'd!

(Aside.)
LADISLAUS.
Nay frown not, sweetest,
The Cyprian Queen, compar'd to you, in my
Opinion, were an Ethiop! At your desire
I'll see the soldiers paid; and inmy absence,
Pray use powerful argument, to stay
This gallant soldier in our service.

HONORIA.
I will, Sir,
To the utmost of my power.

LADISLAUS.
On to the camp.

[Exit Ladis. Ferd. Eub. Baptis. and Officers.
HONORIA.
I am full of thought!
Something lies here, tormenting me within,
I must give form to: you, good Signors,
Have little business with the soldier, as I take it
You are for other warfare; so retire, but be
Within call.

RICARDO.
Employment, on my life, boy!

UBALDO.
If it be in our road we are made fer ever.

[Exit UBALDO and Ricardo.
HONORIA.
You may perceive, Sir, the King is no ways tainted
With the disease of jealousy, since he leaves me
Thus private with you.

EUGENIUS.
It were in him, Madam,
A sin unpardonable, to distrust such pureness.

HONORIA.
I presume he would not; and yet the story
Deliver'd of you by the General,
Which sinks too deeply in a woman's heart,
Join'd to your presence, might beget some scruple
In a meaner man—but more of this hereafter,
For mine's a softer theme—when I conjure you
By the honors you have won, and by the love
Sacred to your dear wife, to answer truly
To what I shall demand.

EUGENIUS.
You need enforce no charm, Madam,

HONORIA.
Say then, amidst your converse with our sex
Have you not found that constancy give way?

EUGENIUS.
By the hopes of mercy, never!—I have been
Receiv'd to the society of the best
And fairest of our clime, from them have met
No common entertainment—yet never felt
My well-plac'd love abate.

HONORIA.
Strange! and do you think still
That earth can shew no beauty that may drench
In Lethe all remembrance of the favor
You now bear to her?

EUGENIUS.
Nature must first find out
Some other mould to fashion a new creature
Fairer than mortal eyes have seen, ere I prove
Guilty, or in my wishes or my thoughts,
To my beloved Sophia.

HONORIA.
Sir!—consider better,
Not one in our whole sex?

EUGENIUS.
I am constant to my resolution, Madam.

HONORIA.
But dare you stand the trial?—and bind yourself
By oath for the performance?

EUGENIUS.
My faith else
Had but a weak foundation.

HONORIA.
I embrace
Your promise, and enjoin your stay
For one month here!

EUGENIUS.
[Aside.
I am caught!

HONORIA.
And if I do not
Produce a lady in that time, who shall
Make you confess your error, I submit
Myself to any penalty you shall please
T' impose upon me: in the mean space, write
To your chaste wife, acquaint her with your fortune.
The jewels that were mine, you may send to her
For better confirmation; I'll provide you
Trusty messengers—there's no returning—
I'll bind you to your word.

EUGENIUS.
Well, since there is
No way to shun it, I will stand the hazard,
And instantly make ready my dispatch;
'Till then, I'll leave your majesty.
[Exit Eugenius.

HONORIA.
How I burst
With envy, that there lives besides myself
So fair, and chaste a woman!—'twas the end
Of my ambition to be recorded
The only wonder of the age, and shall I,
Now give way to a competitor?
I thought one amorous glance of mine could bring
All hearts to my subjection—but this stranger
Unmov'd as rock contemns me!
I must know more of this fair prodigy;
And for that purpose quickly will dispatch
Ubaldo and Ricardo, courtiers both
Well train'd in all the windings of our sex—.
But him, although bright honor deck his brow
I view not with a wanton eye—my pride
Howe'er demands a tributary sigh
'Tis all I ask; so that ere morning's dawn
By well feign'd female blandishments I'll prove
Whether I cannot warm his heart to love!
[Exit. Hon.