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SCÆNA TERTIA
[A Room in the King 's Palace.]KING, EVRINIA.
King.
I lou'd a faire one once, whose fate to her
Was (as her Cruelty to mee) too violent:
Shee gon, thy likenes doth reuiue the Loue,
But lett her Cruelty dye with her, Eurinia.
Euri.
I shall be cruell to my selfe, great king,
If I obay you.
King.
Dry those fountaines vp
And lett the warme drops help to heat thy blood,
Which yett is all an Ice.
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I feele my self
In equall temper, Sir.
King.
Thou art more cold
Then frozen Scithians are, and yett thy touch
Is a hott flame to mee.
Euri.
O how my feares
Circle mee round!
King.
Those black and misty foggs
Shalbee expel'd; the splendor of my loue
Shall like a Radient Beame disperse those clouds,
While in my Sphere thou rulest, and there shalt shine,
The Glory of a Kingdome.
Euri.
This is full
Of trouble to mee.
King.
Why dost turne away?
Am I a Gorgon, sweet one? Or hath Age
Printed his hollow markes within my face?
Am I deform'd? The Dames of Lumbardie
Call vp their Rosie coulors to their cheekes,
When I but smile on 'em, to deck their Beauties.
Are you, Raueneans, Enemies to Loue
As well as vnto mee? 'Tis the men hate mee;
The women should be gentler.
Euri.
I loue Vertue,
Though in my greatest foe.
King.
'Tis next to follie
To take that word as 'tis corrupted now,
When euery child of feare shall be cal'd Vertuous,
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A Passion, or affection. Then spitt on mee,
Vntill myne Anger boile, and lett mee beare it,
That you may thinke that Coward Patience Vertue.
Or lett mee vent my Loue in Sighs and Grones,
Till my rackt hart doth crack agen, and call that
A Vertue too; no! rather a tame Madnes.
Vertue is actiue, sprightly, full of fire,
Not dull and stupid. I wo'd faine perswade thee—
Euri.
To bee more vgly then the tougne of slander
Can add a name too, or the sence of sinne
In its true shape.
King.
Now, see how much you erre.
Heere is the want of Vertue, when you are
Transported thus with feare, to loose what you
Wo'd be loath long to keepe, if you were vrg'd to't;
How many wayes, tricks, wiles, deuices, plotts
Frame yee to those wisht Ends, when once you know 'em,
And blame your tardy Ignorance? This feare
Doth not become thee, banish it, Eurinia;
I'le teach thee how—
[Offers to kiss her.]
Euri.
Forbeare!
King.
How, Maid, so coy!
Euri.
Yes, Sir, although my Body be a Captiues,
And now in your Power, yett my mind shall neuer
Be slaue vnto your lust.
King.
Call it not soe.
I'me fruitfull in my loue; the springing flowers
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And comfortable Rayes of the Suns beames,
Dearer then I doe thee. O lett mee growe
For euer heere; my teares shalbe the showers,
And I will waite and wish for thy lou'd Eyes
To cherish mee.
Euri.
'Tis but in vaine to striue,
My loue is fixt already.
King.
Fixt! Where, pray?
Euri.
And 'tis no infant Loue, that like young Plants
May bee remou'd and sett in an new place,
But of Mature groth. I haue told my storie
To Lord Arioldus.
King.
Yes! and I haue heard it.
But can you bring my Reason to beleeue
That your no hopes there can hold Competition
With my high fauors? Your Pollicy
Wilbe discouer'd. Is it Monye time,
Or Emulation, Enuy, or Reuenge,
That now raignes in yee?
Euri.
What d'yee meane by those, Sir?
King.
Why, I haue heard you women haue those fitts,
And if you be ta'ne then, ther's noe Resistance.
Sometymes Ambitious, and then feed that humor,
One may haue any thing. Then, againe, Mallicious,
Second 'em there, you haue their harts. Sometimes
Soft language, and pale looks, with sighs and teares,
Doth win much on 'em. At another tyme,
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More then a Cupid. What's thy humor now,
That I may meet it?
Euri.
'Tis to bee from hence.
King.
No, Maid, y'are fast enough; your freind Arioldus
Is shifted hence too; were hee heere, hee durst
Venture assoone vpon a Raging Tiger,
To steale away her young ones, as come nere thee.
'Twere better for him face a full swolne Cloud
And stand the thunder of it when it breakes,
Then looke vpon this sword: hee cannot help thee.
Euri.
[aside.]
Encompasse mee, myne innocence!
[To the King.]
Your looks
Begin to fright mee.
King.
'Tis to try Conclusions
I haue begun wi' yee in Loue; all offers
That might induce affection were not wanting;
And now my sighs are spent, my Promises
Take no effect; I'le try what force can doe.
Euri.
O heare mee, Sir! (Kneeling.)
What black and guilty Stories
Shall fill your Annalls? Will you haue Posterity
Record such wickednes, and with their Curses
Brand your foule Soule (for all the Crimes you act
Shalbee imputed thers)? You are a king,
And I a Captiue stranger; will not pittie
Moue your obdurate hart? Remember how
My coming hether greiu'd your Noble Kinsman,
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His Duty to his Prince, and promise past
To a distressed Maid: thinke but of that,
And for his sake—
King.
Yes, yes! I know it well,
You are Arioldus whore; that doth incense mee
The more against thee; I must sue for what
You prostitude to him. Am I lese worthy?
Suruay mee well, and if thou beest not blinder
Then a darke sighted Mole, such earthy thoughts
Will not possesse thee long.
Euri.
By all the Powers
That nourish goodnes, hee hath bene to mee
Onely a Refuge; and I loue his Vertue,
More then my life. Cutt mee in Peeces, Sir,
If you be angrie, exercise your Anger,
And wound mee, not myne Honor.
King.
I ha' bene
Baffel'd toe lately by a stubborne faire One,
Just such another as thou art: forsake mee
All that pertakes of Man, if thou escap'st.
I train'd thee purposely from Companie;
Heere's none to rescue thee.
Euri.
Yes, I haue hands,
And teeth and tougne shall fight for mee.
King.
Thy Cries
Cannot be heard, it is in vaine to striue,
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But more contempt.
Euri.
Yett heare mee once agen.
What will the Virgins think? What the graue Matrons?
What the sad Soules of your Progenitors,
When such black actions shall putt out the light
Of all your Vertues? And what horrid looks
Will such foule Crimes putt on to fright Repentance?
King.
This bates mee now as much as the warme west wind
Th'intemper of the torrid Zone; bid fire
To leaue his high and mounting Quallitie!
Or chide prompt Nature that hath taught my blood
Thus to rebell; but I'le not stand to talke— [seizes her.]
Euri.
Help, Help!
King.
[aside].
My watchword! Now they come! (Enter 2 or 3 [men] disguiz'd.)
Hands heere!
Euri.
[to the men].
For Heauen sake, help mee!
King.
Stop her mouth! Away!
Exeunt omnes.
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