 | The Royal Shepherdess |  |
Nean.
I was (at least in my own conceit) in probability of
winning the sweet Evadne; and now, that not onely her
ugly Father, but the Queen too should forbid her to see me or
speak to me; it is what I cannot, will not bear: Though Fate it
self say, I shall do it, I am resolv'd that old grey Priest and his Mistress
the Queen, shall be the subjects of my Revenge: and yet I
am not ambitious to show my Valour so far, as to be hang'd for't
neither—I think I ha't; If I can do this, 'twill be the sweetest
part of my Revenge, to live, and tread, and spit upon their Graves:
I have sent for Geron, a Rogue fit for my purpose, for he is Covetous
to Extremity, and I have Gold to bribe him, and which is
lately, and countenanc'd his Wife against him, which torments
him so, that I believe he would be glad to be hang'd on any terms.—
Here he is.
Enter Geron.
Ger.
Consume him he's here—
Nean.
Dear Geron, let him embrace thee that
Perhaps is thy best Friend.
Ger.
Perhaps, with a Curse to him—
Aside.
No, my Lord, you are a Friend to my Wife.
Nean.
Geron! give me your hand.
Ger.
Wou'd I had your Heart's blood.—
Aside.
Nean.
Give me your Hand, Geron.
Ger.
My Good Lord! you do me too much honour.
Nean.
I beg your pardon heartily that I presum'd to
Count'nance your ugly, impertinent, ill-natur'd, vain
Wife against you, you that are so worthy an honest Knight;
It was Ignorance of her, and you made me do it. I protest it
was.
Ger.
What the Devil does he mean by this?—
Aside.
Nean.
Upon my Honour Geron it was; had I not been a stranger
to her ill Qualities.
Ger.
I am afraid you know 'em too well.—
Aside.
Nean.
I should never have encourag'd her in her Insolence to
you.
Ger.
What does all this tend to?—
Aside.
Nean.
For I am well satisfy'd, a Man, especially an old Man
that has had experience of the vanity of the World, ought to
have an absolute Dominion over his Wife.
Ger.
My Lord, this is a Truth! I would you had acknowledg'd
sooner; for my abominable Wife, instead of being humbled, is
encourag'd by the Court.
Nean.
I know though too late now, your Wife is froward,
Foolish, petulant, wanton, proud, expensive, disobedient,
Ungrateful.—
Ger.
'Tis too true; but a Plague on him, I am afraid he has
Nean.
What sayes my dear Friend, give me leave to call you so:
[Aside.]
whom I would not give two Drachma's to save from a
Gibbet.
Ger.
I would fain be satisfy'd of one scruple.
Nean.
Speak it.
Ger.
I beseech your Lordship be not angry.—
Nean.
My dear Geron I cannot be with thee.
Ger.
My Lord! were you never a little familiar or so with—
Nean.
Whom?
Ger.
My Wife, my Lord in private; I mean in a Civil way.
Nean.
I am not to interpret your meaning, but upon my Honour
I was never alone with her in my life, nor ever will be if I can avoid
it.—
Ger.
Is your Lordship in earnest?
Nean.
Upon my Honour Geron.
Ger.
Honour, that's a word for some, who call themselves men of
Honour to borrow mony with; It is a tenure they Mortgage, as often
as they do their Lands, and forfeit the Mortgage too; and yet they
wou'd have both their Honours and Estates pass for Security, as if
there were no incumbrance upon either.
Nean.
Do'st thou distrust me Friend? I could never indure her,
she's so ugly, so abominably ugly.
Ger.
So ugly my Lord, I did not think you wou'd have abus'd
my Wife thus; so ugly, I'de have your Lordship know there is not
her fellow in the Court.—'Pox on her she's but too handsome for
me.
Nean.
Nay, 'prethee, Geron, be not offended; my Nature is
so just to all my Friends, that their Wives, though ne're so beautiful
appear to me deform'd; and if thou doubtest my Friendship,
make tryal of me, let me know how I can serve thee.
Ger.
I humbly thank your Lordship. Sure he must be in
earnest; but I'le try: My Lord, you have an Interest here,
the Queen and Priest have given me so severe Rebukes about my
damnable Wife, that they have encourag'd her to be ten times more
troublesome and insolent than ever, my life is now become a Torment
to me.
Nean.
And wilt thou tamely put up this Injury?
I would it were in my power to help it.
Nean.
It is man—
Ger.
What sayes your Lordship.
Nean.
It shall be, and I'le joyn with thee in the Revenge.
Ger.
Now do I hope he'll plot som Treason, that I may accuse
him, and beg his Estate for't.
Nean.
I will propound to him, but if I see him waver in the
buis'ness, I'le make the first accusation, and hang him for't. Geron,
in short, I am not injur'd less then you; the Queen and Priest have
crost me in my Love, and kept the fair Evadne from my Embraces,
the onely thing I hop'd for pleasure in.
Ger.
My Lord I know the story.
Nean.
If you will joyn with me and help me to Effect my Revenge,
you will not onely be reveng'd your self, but I will give
you twenty Talents to boot.
Ger.
Twenty Talents? a delicious Sum, how I could embrace
'em.
Nean.
We may contrive some way to make the King jealous of
the Priest and Queen, thou know'st the Queen extreamly favours
that old Priest.
Ger.
'Tis for his Piety she esteems him so.
Nean.
Piety! hang him!—but however we may design it
so; that that piety may look like Treason.
Ger.
As how, my Lord?
Nean.
Let us contrive some private meeting for them in yonder
Grotto that may look suspitiously, then bring the King to see it;
joyn with me, and thou shalt have the Talents, man.
Ger.
I am very fearful; but twenty Talents!—a Revenge
To boot—ha!—I'le venture it.
Nean.
Have courage man—
(Aside;
Which Heaven knows is a thing I neither have, nor desire to have.
Ger.
Your Lordship has prevail'd, and now I'le put you in a
way: As I was watching my Wives haunts, I overheard the Queen
and Endymion, saying, that the King had forc'd Urania to appoint a
private meeting with him in the Grotto, and the Queen resolv'd
to supply her place, to keep the King from his intended Crime.
Nean.
What then?
Ger.
We may feign a Tale to the Queen, that the King has this
Nean.
But Urania will contradict that—
Ger.
No; she ask'd the Princess liberty to leave the Court a
day or two for some private business or other, and is now absent.
Nean.
Excellent Geron! but how shall we carry this story?
Ger.
My Wife; who shall still be ignorant of the matter.
Nean.
Admirably invented: thou shal't have the Talents; besides
if thy Wife shou'd discover thee or me, if she be question'd,
we'l face her down in't and she shall hang for't.
Ger.
That Argument prevails with me more then the Talents:
whether she betrays us or no, we'l do that my Lord.
Nean.
With all my heart, Excellent Geron: for the Priest, thou
shalt go to him, and subtilly perswade him that the Queen has made
an appointment to meet me in the Grotto, and that I to avoid suspition
am to be in Womans Cloaths.
Ger.
My Lord, he'll ne're believe it.
Nean.
Do thou confirm it by then thousand Oaths.
Ger.
That will be dang'rous.
Nean.
Not at all: But think on the Talents, and the death of thy
Wife man: Thou maist perswade the Priest to meet her to prevent
it in a Womans loose habit, and then bring the King to see
them.
Ger.
But the Priest will soon undeceive the King.
Nean.
No, no, fear not that, the King will be so inrag'd: 'tis
ten to one he kills 'em both without Examination; if not, you and
I, who will be the first Accusers will swear 'em both down in't; think
upon Revenge and Profit.
Ger.
My Lord—I'le do't about the time of this Evening Sacrifice
for the Victory of Theander.
Enter Endymion with a Guard.
Ger.
What means this?
Nean.
O Endymion's banish'd.
And this Guard is to convey him out of the
Kings Dominions, let him be hang'd and
He will.—let us about our business—
Ex. Geron and Nean.
Endym.
May I not see the Princess for
Whom I am banish'd before I go?
No, no, along Sir.
1. Sould.
'Pray Sir, go a little faster.
2. Sould.
Prethee, let the Gentleman alone, soft
And fair goes far, and the Gentleman
Considers he has far to go.
Endym.
Farewell than brave Cleantha, may'st thou never
Once think Endymion suffers for thy sake:
And farewell dear Urania, I will love thee
On those hard Rocks I now must dwell upon.
Officer.
What's this muttering? Along Sir.
2. Sould.
Good Gentleman! he's loath to leave the Princess
I warrant him.
Enter Cleantha.
1. Sould.
Here she comes.
Endym.
The Princess!—Great Princess pardon
My glorious sufferings; forgive me that
[Kneels.
I ever saw the Light, or liv'd a Minute:
That you are injur'd thus by him whose being
Is not worth your meanest thought.
Clean.
Ah, my Lord, affront me not:
Rise brave Endymion! 'Tis my misfortune:
Thou art too low already.
Endym.
Fortune made me low to be advanc'd by a hand
More Worthy than her own.
(Rises.
Clean.
My Noble Lord!
I have undone you! what can I give you now
In recompence of Liberty, and all
The pleasures you must loose
In a sad banishment, for her who onely
Can be afflicted at your sufferings.
Endym.
Madam, you have Enough to give to pay
So mean a debt, if you will call it one
A thousand times.
Clean.
Name it, and take it, dear
Endymion, though it be my life.
Endy.
Madam!
Then grant me this request: use every art
To make your Hours as blest as I shall pray
They may be many; and never let a Thought
Unfortunate Endymion: Then shall I be
Among the desolations of my Fortune
Happy, to think the brave Cleantha's happy,
And wears a Crown, and lives ador'd: what then
Tho' I live in an obscure banishment.
Offic.
Sir, this is what was forbidden us to permit you;
You must away Sir.—
Takes him by the Arm.
Clean.
Impudent Villain, dar'st thou interrupt a person I am
talking with.
Offic.
Yes, Madam, when I have the Kings Commands to do it.
Endym.
Madam; these persons do their duty, they are the
Hands of Fate, that pull me from you—Sacred Princess
All that is bliss attend you.—
He kneells to kiss her hand.
Clean.
My Lord! Farewell;
Take this Ring and remember me:
Know that Cleantha loves you and will never
Be happy till Endymion makes her so.
Endym.
I cannot doubt but Heaven will prosper what
Is so like it self: Blest Princess take my Prayers,
Heav'n thinks not fit to entrust me with ought else.
Clean.
Farewell, and with thee all my happiness!
Offic.
Come, Sir, when will you go?
Endym.
Thus Fate directs me, what I now must do,
To serve my Shepherdess, and Princess too.
Endymion falls; but to the first he dies
A Lover, to the last, a Sacrifice.—
Ex. Endym. with Guards.
Clean.
Heaven! Heaven! Where was thy mercy then,
When thou mad'st Life so great a pain, and Death
A Sin? Did'st thou Create great Souls but to
Affront them with thy greater Power?
If by my power
With the King I cannot get him recall'd,
I am resolv'd privately to follow him; and spend
My dayes with him that has my heart.
Enter Phronesia.
Phro.
Madam! why does your Highness thus submit to grief,
Clean.
Have I not reason for't?
Madam; Your Highness shou'd study to forget
Endymion now.
Clean.
Forget him (foolish Woman) I sooner shall
Forget that I have Eyes, forget I have
A Memory! Shall brave Endymion live
In banishment for me, and I forget him:
Sure thou would'st mind me of him, if I shou'd.
Phro.
Well, Madam, I wish your Highness does not
Remember him too much; I am glad you are
Alive yet for my part.
Clean.
Indeed I speak, and do the offices of life,
But say Phronesia;
Did'st never see a Tree cut down i'th Spring
A while put forth his Buds and Leaves, as if
He'd been alive untill that sap was spent
Which he had suck'd from his life-giving Root,
And then he wither'd.
Enter King and Queen.
King.
How do you Niece?
Queen.
We are come to visit you in the absence of your Lover.
Clean.
Your Majesties do always do me Honour.
Queen.
Indeed you ought to thank those who do you honour,
When you forget to do it your self.
King.
Cleantha! you are too wise, I hope, to be
Afflicted at Endymion's banishment.
Clean.
Sir! what so e're my Troubles are, as they
Are my own, so I shall endeavour not
To make 'em any others.
King.
You ought to look to the Justice of
The Action, and be satisfy'd.
Clean.
Indeed there's little Mercy in't; if that be
Most Just, that is most Cruel, this is so.
King.
The action I have done is just: I thought it so,
And I have done it, and you must be patient.
Clean.
Your Majesty may please to know, that I shall
Have that regard to my self, as not to suffer
King.
You grieve for Endymion, when all Arcadia
Rejoyces at the Victory of
Theander, which this Evening we shall Celebrate
With Sacrifices, and with other Rites, for whom
We will prepare a publick Triumph:
Compose your self, and let not others see
Your shame.
Clean.
My Shame they ne're
(Aside.
Shall see; Call it my Glory, so it is.
Enter Pyrrhus.
Pyrr.
Sir, the Sacrifice is ready for the
Altar, and the Priests wait your Royal presence
For the Execution.
King.
Niece! think on what I've said, and follow us.
[Ex. King and Pyrr.
Qu.
Come, dear Cleantha, 'prithee be not sad,
The Prince of Macedon will be fitter for
Your noble Blood which is deriv'd from Kings.
Clean.
And some other will be fitter for him
Then I, unless he likes a broken heart.
Besides the Prince is Contracted already to
The Queen of Thrace's eldest Daughter.
Qu.
She is long since dead.
Clean.
Who can tell that, Madam; I am apt to believe
If she had her Kingdom yet the Prince would find
Her out.
Enter Phronesia.
Qu.
What News with you?
Phro.
News that does import your Majesty.—
Whisper.
Enter Geron.
Ger.
Madam! the Queen and your Highness are expected at
the Temple; this will be a night of Joy.
Clean.
That brings me nought but sorrow; the name of joy
Is odious to me, since Endymion's gone.
Art thou sure of this Phronesia?
Phro.
Yes, Madam, doubt it not.
Qu.
The Gods amend all once more, I'le prevent it:
But first I'le to the Temple; Come Cleantha.
Ger.
What have you told the Queen
What I enjoyn'd you?
Phro.
I have, and she is resolv'd to Circumvent him: Come to
the Temple, haste.—
Ger.
Thus far it goes well; I have with many Oaths and Protestations
confirm'd the Priest in the belief that Neander in Womans
Cloaths is this night to meet the Queen: it takes admirably—
The Talents are my own, and this wife of mine is dead already.
The Scene changes to the Temple.
After the Sacrifice, there is a Consort of Martial Musick, and two or three of the Salii or Priests of Mars sing as follows,
I.
All Praises to the God of War,Who in our Battels gives Success,
By whom we now Victorious are,
Who does not onely us with Conquests bless,
But 'tis his Pow'r that gives us Peace.
Arcadia now may safely that enjoy,
Thessalians cannot that destroy:
For brave Theander has our Foes opprest,
And by his Noble Toyls procur'd our Rest.
2.
In vain they did their Heedless Force oppose,Against such Courage, and such Conduct too,
Such as requir'd more strong and numerous Foes
Fit for his Noble fury to subdue.
Oh how he thunder'd in the Van,
Godlike he threaten'd, and did more than man:
A Flame into the coldest heart;
All by his great Example did appear,
To slight their Dangers, and disclaim their Fear.
He ought to none his Lawrel to submit,
But to our Patron Mars the Cause of it.
3.
Now the Armies meet, and vigorously engage,(Each man reaking with Sweat, with Blood besmear'd)
The bust'rous Seas in all their Wildest rage
Were ne're so rough as then that Field appear'd.
The Clangor of the Trumpets sounds,
The roaring Drums thunder aloud;
Some howl with anguish of their Wounds
Whilst others hollow in the Crowd.
A Cloud of Arrows Flyes, Spears, Javelings break,
Horses by neighing do their Courage speak;
The Clattering Swords against the Shields rebound,
And all this Noise the Ecchoing Hills resound.
4.
This dreadful Valley over-flows with blood,Streaming from Fountains of fresh bleeding veins,
Horses with Humane-gore make up the Flood,
And undistinguish'd with their Purple stains,
Besmear the Valley every where
While brave Theander void of fear,
So generously fought,
That he at length the rash Thessalians taught
That all resistance was but vain,
And could of him nothing obtain,
But serv'd but to prolong their pain.
Then they themselves and useless Weapons yield,
With all the Spoils and Trophies of the Field.
Cho.
Thus brave Theander has our Foes opprest,And by his Noble Toyls procur'd our Rest.
King.
'Tis very well! Come, Madam.
Qu.
Sir, I must have some few Minutes discourse with
This good Priest, and then I'le wait on you.
King.
Haste then, do not defer your joy; I'm sure
It cannot trouble you to see this Night dedicated
To your belov'd Theander.
Qu.
My joy is rather too intemperate:
Exit. King, manent Queen and Priest.
Poor Prince, little dost thou think I am
Acquainted with thy Guilt, and thy too great
Unkindness! O holy Father! this night the King
Afresh has kindled his foul Lust, he has
Once more tempted Urania, and I hear
She is seduc'd in earnest, and this day has seem'd
To leave the Court on purpose to avoid
Suspition.
Priest.
Ye Gods that I should ever live to see
The Queen that was so spotless in her Honour
Perverted thus: what Fury or Devil does this?
Qu.
Sir, 'Pray give me your wise Councel as you
Still have done.
Priest.
What an abject thing dissimulation is? below
One of her birth to suffer, much less use.
Qu.
Father! what say you?
Priest.
I know too well already what she'l do—
Aside.
I'le try her.—Madam, do as you did before;
And though you cannot cure this feavourish Love,
Anticipate all further Crimes.
Qu.
I did resolve to do it.
Priest.
I knew that but too well already; the
Gods forgive you: with Neander too the
Vainest Trifle of the Court? how am I afflicted!
Q.
Well Sir, I'le away, and strive to hide my resentment,
The better to carry on my design.
Heaven bless you Madam.—
to her—Exit. Queen.
To himself.)
And make you see your Crime
In it's own horrid shape e're you attempt it,
And yet she bears it with so much assurance
I could believe her Innocent, yet why
Should Geron dare to invoke all the Gods
To testifie it; if it be false, what can
Provoke him to this Villany? If true,
She never will acknowledge it to me
What ere it be; 'tis worth my venturing
To be undeceiv'd.—
Ex.
| The Royal Shepherdess | |