 | The Royal Shepherdess |  |
THE FIFTH ACT.
Enter Basilius Rex.King.
Unfortunate Basilius! yet durst I judge
Those happy Essences that dwell in light;
And cannot err: I should be apt to say
My Punishment exceeds my Crime: for that
Went never further then th' intention, and
(Enter Pyrrhus.
My suff'rance is real—Pyrrhus undone!
My Eyes are witnesses; I saw them both
Enter the Grotto.
Pyrr.
The Priest in Womans Cloaths!
King.
All's true; The Queen has been already
Examin'd by the Councel; all she sayes
Is that she's Innocent; but will not say
The Cause which mov'd her to an action so
Suspected, tho' she dye for't: But such, Pyrrhus,
Are never Innocent, who are asham'd
To vindicate their deeds, when their Lives
Are at Stake.
Pyrr.
Your Majesty was not present?
King.
No, I leave them totally to Justice, I shall
Make the Law their Judge.
Pyrr.
But Sir! what sayes the Priest?
King.
I now expect to hear th' Examination,
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Enter a Lord of the Councel.
It's bad enough for certain: here it comes!
My Lord, you have been long; but I expect
No good; and therefore care not if you had
Been longer.
Lord.
Sir, before I can satisfie your Expectations,
I must humbly pray you will be pleas'd to pardon
The intreating your Answer to a Question
On which all we have done depends.
King.
What's that?
Lord.
I may seem too insolent; but the whole Truth
Of all the Examination does depend
Upon't; that is, Whether your Majesty
Did not one night Command a little Lady,
That waits on the Princess, one Urania,
To attend you in that Grotto, where
The Queen and Priest were seiz'd on.
King.
I did.
Lord.
And she was there?
King.
She was.
Lord.
Is your Majesty assur'd it was she, or might it be the
Queen?
King.
Ha!—her Whispers were like the Queens: Pyrrhus
knows I told him so.
Lord.
Be happy then great Prince;
Your Queen is Innocent; your Priest is holy,
And Geron and Neander onely are
The Criminals.
King.
Are you assur'd of this?
Lord.
Yes Sir; it was the Hellish contrivance of
Geron and Neander brought them both together.
King.
Why did not the Queen reveal this?
Lord.
She rather would have dy'd then have disclos'd
Your Summons to Urania, which with your Majesties
Pardon, she's pleas'd to call your dishonour.
King.
My Lord it was; but pray relieve my Wonder
And tell me the whole Story.
Lord.
Sir, in this Confession of Geron and Neander, and Phronesia,
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Story) by threatning Tortures, have extorted from 'em: Your Majesty
may fully read the Story of the Innocence of the Queen and
Priest, and of the guilt of these Barbarous Wretches.
King.
Blest' Heaven! how are thy wayes just like thy Orbes,
Involv'd within each other: yet still we find
Thy Judgements are like Comets that do blaze,
And fright, but die withall, whilst all thy Mercies
Are like the Stars which oft times are obscur'd,
But still remain the same behind the Clouds.
Pyrr.
May all your Doubts and Fears thus terminate.
Lord.
Thus are you shaken to be more confirm'd.
King.
Send for Urania, Pyrrhus! she shall wear
This day the just rewards of Virtue; I
Will visit my brave Queen, who rather chose
To die unjusty as a Criminal
Then I should justly be so term'd,
For which I will proclaim my Fault since she
Will have the Glory of concealing it.
Enter Evadne.
Evad.
The King seems pleas'd, as he has reason.
King.
My Lord! let the Councel remove
Into the Hall, where before all the Court
I'le bring my Queen in Triumph there to hear
Her base Accusers sentenc'd.—
Ex. all but Evadne.
Evad.
I was told I should find Cleantha here—
Why did I beg to leave my Cell?
(Where I did never injure any one)
To see this place, and in so little time
To do more mischief than whole Generations
Can parallel? how much
Had it been better I had ever dwelt
In those Retirements, where small Sins seem great,
And great Devotions small, then to be here
Where the blood of Queens and Priests had like
To have been sacrific'd to the Malice of
Wicked men? (had not the Gods taken the Cause
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(Enter Cleantha.
Queen Commanded me to wait on your
Highness, with the good news of her Innocence
Being fully clear'd
Clean.
I did expect no less: the Gods had been
Unjust t' have left such Vertue in distress,
They had injur'd too themselves, as well as her:
For should such Innocence as hers not be
Protected: their Altars would be empty,
'Tis Justice makes 'em Deities. I should be
O'rejoy'd at this? if any thing could make
Me so, when my Endymion mourns.
Evad.
Madam, I beseech you moderate your Grief,
At least conceal it in this time of joy;
The Queen desires your company too: your Highness
Therefore will do well to hide your Passion.
Clean.
As well may Flames of greatest Cities be
Conceal'd from neighbouring Villages, as I
Can hide my Love and Grief: but I will wait
Upon her Majesty: she knows my Afflictions
But too well already.—
Exeunt.
Enter at the other door Marshall with a Guard, and Neander, Geron, and Phronesia.
Marsh.
Come away, make haste, is it fit the King and Councel
should stay for you, or you for them?
Nean.
They may let my business alone if they please: I am not
in such haste to have it dispatch'd.
Ger.
Well! I shall be hang'd: but I hope you shall be hang'd
with me, my damn'd Wife.
Phro.
No, you old Rascal, I am with Child you Villain, all the
Court knows that well enough; I shall be spar'd, for I have an interest
among them.
Ger.
Ay, to much! 'tis that has brought me to this.
Marsh.
Come on; or I'le make you come on: what are you
muttering there? my Lord come on.
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Well, well! Lord you are so chollerick, you won't give
a man leave to say his Prayr's a little that never did before.
Marsh.
Come on.—
Exeunt.
Enter Lords of the Councel, and seat themselves, a Guard of Souldiers with Neander, Geron and Phronesia, conducting them to the Bar, then the King leading his Queen Crown'd, With a Royal Robe on her, after them the Priest, Cleantha and Attendants.
Thus from the Prison to the Throne
Virtue comes to claim her own,
And now appears
Upon the Throne a Star,
Who lately at the Bar
Stood with no other Jewels but her Tears,
Great Queen,
Great Queen,
Who ever was so well content
To suffer, and be Innocent,
To suffer, and be Innocent.
Enter a Gentleman leading Urania.
King.
The fair Urania, Madam I must this day
Do honour to this Virgin; and since it is
To Noble Natures a more pleasing task
To give Rewards to Vertue, then Punishments
To Vice: I'le in the first place shew
How lovely Justice looks when we are good,
And onely Sin makes her seem Terrible.
Urania! come near.
Gent.
Ah great King!
Urania's place I fear will be nearer
The Bar, than the Throne.
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How's this?
King.
What mean'st thou?
Gent.
See Sir, see,
Those Cheeks that lately Beauty wore, now pale
With guilt.
King.
Her Crime!
Gent.
She is with Child.
Clean.
It is impossible; she cannot dissemble so much Vertue,
I'le engage my Life she's Innocent.
King.
How know you this?
Gent.
Sir, being sent in haste by my Lord Pyrrhus,
To bring her to your Majesty, by chance
I learn't of one o'th' Servants of the Princess
Near to what place he thought she was:
I made Enquiry there, at a small house
I was acquainted at; The Woman told me,
She thought she I enquir'd for was in the house:
And asking of me many Circumstances,
She told me it was surely she: but told me too,
As a great Secret, That she was with Child,
But that she said she was Marry'd;
As did her Mother who this morning left her.
At this I went to Urania, who confes't it,
But would not tell me who her Husband was,
And was very loth to come with me, though
I told her, your Majesty had sent for her.
King.
And is this truth Urania?
1. Lord.
Speak to the King.
Uran.
'Tis true.
King.
And who's your Husband?
Lord.
Be not asham'd to name your Husband, Madam,
'Twill be your shame if you name none.
Uran.
I am not asham'd to name him, but affraid—
King.
Who is't, speak?
Uran.
I dare not disobey, and by my Lord
Am authoriz'd to name him, when
My Honour shall be question'd, who's more tender
Of that then of his own.
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Name him!
Uran.
It is the Great Theander.
Qu.
The Prince!
King.
What are you marry'd to the Prince!
Marry'd to Theander?—
Rises in a Fury.
Uran.
O pardon me, Great King,
That I refus'd not to be taken from
A Cottage, to the bosome of a Prince,
On such Conditions as we dar'd to call
The Gods to Witness.
King.
Whether she be his Wife,
Or onely dares affirm it, though she were
More to me then my Eyes, she should
Die e're I sleep.
Clean.
Upon my Knees I beg,
Great Sir, you will recall this hasty Sentence;
It is the Princes fault, not hers.
King.
I will hear
No Intercessions—by the Honour of a King,
I swear it.—The Prince in some few hours
Will be in Town;—if what she sayes be false,
This news shall be his welcome: but if true,
'Tis fit his coming be too late to save her.
Uran.
Ah, Great Prince, pity the distress'd who has
No friend to plead her Cause; all I affirm
Is truth; Theander is my Witness, see
Takes a Letter out of her bosome.
That Noble Name; this I receiv'd from him
Not three dayes since.
King reads it and gives it to the Queen.
King.
'Tis so; but know Urania!
My Crown would prove too heavy for your off-spring,
Fit onely for Cottages; it will behove you to
Prepare for death this day within Two hours.
Qu.
Sir hold!
Clean.
I beseech your Majesty—
King.
I charge you on your Loyalty to hold;
I swear again this day within two hours
I'le see her head off: Marshall take her hence,
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Uran.
Is there no Mercy then? Heav'n help me!
Nothing lies heavy on me but the thoughts of
Parting with Theander.
Clean.
Poor Urania! I'le follow, and speak some comfort
To her to prepare her for her Death.
King.
My Lords, had not this Accident befaln me
I had been too blest: Wise Heav'n does see't as fit
In all our Joyes, to give us some allayes,
As in our sorrows Comforts: when our Sayls
Are fill'd with happy'st Winds, then we need most
Some heaviness to ballast us: I am afflicted
For poor Urania;—but the Gods have sure
Rewards in death for those who fall, not for
Their Crimes, but through a kind of sad necessity:
Bring in the rest of the Pris'ners.
1. Lord.
This Sentence on Urania is severe.
2. Lord.
But Just; For by our Law, whoever marries the Heir
to the Crown, without the Consent of King and Councel, is to
suffer death.
Enter Marshall, with Geron, Neander, and Phronesia.
King.
I am to proceed now to a far more willing Task:
The sentencing of those most wicked persons at the Bar.
Nean.
Sir! for Heavens sake, mercy, mercy, I beg it on my
Knees! O spare my life.
1. Lord.
Silence.
Nean.
Upon my Honour Sir.—
King.
So great a Villain, and talk of Honour.
Nean.
O spare me! I am not fit to die! mercy, mercy—
King.
You'r more unfit to live; I do adjudge you—
Nean.
Hold, hold, great Sir!
2. Lord.
Stop his Mouth, till the Sentence be past.
King.
Neander I condemn to lose his Head to morrow, which
I will have plac'd over his Lodgings. Take him away.
Nean.
Oh! that ever I was born to see this day!—oh, oh.—
(Ex. Marsh. and Neander.
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Must I be cut off in the Flower of my Age! mercy,
Mercy Sir, I was provok'd by my Lord Neander.
Marshall returns.
King.
Peace Hell-hound! I do adjudge Geron to be hang'd, then
cut in pieces to morrow, and to be cast among Dogs to be devour'd.
1. Lord.
Take him hence.
Ger.
Oh, oh! yet if that Strumpet be condemn'd too,
'Twill be some comfort to me.—
Ex. Marsh with Geron.
Phro.
What will become of me?
King.
For Phronesia!
Phro.
O Sir! I am with Child, I am with Child; I beseech
you Sir, kill not that within me, make me not Miscarry.
2. Lord.
Woman be silent.
Phro.
A Woman, and be silent, it is impossible, I must speak;
I cannot die, I must not die, I cannot indure it.
King.
You shall not die, but suffer perpetual Banishment; what
she did was by Command from her Husband.
Phro.
'Thank your Majesty! I am glad to live, if it were for
Nothing but to see my Husband die.
King.
Thus now I hope to expiate the thoughts
I've had of my Chaste Queen, and holy Priest,
Through these mens Wickedness; and teach the world
That such who dare be Traytors to their King,
Do on themselves the certain'st ruine bring.
Qu.
I pity those poor Wretches!
King.
Come, Madam;
I must now go to see that done which will
Be much the saddest sight I ever saw,
But the Prince will be so suddenly in Town,
I must see in dispatch'd forthwith.—
Exeunt omnes.
Enter Neander, Geron, and Phronesia in Prison.
Nean.
My Head cut off? I have not patience to think on't!
Oh Miserable, wretched man! oh my head!
Phro.
Your Lordship will not look so gracefully without a Head
though it be none of the best.
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Peace, wicked Woman!
Ger.
O vile Woman! 'tis you that have brought me to this!
must I be cut in pieces?
Phro.
Truly loving Husband you must, and be given to Doggs
too, but they'l have but ill Commons of you; you will be mighty
tough; besides you have so many diseases, that if you were divided
into as many pieces as there are hairs in your Beard, each Morsel
would own a several Malady: for my part I would not advise any
Dog that I have a kindness for to taste of you, for fear of endangering
his health.
Ger.
O thou abominable filthy Hag, if thou wert to be serv'd so
first, it would not trouble me.
Phro.
O Sir, you would have drawn me in, but I shall live to
tread upon your Grave! you know it were ill manners for me to be
hang'd before my Husband! but how does your Lordship? will
you have some Greek-wine to comfort your cold stomack, you'l
die with the fear on't else before to morrow morning; but I beseech
you, my Lord, do not forget, if you do live till then, to
have a Nose-gay, and a pair of white Gloves, with clean Linnen too,
for the Execution! Men of quality are always very cleanly when
they go to be hang'd.
Nean.
O! what will become of me? I shall never be able to indure it.
Oh! you old cowardly Sot! this comes of your confessing;
Rogue.
Ger.
This may thank your villanous design, with a Curse to
you, I was onely drawn in.
Nean.
You deserve to be hang'd Rascal, and will be so.
Ger.
'Twill be some comfort to me to have a Lord suffer with
me, but 'twould be more honour to me, if that Lord were a wiser
man.
Nean.
O! you old Dog! that I could come at you.
Ger.
That I could poyson you with my breath, but that 'twould
put you out of your pain, which is your immoderate fear.
Enter Priest.
Priest.
Peace be here!
Phro.
You come as seasonably as can be, for the Traytors are at
Civil War.
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Away, woman, and interrupt 'em not.
Phro.
I will not take my leave on you, for I intend to see my
dear Husband again, at least before you be cut into Messes, Farewell.—
Ex. Phron.
Priest.
I am now come to speak to you as dying men.
Nean.
Ay, ay, you old Rascal Geron, whom may that thank?
Ger.
A villanous Lord that corrupted a poor innocent man as I
was: a Curse on him for drawing me in.
Nean.
A Curse upon an old Cowardly Rogue, to let his fear betray
us.
Priest.
Come, 'tis not now a season to quarrel with one another,
but to make peace with the Gods: I am come to prepare you for
your deaths, and first Neander I begin with you.
Nean.
'Pray Sir begin with him, he needs it most! he has alwayes
been the most perfidious, impious Wretch.
Ger.
I need it most? I scorn to be prepar'd any more then your
self, if you go to that, with that ugly, pocky Whore-masters face
of your own.
Nean.
Sir, it's no matter what he sayes; he has as much malice
to good men, as Whores have to honest Women
Priest.
I must first begin with you my Lord.
Ger.
Look there, he knows who has most need on't.
Nean.
Peace Wisard, peace! do you say this to me?
Priest.
Peace stupid Wretches, I command you: and confess,
and repent of your most horrid Crimes.
Nean.
Well Sir, I have done; and I do confess from the bottom
of my heart—O you old dry, raw-bon'd, wretched, decrepit-Cuckold
you, to bring me to this.
Priest.
Heav'n! what impiety is this?
Ger.
Ay Sir! you see his Devotion? O! Villainous wicked
man.
Priest.
Sir! hold your Tongue! my Lord, 'tis time now to be
sensible of your sad condition.
Ger.
Ay Sir! so it is, if you knew as much as I do of his wickedness,
you'd say so.
Nean.
Well Sir! I do confess, I'le torment the Rogue
[Aside.
I have many Sins to repent of—First—I have been naught with
that old fellow's Wife.
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The Gods forgive you.
Ger.
What do I hear? Hell and Furies!
Priest.
Do you repent of it?
Nean.
Yes Sir; it was a horrid Crime.
Ger.
O Villain! I'le be reveng'd of him! it was a horrid Crime
indeed; 'twas Incest, for he is my Son, about five or six and twenty
years ago his Mother and I were a little familiar.
Priest.
O Impious men! you are too near of kin in wickedness.
Nean.
He like a Villain brought his Wife to me, and drew me
in; Oh wretched Pimp!
Priest.
Hard-hearted Wretches, will nothing awake you?
Enter Marshall.
Marsh.
Sir, Urania is just ready to go to Execution, and you are
expected to assist her.
Priest.
Poor Lady; I'le wait on her! Gentlemen consider your
turns are next.—
Ex. Priest and Marshall.
Nean., Ger.
O! what will become of me.
[They roar aloud.
Nean.
What will become of you you Rascal; what will become
of me, I am a Lord you old Dog.
Ger.
A Villanous Wretch, what care I for a Lord: what will become
of me!
(Ex. Geron and Neander.
Enter Urania (in White, with Guards; Musicians cloath'd in White, and other Attendants in a solemn Procession) led between two Gentlemen in Mourning: As they go this Song is sung, to a solemn Tune.
Lovers Lament, Lament this fatal day,
When Beauties sweetest Bud is snatch'd away:
Unhappy Nymph, that could so wretched prove,
To suffer so for such a Noble Love:
A Love which was her Glory, not Offence:
The Gods will sure reward such Innocence,
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Shall from disasters in her Love be free;
Whither her Lov'd Theander shall repair
In her eternal Joy to claim his share.
There appears a Scaffold cover'd with Black, and Urania led between two Gentlemen in black: The King looks to see the Execution [above].
King.
Poor Urania! did I not fear the Prince's coming,
I could not see so sad a Spectacle: but I'le retire a little.
2. Gent. lead up Ura. to the Scaffold, and she having wip'd her Eyes, speaks to the people.
Uran.
Did any thing but my own Innocence
Lie now at stake, I should not dare to speak,
Before so many Persons, (but though I
Must quite dispair of Mercy in this World,
I hope I may find Charity, and that
The good will credit a poor dying Person,
Altho' she bring no Witness but her Vows:
All I am now condemn'd for is my birth,
Which seems indeed a Misery, but not
A Crime; or if it were, I could not help it:
My Poverty must be reliev'd with Death.
But though I can
Find no forgiveness in the world, I am glad
I find it in my self: I freely can
Forgive who e're have injur'd me, and this
Is some ease to me, though perchance the living
Do little heed the pardons of the dead.
Gent.
Poor Lady, my heart mourns for her.
Ura.
I do not know I e're did harm to any,
Onely my Lord Endymion I did once
Delude to save my life, would Heav'n I had not;
But he is merciful to others, though
He has met with little for himself.
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If pitty poor Urania could do thee good,
Thou hast enough on't.
Uran.
I do confess I'm marry'd to the Prince;
But he will witness for me 'twas th' effect
Of his own Choice: I never presum'd
To think it till he told me it should be so;
Since when how faithful I have been to him
Witness! Oh! Heaven! and all those Pow'rs that dare
Acquit whom Kings condemn; and tho' for this
I now must suffer death, I cannot wish
I had not don't, since 'twas the Prince's pleasure,
Whom to contradict, to me were worse then death.
Gent.
Alas! I pity her, her Case is too severe.
Uran.
And yet I feel
That death is bitter, 'tis an Enemy
Looks cruelly on those who have no friends:
'Tis hard to undergo the greatest Task alone;
But 'tis my Fate, and Heaven must be obey'd—
—'Tis a long hazard that we run in death,
And a short warning rather does disturb
Then fit us for it; were't not for this,
I could be well content to close these Eyes
That have of late beheld so little pleasure.
Marsh.
She draws Tears from my Eyes; I was not wont
To be so soft.
Uran.
But I too long
Detain you with Complaints, whose business is
To see me die: Live happy brave Theander,
May all thy Sorrows die with thy Urania,
And all those Joyes live with thee which she took
In thy Contents.—May'st thou be happy in
A Princess, great as thy own Merits, bright
As thy own Eyes, and vertuous as.
Are all thy Thoughts; and may she honour thee
As truly as thy poor Urania did.
Execu.
Are you ready, Madam?
Uran.
Who is this?
Gent.
Madam, 'tis your Destiny.
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O, it is he
Sir, you can instruct me what I am to do;
I never yet saw any body die.
Gent.
Madam, you must kneel.
Uran.
How will he strike?
Gent.
With all the mercy that he can.
Execu.
When you have ended all you have to say,
Pray kneel with your Face that way, and give
Some sign when I shall strike.
Uran.
I will.
Evad.
I cannot stay to see't; Farewell, dear Urania.—
Exit. Evad.
Uran.
When I am dead, pray Sirs suffer none
But my Mother to fit me for my Grave;
She will be careful of me, she will pay
Holy devotions for me, and bedew
With pious Tears that face she still has lov'd:
And may the Gods give comforts in her sorrows,
And all those Stars which have been hard to me
Be merciful to her—May my misfortune
Work in her onely a more true content
In the low Sphere she so securely moves in.
Execu.
I think she'l ne're a done prating, they all keep such a
coile when they come to die: Wou'd the King wou'd please to forbid
all Speeches upon Scaffolds.
Uran.
Sirs! Farewel, pray present
My humble Service to my Noble Princess,
With thanks for all her Favours, in my life,
And Charity in death—bless'd Gods assist me.—
Kneels.
Pray expect the Sign.
Execu.
I shall.—
Enter in haste Parthenia Urania's Mother.
Parth.
Stay stay the fatal Blow.
King.
What's this?
Par.
A miserable Mother come to save her onely Child.
King.
Executioner do your Office.
One of the Gent. layes hold of the Executioner.
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Great King, dread Soveraign, hear
Hear a distress'd Mother, hear for their sakes
That at your death must hear you.
King.
What will you say?
Par.
My Child is Innocent.
King.
Do your Office Executioner.
Par.
O stay, stay, Great King, Urania is
A Princess born, her Father was a King.
King.
What say you?
Par.
Urania's Father was a King,
Great, but Unfortunate, the King of Thrace.
King.
It is impossible, the King of Thrace?
And what are you?
Par.
Great King, I'm now your Subject,
My name Parthenia, and my habitation
A little Cottage: but I once was known
By the name of Cleopatra, and was wife
To Pyrocles the vertuous Prince of Thrace,
Of whom all that remains besides his Fame
Is this poor Child, for whom I beg your mercy,
Not to extinguish with one stroke all that
The strokes of Fate have left among the ruines
Of a late glorious Family.
King.
Her Language!
Bespeaks her something else then her habit:
'Tis strange.—but how do you make this good
Which you affirm?—how came you to Arcadia?
Par.
Will your Majesty be pleas'd to hear my story.
I shall be brief.
King.
Speak on!
But if you speak not truth you shall partake
Your Daughters Fate.
Par.
Let it be so!
I shall not now repeat the long misfortunes
Of my unhappy Prince by that dire War,
His Rebel Subjects rais'd against him through
His too great Goodness: These reports enough
Already have afflicted all good Ears,
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When he had acted out his Tragedy—
King.
That we have all heard.
Par.
Next they came
To his Relations; how they did betray
And Butcher diverse of them, all have heard,
And I have felt; I having then remaining
Of all my Children but two Daughters, whereof
One being 14 years of age, was before our ruine
Contracted to the Prince of Macedon, (and is since dead;)
The other, this poor Child (then but some few months old)
And knowing how soon Kingdoms
Grow weary of th' Unfortunate,
Resolv'd for safety to retire
To some small place, such as my narrow Fortune
Could make my own, and there to buy my peace
With my obscurity, hither then I came,
Invited by the peace of this bless'd Region,
And purchas'd the small Cottage where I live
And learn'd to change a Scepter for a Sheep-hook,
And thus I bred my Child.
King.
But stay!
Is't probable in all that time you should not
Acquaint Urania with her birth.
Par.
I never did,
Not willing to disturb those sweet contents
She took in being all she hop'd to be;
And all she understood, she felt no care;
And with more pleasure govern'd her small Flock,
Then her unhappy Father his great Kingdom.
King.
Pyrrhus! She does not speak amiss, and has
Methinks the look and meen of a woman of Quality.
Par.
But Heaven that oft
Affronts the highest probabilities,
And gratifies by wayes were never thought of;
In this low Ebb, when all my hopes were grown
More prostrate then my Fortune, does begin
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Are neerer it, who kneel in humble Cells,
Then such as stand on Tiptoe on high Towers.
For now Theander makes Urania more
A Princess, then a Kingdom could, by courting
Her as a Shepherdess, and shews the World,
That more then Chance conduc'd to her Greatness.
King.
Why did you not tell Theander the whole truth?
Par.
Sir, he marry'd her at Court, and I knew not of it
Till he we was gone to the War in Thessaly:
For witness of all this, I do invoke
Those Pow'rs, who never testifie untruths;
And here produce those small Remains of Greatness
Misfortune yet hath left me; See, Sir, here
She shews several rich Jewels.
That so fam'd Jewel which so many Kings
Of Thrace have worn, and with such veneration
Have still preserv'd on an old Prophesie, that
This should preserve the Thracian Family.
King.
Pyrrhus! 'tis all true! Go tell the Queen and Princess this:
(Ex. Pyrr.
I need no Testimony but those words,
All Queens might blush to hear from Cottagers,
But is it possible so mean a place
So long should hold great Cleopatra?
Par.
Know, great Prince (and know it too
From one who has experimented Greatness)
When I had satisfy'd my self in my
Endeavours of regaining my lost Rights,
And saw 'em all unprosperous, (as if
Heaven long enough had given one Family
The priviledge to govern others)
I was as well content to be the first
Must learn to act with common people,
As he who first was call'd from them to rule.
King.
Great Queen,
The Prophesie is now fulfill'd, That Jewel
Will serve to satisfie the World as much
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And thus preserves the Thracian Family,—
Embraces Urania.
Dear Daughter! still be happy and forgive
Our ignorance; I cannot love thee better
Then at that very time I did condemn thee,
I could as well have sentenc'd my two Eyes;
And pardon me, dear Sister, if I first—
Salutes Cleopatra.
Ask'd pardon where I most did need it.
Call the Queen, and tell Cleantha Urania is alive.
Par.
Now, my dear Daughter thou art safe within my Armes.
Uran.
Madam, it onely did belong to you
Who gave me life, thus to preserve it too.—
Trumpets within.
King.
What's this?
Gent.
The Prince is come.
King.
What will Theander say to see his dear Urania
Thus attir'd at his return?
Uran.
He'l say you'r mercifull.
Enter Queen, Cleantha and Pyrrhus.
King.
Madam, see here great Cleopatra
And call her Sister; take Cleantha!
Her thou hast wept for: Pyrrhus has told you all.
Enter Theander.
My Son! never more welcome! never
The Prince fixes his Eyes on Urania.
Did more Joy spring from more Sorrow.
Thean.
Bless me dread Sir!
What Scene does entertain me? Are your Joyes
Exprest by Sacrifice?
King.
Theander, take,
Take thy Urania, and wonder not
At any thing but her.
Thean.
My Triumphs are more dreadful than my Conquests.
Qu.
My Son be happy
In thy best Choice; let not thy wonder make
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Thean.
Madam, I'le believe,
And hope in time to understand—dear Cozen—
Goes to salute Cleantha.
Clean.
Sir, when you first have done
Your Duty to the Queen of Thrace, your Mother,
Then to your Urania, I shall be thankful for
The honour you too early wou'd vouchsafe me.
Thean.
I must obey what Heaven knows when
I shall understand.—
Salutes Cleopa.
This is an earlier Tribute than I thought—
To Urania.
To pay your Lips: (my dear Urania) But why
Do'st thou conspire to my Distraction? why
This Habit, and why these Tears?
King.
Heav'n bless you both!
And may your Loves increase still with your dayes:
May you be fresh as Spring, as Autumn fruitful,
And know no Winter of adversity;
And may the Gods that have done Wonders in your Loves
Do Wonders in the Effects of it.
Thean.
Sure this is all a Vision! am I awake?
Enter Priest.
Priest.
A day full of Wonders!
King.
A day all Miracle!
How mercifull is Heaven; who would be bad
When Vertue's thus rewarded in distress?
Thean.
Couzen your Pardon,—
Salutes Cleantha.
Happy is this meeting;—
To all.
I am oblig'd for all the Joy I see
Start out of Sorrow now at my Return.
Clean.
Heav'n give you Joy of your Urania.
Thean.
You have oblig'd me, Madam, that you have
Dealt so gently with your Servant.
Clean.
She ne're had been Esteem'd so, had you thought
Me Worthy of your Councel Sir; but now
I shall endeavour to repay her all
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Thean.
She is still you servant Cozen.
Clean.
aside.)
How can there be such Joy when brave
Endymion lives in unjust Banishment?
Thean.
I long to ease my wonder, and to know
The story of great Cleopatra, how
She has been so long obscur'd to all the World
But to her self.
King.
Wee'l find a Scene for that,
Less like the Face of sorrow, ('tis enough
Urania is a Princess) and had Fortune
In ought but in her blindness been like Justice
Had worn the Crown of Thrace, onely my Daughter
My dear Urania, ask me on this place,
I so have injur'd thee, what I shall do
To expiate my Ignorance of thy Worth,
Ask what thou wilt I'le not deny it.
Uran.
I want not a Request, had I but merit
And Confidence to ask it.
King.
If you do not ask it, you chuse the perfect way
To disoblige me.
Uran.
It is Endymion's Liberty; Pardon, Sir, the boldness
You'r pleas'd to give me, and the Gratitude
I hope I ne're shall lose.
King.
You have my Word, do with it what you please,
I'le give you Order for't.
Thean.
Your pardon Sir,
If your Commands already are obey'd,
Endymion is return'd, I met him e're
He was imbarqu'd, and having been inform'd,
From my Urania of all his Cares for her,
I stay'd him, hoping from your Goodness to
Obtain his Pardon, for the Love Cleantha
So truly bears him. I have no more to say
Against it than against my own I had
For my Urania, when I thought her less:
And since the Gods have made her Great for me
80
Some of their business for them, and reward
So brave a Vertue as Endymion owns,
And make him great for his Cleantha too.
Clean.
Is Endymion return'd? O happy hour!
Thean.
The War in Thessaly has found an happy end,
And there I've left
Those hands that made that Scepter stoop, who, now,
Want but a Scene to do new wonders in,
And this may prove rebellious Thrace, if you
Sir, think fit I wear that Crown Urania gives me;
In this Conquest, the brave Endymion
Shall be my second; what shall I not expect from
Such vertue and such valour when they meet?
King.
I have of late receiv'd such mercies, that
I cannot think of any thing which looks
Like Cruelty. Therefore wonder not
All that you ask so soon is granted you,
Cleantha; Take then your Endymion; be
More blest in him than Greatness e're could make you.
Qu.
And now you'r doing works of mercy Sir,
I beg for the sake of this glorious day
Which is a day of mercy to us all,
That Geron and Neander may not die
But suffer Banishment for life.
King.
What you propose has much of Piety;
I'le not deny't: and now I've one request
To you my honour'd Priest, your leave
That Pyrrhus my best Confident may serve
The fair Evadne.
Priest.
You oblige me Sir to make me see
My poor Evadne is so much your care,
It shall be mine; she still shall think that best
Your Majesty is pleas'd to chuse for her.
Enter Endymion.
Thean.
Endymion! why so slowly to thy Joyes?
Kneels and kisses Cleantha's hand.
Reap here the fruits of Gratitude and Mercy.
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Welcome my Lord.
Qu.
My Lord, you'r welcome from your Banishment.
King.
You've onely now this Ladies leave to ask
For any thing you'd have.
Endym.
I am happy in your Royal mercy Sir,
And hope in time to be so too in hers.
Madam, I hope your Highness has the Charity
To pardon your poor Servant, who was the
Unwilling occasion of so much injury
To so Noble a Princess.
Clean.
You need not fear
Your Sentence when Cleantha is your Judge.
King.
Let us all away, and satisfie our selves with what
We have so long travail'd with, and let the World
Learn from this story, Those that are vertuous
Cannot be long in Clouds; Innocence conceal'd is the
Stoln pleasure of the Gods, which never ends
In shame as that of Men does oft times, but
Like the Sun breaks forth, when he has
Gratify'd another World, and to our Eyes appears
More Glorious through his late obscurity.
Priest.
The Impious here a while may find some Rest,
But in the End the good are onely blest.
Ex. omnes.
FINIS.
| The Royal Shepherdess | |