University of Virginia Library

Scena Prima.

Enter Phylander and Antiphila.
Phy.

Sweetest Antiphila!

Anti.

I wonder Sir, in what I have so forfeited my
faith that I cannot be credited.

Phy.
Urge me not, Lady, unto a belief,
That will be my destruction:
Delay me rather with a little hope,
And save me from despair.

Ant.
I can but say what I have said already.
You do not trust my tongue; Pray take a parchment,
And there inscribe a sad and solemn Oath;
And I'le subscribe that I will never have you.

Phy.
The fatal Ravens hoarse crying
Is Thracian Musick unto your reply.
Would I had heard a thousand Mandrakes groan,
So you had left me in silence.

Ant.

I pity you, but did you know me truly, you
would bless my denial (young Philander.)

Phi.
Bless it! O Lady,
Durst I but be so horribly prophane
As to curse any thing you please to do,
I would go study imprecations, and
Vent them in places that are haunted by
Wild walking devils; but my grand affection
Condemns that violence. Do not then suppose
That though you were a Suceubus, I durst
Utter such impious breath. Be all the faults
(That either truth or Poets fictions
Have shewn in women) in you, I will love you
With serious admiration.

Ant.
Sir, I will release your affection.

Phi.
Impossible.
Not the fairest creature (by diligent search pick'd out
Of all the infinite Myriades of beauties,
Selected from the spacious kingdoms of
The Earth, and I might chuse her freely)
Should win upon my heart to dispossess you;
She should not Lady.

Ant.
You will not hear me.

Phi.
Then may eternal deafness seize upon me:
Speak Lady, and though you do say the last
Word I shall ever hear, I will with joy
Be most attentive. The dark cave of sleep
Is not more quiet.

Anti.
I am contracted.

Phi.
You are not Lady.

Ant.
I am Sir.

Phi.
Unto my father?

Ant.
No.

Phi.
Then sentence his sure death by naming him.

Ant.
Will you destroy the man I love?

Phi.
And you him that loves you?

Ant.
What is done cannot be undone.

Phi.
It shall.

Ant.
You must not know his name therefore.

Phi.
If there be any manhood in his breast,
He shall disclose himself: Ile challenge him
By such sure circumstances (and set the papers
On publick places by the Play-Bills) that if
He dares but use a sword he will be known.

Ant.
So you will publish my disgrace.

Phi.
Too true, O Lady, dear Antiphila,
Give me his name. I will not kill him foully,
We will meet fairly: I may die upon
His sword, and you thereby be freed from my
Unworthy suit.

Ant.
Sir, promise me one thing, and I will tell you.

Phi.
Here is my hand, you shall charm me.

Anti.
I must lye, and grosly, to be rid of his Courtship.
—Aside.

It is Tandorix. You must not speak of it unto any, or
quarrell about it.

Phi.
Tis not: you mock me (sweet Antiphila.)

Ant.
Indeed Philander I do not.
You will be secret for my sake, untill
I do release you of your promise.

Phi.
Y'ave had my hand: silence must be my death.

Ant.
Ile leave you Sir, and build upon your word,
For I perceive you are displeased.
Exit Antiphila.

Phi.
This tis to be a fool: which is the truest,
And briefest definition of a Lover.
What fury fascinated so my sences,
As wilfully to make me become a slave
Unto the childish passions of a woman?
On this occasion wood I understood
The saddest Epithets of Necromancy,
That I might joyn them to this sex: O my heart!
I am orecome with rage, and will be rather
A perjur'd Mahumetan, and wade
Through streams of blood into her arms, then a
Soft-conscience'd ass, and let this villain have her:
Could envious hell suppose a body of
So delicate a composition, cood
Within it lodge a mind so poor and worthless?
This is a womans weakness! no, tis a baseness
Cannot be match'd in all the faults of man.
But why am I so angry? I will shew
My fury, not in idle breath but deeds.
Enter Rosinda.
And this shall be the time; thou base ambitious
Slave, before we part thou diest.

Rosin.
O good Sir, why? I nere offended you,
Heaven knows I love you best of all the world,

Phi.
Thou art the hinderance of all the bliss
I could expect or wish for upon earth.

Ros.
Sir, let me hear the reason of your rage,
And (if you find that I have injur'd you)
I will not beg for life.

Phil.
Find it! I know it clearly,
And will not honour thee, vile man, so much
As't let my tongue joyn such unequal names.

Ros.
I understand you not: Dear Sir, be plain.

Phi.
Art thou prepar'd to die? if not, kneel here,
And pray thy self into a readiness.

Rosin.
Be not so violent.

Phi.
Repent.

Ros.
Let me understand my offence; the chrysome child
Is not more innocent of wrongs to you,
Then guiltless I.

Phi.
The tears of Crocodiles!

Ros.
I humbly do upon my knees implore you
That you thus rashly will not take away
The life you never can restore, and will
Bewaile for in an overlate repentance.

Phi.
To heaven, and not to me make orizons.

Ros.
I am resolv'd.
For your deceased mothers sake (at whose
Sad funeral letter I was entertaind
Into your fathers family) and for
Those tears and sighes, and sorrows she did weep,
Groan, and express at her delivery of you,
Be merciful unto a faultless stranger.

Phil.
A tedious and an exquisite torture for
Thy death, should not deter me from it. My mother
(Could she arise out of her watry grave,
Appear in both our views, and be an eloquent
Suppliant unto me for thy life) should not
Prevail to win me to it.

Ros.
Then nothing will satisfie, keep in your sword;
I am your mother, draw off this Perriwig,
And my face will establish your belief.

Phi.
It does indeed; here prostrate on my knees
For my rude language I do crave remission.

Ros.
And you obtain it and my blessing too;
But you deserve blame for your violent fury.
O let me kiss your gracious hand, and seal
My pardon on your happy lips.
Why did you grieve us for the sad report
Of your untimely end?

Rosin.
You shall know all anon. But yet conceal
My being, till your fathers love be ripe,
And grown mature for a second marriage;
I pray you do.

Phil.
Mother, I will.
Now I've good hope Antiphila will be mine.