University of Virginia Library

Scena Quinta.

Enter Clorina above, as in her Chamber.
Clorina.
I am lock'd in, and at it am amaz'd
But will conceale it from my servants while
I any Excuse can find. It needs must be
My Husband; For he last was with me here.
I did not hear him doo't; but (in all likehood)
Twas he, when's mind did run on something else.
I am so innocent I should fear nothing,
And yet so timerous that I am in dread.
Enter Pyrontus, and Philocles below.
Pyrontus and his Friend are come into
The Garden: Gracious Heaven divert from
The Prosecution of his suit to me.
My troublesom thoughts have brought a Drowsiness
Upon me. Sleep shall entertain my time
Untill Bassanes comes, and ope's the door.
I will not force the lock, because I am
A stranger to the reason I'm made Prisoner.
Perhaps my Husband knowes some Mortall danger
Design'd against me, and hath thus secur'd me
Till his return.

Withdraws.
Pyron.
My Philocles, by all
The Circumstances of our mighty Friendship,
I pray thee vex me with no more Disswasions.
I cannot look upon my Passion to,
The fair Clorina as a Crime. If tis
Offence on her to be enamour'd, sure
All mankind that beholds her, must be guilty.

Philoc.
You are so obstinate, my heart foretels me
You will draw Mischiefs on your head. For Heavens sake
Consider on your Friendship to Bassanes,
Reflect upon the Contumely, you
Will bring upon you from the Mouthes of all,
For your unbridled Appetite to the Wife!
Of your approved Friend; and for the Breach
Of Sacred Amity by such a Crime.

Pyron.
Your words you scatter in the wind to give
Counsell to me. My Friendship must submit
To my more powerfull Love.

Philoc.
Noble Pyrontus,
Tis not too late yet to consult with Reason.
Pray give me leave to wait upon you home.
Rouse your depressed Vertue up, and let
Time, your own Courage, and the gods Assistance,
Clear your brave mind, from all these vitious Flames.

Pyron.
I will not leave the house till I have seen
And spoken with Clorina.

Philoc.
You have heard
She is retir'd into her Chamber, there
Hath lock'd her self up; And you may believe
Tis done to shun your Courtship. Will you goe?

Pyron.
I will not stir from hence, till I have blest
My eyes with the most glorious Beams of hers!

Philoc.
I then must take my leave. If I can do
No good with my Entreaties to my Friend.
The world shall not inflict their Curses on me,
As if that I conniv'd at his Impieties.
I pray you come away.

Pyron.
All-powerfull Love,
Hath charm'd me from obeying your Commands.

Philoc.
Farewell then; but be wise and follow me,
Exit Philocles.

Pyron.
So let him go. I undisturb'd may now
Enjoy my thoughts, and follow my own Genius.
She is not sick, and yet she keeps her Chamber;
And locks her self in, to my greater Prejudice.
That is the window to't. Oh! For the power
Of Jove t'fall on her in a golden shower,
Mercury! thanks. The Gardiner hath left
A Ladder here. Il'e reare it up and venture
Thereby to get a sight of her; And (if
I else where must not) there declare my grief.
Rears and climbs up the Ladder.
The window open! every thing foretells
Happy success!—she lyes upon her Bed!
Looks like Diana toyld with rurall sports.
Fortune hath thus far favour'd me, and I
Will by her Foretop hold, and venture in.
Degenerate Minds are known by Fear: And Fate
Makes the audacious Persons fortunate.
She sleeps! Morpheus his heavy hand hath laid,
On the fair Lids of her bright eyes. Il'e kiss
Them open, till those Suns appear
And shall disperse those Clouds.

Clorina.
My Lord! Bassanes!
You to Clorina are most welcom ever.
Alas! I am deceiv'd: What Spectre's this
That haunts me in Pyrontus shape?

Pyrontus.
It is
No aiery Apparition, but the wretched
Pyrontus self, who hath presum'd to steal
Upon your Privacies.

Clorina.
For Heavens sake go, and never see me more.
Your self you too much trouble, and expose
Me (whether I will or no) to so much Ignomimy
By this Intrusion, that should it be known
My Reputation would be overthrown.
For Heavens sake, hence immediatly retire
Without a word.

Pyron.
Have you no pitty yet?

Clorina.
Have you no Goodness?
No care, and no Respect for a poor woman?
A Married one, and your Friend's Wife? You gods
Deliver me (in safety) from this Monster.
Men have exil'd all Piety from their hearts,
I must not hope for any succour from them.
Fie, fie Pyrontus! if you have not made
A league with hell, and mischief, vanish streight,
And purge your foul Soul by sincere Repentance.

Pyron.
Are you of so supream a Beauty, that
It were profaness to compare you to
The fairest of women kind (I think I may
Say, Venus self doth want of your Perfections)
And can you harbour so severe a mind,
Within so rich a body? Give a Period
To your long Cruelty, and mercy shew.

Clorina.
You blast me with your words, study my Ruine.

Pyron.
Dearest Clorina! Have a Milder thought
Of my immense affection. In a body
(By Nature's liberall hand fram'd to a wonder)
Lodge not a soul for ever voide of pitty;
Slight not my knees thus bow'd to move a tenderness,
In your so long inexorable heart;
Neither despise my tears; which thus I power
A sacrifice to your disdain: No longer
Attire your heart in Robes of Salvageness,
Armour impenetrably cold. Oh! Mollify it
With the Remembrance of the assiduous service
That I have paid you, upon all Occasions.

Enter Bassanes, and Marullus below.
Bassa.
Marullus! I have pas'd my word to make
This Afternoon a Visit to Spinella.

Mar.
You will not so discourteous be I know.
Your friend Pyrontus (as I herd within)
Is come to see you, and is in the Garden.
It seems he is retir'd into some of
The solitary walkes; being out of sight.

Bassa.
Faithfull Marullus! I will not conceal
A thought from you that doth disturb my Breast.
He's to our Friendship false, loves my Clorina,
And (if he hath not yet) intends to tempt her
By his leud Courtship to incontinent Life.
Because to day I meant to go unto
Cypassi's house, I've lock'd her in her Chamber,
To prevent him of his wild Aimes.

Marullus.
I think
I hear his voice in the next Ally to us

Bassa.
My wife is with him: Her tongue I'm well acquainted with.

Mar.
It seems they are together.

Bassa.
Hear stands a Ladder at her Chamber window,
How came it hither! Hark—O monstrous villany,
He by it is got up into her Chamber:
I am betraid; Marullus basely injur'd.
Forsake me not (my Friend) in my adversity,
Remove the Ladder saufely without noise.
Watch here Marullus, that he slides not down
And so escapes; And this great Trechery,
(By both of them) be impudently denied.
So, so, tis done without discovery.
Lay it down there or any where, I now
Will go and make a Third in her leud Lodging.

Mar.
But my best Friend! noble Bassanes! let not
A rash impatience move you to say,
Or to act any thing unworthy you.

Bassa.
You need not fear me.

Exit.
Mar.
This is an Accident so strange, I care not
Consider it without astonishment.
If these the Fruits of Marriage be: high Heaven
Be prais'd that I have liv'd a Batcheler.
Boast not hence forth you women, of your wealths
Or Beauties: For if you make no better Proof,
You bring an Hell, in Dowry to your Husbands.

Bassanes unlocks the door above and enters there.
Clorina.
My Husband's come. Oh you have ruin'd me,
Work'd such a Mischief that the gods will blush at it.

Bassa.
Thou beast! unworthy of the name of man,
Much more unworthy of the name of Friend!
Thy Crime so great is, that I need not lose
A Minute in hearing Lies for thy Excuse.
Kills him.
Dye; and go rinsh in vain thy so polluted
Soul, in the flaming streams of Phlegeton.

Pyron.
Let my last words (for they are perfect trueth)
Find Credit with you. Your Clorina's chast
I here surpris'd her when she was asleepe.

Bassa.
He's sunk to Hell. Now my leud Huswife come:
I'le find another Room for your disports,
Thy unclean Body shall no more infect
My Nuptiall Bed.

Clorina.
Protect, Oh Gratious gods! my Innocence.

Bassanes.
Walk in Marullus. I have suffer'd wrong:
And this Adultress Justice shall, ere long.

Exeunt Omnes.