University of Virginia Library

Scene 2.

Filathes.
Women in their own Nature gen'rally
Deceitfull are. 'Tis the defensive Arm
Of their security, fram'd to supply
The deffect of their own Ability.
But when this innate disposition meets
With a fit instrument of wit: 'tis then
Women outstrip the common reach of men.
The justest ground of my suspition, is
This sudden change, so long pursued in vain.
My Signet perfectly agrees with this,
The Letter.
And may without a blemish it reclose.
Sits down at a table.
Opens the Letter and reads.
My Lord Ambigamor.
The Messenger hereof delivers you
A false pretence, but to delude the hand
Directs it, with th'assistance of my Brother,
A passionate Party in your Int'rests:
I thus advise you to restore your Friend.
The Princess (since her intercepted flight,
Occasion'd onely by Ludasters Love.
For whose Reapeal she often mov'd in vain)
Intends the Evening that succeeds this date,
To meet him at the Forest holy Oake:
Disguis'd alone, arm'd with the assurance
Of his vertue: Friendship confirms you best
Know how to yeeld him this Intelligence;
With which to joyn, your diligence to move;
Receive a farer title to my Love.
Zizania
These are new mysteries, whose progress would
Prove fatall to us in their Consequence.
Sister, you are a trusty Advocate
Is then Ludasters Interests become
More prevalent with you, than mine? I must
Suppress the issue, though with grief my Friend
Ambigamor must be depriv'd thereby
Th'advantage which it brings unto his Hopes:
Lost in his Mistress scorn—There is a mean
pause
May favour his and farther yet my Ends.
To thy Example be propitious Jove!
Ayde my deceit in Love—It shall be so.
pause
With little Art I may protract the Date
Hereof, whereon depends their meeting: whil'st
I, in the Intr'm, at the appointed time,
Vayl'd with th'approach of Night, may personate
My Rivall with success: I'le fetch a Pen,
And alter it, with ease, it shall not be
Distinguisht by the Eye that framed it.
Exit Fi.

Leaving the letter on the Table.
Sinevero Ent.
Sin.
Filathes! gone so suddenly; he was
Intermission reads the letter left on the table.
But now they told me in his Closet—How!
What this? with the assistance of my Brother.
A passionate party in your Interests—
Ludaster at the Forest Holy Oake—
The Evening that ensues this date—

Lets fall the letter from his eye

that is
To Night. Must then my children conspire
Against my safety, and th'immediate means
I have contrived to enlarge their Fates?
Tis time I should provide another stock,
To graft a more obedient Issue on.
Flings the letter carelesly on the Table again.
I'le not oppose their course, their ways shall be
Their Snare: my care rests onely on my own
Security: which to ensure, and these
My doubts confirm with farther certainty,
I must set Spies on the Delivery.
Ex. Sin.

Filathes reent with a Pen.
looks on the letter.
Fi.
This unite, if converted into two,
Defers the present, till to morrow night.
seems to write, closes it and seals it.
Tis done most perfectly. I will dispatch
The Messenger; then Heav'n put out your light;
Loves sense is clearest in the darkest night.
Ex. Fi.