 | The Queene of Corinth |  |
Scæna Quarta.
Enter Euphanes and Martiall.Euph.
Are your Prisoners ready?
Mar.
When it shall please the Queene
To call them forth my Lord.
Euph.
Pray you doe me the favour
To tell me how they have borne themselves this night
Of their imprisonment?
Mar.
Gladly Sir; your Brother
With the other Courtiers willingly receiv'd
All courtesies I could offer; eat, and drank,
And were exceeding merry, so dissembling
Their guilt, or confident in their innocence,
That I much wonder'd at it. But the Prince,
That (as borne highest) should have grac'd his fall
With greatest courage, is so sunck with sorrow,
That to a common judgement ye would seeme
To suffer like a woman: but to me,
That from the experience I have had of many
Looke further in him, I doe finde the deep
Consideration of what's past, more fright him
Then any other punishment.
Euph.
That is indeed
True magnanimity: the other but
A desperate bastard vallour.
Mar.
I pressed to him,
And notwithstanding the Queenes strict command,
(Having your Lordships promise to secure me)
Offer'd to free him from his bonds, which he
Refus'd, with such a sorrow mixt with scorne
That it amaz'd me; yet I urg'd his Highnesse
To give one Reason for't: he briefly answer'd,
That he had sate in Judgement on himselfe,
And found that he deserv'd them: that he was
A Ravisher, and so to suffer like one,
Which is the reason of my teares: he addeth,
For were't not I againe should breake the Lawes,
By scorning all their rigour can inflict,
I should dye smiling.
Euph.
I forbeare to wonder
That you were mov'd that saw this: I am strooke
With the relation so. 'Tis very well;
See all things ready. I doe wish I could
Send comfort to the Prince; be ready with him;
'Tis in the Queenes breast only, which for us
Bar brought in
To search into were sawcinesse, to determine
What she thinkes fit.
Enter Leonidas with Merione (in white) Euphanes with Beliza (in black) Queene, Agenor, Conon, Martiall, with Theanor, Crates, Sosicles, Eraton. Lords, Ladies, Guard.
Lord.
Make way there for the Queene.
Quee.
Read first the Law, and what our Ancestors
Have in this case provided, to deter
Such like offenders: To you gentle Ladies
This onely, Would I could as well give comfort,
As bid you be secure from feare or doubt
Of our displeasure: be as confident
As if your plea were 'gainst a common man,
To have all right from us; I will not grieve
For what's not worth my pitty: Read the Law.
Clerke
Reades.
Lycurgus the nineteenth against Rapes: It is provided,
and publiquely enacted and confirmed, That any man
of what degree soever, offering violence to the chastity of
a Virgin, shall (Ipso facto) be lyable to her accusation,
and according to the said Law be censur'd; Ever
provided, that it shall be in the choyce of the said Virgin
so abused, either to compell the Offender to Marry her
without a Dowre, if so she will be satisfied, or demanding
his head for the offenoe, to have that accordingly
performed.
Quee.
You heare this: what doe you demand?
Mer.
The benefit
The Law allowes me.
Bel.
For the injury
Done to mine Honour, I require his head.
Mer.
I likewise have an eye upon mine Honour,
But knowing that his death cannot restore it
I aske him for my Husband.
Bel.
I was Ravish'd,
And will have Justice.
Mer.
I was Ravish'd too,
I kneele for mercy.
Bel.
I demand but what
The Law allowes me.
Mer.
That which I desire
Is by the same Law warranted.
Bel.
The Rape
On me, hath made a forfeit of his life,
Which in revenge of my disgrace I plead for.
Mer.
The Rape on me gives me the priviledge
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Age.
A doubtfull case.
Leo.
Such pretty Lawyers, yet
I never saw, nor read of.
Euph.
May the Queene
Favour your sweet plea, Madam.
Bel.
Is that justice?
Shall one that is to suffer for a Rape
Be by a Rape defended? Looke upon
The publike enemy of chastity,
This lustfull Satyre, whose enrag'd desires
The ruine of one wretched Virgins honour
Would not suffice; and shall the wrack of two
Be his protection? May be I was ravish'd
For his lust onely, thou for his defence;
O fine evasion! shall with such a sleight
Your justice be deluded? your Lawes cheated?
And he that for one fact deserv'd to die,
For sinning often finde impunity?
But that I know thee, I would sweare thou wert
A false Impostour, and subornd to this;
And it may be thou art Merione:
For hadst thou suffer'd truly what I have done,
Thou wouldst like me complaine, and call for vengeance,
And our wrongs being equall, I alone
Should not desire revenge: But be it so,
If thou prevaile, even he will punish it,
And foolish mercy shew'd to him undoe thee,
Consider, foole, before it be too late,
What joyes thou canst expect from such a husband,
To whom thy first, and what's more, forc'd embraces,
Which men say heighten pleasure, were distastefull.
Mer.
'Twas in respect, that then they were unlawfull,
Unbless'd by Hymen, and left stings behind them,
Which from the marriage bed are ever banish'd.
Let this Court be then the image of Joves throne,
Upon which grace and mercy still attend,
To intercede betweene him and his Justice;
And since the Law allowes as much to me
As she can challenge, let the milder sentence,
Which best becomes a Mother, and a Queene
Now overcome; nor let your wisdome suffer,
In doing right to her, I in my wrong
Indure a second Ravishment.
Bel.
You can free him
Onely from that which do's concerne your selfe,
Not from the punishment that's due to me:
Your injuries you may forgive, not mine;
I plead mine owne just wreak, which will right both,
Where that which you desire robs me of Justice;
'Tis that which I appeale to.
Mer.
Bloody woman,
Dost thou desire his punishment? Let him live then;
For any man to marry where he likes not
Is still a lingring torment.
Bel.
For one Rape
One death's sufficient, that way cannot catch me.
Mer.
To you I fly then, to your mercy Madam,
Exempting not your Justice, be but equall;
And since in no regard I come behind her,
Let me not so be undervalu'd in
Your highnesse favour, that the world take notice
You so prefer'd her, that in her behalf
You kil'd that Son, you would not save for me;
Mercy, O mercy Madam.
Bel.
Great Queen, Justice.
Age.
With what a Masculine constancy the grave Lady
hath heard them both?
Leo.
Yet how unmov'd she sits
In that which most concernes her?
Con.
Now she rises,
And having well waigh'd both their arguments,
Resolves to speak.
Euph.
And yet againe she pauses;
O Conon, such a resolution once
A Roman told me he had seene in Cato
Before he kill'd himself.
Que.
'Tis now determin'd.
Merione, I could wish I were no Queene,
To give you satisfaction; no Mother
Beliza, to content you; and would part,
Even with my being, both might have their wishes;
But since that is impossible, in few words
I will deliver what I am resolved on:
The end for which all profitable Lawes
Were made, looks two waies onely, the reward
Of innocent good men, and the punishment
Of bad Delinquents: Ours, concerning Rapes,
Provided that same latter clause of Marriage
For him that had falne once, not then foreseeing
Mankinde could prove so monstrous, to tread twice
A path so horrid. The great Law-giver
Draco, That for his strange severity
Was said to write his sterne Decrees in blood,
Made none for Parricides, presuming that
No man could be so wicked; Such might be,
Lycurgus answere (did he live) for this.
But since I finde that in my Sonne, which was not
Doubted in any else, I will adde to it;
He cannot marry both, but for both dying,
Both have their full revenge: You see Beliza
You have your wish; with you Merione
Ile spend a teare or two, so Heaven forgive thee.
The.
Upon my knees I do approve your judgement,
And beg that you would put it into act
With all speed possible; onely that I may,
Having already made peace with my self,
Part so with all the world: Princely Agenor
I aske your pardon; yours my Lord Euphanes;
And Crates, with the rest too, I forgive you;
Do you the like for me: Yours, gracious Mother,
I dare not ask, and yet if that my death
Be like a Son of yours, though my life was not,
Perhaps you may vouchsafe it: Lastly that
Both these whom I have wrong'd, may wish my ashes
No heavy burden, ere I suffer death,
For the restoring of Meriones honour,
Let me be married to her, and then dye
For you Beliza.
Que.
Thou hast made in this
Part of amends to me, and to the world,
Thy suit is granted, call a Flamyn forth
To do this holy work; with him a Headsman.
Enter Flamyn, and Executioner.
Raise up thy weeping eyes Merione,
With this hand I confirme thy Marriage,
Wishing that now the Gods would shew some miracle,
That this might not divorse it.
Cra.
To that purpose
I am their Minister; stand not amaz'd,
To all your comforts I will do this wonder,
Your Majesty (with your pardon I must speak it)
Allow'd once heretofore of such a Contract,
Which you repenting afterwards, revok'd it,
Being fully bent to match her with Agenor,
The griev'd Prince knowing this, and yet not daring
23
Bound me and these his followers to doe something
That he might once enjoy her, we sworne to it,
And easily perswaded, being assur'd
She was his Wife before the face of Heaven,
Although some Ceremonious formes were wanting,
Committed the first Rape, and brought her to him,
Which broke the Marriage; but when we perceiv'd
He purpos'd to abuse our ready service
In the same kinde, upon the chaste Beliza,
Holding our selves lesse ty'd to him then goodnesse;
I made discovery of it to my Brother,
Who can relate the rest.
Euph.
It is most true.
Quee.
I would it were.
Euph.
In every circumstance
It is upon my soule: For this knowne to me,
I wan Merione in my Ladies habit,
To be againe (but willingly) surpriz'd,
But with Agenor, and her noble Brother,
With my approv'd friend Conon, with such speed
She was pursu'd, that the lewd act scarce ended,
The Prince (assur'd he had enjoy'd Beliza,
For all the time Meriones face was cover'd)
Was apprehended, and brought to your presence,
But not till now discover'd, in respect
I hop'd the imminent danger of the Prince,
To which his loose unquenched heats had brought him,
Being pursu'd unto the latest tryall
Would worke in him compunction, which it has done;
And these two Ladies in their feign'd contentions,
To your delight I hope have serv'd as Maskers
To their owne Nuptialls.
Quee.
My choyce was worthy
When first I look'd on thee, as thou hast order'd
All shall be done, and not the meanest that
Plaid in this unexpected Comedy,
But shall pertake our bounty: And my Lord,
That with the rest you may seeme satisfi'd,
If you dare venture on a Queene, not yet
So farre in debt to yeares, but that she may
Bring you a lusty Boy, I offer up
My selfe and Kingdome during my life to you.
Ag.
It is a blessing which I durst not hope for,
But with all joy receive.
All.
We all applaud it.
Quee.
Then on unto the Temple, where the rights
Of Marriage ended, we'l finde new delights.
Exeunt.
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