University of Virginia Library

Scene. V.

Sylli. Camiola. Clarinda. At severall doores.
Syll.
Vndone! vndone! poore I that whilome was
The top and ridge of my house, am on the sudden
Turn'd to the pittifullest animal
Of the lignage of the Syllies!

Cami.
What's the matter?

Syl.
The king! breake gyrdle, breake!

Cami.
Why? what of him?

Syl.
Hearing how far you doted on my person,
Growing envious of my happines, and knowing
His brother, nor his favorite Fulgentio,
Could get a sheepes eie from you, I being present,
Is come himselfe a suitor, with the awle
Of his authoritie to bore my nose,
And take you from me, Oh, oh, oh.

Cam.
Do not rore so;
The king!

Syl.
The king! yet loving Sylli is not
So sorrie for his owne, as your misfortune,
If the king should carrie you, or you beare him,
What a looser should you be? He can but make you
A queene, and what a simple thing is that
To the being my lawful spouse. The world can never
Affoord you such a husband.

Cami.
I beleeve you,
But how are you sure the king is so inclin'd?
Did not you dreame this?

Syl.
With these eyes I saw him
Dismisse his traine, and lightnig from his coach,
Whispering Fulgentio in the eare.

Cam.
If so
I ghesse the businesse

Syl.
It can be no other
But to give me the bob, that being a matter
Of maine importance, yonder they are, I dare not
Be seene, I am so desperate, if you forsake me,
Exit Rob. Ful.
Send me word that I may provide a willow ghyrlond
To weare when I drowne my selfe. O Sylli, ô Sylli!

Exit crying
Ful.
It will be worth your paines Sir to observe
The constancie and bravery of her spirit,
Though great men tremble at your frownes, I dare
Hazzard my head, your majesty set off
With terror, cannot fright her.

Robert.
May she answer
My expectation.

Fulgen.
There she is.

Cam.
My knees thus
Bent to the earth (while my vowes are sent upward
For the safety of my Soveraigne) pay the duty
Due for so great an honor, in this favour
Done to your humblest hand-maid.

Robert.
You mistake me,
I come not (Lady) that you may report,
The king to do you honor, made your house
(He being there) his court, but to correct
Your stubborne disobedience. A pardon
For that, could you obtaine it, were well purchas'd
With this humility.

Cam.
A pardon Sir?
'Till I am conscious of an offence.
I will not wrong my innocence to begge one,
What is my crime Sir?

Rob.
Look on him I favour,
By you scorn'd and negelected.

Cam.
Is that all Sr.

Rober.
No minion, though that were too much. How can you
Answer the setting on your desperate brauo
To murther him?

Cam.
With your leave, I must not kneele Sir.
While I replie to this: But thus rise up
In my defence, and tell you as a man
(since when you are unjust, the diety
Which you may challenge as a King, parts from you
'Twas never read in holy writ, or morrall,
That subjects on their loyalty were oblig'd
To love their Soveraignes vices, your grace, Sir,
To such an undeserver is no vertue.

Fulgen.
What thinke you now Sir?

Cam.
Say you should love wine,
You being the King, and cause I am your subject,
Must I be ever drunke? Tyrants, not Kings
By violence, from humble vassalls force
The liberty of their fooles. I could not love him.
And to compell affection, as I take it,
Is not found in your prerogative.

Rob.
Excellent virgin!
How I admire her confidence?

Cam.
He complaines
Of wrong done him: but be no more a King,
Vnlesse you do me right. Burne your decrees,
And of your lawes and statutes make a fire
To thaw the frozen numnesse of delinquents,
If he escape unpunish'd. Doe your edicts
Call it death in any man that breakes into
Anothers house to rob him, though of trifles,
And shall Fulgentio, your Fulgentio live?
Who hath committed more then sacriledge
In the pollution of my cleare fame
By his malicious slanders.

Rob.
Have you done this?
Answer truely on your life.

Fulgen.
In the heat of blood
Some such thing I reported.

Rob.
Out of my sight,
For I vow, if by true penitence thou win not
This injur'd Lady to sue out thy pardon,
Thy grave is digg'd already.

Fulgen.
By my owne folly
I have made a faire hand of't,
Exit Fulgen.

Rob.
You shall know Lady
While I weare a crowne, justice shall use her sword
To cut offenders off, though neerest to us.

Cam.
I, now you shew whose Deputy you are,
I now I bath your feet with teares, it cannot
Be censur'd superstition.

Rob.
You must rise.
Rise in our favour, and protection ever:

Kisses her
Cam.
Happy are subjects! when the prince is still
Guided by justice, not his passionate will.

Exeunt.