 | The Swisser |  |
SCÆNA TERTIA
[An Apartment in the Palace.]ANDRVCHO, ARIOLDVS.
Andru.
I haue reduc't my Beard to the old shape.
Ariol.
But keepe this falce one on: the king is coming.
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I doe not like the way to force a King soe.
Ariol.
'Tis no inforcement: hee but sees his danger.
I'le stand betwixt thee and all harme.
Andru.
I'le do't then.
Exit ARIOLDVS; ANDRVCHO hides.
[Enter] KING.
King.
Poore man is then at worst, when his calme pleasures
(In the vnbounded Ocœan of Desire)
Seazeth his lasie thoughts: hee cannot feele
The helme of Reason, but is driuen with the streame
Of his affections, on some sand, or Rocke;
Where ere hee sees hid danger hee is lost.
Such is my Case. I wo'd redeeme what's past—
Who's there?
[Enter ANDRVCHO.]
Andru.
'Tis I.
King.
Andrucho, what dost thou heere?
I am not now for Mirth.
Andru.
No more am I, Sir.
King.
What dost thou meane then?
Andru.
I must kill thee, King.
King.
Thou darst not, Slaue.
Andru.
I durst not, wert thou Noble.
But since you haue left that, I haue left of
My Loyalty. Prepare thy selfe to dye.
King.
How haue I iniur'd thee?
Andru.
Thy lust hath don't;
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Rob'd her of her deare honor, and thy Blood
Must hide the Coulor of our shame.
King.
Out, Peasant. Wilt thou murder mee for that?
Andru.
For that: Is't not enough? Am I lesse sencible
Of Iniury by beeing Poore? 'Tis meanes
And Power that do's reuenge, not honor onely;
Shee liues in Cottages aswell as Courts,
And wants but onely way t'effect her Wishes;
Which I haue found. Therfore as swift as thought,
Call thy lou'd Sinns to account.
King.
Thou darst not touch
A haire of Myne; were euery drop of Blood,
In thy rude veines, suckt from the Breasts of Queenes:
A poore base Mercinary Swisser—
Andru.
Yes!
The Court foole, Sir, to stretch your lungs. 'Tis now
The readiest way to thriue, therfore in fashion.
Yett I was honest while you had your Vertue;
'Tis you haue alter'd mee: when Kings do leaue
Their Goodnes, they make euery Slaue their Master.
King.
I haue offended Heauen.
Andru.
Are you prepar'd?
Knocking within.
Ariol.
[within.]
Breake downe the dores.
Andru.
I must dispatch!
Enter ARIOLDVS with a Gard.
Ariol.
Lay hold
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My life and all my ioyes depend vpon
Your Preseruation.
Presents him a sword.
King.
Thou hast cause, Arioldus,
To bee more Cruell to mee.
Ariol.
I haue checkt
My former Rages, and will neuer rise
Till I haue gott your Pardon for 'em.
King.
Take mee
Into thy Bosome. (Enter Princesse Panopia.)
Sister, thanke this man
Thy Brother liues.
Pano.
Wo'd I could thanke him too
For sauing mee; but I am lost, quite lost,
Ne're to be found agen within the Limitts
Of Modestie. You Koope mee vp with Promises,
And flatter mee with Hopes, which makes my Passions
More violent. They must, and shall breake out.
King.
Fie, fie, Panopia.
Pano.
I will haue this man,
Loue him, enioy him: I am almost mad for him.
This dainty man: wo'd I co'd Rauish him.
The Currant of my blood holds the same force
That yours did. I'me your sister, and as vitious.
King.
Haue you no shame?
Pano.
You see myne, but your owne's
Incensible; either now make mee happie,
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This vigorous Body, till diseasses brands
Her Lust vpon my face. (Aside.)
Forgiue mee, Modestie!
King.
Oh my best freind! My Sister rages for thee,
Pittie her youth. Be more reseru'd, Panopia,
Thou shalt preuaile—Arioldus—
Pano.
[sings.]
Hee's a Cabinett of treasure
The very Soule and life of Pleasure,
Spirit and Genius of the Age,
Natures primest Equipage:
All that's good and Louely, wee
Find in him: And this is hee.
King.
Can you heare this, Arioldus, and not melt?
Remember her Birth—Deare sister, be more temperate.
[To Ariol.]
I'le giue thee half my Kingdome with her.
Ariol.
'Tis not
The worlds vast Body, were it all one Diamond,
Can buy mee to her, could you giue it mee,
And power to sett it in some Sphere, to make
Perpetuall day, and ease the aged Moone;
Or could you place mee in some glory by 'em,
To out shine both: I'de rather bee a Chaos
Then breake the vowes I make.
King.
What vowes?
Ariol.
I haue sworne
To looke no more on woman with affection.
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To her perplexed Hart.
King.
What peace d'yee looke for?
Make her Conditions.
Ariol.
Till her ruin'd honor
Bee builded vp agen.
King.
You mistake the Ground,
Honor, where is't?
Ariol.
In her. (Enter Eurinia.)
See, where shee comes
Loaden with all her Sorrowes. [To Euri.]
Thou faire Harbor
Of a More glorious Soule, I vow againe heere;
No Power, no Torment shall inforce my loue
To woman, more then 'tis, vntill that hand
That hurt thee, heale thee.
King.
How, Arioldus, will you
Force mee to this?
Ariol.
I will not vrge you, Sir;
Giue mee but that same liberty with your sister.
Pano.
I must not be delayed.
King.
[to Pano.]
Peace, Impudence.
[To Ariol.]
This is a rude Condition, Arioldus.
Ariol.
I tye yee, Sir, to Nothing; giue mee freedome
To make my owne Ellection of my wife.
But this I'le tell yee, Princes may do wronge
But are not free from danger; ther is one
Attempted an Assassinate vpon you,
And shall haue Condigne Punishment; but think you
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Liue but in feare when they offend: beleeue it, Sir,
I will bring you peace within.
King.
A goodly Marriage!
A thing of no birth, Quallity, nor fortune,
A Mountaine Swissers Daughter!
Andru.
Shee is not.
Hee discouers.
King.
Aribert!
Andru.
Hopeles of Pardon I present my selfe
Vnto your Mercy; y'haue vndone the daughter
Now take the fathers life.
King.
Is this Eugenia?
Andru.
It is the poore Eugenia.
King.
My first Loue.
Where were my sences that I knew thee not?
Ariol.
And to take of the blemish from Lord Aribert,
We're all as guilty as hee.
King.
How?
Ariol.
Not to hurt you.
Your Sister's in the Plott. [Kneeling.]
We all beg Pardon.
King.
You haue it; rise! And pray, vnfold this Ridle.
Ariol.
The Loue betwixt your Sister and mee being firme,
And a iust temper hauing brought our Reason
To a more due Consideration;
Weighing your Noblenes; that heat of youth
More then a settled mischeife had giuen fire
To this erruption; wee deuis'd this Plott
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By his attempt vpon you should demonstrate
How dangerously open great men lye
Vnto Reuenge, that haue done Iniurie.
The Vertuous Princesse vrg'd by my perswasion
(Though much against her Mind) was to persue mee
With strong affection.
Pano.
My part was the hardest.
Ariol.
And I to hold of till this iniur'd Lady
Should be restor'd agen, which wee conceiu'd
Wo'd bee, when you did know it was Eugenia.
King.
Why did you vse such Circumstance to that
Which I desir'd aboue my Life? Eugenia!
I haue my Wish.
Euri.
I am your humble Vassaile.
King.
Thou hast bene cruell to mee long, Eugenia.
Euri.
I doe confesse it, Sir, I lou'd Arioldus
Aboue all title; 'twas my stubborne fate then,
But Heauen will haue it otherwise.
King.
I am
Aforehand with him now indeed. And Aribert,
Thy Banishment proceeded from thy daughters harshnes;
But wee are all pleas'd now, M'thinks I am lighter;
Ther was a heauynes vpon my Breast
Which I haue shakt of; when the Newes was brought mee
Of Alcidonus and Selinas deathes,
Me thought all round about mee threatned nothing
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How now, what's the matter?
[Enter] ASPRANDVS.
Aspra.
This ioy is for the abused Louers, Sir;
They liue agen.
King.
By what strange Accident?
[Enter] CLEPHIS, ALCIDONVS, SELINA, ISEAS.
Clep.
That story shalbe myne, great Prince. Y'aue heard.
Antharis cruelty to 'em.
King.
Yes, with wonder.
Clep.
I euer feared his harshnes wo'd prouoke 'em
Vnto some desperate Course; which made mee watch
With the more vigillent Eye vpon their actions,
So that by spies I did not onely find
The intent, but way how to preuent the poison;
Making it onely a sleeping Potion, which
Hath wrought all his effects. And heere they stand
As new borne Soules.
King.
A better fortune follow 'em.
Ariol.
The Joy and Hapines of Loue attend 'em.
Pano.
You speake my wishes.
King.
But where is Antharis,
The Cruell Father?
Clep.
Past all cure distracted.
King.
Lett theise abused Louers then inioy
All that hee calls his, but his Misereis;
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This day shalbe to all Posterity
A day of Joy. Now I looke bright agen,
And all the Clouds that hung about my hart
Are by theise beames dispeirst; there is no sence
Distracts more then a Troubled Conscience.
Exeunt.
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