University of Virginia Library

Scene 1.

Sineverus, Nefarius.
Sin.
This day, on the declining of the light;
The place, Nefarius, is the Holy Oake,
Here in the Forest. See it fully done.
Your former instruments perhaps may be
Your safest undertakers.

Ne.
They will! but how shall they distinguish them.

Sin.
That by their Persons, or their Habits will
Uncertain prove, because they come disguised,
Their purpose being to entrap my life:
But you in time preceding them may soon
Discover them, by their intention,
Which in their actions they would seem to hide
I'le tripple the reward to them, and thee.

Ne.
Your Honors pleasure is my recompence

Sin.
This finished:
Ex Ne.
My joys are perfect, and my Fortunes full,
This toyling spirit then safe Harbor takes,
Where she the breaches shall restore of time
And casualty: knowing no Action
But what is practis'd by the Gods, Repose.
While cherisht with the Flames of Beauty and
Of Love, an Essence I assume out-lasts
The Age of Her, whose ashes doth renew
Her kinde—Zizania.
Zizania Ent.
I sent for thee, thou might'st partake my joy.
I have shook off the tumults of the Court,
And with my Bride am to Placentia come,
To be thy guest, Zizania, Privacy
Adds, in our seeming stealth, to our delight,
What publick freedom doth in licence loose,

Zi.
My wishes should inlarge your happinesse,
Were they as ready to my will, as it
Is in obedience unto yours.

Sin.
Which onely is at present to seclude
You and your charge from our discovery.
And secretly to give direction
For this Nights entertainment.

Ziz.
To my best faculty I shall.

Sin.
My care shall next supply the like Office
To thee.
Ex. Sin.

Ziz.
Your tenderness guides my Fidelity;
Love is successefull to decrepid Age,
While youth and beauty lose their influence.
Where lyes the hidden vertue of force?
Not in the sense, this contradiction proves.
If in th'Intellect, their Equality
Of forms would mutually each other
Penetrate with like Impressions: But this
Alas! my sufferings also falsifie.

Eumena Ent.
Eu.
Zizania,
Why add'st thou to the burden of my Fears?
Leaving me onely to secure my Peace.

Ziz.
I thought your Highness was dispos'd to Rest.

Eu.
Such intermission seldome doth invest
A Soul besieged with so many doubts.

Ziz.
Your groundless apprehension doth suggest
Vain forms, but to afflict your self.

Eu.
Think'st thou it vain to doubt the certainty
Of my escape, the houre at hand, and yet
The way not form'd to my delivery

Ziz.
You rashly do precipitate your censure:
Our better Fortune doth present the means,
Which I already fully fashion'd have
In my Intention: Madam, this day
My Father married is to Orgula,
With whom, more fully to enjoy themselves,
He privately is hither come;

Eu.
What can from hence be gather'd? this rather
Doth oppose, than farther our designe,

Ziz.
Your Highness doth conclude too suddenly.
Their entertainment lyeth in my charge,
Which, not appearing, I must secretly
Direct; under which colour, on th'approach
Of Night, our Domestique Attendants I'le
Dispose unto some rustique sport, in which
Divested of their usuall Habits
To put on other Properties, we will
Assume their Figures to disguise our own.
Whil'st in the Action they are busied,
We undiscover'd safely may depart.

Eu.
Tis well contriv'd; I wish the Issue may
As happily ensue.

Ziz.
Distrust it not: Assurance fortifies
Our purposes.

Eu.
It is in heav'n decreed; succeed what may,
We must the Influence of their Lights obey.

Ex.