University of Virginia Library

SCÆNA 7.

Enter to the King, Rinatus, Eubulus, Anamedes.
Eph.
Sit down my Lords; we have a business with you,
Requires your hands and hearts, both speed and counsel;
Our danger's such, that I could wish't had flown
Upon us without warning, for so cross the Fates are,
Our safety must be bought at such a price,
That we must lose what is as dear to us
Almost as it. Tis Plangus death or mine
Must secure the others life; nay startle not.
If I am grown as wearisome to you
As to him, your calling is in vain, my Lords;
Nor shall I labour longer to preserve
A life denied me by the gods and you.
But if there's any here who hath a son
Brought to these years with so much care and love
As mine hath been; think what a grief it is
To lose him, and shed one tear with me.
But for that son to plume kimself with feathers
Pluckt from his fathers wings, would melt ones eye-balls.
Yet Plangus who hath vizarded his ends
With vertue, finding it useless now, hath thrown
It from him, and openly attempts my crown and life.
When mischiefs wheel once runs, how fast it speeds,
Headlong to put in act the blackest deeds!
Were my crown his, had he my life to give,
Though he would let me I would scorn to live.

Eub.
Sir, we are call'd upon a great affair,
And if't be true, the speed of our resolves
Shall be as great as it.
Your Majesty hath reign'd so happily, and long,
We will not think a time beyond it.
And such, so great your vertue still hath been,
Strangers have been enamoured and admired it.
Our enemies that could have wisht it less,
Have yet sate down with envy, not attempted
Ought against you, knowing (I'me codfident)
By such injustice the gods would be their foes.
Me thinks tis therefore much less likely
That Plangus, who hath hitherto been found
A miracle of filial piety,
And one that we may say was born the heir
To all your vertues, all your goodness,
As well as Kingdom; who counts it glory
As much to be an honest man, as a great Prince.
I say for him, whom as he is your son,
And as we hitherto have found him full
Of worth and honour, we cannot but behold
As him, in whom the spreading hopes of all
Iberia grow, and promise to themselves
A still green happiness, that ne're shall know
What Autumne, or a naked Winter means.
For him that hath scarce yet put off
Those cloaths which still wear the badges
Of the great danger he was in, not for
Himself, my Liedge, but you and us; for had
He wish't the ruine of his father and his Country,
The Argives would have done that for him,
And he not have been call'd in question.
But when we must remember with what wings
He flew to meet the Torrent, both against
The counsel of his friends, and his own hopes;
How love to you and us spurr'd him on forward
To those impossibilities, which nothing
But love and valour durst have attempted.
Why then methinks 'tis strange, yea very strange
Thus in a moment t'have flung all nature off,
And all Religion; and that Sir against you,
Whom we all know and think with fear
(But our fading hopes spring fresh from Plangus)
Must shortly pay your tribute to the grave.
Not that we doubt your Majesty hath cause
To apprehend a danger, only 'tis wish't
Those who inform'd you were examin'd strictly,
And Plangus sent for to answer for himself.
Slanders like Mists still vanish at the sight
Of Innocents, who bring their lyes to light.

Eph.
If an Oration could have made him clear,
No doubt my fears are vain, and we shall lye
Still sleeping in security, as great
And lasting as Plangus, and his Complices
Can wish upon us, nor wake till we are bound
In the securest chains, death's fetters.
That I am old is true; and Plangus knows it,
He would have catch't a Cannon bullet sooner else,
Between his naked hands; then have provok't
My fury; but age hath froze me
To an icy numness, yet shall he know
My veines have fire as well as his, and when
Incenst, my eyes shoot as much poyson too.
What you alledge about his battel 'gainst the Argive
As an excuse, it is a proof against him,
Though theeves rob others, yet they fight themselves,
For those that rob when strangers set on them,
And all unite against a common enemy.
Had Plangus private interests not held
Him to us, no doubt had left us naked
Of all defence; but an intestine fury,
To see the Argives bear away the fruits
Of all his labours, all his treasons,
Shot him into despair, and made him play
A game was almost lost, rather then give all over.
Besides, that action hath endear'd him to the people;
Gain'd him the Souldiers hearts with so great ease,
The danger's nothing in respect oth' rise
He takes from thence to climb up to his ends.
And for the vertue that hath gull'd us all,
I'de blush to speak it, that a son of mine
Should ever be so base to seek a cloak
For what he doth, but that I have disclaim'd
All my relations to him, and would adopt
A Cannibal sooner for son then he
The evidence we have is what we wish were less,
Then might I hug my Plangus and he me,
But since the Fates and his own ills deny
That entercourse; what can remain,
But that we should proceed to sentence
Speedy as themselves, and stop the ill, which may
Strike when 'tis night, or while tis call'd to day.
He knows his guilt too well, and hath deny'd
To come, that so he might be justify'd.
Once disobey'd as father, the next thing
Will be Rebell on to me as his King.