University of Virginia Library

SCÆNA 10.

Enter Zopiro, Inophilus, with Souldiers.
Soul.
Unhand the Prince, or else by heav'n he treads
Into his grave that moves a foot to touch him.

Ino.
Madam, though Plangus noble self was blinde,
And could not see the deep black darkness of your
Hellish actions; his friends had eyes about them.
Was this your love? this your repentance?
This your advice, your counsel? I must confess had I,
And these his noble friends here, been rul'd by him,
E're this he'd been a sacrifice to your revenge and you.
Why stand you mute Sir? want you a tongue to justifie
Your innocence, our swords and we maintain.
And now, my Liedge, we turn to you,
Whom we have serv'd as truly
As ever subjects did any Prince alive,
And whilst you're worthy, we will do so still,
But wee'l be no mans slaves alive,
Much less be his that is another's, while this base Witch,
For so she is, constrains you to do actions
Children would blush at, and wise men laugh at,
Which will after leave you both to repentance and despair.
This beggar, whom tother day you took up as some lost thing,
Gave your honour to, and in that our safety,
That knew less to be good then Devils do, and hath
Ills lodg'd in her, that would make a hell beyond that
The Furies dwell in. Banish her hence,
Send her to some place, where murders, rapines,
Or sins yet unheard of, do inhabit,
And where she can do us no mischief.
Do you betake your self
To your former vertue, and restore the Prince
To those affections you once had for him,
We then perhaps may live to see Iberia happy.

Eph.
Why am I forc't thus to declare his shame,
Which at the bound strikes me, and is made my own.
You know not how well Plangus can dissemble,
He is an hypocrite, I need not tell you more,
Those three syllables comprehend all ill.
My Queen just now scap't from his base attempt
Wherein he would have forc't her to have damn'd
Herself and him, and dishonour'd me.
What mean't that Armour on, and why so guarded?
Where was a danger threat'ned him?
Or doth he think his conscience could not
Sting him through it?
I wish that he might live, my Lords, but as nature
That as he is my son bids me preserve him;
So honour which pleads to the King stronger
Then nature can, tells me for that very reason,
I can less pardon him then something born
A stranger to my blood.—But I deserve
To dye as well as he; if he be grown
A burden to the earth, I am so too,
That gave the Monster being.
Wherefore let me be drawn to execution too,
For fathers are guilty of their childrens ills.

Ino.
Would Plangus then have forc't Andromana;
Yes, so would Daphne have ravish't Phœbus,
I'le undertake Goats are less salt then she—
But for his Armor—can any man that breathes
One common air with her not need an Armour?
Brass walls cannot be security enought.
Why speak you not Sir? are you dumb too?

Pl.
It is for them to speak are sure to be beleev'd,
And not for him that is condemn'd as guilty;
Words can excuse slight faults.
If mine are esteem'd such, that all my actions,
A speaking duty of one and twenty years
Speak not enough to clear me, silence shall.
I have no more to say therefore,
But to bid you do your duty to the King,
And ask him pardon for the intemperate zeal,
Heav'n knows I wish't it not, nor would I buy
My safety at one of my father's angry thoughts
Much less his fears,
For those I fall by.
Obey my father, and if ye love me, Gentlemen,
Shed not one tear for Plangus:
For I am timely taken from those plagues
This womans crying sins must bring
Upon Iberia, and make you wish
That you had dy'd as soon and innocent as I.

An.
That I was nothing I confess, that what I am
I owe to Ephorbas; nay, that the greatness
I am now in, tells me it is too high
To be secure, my fears bear witness.
I wish my life would excuse Plangus his,
At least my blood wash off the blackness of his guilt,
Heav'n knows it should not be one minute
Ere he should be restord to his former vertues,
But since it cannot be, I'le in and weep,
Not for my self but him.

Exit.
Ino.
Millions of plagues go with thee
Sir, you shall along with us, we will not
Trust you, or to the King, or her.

Exeunt.