University of Virginia Library

SCÆNA VI.

After a Battle beaten within, enter at one doore, in fighting postures, Archidamus, Theagines, Meleager. At the other Eurymedon, Clytus, Hippocles.
Arch.
I'me glad I have met you out of Cloudes, in your
Owne shape, and like your selfe. Y'have hitherto
Obscur'd your selfe, in Mistes, of your owne raising
To play the Theese in, since you landed false Prince!
Was't not enough you did pursue my Queene
With your unnecessary expedition;
And when our Nuptiall Torch was placed, and kindled
Upon the Altar, must then quench it, And
Like those who do robbe Temples (For to take her
Thus from me was plaine Sacriledge) must snatch her
Then backe againe, just when the sacred Cake
Was breaking 'twixt the Flamens hands, And all
The Gods of Weddings in their Saffron Robes,
But as part of your pyracy, and stealth,
(If yet the treacherous surprize of a
Weake Company of Ladies do deserve
A name not yet more Infamous) must joine
My sister, and the beauteous part of my
Whole Court, and Kingdome in the Rape? As if
You meant t'erect a new Seraglio, or
T'enlarge your old: And take them prisoners first,
Then use them 'mongst your other prostitutes?

Eurym:
Is this all?

Arch:
There is one thing more. To shew
Your power upon that Sex, (which you, I see,
Have striv'd by all wayes to make yours, And, where
By force you could not, have conquer'd by Petition)
Was't not enough you did begin the Warre
In the surprize of Ladies, but that since
You must continue it by Stratagem,
More treacherous then the first? And in your false
And borrowed shapes, (In which you nightly have
Appeared to the Queene of Amazons) must tempt
Her, and her Ladies from their pure Affections,
Which made them first resolve, wonne by the Justice,
And Goodnesse of my Cause, to fight for me,
Untill seduc'd they grew Conspiratours,
And did resolve to fight for you? Had you
First taken, and then match't Barsene, yet,
To be your Queene, thus, had not beene a Wedding,
But a Captivity; And to be forc'd
Unto your bed with shackles on, is not
To be your Princesse, but your slave, But first
To take her prisoner, And, (For ought I know)
To use your power of Conquest on her, And
To make her first unworthy of your Nuptials,)
And then despise her, for one more entire,
More free, and more untoucht, (For your new Loves
Made to Hippolyta, and her sister Prince,
Have not beene so disguis', like you the Lover,
As to escape my knowledge) is such a wrong.
(Besides my other Interest of having
My Queene kept from me) as I stand here to punish;
Or else to adde my fall unto my sufferings.

Eurym:
Have you, Sir, finisht your Oration?

Arch:
This
Onely remaines. To save th'expence of blood,
Which may be shed on both sides, since the Quarrell
Is purely ours, Let's not engage our Armies
But here conclude the warre, The injur'd with
The Injurer, in one faire, single Combate.

Theag:
Sir, we've a Cause going too; And have two Ladies.
Who well might thinke us two Indifferent Cowards,
And very cold in their Revenge, should we
Stand peaceable Spectatours, whilest you fight.

Mel:
We do beseech you, Sir, Let us joine our
Poore Interest with yours; And since the number,
And quality of the Combatants is equall,
T'expresse the like sense of our wrongs, let it
Be Three to Three.

Clyt:
We do accept the challenge;
And will maintaine, your Ladies are our Prisoners,
More Nobly then they were at first your Wives;
And that we tooke them farre more honourably
Then you first married 'em.

Eurym:
Pray stay a little.
To shew Archidamus, (For I will not,
Although I justly might, call your false Prince,
Being guilty of those Accusations, which
You sticke on me) that we bring equall causes,
As well as equall Valours, to defend them,
Since you observ'd a Method in your Wrongs,
And those suspicions onely, and imaginary,
I'le use one in my Answers? 'Tis confest
I did use Art to gaine by plot what was
By plot taken from me, Roxane, my best sister.
And if in her surprize I did recover
But what you first stole, and redeem'd my Losse
With some inforcement, this deserves the name
Of a Retrive not of a Pyracy.
Next that I tooke your Sister with my owne,
'Twas part of my Affection to her; Love
Prompted me to the Action; which doth not
Cease to be Love, because it once put on
The shape of Force; And that force but made use of,
To let her know that he who tooke her was
The greater prisoner, and was first surpriz'd.
How I have us'd her since, the Gods, and she,
Her owne Historian, when you see her next
Will witnesse for me. Lastly, If refus'd
By you, (I will not say by her, for her
Consent takes flame from yours) I've beene a Suitor,
Where I've beene freely heard, and entertained,
Ask't and prevail'd, For you to claime a Soveraignty,
Over th'Affections of Hippolyta.
Or her faire Sister, or call me Theefe, or treacherous,
Because I've added nights to my disguises,
That my Accesses to them might be more
Secure, More undisturb'd, is such a Wrong
To me and them; That in their Absence, I
Stand here to make good with my sword, my stealths,
Have beene more noble then your open Visits.
And that I am more Constant to Barsene
In the new purchase of their Loves, Then you
Are to Roxane in refusing them.
Now, Sir, I am prepar'd to meet your stroakes.

Clyt:
Your Challenge holds too?

Theag:
Yes; you shall perceive,
You fight not now with Women.

Hipp:
We see y'are Men,
And you shall finde us such.

Mel:
'Tis nobly promis'd.