 | The Passionate Lover, Second Part |  |
SECOND PART.
Act. 1.
Scæn. 1.
Enter Cleon and Selina.Sel.
My Lord, be confident, thus chang'd, there's none can know you.
Cle.
But dare I hope thou hast forgiven me?
Sel.
The mercy that you shewed in unbinding me,
May well assure you; nor am I ignorant
How far our passions may transport, aided by hope
To attain our ends.
90
But now the current of my love runs in the proper
Channel, and shall ever center here, a tribute justly due
Unto the ocean of thy love: Why did I fondly dream
There was a happiness exceeding this?
[Kisses her]
Sel.
Your kindness was so great, so unexpected,
That I am now more yours then ever: I never must
Forget the pains you took in coming to unbind me,
Creeping upon your hands, all smear'd in blood,
'Twas well you scap'd with life.
Cle.
aside.
Thanks to my privy coat; had I expir'd
In such a pious action, yet so I scarcely had
Deserv'd forgivenes, much less this sweet continuance
Of your love, sure to be valued far above Clorinda's hate,
Whose interest to a Crown made her
In my ambitious eye appear more beautiful;
But now, reason commands her yield to thee
Precedence in my heart.
Sel.
How easily we give belief to what we wish!
Cle.
Though the Gods know how all my love is cancell'd,
Justly turn'd hate to her; yet love and gratitude to thee
Commands me to attempt the Crown of Burgonia,
Offer'd into my hands.
Sel.
As how offer'd?
Cle.
I count it offer'd, when it appears in reason
Within the reach of our endeavours: Of ours, I say,
Mark me, my Queen, in thee it lies to rule me
And a scepter.
Sel.
It is fit the honor of your love should render me
Conformable to your desires: Name me the way
To this your happiness, so mine.
Cle.
The seeming pious Druid here our Host,
I have discover'd to have been a Mountebank
91
This Country a holy and most sacred person,
With whom the Gods are conversant here in this solitary
Melancholy Grove. By him with gold corrupted,
I doubt not to effect revenge against Agenor
For this wound most basely given me:
Dispatch his brother Clarimant; nay even Clorinda
(As witness of my love to thee) shall likewise bleed.
This done, and this is in thy power to effect,
Is not the Kingdom of Burgonia mine
By right of blood?
Sel.
'Tis certain, they remov'd, you are the next.
Cle.
Consider then, my dear Selina, what 'tis to be a Queen.
Sel.
A Queen!
Cle.
Take but these thoughts into thy soul,
And there's no action difficult or dangerous:
But we have only shadows to encounter with,
The issue real pleasures.
Sel.
I must yield; dispose me, sir, which way you please.
Cle.
That resolution does already crown thee.
Sel.
I would not have you think it is my ambition,
But my love engages me; but yet I fear.
Cle.
What can you doubt?
Sel.
Swear sir by the immortal Gods,
To make me privy to all your actions;
And when you have attain'd the Crown, to marry me,
So to remove some jealousies.
Cle.
I do by all that's sacred; nothing but death
Shall part us; this kiss be farther witness—
[Enter Druid.]
O sir, you are welcome! what news?
Dru.
I have no leisure now to tell you:
I must disguise to entertain some curious
And devout people.
Exit Dru.
92
He every day goes to the City
In a several shape, so to enable himself
To appear more knowing here: I wonder much
None of the Court are so zealous to visit him,
At least to know their fortunes,
For he delivers oracles as from the Gods.
Sel.
No doubt there are; but now the present time
Affords so much discourse of other peoples
Fortunes, that they neglect the knowledg
Of their own.
Cle.
To know the fate of others,
Does often give a light to ours:
At least let us be diligent, whose industry
Can only make us happy: Perform but carefully
That which I shall impart,
And thou shalt have a Crown to crown thy art.
Exeunt.
Enter King, Prince, and Attendants.
K.
Most noble Prince! though you may well believe
The forces you have brought unto my aid
I shall not use, yet I must ever be ambitious
To requite that love which caus'd your diligence;
Nay, I shall think my happiness defective,
Although great, till fortune point some way
Wherein I may express my gratitude to you.
Pr.
Most royal Sir! fortune hath been to me
Auspicious, more then had I proved Austela's
Choice; and this expression you have made,
Imboldens me to let you know wherein.
K.
Sir, I beseech you name it.
Pr.
Know sir, not my ambition to enjoy your Kingdom,
Could so far blind my judgment, but that I ever
Found your younger daughter Olinda, in herself,
93
I would not, sir, say more, lest I should seem
To boast a happiness which merit never can attain
But by infinity of service, and much suffering.
K.
Indeed I did observe, whilst you were in my Court,
You much more did converse with her then with Austela,
Who ever was reserved. If Olinda's affability
Have gain'd your good opinion, your courtship hers,
It is a happiness beyond which I dare not expect.
If it be less then this, and that by the freedom
Of her humor you believe your interest greater
Then indeed it is; yet there will only be
Better occasion for my love to shew it self.
Pr.
My actions shall ever witness for me
How I prize your royal favour.
Exeunt.
Enter Clindor and 1.
1.
Did you not lately murmure against peace,
Cryed up war as the only blessing?
Clind.
Yes, I did so.
1.
I scarce remember your sword did ever purchase
Such gay Caparisons.
Clind.
I see thou art a very simple Fellow:
This is the harvest of the war; the King
Whom we did terrifie, made Presents unto us
Commanders. If thou canst shew me where Soldiers
Are made much of in cold blood, then I will
Magnifie thy mouldy mistress, Peace:
Till then, Bellona, thou art my Patroness.
1.
Thou talkest as if thou hadst done some mighty
Matters; and yet I fear thou art a Coward.
Clind.
I love you, sir, too well to let you suffer
Such a grief as fear, for me: Draw.
1.
Draw! are you mad? or is your wit so great
To spoil
Your memory? were not two shot to death that were
Seen fighting?
94
Very pretty, you grow valiant to abuse me,
Because their valor found a punishment.
The Prince! Justice, sir, I beseech you.
Enter Clarimant and Attendants.
Clar.
For what, or against whom?
Cli.
He told me, sir, he thought I was a Coward.
Clar.
Perhaps you have given him cause to think so.
Clind.
Better and better! But sir, may men speak all they think?
Clar.
Why not? I do so, and never will again
Dissemble.
Clind.
But may I, sir?
Clar.
Yes, so it be not blasphemy or treason.
Clind.
How, sir, do you distinguish treason?
Clar.
Look what the Law says,
Clind.
Pox on the Law!
Clar.
How?
Clind.
I cry your Highness mercy; I had forgot the Law was so
Near kin to you: This scurvy fellow has made me mad.
Clar.
You would not live without law.
Clind.
No, I beseech your Highness grant me the Law.
Clar.
Most willingly.
Clind.
The law of Arms, sir, and let him prove me a Coward
[He draws]
Before your Highness, and see how I will defend my self:
Clar.
I know not how in justice I can pardon this
Unless I do pronounce you mad.
Clind.
I do beseech your Highness do so.
95
Sure you are mad.
Clind.
Then I may kill this Rascal, and your law cannot
Hang me.
[Offers to strike]
Clar.
Bind him, to prevent mischief.
Clind.
Any thing to save my honor; let me not have my hands
Lose; wear a sword, and be call'd Coward!
Clar.
He did but think so.
Cli.
Let him not think aloud then in my hearing.
Clar.
Come, I will end the difference; I do pronounce
You are no Coward, and him a fool for thinking so.
Be friends.
Clind.
Not with a fool; you shall excuse me sir.
Clar.
Be gone, and leave me.
Ex. Cli. &c.
Why do I give this intermission to my sorrows?
Clorinda's pleas'd I should be miserable:
Since in no other way, in that I will content her.
But this obedience yields a satisfaction;
And satisfaction fits not perfect sufferings,
Which she the perfectest of creatures feels:
I can no more admit to be less miserable
Then my Mistress, then I could be content to be
More happy; is there no way to change my fate
With hers? O no, her torment rises from the
Falshood of her Lover, where she had plac'd her joys:
Mine, in the not attaining of a Love
Where I dare not pretend to merit:
I am a happy man, if by comparison I judge:
Enter Agenor, Austella.
Age.
Still alone, dear brother!
Au.
Most noble sir, why do you thus retire your self
96
Greater then your company? I must pretend
The interest of a sister now; you shall not
Hide your passion, nor the cause from me,
I know 'tis Love.
Clar.
Madam, it is confest: But since despair
Is, and must ever be the only issue of my love,
I would not have those I esteem
Engaged with me in misery.
Au.
Can you be so unjust to your own merits
To despair?
Clar.
So just to her perfections.
Au.
If not a Judge of this, at least make me
Your Advocate: yet all my eloquence
Will rest in shewing her the happiness
That she refuses.
Clar.
Madam, she is not capable of any increase,
She's dead to me and all mankind.
Au.
How mean you? by a figure, or dead indeed?
Age.
I'll take her off from this discourse,
Lest she discover Clorinda in disguise.
Dear Austella, in vain you strive to comfort him,
That can know none, his Mistress dead.
Au.
Rather in vain I strive to know what both sir,
Resolve to hide from me: It was not curiosity,
But a desire to serve you: That belief
Will speak my pardon.
Exit.
Age.
I fear she is displeas'd.
Clar.
Reason hath too much power over her soul
To be displeas'd without a cause: I hold her
Every way so perfect, that I durst make
A full discovery, crave her assistance;
But then Clorinda would more justly hate.
Age.
O brother, speak no more of hate; it is impossible,
If ever she did love me. You have my Intrust,
97
Prove.
Clar.
Merit! dear brother, it is impossible:
Since what I have done, or shall ever do,
Grows from her influence upon me.
Age.
I see that I am yet to learn what it is
To be a perfect Lover.
Clar.
Rather you have not practis'd what you know.
Age.
Brother, I must confess it is my shame,
Though not my grief, since my inconstancie
Hath made me but more happy.
Clar.
How!
Age.
Frown not: I mean more happy,
As my inconstancie leaves you Clorinda free;
And if she prove averse to your desires,
Her constancie to me admits of a just censure,
Not applause.
Clar.
If you believe you have a power in her
After your breach of faith, such as may aid me
In my love; she is not that perfection
That I adore, and by such yielding
Could not make me happy.
Age.
Then you propose a love without a possibility
Of satisfaction.
Clar.
Yes, if it suit not with her excellence:
The Gods sometimes appoint us such sad fates,
That 'tis our duty to pursue and glory in our misery.
Age:
I see a miracle must make you happy:
Be not displeas'd that I invoke the Deity
In your behalf; and Brother, know that those
Who would be held the most devout,
Esteem things just and worthy, because they do
Proceed from a divine power; not that they are
Agreeing to our faith, or understanding.
98
Brother, what you would undertake in my behalf
Becomes your love to offer, but not mine to accept.
A person truly humbled by sense of his unworthiness,
Sure dares not hope: And to admit an Advocate,
Supposes that; nay merit in himself, or in the
Intercessor; or which is worse, an easiness
To be overcome with words. Any of this
Is such impiety my love cannot be guilty of:
Her being his perfection, all things great or good,
Clorinda nam'd, in that is understood.
Exeunt.
Enter Prince, and Olinda.
Pr.
Dear Lady, let me know how I have lost
Your favour.
Ol.
First let me know why you believe you
Ever had it?
Pr.
When I was here a suitor to your sister,
You did not then look with such scorn upon me.
Ol.
Be so again to any other, and I will give you cause
To think me every whit as kind.
Here you discourse of Love; express a sense
Of what you do profess to suffer by way of
Martyrdom, perhaps accompanied with a sad sigh
Or two.
Pr.
And can you yet be crueller? when you your self
Have caus'd a nobler passion then what I made
But shew of to Austela.
Ol.
It seems then you can counterfeit.
Pr.
I must confess; but yet—
Ol.
Nay spare excuses: As I live, I like you the better
For it; and if you love me now, know this to comfort you,
99
Offers to go.
Enter Clorinda and Selina, (as in discourse.)
Olind.
Most noble sir! methinks my Genius
Should have inform'd me the happiness of your approach;
And yet 'tis fit I leave you now,
But there does stay my best of wishes.
Exit.
Sel.
She had like to have said, her heart:
Alas poor Lady, how love does fool thee!
Pr.
It must be so; this stranger is the cause
Of her neglect to me: With what unwillingness
She parted from him! I will not, cannot suffer
This second affront; I shall become the scorn
Of all men.
Exit, and justles Clorinda.
Clo.
What means this!
But why, Selina, when I call'd,
Came you not to help me?
Sel.
Alas, Madam, I was fast.
Clo.
Could you so quickly be so sound asleep?
Sel.
Weary with travel. But, Madam, what said Agenor,
(The King I now must call him) when he perceived
It was Lord Cleon, his trusted friend,
That he had slain?
Clo.
He does not know it yet, nor ever shall:
For since his passion to me procured his death,
His faults be buried with him: Besides, I know
It would have been no little torment to Agenor
To find such falshood.
Sel.
Is it possible that you can yet consider him,
Otherwise then to revenge his falshood?
Clo.
If thou hadst ever truly loved,
Thou couldst not ask me such a question: Clarimant!
I must not stay.
100
Clar.
Sir, though you have hitherto found means to avoid me,
Yet having now the opportunity,
I needs must press you to a short discourse,
And such a one as will require the absence
Of your servant.
Clo.
I must obey necessity: Leave me.
Sel.
Is it possible he does not know her?
Exit Sel.
Clar.
I see you wear a sword, and make no question
But you know, or think you do, how to maintain
With it the assertions of your tongue.
Clo.
In what?
Clar.
Is it possible that you can ask? yet since I must,
I wil refresh your memory, and whet my own revenge
By repetition. You, as a brother, did pretend
You had more interest to right Clorinda's wrongs,
Then I her servant.
Clo.
And proved it, did I not?
Clar.
In part the oratory of your tongue prevail'd,
And I condemn'd my self; but honor forc'd me
Make appeal unto my sword, and there you must
Orecom me too, before I quit so dear a cause.
[draws]
Clo.
Truth told me then, and bids me still maintain
That I am most concern'd in what Clorinda suffers.
[Draws too]
Clar.
Your resolution pleases above expression:
Which forces me an enemy to beg the favour
To kiss that hand, though it may prove to me
An instrument of death.
Clo.
Keep off; I dare not trust a reconciled foe,
Much less an enemy profest. Imploy your sword,
Whose force I fear less then the impoison'd flattery
Of your tongue.
101
Then guard your self, your breast lies open.
Clo.
You shall not find it so, if you dare strike.
Clar.
Alas it is too true; you have a guard which I
Can never force; and since invisible, it is fit I yield;
Here to confess my self orecome, is to triumph.
But if you hold your victory your shame, which much I fear,
Then purge that stain with my heart-blood,
A sacrifice most justly due to your disdain.
Clo.
A Cowards blood can have no vertue in it.
[Offers to go]
Clar.
Stay.
Clo.
Imploy your sword then, and nobly take revenge
Upon your enemy: I swear, that act
Will with me raise you to the highest estimation:
Clar.
O Clorinda! that word pronounc'd,
Think what you do enjoin me.
Clo.
I fear'd before you knew me,
But thought it fitter to practise the masculine part
I am to play, with you, then with another:
Perhaps with some I have to do, where my
Discovery is my ruine. Thus much, confident
Of your esteem, I dare discover.
Clar.
What musick's in these words!
Clo.
Trust me, Prince Clarimant, I am much pleas'd
To see you.
Clar.
Madam, assure me that I do not dream.
Clo.
Believe me every sense is free,
Only your joy is too much rais'd.
Clar.
Too much! when you speak to me, and not in anger.
Clo:
Contain your self; for know 'tis in your power
To make me happy.
Clar.
In mine! witness you God
There is no bar betwixt you and your wish.
Clo.
None but your will.
102
My will! That, and my other faculties
Were ever yours.
Clo.
Swear it.
Clar.
By all that's sacred, it is and ever shall be so;
For you can will nothing but what is just
And noble.
Clo.
My will then is, to which yours must assent,
That you do kill me.
Clar.
How!
Clo.
A miserable life consider'd, death is the happiness
Opposed: That you must give me, or be perjur'd.
Clar.
That Clarimant should kill Clorinda!
Self-murder is esteem'd the highest guilt,
And yet this doubles it: I am deluded
By some spirit; for what proportion
Bears this imposition to your excellent sweetness?
Clo:
It bears proportion to my sorrows.
Clar.
Could death be granted as your only remedy,
Yet that my hand should give it!
Clo.
Those servants are esteem'd the truest,
That do the last and greatest offices of duty.
Having no love to pay your vows of service,
My gratitude proposed this as your recompence.
Clar.
O heavens! was ever gratitude so cruel!
Clo.
Will you not then obey me, nor your oath?
Is this the fruit of all your protestations?
Clar.
Is not my will the same with yours?
You would not live, nor I then.
Clo.
Kill me, and then do what you please.
Clar.
The same say I; kill me, and then do what you please:
Clo.
Your vow was not to eccho my desire,
But to obey what I enjoind.
Clar.
It is true, in what was just and noble.
Clo.
Is it not so to relieve a friend distrest?
Your oath past too?
103
No friend will ask, for shame,
That help he does refuse to give.
Clo.
The guilt remains with the first breach, and that was yours.
Clar.
Alas, you press what no example yet came near,
To kill that person that I value more
Then all the world.
Clo.
No doubt brave Brutus servant lov'd his Master;
Yet kill'd him, being commanded.
Clar.
Perhaps he was his slave, and gain'd his
Freedom by it.
Clo.
And shall not you do so? A freedom from the bonds
Of Love, the Tyrant-master that I flie. But did not Herod
Doom to death in one his Wife and Mistress,
Lest any other should enjoy her?
And this caused from excess of Love.
Clar.
Unto himself, as I dare never hope
To be so happy to have his interest,
So I shall never fear his punishment.
[Kneels]
This is that posture which my former vows
Best suit withall: Nor am I humbled thus,
To beg for pitty to my self but you,
Divine Clorinda! who ought to be
As far from thought of punishment,
As you are free from guilt.
Clo.
False perjur'd man! I can be free from neither,
Whilst I stay here:
Clar.
O misery! was ever man so wretched!
In the performing what she should command,
I still have plac'd my only hopes of merit,
Sure fate did never yet to any Lover
104
To disobey, or pierce his Mistress heart.
Exit.
| The Passionate Lover, Second Part | |