University of Virginia Library

THE SECOND ACT.

The First Scene.

The Curtain being drawn up, King Edward the Third, King John of France, and the Prince of Wales appear, seated on one side of the Theater; waited on by the Count of Guesclin, the Lord Latymer, the Lord Delaware, and other Lords, with the King's Guards. On the other side of the Theater are seated Plantagenet, Alizia, Cleorin, Sevina, and other Ladies. The Scene opens; two Scenes of Clouds appear, the one within the other; in the hollow of each Cloud are Women and men richly apparell'd, who sing in Dialogue and Chorus, as the Clouds descend to the Stage; then the Women and Men enter upon the Theater, and dance; afterwards return into the Clouds, which insensibly rise, all of them singing until the Clouds are ascended to their full height; then onely the Scene of the Kings magnificent Palace does appear, all the Company arise.
King Ed.
Since you are Pris'ner by the fate of War,
I shall not onely make it, Sir, my Care
Your Grief by such diversions to allay,
But quickly too to take their Cause away;
Two pow'rful Motives me to this perswade,
The Friendship, Sir, you with my Son have made,
And that rare Fortitude which you have shown
In Poictiers Field, and after it was won.

King Jo.
Sir, Of that Fatal place I'le not complain,
Since I in it his Friendship did obtain,
Which I so prize as I'de the loss repeat
Rather then miss a happiness so great.

Embracing the Prince.
Prince.
As much as Virtue Fortune does out-shine,
So much your Victory surpasses mine;
A treaty will my bonds on you untie,
But yours on me will last eternally.

King Ed.
That Treaty we to morrow will begin,
And you shall find I'le so proceed therein,
As you and all the world, Sir, shall confess
Justice shall guide me in it, not Success:
Doubt not but what I promise shall be done,
Tis what I ow my Honour and my Son.

King Jo.
Thus using your Success, the world will see
How justly you deserve your Victory;
Force in rough Fetters may the Body bind,
But onely Friendship Captivates the Mind.

King Ed.
It is already, Sir, so late I fear
As I no longer will detain you here;
But onely for the Ladies sake to ask
If you have been delighted with their Mask.

King Jo.
While they are here, a Sin I should esteem
My being pleas'd with any thing but them;
To such a height their conquering Beauties rise,
T'admire them onely I employ'd my Eyes.

King Ed.
All those who treat of Love are much abus'd,
If Love be dangerous while 'tis diffus'd;
To morrow they attend you at the Ball,
Then 'twill perhaps on one contracted fall.

King Jo.
'Tis harder, Sir, as 'tis by tryall known,
To resist many then resist but one;
But much more hard when each of them I see
Has Charms enough alone to conquer me.

[Exeunt King John leading out Plantagenet.
As all are going out Alizia stops Sevina, who both return on the Theater.
Aliz.
Stay my Sevina, 'ere from hence you go
I must your Heart as you my Heart shall know;
Me thought I saw King Edward by Surprize
Look on my Rivall with a Lovers Eyes;
If while I'me present he does her Adore,
Ah when I'me absent sure he does it more.

Sev.
Through a false Optick, Madam, still we look,
When Jealousie hath once possession took;
I mark'd the King, and if His Looks were true
He with Loves eyes did onely look on you:
But I am sure the Princes Eyes were set
With so much Passion on Plantagenet,
As all my Skill in Looks I think is vain,
If his old Wound bleeds not afresh again;
Aud I'le ne're trust a Womans Eyes if She
Be not as sick of that Disease as He.

Aliz.
I am amaz'd at what I hear from you.

Sev.
Madam, You'll find what I have said is true,
And if the Prince and Shee each other Love
The Kings Addresses will Successless prove.
Should his imagin'd Passion be as high
As you can think taught thought by Jealousie,
This, Madam, ought your Trouble to suppress.

Aliz.
It does increase rather then make it less,
Ah what Delight or Glory will it be,
To find her Scorn does drive him back to me;
May she still rather of her Conquest boast,
Then I regain so meanly what I lost:
My Lover to my Rival I will loose,
Sooner then Take a King she does Refuse.
Then do not think I'le do so Low a thing:
I'le Nobly Loose or Nobly Keep the King.

Sev.
My hopes of Serving you I must forsake,
When you a Poison of your Cordial make.

Aliz.
What greater curse in Love can Fortune send
Then make the way unworthy to the end?
For should He from my Rivall now refrain,
I must attribute it to her Disdain:
I by my doubt did but the Pain endure,
But what you said cuts off all Hope of Cure.

[Exeunt.
The Scene is Plantagenets Chamber.
Plantagenet and Cleorin.
Cleo.
Pray speak your thoughts since I have told you mine.

Plan.
Alas dear Friend, they are the same with thine;
But to be us'd by Him as I have been
Does make me blush at Love as at a Sin.

Cleo.
I oft have beg'd you, Madam, but in vain,
To tell me why you of the Prince complain.

Plan.
'Tis that alone from thee I can conceal,
Nay I that Secret would to thee reveal,
Had I not Lov'd the Prince to such degree,
As I had rather be Condemn'd then he:
Ah what can my Respect more clearly show,
Then willingly his Guilt to undergo.

Cleo.
I cannot think a Prince of such high Fame,
As all the World does homage to his Name,
To such a horrid Crime can condescend;
As is unfit for you to tell your Friend.

Plan.
To those bright Stars which guide us 'tis a shame,
That so much Falshood dwells with so much Flame.

Cleo.
Heaven seldom does that man with Lawrels Crown
Who ought by Thunder to be strucken down,
And Crimes which you to me dare not relate
Cannot but Merit, Madam, such a Fate:
I doubt you are betray'd by some abuse.

Plan.
Oh that his Sin would but admit Excuse;
Which that it cannot doubtless you'll admit,
When I have vow'd, 'twas he which told me it.

Cleo.
Madam, You might his words mis-understand.

Plan.
Alas he writ them me with his own Hand.

Cleo.
Oh in what Throne can Sacred Vertue Reign.
When Such a Prince does Falshood entertain.

Plan.
I know not which for wonder is more fit,
Th'Offence he did or my out-living it;
But though no usage ever was so ill,
Yet, Cleorin, I fear I Love him still;
For when I saw him at the Mask to night,
From him I could not take away my sight;
Blushes and Sighs each other did pursue,
Too certain Signs that what I Fear is True;
But I'le no more this guilty talke prolong,
Who can the Offender Love, deserves the Wrong.

[Exeunt.
Enter King John of France, and Count Guesclin.
Guesc.
Since all things, Sir, to ease your Grief are done
By the Great Edward and his Greater Son,
Why shew you now more Sorrow in your Look
Then when at Poictiers you were Pris'ner took.

King Jo.
Ah who could think more could by Fate be done,
Then rob me of my Freedom and my Crown.

Guesc.
You did unworthy of your Fate appear,
So bravely, Sir, those Losses you did bear.
Your Conquerour, for a constancy so high,
Applauded You, and blam'd your Destiny.
Heav'n did to you your Miseries assign,
Onely to make your Vertues brighter shine.

King.
Over my Sorrows I could still command,
Were I but Fortunes malice to withstand;
She could my Hands but as a Pris'ner bind,
But now I am a Captive of the Mind;
At Poictiers I by Force did lose the Field
But here alas I willingly do Yield.

Gues.
I cannot, Sir, believe so ill of you
As that you blame what willingly you do.
How can you bear the worst of Fortunes blows,
Yet sink with what you on your self impose.

King.
This Generous Prince doubly does me subdue,
By force of Armes, and force of Friendship too.
I must lament what he hath done for me,
Since now 'tis Sin to hate my Enemy.

Guesc.
Blame not your Fortune, but your self Commend,
For making a Brave Foe a Braver Friend.

King.
He by my Ruine makes his Glory rise,
Then me by Friendship from Revenge he ties,
Oh do not blame me if I feel Remorse,
When I'me subdu'd by Kindness as by Force.

Guesc.
Your Friendship for him, Sir, was never sound,
If such effects of it your Soul does wound;
Ah let him never, Sir, my King subdue
Both by his Fortune and his Vertue too.
Your Honour is so Firm and so sublime,
'Twere Sin to think you Guilty of that Crime:
'Tis something else which does your Grief Inspire,
After what you would hide I'le not inquire.

King.
Ah Friend, I grant 'tis something else indeed,
Yet from his Friendship does my Grief proceed,
For at the Mask King Edward made for me
The Bright Plantagenet I there did see,
And soon my Heart a Passion did admit
Vast as those Beauties which created it:
Such Features, Colours, Motions, and such Eyes,
With the Result which from them all did rise,
My Soul to this belief did quickly win,
That Yielding Duty was, Resistance Sin.

Guesc.
Your Grief from Love not Friendship then does grow.

King.
It springs at once from Love and Friendship too:
For I observ'd, during the masking Night,
The Prince on her did alwayes fix his Sight,
And often from his breast a Sigh wold steal
Which as his Looks his Passion did reveal;
But that which made my Trouble much more great
Was, when her Sight did with the Prince's meet:
A bright Vermillion in her Face would rise,
Then with a Sigh she would cast down her Eyes;
What stronger Prooff could either of them show,
That he lov'd her, and that she Lov'd him too:
Condemn not then my Grief who must contend,
Both with my Conquerour, and with my Friend.

Guesc.
Let that which does your Grief your Glory prove,
Making your Friendship overcome your Love;
'Twill be by all a Greater Action held,
Thus to Decline a Love then Gain a Field;
As much as Vertue above Fortune is
So much your Glory will out-rival his;
For you a Nobler Conquest this secures,
Let Force his Triumph make, but Friendship yours.

King.
Guesclin, Such talk as this you must forbear,
The greatest Glory is her Chains to wear;
In what thou mov'st, thou dost mispend thy breath,
None cures her Beauties Wounds but She or Death.

Guesc.
'Tis strange to be so Vanquish'd the first hour.

King.
That does not show my Weakness but her Pow'r.
Her Beauty onely has the Right and Art,
At the first Sight to Captivate a Heart;
Her Eyes can be no more oppos'd then Fate,
Others may Raise, but she does Love Create.

Guesc.
I once believ'd the Empire of your Breast
Could onely by Valeria be possest.

King.
I was my self to that belief confin'd,
But now Plantagenet has chang'd my Mind;
She claim'd my Heart in such a Charming way,
That to Refuse was worse then to Obey;
Guesclin, She gives, as to my cost I prove,
New Rules in Beauty, and new Laws in Love.

Guesc.
This sudden change I cannot, Sir, but dread,
The News of it will strike Valeria dead.

King.
Who on my Conquerours Beauty does reflect,
Will find the Cause does justifie th'Effect.

Guesc.
But why have you your Heart so soon resign'd
To Outward Beauties, till you knew the Mind.

King.
Ah when the Mask was done, I quickly found
Her Mind was like her Eyes with Brightness Crown'd;
Such heightned Wit did in her Words appear,
As she subdu'd my Heart too by my Ear:
'Twas vain alas to think of a Defence,
When she had Charm'd my Soul in every Sence;
Then do not hope my Passion to remove,
But as thou art my Friend assist my Love.

Guesc.
Though I foresee this Passion many wayes
Will to your Fame and Freedom Trouble raise,
And that the Prince's Love obstructs your way,
Yet, Sir, since you Command me I Obey;
I'le make it, Sir, my business now to win
Your Conquerours Confident fair Cleorin:
To Lovers, Sir, the Favorite Women are;
The same as Outworks to a Town of War;
Though to the Town compar'd but small they look,
Yet those once gain'd, the Place is sooner took.

King.
Go my dear Guesclin then, and quickly try,
If Friendships Wings as fast as Loves can Fly.

[Exeunt several wayes.
The Scene is the Prince's Chamber.
The Prince and Delaware.
Prince.
Oh Delaware, mine is so strange a Grief,
As I nor Hope nor Wish to have Relief.

Dela.
May you not to your Servant, Sir, declare
That Grief in which he begs to have a share?

Pr.
Ah why should I that Grief to you impart,
Whose Trouble for it will more Wound my Heart;
With my own Sorrows I can scarce contend,
Adde not to these the Sorrows of my Friend.

Dela.
Since you to me so high a Title give,
I humbly beg you by it to believe
Nothing to you so Great a Grief can be
As this denial, Sir, would prove to me;
I, Sir, your Friendship Treats me at this rate,
'Twill make your Kindness wound me like your Hate.
Should I want Pow'r to make your Grief decline,
I'le not increase it by disclosing mine.

Pr.
That deep Affliction under which I Groan
Cannot alas be eas'd by being known;
Yet since no proof you'll of my Friendship take,
But what your trouble and my own must make,
Rather then you should fear the Truth of it,
I to that proof which you desire submit;
I doubt not you have heard how heretofore
The Fair Plantagenet I did Adore,
And that I had some ground to think that she
Nor Cruel nor Ungratefull was to me;
Heav'n knows I Lov'd her with so chaste a Flame
As I to Marry her did onely aim,
To which at last my Father did consent,
When she next day but one did marry Kent;
And which is worse, if worse then this can be,
She for it n'ere excus'd her self to me.

Dela.
To offer at it had increas'd th'abuse,
Who could excuse a fault above excuse?

Pr.
I who through all Wars dangers oft have past,
I who a thousand times have Death out-fac'd,
In all those Horrors did less Trouble see,
Then in Plantagenets inconstancy.

Dela.
'Tis she, not you, which should her Change repent,
Since in her Sin she found her Punishment.

Pr.
Alas to me a sad Revenge it prov'd,
To see her Ruin'd whom so much I Lov'd:
What worse to me could She or Fortune do,
Then make her Punishment my Torment too;
A Torment which all others did out-do,
Since I who felt it cannot tell it you;
But yet at last Honour prevail'd so far,
As I forsook Plantagenet for War;
Hoping in War by Death to find Relief,
Or else in time to weare away my Grief.

Dela.
In her Inconstancy and in that War,
Heav'n shew'd it took of you a double Care;
With deathless Lawrels you have Crown'd your Head,
And must a Wife unworthy of your Bed.

Pr.
How dare you talk of her at such a rate,
For though her Usage might deserve my Hate,
Yet from her Eyes such conquering Light does break,
As none of her but with Respect should speak.

Dela.
Forgive me if the sence, Sir, of your Wrong
Did force a Guilty Duty from my Tongue.

Pr.
To her alone that suit you must prefer,
I dare not pardon an Offence to Her,
The Wrong I told thee of concerns not Thee.

Dela.
Yes she in Wronging you has injur'd me.

Prince.
From such Discourse I charge you to refrain;
Be taught by me t'Endure and not Complain;
If what I said thou dost so much deplore,
What I must say I find will grieve thee more;
For know she does again my Conquerour prove;
[Dela. starts.
I thought her Change had cur'd my Injur'd Love;
But when last night I saw her Beauties Shine,
Resentment did to Love the Throne resign;
And that deep Wound clos'd up by her Disdain
Was open'd by one Conquering Look again;
As when the Murth'rer does the Murder'd see,
The Corps will bleed a-fresh immediately.

Dela.
Oh let it never of my Prince be said,
He yields to one by whom he was Betray'd!

Pr.
I glory more my Love that Wrong o'recame,
Then I can Grieve that I so Injur'd am;
What to my Flame a Remedy can grant,
When her Inconstancy that Power does want?
I find, do what she will, in me she'll Reign.
Her Eyes give deeper Wounds then her Disdain.

Dela.
What her Disdain did want the Power to do,
Let Honours Dictates now perswade you to:
And, Sir, to arm you for this just Assault,
Know she has said her Mariage was your Fault:
Ah 'twas enough the Injury to do,
Without attributing the Guilt to You.
Malice it self at nothing worse could aim,
She kills your Love and then would kill your Fame.
And, Sir, to shew her Fault all Faults surpass,
She of the First makes use to act the Last.

Pr.
Ah do not think this can my Love subdue,
Since what she charg'd me with I wish were True:
I at my Miseries would scarce repine,
Had I the Pow'r to make her Failings mine.
My Love for her would make me be content,
To have her Guilt and my own Punishment;
Yet I have nam'd but half the Weight I bear:
My Father is in Love with her I hear;
And I am much mistaken if last Night,
She the French King Subdu'd not at first Sight;
By which I find I must the Field maintain,
Against my King, my Friend, and her Disdain.
But though worse Crosses should my Hopes befall,
My pow'rfull Love would Overcome them all.
Disswade me not, but try for me to win
The Friendship of thy Sister Cleorin;
She most of all my Conquerours mind does sway,
Reply not if thou Lov'st Me, but Obey.
[Exit Prince.

Delaware alone.
Dela.
Some Fatal Planet at my Birth did Reign,
Since all things which should Cure, Augment my pain;
My Sister who at last for me did get
To be the Favorite to Plantagenet,
Which from Despair till now my Soul did free;
My Prince makes use of now to ruine me;
My Love he aims not onely to destroy,
But to obtain that End does Me employ.
Not doing it I Disobedience show,
And if I do it, I my Love o'rethrow:
That Secret, dying Kent reveal'd to me,
Which rais'd my Hopes, now makes my Misery.
My Mistress I betray while 'tis conceal'd,
And should betray my Love were it reveal'd;
What ever happens I must Wretched prove,
For I must Lose, or not Deserve her Love.
Thus from Wars Dangers Crown'd with Bayes I rise,
Onely to fall the greater Sacrifice;
Yet of a Remedy I will not doubt,
Love which has Led me in may Lead me out.

[Exeunt.