University of Virginia Library

SCÆN. II.

Enter Ephorbas the King, Rinatus, Eubulus, Anamedes, three LORDS.
Eph.
See the Embassadors entertain'd
With such an evenness, as should be us'd to men
We neither fear nor love; let neither
Too much obsequiousness teach them insolency,
Nor any ill usage brand us with incivility:
Stay you Rinatus.
he sighs.
Exeunt Eub. Anam.
—Open thy bosom and receive torrents of sorrow,
That lie like rocks of lead upon my soul;
Honest Rinatus; experience bids me trust thee
With a mighty secret. Thou canst not choose
But know, my son of late is much retired
I do not like that youth should be thus melancholy:
Let them enjoy themselves, for age will come,
Whose impotency will deny all pleasures.
I do believe he loves me. Hah!

Rin.
Yes, doubtless, better then sickmen health,
Or those who are pen'd up in darkness
Love the Sun.

Eph.
I speak not as if I thought he did not;
For thou know'st I humour him, afford him
Liberty enough; I never chide him, nor express
The least dislike of any action. Am not I a gentle father?
Me thinks were I a son again, to such a father,
I should not think he liv'd too long: Shouldst thou, Rinatus?

Rin.
No more doth he, upon my soul:
One command of yours would make him venter upon
Lightning, nay almost make him act a sin,
A thing he fears to name,

Eph.
I do believe thee:
But yet, me thinks, should he be grown so impious,
There might be found excuses.
A Crown is a temptation; especially so near one:
'Tis not with Princes as with other Sons; and I am old too;
Hath not my hand the palsie? Doth a Crown become gray hairs?
To be a King might make some men forswear all conscience.
But I know Plangus hath far nobler thoughts;
And yet an Empire might excuse a Parricide.

Rin.
Sir! sure you are a stranger to your son;
For give me leave to say, your fears are vain:
So great a virtue as the Princes,
Cannot anticipate his hopes by any sin:
Honour and duty have been acquainted with him now too long
To be divorct. Some Sycophants there are
(Such creatures still will haunt the Court) I know
Love not the Prince, because he loves not them.
Sir, shut your ears to them, they will betray you to your ruine.
Jealousy's a disease should be below a King,
As that which seizeth on the basest spirits;
Oh shut it from your soul,
One may read in story
What dire effects the fury hath brought forth:
Kings make away their onely sons, and Princes their fathers,
And when they have done, they may dispair at leisure.

Eph.
I do not think Plangus hath plots, or on my Crown,
Or me; he was virtuous alwaies, and is still, I hope:
But why is he so much from Court then, and alone too?
I do but ask the question.

Rin.
It can be no design, believe me, Sir;
For Crowns are won by other courses.
Aspirers must grow popular, be hedg'd about
With their Confederates; then would he flatter you,
Be jolly still, as if no melancholy thought were in him.
A guilty conscience would then teach him policy,
And he would seek to take suspition from all his carriages;
Innocence makes him careless now.

Eph.
Thou hast almost resolv'd me;
The tempest in my soul is almost laid,
And wants but time to calm it.
Youth hath its whimsies, nor are we
To examine all their paths too strictly,
We went awry our selves when we were young.

Rin.
Sir!

Eph.
Thou maist be gone, Rinatus,

Exit. Rinat.