University of Virginia Library

Scena II.

Enter King with his Rapier drawn in one hand, leading Maria seeming affrighted in th'other.
Maria.
Oh! kill me ere you stain my chastity.

King.
My hand holds death, but love sits in mine eye,
Exclaim not dear Maria, do but hear me;
Though thus in dead of night as I do now
The lustfull Tarquin stole to the chast bed
Of Collatines fair wife, yet shalt thou be
No Lucrece, nor thy King a Romane slave,
To make rude villanie thine honours grave.

Maria.
Why from my bed have you thus frighted me?

King.
To let the view a bloody horrid Tragedy.

Maria.
Begin it then, I'le gladly loose my life,
Rather then be an Emperours Concubine.

King.
By my high birth I swear thou shalt be none,
The Tragedy I'le write with my own hand,
A King shall act it, and a King shall dye;
Except sweet mercies beam shine from thine eye.
If this affright thee it shall sleep for ever,
If still thou hate me, thus this Noble blade,
This Royall purple temple shall invade.

Maria.
My husband is from hence, for his sake spare me.

King.
Thy husband is no Spaniard, thou art one,
So is Fernando, then for countries sake
Let mee not spare thee, on thy husbands face
Eternall night in gloomy shades doth dwel;
But I'le look on thee like the guilded Sun,
When to the west his fiery horses run.

Maria.
True, true, you look on me with Sun-set eyes,
For by beholding you my glory dies.

King.
Call me thy morning then, for like the morn,
In pride Maria shall through Spain be born.
This musick I prepar'd thine ears,
musick plays within.
Loue mee and thou shalt hear no other sounds,
Lo here's a banquet set with mine own hands;
A banquet brought in.
Love me, and thus I'le feast thee like a Queen:
I might command shee being thy Soveraign;
But love me and I'le kneel and sue to thee,
And circle this white forehead with the Crown
Of Castile, Portugall, and Arragon,
And all those petty Kingdoms which do bow
Their tributarie knees to Philip's heir.

Maria.
I cannot love you whilst my husband lives:

King.
I'le send him to the wars, and in the front
Of some maine army shall he nobly dye.

Maria.
I cannot love you if you murder him.

King.
For thy sake then, I'le call a Parlament
And banish by a law all Moors from Spain.

Maria.
I'le wander with him into banishment.

King.
It shall be death for any Negroes hand,
To touch the beauty of a Spanish dame.
Come, come, what needs such cavells with a King?
Night blinds all Jealous eyes, and we may play,
Carowse that bole to me, I'le pledg all this,
Being down, we'l make it more sweet with a kiss.
Begin, I'le lock all doors, begin Spains Queen,
Locks the doors.
Loves banquet is most sweet, when 'tis least seen.

Maria.
Oh thou conserver of my honours life!
Instead of poisoning him, drown him in sleep,
Because I'le quench the flames of wild desire,
I'le drink this off, let fire conquer loves fire.

King.
Were love himselfe in reall substance here,
Thus would I drink him down, let your sweet strings,
Speak lowder (pleasure is but a slave to Kings)
In which love swims. Maria kiss thy King,
Circle me in this ring of Ivory.
Oh! I grow dull, and the cold hand of sleep
Hath thrust his Icie fingers in my brest,
And made a frost within me; sweet, one kiss
To thaw this deadnesse that congeales my soul.

Maria.
Your Majestie hath overwatch'd your self,
He sleeps already, not the sleep of death;
But a sweet slumber, which the powerfull drugg
Instill'd through all his spirits. Oh! bright day
Bring home my dear Lord, ere his King awake,
Else of his unstain'd bed he'l shipwrack make.

Offers to go.
Enter Oberon, and Fairyes dancing before him, and musick with them.
Maria.
Oh me! what shapes are these?

Oberon.
Stay, stay, Maria.

Maria.
My Soveraign Lord awake, save poor Maria.

Oberon.
He cannot save thee, save that pain,
Before he wake thou shalt be slain;
His mothers hand shall stop thy breath,
Thinking her own son is done to death:
And she that takes away thy life,
Does it to be thy husbands wife.
Adieu Maria, we must hence,
Imbrace thine end with patience;
Elves and Fairyes make no stand,
Till you come in Fairy Land.

Exeunt dancing and singing.
Maria.
Fairyes or Divels, whatsoe're you be,
Thus will I hide me from your company.

Offers to be gone.