University of Virginia Library

Scæna quarti.

Enter Mathias, Batista.
Baptista.
You are much alterd sir since the last night
When the Queene left you, and looke cheerefully
Your dulnesse quite blowne ouer.

Mathias.
I haue seene a vision
This morning makes it good, and neuer was
In such security as at this instant,
Fall what can fall, and when the Queene appeares
Whose shortest absence now is tedious to me,
Obserue 'th incounter.

Enter Honoria, Ladislaus, Eubulus, Ferdinand Acanthe, with others aboue.
Baptista.
She already is
Entred the lists.

Mathias.
And I prepard to meete her.

Baptista.
I know my duty.

Honoria.
Not so you may stay now
As a witnes of our contract.

Baptista.
I obey
In all things Madam.

Honoria.
Wher's that reuerence,
Or rather superstitious addoration,
Which captiue like to my triumphant beauty
You payd last night? no humble knee? nor signe
Of vassall duty? sure this is the foote,
To whose proud couer, and then happy in it,
Your lipps were glewd; and that the necke then offer'd
To witnes your subiection to be trod on
Your certaine losse of life in the Kings anger
Was then to meane a price to buy my fauour.
And that false glowe worme fire of constancie
To your wife, extinguished by a greater light
Shot from our eyes; and that it may be (being
To glorious to be look'd on) hath depriu'd you
Of speech, and motion: but I will take off
A little from the splendor, and descend
From my owne height, and in your lownesse heere you
Plead as a suppliant.

Mathias.
I do remember
I once saw such a woman.

Honoria.
How!

Mathias.
And then
She did appeare a most magnificent Queene
And what's more vertuous though somewhat darkned
With pride and selfe oppinion.

Eubulus.
Call you this courtship?

Mathias.
And she was happy in a royall husband,
Whom enuie could not tax, vnlesse it were
For his too much indulgence to her humors.

Eubulus.
Pray you sir obserue that touch, 'tis to the purpose
I like the play the better for't.

Mathias.
And she liu'd
Worthy her birth, and fortune; you retayne yet
Some part of her angelicall forme, but when
Enuie to the beauty of another woman
Inferior to hers, (one she neuer
Had seene but in her picture) had dispers'd
Infection through her veines and loyaltie
Which a great Queene as shee was should haue nourish'd
Grew odious to her

Honoria.
I am thunderstrocke.

Mathias.
And lust in all the brauery it could borrow
From maiesty, howere disguisde had tooke
Sure footing in the kingdome of her heart
(The throne of chastity once,) how in a moment
All that was gratious, great, and glorious in her
And woone vpon all hearts, like seeming shadowes
Wanting true substance vanish'd.

Honoria.
How his reasons
Worke on my Soule.

Mathias.
Retire into your selfe.
Your owne strengths Madam, strongly man'd with vertue
And be but as you were, and there's no offence.
So base beneath the slauery, that men
Impose on beasts, but I will gladly bow to.
But as you play, and iuggle with a stranger
Varying your shapes like Thetis though the beauties
Of all that are by Poets raptures Sainted
Were now in you vnited, you should passe
Pittied by me perhaps, but not regarded.

Eubulus.
If this take not I am cheated.

Mathias.
To slip once
Is incident, and excusde by humane fraylty,
But to fall euer damnable we were both
Guilty I grant in tendering our affection,
But, as I hope you will doe, I repented.
When we are growne vp to ripenesse, our life is
Like to this picture. While we runne
A constant race in goodnesse, it retaines
The iust proportion. But the iourneyes being
Tedious and sweet temptations in the way,
That may in some degree diuert vs from
The rode that we put forth in, ere we end
Our pilgrimage, it may like this turne yellow
Or be with blacknesse clouded. But when we
Finde we haue gone astray, and labour to
Returne vnto our neuer fayling guide
Vertue, contrition with vnfained teares,
The spots of vice wash'd off will soone restore it
To the first purenesse.

Honoria.
I am disenchanted
Mercy, O mercy heauens?

kneeles
Ladislaus.
I am rauished with
What I haue seene and hard.

Ferdinand.
Let vs descend and heere
The rest below.

Eubulus.
This hath falne out beyond
My expectation.

they descend.
Honoria.
How haue I wandred
Out of the tract of piety and misled
By ouerweening pride, and flattery
Of fawning sycophants (the bane of greatnes)
Could neuer meete till now a passenger
That in his charity would set me right,
Or stay me in my precipice to ruine.
How ill haue I return'd your goodnes to me?
The horror in my thought oft turnes me marble.
Enter the King and others,
But if it may be yet preuented, O sir,
What can I do to shew my sorrow or
With what brow aske your pardon?

Ladislaus.
Pray you rise.

Honoria.
Neuer, till you forgiue me, and receiue
Vnto your loue, and fauour a chang'd woman.
My state, and pride turn'd to humility henceforth
Shall waite on your commands, and my obedience
Steer'd only by your will.

Ladislaus,
And that will proue
A second and a better marriage to me, all is forgot

Honoria.
Sir I must not rise yet
Till with a free confession of a crime,
Vnknowne to you yet, and a following suite
Which thus I beg be granted.

Ladislaus.
I melt with you.
Tis pardon'd, and confirm'd thus.

Honoria.
Know then sir.
In malice to this good knights wife I practis'd
Ubaldo, and Ricardo, to corrupt her.

Baptista.
Thence grew the change of the picture.

Honoria.
And how far
They haue preuaild I am ignorant now if you sir
Or the honor of this goodman, may be intreated
To trauaile thither, it being but a dayes iourney
To fetch 'em off,

Ladislaus.
We will put on to night.

Baptista.
I if you please your harbinger.

Ladislaus.
I thanke you.
Let me embrace you in my armes, your seruice
Donne on the Turke compard with this waighs nothing.

Mathias.
I am still your humble creature.

Ladslaius.
My true friend

Ferdinand.
And so you are bound to hold him.

Eubulus.
Such a plante
Imported to your Kingdome, and heere grafted
Would yeeld more fruit then all the idle weedes
That sucke vp your raigne of fauour.

Ladislaus.
In my will
Ill not be wanting, prepare for our iourney.
In acte be my Honoria now, not name,
And to all after times preserue thy fame.

Exeunt.