 | The Loyal Svbiect |  |
Scæne 6.
Enter Duke, Olimpia, Honora, Viola.Du.
You shall not be thus sullen still, with me sister
You doe the most unnobly to be angry,
For as I have a soule, I never touch'd her,
I never yet knew one unchast thought in her:
I must confesse, I lov'd her: as who would not?
I must confesse I doated on her strangely,
I offer'd all, yet so strong was her honour,
So fortifi'd as faire, no hope could reach her,
And whilst the world beheld this, and confirmd it,
Why would you be so jealous?
Ol.
Good sir pardon me,
I feele sufficiently my follies pennance,
And am asham'd, that shame a thousand sorrowes
Feed on continually, would I had never seen her,
Or with a clearer judgement look'd upon her,
She was too good for me, so heavenly good sir,
Nothing but heaven can love that soule sufficiently,
Enter Burris.
Where I shall see her once againe.
Du.
No more teares,
If she be within the Dukedome, wee'l recover her:
Welcome Lord Burris, faire newes I hope.
Bu.
Most faire sir,
Without one drop of bloud these wars are ended,
The Souldier coold againe, indeed asham'd sir,
And all his anger ended.
Du.
Where's Lord Archas?
Bur.
Not far off sir: with him his valiant son,
Head of this fire, but now a prisoner,
And if by your sweet mercie not prevented,
I feare some fatall stroke.
Drums.
Enter Archas, Theodore, Gentlemen, Souldiers
Du.
I heare the drums beate,
Welcome, my worthy friend.
Ar.
Stand where ye are sir,
Even as you love your Country, move not forward,
Nor plead for peace, till I have done a justice,
A justice on this villaine; none of mine now,
A justice on this Rebell.
Hon.
O my Brother.
Ar.
This fatall firebrand—
Du.
Forget not old man,
He is thy son of thine owne bloud.
Ar.
In these veines
No treacherie e're harbour'd yet, no mutinie,
I ne're gave life to lewd and headstrong Rebels.
Du.
'Tis his first fault.
Ar.
Not of a thousand sir,
Or were it so, it is a fault so mightie,
So strong against the nature of all mercie,
His mother were she living, would not weep for him,
He dare not say he would live.
The.
I must not sir,
Whilst you say 'tis not fit: your Graces mercy
Not to my life appli'd, but to my fault sir,
The worlds forgivenesse next, last, on my knees sir,
I humbly beg,
Do not take from me yet the name of father,
Strike me a thousand blowes, but let me dye yours.
Ar.
He moves my heart: I must be suddaine with him,
I shall grow faint else, in my execution;
Come, come sir, you have seen death; now meet him bravely.
Du.
Hold, hold I say, a little hold, consider
Thou hast no more sons Archas to inherit thee.
Ar.
Yes sir, I have another, and a nobler:
No treason shall inherit me: young Archas
A boy, as sweet as young, my brother breeds him,
My noble brother Briskie, breeds him nobly,
Him let your favour find: give him your honour.
Enter Putskie (alias Briskie) and Alinda (alias Archas.
Pu.
Thou hast no child left Archas none to inherit thee
If thou strikst that stroke now: behold young Archas;
Behold thy brother here, thou bloudy brother,
As bloudy to this sacrifice as thou art:
Heave up thy sword, and mine's heav'd up: strike Archas,
And I'le strike too, as suddenly, as deadly:
Have mercy, and I'le have mercy: the Duke gives it,
Looke upon all these, how they weep it from thee,
Choose quickly, and begin.
Du.
On your obedience,
On your allegance save him.
Ar.
Take him to ye,
Soul. shout.
And sirha, be an honest man, ye have reason:
I thanke ye worthy Brother; welcome child,
Mine owne sweet child.
Du.
Why was this boy concealed thus?
Put.
Your graces pardon:
Fearing the vow you made against my brother
And that your anger would not only light
On him, but find out all his familie,
This young boy, to preserve from after danger,
Like a young wench, hether I brought; my selfe
In the habit of an ordinarie Captaine
Disguis'd, got entertainement, and serv'd here
That I might still be ready to all fortunes:
The boy your Grace tooke, nobly entertain'd him,
But thought a Girle, Alinda, Madam.
Ol.
Stand away,
And let me looke upon him.
Du.
My young Mistris?
This is a strange metamorphosis, Alinda?
Al.
Your graces humble servant.
Du.
Come hether sister:
I dare yet scarce beleeve mine eyes? how they view one another?
Dost thou not love this boy wel?
Ol.
I should lye else,
Trust me, extreamely lye sir.
50
Didst thou never wish Olimpia,
It might be thus?
Ol.
A thousand times.
Du.
Here take him:
Nay, do not blush: I do not jest; kisse sweetly:
Boy, ve kisse faintly boy; heaven give ye comfort;
Teach him, he'l quickly learne: there's two hearts eas'd now.
Ar.
You do me too much honour sir.
Du.
No Archas,
But all I can, I will; can you love me? speake truly.
Hon.
Yes sir, dearly.
Du.
Come hether Viola, can you love this man?
Vio.
I'le do the best I can sir.
Du.
Seale it Burris:
Wee'l all to Church together instantly:
And then a vie for boyes; stay, bring Boroskie.
Enter Boroskie
I had almost forgot that lumpe of mischiefe.
There Archas, take the enemie to honour,
The knave to worth: do with him what thou wilt.
Ar.
Then to my sword againe; you to your prayers;
Wash off your villanies, you feele the burthen.
Bor.
Forgive me ere I die, most honest Archas;
'Tis too much honour that I perish thus;
O strike my faults to kill them, that no memorie,
No blacke and blasted infamy heareafter—
Ar.
Come, are ye ready?
Bor.
Yes.
Ar.
And truly penitent, to make your way straight?
Bor.
Thus I wash off my sins.
Ar.
Stand up, and live then,
And live an honest man; I scorne mens ruin's:
Take him againe, Sir, trie him: and beleeve
This thing wil be a perfect man.
Du.
I take him.
Bor.
And when I faile those hopes, heavens hopes faile me.
Du.
You are old: no more wars Father:
Theodore take you the charge, be Generall.
The.
All good blesse ye.
Du.
And my good father, you dwell in my bosome,
From you rise all my good thoughts: when I would think
And examine time for one that's fairely noble,
And the same man through all the straights of vertue,
Upon this silver booke I'le looke, and read him.
Now forward merrily to Hymens rights,
To joyes, and revels, sports, and he that can
Most honour Archas, is the noblest man.
Exeunt.
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