University of Virginia Library

Scæna quarta.

Enter Leopold, Hypolita, Zenocia.
Zen.
Will your Ladiship weare this dressing?

Hyp.
Leave thy prating:
I care not what I weare.

Zen.
Yet 'tis my duty
To know your pleasure, and my worst affection
To see you discontented.

Hyp.
Weeping too?
Prethee forgive me: I am much distemperd,
And speake I know not what: to make thee amends
The gowne that I wore yesterday, is thine;
Let it alone a while.

Leo.
Now you perceive,
And taste her bounty.

Zen.
Much above my merit.

Leo.
But have you not yet found a happy time
To move for me.

Zen.
I have watched all occasions,
But hitherto, without successe: yet doubt not
But I'le embrace the first meanes.

Leo.
Do, and prosper;
Excellent creature, whose perfections make
Even sorrow lovely, if your frowns thus take me
What would your smiles doe?

Hyp.
Pox ô this stale Courtship:
If I have any power.

Leo.
I am commanded,
Obedience is the Lovers sacrifice
Which I pay gladly.

Hyp.
To be forc'd to wooe,
Being a woman, could not but torment me,
But bringing for my Advocates, youth and beauty,
Set off with wealth: and then to be deni'd too
Do's comprehend all tortures. They flatterd me,
That said my lookes were charmes, my touches fetters,
My locks soft chaines, to binde the armes of Princes,
And make them in that wish'd for bondage, happy,
I am like others of a courser feature,
As weake to allure, but in my dotage, stronger:
I am no Circe; he, more then Ulysses,
Scornes all my offerd bounties, slights my favours,
And, as I were some new Egyptian, flyes me,
Leaving no pawne, but my own shame behind him,
But he shall finde, that in my fell revenge,
I am a woman: one that never pardons
The rude contemner of her profferd sweetnesse.

Enter Zabulon.
Zab.
Madam, 'tis done;

Hyp.
What's done?

Zab.
The uncivill stranger
Is at your suite arrested.

Hyp.
'Tis well handled.

Zab.
And under guard sent to the Governour,
With whom my testimony, and the favour,
He beares your Ladiship, have so prevail'd
That he is sentenc'd.

Hyp.
How?

Zab.
To loose his head.

Hyp.
Is that the meanes to quench the scorching heate
Of my inrag'd desires? must innocence suffer,
'Cause I am faulty? or is my Love so fatall
That of necessity it must destroy
The object it most longs for? dull Hypollita,
To thinke that injuries could make way for love,
When courtesies were despis'd: that by his death
Thou shouldst give that, which only thou canst hope for
While he is living: My honours at the stake now,
And cannot be preserv'd, unlesse he perish
The enjoying of the thing I love, I ever
Have priz'd above my fame: why doubt I now then?
One only way is left me, to redeeme all:
Make ready my Caroch.

Leo.
What will you Madam.

Hyp.
And yet I am impatient of such stay:
Bind up my haire: fy, fy, while that is doing
The Law may cease his life: thus, as I am then,
Not like Hypollita, but a Baebanall
My frantique Love transports me.

Exit.
Leo.
Sure shee's distracted.

Zab.
Pray you follow her: I will along with you:
I more then ghesse the cause: women that love
Are most uncertaine, and one minute crave,
What, in another they refuse to have.

Exit.