 | The Lovers Progres |  |
92
Actus Quintus.
Scæna Prima.
Enter Dorilaus, and Servant.Dor.
Thou hast him safe?
Serv.
As fast as locks can make him:
He must break through three doores, and cut the throats
Of ten tall fellowes, if that hee scape us:
Besides, as far as I can apprehend,
He hath no such invention, for his looks
Are full of penitence.
Dor.
Trust not a knaves looks,
They are like a whores oathes;
How does my poore daughter
Brook her restraint?
Serv.
With such a resolution
As well becomes your Lordships childe.
Knock within.
Dor.
Who's that?
Serv.
Monsieur Lemure.
Enter Lemur.
Dor.
This is a speciall favour,
And may stand an example in the court
For courtesie: It is the Clyants duty
To wait upon his patron; you prevent me,
That am your humble suter.
Lemure.
My neare place
About the King, though it swell others, cannot
Make me forget your worth and age, which may
Challenge much more respect; and I am sorry
That my endeavours for you have not met with
The good successe I wish'd; I mov'd the King
With my best advantage both of time and place,
Ith' favour of your daughter.
Dor.
How doe you finde his Majesty affected?
Lem.
Not to be
Sway'd from the rigour of the Law: yet so far
The rarity of the cause hath won upon him,
That he resolves to have in his owne person
The hearing of it; her tryall will be noble,
And to my utmost strength, where I may serve her,
My aydes shall not be wanting.
Dor.
I am your servant.
Lem.
One word more: if you love Lisanders life,
Advise him as he tenders it to keep
Out of the way: if he be apprehended,
This City cannot ransome him; so good morrow.
Ex.
Dor.
All happinesse attend you: goe thy wayes,
Thou hast a cleare and noble soule: for thy sake
Ile hold that man mine enemy, who dares mutter,
The court is not the sphere where vertue moves
Enter Serv.
Humanity and noblenesse waiting on her
Serv.
Two gentlemen (but what they are I know not,
Their faces are so musl'd) presse to see you,
And will not be deny'd.
Dor.
What ere they are, I am to old to feare.
Serv.
They need no usher, they make their own way.
Enter Lisander, Alcidon.
Dor.
Take you yours. Lisander!
Exit. Serv.
My Joy to see you, and my sorrow for
The danger you are in, contend so here,
Though different passions, nay oppos'd in nature,
I know not which to entertaine.
Lis.
Your hate should win the victorie from both, with justice,
You may look on me as a Homicide,
A man whose life is forfeited to the Law,
But if (how ere I stand accus'd) in thought
I sinn'd against Cleanders life, or live
Guilty of the dishonour of your daughter,
May all the miseries that can fall on man
Here, or hereafter circle me.
Dor.
To me this protestation's uselesse, I embrace you,
As the preserver of my life, the man
To whom my sonne owes his, with life, his honour,
And howsoever your affection
To my unhappy daughter, though it were
(For I have sifted her) in a noble way,
Hath printed some taint on her fame, and brought
Her life in question, yet I would not purchase
The wish'd recoverie of her reputation,
With strong assurance of her innocence
Before the King her Judge, with certaine losse
Of my Lisander, for whose life, if found,
There's no redemption; my excesse of love,
(Though to enjoy you one short day would lengthen
My life a dozen yeares) boldly commands me,
Upon my knees, which yet were never bent,
But to the King and heaven, to entreat you
To flye hence with all possible speed, and leave
Caliste to her fortune.
Lis.
O blessed Saints, forsake her in afflictiction? can you
Be so unnaturall to your owne bloud,
To one so well deserving, as to value
My safety before hers? shall innocence
In her be branded, and my guilt escape
Unpunish'd? doe's she suffer so much for me,
For me unworthy, and shall I decline
(Eating the bitter bread of banishment)
The course of justice to draw out a life?
(A life? I stile it false, a living death)
Which being uncompell'd laid downe will cleare her,
And write her name a-new in the faire legend
Of the best women? seek not to disswade me.
I will not, like a carelesse Poet, spoyle
The last act of my Play, till now applauded,
By giving the world just cause to say I fear'd
Death more then losse of honour,
Dor.
But suppose heaven hath design'd some
Other saving meanes for her deliverance?
Lis.
Other meanes? that is
A mischiefe above all I have groan'd under:
Shall any other pay my debt, while I
Write my selfe bankrupt? or Caliste owe
The least beholdingnesse for that which she
On all the bonds of gratitude I have seal'd to,
May challenge from me to be freely tender'd?
Avert it mercy! I will goe to my grave,
Without the curses of my creditors;
Ile vindicate her faire name, and so cancell
My obligation to her, to the King,
To whom I stand accomptable for the losse
Of two of his lov'd subjects lives, Ile offer
Mine owne in satisfaction, to heaven
Ile pay my true repentance, to the times
Present, and future, Ile be registred
A memorable president to admonish
Others, however valiant, not to trust
To their abilities to dare, and doe,
And much lesse for the aërie words of honour,
And false stamp'd reputation to shake off
91
The principall means appointed to prefer
Societies and Kingdomes.
Exit.
Dor.
Let's not leave him; his mind's much troubled.
Alc.
Were your daughter free,
Since from her dangers his distraction rises
His cause is not so desperate for the slaughter
Of Cloridon and Chrysanthes, but it may
Find passage to the mercy of the King,
The motives urg'd in his defence, that forc'd him
To act that bloudy Scæne.
Dor.
Heaven can send ayds,
When they are least expected, let us walke,
The houre of tryall drawes neare.
Alc.
May it end well.
Exeunt.
Enter Olinda and Lidian.
Ol.
That for my love you should turne Hermit Lidian,
As much amazes me, as your report Clarange's dead.
Lid.
He is so, and all comforts
My youth can hope for, Madam, with him buried;
Nor had I ever left my cell, but that
He did injoine me at his death to shed
Some teares of friendship on his Monument,
And those last Rites perform'd, he did bequeath you
As the best legacie a friend could give,
Or I indeed could wish to my embraces.
Ol.
'Tis still more strange, is there no foule play in it?
I must confesse I am not sorry sir.
For your faire fortune; yet 'tis fit I grieve
The most untimely death of such a Gentleman,
He was my worthy servant.
Lid.
And for this acknowledgment, if I could prize you at
A higher rate I should, he was my friend:
My dearest friend.
Ol.
But how should I be assur'd sir
(For slow beleefe is the best friend of truth)
Of this Gentlemans death? if I should credit it,
And afterward it fall out contrary,
How am I sham'd? how is your vertue tainted?
Lid.
There is a Frier that came along with me.
His businesse to deliver you a Letter.
From dead Clarange: You shall heare his testimonie.
Father, my reverend Father, looke upon him,
Such holy men are Authors of no Fables.
Enter Clarange (with a Letter writ out) and Frier.
Ol.
They should not be, their lives and their opinions,
Like brightest purest flames should still burne upwards,
To me sir?
(delivers the Letter.
Clar.
If you are the faire Olinda—
Frier.
I doe not like these crosse points.
Clar.
Give me leave, I am nearest to my selfe. What I have ploted
Shal be pursu'd: you must not over-rule me.
Ol.
Doe you put the first hand to your own undoing?
Play to betray your game? Mark but this letter.
Lady I am come to claime your noble promise,
Reads.
If you be Mistris of your word, ye are mine,
I am last return'd: your riddle is dissolv'd,
And I attend your faith. Your humble servant Clarange.
Is this the Frier that saw him dead?
Lid.
'Tis he.
Clarange on my life: I am defeated:
Such reverend habits juggle? my true sorrow
For a false friend not worth a teare derided?
Fri.
You have abus'd my trust.
Ol.
It is not well, nor like a gentleman.
Clar.
All stratagems
In love, and that the sharpest war, are lawfull,
By your example I did change my habit,
Caught you in your owne toyle, and triumph in it,
And what by policy's got, I will maintaine
With valour, no Lisander shall come in again to fetch you off.
Lid.
His honor'd name
Pronounc'd by such a treacherous tongue is tainted,
Maintaine thy treason with thy sword? With what
Contempt I heare it; in a Wildernesse
I durst encounter it, and would, but that
In my retired houres, not counterfeited
As thy religious shape was, I have learn'd
When Justice may determine such a cause,
And of such weight as this faire Lady is,
Must not be put to fortune, I appeale
Unto the King, and he whose wisedome knowes
To doe his subjects right in their estates,
As graciously with judgement will determine
In points of honour.
Olin.
I'le steere the same course with you.
Claran.
I'le stand the tryall.
Fri.
What have you done? or what intend you?
Claran.
Aske not; I'le come off with honour.
Exeunt.
Enter Beronte, Clarinda, Malfort, a bar set forth, Officers.
Ber.
Be constant in your proofes: should you shrinke backe now,
Your life must answer it, nor am I safe,
My honour being engag'd to make that good
Which you affirme.
Clarin.
I am confident, so dearely
I honour'd my dead Lord, that no respect,
Or of my Ladies bounties (which were great ones
I must confesse) nor of her former life,
For while that she was chast, indeed I lov'd her,
Shall hinder me from lending my assistance
Unto your just revenge—mine owne I meane,
aside.
If Leon keepe far off enough, all's secure:
Lisander dares not come in, modest blushes
Parted with me long since, and impudence
Arm'd with my hate, unto her innocence shall be
The weapon I will fight with now
Ber.
The racke
Being presented to you, you'l roare out
What you conceale yet,
Mal.
Conceale? I know nothing
But that I shall be hang'd, and that I looke for,
It is my destiny, I ever had
A hanging looke; and a wise woman told me,
Though I had not the heart to do a deed
Worthy the halter, in my youth or age,
I should take a turne with a wry mouth and now
'Tis come about: I have penn'd mine owne ballad
Before my condemnation, in feare
Some rimer should prevent me: here's my Lady?
Would I were in heaven, or a thousand miles hence,
That I might not blush to looke on her.
Enter Dorilaus, Caliste, Olinda.
Dor.
You behold this preparation, and the enemies
Who are to fight against your life, yet if
You bring no witnesse here, that may convince ye
Of breach of faith to your Lords bed, and hold up
Unspotted hands before the King, this tryall
You are to undergo, will but refine,
And not consume your honour.
92
How confirm'd
I am here, whatsoever Fate falls on me,
You shall have ample testimony; till the death
Of my deare Lord, to whose sad memory
I pay a mourning widdowes teares, I liv'd
Too happy in my holy-day trim of glorie,
And courted with felicitie, that drew on me,
With other helpes of nature, as of fortune,
The envie, not the love of most that knew me,
This made me to presume too much, perhaps
Too proud; but I am humbled; and if now
I doe make it apparent, I can beare
Adversity with such a constant patience
As will set off my innocence, I hope sir,
In your declining age, when I should live
A comfort to you, you shall have no cause,
How e're I stand accus'd, to hold your honour
Ship-wrack'd in such a daughter.
Ol.
O best friend, my honour's at the stake too, for—
Dor.
Be silent; the King.
Enter King, Lemure, and Attendants.
Lem.
Sir, if you please to look upon
The Prisoner, and the many services
Her Father hath done for you—
King.
We must look on
The cause, and not the persons. Yet beholding
With an impartiall eye, th'excelling beauties
Of this faire Lady, which we did beleeve
Upon report, but till now never saw 'em,
It moves a strange kind of compassion in me;
Let us survey you nearer, shee's a book
To be with care perus'd; and tis my wonder,
If such mishapen ghests, as lust and murther,
At any price should ever finde a lodging
In such a beauteous Inne! mistake us not,
Though we admire the outward structure, if
The roomes be foule within, expect no favour.
I were no man, if I could look on beautie
Distress'd, without some pitty; but no King,
If any superficiall glosse of feature
Could worke me to decline the course of Justice.
But to the cause, Cleander's death, what proofes
Can you produce against her?
Ber.
Royall sir, touching that point my brothers death,
We build on suppositions.
King.
Suppositions? how? Is such a Lady sir to bee condemn'd
On suppositions?
Ber.
They are well grounded sir:
And if we make it evident she is guilty
Of the first crime we charge her with, Adulterie,
That being the parent, it may finde beliefe,
That murther was the issue.
King.
We allow
It may be so; but that it may be, must not
Inferre a necessary consequence
To cast away a Ladies life. What witnesses
To make this good?
Ber.
The principall, this woman,
For many yeares her servant; she hath taken
Her oath in Court. Come forward.
King.
By my Crowne a lying face.
Clar.
I swore sir for the King:
And if you are the partie, as I doe
Believe you are, for you have a good face,
How ever mine appeares, swearing for you sir,
I ought to have my oath passe.
King.
Impudent too? well, what have you sworne?
Clar.
That this Lady was
A goodly tempting Lady, as she is:
How thinks your Majestie? and I her servant,
Her officer as one would say, and trusted
With her closest Chamber-service; that Lisander
VVas a fine timber'd gentleman, and active,
That he cou'd doe fine gambolls
To make a Lady merrie; that this paire,
A very loving couple, mutually
Affected one another: so much for them sir.
That I, a simple waiting-woman, having taken
My bodily oath, the first night of admittance
Into her Ladiships service, on her slippers,
(That was the book) to serve her will in all things,
And to know no Religion but her pleasure,
'Tis not yet out of fashion with some Ladies;
That I, as the premisses shew, being commanded
To doe my function, in conveyance of
Lisander to her chamber, (my Lord absent,
On a pretended sicknesse) did the feat,
(It cannot be deny'd) and at dead mid-night
Left 'em together: what they did, some here
Can easily imagine? I have said, sir.
Dor.
The devills Oratrix.
King.
Then you confesse you were her Bawd?
Clar.
That's course, her agent sir.
King.
So goodie agent? and you think there is
No punishment due for your agentship?
Clar.
Let her suffer first,
Being my better, for adulterie,
And Ile endure the Mulct impos'd on Bawdes,
Call it by the worst name.
Cal.
Live I to heare this?
King.
Take her aside. Your answer to this Lady?
Cal.
Heav'n grant me patience: to be thus confronted,
(O pardon Royall sir a womans passion)
By one, and this the worst of my mis-fortunes,
That was my slave, but never to such ends sir,
VVould give a statue motion into furie:
Let my pass'd life, my actions, nay intentions,
Be by my grand accuser justly censur'd,
(For her I scorne to answer) and if they
Yeeld any probability of truth
In that she urges, and I will confesse
A guilty cause; the peoples voyce, which is
The voyce of truth, my husbands tendernesse
In his affection to me, that no dotage
But a reward of humblenesse, the friendship
Eccho'd through France between him and Lisander,
All make against her; for him, in his absence,
(VVhat ever imputation it draw on me)
I must take leave to speak: 'tis true, he lov'd me,
But not in such a wanton way, his reason
Master'd his passions: I grant I had
At mid-night conference with him; but if he
Ever receiv'd a farther favour from me,
Then what a sister might give to a brother,
May I sinke quick: and thus much, did he know
The shame I suffer for him, with the losse
Of his life for appearing, on my soule
He would maintaine.
Enter Lisander, and Alcidon.
Lis.
And will, thou cleare example of womens purenesse.
King.
Though we hold her such,
Thou hast express'd thy selfe a desperat foole,
To thrust thy head into the Lions jawes,
93
Lis.
I came prepar'd for't,
And offer up a guilty life to cleare
Hir innocence; the oath she tooke, I sweare to;
And for Cleanders death, to purge my selfe
From any colour malice can paint on me,
Or that she had a hand in't, I can prove
That fatall night when he in his own house fell,
And many daies before, I was distant from it
A long daies journey.
Clarin.
I am caught.
Ber.
If so,
How came your Sword into this stewards hands? stand forth.
Mal.
I have heard nothing that you spake;
I know I must dye, and what kind of death
Pray you resolve me, I shall go away else
In a qualme; I am very faint.
Enter Leon, Servants, and Guard
King.
Carry him off, his feare will kil him.
Ex. with Mal.
Dor.
Sir, 'twas my ambition,
My Daughters reputation being wounded
I'th' generall opinion, to have it
Cur'd by a publike triall; I had else
Forborne your Majesties trouble: I'le bring forth
Cleanders murtherer, in a wood I heard him
As I rod sadly by, unto himselfe
With some compunction, though this devill had none,
Lament what he had done, cursing her lust,
That drew him to that bloudy fact.
Leon.
To lessen
The foulenesse of it, for which I know justly
I am to suffer, and with my last breath
To free these Innocents, I do confesse all;
This wicked woman only guilty with me.
Clari.
Is't come to this? thou puling Rogue, dye thou
With prayers in thy mouth; I'le curse the lawes
By which I suffer, all I grieve for is,
That I dye unreveng'd.
Leon.
But one word more sir,
And I have done; I was by accident where
Lisander met with Cloridon, and Crysanthes,
Was an eare witnesse when he sought for peace,
Nay, begg'd it upon colder tearmes then can
Almost find credit, his past deeds considered,
But they deafe to his reasons, severally
Assaulted him, but such was his good fortune,
That both fell under it; upon my death
I take it uncompel'd, that they were guilty
Of their owne violent ends; and he against
His will, the Instrument.
Alc.
This I will sweare too, for I was not far off.
Dor.
They have alleadg'd
As much to wake your sleeping mercy sir,
As all the Advocates of France can plead
In his defence.
King.
The criminall judge shall sentence
These to their merits—with mine owne hand Lady
I take you from the bar, and do my selfe
Pronounce you innocent.
Ex. with Leon, and Clarin.
All.
Long live the King.
King.
And to confirme you stand high in our favour,
And as some recompence for what you have
With too much rigour in your triall suffered;
Aske what you please, becoming me to grant,
And be possest of't.
Cal.
Sir, I dare not doubt
Your royall promise, in a King it is
A strong assurance, that emboldens me
Upon my humble knees to make my boone
Lisanders pardon.
Dor.
My good Genius did prompt her to it.
Lem.
At your feet thus prostrate, I second her petition.
Alc.
Never King
Powr'd forth his meocie on a worthyer subject.
Ber.
To witnesse my repentance for the wrong
In my unjust suspition I did both;
I joyne in the same suit.
Lis.
The life you give,
Still ready to lay down for your service,
Shall be against your enemies imploy'd,
Not hazzarded in brawles.
All.
Mercie dread sir.
King.
So many pressing me, and with such reasons
Moving compassion, I hope it will not
Be censur'd levity in me though I borrow
In this from justice to relieve my mercie;
I grant his pardon at your intercession,
But still on this condition; you Lisander,
In expiation of your guilt, shall build
A monument for my Cloridon, and Crysanthes:
And never henceforth draw a Sword, but when
By us you are commanded, in defence of
The Flower de Luce and after one yeares sorrow
For your deare frend, Cleanders wretched fate,
Marry Caliste.
Ent. Lidian.
Lis.
On your sacred hand, I vow to do it seriously.
Lid.
Great sir stay,
Leave not your seat of justice, till you have
Given sentence in a cause as much important
As this you have determined.
King.
Lidian?
Enter Clarange, and Frier
Lid.
He sir, your humblest subject, I accuse Clarange
Of falshood in true friendship at the height;
We both were suiters to this Lady, both
Injoyn'd one pennance.
Clara.
Trouble not the King
With an unnecessarie repetition
Of what the Court's familiar with already.
King.
Clarange?
Dor.
With a shaven crowne?
Olin.
Most strange,
Claran.
Looke on thy rivall, your late servant Madam,
But now devoted to a better Mistris,
The Church, whose orders I have tooke upon me:
I here deliver up my interest to her;
And what was got with cunning as you thought,
I simply thus surrender: heretofore,
You did outstrip me in the race of friendship,
I am your equall now.
Dor.
A suite soone ended.
Claran.
And joyning thus your hands, I know both willing,
I may do in the Church my Friers Office
In marrying you.
Lid.
The victory is yours sir.
King.
It is a glorious one, and well set's of
Our Scæne of mercy; to the dead we tender
Our sorrow, to the living ample wishes
Of future happines: 'tis a Kings duty
To prove himselfe a father to his Subjects:
And I shall hold it if this well succeed,
A meritorious, and praise worthy deed.
Exeunt.
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