 | The Queene of Corinth |  |
Scæna Tertia.
Enter Theanor, Agenor, Leonidas above.Leo.
Make good that Fortification, and the Watch
Keepe still upon the Battlements: Royall Sir,
Weigh but our injuries, we have told you fully
The manner and the matter hales us thus;
Nor shall this upstart Mushrum bred i'th night,
Sit brooding underneath your Mothers wings
His damn'd impieties.
Ag.
For your selfe, brave Prince,
Feare nothing that this face of Armes presents:
We aske the Ravisher, and have no meanes
To win him from your most indulgent Mother
But by this practice.
The.
Stout Leonidas,
Princely Agenor, your wrongs cry so loud,
That who so would condemne you is not heard:
I blame you not, who but Euphanes durst
Make Stories like to this? My wrong's as strong
Aske my revengefull arme to strengthen yours:
As for my feare, know you, and Greece throughout,
Enter Euphanes and Conon.
Our Mother was a Spartan Princesse borne,
That never taught me to spell such a word.
17
Sir, you doe tempt your life.
Euph.
Conon, no more.
Doe thus as thou wouldst save it.
Sound Trumpet within.
Ag.
What Trumpet's this?
Leo.
Beneath I doe perceive
Two armed men, single, that give us summons
As they would treat.
Ag.
Let us descend.
Con.
My Lord,
I would you would excuse me, and proceed
According to the Queenes directions.
Euph.
Friend,
As thou wouldst weare that title after death
Enter below Theanor, Agenor, Leonidas and Souldiers.
Performe my charge: no Souldier on his life
Approach us nearer.
Con.
Safety to both the Princes, loyalty
To you Lord Generall, the Queene, your Mistris
As well as ours, though not to feare, to cut
Civill dissention from her Land, and save
Much guiltlesse blood, that uprore ever thirsts,
And for the safe-guard of her Son, by me
(As you demand) hath sent the Lord Euphanes
To plead his owne cause, or to suffer death
As you shall finde him worthy; so delivering
The Prince back, I shall leave him to your Guard.
Leo.
The Queene is good and gracious: kisse her hand.
Ag.
And seale our duties: Sir, depart in peace.
The.
Oh Sir, you now perceive, when in the scales
Nature, and fond affection weigh together,
One poyzes like a feather, and you know my Lords
What's to be done.
Euph.
Your Highnesse is unarm'd,
Please you to use mine, and to lead the Army
Back to your Mother: Conon, march you with 'em.
Con.
I will my Lord: But not so farre as not
To bring you help if danger looke upon you.
Exit.
Euph.
Why doe you looke so strangely, fearefully,
Or stay your deathfull hande, be not so wise
To stop your rage: looke how unmoov'dly, here
I give my selfe my Countries sacrifice,
An innocent sacrifice: Truth laughs at death,
And terrifies the killer more then kill'd;
Integrity thus armelesse seekes her foes,
And never needs the Target, nor the Sword,
Bow, nor invenom'd shafts.
Leo.
We are amaz'd,
Not at your eloquence, but impudence,
That dare thus front us.
Ag.
Kill him, who knowes not
The iron forehead that bold mischiefe weares.
Leo.
Forbeare a while Agenor, I doe tremble,
And something sits like vertue in his face,
Which the gods keep.
Euph.
Agenor, strike Leonidas
You that have purchas'd fame on certaine grounds,
Loose it on supposition? smeare your hands
In guiltlesse blood, laugh at my Martyrdome:
But yet remember, when Posterity
Shall read your Volumes fill'd with vertuous acts,
And shall arrive at this black bloody leafe,
Noting your foolish barbarisme, and my wrong,
(As time shall make it plaine) what followes this
Disciphering any noble deed of yours
Shall be quite lost, for men will read no more.
Leo.
Why? dare you say you are innocent?
Euph.
By all the gods, as they
Of this foule crime, why Gent. pry clean through my life,
Then weigh these circumstances: think you that he
Which made day night, and men to furies turn'd,
Durst not trust silence, vizors, nor her sence
That suffer'd; but with Charmes and Potions
Cast her asleep, (for all this I have enquir'd)
Acted the Fable of Proserpines-Rape,
The place (by all description) like to Hell:
And all to perpetrate unknowne his Lust,
Would fondly in his Person bring a Ring,
And give it a betrothed Wife, ith' same house
Where the poore injur'd Lady liv'd, and groan'd.
Ag.
Hell gives us Art to reach the depth of sin,
But leaves us wretched Fooles, when we are in.
Euph.
Had it given me that Art, and left me so,
I would not thus into the Lyons jawes
Have thrust my selfe (defencelesse) for your good,
The Princes safety, or the Common-weales:
You know the Queene deny'd me, and sent us
Commanders to surprize you, and to race
This Tower down, we had power enough to doe it,
Or starve you, as you saw, and not to tender
My Person to your wrath, which I have done,
Knowing my heart as pure as infants sleep.
Leo.
What think you Sir?
Ag.
No harme I am sure: I weepe.
Euph.
The gods are just, and mighty: but to give you
Further assurance, and to make your selves
Judges, and witnesses of my innocency,
Let me demand this question: On what night
Was this foule deed committed?
Ag.
On the Eave
Before our Marriage meant.
Euph.
Leonidas,
(Your rage being off, that still drownes memory)
Where was your selfe and I that very night,
And what our conference?
Leo.
By the gods 'tis true:
Both in her Highnesse Chamber conferring
Even of this Match untill an houre of day,
And then came I to call you: we are sham'd.
Ag.
Vtterly lost, and sham'd.
Euph.
Neither, be chear'd,
He that could finde this out can pardon it,
And know this Ring was sent me from the Queene,
How she came by it, yet is not exquir'd,
Deeper occurrents hang on't: and pray Heaven
That my suspicions prove as false as yours,
Which (for the world) till I have greater proofe
I dare not utter what, nor whom they touch;
Only this build upon, with ail my nerves
Ile labour with ye, till time waken truth.
Ag.
There are our swords Sir, turne the points on us,
Leo.
Punish Rebellion, and revenge your wrong.
Euph.
Sir, my revenge shall be to make your peace,
Neither was this Rebellion, but rash love.
Enter Conon.
Con.
How's this? unarm'd left, now found doubly arm'd?
And those that would have slaine him at his feet?
Oh Truth, thou art a mighty Conqueresse:
The Queene (my Lord) perplex'd in care of you,
That crosse to her command hazard your selfe
In person, here is come into the Field,
And like a Leader, marches in the head
Of all her Troopes, vowes that she will demolish
Each stone of this proud Tower be you not safe:
She chafes like stormes in Groves, now sighs, now weepes,
And both sometimes, like Raine and Wind commixt,
18
Do fetch you off in person, that did give
Your selfe to save him of your owne free will,
And sweares he must not, nor is fit to live.
Euph.
Oh she's a Mistris for the gods.
Ag.
And thou
A godlike servant fit for her.
Leo.
Wide Greece
May boast because she cannot boast thy like.
Euph.
Thus Conon tell her Highnesse.
Con.
My joy flyes.
Euph.
Let's toward her march: sterne Drum speake
gentle peace.
Leo.
We are prisoners, lead us, ne're was knowne
A president like this: one unarm'd man
(Suspected) to captive with golden words
(Truth being his sheild) so many arm'd with swords.
Ex.
Enter (at one Doore) Queen, Theanor, Crates, Conon, Lords, Souldiers, (at another) Euphanes (with two swords) Agenor, Leonidas, Souldiers: Euphanes presents Leonidas on his knees to the Queen: Agenor bare-headed makes shew of sorrow to the Queen, she stamps and seemes to be angry at first, Euphanes perswades her, layes their swords at her feet, she kisses him, gives them their swords againe, they kisse her hand and embrace, the Souldiers lift up Euphanes, and shout: Theanor and Crates discovered, Conon whispers with Crates, Euphanes with Agenor, and Leonidas observes it, who seeme to promise something, Euphanes directs his Page somewhat. Exeunt all but Theanor and Crates.
The.
We are not lucky Crates, this great torrent
Beares all before him.
Cra.
Such an age as this
Shall ne're be seene againe: vertue growes fat,
And villany pines; the Furies are asleep,
Mischiefe 'gainst goodnesse aym'd is like a stone,
Unnaturally forc'd up an imminent hill,
Whose weight falls on our heads and buries us,
We springe our selves, we sink in our owne bogs.
The.
What's to be done?
Cra.
Repent and grow good.
The.
Pish,
'Tis not the fashion (foole) till we grow old:
The peoples love to him now scares me more
Then my fond Mothers: both which like two floods
Bearing Euphanes up; will o're-flow me,
And he is worthy, would he were in Heaven,
Be that hereafter: Crates helpe me now,
And henceforth be at ease.
Cra.
Your will my Lord?
The.
Beliza is to marry him forth-with,
I long to have the first touch of her too,
That will a little quiet me.
Cra.
Fie Sir,
You'l be the tyrant to virginity;
To fall but once is manly, to persevere
Beastly, and desperate.
The.
Crosse me not but do't:
Are not the meanes, the place, the instruments
The very same? I must expect you suddenly.
Exit.
Cra.
I must obey you.
Who is in evill once a companion
Can hardly shake him off, but must run on.
Here I appointed Conon to attend
Him, and his sword: he promis'd to come single
Enter Conon and Page.
To avoyd prevention: he is a man on's word.
Con.
You are well met Crates.
Cra.
If we part so Conon.
Con.
Come, we must doe these mutuall offices,
We must be our owne seconds, our owne Surgeons,
And fairely fight, like men, not on advantage.
Caa.
You have an honest bosome.
Con.
Yours seemes so.
Cra.
Let's paire our swords: you are a just Gentleman.
Con.
You might be so: now shake hands if you please,
Though't be the cudgell fashion, 'tis a friendly one.
Cra.
So, stand off.
Page.
That's my que to beckon 'em.
Exit.
Con.
Crates, to expostulate your wrongs to me
Were to doubt of 'em, or wish your excuse
In words, and so returne like maiden Knights:
Yet freely thus much I professe, your spleene
And rugged carriage toward your honour'd Brother
Hath much more stirr'd me up, then mine owne cause,
For I did ne're affect these bloody men,
But hold 'em fitter be made publike Hangmen,
Or Butchers call'd, then valiant Gentlemen:
'Tis true stamp'd valour do's upon just grounds,
Yet for whom justlier should I expose my life
Than him, unto whose vertue I owe all.
Cra.
Conon, you think by this great deed of yours
To insinuate your selfe a lodging nearer
Unto my Brothers heart: such men as you
Live on their undertakings for their Lords,
And more disable them by answering for 'em
Then if they sate still, make 'em but their Whores,
For which end Gallants now adayes do fight:
But here we come not to upbraid; what men
Seeme, the rash world will judge; but what they are
Heaven knowes: and this—Horses, we are discry'd,
One stroak for feare of laughter.
Enter Euphanes, Agenor, Leonidas, Page.
Con.
Halfe a score.
Euph.
Hold, hold: on your allegeance hold.
Ag.
He that strikks next—
Leo.
Falls like a Traytor on our swords.
Euph.
Oh Heaven, my Brother bleeds: Conon, thou art
A villaine, an unthankfull man, and shalt
Pay me thy blood for his, for his is mine:
Thou wert my friend, but he is still my Brother;
And though a friennd sometimes be nearer said
In some gradation, it can never be
Where that same Brother can be made a friend,
Which dearest Crates thus low I implore;
What in my poverty I would not seeke,
Because I would not burthen you, now here
In all my height of blisse I beg of you,
Your friendship; my advancement Sir is yours;
I never held it strange, pray use it so:
We are but two, which number Nature fram'd
In the most usefull faculties of man,
To strengthen mutually and releeve each other:
Two eyes, two eares, two armes, two leggs and feet,
That where one fail'd the other might supply;
And I, your other eye, eare, your arme and legge,
Tender my service, helpe and succour to ye.
Ag., Leo.
A most divine example.
Euph.
For deare Brother,
You have been blind, and lame, and deafe to me,
Now be no more so: in humility
I give ye the duty of a younger Brother,
Which take you as a Brother, not a Father,
And then you'l pay a duty back to me.
Cra.
Till now I have not wept these thirty yeares.
19
Discording Brothers are like mutuall leggs
Supplanting one another: he that seekes
Aid from a stranger and forsakes his Brother,
Do's but like him that madly lops his arme,
And to his body joynes a wooden one:
Cuts off his naturall legge, and trusts a Crutch,
Plucks out his eye to see with Spectacles.
Cra.
Most deare Euphanes, in this crimson floud
Wash my unkindnesse out: you have ore-come me,
Taught me humanity and brotherhood;
Full well knew Nature thou wert fitter far
To be a Ruler ore me then a Brother,
Which henceforth be: Jove surely did descend
When thou wert gotten in some heavenly shape
And greet my Mother, as the Poets tell
Of other women.
Ag.
Be this Holy-day.
Leo.
And noted ever with the whitest stone.
Con.
And pardon me my Lord, looke you, I bleed
Faster then Crates; what I have done I did
To reconcile your loves, to both a friend,
With my blood ciment, never to part or end.
Ag.
Most worthy Conon.
Leo.
Happy rise, this day
Contracts more good then a whole age hath done.
Euph.
Royall Agenor, brave Leonidas,
You are maine causes, and must share the fame.
Cra.
Which in some part this hower shall requight,
For I have aym'd my black shafts at white markes,
And now ile put the clew into your hands
Shall guide ye most perspicuously to the depth
Of this dark Laborinth, where so long ye were lost
Touching this old Rape, and a new intent,
Wherein your counsell, and your active wit
My dearest Brother will be necessary.
Euph.
My Prophecy is come, prove my hopes true
Agenor shall have right, and you no wrong,
Time now will pluck her daughter from her Cave:
Let's hence to prevent rumour; my deare Brother,
Natures divided streames the highest shelfe
Will over-run at last, and flow to it selfe.
Exeunt
| The Queene of Corinth | |