University of Virginia Library

Scæna Secunda.

Enter Euphanes, Agenor, Leonidas, Conon.
Euph.
Only make haste (my Lords) in all things else
You are instructed: you may draw your swords
For shew if you thinke good, but on my life
You will finde no resistance in his servants,
And he's himselfe unarm'd.

Ag.
I would he were not,
My just rage should not then be lost.

Euph.
Good Sir,
Have you a care no injury be done
Unto the Person of the Prince: but Conon,
Have you an eye on both, it is your trust
That I relye on.

Con.
Which I will discharge,
Assure your selfe most faithfully.

Euph.
For the Lady,
I know your best respect will nor be wanting:
Then to avoyd suspition and discovery,
I hold it requisite, that as soone as ever
The Queene hath seene her, she forsake the place,
And fit her selfe for that which is projected
For her good, and your honour.

Leo.
If this prosper,
Beleeve it you have made a purchase of
My service and my life.

Euph.
Your love I ayme at.

Leo.
Here I shall finde you?

Euph.
With the Queene.

Con.
Enough Sir.

Exit.
Enter Page.
Page.
The Queene enquires for you my Lord, I have met
A dozen Messengers in search of you.

Enter Queene, Ladies, Attendants.
Euph.
I knew I should be sought for, as I wish'd
She's come her selfe in person.

Quee.
Are you found Sir?
I wonder where you spend your houres, me thinkes
Since I so love your company, and professe
'Tis the best comfort this life yeelds me; mine
Should not be tedious to you.

Euph.
Gracious Madam,
To have the happinesse to see and heare you,
Which by your bounty is conferr'd upon me,
I hold so great a blessing, that my honours
And wealth compar'd to that are but as Cyphers
To make that number greater: yet your pardon
For borrowing from my duty so much time
As the provision for my sudden Marriage
Exacted from me.

Quee.
I perceive this Marriage
Will keepe you often from me: but ile beare it.
She's a good Lady, and a faire, Euphanes,
Yet by her leave I will share with her in you:
I am pleas'd that in the night she shall enjoy you,
And that's sufficient for a Wife: the day time
I will divorce you from her.

Leo.
within.
We will force you if you resist.

Queen.
What noyce is that?

The.
within.
Base Traytors.

Euph.
It moves this way.

Enter Agenor, Leonidas with Theanor, Merione like Beliza, Conon, Crates, Neanthes, Sosicles, Eraton, Guard.
Quee.
What ere it be ile meet it,
I was not borne to feare: Who's that Beliza?

Euph.
My worthiest, noblest Mistris.

Exit.
Quee.
Stay her, ha?
All of you looke as you were rooted here,
And wanted motion: what new Gorgons head
Have you beheld, that you are all turn'd Statues?
This is prodigious: ha's none a tongue
To speake the cause?

Leo.
Could every haire great Queene
Upon my head yeeld an articulate sound,
And all together speake, they could not yet
Expresse the villany we have discover'd,
And yet, when with a few unwilling words
I have deliver'd what must needs be knowne,
You'l say I am too eloquent, and wish
I had been borne without a tongue.

Quee.
Speak boldly,
For I unmov'd with any losse will heare.

Leo.
Then know, we have found out the Ravisher
Of my poore Sister, and the place, and meanes
By which th'unfortunate though faire Beliza
Hath met a second violence.

Euph.
This confirmes
What but before I doubted, to my ruine
My Lady ravish'd.

Quee.
Point me out the villaine,
That guilty wretched monster that hath done this,
That I may looke on him, and in mine eye
He read his Sentence.

Leo.
That I truly could
Name any other but the Prince, that heard
You have it all.

Queen.
Wonder not that I shake,
The miracle is greater that I live,
Having endur'd the thunder that thy words
Have throwne upon me: dar'st thou kneele, with hope
Of any favour, but a speedy death,
And that too in the dreadfull'st shape that can
Appeare to a dispairing leaprous soule,
If thou hast any? no, libidinous beast,
Thy Lust hath alter'd so thy former being,
By Heaven I know thee not.

The.
Although unworthy
Yet still I am your Son.

Quee.
Thou lyest, lyest falsly,
My whole life never knew but one chaste bed,
Nor e're desir'd warmth but from lawful fires,
Can I be then the Mother to a Goat,
Whose lust is more insatiate then the grave,
And like infectious ayre engenders plagues,
To murder all that's chaste, or good in woman?
The gods I from my youth have serv'd and fear'd,
Whose holy Temples thou hast made thy Brothells;
Could a Religious Mother then bring forth
So damn'd an Atheist? read but o're my life,
My actions, manners, and made perfect in them
But looke into the story of thy selfe
As thou art now, not as thou wert Theanor,
And Reason will compell thee to confesse,
Thou art a stranger to me.

Ag.
Note but how heavie
The weight of guilt is: it so low hath sunke him
That he wants power to rise up in defence
Of his bad cause.

Quee.
Perswade me not Euphanes,
This is no Prince, nor can claime part in me:
My Son was borne a Free-man, this a Slave
To beastly passions, a Fugitive,
And run-away from vertue: bring bonds for him.
By all the honour that I owe to Justice
He loses me for ever that seekes to save him:
Binde him I say, and like a wretch that knowes
He stands condemn'd before he heares the Sentence,
With his base Agents, from my sight remove him,
And lodge them in the Dungeon: As a Queene
And Patronesse to Justice I command it:
Thy teares are like unseasonable showres,
And in my heart now steel'd can make no entrance:
Thou art cruell to thy selfe (Foole) 'tis not want
In me of soft compassion; when thou left'st
To be a Son, I ceas'd to be a Mother;
Away with them: The children I will leave
To keepe my name to all posterities
Shall be the great examples of my Justice,
The government of my Country, which shall witnesse
How well I rul'd my selfe: bid the wrong'd Ladies
Appeare in Court to morrow, we will heare them;
And by one Act of our severity
For feare of punishment, or love to vertue,
Teach others to be honest: all will shun
To tempt her Lawes, that would not spare her Son.

Exe.