 | The Polititian |  |
1
Act. I.
Enter Cortes and Hormenus.Cor.
It was a strange and suddaine marriage.
H.
Could he not Iove her for the game, and so forth,
But he must thus exalt her? no lesse title
Then Queen, to satisfie her ambition?
Co.
'Tis a brave rise!
H.
I did not prophesie,
When the honest Count her husband Altomarus
Liv'd, she would bring us on our knees.
Co.
I hope
She'l love the King for't.
H.
And in his absence,
Gotharus the Kings Minion, her old friend,
He has done this royall service; beside, what
Rests on accompts in her old husbands dayes.
2
Got with more heat, and blood, then Altomarus
Age could assure her, but hee's dead.
Co.
—Be with him;
Although I wo'not make oath for her chastity,
That boyes good nature is an argument
To me, Gotharus had no share in him:
Hee's honest, of a gentle disposition,
And on my Conscience does pray sometimes.
Enter Gotharus reading a Letter.
Ho.
No more, we have a Wolfe by'th'eare, what news
From Hell? he cannot want intelligence, he has
So many friends there—he's displeas'd, there is
Some goodness in that Letter, I will pawne
My head, that makes him angry.
Enter some with Petitions, Gotharus frowns upon 'em, they returne hastily.
How his frown
Hath scatterrd 'em like leaves, they fly from him
As nimbly, as their bodyes had no more weight
Then their Petitions; I would give an eye-tooth,
To read but three lines.
Go.
Curse upon his victory!
I meant him not this safety, when I wrought
The King to send him forth to warre, but hop'd
His active spirit would have met some engine
To have translated him to another world;
He's now upon return.
Exit.
Ho.
Would I had but
The harrowing of your skull; my genius gives me,
That Paper is some good news of the Prince,
I would I knew it but concern'd him.
Co.
'Twas
My wonder, the King would send his Son abroad
3
Ho.
He had a Councellor, this Polititian,
That would prefer the Prince to Heaven, a place
His Lordship has no hope to be acquainted with;
The Prince, and his great Uncle Duke Olaus,
Would not allow these pranks of State, nor see
The King betrai'd to a Concubine;
Therefore it was thought fit they should be engag'd
To forraigne dangers.
Enter Albina, and her waiting woman.
'Tis Madam Albina,
Our great mans wife.
Co.
The King did seem to affect her,
Before he married her to his favorite.
H.
Dost think she's honest?
Co.
Ile not stake my soul on't,
But I believe she is too good for him,
Although the King and she have private conference.
H.
She looks as she were discontent.
Exit Al.
Co.
She has cause
In being Gotharus wife, some say she lov'd him
Most passionately.
H.
'Twas her destiny;
She has him now, and if she love him still,
'Tis not impossible she may be a Martyr,
His proud and rugged nature will advance
Her patience too't.
Enter Helga and Sueno.
Hel.
Avoid the Gallery.
Su.
The King is coming, oh my Lord, your pardon:
Ho.
Nay we must all obey.
Co.
I near lik'd
This fellow.
H.
He is one of fortunes Minions;
4
That's one that draws in the same team, but more
Inclin'd to'th Knave; he is a kind of Pendant
To the Kings ear, an everlasting parasite:
The King? Albina return'd with him.
Exit.
Enter King and Albina.
K.
Leave us.
Y'are most unkind to your self in my opinion,
You know well who I am, and what I have
Advanc'd you too; neither in virgin state
Nor marriage, to allow your King a favour?
Al.
Sir, let the humble duty of a subject,
Who shall with zealous prayers solicite heaven
For you, and your fair Queen—
K.
Had you been wise,
That might have been your Title, but the God
Of love had with his Arrow so engraven
Gotharus in your heart; you had no language
But what concern'd his praise, scarce any thought
At liberty; I did imagine, when
I had compassion of your sufferings,
And gave thee a fair Bride to my Gotharus,
You would not lose the memory of my benefit,
But (now in state, and nature to reward it)
Consented to returne me love.
Al.
Be pleas'd
To excuse the boldnesse of one question.
K.
Be free Albina.
Al.
Do not you love my husband?
K.
There wants no testimony, beside the rest,
My giving thee to him, dear to my thoughts,
Is argument I love him.
Al.
Would you take
Me back agen? you but betraid his faith,
And your own gift, to tempt me to forsake him.
5
You are more apprehensive, if you please
He shall possesse you still, I but desire
Sometimes a neere and loving conversation,
Though he should know't, considering how much
I may deserve, he would be wise enough
To love thee near the worse; he's not the first
Lord that hath purchas'd offices by the free
Surrender of his wife to the Kings use,
'Tis frequent in all common-wealths to lend
Their play-fellows to a friend.
Al.
Oh do not think
Gotharus can be worth your love, to be
So most degenerate, and lost to honour;
You have a Queen, to whom your vow is sacred,
Be just to her, the blessing is yet warm
Pronounc'd by holy Priest, stain not a passion
To wander from that beauty, richer far
Then Mine; let your souls meet and kiss each other,
That while you live, the examples of chaste love
(Most glorious in a King and Queene) we may
Grow up in vertue by the spring of yours,
Till our top-boughs reach heaven.
Ki.
You are resolved then
We must be strangers, should my life depend
On the possession of your bosome, I
Should languish and expire, I see.
Al.
Good heaven
Will not permit the King want so much goodness,
To think the enjoying of forbidden pleasure
Could benefit his life, rather let mine
Ebbe at some wound, and wander with my blood
By your command ta'ne from me, on my knee—
K.
Rise, I may kiss Albina—
Go.
Ha!
Enter Gotharus.
K.
'T has shot
Another flame into me, come you must—
6
What?
K.
Be a woman, do't, or ile complain.
Alb.
To whom?
K.
Thy husband.
Go.
Horror!
K.
Think upon't.
Exit.
Al.
What will become of miserable Albina?
Like a poor Deere pursu'd to a steep precipice,
That overlooks the Sea, by some fierce hound;
The lust of a wild King doth threaten here,
Before me, the neglects of him I love,
Gotharus my unkind Lord, like the waves,
And full as deafe affright me.
Go.
How now Madam?
Come, can you kiss?
Alb.
Kiss sir?
Go.
What difference
Between his touch and mine now? his perhaps
Was with more heat, but mine was soft enough.
What has he promis'd thee, but that's no matter,
Thou wo't be wise enough to make thy bargain,
I father all, onely the King shall give it
A name, he'l make it master of a Province.
Al.
What means my Lord:
Go.
Thou thinkst I am jealous now, not I, I knew
Before he doated on thee, and it is
To be presum'd, having a veile to hide
Thy blushes, (I do mean our marriage)
Thou maist find out some time to meet, and mingle
Stories and limbs, it may be necessary;
And 'cause I will be dutifull to the King,
We will converse no more abed, ile be
Thy husband still Albina, and weare my buds
Under my haire close like a prudent Statesman;
But 'twere not much amisse, as I advis'd
Before, and these new premises consider'd,
7
Will make you more suspected, if it be
Too rich; and some whole dayes to keepe your Chamber,
Will make the King know where to find you certain.
Al.
Will you have patience my Lord to hear me?
Go.
The world doth partly think thee honest too,
That will help much, if you observe good rules
And dyet, without tedious progresses,
And visiting of Ladyes, expert in
Night Revels, Masks, and twenty other torments
To an estate; your Doctors must be left too,
I wo'not pay a fee to have your pulse
Felt, and your hand roll'd up like wax, by one
Whose footcloth must attend, while he makes leggs,
And every other morning comes to tell
Your Ladyship a story out of Aretine,
That can set you a longing for diseases,
That he may cure you, and your waiting-woman,
Whose curiosity would taste your Glister,
Commend the operation from her stomack.
Should you be sick, and sick to death, I wo'd
Not counsell you to physick; women are
Fraile things, and should a cordiall miscarry,
My conscience would be arraign'd, and I
Might be suspected for your poisoner:
No, no, I thank you, y'are in a fine course
To ease me wife; or if you must be loose,
I'th spring and fall, let the King bear the charges.
He will, if you apply your selfe.
Al.
I am wretched;
Why do you without hearing thus condemn me?
The Lady lives not with a purer faith
To her lov'd Lord, then I have; nor shall greatness,
Nor death it selfe, have power to break it.
Go.
Come,
8
Prepar'd your last accompts?
Al.
They are ready sir;
Never was Lady slav'd thus like Albina,
A stipendary, worse, a servile steward,
To give him an accompt of all my expences.
Go.
I'le have it so in spight of customes heart,
While you are mine; accountless liberty
Is ruine of whole families: now leave me,
Exit Al.
We may talk more anon, I have observ'd
This privacy before, search here Gotharus,
'Tis here from whence mutinous thoughts conspiring
With witty melancholly, shal beget
A strong born mischiefe. I'le admit she be
Honest, I love her not, and if he tempt her
To sinne, that's paid him back in his wives loosness;
From whom I took my first ambition,
And must go on, till we can sway the Kingdom,
Though we clime to't o're many deaths. I first
Practise at home, my unkindness to Albina,
If she do love me must needs break her heart.
Enter Haraldus.
Ha.
My honour'd Lord.
Go.
Most dear Haraldus welcome,
Preciously welcome to Gotharus heart.
Ha.
The Queen my mother, sir, would speake with you.
Go.
How excellently do those words become thee,
'Tis fit Haraldus Mother be a Queene,
Th'art worth a princely fate; I will attend her.
Ha.
Ile tell her so.
Go.
'Tis not an office for you.
Ha.
It is my duty sir, to wait upon
My mother.
Go.
Who i'th Court is not your servant?
9
You are too gentle in your fortunes sir,
And weare your greatnesse, as you were not born
To be a Prince.
Ha.
My birth sure gave me not
That title, I was born with the condition
To obey, not govern.
Go.
Do not wrong those Starres,
Which early as you did salute the world,
Design'd this glorious fate; I did consult,
And in the happy minute of thy birth,
Collect what was decreed in heaven about thee.
Ha.
Those books are 'bove my reading, but what
E're my stars determine of me, 'tis but late
I heard my mother say, you are on earth,
To whom I am most bound for what I am:
Go.
'Tis a shrewd truth, if thou knew'st all.
Ha.
You have
Been more a father then a friend to us.
Go.
Friend to thy Mother, I confess in private,
The other followes by a consequence,
(aside.
A father my Haraldus? I confess
I was from thy nativity inclin'd
By a most strange and secret force of nature,
Or sympathy to love thee like my owne;
And let me tell thee, though thy mother had
Merit enough to engage my services;
Yet there was something more in thee consider'd,
That rais'd my thoughts, and study to advance
Thee to these pregnant hopes of state, methinks
I see thee a King already.
Ha.
Good sir, do not
Prompt me to that ambition, I possess
Too much already, and I could, so pleas'd
My Mother, travell where I should not hear
Of these great titles, and it comes now aptly,
10
In a request to her, I know she loves you,
And will deny you nothing; I would faine
Visit the University for study,
I do lose time methinks.
Go.
Fie Haraldus,
And leave the Court? how you forget your selfe?
Study to be King,
I shall halfe repent my care,
If you permit these dull and phlegmatick
Thoughts to usurpe, they'l stifle your whole reason,
Catch at the Sunne, devest him of his beams,
And in your eye wear his proud rayes; let day
Be when you smile, and when your anger points,
Shoot death in every frowne: covet a shade,
Affect a solitude, and books, and forfeit,
So brave an expectation?
Ha.
Of what?
Go.
Of Norwayes Crown.
Ha.
Could there be any thought
Within me so ambitious, with what hope
Could it be cherished, when I have no title?
Go.
I that have thus farre studied thy fortune,
May find a way.
Ha.
The King—
Go.
Is not immortal while he has Physitians.
Ha.
What's that said? The King is happy,
And the whole Nation treasure up their hopes
In Prince Turgesius, who with his great uncle
Valiant Olaus.
Go.
Are sent to'th warres, where 'twill concerne 'm,
To think of fame, and how to march to honour
Through death.
Ha.
I dare not hear him.
Go.
Or if they
11
Ha.
They will be welcome to all good
Mens hearts, and next the King, none with more joy
Congratulate their safeties, then your selfe:
I am confident my Lord you will remember
To see my Mother, and excuse me if
To finish something else I had in charge,
I take my leave, all good dwell with your Lordship.
Exit.
Go.
But that I have Marpisas faith, I could
Suspect him not the issue of my blood,
He is too tame, and honest, at his yeers
I was prodigiously in love with greatnesse;
Or if not mine, let him inherit but
His Mothers soule, she has pride enough, and spirit
To catch at flames, his education
Has been too soft, I must new form the boy
Into more vice, and daring, strange, we must
Study at Court, how to corrupt our Children.
Enter Marpisa.
The Queene!
Ma.
My expectation to speak
With thee Gotharus, was too painfull to me;
I feare we are all undone; dost hear the news?
The Prince is comming back with victory,
Our day will be o're-cast.
Go.
These eyes will force
A brighter from those clouds; are not you Queene?
Ma.
But how Turgesius, and his bold uncle
Wil look upon me.
Go.
Let 'em stare out
Their eyeballs, be you mistress still of the
Kings heart, and let their gall spout in their stomack,
We'l be secure.
Ma.
Thou art my fate.
12
I must confesse
I was troubled when I heard it first; seem not
You pale at their return, but put on smiles
To grace their triumph; now you have most need
Of womans art, dissemble cunningly.
Ma.
My best Gotharus.
Go.
They shall find stratagems in peace, more fatal
Then all the Engines of the war; what mischiefe
Will not Gotharus fly to, to assure
The fair Marpisa's greatness, and his own,
In being hers (an Empire 'bove the world)
There is a heaven in either eye, that calls
My adoration, such Promethean fire,
As were I struck dead in my works, shouldst thou
But dart one look upon me, it would quicken
My cold dust, and informe it with a soul
More daring then the first.
Ma.
Still my resolv'd Gotharus.
Go.
Let weak Statesmen think of conscience,
I am arm'd against a thousand stings, and laugh at
The tales of Hell, and other worlds, we must
Possess our joyes in this, and know no other
But what our fancy every minute shall
Create to please us.
Ma.
This is harmony,
How dull is the Kings language, I could dwell
Upon thy lips; why should not we engender
At every sense?
Go.
Now you put me in mind,
The pledge of both our hopes, and blood, Haraldus,
Is not well bred, he talks too morally,
He must have other discipline, and be fashion'd
For our great aims upon him; a Crown never
Became a Stoick, pray let me commend
Some conversation to his youth.
Ma.
He is thine.
Enter Helga.
13
He shall be every way my own.
Hel:
The King desires your presence Madam.
Ma.
I attend, you'l follow—
Exit.
Go.
Thee to death, and triumph in
My ruines for thy sake, a thousand forms
Throng in my braine, that is the best, which speeds,
Who looks at Crowns, must have no thought who bleeds.
Exit.
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