University of Virginia Library

Actus secundus

Scœna prima.

Enter King, Attendants, Iacomo, Duke and Followers meeting.
King.
Will none go call the Duke? Welcome deare Cozen;
You lost a braue chase to day, but you had other game
A foote: what sayes your cruell Mistris will she loue you?

Duke.
I hope she will Sir, she doth heare me speake.

King.
How heare you speake?

Duke.
Of loue I meane Sir.

King.
Fye, passionate man.

Duke.
Why Sir, doe you not thinke him happie
Whom she will vouchsafe to heare?

King.
You know my loue hath made you what you are
Out of an opinion that you deserud it;
Not for that you were my Kinsman. I neuer yet deny'd
What you would aske, relying on your iudgement
And your vertue. Should you haue ask'd my Sister,
For your Wife, I sooner should haue giuen consent
And taxt your iudgement lesse, then I doe now
For doting on this Lady. Call backe for shame then
That iudgement which had wont to gouerne all
Your actions, and make me once more proud
That I haue such a Kinsman, whose iudgement
Can controule his strongest passions, euen loue it selfe,
When it is preiudiciall to his honor.

Duke.
Sir, You haue alwayes beene a Father to me,
And studyed that which hath beene for my good,
Better then I could thinke. I know your Maiesties
Intent in this, is to perswade me from that
Which you belieue is preiudiciall to me:
But since without her loue gain'd the faire way
Of seruice, not by threatnings I can take ioy,
In nothing this world can afford me;
Pardon me Sir, if I desire you to spare
Your Counsell, since I am capable of none,
Except you perswade me to loue more.

King.
Well Sir, I will leaue you to your amorous passions,
See me no more till I send for you.

Exeunt King, Atten.
Duke.
The King is mou'd;
Should he take from me all that he hath giu'n me,
Yet it were a happinesse, if for her sake I lost it.

Iaco.
My noble Lord.

Duke.
Friend, what is your suit to me?
If it be reasonable, it shall not bee deny'd
For your young Ladies sake.

Iaco.
My Lord, the businesse I haue to deliuer,
Concernes your Grace.

Duke.
How! me; what is it? speake.

Iaco.
My Lord, it is a secret, and doth concerne Clarinda,
And therefore send your people off,
That with more freedome I may speake with you.

Duke.
Waite me without, now speake.

Exeunt Seruants.
Iaco.
What thinks your Lordship is the cause
That moues Clarinda to neglect your Loue?

Du.
The knowledge of her own worth and my vnworthines,
Which defect I hope in time my faithfull seruice
Shall make good, and she will loue me.

Iaco.
Neuer, my Lord.

Duke.
Why, is her vow of Chastity already past?

Iaco.
Shee vow Chastitie!

Duke.
Why villaine dost thou smile at that,
Think'st thou Diana's selfe is Chaster?

Iaco.
Great Sir, mistake me not. I smile to thinke
How she deceiues your Grace, telling you
She neuer meanes to marrie, when I dare
Pawne my life she is already contracted.

Duke.
Traitor to my best hopes;
Thou hast kindled in my brest a iealous fire
That will consume me; fiends take thee for thy newes;
Would thou hadst beene borne dumbe: betrothd; it cannot be:
Who durst presume, knowing I lou'd her once,
To thinke of Loue, much lesse to name it to her?

Iacom.
My Lord, if you will with patience heare me,
I will tell you whom.

Duke.
Speake quickly, giue me that ease.
For I vow the earth shall not long beare vs both.
I will not tell you, vnlesse you will promise
To follow my aduice, which if you will,
I will shew you a cleare way to your desires.

Duke.
What, do you riddle me; is she contracted,
And can I by your counsell attaine my wishes?
No, the House of Fate, though they should all
Take Counsell, cannot backe restore the happinesse
Th'ast rob'd me of in saying shee's contracted.

Iaco.
My Lord, do not thus wast your selfe
In fruitlesse passion, but heare the remedy
That Ile propound.

Du.
First let me know which of the Gods it is,
That in a mortall shape hath gain'd her loue,
That thou suspect'st she is contracted,
Or else some King, that in disguise hath left
His Kingdome, to obtaine her Loue
Who is worth many Kingdomes.
Name not a meaner Riuall, if thou dost
Expect I should belieue.

Iaco.
My Lord, it is a man, to whom
Your valorous hand gaue life.

Du.
Curst be my hand then for that vnkinde office,
Against my heart; name him.

Iaco.
It is the young Lord Lysander.

Du.
Take that ignorant foole, Lysander!

Strikes him.
Iaco.
How! strucke: is this my hop't reward?
By all that's good, Ile be reueng'd.

Duke.
I was too rash,
She is a Woman, and may dissemble, Lysander to
Is noble courteous valiant, handsome;
But yet compar'd with me his fortunes nothing.
Alas, that cannot barr loue, out of a noble breast,
Such as Clarinda's is: what wayes my Birth
Or greatnesse with the King, in her consideration?
Lysanders equall fortunes, and her owne,
In that their Fathers suffer for one cause,
His banisht, hers a prisoner (till I releast him)
Hath I feare, begot a mutuall loue betwixt them.
Friend, prethee pardon me, I was too rash,
Ile heale thy hurt with gold.

Iaco.
My Lord, I am a Gentleman,
And were you not a Kinsman to the King.
The blow you gaue me might haue cost you deare.

Duke.
Ile heale thy reputation, and thy head
With store of crownes; here: but prethee tell me,
What mou'd thee to discouer this to me?
Or how camst thou thy selfe to know of it?
I thinke her Father doth not.

Iaco.
I thinke he doth not, it is long since,
Since I suspected it; and to assure my selfe,
The other night I crept behind the Arbour,
Where they vse to meet somtimes, and soon by their
Discourse, I found what I suspected, to be most true:
My loue vnto your Grace made me so curious;
For I protest there is no man aliue,
That's more ambitious to do your Lordship seruice;
It grieu'd my soule to see a man that so deseru'd,
So much neglected and abus'd. Some of this is true.

Duke.
If thou wilt make thy fortune,
Bring me where vnseene, I may ouerheare them.

Iaco.
So your Grace will not discouer your selfe,
Ile promise you once within three nights.

Duke.
By mine honour I will not, performe
Thy promise, and I will make thee happie.

Iaco.
Be sure you shew not
At your returne to them the least distemper.

Duke.
Feare not that.

Exeunt.
Enter Clarinda, Vtrante, Lysander, Bernardo.
Clar.
Sir, you haue shew'd vs many Pictures;
But aboue all the rest, I like that of your Lords.

Ber.
Madame, I know my Lord would thinke him happie
Would you accept the picture; but much happier
If you would take the substance.

Clar.
It may be Sir I will.

Utran.
Daughter, I charge you on my blessing,
When the Duke returnes to vse him with respect.

Clar.
Father, I see you haue no skill, you doe not know
The craft we women vse to make men loue the more;
The smallest fauour I shall shew him after this harsh vsage,
Will make him thinke himsele in heauen.

Utran.
Before you part, when he comes backe,
I pray you vrge my restoration,
But first promise to marry him.

Clar.
Leaue that to my Discretion

Enter Duke.
Duke.
Gentle Lady, I craue your pardon for my stay,
Which was drawne out beyond my expectation.

Lys.
Me thinkes my Lord looks soure vpon me.

Clar.
My Lord, indeed I wondred how you stayd so long,
Or rather how you liu'd your heart and you being parted;
For that you left behind you when you went.

Duke.
Madame, I doe confesse it is a miracle
Proceeding from your beauty, that I could liue
So long wanting a heart; but trust me,
If my faithfull seruice cannot procure me yours,
But that you needs will send my owne againe,
The Miracle will then be alterd quite;
For now the Miracle consisteth in that I liue
And yet you haue my heart; and then it will
Be a Miracle indeed if I doe liue after
Your scorne shall giue it backe againe.

Clar.
My Lord, I see it was not bounty
But hope of gaine made you giue me your heart;
For you expect that I should giue you mine
By way of recompence, which yet I cannot doe:
But that I may be sure they are true Miracles
That you are pleas'd to say my Beauty worketh;
For there are many false ones here in Loues Religion;
Ile take a Moneth for tryall of the truth,
All which time my charity compels me to keepe your heart;
For should I send it backe, you say it would kill you,
Or worke another Miracle, which I desire not,
In that time I shall be acquainted with your heart,
If then it doth appeare the same it now doth,
Clad in the same pure zeale that now it weares,
Ile make a change, and giue you mine for it;
For when a Moneth is once past, come you
And lead me to the Church, Ile not refuse to goe.

Du.
Slaue that I was to trust that villaine Iacomo,
That told me she lou'd Lysander. Deare Lady
You haue in this comfortable answere
Reuiu'd a dying man, this mercy at the blocke,
Shewes you to be diuine, and so an obiect
Fit for my affection, which hath beene still
Aboue my reason: but would you in the mean time
Command me somthing, where my faithfull seruice
Might appeare, more then in words, I then should be
Most happie.

Enter Seruants with a Banquet and stooles.
Clar.
This offer I expected;
My Lord, you know the iniuries my Father
Hath receiu'd: if you will see him righted,
His Lands and Honors backe to him restor'd,
Which is but Iustice for a bribe, for euen iust causes
Now haue need of bribery: Ile giue you thankes,
And trust me that is more then great men
Should expect for doing iustice.

Duke.
Rather if it please you,
Let it be somthing, wherein I shall haue no other tie
Vpon me but only your command, my honor
Ties me to see this perform'd.

Clar.
This once perform'd,
Since you so much desire it, I will studie
Some Command, that may adde honor to you
In the faire performance.

Utran.
Come my Lord, we will draw neare,
I see their parley's at an end.

Duke.
Come sit faire Lady.
My Lord, what sayes my Daughter?
Will shee yet yeeld to his owne happinesse.

Du.
I hope she wil at last make me a fitter marke
For Enuy, in that I am belou'd of her,
Then for my present greatnesse.

Lys.
My Lord, there is no cause of Enuy for either,
The greatnesse of your hnors being but the Iust
Reward of your vnequal'd merit: and for Clarinda,
Tho her worth be great as yon can wish it;
Yet you doe well deserue her, both for your worthy Loue,
And for the many fauors you haue done her Father.

Utran.
My Lord, belieue me, he hath spoke my thoughts.

Duke.
Now when the King sent for me, I had preuented
Your Daughter in a command that she layd vpon me
Concerning your restoring to your Landes,
But that the King was angry at something that I said.

Lys.
I thought it had beene Impossible,
He could haue beene offended with your Grace.

Duke.
'Tis true, at other times he could not,
But the Lords told me that his Sister
Faire Cleonarda, had receiud a hurt,
By rescuing of the hounds from the Stags fury,
When he stood at bay, and that made him it may be
So apt for to be angry.

Lys.
Why did they suffer her so to endanger her selfe?

Du.
My Lord, she apprehends not danger,
Which you'l confesse your selfe, when you haue heard
Me tell, what I haue seene her doe.

Lys.
This act to me my Lord, is a sufficient testimony
That she doth not feare: for by the lawes of hunting
It is not to any man thought a disparagement,
To giue way to a Stagge, his head being hard.

Du.
She is a Lady of that noble Spirit,
That she wants nothing but the person of a Man
To be one, her heart being equall
To the most valiant, with these eyes I saw her,
(The King her brother being in the Forrest)
Breake from the company, and pursue a wolfe,
Which the hounds following of a Stagge,
Did bring out of a thicket, and being well horst,
She ply'd him with so many wounding shafts,
That he at length was forc'd to stay his course,
And seing there was no way to scape by flight,
He turnd', for to reuenge the wounds he had
Receiu'd, in which he shew'd himselfe a beast indeed
And led by bruitish fury; for had he beene
Indew'd with reason, hee'd haue tane the wounds
She gaue for fauors, and kist the instrument,
That honour'd him with death from her faire hand.

Lys.
My Lord, 'tis strange a woman should do this.

Duke.
I was the near'st, but ere I could come in
She had cut off his head, the seruice.
That I could doe her, was to carry to the King
Her brother, that Trophee of her Victory,
Whilst she followed the hownds, and so fled
From the hearing of her owne iust praises,
Which all with admiration did bestow vpon her.

Utran.
But that your Grace doth tell it,
I should not thinke a woman could doe this.

Clar.
My Lord, did I loue you so well as to be iealous,
These praises of the Princesse, were apt food
For it to feed on.

Duke.
Madame, I honour her as the beloued Sister
Of my Soueraigne; but adore you as my Goddesse,
At whose blest shrine, I offer vp my life, and fortunes.

Clar.
My Lord, I should accompt it as the most acceptable
Seruice that you could doe, to bring me to kisse the hands
Of this much to be admir'd Lady.

Duke.
Madame, once euery week She comes to see the King,
And the King euery time he hunts, failes not
To see her, when next she comes to the Court,
I will wait vpon you to her.

Clar.
What is the reason
She liues not with her brother at the Court,
Since he so dearly loues her as they say?

Du.
It's certainc no Brother loues a Sister better,
For there's no Brother hath a Sister so worthy,
You hauing neuer a Brother.

Clar.
My Lord, 'tis late;
And though heretofore the company of a Father
Were a sufficient buckler to beare off slanders darts;
Yet now world is changed, growne so vicious,
That Fathers are become the likeliest Instruments
Of sin, and women are not to satisfie themselues
Alone, with being good; but they must giue the world
A firme beliefe of all their actions,
That they are so; there may be some seing me here
Thus late, that will not sticke to say, my honour
Is the bribe paid for my Fathers restoration.

Du.
Though there were found one enuious woman foolish
And wicked to report it; (for both these she must be)
There could not sure be found another Fiend
Of the same stampe, that would belieue it;
I dare not though I wish it bid you stay longer:
I will wait vpon you to your Coach.

Clar.
My Lord, it shall not need.

Utran.
My Lord, I hope it will not be long
Before this ceremony of parting will be quite lost,
And that you will not be so farre asunder.

Duke.
In hope of that blest houre I liue.

Clar.
Doe not too strongly apprehend your happinesse,
A month's a long time, all things are vncertaine,
Especially the promises of women.

Exeunt.
Enter Iacomo.
Iaco.
Fortune, I see thou art a friend to working spirits,
Thou wouldst not else haue giuen me this occasion
So soone to compasse my ends by; I ouer-heard Clarinda,
When she intreated Lysander to meete her in the
Accustom'd place, and thither will I bring the Duke.
He from Clarinda's promise of Marriage,
Is now growne something doubtfull, whether that
Which I did tell him be true or no; but now his owne eare
Shall be his witnesse; for which seruice he cannot choose
But both loue an reward me.
But I lose precious time, which wise men euer
Consider of, but fooles seldome or neuer.

Exit.
Enter Clarinda, and Lysander, (as in an Arbour) in the night.
Lys.
Had you not sent me word, I had not come to night,
It is so darke.

Clar.
It is darke indeed, the fitter for one orecharged
With griefe in heart as I am.

Lys.
Why deare Clarinda, are you not resolu'd
To marry with the Duke?

Clar.
I see Lysander you doe not loue me now,
Nor wish my happinesse, you would not else
Perswade me from louing you, wherein it only
Can consist.

Lys.
Will you still for the ayery name of Constant,
Rob your selfe of a substantiall happinesse,
Besides, thinke what duty bids you, doe it
In respect of your Father; if he should marry
He must needs fall into the Kings displeasure,
He being his Kinsman, so what happinesse
Could you inioy? Will you be rul'd by me,
And Ile shew you a direct way to happinesse;
Doe you loue me as you professe?

Enter Duke and Iacomo.
Clar.
You know I loue you more
Then I haue words to vtter.

Lys.
Yet you would neuer giue consent to marry me
Though it were still my Suite, alleadging
That our fortunes were too meane, and had we
Without Marriage inioy'd the sweets of loue,
It had beene dangerous vnto your honour,
Should you haue prou'd with child; but will be now
Secure in that respect, if you marry with the Duke;
And for our difficulty in meeting,
'Twill adde to our delights; now euery time
That we shall meete in secret, will farre passe
A wedding-night in ioy, stolne pleasures giue
An appetite, secure delights but cloy.

Duke.
O my vext soule!
Must I then heare a villaine speake thus to her
I loue, and not reuenge it presently?

Iaco.
My Lord, remember your soule Oath.

Clar.
Lysander, why d'ye stare so and look pale?
Your hayre stands vp an end, as if your sense
Began to faile you sure you are falne mad,
Nay, I doe hope you are so; for if you be not,
I am more miserable then if you were:
For, can Lysander be himselfe, and speake thus
To his Clarinda? No, he cannot: either Lysander
Is chang'd from what he was; or else he neuer
Was what I esteemd him, either of which
Makes me most miserable.

Lys.
You would seeme to thinke me mad, when indeed
Yourselfe are so, you would not else thus weepe
When I aduise you to that which will be most to our content.

Clar.
Pardon me Lysander, that I haue seemed
For to beleeue; for sure I did no more,
That which you haue spoke proceeded from your heart.

Lys.
Why doe you thinke that I dissembled in what I said.

Clar.
Yes, Lysander; I know you did dissemble;
For if you did not, you were a loathed villaine.

Lys.
I doe confesse if I were that Lysander
Which I haue seem'd to be; it were impossible
For me to thinke what I haue spoke; but know
Clarinda, Though hitherto I haue seemed
To carry in my brest a flame so pure,
That neuer yet a sparke of Lust appear'd,
It hath beene a dissembled shew of modestie,
Only to cozen you; and if Clarinda,
The requitall of my affecton be that which
Hinders you from these great honors, be not deceiu'd,
For you shall haue more power then to requite it,
When you are greater: we are now equall;
But when you are a Dutchesse, then t'enjoy you
Will be a double pleasure, then you shall haue
Occasion to expresse your loue in my aduancement

Duke.
Ile kill him instantly.

Iaco.
Your oath my Lord.

Duke.
The merit of the act being so iust,
Will expiate the sinne of periurie.

Iaco.
My Lord,

Duke.
What, shall I heare her whom I haue ador'd
Almost with as much zeale as I haue offer'd vp
My prayers to the Gods, tempted to acts of Lust
And not reuenge it?

Iaco.

My Lord, heare me but speake, and then doe what you
will: if you should thus in the night, and in the house of the
Count Utrante kill Lord Lysander, your honour Clarinda's,
and her Fathers would be tainted, and so breed strange combustions:
but if you be resolu'd that he must die, which in my
iudgement is most necessary, if you still loue Clarinda, I will
vndertake for to dispatch him by some meanes or other; but
should you now here in Clarinda's presence kill him she loues,
her mind is so noble she would neuer indure you.

Duke.
This is a villaine, an incarnate Diuell;
Yet will I follow some part of his counsell:
Lead me the way backe vnseene. Ile stay no longer;
For if I heare him speake againe in that base Key,
I shall doe that which I hereafter may repent.
No. Ile take the noblest way to my reuengement.

Exit.
Lys.
Clarinda, you haue long beene silent,
What is it you consider of? if it bee my words,
You must needs find them full of reason.

Clar.
Ile seeme as base as he would haue me,
And so find out whether he speaks this from
His heart or no.

Clar.
I must confesse that this which you haue spoken
Stands with good reason; and reason is the rule
By which we ought to square our actions:
Dare I belieue that you would counsell me
To any thing, but that which will be most
For my content, and for the Duke, will it not be
Farre lesse to his content, not to enioy at all
Me whom he loues, then if he should possesse me,
And yet you haue a share with him in my embracings:
For what is that husband worse, whose wife abuses him,
If she haue but the wit to keepe it from his knowledge.

Lys.
It is true the Duke is so noble, and doth withall
So truely loue you, that it will quite banish
All base distrust, so that we might with all security
Inioy our loues.

Clar.
Leaue, leaue.

Lys.
Or if he should find out our craft,
How soone might we dispatch him by poyson?
There haue beene such things done.

Clar.
You doe ouer-act your part,
I see the end you ayme at, your vertue shewes it selfe
Quite through that maske of vice, which loue to me
And to my Father made you put on; you thought
If you could haue giuen me a beliefe
Of your vnworthines, that then I would haue giuen
Consent to haue married with the Duke:
Leaue your dissembling then, since y'are discouerd,
Lest you offend the Gods; I only seem'd
To giue applause to what you said, to finde
Your crafte.

Lys.
I see my heart lies open to you,
You haue spoken my very thoughts, indeed
This was my end.

Clar.
Lysander, I perceiue that your affection
Is altogether gouern'd by your reason,
For which if it be possible, I loue you more,
Because it well becomes a man to doe so:
But I should hate my selfe, if I should loue
According to your rule, which I will manifest;
For here I take the heauens to witnesse,
That if within three dayes you do not marry me,
Ile kill my selfe, speake quickly; for if you do not
Loue me, it is a greater mercy to tell me so,
(That I may dye) then to perswade me
To loue another, that being impossible,
But death is easie.

Lys.
Clarinda, you haue ouercome by this rash oath
My resolution: for I perceiue the fates
Had fore-ordain'd we should enioy each other,
After such reall testimonies, to make our loue the firmer.
I doe with ioy embrace what you compell
Me to by your rash oath; and if your Father
Wilfully will stay, and not flye with vs,
Rather then I will euer draw teares
From those bright eyes.
I so dearly loue, wee'l leaue him to the danger.

Exeunt.
Enter the Duke with two Letters.
Duke.
Shall I stil loue one that neglects my faithfull seruice?
Alacke I cannot helpe it now, I yeelded vp
My heart at the first summons, her faire eyes made,
Me thought it was a kind of treason, once
To doubt that she was not the soueraigne of all hearts:
Thus she that came to Court, to beg her Fathers liberty,
Had not that granted only, but that I who beg'd
It for her, became my selfe her prisoner,
And neuer man was prouder of his bondage
Then I was: what though she loue a villaine
Whose intemperate lust, and base dissembling,
Kather deserues her hate; yet shee is faire
And vertuous still, it is my part to let her
See her error, tho with danger of my life,
If I suruiue the combat, and that she know
For what respect I fought, she cannot choose
But loue me, and if the heauens haue so ordained,
That I must fall vnder Lysanders sword,
Yet I haue written that, which shall giue a better
Testimony that I did loue her more then he.
Who waits there?

Enter Francisco and Bernardo.
Fran.
My Lord.

Duke.
I meane to ride abroad this morning,
And if I come not backe at night, carry this letter
To the King; Bernardo, carry this presently
Vnto the young Lord Lysander.

Exeunt.
Enter Iacomo.
Iaco.

My plots are dasht, the Duke doth turne his eyes vpon
me as though he would looke me dead, I shall gaine hate on all
sides, if I bee not wary and cunningly dissemble; reuenge and
profit are the ends I ayme at; since I haue mist the one, Ile make
the other sure. Lysander, I doe hate thee for comming into the
world to rob me of my land; yet I doe thinke thou art not onely
false; my Brother did tricks, which when I would haue proued
in open Court the Dukes power boulstred vp against me; but I
doe hope I shall be now reueng'd vpon them both. Ile poyson
the Duke my selfe, and to the King accuse Lysander, as if he had
done it, fearing that the Duke should rob him of his Mistris; I
haue a seruant shall sweare what I would haue him, I keepe
him for the purpose; since the Duke would not giue me leaue
to vse my drugges for him, he shall himselfe taste of them; lest
for that kindnesse I offer'd him, I should my selfe bee punish'd:

Hee that to honor looks is not for my blacke ends,
Reuenge & profit Ile pursue through blood of foes and friends.

Enter Lysander and Bernardo.
Lys.
Where is the Duke Sir?

Ber.
He is this morning ridden forth,
Whither I doe not know.

Lys.
Your Letter Sir, do's not require an answere,
It will not be long before I see his Grace my selfe.

Ber.
Good morrow to your Lordship.

Lys.
Good morrow Sir, Ile read them once more ouer,
Hee reads.

Though the small number of Lines seeme not to require it,
Lysander, I wait for you at the great Elme within the Forrest:
make hast, and to preuent danger, come arm'd.

Exeunt.
Enter Cleonarda, and Mariana.
Cleo.
It is hot Mariana; wee'l rest our selues a while,
And when the day growes cooler haue another course.

Mari.
I wonder how the Deere escaped; the follow-dog
Once pinch'd him.

Cleo.
It was the bushes sau'd him.

Mari.
Why will you course among the bushes?
Gerard the Keeper would haue brought you
To a fairer course; but you will neuer let
Him goe along.

Cleo.
I hate to haue a tutor in my sport,
I will finde and kill my Game my selfe;
What satisfaction is't to me if by anothers skill
I purchase any thing?

Mari,
Yet you must haue
Your husband chosen to your hand; the King your Brother
Will take that paines for you.

Cleo.
He shall haue leaue to name me one;
But if I doe not thinke him worthy of me,
Ile breake that Kingly custome, of marrying
For the good of the State; since it makes Princes
More miserable then Beggers; for Beggers marry
Only those they loue.

Mar.
Madame, it's true, we not alone in Princes
See the bitter effects of such forc'd Marriages;
But euen in priuate Families, Murders and
Adulteries, doe often wait vpon those Couples
Whose Bodies are compeld by Parents or Friends
To ioyne for worldly respects, without the soules consent.

Cleo.
'Tis true Mariana, how many carefull Parents
That loue their children dearly, thinking
To make them happy by marrying of them richly,
Make them miserable, both here and in the other world.

Mari.
Madame, 'tis very hot, will you goe bathe your selfe
In the Riuer.

Cleo.
With all my heart Mariana,
It will refresh vs well against the Euening;
I am resolu'd to kill a Deere to night,
Without the Keepers helpe.

Exeunt.
Enter Duke and Lysander.
Lys.
I hope your Grace hath not long staid for me.

Duke.
No, Lysander, you are come before
My expectation, though not before my wish:
You cannot guesse the cause that I sent for you.

Lys.
My Lord, I cannot,
Vnlesse fortune be so fauorable to giue me
A faire and iust occasion by being your Second,
To hazzard that life for you, which by your valour
Was preserud; but why to hope so great a blessing
I cannot see; since who within this Kingdome
Dare iniure you; yet you commanded
That I should come arm'd.

Du.
For being my Second, banish that thought,
And yet I meane to fight to day, and for an iniury
That is done to me; and you Lysander shall fight to,
Not as a Second, but a Principall.

Lys.
With whom?

Duk.
With me Lysander.

Lys.
With you my Lord, vpon what quarrell.

Duk.
I will maintaine that I doe loue Clarinda
Better then you, and better doe deserue
To be beloued by her.

Lys.
My Lord, I doe confesse it,
And so this cannot be a cause of quarrell;
She is your Mistris and deserues to be so,
There being no other worthy of your Seruice:
But for my part I haue no interest in her
More then a friend. Why should your grace thinke
I loue her then so well, to make my loue
To her, the quarrell?

Duke.
Lysander, I did not thinke
Th'adst been so base to haue deny'd thy Mistris;
But I will further maintaine, thou art thy selfe
A Villaine, a base dissembling lustfull one.

Lys.
Had these words,
(Which wound you deeper farre then they doe me,
Since they are scandalous) come from another,
My sword should first haue an sword, not my tongue;
But since you are one to whom I owe my life,
Ile keepe another method: First, Ile let you see
The wrong you doe me, which if you shall not
Straight acknowledge, our swords shall then decide
Whether this title be my due or no,
And lest you may condemne me for an enemy,
As thinking me your debtor, Ile let you see
That you my Lord, are as much bound to me,
As I to you, though you did saue my life.

Duk.
Lysander, doe not thinke,
You owe me any thing for sauing of your life,
The thankes if any was due to Fortune,
Who brought me thither; for what I did
A peasant might haue done, you being your selfe
Almost a Conqueror before I came,
Though sure enough for want of bloud to perish,
Had I not brought you home, which yet indeed,
Was but my duty to helpe a wounded man:
But how Lysander, I should stand ingag'd to you
For greater obligations, (though this, I grant,
Be small) I cannot see.

Lys.
Tho you should amplifie, as you diminish
What you did for me; yet 'twould neuer equall
The pulling of my heart out of my brest,
For to giue you content.

Duke.
I cannot vnderstand your Riddle;
Yet feare it tends to base submission.

Lys.
Duke, be not deceiu'd for after the discouery
Of that secret which I will tell you,
Ile giue you an assurance with my sword,
I doe not feare.

Duk.
What secret is this?

Lys.
I did but now deny that I did loue Clarinda,
But now I call the heauens to witnesse
Who must assist me in so iust a quarrell,
That I doe loue her equall with my life;
And now I will maintaine that I deserue
To be better belou'd by her then you.

Duk.
Come then, may the truest Louer
Proue the Victor.

Lys.
First let me shew you,
How I acquit the obligation, I ought you,
Clarinda loues me more then I can her, yet though
She thus loue me, I out of my gratefulnesse to you,
Vsed the best part of my eloquence,
To perswade her to marry you; and is not this
A secret, and a discharging of the debt I ow'd you.

Du.
These eares indeed can witnes thou didst perswade her
To marrie me, but it was to satisfie
Thy owne base ends thy lust and thy ambition,
Not out of thy gratitude to me as thou pretendst.

Lys.
My lust the vestall Virgins that keepe in the holy fire,
Haue not more cold desires then I haue.

Duke.
I in her Fathers Garden late last night,
Ouerheard thee tempt that bright Angell
Which my soule adores, to acts of lust;
And with such mouing reasons, that flesh and blood
Could neuer haue resisted, considering
That she lou'd thee; but that there was a power
That gouerness aboue reason, garded her
From thy strong temptation.

Lys.
My Lord, that curiosity hath vndone you,
For I doe call the heauens to witnesse,
That what I then spake when I seemed vicious,
Was all dissembled; intending you the fruit
Of that dissimulation; for when I once
Haue made my selfe a peere vnworthy,
I thought that she would then haue turn'd
The streame of her affection vpon you.

Du.
Can this be true?
Sure feare makes him inuent this; no sure,
He cannot bee a Coward, Lysander,
Thou hast told me that, if it be true,
Doth render thee a perfect man; but not
A perfect louer: and trust me if there were
A possibility that I could liue without Clarinda,
I should be friends with thee; but since she
Is the marke at which we both ayme, the one must
By the bloud of the other, purchase that happines:
And therefore gard your selfe.

They fight.
Lys.
My Lord, the iniustice of your cause,
Not Fortune hath disarm'd you, and therfore yeeld.

Duke.
If feare of death could make me
Forget Clarinda, weare the Victors prize
Then I perchance might yeeld; but since it cannot,
Make vse of your aduantage.

Lys.
I scorne to gaine a victory so poorely,
But to this man that sau'd my life.

Du.
You are a noble enemy, and haue so won
Vpon me by my courtesie, that could you
Quit your interest in Clarinda, I should with ioy
Share fortunes with you.

Lys.
We lose time; for since we cannot both
Enioy Clarinda, both must not liue.

Lys. falls.
Du.
Fortune, I thank thee,
Now I am euen with you, rise,

Lys.
I owe you for my life; we were but quit before;
I would our quarrell were of another nature.

Duke.
I would it were; but as it is
One of vs must lye colde vpon this grasse,
Before we part.

Fight. Duke fals.
Lys.
Ah poore Clarinda, this is too sad a witnesse
Of thy perfections; would thou wert here yet,
That I might take my last farewell.

Enter Cleonarda and Mariana.
Mar.
O deare Madame, what a sad obiect's this!

Cleo.
Bee not afraid,
See if the breath haue quite forsaken that body.

Lys.
O my best loue Clarinda,
Receiue from my dying lips, a dying kisse.

Cleo.
How's this!

Mari.

Madame, the breath hath quite forsaken this body,
as I thinke: O my deare Brother!

Cleo.
Is it Lysander then, whom I haue long'd so much to see?
I saw him not since he came home from trauaile,
And much it grieues me that I see him thus,
This is the second time that I haue seene him:
Besmeard in blood!

Mari.
Deare Brother speake, who hath hurt you?

Lys.
Deare Sister,
What blest Angell hath brought you hither?

Cleo.
This is no fit time for questions Mariana,
Let's helpe him to the Lodge, before his losse of bloud
O'recome his spirits.

Lys.
Faire and courteous Lady, pardon me,
My sight did faile through my excessiue bleeding,
Which made me to mistake.

Mari.
Brother it is the Princesse.

Lys.
O Madame, lead me no further then;
For you will curse your charity if you preserue me.

Cleo.
Why Sir?

Lys.
Because I haue by this vnlucky hand,
Robd you of such a Kinsman, as our Soueraigne
And your selfe were iustly proud of.

Cleo.
Who is that?

Lys.
The Duke, who lyes there as you see.

Cleo.
It cannot be.

Lys.
Madame, it is too true.

Cleo.
Alas my Cozen!
Sir, you haue an vnlucky hand indeed;
For you haue this day murdered two:
Iustice will at your hands require his blood.

Mar.
O Madame say not so, had you but eu'n now
So great a care to saue his life, and are you now
So cruell to say that he must perish by the hand
Of Iustice, though he should scape these wounds?
Would not the Duke haue kild him if he could?
Ile pawn my life vpon't, my Brother kild him fairly.

Cleo.
What shall I doe, if I helpe to preserue him
That kild my Kinsman, it is vnnaturall in me,
And I besides may lose my Brothers good opinion;
And should I be the cause that Mariana's brother perish,
I shall lose her for euer; either shee'l dye for griefe,
Or else shee'l hate me. Ile doe as I did first intend,
My conscience tels me it is the nobler course;
Besides, there is something, I know not what it is,
Bids me preserue Lysander, the great desire I had
To see him, bred from the generall commendations which
The world bestowes vpon him, imported somthing.

Mari.
Deare Brother, what was your quarrell?

Cleo.
Come Sir, be of good comfort, neither your wounds
Nor the cold hand of Iustice, if it be
Within my power to helpe it, shall rob
Your louing Sister of you, shee is by me
So well belou'd.

Mar.
I want words to expresse how much I loue
And honour you.

Lys.
Madame I would not haue you goe about
To preserue mee with your owne danger,
I meane the Kings displeasure, besides, I feare
Your labour will be fruitless; for it the Lodge
Be not hard by, sure I shall bleed to death,
Before we can come thither.

Cleo.
It is but hard by.

Lys.
Then I may liue to doe you seruice,
Rather let me perish before I trouble you.

Cleo.
You are her Brother, and cannot trouble me,
Wee'l lay the body behind yon bush, vntill we
Send for it.

Exeunt.