 | The Deseruing Fauorite |  |
Actus tertius
Scœna prima.
Enter Cleonarda and Gerard.Cleo.
Can you not finde the Dukes body
Say you Gerard?
Ger.
No where Madame can I finde it,
And yet I haue sought it round about the place
Where you appointed me; I found the bloudy plot
Where it had beene, his horse I found to
Tied fast to a tree.
Cleo.
It is strange, what can become of it, Gerard,
Vpon your life keepe secret what you know,
And see that none come neere the Lodge.
I will send you all prouision necessary,
Pretending that Mariana is sicke.
Ger.
Madame, I feare she will be so indeed,
She doth so apprehend her Brothers danger.
Cleo.
She hath no cause, no wounds of his are mortall;
Or if they were, I haue applyed such soueraigne remedies
That they shall cure 'em: but who shall be my Surgeon?
Loue, I must flye to thee I feare for remedy,
I pray thee goe backe, and see that all things be well,
And in the morning bring me word how she hath
Slept to night.
Ger.
Madame, there shall bee nothing wanting
That lyeth within my power.
Exit.
Cleo.
How carefull am I
Of his wounds? me thinkes I would not
Taken at the first sight with outward beauty,
Nor being assur'd first of the inward worth!
I wrong my selfe, and him: It was
The inward brauery of his mind, which all
The Kingdome doth admire, that turn'd my heart,
Which vntill now hath beene like adamant
To Kings, to melting Ice to him, and not his
Outward beauty, that neuer could haue found
A passage to my heart, but that the way
Was chalked out to it by his Fame: but stay,
Whither doe my vaine imaginations carry me?
Though Lysander could in worth equall the Gods,
Yet it were not fit for me loue him as a husband;
He is my Brothers Subiect, shall he be my Master?
No. To my old sports agen: to morrow
I will bee vp by breake of day,
And Reason (as I chase the Stagge)
Shall chase these thoughts away.
Exit.
Enter King, Bernardo, Iacomo, Attendants.
King.
When rode your Lord abroad?
Ber.
Early this morning.
King.
How chances you then did not sooner
Bring me this Letter?
Ber.
I was commanded otherwayes by him.
King
reads.
Royall Sir, adde to the number of your many fauors, the performance
of this my last request:
What doth hee meane by this?
I pray you see Clarinda (who is my wife) possest of what was
mine, and withall, pardon him that kils mee; for I will compell
him to fight. How's this? Begin not after my death to deny
me that which is iust, since in my life time you neuer did see the
will of the dead effected, as you desire to haue your Testament
perform'd after your death, which I pray the Gods that it may be
yet a long life.
Which only seems to shew the greatnes of my losse
The plainer, his death is not yet certaine,
Let me not like a woman spend that time
In fruitlesse lamentations which may perchance
Afford a remedy, but now it is night:
What shall I do? call all the Court, and let them all
Disperse themselues, each man a seuerall way;
He that brings word the Duke is aliue,
Shall haue a thousand pounds: he is gone to fight
A Combat with whom I know not; but he that
Apprehends the man that kild him, shall haue his land
Is there none here that knowes of any falling out
Betweene him and some other Lord? speake,
Is there none can tell me?
Iaco.
And if it please your Maiesty, I thinke
I haue a guesse.
King.
Speake then.
Iaco.
If he bee gone to fight, it is with
Young Lysander.
King.
Let one goe looke for Lysander presently.
What grudge was betwixt them? or fell they lately out?
Iaco.
I will tell your Maiesty in priaute. I am a seruant to the
Count Utrante, and was imploy'd by that most noble Duke,
(whom I doe feare sleepes now in death) for to solicite his true
loue to my young Lady, which I did faithfully performe: but
I found all I did was vaine, for shee long time hath beene in
loue with young Lysander, which when I knew, I gaue the
Duke straight notice; this hath so farre incenst the Duke against
Lysander, that they are gone to fight.
King.
This that thou hast told is certaine true,
Else she would neuer haue deny'd to haue married
With the Duke, and for thy loue and faithfull seruice to him,
Which I beleeue is now no more; for else by this time,
He would haue return'd. I will requite thee.
Iaco.
He was the noblest Gentleman
He weepes.
King.
Alas goodman, he weepes.
He that can bring me word the Duke is aliue,
Redeemes his King from misery.
Exeunt. manet Iaco.
Iaco.
I hope he neuer shall come backe aliue, he knowes I am
a villaine, I was too forward in my offers to him, til I had tried his
dispositions better. It is kindly done of him and of Lysander
yet to spare my paines: there now wants nothing of my wish
but that the Duke be kild, and I to find out where Lysander is,
then I shall be reueng'd vpon them both, and be possest of that
which is my due, (Lysanders land) for so the King hath promis'd.
My way to find Lysander if he hath kild the Duke, is for
to giue Clarinda a firme beleefe that I doe dearly loue him; for
sure if he be liuing, she shall heare of him, and if I finde him, I
haue another villanie in my head, which I will put in act, besides
my giuing notice of him to the King.
For all shall thinke me honest Iacomo.
Exit.
Enter Clarinda with a Letter.
Clar.
reades.
I feare the Duke hath notice of our loues; for he
hath sent to me to meete him armed, I feare it is to fight, if it be
so, and I suruiue the Combate, I will send you word where I abide,
if I be kild, I doe coniure you by your vertues, not to to bee
vngratefull vnto the Duke, who you see doth not desire to liue,
without he may enioy you for his wife.
That thy faire soule is parted from thy body,
I will quickly follow thee.
Enter Seruant.
Seru.
Madame, the King is at the gate, and in a rage,
Threatens your Fathers death and yours, they say Lysander
Hath kild the Duke.
Clar.
I fear'd as much,
This comes of my dissembling.
Utran.
Why is your Maiestie offended with your Vassall,
Who as yet neuer so much as in a thought offended you.
King.
Where is that Inchantresse, which you call Clarinda?
Clar.
Here Sir, is the vnhappy obiect of your anger.
King.
I am amaz'd, I neuer till now saw true beauty.
Why kneele you Lady?
Clar.
It is my duty Sir, you are my Soueraigne.
King.
Rise faire Creatue; came I to chide, and doe I kisse.
This is the force of Beauty; who liues
That can be offended with so sweet a Creature?
I cannot now blame the Duke, for valuing
Her so much. I would she were the Daughter
Of some neighbouring King, that I without
Disparagement might loue her: but I forget
My selfe, these are poore humble thoughts,
And farre beneath the Maiestie of a King.
Lady, I came to chide, I feare you are the cause
That I haue lost a Kinsman, a worthy one
In all the worlds opinion, excepting yours.
Cla.
Sir, pardon me you were your selfe the cause
By your excessiue loue to him; for that made me
Dissemble my affections to Lysander,
Fearing to daw your frownes vpon my Father,
Should I haue shew'd neglect vnto the Duke.
Kin.
Who euer was the cause, you shall not feele
The punishment; the Duke did truly loue you,
Lady, which you shall see here in this Letter
Apparantly, may you see your error,
And grieue to death for your past folly,
In refusing the quintessence of Mankinde:
Read it not now, you shall haue time to grieue in,
He shewes there in his Letter, that you are his wife,
That by that meanes I might be drawne the sooner,
To performe his will, which is, that you should
If hee be dead.
Cla.
Sir, I doe vtterly refuse it, all that I desire,
Is that your Maiestie will giue me leaue
To depart, my griefes doe so oppresse me,
That I am sicke at heart.
King.
When your please Lady.
Exit Cla.
My Lord how chanc'd it that you neuer told me
That your Daughter lou'd Lysander?
Utran.
Sir, let me perish it I knew it,
I am amaz'd to heare it now.
Exeunt.
Enter Lysander and Mariana.
Lys.
But Sister, can you thinke it possible,
The Princesse should thus loue me.
Mar.
Brother, I know you see it your selfe,
Though you will not take notice of it.
Lys.
Beliue me Mariana, it doth grieue me much
So great a Princesse should bee so vnhappy
To loue a man whose heart is not his owne;
For he that had a heart at his disposing
Could not denie to giue it her.
Ma.
When she shall know you haue another Mistris,
She will call backe her iudgement, and quickly
Free her selfe: but Brother, I doe feare
You loue her too; you looke and speake to her
With more affection then well becomes your faith,
Being promis'd to Clarinda.
Lys.
What would you haue me to doe?
Shall I not backe returne those courteous lookes,
That she the sauer of my life bestowes vpon me?
One knocks without.
Mar.
Ile see who it is.
Exit.
Enter Cleonacda.
Cleo.
How hath your brother slept to night?
Mar.
Exceeding well Madame;
Cleo.
Lysander, how doth your wounds?
Is your paine lessend?
Lys.
Madame, I haue no paine
But that I feare I neuer shall be able to requite
This vndeserued fauor.
Cleo.
Let not that trouble you; it is to me
You owe the debt, and I will find some way
To pay my selfe, that shall not make you poorer.
Lys.
What shall I say, each vertuous deed
Rewards it selfe, and that's the coyne with which
You must be paid, or else you will be a loser.
Cleo.
Tell me Lysander, and tell me truely,
Haue you a Master?
Lys.
I dare not lye Madame.
I haue one that loues me equally.
Cle.
Lysander, she hath reason, were I your Mistris,
I thinke I should loue you better then my selfe:
But tell me Lysander, what was the quarrell,
Betwixt the Duke and you.
Lys.
Madame, I cannot tel you without discouering
That which I would gladly keepe conceald;
Yet why I should deny you the knowledge of any
Secret my heart holds. I cannot see, except I should
Be most vngratefull, you being the only cause
That I haue now a heart to keep a secret in.
Cleo.
What was it, speake; I long, yet feare to know it.
Lys.
The Duke and I were riuals,
Clarinda was the marke at which both aym'd.
Cleo.
Which of you loued she best?
Lys.
Madame, she loued me best.
Wee being brought vp together,
Which was her great misfortune;
For had she knowne the Duke before me,
Her iudgement would haue taught her
To loue the worthier,
At least, with greater passion.
Cleo.
But did not halfe so wel deserue to belou'd
By her as you, since hee did goe about
To force loue, or at the least to take from her
The loued, that which she most delighted in, her seruant.
Lys.
Hauing once remou'd me, he hoped she
Would accept of him, who would haue made
A worthier seruant farre, since he had power
To raise her to that glorious height of fortune,
Which well would haue become her merits:
But on the other side, he knew the meanes
Of my Fortune, must needs obscure and darken
Her perfections, so that he out of loue
To her rather then to himselfe, desir'd
To make her his.
Cle.
He could not chuse but know that if he kild
The man belou'd by her she needs must hate him,
If she were worthily constant; if not,
Then he with danger of his life had purchas'd,
Her too dearly; for I should still belieue,
If once she changd, she alwayes would become
The victors Prize.
Lys.
Madame, there was some vnlucky mistaking
Betwixt vs, or else we had not fought.
Cl.
Would it had pleas'd heauen you had not fought
Or that the Duke had scaped with life, but since
Your quarrell was not to be reconcild, though I
Doe blush to say so. I am glad t'was he that perisht,
For I haue euer wisht you well;
I would not haue you thinke I am now in loue
With you; yet by my life I cannot say, but I may be
Hereafter, tho I know you haue a Mistris,
Whose perfections darken mine, giue me those
Things to dresse his wounds with.
The wounds sure were giuen to me to make me happie,
Can neuer heale, my prayers are against it;
Because being well I cannot haue this blessing.
Cleo.
What a strange alteration doe I feele now!
When I touch you, a certaine coldnesse seizeth
On my heart and all my blood flies to my face:
Sure I do loue you; I ne're yet knew what it was
For to dissemble; if I loue I say so,
And if I hate, I keepe it not conceald,
I will not giue a thought that is base
A harbor in my brest; what need I then
Conceale my heart? the praise Lysander
Which was bestow'd vpon thee had bred in me
A great desire to be my owne assurance,
Whether thou wert the master of so many
Excellencies, as fame bestow'd vpon thee.
And now that I doe find they rather doe
Come short, then any whit out-goe thy merit,
Wonder not that I, though a Princesse, am in loue
With thee, for I haue still profest to loue the
Richest minde, which is in thee compleat,
With the addition of a comly Personage.
Lys.
I hope your Grace doth not mocke me.
Cleo.
No by my life, I take delight
In looking vpon you.
Lys.
I cannot thinke you are in earnest, yet I will
Answere you, as if you were; should you loue me
Thinke you, or would you wish that I should breake
My forepast vowes vnto Clarinda.
Cle.
No, it must be for your worth if I do loue you,
And when your proue vnconstant, you are
No longer worthy.
Lys.
If I be constant,
What fruit can you receiue from your affection?
A barren Loue will ill become
So great a Princesse.
Be you still constant, loue your Clarinda stil;
For when you cease to be so, I shall hate you;
Only respect me as a Sister: for when my reason
Shall haue leaue to combate against my passion,
It will conuert it to a Sisterly affection.
Lys.
Madame, I know
In that you say you loue me, you doe it only
For to make a tryall how strongly I am arm'd
By my Clarinda's merits against inconstancie;
And I confesse, if it were possible
To vndermine my faith, and blow my former
Promises into the ayre, your pleasing speech,
And those, yet maiesticke glances
Of your eyes, were the only Instruments that yet
I euer saw to doe it.
Cleo.
But speake you as you thinke Lysander.
Lys.
Else may I perish; but mistake me not;
For though I could belieue your beauty
And merit to be aboue Clarinda's;
Which is vnpossible, either that it should be,
Or that I should belieue it; yet where my word
Is once past, though all the tortures mans wit
Can inuent should at one instant inuiron me
To torture the minde and body, yet
I would not breake my faith.
Cle.
May I be miserable if ere I perswade you to't;
Yet I could wish that you did loue me,
And with a little passion, but doe not make shew
Of more then you doe truely feele, thinking
To please me; for if I find it I shall be angry,
I will not hide a thought from you.
Mari.
But Madame is it possible that
(You) should loue him thus?
Cleo.
I scorne for to dissemble; for who stand
I infeare of? were the King my Brother here,
Sure I should not deny that I loued Lysander.
Madame, I rather wish
My Brother neuer had beene borne
Then that the King should know you loue him,
Nay, I hope you know it not your selfe;
Shall I belieue that your great heart, that euer
Yet contemn'd loue, can on a sodaine in foure
Or fiue daies knowledge, be struck by my vnworthy
Brothers slender merits, and one that must.
Be periur'd too, if he should loue you.
Cleo.
Mariana, take heed how you doe pursue
This Subject; for if you doe, I should begin
To hate you, are you not asham'd to contradict
Your selfe? How oft hath your owne tongue
Giuen him the highest attributes of worth?
Nay, you haue beene so lauish of his praises,
That I haue check'd you for it though I beliu'd
Them to bee true, because it comes
Somthing too neere the praising of our selues,
To praise a Brother, I am my selfe a witnesse
Of his valour and his wit, and those are sure
The maine supporters to all other vertues,
Blush not Lysander to heare thine owne iust praises,
Except it be that I doe sully them in the deliuery,
Thou gau'st too sad a witnesse of thy valour
In ouercomming him, which through this
Kingdome was esteem'd the brauest man.
Lys.
Madam, a brauer man by farre then he
Vnder whose sword he fell: Fortune that did enuy
His worth, because his mind was fortified
Aboue her reach, applyed her selfe that day,
Vnto the ruine of his body; and then though
Neuer before nor since fought on my side.
Cle.
When next I come,
I will intreat you tell me euery particular
Accident through the whole Combate.
Lys.
Most willingly, for I by that Relation,
His worth and mine.
Exeunt.
Enter King, Utrante, and Attondant.
King.
So many dayes o'repast, and yet no newes
Of my deare Cozen, whether he be aliue or dead!
Utran.
Sir, there is a Hermite,
Which hath brought sad newes.
King.
What of his death, or that he's deadly hurt?
Utran.
Sir, to your Maiesty he only will relate
That which he hath to say, and yet by the sadnesse
Of his countenance, know his newes is ill.
King.
Call him in,
Whilst with patience I fore-arme my selfe;
Enter Hermite.
Speake Father, is the Duke dead? what sad newes
Is this you bring? giue me my torment in a word.
Her.
Your feares are true indeed, the Duke
Is dead.
Kin.
How doe you know.
Her.
Your Maiesty shall heare,
As I was gathering Rootes within the Forrest,
The best part of my foode, casting my eye aside,
I saw a man lie weltring in his gore,
Straight I was strucken with a sodaine feare;
But Charitie preuailing aboue feare,
I stept to see, if yet the soule had left
That comely Mansion, for so indeed it was;
Finding some sparks of life remaining, I tooke
A cordiall water which I euer carry with me,
And by the help of that I brought him to his senses,
So that he was able to deliuer these few words.
Death I embrace thee willingly, thou being
A farre lesse torment, then for to liue
And know Clarinda loues another better.
May she enioy Lysander, whom now I doe
Most vniustly went about to crosse it,
Must pay my life downe for my error;
Lysander, I forgiue thee my death, and so
I hope the King, and with that word the King,
He sunke betweene my armes, and neuer
Spoke word.
Kin.
O what a man was this, what marble heart
That would not melt it selfe in teares to heare
This sad relation? but what became of the body?
Her.
There Sir begins occasion of new griefe,
Whilst I did vainly striue to call backe life,
Three barbarous theeues seeking some booty,
Came by chance that way, and seeing his garments
Rich, they went about to strip him; but hearing
Of some noyse within the wood, one of them
Did aduise to carry him to their boat, which lay
Hard by within a Creeke. I went about
To hinder them, and for my paines they did compel
Me to carry the body vpon my shoulders,
Threatning to kill me if I did refuse;
But not content with this, they made me row
Them downe the streame, three dayes together,
Vntill they came vnto their fellow Pirates.
King.
What did they with the body?
Her.
Threw it ouerbord, when they had
Rifled it first.
King.
How chance you came no sooner to tell
This newes, though yet too soone, they are so ill?
Utran.
I see the King did dearly loue him,
He weepes.
Her.
Sir, the current of the water bare vs farther
In three dayes, then I was able to returne in ten.
King.
Giue the poore Hermite something,
Though his newes deserue it not,
Yet his sufferngs doth:
With him last, I seem'd to be offended with him
For his dotage on Clarinda, which he hath
Dearely paid for; and yet I cannot blame him,
For she is the fairest creature that yet I euer saw.
Enter Cleonarda.
O Sister, we haue lost our dearest Kinsman,
And that which ads vnto my griefe, is, that I cannot
Be reueng'd on him that kild him.
Cleo.
Are you certaine Sir that he is dead, or
Who it was that kild him?
Ki.
Too certaine of them both,
It was Lysander that kild him,
Whom If I euer get within my power,
The sharpest kinde of death that iustice can inflict.
Vpon him, he shall feele.
Cleo.
Say you so brother, hee shall
Not come within your power if I can helpe it then;
But royall brother, if the Duke had kild Lysander,
I know you would haue pardoned him.
King.
Sister I thinke I should.
Cle.
With what Iustice then can you pursue
Lysanders life, who as the Duke himselfe
Informes you in his Letter, sought
Onely to maintaine what was his owne;
But on the other side, the Duke like an vsurper
Without any title would haue taken from him
That which he valew'd farre aboue his life
His Loue.
King.
It is not I
That pursues Lysanders life, but Iustice;
The Law condemnes him to dye,
Had it beene but a priuate man, much more
Being so neare a kin to me,
Cle.
There is no Law; but doth allow vs to defend
Our selues, Lysander did no more, for who can denie
The Duke compeld him and loue (which cannot be
By noble minds resisted did aboue all compel him,
Then all the fault Lysander did commit in my
Opinion, is that hee was too slow, needing
Compulsion in so iust a cause, and therefore Sir
If you should apprehend Lysander, though by
The letter of the Law his life is forfeit;
Yet remember that mercy is the greatest atribute
Belonging to those powrs, whose substitute you are.
King.
Sister, you often haue had occasion
To shew your Charity, in being a Suiter to mee
For the liues of those that had offended;
Yet vntill now you neuer beg'd my mercy vnto any.
Cleo.
Sir, you neuer had occasion giuen you
Till now to whet the sword of Iustice by your owne
Particular reuenge, that it might cut the deeper,
And being not intressed, your mercy of it selfe
Did blunt the edge, and needed not my intercession.
King.
I do coniure you by my loue,
To speake no more of this vnpleasing subiect;
For if I get Lysander once within my power,
I will sacrifice his heart-bloud to the Ghost
Of my deceased Cozen.
Enter Clarinda.
Vtran.
You know it is bootlesse,
The King is so incenst, in begging mercy
For Lysander, you may proue cruell to your selfe,
And vnto me your Father.
Clar.
O Sir, how ill you doe requite Lysander;
His loue to you was the onely cause
That puld these miseries vpon him;
For had not he so dearly tenderd you,
Fearing to draw on you the Kings displeasure,
We had long since bin married, then this vnlucky
Combat had not bin, nor I had need of that
Kin.
Why, know you where Lysander is?
Clar.
O no, but I doe feare he cannot escape
Your hands.
King.
Why Lady,
Can you hope that if hee were taken
I would pardon him: hath he not kild the man
That in the world was nearest to my heart?
I cannot grant this; rise, and by mine honor
Aske or command what is within my power
(But this) and it shall be perform'd.
Cla.
Sir, all the suite
Ile make, since this cannot be granted, is
That in the selfe same houre that my Lysander
Is to suffer; I who haue beene the fountaine
From whence these bloudy streames haue issu'd,
May be permitted to shew Lysander the darke
Yet pleasing way to the Elizian Fields;
For though we could not here, yet there we shall
Enioy each other.
Cleo.
Lysander, shouldst thou proue false to her,
Though I my selfe were cause of thy inconstancie;
Yet I should hate thee.
King.
I hope you will better consider
Of the generall losse the world shall sustaine,
In losing such a Iewell as your selfe:
Sister, I will leaue you to aduise her better,
And pray you vse her with your best respect,
Her worth and beauty doth deserue it;
My Lord Vtrante, haue you in your daughters name
Taken possession of all that was the Dukes,
As I commanded?
Utran.
My Lord, I haue the full possession;
But she doth vtterly refuse them.
King.
I know my Sister will aduise
Her better.
Exe. manet Clar. & Cleo.
The Princesse is the fairest Creature
That yet mine eyes euer beheld, why does she looke
So stedfastly vpon me? Gracious Madame,
What see you in this worthlesse frame,
That so attracts your eyes.
Cleo.
I see Clarinda,
In each particular of the whole frame,
Which thou term'st worthlesse, an excesse of beauty,
Which in another Lady might breed enuy;
But by my life I take delight to looke on thee.
Cla.
And Madame, may I perish,
If ere mine eyes yet met an obiect, wherein
I tooke halfe that delight that I doe now
In looking vpon you; were I a man
And could frame to my selfe a Mistris by my wishes
Hauing the wide world to choose in, for each
Particular to make vp the whole. I should beleeue
It were a fruitlesse labour, if I went farther
Then your selfe thus fram'd.
Cleo.
Clarinda, as I am Sister to a King,
I see I must partake of their misfortunes,
Which is to be grossly flatter'd: but it may be
You giue me this faire language by instinct;
For I haue pleasing newes to tell you,
If that you had come to Court, I thought
To haue sent for you, which vnto you
I know appeares most strange, for till this houre
I neuer had the happinesse to see you.
Clar.
Madame, it does indeed.
Cleo.
It will appeare more strange,
When you shall know the cause for which
I would haue sent for you.
Cla.
Deare Lady, what is it for?
Cleo.
I would haue sent for you,
To know what you would haue giuen willingly,
To one that would vndertake to saue Lysanders life.
I cannot name you a particular,
But all that I haue, or can giue.
Cleo.
I meane not goods or money,
But could you bee content if it were
A woman that could doe this,
To quit your interest in Lysander,
And giue him leaue to marry her?
Clar.
If it should come to that, I know
I sooner should be willing,
Then I should, draw him to giue his consent.
Cleo.
It is nearer it then you belieue,
I know a Lady that hath sau'd his life already.
Cla.
How, beg'd his pardon of the King!
And vpon those conditions hath he giuen consent?
Cleo.
He hath not yet; but when he knowes
Your minde I thinke he will.
Clar.
Is she a hansome Lady, and well borne?
Cleo.
Not very hansome; but her birth is great,
In both she equals me, and in affection to
Lysander, you.
Clar.
Madame I doe beseech you
Leaue this too harsh discourse: for it hardly
Can be true, since there is no Lady
In this Kingdome, that euer I saw
That equals you in beauty, yet
The imagination that it may be so,
Doth from mine eyes draw teares, and chases
From my heart the vsuall heate.
Cleo.
Weepe not Clarinda, I cannot hold thee
Longer in suspence. I am the Lady that I meane,
And therefore chase away thy feare.
Clar.
I neuer saw true cause of feare till now,
The tale you told appeares much likelier truth,
Now, that you are the Lady, then it did before;
For you haue in you that full excellency.
That would make Gods forsweare themselues,
Your selfe as the reward of that their periury:
Shall I belieue then that Lysanders frailtie,
Can resist such an assault, if you be so resolu'd;
Besides, what lady hath the power to beg
Lysanders life, at your incensed brothers hands;
But onely you that are his Sister:
Goe poore forsaken maide, and melt thyselfe
Away in teares, and doe not liue to be an eye-sore
To this noble Lady, nor to vpbraid Lysander
With his falshood.
Cleo.
Stay sweet Clarinda,
And for as many teares as I haue made thee shed
From those faire eyes, so oft Ile kisse the Crystall
Fountaines from whence they flowed; belieue me,
Dearest maide, though I doe loue Lysander,
Yet I would not wrong thee for a world,
Of which to giue the more assurance,
Thou shalt see, and speake with thy Lysander,
For thou art onely worthy of him;
He is now at Gerards Lodge within the Forrest,
None knowes of it but Gerard, and his owne Sister
Mariana, how I brought him thither wounded,
Ile take another time to tell you: when you would
See him you must goe disguis'd: farewell Clarinda,
Be confident I loue you dearely. I will stay
No longer lest it should breed suspition.
Exit.
Clar.
Madame, your humble seruant.
How strange a tale is this! yet sure it's true,
Why should the Princesse say so else?
But can it be the Princesse loues Lysander?
Can it be otherwise, if she doe know him?
If it be true, sure Lysander will not neglect
So great a blessing: hence Iealousie, the canker
Of true loue, that dost in time consume that
Which did giue thee beeing; why should I wrong
Better cause, I must to him, and in disguise,
Which how to get my selfe I know not,
Enter Iacomo.
I must trust some body, and who so fit
As honest Iacomo, who I know loues Lysander.
Come hither honest Iacomo.
Iaco.
Madame.
Clar.
I know thou lou'st me,
And wilt doe any thing that I command thee.
Iaco.
Madame, I hope you make no doubt of it.
Clar.
No thou shalt see I doe not doubt;
For I will make thee priuie to a secret,
That torture should not drawn from me.
Iaco.
If it be that that I suspect, torture shall
Hardly make me to conceale it.
Clar.
What saith thou Iacomo?
Iaco.
Madame, I say although I should be rackt,
Yet what you tell me shall be still conceal'd.
Clar.
I know it should; come trusty Iacomo,
Ile tell thee all the Story as wee goe.
Exeunt.
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