 | The Deseruing Fauorite |  |
Actus quintus
Scœna prima.
Enter Iaspero and Bernardo.Ias.
What newes at Court?
Ber.
Sad newes belieue me.
Ias.
Why, must braue Lysander suffer to day?
Ber.
The King hath sworne to haue his head off ere Sun-set.
Ias.
The Kingdome will be poore in such a losse,
For he leaues none behind him-worth his equall.
Ber.
I, but is't not strange the King should grace
That villaine Iacomo that did betray him?
Ias.
His extreame loue vnto the Duke makes him
Loue Iacomo, who doth professe that he did not
Discouer Lysander in hope of gaine; but onely
Out of loue to the Dukes memory.
Ber.
At one o'th clocke he is to suffer, let vs be there betimes
and get a place neere the Scaffold to heare his last words.
Exe.
Enter Utrante in blacke.
Utran.
How blacke and sorrowfull this day lookes!
This day, in which Lysander is to suffer;
Noble Lysander, to whom my Child and I
Are so much bound; and yet hee is the cause
It was my ambition to haue a Duke
My Sonne in Law: no, it was my Clarinda's
Beauty bred all this mischiefe, and it was
The Heauens that gaue Beauty to her:
Why did they then not blesse that gift in her,
But turne it to her curse? Peace wretched man
And argue not with those high powers,
But wait their pleasure, and pray for their assistance,
Who can yet change this Scœne of blood into
A Scœne of ioy, and back returne thee thy Clarinda.
Enter a Seruant.
Ser.
If't please your Lordship, my young Lady
Is return'd and gone agen.
Vtran.
How!
Ser.
She hath beene in the house this houre as the maids tell
me, hath chang'd her cloaths, and's newly stolne out at the backgate,
and gon toward Lysanders prison; two of my fellowes are
gone after her, and I came back to tell your Lordship.
Exit.
Enter Cleonarda and Mariana.
Cleo.
And do's the Kings cruel resolution hold still?
Mar.
O Madam yes, my poore Brother must dye to day.
Cleo.
And wilt not thou dye with him: speake Mariana.
Mar.
Madame, I could wish that I might not out-liue him.
Cle.
Why sayst thou thou couldst wish, hast thou not hands?
Or dost thou want a knife? if so, yet there's many wayes to die.
Mar.
Madame, how strangely doe you talke.
Cleo.
Why, wouldst thou wish to liue,
After the vntimely death of such a Brother?
Ma.
Madame, we must not goe vntill the Gods do call vs,
Yet I bylieue it is the better place.
Cleo.
The better place, assure thy selfe of that, they would
Not else thus early call thither the best of Men. I will follow
Him where ere he goes to see.
Enter Iacomo.
Iac.
Madame the King desires your company.
Cleo.
Villaine, had he none else to send but thee
That didst betray Lysander, hence from my sight.
Exeunt.
Her.
What did you with the Boy?
Duke.
I left him at the Count Utrante's house:
He told me he dwelt there.
Her.
At what houre say they must Lysander suffer?
Duke.
At on of the clock, faile not to be there,
And get neere the Scaffold.
Her.
You need not bid me.
Exeunt.
Flourish. Enter King, Cleonarda, Iacomo, Mariana, Attendants, one of them in Habit of a Countreman.
King.
Sister, beleeue me, you haue told me such particular
Arguments of Lysanders worth, that I doe pitty
His misfortunes much, and haue quite lost my anger;
Yet Iustice must be satisfied.
Cleo.
Sir, the offence that he committed, was but against
The Law, although he rob'd you of a Subiect:
You are aboue the Law, and may remit it;
A King should in points of life and death,
Be like the Chancery, in other cases, and helpe
By mercy against the cruell letter of the Law,
As the Chancery doth by conscience.
Especially when your owne conscience tels you
That he was forc'd against his will to fight.
Kin.
Sister, it were an example too dangerous
To pardon him that kild my next of blood:
It might encourage some to strike my selfe;
And therfore it is in vaine to plead for mercy.
Enter Utrante and Clarinda.
Vtran.
O daughter, let not your passionate loue
Vnto Lysander, make you accuse good Iacomo.
Cla.
O sir, you are cozen'd, he is a Diuell incarnate,
Iustice. Iustice great Sir.
King.
Lady, I thought your plea would haue beene mercy,
And not Iustice.
Clar.
Sir, I haue lost all hope of mercy; but Iustice
I hope you will grant me against that villaine Iacomo.
Now haue at me; but I haue fore-arm'd the King with
such a tale, that and mine owne impudence, which neuer faild
me, shall well enough defend me.
Kin.
Arise faire Clarinda, and by my Crowne,
Bring your sufficient proofe, you shall haue Iustice;
But wel I know you hate good Iacomo, because he did
Discouer where your Lysander was.
Cla.
Would I had bit my tongue out of my head,
When I gaue it power to tell you where Lysander was.
Iaco.
Your maiestie may marke by this how true the rest is
that she hath to say. Madame, then you would seeme as if I had
deceiu'd your trust, and that you had to mee discouerd where
Lysander was; make me not so odious, I neuer was a traitor,
had you to me discouer'd it, wild horses should haue torne mee
in a thousand pieces, ere I would haue confest; no, this same
countrey fellow one day being within the Lodge saw him, and
so discouered it to me.
Cla.
Though thou deny'st this with a brazen brow,
Yet thou canst not denie thou wouldst haue rauisht me,
When I did trust thee to goe along with me,
I being disguis'd then, where I to thee discouer'd
When Lysander was; and more thou threatendst
(If I did not giue consent to thy base lust)
To murder mee, when thou hadst done,
Because I should not tell.
Iaco.
Madame, I did not thinke that loue to any man could
ere haue turnd that excellent wit of yours so ill away, as thus
vniustly to accuse a man that is innocent, and one that honors
you.
Enter Duke and Hermite.
Utran.
Sir, I doe grieue,
My Daughters, loue vnto Lysander, should
Moue her for to seeke a most vniust reuenge
Against good Iacomo, whose like for honestie
I know not in this Kingdome of his quality.
Sir, here's a witnesse, that will confirme
What I haue said for truth.
Duke.
What gentle Lady?
Cla.
Sir, 'twas I that you rescu'd yesterday,
From a villaine that would haue rauisht me.
Duke.
Why Lady, were you in such danger?
Iac.
Marke you Sir, she knowes of no such thing.
Cla.
I was the Boy you found in the wood,
Whom this villaine would then haue rauisht,
Which then I told you was my master.
Du.
I thought no boy could haue so sweet a face,
Indeed Sir, tis most true, I found this Lady bound,
And that same villaine as I thinke; for I had but
A glimpse of him in the bushes, his feare making
Him flie as soone as euer he saw me.
Clar.
I beseech your Maiestie let him be hang'd,
For on my honor what I doe affirme is truth.
King.
Your affirmation is to me a hundred
Witnesses, yet it were in me iniustice to deny
The combat 'gainst this gentleman that doth accuse
Him on your behalfe, if Iacomo desire it.
Duke.
Belieue it Sir, he that will do such villanies,
Will neuer dare to fight, Sir send him to the Galleyes,
If he will nor fight, it shewes his guilt.
Iaco.
Hell take you all, I dare not fight might I haue all the
world giuen. Ile rather to the Galleys. I shall get out there with
some tricke or other, and then Ile poyson twenty of you, Ile not
discouer what I am that will but shew me more.
King.
Let him that rescu'd Clarinda haue the land
That Iacomo should haue had, for discouering where
Lysander was: call forth the prisoner, and proceed to execution.
Enter Lysander, Executioner, Guard.
Lys.
Weepe not Clarinda, you may liue happily
You and the Princesse may together make
A kinde of Marriage, each one strongly
Flattering themselues, the other is Lysander;
Pardon Clarinda that I borrow from
That streame of loue a part to pay the Princesse,
Which euer yet ran constantly to the Ocean
Of thy perfection only, for now a gratefulnesse
To her, makes some of it run in another current;
For which I know thou being wise, canst neuer
Loue me lesse, knowing that I haue loue enough
For both, since I can marry neither.
Cla.
Lysander, doe not thinke I grudge that part of Loue
You pay the Princesse, her merits farre transcending mine,
Besides, you owe her for preseruing of your life,
And I haue beene the only cause, that you must lose it;
But Ile beare you company, and in that pay the debt I owe you.
King.
Why stayes the Prisoner?
Lys.
Onely to take
A parting kisse; then when you please, I am prepar'd.
King.
What meane you Sister, will yon make apparant
To the world your folly?
Cleo.
Sir, doe not hinder me;
For if I may not here speake with him,
We will conuerse in death sooner then you belieue;
Lysander, thou art going to thy lasting home,
And in thee all vertuous men must suffer,
They being but branches, thou the root of all perfection:
Who will be Curteous, Valiant, since these are causes
Of thy death; for thou vnto the world didst manifest
In thy last action with the Duke, that thou wert
Really possest of these: but I, in summing vp thy worth,
Doe but increase my griefe; since I must part with thee,
The rich vnhappy owner; for they haue only seru'd
To reuiue thee, and those that lou'd thee for them,
Poore Clarinda, I from my owne conceptions
Could weepe, to thinke vpon the torment thou wilt feele,
When as the Axe shall seuer from thee loues
Worthy person, thy comely head, worthy,
Most worthy, in that it was the Cabinet appointed
By the Gods to keepe their richest Iewellin,
In which iudicious men may read as in a Booke,
The whole contents of all their excellence.
King.
Sister, for shame doe not thus wrong
Your selfe and me, by throwing such high praises
On a man, condemn'd by Law. Lysander,
Prepare thy selfe to die, and take no notice of her
Idle praises, which if they could to any mortall
Man be due, they were to him, for whom
Thou now must suffer.
Lys.
Sir, I doe confesse it and am ready to receiue
Your doome.
Cleo.
I need not to a mind so fortifide as thine is
Giue any Antidotes to arme thee against death.
Lys.
All the encouragement that I will desire
Shall bee a kisse of your faire hand.
Cleo.
Lysander, thou knowst my soule embraceth thee,
These are the first teares that ere fell from mine eyes,
Although a woman, which I am pleased with,
Since it well expresses this is the greatest griefe
That yet I euer felt.
Lys.
This kisse Clarinda is thy due, thou art
The neerest to my heart in Iustice.
Clarin. swoones.
King.
Looke to Clarinda, carry her home.
Cleo.
I thought she would haue out-gon me; but now
Mine shall be the glory: who would liue in a world
That's bankrupt of all vertue?
Lys. kneeles.
Exec.
I pray Sir forgiue me your death.
Lys.
Friend, doe thine office; I forgiue thee.
Duke.
Hold villaine.
King.
How darest thou hinder the sword of Iustice,
From lightning where it is design'd.
Duke.
Sir, if you execute this Lord, you are a Tyrant.
King.
Why Sir, will it bee tyranny in mee
To execute the Law? the fellow's mad,
Lay hands on him.
It is a cruell Law that doth condemne the innocent.
King.
Why, is he innocent?
Duke.
Let me dye for't if I doe not proue
He did not kill the Duke.
Kin.
And by my Crowne, since thou dost interpose thy selfe
Betwixt the sword of Iustice and the Object,
It shall cut through thy life too with Lysanders,
If thou dost faile to proue what thou affirmest.
Lys.
I doe beseech your Maiesty,
Let not this franticke man, (for so he seemes to be)
Out of his loue to me, ruine himselfe:
I doe confesse againe it was this vnlucky hand,
And no other, that kild the Duke.
Duke.
I call the heauens to witnesse, it was I
That was the cause he bled that day,
And well he did deserue it, for thinking
So vniustly to rob thee of Clarinda,
Who only dost deserue her.
King.
Carry the fellow hence;
Doe I sit here to heare a mad man talke?
Duke.
Call me not fellow, I am as good
A Gentleman, as was the Duke your Cozen,
And were he now aliue hee would acknowledge it.
Kin.
Away with him to Prison, Ile haue him
Strangely punisht for this presumption.
Away with him.
Her.
Sir vpon my credit,
And men of my Profession should not lye, he's both
In Birth and worth equall vnto the Duke.
Kin.
Though I doe reuerence your Profession,
Yet I see no cause to belieue you,
For in this Kingdome there is none so worthy.
Her.
Sir, yes; euery way as worthy,
And one your Maiestie doth loue so well,
That if he aske you, I know you will pardon
Lord Lysander for his sake.
Sure all the world's infected,
One that I loued so well and equall to the Duke
In Birth; how canst thou proue this?
Her.
Thus I can proue it,
Discouer Duke.
To your great ioy and all the Kingdomes.
Kin.
I am amaz'd; art thou a Coniurer,
And from the quiet graue hath raised
The beloued person of my Kinsman to delude me?
For thou wert he that said thou foundst his body.
Duke.
Ghosts doe not vse to pay their duty to
The liuing, Sir, feele my hand, I am your Seruant.
Kin.
O my deare Cozen, can this be true!
Duke.
Sir, I will make all plaine: but first I must
Relieue the worthiest of men, noble Lysander,
Send for Clarinda, and tell her this glad newes:
Madame, let me kisse your faire hands,
I euer honourd you, but now I doe adore
That high rais'd mind of yours, that feares not
To professe your loue to vertue, though in distresse.
King.
Deare Cozen, I do long to know by what
meanes you were preseru'd.
Duke.
This reuerend man that did the pious act,
Can best resolue it you.
Kin.
'Twas he that brought first word that he
Had found your body, by which we were resolued
That you were dead, he told his tale so punctually.
Duk.
When I began to bee pa'st danger of my
Wounds, I fram'd that tale about the thieues,
Intending to conceale my selfe, and so to make
Triall of your loue to me, and of Clarinda's
Loue vnto Lysander, both which I finde
Not to be equal'd.
Kin.
Good Father tell vs how you found him
Wounded, and how you did preserue him.
Her.
Sir, what I to'd you
Concerning the finding of him wounded,
By a soueraigne water; but that he after
Dyed within my armes, you see is false
And yet he spoke those words that I deliuer'd
As his dying speech, he hauing then indeed
No hope of life: but heauen so order'd it.
That he recouer'd by my skill in Surgery,
In which Art I shall not boast to say
That I am equall with the most skilfull of this age,
Which I thinke well appeares, since I haue cured
Him in so short a time; yet I must attribute
His sodaine curing to a soueraigne balme,
That an Egyptian gaue mee, from which countrey
I late came.
Kin.
Holy man, expect from me a great reward;
For you haue backe to me restor'd the comfort
Of my life; but where haue you since liued,
Or how came you by this disguise?
Enter Clarinda.
Duke.
I liu'd with him still in a little Cottage,
And he did fom the City fetch me disguises:
Diuine Clarinda, pardon me, I was your bedfellow,
And did not know my owne happinesse then;
If I had knowne you, I would haue done
Iust as I did; I see you are amazd, it was I
That in disguise rescued you, and sau'd your honor,
When that villaine would haue rauisht you;
In which I was most happy; for I shall now present
You, so much the richer gift to your Lysander.
Here braue Lysander, let me deliuer vp
Into thine armes the Iewell of thy life;
And in that make some part of satisfaction,
For the wrong I did hee, in compelling thee
To fight for that which was thine owne before
In iustice.
Lys.
My Lord, the seruice of my life hereafter
And with what ioy I doe receiue your guift.
Cle.
I would haue giuen my life to haue redeem'd
Lysanders; where is the ioy then that I should feele
For his deliuerance. O I haue found the cause
That doth suppresse it; it's enuy that Clarinda's
Happier then my selfe: why should I enuy that
Which is her due, both by his vowes and her
Owne merit.
Lys.
How sad the Princesse lookes? I wonder
Shee doth not speake to me.
Cle.
Heart, though thou burst, the world shal not
See I grieue or enuye Lysander and Clarinda,
May you be happie in your loues, which I can neuer be.
Lys.
Her noble heart will burst with griefe,
Would I had dyed, or rather that I had two hearts,
By death I had beene free, this way I am
A debtor to the Princesse, and that ingratitude
Torments me worse then death.
King.
Call for the sacred Priest, and let vs change
That which we thought should haue been a Scœne
Of blood, into a Scœne of ioy, by ioyning
Two despairing Louers hands together.
Du.
O what a happy mans Lysander at this instant
Compard with what he was halfe an houre since!
Imagination cannot reach it; but on the other side
How farre am I falne from that happinesse
That I possest when faire Clarinda said
That she would marry me within a month.
Enter Priest.
Kin.
Come reuerent Sir, performe an office
Acceptable to the Gods: Sister, take you Lysanders
Hand, and Cozen you Clarinda's.
Cleo.
O what a cruell office hath my brother put vpon me.
Duke.
I would this taske were past,
Vertue I see thou art a cruell Mistris.
I in my soule grieue for the Duke,
His manly eyes shed teares to performe this Office;
I would to heauen he were my Brother,
Or that Lysander were; the consideration
Of his worth and infinite affection,
Which hath appeard in all his actions,
Hath gaind much vpon me.
Priest.
Will you Lysander take Clarinda for
Your Wife, forsaking all other till the hand of death
Arrest the one of you?
Her.
Say no Lysander.
Lys.
Reuerend Sir, why?
Her.
Because the Marriage is not lawfull.
Duke.
Can you proue it vnlawfull?
You sau'd my Life, but I shall valew that no benefit,
Compar'd with this, if you can proue
Lysander and Clarinda cannot marry;
Ile make you more then you can wish to be.
Her.
Lysander, did not your Father
When you last parted with him, giue you
A little Cabinet, in which he bid you looke
When you should marry, on his blessing
Not before, not at your death.
Lys.
It is true, he did so, but I
Was so distracted betwixt ioy and griefe,
That I had quite forgot it.
Her.
Send for it with all haste.
Kin.
What can this Cabinet produce to stop
The Marriage.
Cleo.
I cannot plead desert,
Thou God of Loue, because I haue so short a while
Beene subiect to thy Lawes; but well thou knowst
If thou oblige me to become thy subiect,
By giuing me Lysander, that I shall
More extoll thy power then any Subiect
That thou hast: but on the contrary,
Vnto Diana, thy vtter enemy, and in her seruice
Spend the loath'd remnant of my life.
Enter with a Cabinet, Paper in it.
Kin.
The Cabinet is come.
Duk.
I make no doubt,
If't be within thy power, thou God of Loue,
But thou wilt grant to me thy truest Subiect
The wishes of my heart; but I doe feare a greater
Power then thine, doth ouer-rule the destinies.
Her.
Here Sir, read that paper; there you shall
Finde, what you doe little thinke.
King
reads.
Lysander, I doe giue you leaue to marry whom you doe thinke
fit, because I know you are able to make a worthy Choyce, onely
Clarinda you cannot marry, for she is your Sister.
Lys.
How! my Sister!
Duke.
Loue thou hast heard my prayer, though I were
Ignorant, and knew not what to aske.
Kin.
I am amaz'd, sure this is Witch-craft.
Duke.
Sir, I beseech you proue this to be true.
Her.
My Lord, if you will beg a Pardon from the King,
It is for a fault, that was neuer proued against me;
I then will make all things so plaine, that no man shall deny it.
Enter Messenger.
Mes.
And please your Maiesty, Iacomo is proued to be
The Count Orsinio's Brother.
Her.
My Lord, let him be brought, heele helpe to the clearing
of the discourse I am to make.
Duke.
Sir, I must beg a pardon for the sauer of my life.
Kin.
What hath he done? I pardon him, be't what it wil.
Her.
Then Sir, behold a banisht man.
puls off his beard.
Kin.
The Count Orsinio!
Lys.
My Father! your blessing Sir.
Utran.
My deare friend! welcome.
Enter Iacomo.
Duke.
Sir, Ile not bid you welcome,
Iaco.
My Brother!
Her.
O thou wicked villaine! art thou aliue yet?
I might haue knowne thee by thy villanies,
Through thy disguises.
Du.
Good my Lord proceed vnto your discouery.
Her.
My second wife being barraine, I had
No hope of Issue Male; for I had Mariana
There by my first and it did grieue my Soule
To thinke that villaine there should be my heyres
For he dayly practiz'd mischiefe before vnheard of.
It was not long before my wife obserued
That the chiefe cause of all my discontent
Grew from her barrennesse, and she being fearefull
That my affection might decline as did my hope
Of issue, thought of a strange and most vnwonted
Meanes, to make her selfe appeare a happy mother.
My friends Wife here, the Count Utrante
Finding her selfe to bee with Childe; my Wife,
By helpe of Art did seeme so too: but strange
To see how gold will worke! for by a somme of
Money, my Wife did worke the Mid-wiues, Nurse,
And Doctor, to cozen the true Mother of her Child
When ere she should be brought to bed.
Kin.
How was that possible?
Her.
Most easie Sir, as they did handle it,
The Child was borne, and prou'd a Boy,
As my Wife wisht; for had it beene a Girle,
It could not then haue eas'd me of my griefe,
My land being tied vpon the Heyres. Male.
Duke.
Good Sir, proceed.
Her.
The Nurse was by the Doctor straight
Commanded to carry into the next roome the child,
Alleaging that it was most necessary,
The Mother, after so much labour should
Sleepe, which the Childs crying might hinder:
Pittifully weeping telling the Mother
That the Child could hardly liue; but straight
The Nurse she entring the Chamber cried out
Alas the Child is dead; the wofull Mother
Falling in a swoone, had almost made
That sorrow reall for her, which then but
Counterfeited for the Child.
Duke.
The Child then was not dead.
Her.
No Sir, the crafty Nurse
Had by a back-dore conuaid it out o'th house
By helpe of another Nurse that she had there
For the purpose: hauing recouer'd
The Mother out of her trance, the poore Lady
Desir'd to see her late comfort, though now
Her only cause of sorrow, the dead Child:
But the Doctor vtterly denyed that,
Alleaging that would but increase her sorrow,
Which might impeach her health:
My friend here was not then at home,
And who durst contradict the Doctor
In such a case.
Kin.
Was there
No seruants in the house? Did none of them
Aske for the Childe?
Her.
Sir, to preuent that,
They had before prouided a piece of wood
Shapt like a Childe, and about that they put
A winding sheete.
King.
But what excuse then made they
For their haste in dressing of it
For the graue, that was not then
Scarce cold.
Her.
For that they told the seruants
The Childe being deform'd they made such haste
To hide it from the neighbours; that they
In bringing such a Monster into the world.
The Nurse the same night came, and told my Wife
What they had done, and she aduising with
Her agents, the next night after seem'd
To fall in labour, and by the helpe of those
Her creatures made perfect by their former practise,
She cozen'd me and the world, by making vs
Belieue, that she had truly brought me forth a son.
I did a thousand times kisse my young heyre,
And by my carefull education and his owne
Braue naturall parts, hee's growne to be
What now you find, Lysander, for he's the same.
King.
But how came you to know
Lysander was not your naturall sonne, and these
Particulars?
Her.
My Wife Sir,
Being vpon her death-bed, she found her conscience
Troubled with this deceit, and could not
Depart in peace, till she had freely told me
Of this strange Story; I still conceal'd it
Out of my iust anger against my wicked Brother;
Besides that great affection which I bare Lysander,
Continued still, and is now so great,
That if your Maiestie by your Prerogatiue
Will but confirme it. I doe adopt him for my Heire.
King.
I shall.
Iaco.
Thus Sir, was I defeated of my right; My Lord the
Duke there by his power, though I did proue this in the open
Court, by witnesse of the Nurse and Midwife; yet he made mee
to be banisht as an iniurer of others.
Duke.
I doe confesse the wrong I did thee
Though ignorant, and for to make thee satisfaction,
I will be a suitor to the King in thy behalfe:
Sir, now vpon my knowledge I dare affirme
That Lysander is sonne vnto the Count Utrante.
It was nature in me, that made me so much
Loue the Count Utrante: you blessing Sir.
Clarin.
It do's not grieue mee that you are
My Brother.
Lys.
And for my part, I cannot adde
To my owne happinesse, if I might haue my wishes,
Now that yon are my Sister; for I did euer loue you
As a Sister rather then as a Mistris.
Duke.
Diuine Clarinda,
I cannot claime your promise till a moneth be past,
There is some part of it to come, but I hope
You will not strictly stand vpon the time.
Clar.
My Lord,
I should too much wrong my selfe, though I did not
Loue you, in deferring of so great a blessing:
But the large testimony that you haue giuen
Both of your worth and affection to me,
Haue turn'd that great affection in an instant,
That I bare Lysander, as you could wish it,
Vpon you; nay to say truth, I euer lou'd you,
Though not so well as hee, and held your worth
As great.
Duke.
Deare Clarinda, giue me not a surfet.
Lys.
I feare the King will nere consent.
whisper.
Duke.
But good Sir,
What made you desire me to beg your pardon.
Or what made you conceale your selfe so long?
Her.
My Lord, Ile tell you;
Your Lordship may remember, for it is not
Fiue yeares since that this my Friend, the Count
Utrante and my selfe, were both suspected
For poysoning of your Vncle, because we were
His profest Enemies; especially my selfe,
Which made me flye, though I were innocent,
For it was knowne to many, that the villain
Kild him for's owne particular reuenge.
At his death to say, that we had set him on
And got another rascall to witnesse with him
That it was true; my friend, not hauing so great
Enemies, did stay to iustifie himselfe,
And for his paines was laid in prison, and kept there
For his lands, till you got him releast,
And yet he was neuer brought vnto his tryall;
I, ere I left this Country, did leaue this Cabinet
With my sonne, or rather yours, and withall
The charge of looking in it when he should
Be married. After many a weary step abroad,
I came home to my Countrey, and in disguise
Haue liu'd here in the Forrest, and saw my friends
Full often, although they knew not mee;
And hauing this occasion of doing your Lordship
Seruice, I thought it would be a sure meanes
To get my pardon; especially when things
Were growne vnto the extreamest poynt
Of danger, I knew a timely remedy would be
Most welcome then of all, and that made me
Conceale my selfe so long.
Lys., Cleo.
We are resolu'd.
King.
My Lord, I freely pardon you, for I belieue
It was indeed a lye, inuented by your wicked
Brother, whom I doe giue you power to punish
As you thinke good.
Her.
My Lord, I then desire
He may be kept a prisoner all his life;
For should he haue his liberty, I know
He would doe mischiefe that we should all
Repent of.
Iaco.
Brother, thou art wise,
Thou shouldst haue beene the first that should
Haue felt mine anger.
King.
Away with him.
I dare not speake for thee thou art so great
A Villaine.
Exe. Guard with Iacomo.
King.
Come, let vs set forwards to the Temple,
And pray the Gods to shower a blessing
Tpon this Couple;—What meanes my Sister?
Lysan. and Cleon. set swords to their brests.
Cleo.
Thus Sir,
Lysander and my selfe haue made a solemne
Contract, and with our bloods wee'l seale it,
Either to goe thus to the Temple to be married,
Or to the graue.
King.
How Sister!
Cleo.
What is it Sir, in your opinion, makes
Lysander vnworthy of me.
King.
His blood compard with yours, is base.
Cleo.
But Sir, his mind's heroicke,
And who will compare the seruant with the Master?
The Body is no more vnto the Minde.
King.
What would you marry with a Subiect?
Cleo.
Who would not
Marry with a Subiect that is a King of Vertues,
Rather then with a King that's gouern'd
By his Vices?
Duke.
Sir, you know the greatnesse of her
Spirit; If you will haue her to liue, you must
Consent.
Cleo.
Brother, you stand to vs
Instead of destinie; for you haue in your power
Our threed of Life. Say, will you spin vs out
A happy threed, that we may liue to serue you,
Or will you cut it short?
Duke.
O be not cruell to your only Sister;
What's all the out ward glory, if you rob
The mind of that which it delights in?
I know that your intention is to make
Her happy, doe not mistake the way;
Of a King; for if it had, shee might haue made
Her choyce, since all the neigbouring Kings
Admire her: No Sir, shee aymes at that
Which made men Kings at first, Wisdome,
And Valour, and should she search the world
Shee cannot finde a man where they
Doe meete so fully, as in braue Lysander
O Sir, then be not cruell, thinking to be
Carefull of your Sister.
King.
Shee's cruell to her selfe,
And rather let her perish by her rash hand,
Then so dishonour mee, by marrying with
A Subiect.
Cleo.
Farewell then
Cruell Brother: Lysander, let us part
To meete agen for euer; Ile goe first,
Because my Brother shall not thinke of sauing me
When you are dead.
Lys.
No Madame,
Let me shew you the way, and when I feele
The paine, Ile tell you if it be too great
For you to suffer.
King.
Hold: take him Sister,
And be happy in him: I loue thee more
Then euer, because I see, thy minde is onely
Fixt on true Worth without additions.
I learn'd of Count Orsinio to bring things,
To the extreamest poynt, so to encrease
The ioy: it had beene a sinne to part
Those Bodies, whose very Soules seeme to bee
Ioynd together.
Cleo.
Brother, may I perish,
When I forget this benefit, or cease to pay
To you my Lord, my thankes for pleading so
Lysanders Cause and mine.
Great Loue this day hath shewne his mighty power
Without the helpe of Fortune. In an houre
He hath relieu'd from death and from despaire
Foure of his truest Subiects, and made faire
This day that was o're clouded, let vs praise
His power that in a minute so can raise
From misery to an excesse of Ioy,
And in an instant that content destroy:
He hath to vs beene iust this day as well as kinde.
Rewarding vertuous Loue let none then call him blinde.
Exeunt omnes.
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