 | The Passionate Lover, First Part |  |
Act. 3.
Scæn. 1.
Enter Agenor (with a Paper) Lucidor:Age.
All these you say are ready.
Lu.
All on my knowledg; there's no other fear,
But that your troops will be too full. Might I have
Given advice, ere this you had been gone;
There's danger in your stay, so many flock hither
From the Court, your house is no way able
To contain them, and some no doubt that come
As Spies.
34
To morrow early I'll be gone, I must this night
Bid farewell to my dearest Mistress.—Now.
Enter Clindor.
O sir, I have rid; my horse fell dead just at the door
You are betrayed, sir, proclaim'd a Traitor,
Your Fathers Guard I overtook.
Age.
Where?
Clind.
By this time they are at the gates.
Lucid.
O heavens! my fears are faln upon us.
Age.
What's to be done?
Clind.
Let us make good the gates against them
Age.
There's none dares touch my person.
Lucid.
Believe it not sir, there is no safety:
Your Fathers jealousies are wrought to a strange
Height, and those whom you least suspect
I fear conspire your ruine, to advance
Your brother to the Crown.
Age.
Who do you mean?
Lucid.
Lord Cleon.
Age.
It is impossible.
Clind.
I saw Prince Clarimant and him together
And Cleon's words were to the Captain of the guard
Bring him alive or dead.
Lucid.
Sir, be advised, there is no safety
In the Kingdom for you, until this storm blow over.
Age.
What, shall I flie?
Lucid.
Rather then fall. I know there's thousand
Will live and dye with with you, but here they are not.
Enter Lord.
The Guard, Sir, do approach the house on every side.
Clind.
Make sure the gates.
Lucid.
That will not do't; fire soon will open them
35
Within a crying:
Lucid.
Hark!
Age.
Let's force our passage through them.
Exeunt.
[They clash their swords within.]
Enter Clindor, and four Guard.
Clind.
My friends, this care is needless; why do you hold me? I am not mad.
1.
Mad, sir, we do not think it.
Clind.
Nor can I swim, I do assure you.
1.
What then?
Clind.
Then you are sure I cannot scape your hands, as the Prince did.
1.
No sir, we'll look to you for that: Bring him away before the King.
Clind.
Before the King! of what will you accuse me?
1.
For being accessary of the Princes flight.
Cl.
O 'tis well, then we'll ev'n hang for company.
1.
For company!
Cl.
Even so, if I be accessary, you let him scape.
1.
Why, could we help it, when he leapt into the river?
Cl.
Had your zeal been so hot to serve the King, as you do now make shew of,
You would have dows'd in over head and ears.
2.
What, drown our selves?
Cl.
Yes, any thing in zeal: My zeal to justice shall hang all you and my self
Too, for in my conscience we deserve it; what, shrink for a little water?
1.
He tels us true, our fault will be esteem'd as great as his.
Cl.
Come, come along my friends, we must before the King.
1.
Very pretty.
36
You will not find so, when my most noble
Lord Cleon shall with the King
Judge of your actions.
1.
Well Captain, we acquit you; I find indeed
We should be fools to accuse each other.
Clind.
Speak for your selves, &c.
Enter Old King, Clarimant, Cleon.
O. K.
Urge nought in his excuse, he's a bold Traitor,
And he shall know his birth is no excuse
For disobedience.
Clar.
Sir, I dare pawn my life, my brother never did
Nor does intend ill to your Royal person.
O. K.
If it were so, am not I wounded in my Ministers?
[Enter Capt.
This natural tenderness of thine, a Brothers,
Condemns him most unnatural to me a Father.
Now speak, is the Traitor coming to assault us?
Capt.
No sir, but he is scap'd our hands.
Cle.
How? scap'd!
Capt.
He resolutely made his passage through us
And we pursuing to take him, he with Lucidor
Leapt into the river, and swam to a small pinace
Of his own, that always lay there for his
Pleasure, in which they are put to sea.
Cle.
With all speed make to the shore, and see what course
They hold: if he sir in despair should go into New-street
With whose King you now have difference
About the staying of your ships of treasure,
And the Isle of Cires; no doubt much danger
Threatens your self and State; to prevent which,
Straight raise an Army, and make Prince Clarimant
Your General, that being in readiness,
37
Or the enemy can make against you.
O. K.
Be all things ordered by thy faith and judgment,
Thy care must be my preservation,
I do commit all power into thy hands:
Hearken to him, my dearest Clarimant,
In what he shall advise thee; my age
And griefs, I find, will quickly wear me out.
I'll to my chamber: Give order, careful,
Faithful Cleon.
Exeunt King, Clar. and others.
Cle.
Yes, I shall be careful to take order,
An order with you all, Father and sons.
Now my designs work prosperously;
Only the late discovery that Selina made,
Does trouble me; Agenor, not Clarimant
My Rival, is by her beloved: but all
Do love Clorinda; yet now Agenor's gone,
She happily may change her love to Clarimant,
Who in opinion now stands fairest for the Crown:
Rather I hope by this she hates him
As the cause of all Agenor's misery:
So far Selina is by me instructed
To insinuate, whom I of late have wrought
To a belief that I do love her person,
But Clorinda's quality and title,
As being those steps by which I hope to ascend
The throne—See where she comes! speak my sweet
Agent; how moves our plot?
Enter Selina, with a Letter seal'd and writ out.
Sel.
Not well, too fast I fear.
Cle.
As how?
Sel.
Obeying your directions, my Lady hath contracted
So much hatred against Prince Clarimant,
She scarcely can endure to hear him named,
Resolves never to see him more.
38
Is not this well? 'tis all as I could wish.
Sel.
Thus far 'tis true; but now Agenor's gone
She so much apprehends the importunity
Of Prince Clarimants affection, that she's resolv'd
Past all perswasion, in a disguise
To seek for the Agenor, which if she find,
She satisfies her love, however cures her fears.
Cle.
My cunning hath undone me:
Thus chance oft triumphs over wisdom.
But what? there is some remedy in every ill—
Let me think in what disguise: soft, may she not
With you dissemble, as you with her?
And she does yet love Clarimant, and not Agenor.
Sel.
No, I have that here does assure me
She hates Prince Clarimant.
Cle.
What is't, a Letter? O let me see it!
Sel.
By no means sir, you cannot close it
But the Prince will find it hath been broken.
Cle.
You do not know my skill.
Sel.
I need not trust it, upon my life I'll tell you
Every word that it contains, she read it to me.
Cle.
Nay then I fear she did abuse you,
All Lovers are dissemblers, and she I fear
Is a cunning one.
Sel.
What she hath done, I know not;
But now her sorrows and her passions
Are so rais'd, the heart's transparent.
Cle.
There may be greatest art.
Sel.
Such broken sighs, and floods of tears,
Agenor's name still call'd upon,
Gives me assurance of her love to him.
Cle.
Change but the name, the griefs may still be
Counterfeit: I sigh and vow Clorinda,
Instructed by ambition; but yet my heart
Is more Selina's.
[Kisses her
Sel.
Well, my Lord, you may abuse me.
39
Prethee let me see the Letter.
Sel.
The words are few, and I can write them down:
Pray sir do not desire what may undo
My credit with my Lady, which truth is,
I do only value, as it may advance your ends.
[Enter Clarimant.]
Cle.
The Prince! Make shew as if you only
Did of me enquire for him.
Sel.
My Lord!
Cle.
There, Lady, is Prince Clarimant, whom you
Enquire for—If he do read it here, I shall
Observe his action.
Sel.
From Clorinda this, accompanied with all misfortunes:
Clar.
How?
Sel.
Pardon the duty of a servant.
Clar.
Stay, Lady.
Sel.
I must receive no answer.
Exit.
Clar.
Since from her hand, however I receive it
Thus—
[Kisses it.]
Cle.
Certain she hath abused Selina:
He kist the paper, as knowing the inside
Differs from the superscription.
Clar.
reads.]
Of Lovers most injurious, of Brothers falsest,
Of all Mankind the worst! Yet know I wish now
What before I only griev'd for, that Clarimant
Should love Clorinda, may it be to madness;
If less, only because the sense of torment
May be more, in which alone I can expect
A diminution of that grief, which by thy means
I suffer.—Thine everlasting enemy, Clorinda.
Clar.
So long my Saint! O you Gods, do I deserve this?
Yes, I do, for she like you is just;
40
As not conceiving how, though certainly
We have offended; my guilt is clear,
'Tis crime enough to be the accidental cause
Of misery to her.
Cle.
This sure is real sadness; Selina, I believe thee now.
Exit Cleon.
Clar.
Let me examine, have I not through ambition
Or hope to gain Clorinda for my self,
Been aiding to my Brothers wrongs?
Sure I am guilty: I but think I did
My best to appease my Father; yes, the Gods know,
And she as being divine, may see my real
Love to him, not only as my brother,
But my friend; did either want, and could be
So supplied, how gladly would I pour this
Blood into their empty veins? and yet she
Hates me thus, perhaps my brother does so too.
What's that? nothing: 'Tis true, if I durst
Wholly yield my heart.
He meanly does deserve a Lovers name,
That can know mixture in his grief, or flame.
Exit.
Enter Agenor and Lucidor (disguis'd)
Lucid.
Though you have lost your Country for the present,
All your hopes dasht in the minute of your greatest
Expectation; yet sir consider, the hand of fortune
That presses you thus low, may as she turns
The wheel, raise you agen.
Age.
Never, oh never! 'tis not the hand of fortune
But my guilt that bears me down; Justice,
The justice of the Gods lies heavy on me,
Treason and disobedience, till now I never
Found their weight.
41
I know not, sir, what you call Treason:
Though what you did intend, succeeded not,
I hold your fortune to be better now
Then in in your Fathers Court; you are safe in this
Country, and your own disposer, neither of which
I take it was allowed you there.
Age.
Why do you injure truth, and seek to lessen
My foul faults? Think not to make my grief
Diminish so; rather express your friendship
In yielding as I do; so shall you quickly
Be inform'd that our crimes are so great,
No punishment can be too much; and I have now
No joy, but in this burden of my sorrows.
Lucid.
Nor I in my particular, no grief so great
As in the lightness of my purse.
Age.
We have enough, these Jewels will
From want secure us; for I am resolv'd
Never to quit this habit and condition,
Since justice hath impos'd it as a punishment
For my ambition.
Enter Two.
1.
Make haste, make haste; sure we shall come
Too late.
Age.
Let's leave the street.
Exeunt.
Enter Two.
1.
Do you think we shall get neer to see?
Sure she'll chuse one of the strange Princes.
2.
Troth who can tell? Newstrea affords
Handsomer men then they.
1.
Indeed she's past fifteen; I'll warrant she has
A Sweetheart, some at her age have two
Or three.
2.
Trust me, she's the wiser to have plenty;
When age comes, they'll drop like leaves
In Autumn.
Exeunt.
42
King.
Daughter, this is the day
Wherein you have full power
To dispose my Kingdom, nay more,
Your self.
Austel.
This freedom, sir, of choice, which custom
And your Majesty allows, is that wherein
My bondage will consist; nay, all this
Glorious troop appear to me no other
Then if they came with joy to see me
Put into the grave alive.
K.
How, daughter!
Aust.
Many Virgins, sir, that have been forc'd to
Marry those they did not love, have rather
Chosen death as the less evil.
K.
I understand you not; call you this force,
Where the election's absolutely free?
Aust.
I grant, sir, I am free to choose;
But if I would not chuse at all, does not
The same constraint still rest upon me?
Pardon, great Princes, whose expectation
To enjoy me and a Crown, have drawn you
From your Countries: you are all indifferent
In my eye, nor does my knowledg of your merits
Which I confess is great, perswade that in
The choice of any one I shall be happy:
And where the wife is discontented, the husband sure
If he have real worth, cannot be pleas'd.
K.
From the knowledg of the liberal power
The law allows, and the necessity of a successor,
You cannot but have often thought on this dayes
Ceremony: Let not a fained modesty,
43
The ripeness of your years may justly challenge
All delight; and here a Husband, and the assurance
Of a Crown attend you.
[She weeps]
If these do make you weep,
What can cause joy in woman? Since you are
My daughter, I dare not think that you have plac'd
Your love on any man you are ashamed to name.
Aust.
The Gods are witness, sir, I never saw that person
Yet, whom I thought worthy to exchange
My heart with; but custom, sir, and you impose
On me the prostitution of my love perhaps to one,
Who, wer't not for the Crown I bring,
Nay even with that addition will happily refuse me.
1 Pr.
Refuse you, Madam!
2 Pr.
He must not sure be mortal,
That dare aspire a greater happiness.
3 Pr.
The Gods have left heaven for mortals,
Then here there never was a greater cause.
Aust.
Princes, these words do fitly wait upon
The action you are now engag'd in:
I do not doubt you should refuse me,
But I perhaps may choose one whose affection
Is already given; how miserable am I then?
Since there to be refused, were the less mischief,
For his acceptance only grants a perjur'd
And ambitious husband.
K.
How vain are these excuses, since the custom
And my age inforce a choice.
Aust.
Like one condemned I beg for mercy:
Cross not the course of nature; even beasts, sir,
Do not couple till they wooe.
K.
Plead not the rights of nature, since those you wrong
44
Depends the safety of my State, and I nor can
Nor will dispence with what custom and law
Appoint.
Aust.
The law doubtless was made in favor of
The daughter, to make her happy in a free
Choice, which almost never is allowed to Princes;
But where like priviledges are, if not demanded,
They'r not inforct: Those Countries where the
Book's allowed to save the forfeit life
For theft, 'tis but if askt; so when a Virgin
Saves a life, and gains a husband,
Yet have they in those offers been refused,
And death embrac'd by the delinquent.
Then wonder not that I, a Princess, to miss
A husband, which being inforc'd I needs must hate,
Do that which common persons have perform'd.
My seeming disobedience set against
Their forfeit life, Justice will force
These Princes, and your sacred Majesty confess
That I have reason on my side, however will
And custom plead for you.
King.
Fond Austella, too late I fear thou wilt repent
This pride of soul; it is no other cause
Makes thee thus peevish: My Lords, your ear.
Aust.
Ha! what object meets mine eyes? sure there is
Somthing like a charm that works upon me;
Can this be natural? fie Austella,
Consider these Princes had no power;
Let not a glance then of a strangers eye
Kindle an amorous fire about thy Virgin heart.
Age.
The Princess eyes are fixt upon me,
And they are glorious ones, believe me friend.
45
Sir, we are all agreed; the honour to be your
Son in law, which thus we still may be,
Is that we covet.
King.
Know Austella, since you refuse the priviledges
Of your birth, and thus neglect my safety
And the State; that reason which you so much plead
Invests your sister with all those priviledges
Which once belong'd to you.
Austel.
Ah me! that I had sooner seen, or never.
Sist.
My sister, sir, will be better advs'id, I know.
Austel.
I wish, sir, I had not so far transgrest;
But do your pleasure.
King.
My pleasure, dearest Austella, is to make thee yet
What nature did ordain thee, if thou wilt chuse
A husband.
Aust.
I shall sir, so you will promise
What the law requires upon your part.
King.
'Tis vain to make a second promise,
With the Crown I took that Oath.
Austel.
These Princes and all that hear me, know that I
Can chuse but one; I hope none will repine
Since for my self I chuse.
1 Pr.
None dares be so unjust to question the actions
Of a Goddess, such all true Lovers
Ever should esteem their Mistress.
Austel.
Sir, in obedience to your royal will,
I am resolved to give away my self—
Stay—pause Austella—It is no less:
How rash, how fatal may that bounty prove!
46
Be more powerful then reason, duty,
Or my resolution? No, no, my eyes,
Though as a woman I receive with joy
The beams which you convey, yet as a Princess
On whom depends the good of others,
Reason and vertue ought to sway me more.
Age.
Is't not extremely dark upon the sudden?
Lucid.
Just as it was.
Age.
O friend, I am undone for ever!
K.
Daughter, why do you hold us all upon the Rack
Of expectation?
Aust.
In an affair of so high consequence
Blame me not, sir, though I advise. Were you to give away
A Kingdom, you would do so. I shall not only, sir,
Do that, but likewise take from many,
Especially these Princes, a Kingdom, and your Daughter;
And yet to ballance all these discontents,
Please but one person:
K.
Yes, dearest Austella, your self in your free choice
Of him whoe're he be.
Aust.
You encourage me; but I, sir, from my care
Of these your subjects for whom I am to chuse
A King, as well as for my self a husband,
Humbly desire the Ceremonial part
Of this days custom may be dispenc'd with;
And where the manner was to praise the Gods
For him was chosen son in law, and so successor
To the Crown, you now would with more reason
And a righter set devotion go to the Temple,
And invoke those heavenly powers to inspire me
With their wisdoms in my election, which I wil make
At my return.
47
I know not how I, or these Princes, or these people
Can refuse you a request so just and pious,
Tending to all our goods.—Set forward to the Temple.
Exeunt.
Enter people passing over by degrees, (talking.)
Enter Austella and a Lady.
Are not those strangers I sent for, come?
Thom.
Madam, they wait your pleasure.
Aust.
Wait! why did you suffer it? Oh bring them in,
Yet stay.
Thom.
What contradiction's here?
Aust.
How hard a part necessity hath thrust upon me!
Time, till for this cause, I never wisht
Thy motion slower; desire them enter.
Ex. Lady
Enter Agenor, Lucidor.
Age.
O you Gods, was this the Lady that sent for us?
Aust.
Noble strangers, for such your looks do promise,
I took the boldness to send for you to know
A truth, which from our natives, or my fathers
Subjects, 'tis not like I shall, since all are apt
Still to approve the customs of their Nation:
Lucid.
Madam, when you are pleas'd to make me and my son
Know your demands, so far as our abilities inform,
Truth shall not suffer.
Aust.
Say you the same, sir?
48
'Twere alike vain as to dissemble with Divinity,
Not to speak truth to you.
Aust.
What I demand, is, how you do approve
Those actions of which you were late witnesses?
Age.
I must esteem that Kingdom made happy
By a custom, where their prosperity
And future bliss depends on your election,
Who have no doubt the care of heaven to govern
What you do, as well as 'tis exprest
In the harmonious composing of your person:
Aust.
This flattery makes me despair to find
That truth which I expected, and you promis'd.
Yet necessity does urge me to demand
A bolder question: What Country do you hold
Produces the greatest beauties?
Age.
Madam, this Kingdom, even this place contains
More then the world besides.
Aust.
These words methinks fall from your tongue,
As if you had been taught by Love to speak
Hyperboles: You have a Mistress, I perceive.
Age.
Ah me!
Aust.
Speak, have you not?
Lucid.
She loves you, on my life.
Aust.
Oh I fear.
Lucid.
What mean you sir?
Madam, I know the Prince.
Aust.
How sir?
Lucid.
The Prince of Love I mean, Queen Venus Child,
Had never any power yet o're my son,
The war hath ever been his Mistress.
Aust.
How gladly would I flatter my desires
With a belief of something even above my hopes!
The words were strangely broken and abrupt,
Is he your father, sir?
49
Madam, you are the first that ever seem'd to doubt it.
Au.
I must confess I do: withall, whate'r he says,
I must believe you are a Lover.
Age.
Madam, one truth's in both; the latter
I will swear, or seal it with my blood.
Au.
How sir?
Age.
That I do love.
Au.
How long have you done so?
Age.
Since the first minute that I saw the object
Of my passion.
Au.
I must increase your wonder at the strictness
Of my examination: Hath many days past
Since your passion first took birth?
Age.
Though it may seem an arrogance approaching
Madness; yet truth, which you enjoin,
And all must reverence, forces me say
The sun hath never set, since my affection
Rise; a glorious passion sure, if but consider'd
From your self the object.
Au.
Me! Know you to whom you speak?
Age.
I know you are the daughter of a King,
So to be reverenc'd: but I obey a power
That aws all scepters; your beauty hath erected
In my heart a greater monarchy, and that commands
Me, fear cast by, here prostrate at your feet,
Ackowledging my subjection.
[Kneels]
Au.
Ye Gods, teach me to husband all my joys:
Although encouraged, he that dares thus profess
His love to me, must have a soul above the
Common rank: why do you kneel?
Age.
You are my destiny, give life or death:
Au.
So were you mine; time bars all ceremony now,
At once receive all happiness that I can give you.
50
If this be real, I shall contemn addition;
Are we not in a pleasing dream? is all this truth?
Lucid.
All certainly, if she be flesh and blood:
Ere long I hope you'll be resolv'd.
Au.
Let none take notice of our conference,
I must in publique chuse you:
If but my Father then my act approve,
None ever was so happy in their love.
Exeunt.
| The Passionate Lover, First Part | |