University of Virginia Library

The second Scene

Enter Zorates and Selucious.
Zor.
The King I hear is, twenty thousand strong,
Besides the guard, which to him does belong:
And does intend, within an how'r or two,
To storm the City, if report sayes true.
We must forthwith, give order to unarm,
All those, which we suspect may do us harm.
Lest that a factious party, shoo'd arise,
Within the City, and so it surprize.
Whil'st that the Train-bands, issu'd forth shall be,
To hinder, and keep out, the enemy.

Selu.
Your care is good, and in it does appear,
The love unto your Countrey, you do bear.
But I do wonder, how the King shoo'd be,
So strong as you do say, so suddenly.
Since that the Country, seem'd with as much zeal,
To be transported, for the Common-weal,
As e're the City did, awhile ago,
Who now are fallen off, if it be so.

Zor.
Fallen off they are not, perhaps some few,
For want of means, despairing what to do,
Do hope hereafter, for to bear full saile,
If that the King, against us, shoo'd prevaile.
And so grow rich, who was before so poor,
By the assistance, of anothers store.
Were it not so, they woo'd not take that course,
They knowing at the worst, they can't be worse.

Selu.
The scurvy news, that I did lately hear,
Does with good reason, me possess with fear.
I hear the King of France, has sign'd a Peace,
And that the wars, 'twixt him and Spain do cease:
Which is a thing, we ought to lay to heart,
Since neither, I am sure, will take our part.
As for the King of Spain, he will be sure,
To act his part, our ruine to procure,
By reason of the match, not made long since,
Between the Princess Flora, and our Prince.
We shall do well, unto the King to send,
Propositions, if he his ear will lend:
To make a way, unto a happy peace,
And that our Arms, without a blow may cease:
For shoo'd we stay, until he has more pow'r,
We may perchance, repent we lost this how'r.
We know not what a King, incens'd may do,
Especially when he, has power too.
Wherein, wee'le humbly shew unto his Grace,
That for the Kingdoms good, he must displace,
The Lord High Admiral, and too withall,
Prohibit from the Court, the Cardinal.
How that we are so tender, of his ease,
And so unwilling, him for to displease,
That though by his own Laws, they ought to die,
They shall not suffer, that extremity.
But only out of hatred, to their crime,
Be banisht out the Kingdom, for a time.
To which, if he shoo'd please for to consent,
We ought therewith, our selves for to content.
What good wil't do us for to see them die?
'Twill but proclaim to men, our cruelty:
And set the King against us, more and more,
In doing so, then e're he was before.
The chance of war's uncertain, he may get,
The better on't, for ought that we know yet:
Which if he shoo'd, what woo'd become of us,
Him having treated, with all rigour thus?

Zor.
This fear to tell you plainly, is not just,
Nor is it safe, you any more to trust.
Your language is flegmatick, like your Age,
And speaks you Coward, and not very sage.
Shoo'd France, and Spain, and all the world conspire,
To ruine us, and frustrate our desire,
VVe will go on, and make them for to know,
They never yet encounter'd, such a foe.
After such sins, d' you think wee'le be content,
To let them live, although in banishment.
No, no, the only way to be secure,
Is now we have them, for to make them sure.
A coal but left unquench't, may fire a Town,
And wee'le dispatch them, though the King does frown.
For fear hereafter, they shoo'd come again,
And so reform the Kingdom, but in vain.
VVhat need we fear his anger? 'tis the Law,
VVe ought to apprehend, and stand in awe.
VVhich Law, so long as we do but obey,
VVe need not care, what men of us do say.
Nor fear ought forraign, or domestick force,
For Heav'n's too just, to prosper such a course.

Crocus enters.
Cro.
'Tis over all the Town, that with a Pow'r,
The Spanish Princess's landed at this how'r:
And's marching withall speed, unto the King,
Unto his Highness, succours for to bring.
The City's at their wits end, what to do,
And do desire, for to advise with you.

Selu.
What think you now? my fear was it now just?
Another time, will you my counsel trust?

Zor.
Ah Heav'ns! who woo'd have thought we e're shoo'd be,
Reduc'd, to any such perplexity?
VVho woo'd have thought, thou woo'dst have left us so,
To be thus put to't, by a forraign foe?
How many say they's landed on our shore?

Cro.
Forty thousand armed men; some say more.

Zor.
Forty thousand! a little number too.
And we must think too, what we have to do.

Exeunt.