University of Virginia Library

Act. 1.

Sce. 1.

2d Apperance, a City in the front, and a Prison on the side.
Philotas, Stratocles, Leocrates, Archippus singing in the Prison, Molops harkning without.
Mol.

These wicked Ephesian Captives, are most
everlasting Tipplers; I charm'd my fleas
with'em last night, and left them too I'm
sure well to live, and yet they're at it againe
this morning.

Slaves
within.

Hem! hem! hem! A pox on our Gaolor.
&c.

Mol.

So! now they're tuning their Pipes. O the Religion
of these Greekes! they sing and drinke downe the
Sunne, and then they sing and drinke him up againe. Some
drunken Hymne I warrant you towards now, in the prayse
of their great huge, rowling, Tunbellyed god Bacchus as
they call him. Let's hearken a little.

The Slaves song within.
‘A pox on our Gaolor, and on his fat Jowle
Mol.
That's that's I.

‘Ther's liberty lyes in the bottome o'th' Bowle.
‘A figge for what ever the Raskall can doe,
‘Our Dungeon is deepe, but our Cup's so too.
‘Then drinke we a round in despight of our Foes,
‘And make our hard Irons cry clinke in the Close.
Mol.

Wondrous good I faith! These fetter'd Swannes
chant it most melodiously before their deathes. Sure there is
a great deale of pleasure in being hang'd; for I have observ'd

it e're since I was a little one, that they alwayes sing before
they goe to't. But here's that will spoyle your voyces my
Friends.

Phil.

Who's there?

Mol.

Your friend at a dead lift; your Landlord Molops.

Phil.

Now grand Commissioner of fate; what wouldst
thou have Heyre apparent to Pluto?

He opens the dore, and the Slaves enter.
Mol.

Come forth; and if you can endure to read,
shews 'em a halter.
her's a Persian line in my hand will instruct you.

Stra.

Guardian of Ragges and Vermin, Protect our of
halfe-breeches and no shirts, what's thy Raskalship's pleasure?

Mol.

Good words Sir, good words: I am your Destiny,
do you not see your Thread of Life here?

Leoc.

Yes, yes, 'tis of thy wives one twisting, good Molops,
I know the Promotion of your Family: she came from
the Web-errantry of highway-Inkle, to the domestique
turning and winding of home bred Hempe, and thence gets
a three-halfe penny Legacy at the departure of every
wrong'd Sinner.

Archip.

And as for thy selfe, had not that weighty bulke
of thine crack'd so many Gibbets, that the King began to
feare his Forrests, thou had'st never been preserv'd to whiffle
plagues as thou usher'st us to the Barre, and take away the
Judges stomackes as often as they come to eate upon Life
and Death, and celebrate the Funerals of distressed Gentlemen.

Mol.

You dying men may be impudent by your places,
but I'd wish you to compose your countenances and your
manners both, for the King is comming to visit you.

Phil.

What mak'st thou here then? though I easily beleeve
thou hast an ambition to be seene in good company,
yet prethee be gon, and don't discredit us. The King loves
no Garbidge-tubbes.

Mol.

The King shall be inform'd of the fowle words you
give his Officers.

Stra.

Why what can he doe? he won't let us goe and

conquer us againe, will he?

Leoc.

But good honest Landlord, what's the Kings intent
to honour us with his Royall visit?

Archip.

To assigne us perhaps some three or foure hundred
stripes a day a peece, to take downe my Landlord's body,
and make him in case to suffer what he hath beene long
adjudg'd to.

Mol.

No, Saucines, 'tis to make one of you King.

Arch.

Then, Saucines, know your Masters.

Mol.

Be not mistaken: 'tis not any way to honour you,
but to make himselfe sport. For you must know, that tis the
custome of the Persian Kings after a Conquest, to take one
of the Captives, and adorne him with all the Robes of Majesty,
giving him all Priviledges for three full dayes, that
hee may doe what hee will, and then be certainly led to
death.

Phil.

Will he allow so long? I'd give my life at any
time for one dayes Royalty; 'tis space enough to new mould
a Kingdome. His Majesty useth us wondrous reasonably; I'd
as liffe deale with him as any man I know. But who's to have
our cloaths, Sirrah, when we have done?

Mol.

'Tis a small fee that the State hath entayl'd upon
my Place an't please you.

Phil.

By my troth I guess'd so: I was wondring how
their Courtiers could goe so brave with so little meanes.

Stra.

Well, what must be, must be. I was affraid I should
have dy'd a silly foolish old Animal, call'd Virgin. But now,
have at one of the Ladyes e're I goe: I have a strong desire
to leave some Posterity behind me. I would not have the
house of the Stratocles decay for want of Issue.

Leoc.

If I have the fortune of't, I'le Revell it all night;
Kings they say, ought not to sleep for the good of the people.

Arch.

Sirrah Gaolor, see you send Mistris Turne-key your
wife to take us up whores enough: and be sure she let none
of the young Students of the Law fore-stall the Market.

Mol.

Peace, the King approaches: stand in your rankes
orderly, and shew your breeding; and be sure you blow nothing
on the Lords.

Sce. 2.

To them Arsamnes, Praxaspes, Hydarnes, Masistes, Orontes, Priests; after a while Cratander.
Arsam.

Are these the fairest, and the handsomest
'mong all the Captives?

Mol.

There is one more which I set apart; a good personable
fellow, but he's wondrous heavy and bookish, and
therefore I thought him unfit for any honour.

Arsam.
Goe call him forth; there's none of all these has
A Forehead for a Crowne; their blood runnes thicke,
As if 'twould blot a sword.
[Enter Mol. with Cratander.
See, there comes one
Arm'd with a serious and Majestique looke,
As if hee'd read Philosophy to a King:
We've conquer'd something now. What readst thou there?

Mol.
I beleeve hee's conning a Hymne against the good Time.

Crat.
'Tis a discourse o'th' Nature of the Soule;
That shewes the vitious Slaves, but the well inclin'd
Free, and their owne though conquer'd.

Arsam.
Thou dost speake
As if thou wert victorious, not Arsamnes.

Crat.
I not deny your Conquest, for you may
Have vertues to entitle't yours; but otherwise,
If one of strange and ill contriv'd desires,
One of a narrow or intemperate minde
Prove Master of the field, I cannot say
That he hath conquer'd, but that he hath had
A good hand of it; he hath got the day,
But not subdued the men: Victory being
Not fortunes gift, but the deservings Purchase.

Arsam.
Whom dost thou call deserving?

Crat.
Him, who dares
Dy next his heart in cold blood; him, who fights
Not out of thirst, or the unbridled lust
Of a flesh'd sword, but out of Conscience
To kill the Enemy, not the man. Who when
The Lawrell's planted on his brow, ev'n then
Under that safe-protecting Wreath, will not
Contemne the Thunderer, but will
Acknowledge all his strength deriv'd, and in
A pious way of gratitude returne
Some of the spoyle to Heav'n in Sacrifice;
As Tenants doe the first fruits of their Trees,
In an acknowledgment that the rest is due.

Arsam.
True, Tell me, wert thou then to pay thy vowes,
What wouldst thou sacrifice? the best, or worst?

Crat.
The best, unto the Best. If I had destin'd
An Oxe unto the Altar, he should be
Faire, and well fed; for th'Deity doth not love
The maymed, or mishapen, 'cause it is
A thing so different from himselfe, deformity
Being one of Natures trespasses: he should
Be crown'd then, and conducted solemnly,
That my Religion might be specious,
'Twere stealth else, not Devotion.

Arsam.
Bravely sayd.
But (t's pitty) thou hast reasoned all this while
Against thy selfe, for our Religion doth
Require the Immolation of one Captive;
And thou hast prov'd that he is best bestow'd
That best deserveth to be spar'd.

Crat.
I could
Tell you, the Gods have neither appetite
Nor entralls; that they doe not hunger after
Your Cookery of sacrifice, and that
A graine of Incense, or a peece of Gumme,
If offer'd with Devotion, may redeeme
A destin'd Hecatombe. But this would be
To deprecate my fate; which by your Sun,
Your Sun that doth require me, I expect
With the same minde, as I would doe my Nuptialls.

Arsam.
And so't shall come, thy shape and vertues doe
Enrich and furnish thee for Heav'n. I would
Or thou hadst fled, or I not conquered.
Adorne him with Robes. But thou must sweare
First to be faithfull to the State.

Crat.

[He kisseth the Scepter.
The Priest's song whiles he puts on the Robes.
‘Come from the Dungeon to the Throne
‘To be a King, and streight be none.
‘Reigne then a while, that thou mayst be
‘Fitter to fall by Majesty.

Cho:
‘So Beasts for sacrifice we feed;
‘First they are crown'd, and then they bleed.

Cho:
‘So Beasts: &c.

Arsam.
Now then, Cratander, I doe here indulge thee
All the Prerogatives of Majesty
For three full dayes; which being expir'd, that then
Thou may'st fall honourably, I intend
To strike the blow my selfe.
[Ex. Arsam.

Crat.
I neither take
New courage from the Power, nor suffer new
Feares from the Death that waytes it: both are things
That have two eares, by which they may be taken;
So that they are indifferent in themselves;
And only good or bad as they are order'd.
Off with their shakells Sirrah: you my Lordes
Take order they be quickly well attir'd,
That they may come to Court, and doe us service.
'Tis next of all our Royall pleasure, that
Battle be re-inforc'd by the next Sun,
To make our Conquest perfect: all's not safe
Till the Snake leave to threaten with his tayle.
Our Reigne is short, and businesse much, be speedy.
Our Counsels and our deeds must have one birth.
[Ex. Crat.

Mol.

If you'l make use of any Ornaments, I've a couple
of Jack-chaynes at your service. Come Gentlemen, please
you to follow, I'le give you ease of your Irons suddenly.

Phil.

Sirrah be quicke, that my foot may be at liberty to
kicke thee.

[Ex. Mol. and Slaves.
Prax.
Whether tends the minde of this ambitious wretch?
H'hath thoughts so hasty, and so large, as if
Hee'd over-runne the whole world in a breath.

Hyd.
I like the courage of the man: methinkes
H'hath given a tast, how worthy he is of
A longer Kingdome.

Masist.
You'l obey him then?

Hyd.
I don't obey
Him, but the King; as they that pay their vowes
Unto the Deity, shrowded in the Image.

Masist.
True, 'tis the King's will he should be obey'd
But hee's a Slave; the man lookes personable,
And fit for Action, but he is a Slave.
He may be noble, vertuous, generous, all,
But he is still a Slave.

Oron.
As if the sullying
Must turne all purer mettle into drosse;
Or that a Jewell might not sometimes be
In the possession of a private man.

Mas.
What? you too for the rising Sun my Lord
Though't be but a Meteor cast from the true one?
If that the conquer'd Hart must lead the Lyon,
I'le teach my wishes to runne thwart unto
That large successe you looke for.

Prax.
Be my feares
No Omen to the Kingdome, ô yee Gods,
But I suspect, this Comicke folly will
Sport our free Monarchy into a Nation
Of cheated Slaves. But peace; the Queene.

Oron.
We two
Will goe, and see his carriage.

Prax.
Doe my Lords;
And cause you wish his State so well, pray see
The Slaves provided of their cloathes.

[Ex. Oron. Hyd.

Sce. 3.

To them Atossa, Mandane, Ariene.
Atos.
Y'have seene
This Three-dayes King my Lords? I cannot sport
At th'Miseries of men: methinkes I feele
A touch of pity, as often as I view him.
How doe you thinke hee'le beare his State?

Mas.
As Schoole-boyes
In time of Misrule, looke big awhile, and then
Returne dejected to the Rod.

Mand.
I wonder
No woman's chosen Queene for company.
These Male wits are but grosse and sluggish; fayth
You'd see a delicate Comedy, if that
A she wit might but Impe his Reigne.

Prax.
O Madam!
Your Sexe is too imperious to Rule;
You are too busy, and too stirring, to
Be put in Action; your Curiosity
Would doe as much harme in a Kingdome, as
A Monkey in a Glasse-shop; move and remove,
Till you had broken all.

Arie.
Thinges then it seemes
Are very brittle, that you dare not trust us.

Prax.
Your Closet and your Senate would be one;
You'd Gossip at the Councell-table, where
The grand contrivance of some finer Posset
Would be a State affaire.

Mand.
I never knew
But this one difference yet 'twixt us and you:
Your follies are more serious, your vanities
Stronger, and thicker woven; and your Councels
About the razing of a Fort or City,
Contriv'd as ours about a messe of spoon-meat;
So that you laugh, and are laugh'd at againe.

Atos.
I hope you doe but exercise, your wits
Are not at sharpes?

Mand.
Wee'le venture how he will,
Foyles, or bare poynts we care not.

Atos.
Cease the strife.
How's this Cratander qualify'd, my Lords?
What vertues has he?

Mas.
No great store of vertues;
Hee's a tough fellow, one that seemes to stand
Much on a resolute carelesnesse, and hath
A spice of that unnecessary thing
Which the mysterious call Philosophy.
Here comes a couple can informe you better:
They have observ'd the thing.

Sce. 4.

To them Hydarnes, Orontes.
Atos.
My Lords, what thinke you
Of this new King? what doth he do? what is he?

Hyd.
Hee's one that knowes, and dares preserve his own
Honour, and others too; a man as free
From wronging any, as himselfe; he beares
A Kingdome in his looke; a kingdome that
Consists of Beauty, seasoned with Discretion.
His Graces are virile, and comely too:
Grave, and severe delights so tempering
The softnesse of his other pleasures, that
A settled full content doth thence arise,
And wholly take up the beholders thoughts.

Arie.
Why then hee'le turne the Scene; we did expect
Something that would have saved us the labour
Of reading Play-bookes, and Love-stories.

Oron.
See,
How you're mistaken Madam: he doth carry
All things with such a State, and yet so free
From an insulting Pride, that you'd conceive
Judgement and power put into the Scales,
And neither overpoysing, whiles he shewes
Rather that he can rule, then that he will.

Mas.
Th'afflicted ne're want prayses. O how false
Doth th'Eye of pity feel the only way
To make the Foule seeme gratious, is to be
Within the ken of death; he that e're while
Would have beene thought a Monster, being now
Condemn'd to die, is thought an Hero.

Mand.
Truly,
I thinke you have not yet beene neare your death.

Mas.
I've beene but seldome with your Ladyship.

Atos.
Away, let's goe and view againe: he promiseth
Something that is not sport: If he doe well,
And keepe his vertues up untill his fall,
I'le pay a good wish to him as hee's going,
And a faire mention of him when he's gone.

[Ex. Atos. Mand. Arie.

Sce. 5.

To them Arsamnes.
Arsam.
How doth our new King beare his Royalty?

Prax.
If he goe stil on thus, his three daies folly
Will fill your Annalls.

Mas.
He is growne the talke
And sight of all the Court: h'hath eyes chayn'd to him,
And some say hearts; nor are they meane ones, such
As he may steale without being miss'd, but those
The theft of whom turnes sacriledge.

Arsam.
I hope
Atossa is not in the Rowle; he dares not
Be favour'd by my Queene.

Hyd.
Her pure Affections
Are sacred as her Person, and her thoughts
Soaring above the reach of common Eyes,
Are like those better Spirits, that have nothing
Of Earth admixt, but yet looke downe upon
Those number of Inhabitants, and where
They see a worthy minde oppress'd, vouchsafe
At least to helpe with pitty.

Arsam.
Doth she then
Seeme to compassionate his fortune? we
Must watch his Actions narrowly.

Prax.
He may
Grow insolent else past remedy: but yet
Your Majesty hath a preventing eye.
He may, when that his Channel's full, discharge
His streames on all that's round him, rushing forth
With a strong headlong Torrent, as mischeevous
As uncontroulable, th'ungratefull waters
Choaking ev'n that which gave 'm life; but yet
You can kill evils by first seeing them.

Oron.
All this hath taken up but one Eare only;
The other, and the softer is reserv'd.
Religion, and your word (which, equally
As that, is binding) are both past for three dayes:
To cut him off before, were to abridge
Your Triumph, and Devotion.

Arsam.
He must live
And Reigne his time prescrib'd; but he must not
Performe the Actions he intends. Let then
All the delights and pleasures, that a Slave
Admires in Kings be offer'd. Though an hundred
Still watchfull eyes beset his head, yet there
Is one way left; Musicke may subtly creepe
And rocke his senses so, that all may sleepe.

[Exeunt.