University of Virginia Library

Act. 2.

Sce. 1.

3d Appearance a stately Palace.
Cratander.
Cra.
Perish their Tables, and themselves: a Throne
May stand without those tumults of delights,
That wayte on big and pompous Luxury.
I'le crosse their expectation, and quite banish
All that their weaker mindes do thinke delight.
Kings pleasures are more subtle, then to be
Seen by the vulgar; they are Men, but such
As ne're had any dregges, or if they had,
Drop'd 'em as they were drawing up from out
The groveling Prease of Mortalls. To offend
Beyond the reach of Law without controule,
Is not the Nature, but the vice of Pow'r;
And he is only great, that dares be good.

Sce. 2.

To him Praxaspes, Masistes.
Prax.
He weares a serious looke still; we may hope
As soon to calme a Tempest with a song,
As soften him.

Mas.
Beasts and hard Rockes have both
Been mov'd, and by his Country-man. Let's try.
That we may some way, Sir, expresse our service
Unto you, with intent you may not feele
Bare honour only without the delights,
We have provided you a taste, of our
Best Persian Musicke.

Crat.
That's an innocent pleasure;
Sphears make it, and Gods heare it.

Prax.
Boy come in.

Sce. 3.

To them Two women and a boy, as he is preparing to sing, Atossa, Mandane, and Ariene appeare above.
Prax.
Your last new song, that which I gave you Sirrah.

Atos.
See yonder where he sits; let's stand and see
How hee'le behave himselfe; the Lords have vow'd
To try him to the utmost.

Mand.
I begin
To feare that he is mortall.

Prax.

Boy
singes.

Crat.
I did expect some solemne Hymne of the
Great world's beginning, or some brave Captaines
Deserving deeds extoll'd in lofty numbers.
These softer subjects grate our eares: But what
Are these my Lords? shee Minstrells?

Mas.
Consequences,
Which we out of that duty which we owe you
Thought a fit present, that you might not want
Any delight that Persia yeelds.

Crat.
I have
No humane thought about me now, forbeare.

Prax.
You are no Statue Sir? or if you were,
These yet methinkes might melt you.

Crat.
If you will
Needes put your selves to th'trouble of Procurers,
Bring me a Kingdome in one face, or shew me
A People in one body; then you might
Happily worke on mine Affections.
There I durst powre my selfe into Embracements,
Loosing my selfe in a Labyrinth of joy.
As 'tis you only make me colder, by
Surrounding me with these your hostile flames.

Mas.
I hope you doe conceive it our Affection,
And duty to your Scepter.

Crat.
Let me aske you.
Was't not enough you try'd me with those baytes
Of wines, and meates, cull'd from the spoyle of Nature,
But you must bring vice in another fashion?

Prax.
Will you then let your dayes passe sluggishly,
And reape no pleasure from your Pow'r?

Crat.
'Tis one
To punish such offenders as your selves,
That will abase your honour to so vile
And abject an imployment. If you offer
The like againe, you shall perceive, that Kings,
How short so e're their Reignes be, have long hands.
This Act, what e're you stile it, is flat Treason.
Our Honour is abus'd in't. O the foreheads
Prax. and Mas. steale out, and leave the two women with him.
Of women once growne impudent! that these
Can stand so long, and heare their infamy
Debated quietly, expecting when
They shall be call'd to their reproach! what fled?
And left the Prey behind to tempt me? Ho!
Who waytes without? Conveigh these wicked creatures
Unto the Gaolor Molops: give him charge
To use them as he would doe Enemies.
My Country would twice suffer, should I yeeld
Unto their vices too. But Greece is not
Only preserv'd in me: had they perhaps
Carry'd these Creatures to the wilder knot,
Headlong Archippus, or bold Stratocles,
Easie Leocrates, or prone Philotas,
Their Present might have hit. But hearke, they come:
I'le step aside, and watch their actions.

Exit.
Atos.
What doe you thinke Mandane? is he mortall?

Sce. 4.

Philotas, Stratocles, Leocrates, Archippus, in rich Persian Habits.
Str.
How far do we out-shine the Persian Court?
See what good cloaths can do. I thinke there are not
Foure properer Gentlemen walke the streets.

Phil.
The Ladyes certainly must love us now.

Leoc.
But are you sure they'le passe this way?

Arch.
Yes, yes.
Let's to our stations, and be ready to
Accost 'm at the first approach.

Atos.
Mandane,
Doe you and Ariene step downe to em,
And try their Courtship.

Mand.
All I thinke be safe.

Arie.
Cratander is hard by; ne're fear; let's down.

They descend
Str.
I wonder none passe by yet: sure theyl'e send
Tickets unto us, to invite us to
Their Lodgings the back-way.

Arch.
Ne're doubt it Man,
They'le come themselves; for proofe behold.

[Ent. Mand. Arie.
Leocr.
Halfe booty;
Equall division Gentlemen.

Phil., Str., Arch.
Agreed, agreed.

Phil.
Nay, start not Ladyes, we are men.

Arie.
'Tis well
You tell us so before hand, we might else
Thinke you disguised Satyres, come on purpose
To put the Nymphes to flight.

Leoc.
We are not hairy;
We have no Tayles, I'm sure.

Arie.
Truly if Satyres
And you were in one Market-towne, I thinke
You might see one another for nothing.

Str.
Doe you
Take us for Monsters then?

Mand.
Pray heav'n we don't
Discover 'em in your Manners.

Arch.
We are come
Not to disturbe, but heighten your delights.

Mand.
Can you shew any trickes then?

Arch.
Love-trickes Lady.

Arie.
Can you run through a Hoope? or fetch up mony
With your eye-lids backward?

Mand.
Can you peirce your Tongue,
Or cut your Throat, and yet live after it?

Str.
Do y'thinke us Tumblers then, or Jugglers?

Mand.
Both;
And truly these would please us farre above
Your Love-trickes.

Leoc.
Shall I draw some Ribbon then
Out of my Throat? Shall I cast a Lock upon
Your pretty cheekes, or seale your lovely lippes
Up?

Arie.
What will content you when you have done?

Leoc.
A kisse.

Mand.
We doe not use to grant such favours gratis.

Leoc.
What will you take to give one then?

Mand.
A Muffler.

Phil.
I perceive you are well skill'd
In the whole course of Love, you but keepe off
To make delights more sweet.

Arie.
You would doe well
To doe so too.

Phil.
Why Madam? doe not feare me:
I snore not in my sleepe; this Nose of mine
Will not proclaime.

Mand.
'Tis something Trumpet-like;
I would not trust my selfe with such an Instrument.
Methinkes 'tis somewhat guilty.

Phil.
How I love
This pretty, pettish, froward, wanton anger?
Give me a Pleasure that I struggle for.
That Favour's genuinely sweet, that's wrested.

Str.
Feare him not Madam; I'le be your defence;
My soule is link'd and chayn'd unto your Tongue.

Arie.
You speake in a fit dialect; you rellish
O'th' Language of the place whence you came lately.
But to be serious now awhile, pray speake,
What doe you see in us fit for desire?
You cannot love us possibly.

Str.
By this kisse.

Arie.
Stand off.

Arch.
And this.

Mand.
Your Oath's not good in Law.
Tell us, what wrong hath either of us done you,
That you should seeke thus to revenge your selves?

Phil.
You are too scornefull, we too easie; come
Let's hurry 'em to some place of secrecie,
Where all their scoffing shan't prevaile: you two
Quickly seize her.

Arie., Mand.
Helpe, helpe.

Sce. 5.

As they carry out the Ladyes, Cratander meets them.
Crat.
Yee Villaines hold.
What is the matter? why this violence?

Leoc.
A little Love-sport only; we were arguing
Pro, and Con out of Plato, and are now
Going to practise his Philosophy.

Arie.
What they stile Love-sport only, and misname
An arguing out of Plato, would have prov'd
A true and downe-right Rape, if that your presence
Had not become our Rescue.

Crat.
Wicked Villaines,
That in your miseries can't forget your vices,
Acting those crimes to day, which e're the Sun
Thrice set, will elsewhere be your Torture. Cannot
The chayne and hunger kill those seedes of evill,
But even in the midst of your misfortunes,
Your sports must be the robbing of faire honour.
And Rapes your Recreations? which, an't please
The Gods, you call Philosophy. Leave the place;
Infection's busie where you breath; the next
Attempt installs you in the Dungeon.

[Ex. 4. Slaves.
Mand.
Most worthy Sir, your Noblenesse hath showne
A minde beyond your fortune: though it be not
Reall as we could wish it, yet beleeve it
You hold a perfect Royalty in the hearts
Of those, whose honours you have now preserv'd.

Crat.
I owe this duty to your vertues Madam.
[Ex. Mand. Arie.
These Slaves must be repress'd; the giddy People
Are ready to transpose all crimes upon
Him that should moderate them; so perhaps
Their faults might be accounted mine. Besides
Snares are laid close in every path for me;
And if a King but stumble, 'tis a Precipice:
When all eyes see't, a blemish is a Monster.
Pure vertue then, and thou faire honour, give me
Leave to cōtemplate on your Beauties; let
As he is musing, Atos. from above throwes him a gold chayne.
The strength of my Imagination dwell
Upon the sight of your Divinities.
What? more temptations yet? ha? whence? from whom?
The heav'ns I hope don't drop downe follies too:
No arme out of the cloudes! a chayne? why this
Is but an Exprobration of my late
Distressed fortune. 'Tis rich yet, and Royall;
I 'cann't be the wealth of any, but the Throne.
Fall out what will, I'le weare it, 'till I know
From whence it came; and if it prove a Mettle
That some foule drossy minde could not endure
Should longer dwell with it. I then will cast it
With as much scorne and anger from my shoulders,
As now I doe receive't with admiration.

Sce. 6.

To him Hippias, Phocion.
Hip.
Looke, there he walkes alone considering;
Let's to him while we may; good day Cratander.

Crat.
Good Hippias, Phocion! you are welcome; how
Dare you trust your selves in an Enemies Court?

Pho.
We passe disguis'd to see what will become
Of our Affayres; and being the future state
Of Ephesus depends on you, are come
Only to give you notice of it, for
We doe presume you're not to be intreated
To doe us good.

Crat.
Alas! I am not, after
The period of three dayes; this makes the time
Which even now I thought an age, seeme short
And too contract for my desires.

Pho.
When you
Should raise your Country struggling in the dust,
The time is short, and too contract; 'tis long
Enough to lead an Army out against it,
To crush those Reliques of an halfe-life, that
Her doubtfull body faintly breaths; you may
With that right hand spin three dayes to the space
Of many Olympiads.

Crat.
What is your meaning?

Pho.
Have we endur'd the hate, and felt the fury
Of violent Arsamnes so long? have we
Suffer'd his sword untill it did grow blunt,
And rather broke, then wounded? have you try'd
The weight and strictnesse of the Persian chayne
So long, and aske us now, what is your meaning?
Come, come Cratander, I could chide you, but
That I beleeve you only hide the good
That you intend your Country, that it may not
Be disappointed; you may safely tell us
You will betray the Persians into our hands,
That we may gather forces, and prepare
Against their comming.

Crat.
Oh! is this your Errant?
Here, take your chayne againe, it cannot binde.

Hip.
How e're don't exprobrate our Poverty,
Though all our wealth hath been the Persians spoyle.

Crat.
Why you threw't in before you, to make way
Unto your Suit.

Hip.
Is it not lawfull to
Salute the Persian Mock-King, thinke y', unlesse
We bring a Guift? I'd thought the name of Ephesus.
Had priviledg'd our accesse. Thinke on the honours,
The long continuing honours, that you shall
Receive at home; thinke on those numerous teares
That you shall wipe away from flowing Eyes,
At the first sight of Liberty.

Pho.
Your approach
Will entice Cities out of Houses; th'aged,
And the young too; the Matron, and the Virgin,
All mingled in a blest confusion,
Will in a solemne full Procession come,
And with that great Religion bring you in,
As if their Captive Gods were brought them backe.
Come then a King home, that went'st out a Slave.

Crat.
I am so still; no sooner did I come
Within the Persian Walles, but I was theirs.
And since, good Hippias, this pow'r hath only
Added one linke more to the Chayne. I am
Become Arsamnes Instrument: I've sworne
Faith to his Scepter and himselfe, and must
Aske his leave, e're I doe betray his Country.

Hip.
You're free enough against us. O the justice
Of an unnaturall Sonne! yet aske your selfe;
Ought that be ratify'd that's done by force?

Crat.
As if the valiant could be forc'd by any.

Pho.
You shall not change your fortune, you shall only
Passe to another Empire; and for that
Right may be violated.

Crat.
Empires are
Desir'd for glory; be all wickednesse then
Farre absent, for in that there can be none.

Pho.
You are resolv'd to reason your selfe then
Into a measur'd unthankefulnesse? what can
Hinder this good t'your Country, but your selfe?
Fear'st thou the Thunder, and the Gods? the anger
O'th' Grecian Pow'rs will be upon thee, if
Thou not restor'st them to their seats. On then,
Thou undertak'st their cause, thou fight'st their warre.

Crat.
I cannot tell what powers you pretend;
Tell me of Justice and Fidelity,
These are the Grecian Gods.

Pho.
Be then thy name
Blasted to all Posterity, and let
Our wretched Nephewes, when their Soules shall labour
Under the Persian Yoake, curse thee, and say,
This slavery we owe unto Cratander.

Crat.
Pray stay, I will goe with you, and consider,
How am I streightned! Life is short unto me:
And th'good man's End ought still to be a businesse.
We must dy doing something, least perhaps
We loose our Deaths; we must not yet doe ill
That we misplace not Action: If I strike
On this hand, I'm a Parricide; if on that,
The same brand waytes me too: how doe I tremble,
Like to the doubtfull Needle 'twixt two Loadstones,
At once inclining unto both, and neither!
Here Piety calls me, there my Justice stops me.
It is resolv'd; Faith shall consist with both;
And aged Fame after my Death shall tell,
Betwixt two sinnes, Cratander did do well.

[Exeunt: