 | The Phaenix In Her Flames |  |
Actus Tertius
Scena Prima.
The King of Arabia, Alecto.King
In midst of stormes, and these tumultuous times
Of warre and bloud, in midst of troubled seas
Of forraigne states, how safely doe we saile
And steere our course, Alecto, in a calme:
No dusky cloud lowres on our ship of state,
No windes of adverse fortune shake our peace,
But smile and gently breathe a quiet gale:
Blest starres that raign'd at our nativity,
Kinde Planet, under whose sweet influence
We were brought forth, deere fortune that confer'd
This happinesse upon th' Arabian King.
Alecto
It cannot be deny'd Sir, but you are
As much indebted to the gods for favours,
As any mortall Prince, and in some things
Enjoy prerogatives above them all,
As in the wealth and beauty of your land:
Your subjects love, your peace with forraigne Kings
That are your neighbours. Lastly, in this point,
Which makes you more admir'd then all the rest,
In having such a daughter, who for vertue
And beauty both cannot be paralel'd
By any other Princesse, and I thinke
Hath not her equall in the world besides.
King
She is my chiefest joy I must confesse,
And the sole staffe of my declining age.
I under value farre my Crowne beneath her,
My gold, my jewels, yea although I were
Possess'd of the worlds vast treasury,
It were but drosse unto my darling deere,
My deare Phænicia, all my care and study
Is how to see her marryed as becomes
Dame nature and her fortune both will leave her.
Alecto
This likes me not, I'le thwart it what I can,
For to advance my love and proper fortunes.— aside.
But royall Sir, have you proposed yet
A match unto the Princesse?
King
Yes, and have
Shew'd her the portraitures of divers Princes,
Of Persia, of Tartaria, of Austria,
Of Egypt, Babylonia, and the rest,
To make her choice, but yet she likes not any.
Alecto
That's good, she likes a substance, not a shadow:
This makes for me.
—aside.
What doth she then object
An't please your royall Majesty?
King
That she's
Not yet dispos'd to marriage, pleading youth
And ignorance in what doth sute a Bride.
Alect.
That's nothing, she'l be soone instructed by
Her husband in that duty.
King
Yet I will not
Force her affection; she desires to have
Two yeeres yet added to her age, before
She would determine marriage; but you left
The clause imperfect, when you did digresse
From what we first discours'd, and fell upon
The praises of my daughter, now no more
Of this, but enter on the first againe;
What was it nephew?
Alecto
Sir, I was applauding
Your happy state and fortune, and what cause
You had to thanke the gods for benefits
You did enjoy above all other Princes,
Yet to the end you might not thinke your selfe
In earthly pleasures absolutely happy,
And so grow proud, there lyes a barre between you
And the full consummation of your blisse.
King
A barre, what is't? it shall be then remov'd,
Alecto
There's difficulty in't:
I meane the theeves and out lawes of your Country,
Who make your land unfree, and hold by force
The third part of Arabia, call'd deserta,
Who rob your selfe and subjects of their goods,
Vsurping priviledges, and exacting
Tributes and dues of every passenger,
Stranger or otherwise that travell that way.
King
This takes away much from my true content,
(I must confesse) and troubles me the more,
Because I know not which way to redresse it.
You know we have left no way unattempted,
To drive them thence, yet fail'd in our desire,
Because of their retrait into the mountaines,
Which for our army is inaccessible.
Many complaints are preferr'd unto us,
Not onely by our subjects, but by others
Against these rebels for their goods extorted,
Who doe demand from us all restitution,
As if those theeves were under our command:
Yea, many Kings our neighbours have dispatcht
Embassadours about it to our Courts
Whose Caravans and treasures have been rob'd,
Passing the desarts by these mountaineers,
Demanding for their losse, full satisfaction,
Who have departed hence much discontented:
This in the end I doubt will raise a warre
Between us, and disturbe our setled peace.
Enter a Lord attendant.
What newes with you?
Lord
Sir, there's a Gentleman
Lately return'd from travell, now arriv'd
Vnto the Court, who humbly craues to have
Accesse about affaires of great import,
King.
Admit him straight, we'll heare the businesse.
Enter the Gentleman.
We understand you're late return'd from travell,
From what parts came you now?
Gent.
From Persia Sir.
King.
What have you to deliver?
Gent.
That the Persian
Is marching hither with a mighty army
To fall upon your Kingdome, from the Court
I did accompany the Campe, untill
I learnt the certainty of their designe,
Then in the night I left them, and with speed
Rode poast to warne you, that you might provide
Against a strong invasion.
King.
But where did you
Part from the Persian Army?
Gentle.
In the confines
Of Babylonia nere faire Euphrates.
King.
How strong are they?
Gentle.
Their Army doth amount
Vnto a hundred thousand foote, their horse
Equals that number bravely equipag'd
And furnish'd for the warre.
King.
Who doth command
As Generall?
Gentle.
Prince Perseus himselfe.
Alecto
Could you not understand upon what grounds
They built their discontent and rash proceeding?
Gent.
I can in forme you nothing of the cause,
But so much of th'effect, I can assure you,
Is it too too true.
King.
This makes me not a little
To wonder at the strangenesse of the thing;
Who ever heard of any Prince that was
Invaded by his foe, before he knew
To enter into warre; I cannot guesse
The reason why the Persian should receive
Distast, and therefore am incredulous
Almost of your report.
Gentle.
Sir I could wish,
(So much I doe preferre my King and Countrey
Before my life) I might be prov'd a lyar,
Although I suffer'd for it, rather then
Behold the devastation of a soile
So sweet as faire Arabia; but alas
Your royall selfe, and we your loyall subjects
I feare too soone will have experience of
The truth of my relation, and perchance
Repent too late your incredulity,
Grounded upon too much security.
What should it ought advantage me to lie?
King.
Vrge it no more, we do beleeve what you
Have told us is a truth, and will provide
Against the enemies approaching force;
Sure tis some wronges hath caus'd this by the theeves,
And the mad hare brain'd Prince hath not the patience
(It seemes) for to acquainte me but by warre,
And violent eruption into Armes;
It must be so, else can I not imagine
The least occasion why, well we will stand
Vpon our strongest guard to keepe our land.
Exeunt.
Rapin.
In troth sweet Lady you are much to blame
Thus to deferre my pleasures, and delude
My longing hopes with trifling vaine delaies,
I suffer most extremely.
Lucinda.
I could laugh
To heare you talke thus; are you so impatient,
You that are borne to such a course of life,
(And so low fortune) as you cannot stay
A moneth or two to waite the love and pleasure
Of a Kings daughter, for the which great Princes
Have su'd, and serv'd a yeare for.
Rapin.
Are you then
Of the blood royall, well we'll mix our bloods
Together, so shall mine be royall too;
But wherefore did you tell me that you were
But an Ægyptian Lady?
Lucinda.
And in that
I did not lie, scarce use equivocation
For Madam is a title that's apply'd
To Queenes sometimes as unto common Ladies.
Rapin.
Why did you keepe me in this ignorance
So long, and now at last reveale your selfe?
Lucinda.
To awe your boldnesse when I saw it grow
To such a height as now; Sir keepe your distance.
Rapin.
High words indeed seeming to have a kind
Of reference to Majestie; but tell me
What King begat you?
Lucinda.
Not to satisfie
Thy proud demand, but make thee know thy selfe
And the base wrong thou dost me, do I answer
Vnto thy question: understand I am
The mighty Souldans daughter and his heire
Sent by my Father to be married to
The Prince of Persia, when thy barbarous troope
And lawlesse selfe enforc'd a Rape upon me,
Make speedy restitution of my selfe
Vnspotted in my honour.
Rapin.
Not such haste
To part, faire Princesse, in a fit of choler;
You know not yet my humour, nor I yours,
We must participate each others nature
Before we can resolve in coulder bloud.
Lucind.
Vncivill groome dost thou thinke to enjoy me?
I'le rather prostitute my body to
The lust of a deformed Incubus,
Or ugly Satire, then retaine one thought
Of thy lewd loath'd embraces.
Rapin.
That's because
You're told they're active in the art of vaulting,
But you shall find me Madame so dexterious,
As not inferiour to them in that kind;
Try my performance.
Lucinda.
Thou lascivious man
Thou bestiall Goate, how darst thou tainte chast eares
With thy infectious breath? know tis in vaine
Further to urge thy lust, for I'm resolv'd
To runne the hazard of a thousand deaths
Rather then to yeeld unto it.
Rapin.
Foolish woman
Thy rage or'e comes thy wit, think'st thou this way
To worke upon me? dost thou not perceive
Thou art my prisoner, and what now thou hast
Is all my gift, thy life, thy reputation,
Thy wealth and jewels? dost not see when I
Please to command thee to give up those things
Thou hast not power to hold them scare a minute?
And yet art thou so inconfiderate?
Dreame not, nor feed this foolish fantasie
Within your minde to thinke yeur Father can
Rescue you hence, or your betroathed Lord
The Persian Prince redeeme you from my cave,
Although they came with greater forces far
Here in this unfrequented wildernesse,
Thus barracadoed round with hils and mountaines,
Then they in all their strong fortifications,
Their Forts and Castles.
Lucind.
I perceive my errour,
And therefore must a little temporize
To prevent outrage.— aside.
Sir, you mov'd your lust,
But not your love, and woo'd me in a phrase
That fitter were to be apply'd unto
A common whore or strumpet, then a Lady,
Much lesse a Princesse, this I must confesse
Enflam'd my anger, and enforc'd me to
Forget my selfe a little.
Rapin.
I confesse
My errour too, and crave your pardon Lady,
See how one gentle word hath mollifid
My disposition, and cleane turn'd the streame
Of my full bent desire to be possess'd
By force of what I now resolved am
To crave by faire intreaty in the way
Of honest marriage.
Lucinda
Now your stile is good,
And tasteth something of civility,
Yet I desire some respite to give answer
Vnto your sute for two considerations:
First, that I may have time to make my prayers
Vnto the shrine of holy Mahomet,
To grant a dispensation of my vow
Made to the Persian Prince, to be his wife:
Next that I be not perjur'd to my selfe,
To loose my Virgin girdle, ere my age
Hath numbred twenty springs to reinvest
Our naked mother earth in robes of greene.
Rapin.
Why did you make, pray, such a foolish vow
To stay a Maid so long?
Lucind.
I did indeed.
What wants now of the time?
Lucind.
But a bare moneth,
That is not long you know.
Rapin.
Well, I'm content,
Though my desires are apt to climbe the tree
Iust at this very instant, and to taste
Your dainty maiden fruit, but love is sweeter
If freely granted, then if tane by force,
Therefore I'le stay the time prefixt, and not
Beyond the same a minute, see you doe not
Longer abuse my patience, if you doe,
What love cannot, force shall constraine you to:
Come, will you goe?— Exit Rapinus.
Lucind.
I must stay here a little.
I'le wait on you soon; heavens in what narrow straights
Wretched Lucinda have thy fates confin'd thee?
In what amazed labyrinth of love
Am I enclos'd, and cannot find a clue
To guide me forth, no light, no salliport?
I love my fellow prisoner, but I hate
The theefe Rapinus, how I shall enjoy
The one, and handsomely avoyd the other.
A womans wit alas cannot contrive:
How soone I have forgot the Persian Prince?
How soone my selfe? my eye but glanced on
The beauty of this stranger, but his looke,
His high commanding looke, which darted forth
Majesticke sparkes, captiv'd my yeelding heart:
He is though shadowed, that farre fam'd Amandus,
Damascus Prince, I reade the characters
Of majesty deepe stamped in his brow;
I'le vent my thoughts unto him, and this cave
Shall helpe me to his love, or to my grave.
Sara, what wilt thou counsell me to doe in the thing you
wot of?
Sara
I have told you my opinion already.
Lucinda
But can a woman with any modesty make love
to a man?
Sara
Puh, why not in a case of extremity, when the woman
is hot, and the man is cold in the businesse?
Lucind.
But if I should commit through extreme passion
such a folly, should I not be wondred at, and hated amongst
women for giving an ill example to the world?
Sara
Nothing lesse, but on the contrary, be assur'd you
shall reape from them infinite love and thankes for laying
them down such a president of boldnesse, but if you dispute
pro & con, thus, and make such objections, you shall never
obtaine your desires while you live, I will warrant you.
Lucinda
But dost thou thinke there is any hope of speeding
in my suit, upon notice given him of my love.
Sara
No question, Madame, he cannot but most willingly
embrace it, and blesse his fortune for so high a favour.
Lucind.
Aye me Sara, I feare I am not so happy, my stars
foretell not so prosperous an Omen: though I have by signs
and dumb shewes, by sighes and amorous glances told him
my affection, yet seems he not to understand that language,
but as insensible of my paine, suffers mee to languish in my
torment.
Sara
I would faine aske your Ladiship one question, if I
might be so bold, and thereby not incurre your displeasure.
Lucind.
Speake thy minde freely, thou shalt give me no
offence at all.
Sara
Taking your word for my warrant then, I desire to
know if you be in earnest or in jest, for I cannot beleeve you
should so soone forget the great Prince of Persia, and doat
so extremely on this stranger, whose ranke and quality you
know not, but by conjecture.
Lucind.
Such is the commanding power of love thou
these; I meane sincerely;
Neither have I reason to repent the chance.
Sara
No, suppose he be that poore exiled Prince of Damascus,
is he to be compared, or in your good opinion to be
preferred before the puissant Persian, one of the greatest
Monarchs of the world?
Lucind.
How foolishly thou talkest, dost thou not know
that comparisons are odious, especially in love matters?
counsell me better what to doe, or keep thy thoughts in
thine owne bosome.
Sara
Madame, my help and furtherance shall not be wanting
in any thing wherein I can doe you service: let your
wit contrive the way according to your desire, and let me
alone to put it in execution.
Lucind.
Then what if I sent thee to him with a letter
stuff'd full of affection, would not that be a pretty way to
cover my blushes, and yet discover my love? sure it would,
what thinkest thou Sara?
Sara
I cannot but approve your plot exceedingly Madame,
for if there be then any fault escaped, or any small
breach of maiden modesty made, it shall be imputed to the
inke and paper, which is of too pale a colour to blush.
Lucind.
It shall be so then, get me pen, inke, and paper
presently, but soft, he comes to save me that labour, I am
arm'd with boldnesse for the encounter, assist me, Cupid, I
beseech thee.
Amandus, Consolario, Colonell, Gentleman.
Amand.
Faire Princesse, here behold before your eyes,
Those whom your courtesie hath made your slaves:
I meane my friends and me, whose thanks, yea lives
We come to tender to you, but alas,
The debt we owe is greater, and the summe
Not to be answer'd so, yet we beseech you
Take this in part of payment, which we offer
With zealous hearts, and no lesse strong devotion,
Impute that to our want, not to our will.
Lucind.
Most courteous Sir, if through my means you have
Enjoy'd the benefit of any thing,
I thanke my fates that made me an instrument
Of doing so much good: you shall oblige me
To tell me, since I cannot tell my selfe
What thing Lucinda did, that could produce
So strong an obligation.
Amand.
You impose
Too great a taske upon me, for weake words
Cannot expresse it full; Madame, we owe you
First for our lives, then for our liberties,
For curing of our wounds with your faire hand,
And many other favours great besides,
All which we treasure up here in our hearts,
As in a trusty Cabinet.
Lucinda
Sure the man
Seemes of so gentle nature, that he would not
Be so unkinde, as to repell the suit
Of a poore love-sicke Lady.— aside.
Will you grant me
One boone in lieu thereof, and you shall make me
A ten-fold satisfaction.
Amand.
For your good
We will expose our lives unto all hazards,
For we account them yours, and not our owne,
Since by your meanes we live, and doe enjoy them:
What's your command?
Lucinda
Sir, since you doe acknowledge
You owe to me your life and liberty,
Your cure, and other courtesies besides,
I am endanger'd now as you were then.
'Tis now my turne, and I am like to suffer
In all these things, unlesse your gentle nature
And pitty doe relieve me.
Amand.
How sweet lady
I doe beseech you comes it? doth the theefe
Vnto your chastity, or threat your death
Vnlesse you yeeld unto him? I will soone
(So much I'm oblig'd unto your goodnesse)
Finde out a way to send that fiend to hell,
Although I suffer for it twenty deaths,
If this procure your feare.
Lucinda
This is the least,
(Although I know not well how to avoid him)
Of what I suffer.
Amand.
Let me know it then:
Your life and liberty endangered?
In need too of a cure, and not that way?
Strange mystery, unfold it I beseech you,
That if it lye in my poore power, I may
Make knowne how much I love and honour you.
Lucinda
Sir, 'tis a secret, and requires to be
Spoken to you in private all alone.
Should J not be unmannerly to crave
Your friends retirement for a little space?
Consol.
Madame, there needs no ceremony in
Your Ladiships commands to us your vassals.
Exeunt.
Lucind.
Now you can help me by an easie way
Without your hurt, for know J am your Patient,
But am asham'd to lay to you ope my wonnd:
Imagine in what nature 'tis by these
My teares, my blushes, my abrupted sighes,
My broken speeches, my dejected eyes,
My strange unwonted passions: more, I am
Your prisoner too by the commanding power
Of all subduing love, now 'tis in you
To cure me, 'tis in you to give me life
And liberty at once: O be not cruell
Faire Prince, but help a poor distressed Lady,
Who craves but love, and in that suit your best
Construction: take it not in the worst sence,
Nor thinke me ought immodest, though I have
Open'd my sore which was procured by
Amand.
Heavens defend
So great a Princesse, and so beautifull,
Of such imperiall fortunes, should descend
So low in thought, to looke on such a wretch
As I am, being the map of misery,
Griefes Embleme, yea the tennis ball of fortune,
Toss'd by her angry Racket evermore
Beneath the line, into a thousand hazards
For her desport. I love you better Lady
Then so, to worke your downefall, and should ill
Requite your favours that way: you that may
For beauty, birth, or fortune, match with any
The greatest Prince of the terrestriall orbe.
'Twere sinne in me not to be pardoned,
To wrong you with my love in way of marriage,
Who can assure you nothing for a dower
But sorrow and affliction,
Lucind.
Sure you cannot,
Although you would, conceale your selfe from me,
Whose love discerning eyes have found you out
To be admir'd Amandus, and survey'd
Each lineament a part, with such regard
As Painters use in limming of a piece,
You'r drawne within my heart, from head to foot.
Amand.
I grant it Madam, that I was that Prince
You pleas'd to name, but now have nothing left me
But the bare title, but that ayery name,
Poore eccho of Damascus, would I might
Loose that and life, the shadow with the substance,
Then I were happy, but my fates alas
I feare reserve me for more misery,
If possible, then I have tasted yet:
Therefore let all avoid me as the plague,
Lest they should be infected with my griefe.
Lucind.
Doe not suppose your pleading poverty,
Or ought you can alledge, to wrong your selfe,
Hath power to turne the streame of my affection
Or to repell my argument of love:
No, no, the plea is stronger, though you were
Poorer then Jrus (I invoke as witnesse
Of this my vow the power that made me yours)
Yet would I rather be conjoyn'd to you
In nuptiall bands, then be the wedded wife
Of any other Prince, although he were
Richer then Cræsus, and heaven knowes I could
Content me better in this prison here,
(So you could love me, and I might enjoy you)
Then in the Persian Palace, if I lye,
Let Cupid shoot you with a leaden dart,
And with disdaine kill poore Lucinda's heart.
Amandus
O deerest Princesse, take deliberation,
And enter into thought of what you are,
Of what I am, and what the Persian is.
Then you wil soone call home these wandring thoughts,
And place them where they shall be worth your love:
In me alas they cannot, for although
I had not lost my Country, though my kingdome
Had still beene mine, and though I now enjoy'd
My former regall dignities and state,
Yet should J count my selfe too meane by farre,
To match with you the mighty Souldans heire,
And onely daughter, now I scarce deserve
To wait on you in nature of your servant.
Lucinda This shall not serve your turne, these vain excuses
And wrongfull reasons urg'd against your selfe,
Shall not prevaile at all: the more you strive
To stop the current of my swelling passions,
The more they rage within this breast of mine,
And in the end will overflow and breake
My heart if you prove cruell, and put off
My hopes with such weake shifts and poor delayes.
Come, grant me love, and seale it with a kisse
As an assurance.
Rapinus.
What is this I heare
Spake by Lucinda to this captive slave,
Come grant me love, and seale with a kisse
As an assurance? well I'le be reveng'd
By all the Pagan gods; ignoble strumpet
How dar'st thou wrong me thus, and in my Cave
To court my prisoner? was't for this thou did'st
Deny my suite, and still from time to time
Delude me with delay, that thou might'st act
Thy shame, and make me pander to thy lust?
Base Whore was this thy drift? for this abuse
I'le presently enioy thee, if thou yeeld
Without constraint, I'le keepe thee to my selfe,
But if thou strive, or make the least resistance
To crosse my will, when I have satisfi'd
My lust at full, I'le put thee o're to be
Vs'd and abus'd by every common souldier;
Come huswife I must teach you true obedience.
Offers to ravish her.
Lucinda.
Helpe, helpe.
Amand.
Base villaine offer her no wrong,
But turne thee upon me, although unarm'd
I dare thy utmost power.
Rapin.
Then thou shalt feele
The fury of my rage, have at thee slave.
Drawes his sword and assaults him, Amand. defends
himselfe with a stoole, and at last closing with him,
hath him at his mercy.
Amand.
Now I will dye thy sword in thy own bloud,
Which thou didst think to make deepe drunke in mine.
Rapin.
O stay thy hand for faire Lucindas sake.
Ama.
That hastes thy death, & puts me in remembrance
Thou wouldst have ravish'd her.
Lucinda.
Sir let him dy,
Never a better time then now to doe it.
Amand.
Then it is done, take that, and breath thy last.
killes him.
Lucinda.
Heroicke Prince now shew thy pitty on me,
And as thou hast releas'd me from this theefe,
And from the violence of loathed lust,
So free me from the violence of love
By taking me unto thy wedded wife:
I will refuse no danger, nay no death
To beare thee company, live here or travell
Throughout the world, I'le Lacquey it a foot
With sweet Amandus; can you be so hard
And cruell to me? sure when Ladies wooe
Hard are the shiftes love doth constraine them too.
Amand.
No more of this sweet Lady till we have
Order'd the businesse that now fals upon us:
The theeves we need not feare, for I have them
Firmely at my devotion through distast
And discontent they did receive against
Rapinus in his life, they will not stirre
(I know) one foot in his revenge, but rather
Render me thankes for acting of his death;
Come let us goe, to better our poore state
We must confirme these men yet in their hate.
Exeunt.
Enter the three thieves.
1
But my masters shall wee be still ridden thus, and undergoe
the burthen patiently, without seeking remedy or
revenge?
2
No we'll suffer it no longer, if we do wee shall deserve
Mydas eares y'saith.
3
And Acteons hornes too for our future fortune.
1
Then wee are all resolv'd to doe our best to dispatch
him, are we not?
2
All the shame of the world befall him that is against it.
And al the bastinadoes that do grow in the deserts light
upon him; lets devise a way now to worke our revenge,
will you study the plot?
1
Since you referre it to me, I will not be long about it,
lets release the stranger, give him armes, make him our
Captaine, and cut Rapinus throat; how like you this?
2
Excellent well, it cannot chuse but advantage us greatly,
for the stranger is wonderfull valiant, you know wee
had costly experience of it, and he seemes of a generous disposition
besides, that would not forget such a courtesie.
3
This wil I beleeve, so oblige his gentle nature as whatsoever
boote we take, he will not trouble himselfe with it,
but divide it freely among us; will not this be excellent my
hearts?
1
But who lies here all this while weltring in his owne
bloud and we not see him? our Captaine Rapinus, tis hee,
come here and congratulate his death.
2
Blessed accident!
3
This befell according to our wishes, and hath sav'd
us the labour to put our designe in excution.
1
Ha Captaine do you lie there y'faith, remember how
often you gave me the bastinado, I could now be reveng'd
upon your dead carkasse, but I will now only satisfie my
selfe with laughing over thy body, ha, ha, ha.
2
To whom are we bound for this courtesie, I marvell,
I cannot imagine to whose courage to impute it unlesse to
the strangers.
3
Tis he, it can be no other, he shall be our new Captaine
for the deed, do you consent to it?
1
By all meanes we approve it, he shall have his act presently.
2
Come let us; find him out, and know how the businesse
pass'd betweene Rapinus and him.
1
Agreed, and offer him our service and recive his commands.
And doth desire his officers to change.
But stay let us not leave Rapinus body lie here unburied,
lend me your hand for charities sake.
3
That's well remembred—
exeunt with the body.
Finis Actus tertij.
| The Phaenix In Her Flames | |