University of Virginia Library

SCENA 2.

Cleander
, Eubulus.
Sir you have put a bridle on my passions,
And given my soule the libertie it wisht:
I now intreate your pardon, for beginning
A thing of so great consequence without
Leave and advice from you.

Eu.
Tis well Cleander,
It will behove you then to be reserv'd,
And locke this secret up: for 'tis no jesting
With Kings that may command our lives and fortunes:
You now perceive her whom we call the Princesse,
To be your sister, and the love you beare her,
Must be a brothers freindship, not a lovers
Passionate heate; but yet she must not know,
That I her father am, and you her brother:
And trust me son, had I not seene despaire
Of life in you, which this love brought you too,
I should not have reveal'd, what now you know.

Cle.
It was a comfort Sir, I doe confesse,
That came in time to rescue me from death,
So great her scorne was, and my love so violent.

Eu.
Now you're at peace, I hope.

Cle.
I am: but if
I be too curious in asking where
The Kings son is, I shall desire your pardon:
For sure it were injustice to deprive
So great a Prince, of that which he was borne too.

Eu.
You are too far inquisitive; yet because
I have ingag'd you in a secret of
As great importance, this I will not hide.
The King, I told you, when his wife grew neere
The time of her deliverie, sent to know
Of our great Oracle, whether the childe should be
Female, or Male, and what should be their fortune.

Cle.
What said the Oracle? have you the answere?

Eu.

Eu.
It is; and yet the King would needs interpret
That should it prove a man-childe, twas a Bastard:
And being loth that one not of his blood
(As he conceiv'd by this) should be his heire,
Told me in private, that if it were Male,
He would not have it live, yet fearing most
To publish his dishonor, and his wives,
He charg'd me not reveale it unto any,
But take the childe, and see it made away,
And make the world beleeve it was still borne.

Cle.
And did you so?

Eu.
No, for indeed I durst not
For any thing, become a murderer.

Cle.
How did you then?

Eu.
I went unto the Queene,
Shew'd her the state she was in, and besought her
To be as carefull of me, as I was
Of her, and we would worke a better end
Then she expected, so we both agree'd;
That if the Childe she then did labour with,
Prov'd to be Male, I should with care conceale
The birth of it, and put a female childe
Insteed of it, which I was to looke out.
It fortun'd that your Mother then was ready
To be deliver'd of your sister, and
Time and good fortune did conspire to save
The Kings child, and to make my daughter Princesse.

Cle.
But what did then become of the yong Prince?

Eu.
The Queene protesting to me, that it was
The Kings owne Childe, conjur'd me to preserve it,
Which as mine owne I could not; for already
Many tooke notice that my childe was female:
And therefore I was faine to publish her
As dead, and buried an emptie coffin.
I rode forth with the childe a full nights journey,
With purpose to deliver it to some
Plaine honest man, that would be carefull of it,
And not inquisitive to know whose childe
It was, but give it breeding as his owne:
When being frighted with the noise of Armes
Of some out-lawed theeves, that did infest
The place, I made all haste I could to scape 'em,
Considering my charge; for that I knew
If I were taken, though they spar'd my life,
The charge I had, must needs betray me to
The King, and then I could not hope for mercy:
I laid it downe there cover'd closely o're,
A circle 'bout his necke, wherein was writ,
In characters knowne onely to my selfe,
And to the King; in which I us'd to cloath
Secret dispatches, when I writ to him
From forraigne States, and within the Circle
I grav'd the Kings lesse Seale, which then I kept.
Some Gold besides, and Jewels there I left,
That whosoe're should finde him, might with that
Defray the charge of his education;
Howe're, next day I purpos'd to returne
With speede, and carrie it to some abode.

Cle.
But did the Queene know this?

Eu.
She did not,
Till my returne next day: then when I told her,
The childe was thence remov'd where I had left him,

Cle.
Belike those theeves had carried him away.

Eu.
'Tis probable.

Cle.
How could the Queene take this
So sad a storie?

Eu.
With such impatience,
That being weake before, she shortly di'd.

Cle.
But yet sir, with your favour might you not
Have made inquirie after him?

Eu.
I durst not,
For feare of being discover'd; on your life
Take heed how you reveale this.

Cle.
I am charm'd.

Eu.
Then let us watch my daughter, for I feare
The flight she made was for some other end,
Then for retirement which she does pretend.

Cle.
Henceforth I shall obey her as my Princesse,
And love her as my sister, not my Mistresse.

Eu.
You shall do well: Come, let us to the King.