University of Virginia Library

SCENA 2.

Euarchus, Eubulus, Cleander, Attendants.
Ev.
All leave the roome. Eubulus, I'me resolv'd
To hold an easier hand over my daughter
Then I was wont: Therefore I sent Cleander
To bring her to my presence, though she have
Wrong'd her great birth and breeding by her follies,
Yet I consider that she is my daughter,
And this restraint cannot but harden her
In her fond resolutions: have you sought
By all the meanes you can to sift the cause
Of her departure?

Eub.
Sir, I have tryed,
By all the waies that fit a subject, to
Enquire a truth of one that is his Princesse.

Eu.
And what have you discover'd?

Eub.
Nothing more
Then what my son Cleander did before.

Eu.
I have heard his relation: but I wonder
How for a whole moneths time, she should abide
Within our confines, when so great a search,
Through all our Countryes, and lowd proclamations
Were made for her recovery.

Eub.
Tis true.
She herein was ingenuous, and confest,
That she foresaw what search would be made for her,
Therefore with some about her she had plotted,
To hire a barke, that might convey her hence,
In a disguise to Smyrna, where she stayd,
Till time did fit her; that with safety
She might returne in habite of a Nymph,
Unto the place, where then Cleander found her:
But why she left the Court, she will not tell.

Eu.
I will not force her to't: some little time
Perhaps may make discovery of that secret:
But unto thee my faithfull Counsellor.
(As unto one my heart hath still bin open)
I will discover what my purpose is,
In sending for these shepheards to my Court.

Eub.
I should beleeve, they're sent for to delight
Your Majesty, as they were wont.

Eu.
No Eubulus,
But for a greater end; I feare my daughter,
And therefore I have sent for her to see
These sports, with purpose to observe her lookes,
For I suspect she loves some shepheard there.

Eub.
It cannot be: she will not staine her birth
With such ignoble love; yet I confesse,
Revolving all the causes of her strange
Departure, I could fixe on none but that.

Eu.
Well, if she do so, I will let her forth,
Forth of my blood, and whosoere he be
Whose fortune markt him out to be the object
Of this her love, shall finde Ixions Fate,
He shall embrace a shadow; by my life
They both shall die.

Eub.
O my gracious Lord,
Remember she's your daughter.

Eu.
I, thou still
Dost plead for her, but yet am I her King
As well as father, private men respect
Their profits, and their private interests
Of kindred, but the actions of a King,
To honor, and renowne must be directed:
Cleander enters.
Consider that, and then thou wilt forget her.
Cleander, welcome, how does Calligone?
Is she not glad to come unto our presence?
Why dost not answere? art thou frighted man?

Cle.
I know not how to answere any thing,
Unlesse your Majesty will signe my pardon.

Eu.
Why what's the matter, speake, and speak it freely

Cle.
Then know great soveraigne that when I went
As full of joy, as speed, with your glad message,
I found the Princesse.

Eu.
What, not dead, I hope?

Cle.
Dead to her honor.

Eu.
Ha!

Cle.
In short my Lord,
I found her walking in the garden with
A shepheard, (more of him I cannot tell)
But she was habited in that attire
She wore, when from the woods I brought her home,
I slipt away, not being seene by them,
And if you please to goe, perhaps great Sir,
You still may finde them there.

Eu.
How now Eubulus,
Are my presages true? shall I then sleepe
With this disgrace, and let my neighbour Princes
Mocke at my humble fortunes, when they heare
The daughter of Euarchus matcht her selfe
With a base shepheard? Goe Eubulus quickly,
Here take my signet, let this be your warrant
To put them both to death.

Eub.
How? both my Lord?

Eu.
I, both.

Eub.
Your daughter too?

Eu.
Why do you question me?
Haue I not said they both shall die: dispatch.
Let me not see thee, till they both be dead.

Exit.
Eub.
What hast thou done? thou rash inhumane boy?
Depriv'd thy father of a childe, thy selfe
Of thine owne sister, whom but now thou knewst.
Well may the King take that deare life away,
Which he did never give: I will goe tell him,
I am her father: but I loose my life
If I do that, as guilty of a treason.
Go Murderer, hadst thou no pittie in thee?

Cle.
Sir I do feele so much of griefe within me,
For this my act, that if my blood will serve
To save her life, Ile make no price of it:
Yet could I not imagine, that the King
Would have bin so inrag'd; or if he would,
I had no time to thinke of it before.

Eu.
No time? who bid thee hasten to the ruine
Of thy poore father, and thy family?
The messages which come to do us hurt,
Are speedy: but the good come slowly on,

Cle.
But Sir, remember what a straight we're in:
It will concerne us, to invent some way
To save my sister, though the shepheard die;
He will deserve it for his bold attempt.

Eub.
Go take thy way, whither thou wilt thy selfe,
That way is best, which leads me to my grave.

Exit.
Cle.
What luck is this? This is more haste then speed:
I am resolv'd (though my life lie at stake)
To stand the fury of th'inraged King:
Who knowes but he may be as sorry for
His suddaine act, as I for mine. 'Tis here
To save her, though it cost her lover deare.