University of Virginia Library

Scæn. 5.

Enter the King in his Night-gown, Lords, Attendants.
King.
Trust me, most sad and strange!
A flood of grief beats at my eyes for vent:
Poor Cleonax, I'm truly sorry for thee.

Lords.
So are we all.

King.
This accident commands our pity,
But what is done, is done:
Let it not be as yet divulged;
Remove the corps, and let it be the care
Of thee, Florelio, to see his burial
Honorable and private.—
Good thanks to all the rest,
Clarimont, stay you with me.
Exeunt.
The Traitor's dead by Parmenio; but you must know,
There's one yet lives within me, I love, Clarimont.

Clar.
That passion of all others, Sir, heaven easiliest pardons;
He lives not sure, that loves not.

King.
I, but my Love's not pure,
'Tis great, not good, Clarimont,
I love—Francelia.

Clar.
Take heed of unchaste fires, great Sir,
They mischief Sir; Forget her, faith forget her:
Such fits as these are ever cur'd like Agues,
Best when they are most starved:
If you shall give them their desired fuel,
They'l not be quencht with ease, and it is ever seen
(Heaven keep my Soveraign!)
The house they're bred in, feels them first and ever.

King.
Clarimont, thou wert ne'r in Love;
Thou art Philosophical, and wouldst have Reason
Guide where it was never yet Companion:
Thou shewst thy want of Love,
But helpst not mine: Councel is now too late,
It's like Smiths water flung upon the coals
Which more inflames, here—
Thou twice hast sav'd my life, if thou now speed'st;
Go to Francelia, and present
This Jewel to her, and withall my Love,
(Gives him a Jewel)
Do't with thy best of language and respect:
Fair means at first we'll use,
But foul shall come, if she the fair refuse:
Good night, and good success.

Exit.
Clar.
Obedience is the best of what I am,
Your will's my Law, Sir.
Clarimont solus.
—Why then it must be:
Was there no woman in the Court
To feed thy lust with, but my sister,
And none to be the Bawd but I?
Couldst thou not think of any other way
To express thy greatness, but by doing me wrong?
My fathers angry ghost, I see,
Is not full appeased yet:
(Studies)
Why should I make, of murther thus begun,
A massacre?—
He did my father right in his revenge;
I, but he wrong'd him first; and yet who knows
But it was justice to attempt by force?
The removal of great Favorites, though enemies to th' State,
Is not so warrantable—I'm in a maze:
Something I'll do, but what I cannot tell,
I fear the worst, Lust never ended well.

Exit.