University of Virginia Library

Prologue.

Fore Iove, a mightie Sessions: and I feare,
Though kind last Sizes, 'twill be now severe;
For it is thought, and by judicious men,
Aglaura 'scap't onely by dying then:
But 'twould be vaine for mee now to indeare,
Or speake unto my Lords, the Iudges here,
They hold their places by condemning still,
And cannot shew at once mercie and skill;
For wit's so cruell unto wit, that they
Are thought to want, that find not want i'th' play.
But Ladies you, who never lik'd a plot,
But where the Servant had his Mistresse got,
And whom to see a Lover dye it grieves,
Although 'tis in worse language that he lives,
Will like't w'are confident, since here will bee,
That your Sex ever lik'd, varietie.

Prologue to the Court.

Tis strange perchance (you'll thinke) that shee that di'de
At Christmas, should at Easter be a Bride:
But 'tis a privilege the Poets have,
To take the long-since dead out of the grave:
Nor is this all, old Heroës asleepe
'Twixt marble coverlets, and six foot deepe
In earth, they boldly make, and make them doe
All they did living here—sometimes more too,
They give fresh life, reverse and alter Fate,
And yet more bold, Almightie-like create:
And out of nothing onely to deifie
Reason, and Reasons friend, Philosophie,
Fame, honour, valour, all that's great, or good,
Or is at least 'mongst us, so understood,
They give, heav'ns theirs, no handsome woman dies,
But if they please, is strait some star i'th' skies—
But oh—
How those poore men of Meetre doe
Flatter themselves with that, that is not true,
And 'cause they can trim up a little prose,
And spoile it handsomly, vainly suppose
Th'are Omnipotent, can doe all those things
That can be done onely by Gods and Kings.
Of this wild guilt, hee faine would bee thought free,
That writ this Play, and therefore (Sir) by mee,
Hee humbly begs, you would be pleas'd to know,
Aglaura's but repriev'd this night, and though
Shee now appeares upon a Poets call,
Shee's not to live, unlesse you say shee shall.

Actus V.

Scena I.

Enter Ziriff, Pasithas, and Guard: hee places 'em: and Exit. A State set out. Enter Ziriff, Jolas, Ariaspes.
Jol.
A glorious night!

Ari.
Pray Heav'n it prove so.
Are wee not there yet?

Zir.
'Tis about this hollow.

They enter the Cave.
Ari.
How now! what region are wee got into?
the inheritance of night;
have wee not mistaken a turning Ziriff,
and stept into the confines of some melancholy
Devills Territorie?

Jol.
Sure 'tis a part of the first Chaos,
that would not suffer any change,

Zir.
No matter Sir, 'tis as proper for our
purpose, as the Lobbie for the waiting womans:
stay you here, I'le move a little backward,
and so wee shall be sure to put him past
retreat, you know the word if it be the Prince.

Ziriff goes to the Doore.
Enter King.
Zir.
Here Sir, follow mee, all's quiet yet.

King.
Is hee not come then?

Zir.
No.

King.
Where's Ariaspes?

Zir.
Waiting within.

Jol.
I doe not like this waiting,
nor this fellowes leaving of us.

Ari.
This place does put odd thoughts into thee,
then thou art in thine owne nature too
as jealous, as Love, or Honour; weare thy sword
in readinesse, and thinke how neere wee are a Crowne.

Zir.
Revenge!—

Guard seiseth on 'em.
King.
Ha! what's this?

Zir.
Bring them forth.—

Bring them forth.
Ari.
The King.

Zir.
Yes, and the Princes friend—
Discovers himselfe.
D'you know this face?

King.
Zorannes.

Zor.
The verie same,
the wrong'd Zorannes.—King—
D'you stare,—
away with them where I appointed.

King.
Traytours, let mee goe;
villaine, thou dar'st not doe this—

Zor.
Poore Counterfeit,
how faine thou now would'st act a King, and art not:
stay you,—
to Ariaspes.
Unhand him,—
Whispers.
Leave us now.—

Exeunt.
Manet Ariasp. Zoran.
Ari.
What does this meane?
sure hee does intend the Crowne to mee.

Zor.
Wee are alone,
follow mee out of the wood, and thou shalt be
Master of this againe,
and then best arme and title take it.

Ari.
Thy offer is so noble, in gratitude I cannot
but propound gentler conditions,
wee will divide the Empire.

Zor.
Now by my fathers soule,
I doe almost repent my first intents,
and now could kill thee scurvily, for thinking
if I had a minde to rule,
I would not rule alone,
let not thy easie faith (lost man)
foole thee into so dull an heresie;
Orbella is our quarrell, and I have thought it fit,
that love should have a nobler way of Justice,
than Revenge, or Treason.
If thou dar'st dye handsomly, follow mee.

Exeunt. And enter both agen.
Zor.
There,—

Gives him his sword.
Ari.
Extremely good; Nature tooke paines I sweare,
the villaine and the brave are mingled handsomely:—

Zir.
'Twas Fate that tooke it, when it decreed
wee two should meet, nor shall they mingle now,
wee are but brought together strait to part.— Fight.


Ari.
Some Devill sure has borrowed this shape,
my sword ne're staid thus long to finde an entrance.

Zir.
To guiltie men, all that appeare is Devill;
come trifler, come,—

Fight.
Ari.
Dog, thou hast it.

Zir.
Why then it seemes my star's as great as his,
I smile at thee,
Ariaspes pants, and runs at him to catch his sword.
thou now would'st have me kill thee,
and 'tis a courtesie I cannot afford thee,
I have bethought my selfe, there will be use
of thee,—Pasithas—to the rest with him.

Exit.
Enter Pasithas, and two of the Guard.—Exeunt.
Enter Thersames.
Ther.
The Dog-star's got up high, it should be late:
and sure by this time every waking eare,
and watchfull eye is charm'd; and yet mee thought
a noyse of weapons struck my eare just now.
'Twas but my Fancie sure, and were it more,
I would not tread one step, that did not lead
to my Aglaura, stood all his Guard betwixt,
with lightning in their hands.
Danger, thou Dwarfe drest up in Giants clothes,
that shew'st far off still greater than thou art,
goe, terrifie the simple, and the guiltie, such
as with false Opticks still doe looke upon thee:
but fright not Lovers, wee dare looke on thee
in thy worst shapes, and meet thee in them too.—
Stay, these trees I made my marke, 'tis hereabouts,
—Love guide mee but right this night,
and Lovers shall restore thee back againe
those eyes the Poets tooke so boldly from thee.

Exit.
A Taper, Table out.
Enter Aglaura, with a Torch in one hand, a Dagger in the other.
Agl.
How ill this does become this hand? much worse
this suits with this, one of the two should goe:
The shee within mee sayes, it must be this,—
honour sayes this—and honour is Thersames friend.
What is that shee then, is it not a thing
that sets a price, not upon mee, but on
life in my name, leading mee into doubt,
which when 'thas done, it cannot light mee out?
For feare does drive to Fate, or Fate if wee
doe flie, ore-takes, and holds us, till or death,
or infamie, or both doe seise us.
Puts out the light.
Ha!—would 'twere in agen. Antiques & strange mishapes,
such as the Porter to my Soule, mine Eye,
was ne're acquainted with, fancie lets in,
like a disrouted multitude, by some strange accident
piec'd together; feare now afresh comes on,
and charges Love too home.
—Hee comes, hee comes.— A little noyse below.

woman, if thou would'st be the Subject
of mans wonder, not his scorne hereafter,—
—now shew thy selfe.

Enter Thersames from the vault, she stabs him as he riseth.
Ther.
Unkindly done—

Agl.
The Princes voyce, defend it Goodnesse?

Ther.
What art thou that thus poorely
hast destroy'd a life?

Agl.
Oh sad mistake, 'tis hee?

Ther.
Hast thou no voyce?

Agl.
I would I had not, nor a being neither.

Ther.
Aglaura, it cannot be?

Agl.
Oh still beleeve so, Sir,
for 'twas not I indeed, but fatall Love.

Ther.
Loves wounds us'd to be gentler than these were,
the paines they give us have some pleasure
in them, and that these have not.
Enter Ziriff with a taper.
Oh doe not say 'twas you, for that does wound agen:
guard mee my better Angell,
doe I wake? my eyes (since I was man)
ne're met with any object gave them so much trouble,
I dare not aske neither to be satisfied,
shee lookes so guiltily—

Agl.
Why doe you stare and wonder at a thing
that you your selfe have made thus miserable?

Zir.
Good gods, and I o'the partie too.

Agl.
Did you not tell mee that the King this night
meant to attempt my honour, that our condition
would not admit of middle wayes, and that wee must
send them to graves, or lye our selves in dust?

Zir.
Unfortunate mistake!
Ziriff knocks.
I never did intend our safetie by thy hands:
Enter Pasithas.
Pasithas, goe instantly and fetch Andrages
from his bed; how is it with you Sir?

Ther.
As with the besieg'd:
my soule is so beset it does not know,
whether't had best to make a desperate
sally out by this port or not?

Agl.
Sure I shall turne statue here.

Ther.
If thou do'st love mee, weepe not Aglaura:
all those are drops of bloud, and flow from mee.

Zir.
Now all the gods defend this way of expiation,
Think'st thou thy crime, Aglaura would be lesse,
by adding to it? or canst thou hope
to satisfie those powers, whom great sins
doe displease, by doing greater.

Agl.
Discourteous courtesie!
I had no other meanes left mee than this,
to let Thersames know I would doe nothing
to him, I would not doe unto my selfe,
and that thou takest away.

Ther.
Friend, bring mee a little nearer,
I finde a kinde of willingnesse to stay,
and finde that willingnesse something obey'd.
My bloud now it perswades it selfe
you did not call in earnest,
makes not such haste—

Agl.
Oh my dearest Lord,
this kindnesse is so full of crueltie,
puts such an uglinesse on what I have done,
that when I looke upon it, needs must fright
mee from my selfe, and which is more insufferable,
I feare from you.

Ther.
Why should that fright thee, which most comforts mee?
I glorie in it, and shall smile i'th' grave,
to thinke our love was such, that nothing
but it selfe could e're destroy it.

Agl.
Destroy it? can it have ever end?
will you not be thus courteous then in the other world?
shall wee not be together there as here?

Ther.
I cannot tell whether I may or not.

Agl.
Not tell?

Ther.
No:
The Gods thought mee unworthy of thee here,
and when thou art more pure,
why should I not more doubt it?

Agl.
Because if I shall be more pure,
I shall be then more fit for you.
Our Priests assure us an Elysium,
and can that be Elysium where true Lovers
must not meet? Those Powers that made our loves,
did they intend them mortall,
would sure have made them of a courser stuffe,
would they not my Lord?—

Ther.
Prethee speake still,
this musique gives my soule such pleasing businesse,
takes it so wholly up, it findes not leasure to
attend unto the summons death does make;
yet they are loud and peremptorie now,
and I can onely—

Faints.
Agl.
Some pitying Power inspire mee with
a way to follow him: heart wilt thou not
breake it of thy selfe.

Zir.
My griefes besot mee:
his soule will saile out with this purple tide,
and I shall here be found staring
after't, like a man that's come too short o'th' ship,
and's left behinde upon the land.
Shee swounes.
Enter Andrages.
Oh welcome, welcome, here lyes, Andrages,
alas too great a triall for thy art.

And.
There's life in him: from whence these wounds?

Zir.
Oh 'tis no time for storie.

And.
'Tis not mortall my Lord, bow him gently,
and help mee to infuse this into him;
the soule is but asleepe, and not gone forth.

Ther.
Oh—oh:—

Zir.
Hearke, the Prince does live.

Ther.
What e're thou art hast given mee now a life,
and with it all my cares and miseries,
expect not a reward, no not a thanks.
If thou would'st merit from mee,
(yet wh'would be guiltie of so lost an action)
restore mee to my quietnesse agen,
for life and that are most incompatible.

Zir.
Still in despaires:
I did not thinke till now 'twas in the power
of Fortune to have robb'd Thersames of himselfe,
for pitie, Sir, and reason live;
if you will die, die not Aglaura's murther'd,
that's not so handsome: at least die not
her murthered, and her murtherer too;
for that will surely follow. Looke up, Sir,
this violence of Fortune cannot last ever:
who knowes but all these clouds are shadowes,
to set off your fairer dayes, if it growes blacker,
and the stormes doe rise, this harbour's alwayes open.

Ther.
What say'st thou, Aglaura?

Agl.
What sayes Andrages?

And.
Madam, would Heaven his mind would admit
as easie cure, as his body will,
'Twas onely want of bloud,
and two houres rest restores him to himselfe.

Zir.
And by that time it may be Heaven
will give our miseries some ease:
come Sir, repose upon a bed,
there's time enough to day.

Ther.
Well, I will still obey,
though I must feare it will be with mee,
but as 'tis with tortured men,
whom States preserve onely to wrack agen.

Exeunt.
Take off table.
Enter Ziriff with a taper.
Zir.
All fast too, here
They sleepe to night
i'their winding sheets I thinke, there's such
a generall quiet.
Oh! here's light I warrant you:
for lust does take as little rest, as care, or age.
Courting her glasse, I sweare, fie! that's a flatterer Madam,
in mee you shall see trulier what you are.

He knocks. Enter Queene.
Orb.
What make you up at this strange houre my Lord?

Zir.
My businesse is my boldnesse warrant,
(Madam)
and I could well afford t'have beene without it now,
had Heav'n so pleas'd.

Orb.
'Tis a sad Prologue,
what followes in the name of vertue?

Zir.
The King—

Orb.
I: what of him? is well is hee not?

Zir.
Yes,—
If to be on's journey to the other world
be to be well, hee is.

Orb.
Why hee's not dead, is hee?

Zir.
Yes, Madam, dead.

Orb.
How? where?

Zir.
I doe not know particulars.

Orb.
Dead!

Zir.
Yes (Madam).

Orb.
Art sure hee's dead?

Zir.
Madam I know him as certainly dead,
as I know you too must die hereafter

Orb.
Dead!

Zir.
Yes, dead.

Orb.
Wee must all die,
the Sisters spin no cables for us mortalls;
th'are threds; and Time, and chance—
trust mee I could weep now,
but watrie distillations doe but ill on graves,
they make the lodging colder.

Shee knocks.
Zir.
What would you Madam?

Orb.
Why my friends, my Lord;
I would consult and know, what's to be done.

Zir.
(Madam) 'tis not so safe to raise the Court,
things thus unsetled, if you please to have—

Orb.
Where's Ariaspes?

Zir.
In's dead sleepe by this time sure.

Orb.
I know hee is not! find him instantly.

Zir.
I'm gone.—
Turnes back againe.
But (Madam) why make you choyce of him, from whom
if the succession meet disturbance,
all must come of danger?

Orb.
My Lord, I am not yet so wise, as to be
jealous; pray dispute no further.

Zir.
Pardon mee (Madam) if before I goe
I must vnlock a secret to you; such a one
as while the King did breathe durst know no aire,
Zorannes lives.

Orb.
Ha!

Zir.
And in the hope of such a day as this
has lingred out a life, snatching, to feed
his almost famish'd eyes,
sights now and then of you, in a disguise.

Orb.
Strange! this night is big with miracle!

Zir.
If you did love him, as they say you did,
and doe so still; 'tis now within your power:

Orb.
I would it were, my Lord, but I am now
no private woman, if I did love him once,
(as 'tis so long agoe, I have forgot)
my youth and ignorance may well excuse't.

Zir.
Excuse it?

Orb.
Yes, excuse it Sir.

Zir.
Though I confesse I lov'd his father much,
and pitie him, yet having offer'd it
unto your thoughts: I have discharg'd a trust;
and zeale shall stray no further.
(Your pardon Madam:)

Exit.
Orb.
May be 'tis but a plot to keep off Ariaspes
greatnesse, which hee must feare, because hee knowes
hee hates him: for these great States-men,
that when time has made bold with the King
and Subject, throwing downe all fence
that stood betwixt their power
and others right, are on a change,
like wanton Salmons comming in with flouds,
that leap o're wyres and nets, and make their way
to be at the returne to everie one a prey.

Enter Ziriff.
Zir.

Orb.
Hold—hold—
Not for my sake, but Orbella's (Sir) a bare
and single death is such a wrong to Justice,
I must needs except against it.
Finde out a way to make mee long a dying;
for death's no punishment, it is the sense,
the paines and feares afore that makes a death:
To thinke what I had had, had I had you,
what I have lost in losing of my selfe;
are deaths farre worse than any you can give:
yet kill mee quickly, for if I have time,
I shall so wash this soule of mine with teares,
make it so fine, that you would be afresh
in love with it, and so perchance I should
againe come to deceive you.

Shee rises up weeping, and hanging downe her head.
Zir.
So rises day, blushing at nights deformitie:
and so the prettie flowers blubber'd with dew,
and over-washt with raine, hang downe their heads,
I must not looke upon her.

(Queene goes towards him.)
Orb.
Were but the Lillies in this face as fresh
as are the roses; had I but innocence
joyn'd to these blushes, I should then be bold,
for when they went a begging they were ne're deni'de,
'Tis but a parting kisse Sir—

Enter Pasithas, and two Guard.
Zir.
I dare not grant it.—Pasithas—away with her.
A bed put out: Thersames and Aglaura on it, Andrages by.

Ther.
Shee wake't mee with a sigh,
and yet shee sleepes her selfe, sweet Innocence,
can it be sinne to love this shape,
and if it be not, why am I persecuted thus?—
shee sighs agen, sleepe that drownes all cares,
cannot I see charme loves? blest pillowes,
through whose finenesse does appeare
the violets, lillies, and the roses
you are stuft withall, to whose softnesse
I owe the sweet of this repose,
permit mee to leave with you this, —Kisses them, shee wakes.

see if I have not wake't her,
sure I was borne, Aglaura, to destroy
thy quiet.

Agl.
Mine, my Lord,
call you this drowsinesse a quiet then?
beleeve mee, Sir, 'twas an intruder I much
struggled with, and have to thanke a dreame,
not you, that it thus left mee.

Ther.
A dreame! what dreame, my Love?

Agl.
I dream't (Sir) it was day,
and the feare you should be found here.

Enter Ziriff.
Zir.
Awake; how is it with you, Sir?

Ther.
Well, extremely well, so well, that had I now
no better a remembrancer than paine,
I should forget I e're was hurt,
thanks to Heaven, and good Andrages.

Zir.
And more than thanks I hope wee yet shall
live to pay him. How old's the night?

And.
Far-spent I feare, my Lord.

Zir.
I have a cause that should be heard
yet ere day breake, and I must needs entreat
you Sir to be the Judge in't.

Ther.
What cause, Zorannes?

Zir.
When you have promis'd—

Ther.
'Twere hard I should denie thee anything.
—Exit Zorannes.
Know'st thou, Andrages, what hee meanes?

And.
Nor cannot ghesse, Sir,
—Draw in the bed.
I read a trouble in his face, when first
hee left you, but understood it not.

Enter Zorannes, King, Ariaspes, Jolas, Queene, and two or three Guard.
Zor.
Have I not pitcht my nets like a good Huntsman?
Looke, Sir, the noblest of the Herd are here.

Ther.
I am astonished.

Zor.
This place is yours.—

Helps him up.
Ther.
What would'st thou have mee doe.

Zor.
Remember, Sir, your promise,
I could doe all I have to doe, alone;
but Justice is not Justice unlesse't be justly done:
here then I will begin, for here began my wrongs.
This woman (Sir) was wondrous faire, and wondrous
kinde,—I, faire and kinde, for so the storie runs,
she gave me looke for looke, and glance for glance,
and every sigh like eccho's was return'd,
wee sent up vow by vow, promise on promise,
so thick and strangely multiplyed,
that sure we gave the heavenly Registers
their businesse, and other mortalls oaths
then went for nothing, wee felt each others paines,
each others joyes, thought the same thought,
and spoke the verie same;
wee were the same, and I have much adoe
to thinke shee could be ill, and I not
be so too, and after this, all this (Sir)
shee was false, lov'd him, and him,
and had I not begun revenge,
till shee had made an end of changing,
I had had the Kingdome to have kill'd,
what does this deserve?

Ther.
A punishment hee best can make
that suffered the wrong.

Zor.
I thanke you, Sir,
for him I will not trouble you,
his life is mine, I won it fairly,
and his is yours, hee lost it fouly to you—
to him, Sir, now:
A man so wicked that he knew no good,
but so as't made his sins the greater for't.
Those ills, which singly acted bred despaire
in others, he acted daily, and ne're thought
upon them.
The grievance each particular has against him
I will not meddle with, it were to give him
a long life, to give them hearing,
Ile onely speake my owne.
First then the hopes of all my youth,
and a reward which Heaven had settled on mee,
(if holy contracts can doe any thing)
hee ravisht from mee, kill'd my father,
Aglaura's father, Sir, would have whor'd my sister,
and murther'd my friend, this is all:
and now your sentence, Sir.

Ther.
We have no punishment can reach these crimes:
therefore 'tis justest sure to send him where
th'are wittier to punish than we are here:
and cause repentance oft stops that proceeding,
a sudden death is sure the greatest punishment.

Zor.
I humbly thanke you, Sir.

King.
What a strange glasse th'have shew'd me now my selfe
in; our sins like to our shadowes,
when our day is in its glorie scarce appear'd,
towards our evening how great and monstrous
they are.

Zor.
Is this all you have to say?—

Drawes.
Ther.
Hold:—now goe you up.

Zor.
What meane you, Sir?

Ther.
Nay, I denyed not you,—
That all thy accusations are just,
I must acknowledge,
and to these crimes, I have but this t'oppose,
hee is my Father, and thy Soveraigne.—
'Tis wickednesse (deare Friend) wee goe about
to punish, and when w'have murther'd him,
what difference is there 'twixt him and
our selves, but that hee first was wicked?—
Thou now would'st kill him 'cause he kill'd thy Father,
and when th'hast kill'd, have not I the selfe same
quarrell?

Zor.
Why Sir, you know you would your selfe
have done it.

Ther.
True: and therefore 'tis I beg his life,
there was no way for mee to have
redeem'd th'intent, but by a reall
saving of it.
Be ready Courtiers, and Guard, with their swords drawne, at the brests of the Prisoners.
If hee did ravish from thee thy Orbella,
remember that that wicked issue had
a noble parent, Love,—Remember
how he lov'd Zorannes when he was Ziriff,—
ther's something due to that.—
If you must needs have bloud for your revenge,
take it here—despise it not Zorannes:
Zorannes turnes away.
The gods themselves, whose greatnesse
makes the greatnesse of our sins,
and heightens 'em above what wee can doe
unto each other accept of sacrifice
for what wee doe 'gainst them,
why should not you, and 'tis much thriftier too:
you cannot let out life there, but my honour
goes, and all the life you can take here,
posteritie will give mee back agen;
see, Aglaura weepes:
that would have beene ill Rhetorique in mee,
but where it is, it cannot but perswade.

Zor.
Th'have thaw'd the ice about my heart;
I know not what to doe.

King.
Come downe, come downe, I will be King agen,
there's none so fit to be the Judge of this
as I; the life you shew'd such zeale to save,
I here could willingly returne you back;
but that's the common price of all revenge.

Enter Guard, Orsames, Philan, Courtiers, Orithie, Semanthe.
Jol., Ari.
Ha, ha, ha: how they looke now?

Zor.
Death: what's this?

Ther.
Betray'd agen;
all th'ease our Fortune gives our miseries is hope,
and that still proving false, growes part of it.

King.
From whence this Guard?

Ari.
Why Sir, I did corrupt, while we were his prisoners,
one of his owne to raise the Court; shallow soules,
that thought wee could not countermine;
come Sir, y'are in good posture to dispatch them.

King.
Lay hold upon his instrument:
Fond man, do'st thinke I am in love with villany
all the service they can doe mee here
is but to let these see the right I doe
them now is unconstrain'd, then thus I doe proceed.
Upon the place Zorannes lost his life,
I vow to build a tomb, and on that tomb
I vow to pay three whole yeares penitence,
if in that time I finde that heaven and you
can pardon; I shall finde agen the way
to live amongst you.

Ther.
Sir, be not so cruell to your selfe, this is an age.

King.
'Tis now irrevocable, thy Fathers lands
I give thee back agen, and his commands,
and with them leave to weare the Tyara,
that man there has abus'd.—
To you Orbella,
who it seemes are foule as well as I,
I doe prescribe the selfe same physick
I doe take my selfe:
but in another place, and for a longer time,
Diana's Nunnerie.

Orb.
Above my hopes.

King.
For you, who still have beene
the ready instrument of all my cruelties,
and there have cancell'd all the bonds of brother,
perpetuall banishment: nor, should
this line expire, shall thy right have a place.

Ari.
Hell and Furies.—

Exit.
King.
Thy crimes deserve no lesse, yet cause thou wert
Heavens instrument to save my life,
thou onely hast that time of banishment,
I have of penitence.—

Comes downe.
Ziriff offers to kisse the Kings hand.
Jol.
May it be plague and famine here till I returne.
No: thou shalt not yet forgive mee:

King.
Aglaura, thus I freely part with thee,
and part with all fond flames and warme desires,
I cannot feare new agues in my bloud
since I have overcome the charmes
thy beautie had, no other ever can
have so much power, Thersames, thou look'st pale,
is't want of rest?

Ther.
No Sir; but that's a storie for your eare—

They whisper.
Ors.
A strange and happie change.

Ori.
All joyes wait on you ever.

Agl.
Orithie,
how for thy sake now could I wish
Love were no Mathematick point,
but would admit division, that Thersames might,
though at my charge, pay thee the debt hee owes thee.

Ori.
Madam, I loved the Prince, not my selfe;
since his vertues have their full rewards,
I have my full desires.

King.
What miracles of preservation have wee had?
how wisely have the stars prepar'd you for felicitie?
nothing endeares a good more than the contemplation
of the difficultie wee had to attaine to it:
but see, Nights Empire's out,
and a more glorious auspitiously does begin;
let us goe serve the gods, and then prepare
for jollitie, this day Ile borrow from my vowes,
nor shall it have a common celebration,
since 't must be,
a high record to all posteritie.

—Exeunt omnes.

Epilogue.

Playes are like Feasts, and everie Act should bee
Another Course, and still varietie:
But in good faith provision of wit
Is growne of late so difficult to get,
That doe wee what wee can, w'are not able,
Without cold meats to furnish out the Table.
Who knowes but it was needlesse too? may bee
'Twas here, as in the Coach-mans trade, and hee
That turnes in the least compasse, shewes most Art:
How e're, the Poet hopes (Sir) for his part,
You'll like not those so much, who shew their skill
In entertainment, as who shew their will.