University of Virginia Library

ACTVS QVARTVS

SCÆNA PRIMA

[A Hall in the House of Arioldus.]
ARIOLDVS
meets EVRINIA with her haire about her eares.
What doe I see? Drop out myne Eyes! What Obiect
Strikes my afflicted Soule?

Euri.
The most black Story
That the worst times could e're produce. My Lord,
I am abus'd, dishonor'd, violated.
The King! The King!

Ariol.
Seaze mee some stupid Spirit,
That what I heare and see may passe vnsensibly
By my too prompt Imagination,
Least that the waight of it be greater then
My Reason well can beare. I dare not thinke
What I am loth to know.

Euri.
The King's a Ravisher!

Ariol.
Thy lookes do speake no lesse. O what am I
But a distracted peece of Earth? Where's now
The Moderation dull Philosophie
Soe much doth boast of? I am put to the triall,
And ther's no meane in this. This Spectacle
Wo'd make a frostie Patience glow, and burne,
Till it looks red with fury. None t'abuse,
But a poore innocent and Captiue Maid,
Tost in a sea of Suffrings.

Euri.
I am come
To take my leaue of you.

Ariol.
Indeed th'ast Reason;
For ther's more safety among Saluages
Then where such Lust raignes. Yett, I prythee, stay,
That thou maist see the ruines of thyne Honor
Repair'd by a Reuenge.

Euri.
No, I must goe
Where you shall neuer find mee more. Yett, pray,
Thinke sometyme of a litle Boy that seru'd you;
Did you ne're see him since?

Ariol.
Amazement strikes mee!

Euri.
'Twas I, my lord. I now am bold to tell you
What I had euer purpos'd to conceale;
I lou'd your Vertues, and I seru'd you truly.
Wo'd I had done so still; then had I ioy'd
In what I neuer more shall looke vpon!
But some freinds that I trusted, vrging often
What a Dishonor 'twas, neuer left working,
Till they had gott mee from you; but they lookt
Not with my Eyes, nor were their thoughts so harmeles;
For Heauen knowes all I wisht for was to bee
A seruant to your Goodnes. In the Battaile
(Where you were Victor) my Prayers still went wi' yee:
And when the Enemie fled, willing to heare
Th'assurance of your health, I ventur'd out,
And was seiz'd on by Souldiers, that did tell mee
I should to Lord Arioldus. None more willing
To be a Captiue there, I went with 'em,
And I was truly one. But now—

Ariol.
Speake still,
And I will stand a Liuing Statue, till
Thy suffrings make mee Marble.

Euri.
Now, farewell,
Farewell for euer. All that I desire
Is but your charitable Censure; for
I haue paid for my faults.

Ariol.
O giue mee tyme
To reckon vp my greifs. Heere stands a man
Exactly miserable! Was't not enough
To haue a stranger Virgin (whose deare innocence
Crau'd my protection) rauisht from my hands,
But it must proue a freind? A freind, that lou'd mee;
With such a Loue, too, as to sleight all dangers,
Fortune, or Mallice could deuise. Such Beauty
Obscur'd in seruile weeds! Where were my Eyes?
Haue I a curse to come that can exceede this?
If there bee, show it, fate.

Euri.
I shall but trouble yee,
To tarry longer.

Ariol.
Lett mee loose all sence
Of what thou suff'rest if I part from thee;
I'le loue thee yett; there is no Recompence
Can meet thy merrit elce.

Euri.
Oh no, my Lord;
Lett some vnspotted Virgin haue a Place
In your most noble thoughts; while I was soe
It was a blessing Heauen denyed mee. Now
I am too foule, some black and dismall Caue
Shall shroud mee from your Eyes.

Ariol.
Thy teares will do't
If thou continewst thus. I will mourne wi' thee,
And euery Sigh, and drop, like the quick Minutes,
Shall wast, and make our equall lines of life
(Plum'd with our waighty Sorrowes) find no Rest
Till they run out together. Doe not leaue mee!

Euri.
I know I shall but greiue your Noble Patience,
Which I am loth to doe.

Ariol.
Thou art to mee
The light of all my actions, and by thee
I shall see how to mannage my Reuenge.
Had I a hart as cold as feare could make it,
A hand as slow to Vengeance as thy wrongs
Are quick and crauing: theise disorder'd haires,
And theise sad teares wo'd print mee out a way.

Euri.
Oh, must I add a Murther to my faults?

Ariol.
A Justice, iniur'd maid, which I must execute
Against my Will. Wo'd my owne life wo'd serue!
I willingly wo'd pay it; but I must not,
That Tirant Honor sayes I must not: I
Cannot subsist, vnlesse I pull a cursse
Vpon my head, by Murdring of my King.
Is there a man more wretched? Oh Arioldus!
Thou art vpon the Rack now; beare it brauely.
I'le to him presently; hee sent to speake wi' mee
Just as I mett thee; I'le take this occation.
And when I haue by his sad fate giuen ease
To thy afflicted Hart, wee'le sett and count
Our heauy howers; that when Posteritie
Wo'd find a story that deserues a Pittie,
It may be cal'd Eurinias, or the Captiues.
And I will add some Legends of my owne
To make it more. [Calling.]
Who's there?
[Enter Seruant.]
Attend this ladie.
Exit EVRINIA.
I had forgott to aske her Parentage—
But I am all a sea, a sea of trouble!
Exit ARIOLDVS.

SCÆNA SECVNDA

[An Apartment in the Palace.]
ANDRVCHO.
Andru.
The King hath sent for Arioldus, and
I feare hee will preuent mee; hee is noble,
And will not suffer such a Monstrous Crime
To passe vnpunisht. But I'le hinder him.
I shalbe lost elce; 'tis my Right. I'le borrow
The shelter of this hanging.

Hee hides himself.
[Enter] KING, SERVANT.
King.
Will hee come?

Ser.
Hee told mee so, Sir.

King.
When hee enters, see
Wee find no interruption.

Ser.
[aside.]
What should this meane?
Exit SERVANT.

King.
I haue done ill thus to abuse a stranger,
Too late I find it. But are Princes wills
Bounded to Rules? Yett wo'd it were vndon!
But 'tis not to be helpt now.
[Enter] ARIOLDVS.
Arioldus,
I sent to speake wi' yee.

Ariol.
And I am come.

King.
Are you so short wi' mee?

Ariol.
Breifnes is best.

King.
This was not wont to bee. There is more difference
Betwixt the Parties.

Ariol.
A swords length or soe.
But to the Purpose; I wo'd know the matter.

King.
What's this, Arioldus? Am I to be forc't?

Ariol.
I am no Rauisher!

King.
I can be taunted,
And beare it toe. O what a Coward's Guilt?

Ariol.
I'me sorry, Sir, to vse such words. My Dutie,
(When it was firme and not Corrupted thus)
Bad mee fall downe before yee, and with Reuerence,
As to the Demy-gods; but your strange actions
Haue like a Cloud o'respread it, sullied all
That beares that Name. I co'd mourne drops of Blood
For what you haue no sence of!

King.
Yes, I haue.
I haue consider'd all, waigh'd euery Circumstance,
And find it but a scape, a heat of youth,
A rash and vncollected Accident;
But that which greiues mee most, is the impression
That it will strike in thee. I know, I haue
Done thee an Iniury; pardon it, Arioldus,
I'me very sorry for't.

Ariol.
You co'd not vex mee
With a worse torment; all the wayes of Death,
All at a tyme, could not haue Rackt mee more.
(Aside.)
I was so hott at first to raise his anger,
Hoping it wo'd take fire, that in those flames
Hee might haue turn'd to ashes. Now I must
Deny my King a Pardon, that hath power
To take my life; or I must yeild to him,
And haue the Marke of Coward, and the staine
Of poore Eurinia printed in my face.
What Medium is there?

King.
I doe find your trouble,
And know your Noblenes; I'le help you out wo't,
And to that purpose I did send for yee:
I doe acknowledge I haue done an iniurie,
And doe propose two things for satisfaction.

Ariol.
There is none to be giuen for this offence;
Can you recall the Tyme past? and from Age
Borrow a Minute? or will Nature bee
Brought to her prime and Natiue Puritie
While such Corruptions haue predominance?
Thinke first by adding one drop to the Sea,
You doe restore the flouds that are drain'd thence.
No, no, it is impossible.

King.
Yett heare mee;
You had a temper once.

Ariol.
But it is lost
Where I shall neuer find it more; I am
Just like a weather beaten Vessell, tost
From Rock to rock, from Scilla to Charibdis:
My Course is desperate; no saile I make
In this sad storme can keepe mee vp from sinking.

King.
Yett heare what I will say. I haue a sister
Of such vnualued Beauty, that the Price
Of Kingdomes onely can make purchase of;
And shee loues you, Arioldus.

Ariol.
Mee!

King.
And Dearely:
I gott it out of her by chance. This Jewell
Shall hang about thy Necke, and clap thy Cheeks,
Fixe her transparent Eyes in thyne, vntill
Your wandring Soules find an Elizium;
There Reuell all your Sences, till Loues Night
(Death) doth deuide you. Is not this sufficient
For one poore fault?

Ariol.
Although my greifs distract mee
I am not so much absent from my Reason
But that I apprehend the height of Honor
You wo'd conferr vpon mee. But in this,
You add vnto my Miseries; your kindnes,
I doe not wish nor looke for; 'tis like daggers
To my perplexed Hart. Shoot thunder at mee,
That I may answere yee in the same Mettaile;
I can not meet your Loue now.

King.
This exchange
Is not so farr from Reason.

Ariol.
No To sell
The Honor of a Virgin (which by oth
I was to keepe inuolate) at a Rate;
Sett price vpon your Lust, and purchase Shame,
With the sad fall of Vertue; guild my Vices,
And make 'em higher for ye world to gaze at,
While the foundation shalbee built vpon
The Ruines of all Goodnes! Noe! I loath
The painted out side of a Rotten Soule.
How happy had I bene, if I had rested
In the Calme Shade of a retired life,
Which your hott importunity did rob mee of.
My mind held strange Predictions then, and are not
Those Engins now in Motion? O soft Quiet!
Thou blessed bosome of Content, how farr
Are guilty States from reaching thee?

King.
You may
Find all agen by this; be sett so hye,
That the sharpe tougnes of Mallice dare not reach yee.
I wo'd faine buy thy Peace.

Ariol.
Nothing can purchase it.
Mischeife is broken loose, and like the winds,
From the crackt Bowells of the Earth doth rage;
There is no shelter from the Tempest of it.
The Empire of the World cannot redeeme
The peace of my vext soule.

King.
Since this distasts thee,
I will propound another.

Ariol.
'Tis in vaine.
You cannot find a Second; if my Hart
In theise feirce tumults could haue wisht a Rest,
It had bene there; your Sister hath a Breast
Soe full of Sweetnes! But you may aswell
Collect the falling Dropps the gray-eye'd Morning
Payes to the Flowers, and string 'em all like Pearles
T'adorne mee like a gaudy Miserie,
Till I desolue with 'em; or from the Sun
Snatch the high Power of Generation,
Till a New Nature doth possesse vs all,
And I forgett my Suffrings: Theise you may
Doe sooner then repaire my Iniuries
By any satisfaction.

King.
Thou wert euer
Louing to mee, and though this 'base distemper
Which lately rul'd my Blood may iustly blemish,
And lay a Brand vpon a noble Nature,
Yett I'le be kind to thee, and thou shalt find it;
For I will meet thy wishes.

Ariol.
Had this onely
Concern'd my selfe, were there no other motiue,
No Duty should haue bene more firme, no Loue
More full of Zeale; you could not think to doe
That ill, I should but onely pray against,
Not rashly censure; now I, giant like,
Must warr 'gainst Heauen—

King.
Well, then, you haue
Refus'd one of my offers: heare the other.
The marriage of my Sister is not valued—

Ariol.
As any Satisfaction, I had rather
Grapple with Death.

King.
The other is—I'le fight wi' yee.

Ariol.
How!

King.
Fight wi' yee. Therfore draw! You know I may
Lay treason to your charge, for I do find yee
Loaden with bad intents, and so make Justice
Quitt mee of all this feare; but I doe loath it,
Where I doe loue, and faine wo'd gaine a freind.
Thou shalt not fight in danger neither; heere,
Heere is thy Pardon if thou kil'st mee; take it!
[Holds out a paper.]
And now choose which you will, my Sister or mee.
Quickly, resolue! What! Mute! Heere I am ready.

Ariol.
Some Planet strike mee! Shall I lift my hand
Against such Noblenes? I am to seeke now.
Oh Arioldus, thou art plung'd into
A gulfe of Doubts where ther's no ground of Rest!
This Goodnes ouercomes mee; I am conquer'd:
Wo'd I had neuer liu'd to see this day!
Where shall I hide my selfe? Shroud mee some darknes!
The light of all my Reason is extinguisht;
I must kill him that wo'd preserue my life,
Or liue, to see a Virgin that I loue
Ignobly iniur'd.

King.
Are you in a study?
Faith, take my Sister yett.

Ariol.
This World I waigh not,
Nor all the Pleasures in it; th'are like Bubles:
Soone heere, soone gon! You take mee most—

King.
Come on then!

Ariol.
Your goodnes, Royall Sir, I wo'd be thankefull,
For this great Benefitt, but cannot, if
I murder him that is the Author of it.
Heere, take my Sword, and life, I humbly begg it;
Ridd mee of all my Sorrowes, for I am
The worst compacted, and vnhappy Masse
That euer had a Beeing.

[Falls on his knees.]
King.
Come, come, Rise!
Putt vp thy Sword agen, wee will renewe
A firmer Freindship; it doth trouble mee,
That I should call thyne Anger vp, to straine
A noble Nature from its owne true beeing:
Wee'le liue like twins in loue—

Ariol.
Where tends my thoughts?
How they doe struggle in mee! Lett 'em either
Be stronge enough to leaue mee without sence
Of what I suffer, or Resolue on something!
It must! I take the last, Sir.

King.
And I grant it.

Ariol.
Just as my Sword was sheathing, there appear'd
Vnto my trouble[d] fancy, a Poore Virgin,
With haires disheuel'd, crying out for Vengeance;
Her teares giues Growth to an new anger in mee,
And I haue quite forgott all other pitty.
Now, Arme mee, Justice!

King.
Come, Sir.

They fight.
Andru.
[rushing in.]
Hold!

King.
Bold Slaue!
To interrupt vs thus!

Andru.
Wo'd you be kil'd?
Theise are fine tricks indeed! You are my King,
And 'tis a Subiects Duty to preserue yee.
Putt vp your swords, for shame! I'le cry out Treason
And raise the Court elce. Are you weary of liuing?

King.
Y'are growne too saucy, Sirra.

Ariol.
[aside to Andru.]
Aribert—

King.
Wee were but pra[c]tizing at foiles; this Groome
Must interpose his Will. Cousin, wee'le meet
Some other tyme; the Wager still shall stand
Vpon the first hitt.

Ariol.
I'e attend your Maiestie.

Exit KING.
Andru.
A pritty iugling!

Ariol.
What?

Andru.
To putt it of soe.

Ariol.
Wee were in ieast.

Andru.
You cannot cousen mee,
That saw, and heard what past.

Ariol.
Then, Aribert,
'Twas fondly done. If you had sought out iniurie,
Where it first grewe (in Mallice) and had prest it,
Till all the Venombe had benum'd my sences
It co'd not haue bene worse. You haue vndone mee.

Andru.
How, Arioldus? Lett a better temper
Reduce your wandring Spirit; I haue preseru'd yee
From Death, or Murder, or Both; bethinke your selfe,
'Twas a freinds part.

Ariol.
A freinds! Spight a' such freindship,
To thrust mee from the way, from the smooth path,
That led vnto the quiet of my hart.
You may aswell call it a Charitie,
To rob a thirstie Soule of that deare Moisture,
His paines, and hott desires, hath brought him toe,
As Tantalize mee thus.

Andru.
And all this sturr
Is for a Captiue!

Ariol.
'Tis for one, whose Breast
Hath more of goodnes in it, then dull man
Can apprehend. Wee search but to the outside,
And on that glaring Comet cast our Wonder,
Not minding what base viscuous slimy Matter
It is compos'd of. But this Soule—

Andru.
To venture
The Murder of a King for such a one,
Was a strange hazard though.

Ariol.
Shee lou'd mee, Aribert.

Andru.
Soe doth the King.

Ariol.
You search too deepe into mee,
Amd rake fresh Embers vp.

Andru.
Leaue of this fury
And bee your selfe; remember what it is
To kill a King! A King, Arioldus! That
Will pale the stoutest Courage. I haue Cause,
If that restrain'd mee not, and more then you.

Ariol.
'Tis falce, I'le proue it soe.

Drawes.
Andru.
You will not! Hold!

Ariol.
I'le do't or dye in't. I haue heard the King
Pitty your Banishment, and his full meaning
Is to recall you shortly; can you waigh
Soe small a suffring in an equall Ballance
With this poore Captiues? Ther's not the least teare
Falls from her Eyes but it is worth a life.

Andru.
You know I haue mett danger in the worst
Shape it putts on; be well aduis'd! Your Passions
Are too predominant. This Captiues iniuries
I haue as much cause to reuenge as you.

Ariol.
This is a Madnes.

Andru.
'Tis not! Shee's my daughter.

Ariol.
Your daughter!

Andru.
Yes. Sheath your vnruly Sword,
And turne it not against a freind.

Ariol.
O Aribert!
I haue of late bene beaten to this wildnes.

Andru.
I had no sooner cast my Eyes vpon her
But to my greife I knew her. Then shee told mee
That after my sad Banishment, the King
Renew'd his old suit, but her loue to you
Made her neglect him; so shee did giue out
That shee was dead, to further her disguise;
Her taking Captiue, all; to much, to much,
Wer't not my King. But I haue spent my time
In fooling well, and I am paid for't.

Ariol.
Come,
Wee will compare our Sorrowes, and if they
Be able to be bourne, wee'le beare 'em brauely;
If not, the waight must fall vpon his head
Whose Lust produc't 'em.

Andru.
Heauen forbid!

Ariol.
If you
Had not restrain'd mee, t'had bene done ere this.

Andru.
I wo'd not for the World; 'tis sacred Blood,
Pretious as teares of Dying Saints; wee must
Preseure 't, and leaue our Justice to the Gods.

Ariol.
Farewell, I'le take my course.

Andru.
Hee loues you too—
Remember his faire Offers—

Ariol.
Vexe mee not.

Exit.
Andru.
I'le follow him, and worke vpon his Goodnes.

Exit.

SCÆNA TERTIA

[A Room in the House of Antharis.]
ANTHARIS, ALCIDONVS.
Antha.
Come, I will giue you liberty; my Rigor
Shall not oppresse ye more, for Loue restrain'd
Will soone find wings to gett abroad. I'le leaue yee
To your owne temper. Take your Course.

Alci.
My Duty
Hath not deseru'd so ill, to be throwne of
And made an out cast.

Antha.
I wo'd ha' preseru'd yee,
But you are wilfull; go, go, take her, doe!
Take your so Lou'd Selina, and embrace her:
Pull on a Leprosie vpon your bloods
Worse then the sting of Death.

Alci.
Why, Sir, what meane you?

Antha.
I meane to tell thee that which I had thought
To haue lockt vp for euer. Doe you thinke
I haue bene obstinate without a Cause?
Could Nature haue so litle sence of goodnes,
To bee so harsh but that there is a Reason?

Alci.
What Reason?

Antha.
O how loath I am to speake it,
Because it is our Shame.

Alci.
How! Shame to mee?

Antha.
Yett 'tis no fault of thine. Faith, do not heare it,
'Twill bring thee discontent; leaue but this woman,
And then, you neede not know it.

Alci.
How I burne
With Expectation?

Antha.
Will you haue the Truth?

Alci.
I doe loue nothing more.

Antha.
Then take it. Y'are—
How hard it is to come out?

Alci.
Doe not rack mee!

Antha.
If you will needs know, y'are a Bastard.

Alci.
How!
What Monsters Yssue shall I proue to bee?

Antha.
Nay, you are myne.

Alci.
From what foule wombe?

Antha.
I'le tell thee.
Lord Clephis being employ'd on an Ambasage
That held him long abroad, what out of Mallice
To him, and strong affection to his wife,
I did preuaile so much with Bribes and Prayers,
I lay with her, and gott thee. All things were
Carried so closely that 'twas neuer knowne;
And my wife too miscarried at that tyme,
And died in Child-bed; so I bred thee vp,
As my Legitimate son, and Clephis had
Selina afterwards by the same woman.
So you are Brother and sister. This was it
Made mee so oppositt against your meetings.
Wo'd I ha' bene so cruell elce?

Alci.
My sister!

Antha.
Both by one Mother.

Alci.
Then there is no curse
Could ha' bene greater to mee. O you haue
Nourisht a Serpent, and haue putt into it
Besids its owne, a poison that will breake it.
Why, what wild beast am I? My Sister—Is there
A punishment more greiuous? Co'd dull Nature,
Wittie in Villanie, inuent a worse?
It is like lead dropping into my Marrow,
Which neuer can be quencht, although the Venombe
Conuerts my Blood to water.

Antha.
[aside.]
Now it works.

Alci.
Oh whether shall I turne mee? You haue blasted
The Spring of all my life, dig'd vp the Roote
Of my ripe Hopes, and left mee open to
The wonder of the World.

Antha.
Vex not your selfe
All this shall be kept secret; you had neuer
Knowne it, but that 'twas to preserue yee.

Alci.
Yes,
You are too subtile i' your Plagues! What torment
Haue you prepar'd besides? Haue I a Birth?
Or whose shall I bee next? For you haue Power
To make mee any thing: can you perswade mee
That there is Remedie for the sad troubles
Of my greiu'd hart? Giue mee a balme for that.

Antha.
I can, if thou wilt heare mee. Cast thy thoughts
Vpon some other Woman, and thou shalt
Haue all the Happines that thou can'st wish for.
I loue thee, Alcidonus, dearely too.

Alci.
Then, show it; kill mee; 'twilbe no great Crime
To take away what you did giue, against
The Rules of Justice too; you cannot
With all your loue make mee more Happie, for
I now am weary of my selfe; pray, kill mee.
I am already wounded; you haue shott
That into mee, will make mee languish euer;
'Tis Charitie to rid mee of my Paine.

Antha.
Come, y'are to blame; recall your selfe. I tender
Too much your safetie, and your green-sick humor
Cannot conceiue it: diseas'd Bodies couett
What is most Noctious to 'em: So is your Mind
Asleepe on lazy thoughts next dore to Lust.

Alci.
The effects of that curs'd Fate by which I am yours.
Wo'd I might sleepe for euer, that the Night
Of all my Cares might neuer find a day;
Or that my greifs, too many, and too waighty,
Wo'd lag my heauy Soule vnto its Rest.

Antha.
I am asham'd to see yee.

Alci.
So am I
Asham'd to looke vpon my selfe.

Antha.
Farewell!
Consider what I haue said, and bee aduis'd.

Exit.
Alci.
Ther's no Aduice can serue; my ignorance
Hath trod the paths of wickednes, and my Blood
Burnes with black Incest. O how harsh this newes
Wilbe to my Selina? 'Tis too true!
No Deuill could inuent so much ill, if it be not
It is impossible to find it out
Though by the Light of Shame. No, Alcidonus,
Thy ioyes are buried now, and thou canst haue
No rest at all but in a quiet graue!

Exit.