University of Virginia Library

Act. 5.

Scene. 1.

Enter Zenarchus solus.
Zen.
Oh my Tymethes! truest joy on earth!
Hath thy fate prov'd so flinty? so perverse?
To the sweete spring both of thy youth and hopes?
This was Mazeres spight, that cursed Rivall,
And if I faile not, his owne plot shall shower
Vpon his bosome like a falling Tower.
Enter Tyrant.
My worthy Lord.

Tyr.
Oh, you should have seene us sooner.

Zen.
Why my Lord!

Tyr.
The quarters of your friend passed by in Triumph,
A sight that I presume, had pleas'd you well.

Zen.
I call a villaine to my fathers pleasure,
No friend of mine; the sight had pleas'd me better.
Had I not like Mazeres, run my hate
Into the sinne before it grew to act;
And kill'd it ere 't had knotted: 'twas rare service,
If your vex'd Majesty conceive it right,
In politicke Mazeres, serving more
In this discovery, his owne vicious malice
Than any true peace that should make you perfect:
Suffering the hatefull treason to be done
He might have stopt in his confusion.

Tyr.
Most certaine.

Zen.
Good your Majesty bethinke you
In manly temper and considerate blood;
Went he the way of loyalty, or your quiet,
After he saw the courtesies exceed
T'abuse your peace, and trust them with the deed?

Tyr.
Oh no, none but a Traytor would have done it.

Zen.
For my Lord, weigh't indifferently.

Tyr.
I doe, I doe.

Zen.
What makes it heynous, burthensome, and monstrous,
Fills you with such distractions, breedes such furies
In your incensed breast, but the deede doing?

Tyr.
Oh.

Zen.
Th'intent had beene sufficient for his death,
And that full satisfaction; but the act—

Tyr.
Insufferable,
Sertorio! where's Sertorio.

Enter Sertorio.
Ser.
My Lord.

Tyr.
Seeke out Mazeres suddenly, peace Zenarchus
Let me alone to trap him.

Zen.
It may prove,
Behold my friend, how I expresse my love.

Tyr.
Oh villaine, had he pierc'd him at first sight,
Where I have one griefe, I had mist ten thousand by't.

Enter Mazeres and Sertorio.
Maz.
I dreampt of some new honours for my late service,
And I wondred how he could keepe off so long from my desert.

Tyr.
Mazeres?

Maz.
My lov'd Lord.

Tyr.
I am forgetfull
I am in thy debt some dignities Mazeres,
What shift shall we make for thee? thy late service
Is warme still in our memory and deare favour:
Prithee discover to's the manner how
Thou tookest them subtlely.

Maz.
I was received into a waiters roome my Lord.

Tyr.
Thou wast!

Maz.
And in a vizard helpt to serve the banquet.

Tyr.
Ha, ha!

Maz.
Saw him conveyd into a Chamber privately.

Tyr.
And still thou let'st him runne?

Maz.
I let him play my Lord.

Tyr.
Ha, ha, ha!

Maz.
I watcht still nere, till her armes claspt him.

Tyr.
And there thou let'st him rest.

Maz.
There he was caught my Lord.

Tyr.
So art thou here; drag him to execution he shall dye.
With tortures bove the thought of Tyranny.

Exit.
Zen.
No words are able to expresse my gladnesse,
Tis such a high borne rapture that the soule
Pertakes it onely.

Enter Amphridote and Lodovico.
Amp.
My Lord Mazeres led
Vnto his death?

Lod.
It proves too true deare Princesse.

Amp.
Curst be the mouth that doom'd him, and for ever
Blasted the hand that parts him from his life.
Was there none fit to practise Tyrannie on
But whom our heart elected? misery of love!
I must not live to thinke oft.

Zen.
Here's my Sister,
I could not bring that newes will please her better,
My newes brings that command over your passions, you must be merry.

Amp.
Have you warrant for't Brother?

Zen.
Yes, strong enough yfaith; here me, Mazeres
By this time is at his everlasting home;
Where ere his body lyes, I strucke the stroake
I wrought a bitter pill that quickely choak'd him.

Amp.
Oh me, my soule will out, some wine there hoa!

Zen.
Wine for our Sister, for the newes is worth it.

Enter Lod. with wine and Exit.
Am.
It will prove deare to both; so, give it me; now leave us.

Zen.
Revenge nere brought forth a more happy issue
Than I thinke mine to be.

She poysons the wine.
Am.
I'me setting forth Mazeres, here Zenarchus.

Zen.
Thou art not like this houre, joviall.

Am.
I shall be after this.

Zen.
That does't if any,
Wine doth both helpe defects, and causeth many.
Here's to the deed faith of our last revenge.

Amp.
Dying men Prophesie, saith tis our last end;
Now I must tell you brother, that I hate you,
In that you have betray'd my lov'd Mazeres.

Zen.
What's this?

Amp.
His deede was loyall, his discovery just,
He brought to light a monster and his lust.

Zen.
Nay if you grow so strumpet like in your behaviour to me,
Ile quickely coole that insolence.

Amp.
Peace, peace,
There is a Champion fights for me unseene,
I neede not feare thy thereats.

Zen.
Indeed no Harlot
But has her Champion, besides Baud and Varlet; oh!

Amp.
Why law you now such geere will nere thrive with you.

Zen.
I'me sicke of thy society, poyson to mine eyes.

Amp.
Tis lower in thy brest the poyson lyes.

Zen.
How?

Amp.
Tis for Mazeres.

Zen.
Oh you vertuous powers,
What a right strumpet? poyson under love?

Amp.
That man can nere be safe that divides love.

She dyes.
Zen.
Nor she be honest can so soone impart,
Oh ware that woman that can shift her heart.

Dyes.

Scene. 2.

Thunder and lightning. A blazing starre appeares. Enter Tyrant.
Tyr.
Ha? thunder? and thou marrow melting blast
Quicke winged lightning; and thou blazing starre,
I like not thy prodigious bearded fire;
Thy beames are fatall: ha? behold the Influence
Of all their malice in my childrens ruines?
Their states malignant powers have envyde,
And for some hast strucke with their envies dy'd:
Tis omenous; within there?

Enter Sertorio and Lodovico.
Lod.
Here my Lord.

Tyr.
Conveigh those bodies a while from my sight.

Ser.
Both dead my Lord.

Tyr.
Yes, and we safe, our death we need lesse feare,
Vsurpers issue oft proves dangerous,
We depose others, and they poyson us,
I have found it on Records, tis better thus.

Enter the Old King, Lapirus, Fidelio, Amorpho, all disguised like Pilgrims.
Lap.
My Lord, this Castle is but slightly guarded.

King.
Tis as I hop'd and wish'd; now blesse us heaven,
What horrid and inhumaine spectacle
Is yonder that presents it selfe to sight?

Fid.
It seemes three quarters of a man hung up.

Kin.
What Tiranny hath beene exercis'd of late? I dare not venture on.

Amo.
Feare not my Lord, our habits give us safety.

Lap.
Behold, the Tyrant maketh toward us.

Tyr.
Holy, and reverent Pilgrims, welcome.

Kin.
Bold strangers, by the Tempest beaten in.

Tyr.
Most welcome still, wee are but stewards for such guests as you,
What we possesse is yours, to your wants due,
We are onely rich for your necessities.

King.
A generous, free, and charitable minde
Keepes in thy bosome to poore Pilgrims kinde.

Tyr.
Tis time of day to dine my friends; Sertorio?

Enter Sertorio.
Ser.
My Lord?

Tyr.
Our food.

Ser.
Tis ready for your highnesse.

Loud Musicke. A banquet brought in, and by it a small Table for the Queene.
Tyr.
Sit, pray sit, religious men right welcome
Vnto our Cates. Grave sir I have observ'd
You waste the vertue of your serious eye
Too much on such a worthlesse objects as that is.
A Traytor when he liv'd call'd that his flesh;
Let hang, here's to you, we are the oldest here,
Round let it goe, feede, if you like your cheere.

Enter Sertorio.
Ser.
My Lord.

Tyr.
How now?

Ser.
Ready my Lord.

Tyr.
Sit merry.

Exit.
King.
Where ere I looke these limbes are in mine eye.

Lap.
Some wretch on whom he wrought his Tyranny.

Fid.
Hard was his fate to light into his mercy.

Amorp.
Peace, he comes.

Soft Musicke. Enter the Tyrant with the Queene, her haire loose, she makes a Curtsie to the Table. Sertorio brings in the flesh with a skull all bloody, they all wonder.
Tyr.
I perceive strangers more desire to see
An object than the fare before them set;
But since your eyes are serious Suitors growne
I will discourse; what's seene shall now be knowne.

King.
Your bounty every way conquers poore strangers.

Tyr.
Yon Creature whom your eyes so often visit
Held mighty sway over our powers and thoughts,
Indeed we were all hers
Besides her graces, there were all perfections;
Vnlesse she speakes, no musicke: till her wishes
Brought forth a monster, a detested issue
Poysoning the thoughts I held of her.
The Old King sends forth Amorpho.
She did from her owne ardour undergoe
Adulterous basenesse with my profesied foe;
Her lust strangely betray'd, I ready to surprize them,
Set on fire by the abuse, I found his life
Cunningly shifted by her owne deare hand
And far enough convey'd from my revenge:
Vnnaturally she first abus'd my heart,
And then prevented my revenge by Art.
Yet there I left not; though his trunke were cold
My wrath was flaming, and I exercis'd
New vengeance on his carcase; and gave charge
The body should be quarter'd and hung up; twas done,
This as a pennance I enjoyn'd her to
To taste no other sustenance; no nor dares
Till her loves body be consum'd in hers.

Kin.
The sinne was great, so is the pennance greivous.

Tyr.
Our vow is sign'd.

Kin.
And was he Lydian borne?

Tyr.
He was no lesse, sonne to mine Enemie,
A banisht King; Tymethes was his name.

Kin.
Oh me, my sonne Tymethes.

Lap.
Passion may spoyle us: sir, we oft have heard
Of that old King his father; and that justly
This Kingdome was by right due to his sway.

Tyr.
It was, I thinke it was, till we call'd in
By pollicy and force deceiv'd his confidence,
Shew'd him a tricke of warre and turn'd him out.

Kin.
Sinnes boast is worse than sinne.

Enter Fidelio.
Fid.
All's sure, the guards are seiz'd on.

Lap.
Good.

Fid.
The Passage strongly guarded.

Tyr.
Holy sir, what's he?

Lap.
Our brother, a poore Pilgrime, that gives notice
Of a Religious father that attends
To beare us company in our Pilgrimage.

Tyr.
Oh, ho, tis good, tis very good.

Kin.
Alas poore Lady, it makes mee weepe to see what food she eates.
I know your mercy will remit this pennance.

Tyr.
Never, our vow's irrevocable, never;
The Letcher must be swallowed rib by rib,
His flesh is sweete, it melts, and goes downe merrily,
They discover themselves.
Ha? what are these?

Lap.
Speranza.

Tyr.
Ha?

King.
Villaine, this minute looses thee, thou Tyrant.

Tyr.
Pilgrims weare armes? the old King? and Lapirus?
Betrayd? confounded? oh, I must dye forsworne;
Breake vow, bleed Whore, there is my jealousie flowne.
He kils his Queene.
Oh happie man, tis more revenge to me
Then all your aymes, I have kill'd my jealousie.
I have nothing now to care for more than hell
'T had beene if you had strucke me ere she fell.
I had left her to your lust, the thought is bitternesse,
But she first falne; ha, ha, ha.

King.
Dye cruell murtherous Tyrant.

They all discharge at him.
Tyr.
So, laugh away this breath,
My lust was nere more pleasing than my death.

Dyes.
Lap.
As full possest as ever, and as rich
In Subjects hearts and voyces; we present thee
The compleat sway of this usurped Kingdome.

Kin.
I am so borne betwixt the violent streames
Of Ioy and passion, I forget my state;
To all our thankes and favours, and what more
We are in debt to all your free consent
We will discharge in happie governement.

Enter the Old Queene disguised, a Boy with her.
Que.
The peacefull'st reigne that ever Prince enjoy'd.

Kin.
Already a Petition? suitors begin betimes
We are scarce warme in our good fortune yet, what are you?

Que.
Vnworthiest of all the joyes this houre brings forth.

She discovers.
Kin.
Our dearest Queene?

Que.
Your poore distressed Queene.

Kin.
Oh let me light upon that constant brest,
And kisse thee till my soule melt on thy lips:
Our Joyes were perfect, stood Tymethes there,
We are old; this Kingdome wants a hopefull heire.

Que.
Your joyes are perfect though he stand not there,
And your wish blest behold a hopefull heire:
Stand not amaz'd, 'tis Manophes.

Kin.
How just the Gods are? who in their due time
Returne what they tooke from us.

Que.
Happy houre,
Heaven hath not taken all our happinesse;
For though your elder met ill fate, good heaven
Hath thus preserv'd your yonger for your heire.

Kin.
Prepare those limbes for honourable buriall,
And noble Nephew all your ill is lost
In your late new borne goodnesse, which we'le reward,
No storme of fate so fierce but time destroyes,
And beates backe miserie with a peale of Joyes.

Exeunt omnes.