University of Virginia Library

The fourth Act.

Enter Abner reading of a letter attended by two sons.
He reads.
Vnlesse you speedily repaire unto our aide,
the Kingdom's lost beyond recovery.

Abner.
O fearfull newes, newes that doth rent my heart
to heare it.

1. Sou.
Why noble father? you have
received as desperate tydings oft before,
yet made your thoughts contemne the worst might follow,
and when occasion offer'd, as bravely did
performe it, rebuke this passion then Sir.

2. Sou.
Good father doe,
our joyes in your contentment.

Abne.
Fond youthes your yet unripned yeares, brookes not
the lowring jesture of deserved sorrowes,
(how neere soever it concernes you,) why
your spring o'retops the Autumne of my yeares,
your griefes a weather-cocke, subject to change
at every blast of youthfull pleasure;
but when dame nature dyes your flaxen curles
a reverend gray, experience will confute
that fond deluding follie: this is no
common toy (like yours) to grive at, no, no,
peruse them mournefull lines, where if you find
not cause of lamentation, blame me then:

He gives the letter they peruse it
1. Son.
Ha, Lirenda at point to be destroyed!
O brother see, that countrey whence we are
discended, calls for some timely succour:
nature must worke a true compassion in us:
Father, O Father, by all that is most
Deere unto you, regard this sad complaint:

gives it back.
Abn.
Now be yourselves the judge whether we ought not
pitty them, or preferre their safetie sooner
then all the fortunes mightie Spaine will give us,
value the difference pray: here we be indeed
accommodated with respect and honour,
wealth sufficient for our betters, with the
grace of Spaine's Emperiall Monarch,
what doe we lacke? nothing, but yet compared
to the affection of our Countrey, not worth
the speaking.

1. Sou.
Weed' rather forfeit what we have,
then stay a minute once our friends doe crave:

Abn.
That's each of your firme resolution.

Ambo.
We humbly yeeld to your mature direction,

Abn.
Goe haste to your mother and prevaile with her
for I must yet a while consult alone:

Exeunt ambo.
Abner layes him on a Couch and slumbers: Then enters the Queene of fates, attended by three Nymphes viz. Clotho, Lachysis and Attropos.
Queene.
See where a second Mars lyes, Abner nam'd,
faire Nymphes respect him, or you'l be all blam'd
of too, too, coy demeanour; Musicke, some
Solemne musicke.
musicke or harmonious spheare descend,
descend whil'st we his vertues doe commend

Cloth.
Faire Queene the gods are pleas'd you know we should
appeare unto this mortall, to unfold
their divine pleasure and most sacred will,
in heaven decreed; wherefore we must fulfill
the promisses of their superiour powers
above; and as we doe esteeme him ours,
thus I declare his fortune, in respect
of warlike graces none shall more direct
then his mature command: his valour to,
shall make his adversaries blush to know,
that from, an infant heaven did him elect,
to be victorious still against their Sect:

Lachy.
Opinion Mistris sayes, a silent tongue,
consents to every thought, then I should wrong.
his happines, if I did not relate,
what I am sure will much augment his fate,
heroique valour, vertue a pregnant twit,
are them deportments we conceive best fit,
to crowne his future actions; this wee give,
for an assurance that his fame shall live,

Attro.
Grave Matron, from you I must needs borrow
leave to speake in's praise, before to morrow
visits the world, this discontented couch
whereon hee's stretch, 'tshall witnes and avouch
these promis'd happines.

Queen.
Y'are all content
wee see, to raise his fame:

Cloth.
The gods themselves doth honour Abner's name,

Queen.
Let each of you in Sonnets sound his joy,
mixt with a dance or some conceited toy
to pleasure him withall; whil'st sleeping thus
he may receive a happy fate from us.

[Cloth., Attro., Lachy.]
THE SONG.
Morpheus wee coniure thee hence,
Goe to them gloomy shades from whence
All sorts of lurking mischiefes flow
Beneath th'infernall depths below.
Goe to stix Averre, or whither,
Tell the gods exil'd thee thither:
Let no sad thought then mollest him
VVee from sadnesse dispossest him
But contrive for him fit praise
VVith length of many happy dayes
So loud fame his worth may sound
Through the universall round,
Them bloodie troupes that doth destroy
His native Ile, like wretched Troy,
In sad laments shall grieve to see
Henceforward them victorious bee,
O thy remorseles rage in vaine,
Lirenda florisheth againe.

As the song is ended, Enter Mars, Bellona, Pallas, and Mercury.
Bello.
See where the stately Queene of fortune sitts
like Citherca daughter unto Iove,
to her we must addresse our best salutes,
all haile faire Queene:

Queen.
Welcome deere sister?

Mars.
Faire Emperesse we hard your solemne notes ascend
up to the highest point of heavens great arch,
from whence we come to fill an emptie spheare
with comfort, the discontented Lirendeans.

Merc.
The gods and goddesses are wholly bent
to vanquish all their former discontent
though hetherto they seem'd not to regard 'em,
yet notwithstanding they are now resolv'd
henceforth to let their sorrowes be dissolved;

Queen.
wee knew as much good Mercury, and doe
applaude that act, which argues them just gods,
'tis fit we publish then, what they decreed:
Brother Mars, you must furnish them with armes,
and Palla's wisedome 'gainst intestine harmes,
our selfe and you Bellona, in the field,
will make the bloodie adverse partie yeeld
to the stout Lirendeans, oft pursued
by them unjustly almost were subdued;
Their Sol thus long ecclipst againe must shine,
to shew the lustre of them lamps divine
that best predominate their happy fates,
we meane them starres, which on that Iland smile,
to see they shoo'd retaine their light a while
by a darke cloudie mist that now is spent
and forc'd to vapour in the Orient.
Therefore resolve as we long time did since
with your immortall powers for to convince
as many armed furies as will dare
repine at Abners deeds, or seeke to share
in them adventures wee are pleased to give,
a good successe unto; his fame shall live,
that conceit might be said, dame fortunes wheele,
became soone stedfast, when it most did reele.

Omnes.
By Iupiter agreed.

Queen.
Deere sister come, take
They take their seates.
your seate whilest my chast Nymphes, grac't with these
gods doe dance.

Musicke.
The Gods and Nymphes doe dance, which ended: They rise.
Queen.
Now your free bounties are bestowed wee see.
in each respect as we desired shoo'd be,
such thankefulnesse that to your deities due,
fortunes great queene doth tender each of you,
Now gently, gently, wake him as we goe,
up to our spheares, thence view his deeds below:

Exeunt.
He is weakned with solemne Musicke and this following song.

THE SONG.

Abner wakes.
Abner.
Is't in a dreame I saw this heavenly vision,
or is't vaine fancies daseling on mine eyes,
sure I slept sound indeed, but ne're with so much
blest content before, a dreame it cannot be,
a blessed inspiration rather; that yet
possesse my thoughts, with a most sweet delightfull
comfort; well, in few words I am resolved,
propitious heaven, now I emplore thy aid,
him thou'lt assist, needs not to be dismaid.

Exit.
Enter Athenio, Mineus, Aretas and Dora.
Athe.
'Tis more then time wee looke to right our selves
on that foule wretch and tyrant Cola,
least suddenly we forfeit for our slakenes
the losse of all our heads, (if taken by him)
for having lost all goodnesse, and of late
growne desperate mad, through turbulent
passions of a distemperd soule; cannot
reclayme his wickednesse, like one too farre
engag'd, ever to returne to honestie
againe:

Mine.
Honestie my Lord's a stranger to him,
and mindes no more civilitie, then Canniballs
or Tartars doe, being puft up with pride
of them vaine praises falsely given him, by
a multitude as basely minded as himselfe.

Aret.
How they doe glorie in his bloodie deeds,
and styles him truely valiant whom the world
reputes no better, then a monster cloath'd
in human forme.

Dora.
Vnheard of madnes to
betray so many innocents, that but
for him and his damn'd shamelesse retinue
had not be ene executed soe;

Aret.
How shall we
then advise to rid us of so dangerous
an enemy.

Athe.
Heaven will, I hope, contrive,
his overthrow, in this our expedition
though he securely now abides in garison
guarded with five hundred expert Souldiers
thinkes Heaven nor Hell, cannot molest him there,
or that we dare not march within a league
of his sterne countenance, such is the fopperie
of his vaine glorious humour,

Mine.
Then name of God,
This night we will advance our forces where
the besotted tyrant now remaines, if
we but kill his centrie then, we may more
boldly enter and surprise him napping
in his bed asleepe:

Athe.
That were the safest
way indeed to venture on him, or preserve
our troupes entire, untill our Noble Cosen
Abner be arriv'd

Aret.
Hee's long expected,

Mine.
But will be shortly here,

Athe.
Who when he comes,
comes well appointed to support this pious
warre, our wants with his renowned fame beyond Sea.

Mine.
Let's march directly thither, come loose no time,
that in necessities a wilfull Crime:

Exeunt.
Enter Cola like one distracted.
Cola.
Furyes and plagues torments my restles thoughts
with gashly visions of deformed hagges,
infernall monsters to my thinking would
perforce deprive me of my vitall breath,
O that this horrid night were past away,
a thousand millions for one glimse of day.
Flashes of fire, with a horrid noise is hard, then Enter Revenge with a sword in one hand, and a flaming torch in the other followed by three spirits in sheets.
Ah, ah, th'are come againe; it thunders,
whither shall I goe hide me from the bolts
he knocks.
dreadfull cracke: Tibernus, Morton, why Tibernus
will none defend me from these ugly shapes,
O how they presse on me, give bake rude furyes
or by the hand of Proserpine your Queene
I'le force you hence unto the stygian greene

Reven.
I am Revenge roused from my silent cave
by justice that revenge on thee will have,
for thy base murdring of man, woman, child,
wives, widowes, nurses, virgins defiled,
all that a tyrant could invent or doe,
thou most inhumanly didst put them to,
wherefore Revenge, revenge from hell is sent
to leade thee to eternall punishment;

1. Sp.
I am the soule of him an thou wilt know
that in thy pistoll once didst force me blow,
gave fire and shot me dead; hell is thy due,
for which revenge, revenge doth thee pursue;

2. Sp.
Wee are them two poore harmelesse country swaines,
to get an honest living spared no paines,
we to thy quarters went, and would from thence
bring salt abroad just worth some eighteen pence,
thy souldiers tooke us, stript us, shrewdly bang'd us,
then after to the gibbet and there hang'd us
by thy command; wherefore we doe implore
Revenge may take, revenge on thee therefore:

Reven.
This bloodie sword, and flaming torch are them
true Emblems of thy furious stratageme
invented chiefely to depopulate
distroy, consume, and wast the regall state
of this brave kingdome, or what therein's found,
either above or underneath the ground,
such was thy wicked malice, spleene and might
for which wee seeke a just revenge this night,

Exeunt.
Cola.
This was a plot of some conjuring Papist
to vex me with these filthy strange affrightments,
O that I could with mighty Iove raine downe
a showre of maledictions on them, cursed
wretches they; the name it selfe doth vex me more,
then all them dismall shapes i've seene before.
An Alarum, Enter Tibernus.
What come againe, life then adieu? Now Tibernus
what makes this loud alarum?

Tiber.
That you may arme
your selfe in hast, the rebells march into
the towne:

Cola.
He was a traitor did command
the guard this night: goe hye thee Tibernus, call
the troupes together, crye but a Cola, Cola,
I warrant thee they'le flie.

Exeunt severally.
Alarums Cola, returns againe.
Cola.
Sa, sa, they breake
I faith, Cola, Cola, crye out a Cola;

One meets him and dischargeth a pistoll whereat he falls downe dead, Then enter Tibernus and Souldiers.
Tib.
Sir Carola Cola slaine, O execrable slaughter!
Heaven curse the rascall that was author on't:
beare in the body to be embalm'd with teares,
that when his mournefull obsequies are ended
this Epitaph may on his tombe be engraven,
Angolea's glory, Pickland's wonder,
Lirenda's terror lyes here under.

Exeunt.
Enter Caspilona with a keeper.
Casp.
Is't the counsells pleasure I shood be removed
from hence; prethee whither?

Keep.
Vnto the Castle:

Casp.
'Tweare as good I dyed, as to be layd in such
a loathsome place, where surely Mumferret
must be my keeper: good friend, desire thy master
may returne his writ, I'me sickly, and not
in case to be removed, if they conceive
me not secure enough, or feares escape,
set double locks on, barre your windowes treble
over, any thing but departure, so
kinde each one of you have been unto me,
that my imprisonment's a pleasure rather:

Keep.
My master's willing to affoord your Lordship
all the favour lyes in him, but that he may not,

Casp.
Why friend? 'twill be no prejudice to him,
onely his labour to informe the Court,
whom I hope are not so void of reason,
but will admit a prisoner (my inferiour,)
this poore request:

Keep.
He dares not doe it, once
the Iudge and Councell's bent against you, for
'twas their expresse charge to the Sheriffes thus,
beware, your prisoner Caspilona hath not
more freedome given him, then you may answer,
at a thousand pound le peece.

Casp.
Sayest thou so Roger?
well; if there be no remedie, but needs
Gives him money.
I must depart: there's for thy dutifull
Gives him money.
attendance.

Keep.
Now heavens protect your Lordship,
as I live it pitties me, this generous
Aside.
noble Lord, th'are much to blame, wrongs so good
a soule:

Casp.
Honest Roger, I am disposed
to rest, if any kinde friend comes to visit
me, desire they would repaire another time

Keep.
Your will I shall observe my Lord.

Exit.
Casp.
Thou art
alwayes honest Roger, trustie Roger,
this is the course of fickle fortunes wheele,
last weeke reputed for a loyall subject,
now in close prison as a traytor kept,
whose thoughts in that respect, is full as pure
as new falne snow on mount Libanus; but
this corrupted age, declares my deerest friends
to be my prime accusers; well, thou God
of justice, whose bright impartiall eye,
viewes the worlds guiltie crimes, see an innocent
exposed unto a sad disastrous fate,
if thy great mercy helpes me not? O then
I suffers shall with other harmeles men:

Here he walkes in a solitary posture whil'st an Angell sings.
THE SONG.
Cast off that drooping sadnesse Earle,
Be not dismaid take heart of grace,
Behold a true Ellizean girle
Pityes thy distressed case,
One that will a mortall shape
Take on her for thy escape.

Casp.
Some voyce my thought did whisper in mine eare,
a sweet melodious note that said, feare not
thou shalt escape: Alas 'tis but my fancies
Wish it had been so; No that cannot be,
for yet my soule retaines an inward joy,
the motion is divine, and makes me happy
beyond measure; bright Angell of Celestiall
Paradice, to whom the safeguarde of my life
deputed is, helpe me, O helpe me to
get from, this labyrinth of care, otherwise
I never shall perfect that enterprise.

Exit.