University of Virginia Library

Act. V

Scene I.

Enter Snap, Captain, both Drawn, a fighting, the Captain Forcing Snap backward on the Stage.
Snap.
Captain, hold, hold, I say; thou now deserv'st that Title;
Come let us put up, you shall have your desire.
But know it is not out of fear I do it; fear being a thing I never
Understood. But 'tis thy vallour that hath won my love,
Which shall continue, long as you dare thus valliantly make good
Your honour, which I (in pitty to your self)
Much fear is not long liv'd.

Capt.
Then wellcome death, who in the horrid'st shape he
Can put on, shall ever make this flesh of mine (but now redeem'd
From the base brand of coward) e'r tremble to behold him.
Sir, be not too incredulous nor wonder-struck; that I
Can speake a truth; which to my shame (I must confess)
I have but seldom uttered. For know the baseness
Of my former actions, hath wak't my better judgment
To a repentance of my sinful folly; nor is there in these veins
One drop of blood but came from noble springs. And if this
Small sprinkling of my redemption can nothing gain on your belief,
But name an undertaking honourable, that may confirm
Me to the world I am a man, and I'l attempt it, or
With the loss of life leave ample satisfaction,
I dyed no coward.

Snap.
I do imbrace thy friendship, and believe thee—
Imbraces him.
Heartily believe thee, as one that joyes in thy recovery,
And what (before) I could not think thee worthy of; now doth
Appear unworthy thy acceptance. But for the present
Here take this bag, with it the assurance of—
Gives him a bag.
My assistance in what I shall be able. And what so e'r you
Have done for me, (how ever to your judgement it appears) yet
Know, it was but honest, and but a sleight to get my own;
Long since by Goldcalf's fathers unjust dealing
Detained from me.

Capt.
Sir, it is believed, and for your mony (my want compels
Me to accept of) I thank you, as what I not deserve, but
What yonr Nobleness (in pitty of my present state) is pleas'd
Bestow on me. And that you shall see your mony well
Imployed, I'l to the army, where my actions shal speak me
Willing to redeem my mis-spent youth, or
Finde a Noble death.

Snap.
May victory and reward, crown all your
Undertakings. So farwell.—
Exit Snap.

Capt.
Succees attend your wishes to your desires, while I
Practise to live, that I shall dare to dye,—

Exit.
Enter Bellicosus, Delirus.
Bellicos.
Delirus, however I have past by the enquirie of
Your discontent, yet know I have a fathers eye, that sees your
Wound that bleeds, and know it must be searcht well, ere it can
Be cur'd; therefore I charge you on my blessing (as
You expect that I should prove your faithful Chirurgion) prove
You a dutiful patient, in plainly laying open to me
The cause of this your present grief.

Delir.
Sir your Commands are too powerful for me to
Disobey. And what of Discontent you have lately
Seen in me, sprung from Artesia's scorn
On my impatient love.

Bellicos.
Me thinks thou should'st consider, whose son thou art
A Souldier too, and have thy reason captiv'd
By the imperious pride of a vain glorious woman. For shame
Collect thy scattered senses; (and if not out of pity to thy
Self) yet in respect of my commands (which here I lay upon
Thee) return her scorn again. And then she'l sue to thee.
Fond Boy, thou doest not know the subtile traines of women,
Whose wavering minds prove labyrinths to the most ingenious
Searchers, canst thou yet love, and she yet scorn?

Deli.
My Royal Father, in all obedience to your Demands
I thus must answer; and call the gods to witnesse with me,
I hate her actions more then I e'r lov'd her person;
Which now with scorn, I both disdain.

Belli.
That's spoken like thy self. What news with thee?—

Enter Fabius.
Fabi.
My gracious Lord; There is a traveller (a stranger he seems)
Desires to be admitted to your presence; who (as he
Doth pretend) hath businesse of much concernment to deliver.

Belli.
Admit him in. Welcome friend, wouldst—
Enter Anto. his coat chang'd a false beard.
Thou ought with us?

Anto.
Yes, my good Lord, I have something to impart that
Much concerns your knowledge.

Deli.
I do not like this fellowes looks, what should his
Businesse be. Sir, your businesse may require privacie,
I'l wait within your call.—

Deli. offers to go off, Anto. stayes him.
Anto.
Pray stay sir, my gracious Lord, such is the nature
Of my businesse, I shall not onely crave this Gentleman may
Hear the delivery of it, but also such of your Royal
Councel as are near at hand.

Belli.
Fabius, call those that wait without—
Fabius goes to the hangings calls them. Ent. Corneli. Eugeni.
Now when you please begin.

Anto.
Then (by your gracious favour) it sadly thus fell out.
'Twas, when the harbinger of light, had given notice
To the late darkned world, that the bright Sun was darting
Forth his radiant beams upon the teeming earth, when neer
To the black Cliffe (a place well known to all) and fit
So black a purpose; upon the top of which, a man (I thought
I spy'd, (but prov'd a monster) near whom, after a
Stricter view, I could discern something to move, (but
Knew not what it was. Towards it I gently made, willing
To see, unseen: when by the help o'th craggy Cliffe I soon
Had got within the hearing of a voice (in such a Tone of woe
Sadly lamenting) the neighbouring rocks in teares did seem
To melt, to hear the moan it made. Pity, and curiositie,
To know what it might be, joyn'd to contrive, how
I might make my approach so near, to satisfie my doubts
Remaining undiscovered, when envious nature conspiring
The ruine of what she should preserve, by a small creek
O'th Sea divided us. Yet at so small a distance, I could
Discover a maid (for such she seem'd to be) upon her knees.
With hands held up for mercy to her murtherer. Who
Less relenting then the hardned Rocks, proclaim'd himself an
Enemy to pitty. And with a voice befitting such a bloody
Minde, demanded if she were prepar'd to dye.
(As if he meant, for to preserve in her, what in himself i'th
Very act he must destroy.) To which she answered something,
So faintly dying not to be understood, when streight I could
Perceive the slave prepare (into the Sea) to cast the innocent
Fair one, whom he before had drown'd in teares.
This sight, I tremblingly beheld, cursing the water that divided
Us. Yet hoping to prevent his bloudy execution, a loud
I cal'd, as confident in the consideration of his own present
Safety, being discovered, I happily might save her life:
But all in vain; for what with threats fair promises, and teares
I could prevail, was onely to behold her fall into the sea.
At which unheard of peece of crueltie, the Sun not daring to
Behold so foul a murther, withdrew his waterish beams
(Made pale with fear) behind the burthened clouds, who big
With Tears, in thousand spouts did trickle to the earth,
There witnesses of sorrow.
The Villain, his black deed done, question's the justnesse
Of the Gods, in hopes he should escape: which to prevent
I nimbly down descended, fetching a compasse to the place my
Reason prompt me to believe he must attempt to make his
Flight, where (by the Justnesse of those Gods he so mistook)
We met. I drew and bid him stand; at which the daring
Slave grin'd in my face, and with a confidence, as if his
Cause were just, drawes in defiance of my single opposition.
To blowes, and thrusts we went, when guided by the hand
Of Justice, my sword soon found a passage to his death.
When he (afraid to die) when death appear'd so near,
Tremblingly for mercie beg'd, in hope he might have liv'd.
On which I took advantage, and with the promise of
My assistance in his cure, and silence for the fact he had
Committed, he to my joy (in his behalf) discovered, not
Onely who it was he had murthered, but also who had hire
Him to that accursed deed of darknesse; which when at
Full delivered (to my amazed wonder) I fell to earth, as if
I had received the greater wound. Onely I rose again, which
He did never; for just (as if the Gods had lent him breath
Enough for his confession,) he left the world.
My Lord, I have not yet quite finish'd,—
Deli. offers to go out.
And shall desire all that are present, may hear my story out.

Bellicos.
Delirus stay, I do command you stay.

Deli:
My Lord, I am not wel, o'th suddain.

Bellicos:
So short a stay as this requires, can no waies
Prejudice your health. Friend go on to let us know, as well
The Murtherers, as the murthered; heaven knowes, I tremble
But to think, at what I urge to know.

Anto:
As soon as grief will give me leave
(My Lord) I shall.—
Anto. pretends to weep.
The murthered person, was that virtuous innocent, the
Fair Aurelia, Daughter to the Lord Sebastian.

Deli.
O Delirus, thou art lost for ever, ever lost.—

aside.
Bellico.
Sure friend thou didst but dream, and this some
Vision was. It was an act so horrid, the gods in justice
Never could have beheld. And there must want temptation
In the fiends of hell, to work on man (though frail)
To be her murtherer.

Anto.
My Lord, it was no idle dream; yet heaven can
Witness, I could have gladly slept for ever, rather then lived
To see this waking truth.

Bellico.
Then briefly speake her murtherers.

Anto.
First on my knees I beg your gracious
Pardon, for what—
Kneels.
I must deliver or burst. And here I stand to accuse—
Riseth.
Your son Delirus, and the Lady Artesia, daughter to the
Late Lord Endimion, the innocent Aurelia's murtherers.
And Ferdinando, servant to the Lord Sebastian, (whom with this
Hand I slew,) by them was hired her executioner.

Bellico.
My trembling heart will hardly give my tongue
The utterance to say it is impossible.

Deli.
My Lord, I am confident your grave wisdom's such,
Ther's nothing (this loose fellow) in madness hath delivered.
Deserves your serious consideration, more then what punishment
He hath deserved; for give me leave my Lord, had he his wits,
(Which no man here can think) in what hath faire Aurelia
Injur'd me? or if she had, my faire actions in the world
Speak me no murtherer Besides this frantick accusation,
Delivered by a single-man, whom none knows whence,
Or what he is. My Honoured father, this rightly weighed.
'Twere fit the slave should know his punishment, which
Must be great as his offence. For villain know—
Turns to Anto.
Thy lif's to poor a satisfaction for my injury.

Anto.
Sir, I have heard you, and must take leave to tell
You, I am no slave nor villain; nor is there in these veines of
Mine one drop of blood (however I appear) but sprung
From Noble parents. And here I call the gods to witness
With me; I wish, and heartily, you could but cleer your
Self of faire Aurelia's murther as thus I cleer
The doubts of what I am—

Puls off his disguise, puls out a purse.
All.
Antonio!

Anto.
You knew this purse Delirus, when loaden with
The price of innocent Aurelia's blood, you gave it Ferdinando
In part of payment for his black deed.

Deli.
True Antonio, 'tis all but truth. O cruel Artesia,
By thee I fall, to my eternall ruine—

Deli. Falls.
Bellico.
Be mercifull great powers too a weak aged
Man, and loade me not too much with your afflictions,
Your burthen is to great, yet fain I would support it
Bravely. Cornelius, I do command you take speedy order,
That object of my shame be carefully conveyed to the
Castle. And you Eugenio—
Ex. Corneli.
Haste to Artesia's lodgings, where seize her with a guard,
And house them both together. They may forgive each
Other, and repent before their deaths.—
Ex. Eugen.
O Antonio, I look't for joy at thy return, but thou hast brought
Me woe; bitter woe Antonio, but I forgive thee freely,—
They fetch Deli. off the Stage
And commend thy honest care, thou hast nothing done,
But what our Lawes, and thy religion bound thee to.
Antonio, I mean to act the Judges part my self, for since
Corruption crept into the Bench, the Jury findes it death for to be
Poor, the rich may plead not guilty. Poor Lord Sebastian
Thou shalt have justice done thee. (Small satisfaction for thy loss)
Yet all the world shall see,
If thine be great, mine cannot lesser be.—

Exit Bellicosus, Antonio.
Enter Sebastian, Ferdinando.
Sebast.
O Ferdinando, thou hast made me young again,
Thou happy messenger of joy; me thinks thou hast pul'd back
Least twenty of my years. And will the King be here
(Dost say) and in disguise, and my Aurelia too?

Ferdinand.
My Lord they will; be confident they will.
I do expect them every minute.

Sebast.
But Ferdinando, I want how to contrive to entertain
Him, my poor house is quite unstored, and no direction's given
For any thing, can look like welcome to him.

Ferdinand.
My Lord, since you so much desire to make him
Welcome, I shall instruct you how to make him so.
If you but think his welcome doth consist in feasting (my Lord)
You so mistake our present business, that know you ruine all
His honourable designs, he hitherto (with care and pains) hath
Laboured for to compass. First you must let it be your care,
Your joy transports you not; but what of joy
You must express, must be upon good grounds you are securely
Private; other waies to take no notice of them, more
Then what they outwardly appear to be.
This, and no other is the welcome that the King expects.

Sebast.
Thanks Ferdinando; honest Ferdinando, thou
Faithfullest of servants, I thank thee for thy advice, which
I in all things carefully will follow. I can no longer keep my
Joy within the narrow bounds of my poor breast,
It must (at these weak aged eyes of mine) have vent,
It must, it must.—

Weeps for joy.
Ferdinana.
My Lord the King is here.

Enter King, Aurelia.
Sebast.
Long live my gratious King, and may your poor—
Kneels.
Sebastian live to be truly thankful to the gods
For this blest hour of joy.

King.
Rise Sebastian, no more of this, we know thy
Love and Loyaltie. But must enjoyn you (in all your actions
To express to us, not what we are, but what
We appear to be.

Sebast.
My much loved Lord, your poor Sebastian can be
Aquainted with no other study but what shall teach me to obey.
O my poor girl, never more welcome to thy fathers arms.—
Aurelia kneels.
You gods, let not my joy make me forget my dutie.

King.
Ferdinando, with speed find out Antonio, and let him
Know of our arrival at the Lord Sebastians, where we shall.
Hourly expect to hear, as he shall find occasions offer.

Ferdinand.
I shall with care perform it—

Exit.
King.
Come my lord Sebastian, we are now your guests;
Dispose us as you please, you dare without suspition, trust
Your fair daughter with us, her vertu's guard enough.

Sebast.
Your own, (great Sir) may challenge a far
Greater trust. So please you, I shall conduct you to
The best part, of a homely house.

King.
Sebastian you are happy you have a house that
You may call your own; 'tis more then I dare do.
Come my Aurelia 'tis all my joy, that
I can call thee mine.

Aureli.
Sir, wer't not a sin I am a stranger to,
I should begin to fear I should grow proud ot'h honour
You are pleas'd to do your creature.

King.
As I to have such a creature for to honour.—

Ex. Ambo.
Enter Dorothy. sol.
Doroth.
My Lady hurried (with a guard) to the Castle?
'Tis so, the scorn she threw upon Delirus hath made him desperate,
And confess the murther; my jealous heart presag'd
No less, when no entreaties could prevail on him, I might
But speak my message; which when I but
Attempted, he seem'd in scorn, and hate
Of her to stop his ears.
Lady, your plot's are now discovered to the world; at least,
To Ciciley, which is too hot for me to live in.
A ship (now weighing anchor) stands bound for Italy.
I'l take this profer'd means for my escape.
Farewell Artesia, my safety bids not stay,
Shee dyes a fool, that dyes, when live she may—

Exit.
Enter Antonio, Cornelius.
Cornel.
Cruel Ferdinando, how were we all mistaken in
That murthering villain, whose name (to all posteritie in
Memory of this damn'd act) shall ne'r be thought on but with
Horror for faire Aurelia's loss. The gods (in her) have
Rob'd us of our Magazene of vertue

Anto.
In her we have just cause to fear our Princes loss,
Their vertues were as inseparable, as I fear their fortune.
Cornelius, how took Delirus his conduct to the Castle?

Cornel.
With much seeming patience, but not a sillable—
Enter Eugenio,
Could be urged from him. How now Eugenio? how have you
Disposed of your bloody faire one, the everlasting shame
To all her sex? how doth her pride and envy
Bear her present fortune?

Eugen.
Prethe be merciful in thy opinion of her, for
Though the thought of her foul deed proclaims her monstrous,
Beshrew me but she made me weep, and so would thee
Cornelius, hadst thou but seen her penitence.

Cornel.
They'r Crocodiles tears Eugenio, for know she can
Put on what shape she please, to act her present part,
And 'twas thy charity, not her true penitence,
That so prevail'd on thy believing sence.

Eugen.
Cornelius, I boast (my self) to have no knowing
Insight in the womens trade, yet dare with confidence affirm,
Those passions I saw in her of sorrow for her fact could not
Be counterfeit. For know. soon as she saw Delirus, in
The Castle, her tears in floods gusht forth, as
Witnesses, she sorrowed more for him, then for her self;
And humbly on her knees before us all, confest her self
His murtherer. At first he seem'd with loathed eyes to
Look on her, who still her self, confest her self to be
The principal in blood. This penitence in her, compassion
Wrought in him, who took her up and kist her
In witness of forgiveness, she wept the more to see him
Pitty her, for which she knew she did deserve the less
From him. So like two weeping Niobies they stood and read,
(As well as tears would give them leave,) their own
Misfortunes in each others face; and both in pity
Wept, while they themselves, themselves unpittied,
Yet for each other pitifully wept. When I (unus'd I
Must confess) to wash my face in tears, made up
A third in mourning, Which she perceiving, humbly
Thank't me for my compassiou, and hop't it was
Bestowed on him, as what she not deserved. This,
And such like expressions of repentance, with streames
Of hearty sorrow flowing, wrought so in him, he ask'd
Her if she lov'd him dying, she so much injured
Living. Which she (as well as words and tears could witness
For her) answered, yes, so well, that were she but as
Sure of his, she should rejoyce a faithfull penitent in death.
This, in true signs of love, and sorrow uttered, he
Sends away (straight) for a holy man o'th Church,
Who after some private confession on both sides made,
Joyned both their hands in holy marriage; which
Done, as griefe would give them leave, they both
Rejoyc't, and kist; then wept again, so that my
Pitty (in my tears) rather increast, then lessned by my
Stay. When urging necessity for my departure, I sadly
Took my leave, and left them prodigally bestowing
Their tears upon each others face.

Anto.
I blame thee not Eugenio, for being a weeping
witness of their woes. when I can scarce forbear
At the relation; heaven knows, I wish them long
Life on earth to enjoy each others love.

Corneli.
Eugenio, Thou hast delivered miracles,
But know, I can believe what comes from thee,
Which had appear'd much doubtfull from anothers
Mouth; she hath purchac't now my pitty and my
Prayers, which I'l acknowledg justly due, and pay—

Enter Fabi. weeping
Anto.
How now Fabius, weeping for your young master?

Fabi.
You cannot blame me Sir, when I am
Made the messenger of death.

Eugeni.
How? sure 'tis not yet come to that.

Fabi.
I would it were not; or else some other had
Been made the messenger.

Corneli.
Prethe speak out, that we may understand you.

Fabi.
The King inraged, to understand his son
Was married to his murtherer, commanded me to
Let them know 'bout four a clock this afternoon,
They must prepare to dye, and keep their
Wedding in the other world. Which they (poor
Souls) with joy received, and thank't me for my paines;
(As willingly) as if I had deserved it.

Anto.
'Twas but short warning, the gods
Prepare them for their long journey. Gentlemen,
I have some present business calls me aside, but
I shall soon return to share with you in sorrow.—
Ex. Anto.

Eugeni.
You'l hardly find us unprepared for that.
But think'st thou Fabius the King intends this
Hasty execution; 'tis surely done to fright them into a
Preparation for the other world:

Fabi.
Sir, Pray heaven you not deceive your self.
The King is known too constant in his resolves,
To alter what he with seriousness protests, which to our
Griefes we too too soon shall find.

Corneli.
Eugenio; The tim's but short, and 'tis
But labour lost if we not speed. If he will have
Them dye let's move for longer time.

Eugeni.
With all my heart, I shall plead hard for one.

Corneli.
Then let's away.—

Exit.
Enter Delirus Artesia. In mourning habits, as in prison.
Deli.
Come my Artesia, dry those fair eyes, the gods
We know are mercifull, and can forgive what
We can act. Thou hast with penitentiall tears, in
Streames of sorrow (from thy swoln eyes)
Washt off that guilt that clouded thy faire soul,
And do'st appear as white as sainted innocence. We
Are married to another world Artesia, let them
Injoy the happiness in this (if there be any in't)
That are wedded to it, whom we with pity, not
With envy must behold. And 'tis no little joy, amid'st
Our sea of troubles, to see thee thus prepar'd for
Death; which we'l imbrace as greedily, as
Shipwrackt travellers do the long'd for shoare:
And O thou injured maid, in what celestiall
Part so e'r (thy now made glorious soul) doth hover;
Look down with pitty and a forgiving eye, on us
Thy sorrowfull murtherers, who ready stand to
Sacrifice two lives, to appease thy angry ghost.
Give me thy hand Artesia, our time draws on apace,
And yet methinks I fain would have thee live;
Would my poor life pay the great debt we owe,
But the devouring law cryes all or none. Thy blood
Artesia, sits with a confidence in thy fair cheeks,
As if it meant not suddenly to leave its habitation.
And 'tis great pity, now it hath possession, to turn it
Out of doores.

Artesi.
My Lord, I have but ill deserved this
Noble pity; and here my dying breath shall witness
For me, I would not live on earth after your
Death, to be commandress of the world. Yet know
My Lord, I gladly could both live, and dye, to serve you.
Dye, for to confirm this doubtfull world, with
What a feeling sorrow for my sins, I could endure
Death, and live with you on earth; to witness to the
World how I could love, and honour you. Which
Since denyed, I gladly shall imbrace my death, and
Only grieve I have rob'd the world of you—

Enter Fabius.
Fabi.
My Lord, your guard waits you, and you to
Death are summon'd.

Deli.
It shall be welcome Fabius. Thou seest no
Pannique fear about us.—
Takes her by the chin.
See how the lillyes, and the roses in these
Fair cheeks undaunted fit. Why do'st thou weep for us.

Fabi.
I weep (my lord) for you, and for my self; for
You, that you must loose your life; and for my self that none
But I, must be chose out the messenger of death.

Deli.
Thou art vainly troubled, at what I thank thee for.
Come my Artesia, this kiss, now lead us to our deaths.—

Kisses her. Exit.
Enter Goldcalf sol.
Gold.
Heer's doings indeed, my Mistriss is going to pot
I'faith. What a deal of mony't has cost me to be a Colonel
To no purpose. A plague of that stripling stranger, he made no
Stranger of my mony I am sure; the Jackanapes firkt
Me too, out of my Deeds of almost a thousand pounds a year.
Pox of those German's bones, my Cozen Captain slue in Duell;
They were sufficiently reveng'd on me for the murther, but
'Tis no matter, I have saved my life yet, by not being
Too hasty. If I had married Artesia, I had been peppered i'faith,
(However I scape yet) for ther's Delirus, a brave spark
Must dye, but for offering to have her.—
Enter Snap gallant:
Hey day Snap, what turn'd Gentleman?

Snap.
Sirra, no more such buggs words; which if you dare
But utter, I'l nail your ears to the wall; a punishment
Your honourable father (long before his death) wisely
Prevented, by leaving them behind him on the Pillory,
For Cozening such honest Gentlemen as my self.
For know you wretch, you that dare talk saucily, the
Gentleman that won your Deeds of you at play, when be perus'd
Them, and knew them to be the very same your father
Cozen'd my uncle of; He, in pitty of my present wants
Bestowed them upon me, and they are mine.
And should I chance to hear you should but say they e'r were
Yours, People should soon forget you were alive.
But as you may behave your self, I may forget all your
Past folly, and keep you company.

Gold.
Thank you good Snap.

Snap.
You draw no breath, if I but hear that word again.

Gold.
Pray sir, forgive me for this once, and I'l remember;
How may I call you, are you a Colonel too?

Snap.
No sir, by chance, I am no Colonel; the name I
Answer too, is Sunck-low.

Gold.
Sunck-low; Methinks you are risen very high.—
Aside
Well honest Mr. Sunk-low, pray let me have your company for
Old acquaintance sake; you know you can loose nothing by it.
But by no means, be not known, how I was belov'd, for
Mr. Sunk low, it were as much as my lif's worth, were it but
Known Artesia would have married me, for ther's one
Must dye, but for offering to have her.

Snap.
Well Sir, I shall be careful, so you observe as I
Instruct. Farewell.—
Exit Snap.

Gold.
I am finely gull'd i'faith, but I must wiser be,
Or else resolve, to wear Snaps liverie.—

Exit.
Enter upon a black Stage. Bellicosus, Sebastian, weeping. Antoni. Corneli. Eugeni. Fabi. Delirus, Artesia, in mourning. Executioner. After them, the King and Ferdinando. Disguised.
Belli.
My Lord Sebastian, the gods (you see) have here
Miraculously discovered to the world, your daughters
Murtherers. (And yet, but that we know them to be so,
They do not look like such) my Lord you shall have—
Speaking to Sebastian
Justice done. Delirus, wer't thou a Stranger to my blood as
Is Artesia (who I with tears can pitty) I should not
Railing bawl thee to thy Death (however much in fashion)
It ill becomes a Judg. And all you gods can witness, amidst
My mass of grief, I have rejoyc'd to hear your sorrows for
Your faults exprest, and willingness to dye. I must confess
Your have been cruel, bitterly cruel to your selves and us; for by your
Means (Heaven knows I not accuse your wills to do't) we have
Lost a general loss, unspeakable a King, a vertuous King, never to be
Enough lamented. But I shall cease to add unto a grief,
This world affords no cure for; and will forbear to stop
You longer in your journey to a better.
But ere you go, take with you my forgivenesse, and with it,
Both my blessings. And may that comfortable joy good men
Receive in death, fill both your breasts.

Deli.
My gracious father (unhappie in so unfortunate a son)
We come with no set speeches here, for to prolong
Our wretched lives. Let not those aged eyes distil a tear
For us, we are prepar'd for death. Can you (my lord Sebastian)
And all the rest, shew mercy to a dying pair, in your
Forgiveness; we gladlie would depart this life in peace,
With all the world, if you vouchsafe, it may be so.

All.
Our prayers, and tears speak for us, we both
Forgive and pitty.

Deli.
The gods above (with store of blessings
Reward your charity. We are now at peace with
Heaven, and earth, and fain would be at our expected rest.

Bellico.
Then Sirra do your office.—

The executioner prepares to strike.
King.
Hold, hold I say.

Bellico.
Who's? that dares contradict what we command?

King.
If you have not forgot me Bellicosus, 'tis one
That had power to dare; nor do I know by what
Strange means I have lost it; know you this face—

King discovers himself.
Anto.
The King? Long may the gods preserve your
Life, and make us thankfull acknowledgers of his
Blessings in your Highness safety.

Bellico.
Pardon me gracious Prince, my sudden joy
Encountring so much grief, made a confusion in my troubled
Senses, and did retard my duty. Which thus upon my knees —He kneels.

I beg forgiveness for; and what so e'r (for'cd for the
Common safety of your distracted kingdome) I have taken
On me, here on my knees, in duty to your Highness
I surrender with tears of joy. Long live our gracious
King Amasius, King of Sicily.

All.
Long live Amasius King of Sicily.—

all kneele
King.
My Lords, and Gentlemen, I thank you all
For the Loyall remembrance of your poor Prince,
Whose tender care shall be to study all your
Safeties, and preserve them. Rise Bellicosus, thou
Ever to be admired pattern of love and Loyalty. Just man,
I ask thee pardon for every evill thought, I ever
Harboured 'gainst thy virtue. Justice and mercy still
Walk hand in hand, I know thou canst forgive it.

Belli.
O my much honoured Lord, your virtue ever
Kept too strong a guard on vice, to let you act what
Could deserve forgiveness, from any but the gods.
My Lord, I shall become an earnest suitor, that
Youl vouchsafe to let a piece of justice pass on these
Prepar'd Offenders.

King.
Offenders? Delirus, and the faire Artesia,
(If I mistake not)—
King looks at Deli. Artesi.
My Lord, what masque is this, for sure they cannot act
Offenders parts in earnest; pray make me understand you.

Belli.
Forgive me then my Lord, that must be the sad
Reporter of my shame, and their unheard of cruelty.
In them behold the fair, and virtuous innocent
Aurelia's, murtherers.

King.
You have unjustly done, but to suspect them
Guiltie, your witnesses are false, Delirus, and Artesia,
Murtherers? it cannot be, it is impossible; poor soul she ever
Lov'd them well, so they did her; it is some villainous
Train, (by forgery) laid to betray their innocent lives.
And here I set them free

—King takes them by the hand.
Belli:
My gracious lord they have confest the fact.

King.
'Twas then because they were asham'd to live.
After so foul a charge maliciously laid on them:
Delirus, Artesia, speak, was it not so?

Deli.
My Lord, and King, we are Aurelia's murtherers,
For which foul deed, we have with tears and prayers
Made peace with heaven and earth, if you'l be
Mercifull and but forgive us too.

King.
With as much willingness, as I'l receive a blessing;
Rise both, rise I say, so. Bellicosus, I hope (in my—
They rise.
Late pilgrimage, I have made my peace with heaven,
For all my youthfull sins, and am (at length) return'd
With joy. As for Aurelia (know Bellicosus) I
Loved her more then life; but since unfortunately
She is dead, and these her murtherers (as they confess)
Have truly sorrowed for their offence; I here
Pronounce their pardons, which stands irrevocable,
If I command in chief.

Belli.
Why then my Lord, you are to your self, and
All the world unjust. In your commanding hands you
Hold a sword, as well as scales; can it be mercy call'd
To act injustice. Princes, as the Embassadors
From heaven are bound to right the wrong'd, and not
To wrong who should be righted. Behold this
Aged man whose bitter tears of sorrow cry out—
Turns to Sebast.
(Aloud) for Justice. And if my gratious Lord) you
Have made a vow (at the return from your devotions) to act
A piece of mercy; now shew it on your self, in
Doing Justice on these prepar'd offenders.

King.
O Bellicosus, thou art my safe Protector and my
Guide to vertue, behold this warrant for the justness—
The King brings in Aurelia, in rich attire; Bellira following.
Of my actions—nay be not wonder-struck,
She is alive—
And warm.—

Kisses her
Bellicos.
I am o'rcome with the apprehension of a joy,
I fear my self unable for to bear. Wellcome to
Life thou vertuous maid. Cornelius, Eugenio, all see, Aurelia
Is alive, and our lost Prince return'd; safely return'd;
Delirus and Artesia, ask mercy of the King, and
Faire Aurelia; they are good, exceeding good, and can forgive.
So, so, my joy must have a larger vent,
Or I shall burst,—

Turns about and weeps.
Deli., Art.
The gods preserve your Highness,—
Deli. Arte. kneels
And the much wrong'd
Aurelia.—

Ferdinando discovers himselfe to Bellira.
Artesi.
O my most Gratious Prince, and thou
Much injur'd maid, if ever tears, from a true sorrowing
Heart compassion moved; pronounce forgiveness
To a pair, whose tears in prayers, to the just Gods, we'll
Daily pay for your Eternal happiness.

King.
Rise, and here receive (from us)
Forgiveness and our favour.

Aureli.
May all my actions prosper as I freely do forgive
You both. Long may you live and love.

Deli., Arte.
The gods crown all your desires, with joy
And length of daies.

King.
My Lord Sebastian, I now must call you father,
For by to morrow night, I doubt not your consent,
To bed the faire Aurelia.

Sebast.
My Lord, we are your poor creatures, can onely pay
Our daily thanks, for what undeserved honours you
Are pleas'd to throw upon us.

Aurel.
So please your Majestie, I see a pair
Of lovers met (I have long parted) desirous
To kiss your hand—

Ferdinando kneels, and Bellira; the King gives him his hand to kiss
King.
Rise Ferdinando, and may'st thou joy in thy
Faire choyce, thy faithful services, shall be
My Care to see rewarded.
Come Bellicosus we shall some mysteries unriddle to you,
And let you understand, Antonio's mistake in his relation
Our following dayes, do fairly promise joy.
He ignorantly fears,
The sailing of his ship, that Bellicosus steers.