 | Orgula : or, The Fatal Error |  |
1
Act I.
SCENE 1.
Sinevero.So! the world is calm, now busie Action
Her Theater hath left, wrapt in the vaile
Of night, whose silent Issue hath, e're this,
The stupid Soul beguil'd with empty Hope,
While I do mine confirm, enlightned with
The watchfull flames of Love and Sov'ranty:
Whose active tempers strugling to engross
Seems troubled in his mind.
My yeelding fancy soly to each other,
Frustrate, in their division, the design
My suspend Resolution should put on
To form and finish both their purposes.
Pauses.
Y'unruly Fires! who frame and guide the world!
Why thus disagree your transferr'd beams in
Fraile humanity? If for the order,
Of your Ministry; pleade your preheminence!
Yet least declining age in favour should,
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Exalt thy lights, thou still prevailing Love!
Raise here th'Exemplar of th'ensuing work,
To shew th'Incredulous how from crippled Time
Thou wilt extract the last Perfection:
And thou, the splendid glory of my Age!
To whose high neigb'ring Summet I am come
By secret paths; maintain thou still thine own!
Thy gaudy train attracts the wanton Eye
Of woman more, than all the flourishing Grace
Of Youth Fix here m'intentive thoughts your strength,
And on the fabrick of Ambition
Frame Iove a Temple; where if his Object may
No prove Loves pledge; she may prove Honours Prey.
Casts his eye on a Letter he held in his hand.
First here's a swelling cloud must be remov'd,
Whose progress threatens to eclips your Lights.
Castrophilus Death is crown'd in victory,
Whose Glories, still surviving, in his Sonn,
The People rule more powerfully than Law:
And by Ambigamor his friend pretends
To wed fair Orgula. So fooles conclude
E're they consult those powers do them preside.
I am their Fate; 'tis fixt in my Decree,
In Love and Rule there must no Rival be.
Nefarius!—How dull a thing is passive Man,
Whom ev'ry giddy vapour uncreates,
Fittest my use. 'Tis Pollicies defect,
T'imploy such spirits may their wayes detect.
Ho! Nefarius?
Nefarius ent.
N.
My Lord.
S.
Holds Castrophilus Funeral Triumph this day
N.
Such is the voice of Fame my Lord:
S.
See that perform'd, as you finde order'd there.
Delivers im a Paper.
N.
I shall, with diligence equal to your trust.
exeunt
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Scene 2.
The Princess Eumena with Zisania and other waiters above at a window.Castrophilus Funeral Triumph attended by Ludaster, Ambigamor, Gratianus, Libranus, Serverus, Fidelius and others.
Eu.
Is that Ludaster follows next the Hearse?
Zis.
Madam it is: The Ornament of our Age:
Eu.
Th'excellence of his Form and Grace compar'd
Unto his Fame, could hardly be mistook
By whom ne're seen; Both are so singular.
Zis.
Hath not your Highness seen him formerly?
Eu.
Not within bounds of perfect Memory.
Zis.
So Time in me had slight Impressions rac'd,
To her self.
Had not ev'n then, Love plac't his Figure here.
Lu.
What silent Extasie hath seiz'd this place:
Can Joy nor Grief expresse a sense of Life?
Amb.
Sure the security we bring hath rac't
The Mem'ry of Past, and fear of Future Ills,
And, now, as useless hath intomb'd them both
Without a monument, in Neglect and
Ingratitude.
Gra.
Where are those glittering Pageants, who were wont
With fauning Ceremony to come and gaze
On her with wonder they durst never seem
To court, but with a distance of reproach?
Is the Aborde of victory become
Less agreeable, exposing thus the path
That to her leads in this sad Testimony.
An Attend.
Your faith in me, my Lords, may plead excuse
For them you seem to blame, when I shall shew
'Tis not their inclination doth restraine
The Peoples Hearts to publish their Respects,
But a severe injunction from the Lord
Protector.
4
My jealousie craves pardon,
Obedience is the ground of civil Rule,
Which, thus prevailing 'bove Affection,
Formes them both worthy and susceptible
Of their ensuing greatness.
Serjeant at Armes ent. meets the Hearse.
Ser.
In our Dread Soveraigns name, authorized
By vertue of our Lord Protector's Order,
Castrophilus of the Segusian Force
Late General, I do Arrest for Treason.
Lu.
With a more powerful guid possess me Heav'n!
Than what but meerly doth distinguish man
From Beast! I may restrain the wildness of
My Passion, which swells to a Distemper,
High as their Fury: Reason is too weak.
Or if not for our Safety, for your Truth,
Least vainly we conclude ye have forsook
Unguarded Innocence.
Draws his Sword.
Gra.
Shall we have toyl'd his Honour to preserve
When yet alive, not vindicate his Fame
Now Dead?
Lu.
This nor becomes your Duty, nor your Love;
Guilt puts on force: Vertue waves violence.
Our wrongs to the Prescription of the Laws
Prin at a window.
Must here give place.
Gra.
It is the curse of Arms to raise a pow'r
Puts up his Sword.
In Form, must suppress theirs in Right:
Sr. my rudeness will be I hope excus'd
By my Integrity. Which would advise
To provide timely for security.
Indignities are offered to the Dead
Obliquely but reflect upon the Living.
Eu.
What mystery masks this disorder?
To Lud.
An Attend.
The Princes Sr.
To the Pr.
Lu.
With a respect low as my obedience,
Madam, your vassal doth present your Grace,
From this sad Relique of Fidelity,
A Balsome to preserve your Beauty fresh
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With soft tranquility; which else perhaps
The anxious burden of your State would with
Their churlish Summons soon precipitate;
A work so laden with fertility,
The feeble stock sunk under the support,
Whose Monuments Epitaph him dignifies
Your Peace and Glories grateful sacrifice.
Eu.
How powerfully work the charms of Love.
To her self.
Ludaster. Acceptance and Acknowledgement,
Too meanly speak my Gratitude in thanks.
Maturity of time shall it invest
With fairer Ornaments I'th' interim know
I must divide my Interests with yours,
And in th'exchange participate of both;
You of my Glory to moderate your Grief;
I of your Grief to moderate my Glory.
Whose price with a new Triall I'de redeem,
Though the Event were to be doubtfull made
By his declining from the Action.
But why, Ludaster, this interruption
Of your Obsequies?
Lu.
Madam, the wayes of mischief are
Too crooked and obscure for erect thoughts
To penetrate; and leaves who should inform
Lost in a silent Labyrinth of wonder.
Yet thus much doth th'Infancy discover;
Mallice endeavours to stir up a cloud
Might smother vertues memory,
Seising the sacred Ashes of the Dead
For a pretended crime of Treason.
Eu.
This subject might an anger have provok't,
Had not thy Fathers long approved Faith
Shook off the levity of this ground, with scorn
In every mans belief that hath but heard
The empty Accents of his name.
Lu.
Yet bears the charge an appearance of Guilt,
Till by your Laws 'tis clear'd, for whose free course
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Of Innocence.
Eu.
Though my youths Immaturity as yet,
Suspend me from th'advantage of my Birth:
I must procure, what Justice cann't deny,
To punish the suggestors of this infamy,
For which attend our Order
Lu.
Your Highness Birth and Goodness doubly do
Intitle you to our Obedience.
Ex.
Scene 3.
Senevero.'Tis wisdom's property to frame redress
To each repugnance of our doubtfull Fate,
We may evade her Lawes necessity,
And wrest her Power to our purposes,
By the plurality of means we form
To guide us to our ends: To which effect
I must attempt to fortifie my Branch,
His tender youth may cherish and sustain
Our fortunes flourishing fertilitie.
Filathes ent.
Filat. encounterd in a discontented posture.
Filathes! How! So full of thought, alone?
What noble subject entertains thy Soul
Can justifie so firm a solitude?
'Tis not the idle dreams of Schooles, take on
The specious title of Philosophy,
Can do't: Nor yet those Gyves Morality
Hath forg'd to force the functions of the Soul
To Rule: As she were to dimension
Subject. Ease hath those useless trifles wrought
T'excuse the sloth of Natures vacant works,
She in the world superfluously hath cast:
Thy Birth and Fate call thee to greater things.
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To himself.
Of my thoughts hath figur'd to your sense
An unbecoming sadness; 'twas only
The care to be in Action responsive
To their Summons. I might be worthy held
Those happy Beings, I extract from You,
And your fair Industry. Which Intention
With success to make good; I must request
The matter from your hand in some imploy,
On which I may a lasting glory raise.
My name may be no blemish to your story.
Si.
The fervour of thy youth I like, but not
Approve; be wise, and vainly not pursue
The inessential appearance of things:
Tast of the fruit, and glut thee with the food
Of Greatness: Leave the Ayery Pompe to those
Who fondly toyl their servitude to frame.
Let my experience trace thee out a way
Securely leads to thy Felicity.
All those endowments grace thy youth, are wont
To make Loves pursuit happy in success:
Prove their attaints on this fair Object we
Intitle to our Soveraignty. Loves rules
Regard not Policies distinctions.
Be Bold, Attempt and Thrive.
Fi.
How indiscreet a sence my secret flame
To himself.
Would, unrestrained, to this purpose vent.
Nefærius enters.
Si.
Nefarius!
Turns to Nefa.
Filathes attend me on the Terrace.
Turns to Fila.
exit Fila.
And how Nefarius? did the Souldiers Plumes
Couch their exalted heads? who swell'd with rage?
And who, with a more suff'ring dislike shrunk
His intelligent shoulders? whose shaking head
His wary Reservation, next, implyed?
Who with erected or reverted eye,
Dispenc't the cautions of his Jealousie?
These Notions are of consequence, Nefarius.
8
Your Honour shall know ev'ry circumstance
In fitter time. The Princes, now at hand,
Expects your conference on this subject:
Si.
How comes it to her ear so suddenly.
Ne.
To the proceeding she a witnesse was.
Si.
My Order then was not observ'd with care,
Which charg'd you to divert her by some slight.
Ne.
Such motives, often prest, were oft repulst.
Ex. Ne.
Si.
Return, I come, who would unblamed strike,
Must what he seems to do, not seem to like.
Ex. Si.
Scene 4.
Libranus Serverus.Lib.
Sad! Serverus? Dejection ill becomes
The Demeanour of a Souldier.
Ser.
Not so Libranus,
When fram'd o'th useles sense of others wrongs:
True valors object solely seated is
On others Interests, to which unblemisht she
Yeelds up her self, though not unto our own.
Lib.
But thus opprest, is to betray our cause
To an ill Omen; we immov'd have stood
The Chance of war; and far more firmly should
Expect faire vertues Triall.
Ser.
The Chance of War
Lesse fatall is to Arms, than slights of Peace,
Wherein, our open plainnesse doth expose
Our carelesse lives to ev'ry Artifice
Of close Supercherie. But see they come,
Lets wait the Issue.
In great solemnity the Judge with the Court of Justice, Officers goes before the Hearse, whom Nefarius busily entertains, as also two Advocates, the one as Plaintiffe being Atturney Generall for the State, the other as Defendant for Castrophilus. Next the Hearse, Ludaster, Ambigamor, Gratianus, Fidelius and others.
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Hah! so busie in obsequiousnesse!
Open Corruption unsuspected slides
Into the hearts of Men, under the form
Of Ceremony: So Custome gelds the Law.
Ser.
Thou err'st Libranus, in that thou think'st not
The Introduction more material.
The Judges set.
Judge.
Exhibit the Charge.
Reg.
Castrophilus of the Segusian Force
The Court Register reads.
Late General, refused his Commission
To yeeld up to our Protectors Order,
By which inhibited to fight, provokt
The Enemy to unsought Encounter,
To th'hazard of the State.
Att. Gen.
Crimes, in their nature clear
Require no further Sense to give them weight;
On such t'enlarge with Circumstance or Art
Were not t'enlighten, but to aggravate:
In which suggestion, Justice, weakly fenc't,
Might be too soon surpris'd with appearance.
Which to avoid; my Honourable Lords,
I shall with Artless brevity relate
Th'inormity of the Offence, exposed
To your Judgements.
First, to your considerations I present
Th'Indignity to our Soveraignes Substitute,
In contempt of his Order, whose only will
Bore weight enough to lend it consequence.
Had not th'obscured Glory of that State,
To whom our better Fate hath joyned ours,
(Ev'n in her fullest pride) by her example
(Effectual as her transferr'd Laws) prescib'd
A certain Course to our security
From her suff'rings, in continuation
Of her Offices. Which dangerous step
To Ambition, her first Innovator,
Cesar, in his own personal practice sound,
And remedied, at his return to Rome,
Perfixing tearms unto the Prætorie
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Of the Injunction which followed
With disobedience, the overthrow
Of government: intrudes a president
(The supplement to all defective Laws)
From our preceding Pattern;
Who sentenc'd to be whipt his Ingenier,
For that he rather chose to fail this Rule
Of Rule; then that Rule of his Art, which held
A known repugnance to his Masters will:
To which ensues, yet a more weighty crime,
The hazard of our Liberties and Lives
Rashly thrust on one moments doubtfull trial,
In opposition to Authority.
Changes in States, 'specially succeeded
By minoritie, are held no seasons fit
To tempt th'incertitude of Arms: wherein
Faults irrepairable are seldome twice
Committed: whose issues, though succesful, when
Inhibited that Romans censure merrit;
Which to his son triumphs applause denies,
And crown'd the victor but for Sacrifice.
Ad. De.
My honoured Lords,
In Decimo Sexto Patravis.
Lud.
Forbear vain babler,
Lu. puts the Ad. by with his hand from the Bar.
Sullie not a Cause with thy impertinence
Needs no defence from mercinary form;
Her purity to blemish were a Cryme,
Great as the Charge suggest's,—How suddenly
Pause.
Incensed wrongs become licentious:
Against the Order of the Court, I fear,
I do transgresse; thus rudely to assume
A Liberty; but by your grace allow'd,
Ju.
Proceed.
Bows to the Judge
Lu.
T'omit the ground pretended to revoke,
The progresse of our Arms, though in it self
Disputable: since he but once remov'd
Successor to the President alledg'd,
11
With success, as the immediate means
T'establish his security. But this,
With common Preservation ballanced,
Will easily, with your assent, admit
A contradiction in the consequence.
And though the works necessity appear,
Not to each vulgar eye, Experience
And Observance, hath confirm'd the Master
Of the Mystrie therein, for whose account
He onely is responsible to heav'n.
The Function of General, solely being
To Soveraignty inherent; whose presence
Heretofore authoris'd all proceeding,
Till a corrupter Age, through ease and lux,
Induc't a substitute, who still retains
Th'essentiall marks of his Original;
Exacts the Rites of National Laws abroad;
Supports the course of civill laws at home;
And with his moving Commonwealth transports
A Law peculiar to his Ministrie:
Which he reforms, or abrogates at Will;
Dispenseth Honour, from his proper source;
Divides the spoyle as freely as his own.
Nor can the nature of his Action
Agree with order, limit; or restaint;
Which Subject are, to method time and place,
From whose varying occurrents he by eye
Takes new advice, to guide his purposes.
Whence expeditions of this qualitie,
Prove seldome happy but in silence seal'd.
Nor can th'objected Presidents be of force
Inferring only, how far this pow'r, now
In question, extends it self o're others,
Not how far others power over it.
Which may in fairer evidence appear,
To justifie our Cause (if presidents
Be received) when you shall recollect,
12
Divide the Roman from the Thoscan Coast,
Without the Senates consent or advice,
From whom their Tribunes and their Deputies
Beeing sent with strict Defence to stop his course,
He not desisted from his enterprise,
Which happily he finished, without
A farther Contestation.
Judg stands up.
Ju.
Whereas the littr'al sence of Laws do not
Exactly touch the Nature of th'offence;
We may from Presidents receive advice;
But yet no Rule, in that the circumstance
Of their depending Causes are to us
Not published. In which Case, our recourse
Must to the light of Nature be; Reason,
Laws Principal; who from her self should erre,
Should she great Crimes neglect, & yet the small
Suppresse; for in her silence so she should,
Were not great crimes forbidden in the less.
Which, cautious, she forbore to specifie,
Seing mans froward frailty still did take
New violence from restraint: Jealous t'awake
His faculty, in her invention.
Such is the subject now in difference,
Our Laws i'th letter not precisely mark,
But from the Relative and Comparative sence
We may disclose the full necessity
Of her Intention in the consequence.
Which cannot be the Branches to preserve,
And leave the Root affords them nourishment:
Which here the Person, and his Act transgrest,
Do truly represent: For of what use
Are Magistrates, their Head being disobeyed,
Or in their mouths the Laws, if who them fram'd
May in their own Injunctions be gainsayd
With impunity. Yet farther th'offence
In the dependance doth extend it self:
Exposing the security of the State,
13
Which in well-govern'd Common-wealths are shunn'd
To 'th last extremity: And then not past,
Without a gen'ral Consultation,
Whose advise slighted or contraried,
In such important actions, doth deserve
(What e're the issue he) the punishment
Of high Treason, Whereof I do pronounce
Castrophilus guilty. Yet least the rigour
O'th Law should seem in vengeance to delight,
Who strikes but by example to correct;
His body fre'd from our community,
We undisturbed leave to Funeral Rites;
But what of him remains with us must suffer:
His Honours are in degradation loft,
His goods to'th publique Treasure forfeited.
His Son and Allies judg'd to Banishment,
Not as Complices to the present Crime,
The Souldiers seem to weep.
But as to further Crimes prevention.
Dissolve the Court.
Exit Judg. and their Attend.
Lud.
How soon affection doth communicate
To others sufferings. Thus feeble sorrow
Doth un-man the soul. Why thus dejected?
Do you vainly think, that valour only
Is the practice of the field? The Subject
Of your displeasures is impassible;
Or if in being still, he would again
His innocent life, with cheerfulnesse, yeeld up,
In favour of the course of Justice,
Without a secret murmur.
Gra.
His vertue of too frequent usage was
Amongst us all, to doubt the excellence,
Whose glorious Mem'ry our Ages malice
May vail awhile, but can extinguish never.
This, nor the scandal to our Industry,
As subsequent to His; moves an excess
In our just sufferings, though either may,
Without Reproach, a just resentment challenge.
14
From us and Action, in your weightier wrongs.
Lud.
Their relation to you, but make them such
Seems to yeeld to passion.
To me. Th'effects of love more strongly move
Than of Enmity.
Lib.
Our swords are the best speakers of our loves
And wrongs: whose use, each man that hath a sense
Of vertue, must without reserve, yeeld up
To the defence of yours.
Lud.
Reserve your valours for a worthier cause,
Your Interests and the States must never be
Oppos'd by mine, Thare friendship never was
S'indiscreet, to prejudice the Owner,
Nor my Faith my Country.
Amb.
Come; I have salve for all thy sufferings,
Embraces Lud.
Whose splendour shall through these disorders move
True satisfaction from the sphear of Love.
Scene 4.
Orgula, Vergena, Amasia.One with a Cabinet of Jewels, another a looking-glass.
Or.
So! now the distance of your servitude
Suspend a while. And to be free as thought;
Say, whose beauty holds the loudest Tennor
In the voice of Fame?
Ver.
Madam! the question in it self implies
More than the Resolution can admit;
Propension in the quality. To dispute
The preheminence of your beauty; is to raise
A doubtfull concurrent to its glory,
And make th'excellence of anothers form,
More considerable i'th' comparison,
Than in their own perfection.
Or.
This to Eumena were but passible:
Obsequiousnes the true attendant is
Of Greatness.
15
Under your Honours favour, the Homage
Of beauty far more universal is,
Than that of Majestie: by so much ods,
As natures bounds doth Policies extend.
And if th'excess of praise, from servile thoughts,
Be licenc'd, as the badge of Soveraginty,
Although conducing but to its reproach:
The ornaments of our Expressions
(From a delightfull Rapture issuing)
May be authoriz'd as the grace of love,
Which tendeth but t'exalt the lustre of
His object.
Or.
From whence I may collect, you would infer
My beauty must receive addition
From your flatteries.
Am.
Pardon me,
Madam, not so; perfection doth admit
No alt'ration; increase, implies defect.
But yet the satisfaction which doth spring
From the applause we give, may animate
The hidden sources of its influence
Which reflects on us.
Or.
My Faith is not so powerfull to make use
Of this conclusion to the advantage
Of mine.
Amb.
It moves not in his proper Element
From the equality of Sex: But when
By your pretenders it is published,
Th'effects will be more sensible.
Or.
Well!
Not to resist the nature of our Sex,
Who soonest credit, what we covet most.
Agreement shall this controversie close;
And move another from your last evasion.
Distinguish the pretenders you propound,
And presse th'advantage you conceive they held
Over each other to make good their ends.
Amb.
Madam,
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Two only are considerable. The one
With Wealth and Power fully dignified,
(Two strong motives to a womans Temper.)
The other with Vertue and true Valour
As amply qualified: Which with the former
Paralel'd, doth no proportion hold
In their true values, to dispute their worths.
Divest but the Coloss of Wealth and Power
From their ostentive Bulks and limit them
To their peculiar use, they will appear
But Ministers to Necessity and Right,
Whose functions, bounteous nature, & good men
Make useless. If as they are in common
Usage taken, they will be found but aids
To Wantonness and Oppression. Whose yoke
They doubly suffer, that to them submit;
Of Greatness ev'n the endearments are but
Insulting suffrages. While Vertue doth
Erect a Bower, Love in Repose to Throne
And Valour from licentious tongues protects
Our Fame,
Uer.
A meer Platonick Rapture, Madam,
Deduc't from the first Infancy of Time,
When Innocent man yet hardly knew the use
Of his own natural faculties.
Vertue is but the Fable now of Schooles;
Nor Valour but the hardinesse of Fooles;
Whose ends should be from evill us to free,
Not with neglect to tempt them to our ruine,
'Gainst which they potent safeguards are, she slights
In the comparison. And most of all
To us important. For the Soul ev'n from
The nature of her first extraction, holds
A strong desire of Rule. From which our Sex,
Excluded in the Politick Body, gains
In the Natural, by the advantage
Of our Beauty. Whose vigour were more pow'rful
17
Of violence: since to us Inclination
Rendreth our Subjection voluntary.
And farther succour we should never want
Our Empire to confirm, did not the Rites
Of time too suddenly prevaile against,
The Rites of our Prerogative; whose Pow'r
To frustrate, least it ours supplant, to it
We timely must a counter-party raise
(While yet we have the means it to procure)
May our failing Authority support.
Which to us more assured cannot be
Than to acquire an opulent Dignity.
Or.
A pretty slight to free us from th'contempt
Of Age, whose unwelcome approaches make
Our beeings uselesse, oft ridiculous.
Mundola with Ambigamor and Ludaster Enters.
Mun.
Madam, Your Honours Brother.
Amb.
Sister,
Salute
I joy to finde the Messenger of fame,
Though glorious, yet too mean a Speaker
Of thy Form: It meets the expectation
Here at the full, Her flatteries else where,
Leave void, ev'n in the first examination,
And yeelds an evidence of thy modesty,
More powerfull, than are those Virgin stains
Revert the Guilt upon the loose Attempter:
In that we may from thence conclude, thy care
Nor studied was, nor vain, too lavishly
Those Graces to communicate to each
Lascivious sense, with Arts affetterie
Which bear the Figure of Divinity.
Or.
Brother,
Those attributes you give, if plac't in me,
Have found a happy way to please th'Owner,
If you in them be satisfied.
Amb.
I am, and shall more perfectly, when they
Are placed here.
Amb. presents to Or. Ludaster.
18
No safer guides, than your Intensions.
Lud.
Madam, they are not fair to you in this,
I must be, thought to my own affliction,
Their dilatour. Since they can onely make.
M'happy, but with the brand of treachery,
T'would, in each vulgar eye, too ill become
The Honour of our friendship, to betray
The Myracle of Nature to th'possession
Of a thing so mean, it wants a sense
To signifie its being: Man; is too high
A dignity to qualifie my essence;
To him inherent are Habitations,
Distinctions, possessions, in all which, I
Can no way find, the smalest Property
Beast; though th'unruly motions of my thoughts
Approach their Nature, have a happier sense,
For of them all they know no difference.
Amb.
Forbear you wrong our amitie;
Our beings individual are.
Or.
Sir,
Whence this distemper, flows, I cannot guess;
But far unsutable, I'm sure, it is
To Lu.
The Character both good and knowing men
Deliver of you. Man without reproach
Can safely speak himself in no extream.
Amb.
Thy innocence frees thee fro'th suspect of guilt;
Thou would'st not else suppose vertue could be
Without Oppression: Orgulea, I more
Plain must be with thee; In my long absence,
My thoughts incessantly have toyled more
Under the anxious burden of my care
To see that beauty in an happy Porte,
Then t'acquire the glory of a Souldier.
M'Eye hath been nice, as wantonnesse of youth;
My judgement wary, as jealousie of Age,
In search of Him, might my endeavours crown.
Which that a happy period might ensue,
19
Him to thee, as Fancy would a Fable,
Yet swerv'd not from the truth, I might not lead
But mark thy inclination out, the which
Thy Love in thy obedience had giv'n ore
To mine: veiw here the true originall.
From whom, malice her self can naught detract,
Though she his Honours and Possessions hath,
Cut off from him, & whats worse, him from us.
Or.
Your resolutions do beget new doubts.
Amb.
Hath not the rumour of our sufferings
Preceeded us? Mischief is conscious
When she dares but whisper. Why? Orgeula,
Our glorious victory is, by the Law,
To Him we ow for it, imputed Treason;
And as such punished in Him and His.
Or.
It can not be,
You would but sport with my credulity.
Amb.
I'm serious; on my integrity.
Or.
You'de astonish me.
Amb.
Shake of thy trouble and thy doubts; we will
Seek out a clime, where goodness shall live free
From Injury.
Or.
Women Travellers are held no members fit
For new discoveries; as I conceive,
The title of a Lady errant will
Unto our Honours no addition be.
Amb.
But that of Pilgrim doth grace Piety.
Or.
The Zeal
Of my Devotion not so fervent is.
Amb.
Thy words do into errour prompt my sense,
Yet rain I would mistake, explain thy self;
Let vertue be thy guide.
Or.
Our lives have other props then speculation
Amb.
Reflect not o'th breaches of His fortunes,
They are made good in mine.
Or.
Twill but ill become your fathers daughter
To be said your Pentionarie.
20
Hast thou thy appearance so suddenly
Cast off? Awake, and reassume thy Temper.
Or.
Did the Conjecture of my worth extend
But to your bare Esteem, it would have taught
Simplicity, so far to prize it self,
As to preserve the Rites of Woman-hood.
We women are not wonn with the Reports
Of glory: Our accesses have degrees.
Why? Had you met my wishes in your choice,
He must, with the observance of a slave,
Have ages waited but for my Admittance,
Have kist my Hand, he must have thrice redeemed
With hazzard of his life, my fame; not from
Reproach alone, but from Preheminence.
Facility is beauties Infamy.
Amb.
Nay, then I, must conclude, that Beauty is
From Heav'n amongst us onely cast, as a
Misplaced light, but to seduce the world.
Lu.
Madam!
Disfigure not that Character you bear:
O're Mis'ry to insult, those graces will
Devest of their Divinity: and leave
Them smothered in a cloud of Horrour.
I do not come to violate the Rites
Of Love; But those of Friendship to preserve,
Which tendered; I take my leave.
Amb.
Farewell thou Maquery of Nature.
Ex Lu. Amb.
Uer.
These Souldiers have not learnt the patience yet
T'attend the issue of a Seige, I see.
They are so hot on the Encounter.
Am.
Their mouths in War are so full of Command,
They cannot stoop to other tearms in Peace.
Mundolo Enter
Mu.
Madam!
The Lord Protector's newly entered.
Or.
Give your attendance.
Sinevero Enter
Sin.
Alone? Madam?
Where are the fluent Concourse of our youth,
Should with inspired zeal exalt their vowes
21
Sequestred, in that they have of it
A Prophanation made to meaner Dieties?
Or of those Charming Graces do thou thus
Into their center recontract their force?
They may with greater violence effuse
Their light, by this sought Intermission,
And so each time they are disclos'd, possesse
The world with a new Miracle? Madam,
Affect a meaner way to propagate
The glory of your beauty: t'will involve
The world with lesse amazment, but with more
Delight: which fully to beget, there must
Be more equality betwixt th'Object
And the Faculty.
Or.
Y'ave taught me Sir, a pretty Art, in your
Reproof, to fill that disproportion
In my own defects:
Sin.
Madam!
The Splendour of your Arms subdues,
You need not ad their force: yet you my words
To their contrary Sense do thus invert:
Whose truth to justifie; witness all eyes,
Save such as shame and envy do corrupt;
Your own Glasse, and my Captivity.
Or.
Your Captivity!
Sure the prescriptions have a large extent.
Sin.
That, Madam, I must learn of your consent
Offers to kiss her.
Or.
How, Sir, forbear; y'ave learnt the mystery
Of equivokes, I see; yet you mistake
she puts him by Ver. is staid by Sin. who gives her a Ring.
This freedome marks not my intention;
But that which gives you license to be gone.
Sin.
Her wit yet adds a lustre to her form:
Or. & Amb. Ex.
This Ring to help me to another view
Of your fair Lady.
Ver.
As fit as it were made for me, in truth.
Sir, I accept your proffer, yet must doubt
You buy your Pennance at too dear a rate.
22
Sin.
Fear not; the danger of her eyes (If I
In vain must burn) is but Loves Sacrifice.
Ver.
Hast to the farther Galery,
I'le lead her that way to her Chamber.
Ex. sundry wayes.
Scene 4.
Lizania.The Conflict of my minde devides it self,
Yet in Loves favour must suspend Loves Rite;
The troubles of his hazzard whom I love,
Oppress my thoughts more than my love's successe;
Which yet so doubtfull is, I cannot say,
When he shall know it, doth my passion sway.
Wayt.
Madam, the Lord
A Wayt. Ent.
Ambigamor desires your Conference.
Liz.
Attend him hither.
How unwelcome are to us the Summons
Of misplac't affection; when as our thoughts
T'other Object are equally engag'd.
Th'excess of Love, when it not ours meets,
Afflicts as doth the want of what we seek.
Yet I perhaps of him may somewhat learn
To pacifie my apprehension.
The Wayter after some intermission conducts him in and returns.
Ambigamor Ent
Amb.
As day springs from the bosome of the night,
With comfort, to the wandring traveller.
So from my absence flows to me this light,
Whose fair Idea hath unblemisht here
Been kept alive in that obscurity,
By the refulgence of the flames of Love,
That to you Madam, now do come to prove,
Which is more fatall, Contention or Love.
23
'Tis well y'ave scap'd the greatst hazard, Sir,
The force of Love was never mortal thought,
To such especially, whose heart diverts
The violence in a division
Of his strength, 'twixt a Mistress and a Friend.
Amb.
The Passion for my friend serves but to form
Ant receptacle to install my Love,
Whose Rites (though it your censure should confirm)
Must somwhats intermit in favour of
His Interests; which yet may happy prove
If you vouchsafe to be their Advocate.
Liz.
As how, I pray?
Amb.
Madam, the rigour of the Law this night
Expels Ludaster forth his Country's bounds,
She seems troubled.
Unless you by our Soveraigns means procure
His Reaple, This silence, Madam, speaks
Your trouble more than your consent.
Liz.
The cause of vertue should universal be
In well affected minds; and sure in mine
Not with such sense receiv'd might question
My Agreement to the succour, to which
I will addresse my self forthwith, and e're
The Evening close inform you the successe.
Amb.
I wish the glory of your undertaking
May not rest onely in your fair intention.
(Though there enough to dignifie th'Action)
But in a happy issue, to the world
Divulge the Honour of our safety, yours.
And prove to my ensuing Purposes
A happy Omen.
Liz. going out encounter Eu. troubled in thought.
Eu. seems not to minde her a while, at length collects her self.
Liz.
So full of thought; what means this sudden change?
Maddam, how busie is her fancy? Madam.
Eumia ent.
Eu.
Lizania, my course was in thy search.
Liz.
Your senses then held no intelligence
With your Reason, Madam.
24
Why? Lizania.
T'was enforced to awake the one
To lend the other Faculty.
Eu.
My thoughts have, since thy absence, strangely wrought
Pause
On—I know not, what unform'd purposes.
Liz.
Under your Highnesse favour, this is but
The last dimension to the Appearance;
The growth is of a longer Beeing; I
Have watch't to the progression the degrees,
Your speech abruptly intermits and flows:
The Offices of Night and Day in you
So strangely intermixed are of late,
I know not when you slumber, when you wake.
Pardon my Curiosity, if it
Too nighly hath approacht your Privacy.
The freedome formerly you used me to
Hath been in fault; which never did admit
A secret so long hid.
Eu.
Alas! Lizania, 'tis yet such to me,
I am not well acquainted with my own
Distempers; which insensibly, I finde,
Do grow upon my yeelding Nature.
Liz.
My own sufferings are my best informers,
To her self
Madam, if I might have the liberty.
To judge, I truly should affirm it Love.
Witnesse the rising tincture on your cheek,
Which masks it self in guilt, unwittingly
To have disclos'd more than I should have known.
Eu.
Thy rashness hath a bolder title given
To my Passion, than yet my Virgin thoughts
Durst to themselves a vouch: which now become
More hardy are by their discovery.
And press to move thy succour and advice.
Liz.
Your Power over mine may challenge both,
Which in the int'rim, I must intercede
For the Protection of the innocent:
Then waite th'enlightning of your purposes
Eu.
Alas! mine fails me in my own Interests.
25
Might figure a denial: whose is the Cause?
Liz.
Ludaster's Exile moves for Reaple.
Eu.
The first report thereof was thereto my
Direction: which to thy Father often
I in vain have prest, whereto still h' objects,
I know not what, hid mysteries of State.
Not knowing that on his depends my Fate.
Eu.
Why starts thou?
Liz. starts. To her self.
Liz.
How sudden and unruly is the sense
Of Love: Madam, the apprehension
Of the Consequence. If your Fate follow
His, ye both are to us lost.
Eu.
Not lost to thee; nor, yet from thee divided;
Thy amity assures me that thou wilt
Participate with me in any change.
Liz.
That were the smallest triall of my Faith.
Eu.
Know then I am resolv'd, only with thee,
This Night (since I his exile can not stay)
To follow by my flight: which to secure,
As we the fresh ayre of the Ev'ning take,
We of the Forest will our Covert make.
Liz.
Your Highness sought my advice with my Ayd,
Yet you conclude without it.
Eu.
That in the sequell I perhaps may use;
But where Necessity hath left no choice,
Counsel is vain.
Liz.
Yet Madam your attention let me crave,
I shall submit to your Election.
Eu.
What canst thou say?
Liz.
Under your Graces favour, you to chance
Precipitate, what time infallibly
Must without hazzard ripen to your hand;
And leave you Pow'r to cancell this Edict,
As it had never been.
Eu.
My thoughts are fixt, prepare thee to their aide,
Attempt no more my Passion to or'esway.
Time hath many Changes: Love brooks no delay.
Eu. Ex.
26
How full of opposition is my Fate.
Each Accident begets a new repugnance
To my Hopes: And to extend my suffrings,
Endeavours me to frame their Instrument.
So wills the duty to my Soveraign.
But since the Gods to punish crimes omit
Wrought in Loves favour, I may that forget.
Sinevero Ent.
Sin.
How Zizania! The Princesse being alone,
You absent from your charge? see you attend
With stricter diligence, than you were wont:
She seems to me perplexed in her thoughts;
I cannot guesse the cause: Be vigilant
In the search, and when you finde her apt
For the impression, move your Brothers suit:
Women have seasons they can nought resist,
On which advantage your sex knoweth best
How to prevail.
Ziz.
Sir,
My fear perswades me I already have
Disclos'd thereto an obstacle, greater,
Than time or prudence can remove.
Sin.
What may that be?
The discovery may in your censure
Blemish me with the reproach of levity,
So facilly to break a trust impos'd
By the affection of my Soveraign,
Which no violence should have wrested from me,
Were not the ruin of the state engaged
In the privacy.
How fain my Love would my deceit disguise.
To her self.
Sin.
Be brief.
Ziz.
To my own sense I scarce dare whisper it,
Good Sir your eare.
Sin.
How—Ludaster—this night—
Intermission.
I am in wonder lost—how confused are
27
I have it now—yet stay—it shall be so.
Zizania thou hast discharg'd a duty
Far greater than the scruple ballanc't it,
Thy Country and thy Fathers Age thou hast
Preserved from untimely fall; the which
To perfect, fulfil thy Mistris pleasure,
Leave me to frustrate her intention,
Farther you her design. Ask me not why
To rectifie the errours of a Prince,
We with them to the issue must comply.
Ziz.
Obedience is my best direction.
Ziz. ex.
Filathes ent.
Sin.
Whither, Filathes, so intentive bent?
Fi.
Towards the Lodgings of the Princess, Sr.
You presse the chase with too much ardour yet,
Your visits with adresse may frequent be,
Not importunate; times are not favouring,
Desist, and e're you sleep repair to me
For new advice.
Fi.
My better Guide is your affection.
Fi. ex. Nefarius
Sin.
Nefarius, thou anticipat'st my wish.
I must imploy thee in an Action
Equall to my safety. Thou knowest well,
Time hath not yet outstript my youthful heat;
I have a Mistris, whose wantonnesse
Dislikes my passive years, and shuns accesse,
This night, as I have learnt, she purposes
With one companion onely of her sex,
T'invade the Forest for th'evening fresh ayr.
My spie shall be at hand to mark their course:
While you prepare an Ambush to surprize
Them; which done conveigh them to Placentia,
My adjoyning House; and there commit them
To their custody, whom I shall order
To receive them.
28
Your Honours will in every Circumstance
Shall be observed.
Sin.
The undertakers shall want no reward,
You in particular.
Ne.
I am your Honors Creature, and will strait
About it.
Ne. Ex.
Sin.
Oh! I could hug my self,
It swels my tickling Fancy with delight
Equall to the approaching Nuptiall
Of a Love sick-Bride. Thus wisdome rules
The Stars: Had my Invention been or dull,
Or slack: My ruine had been certain,
The Princes had escap'd, Ludaster wed.
Whereby she of her Non-age had the term
Anticipated: Me of my dignity
And Pow'r devested: My Enemy
Brought in with triumph to take full revenge
On me and my Complices. To this is
The influence of those erring Lights preside
The Offices of Nature directed:
But well digested Reason, who us frees,
From the subjection of the sense: In which
Fraile Element their Empire onely moves,
Propounds a fairer Issue to my Hopes,
In the Conversion of their fatall Order.
This flourishing twig, who in her hasty growth
Strives to out-strip the summet of her Prop.
I will (my Power to support) or graft
Her on my stock, or else under colour
Of this her flight, smother her memory
With her life: Her Line terminates in her;
And I do, by the Pow'r I have engrost,
Stand fairest for the next Succession,
So shall I thrive by my own Stars digression.
Ex
| Orgula : or, The Fatal Error | |