University of Virginia Library

Act III.

Scene 1.

Eumena.
Eu.
What place this is? or, why thus hither brought?
My best collected Sense cannot discover,
Yet if it faile not in his Ministrie.
A noise within, she starts.
The richness of these Ornaments pretend
To flatter me to a security.
My Fears pursue me still; each noise awakes
The terrour of another violence
More hatefull than the former. Certainly
The mark of theft should be Necessity,
Which here seems smother'd in a vast excesse,
To lodge no force, if not of wantonness.
Yet here misfortunes threatnings do not stay,
Sure if they did my Plaints were vain; since I
Have resolution to escape their malice.
Ills are scarce such which have their remedy:
Which wanting is, alas, to Loves restraint,
Whose jealous visions evils multiply
On every empty possibility.
Is Love quick-sighted onely to afflict,
Not to relieve it self? vain Industry!
What pow'r shall I invoke? whose aide implore?
Am I abandon'd to each casuality
Without Protection of a providence?
If so? How hitherto subsisted I?
If otherwise? Why is that grace withdrawn?
My Innocence is the same; unless it be
A Crime to Love with true sincerity.

Zizania secretly listning.
Ziz. Ent.
Ziz.
These plaints renew the horror of my guilt,
Tto her self.
Why shuns your Highness my Society?
I am no stranger to your sufferings.
Appear I lesse agreeable than I was?

Eu. takes her by the hand.
Eu.
Thou art to me the same thou ever wer't,
Why mov'st thou such a doubt, on such a ground?
My thoughts, seduced by my sorrows, stray
Ev'n from themselves: well may they thee deny
Their anxious burden.

Ziz.
My relation is nigher to their wrongs
Then e're yet it was: before I onely
Was their Partner, now their Author am.

Eu.
Thy greif distracts thee sure.

Ziz.
Guilt of two frequent usage is with them,
Can harbor it without a secret sense.
Mine will o're throw me, if my Penitence
Meet not your Pardon to restore my peace.

Eu.
I hold no such Authority from heav'n.

Ziz.
Heav'n is appeas'd, when those we do offend
Are pacified.

Eu.
It must then be some other:
I have from thee receiv'd no injury.

Ziz.
My crime in that assurance multiplies.
Madam! you have; for which I thus become
Ziz. kneeles Eu. ruiseth her.
A suppliant, for your Pardon.

Eu.
Dear Zizania rise: my Pardon, for what?

Ziz.
That I could wish conceal'd
Till your agreement my request confirm:
The nature of my Trespass may perhaps
Revoke your Clemency.

Eu.
That were but vertue meanly to disguise
With Sophistrie: be it what it may, I
Do forgive thee.

Ziz.
I have abus'd your trust, your purposes
Betray'd to them have hither you by force
Conveigh'd.

Eu.
Thou could'st not be so wicked certainly?

Ziz.
When my offence was known,
I knew you would retract your Charity.
Your meer rebukes are punishments to me.

Eu.
I can but wonder at thy frailty: yet
Must wonder more what should induce thee to't.

Ziz.
The danger of your Highness rash attempt.
Which when my Prayers could not stay, I sought.
My Fathers succour to prevent, but was
Not privy to the means he used.

Eu.
Astonishment gives place unto my fears;
But to what end my Liberty restrain'd?

Ziz.
I cannot guess, unless it be to give
Freer access unto my Brothers suit.

Eu.
No more of that?
Unless thou wouldst possess me with belief,
That there are crimes which we can not forgive.

Ziz.
Henceforth, I never will my safety hold
At so high rate, to purchase it with your
Renew'd displeasure: which yet to confirm,
I will make use of this advantage gain'd
By my errour, to rectifie it self.
The breach of your trust, wins a trust elswhere,
Which I will break again, but to repair
The former. I am your onely Wardor,
With some few servants under my Command,
Whose vigilance, being ignorant to what
Addres't, I easily will blind, when time
Shall ev'ry circumstance fulfill, may make
Infallibly succesfull our escape.

Eu.
Prythee, Zizania, may I credite this

Ziz.
Once culpable, and ne're free from suspect?
Madam, you may, by your fair Innocence
You may.

Eu.
Another would believe this but a snare
To work upon their easines; but I
Will on thy promis'd faithfulnesse relie.

Ziz.
And never more shall suffer in't by me.
Be pleased to withdraw your self a while:
I hear some one approach. Hard destiny!
My ruine must repair my Infamy.
Filathes Ent.
Brother, what chance hath led you hither?

Fi.
No chance, Zizania, but Loves direction.

Ziz.
Twas chance you err'd not with so blind a guide.

Fi.
Blinde in his sense, not in his Intellect.

Ziz.
Yet sensuall, sure was your intelligence.

Fi.
Tis true, Zizania,
We have a Father tender of us both.

Ziz.
Tis manifest in your behalf: But how
In mine?

Fi.
That in the sequel will apparent be,
First, tell me, how the Princess brooks this change?

Ziz.
With longer use it may become lesse strange:

Fi.
And how succeeds my Hopes?

Ziz.
Tis time must be your better Advocate;
You have already opportunity;
Powerfull disposers of a womans will.

Fi.
But how, by your art, find you her inclin'd?

Ziz.
Not past possibility,
Nor yet so facile, as to flatter you.
Women have reserv'd motives not easie
To disclose.

Fi.
When unto my admittance shall I come?

Ziz.
With formed purpose that must not be done;
But carelesly, on some slight Accident:
I will advise you in the manner, when
I finde her temper, and the season fit.

Fi.
Thou hast a wit fit onely to direct.

Ziz.
But how all this concerns the care of me,
I cannot judge;

Fi.
Thou hast awak'd my Memory.
I am to let thee, from my Father, know,
He hath concluded of thy Marriage
With Ambigamor, confident his will
Disposeth thine, in thy obedience.
To which he wills thee forme thy resolution,
For thy advantage, and to farther his,
In his pretences to faire Orgula.

Ziz.
'Tis very sudden.

Fi.
Why seem'st thou troubled?
He is a man, in my opinion,
Whose full desert might make thy wishes vain.

Ziz.
I think as much.
Nor is my trouble grounded on dislike,
But on a sorrow for occasion lost,
Might this Command have fill'd, if then but known,
And my Agreement vail'd with Modesty,

Fi.
What was't?

Ziz.
Upon the importunacy of his sute,
But yesterday, I promist to consult
My Fathers will, and e're the Evening clos'd,
To send him my last Resolution.

Fi.
Time is not so far spent, but this may yet
Be done.

Ziz.
Not well without suspition of my being.

Fi.
I am indebted for my Interests:
And with an Equall care will tender thine;
Which thus securely may effected be.
The Messenger imployed shall pretend
Your letter left unto his Charge last Night,
But the distraction of the Princes losse,
And yours, diverted him: to which the date,
And place agreeing; 'twill undoubted pass.

Ziz.
Tis well advis'd, and I will follow it:
Walk but one turn i'th lower Gallery;
I'le finish it immediately.

Ex. severall wayes.

Scene 2.

Orgula.
The Princes lost! it is incredible?
It can be but some idle Rumour sprung
From the distemper'd heat of wine: when as
The giddy Fantasie works high upon
Each slight Impression to make the tongue
Licentious: It is impossible!
Admit it true: what would vain Hope infer?
That I agreeing to Sinevero,
Stand fairest to succeed her Dignity.
Love interdicts that fond Reflection.
Tush! Beauty, if not joyn'd with Majesty,
Is honour'd but for sensuality.
'Tis well attempted to suppresse my flame,
Yet vainly do my thoughts avouch to what
They cannot frame, and with a false apparrell
Palliate my wound.

Mundelo Enter.
Mu.
Madam, the Princes is, for certain, lost.

Or.
For certain then another must be found.
The Practice of the world hath made thee wise,
Mundolo, which teacheth thee to value
All publique dammages, no farther than
Our private Interests do on them depend.

Mu.
'Twas your Command that chang'd the Property.

Or.
Which errour now my second thoughts have found,
And blame that troubled curiosity.
Which to overpass, tell me, Mundolo,
What youth is that come lately to my Brother?
Or in what quality received?

Mu.
His business speaks him a Messenger;
His Privacy a friend, beyond both which,
I yet have nothing learnt particular
Of him.

Or.
Thou hast then lost thy sensuall faculty.

Mu.
What means your honour to conclude of mine
Beyond the information of your own?

Or.
Can any Eye, if not defective,
See and not judge him Natures miracle.

Mu.
So far from that, mine cannot judge in what:

Or.
Is not his form exactly excellent?

Mu.
More than the bashfull smoothness of his years,
Which reach not yet to the distinction
Of his Sex; I can not see.

Or.
Thou stupid art beyond credulity.
Mundolo, while yet I was an Infant,
My Father, of a slave, designed thee
To my Attendance: since I have found thee
Diligent and faithfull to my Purposes.

Mu.
Your honour's Testimony is
The End and Glory of my Servitude.

Or.
In that belief Mundolo, I intend
T'impart the secret of my Love to thee.

Mu.
It is the gen'ral Subject of each tongue,
Which now prepare to publish through the world
Their vows to your obedience, as joyn'd
To him extracts a Soveraigne Right from that
Of our Protection.

Or.
The vulgar voice is a meer bable grown,
Which reacheth but to the first appearance
Of things to involve the world in Errour;
In which, Mundolo, thou art also faln,
If thy words truly figure thy Belief.
The Object of my Love the Subject is
Of our last difference, which thy sense finds
Not out because it not distinguisheth.

Mu.
Means your Honour the youth you spake of last?

Or.
The same.

Mu.
The grounds of Love in their dependencies
Are imperceptible even to them
That suffer the Effects to which it may
Become the meanness of my Condition
To be an Instrument, no Counsellour.

Or.
I do approve thy modesty, and will
So far make use thereof.

Mu.
My obedience waits on your Direction.

Or.
Which is at present but to find the means
I may have private Conference with him.

Mu.
The occasions fair, he being now without
Viewing intentively those Pictures sent
From Rome. I'le use some slight unwittingly
May guide him hither.

Or.
Do, make tryall of your Art.
Ex Mundolo
How Imperious is the force of Love!
What are these glorious trophies which the world
Admire in their Captivity, since they
Waves her hand with a slighting gesture to her face.
Must be laid down to grace Anothers triumph
In my own; against the Rites of Beauty,
Or our Sex.

Fidelius Ent.
Fi.
That here should be a fairer piece than that,
I cannot credit, though I press to see.
Seems surprised, seems to retyre.
Hah! this fellow hath abused me,
Your Honours Pardon.

Or.
If your Intention guide you hither, Sir,
Here is no object will oppose your course.

Fi.
It was but errour Madam, which
Were multiplyed in the continuance.

Or.
The Errour lyes but in your own dislike,
Nor wants but your own satisfaction
To repair it.

Fi.
It is your bounty, so to censure it,
Extended it no farther, he deserv'd
To bear his guilt that would not clear it so,

Or.
If farther, 'tis in your own conjecture
Meerly, not in mine.

Fi.
It is against the Rule of civill tyes,
To use their faculty to overthrow
Their Rites.

Or.
Those truly are superfluous ceremonies,
Which custom hath induc'd to blind the world,
Shee might those freedoms steal, Nature hath seal'd
To us, ev'n in our first Production.

Fi.
Without some order were no decency.

Or.
Order is but a sluggish method form'd
To shrow'd the subtilty of the Cautelous.

Fi.
The Nature of my errour to confirm,
If I desist not, will beget another.
In this your opposition Madam

Or.
It is but musicall in our discourse,
Not reaching to th'aversion of our wils.

Fi.
Your Honours is so pow'rful, it must find
Concurrence ev'ry where in all that have
The Lights of Nature free.

Or.
To which I doubt your own will scarce agree.

Fi.
The fault is then in my Capacity

Or.
Who moves anothers, may thereto conform
His own.

Fi.
It must be when th'Effects of both are known.

Or.
Where the Cause is infallible th'effects
Are manifest: which thus is farther prov'd,
Fire must burn, and Beauty must be lov'd.

Fi.
When they do meet fit Subjects to receive
Those their Impressions.

Or.
Not yet; this difficulty hath too much Art
To be simplicity I must be plain.
To her self
What defect can you finde in me not to
Receive the latter?

Fi.
In Excellence your own Supremacy.

Or.
That in th'effects against your own is found
An Impropriety: since mine in vaine
Inviteth: yours with successe enforceth
Love.

Fi.
This onely is in supposition,
Not in evidence

Or.
That to each sense appears which not dverts
It self from this oreflowing Passion
Of my heart: by a disguis'd neglect.
Those blushe yeeld a lustre yet untaught
To her self
By Art: which though they seem t'oppose with blame
My loves accesse; they cherish still the flame.

An Attendant
Att.
Sir, my Lord Ambigamor desires to speak with you.

Fi.
I'me happily delivered:
To himself.
I'was ev'n at my last evasion
Your Pardon, Madam.

Or.
Mine submits to your will, ev'n so, who Love,
Not by their own, but by anothers move.
Exit Or.

Scene 2.

Filathes.
Women in their own Nature gen'rally
Deceitfull are. 'Tis the defensive Arm
Of their security, fram'd to supply
The deffect of their own Ability.
But when this innate disposition meets
With a fit instrument of wit: 'tis then
Women outstrip the common reach of men.
The justest ground of my suspition, is
This sudden change, so long pursued in vain.
My Signet perfectly agrees with this,
The Letter.
And may without a blemish it reclose.
Sits down at a table.
Opens the Letter and reads.
My Lord Ambigamor.
The Messenger hereof delivers you
A false pretence, but to delude the hand
Directs it, with th'assistance of my Brother,
A passionate Party in your Int'rests:
I thus advise you to restore your Friend.
The Princess (since her intercepted flight,
Occasion'd onely by Ludasters Love.
For whose Reapeal she often mov'd in vain)
Intends the Evening that succeeds this date,
To meet him at the Forest holy Oake:
Disguis'd alone, arm'd with the assurance
Of his vertue: Friendship confirms you best
Know how to yeeld him this Intelligence;
With which to joyn, your diligence to move;
Receive a farer title to my Love.
Zizania
These are new mysteries, whose progress would
Prove fatall to us in their Consequence.
Sister, you are a trusty Advocate
Is then Ludasters Interests become
More prevalent with you, than mine? I must
Suppress the issue, though with grief my Friend
Ambigamor must be depriv'd thereby
Th'advantage which it brings unto his Hopes:
Lost in his Mistress scorn—There is a mean
pause
May favour his and farther yet my Ends.
To thy Example be propitious Jove!
Ayde my deceit in Love—It shall be so.
pause
With little Art I may protract the Date
Hereof, whereon depends their meeting: whil'st
I, in the Intr'm, at the appointed time,
Vayl'd with th'approach of Night, may personate
My Rivall with success: I'le fetch a Pen,
And alter it, with ease, it shall not be
Distinguisht by the Eye that framed it.
Exit Fi.

Leaving the letter on the Table.
Sinevero Ent.
Sin.
Filathes! gone so suddenly; he was
Intermission reads the letter left on the table.
But now they told me in his Closet—How!
What this? with the assistance of my Brother.
A passionate party in your Interests—
Ludaster at the Forest Holy Oake—
The Evening that ensues this date—

Lets fall the letter from his eye

that is
To Night. Must then my children conspire
Against my safety, and th'immediate means
I have contrived to enlarge their Fates?
Tis time I should provide another stock,
To graft a more obedient Issue on.
Flings the letter carelesly on the Table again.
I'le not oppose their course, their ways shall be
Their Snare: my care rests onely on my own
Security: which to ensure, and these
My doubts confirm with farther certainty,
I must set Spies on the Delivery.
Ex. Sin.

Filathes reent with a Pen.
looks on the letter.
Fi.
This unite, if converted into two,
Defers the present, till to morrow night.
seems to write, closes it and seals it.
Tis done most perfectly. I will dispatch
The Messenger; then Heav'n put out your light;
Loves sense is clearest in the darkest night.
Ex. Fi.

Scene 4.

Orgula, Mundolo.
Or.
To night, Mundolo, saist thou?

M.
Madam, this Night Fidelius must depart.

Or.
What is the Reason of his sudden hast?

Mu.
Unless a letter lately sent my Lord
Ambigamor, my Observation
Can suggest no other.

Or.
Must the malignance of my stars at once
Precipitate my Hopes, their rigour yet
Had taught me sufferance, if the change had
But flatter'd me to a suspence of Doubt,
Though it ne're reacht to farther certainty.

Mu.
Be not so mov'd. A fertile industry
Makes easie paths through ev'ry difficulty:
Mine, as in Duty bound, presents it self
To th'undertaking.

Or.
Endeavours happy that pretend to be,
Must work on Subjects have capacity.

Mu.
Madam, this falls within that quality,
Though your fears lend it other appearance.
Were my life free (though far too mean a pledge
For your displeasure) it most willingly
Should ballance the Event.

Or.
What can be done on such an Exigent?

Mu.
His journey may protracted be.

Or.
Those purposes do many hazards run
Are grounded but on Possibilitie.
Where is the means?

Mu.
To that,
Occasion is the fairest Minister,
Leave to my vigilance the Charge.

Or.
Thy subtlety I know still equall is
To thy Fidelity. And neither shall
Return from my Imployment empty.

Mu.
Your honors bounty is my providence.

Or.
How fleeting are th'impressions of my minde:
Were this successful my distracted thoughts
Would in themselves a new division finde.
This innate passion of Supremacy,
Which the Soul holdeth from the Excellency
Of her own Nature; scarce will intermit
To her self
To the Repugnance of anothers force.
Were but the Motions of Ambition trac'd,
Each President would shew; ev'n wantonness,
(When her Rites were in question) lost the use
Of sense: yet were these flames springs of delight,
If but one object could them both unite

Mu.
Madam, your thoughts seem overcast again
With trouble: Appease them in assurance
Of my trust.

Or.
Mundelo, thy faith hath ever been,
Without reserve, the closet of my brest.
To limmit it with a Restriction now,
Were to offend thy Intrest, and betray
My own: know then Mundolo, I do finde
A contradiction in my own desire,
And cannot reconcile the difference:
One part we have concluded on; th'other
Remains without in Expectation
Of my last Resolution.

Mu.
Do's your Honour mean my Lord Protector.

Or.
I do; He with new violence pursues
His Pretences to a sudden Issue.

Mu.
What obstacle
In this can move you to deliberate?

Or.
Is it not apparently repugnant
To my Love; to yeeld my self unto
Another End?

Mu.
To this your fairest way, If I might be
Your guide: This youth is of condition mean,
And can not meet your wish, without reproach,
Which shrouded with anothers title might
Be done: custome makes it warrantable.
Wealth moves the world, yet is Loves Minister:
First we contract with this, then joyn with that.
Husbands are us'd, as Properties in Scenes,
To keep the inward motions undiscover'd.

Or.
We 'gainst our Reason easily conclude
When oversway'd by sense: Admit this were
To her self
As you would figure it. It must distaste
A Virgin to yeeld up the passion
Of her first Embraces, from him she loves
Deservedly, to Age and Impotence.

Mu.
Nor that, nor this, if you relie on me;
That Brain is shallow, which is onely led
By common consequence, wisdom creates
New means, where none to sense was visible;
And fashions subjects were irregular
Directly to her Purposes.

Or.
Such is the force of wisdome, I must grant;
But not as plac'd in our Humanity.

Mu.
Distrust is onely our Infirmity:
Our faculties oft fail us in their use,
Wanting assurance to support their strength:
Yet to confirm your thoughts, I will disclose
The manner: My Father was an Artist,
Madam, honoured in his time, though since,
The ignorance of every mounting Jack,
Hath made the Function infamous. Of his
I have a Lodanum, so rarely mixt,
One scruple giv'n in any liquid thing,
Holds with so dull a vapour ev'ry sense,
No force can wake them from its violence,
Till the course of the Operation pass.
This but infus'd upon your wedding night
Into his Cup you seemingly do yeeld,
The more agreeing Object I will bring
Unto your Bed.

Or.
How bold are servile mindes,
To her self.
Upon the least discov'ry of our ills,
To tempt us unto greater—I obey:
—Intermission.
Love and Ambition must work any way.
Mundolo, to warrant thy endeavours,
The Law allows me power of thy life;
To gratifie them, if successfull, I
Will raise thy Bondage 'bove thy Liberty.

Mu.
I finde it so already, Madam,

Or.
It shall have larger proofs; I'th' interim,
Give the direction to your own advice.

Mu.
Your honour then should suddenly conclude
Your Marriage with Sinevero: which done,
The rest lies in my execution.

Or.
Follow thy course; be to thy self thy Fate,
Procure me Love; or to thy self my Hate.
Ex. Orgula

Mu.
The true Reward of forward Servitude,
I have too farr proceeded to look back:
My safety now must be the nighest end.

Ambigamor, Fidelius, Ent.
Mu.
Hah! so nigh!
withdraws behind the hanging Amb.
I must lye close for new discovery.

Amb.
This to thy Master give with diligence;
Tell him the time and place inscribed shall
gives Fi. two letters.
Present me to his succour: to which add
My Love. Farewell honest Fidelius.

Amb. embraces Fi.
Fi.
Your Honours humble Servant.

Ex. Amb. Fi. severall wayes.
Mu.
Sir, my Lord Ambigamor.
Mundolo discovers himself, and runs hastily after Fi. re-ex. Fi.
Hath somewhat farther to impart to you.

Fi.
Which way went he?

Mu.
This way Sir,
points to a contrary way.
So, I'le follow, and close him in his cage,
seems to lock a door on him.
If there he struggle, vain shall be his Rage.
Ex. Mun.