University of Virginia Library

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 Why is that grace withdrawn?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.