University of Virginia Library

Scene 4.

Eumena.
Surely in each exteriour Ministry
There is a secret Influence diffus'd
From the Intention first directed it,
According to which Agitation
Th'effect is wrought: it could else never be,
The hidden vertues, but of senselesse things,
So suddenly should meet their Attributes.
As my late grief, assures my sense, they have.
raising her arm hung in a scarff, she casts her eye thereon.
With what a tender care the good oldman
Breaks his own rest t'officiate unto mine:
With so much fervency, as if those Pow'rs
To whom he is devoted; onely judg'd,
Like faithless man, the will by the event.
His sweet society, and sollitude
Would charm my mind to a secure neglect,
Had it Capacity but to receive
Their pow'rfull Impressions.
But my sollicitous Passion will admit
No Object, but her own; or if it do,
Tis but as a predominant quality
All differing humours doth convert into
Their proper Aliment: oft it o're flows
To such distemper, that my Pious host
Seems to discover, in his suffering,
A civill notice of't, which flatters so
My sense; I often prompted am to poure
The Rest in his religious bosome.
And crave thereto his farther charity.
Which see, how vigilant o're my safety still!

Ludaster ent.
Lu.
Too long emotion yet brings accident
By inflammation or debility.
Retire your self, good Sir, to your repose;
On happy nature you too much presume.

Eu.
Unto your charity and skill her bounty
And my errour Sir, do their beings ow,
The one restor'd encouraged th'other.

Lu.
I joy to finde such symptoms of success,
Which must be cherisht in their Infancy,
Till time confirm their issues evident.
Besides, excuse o're busie observation,
If it judge, this lonelinesse may foment
Your mindes distemper to the prejudice
Of your recovery, be not abash't;
My rudenesse doth affirm I have disclos'd.
What those blushes assure, they would have hid.
A reverent fear intrusion shall restrain
From a more nigh distinction.

Eu.
So indiscreet a jealousie, in me,
Might question my integrity and yours,
The former I assure you, onely can
Be impeacht of Natures Infirmities,
Which I presume the latter hath convinc'd,
And challenge rather might the overture
Of mine, but for their safe direction.

Lu.
Yours are not so remote from that instinct
Conducteth them in their first purity,
To want so fraile a Ministry as his,
Whose more corrupting years hath given o're
To the digression of a froward will.

Eu.
Which is to such conformity reduc'd
By an industrious prudence, that in you,
Vertue is now become a proper Habit,
Which in our undiscerning youth remains
A fleeting accident.

Lu.
I rather will assume this vanity
The Errour to confute of your belief,
Then farther to extend this Argument
To the hazard of your present welfare,
By too much thus effusing of your spirits,
Which for their Restitution must exact
Your rest.

Eu.
Of your judgement I've proofes too sensible,
To question your prescriptions. I obey.

ex. Eu.
Ludaster conducts Eu. in.
Lu. returns.
Lu.
So excellent a temper in a minde
So young, I have not found; nor yet opprest
With so much Anxiety; which he endears
With so severe a privacy, as if
He on his trouble were enamored.
But time must be his better medicine.
Day waxeth old Trouble hath seis'd my thought,
I've from Gratianus no intelligence:
I fear his unrestrained courage should
Too high tempt danger to his overthrow.
Fi. en.
Fidelius! Welcome.
Embraces him.
Sweet reconciler of distractions!
Of Gratianus hast thou nothing learn'd.

Fi.
Let not th'inquiry of his safety Sr
Leave yours in hazard with the circumstance.
He is secure. This lettr, Sr, ere this,
gives him a let.
Should have been guided to your hand by me,
But my unhappy Starres have in my course
Made frustrate my Endeavours.

Lu.
Thy safety shall excuse their opposition.

Fi.
Nor judge the freedome you have us'd me to,
So insolent as to forerun your hand
In the unclosure, 'twas a violence
My life escaped narrowly.

Lu.
What need'st thou plead thy innocence, as I
Had any secret were not safe in thee,
Or from thee would not learn, if yet unknown.
Returns the letter.
Thy lips shall give it evidence; Read out.

Let. read by Fi. according to the contents of the former only signed Ambigamor.
Fi.
Sr. Not to blemish with suspect your choice,
Nor so farre to presume as to intrude
My self your Counsellor. Give duty leave
To move your caution in the enterprise.

Lu.
'Tis strange. Nay, ev'n incredible.
Yet that hand sign'd it yields it certainty.
Friend, is a powerful charm 'gainst all distrust,
What he adviseth, that pursue I must.

Fi.
Yet Sr. I must crave one request of you,
Since yo' are resolv'd the issue to attempt,
This masque of your disguise you would retain;
And suffer me but to become your scout,
While you at distance follow, that thereby
If treachery intended be, you may
Secure your person.

Lu.
Thy Love is Zealous of my safety still.
Be it my guide. Who steareth by such light
Shall find no errour ith' obscurest night.

ex. Lu. Fi. Eu. re-ent.
Eu.
If my sense well distinguish, I o're heard
Them name the Princess. I'le follow unseen:
That I my self my own affairs may know.
Who's lost t'her self needs fear no overthrow.
ex. Eu.