 | Revenge For Honour |  |
Scena 1.
Enter Abilqualit and Caropia, as rising from bed, Abrahen without, Perilinda.Abr.
Open the door, I must and will have entrance
unto the Prince my brother, as you love
your life and safety and that Ladies honor,
whom you are lodg'd in amorous twines with, do not
deny me entrance to you, I am Abrahen,
your loyal brother Abrahen.
Abil.
'Tis his voice,
29
be not dismaid, though w'are to him discover'd.
your fame shall taste no blemish by't. Now brother,
'tis something rude in you, thus violently
to presse upon our privacies.
Abr.
My affection
shall be my Advocate, and plead my care
of your lov'd welfare, as you love your honour,
haste from this place, or you'l betray the Lady
to ruin most inevitable. Her husband
has notice of your being here, and's comming
on wings of jealousie and desperate rage
to intercept you in your close delights.
In breif, I over heard a trusty Servant
of his ith'Camp come and declare your highnesse
was private with Caropia: at which tidings
the sea with greater haste when vext with tempests,
so sudden and boystrous, flies not towards the shore,
then he intended homewards. He by this
needs must have gain'd the City; for with all my power
I hasted hitherward, that by your absence
you might prevent his veiw of you.
Abil.
Why? the slave
dare not invade my person, had he found me
in fair Caropias armes: 'twould be ignoble,
now I have caus'd her danger, should I not
defend her from his violence. I'le stay
though he come arm'd with thunder.
Abr.
That will be
a certain means to ruin her: To me
count that cure, I'le stand between the Lady,
and Mura's fury, when your very sight,
giving fresh fire to th'injury, will incense him
'gainst her beyond all patience.
Car.
Nay, besides
his violent wrath breaking through his allegiance,
may riot on your person. Dear my Lord
withdraw your self, there may be some excuse
when you are absent thought on, to take off
Mura's suspition: by our loves, depart
I do beseech you. Hapless I was born
to be most miserable.
Abil.
You shall over-rule me.
Better it is for him with unhallowed hands
30
then to profane this purity with the least
offer of injurie; be careful Abrahen,
to thee I leave my heart. Farwel Caropia,
your tears inforce my absence.
Exit. Abil.
Abr.
Pray hast my Lord
lest you should meet the inrag'd Mura: now Madam
where are the boasted glories of that virtue,
which like a faithful Fort withstood my batt'ries?
demolish'd now, and ruin'd they appear;
like a fair building toter'd from its base
by an unruly whirlewind, and are now
instead of love the objects of my pitie.
Car.
I'me bound to thank you Sir, yet credit me;
my sin's so pleasing't 'cannot meet repentance.
Were Mura here, and arm'd with all the horrors
rage could invest his powers with; not forgiven
Hermits with greater peace shal hast to death,
then I to be the Martyr of this cause,
which I so love and reverence.
Abr.
'Tis a noble
and wel becoming constancie, and merits
a lover of those Supreme eminent graces,
that do likeful winds swel the glorious Sails
of Abilqualit's dignitie and beautie!
yet Madam, let me tel you, though I could not
envie my brothers happinesse, if he
could have enjoy'd your priceless love with safetie,
free from discoverie, I am afflicted
beyond a moderate sorrow, that my youth
which with as true a zeal, courted your love,
should appear so contemptible to receive
a killing scorn from you: yet I forgive you,
and do so much respect your peace, I wish
you had not sin'd so careleslly to be
betray'd ith'first fruitions of your wishes
to your suspicious husband.
Car.
'Tis a fate Sir,
which I must stand, though it come dress'd in flames,
killing as circular fire, and as prodigious
as death presaging Comets: there's that strength
in love, can change the pitchie face of dangers
to pleasing formes, make ghastly fears seeme beauteous;
and I'me resolv'd, since the sweet Prince is free
31
if he should here have found him, unresistless
I dare his utmost fury.
Abr.
'Twil bring death with't
sure as stifling dampe; and 'twere much pitie
so sweet a beautie should unpitied fall,
betrai'd to endlesse infamie; your husband
knowes only that my brother in your chamber
was entertained; the servant that betrayed you,
curse on his diligence, could not affirm
he saw you twin'd together: yet it is
death by the law, you know, for any Ladie
at such an hour, and in her husbands absence;
to entertain a stranger.
Car.
'Tis considered Sir,
and since I cannot live to enjoy his love,
I'le meet my death as willingly as I
met Abilqualit's dear embraces.
Abr.
That were too severe a crueltie. Live Caropia,
til the kind destinies take the loath'd Mura
to their eternal Mansions, til he fal
either in war a sacrifice to fortune,
or else by stratagem take his destruction
from angry Abilqualit, whose fair Empresse
you were created for: there is a mean yet
to save th'opinion of your honour spotlesse,
as that of Virgin innocence, nay to preserve,
(though he doth know (as certainly he must do)
my Brother have injoy'd thee) thee stil precious
in his deluding fancie.
Car.
Let me adore you
if you can give effect to your good purpose.
But tis impossible.
Abr.
With as secure an ease
't shal be accomplish'd as the blest desires
of uncross'd lovers: you shal with one breath
dissolve these mists that with contagious darknesse
threaten the lights both of your life and honour.
Affirm my brother ravish'd you.
Car.
How my Lord?
Abr.
Obtained by violence entry into your chamber
where his big lust seconded by force,
despight of yours and your Maids weak resistance
surpris'd your honor: when't shall come to question,
32
he owes his own affection and your whiteness,
but to acknowledg it a rape.
Car.
And so by saving mine, betray his fame and safety,
to the lawes danger, and your fathers justice,
which with impartial doome will most severely
sentence the Prince, although his son.
Abr.
Your fears
and too affectionate tendernesse wil ruine
all that my care has builded. Sure, Mesithes
has (as my charge injoin'd him) made relation
Enter Mura.
to him of Abilqualit's action. See your Husband,
resolve on't, or y'are miserable.
Mu.
Furies,
where is this lustful Prince, and this lascivious
Strumpet? ha Abrahen, here?
Abr.
Good Cozen Mura,
be not so passionate, it is your Prince
has wrought your injury; resolve to bear
your crosses like a man: the great'st afflictions
should have the greatest fortitude in their suff'rings
from minds resolv'd and noble. 'Las poor Ladie,
'twas not her fault; his too unruly lust
'tis, has destroi'd her puritie.
Mu.
Ha, in tears!
Are these the liverie of your fears and penitence,
or of your sorrows (minion) for being rob'd
so soon of your Adulterer?
Abr.
Fie, your passion
is too unmannerly; you look upon her
with eyes of rage, when you with grief and pitie
ought to surveigh her innocence. My Brother,
degenerate as he is from worth, and meerly
the beast of lust, (what 'fiends would fear to violate)
has with rude insolence destroyed her honor,
hy him inhumane ravished,
Tar.
Good Sir be
so merciful as to set free a wretch
from loath'd mortalitie, whose lifes so great
and hateful burden now sh'as lost her honor:
'Twil be a friendly charitie to deliver
her from the torment of it.
Mu.
That I could
contract the soul of universal rage
33
as ful of poisonous anger as a dragons
when in a toile insnar'd. Caropia ravished!
Me thinks the horror of the sound should fright
to everlasting ruine, the whole world,
start natures Genius.
Abr.
Gentle Madam, pray
withdraw your self, your sight, til I have wrought
a cure upon his temper, wil but adde
to his affliction.
Car.
You're as my good Angel,
I'll follow your directions.
Exit.
Abr.
Cozen Mura,
I thought a person of your masculine temper,
in dangers fostred, where perpetual terrors
have been your play-fellowes, would not have resented
with such effeminate passion a disgrace,
though ne're so huge and hideous.
Mu.
I am tame,
collected now in all my faculties,
which are so much oppress'd with injuries,
they've lost the anguish of them: can you think, Sir,
when all the winds fight, the inrag'd billows
that use to imprint on the black lips of clouds
a thousand brinie kisses, can lie stil,
as in a lethargie? that when baths of oyl
are pour'd upon the wild irregular flames
in populous Cities, that they'll then extinguish?
Your mitigations adde but seas to seas,
give matter to my fires to increase their burning,
and I ere long enlightned by my anger
shall be my owne pile, and consume to ashes.
Abr.
Why, then I see indeed your injuries
have ravished hence your reason and discourse,
and left you the meere prostitute of passion.
Can you repaire the ruins you lament so
with these exclaimes? was ever dead man call'd
to life again by fruitful sighs? or can
your rage reedifie Caropias honour,
slain and betrai'd by his foul lust? Your manhood,
that heretofore has thrown you on all dangers,
me thinks should prompt you to a noble vengance,
which you may safely prosecute with Justice,
to which this crime, although he be a Prince,
34
Mu.
Yes, I'le have justice
or I'le awake the sleepy Deities,
or like the ambitious Gyants wage new wars
with heaven it self, my wrongs shall steel my courage,
and on this vicious Prince like a fierce Sea breach
my just wak'd rage shall riot till it sink
in the remorcelesse eddie, sink where time
shall never find his name but with disgrace
to taint his hatefull memory.
Abr.
This wildnesse neither befit your wisdom nor your courage,
which should with setled and collected thoughts
walk on to noble vengeance. He before
was by our plots proscrib'd to death and ruine
to advance me to the Empire; now with ease
we may accomplish our designs
Mu.
Would heaven
I nere had given consent, o'recome by love
to you to have made a forfeit on my allegiance,
'tis a just punishment, I by him am wrong'd,
whom for your sake I fearlesse sought to ruin.
Abr.
Are you repentant grown, Mura? this softnese?
ill suits a person of your great resolves,
on whom my fortunes have such firm dependance.
Come, let Caropia's fate invoke thy vengeance
to gain full mastry o're all other passions,
leave not a corner in thy spacious heart
unfurnish'd of a noble rage, which now
will be an attribute of glorious justice:
the law you know with loss of sight doth punish
all rapes, though on mean persons; and our father
is so severe a Justicer, not blood
can make a breach upon his faith to justice.
Besides, we have already made him dangerous
in great Almanzors thoughts, and being delinquent
he needs must suffer what the meanest offender
merits for such a trespass.
Mu.
I'me awake now,
the lethargy of horror and amaze
that did obscure my reason, like those dul
and lazy vapors that o'reshade the Sun,
vanish, and it resumes its native brightness.
And now I would not but this devil Prince
had done this act uopn Caropia's whiteness,
35
The deprivall of's sight do's render him incapable
of future soveraignty.
Abr.
Thou'rt in the right,
and hast put on manly considerations:
Caropia (since shee's in her will untainted)
ha's not forgon her honor: he dispatc'd once,
as we will have him shortly, 't shall go hard else.
a tenant to his marble, thou agen
wedded in peace maist be to her pure vertues,
and live their happy owner.
Mu.
I'le repair
to great Almanzor instantly, and if
his partial piety do descend to pitty,
I will awake the Executioner
of justice, death, although in sleep more heavy
than he can borrow from his natural coldness;
on this good sword I'le wear my causes justice
till he do fall its sacrifice.
Abr.
But be sure
you do't with cunning secresie, perhaps,
should he have notice of your just intentions,
he would repair to th'Army, from which safegard
our best force could not pluck him without danger
to the whole Empire.
Mu.
Doubt not but I'le manage
with a discreet severity my vengeance,
invoke Almanzors equity with sudden
and private haste.
Abr.
Mean time
I will go put a new design in practice
that may be much conducing to our purpose.
Like clocks, one wheele another on must drive,
affairs by diligent labor only thrive.
Exeunt.
| Revenge For Honour | |