 | The Prisoners |  |
Actus Tertius.
Scena prima.
Alarum.Enter the King and Eumenes, Sortanes, Cleon, Pausanes and Hiparcus with these Swords drawne.
King.
Eumenes now the Souldiers are landed
Let 'em be drawne into Battalia,
Wee'le charge this instant and not give 'em leave
On land to cellect their losse at Sea.
Eum.
They were Gallippus his Gallies that boarded us,
Yet I saw not the Pluto there,
Her brazen prow had wont wi'th earliest
To bath in blood her Proserpine.
King.
That injury hath brought
Some fewell to my rage, to see they have giv'n
Harbour to that traytour that twice has attempted
The rape of my sister and in advowance
Of his fault in his Prow he weares
The hellish president for that blacke deed.
Eum.
Loose no time then, but while th'are scattered
With their dangers and their feares strike for us
Let us bring that justice their treacheries have cald downe.
King.
Away every man to his charge.
Exit all but Hiparchus and Pausanes.
Paus.
O Hyparchus they joy to finde Gallippus,
Here has disperst all my sad thoughts,
Yee powers that rule our Fates, if Pausanes have
Any of you to friend, give me Gallippus
This day within my Swords reach.
Alarum.
So, now my friend speakes like himselfe, and when,
Thou strik'st not at thy selfe thou stands safe
Harke we must away.
Alarum.
Scena Secunda.
Enter Gallippus, Eucratia Lucanthe Dion and Cremnofield.Gal.
This is no time to talke, they have begirt
The towne, and will instantly attempt
To storme it, the mediate danger calls for resistance
Not Councell: Dion goe you to the gate
That's next the Harbour. Cremnofeld take the guard,
Of the Princesses persons, I'le to that port
Against which the Kings standard is advanc'd
If we must fall, let us not goe out faintly.
Lucra. and Lucan.
The Gods protect us.
Scena Tertia.
Pausanes and Hipparchus enter, Pausanes wounded.Paus.
T'was he, he fled and left me to the multitude
O Hipparchus pursue the chase, and if
Thou overtake him thou wilt finde
The coward imboss'd with running from me
If thou canst set him up, bay him till I come,
And as thou lovest me let me not loose
The honour of his fall.
Hip.
Are you sure hee's this way?
Pau.
Yes, yes, I am certaine.
Exit.
Scena Quarta.
Enter Gallippus alone.Th'ave forc't the towne, and ther's no hope
Of safetie left, unlesse I can recover
My Gally, Death! I thinke I am accurs'd of late
I hunt nothing but unprofitable wounds;
Hah! Lucanthe the Princesse as I could wish
Enter Lucanthe and Zenon.
Yet if Fortune would smile here is a prize
Will heale all my unluckie wounds.
Lucan.
O Gallippus we're lost, our loves,
Our honours and our gods subject to the rage
Of the common Souldiers.
Gal.
Yet if you'le follow me, and we can gaine
Through the Port, I have a Gally shall secure you,
Luca.
O guide me; which way Gallippus.
Come Zenon follow, for ther's no abiding here,
Hell I thinke on their parties fight: For
T'was nothing lesse then a Devill that forc'd,
And then pursued me through our guards, by day
It selfe he stroke her sure, as if he had beene
The fate he brought, my flight could scarce outstrip
His Conquest.
Alarum within, follow, follow,
Zen.
They pursue us still, away loose no time.
Exeunt omnes.
Scena Quinta.
Enter King and Eumenes.King.
This way, this way Enmenes, the noble Repeaer
Went, sure by this their Sickles are dul'd and their hands
Weary with griping such full victory:
When the world was given, they
Charg'd through their fellowes, and like lightning sealed
And leapt the wall, where entred, Coward loose
Not faster then they gaine ground: I was amaz'd
To see their charge, 'twas as if they had fled,
Not fought for conquest.
Eum.
They are not clothed Proper for the parts
They act, either their honour or their condition
Is misplac'd.
Kin.
If they survive the day inquire them out,
And then when we can reward wee'le admire,
Now wee'le assist the worke.
As the King and Eumenes go off they meete Lucanthe, Gallippus and Zenon.
Gal.
Hah! the King, fly Madam, hast to my Gally
Save your selfe.
King.
Thou shalt not long impeach my stay,
Do you stare?
The King and Gallippus fight and Eumenes and Zenon, Gallippus wounded Zenon, quits the Stage, Eumenes pursues him, then Gallip. throwes his Sword at the King, & counterfeits and falls, then the King leaves him and pursues Lucanthe.
Gall.
Hell take thee:
Eum.
What have you at length found daring
To looke upon the dangers? is the dead doing Zenon
So fam'd for his bold deeds?
Zen.
Yes Eumenes, Pelius dares though Zenon durst not
Does the name of Pelius start thee?
Know false man thy darings cannot protect thee
From the justice, this brings, the injuries
Thou didst me during the treatie here, when
Thou sought'st ayde for thy ambitious master.
Eum.
What act of mine during that time were you
Concern'd in?
Zen.
Hast thou forgot the faire Zenonia,
Me thinkes the halfe I borrow for my disguise
From that name should prompt thy soule
To a remembrance of the vowes, the false vowes
Thou mad'st her.
Eum.
False vowes!
Zen.
Yes boasting her the conquest of thy vanitie
When with thy perjur'd breath thou begd'st for that
Thou valud'st not meerely to affront my passion
Which pursued her with all those truthes of love
Thou fainedst, yet never reapt a harvest
For all my paines, but this is not the injury
That wakes my anger; 'tis thy scorne
Not thy love of her ingages me, to thinke
It should be in any mans power to scorne
What I sacrifice to.
Eum.
How doe you know I scorne her.
Zen.
Say thou dost not, say thou wilt returne
And pay those vowes of love, by all our Gods
I'le kneele to thee, for if thou'lt love againe
Although my Rivall, her love shall guard thee,
And from henceforth thou shalt be my friend, but
Whose paines I feele, though she be unsensible
Of mine, thou shalt finde though I cannot
Intreat her love, yet I can force revenge
From her darke caves.
What does Pelius see about Eumenes.
Eum.
That she should take him for a foole or coward
That he should hope I would trust a Rivall
Or feare an enemy;
And now I know the reason of thy hate
If thou should'st sweare thou art my friend,
I'd toll thee thou lyest, if my enemy; why?
I doe not care.
Zen.
Do'st slight my profer'd friendship, doe yee beleeve
This language?
They fight.
Eum.
I understand it, and you
Shall finde it by the answer I'le make.
Eumenes wounded and falls.
Zen.
This Ring was hers, and shall witnesse I have
Punish'd thy falsehood. Gallippus wounded!
Enter Gallippus.
Gall.
Yes Zenon, but not slaine; and yet the King strook
Home, I found 'twas folly to resist his force
Vnlesse I could have conquer'd his whole Army,
And therefore wisely I preserved my selfe
For better dayes:
Saw'st thou the Princesse Lucanthe since?
Zen.
Yes shee's fled towards the west Port.
Gall.
Pursue her gentle Zenon and if thou find'st her
Tell her of my escape, say yee left me
Aboard the Gally: And if she be ignorant
Of her abode tell her sister Eucratia
Is with me, whom negligent of her owne danger
Whether I'le goe and waite your comming.
Exit.
Zen.
Yet I'le goe, but not t'assist thy trechery,
Yet I'le bring her if I can, she has an interest
In Zenonia, and if I can thus bring
Her into dangers, my protection
Of her honour shall indeere me to her;
And so ingage her my friend to Zenonia,
The thoughts of whom my soule will ever labour with.
Enter Pausenes and Procles having both hold on Eucratia.
Paus.
Vnhand her.
Pro.
Shee's my prisoner, and I will not loose her.
Paus.
Dar'st thou be a Souldier and speake that falsehood.
Proc.
I first seiz'd her and I'le keepe her.
Paus.
Had thine age beene able to have kept
Flight with me, thou shouldst have seene me hunt her
Through the straights of a thousand wounds, and more
Downe all the weeeds that grow about her, yet then,
Then this Lawrell protected by her vertue, stood
Safe in the midst of all that lightning. And
Let me tell thee, the same cause that kept
Me from laying rude hands upon her, makes me
Spare thee, 'Twas a reverence which in some measure
Silver haire commands.
Proc.
I defie thee and thy naked chin;
Talker, this plead for me, nor shalt thou finde
A gray coward here; binde her and then wee'le
Dispute whose she is.
Paus.
Binde her? looke upon her and tell me
On which part of that divine forme thou darst hang
Proc.
I'le dispute no more, unhand her shee's my prisoner
Or but earth.
Pau.
Remove from her breast that threatned danger
Or by our gods thou art earth.
Proc.
Think'st thou Procles will quit his aged honors
For feare of thee, a boy? proud in his first wounds?
Pau.
Boy, nay then defend thee.
They fight.
Eucr.
To what fate I am reserv'd I know not;
But if I can I'le shunne this.
Exit. Eucratia flies, Pausanes disarmes Procles.
Paus.
Shee's gone,
Ther's something whisper'd to me protect her,
I'le follow her, there, take thy sword, I will not
Throwes him his sword.
Rob thy age in thy fall.
Exit.
Proc.
I thanke thee, and may thine
Be no lesse fortunate than this has beene;
And thou buy thy honors at a chaper rate.
Enter Pausanes hanging about Hiparcus necke wounded and fainting.
Paus.
Had I liv'd to have finish't my revenge
On that Traitor Gallippus, and from his bosome torne
The knowledge of ourselves, which in a golden relique
The Tyrant weares about his necke, and still
With threatned losse would awe us to our faith,
Then Hiparcus I could have dyed in peace.
Hip.
Whether did you goe to finde these wounds?
Pau.
In pursuite of the faire Eucratia, I followed her
Through all her miseries, but not with intent
The raging lust of the common Souldier, till at length
Some of her party met us, and to them
I ow'd these wounds.
Hip.
This disorderly possessing the Towne will ruine us,
The wounds we receiv'd since the Conquest are more
Then we got ith'attempt, the Cowards feares
Have in their despaire strooke deeper wounds
Then their courage knew how to deale.
Pau.
I have lost much blood, prethee bind up my wounds:
What are those?
Enter Zenon, and Lucanthe.
Zen.
This way Madam.
Luc.
O Zenon hast, I know not which I fly to
With greater zeale, my sister or my safetie,
Is it farre?
Zen.
If you can passe the port, we are safe, hah!
Hip.
Stand, the word.
Zen.
Death! if thou refuse us passage.
Lucan.
Or a Virgins prayers for ever, if thou dar'st
Let my innocence escape this ruine,
O speake, death and dishonor pursue us close:
O speake Sir.
Hiparchus is surpriz'd with Lucanthes beautie, and stands amaz'd.
Hip.
Passe? Yes faire one, I dare let you passe
And through all hazards serve you. O Pausanes,
Speakes aside to Pausanes.
Live to counsell me, something like thy description
I feele here.
Zen.
Shall we passe or no?
Hip.
Smooth your brow, your frownes will make no way here.
Zenon offers to draw.
My Sword shall then.
Hip.
No Zenon thou know'st it never could.
When Hyparcus denyed thee passage.
Zen.
Hah! Hiparcus?
Hip.
Yes Zenon Hiparcus, who to let this Lady see
How much he dares in her cause, he will not onely
Give her a passage, but with it all his peace
Of minde: And doe thou thanke heaven for this Sanctuary.
For were it not that thou hast taken hold
On that Altar, the murder of Eumenes here I would
Have punish'd, but such is the power
Of that Deity, that I can differ
My hate, nay forgive thee, if shee'le confesse
Thy sword or faith hath sacrificed ought
To her deliverance.
Luc.
He has; and he, onely can guide me
To hope of safetie; Gentle youth the gods
Reward thee; Harke! I'me pursued if thou hast power
Within follow, follow, &c.
Divert their rage.
Hip.
Your name, leave but that to call upon in my danger.
And then I'le plant my selfe here, an enemy
To all that dare pursue your softnesse, O doe not hide
It from me, and leave me to bow
To a power I know not.
Luc.
Lucanthe the unfortunate, gentle youth
May all thy wishes fall upon thy head:
Away Zenon.
Exit Lucanthe and Zenon.
Pau.
Now Hiparcus had I reason once?
Hip.
Lucanthe? the Princesse Lucanthe is it not?
Enter the King.
King.
Yes Souldier, Lucanthe, the Princesse Lucanthe,
Which way went she?
This way she went, but I must beg
You'le not pursue her.
King.
These are the Souldiers I so much admir'd.
Is it your ignorance, or doe you wilfully
Strike at the reward your daring youth
Has this day merited.
Hip.
If we are faultie tis wilfully, but this act
We hope ownes no guilt.
King.
It is not a fault thus to blot this conquest
Whose greatest beauties are gifts of your owne hands?
Hip.
My soule has vowed, I see it written yonder
Not to suffer any one to passe this way
While my sword and I can impeach their stay.
Pau.
And I though weake in body am strong in friendship
Pausanes offers to rise but cannot
And my friends vowes shall ever be my cause.
Hip.
You see our resolution Sir, and we dare dye.
King.
And I dare fight and thus force my passage.
The King charges, Hipar. onely defends.
Hip.
O hold Sir and heare me speake.
King.
Shall I passe?
Hip.
Your selfe can witnesse what faith I brought
To your cause, my charge usher'd pale death
About the field; And when I found him lazie
And waiting upon fate, I leapt from his leane side
And with my sword dealt more deaths then he.
King.
Pursue the act:
And let me hunt this scornefull Lady till
With miseries I have made her wilde heart tame,
The conquest will be perfect then.
Hip.
All's done and fought to conquest: And cowards onely
Strike afterwards, A foe that flies
Is your slave, and no longer deserves
King.
Shall I passe?
Hip.
'Tis slaughter you pursue, and will staine
All those honor'd wounds your conquest gilt,
But for this Princesse whose vertue I bow to,
O Sir can you be so blinded with your rage
As to avow a warre with her.
Kin.
Leave to Counsell & obey: Mercy and Iustice
Are specious shewes, but to obey
Is your best sacrifice, which if thou offer'st not
By mine anger I'le offer thee.
Hip.
Obey? yes, the Gods I'le obey, and strike
Against all that strike at them; know you command
A freeman, one that chose your party, and none
Of that number that was borne under you;
And I beseech you Sir attempt not your passage
Here, for I must not so betray her safetie
As to defend our cause weakely.
King.
Are you so resolute?
O Hiparcus dye like thy selfe, thou hast
A brave rocke before thee, and in that kingly marble
Digge thy grave; O for strength enough to part 'um!
(They fight.
Enter Eucratia.
Euc.
This by his habit should be a Commander;
Eucratia pursued by the Kings party, layes hold on the Kings sword, and yeelds herself prisoner, who amazed, in passion speakes.
To him (since I must feele the misery of bonds)
I'le yeeld my selfe, defend me Sir, I am
Your prisoner, my name Eucratia.
King.
Hold your swords, he that adds another stroke
To warre, shall feele the weight of this!
Hip.
Blest chance!
Eucratia! are you Eucratia?
Euc.
Yes and a Prince, till thy ambitious king
King.
O Eucratia! Soule of sweetnesse!
That wretched King see prostrate at thy feete,
And if thou can'st not pardon, tread upon
My necke; And let thy vertues sinke me to a grave
Ther's something divine about thee; which in an instant
Has from my temples torne the lawrell reward
Of my yet bleeding wounds, And from a conquering King
Made me all thy slave; Command me something.
Enter a Souldier.
Soul.
Helpe Sir to save the Princesse Lucanthe
That's lost, sold to lust and rape
If you not redeeme her straight.
Euc.
Vnfortunate Lucanthe! I foresaw this danger
Sad Fate! O my Sister.
Hip.
Lucanthe, which way went the ravisher?
O Sir your pardon!
Soul.
I saw Gallippus i'th Pluto beare her from shore.
Kin.
Gallippus? tis false madam remove your feares,
My selfe slew him in the Battell.
Hip.
O Sir he has abus'd you by some wile, for on my life
I saw him since your encounter.
Soul.
Let me dye if this be false.
Euc.
O Sir, now I claime your offer, and beg, not command,
You will compleat your conquest and pursue
This Ravisher.
King.
Souldier thy faith in her cause
Has beene already tride, doe thou provide
One of the swiftest Gallies for this expedition.
Come Madam, wee'le all goe to save this innocent,
For no care, such vertue shines not every where.
Euc.
Sir his courage has obliged me, and he
Shall be my care, he found me when I was
Falne into the rage of the common people.
I kisse your hands Madam, and tis happinesse.
Paus.
Enough that I have liv'd to serve
Such a vertue as is seated
In the faire Eucratia.
Command a cessation from armes and let all acts
Of warre here cease, for the faire Eucratia
Now is Conqueror.
| The Prisoners | |