 | Claracilla |  |
Actus Quintus.
Enter Appius and Claracilla.Cla.
I have done, passion can be a friend
No more she's so unconstant, give her way
And she destroyes her selfe, if I had beene
I had prevented this sad chance, for I knew
Melintus anger would take a dangerous leape
When by amazement he had contracted it.
Ap.
If I could have fear'd such danger, I should not
Have beene so absent with the remedie,
But I am not satisfied how it was discover'd
By the King, yet if Civility had not prevented me
Ere now I had spoke my feares and long since sayd
Beware of Olinda.
Cla.
Olinda! she betray me?
It cannot be, tis such a Common fate
I blush to thinke it, I cannot feare a punishment
That comes such a road way; and yet Ile observe her
But pray what sayd Timillus? was Melintus wounded?
Ap.
Not dangerous, some slight hurts he had
And upon our approach he tooke covert in the wood,
Timillus sayes he's resolv'd in some disguise to attempt
To speake with you, and my counsell is to send
Some one that's trusty in search of him.
Cla.
I shall, and then if you please weele walk into the garden
Ap.
Ile waite you.
Exit.
Enter Melintus, Philemon, Manlius, Ravack. All but Manlius in slaves habits.
Phi.
I rejoyce that this day has prov'd so fortunate
As to bring your youth a freedome, with lesse
Sadnesse, than last nights storme threaten'd.
Ra.
Sir my safety is a debt I owe your watchful mercy
That thus amongst the earliest of your joyes
Could let your noble pitty, hunt for so
Lost a thing as Ravack.
Mel.
Now we are ariv'd we have no spare time
To cloath truth fine, therefore give my naked faith
A hearing, I am confident you will not refuse
To take our fortunes in this designe, whose innocencie,
Tho we're forc'd thus to hid with the markes of guilt
On our side, that tho we fall in the attempt
And this hast prove but running to embrace
The stake, yet we shall in our story be distinguish'd
And live in the glorious shine which breakes
From the brow of honour Martyrs.
Ra.
I am but one, and Ile not say I shall be
Fortunate, but I am certaine I will attempt
Any thing that may speake my gratitude.
Man.
Give me leave to breake this discourse, & since
You are pleas'd to trust me with this service, let me not
Lose time, but whilst this expectation's in the Court
Let me see whether I can walke unseene or no;
And since Selucus danger was onely losse of blood
They will be more intent about him than if
He had falne; Ile be gone, the day growes old
In the garden you say tis likely I shall finde her;
The Prince is a young man.
Mel.
Yes.
Man.
I am instructed.
Exit.
Phi.
Tis the minde I see that binds, or sets us free
For that being satisfied we have made our feares
Our sports, and thus maske in our miseries, but by my
Life the earnest they once were in makes me start
To see thee thus miserable in jest.
Mel.
Philemons love is more fortunate than Melintus
For it findes kinde wayes to expresse it selfe
While I unfortunate onely wish and cry,
How faine I would rejoyce in the lasting knot which
We have triply ty'd by blood, by love,
By miseries allayd.
Exit.
Enter Manlius. Appius and Claracilla.
Man.
This place returnes my forgotten miseries
By calling to minde how happie once I was—
But who are these.
Ap.
Whose that that walkes there.
I know not, is he not of your acquaintance?
Ap.
No Madam, walke on and minde him not.
Cla.
Who would the man speke withall?
Ap.
What would you friend, would you speake
With the Princesse?
Man.
Yes sir, Madam I am one that wants
But cannot beg, yet when I have put off
My blushes, be pleas'd to cast your eye upon
A souldiers scarres, and pitty a gentleman
Bow'd by misfortunes not fault to this wretched
Lowne, and if then your bounty finde not
A charity; your pardon, and I am gone.
Cla.
A souldier is the god I worship, and to him
I offer this charity, here take all
That at this time I have about me, pray
Of what Country are you.
Man.
The name of a souldier is such a common theame
To beg with, and a disguise that so many cheate under,
That I should not dare aske like my selfe but that
I can shew under the hands of those Commanders
Where I serv'd, what and who I am, and had
It beene my fortune to have met the brave
Princes Melintus and Philemon here,
The service I once did them, they would have
Seene me rewarded.
Cla.
Prithee softly, dost
Thou know Melintus, and Philemon, say
And be not amaz'd; I aske thus hastily
Where didst thou know them, gentle souldier, speake.
Man.
Yes Madam, I doe know em, and here under
Their hands I have to shew, the service I
Did them which if you please you may reade.
He delivers her Melintus letter.
Ap.
Prithee hast of late heard of Philemon,
Or canst thou tell whether he be alive or no;
Or canst thou give any account of Melintus lately?
Oh yes, yes, he can, reade there and satifie your selfe.
Oh noble Manlius, where is Melintus, where
Is the Gally, where is Philemon, why
Doe I stay, cannot you guide me, will not
Prince Appius goe, I am resolv'd I will,
And be miserable here no longer, where
Religion, friendship, duty, love, no
Harvest brings, all my endevours here bootelesse
Be, like the impostors beads that fall without a prayer,
Say shall we goe, will you remove me from
This place so full of dangers to my friend?
Looke he writes to me to come, and shall I
Stay, no no Melintus, I obey, and were it
To shrinke into the earth, Ile meete thee, and
No longer with my prayers protect this ingratefull
Place from the punishment her treacheries call downe; like
Let fooles beadsmen to the Altar bow
For other sinnes Ile pay none but my owne vow.
Exit.
Ap.
Her joyes transport her,
And theres no striving against the streame,
For passion in women is by stroaking layd
And when we yeeld they are betray'd.
Exeunt.
Enter Selucus, Surgeon, and attendants.
Sel.
Is there no hope of Carillus life.
Sur.
No my Lord.
Sel.
Will Timillus scape.
Sur.
Yes my Lord, his wounds were slight.
Sel.
But he shall not, nor shall fortune have power
To adde another sickly weeke to his hated dayes:
Waite all without—my hopes are blasted nor must
I expect ever to gaine my ends by faire
Meanes from Claracilla, I have wound
Vp her hatred to so great a height, and
Twere folly to hope a peace from a woman crost
In her love, no, no, policy, or force
knock
Enter Servant.
Ser.
Sir, the King.
Enter King.
Sel.
Oh sir, hide me from my shame, or my blushes
Will not let me looke upon you, the disgrace
Brands me with coward for ever, that I should
Be overcome, when nothing but a Traytor
Strucke, a thing which ought to be the scorne, not fear'd
Of honest men, when they are arm'd.
King.
Quiet thy selfe, and be not troubled at such a
Scorn'd subject, I come to tell thee ere this shame be
Over, while I can with justice frowne, I would have
Claracilla married, and to worke our ends
Weele now resolve—
Enter Servant.
Ser.
Sir, theres a Sea man without desires to speake
With you, he sayes he hath earnest businesse that
Concernes the state.
King.
Admit him.
Enter Manlius.
Man,
Dissimulation thou that so oft hast beene
Prosperous in thy attempts upon the innocent
Once let vertue owe thee for a service.
Sel.
Whats your businesse sir, that so hastily
Requires a hearing.
Man
Ha the King! I must not know him, sir be pleas'd
To command your servants off, and I shall whisper
A service that shall claime a reward, which I
Will not require till it be perfect
Sel.
There needes no whisper here, for if it concerne
The kingdome, speakest to the King.
Man.
The King, thus low I beg your pardon sir,
And then give me leave to aske whether it
Be worth your care or no, to have in your power
The stranger that fought with my Lord Selucus.
Sel.
Softly.
King.
Dost thou know where he is? canst thou direct
My anger to flye which way to seize the traytor?
Kings word thou shalt have my power to effect it.
Man.
Sir I will not bargaine, but in short thus:
I have beene faulty, and a Pyrat speakes the kinde,
But twas while the fault was in fashion
Here, and a theefe wore the crowne, your pardon
For my past faults is the reward I beg
For this service, which if I were not confident I could
Doe, I were mad thus to wake your anger with
A deluded hope; but to the businesse, early
This morning there came to my Gally which
Now rides in the haven, two strangers, as
They pretended, that had unfortunately in a Duell
Slaine one that had a neere relation to your Majestie
And by many arguments pleaded my protection,
Which at first sight their miseries engag'd me to
And I undertooke to serve them. one of them,
The faire haird man, gave me a letter to deliver
To the Princesse, from whom he says I should
Have great rewards, if I would be faithfull,
I undertooke it, and if this may procure my peace,
When you please to command me, they are dead.
Sel.
The letter, prithee lets see the letter, tis
He for certaine, but who the second should be.
King.
I cannot guesse.
Sel.
Thy pardon, and a reward for thy faith
Vpon my life thou shalt receive.
King.
Hast thou the letter.
Man.
Yes sir.
He delivers the letter to the King.
King.
Ha! Melintus and Philemon, their hands subscrib'd
To this Treason, see Selucus tis Melintus
And Philemon, that in disdaine have waited
Our destruction, the gods are just still,
And now from the height of all their impious darings,
Have let them fal into our punishments.
Looke they urge Claracilla to escape,
They assure her she may safely make and call
All this Treason, the sting of slaughter
Assist me, Selucus, that I may invent
Some strange tortor to afflict their false-hood
Sel.
Is this possible.
Man.
Worke on mischiefe till their rage has blinded them,
That in the darke I may easier lead them to their ruine
Sel.
Melintus and Philemon, tis no new danger,
This my rage distracts me, and in the strength
That anger lends me, I can performe all ye
Can require from a sound and healthy friend;
But doe it quickely sir before I am unbent
And thus by her assistance reach their ruine.
Kin.
It cannot be she should proceed to my destruction.
Sel.
It cannot be? then he were a foole and onely,
Sow'd dangers to reape dangers, thinke ye he would
Lose his heaven to place another there,
No tis visible he loves, and that has beene
The cause mov'd all his darings, and that he
Loves the Princesse, does that start ye, call
To minde the surprise in the garden, what rage
Will that meeting fill your brest with, when ye shal know
Tis no ayrie, hopelesse single love, no
Cupid with one wing that threatens now
As when Silvander strucke; these have made
The imperfect boy, a perfect God betweene them,
And with returne of eternall faith, have given
Both wings and eyes, and directed by their bold
Soules what to doe, is now upon the wing, and flies
With more certaine danger in your Court than death or fire.
King.
This is a dangerous truth, and if my daughter
Consent to their desires they dye?
Sel.
To be secur'd of which, seale this letter and deliver it to
This honest man, & let him deliver it to your daughter
And urge her answere, which when a has let him returne
And your anger shall onely finde the guilty, and the act
Being just consequently tis safe, for the guilty
Have no revenge to follow their fall.
King.
I am resolv'd if she consent they fall.
Dispatch him with the letter, and let me have
An answere at my Chamber.
Sel.
Sir now you consent to be safe, be not troubled
But leave the rest to me, now to our businesse.
Ile immediately send a servant of mine for a woman
Of the Princesse my creature, from whom
I have dayly intelligence, she shall get you
An opportunitie to deliver the letter
Her name's Olinda, and to her Ile addresse you,
To be false now is to be faithfull.
Man.
And that makes me so false, but stay sir;
I have a minde to make you indebted to me
For a greater benefit than you dreame of,
Sel.
Whither tendst thou.
Man
To assure you I meane to be faithfull & to oblige
My selfe, to make which good, Ile put my life
Into your hands, and if you dare obey
My directions, Ile propose a way
That with safety you may reach your revenge,
A crowne, and Claracilla.
Sel.
Claracilla, canst thou propose away to gaine her
Let but that appeare through fire and drought,
Oppos'd dangers greater than cowards feares
Ile flye to embrace it.
Man.
Within Ile instruct you, and then Ile obey
The Kings directions for the letter, which will be
One step to advance our plot, and if it thrive
What I shall be, Ile leave to your own bosome to resolve
Sel.
What thou shalt be, thou shall be my bosome.
Ex.
Enter Appius, and Claracilla.
Cla.
I wonder a stayes so long, I am afrayd
Selucus is crafty, and although I was
By strength of your argument perswaded to it,
Yet I am sorry that I consented to
Let them know tis Melintus whom they pursue,
A name already subject to their hate,
But heaven I hope will direct all.
Ap.
If I were not assur'd that Manlius
Were honest I should not have ventur'd thus
To perswade you to discover where your health lyes;
But when I am secure that those in whose
Power he is, will with their lives protect him,
And his discovery onely a baite to draw
His enemie into his power, I must agen
Desire you will with patience attend
The issue of what is well design'd, however
It may meete a crosse.
Enter Manlius.
Man.
Oh Madam, I am laden with joy, and
The strangenesse of the burthen makes me thus
Sinke in the way; I have discover'd who
Tis that betrayes you, tis Olinda, Selucus
Made it his bost, but you must not yet
Take notice of it, but seeme to rely upon her faith
As a meanes of your escape which is consented too
By all, under a hope that they shall seize you,
I cannot tell you all the particulars now;
Onely thus much our designes have taken,
As I could wish, this letter by their consent
Is return'd to you, had you seene the care
Your father tooke, that the violence which the seale
Met, might not be perceiv'd, you would
Have laugh'd; they expect your answere, and I have
Promis'd to bring it immediately, which must
Be that you will meete Melintus this evening
Without delay, your woman onely in company
And to be received from the garden wall
And there make all sure, sir you must be pleas'd
To mingle yourselfe in the presence, and there
Cheerefully accept any proposition
The King shall make, which shall onely be
What we resolve on within, and then Ile to my boate
And there in smiles pitch the bloody toyles
Wherein weele take these hunters, and make them our prey
Cla.
Lose no time for heavens sake, tis a strange
Torture, doe not you nor you feele it thus
To be delay'd in the path that leades to brave Melintus
Man.
Madam weele lose no time, be you ready
To obey yours, and Ile strictly observe my part,
And I hope the next thing we discourse of will be
About the sacrifice due to heaven for this delivery.
Exit.
Enter Melintus, Philemon, and Ravack.
Mel.
Tis about the time that Manlius bid us
Expect his returne, if we bee so happie
As to see Claracilla, what kinde of habit
Will thy joy weare, I am afrayd mine will be,
Cloath'd in a palenesse, for I cannot promise
My selfe strength enough to beare such unexpected happinesse
Phi.
Prithee thinke not of it, let it steale upon us
I finde I have not man enough to meete with her
Without trembling, the very thought has strucke
A coldnesse through my blood, and now you have
Told her that I love, I could easier dye
For her than speake to her, for tho my love
Has none, yet I shall still have a guilt about
Me when I but looke or speake.
Mel.
Deere Philemon we beleev'd thee lost
When I told the story, and did it that
Thy friendship might live in her noble mention.
Phi.
Sir your pardon, for that we entertaine our selves
When you stand by, to whom me thinkes love should
Be no stranger.
I have a story too, but this no time to tell it—
Enter Manlius.
Man.
Noble Princes doe ye not finde me strangely
Alter'd with the joy that now possesseth me
The Princesse is well, and salutes you both
And the stranger kisses your hand.
Mel.
Prithee let us partake the joy,
Will the vertuous Claracilla come, say
Have we no intrest in this joy now.
Man.
Yes, but I have a thousand things to tell you
Which if you will attend, and follow my
Directions, we shall ere to morrow Sunne
See all our wishes crown'd; but let us in,
For we lose time; the day will bee too short
To bound our businesse in, and onely
Thus much know, we but the mettle bring
The gods will have the way and forme to our
Happinesse, the worke of their owne hands:
Mel.
Softly follow with our thankes for gratitude,
Is to mercy both baite and hooke.
Exit.
Enter Selucus.
Sel.
This souldier was sent from heaven I thinke
To take care of me, all things runne so even
That he takes in hand, the Princesse hath consented,
The King I have perswaded to goe in person
And surprise her, the Prince too will beare them
Company, and what then, my joyes want a name;
Melintus, Philemon, and the King must dye,
Their fate which is, I have sayd it, the Prince
Shall live to strengthen me in my act; upon no
Other condition shall he weare his head.
Oh the severall habits, their humors
Will be in that rage, envie, feare, and amaze
Will I reede in their wretched thoughts when they
Shall finde my word pronounce their doome, and
Possesse me of Claracilla, whose beauties
Than all the power that a just Crowne could bring.
But I lose time, and neglect my part in
My owne affaires, the King and Prince I must see
Meete at the place, where they must
Stand but as witnesses to the receipt of all my part
Of heaven, a Diadem, and Claracilla.
Exit.
Enter Melintus, Philemon, and Ravack.
Phi.
This is the place he appointed we should waite
For him, and tis much about the time he
Bid us expect him, if they come we shall
Possesse a joy we hoped not, he brings
Revenge along whose fruites the Gods have beene
Pleas'd to feast with, and the sweetes we see,
Makes them from us mortalls, with fiery injunctions
Still enclose the tree—
Enter Manlius.
Mel.
Hark I hope he comes, the moone is friendly, tis he
Man.
Are ye ready.
Omnes.
Yes, yes.
Man.
Be resolute, and still, for they are comming.
Enter King, Appius, and Selucus.
King
Are we right.
Sel.
Yes sir.
King.
Where's the Souldier.
Sel.
Hees slept before.
King.
Sir I refrain'd to tell you what the occasion was
Till now, because I was asham'd to let you know
My Daughters fault till you might be a witnesse of it,
And then you would not wonder at my displeasure,
When you perceive she could so put off her honour
As to leave me lost in my promise to your selfe,
And hope of a wish'd heire to succeede me here.
Ap.
Sir, I hope some mistake has begot this doubt
The Princesse ever promis'd a faire returne
Of love to your Majestie, and I shall be glad
To finde you are deceiv'd.
No sir tis too true
For had not Selucus faith beene watchfull,
This night had made her base flight into the loath'd
Embraces of a Traytor, and a subject;
Nor does she know she shall be prevented
Enter Manlius, Phi. Mel. Ra. and stand close.
But is now upon the wing if we prevent it not.
Ap.
I am sorry sir your doubts have so much reason to build upon.
Manlius whistles.
Sel.
We are call'd.
Man.
This way, your hand
Sel.
Manlius doe they know how to distinguish me.
He leades the King, Appius, and Selucus and delivers them to the slaves.
Man.
Yes, I have given them a signe.
King.
Is it long to the time that she appointed.
Man.
No sir, tis the houre that she commanded me
To waite, one of you looke out, and if ye
Spie a fire, call that we may approach to
The garden wall with the boate.
Phi.
I goe.
Exit.
Sel.
If it be possible let Olinda fall by the board
Ide have her dead, she will be talking else.
Man.
She shall sinke we will not trust a whore.
Enter Philemon.
Phi.
I have made a light from the Princesse window.
Man.
Quickely then set to the wall, and dee
Heare Rhodian
They whisper.
Phi.
Leave that to me.
Exit.
Enter Claracilla and Olinda above.
Cla.
Dost thinke theyle come, dost thou beleeve I shall
Be happie, my love was ever of her blisse afrayd.
Oli.
You need not feare, I am confident your thoughts
Will be prosperous, I heare the water dash—
Enter Manlius.
Who's there? the souldier?
Yes, tis I, who's there Olinda?
Olin.
Yes, and the Princesse.
Man.
Come to the next corner, we are all ready be speedy.
Exit.
Enter King, Appius, and Selu. to them Man. and Clara.
Man.
You are safe, the slaves are the men I told you of;
Your Father, Appius, and Selucus are all here
But be confident.
Exit.
Sel.
Stand close till we be off the wall, and Olinda
Come, for she is guilty too.
Enter Manlius, Melintus, Philemon Ravak.
Man.
Falne by the board and not to be found? death,
Slave thy life shall answere the neglect.
Phi.
She perisht by her haste, no fault of mine.
Man.
Leave your prating sirrah, Madam your pardon
For this unfortunate accident, your mayde is lost,
Falne by chance by the board and drown'd, I should
Not dare to looke you in the face after this
But that I am confident I shall shew
You other friends that are as deere.
Cla.
My maide lost, oh set me backe agen, this ill
Omen fore-tells a greater danger.
Man
Can there be danger to Claracilla where these friends are.
He discovers the King, Appius, and Selucus
Cla.
Ha! traytor to my love & me, what hast thou done
King
Thou art a traytor, unworthy, no more
A daughter, but the sinne and shame of my blood,
Foole that thou art, couldst thou beleeve that thy
Base passion could walke in so close and base a disguise
That my anger could not finde it, no thou art
Deceiv'd, and to urge thee to despaire,
Know thy obscure Paramours, Melintus
And Philemon, the two wolfes to my heart,
Thou hast thus with safety cut away
Put off to the shore, and there thou shalt
Behold their ruine.
Sel.
Yes, put off, thats the word
And then put off hope, and in amazement
Behold the lightning thats wrap'd in this
Swolne cloud which now breakes, and in death
Shootes your severall fates.
King.
Heaven thou art just,
And tis equall to let me fall in the designe
I layd to destroy those noble youthes, for thee
I will not looke upon such a hated Traytor
When I am so neere my home.
Sel.
No you must be witnesse first to the marriage
Of this Princesse, then ye shall both be a sacrifice
To our Hymen.
Cla.
Thy wife, I smile upon thee thou art so base
A thing thou couldst never finde my anger,
Yet my scorne was ever strong enough to
Strangle thy hopes.
Sel.
Anon, twill be my time to smile, when dy'd
In thy fathers blood, my revenge shall force
All their sweetes from thee, which I will gather
In the presence of thy Paramour, nor shall
He or these have liberty to dye before
I have enjoy'd thee, nor the act once past
Shall the earth redeeme their lives, doe you perceive
How small a share you are like to have in this kingdome.
Ap.
I am glad to see thee growne to such a height
Of sinne, for now my hopes tell me the gods
Will not suffer such a dogge to bay them long
Their lightning will shoote thee monster.
Man.
Sir, stay not to talke, but away to Neptunes
Temple when we have perform'd what we
Resolv'd there, then to the gally and end our hunt.
Sel.
Binde them then, and lets be gone.
Ex.
Enter Timillus above, Iacomo below, and knocks
Who knockes.
Ia.
Tis Iacomo, we are lost if thou stayst, this night thy
friends abode is betray'd to the King, the Princesse that
was this night to meete him is surpriz'd, in her journey
by the treachery of a Souldier that they trusted, and if
you not attempt your escape, you are lost, your window's
large and stands upon the haven, if you can swim, this
night leape in, and Ile be ready on the shoare to receive
you with dry cloathes, and horses to convey us to our
safety, if we stay we perish.
Tim.
I can swimme, but the season is somewhat too
cold for that pleasure, and I could bee glad to have the
wounds the mad dogge gave me cur'd without being
drencht in salt water, but how ever if youle assist me Ile
leape farre enough.
Ia.
What houre shall I expect you.
Tim.
At twelve.
Ia.
Till then farewell.
Exit.
Tim.
Theres some comfort yet when there is a way,
when leaping forth a window can doe't, well if I get
free, if ever againe I come into any company that thinks
it lawfull to love any woman longer than a man has
use of the Sex, they shall geld me: by this hand I have
layne with an hundred unsound wenches, with lesse danger
than I have look'd upon this honest goblin, this
scurvie horrible matrimonie, which is so dangerous a
thing the very standers by are not safe; I must swimme
but for wishing well to it, but from this time either Melintus
shall quit this honourable way to his loves, or Ile
leave him to the honorable dangers.
Exit.
Enter Selucus, Melintus, King, Manlius, Ravack, Appius, Philemon, Claracilla, and a Priest.
Sel.
Stand, now Priest doe your office.
He takes Cla. by the hand.
Cla.
Has this impious traytor bound the
Hands of Iustice, that thus she lets him proceede to
Mischiefe and will not in her owne battle strike, must
Philemon drawes his sword
Phi.
Yes faire one, and in their usuall way
Shew their power, which thus from the meanest of
The earth, heaven has rais'd me a guard for your vertues
Sel.
Ha.
Phi.
Who is so much a slave that he can let
This sinne chaine him for ever.
Man.
How's this.
Phi.
We that have together borne our miseries
And with a harsh fate, worne out our weary dayes,
Have not amongst them all, met one that will
Lye so heavie on our feares, as this base act,
If we assist the Traytor.
Ra.
Sir be free, and let honour only draw your sword.
Ravack releases Appius, they draw.
Sel.
Kill that Traytor slave.
As Selucus attempts, Melintus seizes him and sets a dagger to his breast.
Mel.
Free the King, foole canst thou yet reade the
Miseries thy hated life shall feele, if not, here
Melintus tells thee what they are
Melintus puls off his beard and discovers himselfe.
Sel.
Melintus!
Mel.
Whilst Philemon and Manlius triumph in the
Victory that having loyalty has gain'd over
Thy insulting treacheries—sir to you I kneele
For pardon, for thus venturing to threaten
Dangers, all else are acquainted with the plot
We layd to discover to your abused trust
This wretched monster.
Ravack seizes Selucus.
Cla.
The Prince sir was of Counsell in all we did.
Mel.
And we have his consent sir to be happie.
King.
Of all I aske a pardon whom my doubt
Has injur'd, and Ile no longer crosse your joyes:
But for thee thy villanie shall destroy thee.
Sel.
Madam to your vertues, which my mischiefes still
Have hunted, thus low I bow, and when I
With repentant teares have washed the way, let
My last breath finde your faith, that I lov'd, the
Rate I would have payd speakes how much, and since
From him I derive these miseries, by his power
Which you have bow'd to I begge and conjure
Your mercy, that it may in pardon finde me;
And then with a wound here Ile give balme to
Those under which my honour now languishes.
King.
Disarme him.
He drawes a dagger.
Sel.
Attempt it not.
He stabbes himselfe.
Cla.
Hold I forgive.
Sel.
Can you forgive, oh this mercy
Has chang'd my opinion, I thought nothing could
Have made Claracilla more like an Angell;
But this mercy has added to all thy beauties
A heavenly forme, and one wound to those that
Iustice threaten, and thy faire soule, tis fit
I offer my selfe though none be more unfit
For sacrifice, and whilst my faults expire
In the blood that bred them, from heaven onely
Shall Selucus beg a pitty, my hate dwell
With all the rest; oh turne not but looke upon
The ruine you have made, and whilst I thus
Gazing dye, witnesse my heaven which is Claracilla
I fall to love and scorne a Martyr.
Dyes.
King.
Whilst Iustice is striking let me lift a hand here
Melintus this I hope will cure all the
Wounds my unkindnesse gave thee, and now to Court
That when thou hast these bonds put off Hymen may
New fetters bring.
Mel.
Sir your pardon, if I
Say I must not change this habit till my joyes
Hath beene so fortunate that I dare not quit it
Whilst tis possible to misse my wishes.
King.
Take your pleasure,
Phi.
Oh Madam you have heard a story which
Makes me blush to looke upon you.
Cla.
Philemon must not be troubled now when
Our joyes are thus compleate, but live in smiles
To recount our miseries.
King.
The story how, we came to be thus happie
Weele reserve to crowne our feast with, and Manlius
Thy part in the successe of this day shall not
Be forgotten, to the boate, and then to the Temple,
And let the Priests sing an
Epithalamium to these lovers praise,
Whose faiths have turn'd their chaines to
Myrtle and triumphant bayes.
Exeunt.
As they goe off singing over the Stage. Enter Timillus above with a Rope to come downe and make his escape, heares them sing, understands by the song that it is all joy and peace; and when they are gone he speakes.
Tim.
Nay if the winde be in that corner, Ile leape
No leapes but this,
With a health, the prayers of the Layitie,
Give thankes for our delivery.
FJNJS.
| Claracilla | |