 | Claracilla |  |
Actus Primus,
Scena Prima.
Enter King, Appius, Selucus and Attendants.King.
Selucus you know the soule of our designe
Lies in the speedy and silent execution
Of the Plot, let us not presume in their securitie
Till we fall in our owne, but goe, and when
They have begirt the place, give us notice that
With our charge they may at once, feare and feele
Their danger, and by us be cloath'd in ruine
Ere they know whose livery they weare.
Exit Selucus.
This if Fortune be a goddesse and joyne
With justice, and with her strength will assist
Our industrie; must be, for where justice
Strikes, in what corner of the earth can victory
Hide her selfe, and that youthfull hand
Not finde her.
Ap.
I should blush at this
If there needed more arguments to confirme
I shall be victorious: then the reward
Claracilla's vertues a reward for treason,
They would not then have left her vertue
Such a guard, whose power hath stood
Amongst Traytors, when yours fell upon
The faith that bore it.
King.
You oblige me Sir, and this sweetnesse
Makes me begge you will be pleasd to let me
Once agen call to your memory some
Particulars of that tedious story
My miseries made me recount to you; this Traytor
Silvander, having by my love gaind an interest
And by my smiles climb'd over the head of all
His fellowes, in the strength of this trust, grew
Too powerfull for me, and in a battaile where
My cause onely strucke, got the day.
Ap.
These are faults the Gods must punish,
But his usurpation of the Princesse, and
Intended rape, which in a marriage he labours,
Are those that blow my rage.
King.
Tis true, it has alwayes beene his ayme,
But his love by the gods appointed for his
Punishment; and our guard has given her a constant
Power over him, which we have so directed
That shee has prevail'd with him to quit his greatest strength
And retreate with her to this private villa
Where now he remaines, onely attended by some
Few troopes of horse, this opportunitie we owe
Her pietie, that has put it in our power to strike
For our revenge, and right agen.
Enter Selucus.
Sel.
Arme Sir, and behold how in the obedience
Of your command they are lost, ruine in silence
Like growth steales upon them, th'are now empal'd
And destruction hovers, yet undiscover'd
To the prey, but deferre no time, for night makes
Hast away, the cause hath such a glory
And victory in the resolution waites
But your command.
King.
Sir pray be pleasd to give
These lost men their doomes, the signal's yours.
Ap.
Tis an honour and I accept it, and thus give it, follow me.
Exit.
King.
And that souldier that shall refuse such a signall
Let his weighty feares sinke him where he stands,
Come Selucus.
Exit.
Sel.
Come Selucus, had not wont to be the word upon a charge
Of love, thy power hath disarm'd me, or rather envy
Hath disarm'd my love, could it be else
That I should stand thus unfold in Claracilla's cause
Whilst others guild their swords in her revenge, Charge.
It could not be, harke how eagerly they pursue
My misery, cruell honour puts me in, and tells me
I lose my interest in her, unlesse by giving
Wounds I pull on mine owne.
Exit.
Enter Melintus, Timillus, and Iacome.
Mel.
Come Timillus let us haste to the Charge,
Lest our friends beleeve feare declinde our haste,
And we are early enough, if we succeede,
To let them see we have brought the wishes of friends.
Tim.
Faith and if we doe not succeede we shall finde
we came too soone, I am sure I shall in an overthrow, I
am certaine to get my share, when I list to want an enemy
my friends shall knocke me o'th head, for I thanke
my fates, Fortune has beene as bountifull of her mischiefes
to me as an enemy could wish, and that's but a
hard condition youle say, for a man like mine that cannot
aske rewards when he does well.
Mel.
Mention not that here, when rewards grow
within thy reach, every daring forehead, and if Timillus
dares not gather them a must goe without.
You are ever thus snappish till I am angry, and
then I fight to my owne ruine not my enemies, one
would thinke you might allow a man his humour, and
not be forc'd to fight your quarrell, but hee must fight
your way too.
Mel.
Yes, yes, prethe no more.
Tim.
Now my choller is up I shall strike, but like
Iohn of the Clocke house, that way my face stands;
Iacomo keepe you out of the belfree.
Mel.
Leave this discourse now Timillus, and follow me.
Exit.
Tim.
And what wilt thou doe Iacomo.
Ia.
Who I? follow my master.
Tim.
No prethee let us be friends, choose some other
place, for I am resolv'd to keepe that my selfe, till I am
beaten from it.
Ia.
You are merry, but I have seene them clawd e're
now that have taken it, but I hope youle finde better
fortune.
Tim.
A pox of Fortune, she has no such thing as good
or bad belongs to her, follow me, and if we gaine the
day I'le give her thee.
Charge.
Exit.
Enter Claracilla and Olinda.
Olin.
Fly Madam, these enemies bring your freedome.
Cla.
Be constant Heaven.
Enter Silvander.
Sil.
What ho, Claracilla, gentle Claracilla
Dost thou flie me too, nay then I'me lost indeede.
Thou mightst have had mercy tho no love,
And preserv'd me for thy owne sake, for in this
Fall of mine, thou hast a hand in ruining thy
Owne Temple, nor canst thou after this ingratitude
Be term'd the just, however the faire Claracilla.
Enter Titius.
Within flie flie.
Tit.
Fly Sir, flie, all's lost.
Nor is it courage but despaire staies yee, when
Safetie is already fled beyond the reach of men.
Doe thou flie fond wretch and in thy fate
Thou runst to finde how vaine thy counsell is,
No, Claracilla's cruell, I will not stirre
A foote that leades from danger, nor vainely
Attempt to escape the hand of heaven, unlesse
I could hide me from his eyes too.
Enter Melintus wounded.
What art thou that wear'st such death
About thee? and look'st as if
Thou cam'st to put of thy habit here.
Silvander stands in amaze.
Mel.
Tis not you I looke for, 'tis something
That shot from heaven before me, she appeard
Like innocence her selfe striking in her owne cause;
Saw you not that starre, did she not in her ascent
Passe this way—he minds not me
Melintus offers to goe away.
Sil.
Tis so, this youth but saw her, and hees overcome,
Stay, what ere thou art that once againe
I may see thy face, and reade the story
Which love and anger appeares so mingled in.
Now by all our gods, 'tis nobly writ, and had
I met it when I commanded fortune, I would
Have studied thee, and by obligations have grafted
Thee my friend, but since that power is gone
He drawes his Sword.
By this and my name, I command thee be my Priest,
Know Silvander the unfortunate calls thee backe.
Mel.
Silvander, Oh ye Gods, what power ye give
To treason, that name hath disperst the cloud
That passion threw betwixt him and the revenge
Of a Fathers murder call'd unfortunate as wicked,
What fate rul'd thee thus to call me back.
Sil.
Prethee youth no noise;
I was a traytor, but true to our King
And yet his power commanded me, and
Could my love to Claracilla have consented
A Crowne, or beene satisfied to have seene her
Whom I preferd before the Gods, stood second to any
Thou in all thy wounded faith which thus adornes thee,
Shouldst not have out-shind me this day in Ioyaltie.
Mel.
Love and treason mixt, know, though thou
Hast prov'd thy selfe a cunning Chymist
In attempting to destroy that noble body,
Yet I have that here shall in spight of all thy
Adulterate mixtures restore and fix it, guard thee.
Sil.
Prethee threaten not, for tho I prophesie
Thou bring'st my winding sheete, yet thou shalt see
My smiles with scorne wreath it about me,
And yet I meane not to fall unlike a souldier
Not be buried without my rights about me,
My Sword upon my breast thus, and therefore guard thee.
Mel.
Guard me, tis the office of the gods to kill thee
Is to doe the execution, and the way
As safe as that the Ministers of justice
Tread, and were it as noble as just, I would
Command thee hold thy necke,
But I scorne such wayes to my revenge,
And therefore will take an equall tryall.
Sil.
This youth must overcome, Honour
And justice both strike for him! and though
I fall I shall live in his fame!
Mel.
Yeeld and your person's safe, for 'twas
Against your cause, not you.
Sil.
And ere this darknesse hath quite shadow'd
Me, heare my story, that as thou hast punish'd
My treason, thou mayst pitty my misfortune;
And thus when I am gone report of me,
Silvander bow'd to a cruell power, who
When he had offerd all that a lovers thought
Could compasse, and the power of a King
Worne onely to serve in, when that power
Lessen'd, and my offerings came to be in the heart,
Vnheard, and I the offerer
Thus made the sacrifice; O gentle youth!
Would any bow to such a power as flies
Vs in our miseries, or worship that Image
Which thus falls upon her Priest?
Dies.
Mel.
Vnfortunate indeede, as all men are
That build upon faults, but I will not say I pitty thee,
For where a King once grew, to sow pitty
Is the worst of changes.
Exit. Enter Appius and Selucus.
Sel.
This way Sir he went, if be me mortall,
But his stay's so short, that we but seeme
To follow in the tract he makes.
Ap.
Let us lose no time then in overtaking him
That we may assist his worke.
Sel.
I will not fight a foote further that way
If there be no enemies backwards, Ile make some,
Death, Ile not take Mars his leavings in the field
Ap.
Come Selucus turne this fire the right way,
And 'twill light thee to finde out honour.
Sel.
It has don't, but to day she is too busie
In obeying one mans fortune that my wounds
Are not current to purchase her.
Ap.
We are sure he is this way for heer's his marke,
Where ere he goes he makes death his character,
Know yee this that beares it.
Sel.
Know him! yes, this stroke killd not a Traytor
But treason it selfe fell here, this is Silvander,
And hee's gone—envie be not propheticke, aymes
Beyond a crowne, it must be Claracilla;
Then yee gods whether else tends this youths flight,
Or what but she can satisfie, when a King
Cannot, this doubt makes me
Pursue him through a dangerous knowledge.
Exit.
Enter Claracilla and Melintus following her.
Cla.
Sure this stranger knowes me not, he pursues me
Mel.
O stay, for know since I have once agen seene
My fate Ile reade it, what ever it be, tis
Written in so faire a booke— see unconfident
He kneeles.
Of my armes I begge your stay, he begs that
Dealt death as oft as wounds to his opposers
In thy pursuite your feares wrong me, he
That dares fight with men will not warre with beauty
And this sword that hath cut through so many
Fates this day to finde mine owne, tremble not;
For it hath ever been the servant of justice not cruelty.
Cla.
Sir, I know not guilt enough to beget a feare,
Yet if you meane me no harme why doe you
Pursue me, and neglect th'advantage fortune threw
Vpon your daring youth, have you such choyce
Of honour, you scorne to stoope for this, that you
Have ventur'd so far for, what dresse would you weare?
What beauties would your youth put on to make it
Lovely, when those wounds a Crowne and conquest
Cannot satisfie, when the heart thinkes these?
No harvest, where would thy sword sow thy hazzards
To reape one more glorious.
He rises.
Mel.
Faire soule goe on, and whilst you blame the effect
Ile reade the cause, and thus looke upon the conquest
Crowne and reward I strucke for, if ever I
Have triumph it must passe through those Arches
In gentle smiles, and whilst I enjoy this happinesse
Let the Crowne and lawrell passe by, as the lesser
Good, nor would I give this to possesse the blessings
That attend them all.
Cla.
Heaven grant this fruite be from a noble stocke
And yet tis safer 'twere not, for I feare
I am not proofe against such vertue, 'twas the dresse
My Melintus wore when he appeard most comely.
Where 'twas not sow'd, Sir you forgot your wounds,
They exact a care.
Mel.
No faire one, I am now powring Balme into them
And could I hope you would afford this way
Of cure, 'twould beene health, to not be heald,
She turnes away.
Why doe you turne away, and let my truthes
Fall ere they reach your eares, is it your feares
That would remove you, let this secure you
Tho I appeare in this bloody dresse more like a Priest,
Yet I am a sacrifice, and that sacrifice
Which once was acceptable to you.
Cla.
Sure I have heard that voyce, Sir for heavens sake
Wound me not with doubt; who are you?
Mel.
Are there no lines in all this misery
That you can call to minde—nor the Print
He pulls a patch from his eyes.
Of one joy which you set there.
Cla.
Oh yes there is.
She leanes on him and weepes.
Mel.
Oh Claracilla—soule of honour, why doe you not
In charitie quit your vertue, 'tis single here
That I may throw off my paine.
Cla.
Oh Melintus, you must not wish it, Melintus
Can bravely suffer, he is a Souldier, loves
Souldier, but honours Leader—let me weepe
My soule into thy noble brest, this payment
I can make to none but to thy selfe, those teares
That were due to absence, sadnesse payd thy memory:
Oh let me rest upon thee, my joyes are
Too great a load to beare—and feele how this
Melintus here, beates to meete Melintus there.
Mel.
Oh ye Gods, tis Paradice sure, the way was so rugged
Cla.
'Tis a great power we serve, nor is it more
Seene in his punishment that parted us
Then in this reward, but let us not my soule
Be two expressive in our joyes, it may
Displease those powers that have bin thus favorable,
And my Melintus had not wont to sacrifice unto
Himselfe, and so forget the gods.
She offers to goe from him.
Mel.
Oh gentle Claracilla remove not from me,
For you mistake the posture, the breast is
Loves altar, and the seate of friendship, and
For sacrifice, is not Claracilla a fuller
Offering in either kinde, then a Cake or Spice
But I submit for Melintus shall never know
A reason to contradict Claracilla.
Cla.
Yet let us remember what we owe to your safety
The care of your wounds too, but that I know
Melintus ever plac'd dangers behinde his love
I should ere this have prompted you to a care of—
Mel.
For my wounds the cause will heale them, to me
You owe nothing for your deliverance; your freedome
Grew here, and your enemies mistaking the place
In search of my dangers digg'd it out and you
Shall finde this truth in the beauty of the scarres they leave.
Oh Claracilla thy faith makes me smile through all this blood—
But harke, I heare we are pursu'd, this upon
Your faire hand, and then let me hide my love
And hame under my disguise.
He puts on his patch.
Cla.
'Tis good night Melintus, now thou hast put out
The light, and like love himselfe th'art blinde,
And thou art all I worship of that god.
Enter Appius and Selucus.
Sel.
See where he stands my feares were true
The Princesse in his hand too, he holds her like
Yet this Lady will not prove your reward,
She cannot be a Prisoner here.
Mel
What I did well was rewarded in the fact;
And for this Lady I am so farre from hoping
She should be my prisoner, that I would
Have sufferd all the misery of warre
B're strucke one blow against her freedome.
Sel.
Here is a Prince, whose youthfull Ere blowne
With desire to serve you through thousand hazards
Hath this day courted your favour, and in his hand
You will seeme more aptly worne.
Ap
Madam, tho friendship seeme to direct, you
Have an interest that commands here, and tis
Honour enough, if you please to let me kisse your hand.
Cla.
Sir, Civilities are alwayes fruitfull, and beget
Civilities if they meete with honour, which I hope
Shall not be wanting to give a growth to what
You venture here.
Mel.
Madam I see 'tis not my opinion onely
But this Lords too, that I am unworthy of this honour.
Cla.
If it be an honour weare it, you first secur'd it.
Sel.
Will you make your hand the reward of fortune
And scatter your favours so that they be had
For stooping, is that an honour due to the first commer,
If so I grutch it not, for such favours, and
Vpon such ties he may weare it, else
I should be loath to stoope to he, that bowes to him.
Cla.
You are insolent.
Mel
Thus Madam be pleas'd to accept your due, and then
Give me leave to exact mine—Sir, let nor your interest
Here, and the opinion you have but a single enemy
Make you presume to injure me nor so
Mistake my bountie as to thinke I have throwne
My blood away in vanitie; for tho I see.
Killing of a Traytor, yet I can tell
Whether I am bid faire or no when I have don't,
'Tis nobler farre to give a Courtesie
Then sell it under, doe you smile? it may be
You have had good markets, and such weake chapmen
For those good few deeds you have done.
Sil.
Yes, but if you were from this place, I would make
Thee pay deare for one, which should on thy
Heart write thou wert but my Factor, and all the honour
Thou art dect with, but my store.
Mel.
You promise to your selfe too faire, and noyses
Fright onely when we are ignorant of the cause
And there's too much in thee, to have a dangerous death.
Ap.
Hold Selucus—Sir when you know his good
You will pardon this ill, nor doe I meane it
An injury to shew by his envie what value
He sets upon your glories, and I make
No doubt, when his reason hath purg'd this Choller
From his honour, you'le finde him a healthy friend
And his acquaintance, not subject to these sickly passiōs
If he does as of a suretie command my faith
To make this good.
Mel.
Sir I can easier beare injuries that I deserve not,
Then receive obligations that I cannot pay;
For injuries have a curse growing within my reach,
But obligations I must suffer under their weight,
If you propose not the remedy.
Ap.
Come embrace, Selucus had not wont
To hate the person of an enemy, much lesse
Fall in love with injuries, especially when jealous
Honour begets them upon mistakes amongst friends.
Selucus salutes him and speakes by.
Sel.
Love and honour, farewell to both,
My ends are the gods Ile worship now, and my nets
Once throwne, Ile catch them tho they swim in blood.
Cla.
See my royall Father, and I have reap'd
My blessings ere I have paid my offering,
Thus to the gods, I bow in pious obedience here to you
King.
Welcome deare Claracilla, rise, twice borne
To a Crowne, twice parent, & twice the issue of my joyes
And merit all the blessings that my prayers
Sacrifice can call downe upon thee, and you Sir
To whom we stand thus oblig'd for unmerited favors
Since you have left no other way to returne
Take the blushes you have begot, and be pleasd
To let us know your name and country, that
Our gratefull mentions may not fall like darts
Throwne at nothing, sure 'tis a gratefull one
That has such store of vertues, that she can spare
From her helme such a Pilot in the course of honour.
Mel.
Your pardon royall Sir, for disobeying your command,
My Country I dare not tell, for as my parent
I would hide her name, and my name is, where
Tis knowne so displeasing, that I dare not
Venture it here, where I would remaine.
An humble servant.
King.
Come my Claracilla,
Let not the heart forget to sacrifice
Vnto the hand, thus acknowledging to the meanes
And forget the power that commands them, but remember
That the gods though they are oft times seene
But in the successe and latter end of things, yet their
Place is first, and ought to be so in our worship.
Mel.
In the morning I shall begge leave to visit you.
Cla.
I hope so.
Exit.
Mel.
Sure I have surpriz'd my joyes, they had not wont,
Enter Timillus.
To come thus naked, thus like Angels, whose
Cloathing is all we see, the rest is mystery—
Appearst lost in my joyes.
Sel.
He is alone, and something Ile doe, but stay who's this?
Tim.
Prethee call thy bird backe againe, for mine
is flowne, that we may have something to trust to, this
is the comfort of a Comrade, a man may goe halfes, and
be both savers.
Mell.
Thou art wounded.
Tim.
Why doe you wonder I should get a wound, I
wonder I got no more, I am sure I have beene where
fewer have beene dealt ere now, and yet more has falne
to my share, but by this hand I am glad thou hast got
some of Fortunes goods, as they call them by this
wracke—I had a Smocke too, but it tore in taking up,
what are those that stand so at distance, are they enemies
or none.
Mel.
Where? O no.
Tim.
Why then they are worse, for they are friends
that will be.
Mel.
Th'are enemies to nothing but this daies fortune,
For yet they know not me.
Tim.
Enemies to nothing but this dayes fortune, I
prethee what subject is there else for their hate, or wish
but the wounds, and those are things I beleeve few covet
else on my conscience, one or other would have had
mine e're this time.
Sel.
I must take some other time.
Exit.
Mel.
They are gone.
Tim.
Let em goe—and now prethee tell me—what
was that—that shee—that went in, as thou lov'st
me let her not be ransom'd, till I have hung these fetters
about her for a night, by this hand wee'le share.
Mel.
Dost thou know what thou hast said?
Tim.
What I have said, no nor yet doe care, but pray
what have I sayd?
That which thoult be asham'd of when thou know'st of whom.
Tim.
Why, I have not lyed Melintus, and for the who
in woman, tis a thing I looke not after when mine eye
is pleas'd, the Sex blesseth all the rest, the who, and what
belongs to those fooles enquires, that hunts marriage.
Mel.
Come you will be asham'd when you shall know
This is that Claracilla, that thou hast heard me
In teares so often mention, that vertue
Which thou so admird'st from my relation, and whose
Noble sweetnesse hath made kindred and dutie
To my King the least tyes of the love and respect I beare her.
Tim.
She is honest then—and no hope left by this
hand, I'le be overcome hereafter and get more by it
then such a conquest where a man gets nothing but
cold honour. Doe you heare Melintus though she be a
vertue as you call it. I hope there is a vice belongs to her.
Mel.
Prethee put off this humour; repine at the
Growth of honour; sad because a faire woman's honest.
Tim.
No Sir, I am glad she is honest because it seemes
honesty pleaseth you, but an honest woman to me is a
booke I could never reade in, nor can I imagine why
we should study them, they are secrets that teach but to
one mans knowledge, and the best of them are worst,
a knowledge whose birth is ignorance, and Ile not traffique
for such commodities as are not vendible; and by
this day, the very thought shee should be faire and honest,
hath made me dry, looke how white I spit; let
me goe that I may be drunke and forget the sad cause.
Mel.
Drunke thou canst not, thou hast a leake will preserve thee
Twill passe ere it come to fuming, you had best looke to that.
Tim.
That, what? Who pox I can stop that with my finger.
Come prethee leave thy fooling, and let me see't
I hope tis not dangerous.
Tim.
No, no, never feare it, this narrow lane will not
prove my highway to heaven.
Mel.
Prethee come away then we shall be observ'd
To be so long together.
Tim.
Hang observers, I'me sure they'le be yours, for
I ne're had any.
Exit.
| Claracilla | |