University of Virginia Library

THE FOURTH ACT.

Enter Neander.
Nean.

I was (at least in my own conceit) in probability of
winning the sweet Evadne; and now, that not onely her
ugly Father, but the Queen too should forbid her to see me or
speak to me; it is what I cannot, will not bear: Though Fate it
self say, I shall do it, I am resolv'd that old grey Priest and his Mistress
the Queen, shall be the subjects of my Revenge: and yet I
am not ambitious to show my Valour so far, as to be hang'd for't
neither—I think I ha't; If I can do this, 'twill be the sweetest
part of my Revenge, to live, and tread, and spit upon their Graves:
I have sent for Geron, a Rogue fit for my purpose, for he is Covetous
to Extremity, and I have Gold to bribe him, and which is

lucky above my Wishes, the Priest and Queen have chec'kd him
lately, and countenanc'd his Wife against him, which torments
him so, that I believe he would be glad to be hang'd on any terms.—
Here he is.

Enter Geron.
Ger.
Consume him he's here—

Nean.
Dear Geron, let him embrace thee that
Perhaps is thy best Friend.

Ger.
Perhaps, with a Curse to him—
Aside.
No, my Lord, you are a Friend to my Wife.

Nean.
Geron! give me your hand.

Ger.
Wou'd I had your Heart's blood.—

Aside.
Nean.
Give me your Hand, Geron.

Ger.
My Good Lord! you do me too much honour.

Nean.
I beg your pardon heartily that I presum'd to
Count'nance your ugly, impertinent, ill-natur'd, vain
Wife against you, you that are so worthy an honest Knight;

It was Ignorance of her, and you made me do it. I protest it
was.

Ger.

What the Devil does he mean by this?—

Aside.
Nean.

Upon my Honour Geron it was; had I not been a stranger
to her ill Qualities.

Ger.

I am afraid you know 'em too well.—

Aside.
Nean.

I should never have encourag'd her in her Insolence to
you.

Ger.

What does all this tend to?—

Aside.
Nean.

For I am well satisfy'd, a Man, especially an old Man
that has had experience of the vanity of the World, ought to
have an absolute Dominion over his Wife.

Ger.

My Lord, this is a Truth! I would you had acknowledg'd
sooner; for my abominable Wife, instead of being humbled, is
encourag'd by the Court.

Nean.

I know though too late now, your Wife is froward,
Foolish, petulant, wanton, proud, expensive, disobedient,
Ungrateful.—

Ger.
'Tis too true; but a Plague on him, I am afraid he has
Made shift with her with all these faults—my good Lord.—

Nean.

What sayes my dear Friend, give me leave to call you so:
[Aside.]
whom I would not give two Drachma's to save from a
Gibbet.

Ger.

I would fain be satisfy'd of one scruple.

Nean.

Speak it.

Ger.

I beseech your Lordship be not angry.—

Nean.

My dear Geron I cannot be with thee.

Ger.

My Lord! were you never a little familiar or so with—

Nean.

Whom?

Ger.

My Wife, my Lord in private; I mean in a Civil way.

Nean.

I am not to interpret your meaning, but upon my Honour
I was never alone with her in my life, nor ever will be if I can avoid
it.—

Ger.

Is your Lordship in earnest?

Nean.

Upon my Honour Geron.

Ger.

Honour, that's a word for some, who call themselves men of
Honour to borrow mony with; It is a tenure they Mortgage, as often
as they do their Lands, and forfeit the Mortgage too; and yet they
wou'd have both their Honours and Estates pass for Security, as if
there were no incumbrance upon either.

Nean.

Do'st thou distrust me Friend? I could never indure her,
she's so ugly, so abominably ugly.

Ger.

So ugly my Lord, I did not think you wou'd have abus'd
my Wife thus; so ugly, I'de have your Lordship know there is not
her fellow in the Court.—'Pox on her she's but too handsome for
me.

Nean.

Nay, 'prethee, Geron, be not offended; my Nature is
so just to all my Friends, that their Wives, though ne're so beautiful
appear to me deform'd; and if thou doubtest my Friendship,
make tryal of me, let me know how I can serve thee.

Ger.

I humbly thank your Lordship. Sure he must be in
earnest; but I'le try: My Lord, you have an Interest here,
the Queen and Priest have given me so severe Rebukes about my
damnable Wife, that they have encourag'd her to be ten times more
troublesome and insolent than ever, my life is now become a Torment
to me.

Nean.

And wilt thou tamely put up this Injury?

Ger.

I would it were in my power to help it.

Nean.

It is man—

Ger.

What sayes your Lordship.

Nean.

It shall be, and I'le joyn with thee in the Revenge.

Ger.

Now do I hope he'll plot som Treason, that I may accuse
him, and beg his Estate for't.

Nean.

I will propound to him, but if I see him waver in the
buis'ness, I'le make the first accusation, and hang him for't. Geron,
in short, I am not injur'd less then you; the Queen and Priest have
crost me in my Love, and kept the fair Evadne from my Embraces,
the onely thing I hop'd for pleasure in.

Ger.

My Lord I know the story.

Nean.

If you will joyn with me and help me to Effect my Revenge,
you will not onely be reveng'd your self, but I will give
you twenty Talents to boot.

Ger.

Twenty Talents? a delicious Sum, how I could embrace
'em.

Nean.

We may contrive some way to make the King jealous of
the Priest and Queen, thou know'st the Queen extreamly favours
that old Priest.

Ger.

'Tis for his Piety she esteems him so.

Nean.

Piety! hang him!—but however we may design it
so; that that piety may look like Treason.

Ger.

As how, my Lord?

Nean.

Let us contrive some private meeting for them in yonder
Grotto that may look suspitiously, then bring the King to see it;
joyn with me, and thou shalt have the Talents, man.

Ger.

I am very fearful; but twenty Talents!—a Revenge
To boot—ha!—I'le venture it.

Nean.

Have courage man—
(Aside;
Which Heaven knows is a thing I neither have, nor desire to have.

Ger.

Your Lordship has prevail'd, and now I'le put you in a
way: As I was watching my Wives haunts, I overheard the Queen
and Endymion, saying, that the King had forc'd Urania to appoint a
private meeting with him in the Grotto, and the Queen resolv'd
to supply her place, to keep the King from his intended Crime.

Nean.

What then?

Ger.

We may feign a Tale to the Queen, that the King has this

Night resum'd his desires, and that Urania has promis'd it in earnest.

Nean.

But Urania will contradict that—

Ger.

No; she ask'd the Princess liberty to leave the Court a
day or two for some private business or other, and is now absent.

Nean.

Excellent Geron! but how shall we carry this story?

Ger.

My Wife; who shall still be ignorant of the matter.

Nean.

Admirably invented: thou shal't have the Talents; besides
if thy Wife shou'd discover thee or me, if she be question'd,
we'l face her down in't and she shall hang for't.

Ger.

That Argument prevails with me more then the Talents:
whether she betrays us or no, we'l do that my Lord.

Nean.

With all my heart, Excellent Geron: for the Priest, thou
shalt go to him, and subtilly perswade him that the Queen has made
an appointment to meet me in the Grotto, and that I to avoid suspition
am to be in Womans Cloaths.

Ger.

My Lord, he'll ne're believe it.

Nean.

Do thou confirm it by then thousand Oaths.

Ger.

That will be dang'rous.

Nean.

Not at all: But think on the Talents, and the death of thy
Wife man: Thou maist perswade the Priest to meet her to prevent
it in a Womans loose habit, and then bring the King to see
them.

Ger.

But the Priest will soon undeceive the King.

Nean.

No, no, fear not that, the King will be so inrag'd: 'tis
ten to one he kills 'em both without Examination; if not, you and
I, who will be the first Accusers will swear 'em both down in't; think
upon Revenge and Profit.

Ger.

My Lord—I'le do't about the time of this Evening Sacrifice
for the Victory of Theander.

Enter Endymion with a Guard.
Ger.
What means this?

Nean.
O Endymion's banish'd.
And this Guard is to convey him out of the
Kings Dominions, let him be hang'd and
He will.—let us about our business—

Ex. Geron and Nean.
Endym.
May I not see the Princess for
Whom I am banish'd before I go?

Officer.
No, no, along Sir.

1. Sould.
'Pray Sir, go a little faster.

2. Sould.
Prethee, let the Gentleman alone, soft
And fair goes far, and the Gentleman
Considers he has far to go.

Endym.
Farewell than brave Cleantha, may'st thou never
Once think Endymion suffers for thy sake:
And farewell dear Urania, I will love thee
On those hard Rocks I now must dwell upon.

Officer.
What's this muttering? Along Sir.

2. Sould.
Good Gentleman! he's loath to leave the Princess
I warrant him.

Enter Cleantha.
1. Sould.
Here she comes.

Endym.
The Princess!—Great Princess pardon
My glorious sufferings; forgive me that
[Kneels.
I ever saw the Light, or liv'd a Minute:
That you are injur'd thus by him whose being
Is not worth your meanest thought.

Clean.
Ah, my Lord, affront me not:
Rise brave Endymion! 'Tis my misfortune:
Thou art too low already.

Endym.
Fortune made me low to be advanc'd by a hand
More Worthy than her own.

(Rises.
Clean.
My Noble Lord!
I have undone you! what can I give you now
In recompence of Liberty, and all
The pleasures you must loose
In a sad banishment, for her who onely
Can be afflicted at your sufferings.

Endym.
Madam, you have Enough to give to pay
So mean a debt, if you will call it one
A thousand times.

Clean.
Name it, and take it, dear
Endymion, though it be my life.

Endy.
Madam!
Then grant me this request: use every art
To make your Hours as blest as I shall pray
They may be many; and never let a Thought
E're represent to your Remembrance more
Unfortunate Endymion: Then shall I be
Among the desolations of my Fortune
Happy, to think the brave Cleantha's happy,
And wears a Crown, and lives ador'd: what then
Tho' I live in an obscure banishment.

Offic.
Sir, this is what was forbidden us to permit you;
You must away Sir.—

Takes him by the Arm.
Clean.

Impudent Villain, dar'st thou interrupt a person I am
talking with.

Offic.
Yes, Madam, when I have the Kings Commands to do it.

Endym.
Madam; these persons do their duty, they are the
Hands of Fate, that pull me from you—Sacred Princess
All that is bliss attend you.—

He kneells to kiss her hand.
Clean.
My Lord! Farewell;
Take this Ring and remember me:
Know that Cleantha loves you and will never
Be happy till Endymion makes her so.

Endym.
I cannot doubt but Heaven will prosper what
Is so like it self: Blest Princess take my Prayers,
Heav'n thinks not fit to entrust me with ought else.

Clean.
Farewell, and with thee all my happiness!

Offic.
Come, Sir, when will you go?

Endym.
Thus Fate directs me, what I now must do,
To serve my Shepherdess, and Princess too.
Endymion falls; but to the first he dies
A Lover, to the last, a Sacrifice.—

Ex. Endym. with Guards.
Clean.
Heaven! Heaven! Where was thy mercy then,
When thou mad'st Life so great a pain, and Death
A Sin? Did'st thou Create great Souls but to
Affront them with thy greater Power?
If by my power
With the King I cannot get him recall'd,
I am resolv'd privately to follow him; and spend
My dayes with him that has my heart.

Enter Phronesia.
Phro.
Madam! why does your Highness thus submit to grief,

Clean.
Have I not reason for't?

Phro.
Madam; Your Highness shou'd study to forget
Endymion now.

Clean.
Forget him (foolish Woman) I sooner shall
Forget that I have Eyes, forget I have
A Memory! Shall brave Endymion live
In banishment for me, and I forget him:
Sure thou would'st mind me of him, if I shou'd.

Phro.
Well, Madam, I wish your Highness does not
Remember him too much; I am glad you are
Alive yet for my part.

Clean.
Indeed I speak, and do the offices of life,
But say Phronesia;
Did'st never see a Tree cut down i'th Spring
A while put forth his Buds and Leaves, as if
He'd been alive untill that sap was spent
Which he had suck'd from his life-giving Root,
And then he wither'd.

Enter King and Queen.
King.
How do you Niece?

Queen.
We are come to visit you in the absence of your Lover.

Clean.
Your Majesties do always do me Honour.

Queen.
Indeed you ought to thank those who do you honour,
When you forget to do it your self.

King.
Cleantha! you are too wise, I hope, to be
Afflicted at Endymion's banishment.

Clean.
Sir! what so e're my Troubles are, as they
Are my own, so I shall endeavour not
To make 'em any others.

King.
You ought to look to the Justice of
The Action, and be satisfy'd.

Clean.
Indeed there's little Mercy in't; if that be
Most Just, that is most Cruel, this is so.

King.
The action I have done is just: I thought it so,
And I have done it, and you must be patient.

Clean.
Your Majesty may please to know, that I shall
Have that regard to my self, as not to suffer
My impatience to be troublesome to others.

King.
You grieve for Endymion, when all Arcadia
Rejoyces at the Victory of
Theander, which this Evening we shall Celebrate
With Sacrifices, and with other Rites, for whom
We will prepare a publick Triumph:
Compose your self, and let not others see
Your shame.

Clean.
My Shame they ne're
(Aside.
Shall see; Call it my Glory, so it is.

Enter Pyrrhus.
Pyrr.
Sir, the Sacrifice is ready for the
Altar, and the Priests wait your Royal presence
For the Execution.

King.
Niece! think on what I've said, and follow us.

[Ex. King and Pyrr.
Qu.
Come, dear Cleantha, 'prithee be not sad,
The Prince of Macedon will be fitter for
Your noble Blood which is deriv'd from Kings.

Clean.
And some other will be fitter for him
Then I, unless he likes a broken heart.
Besides the Prince is Contracted already to
The Queen of Thrace's eldest Daughter.

Qu.
She is long since dead.

Clean.
Who can tell that, Madam; I am apt to believe
If she had her Kingdom yet the Prince would find
Her out.

Enter Phronesia.
Qu.
What News with you?

Phro.
News that does import your Majesty.—

Whisper.
Enter Geron.
Ger.

Madam! the Queen and your Highness are expected at
the Temple; this will be a night of Joy.

Clean.
That brings me nought but sorrow; the name of joy
Is odious to me, since Endymion's gone.

Qu.
Art thou sure of this Phronesia?

Phro.
Yes, Madam, doubt it not.

Qu.
The Gods amend all once more, I'le prevent it:
But first I'le to the Temple; Come Cleantha.

Ger.
What have you told the Queen
What I enjoyn'd you?

Phro.

I have, and she is resolv'd to Circumvent him: Come to
the Temple, haste.—

Ex. Phron.

Ger.

Thus far it goes well; I have with many Oaths and Protestations
confirm'd the Priest in the belief that Neander in Womans
Cloaths is this night to meet the Queen: it takes admirably—
The Talents are my own, and this wife of mine is dead already.

The Scene changes to the Temple.
After the Sacrifice, there is a Consort of Martial Musick, and two or three of the Salii or Priests of Mars sing as follows,
Martiall Dance.

King.
'Tis very well! Come, Madam.

Qu.
Sir, I must have some few Minutes discourse with
This good Priest, and then I'le wait on you.

King.
Haste then, do not defer your joy; I'm sure
It cannot trouble you to see this Night dedicated
To your belov'd Theander.

Qu.
My joy is rather too intemperate:
Exit. King, manent Queen and Priest.
Poor Prince, little dost thou think I am
Acquainted with thy Guilt, and thy too great
Unkindness! O holy Father! this night the King
Afresh has kindled his foul Lust, he has
Once more tempted Urania, and I hear
She is seduc'd in earnest, and this day has seem'd
To leave the Court on purpose to avoid
Suspition.

Priest.
Ye Gods that I should ever live to see
The Queen that was so spotless in her Honour
Perverted thus: what Fury or Devil does this?

Qu.
Sir, 'Pray give me your wise Councel as you
Still have done.

Priest.
What an abject thing dissimulation is? below
One of her birth to suffer, much less use.

Qu.
Father! what say you?

Priest.
I know too well already what she'l do—
Aside.
I'le try her.—Madam, do as you did before;
And though you cannot cure this feavourish Love,
Anticipate all further Crimes.

Qu.
I did resolve to do it.

Priest.
I knew that but too well already; the
Gods forgive you: with Neander too the
Vainest Trifle of the Court? how am I afflicted!

Q.
Well Sir, I'le away, and strive to hide my resentment,
The better to carry on my design.

Priest.
Heaven bless you Madam.—
to her—Exit. Queen.
To himself.)
And make you see your Crime
In it's own horrid shape e're you attempt it,
And yet she bears it with so much assurance
I could believe her Innocent, yet why
Should Geron dare to invoke all the Gods
To testifie it; if it be false, what can
Provoke him to this Villany? If true,
She never will acknowledge it to me
What ere it be; 'tis worth my venturing
To be undeceiv'd.—

Ex.

The Third Scene.

Enter King, Geron and Pyrrhus.
King.
Is't possible? my Queen an Adultress?
It cannot be: Be sure Sir, if you accuse her
Falsly, ye shall not onely die, but
Linger out a wretched life in Torments.

Ger.
Sir! if I lye, let me have what death
The witty'st Cruelty can invent.

Pyrr.
I am amaz'd! the Queen and Priest
In Womans Cloathes? strange Circumstance
To meet in the Grotto, this Night? Sure 'tis
Impossible.

Ger.

Sir, I am content to dye fort, if you see not your
self all this to Night.

King.
In the mean time, you'l be content to be secur'd?

Ger.
Sir with all my heart.

King.
Guard! take Geron, and secure him till further order.

Enter Guard, and seizes him.
Pyrr.
Sir! this dreadful news amazes me!

King.
Ah Pyrrhus? in this very Grotto
I met Urania, and forgot the Queen,
Tho' then I thought her faithful,
And as free from any Carnal thoughts
As are departed Souls in th' other world.

Pyrr.
The Gods grant this meeting prove no worse
Than that did.

King.

O Heav'n! methinks I see 'em already in their Lust, yet
sure it cannot be; if I find this Accusation false, it had been better
for this fellow he never had been born.

Pyrr.
Sir, you may yet prevent it.

King.
I may for this time, but I will not harbour
That Devil Jealousie within my breast
For all this World can give me: I am resolv'd
To see the certainty my self; and if
It prove untrue, my Queen shall live with freedom,
As she has ever done, in all my Thoughts,
And her Accuser fall her Sacrifice:
But if she can forget her former Vertue,
I can take as much pleasure to see her blood
Drop from the fatal Sword, as e're I did
To see it blushing on her Cheek, when first
I thought her modest.
Look! where they come—
Enter Queen and Priest.
Let us withdraw; it may be we shall
Discover something.

Priest.
And nothing is more Common
Then this, which is not thought a sin, because
It seems an Impulse of Nature.

King.
Hear'st thou Pyrrhus? I am distracted!

Qu.
The King.

Priest.
All happiness attend your Majesty.

King.
I must contain! how do you Madam?

Qu.
Always happy whilst your Majesty is so.

King.
And what are you discoursing of?

Qu.
Nothing! but good with this good person sure.

King.
What's that you talk of which is not Sin
Because an impulse of Nature?—

Qu.
What do you mean Sir?

Priest.
I know not how we came by Chance to speak
How little wantonness is thought a sin
Because it seemeth an Impulse of Nature.
Whereas the Vertuous still fix their Eyes
On the Command, not the Temptation,
And think't enough, if what Heaven gives as Law
Be Possible, although not Natural.
Aside.)
I would I had had no cause to have said it to her.

King.
'Tis well put off—I shall never hold—
Aside.
To hear this Hypocrite—I must leave you.—

Qu.
I'le wait upon your Majesty! if it may not be a trouble.

King.
To you it may be.—

Ex. King.
Qu.
I see he's unwilling to disappoint Urania.—

Ex. Queen.
Priest.

No, she's rather unwilling to disappoint Neander—well,
for all her cunning, I'le prevent her, my Lord, Farewell.—

Ex. Priest.
Pyrr.
If I dar'd to disobey my Prince, I could prevent
This Tragedy, but what Kings
Please to Command requires obedience, not
Examination: when they once have judg'd,
'Tis want of Judgement if we dare judge too.—

Enter King.
King.
Pyrrhus! I had forgot one thing, thou
Know'st the Prince is expected here to morrow,
And I believe he'l be here early too: It will
Be necessary his coming be retarded,
Till the business be done, that I may know
With what face to receive him, after
All the glorious Actions he has done, I
Would not for a World he should arrive
Before the Examination be over.

Pyrr.
It will be an unhappy entertainment for his Highness:
Would your Majesty have me go my self?

King.

If thou canst handsomely do it, and be back early in the
Morning; it is but riding all Night; in the Morning I shall want
you.

Pyrr.

I shall do it with much Ease, if it be your Majesties pleasure.

King.

I leave you to frame an Excuse to the Prince.

Pyrr.

I'le go Imediately; I hope I shall meet better news to
morrow.—

Ex.
King.
I fear it:
Thus we with them in plotting do consent;
But they plot Crimes, and we plot Punishment:
And little think they in how small a time,
Poor Fools, my Justice shall o'retake their Crime.
Men were too happy if they understood
There is no safety but in being Good.—

Ex.