University of Virginia Library

Act I.

Scene I.

Cleon, Agremont and Adelard.
Agr.

Here's no Body come yet.

Cleon.

They had Orders from the
King to attend here. Besides it has
been published, that no Officer should deny Admission
to any Gentleman that desire to attend and hear.

Agr.

Can you ghess the Cause of this Ceremony?

Cleon.

That's plain, Sir, the foreign Prince that's
come to marry Araminta, Heiress to this Kingdom.

Adel.

Your diving Politicians, and those who
would seem to have deep Intelligence, give out that
she does not like him.

Cleon.

O, Sir, the Multitude speak what they would
have. But her Father has sent this Prince so many
Assurances of the Match before his coming over,
that I think she's resolved to be ruled.

Agr.

And will this foreign Prince enjoy both the
Kingdom of Sicily and Calabria, Sir?

Cleon.

That it is so intended is most certain; but it
will sure be very troublesome and difficult for him
to enjoy them both in Safety, the Right Heir to one
of them being now living, and of so noble and virtuous
a Character, especilaly when the People are
possessed with an Admiration of the Bravery of his
Mind and Pity of his Injuries.

Agr.

You mean Philander.

Cleon.

I mean the same. His Father, we all know,
was unjustly driven by our late King of Calabria from
his fruitful Sicily: I wish the Blood I drew my self
in those accursed Wars were well wash'd off.

Agr.

My Ignorance of the Affairs of Sicily will not
let me know how it comes to pass that Philander
(being Heir to one of these Kingdoms) the King
should suffer him to go abroad so much at Liberty.

Cleon.

Your Temper is more fortunate, I find, than
to busy your self in enquiring after State News; but
I must tell you that lately the King risqu'd both his
Kingdoms for offering to imprison Philander. For
the City rose in Armes, nor could be quell'd by any
Threats or Force till they saw the Prince ride thro'
the Streets unguarded; and then throwing up their
Caps with loud Huzza's and Bonfires, they laid aside
their military Appointments. This Reason Politicians

give for the Marriage of his Daughter to a foreign
Prince, that he may be able to keep his own People
in Awe by his Forces.

Agr.

Who is this Prince's Father?

Cleon.

A Person of mean Extraction, but by Wiles
and Arts obtaining Power, usurp'd the Kingdom
where he reigns, and keeps it under by a standing
Army, which our King intends to copy.

Enter Melesinda, Alga, a Lady and a Spaniard.
Adel.

See the Ladies, what's the first?

Cleon.

A worthy Lady that attends the Princess.

Adel.

The other that follows her?

Cleon.

She is one that loves to try the several Constitutions
of Men's Bodies, and indeed has destroyed
her own by making Experiments upon them, for the
good of the Commonwealth.

Agr.

Of which she is certainly a very profitable
Member.

Adel.

And pray what odd grave Fellow's that who
follows alone?

Cleon.

One of Prince Thrasomond's Train, and his
Governour.

Agr.

Why is that Prince a Boy?

Cleon.

Yes, he's a pretty forward Boy about four
and twenty.

Adel.

That is a forward Boy indeed, when will he
be a Man?

Cleon.

Never; he'll live a Boy till threescore, and
then turn Child again.

May you have your Desires, Ladies!

Alga.

Then you must sit down by us.

Adel.

With all our Hearts, Ladies.

Gover.

I will sit near this Lady.

Mel.

Not near me, Sir, but there's a Lady loves a
Stranger, and you appear to me a very strange Fellow.

Agr.

Madam, how strange soever he is, he will not
be so long, for I perceive he can quickly be acquainted.

Adel.
Peace, the King.

Enter King, Thrasomond, Araminta, and Train.
King.
To give a stronger Testimony of Love
Than only Promises (which commonly
In Princes find at once both Birth and Burial)
We've drawn you by our Letters, noble Prince
To make here your Addresses to our Daughter,
And your self known and lov'd by all our Subjects.
As for this Lady Maid, whose Sex and Innocence
Yet teach her nothing but her Fears and Blushes;
I hope her Modesty so recommends her to you for a Wife,
Were she not fair enough to be a Mistress.
Lastly, my noble Son, (for so I now must call you)
That I have done this publickly, is not
To add a Comfort in particular
To you or me, but all, and to confirm
The Nobles and the Gentry of these Kingdoms
By Oath to your Succession; this shall be
Within a Week at most.

Adel.
This will be hardly done.

Agr.
It must be ill done whensoever it is done.

Cleon.

At least it will be but half done whilst so
brave a Man is thrown off and living.

Enter Philander.
Officer.
Make room there for the Lord Philander.

Adel.
Mark but the King how pale he looks with Fear.

King.
What brings him here? You're curious I find
To see this Interview.

Phil.
The Wonders, Sir, your Majesty has often spoken in Praise
Of Thrasomond, makes me desire to hear
What he can say himself.

Gover.
Come, now begin.

Thras.
Kissing your white Hand, Mistress, I take leave.
To thank your Royal Father, and thus far
To be my own free Trumpet: Then observe,
Great King, and these your Subjects, mine that must be,
For so deserving you have spoke me, Sir,
(And so deserving I dare speak my self;)
To a Person of what Eminence,
What Expectation, what Faculties,
Manners and Virtues you will wed your Kingdoms;
You have in me all you can wish. This Country
By more than all my Hopes, I hold most happy
In their dear Memories, that have been Kings
Both great and good; happy in yours, that is,
And from you (as a Chronicle to keep
Your noble Name from eating Age,) do I
Opine my self of all most happy, Sir.
Believe me in a Word, a Princes Word,
There shall be nothing to make up a Kingdom
Mighty and flourishing, both fenc'd and fear'd,
But thro' the Travels of my Life I'll find it,
And tie it to this Country: And I vow
My Reign shall be so easie to the Subjects,
That every Man shall be his Prince himself,
And his own Law, yet I his Prince and Law.
And, dearest Lady, to your dearest Self;
Dear in the Choice of him, (whose Name and Lustre
Must make you more and mightier,) let me say,
You are the blessed'st living: For, sweet Princess,
You shall enjoy a Man to be your Servant,
And you shall make him yours, for whom great Queens
Must die and sigh.—

Phil.
Thou ugly silly Rogue.

Cleon.
I wonder what's his Price, for one may see
He has a mind to sell him self by his Praises.

Agr.
Would I might die if I see any thing
In him to raise him but to a Constable.

Adel.

Now do I fancy that this Speech was made
by the Governour.

Agr.

O' my Conscience I think so too, for by his
Action you might see the Fool did not understand
what he said.

Cleon.
Well, we shall see more of it anon.

Phil.
May I beg leave, Sir, of your Majesty
To speak a Word or two with this strange Prince?

King.
I give it you, but still remember that you are
A Subject.

Phil.
Yes, Sir, I am so: And more a Slave to Araminta,
And in spight of thee and Fate will be so ever.
[Aside.
Thus—I turn my self to you, big foreign Man,
Ne'er stare, nor put on Wonder, for you must
Endure me, and you shall. This Earth you tread on
(A Dowry, as you hope, with this fair Princess,
Whose very Name I bow to) was not left
By my dead Father (O! I had a Father!)
To your Inheritance; and I up and living,
Having my self about me and my Sword,
These Arms, and some few Friends besides the Gods,
To part so calmly with it, and sit still;
And say I might have been! I tell thee, Thrasomond,
When thou art King, look I be dead and rotten,
And my Name lost: Hear, hear me, Thrasomond,
This very Ground thou go'st on, this fat Earth,
My Father's Friends made fertile with their Faith,
Before that Day of Shame shall gape, and swallow
Thee and thy Nation, like a hungry Grave,
Into her hidden Bowels; Prince, it shall,
By Nemesis it shall.

Cleon.
Here's a Fellow has some Fire in his Veins.
The Out-landish Prince looks like a Tooth-drawer.

King.
You do displease us; you're now too bold.

Phil.
No, Sir, I am too tame;
Too much a Dove, a thing born without Passion;
A very Shadow, that each drunken Cloud
Sails over, and makes nothing.

King.
What means this?
Call our Physicians; sure he's somewhat tainted.

Adel.
I do not think 'twill prove so.

Cleon.
'Has given him a general Purge already, and now
He means to let him Blood. Be constant, Gentlemen,
By these Hilts I'll run his Hazard, tho' I run my Name
Out of the Kingdom.

Thras.
Must I speake now?

[To his Governour.
Gov.
Ay, ay, and do it home.

Thras.
What you have seen in me to stir Offence
I cannot tell, except it be this Lady,
Whom the King offer'd me without my seeking.
And I expect he will secure her to me.

Gov.
You must be angry, Sir.

Thras.
Well then I will.—
I value not whose Branch you are, my Blood
And Person do deserve her well, and I
Therefore assure you that she shall be mine.

Phil.
If thou wert sole Inheritor to him
That once subdu'd the World, and could'st see no Sun
Shine upon any thing but thine; were Thrasomond
As truly valiant as I feel him cold,
And ring'd among the choicest of his Friends,
Such as would blush to talk such serious Follies,
Or back such bellied Commendations.

King.
Sir, you wrong the Prince, I gave you not
The Freedom here to brave our best of Friends;
You deserve our Frown. Go to,—and be better temper'd.

Phil.
It must be, Sir, when I am nobler us'd.

King.
Tell me what you aim at in your Riddles.

Phil.
Had you my Eyes, Sir, and my Sufferings,
My Griefs upon you, and my broken Fortunes,
My Wants great, and now naught but Hopes and Fears,
My Wrongs would make ill Riddles to be laugh'd at.

King.
Give me your Wrong in private.

Phil.
Take 'em them,
[Whisper.
And ease me of a Load would bow strong Atlas.

Agr.
He dares not stand the Shock.

Cleon.

I cannot blame him, there's Danger in it;
every Man in this Age has not a Breast of Christal
for all Men to read their Thoughts through. Mens
Hearts and Faces are so far asunder, that they hold no
Intelligence. Do but view your Stranger well, and
you shall see a Fever thro' all his Bravery. If he
give not back his Crown again on the Report of an
Elder Gun, I have no Augury.

King.
Go to: Be more your self, as you expect
Our Favour, else you will stir our Anger:
I must have you know you are and and shall be at
Our Pleasure: Smooth your Brow, or by the Gods—

Phil.
I'm dead, Sir, you're my Fate: It was not I
Said I was wrong'd: I carry all about me
My weak Stars lead me to; all my weak Fortunes.
Who now, in all this Presence, dares (that is
A man of Flesh, and is but mortal) tell me
I do not most entirely love this Prince,
And honour his full Virtues?

King.
He's possest.

Phil.
Yes, with my Father's Spirit. 'Tis here O King!
A dangerous Spirit, now he tells me King,
I was a King's Heir, bids me be a King,
And whispers to me these are all my Subjects:
'Tis strange he will not let me sleep, but dives
Into my Fancy, and there gives me Shapes,
That kneel, and do me Service, call me King;
But I'll suppress him, 'tis a Factious Spirit.

King.
I do not like this;
I'll make you tamer, or I'll dispossess
You both of Life and Spirit: For this Time
I pardon your wild Speech, without so much
As your Imprisonment.
[Exeunt King, Thrasomond and Train.
I thank you, Sir, you dare not for the People.

Cleon.
See how his Fancy labours: Has he not
Spoke home and bravely? What a dangerous Train
Did he give Fire to! How he shook the King!
Made his Soul melt within him, and his Blood
Run into Whey! It stood upon his Brows
Like a cold Winter's Dew, Let's speak to him.

Agr.
How do you, worthy Sir?

Phil.
Well, very well;
So well, that if it please the King, I may live
Many Years.

Cleon.
The King must please,
Whilst we know what you are, and who you are,
Your Wrongs and Merits. Shrink not, noble Sir,
But think still of your Father, in whose Name
We'll waken all the Gods, and conjure up
The Rods of Vengeance; th' abused People,
Who like to raging Torrents shall swell high,
And so begirt the Dens of these Male Dragons,
That thro' the strongest Safety they shall beg
For Mercy at your Sword's Point.

Phil.
Friends, no more:
Our Ears may be corrupted: 'Tis an Age
We dare not trust our Wills to: Do you love me?

Cleon.
Do we love Worth and Honour?

Phil.
I thank you, Sir;
My Lord, pray is your Daughter living?

Cleon.
Yes;
And for the Penance of an idle Dream
Has undertaken a tedious Pilgrimage.

Enter a Lady.
Phil.
Is it to me you come?

Lady.
To you, brave Lord.
The Princess would intreat your Company.

Phil.
The Princess send for me? Sure you're mistaken.

Lady.
If you are called Philander.

Phil.
If she but now will love or kill me I am happy.
I will this Moment attend thee to her.

[Exit with Lady
Cleon.
Go on, and be as truly happy as th' art fearless.
Come, Gentlemen, let us make our Friends acquainted.
Lest the King prove false.

[Exeunt.
Enter Araminta and Lady.
Ara.
Will Philander come?

Lady.
Dear Madam, you were wont to credit me at first.

Ara.
But didst thou tell me he would come?
How look'd he when he told thee he would come?

Lady.
Why well.

Ara.
And was he not a little fearful?

Lady.
How! fearful! sure he knows not what that is.

Ara.
You are all of his Faction, the whole Court
Is bold in Praise of him!

Lady.
Madam, his Looks methought did shew much more
Of Love than Fear.

Ara.
Of Love! To whom? To you?

Lady.
Madam, I mean to you.

Ara.
Of Love to me! Alas! Thy Ignorance
Let's thee not see the Crossness of our Births.
Nature that loves not to be questioned
Why she did this or that, but has her Ends,
And knows that she does well; never gave the World
Two things so opposite, so contrary
As he and I am.

Lady.
Madam, I think I hear him.

Ara.
Bring him in.
Ye Gods! that will not have your Dooms withstood,
Whose holy Wisdom, at this Time it is
To make the Passion of a feeble Mind
The Way to your great Justice. I obey.

Enter Philander.
Lady.
Here is my Lord Philander.

Ara.
'Tis well.—What shall I say?

Phil.
Madam, your Messenger
Made me believe you sent to speak with me.

Ara.
'Tis true, Philander, but the Words are such,
So unbecoming of a Virgin's Mouth,
That I could wish 'em said by any other Body.
Can you not ghess what 'tis that I would say?

Phil.
When I behold
That heav'nly Frame, I find such Sweetness there,
I cannot think you guilty of a Thought
Which has a Harshness in it, much less a Cruelty.
But then, when I consider who you are,
And what your Father is, how can I chuse
But fear you must intend my utter Ruin.

Ara.
You are not well acquainted with my Thoughts,
Tho' they are such as make me blush as oft
As I would fain discover them to you;
Yet for my Life I cannot think them ill,
Nor wish them other, than what just they are.

Phil.
Why won't you tell them then?

Ara.
Because I dare not tell them.

Phil.
Yes you may:
Let them be ne'er so cruel, I will hear
My Doom with Patience, and obey it too.
Say you would have my Life, I'll give it you;
For 'tis of me a Thing so loath'd, and of
So small a Use to you, who ask it of me,
That I shall make no Price if you would have it.

Ara.
Why then it is your Life that I must have,
Your whole entire Life, or lose my own.

Phil.
I gladly thus resign it to you: Here
Draw this and kill me; I shall thank you for it:
For since my cruel Fortune has decreed,
That you must never, Madam, give Consent
To what alone can make me live with Ease,
The dying by your Hand is all I covet.

Ara.
Oh! 'tis not so, Philander, that I mean;
Kill you! no, I'd sooner die my self
Than offer you but once the least Offence.
Why I would rather kill my self than live,
If be my Fate that you would have it so.
By all the holy Powers I would. Good Gods!
Cannot you ghess my meaning yet.

Phil.
Oh Heavens!
What is't she means! It cannot sure be Love;
And yet she is too full of noble Thoughts
To lay a Train for this contemned Life,
Which she might have for asking: Madam, you
Perplex my Mind so much with what you say,
I know not what to think; I know well what
To wish for; I so earnestly do wish it
That indeed I can think of nothing else.
'Twas not the Fear of losing of a Crown
That gave my Tongue such Rage before you
This Day.
The Crown's a thing of which I feel no Want,
But that I have it not to offer you.
There is another Fear lies deeper here,
The Fear of losing that on which my Life
Depends; and which I ne'er shall tamely part with:
For, Madam, know, while poor Philander lives,
'Tis but in vain your Father shall pretend
To marry you to any but—

Ara.
But to whom?

Phil.
But to him who wants the Impudence to hope
So great a Blessing: One who harbours Thoughts
Of what he is so mean and humble in
Respect of you, that were his Council ask'd
Whether or no you ought to make him happy,
He fears he hardly could advise you to it;
Who is however still resolved to die,
Before he sees you given to another,
And therefore on his Knees begs you to kill him.

Ara.
Another Soul into my Body shot,
Could not have warm'd my Heart with more new Life
Than these your Words have done; had you but staid
A little longer I had vow'd the same;
But I am wretched now, unless you love me.

Phil.
Love you!
My Soul adores you with so strong a Zeal,
So far above the Rate of common Love,
That mine deserves a more exalted Name,
If any more exalted I could find.

Ara.
I have then no more to ask of Heav'n;
And sure our Love will meet the greater Blessing,
In that the greatest Justice of the Gods
Is blended with it: But you must not stay,
Lest some unwelcome Guest should find you here.
Think how we may continue a secret Way
To keep Intelligence betwixt us, that
On all Occasions we may both agree,
Which Path is best to tread.

Phil.
I have a Boy
Sent by the Gods, I think, for this Intent,
Not yet seen in the Court. Hunting the Buck,
I found him sitting by a Fountain side,
Of which he borrow'd some to quench his Thirst,
And paid the Nymph again as much in Tears:
A Garland by him lay, made by him self,
Of many several Flowers he'd in the Bay
Stuck in that mystick Order, that the Rareness
Delighted me; but ever when he turn'd
His tender Eyes upon them, he would weep,
As if he meant to make them grow again.
Seeing such pretty helpless Innocence
Dwell in his Face, I ask'd him of his Story.
He told me that his Parents lately dy'd,
Leaving him to the Mercy of the Field,
Which gave him Roots, and of the Christal Springs,
Which did not stop their Streams; and of the Sun,
Which still, he thank'd him, yielded him his Light.
I gladly entertain'd him, who was as glad to follow;
And I've got the truest and most faithful Boy alive,
Him will I send to bear our hidden Love.

Enter Lady.
Lady.
Madam, the Prince is come to kiss your Hands.

Ara.
For Heaven's Sake, dear Philander, hide your self.

Phil.
Hide me from Thrasomond! when Thunder roars,
Which is Jove's Voice, tho' Jove I do revere,
I hide me not; shall then a foreign Prince
Have leave to brag to any foreign Nation,
That he did make Philander hide himself?

Ara.
Why then say nothing to him,

Phil.
I'll obey.

Enter Thrasomond.
Thras.
My Princely Mistress, as true Lovers ought,
I came to kiss those fair Hands, and to shew,
In outward Ceremonies, the dear Love,
Writ here within my Heart.

Phil.
If I can have no other Answer
I am gone.

Thras.
To what would he have Answer?

Ara.
To his Claim, as he pretends, to his Father's Crown.

Thra.
Sir, I did let you alone to day before the King.

Phil.
Sir, do so still, I would not talk with you.

Thras.

But now the Time is fit. Do but name
the least Pretence or Title to a Crown.

Phil.
Peace, Thrasomond,—if thou—

Ara.
Philander, hold.—

Phil.
I have done.

Thras.
You're gone, I'll fetch you back again.

Phil.
You shall not need.

Thras.
What now?

Phil.
Know, Thrasomond,
I loath to brawl with such a Blast as thou,
Who art nothing but a valiant Voice: But if
Thou shalt provoke me farther, Men shall say,
Thou wert, and not lament it.

Thras.
Do you slight my Greatness so?
And in the Chamber of the Princess?

Phil.
It is a Place, to which I must confess,
I owe a Reverence. But wer't in a Church,
Nay, at an Altar; there's no Place so safe,
Where thou dar'st injure me, but I dare kill thee;
And for your Greatness know, Sir, I can grasp
You and your Greatness thus, thus into nothing:
Give me not a Word back.—farewell.

[Exit.
Thras.
'Tis an odd Fellow this as e'er I saw.
I'll stop his Mouth hereafter with some Office.

Ara.
You had best to make him your Councellor.

Thras.
I think he would discharge it well. But Madam,
I hope our Hearts are knit; but yet so slow
The Ceremonies of State are, that 'twill be long
Before our Hands be so, therefore now,
Without expecting farther Ceremonies,
Let us enjoy some stoln Delights together.

Ara.
Since you dare utter this I must withdraw.

[Exit.
Thras.
Nay, if you are so squeamish thank your self,
If I should try elsewhere.