University of Virginia Library

ACTUS II.

SCENA PRIMA.

Enter Sir William Stanly and Mrs. Stanly.
Mrs. Stanly.
Run not so fast: you tread on slippery Ice,
And on both sides lyes a vast Precipice.

Sir Will. Stanly.
My Stars have led me on to hazard all;
And rather, then turn back again, I'le fall.

Mrs. Stanly.
The Rash will perish, and they fall unmourn'd;
And losing Life, their memory is scorn'd.
Attempts upon the King must fatal prove;
Much more your Aims at the great Princess Love.
Against so Potent Foes what can you do,
The King, great Richmond, and the Princess too?

Sir Will. Stanly.
Those Rivals shortly may themselves destroy,
And then why may not I the Prize enjoy?
When on their Ruines I shall raised be,
It will be level ground 'twixt her, and me.

Mrs. Stanly.
Do not your thoughts on these Chimeras spend,
Impossible both in their means and End.
Could you as speedily in fact subdue
All those great Powers, as now in thought you do,
Yet you might sooner scale high Heaven, then gain
That Love, which wild ambition would obtain.

Sir Will. Stanly.
If to my courage she her lost Crown owe,
I may partake the Gift which I bestow.
Our Souls have equal Fineness: you mistake,
Thinking, our drossie Parts the Difference make.

Mrs. Stanly.
Have you the Tyrant's strength? who are alone
In Passion strong, which we our Weakness owne.
Consult your Reason: 'Tis a dangerous thing,
Poor Subject! to be Rival to thy King.

Sir Will. Stanly.
To Cowards talk of Danger: Love, and Fear
In the same Heart Joint-Tenants never were.

Mrs. Stanly.
Dear Brother, these sick Fancies, pray, remove:
Know this last secret; She does Richmond love.

Sir Will. Stanly.
Too late you tell me this, when in one Flood
The Poyson runs about me with my Blood.

Mrs. Stanly.
Love and all madness, Brother, ever raign
Much lesse about the Heart, then in the Brain:
Lovers may blame their Stars, or Cupid's Bow;
Here dwells the Heat, whence their Distempers grow.
[Points to her head.]
Those, who are most possest with this Disease,
By Sleep, and cooling med'cines found their Ease.

Sir Will. Stanly.
This sharpness, Sister, ought to be forborn;
My Sufferings ask your Pity, not your Scorn.

[Enter the Princess and Charlot.
Mrs. Stanly.
Here comes the Princess. Brother, pray, retire:
I wish, my Tears could quench your Raging Fire.

[Exit Sir William Stanly.

SCENA II.

Princess, Mrs. Stanly, Charlot.
Charlot.
Madam, yield not to these transports of Grief,
Until the cause proves worthy your Belief:
My Judgment thinks him true.

Princess.
Thou art a Fool,
And of thine own plain Heart dost make a Rule
To measure others by: That sudden Joy,
Spred through the Court, too clearly does destroy
All promis'd Hopes from this perfidious Lord.

Char.
My tender years small Judgment can afford:
But grant, this Lord were true, yet he must use
These Arts, and the misjudging world abuse.
His Loyal Purposes would not succeed,
Unlesse in this dark Method he proceed.

Mrs Stanly.
The Tyrant to that Height of Power is grown,
That open Force can never pull him down;
He's to be conquer'd only by Surprise:
Those Arts must work his Fall, which made him rise.
Who this Wild Bore adventures to destroy,
Must Toiles, and Weapons both at once employ.

Prin.
With raging Forces to destroy our Friends,
Is a strange method to effect our ends.

Mrs. Stanly.
Dark minds we must in Darkness overthrow;
To blind the King, we must be blinded too.

Char.
A Publick Errour must our Work secure;
Madam, with Patience then you may endure
Unpromising, and false Appearances,
Which must be bad to gain a good Success.

Prin.
Thy pretty Logick ha's a charming sound,
But the foundation wants a steady ground.
Can Stanly be for Richmond, and invade
The Friendly Succours rising to his aid?
The mystery I dread: This treach'rous Lord
Revolts from Honour, and has broke his Word:
Private Concern within his narrow Soul
Does all the Care of Publick good controul;
And his unworthy Fear for his young Son
(The Court's great Pledge) our bus'ness has undone.

Mrs. Stanly.
Ah, Madam, do not make this cruel haste!
With antedated Grief your Heart you waste.
He is my Brother; and my Blood I'm sure,
'Gainst you no Taint of Treason will endure.

Prin.
All hopes are past; and we must ruin'd be,
Since the whole World takes part with Tyrannie.
Poor Richmond hastens to his Fatal End,
Lost by his Courage, and a Treacherous Friend.

[Enter Ld Stanly.
Mrs. Stanly.
Behold my Brother! It is he, that must
Make your Grief causless, and your Fears unjust.

SCEN. III.

L. Stanly.
Madam, I hope, you'l pardon my delay
In waiting on you this preposterous way;
Paying my first Debt last: which your Concern
Only can justify.

Princess.
By what I learn
From the World's Voice, I rather disallow
Your hasty boldness to approach me now.

L. Stanly.
Humble Petitioners without Offence
(Though led by their own Wants) approch their Prince:
I whom your Service brings, may with lesse blame,
And better Title the like Freedom claim.

Prin.
Place not on my Account what you have done:
I, and the Tyrant are not yet all one.

L. Stanly.
You seem all one (pray, pardon what I say)
When with Reproch my Services you pay.

Prin.
If other Payment you expect, pray go
To him, for whom these Services you do.

L. Stanly.
I never let to hire my Honesty;
I neither paid, nor yet reproch't would be.

Prin.
Are you so touch't in Honour, my good Lord,
Who so apparently have broke your Word?

L. Stanly.
May I endure yours and your Vassals scorn,
When I infringe that Faith, which I have sworn.

Princess.
These purging Imprecations let alone,
You have the Tyrant's thanks for what is done.

L. Stanly.
I have deceiv'd the Tyrant and you too;
And I am thankt by him, reprocht by you:
Yet this deceit of mine may him dethrone,
And, Madam, render you your Fathers Crown.
Thus blind all Censures are, until we know
Those hidden Roots, whence outward Actions grow.

Princess.
Pray, end these Mysteries: Who did oppose
Those Loyal Borderers, that lately rose
Against the King? all Aids you did prevent
By that unseas'nable discouragement.

L. Stanly.
I did suppress them, Madam; But 'twas I,
That rais'd them too.

Princess.
I cannot yet descry
At what you aim.

L. Stanly.
Pray know, that by my own
Confed'rates all that rising was begun;
Which I contriv'd only to be supprest:
This Art I us'd, that in the Jealous breast
Of our suspitious Tyrant I might gain
Such Trust, as will our purposes obtain.
And, that you may reserve no Jealous thought,
Here my Credential Letters I have brought,
He delivers a Letter to the Princess, who reads it out.

Madam; The time draws neer, in which I shall either restore you
to the Inheritance of your Fathers Crown, or dye a Martyr in your
cause. My Devotion to your Person, and the Justice of your Claim;
raise my hopes into an Assurance of Success. In the mean time by the
hands of my Lord Stanly, your conceal'd and faithful Servant, be
pleased to accept this earnest of his Constancy, who is Madam, Your
most devoted Servant.
Richmond.

Princess.
My Lord, I know the hand; and what to you
I did impute, that Blame becomes my due.
Errours of Passion, not of Will, may find
An easie Pardon in a generous Mind.

L. Stanly.
Madam your goodness now confounds me more
Then your unkind reproaches did before;
But your concernments now require my haste,
And make the price of Time too great to waste.
Yet, ere I part, I must with Joy relate
Of our improving Cause the prosp'rous state;
For your great Chief advances with a Power
Resolv'd and Numerous, growing every hour;
Which still receives by a supply'd access
Of the Heroick Welch a fair encrease.
And, Madam, from this Camp you soon will see
His Flying Colours brave the Enemie.

Princess.
His hasty Succours may advance too late.

L. Stan.
Too late? how can that be?

Prin.
The Tyrant's hate
By a most Fatal Metamorphosis
Does in Love's Image his ill shape disguise;
Of which I dread the dismal consequence.

L. Stanly.
The thoughts of his own Danger, and Defence
Will soon allay the crafty Lover's Heats.

Princess.
Whilst I am in his Power, no Fatal threats,
That aim at him, can make my safety better;
For, when his danger's great, mine must be greater.
His bloody Temper urg'd by Jealousie
Will all his former cruelties outvie.

L. Stanly.
Madam, can Heaven for such a Tyrant's sake
Pervert their Justice, and you Guilty make?
But is it true, that now the Queen does prove
A Mediatour for the Tyrant's Love?

Princess.
It is too true: A Mothers tender heart
Does for my safety take the Tyrant's part.

L. Stanly.
Ha's she forgot, what Guardian he has been
To her two Sons? Ha's she not lately seen
What Husband to his Wife he prov'd? and can
A Mother give a Daughter to this man?

Princess.
My Lord, she is my Mother; pray, forbear.

L. Stanly.
I must not speak what you are loth to hear.

Princess.
I fear, my Lord, that our great bus'ness may
Suffer some damage by your longer stay;
And yet one minute more you must attend,
Whilst I an answer to this Letter send.

L. Stanly.
Your sight with no mean Joy my heart does bless.

Mrs. Stanly.
Brother, your kindness makes my happiness.

Exeunt Princess and Mrs. Stanly.

SCEN. IV.

Lord Stanly, Charlot.
L. Stanly.
Sir, by the noble Richmond's strict commands
I am to leave this Letter in your hands.
You are intirely happy in his grace;
I find you there possess an envyed place.

Charlot.
I may presume, that for so poor a thing,
As Charlot, Envy cannot find a sting.

L. Stanly.
Your Person I confess, should alwaies prove
The subject not of envy, but of love:
Nature does court you; and her Favourite
Is for a Prince his kindness ever fit.

Charlot.
My Lord, you quite mistake me; I was worse,
Then nothing, till my Essence from that Source
Of goodness was deriv'd: From him I own
Being, and Happiness. So the kind Sun
Smiles on a Clod of Earth after a showre,
And then prefers that Dirt into a Flower.

L. Stanly.
Your Person, and your Gratitude both shew
Your Patron just, when he is kind to you:
I find, the Royal Princess too does seem
To give you the same place in her esteem.

Charlot.
She does her gracious countenance afford
To a flight Toy sent to her from my Lord.

L. Stanly.
But in this jealous Court what Industry
Has thus preserv'd you from each watchful spy?

Charlot.
Their bus'ness is above, I keep below:
Besides French Pages are the Fashion now.
But pray, my noble Lord, what numbers join
Of French Nobless to favour our Design?

L. Stanly.
I durst not publick in their Camp appear,
But of a Breton Lord much Fame I hear;
[Charlot starts.]
He's Chandew call'd. What's this? somthing I find
By your chang'd face, has discompos'd your mind.

Charlot.
My Lord, I hope you will not think it strange,
That in my troubled breast you see this change:
Impressions, such as these, are often wrought,
When absent Friends and Country fill our thought.
Such fits will quickly vanish. But I fear,
That our attendance we too long forbear.

L. Stanly.
Charlot, 'tis well advis'd; Pray, shew the way.
Exeunt L. Stanly and Charlot.
Enter again Charlot reading the Letter.

My Charlot, I beg the continuance of thy kindness, in being the
faithful Interpreter and Promoter of my Passion to our adored Princess.—

Charlot shuts the Letter suddenly.

Charlot.
Dear Paper! I to thee this Homage pay,
[kisses the Letter]
Though I in thy contents already find
A Warrant for my execution sign'd;
Which I must serve upon my self, and be
The instrument of my own Destinie.
Though I am thus condemn'd, yet I not grudge
To kiss the Sentence, and adore the Judge,
I only pray, my Punishment may be
Kept secret, and exempt from infamie:
Alas! my hopes are vain; for how can I
Conceal a Daughter from a Fathers eye?
My Fault's too great for Pardon, I allow;
Yet I as great a Penance undergo:
Since I assist my Rival to possess
That, which possest, destroys my Happiness.
Grant, Heaven! at least, that I may part from hence
As clear in Honour, as in Innocence.
[Exit Charlot.

SCEN. V.

Enter King, Queen, Ld Strange, and Attendants.
King.
Well, Madam; will she yield?

Queen.
I did not spare
My labour to reduce her, nor my care.
Patience must this to happy issue bring.

King.
Patience is not the Virtue of a King.
It will concern you, and your Daughter too,
Not to become too tedious.

Queen.
Sir, you woo
In a strange Language.

King.
I must change my course.

Queen.
Nothing does less consist with Love, then Force.

King.
Call Stanly, and his Sister. The Idle may
In lingring Courtship trifle out the Day:
Slow Treaties will to stormings him oblige,
Who leisure wants to take the Fort by Siege.

Princess.
In exigents of State, or Rage of War
Sudden dispatch, and Force conducing are;
But Sir, in love-concernments they destroy
The chiefest Blessing, that you would enjoy.

King.
Madam, these tedious forms destructive grow;
The safety of my Crown they overthrow.
Like a bold Suitour Richmond marches on,
And by pretending Love to Strength is grown:
When Kingdoms such Convulsion-fits endure,
We must not complement about the Cure.
[Enter Sir Will. Stanly
Stanly, have you perform'd, what I enjoyn'd?

Sir W. Stan.
I have obey'd you, Sir.

King.
But do you find
Good Symptoms of Success?

Mrs. Stanly.
What shall I say?

[apart.
Sir W. Stan.
Sir I have done my part.

King.
Then I must lay,
Madam, the blame on you, if my design
[To Mrs. Stanly.
Miscarry.

Mrs. Stanly.
Sir, unless the Fault be mine,
Your Justice will not punish me with blame.

King.
I do not like this Prologue. Does my Flame
Yet warm her Breast?

Mrs. Stanly.
Sir, she condemns your haste:
And says, her time of mourning is not past
For her two Brothers; and she thinks, that you
(Your Queen scarce cold) should be a mourner too:
Then she concludes it would great Scandal move,
If two so deep in Sorrow should make Love.

King.
She thinks, it is too soon for me to woo;
But does she think it so for Richmond too?
Madam, you know her Bosom; pray, be free:
Is she not warm to him, and cold to me?

Mrs. Stanly.
Sir, you mistake the Temper of her Heart;
Where grief holds all, Love can pretend no part.

King.
If she be free from Love, her Duty may
With less reluctancy her King obey.
I wish, I had more cause to thank your care
In my concerns. Madam, your Brothers are
My greatest Friends: methinks, you should inherit
With their high Blood some of their loyal merit:
Madam, be kind; and let me not despair,
That Heaven ha's made you good as well as fair.
Madam, I will attend your Daughter strait,
[To the Queen.
To learn of her mine, and the Kingdoms Fate.
[Exit King.

L. Strange.
Uncle farewel: would I might stay with you.

Sir W. Stan.
You must obey your King and Father too.

[Exit Strange.

SCENA VI.

Queen, Sir Will. Stanly, Mrs. Stanly.
Queen.
Did you not mark, how his contracted brow
Did curle like Waves, which to a Tempest grow?

Sir W. Stan.
Madam, this gath'ring Storm (if not withstood)
Will end in a Prodigious Rain of Blood.

Queen.
Too well I know the Ills, these Signs presage;
This Storm on me, and mine will shortly rage.
How often, cruel man! must I be slain
In every Child, and yet not end my Pain?
Ere thou didst tear away each tender shoot,
Would thou hadst laid thy Hatchet to the Root!

Sir Will. Stanly.
Madam, he wants the Bowels of a Man,
Who sees your Grief, and does not all he can,
In your Redress: When you my Sword command,
'Twixt him, and yours I will a Bulwark stand.

Queen.
Sir, were your offer more, then complement,
I should such kindness to its worth resent:
But by his favours you are prepossest,
And wear the Tyrant's Chains, though not opprest.

Sir Will. Stan.
Those seeming favours, which he does impart,
Are no true marks of kindness, but of Art:
When he propitious to my Vows appears,
He does but sacrifice to his own Fears.

Queen.
Alas! I am not worth a new design
Of farther ruine: You need not combine
By subtle ways to draw me to my woe;
I am past falling now, I lye so low.

Sir Will. Stanly.
Let all in Heaven and Earth, who sacred be,
The great, and good, be Witnesses for me,
That I to you, and yours will loyal prove.

Queen.
Such ardent Zeal, and such a sudden Love
From him, who seem'd a Foe, must well be scan'd,
Ere they by Force of Words my Faith command.

Mrs. Stanly.
I know my brother's Int'rest, and his Heart:
His Passion wears no false disguise of Art.

Queen.
If his deep Vows, and those confirm'd by you,
Should move my willing heart to think them true;
What means has he from threatning Storms to free
The small remainder of my Familie?

Sir William Stanly.
None can be sav'd unless they first believe:
Madam the great deceiver I'le deceive.
You cannot see the depths of my design,
But you shall hear it when I spring the Mine.

Queen.
These mighty Promises advanc'd by you
Ask time for thanks, and for acceptance too.
[Exit Queen.

SCENA VII.

Sir William Stanly, Mrs. Stanly.
Mrs. Stanly.
Brother, what's your Design? I fear, you move
In these Attempts provok't by your rash Love.

Sir Will. Stan.
Though Love be the great Cause, yet I should do
The same by Honour mov'd and Justice too.

Mrs. Stanly.
To save true Princes from a Tyrant's doom
Is that, which may a Stanly well become:
But with unlawful Passion to invade
What mutual Vows and Heaven have sacred made,
Will all the Glory of your Life deface,
And tarnish all the Lustre of our Race.
Do you not see the great Design of Fate,
That peacefully would quench the fierce Debate,
In which this harrass'd Land too long ha's bled,
By planting these two Roses in one Bed?

Sir Will. Stanly.
The truth of what you say I know too well;
But Love against my Reason does rebel.
The Enterprise less difficult will prove
To vanquish Richard, then to conquer Love.

Mrs. Stanly.
Such hopeless Love no longer entertain;
The Saint, whom you adore, you but prophane:
It will both mortal, and unglorious be,
To touch the Fruit of this Forbidden Tree.

Sir Will. Stanly.
Though between me, and my Pretentions lyes
A Chaos void of Possibilities,
Yet I must on: Those things, I mean to do,
Shall make you say, I did not rashly wooe.
If Love's Religion Merit will allow,
He may find Grace, who ha's perform'd his Vow.

[Exeunt.