University of Virginia Library

SCEN. I.

Enter King, Princess, Ld Strange, Guards, and Attendants.
Ld Strange.
apart.]
The Tyrant now will our poor Princess bait
With Kindness far more Cruel, then his Hate.

King.
Madam, be pleas'd to let your Guards withdraw.

Prin.
My Guards? And must their Pris'ner give them Law?

King.
Madam, your are their Queen. Both these and I,
And with us all the Nation prostrate lye,
Begging the Honour of your Government.

Prin.
What you in pleasant Rallery present,
Your serious Conscience knows, is all my Due;
This with the rest I must endure from you:
And to the will of Heaven I can resign
What you have ravish'd both from me, and mine:
But though you tye my Person, as your Slave,
Yet let my Thoughts the common Freedom have;
The Thoughts of Pris'ners cannot be confin'd:
No fetter'd Slave can love against his mind.

King.
Though I confess, that for the Publick Good
And safety of the Realm I have drawn blood
(Heaven knows!) against my will, yet, Madam, you
Are grown the greater Tyrant of us two.
The Realm's inflam'd, and wounded; you may quench
This Inflamation, and the Bleeding stench.
Though I am much unworthy of your Love,
Yet England's Safety should your Pity move.
Madam, your love vouchsaf'd to me ha's Charms,
Which can dissolve all Enmities, and Arms:
All our Divisions close; the War is done,
When Right, and Power consent to joyn in one.

Prin.
Sir, could your cruel Rhet'rick rudely chuse
No Subject, but Compassion to abuse?
Is Pity that, which you pretend to teach?
O Sir! that you had practis'd what you preach!
Then had you not the Royal Plants cut down,
To clear your Passage to the sacred Crown.
The Blood you spilt, provokes Heaven's striking Flame,
Whose long Forbearance takes but surer aim.

King.
Madam, I need not fear a Punishment
Out of the Clouds: Heaven spares the Innocent:
The Thunder, which I dread, does only lye
In your contracted Brow, or angry Eye.
Repeal that Censure, which misjudging Grief
Lays on the Guiltless, and gives small Relief
To your great Losses, making those my Crimes,
Which were effects of the distracted times.
I mourn'd as much, as you, the hasty Fate
Of that lamented Pair, whose lives short Date
I rather would have lengthen'd with my own,
To be their Subject, then to wear their Crown.

Prin.
You robb'd me of my Blood, and Regal Due;
Would you deprive me of my Senses too?
My Reason is reverst! with me, alas!
Richard the third for a mild Prince must passe!

King.
Did you believe me Cruel at that rate,
Which you pretend, you would not tempt your Fate
By Provocations able to engage
Patience it self into a bloody Rage.
But, Madam, you are safe; I shall endure
All your Distempers, and attend their Cure:
Your Int'rest must at last your Passion sway.

Prin.
My Int'rest shall my Honour still obey;
Which abhors him, who does usurp my Crown

King.
Madam, by Title justly 'tis your own:
Take it, and wear it. When I put it on,
I sav'd the Crown for you, you for the Crown.

Prin.
I fear, your words contain lesse Truth, then Art;
For seldom ha's your Tongue exprest your Heart.

King.
My Tongue speaks truth: I only beg the grace
To be your Subject in the foremost place;
That is, your Husband.

Princess.
I expected this,
In these fair Flowers to hear the Serpent hiss.

King.
When common Persons marry, Passion may
Direct their Choice, whilst Fancy bears the sway;
But with great Princes the wise Rules of State
Must be as binding, as the Laws of Fate:
Their Inclinations by those Rules must move;
The Publick Good's the center of their Love.

Prin.
For Publick Good, what you usurp, resign:
Make me not yours by Force, but give me Mine.

King.
You say too much: I see, you'l rather prove
The Subject of my Justice, then my Love.
Th'Invader Richmond is your lov'd Gallant,
Whose Treason does not your allowance want.
Prepare for marriage, or a Funeral;
To be my Wife, or not to be at all.
Madam, you shall be crown'd; Chuse and be wise;
Either for Empire, or for Sacrifice.

Prin.
Spoke like your self: I knew, the mask of Lover
Would soon drop off, which did the Tyrant cover.
[Exit Prin.

King.
Through Rocks of Opposition this alone
[Pointing to his sword]
Ha's hew'd my Passage to the craggy Throne.
These hands (the sharpest scythe of time) mow'd down
All, that grew up between me, and the Crown.
I did my Greatness to a Height advance
Above the Stormy Region of wild Chance:
And shall frail Woman, Natures slightest thing,
Out-brave the Power of Death, and such a King?
I am but able to destroy, and kill;
She can do more, for she enjoys her Will.
Contempt of Life does all Power overthrow;
'Tis Fear, makes Gods above, and Kings below.

[Enter the Queen.