University of Virginia Library

ACTUS QUARTUS.

Enter the Duke of Vendosme.
Duke.
Farewel oh! World, thou School of bearded Boys,
Here empty Fools are honour'd for full Baggs,
And well-fill'd minds despis'd for empty pockets;
Men's eyes are dim, but Women's blind to excellence.
This beautious Woman look'd upon my Head
And saw no Crown on it, and look'd no deeper.
Thus are our Sex by Women oft deceiv'd,
The Gallant thinks his Mistress sees his Qualities,
She only sees his Equipage and Garniture.
Th'old wooden Lord, sees a young Beauty glance
He thinks on him; Alas! 'Tis on a toy,
More wooden than himself, his Coronet.
The Statesman think's his great parts charm his Mistress,
She only look's on's great House, his great Train.
The brave young Hero think's his Mistress value's him,
Because his Courage can support her Honour;
'Tis for his Pages to hold up her Tayle.

Enter a Servant.
Ser.
All things, my Lord, are ready for your Journey.

Du.
I'me ready then: Now will I seek, some place
Where I may nevermore see any thing
Like Man or Woman; specially like Woman,
In some dark Forrest will I live, whose Shades
May guard my Eyes securely from the Moon,
Because 'tis bright, and changing like a Woman;
Therefore I'le never see't but in Eclipse.
Barren shall be the Earth, and so bemum'd
And mortifi'd with shade, not all the Court-ship
Nor golden proffers of the Sun shall woe it,
Or bribe it to one smile; because if Flattery,
Riches and Pomp, can gain it, 'tis a Woman.
I will want breath, e're let the winds approach me,
Because they'r like th'inconstant sighs of Woman.
I never will see Summers vanishing dew,
Nor Winters shining Ice, 'cause both, like Woman.
The Dew turn's Air when once the Sun has kiss'd it.
And Woman in enjoyment proves Delusion,
Something less real than the dreams of fancy.
The Ice dissolves under the Sun's bright smiles.
And Woman always yield's when glory tempt's,
And then what e're is built upon her sink's.

Enter a Servant.
Ser.
Monsieur La Marre, my Lord, attends without.

Du.
La Marre? What has that Fool to do with me?

Ser.
He say's he has a Message from the King.

Du.
He lyes, the King would send a wiser Messenger;
But since he use's the King's Name, admit him.

Serv. goes out and introudces La Marre.
La Ma.
Now I'le establish a firm Interest in him.
[Aside.
Your Grace's most obedient humble Servant,
I am extreamly joyful for your Graces
Glorious suceess; your Grace ha's done strange Marvels;
His Majesty has a very vast esteem for you,
He and I have talk't of you a thousand times.

Du.
I thank you, Sir; Well, to be short, good Sir,
Have you any business with me?

La Ma.
To be short,
There is no person in the World, my Lord,
More in esteem both with the King and Dauphin,
And for my own part.

Du.
For your part, I mean, Sir,
Have you any business with me?

La Ma.
Business, my Lord!
Only that I'me your Graces humble servant;
And so forth, and to pay my high respects,
And so forth, and so forth—I know your Grace
Ha's heard the great Court news, the Dauphin's Marriage
With Madamoiselle de Guise is now made publick.
Truth is, she is a very curious creature.
Devil take me if she be not.

Du.
Now I find it.
[Aside.
This senceless Rogue is put on to abuse me.

La Ma.
What think's your Grace?
Wou'd not so sweet a Creature
Refresh you finely after a Campagne?
In short, there will be a great Ball to night,
The King, the Dauphin, and his beauteous Bride,
Do all expect your Grace to be a Dancer.

Du.
Plain, plain abuse! Sir, When was I a Dancer?
My foot shall dance upon no Earth but this.

Kicks him.
La Ma.
How? Kick, my Lord?
What do you mean by this?

Du.
You are put on by some to abuse me, Sirrah.

La Ma.
You are put on by some to abuse me rather:
My Lord, I do not understand the meaning of it;
I shall not put up this.—

Offer's to Draw.
Du.
Shall you not, Sir?

The Duke offers to draw. La Marre putts up.
La M.
I shall at present, but the King shall know this.
I am more considerable with the King
Than you believe.

Du.
Indeed there are in Court
Too many such soft Heads as yours embroyder'd,
And made State-Cushions, for great men to lean on;
And Fortune often jump's from Heaven upon 'em.

La M.
Soft Heads, and Cushions!
Come, my Lord, be it known to you
His Majesties Servants are not to be call'd
Fools and Soft-heads, by e're a Peer of you all.
The King shall know this; He'l not take it well.
All this is, cause I did affront his Father,
I'le do his Fathers business for this trick.—

Exit.
Du.
I find all Courts, are apt, like all great Mountains,
To breed such little Cattel; and these Runts
Do often draw weighty Affairs along.
But oh! the Insolence of this Vile Woman,
To set her fools upon me, to abuse me?
Oh! there is Thunder forming in my Soul,
Now shou'd I meet my Father and his Firebrands,
Off shou'd I go, and rend the Court in pieces.
He said, he'd bring me hither his Conspirators,
I'le run for fear the strong Temptation seize me.

Exit.
The Scene is drawn, the Dauphin and Louize are sat in State, and entertain'd with Musick and Dancing. The Entertainment ended, Enter the Duke, He sees the Dauphin Caressing Louize.

A SONG.
Chor.
Chor.

Du.
Oh! What infernal Spirit brought me hither?
I am decreed for Wickedness; I shall
Destroy that Prince, in spite of all that poor
Court Houshold-stuff, that Imagery about him.

Daup.
Ha! Vendosme there? Leave me a while, my Love.

Lou.
I will, but I will watch you do not hurt him.
[Aside.
For still I love him, spight of all his falshood.

Exit.
Du.
He's coming! My Heart swells, that my Ribbs bend
Like Bowes of Steel, ready to shoot my Soul at him.

Daup.
Sir, you have long sor'd or'e my head, but now
I'le bring you down; Where is your Commission?

Du.
How? My Commission? where it shall remain
Till the King takes it; Sir, in my own keeping.

Daup.
How? Shall?

Dauphin puts his Hand to his Sword.
Enter Louize.
Lou.
Oh! hold, my Lord?

Daup.
What dost thou mean?

Lou.
Oh! to hurt him will pierce your Father's heart;
I beg you then, upon my knees, be calm.

Da.
What Storm so rude, which such a beautious Halcyon
Cannot soon calme? Traytor, this Angel here
Has given thee life; But know, thou art preserv'd
To perish with thy Father on a Scaffold.

Exit.
Lou.
I'le save him too from that, or perish with him

[Aside.
Exit.
Du.
Now a brave Fool, that had more Blood than Brains,
Whose soul lay in his Arm, not in his Head,
And had my Wrongs, and my Power to revenge 'em,
Wou'd thrust his foolish Arm to reach Revenge,
Though he pull'd all the Kingdom on his Head;
He wou'd accept the Match, the Devil offers me
Instead of my lost Mistress, his own Daughter,
The Heiress of all Hell, Rebellion;
I, the next minute, cou'd confound the Town
Into a Temple o' Death, and marry her in it;
And with her, get the Riches of all France.
And Hell has sent to Treat about the Match.
His Kindred, cursed Passions to my Heart
Here come his Agents on the same Affair.
Mountain on Mountain, pil'd to scale my Honesty.

Enter the Great Constable, La Force, and Conspirators.
Const.
Son! Here are all our Friends.

Duk.
Away with you,
You scare my Loyalty out of its Wits.

Const.
Thy Loyalty? Thou art afraid, I see;
These are the honest Friends I told thee off.

Duk.
You mean the Traytours.

Const.
How?

Duk.
Yes, such you promis'd me,
And I give Men and Things their proper Names.
Scuffle for the World then how you will, you Traytors,
There was but one sweet Spot in it I valued,
And it is sunk beneath me; all the rest
Take he that will, and how, I do not care.
Go turn the Globe about then how you will,
There shall be in this wide World, one honest Man,
Though he has much a doe to keep his Honesty.

Const.
Hold, Sir, come back again.

Duk.
No, I have said.

Const.
Thy thoughts?

Duk.
My thoughts.

Const.
And art thou such a Fool?
What dost thou in a Court, or in the World?
Go be a Monk, in hope of being Sainted,
Give Fryers all thy Gold, in the rich hopes
When thou art dead, they'l tippe thy Scull with Silver;
Stink all thy Life, to be ador'd when Dead,
And have thy rotten Bones to Cure lame Leggs.

Du.
Do you go joyn your plotting Heads and lose 'em.

Ex.
La For.
Is this your fooling him so admirably?
How chance we let him go, and did not kill him?
Graves have no Ecchoes, Sculls want Coverings
Of Flesh and Blood, but hide a Secret better.

Const.
I'le Kill him with more pleasure than I Got him.
I Got him? I ner'e got him, he's a Bastard;
No Honesty cou'd ever spring from me.

1. Consp.
Curse on his Piety.

Const.
Some Priest begot him,
Lay with his Mother when she slept at Prayers,
That makes the World appear a Dream to him.

La For.
The Mother is the chief Ingredient in him.

Const.
I ought not to get Children of a Woman,
I ought to mix with nothing but a Chaos,
And get Confusion to the Universe,
And then the Children wou'd be like the Father.

La For.
I ne're approved trusting so rank a Secret
To such a tender Mind; I knew 't wou'd gripe him
His Conscience wou'd have Qualm's.

Const.
Ay, there's the thing!
We breed our Children's Minds as tenderly
And Womanish as their Bodies; he who means
To have a gallant Son, must plunge his Soul
Or'e head and ears betimes in Wickedness,
Then when he is a Man 'twill be his Element.
He must not let him go wrapp'd warm in Silk
Spun from the silly Worms in a Priests Head,
But go stark naked, then he'll feel no cold.
For Conscience is but the Soul's outward Skin
Use it to Nakedness, it feels no Weather,
Use it to Labour, and it never Blisters.
If I had us'd this Fool to sin, I might
Have lodg'd my Treason in his brawny Head
As safe as Poyson in an Asse's Hoofe.

La For.
But now it crack's his chrystal Wit, and spills.
I hate these christal Wits, they are good for nothing
But to make flattering Looking-glasses for Ladies.

Const.
He say's he'll keep his honesty; damn'd Sot!
What will he do with it? Go beg with it?
For in this Age 'tis of no other use,
But like a Beggar's Child, to move Compassion,
Yet never gaines the half it cost in keeping,
For all Men will suspect it for a Bastard.

Enter an Officer with a Guard.
Off. and the Gua.
Resign your selves my Lords;
You are my Prisoners.

Const.
How Sir? Your Prisoners?

Off.
Your own Son, my Lord,
Charges you with High Treason against the King,
And bloody cruelties to Count Brisac.

Const.
Oh! cursed Villain!

La For.
Villaines both of you.

1. Consp.
You are, you have betray'd us all.
All Betray'd.

2. Consp.
A trick to ruine us, and beg our Fortune

Const.
Ha! ha! ha!

[Laughs.
La For.
How! Are you laughing at us?

Const.
Yes; I am.

1. Consp.
You did design we shou'd be seiz'd then?

Const.
Yes.
And I laugh heartily to see you all Sigh,
As you were bottling up Air in your Bellyes
To serve you when your Wind-pipes are cork'd up.
But come poor Men, be comforted, all's well.
I ramm'd this Fool up to the mouth with Treason,
Not to hurt us, but to break him in Pieces.

Enter the King, Duke, Guard.
K.
So Sir, Your Son informs me ex'lent things of you.

Const.
Art thou, unnatural Monster, my Accuser?

Duk.
I am; The secrets tore out of my Breast
And broke all Barrs of Nature.

Const.
Oh! vile Wretch!
Seek to destroy his Being, who gave thee thine?

Du.
What greater Curse than Being cou'd you give me,
With all the Plagues your sins entayle upon it.
You spent your own and all my sins beforehand
And morgag'd me to Hell before you got me,
For more than I was worth.

Const.
Thou mak'st me mad!

Du.
Ambition makes you so.
If I had that disease, I'de have my Head
Trepan'd, to let out all the windy Vapours,
Rather than swell so big, till my Brains crack.

Enter the Dauphin, La Marre, and Train.
Daup.
Where's the Constable? bold daring Traytor!
And hast thou dar'd to wrack the Man I lov'd,
For whose least hair I took thy Head in pawn?
Know I will have thee broken on the Wheele,
If thou hast dar'd only to break his sleep.

Const.
I am contented.

K.
Why! Is he not hurt?

Const.
Not that I know of.

K.
Did not you inform me,
You saw him newly taken from the Wrack?

Du.
I did.

Const.
You did; then it was you that wrackt him.
If so, Sir, you have serv'd me a fine trick,
To torture him and put it upon me.

K.
But, Sir, he saie's you put it upon me,
And sought by that to tempt him into Treason.

Const.
I never tempted him nor talk'd with him.
I scarce have seen him since he came to Court.

K.
I am amaz'd!

Daup.
What jugling's here between you?

D.
I'me half afraid he has put some trick upon me.

[Aside.
Const.
You see he's silent, Sir, he know's not what
To say, nor I to think. Well, I've observ'd
These damn'd half witted and half honest fellows;
Like Africa, have things of different kind
Meet and engender, and get monsters in 'em.
Their wit and folly couple, and get non-sence,
With a strange face of sence; their knavery and honesty
Beget a Devil with an honest look,
And such a Monster is this fellow's lye.
Or else perhap's he is a down-right Traytor,
And is a partner in Brisac's Conspiracy,
And he wou'd make my Bloud the Aqua fortis
To eat his partners Prison bars asunder.
I believe that.

Daup.
Come, you are Villain's both.

La Ma.
A'nt please your Highness, you have hit upon it.
The Duke of Vendosme affronted me this morning
Only because I mention'd you with honour;
I told him I wou'd find a time to tell you.

K.
Who bids you meddle? give away that fellows
Employment presently.

La Ma.
Give away my Employment?

K.
Be gon, Sir,

La Ma.
Sir it cost me five years purchase.

K.
Be gon, Sir.

La Ma.
Sir, I have had no salary
Since I came in it.

1. Courtier.
Stand prating to the King?
Out of the presence.

La Ma.
Sir, I've paid for prating.

Court.
Well, if you have, Sir, go prate somewhere else.

La Ma.
Here's a fine business, turn'd away for Loyalty.
Well, I will be reveng'd upon the Court.
I know some Male-contents that I will stick to.

Const.
Now, to conclude the strife, open those doors.

The Scene is drawn, and Brisac is sitting drest, awake, and well.
Du.
This sight, or th'other was a strange Delusion,

Const.
Witchcraft, you know I traffick with the Devil.

Dau.
I am amaz'd at this! How do's Brisac?
Vendosme reported that his Father wrack'd thee.

Brisac.
He threatned me indeed, but durst not do it.

Daup.
Some damn'd design was forg'd between 'em both;
I'le trust thee to him no longer.

K.
I'me convinc't:
You tamperd with your Son, and put some trick on him.

Const.
So, I am still judg'd guilty, though my Innocence
Has past the Ordeal of the burning noon;
Ha's trod the Light unscorch't!—Oh! equal doings.

Daup.
If thou beest innocent, thy Son's a Cannibal,
Who feed's his Greatness with his Fathers flesh;
And to the horrid feast, invites the King,
'Tis so! 'tis so! the Monster, Sir, abuses you,
He gives you Philters in his Father's Scul,
And you drink down the damn'd bewitching draught.
Throw 't up again, if you will keep your Crown.

K.
I'le keep my Crown, and therefore I will keep
Him who protects my Crown from thy Ambition.
Come in, I guess the meaning of this Riddle.

The King goes out leading the Duke.
Const.
Not all this do?

[Aside.
Daup.
And shall this potent slave
Still rule the King, and trample upon me?
I'le make his Father ruine him. [Aside.]
My Lord,
I find you were mis-represented to me.

Const.
I'me glad you find it, Sir, your noble Youth
Has not yet play'd enough with the World's Tennis Ball,
To know its cursed Tricks.

Daup.
I am convinc'd,
Your Son's the Villain, that I thought you were.

Const.
I'me now convinc't of it to my great sorrow.

Daup.
He blackens you, to make himself seem bright.

Const.
And, Sir, 'twas he that blackned you to me.

Daup.
Oh! Villain!

Const.
Now I find his tricks; He secretly
Puts Pirats Colours out at both our Sterns,
That we might fight each other in mistake,
Then he shou'd share the Ruines of us both!

Daup.
I will remove him.

Const.
Oh! By all means, Sir.

Da.
My Father's Old, What then? Age like a Caterpiller
Will crawl upon the Leaves of a young Tree
'Till it has eaten away all it's Beauty;
And I'le not wast my golden youth in Bondage,
To a proud slave.

Const.
T'were better he were damn'd.
Had I more Sons, than wou'd Eclipse the Sun,
I'de kill 'em all, if they stood in your Light.

Daup.
That's nobly said.

Const.
I'le do as well; the King
Shall send this slave e're night to the Bastile.

Daup.
Do this, and you and I will share the Kingdom.

Const.
Sir, let me share your Heart, that's all I ask.

Daup.
You shall have that, and all that France can give.

The Constable kisses the Dauphin's hand, The Dauphin Embraces him. Enter Courtiers.
1. Court.
How's this? he's great again! he's wound himself
Into the Dauphin's Favour, who abhor'd him.

2. Court.
Who ever thought this had been possible?

3. Cou.
Nothing's impossible to this damn'd Constable.

[Aside
1. Cou.
He'l be more absolute than e're he was.—
[Aside.
Well I will be the first shall strike in with him.
Gentlemen, I'me glad to see this sight.
The Constable's a man of excellent parts.
Devil take his parts, and him—

[Aside
2. Cou.
Oh! most rare parts.
Pox on his parts. He'l stick on all our skirts.

Daup.
My Lord, from this time forward I'me your Friend.

Const.
And I your Highnesses most faithful slave.

Bris.
Sir, Are you in earnest with him?

Daup.
Ask no Questions.

Ex. Daup. Brisac.
The Courtiers run all and salute the Constable.
All.
My Lord! my Lord.

Const.
Oh! now the Flyes come buzzing!

All.
My Lord, your Grace's humble servant.

Const.
Buzze!

All.
My Lord! my Lord!

Const.
Nay Gentlemen, start fair,
Don't think you are in a progress; carve me hansomly.

1. Cou.
My Lord, believe me, I'me your Grace's servant.

Const.
I know it, Sir.

1. Cou.
I am indeed, my Lord.

Const.
I'le take my Oath on't.

2. Cou.
My Lord, I honour your Grace most particularly.

Const.
Particular Coxcomb.

3. Cou.
Oh! my Lord, I honour you,
And ever did with all my heart and soul.

Const.
Sir, You and I have but one Soul between us.

3. Cou.
Nay! I beseech you.

Const.
Pylades and Orestes.

1. Cou.
Your Grace is pleasant.

Const.
Oh! your Worships Jester.

2. Cou.
Damn him, he laugh's at's all!
I'le scrape no more to him.

Const.
Out! out you silly Rascals, do you hope
To sell your Leggs, and Bows, and Nods to me?
Were but your Leggs as rotten as your Hearts,
I'de pull 'em off, and beat you about the heads with 'em,
For thinking you cou'd pawme such stuffe on me.

All.
What? what?

Const.
Out! out! I say, you Flies! you Maggots.
He thrust's 'em out.
This Greatness is a perfect Holland Cheese,
Pour Wine into't, and it breeds Maggots presently.
The Dauphin only pour'd some smiles into me,
And see how soon the Maggots crawl about me.
Well, han't I brought you off?

All.
To Admiration.

La For.
Now I shall dare to trust my Fortunes with you, once more.

Const.
How, trust your Fortunes! you may venture
To have your Heads cut off, if I advise you,
For I have tricks to put 'em on again,
And put 'em on better than e're they were.

La For.
I had rather keep mine on just as it is.

Const.
Now I will tell you how I fool'd my Son.
I cast Brisac into deep sleep with Opium,
Then shew'd him as if taken from the Wrack,
Thinking that way to fool him: if I cou'd not;
I laid a Trap for him to fool himself.
So every way I rid the Mule, and made him
Carry me up the Alps of my Designs.
I'me now about a Plot shall take effect;
You'l see th'event with speed.

La For.
Farwel 'till then.

Exit La Force and Conspirators.
Const.
Now to my Work, here comes my Instrument.

Enter La Guard.
La Gua.
My Conscience! Conscience!

Const.
Now what ail's your Conscience?
These little Souls wear great long proking Consciences,
That make 'em stumble every step they go.
Away with thy fool's bauble of a Conscience,
A Horn-book is not so ridiculous;
Thy Mother tyed it to thee in thy Childhood,
And thou art such an Asse to wear it still.
Away with it, and do me one more kindness.

La Gua.
I'le do you no more kindnesses.

Const.
You shall.
Do not refuse me, for fear I use you scurvily.

La Gua.
What dare you do?

Const.
Do not you dare to trust.
You I have fast; your Lover is my slave,
And he shall to the Gallyes.

La Gua.
To the Gallyes!

Const.
What, to prevent me, you'l complain perhaps
How ill I use persons of Quality,
A noble Knight, and Lady of the post.

La Gua.
Of your own dubbing.

Const.
Who are very dextrous
At any knavery, and to keep your Lover
You'l have his Ears nail'd to the Pillory.

La Gu.
Oh! base! base man! Now dare not I refuse him.
Well, What is this sweet business I must do?

Const.
To bring the Princess and my Son together,
And when in talk their Spirits begin to mount,
And get a prospect of the treachery,
Confess it all, and lay it on the Dauphin.

La Gua.
And what if your Son kills me?

Const.
How? He kill thee?
Ah! poor tame fool, he will not kill a Flea.

La Gua.
Nay, he is not so bloudy a man as you are.

Const.
Well, let him be as bloudy as he will,
I'le guard thee safely: take thy Lover then
And fly whither you will, I'le yearly give you
A Pension shall maintain you in such Equipage,
That go to England, and thy Love shall pass
For a French Count, thou for a French Countess.
See my Son comes, go fetch the Princess presently.

La Gu.
Well, this shall be the last foul trick I'le play.

Ex.
Enter the Duke of Vendosme.
Du.
I'le go! Ile go! Farwel my Fortunes, Honours,
Successes, Glories, Power, gawdy Raggs,
Which all together, make up one fine Baby.
I'le fling the Raggs and Tinsel to the Winds,
And let Chance pick 'em up, and give 'em Fools.
Let pride and vanity give Women's hearts
To whom they will; let Destiny give Crowns,
Let England now belch fire and o'rewhelm France;
Let Old Time mix the Nations in his Cup
To please his Palate, and then drink 'em off;
Let Tyrants pour down Rivers of Men's blood,
To grind the World; all this shall never reach
My care or thoughts, and when I once am got
Into the still and silent room's of Death,
Not all the coyle and rumbling skuffling Nations
Can keep over my Head, will e're wake me.
Enter Louize weeping. La Guard.
See! here! the beautious cause of my destruction,
And weeping! Oh! I have observ'd though Pride
Endeavours to fill up her Robe of Glory,
It dragg's in sorrow, and it doe's not fit her.
Madam.

Lou.
He here?

Du.
Nay, do not fly me, Madam.

Lou.
Have I not told you my firm Resolutions?

Du.
Madam you have, but you can change your mind.

Lo.
You come with hopes to vex me with new upbraidings.

Du.
I come to please you, with acquainting you
I'me going to free you from this wretch for ever.

Lo.
Or go, or stay, I am indifferent.

Du.
Pardon me if I think you are not indifferent.
Iv'e peep'd on the Inside of your Marriage Chain,
And find it Gold but slightly lin'd with Love.
Yes, you have given your self to Pomp, not Love:
To the King's Son, not to the youthful Bridegroom;
You hug not him, but Pharamond and Pippin,
You have married Titles, Crouds, and Noise, and Forms,
And now the Lumber hurts you, makes you weep.

Lo.
I am contented you believe all this.

Du.
Well, Madam, Heaven pardon you my ruine.
My Life has stream'd or'e Fortunes richest Mines,
But ne're did taste of any thing but Love,
And that sole sweetness, you make bitter to me.

Lo.
Oh! this is full of Art, twisting the mind
The wrong side outward break's no bones, I see.

Du.
Madam, I'me well assur'd, you will not send
One poor thought after me, much less a Messenger,
To know the truth, but if you do, he'l find
In some unfinisht part of the Creation,
Where Night and Chaos never were disturb'd,
And now grown old, are uglier than ever,
And bed-rid, lye, in some dark rocky desart,
There will he find a thing, whether a Man,
Or the collected shadows of the Desert,
Condenst into a shape, he'l hardly know;
This Figure he will find walking alone,
Poring one while on some sad Book, at noon,
By Taper-light, for never day shone there.
Sometimes laid groveling on the barren earth,
Moist with his Tears, for never Dew fell there.
And when Night comes, not known from Day by darkness,
But by some faithful Messenger of Time,
He'l find him stretch't upon a bed of stone,
Cut from the bowels of some rocky Cave,
Off'ring himself either to Sleep or Death,
And neither will accept the dismal Wretch.
At length a slumber in its infant Arms,
Take's up his heavy soul, but wanting strength
To bear it, quickly lets it fall again,
At which the Wretch starts up, and walk's about
All night, and all the time it shou'd be day,
Till quite forgetting, quite forgot of ev'ry thing
But sorrow, pines away, and in small time,
Of th'only man that durst inhabit there,
Becom's the only Ghost that dares walk there.
For Ghosts turn paler when they look that way,
Thus never end's his grief, but now ends yours.

Offers to go.
Lou.
Oh! stay, my Lord! What do you mean by this?
Must not you blame your self for all the sorrows
Which we both suffer? Had not you first thrown
Contempt on me, I wou'd have been your Wife,
Have been your Wife? have rather been a Tree
On which your Name was carv'd, than Queen of France.

Du.
How I throw scorn on you?

Lou.
Rude, Publick scorn;
Your Army is my Witness, your own Hand,
I have it under your own Hand and Seal,
You scorn'd my Love, and beg'd release of Vows.

Du.
Oh! now Hell yawn's, and Treachery appear's

La Gu.
He'l kill me.

The Constable appears between the Scenes, and stops La Guard who is running out.
Const.
I'le protect thee.

La Gu.
I'le be gone.

Const.
I'le kill thee then.

La Gu.
I'me in a fine condition.

Du.
I write these things! If this right Arm were rotting,
And but to write such things wou'd charm it sound,
E're I wou'd let it write, I'de let it rot.
You know this too, Why wou'd you credit 'em?
My bosom Friends said you were false, and I
Abhor'd 'em all, as men that had the Plague
Of Lying and Slandering, broke out upon 'em,
And I was ready with my Sword, to write
Upon their Bosoms, Lord have mercy on 'em.

Lou.
Besides a hundred Witnesses, La Guard's
Acquaintance heard you—

Du.
Your acquaintance Mistress?
You are the Witch, I find has rais'd this storm,
Assisted by some Devil of your acquaintance.

La Gu.
Oh!—

Du.
Tell the Treachery, or I will rip thee,
And search for it in every vein thou hast.

La Gu.
Indeed, my Lord, I'me innocent.

Du.
Thou lyest.
No eyes but thine beheld our secret Loves,
And none cou'd come behind us but thy self,
And give us such a deadly deadly fall.

La Gu.
Oh! Pardon me, and I'le confess.

Du.
I will.

La Gu.
Swear.

Du.
Then I swear.

La Gu.
The Dauphin then perceiving
The Princess constant in her love to you,
Got all those Letters forg'd, brib'd all those Witnesses
To blast your Interest, and forc'd me to help him.

Du.
Enough,—be gon,—had I not sworn to pardon thee
Yet I must do't, Nature give's man a Sacrament,
In his own blood, never to hurt a Woman:
But quickly fly, lest I break both those Oaths.

Con.
Most ex'lent Lyar!—

To La Gu. between the Scenes.
La Gu.
Ex'lent Devil you are.

Ex.
Du.
I am decreed, I find, to kill the Dauphin.

Const.
See, in what season my Stars bring the Daup.

[Aside.
Lou.
Oh!

Lou. Weep's, faint's, fall's into the Duke's Arms; At that instant the Constable brings in the Dauphin, and shews 'em to him.
Daup.
Ha!

Const.
Oh! Peace, Sir, let us listen to 'em,
I left 'em kissing.

Daup.
Kissing!

Const.
Kissing close, Sir.

Lou.
For this I do abhor and loath the Dauphin.
I am resolv'd he ne're shall touch me more.

Daup.
Oh! Whore!

Const.
Pray silence, Sir! For I'de feign have you
Be fully satisfied.

Lou.
His Love and Glory
Were both to me a tastless Witches Feast,
They vanishe when so e're your Name was nam'd,
Like those Delusions at the name of Heaven.

Dau.
I've heard enough, I'le feast you, you damn'd Whore.

Du.
The Dauphin.

Dauphin draw's, wound's Louize, she falls. The Duke draw's, fight's, disarm's the Dauphin.
Dau.
Villain! draw upon thy Prince?
Go call the Guard.

Const.
Yes, and I'le call the King,
To let him see the Virtues of his Favourite.

Exit.
Daup.
What! Wilt thou kill me, Traytour?

Du.
No, I will not.
The Flowers of Graves, and Moss of Royal Sculls
Protect your Head.

Daup.
Bold slave, talk thus imperiously
To a great Prince.

Du.
To a great Prince! a Dwarf,
Whom men wou'd never see, did you not stand
Upon your Kingly Ancestors high Monuments.
Oh! Heaven! That I must see that Beautious Innocence
Rowl in her Blood, and let her Murderer live,
'Cause a King got him.

Daup.
How! that Beautious Innocence?
That Whore o' thine, but I ha' cool'd her Blood.

Du.
Oh! He will pull my Sword upon his Breast.

As he stands in a raging threatning posture; Enter the King, Constable, Guard.
Const.
Now, you may see, Sir, what a youth this is.

Daup.
Hold! kill him not, take him alive I charge you.
Your virtuous man here has abus'd my Bed,
And 'cause I have discover'd him, wou'd murder me.

Du.
How we are wrong'd!

Daup.
You wrong'd?

Du.
Yes, by your self.

Daup.
By me? Was ever heard such Impudence?
Away with him.

Exit, a Guard with the Duke.
Const.
What shall be done with her?

Daup.
I care not what's done with her, let Doggs eat her.
Hold, now I think on't, search her for a Picture.

Off.
Sir, here's a Picture newly fallen from her.

Daup.
Look here, the Picture of her damn'd Adulterer.
This have I seen!—Oh! I'me too mad to talk.

K.
I'me carried from my Reason with amazement.
In all this shame, behold, proud boy, the punishment
Of thy bold disobedience to my Will.
And now for Vendosme's sake, I'le never Love
Nor Trust man more.—

Exit.
Daup.
Away with that lewd Woman.
Louize is carried off.
And now your Son, since he boast's Innocence,
I will have wrack't, and do you see it done.

Const.
I see it done!

Daup.
Ay, Sir, if you expect
I keep my Promise.

Const.
If?

Daup.
Ay! If.

Const.
If.—

Daup.
If.—
I put him upon this to make him odious,
[Aside.
And then I'le throw him off. I know him for
A turbulent great Rogue, and I abhor him.

Ex.
Const.
Brought to an If already? I am fool'd.
My Fortunes hung on such a rotten twigg.

Enter La Force.
La For.
Ha! in distraction? What's the matter with you?

Const.
Oh! If! if! if!

La For.
What do you mean by If?

Const.
I am possest, possest by Fiends call'd Tyrants,
And all my stomack's full of Ropes and Axes;
Oh! for a lusty draught of luke-warm Blood,
The Dauphin's blood, to make me throw 'em up.

La For.
I do not understand you at all.

Const.
How shou'd you?
Your Head and mine hang both upon an If.

La For.
What mean's that If?

Const.
The Dauphin has deluded me,
Has made me tumble down my Son, my Pillar.
Now he's destroying me; and you, and all.—

La For.
Me!

Const.
You.

La For.
The Devil's in your unlucky Friendship.
I will take horse, and out o' Town this minute.

Const.
Take Horse, take Arms!
Go, mount my Son's brave Troops,
And ride 'em o're the Heads of these false Tyrants.

La For.
They are not such Asses to be rid so easily,
Upon an expedition to the Moon.

Const.
Oh! take a Tube, and shew 'em all a World
Of Glory in that Moon, and golden Mines there,
Plundering, and Ravishing; then tell 'em all
They will be all Cashier'd, and without pay,
Or rather in their General's Coyn be paid,
Be wrack'd for Traytours, torn to single money.

La For.
Must he be wrack't?

Const.
By me, his Father.

La For.
Barbarous!

Const.
That grieves me not, I'de make no more to kill
Such a tame Fool, than to spill so much Milk.

La For.
What, though your Son?

Const.
Were all mankind my Children,
I wou'd hang half, to rule the other half.
My Honours! Honours! grieve me: Go—raise the Army.
I'me trusted with my Son, and I will tempt him,
Or force him out to 'em; either will do.
If he be with 'em, though in close Confinement
'Twill do, that will be judg'd a shew.—Go! go!
He pawses—so!—my Whirle-pool sucks 'em in.
[Aside.
He shall be dipt in this, I'le not come near it.

La For.
He mingles Reason so with all his Knavery,
None can divide the Ratsbane from the Honey,
And I shall swallow't, though it rot my Head off.

Const.
Rot Head and Tail, and every part o' me,
I had rather lose 'em all in noble strife,
Than let 'em mouldy in a quiet Life.—

Ex.