University of Virginia Library

Scena, 12.

Cleander, Erminia guarded, Amynter, Clinias, Cleobulo, &c.
Duk.
Bring them away, is this the honourable
Lady, nothing cod dishonour her
above temptation, above suspect?—
no body to serve her lust but a Moor, a slave!
& one fittest she thought to conceal her shame,
'cause mute and dumb!
but here are enow beside to publish it;
away with her, & to the gallows with that slave.

Cli., Cleo.
I, hang him, hang him.

Clea.
Stay, rather then her fame shall suffer,
the mute shal speak, & more to evince the miracle
and declare her innocence,
the Ethiope shall turn white.

Alt.
Cleander!

(Discovers himself.
Cli.
My Lord, there's none rejoyces more
then my fellow & I, for this your metamorphose,
we had as lief see the devil, as see your black face.

Cleo.
We had rather a great deal have you
our master then our fellow servant,
you don't beat us half so much.

Duk.
Noble Cleander I must demand your pardon
for trying Erminia's constancy in your absence,
assure your self 'twas done with good intent.

Cle.
I shall believe it, and considering
the prosperous estate I've left your affairs in, I
hope your Highness will easily pardon my return
from Attica without your licence.

Duk.
I do, and wish you
all happiness with your fair and vertuous wife.

Pri.
And I the like.

Cle.
I humbly thank your Highness, and desire
to be no longer happy then my friend Amynter
may be so with me.

Er.
For you Althea (another time
whent't may'nt appear revenge as it wod now)
I shall intreat you seek another service.

Alt.
With all my heart,
& I hope your Highness then will entertain me.

Duc.
Not I; you who wod be false to her,
will never be true to me.

Alt.
Well, my comfort is,
though there are no services,
yet there are trades enow.

Exit.
Clea.
Oh my dear Erminia!
here let me ever rest.

Er.
And as I gladly receive you here
as the long parcht up earth
do's long'd for showres of rain.

Cy.
Think not Cleander
so wholly to possess your Erminia,
I shall alwayes claim a friends part in her.

Cle.
She is all yours Madam.
(Embraces her.
as I also, in being wholly hers.

Duk.
Here then ends our jealousie,
since Erminia's vertue renders me (I'm sure)
as free from suspect as Aurindo's sex do's you;
but why differ we longer to celebrate
these happy Nuptials that unite our States,
by th'Accession of Argos to Missena, and
of all Greece now makes it the happiest Land.

Clea.
Mean time my dear Erminia thy name
shall be so celebrous in the mouth of Fame,
that as often as 'twod praise any one;
for Beauty and Vertue it shall onely say,
th'are like the fair and vertuous Erminia.