University of Virginia Library

Scene II.

Enter the King, and Maria, with two Papers.
King.
It is a thing of great concerne Maria,
And I should have the opinion of my Councel.

Mar.
Your Councel Sir? are you their Sovereigne,
Or wou'd you be a slave to their opinions?

King.
But if—

Mar.
If what?
Dull Majesty, is this the loudest tune
Of a Kings powerful breath? if's and but's;
The timerous Language of the meanest people,
That are to give Account of their low actions
Unto Authority: Princes Determinations
Shou'd be as free as they design their power;
Not shaken with the Aguish touch of doubts:
What tracts leaves the great Ocean? or, Who Questions
Why it is calme, or rages? who shall chide
The Sun that warmes one portion of the World
More then another? When you are absolute
In love, or power, then I'le beg again.

King.
Stay; I have Resign'd my Reason to
My Love, Give me the Warrants.—
—Now think Maria
(The King signes them.
VVhether you have not ask't too much
Of one you love so little.

Mar.
Have you done it Sir?

King.
You see I have.

Mar.
Do you not repent it Sir?
Nor hate me as an Instrument,
Of pressing you to Acts, unworthy of you.

King.
Oh Maria, 'tis as hard for me to hate,
As 'tis for you to love.

Mar.
But have I not amaz'd you Sir,
In pressing you so hastily unto an Act
Or such Importance?

King.
A little.

Mar.
Thus low I beg your pardon;
And by this measure see to what dangers
Princes expose themselves, and Crownes
By too much trust, and kindness.

King.
How's this?
Have you then Acted, what you thought amiss?

Mar.
I have Sir, by necessity, not choice;
My Fathers violence had took another way
More fatal, had I not gain'd from you
These Governments, as he designs to send
Away the Marquess of Alcara, and
Count Bruchero.

King.
Ha!

Mar.
Now have I set before you Sir a Mirrour,
That truely showes—
—How fatal 'tis for Princes,
To shine on any with contracted kindness.

King.
VVhither must all this tend?

Mar.
For he that does engross your beams
Robs others of your Light, and is a cloud
That hangs upon your brightness; breeding
Ill weather to all the World besides; while he seems
To make you practice power unlimitted;
Just then you have the least, obeying his.

King.
Excellent Woman!

Mar.
From henceforth Sir be every bodies King,
And then you are your Selfe: lend equal Eares
To what all say, and like a skilful Chymist
Draw the quick spirit off, from every Counsel,
And from your wise breast breath it as your own.

King.
Oh Maria, you set foundations for my
Love, upon my reason now.

Mar.
One thing more I have to beg,
And then (my Fathers Life only excepted)
It is the last I'le ask: these VVarrants Sir
I will deliver to my Father; but in the mean time
Those Lords shall have private directions,
A little to deferr their preparations;
If you dare trust me Sir, it is your safety
I study now: pardon my foolish feares,
Your danger only nam'd, calls forth my teares.

King.
Oh do not waste the treasure of your eyes,
For such a life that you so much despise,
While I more justly disobey in this,
To dare be careless of the thing you wish.

Mar.
Can you my heart for want of friendship blame,
That for your safety have expos'd my fame?
Love to your glories, shou'd his flames resign,
As fires their Light, when the bright Sun does shine.

King.
If thrones be seates for cares, in a Kings breast
Love has a Title sure among the rest:
My love, as a fair vertue, I proclaime,
When it growes foule, I will conceale my shame.

Mar.
Ah, 'tis some ease to love, to be confest;
But, 'tis a torment, when it is supprest.

King.
Do's cruelty, a sign of kindness, prove?

Mar.
It is the greatest to deny the Love.

King.
Both cannot suffer in one cruelty.

Mar.
I shou'd confess too much, shou'd I deny.

King.
Wou'd you more cruel then you are appear?

Mar.
Pray Sir be gone, I've said too much I fear.

King.
Maria—

Mar.
—If you have pity Sir be gone,
Leave me to blush a little while alone.

King.
Farewell, I'le love, though you shou'd still design
To hide your own, and ne're to pity mine.

(Exit.
Mar.
Among what Rocks I steer a dangerous course,
My duty to a King, and to a Father;
My Countries shaken honour, and my own,
Calling at once upon me to take heed:
There's something more then this yet shakes my heart,
But I will throw the Ague off, least I
That to direct others their way design,
Shou'd my self want a friend, to show me mine.

Enter Lerma.
Ler.
Have you prevail'd?

Mar.
Yes Sir—but—

Ler.
No matter for a Reason, or a Circumstance,
Give 'em me; and still maintain thy power,
That I may pay Alegeance to thy eyes;
So now retire, for the Court begins to fill.
Exit Maria.
Enter Alcara and Bruchero.
They come, she was dispatcht in happy time.

Bruc.
See the full Sail of Spain.

Alca.
Strike, and pass by.

Ler.
The King by me salutes you.

Alca.
This was a running Lottery,
Lerma throwes them the Warrants, and Exit.
Mines a good prize, the Vice-Roy Ship of Naples.

Bruc.
Mine, of Navarre—

Alca.
VVhy this great man drops Kingdomes
As a full-plum'd-Hawke mewes her loose Feathers,
And never cares who stoopes to take 'em up.

Bruc.
He has some other meaning in't.

Alca.
'Tis certain his bounty else had never
Showr'd on us.

Enter the Arch-bishop, and Caldroon.
Alca.
See these are of his Councel.

Bru.
And now come sweating with their fond complements.

Arch.
My Lords, you are much engag'd
Unto his Grace, the Duke of Lerma.

Bru.
We have the Bonds about us.

Cald.
Oh, such another friend as Lerma
The Earth holds not.

Alca.
'Tis believ'd.

Arch.
Had you but seen, how he implor'd the King,
Pleaded your worths, and your abilities;
I think you wou'd have thought, as now you may,
Nature had ty'd him to you in some bond.

Bru.
The Duke is, as he ever was,
Covetous to scatter favours, though unaskt.

Cal.
I, and so careful of the men he markes
To make election of in his great thoughts,
That when they sleep, he wakes to make 'em great.
As I dare sware you never thought of this.

Alca.
Not I, I vow to you.

Cald.
I hope, my Lord, it shall not be forgotten

Arch.
That were too foul Ingratitude.

Bru.
Oh never, my Lord, and to assure the Duke—

Arch.
Tis well, so may you prosper.

Alca.
What think you now?

Exit Arch. and Caldroon.
Bru.
'Tis Rank—you and I, my Lord,
Are busie, and stand too much in his way;
Our remove will give his Actions scope.

Alca.
H'as wove his curst inventions cunningly.
How he threw his guilty Favours to us;
And durst not stay to take our Thanks,
Here's more intelligence, see the Duke.
Enter Medina, leading Izabella veild.
He has got something too.

Med.
Your way's now cleer: there's one
Will bring you to your Attendance—
Remember to bring Maria to the Garden
At the appointed time.

Izab.
I will not fail on my part.

Exit.
Alca.
You have got a fair charge, my Lord.

Med.
When you know all, you'l say so.

Bru.
VVe two, my Lord, are banisht.

Med.
Banisht?

Alca.
But to Honourable employments.

Med.
VVe have trifl'd then too long;
And suffer'd this black Cloud to grow too big
VVhose breaking will drown us all.

Bru.
See here the sentence of our banishments.

Enter a Woman veild, puts a Letter into Alcara's hand, and Exit.
Bru.
VVhat's this, that vanisht?

Alcara Reads, and seems amaz'd.
Med.
Some secret Invitation.

Bru.
How now man, what not impart
It to your friends?

Alca.
Bruchero reads.

To the Marquis of Alcara.

You and your friend Count Bruchero, will receive two Patents
fer your Honourable banishment, 'twill not be unpleasant
to the King, if you pretend sickness or business to deferr going to
you imployments; This advice admire not at, but follow.

Bru.
This is strange.

Med.
The Advice is good, no matter who sent it.
Nor could it come from any common hand,
The business is too young to be acquainted
With any thing but one that knew its birth.

Alca.
'Tis true, and we must put it off.

Bru.
And yet it may prove dangerous.

Med.
The dangers only in accepting it.
If we disperse our selves, he'l catch us up,
Like a flowen Covey; besides, the Letter says
The King will not be displeas'd: there is some Mole
That heaves for us unseen; Count Bruchero
You shall pretend, that to prevent all Rumours
You'l perfect your Accounts before you go.
You, my Lord, must pretend sickness
And seem to keep your chamber;
Prescribing to your Doctors a Receipt,
To make them say as you do, and in hard words
Set forth a dangerous distemper,

Alca.
Good; but what success attends on this?

Med.
That we must wait for; honest designes
Justly resemble our Devotions,
Which we must pay, and wait for the Reward:
Yet this I'le add, to strengthen your Resolves
I have some designs, I think can't fail me
Shall shake the great foundation, Lerma laid;
We search deep Mines, and if the veins but hold,
VVe purchase all the VVealth we wish to have,
And if it fails, we dig a Noble grave.

Exeunt.