 | The Great Favourite, Or, the Duke of Lerma |  |
Scene II.
Enter Medina, D' Alva, Alcara, and Bruchero, ready to sit as in Judgment.Med.
I hope my Lords I have deserv'd your thanks.
D' Alva.
And all the Nations.
Bru.
Caldroon and Angelo did hardly thank you:
The Ants had pil'd a mighty heap of Treasure.
Alca.
No newes my Lord yet of your Neice?
Med.
Not any.
D' Alva.
She has show'd a vertue in this close retreat
Beyond all Story.
Med.
I do confess I'm glad I was mistaken;
I thought her worse then she has prov'd.
Alca.
The King they say begins to have suspitions
That she's convey'd away by some of us.
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That fancy will be nourisht in his minde
By Lerma's creatures, we must haste the Tryal.
Alca.
All's ready, see the King.
Enter the King.
A Cloud of sadness gathers on his calmness;
He seemes disturb'd.
D' Alva.
Sir.—
King.
What, you wou'd make excuses for the fact,
Or, Wou'd you own it for a Pollitick vertue?
D' Alva.
What fact Sir?
King.
Dare you aske me what? or do you think
I am too young, not grown up to a King?
Alca.
We do beseech your Majesty—
King.
To give you leave to be all Kings, and Tyrants
Of my affections; you ravishers of vertue,
Either restore Maria to the VVorld,
Or all go suddenly, and lose your selves.
Med.
Does your Majesty believe?—
King.
Yes I do, that all great men
Have jealous envies, equal unto Rivalls;
And all the courted beauty is ambition,
Hid under Justice, which, take heed you follow,
And closely too, or ye shall all feele mine:
So you may sit, but I will watch your actions.
(Exit.
D. Alva.
This is unhappy.
Med.
It will be more, unless we now embrace
The opportunity: Come let us sit
And call the VVitnesses.
Enter Izabella.
How now, VVhat's the newes with you?
Iza.
I wou'd speak with the King.
Med.
From whom?
Iza.
Maria.
Med.
VVhat's your business?
Iza.
'Tis onely for his Eares.
Med.
How Izabella, are you grown her servant?
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I am a Servant to her vertues.
Med.
And so brought a vertuous Message?
Iza.
My Lord, you may say what you please.
Med.
But you must not go; unless you first
Tell me the business—Wher's Maria?
Iza.
I must tell neither.
Med.
Ha, Did not I intrust you?
Iza.
And so does she, and Ile be just to both:
Pray stop me not.
Med.
Sure Izabella you forget your self,
And what I am?
Iza.
But not what I ought to be.
Med.
Go back I say, and tell that counterfeit Maria,
She shall not save her Father, with the loss
Of her own Prince—go—Nay, no help.
Iza.
Then I must speak.
Med.
Put her out, and from henceforth
I do disowne my blood in thee too.
Iza.
This is Cruelty, not Justice.
Med.
Stop her mouth; out with her.
(Puts her out.
D' Alva.
What's the matter my Lord?
Med.
Nothing but a Tale-bearer dispatch't
Away.
Alca.
I have seen her sure.
Med.
It may be so: Come, we trifle time;
Sit my Lords, and call the VVitnesses.
Enter Catalina and Antonio.
Med.
Antonio, you are ready to averr
Your own Confession, made at several time.
Anto.
My Lords I am.
Med.
The Heads of your Confession made out,
The Queens death, and your reward; and how
At last your own death was design'd.
Anto.
All this I am ready at large to testifie
And prove.
Med.
Your Father was a worthy man,
And you were more unfortunate then safe;
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I know will be as steady as you virtues.
Enter a Messenger:
(The King appears above,
Is Lerma come?
Mess.
He has refus'd to come the common way,
And is descending by the private Lobby.
D' Alva.
That private way is not for Traitors.
Med.
Envy him not my Lords, 'tis the last time
That his proud humor shall be satisfied;
I doe believe he knowes not what he does,
But like a tir'd o're-hunted Deere,
Treads fatal pathes offer'd by chance,
And not design'd by him.
Enter Lerma in a Cardinal Habit.
(They cry Roome.
Harke, he comes—ha—What's this
A Vision?
D' Alva.
A Maske I think, not an Arraignment.
Alca.
He has o're-reacht us all.
Ler.
I see you are amaz'd my worthy Lords,
To find your loves to vertue made so useless,
As not to practice your admir'd Justice:
Perhaps you are so fond of that faire Mistriss,
As that it mingled passion with your actions,
But now you may discharge your manag'd witnesses
That stand prepar'd against the Duke of Lerma,
Lerma the Cardinal cannot here be Try'd:
Be not so dull my Lords, it showes uncharitable,
An envious malice will be thought the Father
Of such a sadness: nothing but ruine please you?
Med.
D'ee come here to Raile?
Ler.
No, to Preach, it is my Office.
I did no sooner touch this Sacred Habit,
But I was fill'd with Notions.
D' Alva.
The Devil helpes thee to 'em.
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Still so uncharitable?
D' Alva.
Dost thou name any thing that's good?
Ler.
Ha, ha, ha!
Med.
Are you so merry too?
Ler.
Why, VVou'd you have me whine, and beg from you
A thing you never had; and which I need not?
He that seekes safety in a States-mans pitty,
May as well run a Ship upon sharp Rockes,
And hope a Harbour: nay, if you are so dull,
Youle make me laugh again: 'tis not ill sport
To see your cruel aimes thus lost and cozen'd.
Cou'd you believe, I meant to die so tamely,
And quench the thirst of your ambitious envies
With my desired blood?
This Holy Robe tells me, it is my duty,
And I forgive: but sure I may laugh at you.
Med.
Impudence; Stand off. Let us consult.
They whisper.
Ler.
Doe, whistle out your Braines.
The Councill will run mad; they are angry,
I wou'd not take their way to Heaven.
I must Preach Patience to 'em: Now for an Oracle.
Med.
You know 'tis in our power to confine you
Ler.
In that I have as well prevented you:
Here's the Assignment of a Holy Prison
By my own choice, and granted by his Holiness,
In that faire Monastery I Rais'd my self.
Med.
Subtle Devil.
Ler.
I will not longer trouble you my Lords,
But leave you now to prey upon your selves.
He that devoures the rest, in time may be
A monster, more o'regrown then ere I was.
When you are low, and poor, you are all friends,
And in one fair pretence together joyn,
While every one conceales his own design.
It is your Countreys cause untill full grown
In long sought power, then it proves your own.
When youseem good, your Crimes are not the less,
Men have all new Creations by success.
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Invites new slaves, grown weary of the last.
Mankind each others stories do repeat,
And man to man is a succeeding cheat.
So to this fate I leave you, and shall joy,
To see those Crimes you blame, your selves destroy.
May you all sink in fates for me you meant,
And be too dull, your ruines to prevent;
That when you'r lost in this Ambitious toile,
I in my safe retreate may sit and smile.
(Exit.
D' Alva.
Here's a strange change: thankes to his Holiness.
Alca.
We may blush to be thus cozen'd.
Med.
Methinks the greatness of his spirit stird me,
I cou'd almost forgive him.
Enter Maria led by Nunnes, and Izabella. She Discovers.
What, More Masquerades; How Maria?
Mar.
Where, or to whom, shall I now bend
My almost worne out knees? Alass the Deity,
From whom I shou'd hope mercy, is not here:
How short are Kings of gods? they'r every where
(She weepes.
King.
Maria on her knees?
Dare they suffer her to kneele
(Above, and Descends.
To whom I bow?
Mar.
How durst you to a King shut up the way?
Shou'd Saints denie a wretched soul to pray?
Did I your safeties with such care designe
For you to take the life, that gave me mine.
Med.
Her sorrow moves.
D' Alva.
Here Vertue more; rise fair Maria.
Mar.
Speak, must my Father dye? if it be so
We'll both together to my Mother go.
D' Alva.
Fair vertuous Maid, your Father lives.
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Med.
Ha! the King.
King.
Maria.
Tell me the wretch, that ravisht thee from me,
That my Revenge, great as his crime may be.
Mar.
When you your Sacred Word to me did give,
My Father by your Mercy still shou'd live,
I stole away that you might be left free
To be as just, as merciful to me:
And durst not else, but unto those above
In Prayers for you, confess my secret Love.
King.
Your Father is preserv'd from danger, free,
And sav'd himself that had been sav'd by me.
He in a Holy Robe is now retir'd,
By danger urg'd, by Heaven I hope inspir'd.
Mar.
What an excess of blessings Heaven can give?
Oh happy Father, that does more then Live!
With joy now to my Sacred Cell I'le go;
I shou'd not weep, but my fond tears will flow.
My Zeal it self has a temptation too,
I scarce shall pray for any thing but you.
King.
If you, in leaving me so cruel prove,
Your Prayers will be as useless as your Love.
Mar.
Time, Sir, alas, will in a little space
An Image drawn but faintly, quite deface.
Love, like a shadow, while youth shines, is shown,
But in old Ages darkness, there is none.
King.
But all pure Love, like glow-worms heatless fires
Lives where it shines, and with that life expires.
Beauty, like Time on Dials, moves so slow
That they who always gaze, can't see it goe.
Mar.
But I must now leave Heaven, Sir, or you.
King.
The choice were easie, were the question true.
Mar.
Is not Heaven then the best felicity?
King.
But you as well may go to Heaven with me.
Mar.
'Tis hard, thorow the world to find the way,
If I talk long, I shall my self betray;
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Shou'd Lerma's Daughter, share your Bed and Throne;
Farewell, Sir, when you think of this, confess,
I lov'd you, far beyond my happiness.
King.
Stay yet, and hear this vow
going out.
Spains empty Throne;
Unless from you shall want succession.
Med.
Now, by my Sisters blessed soul, I share
Between her Vertues, and my Kings Despair;
Maria, stay, you must to Duty bow.
D' Alva.
You sav'd us all, preserve you Nation now.
Alca.
That vertue still may flow from you, their Spring.
Bru.
And make a Nation happy with their King.
Mar.
What shou'd I do?
King.
—Deferre your cruel thought,
Till by my grief you are more pitty taught.
Mar.
This, Sir, is to o'recome the easiest way,
My Forces will all lessen by delay,
Yet, Sir, in this I must submit to you
And Heaven, to teach my heart what's best to do.
King.
Till then—
Let all that Love me, in my troubles joyn,
And let their griefs, Allegiance pay to mine.
Let not a smile upon a face be seen
Till fair Maria yields to be my Queen.
| The Great Favourite, Or, the Duke of Lerma | |