University of Virginia Library

ACT 4.

SCEN. 1.

Enter Cæca, as to dressing, a Table set out, and glasse, Quinever attending, Pysander following.
Cæca.
Is my Captain here?

Quin.
Now enter'd, and like your Ladiship.
Exit. Quin.

Cæca.
Very well, leave us then: Come neer good Captain.

Pys.
Mercy defend me. A dressing, or setting up a Barber's shop,
Here the teeth lye, what's this an old head?
A lecture for the best Anatomist; like a rusty Clock,
Taken a pieces to cleanse all the devices,
Set them together some engineer for me.

Cæca.
Pray sit neer me, Captain,

Pys.
I do.

Cæca.
O Captain, what a hideous noise
Was there ene now of bouncing, pray what i'st?

Pys.
Only some wandring Raskalls at the gate,
They'l have their errand suddenly.

Cæca.
I would they were gone, truly at the first noise,
I brake one of my pots of Mithridate,
With Dragon-water, good for the head and stomack.

Pys.
Was there ever such an old Almanack,
[aside
At the end of the year Medicines set down?

Cæc.
Besides the great disturbance from your company.

Pys.
Nay, you see when I have freedom
I use it to my own advantage,
Visit you before you'r ready—

Cæc.
I shall be ready presently, the time will come
You shall be welcome to me quite undrest.

Pys.
The Devill of thy young bones
[aside.
Lockt in thy old Cabinet.

Cæc.
I shall unparrell then faster than now I dress me;
You'l help to pull out pins I'le warrant you.

Pys.
Rather drive in wedges—
[aside.
Why you know we men must court,
You would be bashfull else, and it were pitty
To loose that time which should be better spent.

Cæc.
You say true indeed.

Pys.
Come Madam, pray dresse your self
I'le serve you instead of a better chambermaid
S'death would she were once furnish'd
[aside.
One may dresse and undresse Long-lane as soon.
What want you now, Madam?

Cæc.
My night-rale, good Captain.

Pys.
I shall give her a sheet instead on't,
It lies about her like a casting net
'Slid I have given her never a wascoat,
And now will she call for her farthingale,
I must make haste but cannot go without her;
For her wise tenant's now before they fight
Will see their Land-Lady

Cæc.
My farthingale, good Captain.

Pys.
I thought so, now is she like an old Camel
With that hideous mount on her unfurnisht body.
Mercy how have I set her out! she may make
Good harmony; for shee's composed of different notes
She would yield a man more money to shew
Than an outlandish beast; my sweet Quinever
I have employ'd to stave off formall Peter
From making tenants seem as wise as he.
What want you now, Madam?

Cæc.
My Perriwig, good Captain.

Pys.
Which way to set this on now, is the question:
Tis no matter I can't mistake now
More than I have done.

Cæc.
I thank you Captain, I hope you and I
Shall live happily and comfortably together.
I was told, my seventh husband
Should be a wondrous honest and an able man.

Pys.
That, experience will let you know: I shall tell you
A merry tale towards bed time that will cure
The cough of th'lungs.

Cæc.
And make one dream huge pleasantly
And that's a sign of youth I can assure you.

Pys.
That and your toothlesse Chap's are main ones.
If furious Medea had thrown thee
[Aside.
Into her age-renuing Kettle, thoud'st have lept out
With a medley of years upon thee.
Hark, a noise! by heaven it increases still, hark

[Noise.
Cæc.
O Captain, a noise!

Pys.
Nay there's two now in the Devill's name:
It still encreases, come Madam you must down.

Enter Hyppasus.
Hyp.
'Sdeath, Pysander, they'r falling on
The men stand all at gaze
And swear they'le see their Land-Lady,
We are all lost without some help.

Pys.
Madam, you must needs walk
And encourage your tenants, to send these fools away:
'Twill defer our Marriage.

Cæc.
Pray lead and I will follow.

Pys.
Come Hyppasus, how fares the noble Mironault?

Hyp.
As a brave Ship hemm'd by a raging storm
Resolves to throw the ballance ore,
Lose all and perish carelessly:
But come, we trifle time.

Pys.
Along then, and for your blind Ladyship
If you had no tongue
You should make signs to your tenants.

[Exeunt.

SCEN. 2.

Enter Phylanter, Lycespes.
Phyl.
Come Lycespes, is the alarme given
To amuse them on t'other side?

Lyc.
Yes.

Phyl.
What resistance does appear?

Lyc.
As yet all's wrapt in silence.

Phyl.
Where did the messenger say my Father was?

Lyc.
At hand Sir with 5000 men; wer't not best
We should defer the storm till then?

Phyl.
By no means; we will attempt it first,
For by that time they may have relief
Come from the Court, my father's suddain flight
Confirm'd the least suspition, helpt by the Princesse too.

Lyc.
It could not chuse, you have thrust your self
Into a troubled Ocean:

Phyl.
I know it, and now must sink or else go on,
There is no choice in Crimes but of our Fate,
The affrighting freedom of a wretched state.
We cannot hope ere to return again
Back on our fancies to our first conditions,
What rob'd us of the safety we enjoyd
First made us to contemne it;
'Tis a stayd gamester too, that would give o're
Upon the losing-hand; the most metl'd, or let it be
The maddest one, would stake on all his wealth,
Venter to tire Fortune or himself.
We have bargain'd now, and chop't a Peace for War
'Twere foolish to depend on ought but Victorie;
For that will change our acts, or others natures:
The vanquish'd wear the crimes, and all will fear
To judge or question what they too must bear.
This slender glosse I know must startle thee
That has so much of honesty and courage;
And if we fail I'le quarrell with my self
That cousend thee to follow what thou once
Didst love with honour: fearing to be unjust
To friendship, made thee more unto thy self:
I have used thee as some that have seduced
Young men into bad company, thou hast found
Things much unworthy of thee—

Lyc.
Tis true, dear Sir, I will not face a lye:
Our acts have given me both amaze and trouble,
The last I threw behind me, may the World
Forget the rest, there is a Fate hangs over all
That shews it's force when it resolves to strike
When we can act at once, at once dislike,
And t'is the sad necessity that we must
Persist in crimes again to reach the good
That you intend; this nobly does deserve
My friendship now, and if we fail
—The world may yet believe
Our thought's were better, let them chuse to grieve.

Phyl.
Set on then, brave Lycespes, danger not found
Women fright children with, and perills met
Uncheat us of our lives, that render'd us
But an unhappy treasurie for our cares,
Made monstrous by our joys, the hopes and fears
That spring from them, onely the stock we spend on.
This cannot add, I know, to thee; and I should blush
If it could ought to me. But 'tis mens pleasure
To undervalue what they think will go,
And they must loose—the world's fond nature's so;
And 'tis the bravest scorn ill men can have,
To change this world, as freely for a grave.

[Exeunt.

SCEN. 3.

Enter Pysander hastily, the Blind Lady following, Peter directing.
[Alarm.
Pys.
Now the Devill raise a Barricado, I am storm'd too;
I have pepper'd the Rogues on my side,
I must go see how the other fares.

Cæc.
Is he here, Peter?

Pet.
Straight on, an't like your Ladiship.

Cæc.
Pray stay, sweet Captain; Oh, oh,
All my corn's a-fire, good Captain.
Straight before still, Peter?

Pet.
Yes Madam.

Pys.
By this light, Sir, I'le direct your nose to the wall,

Cæc.
Good Captain, all, all, my corn, oh, oh;
The great Barn's on fire, look how it burns.
Is this your kindnesse? pray, your hand.

Pys.
Pray take this for interposition.
he laies something in the way.
It will not do, she'l run her head
Against something or other, and beat her brains out.
—I must place her in here—
What's this, a Corn-house—Here Madam.
Give me your hand, rest your self a little,
And I'le be with you presently: and for you, wise Sir,
he places her in the Vault.
Let her alone, til I, like a good Midwife,
Come and deliver her: This, Sir, you had best observe.

[Exit.
Pet.
Why its very well, I thought at least I might have given her
A hot fire-shovell to have bak'd a cake upon.
Nothing troubles me—
But that the Rats and Mice may play with her nose.
I thought she would be brought to this, Mrs. Quinever
Is employ'd in casting bullets with a face
Like fiery Sol in Leo, if this hurry hold long,
My poor old Lady may wish she had lost
All senses as well as seeing; for god knows
The employment for the rest are miserable.
Hark, a noise, they are at it, much good may't do them;
[a noise.
To run away it is impossible, and from my chamber
I can see all the shooting; it has made me wish a thousand times
I were as blind as my old Lady, I'le to her in the Vault,
I never thought my self too safe, he that did,
Let him leap Towers for Peter.

[He descends into the Vault.

SCEN. 4

Enter Mironault, Hyppasus, Pysander.
Mir.
Brave Hyppasus, how to forgive my self I cannot tell,
For all that you have suffered.

Hyp.
Still on that strain, Sir!
We could not serve you thus if we repined,
Or feared to suffer for you; wrong not our honesty
And courage both.

Mir.
They are too excellent, I swear it were a pleasure
To share in danger with you, were't not a pain
To see you there—Gallant Pysander,
You brought us timely aid, and from our sinking fates
Raised us again; but you had quickly done
On t'other side.

Pys.
O mine were pittifull rascalls,
Yours came to their businesse handsomly.

Mir.
They did indeed, Phylanter first
Advanc'd before his men, bold in despight
Of all his crimes, and carelesse both alike
Of honesty and danger.

Pys.
He was the wiser; To what purpose
Should any one be thrifty of, that the world
So little cares for, this trifle Honesty.

Hyp.
Come Pysander, you must get the Soldiers drest,
That have been hurt, we may have more need of them.

Pys.
Yes, yes, as far as her Smocks will extend in Lint.

Mir.
I find I need a little dressing too.
—Let's in, and there—
Provide for after-claps of treacherous Fortune.
We must not fear a Frown, or court a Smile;
One may the Wise, t'other the Brave beguile.

[Exeunt.

SCEN. 5.

Enter Albertus, and Others.
Alb.
How far is't to his Quarters now?

1.
A little way, Sir.

Alb.
Be sure that all the Soldiers march in order,
And on their lives no outrage to the Country.
Let all be done in silence. No Scouts return'd yet?

1.
Not any, Sir.

Alb.
I am jealous of this Court, the King enclined
But little, suspition could not mingle with his nature,
The Princesse has confirm'd him sure; we act
On the uncertain'st Stage, the strangest parts
That ever yet were play'd, I would the world
Would take it so. We have now stept
Beyond the power of Retreat or Fortune,
The one's too poor for us, and we for t'other.
We are like tired Gamesters with ill Cards
Weary to hold the game, and yet play on
To save if not to win; perhaps
If we prevailed, Ambition would as well
Play on the game as now we do,
Though from a modester designe.
How little ought man to be trusted then
With power in this world, when even the things
He aims to thrive by are the crimes of Kings,
Good Princes, like best Juglers, still find first
The lesser sleights of others. How now,
What news?

Enter Mess.
Mess.
As we were scouting on the way,
Which leads unto Cracovia, we espied
The Body of an Army moving within
Two hours march.

Alb.
Ha, it must be so—she has don't.
Bid instantly Botiscay march with haste,
[exit Mess.
For fear we are hindred joyning with my son.
Amidst these crimes a little policy does well,
It must be so, all we can hope for now will be to make
But good conditions—
—To put it to the venture of a day were madnesse,
We can have no supplies, they may have more.
And yet—I know not what to think,
Distractions mingle with my thoughts,
And we still lose our judgments with successe.
Our resolutions waited on us then
Like servants wanting wages. All Mankind
Is one of those two Cowards,
—Either to wish to die
When we should live, or live when we should die.
Some fear, some wish, too early, or too late
Most fall, yet none must chuse his Fate;
Those that prepare for every storm, do seldom cast
Themselves away,
It is but bravely sinking at the last.

[Exit.

SCEN. 6.

Enter Princesse, Amione, Phylena, and others.
Prin.
No news yet?

1.
Not any Madam.

Prin.
Leave us, and give notice when any comes.

1.
I shall—

[Exit.
Prin.
We have not now sure far,
And yet me thinks 'tis a long while
Ere we are there, time is thought
The fastest undiscerned flying thing
That is, but yet Love's wings are swifter,
Swift wishes impe his ragged plumes
And pull the feathers from the wings of Time,
—And every houer bears
Double proportion from our hopes and fears.

Phyl.
This pretty way of account Madam, will rise
Unto a sum of ages, added
To what now Mironault's a heaping,
'Twill make a new Chronologie,
But we still reckon on the old account.

Prin.
You'r merry still, Phylena, when your day comes
You'le give me leave to do the same.

Phyl.
Yes Madam, we both agree,
And yet you shrewdly once suspected it
Of this fair maid,

Prin.
You make me blush, she way forgive me though
For she deserved it,

Amio.
O Madam,—
Could you fall so much below
The power of all your beauties in such fears
That you could justly let suspition dwell
Where you pretend an interest? The Rose as well
May drooping hang it's fragrant head
Jealous of meaner Flowers, and the Sun
Suspect his light when mortalls kindle fires.

Prin.
Nay Amione you court me now
I will not call it flattery, whil'st it comes
From thee, for that's a crime
That dwells with crooked natures, yet it was
Mistaken kindnesse.

Amio.
'Twas you mistook it sure, for none will find
Themselves deceived that love you,

Enter Mess.
Prin.
How now, what news?

Mess.
Just now for certain, Madam
The Lord Albertus joyned unto his son
With a great Body,

Prin.
They have not yet attempted ought.

Mess.
Yes Madam, before his Father's coming,
Phylanter storm'd the house.

Prin.
Ha: hast thou learnt no particulars?

Mess.
Yes all, for before the Lord Albertus coming
The smallnesse of their numbers gave us freedom
To enquire near the place of all particulars,
—And thus it was,
Soon as Phylanter had found out
The house they stayed at, presently he ghest
That wounds had caused their stay, by reason
They strove to reach no place of more security
And so indeed it was; ghessing besides,
They should have smal resistance: upon these thoughts
Phylanter draws about it, then summons them.
But in the midst the gallant Mironault
Hinders the parly with a hasty scorn,
As if he meant to drive no bargain,
But sell at his own rate, at which
The bravely bad Phylanter sweld with rage
Prepar'd to give th'assault, and in the head
Of all his men advanc't (some distance) first,
To bring on ruine great as was his crimes,
Or else to perish with them, and seem'd half willing
To be forgotten on a noble score;
So equally divided, or to hide
His mischiefs in their Fates, or in his own.
The storm grew hot, yet still Phylanter urged
Beyond belief, now out of Love with safety,
Because his foes in spight of him enjoyd it
(With an unlookt for power to resist him)
Branded the name of Fortune with a whore,
As if they had begot supplies upon her;
On t'other side his men sees shrinking from him,
When mad with rage he easily retires
With such a look as longing Lovers send
When they must part, so much he courted danger,
And now retreating with his drooping forces,
The gallant Mironault like a bright Sun
Broke from the smoakie storm, and issues forth,
Acting new Tragedies, till, being jealous
More forces might come in,
In order they retreated, and for certain
Phylanter both and Mironault are hurt.

Prin.
O me!

Phyl.
Madam send off the messenger, Let not him see
The least disorder.

Prin.
Go instanly, and bid Symathocles
Let all the Army march in readinesse to fight.

Mess.
I shall.

Prin.
And acquaint him with all you know
Exit Mess.
Nay do not hide thy tears Amione
They can't displease me, wench, nor shall I think
That there is grief enough for him,
Though I am fully stor'd.

Amio.
Alas, what a condition Fortune throws him in?
Did he but know by whom he were lamented
He could not have so much of joy,
As grief to think how he was ravisht
From the lov'd mourner;

Prin.
I prethee peace; not that I fear
To have more grief for him, for I have that
Within me has made that impossibility,
But to inlarge thy own, 'tis true too
That I should give thee counsell not to grieve,
But I shall grieve the while, yet if thou thinkest
I wrong thy kindnesse then wee'le mourn together
And joyn our stock of tears, for no one store
Is worthy of him.

Amio.
Though nature made me partiall, it robd me not
Of so much reason, to be so impudent,
The Fates perhaps, or some great power
That has a speciall care for you, or kindnesse,
Preserved you for themselves, and lent you to the world
As the Sun was, not for the happinesse
Of one alone but all.

Prin.
May we not yet amidst our greatest grief
Believe it is not dangerous; for after he was hurt
They leisurely retired.

Amio.
Would I could so be satisfied—
And yet that clearly justifies we wish
Our own contents, then when we raise
Our fears to equall power in our thoughts
Of what we doubt, yet what we wish to have;
None e're yet wish'd a life, but fear'd a grave.

Prin.
'Tis true Amione, those torturing rivalls
Hope and fear are ever whispering,
And they that have most need of one,
Have ever most of t'other. When I think this,
Though I would willingly pretend to counsell,
Or any thing would ease thy grief, I must
Believe it both impossible and needlesse.

Am.
Were it not just to linger then no longer
In all these doubts, since we might give them ease.

Prin.
As how can it be done?

Am.
I would attempt to see him, I onely want your leave.

Prin.
It is impossible, the ways are all shut up.

Am.
I do not mean to go concealed.
They say Phylanter is so much a Gentleman,
He will not certainly deny a woman.
Fear not, Madam, 'tis but two hours time,
And I am there, or here again.

Prin.
I can deny thee nothing, not this I'me sure;
If thou seest him, tell him, that Love and Constancy's rewarded
In t'other world, and will be so in this.
Tell him, I wish his happinesse
And mine own together. And be sure
You take a Chirurgeon with you.

Phyl.
My service, Madam.

Am.
I will not fail, Heaven keep you.
May I return with such a blessing
As I now bear to him.

[Exit.
Prin.
Farewell, dear Maid. Phylena, now
The time draws near of joy or misery,
—We live at an uncertain rate,
Or flatter'd stil, or else displeas'd with fate.

[Exeunt.

SCEN. 7.

Enter at one dore Albertus and Others, at another Phylanter, Lycespes, and Others.
Alb.
I should chide now, but the condition of your fortunes
Cannot be that way helpt, nor are you fit
For a disturbance, I hear you have succesless
Storm'd the house; Why stai'd you not till I arriv'd?
'Twas folly to attempt it with so few.

Phyl.
But that has hapned now which I then feared,
For I did ghesse supplies would come to them
As soon as you to us. Besides, who would have ghest,
Or now can think, how they come by their aid?
Had we proved fortunate, we might have made
Our own conditions.

Alb.
In that you have hit my thoughts, for now we must
Not lose our selves by fear or folly;
The one's too mean, the other but a madnesse.
And we must look on these we have
Without a hope of more, and on them
As an encreasing body; by this we are constrain'd
Upon the nick to make our compositions,
Or put it to the venture of a Day;
The first's the better, were the last the likelier.
For I believe that, passion laid aside
That first incited these rash thoughts and actions,
You look upon't as not to be pursu'd,
But fairly to be left. Men may erre,
It is the influence of Chance and Nature,
But to pursue it, is their own—Lycespes—
There is much due to you, you were still honest,
And most a friend in danger,
Who are in safety onely are their own.

Lyc.
My Lord, I always owed your son as much,
And did resolve to pay it, till I had cause
To leave, or feared to avow it.

Alb.
You are still noble. But Phylanter,
What certain intelligence have you?

Phyl.
We know, Sir, the Army of the King
Is hard at hand, they say the Princesse too
Is with them.

Alb.
I ghess'd as much, and for that reason
I left the Court, for I heard
That she was big with rage—Well,
The time's now short, and something must be done:
Let all be in a readinesse, and prepare
Nobly to reach successe, or ill to share.
In the mean time wee'l presently advise
The honorablest way for composition.
For to be safe and good is better far,
Than trust our crimes unto the chance of War.

[Exeunt.