 | The Generall |  |
[Scene IV.
A Hermit's Cell near the King's Camp.]Enter Clorimun and Thrasolin.
Clor.
Move mee no more, I say. The world to mee
Is now, what still to wise men it should bee;
And to relapses nothing can mee winn.
I hate it now, as virtuous men hate sinne.
Thras.
Come! to this Cell a noble farewell give,
Where mallancholly buries you alive.
Then Cloath your selfe with Armour, and you'l see
Your old and great attendant, Victory,
Did never yet soe much to fortune owe,
As in this Warre inconstancy to showe.
Clor.
The Victory! I'le tell thee, Thrasolin,
I'de rather conquest on my Passions winn,
Than from my Cell one houre my selfe dispose
To winn a Conquest over all my foes.
Thras.
Alasse! deare Generall, from whence proceeds
This strange aversion to heroick deeds?
117
That you on it at length have surfeited?
Or doe you think it is its utmost rise
Thus to have power all Glory to despise?
If none of these, then your assistance bring,
And save your sinking country and your King.
Clor.
Hee's an usurper whome for King you owne.
Thras.
I call him King, because hee fills the Throne.
Clor.
Hee's an ungratefull man, and you well knowe
'Tis not his Love, but feare, which courts mee now.
When I at Leptis his sunck hopes did raise,
And such things did, he vow'd excell'd his praise,
And by those actings that peace to him brought
With fame, wc h else hee wou'd with gold have bought,
Yet hee—
Thras.
Noe more! Denying you your due,
Hee wrong'd him selfe more than hee iniur'd you.
But if for him you will not undertake
This Warre, yet doe it for your Countries sake,
Your sinking country which on you does call,
Who wee are certaine can prevent our fall.
Clor.
Thou talk'st as if I govern'd destiny,
When that does governe Monarchyes as mee.
Those stormes it sends but as a frightning ill,
May be o'recome by Courage and by skill,
But if to act our ruine fate thinks fitt,
Wee then forsake the helme, and must submitt.
Kingdomes, like private lives, have periods sett,
And when Heaven calls, who can deny the debt?
Thras.
Grant this, and that our fatall time were come,
Wou'd Clorimun outlive his Countries doome?
Clor.
Why not? Because I cannot still enjoy
That which I love, must I my selfe destroy?
Thras.
Yet if death Altemera shou'd destroy,
You wou'd not after long your selfe enjoy.
Clor.
Ha, Altemera! the sound of that name
Makes burne afresh my high successlesse flame,
A flame o're which deaths Coldnesse cannot reigne,
Since it outbraves still her most cold disdaine.
Thras.
Can you reflect on her and yet not doe
What honour, and revenge invites you too?
Your Rivall in this Warre will growe so great,
Her love to him will not be guift, but debt.
Clor.
I will to Lucidor a Rivall prove
Greater in fame, than hee's to me in Love.
Thras.
«Now it beginns to worke.»
118
Then, for my sake,
Glory my cause in Love shall undertake,
Whose pleading for mee shall be soe sublime,
It shall say more for mee, than love for him.
Thras.
Will you yet take what the King offers you?
Love makes you speake, but power will make you doe.
Clor.
Then I will make, that I may reach my end,
Love, now the tyrant of my peace, my freind.
I'le Court him, soe that I'le his favour find,
Unlesse hee be much more unjust than blind.
Thras.
Your thoughts, alasse! drive you you know not where.
Clor.
And, which is more by much, I do not care!
For my ill fate in such a way does strike,
All miseries to mee are much alike.
Thras.
Then thinke on Love and Honour, and these may
To the right side the doubtfull Ballance sway,
And with your wreaths of Lawrells Mirtle mix.
Clor.
Come, freind! walke in; on something there I'le fix.
Why was not reason, by decree of Heaven,
To man for his Internall Monarch given?
Our passions over itt the Conquest gett,
And, as they please, they Cloud and governe it.
Love, Honour, and Revenge by turnes beare sway,
And all Command what they should all obey.
[Exeunt.
| The Generall | |