University of Virginia Library

ACTUS TERTIUS.

[Scene I.

A Street in Mora.]
Enter Thrasolin hastily and meetes Monasin, Filadin, and Cratoner.
Thras.
Your souldiers draw under their Collours straight,
And send a hundred more to every gate.
Then let a Guard be of a thousand made,
Which you three shall Command at the Parade.
Lucidor from the Campe is hither ledd,
And by the Kings Command must loose his head.
Gesippus in the Garrison has staid
To see these orders instantly obey'd.

Crat.
Brave Newes! his death cutts off all hopes of peace.

Mon.
I rather feare 'twill make all difference cease.

Fil.
If thou thinkst soe, sett him at Libertie.
'Tis better hee shou'd live than our trade dye.

Thras.
Candaces now from Altemera came,
Who begg'd our Generall in her Ladies name,
That hee himselfe would take the paines to goe
And speake with her before the fatall Blow.
This with a Lovers duty hee obey'd,
But all that shee can say will ne'er perswade,
For ere the Generall to his Mistresse went,
The orders for his death to mee hee sent.

[Exeunt.

[Scene II.

A Chamber in Altemera's Palace.]
Enter Altemera.
Alt.
Great Gods, is sacred Love such an offence
That for it you to mee such Plagues dispence?
But if my constancy provoke your hate,
I will endure but not deplore my fate.

Enter Candaces.
Cand.
The Generall does your Commands obey,
And at the doore, to waite on you, does stay.

Alt.
Admitt him, though his sight augment my greife.
If hee denies mee, death is my releife.
[Exit Cand.
Enter Clorimun.
Fortune, brave Clorimun, has now design'd
A noble rise to show your nobler mind,
For by your Kings Insatiate Crueltie
I heare that Lucidor's condemn'd to die.
'Tis in your power his death now to decline,
But if you act it, none can hinder mine.
My life and his are with such strictnesse bound,
That, to end both, you need but give one wound.
But, Clorimun, it is a nobler thing
To save that rivall than obey that King.
I knowe your virtue therefore will not Shunne
To tell you Lucidor my heart has wonn,
Soe that to him if I shou'd prove untrue,
I thereby shou'd become unworthy you.

Clor.
Madame, cou'd you noe other way have found
But by my virtue thus my Love to wound?
But since to it soe cruell now you prove,
I renounce virtue, I am all but Love;
Or if I any virtue still enjoy,
'Tis not soe much as must my Love destroy.

Alt.
Who but by virtue doe to Love pretend
Forsakes the way, and yet pursues the End.

Clor.
And you wou'd have me by what now you say
Forsake the end and yet pursue the way.

Alt.
Hee who his Mistrisse favour cannot gett
Ought to be pleas'd that hee does meritt itt.

Clor.
To misse the purchace and yet pay the price
Makes virtue more unfortunate than vice.
It's not enough my Rivall must have you,
Butt you will make mee helpe him to you too!

Alt.
It were enough; nay, 'twere too much, I knowe,
For any but for Clorimun to doe,
Whose virtue is soe eminent and Cleere
That Common arts below it wou'd appeare.
To any other I'd conceale my fire,
Since owning it might hinder my desire.
But while high things I wou'd have you bestow,
I scorne to seek them in a way that's low.
Your granting my request, knowing my flame,
Will add the greater lustre to your fame.
This way in which I aske a guift soe great
Helps mee to pay as well as make the Debt.

Clor.
This, Madame, which with soe much art you word,
But cutts my hopes off with a glittering sword.
You make my virtue great that it may prove
A surer way but to destroy my love.
I'le mourne I grant not that for wc h you presse;
More to obey you were to love you lesse.
Who can see beauties wc h soe brightly shine
And to a Rivall all his hopes resigne?
Conceale your Eyes, whilst you such grants pursue.
Those plead for mee more than your Prayers for you,
To prove you in the wrong, mee in the right.
Noe Judge needs more, but not to want his sight.

Alt.
If this mean beautie be esteem'd by you,
To preserve it you must preserve him too;
For it must still be his, I'le not deny.
For him it lives and with him it must die.

Clor.
In Rivallshipp two Passions only move,—
That great one of Revenge; that greater, love.
And, Madame, if you make mee soe accurst,
As to deny the last, I'le take the first.

Alt.
His death is in your power but not in mine.
What does incense you to it to decline?
A Conquest o're the first, in you, to winne
Is vertue; o're the last, in mee, were sinne.
But if to my affection you pretend,
This is the certaine way to misse your end.
By it your Rivalls hopes will be o'rethrowne,
But you thereby cannot advance your owne.
If I his Love, while you are just, preferre,
Can I doe yours when you'r his murtherer?

Clor.
Since I must misse that Joy for which I sue,
'Tis some to make my Rivall misse it too.
A double ruine you on mee wou'd bring,
To loose at once my Mistresse and my King.

Alt.
Your King through Lucidor does mee assault.
Make mee his punishment, since I'me his fault.
That which his hate to Lucidor does move
Is that hee stands betwixt him and my Love.
Since against honor I'le not act a cryme,
To be reveng'd on mee, hee'l ruine him.
Act not a sinne which needs must let me see
Your hate for him transcends your love for mee.
Suppresse that fury which soe high does burne,
And let my prayers your hate to pitty turne.

Clor.
How can I pitty such a mans estate,
With whom I willingly would change my fate?
One houre to have possesst your Love as hee
Possesses it, I'de dye imediatly.
What greater Joy can hee begg from above
Than, while hee is alive, to have your Love?

Enter Page hastily, and Cratoner.
Page.
Madame, my hast has made mee out of breath.
I saw ev'n now Lucidor ledd to death,
And if his Pardon be not sent him now,
'Twill come too late to stopp the fatall Blow.

Alt.
Oh, Clorimun! if this poore Life you prize,
Then you will show it in preserving his.
Looke on these teares a while; then I'le retire,
And leave you to what virtue shall inspire.
But be assur'd of this: that very breath
Which tells mee my freind's dead, shall act my death.

[Exeunt Alt. and Page.
Clor.
Goe, stopp the Execution till I come.
[Exit Cratoner.
What a fierce Warre is in this narrow roome!
Duty to the Kings Orders makes it fitt
Hee dye; my owne revenge too joynes with it—
Revenge which is soe pleasing and soe sweete,
The Gods to keepe it for themselves thinke meet—
And, above all Revenges, that in Love
Does the most Just and the most pleasing prove.
But yet noe duty nor revenge must stand
In Competition with her least Command.
Shee never shall in mee have cause to blame
But the aspireing of a hopelesse flame.
I'le save my Rivall and make her confesse
'Tis I deserve what hee does but possesse.

[Exit.
Enter Altemera.
Alt.
Death which mankind in such high awe does keepe
Can only hold Us in Eternall Sleepe,
And if a Life after this Life remaines,
Sure to our Loves belongs those happie plaines.
There in blest feilds I'le passe the endlesse houres,
And him I crowne with Love, I'le crowne with flowers,
A Crowne which more true Joy than Lawrell brings,
Or that bright Earth which circles heads of Kings.
Either my fancie does delude my Eyes,
Or I behold my freind ascend the Skies.
His spirit now from Cloggs of flesh sett free
Invites mee to his immortalitie.
Mee thinks I see him in those shades of rest,
And as much Monarch there, as in my breast.
My tortur'd soule does with Impatience stay,
And longs to follow where hee leads the way.

Enter Candaces hastily.
Cand.
Your Commands, Madame, have a boundlesse pow'r.
They have preserv'd your much lov'd Lucidor.
Of his reprieve I did my selfe dispaire.
The fatall Axe was lifted in the Aire,
And ready was to fall, when Clorimun
Appear'd and staid the Execution.
Gesippus said hee in his cryme was lost,
And then for Leptis instantly tooke post.
The Generall whisper'd Filadin in th'Eare,
And is himselfe, Madame, now coming here.

Alt.
This Charming newes my teares have wip'd away.

Enter Page.
Page.
Madame, the Generall at your doore does stay,
And to waite on you humbly does desire.

Alt.
Admitt him. May kind Heaven my tongue inspire!
What shall I doe for him obleig'd mee soe?

Cand.
All but what you'll refuse hee'l thinke too low.

Alt.
Hee cannot thinke that I ungratefull prove,
If I in admiration pay his Love.
Enter Clorimun.
You have obleig'd mee to the last degree.
More than your sword your vertues conquer mee;
And in that noble acting you have showne
Your foes you can subdue more wayes than one.

Clor.
Whatever I for Altemera doe
Is in it selfe reward and duty too.
I come more proofes of this to let you see,
And not to heare from you my Elogie.
I doubt Gesippus words will take such place
The King will mee imediatly disgrace.
Then for my Rivalls death hee'l orders give,
Soe that I shall not save him but reprieve.
His losse I knowe, Madame, will make you dye.
Therefore I have sett him at Libertie,
And, fearing what th'usurpers rage might doe,
Have given your brother Memnor freedome too.
All that I thought you wish'd, I have made good;
One to your Love I give, one to your blood.

Alt.
Ah, Noble Clorimun! Why have you tooke
A course which further must your king provoke?
You might with privacy have let them goe,
And by your safetie rais'd the favour too.

Clor.
Honour and Love my actions still shall guide.
What's duty to obey 'tis sinn to hide.
I'le make it to the world and you appeare,
To serve you is my glory, not my feare.
I to retirement know the way againe,
And there I'le waite till Melizer does Reigne,
Whose virtues are soe great, his right soe good,
Hee should bee King by choice as well as bloud.

Alt.
Since you those truths soe fully understand,
And that a Conquering Army you Command,
Nobly then at the head of it appeare
To save your selfe and restore Melizer.
If to performe this duty you thinke fitt,
Memnor and Lucidor shall Joyne in itt.

Clor.
Justice herselfe wou'd blush, shou'd shee receive
A right which treachery does to her give,
And virtuous Melizer wou'd never owne
From falsehood the possession of the Throne.
Disgrace I feare lesse than to be unjust.
'Tis such to take and then betray a trust.
Though I my power and Melizer esteeme,
Yet I love honour more than power or him.
Next to your favour, what I covett most
Is to restore to him that Crowne hee lost.
But as my case is, all brave men will owne
'Tis sinne to talk of't, till to do't is none.

Alt.
O noble virtue, great enough alone
The whole World to supply if it had none!
What I propos'd I cannot but recant;
Soe to deny is nobler than to grant.
Preserve your Power that Melizer you may
In a fitt Season serve in honours way.

Clor.
When I with honour may his title owne,
It will not need Solicitation.
But to the King, Madame, I now will goe,
And there strive to prevent my overthrowe.
But if I am disgrac'd, you'll then thinke meet
To let mee breath my passions at your feete,
Which is a Glory I shall prize above
All blessings else, except it be your Love.

Alt.
Goe, noble Clorimun, and may you there
Meet with Successe which may remove your feare.
May the Gods pay you all you doe for mee,
And make your Joyes vast as your bounties bee.

Clor.
You cannot aske more Joyes for mee, you knowe,
Than of your selfe you can on mee bestowe.
Permitt mee, madame, now to let you in,
And then my Jorney forthwith I'le beginne.

[Exeunt.

[Scene III.

A Chamber in the King's Palace at Leptis.]
Enter King and Gesippus.
King.
His getting Altemera in my power
Outweighs not what hee did for Lucidor,—
To save that Rebell, and then sett him free!
Told you him all you had in charge from mee?

Ges.
I did, Sir, and repeatedly did say
Hee wou'd be ruin'd did he disobey.
But what I prest noe more returnes did find,
Than had my words been spoken to the winde.
If you delay revenging this one houre,
You may be King in name, but not in power.

King.
His folly never flew soe high before.

Ges.
Hee durst not doe soe much and doe noe more.
'Tis plaine, since hee refuses your Command,
Hee has some greater Wickednesse in hand,
And I much doubt those which hee has set free
Are with him now, Joyn'd in Conspiracy.

King.
His cryme makes it unfitt hee keepe his place,
But hee'l not act, I'me sure, whats false or base.
That pride which made him doe what hee has done
Will make him low and treacherous actings shunne.

Ges.
You must about you looke immediatly,
Else you will feele those mischeifes I foresee.
Enter Captaine of the Guards hastily.
I wish your greatest hast come not too late.

Capt.
The Generall, Sr, is lighted at the Gate.

King.
Who? Clorimun?

Capt.
Yes, Sir.

King.
Sure thou dost dreame!
Didst see him?

Capt.
Yes, and more I spoke with him!
Hee told mee he is come from Mora post.

King.
How many came with him?

Capt.
But six at most.

King.
Keep him in talke, till I two minuts winne
To order my designes; then bring him in.
[Exit Capt.
I must gett Altemera in my power.
Who did hee make of Mora Governor?

Ges.
'Tis Filadin, if I doe not mistake.

King.
Thou must to him all expedition make.
Tell him, if hee his King does Love or feare,
Hee must this night bring Altemera here,
And tell him too, if hee does disobey,
His Generalls life shall his refusall pay.
In this great trust show that thou art my freind;
Bidd all my Guards immediatly attend.
[Exit Gesippus.
You sacred powers, to whome my heart is knowne,
You knowe that cheifly I usurp the Throne
But with more hopes to have successe in Love
A Monarch's power can only gett above.
What Altemera has too often showne
Is Lucidors by Inclination.
Enter Clorimun and the Captaine of the Guards.
You have soe long in Armies had the sway
That you have quite forgotten to obey.
When Lucidor I had Condemn'd to die,
You sav'd his Life, then gave him Libertie,
And, as if this were not enough for you,
I heare that Memnor has his freedome too.

Clor.
Sr, I did hope you wou'd not have thought fitt
To reproach mee for what Love did committ.
I never had th'ambition'd meanes before,
Since I faire Altemera did adore,
But in my tedious sufferings to prove
The cleerenesse and the vastnesse of my Love.
Twice I a Prisoner may make Lucidor,
But to deny her once I wanted power.
This Warre will dayly new ocasions bring
To show how I delight to serve my King,
But if I had deny'd her first request,
I with a second never had been blest.

King.
I doe not wonder you have dissobey'd
One who you thought cou'd with such words be paid.
Noe, no, I know your Rivall you did spare,
For feare his death too soone shou'd end the Warre,
And then the ground of all your pride wou'd cease,
Which you more value than your Countries peace.

Clor.
'Tis hard that hee who did retir'dly dwell,
And to obey you only left his Cell,
Shou'd now have that obedience term'd his pride,
Which had been Judg'd Rebellion, if deny'd.
My Countries peace I thinke the highest good,
And, to restore it, have not spar'd that bloud
Which but too clearely now I see you hate,
Else you would not have us'd mee at this rate.

King.
I see you still are what I knew you first.
To name your faults is for your bloud to thirst.
I have small hopes of you, when you decline
What is as much your interest as mine.
You'l save your Rivall rather than you'l doe
That which your King strictly Comands you too.

Clor.
What in this act but Love cou'd be my end,
Which did my Rivall save, my King offend?

Enter some of the Guards.
King.
I doubt it will too evidently prove,
That is your treachery, you call your Love.

Clor.
My treachery! durst any but my King
Such an aspersion on my honour fling,
Though Armies to secure him had Combin'd,
Yet through them all this sword a way should find,—
This Sword which sav'd your life twice in one day,
And, when death seiz'd you, frightned him away,
This Sword on which Successe did still attend,
And to enthrone you was your powerfullest freind.
Reproach for this is a Reward unfitt!

King.
Thou payest thy selfe in often telling it.
Were all those duties thou to mee didst pay
Put in one scale, this cryme would them out weigh.
Thinke not such ruffling words will alter mee!
I say againe, it is thy treachery!

Clor.
Why doe the Gods give only him the will
To wrong mee, whome alone I dare not kill?
If ever I a treacherous act have done,
'Tis to that treacherous act you owe your crowne!

King.
Unsay those saucy words which thou hast sed,
Or, for thy tongues offense, I'le take thy head!

Clor.
Fright Women with such menaces, but I
Will loose my head, ere a truth told deny!

King.
You thinke you'r in your mutinous Army now,
But you are in my power, I'le make you knowe!

Clor.
I thinke that none will doubt I might have still
Been in the Camp, if that had been my will.
If in your power I am, then learne from thence
That I depended on my Innocence.
The folly had surpass'd the fancied Sinne
To yeild myselfe upp, had I guilty been.

King.
The Gods therein show thee thy lost Estate.
Those they would ruine, they infatuate.

Clor.
That often is their way to reach their end.
Therefore take heed you loose not such a freind.

King.
By rend'ring thus thyselfe, they rather show
How fitt it is I cutt off such a foe.

Clor.
If to give up my selfe my choice I make,
Then 'tis an easy thing my head to take.
But if I am resolv'd my head to keepe,
Who takes it off must make an Army sleepe,—
That Army wc h my absence did soe fire,
They made you call mee back, yourselfe retire.
If they did thus my power but to restore,
Thinke you to save my Life they'd not doe more!
Mora is not lesse strong than Leptis is.
Those who tooke that, can, if they please, take this!

King.
Dost thou first Injure and then threaten mee?
Disarme that Traytor, Guards, imediatly!

[The Guards surprise and disarme Clorimun.
Clor.
Ungratefull Prince! 'twill be your foes delight
That your left hand thus does cutt off your right.
In this low act for them you doe much more
Than I have done in freeing Lucidor.

King.
Rage has transported thee to that degree
Thou hast forgott my Guards have seiz'd on thee.

Clor.
Did I not more your name than Guards esteeme,
I'de make you tremble in the midst of them!
Often ere now, without boast I may say,
I drove, when single, more than these away.
Numbers makes you secure in what you doe,
And, if I please, know I have numbers too.
Usurpers merritt never did regard,
But punnish worth wc h is above reward.

King.
To the Black Tower let him forthwith be ledd,
Whence none comes out unlesse to lose his head.
And since my favours find such a returne,
That goodnesse hee abus'd, hee now shall mourne;
Let him with noe man speake or see the day.
If he escape, thy Life for it shall pay.

[Exit.
[Guards offer to seize Clorimun.
Clor.
I'le strangle any dares lay hands on mee!
I am resolv'd to goe, and I'le goe free!

[Exeunt.

[Scene IV.

A Street in Mora.]
Enter Monasin, Filadin, and Cratoner.
Crat.
What ever it is thou dost advise Us too,
Wee will not only thinke on it, but doe.

Fil.
Bravely resolv'd! then let noe time be lost,
But let each of Us hasten to his post.
You two shall in disguise to Leptis goe.
Thence lett mee hourely all that passes know.
I feare the Generalls open nature may,
By the Kings arts, his Innocence betray,
And when hee has the power his head to take,
Hee at the Sinne will not much scruple make.

Mon.
If the Usurpers rage shou'd rise soe high,
We have not yet forgott to Mutiny,
And, rather than that Losse wee will endure,
For our last ill wee'l practice our first Cure.

[Exeunt.

[Scene V.

A Chamber in the King's Palace.]
Enter King and Gesippus.
Ges.
I left her, Sir, in my appartment now,
And came to knowe what further I must doe.

King.
Though to thy freindshipp I my Crowne must owne,
This service yett transcends all thou hast done.
Life, Empire, and all blessings else must prove
Below the vast importance of my Love.
Waite on her hither straight, whilst I reflect
What raptures Love will bring, what greifes neglect.
[Exitt Gesippus.
This heart the feare of death could ne're invade,
Now trembles to behold that Conquering Maid.
But yet 'twere sinne that trembling to bemoane,
Since my Love by it is the cleerer showne.
What e're my passion does discover most
Ought not to make my sorrow but my boast.

Enter Gesippus, Altemera, and Candaces.
Alt.
Oh, Sir, I'me told, since I came to this place,
That Clorimun is soe in your disgrace,
That hee is like (such your resentments be)
To loose his life for what hee did for mee.
Since 'twas my teares made him his fault committ,
I'le strive by them to make you pardon itt.
Therefore upon my knees I humbly crave
[Kneeles.
That you at least his pretious Life will save.

King.
Faire Altemera, rise; this shou'd not bee.
'Tis I should kneel to you, not you to mee.
Could you have found noe other way beside,
But this, my deepe obedience to have try'd?
Command mee to subdue Rome by a Warr,
And I'le doe that rather than this by farr.

Alt.
To Conquer Empires is what force may doe,
But 'tis your virtue must yourselfe subdue.
If you deny my first and only suite,
My knees shall never rise, but here take roote.

King.
I cannot Altemera's teares withstand.
His Life I give, Madame, to your Command.

Alt.
'Tis nobler much to spare than to shedd bloud.
[Rises.
Noe title sounds soe great as that of good.

King.
Since to Shun mercy you esteeme a fault,
Doe not decline that virtue you have taught,
And since I sav'd a Rebell at your prayer,
Let not your King, adoring you, dispaire.
His person I must for a while confine.
'Tis for my Rivalls safety as for myne.

Alt.
His freedome I will hope for in due time.
Now to begg more you might esteeme a Cryme.

King.
'Twere a Cryme, Madame, in mee, I know,
To keepe you longer from your Lodgings now.
I have a high important bussinesse there,
Fit only to be Whisper'd in your Eare.

[Exeunt.