University of Virginia Library

[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.