University of Virginia Library

ACTUS QUINTUS

[Scene I.

A Chamber in the King's Palace.]
Enter Confident and Lucidors servant.
Conf.
Is Lucidor arriv'd?

Ser.
Hee came ev'n now,
And in your chamber longs to speake with you,
For such strang news hee in the streets did heare,
I left him ev'n sinking under feare.

Conf.
His greifes are Just, though they be ne'er soe high.
Tell him I'le waite on him immediatly.
[Exit servant.
Page, who waits there without?

Enter Page.
Page.
None waites but I.

Conf.
Candaces now your truth to her will try.
Admitt none hither if your life you prize,
Except it be Lucidor in disguise;
And when hee comes, lett him forthwith be led,
Where the great Altemera now lies dead;
And when you there have brought him, then be gone,
For true greife will endure noe looker on.
[Exit Conf.

Clorimun knocks.
Page.
Who knocks there? who soe e're you are, be gone!

Clor.
'Tis I that knock.

Page.
Who are you?

Clor.
Clorimun.

Page.
What wou'd you have, Sir?

Clor.
I desire to see
Faire Altemera, but what's that to thee?

Page.
What is't which in you this desire has bred,
For shee has now above two houres been dead?

Clor.
I knowe it, yet still that desire I keep;
I come over her sacred Corps to weepe.
I tell thee this but to remove thy feares;
I'le only pay a sacrifice of teares.

Page.
My Dissobedience will your pardon winne,
When I have told you I must let none in.

Clor.
Give mee admittance, or I'le force my way,
And punnish thy unmannerly delay.

Page.
I dare not, for my Life!

Clor.
Thy Life is more
Indainger'd, if thou open'st not the doore!

Page.
I must resist noe longer, but be sure
My Pardon from Candaces you procure.
Till that is gott, her face I dare not see.

Clor.
Open the doore; then Leave that care to mee.
[Page opens the doore and goes out. Clorimun goes to Altemera, gazes a while, and speakes.
Though shee is dead, her beauties still are great.
Thus day a while does last, though the sunn sett;
Thus roses, newly pluck't, a while does showe
As faire as when they on their Stalkes did grow.
Like lightning to the World shee has been showne,
As conquering where shee struck, and as soone gone.
Shall all those Charmes of body and of minde
Which late soe bright in Altemera shin'd,
Like other Common things of natures birth,
Be now reduc'd perpetually to Earth?
Ah! wou'd thy cruell fate I could reclayme
By all the tortures of a slighted flame!
Could I by those restore thy Life and peace,
My torments then wou'd make my happinesse.

Enter Lucidor disguis'd.
Luc.
«What horrors doe my faculties envade,
Entring this place, which is deaths blackest shade!
All that is sadd and dismall here does dwell,
And makes mee, though on Earth, endure a Hell.»

Clor.
«Who'se this which makes this fatall place his choice?
My sense mistakes, or 'tis my Rivalls voice!
I'le hide myselfe a while, till hee has showne
What his designes are; then I'le act my owne.»

Luc.
There, oh there, bright Altemera lies,
And an Eternall night has clos'd her Eyes!
Candaces told mee all thy noble story,
Which has not more of sadnesse than of Glory.
Thy Love to mee so highly thou didst owne,
Thy Life was not soe pretious as his throne.
That Virtue makes thee now a starr above,
And Patterns leaves for chastitie and Love,
Which still shall last when Piramids of Pride
Are shrunke into such ashes as they hide.
Ah! still my sorrowes has shrunke up my Eyes,
Accept these teares as my greifs sacrifice.

[Kneeles.
Enter Candaces in mens Cloathes and her Confident with her.
Cand.
See, Lucidor kneeles at his mistrisse Feete.
Since nor dispare, nor greife has kill'd him yet,
I will my selfe my obstacle remove,
And take revenge least I should faile in Love.

Conf.
Act now what thy Revenge shall most inspire,
My sword shall second thee to thy desire.

[They shutt the Chamber doore.
Clor.
«Ha! Who are those wc h come at such an houre,
And with that fury threaten Lucidor?
Their odds in number and their strange disguise,
With their intent to kill him by surprize,
Must for a moment my Just hate suspend,
For honour now calls mee to be his freind.»

Cand.
His death, if acted in this point of time,
Will make my happinesse transcend my cryme.
All other wayes, having successelesse been,
Ile try to alter fortune by this Sinne.

[Runns at Lucidor; Clorimun interposes himselfe with his sword.
Clor.
Hold! hold! here's that which will your fury stay.
To kill him, you through mee must make your way.
Rise! Rivall, Rise! to thy defence make hast,
Else of thy life this moment is the last.
These there with treachery had shedd thy bloud,
Had not I with my sword that Sinne withstood.

Luc.
That voice is Clorimuns! 'Tis doubtlesse hee.
This yet is done like a brave Enemy;
But since to fight with mee thou here has Chose,
Why cam'st thou not alone, or who are those?

Clor.
All are thy foes, but, since wee are too stronge,
That name shall now but to those two belonge.
'Twere hard with three to have at once to doe,
Therefore I thus change it to two and two.

[Goes to Lucidors side.
Luc.
What may this meane? Where will this wonder end?
In words hee is my foe, in deeds my freind.

Clor.
Thy admiration for a while suppresse,
My foes are freinds, while they are in distresse.

Luc.
Those who wou'd kill mee does not knowe mee, sure,
For death is now noe punishment, but cure.

Cand.
The Gods, I find, my ruine have decreed,
That two such Rivalls are soe soone agreed.
But I'le soe fight that, if I fall, I may
By a brave death wash my lifes staines away.

[Fight. Candaces falls by Clorimun and Lucidor kills the Confident.
Clor.
Thy treacherous foes, by my assistance slayne,
Guard thee, for thou are now my foe againe.
Though Altemera's dead, those wrongs I'le strive
To right thou didst mee, when shee was alive.

Luc.
To use that Life against thee, were not brave,
Wc h 'twas thy Gallantry but now to save.

Clor.
I sav'd thee only from that base surprise
To make thee my Revenges sacrifice.

Luc.
I wonder, Clorimun, how thou canst prove
Soe high in Honour, and soe lowe in Love.

Clor.
I doe not understand what thou hast spoke.
Therefore, with this, that riddle I'le unlock.

Luc.
Such threatnings are a kindnesse, not a fault,
For I more feare thy favours than assault,
And if on mee you more such wrongs obtrude,
My anger will transcend my Gratitude.

Clor.
To urge thee more, if thou such words dost beare,
It does not spring from Gratitude but feare.

Luc.
Thy helpe at once injurious was and brave.
Thou tyd'st my hands, when thou my Life didst save,
But this rude Language, which now falls from thee,
Cancells all Bonds thy sword has laid on mee.

[They fight and Pause; Altemera rises in her bed.
Alt.
What noise is this? Alasse! cannot I have
Exemption from disturbance in the Grave?
My Eyes are Charm'd by some deluding Power,
Or those are Clorimun and Lucidor.
'Tis they! What madnesse makes you thus Engage?
Quench in my bloud the fire of your great rage.
[She rises, runns to part them, she is wounded by Clorimun and falls downe between them.
Welcome, oh Welcome, death! thy lookes lesse fright,
Than to behold such noble Rivalls fight.

Clor.
This must be Altemera's voice I heare.

Luc.
'Tis shee, or else some Angell does appeare.

Alt.
Alasse! it is your fatall Quarrells have
Wak'd mee from death, and rais'd mee from the Grave.

Enter Page.
Page.
What noise is this?

Luc.
Fly, fly, for helpe with speed.
'Tis Altemera, rais'd from death, does bleed.
[Page runns out.
The losse of bloud, I feare, her death will prove.
Till Arts helpe comes, accept the helpe of Love.

[Sitts Altemera in a Chayre.
Alt.
That fight, in which you both Engag'd, I found
Does make my heart bleed faster than my wound.
To cure these wounds I solemnly abjure,
Till you, by being freinds, my greatest, cure.

Clor.
Our quarrell wee hereafter will decide.
Now lett Us Joyne to stopp this pretious tide.

Alt.
Touch mee not, Clorimun, you, who designe
To spill my best freinds blood, shall not save mine;
But for this hurt you'l make a full amends,
If, for its sake, you henceforth will be freinds.

Clor.
Such deep respecte to your Commands I owe,
I'le scarcely thinke my Rivall is my foe.

Alt.
Now your helpe welcome is, since you declare
That which does make my life worthy my care;
But may I not, to fix your freindshipps, knowe
What caus'd that quarrell which engag'd you soe?

Clor.
His wrongs to mee did my worst anger move,
Since they aspers'd my honour and my Love.

Luc.
Those wrongs thou fancyest I have done to thee,
Are lesse than actuall wrongs thou didst to mee.

Alt.
Alasse! mee thinks in such a way you doe
Tell old disgusts that they may kindle new.
Therefore to this short question I'le resort:
Is what both say, by knowledge or report?

Clor.
Myne, I Confesse, is by report; yet I
Dare say you'l thinke my author would not lye.

Luc.
And mine too are by Information;
Yet my Informer I may build upon.

Alt.
However, I beleive you better may
Creditt what you shall to each other say.
Therefore, upon your honours, tell mee now
What wrongs you did to one another doe.

Clor.
Though in his Love soe well he did proceed,
Yet I ne'er Injur'd him, in word nor deed.

Luc.
And I by Altemera's selfe doe sweare,
Not to wrong him was still my studied care.

Alt.
I creditt both, for I ne'er knew you move
But in the wayes of honour, as of Love.
Therefore I begg of both I may but knowe
Who 'twas those tales did tell, incens'd you soe.

Clor.
In this my deep obedience too shall shine.
My author is a Woman.

Luc.
So is mine.

Clor.
But, I beseech you, thinke mee not to blame,
If, though I tell the Sex, I hide her name.

Enter Melizer and the Page behind the hangings.
Page.
(to Mel.)
«There you may see, Sr, what you'd not beleive.»
(to Alt.)
The Chyrurgion hasts your danger to releive.

Alt.
I thanke him, but hee needs not make such hast,
For now the Danger I most fear'd is past.
[Exit Page.
But, Clorimun, 'tis a sinne to be true
To her that's false to honour, him, and you.
Therefore, as you are true to Love or fame,
From mee noe longer keepe this womans name.

Clor.
I must noe more a dissobedience show.
Candaces is the name you long to know.

Luc.
And, Madame, 'tis the same Candaces too
Told mee those wrongs, which I complain'd of now.

Alt.
Candaces! shee to whom I did impart
Without reserve the secretts of my heart!
Is't shee, then, who has all those troubles bred?
Whither, oh whither is that Monster fledd?

Candaces speakes.
Cand.
Here, Madame, here does that Candaces lie,
Asham'd to live, but not afraid to die.
My soule, though on her wings, shall stop her flight,
Till I have done these Injur'd Rivalls right.
Knowe then that I, who for Candaces past,
Am the unhappy guilty Altimast.

Luc.
Did you say Altimast, the only sonne
Of him who lately did usurp the Crowne?

Cand.
Sone to that King, who but this day was slayne,
Who, finding many murmur'd of his Reigne,
Declar'd that I faire Rosacleer shou'd wedd,
And after him shou'd to this crowne succeed.
That heart, which shou'd have been her sacrifice,
Was burnt before by Altemera's Eyes.
Therefore, upon my destin'd wedding day,
With this dead Confident I stole away,
And, passing for a woman, I did sue
To be admitted to attend on you,
And still to please you I was soe intent,
That I at last became your confident.
Then, when I saw soe great esteeme you bore
To Clorimun, such love to Lucidor,
I sadly found I must at once Contend
With one as Lover, and with one as freind.
That was not all: my Father Lov'd you too.

Clor.
In such a desp'rate Case, what cou'd you doe?

Cand.
'Twas then that Lucidor his freinds made strong,
And, cloking private hate with publique wronge,
Tooke Armes, which gain'd soe much your Fathers mind,
To give you to that rivall he design'd,
Which to prevent, two of your Guards I wonne,
Who did betray the Towne to Clorimun;
For, though to see you a pris'ner were a curse,
Yet to behold you Lucidors was worse.

Luc.
That Action shows the tyranny of fate,
Strange Love to cause the worst effect of hate.

Cand.
You wast your Anger, Sr, before your time.
Love made mee yet Committ a Blacker Cryme,
For, knowing Clorimun and you did move
In strictest Rules of Honour and of Love,
I cunningly to each of you still sent
The foulest stories malice could invent,
In hopes such bold Revenge you wou'd designe,
That, acting yours, I might encompasse mine.

Alt.
Oh wickednesse above the highest Curse!

Cand.
Though this seemes bad, yet I have acted worse.
When, Madame, you before my Father came,
And hee without disguise disclos'd his Flame,
I must acknowledge I was soe unjust
As to provoke the fury of his Lust,
Soe that hee vow'd, incens'd by his dispaire,
To act by force what was deny'd to prayer.
Then, with feign'd Poison, I did you beguile,
Which seemingly did kill you for a while,
But, before this, I had, by an Expresse,
Acquainted Lucidor with your distresse.
But I had things soe order'd, that his speed
Should bring him here only to find you dead,
And then resolv'd, assisted by this freind,
By killing him my greatest feare to end.

Alt.
Cou'd you then hope, when Lucidor was dead,
And dy'd for mee, that ever I wou'd wedd?

Cand.
I wou'd have told you, when Life came againe,
Dispaire, not I, your Lucidor had slayne,
But the Just Gods, I find, had not decreed
My crymes, though crymes of passion, shou'd succeed.
Yet let this truth from you some pitty winne;
My Life had more of Love in't than of sinne,
My Life, which, since a trouble to your sight,
Thus I enlarge the passage of its flight.
[Teares the wound wider.
Hee that to right your wrongs soe Just does prove,
What would hee not have done to winne your Love?
My death is come in a most happy time,
If for my death you'l pardon mee my cryme,
For the best Joy to which I now pretend
Is that your hate and I at once—may—end.

[Dies.
Alt.
O fatall death, but o more fatall Life!
Yet his confession sure will end your strife.

Clor.
'Twill end whatever I had fancied ill.
But I know, Madame, he's my Rivall still.

Luc.
And that high Title solemnly I sweare,
Whilst that my Life does last, I still will weare.

Enter Chyrurgion hastily.
Chy.
Where does the wounded Altemera lye?
I thought my helpe but crept, though I did fly.

Clor.
Here, here, she lies, and thy too tedious stay
Has made her life with her blood ebb away.

Luc.
If this ambition'd cure thou dost fulfill,
The whole world shall be debtor to thy skill.

Chy.
I hope my skill, wc h yet I will not boast,
May serve mee here, where I desire it most.

[Rubbs her temples, and she speakes faintly.
Alt.
By being freinds my sorrowes now decline,
Or else by death I vow to finnish mine.

Clor.
Is it decreed that wee must cease our strife,
Or else that you, madame, will end your life?

Alt.
It is, brave Clorimun, and listen now
To what I here irrevocably vow.
Though to your Rivall all my Love is bent,
Yet to be his I must have your consent,
But yet if I of your consent shou'd misse,
I ne're must be anothers, since not his;
Soe that 'tis in your power to make me prove
A martyr both to freindshipp and to Love.

Clor.
Oh, Altemera! what is it you doe?
At once you promise and you threaten too.
You give mee power by what you now expresse
To ruine all my Rivalls happinesse,
But that great Joy must cost a greater Cryme,
For I must ruine you to ruine him.

Alt.
Since 'tis not in my power, as I have showne,
To make your blessing, I'le declyne my owne.
None to a higher action can pretend
Than choose to dye, rather than wrong a freind.

Clor.
Yet you would have my duty higher fly;
'Tis more to quitt a Mistresse than to die.

Chy.
Whilst you're contending in this noble strife,
Permitt mee to preserve her noble life.

[Offers to dresse her; shee puts him off.
Alt.
Hold, for I'le know, ere you your art apply,
Whether 'tis best for mee to Live or die.
In vaine you strive that cure now to pursue,
Which I must owe to Clorimun, not you.

Chy.
If shee refuse my helpe, such is her state,
Ten minutes hence, I doubt 'twill come too late.

Clor.
Your scorning death in mee such greifs had bred,
I wish'd you rather Lucidors than dead.
Why shou'd not I, since Life againe you have,
Performe that wc h will keep you from the Grave,
And save your life now at as high a Rate
As I would lately have redeem'd it at?
The tyrant then forc'd you to that sad fate;
What was his sinne, why shou'd I immitate?
A perfect Lover shou'd much more endure
His Mistresse sufferings to prevent, than cure.
'Twere sinne to thinke I much more wou'd not give
To make you happie, than but make you Live.
Since 'tis decreed by those Eternall pow'rs
You must be either death's or Lucidors,
Be his then, Madame, for I'le not deny
'Tis fitter that my hopes, than you, shou'd die.

Alt.
Then with your Leave, if not by your Comand,
I'le give my Lucidor, my faith and hand.

Clor.
Give it him then, and may you never know
Such greifes in all your life, as I feel now.

Alt.
What is, alasse, in these sad words your drift?
Let not the way of giving spoile your guift.
Your grant you may, my vow I'le ne'er repent.
I'le have your likeing therefore as Consent,
Or else from death soe farre I am not yet,
But I still knowe how back againe to gett.

Clor.
Why doe you treat mee at this Cruell rate?
Your tyranny surpasses that of fate.
Fate only made me wretched, but you show,
To please you, I must myselfe soe too;
Which yet, I'le doe, and now to you present
At once my likeing, Madame, and Consent,
But never fortune did like power assigne,
For I must give what yet was never mine.

Alt.
What now I say, your wonder will releive.
Though I was not yours to keepe, I'me yours to give.

[Chirurgeon Dresses her.
Clor.
To loose you, Altemera, was a wound
Which did my reason trouble, not Confound,
And now my passion vanishes, I see
Love were not Love, unlesse that it were free.

Alt.
But one grant more, then all my trouble ends:
'Tis that with Lucidor you'll still be freinds.

Clor.
How can you thinke I'de act at such a Rate,
As to give what I Love to what I hate?
Only my Love to you made mee his foe.
Now that must cease, my hate shall doe soe too.

Alt.
Then doe noe longer at such distance stand.

Clor.
To whome you give your heart, I'le give my hand.

Luc.
My Gratitude I doe not ill expresse
By vowing 'tis vast, as my happinesse.

Enter Melizer.
Mel.
Wonder not, Altemera, that you see
Your King to this accord will witnesse bee.
And, Lucidor, since you to armes did fly
But to preserve your mistresse Chastitie,
As soone as arte and time your Mistresse cures,
By sacred nuptiall Rites shee shall be yours.
To Clorimun's consent you shall have mine,
For Altemera's of the Royall Line.

[Lucidor kneeles.
Luc.
These mercies, Sr, confound mee, I confesse.
The Life you give is the least happinesse.
Your gifts I cannot with more Joy receive,
Than for your service I my Life will give.

Enter Memnor Conducted by Thrasolin, Monasin, Filadin, Cratoner and Olerand.
Mem.
Your Subjects, Sir, from whose Campe now I came,
[Kneeles.
Have sent mee to acquaint you in their name
Their Joy, that in your Lawfull throne you sitt.
To their true sovereigne gladly they submitt.
Against the usurpers pow'r they made defence,
But they to you are all obedience.
You may doe with them, Sir, what you thinke meet;
They lay their Lives and fortunes at your feete.

Mel.
Rise, Memnor, Rise, you that such news have brought
Deserve a pardon sure for any fault.
My mercies still shall be to those more great,
Which to it trust, and for it doe not treat.
Past faults I'le never to Remembrance bring,
For which the word I give you of your king.

Mem.
Long live our Melizer, the great and good,
As high in mercy as he is in bloud!

Mel.
Now, Clorimun, I'le speake for your releife
That which shall cure, or else divert your greife.
The Apulian king on Scicily does fall,
And of this Warr I make you Generall.

Clor.
That high Command, Sr, which to mee you give,
I on my knees submissively receive.
[Kneeles.
Since Altemera I must Court noe more,
Glory is now the Mistresse I'le adore.
For, haveing courted her, all must Confesse,
Any besides to court, were to goe lesse.
In my first Love, though I in vaine did strive,
Yet in the second I'me resolv'd to thrive.
This Resolution does my fate befitt;
I'le outbrave fortune, whilst I yeild to it.
Lett all the World against my peace agree;
I'le make my happinesse depend on mee.

Mem.
I on my knees begg in this Warr you'l try
[Kneeles.
Your late forgiven subjects Loyaltie.
You shou'd, great Sr, to make our Joyes Compleat,
Helpe Us to pay, as to Contract our debt.

Mel.
I freely grant you that for wc h you pray,
And henceforth take that Army into pay.

Crat.
By this you'l find 'tis the decree of fate
The Souldiers trade shou'd ne're be out of date.

Fil.
Pitty it shou'd, for all men wicked are,
And nothing punnishes all men but Warre.

Mon.
The price yet of that cure may be too great.

Clor.
Warr begitts Crymes, as Crymes does warr begett.

Thras.
Nothing to Souldiers can more wish'd for come,
Than to have Warrs abroad and peace at home.

Mel.
Your March to Morrow, Clorimun, beginne.
Now let Us lead faire Altemera in;
Then let Us all unto the Temple goe,
And Pay to Heaven that gratitude wee owe.