University of Virginia Library

THE THIRD ACT.

The Scene is King John's Apartment.
Enter King John, and a Page.
Page.
The fair Valeria has her Brother sent
T'attend you, Sir, in your imprisonment;
His Sister from the Duke of Lancaster
Obtain'd a Pass which brought him safely here;
He is but newly lighted at your Gate
And begs your leave that he on you may wait.

King.
Valeria's Brother sure it cannot be.

Page.
Sir, I but say the words he said to me.

King.
Which of her Brothers is't?

Page.
—That Brother, Sir;
Who, e're his face was hurt; resembled her.

King.
Call him—
Exit Page.
How can I on the Brother look,
Whose Sister is by me so soon forsook?
But who the Bright Plantagenet shall see,
Must be unjust or else must pardon me.

Enter the Page with Valeria's Brother, whom the King embraces.
King.
You are so like your Sister, I should know
You were her Brother though none told me so:
She may increase my Debt as she thinks sit,
But nothing can the Sence I have of it.
The Battel I have lost I hope that She
Ascribes to my Ill Fate, and not to Me;
Fortune alas too Tyrannous would prove,
If what has lost my Crown should lose her Love.

Val. Bro.
Since for your Mistress you of her made Choice,
She at the loss, Sir, does almost rejoyce;
For it presents her with a proof that shows,
Her Love is past the reach of Fortunes Blows.
She'll grieve at nothing your ill Fate can do,
Unless at that which fevers her from you.

King.
Never Affection to this height did rise,
It proves her Love is matchless as her Eyes;
And makes me scarce repine at what I bear,
Since it does shew how I am lov'd by her.

Val. Bro.
She of her Love a higher Proof does show,
In what she has commanded me to do;
For, Sir, she knows that England still affords
Beauties, which are Resistless as her Swords,
And has enjoyn'd me if you here should be
In Love with any one more Fair then She,
I should assist you, Sir, in your Amours,
And Sink her Happiness, to Heighten yours.

King.
She does at once in what she bid you do
Declare her Love, and run no hazard too;
For he, who once is made Valeria's prize,
Is arm'd against all Wounds from others Eyes.
Enter Guesclin.
The King goes hastily to meet him to the other side of the Theater: Valeria's Brother list'ning to them.
'Tis with impatience, Guesclin, I have staid
To learn from you the Progress you have made.

Guesc.
In vain I try by Presents, Sir, to win
The Assistance of the Beauteous Cleorin;
She, as I'me told, was preingag'd before.

King.
Whoever told you that could tell you more.

Guesc.
By Gifts I won a Lady who of late
The Honour on your Mistress had to wait,
Who told me and assur'd me it was true,
The Prince of Wales does love your Mistress too.

King
In this my Cruel Fate on me does send
The greatest curse which I could apprehend,
Must I the Prince or else my Fortune blame,
Who thus does rival me in Love and Fame?

Guesc.
How can you justly, Sir, this News deplore
Since I but tell you what you thought before.
'Tis the least Wonder does in Love befall,
To think a Mistress is Ador'd by all.
I as a Lover to that Thought was bound,
But now that Thought a Certainty is found,
Which justly in my Soul does grief infuse.

Guesc.
She has acquainted me with stranger News,
She told me, Sir, this is the second time,
The Bright Plantagenet was lov'd by him.
He by Despair to the French Wars was sent,
She leaving him to wed the Earl of Kent,
But she the cause of it could not relate.

King.
How strange and intricate a Pow'r is Fate,
The Prince of Wales finds in a slighted Flame
The Noblest of all wayes to raise his Fame;
Glory does heal what Love made him endure,
And his Dispair presents him with his Cure.
He mist her Love a while, that he might be
More worthy of it by his Conquering Me;
A happy Planet at his Birth did Reign;
A seeming Loss brings him a double Gain;
While Fate with me so cruelly does act,
As by one Loss a greater I contract,
Successless Love his way to Fame does prove,
And loss of Fame does make my way to Love.

Guesc.
You wrong your Vertue by this strange Debate;
The Brave are still the makers of their Fate;
'Tis onely, Sir, those men whose Souls are low,
Which first made Fate and then to Fate did bow.
Nor War nor Love, Sir, are Resistless Powers,
Both have their Happy as Unhappy Hours;
But he who does for one Mischance Dispair,
Can ne're be prosperous in Love or War.
As I have told you what has rais'd your Grief,
So now I will present you some Relief;
For my informer, Sir, to me has swore,
That though the Prince your Mistress does Adore,
He hath not yet his Love to her disclos'd,
She therefore, Sir, has hopefully propos'd.
That you this moment to the Prince would go
And let him from your self this Passion know;
His Friendship for you and so great a Trust
Will make him cease to Love or be Unjust;
If, Sir, he does the first, your End you win,
And by the last make Rivalship no Sin:
This, Sir, which She Proposes I approve.

King.
No Friendship ever yet could conquer Love,
He to that Passion vainly does pretend
Who can resign his Mistris to his Friend;
I scarce can relish what she does advise,
It seems to me nor Generous, nor Wise,
For in vain hopes of what it ne're will do
I clearer shall the lesser Friendship show;
My Friendship too were guilty of a Crime
Should his do more for me then mine for him.

Guesc.
But e're her Council, Sir, you Disapprove,
Consider if you can forsake your Love.

King.
Sooner then I my Passion will forgo
I will forsake my Crown and Friendship too.

Guesc.
Then pray, Sir, follow what she does Advise,
And you will find 'tis Generous and wise;
If to the Prince you first your Passion own
You first do that which he first should have done,
And lay that Blame on him while this you do;
Which justly else he might have charg'd on you:
Since you will Court the Mistress of your Friend
This is the fairest way to reach your End.

King.
I will approve that which you last did say,
And to attempt it will no time delay.

[Exeunt King, Guesclin and Page.
Val. Bro.
In which of both does he not Guilty prove,
In his Dissembling, or his change of Love?
There is but one way left that I can see
To Cure or Punish his Inconstancy.—

Exit.
Enter Plantagenet and Cleorin.
Cleo.
Guesclin did shew no little Discontent
When I refus'd the Gifts his King had sent,
Who since this way he does Successless prove
He will himself declare to you his Love;
And, Madam, I believe King Edward too
Will suddenly disclose his Flame to you.

Plan.
Oh Cleorin how cruel is my Fate
That those should Love me most whom most I Hate,
And he whom most I love, spight of his Fault,
I fear of me scarce does admit a Thought

Enter to them Alizia and Sevina.
Aliz.
Excuse me, Madam, if I take this time
T'accuse your Beauty of a seeming Crime:
That Friendship which on me you did bestow
Does make it just I should yet call it so.

Plan.
Madam, I am Surpriz'd at what you say,
For that great Friendship which to you I pay,
Does make me confident I ne're could do
What may be call'd a seeming Crime by you.
Let me but know my Charge, and you will see
You are more Faulty in Suspecting me.

Aliz.
From the first hour in which you did descend
To bless me with the Title of your Friend,
I so much valu'd it as Heaven does know
I strove to Merit what you did bestow,
Which makes what e're I did in serving you
To be at once my Joy and Duty too.
And though your Goodness often would confess
I serv'd you above all you could express,
Yet I was higher Griev'd I did no more,
Then I was Pleas'd with all I did before.

Plan.
Madam, to prove my Debt you need not strive,
I'le own my self the ungratefull'st Soul alive,
If since our Friendship I did e're admit
A thought which might but seem unfit for it.

Aliz.
Ah, Madam, can you say what now you do,
And have your Face exempt from blushes too?
Or do you think it is a Friendly thing
To rob me of my Lover and my King?
One, who till now preserv'd so pure a Flame
As made hime greater for his Love then Fame,
If this be held a Friendly Act by you,
Pursue such friendly Acts, and Kill me too;
To me a much less Cruelty 'twould prove
To rob me of my Life, than of my Love;
For our past Friendships sake you shou'd not give
Wounds worse than Death, and after let me live:
Your Cruelty grants half of my Request,
Then let your Pity, Madam, grant the rest:
Accept this Weapon, and no longer shun
To let your Hand cure what your Eyes have done.

Presenting her a Dagger.
Plan.
I am amaz'd at what you say and do,
I'le sooner wound my self with it than you.

Aliz
Ah, 'tis your kindness to the King I see
Hinders your granting what is beg'd by me;
His Image, Madam, you but love too well,
You fear to strike the Shrine where it does dwell;
But for that Reason what I ask dispence,
Since onely Death can banish it from thence;
Else to you Conquest 'twill some trouble give
To know he in your Rivals heart does live.

Plan.
Can you believe I'll share that Monarcks Bed
By whose Command my Father lost his Head?
My Father who was Unkle too to him,
And who in Virtue to such height did climb,
As a whole day he on the Scaffold stood,
E're they could find out one would shed his Blood;
King Edwards double Guilt my soul does fright,
First he usurp'd on his own Fathers right,
Then stain'd a Scaffold with his Unkles gore
For striving his wrong'd Brother to restore.

Aliz.
You should not charge your Fathers death on him,
Since 'twas his Pow'r, not he, which did that Crime;
His Councellors, while he was under age,
Cloath'd with his name th'injustice of their rage;
For which when he had reach'd his Fourteenth year,
He put to death the Guilty Mortimer,
And to appease you for that Murtherers Sin
He now does Court you to become his Queen.

Plan.
I thought from Nature you had understood
There's no Atonement for a Fathers Blood:
Then do not think I'le ever Condescend
At once to injure Nature and my Friend.

Aliz.
Have you forgot how you were almost won,
Madam, to wed your Father's Murth'rers Son?
If onely Love prevail'd so far with you,
What cannot Love, and thirst of Empire do.

Plan.
Into a high Injustice I had run
Had I ascrib'd the Kings guilt to his Son.

Aliz.
You with a worse Injustice can dispence,
You charge the King with Mortimers Offence;
A Fathers Guilt a Son may undergo,
But Kings partake not Sins which Subjects do.

Plan.
If on the Prince his Birth a Guilt did lay,
He with his Tears did wash that Guilt away.

Aliz.
The Princes Grief was Weak, the Kings was Strong,
The Prince Deplor'd, the King Reveng'd your Wrong;
The King did more if rightly understood,
The Son gave you but Tears, the Father Blood.

Plan.
'Twill easier to a Cruel Prince appear,
To spill a Subjects Blood, then shed a Tear:
But those true Show'rs wept by the Prince of Wales
To judge him Innocent with me prevails.

Aliz.
This does but shew the King what he should Do,
He need but Weep to be judg'd Guiltless too;
Or if yet Guilty held, with little Pain
A Lovers Tears will wash off any Stain.

Plan.
Though your not Crediting what I have spoke
My just Resentment does too much provoke,
Yet that you may my Friendship clearly see,
Ev'n while you shew that you have none for me,
Since what I said has not prevail'd with you,
I will Convince you by this Solemn Vow:
I swear the King nor any e're to me
Mention'd that Love which makes your Jealousie;
And should he e're for me a Passion have,
Rather than wed the King I'le wed my Grave:
These Vows your Friendship should to me restore.

Sev.
You cannot Ask, nor can she Promise more.

Cleo.
Such Vowes as these should your Belief perswade,
And Friendship thus Renow'd is Stronger made.

Aliz.
Ah, Madam, now my Trouble is more high
Then it was lately by my Jealousie;
You could impose no Penance so Sublime,
As thus to Shew me and Forgive my Crime.
What ends one Pain a greater does begin,
Since all my Grief for your imagin'd Sin
Did not so much my wounded Mind Subdue,
As does the Grief of having Injur'd you:
Yet who can wonder that I Jealous grew
Of so much Beauty and such Vertue too;
The Perfectness of both you now have shown,
The Last has pardon'd what the First has done.

Plan.
If what I did might to Reward pretend
You give the greatest, being still my Friend.

[Embraces her.
Aliz.
And may I be depriv'd of Life and Fame,
When e're again I lose that Glorious Name.

Exeunt.
Enter King Edward, and Lord Latymer as in Discourse.
Laty.
To me th'assurance she did twice repeat.

King.
What! that my Son Adores Plantagenet?

Laty.
And with a Passion, Sir, that does appear
More fierce then that which he first paid to her.

King.
Ah can he be so mean to Love again
One who his former Passion did Disdain?
One who was Guilty of so strange a Crime,
As to give Kent that Heart she Promis'd him?
And that her Scorn she might the more Display,
Wedded a Rival on his wedding day;
At least that day which was for him design'd.

Laty
Love never was to Reasons Rules confin'd,
For 'tis a Passion, Sir, which onely knows
Such Laws as on it self it will Impose.

King.
But Honour should oblige him to Abhor
One by whose Guilt he was Betray'd before.

Laty.
A Lover thinks that no Dishonour lies
In twice submitting to his Mistress Eyes.
We soon with Love and Fortune reconcile,
When either of them after Frowning Smile.

King.
Oh Latymer, the News thou dost impart
Does with a Double wound afflict my Heart;
First that my Son by such a Love should dare
To blast those Glories he has won in War;
Then that his Flames should be to her Address'd
Without whose Love I never can be Blest.—
Laty. starts.
Why dost thou start? is it so strange a thing
That so much Beauty should Subdue thy King?
Rather admire I did not sooner bow
To such Bright Eyes, then that I do it now;
The Greatest Men that e're the World did Grace
Have still allow'd to Love the Highest Place;
Cæsar, who gained many a Glorious Field,
Yet did to Cleopatra's Beauties yield.

Laty.
Had he not won many a Glorious Field,
That Love had been but as his Weakness held;
His Conquests make us think his Soul Sublime,
And many Victories Excuse one Crime.

King.
Whatever in my Love is judg'd amiss
I'le expiate by Actions Great as his.

Laty.
But how, Sir, can you well Condemn your Son
For Doing that which by your self is Done,
Since both of you intend the same Design.

King
His Case my Lord does differ much from mine.
For though we both Plantagenet Adore,
Yet he has been Betray'd by her before:
The difference is exceeding great you see
She has Affronted him, but Conquer'd me;
Love is at worst a Noble Frailty thought,
But Love when Scorn'd is justly held a Fault.

Laty.
May I be Pardon'd if I speak my heart?

King.
what 'ere you think you freely may impart.

Laty.
May not the Prince then, Sir, as justly say
You are more faulty to Alizia?
You cease to love her in whose Heart you Reign'd,
And he but loves her who his Love disdain'd;
He with the best of Loves extreams is curst,
But you seem guilty of the very worst;
His Fault is, Sir, the lesser of the two,
You too Inconstant are, and he too True.

King.
O do not wound me by reminding things
Which rather Trouble than Repentance brings.

Laty.
The Fault which you Confess will you Pursue?

King.
We should not Sin, and yet we dayly do;
I owe Alizia more then you can say,
But what I owe her I want pow'r to pay:
Plantagenet should onely Wonders do,
She makes my Fault, and does excuse it too.

Enter to them the Prince and Delaware.
Prince.
Sir, I am come to make you a Request
Which if deny'd I never can be Blest;
'Tis a Request I beg you to Admit,
And beg your Pardon too, for making it.

King.
I'le grant what e're you ask though ne're so great,
If't does not concern Plantagenet.

Prin.
Sir, It relates to her in some degree,
But it exceedingly relates to Me.

King
Then you are come, I doubt, to ask again
My leave that she may twice your Love disdain,
Since there is nothing else I can believe
Unfit for you to Ask, or me to Give,
And yet that Sin Honour should so detest,
As you should never make it your request.

Prin.
If 'tis a Sin to love her, Sir, I fear.
That every Man must Sin that Looks on her.

King.
Loving of her which is her Beauties Due
From any other, is a Sin in you.

Prin.
How can it, Sir, by you be justly thought
That what is Mandkinds Duty is my Fault.

King.
You know what Scorn she did to you dispence,
And in such ways as Height'ned the Offence;
Without the Blemish of that double Stain,
She had within your Heart deserv'd to Reign;

Prin.
But had not I through those Fierce Tryals run,
I had not Merited what I had Won.

King.
Too far she in those Guilty Tryals went,
When she abandon'd you to Marry Kent;

Prin.
His Fate is Nobler who Deserves, but Fails,
Then his who Merits not, and yet Prevails.

King.
But those Fierce Tryals which she us'd you to
Makes her Incapable to Merit you;
For should she love you now 'twould be too late;
The Wrongs of Honour what can expiate?

Prin.
Her Love, when e're Conferr'd, will Overpay
The Affronts of Scorn and Tortures of Delay;
Against her Beauties 'twere the greatest Fault
To think her Love can be too dearly bought.

King.
Rather that cruell'st Injury she gave
Should all your Scorn and all your Hatred have;
Then do not Hope I ever will allow
That by my leave she twice should Injure you,
Ask all those Provinces your Sword has Won,
Ask me to share with you the English Crown,
And that true Kindness with does me dispose
Still to deny you Her, would grant you Those.

Prin.
The Empire of the world I should Disdain,
Unless Plantagenet with me did Reign;
No Charms would in that Throne to me appear,
Without I had your leave to place Her there;
But if you grant me what I now implore,
I cannot Ask nor can you Give me more.

King.
When first her Beauties in your Heart did Reign,
I had design'd to Marry you in Spain;
And the consent I of Don Pedro won,
By which you had Succeeded to his Crown;
But by affection for you I was led
To give you leave Plantagenet to Wed.
What Act of greater Kindness could be shown,
Then yield your Love should lose so fair a Throne?
You have lost Spain by your first Fatal Flame,
And by your second you will lose your Fame.
Those Wreaths which Conquer'd France for you have made
By such a Guilty Fire will quickly fade.

Prin.
I doubt not, Sir, but by my Sword to gain
As large a Monarchy as that of Spain.
Fortune the Valiant may to Thrones prefer,
But 'tis by Sufferings I must Conquer her.

King.
Ah Prince, since nor your Reason nor your Fame
Can cure you of so Criminal a Flame,
I'le try if my Commands can make you do
What Fame and Reason cannot lead you to;
I here enjoyne you, son, by every thing
Which binds you to your Father and your King,
This sinful Love without delay decline,
Which should your Horror cause as well as mine,
For if this Passion longer you pursue,
You'll lose your Fame, your King and Father too.

Exeunt King and Lord Latymer.
Prin.
Two Ills he offers, one he bids me choose,
I must my Mistress or my Father Loose;
Why should he strive by Nature to remove
The highest bond of Nature that of Love?
Though Nat'ral 'tis t'Obey a Fathers call,
Yet to love her is much more Natural;
Since he would have me yield to Natures sway,
Where she most Rules there I should most Obey?

Dela.
Since She, your King, your Father, and your Friend
Oppose your Love, give to your Love an End;
Any of them the Conquest ought to Win,
Then to Oppose all Four will prove a Sin.

Prin.
Ah Delaware, the Sin were much more Great
Should I now cease to love Plantagenet,
Then I to kill my self I must needs consent
My Love and Life being of like extent.

Dela.
Your Passion is Unjust while 'tis so Great,
You pay Loves Score with what is Natures debt;
If in your Love so prodigal you are,
With what, Sir, will you pay your Fathers Care?

Prin.
Ah 'tis his Love for her, not care for me,
Which makes him treat me with such Cruelty;
Against all Rules of Justice he does go,
Making himself both Judge, and Party too;
If to Love her who wrong'd me be a Crime,
The self-same cause makes Love a Fault in him.

Dela.
More by a King and Father may be done
Then may be by a Subject, and a Son;
Let calmer Thoughts you to your Duty bring,
Pronounce the names of Father and of King
With that Respect which is to either due,
And yield to those Effects 'twill work in you,
Those Pow'rful Names will then Victorious be.

Prin.
I find in either dwells Divinity,
For nothing less of Force enough could prove
To hinder me to speak to her I Love.
This is the very utmost I can do,
And this Heav'n knows will prove my Torment too.

Dela.
Silence, Sir, is but half of what you owe,
You should suppress your Inclination too.

Prin.
My Inclinations must be let alone,
For though 'tis Mine yet it is not my own.

Dela.
Onely to Lovers this Distinction's known;
How can it, Sir, be yours, and not your own?

Prin.
Subjects who from their King the Pow'r have got
Are still his Subjects though he Rules them not.
Oh Friend, in my Condition there appears
Two Motions like to those which Rule the Sphears;
My Love the Rapid Motion I may call,
My Duty to my King the Natural,
Which while it does it's Regular Course obey,
Loves Rapid Motion hurries it away.

[Exeunt.