 | The Treacherous Brothers |  |
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The Second ACT.
SCENE. I.
Enter Menaphon and Orgillus.Men.
He Comes, my Brother Cyprus Monarch comes,
Wrap'd up with Joy for his success i'th' War,
To meet a Fate, far worse then those Sicillians,
Whom his Victorious Arm has Lodg'd in Graves.
For we have not alone Conspired his fall,
But what will add more pleasure to revenge,
His Soul for that short time he lives on Earth,
Shall feel worse Torments then the damn'd endure,
O what a Scene have we in one night laid,
To ruine, both a King, a Queen, and Fav'rite.
Org.
Brother you yet forget the greatest Point,
The Plot we've laid, we can't perform alone.
But by the help of some that's near the Queen,
We may with ease Accomplish our design,
Armena, Confident to fair Semanthe,
I once did make some shew of kindness to,
And till the Fruit I tasted, lov'd the Tree;
And tho' my passion does apace decline,
To further our design, I'le yet love on,
At least pretend I do, she, she shall aid us;
I know for the past pleasures we have had,
And for those many more she hopes t'enjoy,
She'l be assisting to what e're I ask
Men.
But Orgillus, will she be faithfull to us?
Org.
That is indeed against her Sexes nature,
But if she's secret till we've workt our ends,
A bowl of Poison stops her tongue with ease.
Men.
O thou art most Ingenions at contrivance,
By Heav'n I am all Extasy to think,
With what a brave Revenge I pay her scorn.
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The Scene of blood, will yet far higher grow,
For when the Hot, the fiery Meleander,
(The Brother to this scornfull piece of Beauty)
Shall from the King hear of his Sisters shame;
I know his boyling bloud will rise so high,
That his wild rage will be his own undoing.
Then, then my Brother, when the Royal Line,
Is by the King's fierce Jealousy destroy'd,
Who then remains to take the Crown but me,
Ambition and Revenge have fired my Soul,
And I'm Impatient till the work is done.
Org.
Brother be Temperate, for rashness often,
Spoils those designs that have with care been laid;
And roots up their Foundations—See Armena:
Now smooth-fac'd flattery assist my Cause
And dear dissimulation stand my Friend,
Retire my Menaphon, it is not fit,
You should be seen till I have wrought her to us.
Men.
I go, and may success attend thy purpose—
Ex. Men.
Enter Armena.
Org.
Madam you're grown a perfect stranger to me,
There was a time when it was otherwise.
Arm.
There was indeed, but now that time is past:
You did obtain my easy Love too soon,
And scorn the prize which was so quickly won,
Now other beauties do possess that heart,
Which once I thought my own, but O fond fool,
Why did my vanity extend so far,
To think that I had Charms enough to keep
One of that Sex which ne're were constant yet?
Org.
Armena, I confess I've been unkind
But oh it was not without wond'rous reason:
Arm.
Did I e're give you cause, No Orgillus,
The tender Mother of her sucking Infant,
Was never half so fond, as I of thee.
I must confess indeed I was below ye,
But sure my Love might make amends for that.
What cause then coud'st thou find so soon to slight me?
Org.
O my best life, think not 'twas want of love,
No my Armenia I so truly love thee,
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Empty the store-house of my thoughts and heart,
Make my self poor of Secrets, will not leave,
One thought untold that dwells within my breast.
Arm.
What e're it be my Lord that does disturb you,
O Let me know't, that I may bear a part.
Org.
Thou shalt my Love, but oh take heed Armena!
Be very Cautious, and keep close the secret.
For 'tis so great, my life relies upon't.
Arm.
Can Orgillus then doubt me, Oh unkind,
That very word Confirms you do not love.
Org.
Pardon me dearest, I'le distrust no more.
Know then, the King, the Queen, and Ithocles,
Did all conspire my Ruine, and disgrace,
I once was favour'd, and belov'd at Court,
I was the darling of the King and People;
But when the King was wedded to Semanthe,
All that great love which he before had shewn me,
He took away at once from Orgillus,
And streight bestow'd it on Semanthe's Brother:
This I forgave, and thought it was my duty,
To resign place to'th Brother of my Queen,
But Oh a worse disgrace he threw upon me,
For Ithocles, this upstart Favourite,
Crept into the opinion of the Queen,
And by her mediation to the King,
Got from me all the Offices I bore, and gave 'em all to him.
This, this Armenia, hangs upon my Soul,
More heavy far then lies the Load on Atlas.
But didst thou Love, didst thou but truly Love,
I yet might find a way to crown my peace.
Arm.
O name it Orgillus! and if I fail,
T'assist in ought that may produce thy quiet,
May I ne're taste the Joys that are on Earth,
Nor the Immortal pleasures dwell in Heav'n.
Org.
Thou only Miracle of woman kind.
How cou'd I merit so much wond'rous Goodness?
Know then Armena to revenge my wrongs,
I have design'd the death o'th King and Queen,
But cannot do't without thy kind assistance.
Arm.
How Orgillus!
Org.
What d'ye start Armena?
Nay then I have deliver'd up my life
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Arm.
Indeed my Lord this is the only thing,
I shou'd i'th least have scrupled to have done.
But yet to shew how well, how true I love,
I'le strive in this to serve my Orgillus.
Org.
O let me take thee Closer to my heart,
My dearest Saint, my life, my Soul, my heav'n:
Arm.
I must Confess I could not easily
Embarque in a design of so much horrour;
But O my Lord you have receiv'd indignities,
Disgrace so infamous, and wrongs so Lowd,
Enough to shake a Saint, wrongs of that weight
That I have wonder'd you cou'd bear and Love:
Nay, but to think what crying Injuries.
What vile injustice the ingratitude,
Of a false Court has heap'd on my dear Lord,
Has sometimes Rowz'd that Gall, that Just resentment,
Even in poor, poor Armena, that I've wish'd,
A Masculine Nerve in this female Arm,
Able to weild a Sword in your hard cause,
And be my dearest injur'd Love's Avenger.
Org.
My Beauteous Champion, my Lovely Heroine,
In what a mighty Sum shall I be bound:
Arm.
I must be gone, the Queen will streight expect me,
But oh my Orgillus with thee I leave
My Heart, which shall be ever faithfull to thee:
And tho' the world my fault will disapprove,
I'de venture more to serve the man I love.
[Exit Arm.
Manet Orgillus.
Org.
Poor Loving fool, with how much ease thou'rt caught,
That man that wou'd Successfull be in mischief,
Must by one means, or other, hook in woman;
Mischief's they'r study, mischief is their Trade,
And sure t'was for that only they were made.
For when a woman once in mischief Joyns,
She's sure to gain whatever she designs.
Enter Menaphon.
Now Brother Tryumph, things exceed our wishes;
I've wrought Armenia up to such a height,
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Men.
'Tis well, but let us hast to meet the King.
Hark
Trumpets Drums, and Shouts afar off.
Those Shouts inform us he is near the City;
And if our Plot goes right, near to his Grave.
Again! Good Heav'n!
[Shouts nearer
With how much Joy they wellcome him to Death.
Come Orgillus, let us go meet this man
Who Swell'd with Conquest comes with Tryumph on.
Trumpets and Drums on one side. On the Other, Violins, Flutes, and other Musick. Enter on one side, the King, Meleander, Lattimus, Captains, & Guards. On the other. The Queen, Ithocles, Marcelia, Menaphon, Orgillus and Armena attend. The King and Semanthe meet and Embrace.
King.
O my Semanthe take me to thy breast,
And let me Grow for ever in thy Arms.
By Heav'n my Joys are much too great to bear,
Shou'd I gaze longer on this Charming fair,
Such killing brightness from her eyes she'd cast,
I shou'd not have the power to stand before 'em.
Sem.
My Lord, my life, O how shall I express
My wonderous Bliss, to see you safe return'd!
I swear I think the Joys of Heaven too poor
To put in ballance with this one bless'd hour.
King.
My dear, dear happyness, my all I prize;
I swear my Lords; and O bear witness for me,
You mighty Powers that have in war preserv'd me
I Joy not half so much in all my Conquests,
As I do now in this dear happy minute,
Clasping Semanthe in my Longing Arms.
[Whilst the King goes and Salutes Marcelia Meleander comes towards the Queen
Sem.
O wellcome Brother, wellcome Meleander,
From all the dreadfull hazards of the war,
Wellcome above the world next my Lov'd Lord.
Mele.
I thank you Royall Sister, and I beg
[presents Lattimus.
Your favour for this youth, my lifes preserver.
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Itho.
The more I look upon that Lovely youth,
The more I see of poor Statilia in him,
My Sister who before this war fled from me,
[aside
Whither I know not, nor for what strange Cause:
Men.
Health and Success attend your Majesty,
[Kneeling.]
May all the Glories that your Arms have won,
Be doubled on you, and your Conqu'ring Sword
Be ever thus Successful 'gainst your foes.
King.
Rise Menaphon, my true, my faithfull freind,
O what return is in my power sufficient,
To recompence thee for thy wonderous care,
Of my Semanthe and my Kingdoms safety.
I swear cou'd I bestow a Crown upon thee,
'Twould be too little to requite thy merits.
Men.
What I have done, was nothing but my duty,
And wou'd do more, if more were in my power,
To serve my Royall Lord.
King.
I know thou wou'dst. I know thy honesty,
To be as great as ever dwelt in man.
And know besides, that shou'd I spend my Life
In thanks to Heav'n for making me so bless'd,
With Loyall Subjects, faithful valiant Warriours,
But above all with my Semanthes Love,
'Twould be too little. O my brightest Star!
Let me again infold the next my heart.
Thus breathe my Soul into thy throbbing bosome,
I cou'd grow mad with my excese of bliss,
And end my Life this moment in thy arms.
Men.
How soon this mighty Scene of love will vanish,
When once he finds my Poyson working in him.
[aside
Itho.
My Royall Lord, since you're so bless'd by fate.
And Heav'n has given you all you can desire,
Let me implore who want your Royall favour,
Your kinb Consent to make your vassall happy.
King.
O Ithocles! if ought is in my power
To recompence thy Loyallty and Courage,
Be quick and let me know how I may serve thee.
Itho.
Great Sir, upon my knees I beg forgiveness,
That I presume to ask so great a gift.
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And tho' I'me loved, by her my Soul most Covets.
'Tis your Consent alone can make me happy.
Since 'tis Marcelia Sir for whom I sue.
Mele.
Ha! for Marcelia Lord thou suest in vain.
For tho' I yet ne're own'd my Love to her,
I've Long been her Adorer,
And have the Kings Consent to make her mine.
Latt.
Then I am Lost—
[Aside.
King.
'Tis true brave Ithocles.
Before I knew thy Love, I'de given my promise.
And never can consent she shall be thine,
Whilst one so pow'rfull stands in Competition.
Mar.
O Sir, upon my knees let me intreat you.
Force not my Inclinations, 'tis most true,
That I have given my heart to Ithocles,
And never can consent to love another.
Meleander is too noble sure to seek.
The love of one that must deny his passion.
Mele.
Why Cruell fair? am I so far unworthy?
That you should scorn me thus to please a Rivall,
He cannot more then I adore Marcelia,
Nor Venture more to shew how much he loves.
I have the King's Consent—
Itho.
But I Marcelia's.
Mar.
And when I e're consent to love another,
Heav'n shut your bright gates against me, banish me,
From the bless'd Realms of your Immortal day.
May I—
King.
No more thou Cheap Ignoble fool,
That durst to own a Love without my knowledge;
To you my Lord I ever shew'd such kindness—
[to Itho.
As might have kept you from so base an Act,
To Court thus privately a Niece of mine,
Forget her, and I'le own thee still my Friend.
Persist in it, and thy Life answers for it.
Itho.
Forget her! No, if I must lose Marcelia,
Death is the kindest thing you can bestow,
And I wou'd now most willingly embrace it,
Since I must never hope t'obtain my Love.
For you, my Lord, it shews most base in you
[to Mele.
To offer to invade Anothers right.
Our hearts, our Souls, are join'd by Solemn Contract,
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Her Constant heart is never to be Chang'd.
Therefore I know your Courtship will be vain.
Latt.
Pray Heav'n it be—
[Aside
King.
Well Sir, leave that to time.
But now to shew how much thy vanity;
And thy unlook'd for suit, has mov'd thy King,
As you respect my favour I command you,
Never make mention of thy impious love,
[to Itho.
For if thou dost, by the great victory
My arms have gain'd over the bold Sicillians,
Thou shallt no more behold the face of day,
But in a Dungeon dark as your loves were,
I'le make thee end the remnant of thy days.
Sem.
My Gracious Lord, let me intreat this mercy,
To Calm your rage 'gainst the unhappy Ithocles,
Consider love's the Occasion of his Crime,
Whose power alass your Royall self have felt,
And know 'tis Irresistable.
King.
O pardon me, thou Mirrour of thy Sex,
That I bestow one minute from thy arms:
But shall Semanthes Brother plead in vain,
He who feels flames as great as Ithocles,
It must not be; by Heav'n my love it must not:
Conduct Marcelia straight to her Apartment,
[to Armena.
And let none visit her without my Order.
[Exit Marcelia weeping with Armena.
Come my Semanthe, after all the Hazards
That do attend on war, the happyness
Of thy bless'd presence, makes me feel new life:
On to the Temple, where when we have given,
Our thanks to the great Powers that have preserv'd us.
Impatiently I'le wait the approach of night.
Then wrap'd in loves Immortall Paradice,
I'le revell in unutterable Bliss:
[Exit Omnes.
Prætor Itholes.
Itho.
Strike home dear Thunder, end my ling'ring pains:
Did ever Lover feel my Pangs and live?
Never was man surrounded with my Glory.
Th'intire possessor of the Constant love,
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And yet am doom'd to famish in despair,
So the poor naked Slave diggs in the mine,
And sees the Glittering Ore around him shine,
But does with hopeless eyes that wealth behold,
Wretched and starv'd, amidst a mine of Gold.
[Exit.
The End of the Second Act.
| The Treacherous Brothers | |