University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Sorano Solus.
Sor.
To love and be with Scorn and Pride rejected,
To see another revel in those Joys,
Those sweet Delights, I now must never hope for!
Love at the best, tho crown'd with soft compliance,
Is but a sickly transport of the mind,
A weakness wise men ever were asham'd of;
Then when 'tis hopeless, what brave Soul can bear it?
Yet still I love, and loving must enjoy.
I feel that Fire I once hop'd quite extinct,
Dilate it self with a redoubled fury.
The King, and this Valerio stand betwixt
Me and my hopes; therefore both shall dye.
Him I'll make odious for Valerio's death,
And mad Alphonso's, what's the consequence?
The people, mischief-ripe, rais'd by my power,
Shall kill the Tyrant, and at once make way
For Love and my Ambition. Here comes one
Ripe for the combat, and those fancy'd joys
Which like a shadow still shall fly before him.

[Enter Val.
Val.
They drink abundantly, I'm hot with Wine too,
Lustily warm. I'll steal now to my happiness.
'Tis midnight, and the silent hours invite me.
The Dew of Wine and Sleep hang on their Eye-lids;
Steep their dull senses in the healths they drink,
That I may quickly find my lov'd Evanthe.

Sor.
How brisk he is; but I shall quickly cool him,
Make him wish he were dead on's Marriage night,
Or bedrid with old age.

Val.
Is not the end of our ambitions,
Of all our humane studies,
Obtaining of our wishes?
Certain it is; and there man makes his center.
I have my wish, what's left me to accuse now?
I'm friends with all the world but thy base malice.
[To Sor.
Go, glory in thy mischeifs, thou proud man,
And cry it to the world thou hast ruin'd vertue.

Sor.
You'll sing me a new Song anon Valerio,
And wish these hot words—

Val.
I despise thee fellow;
Thy threats, or flatteries, all I fling behind me,
I have obtain'd Evanthe, I have marry'd her,
And Fate shall not with-hold me from enjoying her.

Sor.
'Tis very likely,

Val.
And that short time I have to bless me with her,
I'll make an age. I'll reckon each embrace
A year of pleasure, and each night a jubilee;
Ev'ry quick kiss a spring, and when I mean
To lose my self in all delightfulness,
Twenty sweet Summers I will tye together,
I will dye old in love, tho young in pleasure:

Sor.
But that I hate thee deadly, I could pity thee;
Thou art the poorest miserable thing
This day on earth, I'll tell thee why Valerio:
All thou esteemest, and build'st upon for happiness,
For joy, for pleasure, for delight, is past thee,
And like a wanton dream already vanish.

Val.
Is my Love false?

Sor.
No, she is constant to thee;
Constant to all thy misery she shall be,
And curse thee too.

Val.
Is my strong body weaken'd,
Charm'd, or abus'd with subtle drink?

Sor.
Neither: I dare speak thee still as lusty,
As when thou lov'dst her first, as strong and hopeful.
The month th'hast given thee is a month of misery,
And where thou think'st each hour shall yeild a pleasure,
Look for a killing pain, for thou shalt find it.
Before thou diest each minute shall prepare it,
And ring so many Knells to sad afflictions.

Val.
Undo thy Riddle, I am prepar'd whatever fate shall follow.

Sor.
Dost thou see this Ring?

Val.
Yes, and know it too; 'tis the King's.

Sor.
Then mark me, by vertue of this Ring this I pronounce thee,
'Tis the King's will.

Val.
Let me know it suddenly.

Sor.
If thou dost offer to touch Evanthe's body,
Beyond a kiss, tho thou art marry'd to her,
And lawfully, as thou thinkst, mayst enjoy her,
That minute she shall dye.

Val.
O Devil—

Sor.
If thou discover this command unto her,
Or to a Friend that shall importune thee,
Ye both perish.
Upon the self same forfeit; how falls your month out now, Sir?
Now if you love her you may preserve her life still,
If not you know the worst.

Val.
This Tyranny could never be invented
But in the Schools of Hell, Earth is too innocent,
Not to enjoy her when she is my Wife:
Thou canst not be so monstrous,
As thou proclaimest thy self; thou once didst Love her;
And there must be a feeling heart within thee,
Of her afflictions, wert thou a stranger to us,
And bred amongst wild Rocks, thy nature wild too,
And unrelenting, as the Rocks that nourisht thee,
Yet thou must shake to tell me this, they tremble,
When the rude Sea threatens divorce amongst 'em,
They that are senseless-things shake at a Tempest.
Thou art a Man—

Sor.
Be thou then too, 'twill try thee,
And patience now will best become thy Nobleness.
See you observe it well, you will find about you
Many eyes set, that will observe your Actions.
If you transgress, you know—and so I leave you.

[Exit.
Val.
The tale of Tantalus is now prov'd true,
And from me shall be registred Authentick.
Sure I walk in a mist, and with that silence
As if I was the shroud I wrapt my self in,
And no more of Valerio but his shadow.

Enter Camillo, Cleanthes, Menallo.
Cam.
Where have we lost the Bridegroom? sure he is gone to bed.

Men.
No, here he is thinking no doubt on this nights happiness.

Cam.
Chear up my Noble Lord, the Minute's come,
You shall enjoy the abstract of all sweetness,
We did you wrong, you need no Wine to warm you,
Desire shoots through your Eyes like sudden Wildfires.

Val.
In troth my Lords, the Wine has made me dull,
I am I know not what.

Cl.
O there's a Lady coming will inform you.

Enter Frederick and Sorano.
Fr.
Tho there are left small hopes for his recovery,
That hope still lives, and Mens eyes live upon it.
And in their eyes their wishes for Alphonso;
Were he but cold once in the silent Grave,
As 'tis the fittest place for Melancholy,
My Court should be another Paradice,
And flow with all delights.

Sor.
Go to your pleasures let me alone with this.
But mark the Man you'll scarce know 'tis Valerio.

Fr.
Good pleasure to you,
Good night, and long too, as you find your appetite
You may fall to.

Val.
I do beseech your Grace
For which of all my faithful services
Have I deserv'd this?

Fr.
I am not bound to answer you.

Val.
Nor I bound to obey in unjust actions.

Fr.
Do as you please, you know the Penalty;
And as I have a Soul it shall be executed.
Nay look not pale I am not us'd to fear, Sir.
If you respect your Lady good night to you.

[Ex. cum Sor.
Val.
But for respect to her, and to my duty,
Which anger has no power to rob me of,
The good night shou'd be thine, good night for ever.
How my heart trembles
And beats my breast, as it wou'd break it's way out.
Good night my noble friends.

Cl.
Nay, we must see you towards your bed, my Lord.

Val.
Indeed, it needs not, 'tis late, and I shall trouble you.

Cam.
No, no, till the Bride come, Sir.

Val.
I beseech you leave me.
You will make me bashful, I am so foolish,
Besides I have some few devotions, Lords,
And he that can pray with such a book in his arms.

Cam.
We'll leave you then, and a sweet night wait on you.

Men.
And a sweet issue of this sweet night crown you.

Cl.
All nights and days be such till you grow old, Sir.

[Exeunt.
Val.
I thank ye: 'tis a curse sufficient for me.
A labour'd one too, tho you mean a blessing.
What shall I do? I'm like a wretched Debtor,
That has a summ to tender on the forfeit
Of all he's worth, yet dare not offer it.
Other men see the Sun, but I must wink at it,
And tho I know 'tis perfect day deny it.
I must enjoy her, yet when I consider
The Tyrant's will, and his power taught to murder,
My tender care controuls my blood within me,
And like a cold fit of a peevish Ague
Creeps to my Soul, and flings an Ice upon me.

Enter Q. Mother, Evanthe, and Lady.
Q. M.
Evanthe, make ye unready, your Lord stays for you,
And prithee be merry.

Ev.
Your Grace desires what is too free in me,
I am so taken up in all my thoughts,
So possest, Madam, with the lawful sweets,
I shall this night partake of with my Lord,
So far transported, pardon my immodesty,
That tho they must be short, and snatcht away too,
E're they grow ripe, yet I shall far prefer 'em
Before a tedious pleasure with Repentance.

Val.
O how my heart akes!

Q. M.
I thank thee heartily
For learning how to use thy few hours handsomly,
They will be years I hope.

Ev.
Good night, dear Madam.
Ladies, no farther service, I am well:
I do beseech your Grace to give us this leave;
My Lord and I to one another freely,
And privately may do all other Ceremonies,
Woman and Page we'll be to one another,
And trouble you no farther.

Q. M.
Why then good night, good night, my best Evanthe,
Thou worthy Maid, and as that name shall vanish,
A worthy Wife, a long and happy.

Ev.
That shall be my care.

Q. M.
Be chearful Lord, and take your Lady to ye,
And that power that shall part you be unhappy.

Val.
Sweet rest unto ye, to you all sweet Ladies.

[Exeunt Q. M. &c.
Ev.
Will you to bed my Lord, come let me help you.

Val.
To bed, Evanthe; art thou sleepy?

Ev.
No; but I shall be worse if you look sad upon me;
Pray let's to bed.

Val.
I am not well, my Love

Ev.
I'll make you well; there's no such Physick for you,
As your warm Mistress's arms.

Val.
Art thou so cunning?

Ev.
I speak not by experience, pray mistake not,
But if you love me—

Val.
I do love so dearly,
So much above the base bent of desire,
I know not how to answer thee.

Ev.
To bed then,
There I shall better credit you: Fie, my Lord,
Will you put a Maid to't, to teach you what to do,
An innocent Maid, are you so cold a Lover?
This is no stolen Love, or a sin we covet.

Val.
May I not love thy Mind?

Ev.
And I yours too,
'Tis a most noble one adorn'd with Vertue.
But if we love not one another really,
And put our Bodies and our Minds together,
And so make up the concord of affection,
Our love will prove but a blind superstition.
This is no School to argue in, my Lord,
Nor have we time to talk away allow'd us,
Come kiss me and to bed.

Val.
That I dare do, and kiss again.

Ev.
Spare not they are your own.

Val.
My Veins are all on Fire, and burn like Ætna,
Youth, and desire beat Larums to my Blood,
And add fresh fuel to my warm affections.
Hast thee, Evanthe, to the Genial bed,
The happy Scene of our approaching Bliss,
And Joys blest Lovers never knew before;
Yes we will love, not all the powers on Earth,
Or Hell it self shall ever hope to part us.
Each Minute as it swiftly glides along,
Shall bear the pleasures of whole Ages with it,
And witness to the rest our spotless Love.
Great Love himself, with his officious Wings,
Ev'n in the midst of all our furious transports
Shall gently raise and strengthen our desires.

Ev.
Come lets dispatch then.

Ev.
It will not be, for when I weigh her danger,
The thoughts of that lock up all powers of youth.
O what a blessedness 'twere to be old now,
Or half on Crutches to meet holy Hymen!
That that speaks other men most freely happy,
And makes all eyes hang on their expectations,
Youth, and Ability must prove my bane.

Ev.
Fie, fie my Lord, if any one shou'd come,
And find us at this distance, what wou'd they think?

Val.
No to enjoy thee is to be luxurious
O how I burn! to pluck thee from the Stalk,
Where now thou grow'st a sweet and heavenly Flower,
And bear'st the prime, and honour of the Garden,
Is but to violate thy Spring, and spoil thee.

Ev.
To let me blow, and fall alone wou'd anger ye.

Val.
Let's sit together thus, and as we sit
Feed on the sweets of one anothers Souls,
Where no allay of actual dull desires,
Of humane fire, that burns out as it kindles,
Can ever mix, let's fix on that, Evanthe,
That's everlasting, the other casual,
Eternity breeds one, the other Fortune,
Blind as her self, and full of all Afflictions,
Shall we love vertuously?

Ev.
I ever lov'd so.

Val.
And only think our love: the rarest pleasure,
And that we most desire, let it be humane,
If once enjoy'd, grows stale, and cloys our appetite.
I wou'd not lessen in my love for any thing,
Nor find thee but the same in my short Journey,
For my loves safety.

Ev.
Now I see I'm old, Sir,
Old, and ill-favour'd too, poor, and despis'd,
And am not worthy your noble fellowship,
Your fellowship in Love, you wou'd not else
Thus cunningly seek to betray a Maid,
Strive to abuse the pious love she brings you;
Farwel, my Lord, since you have another Mistress—

Val.
Stay, my Evanthe,
Heav'n bear em witness, thou art all I love,
All I desire, and now have pity on me,
As I shall want it much. Forgive me Justice,
Youth, and affection stop your ears unto me.

[Aside.
Ev.
Why do you Weep, if I have spoke too harshly,
And unbeseeming my belov'd Lord,
My care and duty pardon me.

Val.
O hear me,
Hear me, Evanthe; I am all on torture,
And this lye tears my Conscience as I vent it.
[Aside.
I am no Man.

Ev:
How Sir!

Val.
No Man for pleasure, no Womans Man.

Ev.
Goodness forbid, my Lord, sure you abuse your self.

Val.
'Tis true, Evanthe,

Ev.
He weeps bitterly.
'Tis my hard fortune, bless all young Maids from it,
Is there on help my Lord in art will comfort ye.

Val.
I hope there is.

Ev.
'Tis hard to die for nothing;
Now you shall know 'tis not the pleasure, Sir,
That Women aim at, I affect you for,
'Tis for your Worth, nay I still honour you,
And with all duty to my Husband follow you.
Will you to bed now, you are asham'd it seems;
Pigmalion pray'd, and his cold stone took life,
You do not know with what zeal I shall ask, Sir,
And what rare miracle that may work on you,
Still blush? prescribe your Law.

Val.
I prithee pardon me,
To bed, and I'll sit by thee, and mourn with thee.
I pray to Heaven when I am gone, Evanthe,
As my poor date is but a Span of Time now,
To recompence thy noble patience,
Thy Love, and Vertue, with a fruitful Husband,
Honest, and Honourable.

Ev.
Come you have made me weep now.
All fond desires die, here, and welcome Chastity:
As for this Tyrant, we'll so torture him,
With such a pious scorn, that we will shake him;
And when Valerio, and Evanthe sleep
In one rich Earth, hung round about with blessings,
He shall grow mad with shame, repent too late,
And sink I th'ruines of our happier fate.

[Exeunt.