 | Love and Revenge |  |
Scene the First.
Enter Nigrello.Nigr.
Curse on this whining Passion! Th'amourous King
Minds Love so much, that he forgets his Honour.
Aphelias Charms have so possest his thoughts,
That all things else lye by. I have as good
As call'd him Bastard, and his Mother Whore:
Yet Clarmount wears his head. All other interests
Neglected lye, where Soveraign Woman reigns.
I scorn so tardy a Revenge, I'le keep
My rage awake, though thine, dull King, can sleep.
Enter Fredigond.
Queen.
Mischief grows lean, Nigrello, all my plots
Turn head upon themselves.
Nigr.
'Tis very strange,
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Of pleasure and security. For certain
Some subtle Devil crosses your designs.
Queen.
Subtle! No, I'le swear for him, none oth'subtlest;
For by this light, I out-witted him and all
His politicks. With what majestick grace
Did the old reverend Goblin stalk away,
Whilst th'amaz'd King, and his stout-hearted train
Turn'd pale, and lookt as ghastly at the sight
As I've seen Brutus picture look in Tapestry,
Staring on Cesars Ghost. Was not the escape
Of Clarmount, in my Husbands shape most excellent.
Nigr.
Yes Madam, it was lucky. But what Guard
Do you design against all future dangers?
What next do you resolve on?
Queen.
My dull Ethiope,
I will instruct thy blackness: Learn to know
My Reputation's sickned, and my Fame
Is lookt into with narrow eyes at Court.
Therefore it's thus decreed, I will remove
And sequester my self from Company.
Nigr.
Good.
Queen.
Thou know'st where Childrick oftentimes retired,
When fits of piety (rest his soul)
Took him ith' head.
Nigr.
Madam, I know the place.
Queen.
There I and Clarmount will securely meet
The Cave that leads to th'Postern-gate
Will give him entrance at all hours unseen.
Nigr.
Madam, your Wit's as glorious as your Love.
Queen.
I will away to Night. I cannot brook
My Frantick Sons wild passion for Aphelia:
If (as I fear he will) he Marrys her,
He has undone my hopes on Earth for ever.
Therefore Nigrello, let my Clarmount be
Acquainted with our new designs.
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What else?
Queen.
If by the conduct of thy subtle brain
Thou could'st remove—
Nigr.
Aphelia, or the King,
The Prince, or all: is it not so?
Queen.
Thou hast a Wit which does engender thoughts
As Regal as our own: when Fate blows fair,
Set out, and prosper. In a brave design,
I wish no better head nor hand then thine.
Farewell. Remember Me.
Exit.
Nigr.
You shall be thought on, fear it not; but how?
Should I prevent her Lust this second time,
Before the third she may repent, and so
May save her Soul which my Revenge would damn:
Yet I'le prevent her, and contrive it so
She shant repent, nor shall Hell lose a Subject.
Thou, and thy Tyrant Son shall meet one Fate,
But I'le begin with you—In Reverence
To Age, thou Beldam as the elder Sinner,
I will take care shalt be the elder Devil.
Enter Lewis and Lamot disguis'd.
Lam.
Where shall we meet you.
Lew.
Here. I'le wait your coming:
Expect me here.
Exit Lamot.
Nigrello, are we safe?
Nigr.
Safe Sir, and private.
Lew.
I am glad I've found thee:
I've business to impart.
Nigr.
And so have I.
Lew.
Mine is of honourable consequence,
And does require thy aid.
Nigr.
So does mine yours.
Lew.
My fair Aphelia is—
Nigr.
Your Brothers Prisoner.
What then: His Wife she ne're shall be.
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But say
His Lust should seize her Honour, or his Rage
Her Life; Tyrant and Ravisher are names
He has been too well acquainted with already.
Suppose Aphelia meets Clotildas fate.
Nigr.
Suppose you dead, and me asleep; whilst you
Are living, and I waking, 'tis impossible.
Lew.
Thy Courage I adore. Lead on Commander,
I'le follow and obey.
Nigr.
Then take this path,
And Conquer. First you know he loves her Virtue;
Doats on her to Distraction; not because
She's only Fair, but Chast. Her beautious mind,
And her fair form within makes her his Saint,
His Heav'n, and whate're names th'Idolatry
Of Love can give her. Then to take away
That adoration, you must first displace
The Saint, leave the Shrine empty, and remove
That Virtue, and that Chastity he doates on.
Lew.
Bless me; where will this end?
Nigr.
She must be Strumpeted.
Lew.
Death and destruction, what a word was that?
Nigr.
Hold Sir, do not mistake: 'tis a hard word,
But I've no time for Eloquence; She must
Appear, not be that Creature. His wild Frenzy
Must have a desperate Cure. He must be told,
And be by Circumstance convinced, She's Loose,
Dishonest, and Unchast.
Lew.
A strange foundation.
Nigr.
But 'tis a sure one.
Lew.
But Nigrello, say,
Where shall we lay the Scene: Unchast with whom?
Nigr.
Sir, if you'l trust my choyce, let it be Clarmount.
He is a Villain, and the imputation
(Suppose your Jealous Brother takes his head for't)
Will do but Justice.
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Well: Grant him the Man.
Nigr.
You have some of Aphelias Letters by you?
Lew.
Yes.
Nigr.
What if you forged her hand, and in her name
Wrote Love from her to Clarmount? And to prove it,
Put in some hints of a lost Maiden-head,
Larded with some big words, such as stolne pleasures,
Embraces, or Enjoyment, or what else
You shall think fit.
Lew.
Her Lover, and betray her!
Nigrello, for thy friendship, take my thanks:
The Treason I'de embrace; but be the Traytor—
Nigr.
But can you yeild to see her Ravisht, Murder'd,
Or what's worse, Married; Married to your Brother?
That Traytor you must be, or one of these
Is certainly her fate.
Lew.
Is there no way?
Nigr.
None Sir, but this: and if her Safety, or
Your Love be worth your Care, resolve.
Lew.
I'le do't.
Tiwxt Love and Honour, Interest ends the strife,
I'le prostitute her Fame to save her Life.
Nigr.
Now you resolve, you shall not; your consent
Shall be enough; the labour shall be mine.
And that the story may not seem a cheat,
Or a design of yours by me to serve her,
I will appear her Friend so little, that
If he designs to punish her Unchastity,
I'le aggravate her Guilt, and spur him on
To Justice; but take care he ne're shall act it.
I'le raise the Thunder, but divert the blow.
Lew.
What debts must I for so much kindness owe?
Nigr.
You too must put on the disguise of hate;
Seem satisfied she's false, and slight and scorn her.
All Rivalship between you being once ceast,
At news of the Rebellion set on foot,
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You being the fittest object in his Kingdom,
As you may manage it, make you their Leader.
Lew.
Let me embrace thee; this is a design
Has shot life through me.
Nigr.
By this means you may
Convert the Tyrants Sword to his own Ruine;
Instead of your suppressing the Confederates,
Joyn his own Army to assist their Cause.
Lew.
I am satisfied, and am resolv'd to study
All arts and means for my Revenge. Revenge
Can't be too fierce moved by so just a cause:
An Injur'd Mistress, and a Murder'd Father.
Nigr.
Since your mind's bent on honourable ends,
I have one more will try you.
Lew.
Name it then.
Nigr.
Your Mother stoops to actions that abhor
The Light, and this Night meets, if not prevented—
Lew.
My soul finds out the Man, is it not Clarmount?
Nigr.
The same.
Lew.
Are Pallaces such Scenes of Villany?
Had not the Court enough of Hell before in't.
Conduct me where I may but seize this Monster,
That his stain'd blood—
Enter Burbon, Lamot, Dumane, and Brisac.
Nigr.
Change your discourse and looks:
Your Friends attend you.
Lew.
Gentlemen, you're welcome.
My almost Brother once, I thank you,
[To Brisack.
And kindly greet this brave Assembly, whose
Great spirits look for stirring Opposites:
But there your expectation will be lost,
For I'le take care your danger shall be small,
And your resistance slender. Sirs, your pardon;
I've business of Importance with Brisac
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But I'le repair that loss at our next meeting:
But take this in my stead. I'le share your Cause.
Lam.
Our Lives and Fortunes Sir, lye at your feet.
Exit Lewis and Brisac.
Burbon.
Are your men bold and daring; resolute
To run your fate; indifferent Rich, not Poor
That only fight for Bread; such oft betray
The sinews of a well-knit plot for gain,
When these fight as well to defend as win
Dum.
Mine know nor fear, nor death, souls of that fire
They'l catch a Bullet flying, scale a Wall
Batt'led with Enemies, stand breaches, laugh at
The thunder of the Canon; call it Musick,
Fitter a Ladys Chamber than the Field.
When o're their heads the Element is Seeld;
Darkend with Darts, they'l fight under the shades,
And ask no other Roof to hide their heads in;
They fear not Jove, and had the Gyants been
But half so spirited, they had Dethroned him.
Such are the Men I lead.
Burb.
Well kind Dumane,
I see they want no Herauld that have got
Your Friendship.
Dum.
Sir, I speak 'em as I love 'em.
Lam.
In good old Childricks raign, before his Queen
Had taught him Revels, and untaught him War,
Before her wanton Lust had sheathed his Sword,
To give her treacherous Poyson, pow'r of death;
I knew that they had valour, and a cause
To shew it in. Nor has the rust of Peace
Blunted their edge; they are as fierce as ever.
Burb.
They're Souldiers fit to Sack a Kingdom then—
Dum.
And share the spoyle.
Burb.
Were't come to that sport once.—
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Burbon it must, or some of us must fall.
The Ulcerous State is ripe, and we must launce it.
Exeunt.
| Love and Revenge | |