University of Virginia Library

Scene the last

The Scene a Grotto.
Enter Lewis, Brisac, Souldiers with a Page carrying a dark Lanthorn.
Lew.
Upon your Lives, let no man pass that way;
Make that your Post.

Bris.
Your Grace shall be obey'd.

Lew.
So if the darkness of the place protects him,
If he escapes my hands, he'l fall in yours.

Exeunt.
The Scene open'd; Clarmount and Fredigond are discover'd together.
Enter Lewis.
Clarm.
Here all our joys are safe; no envious eyes,
No rudeness will this humble Seat surprize.
Nor can ill Fate our secure Loves betray:
No fire can guide a Jealous King this way.

Ferd.
Oh my dear Clarmount, 'twas unkindly done
To have my pleasures hinder'd by my Son,
Considering 'twas I that made him King;
'Twas I that set his Fathers soul on wing.

Lew.
Ye Gods, what a discovery have I made:
Had she a hand too in my Fathers Murder!

Aside.
Fred.
And yet Heav'n knows how I abhor'd the sin;
Yet for thy sake could act it o're agen:
To kill a Husband, was a crime so horrid,
As startled me to enter in my thoughts,
Till Love presented me objects so gay,
As instantly drew the dark Scene away.

Clarm.
We are betray'd.

Lew.
Stir Traytor, and thou dyest:
[Holds a Dagger at his Breast.
Brisac.

Enter Brisac, Nigrello, and Souldiers.
Bris.
My Lord.

Lew.
That Monster is thy charge.

Clarm.
Nigrello in the Plot. Oh credulous Fool!

Lew.
Thou glorious Light, that in thy natural Orbe
Did'st comfortably shine upon this Kingdom,
How is thy worth Ecclips'd? what a dull darkness
Hangs round about thy Fame? in all this piece
To every limb whereof, I once owed duty:
I know not now where to find out my Mother.

Queen.
The Devil and disobedience blinds your eyes.

Lew.
Oh that I had no eyes, so you no shame:
Murder your Husband to arrive at Lust,
And then to lay the blame on Innocence:
Blush, blush, thou worse then Woman.

Queen.
Ha, ha—

Lew.
Hold my heart.
You're impudent in sin; has your lustful Villain
Made you thus Valiant?

Queen.
How darest thou cloath thy speech in such a phrase
To me thy Mother?

Lew.
Adultrate Woman, shame of Royalty;
I blush to call thee Mother, yes to think it.
Whilst I reflect upon thy tainted blood,
I doubt the pureness of my own. The spring head
Defiled, who knows but the under stream may be
Corrupted: I am all distraction,
And dare not talk too long on such a subject,
Least wildness conquering my softer sense,
Thrust forth my hand into an act of horrour.

Queen.
Insolent Boy, wilt thou turn Parracide?

Lew.
The justice of my cause would well excuse
Me, if I should. Nigrello.

Nigr.
Sir, your pleasure?

Lew.
Nature forbids me spill my Mothers blood,
And Clarmount is unfit for my Revenge;
For I must study torments for the Villain.
This is the Night that the Confederates
Begin the work: Therefore I give 'em up
To thy Tuition, till I shall return
Victorious, then we'll determine of 'em.

Exeunt Lewis and Brisac.
Queen.
Did I for this, ungrateful Traytor, trust
My honour in thy hands?

Clar.
Did she for this
Bestow her Princely smiles on thee; prefer thee,
Rayse thee to honour, and rewards above—

Nigr.
No more; I have no time for words or thoughts
Of any thing but Justice; take 'em hence,
And lodge 'em in that Dungeon which I told you.
Exeunt Fregidond and Clarmount forced out by Guards.
All goes as I could wish: The King's possest
Aphelia has been Debaucht by Clarmount.
And this Nights work
Strengthens that Faith; for Clarmount being removed,
By his strange and sudden absence, 'twill be thought
He lyes conceal'd, and that concealment seem
Th'effect of guilt, by which I'le work the King
To a belief he thinks his crime discover'd,
And is retired t'avoyd the punishment.
What prospect of Revenge am I arriv'd to.
Their confidence in my Honesty destroys 'em.
What safer policy then seeming just?
The greatest prop of Treachery is Trust.

[Exeunt.