University of Virginia Library

ACT. III.

SCENE, The Palace.
Myrrhoe with Letters.
Myr.
reads.

I am now on my Pilgrimage, when the Nuptial Ceremonies
are over, at your leisure give the Inclosed to
Theocrin, from

Yours Edraste.

These Letters speak this Princess ignorant
O'th' sudden turn in Theocrin's Affairs:
A queint Device was forming in my Thought
And these come seas'nably t'assist the Project.
Lord Theocrin your pardon— (opens and reads)
—'Tis right.
Penn'd to my wish; a hopeful Policy,
But time must ripen it. Edraste drew not
From me her Ruin, nor am I unjust
To play the Game which she gave o'r for lost,
And sweep the Stakes.
Enter Escalus.
Brother you'r are well return'd, and as I wisht
With busie Brow; How went the Salutation?

Esc.
The King and Prince, like Old Familiars, met,
And having thrice in close Imbraces joyn'd,
Admitted to their Hand each others Nobles.
Th'Officious Flamen at our Western Gate,
Perform'd short Sacrifice; mean while the King
And Abardanes joyn'd in solemn League
Of Friendship, and before their Entrance hail'd
The Genius of the Place.

Myr.
On what Design
Shou'd Abardanes with such costly Forces
Arrive our Shore?

Esc.
T'assist the King to o'rthrow
The Rebels, was the plausible Pretence.
A slight disguise—but hark! they come.

[King Arviola, Abardanes, with their Courtiers and Attendance, pass over the Stage.
Myr.
The Pomp seems clouded with a sullen gloom,
The King looks sad, Arviola's Cheek's are flusht
With such disdainful Rage; her flashing Eyes
Struck bold Argaleon at the Treaty dumb.

Esc.
Dissention, wrecking Discord is broken loose,
And we must cast our Net i'th' troubled Tide;
It must succeed—

Myr.
Speak, feast my greedy Ear,
That wou'd devour at once the charming Tale.

Esc.
This Prince with Passion has beheld Arviola,
Which yet his haughty Mind seem'd to disdain,
And with a Lions Fury shook the Toil:
At last to th'King, his Grief he did unfold,
And with a haughty meen (befitting more
A Conqueror than Suiter) mustring up
His Titles, he demanded her in Marriage:
The King reply'd, 'twas an Affair of weight,
And in regard of Theocrin's just claim
Of fatal consequence.

[Myrr.]
And this Reply
Th'impatient Prince took for Consent.

Esca.
His Pride resented it as flat denial,
And scarce contain'd its Swellings within bounds.
And now near Hella's Grove, Lord Theocrin,
Attended with light Horseman, met the Pomp,
Forward we mov'd, when in a sudden Feud;
The fiery Rivals drew; but first the Prince:
Both mad as Winds contesting for the Main,
And scarce the thund'ring King their Fury quell'd.

Myrr.
A promising Disaster! What ensu'd?
And why return'd not Theocrin?

Esc.
Scarce was the Fray compos'd, when there arriv'd
Intelligence that the Disperst remains
O'th' Rebel Troops, had gather'd since the Rout,
And garison'd within Eipercte's Towers:
The King seiz'd this occasion to dismiss
Chaft Theocrin to th'Army, with strict charge
To block Eipercte's Walls with speedy Siege:
An exquisite Device of State, at once
To keep the fiery Rivals at just distance,
And compass leisure for the best Resolves.

Myr.
Soft, he returns with pensive Diphilus
And thoughtful Theocrin.

Esc.
My Design's a-float!
Pisander in the Queens esteem supplants me;
What then remains but that I shift my Sails,
And seek some richer Port: the King's Esteem,
And Wind and Tide conspire to waft me in!
The Tempest is on Wing, sink Theocrin,
'Tis on thy Ruins I must build my Hopes,
And mounted on thy Ship-wrack make to shore.

[Exeunt.]
Re-enter King, Theron, Diph.
King.
Now Lords as you do prize your Countreys Peace,
Your Ages ease, your Wives and Childrens Safety;
Ply your best Skill and Bank against the Deluge!
Methinks I see our Greece again embroil'd
And Slaughter's bloody Sluces drawn anew;
Our Laws disarm'd, and holiest Rites profan'd,
Our Streets alarm'd with Tumults, Rapes and Fire,
And all the Terrors of Argaleon's War.

Ther.
Whence can you fear, dread Sir, Events so fatal?
Not from the Prince, he is your Friend in League.

King.
My Friend in League! Friendship's the priviledge
Of private Men, for wretched Greatness knows
No Blessing so substantial.

Diph.
Sacred Sir;
I see not why your Majesty shou'd take
An anxious Thought! What can the Scruple be?
What better can secure the Peace of Greece,
Then that Prince Abardanes Wed Arviola?

King.
All my late Vows to Theocrin be revoke?

Ther.
Your Int'rest, and the present Exigence
Of your Affairs require it.

King.
Then blush Hell!
For Earth's more false, and Fiends to Men are Angels;
O hard Estate of Empire! wretched Kings;
How are we snar'd in Errors not our own,
And hood-winkled to th'Crimes we most wou'd shun?
Hence 'tis our Names stand Black in Chronicle,
When impious Councellors betray our Reason;
With Eloquence and Sophistry ensnare us,
And make Injustice necessary!

Diph.
Prince Abardanes aws us from the Bay,
Threatens to pour his Legions on our Coast,
If fair Arviola refuse his Love.
His Rival Theocrin's grown Popular,
And Heads our Army; what if he resent
His Disappointment, seek by Force his Claim?
Shall we permit him take by Arms his Right,
And to a Subjects Tyranny submit?
Or call the Princes Forces to our Aid,
And trust the Courtesie of Forreign Pow'rs?

King.
The Siege will hold him for a while employ'd;
The Prince and he, fierce as they are, may yet
Burn harmless as dire Planets do; whil'st distant:
But meeting hurl swift ruin on our State?

Enter Escalus.
Esc.
My Business Royal Sir, will justifie
My bold Intrusion; give me leave t'impeach
Your Favourite of Guilt, which true as 'tis,
Will scarce meet your Belief; of Treason.

King.
Ha!

Esc.
Lord Theocrin, he Courts the Popular Fame,
And forms Designs against your Life and Empire.

King.
Say, speak'st thou this on thy own Knowledge or
Conjecture? If no more, on what Presumption?

Esc.
The cause, his jealousie of Abardanes,
And your deferring his expected Nuptials:
With blood-shot Eyes I view'd him in the Pomp,
Whil'st diving low from his, Triumphant Chair,
The Rabble at each Hault he did salute,
Then eagerly inclin'd his Lawrell'd Head,
To catch the buzzing Praises of the Crow'd;
Whil'st on his Youth (his Active Youth they call'd it)
And (as they term'd it) your neglectful Age
They descanted, wounding each Loyal Ear!

King.
I must have Evidence more positive,
Till then suspend my Judgment, make it clear,
And know that on the Proof depends thy Life.

Esc.
Good Gods, that I were Earth! forgotten Dust;
Th'oblit'rate Marble mouldring o'r my Ashes,
And this Black Charge a Slander: Heaven! My Life!
Your Empire's Life depends on your Belief.
[Exit King, Theron, Diph.]
So now I'm Plung'd, and must dash through or Perish:
Three Factious Stout Repiners at the State
(Of Bank'rupt Fortunes) I have Brib'd already.
To swear this Charge, a Circumstance or two,
Neatly devis'd and plausibly alledg'd,
Will make th'Impeachment pass.
Now to my She confed'rate to confer
Of my Designs; She's a Projecter too,
Lur'd on by Interests resistless Charms;
The vig'rous Spring that sets all Plots adrift,
From Womens Projects to th'Intrigues of State.

[Exit.]
Enter Arviola, Myrrhoe.
Myr.
Ha! Visit you disguis'd, too Night?

Arv.
He comes:
My Theocrin, I but ev'n now discharg'd
The welcome Messenger he sent to inform me.
No tidings of my dear Edraste yet?
'Twas sure no small Resentment that cou'd move
Her temp'rate Breast to such a rash Resolve!
My Fate in all its past Severities,
Allow'd me that dear Partner of my Cares;
But now the Charmer of my Griefs is gone.

Myr.
Your sorrow never shall complain alone,
Whil'st I have Breath to eccho to your Sighs.

Arv.
Myrrhoe, thy Truth deserves a better Fate,
Then waits thy wretched Princess! O my Heart—
My Theorcrin!—but that's too harsh a string
And I forbear to touch—Say Myrrhoe,
How does the Queen resent Edraste's Absence?

Myrr.
Her Women fear'd t'inform her of the Truth,
And forg'd a formal Tale—

Enter a Lady with a Ring.
Lady.
A Stranger, Madam,
Desires Admittance, when I crav'd his Business,
He enjoyn'd me to deliver you this Ring.

Ar.
See Myrrhoe.

[Gives her the Ring.]
Myrr.
Lord Theocrin's Signet Madam.

Arv.
Conduct him privately to my Apartment.
[Ex. the Lady.]
You Myrrhoe wait here, and on your Life,
Permit none t'approach us.

[Exit.]
Enter Escalus.
Esc.
I'm wing'd with Transport, and I tread on Air,
Ha Myrrhoe, what's there? Lord Theocrin in's Seal?
A prize by Mercury! the Luckiest hit.
Ev'n fortune's self is my Confedrate now,
And Aids me in my jugling: Sister stay,
This Ring must do me present service, but
I'll instantly restore it.

Myrr.
Stay Escalus.

Esc.
My business is most pressing.

Myrr.
So is mine.
Did not the Queen too night send to invite you
To banquet with her in the Grotto.

Esc.
Yes,
Pisander too is summon'd thither;
Some new adventure that requires our Counsel.

Myr.
Know then you are invited to your death,
The banquet's Poysoned.

Escalus.
Ha!

Myr.
The Queen perceives you are jealous of Pisander,
And to prevent your just revenge, conspires
With her Young Paramour to take your life.

Esc.
Whence your Intelligence?

Myr.
From Bromian,
Attendant on the Queen in her Retirement,
Who persecutes me with his whining Passion,
And to oblige me made this dear Discovery.

Esc.
Ev'n this shall give a Lift to my Designs,
For Fencer like I'll Ward and Strike together.
The Queen and I too Night draw Stakes for Life;
The Lots are hid, now for a flight of hand,
To pick the Prize and shift the Blank to Her.

[Exeunt severally.]
Scene draws, Arviola and Theocrin.
Theo.
So hasty were my Orders for the Siege,
That I was forc'd Disguis'd to make this Visit
Arviola!

Arv.
My Lord.

Theo.
The last days Sun
Was to have seen our Nuptials celebrated?
The busie Priests for us prepar'd their Temple;
Nor cou'd attend the Morning Sacrifice!
The pompous Streets with Bays and Palm were strew'd,
And Legions blest us as we past along,
Hail Conqu'ring Bridegroom, Royal Bride all Hail,
Enrich our Empire with a glorious Race.
Die Ag'd and Happy! Thus our Loves were greeted:
And now we meet, we meet (Oh Gods!) by stealth!

Arv.
Dear Theocrin, believe me still your Bride,
For Souls can wed without the Formal Priest:
Why are our Loves, that prosper'd when conceal'd,
Like Faiery-Wealth, curst since they came to light?
Ah! had you ne'r aspir'd at fatal Glory,
We might at least have given the Night to Love,
Tho we, like Glow-worms, hid by Day our Fires.

Theo.
Divinest of thy Sex, 'tis past the powr
Of Thought to rate my Love!—Arviola!

Arv.
What wou'd my Theocrin?

Theo.
Dismiss me to my Grave, whilst thou art kind;
And hurry from the World this useless Life,
Which if prolong'd, must prove to Thee most fatal.

Arv.
Alas, my Lord, your Griefs talk wildly now.

Theo.
The haughty Prince his Rival once remov'd,
Will prove more mild, nor longer threaten War;
With thousand more Conveniences of thine!
The King will ne'r chide with you for my sake,
Nor trembling Mothers curse your Constancy!
Fate wills, and 'tis expedient that I die!

Enter Myrrhoe with a Ring.
Myr.
Prince Abardanes, Madam, waits your leisure;
My Lord, your Signet.

[Gives him the Ring.]
Theo.
The Prince demand Admittance?,
Sure he is well improv'd in his Acquaintance
To seek Admittance here!—Go Myrrhoe
Inform the Stranger better. He mistakes,
These are the Apartments of Arviola
The Princess; Privacy. Haste, tell him so.

Myrr.
My Lord 'tis, with the Princess he wou'd speak;
He comes to Visit—

Theo.
Visit?

Myr.
Good: He's jealous.
[Aside.]
The Furies send the Princess half so apt
To take th'Infection and my Project's made.

Arv.
Retire my Theocrin.

Theo.
How my Arviola?
Retire?—by Love I will not understand thee,
Nor wou'dst thou sure be understood—and yet
That angry Brow recalls my Charity!
Is't possible? bid Theocrin retire?
Remove, and give a new Pretender room?

Arv.
Thank your Distresses that disarm my Rage,
Or my resenting Honour shou'd chastise
This Jealousie; 'it shou'd rash Man: but now
(Since Fortune treats you ill) I am content,
To weigh your Griefs and wink at your Offence.
Once more I do entreat you to with draw,
And humour the perversness of our Fate;
A little Patience will restore our Wishes.

Theo.
I find my Error, and am dash'd with shame!
Excuse the Ravings of a seav'rish mind;
Nor rate by common Rules immod'rate Love.
Ah Princess, could'st thou dive into my Heart,
And see how absolute thy Form reigns there,
How much I prize the Treasure of thy Love,
Thou would'st at least forgive my wakeful care;
That miser-like I wear a watchful Eye,
And weigh each Grain of the hard purchast Store.

Arv.
Now by a Virgins Truth, I swear (stand still
Ye flying Minutes, and attend my Vow;)
Whil'st Nature holds her Course and Time runs on,
VVhil'st Night and Day the Night and Day succeed,
VVhil'st Rivers pay their Tribute to the Sea:
And Seas with fresh recruits the Streams supply,
Whil'st Winter strews Hoar-Frost and Summer Dew;
I'm Theocrin's—So Theocrin prove True.

Theo.
What pittying God, toucht with the sad Estate
Of fall'n Mankind, sent from their bright Abodes,
This Vertue to reform the Savage World!
Bright Excellence, Imperial Maid, farwel;
I go to glean the last Remains o'th' War;
And like Argaleon let me fall accurst,
If once these weary Lids be clos'd in sleep;
Or these devoted Limbs uncas'd from Steell,
Till I've compleated well my task of Honour,
And brought thee Conquest perfect as my Love.

[Exit.
Enter Abardanes, Sossacles at distance.
Ab.
A Lover's Visit if it fail to meet
The best Reception, most unwelcome proves:
But Madam, if my Passion's troublesome,
Accuse the fatal Power of your own Charms;
Unwillingly I put your Fetters on.

Arv.
With what an Arrogance his Passion sues.

[Aside.
Ab.
I know I Court on Disadvantages,
And my rough Passion can have little Charms;
But Love dissolves and Moulds me o'r anew:
My Temper gives beneath each Glance you dart.

Arv.
None sure can be to your vast Merits blind,
But Prince your Court-ship's to a Bride addrest,
And Brides in Heav'ns account are wed already.

Ab.
It was my Rivall's Fortune, not desert,
T'have first beheld your Charms; which having seen,
He Lov'd of necessary Consequence:
Chance laid the dazzling Treasure in his way,
Too vast to be by any Subject held;
And into Royal Hands must be resign'd.

Arv.
Now Prince you press too far your Priviledge,
Allow his Worth, as I Dispute not Yours;
Which weigh'd, perhaps wou'd make the lighter Scale.

Ab.
I'm pleas'd to find his Merit swell so high!
Your Praise has made him Worthy of my Sword:
If wanting Royal Bloud, it prove his Fate
To enrich himself with mine, you are his Prize:
But first we'll try the Fortune of the Field.

Arv.
Ah me! He is rash, and Theocrin all Fire;
What Ruin must attend such meeting Flames.
My Lord, the Prince, Return—Cou'd you Pretend
To Love, and in neglectful Rage withdraw?
Permit my Grief to reason calmly with you,
For you are generous and will be just!
This Love that has surpriz'd your noble Mind,
Is but a vicious and irregular Heat—
Which your severer Prudence will Correct.
You'll be advis'd my Lord, I know you will;
You ought not, must not—and you will not Love.

Ab.
O my divided Soul! her painted Grief
Darts through my stubborn Bosom to my Heart.

Arv.
What Triumph is there in a Virgins Tears?
What Conquest to pursue her to her Grave?
I'm sworn to be Lord Theocrin's or die;
And if from his Embrace I am Divorc'd;
Who Courts me after, is my Murderer.

Ab.
Rise Princess, witness these prodigious Tears,
How much I'm touch'd with your Distress; how much
My lab'ring Heart resists the pow'rful Charm.

Arv.
So may you speed in War and thrive in Glory,
Nor of your Crowns and Trophies know the Tale;
And if agen you condescend to Love,
With all the soft Returns of Kindness meet,
Which tender Maids, that pine with secret Flame,
Wish, when retir'd, they tell the Groves their Pain!

Ab.
I yield! you have prevail'd against your self,
Your Tears have quencht the Fire your Glances gave;
I'll force a Conquest on my Heart, I will.

Arv.
Then Blessings Crown—

Ab.
O take your Charms away,
I cannot look and with such Treasure part,
But when remov'd, I'll try to represent
Your Form less Glorious, and resign you then.
[Exit Arviola.
This Pang, and I'm at ease!—O Sossacles,
I have o'rcome!—'Tis false, I'm still her Slave,
I long, and 'tis methinks an Age already
Since I beheld her! How shall I sustain
Eternal Absence? It can never be,
My Fancy forms her fairer now than ever;
As Colours take in Christal brighter Die.

Soss.
Your Highness better knows to War than Love;
Presume not Sir to force a Victory
By furious onset here, as in the Field;
'Tis Patience and a formal Siege must win,
The Fort which you in vain attempt to storm:
Bribes must Corrupt, where Force and Valour fail.

Ab.
Speak plain, my Oracle, thy Conduct here
May speed my Love, as it has done my Arms.

Soss.
The Princess Heart's already taken up
With Theocrin, and if you press for Entrance,
Must sink all Three: Plot first to dispossess
Your Rival.

Ab.
'Tis a Task for Hercules.

Soss.
I'll work the self-same Engine to dislodge
Your Rival, and to fix you in his room.

Ab.
'Tis past the pow'r of Wit; but I can trust
Thy Cunning for Impossibilities.

[Exeunt.
Enter King, Escalus, Theron, Diph.
King.
The Queen Confed'rate too with Theocrin?

Esc.
Your Queen, your pensive, solitary Queen,
Conspires with Theocrin against your Life;
Her Cell, her sacred Grotto, is the Nest
To hatch their Treason; haste and trust your Eyes,
Ev'n now th'are brooding there together.

King.
On
And force our Entrance.

[Exeunt.
Scene drawing, discovers the Grotto.
Queen and Pisander amorously seated in a Bowr.
Song.

After which Enter King, Esc. The. Diph.
King.
My Eyes have surfeited upon their shame;
Guards seize 'em both:
Dissembling Aribell! false Theocrin!
Why that's Pisander.

Esc.
Ha! Pisander?—Gods!
Then there's a new Discov'ry—who'd ha' thought
Pisander were a Villain.

Pis.
Perjur'd Slave!

Esc.
I blush for thee Pisander! cou'd even weep
To see such hopeful Vertue fall'n away.

Pis.
I know your Majesty decrees my Death;
And with my latest Breath I will pronounce
That Escalus a Traytor.

Qu.
Treach'rous Fiend!
I'll Perish, and involve Thee in my Ruin!
My Lord, the King, I own foul practices
Against your Crown, but was in all seduc'd
By that Arch-Devil.

Esc.
Hear me Sacred Sir?
To clear my Loyalty, I but demand
Your Majesty compel 'em taste these Bowls.

[A Goblet is given to Pisander]
King.
Drink Slave or Perish.

Qu.
Hell 'tis Drink and Perish.

[Aside Pisander's Dead]
King.
Unfold this Riddle.

Esc.
Know my Royal Master
The Queen her self broke with me of this Plot;
But having found me firm of Loyalty,
Resolv'd to silence me with Death for ever.
On that Design invited me too Night,
To Banquet with her here i'th Grotto, where
These Poyson'd Goblets were to have giv'n me Welcome.

King.
Guards, bear the Empress to the Cittadel,
Till we resolve the manner of her Death.

Qu.
Death, doting Monarch, must that wither'd Brow
Give Sentence on this Bloom, this Spring of Beauty,
That has preserv'd thy friezing Bloud in Motion,
Cous'ning the Grave of her long due; the Grave
That rivall'd me, and for thy Lumber waited,
When I received it to my Youthful Bed.
Have I sustain'd thy sinking Royalty,
And stufft thy hollow Robes to fill the Throne;
And talk'st Thou of my Death.

King.
Away with her,
Let darkest Mansions hide her from the Day,
That Sickens at her Insolence.

Qu.
Be't so.
I'll make those Mansions fairer that those Bow'rs,
And in a Scene of thought repeat these Joys,
So oft within these rev'ling Shades Possest.
See there thy Rival, King, how lovelier far
In Death than thou art Breathing? Fear him still,
Be jealous of his Memory, and live
Till ev'ry Subject scorns thee as I do,
And Vermine like o'r-leap their Wooden King.
State, Tempests, shake thee into Dust—Fates catch
My Curse, and stamp it in their brazen Volumns.

[Exit Queen Guarded
Esc.
This jumps not with my Wish, Tame, Suff'ring King!

King.
But Theocrin—

Esc.
Is to his Charge return'd,
Too late we enter'd to surprize him here;
These Letters I intended t'have produc'd,
And charg'd him with his Treason to his Face.

King.
To the Rebels? and with Theocrin's Signet seal'd?
See Theron, Diphilus.

Ther.
With what Contents.

King.
He taxes me with Breach of Faith, repents
His Service, and solicites them t'espouse
His Cause, and joyn their Out-law'd Troops with his;
Which will secure at once their forfeit Heads;
And vindicate his Claim t'Arviola.
My Lords your speedy and most safe Resolves.

Diph.
'Twere safest to discover no distrust,
But summon him to Court with speed,
As to some sudden Council, then
Surprize and sentence him to present Death.

[Ex. King, Ther. Diph.
Esc.
Mid'st all my busie Zeal, this stupid King,
As yet no mention of Reward has made!
And rates my Service as a Subjects Duty:
Had I imploy'd but half the expence of Wit
To serve the Prince, my Pains had past for Merit:
He claims no Soveraign Right in my Endeavours,
And will with Honours crown my Industry.
The time presents, his Agent Sossacles
With Myrrhoe has been tamp'ring; I'll strike in
And share in the Design; 'twere plausible,
And of good credit, to perswade this Prince,
That for his Interest I have undermin'd
Lord Theocron, his dangerous Rival. Good!
Thus tacking oft to catch the veering Winds,
The skillful Pilot works into the Bay.

[Exit.