University of Virginia Library

ACT. IV.

SCENE, The Palace.
King, Escalus, Theron, Diph.
King.
'Tis odds, but he'll suspect the sudden Summons
(As Guilt is ever jealous) and decline
Our Orders.

Esc.
Doubt not, Sir, but he'll appear,
And with as bold a meen as ever.

King.
Thus forward Spirits, howe'r by Heav'n design'd
For State-Defenders, prove their Countries Bane;
For when their active Courage has redrest
The Publique Wrongs; the proud Restorer's self
Next Tyrant proves, and for Reward Usurps
To them Abardanes and Sossacles.
Now Prince to your Desires I can be just;
Your Rival has by Treason forfeited
His Right to Arviola and our Favour,
And naught remains that can resist your claim.

Ab.
Not ev'n Arviola's Divinest Charms
Are more desirable, than to be stil'd
Your Son, not Glory cou'd have charm'd me more;
Glory that drew me forth to share your War.

King.
Free I receiv'd this Crown from Heav'n, and leave
Arviola her freedom to confer
The fortune of her Greece, where she bestows
Her Love; and Abardanes is secure
Of our best Aid t'endear him to her Breast.

[Ex. King, Esc. Ther. Diph.
Ab.
Come near, my Sossacles, thou art surpriz'd
To find this Cheek turn'd pale, and see this Breast
Heav'd with unwonted Sighs; I know 'tis mean,
And blush at this Disorder, but bear with me,
Thou only conscious art to my Complaint,
And even to thee I tell but half my Pain.

Soss.
To me you gave the Conduct of your Love,
And with successful Industry I've won
(What most I doubted) Myrrhoe to our side)
The Princess's confident.

Ab.
Is't possible?
'Twas by her Art that Theocrin prevail'd,
And work'd into Arviola's esteem.

Soss.
The fittest Engine therefore to dislodge
And work him out agen: She knew t'extol
And dazzle the Young Princess with his Praise;
And doubtless can with equal Art accuse.

Ab.
By what strange Wiles, my subtle Mercury,
Could'st thou prevail on this demure Deceiver?

Soss.
With well couch'd Flattery, and pretended Love;
Besides with Gemms and Gold I brib'd her Favour,
Yet with such difficulty, that t'have viewed
The winding Scene, had prov'd no small Diversion.

Ab.
Methinks I see my Engineer at work.

Soss.
At first, with such disdain, as wou'd ha' past
For real, with the unskill'd in Womens Wiles,
The Present she refus'd; in passion told me
That she had much projected for your sake,
And by degrees intended to encline
The Princess to accept of your Address;
But was prevented by those hated Gifts,
That rendered her free Service Mercinary.

Ab.
Then flung away?

Soss.
No! paus'd, and with a sigh
Confest, though you had justly disoblig'd her,
Yet since it was the Princess Interest
T'slight fall'n Theocrin, and approve your Suit,
She'd still proceed to serve you, and engag'd
(By what Device I know not) instantly
To render her Averse to Theocrin,
And then of course you seize her vacant Breast.

Ab.
Thou shalt have Altars rais'd thee.

Soss.
See, she comes.

Enter Myrrhoe.
Myr.
My Lord, I come to check your lavish Bounty,
That leaves no place for gen'rous and free Service,
But turns my best Endeavours into Hire.

Ab.
Think not those trivial Presents were design'd
For more than Earnests of Rewards to come;
'Tis in your pow'r to enrich me with a Treasure,
Beyond the Wealth of my expected Empire;
Arviola's Love.

Myr.
Know my Designs on that account were ripe,
Before you shar'd your Bounty; a few hours
Is all I crave to perfect your Request.
Arviola comes, with-draw Sir, and expect
My Promise.
[Ex. Abard. Soss.
Now Edraste's Letter
To Theocrin, comes in play; now all the Fraud
That injur'd Lovers charge upon our Sex
Inspire me; Tears, Oaths, Swoonings, changing Blood;
And all the seeming Pangs of wildest Rage,
Assist my Cous'nage.

Enter Arviola.
[Myrhoe falls prostrate, as going to stab her self.
Arv.
Ha! the Gods forbid!
Stop thy rash Arm, or turn thy Steel on me,
Distracted Myrrhoe; speak what means this Fury.

Myr.
Where am I? What unkind Hand has disarm'd me.
O my afflicted Heart! Arviola?
Fly Princess, for I have resolved on Death,
And shall depart in Pain if you are by.

Arv.
Speak, I conjure thee, and unfold thy Grief;
Or by our dearest Friendship I'll bleed first.

Myr.
As you regard your Peace, permit me die
In silence, nor reveal a fatal Truth,
Which you of all the World shou'd last discover.

Arv.
Thy tender Bosom takes too quick a sense
Of my Distresses; but of me learn temper,
That can survive at once Edraste's Absence
And Theocrin's Disgrace.

Myr.
I Theocrin!
Was it not I that kindled first your Breast
With Love of Theocrin, and fann'd the Flame
With hourly Praise? Unfortunate Zeal.

Arv.
Thou did'st,
And I adore thee for't.

Myr.
I did,
And with that Ponyard meant to act
A Justice on my self for doing it;
Tho to the expecting Fates I will appeal
I was abus'd, and more deceiv'd than you!

Arv.
Wreck me no longer with tormenting doubt;
If my full Griefs can yet be capable
Of fresh Disasters, let me know the worst.

Myr.
Swear then to bear it as a Princess shou'd.

Arv.
Perish my dearest hopes, but I will do
As shall become my Sex and Royal Blood.

Myr.
Peruse that Letter then.

Arv.
To Theocrin?
And in Edraste's Hand? Her Name subscrib'd?
Most strange Contents!—Yet she concludes more strangely!

[Reads.]
—Forgive my Griefs this Trespass; they shall never offend
you more; for I have not the heart to complain of you, tho the Author
of my Ruin.

Edraste.
The Author of her Ruin! Theocrin
The Author of Edraste's Ruin! Speak!
Confess, or dear as 'tis, I will rip up
That reverend Breast, and tear the Secret forth.

Myr.
Take then the fatal Story (Sighs be husht
And give me Breath)—th'unfortunate Edraste
(As I have ever been her Confident)
Inform'd me of the Cause why she with-drew;
You thought her Absence unaccountable;
So little you surmis'd that she retir'd
To hide her growing shame!

Arv.
Her growing shame!

Myr.
With Cheeks now pale, now blushing, she confest
She had resign'd her sacred Virgins Treasure,
And in close dalliance wanton'd, till at last,
Her amorous Theft no longer wou'd be hid,
But forc'd her to retire.

Arv.
I'll mourn for thee Edraste, and lament
In thy Offence, the Fall of Womankind!—
But—Myrhoe—Thou seem'st not yet discharg'd
Of half thy Tragick Tale—Thou fear'st to say
With whom she did offend; and I to enquire!
Why art thou rackt my Heart with fond mistrust;
For 'tis impossible that Theocrin
Shou'd prove so false—and as impossible
That any other Tempter shou'd prevail!
I dare not—will not—yet I must suspect

Myr.
Now Princess call to mind your solemn Vow,
You swore to act as Honour shou'd advise,
And Honour will inspire you with disdain,
For this ingrateful, most forsworn of Men.

Arv.
Sink me to Death! Plunge me in streaming Fire,
Heap Mountains on my Head,
And bury my Disgrace,
Abus'd Arviola!
Deluded, credulous Maid!—Oh Perjury!

Myr.
Rise Princess and compose this dang'rous Passion.

Arv.
No! to this Earth I'll grow,
Out-rave the Winter Sea,
Out-rage the Northern Wind,
And with my loud Complaints alarm the Gods,
Till they resent the Wrongs
Of flatter'd Virgins, and confound Mankind.

Myr.
Then curse thy self rash Tongue for thy discovery!
Perish these idle Hands, that had not first
Sheath'd this preventing Ponyard in my Heart;
But 'tis not yet too late—

Arv.
Hold Myrrhoe!
Thou art more rash than I;
Think, think how much I lov'd!
How much I was abus'd!
And thou wilt say I have a Turtles tameness!
False! perjur'd Theocrin!
I can almost excuse thee Lost Edraste,
When I recall the smooth Deceivers Charms;
He'd sigh his Passion in such soft Complaints;
Courted with such a winning Modesty,
Even in his Silence reloquent, his words
So Artfully disorder'd, as might move,
Devoted Vestals to a living Grave!

Myr.
Your Anger do's him too much Grace; forget him.

Arv.
Where then is my Revenge? I hear he's charg'd
With Treason too, and I believe him guilty;
For false in Love, and false in ev'ry Trust:
Yet once agen I will repeat my Vow,
And Heav'n and Earth refuse me if I fail
To execute the strictest Laws of Honour.
I'll meet him in spight of my relenting Heart,
(For inwardly I fear I shall relent)
Yet I will meet him with a scornful Brow,
And to his Face disdain him, though I die.

[Exit.
Enter Escalus.
Esc.
Hist. Sister.

Myr.
Now, what fresh Discovery, whence those Letters, and
Of what Concern?

Esc.
From our imprison'd, discontented Queen;
Here she solicites me to close afresh
With her Design; already she has urg'd
Her Brother of Epirus to revenge
Th'affront of her Confinement on the King.
These are t'oblige me to betray the Fort
Into his Hand, when he by Night arrives,
And my Reward the Crown.

Myr.
Be not too credulous,
Nor trust offended Majesty too far.

Esc.
With caution I'll resolve, in the mean time
Seem to comply; I'll shun no path to Greatness,
But wou'd seek it in the Jaws of Death.

[Exit severally.
Scene draws. Theocrin with Four or Five Officers from the Siege.
Ther.
Leave me my Friends, and of your Jealousies
Take leave; the gen'rous King
Has no dishon'rable Design upon me:
Some sudden Council of the State requires me.

1. Off.
There is no trust in States-men, and in Courts
'Tis dang'rous to excell allow our fears,
We know your worth, and wou'd not see you fall.

Theo.
Meet I the Death of Cowards, the Renown
Of my fam'd Ancestors expire in me,
E'r I grow vain, and trumpet my own Deeds;
Yet must this King confess,
That what I have for him perform'd,
Within the Sylvan Courts of Savage Moors,
At least wou'd have procur'd me my Lifes safety:
I've seen a Lion from the Toil set free,
Yet famisht, as he was, spare his Deliverer.

2. Off.
Shou'd the ungrateful Senate dare to call
Your Worth in question; we that know how deep
Your Merit's rooted in your Armies Hearts,
Shall soon reform the Abuses of the Bench,
And teach the ermin'd Doatards Justice.

Theo.
Ha!
Degen'rate Damocles, how art thou fall'n,
That Breath has blasted all thy early Glories!
Beware, brave Youth, the least disloyal thought,
That like a Canker will destroy thy Lawrel.

3. Off.
Be not betray'd by your Credulity;
Your midnight Summons brings no small suspicion!
The Prince makes open Love to Arviola;
You know his Fleet rides still within our Bay,
And on his least Resentment can pour forth
Their Legions on our Shore; consider then
How this may work on the defenceless King,
To sacrifice you to your Rivals Rage.

Theo.
My safety's grounded on the Eternal Truth
Of my Arviola; may she desert me,
When once I prove so mean to fear she will;
She's constant as the Diamonds standing Light:
Once more, my Friends, I beg you wou'd retire,
And will not be deny'd,

4. Off.
We go, but shall be near to watch your Danger.

[Ex. the Officers.
Theo.
Theron, Diphilus, pass over the Stage.
Enter Myrrhoe.

Myr.
Your Pardon Lord,
I am in haste, on Business to the Prince.

Theo.
The Prince! Confusion! Business to the Prince?
What Business bear'st thou to the Prince? Whose Business?
I know thou wilt not say Arviola's.
Thou wilt not let me know that killing secret,
Tho it were true.

Myr.
My Lord; I'm no Dissembler,
When I inform'd you that the Princess lov'd you,
'Twas true!—she did—at present I affirm
She thinks of you no more.

Theo.
And that true too!
Wer't thou an Oracle to tell me this,
Id slight it as a black malicious lie,
Tho thunder struck me for the misbelief.

Myr.
Your Lordship's discompos'd, I take my leave.

[Exit
Theo.
Go then, and like a Sorc'ress blast thy Walk,
How have I prun'd my Fortunes till they bleed,
To fill this Mercenary's Coffers.
But this rich Prince's weightier Gold, I find
Has turn'd the Scale against me; be it so,
I'll give the World the lie, e'r I supect:
None but Arviola her self shall e'r
Perswade me that Arviola is chang'd:
Here comes this Pageant Prince! Down swelling Blood,
I must speak to him, and wou'd do't in temper.
Enter Abardanes, Sossacles.
Prince, by your Favour, turn; a Souldier calls.

Ab.
Ha; who art, that with so bold a freedom
Retards my haste?

Theo.
I am one whom thou hast wrong'd,
Demand'st thou further?—One whom thou must right;
Forbear that frown, I wou'd not move thy Passion,
And wou'd much less that thou shoud'st wake my Rage:
As therefore calmly I my Grievance tell,
Do thou as calmly promise to redress:
Thou seek'st to rob me of my Valour's Prize,
My Right by chance of War and Royal Grant,
My Mistress—more—my Bride Arviola.

Ab.
Ha! Theocrin? stand forth, let me survey thee;
Dar'st thou, poor Sprout of obscure Growth, presume
To be ingrafted to the Royal Stock,
And stain with Peazant Blood the Race of Kings?

Theo.
Thus far I bear with thee thou barbarous Prince,
Less disciplin'd then those rough Winter-gusts,
That scourge thy barren Clime. This is the Palace,
The Mansion of the King, the Place protects thee,
Thou art too vile a Sacrifice to fall
On Sacred Ground.

Ab.
Unhand me Sossacles;
Now thank the Gods that thou art rankt beneath
A Prince's Vengeance; I forbear thy Life,
And will not stoop to take the worthless forfeit:
Thou art hedg'd in with double Infamy;
For as a Subject I disdain thee much,
But as a Traytor more.

Theo.
Blasphemer die.

[Draws.
Enter King, with Guard.
King.
This Insolence within our Palace Walls?
Guards seize the Tyger.

Theo.
O my Lord the King,
To Heav'n and you I will appeal.

King.
Be dumb,
I'll hear thee nothing till the Bench is sate,
And then thy Practices shall have fair Tryal.
Guards he's your Charge.

[Ex. King and Abard.
Theo.
Are these then the Rewards of Loyalty?
To bind these Arms that set their Countrey free?
My Vertue shot too fast, and shaded all
The Bramble Courtiers; therefore I must fall
As one that rob'd 'em of the Royal Beams!
But Winter Storms will fall again, and then
They'll wish their Shelter standing—O my Heart!
Those Beauties must belong to Arviola!
Arviola! Hast thou forgot me too.

Enter Arviola reading.
Arv.
Nor am to blame,
Y'are so much alter'd now from what you were;
An Angel fall'n cou'd take no change so fowl.

Theo.
Yes—I am fall'n indeed! most strangely alter'd!
A few days since I triumpht, was proclaim'd
The States Deliverer; Virgins wreath'd in Flowr's,
Sung Hymns of Conquest, Infants lisp'd my Praise;
The King, the King, smil'd on me, Fortune smil'd,
Arviola smil'd—Where's now the dazling Pomp?
The bright Scene's chang'd, the Heav'nly Dream with-drawn;
My Flags disperst, and all my Streamers drown'd.

Arv.
Dispense with me thou nice and rig'rous Honour,
[Aside.
This Penance is too much for Flesh to bear!
False as he is, I cannot see his Pain,
Yet am condemned to be his Torturer!

Theo.
Fickle Maid,
Like Venus thou wer't wont to scatter Joys;
But now those Eyes have lost their healing Pow'r,
Shoot Pains, and like Malignant Planets strike!

Arv.
Take on your self the Blame, if I disturb you;
I wou'd have past in Silence by.

Theo.
Thou woud'st not!
I'll justifie thee, ev'n against thy Self!

Arv.
To prove what I affirm, I'll leave you now.

Theo.
Then fickle Maid, thy Love was all a Mock!

Arv.
The Gods will be my Witnesses, how much
I priz'd the brave, the valiant Theocrin;
The Conscious Gods will be my Witnesses,
How much the Traytor Theocrin I scorn.

Theo.
Forbear, my Fame, rash Beauty! O take heed
How thou revild'st a Souldiers Loyalty!
Least Light'nings fall and singe thee Black as Moors.

Arv.
This Conference is our last, and our Discourse
Has shot too far already—I have done.

Theo.
What mute? This silence tortures me beyond
The sting of Slander; speak, though it be to curse me,
Arviola! Arviola! Arviola!
O deaf as storms, to sinking Mariners!
Speak, I conjure thee by the spotless Joys
Of our stol'n Visits! by the friendly Bow'r,
Whose Shade was conscious to our mid-night Meeting.
Whil'st from the Jess'mine Roof the Dew distill'd,
And trickling from thy Brow perfum'd thy Tears!
Whil'st to correct the Vapours of the Night,
Officious Loves Celestial Perfumes breath'd,
And fann'd the Moon-beams, with more shining Wings:
By all those Nights! and that most friendly Night,
When to my ravisht Ear you first confest
Your Love, and shot me through with trembling Joy!
The Stars flam'd brighter, and the Flow'rs breath'd forth
A warmer Fragrancy; the gloomy Grove
Approv'd our Vows, and at our Contract smill'd.

Arv.
Oh! O! O!

Theo.
Relentless still? What shall I say?
What sad Complaint assume t'extort thy Pity?
This posture can re-call the offended Gods!
Hear cruel Princess; 'tis not yet too late!
One balmy Tear and I am whole!—
With-drawing?—Can it be?
Ha! Wilt thou, can'st thou part and leave me thus
Grov'ling in Agony!—Turn, turn, at least
To view my dying Pangs, and glut thy Sight
With the last Pantings of a broken Heart.
[Here Arviola seems much discompos'd, but stiffling her Disorder.
Ev'n yet thou art not quite with-drawn! turn yet,
And leave with bleeding Love, the Charity
[Ex. Arviola
Of one relenting Sigh!—She's gone! retir'd,
Vanisht for ever from these closing Eyes.
Come Chaos now! Resume thy horrid Reign;
Blend Earth with Heav'n, the Elements confound,
And quench in Seas the fall'n Etherial Fires!
When Vertu's dead, 'tis time that Nature die;
Wake Theocrin! forsaken as thou art
Of all; thy Innocence stays with thee still!
Guards, to your Office, wreath me o'r in Chains,
And in the gloomiest Dungeon shroud me fast;
When this is done, if my escape you fear,
The Grave's the safest Prison, lodge me there.

Enter Abardanes, Myrrhoe.
Ab.
Scarce can I credit what I've heard and seen;
Approach thou subtl'st of the subtle Sex:
Say, what Return, what Off'ring shall I make
To thy immortal Wit—Sossacles.
Enter Sossacles with Aribert.
The change is wrought, a change more wonderful
Than of black Chaos into smiling Day.

Soss.
Your Servant Aribert, from Thrace arriv'd
With Letters of Importance.

Ab.
Souldier welcome!
[Opens the Letter and reads.
Fly Myrrhoe, foment the Princess rage,
That no relenting Thought for Theocrin
Surprize her Breast, and mar the noble Project.
[Ex. Myrrh.
Confusion! Torture! all my hopes are dash'd.
Read Sossacles, my Royal Father's sick,
And I am summon'd home to Thrace with speed:
Aspiring Sythrax waits the Kings last hour,
To seize the vacant Throne; and they inform me
Our speediest return can scarce prevent him:
What shall I do?

Soss.
Your danger Sir instructs you;
Your Fleet's in readiness, we'll sail to night.

Ab.
And leave Arviola?—
Enter Escalus.
Now Escalus,
If thou hast Policy produce it now,
And make a Prince thy Friend; my Father dies
And warns me hence, my Brother Sythrax takes
Advantage of my Absence to Usurp;
Shall I secure my Crown or Love?

Esc.
Both Sir.

Ab.
How my Apollo? O my panting Heart!

Esc.
The means are obvious; bear Arviola
By force aboard your Fleet, then sail for Thrace:
The season gives you opportunity,
Too morrow she attends the Sacred Rites,
And Sacrifices at Diana's Grove.
The Princess early with her Virgin Train,
Sets forth to finish the preparing Ceremonies,
Before the Court Arives; then you may seize her,
For Myrrhoe shall seduce her through the Groves,
Where you shall plant your Servants to surprize her.

Ab.
Most exquisite contrivance!
We'll send immediate notice to our Fleet.

[Ex. Ab. and Soss.
Enter Myrrhoe hastily.
Esc.
Where thus confusedly Sister?

Myrr.
Where's the Prince?

Esc.
What new Disaster?

Myr.
Theocrin's escap'd.

Esc.
Escap'd!

Myr.
Rescu'd from the Guards,
And born with violence from the Town.

Esc.
By whom?

Myr.
'Tis guest by the Offiers, that from the Camp
Attended him to the Court, for all were Masqu'd,
Nor trusted to the Evenings Dusk.

Esc.
Perdition;
This happens ill; but Fortune do thy worst,
My ripe Designs are past the blasting now;
Sister one day, one busie morrow more
Crowns our Desires: Retire, and I'll inform you.
I toil for Empire, now at Scepters fly,
Resolv'd to force 'em or expire;
And tho I perish in th'attempt,
Even in the Grave, my Pomp, my Court I'll keep,
And dream of Crowns in Deaths Eternal Sleep.

[Ex.