 | The Loyal General |  |
ACT. V.
SCENE, A Desart.Thunder. Enter Theocrin in the Tempest.
Theo.
The Storm is husht, the Winds breath out their last,
The Thunders too in feebler Volleys die;
All Night they humour'd my Complaints; but now
The Day intrudes, the dear Confusion's vanisht,
And all the ruffled Elements return
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Thou rising Sun, nor summon with such speed,
Th'o'r labour'd World to th'Toils of a new day!
Why flatter'd Mortals, will ye wake to Cares,
When Sleep in kind Delusion may divert
Your pensive Minds with pleasing Images.
A Dream sets free the Captive, can restore
Lost Fields to Souldiers, and wreckt Merchants Wealth;
In Dreams the Exile Visits his dear home,
And o'r the sparkling Bowl relates at large
His past Distresses to his wond'ring Friends!
The lover too the sad forsaken Lover,
May dream and feign the falsest Mistriss true.
O for a gentle Slumber, that wou'd thus
Delude my Griefs, and shew my Perjur'd Fair
Constant as once I thought her—Oh I rave,
For Sleep no more must seal these Lids; this Sun
May set and rise agen to his dull Round,
But see me tread Life's giddy Maze no more;
Perform thy work thou deadly Juice—'Tis off.
[Drinks a Viol of Poison.
That Death (by Nature so abhor'd) shou'd be
As easily into our Vitals drawn,
As th'Air by which we live.
Enter Four or Five of the Officers.
1. Off.
I fear his discontent has made him stay,
Regardless of the Storm that rag'd too Night.
2 Off.
We left him near these Clifts.
3. Off.
'Twas
Rash to trust him with his Griefs alone.
4. Off.
It was his own Resolve, which we
Obey'd with much Reluctance—O ye Gods!
See where he prostrate lies in the cold Dew,
With his bare Head expos'd to th'troubled Air.
Theo.
Tyrant of Nature, I wou'd view thee near,
Thou Chief of Terrors, Death! a Form so horrid,
As even the Wretched shun: This brittle Glass
Contain'd that awful thing; the fatal Juice,
That turns my working Organs into Clay;
I' cou'd even now have dasht it on the Ground;
But let that pass.
1. Off.
Rise Noble General;
We come to seek you in the Armies Name.
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Nay, now my Friends you are too officious!
2. Off.
O my dear Lord, I grieve to have found now!
Why wou'd you dare the Terrors of this Night?
Such Lightnings, Wind and Rain—
Theo.
Ha Damocles.
Was't not a merry Night, thou know'st, I shou'd
Have been a Bridgroom now, and therefore 'twas
The rev'ling Storm struck up to make me Musick;
The Lightnings danc'd to entertain me—True,
The Bride was absent, and the Bed was cold!
But 'twas of Natures making, honest Rock,
O'r-spread with Moss.
3. Off.
His Griefs I fear distract him.
Theo.
Hark Damocles, a Secret, O my Boy,
When I am Earth, remember thou wert warn'd
To trust no Woman when she smiles, and when
She weeps believe her less, least when she swears;
But if she swear thee Love—Oh Wracks and Pangs!
Why Sirs d'ye gaze so wildly on me?—Ha!
The Poison I perceive has touch'd my Brain!
Come Damocles, let's talk no more of Women;
Arms be our Theam, bright Arms—Arviola!
Tell me of Arms, my Boy—Arviola!
Of Battles, tatter'd Ensigns, bloody Bayes;
Trophies and Triumphs—Oh Arviola!
4. Off.
We must divert this Frensie.
Theo.
Still they gaze!
My Senses then are going, let e'm go.
O that my working Thoughts were once at rest,
Still as fall'n Stars, or Streams bound up in Frost.
1. Off.
You Griefs shall be redrest; the Army waits
For your Return, resolv'd to force your Right,
And place you in the Imperial Bed and Throne.
Theo.
Then you have weighed my Wrongs.
1. Off.
We have, my Lord,
And must resent your Suffring as our own.
Theo.
Swear then to work the Army to my Will.
1. Off.
We swear.
Theo.
'Tis well;
Know then 'twill most conduce to my Content,
That you forget my Abuses from the Court,
And spight of all my Wrongs be Loyal still!
Nay Sirs, seem not dissatisfi'd, you've sworn,
Perform my last Request, for 'tis my last;
I've taken Poison.
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Horror!
Theo.
Infamy!
What Souldiers Tears, a few hours will reduce
This shaken Frame to its first Elements;
Part we like Soldiers without Ceremony:
I must devote my short remains of Life
To private Thoughts, and you must leave me all.
1. Off.
At least permit us wait you to the Grave.
To fling our pining Lawrels on your Earth,
And give the Warriour's Volley o'r your Tomb.
Theo.
I have my self took care for my Enterment.
The Hermite's Cave is near, where I'll unload me
Of this dull Earth; they'll decently bestow
This Lumber in some Vault by Nature fram'd;
Wrapt in no Sables, but of deepest Night;
No Pageantry, or more superfluous Trains
Of such as mourn for Hire, no Funeral Dirge,
But what the widdow'd Turtle shall afford me.
The Pomp that I despis'd in Life, in Death
I hold most vain; nor care to rot in State.
Farewel, commend me to our Valiant Troops,
And as ye wish my Ashes rest, be Loyal.
[Ex. severally.
SCENE, The Hermites Cell.
A Tomb discovered, the Hermite's Consecrating it. Edraste in Youths Apparel.
1. Herm.
Enough, the Tomb is hallow'd; all retire
To your respective Tasks, your chosen Toil;
Behold my Son this rude unpolisht Marble,
(To Edraste.
The common Receptacle of our Dust,
When Fate shall summon our Obedient Spirits.
What Follows Death, the Dead alone can tell;
But to our Life of Rule and Discipline,
We owe at least, this certain Priviledge,
Calmly to wait the change, nor fear to die.
Edr.
O peaceful Solituds!
Here all things smile, and in sweet Consort joyn,
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And break, like jarring Strings, the Harmony.
Why, cruel Theocrin, do'st thou pursue me
To these Retreats? For still thy Image wounds.
Enter Theocrin.
My panting Breast, and robs me of Repose,
Tho lodg'd on Poppies by the murmuring Stream.
Ha! is't the rav'ing of my feaverish Thought
Or Theocrin's appears! Defend my Heart,
Some kinder Pow'r, or undeceive my Eyes.
Theo.
I feel the trusty Potion by degrees,
Spread through my yielding Veins; my circling Blood,
At length, will bear the Cordial to my Heart;
As nearer to Eternity I coast,
The Prospect grows more lovely—Here's the Cave,
And I descry the Hermites working near;
The neighb'ring Vale shall be my Walk,
Till the prevailing Poison summon me
To turn and yield this Earth to their disposal.
[Exit.
Edr.
'Tis he! the Royal Bridegroom wand'ring here
Alone, Bare-headed, and with sorrowful Brow;
Fortune, I fear, has wrought some dreadful change!
I'll trust to my Disguise, and follow him;
My Heart is on the Rack till I'm inform'd.
[Exit.
WOOD SCENE agen.
Arviola, Myrrhoe: Arviola drest as for the Sacrifice.
Arv.
Where Myrrhoe, wilt thou and Sorrow lead me?
This Shade is dark, and silent to my wish,
Here let me sit and breath my last complaints!
He was the falsest of the treach'rous Sex;
The falsest, and as such, my just Revenge
Disdain'd his Pangs, when groveling at my Feet.
Myr.
His Love was feign'd, and so was his Remorse.
Where are these Ravishers, this was the time
[Aside.
Design'd for the Adventure, this the place.
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Arv.
Rise, we are summoned to attend the Altar;
Speak, have ye sung your Mattins, hail'd the Grove,
And with the Victim trod the Sacred Round?
Why stand ye thus fixt on each others Look,
As ye had some dire Message to deliver,
Whil'st each declines th'ungrateful Tale; speak forth.
1. Priest.
A better Fate attend our Greece, then what
The Omens of this Morning Rites presage;
Which of us, has with guilty hands approach'd
The awful Ceremonies, is unknown;
But our dread Goddess is displeas'd,
And thwarts our Work with boding Prodigies.
Myrr.
'Tis but the Old Mans Fear, the hallow'd Wine
Has touch'd his feeble Brain, and makes him rave.
Shall we retire, yet farther, Madam?
1. Priest.
The Virgin Taper thrice I did apply,
Before the Flame wou'd taste the melting Gums,
Nor then blaz'd prosperously, erect to Heav'n,
But scatt'ring, turn'd his conscious folds to Earth,
And rol'd his smoaky Globes along the Ground.
Myr.
These Wizzards will mar all; to lose her thus,
[Aside.
When I've decoy'd her to the very Ginn.
2. Priest.
The destin'd Bull in Garlands wreath'd, stood bound,
And turn'd his lowring Eyes upon the Attendants;
Nor sooner had the blushing Wine distain'd
His snowy Brow, but rearing high in Air,
He shook the yielding Cords from his curl'd Front,
O'r-threw the Altar, tost the Golden Pile,
And forcing through the scatter'd Priests his way,
Ran with high Nostrils, Bellowing through the Grove.
Arv.
Return, and Consecrate the Place anew,
With mournful Cypress bind your Pensive Brows,
And prostrate falling on the Sacred Ground,
Each Vow his Innocence before the Altar;
Then cast the Lots to find the Offender out.
[Ex. Priest.
O Virgin Goddess, if this Breast indulge
One secret Guilt, turn all thy Rage on me,
And let thy Priestess bleed thy Sacrifice!
Else let me live with fall'n Edraste's shame;
My fond Heart, be agen seduc'd to Love,
Deceiv'd agen—Assassins, Treason! Help.
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Esc.
Seize her, Confederates, seize your Royal Prize.
Arv.
Help Heav'n, Rocks, Groves, Diana help!
Esc.
Soft, Madam, we are Friends, design no Wrong,
But come to bear you to a Lover's Arms.
Arv.
Off Traytor! Light'ning blast
Thy Sacrilegious Hands.
Esc.
Quick Sirs, convey her to the Prince's Chariot,
That waits without the Grove, thence to the Fleet;
And in the Court of Thrace expect her Thanks.
Enter from the other side Theocrin's Officers.
4. Off.
The Cry came this way—See! The Princess seiz'd
By Ravishers, ev'n in her sacred Robes.
[Fight. Whil'st they are engag'd, Arv. Myrrh. run off, Myrrh. Wounded; the Officers beat the others off.
2. Off.
The Fiends are Vanisht; where's the Princess?
3. Off.
Fled off in Fight.
2. Off.
Disperse we strait; you Damocles return
To the General, and inform him what has happened;
You Phorbus to the King, the rest search for the Princess.
[Ex.
Re-enter Escalus unmasqu'd.
Esc.
Curse on the Coward Slaves, they fought like Women;
Not Wolves more tamely wou'd resign their Prey
To Lion: How shall I excuse
This soul Defeat, to the expecting Prince?
The Prince? Hell! that's the least Difficulty.
How shall I answer to the King this Treason?
Hard-hunted, as I am, I've one shift yet,
And that a sure one: I'll with speed inform
The King, of this Design to seize Arviola:
Charge all the Guilt upon the Prince, pretend
The Plot was frustrated by my Contrivance;
Then when the Intelligence comes, the King
Shall thank me for my Villany, perhaps
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The sinking Ship, and rowing off to shore,
Enrich themselves with the wreck'd Merchants Wealth.
[Exit
Theocrin and Edraste.
Theo.
Leave me fond Youth, why wilt thou follow me?
I'm Savage as a Sylvan, and unfit
For thy soft Conversation; prethee leave me!
Edr.
Forgive a Strangers Rudeness, Sir, excuse
A charitable Crime; say you are happy,
And for some pleasing Contemplation seek
This Solitude; convince me with a smile
And I'll retire.
Theo.
Believe me happy then
And leave me.
Edr.
Wherefore then that troubled Sigh?
Theo.
Pretty Impertinence, no more Inquiries;
But since thy Curiosity is such,
Know I am wretched to that sad degree,
That Fiends might pitty me, and therefore leave me.
Edr.
'Tis therefore I wou'd follow.
Theo.
Thou art Young,
And Grief's infectious; get thee to Court,
and revel out thy Youth; Sorrow will come
Unsought, and poyson thy Delights too soon.
Besides, thou'rt Beautiful and form'd for Dalliance,
Therefore to Court, there practice ev'ry Wile
To charm the Fair; none scape thy Flattery;
But Youth take heed that it be Flattery.
For should'st thou be sincere in thy Addresses,
Give up thy Heart, and trust thy Happiness
To a Woman's Mercy, thou'rt lost for ever.
Edr.
Then all all my Fears are just, and Destiny
[Aside.
Has play'd most fowl;
Arviola is chang'd, or he abus'd.
Theo.
Thou weep'd! What mean those Tears, I did but speak
Of disappointed Love, and thou art touch'd!
Is't possible that thy soft Innocence,
So early, shou'd be Martyr'd by the scorn
Of any cruel she!
Then I am still to learn in Woman's Falshood;
And my fair Cous'ner yet may be a Saint,
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Yes, false Arviola, when I descend,
And to the lower World report my Love,
I'll do thy Fame the Right, to say,
There was one more inhumane Maid than thou!
Enter Damocles.
Dam.
Your Pardon, my best Lord, that I trangress
Your last Commands, the occasion is surprizing;
Your fair Arviola, with her Maiden Train,
This Morning came to attend the Annual Rites
Of Great Diana's Altar in the Grove:
On our Return we found the Princess seiz'd
By Ruffians, whom we soon o'rcome,
But lost her in the hurry of the Fight—
Behold, my Lord, three of their scatter'd Crew
Flying this way.
Theo.
False, tho she be, yet some Revenge is due
To injur'd Beauty and a Princess Name.
Stand Traytors.
Fight. The Assassins are Slain, Edraste Wounded.
How fares my gentle Boy.
Edr.
The friendly Steel
Has pierc'd my aking Heart, and giv'n me ease.
Theo.
Ha! Wounded! We have bought the Villains Lives
Too dear; help Damocles
Yo bear him to the Cell.
[Ex.
Enter King Attended, Esc. Ther. Diph. Priests brought in by the Guards.
King.
Disperse and search each Thicket of the Forrest;
And as your forfeit Heads shall answer for't,
Return not to our Presence till y'ave found her.
[Ex. Attend
Stand forth, ye reverend Hypocrites, confess
When, where, for what you barter'd, to betray
Your Monarch's Daughter? Hell! I am too cold!
Produce her Traytors, set her in my Sight,
Restore her to my Arms this minute, or
Your pamper'd Flesh shall on the Rack be torn,
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Esc.
This is the Musick that I long'd to hear;
[Aside.
King, y'are too tame, rage louder yet; Ha! Ha!
How vain a Creature were the plotting Knave,
But for the credulous Fool?
King.
Slaves, must I twice command, e'r I am answer'd?
2. Priest.
By all the Pow'rs, by Great Diana's Self,
And your own Sacred Head, we are innocent.
King.
They sport with my Revenge, quick, drag 'em hence
To present Death; nor shall th'ingrateful Prince
Our Vengeance shun: he comes, make ready Guards
To seize him, he shall bleed.
Ther.
Dread Sir, consider.
Enter Abardanes, speaking to his Attendants.
Ab.
O'r-powr'd? Excuse it not, 'twas Cowardise;
Retire, I must to the King, least he suspect.
King.
Disarm him.
Ab.
I am betray'd,
Basely you have surpriz'd us; give me room,
Slaves know the Prince, nor with your Vassal Hands
Profane my Royalty—What! Servile Chains!
I'll not endur't.
Esc.
Now the Chaft Lion foams.
Ab.
I charge thee King release me, by thy Sceptre,
Thy Head, thy Empire, which my Thracian Troops
Shall drown in Blood, and waste with Vengeful Fire.
King.
We dare thy worst, ingrateful, barb'rous Prince,
That could'st abuse our Hospitality,
And plot a Rape upon a Royal Maid.
Ab.
Why then did she not Love? What I design'd
Was gen'rous all; and thou should'st thank me, King,
That of thy Dignity I took such care,
Fo force thy Daughter to my Princely Arms,
That on a Vassal else, a Subject Slave,
Had lost her Crown and Beauty; and corrupted
Th'untainted Blood of Monarchs!
King.
Bear him off;
Come to my Heart, thou faithful Escallus;
With what Return shall I reward thy Vertue!
Our Army we commit to thy Command,
Be thou our Gen'ral in false Theocrin's stead,
And meet the shock of War, this Prince has threaten'd.
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Diph., Att.
Dread Sir, A Forrester,
That says, he saw but now a Lady fly
In fright to the Hermite's Cave.
King.
'Twas my Arviola, lead thither.
[Ex. All.
The CAVE.
Theocrin and Damocles bearing in Edraste.
Theo.
Now Damocles Fly and call the Hermites in,
Their Art will bring Relief; take Heart, my Boy.
Edr.
I Die, my Lord, and with my latest Breath
Will speak of Wonders; now my Stars are kind,
And for my past Griefs make too large Amends,
Since in your dear Embrace I do expire;
I am Edraste.
Theo.
This indeed is wond'rous.
Edr.
Deaths Paleness will forbid my Blushes now;
If I confess that I have lov'd you long,
But with a Flame as Chaste as Vestal Fire;
Or may no Pious Garland crown my Tomb,
But Virgins shun it as unhallow'd Ground.
Enter Arviola in Fright.
Arv.
Where shall I hide? O for an Earthquake now
To sink me from these Ravishers—Whose there?
Theo.
Speak my Edraste, end thy charming Tale,
For I wou'd Die convinc'd, there can be Truth
In Woman's Love.
Arv.
Edraste in Disguise with Theocrin,
In close Embraces joyn'd! My Eyes too long
Are guilty, but the sacred Ponyard thus
Shall expiate the Offence; Eternal Night
Remove the hated Object from my view.
[Stabs her self.
Theo.
She's gone, and in her Cheeks
A scatter'd Purple smiles,
Like streaks of Sun-shine from a Setting Day:
My Fate comes next, the sure-slow Poison now
Preys on my Vitals—Ha! what Heavenly Form
Sits there? Bright Vision turn—Arviola!
Arv.
O Gods, those ruffled Locks, and that wan Look,
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But 'tis a Woman's Weakness, and I'll crush it.
Theo.
It cannot be! Not Woman's Cruelty
Can swell to that Excess, to persecute
Her poor forsaken Lover to his Cave;
To tear his closing Wounds, and wake
His slumb'ring Griefs into a fresh Despair.
Is this the tenderness of Beauty, this
The Weeping Sexe's Mercy? Oh! Arviola!
Arv.
With what divided Passions am I torn!
Stream faster sluggish Blood and give me ease!
Theo.
That so contemn'd a Thing as I, shou'd e'r
Create your Highness Trouble, were unjust;
But Princess you'll excuse me: that I lov'd you,
I do confess, but wore my Flames conceal'd
And silent, as the Lamps that burn in Tombs,
Sigh'd only to my self and to the Winds,
Gaz'd on your Beauties with the distant Crowd:
Your self at last perceiv'd my drooping care,
And forc'd the trembling Secret from my Breast,
Which with my Life I render'd at your Feet:
Then—I remember—Oh! the panting Minute—
Arv.
That panting Minute I remember too!
[Aside.
Theo.
You rais'd me by the bloodless Hand from Ground,
With such obliging Tenderness, secur'd
My trembling Hopes, that next I sunk with joy!
But (Oh the Torture!) this transporting Scene
Was but a gawdy Dream, and wak'd with Storms,
Here on cold Earth the flatter'd Dreamer lies.
Arv.
Tempt not the Gods too far, those Gods that know
The Falseness of your Love: yet O thrice Happy,
If here your Crimes had fixt, but to Corrupt
A Royal Maid—The fowl Thought strikes me Dumb,
I leave your Guilt t'interpret—Oh Edraste!
Theo.
Take heed, Licencious Fair! Thy perjur'd Love
Was but thy Sexe's Sin, a Crime of Nature,
But to Blaspheme the Vertue of the Dead,
Will wrest from the forbearing Gods their Thunder.
Arv.
Ha! Dead! Each Minute draws fresh Wonders on.
Enter Myrrhoe Bloody.
Myr.
The Princess must perceive that I betray'd her,
Perhaps this Cave will hide me from the Search.
Theo.
Hast Thou too brought thy Raven's Note t'afflict me?
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Gods! Theocrin Pale! Arviola Bloody, and Edraste Dead;
Then Furies lash me with your Scorpion Whips;
Give me the Torments of th'Eternal Damn'd,
Prometheus, Vulture, and Ixion's Wheel.
Arv.
Alas, what mean those dreadful Execrations?
Myr.
My Breath grows short, but shall suffice t'unfold
Such Treasons, as will fright the Depths of Hell;
For whil'st the Plotting Escalus accus'd
This gen'rous Lord of Treason to the King,
As falsely I abus'd his Love to you;
Taxt him of wanton Dalliance with Edraste,
Who from the Court retreated, to divert
Th'Ambitious Queens Designs on both your Lives:
Thus were you wrought to treat him with Disdain,
At his return from Field.
Theo.
The Truth, the Truth as thou shalt meet the Gods.
Arv.
For thy Souls sake, the Truth and I forgive thee.
Myr.
At last, Brib'd by the Prince, I undertook
To tempt you through the Groves, till the Assassins
Might seize and bear you to the Thracian Fleet;
But (unexpectedly engag'd) i'th' Fight
I met th'unluckly Wound that gives me Death,
By the dark Pow'rs that wait for my Descent.
This is most true, as true as I was false,
Or let my Pains, through circling Ages last,
Nor Time expiring, see my Torments done.
[Dies.
Theo. and Arv. attempt to Rise, but (wanting Strength) on their Hands and Knees, get to each other.
Theo.
O bounteous Pow'rs! O balmy healing Joy!
Pride of thy Sex, Imperial Excellence,
My still Beloved, still Loving, True Arviola.
Arv.
Can you forgive my Lord my rash Disdain?
You must, for I was punish'd in the Crime,
Ev'n then (cou'd you have seen my Heart)
You wou'd confess that your Arviola
Was ne'r so passionate kind.
Theo.
Let me in haste—
Devour those Sweets, and load me with thy Bloom,
A Stock to feed on in Eternity.
Arv.
O that some pittying God wou'd fix us thus
(To solid Marble turn'd) Eternal Statues,
Whil'st Pious Lovers flock from farthest Lands,
To hear the wond'rous Chances of our Loves;
And thence be taught whate'r Disasters fall,
58
Theo.
My Feeling fails, but ah what purple Dew
Distains this Hand that prest thy panting Heart?
Arv.
Thank the Good Gods, 'tis my Life-Blood, my Lord,
I faint; my Theocrin, but one thing more
Tell me, if we shall love i'th' other World?
Theo.
'Twill be our Business, 'tis the Land of Love.
Arv.
And without Jealousie.
Theo.
Their Paradise knows no such poisonous Weed;
Their Loves are as their Streams, full, calm, and clear;
Secure and free they pass their harmless hours,
Gay as the Birds that revel in the Groves,
And sing the Morning up.
Arv.
Farewel.
Theo.
She's gone!
And charms me after.
[Dies Both.
Enter Theron, Diphilus, Guards, Attendants, Hermite, King and Escalus, in the middle of Train.
Ther.
Confusion! Diphilus see the Princess slain
in Theocrin's Arms, more bloodless Corpses too,
To fill the ghastly Scene—Dread Sir, Retire;
Such Horror fills this Cave, as will congeal
Your Aged Blood, and blast your Royal Sight.
King.
Why do your Knees prevent me; sink in Earth
And give Passage: Where's the Goblin now
That should appall me? Ha! My Arviola dead.
And in the Traytor's Arms!
Fate thou hast struck me home, but struck thy last.
Here fell my only Comfort, only Care.
Haste, set the Prince at large.
Esc.
'Twas my sole fear, least Myrrhoe should discover,
And Death has ty'd her Tongue; there's that breach stopt.
King.
Rob'd of my Heirs; be all my Witnesses
How timely for my Empire I provide;
Behold this Man of Worth, and know him all
[Presenting Escalus.
For our Adopted Son and Heir of Greece;
Bow all to Earth and do him present Homage.
Esc.
Thus, gracious Sir, thus prostrate at your Feet,
Your Vassal begs you to revoke your Favour;
I am th'unworthiest—
King.
Rise, our Pleasure's fixt, Slaves is our Will disputed.
All.
Hail Heir of Greece, Hail Royal Escalus.
[Enter Messenger with Letters.
Diph.
Way there, a Message to the King.
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What bring'st thou?
Mess.
Great Sir, your Queen disdaining her Confinement,
Took Poison, but enjoyn'd me e'r she dy'd,
To bear these Papers to your Royal Hand.
King.
O Dephs of Villany! Guards seize that Fiend.
[Pointing to Esc.
Esc.
What means my gracious Lord.
King.
See here, my Lords, what will amaze you too!
Our Empress, by that Escalus detected,
Liv'd but to take Revenge on the Discoverer;
And to effect it, made pretence of Forces,
Rais'd by her Brother to invade this Empire,
Which this Designing Lord was to command,
And these his Letters in Return; where he
Accepts her Terms! To Death with the Impostor.
Esc.
That Breath that doom'd me be thy last, weak Monarch;
But King, know thou, and these (but now) my Slaves,
That for that minutes Pride, that single Taste
Of Royal Pow'r, for that one Hail, I'd meet
The worst of Deaths thy feeble Rage can form.
[Ex. Born off by the Guards.
King.
My Lord, I trust your Care to see just Rites
Perform'd to these dead Bodies; my next charge
(And that my last) is, that you summon streight
Our Senate, and by fair Election crown
Our Successor; for my own private part
I have determin'd what the Gods inspire:
Reach me a Hermite's Habit.
Ther.
Now I find
His rash Resolve, but durst not interpose.
[King kneeling, takes a Hermites Vestment in his hand kisses, then shifting his Robes of State, puts it on.
King.
How light sits this! And thus have I put off,
With the Imperial Robes, Imperial Cares.
Thus after all my Storms of Court, I make
My last Retreat to the Gods and Poverty.
Here as the Sanctions of this Cell, shall bind
By turns, I'll wait, and in my Course be King.
Here Lust wants Fewel, and Ambition starves,
My temper'd Appetites shall here be taught,
T'ask Council of my Reason e'r they crave:
Here just but temperate Meals, short Sleeps and sound,
Shall cheer me for the Labours of the Day:
Thus Life's well manag'd Remant will I spend,
And when the Gods shall lease, resign my Breath
Calmly, as Infants sleep, and smile on Death.
FINIS.
| The Loyal General | |