 | The Island-Princess |  |
ACT II.
SCENE I.
A Vault under the Castle. Armusia, Sforza, Emanuel, with powder Barrels, and light Matches.Arm.
Our prosperous Voyage, was a lucky Omen;
A lucky, and fair Omen.
Sfor.
May it prove so.
Arm.
The Sea and Wind strove which shou'd most befriend us.
Where lies our Boat?
Sfor.
Safe lodg'd within the Reeds behind the Castle;
Where no Eye can perceive, or thought suspect.
Arm.
These Merchants Habits too have done us Service;
Unquestion'd thus I've Travell'd through the Town;
View'd all the Tyrants Magazines; got knowledge
Ev'n of the Prison, and the Pow'r that Guards it
Where the King's Dungeon'd.
Sfor.
You attempt strong work.
Arm.
Courage is strong, beside a Monarchs Fate's in't;
Yet loose or win, there's no retiring now.
Sfor.
I see't; your Valiour, Sir, has seal'd your Fate;
Yet must confess your Ruin will be Glorious.
Arm.
Thus far our Game holds fair, as Merchants we
Have hired this Vault, and stow'd those mettled Wares
That soon will vent themselves without a Chap-man.
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The Trains are all laid, Sir.
Arm.
Come nearer then,
That no false Ear may reach us, o'er this Vault
The Castle stands, where this proud Governour
Has stor'd his Arms and Treasure, next to that
The Prison where the injur'd King is kept.
Sfor.
What of all this?
Arm.
You're dull, if ye perceive not:
These Friends which we have here bestowed, will soon
Speak out for us.
Sfor.
Too loud!
Arm.
The Fire I here brought with me
Shall break into materials Flames, and bright ones;
That all the Island shall stand wondering at
An hour hence; noble Friends, look for the Fury,
The Fire to light us to our Honour'd purpose.
Sfor.
Our Funeral.
Arm.
Sforza, I have seen thee braver.
Sfor.
Hell catch my Soul, if for my self I fear;
But with what Eyes, can I behold your Fate,
Your Sinews stretch'd on the revenging Rack.
(Less cannot be expected) that dear Breast,
Torn piece-meal, and that noble Heart lie panting.
The Castle's Ribbed with Rock, the Prison warded.
Arm.
I say we have a chance for't,
When the Towns full of fright, the Governour
Out of his Wits, to see th'imperious Flames:
The people there imploy'd to stop the Ruins,
And few regarding any private Office:
Then fly we to the Prison instantly,
And push for the King's Rescue.
Em.
Fortune speed us.
Arm.
Let us be worthy of it by our Courage,
And so take leave, but keep still within sight,
Till the Flames Rise, then meet to do or die:
Fail not dear Fire, and Powder,
Hold thy Nature
[Ex.
Sfor.
My Heart bodes with thy Fate brave Youth;
But we will sell thee dearly.
[Exeunt severally.
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Gov.
No, Captain, for those Troops, we need them not,
The Town is strong enough to stand their furies;
I wou'd see 'em come and offer to do something,
They are high in words.
Cap.
'Tis safer, Sir, than doing.
Gov.
Do'st thou think they dare attempt.
Cap.
May be, by treaty,
But sure, by force, they will not prove so forward.
Gov.
No faith, I warrant thee, they know me well enough,
And know they have no Child in hand to play with:
They know my nature too, I have bit some of them,
And to the Bones; they have reason to remember me.
It makes me laugh to think how glorious
The Fools are in their promise, and how pregnant
Their wits and power are to bring things to pass;
Am not I grown lean with loss of sleep, and care
To prevent these threatnings, Captain?
Cap.
You look well, Sir:
Upon my Conscience, you are not like to sicken
Upon any such conceit.
Gov.
I hope I shall not:
Well, wou'd I had this wench, for I must have her,
She must be mine; and there's another charge, Captain;
What betwixt love and brawling, I got nothing:
All goes in maintenance—
Heark, what's that,
[The Train takes.
That noise there, it went with a violence.
Cap.
Some old wall, belike, Sir,
That hath no neighbour-help to hold it up,
Is fallen suddenly.
Gov.
I must discard these Rascals,
That are not able to maintain their buildings,
They blur the beauty of the Town.
[Within.
Fire, fire.
Gov.
I hear another Tune, good Captain;
It comes on fresher still, 'tis loud and fearful:
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Upon my life some sudden Fire.
[Ex. Capt.
The Bell too?
[Bell Rings.
I hear the noise more clear.
Enter Citizen.
Cit.
Fire, fire.
Gov.
Where? where?
Cit.
Suddenly taken in a Merchants Vault, Sir,
Fearful and high it blazes; help, good people.
Gov.
Pox o'their paper houses, how they smother;
They light, like Candles; how the Roar still rises?
Enter Captain.
Cap.
Your Magazin's a fire, Sir, help, help, suddenly,
All will be lost, get the people presently;
And all that are your Guard, and all help, all hands, Sir,
Your wealth, your strength is burnt else, the Town perish'd,
The Castle now begins to flame.
Gov.
My Soul shakes.
Cap.
A Merchant's house next joyning? Shame light on him,
That ever such a Neighbour, such a Villain—
Gov.
Go raise all the Garrison, and bring them up.
Enter other Citizens.
And beat the people forward—Oh I have lost all
In one House, all my hopes, good worthy Citizens,
Follow me all, and all your powers give to me;
I will reward you all. Oh cursed fortune—
The flames more, arise still, help, help, Citizens,
Freedom and wealth to him that helps; follow, oh follow,
Fling Wine, or any thing, I'll see it recompenc'd.
Buckets, more buckets, fire, fire, fire.
[Ex. Omnes.
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Arm.
So, thou art open, keep the way clear
Behind still, now for the place.
Sould.
'Tis here, Sir.
Arm.
Sure, this is it,
Force open the door—A miserable Creature,
Yet, by his manly face—
[The King discovered.
King.
Why stare ye on me?
You cannot put on Faces to fright me:
In Death, I am a King still, and contemn ye:
Where is that Governour? Methinks his manhood
Should be well pleas'd to see my Tragedy,
And come to Bath his stern eyes in my sorrows;
I dare him to the sight, bring his scorn with him,
And all his rugged threats, here's a throat, Souldiers,
Come see who can strike deepest.
Em.
Break the Chain there.
King.
What does this mean?
Arm.
Come, talk of no more Governours,
He has other business; Sir, put your Legs forward,
And gather up your courage, like a man,
We are Friends,
And come to give your Sorrows ease.
Sfor.
On bravely;
Delays may lose all agen.
Enter Guard.
Arm.
The Guard.
Sfor.
Upon 'em.
Arm.
Make speedy and sure work.
Em.
They fly.
Arm.
Up with them, & to the Boat stand, fast, now be speedy,
When this heat's past, we'll sing our History
Away like Thought.
17
Now sacred Chance be ours.
Em.
Pray when we have done, Sir.
[Exeunt bearing off the King.
Enter Four Townsmen.
1.
What, is the Fire out? or past the worst yet?
2.
'Tis out Neighbour, I can tell you, but whether past
the worst, or no, I know not. I never wrought so stoutly
since I was a Man; I have been burnt at both ends like
a Squib,—I liv'd two long Hours in the Fire: The
Flame at last got down my Throat, and broke out again
at my North-Door. If they had not clap'd in a Dozen
Buckets upon me as they did, I had flam'd up, and been
one of the Seven Stars by this time.
3.
He wou'd have made a rare Flambeau.
1.
Well said Wax-Chandler; thou art in thy Element.
4.
Now you talk of Elements, 'pray' Neighbours how
many Elements are there?
1.
Why, there's but one, Fool, where the Sun and Moon
dwell, and all their little Prentices.
2.
Well said Shopkeeper: Thou art in thy Element too.
Dost call 'em Prentices, I have known 'em These Threescore
Years, and sure they are out of their time by this,
or they do not serve by our Charter. I tell ye there are
four Elements; Water and Malt, are two of 'em; and Fire
and Brimstone t'other. They have past through me a little
too late, I thank 'em.
3.
My Wife took leave of me a hundred times after I
was burnt to a Cinder, yet I bore up still, and tost the Buckets,
Boys.
4.
I'th' latter end o'th hurry, me thought I heard a Voice
cry, Treason.
3.
Murder you might, by Timbers falling, but for my
part as a House fell, I still stept into th'Chimney.
1.
Ay, Neighbour, if ev'ry Man had wrought as you did.
3.
Why? I stole nothing Neighbour.
2.
How many Rogues were there pretending to help
remove Goods, and ran away with them?
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And your damn'd, Suburb Cart-rogues: an I were
Governour, I would not leave a Carter unhang'd for twenty
Miles round. This honesty is my ruin, Neighbours; I
could have born my Poverty, had Fortune not made me
honest; or Honesty, if she had not made me poor, but
both together—the Devil himself were not able to live
on't.
2.
Right Neighbour, my Conscience whisper'd me to
Steal in the Fire, but my honesty would not suffer it. O
for some Drink; get me a whole Tun of Drink, whole Cisterns,
for I have Four Dozen of Fire-brands in my Belly,
and Smoak enough in my Throat, to bloat a Shoal of Herrings.
3.
We'll lay you under the Tap, and let the Tub run
through you.
2.
And, Neighbour, you shall lie at my Bung again, to
take't at second-hand.
1.
Well since, we have no plunder our selves, let's set
our selves to Drink, and rail them that have.
2.
Look, yonder comes our Governour, a worse Plague
than the Fire; he has Beams enough yet standing to hang
all for helping him. Away.
[Exeunt.
Scene changes to the Isle of Tedore.
Enter Ruidias and Sailers:
Rui.
Make ready all, we'll Sail with the next Flood.
'Tis fit I should be foremost in the Attempt,
As in her favour, I stand first—Let's see.
[Shouts of Triumph at Distance.
My self, my Cousin, and my Garrison;
With our Confederate Neighbours o'th' out-Isles.
I trust we cannot fail.—What means that shout?
Enter Pymero.
Pym.
Where are you, Sir?
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Not yet aboard, Pymero?
Pym.
Alas we are topt, Sir:
Turn'd all to shotten Herrings, the King, Sir:
The King's come home agen.
Rui.
The Devil—
Pym.
Nay, sure he came o'Gods Name.
Rui.
Who shou'd attempt him:
The Princes are all here.
Pym.
'Tis done, Sir, and most bravely.
Rui.
It cannot be! done! Who dares do it?
Pym.
An honest Fellow, who it seems has ended
His Market, 'ere you were up.
Shout again. Enter Quisara, Panura, and her Train.
Quis.
Can it be possible,
A stranger, that I have not known nor seen;
A man I never grac'd: O Captain, Captain!
[To Ruidias.
What shall we do? I am betray'd by Fortune:
It cannot, shall not be.
Rui.
'Twas Witch-craft did it:
No mortal means cou'd take effect so soon.
Quis.
Must I then be given
To a Man I never saw, nor spoke withal,
And know not of what Nation?—O Ruidias,
This might have your Lot—
[Shout again.
The general Joy comes on, and I must meet it:
But with what Comfort—
Enter as in Triumph, the King, Armusia, Sforza, Emanuel, and Crowds of People: The Princes with their Train meet them from the other side.
King.
Rise my Sister!
I am not welcome yet, till you embrace me.
Quis.
My Dear, and Royal Brother! Joy o'er pow'rs me,
To see you safe again, your Self and Mighty.
Rui.
A general gladness, Sir, spreads through the City,
20
'Twas a brave Venture, whosoever put for it;
A high and noble One, worthy much honour;
Yet had it mist, my Project had not fail'd,
And in short time—
King.
I thank you noble, Sir;
I know you love me.
Ba.
I have an Army, Sir,
That wou'd have scowr'd your Tyrant, and his Confines,
And rung him such a Peal.
Pym.
Yes, backward,
To make a Dog howl.
Sya.
I have done nothing, Sir, and therefore think't
Convenient to say little what I purpos'd,
And what my Love design'd.
King.
I like your Modesty. My royal Friends,
I thank ye all: I know it griev'd ye
To hear my Misery—but this Man, Princes,
I must thank heartily indeed;
For this Man saw me in it, and redeem'd me;
He look't upon me sinking, and plundg'd for me:
This wondrous Man, even from the Grave of Sorrow,
Has new begot my Name, and once more made me:
O Sister, if there may be thanks for this,
Or any thing near Recompence, invent it.
Arm.
You are too noble, Sir; there is reward,
Reward above my Action too, by Millions;
A Recompence so rich and glorious,
I durst not dream it mine—but that it was promis'd,
But that it was Propounded, Sworn and Seal'd
Before the Face of Heav'n.
For nothing in the life of Man or Merit,
(It is so truly great) cou'd else embrace it.
King.
O speak it, speak it, bless my Ear to hear it;
Make me happy Man to know 'tmay be;
For still methinks I am a Prisoner,
And feel no Liberty, till I find that.
Arm.
It is—but first to Heav'n, and you I bend,
If either can forgive the high Demand;
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I claim her, by her own word, and her honour:
It was her open promise to the Man,
That durst redeem you—Beauty set me on,
And Fortune Crowns me fair, if she receive me.
King.
Receive you, Sir,—why Sister—ha—turn from him?
Stand as you knew not me, nor what he has ventur'd,
My dearest Sister?
Arm.
Good, Sir, your pardon:
There is a blushing Modesty about her
That holds her back; Virgins are nice to Love;
I wou'd not have her forc'd; give her fair liberty:
Creatures of such soft Nature, if compell'd,
Turn into fears, and fly from their own Wishes.
King.
Look on him Princess, is there such another?
Oh! all ye Pow'rs so excellent in Nature;
In Honour, so abundant!
Quis.
I confess,
My word is pass'd, and he by that has purchas'd;
But, good Sir, give me leave to think some time
To be acquainted with his worth—We are Strangers.
For Love like Power, must pass through Ceremonies,
'Ere he can fix in Virgin Hearts.
King.
Be sudden,
You will respect your Word, I know you will;
I'll be your pledge, my Hero, come my Sister,
Let's see what welcome you can give a Prisoner,
And what fair looks, a Friend—
Thus in my Arms, once more.
Arm.
You make me blush, Sir.
King.
Lead on, This Day shall see
Our whole Court Crown'd with Pleasure.
Quis.
O Ruidias.
| The Island-Princess | |