 | The Island-Princess |  |
1
ACT I.
SCENE I.
The Entrance to the Temple in the Palace.Pymero, Chrystopheso, Pedro.
Pym.
You're early Pedro.
Ped.
Not so early, Sir,
But I've already seen our watch reliev'd,
And bid our Guards be careful of their Charge,
The Fort being all our Strength.
Chryst.
Our common safety
Requires strict Eyes upon these Islanders:
Believe me, Sirs, they're false and desperate People,
And cruel as they're crafty, when they find
The least advantage of Surprize.
Ped.
'Tis plain:
2
In which against all Arms and Honesty
The Governour of Ternata seiz'd by stealth
This Islands Monarch, our confederate King,
While for diversion coasting in his Barge.
Chryst.
His royal Sister, the fair Quisara
Has shew'd a noble Mind, and tendrest Love
To her afflicted Brother, and the Nobler,
Because his Ruin Stiles her Absolute,
The Heiress and Possessour of his Throne.
Ped.
Such Charms and Vertue with just Admiration
Have robb'd the neighbouring Courts, and fill'd her Palace
With royal Suiters.
Pym.
Good.
Chryst.
You smile Pymero.
Pym.
Yet—
Ped.
What?
Pym.
If Fame has left her old trick of Lying,
Our Countryman and General, brave Riudias
Is in amongst 'em too, and has the start
Or my she-Oracle deceives me.
Chryst.
I have observ'd him oft, how privately
He has stoln from us, and how readily
Feigned business too, yea bid the Fort farewel:
Sure there is something in't.
Pym.
Yet this grave Uncle
Has read me Lectures.
Ped.
Yet you car'd not for't.
Pym.
I' Faith not much, I ventur'd on still easily,
And took my chance, Danger's a Souldiers honour.
Chryst.
Might he succeed—
Pym.
Fear not, our Family ne'er fail'd.
Chryst.
But have you, Pedro, seen the young Armusia?
The handsome Portuguese arrived here lately?
'Tis odds, Pymero, but he marrs your Game.
Ped.
A Youth of noble promise, goodly, courteous,
Without Reservedness, grave, and doubtless Valiant;
For he that dares come hither, dares Fight any where.
Chryst.
Remember w'are i'th' Palace of the Island,
3
Those Doors give entrance to the Princess Shrine,
The Seat of her Devotion, where this Morning
She Summons all her Suiters to assemble;
But for what purpose in such solemn State,
And that most awful Place, we are yet to learn.
Pym.
Work for her Myrmedons.
Ped.
But who are Chief?
Chryst.
There's first your King of Bakam, that speaks louder
In his own Commendations than a Cannon;
Yet He's struck Dumb with her.
Ped.
Syana's Prince too,
A sprightly Lover, wise, and temperate:
The chief Sport, or rather Wonder, is;
The haughty Governour, her mortal Enemy,
He that surpriz'd her Brother, is struck too;
And under formal Hostages arriv'd.
But see the noble Stranger we describ'd.
Enter Armusia, and his Companions.
Pym.
You're welcome Sir:
Know there is nothing in our Power to serve you,
But you may freely challenge.
Arm.
Sir, we thank you,
And rest your Servants.
Chryst.
Brave Armusia,
You never saw this Court before.
Arm.
No Sir,
And therefore least in Wonder and Delight
Such Government—
Chryst.
You shall see more anon,
That which will make you start; but hark,
The Signal's giv'n, and see the Pageants Enter.
4
Arm.
These sure are Islanders.
Chryst.
And Princes.
Arm.
They are goodly Persons: What might he be, Seignior,
That bears so proud a Port?
Pym.
The King of Bakam,
A Fellow that looks so highly,
As if he had been begot on the Top of a Steeple.
Chryst.
This is Syana,
A braver temper'd Fellow, and more valiant.
Sfor.
What rugged Face is that?
Chryst.
The Governour;
He that surpriz'd the King, and keeps him Captive.
Pym.
See, their Eyes Lighten; Ware Thunder, Gentlemen.
Ba.
Away ye Trifles,
Am I in competition with such Toys?
Sy.
You speak loud, Sir.
Ba.
Young Man, I will speak louder;
Can any Man but I deserve her Favour?
Ye petty Princes!
Pym.
He'll put 'em all in's Pocket.
Sy.
Thou proud vain Thing, whom Nature—
Ba.
I contemn Thee,
And that Fort-keeping Fellow.
Pym.
How the Dog looks!
The Bandog Governour.
Gov.
Ha!
Ba.
Keep thy Rank, Thing, with thy own petty Peers:
Call out the Princess.
Gov.
Dost thou know me, Bladder?
Art thou acquainted with my Nature?
What canst thou merit?
Ba.
Merit! I'm above it.
Honour's my Servant, Fortune is my slave;
I slight ye Insects: had not the vain people
5
I should forget your Names.
Ped.
Mercy on me
What a blown Fool has self-affection made!
Chryst.
His Mother long'd for Bellows sure and Bag-pipes.
Pym.
Swallow'd a Drum, and was deliver'd of an Alarm.
Sy.
Sir, talk a little handsomer; talk softlier,
That we may be able to hold pace with you; We are Princes,
But those are petty things with you: talk wiser,
As 'twill become your Mightiness: talk less,
That Men may think you can do more.
Gov.
Talk Truth,
That Men may think y'are honest, and believe you.
Ba.
Why, I can talk and do.
I'll tell you, only I deserve the Princess,
And make good only I; if you dare, you,
Or you, Syana's Prince.
Sy.
Here lies my proof.
Gov.
I'll be short with you,
For those long Arguments I was never good at.
Pym.
How white the Boaster looks.
[The Temple opens.
Enter Ruidias; Quisara, in State with her Attendants.
Ru.
For shame forbear ye Princes, rule your Angers;
You violate the Freedom of this Place,
The State and Royalty—
Gov.
He's well content I see, so I have done.
Arm.
Is this she Seignior?
Pym.
This is the Princess, Sir.
Arm.
An admirable Form: They had cause to justle.
Quis.
You wrong me and my Court, contentious Princes:
Comes your Love drest in Violence to seek us?
Is't fit our Palace; this most sacred Shrine
Should be polluted with your bloody Rage?
6
He that loves me, loves my Commands; be temperate,
Or be no more what you profess, my Servants.
Omn.
We are calm as Peace.
Arm.
Heav'n! What command she carries,
And what a sparkling Majesty flies from her.
Qui.
Since you're for Action, I shall find you Danger;
But not this way: 'tis not this mean Contention
Amongst your selves, nor Courtship to my Face:
Who best can love, or who can flatter most,
Shall guide my Choice; he that will hope my favour
Must winn me with his Worth.
Omn.
Propose the way.
Quis.
I shall, and then shew you
A will to tread that way, I'll say you're worthy.
Pym.
What Task now will she turn them to? These hot Youths I fear
Will find a cooling Card.
Quis.
First I shall call our Country Gods to witness
With highest Adorations, what I promise.
[Goes up to the Altar, kneels and kisses it.
Now give me hearing: 'tis well known to you
I had a Royal Brother, now most Wretched,
And Prisoner to this Man: were I Ambitious,
Or coveted these Glories not Born mine,
His Miseries should bear a lasting Date;
Or were I Covetous; had my Heart set
On Riches, or on pleasures Uncontroul'd,
There he should Die; his Death would give me These,
For then stood I up absolute.
Yet all these flattering shews of Dignity,
These golden Dreams of Greatness cannot force me
To forget Nature and a King's Distress.
Pym.
Now Uncle play the Marks-man.
Quick, watch her Word, and shoot on the Wing.
Quis.
Therefore the Man that would be known my Lover,
Must first be known my Brothers faim'd Redeemer:
Bring him alive or dead to my Embraces,
(For even his Bones must scorn such Slavery)
Or seek another Mistress.
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Divine Creature!
Chryst.
How they stand gaping all!
Quis.
I grant ye Princes 'twill be hard
To do this, wondrous hard, a great Adventure:
But finish't, the Reward is worthy of it.
You hear your Task.
Pym.
Tell her 'tis done, Sir;
You'll ride upon a Whirlwind,
And bring him home on Lightning.
Quis.
Ruidias, cold? not fly like Fire into't.
Perhaps you doubt me, Princes,
He that shall do this is my Husband;
By that most bright and sacred Shrine I Swear,
Before these holy Men I here proclaim it.
No stirring yet.
[Looks on Ruidias.
Rui.
If, Madam, to attempt
This royal Rescue, through all forms of Danger,
Might Crown our Hope, I had not lost this Minute;
But here, where Conduct must keep pace with Courage,
The starting fiery Will is rein'd with Torment
To Judgment's flower March.
Quis.
Take your own Method.
Ba.
Madam, believe him here: I'll raise an Army,
Shall bring him to your Island, Fort and all,
And fix it here.
Gov.
How long will this be doing?
You should have begun this in your Grandsire's Days.
Sy.
What may be, Madam,
And what my power can promise, I engage:
My Will I'm sure stands fair.
Gov.
Ha! ha!
Madam, their Power and Arts are all too weak,
'Tis only in my Will to give your wishes.
The King your Brother is my Prisoner;
Then thus the Bargains finish'd, take your Prisoner,
And make me yours, close Prisoner to these Arms:
Say but the word, your Brother shall be Rendred
Quick as your Wish.
8
Know base Ravisher,
I hate both you, your Country, and your Love:
Heav'n knows how dear I prize his Liberty,
But 'ere I would so basely buy his Freedom,
I'd study to forget he was my Brother.
By force you took him; he that would possess me,
Must fetch him back by force, or ne'er succeed.
Arm.
Noble Spirit.
Pym.
Now could I love her, though she's Vertuous.
Quis.
By force, and make you glad to let him go.
Gov.
You may look nobler on me.
Quis.
I say by force, and suddenly;
He lies there till he Rots else: so return, Sir,
And glad we have kept Faith for your safe passage,
Rather than take him as thy Courtesy;
Though no Condition were propos'd, I'd see him
Far sunk in Earth, and there forget him.
Gov.
How's this?
Pym.
Your Hopes are great, good Governour.
Gov.
Am I then made a Property?
I'll check this Pride, I'll quench this Bravery,
And turn your glorious Scorn to Tears and Howling;
I will, proud Princess: This Neglect of me
Shall make your Brother King most Miserable;
For as till now I've us'd him like a King,
And seen all Royal Offices perform'd,
He now shall lie a sad Loathsom Dungeon,
Loaden with Chains and Fetters, Cold and Hunger,
Darkness and lingring Death for his Companions:
And let me see who dares attempt his Rescue;
What desperate Fool look towards it: Farewel:
And when you find him thus lament your Scorn.
Nay, I shall make you kneel to take my Offer.
Once more farewell; and put your Trust in Puppits.
[Ex.
Quis.
If none dare undertake't, I'll live a Mourner.
Now Ruidias.
[Ex. with her Train.
Rui.
Cousin we must resolve and speedily.
Walk with me, Gentlemen.
[Exeunt.
Manent Armus. Sforza, Emanuel.
Em.
Now, Sir, you stand as you were Charm'd.
9
O Sforza and Emanuel!
Sfor.
What now?
Arm.
This Captive King!
Sfor.
I see your drift, and fear'd the consequence.
Consult your safety, Sir, we know your worth,
And must not see you perish; you are my charge.
Arm.
What an Action
Would this be to put forward, Sirs? What Glory?
Em.
And what an everlasting wealth to Crown it?
Arm.
To step into't while they are thinking.
Sfor.
Sir, 'tis impossible,
The Fort's impregnable without a Guard.
Arm.
By Heav'n I'll rule in this.
Sfor.
If it must be!
Arm.
Stay not for second Thoughts—O she's an Angel!
At least we can attempt, our very Fate
Will sometimes be the Theam of her Discourse,
And I would die Ten thousand thousand Deaths
To have her talk of me. Away.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.
A Prison.Enter Keeper and two or three Moors.
Keep.
I have many Men, and many great,
But must confess I never saw till now
A Person of such sufferance; he lies now
Where I would not have laid my Enemies Dog,
Where neither Light nor Comfort can approach him,
Nor Air nor Earth that's wholesome.
1 Moor.
'Tis most strange,
Load him with Irons, oppress him with Contempts,
Such are our Governours Orders; give him nothing
To feed Life, or so small 'tis next to nothing,
It moves not him, he smiles upon his Miseries,
And bears 'em with such strength, as if his Nature
Had been Nurst-up, and Foster'd with Calamities.
Keep.
He gives no ill words, curses not, repines not,
Blames nothing, hopes in nothing.
2. Moor.
And in the midst of all these Frights, fears nothing.
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He fears not, even when I my self shake for him,
As many times my pity will constrain me;
When other Souls that bear not half his Burden,
Shrink in their powers, and burst with their oppression,
Then will he Sing; wooe his Afflictions,
And Court them in sad Airs, as he wou'd wed'em.
[Open that Vault and give him Breath.
[King appears in Chains, his Head and Arms only above the Dungeon.
1. Moor.
What stubborn weight of Chains?
2. Moor.
Yet he looks temperately.
No wildness, no distemper'd touch upon him;
How constantly he Smiles, and how undaunted.
Keep.
Mark with what Majesty he heaves his Head up.
Hark now.
[Musick and Song.
1. Moor.
O charming Grief!
Keep.
Do not disturb him—
[Goes forward with the provisions.
Sir, your allowance from the Governour; wou'd 'twere more,
Or in my pow'r to make it handsomer.
King.
Do not transgress thy Charge, I take his bounty;
Fate hurts not him that bears a mind contented,
And hangs not on vain hopes, that may corrupt him.
Enter Governour.
Keep.
The Governour himself.
Gov.
What, at your Banquet?
And in such State, and with such change of Service?
King.
Nature's no Glutton, Sir; a little serves her.
Gov.
This Diet's wholesom then.
King.
I Beg no better.
Gov.
Give him less next,
These full Meals will oppress his Health; his Grace
Is of a tender Constitution.
King.
Mock on, it moves not me, Sir.
I cast your Mirth and Malice both behind me.
Gov.
You carry't handsomly. but tell me, Patience,
Do you not Curse the brave and Royal Lady,
11
Dam twenty times a Day? Dam seriously?
Coud'st thou not wish her a Bastard, Whore, or that
Thou had'st no Sister?
Blaspheming Heav'n for making such a Mischief;
For giving Pow'r to Pride, and Will to Women?
King.
No, Tyrant, no, I love and Bless her for't;
And though her Scorn of Thee should heap upon me
As many Plagues as Air corrupted breeds;
As many Mischiefs, as the Hours have Minutes;
As many forms of Death, as doubt can Frame,
I still should Love her more; more Honour her.
All thou can'st lay upon me, cannot bend me,
Not even the stroak of Death, that I despise too.
So let Quisara always scorn thy Love;
As I for ever shall despise thy Cruelty.
Cou'd fear possess me thou shouldest ever Win her:
And that she is not Mistress of this Temper,
She is no Kin to me, and I contemn her.
Gov.
You are Valiant, Sir.
King.
Yes Sir, and Fortunate;
For he that holds my Constancy, still Conquers.
Gov.
You will relent for all this Talk, I fear not.
King.
You are Cozen'd;
Or if I were so weak, to be wrought to it,
I still should Curse her Heart, if she consented.
Gov.
You shall write, and entreat, or—
King.
Do thy outmost.
I'th' mid'st of all thy Tortures, I'll Laugh at thee;
And think thee not more Valiant, but more Villain:
Nothing thou hast done brave, but like a Thief
Atchiev'd by Craft, and kept by Cruelty.
Gov.
Down with him lower yet, there let him Murmur,
And see his Diet be so spare, and little,
He grow not thus High-hearted on't—I'll cool ye.
Give him no Liberty, let his Bands be doubled;
Let him not Sleep, nothing that's dear to Nature
Let him enjoy—yet take heed he Dies not;
Keep him as near Death, as wishing for't,
12
I'll humble him,
[They sink the King down.
And her proud Heart, that stands on such defiance;
And let me see her Champions, that dare venture;
Her high and blustering Suiters—keep close Guard,
And as you prize your Lives, be diligent,
And what I charge, observe.
Omn.
We shall be Dutiful.
[Exeunt.
| The Island-Princess | |