 | The Step-Mother |  |
Actus Secundus.
Enter Sylvanus, Filamor, and Violinda in the Woods.Syl.
Blessing on Blessing fall upon my Son,
Faster then tears fall from my Eyes for Joy
To see thee in my Arms, I'l keep thee here,
Thou shalt travail no more.
Fil.
Yes, if I say,
That 'tis not fit your wife should govern you.
Syl.
Alas! I could not eat nor sleep in quiet,
Till I had told her, that 'twas thy advice:
Excuse the weakness of thy Father's age,
I was not born a Cowr'd.
18
Your Valour, Sir
Is one of Brinains memorable Fortunes;
For when Arcadius and Honorias lost
Their Laurell to the Scots, then you defeated
A Cohort of the Roman Horse of Malden.
Syl.
A man would think those Romans ran away
VVith my commanding Pow'r, for, ever since
I marry'd Pontia, I've serv'd under her,
She shall obey me now.
Fil.
Spoke like a Prince
That understands the duty of his Subjects.
Syl.
I'l have no Governess—but if my wife
Knew of our Meeting—
Fil.
VVhat will your wife do?
Syl.
She'l take 't unkindly, and I would not grieve her,
Because she Loves me; she'l not stay thus long
From me—by this she's in my Bed-Chamber,
And misses me.
Fil.
No, Sir, no Creature comes
Into your Bed-Chamber, the doors are bolted,
And your Physitians (fee'd by me) give out,
You rested not last Night, and have took something
To procure sleep.
Syl.
Then Filamor makes this
A day of happiness to his old Father.
Fil.
Sir, you'l make this day happy to your Children,
If you'l lay your Commands on Violinda
To Love her Servant, my brave Friend, Prince Adolph;
I am a Suitor for him.
Syl.
So am I,
And two such Suitors must have no denial.
Violinda.
My Brother knows, Sir, that I love Prince Adolph,
As much as he loves Filamor:
19
Enough,
'Tis enough in all conscience, Violinda.
Fil.
In conscience: Violinda should love him
As much as he loves her, he doats upon her.
Syl.
Then I would have thee doat upon him too.
Vio.
Adolph's my Brother's Friend, and Cæsarina
Is my Friend; Sir, for both I have a friendship:
But that I should love Cæsarina's Brother
Unless she's loves my Brother, there's no reason.
Syl.
No reason, Girl, I am for thee again.
Fil.
Away, you triffler, you spin out the time,
Knowing I must prepare for th'entertainment
Of my Step-Mother.
Syl.
Comes she to the Wood,
Fil.
Presently.
Syl.
My wife shall not come to me,
I'l go to her.
Fil.
She shall not see you here,
Pray, stay, Sir.
Syl.
Cross me not; I vow I'l go.
[Enter Tetrick like a Conjurer.
Fil.
I must call Tetrick to him: Come away
My Father's leaving us.
Tet.
You never think
Of me, but when you'r at a loss; I'l meddle
With no blown business.
Fil.
Keep him in the Woods,
And I will make thee Lord of the whole Forest,
Tet.
Excuse, Original Infirmity,
My humour's peevish, Sir, but my hearts good;
I'l stop your Father's hast: Sir, I must Charm you.
Syl.
A Conjurer? I will so devill thee,
[he beats Tetrick.
20
Hold, hold your hand Sir; I'm your Servant Tetrick.
Syl.
Alas poor Tetrick.
Tet.
I am justly punish'd
For looking ugly.
Syl.
Follow me, thou know'st.
My sweet wife loves me.
Tet.
That's the Question, Sir
Be pleas'd to stay and you will hear't determin'd;
Matter of Fact 's this, The Princess of Malden,
Your wife, intended to have dealt with Witches
For the bewitching you (some say) to death:
Your Son diverts her with the artifice
Of setting up (as she thinks) a Witch—maker,
Call'd (for the singing of's Predictions)
The British Bard; as soon as she has din'd
Your wife comes to the Bard's Cave, then you'l know
Whether she loves or hates you.
Syl.
Son, I'l stay;
But hide me from my wife.
Fil.
She shall not see you.
[Exit Syl. and Fil.
Tet.
Fromund, I Conjure thee, appear O Witch.
Enter Fromund like a Witch.
All goes as well as heart can wish, th'old Prince
Is now ingag'd.
Fro.
Yonder comes Brianella,
My Mistress, with a Basket full of Plate,
Her Lady's offering to the British Bard:
You owe me thanks for 't, I hinted the Plate,
We must help one another,
21
Tet.
In requital
I'l make teee tell her Fortune; speak out Sister,
You do so mumble, what would y' have me do?
Fro.
Move the great Witch-maker, the British Bard,
To inlarge my Commission with power
Of Life and Death, over Plants, Beasts, and Men.
Tet.
What, what?
Fro.
Sooner or latter, I am sure,
I must come to the Faggot and the Fire;
Shall I be burn'd for nothing?
Tet.
One year more
You must tell Fortunes by the Hand; next Spring:
I'l move the Bard for you, pretty sweet Sister.
Fro.
In the mean time, if I might but bewitch
Dumb Creatures, only Monkeys, Cats, and Dogs:
A scurvy proud young Widow, yesternight,
Call'd me old Beldam, let me but bewitch.
Her little Dog; though she bears patiently
The loss of a kind Husband, yet the death of
Her little Dog (I'm sure) will break her heart.
Tet.
Teach me? I'l pull thy nose off, and that Dog
Shall eat it: go, take from that noble Lady
That Basket full of Plate, look in her hand
And tell her Fortune.
Enter Pontia, Crispus, Gracchus and Sergius.
Fro.
Your hand—I'm prevented.
Bri.
But Mother, Mother, I hope we shall meet.
Fro.
At the Mark-Beech, an hour hence.
Bri.
I'l not fail.
O Madam! they know all things; the Magician
22
Pon.
Ministers of Fate, I come to know the Issue
Of a design of Blood.
Tet.
My Song will fit her
[aside.
Madam, we'r not impowr'd to answer Princes,
That's reserv'd for the Bard himself, who now
In the Bard's Cave is discovered a man with a grey beard, in a Russet Gown, sleeping with a Harp in his hand.
Lyes in a Trance: I'l hold up to his Soul
Your Princely Off'ring, with the names of those
You vow to death, if you'l but write them down,
'Tis the Bard's Custome.
Pon.
Bring Pen, Ink and Paper.
She writes, and gives the Paper to Tetrick.
Tetrick reads the List.
DIS MANIBUS. Pontia devotes to hell Filamor, Violinda and Sylvanus.
Tet.
So, I've her Treason, now, under her hand.
Pon.
You'l wake him?
Tet.
With our usual Ceremony
Of Musique and a Dance.
Tet. and From. hold up to the Bard the List and the Basket, to which Sergius points.
Ser.
Look you there Sirrha,
Barbara de pictis veni Bascauda Britannis:
That British Bascaud would sell well at Rome.
Gracc.
So would the pretty Maid that brought the Vascaud;
But Princess Cæsarina for my money.
23
Tetrick and Fromund fall into a Dance, then comes in another Conjurer, and another Witch, and from under his Coat and her Gown, drop out two little Familiars, an he and a she. At the end of this Antique, the Bard wakes, and sings.
The Bard's Song.
On the Poplars and Oaks
When the white Raven croaks,
And the crafty young Fox withdrawes,
With the fair Fawn
Through a green Lawn
Just into the Lion's pawes:
Then the Scene of Blood is acted;
Then the Wood-Nymphs run distracted;
The Mandrake shrieks,
The Moon's pale cheeks
Look dark;
But hark,
Brasse Basons and Trumpets are sounding;
See, see, how soon
They thunder the Moon
Out of the Eclipse she was drown'd in.
What should we fear?
The Sun shines clear;
No Mist on the Hill,
Not a Clowd in the Skie:
The Lark sings shrill,
And the Swallow flyes high.
24
Enter Capito with the Commission.
Cap.
The Generall's Commission, under Seal.
Pon.
You'r now impowr'd to conquer Verulam;
What do you think of the success presag'd?
My Lord, what's your opinion of the Bard?
Pontia gives the Commission to Crispus.
Crispus,
First, Madam, give me leave to hear your judgment.
Pon.
I take him to be somewhat more then humane;
He speaks the Language of another World,
So well; that his expressions are all Picture;
The fair Fawn, the young Fox, and the white Raven
Is clearly my old Husband and his Children;
The Moon eclyps'd that's I, whose light is drown'd
Till your victorious Drums and Trumpets sound:
You have my sense, give me your own; I know
Crispus to be a man of so much worth,
He scorns to flatter any Prince; speak freely.
Crisp.
E're we end our discourse, I'le clear that point:
She'l find I am no flatterer, I have watcht
A long time for this opportunity,
[aside.
To set a Looking glass before her Soul:
Then freely (since I have it in command)
I think our Druids Prophets; but our Bards
(Like all the tribe of Fortune-tellers) Juglers.
Pon.
Then you believe not this to be a Vision;
What do you think it is?
Crisp.
Intelligence
From his confederate Knaves; you are betray'd.
25
And so, you would advise, not to proceed?
Crisp.
Madam, had I been of your Cabinet-Counsel,
You should not have begun it. What's your quarrell?
Th'Opinion, That Wives should not rule their Husbands,
For these words spoken by a Child (for then
Prince Filamor was not sixteen years old,)
You'l ruine him, his Sister, and your Husband;
Strange grounds for murdring Princes, and for Vesting
All their Dominions in your self.
Pon.
Yet, Sir,
Some Counsellors that are as wise as You,
Have approv'd both the Grounds and the Design.
Cris.
If by wise, your Highness means Politique,
I grant those Counsellors were more wise than I:
For, my simplicity will never flatter
My Prince into a Deity; I cannot
Tell you, that Princes are exempted from
The Law of Nations; that Revenge and Murder
(Stains in the Meane) are Triumphs to the Great:
I cannot find out Presidents for Injustice,
Nor instance (as your Flatterers have done)
That if particular Rights had been preserv'd,
The World had been unconquer'd, Macedon
One private Kingdom still, and Rome another.
Pon.
What are the Maxims upon which you build?
Cris.
My Principles are Honesty and Honour,
Jewels of value in a poor man's hand,
Inestimable in a Prince's Breast:
How happy our Posterity will live
Under a Prince character'd by a Druid
Who prophecies that you little British Princes
Shall kneel to one King, and describes him.
26
How?
May we hear the description?
Crisp.
I remember
So much as shews the great disparity
Between You and that Monarch: Thus 't begins,
Now in Britain reigns a King,
Young and active as the Spring;
And pray observe it, Madam, thus it ends,
He has Valour, such as might
For the whole World safely fight:
Wisdome, which could rule it too;
But he's Just, and will not do
For a thousand Worlds one Wrong:
Never did his spirit long,
On another Price's Prince's Throne
(By meer Pow'r) to raise his own.
And so far, for any ends,
Is he from destroying Friends,
That ev'n his Enemies confesse
His Mercy to the Mercilesse.
Make this Just King your Pattern.
Pon.
Sawcy fool;
Deliver your Commission; we shall chuse
A Generall, not a Tutor.
She strikes the Commission out of his hand.
Crisp.
Humbly thus,
My publique Person I put off, and pray,
That, as a private man, I may be heard.
He layes down his Commission at her feet.
Pon.
But not for your Commission; young man,
You have a Successor: he's in my eye;
Capito's our Generall.
Cris.
For him I move,
(In reference to your safety) that you'l put him
27
For (if I understand the Bard) you lie
Open to Filamor, your plot's betray'd,
Your life at stake: the Question is not now,
On what ill Grounds you have begun, but how
(Being ingag'd) you may preserve your Self.
That's a Just Cause, in which your nicest Subject
May draw his Sword with honour.
Pon.
And who worthier,
In a Just Cause, to be our Generall,
Then noble Crispus? There, take your Commission.
Cris.
No, Madam; as the Romans manumit
Their Slaves, you have freed Crispus with a blow;
You struck me, as men strike their swounding friends,
To bring me to my Senses: hitherto,
Devotion to your service first, and then
My own concern (both as to Fame, and Fortune)
Gave me the trouble of distracted hopes:
Now all the lines of my Ambition
Meet in one little point (touchd by your hand,)
I centre in my Self: fix'd to enjoy
The pleasure of a private life; retirement
From splendor, and from Care, which presses in
To gilded Rooms; Porters at Prince's Gates
Could never keep out Care and Fear, two strangers
To low-rooft Houses, where I'l live and dye.
Pon.
Will Crispus do a Service to his Prince
With such disservice, as to let me know
My Cause is just, and make the World suspect it,
By quitting the Imployment?
Cris.
Pardon me;
Should the Gods send their winged Messenger
With that Commission, and all their Hands to it,
28
[He offers to go.
Pon.
Stay, if he goes,
In my Attempt I can proceed no further;
We may use valiant Rogues to do a Murder;
[aside.
But Polititians are concern'd to find
Persons of Worth, when Conquests are design'd.
Crispus, how high a value I have for thee,
Let my great Heart demonstrate, which descends
Below it self, to an acknowledgment
That I have wrong'd theee.
Cris.
When I serve again,
I'l take up your Commission.
Pon.
So obstinate?
Then I stand up my self, your Prince, Accept it
From my Command.
Cris.
You may command my Head,
My Hand shall be my Subject.
Pon.
Yet hear Reason,
Though you'l not hear your Prince; you censure me
For seeking to destroy a Family
For a Boy's words; yet for a Woman's words
(And she your Sovegraign) you can dispense
With Loyalty in your self, abandoning
Your Prince to her awaken'd Enimies.
Cris.
Justly I am rebuk'd; upon my knee
I beg your pardon, and accept your favour;
Longer to hold you in discourse, were dangerous
He takes up the Commission.
To your Affairs; I take my humble leave:
Now that your Sword is in my Hand again,
It shall not freeze, I'l strike a suddain blow;
Fortune's swift-turning Wheel deceives the slow.
Exit Crispus.
29
Capito, you perceive, that in our Army
You hold the second Place, to have the first;
At the next Vacancy
Capi.
Let me serve your Highness
In any Place, 'tis to my hand alike,
To bear a Truncheon or to trail a Pike.
[Exit Capito.
Bri.
Other men are Flesh and Blood, the General, Fire;
Here were a Husband now, if one could catch him:
Old Witch, I'l venture at thy Lottery
All my Gold, but I'l draw a General.
Pon.
The suddain blow tis I must strike, not Crispus;
Before he comes, Filamor may be fled:
Filamor's the Bard's Fox, Crispus my Lion,
Valiant, but generous, I know he'l seize,
But that's all, for he'l never kill the Prey,
Nor can I, bare-fac'd, do 't; that Foxe's case
Shall piece this Lion's skin—Go Brianella,
Bid Cæsarina meet me at the Poplars,
I've new Instructions for her, she must smooth
Her fore-head when she looks upon the Prince;
Do you seek him out, and tell Filamor
You'r not sent by my Daughter, (nor forbid)
To let him know (after his Mask) if he
Take her out, she'l dance with him.
Bri.
I'l acquaint him.
Pon.
The Gods are bound in Honour to perform
What they have promis'd by the British Bard.
Bri.
My life upon 't.
Pon.
Filamor's life 's upon 't;
And my Hand shall revenge his base affront.
[Exeunt.
30
Viol.
If with our Pictures we could change our selves,
I would be you: Would you be Violinda?
Cæsarina.
And never wish to be my self again;
If I were Violinda, I'd not Change
With Cæsarina fot the World to boot:
But Violinda were you Cæsarina,
You would not love your Brother Filamor.
Vio.
What would he care for my hate, when you lov'd him?
Cæ.
My love would hardly please him were we chang'd,
For I should be his Sister, you his Mistress,
And you would be no kinder then I am,
But here's my Brother.
[Enter Adolph.
Vio.
Then I take my leave.
Adolph.
Madam, you fly from me; as if our Hearts
Mov'd upon Needles touch'd by th'opposite Poles,
Of the Celestial Loadstone Love, yet may
I mention it to you.
Vio.
From that I fly,
And not from you; I've an Esteem for you,
As Brother to my Friend; but till she love
My Brother, when you mention love to me;
I shall retire.
[Exit Violinda.
Ad.
You see, how I'm concern'd
To be my Friend's Sollicitor in his Suit.
Cæ.
Sollicit me for your Mistresse's Picture.
Ad.
Have you her Picture, that's some comfort yet,
This Violinda and I will never part.
Cæ.
Hold, you'r not like to meet, but on Conditions.
Ad.
Have I not Sign'd a Blank? fill you it up
With your own Articles.
31
First, you shall promise,
Never more to move me for Filamor.
Ad.
You are not (sure you cannot be) in earnest?
Cæ.
No promise, Sir, no Picture.
Ad.
I am silenc'd,
Let Filamor's own Merits speak for him—
Come—
Cæ.
Not so hasty: Secondly—
Ad.
Have you
A pair of these Commands?
Cæ.
You shall ingage,
To use your best endeavours to perswade
Filamor to relinquish his pretence
Of Love to me.
Ad.
And all this for a Picture?
Would y' have me loose, like Æsop's Dog, the substance
With catching at the Shadow? You know, Sister,
On Filamor's hope of you, depends my hope
Of Violinda.
Cæ.
Let what will depend;
These are your Termes.
Ad.
You think, I'l not accept them?
Give me the Picture, I'l undo my self
To be reveng'd on thee; such pow'rfull Reasons
I'l give my Friend against thee—he shall take up
Thy scorn, and thou (as he does now) shalt sigh
(When Filamor enjoyes a greater Beauty)
And say, That matchless Prince was once my Servant.
Enter Filamor talking with Brianella.
Cæ.
Well, I have all, I would have; here's the Picture,
And there's your Man, look you to your Ingagement.
She gives Adolph the Picture.
[Exit Cæsarina.
32
Dance with me? Cæsarina dance with me?
One name may sound, at distance, like another,
Did she name me? Madam, excuse my doubts,
I do believe you, yet so great an honour,
To me so unexpected, on the suddain
Puzzled my faith: I owe to Brianella
For the first newes that makes me Fortunate.
Bri.
But, Sir, you must conceal th'Intelligence,
Or else you'l lose your Spie.
Fil.
I'd rather lose
Verulam.
Bri.
You'r not like to keep it long,
[aside.
But to tell that, is out of my Commission:
I take my humble leave.
[Exit Bri.
Fil.
Farewell sweet Maid.
Compar'd to me, how happy art thou Adolph,
When Violinda gives thee a denial,
She grieves thee with so much Civility.
Ad.
Your Sister carries it the handsomer;
Mine, like a Tigresse, shews an angry fore-head,
Her fury lightens in her eyes: your Sider
Poisons me, like a Polititian, smiling;
Long since I'd burst, but for this Antidote
Our Friendship, Filamor.
[Embraces.
Fil.
Our Friendship, Adolph,
Is a felicity which ballances
All our misfortunes.
Ad.
Love it self gives place
To Friendship in my Herauldry.
Fil.
Take heed
How you set up Friendship against Love, Adolph,
Love is a God.
Ad.
He is, and we are Men,
33
With Pray'rs and Sacrifices for our Loves;
But what Wives they will prove, Heav'n only knows:
We may pray for a curse, and some kind God
May crosse us for a blessing—let me tell you
(As I do love you) truly, I suspect
My Sister.
Fil.
Ha!
Ad.
Did I say, I suspect?
Fil.
That was a Princely check upon his tongue.
Ad.
I know, my Sister will be no good Wife.
Fil.
If any man, but Adolph, told me so,
I should not be thus patient.
Ad.
In plain terms,
I know, my Sister will be an ill Wife.
Fil.
Is't madnesse? or is't envy that asperses
Thy Sister?
Ad.
Wherefore do you furle your brow?
I tell you Cæsarina is not worth
A thought of Filamor's.
Fil.
Unsay thy words,
Whilst we are friends.
Ad.
If you remember her,
Let it be so as we remember Tyrants,
For th'evill they have done.
Fil.
Be wise betimes,
Kneel, and beg pardon of thy Sister's virtue:
Yet we are friends.
Ad.
Therefore I am oblig'd
To disabuse you—
Fil.
Friendship, up to heaven,
From whence thou cam'st; against this Enemy,
The Common Enemy of Love and Virtue,
34
[Fil. drawes.
Ad.
Hear me out,
Ad. drawes.
Before I set this Seal upon thy hearing;
What Fury strikes out that clear light, thy Reason?
Are you so blind, so obstinately blind,
You will not see a dreadful Precipice,
When I point to it? If you'l not believe
Your Friend, you have before your eyes the sad
Example of your Father, good old man!
How like a child is he aw'd by my Mother!
There's twenty thousand Mothers in my Sister;
Already she begins her tyrannous reign,
And makes you more a child than your weak Father,
Or else you would have more Sence then to love
One that scorns you. I've done.
Fil.
And I begin;
First, let me joy my self, for cancelling
The long misplac'd relation of a Friend
To so unnatural a Brother; then,
Thou stranger to my heart, in thy heart's blood
I'l wash off the durt cast upon thy Sister.
Not love her? Why? because she scorns me? fool,
I would not love her if she did not scorn
One of no merit.
Ad.
Then you do her wrong,
To move my Sister for one of no merit.
Fil.
Unworthy man, that which thou would'st destroy,
My Love to her, creates in me a Merit.
Ad.
Alas poor Filamor, to deceive thy self
What curious Art thou hast, what subtile non-cense,
A merit and no Merit? and for this,
The fast and loose, the Juggle of a Word,
Thou draw'st upon thy friend?
35
Dear friend, forgive me,
Something you said (which concern'd Cæsarina)
That put me into passion; what it was
I have forgot, but as 'tis stated now,
I must confesse, I blush to find my self
In this offensive posture.
Ad.
Put not up
Your sword; for you may fight, and you may chuse:
Will you relinquish all pretence of love
To Cæsarina?
Fil.
Not whilst I've a sword,
And strength to guide to thy heart.
Ad.
'Tis well;
I'm glad to hear that you are so resolved:
You may fight; but, Filamor, if you do,
You shall fight with my Sister. For this Picture,
(A part of Filamor, and Adolph's All)
I promis'd Cæsarina, to perswade you
(With my best oratory) to relinquish
Your love to her; I have perform'd: and you,
Before, like a rough Diamond, only rich
In my belief, thus polish'd, strike ny eyes:
Amaz'd to meet so glorious a surprize.
Filamor's estimate is trebbled now
In Adolph's valuation; and by this time
(You have yet more advantage by your triall,
For) Cæsarina's heart (I warrant) akes
For fear I should prevail.
Fil.
She meant (I hope
I flatter not my self) to try, if she
Might venture on me any further Grace
Then th'honour she intends me at my Mask,
To dance with me.
36
That's some kindness yet; my Sister
Has but one fault, she thinks Love is below her;
But Friend if, from so high a pitch, her Pride
Can stoop to any Husband, she's thy Bride.
[Exeunt.
| The Step-Mother | |