University of Virginia Library

Actus Quartus.

Enter Sylvanus, Tetrick, and Fromund.
Syl.
Filamor slightly hurt, and did he swound?
What riddle's this?

Fromund.
'Tis easily unriddled;
After the Villain hurt him, when he knew
That Princess Cæsarina never wish'd
To meet him like a Huntsman in the Grove,
As Brianella told Prince Filamor,
Hearing that Adolph (who believ'd her Message
An Artifice us'd by his bloody Mother)
In the same Habit was upon the Place:
The wounded Prince (never considering
Himself, but fearing danger to his friend)
From the Lawne walk'd up to the Grove so fast,
That th'agitation of his Mind and Body
Caus'd such effusion of his Blood and Spirits,
As made him (when he came to embrace Adolph)
Fall in a swound at's feet: I stanch'd the blood,
And Sir, immediately your Son recover'd.

Syl.
My Wife's recover'd too?

Tetrick.
Her Mask goes on,
In which you are to represent your name-sake,
The God Sylvanus: 'tis time you were dress'd,
They'r ready to begin.

Syl.
Her Mask? does she
Triumph in Princes blood?

Fro.
Perhaps she hopes
The pleasure of a Mask will make the Prince
Forget her malice, and her Servants say,
That when the Mask's done, she'l divulge a Secret
In which you are concern'd.

Syl.
How is't with Adolph?
Did not my Wife take him for Filamor,
And strike at her Son's heart?

Fromund.
But miss'd her aime
Miraculously; for Prince Adolph had
Princess Violinda's Picture, which he wore
In a Gold Tablet next his heart, he was
About to look on't; opening of his buttons
And stooping, comes your wife, who being deceiv'd
By's Huntsman's Suit (so like Prince Filamor's)
Stabb'd at his heart, but light upon the Gold
And did not pierce it, only her Poniard glanc'd
Upon his breast, and drew some crimson drops:
Straight he look'd up; but when she saw her hand
Imbru'd in her son's blood, she fled and fell
Dead (as we thought); but she deceiv'd us all.

Tet.
Will you please to put on the Wood-God's shape;
You'l be too late, what do you study on?

Syl.
Why should the Gods reprieve that guilty woman?

Fro.
The Gods themselves had not been innocent,
If they had let her die a natural death,
And scape the hand of Justice.

Tet.
Sir, the Mask?

Syl.
I'l have no Mask, till Pontia's in her Grave;
Arrest her, Fromund, and when she's condemn'd
See Execution done, be sure my wife
Revive no more.

Fro.
Fear no Recovery,
My life for her death: she's a Venimons Creature;
But if she were a Viper, let me get
Her Head and Body parted once, I'l watch 'em
For ever meeting.

Syl.
In her List for Hell,
When Pontia writ my Name, I bound my self
To punish her with death for her next Treason.

Tet.
Sir, your best time will be when her Mask's done,
Or else the Secret she means then to publish
Will die with her.

Syl.
God of the Woods, Sylvanus,
Whose shape I now assume, do thou inspire me.

[Exeunt.
Enter Pontia wearing Diana's Cressent on her head.
Pon.
If the Celestial minds had been possess'd
With such a bloody rage as fill'd my Breast,
My House had been destroy'd for my Offence:
But the Gods spar'd my Children's Innocence;
And when my Soul was frighted with her Crime,
Bound for Eternity, they gave me Time
For the recovery of Life, and Fame
(Dearer then Life) that my corrupted Name
Might be with tears purifi'd, and made fit
To grace my Tomb, when my Inscription's writ.

Enter Cæsarina.
Cæ.
Madam?

Pon.
I sent for you, to let you know
The Gladiators were not slain; my Servant
Tells me, they fled to Barnet-Woods: I've sent
To have them apprehended, and they shall
Be brought to Justice; now let's mind our Sport,
Which must disguise my trouble, that I may
[aside.
Give Filamor an opportunity:
Diana's Cressent to a nobler end
Was never worn; Goddesse of Chastity
Assist the God of Love, shout from thy Bow
His Arrow into Cæsarina's Heart.
Dear Cæsarina, you are dress'd, stay here
And thank Prince Filamor.

Cæ.
I shall obey you;
But Madam, I beseech you, why am I
Enjoyn'd to give him thanks? do you suspect,
That I'm inclining to ingratitude?

Pon.
No: But your Gratitude at this time, may
Dispose him to forgive my Cruelty,
Which strikes into my Heart the very Poniard
I aym'd at his.

Cæ.
This you'd have him believe?

Pon.
That Question makes me fear, that you your self
Believe not my Repentance; 'tis no more
Then I am to expect from all the World.
But ere the Hour-glass, that's now turn'd, runs out,
I hope to satisfie that general Doubt.
Enter Filamor.
He's here, the God of Marriage bless their Meeting.
[Exit Pon.

Fil.
What Nymph's this? tis not Cæsarina, sure,
Though it presents her divine form? 'tis she.

Cæ.
Filamor!

Fil.
Heark, she calls me Filamor!
But am I Filamor? do I see and hear?
Nay, do I live? has not the Villain slain me?
And is not that bless'd Form, inherent in
My Soul, descended with it to the Shades?

Cæ.
No, Filamor lives, a Sacrifice of Thanks
For the Pantheon in which all the Gods
Are worship'd, whose united Pow'rs preserv'd
Your Valour, that redeem'd my Life and Honour,
An Obligation (past acknowledgment).
For which I wish you all you can desire—

Fil,
How I am ravish'd with Celestial Musique.

Cæ.
My self excepted.

Fil.
Oh, that Clause has spoil'd
The fairest Evidence that was ever drawn
For the intitling of a Lover's Faith
To his sweet Hope.

Cæ.
Valiant Prince Filamor,
Cast away that effeminate vain Hope,
And think of noble Objects, Spoils and Triumphs.

Fil.
Great Actions, Madam, are for happy men,
But misery designs my Arms to Rust,
My Glory to the Urne that holds my Dust:
I see, you do not love me,

Cæ.
More Sir, more
Then you do love your self; for if I might
Dispose of your Successes, Filamor
Should, like young Alexander, conquer all
[Enter Adolph.
The World, but Cæsarina; there's your Friend;
Now Company comes in, I take leave of you.

[Exitura.
Fil.
And I must bid adieu to Happiness.

Cæ.
Yet this my brave Preserver may believe,
If I'd subject my self to any man,
Filamor should be Lord of Cæsarina.
[Exit Cæsarina.

Ad.
And so thou shalt, I'l pass my word; and then
You may be the Insurer of my Mistress:
For as the great Ship towes the little Cock-boat,
My Sister towes thy Sister after her.

Fil.
You'r mighty pleasant.

Ad.
Which presages well,
Now sit, and let's see, if Diana's Mask
[Enter Tetrick and Fromund
Be no worse than Apollo's; What sayes th'Authour?

Tet.
That the Mask is—beginning.

Ad.
Then lie down.

Musique.
Syl.
The Satyr acts the Roman

[To Tetrick.
Tet.
Yes, I made
[aside.
Princess Violinda Philomel, to mind
Th'old Prince of's wife's barbarity to's daughter.

Bri.
By the Princessse
The Company's desir'd to stay, and hear
What she'l discover for the Publick Good.

Syl.
The Publick Good?

Fro.
Perhaps she may build Temples,
Now that she's in the habit of a Goddesse.

Tet.
When she does any Good, Publick or Private,
Let none think that I'm vers'd in both the Globes,
If th'Earth does not rise up, or the Skie fall.

Pon.
Justice and Truth compel me to reveal
A secret, which Discretion would conceal:
But I'l reveal it to no private Ear;
All are concen'd, and therefore all shall hear.
If any think it stange, that I express
My serious thoughts in such a fained Dress,
Know, since by his sad fate your Prince was curs't
To marry me, this Habit is the first
In which I've done no mischief; Treason stains
My Princely Robes: and if my Hand retains
The native whiteness, tis not that I'm Good,
But that I could not take the dye of Blood.
So foul as I never had Woman been,
Had but my Pow'r been equal to my Spleen:
My Husband's life I did to Hell devote,
Malice, which Hell it self would not promote;
But the just wrath of Heav'n turn'd my Design
Laid against him and his, on me and mine;
To murder Violinda, Rogues I hir'd,
To ravish Cæsarina they Conspir'd;
And when I thought a Dagger to have stuck
In Filamor, at Adolph's Heart I struck.
Who would be wicked? when the very Crime
Conceiv'd, torments our Souls, and at the time
When 'tis deliver'd, like an Engin broke,
Destroys us with the force of our own stroke.
Forgive me all that bear a Prince's Name,
The glorious Title which sets off my shame;
And you, dear Pledges of my Lord's first Bed,
With mercy look upon the tears I shed;
Now that you see my traitorous Offence
Wash'd in these streams of Publick Penitence;
In one Orb let us near Relations move,
Forget my Hatred, and embrace my Love.

[She rises up.
Syl.
The Devil, out of all his Languages,
Could not pick words more moving.

Tet.
Yet they work not,
The Prince sits still.

Syl.
Though she stands up to Court him.

Tet.
If any man believes the secret of
The Princess's Repentance, let him speak.

Syl.
Their very silence has pronounc'd her door.

Pon.
The hope of comfort adds but to my grief,
For I see, all I say finds no belief;
But when in Charge against my self I bring
Facts out of which your fears and dangers spring;
You'l answer, what security affords,
The soft contexture of a few good words;
I grant, they rather may your Fears increase,
And therefore I'l give Hostages of Peace:
My Adolph bound in Love's eternal Bands,
I'l render into Violinda's Hands;
And Filamor (by sacred Hymen's leave)
Shall Cæsarina from my hand receive.
[Pontia rises, and goes to joyn their hands.
Come Cæsarina, give the Prince your self.

Cæsarina.
From me what is not due to Filamor,
Who, with his life in's hand, rescu'd my Honour?

Adolph.
Did not I prophesy? dear Filamor?

Cæ.
The Prince, in lieu of his, may claim my Life,
But not my Slavery; I'l be no man's Wife.

Violinda.
She speaks my resolution.

Filamor.
Do y' hear Adolph?
Now who's the Prophet?

Ad.
Thou art—the blind Prophet;
I am the Seer; they are ours as sure
As we are theirs—

Pon.
I'l try another Speech—
Sylvanus sits down in the Chair of State.
Ha! who presumes to take my place? what's he?

Tet.
A Judge, bound by his oath, when he hears Treason
Confess'd, to doom the Parricide to death.

Pon.
No Judge shall doom me, but the Prince my Husband.

Sylvanus discovers himself.
Syl.
Behold the Husband to whom you appeal,
A Judge, bound by the honour of my word,
When you first sought my life, that if you ever
Committed a new Treason, you should die:
There needs no form of Law, from your own mouth
A clowd of Witnesses have prov'd your Treason;
Nor will we torture you with hearing it
Repeated, nor with your accursed blood
Will we prophane Diana's sacred Grove.
Be it decreed, That in the Lawne, the place
Where by thy Gladiators Violinda
Should have been murder'd, thou shalt lose thy head.
A guard: away with her, but give her time
(So it exceed not half an hour) to pray.

Pon.
Vengeance is slow, but certain. I have vext
This World too long, dispatch me to the next.

Fil.
Doubt nothing Adolph, I'l secure her life:
Tetrick, you have too far ingag'd my Father,
'Twas never my intention, she should die.

Tet.
'Tis your own business, you may do't your way
And save her life, that she may ruine you.

Fil.
Nay I would have her out of hope to live,
That she may really repent, but then
Dear Tetrick (thou command'st the Guards) reprieve her:
Do't at my perill.

Tet.
I am like to do it
At my own peril too; but I'l obey you.

Fil.
Come friend, and as we go, tell Cæsarina
[To Adolph
How careful I am to preserve your Mother.

[Exeunt all but Fromund and Brianella.
Fro.
What a strange Monster your great Mistress is,
That neither her son nor her daughter open
Their lipps for her?

Bri.
But do you think she'l die?

Fro.
Unless she has, like Nile, more Heads then one,
One head's condemn'd, I'l see't cut off, your servant.

Bri.
But heark you Fromund; I took you to be
An honest man.

Fro.
Do y' find the contrary?

Bri.
Troth, 'tis no sign of exc'lent honesty
To profess love to me, and in a time
Of danger leave me to my Fortune.

Fro.
Why?
Are you in any danger?

Bri.
Then you know not
I was my Lady's Coy-duck, to bring in
Prince Filamor?

Fro.
Pish! a poor little Treason,
They'l never mind you, now they've got the Princess.

Bri.
This all the care you take for her that loves you?

Fro.
I understand not loving; will you marry?

Bri.
Who?

Fro.
Me.

Bri:
Do you call marrying, loving?

Fro.
Yes.

Bri.
Then I will love you.

Fro.
Then I'l secure you.
But will you not break promise when you'r safe?

Bri.
No, I hate baseness; I have lov'd you long,
But I'm so bashful, I should scarce have own'd it,
If this unlucky occasion had not offer'd
It self.

Fro.
Well, Madam, I have caught you now.

Bri.
I hope you'l keep me

Fro.
Safe—

[Enter Tetrick running.
Tet.
Undone, undone!

Fro.
Who's undone?

Tet.
Every good man, you'r undone.

Bri.
Must I be hang'd?

Tet.
No (drown you) you'l scape th'halter,
That falls to our shares; but no matter what
Becomes of us: Sylvanus—

Fro.
What of him?

Tet.
Lost! all's lost, Pontia rescu'd, we are now
Her Slaves.

Fro.
How's this possible?

Tet.
Hear, and wonder:
We came into the Lawne; and though 'twas meant
Pontia should live, she knew't not, but compos'd
Her self to die, so mildly, that it struck
Into astonishment all the beholders;
Such a dead stilnesse was upon the place,
'Twas like a Sea becalm'd; when, in an instant,
The Storm breaks forth, thund'ring came Pontia's Horse,
And in the head of them her Gen'rall Crispus:
Our Guards (amaz'd before) now as if they
Had seen in th'Enemies shields the Gorgon's head
(Which had the petrifying quality)
Turn'd Statues; stood still, whilst the Maldeners
Bound them; and Crispus, like young Perseus,
Releas'd the condemn'd Princesse, seiz'd the Prince
And Principality of Verulam:
They took me Pris'ner, but the General
(When he was told my Name, remembering
He had read my Book of Fortification)
Freed me.

Fro.
Then we may live to free our Masters;
Nay, we may speak Treason before this Lady;
She has promis'd me marriage.

Bri.
Since when, pray?
I'l be judg'd by this learned Gentleman;
You said, that marrying was loving; I
Answer'd, that I would love you; but I hope
I did not say, that I would marry you:
Alas, poor Fool; O brave, brave General!

Fro.
The General's the Man, and I'm the Fool;
[aside.
You will not have me?

Bri.
First, I'l see you hang'd.

Fro.
But though in point of Love you have deceived me,
Upon th'account of Gratitude; I hope
You'l beg my life?

Bri.
That's all you have to beg,
Y' have neither Lands nor Goods; but I'm too rich.
To be a Beggar upon any score.

Fro.
To save your Life, I would have ventur'd mine.

Bri.
But your simplicity's no rule for me;
In sober sadness, I will never marry
You, nor espouse your Danger: So adieu,
Kind younger Brother, do what you were born to;
Shift for your self: O brave, brave General!

Tet.
Come Fromund, follow me, I know the Woods,
I'l lead thee to a place of sweet recesse,
Where we'l enjoy our selves, and never think
Of Women more.

Bri.
But rise up Bard and Driud:
[Exeunt Tetrick and Fro.
Farewel Philosophers, and welcome General.

Enter Pontia, Crispus, and Souldiers.
Pontia.
Command in our Name, upon pain of death,
That none presume to pillage, or take Pris'ner
Any of my Subjects of Verulam,
Unless that Subject desperately rebel,
And put his Country in Blood.

Brianella.
O Heav'n!
And have I liv'd to see my Princely Mistresse
Soveraign of Verulam?

Pon.
My Soveraignty
And Life I owe to my Lord General.

Bri.
What Virgin would not love so brave a man?
Madam, Remember now your gracious Promise,
And move the General for me.

Pon.
Your best time
Will be when business of the War is over;
For, Marriages are businesses of Peace.

Bri.
O Madam, when your Highness was concern'd,
I put not you off to a better time.

Pon.
If you'l not take advise, then take your Fortune;
My Lord, you know this Lady?

Crispus.
Brianella.

Pon.
You know her quality?

Cris.
That she's the richest
In all your Principality of Malden;
In all your Court of Verulam the greatest,
For she's your Fav'rite.

Pon.
She would be your wife;
I have ingag'd to use my pow'r with you—

Cris.
Not to make her my wife? y'are not in earnest?

Pon.
In earnest.

Bri.
So am I.

Cris.
And so am I,
Never to marry a Property.

Bri.
Property?

Cris.
A Property for Murder, was not she
Us'd for the intrapping of Prince Filamor?
Madam, to me you made another Promise,
By which you are oblig'd to banish her.

Pon.
My word's past, so's her greatness: Brianella,
If to our Court thou com'st after this day,
Thou dy'st.

Bri.
But I may see your Husband dye
Before I go; then, I hope, you'l perform
Your other Promise to the General;
For, it seems, you have promis'd him your self;
Give you Joy—of my Curses, I've one day
[aside.
Yet left to curse you; hang me, if I pray.
[Exit Brian.

Pon.
My Fav'rite's banish'd; now Sir do you think
That I'l perform my Promise?

Cris.
If you were
A real Convert, of your own accord
You would have banish'd all such Instruments,

Pon.
I have been so long wicked, that no man
Will credit my Repentance, but distrust
From Crispus wounds me.

Cris.
Why then (I beseech you)
Do y' keep your Husband and his Children Pris'ners?

Pon.
Why are you so presumptious as to ask?
Who made you our Examiner? your duty
Is to attend, till we declare our self.

Enter Brianella and a Footman.
Bri.
Bid the Groom bring my Horses to the Gate.

Pon.
Stay, Brianella.

Bri.
Sure, you'l let me go.

Pon.
Believe't I'l sooner part with my new Conquest;
After you were commanded to withdraw,
My Promise being debated, 'twas resolv'd
Upon the Question, that you should be still
My Favorite.

Cris.
Great hope of her amendment.

[aside.
Pon.
Sir, you shall now have proof of our Repentance,
Call in the Pris'ners.

[Exit Crispus.
Bri.
To restore me to
Your favour, was the General consenting?

Pon.
He hates thee, as I hate him, mortally.

Bri.
Shall he live?

Pon.
Poorly; thou shalt see him crush'd
To his first Nothing.

Bri.
Mighty General,
'Twill elevate my Soul to see thy Fall:
There is a Pleasure in Revenge, above
The expectation or the joyes of Love.
And to revenge my selve on thee, is just;
But the betraying of Prince Filamor,
[aside.
Who never injur'd me, was base: Some power
That, as I do, pities that noble Prince,
Put it into her Heart, to spare his life
One hour, and I'l make use of her new Favour
To expiate my Crime; I'l now Charm Her,
And free him from his cruel Step-Mother.

Enter Adolph, Cæsarina, Crispus, Sylvanus, Filamor, Violinda and the Guard. Pontia sits.
Pon.
Old man, who hast outliv'd Humanity,
From me what can'st expect?

Syl.
What thou deserv'st,
Death: death, to which my Justice sentenc'd thee,
I do expect now from thy Cruelty;
And I'l meet th'Axe with such a Resolution
As shall (if thou dar'st be a looker on)
Shake thy weak Soul into another Swound.
Though I liv'd under thy Reign like a Waman,
Yet I'l die like a Man.

Pon.
Since you'r so brave,
I'l not take pattern by your former baseness;
For, Sir, when I was to have lost my head,
No state was thought upon, no Princes order'd
To follow me; You shall have Filamor
And Violinda to bear up your train.
Between your Sentence and my Execution,
Your wither'd narrow heart could afford me
But half an hour; I'l give you a whole hour.

Syl.
Bountiful wife, you are extream obliging.

Bri.
My Pray'r is heard, I'l now serve Filamor.

[aside.
Vio.
Filamor, what is Death?

Fil.
Better than Life,
'Tis Nature's greater bounty, for we may
Improve it to an immortality
Of Fame, by dying nobly.

Vio.
I have liv'd
By Cæsarina's rule, by yours I'l dye.

Cæ.
Oh, name not dying; though my Mother has
Condemn'd you, yet Heav'n cannot be so cruell.

Pon.
Capito take you charge of the old man,
And my Lord Gen'rall to your Custody,
We do commit his Children.

[Exit Pon. Capito, and Sylvanus.
Cris.
Here's Reward
For all my Services, I am preferr'd
To th'Office of a Marshall.

Ad.
May we two
With your permission, my Lord Generall,
Speak with your Pris'ners?

Cris.
At your pleasure, Sir:
For, as to that, I am not limited,
And I'l put no Restraint upon my self.

Cæ.
You ever were a Person of great honour.

Cris.
Therefore in this base Charge my Shame's the more;
To serve my Prince I never blush'd before.

[Exeunt.