 | The Step-Mother |  |
74
Actus Quintus.
Pontia sitting, and writing the Superscription of a Letter; Brianella standing by her, on the Table lyes a Parchment.Bri.
For taking of the Pris'ners from the Generall,
That Letter to Prince Adolph I procur'd,
Which shews there is a justice in my nature,
I hope 'twill save the life of Filamor
Whom I wrong'd: and I'm sure 'twill take away
The last remainder of his Trust from Crispus,
Enter Capito.
Who wrong'd me—my Lord Generall Capito,
The Princesse call'd for you: he minds not me?
I have no fortune to these Generalls.
Capito kisses Pontia's hand.
Pontia.
My Lord, you'r rais'd to the command in chief
Over our Forces, by obeying us.
Capito.
Madam, my Will is vassal to your Pleasure,
You are my Gen'rall, not to be ask'd, Why,
But What you please; and that I'l do, or die.
Pon.
First, show to Crispus your Commission,
And vacate his: then take you charge of th'Army,
Which we design'd you two hours since, when he
Gave rules to us, but I was forc'd to use him,
Till to this height he rais'd my Soveraignty.
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And we'l take down the Scaffolds.
Bri.
Such a fall
[aside.
May all the proud Men have, who scorn kind Women.
Pon.
In the last place, double your Guards, that we
May prevent suddain tumults, and attempts
In favour of the condemn'd Princes, they
(I doubt) have Parties in our Camp and Court;
But were it in our own veins they should bleed.
Cap.
Without distinction, whos'ere lifts his hand
Against your pow'r, shall feel the weight of mine.
Please to dismiss me, that I be not straiten'd
In point of time?
Pon.
Go, and be fortunate.
Cap.
Fortune, my Goddess, is great Pontia's hand-maid.
Pon.
I forgot one particular; I'l send
This Lady to you, when she comes, do you
Return, and bring Crispus to us.
Cap.
I shall.
[Exit Capito.
Pontia gives the Letter to Brianella.
Pon.
There Brianella, I have writ to Adolph
As you desir'd, I can deny you nothing;
But yet to trust my Son with custody
Of Violinda and Filamor (the Prince
Being my Son's Friend, the Princess his Mistris,
(Should Love against his Interest byass him)
May be of dangerous consequence.
Bri.
Prince Adolph,
To preserve them, will not lose Verulam.
Pon.
I see Brianella is for Filamor:
[aside.
Well, I will venture't, upon your account,
Though Adolph may deceive me.
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I hope he will.
[aside.
Pon.
Give him that Letter, in which is inclos'd
A discharge of our latest trust to Crispus.
Bri.
Then Crispus (whether bound for Heav'n or Hell)
She, whom you scorn'd, shall toul your passing Bell.
Pon.
Away, leave me to perfect my own story;
I'l add to my two Crowns a third of Glory.
[Exeunt severally.
Enter Adolph, Filamor, and Cæsarina.
Filamor.
We have out-walk'd the General and my Sisters;
Let's tarry for them?
Adolph.
By no means, least Fate
Should overtake you; th'Executioner
Is setting up your Scaffold: Filamor
Stands now upon the Verge of Life and Death;
Here is a Grave, and there's a Sanctuary:
Behind that Hedge I've laid for you a Horse,
A Fleeter's not in Britain; mount him, fly.
Cæsarina.
As for your noble Sister and your Father,
(When once my Mother knows that you'r escap'd)
She will not dare to touch them; fly.
Fil.
How? fly?
You heard the General take my Parol,
And would my Friends have me to save my Life
Lose th'end for which Man lives, Honour?
Cæ.
O Sir,
Under the notion of a private man
Consider not your self, on you depend
Thousands of Subjects Lives.
Ad.
And a whole race
Of unborn Princes.
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To preserve Mankind,
I'd not break my Ingagement; though till now
I never valu'd life, yet when 'tis offer'd
By those I prize above life, I am bound
In honour to refuse it.
Ad.
'Tis too late
[Enter Crispus and Violinda.
To pass now; here's your Keeper, but I'l make
Way through him with my sword, I'l fight with Crispus.
Violinda.
I hope you'l not fight with the Generall
That uses us with such Civility,
'Tis Pontia, not Crispus, that condemn'd us;
And we had rather suffer death, than you
Should rescue us with hazard of your life.
Cæ.
First let me move him: My Lord Generall,
Fame gives you such a noble Character,
That I can't think you a willing Instrument
In the injustice done to these two Princes.
Crispus.
Madam, to shew how my Obedience
Has been constrain'd to act against my Will,
If an exchange of Lives may be admitted,
I'l die to excuse them.
Cæ.
That you may do,
And not die, only wink at their Escape.
Cris.
No, then my Honour dyes.
Cæ.
Honour and Fortune
Shall recompence that Piety.
Cris.
More Titles
Than Cæsar claimes, and all the sparkling Gold
Into the Sea with ebbing Tagus roll'd,
Cannot buy me out of a sacred Trust:
Poor Crispus may be, but he will be just.
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Crispus, with a Friend's arm I could embrace thee,
Were not thy worth destructive to my Friends;
But now I'l meet thee as an enemy.
As Adolph offers to draw, Enter Capito and Souldiers.
Capito? what newes?
Capito.
Such as does amaze
The Messenger, that Parchment will inform
You, my Lord Generall.
Cris.
I kiss her Name
[Enter Brianella.
That sign'd it, and so vanishes my power;
'Tis Capito's the Generall: Have y' Order
To take the pris'ners from me?
Brianella.
That's my Office;
For I bring up the rear of your Discharges,
This is your last: by this you'r will'd to leave
Your Pris'ners with Prince Adolph.
Cris.
Then these are
My last Commands?
Cap.
No; we two must attend
The Princess, after we have view'd the Army.
Cris.
My Lord, I'l wait on you, as cheerfully
As ever I charg'd with you.
Bri.
Go thy way
In quiet; though I long, I have no power
To insult o're thee, thou'rt so brave a man:
[Exit Capito, Crispus, and Souldiers.
But to my business: humbly at your feet,
[She kneels.
Prince Filamor, I beg your pardon, for
The impudent abuse I put on You
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Capable of your mercy, I've us'd all
My interest with her to get that Letter
Which trusts you and your Sister to your Friend;
Your Mother thought it dangerous, but my power
With her, prevail'd against her Reason.
Fil.
Rise,
For what your Prince commands, you may be excus'd,
I'm satisfy'd.
Ad.
So am not I, to see
My Mother's favour thus misplac'd on thee:
Out of my sight; were not Women, like Priests,
Exempted from the power of the sword,
I would have ki'lld thee.
Bri.
It had been but Justice,
I do deserve to die, and I deserve not
To be believ'd.
Ad.
Come Princes, I'l not trust you
Out of my hands till I have lodg'd you safe.
Bri.
Then you must see them out of Verulam
Within this half hour.
[Exit Brianella.
Ad.
This goes to my Mother;
[To Filamor.
But my Friend and my Love shall go with me.
Cæ.
We'l all be pris'ners, or we'l all be free.
[Exeunt.
In the Bards Cave,
Enter Tetrick as the Conjurer; and Fromund with the Bard's Beard in his hand.
Tetrick.
Once more I'm the mock Conjurer, the Gods
Or else the devill take her that's the cause on't!
Another Devil take mock-Prophecies,
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Who would have thought those canting words should prove
An Oracle?
Fromund.
I'l be the Bard to purpose;
For, Tetrick, in these Fortune-telling Shapes,
As mighty Pontta's Prophets we shall passe
The regiment drawn up to guard the Scaffold.
Tet.
Then if the Generall scape my dagger, he
Shall have Prince Adolph's luck, but Crispus is not
So well bred as to wear a Lady's Picture
Next to his heart.
Fro.
Strike home I'l second thee;
By my hand the Lievteant-Generall fal's:
Prince Adolph may then be the Generall,
And he'l protect the Princes: what becomes
Of thee and me, no matter.
Tet.
As I live,
[Enter Brianella.
Thy Mistris, coming hither, do thou slip
Behind these Bushes; as I promis'd thee,
I'l dispatch thy love business, if w'have time.
[Exit Fromund.
Brianella.
Within there?
Tet.
Who's without there?
Bri.
Brinella.
Tet.
Go see the Princes die.
Bri.
No, they'r safe in
Prince Adolph's hands, that one good deed I've done.
Tet.
Then to the Bard's Cave you are kindly welcome;
(Now I may fool a little) what's your pleasure?
[aside.
Bri.
Is the good Woman here, she that tells fortunes?
Tet.
You mean my pretty Mistris, the old Witch;
She's riding on her distaff into Lapland,
(To morrow being our Wedding-day) to fetch
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Before she set forth, she commanded me,
I should examine all the Stars that shin'd
At your Nativity, for a Generall
To be your husband: take't upon my word,
The Planets know not any Generall
That loves you.
Bri.
I hate Generalls, can you tell
My husband's name?
Tet.
Ill news I'l tell you, Madam;
My reverend Spouse went away in a whirlwind;
Poor heart, the saddest soul; you'l hardly guess
What griev'd her, the losse of your Saphyr-Ring,
For which I set a figure, and t'appears
Your Ring was lost by a strange providence,
For he that finds it is to be your Husband.
Bri.
What if I like him not?
Tet.
You'l only be
Torn in a hundred pieces.
Bri.
If he be
Of the malignant party, or a rebell,
You shall tear me into a thousand pieces
Before I marry him.
Tet.
The man that found it
(For now 'tis found) is of the Loyal Party.
Enter Fromund.
Fromund.
Madam, I think, you dropt this Saphyr-ring?
I saw you passe, and strove to over-take you:
You were too nimble for me; but I kiss'd
The ground you trod upon, and there lay this.
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'Twas mine, 'tis yours, keep't, I'l take nothing from you
Which Fortune gives you.
Tet.
Though it be her self;
And (as the mouth of fortune) I pronounce,
'Tis so; come, let me joyn your hands in Marriage:
Now you are Man and Wife; I leave the rest
For night, if we out-live this day, that looks
So black on Verulam, and our great Masters.
Bri.
Who's the Magician's Master, pray?
Fro.
Sylvanus.
Bri.
But the Magician is Pontia's Creature.
Tet.
Your humble Servant, Madam; do you know me?
[Tetrick discovers himself.
Bri.
Tetrick the Conjurer?
Tet.
Fromund was th'old Witch.
Fro.
Yes faith, I was th'old Witch, an't please you Daughter.
Bri.
Oh you'r rare Fortune-telling youths! but we
Are soon perswaded to a thing we like:
For if I had not lov'd you—
Fro.
And I you;
I would not have marry'd another Lady.
Bri.
Nor would I've had another younger brother.
Tet.
On, on; the Princes have imployment for us?
Fro.
And We have Lives for them.
Bri.
I'l be your guide.
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Adolph.
Our horses are now come, I'l be your Convoy.
Filamor.
You shall not give your self that dangerous trouble.
Ad.
I'l see you safe, out of my Mother's power.
Fil.
Then you must see us die, for that determines
Your Mother's pow'r.
Ad.
Why do you make a halt?
What do you mean?
Fil.
I mean to go on further;
Filamor is now at his Journey's end,
Here I'l lay down the burden of my life,
And rest.
Ad.
Defend me! this is such a Madness,
That 'tis infectious, it distracts me too;
Will you stay, till your last hour be run out?
Will you be accessary (not alone
To your own death, but) to the murder of
Your Father, and your Sister?
Fil.
Should I scape
By a base flight, my Father's age would fall
At Pontia's feet a bleeding Sacrifice:
Forgive me, Sister; for thy tender Youth
My heart bleeds through my eyes.
[Filamor weeps.
Vio.
Do not afflict
Your self for me; the World is full of Ladies,
And I shall not be miss'd in that great Crowd:
But howsoever, when you go to find
Another World, I would not stay behind.
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Do y' pitty her sweet youth? and are y'unmov'd
With her mind's bravery? how easily
Will you leave us?
[he takes Cæsarina by the hand.
Fil.
As the soul leaves the body;
Forc'd to it by fatall necessity:
For a memorial of my love, I make you
My Heirs, between you divide Verulam.
Ad.
Let a Sea-breach (to quench thy Funeral Fire)
Swallow up Verulam, and Malden first:
But whence comes this fatall necessity?
You think to fly, is base? who ever stood
More upon honour then th'old Romans? yet,
After his Cimbrian Triumph, Marius fled
And begg'd near conquer'd Carthage; you shall live
Like a Prince still.
Fil.
I must not live at all;
And better die by the hand of Injustice,
Then by my own hand: in a word, I'm barr'd
From my love, and I'l not accept my life.
Ad.
Do y'hear this, Cæsarina? now you know,
Your resolution is the cause of his;
He will not live, because you will not love him:
Though Filamor might live long, if my Sister
Were not more barbarous to him than my Mother:
For she's his enemy, death from her must be
Expected: You, his friend, may get him off,
And yet you leave him to his enemy's mercy.
Cæ.
Farwell, brave Filamor; a point is started
Which makes me take my leave.
Vio.
You shall not go;
Though for my own life I was not concern'd,
Yet, Cæsarina, for my brother's safety
I must petition you.
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Move not a Suit,
I cannot grant.
Vio.
Can you not grant one Suit,
To save two Lives?
Ad.
Nay Sister, you may go:
But yet, remember, he, you leave to die,
Rescu'd your honour.
Cæ.
'Tis impossible,
I can preserve his life without destroying
My own contentment; therefore, Filamor,
Your interest has the preference, I am yours.
Fil.
I am I know not what, my Joy's so vast,
It puts an Army's strength into my nerves.
To horse, to horse, I'l bear this Prize away
Through Groves of Pikes.
Ad.
Stay, stay till I be ready;
I'l not fight, till Violinda gives the word:
Madam, you know, I had your gracious promise,
When she was his Wife, that you would be mine?
Vio.
Well Adolph, by her copy I'm your wife:
But Sir, if she had not been forc'd to render,
I would have held out, till I had been older
And wiser, for I understand not Love.
Ad.
Dear Madam, I'l instruct you—now let's charge—
Enter Tetrick, Fromund, and Brianella.
Tetrick.
Your Mistresses; this Coupling-time's the death
Of more Wild-fowl then all the Year besides;
Look, here's another pair, of Widgeons, catch'd,
And I am in the Net for company:
Th'Army has hedg'd—about the Grove, one Passe
Is only open, at which we came in.
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No matter; Hannibal wrought through the Rock.
Ad.
Our Swords are sharper then his Vinegar.
Tet.
Yet, my young Hannibals, pray, view your danger?
Fil.
That's requisite; come dear.
Ad.
Come,
[He offers to kiss Violinda.
Vio.
What would you do?
Ad.
I'd only kiss my heart into more courage.
Vio.
Speak softly, Sir, for fear your Mother hear you,
And then, you will be chid abominably.
[Exeunt.
Enter Pontia, Capito, Crispus, and Officers of the Army.
Pontia.
Crispus, you see, your Greatness, like our Coin,
Ev'n when 'twas Yours was Ours; wee've call'd it in
As a base Mettal, that dishonours us.
Crispus.
I'm what you please, but only—
Pon.
No Proviso's.
Yet will you own the Justice of my Cause,
And act in the reducing of the Pris'ners,
And th'Army for their Generall shall own you?
Cris.
First, do like Xerxes, cut me into halves:
Then lay me, where the moving Army may
March through their Generall.
Pon.
Make him close Pris'ner.
Capito.
Take Crispus to your Custody, admit
None to speak with him.
Pon.
Yet your Emissaries
Exit Crispus guarded.
May be deceiv'd.
Capi.
One in a tree (close by them)
Saw them joyn hands.
Pon.
It seems they'r marry'd then,
87
Without a drop of blood.
Capi.
That cannot be,
Unless we send out more Spyes to discover,
Before the Princes come to fight, what place
They leave the Ladies in: If they be taken,
Adolph and Filamor will lay down their arms,
As I shall work it.
Pon.
Go, dispatch your Spyes.
[Exeunt.
Enter Filamor, Cæsarina, Adolph, Violinda, Fromund, Brianella, and Tetrick.
Tetrick.
None believes my Predictions but your Mother;
You'r in a Pound now, get out as you may.
Filamor.
The Passe, at which you came, is slightest guarded,
Let's break out there.
Adolph.
Where shall the Ladies be?
Fro.
In the Bard's Cave, for there they will be safe.
Tet.
Your Mother has a reverence for the place,
She'l violate a Temple e're she'l take e'm
Out of that Cave.
Fil.
The Counsell is not ill;
To the Bard's Cave we'l wait upon our Loves,
If we break through, we'l send for you at night:
But if the Army comes in to Prince Adolph,
We'l see you presently.
Ad.
And if we fall,
(Nay, weep not, Dear) we will have company
Into the Stars, if the rogues go not downward.
Vio.
'Tis only Multitudes that I'm afraid of.
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When Filamor fights, I can fear no odds,
His Cause is Honour's, Love's, and all the Gods.
[Exeunt.
Enter Pontia, Capito, and Souldiers.
Pontia.
Your Spyes are not come in?
Capito.
They've had no time
For a discovery yet: do y'know these, Madam?
Capito pulls out a Letter, and two Purses.
Pon.
The Jewells which I gave the Gladiators.
Cap.
One would think, you sprung from that fortunate King,
Whose Jewells, lost at Sea, came to his Table
Serv'd up i'th belly of a Fish.
Pon.
Where are
The Villains?
Capi.
This account the Letter gives:
Barnet-Woods were laid for them; by your Order:
Our Souldiers follow'd, and came up so close;
The rogues, for their last refuge, were constrain'd
To imitate Merchants in a storm, who save
Themselves, by casting over-board their Treasure:
So, emptying into their hands these purses,
They sow'd th'unplough'd Earth with your Gold and Jewells;
And whil'st our covetous men gather'd them up,
The Gladiators fled; and here's your Own.
Pon.
And they have their reward, a fearful Judgment;
Their Lives are sav'd, but their Livelihood's lost,
And that's more horrid then the death they fear'd;
For in this Isle they dare not stay, nor dare they
Go to the Continent, lest their Countrymen
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[Enter a Spie, and whispers Capito.
You look as if we had our wish, what news?
Cap.
How infinitely fortunate are you,
The Ladies in the Bard's Cave are secur'd.
Pon.
For Us, not for Themselves.
Capi.
My men have orders;
The Princesses shall be brought in, to face
The Princes, there they come; I will amuze them
Till the work's done.
Pon.
They shall not see me yet.
[Pontia goes aside.
Enter Filamor, Adolph, Tetrick and Fromund, with their Swords drawn.
Capi.
Princes, what means this fury, that you brave
With a few hands the strength of a whole Army?
Pray, tell me, what do you rely upon,
Your selves? or others? do y' look for Assistance?
It must come down from heav'n, and there dwells none
That will assist a Son against a Mother:
Nor will heav'n own a Cause it has deserted?
He points to Filamor.
With Adolph Nature's angry, and the Gods
With Filamor: If to your selves you trust,
Reason will tell you, four before four thousand
Must fall to th'Earth's cold arms, from whence they sprung:
So that you only can expect to have
From Heav'n a Thunderbolt, from th'Earth a Grave.
Fil.
Our Answer's in our hands.
Capi.
Hold Filamor,
If you have no compassion for your self,
Capito gives the sign to the Centree, and then Sylvanus is brought in by an Executioner.
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Which must be taken off, at the first blow
You strike.
Syl.
Filamor, if thou pitty'st me,
Strike quickly, and let me die, any death,
So I may be rid of my wife, I care not.
Capi.
Poor Prince, the Grief to see his Son so wilful,
Distracts him.
Syl.
If he will not hold his prating,
Cut his throat, Filamor; charge them, that my Soul
May have her liberty, a thousand blessings
Upon the hand, that fighting moves this Engine
To strike my head off and divorce me from
My brutish wife.
Fil.
We shall obey you, Sir.
As the Princes are coming on, the Princesses are discovered under a Guard in the, Bard's Cave.
Capi.
Hold, once more; Princes take heed what y do
How showes this Object?
Fil.
Cæsarina taken?
Pontia shewes her self.
Pontia.
Yes, Filamor; she that was once my child,
Is now my pris'ner: when she marry'd thee,
I disclaim'd her: I look upon her now
As on a Rebell, yet her life I'l pardon,
If you lay down your Arms.
Fil.
Immediately,
A Roman would not pause in such a Case.
He turns his Sword on his own Breast.
Pon.
If you but offer at your life, she dyes.
Ad.
Friend, there's no struggling against Fate, give me
Thy Sword; There Capito, with my own I render
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Let's Enemy do that office, I'l wait on him.
Pon.
So, now I'm all that I can wish to be;
O 'tis the Queen of all Felicities
To have full pow'r to reward and revenge.
Bring the late General Crispus, that I may
At one time cut off all my Enemies.
Crispus guarded.
First, Filamor, to you—I give my Daughter;
To your Sister my Son, and to my Son
I give my Principality of Malden,
For I'l depend only upon my husband:
For whose pardon and love thus low I beg.
Syl.
Rely on me, and you'l be a good Wife,
Then I shall study to forget your Evill,
And love you for your Goodness.
Fil.
With my thanks
For this inestimable Guift, I crave
Your pardon for my incredulity
When you return'd to Virtue.
Pon.
That distrust
Was universall, for which all have suffer'd;
And yet thus far I would not have pursued
Th'advantage fortune put into my hands,
But that I knew nothing could bring my Daughter
To Love's obedience, but the hope to save
His life who sav'd her honour: To give her
That opportunity, I committed you
Both Pris'ners to your Friend.
Cæ.
I am bound to you
For my conversion to Love's Deity.
Pon.
Adolph, for thee I have a second Guift,
But greater then the first; into thy service
And (nearer yet) into thy bosome take
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She presents Crispus to Adolph.
He's perfect, use him, and he'l make thee Great.
Let him be Captain Generall of thy Army,
And give the Second Place to Capito,
Whose strict Obedience and prudent Conduct,
Makes him inferiour to none but Crispus.
Cris.
Now Pontia, like the Planet of the Night,
Breaks from her clowd, and shews us her pure light.
Cap.
Though one Prince limits my Obedience,
Two Sovereigns my bosome does contain,
For in my heart Adolph and Pontia reign.
Ad.
Me and my love you've crown'd, and added these
Two rich Crown-jewels.
Vio.
I'm oblig'd to you
He embraces Crispus and Capito.
Both for my interest in the Crown and Prince.
Pon.
Fromund, I joy you; and I'l move my husband
To add a Title of Honour to your Fortune.
Fro.
Your Servant, Madam.
Bri.
Well, you are a Witch,
You told me, I should be Right Honourable.
Pon.
Tetrick, to make you a Fortune, take this gold
And Jewells.
Tet:
Nay, since Fortune smiles upon me,
I'l not be testy now: I humbly thank you.
Pon.
Let us all thank Providence, that directs
Bad Causes to produce such good Effects.
[Exeunt.
| The Step-Mother | |