University of Virginia Library

SCENE. III.

The Camp.
King, Revol, Guessle, Grillon, an Officer bringing at another door Chateauneuf and Bonneval.
Offic.
These Ladies, Sir, were flying to the Town.

King.
It seems then, Madam, you the League will own.

Chat.
The motion, Sir, to Nature did belong;
For all things are inclin'd to fly from wrong.
Beside 'twas reason did my flight procure
For hopeful good, from Ills that were too sure.

King.
Where Nature, and where Reason is so known,
You should the force of stronger workings own.
For what can Nature, what can Reason move
(Gown'd-Councelours!) against that Tyrant Love?
Who like Usurpers, in their new-got throne,
Despise all other Laws, beside their own.
Then Chateneuf thou merciful shouldst be;
Your last Song proves too true a Prophecy,
And I love one, alas, who loves not me.

Chat.
Without help pity, Sir, does little good;
Kind words to famisht men are slender food.
It like repining looks, at Heavens decree;
For her just scorns have vindicated me.
And justice now has equal Passion mov'd;
You love where hated, and you hate where lov'd.

Enter an Officer.
1 Offi.
To arms! to arms! the vigilence of Mayn
By our disorders did advantage gain,
And has our late disserted trenches ta'n.

Enter another.
2 Offic.
O Sir!

Gues.
What is the news?

2 Offi.
O, Sir, Navar.
Has some intentions that may cause your fear.

King.
'Gainst us he never will his Arms advance;
His veins hold too much of the blood of France.
Grillon! I leave this bus'ness to thy care;
Tho not in love, yet thou hast skill in War.

Enter a third Officer.
3 Offi.
The Camp they've enter'd, and our Guards now force:
All's in confusion!

Gril.
I'l to th' Guards of Horse;
And at the head of them will swiftly fly,
Disorder all their ranks, or bravely die.
[Exit Grillon.

Enter another.
4 Offi.
Navar has quit his Post, and now stands still,
Drawn in Battalia on the neighb'ring Hill,
In view of all our Camp. His glittering Arms
That once assisted us, now threaten harms.
So Clouds, that promis'd once a fruitful birth,
O'r heated, send down Lightning to the Earth.

Enter Larchant.
King.
Larchant, what news?

Lar.
O, Sir, we're all undone!

King.
Where's Gabriel?

Lar.
Alas, Sir, she is gone!

King.
Coward! Thy life to keep, and charge to lose.

Lar.
What could I do against a thousand foes?

King.
Had Grillon been but there, he'd routed all.

Lar.
O, Sir! Brave Grillon's lost, I saw him fall.

Rov.
Have patience Sir.

[King much afflicted.
King.
O! 'Twould an Angel vex,
To loose at once the gloryes of each Sex.

A charge. Souldiers flying, and cry Arm, arm, arm. Kings Guards beat, himself just overcome; Enter Navar and interposes 'twixt the King and their Weapons, and beats 'em off. Then turns to th' King.
Nav.
Howe're you deal with me, Sir, you are free:
If still you can, you may unmindful be.

[Pursues 'em.
King.
I in his gen'rous favour well might boast,
If Grillon and my Gabriel were not lost.
Since two such blessings are to me deny'd,
He had been kinder to have let me dy'd.
Grillon and Gabriel in one hour opprest,
Whose worth two several Ages might have blest.
Afflictions presse upon my soul too far;
I never can hope more from Love, or War.
The Court is broke—It has no more to boast.
Since all its beauty, all its Valour's lost.
[A shout within.
What shouts are those? what joys can now arrive.
Since they are dead?

Enter Grillon bloody, leading Gabriel.
Gril.
Death! Sir, we're both alive.
Both of us in our gallantries appear,
I in the richest Skarlets Soldiers wear.
She in those blushes far more brave than I.
Whose Skarlets are of a more lasting dye.

King.
What miracle has brought you here again?
Whoe're it be that sent you, tho Du Mayn;
I'l grant him any thing he can pretend,
And from this minute be his faithful friend.

Gab.
We take you at you word, Sir.

King.
Let us hear,
Who is this gen'rous Heroe.

Gril.
'Tis Navar.
Bury'd 'mongst Enemys I had o'rcome,
(For of their Carkasses I'd made a Tomb)
He like an Angel did their Troops invade,
And cut his passage with a shining Blade.
Like Ghosts the Enemy before him flyes,
And he made Grillon from the dead to rise.

Gab.
He fre'd me too; else I had not been here.

King.
How! could Navar be your Deliverer,
And send you back to me?

Gab.
He said his trust
Was firm in you, cause generous and just:
That your great soul would all its pow'rs unite,
To quit just scores and services requite.

King.
Brave man! thou art too great to be exprest;
Thy soul's too mighty for a mortal breast.
None, none, but such a Hero could bestow
His Love on's Rival, and a life on's Foe.
He in one day so generous did prove,
Freely to give my Life, my Friend, my Love.
My boistrous Passions ought now to retreat,
And I, by his example, must be great.

Enter Navar putting up his Sword, and Plessis, and Guards.
Nav.
Sir, here I come humbly to beg of you
T'accept those services which were your due,
And tho with that great honour they are grac'd,
They'l but attone for my offences pass'd,

King.
Sir, I was passionate as well as you.

Gril.
Death, who can tell the faultiest of the two?

Nav.
Nature in all our souls sows precious seeds.
Vertues are flowers, and Vices are the Weeds.

Gril.
Your souls (those curious Gardens) are not free;
But you your passions have, as well as we.

King.
We were not men else: Sir, to let you know
That I can be as generous as you:
Of your three Presents here I thus dispose,
My life and Grillon I will only chuse.
This third so rich a recompence will be,
Points to Gab. and gives her.
That with one favour here, I pay for three.

Nav.
This royal gift contains so vast a sum,
It pays for all my services to come.

King.
Dear Chateneuf! thou formerly we'rt given
To acts of mercy; imitate then Heaven.
Forgiveness (without crimes) had never been;
As Sun-beams, after Clouds, more chearful seen.
My roving Heart, neglectful of its rest,
Forsook the lovely Palace of your breast.
Then Idly for another rang'd about,
And found one there, but justly was shut out.
[Points at Gab.
Th' afflicted Prodigal does home retire,
Stript from all vanities of loose desire,
Half-starv'd it begs refreshment at your fire.

Chat.
'Tis only Pitty now that can me move.

King.
Let me gain Pitty, and I'l merit Love.
Nor can you doubt my Passion to be true;
Since I leave Gabriel and return to you.

Gril.
In all my Love designs yet I am crost.

[To Bonneval.
Bon.
I scorn a Gamster that to all has lost.

Gril.
My Title's forfeit then to womankind!
Yet I a nobler Mistress hope to find.
'Tis Madam, Honour: she delights in War;
She is a Mistress worth contending for.
This Leaguer-Lady (for in Camps she's bred)
Does all the Beauties of the Court exceed.
She asks no Riches, but those gain'd in Wars;
Wounds, for her Joynter; for her Jewels, Scars.
Vict'ry and Fame she does for Portion yield;
At last, her Marriage bed, some well fought Field.
And then to prove her Virgin vertue good,
Her Mayden-head is alwayes got in Blood.

Nav.
Such a description and so drawn to th' Life,
Plainly declares th' hast gain'd her to thy Wife.
Now I've more hopes than e're I had before;
Since, Grillon, thou wilt rival me no more.

Gril.
Not, Sir, in Love: troth, 'tis not worth the while;
Love's favours are but like an April smile,
Clouded each day, or wept away in showers.

King.
But, Sir, you better know to use your hours.
[To Navar.
It is a maxime amongst Lovers known,
All time is lost, but when they are alone.

[Takes out Chateauneuf.
[Exeunt omnes præter Navar and Gabriel.
Nav.
'Tis a great truth of which we make small use.
Why should we such a precious treasure lose?
We are not yet alone.

Gab.
Here's no one by.

Nav.
Too many, Madam; since there's you and I.

Gab.
I'l then withdraw and leave you here alone.

Nav.
You'l leave but half of me, when you are gone.

Gab.
I understand you not.

Nav.
Ah! this does prove
You are unknowing in the rules of Love.
We talk, we look, we touch, yet still are poor,
And 'midst of such enjoyments, long for more.
There is a thing (we know not) call'd delight,
Nor ever shall, until our Souls unite.
Love is in Union plac'd: And whilst we're two,
We Love not, we, alass, but only woo!

Gab.
I know not then how Lover's souls can joyn,
Unless when mine is yours, and yours is mine.

Nav.
How can we at this distance gain such blisses,
Unless we breath 'em mutually in chast kisses?
Madam, when Heav'n does Soul and Body joyn,
O! that is Love! And that Love is divine.

Gab.
But whilst our souls alternately rejoyce,
And rest contented in their purer choice?
Why should our Bodies, with their sensu'l weight
Retard our Souls in their more active flight?

Nav.
Madam, 'tis true; our glorious souls præside
Our Bodies, and our greatest actions guide:
No Love within the Body can begin
Without assistance from that God within.
Yet both must act whilst they on Earth reside;
Their faculties are vainly else imploy'd.

Gab.
My Love (as lasting as my soul) receive;
For I no mortal thing to you would give.
You more oblig'd me than the World can do;
And by that rule I would be thankful too.

Nav.
You in your nice distinctions cruel prove,
To keep the Body and bestow your Love:
Like those who rich Estates and Jewels give,
Yet will not yield possession whilst they live.

Gab.
To the most precious gift I was inclin'd;
Because 'till Death, Love cannot be resin'd.

Nav.
That credit Love has lost, let us restore,
And by our Loves show what it was before.
Love and the World together did begin,
—And did out-shine the Sun—
—Before it clouded was with sin.
Such pure, such unmixt joyes our souls shall swell,
As Virgins guess and Saints can only tell.

[Exeunt.