University of Virginia Library

SCENE the Third.

A Prison.
Enter Orsames joyful, and Geron.
Ors.
Am I indeed a King?
And is there such a thing as fair Olympia?
Hadst thou not been the first had told me this,
By Heaven thou'dst di'd for thus concealing it;
Not all the obligations of my Youth
Should have preserv'd thee.

Ger.
Till now I wanted opportunity;
For had you known your quality before,
You would have grown impatient of the Crown,
And by that haste have overthrown your Interest.

Ors.
And canst thou now provide against my ignorance!

Ger.
Sir, we have gain'd the Army on our side.

Ors.
What's that?

Ger.
Those numbers that I told you should adore you.

Ors.
When shall I see them, Geron?

Ger.
E'relong, Sir: should your deliverance
Be wrought by any other means than theirs,
It were to snatch a glory from their hands
Which they design their onely recompence.

Ors.
Oh how I am transported with the Joy!
But Geron, art thou sure we do not dream?

Ger.
Then life it self's a Dream—
—Hark, I here a noise—

[Noise.

Within.
Kill the Dog—down with him.

Ors.
Oh how I'm ravisht with this unknown noise!


Within.
Break down the Prison-walls and Gates, and force your passage—

Enter Vallentio followed by a Rabble of Citizens and Officers, tearing in the Keeper all bloudy.
Vall.

No killing to day, my Fellow-souldiers, if you can help it; we will not
stain our Tryumphs in bloud—

[They all stand and gaze. Ors. gazes on them.
Ye Gods instruct me where to bow my Knee—
But this alone must be the Deity—

[Kneels. Ors. lets him kneel, and gazes on him.
1 Cit.
Is that the King, Neighbour, in such mean Clothes?

Gorel.
Yes, goodman Fool, why should the Colonel kneel else?

3 Cit.

Oh pray Neighbour let me see a little, I never saw a King all days of
my life—Lord, Lord! is that he the Colonel kneels to?

Gorel.

What questions this ignorant fellow asks!

3 Cit.

Good lack a day, 'tis as a man may say—'tis just such another body as
one of us, onely he looks a little more terrably.

Ger.
Sir, why do you let him kneel?

Ors.
Rise, and let me look upon thee.

Vall.
Great Sir, we come to offer you a Crown,
That long has waited for this great support:
It ought t' have been presented
In a more glorious order,
But time and your affairs permit not that.
A thousand dangers wait upon delay;
But though the World be yours, it is not safe
Depending on a fickle multitude
Whom Interest and not Reason renders just.

Ors.
Thou art a wondrous man!

1 Cit.

Good Gorel, stand back, and let me see a little: my Wife loves newalties
abominationly, and I must tell her something about the King.

Gorel.
What a pox have we to do with your Wife? stand back.

Vall.
Now daign, great Sir, to arm your hand with this—
[Gives Ors. a Sword, he gazes on it.
Nay, view it well, for though it be but homely,
It carries that about it can make the wearer proud;
—an edge—pray feel it, Sir,—'t has dealt
Many a mortal wound—
See how it dares the Sun for brightness, Sir;
Or if there be a stain, it is an ornament
Dy'd in the bloud of those that were your Enemies:
It never made a blow or thrust in vain.
—How do you like it, Sir?

Ors.
So well, I know not whether this or thee
Be most agreeable to me:
You need not teach me how I am to use it,
That I will leave for those that dare offend me.
Look Geron, is it not a glorious object?
There's nothing but my bright Olympia's eyes
That can out-glitter this.

1 Cit.
Hah Simon, did he not talk bravely?

Vall.
Come, Sir, 'tis time you left this Dungeon for a Throne;
For now's the time to make the world your own.


All shouting
—Vive le Roy, Vive le Roy.

[Exeunt.