P H I L A S T E R:
OR,
Love lies a Bleeding.
The Scene being in Cicilie.
Persons Represented in the Play.
The King.
Philaster, Heir to the Crown.
Dion, a Lord.
Cleremont
Thrasiline |
Noble Gentlemen his Associates. |
Arethusa, the Kings Daughter.
Galatea, a wise modest lady attending the Princess.
Megra, a lascivious Lady. |
An old wanton Lady, or Croan.
Another Lady attending the Princess.
Eufiasia, Daughter of Dion, but diguised like a
Page, and called Bellario.
An old Captain.
Five Citizens.
A Country fellow.
Two Woodmen.
The Kings Guard and Train. |
Actus
primus. Scena prima.
Enter
Dion, Cleremont, and Thrasiline.
| Cler. |
H |
Ere's
not Lords nor Ladies.
Dion.
Credit me Gentlemen, I wonder
at it. They receiv'd
strict charge from the
King to attend
here: Besides it was bold- |
ly published, that
no Officer should forbid any Gentlemen
that desire to attend
and hear.
Cle.
Can you ghess the cause?
Di.
Sir, it is plain about the Spanish Prince,
that's come
to marry our Kingdoms
Heir, and be our Soveraign.
Thra.
Many (that will seem to know much) say, she looks
not on him like a
Maid in Love.
Di.
O Sir, the multitude (that seldom know any thing
but their own opinions)
speak that they would have, but the
Prince, before his
own approach, receiv'd so many confident
messages from the
State, that I think she's resolv'd to be rul'd.
Cle.
Sir, it is thought, with her he shall enjoy both
these
Kingdoms of Cicilie
and Calabria.
Di.
Sir, it is (without controversie) so meant. But 'twill
be a troublesome labour
for him to enjoy both these King-
doms, with safetie,
the right Heir to one of them living,
and living so vertuously,
especially the people admiring the
bravery of his mind,
and lamenting his injuries.
Cle.
Who, Philaster?
Di.
Yes, whose father we all know, was by our late
King of Calabria,
unrighteously deposed from his fruitful Ci-
cilie.
My self drew some blood in those Wars, which I
would give my hand
to be washed from.
Cle.
Sir, my ignorance in State-policy, will not let me
know why Philaster
being Heir to one of these Kingdoms,
the King should suffer
him to walk abroad with such free
liberty.
Di.
Sir, it seems your nature is more constant than to
en-
quire after State
news. But the King (of late) made a hazard |
of both the Kingdoms,
of Cicilie and his own, with offering
but to imprison Philaster.
At which the City was in arms,
not to be charm'd
down by any State order or Proclamation,
till they saw Philaster
ride through the streets pleas'd, and
without a guard; at
which they threw their Hats, and their
arms from them, some
to make bonefires, some to drink,
all for his deliverance.
Which (wise men say) is the cause,
the King labours to
bring in the power of a Foreign Nation,
to aw his own with.
Enter
Galatea, Megra, and a Lady.
Thra.
See, the Ladies, what's the first? (Princess
Di.
A wise and modest Gentlwoman that attends the
Cle.
The second?
Di.
She is one that may stand still discreetly enough,
and
ill favour'dly Dance
her Measure; simper when she is Court-
ed by her Friend,
and slight her Husband.
Cle.
The last?
Di.
Marry I think she is one whom the State keeps for
the Agents of our
confederate Princes. she'll cog and lie
with a whole Army
before the League shall break: her name
is common through
the Kingdom, and the Trophies of her
dishonour, advanced
beyond Hercules pillars. She loves to
try the several constitutions
of mens bodies; and indeed
has destroyed the
worth of her own body, by making expe
riment upon it,
for the good of the Common-wealth.
Cle.
She's a profitable member.
La.
Peace, if you love me: you shall see these Gentle-
men stand their
ground, and not Court us.
Gal.
What if they should?
Meg.
What if they should?
La.
Nay, let her alone; what if they should? why, if
they should, I say,
they were never abroad: what Foreigner
would
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