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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
[end column one, page 21]
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
[end page 21, signature [D3], catchword: would]
would do so? it writes them directly
untravel'd.
Gal.
Why, what if they be?
Meg.
What if they be?
La.
Good Madam let her go on, what if they be? Why
if they be I will justifie, they
cannot maintain discourse with
a judicious Lady, nor make a Leg,
nor say Excuse me.
Gal.
Ha, ha, ha. La.
Do you laugh Madam?
Di.
Your desires upon you Ladies.
La.
Then you must sit beside us.
Di.
I shall sit near you then Lady.
La.
Near me perhaps: But there's a Lady indures no
stranger, and to me you appear
a very strange fellow.
Meg.
Me thinks he's not so strange, he would quickly be
acquainted. Thra.
Peace, the King.
Enter
King, Pharamond, Arethusa, and Train.
King.
To give a stronger testimony of love
Than sickly promises (which commonly
In Princes find both birth and
burial
In one breath) we have drawn you
worthy Sir,
To make your fair indearments
to your daughter,
And worthy services known to our
subjects,
Now lov'd and wondered at. Next,
our intent,
To plant you deeply, our immediate
Heir,
Both to our Blood and Kingdoms.
For this Lady,
(The best part of your life, as
you confirm me,
And I believe) though her few
years and sex
Yet teach her nothing but her
fears and blushes,
Desires without desire, discourse
and knowledge
Only of what her self is to her
self,
Make her feel moderate health:
and when she sleeps,
In making no ill day, knows no
ill dreams.
Think not (dear Sir) these undivided
parts,
That must mould up a Virgin,
are put on
To shew her so, as borrowed ornaments,
To speak her perfect love to
you, or add
An Artificial shadow to her nature:
No Sir; I boldly dare proclaim
her, yet
No Woman But woo her still,
and think her modesty
A sweeter mistress than the offer'd
Language
Of any Dame, were she a Queen
whose eye
Speaks common loves and comforts
to her servants.
Last, noble son, (for so I now
must call you)
What I have done thus publick,
is not only
To add a comfort in particular
To you or me, but all, and to
confirm
The Nobles, and the Gentry of
these Kingdoms,
By oath to your succession, which
shall be
Within this month at most.
Thra.
This will be hardly done.
Cle.
It must be ill done, if it be done
Di.
When 'tis at best, 'twill be but half done,
Whilst so brave a Gentleman's
wrong'd and flung off.
Thra.
I fear. Cle. Who
does not?
Di.
I fear not for my self, and yet I fear too.
Well, we shall see, we shall
see: no more.
Pha.
Kissing your white hand (Mistress) I take leave,
To thank your Royal Father. and
thus far,
To be my own free Trumpet. Understand
Great King, and these your subjects,
mine that must be,
(For so deserving you have spoke
me Sir,
And so deserving I dare speak
my self)
To what a person, of what eminence,
Ripe expectation of what faculties,
Manners and vertues you would
wed your Kingdoms?
You in me have your wishes. Oh
this Country,
By more than all my hopes I hold
it
Happy, in their dear memories
that have been
Kings great and good, happy in
yours, that is,
And from you (as a Chronicle
to keep
Your Noble name from eating age)
do I
Opine my self most happy. Gentlemen,
Believe me in a word, a Princes
word,
There shall be nothing to make
up a Kingdom
[end column one, page 22]
Mighty, and flourishing, defenced,
fear'd,
Equall to be commanded and obey'd,
But through the travels of my
life I'le find it.
And tye it to this Country
And I vow
My reign shall be so easie to
the subject,
That every man shall be his Prince
himself,
And his own law (yet I his Prince
and law.)
And dearest Lady, to your dearest
self
(Dear, in the choice of him,
whose name and lustre
Must make you more and mightier)
let me say,
You are the blessed'st living,
for sweet Princess,
You shall enjoy a man of men,
to be
Your servant; you shall make
him yours, for whom
Great Queens must die.
Thra. Miraculous.
Cle.
This speech calls him Spaniard, being nothing but
A large inventory of his own
commendations.
Enter
Philaster.
Di.
I wonder what's his price? For certainly he'll sell
himself he has so prais'd his
shape: But here comes one
more worthy those large speeches,
than the large speaker
of them? let me be swallowed
quick, if I can find, in all
the Anatomy of yon mans vertues,
one sinew sound enough
to promise for him, he shall
be Constable. By this Sun, he'll
ne're make King unless it be
for trifles, in my poor judgment.
Phi.
Right Noble Sir, as low as my obedience,
And with a heart as Loyal as
my knee,
I beg your favour.
King.
Rise, you have it Sir.
Di.
Mark but the King how pale he looks with fear.
Oh! this same whorson Conscience,
how it jades us!
King.
Speak your intents Sir.
Phi.
Shall I speak 'um freely?
Be still my royal Soveraign.
King. As a subject
We give you freedom.
Di. Now it heats.
Phi.
Then thus I turn
My language to you Prince, you
foreign man.
Ne're stare nor put on wonder,
for you must
Indure me, and you shall. This
earth you tread upon
(A dowry as you hope with this
fair Princess,
Whose memory I bow to) was not
left
By my dead Father (Oh, I had
a Father)
To your inheritance, and I up
and living,
Having my self about me and my
sword,
The souls of all my name, and
memories,
These arms and some few friends,
besides the gods,
To part so calmly with it, and
sit still,
And say I might have been! I
tell thee Pharamond,
When thou art King, look I be
dead and rotten,
And my name ashes; For, hear
me Pharamond,
This very ground thou goest on,
this fat earth,
My Fathers friends made fertile
with their faiths,
Before that day of shame, shall
gape and swallow
Thee and thy Nation, like a hungry
grave,
Into her hidden bowels: Prince,
it shall;
By Nemesis it shall.
Pha. He's mad beyond cure, mad.
Di.
Here's a fellow has some fire in's veins:
The outlandish Prince looks like
a Tooth drawer.
Phi.
Sir, Prince of Poppingjayes, I'le make it well appear
To you I am not mad.
King. You displease us.
You are too bold.
Phi. No Sir, I am too tame,
Too much a Turtle, a thing born
without passion,
A faint shadow, that every drunken
cloud sails over,
And makes nothing.
King. I do not fancy this,
Call our Physicians: sure he
is somewhat tainted.
Thra.
I do not think 'twill prove so.
Di.
H'as given him a general purge already, for all the
right he has, and now he means
to let him blood: Be con
stant Gentlemen; by these hilts
I'le run his hazard, although
I run my name out of the Kingdom.
Cle.
Peace, we are one soul.
Pha.
What you have seen in me, to stir offence,
I cannot find, unless it be this
Lady
Offer'd into mine arms, with
the succession,
[end page 22, signature [D3v], catchword: Which]
Which I must keep though it hath
pleas'd your fury
To mutiny within you; without
disputing
Your Genealogies, or taking
knowledge
Whose branch you are. The King
will leave it me;
And I dare make it mine; you
have your answer.
Phi.
If thou wert sole inheritor to him,
That made the world his; and
couldst see no sun
Shine upon any but thine: were
Pharamond
As truly valiant, as I feel him
cold,
And ring'd among the choicest
of his friends,
Such as would blush to talk such
serious follies,
Or back such bellied commendations,
And from this present, spight
of all these bugs,
You should hear further from
me.
King.
Sir, you wrong the Prince:
I gave you not this freedom to
brave our best friends,
You deserve our frown: go to,
be better temper'd.
Phi.
It must be Sir, when I am nobler us'd.
Gal.
Ladyes,
This would have been a pattern
of succession,
Had he ne're met this mischief.
By my life,
He is the worthiest the true
name of man
This day within my knowledge.
Meg.
I cannot tell what you may call your knowledge,
But the other is the man set
in mine eye;
Oh! 'tis a Prince of wax.
Gal. A Dog it is.
King.
Philaster, tell me,
The injuries you aim at in your
riddles.
Phi.
If you had my eyes Sir, and sufferance,
My griefs upon you and my broken
fortunes,
My want's great, and now nought
but hopes and fears,
My wrongs would make ill riddles
to be laught at.
Dare you be still my King and
right me not?
King.
Give me your wrong in private? [They
whisper.
Phi.
Take them, and ease me of a load would bow strong
Cle.
He dares not stand the shock. [Atlas.
Di.
I cannot blame him, there's danger in't. Every man
in this age, has not a soul of
Crystal for all men to read
their actions through: mens hearts
and faces are so far asun-
der, that they hold no intelligence.
Do but view yon stran
ger well, and you shall see a
Feaver through all his bravery,
and feel him shake like a true
Tenant; if he give not back
his Crown again, upon the report
of an Elder Gun, I have
no augury.
King. Go to:
Be more your self, as you respect
our favour:
You'l stir us else: Sir, I must
have you know
That y'are and shall be at our
pleasure, what fashion we
Will put upon you: smooth your
brow, or by the gods.
Phi.
I am dead Sir, y'are my fate: it was not I
Said I was wrong'd: I carry all
about me,
My weak stars led me to all my
weak fortunes.
Who dares in all this presence
speak (that is
But man of flesh and may be mortal)
tell me
I do not most intirely love this
Prince,
And honour his full vertues!
King. Sure he's possest.
Phi.
Yes, with my Fathers spirit: It's here O King!
A dangerous spirit; now he tells
me King,
I was a Kings heir, bids me be
a King,
And whispers to me, these be
all my Subjects.
'Tis strange, he will not let
me sleep, but dives
Into my fancy, and there gives
me shapes
That kneel, and do me service,
cry me King:
But I'le suppress him, he's a
factious spirit,
And will undo me: noble Sir,
Your hand, I am your servant.
King.
Away, I do not like this:
I'le make you tamer, or I'le
dispossess you
Both of life and spirit: For
this time
I pardon your wild speech, without
so much
As your imprisonment. [Ex.
King, Pha. and Are.
Di.
I thank you Sir, you dare not for the people.
Gal.
Ladies, what think you now of this brave fellow?
Meg.
A pretty talking fellow, hot at hand; but eye yon
stranger, is not he a fine compleat
Gentleman? O these
strangers, I do affect them strangely:
they do the rarest home
[end column one, page 23]
things, and please the fullest!
as I live, could love all the
Nation over and over for his
sake,
Gal.
Pride comfort your poor head-piece Lady: 'tis a
weak one, and had need of a Night-cap.
Di.
See how his fancy labours, has he not spoke
Home, and bravely? what a dangerous
train
Did he give fire to! How he shook
the King,
Made his soul melt within him,
and his blood
Run into whay! it stood upon
his brow,
Like a cold winter dew.
Phi. Gentlemen,
You have no suit to me? I am
no minion:
You stand (methinks) like men
that would be Courtiers,
If you could well be flatter'd
at a price,
Not to undo your Children: y'are
all honest:
Go get you home again, and make
your Country
A vertuous Court, to which your
great ones may,
In their Diseased age, retire,
and live recluse.
Cle.
How do you worthy Sir? Phi.
Well, very well;
And so well, that if the King
please, I find
I may live many years.
Di.
The King must please,
Whilst we know what you are,
and who you are,
Your wrongs and juiuries: shrink
not, worthy Sir,
But add your Father to you: in
whose name,
We'll waken all the gods, and
conjure up
The rods of vengeance, the abused
people,
Who like to raging torrents shall
swell high,
And so begirt the dens of these
Male-dragons,
That through the strongest safety,
they shall beg
For mercy at your swords point.
Phi. Friends, no more,
Our years may be corrupted: 'Tis
an age
We dare not trust our wills to:
do you love me?
Thra.
Do we love Heaven and honour?
Phi.
My Lord Dion, you had
A vertuous Gentlewoman, call'd
you Father;
Is she yet alive?
Di. Most honour'd Sir, she is:
And for the penance but of an
idle dream,
Has undertook a tedious Pilgrimage.
Enter
a Lady.
Phi.
Is it to me, or any of these Gentlemen you come?
La.
To you, brave Lord; the Princess would intreat
Your present company.
Phi.
The Princess send for me! y'are mistaken.
La.
If you be call'd Philaster, 'tis to you.
Phi.
Kiss her hand, and say I will attend her.
Di.
Do you know what you do?
Phi.
Yes, go to see a woman.
Cle.
But do you weigh the danger you are in?
Phi.
Danger in a sweet face?
By Jupiter I must not
fear a woman.
Thra.
But are you sure it was the Princess sent?
It may be some foul train to
catch your life.
Phi.
I do not think it Gentlemen: she's noble,
Her eye may shoot me dead, or
those true red
And white friends in her face
may steal my soul out:
There's all the danger in't:
but be what may, [Ex. Phil.
Her single name hath arm'd me.
Di. Go on:
And be as truly happy as thou
art fearless:
Come Gentlemen, let's make our
friends acquainted,
Lest the King prove false.
[Ex. Gentlemen. |
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Pictures, March
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