SCENA VI.
Enter Duke, Olympia, Honora, Viola.
Du. You shall not be thus sullen still with me Sister,
You do the most unnobly to be angry,
For as I have a soul, I never touch'd her,
I never yet knew one unchast thought in her:
I must confess, I lov'd her: as who would not?
I must confess I doated on her strangely,
I offer'd all, yet so strong was her honour,
So fortifi'd as fair, no hope could reach her,
And whilst the world beheld this, and confirm'd it,
Why would you be so jealous?
Oly. Good Sir pardon me,
I feel sufficiently my follies penance,
And am asham'd, that shame a thousand sorrows
Feed on continually, would I had never seen her,
Or with a clearer judgement look'd upon her,
She was too good for me, so heavenly good Sir,
Nothing but Heaven can love that soul sufficiently,
Where I shall see her once again.
Enter Burris.
Du. No more tears,
If she be within the Dukedom, we'l recover her:
Welcom Lord Burris, fair news I hope.
Bur. Most fair Sir,
Without one drop of bloud these wars are ended,
The Souldier cool'd again, indeed asham'd Sir,
And all his anger ended.
Du. Where's Lord Archas?
Bur. Not far off Sir: with him his valiant son,
Head of this fire, but now a prisoner,
And if by your sweet mercy not prevented,
I fear some fatal stroke. [Drums.
Enter Archas, Theodore, Gentlemen, Souldiers.
Du. I hear the Drums beat,
Welcom, my worthy friend.
Ar. Stand where ye are Sir,
Even as you love your country, move not forward,
Nor plead for peace till I have done a justice,
A justice on this villain; none of mine now,
A justice on this Rebel.
Hon. O my Brother.
Ar. This fatal firebrand—
Du. Forget not old man,
He is thy son, of thine own bloud.
Ar. In these veins
No treacherie e're harbour'd yet, no mutinie,
I ne're gave life to lewd and headstrong Rebels.
Du. 'Tis his first fault.
Ar. Not of a thousand Sir,
Or were it so, it is a fault so mightie,
So strong against the nature of all mercy,
His Mother were she living, would not weep for him,
He dare not say he would live.
The. I must not Sir,
Whilst you say 'tis not fit: your Graces mercy
Not to my life appli'd, but to my fault Sir,
The worlds forgiveness next, last, on my knees Sir,
I humbly beg,
Do not take from me yet the name of Father,
Strike me a thousand blows, but let me dye yours.
Ar. He moves my heart: I must be suddain with him,
I shall grow faint else in my execution;
Come, come Sir, you have seen death; now meet him bravely.
Du. Hold, hold I say, a little hold, consider
Thou hast no more sons Archas to inherit thee.
Ar. Yes Sir, I have another, and a nobler:
No treason shall inherit me: young Archas
A boy, as sweet as young, my Brother breeds him,
My noble Brother Briskie breeds him nobly,
Him let your favour find: give him your honour.
Enter Putskie (alias Briskie) and Alinda, (alias Archas.)
Pu. Thou hast no child left Archas, none to inherit thee
If thou strikst that stroke now: behold young Archas;
Behold thy Brother here, thou bloudy Brother,
As bloody to this sacrifice as thou art:
Heave up thy sword, and mine's heav'd up: strike Archas,
And I'le strike too as suddenly, as deadly:
Have mercy, and I'le have mercy: the Duke gives it.
Look upon all these, how they weep it from thee,
Choose quickly, and begin.
Du. On your obedience,
On your allegeance save him.
Ar. Take him to ye, [Soul. shout.
And sirrah, be an honest man, ye have reason:
I thank ye worthy Brother: welcom child,
Mine own sweet child.
Du. Why was this boy conceal'd thus?
Put. Your graces pardon:
Fearing the vow you made against my Brother,
And that your anger would not only light
On him, but find out all his familie,
This young boy, to preserve from after danger,
Like a young wench, hither I brought; my self
In the habit of an ordinarie Captain
Disguis'd, got entertainment, and serv'd here
That I might still be ready to all fortunes:
That boy your Grace took, nobly entertain'd him,
But thought a Girle, Alinda, Madam.
Ol. Stand away,
And let me look upon him.
Du. My young Mistris?
This is a strange metamorphosis, Alinda?
Al. Your graces humble servant.
Du. Come hither Sister:
I dare yet scarce believe mine eyes: how they view one another?
Dost thou not love this boy well?
Oly. I should lye else,
Trust me, extreamly lye Sir.
Du. Didst thou never wish Olympia,
It might be thus?
Oly. A thousand times.
Du. Here take him:
Nay, do not blush: I do not jest; kiss sweetly:
Boy, ye kiss faintly boy; Heaven give ye comfort;
Teach him, he'l quickly learn: there's two hearts eas'd now.
Ar. You do me too much honour Sir.
Du. No Archas,
But all I can, I will; can you love me? speak truly.
Hon. Yes Sir, dearly.
Du. Come hither Viola, can you love this man?
Vio. I'le do the best I can Sir.
Du. Seal it Burris,
We'l all to Church together instantly:
And then a vie for boyes; stay, bring Boroskie.
Enter Boroskie.
I had almost forgot that lump of mischief.
There Archas, take the enemie to honour,
The knave to worth: do with him what thou wilt.
Ar. Then to my sword again; you to your prayers;
Wash off your villanies, you feel the burthen.
Bor. Forgive me e're I die, most honest Archas;
'Tis too much honour that I perish thus;
O strike my faults to kill them, that no memorie,
No black and blasted infamy hereafter——
Ar. Come, are ye ready?
Bor. Yes.
Ar. And truly penitent, to make your way straight?
Bor. Thus I wash off my sins.
Ar. Stand up, and live then,
And live an honest man; I scorn mens ruines:
Take him again, Sir, trie him: and believe
This thing will be a perfect man.
Du. I take him.
Bor. And when I fail those hopes, heavens hopes fail me.
Du. You are old: no more wars Father:
Theodore take you the charge, be General.
The. All good bless ye.
Du. And my good Father, you dwell in my bosom,
From you rise all my good thoughts: when I would think
And examine time for one that's fairly noble,
And the same man through all the streights of vertue,
Upon this Silver book I'le look, and read him.
Now forward merrily to Hymens rites,
To joyes, and revels, sports, and he that can
Most honour Archas, is the noblest man. [Exeunt.
Prologue.
We need not noble Gentlemen to invite
Attention, preinstruct you who did write
This worthy Story, being confident
The mirth join'd with grave matter, and Intent
To yield the hearers profit, with delight,
Will speak the maker: and to do him right,
Would ask a Genius like to his; the age
Mourning his loss, and our now widdowed stage
In vain lamenting. I could adde, so far
Behind him the most modern writers are,
That when they would commend him, their best praise
Ruins the buildings which they strive to raise
To his best memory, so much a friend
Presumes to write, secure 'twill not offend
The living that are modest, with the rest
That may repine he cares not to contest.
This debt to Fletcher paid; it is profest
By us the Actors, we will do our best
To send such favouring friends, as hither come
To grace the Scene, pleas'd, and contented home.
Epilogue.
Though something well assur'd, few here repent
Three hours of pretious time, or money spent
On our endeavours, Yet not to relye
Too much upon our care, and industrie,
'Tis fit we should ask, but a modest way
How you approve our action in the play.
If you vouchsafe to crown it with applause,
It is your bountie, and you give us cause
Hereafter with a general consent
To study, as becomes us, your content.
p. 47,
l. 9. Adds Finis Actus Tertii.
l. 11. Servant and R. Bax, and.
l. 12. A stirs a stirs.
l. 26. barkes.
p. 48,
l. 34. and whom.
p. 49,
l. 26. his fierce.
l. 29. roome then.
l. 30. and old.
l. 33. your rare.
l. 37. her Ladies.
p. 50,
l. 12. I must.
p. 51,
l. 2. has.
l. 7. 2nd folio misprints] Philax.
p. 52,
l. 1. Adds as follows]
Clo. Why that ye wo't of,
Chi. The turne the good turne?
Clo. Any turne the Roche turne;
Chi. That's the right turne for that turnes up the bellie, I cannot, etc.
l. 17. as brickle.
l. 20. That think no.
p. 55,
l. 7. ath'.
l. 8. ath' the.
l. 17. weaker.
l. 29. a that.
l. 38. a will.
p. 56,
l. 26. 2nd folio misprints] ne's.
l. 29. A comes.
l. 35. stand up my.
p. 57,
l. 14. rogue.
l. 21. art ta?
l. 23. art ta?
l. 32. thou art a.
l. 39. doe ye.
p. 58,
l. 18. Lyons.
l. 26. Adds Finis Actus Quarti.
l. 28. Priest.
l. 30. a your.
p. 60,
l. 9. cure this.
l. 10. He's man.
l. 12. is now.
l. 16. Oracle, Arras.
p. 61,
l. 36. therefore, thy.
p. 62,
l. 3. Therefore be.
l. 9. I shall.
l. 19. a had.
l. 36. 2nd folio] ha'!
p. 63,
l. 6. A will.
l. 14. makes he.
l. 28. Battell.
p. 64,
l. 2. Omits and.
l. 7. in boyes in boyes.
l. 38. 2nd folio misprints] Cle.
p. 65,
l. 17. Omits her.
p. 67,
l. 10. 2nd folio omits] Chi. (char.).
l. 10. Chickens.
l. 24. weepes.
l. 26. A was.
l. 27. Ye have.
p. 69,
l. 8. and like.
l. 33. Cleanthe, Curtisan, Lords.
p. 70,
l. 6. my glorious.
l. 34. a sight.
l. 36. ye could. Adds as next line] Roome before there. Knock.
p. 71,
l. 8. Prints To the, etc., as a separate line and as a heading.
l. 9. For Eum. reads 1. Cap.
p. 73,
l. 15. lov'st her.
l. 31. 2nd folio] Sister!
p. 75,
l. 13. the Saylors sing.
l. 28. utters.
l. 32. Adds Finis.