Qu. 'Tis now determin'd.
Merione, I could wish I were no Queen,
To give you satisfaction; no Mother
Beliza, to content you; and would part,
Even with my being, both might have their wishes;
But since that is impossible, in few words
I will deliver what I am resolved on:
The end for which all profitable Laws
Were made, looks two ways only, the reward
Of innocent good men, and the punishment
Of bad Delinquents: Ours, concerning Rapes,
Provided that same latter [clause] of Marriage
For him that had fall'n once, not then foreseeing
Mankind could prove so monstrous, to tread twice
A path so horrid. The great Law-giver
Draco, That for his strange severity
Was said to write his stern Decrees in blood,
Made none for Parricides, presuming that
No man could be so wicked; Such might be
Lycurgus answer (did he live) for this.
But since I find that in my [Sonne], which was not
Doubted in any else, I will add to it;
He cannot marry both, but for both dying,
Both have their full revenge: You see Beliza
You have your wish; with you Merione
I'll spend a tear or two, so Heaven forgive thee.
The. Upon my knees I do approve your judgement,
And beg that you would put it into act
With all speed possible; only that I may,
Having already made peace with my self,
Part so with all the world: Princely Agenor
I ask your pardon; yours my Lord Euphanes;
And Crates with the rest too, I forgive you;
Do you the like for me: Yours, gracios Mother,
I dare not ask, and yet if that my death
Be like a Son of yours, though my life was not,
Perhaps you may vouchsafe it: Lastly, that
Both these whom I have wrong'd, may wish my ashes
No heavy burden, e'r I suffer death,
For the restoring of Meriones honor,
Let me be married to her, and then dye
For you Beliza.
Qu. Thou hast made in this
Part of amends to me, and to the world,
Thy suit is granted, call a Flamyn forth
To do this holy work; with him a Headsman.
Enter Flamyn and Executioner.
Raise up thy weeping eyes Merione,
With this hand I confirm thy Marriage,
Wishing that now the gods would shew some miracle,
That this might not divorce it.
Cra. To that purpose
I am their Minister, stand not amaz'd,
To all your comforts I will do this wonder,
Your Majesty (with your pardon I must speak it)
Allow'd once heretofore of such a Contract,
Which you repenting afterwards, revok'd it,
Being fully bent to match her with Agenor,
The griev'd Prince knowing this, and yet not daring
To cross what you determin'd, by an oath
Bound me and these his followers to do something
That he might once enjoy her, we swore to it,
And easily perswaded, being assur'd
She was his Wife before the face of Heaven,
Although some ceremonious forms were wanting,
Committed the first Rape, and brought her to him,
Which broke the Marriage; but when we perceiv'd
He purpos'd to abuse our ready service
In the same kind: upon the chaste Beliza,
Holding our selves less ty'd to him than goodness;
I made discovery of it to my Brother,
Who can relate the rest.
Euph. It is most true.
Qu. I would it were:
Euph. In every circumstance
It is upon my soul: For this known to me,
I wan Merione in my Ladies habit,
To be again (but willingly) surpriz'd,
But with Agenor, and her noble Brother,
With my approv'd friend Conon, with such speed
She was pursu'd, that the lewd act scarce ended,
The Prince (assur'd he had enjoy'd Beliza,
For all the time Meriones face was cover'd)
Was apprehended and brought to your presence,
But not till now discover'd, in respect
I hop'd the imminent danger of the Prince,
To which his loose unquenched heats had brought him,
Being pursu'd unto the latest tryal
Would work in him compunction, which it has done;
And these two Ladies in their feign'd contentions,
To your delight I hope have serv'd as Maskers
To their own Nuptials.
Qu. My choice was worthy
When first I look'd on thee, as thou hast order'd
All shall be done, and not the meanest that
Plaid in this unexpected Comedy,
But shall pertake our bounty: And my Lord,
That with the rest you may seem satisfi'd,
If you dare venture on a Queen, not yet
So far in debt to years, but that she may
Bring you a lusty Boy, I offer up
My self and Kingdom, during my life to you.