Enter Antigonus.
Ant. Lisander, Philocles,
How looks the day upon us? where's the Queen?
Phi. In her bed-chamber.
Ant. Who was with her?
Lisa. None but the young Lord Lisimachus.
Ant. 'Tis no treason
If a man wish himself a Courtier
Of such a possibility: he has
The mounting fate.
Phi. I would his Father were
Mounted to th' gallows.
Ant. He has a path fair enough,
If he survive by title of his Father.
Lisa. The Queen will hasten his ascent.
Phi. Would I were Queen.
Ant. Thou wou'dst become rarely the petticoat,
What wou'dst thou do?
Phi. Why, I wou'd marry
My Gentleman usher, and trust all the strength
And burden of my State upon his legs,
Rather than be call'd wife by any son
Of such a Father.
Lisa. Come, let's leave this subject,
We may find more secure discourse; when saw
You young Arcadius, Lord [Macarius's] Nephew?
Ant. There's a spark, a youth moulded for a Favourite,
The Queen might do him honor.
Phi. Favourite, 'tis too cheap a name, there were a match
Now for her Virgin blood.
Lisa. Must every man
That has a handsome face or leg, feed such
Ambition: I confess I honor him,
He has a nimble soul, and gives great hope
To be no woman-hater, dances handsomly,
Can court a Lady powerfully, but more goes
To th' making of a [Prince.] He's here
And's Uncle.
Enter Arcadius, Macarius, Seleucus.
Sel. Save you Gentlemen, who can direct me
To find my Lord Protector?
Lisa. He was here
Within this half hour, young Lisimachus
His Son is with the Queen.
Sel. There let him compliment,
I have other business, ha, Arcadius! [Exit.
Phi. Observ'd you, with what eyes Arcadius
And he saluted, their two families
Will hardly reconcile.
Ant. Seleucus carries
Himself too roughly; with what pride and scorn
He past by 'em.
Lisa. Th'other with less shew
Of anger, carries pride enough in's soul,
I wish 'em all at peace, Macarius looks
Are without civil war, a good old man,
The old King lov'd him well, Seleucus Father
Was as dear to him, and maintain'd the character
Of an honest Lord through Epire: that two men
So lov'd of others, should be so unwelcome
To one another.
Arc. The Queen was not wont to send for me.
Mac. The reason's to her self,
It will become your duty to attend her.
Arc. Save you Gentlemen, what novelty
Does the Court breathe to day?
Lisa. None Sir, the news
That took the last impression is, that you
Purpose to leave the Kingdom, and those men,
That honor you, take no delight to hear it.
Arc. I have ambition to see the difference
Of Courts, and this may spare; the delights
At home do surfet, and the Mistriss, whom
We all do serve, is fixt upon one object,
Her beams are too much pointed, but no Countrey
Shall make me lose your memories.
Enter Queen, Lisimachus, Macarius, Charilla.
Qu. Arcadius.
Mac. Your Lordship honor'd me,
I have no blessing in his absence.
Lis. 'Tis done like a pious Uncle.
Qu. We must not
Give any licence.
Arc. If your Majesty
Would please.
Qu. We are not pleas'd, it had become your duty,
To have first acquainted us, e'r you declar'd
Your resolution publick, is our Court
Not worth your stay?
Arc. I humbly beg your pardon.
Qu. Where's Lysimachus?
Lis. Your humble servant, Madam.
Qu. We shall find
Employment at home for you, do not lose us.
Arc. Madam, I then write my self blest on earth
When I may do you service.
Qu. We would be private, Macarius.
Mac. Madam, you have blest me,
Nothing but your command could interpose to
Stay him.
Qu. Lisimachus,
You must not leave us.
Lisa. Nothing but Lisimachus? has she not
Ta'en a philter?
Qu. Nay, pray be cover'd, Ceremony from you,
Must be excus'd.
Lisi. It will become my duty.
Qu. Not your love?
I know you would not have me look upon
Your person as a Courtier, not as Favorite;
That Title were too narrow to express
How we esteem you.
Lis. The least of all
These names from you, Madam, is grace enough.
Qu. Yet here you wou'd not rest?
Lis. Not if you please:
To say there is a happiness beyond,
And teach my ambition how to make it mine,
Although the honors you already have
Let fall upon your servant, exceed all
My merit; I have a heart is studious
To reach it with desert, and make [i[f] possible
Your favor's mine by justice, with your pardon.
Qu. We are confident this needs no pardon, Sir,
But a reward to cherish your opinion,
And that you may keep warm your passion,
Know we resolve for marriage, and if
I had another gift, beside my self,
Greater, in that you should discern, how much
My heart is fixt.
Lis. Let me digest my blessing.
Qu. But I cannot resolve when this shall be.
Lis. How Madam? do not make me dream of Heaven,
And wake me into misery, if your purpose
Be, to immortalize your humble servant,
Your power on earth's divine, Princes are here
The copies of Eternity, and create,
When they but will our happiness.
Qu. I shall
Believe you mock me in this argument,
I have no power.
Lis. How, no power?
Qu. Not as a Queen.
Lis. I understand you not.
Qu. I must obey, your Father's my Protector.
Lis. How?
Qu. When I am absolute, Lisimachus,
Our power and Titles meet, before, we are but
A shadow, and to give you that were nothing.
Lis. Excellent Queen,
My love took no original from State,
Or the desire of other greatness,
Above what my birth may challenge modestly,
I love your virtues; mercenary souls
Are taken with advancement, you've an Empire
Within you, better than the worlds, to that
Looks my ambition.
Qu. T'other is not, Sir,
To be despis'd, Cosmography allows
Epire, a place i' th' Map, and know till I
Possess what I was born to, and alone
Do grasp the Kingdoms Scepter, I account
My self divided, he that marries me
Shall take an [a]bsolute] Queen to his warm bosom,
My temples yet are naked, until then
Our Loves can be but compliments, and wishes,
Yet very hearty ones.
Lis. I apprehend.
Qu. Your Father.
Enter Cassander and Seleucus.
Cas. Madam, a Gentleman has an humble suit.
Qu. 'Tis in your power to grant, you are Protector,
I am not yet a Queen.
Cas. How's this?
Lis. I shall expound her meaning.
Qu. Why kneel you, Sir?
Sel. Madam, to reconcile two families
That may unite, both Counsels and their blood
To serve your Crown.
Qu. Macarius, and Eubulus
That beare inveterate malice to each other.
It grew, as I have heard, upon the question
Which some of either family had made
Which of their Fathers was the best Commander:
If we believe our stories, they have both
Deserved well of our state, and yet this quarrel
Has cost too many lives, a severe faction.
Sel. But I'll propound a way to plant a quiet
And peace in both our houses, which are torn
With their dissentions, and lose the glory
Of their great names, my blood speaks my relation
To Eubulus, and I wish my veins were emptied
To appease their war.
Qu. Thou hast a noble soul,
This is a charity above thy youth,
And it flows bravely from thee, name the way.
Sel. In such a desperate cause, a little stream
Of blood might purge the foulness of their hearts
If you'll prevent a deluge.
Qu. Be particular.
Sel. Let but your Majesty consent that two
May with their personal valour, undertake
The honor of their family, and determine
Their difference.
Qu. This rather will inlarge
Their hate, and be a means to call more blood
Into the stream.
Sel. Not if both families
Agree, and swear—
Qu. And who shall be the Champions?
Sel. I beg the honor, for Eubulus cause
To be ingag'd, if any for Macarius,
Worthy to wager heart with mine, accept it,
I am confident, Arcadius,
For honor would direct me to his sword,
Will not deny, to stake against my life
His own, if you vouchsafe us priviledge.
Qu. You are the expectation, and top boughs
Of both your houses, it would seem injustice,
To allow a civil war to cut you off,
And your selves the instruments, besides
You appear a soldier; Arcadius
Hath no acquaintance yet with rugged war,
More fit to drill a Lady, than expose
His body to such dangers: a small wound
I'th' head, may spoil the method of his hair,
Whose curiosity exacts more time,
Than his devotion, and who knows but he
May lose his ribond by it in his lock,
Dear as his Saint, with whom he would exchange
His head, for her gay colours; then his band
May [e] disorder'd, and transform'd from Lace
To Cutwork, his rich cloaths be discomplexioned
With bloud, beside the infashionable slashes:
And at the next Festival take Physick,
Or put on black, and mourn for his slain breeches:
His hands cas'd up in gloves all night, and sweet
Pomatum: the next day may be endanger'd
To blisters with a sword, how can he stand
Upon his guard, who hath Fidlers in his head,
To which, his feet must ever be a dancing?
Beside a falsify may spoil his cringe,
Or making of a leg, in which consists
Much of his Court-perfection.
Sel. Is this Character
Bestow'd on him?
Qu. It something may concern the Gentleman,
Whom if you please to challenge
To Dance, play on the Lute, or Sing.
Sel. Some [catch]?
Qu. He shall not want those will maintain him
For any sum.
Sel. You are my Sovereign,
I dare not think, yet I must speak somewhat,
I shall burst else, I have no skill in Jiggs,
Nor Tumbling.
Qu. How Sir?
Sel. Nor was I born a Minstrel, and in this you have
So infinitely disgrac'd Arcadius.
But that I have heard another Character,
And with your royal Licence do believe it,
I should not think him worth my killing.
Qu. Your killing?
Sel. Does she not jeer me;
I shall talk treason presently, I find it
At my tongues end already, this is an
Affront, I'll leave her.
Qu. Come back, do you know Arcadius?
Sel. I ha' chang'd but little breath with him; our persons
Admit no familiarity; we were
Born to live both at distance, yet I ha' seen him
Fight, and fight bravely.
Qu. When the spirit of Wine
Made his brain valiant, he fought bravely.
Sel. Although he be my enemy, should any
Of the gay flies that buzze about the Court,
Sit to catch trouts i'th' summer, tell me so,
I durst in any presence but your own.
Qu. What?
Sel. Tell him he were not honest.
Qu. I see [Sele[u]cus], thou art resolute,
And I but wrong'd Arcadius, your first
Request is granted, you shall fight, and he
That conquers be rewarded, to confirm
First place and honor to his Family:
Is it not this you plead for?
Sel. You are gracious.
Qu. Lisimachus.
Lis. Madam.
Cas. She has granted then?
Sel. With much ado.
Cas. I wish thy sword may open
His wanton veins, Macarius is too popular,
And has taught him to insinuate.
Qu. It shall
But haste the confirmation of our loves,
And ripen the delights of marriage, Seleucus. [Exit cum Sel.
Lis. As I guest,
It cannot be too soon.
Cas. To morrow then we crown her, and invest
My Son with Majesty, 'tis to my wishes,
Beget a race of Princes, my Lisimachus.
Lis. First, let us marry, Sir.
Cas. Thy brow was made
To wear a golden circle, I'm transported,
Thou shalt rule her, and I will govern thee.
Lis. Although you be my Father, that will not
Concern my obedience, as I take it.
Enter Philocles, Lisander, and Antigonus.
Gentlemen,
Prepare your selves for a solemnity
Will turn the Kingdom into triumph, Epire
Look fresh to morrow, 'twill become your duties
In all your glory, to attend the Queen
At her Coronation, she is pleased to make
The next day happy in our Calendar,
My office doth expire, and my old blood
Renews with thought on't.
Phi. How's this?
Ant. Crown'd to morrow.
Lisa. And he so joyful to resign his Regency,
There's some trick in't, I do not like these hasty
Proceedings, and whirls of state, they have [commonl[y]
As strange and violent effects; well, heaven save the Queen.
Phi. Heaven save the Queen, say I, and send her a sprightly
Bed-fellow, for the Protector, let him pray for
Himself, he is like to have no benefit of my devotion.
Cas. But this doth quicken my old heart, Lisimachus,
There is not any step into her throne,
But is the same degree of thy own state;
Come Gentlemen.
Lisa. We attend your grace.
Cas. Lisimachus.
Lisi. What heretofore could happen to mankind
Was with much pain to climb to heaven, but in
Sophias marriage of all Queens the best,
Heaven will come down to earth, to make me blest. [Exe.