Cas. There is no way but death.
Lisi. That's black, and horrid,
Consider, Sir, it was her sin, not his;
I cannot accuse him, what man could carry
A heart so frozen, not to melt at such
A glorious flame? Who could not fly to such
A happiness?
Cas. Have you ambition
To be a tame fool? see so vast an injury
And not revenge it? make me not suspect
Thy Mother for this sufferance, my Son.
Lis. Pray hear me, Sir.
Cas. Hear a patient gull,
A property, thou hast no blood of mine,
If this affront provoke thee not, how canst
Be charitable to thy self, and let him live
To glory in thy shame? Nor is he innocent;
He had before crept slily into her bosome,
And practised thy dishonor.
Lisi. You begin to stir me, Sir.
Cas. How else could she be guilty
Of such contempt of thee? and in the eye
Of all the Kingdom, they conspir'd this stain,
When they had cunning meetings, shall thy love
And blooming hopes be scatter'd thus, and Lisimachus
Stand idle gazer?
Lisi. What, Sir, will his death
Advantage us, if she be false to me?
So irreligious, and to touch her person—
Pause, we may be observed.
Enter Philocles, and Lisander.
Lisa. 'Tis the Protector
And his son.
Phi. Alas, poor Gentleman, I pitty
His neglect, but am not sorry for his Father.
['Tis] a strange turne.
[Lisa.] The whirligigs of Women.
[Phi.] Your Graces servant.
Cas. I am yours Gentlemen,
And should be happy to deserve your loves.
Phi. Now he can flatter.
Lisa. In't Sir, to inlarge your sufferings, I have
A heart doth wish
The [Qeen] had known better to reward
Your love and merit.
[Lisi.] If you would express
Your love to me, pray do not mention it,
I must obey my fate.
Phi. She will be married
To t'other Gentleman for certain then?
Cas. I hope you'll wish 'em joy.
Phi. Indeed I will, Sir.
Lisa. Your Graces servant. [Exit.
Cas. We are grown
Ridiculous, the pastime of the Court:
Here comes another.
Enter Seleucus.
Sel. Where's your Son, my Lord?
Cas. Like a neglected servant of his Mistress.
Sel. I would ask him a question.
Cas. What?
Sel. Whether the Queen,
As 'tis reported, lov'd him, he can tell
Whether she promis'd what they talke of, marriage.
Cas. I can resolve you that, Sir.
Sel. She did promise?
Cas. Yes.
Sel. Then shee's a Woman, and your Son;
Cas. What?
Sel. Not worthy his blood, and expectation,
If he be calme.
Cas. There's no opposing destiny.
Sel. I would cut the Throat.
Cas. Whose throat?
Sel. The destinies, that's all, your pardon, Sir,
I am Seleucus still, a poor shadow
Oth' World, a walking picture, it concerns
Not me, I am forgotten by my stars.
Cas. The Queen, with more discretion, might ha chosen
Thee.
Sel. Whom?
Cas. Thee, Seleucus.
Sel. Me? I cannot dance, and frisk with due activity,
My body is lead, I have too much phlegme, what should
I do with a Kingdome? no, Arcadius
Becomes the cushion, and can please, yet setting
Aside the trick that Ladies of Blood look at,
Another Man might make a shift to weare
Rich Clothes, sit in the chair of state, and nod,
Dare venture on discourse, that does not trench
On compliment, and think the study of Armes
And Arts, more commendable in a Gentleman,
Than any Galliard.
Cas. Arcadius,
And you, were reconcil'd.
Sel. We? yes, oh yes,
But 'tis not manners now to say we are friends,
At our equality there had been reason,
But now subjection is the word.
Cas. They are not
Yet married.
Sel. I'll make no Oath upon't,
My Lord Lisimachus,
A word, you'll not be angry if I love you,
May not a Batchellor be made a Cuckold?
Lisi. How, Sir?
Cas. Lisimachus, this Gentleman
Is worth our embrace, hee's spirited,
And may be useful.
Sel. Hark you, can you tell
Where's the best Dancing-master? and you mean
To rise at Court, practise to caper, farewel
The noble science, that makes work for cutlers,
It will be out of fashion to weare swords,
Masques, and devices welcome, I salute you,
Is it not pitty any division
Should be heard out of Musick? Oh 'twill be
An excellent age of crotchets; and of Canters.
Buy Captains, that like fools will spend your blood
Out of your Country, you will be of less
Use than your feathers, if you return unman'd
You shall be beaten soon to a new march,
When you shall think it a discretion
To sell your glorious buffes to buy fine pumps,
And pantables, this is I hope no treason.
Enter Arcadius leading the Queen, Charia, Eubulus, Lisander, Philocles, Polidora, servant.
Cas. Wot stay Lisimachus?
Lisi. Yes, Sir,
And shew a patience above her injury.
Arc. This honor is too much, Madam, assume
Your place, and let Arcadius waite still:
'Tis happiness enough to be your servant.
Cas. Now he dissembles.
Que. Sir, you must sit.
Arc. I am obedient.
Que. This is not Musick
Sprightly enough, it feeds the soul with melancholy.
How sayes Arcadius?
Arc. Give me leave to think
There is no harmony but in your voice,
And not an accent of your heavenly tongue,
But strikes me into rapture, I incline
To think, the tale of Orpheus no fable,
'Tis possible he might inchant the Rocks,
And charme the Forrest, soften hell, hell it self,
With his commanding Lute, it is no miracle
To what you work, whose very breath conveyes
The hearer into Heaven, how at your lips,
Day-winds gather Perfumes, proudly glide away,
To disperse sweetness round about the world.
Sel. Fine stuff.
Que. You cannot flatter.
Arc. Not, if I should say,
Nature had plac'd you here the creatures wonder,
And her own spring, from which all excellence
On Earth's deriv'd, and copyed forth, and when
The character of fair, and good in others
Is quite worne out, and lost, looking on you
It is supply'd, and you alone made mortal
To feed, and keep alive all beauty.
Sel. Ha, ha, Can you indure it Gentlemen?
Lisa. What do you meane?
Sel. Nay, ask him what he meanes, mine is a down
Right laugh.
Que. Well, Sir, proceed.
Arc. At such bright eyes the stars do light themselves,
At such a forehead Swans renew their white,
From such a lip the morning gathers blushes.
Sel. The morning is more modest than thy praises,
What a thing does he make her?
Arc. And when you flie to Heaven and leave this world
No longer maintenance of goodness from you:
Then Poetry shall lose all use with us,
And be no more, since nothing in your absence
Is left, that can be worthy of a Verse.
Sel. Ha, ha.
Que. Whose that?
Sel. 'Twas I, Madam.
Arc. Seleucus?
Cas. Ha?
Sel. Yes, Sir, 'twas I that laugh'd.
Arc. At what?
Sel. At nothing.
Lisa. Contain your self, Seleucus.
Eub. Are you mad?
Que. Have you ambition to be punish'd, Sir?
Sel. I need not, 'twas punishment
Enough to hear him make an Idol of you, he left
Out the commendation of your patience, I was a little
Mov'd in my nature, to hear his Rodomontados, and
Make a monster of his Mistress, which I pitty'd first,
But seeing him proceed, I guest he brought you
Mirth with his inventions, and so made bold to laugh at it.
Que. You are sawcy,
We'll place you where you sha'not be so merry,
Take him away.
Lisa. Submit your self.
Arc. Let me plead for his pardon.
Sel. I wo'd not owe my life so poorly, beg thy own,
When you are King you cannot bribe your destiny.
Eub. Good Madam hear me, I fear he is distracted,
Brave boy, thou should'st be Master of a soul
Like his: thy honors more concern'd.
Sel. 'Tis charity,
A way wo' mee, 'boy Madam?
Cas. He has a daring spirit. [Ex. Sel. Eub. Cas.
Arc. These, and a thousand more affronts I must
Expect: your favors draw them all upon me;
In my first state I had no enemies,
I was secure, while I did grow beneath
This expectation, humble valleys thrive with
Their bosomes full of flowers, when the Hills melt
With lightning, and rough anger of the clouds,
Let me retire.
Que. And can Arcadius
At such a breath be mov'd, I had opinion
Your courage durst have stood a tempest for
Our love, can you for this incline to leave
What other Princes should in vain have sued for?
How many Lovers are in Epire now
Would throw themselves on danger, not expect
One enemy, but empty their own veins,
And think the loss of all their blood rewarded,
To have one smile of us when they are dying?
And shall this murmur shake you?
Arc. Not dear Madam,
My life is such a poor despised thing,
In value your least graces, that
To lose it were to make my self a victory,
It is not for my self, I fear: the envy
Of others cannot fasten wound in me
Greater, than that your goodness should be check'd
So daringly.
Que. Let not those thoughts afflict thee,
While we have power to correct the offences,
Arcadius be mine, this shall confirm it.
Arc. I shall forget,
And lose my way to heaven, that touch had been
Enough to have restor'd me, and infus'd
A spirit of a more celestial nature,
After the tedious absence of my soul,
Oh bless me not too much, one smile a day
Would stretch my life to mortality;
Poets that wrap divinity in tales,
Look here, and give your coppies forth of angels,
What blessing can remain?
Que. Our Marriage.
Arc. Place then some horrors in the way
For me, not you, to pass, the journeys end
Holds out such glories to me, I should think
Hell but a poor degree of suffering for it,
What's that, some petition? a Letter to me.
You had a Polidora, ha, that's all.
Ith' [minu[t]e] when my vessels new lanch'd forth,
With all my pride, and silken wings about me
I strike upon a Rock: What power can save me?
You had a Polidora; there's a name
Kill'd with grief, I can so soon forget her.
Ser. She did impose on me this service, Sir,
And while she lives she sayes, shee'll pray for you.
Arc. She lives,
That's well, and yet 'twere better, for my fame,
And honor, she were dead; What fate hath plac'd me
Upon this fearful precipice?
Ser. He's troubled.
Arc. I must resolve, my faith is violated
Already, yet poor loving Polidora
Will pray for me, she sayes, to think she can
Render me hated to my self, and every
Thought's a tormentor, let me then be just.
Que. Arcadius.
Arc. That voice prevailes agen, oh Polidora,
Thou must forgive Arcadius, I dare not
Turn rebel to a Princess, I shall love
Thy vertue, but a Kingdom has a charme
To excuse our [f[r]ailty], dearest Madam.
Que. Now set forward.
Arc. To perfect all our joyes.
Enter Macarius, and a Bishop, Casander.
Mac. I'll fright their glories.
Cas. By what means?
Mac. Observe.
Arc. Our good Unckle, welcome.
Que. My Lord Macarius, we did want your person,
There's something in our joyes wherein you share.
Mac. This you intend your highness wedding day.
Que. We are going.
Mac. Save you labor
I have brought a Priest to meet you.
Arc. Reverend Father.
Que. Meet us, Why?
Mac. To tell you, that you must not Marry.
Cas. Didst thou hear that, Lisimachus?
Lisi. And wonder what will follow.
Que. We must not marry.
Bish. Madam, 'tis a rule
First made in heaven, and I must needs declare
You and Arcadius must tie no knot
Of Man and Wife.
Arc. Is my Unckle mad?
Que. Joy has transported him,
Or age has made him dote, Macarius
Provoke us not too much, you will presume
Above our mercy.
Mac. I'll discharge my duty,
Could your frown strike me dead, my Lord, you know
Whose character this is.
Cas. It is Theodosius,
Your graces Father.
Bis. I am subscribed a witness.
Phi. Upon my life 'tis his.
Mac. Fear not, I'll cross this Match.
Cas. I'll bless thee for't.
Arc. Unckle, d'ee know what you do, or what we are
Going to finish? you will not break the neck of my glorious
Fortune, now my foots ith' stirrup, and mounting,
Throw me over the saddle? I hope you'll let one
Be a King, Madam, 'tis as you say,
My Unckle is something craz'd, [there's] a worm
In's brain, but I beseech you pardon him, he is
Not the first of your counsel, that has talk'd
Idly, d'ee hear my Lord Bishop, I hope
You have more Religion than to joyn with him
To undoe me.
Bis. Not I Sir, but I am commanded by oath,
And conscience to speak truth.
Arc. If your truth should do me any harm, I shall never
Be in charity with a Croziers staffe, look too't.
Que. My youngest Brother.
Cas. Worse and worse, my brains. [Exit.
Mac. [Deliver['d] to me an Infant with this writing,
To which this reverend Father is a witness.
Lisa. This he whom we so long thought dead, a childe?
Que. But what should make my Father to trust him
To your concealment? give abroad his death, and bury
An empty coffin?
Mac. A jealousie he had
Upon Cassander, whose ambitious brain
He fear'd would make no conscience to depose
His son, to make Lisimachus King of Epire.
Que. He made no scruple to expose me then
To any danger?
Mac. He secur'd you, Madam,
By an early Engagement of your affection
To Lisimachus, exempt this testimony,
Had he been Arcadius, and my Nephew,
I needed not obtrude him on the state,
Your love and marriage had made him King
Without my trouble, and sav'd that ambition,
There was necessity to open now
His birth, and title.
Phi. Demetrius alive.
Arc. What riddles are these, Whom do they talk of?
Omn. Congratulate your return to life, and honor,
And as becomes us, with one voice salute you,
Demetrius King of Epire.
Mac. I am no Uncle, Sir, this is your Sister,
I should have suffer'd incest to have kept you
Longer ith' dark: love, and be happy both,
My trust is now discharg'd.
Lisa. And we rejoyce.
Arc. But do not mock me, Gentlemen,
May I be bold upon your words to say
I am Prince Theodosius Son?
Mac. The King.
Arc. You'll justifie it?
Sister, I am very glad to see you.
Sop. I am to find a brother, and resign my glory,
My triumph is my shame. [Exit.
Enter Cassander.