KING

Would, would, would, no happiness Like the Fools, Comastes ? Hah, would, would. Would, would; would. Well Comastes, thou shalt not want for a coat, if that will doe't. Come my Lords, let's fit and fill up our cups, Make them Like our joys, still full, and flowing, Thus it should be my Lords in a State that Knows no troubles, let unhappy Princes, Whom losses do afflict, and fears affright, Make yearly feasts: But we, whose even affairs Do follow one another, and do keep There just Periods, though the reins are lose And their guide sleep, seeming rather, so to Have fallen out, than so caused; each day shall Be a triumph, each hour a feast. A health to all, and a long peace. How now Aratus, whats the matter? our table should know no frowns, then least of all when we our self forbears them. What, all dead, fill another round, our wine moves not, here Polyander, to thee, what thinkest thou of Comastes happiness? Why I Polyander ther's some life in this, a little heaven even in the apprehension. Aratus art not thou of this opinion? Mirth, only mirth Aratus, he means 'twould better become a counsel than a banquet. Timeus welcome, nay, keep your seats, would thou hadst been partaker of our sports. Nay Timeus thou never lookest friendly on our pleasures Prithee Timeus let us enjoy our mirth while the gods give it, the time will come that we shall wish for it, and not have it; on my Conscience thou wishest for enemies that thou mightest cut them off. News, what is't good? What ere the occasion be, he shall be welcome. The time's far spent. Aratus it shall be thy employment, from us fairly salute the Prince, and tell him though the Seas have been unfriendly, the land shall court him. But these are things for the following age, we are hedged in beyond all fear, if loyalty may prove destructive, there is yet some danger. Can the grave Quicken her ashes into Soldiers? shall Stench and corruption yield us enemies? We are safe from those that live, they will not hurt, And those that sleep in the forgotten dust Cannot. There is nothing now remaining To our care, but to give thanks we are safe Enough, if that we can rejoice. Thou lettest Thy best days pass without receiving fruit That should be cropped from them. I did expect Thou shouldst have urged me to thy Nuptials, Such cares befit thee best; how the Triumphs Should be ordered, and Hymen's torch well lighted. Hast thou yet done? Not all the Ghosts that I have made, have been Thus cruel to me, nor, as yet, their graves Have threated half these evils, thy mother's Labour was a conception to these pains Thou hourly bringest upon me. What wouldst thou have? The power I have is wholly thine, if that I never did deny, was not thought given, Now I do, take all the means thou canst by Law or Majesty to remove thy fears. How now Timeus, what bloody? Who is the traitor that durst attempt such outrage? Unknown? that cannot be, when he has passed thus far in the court some must take notice of him. Can you de scribe him? Upon my life I saw him: but 'tis some two days since, he must be known in all this time, inquire who brought in any such man, or was seen with him. Aratus do you hear? they say he that committed this outrage belongs to you. And you knowing this, how durst you turn such a wild beast lose into the Court, whom had I met and chanced to have angered my fortune had been the same. Lay hands up on him, you shall find that such a Spirit lodges in my breast too, and when tisstird will raise Tempests as great; we shall find other matters to examine you of. Through this seeming neg lect we do put on, we can observe all your actions, and with a half and sleeping eye see into your darkest plots. Take your way, I'll leave him to you. Why, well said Timeus, now I Like thee, here thy ears and services are bent the right way would I could see thee once look pale in these, but thou art so worldly that thou ap pierced still as if thou were't not in it. Can a young man when he may have leave to breath in such a Paradise as this, draw a common air, and air of the people? Madam, I don't think but you find him a rude servant, one that pays his courtship as a business, and not as a delight, that has one eye upon the door to be gone, when the other's fixed on you. Why dost thou not answer? I am ashamed to see thee, Oh my conscience at these years, I could ont woo thee my self; I think we had best change business, neither will go forward else, i'll court for thee, and thou shall rule for me: thoul't never get a wife without the help of a commission. Would, would, would, sayest thou so? thar't killed in a Philosophy, I thought thou hadst never dreamt of, I am loath to put it out of thee with other thoughts: but I think this business I am to tell thee of will confirm thee more: and remove all thy jealousies. The suspicion thou hadst of a Treason was not in vain, since it hath broken out, but it's already cured, the two chief of them are taken in their passage as they went to raise commotions. And I have commanded that they be set so as they may have a full view of that earth they were so am bitious of, and then to Strangle them at that height. No, nor suspected by any but your self. How now, what's the matter? Where are they? Madam, we must entreat your pardon, that thus we have offended gainst your quiet, and made you the first witness of our Troubles, that ought to have known them last. Why Timeus, I thank thee, but these joys come From above, are not to be taken When we please, no man can resolve he will Be happy, yet I will struggle with my Thoughts, and endeavour to force that quiet They have taken from me. But let not this thing Discomfort you, it's but a course of humours Perhaps a little Physic will remove it. Only my love, the care of all things else do thou take upon thee, and to morrow, if this fit leave me, before the battle I'll visit you. Exit. Timcus. How every thing is irksome to me: clouds And darkness are before mine eyes, all things Dissenting one from the other yet conspire In this, that they present death to my view, I have that idle comfort only, that He that despairs of all, ought to fear nothing When things cannot grow worse, all fortune then Is on his side that suffers. But my injustice Strengthened with murder, does forbid success, A Kingdom God by blood, is built upon A slippery foundation. I have been Nourished in peace thus long, that being grown Specious and great, I may at last fallen down A Sacrifice worth slaughter. Thoughts urge thoughts, Suspicion gets suspicion, Danger, danger; I have not that small setltedness of mind, As to think one thing twice: were I but innocent, I would provoke misfortune, call for Fate With as undaunted courage as the Lord And ruler of it does— Stay. What a nothing 'tis that I have thus much feared And laboured to escape, when it my good: Childishly dreading every thought of cure, Then most offended when my health was near? How well I'am after this little wound? Quiet of mind and peace of Conscience, Those blessed companions do possess me now, I see nothing but blood can appease blood In sacrifice, that to the guilty theres No ease Like death, no mercy Like the cross. O, o. The King makes signs of weakness, and the guard make and offer to kill Pallantus. Hold in your rage, have you not already Acted mischiefs enough by my command. But thus you seek to pull more upon ye? You are deceived, though I have been hitherto A Tyrant, now I am merciful, and can Command things that are just and innocent. I command you hold, my power is yet good You are the villains, the first causers of This my misery, and you should lay hands Upon your selves; how ridiculous is this Your rage? suppose I should give way to Your desires, what were you the safer, Or I the better? you would have one foe The less, and I one sin more that am already Loaded. Does not this judgement affright you Rather? I am not only guilty, your Hands were dipped in the same blood and performed Such things I often durst but wish: that you Were commanded will not excuse you, your Loyalty to me was but at best a Broken faith unto another; and when You observed it most, you were most perjured. What can you expect? you see when that I Was guarded by and host, needed not fear What the power of earth, or men could do Unto me, one man (as I may say) one Handful of that earth broke through them all, and With a single arm forced what a million Could not keep, and when there was no means left, Yet there was a miracle to conquer me. To you I turn now, no more my ternor, In return of this favour you have found, Show the Like to these, and others, that shall Be guilty of that name, as friends to me, Though you are nothing yet, this deed Will make you powerful and you that have given them all May demand so small a share: now you have been So much my enemy change something To a friend. How vainly I take care for Lesser things neglecting my greatest charge. Oh my Timeus ! my poor Eudora ! Leave me not yet, my soul, thou canst not mount Until the load be taken from thy wing, Thou couldst inhabit here when it was Hell, Now it is Paradise, — Oh stay — and dwell — Where is the great worker, of it? Through the happiness of my people, may I know no other joy or sadness, but what passes you, still the middle way of blessings betwixt the gods and me. My Lord, I do not, you that have so many virtues for to live by, need no dishonest Arts, nor by such ways seek to endear me, when you have already so really engaged me, that I am not able to give you a thanks, much less a return that's equal not to say if I could what I would do deserving you, and if you cannot in some kind reward your self, 'tis not in my power to do it: These praises you have given me, do tell, if not what I am, yet what I should be, they shall not make me proud, but good, nor will I glory in them, but make them still my aim. I'll first offer them to the gods, and humbly from their hands pray for them again, and at the second gift account them mine. My Lord, I know it, and could I thank them in't, Idem stoop lower than the place from whence they raised me. This way let me express a brother's love Before I speak it—Oh my Sister, you're My Throne, my Sceptre, and my Crown, or what Is more deer and estimable with me, The Grace, the Majesty that rises from them. Pardon, if my much love make me a rude Brother, and too credulously soon I Proudly call my self by that honourable Name, when so lately I had leave to doe't: Yet had it not been before declared Unto me, I could not so easily Consent to the belief; your face before Did joy me, but then and Angel wore it, And appeared more heavenly in your borrowed Shape than in his own. I cannot blame the Troubles of my former life, when I was Barred from such felicities as these. Oh my Lord, say not so, though I am kind I am not found, I'll give up my interest, or any thing rather then you shall leave us; I spoke it as a means to stay you make it not then a parting word: help me to persuade him. My Lord, if your employments are so great, we would not make you guilty of a dishonourable Stay. Our passion ought to give way unto your reason. My Lord, shall we entreat you to bear us company unto the Temple: thither we're a going; to give that perfection to our joys which yet is wanting, and for unusual benefits offer unusual thanks. I cannot be deceived, thou must be my Pallantus, ther's none can speak, or look Like thee, thy least resemblance is a above all men, it's no wonder to see thee Changed, thy deed has thus transformed thee, it sits upon thy brow and Casts a glory round about thy face. So me thought, what can be the cause? A King they say's the best Physician for a discontent. If I cannot bring you comfort, I sacrifice in your behalf. Whither does this sad beginning tend? Her grief concerns us all, and ought to be considered before our joys, bear these tears to her, we wish the ex cease of ours may lessen hers, and say that comfort which is left we will preserve, and carefully offer to her. Her brother with many of her friends are fled unto the Fort, and are there shut up — would I could give them life, what say you my Lord? may I do this? Is not mercy in this place folly? You have given me resolution, hast presently unto they (it their desire this morning to have conference with one of note) and if you find they fit for mercy or to be made fit, offered to they. Exeunt Omnes. And does she know of it yet? Madam, fallen not so low, we have already too much dejected you, and would our selves gladly submit in recompense, you're still in the esteem of all, that which you have been, not by the sins of others but by your own endowments, admired Princess, and may a curse light, light on those, who shall dare to unthrone a Majesty which the gods themselves have seated; we are come confident in these your virtues, that you will not disdain when nobly we endeavour it, to have your grief lessened by your enemies, Madam, though proper, yet we are willing Comfort ters, and have as true a sense of what you suffer as those, who in a nearer name do share their losses with you. You make us all happy, and show a virtue above your sex, in being able so much to love, and yet to lose a Father, if still you can resist this passion, and rejoice with us, with you we will observe your days of mourning. We are now going to pay some Funeral duties to our dead predecessor, for your sake so we will ever call him. Spare these tears, and we will weep them for you, mourn all as if we had lost a general parent. My Lord, who's that? What does he expect? S r , we understand you, and your desires, go leave the Court upon your life, be not seen in't after this day, and look hereafter warily to your actions, if you deserve a light judge meant you shall feel the Heaviest My Lord, I would be ever taught thus by you. Sir, I recall what I have said, and wish to see those virtues we see in you. My Lord, do'e still intend to leave us so suddenly, as tomorrow. If I durst presume so much of you ill entertain meant, I would persuade you to a longer stay. I thus give it with the rest, by this request, My Lord, I perceive yowl keep your word, and suddenly return, you would not else at once bereft us of your self, and so near a servant. I hope I understand you, and that I may yet expect a happiness, equal to the happiness of this day. Hitherto our Kingdom hath been Like the Kingdom of the gods. Felicity upon felicity, joy crow'nd with joy; and though this day concluded what it hath begun. I have reigned a perfect reign, having beheld in few hours the numerous changes of and age. 'Tis so to both of us. And we will ever celebrate it, as the first day that we were born Brother and Sister, before we were Strangers, now we are twins of love. My Lord, I un derstand the holy League betwixt you, and though I lay my hand thus on it, I Intend not for to break it, nor make a di vorse, though thus I partly you: pardon me that I seem covetous of so great a happiness; and show a loathness to partly from it, be before I have my self enjoyed it. She must fit some time my Queen, before she be crowned yours. Hither?