SOPHIA

Arcadius. We must not Give any licence. We are not pleased, it had become your duty, To have first acquainted us, ere you declared Your resolution public, is our Court Not worth your stay? Where's Lisimachus? We shall find Employment at home for you, do not loose us. We would be private Macarius. Lisimachus You must not leave us. Nay pray be covered, Ceremony from you. Must be excused, Not your love? I know you would not have me look upon Your person as a Courtier, not as favourite, That title were too narrow to express How we esteem you. Yet here you wood not rest. 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 fixed. But I cannot resolve when this shall be, I shall Believe you mock me in this argument, I have no power. Not as a Queen. I must obey, your Father's my Protector. When I am absolute, Lisimachus, Our power and titles meet, before, we are but A shadow, and to give you that were nothing, Tother is not fit To be despised, Cosmography allow Epire a place ith' map, and know till I Possess what I was born to, and alone Do grasp the Kingdoms Sceptre, I account My self divided, he that marries me Shall take and absolute Queen to his warm bosom, My temples yet are naked, until then Our loves can be but compliments, and wishes, Yet very hearty ones. Your Father. 'Tis in your power to grant, you are Protector, I am not yet a Queen. Macarius, and Eubulus That by are inveterate malice to each other. It grew, as I have herd upon the question Which some of either family had made, Which of their Father's 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. Thou hast a noble soul, This is a charity above thy youth, And it flows bravely from thee, name the way. Be particular. This rather will enlarge Their hate, and be a means to call more blood Into the stream. And who shall be the Champions. 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, beside You appear a soldier, Arcadius Hath no acquaintance yet with rugged war, More fit to drill a Lady then expose His body to such dangers: a small wound Ith' head may spoil the method of his hair Whose curiosity exacts more time Than his devotion, and who knows but he May loose his riban by it in his lock, Dear as his Saint, with whom he would exchange His head, for her gay colours; then his band May be disordered, and transformed from Lace To Cutwork, his rich clothes be discomplexioned With blood, beside the infashionable slashes, And at the next festival take physic, Or put on blame ke, and mourn for his slain breeches: His hands cased up in gloves all night, and sweat Pomatum, the next day may be endangered To blisters with a sword, how can he stand Upon his guard, who hath fid ers in his head, To which, his feet must ever be a dancing. Beside a fall fie may spoil his cringe, Or making of a leg, in which cons sts Much of his Court perfection. It something may concern the Gentleman, Whom if you please to challenge To dance, play on the Lute, or sing. He shall not want those will maintain him For any sum. How sir? Your killing? Come back, do you know Arcadius? When the spirit of Wine Made his brain valiant he fought bravely. What? I see Seleucus thou art esolute, And I but wronged Arcadius, your first Request is granted, you shall fight, and he That conquers be rewarded to confirm First place and honour to his family: Is it not this you plead for? Lisimachus. It shall But haste the confirmation of our loves, And ripen the delights of marriage, Seleucus. We have already granted to Seleucus And they shall try their valour if Arcadius Have spirit in him to accept the challenge, Our royal word is passed. No more, we have resolved, And since their courage is so nobly flamed, This morning weel behold the Champions Within the list, be not afraid, their strife Will stretch so far as death, so soon as we Are Crowned prepare your selves, Sell ucus. Arcadius to encourage thy young valour, We give thee our Father's sword. Command it from our Armoury; Lisimachus, To our Coronation. We owe to all your loves and will deserve At least by our endeavours that none may This day repent their prayers, my Lord Protector. You have proved Your self our faithful counsellor, and must still Protect our growing state, a Kingdoms Sceptre Weighs down a woman's arm, this crown sits heavy Upon my brow already, and we know There's something more then mettle in this wreathe, Of shining glory, but your faith, and counsel, That are familiar with mysteries, And depths of state have power to make us fit For such a bearing, in which both you shall Do loyal service, and reward your duties. But yet my Lords and Gentlemen let none ̄ Mistake me, that because I urge your wisdoms, I shall grow careless, and impose on you The managing of this great Province, no, We will be active too, and as we are In dignity above your persons, so, The greatest portion of the difficulties We call to us, you in your several places Relieving us with your experience, Observing in your best directions All modesty, and distance, for although We are but young, no Actium shall forfeit Our royal privilege, or encourage any Too unreverent boldness, as it will become Our honour to consult, e ̄ re we determine Of the most necessary things of state, So we are sensible of a check, But in a brow, that saucily controls Our Actium, presuming on our years As few, or frailty of our sex, that head Is not secure that dares our power or justice. But I speak to you Are perfect in obedience, and may spare ̄ This theme, yet 'twas no immaterial Partly of our character, since I desire All should take notice, I have studied The knowledge of my self, by which I shall Better distinguish of your worth and persons In your relations to us. But we miss some, that use not to absent Their duties from us, where's Macarius? We purpose Enter Gentleman They shall proceed, whats he? He was composed for Actium, give notice To Arcadius, and admit the challenger, Let other Princes boast their gaudy tilting, And mockery of battles, but our triumph Is celebrated with true noble valour. Enter Selucus, Arcadius at several doors, their pages before them bearing their Targets. Two young men spirited enough to have Two Kingdoms staked upon their swords, Lisimachus Do not they excellently become their arms, It pity but they should do something more Then wave their plumes. a shout within. What noise is that? This unfeigned? If this be faithful our desires are blessed, We had no thought to waste, but reconcile Your blood this was and we did prophesy This happy chance, spring into either's bosom, Arcadius and Seleucus, what can now Be added to this days felicity; Yes, there is something, is there not my Lord? While we are Virgin Queen. I am yet my Lords Your single joy, and when I look upon, What I have took, to manage the great care Of this most flourishing Kingdom, I incline To think, I shall do justice to my self, If I chosen one, whose strength and virtue may Assist my undertaking, think you Lords, A husband would not help? We will not then Trouble Ambassadors to treat with any Princes abroad, within our own dominion, Fruitful in honour, we shall make our choice; And that we may not keep you over long Jn the imagination, from this circle, we Have purpose to elect one, whom I shall Salute a King and Husband. Arcadius you must refuse my love, Or shame this Kingdom. Is the day cloudy on the sudden? The Church to morrow shall Confirm our marriage, noble Lisimachus Weel find out other ways to recompense Your love to us, set forward, come Arcadius. Sir you must fit. This is not music Sprightly enough, it feeds the soul with melancholy. How says Arcadius? You cannot flatter. Well sir proceed. Whose that? Have you ambition to be punished sir? You are saucy, Weel place you where you shannot be so merry, Take him away. And can Arcadius A such a breath be moved, 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 Oh e enemy, but empty their own veins, And think the lose of all their blood rewarded, To have one smile of us when they are dying? And shall this murmur shake you? Let not those thoughts afflict thee While we have power to correct the offences Arcadius be mine, this shall confirm it. Our Marriage. Arcadius. Now set forward. My Lord Macarius we did want your person, There's something in our joys wherein you share. We are going. Meet us, why? We must not marry. Joy has transported him, Or age has made him dote, Macarius Provoke us not too much, you will presume Above our mercy. My youngest Brother, But what should make my father to trust him To your concealment? give abroad his death, and bury And empty coffin? He made no scruple to expose me then To any danger? Why kneel you sir? Nor shall we in this Actium be accused Of rashness, since the man we shall declare Deserving our affection, hath been early In our opinion, which had reason first To guide it, and his known nobility Long married to our thoughts, will justify Our fair election. Arcadius you see from whence we come, Pray led us back, you may ascend. I am to find a brother, and refigne my glory, My triumph is my shame. Thar't a fool, And canst not reach the spirit of a Lady, Born great as I was, and made only less By a too cruel destiny, above Our tender bearing? what goes richer to The composition of man, then ours? Our soul as free, and spacious, our heart's As great, our will as large, each thought as active, And in this only man more proud then we, That would have us less capable of Empire, But search the stories, and the name of Queen Shines bright with glory, and some precedents Above men imitation. This I allow Charilla, I would done; 'Tis not the thought I am deposed afflicts me, At the same time I feel a joy to know My Brother living: no, there is another Wound in me above cure. Canst find me out a Surgeon for that? My bleeding fame. Do not flatter me, I have been guilty of and act, will make All love in women questioned, is not that A blot upon a Virgins name? my birth Cannot extenuate my shame, I am Become the stain of Epire. Thou wod'st but canst not appear ignorant, Did not the Court, nay, the whole Kingdom, take Notice I loved Lisimachus? No. I was false Though counseled by my Father to affect him, I had my politic ends upon Cassandra, To be absolute Queen, flattering his son with Hope's Of love and marriage, when that very day I blush to think I wronged Lisimachus, That noble Gentleman, but heaven punished me; For though to know Demetrius was a blessing, Yet who will not impute it my dishonour. He will not sure Trust any language from her tongue that mocked him, Although my soul does weep for't, and is punished To love him above the world. You do not mock me sir. I thought you had been sensible. A man of understanding, can you spend One prayer for me, remembering the dishonour I have done Lisimachus? It is not then impossible you may Forgive me too, indeed I have a soul Is full of penitence, and something else, If blushing would allow to give't a name. Love, a love that should redeem My passed offence, and make me white again. You think em continued nterfeit. I wait it. Stay. Did he not say Charilla, that he had Another Mistress? Let's remove, here's too much air, The sad note multiplies. And yet she does but justly, and he too; I would have robbed her of Areadius heart, And they will both have this revenge on me, But something will rebel. I hope my brother's well. Do you but hope? he came to be your guest. I came to ask your pardon Polidora, I can be but penitent, Unless you point me out some other way To satisfy. there is no injury Like that to love, I find it now in my own sufferings, But though I would have robbed thee of Arcadius Heaven knew a way to reconcile your hearts, And punished me in those joys you have found, I read the story of my lose of honour, Yet can rejoice, and heartily, that you Have met your own again. My brother. Has he made Himself less capable by being King. Of your affection. This does confirm my jealousy, my heart, For my sake Madam, has h lost his valve? Would? my presaging fear S. Well, you were talking of Lisimachus, Pray give me your opinion of him. You have in a little, Madam, Expressed a Volume of mankind, a miracle, But all have not the same degree of faith, He is but young. He is black. His proportion exceeds not. I'll hear no more, you have so far outdone My injuries to you, that I call back My penitence, and must tell Polidora, This revenge ill becomes her. Am I thought So lost in soul to hear, and forgive this? In what shade do I live? or shall I think I have not at the lowest enough merit, Setting aside my birth, to poize with yours, Forgive my modest thoughts, if I rise up My own ̄ defence, and tell this unjust Lady So great a Winter hath not frozen yet My cheek, but there is something nature planted, That carries as much bloom, and spring upon't As yours, what flame is in your eye, but may Find competition here (forgive again My Virgin honour,) what is in your lip, To tice the enamoured soul, to dwell with more Ambition then the yet unwithered blush That speaks the innocence of mine. Enter Demetrius. O brother? Both your looks, And voice express some welcome accident. What means this ecstasy? Hows that! Be not desperate, 'tis counsel. Dear brother hear him. Brave young man, Did you not hear him brother? Forgive me Polidora, you are happy, My Hope's are removed farther, I had thought Lisimachus had meant you for his mistress, 'Tis misery to feed, and not know where To place my jealousy. And allow us Q arter. Lisimachus, They will not miss your presence, the small time Is spent in asking of a question. Fit I have a suit to you. If you have Canceled your kind opinion of me, Deny me not to know, who hath succeeded Sophia in your heart. I beg the name Of your new Mistress. I must expect, till you are pleased to satisfy My poor request conduct me at your pleasure No joy exceeds Sophia's for your self. Here's something would confess. In this I am crowned again, now mine for ever.