The Deserving FAVOURITE.  
As it was lately Acted, first before the king's Majesty, and since publicly at the Blackfriars.  
By his Majesty's Servants.  
Written by Lodowick CARLELL, Esquire, Gentleman of the bows, and Groom of the King and queen's Privy Chamber.  
AT LONDON, Printed for Matthew RHODES. 1629.   

TO MY VERY NOBLE AND approved Friends, Mr. THOMAS CARRY, Son to the Earl of Monmouth, and Mr. WILLIAM MURREY, both of the Bed Chamber to his Majesty.  
A Approved Friends, this Play, which know at first was not designed to travel so far as the common Stage, is now pressed for a greater journey, almost without my knowledge; and to give some stop to prejudicate opinions, which may happily arise from the Authors known want of Learning, I am bold to say you both approved the Plot and Language; for your abilities to judge, I held them so great, and believe the world did so to, that your approbation to this, hath made me against the opinion even of many friends, continue to waste more paper. If ye then flattered, or were loath to discourage me in this way, which few delight to practice, though most to see and censure, ye are justly punished now when ye expect it not, in being chosen Patrons of what's presented to you thus plainly by your Servant.  
LOD: CARLELL.   

THE Printers Epigrammatic Epistle to the understanding Reader.  
Unknown toth' Author this fair Courtly Piece  
Was drawn toth' Press; not for a Golden Fleece,  
As do our Midan Mimics of these Times,  
Who hunt out Gain, with reason's loss in rhymes,  
Heaping together such indigested Stuff,  
Can scarce outbear true judgements Counterbuff:  
He with a new, choice, and familiar Strain  
Strikes full Conceit deep in the master-vein,  
Stoops not for dross; his profit was his pleasure,  
Has (for his Friends) ransacked the muse's Treasure,  
Brought thence such lustrous sparkling jewels forth,  
As well improve his scenes of real Worth;  
Prompt Wit, ripe Art, with judgement fell at strife  
How best t'express true Nature to the Life:  
Yet filled with pleasing Language and so filled,  
As best beseems MINERVA'S high bred Child:  
Accept these Strains, as here you find 'em dressed  
By me the Printer; All stand ready pressed  
At your sole Service rightly understand 'em,  
And if more such I meet with; still command 'em.  
Yours obsequious, in what's good and virtuous. I. R.   

¶ THE prologue, AS it was spoken before the KING.  
do not expect strong Lines, nor Mirth, though they  
justly the Town-wits, and the Vulgar sway:  
What hope have we then that our Play can please  
This more judicious Presence, wanting these?  
We have a hope (the Author says) this Night  
Love in our weakness shall express his might.  
He in each Noble breast himself will place;  
The Subject being all Love then, must find grace:  
Yes you may say, if it be well expressed,  
Else love doth censure him from out our breast:  
Thus what he hoped should help him, if he err  
In the expression, turns his Censurer.  
I for the Author stand, and in his Name  
Do here renounce the glory or the shame  
Of this night's work: Great Love, this Play is thine,  
Work Miracles, and show thyself Divine;  
Change these rude lines into a sweet smooth Strain,  
Which were the weak effects of a dull Brain:  
If in this Prologue Contradictions move,  
That best expresses: it was writ by Love.   

THE NAMES OF THE ACTORS.  

Mr. Benfield, the King.  
Mr. Taylor, the Duke.  
Mr. Lewin, jacomo.  
Mr. Sharp, Lysander.  
Mr. Swanstone, the Count Utrante.  
Mr. Robinson, Count Orsinio, and Hermit.  
Mr. Smith, Gerard.   

Women.  
john Honiman, Clarinda.  
john Tomson, Cleonarda.  
Edward Horton, Mariana.  
jaspero, Bernardo, Servants, Huntsmen, &c.    

THE FAVOURITE.  

Actus primus, Scoena prima.  Enter Mariana and Lysander. Mariana. 
COme, prithee tell me brother, why art sad.  Lys. 
From thee my dearest Sister  
I have not hid my nearest touching secrets:  
Thou know'st how truly I did love,  
And how at last I gained my dear Clarinda.  Mari. 
I do; and wish that I could tell you such a secret of mine own; for of all men living, I think you most happy.  Lys. 
Most miserable of men.  Mari. 
How can that be! is not Clarinda yours?  
In which (were I a man) I should believe  
More happiness consisted, then for to be a Monarch.  Lys. 
Clarinda yet is mine.  Mari. 
Nothing can take her from you but the grave,  
I hope she is not sick.  Lys. 
Nothing can take her from me dear Mariana,  
But I must give her.  Mar. 
Why, love you any one so well to give away your heart  
I know she's dearer to you?  Lys. 
She's so much dearer to me than my heart,  
That I must kill my heart if I do give her.  Mari. 
Be plain sweet brother.  Lys. 
The Duke who is too near a kin in love  
And blood to our dread Sovereign to be denied,  
Dies for Clarinda.  Mar. 
Why, think you she'll prove false?  Lys. 
she false! Oh no:  
It is I must play the traitor to myself  
Virtue doth undermine my happiness,  
And blows it up. I must release my interest  
In Clarinda, that she may marry this lovesick Duke,  
And save his Life.  Mari. 
Why who compels it?  Lys. 
Gratitude compels it;  
For to the Duke I owe my life and fortunes,  
My fortunes when my wicked Uncle would have  
Wrested from me by false witness that state  
Which I am now possessed of; which the Duke finding,  
He employed his power, and so I had my right:  
My life I then received: when I was rescued  
By his valour from the dreadful boar,  
Which I (too young) thrust on by honour, ventured to assail,  
Yet all these obligations touch me not so near,  
As doth the danger of the Count Utrante,  
(Clarinda's Father) who hath been long a prisoner,  
For the same cause for which my Father fled.  Mari. 
He is now at liberty.  Lys. 
It is true he hath his liberty, and greater honours  
Are proposed if he can win his Daughter  
To marry with the Duke, than he hath lost:  
But on the other side, if she deny.  
And it doth wholly lie in me to make her grant,  
Her Father's head is in danger, the King  
So passionately doth love the Duke.  Mari. 
How came you by this miserable knowledge.  Lys. 
Sister, you know I often visited  
The Count Utrante in the prison, besides  
The wished occasions which I ever took  
To wait upon his Daughter thither;  
This he so gratefully accepted,  
That now that he hath liberty,  
He still sends for me, where I chanced to be last night,  
And as a friend heard when he did propound it to Clarinda.  Mari. 
Then he doth no way suspect there's love betwixt you;  
But tell me Brother how poor Clarinda  
Did receive her Father's deadly proposition.  Lys. 
Her Father not believing that she would deny  
So great a blessing, came with joy to tell her,  
That which once told, forced tears from her fair eyes,  
At which, he being amazed, desired to know  
The cause, why she received his and her happiness  
With somuch sorrow: she answered him with broken sighs,  
Offering to tear her hair; which when I would not,  
Give her leave to do, she cursed her beauty,  
As the cause of all this mischief: at last  
Considering who it was that spoke,  
A Father, that deserved an answer:  
Her judgement shut her passions in a less room;  
For having calmed the tempest of her griefs,  
She mildly answered that she was happy  
In his liberty, though now she saw  
It was but given him to procure her bondage;  
For such she did account all ties of marriage  
Made by the parents without the child's consent,  
Though ne'er so rich or honourable.  Mari. 
And having said so, did she not cast her watery eyes  
Upon you, and in this sad, yet pleasing language,  
Tell you, that she would not forsake you for the Duke.  Lys. 
It is true, she did so; there is no tongue  
That can express the hearts of those that love  
Like their own eyes: but Sister, it will be late  
Before you reach the Forest, the Princess too  
May wonder at your stay.  Mari. 
Brother it's true; but I so seldom see you,  
That I'll not go, unless you promise to come and see me.  Lys. 
You know the strict command,  
That none but those appointed should come near the Lodge.  Mari. 
That is but your excuse;  
I have told you how often the Princess  
Earnestly hath desired to see you; yet you would never go.  Lys. 
Sister, I fear these sad occasions will hinder me;  
But I will write.  Mari. 
Will you not come six miles to see a Sister  
That so dearly loves you?  Lys. 
Sister, I know you love, nor will I be a debtor;  
You are both my Friend and Sister. Exeunt.  Flourish. Enter King, Utrante, and Attendants. King. 
My Lord Utrante, can you not then  
Persuade your Daughter to receive a Blessing,  
Which even the greatest Ladies in this Kingdom  
Would desire on their knees:  Enter Duke and Followers. 
Is this a Man to be neglected? Though he were not  
A Kinsman to your King: beside, my Lord,  
Remember you may draw upon yourself  
Our high displeasure by her refusal.  Duke. 
Great Sir, let not your love and care of me  
Bar fair Clarinda the freedom of her choice,  
By threatning punishments unto her Father,  
If she choose not me: for, should she, offended,  
Which she might justly be, if I should seem  
To force Love from her, it were not within your power;  
Though that you would give all that you possess,  
To make me satisfaction for the wrong.  King. 
Yes, I could make you satisfaction,  
Though she were offended; by forcing her  
Into your arms, to whom the wrong was done.  Duke. 
Her Person Sir you might, but not her Mind;  
Which is indeed the object of my Love,  
That's free from your subjection: for it's free  
From Love, a greater power by far.  Utran. 
My Lord, I think she's free from reason too,  
For did that govern her, she could not thus neglect  
Her happiness: or rather she may yet suspect, your Lordship  
Doth not mean what you profess; and from that fear  
Seems coy, till she be more assured.  Duke. 
I cannot pluck my heart out of my breast  
To show her (I wish I could) yet live to do her service:  
There she might see her worth truly engraven  
In lasting Characters, not to be razed out  
By the hand of Time; nor (which is more) her scorn.  King. 
cousin, if you will be ruled by me,  
I'll make her leap with joy into your arms.  Duke. 
Sir, so that it be by no way of violence,  
I will obey you.  King. 
In act I'll use no way of violence;  
Yet I must threaten it.  Duke. 
Sir, if you threaten her, you ruin me;  
Her Sun-bright Eyes, by faithful service,  
May in time shine gently on me, and warm  
My frozen hopes. But on the contrary,  
She knowing that I'm the cause of these your threatenings,  
Will from her just vexed soul throw curses on me.  
I would not see thee heaven of her fair face,  
Clouded with any raised by my power, to be a Monarch.  King. 
You know my love, and you presume upon it,  
Take your own way of love, deliver up yourself  
Unto her mercy, that I would make at yours,  
Would you be ruled: go, see your Mistress,  
Tell her you love her more than ever man did woman;  
To prove which true, pray her that she'll command you  
Tasks more dangerous, then did the envious juno  
To great Hercules: all which you will perform  
With much more ease; since you by her command  
Shall undertake 'em whose virtue hath the power  
To arm you 'gainst a world of dangers: do,  
Make her proud with praises, and then see  
How she will torture you.  Duke. 
Sir, she may torture me, and justly too,  
For my presumption: since I have dared  
To tell so much perfections that I love,  
Not being first made worthy by my suffering  
For her.  Vtran. 
My Lord, if you'll be pleased to grace my house  
This day she either shall requite your sufferings,  
O I will deny her for a child of mine.  Duke. 
My Lord, most willing, I would see fair Clarinda,  
But not upon such conditions; nothing  
But gentle entreaties must be used: for though the King  
Were pleased to say that my humility  
Would make her proud; I would not have a subject  
Say, not you that are her Father, that she can  
Do an act or think a thought that tends not  
To perfection.  King. 
Come my Lords, we will go hunt a Stag today,  
And leave my cousin to his amorous thoughts. Exe. K. Atten.  Duke. 
I thank your Majesty for this day's licence:  
My Lord Utrante, shall I then see Clarinda,  
And will you lend your best assistance  
To make me Master of a happiness, the world may envy.  Utran. 
My Lord, you make an Idol of a peevish Girl,  
Who hath indeed no worth but what you please  
To give her in your opinion.  Duke. 
I must not hear you thus blaspheme.  
You might as well say Pallas wanted wisdom,  
Diana chastity, or Venus' beauty,  
As say she wanted worth, for every several excellence  
That shined in them, and made them  
By men's admirations Goddesses,  
Flow mixed in her; indeed she hath  
Too much of Diane's Ice about her heart,  
And none of Venus' heat: but come my Lord,  
I lose myself in her vast praises, and so  
Defer the joy of seeing what I so commend. Exe.  Enter jacomo and Lysander at several doors. Lys. 
Good morrow honest jacomo, is my young Lady ready?  Iaco. 
She is my Lord.  Lys. 
And where's her Father?  Iaco. 
He was this morning early sent for by the King.  Lys. 
Tell your Lady I would speak with her.  Iaco. 
My Lord I will. Exit.  Lys. 
The Count Utrante is happy in this honest servant:  
Let me before I do persuade Clarinda, consider well;  
Surely that hour in which I see her led to the Temple,  
And there made fast with Hymeneal rights unto another,  
Will be my utmost limit, and death is terrible;  
Not where there is so glorious a reward proposed,  
As is her happiness: she shall be happy,  
And in her happiness consisteth mine,  
Have I not often sworn I loved her better  
Than myself? and this is only left to make it good.  Enter Clarinda and jacomo. Clar. 
Good morrow noble Brother, for by that title  
I am proud to call you, being denied a nearer.  Lys. 
It is a title that I am blessed in,  
Nor can there be a nearer betwixt us two,  
Our souls may embrace, but not our bodies.  Clar. 
Let us go walk into the Garden, and there  
we may freely speak, and think upon some remedy  
Against this disaster. Exeunt Lys. & Clar.  Iaco. 
What a dull Slave was I; had not I last night overheard their loving parley, I never once should have suspected that they had been in love: she always seemed an enemy to love, yet hath been long most desperate in love with this young Lord, which quite will spoil my hopes at Court; yet when I better think, it will be for my advantage, as I may handle it and further my revenge; for I will insinuate myself into the Duke's good opinion, by making a discovery of their loves: and then advise him that there is no way to gain Clarinda's heart, till first Lysander be removed by some employment; for out of sight with women out of mind; or if he impatient of delays; I will advise him to use some bloody means; which if he want an Instrument to do, I will effect it myself, pretending that it is out of love to him when it is indeed the satisfaction of mine own revenge; and when the Duke is once a partner of my villainy, I will be richly paid for what I do, or else for all his greatness I will affright him.  

For though great men for bloody deeds  
Give money to a Knave;  
Yet if he be a witty one like me,  
he'll make that Lord his Slave.   Exit. Enter Clarinda and Lysander. Clar. 
Come, let us sit down, for I am tired  
With walking; and than I will tell you  
How I am resolved to free us from this torment.  Lys. 
I fear there is no remedy, but we must part.  Clar. 
Yes, if you will give consent to what  
I shall propound.  Lys. 
First let me hear it.  Clar. 
My Father, though he have his liberty,  
Is not yet restored to his Lands: when next  
The Duke doth visit me, which I believe will  
Be today; I'll seem as if I did mistrust his love  
To be but feigned; he then will strive by some strong  
Testimony, to prove he truly loves:  
Then will I urge my Father's restoration  
To his Lands, which he being once possessed of,  
Will not be hard for me, the world knowing  
How well he loves me, to get some coin and jewels  
In my power, sufficient to maintain us  
In some other Country, where we like shepherds  
Or some Country folks may pass our time with joy:  
And that we may without distrust effect this,  
I to the Duke will promise, that when a month  
Is expired, if he will come and lead me to the Church,  
I'll not refuse to go, do you approve  
Of this Lysander?  Lys. 
No, dear Clarinda,  
Though most men hold deceit in love for lawful,  
Lysander doth not; Ere you for me shall spot  
Your yet pure self with such a stain, as to be  
A deceiver, this sword shall pierce my heart:  
The debt I owe you is too great already,  
And till I clear some part, I shall unto myself  
Appear a most ungrateful man. When first I saw you,  
The height of all my aims was only to have leave  
To love you, so excellent I then esteemed you:  
But you in time, out of your bounty,  
Not for my desert; for no desert can reach  
Your height of merit, gave love for love,  
For which I owe my life saved by that mercy  
From despair, and lent me for to serve you.  Clar. 
You are too thankful, and attribute that  
To my bounty, which was the wages of your true  
And faithful service.  Lys. 
Were this granted, yet however I shall be able  
To free myself from that great burden of debt  
Which your intended flight for my sake  
Will lay upon me, as yet I cannot see;  
For did at all value your own happiness,  
You could not thus fly the means  
That can best make you so.  Clar. 
Lysander, to what tends this great acknowledgement?  
I understand you not, what is your meaning?  Lys. 
My meaning, dear Clarinda, is to make you happy,  
And I conjure you by your affection,  
And all that's dear to you, to lay by  
That little portion of wilfulness  
Which being a woman you are forced to have,  
And hear me with your best attention,  
And with the same affection, as if I were  
Your Brother, which if the heavens had pleased  
To make me, I had been most happy,  
With your best reason look upon your present fortune;  
Look first upon the man from whence you had your being,  
And see in reason what pity it will challenge from you;  
A noble ancient Gentleman, deprived of Lands  
And honours, by injustice, that as a stranger  
Might exact your pity; but as a Child,  
It being within your power, it forceth your consent  
To give a remedy: If pity of your Father's fortune  
Cannot move you, pity your own I beseech you,  
Consider not of me as a tormented Lover,  
That hath lost his Mistress, but as a fortunate Brother,  
Fortunate in seeing of his Sister, whom he dearly loves  
Married to one so worthy, whose merits  
Compels fortune to wait upon him, for such the Duke is,  
Whom you must not refuse, for such a poor  
Unworthy man as I am.  Clar. Lysander, 
should I grant your want of worth,  
I then must give consent to the committing  
Of a Sacrilege against the Gods, in suffering you  
To rob yourself, you being the purest Temple,  
That yet they ever built for to be honoured in:  
And for the Duke each worth which you express of him to me,  
Is but a doubling of your own,  
The way to speak for him, were to appear  
yourself less, worthy, in this your worths increase.  Lys. 
Would you but look with an impartial eye,  
On our deservings; you soon would find me  
The less worthy; for even in that, wherein  
You think me not to be equaled, he goes  
Far beyond me, (I mean in true affection)  
For being but a private man as I am,  
Who would not think him blessed to love, and be beloved  
By you that are esteemed the wonder of this Age:  
But for the Duke, within whose power it lies  
To choose the most transplendent Beauty of this Kingdom,  
Set off with Fortune's best endowments; for him, I say,  
To choose out you amongst a world of Ladies,  
To make the sole Commandress of himself,  
Deserves (if you would give your reason leave to rule)  
The nearest place in your affection.  Clar. 
Do not thus vainly strive to alter my opinion,  
Of your worth with words, which was so firmly grounded  
By your real actions; it is a fault, but I will strive  
To wash it from you with my tears.  Lys. 
These tears in her stagger my resolution;  
For sure he must be worthiest for whom she weeps:  
Clarinda, dry your eyes.  Enter jasper. Clar. 
How now jasper, where is my Father?  Ias. 
madam, he doth desire that you will make you ready,  
To come to Supper to the Duke's tonight.  Clar. 
He was resolved to have supped here,  
How hath he changed his mind!  Ias. 
madam he desires you not to fail.  
But come and bring my Lord here with you.  Clar. 
Well, I will obey him. Exeunt.  Enter two Servants. 1. 
Come, prithee be careful, we shall gain  
More upon my Lords good opinion,  
If we please him this day, then hereafter  
In the whole service of our lives.  2. 
Why prithee?  1. 
Here will this day be his fair Mistress Clarinda  
And her Father.  2. 
I thought it was some extraordinary occasion,  
He was himself so careful; will there be none else?  
Will not the King be here? the entertainment  
Would be worthy of him.  1. 
It may be brave Lysander will be here, none else;  
For he is always with the Count Utrante.  2. 
When came he home from travail?  
I did not see him since he lay here in my Lord's house  
To be cured of the wounds the boar gave him.  
He owes my Lord for saving of his life then,  
I helped to bring him out of the field.  1. 
My Lord was happy in saving of so brave a Gentleman.  Enter Lysander, Utrante, and Clarinda. Lys. 
Can I love Clarinda, yet go about  
To hinder her of being Mistress of all this riches;  
Each room we pass through is a Paradise,  
The Music like the Music of the Spheres,  
Ravishing the hearers with content and admiration;  
But that which adds unto all the rest,  
Is the Duke's true affection; I am ashamed  
When I consider of my indiscretion  
That would have brought her to the counterpoint  
Of this great happiness.  Enter Duke and Followers. Duke. 
Noble Lysander, welcome; Excellent Lady,  
All the honours that my great and royal Master.  
Hath bestowed upon me, equal not this,  
That you have done, in gracing at my request  
This now most glorious house, since it contains within it  
The glory of the world.  Clar. 
My Lord, your praises fly too high a pitch to light on.  Duke. 
They must do so, or they'll fall short  
Of your great worth.  Clar. 
A reasonable pitch would sooner strike  
Me with belief.  Duke. 
To give you a firm belief of the respect  
I bear you, is that I only aim at.  Clar. 
My Lord, it lieth in your choice whether I shall  
Believe you or no; for if you will speak  
Only that which in reason is likely to be true,  
I am no Infidel, I shall believe.  Duke. 
You are so far from being an Infidel  
That you are a Saint, at whose blessed shrine  
I offer up my life, and Fortunes  
With a truer devotion than ever Lover did.  Clar. 
I see I must allow you the lover's Phrases,  
Which is to call their Mistress St. and their affection  
Devotion: but to let your Phrases pass,  
And answer the meaning of your protestation,  
How can I believe that you can love me  
Better than any man did ever love his Mistress,  
There being such an inequality in our present fortunes,  
When equality doth give birth to more affection,  
And those more violent, there being no respect  
To be a hindrance, I mean both the equalities  
Of Birth and Fortunes, in both which we far differ,  
You being the next a kin unto the King,  
And I the Daughter to a condemned man,  
Though now for your own ends at liberty.  Duke. 
If it be lawful for your devoted servant  
To contradict you in any thing, it is  
In the defence of his affection.  
You know that Rivers being stopped by any impediment,  
As rocks, or bridges, run the more fierce  
When they are from that which did encumber them;  
So might I say for my affection,  
If I should acknowledge, which yet I will not,  
That the consideration of my Greatness  
Was for a while an Impediment to the current  
Of my Love; but alas, those considerations  
Could never find harbour in that heart  
Where love and admiration had already  
Taken up their lodging; nor do they in my opinion  
Deserve to be happy, who mix the consideration  
Of the good of fortune, with their affections.  Clar. 
My Lord, in this last I do unfeignedly believe you,  
I mean in your opinion, which is, that true love  
Cannot be mixed with respects, and to show now  
How well I believe you, I will make it my shield  
Both to defend me against your worthy affection.  
(I confess if your thoughts and words agree)  
And against my Father's unjust commands;  
For since you confess, that to mix love with respects  
Spoils the purity of it, and that they  
Who so mix it, deserve not to be happy;  
It must needs be great injustice in you  
And my Father to desire me to love you  
Unworthily; since I cannot love you  
Without mixing the consideration  
Of the benefits my Father shall receive  
By my Marriage with your Grace, besides  
The satisfaction of me own ambition  
In being a Duchess, may make any stream  
Of affection which can proceed from me,  
Unfit to mix with so pure a stream  
As you profess yours is.  Duke. 
madam I cannot deny what you affirm,  
Since you ground your argument upon my confessed  
Opinion; but know dear Lady, that as you manifest  
In this your cruel answer, your disdain of me,  
Which will incense my despair; yet on the  
Other side the excellence of your wit  
Will increase my desire; for even out of that  
Which I brought as an argument to move you  
The more to love, you conclude that you are  
To neglect, and with a seeming justice,  
Which shows that your wit can bring- nigh thing  
To pass, that your will shall employ it in.  Clar. 
I should account myself happy, were I  
So furnished: but my Lord, I must not look  
Upon myself in the flattering glass  
Of your praises; for I hate flattery though a woman;  
And as I am myself armed against flattery,  
So would I have you be; therefore I tell you  
That I can never be yours, to arm you against  
The flattery of hope; yet I must tell you  
That your deserts, if it were possible  
For me to love, might sooner do it then any other,  
But as I am a votaress to Diana, in whose Temple  
I do shortly mean to dwell, I am free  
From any fire that can be kindled  
By desert in Man.  Duke. 
Though your intention in this cruel answer  
May be charitable, as intending  
To allay my heat, by manifesting your boldness,  
Yet it hath wrought deadly Effects; for it  
Forceth me tell you, that I must disobey you:  
For rather than I and the rest of the world  
Will lose so great a blessing, there shall not  
Be a Temple left standing, that is sacred  
To Diana within this Kingdom, when this is done,  
To make your cruelty admired. I'll build  
An Altar to self-love; it is that power you obey,  
And not Diana's, on which some friend shall lay  
My bleeding heart, which now in thought,  
And then in act, shall be a real Sacrifice:  
Smile not, nor think this jest;  
For by that Dian whom you seem to worship  
Being yourself a greater Deity,  
When you do cruelly perform what  
You have rashly said, this heart  
Which now seals what my tongue hath spoke,  
Shall make the covenant perfect.  Clar. 
I see this is no way my Lord,  
This rash oath you have made, may cost you dear.  Duke. 
In that consider the greatness of my love.  Clar. 
The greatness of your folly rather,  
That think by threatning punishments to yourself,  
To make me pity you, when since I do not love you,  
I am not touched with any feeling of your griefs.  Duke. 
If not for mine, yet for your goddess' sake,  
Give over your ill grounded resolution.  Enter Bernardo. Ber. 
My Lord the King is newly lighted at the garden gate,  
And in all haste calls for you.  Duke. 
madam the King, to whom my person is a subject,  
Commands my presence, and I must obey him:  
But my heart which I have made you Sovereign of  
Shall stay to wait on you; my return must needs  
Be speedy, since I leave my heart at the mercy  
Of you my cruel enemy.  Clar. 
My Lord I shall so martyr it before I come again,  
That you will repent you.  Duke. 
You cannot give it deeper wounds  
Then you have done already, and in that  
Confidence I'll leave you.  Ber. 
madam, will it please you walk into the gallery,  
There are some pictures will be worth your seeing. Exeunt.   

Actus secundus, Scoena prima.  Enter King, Attendants, jacomo, Duke and Followers meeting. King. 
Will none go call the Duke? Welcome dear cousin;  
You lost a brave chase today, but you had other game  
A foot: what says your cruel Mistress will she love you?  Duke. 
I hope she will Sir, she doth hear me speak.  King. 
How hear you speak?  Duke. 
Of love I mean Sir.  King. 
Fie, passionate man.  Duke. 
Why Sir, do you not think him happy  
Whom she will vouchsafe to hear?  King. 
You know my love hath made you what you are  
Out of an opinion that you deserved it;  
Not for that you were my Kinsman. I never yet denied  
What you would ask, relying on your judgement  
And your virtue. Should you have asked my Sister,  
For your Wife, I sooner should have given consent  
And taxed your judgement less, than I do now  
For doting on this Lady. Call back for shame then  
That judgement which had wont to govern all  
Your actions, and make me once more proud  
That I have such a Kinsman, whose judgement  
Can control his strongest passions, even love itself,  
When it is prejudicial to his honour.  Duke. 
Sir, You have always been a Father to me,  
And studied that which hath been for my good,  
Better than I could think. I know your Majesty's  
Intent in this, is to persuade me from that  
Which you believe is prejudicial to me:  
But since without her love gained the fair way  
Of service, not by threatenings I can take joy,  
In nothing this world can afford me;  
Pardon me Sir, if I desire you to spare  
Your Counsel, since I am capable of none,  
Except you persuade me to love more.  King. 
Well Sir, I will leave you to your amorous passions,  
See me no more till I send for you. Exeunt King, Atten.  Duke. 
The King is moved;  
Should he take from me all that he hath given me,  
Yet it were a happiness, if for her sake I lost it.  Iaco. 
My noble Lord.  Duke. 
Friend, what is your suit to me?  
If it be reasonable, it shall not be denied  
For your young lady's sake.  Iaco. 
My Lord, the business I have to deliver,  
Concerns your Grace.  Duke. 
How! me; what is it? speak.  Iaco. 
My Lord, it is a secret, and doth concern Clarinda,  
And therefore send your people off,  
That with more freedom I may speak with you.  Duke. 
Wait me without, now speak. Exeunt Servants.  Iaco. 
What thinks your Lordship is the cause  
That moves Clarinda to neglect your Love?  Du. 
The knowledge of her own worth and my unworthiness,  
Which defect I hope in time my faithful service  
Shall make good, and she will love me.  Iaco. 
Never, my Lord.  Duke. 
Why, is her vow of Chastity already past?  Iaco. 
she vow Chastity!  Duke. 
Why villain dost thou smile at that,  
Thinkest thou Diana's self is Chaster?  Iaco. 
Great Sir, mistake me not. I smile to think  
How she deceives your Grace, telling you  
She never means to marry, when I dare  
Pawn my life she is already contracted.  Duke. 
Traitor to my best hopes;  
Thou hast kindled in my breast a jealous fire  
That will consume me; fiends take thee for thy news;  
Would thou hadst been borne dumb: betrothed; it cannot be:  
Who durst presume, knowing I loved her once,  
To think of Love, much less to name it to her?  Iacom. 
My Lord, if you will with patience hear me,  
I will tell you whom.  Duke. 
Speak quickly, give me that case.  
For I vow the earth shall not long bear us both.  
I will not tell you, unless you will promise  
To follow my advice, which if you will,  
I will show you a clear way to your desires.  Duke. 
What, do you riddle me; is she contracted,  
And can I by your counsel attain my wishes?  
No, the House of Fate, though they should all  
Take Counsel, cannot back restore the happiness  
thoust robbed me of in saying she's contracted.  Iaco. 
My Lord, do not thus waste yourself  
In fruitless passion, but hear the remedy  
That I'll propound.  Du. 
First let me know which of the Gods it is,  
That in a mortal shape hath gained her love,  
That thou suspectest she is contracted,  
Or else some King, that in disguise hath left  
His Kingdom, to obtain her Love  
Who is worth many Kingdoms.  
Name not a meaner Rival, if thou dost  
Expect I should believe.  Iaco. 
My Lord, it is a man, to whom  
Your valorous hand gave life.  Du. 
Cursed be my hand then for that unkind office,  
Against my heart; name him.  Iaco. 
It is the young Lord Lysander.  Du. 
Take that ignorant fool, Lysander! Strikes him.  Iaco. 
How! struck: is this my hop't reward?  
By all that's good, I'll be revenged.  Duke. 
I was too rash,  
She is a Woman, and may dissemble, Lysander to  
Is noble courteous valiant, handsome,  
But yet compared with me his fortunes nothing.  
Alas, that cannot bar love, out of a noble breast,  
Such as Clarinda's is: what ways my Birth  
Or greatness with the King, in her consideration?  
Lysander's equal fortunes, and her own,  
In that their Fathers suffer for one cause,  
His banished, hers a prisoner (till I released him)  
Hath I fear, begot a mutual love betwixt them.  
Friend, prithee pardon me, I was too rash,  
I'll heal thy hurt with gold.  Iaco. 
My Lord, I am a Gentleman,  
And were you not a Kinsman to the King,  
The blow you gave me might have cost you dear.  Duke. 
I'll heal thy reputation, and thy head  
With store of crowns; here: but prithee tell me,  
What moved thee to discover this to me?  
Or how cam'st thou thyself to know of it?  
I think her Father doth not.  Iaco. 
I think he doth not, it is long since,  
Since I suspected it; and to assure myself,  
The other night I crept behind the Arbour,  
Where they use to meet sometimes, and soon by their  
Discourse, I found what I suspected, to be most true:  
My love unto your Grace made me so curious;  
For I protest there is no man alive,  
That's more ambitious to do your Lordship service;  
It grieved my soul to see a man that so deserved,  
So much neglected and abused. Some of this is true.  Duke. 
If thou wilt make thy fortune,  
Bring me where unseen, I may overhear them.  Iaco. 
So your Grace will not discover yourself,  
I'll promise you once within three nights.  Duke. 
By mine honour I will not, perform  
Thy promise, and I will make thee happy.  Iaco. 
Be sure you show not  
At your return to them the least distemper.  Duke. 
Fear not that. Exeunt.  Enter Clarinda, Utrante, Lysander, Bernardo. Clar. 
Sir, you have showed us many Pictures;  
But above all the rest, I like that of your Lords.  Ber. 
madam, I know my Lord would think him happy  
Would you accept the picture; but much happier  
If you would take the substance.  Clar. 
It may be Sir I will.  Utran. 
Daughter, I charge you on my blessing,  
When the Duke returns to use him with respect.  Clar. 
Father, I see you have no skill, you do not know  
The craft we women use to make men love the more;  
The smallest favour I shall show him after this harsh usage,  
Will make him think himself in heaven.  Utran. 
Before you part, when he comes back,  
I pray you urge my restoration,  
But first promise to marry him.  Clar. 
Leave that to my Discretion  Enter Duke. Duke. 
Gentle Lady, I crave your pardon for my stay,  
Which was drawn out beyond my expectation.  Lys. 
methinks my Lord looks sour upon me.  Clar. 
My Lord, indeed I wondered how you stayed so long,  
O rather how you lived your heart and you being parted;  
For that you left behind you when you went.  Duke. 
madam, I do confess it is a miracle  
Proceeding from your beauty, that I could live  
So long wanting a heart; but trust me,  
If my faithful service cannot procure me yours,  
But that you needs will send my own again,  
The Miracle will then be altered quite;  
For now the Miracle consisteth in that I live  
And yet you have my heart; and than it will  
Be a Miracle indeed if I do live after  
Your scorn shall give it back again.  Clar. 
My Lord, I see it was not bounty  
But hope of gain made you give me your heart;  
For you expect that I should give you mine  
By way of recompense, which yet I cannot do:  
But that I may be sure they are true Miracles  
That you are pleased to say my Beauty worketh;  
For there are many false ones here in love's Religion;  
I'll take a Month for trial of the truth,  
All which time my charity compels me to keep your heart;  
For should I send it backs, you say it would kill you,  
Or work another Miracle, which I desire not,  
In that time I shall be acquainted with your heart,  
If then it doth appear the same it now doth,  
Clad in the same pure zeal that now it wears,  
I'll make a change, and give you mine for it;  
For when a Month is once past, come you  
And lead me to the Church, I'll not refuse to go.  Du. 
Slave that I was to trust that villain jacomo,  
That told me she loved Lysander. Dear Lady  
You have in this comfortable answer  
Revived a dying man, this mercy at the block,  
Shows you to be divine, and so an object  
Fit for my affection, which hath been still  
Above my reason: but would you in the mean time  
Command me something, where my faithful service  
Might appear, more than in words, I then should be  
Most happy.  Enter Servants with a Banquet and stools. Clar. 
This offer I expected;  
My Lord, you know the injuries my Father  
Hath received: if you will see him righted,  
His Lands and Honours back to him restored,  
Which is but justice for a bribe, for even just causes  
Now have need of bribery: I'll give you thanks,  
And trust me that is more than great men  
Should expect for doing justice.  Duke. 
Rather if it please you,  
Let it be something, wherein I shall have no other tie  
Upon me but only your command, my honour  
Ties me to see this performed.  Clar. 
This once performed,  
Since you so much desire it, I will study  
Some Command, that may add honour to you  
In the fair performance.  Utran. 
Come my Lord, we will draw near,  
I see their parley's at an end.  Duke. 
Come sit fair Lady.  
My Lord, what says my Daughter?  
Will she yet yield to his own happiness.  Du. 
I hope she will at last make me a fitter mark  
For Envy, in that I am beloved of her,  
Then for my present greatness.  Lys. 
My Lord, there is no cause of Envy for either,  
The greatness of your honors being but the Just  
Reward of your unequalled merit: and for Clarinda,  
Though her worth be great as you can wish it;  
Yet you do well deserve her, both for your worthy Love,  
And for the many favours you have done her Father.  Utran. 
My Lord, believe me, he hath spoke my thoughts.  Duke. 
Now when the King sent for me, I had prevented  
Your Daughter in a command that she laid upon me  
Concerning your restoring to your Lands,  
But that the King was angry at something that I said.  Lys. 
I thought it had been Impossible,  
He could have been offended with your Grace.  Duke. 
'Tis true, at other times he could not,  
But the Lords told me that his Sister  
Fair Cleonarda, had received a hurt,  
By rescuing of the hounds from the Stags fury,  
When he stood at bay, and that made him it may be  
So apt for to be angry.  Lys. 
Why did they suffer her so to endanger herself?  Du. 
My Lord, she apprehends not danger,  
Which you'll confess yourself, when you have heard  
Me tell, what I have seen her do.  Lys. 
This act to me my Lord, is a sufficient testimony  
That she doth not fear; for by the laws of hunting  
It is not to any man thought a disparagement,  
To give way to a Stag, his head being hard.  Du. 
She is a Lady of that noble Spirit,  
That she wants nothing but the person of a Man  
To be one, her heart being equal  
To the most valiant, with these eyes I saw her,  
(The King her brother being in the Forest)  
Break from the company, and pursue a wolf,  
Which the hounds following of a Stag,  
Did bring out of a thicket, and being well horsed,  
She plied him with so many wounding shafts,  
That he at length was forced to stay his course,  
And seeing there was no way to scape by flight,  
He turned', for to revenge the wounds he had  
Received, in which he showed himself a beast indeed  
And led by brutish fury; for had he been  
Endued with reason, he'd have ta'en the wounds  
She gave for favours, and kissed the instrument,  
That honoured him with death from her fair hand.  Lys. 
My Lord, 'tis strange a woman should do this.  Duke. 
I was the nearest, but ere I could come in  
She had cut off his head, the service  
That I could do her, was to carry to the King  
Her brother, that Trophy of her Victory,  
Whilst she followed the hounds, and so fled  
From the hearing of her own just praises,  
Which all with admiration did bestow upon her.  Utran. 
But that your Grace doth tell it,  
I should not think a woman could do this.  Clar. 
My Lord, did I love you so well as to be jealous,  
These praises of the Princess, were apt food  
For it to feed on.  Duke 
madam, I honour her as the beloved Sister  
Of my Sovereign; but adore you as my Goddess,  
At whose blessed shrine, I offer up my life, and fortunes.  Clar. 
My Lord, I should account it as the most acceptable  
Service that you could do, to bring me to kiss the hands  
Of this much to be admired Lady.  Duke. 
madam, once every week She comes to see the King,  
And the King every time he hunts, fails not  
To see her, when next she comes to the Court,  
I will wait upon you to her.  Clar. 
What is the reason  
She lives not with her brother at the Court,  
Since he so dearly loves her as they say?  Du. 
It's certain no Brother loves a Sister better,  
For there's no Brother hath a Sister so worthy,  
You having never a Brother.  Clar. 
My Lord, 'tis late;  
And though heretofore the company of a Father  
Were a sufficient buckler to bear off slanders darts;  
Yet now world is changed, grown so vicious,  
That Fathers are become the likeliest Instruments  
Of sin, and women are not to satisfy themselves  
Alone, with being good; but they must give the world  
A firm belief of all their actions,  
That they are so; there may be some seeing me here  
Thus late, that will not stick to say, my honour  
Is the bribe paid for my Father's restoration.  Du. 
Though there were found one envious woman foolish  
And wicked to report it; (for both these she must be)  
There could not sure be found another Fiend  
Of the same stamp, that would believe it;  
I dare not though I wish it bid you stay longer:  
I will wait upon you to your Coach.  Clar. 
My Lord, it shall not need.  Utran. 
My Lord, I hope it will not be long  
Before this ceremony of parting will be quite lost,  
And that you will not be so far asunder.  Duke. 
In hope of that blessed hour I live.  Clar. 
Do not too strongly apprehend your happiness,  
A month's a long time, all things are uncertain,  
Especially the promises of women. Exeunt.  Enter jacomo. Iaco. 
Fortune, I see thou art a friend to working spirits,  
Thou wouldst not else have given me this occasion  
So soon to compass my ends by; I overheard Clarinda,  
When she entreated Lysander to meet her in the  
Accustomed place, and thither will I bring the Duke.  
He from Clarinda's promise of Marriage,  
Is now grown something doubtful, whether that  
Which I did tell him be true or no; but now his own ear  
Shall be his witness; for which service he cannot choose  
But both love an reward me.  
But I lose precious time, which wise men ever  
Consider of, but fools seldom or never. Exit.  Enter Clarinda, and Lysander, (as in an Arbour) in the night. Lys. 
Had you not sent me word, I had not come tonight,  
It is so dark.  Clar. 
It is dark indeed, the fitter for one o'ercharged  
With grief in heart as I am.  Lys. 
Why dear Clarinda, are you not resolved  
To marry with the Duke?  Clar. 
I see Lysander you do not love me now,  
Nor wish my happiness, you would not else  
Persuade me from loving you, wherein it only  
Can consist.  Lys. 
Will you still for the airy name of Constant,  
Rob yourself of a substantial happiness,  
Besides, think what duty bids you, do it  
In respect of your Father; if he should marry  
He must needs fall into the king's displeasure,  
He being his Kinsman, so what happiness  
Could you enjoy? Will you be ruled by me,  
And I'll show you a direct way to happiness;  
Do you love me as you profess?  Enter Duke and jacomo. Clar. 
You know I love you more  
Than I have words to utter.  Lys. 
Yet you would never give consent to marry me  
Though it were still my Suit, alleging  
That our fortunes were too mean, and had we  
Without Marriage enjoyed the sweets of love,  
It had been dangerous unto your honour,  
Should you have proved with child; but will be now  
Secure in that respect, if you marry with the Duke;  
And for our difficulty in meeting,  
'Twill add to our delights; now every time  
That we shall meet in secret, will far pass  
A wedding-night in joy, stolen pleasures give  
An appetite, secure delights but cloy.  Duke. 
O my vexed soul!  
Must I then hear a villain speak thus to her  
I love, and not revenge it presently?  Iaco. 
My Lord, remember your Oath.  Clar. 
Lysander, why d'ye stare so and look pale?  
Your hair stands up an end, as if your sense  
Began to fail you sure you are fall'n mad,  
Nay, I do hope you are so; for if you be not,  
I am more miserable than if you were:  
For, can Lysander be himself, and speak thus  
To his Clarinda? No, he cannot: either Lysander  
Is changed from what he was; or else he never  
Was what I esteemed him, either of which  
Makes me most miserable.  Lys. 
You would seem to think me mad, when indeed  
yourself are so, you would not else thus weep  
When I advise you to that which will be most to our content.  Clar. 
Pardon me Lysander, that I have seemed  
For to believe; for sure I did no more,  
That which you have spoke proceeded from your heart.  Lys. 
Why do you think that I dissembled in what I said.  Clar. 
Yes, Lysander; I know you did dissemble;  
For if you did not, you were a loathed villain.  Lys. 
I do confess if I were that Lysander  
Which I have seemed to be; it were impossible  
For me to think what I have spoke; but know  
Clarinda, Though hitherto I have seemed  
To carry in my breast a flame so pure,  
That never yet a spark of Lust appeared,  
It hath been a dissembled show of modesty,  
Only to cozen you; and if Clarinda,  
The requital of my affection be that which  
Hinders you from these great honours, be not deceived,  
For you shall have more power than to requite it,  
When you are greater: we are now equal;  
But when you are a Duchess, then t'enjoy you  
Will be a double pleasure, than you shall have  
Occasion to express your love in my advancement  Duke. 
I'll kill him instantly.  Iaco. 
Your oath my Lord.  Duke. 
The merit of the act being so just,  
Will expiate the sin of perjury.  Iaco. 
My Lord,  Duke. 
What, shall I hear her whom I have adored  
Almost with as much zeal as I have offered up  
My prayers to the Gods, tempted to acts of Lust  
And not revenge it?  Iaco. 
My Lord, hear me but speak, and then do what you will: if you should thus in the night, and in the house of the Count Utrante kill Lord Lysander, your honour Clarinda's, and her Fathers would be tainted, and so breed strange combustions: but if you be resolved that he must die, which in my judgement is most necessary, if you still love Clarinda, I will undertake for to dispatch him by some means or other; but should you now here in Clarinda's presence kill him she loves, her mind is so noble she would never endure you.  Duke. 
This is a villain, an incarnate Devil:  
Yet will I follow some part of his counsel:  
Lead me the way back unseen. I'll stay no longer;  
For if I hear him speak again in that base Key,  
I shall do that which I hereafter may repent.  
No. I'll take the noblest way to my revengement. Exit.  Lys. 
Clarinda, you have long been silent,  
What is it you consider of? if it be my words,  
You must needs find them full of reason.  Clar. 
I'll seem as base as he would have me,  
And so find out whether he speaks this from  
His heart or no.  Clar. 
I must confess that this which you have spoken  
Stands with good reason; and reason is the rule  
By which we ought to square our actions:  
Dare I believe that you would counsel me  
To any thing, but that which will be most  
For my content, and for the Duke, will it not be  
Far less to his content, not to enjoy at all  
Me whom he loves, then if he should possess me,  
And yet you have a share with him in my embracings:  
For what is that husband worse, whose wife abuses him,  
If she have but the wit to keep it from his knowledge.  Lys. 
It is true the Duke is so noble, and doth withal  
So truly love you, that it will quite banish  
All base distrust, so that we might with all security  
Enjoy our loves.  Clar. 
Leave, leave.  Lys. 
Or if he should find out our craft,  
How soon might we dispatch him by poison?  
There have been such things done.  Clar. 
You do overact your part,  
I see the end you aim at, your virtue shows itself  
Quite through that mask of vice, which love to me  
And to my Father made you put on; you thought  
If you could have given me a belief  
Of your unworthiness, that then I would have given  
Consent to have married with the Duke:  
Leave your dissembling then, since you're discovered,  
Lest you offend the Gods; I only seemed  
To give applause to what you said, to find  
Your craft.  Lys. 
I see my heart lies open to you,  
You have spoken my very thoughts, indeed  
This was my end.  Clar. 
Lysander, I perceive that your affection  
Is altogether governed by your reason,  
For which if it be possible, I love you more,  
Because it well becomes a man to do so:  
But I should hate myself, if I should love  
According to your rule, which I will manifest;  
For here I take the heavens to witness,  
That if within three days you do not marry me,  
I'll kill myself, speak quickly; for if you do not  
Love me, it is a greater mercy to tell me so,  
(That I may die) then to persuade me  
To love another, that being impossible,  
But death is easy.  Lys. 
Clarinda, you have overcome by this rash oath  
My resolution: for I perceive the fates  
Had foreordained we should enjoy each other,  
After such real testimonies, to make our love the firmer.  
I do with joy embrace what you compel  
Me to by your rash oath; and if your Father  
Wilfully will stay, and not fly with us,  
Rather than I will ever draw tears  
From those bright eyes.  
I so dearly love, we'll leave him to the danger. Exeunt.  Enter the Duke with two Letters. Duke. 
Shall I still love one that neglects my faithful service?  
Alack I cannot help it now, I yielded up  
My heart at the first summons, her fair eyes made,  
methought it was a kind of treason, once  
To doubt that she was not the sovereign of all hearts:  
Thus she that came to Court, to beg her Father's liberty,  
Had not that granted only, but that I who begged  
It for her, became myself her prisoner,  
And never man was prouder of his bondage  
Then I was: what though she love a villain  
Whose intemperate lust, and base dissembling,  
Kather deserves her hate; yet she is fair  
And virtuous still; it is my part to let her  
See her error, though with the danger of my life,  
If I survive the combat, and that she know  
For what respect I fought, she cannot choose  
But love me, and if the heavens have so ordained,  
That I must fall under Lysander's sword,  
Yet I have written that, which shall give a better  
Testimony that I did love her more than he.  
Who waits there?  Enter Francisco and Bernardo. Fran. 
My Lord.  Duke. 
I mean to ride abroad this morning,  
And if I come not back at night, carry this letter  
To the King; Bernardo, carry this presently  
Unto the young Lord Lysander. Exeunt.  Enter jacome. Iaco. 
My plots are dashed, the Duke doth turn his eyes upon me as though he would look me dead, I shall gain hate on all sides, if I be not wary and cunningly dissemble; revenge and profit are the ends I aim at; since I have missed the one, I'll make the other sure. Lysander, I do hate thee for coming into the world to rob me of my land; yet I do think thou art not only false; my Brother did tricks, which when I would have proved in open Court the Duke's power bolstered up against me; but I do hope I shall be now revenged upon them both. I'll poison the Duke myself, and to the King accuse Lysander, as if he had done it, fearing that the Duke should rob him of his Mistress: I have a servant shall swear what I would have him, I keep him for the purpose; since the Duke would not give me leave to use my drugs for him, he shall himself taste of them; lest for that kindness I offered him, I should myself be punished: He that to honour looks is not for my black ends,  
Revenge & profit I'll pursue through blood of foes and friends.  Enter Lysander and Bernardo. Lys. 
Where is the Duke Sir?  Ber. 
He is this morning ridden forth,  
Whither I do not know.  Lys. 
Your Letter Sir, does not require an answer,  
It will not be long before I see his Grace myself.  Ber. 
Good morrow to your Lordship.  Lys. 
Good morrow Sir, I'll read them once more over,  He reads. Though the small number of Lines seem not to require it, Lysander, I wait for you at the great Elm within the Forest, make haste, and to prevent danger, come armed. 
Few words, but I believe a Prologue too much mischief.  
I fear that my affection and Clarinda's  
Is to the Duke discovered; and now disdain  
And anger to be outrivaled, boil within his breast,  
If it be so, he takes the noblest way,  
To use no other force but his own arm:  
But how shall I employ my Sword to take  
His life that gave me mine, my conscience tells me  
Though it be not apparent to the world,  
That I am even with him; for that since I to him  
Would have given up my interest in Clarinda,  
Would she have given consent. It may be  
I am deceived in this my apprehension,  
And that it is in love he sends for me;  
If it be so, I shall be glad; if not, however  
I will meet him according to his desire;  
But first I'll write a Letter to Clarinda,  
It may be I shall never see her more:  
If I come not home tonight, carry a Letter  
You shall find within upon the Table to Clarinda:  
Honour thou tiest us men to strange conditions;  
For rather then we'll lose the smallest part of thee,  
We on an even lay venture Souls and Bodies,  
For so they do that enter single Combats. Exeunt.  Enter Cleonarda, and Mariana. Cleo. 
It is hot Mariana; we'll rest ourselves a while,  
And when the day grows cooler have another course.  Mari. 
I wonder how the deer escaped; the follow-dog  
Once pinched him.  Cleo. 
It was the bushes saved him.  Mari. 
Why will you course among the bushes?  
Gerard the Keeper would have brought you  
To a fairer course; but you will never let  
Him go along.  Cleo. 
I hate to have a tutor in my sport.  
I will find and kill my Game myself;  
What satisfaction is't to me if by another's skill  
I purchase any thing?  Mari, 
Yet you must have  
Your husband chosen to your hand; the King your Brother  
Will take that pains for you.  Cleo. 
He shall have leave to name me one;  
But if I do not think him worthy of me,  
I'll break that Kingly custom, of marrying  
For the good of the State; since it makes Princes  
More miserable than Beggars; for Beggars marry  
Only those they love.  Mar. 
madam, it's true, we not alone in Princes  
See the bitter effects of such forced Marriages;  
But even in private Families, Murders and  
Adulteries, do often wait upon those Couples  
Whose Bodies are compelled by Parents or Friends  
To join for worldly respects, without the soul's consent.  Cleo. 
'Tis true Mariana, how many careful Parents  
That love their children dearly, thinking  
To make them happy by marrying of them richly,  
Make them miserable, both here and in the other world.  Mari. 
madam, 'tis very hot, will you go bathe yourself  
In the River.  Cleo. 
With all my heart Mariana,  
It will refresh us well against the Evening:  
I am resolved to kill a Deer tonight,  
Without the keeper's help. Exeunt.  Enter Duke and Lysander. Lys. 
I hope your Grace hath not long stayed for me.  Duke. 
No, Lysander, you are come before  
My expectation, though not before my wish:  
You cannot guess the cause that I sent for you.  Lys. 
My Lord, I cannot,  
Unless fortune be so favourable to give me  
A fair and just occasion by being your Second,  
To hazard that life for you, which by your valour  
Was preserved; but why to hope so great a blessing  
I cannot see; since who within this Kingdom  
Dare injure you; yet you commanded  
That I should come armed.  Du. 
For being my Second, banish that thought,  
And yet I mean to fight today, and for an injury  
That is done to me; and you Lysander shall fight to,  
Not as a Second, but a Principal.  Lys. 
With whom?  Duk. 
With me Lysander.  Lys. 
With you my Lord, upon what quarrel.  Duk. 
I will maintain that I do love Clarinda  
Better than you, and better do deserve  
To be beloved by her.  Lys. 
My Lord. I do confess it,  
And so this cannot be a cause of quarrel;  
She is your Mistress and deserves to be so,  
There being no other worthy of your Service:  
But for my part I have no interest in her  
More than a friend. Why should your grace think  
I love her then so well, to make my love  
To her, the quarrel?  Duke. 
Lysander, I did not think  
thou'dst been so base to have denied thy Mistress;  
But I will further maintain, thou art thyself  
A Villain, a base dissembling lustful one.  Lys. 
Had these words,  
(Which wound you deeper far than they do me,  
Since they are scandalous) come from another,  
My sword should first have answered, not my tongue;  
But since you are one to whom I owe my life,  
I'll keep another method: First, I'll let you see  
The wrong you do me, which if you shall not  
Straight acknowledge, our swords shall then decide  
Whether this title be my due or no,  
And lest you may condemn me for an enemy,  
As thinking me your debtor, I'll let you see  
That you my Lord, are as much bound to me,  
As I to you, though you did save my life.  Duk. 
Lysander, do not think,  
You owe me any thing for saving of your life,  
The thanks if any was due to Fortune,  
Who brought me thither; for what I did  
A peasant might have done, you being yourself  
Almost a Conqueror before I came,  
Though sure enough for want of blood to perish,  
Had I not brought you home, which yet indeed,  
Was but my duty to help a wounded man:  
But how Lysander, I should stand engaged to you  
For greater obligations, (though this, I grant,  
Be small) I cannot see.  Lys. 
Though you should amplify, as you diminish  
What you did form; yet 'twould never equal  
The pulling of my heart out of my breast,  
For to give you content.  Duke. 
I cannot understand your Riddle;  
Yet fear it tends to base submission.  Lys. 
Duke, be not deceived for after the discovery  
Of that secret which I will tell you,  
I'll give you an assurance with my sword,  
I do not fear.  Duk. 
What secret is this?  Lys. 
I did but now deny that I did love Clarinda,  
But now I call the heavens to witness  
Who must assist me in so just a quarrel,  
That I do love her equal with my life;  
And now I will maintain that I deserve  
To be better beloved by her than you.  Duk. 
Come then, may the truest Lover  
Prove the Victor.  Lys. 
First let me show you,  
How I acquit the obligation, I ought you,  
Clarinda loves me more than I can her, yet though  
She thus love me, I out of my gratefulness to you,  
Used the best part of my eloquence,  
To persuade her to marry you; and is not this  
A secret, and a discharging of the debt I owed you.  Du. 
These ears indeed can witness thou didst persuade her  
To marry me, but it was to satisfy  
Thy own base ends thy lust and thy ambition,  
Not out of thy gratitude to me as thou pretendest.  Lys. 
My lust the vestal Virgins that keep in the holy fire,  
Have not more cold desires than I have.  Duke. 
I in her Father's Garden late last night,  
Overheard thee tempt that bright Angel  
Which my soul adores, to acts of lust;  
And with such moving reasons, that flesh and blood  
Could never have resisted, considering  
That she loved thee; but that there was a power  
That governs above reason, guarded her  
From thy strong temptation.  Lys. 
My Lord, that curiosity hath undone you,  
For I do call the heavens to witness,  
That what I then spoke when I seemed vicious,  
Was all dissembled; intending you the fruit  
Of that dissimulation; for when I once  
Have made myself a peer unworthy,  
I thought that she would then have turned  
The stream of her affection upon you.  Du. 
Can this be true?  
Sure fear makes him invent this; no sure,  
He cannot be a Coward. Lysander,  
Thou hast told me that, if it be true,  
Doth render thee a perfect man; but not  
A perfect lover: and trust me if there were  
A possibility that I could live without Clarinda,  
I should be friends with thee; but since she  
Is the mark at which we both aim, the one must  
By the blood of the other, purchase that happiness:  
And therefore guard yourself. They fight.  Lys. 
My Lord, the injustice of your cause,  
Not Fortune hath disarmed you, and therefore yield.  Duke. 
If fear of death could make me  
Forget Clarinda, wear the Victor's prize  
Than I perchance might yield; but since it cannot,  
Make use of your advantage.  Lys. 
I scorn to gain a victory so poorly,  
But to this man that saved my life.  Du. 
You are a noble enemy, and have so won  
Upon me by my courtesy, that could you  
Quit your interest in Clarinda, I should with joy  
Share fortunes with you.  Lys. 
We lose time; for since we cannot both  
Enjoy Clarinda, both must not live. Lys. falls.  Du. 
Fortune, I thank thee,  
Now I am even with you, rise.  Lys. 
I owe you for my life; we were but quit before;  
I would our quarrel were of another nature.  Duke. 
I would it were; but as it is  
One of us must lie cold upon this grass,  
Before we part. Fight. Duke falls.  Lys. 
Ah poor Clarinda, this is too sad a witness  
Of thy perfections; would thou were here yet,  
That I might take my last farewell.  Enter Cleonarda and Mariana. Mar. 
O dear Madame, what a sad object's this?  Cleo. 
Be not afraid,  
See if the breath have quite forsaken that body.  Lys. 
O my best love Clarinda,  
Receive from my dying lips, a dying kiss.  Cleo. 
How's this!  Mari. 
madam, the breath hath quite forsaken this body, as I think: O my dear Brother!  Cleo. 
Is it Lysander then, whom I have longed so much to see?  
I saw him not since he came home from travail,  
And much it grieves me that I see him thus,  
This is the second time that I have seen him:  
Besmeared in blood!  Mari. 
Dear Brother speak, who hath hurt you?  Lys. 
Dear Sister,  
What blessed Angel hath brought you hither?  Cleo. 
This it no fit time for questions Mariana,  
Let's help him to the Lodge, before his loss of blood  
o'ercome his spirits.  Lys. 
Fair and courteous Lady, pardon me,  
My sight did fail through my excessive bleeding,  
Which made me to mistake.  Mari. 
Brother it is the Princess.  Lys. 
O madam, lead me no further then;  
For you will curse your charity if you preserve me.  Cleo. 
Why Sir?  Lys. 
Because I have by this unlucky hand,  
Robbed you of such a Kinsman, as our Sovereign  
And yourself were justly proud of.  Cleo. 
Who is that?  Lys. 
The Duke, who lies there as you see.  Cleo. 
It cannot be.  Lys. 
madam, it is too true.  Cleo. 
Alas my cousin!  
Sir, you have an unlucky hand indeed;  
For you have this day murdered two:  
justice will at your hands require his blood.  Mar. 
O madam say not so, had you but e'en now  
So great a care to save his life, and are you now  
So cruel to say that he must perish by the hand  
Of justice, though he should scape these wounds?  
Would not the Duke have killed him if he could?  
I'll pawn my life upon 't, my Brother killed him fairly.  Cleo. 
What shall I do, if I help to preserve him  
That killed my Kinsman, it is unnatural in me,  
And I beside may lose my Brother's good opinion;  
And should I be the cause that Mariana's brother perish,  
I shall lose her for ever; either she'll die for grief,  
Or else she'll hate me. I'll do as I did first intend,  
My conscience tells me it is the nobler course;  
Besides, there is something, I know not what it is,  
Bids me preserve Lysander, the great desire I had  
To see him, bred from the general commendations which  
The world bestows upon him, imported something.  Mari. 
Dear Brother, what was your quarrel?  Cleo. 
Come Sir, be of good comfort, neither your wounds  
Nor the cold hand of justice, if it be  
Within my power to help it, shall rob  
Your loving Sister of you, she is by me  
So well beloved.  Mar. 
I want words to express how much I love  
And honour you.  Lys. 
madam I would not have you go about  
To preserve me with your own danger,  
I mean the king's displeasure, beside, I fear  
Your labour will be fruitless; for if the Lodge  
Be not hard by, sure I shall bleed to death,  
Before we can come thither.  Cleo. 
It is but hard by.  Lys. 
Then I may live to do you service,  
Rather let me perish before I trouble you.  Cleo. 
You are her Brother, and cannot trouble me,  
we'll lay the body behind yond bush, until we  
Send for it. Exeunt.   

Actus tertius, Scoena prima.  Enter Cleonarda and Gerard. Cleo. 
Can you not find the Duke's body  
Say you Gerard?  Ger. 
nowhere madam can I find it,  
And yet I have sought it round about the place  
Where you appointed me; I found the bloody plot  
Where it had been, his horse I found to  
Tied fast to a tree.  Cleo. 
It is strange, what can become of it, Gerard,  
Upon your life keep secret what you know,  
And see that none come near the Lodge.  
I will send you all provision necessary,  
Pretending that Mariana is sick.  Ger. 
madam, I fear she will be so indeed,  
She doth so apprehend her Brother's danger.  Cleo. 
She hath no cause, no wounds of his are mortal;  
Or if they were, I have applied such sovereign remedies  
That they shall cure 'em: but who shall be my Surgeon?  
Love, I must fly to thee I fear for remedy,  
I pray thee go back, and see that all things be well,  
And in the morning bring me word how she hath  
Slept tonight.  Ger. 
madam, there shall be nothing wanting  
That lieth within my power. Exit.  Cleo. 
How careful am I  
Of his wounds? methinks I would not  
Have him die for all the world: fie Cleonarda,  
Taken at the first sight with outward beauty,  
Nor being assured first of the inward worth!  
I wrong myself, and him: It was  
The inward bravery of his mind, which all  
The Kingdom doth admire, that turned my heart,  
Which until now hath been like adamant  
To Kings, to melting Ice to him, and not his  
Outward beauty, that never could have found  
A passage to my heart, but that the way  
Was chalked out to it by his Fame: but stay,  
Whither do my vain imaginations carry me?  
Though Lysander could in worth equal the Gods,  
Yet it were not fit for me to love him as a husband;  
He is my Brother's Subject, shall he be my Master?  
No. To my old sports again: tomorrow  
I will be up by break of day,  
And Reason (as I chase the Stag)  
Shall chase these thoughts away. Exit.  Enter King, Bernardo, jacomo, Attendants. King. 
When rode your Lord abroad?  Ber. 
Early this morning.  King. 
How chances you then did not sooner  
Bring me this Letter?  Ber. 
I was commanded otherways by him.  King reads. 
Royal Sir, add to the number of your many favours, the performance of this my last request:  
What doth he mean by this?  
I pray you see Clarinda (who is my wife) possessed of what was mine, and withal, pardon him that kills me; for I will compel him to fight. How's this? Begin not after my death to deny me that which is just, since in my life time you never did see the will of the dead effected, as you desire to have your Testament performed after your death, which I pray the Gods that it may be yet a long life.  
O what a Character is here delivered, of a pure mind,  
Which only seems to show the greatness of my loss  
The plainer, his death is not yet certain,  
Let me not like a woman spend that time  
In fruitless lamentations which may perchance  
Afford a remedy, but now it is night:  
What shall I do? call all the Court, and let them all  
Disperse themselves, each man a several way;  
He that brings word the Duke is alive,  
Shall have a thousand pounds: he is gone to fight  
A Combat with whom I know not; but he that  
Apprehends the man that killed him, shall have his land  
Is there none here that knows of any falling out  
Between him and some other Lord? speak,  
Is there none can tell me?  Iaco. 
And if it please your Majesty, I think  
I have a guess.  King. 
Speak then.  Iaco. 
If he be gone to fight, it is with  
Young Lysander.  King. 
Let one go look for Lysander presently.  
What grudge was betwixt them? or fell they lately out?  Iaco. 
I will tell your Majesty in private. I am a servant to the Count Utrante, and was employed by that most noble Duke, (whom I do fear sleeps now in death) for to solicit his true love to my young Lady, which I did faithfully perform: but I found all I did was vain, for she long time hath been in love with young Lysander, which when I knew, I gave the Duke straight notice; this hath so far incensed the Duke against Lysander, that they are gone to fight.  King. 
This that thou hast told is certain true,  
Else she would never have denied to have married  
With the Duke, and for thy love and faithful service to him,  
Which I believe is now no more; for else by this time,  
He would have returned. I will requite thee.  Iaco. 
He was the noblest Gentleman  
That I shall ever know. He weeps.  King. 
Alas goodman, he weeps.  
He that can bring me word the Duke is alive,  
Redeems his King from misery. Exeunt. manet Iaco.  Iaco. 
I hope he never shall come back alive, he knows I am a villain, I was too forward in my offers to him, till I had tried his dispositions better. It is kindly done of him and of Lysander yet to spare my pains: there now wants nothing of my wish but that the Duke be killed, and I to find out where Lysander is, than I shall be revenged upon them both, and be possessed of that which is my due, (Lysander's land) for so the King hath promised. My way to find Lysander if he hath killed the Duke, is for to give Clarinda a firm belief that I do dearly love him; for sure if he be living, she shall hear of him, and if I find him, I have another villainy in my head, which I will put in act, besides my giving notice of him to the King.  

My villainy shall Virtue be in show,  
For all shall think me honest jacomo.  Exit.  Enter Clarinda with a Letter. Clar. 
reads .I fear the Duke hath notice of our loves; for he hath sent to me to meet him armed, I fear it is to fight, if it be so, and I survive the Combat, I will send you word where I abide, if I be killed, I do conjure you by your virtues, not to to be ungrateful unto the Duke, who you see doth not desire to live, without he may enjoy you for his wife.  

No my Lysander, in that hour when I shall hear  
That thy fair soul is parted from thy body,  
I will quickly follow thee.   Enter Servant. Seru. 
madam, the King is at the gate, and in a rage,  
Threatens your Father's death and yours, they say Lysander  
Hath killed the Duke.  Clar. 
I feared as much,  
This comes of my dissembling.  Enter King, Utrante, and Attendants. Utran. 
Why is your Majesty offended with your Vassal,  
Who as yet never so much as in a thought offended you.  King. 
Where is that Enchantress, which you call Clarinda?  Clar. 
Here Sir, is the unhappy object of your anger.  King. 
I am amazed, I never till now saw true beauty.  
Why kneel you Lady?  Clar. 
It is my duty Sir, you are my Sovereign.  King. 
Rise fair Creature; came I to chide, and do I kiss.  
This is the force of Beauty; who lives  
That can be offended with so sweet a Creature?  
I cannot now blame the Duke, for valuing  
Her so much. I would she were the Daughter.  
Of some neighbouring King, that I without  
Disparagement might love her: but I forget  
myself, these are poor humble thoughts,  
And far beneath the Majesty of a King.  
Lady, I came to chide, I fear you are the cause  
That I have lost a Kinsman, a worthy one  
In all the world's opinion, excepting yours.  Cla. 
Sir, pardon me you were yourself the cause  
By your excessive love to him; for that made me  
Dissemble my affections to Lysander,  
Fearing to daw your frowns upon my Father,  
Should I have showed neglect unto the Duke.  Kin. 
whoever was the cause, you shall not feel  
The punishment; the Duke did truly love you,  
Lady, which you shall see here in this Letter  
Apparently, may you see your error,  
And grieve to death for your past folly,  
In refusing the quintessence of Mankind:  
Read it not now, you shall have time to grieve in,  
He shows there in his Letter, that you are his wife,  
That by that means I might be drawn the sooner,  
To perform his will, which is, that you should  
Be possessed of that which was his, and so you shall  
If he be dead.  Cla. 
Sir, I do utterly refuse it, all that I desire,  
Is that your Majesty will give me leave  
To depart, my griefs do so oppress me,  
That I am sick at heart.  King. 
When you please Lady. Exit Cla.  
My Lord how chanced it that you never told me  
That your Daughter loved Lysander?  Utran. 
Sir, let me perish it I knew it,  
I am amazed to hear it now. Exeunt.  Enter Lysander and Mariana. Lys. 
But Sister, can you think it possible,  
The Princess should thus love me.  Mar. 
Brother, I know you see it yourself,  
Though you will not take notice of it.  Lys. 
Believe me Mariana, it doth grieve me much  
So great a Princess should be so unhappy  
To love a man whose heart is not his own;  
For he that had a heart at his disposing  
Could not deny to give it her.  Ma. 
When she shall know you have another Mistria,  
She will call back her judgement, and quickly  
Free herself: but Brother, I do fear  
You love her too; you look and speak to her  
With more affection than well becomes your faith,  
Being promised to Clarinda.  Lys. 
What would you have me to do?  
Shall I not back return those courteous looks,  
That she the saver of my life bestows upon me?  
One knocks without.  Mar. 
I'll see who it is. Exit.  Enter Cleonacda. Cleo. 
How hath your brother slept tonight?  Mar. 
Exceeding well madam;  
Brother, here is the Princess.  Cleo. 
Lysander, how doth your wounds?  
Is your pain lessened?  Lys. 
madam, I have no pain  
But that I fear I never shall be able to requite  
This undeserved favour.  Cleo. 
Let not that trouble you; it is to me  
You owe the debt, and I will find some way  
To pay myself, that shall not make you poorer.  Lys. 
What shall I say, each virtuous deed  
Rewards itself, and that's the coin with which  
You must be paid, or else you will be a loser.  Cleo. 
Tell me Lysander, and tell me truly,  
Have you a Master?  Lys. 
I dare not lie madam.  
I have one that loves me equally.  Cle. 
Lysander, she hath reason, were I your Mistress,  
I think I should love you better than myself:  
But tell me Lysander, what was the quarrel,  
Betwixt the Duke and you.  Lys. 
madam, I cannot tell you without discovering  
That which I would gladly keep concealed;  
Yet why I should deny you the knowledge of any  
Secret my heart holds. I cannot see, except I should  
Be most ungrateful, you being the only cause  
That I have now a heart to keep a secret in.  Cleo. 
What was it, speak; I long, yet fear to know it.  Lys. 
The Duke and I were rivals,  
Clarinda was the mark at which both aimed.  Cleo. 
Which of you loved she best?  Lys. 
madam, she loved me best.  
we being brought up together,  
Which was her great misfortune;  
For had she known the Duke before me,  
Her judgement would have taught her  
To love the worthier,  
And one indeed that loved her better,  
At least, with greater passion.  Cleo. 
But did not half so well deserve to beloved  
By her as you, since he did go about  
To force love, or at the least to take from her  
The loved, that which she most delighted in, her servant.  Lys. 
Having once removed me, he hoped she  
Would accept of him, who would have made  
A worthier servant far, since he had power  
To raise her to that glorious height of fortune,  
Which well would have become her merits:  
But on the other side, he knew the means  
Of my Fortune, must needs obscure and darken  
Her perfections, so that he out of love  
To her rather then to himself, desired  
To make her his.  Cle. 
He could not choose but know that if he killed  
The man beloved by her she needs must hate him,  
If she were worthily constant; if not,  
Than he with danger of his life had purchased,  
Her too dearly; for I should still believe,  
If once she changed, she always would become  
The victor's Prize.  Lys. 
madam, there was some unlucky mistaking  
Betwixt us, or else we had not fought.  Cl. 
Would it had pleased heaven you had not fought  
Or that the Duke had scaped with life; but since  
Your quarrel was not to be reconciled, though I  
Do blush to say so. I am glad 'twas he that perished,  
For I have ever wished you well;  
I would not have you think I am now in love  
With you; yet by my life I cannot say, but I may be  
Hereafter, though I know you have a Mistress,  
Whose perfections darken mine, give me those  
Things to dress his wounds with.  
The wounds sure were given to me to make me happy,  
In being touched by your soft hands, my wounds  
Can never heal, my prayers are against it;  
Because being well I cannot have this blessing.  Cleo. 
What a strange alteration do I feel now!  
When I touch you, a certain coldness seizeth  
On my heart, and all my blood flies to my face:  
Sure I do love you; I ne'er yet knew what it was  
For to dissemble; if I love I say so,  
And if I hate, I keep it not concealed,  
I will not give a thought that is base  
A harbour in any breast; what need I then  
Conceal my heart? the praise Lysander  
Which was bestowed upon thee had bred in me  
A great desire to be my own assurance,  
Whether thou wert the master of so many  
Excellencies, as fame bestowed upon thee.  
And now that I do find they rather do  
Come short, than any whit outgo thy merit,  
Wonder not that I, though a Princess, am in love  
With thee, for I have still professed to love the  
Richest mind, which is in thee complete,  
With the addition of a comely Personage.  Lys. 
I hope your Grace doth not mock me.  Cleo. 
No by my life, I take delight  
In looking upon you.  Lys. 
I cannot think you are in earnest, yet I will  
Answer you, as if you were: should you love me  
Think you, or would you wish that I should break  
My forepast vows unto Clarinda.  Cle. 
No, it must be for your worth if I do love you,  
And when your prove unconstant, you are  
No longer worthy.  Lys. 
If I be constant,  
What fruit can you receive from your affection?  
A barren Love will ill become  
So great a Princess.  Cle. 
Be you still constant, love your Clarinda still;  
For when you cease to be so, I shall hate you;  
Only respect me as a Sister: for when my reason  
Shall have leave to combat against my passion,  
It will convert it to a Sisterly affection.  Lys. 
madam, I know  
In that you say you love me, you do it only  
For to make a trial how strongly I am armed  
By my Clarinda's merits against inconstancy;  
And I confess, if it were possible  
To undermine my faith, and blow my former  
Promises into the air, your pleasing speech,  
And those, yet majestic glances  
Of your eyes, were the only Instruments that yet  
I ever saw to do it.  Cleo. 
But speak you as you think Lysander.  Lys. 
Else may I perish; but mistake me not;  
For though I could believe your beauty  
And merit to be above Clarinda's;  
Which is unpossible, either that it should be,  
Or that I should believe it; yet where my word  
Is once past, though all the tortures man's wit  
Can invent should at one instant environ me  
To torture the mind and body, yet  
I would not break my faith.  Cle. 
May I be miserable if ere I persuade you to 't;  
Yet I could wish that you did love me,  
And with a little passion; but do not make show  
Of more than you do truly feel, thinking  
To please me; for if I find it I shall be angry,  
I will not hide a thought from you.  Mari. 
But madam, is it possible that  
(You) should love him thus?  Cleo. 
I scorn for to dissemble; for who stand  
I in fear of? were the King my Brother here,  
Sure I should not deny that I loved Lysander.  Mar. 
madam, I rather wish  
My Brother never had been borne,  
Then that the King should know you love him,  
Nay, I hope you know it not yourself:  
Shall I believe that your great heart, that ever  
Yet contemned love, can on a sudden in four  
Or five days' knowledge, be struck by my unworthy  
Brother's slender merits, and one that must  
Be perjured too, if he should love you.  Cleo. 
Mariana, take heed how you do pursue  
This Subject; for if you do, I should begin  
To hate you, are you not ashamed to contradict  
yourself? How oft hath your own tongue  
Given him the highest attributes of worth?  
Nay, you have been so lavish of his praises,  
That I have checked you for it though I believed  
Them to be true, because it comes  
Something too near the praising of ourselves,  
To praise a Brother, I am myself a witness  
Of his valour and his wit, and those are sure  
The main supporters to all other virtues,  
Blush not Lysander to hear thine own just praises,  
Except it be that I do sully them in the delivery,  
Thou gav'st too sad a witness of thy valour  
In overcoming him, which through this  
Kingdom was esteemed the bravest man.  Lys. 
Madam, a braver man by far then he  
Under whose sword he fell: Fortune that did envy  
His worth, because his mind was fortified  
Above her reach, applied herself that day,  
Unto the ruin of his body; and then though  
Never before nor since fought on my side.  Cle. 
When next I come,  
I will entreat you tell me every particular  
Accident through the whole Combat.  Lys. 
Most willingly, for I by that Relation,  
Shall make apparent the difference betwixt  
His worth and mine. Exeunt.  Enter King, Utrante, and Attendant. King. 
So many days o'erpast, and yet no news  
Of my dear cousin, whether he be alive or dead!  Utran. 
Sir, there is a Hermit,  
Which hath brought sad news.  King. 
What of his death, or that he's deadly hurt?  Utran. 
Sir, to your Majesty he only will relate  
That which he hath to say, and yet by the sadness  
Of his countenance, know his news is ill.  King. 
Call him in,  
Whilst with patience I forearm myself;  Enter Hermit. 
Speak Father, is the Duke dead? what sad news  
Is this you bring? give me my torment in a word.  Her. 
Your fears are true indeed, the Duke  
Is dead.  Kin. 
How do you know.  Her. 
Your Majesty shall hear,  
As I was gathering Roots within the Forest,  
The best part of my food, casting my eye aside,  
I saw a man lie weltering in his gore,  
Straight I was strucken with a sudden fear;  
But Charity prevailing above fear,  
I stepped to see, if yet the soul had left  
That comely Mansion, for so indeed it was;  
Finding some sparks of life remaining, I took  
A cordial water which I ever carry with me,  
And by the help of that I brought him to his senses,  
So that he was able to deliver these few words.  
Death I embrace thee willingly, thou being  
A far less torment, then for to live  
And know Clarinda loves another better.  
May she enjoy Lysander, whom now I do  
Believe is worthy of her: for I that  
Most unjustly went about to cross it,  
Must pay my life down for my error;  
Lysander, I forgive thee my death, and so  
I hope the King, and with that word the King,  
He sunk between my arms, and never  
Spoke word.  Kin. 
O what a man was this, what marble heart  
That would not melt itself in tears to hear  
This sad relation? but what became of the body?  Her. 
There Sir begins occasion of new grief,  
Whilst I did vainly strive to call back life,  
Three barbarous thieves seeking some booty,  
Came by chance that way, and seeing his garments  
Rich, they went about to strip him; but hearing  
Of some noise within the wood, one of them  
Did advise to carry him to their boat, which lay  
Hard by within a Creek. I went about  
To hinder them, and for my pains they did compel  
Me to carry the body upon my shoulders,  
Threatening to kill me if I did refuse;  
But not content with this, they made me row  
Them down the stream, three days together,  
Until they came unto their fellow Pirates.  King. 
What did they with the body?  Her. 
Threw it overboard, when they had  
Rifled it first.  King. 
How chance you came no sooner to tell  
This news, though yet too soon, they are so ill?  Utran. 
I see the King did dearly love him,  
He weeps.  Her. 
Sir, the current of the water bore us farther  
In three days, than I was able to return in ten.  King. 
Give the poor Hermit something,  
Though his news deserve it not,  
Yet his sufferings doth:  
It is an addition to my grief, that when I parted  
With him last, I seemed to be offended with him  
For his dotage on Clarinda, which he hath  
dearly paid for; and yet I cannot blame him,  
For she is the fairest creature that yet I ever saw.  Enter Cleonarda. 
O Sister, we have lost our dearest Kinsman,  
And that which adds unto my grief, is, that I cannot  
Be revenged on him that killed him.  Cleo. 
Are you certain Sir that he is dead, or  
Who it was that killed him?  Ki. 
Too certain of them both,  
It was Lysander that killed him,  
Whom If I ever get within my power,  
The sharpest kind of death that justice can inflict  
Upon him, he shall feel.  Cleo. 
Say you so brother, he shall  
Not come within your power if I can help it then;  
But royal brother, if the Duke had killed Lysander,  
I know you would have pardoned him.  King. 
Sister I think I should.  Cle. 
With what justice then can you pursue  
Lysander's life, who as the Duke himself  
Informs you in his Letter, sought  
Only to maintain what was his own;  
But on the other side, the Duke like an usurper  
Without any title would have taken from him  
That which he valued far above his life  
His Love.  King. 
It is not I  
That pursues Lysander's life, but justice;  
The Law condemns him to die,  
Had it been but a private man, much more  
Being so near a kin to me.  Cle. 
There is no Law; but doth allow us to defend  
ourselves, Lysander did no more; for who can deny  
He was compelled, honour compelled him,  
The Duke compelled him, and love (which cannot be  
By noble minds resisted, did above all compel him;  
Then all the fault Lysander did commit in my  
Opinion, is that he was too slow, needing  
Compulsion in so just a cause, and therefore Sir  
If you should apprehend Lysander, though by  
The letter of the Law his life is forfeit;  
Yet remember that mercy is the greatest attribute  
Belonging to those powers, whose substitute you are.  King. 
Sister, you often have had occasion  
To show your Charity, in being a Suitor to me  
For the lives of those that had offended;  
Yet until now you never begged my mercy unto any.  Cleo. 
Sir, you never had occasion given you  
Till now to whet the sword of justice by your own  
Particular revenge, that it might cut the deeper,  
And being not interested, your mercy of itself  
Did blunt the edge, and needed not my intercession.  King. 
I do conjure you by my love,  
To speak no more of this unpleasing subject;  
For if I get Lysander once within my power,  
I will sacrifice his heartblood to the Ghost  
Of my deceased cousin.  Enter Clarinda. Vtran. 
You know it is bootless,  
The King is so incensed, in begging mercy  
For Lysander, you may prove cruel to yourself,  
And unto me your Father.  Clar. 
O Sir, how ill you do requite Lysander;  
His love to you was the only cause  
That pulled these miseries upon him;  
For had not he so dearly tendered you,  
Fearing to draw on you the king's displeasure,  
We had long since been married, than this unlucky  
Combat had not been, nor I had need of that  
Which now I am to beg: Mercy, great Sir.  Kin. 
Why, know you where Lysander is?  Clar. 
O no, but I do fear he cannot escape  
Your hands.  King. 
Why Lady,  
Can you hope that if he were taken  
I would pardon him: hath he not killed the man  
That in the world was nearest to my heart?  
I cannot grant this; rise, and by mine honour  
Ask or command what is within my power  
(But this) and it shall be performed.  Cla. 
Sir, all the suit  
I'll make, since this cannot be granted, is  
That in the self same hour that my Lysander  
Is to suffer; I who have been the fountain  
From whence these bloody streams have issued,  
May be permitted to show Lysander the dark  
Yet pleasing way to the Elysian Fields;  
For though we could not here, yet there we shall  
Enjoy each other.  Cleo. 
Lysander, shouldst thou prove false to her,  
Though I myself were cause of thy inconstancy;  
Yet I should hate thee.  King. 
I hope you will better consider  
Of the general loss the world shall sustain,  
In losing such a jewel as yourself:  
Sister, I will leave you to advise her better,  
And pray you use her with your best respect,  
Her worth and beauty doth deserve it;  
My Lord Utrante, have you in your daughter's name  
Taken possession of all that was the Duke's,  
As I commanded?  Utran. 
My Lord, I have the full possession;  
But she doth utterly refuse them.  King. 
I know my Sister will advise  
Her better. Exe. manet Clar. & Cleo.  Cla. 
The Princess is the fairest Creature  
That yet mine eyes ever beheld, why does she look  
So steadfastly upon me? Gracious madam,  
What see you in this worthless frame,  
That so attracts your eyes.  Cleo. 
I see Clarinda,  
In each particular of the whole frame,  
Which thou termest worthless, an excess of beauty,  
Which in another Lady might breed envy;  
But by my life I take delight to look on thee.  Cla. 
And madam, may I perish,  
If ere mine eyes yet met an object, wherein  
I took half that delight that I do now  
In looking upon you; were I a man,  
And could frame to myself a Mistress by my wishes  
Having the wide world to choose in, for each  
Particular to make up the whole. I should believe  
It were a fruitless labour, if I went farther  
Than yourself thus framed.  Cleo. 
Clarinda, as I am Sister to a King,  
I see I must partake of their misfortunes,  
Which is to be grossly flattered: but it may be  
You give me this fair language by instinct;  
For I have pleasing news to tell you,  
If that you had come to Court, I thought  
To have sent for you, which unto you  
I know appears most strange, for till this hour  
I never had the happiness to see you.  Clar. 
madam, it does indeed.  Cleo. 
It will appear more strange,  
When you shall know the cause for which  
I would have sent for you.  Cla. 
Dear Lady, what is it for?  Cleo. 
I would have sent for you,  
To know what you would have given willingly,  
To one that would undertake to save Lysander's life.  Clar. 
I cannot name you a particular,  
But all that I have, or can give.  Cleo. 
I mean not goods or money,  
But could you be content if it were  
A woman that could do this,  
To quit your interest in Lysander,  
And give him leave to marry her?  Clar. 
If it should come to that, I know  
I sooner should be willing,  
Than I should draw him to give his consent.  Cleo. 
It is nearer it than you believe,  
I know a Lady that hath saved his life already.  Cla. 
How, begged his pardon of the King!  
And upon those conditions hath he given consent?  Cleo. 
He hath not yet; but when he knows  
Your mind I think he will.  Clar. 
Is she a handsome Lady, and well borne?  Cleo. 
Not very handsome; but her birth is great,  
In both she equal me, and in affection to  
Lysander, you.  Clar. 
madam I do beseech you  
Leave this too harsh discourse: for it hardly  
Can be true, since there is no Lady  
In this Kingdom, that ever I saw  
That equal you in beauty, yet  
The imagination that it may be so,  
Doth from mine eyes draw tears, and chases  
From my heart the usual heat.  Cleo. 
Weep not Clarinda, I cannot hold thee  
Longer in suspense. I am the Lady that I mean,  
And therefore chase away thy fear.  Clar. 
I never saw true cause of fear till now,  
The tale you told appears much likelier truth,  
Now, that you are the Lady, than it did before;  
For you have in you that full excellency,  
That would make Gods forswear themselves,  
If they had made an oath, should you propose  
yourself as the reward of that their perjury:  
Shall I believe then that Lysander's frailty,  
Can resist such an assault, if you be so resolved;  
Besides, what Lady hath the power to beg  
Lysander's life, at your incensed brothers hands;  
But only you that are his Sister:  
Go poor forsaken maid, and melt thyself  
Away in tears, and do not live to be an eyesore  
To this noble Lady, nor to upbraid Lysander  
With his falsehood.  Cleo. 
Stay sweet Clarinda,  
And for as many tears as I have made thee shed  
From those fair eyes, so oft I'll kiss the Crystal  
Fountains from whence they flowed; believe me,  
Dearest maid, though I do love Lysander,  
Yet I would not wrong thee for a world,  
Of which to give the more assurance,  
Thou shalt see, and speak with thy Lysander,  
For thou art only worthy of him;  
He is now at gerard's Lodge within the Forest,  
None knows of it but Gerard, and his own Sister  
Mariana, how I brought him thither wounded,  
I'll take another time to tell you: when you would  
See him you must go disguised: farewell Clarinda,  
Be confident I love you dearly. I will stay  
No longer lest it should breed suspicion. Exit.  Clar. 
madam, your humble servant.  
How strange a tale is this! yet sure it's true,  
Why should the Princess say so else?  
But can it be the Princess loves Lysander?  
Can it be otherwise, if she do know him?  
If it be true, sure Lysander will not neglect  
So great a blessing: hence jealousy, the canker  
Of true love, that dost in time consume that  
Which did give thee being; why should I wrong  
Lysander, to mistrust his faith, till I have  
Better cause, I must to him, and in disguise,  
Which how to get myself I know not,  Enter jacomo. 
I must trust somebody, and who so fit  
As honest jacomo, who I know loves Lysander.  
Come hither honest jacomo.  Iaco. 
madam.  Clar. 
I know thou lov'st me,  
And wilt do any thing that I command thee.  Iaco. 
madam, I hope you make no doubt of it.  Clar. 
No thou shalt see I do not doubt;  
For I will make thee privy to a secret,  
That torture should not draw from me.  Iaco. 
If it be that that I suspect, torture shall  
Hardly make me to conceal it.  Clar. 
What sayst thou jacomo?  Iaco. 
madam, I say although I should be racked,  
Yet what you tell me shall be still concealed.  Clar. 
I know it should; come trusty jacomo,  
I'll tell thee all the Story as we go. Exeunt.   

Actus quartus, Scoena prima.  Enter Clarinda in disguise, jacomo. Clar. 
How am I bound to thee for this disguise,  
I think my Father if I had met him  
Could not have known me, how far is it  
Yet to the Lodge?  Iaco. 
It is not above a Mile; but are you sure  
He is there?  Clar. 
I would not else have come so far a foot  
Nor put on this disguise.  Iaco. 
madam, if you be weary, here is a fair  
Cool shade, where you may rest yourself a while.  Clar. 
Though I be faint and weary;  
Yet I will not stay, the great desire I have  
To see Lysander, doth support my weakness.  Iaco. 
But madam, I am weary, and I have  
No such strong desire as love to carry me.  Clar. 
For shame say not so, can you being a man  
And used to walk, be weary in so short a journey?  Iaco. 
madam. you must refresh me with a kiss,  
I cannot walk else.  Clar. 
How jacomo?  Iaco. 
Why, doth not the pains that I have taken  
Deserve a greater recompense than that?  Clar. 
I do confess  
The pains that thou hast taken, and  
I intend thee a reward equal to it,  
But it amazes me to hear thee ask,  
That which would trouble me to give;  
And yet to thee that shouldst receive it,  
Do no good at all.  Iaco. 
If it will trouble you to give it, then let  
Me take a kiss.  Clar. 
How strangely art thou transported.  
With a fond desire!  Iaco. 
You will not kiss me then?  Clar. 
I prithee be not angry jacomo,  
I'll give thee that which is better;  
Here take this jewel; yet let me tell thee,  
The Duke would not thus boldly have demanded  
What thou didst ask.  Iaco. 
He was a fool then,  
And did not know his own advantage,  
Which you shall find I do, you that  
Denied me now a kiss, shall give me that  
Which you perchance the first night  
Would have denied your husband.  Cla. 
I do not like this, what's that honest jacomo?  Iaco. 
Your Maidenhead.  Clar. 
How! I know thou dost but speak this  
For to excuse thyself from going; sit still,  
I'll find the way myself.  Iaco. 
Are you so crafty, stay and hear me.  Clar. 
What sayst thou honest jacomo?  Iaco. 
Not too honest neither, I know you are wise, and therefore I'll use no persuasions, else, but only letting of you see the danger.  Clar. 
O, I fear this villain.  Iaco. 
Lysander you told me was at the Lodge, and there the King shall find him, except you will redeem him from that danger, by the loss of your Virginity; I know you would be well content to kiss me now, but now it will not serve.  Clar. 
Will honest jacomo then prove a villain?  Iaco. 
Who would not prove a villain for so sweet a recompense: How I do glory in this purchase of my wit, the Duke striving to gain the happiness, I shall have offered me, paid down his life for't; beside, he went about the ceremonial way of Marriage; but I shall meet my happiness a nearer way, which will be an addition to the pleasure. Come, are you resolved?  Clar. 
Why villain, dost thou prize Lysander's life  
Above mine honour?  Iaco. 
If for a word, for honour is no more,  
You can endure to see Lysander suffer cruel death,  
It seems you love him little, do as you will;  
Make haste unto the Lodge, you know the way well  
The King may chance be there before you,  
As I will handle the business.  Clar. 
Stay jacomo, canst thou be such a villain  
As thou dost seem; I do not think  
Thou art in earnest.  Iaco. 
All torments that man did ever feel,  
Light upon me, if I do not perform  
What I say.  Clar. 
Then may they all light on thee;  
For thou deserv'st them all.  Iaco. 
Stay Lady.  Clar. 
Dost thou relent?  
I knew thou didst it but to try me.  Iaco. 
It is true indeed, I did so.  Clar. 
I thought thou still wert honest.  Iaco. 
Be not deceived: I tried indeed if you would give consent, because the pleasure would have been the greater so; but since I have you once again within my power, I will enjoy you whether you will or no.  Clar. 
Canst thou believe, the heavens that have the power,  
To strike thee dead, will suffer such a wicked Act?  Iaco. 
It is in vain to strive or cry,  
There is none to help you.  Clar. 
If the fear of Heaven  
Cannot deter thee from this villainy;  
Yet tremble at the punishments my Father  
And Lysander will inflict upon thee;  
For do not think there's any place that's so remote,  
But they will find thee out.  Iaco. 
Tush, they shall still believe me to be  
Honest jacomo;  
Yet I will let the King know where Lysander is.  Clar. 
Why villain, dost thou think I will not Discover thee?  Iaco. 
Yes, I do know you would; but I will take a course with your Ladyship for telling, when I have done with you.  Clar. 
I know thou wilt not be so merciful to kill me.  Iaco. 
Yes, fear it not, rather than I will be hanged for a short minute's pleasure.  Clar. 
Then kill me first, before thou dost dishonour me.  Iaco. 
It may be you'll be of another mind anon, and wish to live. The trees stand here too thin, I'll carry you into a thicker place.  Clar. 
Help, Murder: is there no power that will transform me to a tree, and save my honour?  Iaco. 
Yes, I'll transform you, you may bear fruit too, if you will be willing. Exeunt.  Enter Duke disguised. Duke. 
How happy are those men that lead a Country life,  
And in the nature of each several creature,  
View the great God of Nature's power, who can find  
Nothing in the whole frame, but either for the composition  
Or the existence, is worth our admiration!  Within Clarinda. 
Murder, help, help, Murder!  Duke. 
It was a woman's voice sure. Exit.  Enter jacomo. Iaco. 
Slave that I was, that did not stop her mouth, as well as bind her hands; it was well the bushes were so thick; for had he once got sight of me, he would have cooled my heat: since I have missed this pleasure, my revenge shall be the greater; I'll to the King and tell him what I know concerning Lysander, which will ingraft me in his favour, and for Clarinda's accusal, let me alone. Exit.  Enter Duke and Clarinda. Duke. 
Tell me pretty Boy, why did the villain bind thee?  
I thought thou hadst been a woman, when I heard thee cry:  
How pale thou look'st of a sudden; be not afraid,  
He dare not come again to hurt thee.  Clar. 
My hard hearted Master I fear will come again.  Duke. 
He had a hard heart indeed, that could hurt thee:  
It is the pretiest boy that yet I e'er did see,  
And yet methinks I have seen a face like this before:  
Where wert thou borne sweet child?  Clar. 
Sir, I was borne in Naples.  Duk. 
Sure I have seen a face like thine,  
Why dost thou blush?  Clar. 
Where Sir, do you think you have seen  
A face like mine?  Duke. 
Not in this Country, for I am here a stranger.  Clar. 
Then Sir,  
you do not know the way to gerard's Lodge.  Duke. 
Wouldst thou go thither?  
I think I do.  Clar. 
Yes Sir, if I did know the way.  Duk. 
I'll bring thee thither if I can.  Clar. 
Sir, I do owe you much,  
And have no other payment but my thanks:  
But might I be so happy as to meet you  
In the City, I have some friends that would  
Perchance do you some pleasure.  Du. 
If thou wilt stay with me here in the Forest,  
At a little house where I do lie, tomorrow  
I will bring thee to the City.  Clar. 
You are the most  
Courteous man that ere I met with:  
I am so weary that it is not possible  
For me to reach the City, and at the Lodge,  
Lysander must not stay, nor must I fly  
With him; I am not yet provided of money,  
For our flight. Fool that I was to trust  
That villain jacomo, alas, I did not know  
Him then to be a villain. Sir, if you'll bring  
Me to the Lodge, I will only speak one word  
With one that is there, and go along with you.  Duke. 
Come then.  Clar. 
He takes me for a Boy, and so long  
There's no danger. Exeunt.  Enter Cleonarda dressed like a Nymph, Huntsmen. Cleo. 
Lay on the Hounds where the young deer went in,  
These old fat deer make no sport at all.  Hunts. 
If it please your Grace he is not a Stag.  Cleo. 
No matter Sir,  
I am the Mistress of the field this day,  
My Brother not being here, and I will  
Have it so: the sorer that the Chase is  
My being absent will the less be marked. horns.  Enter Mariana and Lysander. Mar. 
Brother, methinks now your wounds being well.  
It were good to quit this Country for a while:  
For it is impossible but by some means or other,  
If you stay hear, you will be discovered.  Lys. 
Sister, it is my intent; but I without  
The Princess leave, who hath preserved my life,  
Will certainly resolve of nothing.  Mar. 
The time hath been, that you without  
Clarinda's leave would have done nothing.  Lys. 
And is so still,  
For may I perish when I prove false  
To my Clarinda; yet should I say I do not  
Love the Princess, and with some passion too,  
I should but lie. See where she comes  Enter Cleonarda and Gerard. 
And with the splendour of her heavenly eyes  
Amazeth my weak senses; not Dian's self  
Looked half so lovely when she wooed  
The pale-faced Boy Endymion;  
Nor Pallas when she stood Competitor  
With the two Goddesses to gain the golden apple,  
Appeared with half that Majesty  
That she doth thus attired: hold faith,  
Thou never wert in such a danger.  Cleo. 
Lysander, I am glad to see you thus  
Recovered: I glory in my cure.  Lys. 
madam, I am so well,  
That I desire your licence to depart,  
There's danger surely in my being here  
Both to yourself and me.  Cleo. 
Lysander, I know you do but jest,  
For should I give you leave, I know  
You would not go.  Lys. 
Madam, it's best we part, should I stay here  
And daily look upon those Sun-bright eyes,  
And hear your charming tongue, my faith I fear  
Would prove like wax, and melt, Clarinda's picture  
Would be soon defaced, and I should then deserve  
The hate of all the world.  Cleo. 
Lysander, do not fear it, You shall this day  
See fair Clarinda, whose merits will arm you,  
Too strongly to misdoubt a change.  Lys. 
Did your Grace see her then?  Cleo. 
Yes Lysander. I saw Clarinda,  
Whose perfections have compelled the heavens,  
In justice, to give her the most deserving man alive  
To be her servant.  Lys. 
madam, it's true,  
She hath indeed the most deserving man  
That then did live, the Duke, given to her  
For a servant: but when the heavens saw  
That she did refuse him whom they knew  
Was only worthy of her, they left her then  
To her unhappy choice, in me, in which  
She cannot fail to be miserable,  
And that they might torment her with  
The knowledge of her error, they took from  
The earth unto themselves whom she refused,  
Making him equal unto one of them.  Cleo. 
Lysander,  
I will give you leave to praise the Duke,  
Because it still tends to your greater praise,  
Since you did overcome him both by your valour,  
And your other merits: for fair Clarinda  
Whose judgement is complete, esteem you  
For the worthier, Lysander never was there man  
So blessed as you are, in a Master, for it is  
As impossible to equal her in love,  
As in perfection; for though she know that her  
Perfections far transcendeth mine, yet her  
Excess of love did make her jealous,  
whenas I told her I had saved your life;  
And how, but I to show her that I loved  
You only as a brother, did tell her where  
You were, and much I wonder that she  
Is not come.  Lys. 
It may be she doth wisely fear that there  
Are some that watch each step she maketh,  
Hoping by that to find me out; for now  
It is no news that she doth love me,  
When I am at Florence I'll send her word,  
For so I promised her in a Letter when I went  
To fight, if that I escaped with life.  Cleo. 
You shall not go to Florence today,  
Yet do so, and be not sad to go;  
For when my Brother's passion is once over,  
And that he shall consider the justness  
Of the Duke's request, in his last Letter,  
I mean your pardon, he cannot sure  
Be any longer cruel.  Lys. 
Why madam,  
Did he write a Letter to the King,  
In which he begged my pardon?  Cleo. 
Yes Lysander, he did;  
And the last word that ere he spoke, was  
To that purpose, the letter I can show you,  
I never till this day could get it from my Brother.  Lysander reads to himself. Lys. 
He in this Letter doth express himself  
To be so near the composition of the Gods,  
So filled with all perfections, methinks it's strange  
They should not build him altars: yet my infortunate  
Hand did rob the world of this precious jewel;  
For which offence my heart shall drop in justice  
As many bloody tears, as now my womanish tears  
Do drops of brinish water.  Cleo. 
Worthy Lysander,  
Each pearl like drop falls from thy manly eyes,  
May expiate a greater sin than that thou didst  
Commit in thy intention: I cannot choose  
But kiss thee for this noble sorrow. Say Mariana,  
Have I done ill to kiss your Brother?  Mar. 
madam, it were in me presumption  
To censure any of your actions.  Cleo. 
Lysander, Must you go today?  
Sure you do not love me as a Sister, else  
You would not part so soon.  Lysan. 
By this kiss, which I believe shall be  
The last that I ever shall be blessed with,  
Did not my faith oblige me otherways,  
I should love you equal with Clarinda,  
Nay had I known you first, I should  
Have loved you better; but as it is  
I know you are so noble in you self,  
That you would hate me if I should prove inconstant  Cleo. 
It is true, it were a baseness for which  
My judgement would condemn you as unworthy  
To be beloved; but yet I think my passion  
Would make me change that saying of loving  
Of the Treason; yet hating of the Traitor;  
For I should hate the Treason, and yet I fear me  
Too much love the Traitor.  Lys. 
It were impossible that you should love  
A perjured man.  Cleo. 
I do but fear it;  
I know your worth will never put it to the trial.  Lys. 
Dear Princess,  
Gerard, to whom I am much bound,  
Hath horses ready for me, so that there is  
Nothing wanting but your leave to make  
My journey happy.  Cleo. 
Which I unwillingly do grant you, yet  
Pray the heavens to make your journey prosperous.  
O Mariana, would I had never seen thy brother,  
Or having seen him, that I might enjoy him  
For my Husband: but I do ill to wish another's  
Right; that happiness belongs to fair Clarinda's  
Merits only.  Lys. 
Go Gerard, get the horses ready. Ex. Ger.  Cleo. 
Lysander, let me hear from you,  
And if you think it no way prejudicial  
To your faith. I pray you wear this favour  
For my sake.  Lys. 
madam, most willingly,  
And think it for the greatest honour that ere  
Was done me.  Within Cry, round beset the house. Cleo. 
What noise is that Mariana?  Mari. 
madam, I'll go see.  
O madam 'we are undone, it is the King,  
Who threatens to hang up Gerard for concealing  
Of my Brother.  Lys. 
Dear madam, hide yourself,  
What will the King your Brother say,  
If he do find you here?  Cleo. 
I will Lesander fly from his anger now,  
That I may have more power hereafter  
To do thee service; what will you do Lysander?  
It is no matter what becomes of me,  
So that you be safe from the king's anger.  Enter King, jacomo, Attendants, Gerard bound, Guard. Iaco. 
Sir, set the house round, lest he should scape  
At some back door.  King. 
Be that thy charge, take half the Guard, I'll search  
The house myself: Where is this bloody Traitor?  Lys. 
Sir, here's a bloody-handed, though not a bloody  
Minded man, that doth not yet deserve the title  
Of a Traitor. I know it's me you look for.  King. 
Bloody villain, it's thou indeed,  
Lay hands on him.  Lys. 
Keep off, and hear me speak first,  
And then I will deliver up my sword.  King. 
What wouldst thou say.  Lys. 
I see poor Gerard bound, whom I  
Compelled to conceal me.  Kin. 
How couldst thou compel him?  Lys. 
Royal Sir, with patience hear me:  
When I by the assistance of Fortune, not my valour;  
(Yet I did nothing basely) had killed that noble Duke  
I was myself sore wounded, so that I could not  
Fly out of your territories, and well I knew  
Into what house soe'er I came, though they  
At first might pity me, not knowing  
What I had done; yet when they once should know  
That I had killed the Duke, they then I knew  
Would straight discover me, rather to gain reward,  
Or else to save themselves from future danger,  
Which to prevent. I thought my safest course was  
For to compel Gerard, whom well I knew  
Lived far remote from company, to swear  
Not to discover I was in his house,  
Or else I threatened straight to kill him,  
Hoping that rather than he would forswear  
Himself, he would conceal me, wherein I was  
No whit deceived.  Ger. 
If please your Majesty,  
He came into my house before I was aware,  
With his sword drawn, and setting of it  
To my breast, threatening if I would not swear  
For to conceal him, to kill me instantly.  
I (not knowing what he had done)  
Swore all that he would have me.  Cleo. 
A God transformed into a humane shape  
Could do or say no more than he hath done.  King. 
But when thou knew'st that he had  
Killed the Duke, how durst thou then  
Conceal him?  Lys. 
I then began to fright him with strange  
Examples of the cruel punishments that perjured  
Men had felt, and awed his conscience that way.  King. 
So thou dost mine Lysander;  
For I have made a vow, after that I had got thee  
Once within my power, the Sun shall not  
Twice set, till I had with a sacrifice of thy heart blood  
Appeased my kinsman's Ghost. I dare not  
Be forsworn, away with him to prison,  
And Gerard. Exeunt Lys. Ger. and Guard.  Cleo. 
It is then no time for to conceal myself.  
O cruel Brother! you have in that rash oath  
Murdered all virtue that Man's frail nature  
Is capable to receive.  King. 
I am amazed,  
Tell me dear Sister, what make you here,  
I hope you know not of this villainy.  Cleo. 
O do not call a demigod a villain,  
Though Fortune made his valiant arm  
The instrument to rob you of a worthy Kinsman.  King. 
Sister, you speak with passion, as if  
You loved him.  Cleo. 
Yes Brother, I do love him,  
With all my heart I love him, which I will  
Manifest more than in words,  
If you be cruel.  King. 
Sister, as you respect my favour,  
And your own fair Name, blemish not so  
Your royal blood by loving of a murderous  
Ingrateful villain.  Cleo. 
O that you were no Brother to me,  
Nor my King, that I might satisfy mine  
Anger by a brave revenge.  
By loving of a murderous ingrateful villain.  Cleo. 
O that you were no Brother to me,  
Nor my King, that I might satisfy mine anger  
By a brave revenge; by my life, I would have shed  
His heart blood with my javelin, that should  
Have spoke this but yourself, but as it is,  
I'll let you see your error, you might as well  
Call him a murderer that being assaulted  
By a barbarous thief, killed him that would  
Have robbed him; for so Lysander did, and  
Whereas you call him ingrate, there you do  
Err, the Duke being his debtor; and so  
Indeed is all the world, for he hath left them  
Such a Story in his actions, that he that can  
But read and imitate them to the life,  
Shall in another juster age, be made a God,  
And worshipped for his virtues.  King. 
Sister, did you but see how ill  
These praises do become you; (for you indeed  
Are drunk with affection) you would leave  
Them me. I know when you recover by the help  
Of reason, you'll hate yourself, and wish that all  
Y'ave spoke or done this day were but a dream.  Cleo. 
O never, never; poor Clarinda,  
What will become of thee when thou shalt hear  
This killing News! Exeunt.  Enter Clarinda and the Duke. Duk. 
It grieves my heart that I have brought thee wrong,  Clar. 
Sir, must we lie here in the wood all night.  Duke. 
I fear there is no other remedy,  Clar. 
O my Lysander thou art lost I fear  
For ever, and that same villain jacomo  
is cause of all. There is some comfort yet,  
I see a light, sure it's some house.  Duke. 
For charity's sake open the Door. He knocks.  Enter Hermit. 
Lord Sir, where have you been?  Duke. 
Mercy upon us, how are we mistaken!  
This is the old man's house where I have been  
Still since I came into the Forest.  Cla. 
Pray heaven he did not miss his way a purpose.  Duk. 
Good Father, if you have any meat  
Fetch me some for this sweet youth, I met him  
In the Forest, and would have showed him  
The way to gerard's Lodge, but lost myself,  
And wandered up and down till now.  Her. 
Here, here's some meat;  
I was myself at gerard's Lodge, and saw those  
There whom you would little think.  Duke. 
Who were there?  Her. 
The King and his fair Sister,  
Lysander bound as a Prisoner, for killing  
Of the Duke.  Cla. 
O my Lysander's lost. false.  Duke. 
Look to the Boy, he swoons; speak  
Child, what dost thou ail?  Cla. 
That same who is Lysander, now a prisoner,  
(And must die) was the only cause I would  
So fain have gone to gerard's Lodge,  
For that villain who had bound me, I knew  
Would tell the King that Lysander was there,  
And I would fain have given him warning,  
That he might have fled, because he is  
Thy Kinsman.  Her. 
Be not sad Boy for that,  
I heard the Princess swear if the King  
Put to death Lysander, that she will not outlive  
Him; and he too well loves his Sister,  
To lose her so.  Cla. 
How! Is the Princess so in love with him?  Her. 
Indeed they say she is.  Duke. 
Come, and eat your meat, you shall  
Go to bed, I know you ate weary.  Clar. 
Sir, I cannot eat, I had rather sleep,  Her. 
Come then, I'll show thee to a Bed.  Clar. 
No Sir, I'll lie upon the Rushes, I never use  
To lie with anybody, and I am sure  
Here in this house there are not many beds.  Her. 
Come, thou shalt lie alone;  
There are two beds, we two will lie together.  Clar. 
Please Sir to leave me here, I'll go to bed.  
No child, I'll help thee.  Clar. 
If he should see my breasts, I am undone;  
I will keep on my doublet.  Her. 
Go to bed sweet child, we'll leave thee. Exeunt.   

Actus quintus, Scoena prima.  Enter jaspero and Bernardo. Ias. 
What news at Court?  Ber. 
Sad news believe me.  Ias. 
Why, must brave Lysander suffer today?  Ber. 
The King hath sworn to have his head off ere Sunset.  Ias. 
The Kingdom will be poor in such a loss,  
For he leaves none behind him worth his equal.  Ber. 
ay, but is't not strange the King should grace  
That villain jacomo that did betray him?  Ias. 
His extreme love unto the Duke makes him  
Love jacomo, who doth profess that he did not  
Discover Lysander in hope of gain; but only  
Out of love to the Duke's memory.  Ber. 
At one o'th' clock he is to suffer, let us be there betimes and get a place near the Scaffold to hear his last words. Exe.  Enter Utrante in black. Utran. 
How black and sorrowful this day looks!  
This day, in which Lysander is to suffer:  
Noble Lysander, to whom my Child and I  
Are so much bound; and yet he is the cause  
Of both our ruins; or rather I am cause:  
It was my ambition to have a Duke  
My Son in Law: no, it was my Clarinda's  
Beauty bred all this mischief, and it was  
The Heavens that gave Beauty to her:  
Why did they then not bless that gift in her,  
But turn it to her curse? Peace wretched man  
And argue not with those high powers,  
But wait their pleasure, and pray for their assistance,  
Who can yet change this scene of blood into—  
A scene of joy, and back return thee thy Clarinda.  Enter a Servant. Ser. 
If't please your Lordship, my young Lady  
Is returned and gone again.  Vtran. 
How!  Ser. 
She hath been in the house this hour as the maids tell me, hath changed her clothes, and's newly stolen out at the back-gate, and gone toward Lysander's prison; two of my fellows are gone after her, and I came back to tell your Lordship. Exit.  Enter Cleonarda and Mariana. Cleo. 
And does the king's cruel resolution hold still?  Mar. 
O Madam yes, my poor Brother must die today.  Cleo. 
And wilt not thou die with him: speak Mariana.  Mar. 
madam, I could wish that I might not outlive him.  Cle. 
Why sayst thou thou couldst wish, hast thou not hands?  
Or dost thou want a knife? if so, yet there's many ways to die.  Mar. 
madam, how strangely do you talk.  Cleo. 
Why, wouldst thou wish to live,  
After the untimely death of such a Brother?  Ma. 
madam, we must not go until the Gods do call us,  
Yet I believe it is the better place.  Cleo. 
The better place, assure thyself of that, they would  
Not else thus early call thither the best of Men. I will follow  
Him where ere he goes to see. Enter jacomo.  Iac. 
madam the King desires your company.  Cleo. 
Villain, had he none else to send but thee  
That didst betray Lysander, hence from my sight. Exeunt.  Enter Duke and Hermit. Her. 
What did you with the Boy?  Duke. 
I left him at the Count Utrante's house:  
He told me he dwelled there.  Her. 
At what hour say they must Lysander suffer?  Duke. 
At on of the clock, fail not to be there,  
And get near the Scaffold.  Her. 
You need not bid me. Exeunt.  Floûrish. Enter King, Cleonarda, jacomo, Mariana, Attendants, one of them in Habit of a Countryman. King. 
Sister, believe me, you have told me such particular  
Arguments of Lysander's worth, that I do pity  
His misfortunes much, and have quite lost my anger;  
Yet justice must be satisfied.  Cleo. 
Sir, the offence that he committed, was but against  
The Law, although he robbed you of a Subject;  
You are above the Law, and may remit it;  
A King should in points of life and death,  
Be like the Chancery, in other cases, and help  
By mercy against the cruel letter of the Law,  
As the Chancery doth by conscience.  
Especially when your own conscience tells you  
That he was forced against his will to fight.  Kin. 
Sister, it were an example too dangerous  
To pardon him that killed my next of blood:  
It might encourage some to strike myself;  
And therefore it is in vain to plead for mercy.  Enter Utrante and Clarinda. Vtran. 
O daughter, let not your passionate love  
Unto Lysander, make you accuse good jacomo.  Cla. 
O Sir, you are cozened, he is a Devil incarnate,  
justice. justice great Sir.  King. 
Lady, I thought your plea would have been mercy,  
And not justice.  Clar. 
Sir, I have lost all hope of mercy; but justice  
I hope you will grant me against that villain jacomo.  Iaco. 
Now have at me, but I have forearmed the King with such a tale, that and mine own impudence, which never failed me, shall well enough defend me.  Kin. 
Arise fair Clarinda, and by my Crown,  
Bring your sufficient proof, you shall have justice;  
But well I know you hate good jacomo, because he did  
Discover where your Lysander was.  Cla. 
Would I had bit my tongue out of my head,  
When I gave it power to tell you where Lysander was.  Iaco. 
Your majesty may mark by this how true the rest is that she hath to say. madam, than you would seem as if I had deceived your trust, and that you had to me discovered where Lysander was; make me not so odious, I never was a traitor, had you to me discovered it, wild horses should have torn me in a thousand pieces, ere I would have confessed; no, this same country fellow one day being within the Lodge saw him, and so discovered it to me.  Cla. 
Though thou deniest this with a brazen brow,  
Yet thou canst not deny thou wouldst have ravished me,  
When I did trust thee to go along with me,  
I being disguised then, where I to thee discovered  
When Lysander was; and more thou threatendst  
(If I did not give consent to thy base lust)  
To murder me, when thou hadst done,  
Because I should not tell.  Iaco. 
madam, I did not think that love to any man could e'er have turned that excellent wit of yours so ill away, as thus unjustly to accuse a man that is innocent, and one that honours you.  Enter Duke and Hermit. Utran. 
Sir, I do grieve,  
My daughter's love unto Lysander, should  
Move her for to seek a most unjust revenge  
Against good jacomo, whose like for honesty  
I know not in this Kingdom of his quality.  Clar. 
Sir, here's a witness, that will confirm  
What I have said for truth.  Duke. 
What gentle Lady?  Cla. 
Sir, 'twas I that you rescued yesterday,  
From a villain that would have ravished me.  Duke. 
Why Lady, were you in such danger?  Iac. 
Mark you Sir, she knows of no such thing.  Cla. 
I was the Boy you found in the wood,  
Whom this villain would then have ravished,  
Which then I told you was my master.  Du. 
I thought no boy could have so sweet a face,  
Indeed Sir, 'tis most true, I found this Lady bound,  
And that same villain as I think; for I had but  
A glimpse of him in the bushes, his fear making  
Him fly as soon as ever he saw me.  Clar. 
I beseech your Majesty let him be hanged,  
For on my honour what I do affirm is truth.  King. 
Your affirmation is to me a hundred  
Witnesses, yet it were in me injustice to deny  
The combat 'gainst this gentleman that doth accuse  
Him on your behalf, if jacomo desire it.  Duke. 
Believe it Sir, he that will do such villainies,  
Will never dare to fight, Sir send him to the Galleys,  
If he will nor fight, it shows his guilt.  Iaco. 
Hell take you all, I dare not fight might I have all the world given. I'll rather to the Galleys. I shall get out there with some trick or other, and then I'll poison twenty of you, I'll not discover what I am that will but show me more.  King. 
Let him that rescued Clarinda have the land  
That jacomo should have had, for discovering where  
Lysander was: call forth the prisoner, and proceed to execution.  Enter Lysander, Executioner, Guard. Lys. 
Weep not Clarinda, you may live happily  
You and the Princess may together make  
A kind of Marriage, each one strongly  
Flattering themselves, the other is Lysander;  
For each of you's Lysander's better part:  
Pardon Clarinda that I borrow from  
That stream of love a part to pay the Princess,  
Which ever yet ran constantly to the Ocean  
Of thy perfection only, for now a gratefulness  
To her, makes some of it run in another current;  
For which I know thou being wise, canst never  
Love me less, knowing that I have love enough  
For both, since I can marry neither.  Cla. 
Lysander, do not think I grudge that part of Love  
You pay the Princess, her merits fair transcending mine,  
Besides, you owe her for preserving of your life,  
And I have been the only cause, that you must lose it;  
But I'll bear you company, and in that pay the debt I owe you.  King. 
Why stays the Prisoner?  Lys. 
Only to take  
A parting kiss; then when you please, I am prepared.  King. 
What mean you Sister, will yond make apparent  
To the world your folly?  Cleo. 
Sir, do not hinder me;  
For if I may not here speak with him,  
We will converse in death sooner than you believe;  
Lysander, thou art going to thy lasting home,  
And in thee all virtuous men must suffer,  
They being but branches, thou the root of all perfection:  
Who will be Courteous, Valiant, since these are causes  
Of thy death; for thou unto the world didst manifest  
In thy last action with the Duke, that thou wert  
Really possessed of these: but I, in summing up thy worth,  
Do but increase my grief; since I must part with thee,  
The rich unhappy owner; for they have only served  
To revive thee, and those that loved thee for them,  
Poor Clarinda, I from my own conceptions  
Could weep, to think upon the torment thou wilt feel,  
whenas the Axe shall sever from thee loves  
Worthy person, thy comely head, worthy,  
Most worthy, in that it was the Cabinet appointed  
By the Gods to keep their richest jewel in,  
His mind, which is indeed an Index,  
In which judicious men may read as in a Book,  
The whole contents of all their excellence.  King. 
Sister, for shame do not thus wrong  
yourself and me, by throwing such high praises  
On a man, condemned by Law. Lysander,  
Prepare thyself to die, and take no notice of her  
Idle praises, which if they could to any mortal  
Man be due, they were to him, for whom  
Thou now must suffer.  Lys. 
Sir, I do confess it and am ready to receive Your doom.  Cleo. 
I need not to a mind so fortified as thine is  
Give any Antidotes, to arm thee against death.  Lys. 
All the encouragement that I will desire  
Shall be a kiss of your fair hand.  Cleo 
Lysander, thou know'st my soul embraceth thee,  
These are the first tears that ere fell from mine eyes,  
Although a woman, which I am pleased with,  
Since it well expresses this is the greatest grief  
That yet I ever felt.  Lys. 
This kiss Clarinda is thy due, thou art  
The nearest to my heart in justice. Clarin. swoons.  King. 
Look to Clarinda, carry her home.  Cleo. 
I thought she would have outgone me; but now  
Mine shall be the glory: who would live in a world  
That's bankrupt of all virtue? Lys. kneels.  Exec. 
I pray Sir forgive me your death.  Lys. 
Friend, do thine office; I forgive thee.  Duke. 
Hold villain.  King. 
How darest thou hinder the sword of justice,  
From lighting where it is designed.  Duke. 
Sir, if you execute this Lord, you are a Tyrant.  King. 
Why Sir, will it be tyranny in me  
To execute the Law? the fellow's mad,  
Lay hands on him.  Duke. 
It is a cruel Law that doth condemn the innocent.  King. 
Why, is he innocent?  Duke. 
Let me die for't if I do not prove  
He did not kill the Duke.  Kin. 
And by my Crown, since thou dost interpose thyself  
Betwixt the sword of justice and the Object,  
It shall cut through thy life too with Lysander's,  
If thou dost fail to prove what thou affirmest.  Lys. 
I do beseech your Majesty,  
Let not this frantic man, (for so he seems to be)  
Out of his love to me, ruin himself:  
I do confess again it was this unlucky hand,  
And no other, that killed the Duke.  Duke. 
I call the heavens to witness, it was I  
That was the cause he bled that day,  
And well he did deserve it, for thinking  
So unjustly to rob thee of Clarinda,  
Who only dost deserve her.  King. 
Carry the fellow hence;  
Do I sit here to hear a mad man talk?  Duke. 
Call me not fellow, I am as good  
A Gentleman, as was the Duke your cousin,  
And were he now alive he would acknowledge it.  Kin. 
Away with him to Prison, I'll have him  
Strangely punished for this presumption.  
Away with him.  Her. 
Sir upon my credit,  
And men of my Profession should not lie, he's both  
In Birth and worth equal unto the Duke.  Kin. 
Though I do reverence your Profession,  
Yet I see no cause to believe you,  
For in this Kingdom there is none so worthy.  Her. 
Sir, yes; every way as worthy,  
And one your Majesty doth love so well,  
That if he ask you, I know you will pardon  
Lord Lysander for his sake.  King. 
Sure all the world's infected,  
One that I loved so well and equal to the Duke  
In Birth; how canst thou prove this?  Her. 
Thus I can prove it, Discover Duke.  
To your great joy and all the Kingdoms.  Kin. 
I am amazed; art thou a Conjurer,  
And from the quiet grave hath raised  
The beloved person of my Kinsman to delude me?  
For thou wert he that said thou foundst his body.  Duke. 
Ghosts do not use to pay their duty to  
The living, Sir, feel my hand, I am your Servant.  Kin. 
O my dear cousin, can this be true!  Duke. 
Sir, I will make all plain: but first I must  
Relieve the worthiest of men, noble Lysander,  
Send for Clarinda, and tell her this glad news:  
madam, let me kiss your fair hands,  
I ever honoured you, but now I do adore  
That high raised mind of yours, that fears not  
To profess your love to virtue, though in distress.  King. 
Dear cousin, I do long to know by what means you were preserved.  Duke. 
This reverend man that did the pious act,  
Can best resolve it you.  Kin. 
'Twas he that brought first word that he  
Had found your body, by which we were resolved  
That you were dead, he told his tale so punctually.  Duk. 
When I began to be passed danger of my  
Wounds, I framed that tale about the thieves,  
Intending to conceal myself, and so to make  
Trial of your love to me, and of Clarinda's  
Love unto Lysander, both which I find  
Not to be equaled.  Kin. 
Good Father tell us how you found him  
Wounded, and how you did preserve him.  Her. 
Sir, what I told you  
Concerning the finding of him wounded,  
All that was true, and how I did recover him  
By a sovereign water; but that he after  
Died within my arms, you see is false  
And yet he spoke those words that I delivered  
As his dying speech, he having then indeed  
No hope of life: but heaven so ordered it,  
That he recovered by my skill in Surgery,  
In which Art I shall not boast to say  
That I am equal with the most skilful of this age,  
Which I think well appears, since I have cured  
Him in so short a time; yet I must attribute  
His sudden curing to a sovereign balm,  
That an Egyptian gave me, from which country  
I late came.  Kin. 
Holy man, expect from me a great reward;  
For you have back to me restored the comfort  
Of my life; but where have you since lived,  
Or how came you by this disguise?  Enter Clarinda. Duke. 
I lived with him still in a little Cottage,  
And he did from the City fetch me disguises:  
Divine Clarinda, pardon me, I was your bedfellow,  
And did not know my own happiness then;  
If I had known you, I would have done  
Just as I did; I see you are amazed, it was I  
That in disguise rescued you, and saved your honour,  
When that villain would have ravished you;  
In which I was most happy; for I shall now present  
You, so much the richer gift to your Lysander.  
Here brave Lysander, let me deliver up  
Into thine arms the jewel of thy life;  
And in that make some part of satisfaction,  
For the wrong I did he, in compelling thee  
To fight for that which was thine own before  
In justice.  Lys. 
My Lord, the service of my life hereafter  
Shall make manifest how much I honour you,  
And with what joy I do receive your gift.  Cle. 
I would have given my life to have redeemed  
Lysander's; where is the joy then that I should feel  
For his deliverance. O I have found the cause.  
That doth suppress it; it's envy that Clarinda's  
Happier than myself: why should I envy that  
Which is her due, both by his vows and her  
Own merit.  Lys. 
How sad the Princess looks? I wonder  
She doth not speak to me.  Cle. 
Heart, though thou burst, the world shall not  
See I grieve or envy Lysander and Clarinda,  
May you be happy in your loves, which I can never be.  Lys. 
Her noble heart will burst with grief,  
Would I had died, or rather that I had two hearts,  
By death I had been free, this way I am  
A debtor to the Princess, and that ingratitude  
Torments me worse than death.  King. 
Call for the sacred Priest, and let us change  
That which we thought should have been a scene  
O blood, into a scene of joy, by joining  
Two despairing Lovers hands together.  Du. 
O what a happy man's Lysander at this instant  
Compared with what he was half an hour since!  
Imagination cannot reach it; but on the other side  
How far am I fall'n from that happiness  
That I possessed when fair Clarinda said  
That she would marry me within a month.  Enter Priest. Kin. 
Come reverent Sir, perform an office  
Acceptable to the Gods: Sister, take you Lysander's  
Hand, and cousin you Clarinda's.  Cleo. 
O what a cruel office hath my brother put upon me.  Duke. 
I would this task were passed,  
Virtue I see thou art a cruel Mistress.  Clar. 
I in my soul grieve for the Duke,  
His manly eyes shed tears to perform this Office;  
I would to heaven he were my Brother,  
Or that Lysander were; the consideration  
Of his worth and infinite affection,  
Which hath appeared in all his actions,  
Hath gained much upon me.  Priest. 
Will you Lysander take Clarinda for  
Your Wife, forsaking all other till the hand of death  
Arrest the one of you?  Her. 
Say no Lysander.  Lys. 
Reverend Sir, why?  Her. 
Because the Marriage is not lawful.  Duke. 
Can you prove it unlawful?  
You saved my Life, but I shall value that no benefit,  
Compared with this, if you can prove  
Lysander and Clarinda cannot marry;  
I'll make you more than you can wish to be.  Her. 
Lysander, did not your Father  
When you last parted with him, give you  
A little Cabinet, in which he bid you look  
When you should marry, on his blessing  
Not before, not at your death.  Lys. 
It is true, he did so, but I  
Was so distracted betwixt joy and grief,  
That I had quite forgot it.  Her. 
Send for it with all haste.  Kin. 
What can this Cabinet produce to stop The Marriage.  Cleo. 
I cannot plead desert,  
Thou God of Love, because I have so short a while  
Been subject to thy Laws; but well thou know'st  
If thou oblige me to become thy subject,  
By giving me Lysander, that I shall  
More extol thy power then any Subject  
That thou hast: but on the contrary,  
If thou dost not assist me, I will return again  
Unto Diana, thy utter enemy, and in her service  
Spend the loathed remnant of my life.  Enter with a Cabinet, Paper in it. Kin. 
The Cabinet is come.  Duk. 
I make no doubt,  
If't be within thy power, thou God of Love,  
But thou wilt grant to me thy truest Subject  
The wishes of my heart; but I do fear a greater  
Power than thine, doth overrule the destinies.  Her. 
Here Sir, read that paper; there you shall  
Find, what you do little think.  King reads. Lysander, I do give you leave to marry whom you do think sit, because I know you are able to make a worthy Choice, only Clarinda you cannot marry, for she is your Sister. Lys. 
How! my Sister!  Duke. 
Love thou hast heard my prayer, though I were  
Ignorant, and knew not what to ask.  Kin. 
I am amazed, sure this is Witchcraft.  Duke. 
Sir, I beseech you prove this to be true.  Her. 
My Lord, if you will beg a Pardon from the King,  
It is for a fault, that was never proved against me;  
I then will make all things so plain, that no man shall deny it.  Enter Messenger. Mes. 
And please your Majesty, jacomo is proved to be  
The Count Orsinio's Brother.  Her. 
My Lord, let him be brought, he'll help to the clearing of the discourse I am to make.  Duke. 
Sir, I must beg a pardon for the saver of my life.  Kin. 
What hath he done? I pardon him, be't what it will.  Her. 
Then Sir, behold a banished man. pulls off his beard.  Kin. 
The Count Orsinio!  Lys. 
My Father! your blessing Sir.  Utran. 
My dear friend! welcome. Enter jacomo.  Duke. 
Sir, I'll not bid you welcome,  
Till you make it plain, it can be no Marriage.  Iaco. 
My Brother!  Her. 
O thou wicked villain! art thou alive yet?  
I might have known thee by thy villainies,  
Through thy disguises.  Du. 
Good my Lord proceed unto your discovery.  Her. 
My second wife being barren, I had  
No hope of Issue Male; for I had Mariana  
There by my first and it did grieve my Soul  
To think that villain there should be my heir;  
For he daily practised mischief before unheard of.  
It was not long before my wife observed  
That the chief cause of all my discontent  
Grew from her barrenness, and she being fearful  
That my affection might decline as did my hope  
Of Issue, thought of a strange and most unwonted  
Means, to make herself appear a happy mother.  
My friend's Wife here, the Count Utrante  
Finding herself to be with Child; my Wife,  
By help of Art did seem so too: but strange  
To see how gold will work! for by a some of  
Money, my Wife did work the Midwives, Nurse,  
And Doctor, to cozen the true Mother of her Child  
When ere she should be brought to bed.  Kin. 
How was that possible?  Her. 
Most easy Sir, as they did handle it,  
The Child was borne, and proved a Boy,  
As my Wife wished; for had it been a Girl,  
It could not then have eased me of my grief,  
My land being tied upon the Heirs Male.  Duke. 
Good Sir, proceed.  Her. 
The Nurse was by the Doctor straight  
Commanded to carry into the next room the child,  
Alleging that it was most necessary,  
The Mother, after so much labour should  
Sleep, which the Child's crying might hinder:  
Within a short space comes in the Midwife  
Pitifully weeping telling the Mother  
That the Child could hardly live; but straight  
The Nurse she entering the Chamber cried out  
Alas the Child is dead; the woeful Mother  
Falling in a swoon, had almost made  
That sorrow real for her, which then but  
Counterfeited for the Child.  Duke. 
The Child then was not dead.  Her. 
No Sir, the crafty Nurse  
Had by a backdoor conveyed it out o'th' house  
By help of another Nurse that she had there  
For the purpose: having recovered  
The Mother out of her trance, the poor Lady  
Desired to see her late comfort, though now  
Her only cause of sorrow, the dead Child:  
But the Doctor utterly denied that,  
Alleging that would but increase her sorrow,  
Which might impeach her health:  
My friend here was not then at home,  
And who durst contradict the Doctor  
In such a case.  Kin. 
Was there  
No servants in the house? Did none of them  
Ask for the Child?  Her. 
Sir, to prevent that,  
They had before provided a piece of wood  
Shaped like a Child, and about that they put  
A winding sheet.  King. 
But what excuse then made they  
For their haste in dressing of it  
For the grave, that was not then  
Scarce cold.  Her. 
For that they told the servants  
The Child being deformed they made such haste  
To hide it from the neighbours; that they  
Might not be witnesses of their lady's shame,  
In bringing such a Monster into the world.  
The Nurse the same night came, and told my Wife  
What they had done, and she advising with  
Her agents, the next night after seemed  
To fall in labour, and by the help of those  
Her creatures made perfect by their former practice,  
She cozened me and the world, by making us  
Believe, that she had truly brought me forth a son.  
I did a thousand times kiss my young heir,  
And by my careful education and his own  
Brave natural parts, he's grown to be  
What now you find, Lysander, for he's the same.  King. 
But how came you to know  
Lysander was not your natural son, and these Particulars?  Her. 
My Wife Sir,  
Being upon her death bed, she found her conscience  
Troubled with this deceit, and could not  
Depart in peace, till she had freely told me  
Of this strange Story; I still concealed it  
Out of my just anger against my wicked Brother;  
Besides that great affection which I bore Lysander,  
Continued still, and is now so great,  
That if your Majesty by your Prerogative  
Will but confirm it. I do adopt him for my Heir.  King. 
It shall.  Iaco. 
Thus Sir, was I defeated of my right; My Lord the Duke there by his power, though I did prove this in the open Court, by witness of the Nurse and Midwife; yet he made me to be banished as an injurer of others.  Duke. 
I do confess the wrong I did thee  
Though ignorant, and for to make thee satisfaction,  
I will be a suitor to the King in thy behalf:  
Sir, now upon my knowledge I dare affirm  
That Lysander is son unto the Count Utrante.  Lys. 
It was nature in me, that made me so much  
Love the Count Utrante: you blessing Sir.  Clarin. 
It does not grieve me that you are My Brother.  Lys. 
And for my part, I cannot add  
To my own happiness, if I might have my wishes,  
Now that you are my Sister; for I did ever love you  
As a Sister rather then as a Mistress.  Duke. 
Divine Clarinda,  
I cannot claim your promise till a month be passed,  
There is some part of it to come, but I hope  
You will not strictly stand upon the time.  Clar. 
My Lord,  
I should too much wrong myself, though I did not  
Love you, in deferring of so great a blessing:  
But the large testimony that you have given  
Both of your worth and affection to me,  
Have turned that great affection in an instant,  
That I bore Lysander, as you could wish it,  
Upon you; nay to say truth, I ever loved you,  
Though not so well as he, and held your worth As great.  Duke. 
Dear Clarinda, give me not a surfeit.  Lys. 
I fear the King will here consent. whisper.  Duke. 
But good Sir,  
What made you desire me to beg your pardon.  
Or what made you conceal yourself so long?  Her. 
My Lord, I'll tell you;  
Your Lordship may remember, for it is not  
Five years since, that this my Friend, the Count  
Utrante and myself, were both suspected  
For poisoning of your child, because we were  
His profest Enemies; especially myself,  
Which made me fly, though I were innocent,  
For it was known to many, that the villain  
Killed him for's own particular revenge  
Yet my wicked Brother there, persuaded the fellow  
At his death to say, that we had set him on  
And got another rascal to witness with him  
That it was true; my friend, not having so great  
Enemies, did stay to justify himself,  
And for his pains was laid in prison, and kept there  
For his lands, till you got him released,  
And yet he was never brought unto his trial;  
ay, ere I left this Country, did leave this Cabinet  
With my son, or rather yours, and withal  
The charge of looking in it when he should  
Be married. After many a weary step abroad,  
I came home to my Country, and in disguise  
Have lived here in the Forest, and saw my friends  
Full often, although they knew not me;  
And having this occasion of doing your Lordship  
Service, I thought it would be a sure means  
To get my pardon; especially when things  
Were grown unto the extremest point  
Of danger, I knew a timely remedy would be  
Most welcome then of all, and that made me  
Conceal myself so long.  Lys. Cleo. 
We are resolved.  King. 
My Lord, I freely pardon you, for I believe  
It was indeed a lie, invented by your wicked  
Brother, whom I do give you power to punish  
As you think good.  Her. 
My Lord, I then desire  
He may be kept a prisoner all his life;  
For should he have his liberty, I know  
He would do mischief that we should all Repent of.  Iaco. 
Brother, thou art wise,  
Thou shouldst have been the first that should  
Have felt mine anger.  King. 
Away with him.  Duk. 
I dare not speak for thee thou art so great  
A Villain. Exe. Guard with jacomo.  King. 
Come, let us set forwards to the Temple.  
And pray the Gods to shower a blessing  
Upon this Couple;- What means my Sister?  Lysan. and Cleon. set swords ta their breasts. Cleo. 
Thus Sir,  
Lysander and myself have made a solemn  
Contract, and with our bloods we'll seal it,  
Either to go thus to the Temple to be married,  
Or to the grave.  King. 
How Sister!  Cleo. 
What is it Sir, in your opinion, makes  
Lysander unworthy of me.  King. 
His blood compared with yours, is base.  Cleo. 
But Sir, his mind's heroic,  
And who will compare the servant with the Master?  
The Body is no more unto the Mind.  King. 
What would you marry with a Subject?  Cleo. 
Who would not  
Marry with a Subject that is a King of Virtues,  
Rather than with a King that's governed  
By his Vices?  Duke. 
Sir, you know the greatness of her  
Spirit; If you will have her to live, you must  
Consent.  Cleo. 
Brother, you stand to us  
Instead of destiny; for you have in your power  
Our thread of Life. Say, will you spin us out  
A happy thread, that we may live to serve you,  
Or will you cut it short?  Duke. 
O be not cruel to your only Sister;  
What's all the out ward glory, if you rob  
The mind of that which it delights in?  
I know that your intention is to make  
Her happy, do not mistake the way;  
Her mind is not taken with the glorious title  
Of a King; for if it had, she might have made  
Her choice, since all the neighbouring Kings  
Admire her: No Sir, she aims at that  
Which made men Kings at first, Wisdom,  
And Valour, and should she search the world  
She cannot find a man where they  
Do meet so fully, as in brave Lysander:  
O Sir, then be not cruel, thinking to be  
Careful of your Sister.  King. 
she's cruel to herself,  
And rather let her perish by her rash hand,  
Then so dishonour me, by marrying with  
A Subject.  Cleo. 
Farewell then  
Cruel Brother: Lysander, let us part  
To meet again for ever; I'll go first,  
Because my Brother shall not think of saving me  
When you are dead.  Lys. 
No madam,  
Let me show you the way, and when I feel  
The pain, I'll tell you if it be too great  
For you to suffer.  King. 
Hold: take him Sister,  
And be happy in him: I love thee more  
Than ever, because I see, thy mind is only  
Fixed on true Worth without additions.  
I learned of Count Orsinio to bring things,  
To the extremest point, so to increase  
The joy: it had been a sin to part  
Those Bodies, whose very Souls seem to be  
Joined together.  Cleo. 
Brother, may I perish,  
When I forget this benefit, or cease to pay  
To you my Lord, my thanks for pleading so  
Lysander's Cause and mine.  Kin. 
Great Love this day hath shown his mighty power  
Without the help of, Fortune In an hour  
He hath relieved from death and from despair  
four of his truest Subjects and made fair  
This day that was p'erclouded, let us praise  
His power that in in a minute so can raise  
From misery to an excess of joy,  
And in an instant that content destroy:  
He hath to us been just this day as well as kind.  
Rewarding virtuous Love let none then call him blind.  Exeunt omnes.   

THE epilogue.  
Our Author fears there are some Rebel-hearts  
Whose dulness doth oppose Loves piercing darts:  
These will be apt to say the Plot was dull,  
The Language rude, and that 'twas only full  
Of gross Absurdities; for such as these  
He cares not now, nor ere will strive to please:  
For if yourselves as Masters, and Loves Friends,  
Be pleased with this sad Play, he hath his ends.  
FINIS.