THE EUNUCH. A TRAGEDY: As it hath been Acted with Great Applause.  
Written By William Hemmings, Oxon.  
Licenced, March 26. 1687. Roger L' Estrange.  
LONDON, Printed by J. B. and are to be sold by Randal Tailor near Stationers-Hall, 1687.   

Dramatis Personae.  

The Eunuch.  
The Old King.  
Clotaire, The Young King.  
Clovis, His Brother.  
Fredegonde, The Queen.  
Old Brisac.  
Charles Brisac, His Son.  
Aphelia, His Daughter.  
Landrey, The Queen's Favourite.  
Dumaine, Brother to the Eunuch.  
Lamot, His Friend.  
Bourbon, Officers and Soldiers.  
Lanove, Officers and Soldiers.  
Martile, Officers and Soldiers.  
Isabel, Ladies Attending the Queen.  
Julia, Ladies Attending the Queen.  
Page.  
Lackey.  
Two Watchmen.  
A Messenger.    


ACT I  

SCENE I  Enter Dumain and Lamot, like two Poor Soldiers. Dumain. 
WE are not safe Lamot, this Bawdy Peace  
Begets a War within me, our Swords worn  
For Ornament not use, the Drum, and Trumpet  
Sing Drunken Carols, and the Cannon speaks  
Health, not Confusion; Helmets turned to Cups;  
Our bruised Arms administer discourse  
For Tables, and for Taverns, where the Soldier  
Often finds a pity, not relief: Pl● tell thee  
We are walking Images, the sign of men,  
And bear about us nothing but the form  
Of man, that's manly.  Lamot. 
We are c●le indeed.  Dum 
Yes my Lamot, and the ungrateful Time  
As coldly doth reward ut, all our Actions,  
Attempts of Valour looked into with Eyes  
Philmed with Contempt, when ye Gods, ye know,  
It is our Gifts they see yet: O I am Mad!  
The very Bread that lends them Life to scorn us,  
Our Bloods have paid for, yet demand a bit,  
Or ask of this Old-Sattin-Belly'd-Sir,  
Or Madam-Toothless, with her Velvet Sconce,  
And you shall hear their rotten Lungs pronounce  
The Whip, and Whipstock.  Lamot. 
Patience, Great Dumaine.  Dum Lamot, 
Thou knowst, I dare be Patiented.  
With what an equal Temper did I breath,  
Under the Frozen Climate of the North,  
Where in mine Arms, the Sheets of War, I Slept;  
My Bed being feathered with the down of Heaven,  
I have lain down a Man, and rise a Snowball;  
Yet these have been my Pastimes, which I have born  
as willingly, as I received them Nobly.  
The Queen's black Envy which doth still remain,  
And peeps through every Limb she bears about her,  
Fated to ruin us, does not swell my Gall;  
Not, nor this willing Beggary I wear  
To cloud me from her Malice; by the Gods,  
This Bastard-getting-Peace unspirits me,  
A greater corrasive to my Active Soul,  
Than all past-ills whatever.  Lamot. 
Cool your Rage,  
And be as Wise as Valiant, this is not time  
To vent your Passions like a Woman;  
A Soldier's Tongue moves only in his Sword.  Dum 
You are an expert Tutor and I thank you;  
Our Wrongs would add a Spirit to the Dead,  
And make them fight our quarrels. Who comes here?  A Flourish, Enter Landrey, 2 or 3 Lords, 2 or 3 Petitioners, who by his followers are slighted of; they as grieved return back again, whilst he passes on in State. 
The Minion to our Queen! O what a train  
The Painted Peacock bears! Death! were I Jove  
But only for this Giant.  Lamot. 
Still intemperate.  Dum 
These are the fruits of Peace, upstarts, & slatteries;  
Tell me Lamot, can this same Marchant-Man,  
Think or Commit a Sin, tho' never so Horrid  
But it is candid o'er, and from his Vice,  
Excessive praise, and plaudites arise.  
Were I the King! but he is wilful Blind;  
And by the Horns she rocks him fast asleep,  
Before the Wanton and hot-Blooded Queen  
Should have the Licence, but to be suspected  
With such a Knight of Gingerbred as this is,  
A Guilded Flesh-fly; I would lock Her up,  
Yea chain the Evil Angel in a Box,  
And House her like a Silkworm.  Lamot. 
Pardon Sir,  
The good Old King's unable.  Dum 
Worse and Worse,  
And therefore must admit an upstart-Page,  
Now raised to Honour by his Lawless Lust:  
Mayor of the Palace, and the Duke of France;  
The next step is the Crown; O Peasant State,  
When Owls are aired in the Cedar's top,  
And Daws compare with Eagles.  Lamot. 
Like to like.  
What was our Fredegonde but Golsanda's Maid?  
A Princess, (O my Soul!) so Heavened above her,  
That Fredegonde appears a Hell of darkness;  
Yet does our Childrick, our old doting King,  
Set up a Dishclout against a Diadem.  Dum 
'Twere good the King would Execute them both.  Lamot. 
Execute them! For his best Blood he dares not;  
The no-Chast-Queen is great in Faction,  
Followed and Sainted by the Multitude,  
Whose judgements she has linked unto her purse,  
And rather bought a Love than found it:  
She has a working Spirit, an active Brain,  
Apt to conceive, and wary in her wills;  
Besides, her Sons. (the Pillars of State)  
Supports her like an Atlas, where the sits;  
And like the Heavens commands our faces beneath her.  
She is the greater Light, the King a Star,  
Which only glares but through her influence.  A Flourish. Dum 
Hark the Thunder of the War; now! out of Tune,  
This Peace corrupting all things makes them speak.  
What means this most Adulterate noise?  Lamot. 
Receiv't.  
This is a Night of Jubilee, and the King  
Solemnly Feasts for his Wars happy success:  
Besides his Sons and he are knit again;  
We shall have Masques and Revellings to Night.  Dum 
Now the Great Gods confounded this pickthank noise;  
The Drum and Trumpets are turned flatteries,  
And Mars himself a Bawd to grace their Riots.  Enter the Eunuch with two fair Suits, Hats, Feathers, Rapiers, and all things answerable, flings them a Letter, and to each a purse of Gold; and after a little pause departs. 
What Vision's this? 'Tis Gold both right & fair;  
Sure I dream not.  Lamot. 
I cannot tell, but he  
That takes this from me shall full soon perceive  
I do not sleep nor slumber: 'Twas the Eunuch.  Dum 
That needs no deciding.  Lamot. 
What Papers that?  
If it be Chorus unto this dumb show,  
Read it Dumain.  Dum 
Dasterd Hand, why shak'st thou?  Takes up the Letter & seems to tremble. 
The Queen!  Lamot. 
Blasted Dumain! Give me the Scroll;  
Were she a Fury, nay the Queen of Hell,  
Thou every word did Thunder I would read it.  He Reads. 
As ye are Soldiers truly Valiant, we Honour ye; as poor, we pity ye, and have sent ye that which will tender ye as complete Courtiers, as undaunted Soldiers: Damaine, Lamot, let is suffice we know ye, for our Eye is Every where, whilst we remember your Works, we shall study to forget your Parents Injuries: Fear nothing, for your hitherto concealment we will get your Pardons, and whilst we breathe, breathe your kind Mistress; if you dare trust us, and build upon our Fortunes, appear at Court to Night so adorned as shall become your Honours and our Friends.  
Fredegonde.  Dum 
How do you relish this? What now Lamot?  Lamot. 
We'll take the Gracious prosser of the Queen,  
She's Princely vowed our Friend; besides what Ill  
Can we expect from her, who might have sent  
Her Murdering Minister, and Slain us here  
Had she intended foul-play; she is Noble.  Dum 
But—  Lamot 
What but?  Dum 
Her Murdered Brother's memory;  Lamot. 
When he fell, we were too young for Traitors,  
Thou not for Torments, had we been apprehended:  
For in the high displeasure of this Queen  
All our Posterity was doomed: Some felt the Wheel,  
Some Racked, some Hanged, others Impaled on stakes,  
And had not we been than in Wittenburgh,  
And passed the fury of the Tyrant's reach,  
we'd added to the Number of the Dead.  Dum 
And think you still we shall not?  Lamot 
By my Life,  
It's Murder to suspect her, we'll to Court,  
Our Lives are all that we can lose, our fame  
No Art can Murder, nor time raze our name.   

SCENE. II.  Enter Fredegonde and the Eunuch. Queen. 
What coference did they maintain with thee?  Eunuch. 
None farther than the Language of their Eyes;  
They looked on me as if they meant me thanks,  
Which their Amazement robbed me of.  Queen. 
knowst thou them?  Eunuch. 
Not, dearest Lady, they appeared to me  
Like to the Silent Postures in the Arras,  
Only the form of Men with strange Faces.  Queen. 
Come take them than, they are our Enemies,  
Whom I have Angled with that Golden Bait;  
Their Parents waded in my Brother's Blood;  
For which I'll be revenged of all their kin,  
Did they increase as fast as I could kill,  Draws the Curtain and shows a Picture. 
I'd ever Kill, that they may still increase.  
This Picture drawn by an Italian,  
(Which still I keep to whet my Anger on)  
Does represent the Murder of my Brother,  
For Ravishing this Beauteous piece of Ill;  Points to the Pictures. 
A Cruel and a Terrible Mistake,  
To Murder Clodymer, for Clotair's fact.  
For which behold how Fredegond's revenged:  Points still. 
This old Dumain and Father to this Maid,  
With all his Kindred, Sociates, and Allies  
(These brace of wicked ones, and this ravished Whore,  
The fair and fatal cause of these events  
Only excepted) are here; here in this Picture.  
Here's one bereft of Hands, and this of Tongue,  
Finger thy Lute Maria, Sing out Isabel,  
Hark Hark, Castrat, the Music of the Spheres,  
O ravishing touch! Hark how the others voice  
Echoes the Lute, Is't not a Divine softness, Ha', ha', ha'!  
I do expect they now should rail extremely;  
I prithee Scold at me good Isabel,  
A little of the Woman; no! Maria,  
Within the loathed Circle of mine Eyes  
Anchor thy singers; Alas! thy Nails are pared;  
Nor has poor Isabel a Tongue to scold with:  
Two hoary Greybeards in this angle lies,  
Will found their way to Hell without their Eyes.  Stabs the Picture. 
Villains that Killed my Brother, how does this relish thee,  
To Execute Men in Pictures? Is't not rare?  
Is't not a pastime for the Gods to gaze on?  Eunuch. 
Were but Crotilda here, and these two Youngsters,  
It were a pastime for the Gods to gaze on.  Queen. 
We found the Eunuch fit for our Employments,  
Therefore I will unclapse my Soul to thee;  
've always found thee Trusty, and I Love thee.  Eunuch. 
With thanks I ever must acknowledge it,  
And lay my Life at my great Mistress' feet  
To spend it when she please.  Queen. 
We need it not  
As yet, Castrato, but we may hereafter.  
See there's the Platform of great Childricks' Death;  
And they which must be thought his Murderers,  
Our Enemies, and now new Courtiers;  
Whom hitherto I have reserved for Policy;  
First, that they take away the Gild from us;  
Next, being apprehended, studied Deaths,  
The Heads of all our Engineers shall ' sit  
To invent unheard of Torments for the Slaves;  
I long to see them here, here in this frame,  
Greeting their Kindred's Bones.  Eunuch. 
Most Excellent!  Queen. 
Than I'll commend thee to my Elder Son,  
Where thou shalt wind into his Secret Thoughts;  
As for the Younger Boy let me alone;  
And when we have them on the Hip, they shall  
Fellow their Father unto Hell's black Hall.  Eunuch. 
You are the Goddess of invention.  Queen. 
Will not this be Brave? Ha! how likest thou it!  
Now by this Light I'm taken strangely with thee;  
Kiss me, Kiss me, closer Villain:  
Fie! what a January Lip thou hast,  
A pair of Isickles; sure thou hast bought  
A pair of East Lips of the  Diana's;  
Thy Blood's mere Snow broth: Kiss me again.  
Now see if you can found these Gallants forth,  
And bring them to our presence.  Exit Eunuch, and Enter Landrey. 
O Landrey!  
Your Visits have been freer, but I grow Old,  
And you Command the Beauties of the time.  Landrey. 
What means my Noble Mistress? think you the Blood  
Runs so degenerate within these Veins,  
To stoop to an inferiors Embrace,  
When I enjoy the best?  Queen. 
We are Betrayed.  
I'll tell thee a good jest Landrey, wilt hear it?  
This Morning dressing my Head, my Husband came,  
And with his Switches, for he was than to Hunt,  
A Gentle stroke he gave me on the back;  
My fancy busied than to make me fine,  
Supposing it was you that sported so;  
Cried, my Landrey, in Story we still found,  
The best Knights strike before, and not behind:  
The King who always understood too fast,  
Quits suddenly my Chamber, what he intends  
I cannot guests, unless it be our Deaths,  
Which if he speedily perform not, than  
Know he shall never, for this Night concludes him;  
My Sons I weigh not, thus, they have Rebelled,  
And taken Spirit of late to oppose my, will,  
And contradict my Pleasure in thy Love,  
For which it is not safe that they should Live;  
The Kingdom's Heir shall be a Child of thine,  
And Kings and Queens shall follow in thy Line.  
Oh! are they come, they're welcome, take our word,  Enter Lam, & Dum very brave, & the Eunuch. 
A Queen's word, Fredegonde bids ye welcome  Both. 
Your Highness is as full of Grace as Mercy.  Queen. 
Rise and follow us, we'll be your Guardian,  
And Protectress.  Landrey. 
Madam, who are these?  Queen. 
Sheep for my Shambleses, whom I have fatted up  
Only for Slaughter; Things are on foot decreed,  
Shall make some Smile to Night, and others Bloed.  Exeunt Omnes.  

SCENE III.  Enter Clovis at one Door, Aphelia and a Page with a Light at the Other. Clovis. 
My best Mistress, what Angel brought you hither;  
For I know my Lions attend your goodness?  
Why weep you? Trust me your Eyes seed pearl,  
Bracelets for Gods to wear about their Arms.  Aphelia. 
I am too fond, yet he Swears he Loves me,  
I have believed him too, for I have found 〈…〉  
A Godlike Nature in him, and a Truth 〈…〉  
Hitherto Constant. 〈…〉  Clov. 
Gentlest Sweet, the Cause?  Aphelia. 
If this should be dissembled, not your Heart,  
And having won my Soul's affection,  
Should on a Judgement more retired to State,  
Fling of affection, and leave me in Love,  
What Ill-bred-tales the World would make of me?  Clov. 
That Jealousy I'll strangle, take this Ring  
As I that Diamond dazzled by thine Eyes,  
Whose Beauties Sickened 'cause Eclipsed by thine  
Be these the mutual Pledges of our Love,  
Our Marriage before our Marriage,  
And cursed be they that Separate our Love,  
Thou France be one, or, what is greater, 〈◊〉.  
Are your fears over now?  Aphe. 
I dare no Ill,  
And therefore doubt none.  Clov. 
Hark! The King is coming.  A Flourish. Enter King, Queen, Clotaire, Landrey, Dumain, Lamot, Ladies and Attendance; with the Guard, and Eunuch. King. 
Approach our Person nearer, for methinks  
 honest faces, if your Hearts keep touch  
To your outward Semblance, you're a pair  
Nothing but Death shall force from me.  Queen. 
Good, Good!  
This Physic works.  Aside. Eunuch. 
Best Madam, is it done?  Queen. 
I my Black Genius, such a fatal Dram  
I have administered, will wing his Soul  
With expedition to the other World:  
His parts Essential, like a wearied Ghost  
This Night forsakes his Inn, whence fled and gone,  
Who knows where it shall lodge? Mark his looks,  
Seest thou not Death throned in his hollow Eye?  
Great Tyrant over Nature: See, observe.  Eunuch. 
With looks inquisitive I have beheld him,  
But can perceive no alteration.  Queen. 
Thou art a Fool, and want'st the optic nerves  
To pry into my Acts; where I lay trains  
Death comes before the grief; The Sulphurous Match  
Destroys the Powder with a motion slow  
To what I work with: As Antumns' aged Leaf,  
In youth the prime and glory of the wood,  
Not to be grasped by hand, falls with a puff,  
And what we could not touch but now, we tread on.  
So Childricke.  King. 
Oh! Lend me thine Arm Dumain,  Dum and Lam. both busy about the King. 
I know not what, but on the sudden, something—  Qu. 
How the Nat●-play and buzz about the flame  
That must Consume them.  Eunuch. 
Observant Coxcombs!  Clotaire. 
What Star's Unsphered and walks upon the Earth,  
Making our Night a Noon? methinks her sight  
Does Cute Blindness, and lends darkness Light.  
Castrate.  Eunuch. 
Hush! We are observed, My Lord.  Clotaire. 
What Lady's that?  Eunuch. 
Which, that French India,  
Who Sweats under the Pride she bears about her.  
She with whom your Brother holds discourse?  Clotaire. 
That!  Eun. 
The  and Beautiful Aphelia.  Clot. 
Most true, Nature has much befriended her;  
Art sure she's Honest?  Eun. 
Snow's not purer Sir,  
No Vestal Virgin at the Altar hears  
A Soul so incorrupt, so voided of flame  
That's loosely active.  Clot. 
Eunuch, be ourselves;  
Get but that Lady for me, thou conceivest—  Eun. 
She dotes upon you Brother, through his means  
I'll think upon some Plot.  Clot. 
Lend me thine Ear.  They Whisper. King. 
Deser our pastimes pastimes till another Night,  
I am not well at ease.  Dum 
Lights for the King.  Eun. 
Dumaine be wise, thy foot is in the Snare,  
Fredegonde hunts, an when she hunts, beware.  Dum 
Well warned half armed.  Lam. 
What says the Slave, Dumain?  Dum 
No matter what, mind we his Majesty.  Queen. 
My Royal Husband.  King. 
There is an Aetna in me,  
The Air I draw returns illuminate.  
Philosophy, thy Element of fire's here.  Clot. and Clov. 
How fares our Father?  King. 
O I Burn!  
Fire, Vesuvius, Aetna, Vesuvius.—.  Queen. 
His grace grows worse and worse, O my grieved Heart!  
Support him Gently Friends, Gently, Gently.  Exit. Om. ma. Eu. and Aphelia. Aphe. 
I credit your report and will obey,  
His mind is Honourable, like his Parentage,  
His Single name has armed me, pray lead on.  A Screch within of all together Oh! Oh! Oh! Eun. 
Hark Lady! There was a fearful sound,  
I sear the King's departed, let's withdraw.  Exeunt.  

SCENE IU.  Enter Lamot, and the Guard. Lamot. 
O woe! wo! wo!  Clot. 
Horror and Death!  Enter Clotaire. Clov. 
O dismal, fatal Hour! Enter Clovis.  Enter Queen, Dumaine, Landrey, Ladies, and the rest of the Guard. Queen. 
With Childrick, end the World.  Dum 
Have Patience gentle Queen.  Queen. 
Stand of,  
Preach Patience to the Sea, when the rude Wind  
Swells her ambitious Billows above the Clouds;  
And if thou Tutorest them to Peace and Silence,  
I'll be as Calm as they.  Clot. 
The Treason here,  
And not the Traitor, quite confounds my Senses,  Queen. 
Ignorance, dark as Hell; doubt ye the Traitors  
've brought a pair of Vipers to the Court,  
Warmed and relieved them with a sting to Kill us,  
Who could be author of this deed but they?  
His new Bosomed Friends have slain him.—  Clot. 
Our Guard,  
Lay Hands upon the Traitors.  Dum 
O Lamot!  
We are betrayed, basely beset with Snares.  They fight back to back against the Gu. & scape. Lam. 
Justice fight thou my cause with thine own Sword.  Qu. 
O Villains! would you let them scape? two Men  
To pass the strength of our undaunted Guard;  
This made my Soul, this grates my very Gall  King. 
Make after them, and bring them back again;  
Or by my Father's Soul ye breathe your last  
Still art thou here Aphelia? Ha! I may  
Use my Commanding Power now— Led on;  
Come Mother, Brother, Friend's, pray let us go.  
King ne'er received a Crown so full of woe.  Exeunt Omnes.   

ACT II.  

SCENE I  Enter Old Brissac and his Page, with a Taper. Brissac. 
IS she not come from Court yet?  Page. 
Not my Lord.  
I lost her midst the amazed multitude;  
Where doubtless frighted with the sudden horror,  
She has with other beauties of the Court  
Retired herself until the Morningstar.  Bris. 
'Tis very likely so! Yet do ye hear,  
Call up your Fellows; I'll not to Bed to Night,  Exit Page, & Enter presently with 2 Servingmen. 
My thoughts are full of Tempest, dismal think;  
Where is my Son? Why went He not to Court?  
Perhaps some Sacrilegious hands have seized on her;  
Courts are no Sanctuaries, she's not Vestal:  
May be she's safe, than why returns she not?  
Why sends she not glad Messengers of Health!  
No! No! She's lost, and I undone for ever!  
Run to the Court, they move not, why so fast?  
Let me deliberate; that were to give  
The Courtier's notice I have lost my Daughter,  
Whom they will than suspect, and call her fame  
Into an Ill construction; No! no! no!  
O my poor Daughter, my Aphelia!  Enter Charles Brissac and Clovis Muffled in his Cloak. 
O Sir you're welcome, where's your Sister,  
I must have her Sirrah and I will,  
Where is she, Charles', where is she?  Char. 
My Honoured Father,—  Bris. 
Tut, Tut, Honour me no Honour,  
Nor Father me no Father!  
Where is your Sister, Sirrah?  Charles. 
My Sister!  Bris. 
Your Sister!  Charles. 
Within Sir, otherwise this Gentleman  
Has lost his Labour; he's come to Visit her.  Bris. 
Heyday, Heyday, Heyday! to Visit her?  
Plots, Plots, mere fetches; to Visit her!  
What at the dead of Night? when the whole World  
Is Sunk in slumber, and our Lusty Youth,  
As quiet as the Grave; to Visit her!  
O most ridiculous! to Visit her!  
Pray Gentleman consider, does your Sister keep  
Times so Preposterous for Visits in?  
Makes she a day of Night; or has she been breed  
As lose as Lais, to love Night-courting?  
Do not distracted me thus, to Visit her!  Char. 
Pray Sir collect yourself, this Gentleman  
Even at that Horrid point where the King, fell—  Bris. 
Why look you now, there is more Mischief toward;  
What a World is this?  Char. 
Saw a Ring drop of my Sister's singer,  
Which he had than delivered, but that fright  
Which renders men forgetful, made him so;  
But knowing where she lived, (so he protests)  
He would not Sleep until it were delivered.  Bris. 
Pray let me see the Ring; Yes it was hers,  
And she would say, she'd never part with it  
But when she meant to Wed, if you have Married her  
Or have her promise' riveted to yours,  
Tell me but where she is, I'll be content,  
For I in losing her, have lost myself.  Clov. 
O my Prophetic Soul, than 'tis no Idle fear.  Char. 
How! The Monsieur, what makes he here?  Clov. 
There's something whispers me, go not to Bed,  
Go not to Bed till thou hast found her out:  
Be'st thou my Gonious, or what Powers else,  
Suggesting lawful things I will obey thee.  
Sleep everwaking Envy and Mistrust,  
Yet things that never knew what Slumber meant;  
Ghosts keep your Beds, ye Sentinels of Night,  
Goblins and Spectres do not walk your round,  
A general Lethargy Seize on this Hour,  
Yet I alone the Watchman of this Night,  
Will wake in spite of Fate. Argus' thine Eyes  
To found Aphelia and her Miseries.  Exit. Bris. 
Pretty, in good sadness, wondrous pretty,  
Is he in earnest?  Char. 
Sure he dissembles not.  
I little dreamt when I did let him In,  
What Person graced our Threshold.  Bris. 
Ha' Sirrah!  
What a Girl's this to be out o'th' way?  
He's in Love that's certain, Let me see.  
When I was first a Lover as he is,  
I'd just such cold fegaries in my Brain,  
Such Midnight madness. This puling Baggage  
May loose herself for ever, and her Fortunes,  
For this Hours absence, go, be gone,  
Fellow his Royal Person, Comfort him,  
Tell him my Daughter will again be found,  
And so good Angels grant we meet with her.  Exe. one at one door and the other at the other.  

SCENE II.  Enter Eunuch lighting Aphelia. Aphe. 
Into what Labyrinth do you lead me Sir?  
What perplexed byways? I should fear,  
Had you not used his Name, which is to me  
A Strength 'gainst Terror; and himself so good,  
Occasion cannot vary, nor the Night,  
Youth nor his wild desire; Otherwise  
A Silent Sorrow from mine Eyes would steal,  
And tell sad Stories for me.  Eunu. 
Do not fear,  
You are too tender of your Honour, Lady,  
Too full of agaish trembling; the Noble Prince  
Is as December frosty in desire,  
Save what is Lawful, he not owns that cheat,  
Which were you Snow, would thew a tear from you.  Aphe. 
This is the place appointed.  Eunu. 
I'll go call him,  
In the mean time, please you to rest yourself,  
Here is a Little Book will bear you Company  Gives her a book, she sits down and reads. 
Till I return, which will be suddenly  
Now Eunuch must the Artumie of Wit,  
From the dull Mixture of these leaden Brains  
Extract the Elixir of pure Villainy.  
Hither I'll sand the King, not that I mean  
To give him leave to cool his burning Lust,  
For Clovis shall prevent him in the Fact;  
And thus I shall Endear myself to both:  
Clovis Enraged perhaps will kill the King,  
Or by the King will perish; if both fall,  
Or either, both ways makes for me.  
The Queen as rootedly does hate her Sons,  
As I her Ladyship; to see this fray  
She must be brought by me. It shall be so;  
Her breath will stir in them confused Storms,  
In midst of whose wild rage, the Court will seem  
A G●lgoth●e of Mischief; for her sake  
I'll say I set on foot this hopeful brawl,  
Whilst she will Hug, and Kiss me for the same:  
Thus on all sides, the Eunuch will play foul,  Exit. 
And as his face is black, he'll have his Soul.  Aphe. 
Poor ravished Philomela, thy lot was ill  She leaves reading. 
To meet that Violence in a Brother,  
Which I in a Stranger doubt: Yet methinks  
I am too Confident, for I feel my heart  
Burdened with something ominous; these men,  
Are things of Subtle Nature, and their Oaths  
Unconstant as themselves— Let me proceed.  Clot. 
Methinks I stand like Tarquin in that Night  Enter Clo. Mussled. 
When he defiled the Chastity of Rome,  
Doubtful of what to do, and like a Thief  
I take each noise for an Officer.  
Thou I do know it is a deed of Death,  
Condemned for Torments in the other World,  
Such tempting sweetness dwells on every Limb,  
That I must venture my Essential parts  
For the fruition of a moment's Lust:  
O Pleasure dearly bought.  Aphe. 
Clovis may prove unkind, alack why not?  
He's but a man. Say he should offer foul,  
The Evil Counsel of a Secret Place,  
and Night his Friend, may out-tempt his will:  
I dare not stand the Hazzard, Guide me Light  
To some Untrodden Place, where poor I may,  
Wear out the Night with sighs till it be day.  Clot. 
I must be bold and resolute; Sweet Maid,  He meets her. 
Fair, Virtuous Damsel, Hail.  Aphe. 
What man art thou,  
That dost thy Countenance bury in thy Cloak,  
And hidest they face from Darkness and the Night?  
If thine intents deserve a Musler too,  
And that thy thoughts dare non allow themselves.  
Withdraw, and Act them not, what art thou? speak,  
And wherefore cam'st thou hither?  Clot. 
Wouldst thou know?  
I came to found one Beautiful as thou,  
And am a man willing to please a Woman.  
Nay, nay, you must not leave more thus.  She proffers to go of. Aphe. 
Must not.  Clot. 
Not, must not, 'tis I that speaks it Lady.  Aphe. 
I know thee not.  Cloth. 
But I must you, yes and the right way too,  
Which is th' acquaintance surest.  Aphe. 
Help, Help, Help!  Clot. 
Nay, nay, nay, none of your Prick-Songs Lady,  
If you rise a Note, or beaten the Air with Clamour,  
You see your Death.  Draws his Dagger Aphe. 
What Violence is this?  
Why do you threaten War, fright my soft peace  
With most ungentle Steel, what have I done  
Dangerous, or am like to do? why do you wrack me thus?  pulls her along. 
Mine Arms are Guilty of no crime, do not torment 'em,  
My Hands and they have joined in Prayer together  
For mankind that is Holy; if in that Act  
They have not Prayed for you, mend and be good,  
The fault is none of theirs.  Clot. 
You guests my Mind  
What Earthquake shakes you thu?  She trembles as amazed. 
Come do not seem more Holy than you are,  
I know your Heart.  Aphe. 
Let your Dagger too, Noble Sir strike home,  
And Sacrifice Soul to Chastity,  
As white and spotless as her Innocence  Clot. 
This is not the way.— Know you me Beauty?  Aphe. 
The King!  Clot. 
The same, Rise up and put of sear.  Aphe. 
I dare not sear, it's Treason to suspect  
My King can think an Ill, worse to Act it:  
I know you're God like good, and have but tried  
How far weak Woman durst be Virtuous  Clot. 
Pretty Simplicity, thou art deceived:  
Thy Wit as well as Beauty wounds me, and thy Towns  
In pleading for thee, pleads against thyself:  
It is thy Virtue moves me, and thy Good,  
Tempts me to Acts of Evil: wert thou bad,  
Or lose in thy desires, I could stand  
And only Gaze, not Surfeit on thy Beauty;  
But as thou art, let me not see thy face,  
I'm desperate grown in Ill, and must enjoy  
thee, or not thee thy Life.  Aphe. 
I offer it.  
You are my King and may Command my Life,  
My will to Sin you cannot, you may force  
Unsancted deeds upon me, Spot my fame,  
And make my Body suffer, not my mind.  
When you have done this irreligious deed,  
What Trophy, or what Triumph will it bring,  
Moore than a living Scorn upon your Name?  
Do not believe this deed can lie concealed,  
For Kings appear when they are Throned in Sin,  
Like to prodigious Creatures in the Air,  
At which all Tongues are mute, all Eyes do stare.  
Is't not a Single Ill which you commit:  
What in the Subject is a petty fault  
Monsters your Actions, and's a soul offence:  
You give your Subject's Licence to offend  
When you do teach them how.  Enter Clovis and Charles. Clot. 
Good, Ill applied:  Aside. 
I will endure not longer, come along,  
Or by the curious Spinstry of thy Head,  
Which Nature's cunningest singer twisted out,  
I'll drag thee to my Coach: Tempt not my fury.  Clov. 
Can I endure this; O my Salt Blood  
Leap from my Bosom, up into the Air.  
Unhand me Charles, and tender me myself,  
Jest I forget myself on thee.  Char. 
Great Prince,  
Remember 'tis your Brother and the King.  Clov. 
O that I could forget it, and shake of  
Duty at once, and Consanguinity,  
That like a Whirlwind I might rush upon him,  
And bear him to Destruction— Monster of men,  
Thou King of Darkness, down unto thy Hell,  
I have a Spell will lay thee, Honesty,  
And this abused Goodness: Is't not enough  
That thou hast wronged Crotilda, ravished a Maid  
A Virgin of that Purity of Life,  
Might Saint Her here on Earth; but wilt thou add  
Unto thy First a Second Violence?  
The Gods must not forgive!  Clot. 
I despise thee;  
If thou wouldst gain our Love, be a Brother,  
And aid me in my long.  Clov. 
Be a man;  
And shake a Nature of, that needs must damn thee:  
O set a Period to Sins Progress here,  
Proceed not in these Courses, jest you grow  
As Great in Sin as Sceptre.  Clot. 
Traitor, Boy!  
Thy fate moves in those words.  Clov. 
Is't even so;  
Than Guard thyself our King, for I am quick  
As Lightning, or the thought that Executes.  Char. 
Hold hold, my Lord, forbear; Call in more aid,  
Ring out the Alarum-Bell, Call up the Court,  
Bestir thee Eunuch, whilst interpose  
My Body to the fury of the Storm.  Exit Eun. Alarum-Bell. Qu. 
What means this sudden outcry? O my Sons!  
Hold, Hold! Part them good Gentlemen.  Ent. Qu. & Lady's Guard, Landrey Clot. 
Mother you are a trouble, stand from mine Arm,  
Let me cut of Rebellion in the Spring,  
Jest it beget a harvest that will prove  
Fruitful in Treason, Braved by a Subjects hand.  Qu. 
Though Nature by Precedency of Birth,  
Made thee his King, it therefore follows not  
His Murderer; wherein is our Clotaire  
Greater than Clovis? Know, the selfsame Blood  
That Spirits thee, makes him as Valiant,  
The difference lies in Anno Domini.  Eun. 
Accurate Mischief, Fluent Villainy.  Aside. Qu. 
I grant thou art his Elder; by which Law  
Thou art born his Subject, not his Equal, Clovis;  
For Clotaire is thy King, and Subjects hands,  
Without the deep and dangerous traitors Name,  
May not advance against their Sovereign, Head.  Clot. 
Neither shall his without correction:  
Upon him Slaves.  Qu. 
Hold, I Command ye hold.  
O Clotaire, thou art of a Valiant Soul,  
And wilt thou basely thus beset thy Brother?  
Fear Argues spirits most degenerate,  
And that thou searest th'advantage argues it  
O set not on thy Slaves; if he must die,  
Let thy hand Sacrifice, not Butcher him.  Clot. 
That Argument Sounds harsh; shall Clotaire, fear?  Eun. 
Exquisite Philter, Poison to the height.  Aside. Clov. 
Sacrifice me, it is not in his Power.  Qu. 
We hope so Clovis; yet thy Brother King,  
Is as an Earthly-God, his Will, his Law,  
His Power uncircumscribed, unlimited,  
For Kings have will as uncontrolled as fate,  
And Majesty can look a Subject dead.  Clov. 
How look me Dead? I do not fear his frowns.  Qu. 
I Grant thee as great a Basaliske as he;  
As he is meetly man: but as thy King,  
Divinity does prop him; he stands sure  
That builds on that Foundation: Yet I know  
Thy Sword's as Sharp as his, and where it lights  
Imprints as much of fate, thine Arm as strong,  
Thy Spirit as daring, and thy will as prompt  
To any Action that may right a man.  Clot. 
He is your Darling, you do well to praise him;  
When I have slain him, Writ his Epitaph.  Clov. 
My Epitaph, this Pen of Steel shall first,  
Writ on thy Heart, thine end.  Eu. 
It Operates.  
The Venomed Potion of a Woman's Tongue  
Is more sublimed than Mercury.  Clot. 
Our Guard  
That let's a Traitor pull me by the heard:  They fall upon him with there Halberds and he's Slain. 
Cut him to pieces Rascals.  Qu. 
O my Son!  
Villain, thy Hands have made these holes, for which  
The winged Vengeance of a Mothers Curse  
Subtler in Operation than Lightning,  
Strike through thy Body every Limb a Death.  Eu. 
How cunningly she spits her Poison forth,  
I know her Soul is Light, she's glad he's Dead,  
And joys in the opportunity to Curse the killer;  
For which she gains the name of Pious Mother:  
Here's pretty Woman Villain, dissimulation.  Aph. 
If they have slain him, wherefore do I Live?  
O my swoln'n Heart.  Clot. 
Bear hence these Corpse, withal  
Remove that Siren from our wand'ring Eyes,  Landrey and 2 or 3 Lords more seem to Solicit for Aph. 
And Cage her in a Dungeon, hence begun,  
Bear her to Prison, reason not the Cause  
A King's Prerogative's above his Laws.  Exit. Aph. 
Be merciful, and lead to Death, away;  
Since he is gone, it is to Die, to stay.  Exeunt Omnes, manen● Queen, Landrey, Eun. Qu. 
Now we begin to slourish, this black Night  
Is only lighted by our stars, that smile  
Upon these actions, and rejoice to see  
Thee our sole Favousite so near a Crown:  
But tell me Landrey, how did I play the Mother?  
Did not I present a Niobe, in passion,  
Didst thou not fear an Inundation.  
A deluge of Salt Rheum?  Landlord 
You had no costive Eye, that I dare say,  
For certainly you wept.  Qu. 
Yes; as a good Actor in a Play would do,  
Whose fancy works as if he waking dreamt  
So strongly on the object that it Copes with,  
Shaping realities from Mockeries;  
And so the Queen did weep: By this good Light  
I think I could become the Stage as well  
As any she that sells her Breath in public.  
Come shall we Act Landrey?  Landlord 
Act great Lady;  
What Play shall we Enact?  Qu. 
Dull Landrey,  
Nothing that's new, Old Plays you know are best:  
Eunuch is our Bed ready.  Eu. 
Great Queen it is.  Qu. 
Come than my Joy to Bed, where we will sport,  
And laugh at Death, which Triumphs in the Court.  Exeunt Mane● Eunuch. Eu. 
Go sleep your last; I'll strait unto the King,  
And he shall take them in the very Act;  
And than to Cover my Discovery  
I'll set on fire the Queen's Bedchamber,  
That so I may disturb them more secure,  
And yet the Plot not mine: I'll tell the King  
Unless he present Help, his Mother burns.  
About is than, this is a happy Night;  
The more it works their Woe, more's my delight  Exit.   

ACT III.  

SCENE I  Enter the King and Eunuch. Eun. 
LOok how it flames! I fear some Treachery;  
Beaten at her Chamber-door, cry it aloud,  Knocks at the Door. 
And let your Voice be Thunder to this Lightning.  
Cry Fire, Fire, Fire! The Court is all a Hothouse.  
Fire, Fire, Fire!  Clot. 
Great Queen, Royal Mother, open your door,  
Jest you do sleep for ever, Mother awake.  
The God of sleep lies heavy on her Eyes.  
Force open the door, Fire, Fire, Fire!  again. Eun. 
It's fortified 'gainst strength, you must call louder.  Clot. 
Mother, Queen, Mother, awake, awake!  
Your sleep was never liker death than now:  
Lady, Great Princes, Fire, Fire, Fire!  again. Enter Queen above in Night attire and Landrey. Qu. 
What Saucy Groom  Exit Eunuch. 
Beats our offenceless doors thus daringly,  
He'd better roused a sleeping Lioness,  
Than thus to have broke our slumbers.  Clot. 
Look,  
The Fire will give you Light, 'tis I your Son;  
Ely from that Chamber, else you are but dead,  
Your Court is all a bonfire.  Qu. 
Let it burn.  
've lost my Credit everlastingly,  aside. 
I will not move afoot.  aloud. Clot. 
You must be forced than.  beats at the door. Landlord 
Where are your wits now in necessity,  Softly. 
We shall be taken, and you shamed for ever;  
Bethink, Bethink yourself.  Qu. 
I have't, it shall be so; there put on that,  
Appearing in his Brother's Warlike Shape.  
Thou wilt amaze, and so pass by him safely.  aside. 
Do not appear to me, I did not wound thee;  aloud. 
Seek out the Beds of those that caused thy death,  
And howl to them thy pitiful Complaint.  Clot. 
Whom do you hold discourse with, with the Air?  
Bethink yourself, this is not time to dally.  Qu. 
O, my Son, such horrid apparitions, full of dread have I beheld, have quite unwitted me:  
Your Brother's Ghost, fearfully terrible,  
Has thr●●●●his dismal night appeared to me:  
His Wou●●● did bleed, just as our Clotaire caused them,  
To those 〈◊〉 points, and calls Aphelia  
To bear 〈◊〉 companyi' th'other World,  
Or else 〈◊〉 rightly haunt us in our sleeps;  
Thrice dumb ●●y Revenge, and with that word  
Sprang 〈◊〉 the roof, which now stands bore to Heaven,  
Where 〈◊〉 did rain down fire which here we see.  Clot. 
Behold in comes.  Enter Landrey in Armour. Qu. 
O fear it not my Son.  Clot. 
What art thou that usurpest this dead of night  
In mental like the air? Why art thou sent  
To cast a horror on me? If thy Soul  
Walks unrevenged, and the grim Ferryman  
Deny thy passage, we'll perform thy rights;  
O do not wound me with such piteous signs  
Jest I dissolve to air, and like thyself  
Astright fool-Mortals: If thou desirest  
Aphelia's death, t'appease thy troubled Soul,  
Make some consenting sign and so departed,  
Thy sight afflicts my Soul.  Exit Landrey. Enter Queen. Qu. 
How fares our Son?  Clot. 
O I am full of faintings, nothing but Aphelia?  Qu. 
She must die, you see it's requisite.  Clot. 
Would he had asked my life first.  Enter Eunuch. Qu. 
Why should you be so fond upon a Woman,  Clot. 
Woman's the least part in her, she's all goddess.  Qu. 
'Twas your offer;  
Remember there's no jesting with the gods.  Eu. 
What might this mean? ha'? where are my brains?  Clot. 
I had forgot myself, your pardon Mother:  
Bear her from me this Jewel, I esteem  gives her a Jewel. 
Equal with life, it was my Brother's Picture;  
And with it, this, that she prepare to die  
Tell her, and if you can be moved to sorrow  
Express it in your tears, it is not I  
Pronounce this fatal Sentence 'gainst her life,  
But the hid will, and Providence of Heaven;  
Against the which to be offended, were  
As impious as not obey. Castrato stay,  Exeunt ●nines manet Eunuch who proffers to go out. 
And with thy Council cure thy dying Prince,  
Thou art my bosom, Eunuch, and to thee  
I dare unclasp my Soul: What's to be done,  
This is a damned Spirit I have seen  
And comes to work my Ruin.  Eu. 
What Spirit?  Clot. 
My Brother's Spirit in Arms, here it came forth,  
Here, from my Mother's Chamber as I knocked.  Eu. 
Was it in Armour said you? what in Armour?  Clot. 
Yes in the Armour he was used to wear  
When we have run at Tilt, till our cloven Spears  
Have with their splinters scared the Element.  Eu. 
That Armour as I well remember, I did leave  
In the Queen's Bedchamber, as yesterday  
After the Triumphs and the Turnements,  
Having unbraced the Prince: 'tis even so.  
Why this is a ridiculous Passion.  Clot. 
My state requires thy tears, and not thy mirth.  Eu. 
The Devil came from your Mother's Chamber Sir,  
She has a Circle which can raise a Spirit,  
A Mars in Armour too; she is a Venus,  
And through your Licence Landrey is no Eunuch.  Clot. 
What killing sense thou utterst,  
There's something in it I would understand  
And yet I dare not. Landrey! how knowst thou this?  Eu. 
Since I have gone so far I'll tell you.  
I looked in at the Keyhole, and I saw  
Him in your Mother's Arms, as sportingly  
As  I saw your Father.  Clot. 
Thou hast shot Poison through me:  
False with Landrey her sometime-Page!  Eu. 
Even with the same.  Clot. 
It's not impossible,  
My Mother always had a scanted fame,  aside. 
His thoughts to have been mine: I am distracted.  
Was he the fearful Vision that I saw?  Eu. 
Upon my life he was.  Clot. 
But wherefore would they have Aphelia die?  Eu. 
There lies the Mystery,  
They fear you will accept her as your Queen,  
And frustrate their intents, who but expect  
Your hoped for death, that they might so become  
(What now you'd cross) Lawfully Man and Wife  
And Govern in your Seek.  Clot. 
This carries show of truth, or is't a lie  
Well shadowed by a Slave? I cannot tell;  
My Mother certainly is not so bad,  
It is a sin to think it: Hence, avoid my sight,  
Thou sour of debate, thy Seeds are strowed  
On sterile ground, and therefore ill bestowed.  Exit. Eu. 
Is't even so? work and about my brain  
I'm lost for ever if not close again.  Exit.  

SCENE II.  Enter Dumain, Martel, Bourbon, Lanove. Lanove. 
Are all your Troops well furnished 'gainst resistance?  
Are your men bold and daring? resolute  
To run your hazard? indifferent rich, not poor  
That only fight for Bread? such often betrary  
The sinews of a well-knit Plot for gain,  
When these as well fight to descend as win.  Dum 
Noble Lanove;  
Mine know, nor fear, nor death; Souls of that fire  
They'll catch the Bullet flying, scale a Wall  
Battled with Enemy, stand Breaches, laugh  
The Thunder of the Canon, call it Music  
Fitter a Lady's Chamber than the Field;  
When o'er their heads the Element is scaled,  
Darkened with Darts, they'll sight under the shade,  
And ask no other roof to hid their heads in;  
They fear not Jove, and had the Giants been  
But half so spirited they had dethroned him.  Lan. 
They're Soldiers fit to sack a Kingdom than,  
And share the spoils between them.  Bur. 
Were it come to that sport once—  Mar. 
Burbone it must, or some of us must fall.  Lan. 
Where shall we first attempt?  Dum 
The Palace.  Burb. 
I say not, it's dangerous.  Dum 
It is the safest course.  Mart. 
Believe it not, for it is full of hazard.  Dum 
So is the general enterprise in hand.  Mart. 
But this of certain ruin,  Lan. 
Give us a reason why you would invade  
The Palace first, and we are satisfied.  Dum 
Now you speak like yourself:  
Than understand, Lamot lives still at Court  
Disguised like a poor Chirurgeon,  
To whom the Prince being delievered  
to be Embalmed and Boweled, finding life  
Yet in his Corpse, which may he's very Skilful;  
Has balsomed all his wounds and cured him.  Lan. 
And what of this? This makes against us quite.  Dum 
I did but even now receive this letter,  
Which constancy affirms it from himself.  
He says it is not known in Court, the Prince to live  gives Lan. 
For divers reasons best known to themselves,  
And herein doth require of secrecy;  
Therefore dear friend divulge it not.  Lan. 
He says the Prince's supposed funeral  
This day is solemnised with greatest pomp,  
And that Aphelia dies a sacrifice,  
That hour he is buried, on his Hearse:  
What if we made attempt to save the Virgin?  Dum 
That must not be, better she fall alone  
Than all of us together; and now best Friends,  
Let's behave us bravely; it's no base act  
We undertake, but our whole Country's freedom  
From slavery and bondage, Men of worth stand bore  
To Pages, and gilt butterflies, besides the Queen  
Will grave us all, rather than want sport  
In spilling Human blood; come let's withdraw,  
And lay the Platform of this mighty work:  
My Soul sits smiling in me I Divine,  
Though now it lower we shall see Sun will shine.  Drum.  

SCENE III.  Enter Clovis, and Lamot disguised like a Chirurgeon. Recorders. Clov. 
Strephon, for so thou namest thyself, thou'st made  
Thy Prince thy Subject, by this timely cure,  
This is the hour I must be buried living,  
And with me the Fair Aphelia, Strephon  
Is it so?  Lamot. 
Nay this the very Minute,  
Hark, I hear them coming—  a dead March within. Clov. 
Lend me thy Cloak  
Here we'll observe the Mourners.  Recorders. Enter King, Fredegond, and attendance, and Eunuch at one door in Mourning as after the C●p● of Clovis; at the other Aphelia led by two boys, a Headsman before as to Sacrifice, all in White, the Hearse is set down between both the Companies, Aphelia we pin● at one End, and the King at the other, who after a little pause speaks as followeth; after these Old Brissac weeping. Clot. 
Thou Royal load of Honour, burden of grace,  
Fitting an Atlas Shoulder, which he groans  
Moore than the Spheres and Sweats thy weight not theirs;  
Let me bedew thy Hearse with pious tears,  
(Balm to thy wounds) repenting one's;  
Behold this spotless sacrifice, a virgin,  
As pure in thought as vesture, an oblation  
To ransom Jove and Heaven had they been taken,  
And so we yield her up.  gives her to the Headsman. Bris. 
O my good Lord,  
This is conspiracy 'gainst an old man's life,  
Have you no other way to murder me  
But to begin with Her? Why must she die?  
Because she's fair? or that—  Clot. 
Brissac, peace:  Clov. 
What Pagent's this?  the King takes the Sword from the Headsman. Lam. 
Contain yourself  
You may prevent the danger when you please.  Clot. 
Behold the Conquest of thine eyes Aphelia,  
France at thy foot, tread on his Royalty,  
Or if thy Nature knows not to forgive;  the King knelt and lays the Sword at Aphelia's feet. 
Which to believe were impious, take this Sword  
Sand me a willing, willing sacrifice,  
T'appease the troubled spirit of this love.  Qu. 
O Eunuch that she'd take him at his word.  aside. Clot. 
I found 〈◊〉 speaking pity in thine eyes,  
Which thence will drop upon thy gentle tongue  
And cry, In peace long live my Sovereign.  Aphe. 
Long live Clotaire, long live my Sovereign.  Clot. 
The Motions of the Spheres move in that tongue:  
Turn all your Sables into suits of Joy,  
Your dirges into sprightful wedding airs:  
Why looks our Court so sad, is this a time  
To anchor your aspects unto the earth?  
By my blessed self he's a traitor to the height  
That does not straight Salute her as his Queen.  they sting of their Mourning Cloaks. Om. 
Long live Aphelia, Queen of France, and us.  La. 
Do you hear this? what are you Planet-struck? Glovis, Prince, Monsieur.  the Cardinal contracts them. Clot. 
Cardinal—  Lam. 
Now, now, prevent them yet, are you a stone?  
Have you a working Pulse? O Statue-Prince  
Thou art undone for ever.  Clov. 
Where am I?  
Awake! for ever rather let me sleep:  
Is this a Funeral? o that I were a Hearse,  discloses himself. 
And not the mock of what is Pageanted.  Clot. 
Amazement quite confounds us, Clovis alive!  Clov. 
O that in nature I could found an art  
Can teach me to forget, I ever loved  
This, her great masterpiece. O well-built frame  
why dost thou harbour such unhallowed guests  
To house within thy bosom, Perjury?  
If that our Vows are registered in heaven  
Why are they broke on earth? Aphelia  
This was a hasty match, the subtle air  
Has not yet cooled the breath, with which thou sworest  
Thyself into my soul; and on thy cheeks  
The print and pathway of those tears remain  
That wooed me to believe so: Fly me not,  
I am no Spirit, touch my active pulse  
And thou shalt found it make such harmony  
As youth and health enjoy.  Eu. 
The Queen, she faints.  Clov. 
Is there a god left so propitious  
To rid me of these fears? still lot her sleep;  
For if she wake (O King) she will appear  
Too Monstrous a spectre for frail Eyes  
To see, and keep her Senses.  Lamot. 
Are you Mad?  Clov. 
Nothing so happy, Strephon, I would I were.  
In time's Swift-progress, I despair the hour  
That brings such comfort with it; I should than  
Forget that ever she was pleasing to me,  
I should not more remember she would sit  
And sing more into Dreams of Paradise,  
Never more hung about her Ivory Neck  
Believing such a one Diana was;  
Never more  she breathes Arabia,  
Or Kiss her Coral Lip into a paleness.  Clot. 
Clovis what's past we are content to think  
It was spoken by our Brother, and not our Subject,  Clov. 
I had forgot myself; yet well remember  
Yond Gorgon has Transformed me into Stone,  
And since that time my Language has been harsh,  
My words too heavy for my tongue, too earthly;  
I was not horn so; Trust me Aphelia  
Before I was possessed with these black thoughts  
I could sit by thy side, and rest my head  
Upon the rising pillows of thy Breast  
Whose natural sweetness would invite mine eyes  
To sink in pleasing slumbers, wake and kiss  
The Rose-bods that afforded me such bliss.  
But thou art now a General Disease  
That catest into my Marrow, turn'st my blood  
And makest my Veins run Poison, that each sense  
Groans at the alteration. Am I the Monsieur?  
Does Clovis talk his sorrows and not Act?  
O man be womanized; wert thou not mine  
How comes it thou art his?  Clot. 
You have done ill,  
And must be taught so; you Capitulate  
Not with your equal, Clovis she's thy Queen.  Clov. 
Upon my Knees I do acknowledge her,  
Queen of my thoughts, and my affections,  
O pardon me if my ill tutored tongue  
Has forfeited my Head; if not, behold  
Before the Sacred Altar of your Feet  
I lie a willing Sacrifice.  Aph. 
Arise:  
And henceforth C●●nis thus instruct thy Soul;  
There he● a depth in face, which earthly eyes  
May faintly look into but cannot f●those  
T●●●● hadst my Vow till death to 〈◊〉 thy Wise,  
You 〈…〉  
A●●● 〈…〉 bestowed.  
 
A long-farewell to Love; thus I do break  breaks a Ring 
Your Pledge of broken faith. And with this Kiss,  
The last that ever Clovis must print there  
Un-kiss that Kiss which sealed it on thy Lips:  
Ye Powers ye are unjust, for her wild breath  
(That has the Sacred tie of Contract broken)  
Is still the same Arabia that it was.  
Nay I have done; beware of Jealousy;  
I would not have you nourish jealous thoughts,  
Thou she has broke her saith to me, to you  
Against her Reputation, she'll be true;  
Farewell my first Love Lost, I'll choose to have  
No Wife till death shall wed me to my Grave,  
Come Strephon, come, and teach me how to die,  
That gav'st me Life so unadvisedly.  Exeunt Clov. & Lam. Clot. 
IT was mine I sent it to Aphelia;  the King here beholds in Landreys' Hat the Jewel he sent by his Mother to Aphelia. 
Mother 've found your Minion; but no more,  
The time's not ripe: something I must do—  Qu. 
Call back the Monsieur, let him not  
Departed so full of grief.  Clot. 
Mother content yourself;  
Let Clovis that way go, this way will we,  
He's great with grief, we with felicity.  Exeunt omnes mavent Qu. & Bunuch. Qu. 
Mischief grows lean Castrato, all our Plots  
Turn head upon themselves; my brain's grown weak  
And in this Globe the Policy's not leave  
To kill a Worm unseen; I am undone  
And all my Plots discovered:  Eunuch. 
This is Strange.  
Some comic devil crosseth our designs,  
How else should he revive? or you, prepared,  
Nay, in the arms of Landrey, when desire  
Had made you all a Venus, meet events  
So barren in their expectations?  Qu. 
There lies the grief Castrato; had the Court  
(So I had quenched these burning flames)  
Been buried in her cinders I had not cared.  Eu. 
But yet Landreys escape does qualify  
The non-performance.  Qu. 
That sits smiling here:  
It set my brains upon the ten●ors, Eunuch,  
Was't not a rare device?  Eu. 
And was not I  
As fortunate to leave that Armour there?  
But now what's to be done?  Qu. 
My dull Aetiope  
I will instruct thy blackness, learn to know  
My reputation's sickened, and my fame  
Is looked into with narrow eyes at Court,  
Therefore it's thus decreed: I will remove  
And sequester myself from Company.  Eu. 
Good.  Qu. 
Thou knowst where Childrick kept his Concubine  
To none discovered but thyself and me,  
For which they are not more.  Eu. 
Right.  Qu. 
There will I  
And my Landrey securely spend our time;  
Revel, embrace, and what not my Eunuch?  
The Cave that leads unto the Postern-Gate  
Which Childrick made will give him entrance  
No eye acquainted; being thus retired  
What Lust inslamed must be by Lust un-sired.  Eu. 
Excellent Mistress I applaud your brain.  Qu. 
I will away to night, I cannot brook  
These loathed Nuptials, they have undone  
My hopes on earth for ever; therefore away,  
Acquaint Landrey with these designs.  Eu. 
What else?  Qu. 
If by the engino of thy stronger brain  
Thou couldst remove—  Eu. 
Aphelia, or the King,  
Monsieur or all, is it not so my Queen?  Qu. 
Thou hast a brain which doth engender thoughts  
As regal as our own; which does beget  
A race of rare events; what pity 'tis  
Thy body should be sterile, sigh thy mind  
Is of so pregnant and a fruitful kind:  
Farewell remember me.  Exit. Eu. 
Remember you, you shall be thought on, sear it not.  
And now bethink thee Eunuch, all thy Flots  
Found fruit lesle goodness, only in the King:  
His Worship walked into the other World  
Like a tame Sucking-Child that died of the Pip.  
The trouble is behind, my hare extends  
To the whole Family, I must root them up;  
And Beldame first with you: But how? but how?  
It in her proud desires, I prevent  
Her Lust this Second time, before the Third  
She may repent and save her loathed Soul,  
Which my Revenge would Damn; yet were she crossed  
Her Lust, being now at full flood within her,  
And no way left to quench her burning flames,  
Her drier Bones would make a Bonfire  
Fit for the Devil to warm his hands by.  
Ha! Shall it be thus? Not it must not be;  
Nor must the high and mighty Queen Aphelia  
This Night Enjoy her Bridegroom, I must set  
Some Mischief instantly on foot to cross it,  
If I miscarry in't, Story shall tell  
I did attempt it bravely tho' I fell.  Offers to go of, & met with the M. & La. Clov. 
Dissuade me not Castrato! I have sought thee  
Through every angle of this spacious Court,  
've business to impart.  Eu. 
And so have 1  Clov. 
Mine are of Honourable consequence  
And do require thine aid.  Eu. 
So does mine yours.  Clov. 
Aphelia is—  Eu. 
Your Brother's Wife, and you  
Would feign enjoy her too? Why sir you may,  
But time must work her.  Clov. 
Eunuch thou art wide,  
Those vanities of Love are quite Extinct,  
Revenge does swell the Monsieur, and his thoughts  
Which burns within him must be quenched with blood,  
Seest thou this Letter, 'tis a script I seigned,  shows him a Letter. 
For I can Counterseit Aphelia's hand,  
The King has banished Landrey from the Court  
Because he wore the Jewel which he sent  
To his Aphelia, light suspicious  
But this shall aggrevate: found thou the King,  
Show him this note, it doth express great Love  
To Landrey from Aphelia and withal  
It mentioneth the Jewel as a gift  
To gratify her servant, this to the rest  
Of poison he has sucked already in  
Shall so inflame him, that the Court shall burn  
Too Hot for his Aphelia  Eu. 
Think it done:  
But now your aid, since that your mind is bend  
On Honourable deeds, here's one will try you.  Clov. 
What is it Eunuch?  
If that is bore an honourable Name;  
Thou death stood gaping wide to swallow me  
I will not shrink nor fear.  Eu. 
Noble: Hear't than.  
Your mother's lose, and this night renders up  
Her body unto lust if not prevented,  
I can direct you how, and where, with whom,  
If you'll be tame, be tame, dishonour blots  
Your Princely Parentage.  Clov. 
My soul finds the Man  
Is't not Landrey?  Eu. 
The same.  Clov. 
I'll tear him all to pieces,  
Whore my mother? Eunuch lead the way,  
In what thou shalt prescribe, we will obey.  Exeunt Omnes   

ACT IV  

SCENE I  A Bed. Enter Clotaire Solus. Clot. 
WHat vulture gripes me here: ha', what art thou?  
If thou beest jealousy, mount and be gone;  
Fly to the vulgar bosom, whose cheap thoughts,  
Despair their own performance; in a King  
Thou show'st a Nature retrograde to Honour.  
Suppose she gave the jewel, must in follow  
She therefore is disloyal, poor consequence  
A bubble for a boy to play withal.  
I am resolved; Hark I hear her coming:  
O Juno what a gate and look is there?  Soft Music. Enter Aphelia, Isabel, Julia, with Tapers as having Aphelia to Bed. Aph. 
Mock me not Ladies with this Ceremony,  
For I am sitter to attend on you,  
I am become a Servant and a Slave  
To every moody Passion of my Lord:  
Pray leave me, all that's behind  
I can perform myself.  Isa. 
Great Queen of France.  Aph. 
That name of Queen sounds strangely in mine ears,  
It's like a Language that I once could speak,  
But now have quite forgot, call not me Queen;  
All Gilded Royalties I'll quite renounce,  
And all my study shall be how to die:  
Empress of woe, and Queen foe Misery.  Jul. 
You must not weigh these things so deep,  
Your Lord is of an honourable spirit,  
And you will see how calm he will return,  
Blessing your bridal bed with fruitful Issue.  Aph. 
Not, No.  
The Saffron-coloured Hymen frowns upon me:  
These Tapers too were lighted at a Pike,  
As ●it attendants on the Grave, not Bed.  
Juno deny; her presence at this match  
And all the ill presaging Birds of Night  
Sing satal Requiems for a bridal song  
O Ladies, is not this ominous?  Clot. 
Yes my Aphelia if that rugged fate  
Lie in a kiss than it is ominous,  
Her kisses melt upon my lip: if sin  
Have so much heaven in it, I'll be a sinner.  Aph. 
I hope your sears are satisfied now,  
You bore a brow so pleasant.  Clot. 
What pretty foolery is this Aphelia?  
I am not jealous, for by all that's good,  
I cannot think thee evil; go be gone  Ex. manet Clot. 
Unharness your Lady for these wars,  
We're of the Camills and sight naked.  
Ye powers that favour lovers, infuse apt Strength,  
Though every Nerve and Sinew of this frame  
Make me all pleasure; and unto the Bride,  
Add every vein a Venus; guide me light,  
Where in one Bed lies all the World's delight.  
What knock's this? Castrato, what's the news?  knocking within, Enter Eun. 
Deliver Briefly, for I am in haste.  Eu. 
Not yet in Bed? o happy, happy minute:  
Until this hour I ne'er was fortunate,  
I have preserved my King, my Prince, my Patron,  
From the lose ardour of a Strumpets Bed.  Clot. 
What's this?  Eu. 
I deal not now on doubts; your wise is lose  
Dishonest as the Suburbs, I am loath  
To nominate her Whore tho' it be true.  Clot. 
True!—  amazedly. Eu. 
Leave this lethargized passion, which benumbs  
Your nobler nature; turn your eyes on these;  giveth him the Letter. 
Whose Character is this?  Clot. 
Ha! let me see:  
This is Aphelia's hand, the very same  
Which I have often seen Clovis peruse  
In his Love's amorous pursuit.  Eu. 
Real the Contents.  Clot. 
A Letter that she loves Landrey, with thanks  
For his so often visits; which she repays  
With the rich Jewel sent her by the King,  
Wishing a perpetuity of embracements;  
Ten thousand Ravens croak in this black paper,  
How came you by it?  Eu. 
I saw it drop from Landrey, but ne'er thought  
'Fore I perused it, what it did contain;  
Which finding, in my duty I was bound  
To save my Prince from ruin.  Clot. 
Fellow me  
Black vengeance steel my heart with cruelty.  Exit. 
I'll take her sleeping thus; it cannot be,  a Bed thrust forth with Aphelia in it, Enter Clot. again and the Eunuch. 
Do but behold her face, and thou shalt read  
What we call virtue there and modesty;  
Here is a look would persuade cruelty  
To sigh and shed a tear, bribe Nemesis  
To knot her Steely Scourge with plumy down,  
And Jove himself to call her vice a virtue.  Eu. 
A book of Devils may have the cover gilded,  
Treason lies cabbened in the smoothest brow,  
The Devil can assume an Angel's form,  
Your Wife is fair, but fair to do you harm.  Clot. 
Peace Villain, thou that infects all peace.  Eu. 
Why are you thus distempered? let not truth  
Make you so wild a Tempest; were it false,  
Or that I shought the ruin of your house  
Your youth and honour, than it were a time  
To swell beyond all charming down:  
But being truth!  Clot. 
Hence dog, avoid my sight,  
Fly where the under-world, ill versed in kindred,  
Promiscuously combine without distinction,  
Where every man is every woman's husband,  
Or where it's thought a courtesy to have,  
A fellow-sharer in the marriagebed:  
These were a People that might bare with thee  
And sit for thee to devil with; hence, away,  
And if thou lov'st thy life acquaint thy feet  
With such by paths that we may never meet.  Exit. Eu. 
This Prince is of a nature mild and gentle,  
His mother's milk's too fluent in his eyes,  
And much I fear his resolution;  
Yet I will work him forward; she awakes;  
I'll after him and bring him back, if than  
She scape his rage, Hell has no power with men.  Exit. Aph. 
O, o, o, help, help, my Lord, my Lord, my Father,  
O my Lord.  
Bless me Divinity, 'twas but a Dream;  
Ha! the light gone, who waits there, Isabel, Julia, Isabel.  Enter Isabel. Isab. 
That was my Lady's voice; calls she for help?  
I cannot blame her, were I in her place  
I should do so myself; the Prince looks like a bungler.  Aph. 
Isabel.  Isab. 
Did you call Madam?  Aph. 
Saw'st thou nothing Isabel? where is my Lord?  Isab. 
Is he absent? I cannot blame her than to call for help;  
I should do't myself; so near a good turn, and delayed,  
O it would mad me; a Prince, a Puppet would have  
Been more manly; How do you Madam?  Aph. 
All stands not well;  Isab. 
I believe that faithfully.  Aph. 
O Girl, 've passed the dismal'st part of night  
That ever made soft fancy fo●l.  Isab. 
If all Brides should be so sooled, I'd forswear Marriage.  Aph. 
Methought I saw my Father in a Vault,  
His silver hair made crimson by his blood,  
My Brother at his Hearse upon his knees  
Taking a solemn Oath for his revenge,  
Yet all this while so fancy fooled my sense  
Methought that I was here, when on the instant  
My Lord in preparation for my bed,  
Was by an ugly Fiend ravished from hence  
And hurried to destruction, here I waked,  
And trust me Isabel, I scarce believe  
But what I saw was real. Heard'st thou nothing?  Isab. 
I heard discourse of People in your chamber  
Not half an hour since: but they went forth  
And to my seeming full of discontent,  
But know not who they were.  Aph. 
O it is true, help me Isabel,  
I'll to my Fathers, my Prophetic soul  
Sits like a Mine of Lead within me,  
Come Girl.  Isab. 
This sad fight  
Besits a funeral, not a bridal night.  Exeunt.  

SCENE. II.  Enter Clotaire and the Eunuch. Clot. 
Eunuch I'm resolved, I will be cruel  
Since she's desiled, and like a Crystal Well  
That has her spring poisoned by the enemy,  
Of which its death for the besieged to taste,  
Such are adulterate waters. Castrato  
What readest thou in our brow?  Eu. 
A foolish grudging of the mother still.  Clot. 
A settled resolution my black Saint  
Not to be altered by the brackish tears  
Which flow in pregnant eyes of easy woman,  
My honour calls for vengeance, and I'll do;  looks on the Bed. 
Ha', how! she's gone, and I have lost mine anger too.  Eu. 
But whither is she gone, to some new Groom,  
Who being fooled in expectation  
Will make thee Cuckold on thy wedding night.  Clot. 
Thou hast awaked me, I'll know where she is;  
Hell nor her darker deeds shall hid her from me:  
Who waits? La-key.  La. 
My Lord.  Enter La-key. Clot. 
Where is thy Lady? where is Aphelia?  La. 
She's even now gone forth.  Clot. 
Forth! with whom?  La. 
There was one with her, but whether man or woman  
I am uncertain; but sure it was a man,  
she would not dare to venture out so late else.  Exit La-key. Clot. 
Get to thy rest  
I'll take thy word Eunuch for the Kingdom's wealth.  Eu. 
O d'ye begin to credit now,  
Now when perhaps it is too late.  
This comes of patience.  Clot. 
Turn patience into fury, love to hate;  
My softer temper to a heart of Steel;  
Respect to Wedlock and the Sacred Vow  
Made 'fore the Holy Altar to the Priest,  
Thus I do fling ye of; Revenge shall move  
About our Bridal-bed instead of Love.  Exeunt  

SCENE III.  Enter Clovis, Strephon, and the Watch. Clov. 
Upon your lives let no man pass that way.  Watch. 
We shall obey in all.  Clov. 
If he resist or offer violence  
In his escape, knock out his brains.  Watch. 
We'll do our best my Lord.  Clov. 
There's your reward, be careful and be gone.  Ex. Watch. 
You shall possess the Cave: myself will in  
And visit these night-revellers, such sport  
I will administer, shall make them dance  
Lauoltoes in the air; this shall Fiddle to them:  
Have you the Habit Strephon?  Lam. 
With these hands I did dis●robe the Statue of your Father.  
And they are ready.  Clov. 
Landrey, blood does swell  
The Monsieurs thoughts, to sand thy soul to Hell.  Exeunt.  

SCENE IU.  Enter Landrey solus. Music above plays. Lan. 
The air's perfumed, each room through which I walk  
Baqu●●s the 〈◊〉 ●s●s, courts the appetite  Hole open. 
Of every la●●l●y that makes up man  
To compliment 〈◊〉 into Paradise:  
If than Elysiun●'s h●●e, where are those shades,  
Those blessed apparitions Poets feign?  
Appear my goddess and outsing the Poets.  Enter Fredegonde. 
Reality of fancy, that exellest  
The faint expression of a lazy tongue  
Whose roof is housed with flesh, to tell thy worth,  
Tongues tipped with Immortality would faint in't.  Qu. 
Excellent servant, what House do you writ to?  
Poet and Actor both! why this sudden gaze?  he looks admiringly on her. 
Your cases are too narrow for your eyes,  
Pray keep your optics Sir, for Venus' service.  Lan. 
Not,  
I'll play the Prodigal with my precious sight,  
And spend all on you; to view your second  
Were such a happiness, after though which,  
It were a sin to see more.  Qu. 
Bless me Rabelais!  
And all ye foster fancies of the French,  
What ails the man! my Landrey-Laureat?  Lan. 
It is my Queen that's Laureate, whose blessed sight  
Creates a Poet; this divine feature  
Heaven only framed to make men ingenuous.  Qu. 
Is this Extempore? or have you hired  
Some Hackney-Muse acquainted with the road  
Of vulgar exorcisms, to charm sweet Beauties?  
Take up at this speed, else your Muse will founder.  Lan. 
Founder and have her foundress by! with patience  
Hear but these poor expression of your worth,  
Which faintly Paint forth your perfections,  
And you shall bless my Muse.  Qu. 
We'll hear your Jig,  
How is your Ballad Titled? come pronounce.  Lan. 
From head to foot my Mistress been  Lan. reads, 
Far excelling beauties Queen.  
Had Jason but beheld her hair,  
The Golden-Fleece had ne'er seemed fair.  
Those Stars (which Mortals suppose eyes),  
Were ascendant in the Skies:  
When it fell to Venus' lot  
That little Cupid was begot.  
Her tongue, (in which the Spheres do move  
Organ of divinest Love)  
Was by Apollo framed, that he  
From: hence might learn more harmony.  
Who notes her teeth, and lips, discoloses  
Walls of Pearl, and Gates of Roses,  
Two-leaved-doors that lead the way  
Through her breath t' Arabia;  
To which would Cupid grant that bliss  
I'd go a Pilgrimage to kiss  
Those hills of Snow which on her breast  
Rise swelling with a double Crest.  
Mate Parnassus mountain, whence,  
The Muses suck their Eloquence.  
Those Parts which we will not discover,  
He'll imagine that's a Lover.  
Like Juno she does go,  
Like Pailas talk, and sow,  
Like Venus in her bliss,  
Each kiss a Cupid is.  
And her hands are as White as snow.  
From head to foot etc.  Qu. 
Leave these aerial viands, taste of what  
Is here substantial; How like you the fruit?  kisses her. Landlord 
Let me for ever devil upon these lips;  Qu. 
You are too greedy of those rarities;  
And must be dieted, jest surfeiting,  
Your Appetite should sicken and so die.  Lan. 
Die on your Lips, o deathbed for a Jove  
Whose buried here his grave's immortal Love.  
Here will I devil and know not age nor sorrow.  Qu. 
Yet Childrick knew them both.  Lan. 
A Frosty Prince  
Begot on January by a Dutchman,  
And worthy of those flames he now endures.  Qu. 
What noise is this? guard me divinity.  Enter Clov. from under the Stage in the old King's habit, Landlord flies of, the Qu. swoons: he flings ●ffkis habit & holds her up. Clov. 
What has my rashness done! she's my mother  
My conscience tells me I was much too blame  
Thus to delude her senses; she returns.  Qu. 
O Childrick I confess 'twas I that killed thee,  
These hands administered that fatal dram  
Which set thy soud on wing.  Clov. 
What do I hear?  Qu. 
O do not snatch my soul from out the world  
Till I have bathed it in repenting tears  
And made it fit for Heaven.  Clov. 
She faints again.  Enter Strephon at the hole. 
O Welcome Strephon, lend thy gentle hand  
Which Master's Nature, and does life restore;  
Beyond the art of Esculapius,  
Apply thy gentlest medicines.  Lam. 
Let us withdraw, my life Sir answer hers if she miscarry.  Exeunt omnes.  

SCENE V  Enter the Watch. 
1. Stand close, stand close, I heard a kind of bussling  while.  
2. Bussling, and they come this way here's that shall bustle them.  
3. Peace, peace; he's drunk and will betray us all.  Enter Lan. Lan. 
I am betrayed, the Monsieur seeks my life,  
All ways against my escape are sortifyed.  
O cruel Fortune, Bawd to time and Fate  
That soothest us up to make us ruinated.  
Ha', what is here? great goddess pardon me,  he finds the habie and puts it on. 
I have offended 'gainst thy deity.  
This shall delude the Watch; thrice blessed hap  
That thus deliverest whom they would entrap.  2. 
I will not stand, or I cannot stand, I say  they pull the drunken Watchman to be quiet. 
I see a voice, yeye think I'm drunk, what's  
That horrid smell, what's that?  1.3. 
Bless us o bless; diabolo, diabolo, diabolo.  Exeunt. 2. 
The devil, what devil care I; keep of devil,  
I say keep of; I do not fear thee: are you sneaking  
Back, you cowardly rogue d'ye budge; I hate a cowardly  
Devil as I hate a drunkard, take you that.  knooks him down. Lan. 
O, o, o.  2. 
O, o; I'll warrant you I'll make you cry o: what a devil  
Made you in my way: I will now see what money you carry  
About you: men say the Prince of darkness is a Gentleman;  
By'r Lady he ha' good  on, but yet for all that  
He may have no money.  Enter Clovis, Strephon, and the Queen. Strephon with his false Beard of. Qu. 
I know not where he is, or if I did,  
Before I'd yield him up to thy revenge  
I'd die ten thousand deaths.  Clov. 
Strephon, Strephon,  
For so I still must call thee, thou hast seen,  
And heard those things delivered, that do splie  
My heart in sunder, yet amongst these griefs  
Which sit like Ours of Lead upon my soul  
There is one corner of my heart that joys  
Thy innocent blood has scaped butchery.  
Thou glorious light that in thine natural orb  
Didst comfortably shine upon this Kingdom,  
How is thy worth eclipsed? what a dull darkness  
Hangs about thy same? in all this piece  
To every limb whereof I once paid duty,  
I know not where to found my Mother.  Qu. 
The devil and disobedience blinds your eyes.  Clov. 
O that I had no eyes, so you no shame:  
Murder your Husband to arrive at Lust,  
And than to lay the guilt on innocents':  
Blush, blush thou worse than Woman.  Qu. 
Ha', ha', ha'.  Clov. 
Hold my heart,  
You're impudent in sin, has your proud Page  
Made you thus valiant? tell me where he is,  
For if you dally with me, know this hand  
Shall pull him from thy heart tho' cabbined there.  Qu. 
How darest thou  thy speech in such a phrase  
To me thy natural Mother?  Clov. 
My Mother!  
Adulterate woman, shame of Royalty  
I blush to call thee Mother: thy foul Lusts  
Have taught me words of that harsh consequence  
That stigmatize obedience, and do brand  
With misbecoming accents filial duty.  
Deliver quickly where this Lecher is,  
Here housed he must be, for he cannot 'scape,  
Jest wildness conquering my safer sense  
Thrust forth my hand into and act of horror,  
And leave you breathless here. Will you disclose?  Qu. 
What French Neronian Spirit have we here?  
Insolent boy wilt thou turn Parricide?  Clov. 
The Justice of my cause would well excuse me,  
Is I should execute: speak Murtheress,  
Where have you mewed your Monster?  2. 
Here lies the Monster; O rare Monster; two beards, I'll pull  
On this too that's certain, too heads O delicate dainty Monster.  
What a brave Monster shall I be, the Constable himself.  he in the Habit of Child. offers to steal by. 
Cannot make a better Monster, I will steal by these, get  
Me home, cell these gay , buy half a dram of Justice  
And be a Monster of the Peace immediately.  Clov. 
Will you confess, or— drop o mine eyeballs out  
And thou my solid flesh dissolve to earth.  Lam. 
How fares it with your Grace? Great Monsieur speak.  Clov. 
Look there Lamot seest thou that horrid shape,  
Which I unjustly did but now usurp;  
Looks it not like the King, Lamot what sayest thou?  
Shall I go kneel to't, call it honoured Father,  
And beg a pardon for my trespass done?  
It would departed, but I will call it back:  
Stay thou blessed spirit, Royal father, thru,  
Behold thy son, thy Clovis on his knees,  
O pardon gentle spirit pardon me.  2. 
That's my good Boy, rise, but d'ye hear sirrah,  
Put not more tricks nor gulls upon me; my son,  
I have but one and he's three quarters rogue by this time;  
He's e'en as like thee as over he can peep,  
Bless my Boy, I like him ne'er the better for't  Clov. 
What strange illusion's this? what art thou, speak,  
Or I will nail thee dead against the wall.  2. 
Just such another Rogue have I to my son as this;  
He has his very words too, thou art mine own,  
I wonder where I got thee, canst not thou remember?  Lam. 
Villain?  
How cam'st thou by that babit? who art, speak?  2. 
Is it the Monsieur? I have made a brave hand on't than;  
Lord, Lord, see how good  makes us forget ourselves:  
My name is Potshot, my trade a Cobbler,  
One of the Constables Watch in extraordinary;  
And if you will believe me Mr. Monsieur,  
It went against my stomach very much,  
That you should daro presume to call me father,  
O, o, o, o!  Colu. 
Tell me how thou cam'st by those ? I'll pardon thee.  2. 
Truly I came lawfully by them, for I stole them,  
The devil and I fought 15 hours for them,  
He broke my head a dozen times at lest;  
At last I mauled the rascal, and he lies there.  Lam. 
Behold my Lord, the Woodcock's in the gin,  
Here lies the great Landrey.  Qu. 
O horrid sin.  Clov. 
This habit might have ruined all, Lamot,  
But Goblin now you're caught; what is he dead?  Lam. 
Scarce hurt my Lord; how is it Sir, look up?  2. 
Is not the devil dead?  Clov. 
Hold hold, you have done well.  2. 
Than whistle Jack-a-dandy.  Enter Eunuch hastily. Eu. 
Where is the Queen?  Qu. 
Here Eunuch as thou seest in misery.  Eu. 
On my heart, how came they hither? Lamot too?  Qu. 
All that I know is that we are betrayed.  Eu. 
I'll set them packing feared nor; My good Lord  whispers with Clovis. 2. 
D'ye hear friend Lucifer, what Cat's your father?  
How many lives have you got, ha' diabolo?  Clov. 
Thou art a faithful servant.  Eu. 
Sir, the Rebels.  Clov. 
Give them a nobler title, by my life  
I do applaud their courage, come they on?  Eu. 
Yes, and Brissac is made their General.  Clov. 
A hopeful Youth fraught with nobility,  
And all the graceful qualities that writ.  
Man truly honourable, mine injuries.  
Have stirred him up to this.  Eu. 
His father's dead.  Clov. 
Trust me I'm sorry for't, grief has broke his heart.  
And mine Castrato, too: canst thou imagine  
Who was the authors of our father's death?  Eu. 
Am I betrayed, than, lend more confidence,  
I'm sure I cannot blush; Royal Sir, whom?  Clov. 
Our Mother and Landrey, and this Lamot.  
They meant should bear the blame: this was Strephon.  Eu. 
It's wondrous strange, Would I were fairly of.  aside. Clov. 
But what news with Aphelia, and her Bridegroom?  Eu. 
As you could wish, he's full of jealousy,  
Not Frenchman e'er was more Italian,  
've wrought him bravely on, your Physic works;  
Hither 've brought Aphelia too: tomorrow  
You shall hear further; sport I'll warrant you.  
What will you do with these?  Clov. 
Castrato, thus:  
Nature forbids me spill my Mother's blood,  
And Landrey is unfi● for my revenge,  
For I must study torments for the slave,  
Therefore I give them upto your tuition  
Until we shall return victorious.  Qu. 
Observe you that, there is some comfort yet.  aside to Lan Clov. 
Than we'll determine of them; if we fall  
Let Clotaire point them out a funeral;  
Reward this fellow largely with our Purse,  
His merits are 2000 Crowns, perform it.  gives him a purse. 2. 
The Lord preserve my Son, I mean the Monsieur,  
I truly did I, I was overjoyed,  
And knew not what I said, not truly Son.  
If I can keep all this wealth without running mad,  
Than Potshot may become an Alderman:  
Drink I adore thee, drink good fellows all,  
Sometimes we rise by drink, but oftener fall.  
O me, what a rare thing it is to be a Monster.  Exit. Clov. 
A moral drunkard. Go away with them,  
And on your life let them not stir from hence.  Exit Eu. Qu. and Lan. 
Now my revenge grows to maturity,  
We'll to Dumain, Lamot, and join with him:  
Now France, thou liest a bleeding, thou shalt prove  
What 'tis to cross the Monsieur in his Love.  Exeunt omnes   

ACT V  

SCENE I  Drum. Enter Charles Brissac, Dumain, Bourbon, Lanone, Martel. Dum 
For certain than the Princes are at odds.  Bris 
Yes, and grounds the marriage of my Sister.  Burb. 
The ulcerous State is ripe, and we must lance it.  Bris. 
The King does whore my Sister; she's not his,  
But true and Lawfully the Monsieurs Wife.  Dum 
Did not one Strephon wait upon the Prince?  Bris. 
Yes, such there was, but little noidsed at Court.  Dum 
That was Lamot our fast and noble friend.  Burb. 
I wonder that we hear not from him yet.  Lanove. 
There's some design on foot that hinders him.  a shout within. Dum 
What means this noise? Martel step forth and see.  Bris. 
The Monsieur! O death we are surpized,  again, crying the Mons. the Monsieur, etc. 
Suddenly snared, let each man to his charge,  Burb. 
Hark still the noise increaseth.  Lanove. 
By the sound  again. 
This is a shout of joy, and not of dread.  Enter Martel, Lamot, and Monsieur. Bris. 
What news Martel?  Mart. 
You may inform yourself.  Mon. 
Brissac, Dumain, Bourbon, and the rest,  
Think not I come a Traitor to your Camp,  
I cannot gilled my speech with eloquence,  
If this will serve you, so; I am a friend.  Bris. 
The Monsieur welcome, and his worth will grace  
The dignity of this days work in hand.  Mon. 
My almost Brother once, suffice, I thank you  
And fairly greet this brave assembly,  
Whose souls do look for stirring opposites,  
When your resistance I fear will be slender.  Bris. 
If we obtain a glorious victory,  
Without a crimson tincture of the Field  
it will be better: therefore I think it sit  
We set upon them e'er they be prepared,  
'twill save much blood on both sides.  Mon. 
Be it so,  again the Monsiear within. 
Let us reform the Land, not overthrow.  
We will about it straight, lead on before.  Exeunt omnes.  

SCENE II.  Enter Eunuch solus. He draws a Curtain where Landrey sits bound at one end of the Table, and the Queen at the other. Eu. 
Here sits our Beldame, dieted for venery:  
And by her, her Landrey, not surfeited;  
Her Ladyship's allowed a mouldy crust,  
He stinking water to piece out his life;  
Between them both they banquet like one Slave  
Condemned perpetually to the Bordello.  
They think I know not that they thus are used,  
When it is only I that use them this.  
How wickedly they look, on I could laugh,  
To hear them rail at other's misery.  
He curses her, and she soothe curses him,  
And both each other damn for their offences.  
Learn ye that pamper up your flesh to Lust,  
The Eunuch in his wickedness is Just.  
They sleep too long, and take too much of ease  
I must awake ye, play and play aloud.  Oboes within. Qu. 
A Mischief take the keeper, hardened dog  
Whom no distress can melt or mollify,  
The cruel King does not deny us sleep.  Eu. 
Most gentle Queen,  
I am not guilty of these harsh voiced words:  
Your wilder sense hurls at me; you mistake.  
I am your Eunuch one that weeps for you.  Qu. 
O Castrato, wast not those tear, in vain,  
Come hither and I'll catch those falling drops  
Which prodigally overflow their banks,  
There's nectar in thine eyes, o let me drink it.  Eu. 
Thou I be tortured for't, I'll relieve ye.  Exit. Qu. 
It has quenched half my thirst to found some pity,  Lan. 
One bit of bread though it were grey with age,  
Hoary and crusted with a Second bark,  
Would seem a Banquet to my empty Gorge.  
O, I am worn to nothing with this want,  
Such emptiness has hunger made of me  
That you may draw me on another man.  
Some bread, some bread.  Enter Eunuch with Wine and Meat, he Congees to the Quem with great Ceremony. Qu. 
O thou art welcome, quick dear Eunuch quick;  
Away with form and ceremonious duty:  
Respect in this is too respectless.  Eu. 
O give me leave, I will begin a health,  he sips. 
'Tis very good, exceeding pleasant wine.  Qu. 
Dost thou deride my sufferance?  Eu. 
Not not I  Qu. 
Give me the drink than, I'm all flame and fire.  Eu. 
Say you so, say you so, than you must pardon;  
I love your safety, and its dangerous  
To drink while you are hot, pray cool and tarry.  
In the mean time I will begin to you.  
How tart and pleasant this is to the ,  
A Sweeter Pheasant Christendom affords not.  Landlord 
I thank thee Eunuch, protheo give it me.  Eu. 
You'll let me taste it for you, will you not?  
Are you so hasty: still you are too hasty,  
Gentle sir is will digest the better.  Landlord 
Moore, more, that's excellent.  he unlooseth his arms a little that he might feed himself. Eu. 
Madam here's for you now.  Qu. 
May heaven reward thee for't, o it is rare.  Eu. 
How do you like your banquet great Landrey?  Landlord 
Beyond compare.  Eu. 
And you your drink.  Qu. 
The Gods taste not the like.  Eu. 
Ha', ha', ha', ye have both eat and drunk abominable poison,  Qu. 
Ha'?  Landlord 
How?  Eu. 
'Tis true I tell you oracle,  
There's not an hour's life between ye both,  
The poison's's sure, I did prepare it for you;  
And have myself taken an Antidote.  
What say you to th'other bout now with Landrey?  
I can procure another meeting for you,  
Indeed I can; think you not whoredom sweet  
Now you're a dying? is not your soul at ease?  
The murder of your Husband's but a toy,  
A flea-biting, alack you feel it not.  Qu. 
O Villain, Villain, Villain.  Landlord 
Inhumance slave, treacherous rascal.  Eu. 
Goods bobes, are you at Liberty?  Landlord goes from his Chair. 
How got you lose? a knife too, hoyty toyty.  Landlord 
Faintness for want of food, I fear will trap me,  
you're very nimble Rascal;  Landlord falls following the Eu. at a short turn, & being down, the Eu. gets upon him & disarms him. Eu. 
O Lord sir, you know the cause,  
I'm lighter by a stone or two than than you,  
Yet I am weight enough to keep you down;  
Stir and thou diest, now sir what faith you to me?  
How do you like your Princess? is she gamesome?  
Did she apply herself like an apt whore  
Unto your lose embraces?  Qu. 
Dog, let him rise.  Eu. 
Pardon me great Madam I beseech you.  
Under your Grace's favour be it spoken,  
He is our cushion and I'll sit on him;  
I do not altogether weigh a man.  
As I live dead, pressed to death without Stones;  
Stark dead; a very strong-hearted Monsieur,  
What say you to his Statue now in Gingerbread?  
It were a Monument too good for Landrey.  
But sit thee there again: Once more to you,  sets him in the Chair again, 
Who, if your Poison do not work too fast,  
Shall see more sights like these before you die,  
Your Organ-pipe's already out of tune,  
I'll leave ye a peeping-hole, through which you shall  leaves the Curtain half open. 
See sights shall kill thee faster than thy poison.  
I am prepared now for Aphelia's death,  
All things are ready, and behold the King;  Enter Clot. sadly. 
Now for my part.  Clot. 
I am too pitiful, a wat'ry flux  
Which soft and tenderhearted men call tears  
Stand on mine eyes, and does express a nature  
Too like my barer, it is now with me  
Full Tide in sorrow: my Cinthia governs strongly;  
What do the wise,  
Castrato, call this moisture, which presumes  
To mediate betwixt my wrath and me?  Eu. 
Expressions of a weak and silly nature,  
Passions of fools and women; are you a man  
And bear so tame a soul, such a smock-spirit?  
The Distaff owns more spleen, more noble anger:  
Pray let her live until the Pages writ,  
And hopping Ballatire's voice Rhimes upon you;  
This will sound bravely, will it not?  Clot. 
Bring her in.  Enter too leading Aph. in her pertticoat as to be tortured. Aph. 
Use not such violence good Gentlemen  
I'll walk a Lamb to slaughter, not repined  
At any torments ye shall put me to;  
Only be modest; commend me to my Lord,  
I doubt I never shall behold him more;  
For by the Calculation of your looks  
I have not long to live.  Clot. 
Confess and turn thy fate, give me to know  
With what foul Monster thou hast wronged thy soul,  
Seam-rent that holy weed, Virginity:  
And ease me of a load that bears more weight  
Than what my youthful sins have heaped upon me.  Aph. 
If ever.—  Clot. 
Not more of that, it tends to madness:  
I'll force it from thee, bring forth the tortures there,  a pan of coals and searing-Irons. 
I'll try if in these fiery instruments  
There lies a tongue which better can persuade  
Confession from thee, these read hot, applied  
Unto thy breasts, shall there extract  
All future hope to suckle lawless Issue;  
The poisonous springs which from these hills arise  
Shall have their fountain head damned up by these.  Aph. 
've heard you sweated that you were poor in words,  
And knew not to express the happiness  
Which you conceived was habitable here:  
How much my Lord is altered from himself!  Clot. 
'Tis thou art altered: True, Aphelia,  
That whilst thy purer thoughts did awe thy will  
I loved like an Idolater; I was possessed  
That these two twins, these globes of flesh, contained  
All that was happy both in earth and heaven;  
In this I could descry the milky way,  
The Maiden Zone that girds the waste of heaven;  
In this the seat of Paradise, and how  
The wanton rivulets played about the Isle  
Which puzzles Geography: All this I could  
In thee my sometime chaste Aphelia  
Found and rejoice in, but thou art now  
An undressed Wilderness, wherein I walk,  
Losing myself my self'mongst multitudes of beasts  
And savage actions: come dispatch.  Aph. 
Sir—  Clot. 
I'll hear not more.  Aph. 
Heaven will than,  
And tho' it be an ear far distant hence,  
Both hear and pity me: O my loved Lord,  
Should but a dream work on my fancy  
That you were thus to suffer as I am,  
It would conspire to kill me with more speed  
Than these your threatening Ministers, alas!  
I'do force a gentler nature in the Steel,  
And with my rainy eyes weep out the heat,  
Which as it dies should hiss itself to scorn,  
For offering to contain but sire to hurt you;  
And will you than, a bold spectator stand,  
Smiling at what I suffer? Shed but one tear,  
Or sergeant a sorrow for my sake,  
A little seeming woe, and I shall die,  
Sick of your kindness, not your cruelty.  Clot. 
O my soft temper, her sweet harmony  
Will melt me into fool.  Eu. 
O this is brave,  
A whining Cuckold.  Clot. 
Whore, will you confess?  
Speak or I'll break thy heart.  Aph. 
My gentle Lord.  Clot. 
Ungentle whore thou liest, I am not gentle,  
Thou canst not catch me more with oily sounds,  
Speak swiftly to my words, whose whore art thou?  Aph. 
My gracious Prince, I dare not call you husband,  
Your actions do forbidden, which writ me slave  
And not your equal: if to be your wife  
Has plucked this misery upon my head,  
Or caused in you this frenzy, put me of;  
I will endure it patiently; but if e'er—  Clot. 
The old tune this, come come the Irons there.  they sear one of her breasts. Aph. 
O, o, o, cruel my Lord, unmanly,  
I'll not blaspheme, not nor think ill of Heaven;  
Although my injuries would half persuade,  
Gods are not, or are deaf to Innocents'.  Drum. Enter a Messenger hastily. 1. Mes. 
Arm, arm my Lord, the Castle's walled about  
With living Clay, three times ten thousand men.  
Approved Warriors, souls of Blood afire,  
That only know to do, and not to suffer,  
Make head against you; believe me sir,  
A braver troop, and spirits more resolved,  
Life never put in action.  Enter another Messenger. 2 Mes. 
Fly, fly my Lord.  Clot. 
Villain it is no Language for a Prince.  2 Mes. 
Than stand upon your Guard, yet that's as bad,  Drum. 
The Castle-walls are made of walking Steel,  
And you but tempt your death in your escape  
If you stay here provoked.  
The Monsieur like the god of war bestrides  
A bounding Courser, who is therefore proud  
To be so backed as knowing whom she bears.  
So Centaur-like he's anchored to his seat  
As if he had twined with the proud Beast he rides on,  
And were incorporate with the Steed that bears him;  
He grows unto his Saddle all one piece  
And that unto his Horse, who thus unmoved  
Sits like a Perseus on his Pegassus  
Stable and fleet.  Clot. 
Is he joined with them too?  
Than doomsday is at hand, I see my ruin,  
Go to the Castle-walls, and Summon them  
To tender an account of their intents,  
Away I say be gone: Cone hither Eunuch,  
Look here's a Pislol, in whose womb lies doath,  
A heavy leaden sheep.  Eu. 
Would you I should  
Try the conclusion here? make her confess  
By other instruments her horrid guilt?  
In this there's too much mercy.  Clot. 
Her me speak,  
I'll trouble her not further, let her sin  
Be punished from above, I'll wait heavens leisure:  
Here Eunuch take thou this, it was prepared  
For the adulterate Landrey; here receive it,  
And if thou lovest me, use it upon me;  
Come shoo● me through, I know I shall be slain,  
If not by thee, yet by the enemy;  
And therefore to prevent the bitter scorn  
Of the insulting foe, which is a death  
So full of horror to the conquered;  
No tyranny is like it, use this handful,  
The wholsomest weed that nature can produce  
In the large store-house of her providence  
Can show no simple like it, for this cures  
At once the sickness of the mind and body.  
Thou shalt; I know thou wilt, I prithee take't,  
It is not murder (tender hearted fool)  
That thou committest, rather a sacrifice,  
For which heaven will reward thee.  Eu. 
I ne'er was liker to express myself  
Than at this minute; do not betray me tears;  
The Eunuch's nature must be harsh and cruel;  
Thou I do undertake this deed,  
Bear witness heaven it is against my william.  takes the Pistol. Aph. 
O spare him Eunuch, spare, save my Lord.  Eu. 
Peace foolish woman, 'tis thou killest thy Lord.  
Were't not for thee he might live long and happy;  
Pray let me kiss your hand, and take my leave  
Of my best, best Master.  Clot. 
Do't and be sudden than— ha', what means this?  he whips away Clotairs Sword. Eu. 
Mary Sir this it means,  
That if this fail this shall perform the deed,  
Think not but I will kill you, do not fear,  
I am the excelent'st alive at these toys,  
Look here my cozened fool I do not bungle.  Clot. 
Are these dead than?  Eu. 
As sure as you live, pray ask them else,  
Unless this Eves flesh, too intense in heat,  
Be lingering still behind: she's scarcely dead,  
But in her dying cars I'll howl this noise:  
Look Queen, here's the top-branch of all thy family,  
Mark but how kindly for thy sake I'll use him.  Clot. 
Than I perceive I have been much abused,  
So has my dearest Lady, o, my heart.  Eu. 
O do you so? do you so?  Qu. 
O o o!  Eu. 
There broke a Strumpet's heart.  Clot. 
How feign would I preserve myself from death  
Since my Aphelia's chaste, to think her false,  
Not that I feared the so, made me despair  
Of furture comfort: Eunuch spare my life,  
I will forgive thee, and reward thee too:  
Remember who it is that sues to thee.  Eu. 
In that remembrance I have lost myself:  
I cannot strike him, my relenting heart  
Erns on his Princely person; take your Sword,  
But on condition Clotaire; thou shalt swear  
By thy descen●, thy Princely Parentage,  
By the wronged souls of all those Innocents',  
By thy Lust sacrificed, by Aphelia's self,  
Or any thing the soul shall hold more dear,  
Upon receipt to guide the fatal point  
Directly to my heart: My time is short,  a Drum beats within. 
Quickly dispatch, resolve to do or die,  
And what shall grieve thee more than all the rest,  
Aphelia shall bear thee company.  Clot. 
To save her life I'll undertake this deed.  Eu. 
I'll teach thee to the speedy in the fact:  
Remember how thy noble Father died,  
Into thy bosom cast thine in ward eyes,  
And view what sorrows I have heaped on thee;  
Behold thy Mother murdered by this hand,  
Look on this Innocent, and let her wrongs  
Prompt thy slow hand to this most timely slaughter;  
I cannot brook delay.  Clot. 
Take thy reward.  
A Heathen and a Traitor die with thee.  Eu. 
A Christian Heathen Clotaire if thou wilt,  
Made so by thee, read that and break thy heart.  stings him a note, he stands amazed. Clovis. 
Force open the door,  Enter the Army. 
Seize on his Royal Person, now Clotaire  
Thou art the Monsieur's prisoner, Tyrant say  
Where is Aphelia your Adulteress?  Bris. 
O my dear Sifter.  Clov. 
O most horrid sight; my mother & Landrey both murdered.  Dum 
Here lies that Villain Eunuch: Hell hound up:  
Wnose hauds have slain thy Mistress?  Eu. 
None of mine.  
They're near allied to thee that did this deed,  
Chrotilda and a woman.  Dum 
Villain thou liest my sister's gone a weary pilgrimago  
And for this twice five years (With grief I speak ti)  
Been wand'ring none knows where.  Clot. 
What am I?  
What strange and uncouth thing?  Eu. 
A Ravisher;  
And better to inftruct thee in thyself  
Had not Corotilda been incestuous.  the King offers to kill himself. Dum. 
Hold hold your. Royal hand, what will  
You do?  Clot. 
What else but follow her? shall Clotaire live  
A Capt in to his Brother, slaved in sin,  
Enthralled in wedlock, that's incestuous?  
A Ravisher, and Murderer of his friend,  
There's no way left to rid me but my Sword  
Or all these ills at once. O my Chrotilda:  falls upon the Eir. weeping. Dum 
My Sister?  Clot. 
Aye Dumain: no Eunuch she,  
Not Sunburnt vagabond of Aetiope  
Thou entertained for such by Fredegonde;  
I say here lies thy ravished sister, slain  
By me the Ravisher.  Dum 
Hold, hold my heart.  Eu. 
I forgive thee Clotaire; freely forgive thee  
And let Aphelia do the like to me:  
I bore to her not maliçe; only this,  
I would not have her to enjoy the man  
That had so near relation unto me.  Clov. 
This writes thee perfect 〈◊〉.  Eu. 
Lend me thy hand Clotaire have I thy hand;  
I should have killed thee King, and had put on  
A masculine spirit to perform the deed:  
Alas how frail our resolutions are,  
A Woman's weakness conquered my revenge,  
I'd Power enough to quit my parents wrongs:  
And they which should have seen me act my part,  
Would not believe I should so soon prove Haggard:  
But there is something dwells upon thy brow  
that did persuade me to Humanity:  
Thou Injurest me, and yet I spared thy life,  
Thou injurest me, yet I would die by thee;  
And like to my lost sex, I fall and Perish.  she dies, Clot. 
Speak for ever, speak Chrotilda.  Dum 
Farewell great Heart,  
My sister's in mine eyes, this brave revenge  
Should have been mine, and not thine act, Chrotilda,  
Away salt Rheum, Chrotilda laughs at thee,  
Her spirit was more manly.  Aph. 
I must weep too,  
Her injuries and mine are so near kin,  
That they must bare each other Company  
In tears of blond and death. Brother I faint,  
And my grieved heart too long with death oppressed,  
Would gladly seek a way to found out rest.  Clot. 
Art thou joined with her too, against thyself?  
Will my Aphelia leave me?  Aph. 
For ever King,  
The hand of heaven lies on me: for I feel  
My inward and external injuries  
Wrestle with life, in which Contention  
My soul is worried by that tyrant death,  
I must forsake thee Clotaire.  Clot. 
Stay a while,  
It is unkindly done to leave me thus:  
O she is gone, for ever, ever gone,  she dies. 
And I stand prating here between them both,  
The fatal cause of death unto them both.  
Wilt thou not break proud heart, I prithee break,  
Prove not a Rebel to thy Prince like these!  
It's well there is some Loyalty in thee yet,  he falls into a Chair betwixt them both 
Thou art commanded by me:  Bris. 
Gracious Liege.  Clot. 
Charles I have injured thee, and thou Dumaine,  
Can ye forgive me.  Dum 
Good your grace  
Call back your spirits, think what's to be done.  Clot. 
I consider well; and the great King  
The quondam Monsieur, shall not deny me this:  
Half of the Honours of the dead Landrey  
We do conser on thee; the other half  
Be thine Dumain, Charles shall be Duke of France,  
Thou of the Palace Major: this is our william.  Dum 
Great King you are not so near your death.  Lam. 
Forfend it heaven.  Mons. 
Look up thy gracious Brother.  Clot. 
I begin to faint,  
A Darkness like to death hangs on mine eyes:  
Give me thy hand Brissac, and thine Dumain.  
Good Gentle souls, when ye shall mention me,  
And Elder time shall rip these actions up,  
Dissected and anotomized by you,  
Touch sparingly this story, do not read  
Too harsh a comment on this loathed deed,  
Jest you enforce posterity to blast  
My name and memory with endless curses:  
Call me a honourable murderer:  
And finish there as I do.  he dies Dum 
O Noble Prince  
Whose fame was very essence to his soul,  
That gone, the other fled: choosing to die  
Rather than live a Prince Infamy.  Mons. 
A heavy spectacle of grief and wots,  
Have we beheld since our arrival here;  
Take up the body of the King, and these,  
Which for his sake on either hand lie slain,  
They shall be buried in one monument:  
And take up these: this was a Royal Queen  
When virtue steered her thoughts, but we may see,  
When we turn foes to good, to vice a friend,  a dead March & Recorders. 
We shall like these, and like these, thus we end.  Exeunt Omnes. 
FINIS.