A FATAL MISTAKE: OR, The Plot Spoiled: A TRAGEDY, As it was lately ACTED, etc.  
By JOS. HAYNS.  
LONDON, Printed by T. H. and sold by Randal Tailor near Stationers-Hall, 1692.   

TO THE READER.  
AFter so many Years treading the Stage, where both in my acting and capering Days (to my Vanity be it spoken) I made no inconsiderable Figure; I come at last to visit the Public in another of my no less known Capacities, viz. Poetry; and accordingly have turned this little Off-sping, this natural Brat of mine, out into the wide World. I confess, indeed, my Talon this way never made any larger Appearance before, than a Prologue, a Lampoon, a Sonnet or Madrigal, or some such shorter Poetical Fragment; and when I launch out into so Voluminous a Piece, as a whole Play, you may believe that my leisure for so tedious a scribble, proceeds from no common Cause. A dull Worlds, want of Business, and much Idleness, with not overstockt a Pocket, you see, Gentlemen, may do much. But now, after exposing (to use Ben Johnson's Title) my Works in Print, what success I am like to meet, now hang me, as great a Fortune-Teiler as I have been, all my Prognostics can no more foretell, than Lily (with Reverence be it spoken) could divine who shit at his Door. My Fate lies in your Hands, and so e'en much good may't do the bold Adventurer, the Bookseller. If it finds your favourable Reception, he has his Point, and I my Wish.  
But perhaps some overcurious Querists now may ask me, with what Confidence, in the Devil's Name, I durst write a Play. Confidence, say they! I suppose they don't know me that ask that Question: However to satisfy any such inquisitive Gentlemen, in troth I have Acted Mr. Bays so often, and so feel ngly, that I could not possibly for-bear copying after so fair an Original. And now if my other Brothers of the Quill picque at me for it, I do not much matter: but if I incur your hard Censure, trust me, Gentlemen, I set so high a Value upon your Favours, that I protest if my Play displease you, and you shall think fit to exclude me from the Muses, as the Players have done from the Stage, it will certainly put me to the charge of a new Recantation to recover your good Graces.  
Well, but if I must write a Play, How comes it that I begin my Dramatic Writing no sooner? And make my first Essay at these elderly Years upon my Back, this Fumbling Age of Poetry (as a Reverend elder Brother has it?) Why truly, as old Dr. Jasper said of his Maidenhead, I was very unwilling to die in Ignorance, and therefore resolved to take one Touch before I left the World. And this Production therefore being my very Virgin Issue, as such I recommend it to your kind Protection.  
And now, Gentlemen, if you shall graciously please to oblige your Petitioner in your umbrage of this Irisle, take my honest Word, upon the Honour of a Convert and Re-convert: by my Veracity in both Churches; nay, in Church and out of Church, a Saint, a Traveller, a Dancer, Player, Poet, or whatever else, in all, and every Qualificatiton, I am,  
Gentlemen, Your most Faithful Servant. J. H.   

The Names of the Actors.  

MEN.  
Duke.  
Duke of Schawden' s Ambassador.  
Rodulphus.  
Baldwin.  
Eustace.  
Lodovick.  
Albert.  
Godfrey.  
Arnulph.  
Frederick.  
Welpho.  
Conradine.  
Gozelo.  
Lewis.  
Ferdinando.   

WOMEN.  
Duchess.  
Gertruedo.  
Libassa.  
Clementia.  
Idana.  
Thierrie.  
Maria.   
Lords and Ladies, MASQUERS, Soldiers.   

A FATAL MISTAKE, OR THE PLOT SPOILED.  

Actus Primus.  

Scoena Prima.  Enter Eustace and Gertrudo. She is in Mourning. Eust. 
What 'cause he killed Adolphus must he die?  
Shall Love be martyred by your cruelty?  
Perhaps Adolphus gave him a just Cause;  
His Life's then forfeited by Honour's Laws.  
But why should you be thus concerned to make  
Conradine wretched for Adolphus ' s sake!  Gertrudo. 
I'll tell you Brother; we contracted were,  
And though he's dead, he still is living here.—  
Shall I go to his Bed who took my Life?  
I'm made a murther'ess when I'm made his Wife.—  
His Wife! that were to load my Soul with guilt;  
What! Crimson o'er this black with what he spilled?  
And die my Soul more black than these? She'll approve  
Of the worst Treasons who can Traitors love.  
By Heaven; these Tears, (which offered unto you,  
Divine dear Saint, I count a sacred dew)  
Nay by thyself I swear, if e'er I see  
That Dog, this Hand shall be his Tragedy.—  [Exit in a rage. Eust. 
There is no hopes, nor is it just to move  
Her to wed him who has destroyed her Love.  [Exit. Enter Libussa. Lib. 
I can't endure't, he's proud and saucy; shall  
My Husband's Brother slight me?— No, his fall  
Must be contrived, or I shall burst with hate;  
But it is wisdom to conceal his Fate.  
I'll give it Wings, yet so that none shall dream  
I am the poisoner of a balmy Stream;  
I'll use such Words shall only friendship sound,  
Yet give his Credit such a secret wound  
‛ Shall gangrene so insensibly, that he  
Shall plunged be, before he thinks of Misery.  
For she's a Fool, who armed with love or spite,  
Will not inflame the World t' increase her light.  
Did he not say my Parentage was base?  
(Though not base born, yet of an obscure Race?)  
And that his Brother raised me by his Love,  
To what I could not hope? will not this move  
Me to Revenge? Yes Fool, yes, thou shalt find,  
Though meanly born, I have an high flown Mind  
Which resents affronts. I (that Nettle-plant)  
Will make the Cedar stoop to servile want;  
Yet gild it all with Love, no show of strife,  
I'll weeping wound, and smiling take thy Life.—  
— His Life! that's murder.— But it must be done,  
And then his Place goes to my Brother's Son;  
Thus will I raise my own Relations, and  
Give Checkmate to his Honours, and his Lands,  
This neither Men nor Gods shall Countermand.  Enter Baldwin with Attendants. 
Good morning to your Grace.  Bald. 
And you my Dear,  
Go to my Brother, say I want him here.  [Exit. Servant. Libuss. 
How does brave Eustace, Sir? He is unkind,  
I have not seen him here to day, my mind  
Prompts me to fear some Mischief; this last night  
Methought I saw him environed with Light:  
In his right and left Hand two Comets stood,  
Which in a Moment did convert to Blood;  
The Light was clouded, his village grew pale,  
His Tongue did falter, and his Feet did fail;  
And sinking thus into my Arms he cried,  
" Farewell base World, farewell, and smiling died.  
Pray Heaven this my Dream does not fatal prove.  Bald. 
Oh no; 'Tis but the extremity of your Love;  
The end of which is trembling careful Fears,  
Just as excess of Joy distils in Tears.  Libuss. 
Such Tears my Fate ne'er gave me Cause to shed,  
Unless by being honoured with your Bed;  
And sure if any thing can cause it now,  
'T will be the good success of those I know  
You love, of which I'm sure he has great part,  
He's so obliging, can dissolve a Heart  
Of Ice into a flaming Stream of Love;  
He is not mortal sure; the Gods above,  
Dissembling for a while their Bliss, came down,  
And took his shape to glorify their own,  
And weary of the Earth do now return;  
Can less than Comets wait them to the Urn?  Bald. 
Fie, you do so much over-load his Bays,  
And injure Heaven with your luxuriant Praise.  Enter Eustace, Leopaldus, and Albert. Bald. 
Eustace, you troubled the Duchess last night,  
And she is scarcely yet out of the fright;  
I left her to herself, and must you come?  
Was it for you d' you think I left my Room?  Libuss. 
The Duke rallies, I thought you were dead,  
Which clouded me with Fears, and storms of Tears;  
But now the Sun is up those Clouds are fled.  Eust. 
Madam, I curse my over-saucy Stars  
For whispering to your Peace the sound of Wars,  
Yet cannot choose but bless their kindness too,  
Since they have made me so esteemed by you.  
Why would you thus abuse your Thoughts on one  
Who lives or dies by your Command alone?  
Sir, here are Warrants for you signature,  [The Duke signs the Warrants. 
For Forty thousand Crowns.  Bald. 
You are sure  
There's no mistake; I leave it to your care,  
Both of my Honour and your Trust beware.  Eust. 
If ever by deceit or negligence  
I abuse your indulgent Confidence,  
May my honour be to dark oblivion hurled,  
Nay, let me be a Byword to the World;  
Which is much worse; for a true born noble Spirit,  
Would rather be forgot, than live t' inherit  
The sooty Off springs of black Calumny;  
Such are still dying, and yet never die.  Bald. 
'T was not distrust, or giddy Jealous-fear;  
But caution made me speak, your Souls too clear,  
To be eclipsed by waining-earthy Dross.  
Wealth bought wish Honour is the greatest loss.  Libuss. 
Brave Eustace is so nice in Honour's Cause,  
He'd rather lose his Life then break her Laws;  
So true to Justice, and so just to Truth;  
Goodness in him is aged, and a youth,  
Old 'cause from the beginning it was so;  
Young cause it does greater and greater grow;  
And if he does not nip that forward Bud,  
He'll run into excess by being good:  
You had no reason then my Lord to fear,  
Your Caution's fond, extravagant your Care:  
For should the Heavens prove frail, the Gods untrue,  
Yet Eustace cannot be unjust to you.  Eust. 
How shall I thank your kindness? The whole store  
Of Rhetoric is bankrupt, Thoughts are too poor  
To fancy the rough Draught of a return.  Libuss. 
'Tis but a Vizard, underneath's thy Urn.—  [Aside. Bald. 
You'll show your Gratitude, and Kindness too,  
By the well performing of my Birth days Ceremonies.  Eust. 
Sir, you,  
Like Heaven, my Duty Service do approve,  
What I do for my Honour you count Love;  
I'm in your Debt, can I wipe out the score  
Of obligations, by being obliged more?  
That is a thrifty Payment.  Alber. 
'tis the fashion  
To borrow on, and pay with Reputation—  [Aside. Bald. 
We'll say no more, your Debt is current Coin,  Libuss. 
If you distrust his Bond, you shall have mine.  [Exeunt Manent, Eustace, Leopaldus and Albert. Eust. 
Though you do not want Instructions, yet  
Observe these Rules of mine;  
Let not your mind gape at the Full-moon-tyde  
Of Wealth, so far that Honour be denied  
Her Rights; but let your gains be just and true:  
He loses all who gets another's due.  
Be civil unto all Men as you can,  
He who's the bravest is the humblest Man.  
Beware of Bribes for they are basely foul,  
Sins bawdy Panders who corrupt the Soul.  Leopal. 
Your Rules I will observe as sacred, and  
As such I shall observe your least Command.  Eust. 
There needed not that strain, I know you're just;  
He who has noble Thoughts cannot distrust.  Leopal. 
And therefore my design will easier be;  
I'll sow his Seed, the Profit reap for me.  [Aside. Enter Lodoviek, Arnulph, Welpho and Conradine.— [Conradine and Eustace whisper. Conrade. 
Lost if I see her, if I done't I die,  
How is my Soul plunged in extremity!  
If Fate when I was born did then contrive  
To make me die, why did Heaven make me live?  
Why did not Death rifle my Mother's Womb?  
And stop these Curses with so blessed a doom?  
Yet gentle Eustace pity my distress,  
Plead with her once more for my happiness.  Eust. 
Excuse me, Sir, I will not be so unjust Brother,  
To Court her to what she so much hates.  Conrade. 
Adieu, I'll to some melancholy Shade,  
Heaven may at last cure these Wounds she has made.—  Exit. Eust. 
My Friends you're welcome all; what service now  
Do your Commands oblige me with?  Lod. 
We bow  
Unto your Honour in an humble suit.  Eust. 
— When Friends Petition, Reason may dispute  
Whether 'tis Friendship speaks: what wound have I  
Unwilling given to make it pine and die?  
Use not such Crab-faced distance to your Friend:  Arnulph. 
It is your kindness thus to condescend,  
Our Fortunes are too narrow, Minds too poor;  Eust. 
He who's a true Friend is the greatest store.  Albert. 
These gaudy Apples have a rotten Core,  
They're Cankers to true Honour, and they bring  
In their Mouth Nectar, in the Tail a Sting.  [Aside. Eust. 
To morrow Morning, when the Duke's at leisure,  
I'll him move in your Business: I take pleasure  
In being serviceable to my Friend.  Welph. 
Your Goodness is a World, none knows its end.  Lodol. 
We kiss your Hand  Alb. 
He speaks for all I see;  [Aside. Welph. 
I humbly kiss your Feet.  Alb. 
A Lady's Lap dogs Flea  
Would be adored by him, oh how he Cringes!  
His Tongue, nay, his whole Body hangs o'th' Hinges  
Of Profit, he'll weep, smile, court, and screw  
Himself into more shapes than Proteus knew:  
For bawdy Game. Brave Eustace is too kind  
Unto these Serpents.  
Eust. How is my Mind  
Ensnared with Love! oh! how is my Soul twined  
In th' cruel Shackles of her downy Hair!—  
Yet they are precious Chains, a glorious Snare.—  
— But Reason bids me not enslave my Soul to  
Woman, her rise was but Rib-high, 'twas Man  
Was made the Head (the Metropolitan)—  
— Reason, thou art unreasonable; she  
Is Empress of the World who subjects me:  
Venus does sometime blush, sometime look pale,  
To see herself out-shone, and wears a Veil.  
Smooth-tongued- Minerva swears Apollo got  
This Eloquence; she comprehends it not.  
Diana does forget the chaste Lucrece;  
Rome never knew this Ladies like, nor Greece.  
Frowning Bellona casts her Armour by,  
Swears it was ravished from her by her Eye.  
Thus Beauty, Learning, Chastity and War,  
Do homage to this more illustrious Star.  
Presume not then to love, only admire,  
For fear her Eyes do burn thee in their Fire.—  
— Not love for fear?— Fears base, for if I burn,  
I go a happy Comet to my Urn.  
Increase thy Flames then, if she cruel prove,  
I die her Martyr, sacrifid to Love.  [Exit. Enter Rodulphus and Clementia. Rodulp. 
— You need not fear,  
There is no danger, the Coast's clear;  
Pol on the Arras cannot prate  
Of our solemn sweets to any, that  
Elm courted by, the too-fond Vine  
Will not declare; you see they twine,  
And tacitly upbraid our cold  
Neglect. Will you live to be old,  
And lose your dear delights? faith try;  
You rob yourself when you deny:  
Your Blushes shall not speak, I'll fan  
Them into paleness, and that wan-  
Ness shall not accuse, that Death-  
Look I'll make ruddy with my Breath.  
Let's then by now fufilling Love,  
Anticipate those Joys above.  Clement. 
What have I done to fan your beastly Flame,  
That it dares be so saucy as to name  
Its rude Desires? Has my Deportment been  
So light, you think, it must be poised with Sin!  Rodulp. 
Dare be so saucy! had you been  
Diviner than the Paphian Queen;  
Or had the fondness of great Jove  
Adopted you to be his Love,  
And I a dirty Scullion born,  
You could not then have used more scorn;  
You might have given an Answer free  
From Pride or incivility:  
You could but chide your Footboy so.  Clement. 
He's better bred, and honester I know.  
Tell me not of the greatness of your Blood,  
" 'Tis he alone is great who dares be good.  
You Exercise your Power to do ill;  
In thus controlling you your greatness kill.  
Can he be Noble who does basely stoop  
To pampered Sense, and make his Honour droop?  
Can he be Gallant who does quit the Field  
To vaunting Lust? Is't Valour thus to yield?  
No no; that Prince who has a Peasant's Mind,  
Is but a gaudy Bladder crammed with Wind.  
Honour is poised with Virtue, 'tis not light,  
Some men were born, others made Lords in spite.  
For Nature angry with the Father, gave  
A Son should prove an honourable Knave;  
This may plead fashion, and so pardon get.  
But when men shall be Beasts, (I'll not repeat  
Those many ways they make them so) then 'tis  
Nature does plague Birth with an Emphasis:  
She is ingenious in her Vengeance, when  
She makes the best by Birth the worst of Men.  
Titles of Honour I know the Duke can  
Give, you must make yourself a Noble man.  Rodulph. 
Love firmly rooted never finds remorse,  
It must enjoy by favour or by force.  Clem. 
Do not delude yourself, there are those nigh  
Will soon divert your black intent.  Rodulph. 
I'll try.  [Goes to force her. Clement. 
Idana, Idana.  Enter Idana. He unhands her. Clement. 
Fredrick shan't know you would abuse his Wife,  
For that would cost or him or you a Life.  
But come no more unto my House.  [Exeunt Clementia and Idania. Rodulph. 
So fooled! it must not die without repair:—  
— I have't: The World will think her foul, 'cause fair:  
I'll say she is my Whore; nay swear't: thus I  
Will be revenged to see her Honour die.  [Exit Enter Frederick and Eustace. Fre. 
You throw away, dear Sir, your generous Passion;  
I cannot make a just retaliation,  
You are so far aboved yet you shall fee  
I'll Honour you as much as you Love me.  Eust. 
Your Love does Wealth, Honour, Bliss comprehend,  
Has he not all who has so brave a Friend?  Fre. 
You are an Artist, Sir, I quit the Field,  
My Language must; my Love shall never yield.  
Yet I'm afraid that too will too weak prove,  
Your Merits bind me, you love, 'cause you love:  
I love for Gain; you can no Reason give  
For yours to me. So do the Gods, who live  
Only to love poor Mortals, so do you;  
And that Love which is Heavenly must be True.  Eust. 
In striving to pursue this Copious Theme,  
I cut against the Grain, swim 'gainst the Stream:  
You do outdo me, I'll my Topsail lower;  
Your Language and your Love have the sole Power.  Fred. 
I'll say no more, but keep that in my Breast;  
Which, though can't, would seem Flattery if expressed.  [Exit. Eust. 
If he were not her Husband, she might prove  
Mild to my Suit, and gratify my Love:  
Or were he not my Friend, to have my will,  
Perhaps commanding Love might make me kill  
Him, the only Thwart to my Desires, and try  
By Fraud or Force to spot her Purity.—  
— But that's 'gainst both Divine and Humane Law.—  
— Love makes it lawful, though to break all Law.—  
— Honour will not deceive any who trust  
To her, and honesty bids me be just  
To all, in all things; 'tis strict Virtues will  
We bear Fates Tortures not committing ill.  
I'll love her then; but with that sacred Flame  
Shan't Honour blot, nor deface Friendships Name.  [Exit. Enter Duke Dutchefs Thierrie etc. Duke. 
I'Ve promised it unto Eustace his Friend,  
If you command I know he'll not, contend,  
But willingly, and with great Joy submit  
To lay his Interest at your Nephew's Feet.  Dutch. 
Far be that, Sir: You know all kindness shown  
To him, I ever reckoned as my own  Duk. 
The next opportunity I have of conferring any thing  
Worthy of Thierrie, I'll not forget him.  Dutch. 
Let him enjoy't, it is not worth my strife;  [Aside. 
He shall surrendered shortly with his life.  [Exeunt.   

Actus Secundus.  

Scena Prima.  Enter Duchess and Godfrey Dutch. 
THe Duke does love him, therefore we must be  
Subtly friendly in our Treachery:  
He thinks my Flames are Loyal; but they are  
Only to melt him into woeful care.  
I'll laugh to see him plunge without relief  
In sweaty Anger and in briny Grief.  
Let him, like Niobe, weep into Stone,  
Useless to all, regarded to by none:  
Then tickled with that Pleasure, I shall die  
In Raptures, as I loft Virginity.  Godf. 
— Since 'tis your Pleasure I'll obey your Grace.  Dutch. 
'Tis for your Profit your Son gets his Place.  [Exit. Godf. 
— I am his Bosom; can I break my Trust  
To one so Faithful, so exactly Just?—  
Hence Treachery, what! shall a Woman's Hate  
Triumph o'er Goodness?— I'll divert that Fate.—  
— But she proposes Wealth, and Honour too;  
What will not any for those Beauties do?  
They captivate all with their golden Hair;  
Evaporate then Friendship into Air.  [Exit. Enter Lodovick, Arnulph, Welpho. and Rodulphus. Lod. 
Besides all this, he's Honour's Advocate,  
A God to Virtue; but to Vice a Fate.  Arn. 
He takes not Honour in the new-mode's Sense;  
But weighs it in the Scale of Conscience.  Welph. 
He's Natures Darling, and the Muses Dear;  
And yet can teach even Mars to break a Spear.  Rodul. 
Rob the World's Cabinet, and ransack Fame;  
You cannot equal then brave Eustace's Name.  
He is in one word (that we mayn't time spena)  
The greatest Soldier, Courtier, truest Friend.  [Exeunt manet Rodulphus Rodul. 
— With what regret do I found forth his Praise!  
— How do I curse when I trim up his Bays;  
My towering Thoughts disdain to be out-flown;  
Envy all Encomium's that are not their own:  
My Soul's as lofty as the best; I hate  
So mean a thing, as second in a State.  
Nature made all Men naked, Beggars, and Kings:  
'Tis Fortune only turns the Scale of things.  
If she should make my Sovereign's Sceptres mine,  
I'd think myself as Sovereign and Divine  
As he; and on him from that Wheel look down,  
With an upbraiding Smile, disdainful Frown.  
Eustace I'll strike at first; and when I'm in  
(Ambition can digest the greatest Sin)  
I'll level at the Duke; th' Attempt is brave;  
I gain if loose; a Subject is a Slave.  
The Duchess in all this shall be the Scale  
I'll take th' height of this Attempt by her pale  
Looks, frequent Blushes, broken Sighs of late,  
Argue she's Prisoner unto Love or Hate,  
Or both; and if I'm not mistaken, I  
Saw myself seated in her amorous Eye;  
If so, I'll make her love Bawd to my Lust,  
These two Flames joined shall burn the Duke to Dust.  [Exit. Enter Eustace and Clementia. Eust. 
— Not love you! Why?  
'cause you're so killing perfect, must love die?  
You not beloved! whose high flown Eloquence  
Sacred Sybilline, dictates does dispense!  
The Rhetoric of your Face with silence can  
Speak threats unto the Gods, but death to Man.  
When Phyrrha and Deucalion threw the Stones,  
And from thence sprang both Male and Female ones;  
Nature intended Love, else you would feel,  
Instead of Flesh, those Flints and Hearts of Steel;  
She mollified those Stones, increased desire,  
She took away the Flint, but left the Fire.  Clement. 
That Fire you speak of aught to be refined  
In the chaste Furnace of a Godly Mind:  
The Gods allow love's Flame, yours Lusts will prove,  
Would Eustace have me lose my Love by Love?  
Love's Fire's divine, Divinity is just.  
O Heavens! Can Eustace be eclipsed with Lust!  
Fredrick's your Friend; from yours he draws his Life,  
Fie Eustace, fie, would you abuse his Wife?  Eust. 
— Could any Mortal Eye transpierce the Sphere,  
And see what the just Gods are doing there,  
How they eternal Joys give to the Good,  
And do revenge Adulteries and Blood;  
Or did they think the Thunderer was near,  
The very worst of Men to sin would fear;  
D' you think me then so impudent, that I  
Dare sin when such a Deity is nigh?  
No Madam, no; may Heaven exclude me there,  
And you me hate (a greater Hell by far)  
If my Flame's not as just as theirs above,  
The very abstract of the purest Love.  
I crave but to enjoy your Company,  
To kiss your Feet, your heavenly Beauty view;  
To feed upon your Voices Harmony,  
Heaven is not Heaven if all this is not true:  
And if your Servant covets more than this,  
Like Lucifer may I lose all my Bliss.  Clement. 
Eustace is Eustace now, methinks I see  
In him all Glory, all Divinity;  
And since his Thoughts nothing but Virtue are,  
As I before, am still his Worshipper.  
Eustace shall Fredrick, Fredrick Eustace be,  
Except in Bed, one and the same to me;  
This is true Love, Lust is the Beasts delight,  
That beams the Sun, this darkens blackest Night.  [Exeunt. Enter Godfrey. 
When Eustace is deposed, my Son shall  
Be Treasurer, I Lord General;  
To gain Honour, who does not think'tis fit  
To baffle Friendship, is not stored with Wit..  [Exit. Enter Eustace, Rodulphus and Albert. 
There's your Commission  Rodul. 
Sir, I still must be  
Indebted to your great Civility  
How I applaud my Wit for this new Power,  
He raises me to make himself fall lower;  
His Envy's Lechery to make Men fall  [Aside. 
By that they built to save themselves withal.  [Exeunt. Enter Conradine and Gozelo. Conra. 
Post away, relate it to the Duke in the most odious  
Terms maginable,  
Then return to me disguised.  [Exit Gozelo. 
I'll mitigate these Flames in which I burn,  
Or kindle those shall bring me to my Urn.  [Exit. Enter Duke. 
How are they encumbered who do wear a Crown;  
They cannot truly call what's theirs their own;  
All rob the Prince, Theft's not Theft in that thing;  
'Tis godly Policy to cheat the King.  
The Sycophant oils us with Flatteries,  
Our Gold is angled at by avarice;  
Th' ambitious Worms would overtop their hever,  
The envious wretch would starve our Princely State,  
All strive to raise themselves, or whet our Fate;  
Nor are we free from Traitors when we are dead.  
Did not Rodulphus tell me but just now,  
(Treason sole regent sat upon his Brow)  
That he; Rodulphus! would more loyal be  
Then him, who from me takes his Pedigree?—  
More Loyal! ha!— was not th' Accent there?— Yes—  
— My Brother false?— No, he a Traitor is—  
— But why do I Condemn him thus?— Yet can  
Eustace, brave Eustace, be less than a man?  
(For Traitors are Beasts, Monsters)— Yet we know  
Blood Royal thinks that Nature does it owe  
A Crown; Eustace may think himself as fit,  
In Majesty, in Wisdom, and in Wit,  
To sit at Helm as I— He cant break his Trust—  
— The best corrupted though prove most unjust.  
I'll therefore watch him, and th' informer too;  
Perhaps he talks but what himself would do.  [Exit. Enter Rodulphus. 
So let him play a while with this first Bait,  
False-sighted Jealousy can pick deceit  
Out of true Loyalty, now Eustace shall  
Not talk of Honey, but he'll extract Gall;  
And I'll so feed his Humour, blind his Sense,  
He'll Duty check, and Treason recompense.  Enter Duchess. 
God save your Grace.  Du. 
Oh! what! Rodulphus! joy;  
You are turned Soldier, count the Court a Toy;  
It is a Miracle to see you here,  
A day of Jubilee when you appear.  Rodulph. 
Your Grace is merry, Soldiers must obey  
Their Officers, else 'twere a Puppet-play;  
Female Suns shine at Court; Rodulphus can  
Feast his Eyes on his Mistress; who's a Man,  
My General, brave Eustace, I adore;  
I'll never think of Women any more.  Dutch. 
Methinks Rodulphus— (none do hear but we)  [Aside. 
Himself might be the General, had not he  
A Soul too narrow to contain the Fire  
Of his dear Princess Libussa's desire;  
And in my Judgement, he deserves it, far  
Beyond that vulgar Shadow, painted Star.—  
— The Duchess told me this herself; if you  
Have not Faith to believe that it is true,  
Come to her Bedchamber, I'll place you where  
You all our close Discourse shall over hear.  
She weeps for Joy when I begin your name;  
Yet those dews are soon dried up in Love's Flame.  
She sighs, and weeps again to cool Desire,  
Alas! those oily drops increase the Fire.—  
Rodulphus did not know who was his Slave  
Before I told. For this my Fee I'll have;  [Exit Duchess. Rodulph. 
Ha, ha, ha, All this I knew before; we wise men must  
Make many Trials before we do trust.—  
Rodulphus might be General (ha, ha, ha.) Yes I  
Will Eustace be, and Duke, or bravely die.  [Exit. Enter Leopaldus and a Messenger. 
I'll wait upon her Grace.  [Exit Messenger. Leop. 
— Lord Treasurer or Lord General— Let's see—  
Which of those Titles is the best for me—  
— Faith Treasurer, for I love Gold; beside  
A Cannon's Language I could ne'er abide,  
(Not that all Soldiers think they must fight, no;  
The Duke I fear would have few, thought they so.)  
'Tis a rough Dialect, but Gold's smooth Tongue  
Makes Angels dance unto its heavenly Song;  
That then I'll choose shall make all Men admire  
My State; a Generals but a Powder Fire.  
Ha, ha, ha, who'd be a Soldier? he's a flash can't hold,  
Unless the Treasurer feeds him with Gold.  
I do allow their Officers are bright;  
If I (their Sun) contract my Beams, 'tis Night.  
How am I ravished with these Thoughts! I'll live  
In greatest splendour; there's nought shall reprieve  
The least of Pleasures from my ravenous Sense;  
The Stars from me shall take their influence,  
Bending to my will all men's Humours, he  
Shall be Atheist thought who does not worship me;  
In Beds of Down I'll revel without care,  
In richest Chariots take the pregnant Air;  
Which drawn by two more Horses than the Sun,  
My uncontrolled Course like him I'll run;  
How will the Virgin's court me! the whilst I  
Only laugh at their forced Virginity.—  
The Duchess in all this I must obey,  
She does expect, I dare not make her stay:  
Let her conceive rough Plots, I'll bring them forth,  
My Tongue shall lick and form them into worth.  [Exit. Enter Duchess. Dutch. 
You're punctual Leopaldus.  Leo. 
Your Graces Will  
A Law is to your Slave.  Dutch. 
Unless to kill  
Your Master.  Leo. 
Such a thought your Grace ne'er bred,  
You'd almost die to raise him was he dead.  Dutch. 
He's close, I'll give his Wit a Bone to pick.—  [Aside. 
Not kill proud Eustace! hence you puny Chick;  
How can you else be General?  Leo. 
This Hand,  
Was it Commissioned by your Command,  
Should tear my Heart before your sacred Eyes;  
Dare I do that, and yet not sacrifice  
Eustace to your hate? Yes, if greater far.  Dutch. 
Not for my Love, but to be Treasurer.  
Base Traitor to thy Master, thou shalt die  
For this foul Treason.  Lewis 
(Enter Lewis.) Why?  
Was not that sealed Box to Leopaldus sent?  Lewis. 
It is, but he came hither whilst it went,  
So missed it.  Dutch. 
There are the Writings: That's all.  [Exit Lewis. 
Ha, ha, ha, ha.  Leo. 
How did my proud Heart fall;  
His Plumes when your Grace called, 'twas a great fright.  Dutch. 
Day's welcome after the most; tedious Night.  
Now to th' Affair. You must hatch jealousy  
In th' Duke of Eustace his Fidelity  
In both his Offices. Let some trick be  
Found out to make him think he aims at me;  
I with my kindness will so rub the sore,  
It shall not heal, but fester more and more;  
Yet do it secretly that none may know,  
That he his Downfall unto us does owe;  
I know you're wise, it is your own Affair,  
Therefore it does concern you to take care.  Enter Eustace, Fred'rick and Masquers. Eust. 
Are all the Sirens Habits made, and the Music perfect:  
1 S, Yes.  Eust. 
Pray let them be very exact, for  
I value my Reputation  
In the well performing of this Masque.  [Exeunt. Enter Duke, Godfrey and Duchess, etc. Duke. 
Dares Eustace then commit such Crimes as those?  Dutch. 
Your seeming Friends are still the basest Foes;  
I hate you, Brother, for this Black-mouthed Deed;  
Do you, his choicest Flower, turn a Weed?  
Ill root you out o' my Thoughts for this; you shall  
Have little cause to glory in his Fall.  Godf. 
Madam what needs this heat, 'tis for his good  
I tell the Duke.  Dutch. 
A way corrupted Blood;  
Black Parasite, whose Soul knows nought but Vice,  
'Tis crammed with Pride, Envy and Avarice;  
Thou'rt just to flalshood, to all Truth untrue;  Godf. 
I am as just to Friendship, true, as you.  Dutch. 
'Tis saucy, Sir, I hope you will not show  
Yourself unkind to Carlos, Sir. I know  
This Accusation's false. If not, than I  
Desire to school him for this Vanity.  
Seem not to know it, chide him not for this;  
'Tis 'gainst his Will if he has done amiss.  Duke. 
Well, Madam, I am calmed; for he that can  
Still ward the Hilts of Vice is more than Man.  [Exit Duke. Dutch. 
Was it not bravely acted.  Godf. 
To the Life,  
My Knowledge and my Judgement were at strife,  
Whether it was in earnest or in jest,  
So naturally urged so strongly pressed.  Dutch. 
They who do seek to undermine the Wise,  
Must Nature use with Art to blind their Eyes.  [Exeunt. Enter Eustace, Godfrey and Rodulphus. Eust. 
How does Rodulphus like his Regiment?  Rod. 
Well,  
I humbly thank your Honour; they are all  
Men who deserve so brave a General.  Eust. 
Oh no Rodulphus; all the World can tell  
Their bravery is in their Colonel.  [Exeunt. Rodulph. 
If Fortune does not play the Jade, they shall  
Soon see their Colonel their General.—  [Exit. The Scene is drawn, the Duke and Duchess, with all the Lords and Ladies are seated for the Mask. Enter Nature with a Baby in her Arms richly dressed. Nature. 
Who says that I'm no Deity? when they  
Who rule the Heaven shall wonder at this Clay;  
Great Jupiter shall not only look down,  
But even descend this glorious Earth to Crown.  [Nature seats herself. Enter Pan with six Satyrs. Pan. 
What makes the Hills to dance! the Mountain's play!  
The Groves cut Capers! whose is this Holiday!  
My Flocks do skip, and every Bird does sing;  
For whom's this great mirth made!  Nat. 
Behold! this King.  Pan seems amazed.] Nat. 
Wonder not Pan, a God's born on  
the Earth,  
The World must needs move in a Sphere of mirth.  [Pan seats himself. Satyrs sing.] 
Wonder not Pan, a God's, etc. as before.  Enter Neptune with six Sirens. Soft music's heard. Nept. 
What Melody is this! whence are these Charms?  
Far sweeter than my Sirens!  Nat. 
Natures Arms.  Nept. 
Sing Sirens sing; Nature's immortal; we  
Must bow unto her Newborn Deity.  [He seats himself. Satyrs and Sirens sing.] 
Sing Sirens sing, Nature's, etc.  
as before.  The six Sirens and six Satyrs dance an Antic. Cupid and Mercury enter. Cupid. 
Hail glorious Prince, all I can do will be  
To make Ten thousand Ladies die for thee.  Merc. 
Break thy Bow, Cupid; th' amorous Tackling tear,  
Thou art no God; all love is seated here.  Sirens and Satyrs sing. 
Break thy Bow, break thy Bow, Cupid, for we  
Must bow unto this Newborn Deity.  Mercury and Cupid dance a Sarabran. Whilst Mars and Venus descend. Mars. 
What Stern-sweet-beauty's this makes Mars afraid!]  
My Valour's rivalled.  Ven. 
I'm glad 'tis no Maid.  Merc. 
Sing Venus, forget thy Adonis; for he  
Was not so fair as this new Deity.  Sirens, Satyrs. Sing Venus, forget, etc. as before. [Venus seats herself. Pan, Neptune, and Mars dance, whilst Jupiter and Juno descend; And then Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Venus, Cupid and Mercury dance. Jupit. 
Thus when good Kings are born upon the Earth,  
The Host of Heaven is ravished with mirth.  The six last go off of the Stage; and whilst they are ascending, Pan and his Satyrs, and Neptune with his Siren's dance, and by degrees leave the Stage.   

Actus Tertius.  

Scaena Prima.  The Scene's drawn; The Duke in State with all his Nobles about him, prepared to give Audience to the Duke of Schawden's Ambassador. Enter Ambassador; And after due Ceremonies past speaks. 
THe Great Duke of Schawden does defy thee Great Baldwin, and is resolved after Twenty days, to lay waste thy Dominion by Fire and Sword, to be revenged for thy execrable murdering his Nephew the brave Conradine.  Duke. 
Tell the proud unjust Duke thy Master; that he  
shall dearly pay, for endeavouring to cloud our Rays with  
such detestable Actions.  
For though his force and hatred is so great,  
we'll drown his Anger in a Bloody-sweat.  [Exeunt. Enter Leopaldus, Solus. 
I know you're wise, it is your own Affair,  
Therefore it does concern you to take care.—  
It does I know, and I'll be careful too,  
Who o' the Devil knows what she may do?  
Base Traitor thou shalt die said she:—  
And who can tell? she may in earnest be:  
No, Duchess, no, you shall not cozen me.  
I'll go to Eustace and disclose the Plot,  
Unload myself of guilt;— but they will not  
Believe my Accusations, and thus I  
Revealing Treason Traitorlike shall die.  
I must go through now I've begun; 'tis base  
To falter in the middle of a Chase.  Enter a Servant gives him a Box. 
Don Lewis left it here.  Leopald. 
Be gone.— What's this  
A Ruby! Topaz! and an Amithyst!—  
Dull plumbeous Brain. What a Hen-hearted Slave  
Was I to doubt the Duchess, can one have  
Surer Proofs of her Loyalty than this?  
Faint Jealousy does often judge amiss:  
Do not these Jewels and this Gold infer,  
That I shall be advanced Treasurer?  
I'll follow't now with eagerness, I doubt  
Not but to succeed when he's justled out.  [Exit, Enter Ferdinando and Philippo, alias Conradine and Gozelo, 
Am I not well disguised, is not this Hair  
An exact Vizard? and are not these Pair  
Of Moustaches well ordered? ha!  Phil. 
As well  
As though your Honour fetched them out of Hell;  
So black, so horned, and so deceitful too,  
The Devil's in Men sure when they do woe,  
Or else they would not so transform themselves  
For nothing but to please these waspish Elves,  
Who, if they did not court, would court themselves.  Ferd. 
That's too Satyrical, but, prithee how  
Dost like my Mask, Philippo, couldst thou know  
Me, had I not foretold thee my design?  Phil. 
O, Sir, your Virtues through these Clouds do shine,  
clothes cannot hide that Part which is Divine.  Ferd. 
You must be exercising of your Wit;  Phil. 
'T has slept so long I fear I've smothered it.  [Exeunt. Enter Rodulphus. 
I must contrive it so,  
That he stay here, and I in chief may go  
Against the Duke of Schawden.—  
Yet if he goes, he secretly shall fall  
By me, and I'll return the General.  [Exit. Enter Duke, Duchess, and Eustace. Duke. 
Another Regiment than must be raised.  Dutch. 
But will you venture Eustace in this Fight?  
Should he miscarry, you lose all your might  
At one blow; for as soon as he is lost,  
Your Bedrid Dukedom will give up the Ghost.  
He is the Soul of Valour; should they see  
Him fall, your bravest Martialists would flee  
Like frighted Sheep before the Wolves, none shall  
Resist, but with a meek Devotion fall  
A Sacrifice to him; some out of fear,  
Others, 'cause he is gone, hate to live here;  
Let him stay here for a reserve at last  
To grapple with Death when all hopes are past.  Duke. 
Madam, to keep him here's to lose the Day,  
What strength remains when the Soul's ta'en away?  Eust, 
Those Court-silk-worms, whose sophisticated Fare  
Is Peace, sauced up in Pleasure, whose Palates War  
Does nauseate; who with ease Ermine their Gown,  
Mind not their Prince's Interest but their own;  
Should we sit still and let the Commons sweat  
Alone, they would our Honour from us get.  
Had I Ten thousand Lives, each drop of Blood  
Should be exhausted for my Country's good.  [Exeunt. Enter Eustace, Ferdinando, Rodulphus, Philippo. Eust. 
Great Sir, your Fame  
Has made the World enamoured with your Name;  
You need not bring a Letter to be known;  
There's nothing Great nor Good that's not your own.  
Since you have put your Rays under the Cloud  
Of Nancy, let my poor House be allowed  
That Honour; Ferdinando may be as free,  
As if he was brave Otho. Exeunt.  Rodulph. 
Otho! he!  
Letters from him!— from Otho!— that shall be  
Matter wherewith I'll feed my Villainy.  [Exit. Enter Eustace. 
By thus matching my Sister with the Brother of the dead Conradine, I shall create a Peace upon Honourable Terms. He who muzzles the Jaws of the Sword, does his Country as great a Service, as he who vindicates her honour by it. Yet I will keep it secret, that it may be more valued; for we are apt to prize those Blessings most which come unexpected.  [Exit. Enter Three Soldiers. 1. 
Come Boys let's bid adieu to these Threadbare knitty Jirkins, these Spawns of Peace; she who never gave Soldiers any thing but a king Bellies and itching Backs.  2. 
Faith if we had lain still any longer, every one I think had been a General; I believe I can Muster Ten thousand, besides what have had the strappado, and been turned out of Service.  3. 
But now we'll ruffle in Silk, and be lousy with Credit: Brace our Bellies with Provocatives; make our Souls tied it to Elysium in Wine, then have an Alderman's Wife to close up the Stomach.  1. 
Take it off you mean.  2. 
Faith I must have half a dozen to cure my Itch.  3. 
No, one with her Husband's best new Suit and clean Shirt will do't; for they are famous for such Cures.  [Exeunt. Enter Eustace, Gertrudo and Ferdinando. Gertrud. 
I do his noble praise admire,  
And emulate his worth; but Cupid's Fire  
Catch from the Eyes.  Eust. 
h' has your Picture.  Ger. 
I will  
He live and dote upon my Picture still.  
I'll marry none by Proxy; Kings in that  
Are then their Subjects more unfortunate.  Ferd. 
'Twas not report that raised Otho's Love,  
Or your Effigies did his Passion move;  
But he has seen you, Madam; from your Eyes  
The Fire was kindled for this Sacrifice;  
He offers a true broken Heart; Quench not  
That holy Flame your Beauty has begot.  Gertrud. 
What's got by Beauty will with Beauty fade,  
When the Sun sets we are left in the Shade;  Ferd. 
Beauty is not External, but Divine,  
He does adore the Features of your Mind;  
You are the Fountain of Divinity;  
Through you all Glory, Bliss, and Goodness run,  
The Heavens do boast of your Affinity;  
Your splendent Eyes renew and beam the Sun.  
Should you be angry, and withdraw your Light,  
The World would grovel in eternal Night.  
Let not, let not your too much Cruelty,  
Give cause to doubt of your Divinity.  Gertrud. 
How does he plead against himself? 'tis he  
By whom I'm Conquered, he has fettered me. [Aside.  
Justice as well as Mercy's in the Gods,  
One Hand holds Blessings, and the other Rods  
To punish proud Offenders. Sir, can I  
Think Otho does count me his Deity;  
When in his first address I read such Crimes?  
O Heavens! the Pride of Men in these our Times!  
Can the Proud Otho think that I'm Divine,  
When Scrivener-like he courts me thus by Line?  
The Path to Conquer her is straight, thought he,  
And easy. 'Tis a sign he Honours me;  
Did he so much admire what he writ,  
To think that I'd be ravished with his Wit?  
Or did he think himself, (great Man!) too good  
To come himself? Or thought he travail would  
Cool th' Glow-worm flashes of his hasty Fire,  
Or me quite void of what should raise desire?  
Or does he think I must be his by fate?  
'Tis fit I scourge his Confidence with hate.  Ferd. 
Madam.  Ger. 
No more; I'll not hear one word more.  Ferd. 
Your Laws are Sacred, I your Will adore.  Eust. 
Your humour's peevish, Sister.  Gertrud. 
Brother, I  
Owe you a great respect I know; yet why  
Should you usurp a Power over me?  
Love's not begot by any force; 'tis free.  
I will obey your modest Mandates still;  
But marry whom I please, not whom you will.  Eust. 
There's no resisting Woman's wild desire,—  [Aside. 
Pray let your Reason mitigate your Ire.—  [Exit. Ferd. 
I'm glad she is so cruel—  [Exit. Gertrud. 
What thing is Love! of what is it begot!  
Sure they who know it best do know it not;  
It is a sudden fire, a secret flame,  
It has a thousand, yet not one true Name.—  
Hell's chiefest Agent's Lust, Love takes its birth  
From that; sure then Love is Hell upon Earth;  
To me it is, for I'm hurled in a Fire,  
In which I burn, and shall yet ne'er expire.  [Exit. Enter Duchess and Rodulphus, they whisper. Exit Rodolph. Enter Godfrey, they discourse privately. Exit Godfrey. Enter Leopaldus, they whisper. Exit Leopaldus. Dutch. 
If these. three fail, how cursed is my fate;  
There's neither God of Love, nor Friend of hate.  [Exit. Enter Duke and Rodulphus. Duke. 
Now by my Life this News does make me fear—  
Letters from him! his Confident too here  
By Eustace entertained! If so, I m sure  
That Traitor has my Dukedom made secure  
Unto himself.— Prithee what's best to do?—  
I'll his Commission seize.  Rod. 
That's not safe, you  
Must do it by degrees, no rash ways try,  
Fetter his Gyant-strength with Policy,  
Send him unto St. Enay, tell him that you  
Can trust none but Eustace himself to view  
That Fort; he gone, you must pick out some one  
Who Treason hates, to crush Rebellion  
In the Egg; him make General.  Duk. 
I see  
Some hope yet left through thy sagacity;  
And did not gratitude, my safety would  
Invite thee to be General; 'Tis good  
To scourge Rebellion with an Iron Whip;  
Thy forward Zeal for me will make thee strip  
Those Traitors of all means to do me harm;  
I'm safe under thy Conduct and thy Arm.  Rodulph. 
Mere Nature honours Kings; you bind me now  
By Gratitude to keep my Allegiance Vow.  
If e'er I violate my Fealty, may  
That Crime give Wings unto the Judgement day.  Duke. 
I doubt not; but dost not know any more  
Who are charmed with the Beauty of this Whore  
Ambition? what Officers are they  
With whom he does intend this Game to play?  Rodulph. 
Fredrick's Bosom, him you must remove,  
Not out of Jealousy, but seeming Love;  
Give him a better Place, though far more worse;  Duke. 
I'll Honour him with Master of our Horse,  
Because he is the good Eustace his Friend.  Rodulph. 
'Tis fit indeed they ride unto their end.  Duke. 
Those Subjects who dare so usurp the Crown,  
Do but exalt themselves to tumble down.  [Exit. Rodulph. 
I'll not that humble fear, nor thy weak frown,  
Ten thousand Lives to wear a minute's Crown.  Exit. Enter Gertrudo and Maria in a Garden. 
I sigh, weep, mourn, rejoice, I freeze, I fry?  
How am I scourged with uncertainty!—  
Sing me the Song thou sungst last night; ah me!  
I'll with my Sighs and Tears thy Chorus be.  Maria. 
Descend ye gentle Angels; see  
A Wretch hemmed in with Grief;  
All Misery's summed up in me,  
Look down and bring Relief;  
Let your kind Breath and Wings fan my rude Fire,  
Not like my Sighs and Tears which feed desire.  
Woe Tyrant Cupid for Relief,  
(If such a God there be)  
Paint out, murmur to him my Grief;  
A Friend would pity me;  
Tell him how devilish is his damned Fire,  
Let him stand farther off, or else come nigher.  
Must Beauty still be joined with Grief?  
Take that then quite from me,  
Or else take this, and give relief  
To what you first gave me;  
O Gods! Can you be plagued with hellish Fires!  
I am your Image; Image my Desires.  Chorus. 
Or give me more, or take what strength I have,  
That melting I may drop into my Grave.  [Exeunt. Enter Eustace and Ferdinando. Eust. 
I'll write to him, invite him to come here,  
All Clouds must fly when the Sun does appear.  Ferd. 
I will enclose your Letter in mine.  [Exeunt. Enter Rodulphus and a Soldier. Sol. 
I want Money, Sir, to furnish me for this Expedition,  
and your Honour's Clerk denies me my Pay.  Rodulph. 
You're troublesome, you're troublesome, away.  [Exit. Rodulph. Sol. 
Such Officers are Enemies.  [Exit. Enter Duchess and Leopaldus. Dutch. 
Next time he writes unto Otho, see  
You carefully that Letter bring to me,  
It may concern our Business;  Leo. 
I'll obey  
Your Graces will with great Devotion.  Dutch. 
They  
Who a King's Favourite would tumble down,  
Must make his Vices justify their own.  Enter Ferdinando. 
Cruel Gertrudo; but more Cruel Love,  
Thus to inflame my Soul, and yet not move  
In her Desire; under this blessed Shade I  
Will sit and pray to be so too; to die  
Is a great Blessing to the Happiest Men;  
What is it to the Miserable then?  [Lies down. Enter Gertrudo. 
Why did ye make us subject unto Passion?  
Why did ye give us Tongues wherewith to speak?  
If we must subject be to this strict fashion,  
Not to relate our Loves though our Hearts break?—  
'tis Man's Extortion, we may be as free  
In that as they, or wrong the Deity.  
For they made nothing but was for some use—  
Otho loves me, I Ferdinando; may  
Not I let him know it without abuse  
To Modesty? If not we're worse than Clay.  
I'll un-Lanthorn my Flame, no longer I  
Will hover in this strange uncertainty.  [Exit. Ferdin. 
As when Men from some pleasant Dream awake  
Wish they might always sleep for that Dreams sake;  
And can't but fancy happiness a while  
(So does desire our willing Sense beguile)  
So 'tis with me; for rising from that Shade,  
Methinks I am a Constellation made.  
And wish I might Eternally lie there,  
The Melody of her Complaints to hear.—  
I'll after her and give my Griefs a Grave.  [Exit. Enter 2 Soldiers. 1. 
Fredrick's made Master of the Horse, we have  
A Boy to be our Colonel.  2 
'Tis brave  
When Butterflies do give the Falcon Laws,  
And painted Peacocks clip the eagle's Claws:  3. 
O 'Tis Rodulphus' Plot; There are two more,  
Right Sons of Mars, quite turned out of Door,  
And for it made Bed-chamber-men.  2. 
By Jove,  
But that our General's brave, I'd scorn to move  
By such mens' Orders.  [Exeunt. Eustace. 
If there is Treason hatching, I think I  
Should then stay here to cherish Loyalty;  
Or crush that Monstrous Egg; but since you do  
Command me, unto Stenay I must go:  
For he who does dispute his King's Command,  
No Subject is, but the Crowns Countermand,  [Exit Duke. 
I cannot fathomed; Treason's budding, yet  
The Army's Head must be loped off; 1sed fit  
I should be busied 'bout a little Fort,  
And leave all else Confused?—  
There's something more in it;— But since I'm free  
From the least stain, it cannot injure me.  [Exit. Enter Rodulphus, Thierrie, and two new made Captains. 
You are but young, and must not be ashamed of  
Directions,  Thierry 
Your Commands to me are  
Lovely, and like a Loadstone draw me  
By their Motion; all my Actions shall point  
Directly at your will.  Rodulph. 
And that's your Honour;  
You too, Captains, must make me still your Rule,  
Consult me always: For you must know those  
Men whose Places you inherit are not  
Well satisfied, and are studying your  
Ruin with eagerness; and though they smile,  
They're cruel Traps, varnished but to beguile—  
With greater ease, uncloset not your Souls  
To all, they'll quickly be unrivetted,  
From your Bodies if ye do  Capt. 
We'll observe  
Your Instructions to a Tittle.  Rodulph, 
These are dull Fools, and may be drawn aside  
Unto all Villainies, when I'm their Guide;  
Fight with Devotion 'gainst their Prince, cause they  
Believe they can't err when I lead the way.  [Exeunt. Enter Duke solus 
What then?  
That does not prove him Traitor, the best Men  
Are most abused; Fame's False, Suspition's grudge,  
And Jealousy is an unequal Judge;  
Rodulphus may forge it: In this Age, all  
Think 'tis Religion to supplant; the fall  
Of Prince's Favourites Nature Contrives;  
She Envy roots, as soon as Heaven breathes Lives.—  
Yet let him plow the Deep, and fetch from thence  
Legions of Devil's to delude my Sense;  
Scale great Jove's Fabric, seduce Angels there  
To come and own his Accusations here:  
They'd make me fear 'twas true, yet never move  
My Heart 'gainst Justice t' extirpate my Love;  
I'd hear him speak, not damn, cause I distrust;  
Kings are not Men till they can be unjust.  [Exit. Enter Eustace, Ferdinando, Philippo, Albert. Eust. 
I've left a Letter with Leopaldus. (Ferdina.) Go  
Fetch it, I'll enclosed in mine.  Exit. Phil. 
Sir, may I know  
How soon you will return.  Eust. 
In Ten days; See  
You are not idle in your Courtship; she  
Seems better humoured now; and when he's come  
She'll melt; Courtship at distance is but dumb.  
Fear not her frowns, pursue your Amorous Sense,  
Be bold, it is a pleasing violence;  Ferdin. 
I cant wait on you; 'tis much 'gainst my will,  Eust. 
Duty takes place of Ceremony still.  Enter Lodovick, Arnulph, Welpho. Eust. 
This is great kindness, Sirs.  Welph. 
Men are bereft  
Of Comfort, when they are in darkness left.  Arnul. 
Fancy paints Death.  Lodo. 
No marvel if we run  
To take our leaves of our departing Sun.  Ferd. 
The Sun sets but to rise.  Welph. 
Thought we not so,  
You'd see us all depart before you go.  Arnul. 
Go!— that word's Hell.  Lodo. 
Let us wait on you Sir.  Welph. 
The Soul gone, the Trunk's so benumbed can't stir.  Eust. 
I'm wracked to leave you; but it must be, when  
I come our Friendship will be new again.  Arnulph. 
In Grief and Discontent we'll make our Urn,  
There will we buried be till you return.  [Exeunt. Albert. 
When Earth's not Earth, Sea Sea, till then't must be  
That great Men shall be gulled with Flattery.  Exit. Enter Frederick. 
Can he  
Distrust my Conduct? or my Loyalty?  
Though I'm Master of the Horse, I might have been  
A Colonel too; Plurality's no Sin;  
Or Venial at most, 't might be forgiven,  
Since 'tis their Tract who point the way to Heaven.—  
Does he think I'm no Soldier; no, his Eyes  
Has dazzled been to see the Prodigies,  
This Hand has hewed out for his safety.— yet.—  
Kings are not Gods because they can forget.  Enter Eustace, Albert booted. 
Booted my Lord!  Eust. 
Yes Fredrick I must go.  Ferdi. 
Give me leave to wait on your Lordship.  Eust. 
No,  
You must stay here.  Fred. 
You do but take the Air  
I do presume; your Lordship rides not far.  Eust. 
But unto Stenay.  Fred. 
Unto Stenay! you!  
Can you be spared!  Eust. 
I know-not; but'tis true—  
Why dost thou muse.  Fred. 
My Lord I like it not;  
There is some juggling in't, some dirty Plot  
Upon my Life; you're sent away, and my  
Commission's seized, by— I know not why.  
Vlric and Bruno are uncaptained: they  
Who've done this have an after Game to play;  
Godfrey's Son's made Colonel; Is't a time,  
When we should be at top to learn to climb?  
He's but Seventeen, scarce knows to draw a Sword;  
He is not taught to speak should give the Word.  
Then there are two more, in the room of those  
I named, would tremble at the name of Foes;  
I grieve to think my Country shall be lost,  
Conducted by those have been on the Post—  
Traitor Rodulphus, he is soaring still,  
A Raven, though's Wings are imped with Doves Quill.  Eust. 
I've weighed these things to Fredrick, and can't guests  
Rodulphus false to me  Fred. 
ay, nothing less.  Eust. 
'Twas I raised him; can he be so depraved,  
To destroy that by whom himself is saved?  Fred. 
Ill Men are Enemies to Goodness; they  
Delight to see them ragged made them gay:  
You are too good to think all Just.  Eust. 
I see  
Thou'rt Captive still to dreaming Jealousy.  
'Tis the Duke's Love, says he, you I can trust,  
I know not that Rodulphus will be just.  Fred. 
Well, Heaven avert what my Dream's do foresee;  
To trust all's the Highway to beggary.  Eust. 
Though I believed, I'll not his Mood foment,  
'Tis Treason to encourage Discontent—  Aside. [Exeunt.   

Actus Quartus.  

Scoena Prima.  Enter Duke and Leopaldus. Duke. 
NOT gone last Night! and in her Chamber too  
Till Three this Morning! O Gods! What to do?  Leop. 
Could I, 'twere Sin to tell,— Good Deeds love light,  
But theirs were masked with the Clouds of Night.  Duke. 
Thou speak'st as though she were false to my Bed,  
By all the Gods or prove't, or, Dog, thou'rt dead.  Leop. 
Prove it! who can? But is not a Nights stay  
Alone with her enough?  Duk. 
Screech-Owl away—  
Yet stay and tell me more, or I'll advance  
Thy Head on yonder Tower.  Leop 
Circumstance  
Is all the Proof in such a Case; we may  
Conclude the Sun's not far at break of day.  
How careful is she for Eustace his good?  
She draws Life from his Breath.  Duke. 
Nearness in Blood  
Allows that kindness.  Leop. 
But, Great Sir, no kin  
Can check the Passions of unruly Sin.  
How uncontrollable is pampered Lust!  
It makes the very worst of Deeds most Just,  
To gratify its Sense: Nero's Mother  
Could not divert his Flames; nought can smother  
Those Hellish Fires: They who make Lust their God  
Justice despise; contemn th' Avenger's Rod;  
Such a one's Eustace and the Duchess too.—  
These Jewels were not sent to him by you.  [He shows him the Jewels the Duchess gave him. 
No, these are Trophies of his Aunt's desire,  
The Sparks declare her base incestuous Fire.  
Pardon, Great Sir, this boldness; on my Knee  
I beg; 'twas forced by Zeal; Truth should be free.  [The Duke seems troubled.— Duke. 
These are great Circumstances, Sir; yet more  
Must be found out to prove a Queen a Whore.  
And shall by thee, or thou a Traitor prove;  
Shall Subjects undermine their Sovereign's Love?  
Guard Enter. Carry him to the Tower during our Pleasure.  Leop. Aside. 
I've built myself a Castle.  Exeunt. Guards with Leopal. Duke. 
This Treasure  
Sent by my Wife to Eustace, and his stay  
All night affrights me. Heavens! What can she say  
To justify this Action? it appears  
Odious to me yet.  Enter Duchess sola, weeping. Duke. 
What all in Tears!  
Why is your Grace to day so sadly dressed?  Dutch. 
With what Convulsions are their Souls oppressed,  
Who are forced to accuse those they love best!  
That Case is mine.  
Next unto You, my poor abused Love  
Unto your Brother Eustace still did move,  
Because I thought him (pardoned Gods above)  
More than Divine.  
But how does he reward my Love! (Cursed Fate!  
Heavens! Why was I made thus unfortunate!)  
He Courted me,— he Courted— (base ingrate)  
How shall I speak?  
He Courted me; would you believe't? to lie  
With him last night; (unheard of Infamy)  
Eustace, where is now thy Divinity?  
Deceived Heart break;  
When I repulsed him, he replied, what then  
Did those Jewels you sent me mean? we Men  
Know Ladies Presents give for Love again;  
Come, come, your Eyes  
Say you meant so— When by your Soul I sent  
Them to be matched and polished, my intent,  
By Heaven, was altogether Innocent.  Duke. 
— By Jove he dies:  
For he that would defile his Sovereign's Wife;  
Waits but a fit time to enshare his Life.  Dutch. 
Pardon his Life; he may repent in time,  
When Age comes on our Thoughts are more sublime.  Enter Rodulphus, gives the Duke a Letter. Duke reads,] Eustace, To the Renowned Otho. 
How can the Ship sail without a Pilot?  
In what disorder will an Army be  
Without a General? Come then yourself,  
And head your own Party if you mean to  
Prosper; for I do not find it easy  
To gain Compliance, you being absent.  
Dispose therefore of your Affairs into  
Trusty Hands, and make hast hither, where you  
Shall find all things prepared according to  
Your desires; but leave none of your Courage  
Behind you, for we are to deal with  
Resolute and Politic Enemies. Howe'er  
I'll not distrust, for I am Confident  
They'll vanish, when you appear to  
Countenance the Endeavours of your— Eustace.  Duke. 
Ingrateful Eustace, couldst thou serve me so!  
But I'll reward thee; Let's to Cbuncel go.  [Exeunt. Enter Philippo and Ferdinando. 
The Packquet was gone before I came.  Ferd. 
Gods! What will Otho think when he receives  
An Invitation from Eustace to come hither.—  
But it can't be helped.  Enter to him Fredrick, and Three Officers of the Army. 1 Sold. 
— Godfrey made Treasurer!  Fred. 
'Tis too true, and Rodulphus General.  1. 
Was Eustace raised so high, to make his fall  
The greater?  2 
What! And shall we Soldiers see  
Brave Eustace suffer this Indignity  
Without Revenge?  3. 
No, By great Mars I'll take  
My Troop, and face the very Palace Gate;  
And there dispute his Right with my last Breath,  
Who dies for him finds Honour in his Death.  
Shan't we share Fortune's Captain?  1. 
Yes.  Ferd. 
What! now!  
Let Eustace come first; till then smooth your Brow,  
Make all your Discontents march in the dark,  
Fetter your Tongues, the fiercest Dogs don't bark.  Sold. omnes. 
We shall obey your Orders till he come.  [Exeunt Soldiers. Fred. 
We'll write this night to bid him make haste home.  Exeunt. Enter Lodovick, Arnulph, Welpho. Lod. 
A silly shallow Lad; could better tell  
To lead a Dance, than be a Colonel,  
Yet Aped General.  Arn. 
ay, though the spruise  
Young Gallant, would grow quickly out of use?  
A thing made up of Words, a Courtier, fit  
To Fire the Ladies with a flash of Wit.  
His Tongue was very fleet off o' th' Score;  Whelp. 
Ay, it has run its Master out of Door.  
He thought 'twas fine to hear the Ladies laugh  
At his pumped Wit; when, alas! do but waff  
A Straw about your Head, and they will giggle;  
Their Blood is so refined does alwaystickle.  Lad. 
Besides, good Manners make them keep the Mode,  
They laugh, are pleased with all, be't bad or good;  Arnulph. 
And Policy sometimes does make them smile,  
Thereby they do the Gallants much beguile;  
Who think they understand what they do not:  
'Tis a deceitful pretty Female Plot.  
Yet this pleased him  Lod. 
Indeed all his Designs  
Were womanish;  Welph. 
How Honour multiplies  
Merit! he is naturally as dull  
And empty as the meanest; yet his Name,  
Buoy up by the Duke's smiles gave wings to Fame.  Enter Rodulphus, etc. Arnulph. 
My Lord, we heartily Congratulate  
Your Newborn Honours; may they despise Fate.  Lodovick. 
When Time has snowed your Head with Silver Plumes,  
Soaring leave them, and greater reassume.  Radulph. 
I thank ye Sirs; you're kind my Friend, you're kind?  
Aside.] These Weathercocks do turn with every Wind.  [Exeunt. Enter Clementia sola. 
How do my Fears congeal my Hopes? I freeze  
In Winters of Dispair; and by degrees  
My Heart blood turns to Isikles; O may  
These Clouds just Powers end in a Sunshine day.—  
Yet these Death whispers force me to distrust  
I ne'er shall Eustace see— Then Heaven's unjust.  [Exit. Enter Duke and Rodulphus. Rodulph. 
Should he come to a legal Trial, he  
Would let the World (by me yet blinded) see,  
How Innocent he is? how great our Guilt?  
Then all our Labours and our Hopes are spilled.  
No, I'll divert that Stream.  [Aside 
Indeed 'tis just  
You take away his Life; but than you must  
Regard your Honour; he is of your Blood:  
Oh that so great a Prince should not be good!  
Yet let not his prodigious Treasons blot  
The divine Veins of Lorein's Crown; let not  
The World say Treason from th' Stem Royal came;  
(Not that his Vice can vitiate your Name)  
Yet 'cause he is your Father's Son.  
Salve his bright Fame, and take his Life alone;  
So shall you prune the Vine, not hurt the Root.  Duke. 
I like your Counsel: but how shall I do't?  Rod. 
This Friend of mine I'll send to Stenay, he  
Shall strike him with a deadly Lethargy;  
A Pill neatly conveyed into his Wine,  
Sends him to sup with Death, with Pluto dine:  
And though it works so suddenly, none shall  
Surmise his Death was preternatural.  
Thus by anticipating, Sir, his Fate  
You'll undermine the Groundwork of his Hate.  Duke. 
See it be done without delay.  [Exit.] Ro. 
I will;  
You need not hasten murderous mind to kill.  [aside. 
Gosbert take Post, and in thy Act prove true:  
I have Commission now for what I do.  [Exit Gosbert. 
I see the Port: For when Eustace is dead,  
The Crown shall be too heavy for thy Head:  
'Twill make it ache, blind Duke: Thou gone, straight I  
Rise circumvest with Beams of Majesty.  
But first I will revenge Clementia's Scorn;  
Her Husband shall suspect he wears my Horn.  
Then let him act the Tragedy; I'll feed  
My hatred with delight to see her bleed.  [Exit. Enter Eustace, Albert, Bricklayer, and his Wife. Eust. 
Your Advice, old man, about this Fort.  Brick. 
Why, an't please your Honour's Goodness; your sweet  
Worship's Wisdom has thought it accessary  
To direct it on the South-west part—  Eust. 
Yes,  
That is the most advantageous place.  
But concerning the pulling down of Houses.  Brick. 
Why an't please your Lordship's Excellency—  Eust. 
Dispatch, Friend, and leave your Ceremonies.  Brick. 
Money? why an't please your Graceless Goodness,  
I shan't be so ill bred, d''ee see, to ask  
Tour Worship for Money, d''ee mark mark me Sir,  
Till the work be deformed.  Alb. 
Prithee Fellow  
Leave thy Deformities, and give my Lord  
A more handsome account.  Brick. 
I thank God I  
An't so beggarly, d''ee mark, but I can  
Stay for my Wages till I have preserved  
It, d''ee mark; I'm a deficient man,  
Churchwarden of the whole Parish, d''ee mark,  
An't please you.  Wife. 
Ay an't please your Mightiness,  
My Husband is a mighty deficient  
Able man, as I conceive.  Eust. 
I believe't,  
Woman, because you have conceived. But friend very  
Answer me, what Houses must be pulled down?  Brick. 
Why an't please your Highness' Worship.  Alb. 
A  
Pleasant fellow, my Lord, ha, ha.—  Brick. 
One Toll-thief,  
He is a Miller and my near Kinsman,  
My Father's Grand father (who was a Smith,)  
Was he not Julian?  Eust. 
Prithee prate no more.  Enter Post with Letters. Eust. 
I'll read my dear Clementia's first.  [Kisses it. 
What pretty Plot she feigns to bring me home.  
But what says Fredrick, he brings no such News.  Reads. 
— Ha! What's this! O Gods! O damned abuse!  
Fredrick's Mad— How does your Master you?  Post. 
I left him well.  Eust. 
— Is it his Hand?— too true—  
— He does but jest, Ferdinando will clear the Doubt.  Reads. 
— Gods! did ye sleep when this was brought about!  
Or have ye forgot Justice, and will take  
Vengeance on good Men for the wicked's sake?—  
— It is resolved.  
And were I by th' Infernal Host withstood,  
I'd vindicate my Honour with their Blood;  
Get Post-horses immediately.  [Exit Post. 
I'll come as swift as Lightning to their Eyes;  
Vengeance exact is when it does surprise.  [Exeunt omnes. Enter Rodulphus, Duchess. 
I'm raised 'tis true, but yet your Subject; dare  
Not step into your Bed; 'tis fitter far,  
For Gods to taste that ravishing delight;  
Your lustre would not cherish, but affright  
Such weak eyed mortals as your Servant; were  
I a Duke made, I might be lodged there,  
Perhaps with Confidence; till than I can  
Do you no good. 'Tis Spirit makes the Man.  
But your Divinity does check desire,  
Not Warm my Blood. I tremble at your Fire.  
When Lust enjoys its object, it does cool.  
Who trusts a Woman's Gratitude's a Fool. Aside.  [Exit. Dutch. 
To kill the Duke is barbarous; 'tis too black  
A Deed yet for my Soul to undertake—  
— But if Rodulphus thirsty passion move,  
More on Ambition's Wings than those of Love,  
He ne'er will yield to gratify my Sense,  
Until my squeasie Conscience can dispense  
With this religious Scruple.— Were he not  
My Husband, pity should be soon forgot;  
And I would make him Fuel for my Flame—  
— Why that were Murder; and this but the same.—  
— 'Tis done. Who fears to strike her Husband's Life,  
Does not deserve to be Rodulphus' Wife.  [Exit. Enter Gosbert, Eustace his Landlord, Wife and Son. Gosb. 
— Gone last night— If he had stayed till day  
I'm sure he had been gone. But I'll away.  [Exit. Landlord. 
The Man's mad, if he had stayed he had gone;  
How can that be? Is go and stay all one!  
What say you Boy? you are a Scholar.  Son. 
Now if I don't unfold this Fellows Riddle;  
Which none but himself and the Devil  
Can do, my Father will swear my School-money  
Is thrown away (which he may very safely)  
But I thank God he has not much wit (though he  
Is Mr. Mayor;) I shall fool him well enough.—  [Aside. 
Sir, the Gentleman's a Scholar, speaks figuratively:  
The Common Discourse of us Learned is Enigmas  
To the Populace; But I'll unfold it to you.  
Gone is spelt g. o. n. e. (for we may add a Letter sometimes.)  
Now nè, in Latin, is not, which being joined with go signifies  
Not to go, so go and stay is all one.  Wife. 
You see the Benefit of breeding our Son a Scholar now.  Husband. 
I do, I do Love, I do.  [Exeunt. Enter Ferdinando and Gertrude. Gertru. 
Can you hope to enjoy what I've denied  
Brave Otho? Is it Folly or your Pride  
That does entice you thus to Vanity?  Ferd. 
No it is Love, and for that Love I die;  
Madam; when I my Passion did declare,  
'Twas not in hope you'd ease it, no, Dispair  
Possessed my too-aspiring Soul; I knew  
Death was prepared for him who dares love you.  
My design was only to let you know,  
That I unto my Grave your Martyr go,  
That passing by my Tomb pity might move  
You to a Sigh or Tear for buried Love.  Gertrud. 
I cannot help mens' Follies, if they will  
Destroy themselves, it is not I who kill;  
And if I should on your Grave shed a Tear,  
'Tis not cause Love, but madness brought you there:  
I'd have you live then, let it not be said,  
Ferdinando was born, lived a Fool, and died mad.  Ferd. 
— I'd have you Live.— 'Tis kindness that— But she  
Would have me live, yet not live happily.  
But why do I distrust? did I not hear  
Her say she loved? how childish is my fear—  [Aside. 
Then, Madam, must I die? What! no Reprieve,  
Let Smiles disperee those Frowns, and yet say live;  
Was you made Beautiful to be unkind?  
Then Beauty is but Cruelty refined;  
But sure you are all Glorious within:  
Heaven's greatest Glory is to pardon Sin;  
Then since you are Divine 'twill be yours too.  
If you destroy me, can it profit you?  
How can I sing your Praises in my Grave?  
What Honour is't to triumph o'er your Slave?—  
— But why do I expostulate? 'tis just,  
Your Anger burn presumptuous Love to Dust.  
Over my Grave a weeping Stone shall lie  
(How will those Tears upbraid your Cruelty!)  
With this Inscription; Here Ferdinando lies,  
Martyred by Cruel-fair Gertrudo's Eyes;  
Love was his Crime. O let it not be said,  
Those Beams killed, which have Power to raise the Dead.  
What though you have Otho denied,  
It neither argues Vanity nor Pride  
In me to court; common consent does prove,  
We can no Reason give for Love but Love;  
King's have to Beggars stooped, and great Queens Flames  
Have kindled been by Grooms. Love is the same.  
Yet Otho cannot boast one drop of Blood  
So great, but that in these Veins runs as good.  Gertrudo. 
— What Prodigies are Men in these our Times!  
They dare commit the very worst of Crimes;  
And that with greatest Confidence; nay more,  
They take delight to read their own Faults o'er;  
For fear they'd not be Registered by Fame,  
They write them down themselves, to 'em let their Name;  
'cause they're depraved, and can do nothing well;  
They strive to be famous for doing ill;  
Of that unhallowed Brood art thou, profane  
Abuser of Good, to Honour a Stain:  
And thinkst me of that Sect, else wouldst not dare  
To urge thy Passion with so little fear.  
Can I think he can tell how to be Just,  
Who to his Friend so basely breaks his Trust?  
Can I hope thou wilt e'er be true to me,  
who's false to the Laws of Hospitality?  
My Brother lodged thee here to be an Actor  
For Otho, but thou'rt turned thine own Factor.  
Thinkst thou thy Flatteries can me entice?  
Why: to Love thee, is to be in Love with Vice—  [Exit. Ferd. 
Yes 'twas a Dream— Mad Ferdinando couldst not see  
Such Happiness was ne'er designed for thee?  
Read thy Life's Story, in every Line thou'lt find  
Th' wert born but to show Heaven can be unkind.  [Exit. Enter Leopaldus. 
The Devil's sooner raised than laid; my thought  
Is still aspiring, though 'twas mocked with nought.—  
— A Thousand Ducats a Reward for me,  
Who thought the world mine own? well Duchess see  
Th' Event; the time will come when you may want  
My Service, and your Treachery recant.  [Exit. Enter Gertrudo. 
How mad am I! It is but Three days since  
I would have courted him (such influence  
Had Love on me) But now he sues I fly,  
I who fear Death am th' only Cause I die.—  
— Fool that I was, so sharply to reprove  
His Flames first Offerings.— Come take Vengeance, Love,  
Study new Torments to afflict me, till  
My Humour's Complasent made to my William—  
— Cursed bashfulness!— But why would I believe  
Her Dictates, she was made but to deceive  
Our Sex of Pleasure, and her Blush are  
Not Types of Innocence, but Crimes infer.  
Yet on this Text do all old Mothers preach;  
Shun Man, be coy.— These against Nature teach;  
For when they've had all the Pleasure they can,  
They say fly that deceitful Creature man;  
It is Apocrypha, no Divine Truth,  
Hatched but to blast the Pleasures of our Youth.  [Exit. Enter Frederick, as going home late, Rodulphus feigns to come out of his House buttening his Doublet, and seems to endeavour that he should not see him. [Exit. Fred. 
Rodulphus, here so late! how do my Fears  
Prompt me to think my Horns out vie my Ears.—  
— I'll sift my Wife; if she trips in the least,  
I'll Cook her defiled Limbs for the Worms Feast.  [Exit.   

Actus Quintus.  

Scena Prima.  Enter Fredrick and Clementia in his Garden. 
OUt Crocodile,  
Thy words are steeped in Tears, thy Actions kill.  
Did I not see him came out of my Doors  
At One this morning? Curse on all such Whores.  
Was not his Doublet all unbraced? and he  
E'en tired with Pleasure? this I did not see;  
No, I was drunk, yes, or perhaps mine Eyes  
Were Traitors to my sight.  Clem. 
May I ne'er rise  [she kneels. 
From these chaste Knees, nor in that General Day,  
If I have seen him here these Two Months.  Fred. 
Pray—  
Yet I'll not give thee time, Throws her into the Well. preach in that Well,  
I'd sink thee lower, if I could, than Hell.—  
— What have I done! murdered my Wife! my dear!  (He stoops and calls her.) 
Ha! dead! what have I done! ha! (Stoops and calls again.) Clementia: Here,  
Here, my Clementia, does thy Fredrick stand,  
Overwhelmed with Guilt and Tears.— Give me thy hand,  
I'll snatch thee from that watery Tyrant's Arm.—  
— But I'm the Tyrant, I have done the harm.—  
Blind Jealousy.— My Life I'll sacrifice,  (draws out a Pristol. 
And with my own Blood write thy Elegies.—  (The Pistol flashes in the Pan, and wont off) 
Ha! cheated! what means this Reprieve! her Soul  
Bids me live to revenge Rodulphus foul  
Slanders and Treacheries: Tnat done I'll fall  
T'appease thy Ghost, wait on thy Funeral.  Enter Eustace and Albert booted, as returned. Fred. 
Heavens!  Eust. 
What means your fright? how is Clementia? well?  
Speaks not my Friend? how does Clementia?  Fred. 
We— ll.  Eust. 
You're strangely discomposed; pray let me know  
The Cause; I hope you count me not your Foe.  Fred. 
Re-volving all your Wrongs, Anger's just Flame  
Kindled my Thoughts into Revenge. You came  
And raised my Joys unto extremes, (for who  
Can escape Raptures when he does see you?)  
These Two contrary Passions meeting, strove,  
And Anger would have overcame my Love.  
And I, not able to endure their Heat,  
Lost my Senses in a shivering Sweat.  
This was the Cause, Sir, of my Ecstasy.  Eust. 
I'm glad my fright  
Is past. At first I thought eternal Night  
Had sabled-o're Clementia's Beams.  Fred. 
No, she  
Is gone to Church to pray for you and me.  Eust. 
She's good; her early Soul seeks Heaven betime;  
'Tis a steep way, who thinks to reach't must climb.  [Exeunt. Enter Duke and Rodulpho. Rod. 
The other Regiment of Foot shall march to morrow:  
And on Thursday the Horse: I never saw men more  
Cheerful, nor march with a greater Resolution, indeed  
Confidence.  Duke. 
'Tis a good Omen. But what of  Eustace; 
no murmuring I hope.  Rod. 
Not a whisper.  Duke. 
They'll forget him.  Rod. 
I wish they may; but now  
He's returned, I advise your Grace to secure him:  
He may beget Mischief.  Duke. 
Let's in and consult.  [Exeunt. Enter Eustace, Albert. Eust. 
Not come to Court, that's worse than all the rest:  
Condemned unheard? how happy then! how blessed  
Is Treason and all Traitors, if they can  
So easily puff down the Loyal Man!  [Enter Welpho. 
Here comes my Friend. How does the Duke? what News,  
Welpho?  Whelp. 
I'm busy, Sir, pray excuse  
Me, I can't answer all such Trifles. [Exit.  Eust. 
How!  
'Tis he sure.  Alb. 
Yes, but you're not General now.  [Enter Arnulph. Eust. 
Oh my Friend Arnulph!  Arn. 
Good Sir, don't trouble me,  
I'm in great haste, [Exit.  Eust. 
This is the highest degree  
Of sin! base Rascals.  [Enter Lodovick with another, busily discoursing. 
Here comes one I'm sure  
Is honest.  Alb. 
'Tis unsafe to be secure.  
How does Lodovick.  Lod. 
Good Sir, what d''ee mean?  
It is uncivil thus to intervene;  
You see we are in discourse. [Exeunt.  Eust. 
But that they are  
Below my Passion, or my meanest Care,  
I'd kick them into Atoms: But here's one  [Enter Rodulphus. 
Will reconcile me; his Soul is too high-flown  
To stoop to that vile thing, Ingratitude.  [Aside. 
My Friend, what news? how does the Duke.  Rod. 
You're rude,  
'Tis not fit Traitors should Court-Secrets know.  [Kicks him.] Eust. 
How— Tell the Duke I kicked you, Sirrah, go.  [Exit. Rod. 
Cursed Cows have but short Horns, thy Glass is run,  
For thou shalt set before to morrow's Sun.  [Exit. Alb. 
What Flies are these? they play in the Sunshine  
Of Great mens' Fortunes; but the Frost decline.—  
Now to be Great is a great Infamy,  
Birth is become a Cloak to Villainy.  
He that for gain does scorn to sell his Love,  
And in misfortunes bitter North-winds proves  
As constant as the Loadstone's to that Pole;  
He is the truly gallant noble Soul.  [Exit. Enter Ferdinando. 
It can't be worse, I am now desperate;  
Boldness perhaps may contradict my Fate;  
Fortune is Valour's Friend. I'm sure to have,  
If not her Love, the kindness of a Grave.  [Enter Gertrudo. 
Now will I know my Happiness or Doom.  
Those who are plunged in Misery do find  
Pity from all; there is a secret kind  
Of Sympathy in Man to Wretches: none  
Did e'er weep on the Gallows yet alone;  
As many wait on him as on the Throne;  
All striving to excuse the Fact; thus he  
That's legally condemned, by them's set free,  
And has as many Plaudits as the Chair  
Of Justice Curses which did bring him there.—  
Blest Criminal: Lovers are wrackd with care,  
Pitied by none, all laugh at their despair.  
Yet as some Murderers have scaped a while,  
(The Devil lulls the hopes but to beguile  
With greater Hell) and been condemned for what  
They thought not of, (much less committed not.)  
So 'tis with me: Love's Treason; but you wave  
That, and condemn me for a perjured Slave;  
For being false to Otho: O Heaven!  
Your Justice equal is, the Cause uneven.  
I do Gertrudo love; 'tis just I die:  
Is it not just too that the World knows why?  
Can ye not punish sin without a Lie?  
To be Gertrudo's Martyr, is to go  
To Heaven clad with more Glories than ye know;  
But to die branded with such Crimes as these,  
How could ye think my injured Soul t' appease?  
For if from thence I should chance to look down,  
And smell that Name stink which was once my own;  
God's! I should be transported with that Flame,  
I'd leave ye to descend and own my Name;  
For; let me be Hell's Mark, if I don't prove,  
I have not injured Honour by my Love.  Gertrud. 
If that were clear, though I will not profess  
To love you more yet, I will hate you less.  Ferd. 
'Tis all I beg, to mitigate your Hate,  
Who thinks to gain your Love must Banckru ptFate.  
Then see Otho's Surrender, Madam, see,  [Gives her a Letter: she reads. 
Has he not given you away to me?  Gertrud. 
H' has quitted me, my Brother cannot now  
Praise his own Choice, nor can he disallow  
With Justice mine; neither with Justice can  
I deny him who is so brave a Man;  
For since he has his Honour justified,  
I wrong my Love should his suit be denied;  
Yet Modesty would mince it, and I fear  
To speak as much as he's afraid to hear.—  [Aside. 
My hatred's vanished, and we are now Friends.—  [Exit. Ferd. 
Love will begin I hope where Hatred ends.  Enter Eustrace, as overhearing their Discourse. Eust. 
Heavens! how deformed his Vice! methinks his Face  
Is monstrous, he's of some; prodigious Race;  
Sure Pluto with a Succubus did join,  
Get him, ill Nature with ill Shape did twine;  
On purpose that he might of all be known  
To be his eldest, nay his only Son.  
Yet how, dull fool, did Friendship blind my Eyes:  
How easily can Hell its shapes disguise?  [Aside. Ferd. 
What means your melancholy Friend?  Eust. 
Dar'st call  
Me Friend? Thy Friendships Diabolical.  [They draw and pass at one another, Eustace's Sword falls out of his Hand, Ferdinando takes it up and restores it. 
I see thou hast not lost thine Honour yet.  Ferd. 
I may my Life, but that I'll never quit.  Eust. 
How dar'st thou then my Sister Court, and prove  
False to Otho.  Ferd. 
Can any resist Love?  Eust. 
That's no Excuse; none must 'gainst Honour Sin,  
You might have loved her, and not injured him;  
Silenced your Flames, sown your Tears in the Sands.  Ferd. 
Honour too weak is when Love Countermands.  Eust. 
Love's but an humorous Itch, Honour's Divine;  Ferd. 
The God's Love is so too: and so is mine.  Eust. 
They break not Friendships Vows to purchase Love,  
Thine is but Persidy disguised in Love.  Ferd. 
Where Love does Rule, all must obey his Laws,  
Or Traitors be, blame not th' Effect but Cause.  Eust. 
He who does Sin, himself's the very Cause,  
And must be punished for't by Human Laws,  
And by Divine; the Devil does entice,  
But he must pay for't who commits the Vice:  
'Tis thou hast Honour broke, and Friendship too,  
If Love did cause it I'll kill the Cause in you.  [Offers at him. Ferd. 
Hold— one word more— How rash is Jealousy,  
Unjust and Barbarous!  Eust. 
To save, their Lives what will not Cowards say,  
Did I not hear thy Perfidy? away  
Impostor, thou hast Honour slain, I come  
To Sacrifice thee on her mournful Tomb.  [Offers at him. Enter Officer and a Guard. 
Pardon, Sir, this rude Office; I protest  
I do the Duke's Commands with great regret:  
'Tis his Pleasure that you and that Noble  
Stranger be secured.  Ferd. 
How saucy Rascal,  
Let's turn our Points, Sir, and these Sheep will fly.  Eust. 
Hold, 'tis my Sovereign's Will, we must obey.  [Exeunt. Enter Duke and Duchess. Duke. 
He has writ to be heard, I can't deny  
That Justice, 'tis the greatest Tyranny.  Dutch. 
No, Sir, 'tis Mercy; if he Pleads he'll prove  
Himself a Traitor; is it not then Love?  
Not only to forgive, but to conceal  
Faults.  Duke. 
The vulgar will say h'has none; to reveal  
Thus my Kindness to him will hate created  
In them to me, they'll say I've edged his Fate.  Dutch. 
Is't fit that Kings should fear their Subjects Frown?  
The pampered Jade tumbles his Rider down.  
Will you, to gratify the Vulgar, show  
The World your own Blood is Corrupted? No,  
Let them surmise; Kings should move in a Sphere  
Will blind those subjects' Eyes dare come too near.  Duke. 
Were he our Son, and should a Traitor prove,  
Justice should quite blot out Paternal Love.  
On Thursday we will hear him. Exit.  Dutch. 
No, no, I  
Will that prevent; to morrow he shall die.  [Exit. Enter Eustace, solus in Prison. 
Where art thou gone, my dear Clementia, where?  
Hast thou so soon forgot thy Eustace here?  
Art thou in Prison? thence wing a Sigh, send  
It to thy now twice fettered Friend:  
I'll Echo all thy Sighs, and Pearl thy Tears,  
Poise thou thy Griefs, I'll Counterpoise my Cares;  
And see which does o'erballance; Can there be  
A difference 'twixt thine and my Misery?  
Art thou dead my Clementia? Then am I—  
Hence Sacrilegious Thoughts, she cannot die,  
She's only slipped int' Immortality.  
Yet thence descend, and tell what Transports were  
In Heaven amongst the Gods when thou cam'st there;  
Tell how the ravished Angel Choir did sing,  
When thou appeard'st to Glorify their King.  Enter Ghost. 
— Ha! pale and wet! my dear Clementia? how!  Exit Ghost. 
How wert thou thus abused! Come, tell me now.  
What gone! didst come but to delude my Sense?  
To show me Heaven, then leave me in suspense.—  He kneels.] 
If it will not defile thine Eyes and Ear,  
To see thy Slave, and his Petitions hear,  
Look down; and tell what Miscreant snatched thee hence,  
That I may Vengeance take for his Offence.  
Let me Revenge, I say, trust not to Jove,  
He'll gratify that Traitor with his Love.  
For had not the Villain don't, thou hadst been here,  
And he still languishing till thou cam'st there:  
Let me revenge, Clementia, I will try  
To find out Tortures beyond Cruelty.  [Exit. Enter Duchess and Leopaldus. Dutch. 
I know you silently do murmur that  
Your Services have been neglected: what  
You've lost by Time, I pay with Interest now:  
I did delayed on purpose, but to know  
Your Temper, to see how you'd bear't, but you  
I find even to th' unjust can be true.  Leop. 
Where Duty binds, there no Rewards are due,  
I'm largely gratified in serving you.  
Who serves his Prince only for Gain, serves Gain,  
And not his Prince; Madam, the Loyal Vein  
Holds not one drop which it does not impart,  
With all obsequiousness to cheer the Heart:  
Kings are the Heart. We the Veins, must them feed,  
If the Veins are Corrupt, 'tis fit they bleed.  Dutch. 
Your Principles are honest; but yet they  
Should cherish those which do good Blood convey;  
Go with this Letter to Rodulphus, he  
Has Orders to Reward thy Loyalty.  [Exeunt. Enter Leopaldus at the other Door. 
By your leave Duchess; before I farther go;  
The Business, and my Reward both, I'll know.—  [Opens the Letter. 
Perhaps it is to hang me, that I may  
Not unveil her Clouded Deeds to the day.  He reads.] 
The Duke on Thursday will his Nephew hear,  
How sooty we, how snowy he'll appear!  
To morrow murder him; the next night I  
Will give the Duke a Posset; he shall die.  
Then will our Love's mount by their fall, all hate  
Cease. Let the Messenger have the same Fate.  
Indeed! 'tis well— I'll do't— If it does hit,  
They both shall die, and I'll be Treasurer yet.  [Exit. Enter Eustace, Frederick, Ferdinando, and Three Officers of the Army. 1 
My Regiment is yours  2 
My Troop  3 
I do  
Acknowledge, Sir, no General but you.  1 
The Army is all yours, except those few  
Peacock plumb'd-upstart-Officers, whom you  
Can frown to Dust.  3 
Why will your Honour Cloud  
Yourself.  2 
We'll cry for Justice, cry aloud;  
Not with a Female Tone, but with a Voice,  
Shall make Rodulphus tremble at the noise.  Fred. 
If you will give the word, we'll make the World  
Look pale, it shall be to a Chaos hurled;  
And even then your Word can all revive.  
And make it in due method, once more live.  
Why will you be contemned? when with a Breath  
Of Wrath, you rival may, nay, conquer Death.  Eust. 
O how exactly wicked's the World grown!  
They'd court even Angels to Rebellion.—  
These Tempter's I'll discard; Treason will find  
Too many ways alone t' attack the Mind.—  [Aside, 
My Friends, I thank your Valour and your Love;  
But yet I'll find a milder way to prove  
My Honour was ne'er stained; who'd purchase Fame  
With the sweet Treasure of a loyal Name?  
Go home and check your Giant Thoughts. I will,  
As I have always, think ye my Friends still.  [Exeunt Soldiers discontented. 
Those are rough Men; I thought Fred'rick had been  
More honest or more wise, than to be seen  
A Champion for Disloyalty; I fear  
Your Smiles on me are Counterfeits, not clea●;  
For this I know (whate'er he may pretend)  
He who'd destroy his King, would kill his Friend.  Fred. 
Eustace is too severe; I did not mean  
T' include the good Duke in this Bloody Scene;  
My thirsty Passion at Rodulphus drove;  
If, whilst my just Revenge with my Anger strove,  
I dropped some Words might Treason Countenance,  
Pardoned; Religion was lost in a Trance;  
And whilst my Heart strove to be just, my Tongue  
(Grief stifling Reason) did my just Thoughts wrong.  
Yet hadst thou Eustace the same Cause, I think  
'T would force thy Well-built Loyalty to sink.  
Hear then (my Griefs are keen, they'll pierce thy Heart;  
Friends do in Joys or Woes bear equal part)  
Summon Religion to endure this Blow,  
Thou who hat'st Treason, wilt prove Traitor now.  
Rodulphus my Clementia did abuse.  Eust. 
Ha! 'sdeath!  Fred. 
I thought you'd startle at the News;  
That Traitor told the Duke that she and you  
Had exchanged Hearts; she all your Treasons knew.  
And now she's lost, have I not cause to fear  
That Dog has trapped her, and they're wracking her?  Eust. 
— Hence Coward Loyalty: O Heaven, O Hell,  
I you invoke; Justice and Plagues pour down  
On her Black Murderers, on Lorain's Crown,  
Or bless us, show us here Clementia's well.—  
— They're dull: O Anger! O Revenge! O Spite!  
(More Gods than they) blind with eternal night;  
That puppet Prince, that earthen God, who shows  
No Symptom's of a King, but only those  
The Prince of Torment's known by: 'tis fit he  
Who is so like him should Hell's Viceroy be—  
Call the Officers; sound a Charge; sound it home.  [Being in a Frenzy he fancies the Officers enter, when they do not. 
O here they are; thanks noble Friends, come, come,  
Come follow me, follow your Leader, Boys,  
we'll drown the Thunder with our Cannon's noise,  [He is mad. They hold him. 
— But he's my Prince;— Love and Revenge must rest  
Satisfied; our Lives are in our King's Breasts:  
If they will be unjust, we must submit;  
Heaven sees, and that alone can punish it.  
Then pardon, Loyalty, this Crime; who can  
Be silent now, is less, or more, than Man.  
Rodulphus though by this Right hand shall die,  
Though for that Act I lost Eternity.  Enter Leopaldus. Leop. 
I know my Lord, you that think I have been  
An Actor in this Tragedy of Sin.  
But when great-bellied Time is brought a-bed,  
Bald truth will take that Scandal off my head.  Eust. 
O impudenee!  Leop. 
If I can't be believed,  
Let that. I hope you are now undeceived.  [He gives him the Letter the Duchess sent to Rodulphus. Eust. 
I never loathed my Bonds till now; were I  
But at liberty to scourge that wretch Rodulphus,  
I'd smile on Death.  Offi. 
My Lord, you are at liberty: I so much hate  
Rodulphus' Treachery, I'll wing his Fate:  
Appoint your time, I'll wait on you and let  
You forth the private way. Eust. Thanks good Sebastion.  
But what's to be done.  Leop. 
I will a Letter frame  
(For I can counterfeit the Duchess Name)  
Unto Rodulpus; wherein he shall be  
Commanded to wait on her at Seven this night  
In the Garden, and bring Godfrey and Thierrie  
With him; there you may punish them all, they'll  
Have only their walking Swords with them.  
Thus will you vindicate yourself, and prove  
Them greatest Traitor's who've professed most Love.  Eust. 
Yet let them bring their fighting Swords, I hate  
To trepan even Traitors to their Fate:  
We Three alone will meet them, there's no odds  
But this, they fight against, we with the Gods.  
The greatest sign of an heroic mind,  
Is to die nobly when our death's designed.  [Exeunt. Leop. 
Thus do I bring them all unto their Graves.  
They who'd be great in this World must be Knaves.  [Exit. Enter Eustace and Albert. Eust. 
Give it the Duke with your own Hands; make haste.  [Exit Albert. 
How Princes are abused! how Truth's down-faced!  [Exit. Enter Rodulphus and Leopaldus. Rod. 
we'll not fail to wait upon her Grace.  [Exit. Leop. 
So thou,  
Ordained the Priest, shalt be the Offering now.  [Exit. Enter Duke, bringing a Letter. 
The Duchess intends to poison you with a Posset this night.  Eustace. 
— Pish, pish.  [Exit. Enter Eustace, Fredrick, Férdinando at one Door; Rodulphus, Godfrey, and Thierrie at another. Eust. 
Well met Rodulphus.  Rod. 
Not so Well I fear;  
What o'the Devil make these Fellows here—  [Aside. Eust. 
Start not; We're Friends, there is the Duchess hand.  [Throws him the Duchess her Letter.] 
Dost see me, Dog? Execute her Command.  
Canst thou read, Hellhound?  Rod. 
Yes.  Eust. 
yet do not look  
That thou shalt e'er be saved by the Book;  
'Tis past the Clergy's Power; such Crimes as these—  [Draws. 
Heaven itself cannot pardon.  Fred. 
To appease  
The injured Ghost of my Clementia; see  
Her Fredrick comes to be revenged on thee.  Eust. 
No, that's my Duty.—  Rod. 
Come bravely then, come all;  
I'm pleased to see that others with me fall.  [They fight. [Eustace and Fredrick fight with Rodulphus and Godfrey, and Thierrie with Ferdinando. Fredrick falls, and Godfrey. Fred. 
My Crimes out-ballance his; sin is a load  
Lies heavy when stern Justice cries for Blood.  [Ferdinando: falls, and Thierrie comes to assist Rodulphus. Thierrie dies. 
Eustace, thou canst not 'scape.—  Enter Leopaldus [Rodulphus falls. 
— Alive yet?  [Runs Eustace through: he falls. Enter Albert. Eust. 
Kill him some Friend.  [Albert and Leopaldus fight Leopaldus falls. Eust. 
Thanks honest Albert.  Alb. 
Death o'my Soul! my Lord and Master dead!  Enter Duke, with a Guard. Duke. 
All slain! See Eustace how Heaven strikes Traitors. D''ee see that Hand?  Eust. 
'tis mine.  Duke. 
There you invite Otho to invade me.  Eust. 
He desired my Sister for a Wife; and I, considering 'twould conclude a Peace, did incline to't, and Writ him that Invitation; it being against her Inclinations to marry one she had never seen. By my now expiring Soul 'tis true; there's his Letter to me.  [Throws him a Letter. Godf. 
— How black's Ingratitude! I loathe my Deeds:  
Pardoned; my Soul more than my Body Bleeds—  [Dies. Duke. 
You never courted the Duchess to Vanity?  Eust. 
No, by all the Gods, that Letter will assure you.  [Gives him the duchess's Letter sent to Rodulphus. Enter Gertrudo. Ger. 
All my Joys are consumptive. How pale they're grown? Be not so lavish, every drops my own.  [Kneels by Ferdinand. Ferd. 
Such Cordials even with rough Hell can strive,  
Quite nonplus Fate, and make a deadman live.  
Death is too weak when in thine Arms I twine;  
I grow Immortal by thus being thine.  
If your Grace is not satisfied, I can clear all your Doubts. When Conradine knew Gertrudo's hatred to him was impregnable, he sent word to the Duke of Sohawden, that he was murdered by your directions, knowing he should thereby Create a War: then putting himself into a disguise, feigns a Letter from his Brother Otho to Eustace; wherein he asks his Sister for his Wife, upon Conditions of Peace, as you see, and names himself Ferdinando; who instead of courting her for Otho, courts for himself: If Gertrudo had still been obdurate to all my Stratagems, than the Duke of Schawden should have mediated for me; For I am that unfortunate (supposed happy Conradine.)  [Puts of his disguise. 
Gozelo, go to the Duke my Uncle, and relate this sad Story; tell him the last Whispers of my departing Soul, were, that he would not injure this good Prince by any Acts of Hostility: Since the Cause is taken away let the Effect cease. Farewell my Gertrudo.—  [Dies. Ger. 
Was any so tormented here on Earth;  
My Life is dead, and thence my Grief takes birth.  
To suffer pain after death's Hell, thus I  
Am dead, and yet tormented I can't die.  
What shall I ask, Great God's? what shall I crave?  
O give me back my Life, or. give a Grave.  Fred. 
Tell me, Rodulphus, did Clementia stain  
My Bed with thee? speak truly; death speaks plain.  Rod. 
No, she was chaste.  Fred. 
Finish thy Conquest death,  
For fear I poison the world with my Breath.  
I slew Clementia, give me no reprieve,  
'Twould be the greatest torment now to live.—  [Dies. Eust. 
Live! who can! her death was all Mankind's Tomb;  
Life died with her. Blessed Soul I come, I come,—  [Dies. Duke. 
How monstrous is Libussa grown! I see  
With melting Eyes her gross deformity.  
Ah cruel Aunt, but more hard-hearted Wise,  
At once to strike his Honour and my Life.  Enter Duchess with a Bowl of Poison in her Hand. Libussa. 
Nay, do not rail before you know 'tis true;  
I'm not so great a Churl, there's some for you.  [She gives the Duke the Bowl. 
Rodulphus come; thus hand in hand we'll go  
Either to Joys above, or Joys below:  
No matter which; in either we shall find  
Eternal Joys when thus our Loves are twined.  
When all our Plots are crossed here, every Breath  
Is redious, there's no Blessing left but Death.—  [Dies. Rod. 
I triumph now, Malice could wish no more,  
For since they are dead, I die the Conqueror.  
And though I could not the besieged Crown take,  
Be this my Monument, I made it shake.—  [Dies. Duke. 
What a blows here! But why did Vengeance strike  
The Good with th' Unjust? must all fare alike?  
Is Justice blind? and cannot Vengeance see?  
But shoots at this or that, at him or me?  
'Cause Heaven's alarmed with Sins thundering call,  
Does that hurl Darts, and cares not where they fall?  
Must Eustace die because Rodulphus' Fault  
And Libussa's threatened Heaven with an Assault?  
Cowards to bring two Enemies to their ends  
Would hazard more than twenty of their Friends.  
Is Heaven turned dastard? or were their Sins so great  
They could not them without such loss defeat?  
'Twas none of these that made them snach thee hence,  
But Love would not Delay thy Recompense.  
Blessed Soul; when after Ages read thy Story,  
The Eye of Faith will dazzle at its Glory.  [Exeunt.    

THE EPILOGUE.  
Kind Gentlemen,  
APplaud our Play, and take these Prayers among yet  
May neither Wine nor Women ever wrong ye.  
When you get Wives, may they be chaste and Fair;  
Or if they be not, may you think they are:  
In the mean time send ye handsome Wenches.  
And when with Comb in Hand you mount the Benches,  
May you rise just in such a Lady's Eye,  
As may applaud that active Gallantry.  
May you never want the Joys of Love and Wealth,  
Unspotted Honour, and unphysicked Health.  
In spite o'th' Art, may you Drink Wine that's lusty:  
And when the want of Money makes you musty,  
May your kind Mistresses and Tailors trust ye.  
FINIS.