ORGULA OR THE fatal ERROR▪ A TRAGEDY Composed by L. W.  
WHEREUNTO▪ Is Annexed a Preface, discovering the true Nature of poesy, with the 〈◊〉 and Intention of such public 〈◊〉▪  
Morum hominum Figur●  
Op●ima aest eorum I●stituendi Ratio.  
LONDON, Printed by T. M. for Stephen and Thomas Lewi●▪ and are to be sold at their shop, at the sign o● th●Book-binder● in 〈◊〉, 1658.   
The Scene Seg●si●. 
An Antique name of a City and Province, on the East Gaul, or France.  

Personae Personatae.  
S●nevero▪ Lord●●o●ctor.  
Ludaster; son to the deceased general Castrophilu●.  
Ambigamor friend to Ludaster, brother to Orgula.  
Filathes, son to Sinevero.  
Faithful Cap●ain● adhering to Ludaster 

Gratianus▪  
Libra●us,  
Serverus.    
Fidelius, Page to Ludaster in appearance, but Fidelia sister to Fidelius deceased, who was formerly Ludaster's page.  
Mundolo, a slave waiting on Orgula.  
Nefarius, a servant waiting on Sinevero.  


Two thieves.  
Voracho, A band of soldiers.  
Sputatro, A band of Villains.    
2 Judges,  
2 Advocates, With other Court Officers.  
A Register.  
A sergeant at Alms, with his assistants.  
A Citizen.  
Eumena, Princess under age.  
Orgula, Sister to Ambigamor, married to Sinevero.  
Zizania daughter to Sinevero.  
two waiting Women attending on Orgula. 

Vergona,  
Amasia,    
Women waiters on the Princess,   

Personae nominatae.  
Patravis, the deceased Prince▪  
Castrophilus, the deceased general.  
Fidelius, the deceased page to Ludaster.    

To the most accomplished Lady, the Lady FRANCES WILDEGOSS.  
MADAM,  
HAving long since renounced all sorts of civil homage▪ which either custom hath blindly tendered, or Arrogance insolently assumed, as the affected ●ights of Greatness, being but an ostentive Coloss, nor accessible nor communicable.  
I now can figure to my thoughts no nobler Object of Respect than a clear, high and regular Intellect, whose Endowments may challenge a more Plausible and Legitimate Acquisition in such public addresses of Honour, as may sometime reach to a more remote Posterity; in pursuit of which consequence, Madam, judging the Dignity of your mind the most perfect Model of so equal a design, I have presumed( from the obscurity of many ●ars) to tender this piece to your view. The nature whereof, though vilified with vulgar obloquy( the unrestrained Fury of whose Ignorance, hath not of late, left the most high and Sacred Mysteries unimpeachable) can gain no further access on your Inclinations, than what a clear and solid Argument impartially may produce, which to unfold, it will be requisite to distinguish the Nature, and the use of this our subject now in Agitation.  
In Order to which, the Nature thereof is( without all opposition) poesy. What that is, cannot in my Apprehension be more Elegantly and perspicuously delineated than the agreeable philosopher hath form it in his convertible definition. poesy is a speaking Picture: A Picture is a dumb poesy. From which sense we may extract, that poesy only is an Art of lively representation of bodies Natural, Simply, without reference to other, or Compositively with circumstance to their mutual communities, either Natural or Civil. Real in respect of their precedent, present, or future condition: or Imaginary in relation to their possibility. In the extent of which Exposition some particulars may p●obably at first Appearance seem Dubious, some erroneous.  
Dubious, As how it may fall within compass of human capacity: to figure to another's sense what falls not under the dimension of our own; our purpose is not here to search into the causes of so high an illumination, it is sufficient proof to our Position, to affirm such an inspection evident in its Nature, as may be instanced from the sacred Raptures of the Judahack-Prophets & the Gentique-Sybills, whomthough we seem improperly to include with the tractators of our Subject, inspired by a nobler Object; yet in reference to the Analogy of form in their Discourses, preceding Ages have indifferently implied the intimation of their Nature under one and the same Denomination. 
* P●ophets.  Vates, To which usage we have extended this our Exposition.  
erroneous, In that the fancy herein doth assume too vast a liberty, to figure forms are visibly to natural and to civil Rules inconsonant. As in reference to the First, Satyrs, centaurs, transmutation of Forms and the like. In answer whereto although it be not difficult to prove, that even herein the Art doth only Nature imitate, who oftentimes from the Inaptitude of matter doth err from her intention in the Form; and in her Ministry doth frequently produce a prodigy. Yet these inventions may by mean cap●ities be distinguished, to be bu● Metaphors to a Moral sense.  
In relation to the Second, inserting things profane, Obscene, Fabulous and preposterous.  
profane, As the figuration of their Gods invested with our human Imperfections.  
In reply whereto we may allege, that in reference to the Civil frame, intended are hereby, the Potentates of the earth, an allusion may be produced from Sacred proofs to form it warrantable. In relation to the natural texture, are secretly herein involved Moral, Phisical, or metaphisical Mysteries, perhaps yet undiscovered, which from the vulgar Eye should be concealed, as the Adulterers of Philosophy.  
Obscene, To clear which charge we might infer, that if the indecenest form hereof were figured, it rather would imply an imperfection in our civil Commerce than any Imputation to the Art, whose End is only to expose each Circumstance and accident inherent to the subject, in their most proper and essential Colours, Beauties, or Deformities. Yet will we not so far insist on the strict Rules of the Art, as not to impute such indiscretion to the Artists error. Who may if skilful, nay who ought( according to the true rules of his pattern, Nature) so gracefully to over shadow the less decent parts, as might not raise a●strain on the most modest Cheek to view them publicly.  
Fabulous, This subject bears so little weight in an objection, that it might rather infer the ignorance of the Impeacher, than the Impostury of the Artist. All sorts of Arts having some secret Gloss and reservation of their mysteries, to support their Honour and Advantage: This only and alone, pretending unto none declare things for such as it delivers them, feigned or Essential, Imaginary or Historical; though in some textures of the latter kind may possibly be interwoven certain enlargements and digressions( as graces but peculiar to the Art) not properly consistant with the dignity, weight, use of such a Subject, requireth simple Truth in every circumstance. Yet even herein a clear Intelligence will suddenly distinguish shadows by the position of the Natural light; like perfect ears in Mu●ick still tain the Grounds, Orders, Times of every note, though the musician's hand, to grace his Harmony, cast various flourishes on the suspended Measures to lend more weight unto the usage of invention in this rejected Art, we shall not need to instance the excellence of the nature thereof to Instructtion, to which the choicest of essential similitudes cannot exactly reach, wantig such forms of circumstances as might enlighten the intention of the Deliverer, restrained and obscured in a real Narration. It may suffice to silence opposition, to allege we find our most authentic precepts couched in such forms of texture, as Allegories or Parables; a winning method to attract the grossest tempers, and infix in All most durable impressions.  
From the freedom of this latter objected subject, issues the objection of the last ( Preposturous) in that it is supposed the unprescribed Fancy, ha●ing assumed a liberty to rove, will suddenly contract extravagant mixtures in her compositions, to form a prodigy in the civil frame, as formerly in the natural.  
To this conjecture we may make reply: That no Absurdity can be imagined so irregular, which may not meet a parallel in the occurrences of civil Actions. Be it, that we should suppose the most evident. Truth condemned for the grossest error: That wisdom should be confuted by Ignorance: Integrity ejected by hypocrisy, Valour overcome by Lachety, Industry supplanted by Sloth, the Innocent suffer by the Criminal, Justice smothered by Iniquity, Love rewarded with Hate; which without further proof to verify, I only, Madam, will appeal to you● own observation. If any shall allege such accidents to be but the effects of our corruption which guides us still to satisfy our sense, rather than an infeasable impropriety in a civil usage, which the licentiousness of the Art doth often figure; not to decline the smallest shadow of an objected scruple; we shall in some example divest the action of this pretended object, leaving the occurrence immaterial or void in any cosnequence what ever. Can human sense reflect upon a more Preposterous transaction than That the Monarch of the world should in the height of all his Glory, and in the Eye of all the world ma●nificently solemnize Nuptials with another Man; the most object of his domestics. Yet such a real precedent we may authenickly collect from the Records of Nero's Infamy.  
Having thus briefly( as the capacity of our Preface will give leave) discussed of the Nature of our Subject. Order requires that we should next insist upon the use Thereof: Whereon depends the real worth of every Piece, in Nature or in Art, which to pursue methodically, we should in course unfold the several kinds thereof, in their particulars; as Odes, Elegies, Epigrams, and the like: But since the nature of our present subject may include them all, as several species under their proper gender, we only will adhere to agitate thereon, raising our introduction from the first view of the whole Frame, without distinction of the Parts thereof.  
If intercourse in civil commerce may conduce to form the Judgement, compose the mind, or rectify the manners( as none who hath received impression thereof, can deny) no form of institution human reason can reflect upon, more suddenly and more perfectly can attain thereto, than can the well composed illustrations of a theatre. Where in few hours we may take full view of such variety in circumstance, as many Ages cannot represent; and from the consequence of events collect such rules, may guide our undertakings with success to their peculiar Objects. Whilst being uninteressed Spectators only, are to us distinguished the secret source of each Transactors purposes, whose actions leave so sensible an impression of their Character in our thoughts, that seldom in our own particular community we encounter such an inclination, but that the prepossession of their figure straight illuminates our senses to disclose their Tract; whereby our Fortunes, Lives, Liberties and Fames, are timely oftentimes secured from secret Trains.  
To yield a true allay to the distempers of the Soul, no Art can form a fairer method, than thus to represent the wild distractions of her irregular motives, transported with licentious fury, to execute the giddy will, with violation to each strict prescription, Outrage to itself, with the disasters frequently ensue so stubborn a revolt from that interrior light, should lend her dignity: if the deformity of the figure may reduce the mind to a more happy and decent Regulation of her faculties. To which pattern was among the Spartans introduced a custom to inebriate their Slaves, they might expose their loose demeanours to their children's view, that such a loathsome spectacle might imprint a lasting Detestation of so brutish a distemper.  
Nor yet to regulate our manners can the most powerful precepts form the mind, so willingly susceptible of her intended Object: If intimation of the glory and success of virtue may inflame the Soul to noble enterprises; or the Infamy and punishment of Vice, deter from shameful practices, which are the principal Objects, a well compiled Piece still viseth at: or, seldom in the most imperfect are omitted. First, in regard the mind is here no way subordinate unto a more supreme sufficience than her own. Secondly, in that such forms of Institution do pretend unto no servile impositions, the most material impediments, why the authentickest guides so seldom meet success in the Intention of their elaborate prescriptions. Subjects of this nature propounding no other object, but delight, unto the Auditory, the sensual mind is easily enticed to view such spectacles, where left unto the freedom of her proper Inclination, she insensibly assumes a voluntary propension to those forms are represented in the fairest Characters, with an aversion to the impeachable.  
These are the essential uses of our subject; nor yet are the collateral less material: as, The Community of a Prince unto his people( at whose peculiar charge were formerly erected such magnificent receipts for public Spectacles, either to ingratiate himself with his subjects in a mutual participation of delight, as an endearing entertainment from himself, or else to represent the object, by circumstance and issue of some eminent expedition, enterprise or treaty within his proper jurisdiction, or with foreign States transacted by himself or substitutes, unto the illiterate and orebusied multitude: who usually want vacancy or capacity to peruse, conceive, or retain the sense thereof under the tedious, abstruse forms of public manifests: which figured in such Interludes were even obvious, to their very children. A happy piece of policy to inform with delight the meanest member of the civil frame in what he is concerned. The means to our security becoming once to us a mystery, may justly by us be suspected for disguised Furbery.  
To this advantage herein doth succeed the benefit which ariseth from the people's intercourse with one another, not only in the introduction a●d pursuit of Commerce or Affairs: but in the initiation and support of mutual amity's, sprung frequently from civil and unsought abodes, and cherished with graceful entertainments in Society, which here not limited to particulars, may possibly be dispensed through the civil structure to the Composure of a general Union, the strength and glory of a Commonwealth. From whence also ensues the requisite relaxation of mind and Body,( o'reburdened with the travel of private or public Negotiations) in a plausible divertisement, whereby become refreshed, both may with fuller vigour and Alacrity, reassume the pursuit of their civil Functions.  
Nor is the Action of a Theatre less useful in the Education of our Youth( a frequent exercise in foreign Seminaries, Societies and Schools, to inanimate their spirits, render them pliant and susceptible to every form, might either frame them more agreeable in their society, or more successful in their private Commerce; as also, to lend a more assured graceful unconstrained Demeanour to their persons and in such Habits, to endue them with undaunted Confidence, Facility, and readiness to communicate in discourse the Image of their Thoughts to an attentive multitude, an acquisition of no little moment, in public Consultations, Conferences and pleas: In managing whereof, who hath not gained this Dexterity, shall find the weightiest Reasons in his Argument silenced, smothered, o'reswayed by the less pertinent clamour of an insisting Impudence.  
These are the general Objects, which we but cursorarily have only pointed at, omitting them to ●mplifie or illustrate with the Honour or Example of Antiquity, in due conformity to the quality of our Introduction, and the more clear inspection into the nature of our present Subject, which possibly might appear to rigid Tempers of far less validity, o're-shaddowed with such formalities, as if they were but artificial Ornaments, no proper or essential lustres.  
The particular Objects have a vaster influence, which( not to err from our pre●ciption) we will contract to one united couplet to crown the closure of our Texture, affirming that poesy investeth virtues, Glory with Eternity on Earth: and imspiring life in Harmony, lends Zeal wings to scale the vault of Heaven. If this Essay may in your Honour, Madam, but pretend to the first branch hereof; my next Endeavour shall in your Piety attempt to reach the latter.  
Madam, Your humbly Devoted Servant L. W.   

Act I.  

SCENE 1.  Sine●ero. 
SO! the world is calm, now busy Action  
Her theatre hath left, wrapped in the veil  
Of night, whose silent Issue hath, ere this,  
The stupid Soul beguiled with empty Hope,  
While I do mine confirm, enlightened with  
The watchful flames of Love and sou'ranty:  
Whose active tempers struggling to engross  
My yielding fancy solely to each other,  Seems troubled in his mind. 
Frustrate, in their division, the design  
My suspend Resolution should put on  
To form and finish both their purposes.  Pauses. 
Y' unruly Fires! who frame and guide the world!  
Why thus disagree your transferred beams in  
Frail humanity? If for the order,  
Of your Ministry; plead your pre-eminence!  
Yet lest declining age in favour should▪  
Of thy concurrent over-partial prove,  
Exalt thy lights, thou still prevailing Love!  
Raise here th' Exemplar of th' ensuing work,  
To show th' Incredulous how from crippled Time  
Thou wilt extract the last Per●ection:  
And thou, the splendid glory of my Age!  
To who●e high neigb'ring summit I am come  
By secret paths; maintain thou still thine own!  
T●y ga●dy train attracts the wanton Eye  
Of woman more, than all the flourishing Grace  
Of Youth Fix here my intentive thoughts your strength,  
A●d on the fabric of Ambition  
F●ame ●ove a Temple; where if his Object may  
No prove Loves pledge; she may prove honour's Prey.  
First here's a swelling cloud must be removed,  Casts his eye on a Letter he held in his hand. 
Whose progress th●eatens to eclipse your Lights.  
C●strophilus Death is crowned in victory,  
Whose Glories, still surviving, in his son,  
The People rule more powerfully than Law:  
And by Ambigamor his friend pretends  
To wed fair Orgula. So fools conclude  
Ere they consult tho●e powers do them preside.  
I am their Fate; 'tis fixed in my Decree,  
In Love and Rule there must no Rival be.  
Nefarius!— How dull a thing is passive Man,  
Whom every giddy vapour unc●eates,  
Fittest my use. 'Tis policies defect,  
T' employ such spirits may their ways detect.  
Ho! Nefarius?  Nefarius enter. N. 
My ●ord.  S. 
Holds Castrophilus Funeral Triumph this day  N. 
Such is the voice of Fame my Lord:  S. 
See that performed, as you fin●e ordered there.  N. 
I shall, with diligence equ●l to your trust.  Delivers in a P●per. exeunt  

Act I. Scene 2.  The Princess Eumena with Zisania and other waiters above at a window. Castrophilus' Funeral Triumph attended by Ludaster, Ambigamor, Gratlanus, Libranus, Serverus, Fidelius and others. Eu. 
Is that Ludaster follows next the Hearse?  Zis. 
Madam it is: The Ornament of our Age:  Eu. 
Th' excellence of his Form and Grace compared  
Unto his Fame, could hardly be mistake  
By whom ne'er seen; Both are so singular.  Zis. 
Hath not your Highness seen him formerly?  Eu. 
Not within bounds of perfect Memory.  Zis. 
So Time in me had slight Impressions razed,  To herself. 
Had not even then, Love placed his Figure here.  Lu. 
What silent ecstasy hath seized this place:  
Can Joy nor Grief express a sense of Life?  Amb. 
Sure the security we bring hath raced  
The memory of Past, and fear of Future Ill●,  
And, now, as useless hath entombed them both  
Without a monument, in Neglect and  
Ingratitude.  Gra. 
Where are those glittering Pageants, who were wont  
With fawning Ceremony to come and gaze  
On her with wonder they durst never seem  
To court, but with a distance of reproach?  
Is the A●orde of victory become  
Less agreeable, exposing thus the path  
That to her leads in this sad Testimony.  An At●end. 
Your faith in me, my Lords, may plead excuse  
For them you seem to blame, when I shall show  
'Tis not their inclination doth restrain  
The people's Hearts to publish their Re●pects,  
But a severe injunction from the Lord  
Protector.  Lu. 
My jealousy craves pardon,  
Obedience is the ground of civil Rule,  
Which, thus prevailing 'bove Affection,  
Forms them both worthy and susceptible  
Of their ensuing greatness.  Sergeant at arms ent.. meets the Hearse. Ser. 
In our Dread sovereign's name, authorized  
By virtue of our Lord Protector's Order,  
Castrophilus of the Segusian Force  
Late General, I do Arrest for Treason.  Lu. 
With a more powerful guide possess me heaven!  
Than what but merely doth distinguish man  
From Beast! I may restrain the wildness of  
My Passion, which swells to a Distemper,  
High as their Fury: Reason is too weak.  
Or if not for our Safety, for your Truth,  
lest vainly we conclude ye have forsaken  
Unguarded Inno●ence.  Draws his Sword. Gra. 
Shall we have toiled his Honour to preserve  
When yet alive, not vindicate his Fame  
Now Dead?  Lu. 
This nor becomes your Duty, nor your Love;  
Gild puts on force: virtue waves violence.  
Our wrongs to the Prescription of the Laws  
Must here give place.  Prin at a window. Gra. 
It is the curse of Arms to raise a power  
In Form, must suppress theirs in Right:  Puts up his Sword. 
Sr. my rudeness will be I hope excused  
By my Integrity. Which would advise  
To provide timely for security.  
Indigni●ies are offere● to the Dead  
Obliquely but reflect upon the Living.  Fu 
What mystery masks this disorder?  An Attend. 
The Princes Sr.  To Lud: Lu. 
With a respect low as my obedience,  To the Pr. 
Madam, your vassal doth present your Grace,  
From this sad ●elique of Fidel●ty,  
A balsam to preserve your Beauty fresh  
Against th' assaults of Age▪ smoothing your thoughts  
With soft tranquillity; which else perhaps  
The anxious burden of your Sta●e would with  
Their churlish Summons soon precipitate;  
A work so laden with fertility,  
The feeble stock sunk under the support,  
Whose Monuments Epitaph him dignifies  
Your Peace and Glories grateful sacrifice.  Eu. 
How powerfully work the charms of Love.  To herself. Ludaster. 
Acceptance and Acknowledgement,  
Too meanly speak my Gratitude in thanks.  
Maturity of time shall it invest  
With fairer Ornaments. I' th' interim know  
I must divide my Interests with yours,  
And in th' exchange participate of both;  
You of my Glory to moderate your Grief;  
I of your Grief to moderate my Glory.  
Whose price with a new trial I'd redeem,  
Though the Event were to be doubtful made  
By his declining from the Action.  
But why, Ludaster, this interruption  
Of your O ●equies?  Lu. 
Madam, the ways of mischief are  
Too crooked and obscure for erect thoughts  
To penetrate; and leaves who should inform  
Lost in a silent Labyrinth of wonder.  
Yet thus much doth th' Infancy discover;  
M●ll●ce endeavours to stir up a cloud  
Might smother virtue's memory.  
Seizing the sacred Ashes of the Dead  
For a pretended crime of Treason.  Eu. 
This subject might an anger have provoked,  
Had not thy Fathers long approved Faith  
Shook off the levity of this ground, with scorn  
In every man's belief that hath but heard  
The empty Accents o● h●s name.  Lu. 
Yet ●ears the ch●r●e an appearance of gild,  
Till by your Laws 'tis cleared, for whose free course  
I must appeal your Grace, the Sanctuary  
Of Innocence.  Eu. 
Though my youth's Immaturity as yet,  
Suspend me from th' advantage of my Birth:  
I must procure, what Justice can't deny,  
To punish the suggestors of this infamy,  
For which attend our Order  Lu. 
Your Highness Birth and Goodness doubly do  
Entitle you to our Obedience.  Ex.  

Act I. Scene 3.  Se●evero. 
'Tis wisdom's property to frame redress  
To each repugnance of our doubtful Fate,  
We may evade her law's necessity,  
And wrest her Power to our purposes,  
By the plurality of means we form  
To guide us to our ends: To which effect  
I must attempt to fortify my Branch,  
His tender youth may cherish and sustain  
Our fortunes flourishing fertility.  Filathes ent.. 
Filathes! How! So full of thought, alone?  Filat, encountered in a discontented p●sture. 
What noble subject entertains thy Soul  
Can justify so firm a solitude?  
'Tis not the idle dreams of schools, take on  
The specious title of Philosophy,  
Can do't: Nor yet those Gyves Morality  
Hath forged to force the functions of the Soul  
To Rule: As she were to dimension  
Subject. Ease hath those useless trifles wrought  
T' excuse the sloth of nature's vacant works,  
She in the world superfluously hath cast:  
Thy Birth and Fate call thee to greater things.  
I am surprised.— Sr. if the Restriction  To himse● 
Of my thoughts hath figured to your sense  
An unbecoming sadness; 'twas only  
The care to be in Action responsive  
To Their Summons. I might be worthy held  
Those happy Beings, I extract from You,  
And your fair Industry. Which Intention  
With success to make good; I must request  
The matter from your hand in some employ,  
On which I may a lasting glory raise,  
My name may be no blemish to your story.  Si. 
The fervour of thy youth I like, but not  
Approve; ●e wise, and vainly not pursue  
The inessential appearance of things:  
Taste of the fruit, and glut thee with the food  
Of Greatness: Leave the airy pomp to those  
Who fondly toil their servitude to frame.  
Let my experience trace thee out a way  
Securely leads to thy Felicity.  
All those endowments grace thy youth, are won●  
To make Loves pursuit happy in success:  
Prove their attaints on this fair Object we  
Entitle to our sovereignty. Loves rules  
Regard not Policies distinctions.  
Be Bol●, Attempt and Thrive.  Fi. 
How indiscreet a sense my secret flame  
Would, unrestrained, to this purpose vent.  To himself. Nefarius enters. Si. 
Nefarius!  Turns t● exit Fila. Nefa. Turns to Fila. 
Filathes attend me on the Terrace.  
And how Nefarius? did the soldier's Plumes  
Couch their exalted heads? who swelled with rage?  
And who, with a more suffering dislike shrunk  
His intelligent shoulders? whose shaking head  
His wa●y Reservation, next, employed?  
Who w●●h erected or reverted eye,  
Dispensed the cautions of his jealousy?  
These Notions are of consequence, Nefarius.  Ne. 
Your Honour shall know every circumstance  
In fit time. The Princes, now at hand,  
Expects your conference on this subject:  Si. 
How comes it to her ear so suddenly.  Ne. 
To the proceeding she a witness was.  Si. 
My Order then was not observed with care,  
Which charged you to divert her by some slight.  Ne. 
Such motives, often pressed, were oft repulsed.  Ex. Ne. Si. 
Return, I come, who would unblamed strike,  
Must what he seems to do, not seem to like.  Ex. Si.  

Act I. Scene 4.  Libranus Serverus. Lib. 
Sad! Serverus? Dejection ill becomes  
The Demeanour of a soldier.  Ser. 
Not so Libranus,  
When framed o'th' useless sense of others wrongs:  
True valour's object solely seated is  
On others Interests, to which unblemished she  
Yields up herself, though not unto our own.  Lib. 
But thus oppressed, is to betray our cause  
To an ill Omen; we immoved have stood  
The Chance of war; and far more firmly should  
Expect fair virtues trial.  Ser. 
The Chance of War  
Less fatal is to Arms, than slights of Peace,  
Where'n, our open plainness doth expose  
Our careless lives to every Artifice  
Of close superchery. But see they come,  
Let's wait the Issue.  In great solemnity the judge with the Court of justice, Officers goes before the Hearse, whom Nefarius busily entertains, as also two Advocates, the one as plaintiff being attorney general for the State, the other as descendant for Castrophilus. Next the Hearse, Ludaster, Ambigamor, Gratianus, Fidelius and others. Lib 
Ha! so busy in obsequiousness!  
Open Corruption unsuspected slides  
Into the hearts of Men, under the form  
Of Ceremony: So custom gelds the Law.  Ser. 
Thou err'st Libranus, in that thou think'st not  
The Introduction more material.  The judges set. Judge 
Exhibit the Charge.  Reg. 
Castrophilus of the Segusian Force  The Court Register reads. 
Late General, refused his Commission  
To yield up to our Protectors Order,  
By which inhibited to fight, provoked  
The Enemy to unsought Encounter,  
To th' hazard of the State.  Att. Gen. 
Crimes, in their nature clear  
Require no further Sense to give them weight;  
On such t' enlarge with Circumstance or Art  
Were not t' enlighten, but to aggravate:  
In which suggestion, Justice, weakly fenced,  
Might be too soon surprised with appearance.  
Which to avoid; my Honourable Lords,  
I shall with Artless brevity relate  
Th' enormity of the Offence, exposed  
To your Judgements.  
First, to your considerations I present  
Th' Indignity to our sovereign's Substitute,  
In contempt of his Order, whose only will  
Bore weight enough to lend it consequence.  
Had not th' obscured Glory of that State,  
To whom our better Fate hath joined ours,  
( Even in her fullest pride) by her example  
( Effectual as her transferred Laws) prescibed  
A certain Course to our security  
From her sufferings, in continuation  
Of her Offices. Which dangerous step  
To Ambition, her first Innovator,  
Cesar, in his own personal practice sound,  
And remedied, at his return to stome,  
Perfixing terms unto the praetory  
And Consulate. This only for the ground  
Of the Injunction which followed  
With disobedience, the overthrow  
Of government: intrudes a precedent  
( The supplement, to all defective Laws)  
From our preceding Pattern;  
Who sentenced to be whipped his engineer,  
For that he rather chose to fail this Rule  
Of Rule; then that Rule of his Art, which held  
A known repugnance to his Masters will:  
To which ensues, yet a more weighty crime,  
The hazard of our Liberties and Lives  
Rashly thrust on one moments doubtful trial,  
In opposition to Authority.  
Changes in States,' specially succeeded  
By minority, are held no seasons fit  
To tempt th' i● certitude of Arms: wherein  
Faults irreparable are seldom twice  
Committed: whose issues, though successful, when  
Inhibited that Romans censure merit;  
Which to his son triumphs applause denies,  
And crowned the victor but for Sacrifice.  Ad. 
De. My honoured Lords,  
In Decimo Sex●o Patravis.  Lud. 
Forbear vain babbler,  Lu. pu●s the Ad. by with his hand from the Bar. 
Sully not a Cause with thy impertinence  
Needs no defence from mercenary form;  
Her purity to blemish were a crime,  
Great as the Charge suggests,— How suddenly  Pause. 
Incensed wrongs become licentious:  
Against the Order of the Court, I fear,  
I do transgress; thus rudely to assume  
A Liberty; but by your grace allowed,  Iu. 
Proceed.  Bows to the judge Lu. 
T' omit the ground pretended to revoke,  
The progress of our Arms, though in itself  
Disputsble: since he but once removed  
Successor to the precedent alleged,  
More suble far than he, it practised  
With success, as the immediate means  
T' establish his security. But this,  
With common Preservation balanced,  
Will easily, with your assent, admit  
A contradiction in the consequence.  
And though the works necessity appear,  
Not to each vulgar eye, Experience  
And Observance, hath confirmed the Master  
Of the mystery therein, for whose account  
He only is responsible to heaven  
The Function of General, solely being  
To sovereignty inherent; whose presence  
Heretofore author●s'd all proceeding,  
Till a corrupter Age, though ease and lux,  
Induced a substitute, who still retains  
Th' essential marks of his Original;  
Exacts the Rites of National Laws abroad;  
Supports the course of civil laws at home;  
And with his moving Commonwealth transports  
A Law peculi●r to his ministry:  
Which he reforms, or abrogates at Will;  
Dispenseth Honour, from his proper source;  
Divides the spoil as freely as his own.  
Nor can the nature of his Action  
Agree wish order, limit; or restaint;  
Whi●h Subject are, to method time and place,  
From whose varying occurrents he by eye  
Takes new advice, to guide his purpo●es.  
Whence expeditions of this quality,  
Prove seldom happy but in silence sealed.  
Nor can th' objected precedents be of force  
Inferring only, how far this power, now  
In question, extends itself o'er others,  
Not how far others power over it.  
Which may in fairer evidence appear,  
To justify our Cause( if precedents  
Be received) when you shall recollect,  
How Fabius first the Cimmian Mountains past.  
Divide the Roman from the Thoscan Coast,  
Without the senate's consent or advice,  
From whom their Tribunes and their Deputies  
Being sent with strict Defence to stop his course,  
He not desisted from his enterprise,  
Which happily he finished, without  
A farther Contestation.  Judge stands up. Iu. 
Whereas the littr'al senee of Laws do not  
Exactly touch the Nature of th' offence;  
We may from precedents receive advice;  
But yet no Rule, in that the circumstance  
Of their depending Causes are to us  
Not published. In which Case, our recourse  
Must to the light of Nature be; Reason,  
Laws Principal; who from herself should err,  
Should she great Crimes neglect, & yet the small  
Suppress; for in her silence so she should,  
Were not great crimes forbidden in the less.  
Which, cautious, she forbore to specify,  
Seeing man's froward frailty still did take  
New violence from restraint: Jeloust' awake  
His faculty, in her invention.  
Such is the subject now in difference,  
Our Laws i'th' letter not precisely mark,  
But from the Relative and Comparative sense  
We may disclose the full necessity  
Of her Intention in the consequence.  
Which cannot be the Branches to preserve,  
And leave the Root affords them nourishment:  
Which here the Person, and his Act transgressed,  
Do truly represent: For of what use  
Are Magistrates, their Head being disobeyed,  
Or in their mouths the ●aws, if who them framed  
May in their own Injunctions he gainsaid  
With impunity. Yet farther th' offence  
In the dependence doth extend itself;  
Exposing the security of the State,  
Without necessity, to a doubtful chance;  
Which in well-governed commonwealths are shunned  
To'th last extremity: And then not past,  
Without a gen'ral Consultation,  
Whose advise slighted or contraried,  
In such important actions, doth deserve  
( What e'er the issue be) the punishment  
Of high Treason, Whereof I do prounounce  
Castrophilus guilty. Yet lest the rigour  
O'th' Law should seem in vengeance to delight,  
Who strikes but by example to correct;  
His body freed from our community,  
We undisturbed leave to Funeral Rites;  
But what of him remains with us must suffer:  
His Honours are in degradation lost,  
His goods to'th public Treasure forfeited.  
His Son and Allies judged to Banishment,  
Not as Complices to the present Crime,  
But as to further Crimes prevention.  
Dissolve the Court.  The soldiers seem to weep. Exit Iudg. and their Attend. Lud. 
How soon affection doth communicate  
To others sufferings. Thus feeble sorrow,  
Doth unman the sold. Why thus dejected?  
Do you vainly think, that valour only  
Is the practice of the field? The Subject  
Of your displeasures is impassible;  
Or if in being still, he would again.  
His innocent life, with cheerfulness, yield up,  
In favour of the course of Justice,  
Without a secret murmur.  Gra. 
His virtue of too frequent usage was  
Amongst us all, to doubt the excellence,  
Whose glorious memory our age's malice  
May veil awhile, but can extinguish never.  
This nor the scandal to our Industry,  
As subsequent to His; moves an excess  
In our just sufferings, though either may,  
Without Reproach, a just resentment challenge.  
But the expansion of his worth cut off,  
From us and Action, in ●our weightier wrongs.  Lud 
Their relati●n to you, but make them such  Seems to yield to passion 
To me. Th' effects of love more strongly move  
Than of Enmity.  Lib. 
Or swords are the best speakers of our loves  
And wrongs: whose use, each man that hath a sense  
Of virtue, must, without reserve, yield up  
To the defence of yours.  Lud. 
Reserve your valours for a worthier cause,  
Your Interests and the States must never be  
Opposed by mine. My friendship never was  
S'indiscreet, to prejudice the Owner,  
Nor my Faith my Country.  Amb. 
Come; I have salve for all thy sufferings,  Embraces Lud. 
Whose splendour shall through these disorders move  
True satisfaction from the sphere of Love.   

Act I. Scene 4.  Orgula, Vergena, Amasia. One with a Cabinet of jewels, another a looking-glass. Or. 
So! now the distance of your servitude  
Suspend a while. And to be free as thought;  
Say, whose beauty holds the loudest tenor  
In the voice of Fame?  Ver. 
Madam! the question in itself implies  
More than the Resolution can admit;  
Propension in the quality. To dispute  
The pre-eminence of your beauty; is to raise  
A doubtful concurrent to its glory,  
And make th' excellence of another's form,  
More considerable i'th' comparison,  
Than in their own perfection.  Or. 
This to Eumena were but passable:  
Obsequiousness the true attendant is  
Of Greatness.  Amb. 
Under your honour's favour, the Homage  
Of beauty far more universal is,  
Than that of majesty: by so much odds,  
As nature's bounds doth Policies extend.  
And if th' excess of praise, from servile thoughts,  
Be licenc'd, as the badge of Soveraginty,  
Although conducing but to its reproach:  
The ornaments of our Expressions  
( From a delightful Rapture issuing)  
May be authorised as the grace of love,  
Which tendeth but t' exalt the lustre of  
His object.  Or. 
From whence I may collect, you would Infer  
My beauty must receive addition  
From your flatteries.  Am. 
Pardon me,  
Madam, not so; perfection doth admit  
No alt'ration; increase, implies defect.  
But yet the satisfaction which doth spring  
From the applause we give, may animate  
The hidden sources of its influence  
Which reflects on us.  Or. 
My Faith is not so powerful to make use  
Of this conclusion to the advantage  
Of mine.  Amb. 
It moves not in his proper Element  
From the equality of Sex: But when  
By your pretenders it is published,  
Th' effects will be more sensible.  Or. 
Well!  
Not to resist the nature of our Sex,  
Who soonest credit, what we covet most.  
Agreement shall this controversy close;  
And move another from your last evasion.  
Distinguish the pretenders you propound,  
And press th' advantage you conceive they held  
Over each other to make good their ends.  Amb. 
Madam,  
Amongst the number of your unsought spoils,  
Two only are considerable. The one  
With Wealth and Power fully dignified,  
( Two strong motives to a woman's Temper.)  
The other with virtue and true Valour  
As amply qualified: Which with the former  
Paraleled, doth no proportion hold  
In their true values, to dispute their worths.  
Divest but the Coloss of Wealth and Power  
From their ostentive Bulks and limit them  
To their peculiar use, they will appear  
But Ministers to Necessity and Right,  
Whose functions, bounteous nature, & good men  
Make useless. If as they are in common  
Usage taken, they will be found but aids  
To Wantonness and Oppression. Whose yoke  
They doubly suffer, that to them submit;  
Of Greatness even the endearments are but  
Insulting suffrages. While virtue doth  
Erect a Bower, Love in Repose to Throne  
And Valour from licentious tongues protects  
Our Fame.  Ver. 
A mere Platonic Rapture, Madam,  
Deduced from the first Infancy of Time,  
When Innocent man yet hardly knew the use  
Of his own natural faculties.  
Virtue is but the Fable now of schools;  
Nor Valour but the hardiness of fools;  
Whose ends should be from evil us to free,  
Not with neglect to tempt them to our ruin,  
Against which they potent safeguards are, she slights  
In the comparison. And most of all  
To us important. For the Soul even from  
The nature of her first extraction, holds  
A strong desire of Rule. From which our Sex,  
Excluded in the politic Body, gains  
In the Natural, by the advantage  
Of our Beauty. Whose vigour were more powerful  
And legitimate, I will grant, then that  
Of violence: since to us Inclination  
Rendereth our Subjection voluntary.  
And farther succour we should never want  
Our Empire to confirm, did not the Rites  
Of time too suddenly prevail against,  
The Rites of our Prerogative; whose power  
To frustrate, lest it ours supplant, to it  
We timely must a counter-party raise  
( While yet we have the means it to procure)  
May our failing Authority support.  
Which to us more assured cannot be  
Than to acquire an opulent Dignity.  Or. 
A pretty slight to free us fromth th' contempt  
Of Age, whose unwelcome approaches make  
Our beings useless, oft ridiculous.  Mundola with Ambigamor and Ludaster Enters. Mun. 
Madam, Your honour's Brother.  Amb. 
Sister,  Salu●e 
I joy to find the Messenger of fame,  
Though glorious, yet too mean a Speaker  
Of thy Form: It meets the expectation  
Here at the full, Her flatteries else where,  
Leave void, even in the first examination,  
And yields an evidence of thy modesty,  
More powerful, than are those Virgin stains  
Revert the gild upon the loose Attempter:  
In that we may from thence conclude, thy care  
Nor studied was, nor vain, too lavishly  
Those Graces to communicate to each  
Lascivious sense, with Arts affettery  
Which bear the Figure of Divinity.  Or. 
Brother,  
Those attributes you give, if placed in me,  
Have found a happy way to please th' Owner,  
If you in them be satisfied.  Amb. 
I am, and shall more perfectly, when they  
Are placed here.  Amb. presents to Or. Ludast●r. 
My thoughts can to themselves propound  
No safer guides, than your intentions.  Lud 
Madam, they are not fair to you in this,  
I must be, though to my own affliction,  
Their dilator. Since they can only make.  
My happy, but with the brand of treachery,  
'Twould, in each vulgar eye, too ill become  
The Honour of our friendship, to betray  
The miracle of Nature to th' possession  
Of a thing so mean, it wants a sense  
To signify its being: Man; is too high  
A dignity to qualify my essence;  
To him inherent are Habitations,  
Distinctions, possessions, in all which, I  
Can no way find, the smallest Property  
Beast; though th' unruly motions of my thoughts  
Approach their Nature, have a happier sense,  
For of them all they know no difference.  Amb. 
Forbear you wrong our amity;  
Our beings individual are.  Or. 
Sir,  
Whence this distemper, flows, I cannot guess;  
But far unsuitable, I'm sure, it is  To Lu. 
The Character both good and knowing men  
Deliver of you. Man without reproach  
Can safely speak himself in no extreme.  Amb. 
Thy innocence frees thee fro'th suspect of guilt;  
Thou wouldst not else suppose virtue could be  
Without Oppression: Orgulea, I more  
Plain must be with thee; In my long absence,  
My thoughts incessantly have toiled more  
Under the anxious burden of my care  
To see that beauty in an happy Porte,  
Then t' acquire the glory of a soldier.  
My Eye hath been nice, as wantonness of youth;  
My judgement wary, as jealousy of Age,  
In search of Him, might my endreavours crown.  
Which that a happy period might ensue,  
When sound, I in my letters figured  
Him to thee, as Fancy would a Fable,  
Yet swerved not from the truth, Imight not lead  
But mark thy inclination out, the which  
Thy Love in thy obedience had given o'er  
To mine: view here the true original.  
From whom, malice herself can naught detract,  
Though she his Honours and Possessions hath,  
Cut off from him, & what's worse, him from us.  Or. 
Your resolutions do beget new doubts.  Amb. 
Hath not the rumour of our sufferings  
Preceded us? Mischief is conscious  
When she dares but whisper. Why? Orgeula,  
Our glorious victory is, by the Law,  
To Him we owe for it, imputed Treason;  
And as such punished in Him and His.  Or. 
It can not be,  
You would but sport with my credulity.  Amb. 
I'm serious; on my integrity.  Or. 
You'd astonish me.  Amb. 
Shake of thy trouble and thy doubts; we will  
Seek out a clime, where goodness shall live free  
From Injury.  Or. 
Women Travellers are held no members fit  
For new discoveries; as I conceive,  
The title of a Lady errant will  
Unto our Honours no addition be.  Amb. 
But that of Pilgrim doth grace Piety.  Or. 
The Zeal  
Of my Devotion not so fervent is.  Amb. 
Thy words do into error prompt my sense,  
Yet fain I would mistake, explain thyself;  
Let virtue be thy guide.  Or. 
Our lives have other props than speculation  Amb. 
Reflect not o'th' breaches of His fortunes,  
They are made good in mine.  Or. 
'twill but ill become your father's daughter  
To be said your pensionary.  Amb. 
Hast thou thy appearance so suddenly  
Cast off? Awake, and reassume thy Temper.  Or. 
Did the Conjecture of my worth extend  
But to your bare Esteem, it would have taught  
Simplicit●, so for to prize itself,  
As to preserve the Rites of womanhood.  
We women are not won with the Reports  
Of glory: Our accesses have degrees.  
Why? Had you met my wishes in your choice,  
He must, with the observance of a slave,  
Have ages waited but for my Admittance,  
Have kissed my Hand, he must have thrice redeemed  
With hazard of his life, my fame; not from  
Reproach alone, but from pre-eminence.  
Facility is beauty's Infamy.  Amb. 
Nay, than I, must conclude, that Beauty is  
From heaven amongst us only cast, as a  
Misplaced light, but to seduce the world.  Lu. 
Madam!  
Disfigure not that Character you bear;  
O'er misery to insult, those graces will  
Divest of their Divinity: and leave  
Them smothered in a cloud of horror.  
I do not come to violate the Rites  
Of Love; But those of Friendship to preserve,  
Which tendered; I take my leave.  Amb. 
Farewell thou Maq●ery of Nature.  Ex Lu. Amb. Ver. 
These soldiers have not learned the patience yet  
T' attend the issue of a siege, I see.  
They are so hot on the Encounter.  Am. 
Their mouths in War are so full of Command▪  
They cannot stoop to other terms in Peace.  Mu. 
Madam!  Mundolo Enter 
The Lord Protector's newly entered.  Or. 
Give your attendance.  Sinevero Enter Sin. 
Alone? Madam?  
Where are the fluent Concourse of our youth,  
Should with inspired zeal exalt their vows  
To your Divinity? are they from this  
Sequestered, in that they have of 〈◊〉  
A profanation made to meaner deities?  
Or of those Charming Graces do thou thus  
Into their centre recontract their force?  
They may with greater violence effuse  
Their light, by this sought Intermission,  
And so each time they are disclosed, passes  
The world with a new Miracle? Madam,  
Affect a meaner way to propagate  
The glory of your beauty: t' will involve  
The world with less amazement, but with more  
Delight: which fully to beget, there must  
Be more equality betwixt th' Object  
And the Faculty.  Or. 
Y'ave taught me Sir, a pretty Art, in your  
Reproof, to fill that disproportion  
In my own defects:  Sin. 
Madam!  
The Splendour of your Arms subdues,  
You need not add their force: yet you my words  
To their contrary Sense do thus invert:  
Whose truth to justify; witness all eyes,  
Save such as shame and envy do corrupt;  
Your own glass, and my Captivity.  Or. 
Your Captivity!  
Sure the prescriptions have a large extent.  Sin. 
That, Madam, I must learn of your consent  Offers to kiss her. Or. 
How, Sir, forbear; y'ave learned the mystery  
Of equivokes, I see; yet you mistake  She puts him by Ver. is stayed by Sin. who gives her a Ring. Or. & Amb. Ex 
This freedom marks not my intention;  
But that which gives you licence to be gone.  Sin. 
Her wit yet adds a lustre to her form:  
This Ring to help me to another view  
Of your fair Lady.  Ver. 
As fit as it were made for me, in truth.  
Sir, I accept your proffer, yet must doubt  
You buy your penance at too dear a rate.  
I will attempt if you dare undertake.  Sin. 
Fear not; the danger of her eyes( If I  
In vain must burn) is but Loves Sacrifice.  Ver. 
Hast to the farther gallery,  
I'll lead her that way to her Chamber.  Eu. sundry ways.  

Act I. Scene 4.  Lizania. 
The Conflict of my mind divides itself,  
Yet in Loves favour must suspend Loves Rite;  
The troubles of his hazard whom I love,  
Oppress my thoughts more than my love's success;  
Which yet so doubtful is, I cannot say,  
When he shall know it, doth my passion sway.  wait. 
Madam, the Lord  A wait. Ent. 
Ambigamor desires your Conference.  Liz. 
Attend him hither.  
How unwelcome are to us the Summons  
Of misplaced affection; when as our thoughts  
T' other Object are equally engaged.  
Th'excess of Love, when it not ours meets,  
Afflicts as doth the want of what we seek.  
Yet I perhaps of him may somewhat learn  
To pacify my apprehension.  The waiter after some intermission conducts him in and returns. Ambigamor Ent. Amb. 
As day springs from the bosom of the night,  
With comfort, to the wand'ring traveller.  
So from my absence flows to me this light,  
Whose fair Idea hath unblemished here  
Been kept alive in that obscurity,  
By the refulgence of the flames of Love,  
That to you Madam, now do come to prove,  
Which is more fatal, Contention or Love.  Liz. 
'Tis well y'ave scaped the greatest hazard, Sir,  
The force of Love was never mortal thought,  
To such especially, whose heart diverts  
The violence in a division  
Of his strength, 'twixt a Mistress and a Friend.  Amb. 
The Passion for my friend serves but to form  
A fit receptacle to install my Love,  
Whose Rites( thought it your censure should confirm)  
Must somwhats intermit in favour of  
His Interests; which yet may happy prove  
If you vouchsafe to be their Advocate.  Liz. 
As how, I pray?  Amb. 
Madam, the rigour of the Law this night  
Expels Ludaster forth his Country's bounds,  She seems troubled. 
Unless you by our sovereign's means procure  
His Reaple, This silence, Madam, speaks  
Your trouble more than your consent.  Liz. 
The cause of virtue should universal be  
In well affected minds; and sure in mine▪  
Not with such sense received might question  
My Agreement to the succour, to which  
I will address myself forthwith, and e'er  
The Evening close inform you the success.  Amb. 
I wish the glory of your undertaking  
May not rest only in your fair intention.  
( Though there enough to dignify th' Action)  
But in a happy issue, to the world  
Divulge the Honour of our safety, yours.  
And prove to my ensuing Purposes.  
A happy Omen.  Liz. going out encounter Eu. troubled in thought. Eu. seems not to mind her a while, at length collects herself. Liz. 
So full of thought; what means this sudden change?  
Madam, how busy is her fancy? Madam.  Eumia enter. Eu. 
Lizania, my course was in thy search.  Liz. 
Your senses then held no intelligence  
With your Reason, Madam.  Eu. 
Why? Lizania.  
'Twas enforced to awake the one  
To lend the other Faculty.  Eu. 
My thoughts have, since thy absence, strangely wrought  Pause 
On— I know not, what unformed purposes.  Liz. 
Under your highness' favour, this is but  
The last dimension to the Appearance;  
The growth is of a longer being; I  
Have watched to the progression the degrees.  
Your speech abruptly intermits and flows:  
The Offices of Night and Day in you  
So strangely intermixed are of late,  
I know not when you slumber, when you wake.  
Pardon my Curiosity, if it  
Too nighly hath approached your Privacy.  
The freedom formerly you used me to  
Hath been in fault; which never did admit  
A secret so long hid,  Eu. 
Alas! Lizania, 'tis yet such to me,  
I am not well acquainted with my own  
Distempers; which insensibly, I find,  
Do grow upon my yielding Nature.  Liz. 
My own sufferings are my best informers,  
Madam, if I might have the liberty.  To herself 
To judge, I truly should affirm it Love.  
Witness the rising tincture on your cheek,  
Which masks itself in guilt, unwittingly  
To have disclosed more than I should have known.  Eu. 
Thy rashness hath a bolder title given  
To my Passion, than yet my Virgin thoughts  
Durst to themselves a: which now become  
More hardy are by their discovery.  
And press to move thy succour and advice.  Liz. 
Your Power over mine may challenge both,  
Which in the int'rim, I must intercede  
For the Protection of the innocent:  
Then wait th' enlighning of your purposes  Eu. 
Alas! mine fails me in my own Interests.  
Yet shall not that form an excuse to thee,  
Might figure a denial: whose is the Cause?  Liz. 
Ludaster's Exile moves for Reaple.  Eu. 
The first report thereof was thereto my  
Direction: which to thy Father often  
I in vain have pressed, whereto still he objects,  
I know not what, hid mysteries of State.  
Not knowing that on his depends my Fate.  Eu. 
Why starts thou?  Liz. starts. Liz. 
How sudden and unruly is the sense  To herself. 
Of Love: Madam, the apprehension  
Of the Consequence. If your Fate follow  
His, ye both are to us lost.  Eu. 
Not lost to thee; nor, yet from thee divided;  
Thy amity assures me that thou wilt  
Participate with me in any change.  Liz. 
That were the smallest trial of my Faith.  Eu. 
Know than I am resolved, only with thee,  
This Night( since I his exile can not stay)  
To follow by my flight: which to secure,  
As we the fresh air of the evening take,  
We of the Forest will our Covert make.  Liz. 
Your Highness sought my advice with my aid,  
Yet you conclude without it.  Eu. 
That in the sequel perhaps may use;  
But where Necessity hath lest no choice,  
Counsel is vain.  Liz. 
Yet Madam your attention let me crave,  
I shall submit to your Election.  Eu. 
What canst thou say?  Liz. 
Under your grace's favour, you to chance  
Precipitate, what time infallibly  
Must without hazard ripen to your hand;  
And leave you power to cancel this Edict,  
As it had never been.  Eu. 
My thoughts are fixed, prepare thee to their aid,  
Attempt no more my Passion to or'esway.  
Time hath many Changes: Love brooks no delay.  Eu. Ex. Liz. 
How full of opposition is my Fate.  
Each Accident begets a new repugnance  
To my Hopes: And to extend my sufferings,  
Endeavours me to frame their Instrument.  
So wills the duty to my Soveragin.  
But since the Gods to punish crimes omit  
Wrought in Loves favour, I may that forget.  Sinevero Ent. Sin. 
How Zizania! The Princess being alone,  
You absent from your charge? see you attend  
With stricter diligence, than you were wont:  
She seems to me perplexed in her thoughts;  
I cannot guess the cause: Be vigilant  
In the search, and when you find her apt  
For the impression, move your brother's suit:  
Women have seasons they can nought resist,  
On which advantage your sex knoweth best  
How to prevail.  Ziz. 
Sir,  
My fear persuades me I already have  
Disclosed thereto an obstacle, greater,  
Than time or prudence can remove.  Sin. 
What may that be?  
The discovery may in your censure  
Blemish me with the reproach of levity,  
So facilly to break a trust imposed  
By the affection of my sovereign,  
Which no violence should have wrested from me,  
Were not the ruin of the state engaged  
In the privacy.  
How fain my Love would my deceit disguise.  To herself. Sin. 
Be brief.  Ziz 
To my own sense I scarce dare whisper it,  
Good Sir your ear.  Sin. 
How— Ludaster— this night—  Intermission. 
I amin wonder lost— how confused are  
My wand'ring thoughts— dull faculty awake  
I have it now— yet stay— it shall be so.  
Zizania thou hast discharged a duty  
Far greater than the scruple balanced it,  
Thy Country and thy father's Age thou hast  
Preserved from untimely fall; the which  
To perfect, fulfil thy Mistress pleasure,  
Leave me to frustrate her intention,  
Farther you her design. Ask me not why  
To rectify the errors of a Prince,  
We with them to the issue must comply.  Ziz. 
Obedience is my best direction.  Ziz. ex. Filathes ent.. Sin. 
Whither, Filathes, so intentive bent?  Fi. 
Towards the Lodgings of the Princess, Sr.  
You press the chase with too much ardour yet,  
Your visits with address may frequent be,  
Not importunate; times are not favouring,  
Desist, and e'er you sleep repair to me  
For new advice.  Fi. 
My better Guide is your affection.  Fi. ex. Nefarius Sin. 
Nefarius, thou anticipat'st my wish.  
I must employ thee in an Action  
Equal to my safety. Thou knowest well,  
Time hath not yet outstripped my youthful heat;  
I have a Mistress, whose wantonness  
Dislikes my passive years, and shuns access,  
This night, as I have learned, she purposes  
With one companion only of her sex,  
T' invade the Forest for th' evening fresh air.  
My spy shall be at hand to mark their course:  
While you prepare an Ambush to surprise  
Them; which done convey them to Placentia,  
My adjoining House; and there commit them  
To their custody, whom I shall order  
To receive them.  Ne. 
Your Honours will in every Circumstance  
Shall be observed.  Sin. 
The undertakers shall want no reward,  
You in particular.  Ne. 
I am your honour's Creature, and will strait  
About it.  Ne. Ex. Sin. 
Oh! I could hug myself,  
It swells my tickling Fancy with delight  
Equal to the approaching nuptial  
Of a Love sick-Bride. Thus wisdom rules  
The Stars: Had my Invention been or dull,  
Or slack: My ruin had been certain,  
The Princes had escaped, Ludaster wed.  
Whereby she of her nonage had the term  
Anticipated: Me of my dignity  
And power devested: My Enemy  
Brought in with triumph to take full revenge  
On me and my Complices. To this is  
The influence of those erring Lights preside  
The Offices of Nature directed:  
But well digested Reason, who us frees,  
From the subjection of the sense: In which  
Frail Element their Empire only moves,  
Propounds a fairer Issue to my Hopes,  
In the Conversion of their fatal Order.  
This flourishing twig, who in her hasty growt●  
Strives to outstrip the summit of her Prop.  
I will( my Power to support) or graft  
Her on my stock, or else under colour  
Of this her flight, smother her memory  
With her life: Her Line terminates in her;  
And I do, by the power I have engrossed,  
Stand fairest for the next Succession,  
So shall I thrive by my own Stars digression.    


Act II. Scene 3.  N●●arius with a Band of villains. 
So now disperse yourselves to several  
Stations. Here shall be my stand to watch  
The Passage of the Plain. Who makes the fir●●  
Discovery, must give the signal to  
The Rest; which, done; all thither must with speed  
Repair. Away! the hour approaches.  Ex. several ways, Ne. remains hid. Eumena, Lizania. Eu. 
The Night is at her full Obscurity.  
Thou silent Harbinger of Love, my thanks:  
These wand'ring steps, lost in thy gloomy shade,  
Can, if pursued, no more be traced out;  
Then may the fleeting progress of a Bark  
Upon the surface of the Ocean:  
Cast off thy sullen vesture, and give way  
To her supplies the Office of the Day,  
Come, Lizania, where art thou?  Liz. 
Here, Madam.  Eu. 
Give me thy hand, Thou tremblest with thy fears.  
This weakness of our Sex prevails in thee,  
Because not armed with Love.  Liz. 
With equal Love; not equal innocence;  
I do repent too late, what I too soon  to herself. 
Have done. Love is a hardy Champion  
Madam, yet often undertakes beyond  
His faculty. Pray Heav'● it prove not so.  
The secret working of my groundless fears,  
Can, in my judgement, no fare presage be.  Eu. 
Thou art dismayed with night's obscurity,  
Let's hasten forward.  Liz. 
For aught I know, we backward do return  
Our erring steps find no direction.  Eu. 
To this Ascent I perfect knowledge have;  
Where once arrived; we will attend a while  
The rising of the Moon.  Ziz. 
And whither doth your highness' purpose then?  
To a sequestered society  
Of Vestals, not far from thence: with whom we  
( Pretending to be come with privacy  
For our devotion) will some time remain,  
Till we have learned Ludaster's Residence.  Ziz 
Love may attempt with Resolution well,  
Since he is as inventive, as he's bold.  Eu. 
Thy fears grow pleasant in security;  
I like it well. Let us renew our course:  Ziz. 
If no prevention, nought can like me worse.  Ex. Ziz. Ne. 
Approach not rudely, they are close at hand;  
If possible, attach them without fright.  Ex. omn. Ne. 
whistles, his companions gather to him:  Shriek within.  

Act II. Scene 4.  Ludaster disguised in a hermit's habit. 
Fairwell thou splendid theatre of glory,  
Whose active heat was wont to animate  
These fluent veins beyond the faculty  
Of nature: I have, though too late, disclosed  
A fairer way true Peace to ratify,  
Than yet the success of thy tragic paths  
Hath ever traced out. More noble far,  
Though not so Popular; whose fame is raised  
Not on the loud voice of the multitude;  
But on the secret approbation  
Of the Good. A Glory stable, because not  
Envied. A triumph not enriched  
With the Spoils of others: the price whereof  
Is not the Widows nor the orphan's tears.  
Alas! the happy issue of this strife  
Tends not t' extinguish, but reform a life,  
Which Man too vainly seeking to cherish,  
Dissipates, catching at things unuseful,  
Or superfluous, with such a greedy toil,  
As his Existence merely did depend  
On his own Industry: to which he wades  
Through any difficulty: meets the vastest  
Limits of the Sea: lays ope' the secretest  
Shadows of the Deep; And to each end his  
Servile thoughts put on a several form,  
And like a desperate Gamester casts at All;  
A● if the spacious world for All was framed,  
Too little were for one.  
How sweet a change my thoughts already prove!  
Here no alarm breaks a calm Repose,  
Which gently slides but to discharge the debt  
Of Nature, and without-starts discloses  
As the Day; invited with the cheerful  
Notes of the Hu'n neighbouring choir to view  
The smooth face of Nature, which even smiles  
With an affected flattery to charm  
The soul in her deep speculation:  
In which immoved with a future care,  
She waits her flight, till she almost forget  
Her Mansion's ministry. So Bounteous  
Is the Law of Nature, whose Immunities  
Even free the soul from all subjection.  Noise. 
Who's there?  Fidelius e●. Fil. 
Your Servant Sir.  Lud. 
Fidelius! the happy relic of my churlish Fate,  
What wouldst thou?  Fil. 
Not to disturb your privacy, Good Sir,  
You too much do endear your solitude.  
I come to beg my Lute may to it yield  
Some Intermission.  Lud. 
Thy growth in virtue hath outstripped thy years:  
Of thy observance this the tenderness  
Can nought expect from me, but empty thanks,  
A weak foundation to thy future hopes,  
Thou art yet young, and wisely shouldst direct  
Thy Industry but to support thy Age.  Fi. 
Your unjust sufferings will, I need not fear,  
Make useless to me such a Providence,  
And early intercept the Course of Life:  
If otherwise, Sir, I beseech you think,  
My dillegence shall ne'er be mercenary.  Lays his hand on his shoulder, and strokes him on the cheek. Lu. 
I do, I do, thou hast a mind too great,  
To ground so mean a doubt; yet I could wish  
Thou wouldst more careful of thy welfare be,  
Here's no convenience, scarce for Necessity.  
Thou lately in the Camp, didst from me part  
Most dangerously sick, sick past belief  
Of safety. Trust me, Fidelius, there were  
Affirmed they had seen thee buried.  
Why blushest thou?  Fi. 
To find the error of Credulity.  Lu. 
Thy Relapse would to my Misfortune ad,  
Which to prevent, I purpose to commend  
Thy safety to my Friend, who shall provide  
For thee a fit retreat, till time confirm  
Thy strength.  Fi. 
I thank your Charity, Good Sir, but I  
Find no such indisposition, as it  
Figureth to you: to yield without need  
To your appointment, were but to abuse  
Your Goodness.  Lu 
'tis but the servor of thy will lends thee  
Ability▪ The strictness of thy Love  
Must not oppress thy Nature; be advised.  Fi. 
If your Intention tend to cast me off?  
Proceed yet more directly; let me know  
The Cause: My vanity, as yet, was ne'er  
So indiscreet to think I might not err:  
Nor yet my frailty so indocile, as  
To render a Correction frivolous.  
If my Attendance, too Officiously,  
Pressed with untimely duty, interrupt  
The secret entertainment of your thoughts;  
I will restrain it to a Modesty,  
Indifferent as neglect; though it will be  
More difficult than assiduity  
To me. Or if, as improfitable,  
You would discard me, a superfluous charge,  
I will enure these hands, though yet unapt,  
To make my service useful.  Lu. 
How! infinitely beyond all Art extends  
The Innocence of thy expressions!  
I could stand Ages here, still as the Night,  
To hear thee plead to have; what, Nations fight  
To shun. Thy servitude. In troth, 'tis well  
Thy happy Nature guides thee to be good.  
Thou hast a native faculty would else  
All justice have corrupted. I must yield.  
Thou shalt henceforth receive no Rule beyond  
Thy own direction. Do as thou wilt.  
Yet I would have thee secretly depart  
From hence, to find Ambigam●r my Friend▪  
He only of my being here inform.  
And farther let him know, I lately have  
Intelligence of some disorders sprung,  
Amongst our disbanded troops; which to appease  
( If yet their fury start beyond their murmur)  
I here am placed at hand in this disguise:  
And shall be succoured, when occasion calls,  
By some dispersed troops Gratianus  
Holds in hand with hope of new employment.  Fi. 
I strictly shall observe your will;  
And with a speedy diligence return.  Lu. 
Not so, Fidelius, I would have thee stay  
Sometime with him, the better to direct  
His Messages to me; and cautious be  
When thou returnest of thy Discovery.  Fi. 
Though naught in 〈◊〉 pretendeth to avail,  
Save Prayer. My absence of your safety will  
Be jealous. Heaven be your safeguard Sr.  Lu. 
Farewell, my pretty Boy farewell.  Ex. Fi. 
Such Love would melt an unrelenting Heart.  
All my misfortunes, fluent as they are,  
Have not forced from me so much woman yet:  Seems to weep. Gratianus Ent. 
Gratianus! so suddenly, thou preced'st  
My Expectation: what news abroad?  Gra. 
strange news Sir, news  
Will awake all'that is Man about us.  Lu. 
Thy earnestness doth intercept thy haste:  
What is't?  Gra. 
The Princess, Sir, is given out for lost.  Lu. 
Good heaven forbid! as how?  Gra. 
Fled, as pretended is; a hoo● for fools.  
But those that have but half their senses, Sir,  
Must judge there's juggling in't. The Fox's train▪  
Grows rank; and I prepare me for the Chase.  Lu. 
Temper thy Ardour to a soft restraint,  
Thy rashness will o'erthrow our purposes.  Gra. 
Why? can you to them ere expect to find  
A fairer Introduction?  Lu. 
Thou dost mistake, I question not the ground▪  
To be sufficient to declare ourselves;  
But think it wanteth time to ripen it.  
Perhaps the Princess is thus privately  
Retired only to some holy Place  
For her devotion. Perhaps sequestered  
From the importunate tumult of the Court;  
To make her pleasures more agreeable.  
Perhaps this rumour may suggested be  
But to entrap a blind Temerity.  Gra. 
You say well; or this, or that may be;  
In women's ways is little certainty.  
you're better read in politics, than I;  
I know no virtue, but Fidelity;  
Nor vice, but want of courage: what is, Sir,  
To be done?  Lu. 
Time will bring truth to light; wait yet a while,  
Set Spies to gather perfect Evidence:  
Dispose your troops in readiness: and then  
Repair to me, we on the manner will  
Deliberate.  Gra. 
This shall be done immediately; but how  
If in th' interim you should discovered be?  Lu● 
In case I should; I fear no violence,  
But from the County Officers▪ Since I  
Assure myself, no soldier will attempt  
Th' attachment of my Person.  Gra. 
You may, upon my life, be confi●ent  
On their Loves. But how resist the other?  Lu. 
I have th' advantage of the H●ll, and on  
The least emotion will a signal give  
By flag, by day; by fire in the night.  Gra. 
I shall be vigilant, and certain in  
My succour: heaven favour our Endeavours  
To repair your wrongs.  Lu. 
Thanks, honest, Gratia●us; make no ●●ay;  
As haste is dangerous, so may prove delay.    


Act III. Scene I.  Eumena. Eu. 
What place this is? or, why thus hither brought?  
My best collected Sense cannot discover,  
Yet if it fail not in his ministry.  A noise within, she starts. 
The richness of these Ornaments pretend  
To flatter me to a security.  
My Fears pursue me still; each noise awakes  
The terror of another violence  
More hateful than the former. Certainly  
The mark of the●● should be Necessity,  
Which here seems smothered in a vast excess,  
To lodge no force, if not of wantonness.  
Yet here misfortunes threatenings do not stay,  
Sure if they did my Plaints were vain; since I  
Have resolution to escape their malice.  
Ills are scarce such which have their remedy:  
Which wanting is, alas, to Loves restraint,  
Whose jealous visions evils multiply  
On every empty possibility.  
Is Love quick-sighted only to afflict,  
Not to relieve itself? vain Industry!  
What power shall I invoke? whose aid implore?  
Am I abandoned to each casual●ty  
Without Protection of a providence?  
If so? How hitherto subsisted I?  
If otherwise? Why is that grace withdrawn?  
My Innocence is the same; unless it be  
A Crime to Love with true sincerity.  Zizania secretly listening. Ziz. Ent. Ziz. 
These plaints renew the horror of my guilt,  To herself. 
Why shuns your Highness my Society?  
I am no stranger to your sufferings▪  
Appear I less agreeable than I was?  Eu. takes her by the hand. Eu. 
Thou art to me the same thou ever were't,  
Why mov'st thou such a doubt, on such a ground?  
My thoughts, seduced by my sorrows, stray●  
Even from themselves▪ well may they thee deny  
Their anxious burden.  Ziz 
My relation is nigher to their wrongs  
Then e'er yet it was: before I only  
Was their Partner, now their Author am.  Eu. 
Thy grief distracts thee sure.  Ziz. 
Gild of two frequent usage is with them,  
Can harbour it without a secret sense.  
Mine will o'er throw me, if my Penitence  
Meet not your Pardon to restore my peace.  Eu. 
I hold no such Authority from heaven.  Ziz. 
Heaven is appeased, when those we do offend  
Are pacified.  Eu. 
It must then be some other:  
I have from thee received no injury.  Ziz. 
My crime in that assurance multiplies.  
Madam! you have; for which I thus become  Ziz kneels 
A suppliant, for your Pardon.  Eu. raiseth her. Eu. 
Dear Zizania rise: my Pardon, for what?  Ziz. 
That I could wish concealed  
Till your agreement my request confirm:  
The nature of my Trespass may perhaps  
Revoke your Clemency.  Eu. 
That were but virtue meanly to disguise  
With sophistry: be it what it may, I  
Do forgive thee.  Ziz. 
I have abused your trust, your purposes  
Betrayed to them have hither you by force  
Conveyed.  Eu. 
Thou couldst not be so wicked certainly?  Ziz. 
When my offence was known,  
I knew you would retract your Charity.  
Your mere rebukes are punishments to me.  Eu. 
I can but wonder at thy frailty: yet  
Must wonder more what should induce thee to'●.  Ziz. 
The danger of your Highness rash attempt.  
Which when my Prayers could not stay, I sought.  
My father's succour to prevent, but was  
Not privy to the means he used.  Eu. 
Astonishment gives place unto my fears;  
But to what end my Liberty restrained?  Ziz. 
I cannot guess, unless it be to give  
Freer access unto my brother's suit.  Eu. 
No more of that▪  
Unless thou wouldst possess me with belief,  
That there are crimes which we can not forgive.  Ziz. 
Henceforth, I never will my safety hold  
At so high rate, to purchase it with your  
Renewed displeasure: which yet to confirm,  
I will make use of this advantage gained  
By my error to rectify itself.  
The breach of your trust, wins a trust elsewhere,  
Which I will break again, but to repair  
The former. I am your only Wardor,  
With some few servants under my Command,  
Whose vig●lance, being ignorant to what  
Addresed, I easily will blind, when time  
Shall every circumstance fulfil, may make  
Infallibly successful our escape.  Eu. 
Prithee, Zizania, may I credit this.  Ziz. 
Once culpable, and ne'er free from suspect?  
Madam, you may, by your fair Innocence  
You may.  Eu. 
Another would believe this but a snare  
To work upon their easiness; but I  
Will on thy promised faithfulness rely.  Ziz. 
And never more shall suffer in't by me.  
Be pleased to withdraw yourself a while:  
I hear some one approach. Hard destiny!  
My ruin must repair my Infamy.  Filathes Ent. 
Brother, what chance hath led you hither?  Fi. 
No chance, Zizania, but Loves direction.  Ziz. 
'Twas chance you erred not with so blind a guide.  Fi. 
Blind in his sense, not in his Intellect.  Ziz. 
Yet sensual, sure was your intelligence.  Fi. 
'tis true, Zizania,  
We have a Father tender of us both.  Ziz. 
'tis manifest in your behalf: But how  
In mine?  Fi. 
That in the sequel will apparent be,  
First, tell me, how the Princess brooks this change?  Ziz. 
With longer use it may become less strange:  Fi. 
And how succeeds my Hopes?  Ziz. 
'tis time must be your better Advocate;  
You have already opportunity;  
Powerful disposers of a woman's will.  Fi. 
But how, by your art, find you her inclin'd●  Ziz. 
Not past possibility,  
Nor yet so facile, as to flatter you.  
Women have reserved motives not easy  
To disclose.  Fi. 
When unto my admittance shall I come?  Ziz 
With form purpose that must not be done;  
But carelessly, on some slight Accident:  
I will advise you in the manner, when  
I find her temper, and the season fit.  Fi. 
Thou hast a wit fit only to direct.  Ziz. 
But how all this concerns the care of me,  
I cannot judge;  Fi. 
Thou hast awaked my Memory.  
I am to let thee, from my Father, know,  
He hath concluded of thy Marriage  
With Ambigamor, confident his will  
Disposeth thine, in thy obedience.  
To which he wills thee form thy resolution,  
For thy advantage, and to farther his▪  
In his pretences to fair Orgula.  Ziz. 
'Tis very sudden.  Fi. 
Why seemest thou troubled?  
He is a man, in my opinion,  
Whose full de●ert might make thy wishes vain.  Ziz. 
I think as much.  
Nor is my trouble grounded on dislike,  
But on a sorrow for occasion lost,  
Might this Command have filled, if then but known,  
And my Agreement veiled with Modesty▪  Fi. 
What was't?  Ziz. 
Upon the importunacy of his suit,  
But yesterday, I promised to consult  
My father's will, and e'er the Evening closed,  
To send him my l●st Resolution.  Fi. 
Time is not so far spent, but this may yet  
Be done.  Ziz. 
Not well without suspicion of my being.  Fi. 
I am indebted for my Interests:  
And with an equal care will tender thine;  
Which thus securely may effected be.  
The Messenger employed shall pretend  
Your letter left unto his Charge last Night,  
But the distraction of the Prince's loss,  
And yours, diverted him: to which the date,  
And place agreeing; 'twill undoubted pass.  Ziz. 
'tis well advised, and I will follow it:  
Walk but one turn i'th' lower Gallery;  
I'll finish it immediately.  Ex. several ways.  

Act III. Scene 2.  Orgula. 
The Princes lost! it is incredible?  
It can be but some idle Rumour sprung  
From the distempered heat of wine: when as  
The giddy fantasy works high upon  
Each slight Impression to make the tongue  
Licentious: It is impossible!  
Admit it true: what would vain Hope infer?  
That I agreeing to Sinevero,  
Stand fairest to succeed her Dignity.  
Love interdicts that fond Reflection.  
Tush! Beauty, if not joined with Majesty,  
Is honoured but for sensuality.  
'Tis well attempted to suppress my flame,  
Yet vainly do my thoughts avouch to what  
They cannot frame, and with a false apparel  
Palliate my wound.  Mundelo Enter. Mu. 
Madam, the Princes is, for certain, lost.  Or. 
For certain then another must be found.  
The Practice of the world hath made thee wise,  
Mundolo, which teacheth thee to value  
All public damages, no farther than  
Our private Interests do on them depend.  Mu. 
'Twas your Command that changed the Property.  Or. 
Which error now my second thoughts have found,  
And blame that troubled curiosity.  
Which to overpass, tell me, Mundolo,  
What youth is that come lately to my Brother?  
Or in what quality received?  Mu. 
His business speaks him a Messenger;  
His Privacy a friend, beyond both which,  
I yet have nothing learned particular  
Of him.  Or. 
Thou hast then lost thy sensual faculty.  Mu. 
What means your honour to conclude of mine  
Beyond the information of your own?  Or. 
Can any Eye, if not defective,  
See and not judge him nature's miracle.  Mu. 
So far from that, mine cannot judge in what:  Or. 
Is not his form exactly excellent?  Mu. 
More than the bashful smoothness of his years,  
Which reach not yet to the distinction  
Of his Sex; I can not see.  Or. 
Thou stupid art beyond credulity.  
Mundolo, while yet I was an Infant,  
My Father, of a slave, designed thee  
To my Attendance: since I have found thee  
Diligent and faithful to my Purposes.  Mu. 
Your honour's Testimony is  
The End and Glory of my Servitude.  Or. 
In that belief Mundolo, I intend  
T'impart the secret of my Love to thee.  Mu. 
It is the gen'ral Subject of each tongue,  
Which now prepare to publish through the world  
Their vows to your obedience, as joined  
To him extracts a sovereign Right from that  
Of our Protection.  Or. 
The vulgar voice is a mere babble grown,  
Which reacheth but to the first appearance  
Of things to involve the world in error;  
In which, Mundolo, thou art also fallen,  
If thy words truly figure thy Belief.  
The Object of my Love the Subject is  
Of our last difference, which thy sense finds  
Not out because it not distinguisheth.  Mu. 
Means your Honour the youth you spoke of last?  Or. 
The same▪  Mu. 
The grounds of Love in their dependencies  
Are imperceptible even to them  
That suffer the Effects to which it may  
Become the meanness of my Condition  
To be an Instrument, no counsellor.  Or. 
I do approve thy modesty, and will  
So far make use thereof.  Mu. 
My obedience waits on your Direction.  Or. 
Which is at present but to find the means  
I may have private Conference with him.  Mu. 
The occasions fair, he being now without  
Viewing intentively those Pictures sent  
From Rome. I'll use some slight unwittingly  
May guide him hither.  Ex. Mundolo Or. 
Do, make trial of your Art.  
How Imperious is the force of Love!  
What are these glorious trophies which the world  
Admire in their Captivity, since they  Waves her hand with a slighting gesture to her face. 
Must be laid down to grace another's triumph  
In my own; against the Rites of Beauty,  
Or our Sex.  Fidelius Ent. Fi. 
That here should be a fairer piece than that,  
I cannot cred●t, though I press to see.  Seems surprised, seems to retire. 
Ha! this fellow hath abused me,  
Your honour's Pardon.  Or. 
If your Intention guide you hither, Sir,  
Here is no object will oppose your course.  Fi. 
It was but error Madam, which  
Were multiplied in the continuance.  Or. 
The error lies but in your own dislike,  
Nor wants but your own satisfaction  
To repair it.  Fi. 
It is your bounty▪ so to censure it,  
Extended it no farther, he deserved  
To bear his guilt that would not clear it so,  Or. 
If farther, 'tis in your own conjecture  
Merely, not in mine.  Fi. 
It is against the Rule of civil ties,  
To use their faculty to overthrow  
Their Rites.  Or. 
Those truly are superfluous ceremonies,  
Which custom hath induced to blind the world,  
She might those freedoms steal, Nature hath sealed  
To us, even in our first Production.  Fi. 
Without some order were no decency.  Or. 
Order is but a sluggish method form  
To shrow the subtlety of the Cautelous.  Fi. 
The Nature of my error to confirm,  
If I desist not, will beget another.  
In this your opposition Madam  Or. 
It is but musical in our discourse,  
Not reaching to th' aversion of our wills.  Fi. 
Your Honours is so powerful, it must find  
Concurrence every where in all that have  
The Lights of Nature free.  Or. 
To which I doubt your own will scarce agree.  Fi. 
The fault is then in my Capacity  Or. 
Who moves another's, may thereto ●onform  
His own.  Fi. 
It must be when th' Effects of both are known.  Or. 
Where the Cause is infallible th' effects  
Are manifest: which thus is farther proved,  
Fire must burn, and Beauty must be loved.  Fi. 
When they do meet fit Subjects to receive  
Those their Impressions.  Or. 
Not yet; this difficulty hath too much Art  
To be simplicity I must be pl●in.  To herself 
What defect can you find in ●e not to  
Receive the latter?  Fi. 
In Excellence your own Supere●acy.  Or. 
That in th' effects against your own is found  
An Impropr●ety: since mine in vain  
Inviteth: yours with success enforceth  
Love.  Fi. 
This only is in supposition,  
Not in evidence  Or 
That to each sense appears which not●dverts  
It se●f ●rom this oreflowing P●ssion  
Of my heart: by a disguised neglect.  
Tho●e blush yield a lustre yet untaught  To herself 
By Art: which tho●gh they 〈…〉 with blame  
My loves access; they cherish still the flame.  A● Attendant Att. 
Sir, my Lord Ambigamor desires to speak with you.  
●'me happily delivered:  To himself. 
I'was even at my last evasion  
Your Pardon, Madam.  Or. 
M●ne submits to your will, even so, who Love,  
Not by their own, but by another's move.  Exit Or.  

Act III. Scene 2.  Filathes. 
Women in their own Nature generally  
Deceitful are. 'Tis the defensive Arm  
Of their security, framed to supply  
The defect of their own Ability.  
But when this innate disposition meets  
With a fit instrument of wit: 'tis then  
Women outstrip the common reach of men.  
The justest ground of my suspicion, is  
This sudden change, so long pursued in vain.  
My Signet perfectly agrees with this,  The Letter. 
And may without a blemish it reclose.  Sits down at a table. Opens the Letter and reads. 
My Lord Ambigamor.  
The Messenger hereof delivers you  
A false pretence, but to delude the hand  
Directs it, with th' assistance of my Brother,  
A passionate Party in your interests:  
I thus advise you to restore your Friend.  
the Prince●s( since her intercepted flight,  
Occasioned only by Ludaster's Love.  
For whose Reapeal she often moved in vain)  
Intends the Evening that succeeds this date,  
To meet him at the Forest hol● oak:  
Disguised▪ alone, armed with the assurance  
Of his virtue: Friendship confirms you best  
Know how to yield him this Intelligence;  
With which to join, your diligence to move;  
Receive a farer title to my Love.  Zizania 
These are new mysteries, whose progress would  
Prove fatal to us in their Consequence.  
Siste●, you are a trust● Advocate  
Is then Ludaster's Inte●ests become  
More prev●lent with you, than mine? I must  
Suppress the issue, though with grief my Friend  
Ambigamor must be deprived thereby  
Th' advantage which it brings unto his Hopes:  
Lost in his Mistress scorn— There is a mean  pause 
May favour his and farther yet my Ends.  
To thy Exa●ple be propitious Jove!  
Aid my deceit in Love— It shall be so.  pause 
With little Art I may protract the Date  
Hereof, whereon depends their meeting: whilst  
I, in the Intr'm, at the appointed time,  
Veiled with th' approach of Night, may personate  
My rival with success: I'll fetch a Pen,  
And alter it, with ease, it shall not be  
Distinguished by the Eye that framed it.  Exit Fi. Leaving the letter on the Table. Sinevero Ent. Sin. 
Filathes! gone so suddenly; he was  Intermission reads the letter left on the table. 
But now they told me in his Closet— How!  
What this? with the assistance of my Brother.  
A passionate party in your Interests—  
Ludaster at the Forest Holy oak—  
The Evening that ensues this date— 
* Lets fall the letter from his eye  that is  
To Night. Must then my children conspire  
Against my safety, and th'immediate means  
I have contrived to enlarge their Fates?  
'tis time I should provide another stock,  
To graft a more obedient issue on.  Flings the letter carelessly on the Table again. 
I'll not oppose their course, their ways shall be  
Their Snare: my care rests only on my own  
Security: which to ensure, and these  
My doubts confirm with farther certainty,  
I must set Spies on the Delivery.  Ex. Sin. looks on the letter. Filathes re●ent with a Pen. Fi. 
This unite, if converted into two,  
Defers the present, till to morrow night.  seems to w●ite, closes it and seals it. 
'tis done most perfectly. I will dispatch  
The Messenger; then heaven put out your light;  
Loves sense is clearest in the darkest night.  Ex. Fi.  

Act III. Scene 4.  Orgula, Mundolo. Or. 
To night, Mundolo, sayst thou?  M. 
Madam, this Night Fidelius must depart.  Or. 
What is the Reason of his sudden haste?  Mu. 
Unless a letter lately sent my Lord  
Ambigamor, my Observation  
Can suggest no other.  Or. 
Must the malignance of my stars at once  
Precipitate my Hopes, their rigour yet  
Had taught me sufferance, if the change had  
But flattered me to a suspense of Doubt,  
Though it ne'er reached to farther certainty.  Mu. 
Be not so moved. A fertile industry  
Makes easy paths through every difficulty:  
Mine, as in Duty bound, presents itself  
To th' undertaking.  Or. 
Endeavours happy that pretend to be,  
Must work on Subjects have capacity.  Mu. 
Madam, this falls within that quality,  
Though your fears lend it other appearance.  
Were my life free( though far too mean a pledge  
For your displeasure) it most willingly  
Should balance the Event.  Or. 
What can be done on such an Exigent?  Mu. 
His journey may protracted be.  Or. 
Those purposes do many hazards run  
Are grounded but on possibility▪  
Where is the means?  Mu. 
To that,  
Occasion is the fairest Minister,  
Leave to my vigilance the Charge.  Or. 
Thy subtlety I know still equal is  
To thy Fidelity. And ne● there shall.  
Return from my employment empty.  Mu. 
Your honour's bounty is my providence.  Or. 
How fleeting are th'impressions of my mind:  
Were this successful my distracted thoughts  
Would in themselves a new division find.  
This innate passion of Supremacy,  
Which the Soul holdeth from the Excellency  To herself 
Of her own Nature; scarce will intermit  
To the Repugnance of another's force.  
Were but the Motions of Ambition traced,  
Each precedent would show; even wantonness,  
( When her Ri●es were in question) lost the use  
Of sense: yet were these flames springs of delight,  
If but one object could them both unite  Mu. 
Madam, your thoughts seem overcast again  
With trouble: Appease them in assurance  
Of my trust.  Or. 
Mundelo, thy faith hath ever been,  
Without reserve, the closet of my breast.  
To limmit it with a Restriction now,  
Were to offend thy interest, and betray  
My own: know then Mundolo, I do find  
A contradiction in my own desire,  
And cannot reconcile the difference:  
One part we have concluded on; th' other  
Remains without in Expection  
Of my last Resolution.  Mu. 
Does your Honour mean my Lord Protector.  Or. 
I do; He with new violence pursues  
His Pretences to a sudden Issue.  Mu. 
What obstacle  
In this can move you to deliberate?  Or. 
Is it not apparently repugnant  
To my Love▪ to yield myself unto  
Another End?  Mu. 
To this your fairest way, If I might be  
Your guide: This youth is of condition mean,  
And can not meet your wish, without reproach,  
Which shrouded with another's title might  
Be done: custom makes it warrantable.  
Wealth moves the world, yet is Loves Minister:  
First we contract with this, then join with that.  
Husband's are used, as Properties in Scenes,  
To keep the inward motions undiscovered.  Or. 
We against our Reason easily conclude  
When overswayed by sense: Admit this were  To herself 
As you would figure it. It must distaste  
A Virgin to yield up the passion  
Of her first Embraces, from him she loves  
Deservedly, to Age and Impotence.  Mu. 
Nor that, nor this, if you rely on me;  
That Brain is shallow, which is only led  
By common consequence, wisdom creates  
New means, where none to sense was visible;  
And fashions subjects were irregular  
Directly to her Purposes.  Or. 
Such is the force of wisdom, I must grant;  
But not as placed in our Humanity.  Mu. 
Distrust is only our Infirmity:  
Our faculties oft fail us in their use,  
Wanting assurance to support their strength:  
Yet to confirm your thoughts, I will disclose  
The manner: My Father was an Artist,  
Madam, honoured in his time, though since,  
The ignorance of every mounting Jack,  
Hath made the Function infamous. Of his  
I have a Lodanum, so rarely mixed,  
One scruple given in any liquid thing,  
Holds with so dull a vapour every sense,  
No force can wake them from its violence,  
Till the course of the Operation pass.  
This but infused upon your wedding night  
Into his Cup you seemingly do yield,  
The more agreeing Object I will bring  
Unto your Bed.  Or. 
How bold are serv●le minds,  To herself. 
Upon the least discovery of our ills,  
To tempt us unto greater— ay obey:  — Intermission. 
Love and Ambition must work any way.  
Mundolo, to warrant thy endeavours,  
The Law allows me power of thy life;  
To gratify them, if successful, I  
Will raise thy Bondage 'bove thy Liberty.  Mu. 
I find it so already, Madam,  Or. 
It shall have larger proofs; I'●h' interim,  
Give the direction to your own advice.  Mu 
Your honour then should suddenly conclude  
Your Marriage with Sinevero: which done,  
The rest lies in my execution.  Or. 
Follow thy course; be to thyself thy Fate,  
Procure me Love: or to thyself my Hate.  Ex. Orgula Mu. 
The true Reward of forward Servitude,  
I have too far proceeded to look back:  
My safety now must be the nightest end.  Ambigamor, Fidelius, Ent. Mu. 
Ha! so nigh!  
I must lie close for new discovery.  withdraws behind the hanging Amb. gives Fi. two letters. Amb embraces Fi. Amb. 
This to thy Master give with diligence;  
Tell him the time and place inscribed shall  
Present me to his succour: to which add  
My Love. Farewell honest Fidelius.  Fi 
Your honour's humble Servant.  Ex. Amb. Fi. several ways. Mu. 
Sir,  
my Lord Ambigamor.  
Hath somewhat farther to impart to you.  Mundolo discovers himself, and runs hastily after Fi. re-ex. Fi. points to a contrary way. seems to lock a door on him. Fi. 
Which way went he?  Mu. 
This way Sir,  
So, I'll follow, and close him in his cage,  
If the●e he struggle, vain shall be his Rage.  Ex. Mun.   


Act IV. Scene 1.  Sineverus, Nefarius. Sin. 
This day, on the declining of the light;  
The place, Nefarius, is the Holy oak,  
Here in the Forest. See it fully done.  
Your former instruments perhaps may be  
Your safest undertakers.  Ne. 
They will! but how shall they distinguish them.  Sin. 
That by their Persons, or their Habits will  
Uncertain prove, because they come disguised,  
Their purpose being to entrap my life:  
But you in time preceding them may soon  
Discover them, by their intention,  
Which in their actions they would seem to hide  
I'll triple the reward to them, and thee.  Ne. 
Your honour's pleasure is my recompense  Sin. 
This finished:  Ex. Ne. 
My joys are perfect, and my fortune's full.  
This toiling spirit then safe harbour takes,  
Where she the bre●ches shall restore of time  
And casualty: knowing no Action  
But what is practised by the Gods, Repose.  
While cherished with the Flames of Beauty and  
Of Love, an Essence I assume out● lasts  
The Age of Her, whose ashes doth renew  
Her kind— Zizania.  Zizania Ent. 
I sent for thee, thou might'st partake my j●y.  
I have shaken off the tumults of the Court,  
And with my Bride am to Placentia come,  
To be thy guest, Zizania, Privacy  
Adds, in our seeming stealth, to our delight,  
What public freedom doth in licence loose,  Zi. 
My wishes should enlarge your happiness,  
Were they as ready to my will, as it  
Is in obedience unto yours.  Sin. 
Which only is at present to seclude  
You and your charge f●om our discovery.  
And secretly to give direction  
For this night's entertainment.  Ziz. 
To my best faculty I shall.  Sin. 
My care shall next supply the like Office  
To thee.  Ex. Sin. Ziz. 
Your tenderness gui●es my Fidelity;  
Love is s●c●esse●ull to ●ecrepid Age,  
While youth and beauty lose their influence.  
Where lies the hidden virtue of force?  
Not in the sense, this contradiction proves.  
If in th' Intellect, their Equality  
Ob●forms would mutually each other  
Pe●e●ate with like Impressions: But this  
Alas! my sufferings also falsify.  Eumena Ent. Eu. 
Zizania,  
〈…〉 thou to the burden of my Fears?  
Leaving me only to secure my Peace.  Ziz. 
I thought your Highness was disposed to Rest.  Eu. 
Su●h intermission seldom doth invest  
A Soul besieged with so many doubts.  Ziz. 
Your groundless apprehension doth suggest  
Vain forms, but to afflict yourself.  Eu. 
Think'st thou it vain to doubt the certainty  
Of my escape the hour at hand, and yet  
The way not form to my delivery  Ziz. 
You rashly do precipitate your censure:  
Our better Fortune doth present the means,  
Which I already fully fashioned have  
In my Intention: Madam, this day  
My Father married is to Orgula,  
With whom, more fully to enjoy themselves,  
He privately is hither come;  Eu. 
What can from hence be gathered? this rather  
Doth oppose, than farther our design▪  Ziz. 
Your Highness doth conclude too suddenly.  
Their entertainment lieth in my charge,  
Which, not appearing, I must secretly  
Direct; under which colour, on th' approach  
Of Night, our domestic Attendants I'll  
Dispose unto some rustic sport, in which  
Divested of their usual Habits  
To put on other Properties▪ we will  
Assume their Figures to disguise our own.  
Whilst in the Action they are busied,  
We undiscovered safely may depart.  Eu. 
'tis well contrived; I wish the Issue may  
As happily ensue.  Ziz. 
Distrust it not: Assurance fortifies  
Our purposes.  Eu. 
It is in heaven decreed; succeed what may,  
We must the Influence of their Lights obey.  〈◊〉  

Act IV. Scene 2.  Mundolo Mu. 
I have wi●h pain this difficulty past,  
But how I shall go thorough with the next,  
Falls not as et in my Conception.  
Was ever Culli'on forced to the Arms  
Of so much Beauty yet? 'Tis the last time  
〈◊〉 be undertaker to another's  
Ple●sure A ve●tall far more easily  
I might corrupted have, than him have moved  
To the approach I was enforced to leave  
My sl●ghts pretending that his gold had won  
Me to the Change; whilst under the colour  
Of aiding his escape, I trained him through  
The thickest of the wood▪ where seeming to  
Have lost myself, I lodged him here until  
Tomorrow's light.  Orgula Enter. Or. 
Mundolo.  Mu. 
Madam  Or. 
How thr●ves our purposes?  Mu. 
As you yourself could wish.  Or. 
Why? Hast thou won him hither?  Mu. 
I have, and find this passive coldness  
Is but the bashful softness of his youth,  
Which veiled with night's obscurity will prove  
More hardy.  Or. 
Wher● haste thou lodged him?  Mu 
Close to your withdrawing room, wherein  
Are Chambers only to my use assigned.  Or. 
'tis well, but hast thou to Sinevero's cup  
Infused thy Ingredient?  Mu. 
'tis done.  Or. 
I fear the failing of its force.  Mu. 
My li●e shall be the Forfeiture.  Or. 
I find in him no alteration yet.  Mu. 
It must have time to operate.  Ver. 
Ha! hah! hah!  Vergona, Amasia. Or. 
So full of mirth, Vergona.  Ver. 
Your honour's Pardon,  
Who from th' expression could restrain themselves,  
Must have a temper more discreet than mine.  Or. 
What is the matter? speak Amasia, speak.  Am. 
My Lord the Bridegroom fain would be in Bed.  Or. 
With which of you? I pray ye are so pleasant grown.  Am. 
The fervour of his Inclination  
Affecteth no Society  Or. 
No, what moves his Passion then?  Am. 
Upon my life no Action, Madam.  
You need not fear he should disquiet you  
To night.  Or. 
Thou art distracted sure.  Am. 
I should be so, held I your honour's place,  
'twould move the sufferance of a longing Bride,  
To lose her expectation fully raised▪  Or. 
This but confirms me more in my belief.  
Unveil the mystery.  To Vergano. Ver. 
Madam, without more circumstance, my Lord  
Travelled in fancy with too high delight,  
Ere he to the Fruition came, makes  
His Relaxes in a pleasant slumber.  Am. 
So Dull,  
The Image scarce can be distinguished.  
From what it represents.  Ver. 
No violence can move a sense of life,  
More than he breathes.  Or. 
'tis strange, perhaps some lassitude of spirit.  
See, ye disturb him not.  Am. 
A Trumpet or a Cannon will not do't.  Or. 
It works, Mundolo, vanished are my fea●s.  Mu. 
Your honour will have firmer confidence  
In my Proceedings.  To Mun. privately to whisper. Or. 
I shall, and truly value them:  The waiting women one to the other Ver. 
We shall not need, Amasia to steal  
Away the Bride to Night.  Am. 
Nor she, Vergona, to protract the loss  
Of her Virginity with pretended Vows.  Ver. 
'twill save her artificial modesty  
From such constraint.  Am. 
Fie upon phlegm and age, which have not he●t  
Enough to reach to the Encounter.  Ver. 
This interlude were rare to introdu●e  
Another to her Bed.  Am. 
When he awaking should believe he had  
What he found wanting, in a pleasant dream.  Ver. 
The slight would please beyond what follows it.  Or. 
It shall be so; Amasia, get things  To Mu. 
In readiness, I will to bed.  Am. 
Your Honour will not frustrate the design  
Your Servants for your entertainment have  
Already form, and now without attend  
You with a Banquet and a Masque;  Or. 
Go let them know their Lord being indisposed,  
Their sports shall till to morrow be deferred,  
Their Banquet place in my withdrawing room.  Am. 
We shall.  Ex. Am. Ver. Or. 
Mundolo, now  
My joys have freedom to declare themselves,  
And yield to thee their due acknowledgement.  
A double vigour animates my sense:  
The flames of Love I find more active prove,  
When they approach their sphere, only to thee  Lays her hand on Mun. 
Their union must their mediation owe.  
How fortunes malice labours to suppress  
The light of Nature; her beauties casting  
In obscurity: had they but agreed  
In thy Production, thy wit had raised  
A glorious title to thy memory.  Mu. 
Yet to your honour's Testimony far  
Inferior.  Or. 
I shall find means to lend it Action  
Worthy thy capacity: I'th' interim,  
Proceed to perfect my intention,  
Occasions ripe, and time doth speedy grow,  
Yet in his flight, to answer Love, too slow.  Mu. 
My diligence with like alacrity  
Shall meet them both.  Exit Mun. Or. 
Contract thy dulle●t vapour gloomy night,  
Thou fully Mayest thy right anticipate:  
Veil every gaudy spangle of thy Robe,  
Thy beauty lies in thy obscurity.  
With thy deep lethargy charm every sense,  
No spy may intercept Loves privacy.  
Th●oughout thy silent Region, no breath move,  
May once divert the fancy of our Love.  
And when thou must withdraw, lest us thou shouldst  
Betray; precipitate not thy Course; but slide  
By degrees away.   

Act IV. Scene 3.  Zizania in a Forester● disguise. 
What Law, so tyrannous, doth us enjoin  
With the first Rites of Nature to dispense?  
Our common preservation should prevail,  
Balanced against all other consequence.  
Yet I unhappy must such ties inflict  
Upon myself, as no Law would impose,  
To save another, I myself must lose  
This goodly light, whereof we so much boast,  
Serves but to us our thraldom to install:  
No sooner we do Reasons use attain,  
But what, who want her, do with ●iberty;  
Her strict prescriptions do to us deny.  
Madam, where is your highness?  Eumena Ent. disguised in a Foresters habit. Eu. 
Here, Zizania, here.  Ziz. 
I fearful am to lose you; this distance  
Will too much endanger our division.  
You seem not forward in your own desires;  
What makes you slack your preintended speed?  
If fear; Love hath his resolution lost:  
If lassitude; repose yourself on me.  Eu. 
Neither: Zizania.  
I stayed to gather somewhat I let fall.  Ziz. 
By your long silence, Madam, I should judge,  
You● thoughts do suffer some distraction.  
This your escape would else be some degree  
Unto your satisfaction.  Eu. 
Which is not figured solely in discourse,  
Such entertainments now would only serve  
But to disclose what our disguise conceals.  Ziz. 
Here are no witnesses, believe, but such,  
Whose simple Nature can distinguish nought  
We utter: or, if they did, the freedom which  
They happily enjoy, would not betray  
Our Liberty.  Eu. 
Are we yet far remote from whence we came,  
Or whether we intend?  Ziz. 
From both past all distinguishing.  Eu. 
Thou hast so many winding turnings trod,  
I fear our unknown course should backward lead.  Ziz. 
This path doth guide us to a little Plain,  
Would pe●fectly to either us direct.  Eu. 
From which I gather what I have to shun,  to herself 
Zizania, hark, I hear some noise at hand;  
Step thou before and make discovery.  Ziz. 
'Twas but your highness' apprehension.  Eu. 
Think'st thou my fears so vain to agitate  
Beyond the true direction of my sense.  Ziz. 
Your satisfaction moves my diligence.  Eu. 
I have at length attempted with success,  
Who ●y one Party twice betrayed will be,  
The Author is of his own misery,  
Had but my thoughts reflected at the first  
On the extraction of this infamous  
Betrayer of my trust; I had not now  
Been forced to expose my wand'ring steps  
To the uncertain chance of Night; nor yet  
The fury of each savage Beast. Nature  
In the firm Rule of her Productions would  
Have taught me, she, according to each kind,  
Doth seldom fail in figuring of the mind.  
The father's high Ambition I have found,  
Which travels indirectly to supplant  
Me of my Right: whose power to o'ersway,  
Both Love and wisdom traceth out one way  Ex. Eu. Ziz. 
'Twas but the Image of your jealousy.  Ziz re-ent● 
Madam! Madam! I am not surely come  
Unto the Place I le●t her in. Heaven guide  
My course aright, night may not us divide,  Ex. Zizi.  

Act IV. Scene 4.  Voracho, Spura●ro. Encounter. Spu. 
Voracho!  Vo. 
Spuratro!  Spu. 
What booties are abroad?  Vo. 
I rounded have the Forest; but can find  
Naught worth the undertaking.  Spu. 
Hast thou seen any? I am honest grown  
Fro want of practice; Thieves, like misers, should  
Seek for great gains, but not neglect the small.  Vo. 
Two foresters I oft accosted have,  
Who by their course seem but to lodge some Dear.  Spu. 
No matter what: Are their clothes good they wear:  Vo. 
Give ear a while; I hear some one draw nigh.  Spu. 
A certain prize,  
close to our Ambush ply.  They hide themselves. Eumena enter. Eu. 
I have outstripped the accents of her voice,  
And should by her expressions have escaped  
The hazard of encounter or pursuit.  
But whether my Intention should direct,  
If my sense could distinguish where I am,  
Is not yet form in Resolution:  
Fear ha●h till now usurped that faculty,  
And happily conducted nature so,  
As the next means to preservation.  
Difficulty is sooner overcome,  
Than treachery: Thus this evasion past,  
I should proceed to free me from the next:  
But in this obscure Labyrinth I find  
The more to disengage me I insist,  
The more in error I myself involve.  
These unfrequented shades, approaching night,  
My senses seize with horror, captivate  
My ●ight: ●enum'd with lassitude my limbs  
Forget their use: yet when to me the cause  
Presents itself, Love sweetens every clause.  
Oh! cruel Villain!  shout, Eu. falls. Spu. 
'Twas well directed, sirrah! he is fallen.  Vo. 
Quickly advance, and finish him, I'll wait  
The Coast.  Eu. 
What seek you of me? if my life,  
It is already to your hand betrayed;  
A thing so vain, they would not it defend,  
Had tried the evils hath attended mine.  Spu. 
So willing to depart? had we but known  
Your mind, you longer might have lived, we seek  
Another's life, but to secure our own.  Spu. goes about to rifle him: whistles. 
'tis money is our End.  Gratianus Ent. Spu. withdraws. Gra. 
The cry I heard upon the shot, was here,  
If my sense err not: hah! a handsome youth  
I yes weltering in his blood: what a●t thou? speak.  Eu. 
I shal● not be, while I can let you know,  
W●thout the help of charitable h●nds.  Gra. raises Eu. Gra. 
To your first succour, Sir, accept of mine.  
So, so, gently rest har●ly on me.  
Wh● gaze you still with terror sound about?  Eu. 
lest my unhappy sufferings should betray  
Your char●ty to the ha●ds by which I fell.  Gra. 
Wh●t were the Villains?  Eu. 
By their intention I should judge them thieves  Gra. 
Take courage sir I h●ve at hand more ay●,  
If need require, whi●h wa●t but on my Call.  
Your wound, I do perceive, not mortal is,  
Yet lest your travel, and th' ensuing cold  
Of Night should farther hazard it, I will  
Con●uct you to a holy man resides  
Not far ●rom hence, whose Piety and skill  
Sh●ll to your suc●our our certain s●fety b●ing.  Yew 
Your goodness sir, hath taught me to believe  
The gods as yet, have not abandoned me.  
Nor shall my gr●titude be wan●ing to  
Their Providence, or your humanity.  Gra. 
Mine, if successful, hath his recompense.  
Strain not yourself, but rest upon my arm.  Eu. 
Heaven many times to good doth turn our Harm.  Ex▪  

Act IV. Scene 5.  Ludaster. 
Man in himself should a new Nature form  
To entertain himself without dislike,  
Or lassitude: so many breaches hath  
Our frai●ty to repair, no sooner we  
Step to supply the one, but suddenly  
Another calls us to their succour, leaving  
The vain in ●u●●ry of man both fruitless  
And unsatisfied: such is the burden  
Of my anxious thoughts, which on their own●  
Reflection vainly toil to raise their own  
Perfection, whose incapacity  
Resists the power even of Divinity:  
And by conversion, in the passive sense,  
Doth seem to limmit that omnipotence.  Gra●ian●s, Eum●na Ent. Gra. 
Whilst there is change in things, though from the world  
She hide herself, virtue will be found out  
To make her being useful unto others,  
And in despite of her repugnant malice,  
Fortune at length is forced to become  
Her Minister: See here the Exemplar  
Presents itself to yours.  Lu. 
How? wounded?  
Your Stars good, sir, too meanly have, I fear,  
Directed you, those tender years, I judge,  
Will prove unapt to meet th' inconvenience  
Of this sterrile place: B●t if such defect●  
M●y be supplied by my Industry;  
Expect an issue equal to your Hop●●.  Eu. 
Goodness hath surely quite abandoned  
The sources of Civility. And now,  
Retracting back to the Original  
Of her first Re●or●ation, hath forsaken  
The affluence of society, in this  
Wild desert to take up her being.  
Next under heaven, to your Humanities  
I owe my second being: may the Gods  
Afford suc●ess to lend me gratitude.  Lu. 
Exchange of words, will but exasperate  
Your grief, which rest perhaps may mitigate,  
Conduct him gently in  They lead him in. Lu. Gra. return after a little in●●rmission. Lu. 
So, Gratianus, the Remedy applied  
'twill not be now impertinent to ask,  
What this youth is? or by what accident  
Thus wounded?  Gra. 
More than the unaffected grace appears  
In his demeanour, language and Aspect,  
As certain marks of his Nobility,  
I nothing farther can instructed be;  
As through the Forest hither I was bent,  
I from the hands of thieves delivered him.  Lu. 
An action becoming well your virtue.  Gra. 
Yet seeks to be, made good in yours.  Lu. 
The gods propitious prove to both our works.  
But what new change abroad?  Gratianus. Gra. 
Nuptials, sir, which must solemnised be  
In Funerals; the Fox this night is wed  
To Orgula the Proud, and harbour takes  
Where he, of late, hath made the Rape of all  
Our Hopes, in our fair sovereign. This I  
Learned of some scattered outlaws lately joined  
To our suspended troops, who therein were  
Unwitting●y his Ministers: if we  
May certain evidence collect both from  
The Time and Persons.  Lu. 
Admit this true, which lies but in suspect;  
What thereon would you next conclude?  Gra. 
This night with some selected troops to search.  Lu. 
The ground uncertain must be shaddowe●  
With some other pretence, that if this fail,  
Yet your retreat may be thereby secu●'d●  Gra. 
'tis well advis'd● 〈◊〉 Ar●iers shall be  
The substitute●●will meet the soldiers  
Liking, and not unaptly fit the time▪  Lu. 
The issue with each circumstance make haste  
To let me know, we thereto fashion may  Lu. embraces Gra. 
Our following purposes: Night hastens on.  
Farewell, the staff of all my trust; farewell.  Gra. 
May my endeavours meet your Interests.  Ex. Several ways.   


Act V. Scene 1.  Filathes. 
You inverst Eyes of Night,  
Who on our easy Nature work our Fates,  
Concur in your auspicious Ministry  
To crown a flame,  
As bright and lasting as your Essences●  
Attract some vapour, that your ●●ght may be  
Doubtful to us, as your uncertainty.  
Loves superstitious reverence hath seized  
My heart: He prompts me to go on,  
Yet interjects an Interdiction.  
Styles violence t'him, what he enforceth to:  
And wills me leave, what he enjoins to do,  
Enlighten thine own Mysteries, blin●e Pow'●●  
Force not, or force permit; if that thy Eye  
Be only placed in the fantasy;  
My fear and thy Restraint are void. This shade  
Translates me to the Image of her thoughts,  
Where high consent shall meet in equal Fires,  
And when the guilty blushes of the Morn,  
Hastened by hers, betray the fallacy,  
Her prepossessed fancy will reflect,  
Upon the first Impression of delight,  
Which will her ravished senses so suspend,  
They will not find or not dislike th' error:  
While struggling Honour, finding not a Name  
To style the Act, is forced to assume  
Those R●tes may yield it privilege.  
Confirmed, I'll wait, when met; all still become,  
Nature contract all senses into one.  Withdraws, ex. Fi. Zizania enter. Ziz. 
She's lost to me, as I am to myself.  
What unformed shadows fancy works upon?  
So busily, as thence she would create  
New Essences without the Intellect.  Intermission. 
Work on— Chance is a weak foundation—  
Yet doth the light of Nature captivate,  
And by coherence of her links drags on  
The world's important Agitation:  
While every new occurrent she, but forms  
Supplants the fabric of Resolution,  
And in a Minute scatters what Reason  
Hath many Ages toiled to erect.  
Chance past, since not sought, not attaints my will:  
Succeeding blames not, if the same fulfil.  
Assenting Love says force I can not suffer:  
And passive Nature force I cannot act:  
Without impulsion guilt is not in fact:  
Yet if so far chance reach not, or their leave,  
She others may, but shall not me deceive.  
Hope is abandoned: what chance hath begun,  
I leave the sequel by her to be done.  Ex. Ziz. Neforius and a band of Villains. Ne. 
Fate i● our handmaid, th' are met near to part.  
As lightning in your execution be  
Swi●t and silent, 'tis double mercy thought,  
Where Death implies Necessity.  1. Vil. 
You need not style it so to us, we shall.  
virtue's no motive in our Element:  
Those are the shadows of our safety sir.  Vo. gives them money Ne. 
In earnest of your undertakings, hold.  
Nay, 'tis all right; man's better Angels.  Nefarius remains. 
Your purpose finished trebles your reward.  2. Vil. 
Soul-quickning action! think't already done.  Ne. 
Ha!  Ex. Vil. shrieking & nois● within. 
If that this Organ can distinguish sounds,  
Those voices it hath been familiar with  
Th' Agents discharged; I have a private light  
Shall yield me safe intelligence.  Villains re-ent. 1. Vil. 
Their fates are spun, what is your pleasure more?  Ne. 
At present nothing; hold take your rewards  gives more. 
And now disperse you to your several beings,  
To morrow wait for new directions.  2. Vil. 
We are your Creatures.  Ex. Vil. Ne. withdraws a while, after some intermission returns with a dark lantern in one ●and, a ring and medal in the other. Ne. 
Now to my second purpose.  Nefarius re-ent. Ne. 
New prodigies! massacre his children!  
Nature is started forth her proper seat,  
For lust and ambition to make way,  
To which Idols no Sacrifice is dear.  
He yields to this, that she might yield to that.  
It must be so; a direful Commerce 'tis.  
I have weighed deep in mischief: but till now,  
Horror could never make my hand to shake.  
This Mystery must still be such to me.  
It is not safe to find what Tyrants seek  
To hide: These unsuspected Emblems shall  
To the Event be silent Evidence.  
Who in a tyrant's bosom would● securely rest,  
Must seem to know, but what he finds expressed.   

Act V. Scene 2.  A Banquet set with a s●ft kind of music. Fidelius, Mundolo, Enter. Fidelius s●ems struck with wonder after so●e intermission. 

A SONG  
Repugnant Powers long have swayed  
My will, obscurely cl●s'd;  
What Love designed Honour g●insay'd;  
What Honour, Love opposed.  
Neither prevailing, now agree,  
Love lies dis●rm'd;  
And Honour charmed  
By his affected Cer'mony.   

Wait all you Graces, happy hours!  
To crown approaching joy;  
And all your sense-refining Powers,  
To fill delight, employ!  
At once let each sense captive be,  
Vicissitude  
May not intrude  
Envy to either's Ministry.   Fi. 
What means the flatt'●ies of this 〈◊〉 Scene?  Mu. 
The charming preludes to a glorious Love.  Fi. 
My years reach not to the capacity,  
Or to distinguish, or to relish them:  Mu. 
Our facile natures easily receive  
The Elements of that Philosophy,  
Which in our pleasure placed the chiefest good.  Fi. 
If grounded o'th' sense: A false position,  
The which another Sect abandons quite.  Mu. 
A rigid, Tenent, nature would distort  
From her first purity her Functions  
Making useless.  Fi. 
I question neither, since neither approve;  
But sure I am so high a subject can  
Not settle on the base of an extreme.  Mu. 
Nor doubt of that which is in evidence.  
Let others search for that, which you, enjo●.  
These Arguments admit no solecism  
To cheat the sense. Their excellence persuades  Shows him the banquet 
And satisfies: See here how splendid Lux  
Hath rifled nature's Treasury,  
Not only to restore, but to ex●lt  
Her faculties; which when dispensed, shall  
Replenished, flow from inexhausted Springs.  
See, how th' industrious hand of wanton Art,  
Contracted hath, in this small epitome,  
The scattered pieces o'th' world's perfections.  
These Virgin Spangles guild Nights ●able robe,  
Whilst from their Orbs we hear  
Exclusive Harmony; not judging where.  
Here aromatic odours which perspire  
In their immortal Essences. If yet  
Thy years extend to be Opinion sick.  Shows him a Cabinet of jewels and gold. 
See, what beauty, use or difficulty  
Hath made precious in esteem: Here find no●e,  
If honoured not in yours, to whom they are  
Presented.  
Yet on these trifles, why should I insist?  
Since she, to whom these glories homage owe,  
Is yours. She 'fore whom their beauties vanish,  
As things too mean to entertain the sense.  
She adds fresh lustre to th' exalted Day,  
The Object of all vows; of all desires,  
Who moves more sprightly influence in her grace,  
Than all those Dame's Antiquity recites  
To have made captive the world's Conquerors.  
Yet she, with equal spoils invested, is  
Become your Captive, Sir, why suffer you  
Those your distracted looks to speak repulse  
In trouble. Those years and beauty promise  
A more relenting Nature: To whose Rites,  
If inclination will not yield: Be wise,  
Comply, and to your fortunes minister.  Fi. 
Mine are already framed to my wish,  
And find less agitation in their seat,  
Though humble, sheltered by another's care,  
Than if more high, erected by my own:  
Nor can you Nature blame, she answers not  
To what her immaturity withholds.  Mu 
Art hastens that we see in fruits and flowers:  
Nor will this all-informing l●ght of Love  
Act less when you approach her Orb▪ Advise,  
And be more flexible; let not your will  
Transport your Reason to a stubornness.  
If the enlargement of your Fate move not;  
Yield to secure your present safety Sir,  Fi. starts 
Start not: I now s●eak but the resentments  
Of another, not my own: yet figure  
To yourself the Rage of Love neglected,  
High in Expectation● as desire,  
Me● in a Subject, high in her own esteem,  
And others; whose power, for an offence,  
Hath no bounds, but her will, to act vengeance.  Fi. 
Though high discourses in me cannot frame  
A Resolution to remove my Fears,  
The Office is supplied by Innocence,  
And I, immoved, must the issue wait.  Mu 
Nay, than I beat the air; and cast away,  
That time arows ripe to h●sten my own ruin—  pause Mu. 
Awake dull temper! canst thou only act  
For others Interests, and not for thy own?—  pause 
Rise high you struggling spirits, and cast off  
The servile badges of this suppressed mind,  
Fear and respect, with this their ●ive●y.  casts off his cloak 
I have let in a flame, wild as the world's  
Embracement, when that proud Boy miscarried  
In his Rule: And must pursue it, though it  
Meet his Fate: Who falls in attempts are high,  Into Org. bedchamber. 
Erects his Fame unto Eternity.  Ex. Mu. Fi. 
How strange a labyrinth am I involved in▪  
So full of error, Hope cannot figure  
An Evasion: Why sport you so, you powers  
That guide our Fates, with our Infirmities?  
If they offend, it is enough that you  
Abandon them, to work their punishment.  
My being so inconsiderable is,  
Imagination could not once suggest  
So weighty a dependence, as might move  
For preservation; were it not engaged  
In his peculiar interests: who doth,  
In his only bosom, virtue preserve  
Alive in her unblem●sht purity.  
May be, these new disorders you produce,  
By farther opposition, yet to make  
This his admired life more glorious:  
And showing how far one man's strength may reach,  
From others all excuses take away  
Of human frailty; Give me leave to say  
'tis already at this height so penible,  
The soon reputed will is easily  
Induced to think it past imitation:  
Or if it yet want proof, 'tis in that part,  
Might show undoubted Morderation,  
Not his Constancy. Afford it matter;  
Raise him to that height of Felicity,  
Wants only durance but to equal yours;  
'twill neither prove miscognisant to you;  
To others insupportable; nor yet  
Unto Himself obnoxious. For this,  
My prayers shall never want or fervency,  
Or perseverance to become successful.  Mundolo re-ent. unbuttoned in a loose posture. Mu. 
In this c●rcum●erence of our Lives, I see,  
Extremes meet in one point; delight will force  
A breach to let out life, as well as grief;  to himself 
In which swelling excess, but now, I felt  
My Soul even floating o'er these shallow banks.  
Ha! 'tis with●n; hence ●ear; my Fate is full,  noise, looks behind Mu● slinks behind the hanging, while Org. 
Nor can it meet that change, shall force a wish  
Once to retract my being.  Orgula Ent. enters in a night Robe, and dressing amorously accosting Fid. Or. 
Why slides my Love so filently away,  
As it were stealth but to exact his own?  
Which offered is with so much Ardency,  
As it enriched the greedy tenderer.  
Why shifts those Scenes of Beauty in the Face?  
Unless to take with new variety:  
Let no motion raise, or retract thy bood,  
Unless it be the Passion of thy Love.  
Why so much distance, where Loves mysteries  Fi. seems to withdraw from her 
Already frame an union? Let our souls  
Meet in their faculties, as their Organs have  
In theirs: Hang not thy head down like a flower  
Drooping for a timely shower. I'll transplant  
Thee to my breast from whence thou shalt assume  
Fresh vigour: where thus my soul I'll effuse  
To multiply thy spirits.  She offers to him, he falls on his knee mu peeps. Mu. 
His coldness will betray me.  Fi. 
Madam, place not my error in my will,  
But my Infirmity.  She raises him Or. 
Why kneelest thou to her, o'er whom thou act'st  
All Rights of sovereignty. I farther will  
Not hear thee in that unseemly posture.  
Although thy undistinguished Accents charm  
Beyond the powerful Notes of Harmony.  Fi. 
Your pleasure is my privilege, Madam,  Or. 
This disproportion still in our discourse  Fi. rises. 
Might well become Love in his Infancy;  
But where his true maturity admits  
Him to the full fruition of his Rights,  
Ceremonies are then of us received  
But as suspected Prefaces.  Fi. 
In me this title is litigious.  Or. 
Who then is the Competitor?  
How pleasant 'tis to hear thee question that  
Admits no Ambigulty.  Fi. 
Not in your own Opinion, Madam,  Or. 
And is not th●t enough to style it just,  
Confirmed by my Election?  Fi. 
A frail one 'tis, which will not hold the trial.  Or. 
Thou art not so inconstant sure, a●t thou?  
So soon to wipe out th' Image of our Loves.  Fi. 
I first must have capacity to receive it.  Or. 
Pray thee no more;  
Thou'lt make me jealous of I know not what.  Fi. 
Ere to become a habit it have time,  Or. extends her hand. 
Lend me your hand to take away the error.  
Yet first I must beg two requests of you,  
Your Pardon and your privacy:  Or. 
This serious preparation doth overcast  
Delight: Yet thou of both mayst be assured.  Fi. 
Place your hand here it may distinguish that,  
To which, perhaps your other senses would  
Prove but suspected witnesses.  Opens his bosom. raises her hand and puts it into his bosom. Or. 
Ha! thou hast a Viper in thy bosom,  
Whose poison hath already seized my heart,  
And changed my former passion to a fury,  
Which is let loose, by one solution more,  
To make the face of Nature, but one Scene▪  
For universal Tragedy.  
Who entered hath, or from my lodgings came?  Fi. 
None but your servant, Mundolo, Madam.  starts Or. 
How! Fury chase fury, hasten to their doom;  
Rage on itself preys, till to Action come.  Ex. Orgula. Mundolo, appears from behind the hanging. Mu. 
Consuming lightning flashed from her Eye.  
This Villain hath betrayed me sure; Come sir,  To himself. 
Reveal the subject of your Conference,  
Or this sharp steel it from thy bosom digs  Mundolo draws a dagger. Fi. 
How sir, you will not kill me, will you?  Fi distracted runs up and down seeking some passage to escape. Mu. 
That is, as I shall find your temper sir,  
Or pliant, or inflexible: Nay! nay!  
You rove in vain: here are no starting holes.  
Be brief.  Fi. 
It can be no advantage unto you,  
Since it concerns you not.  Mu. 
It matters not.  
Her change assures me it must be of weight,  
Speak, speak truth, and the whole truth, suddenly.  
Or present tortures shall enforce thee to't.  Fi. 
Since in your satisfaction only  Fi. hastily flings a purse of money to mu with a letter. 
My safeties placed; first give me leave to beg  
Or purchase else thereto your privacy  Mu. 
A fair inducement, you shall have your wish,  
Ha! a letter too.  Offers to catch it, but desists with much distraction. Fi. 
That was not my intention Sir, I pray  
Restore it back, without your violence,  
Or turn the fury thereof upon me.  Mu. 
Forbear, so hardy grown to tempt your ruin:  
New subjects for higher undertakings.  reads to himself 
Success in ills gives ills encouragement.  
Unto whose tempting height I must ascend,  
Or give my envied fall a glorious end.  A noise clattering to break down the doors. 
Ha! what strange alarum's this? new terrors?  
Hell is broke loose, 'tis time to shun the fury.  Mu. flies. Mu runs frighted away, and drops the letter, which Fi. gathers up. Gralianus, Serverus, Libranus, and a band of soldiers, with Torches in one hand, swords in the other. Gra. 
Fidelius! what mak'st thou here? fear not:  
I see a wild distraction in thy looks:  
What caused in thee this trouble?  Fi. 
Your presence sir, hath my delivery wrought.  
Time must suspend civility a while,  
To lend you fuller resolution.  
drop reg've for my Master letters of Import;  
Which have been intercepted in their course.  
I must entreat of you, with speed to have  
Safe conduct through the tumult of your Bands.  Gra. 
Thou shalt, thou pretty piece of diligence.  
Thou shalt, be it your charge Lybranus.  Ex. Om. with fresh claimours.  

Act V. Scene 1.  Sinevero in a nightgown. 
How cold a damp benumbs my senses still,  
As if I had engendered with the Night;  
And thus forsaken of the living, were  
Already numbered amongst the Dead.  
Th' error of her sense, in my distemper,  
Might thus perhaps affright her from her rest.  
What ho! who waits without there?  Nefarius. Ne. 
My Lord!  Sin. 
It is your Lady I inquire for.  Ne. 
I of her being can yield no account,  
But newly entered from finishing  
Your Honours last commands.  Sin. 
And how,  
Are all my fears asleep? Nefarius.  Ne. 
If they extended only unto what  
I had in charge: my Lord, I dare affi●m  
They are.  Sin. 
Thou art my better Angel, only trust:  
Yet joys are doubtful till they meet the sense.  
Art thou assured of thy enterprise?  Ne. 
I am Sir.  Give him the ring and medal 
And brought these relics to remove your doubts.  Sin. 
What sudden noise is that,  noise 
Startles my blood without intelligence?  
Go learn the cause thereof, Nefarius.  Exit Ne. A table with pen, ink, and paper, and a watch is discovered. Looks o'th' watch, be sets down thereat. 
'Tis twelve: The Politicians hour to consult  
His Fate; and visit the obstructive springs  
Retard her motion,— hah! What Object's this  Intermission. 
Curdles my blood in every shaking limb?  
Mischief in me; ne'er horror met till now.  
These fatal tokens were the pledges of  
Their tender mother's latest Love, who them  
Enjoined by vow from them, they ne'er should be  
Divided.—  
Some secret and all-seeing power there is,  
With which my soul was ne'er acquainted yet,  
Speaks loud in this to wake the sense of ills.  
How sensibly their justice strikes, when as  
Th' offence thus ministers the punishment.  
Let it suffice soft Nature, to resent  Seems to weep. 
The motions of our common frailty  
Tendered to thy Rites. Without insisting  
By a wild revolt, to revive a light,  
Custom hath traveled so long to extinguish.  
When as our misled purpose may perhaps  
Question our safety yet; and call to act  
A larger progress in our tragic Scene.  Clamour and noise. Looks back into his Chamber. 
This clamorous noise approacheth nigher yet.  
Ha! An armed tumult questing for prey.  
The Object of their Fury, questionless,  
I am! 'Tis so. Hence you glorious shadows,  
Whose proper lustres only obvious make  
Your own distinctions. Retire from your Orbs  Flings off a rich nightgown and cap. Finding mu chake and hat, mufling himself seems to steal away. 
To lend your owner safety. Ha! This vail  
Is happily encountered.  Orgula her face full of fury and in her hand a poniard. Org. 
Ha! Vanishing! Take that to stop your Course▪  
And that, and that  Org. taki●g him for mu stabs him▪ he falls. Sin. 
Oh! Oh! 'Twas fatally directed.  Org. 
Sineu'ro's voice— hah! And his person too.  She unmuffles him. Sin. 
Orgula! Why that steel? Ire in thine Eye  
Had force enough to change my destiny.  Faintly spoken. Org. astonished, her eyes fixed, as distracted turns him. Gratianus and his Troop ent.. Sin. expires. Gra. 
Who's this Sinevero?  
And you Madam, the fatal Minister?  
'Twas rudely handled for th' first encounter.  
That just, though guilty Instrument, wrest from  They go about to force it from her, and she lets it go without any emotion. 
Her hand— immovable— Her eyes are fixed—  
Madam— Madam.  Looks on her. Pulls her by the sleeve. Or. 
'Tis poor— cast in— of brass—  Or. speaks as if she had restrained her breath beyond the usual course. 
A Bull bellowing forth flames of fire—  
No, No— Bound living to a stake whereon  Ser. Madam 
Is fixed a vulture preying on his heart.  Ser. 
She is distracted sure with the horror  
Of her own remorse. How do you Madam.  Jogs her. Or. 
The starting sinews fastened to a spring,  Snap— 
Which wound, wound, wound up to the height— buzz—  She laughs. 
And shrivel into Knots. Ha ha ha ha.  Gra. 
She's evidently mad.  
Serverus, be she your charge. Come soldiers  
The work is half advanced to our hands.  
If that the sequel but successful prove,  
Your own wishes crown with desert your love.  ex. om.  

Act IV. Scene 4.  Eumena. 
Surely in each exterior Ministry  
There is a secret Influence diffused  
From the Intention first directed it,  
According to which Agitation  
Th' effect is wrought: it could else never be;  
The hidden virtues, but of senseless things,  
So suddenly should meet their Attributes.  
As my late grief, assures my sense, they have.  raising her arm hung in a scarff, she casts her eye thereon. 
With what a tender care the good old man  
Breaks his own rest t' officiate unto mine:  
With so much fervency, as if those powers  
To whom he is devoted; only judged,  
Like faithless man, the will by the event.  
His sweet society, and solitude  
Would charm my mind to a secure neglect,  
Had it Capacity but to receive  
Their powerful Impressions.  
But my solicitous Passion will admit  
No Object, but her own; or if it do,  
'tis but as a predominant quality  
All d●ffering humours doth convert into  
Their proper Aliment: oft it o'er flows  
To such distemper, that my Pious host  
Seems to discover, in his suffering,  
A civil notice of't, which flatters so  
My sense; I often prompted am to pour  
The Rest in his religious bosom.  
And crave thereto his farther charity.  
Which see, how vigilant o'er my safety still!  Ludaster enter. Lu. 
Too long emotion yet brings accident  
By inflammation or debility.  
Retire yourself, good Sir, to your repose;  
On happy nature you too much presume.  Eu. 
Unto your charity and skill her bounty  
And my error Sir, do their beings owe,  
The one restored encouraged th' other.  Lu. 
I joy to find s●ch symptoms of success,  
Which must be cherished in their Infancy,  
Till time confirm their issues evident.  
Besides, excuse o'er busy observation,  
If it judge, this loneliness may foment  
Your mind's distemper to the prejudice  
Of your recovery, be not abashed;  
My rudeness doth affirm I have disclosed.  
What those blushes assure▪ they would have hid.  
A reverent fear intrusion shall restrain  
From a more nigh distinction.  Eu. 
So indiscreet a jealousy, in me,  
Might question my integrity and yours,  
The former I assure you, only can  
Be impeached of nature's infirmity,  
Which presume the latter hath convinced,  
And challenge rather might the overture  
Of mine, but for their safe direction.  Lu. 
Yours are not so remote from that instinct  
Conducteth them in their first purity,  
To want so frail a Ministry as his,  
Whose more corrupting years hath given o'er  
To the digression of a froward will.  Eu. 
Which is to such conformity reduced  
By an industrious prudence, that in you,  
Virtue is now become a proper Habit,  
Which in our undiscerning youth remains  
A fleeting accident.  Lu. 
I rather will assume this vanity  
The error to confute of your belief,  
Then farther to extend this Argument  
To the hazard of your present welfare,  
By too much thus effusing of your spirits,  
Which for their Restitution must exact  
Your rest.  Eu. 
Of your judgement l've proofs too sensible,  
To question your prescriptions. I obey.  ex. Eu. Ludaster conducts Eu. in Lu. returns. Lu. 
So excellent a temper in a mind  
So young, I have not found; no● yet oppressed  
With so much Anxiety; which he endears  
With so severe a privacy, as if  
He on his trouble were enamoured.  
But time must be his better medicine.  
Day waxeth old. Trouble hath seized my thought,  
drop reg've f●om Gratianus no intelligence:  
I fear his unrestrained courage should  
Too high tempt danger to his overthrow.  Fi. en. 
Fidelius! Welcome.  Embraces him. 
Sweet reconciler of distractions!  
Of Gratianus hast thou nothing learned.  Fi. 
Let not th' inquiry of his safety Sr.  
Leave yours in hazard with the circumstance.  
He is secure. This lettr, Sir, ere this, gives him a let.  
Should have been guided to your hand by me,  
But my unhappy stars have in my course  
Made frustrate my Endeavours.  Lu. 
Thy safety shall excuse their opposition.  Fi. 
Nor judge the freedom you have used me to,  
So insolent as to forerun your hand  
In the unclosure, 'twas a violence  
M●l●fe escaped narrowly.  Lu. 
What needest thou plead thy innocence, as I  
Had any secret were not safe in thee,  
Or from thee would not learn, if yet unknown.  Returns the letter. Let. read by Fi. according to the contents of the former only signed Ambigamor. 
Thy lips shall give it evidence; Read out.  Fi. 
Sr. Not to blemish with suspect your choice,  
Nor so far to presume as to intrude  
myself your Counsellor. Give duty leave  
To move your caution in the enterprise.  Lu. 
'Tis strange. Nay, even incredible.  
Yet that hand signed it yields it certainty.  
Friend, is a powerful charm against all distrust,  
What he adviseth, that pursue I must.  Fi. 
Yet Sr. I must crave one request of you,  
Since you are resolved the issue to attempt,  
This mask of your disguise you would retain;  
And suffer me but to become your scout,  
While you at distance follow, that thereby  
If treachery intended be, you may  
Secure your person.  Lu. 
Thy Love is Zealous of my safety still.  
Be it my guide. Who steereth by such light  
Shall find no error i'th' obscurest night.  ex. Lu. Fi. Eu. re-ent. Eu. 
If my sense well distinguish, I o'er heard  
Them name the Princess. I'll follow unseen:  
That I myself my own affairs may know.  
Who's lost t'her self needs fear no overthrow.  ex. Eu.  

Act 5. Scene 5.  Ambigamor enter. 
This is th' appointed place, and this the Hour.  Groaning heard within. Groaning again. Draws his sword 
What doleful groan lends horror to a night  
Whose flattering calmness but inviteth love.  
Again, it will scarce be charity to wa●t.  
Another Summon; yet stay Her Order  
Wills us first ourselves secure. 'Tis this way  
The voice directeth—  I●t●rmission. Withdrawing a while returns drawing as it were to the light, the body of Z●zania. 
Thou glorious planet lends lustre to the rest!  
Revert th' expansion of thy beams a while;  
Sense may distinguish what but sense suspends.  
The inarticulate accents of these groans  
Awake a terror without evidence.  
What art thou? speak, or who this fact hath wrought?  Ziz. 
Oh! Ludaster!  In a languishing tone. Kneeling on his knee bends her forward in raising her. Am. 
Zizania! confirm my sense again,  
My tortured soul may with thee take her flight.  
Speak yet again; art thou Zizania,  
My loved Zizania?  Ziz. 
Zizania  raiseth himself destractedly. Am. 
That very sound's enough t' extinguish life,  
By preying on my languishing spirits,  
Had love a temper to spin out my Fate.  
Why trifle I with passion to unman  
Myself; and let shame with distraction play.  
Resolution is but cheated by delay—  Offers to kill himself. pause. 
Hold—  Puts up his sword and knelt to raise and bow her as before. 
Due Rights must first be tendered to her Ghost,  
Whom I shall fear to meet yet unrevenged.  
Pardon! thou Innocent Object of my vows,  
If I disturb thy rest, yet once again,  
To lend direction to just sacrifice,  
My Honour, Love, and Vows have me engaged,  
To offer to thy horrid sufferings.  
Speak, and declare the barbarous instrument.  Ziz. 
Oh!  Bends her and chases her temples. Am. 
Lend so much vigour to her spirits yet,  
You higher Powers! as may mark out your justice.  
Speak, oh speak.  
Who was't that wrought this bloody cruelty?  Ziz. 
Oh— Ludaster!  Am. 
Forbid it heaven! and be my safer guide!  
Confirmed again; who was thy Murderer?  
Speak!  Ziz. 
Oh! Ludaster.  Am. 
Why mock you thus our frailty with a Name  
Would charm a dying Testimony?  
Yet lend it but the next assertion,  
And I pursue the tenor of my vows  
Without a scruple to relation.  
Speak who thus hath spilt thy guiltless blood, speak.  Ziz. 
Oh! Ludaster.  Straining her forward. Kisses her. Am. 
Enough, farewell my soul's delight! my stay  
Shall make our meeting more agreeable,  
And thou Religious union of my soul,  
Like a declining shadow vanish hence;  
Nor leave behind the least Impression,  
Since that light is extinguished form thee.  Mundolo ent.. muffled. Spying mu withdraws. 
Ha! more spies abroad st●ll roving; I must  
Obscure myself for new discoveries.  Mu. 
Precipitate thy course dull Night! take on  
Thy deepest tinctures: Such, as when with spells  
The Canting hag frights nature from her se●t  
To ma●que the tracts of Mischief and confound  
The world in error. oh! how much shouldow  
Th' inferior kingdom to thy Ministry.  
Were fear but an authentic Evidence  
To truth. The world's Philosophy styles Ill,  
What they would shun to suffer, not what they  
Shun to act: Which practice makes good, where they  
Are no relatives. Oh! th' abusive world!  
Whose well known Mysteries instruct my sense,  
That ills are none which want their Evidence.  
Fancy works high o'th' Object of delight,  
Yet let not joy elate the spirits; lest  
Thus rarified, they should effuse themselves  
Before they reach to Action. Ha! who's this?  Fidelius ent.. 
If doubtful light may yield a Certainty,  
This is the Stripling that escaped my fur●,  
Whose bosom only can disclose the deed  
I have already done; or yet pervert  
What I intend to act; this both secures.  stabs him. Fi. 
Oh! oh! cruel villain!  Falls to the ground. Ludaster enter. Wounds mu who falls being hurt in the arm, the dagger drops from him. Lu. 
So swift be justice in thy punishment,  
And in the progress lasting, till it meet  
A measure equal unto the dese●t.  
Hadst thou of man so little left in thee,  
To violate such tender innocence.  
Speak, what art thou? or why this mischief w●ought?  
Is insolence swelled up to stubbornness  
In thy mouth, and daring in thine eyes? Speak.  
That little life thou hast shall be reserved,  binds and ties him to a tree with his girdle. knelt & raises Fi. 
To make exemplar farther sufferings.—  
Now my Fidelius what hopes of safety?  Fi. 
Little where yours is yet in hazard Sr.  Lu. 
'Tis but the figure of thy jealousy.  Fi. 
Withdraw good Sir, and timely yet provide  
For your security.  Lu. 
Thou wouldst not have me yet more infamous?  
Thus to involve thee in an accident,  
Speaks nothing louder than my own dishonour,  
And to abandon thee in this ex●ream.  Fi. 
Your presence Sir, may prejudice your being  
Mine not suppo●t; past the capacity  
Of succour.  Lu. 
Heaven is more gracious to my misery.  
Nor let the fear of me suggest thy ills  
To be more gre●t than tho● conceivest them.  
Human●ty enjoins us ne'er to leave  
The means so long as there is motive to it.  
Try if thy st●ength will suffer thee to be  
Transported. So, gently.  raises him. Fi. 
Oh! I fa●nt:  
My soul is sliding from her mansion.  Sets him gently on the earth again. 
Restore me to the earth: Th●ther I must,  
O 〈◊〉 Original: where set, I may  
Spin o●t but so much breath as may remove  
Doubt and dishonour from my memory.—  pause. 
Will you remember me when I am dead?  Lu. 
Else must forget myself.  Fi. 
'Twere needful thereto that you knew me first.  Lu. 
Know thee! why so I do. I know thou art  
Fidelius. My faithful loved Fidelius.  Fi. 
I would not rob you of his memory,  
Who gave me access to your knowledge Sir,  
Yet pardon me if I must say you err.  Lu. 
Err! in what my sweet Fidelius?  Fi. 
When you affirm me him you name.  Lu. 
Why, art thou not?  Fi. 
No.  
Although our souls had but one motion,  
Our bodies still held their distinction  
He died when he departed from you sick;  
With so much passion to your virtue Sir,  
That I became transported with th' admired  
Idea, and took the advantage which  
Nature had lent me in similitude,  
I might succeed to his relation.  
Yet with a flame so pure did never reach  
To the distinction of my hidden Sex;  
Which was the only difference made us known  
Unto the womb that bore us.  Lu. 
Wonder hath captived every faculty,  
To the detention of their offices;  
And but suspends a grief will soon overflow  
Her shallow Continent, to pay the Rights  
To double Interests: Yet say how must  
They be distinguished.  Fi. 
Fidelia, twined sister to Fidelius.  Lu. 
As if nature had but one only frame  
And Constellation, to produce so rare  
And exact a model.  Fi. 
Oh!  Lu. 
Courage! thou miracle of Nature.  Fi. 
Oh! the cloud of death hangs o'er my senses,  
And steals away my Spirits; yet I die  
Content, in the belief I have received  
The fatal stroke directed unto you.  
Lend me your hand thereon my vows to seal.  
Be all united here, which man calls weal.  Kissing his hand and languishingly uttering his last words dies. Lu. 
They are divorced, fairwell the loveliest pair,  
That ever made one happy union!  Kisses her cheek. 
Accept this offering to your virtuous loves  weeps. 
Though too too mean,  
Yet struggling nature ne'er could force them forth  
The tainted source of proper interest.  Ambigamor discovers. Amb. 
If yet in thy exterior part thou hast  
Thyself but truly figured unto me,  
That habit and this place speak thee Ludaster.  Lu. 
Ambigamor!  
Thou welcome balsam to my wounded soul!  
Open thine Arms that I may slide into  
Thy bosom, where mutual embraces may  
Translate our Members to an union.  Lu. running to embrace him, Amb. puts him by with his hand. Amb. 
Forbear.  Lu. 
What new disorder hath disguised thy love  
In this sullen Austerity?  Amb. 
Such as that name of Friend thus casteth off,  
Like a despised triffe, and bids the  Waves his hand & draws his sword. 
To be such unto thy proper safety.  Lu. 
How strangely art thou wandered from thyself!  
Collect thy thoughts to a becoming temper.  stands amazed. Amb. 
Play not with Rage. Be sudden in defence,  
I east my distraction this proceeding judge  
More grace than thy guilt deserves.  Lu. 
Let me first know the nature of my crime?  Amb. 
Persevere not herein. Ask me not why.  
Who knows ill t'act, knows how them to deny.  Lu. 
I shall suspect the Base whereon I raised  
That holy Title keeps my hand in Aw;  
If thou insistest thus.  Amb. 
No more those vain illusions, Draw.  Lu. 
I will not, do thy worst, since thy folly  
Hath cast away the last thing I held dear:  
Chance hath left nought for chance to work upon.  Amb. 
Tempt not thy ruin, from which this hand restrains,  
But to take off the blemish of the manner.  Lu. 
Hold!  Casts off his disguise. 
Perhaps the cloud of this disguise resists  
The influence of our Amity. Vainly  
He's hid from others, to himself is lost.  
Doth thy wild sense perceive thy error yet?  Amb. 
Those were the masks but to conceal thine own.  
Draw, or the lightning is not swifter than  
My execution.  Lu. 
Hold!  
I to myself may prove an Homicide:  
Who doth betray his being by neglect,  
Is guilty of his own destruction.  
What Nature first commands, see, I obey,  
What friendship, though contemned, thus I may.  Draws his sword. Letting the point of his sword fall on the ground. breaks off the point with his foot. Amb. 
A handsome flourish, but I must not vie,  
Revenge is not restrained by gallantry.  They fight. Lu. only defends himself. Eumena ent.. Lu. 
Oh! thou hast thy will, he's but half guarded  
I see, stands only on his own defence.  Yew 
Hold, I enjoin by your Allegiance, hold.  
By all those ties are strictest to your soul,  
If there rest any unattainted yet  to Amb. 
In this your violence.  Amb. 
It is the Princess voice.  Eu. 
And such her person, though misfortune hath  
Transfigured it in show as it hath you  
In truth.  
Sharper Rebukes I should insist upon;  
But that my love suspends my Ire awhile,  
Nor shameth it my frailty to assume  
That Attribute, which may a mind endue  
Without distemper, by such object form:  
Why shifts those secret signals of thy thoughts  to Lu. 
So oft their Scenes, as they gave place to trouble?  Lu. 
To find a ruder sou'raign intercept  
The Rights I owe to that fair Majesty  
By his untimely tribute.  Eu. 
Speak not my fears in mystery. What hurt?  
Mine eye may find the proof without reply.  Approaches him as 'twere to search. Takes of her scarff to bind his wound, and closes it with her handkerchif. 
Unhappy conducts of our destinies!  
Why mock you thus our frailty. Whom I sought  
You led me to by error. Whom I had  
By error you took from me. Whom I find,  
By error unrepared, is to me lost  
For ever, Oh! Erring Ministry!  
O'er which you prudent Powers that preside!  
Instruct our incapacities, and show,  
Why you from man exact aught in his own  
Direction; ●ince thus subordinate  
Unto Others Rule, those faculties  
Entangle in their Exercise, wanting  
Of the superior Clear Intelligence  
How fi●d you Nature yet disposed in you?  Lu leaning on his sword she supports him on tother side. Lu. 
Like to an Artificial fire to heaven  
Aspires, whose frail composure being unapt  
Thereto; by his own violence consumed,  
Toucheth his height, and drops to Earth again:  
Such is the active and aspiring flame  
Your Grace, and Graces have inspired in me,  
Which meeting in a Subject far too mean  
To reach so full proportion of Felicity,  
Falls from't at Distance through his own defects.  Eu. 
The wide world's fleeting Glories are too mean  
Dignities but to instill thy Attributes,  
And her vast theatre a receptacle  
Too narrow to present the Action  
Of thy Immortal virtues, whose only light  
If rightly placed might free her course from error.  ●u. 
Your happy fortunes, and more Glorious Life  
Will certainly make good all these in yours:  
While mine rests doubtful in Opinion.  Eu. 
You Powers! of whose most Glorious Essences  
These ●air Ideas we admire, are thought,  
But the imperfect shadows! if not for ours  
For your own Interests. If we you concern,  
Restore your beauty's fairest Continent,  
lest shallow man too suddenly conclude  
You have your proper cause abandoned.  
O● else inform us, why virtue y' have raised  
To virtue's overthrow. this valiant hand  
Had power and cause sufficient to pursue  
Their ruin, who his shamefully procured.  
Unhappy wretch! How art thou lost in shame!  turns to Ambig. they raise him & set him up. 
If not Remorse, let pity speak thee Man,  
And lend thy hand, if yet in time it may,  
To stop the nature of thy threatening guilt.  Gratianus, Liberan●s, Serverus, and other soldiers with Ne●arius bound. Gra▪ 
Is this the Scene unmasques your Mischief? speak,  
Or farther torture shall enforce you to it.  Ne. 
Of what I acted, I confess, it was▪  
And by o'er hear● remorse; I judge there might  
Be some mistake i' th' Execution;  
But know not whether extended to these.  Gra. 
The circumstance is evidence enough.  
What new disorder's here? Ha! Blood and Tears!  Eu. seems weeping over Lu. set in a ●h●re. Lu. 
Gratianus, thy only stay retarded hath my flight,  
Receive my thanks for thy so faithful love,  
Which if my will have force to guide it still,  
As thy approved faith assures it hath▪  
Let me transact it unto her suppo●●  
May make it glorious and fruitful to thee.  
Seal your engagement on the Princess hand.  Lu. takes the Prin. hand and extends it to Gra. who kisses it. Gra. 
Ha! the Princess! my Duty Sir,  
And your command meet equally in this.  Lu. 
Oh! fairwell to both, we must divide.  
Take the supremest tender of my Love.—  Intermission. Extending his arm to embrace them, dies. Eu. thereon sinks down and expires. Gra. catches her in his arms and there holds her awhile till others come to help him. Gra. 
Madam! how do you? help, your succour friends,—  
Her eyes are fixed, her breath already lost.  
Strange miseries that stop their sense with wonder!  
I hope you can untie these Riddles Sr.  Amb. 
In part I can. The Princess death hath paid  
Her secret witness to Ludaster's Love.  
And his to mine.  Gra. 
The latter words will ask a Comment Sr.  Amb. 
I killed him to revenge my Love.  Gra. 
Be yet more plain ere I seal up thy last  draws his sword. 
Intelligence, to whom? or how?  Amb. 
To my beloved Zizania murdered  
By him, and unto me confirmed by▪  
Her dying Accents.  Gra. 
As yet, I cannot pity thee enough  puts up his sword again. 
To kill thee: But here is one shall do it  
With cruelty, if in thee yet be left  
But so much Reason to distinguish guilt.  
Speak Sirrah, was't not you and your Agents  
That wrought this mischief on her, and her Brother?  Ne. 
It is confessed already.  to Amb. Gra. 
Nay! let not silent trouble speak your doubt;  
His Evidence is valuable, it costs  Amb. stands confused. 
Him, Sir, his Life. This is more shameful ye●.  Amb. 〈…〉 kill himself but is disarmed. 
The nature of your crime will first require  
A larger time for penitence. Be he  
Your Charge ilora●us. Ha! more spectacles  
Of Horror yet, who is't, Fidelius!  spies fi. 
Grief will not yield a truce unto the sense  
To ease itself in the effusion.  
Search yet about there are more Actors yet,  discovers Mu. 
A Villain in his perfect character!  
Unlose him, and to torture presently,  
Until he makes a true discovery.  Mun. 
You shall not need, I love my crimes too well,  
Not to revive their Memory, and scorn  
Your punishments too much, once to disguise  
Their Natures in the Circumstance.  Gra. 
Gild hath attained the height where it assumes  
A Glory from the execution.  Pulls his hat sadly over his eyes, and marcheth out with the bodies. 
Which we will hear, when pious Rites are done:  
Grief speaks there loudest, where the Mourner's dumb.  
FINIS.    

ERRATA,  
Epistle Dedicatory p. 3. l. 7. r. capacities, Epist. dedic. p. 4●▪ l. 9 r. declareth, p. ibid. l. 19 r. retain, p. ibid. l. 28. r. Narrative, Epist. dedic. p. 5. l. 24. r. his. Page 14. l. 6. r. our, p. ibid. l. 12. r. t'have, p. 21. l. 8▪ r. possess, p. 27. l. 15. r. Sin, p. 30. l. 4. r. Eu. p. 70. l. 30. r. kiss him, p. 77. l. 22. r. which I.