The bloody duke, or, The adventures for a crown a tragi-comedy, as it was acted at the courts at Alba Regalis by several persons of great quality / written by the author of The abdicated prince.

ACT V. Scene IV.

Scene St. Jacques.

Enter King Solus▪

K.

WHO waits there? Enter Waiter: Where is Erone?

Wa.

May it please your Majesty, she waits the Dutchess's com∣ing in the Antichamber: You both can sing Damon's Farewel. Call her, and let me hear it.

[Exit Waiter.

E••••••a and the Waiter appear within the Scenes; they Sing to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Musick of Flutes Lutes, and Base-Viols.

K.

Methinks a strange unusual Melancholly, Has of a sudden siezed my Flagging Spirits: Avert all ill, you Powers!

Enter Caligula, Count D' Arlin, Le Talbo.

The King points to them to stand still while the Song is singing.

SONG.

Phil.

MUST we part? Stay, stay, dear heart; Stay but one poor hour or two: Sure there's more than that, to Love and Friendship due. Da. Though theres Musick in thy Tongue, And every Word's a well-tun'd Song: Though thy Tears can more perswade, Than Prayers by dying Martyrs made; Yet they cannot Fate re-call; Tears, with Death, cannot prevail.

Phil.

Shall rude Death then me bereave Of my Love's Prerogative? Stay, dear heart, Love bids thee stay.

Da.

But Fate, hard fate, commands away.

Phil.

How shall I, alas! Survive, When for thee alone I live; When thy Life and Beauty's dead, Love and Grief, Love and Grief, Shall quickly strike me Dead.

Corus.

Come then, let's leave this World together. And mount those blest Abodes; Where we'll be Lords o're Death and Fate, And equal to the Gods.

K.

'Tis a good Melancholly Humour; Is it not Brother?

Cal.

Sir, I am no admirer of dull, heavy, Love Songs; I am for the noise of Drums and Trumpets, and Shrieks of Conquer'll Enemys: I hope to see him make me a little such Musick by and by: This Song might serve for an Epi∣taph; I wonder how the Devil he came to hit on this unluckly Humour! I hope he has no dying thoughts of a sudden, that may spoil our design

[Aside]

It grows pretty late; I wish your Majesty would honour us with your Com∣pany at Supper.

K.

Ay, come lead on.

Come all sit down; we must be equal here:

(They retire within the Scenes, which open, and discover a Table spread, &c. They sit down.

Cal.

Le Talbo, thou must wait; the rest retire:

Some Wine Le Talbo.

[Exeunt Attendants.

(They fall on Eating.

Sir I be bold to Whisper; Long last Corinna's Charms.

K.

Come with all my heart; I love the little Jade strangely: She has some little Pouting looks, that take me very much.

Cal.

I have that will take him more: Come fill to D'Arlin.

D' Ar.

Your Highness is in a very pleasant humour; I Cogratulate it: Has your Highness any extraordinary Occasion for it?

Cal.

Why verily, D' Arlin, that which revives all Mankind

[He Whispers the King]

The bravest Bona, Roba, Fresh and Plump, Fine and Gay. Your Ma∣jesty will give me leave to part in time, for the Minute draws near.

Le Tal.

For his Destruction.

K.

Prithee, Caligula; thou hast put me a gadding too. Le Talbo, get me Chocolate before I part.

Cal.

Fortune still waits upon me! Why he thrusts himself upon it, without my Advice or Assistance. Well, I may say my Conscience is clear. (Aside.) Come, D' Arlin, thou hast a sweet Tooth left, a ticklish Vain doubtless

[Aside. (Le Talbo gives Chocolate to the King and D'Arlin.

K.

'Tis well made; and a good taste.

D'Ar. turns his Faoe about and makes wry Faces as if he was sick.

(They drink.

D'Ar.

Well, I'll straight be ready to go.

[He pulls out Pen and lnk and writes

Cal.

I'll warrant thee ready to Dye presently.

(Aside.

D'Ar.

What strange dizzyness is this that o're whelms my Brain! My Spirits sink and throb about my Heart: Heaven keep us from Treachery: I'll give the King a hint, Heavens preserve him, and I care not.

(He Writes.

Le Talbo.

It works too soon, I fear

(Aside to Cal.

Cal.

Never fear; if he fall now, there's his Old Distemper will bear the worst can be said;

(The King seems to sit uneasie.

he has been us'd to an Apoplexy, and this will symbolize with it.

(Aside.

D'Arlin (rising.)

I must take my leave of your Majesty, while I send this Note.

K.

No, stay 'till we all go.

(King pulls to make d'Arlin stay; and in the mean time, he slips the Letter into the King's hand, unseen.

D.

Read this, Great Sir! I have just

Life enough to wish you safe

(Aside.) Ex. d'Ar.

The King turns to the Window with the Letter, and while he Reads, he Faints back, and falls without speaking.

Le Tal.

(running)

Heavens save ihe King!

Cal.

Save him! What dost mean? His Life? If thou wer't another Bro∣ther, thou should'st pay for that Word, if he should recover; I'll not have so much as one good Wish, during my Reign, which I reckon is well be∣gun. Here, make a noise, and Alarm the Court! We must have the For∣mality of Mourning. Well, Is not this an easie way of obtaining a King∣dom?

He, whose aspiring Heart to Empire bears, Should banish first all empty Doubts and Fears; Never consider, so he can obtain, The Care, the Crime, the Danger, but the Gain. The End of the Fifth Act.

The Scence closeth, and Exeunt omnes.

FINIS.