YOur pardon, Madam, for this intrusion, which, but upon this occasion, I should not have committed; my Brother being to take his leave, if not troublesome, would say: something of his own griefs; whose sad story I fear I may spoil in the de∣livery.

'Tis little, Madam, I have to say; your pardon for having said I loved, and leave to love you still; your pity and your justice, for a passion most reasonable, because 'twas of an object most di∣vine, is what I now shall beg; nor can you with justice punish me for what has honour to justifie it self with, when it shall be a crime to love the Princess Cicilia as Amadeo does, without desiring her to be unjust to her self, without taking one favour from him that has so highly deserved above me: for I shall not be so partial to my self, as to question the judgement of your choice; yet thus much I may say, my heart has never lost one grain of that honour 'twas born to, nor one spark of that fire it first took at Cicilia's eyes; Absence, time, nor War, no, not Cicilia's love to another, could change my heart; though rigid honour made me once fly from her, yet that love and honour both now have call'd me back; and again send me from this Paradise to eternal misery. This Riddle, Madam, those Tyrants will read best to your mind.

That you could know my fate, Sir, and I not tell it you! Page  284 you'l find me so miserable, I can neither be happy, nor make you so; yet time will justifie me to the Prince, by giving him un-imagi∣ned reasons of my mis-fortunes. I know your Highness will when you are gone, at least, inquire after Cicilia, if then; I do not let you see Lucius had only my passion, and Prince Amadeo my reason, then let him condemn me; and at such a rate I will punish my rash heart for giving it self away upon so little trial, as even your self shall pity me; and when I lose that esteem for your Highness ver∣tue that a gallant man can pretend to, and not lose his value of me, then let all the world despise me, more I cannot say; all that I can give with honour, take.

He that desires more must not have such an object as your Highness, nor such a subject as Amadeo's heart to work upon; who now without envy looks upon Lucius and his fortune. For heaven witness, I have all the ends my heart desires in the friend∣ship of the fair Cicilia.

Stay here, till I find the Princess; Remember you observe my counsel, let her passion pass; answer little, defend nothing, for your fault is not to be justified; besides, I know when you are si∣lent her anger will want what to say; but from your answer she will still gather substance to express her displeasure, which is such as I fear you will scarce excuse, especially since your last madness; what made you send Dyon to her with that ridiculous Message which has almost distracted her?

What is past is not to be remedied; 'twas Lysander told me she gave the Prince a visit since we fought; and that Amadeo and Clorinda are never from her, which being my enemies, and she knowing their design upon her, and my relation to her, methinks, till my return it would not have been unreasonable to have ex∣pected she should have kept a distance with my Rival, and my Enemies.—Hah! see where they are, and Amadeo on his knees

Stay, you are mad; what should this mean? his rage is be∣yond counsel; this accident is beyond my guess.

Ha! what voyce was that?

A lying one, and a Traytors 'twas, whoever he be that spoke it; and if he escape me, Fortune shall do more for him then justice dares do for me.

Stay, Sir, give me leave to speak before your anger take its course.

Hold, Sir; whoever he be, he is not worth your sword;

'Twas Lucius's voyce.

I knew that, but was loath to grieve her heart with tel∣ling her so.

You must expect his fury should discharge it self upon you; therefore be so just to the Princess, as calmly to tell him his error; and upon how unreasonable grounds he builds his jea∣lousie, this will confirm what you have said to her; for every fault Lucius commits her kindness makes heavy to her; and what ere you may believe, let him be never so guilty, she will not love his punisher; for to make his faults publick by Amadeo, is to up∣braid her; and if you would destroy a Rival more gracious then your self, wisely see, and seem to hide his faults; then all your gallantry is his poyson, and obligations upon her; I would not now fight with him till he struck me; and that patience shall win more from a generous heart, like hers, then thou canst possibly reap with thy sword; for she and all the world knows, 'tis not fear of Lucius but love to Cicilia makes Amadeo spare even his enemy, because she loves him.

Dear Clorinda, from love and thee I have learn'd two hard lessons; 'tis to stoop to Love and Anger; and I shall only ex∣pect what he will do, and resolve in order to thy counsel; I confess, I now begin to pity him, even my self that was this morning his enemy; sure Fortune begins to frown upon him, there was strange malice in this chance, to bring him to see that only which must vex him.

TOmorrow they hunt in the Forrest; I will meet him, and in this disguise take my revenge; if he escape me, let him take her for whom I scorn to fight; but that I hate him more then I love her; besides, I know't will strike her soul to have him fall by me, and to see him kill'd for whom she broke her faith; this revenge will render her despis'd, having neither Honour nor a Lover left.

O Calis, how vain are our thoughts, how endless those de∣sires that rule our hearts! Lucius his jealousie has so humbled my heart, so discouraged me in the pursuit of happiness, that my soul is grown desperate; 'tis vanity for any Maid to hope by Reason, or Vertue, to tye any man to her friendship; the blind Page  286 pursuit of some, may by chance some minutes be happy; But no Rule can prescribe a certain way to make a Lover happy; Now I find, it had been better far for me to have had a nature like other common women, with a mind easily satisfied, and in a modest Ignorance have believed all that their false Sex said, and have ta∣ken what my fate would have sent me, then to labour the know∣ledge of the best minds, and, with a sweet Vexation, make my self fit for such as I cannot find, so to be onely more miserable then other Women; for they in their folly gain that bliss I in my dreams have onely found, and not knowing better enjoy all their wishes, living contented, and dying loving, and lamented, whilst I in pain languish, having lost that pride and value of my self which Lucius once begot; But 'twas flattery all; I am not fair nor virtu∣ous sure; There is no Magick in this Form, as that dissembler swore; Else were those graces here, how came Lucius to despise me? Had I virtue, how durst that dissembler doubt my honour? O Calis, this scorn has robb'd me of all my Friendship, I have scarce enough left to protect my breast against my own hands, which hate the heart that this false youth has wounded; Therefore no more, no more, I know 'twas he, and I am resolv'd; and since Calis has sworn to be secret, she shall now know my design.

Madam, I was never so much Lucius's as to abandon your Highness, for him; when I can serve him without pre∣judice of my Faith, I shall do it, in memory that he was once your friend.

That Idle thought is past and gone, my anger is resolved into Reason; yet his Injuries are such, that I can calmly tell thee, thou might'st assoon reconcile that Eternal Quarrel betwixt death and Nature, as Lucius and my heart. His jealousie has committed such low sins; I wonder he is not ashamed to converse with such mean thoughts; and I hate my self, to think I was such a fool as to let it be twice in Lucius his power to Injure me; But, from this hour, all the memory I shall retain of such a Crime as his Friend∣ship, shall be to shew him I am Innocent when his Repentance shall come too late.

I hear, and grieve to hear, (You are both Subject to pas∣sion) and your miseries are like to be as great as your hearts; And though I dare say, neither of you love any thing better then each other, Yet that Love is like to be a fatal Enemy; for your Anger and displeasure is as high as his Jealousie and Rage; No one of you having patience to defer your Anger, or Revenge, till you see each other; This wild Justice, which both pursue thus passionate∣ly, I fear you and all that love you may repent too late.

That's my hope, and my design, that misery is now my souls wish, for you know I am Innocent; But since Lucius can doubt my Honour twice, and not speak to me once, he shall never be satisfied by Cicilia but when it must breed his despair, which shall onely find him when I am out of possibility to redeem him. For know, my soul is resolved to Morrow to find his Rival, and give him all the Joys I had laid up in store for Lucius; Though it Page  287 break my heart, I will do it; which I know 'twill do, when I shall find my self embraced by his Rival. This (Calis) is the Revenge I will take upon his Jealous Soul; and, if he love, 'twill wound him more then his own Dagger; For to a Lover it must be perfect misery, to see his Mistress condemned to a loathed Bed.

Heaven forbid—upon my knees, Madam, I beg, you

Amadeo? No, Calis; Prince Amadeo is as far distant from his hope, as Lucius.

Not Amadeo? Heaven guard my poor heart; If Manlius be the man, I am lost; for I cannot with honour hinder his hopes; what shall I believe?

When saw you Manlius?

Ha! Now, Manlius, thou shalt find I love thee above my self. Lately, Madam, and a sad penitent for his Crimes; Is there no hope his repentance may find your pardon; are his faults allied to Lucius? I hope they are, else Calis is miserable.

No, fears, Calis; my Intent is to punish the faults in one brother, not to encourage them in the other; and my fate guides me to a Revenge on Lucius, not Calis that's my friend.

Then the gods are favourable to Prince Amadeo.

No, Calis; Prince Amadeo has too many virtues to make me happy, as Lucius has too few; and 'twill be as great a dishonour for Cicilia to marry the Prince, as 'tis virtue in me to renounce Lucius.

Too many virtues? Heaven bless me, what fine points do we propose to make our selves miserable! too much honour, and too many vertues, to become Cicilia's Hymens; this is a Riddle I un∣derstand not.

To be reveng'd, and save mine honour, is now my bu∣siness; not to give my fame to punish Lucius; Can you perswade the world that I left Lucius, and resolv'd to punish my self for his Crimes, when they see me married to Amadeo? A man that is made up of all that is Excellent, Great, or Honourable? one that might Justifie a Maid, even in the breach of Faith? should I marry him, 'twould make the guilty Lucius Innocent; and Innocent Cicilia as black in story as jealous Lucius shall be; for who will stick to say, when we are married, Lucius then was Jealous upon too sad a ground? No, Calis, having practised and known the vertues of Amadeo, I confess, my heart told me he was a Subject fit for any Lovers fear, where he would become a Rival; Therefore betimes, to prevent such a danger as Lucius his Jealousie, you can witness I gave Lucius my vows and faith, before the gods and thee; And Page  288 after that, to have him doubt, and not onely fear, but call me false, robbing me of that honour, and good Name, which with his life he should have defended, making himself those scandalls a Gallant man would have stabb'd, or strangled in the bosome of a Brother? But Lucius is false; 'tis not a kind fear which all that Love must have; but a mean jealousie, which does not onely make me unfit for his Friendship, but the esteem of all gallant men; This is his Crime, which Lucius may live to repent.

If not Amadeo, what rests then, where is the Rival?

Orante.

Orante, what of him?

To that wretched Creature Fortune has reserved Cicilia, not for his good, nor that she owed him a blessing; But for my Curse, my Affliction; To that wretch I will give my self; To him my vows of faith, if he will receive me, are now design'd.

Orante! Heaven forbid.

Yes, Calis, I will marry Orante, not withstanding thy won∣der, and all the worlds, and having vowed to him pay him a faith as just and observant as Lucius should have had; And that false man shall see, honour obliges me as much to that wretch as love should have done to him; This way, Calis, thou shalt see thy friend revenged, and the world shall justifie me, and say, Lucius was jealous without a Cause; for sure Orante is a Subject few or none will believe I should break my faith for; and when Lucius shall see him possest of what he loved, the vexation that his heart must feel will be my Revenge.

But will your Highness, in a Passion, destroy your self, and punish all that love you because one has been false? Did you love nothing but Lucius? What have we that are your friends done? that you should afflict us thus, to see you make your self miserable beyond Redemption? sure you never loved Lucius.

Yes, Calis, and 'twas my Crime; for I have loved and obliged him beyond his hopes, beyond reason or Justice, preferr'd him before a gallanter man then himself; you know I loved him, First, for his fears, and they were lovely then, and his doubts as obliging as his jealousie injurious now; And this Act will let him see I never loved any thing but Lucius.

But suppose Lucius despise you for this Act.

Why then I will suffer for having loved one so un∣worthy.

If Lucius his faults had not their Roots in Love and jea∣lousie I should not defend him; me-thinks I should love him more for doubting his fortune, then for a saucy confidence of me, till I was his; There must be something, Madam, of the vain and inso∣lent, that pretend to love, and wooe without fear, or doubt; Rage in a Lover I should take for Love it self; If Lucius had loved another, then a high Revenge were due; But all your anger strives to punish him for loving you; suppose a friend falls, suppose he goes astray, suppose he be sick, shall we then be angry? one of these is Lucius his case.

This I know, and that Orante's body is furnish'd with a mind more mishap'd; one that will omit no means to gain his ends; one whose Lust prevails with him more then Honour or Conscience, which beast in the mind adds even to his deformity, and has bred such an invincible hatred against me; Yet now I will stoop even to that hate, and suffer my self to be miserable beyond example; My time will be the shorter to out-live the injuries of so false a man as Lucius.

But what have we that are your friends, or Prince Amadeo done, that you should punish us?

I have said Prince Amadeo has too many Virtues; and could I love again he were the man; This I said when I thought my self happiest, else I should not say it now; This I said, when I refused Amadeo, else I should not say it now when Lucius has re∣fused me; And when thou seest him tell him this story, he will hate Lucius, and pity me, who will punish my self and become fit for his pity, for not having been wise enough to preserve my self fit for his Love, of which crime Lucius was the original guilt.

Can you forgive Orante all his deformities, all the sins and wickednesses that are natural to him, and marry what you have ever loathed, and not forgive Lucius that loves you, Lucius that you have loved, one fault, one crime? A sin yet to be disput∣ed, whether it be so in Love or no; for Jealousie was once Love, Jealousie in the root none doubts is Love; 'Tis true, what the fruit may be is doubtful; But Lucius his Jealousie yet has onely born unhandsome fears, passionate cholerick words.

O Calis, thou art yet to seek what abused Love is, thy Fortune was kind by chance, that made thee alwayes love unbe∣loved again; But when thou shalt be sought to by divers Gallant Men, till thy free Heart fix on one whom thy kindness will oblige above the world; When neither Honour, Person, nor parts could tempt thee; when, like me, thou shalt have loved for Love onely; then to find thy self deceived, suspected, injur'd, and de∣spised by him for whom thy partial kindness has thus made war against the world, as I have done for Lucius, then thy Honour will fire thy Heart; and rather then not be revenged, like me, strike thorow thy own Breast rather then let such a sin pass unpunished; Disdain and Scorn will rise in the face of Love, when thou shalt see thy faith and kindness accused for false by one that begg'd at thy feet till his false tears had gain'd thy Charity; And now the sawcy Beggar will proportion and give Rules to my Bounty, and confine that Honour, that pity, that kindness, that from a Beg∣gar, made him Master of my Heart; This ingrateful, dissembling, insolent, jealous, injurious Lover, is Lucius; and I by my Folly made so miserable, as to find a pleasure in being reveng'd on the thing I loved; which design to morrow I will pursue: And, by all thy Friendship I conjure thee, plead no more against my Resolu∣tion; But, in order to thy Oath, prepare for to morrow; and when the chase is up we may avoid the company and retire to some Page  290 place, to put on that disguise which I have already furnish'd, till when Farewell.—

Something I must do to prevent this mischief; when she hath spoke with Manlius the occasion will be fit; and to morrow, when we return to put on our disguise, I will lead her as by chance into Juno's grove, 'twill be proper to conceal her; And those sacred limits will afford a privacy fit to reconcile us; which being once done, I will break all vows rather then see her throw her self into the loathed embraces of Orante, though I will not now oppose her Passion.

THis time has been so full of Tempests, Madam, the storm would scarce give Loves gentle wings leave to flie in the Court; Jealousie and foolish Passion, those Birds of prey, still stooping at his Mothers Doves; And here, where Love should be heard sing, mutinous war has given our Hearts more Alarms then the Camp; But now these troubles are blown over, I shall hope 'tis not unseasonable to invite the Prince to honour our Hy∣men's with his presence.

Amadeo is yet all the staff Clorinda can in Honour lean upon; and I hope he will not refuse this hand now, when I am to walk in paths so strange to Clorinda as Hymen leads to; For though Otho had my hand to be his Bride, yet Amadeo most not be forgot, that has alwayes been kind as a Lover, faithful as a Brother; And 'twill shew a kind of insensibleness in me to desire his stay, onely to add to this affliction by seeing others happy, and then to begin his misery; Nor would I punish Otho for others faults, by delaying his rights, which I confess are due; This streight your kindness must lead me through.