Love in it's [sic] extasie, or, The large prerogative a kind of royall pastorall / written long since by a gentleman student at Aeton and now published.

Act. 1. Sce. 2.

Loud Musick. Enter Charastus, Flavanda, Bermudo, Halisdus, Spadatus, Arontas, and Attendants.

Cha.

Was't not a direfull Tempest that last night Affrighted our Horizon? was ever yet your age Acquainted with the like Halisdus?

Hal.

Never my gratious Lord: yet I have seene Many, that would have terrified the boldest: When our Aetnean Hill, spitted his fiery venome 'Gainst the Heavens; when the affrighted Sun For three dayes has withdrawn himself; yet these Compar'd with this for horror, Deserve not to be mentioned.

Cha.

It was a dreadfull night indeed; yet see How gloriously the Sunne appeares: the Heavens In labour were all night, & from their preg∣nant womb This morn a Sun springs forth, whose glo∣rious beames Frights back their pristine terrour.

Hal.

Wer't not a sin too great and ir∣religious To mistrust the heavens diviner Mercy, I should conceive this ill-aboding night Portendeth some ensuing misery.

Cha.

Doe not Halisdus with thy miscon∣struing fear Strive to disturb our joyes: Thy sight Fla∣vanda, Like to Auroras Beames, darted from out the Eastern Hills, Expells those drossie exhalations, which this too sad night Infused to my sadder soul.

Fla.

Your highnesse has a privilege for flattery.

Char.

Still harping on that string Flavan∣da? If for to speake what my inclining soul Prompts me to utter, and to conceive what I have said Is but a derogation from thy worth, be Flat∣tery, I must confesse I am guilty of that fault, Which never King did act, unlesse upon himselfe.

Fla.

Pardon my incredulity great Sir. When I consider that the lofty Pines Stoop not to brambles, that your S••aring Hawkes Bend not to lesser Birds, except for prey: I must confesse My virgin fear holds back those wandring thoughts VVhich your Al-potent Majesty extracted Lest I should perish like a hasty Blossome Cropt by the setting winter.

Cha.

Is yet my Loyalty in question? How oft have I with sacrilegious lipps Dissected all the Gods for Oathes, and must I still Remain suspected of disloyalty? surely I have a conscience.

Fla.

Yes, pure and more spotlesse than the wandering snow VVhich the least breath of any calmer wind Blowes up and down: such a conscience, That had it not a burthen of Felicity I should court its Master.

Cha.

VVas ever yet Felicity a Burthen?

Fla.

Yes, that which you vainly stile one: You doe suppose a Crown a brave and glo∣rious Trophee of felicity, which had you been without, One poor commanding word had done that deed, VVhich now your vain intreaties sue for. You are my King Sir.

Cha.

But tell me Dearest, how has my for∣mer life Deservd that title of your King: has my taxa∣tions Ever yet filld my oreflowing coffers? Have I replenish'd once my appetite VVith the direfull noyse of any subjects cur∣ses? Our gentler reign abhorr'd those vices Which most Kings doe Boast in: And canst thou think When I doe subjugate my self to thee, I shall become more ravenous than when I was Sole Monarch?

Fla.

I dare not question Sir that virtue which in you All Princes can't admire enough, much more not imitate. Tis not the Tyrannick usage of a Scepter That confirm's a King; He that is truely Royall, Rules not his kingdome with the severe And cruell Rigour of an austerer judgement, But with a mild severity, a virtue which you Have practis'd long; I must confesse, you are adorn'd With all the Ornaments that make a King A second Deity; But can those glorious trappings, Your Crown, your scepter, arm'd with that virtue too, Can they all resist those blasts, which en∣vious fame Will hurl upon my honour?

Cha.

What can the giddy multitude report Against thy virtues? Thou art beyond their malice.

Fla.

I were beyond then all that's good, Beyond the heavens themselves, and the celestiall powers. That Love that tends to a superior, Be it ne're so pure, is amongst them But an ambitious Lust, sold for preferment. Should Hymen joyn our hands in a lawfull union With our hearts, yet they would say, Flavanda does not give, but prostitutes her love To satisfie her vaine Ambition: Thus I should ever Rather bee thought your Strumpet, than your Wife.

Cha.

Canst thou suspect me yet Flavan∣da?

Fla.

I should suspect my selfe rather, for I know Our sex are all like watry clouds Made various still by the reflecting Sun. Whilst that the Crowne, Great Sir, Impalls your Royall Brow, I cannot be your Wife And to be your Whore, I dare not.

Cha.

Infortunate condition of a King! when that Hi•• chiefest Ornament becomes his greatest punishment. A Crowne, and Scepter are but transitory toyes, That wait on bigg and pompous Misery. Oh thou ambitious Man, whose soaring thoughts Aime onely at a crown! knewst thou The inconver••ence now of mine, thou then Wouldst wish, thou hadst rested in secu∣rity, And nere had sought so vain a happinesse,

Fla.

If that your boasted constancy bee firm As 'twere a sinne to suspect the contrary, That our loves may not diminish from each others lustre, Invest my Brother in your dignity: So I a Princess May equall you a some••times King.

Cha.

Must I resigne, or perish in felicity? Is this thy doome then still irrevocable?

Fla.

As Fate.

Cha.

A sad and dismall sentence! yet stay, And ere I part with this same glorious gemme, Let me recall the long lost man within mee, And with him, Mans better part, my Reason, Reason! alas I have none This trifle woman has unmand my soule, And made me like her selfe irrationall. Reason would tell me that I am a King, And in that name, something there is That whispers to my thoughts I may com∣mand. 'Tis true, I may, o're things Grosse as my self; This arme of mine can levell Cedars with the humblest shrubbs, and this my voyce Can with one accent, breath more certain Fate Than plague, or Fire. But can its loudest note Silence one murmuring thought? or can this potent grasp Inclose heavens lighting, or the smallest beame Which from the sun is darted? Love is more pure And lesse substantiall, 'tis no created body, Form, And Matter, but an etheriall essence, Fan∣cyes creatures. And to be Master of an immateriall Soule, Who would refuse to sacrifice that drosse, That clogges Mortality? He is a beast That would not fall, to rise a Constellation.

Hal.

Yet, Sir, consider what you give, A Crowne, a Scepter, and a Kingdome.

Cha.

These are but titular Emblemes of ••elicity, Visions of Blisse, Symptomes of Happinesse. What is there in a crowne, worthy our esti∣mation?

(He puts it on Flavandus head.

Place it here in its most proper spha••re, 'Tis but a glorious trifle; looke now Ha∣lisdus With impartiall eyes, and tell me which casts The greater lustre; thy silence does con∣demne thee. See, I kisse it, embrace it, and no virtuous heat Payes a gratuity: One Kisse of hers Makes me contemplate of a future happi∣nesse That rapes me to an Extasie of pleasure. Dull, sencelesse, and base stupid E••rth, Goe to the Center; My aery thoughts climbes Heaven, And graspeth now a Deity.

Ber.

Beware a cloud Ixion▪ if my plo••••s hitt right, It shall be twice as fatall.

Char.

Yet 'ere Bermudo I doe fully cease, 'ere that my soul Be quite dismantled of that glorious robe Which Fate so freely did allot 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Oh let these dewy drops, the truest Harbingers of a set••ing Sun, entreat thee Not to bring my frailty to a custome: Do not, oh do not! do••te like me Bermudo,

Let not posteritie in succeeding times Account this folly lawfull, and traduce Me, Me the Originall; 'Twill vex me in my urn.

Ber.

It shall not sir. I'le break the custome, And to show how much my soule's Obedient to your will, and that the world may see That 'tis not pompe nor majesty affects me, I make a vow before just heavens, and you, That if ere my heart be conquer'd with a womans love, Your Crown shall be restor'd.

Cha.

Thou knowst not what thou vow'st Bermudo.

Ber.

I doe my Lord, and know withall How strictly Religion bindes me to perfor∣mance; For should I dare to violate what I have vow'd, It would call a curse upon me, high As the punishment Damnation payes to sin∣ners: I must then royall sir, & so must ye, my Lords, And Peeres of Lelybaeus, acknowledge him again Your Soveraign, unlesse a doe a deed Which humane frailty names impossible,

Cha.

Canst thou be so good Bermudo?

Ber.

'Tis not a Crowne great sir, With that same large Prerogative annext, Can make Bermudo be ingratefull; You nourish'd my declining fortunes, And brought them to that height which now They stand in, and should I like ungatefull plant Consume the stemme that nourish'd me, In••amy would surely blast me.

Cha.

Thus then I doe indulge thee All the prerogatives of Majestie. Goe and ascend my throne, and let all with one applause Say after me, Long live Bermudo King of Lelybaeus.

Trumpets and shouts within.

Omnes.

Long live Bermudo King of Lely∣baeus.

Omnes.

Long live Bermudo King of Lely∣baeus.

Omnes.

Long live Bermudo King of Lely∣baeus.

Ber.

I have it now, seated firm, beyond the power Of Revocation: Thanks to the Heavens, And our diviner Policy. Long has this King∣dome Under the easie yoak of an esteminate King Surfetted with luxury, and been a Proverb For our neighbouring Princes to express lasciviousness: The thought whereof did grate my heart, And stir'd a noble Anger in my blood. Shame of all Kings, dishonor of thy race, It was I that forc't my credulous ••ister To make this tryall of thy constancy. I made Flavanda to demand thy Crowne, onely With a promise to restore it: But can you think A Gemme so lost, will e're be found Before the extirpation of that seed Which thy effeminate government has sown In this too much abused Kingdome?

Cha.

If that the thought of what I was Can not procure some reverence, Yet slight me not ••or what I may be, When the conditions which you hold Your Kingdome by are broken.

Ber.

Conditio••s? 'Tis true, I promis'd when e're My heart was conquer'd with a womans love Your Crown should be restor'd.

Fla.

That was not all▪ A vow Was past to me, seal'd with an Oath, That when our Nuptialls should be solem∣niz'd You would restore the Kingdome.

Ber.

It is confess'd: nor dare I disobey it. Vowes of this nature may not be broken Without the violation of Religion.

Cha.

Come dearest then, let Hymenae all Rites Restore a double happiness.

Ber.

Stay rash man, hear our Decree first▪ Reade Arontas, and let thy voiyce Strike terror to the Nation.

Arontas reads.

Whereas this ••ertile Kingdome, under the easie raign of our esteminate predeces∣sor, has long su••setred with a degenerate passion, which the weaker ones stile Love, the wiser Folly, to the high dishonor of the

Nation, and great displeasure of that Virgin Goddess whose rites we ought to celebrate. That we may now therefore repair our lost honour, appease the wrath of that incens∣ed Deity, and avert those judgments which are now so imminent; We have thought fit to decree, and be it decreed by the most high, and excellent Bermudo, the Supreme Lord, and Ruler of this Nation, that for the space of seven years next ensuing, none shall presume to entertain that passion: If any one shall presumpt••ously, contrary to this our pleasure, be ••ound so weak as to express it in the least of Circumstance, their lives to Heavens shall forfeit,

Bermudo.

Ber.

You have heard our will Charastus, Presume not then to disobey it: 'Tis not the remembrance Of your former greatness, or the Peoples love, Can exempt you from the justice of our an∣ger. Could'st thou suppose, fond man, Bermudo Would restore a Crown for bare gratuity; No, I did but pull away the baite, to make The hasty fish receive it with more eager∣ness, Which now is caught, thanks to our In∣dustry: And that the captive may not flatter his imagination With a hopes of a Recovery, Let our De∣crees be publish'd.

Exit Arontas.

Cha.

That sir you have a power to punish my credulity, This knee, nere bent before to humane greatness, testifies. Oh Royall sir! Let the severity of your Law stop here, Here on my head let your anger fall: Punish not my folly in your loyall Subjects, Guilty in nothing but obedience. If not for my sake, For my sisters sake, for Desdonellas sake, Shee though a Princess lov'd you sir a Sub∣ject: I saw it, and was silent, and surely, Had not I thought, you had suppos'd I••gratitude the worst of evills, I neere had left my self so bare, Cloath'd onely with my shame and ruine.

Ber.

If Desdonella harbours such a thought, She feeds the flame that will consume her: Nor she, nor any sir shall dare to doe, What is deni'd their Soveraigne.

Cha.

Then thus proud man I rise, And boldly tell you, that though Religion Tyes our hands, yet there's a power above you, Which neither custome nor Religion can controul, He sir will punish to the height the deadly sin Of an abus'd Authority: Remember it, and tremble.

Fla.

Alas, fond mayd, to what a deluge of misfortune Has this thy incredulity now brought thee? VVhat indigested heaps of misery has it thrown On thy ore-charged soul? Yee sacred Powers That guard distressed Innocence! If that my brothers tyranny has not as yet Exiled ye this Nation, pitie my teares, And since I needs must hate where I am forc'd to love Learn me a loving hate: But can I hope The heavens will pity me in such a vale of wickedness? No surely, I'le therefore to the woods, There harmeless Innocence wrapt in secu∣ri••y, Entombs faint envie, there vain Ambition Covets no other Crown but Roses, No Scep∣ter But a Sheephook, these will I covet too. Farewell Bermudo; and because once thou wert my brother, In Heavens I wish thee.

Ber.

And I thee in hell for wishing it.

Fla.

Since that the Constellations yet do want A fierce and cruell Tyger, I'le pray the Heavens To place thee there, that when a Tyrant's born, The world may say Bermudo gave the in∣fluence. My ill-spent tears bids thee adue: Fare∣well all cruelty,

A VVolfe and Lamb compar'd to us, for symp••thy, May well be stil'd the Zodiacks Gemini.

Exit.

Cha.

Farewell thou perfect Modell of all goodness, Haste to the shadie woods, there I will live, In contemplation of thy excellence: Loves Theory shall be my study; a Science Far beyond thy reach Bermudo; thy grosser ••ence Is ignorant of all loves, except of that VVhose baser flame knowes no commerce with purity, That which insatiate lust perhaps has prompt thee too; Mine is a love superplatonick, a flame, VVhose bright continued Pyramide of splen∣dour Shall soare above thy dulle•• reach Bermudo, And make thy faint ambition become more blinde Than are thy thoughts that guide it.

Ber.

VVhat curses mutterst to thy self? Are they 'gainst me, or 'gainst the destinies?

Cha.

Thou art not worthy of my curses, And to curse my stars were irreligious, For 'twas Love, not Fate That made Charastus thus infortunate.

Exit.

Ber.

Farewell, a pair of Fondlins. Is Arontas gon to publish our Decree?

Hall.

He is my Lord. Shall I recall him?

Ber.

Stir not a foot to h••nder our designs.

Hall.

Oh good my Lord! This is not the way To keep you in your Kingdome long Sir.

Ber.

VVhy? Lives there a man so bold As to violate the Majesty of a King?

Hal.

It is a crime I must confess, that we Scicilians Most abhor; nor do I think there lives a man So irreligious: But by your leave, He is no King that has no Subjects, And if you take this course, what Subjects will remain? Consider sir, Love is the principall cause That begets you Subjects, And if you take away The Cause, the effect will follow.

Ber.

Let not that trouble you sir. Let it be your care joyn'd with Arontas To send a Guard unto the utmost limits of our Kingdom That bound upon the other Promontories With a Commission to let none pass: If any of another Nation come within their reach, Bring straight to our subjection; which don Haste ye unto our Ports, burn there our ships; If that a man escapes, your heads shall pay his ransome. We long have surfeted with extremes, and now Extremes shall cure this deadly malady, Which Justice is Halisdus, and not Ty∣ranny.

Exeunt.