Fragmenta aurea A collection of all the incomparable peeces, written by Sir John Suckling. And published by a friend to perpetuate his memory. Printed by his owne copies.
Suckling, John, Sir, 1609-1642.
Page 48
ACT V.
Enter Tamaren, Peridor, and others.
Pe.
CRost all the High-wayes, searcht the Woods,
Beat up and down with as much pain & diligence,
As ever Huntsman did for a lost Deere.
Ta.
A race of Criples, are y' all
Issue of Snayles, he could not else have scap't us.
Now? what newes bring you?
Th.
Sir, we have found him out,
The party is in prison.
Ta.
How? in prison?
Th.
For certaine Sir.
It seemes young Samorat and he
Were those that fought the duell t'other day,
And left our Torcular so wounded there.
For his supposed death was Samorat taken,
Which when this youth had found,
He did attempt to free him (scaling the wall
By night) but finding it impossible,
Next Morning did present himselfe
Into the hands of Justice, imagining
His death that did the fact, an equall sacrifice.
Ta.
Brave Orsabrin.
Th.
Not knowing that the greedy Law ask's more,
And doth prescribe the accessarie
As well as principall.
Ta.
Just so 'ith nicke? 'ith very nicke of time?
Per.
Hee's troubled.
Ta.
It will be excellent.
Be all in souldiers straight,
Where's Torcular?
Th.
Forth comming Sir.
Ta.
How are his wounds?
Will they endure the Aire?
Under your gaberdines weare Pistols all.]
Ta.
Give me my other habit and my sword
'Ith' least suspected way hast after me.
Th.
All?
Tam.
All but Peridor; I will abroad,
My broken hopes and suff'rings
Shall have now some cure.
Fortune spite of her selfe shall be my friend,
And either shall redresse, or give them end.—
Ex.
P.
I've found it out,
He doe's intend to fetch this stranger backe,
And give him Reginella,
Or else—No, no, it must be that
His anger, and the search declare it;
The secret of the prison-house shall out I sweare.
I'le set all first on fire,
For middle waies to such an end are dull.—
Ex.
Enter Prince, Phi.
S.
Since she was refus'd to speake with you Sir,
Nor looke of any,
Languishes so fast,
Her servants feare she will not live
To know what does become of him.
Phi.
Sir 'tis high time you visit her.
Pri.
I cannot looke upon her, and deny her.
Phi.
Nor need you Sir,
All shall appeare to her most gracious:
Tell her the former part o'th' Law
Must passe, but when it comes t'execute,
Promise her that you intend to interpose.
Pr.
And shall then Samorat live?
Ph.
Oh!—
Nothing lesse! The censure past,
His death shall follow without noise:
▪Tis but not owning of the fact,
Disgracing for a time a Secretarie,
Or so—the thing's not new—
Page 50
Put on forgiving looks Sir,
We are there—
Enter Sabrina's Chamber.
A mourning silence
Sister Sabrina—
Sab.
Hence, hence,
Thou cruell hunter after life:
Thou art a paine unto my eyes as great,
As my deare Mother had when she did
Bring thee forth—And sure that was
Extreme, since she produc't a monster.
Ph.
Speake to her your selfe,
Shee's so incenst against me,
She will not welcome happines,
Because I bring it.
Pr.
Faire ornament of griefe,
Why are you troubled—
Can you beleeve there's any thing within
My power which you shall mourne for?
If you have any feares, impart them;
Any desires, give them a name,
And I will give thee rest:
You wrong the greatnes of my love,
To doubt the goodnes of it.
Sab.
Alas, I doe not doubt your love my Lord,
I feare it; 'tis that which does undoe me.
For 'tis not Samorat that's prisoner now,
It is the Princes Rivall;
Oh! for your owne sake Sir be mercifull:
How poorely will this sound hereafter,
The Prince did feare another's merit so,
Found so much vertue in his rivall, that
He was forc't to murder it, make it away.
There can be no addition to you Sir by his death,
By his life there will; You get the point
Of honour, fortune does offer here
What time perchance cannot agen:
Page 51
A handsome opportunity to show
The bravery of your minde—
Pri.
This pretty Rhetorique cannot perswade me
(faire.
To let your Samorat live for my sake:
It is enough he shall for yours.
Sab.
Though vertue still rewards it selfe, yet here
May it not stay for that; but may the gods
Showre on you suddenly such happines,
That you may say, my mercy brought me this—
P.
The gods no doubt will heare when you doe pray
Right waies: But here you take their names in vaine,
Since you can give your selfe that happines
Which you doe aske of them.
Sab.
Most gracious Sir, doe not—
Pr.
Hold, I dare not heare thee speake,
For feare thou now should'st tell me,
What I doe tell my selfe;
That I would poorely bargaine for any favours;
Retire and banish all thy feares,
I will be kind and just to thee Sabrina,
What s'ere thou prov'st to me.
Ph.
Rarely acted Sir,—
Ex Sabr.
Pr.
Ha!—
Ph.
Good faith to th' very life.
Pr.
Acted?—No,—'twas not acted.
Ph.
How Sir?
Pr.
I was in earnest.
I meane to conquer her this way,
The others low and poore.
Ph.
Ha?—
Pr.
I told thee 'twould be so before.
Ph.
Why Sir, you doe not meane to save him?—
Pr.
Yes—I doe—
Samorat shall be releas't immediately.—
Ph.
Sure you forget I had a brother Sir,
And one that did deserve Justice at least.
Pr.
He did—
Page 52
And he shall have it:
He that kil'd him shall dye—
And 'tis high satisfaction, that,
Looke not—
It must be so—
Exeunt.
Enter Stramador, and Peridor.
P.
No Devils Stramador,
Beleeve your eyes—To which I
Cannot be so lost▪ but
You may call to minde
One Peridor.
Str.
Ha? Peridor? thou did'st
Command that day
In which the Tamorens fell.
P.
I did—
Yet Tamoren lives.
Str.
Ha?
P.
Not Tamoren the Prince, he fell indeed;
But Tamoren his brother, who that day
Led our horse:
Young Reginella too,
Which is the subject of the suit,—
You have ingag'd your selfe by oath,
The King shall grant.
Str.
Oh! 'tis impossible,
Instruct me how I should beleeve thee.
Pe.
Why thus—
Necessity upon that great defeat
Forc't us to keep the Woods, and hide our selves
In holes which since we much inlarg'd,
And fortifi'd them in the entrance so,
That 'twas a safe retreate upon pursuite:
Then swore we all allegeance to this Tamoren.
These habits better to disguise our selves, we took at first;
But finding with what ease we rob'd,
We did continue 'em, and tooke an Oath,
Till some new troubles in the State should happen,
Page 53
Or faire occasion to make knowne our selves
Offer it selfe, we would appeare no other:
But come, let's not loose
What we shall ne're recover,
This opportunitie—
Enter Nashorat, and Pe.
Pe.
Nashorat, you have not thought of any
Stratagem yet—
N.
Yes I have thought—
Pe.
What?—
N.
That if you have any accompts with heaven,
They may goe on—
This villanous dying's, like a strange tune,
Has run so in my head,
No wholsome consideration would enter it.
Nothing angers me neither, but that
I passe by my Mistresses window to't.
Pe.
Troth, that's unkinde,
I have something troubles me too.
N.
What's that.
Pe.
The people will say as we goe along,
Thou art the properer fellow.
Then I breake an appointment
With a Merchants Wife,
But who can help it?—
(Nashorat.
N.
Yea who can help it indeed,
She's to blame though 'faith, if she
Does not beare with thee,
Considering the occasion—
P.
Considering the occasion as you say,
A man would thinke he might be borne with.
There's a Scrivener I should have paid
Some money to, upon my word,
But—
Enter Orsabrin, Samorat, Princes servants.
Sam.
It is resolv'd Sir, you know my answer.
Or.
Whether am I falne?
I thinke if I should live a little longer,
I should be made the cause of all the mischiefe
Which should arise to the world—
Hither I came to save a friend,
And by a slight of fortune I destroy him:
My very wayes to good prove ills.
Sure I can looke a man into misfortune:
The Plague's so great within me 'tis infectious.
Oh! I am weary of my selfe:
Sir I beseech you yet accept of it,
For I shall be his way
A sufferer,
And an executioner too—
Sam.
•I beg of thee no more,
Thou do'st beget in me desire to live:
For when I finde how much I am
Behind in noble acts of friendship,
I cannot chuse but wish for longer time, that I might
Struggle with thee, for what thou hast too clearly now
Got from me: The point of honour—
Oh! it is wisedome and great thrift to dye;
For who with such a debt of friendship and
Of Love, as you and my Sabrina must expect from me
Could ere subsist.
N.
They are complementing;
'Sfoot they make no more of it,
Then if 'twere who should goe in first at
A doore—I thinke Pellegrine, as you and I
Have cast it up, it comes to something
More—
Mess.
Gentlemen, prepare, the Court is setting.
Sam.
Friends, this is no time for ceremonie;
But what a racke have I within m•,
To s•e you suffer.
Page 55
And yet I hope the Prince will let this anger dye
In me, not to take the forfeiture of you.
N.
If he should, Pellegrin and I are resolv'd,
And are ready, all but our speeches to the people,
And those will not trouble us much,
For we intend not to trouble them.
(Exeunt.
Enter Prince, Peridor, and others.
Pr.
Not accept it?
Lose this way too?—What shall I doe?
He makes advantages of mine,
And like a skilfull Tennis-player,
Returnes my very best with excellent designe.
It must not be,
Bring to the Closet here above, the chiefe o'th' Jury:
I'le try another way.—
Ex.
Enter Judges, Prisoners, Lawyers.
N.
Of all wayes of destroying mankinde,
These Judges have the easiest,
They sleep and doe it.
Pe.
To my thinking now,
This is but a solemner kind of Puppet-play:
How the Devill came we to be acters in't?
So; it beginnes.
1 Judg.
The Princes Councell:
Are they ready?
Lawy.
Here—
Judg.
Begin then—
Law.
My Lords, that this so great and strange.
Sa.
Most reverend Judges,
To save th' expence of breath and time,
And dull Formalities of Law—
I here pronounce my selfe guilty.
Pri.
from above. Agen he has prevented me—
Sa.
So guilty that no other can pretend
A share—
This noble youth, a stranger to every thing
But Gallantry, ignorant in our Lawes and Customes,
Page 56
Has made perchance
(In strange severity) a forfeit of himselfe;
But should you take it,
The gods when he is gone will sure revenge it.
If from the stalke you pull this bud of vertue,
Before 't has spread and shewne it selfe abroad,
You doe an injury to all mankinde;
And publique mischiefe cannot be private Justice.
This man's as much above a common man,
As man's above a beast; And if the Law
Destroyes not man for killing of a beast,
It should not here, for killing of a man.
Oh what mistake 'twould be?
For here you sit to weed the Cankers out
That would doe hurt 'ith' State, to punish vice;
And under that y'oud root out vertue too—
Or.
If I doe blush, 'tis not (most gracious Judges)
For any thing which I have done, 'tis for that
This much mistaken youth hath here deliver'd.
'Tis true (and I confesse) I ever had
A little stocke of honour (which I still preserv'd)
But that (by leaving me behinde alive)
He now most cunningly doe's thinke to get from me:
And I beseech your Lordships to assist me;
For 'tis most fraudulent all he desires.
Your Lawes I hope are reasonable,
Else why should reasonable men
Be subject to them; and then
Upon what grounds is he made guilty now?
How can he be thought accessarie
To th' killing of a man,
That did not know o'th' fighting with him?
Witnesse all those pow'rs which search mens hearts,
That I my selfe, (untill he beckned me)
Knew nothing of it, if such a thing
As sacrifice must be—why? Man for mans enough:
Though elder times t'appease diviner Justice,
Did offer up—
Page 57
(Whither through gallantrie, or ignorance)
Vast multitudes of Beasts in sacrifice,
Yet numbers of men is seldome heard of:
One single Curtius purg'd a whole States sin:
You will not say th' offence is now as great,
Or that you ought to be more highly satisfied
Then Heaven—
P.
Brave youths—
N.
Pellegrin, you and I will let our sp•eches alone.
1 Judg.
If that the Law were of so fine a web,
As wit and fancie spin it out to, here,
Then these defences would be just, and save:
But that is more substantiall,
Of another make—
And Gentlemen, if this be all,
Sentence must passe—
Enter Tamoren.
Tam.
Orsabrin!
Or.
Ha! who names me there?
Ta.
A friend: heare me:
I am an Officer in that darke world
From whence thou cam'st, sent
Thus disguis'd by Reginella our faire Queene,
And to redeeme thee.
Or.
Reginella!
I'th' midst of all these ills,
How preciously that name doe's sound?
Ta.
If thou woult sweare to follow me,
At th' instant th' art releast;
I'le save thee and thy friends,
In spite of Law.—
Or.
Doubt not of that;
Bring me where Reginella is:
And if I follow not, perpetuall misery follow me:
It cannot be a Hell
Where she appeares—
Tam.
Be confident.—
(Goes out and brings To•cul••.
Page 58
Behold (grave Lords) the man
Whose death question'd the life of these,
Found and recovered by the Theeves
▪ith Woods;
And rescued since by us, to rescue Innocence.
Or.
Rare Devill,
With what dexteritie h'as raised this
Shape up; to delude them—
Pr.
Ha? Torcular alive?
Ph.
Torcular?
I should as soone beleeve my brother
Neere in being too.
Tor
You cannot wonder more to finde me here,
Then I doe to finde my selfe.
Na.
Come unbinde, unbinde, this matter's answered.
Judg. 2.
Hold: they are not free, the Law exacts
The same for breach of prison that it did before.
Or.
There is no scaping out of fortunes hands.
Doest heare; hast never a trick for this?—
Ta.
Doubt me not, I have without, at my command,
Those which never fail'd me;
And it shall cost many a life yet
Sir, ere yours be lost—
Pr.
Stramador you have been a stranger here of late.
Str.
Peruse this paper Sir, you'l find there was good reason for't.
Enter Prince Philatell from above.
Sramador, Peridor, Reginella meet them below.
Pr.
How! old Tamorens brother, Captaine
Of the Theeves, that has infested thus
Our Countrey?
Reginella too, the heire of that fear'd Familie!
A happy and a strange discovery.
Ta.
Peridor, and Reginella, the villaine
Has betrai'd me.
Re.
'Tis Orsabrin, they have kept their words.
Or.
Reginella? she was a woman then.
O let me goe.
Or.
I doe indeed: oh, to unriddle now!
Stra.
And to this man you owe it Sir,
You find an ingagement to him there;
And I must hope you'l make me just to him.
Pr.
He does deserve it,
Seize on him—
Tam.
Nay then all truths must out.
That I am lost and forfeit to the Law,
I doe confesse,
Yet since to save this Prince.
P.
Prince!
Or.
(Our Mephosto-philus is mad.)
Ta.
Yet, Prince, this is the Orsabrin.
Or.
Ha!—
Tam.
So long agoe,
Supposed lost,
Your Brother Sir:
Fetch in there Ardelan and Piramont.
Enter Ardelan and Piramont.
N.
What mad Planet rules this day
Ardelan, and Piramont.
Or.
The Divel's wanton,
And abuses all mankinde to day.
Ta.
These faces are well knowne to all Francelians,
Now let them tell the rest—
Pi.
My noble Master living! found in Francelia?
Ar.
The gods have satisfied our tedious hopes.
Ph.
Some Imposture.
Or.
A new designe of fortune—
I dare not trust it.
Ta.
Why speake you not?
Piram.
I am so full of joy, it will not out.
Know ye Francelians,
When Sanborne fatall field was fought,
So desperate were the hopes of Orsabrin,
That 'twas thought fit to send away this Prince,
Page 60
And give him safety in another clime;
That spite of an ill day, an Orsabrin might be
Preserv'd alive.
Thus you all know,
To Garradans chiefe charge he was committed:
Who when our Barke by Pyrats was surpris'd,
(For so it was) was slaine 'ith first encounter;
Since that we have been forc't to wait
On Fortunes pleasure.
And Sir, that all this time we kept
You from the knowledge of your selfe,
Your pardon; It was our zeale that err'd,
Which did conclude it would be prejudiciall.
Ar.
My Lords you looke as if you doubted still:
If Piramont and I be lost unto your memory,
Your hands I hope are not—
Here's our Commission:
There's the Diamond Elephant,
That which our Princes Sons are ever knowne by:
Which we to keep him undiscovered,
Tore from his riband in that fatall day
When we were made prisoners:
And here are those that tooke us,
Which can witnesse all circumstance,
Both how, and when, time and place;
With whom we ever since have liv'd by force:
For on no Kingdome, friend unto Francelia,
Did Fortune ever land us, since that houre;
Nor gave us meanes to let our Country know
He liv'd—
T.
These very truths, when they could have no ends,
(For they beleev'd him lost)
I did receive from them before,
Which gave me now the boldnes to appeare
Here, where I'm lost by Law.
Shouts without,
Long live Prince Osabrin.
Long live Prince Orsabrin,
Pe.
Observe, observe.
Pr.
What shouts are those?
Str.
Souldiers of Tamorens the first;
The second was the peoples, who
Much presse to see their long lost Prince.
Phi.
Sir, 'tis most evident, and all agrees,
This was his colour'd haire,
His Aire, though alter'd much with time:
You weare too strange a face upon this newes;
Sir, you have found a brother
I, Torcular, the Kingdomes happines;
For here the plague of Robberies will end.
It is a glorious day—
Pr.
It is indeed, I am amaz'd, not sad;
Wonder doe's keep the passage so,
Nothing will out.
Brother (for so my kinder Stars will have it)
I here receive you as the bounty of the gods;
A blessing I did not expect,
And in returne to them, this day,
Francelia ever shall keep holy.
Or.
Fortune by much abusing me, has
So—dul'd my faith, I cannot
Credit any thing.
I know not how to owne such happines.
P.
Let not your doubts lessen your joyes:
If you have had disasters heretofore,
They were but given to heighten what's to come.
Na.
Here's as strange a turne as if 'twere the
Fift Act in a Play.—
Peli.
I'm sure 'tis a good turne for us.
Or.
Sir, why stands that Lady so neglected there,
That does deserve to be the busines of mankinde.
Oh ye gods: since you'l be kind
And bountifull, let it be here.
Page 62
As fearfully, as jealous husbands aske
After some secrets which they dare not know;
Or as forbidden Lovers meet i'th night,
Come I to thee (and 'tis no ill signe this,
Since flames when they burne highest tremble most)
Oh, should she now deny me!
Re.
I know not perfectly what all this meanes;
But I doe finde some happinesse is neare,
And I am pleas'd, because I see you are—
Or.
She understands me not—
Pr.
He seemes t'have passion for her.
Ta.
Sir, in my darke commands these flames broke out
Equally, violent at first sight;
And 'twas the hope I had to reconcile my selfe.
Or.
It is a holy Magicke that will make▪
Of you and I but one.—
Re.
Any thing that you wou'd aske me, sure I might grant.
Or.
Harke Gentlemen, she doe's consent,
What wants there else?
Pe.
My hopes grow cold, I have undone my selfe.
Pr.
Nothing, we all will joyne in this;
The long liv'd feu'd between the Families
Here dyes, this day the Hyminaeall
Torches shall burne bright;
So bright, that they shall dimme the light
Of all that went before—
See Sabrina too.—
(Enter Sabrina.
Ta.
Sir, I must have much of pardon,
Not for my selfe alone, but for all mine—
Pr.
Rise, had'st thou not deserv'd what now thou su'st for,
This day should know no clouds.
Peridor kneeles to Tamoren.
Tam.
Taught by the Princes mercy; I forgive too.
Sab.
Frighted hither Sir.
They told me you woo'd not accept the Princes mercy.
Sam.
Art thou no further yet in thy intelligence?
See, thy brother lives—
Sab.
My brother?—
Or.
Yes, such a one as you are, faire,
(Reginella looks at Sabrina
And you shall be acquainted.
Sam.
Oh could your hate my Lords, now,
Or your love dye.
Phy.
Thy merit has prevail'd
With me.
Tor.
And me.
Pr.
And has almost with me.
Samorat thou do'st not doubt thy Mistresse Constancia.
Sam.
No Sir.
Pr.
Then I will beg of her,
That till the Sun returnes to visit us,
She will not give away her selfe for ever.
Although my hopes are faint,
Yet I would have 'em hopes,
And in such jolly houres as now attend us.
I would not be a desperate thing,
One made up wholly of despaire.
Sab.
You that so freely gave me Samorats life,
Which was in danger,
Most justly, justly, may be suffer'd to attempt
Upon my love, which is in none.
Pr.
What sayes my noble Rivall?
Sab.
Sir, y' are kind in this, and wisely doe
Provide I should not surfeit:
For here is happines enough besides to last the Sun's returne.
N.
You and I are but savers with all this Pellegrin.
But by the Lord 'tis well we came off
As we did, all was at stake—
Pr.
Come, no more whispers here,
Let's in, and there unriddle to each other—
For I have much to aske.
Or.
A Life! a Friend! a Brother! and a Mistres!
Oh! what a day was here:
Gently my Joyes distill,
Least you should breake the Vessell you should fill.
FINIS.
