Five nevv playes, viz. The English moor, or the mock-marriage. The love-sick court, or the ambitious politique: Covent Garden weeded. The nevv academy, or the nevv exchange. The queen and concubine. / By Richard Brome.

ACT 4. SCENE 2.

Matho in his disguise.

Mat.

Now for my Combitants. Th'appointed ground Is here; the time draws on; and the event Foreseen in my imaginary light Of every passe projected in their fight. In the first passage, each shall wound the other; Then shall they give, lend, pay, change wound for wound, Till both of them lie fainting on the ground. Holding between their teeth their doubtful lives: When I, to end the question, friendly come in, And with an equal hand dispatcht'em both.

Ent. Philarg.

And so into my ambush. One approaches.

Exit.

Philar.

This is the place. What is't that urges me So promptly to deed, which being acted, Will be th'astonishment of Heaven and earth? Applauded no where but in Hell. Fair Tempe, Let it not be deriv'd to after Ages, By any uncouth mark upon thy face, Let not thy grassy locks, that shall receive

The drops of blood, wither and die, condemning The place that bore them to continual baldness; Let not the impress of our labouring feet Hold it's proportion; nor that part of earth, Whereon the slain shall measure out his length, Reserve the stamp, and make it monumental, By a perpetual spring of more procere And bigger bladed grass: And, when my soul Hath found an Exit (which my purpose is My Brothers sword shall open) let the valley (When hee's departed) sink and undermine The bordering hills that they may cover me.

Ent. Philoe.

Philoc.

He hath prevented me in hast: In death I shall prevent his happily expected Labour and toy'l, who for no other end Am here arriv'd but to be sacrific'd For expiation of his discontent.

Philar.

Let all the eyes of heaven be hooded, onely One star to guid his point unto my heart, Which instantly shall fall, and be extinct In my distilled blood; that so the Gods May not behold him. May some magick spell Instruct his arm and weapon how to slay My name and memory, that of me, there be not Any desire; on him no Imputation.

Philoc.

My cure is onely how my breast may swallow His point, without revealing mine intent.

Philar.

I so't shall be: a violent assay For provocation; and then spit my self Upon his steel.

They espie one another draw, and pass at each other, instantly both spread their arms to receive the wound.

Philoc.

Philargus. What! so quick,

Philar.

What's meant by this?

Philoc.

That should be my demand

Philar.

Are you so changeable?

Philoc.

Not I Philargus.

Philar.

This was my resolution; Will you stain The reputation rais'd of your high valour.

Philoc.

I came to make experiment of none But what consists in suffring.

Philar.

That's my part.

Philoc.

My self If you deny me that last friendly office.

Phila.

Brother you dally with me. Therefore I conjure you By faire Eudina let your anger loose; Break up this cask of blood, and give the earth A draught unto her health.

Philoc.

By the same Beauty (Then which no greater subject of an oath) I swear to be your nuptialls sacrifice, Be you the Priest. I'le suffer without noise In my displayed bowels you shall read An augury of bliss unto you both.

Philar.

This is hard measure, Philocles, to mock Ere you destroy.

Philoc.

I'le mock no more. Adieu.

He offers to kill himself, Philargus clos∣es with him.

Philar.

Hold, hold, and be not prodigal of that blood, More precious then Pactolus golden streams.

They strugle, and both fall down, still stri∣ving to hold each others sword. &c.

Philoc.

Was then your challenge but totry me onely?

Philar.

Yours was, it seems; but none went out from me.

Philoc.

Then are we both ensnar'd by treachery.

Enter Matho.

Math.

This I foresaw 'twould come to. 'Save ye lord∣ings. And whither travail ye? Do you not want a guide To help ye on your way?

Matho draws they start up and disarm him.

Philar.

This is the villane That summon'd me.

Philoc.

And me. Villane, what art thou?

Math.

Unhappily gues'd. I pray inquire no further.

Philar.

What monster art thou?

Philoc.

Unworthy on thy face to bear mans ensign. Who has subborn'd thee? See tis Stratocles man.

He un∣beards him.

Philar.

Die villane, die. And were thy ma∣ster in thee, The thirst of whose ambition sought our bloods; His flesh with thine should here become a prey Unto the Ravens.

Math.

O, be pitiful And spare my life, my Lords, and I'le reveal Matters of weight and wonder; which, conceal'd, Will yet cost both your lives, and make the Princess, If she not answer my Lords fierce desires, Subject to rape and murder.

Philoc.

How can she So fall into his power.

Philar.

We shall abuse The trust the Gods have put into our hands If we neglect to execute justice on thee.

Math

Let me but warn ye of Eudina's danger, Whereby her virgin Innocence may not suffer, And then inflict your furies on me.

Philoc.

That charms our ready hands and steel. Speak quickly.

Math.

This very hour she's to be surpriz'd By my Lord Stratocles, here, on Tempe plains, Where she is come to walk, slenderly guarded To take the air. He with a strength will seise her And hurry her hence unto his Mansion house, To yield to his desire, or death, if suddenly Prevention be not made.

Philar.

Tis worth our care.

Math.

Preserve me from his vengeance, and I'le bring you Unto his enterprize.

Philoc.

We must not trust him,

He may have laid an Ambuscado for us.

Enter 6 Rust. with Weapons

Philar

See brother, stand upon our guard.

Math.

Help, help, aid me good people, help.

Philoc.

What means the villan now.

1. Rus.

What's the complaint?

2. Rus.

What is your grievance, speak?

Math.

I am a servant to Lord Stratocles Who has preserv'd your Countey and your lives.

1. Rus.

We are the more beholding to him; on.

2. Rus.

'Twas more his gentlenes then our deserving; on.

Math.

These two are his malignant enemies; And finding that my Lord is in these parts Together with the Princess, fair Eudina (Who has made him her choice) they lie in wait To murder him, as they had me, had not The Gods sent you to rescue me.

1. Rus.

'Twas more their Gentleness, then your de∣serving, on.

Math.

I have no more to say, but that you take'em On your allegiance to safe custody, And let me pass.

1. Rus.

Un'ch, That would be more Our gentleness then your deserving too. on, on.

Philar.

Dear friends—

1. Rus.

Good, interrupt us not we'll hear ye in order. On you, Sir, ere you go; and come not back For any thing unspoke you left behind.

Math.

I thank you, Sir, I had like to ha'lest my sword deserving, Behind, which they disarm'd me of.

1. Rus.

That was their Gentleness more then your (They having three swords, and you none to guard you) They kill'd you not indeed, yet on again. W••••t further do you charge'em with.

Math.

No more, nor you, less you detain me longer.

1. Rus.

Now you grow bold, and saucy I must tell you.

2. Rus.

Now y'are a knave, a villane and a Traytor, Lest you no more behind you but a sword?

I saw a scabberd on your face of late, A false one: Seek it out.

3. Rus.

O here it is.

Takes up the false beard.

1. Rus.

Put it him on again. On with it, on. Resist and we will hang thee. Now my Lords, My Princess I may say: For one of you Must be our King. We know you though you know Not us; you may perhaps hereafter know us More by your Gentleness then our deserving.

Phil. Phil.

O worthy Countrey men.

1. Rus.

We are the heads of Tempe; and the chief Swain heads of Thessaly (the King has known us) And here we came to lay our heads together For good of common wealth. Here at the verge Of this adjoyning Thicket is our Bower Of consultation; and from thence (regardful Ever with eye and ear for common good) We saw a beard pull'd off; and heard that mouth, (Which now is dumb) open a plot, unlike The pittiful compl••int he made to us.

Philar.

But saw you not some passages before? Of his attempt upon our lives?

1. Rus.

Good Gods.

2. Rus.

No we came in but then. Those are enough To hang the man, and turn his Lord out of Our Countrey favour: If we find he has That plot upon the body of the Princess Of Rape and Murder. He can be no King For us: for, sirrah, we have wives and daughters.

En. Stra. Eud. Soul.

1. Rus.

Stand close. See who comes here.

Stra.

So, now go back my friends. There's some reward.

Sol.

Thanks to the noble bounteous Stratocles.

gives a pur's

Srat.

Lady your tears are bootless.

Exit Souldiers

Eud.

Help ye Gods.

Str.

Your cries as unavailable. The Gods (To whom your friendly foolish lovers Have sacrific'd each other) have given you up

To me the onely worthy of you.

Eud.

No they are both sublim'd into one star, Yet of a double influence, that shall Strike death into thy purposes, and give Me light by which t'ascend with them to live After my present death.

She offers to kill her self with a knife, he holds her.

Str.

Your hast to death shall not prevent my lust.

Philoc.

She must outlive thy Lust and the false Traytor

Rus.

Hold, hold, disarm, but kill him not.

2. Rus.

Wee'll keep him tame.

Str.

You have ods o'me.

Eud.

I am in heaven already.

Philar.

Live wonder of the heavens, a star on earth Out shining theirs.

Eud.

What a short journey 'tis For heavenly minds to reach unto the Gods!

Str.

B••tray'd!

1. Rus.

No not betray'd. Y'are but well meet my Lord, But that's our Gentlen ess more then your deserving.

Str.

Am I become the shame and scorn of pesants.

1. Rus.

Or if you'l ha't betray'd, then blame your own Overmuch policy and want of Beasts To carry it to Market. We nere lay More burthen on a Asse, then he can bear Here in the countrey: what is done at court We know not. Here perhaps is one can tell, Know you this bearded Satyre?

Pull off Ma∣thos beard.

Str.

Coward, slave, Thy faintness hath betray'd me.

Math.

No, 'twas ods, Such as men meet that sight against the Gods.

1. Rus.

The fellow has some Grace; he weeps: But come Princess and Princes, what is now your pleasure We do unto these men?

Eud.

For me, I have learn'd

By mine own sufferings in my afflictions To be compassionate. I wish their pardon.

Str.

That mercy wounds me deeper with remorse Then all my lost designs, and their derision Have done with indignation.

1. Rus.

There is some hope these yet may prove new men.

Eud.

Lord Stratocles, Those wounds that pierce the heart with true contrition Do bring the precious balm in'em that cures it.

Philar.

We wish yours may be such.

Philoc.

And that this shame May guard you innocent of future blame.

2. Rus.

Here's sweetness upon sweetness.

1. Rus.

Now it remains, that we advise our selves, Brethren of Tempe, that since these delinquents Are fallen into our hands, that we discharge Our Countrey loyalty with discretion, And not release him from our power, but by The power above us. (that's the kings) wee'l wait On you to court. On you for your new loves, And you for old acquaintance.

Eud.

I'le acquaint my father with your care, He shall be witness of our bringing in The ambitious Politick trapt in his own gin.