Yet these were but additions to complete
A well-accomplish'd soldier: I did more yet;
I made him chief commander in the field
Next to myself, and gave him the full prospect
Of honour and preferment; train'd him up
In all perfections of a inartialist:
But he, unmindful of his gratitude,
You know with what contempt of my deserts,
First kick'd against mine honour, scorned ali
My services, then got the palm of glory
Unto himself. Yet, not content with this,
He, lastly, hath conspir'd my death, and
sought

Means to engage me to this lady's debt,
Whose bounty all my whole estate could never
Give satisfaction to. Now, honour'd fathers,
For this cause only, if your law be law,
And you the ministers of justice, then
Think of this strange ingratitude in him.
Phil. Can this be so, Antinous?
Ant. 'Tis all true,
[my faults
Nor hath my much-wrong'd father limn'd
In colours half so black, as in themselves
My guilt hath dy'd them: Were there mercy
left,

Yet mine own shame would be my executioner!
Lords, I am guilty.

Erota. Thou beliest, Antinous,

Had perish'd but for me; I still supplied
His miserable wants; I sent his daughter
Money to buy him food; the bread he eat
Was from my purse: When he, vainglori
ously

To dive into the people's hearts, had pawn'd
His birth-right, I redeem'd it, sent it to him,
And, for requital, only made my suit,
That he would please to new-receive his son
Into his favour; for whose love, I told him,
I had been still so friendly: But then he,
As void of gratitude as all good nature,
Distracted, like a mad man, posted hither
To pull this vengeance on himself and us:
For why, my lords, since, by the law, all

mean

26

Is blotted out of
your commission,2
As this hard-hearted father hath accus'd
Noble Antinous, his unblemish'd son,
So I accuse his father, and crave judgment!
Cass. All this is but deceit, mere trifles
forg'd

By combination, to defeat the process
Of justice. I will have Antinous' life!
Arc. Sir, what d'you mean?
Erota. I will have Cassilane's! [stream
Ant. Cunning and cruel lady, runs the
Of your affections this way? Have you not
Conquest enough by treading on my grave,
Unless you send me thither in a shrowd
Steep'd in my father's blood? As you are

woman,

[nest,
As the protests of love you vow'd were ho-
Be gentler to my father!
Erota. Cassilane,

Thou hast a heart of flint: Let
my entreaties
My tears, the sacrifice of griefs unfeign'd'
Melt it; yet be a father to thy son,
Unmask thy long-besotted judgment, see
A low obedience kneeling at the feet
Of nature, I beseech you!

Cass. Pish! you cozen

Your hopes; your plots are idle: I am resolute. Erota. Autinous, urge no further.

Ant. Hence, thou sorcery

Of a beguiling sofiness! I will stand,
Like the earth's centre, unmov'd. Lords,
your breath

Must finish these divisions: I confess,
Civility doth teach I should not speak
Against a lady of her birth, so high
As great Erota; but her injuries,

And thankless wrongs to me, urge me to cry
Aloud for justice, fathers

Dec. Whither run you?

Ant. For, honour'd fathers, that you all may know

Seward.

That I alone am not unmatchable
In crimes of this condition, lest perhaps,
You might conceive, as yet the case appears,
That this foul stain and guilt run in a blood;
Before this presence, I accuse this lady
Of as much vile ingratitude to me.
Cass. Impudent traitor!

Phil. Her? Oh, spare, Antinous!
The world reputes thee valiant; do not soil
All thy past nobleness with such a cowardice
As murd'ring innocent ladies will stamp on

thee.

Ant. Brave prince, with what unwillingness I force

Her follies, and in those her sin, be witness,
All these about me: She is bloody-minded,
And turns the justice of the law to rigour:
It is her cruelties, not I, accuse her.
Shall I have audience?

Erota. Let him speak, my lords.
Dec. Your memory will rot.
Ant. Cast all your eyes

[woman! 27 On this-what shall I call her?-ruthless When often in my discontents, the

sway

Of her unruly blood, her untam'd passion,
Or name it as you list, had hour by hour
Solicited my love, she vow'd at last

She could not, would not live, unless I grand

What she long sued for: I, in tender pity,
To save a lady of her birth from ruin,

Gave her her life, and promis'd to be hers:
Nor urg'd I aught from her but secrecy;
And then enjoin'd her to supply such wants
As I perceiv'd my father's late engagements
Had made him subject to. What, shall I
heap up

Long repetitions? She, to quit my pity,
Not only hath discover'd to my father
What she had promis'd to conceal, but also
Hath drawn my life into this fatal forfeit:
For which, since I must die, I crave a like
Equality of Justice against her;

Not that I covet blood, but that she may not
Practise this art of falshood on some other,
Perhaps more worthy of her love hereafter.
Porph. If this be true--
Erota. My lords, be as the law is,
Indifferent, upright; I do plead guilty.
Now, Sir, what glory have you got by this?
'Las, man, I meant not to outlive thy doom!
Shall we be friends in death?

Cass. Hear me! The villain
Scandals her, honour'd lords.

Erota. Leave off to dote,

Cass. Why sit you like dumb statues? Demur no longer.

Poss. Cassilane, Erota, Antinous, death ye ask, and 'tis your dooms: You in your follies liv'd, die in your follies. Cass. I am reveng`d, and thank you for it. Erota. Yes,

And I: Antinous hath been gracious!,

Ant. Sir,

May I presume to crave a blessing from you Before we part?

Cass. Yes, such a one as parents Bestow on cursed sons! Now, now I laugh To see how those poor younglings are both cheated

Of life and comfort. Look ye, look ye, lords, I go but some ten minutes, more or less, Before my time, but they have finely cozen'd Themselves of many, many hopeful years, Amidst their prime of youth and glory. Now (Enter Annophel.)

My vengeance is made full!-Welcome, my joy!

Thou com'st to take a seasonable blessing
From thy half-buried father's hand: I'm dead
Already, girl; and so is she, and he:
We all are worms'-meat now.

Anno. I have heard all;

Nor shall you die alone. Lords, on my knees I beg for justice too.

Porph. 'Gainst whom? for what?

Anno. First, let me be resolv'd, does the

[sters

suck'd not Safe at their mothers' breasts, your very cloyWere not secure, your starting-holes of re

fuge [own: Not free from danger, nor your lives your In this most desp'rate ecstasy, my father, This aged man, not only undertook To guard your lives, but did so, and beat off The daring foe; for you he pawn'd his lands, Το pay your soldiers, who without their pay Refus'd to strike a blow. But, lords, when [home, Was purchas'd for you, and victory brought Where was your gratitude, who in your coffers Hoarded the rusty treasure which was due To my unminded father? He was glad

peace

Seward.

To live retir'd in want, in penury,
Whilst you made feasts of surfeit, and forgot
Your debts to him! The sum of all is this;
You've been unthankful to him, and I crave
The rigour of the law against you all.
Cass. My royal-spirited daughter!
Erota. Annophel,

Thou art a worthy wench; let me embrace
thee.
[they are no places
Anno. Lords, why d'ye keep your seats?
For such as are offenders.

Poss. Tho' our ignorance

Of Cassilane's engagements might assuage
Severity of justice, yet to shew

[law,

How no excuse should smooth a breach of
I yield me to the trial of it.
Porph. So

[left

Must I. Great prince of Cyprus, you are
The only moderator in this difference;
And, as you are a prince, be a protector
To woful Candy.

Phil. What a scene of misery
Hath thine obdurate frowardness, old man,
Drawn on thy country's bosom! And, for that
Thy proud ambition could not mount so high
As to be stil'd thy country's only patron,
Thy malice hath descended to the depth
Of hell, to be renowned in the title
Of the destroyer! Dost thou yet perceive
What curses all posterity will brand

Thy grave with, that at once hast robb'd this kingdom

Of honour and of safety?

Erota. Children yet

[nam'd!

Unborn will stop their ears when thou art
Arc. The world will be too little to contain
The memory of this detested deed;
The furies will abhor it!

That if the party who complains, remit
The offender, he is freed. Is't not so, lords?
Porph. Poss. 'Tis so.

Cass. Antinous, by my shame observe
What a close witchcraft popular applause is:
I am awak'd, and with clear eyes behold
The lethargy wherein my reason long
Hath been becharm'd: Live, live, my match-
[bless'd
Bless'd in thy father's blessing; much more
In thine own virtues. Let me dew thy cheeks
With my unmanly tears! Rise; I forgive thee!
And, good Antinous, if I shall be thy father,
Forgive me! I can speak no more.

less son,

Ant. Dear Sir,

[don!

You new-beget me now.-Madam, your parI heartily remit you.

Erota. 1 as freely
Discharge thee, Cassilane.

Anno. My gracious lords,
Repute me not a blemish to my sex,
In that I strove to cure a desperate evil
With a more violent remedy: Your lives,
Your honours, are your own.

Phil. Then with consent

Be reconcil'd on all sides: Please you, fathers, To take your places.

Poss. Let's again ascend,

[now,

With joy and thankfulness to Heav'n! And To other business, lords.

Enter Gaspero and Melitus, with Gonzalo.

Mel. Two hours and more, Sir,

The senate hath been set.

Gon. And I not know it?
Who sits with them?

Mel. My lord the prince of Cyprus.
Gon. Gaspero,

Why, how comes that to pass?

Gasp. Some weighty cause,

I warrant you.

Gon. Now, lords, the business? Ha! Who's here? Erota!

Porph. Secretary, do your charge

Upon that traitor.

Gon. Traitor?

Seward.

Cass. The mischief of your folly.

29 Dec. 'Tis Candy's wreck shall feel—

Corrupt the captains, at a banquet poison The prince and greatest peers, and, in conYield Candy slave to Venice. [clusion,

Gasp. Next, he contracted

With the illustrious princess, the lady Erota,
In hope of marriage with her, to deliver

All the Venetian gallantry and strength,
Upon their first arrival, to the mercy
Of her and Candy.

Erota. This is true, Gonzalo.

Gon. Let it be true: What then?
Poss. My lord ambassador,

What's your demand?

Mich. As likes the state of Candy, Either to sentence him as he deserves,

Here, or to send him like a slave to Venice. Porph. We shall advise upon it.

Gon. Oh, the devils,

That had not thrust this trick into my pate! A politician? fool! Destruction plague Candy and Venice both!

Porph. Poss. Away with him. Mel. Come, Sir, I'll see you safe. [Exeunt Gonz. & Mel.

Erota. Lords, ere you part, Be witness to another change of wonder: Antinous, now be bold, before this presence, Freely to speak, whether or no I us'd

The humblest means affection could contrive, To gain thy love.

Ant. Madam, I must confess it,

And ever am your servant.

Erota. Yes, Antinous,

Phil. Oh, madam,

You play with my calamity!
Erota. Let Heav'n

Record my truth for ever.

Phil. With more joy

Than I have words to utter, I accept it.
I also pawn you mine.

Erota. The man that in requital

Of noble and unsought affection
Grows cruel, never lov'd; nor did Antinous.
Yet herein, prince, you are beholden to him;
For his neglect of me humbled a pride,
Which to a virtuous wife had been a monster.
Phil. For which I'll rank him my deserv
ing friend.

Ant. Much comfort dwell with you, as I

could wish

To him I honour most!

Cass. Oh, my Antinous,

My own, my own good son!

Fern. One suit I have to make.
Phil. To whom, Fernando?

Fern. Lord Cassilane, to you.
Cass. To me?

Fern. This lady

Hath promis'd to be mine.

Anno. Your blessing, Sir!

Brother, your love!

Ant. You cannot, Sir, bestow her On a more noble gentleman.

Cass. Sayst thou so,

Antinous? I confirm it. Here, Fernando, Live both as one; she's thine.

Ant. And herein, sister,

I honour you for your wise settled love.
This is a day of triumph; all contentions
Are happily accorded, Candy's peace
Secur'd, and Venice vow'd a worthy friend.
[Excunt,