A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xiv Part 61

RIN. As sure as death, this is one of the rogues That hath his roguery to act, and comes in like Something that hath brought news in th' latter end Of a play. Now shall we have some strange discovery-- How the rogue stares!

LIB. No sooner had we shut the gates, my liege, Than an uncertain rumour spread among the people That Plangus was in danger.

When, if you ever saw a hive of bees: How, if you stir but one, the whole swarm moves, And testify their anger; so straight whole crowds Of people, the greatest half not knowing what They came for, swarm'd to the gates, and with confus'd Cries hinder'd themselves from being understood; Till some having divers times cried _Plangus_: [And] some _their prince_: all with one note, made up A common voice, and so continued, till some Captains, with one or two selected troops, made up To them, and having promised them they would Secure the prince, desir'd them to withdraw.

And when they came so nigh as to be heard, They did in earnest what the other had Attempted with such[98] noise, and fail'd in; For they told the porter, in plain soldier's language, They would either see Plangus safe, or force The gates upon him. He, in this exigence, Hath sent to know your pleasure.

EPH. How say you now, my lords? where is The innocence, the love to you and us?

For my part, I will meet the danger; Tame expectation is beneath a king.

Only let me entreat you to see my queen safe.

'Tis pity she should smart who hath no sin To answer for but calling me her husband.

Plangus, Iberia shall be thine; but with curses O' th' angry G.o.ds, and a kind injur'd dying father.

[_He goes to stab himself_, RINATUS _stays him_.

RIN. Heav'n bless you, sir, what a despair is this?

Because you hate a hangman, you will be Your executioner yourself. Believe me, That which presents so great danger to you, I look upon with joy. There is no subject That loves you or the prince, but must be glad To see the zeal Iberians bear to a true virtue, When bending under an unjust oppression; No doubt their love had been as great to you, Had you been in like danger. Besides, my lord, You are not sure 'tis with the prince's consent, The soldiers do this. My life for yours, you will Be safe, let the worst come. Let us Go meet your fears.

[_They begin to rise, when at the instant_ ANDROMANA _enters undressed, and in a fright_.

AND. Happy am I, my lord,

[_She weeps._

This sudden flight[99] hath rescu'd me from being Made the subject of some villain's l.u.s.t, who With his sword drawn just now was forcing me To lewd embraces; if you command to search the court, He cannot be far hence, for he ran that way.

RIN. O impudence!

That durst attempt a sin darkness and woods Have too many eyes for in the open court.

[PLANGUS _stirs behind the hangings_.

I shall be with you. The devil hath Armour on!

[RINATUS _draws, and runs at him_.

EPH. Drag him to torture----

[_They fetch him out._

My son! why have I liv'd to see this?

Away with him to death; the air will grow infectious.

Why stay you?

SCENE IX.

_Enter_ ZOPIRO _and_ INOPHILUS, _with Soldiers_.

INO. Unhand the prince, or else by heav'n he treads Into his grave that moves a foot to touch him.

Madam, though Plangus' n.o.ble self was blind, And could not see the deep black darkness of Your h.e.l.lish actions, his friends had eyes about them.

Was this your love? this your repentance?

This your advice, your counsel? Had I, I must confess,[100]

And these his n.o.ble friends, been[101] rul'd by him, ere this He'd been a sacrifice to your revenge and you.

Why stand you mute, sir? Want you a tongue to justify Your innocence our swords and we maintain?

And now, my liege, we turn to you, whom we Have serv'd as truly as e'er subjects did Any prince alive; and whilst you're worthy, we Will do so still; but we'll be no man's slaves Alive, much less be his that is another's, While this base witch (for so she is) constrains You to do actions children would blush at, And wise men laugh at, which will after leave you Both to repentance and despair. This beggar, whom T'other day you took up as some lost thing, Gave your honour to, and in that our safety; That knew less to be good than devils do, And hath ills lodged in her that would make h.e.l.l Beyond that the furies dwell in, Banish her hence, send her to some place Where murders, rapines, or sins yet Unheard of do inhabit, and where she can Do us no mischief. Do you betake yourself To your former virtue, and restore the prince To those affections you once had for him.

We then perhaps may live to see Iberia happy.

EPH. Why am I forc'd thus to declare his shame, Which at the bound strikes me, and's made my own?

You know not how well Plangus can dissemble: He is an hypocrite, I need not tell you more, Those three syllables comprehend all ill.

My queen just now 'scaped from his base attempt, Wherein he would have forc'd her to have d.a.m.n'd Herself and him, and dishonoured me.

What meant that armour on, and why so guarded?

Where was a danger threat'ned him? or doth he Think his conscience could not sting him through it?

I wish, my lords,[102] he might live. But, as nature That, as he is my son, bids me preserve him; So honour, which pleads to the king stronger Than nature can, tells me, for that very reason, I can less pardon him than something born A stranger to my blood. But I deserve To die, as well as he. If he be grown A burden to the earth, I am so too, That gave the monster being. Wherefore Let me be drawn to execution too, For fathers are guilty of their children's ills.

INO. Would Plangus then have forc'd Andromana?

Yes, so would Daphne have ravish'd Phoebus!

I'll undertake goats are less salt than she.

But for his armour:--can any man that breathes One common air with her not need an armour?

Bra.s.s walls can't be security enough.

Why speak you not, sir? are you dumb too?

PLAN. 'Tis for them to speak are sure to be believ'd, And not for him that is condemn'd as guilty.

Words can excuse slight faults.

If mine are esteem'd such, that all my actions, A speaking duty of one-and-twenty years, Speak not enough to clear me, silence shall.

I've no more to say, therefore, but To bid you do your duty to the king, And ask him pardon for this[103] intemperate zeal: Heav'n knows I wish'd it not, nor would I buy My safety at one of my father's angry thoughts, Much less his fears, for those I fall by.

Obey my father, and if ye love me, gentlemen, Shed not one tear for Plangus.

For I am timely taken from those plagues This woman's crying sins must bring upon Iberia, and make you wish that you Had died as soon and innocent as I.

AND. That I was nothing, I confess; that what I am, I owe to Ephorbas; nay, that the greatness I am now in tells me it is too high To be secure, my fears bear witness.

I wish my life would excuse Plangus his; at least My blood wash off the blackness of his guilt, Heav'n knows it should not be one minute, ere He should be restor'd to his former virtues; But since it cannot be, I'll in and weep-- Not for myself, but him.

[_Exit._

INO. Millions of plagues go with thee. Sir [_To_ PLANGUS], you shall Along with us; we will not trust you Or to the king or her.

[_Exeunt._

ACT V., SCENE 1.

LIBACER _solus_.

LIB. What politician was there ever yet Who, swimming through a sea of plots and treasons, Sank not at last i' th' very haven's mouth?

And shall I do so too? No, my thoughts prompt me, I shall be told in story, as the first That stood secure upon the dreadful ruins He had thrown down beneath him. Yet I'm nigh The precipice I strive to shun with so much care.

I have betray'd Plangus, 'tis true, and still Have found a growing fortune; but so long As jealousy binds up Ephorbas' thoughts From searching deeper, deeper, 'tis not well That Plangus lives at all: though he be disgrac'd.

H' has friends enow about the king, and they Will find a time to pacify him, which will be My undoing. He must not therefore live.

Andromana is of that mind too; But how to compa.s.s it? or when perhaps I have, what will become of me?