Philaster - Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher
PHILASTER:
OR,
Love lies a Bleeding.
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher
* * * * *
_The Scene being in_ Cicilie.
* * * * *
Persons Represented in the Play.
_The_ King.
Philaster, _Heir to the Crown_.
Pharamond, _Prince of_ Spain.
Dion, _a Lord_.
Cleremont } _Noble Gentlemen his_
Thrasiline } _Associates_.
Arethusa, _the King's Daughter_.
Galatea, _a wise modest Lady attending the Princess_.
Megra, _a lascivious Lady_.
_An old wanton Lady, or Croan_.
_Another Lady attending the Princess_.
Eufrasia, _Daughter of Dion, but disguised like a
Page, and called Bellario_.
_An old Captain_.
_Five Citizens_.
_A Countrey fellow_.
_Two Woodmen_.
_The Kings Guard and Train_.
* * * * *
Actus primus. Scena prima.
_Enter Dion, Cleremont, _and_ Thrasiline.
_Cler_. Here's not Lords nor Ladies.
_Dion_. Credit me Gentlemen, I wonder at it.
They receiv'd strict charge from the King to attend here:
Besides it was boldly published, that no Officer should
forbid any Gentlemen that desire to attend and hear.
_Cle_. Can you guess the cause?
_Di_. Sir, it is plain about the _Spanish_ Prince, that's come
to marry our Kingdoms Heir, and be our Soveraign.
_Thra_. Many (that will seem to know much) say, she looks
not on him like a Maid in Love.
_Di_. O Sir, the multitude (that seldom know any thing
but their own opinions) speak that they would have; but
the Prince, before his own approach, receiv'd so many
confident messages from the State, that I think she's
resolv'd to be rul'd.
_Cle_. Sir, it is thought, with her he shall enjoy both these
Kingdoms of _Cicilie_ and _Calabria_.
_Di_. Sir, it is (without controversie) so meant. But 'twill
be a troublesome labour for him to enjoy both these
Kingdoms, with safetie, the right Heir to one of them
living, and living so vertuously, especially the people
admiring the bravery of his mind, and lamenting his
injuries.
_Cle_. Who, Philaster?
_Di_. Yes, whose Father we all know, was by our late
King of _Calabria_, unrighteously deposed from his
fruitful _Cicilie_. My self drew some blood in those
Wars, which I would give my hand to be washed from.
_Cle_. Sir, my ignorance in State-policy, will not let me
know why _Philaster_ being Heir to one of these Kingdoms,
the King should suffer him to walk abroad with such free
liberty.
_Di_. Sir, it seems your nature is more constant than to
enquire after State news. But the King (of late) made a
hazard of both the Kingdoms, of _Cicilie_ and his own,
with offering but to imprison _Philaster_. At which the City
was in arms, not to be charm'd down by any State-order or
Proclamation, till they saw _Philaster_ ride through the
streets pleas'd, and without a guard; at which they threw
their Hats, and their arms from them; some to make
bonefires, some to drink, all for his deliverance. Which
(wise men say) is the cause, the King labours to bring in
the power of a Foreign Nation to aw his own with.
[ _Enter_ Galatea, Megra, _and a Lady_.
_Thra_. See, the Ladies, what's the first?
_Di_. A wise and modest Gentlwoman that attends the Princess.
_Cle_. The second?
_Di_. She is one that may stand still discreetly enough, and
ill favour'dly Dance her Measure; simper when she is
Courted by her Friend, and slight her Husband.
_Cle_. The last?
_Di_. Marry I think she is one whom the State keeps for
the Agents of our confederate Princes: she'll cog and lie
with a whole army before the League shall break: her
name is common through the Kingdom, and the Trophies
of her dishonour, advanced beyond _Hercules_-pillars.
She loves to try the several constitutions of mens bodies;
and indeed has destroyed the worth of her own body, by
making experiment upon it, for the good of the
Common-wealth.
_Cle_. She's a profitable member.
_La_. Peace, if you love me: you shall see these Gentlemen
stand their ground, and not Court us.
_Gal_. What if they should?
_Meg_. What if they should?
_La_. Nay, let her alone; what if they should? why, if
they should, I say, they were never abroad: what
Foreigner would do so? it writes them directly
untravel'd.
_Gal_. Why, what if they be?
_Meg_. What if they be?
_La_. Good Madam let her go on; what if they be? Why
if they be I will justifie, they cannot maintain
discourse with a judicious Lady, nor make a Leg,
nor say Excuse me.
_Gal_. Ha, ha, ha.
_La_. Do you laugh Madam?
_Di_. Your desires upon you Ladies.
_La_. Then you must sit beside us.
_Di_. I shall sit near you then Lady.
_La_. Near me perhaps: But there's a Lady indures no
stranger; and to me you appear a very strange fellow.
_Meg_. Me thinks he's not so strange, he would quickly be
acquainted.
_Thra_. Peace, the King.
[ _Enter_ King, Pharamond, Arethusa, _and Train_.
_King_. To give a stronger testimony of love
Than sickly promises (which commonly
In Princes find both birth and burial
In one breath) we have drawn you worthy Sir,
To make your fair indearments to [our] daughter,
And worthy services known to our subjects,
Now lov'd and wondered at. Next, our intent,
To plant you deeply, our immediate Heir,
Both to our Blood and Kingdoms. For this Lady,
(The best part of your life, as you confirm me,
And I believe) though her few years and sex
Yet teach her nothing but her fears and blushes,
Desires without desire, discourse and knowledge
Only of what her self is to her self,
Make her feel moderate health: and when she sleeps,
In making no ill day, knows no ill dreams.
Think not (dear Sir) these undivided parts,
That must mould up a Virgin, are put on
To shew her so, as borrowed ornaments,
To speak her perfect love to you, or add
An Artificial shadow to her nature:
No Sir; I boldly dare proclaim her, yet
No Woman. But woo her still, and think her modesty
A sweeter mistress than the offer'd Language
Of any Dame, were she a Queen whose eye
Speaks common loves and comforts to her servants.
Last, noble son, (for so I now must call you)
What I have done thus publick, is not only
To add a comfort in particular
To you or me, but all; and to confirm
The Nobles, and the Gentry of these Kingdoms,
By oath to your succession, which shall be
Within this month at most.
_Thra_. This will be hardly done.
_Cle_. It must be ill done, if it be done.
_Di_. When 'tis at best, 'twill be but half done,
Whilst so brave a Gentleman's wrong'd and flung off.
_Thra_. I fear.
_Cle_. Who does not?
_Di_. I fear not for my self, and yet I fear too:
Well, we shall see, we shall see: no more.
_Pha_. Kissing your white hand (Mistress) I take leave,
To thank your Royal Father: and thus far,
To be my own free Trumpet. Understand
Great King, and these your subjects, mine that must be,
(For so deserving you have spoke me Sir,
And so deserving I dare speak my self)
To what a person, of what eminence,
Ripe expectation of what faculties,
Manners and vertues you would wed your Kingdoms?
You in me have your wishes. Oh this Country,
By more than all my hopes I hold it
Happy, in their dear memories that have been
Kings great and good, happy in yours, that is,
And from you (as a Chronicle to keep
Your Noble name from eating age) do I
Opine myself most happy. Gentlemen,
Believe me in a word, a Princes word,
There shall be nothing to make up a Kingdom
Mighty, and flourishing, defenced, fear'd,
Equall to be commanded and obey'd,
But through the travels of my life I'le find it,
And tye it to this Country. And I vow
My reign shall be so easie to the subject,
That every man shall be his Prince himself,
And his own law (yet I his Prince and law.)
And dearest Lady, to your dearest self
(Dear, in the choice of him, whose name and lustre
Must make you more and mightier) let me say,
You are the blessed'st living; for sweet Princess,
You shall enjoy a man of men, to be
Your servant; you shall make him yours, for whom
Great Queens must die.
_Thra_. Miraculous.
_Cle_. This speech calls him _Spaniard_, being nothing but
A large inventory of his own commendations.
[_Enter_ Philaster.
_Di_. I wonder what's his price? For certainly he'll tell
himself he has so prais'd his shape: But here comes one
more worthy those large speeches, than the large
speaker of them? let me be swallowed quick, if I can
find, in all the Anatomy of yon mans vertues, one sinew
sound enough to promise for him, he shall be Constable.
By this Sun, he'll ne're make King unless it be for trifles,
in my poor judgment.
_Phi_. Right Noble Sir, as low as my obedience,
And with a heart as Loyal as my knee,
I beg your favour.
_King_. Rise, you have it Sir.
_Di_. Mark but the King how pale he looks with fear.
Oh! this same whorson Conscience, how it jades us!
_King_. Speak your intents Sir.
_Phi_. Shall I speak 'um freely?
Be still my royal Soveraign.
_King_. As a subject
We give you freedom.
_Di_. Now it heats.
_Phi_. Then thus I turn
My language to you Prince, you foreign man.
Ne're stare nor put on wonder, for you must
Indure me, and you shall. This earth you tread upon
(A dowry as you hope with this fair Princess,
Whose memory I bow to) was not left
By my dead Father (Oh, I had a Father)
To your inheritance, and I up and living,
Having my self about me and my sword,
The souls of all my name, and memories,
These arms and some few friends, besides the gods,
To part so calmly with it, and sit still,
And say I might have been! I tell thee _Pharamond_,
When thou art King, look I be dead and rotten,
And my name ashes; For, hear me _Pharamond_,
This very ground thou goest on, this fat earth,
My Fathers friends made fertile with their faiths,
Before that day of shame, shall gape and swallow
Thee and thy Nation, like a hungry grave,
Into her hidden bowels: Prince, it shall;
By _Nemesis_ it shall.
_Pha_. He's mad beyond cure, mad.
_Di_. Here's a fellow has some fire in's veins:
The outlandish Prince looks like a Tooth-drawer.
_Phi_. Sir, Prince of Poppingjayes, I'le make it well appear
To you I am not mad.
_King_. You displease us.
You are too bold.
_Phi_. No Sir, I am too tame,
Too much a Turtle, a thing born without passion,
A faint shadow, that every drunken cloud sails over,
And makes nothing.
_King_. I do not fancy this,
Call our Physicians: sure he is somewhat tainted.
_Thra_. I do not think 'twill prove so.
_Di_. H'as given him a general purge already, for all the
right he has, and now he means to let him blood: Be
constant Gentlemen; by these hilts I'le run his
hazard, although I run my name out of the
Kingdom.
_Cle_. Peace, we are one soul.
_Pha_. What you have seen in me, to stir offence,
I cannot find, unless it be this Lady
Offer'd into mine arms, with the succession,
Which I must keep though it hath pleas'd your fury
To mutiny within you; without disputing
Your _Genealogies_, or taking knowledge
Whose branch you are. The King will leave it me;
And I dare make it mine; you have your answer.
_Phi_. If thou wert sole inheritor to him,
That made the world his; and couldst see no sun
Shine upon any but thine: were _Pharamond_
As truly valiant, as I feel him cold,
And ring'd among the choicest of his friends,
Such as would blush to talk such serious follies,
Or back such bellied commendations,
And from this present, spight of all these bugs,
You should hear further from me.
_King_. Sir, you wrong the Prince:
I gave you not this freedom to brave our best friends,
You deserve our frown: go to, be better temper'd.
_Phi_. It must be Sir, when I am nobler us'd.
_Gal_. Ladyes,
This would have been a pattern of succession,
Had he ne're met this mischief. By my life,
He is the worthiest the true name of man
This day within my knowledge.
_Meg_. I cannot tell what you may call your knowledge,
But the other is the man set in mine eye;
Oh! 'tis a Prince of wax.
_Gal_. A Dog it is.
_King_. _Philaster_, tell me,
The injuries you aim at in your riddles.
_Phi_. If you had my eyes Sir, and sufferance,
My griefs upon you and my broken fortunes,
My want's great, and now nought but hopes and fears,
My wrongs would make ill riddles to be laught at.
Dare you be still my King and right me not?
_King_. Give me your wrongs in private.
[_They whisper_.
_Phi_. Take them, and ease me of a load would bow strong Atlas.
_Di_. He dares not stand the shock.
_Di_. I cannot blame, him, there's danger in't. Every man
in this age, has not a soul of Crystal for all men to
read their actions through: mens hearts and faces are
so far asunder, that they hold no intelligence. Do but
view yon stranger well, and you shall see a Feaver
through all his bravery, and feel him shake like a true
Tenant; if he give not back his Crown again, upon the
report of an Elder Gun, I have no augury.
_King_. Go to:
Be more your self, as you respect our favour:
You'I stir us else: Sir, I must have you know
That y'are and shall be at our pleasure, what fashion we
Will put upon you: smooth your brow, or by the gods.
_Phi_. I am dead Sir, y'are my fate: it was not I
Said I was not wrong'd: I carry all about me,
My weak stars led me to all my weak fortunes.
Who dares in all this presence speak (that is
But man of flesh and may be mortal) tell me
I do not most intirely love this Prince,
And honour his full vertues!
_King_. Sure he's possest.
_Phi_. Yes, with my Fathers spirit; It's here O King!
A dangerous spirit; now he tells me King,
I was a Kings heir, bids me be a King,
And whispers to me, these be all my Subjects.
'Tis strange, he will not let me sleep, but dives
Into my fancy, and there gives me shapes
That kneel, and do me service, cry me King:
But I'le suppress him, he's a factious spirit,
And will undo me: noble Sir, [your] hand, I am your
servant.
_King_. Away, I do not like this:
I'le make you tamer, or I'le dispossess you
Both of life and spirit: For this time
I pardon your wild speech, without so much
As your imprisonment.
[_Ex_. King, Pha. _and_ Are.
_Di_. I thank you Sir, you dare not for the people.
_Gal_. Ladies, what think you now of this brave fellow?
_Meg_. A pretty talking fellow, hot at hand; but eye yon
stranger, is not he a fine compleat Gentleman? O these
strangers, I do affect them strangely: they do the rarest
home things, and please the fullest! as I live, could
love all the Nation over and over for his sake.
_Gal_. Pride comfort your poor head-piece Lady: 'tis a
weak one, and had need of a Night-cap.
_Di_. See how his fancy labours, has he not spoke
Home, and bravely? what a dangerous train
Did he give fire to! How he shook the King,
Made his soul melt within him, and his blood
Run into whay! it stood upon his brow,
Like a cold winter dew.
_Phi_. Gentlemen,
You have no suit to me? I am no minion:
You stand (methinks) like men that would be Courtiers,
If you could well be fiatter'd at a price,
Not to undo your Children: y'are all honest:
Go get you home again, and make your Country
A vertuous Court, to which your great ones may,
In their Diseased age, retire, and live recluse.
_Cle_. How do you worthy Sir?
_Phi_. Well, very well;
And so well, that if the King please, I find
I may live many years.
_Di_. The King must please,
Whilst we know what you are, and who you are,
Your wrongs and [injuries]: shrink not, worthy Sir,
But add your Father to you: in whose name,
We'll waken all the gods, and conjure up
The rods of vengeance, the abused people,
Who like to raging torrents shall swell high,
And so begirt the dens of these Male-dragons,
That through the strongest safety, they shall beg
For mercy at your swords point.
_Phi_. Friends, no more,
Our years may he corrupted: 'Tis an age
We dare not trust our wills to: do you love me?
_Thra_. Do we love Heaven and honour?
_Phi_. My Lord _Dion_, you had
A vertuous Gentlewoman call'd you Father;
Is she yet alive?
_Di_. Most honour'd Sir, she is:
And for the penance but of an idle dream,
Has undertook a tedious Pilgrimage.
[ _Enter a_ Lady.
_Phi_. Is it to me, or any of these Gentlemen you come?
_La_. To you, brave Lord; the Princess would intreat
Your present company.
_Phi_. The Princess send for me! y'are mistaken.
_La_. If you be call'd _Philaster_, 'tis to you.
_Phi_. Kiss her hand, and say I will attend her.
_Di_. Do you know what you do?
_Phi_. Yes, go to see a woman.
_Cle_. But do you weigh the danger you are in?
_Phi_. Danger in a sweet face?
By _Jupiter_ I must not fear a woman.
_Thra_. But are you sure it was the Princess sent?
It may be some foul train to catch your life.
_Phi_. I do not think it Gentlemen: she's noble,
Her eye may shoot me dead, or those true red
And white friends in her face may steal my soul out:
There's all the danger in't: but be what may,
Her single name hath arm'd me.
[_Ex_. Phil.
_Di_. Go on:
And be as truly happy as thou art fearless:
Come Gentlemen, let's make our friends acquainted,
Lest the King prove false.
[_Ex. Gentlemen_.
_Enter_ Arethusa _and a_ Lady.
_Are_. Comes he not?
_La_. Madam?
_Are_. Will _Philaster_ come?
_La_. Dear Madam, you were wont
To credit me at first.
_Are_. But didst thou tell me so?
I am forgetful, and my womans strength
Is so o'recharg'd with danger like to grow
About my Marriage that these under-things
Dare not abide in such a troubled sea:
How look't he, when he told thee he would come?
_La_. Why, well.
_Are_. And not a little fearful?
_La_. Fear Madam? sure he knows not what it is.
_Are_. You are all of his Faction; the whole Court
Is bold in praise of him, whilst I
May live neglected: and do noble things,
As fools in strife throw gold into the Sea,
Drown'd in the doing: but I know he fears.
_La_. Fear? Madam (me thought) his looks hid more
Of love than fear.
_Are_. Of love? To whom? to you?
Did you deliver those plain words I sent,
With such a winning gesture, and quick look
That you have caught him?
_La_. Madam, I mean to you.
_Are_. Of love to me? Alas! thy ignorance
Lets thee not see the crosses of our births:
Nature, that loves not to be questioned
Why she did this, or that, but has her ends,
And knows she does well; never gave the world
Two things so opposite, so contrary,
As he and I am: If a bowl of blood
Drawn from this arm of mine, would poyson thee,
A draught of his would cure thee. Of love to me?
_La_. Madam, I think I hear him.
_Are_. Bring him in:
You gods that would not have your dooms withstood,
Whose holy wisdoms at this time it is,
To make the passion of a feeble maid
The way unto your justice, I obey.
[ _Enter_ Phil.
_La_. Here is my Lord _Philaster_.
_Are_. Oh! 'tis well:
Withdraw your self.
_Phi_. Madam, your messenger
Made me believe, you wisht to speak with me.
_Are_. 'Tis true _Philaster,_ but the words are such,
I have to say, and do so ill beseem
The mouth of woman, that I wish them said,
And yet am loth to speak them. Have you known
That I have ought detracted from your worth?
Have I in person wrong'd you? or have set
My baser instruments to throw disgrace
Upon your vertues?
_Phi_. Never Madam you.
_Are_. Why then should you in such a publick place,
Injure a Princess and a scandal lay
Upon my fortunes, fam'd to be so great:
Calling a great part of my dowry in question.