Scene I THE SW/SSER
All. Ha, ha, ha.
Andrii. The old man's angrie.
King. \to Anoldus\. Cousin, Antharis is displeas'd; let's in; And after Ceremonies for the Victorie, A full Reward shall follow the Deseruer, Which thy free hand shall giue. But who can value 150
Or sett a Rate on thine?
Ariol. Your Noblenes Doth farr transend it.
Exeunt [king, panopia, selina, arioldvs].
Ant ha. \io Alcidonus]. Nay, come you with mee. Sir.
Alci. [aside]. I shall begin to quitt the name of Dutie, And thinke, because this is vnnaturall, That I may bee soe too. Exeunt [antharis, .a.lcidonvs].
Aspra. You, Swadd! Andrucho! 155
Wee wo'd speake wi' yee.
AndriL What sayes my Lip-ladds?
My little Time-lings?
I se. You are still abusing vs.
Aspra. Before the King, too. Art thou not affraid?
Andru. Of what, my paire of Creepers?
I se. Of a Beating.
Andru. Yes. As you feare soft lips, or a smooth skin, 160 Yee nigling Ticks you; why 'tis our professions.
Aspra. What, Bumbard ?
Andru. To obserue the tyme, yee wriglers. There is an ytching height that all do ayme at,
34 THE SWISSER Act II
But diuers wayes to come to't Some by Bribes,
Some by fine Plotts and tricks gett vp; and others 165
Striue till they haue spent all and neuer reach it;
Some haue a way by fooling, some by flatterie;
Some both, or worse, 'tis no disparragement :
Custome in follies doth not make 'em faults.
Alas! wee Hue not now in the Worlds Infancie, 170
When no man could be crown'd with Honors Garland
But he must passe through Vertues Temple first.
Wee haue a thousand wayes now : Tymes do alter.
Ise. True, but to ieast so broadly —
Andru. I sho'd loose My way of fooling el ce.
Aspra. Well, th'art a Rogue! 175
But, prithe, vse vs well.
Andru. I will, I will.
Ise. When didst thou see Timentes, the late General 1 ?
Andru. Not lately.
Ise. Now his humor's quite discouer'd.
Andru. What!
Aspa. Hee's so fearefull that the wind doth fright him. The Creaking of a shoe or any noise, 180
Nay, his owne Pace; his shadow is so troublesome That he oft starts at it, and thinks it speaks to him.
Andru. Lett's find him out, and ease our Spleenes vpon him.
Exeunt.
SC^NA SECVNDA [Tke same']
[Enter] timentes.
Tim. Who's there ? Here's no body. Why am I so f earef ull ? I dare scarce be alone, nor yett in Companye. What's that ? — O — 'tis a mouse behind the hanging. And shall such small things fright thee? Fie, Timentes! Where is that noble forwardnes made the King 5
Thinke thee sufficient to command an Army? Is it quite gon? I'le raise it vp agen. To stop the mouthes of those y* dare but say Thou art not Valiant — I hope heer's no body heares mee, I am not Quarrel Isome. O — O — the King ! 10
'Tis as I wisht.
[Enter king.]
King. How now, thou peece of Cruditie, Thou bog of Man, are thy feares still in motion?
Ti7n. Yes, Sir, that I shall neuer find him out, That hath traduc't mee to yee : I am bold enough To doe you seruice : I can tell, but —
King. What? 15
36 THE SWISSER Act II
Tim. I can discouer — •
King. Whome? thy feares infect mee.
Tim. Nay, ther's no danger in't. The dainti'st Wench!
King. Where ?
Tim. Arioldus hath her. But you'le think I do it out of Mallice : I protest —
It is the sweetest Soule ! O, sh'as an Eye 20
That Hke a Subtile peircing lightning strikes The inside, and leaues all the rest vntoutcht.
King. It seemes the Diuell Feare giues way awhile Vnto the Diuell Lust. You'de faine be at her.
Tim. Alas, not I; I do but tell your Maiesty. 25
King. Is shee so young and fresh?
Tim. Of tender yeares :
And such a feature —
King. I will see this Paragon.
Are you so close, Arioldus ? I may hap To find your Maze out, my Dedalean kinsman. But are you sure of this ?
Tim. Haue I my Eyes ? 30
And are they not still waking for your Seruice? Hee tooke her Captiue, and shee is a Peece Fitt for a Prince.
King. Nay, Tie not hinder him.
But — not a word of this more.
Tim.. I am dumbe. Sir. Exeunt.
SC^NA TERTIA
[A Room in the House of Art old us.']
ARIOLDVS, EVRINIA.
Ariol. You need no Ransome, Faire One : Such a Captiue Will take the Conqueror. But since your will is To Hue conceal'd heere, till a Ransome comes, You shall make mee, and My ne, Yours.
Euri. Noblest Lord, How weake is womans Power, that she must frame 5
Her words to Rules, and all her actions to The line of Censure? I can hardly Hue heere Without Reproch; yet, if my life bee honorable. And you esteeme it soe, I value not
What loose Fame can report, while so much Vertue 10
As yours protects mee.
Ariol Deare Eurinia, rie keepe thee chary as myne Eyes; no Clouds Shall threaten thee, but I will make 'em breake Into repentant drops. I loue thy Vertue,
Thy gentle modestnes, thy meekenes, Sweetnes. 15
Prithee, bedewe those pritty cheekes no more. Least the Virmilion be afraid to looke Vpon thy teares; which, yet, do seme for a foile To those pure Christalls. %
38 THE SWISSER Act II
Eim. I haue cause, my lord, If you knew all.
Ariol. rie beare a part with thee; 20
Throw all the Burthen of thy Cares on mee. What is't that troubles thee?
Eun. I ha' lost my father; Nay more, my selfe!
Ariol. How dearest? Let thy words Haue freedome to thy hart, that they may stop The currant of thyne Eyes. Come, speake it out — 25
Greifs lessen by discouerie.
Eiiri. My fortune, Though now delected, can deriue it selfe From Noble Ancestors.
Ariol. Thy Vertues speake it.
Euri. But loue that poisons all our Happines, Prepar'd a Cup for mee. I lou d a Gentleman, 30
Of highest Ranke, and yet his Noblenes Was farr aboue his Quallitie. I seru'd him In habitt of a Boy, onely to gaze Vpon his Eyes, for there me thought ther dwelt A heauen of Blessings. I did pine away, 35
For hee, good man, ne' re vnderstood my Sighs; And might haue dyed vnpittied, if some freinds, With violent perswassions, had not wrought mee To reassume my Shape. And ere my suffrings Could be reueal'd, I did become your Captiue. 40
Ariol. But where's that happie man?
E'un. I thinke hee Hues, But hee is lost to mee.
ArioL Wee'-le find him out.
Deare, lett mee know his name.
Eîiri. Noe! ere my tougne Shall proue so great a traitor to my Breast, My greifs shall find a graue.
Ariol. Truly, faire Virgin, 45
Thy Story's full of Pitty. Thou shalt haue What freedome tliou canst wish, if that will please thee, To come to thy Desires.
Eîiri. I find no Bondage But what I bring with mee.
[Enter^ king.
King. Now, Ariol dus !
I am too sawcy with your priuacies. 50
Ariol. Sir, you do take mee somewhat a the soudaine.
King. You haue a faire one heere — a Beauty of Price.
Ariol. I neuer askt how much, but I doe prize it, When it comes clad with Vertue.
King. Oh! you value 54
The Vertue, then; Tie venture on the Beauty — {He kisses her). And 'tis a pretious one. Sure, I haue scene A hansome frame like this. Was this a Captiue?
Exit EVRINIA.
What ! is shee gon ? Cousin, you are so close To keepe all for your selfe.
40 THE SWISSER Act II
Ariol. Great Sir, the Duty Which I reserue for you, wo'd be suspected, 60
If my faith should be branded with Discurtesie To Captiues, or to strangers.
King. Why, your faith?
Ariol. My Promise, Royall Sir, to gard her Honor : And I doe hold it sacred as the Rites Religion binds vs toe.
King. O, you're in loue then. 65
Ariol. I'me Charitable, Sir. There is a Pitty Due to her suffrings, and I loue to assist Those that are in distresse.
King. A Pritty way To keepe a wench : you do't in Charity.
Ariol. I know not what you meane, or if I did, 70
I wo'd not think it, for you are my King.
King. Ariol dus ! I must haue this wench.
Ariol. If shee Puts her deare Innocence into my hands, rie keepe it blameles, though my Blood besprinkles't.
King. Are you so Val liant ?
Ariol. Justice, Royall Sir, 75
Is euer confident. Shall I betray My guest, which by all hospitable Bonds I'me bound to keepe, vniniur'd ? Such a guest ! A tender Virgin, beaten by the rage
Of a most violent fortune to take shelter 80
Vnder my wing? And shall shee be snacht thence,
