Scene III THE SW/SSER

E?iri. I feele my self In eqiiall temper, Sir.

King. Thou art more cold Then frozen Scithians are, and yett thy touch lo

Is a hott flame to mee.

E?/rL O how my feares Circle mee round !

King. Those black and misty foggs Shalbee expel'd; the splendor of my loue Shall like a Radient Beame disperse those clouds, While in my Sphere thou rulest, and there shalt shine, 15

The Glory of a Kingdome.

Euri. This is full Of trouble to mee.

King. Why dost turne away?

Am I a Gorgon, sweet one? Or hath Age Printed his hollow markes within my face? Am I deform'd? The Dames of Lumbardie 20

Call vp their Rosie coulors to their cheekes. When I but smile on 'em, to deck their Beauties. Are you, Raueneans, Enemies to Loue As well as vnto mee? 'Tis the men hate mee; The women should be gentler.

Eîiri. I loue Vertue, 25

Though in my greatest foe.

King. 'Tis next to fol lie To take that word as 'tis corrupted now, When euerv child of feare shall be cal'd Vertuous,

02 THE SWISSER Act III

That with ignoble suffring can oppose

A Passion, or affection. Then spitt on mee, 30

Vntill myne Anger boile, and lett mee beare it,

That you may thinke that Coward Patience Vertue.

Or lett mee vent my Loue in Sighs and Grones,

Till my rackt hart doth crack agen, and call that

A Vertue too; no! rather a tame Madnes. 35

Vertue is actiue, sprightly, full of fire,

Not dull and stupid. I wo'd faine perswade thee — •

Eiiri. To bee more vgly then the tougne of slander Can add a name too, or the sence of sinne In its true shape.

King. Now, see how much you erre. 40

Heere is the want of Vertue, when you are Transported thus with feare, to loose what you Wo'd be loath long to keepe, if you were vrg'd to't; How many wayes, tricks, wiles, deuices, plotts Frame yee to those wisht Ends, when once you know 'em, 45 And blame your tardy Ignorance? This feare Doth not become thee, banish it, Eurinia; rie teach thee how — [Offers to kiss her.']

Euri. Forbeare !

King. How, Maid, so coy!

Euri. Yes, Sir, although my Body be a Captiues, And now in your Power, yett my mjnd shall neuer 50

Be slaue vnto your lust.

King. Call it not soe.

I'me fruitfull in my loue; the springing flowers

Oprest with morning dew, loue not the cleare,

And comfortable Rayes of the Suns beames,

Dearer then I doe thee. O lett mee growe 55

For euer heere; my teares shalbe the showers,

And I will waite and wish for thy lou'd Eyes

To cherish mee.

Euri. 'Tis but in vaine to striue, My loue is fixt already.

King. Fixt! Where, pray?

Ez^i. And 'tis no infant Loue, that like young Plants 60 May bee remou'd and sett in an new place, But of Mature groth. I haue told my storie To Lord Arioldus.

King. Yes ! and I haue heard it.

But can you bring my Reason to beleeue

That your no hopes there can hold Competition 65

With my high fauors? Your Pollicy W^ilbe discouer'd. Is it Monye time.

Or Emulation, Enuy, or Reuenge, That now raignes in yee?

Euri. What d'yee meane by those, Sir?

King. Why, I haue heard you women haue those fitts, 70 And if you be ta'ne then, ther's noe Resistance. Sometymes Ambitious, and then feed that humor, One may haue any thing. Then, againe, Mallicious, Second 'em there, you haue their harts. Sometimes Soft language, and pale looks, With sighs and teares, 75

Doth win much on 'em. At another tyme,

64 THE SWISSER Act III

A boistrous and rough Centaure will preuaile More then a Cupid. What's thy humor now, That I may meet it ?

Eziri. 'Tis to bee from hence.

King. No, Maid, y'are fast enough; your freind Arioldus 80 Is shifted hence too; were hee heere, hee durst Venture assoone vpon a Raging Tiger, To steale away her young ones, as come nere thee. 'Twere better for him face a full swolne Cloud And stand the thunder of it when it breakes, 85

Then looke vpon this sword : hee cannot help thee.

Eîai. [aside.'] Encompasse mee, myne innocence !

\To the King.] Your looks Begin to fright mee.

King. 'Tis to try Conclusions I haue begun wi' yee in Loue; all offers

That might induce affection were not wanting; 90

And now my sighs are spent, my Promises Take no effect; Tie try what force can doe.

Euri. O heare mee, Sir ! (^KneUng.) What black and guilty Stories Shall fill your Anna] Is? Will you haue Posterity Record such wickednes, and with their Curses 95

Brand your foule Soule (for all the Crimes you act Shalbee imputed thers) ? You are a king, And I a Captiue stranger; will not pittie Moue your obdurate hart? Remember how My coming hether greiu'd your Noble Kinsman, 100