Scene II THE SWISS ER ;g

The worst compacted, and vnhappy Masse

That euer had a Beeing. [Falls on his knees.]

King. Come, come, Rise!

Putt vp thy Sword agen, wee will renewe 165

A firmer Freindship; it doth trouble mee, That I should call thyne Anger vp, to straine A noble Nature from its owne true beeing : Wee'le Hue like twins in loue —

Ariol. Where tends my thoughts?

How they doe struggle in mee! Lett 'em either 170

Be stronge enough to leaue mee without sence Of what I suffer, or Résolue on something! It must ! I take the last, Sir.

King. And I grant it.

Ariol. Just as my Sword was sheathing, there appear'd Ynto my trouble[cl] fancy, a Poore Virgin, 175

With haires disheuel'd, crying out for Vengeance; Her teares giues Growth to an new anger in mee, And I haue quite forgott all other pitty. Now, Arme mee. Justice!

King. Come, Sir. They fight.

Andru. [rushing in.] Hold!

King. Bold Slaue!

To interrupt vs thus !

Andru. W^o'd you be kil'd? 180

Theise are fine tricks indeed ! You are my King, And 'tis a Subiects Duty to preserue yee. Putt vp your swords, for shame! I'le cry out Treason

So THE SWISSER Act IV

And raise the Court elce. Are you weary of liuing?

King. Y 'are growne too saucy, Sirra.

Ariol. [aside ^0 Andru.] Aribert — 185

King. Wee were but pra[c] tizing at foiles; this Groome Must interpose his Will. Cousin, wee'le meet Some other tyme; the Wager still shall stand Vpon the first hitt.

Ariol. rie attend your Maiestie. Exit king.

Andru. A pritty iugling!

Ariol. What?

Andru. To putt it of soe. 190

Ariol. Wee were in ieast.

Andru. You cannot cousen mee, That saw, and heard what past.

Ariol. Then, Aribert, 'Twas fondly done. If you had sought out iniurie, Where it first grewe (in Mallice) and had prest it. Till all the Venombe had benum'd my sences 195

It co'd not haue bene worse. You haue vndone mee.

Andru. How, Arioldus? Lett a better temper Reduce your wandring Spirit; I haue preseru'd yee From Death, or Murder, or Both; bethinke your selfe, 'Twas a freinds part.

Ariol. A freinds ! Spight a' such freindship, 200

To thrust mee from the way, from the smooth path. That led vnto the quiet of my hart.

You may aswell call it a Charitie, To rob a thirstie Soule of that deare Moisture,

His paines, and hott desires, hath brought him toe, 205

As Tantalize mee thus.

Andru. And all this sturr Is for a Captiue!

Ariol. 'Tis for one, whose Breast Hath more of goodnes in it, then dull man Can apprehend. Wee search but to the outside, And on that glaring Comet cast our Wonder, 210

Not mmding what base viscuous slimy Matter It is compos'd of. But this Soule —

Andru. To venture The Murder of a King for such a one, Was a strange hazard though.

Ariol. Shee lou'd mee, Aribert.

Andru. Soe doth the King.

Ariol. You search too deepe into mee, 215

Amd rake fresh Embers vp.

Andru. Leaue of this fury And bee your selfe; remember what it is To kill a King ! A King, Arioldus ! That Will pale the stoutest Courage. I haue Cause, If that restrain'd mee not, and more then you. 220

Ariol. 'Tis falce. Tie proue it soe. Drawes.

Andru. You will not! Hold!

Ariol. rie do't or dye in't. I haue heard the King Pitty your Banishment, and his full meaning Is to recall you shortly; can you waigh Soe small a suffring in an equall Ballance 225

82 THE SWISSER Act IV

With this poore Captiues? Ther's not the least teare Falls from her Eyes but it is worth a life.

Andru. You know I haue mett danger in the worst Shape it putts on; be well aduis'd! Your Passions Are too predominant. This Captiues iniuries 230

I haue as much cause to reuenge as you.

Ariol. This is a Madnes.

Andru. 'Tis not! Shee's my daughter.

Ariol. Your daughter !

Andru. Yes. Sheath your vnruly Sword, And turne it not against a freind.

Ariol. O Aribert!

I haue of late bene beaten to this wildnes. 235

Andru. I had no sooner cast my Eyes vpon her But to my greife I knew her. Then shee told mee That after my sad Banishment, the King Renew'd his old suit, but her loue to you

Made her neglect him; so shee did giue out 240

That shee was dead, to further her disguise; Her taking Captiue, all; to much, to much, Wer't not my King. But I haue spent my time In fooling well, and I am paid for't.

Ariol. Come, Wee will compare our Sorrowes, and if they,. 245

Be able to be bourne, wee'le beare 'em brauely; If not, the waight must fall vpon his head Whose Lust produc't 'em.

Andru. Heauen forbid!

ArioL If you Had not restrain'd mee, t'had bene done ere this. 249

Andrii. I wo'd not for the World; 'tis sacred Blood, Pretious as teares of Dying Saints; wee must Preserue 't, and leaue our Justice to the Gods.

ArioL Farewell, Tie take my course.

AndriL Hee loues you too — Remember his faire Offers —

ArioL Vexe mee not. Exit. 254

Andrii. I'le follow him, and worke vpon his Goodnes. Exit.

SC^NA TERTIA

[.4 Room in the House of Antkaris.]

ANTHARIS, ALCIDONVS.

Antha. Come, I will giue you liberty; my Rigor Shall not oppresse ye more, for Loue restrain'd W^ill soone find wings to gett abroad. I'le leaue yee To your owne temper. Take your Course.

Alci. My Duty Hath not deseru'd so ill, to be throwne of And made an out cast.

Antha. I wo'd ha' preseru'd yee, But you are wilfull; go, go, take her, doe! Take your so Lou'd Selina, and embrace her :

84 THE SWISSER Act IV

Pull on a Leprosie vpon your bloods Worse then the sting of Death.

A lei. Why, Sir, what meane you? lo

Antha. \ meane to tell thee that which I had thought To haue lockt vp for euer. Doe you thinke I haue bene obstinate without a Cause?

Could Nature haue so litle sence of goodnes, To bee so harsh but that there is a Reason ? 15

Alci. What Reason?

Antha. O how loath I am to speake it. Because it is our Shame.

Alci. How ! Shame to mee ?

Antha. Yett 'tis no fault of thine. Faith, do not heare it, 'Twill bring thee discontent; leaue but this woman, And then, you neede not know it.

Alci. How I burne 20

With Expectation?

Antha. Will you haue the Truth?

Alci. I doe loue nothing more.

Antha. Then take it. Y 'are — How hard it is to come out ?

Alci. Doe not rack mee!

Antha. If you will needs know, y 'are a Bastard.

Alci. How!

What Monsters Yssue shall I proue to bee? 25

Antha. Nay, you are myne.

Alci. From what foule wombe ?

Antha. Tie tell thee.

Lord Clephis being employ' d on an Ambasage

That held him long abroad, what out of Mallice

To him, and strong affection to his wife,

I did preuaile so much with Bribes and Prayers, 30

I lay with her, and gott thee. All things were

Carried so closely that 'twas neuer knowne;

And my wife too miscarried at that tyme.

And died in Child-bed; so I bred thee vp,

As my Legitimate son, and Clephis had 35

Selina afterwards by the same woman.

So you are Brother and sister. This was it

Made mee so oppositt against your meetings.

Wo'd I ha' bene so cruel 1 el ce?

Aid My sister!

Antha. Both by one Mother.

Alci. Then there is no curse 40

Could ha' bene greater to mee. O you haue Nourisht a Serpent, and haue putt into it Besids its owne, a poison that will breake it. Why, what wild beast am I ? My Sister — Is there A punishment more greiuous ? Co'd dull Nature, 45

Wittie in Villanie, inuent a worse?

It is like lead dropping into my Marrow, Which neuer can be quencht, although the Venombe Conuerts my Blood to water.

Antha. [aside.] Now it works.

Alci. Oh whether shall I turne mee? You haue blasted 50 The Spring of all my life, dig'd vp the Roote

S6 THE SW/SSER Act IV

Of my ripe Hopes, and left mee open to The wonder of the World.

Ant ha. Vex not your selfe All this shall be kept secret; you had neuer Knowne it, but that 'twas to preserue yee.

Aid. Yes, 55

You are too subtile i' your Plagues ! What torment Haue you prepar'd besides? Haue I a Birth? Or whose shall I bee next ? For you haue Power To make mee any thing : can you perswade mee That there is Remédie for the sad troubles 60

Of my greiu'd hart? Giue mee a balme for that.

Ant ha. I can, if thou wilt heare mee. Cast thy thoughts Vpon some other Woman, and thou shalt Plaue all the Happines that thou canst wish for. I loue thee, Alcidonus, dearely too. 65

Alci. Then, show it; kill mee; 'twilbe no great Crime To take away what you did giue, against The Rules of Justice too; you cannot With all your loue make mee more Happie, for I now am weary of my selfe; pray, kill mee. 70

I am already wounded; you haue shott That into mee, will make mee languish euer; 'Tis Charitie to rid mee of my Paine.

Ant ha. Come, y 'are to blame; recall your selfe. I tender Too much your safetie, and your green-sick humor 75

Cannot conceiue it : diseas'd Bodies couett What is most Noctious to 'em : So is your Mind Asleepe on lazy thoughts next dore to Lust.

Alci. The effects of that curs'd Fate by which I am yours. Wo'd I might sleepe for eiier, that the Night 80

Of all my Cares might neuer find a day; Or that my greifs, too many, and too waighty, Wo'd lag my heauy Soule vnto its Rest.

Ant ha. I am asham'd to see yee.

Alci. So am I Asham'd to looke vpon my selfe.

Antha. Farewell! 85

Consider what I haue said, and bee aduis'd. ExH.

Alci. Ther's no Aduice can iseriie; my ignorance Hath trod the paths of wickednes, and my Blood Burnes with black Incest. O how harsh this newes Wilbe to my Selina? 'Tis too true! 90

No Deuill could inuent so much ill, if it be not It is impossible to find it out Though by the Light of Shame. No, Alcidonus, Thy ioyes are buried now, and thou canst haue No rest at all but in a quiet graue! Exit. 95

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g;;;^f:^>^^ip^S■S|a

Mf^u:>^B:

ACTVS QVINTVS

SC^NA PRIMA

[An Apartment in the Palace.^

ASPRANDVS, ISEAS.

EERE'S a distracted Court ! Euery Mans face Lookes as it did presage a Dearth of Witt ! Such Hobnail'd Countenances !

he. S foot, what's the Matter?

Th'are fouly out a' ioynt, and wee can fix On none to peece with. Heere's one.

Enter a gentleman.

Sir! —

Gent. Your Seruant — I haue some hast —

he. My seruant should haue staid, If hee had bene so, by his fauor.

Exit GENTLEMAN.

Aspra. Nay, Hee's onely seruant passant, now your Couchant Is more obseruant.

Ise. Is ther such Degrees ? 9

Aspra. From kissing a' the hand to cutting a the throat, Sir, O you shall meet 'em, spawning out the word, With such a Grace; « Your Seruant — » to the foot; Some Couchant and some passant, but take heed on em They'le fawne and Bite. Now, for your Seruant Pendant, Hee can do no great hurt.

he. Wo'd they were all soe! 15

Aspra. What Friskin's this?

Enter a gentlewoman.

The Princesse Woman — Lady ! —

Lady. I cannot stay — Exit.

Aspra. What a perpétua 11 Motion Shee carries with her!

Isc. Art thou acquainted wo'tt ?

Aspra. Hang 'em, sleight Vanities; th'are like light Dewe, Quickly exhal'd by some great man, and then 20

They vanish into Mists, or breake into showers ; Ther s nothing Sollid in 'em.

Ise. Something's a Bruing r the Court among 'em; Antharis is at his Witts end

Aspra. 'Tis an old Rogue that.

Ise. And Clephis hath an Eye In euerv Corner.

90 THE SWISSER Act V

Aspra. That's a Subtile peece too, 25

But I think Honest.

he. Ah, Arioldus. Ther's one Stands for à Million.

Aspra. 'Tis a Noble Fellow.

he. I heare some muttring of a Rape, the King Engag'd in't.

Aspra. Strange! Hee's of a Noble Nature.

he. But young and wild.

Aspra. Tyme will repaire that —

he. [aside.] Mum — 30

Enter andrvcho.

Aspra. [aside to he.] O 'Tis Andrucho !

he. [aside to Aspra.] Then wee shall know all.

Aspra. [to Andru.] Welcome, Thou happy Genius; by thy Priapisme, The President of thy Britch, what Augurie? What is thee newes, man ?

Andru. Breath, and tougnes, and Lyes Mingled together, if there bee none Coine it, 35

'Tis Comon, and no Treason; I haue Busines, You must excuse mee — Exit andrvcho.

Aspra. Whew — My Almanack — How stands the Moone? 'Tis Sauage! I did thinke soe. The Braine do's turne. Come, let's go see Timentes. 39

he. Nay, 'tis turn'd vp side downe there; did not I tell thee.^

Aspra. No, what?