Have held me thus elfe? I must shift for life,

Though I do loath it.

Coun. I cannot follow the rogue.

[Ex. Phil. and Bel.

Enter Pharamond, Dion, Cleremont, Thrafiline, and Woodmen.

Pha. What art thou?

Coun. Almoft kill'd I am for a foolish woman; a knave would have hurt her.

Pha. The princess, gentlemen!

Dion. 'Tis above wonder! Who fhould dare do this? Pha. Speak, villain, who would have hurt the PrinCoun. Is it the Princess?

Dion. Ay..

Coun. Then I have feen fomething yet.

Pha. But who would have hurt her?

[cefs?

Coun. I told you, a rogue; I ne'er faw him before, I. Pha. Madam, who was it?

Are. Some dishonest wretch;

Alas! I know him not, and do forgive him.

Coun. He's hurt himself, and foundly too, he can not go far; I made my father's old fox fly about his ears. Pha. How will you have me kill him?

Are. Not at all,

'Tis fome distracted fellow.

If you do take him, bring him quick to me,
And I will study for a punishment,

Great as his fault.

Pha. I will.

Are. But fwear.

Pha. By all my love, I will:

Woodmen, conduct the Princess to the King,
And bear that wounded fellow unto dreffing:
Come, gentlemen, we'll follow the chace close.

1

[Ex. Are. Pha. Dion. Cle. Thra. and i Woodman. Coun. I pray you, friend, let me fee the King.

2 Wood. That you fhall, and receive thanks. Coun. If I get clear of this, I'll go fee no more gay fights. [Exeunt.

SCENE, another Part of the Wood.

Enter Bellario, with a fearf.

Bel. Yes, I am hurt; and would to heav'n it were

A death's wound to me! I am faint and weak

With lofs of blood: my fpirits ebb a-pace:
A heavinefs near death fits on my brow,
And I must fleep: bear me, thou gentle bank,
For ever, if thou wilt; you fweet onès all,
Let me unworthy prefs you: I cou'd wish,
I rather were a corfe ftrew'd over with you,
Than quick above you. Dulness fhuts mine eyes,
And I am giddy.' Oh! that I could take
So found a fleep, that I might never wake.
Enter Philafter.

Phi. I have done ill; my confcience calls me false.
What strike at her, that would not strike at me!
When I did fight, methought, I heard her pray
The gods to guard me. She may be abus❜d,
And I a loathed villain. If she be,

She'll not discover me; the flave has wounds,
And cannot follow, neither knows he me.
Who's this? Bellario fleeping! If thou beeft
Guilty, there is no juftice that thy fleep

Should be fo found; and mine, whom thou haft wrong'd,
So broken.

Bel. Who is there? My Lord Philafter!

[A cry within. Hark! You are purfu'd; fly, fly my Lord! and fave Yourself.

Phi. How's this! would't thou I should be safe?
Bel. Elfe were it vain for me to live. Oh, seize,
My Lord, this offer'd means of your escape!
The Princefs, I am fure, will ne'er reveal you;
They have no mark to know you, but
your wounds;
I, coming in betwixt the boor and you,
Was wounded too. To stay the lofs of blood
I did bind on this fcarf, which thus

I tear away. Fly! and 'twill be believed
'Twas I affail'd the Princefs.

Phi. O heavens !

What haft thou done? Art thou then true to me?
Bel. Or let me perifh loath'd! Come, my good Lord,
Creep in amongst those bushes. Who does know,
But that the gods may fave your much-lov'd breath?
Phi. Oh, I fhall die for grief! What wilt thou do?
Bel. Shift for myself well: peace, I hear 'em come!

Within. Follow, follow, follow; that way they went, Bel. With my own wounds I'll bloody my own fword! I need not counterfeit to fall; heav'n knows That I can stand no longer.

Enter Pharamond, Dion, Cleremont, Thrafiline, &c.

Pha. To this place we have track'd him by his blood. Cle. Yonder, my Lord, creeps one away.

Dion. Stay, Sir, what are you?

Bel. A wretched creature wounded in these woods
By beafts! relieve me, if your names be men,
Or I fhall perish!

Dion. This is he, my Lord,

Upon my foul, affail'd her; 'tis the boy,
That wicked boy, that ferv'd her.

Pha. Oh, thou wretch!

What caufe could't thou shape

To hurt the Princess ?

Bel. Then I am betray'd.

Dion. Betray'd! no, apprehended.

Bel. I confefs,

Urge it no more, that, big with evil thoughts,
I fet upon her, and did make my aim

Her death.

For charity, let fall at once

The punishment you mean, and do not load
This weary flesh with tortures!

Pha. I will know

Who hir'd thee to this deed.

Bel. My own revenge,

Pha. Revenge, for what?

Bel. It pleas'd her to receive

Me as her page, and, when my fortunes ebb'd,
That men ftrid o'er them careless, fhe did fhower
Her welcome graces on me, and did fwell
My fortunes, till they overflow'd their banks,
Threat'ning the men that croft 'em; when, as swift
As storms arise at fea, fhe turn'd her eyes
To burning funs upon me, and did dry
The streams she had beftow'd, leaving me worse,
And more contemn'd than other little brooks,
Because I had been great. In fhort, I knew

I could

I could not live, and therefore did defire
To die reveng'd.

Pha. If tortures can be found,

Long as thy natural life, prepare to feel
The utmost rigour.

Cle. Help to lead him hence.

Philafter comes forth.

Phi. Turn back, you ravifhers of innocence! Know ye the price of that you bear away

So rudely?

Pha. Who's that?

Dion. 'Tis the Lord Philafter.

Phi. 'Tis not the treasure of all kings in one,
The wealth of Tagus, nor the rocks of pearl
That pave the court of Neptune, can weigh down
That virtue. It was I affail'd the Princefs.
Place me, fome god, upon a pyramid,

Higher than hills of earth, and lend a voice
Loud as your thunder to me, that from thence
may difcourfe to all the under-world

Ι

The worth that dwells in him!

Pha. How's this?

Bel. My Lord, fome man

Weary of life, that would be glad to die.

Phi. Leave these untimely courtefies, Bellario. Bel. Alas! he's mad; come, will you lead me on? Phi. By all the oaths that men ought most to keep, And gods do punish moft, when men do break, He touch'd her not. Take heed, Bellario, How thou dost drown the virtues thou haft fhown, With perjury. By all that's good, 'twas I; You know, the stood betwixt me and my right. Pha. Thy own tongue be thy judge. Cle. It was Philafter.

Dion. Is't not a brave boy?

Well, Sirs, I fear me, we are all deceiv'd.
Phi. Have I no friend here?

Dion. Yes.

Phi. Then fhew it; fome

Good body lend a hand to draw us nearer.

Would you have tears fhed for you when you die?

Then lay me gently on his neck, that there

I may weep floods, [They lead him to Bellario.] and breathe out my spirit;

'Tis not the wealth of Plutus, nor the gold
Lock'd in the heart of earth, can buy away
This arm-full from me. You hard-hearted men,
More ftony than thefe mountains, can you fee
Such clear pure blood drop, and not cut your flesh
-To ftop his life? To bind whose bitter wounds,
Queens ought to tear their hair, and with their tears
Bathe them. Forgive me, thou that art the wealth
Of poor Philafter!

Enter King, Arethusa, and a Guard.

King. Is the villain ta'en?

Pha. Sir, here be two confefs the deed; but fay it was Philafter.

Phi. Question it no more, it was.

King. The fellow that did fight with him, will tell us.
Are. Ah, me! I know he will.

King. Did not you know him?

Are. No, Sir; if it was he, he was disguised.

Phi. I was fo. Oh, my stars! that I should live still, King. Thou ambitious fool!

Thou, that haft laid a train for thy own life;
• Now I do mean to do, I'll leave to talk.'
Bear him to prison.

Are. Sir, they did plot together to take hence
This harmless life; fhould it pafs unreveng'd,
I should to earth go weeping: grant me then
(By all the love a father bears his child)
The cuftody of both, and to appoint

Their tortures and their death.

King. 'Tis granted: take them to you, with a guard. Come, princely Pharamond, this business past,

We may with more fecurity go on

To your intended match.

END of the FOURTH ACT,

[Exeunt.