A Prison.
Enter Orsames joyful, and Geron.
Ors. Am I indeed a King?
And is there such a thing as fair Olympia?
Hadst thou not been the first had told me this,
By Heaven, thou’dst dy’d for thus concealing it;
Not all the Obligations of my Youth
Should have preserv’d thee.
Ger. Till now I wanted Opportunity;
For had you known your Quality before,
You wou’d have grown impatient of the Crown,
And by that Haste have overthrown your Interest.
Ors. And canst thou now provide against my Ignorance?
Ger. Sir, we have gain’d the Army on our side.
Ors. What’s that?
Ger. Those Numbers that I told you should adore you.
Ors. When shall I see them,
Geron?
Ger. E’er long,
Sir: should your Deliverance
Be wrought by any other Means than theirs,
It were to snatch a Glory from their Hands,
Which they design their only Recompence.
Ors. Oh, how I am transported with the Joy! But,
Geron, art thou sure we do not dream?
Ger. Then Life it self’s a Dream — Hark, I hear a noise — [Noise.
Within] Kill the Dog — down with him!
Ors. Oh, how I’m ravisht with this unknown Noise!
Within.] Break down the Prison-Walls and Gates, and force your Passage —
Enter Vallentio, followed by Gorel and a Rabble of
Citizens and Officers, tearing in the Keeper all bloody.
Val. No killing to day, my Fellow-Soldiers, if you can help it; we will not stain our Triumphs in Blood — [They all stand and gaze. Ors. gazes on them. Ye Gods, instruct me where to bow my Knee — But this alone must be the Deity —
[Kneels,
Ors. lets him kneel, and gazes on him.
1 Cit. Is that the King,
Neighbour, in such mean Clothes?
Gorel. Yes,
Goodman Fool, why should the Colonel kneel else?
2 Cit. Oh, pray,
Neighbour, let me see a little, I never saw a King in all the days of my Life. Lord,
Lord! Is that he the Colonel kneels to?
Gorel. What Questions this ignorant Fellow asks!
3 Cit. Good lack-a-day, ’tis as a Man may say— ’tis just such another Body as one of us, only he looks a little more terrably.
Ger. Sir, why do you let him kneel?
Ors. Rise, and let me look upon thee.
Val. Great Sir, we come to offer you a Crown,
That long has waited for this great Support;
It ought to have been presented in a more glorious order,
But Time and your Affairs permit not that.
A thousand Dangers wait upon Delay;
But though the World be yours, it is not safe
Depending on a fickle Multitude,
Whom Interest, and not Reason renders just.
Ors. Thou art a wondrous Man.
1 Cit. Good Gorel, stand back, and let me see a little; my Wife loves Newalties abominationly, ami I must tell her something about the King.
Gorel. What a Pox have we to do with your Wife? stand back.
Val. Now deign, great Sir, to arm your Hand with this —
[Gtves Ors. a Sword, he gazes on it.
Nay, view it well, for though it be but homely,
It carries that about it can make the Wearer proud;
— An Edge — pray feel it,
Sir,— ‘t has dealt
Many a mortal Wound —
See how it dares the Sun for Brightness, Sir!
Or if there be a Stain, it is an Ornament,
Dy’d in the Blood of those that were your Enemies:
It never made a Blow or Thrust in vain.
— How do you like it, Sir?
Ors. So well, I know not whether this or thee
Be most agreeable to me;
You need not teach me how I am to use it,
That I will leave for those that dare offend me.
Look, Geron, is it not a glorious Object?
There’s nothing but my bright Olympia’s Eyes
That can out-glitter this.
1 Cit. Hah,
Simon, did he not talk bravely?
Val. Come,
Sir, ’tis time you left this Dungeon for a Throne;
For now’s the time to make the World your own. All shouting — Vive le Roy,
Vive le Roy.
[Exeunt.