The same
Thunder and lightning. A blazing star appears. Enter tyrant [Armatrites].
[ARMATRITES]
Ha? Thunder? And thou, marrow-melting blast,
Quick-winged lighting? And thou, blazing star,
I like not thy prodigious, bearded fire;
Thy beams are fatal. Ha? Behold the influence
Of all their malice in my children’s ruins!
Their states malignant powers have envy’d,
And for some hath struck with their envies, died.
’Tis ominous! Within there!
Enter [Sextorio] and [Lodovicus].
LODOVICUS
Here, my lord.
[ARMATRITES]
Convey those bodies awhile from my sight.
[SEXTORIO]
Both dead, my lord.
[ARMATRITES]
Yes, and we safe; our death we need less fear.
[Sextorio and Lodovicus carry off the bodies of Zenarchus and Amphridote.]
Usurpers’ issue oft proves dangerous:
We depose others, and they poison us;
I have found it on records. ’Tis better thus.
Enter the old King, Lapyrus, Fidelio, Amorpho, all disguised like pilgrims. [They stand aside.]
LAPYRUS
My lord, this castle is but slightly guarded.
KING
’Tis as I hop’d and wish’d. Now bless us, heaven,
What horrid and inhuman spectacle
Is yonder that presents itself to sight?
FIDELIO
It seems three quarters of a man hung up.
KING
What tyranny hath been exercis’d of late?
I dare not venture on.
AMORPHO
Fear not, my lord; our habits give us safety.
LAPYRUS
Behold, the tyrant maketh toward us.
[ARMATRITES]
Holy and reverent pilgrims, welcome.
KING
Bold strangers, by the tempest beaten in.
[ARMATRITES]
Most welcome still;
We are but stewards for such guests as you.
What we possess is yours, to your wants due;
We are only rich for your necessities.
KING
A generous, free, [and] charitable mind
Keeps in thy bosom to poor pilgrims kind.
[ARMATRITES]
’Tis time of day to dine, my friends. [Sextorio]?
Enter [Sextorio].
[SEXTORIO]
My lord?
[ARMATRITES]
Our food.
[SEXTORIO]
’Tis ready for your highness.
[Loud] music. A banquet brought in, and by it a small table for the [Young] Queen. [Exit Sextorio.]
[ARMATRITES]
Sit, pray sit, religious men right welcome
To our cates. Grave sir, I have observ’d
You waste the virtue of your serious eye
Too much on such a worthless object as that is.
A traitor when he liv’d call’d that his flesh;
Let hang. Here’s to you; we are the oldest here.
[Drinks.]
Round let it go; feed, if you like your cheer.
Enter [Sextorio].
[SEXTORIO]
My lord.
[ARMATRITES]
How now?
[SEXTORIO]
Ready, my lord.
[ARMATRITES]
Sit merry.
Exit [with Sextorio].
KING
Where’er I look, these limbs are in mine eyes.
LAPYRUS
Some wretch on whom he wrought his tyranny.
FIDELIO
Hard was his fate to light into his mercy.
AMORPHO
Peace, he comes.
Soft music. Enter the tyrant [Armatrites] with the [Young] Queen, her hair loose; she makes a curtsey to the table. [Sextorio] brings in the flesh with a skull all bloody; they all wonder. [Exit Sextorio.]
[ARMATRITES]
I perceive strangers more desire to see
An object than the fare before them set;
But since your eyes are serious suitors grown,
I will discourse: what’s seen shall now be known.
KING
Your bounty every way conquers poor strangers.
[ARMATRITES]
Yon creature whom your eyes so often visit
Held mighty sway over our powers and thoughts;
Indeed, we were all hers —
Besides her graces there were all perfections,
Unless she speaks, no music — till her wishes
Brought forth a monster, a detested issue
Poisoning the thoughts I held of her.
The old King sends forth [Fidelio].
She did from her own ardour undergo
Adulterous baseness with my professed foe;
Her lust strangely betray’d, I ready to surprise them,
Set on fire by the abuse, I found his life
Cunningly shifted by her own dear hand
And far enough convey’d from my revenge:
Unnaturally the first abus’d my heart,
And then prevented my revenge by art.
Yet there I left not: though his trunk were cold,
My wrath was flaming, and I exercis’d
New vengeance on his carcass, and gave charge
The body should be quarter’d and hung up; ’twas done.
This as a penance I enjoin’d her to,
To taste no other sustenance, no, nor dares
Till her love’s body be consum’d in hers.
KING
The sin was great, so is the penance grievous.
[ARMATRITES]
Our vow is sign’d.
KING
And was he Lydian born?
[ARMATRITES]
He was no less son to mine enemy,
A banish’d king; Tymethes was his name.
KING
[Aside] Oh me, my son Tymethes!
LAPYRUS
[Aside to King] Passion may spoil us. — Sir, we oft have heard
Of that old king his father, and that justly
This kingdom was by right due to his sway.
[ARMATRITES]
It was, I think it was, till we, call’d in,
By policy and force deceiv’d his confidence,
Show’d him a trick of war and turn’d him out.
KING
[Aside] Sin’s boast is worse than sin!
Enter Fidelio.
FIDELIO
All’s sure; the guards are seiz’d on.
LAPYRUS
Good.
FIDELIO
The passage strongly guarded.
[ARMATRITES]
Holy sir, what’s he?
LAPYRUS
Our brother, a poor pilgrim, that gives notice
Of a religious father that attends
To bear us company in our pilgrimage.
[ARMATRITES]
Oh ho, ’tis good, ’tis very good.
KING
Alas, poor lady;
It makes me weep to see what food she eats.
I know your mercy will remit this penance.
[ARMATRITES]
Never, our vow’s irrevocable, never!
The lecher must be swallowed rib by rib;
His flesh is sweet, it melts, it goes down merrily.
They discover themselves.
Ha? What are these?
LAPYRUS
Speranza!
[ARMATRITES]
Ha?
KING
Villain, this minute [loses] thee, thou tyrant.
[ARMATRITES]
Pilgrims wear arms? The old king? And Lapyrus?
Betray’d? Confounded? Oh, I must die forsworn!
Break, vow! Bleed, whore! There is my jealousy flown!
He kills his Queen.
Oh, happy man, ’tis more revenge to me
Than all your aims; I have kill’d my jealousy.
I have nothing now to care for more than hell;
‘T had been if you had struck me ere she fell.
I had left her to your lust, the thought is bitterness,
But she first fall’n. Ha, ha, ha!
KING
Die, cruel, murtherous tyrant!
They all discharge at him.
[ARMATRITES]
So laugh away this breath;
My lust was ne’er more pleasing than my death.
Dies.
LAPYRUS
As full possess’d as ever, and as rich
In subjects’ hearts and voices, we present thee
The complete sway of this usurped kingdom.
KING
I am so borne betwixt the violent streams
Of joy and passion, I forget my state;
To all our thanks and favours, and what more
We are in debt to all your free consent
We will discharge in happy government.
Enter the Old Queen disguised, a boy with her.
[OLD] QUEEN
The peacefull’st reign that ever prince enjoy’d.
KING
Already a petition? Suitors begin betimes.
We are scarce warm in our good fortune yet. What are you?
[OLD] QUEEN
Unworthiest of all the joys this hour brings forth.
She discovers.
KING
Our dearest queen?
[OLD] QUEEN
Your poor, distressed queen.
KING
Oh, let me light upon that constant breast
And kiss thee till my soul melt on thy lips.
Our joys were perfect stood Tymethes there.
We are old; this kingdom wants a hopeful heir.
[OLD] QUEEN
Your joys are perfect though he stand not there,
And your wish blest: [behold], a hopeful heir.
Stand not amaz’d; ’tis Manophes.
KING
How just the gods are, who in their due time
Return what they took from us.
[OLD] QUEEN
Happy hour!
Heaven hath not taken all our happiness,
For though your elder met ill fate, good heaven
Hath thus preserv’d your younger for your heir.
KING
Prepare those limbs for honourable burial,
And noble nephew, all your ill is lost
In your late newborn goodness, which we’ll reward.
No storm of fate so fierce but time destroys,
And beats back misery with a peal of joys.
Exeunt omnes.
FINIS