DRAP,

Clients to PRATE.

Prefident, Clerk to PRATE.

CELIO, Marshal for the Queen.

CHIP and SHAVINGS, Carpenters.

Heralds, Watchmen, Gentleman-Ufher, Phyfician, Executioner, &c.

Queen of SICILY.

WOMEN.

MARIANA, her Companion, and Sifter to the Duke of EPIRE, LOLLIA, Wife to the Orator.

COLLAQUINTIDA, a Baud.

Attendants, &c.

SCENE, Sicily.

THE

THE

DUMB KNIGHT'.

ACTUS

I.

SCENA I.

Enter the King of Cyprus, Phylocles, Florio, and Attendants

E

in arms.

NOUGH; thefe loud founds deaf my paffions How long fhall love make me a flave to hopej And mix my calm defires with tyranny ?

O Phylocles! this herefy I hold,

Thought and affection cannot be control'd.

Phylocles.

Yet may't be bent and fuppled with extremesz
Sith few dare fee the end of violence.
What makes the skilful leech to use the fire,
Or war her engines, or ftates policy,
But to recover things moft defperate ?
Revolt is recreant, when pursuit is brave,
Never to faint doth purchafe what we crave.

Cyprus.

True, my Phylocles, yet my recreant foul, Slav'd to her, beauty, would renounce all war, And yield her right to love, did not thy spirit, Mix'd with my longing, fortify thefe arms.

I Langbaine obferves, that feveral incidents in this play are borrowed" from Novels, as the Story of Mariana fwearing Phylocles to-be dumb from Bandello's Novels; Alfonfo's cuckolding Prate the Orator, and the latter appearing before the council from the fame book. The English Reader may fee the fame ftory in The Complaifant Companion, 870. 1646.* 2 leech] An old word used by Chaucer, Spenfer, Fairfax, and other“ writers, fignifying a Physician. But

VOL. IV.

D &

But I am now refolv'd, and this fad hour
Shall give an end to my diftemperature.
Summon a parley.

Enter aloft the Queen of Sicily, the Duke of Epire, Alphonfo,

and Attendants.

Queen.

What fays our tyrant fuitor, our difeafe in love, That makes our thoughts a flave unto his fword: What fays my lord?

Cyprus:

Madam, attend me, this is my lateft fummons:
The many funs my forrows have beheld,

And my fad nights of longings, all through hope
T'enjoy the joy of earth (your own dear felf),
Are grown fo infinite in length and weight,
That like to wearied Atlas I inforce

These wars as Hercules to bear my load:
Briefly I must enjoy you, or elfe lofe

The breath of life, which to prevent, behold

My fword muft-be my Cupid, and with feather'd steel
Force pity from your breast. Your city's walls,
Chidden with my cannons, have set ope a path,
And boldly bids me enter; all your men of war,
Feebled, with famine and a weary fiege,
Take danger from mine actions; only yourself,
Strong in your will, oppofe even destiny,
And like the giants' war offend the heavens.
Which to prevent, do but defcend and give
Peace to my love-fuit, and as o'ercome thereby
I'll yield myself your prifoner, and be drawn
A thrall in your triumphant victory.
If otherwife, behold thefe fatal fwords
Shall ne'er be heath'd till we be conquerors:
And, not refpecting innocence nor fex,
The cries of infants, nor the prayers of age,
All things fhall perish, till within my arms
I fold yourfelf my thrall and conqueror.

Queen.

Queen.

Thou may't be mafter of my body's tomb;
But for my foul and mind they are as free
As their creation; and with angels' wings

Can foar beyond thy reach; trust me, king of Cyprus,
Thofe coals the Roman Portia did devour

Are not burnt out, nor have th' 3 Egyptian worms
Yet loft their ftings; fteel holds his temper ftill,
And these are ranfoms from captivity.

But art thou noble? haft thou one royal thought?

Cyprus.

To fhun the great effufion of their bloods,
Who feel no touch in mine affections,

Dare you to fingle combat, two to two,

Refer your right in love?

Cyprus.

Who are your combatants? we love equality.
Queen.

This is the first, the Epire duke, a man
Sprung from the line of famous Scanderbeg.
The next Alphonfo, fprung from noble blood;
Who, laden with rich Lufitanian prize,

Hath fode through Syracufa twice in pomp.

Cyprus.

Epire.

Their likings to the motion?

They are like wrath,

Never unarm'd to beat weak injury.

Alphonfo.

Nay more, we are the fons of destiny: Virtue's our guide, our aim is dignity.

3 Egyptian worms] Dr. Johnfon obferves, that worm is the Teutonick word for ferpent; and Dr. Percy, that in the Northern Counties the fame word is still ufed in that fenfe. See their feveral Notes, and alfo Mr. Tollet's, to Antony and Cleopatra, A. 5. S. 2.

Phylocles.

'Sfoot, king, fhalt not forfake 'em : this I fee, Love, fight, and death, are rul'd by destiny. Cyprus

My fpirit fpeaks thy morion:

Madam, altho' advantage might evade,

And give my love more hope, yet my bent will,
Bow'd to your pleafure, doth embrace your law.
We do accept the combat, and ourself

Will with that duke try fortunes; this my friend,
The more part of myself, my dearest Phylocles,
One of an angel's temper, fhall with that lord

Try beft and worst. The place? the time? the fword 2

Epire.

They are your rights, we claim as challengers.

Cyprus.

And we would lofe that 'vantage; but fince fame Makes virtue dulat, we embrace our rights :

The place before these walls, the hour next fun,

The pole-ax and the hand-ax for the fight.

It is enough;

Queen.

My hostage is my perfon and my love.

Cyprus.

And mine my hope, my faith, and royalty.

Epire.

They are of poize fufficient, and one light

Shall at one instant give us day and night."

[Exeunt Queen, Epire, Alphonso, &c. Cyprus.

She's gone, my Phylocles: and as the goes, even fo The fun forfakes the heavens to kiss the sea;

Day in her beauty leaves us, and methinks

Her abfence doth exile all happiness.

Tell me, my Phylocles, nay, pr'ythee tell me true,
Even from that love

Which to us both fhould blend one sympathy;
Difcharge an open breaft: doft thou not think
She is the mirror of her beauteous sex,
Unparallel'd, and uncompanioned?

Phylocks