by what the Vulgar tremble at Defies that Devil which it sees within I see it through the gilded thin disguise Alvaro That Devil you defie may make you fear Your God is absent for your Worship 's known I 'll seize his Heav'n h 'as fix'd it in your Charms And give him Hell to see you in my Arms. Exit Alvaro Agnes Monster of Nature I detest the Thought Enquire if the Princess may be seen Exit Womans If she is chang'd What can remain the same The Heav'ns did not more regularly move She seem'd immediately inspir'd from thence So just and of a Piece was all her Thoughts She is inspir'd 't is Heav'n directs her now For Heav'n is angry that this Day shone Where shall a persecuted Virgin fly What can I hope abandon'd by the Princess Whose Goodness only chas'd away my fears Oh! she 's unkind she 's in one hour transform'd What have I done nay thought that cou'd displease her Did I not part from her with some regret Was I not griev'd she gave me leave to go Methought I wish'd to see the Prince once more And then began to apprehend his Danger With anxious fears I had not known till then But if she knew those Thoughts she 'd know as well I check'd the sinful Tumult in my Breast Not less offended with the Guilt than she Enter Woman Woman Madam the Princess has just left her Chamber Agnes Whither does she intend Woman It is not known Only suppos'd she went to walk in private Being unattended Agnes Perhaps she may I 'le seek her in the Garden And know my Crime or die for Expiation Exit Enter Princess Princess Already dark Time does not creep so slow That we had need t'anticipate the Night Woman 'T was my Lady's Order to entertain her Grief But if your Highness pleases I 'll Princess Oh no let it be thus I like it well All that looks mournful suits my Misery To her self But why should she be sad Can Guilt and Innocence have like Desires This Melancholly Fancy pleases me Where is your Lady Woman Madam she 's just gone out with a design To wait upon your Highness Princess Tell her I will expect her here Exit Woman 'T were most unjust to punish her unheard Thus far I owe to one that was my Friend To one who tho ungrateful still I love Something methinks pleads strongly for her Truth Tells me she may be wrong'd and innocent Yet what shou'd move Bianca to deceive me What Interest cou'd she have What end in that No no 't is plain Agnes is false as false as she was true For she was true till by the Prince seduc'd The Prince that Name 's enough for her excuse What Vertue can be proof against his Charms That irresistable that God-like Man Yet much she might have suffer'd much for me For none cou'd love more tenderly than I I found in her suppos'd Fidelity Full Recompence for all I lost before My Husband 's want of Love her Love atton'd This was a Blow struck to the very Heart There 's now no Remedy in Nature left No both shall see me quickly in my Grave My Death will make your Loves more innocent Your Guilt and my Misfortunes in one Tomb for ever shall be laid Enter Elvira behind the Princess Elvira Alone in Darkness and so fitly plac'd Now vanish all that 's womanish or soft Stabs her in the Back Rival Revenge has said this Hour's thy last And to torment thee in thy latest Gasp Know by my Means the Princess thinks thee false Princess Wicked Elvira thy mistaking hand Has done a Deed too good for thy Design Heav'n guided it to ease me of a Life Which was a heavy grievous Burthen grown And hinder thy Intent to snatch from hence The choicest Jewel which the World cou'd boast Elvira Curst be the fatal Pow'r that guided me Curst be the Arm that blindly did obey Take the Reward thy Treachery deserves Stabs her Arm and throws away the Dagger Oh! I have bravely hazarded my Life To make a Passage open for my Rival To bring her safely to the Prince's Arms To give the longing Lovers all they wish'd Curst curst Elvira Enter Agnes Here 's my proud Enemy Ha is she here I feel new Mischief brooding in my Soul Aid me this once the great Infernal Tribe For Agnes Death my Soul shall be the Bribe Exit El. Princess Now let me die in Peace since Heav'n allows Me once to see thee dearest injur'd Maid Agnes Now let my Soul be calm die all my Fears Since you the Object of my Hopes are kind Not Ships in Storms not Travellers benighted Amongst wild Beasts left in a lonely Wood Can half express the Anguish I have felt Depriv'd of you my Light my Guard my All. Princess Forgive me Child be all thy Wrongs forgot For ever wash'd away in my Life's Blood Agnes Better all Womankind at once shou'd perish Than you the sole Perfection of the Sex The greatest Blessing of the whole Creation Princess Say rather the Incumbrance of the Earth One who but liv'd for an unhappy Plague To the most Noble most Divine of Men Which Heav'n grown mild most kindly does remove With this additional Favour to my Death That it preserves thy dearer envy'd Life And in thy Life the Prince's Agnes Horrible Mystery of Life and Death Oh ease my trembling Heart What mean you Madam Princess Fear only for thy Self for I am well But Agnes thou hast many Enemies The Death I have receiv'd was meant for thee Elvira's black Design whose Envy first Contriv'd against thy Fame and then thy Life But by a happy Error both are safe At once she gave the welcome Deadly Blow And with malicious Boasting clear'd thy Vertue Agnes Perish the Sacrilegious Hellish Hand Too fatally it wounded where it aim'd And gave me double Death in striking you Ah cruel Fate Was there no other way To make us Friends but parting us for ever Wou'd I had rather dy'd unjustify'd Contemn'd and loath'd by you and all the World Princess Be less transported thy too moving Grief Had almost forc'd from me a Wish to live Agnes Alas my heedless Sorrow had forgot To call Assistance for my dearest Princess Going the Princess holds her Princess It wou'd be vain for Death has seiz'd me all And if thou go'st I ne're shall see the more These Eyes will be shut up in lasting Night Stay and receive a dying Friend's Request Believe thou always hast been dear to me Ev'n when I fear'd thee False I thought thee True And let this Forgery excuse my Fear Gives her a Letter Then if thou 'st ever bore me true Affection Double it on the Prince my better part Intreat him to forgive me for thy sake The Troubles I unwillingly have caus'd him Be thou to young Fernando what I was Speak of me to him Don't forget thy Friend Remember with my latest Breath I beg I charge thee love the Prince I charge thee marry
King I 'll find a way t' abate this Insolence Goes from her Don Pedro you must hasten your departure Follow me to the Gallery we 'll talk a while Prince I attend you Sir Madam I 'll see you in the Palace-Garden Exit K. Prince Al. Agnes What fatal Planet govern'd at my Birth Which now begins its baleful Influence With Cruelties so great they rather seem The last Effect of torturing Tyranny The Finishment of a long study'd Curse Princess You amaze me Agnes Can there be Misery more compleat than mine Forc'd by my Stars for ever from your Highness In whom I 'd center'd all my happiness The wild effects of this unhappy Face Drives me to search for some obscure retreat Where it may never more create such Plagues Fatal to you to me and Innocence Princess Can you resolve to leave me then Alas Thy absence will be far more fatal here Instead of rend'ring me my Husband's Heart Wou'd he not hate me as the Cause of it Wou'd he not fly to you where-e'er you were And wou'd it not be Savage Cruelty To rob a Lover so Unfortunate Of all the poor relief is left his Love Agnes My Honour Madam is not here secure The King already does believe me guilty Princess I know thee Agnes and shall ne'er accuse thee For my sake bear the rest Agnes What is it for your sake I wou'd not bear Witness th'all-seeing Pow'rs that know my Heart If by my Marriage I cou'd give you back That love which barb'rous Fate has rob'd you of Though Don Alvaro's horror to my Eyes Though my Soul loaths him by Antipathy I 'd break through those strong Bars which Nature 's fix'd And Sacrifice my own for your repose But that alas cou'd never cure the Prince Still he wou'd look on me with Criminal Eyes And I am accessary whilst I stay Princess The Crime 's to me I can absolve thy guilt Dear Agnes if thou 'st ever lov'd thy Friend Give not the Prince this Subject of Despair My Life is ty'd to his his Grief is mine Agnes You are the sole Disposer of my Actions But Madam think weigh well e'er you Command What dangerous mischiefs may attend my stay Princess None that can equal that of losing thee Compar'd to it all Ills are but a Name Agnes Govern'd by you I will believe all safe Tho' my sad Soul some dreadful thing forebodes What may not Don Alvaro undertake Encourag'd by the King whom I 've incens'd He 's Base as Great and all is to be fear'd From one whom want of Pow'r alone restrains In what the most irregular desire Princess Be satisfy'd whilst I am thy Protectress The Prince by this time may be in the Garden He is to pass that way Instruct me as we go In all that pass'd betwixt the King and you From thence I 'll take my measures Exit Princess and Agnes Elvira How stupidly she hugs the Poys'nous Serpent She must be sharply stung before she 'll wake Sure if she thought her Rival did betray her She 'd shake her off for all this foolish fondness Bianca The difficulty is t' inspire that thought The Princess is possess'd with a belief Of Agnes's Virtue which her last request Of leaving her must needs have much confirm'd Elvira But what if I should play the Anti-Bee And from this Nice Romantick Honour draw A Poyson to destroy her good Opinion Bianca That were a Master-piece of Art indeed Elvira 'T is the peculiar cunning of our Sex To make Good Ill and Ill for Good appear And things which seem directly contrary We turn and use to compass our designs I 'll write a Note as from the Prince to Agnes It shall express a free converse with her And joy for having overcome her Scruples Then beg her to obtain his Wife's consent On the pretence of shunning him to leave Coimbra That he may see her with more easie freedom Than watchful Eyes wou'd e're permit him here This you shall take an Opportunity Be sure it be the first to give the Princess Tell her you saw it drop from Agnes's Pocket And watch her ev'ry motion when she reads I 'll instantly about the mighty work Such Joys I find in others Misery If all were Damn'd Hell wou'd be Heav'n to me Ex. the Scene 〈◊〉 Enter as in a Gallery the King Prince Alvaro and Attendants Prince Were the Audacious Rebels boasted Pow'r Encreas'd by twice the number which they bring And ev'ry single Foe of Gyants strength I wou'd not doubt success in such a Cause Confcience does half our Work A wild dismay Disables ev'ry Paricidial Arm. King Thy well-prov'd Va'our gives me surer hopes Which in thy softer Youth was bravely try'd Against the powerful fierce Alboacen I saw my Son do feats beyond his Age Whilst ev'ry stroke the Soldiers rung his name He seem'd to fire their Courage raise their hopes And bring the Foe inevitable Death Prince They have not Sir forgot what you perform'd You taught us all the way to Victory King I think they never saw me fly from danger Go as my Gen'ral quell this rash Rebellion But Prince subdue your self and be my Son Prince If I do ought unworthy of that Name May I become the Vilest Peasant's scorn King Spoke from the Heart I dare believe my Son Go and return a double Conqueror Prince Commanded thus I dare all opposition To morrow's dawn full Victory shall bring For Virtue for my Father and my King Exit Prince King Am I a King Alvaro Alvaro Great Monarch King By Heav'n your scornful Mistress braves my Pow'r Disdains my Favourite slights my Noblest Gifts I bear it all and yet I am a King Alvaro No Monarch's Pow'rs so vast as Woman's Empire The Conquerors of the World submit to them King 'T is but a Voluntary Condescension They have no right to govern in themselves And yet ungenerously the Tyrants use That Pow'r to our Destruction which we give Alvaro Something they have beyond what we have giv'n A strange ascendant unaccountable From Nature or by Witchcraft over Men I call'd my Pride and Reason to my aid So arm'd methought I cou'd defie her Charms Yet spight of both I trembled when she frown'd Gods Though I hate her must I still obey King 'T is in your choice t' obey or be obey'd What she denies your Prayers by Force obtain Don Pedro's absence favours the Design And when she 's in your pow'r you 've nought to fear He 'll lose his hopes by seeing her your Wife She 'll make a Virtue of Necessity and dutifully seem at least to love I need not sure instruct a Lover more Alvaro Divinity on Earth how graciously You order all things to your Creature 's with But first I 'll see this Coy this haughty Fair Thô Pride 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 More reasonable Pride on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 May shew her all the Bounty of a 〈◊〉 In most magnificent prevailing Pomp King This Moment she and Portugal shall know That but in
hast design'd So singular a Grace 't is wond'rous kind Love which cou'd scarce with Int'rest e'r agree Now serves Ambition and Revenge for me Exeunt The End of the Third Act. ACT IV. SCENE I. Agnes in a Swoon Women about her endeavouring to recover her Lorenzo Agnes CRuel Tormentors let me die in quiet Here by my murther'd Princess let me die Where is she Ha! what have you done with her Starts up I beg you tell me for I 'll never leave her Show me her Grave since you refuse me Death I 'll be intomb'd alive with my dead Friend Offers to go Lorenzo stops her Lorenzo Pardon me Madam this ingrateful Office I must not let you go Agnes He thinks me mad indeed I shou'd be so Madness wou'd be more reasonable now More decent in my Case than stupid Patience But I retain a wild a raving Reason Have I not reason thus to tear my Hair To fall upon the Ground and mourn my Princess Have I not reason too to curse Elvira Lorenzo Madam indeed you cannot grieve too much But speak more charitably of Elvira For in her Case you wou'd have done the same Agnes What can Lorenzo justify her Crime Oh most unworthy of thy Prince's love Tho she 's thy Mistress dar'st thou take her part In such an Action done against thy Patron Which robs him most inhumanly of her Who lov'd him most and most deserv'd his Love Lorenzo Madam You know him not so well as I My Prince himself wou'd not condemn Elvira Agnes Base Detractor thy Master is most just And tho her Life had not been dear to him He wou'd condemn and generously lament A Fate so sad and so deplorable Lorenzo 'T is from that gen'rous Justice I affirm He wou'd not blame Elvira Agnes Give me Patience Heav'n How impudently he defends her still What can'st thou say to plead so foul a Cause 'T is true her Aim was at my worthless Life But did I ever give her Provocation If any Wrongs cou'd justifie a Murder Lorenzo Your Rage transports you Madam It does not merit that opprobrious Term. Agnes Oh no! She had been innocent indeed If I had fall'n a Victim to her Hate But to prolong my Woes that was not suffer'd And cruel Fate can only be accus'd Ah! Why was her more kind Intention hinder'd Why was not that ill-guided Instrument Plung'd deep in my Hearts Blood to glut her Rage Lorenzo Did she then make attempt against your Life Agnes Has not Elvira own'd 't was her Design What cou'd she urge but that in her Defence And by what other way cou'd you excuse her Sure the most Savage Nature cou'd not harbour A Thought against so mild so good a Princess Ah Lorenzo Before I wonder'd that you should defend her I tremble now with Horror at you for it Lorenzo You amaze me what do you accuse her of Agnes Why do you trifle with a wretched Maid Ah miserable Agnes shun Mankind There 's nothing vertuous since Constantia's gone No Life without her I 'll go find her out And breath my Soul into her Lifeless Corps Is going Lorenzo Madam I have strict Order to retain you You are my Pris'ner Agnes Your Pris'ner Sure you 've lost your Wits Lorenzo Lorenzo This seeming Ignorance will not avail you Elvira has discover'd all the Fact 'T were better to repent and own your Crime Than pull new Judgments on your guilty Head by falsly taxing her Agnes If what I darkly apprehend be true In vain have all my Thoughts been innocent In vain have all my Actions aim'd at Glory Ah Don Lorenzo No it cannot be I have strange Fears but 't is impossible What is my Crime be plain and clear my Doubts Lorenzo Elvira and Bianca have declar'd Before the King they saw you kill the Princess Agnes And he believes it you believe it too Alas none living knows that I am wrong'd Lorenzo We found you Madam lying by the Princess Holding the bloody Ponyard in your Hand Agnes Grief for her Loss had mov'd a sinful Thought Of laying violent Hands upon my self Oh Heaven did you prevent my Guilt in that And yet permit the Innocence you sav'd To be reproach'd with a more horrid Crime Lorenzo Madam be careful What probably cou'd be Elvira's Motive To kill the Princess Agnes Alas I have no Witness of my Truth But vertuous Souls perhaps may know each other I 'm pleas'd I speak to you for you are honest And love I think Elvira less than Justice Lorenzo Speak Madam for I love my Prince so well I 'd rather find her criminal than you Agnes May I for ever be excluded Heav'n If I shall utter ought beside the Truth The Princess came alone to find me here And sent for me for I was just gone out When I return'd I saw Elvira fly And Oh most dreadful Sight my Princess dying She told me with her last expiring Breath Elvira had design'd those Wounds for me The sad Mistake occasion'd by the Place And that in wounding her she clear'd my Fame Which by a Letter forg'd I know not how She had before aspers'd Lorenzo Was not Bianca with the Princess Agnes I saw her not Lorenzo Yet she protests against you Elvira has a Wound too which confirms her Accusation Agnes Alas I know no more the Princess scarce Had Life enough to give me her Commands Lorenzo kneel and join in what I ask They kneel Sacred Divinity hear our just Prayer Let not the Guilty 'scape unpunish'd here But by some strange uncommon Judgment show Who shed that Blood which cries to thee for Vengeance And by her tort'ring Conscience clear the Injur'd Lorenzo Hear her and guide my Heart to favour most Her whom thy Wisdom knows to be most just Agnes How strange a Charm is Vertue in a Soul Mine feels a Calm almost incredible After those blust'ring Storms in which 't was tost Lorenzo Tho all Appearances are much against her Her Looks her Grief and Manner of Expression Have something so sincere and unconstrain'd They wou'd perswade me she is innocent Whether my fear to wrong the Guiltless move me Or that I am inspir'd from Heav'n I know not But Madam if you dare confide in me I 'll carry you where you shall be secure From those Indignities design'd you here Agn. Lorenzo no I 'm not so fond of life To save it by involving you in ruine Lor. My danger 's little I can fly with you Or to the Prince he will be my Protector Agn. What wou'd the World conclude from such a flight I cou'd not give a greater confirmation To what they now injuriously suspect Than flying with the Prince's Favourite Nay worse 't would cast a blemish on the Prince And raise suspicions he were accessary Lor. You rather chuse a death most infamous Agn. I do not chuse What by all decent ways I wou'd avoid But bear it as a fatal consequence Of that which Honour forces me to take Lor. Your scruples are more
And I 'm constrain'd to wish for my relief What others shun as the worst plague of Life O Agnes O Constantia both distract me O the sad Prospect of encreasing woes Which only Death can put a period to I love and wou'd not ought not to be pity'd Or if I were Still my Ingratitude my poor Constantia's Sufferings Wou'd haunt me to enervate all my joys Unhappy Lover more Ingrateful Husband What dost thou wish What can be thy relief No think of none none but in suffering more T' attone thy Crime be exquisitely wretched Thus Agnes may revenge Constantia's wrongs Raise thy wild Passion to that force and height That it may crush thee with its Fatal weight Exit ACT II. SCENE I. Enter the King Alvaro and Attendants King IF I have Pow'r or if she have Ambition Which is a part Essential in a Woman As Pow'r to a King Alvaro she is thine Alvaro I fear she has too much Ambition Sir The Prince's Love too may encrease that flame She treats me as she were some mighty Queen And I her meanest despicable Slave King The better Her Pride will sooner draw her to the Hook Which I will hang with such a 〈◊〉 Bait She can no more resist the gay Temptation Than Streams can stop or turn their wonted Current Pride is the Sexes principle of action From the same Cause flow contrary effects As the Sun's heat both hardens and dissolves 'T is that which makes 'em coyly fly with scorn And that too makes 'em yield to bright allurements By it Disdainful Agnes shall be caught I 'll heap such shining honours on thy head Shall dazzle all the llttle World below Th' aspiring Maid shall strive to reach thy Glories And aiming throws her gently in thy Arms. Alvaro My Royal Master how shall I deserve But 't is a Crime a Blasphemy to think To Merit or return a Monarch's Favours Which can no more than Heavens be repaid And are like those bestow'd on Mortals gratis All we can give in sign of grateful Hearts Is Thanks and Blessings Which thus low I pay Bowing King Thou art my Faithfullest best Counsellor Statesmen like thee are Bucklers to a Crown Which more than Armies guard it from a Foe And when we cast 'em off or not reward 'em Their ruine is a sure Presage of ours Thou hast deserved All that I have given and all that I can give Alvaro Pardon Great Sir you much o'er rate my Actions King Thou art too modest but I know thy worth 'T is strange I have not seen my Son this Morning I have some Orders for him e'er he goes But he perhaps will own no Duty now And but begins th' injustice with his Wife Alvaro Sir I 'm inform'd that since the Prince return'd And found the Princess grieving for his Love He has not left her King We 'll meet him there and if we find your Mistress I 'll be your Advocate before his Face Alvaro So the Almighty whilst the World 's his care Neglects not th'inconsiderablest Insect Exeunt The Scene Opens The Prince and Princess sitting Agnes Elvira Bianca by them the King and Alvaro enter to them King to the Prince Since you keep State to day I wait on you It well becomes me to attend your Highness Princess Sir you must pardon for my sake the Prince This short neglect a Father may allow To the sad tenderness of parting Lovers King 'T is well he is so kind Your time is short The King and Ag. advance from the rest the Pr. and Prs. seem to talk We will not interrupt your soft Farewells Agnes a Word I have a suit to move Which if you grant you will oblige a King And raise your self beyond your highest wish Agnes A King's request is but a Milder name For his command I will obey you Sir King If you are just to high desert you will Alvaro's Merit claims reward from you We know you are a Heav'n of Glorious charms Bright as the Stars above which Guide our actions And Hearts like his all Brave all Just and Great Deserves the kindest Influence of those Eyes Agnes My Eyes pretend not Sir to any pow'r But if Alvaro is of such high worth 'T were more than Arrogance a Treason in 'em Encroaching on your great Prerogative To think of paying with so mean a stock What you alone are able to reward 〈◊〉 Subjects must by such a King be paid King Such Lovers must be paid by such a Mistress You only can return the Heart he gives He offers it fill'd with the tenderest Love And I 'll adorn it with the Richest Honours Think Agnes think Alvaro has my Favour Think that with it he has my Pow'r too Think your self rais'd the Envy of your Sex All may be yours Ambitious Souls desire Agnes Who wou'd resign a Quiet though Poor freedom To be with glitt'ring gaudy trappings deck'd Which but inform the World whose Slaves they are No Sir I value Liberty far more Than to forsake it though for Golden Chains A shining Prison is a Prison still King By this Contempt proud Maid of him I 've chose From all my Court to place my Friendship on You more despise my Favourite than Alvaro And seem to tax me of an ill made choice Agnes I question not Alvaro's merit Sir Nor have contemn'd him though I have refus'd But Heav'n who ordain'd soft Mutual Love A stronger tye of Souls than Marriage Vows Had surely given me a Heart more tender If 't were design'd for such an Union I feel no melting no soft Passion there None but for charming Liberty and Glory Then Sir wou'd you controul the Will of Heav'n Who made me not for Love King Dissembler were you free as you pretend You wou'd have met what I propos'd with joy But you have dreamt away your Liberty In vain Idea's and Fantastick Notions Mistaken Maid renounce these airy hopes Whilst you pursue the shadow thus of Greatness You 'll lose the Substance and repent too late The Prince wou'd please but he 's beyond your reach And though my Son were not already joyn'd To one whose worth and tender love to you Shou'd make you blush for your Imprudent Conquest Know Agnes know he never shou'd be yours Agnes Sir for the Prince if he have weaknesses He ne'er communicated 'em to me Nor have I wilfully contributed Or once in thought approv'd th' unlucky Flame King Marrying Alvaro is an easie way To cure the Prince and justify your self Agnes Perhaps I know an easier way for both Absence will be a surer remedy And that too will preserve my Honour safe Yes Sir I 'll quit Coimbra soon with joy Nor shall this Man who is so dear to you This Favourite so worthy of your Love Have any part in my more Noble thoughts King So haughty Agnes sure you know me not Agnes I know you Sir to be Constantia's Father A Princess whom I love with all respect King And you shall know me as I am a
of Hope They plunge me in eternal black Despair Agn. The Princess dy'd for me it is but just My Death should in return preserve his Life Who was the dearest thing to her on Earth Prin. Preserve it 't is the surest Blow of Fate Death comes with more than double force through you Agn. Dear Prince for I in Death may call you so Talk not of Dying least you anger Heav'n Who shows itself concern'd that you shou'd Live By thus miraculously guarding you Your Thanks are due for that peculiar Care And to your Stars for timely taking from you One they foresaw would prove your Life's Incumbrance Disturb your Joys breed Envy Hate Confusion A Nation 's Murmurs and a Father's Anger Prin. All Triffles to thy Loss thou brightest Blessing Ah art thou gone speak once again my Soul Agn. How have you Charm'd my fleeting Spirits back I felt unusual Glowings at my Heart It warm'd and kindled into Life again But Death extinguishes the new-born Fire Ah lovely Prince must I for ever lose you Dies Prin. For ever are you then for ever lost I 'm torn with racking Griefs ineffable Oh let me pour my 〈◊〉 on the World Tear up this guilty Fabrick from its Center Destroy all Nature but 't is done already She 's gone and Earth's a Chaos all Confusion Where shall I wreck my Vengeance where on what On whom but on thyself for whom she dy'd This only Sacrifice can make Attonement As the Prince is going to fall upon his Sword Lorenzo with others Enters Lorenzo holds him Lor. Just Heav'n forbid that were a Blow too fatal Great Sir on your's the Kingdom 's Fate depends Your Life 's it's Safety and your Fall it's Ruine Prin. No Kingdom not a World shou'd make me live Thou do'st but lengthen out my Woes a moment Enter King Attend. K. What dismal Scene is this of Bloud and Horror Prin. Horrid and Bloudy yet imperfect still Alvaro has perform'd the saddest part But I am to compleat the Tragedy Struggles Lor. He 'll force himself away I cannot hold him Prin. Barbarous Friends oh Father if you Love me Why do you keep me from the only Good Why wou'd you have your Son be miserable K. Hop'd you to live in Luxury and Ease Courted by Joys and Pleasures without end Did you ne'r hear of Pains and Cares in Life That thus Misfortunes seize you unprepar'd How were you going by so mean an Action To blot out all the Great Ones of your Life Your Valour never made you do before But what a Coward sometimes does for fear 'T is in these Wars the Combats of the Mind Where Courage from false Brav'ry is distinguish'd And if you fly from them to Death 't will show There was danger which you durst not meet Prin. What ever Man can bear I dare Encounter It was not Fear nor Despiration arm'd me But hopes to overtake her mounting Soul Who wou'd not follow such a charming Guide Tho all that 's Gay or Great entic'd 'em back But I can Die without the help of Weapons I wrong'd my Love by making that Attempt As if I thought it wonted Strength to Kill me 〈◊〉 wait the ling'ring leisure of my Grief Thus kneeling at thy Feet sigh out my Soul And grow a Statue to adorn thy Tomb. K. His Grief oppos'd wou'd only rage the more When at full heigth 't will fall again of course Our greatest Passion 's have their ebbs and flows Were Nature constant she 'd destroy herself So strong her Motions they 'd overthrow her But fiercest Transports soonest moderate grow Thus to our Frailty we our Safety owe. Exeunt Omnes FINIS