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
But there are Atheists tho the Deity Is visibly express'd in all his Works Agn. Oh that malicious Scandals rais'd of us Were no more prejudicial than to Heav'n In the Conversion of an Infidel The Being he Prophan'd is Glorify'd But tho we prove an Accusation false To us 't is Shameful to have been suspected That 's a Dishonour not to be repair'd A sulli'd Fame no Art can throughly clear But to avoid occasions of Reproach I 'll fly from hence back to my Native Country Spain will not hear perhaps of my Disgrace Prin. Where e're you take your flight it will proclaim The strange Barbarity of Portugal We shall become a Proverb to our Neighbours T' express the most unhospitable Usage But 't is no matter this ungrateful Court Is most unworthy your Consideration Agn. It 's Prince's Generosity attones For all they did or all they meant against me Prin. Such are the gross Affronts you have receiv'd I scarce dare ask so great a Blessing for us As your continuing here but if I 've done What Honour or what Justice did require If I have show'd your Merit just esteem Or if Constantia e're deserv'd from you Do not desert a place she lov'd so well Be gen'rous like yourself forgive your Wrongs Agn. They need no Pardon who design not Ill My Wrongs were by mistake on well-built grounds And 't were as great Injustice to revenge 'em As 't wou'd be vain to think of doing it By taking such a worthless Trifle from 'em But Sir my Friends in Spain will now expect me Unwillingly they suffer'd me to leave 'em When no Intreaties cou'd diswade me from it So much my Princess was more dear to me Than Kindred Country or what else I valu'd Now she is lost what shou'd retain me here Where I can meet with nought but Shame and Grief All I foresee makes my Departure needful I find no grounds to raise the least Debate Prin. Does not a Prince's Life deserve your care Ah cruel Virgin how you rack my Breast What Constancy is proof against this Tryal My Resolution to suppress my Flame Is lost is vanish'd I can hold no longer By Heav'n if you pursue your rigorous Purpose You kill a Wretch who loves you who adores you Agn. How justly wou'd the World condemn my Conduct If I shou'd stay after this Declaration Prin. My Fear has only made my Ruine suerer And all I gain is but to Fall unpity'd So Slaves compell'd by Torments own their Crimes For which their sentenc'd to more rigid Pains But my Offence was only in confessing Why will you punish what you forc'd me to You tortur'd me you tore the Secret from me Agn. Unhappy Creature what I thought shou'd hinder Precipitates the very Ill I fear'd But oh no more of this ill-tim'd Discourse Ah! is it thus we shou'd lament the Princess Prin. No dear Constantia she upbraids me justly Thy Love deserv'd eternal Gratitude Thy Vertue shou'd for ever be remembred All these Complaints and Sighs of Love for Agnes Shou'd burst in Tears of lasting Grief for thee I 've judg'd I have condemn'd myself already And willingly submit to your Decree To Agnes You can effectually revenge the Princess Go Madam I deserve the harshest Usage Go tho your Cruelty will give me Death Go boast that tho you knew my Love to you Stronger than Reason Honour or my Vertue Yet your impartial Justice was not Brib'd To save a perjur'd and ungrateful Man Agnes Farewel farewel to you and Life For I will lose those Blessings both at once No sooner shall you leave this hateful place Than you shall hear your Lover is no more Agn. Oh! how his Words prevail upon my Heart To herself It melts 't will yield I fear why shou'd it not Shou'd he who for my Freedom Fame and Life Expos'd his own receive his Death from me Is treating thus the Man my Princess lov'd The way to pay her Memory respect And do I thus obey her dying Charge Brave Prince if I have Pow'r you must not Die That were a loss too great to be permitted For nothing but a Name a puff of Breath What tho my Honour lye at Stake I 'll stay Yet let convenient Decency be kept I must not dare not entertain your Passion Prin. Oh no this Condescention is enough Great as I wish'd beyond my Expectation By all your goodness I 'll conceal my flame Till you yourself shall license it to blaze But then Oh do not give me this repreive Only t' encrease the Fear and pain of Death Then may I hope you 'll not disdain my Love Agn. Your Birth requires Respect from all the World Your Vertue more commands our Admiration And what I owe particularly to you Wou'd make Disdain most unexcusable I 'm not ingrateful nor insensible My Heart resented deeply all you felt You peirc'd my Soul with your Complaints and Sighs But I shou'd hide my tender Virgin-frailty You search too far and I have shown too much Prin. No for I never shall abuse your favour Your Mercy shall not make your Slave presume But whilst I 'm ty'd to Rules by Vows con fin'd Some bolder happier Man not aw'd like me May snatch that lovely Prize I dare not claim And I must lose you without murmuring Agn. I reverence my dear dead Princess more Than yet to think of ought that looks like Joy Of Marriage Love or any thing but Grief To her I 'll consecrate my tender Thoughts Nor dare to think of you but for her sake Nothing is to be fear'd save Violence I dread the base Alvaro more than Death Prin. The watchful Dragon guarded not the Fruit With half that Care with which I 'll keep my Love Alvaro shall not dare to look on her Alv. By Lucifer he 's much to be lamented Gods do I tamely stand and hear all this Alvario behind draws his Sword and is making at the Prince Agnes shrieks the Prince turning about and stepping aside to avoid the Blow it passes to Agnes Prin. Oh treacherous Villain quickly call for help Prince draws he and Alvaro fights Alvaro wounded Stay savage Traytor stay for my Revenge But what 's his Life how poor a Satisfaction For such a loss so irreparable This Jewel of inestimable Value Alv. If you wou'd be Reveng'd conceal your Grief I have not lost my Aim whilst you are Tormented Your Groans and Sighs are Musick to my Soul Softens my Death charms all the Pain away I Die with Joy and Pleasure more than Wounds And cou'd not wish to have succeeded better I 've left you Life indeed bare Life 's a Curse When all the Joys of it are ta'n away And may eternal Curses be your lot Dies Prin. Insernal Fiend thou cou'd'st not frame a Curse T' encrease my Torments Oh thou bleeding Fair For what does Heav'n thus persecute my Life One moment's Bliss is grudg'd me by my Stars And for a taste nay scarce a taste of Joy A faint imperfect glimm'ring
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
if their Rivalship had made 'em dear Nor did she meet her Lord with greater Kindness As soon as he appear'd Agnes desir'd Permission to retire which she obtain'd Th' occasion fairly offer'd I observ'd And waited only till the Prince had ended His last Endearments which were short but kind Then I approach'd the Paper in my Hand And to my Wish she ask'd me what I held I told her 't was a Letter Agnes dropp'd Just when she left her Highness I 'll give it her th' unwary Princess said And took it with an Air so unconcern'd As plainly shew'd she fear'd not what she found And that a friendly Freedom made her read it No Spark of jealous Curiosity Elvira Dull senseless peice of Earth and then she smil'd As pleas'd her Friend took pity of her love Or wept for Grief that she disturb'd their Joys Say How did it affect her Bianca She neither wept nor smil'd but as surpriz'd A Momentary Red o'respread her Face Soon as that disappear'd she only sigh'd And read it twice with all her nat'ral Temper Then with a Voice and Aspect won'drous mild She gave Command that all without exception Shou'd be deny'd admittance to her Chamber Agnes came often there but was refus'd Which seiz'd her with so violent a Grief As shew'd her love surpass'd the Princesses Or that her Moderation was far less Elvira The Princess is a singular Example Of Apathy which Stoicks preach'd in vain For Nature's Laws were still more strong than theirs But sure Constantia's of another Kind Not made of the same Elements with us Or Nature forming her forgot the Fire Oh! cou'd I but infufe with that cold Mass Th' excessive part of Spirit which boils o're And burns within with more than needful Force ' Twou'd heat her to a generous active Rage Which soon wou'd free her from that Curse a Rival I wou'd for such a Change compound with Heav'n For all the Blessings meant to be my Lot But Miracles like that are only wrought to ruine me My Brother is transform'd for my Destruction That noble Pride is 〈◊〉 that haughty Soul Which look'd on all below it with Disdain Is now subjected to a Womans Scorn I met him going to that Sorceress Joyful to lay new Honours at her Feet And be again despis'd Spight of her Slights He swears he 'll marry her by Force if she refuse Gods must she have all Hearts which I wou'd claim Why were our jarring Fates so nearly set One Heart can never long contain two Things So incompatible as Agnes and Elvira No nor the World or She or I must leave it Bianca Will not her Banishment suffice Elvira Her Banishment What to my Brothers Arms Poor spirited Alvaro's grown so mean He 'd take her from the Prince's Bed to his Hell and Confusion Must she be his Wife Bianca Rather than hope to be in time the Prince's Elvira Both's Death to me and both must be prevented Bianca Have you consider'd Madam your Design The Danger and the Shame that must attend it Elvira So Agnes be involv'd in equal Fate I wou'd not stop tho Hell were in my way 'T is past Dispute she dies what e're oppose This Day shall end the Triumphs of her Eyes This Day be sacred to Revenge for ever We 're certain now to find her and alone Her Friendship is too nice in such a breach To let her visit or be visited Go you prepare with haste and secreey Horses and fit Disguises for us both That we may fly Coimbra if suspected My Brother and Lorenzo both have Interest And both Concern enough to gain my Pardon Then Agnes has provok'd the King so far He 'll easily forgive a Death he wishes If not the World affords us choice Retreats Countries that much surpass our Portugal Where we may live as great and more secure But let what will befal me thou shalt see I 'm not ungrateful Bianca May Fortune serve you faithfully as I And take your part in ev'ry Enterprize With the same Zeal as you 're obey'd by me Elvira As I dare trust thy Faith I take thy Wish This is the Hour if Fortune will be kind An Hour most fit to make Revenge compleat A single Death 's too little for my Wrongs But Life and Fame at once is worthy them This for my Lover's that my Brother's Heart Thus my Revenge shall beyond Death 〈◊〉 And whilst her Name is known will never end Exeunt SCENE II. Enter Agnes and her Woman Agnes The Light offends me let the Room be darkned And none be suffer'd to disturb my Thoughts Exit Woman How much our Souls and Bodies sympathize Now that my Mind is fill'd with gloomy Sadness The chearful Light is hateful to my Eyes Woman returns Woman Madam here 's Don Alvaro to wait on you He won't be refus'd Admittance Agnes What pains a hated Lover takes to see himself despis'd Enter Alvaro Alvaro He whom all Portugal obeys and fears Who scarce beholds a Creature not below him With pain obtains the Grace to kneel to you Agnes It is not fit a Man of Power so vast Shou'd stoop to any but his God or King I pay but what I owe your Quality Alvaro How cruelly you shew your mock-respect Respect to Slaves condemn'd is but Derision A Barbarous Tyrannical Insult Agnes From you 〈◊〉 learn'd that witty Tyranny For under colour of dissembled Love You plague and torture more effectually Than all the Hate of bare-fac'd Enemies Alvaro If loving you almost to Adoration And throwing all my Honours at your Feet If that be tort'ring you how are you pleas'd Agnes Obedience pleases me Alvaro I wou'd obey unjust relentless Fair But if I cease my Suit I lose my Hopes Where 's then the Fruit of such a vain Obedience Agnes Enjoy the Fruit then of your Disobedience A Hate as obstinate as fix'd as that Alvaro Nature has been unjustly lavish here To have bestow'd so rich a Stock of Beauty As must impoverish half the World beside On one who churlishly denies Relief to starving Beggars Whilst the wretched Miser but hoards a Treasure Which she cannot use nor will it's Value last Agnes If Beauty be a Treasure sure 't was meant For a Reward to Vertue whilst the rest The Riches Honours all the Gifts of Fortune Are blindly giv'n to those who least deserve Whose Servile Souls make 'em more fit to stoop Through all the little ways that lead to Greatness Alvaro The Great are only Vertuous What but Pow'r Makes Actions Right or Wrong Accept my Love And you shall see your self above controul Where none in Thought dare tax you of a Fault Agnes My Innocence is more to me than Fame Your boasted Pow'r can only give a Name A Name which all that know you will despise I see you worshipp'd like a God 't is true But 't is with Worship such as Indians paid They fear but hate and curse you at the Heart My pure unbyass'd Soul from Int'rest free Unmov'd
him My Dear I'm going Heav'n receive my Soul Dies Agnes Oh! she 's gone she 's gone and left me here But I shall overtake my dear dear Mistress This Ponyard Purple with her precious Blood 'T is useless Grief has kindly done its Work As she is going to kill her Self she falls in a Swoon Enter the King Alvaro Lorenzo Elvira Bianca Diego Pedro 〈◊〉 King Heav'ns noblest Gift torn from the groaning Earth By Hells curst Engine Oh my dearest Daughter Elvira The wicked Author has aveng'd her Death Her Fear has desp'rately prevented Justice King The vilest Hand shou'd punish such a Crime Hers was the fittest for the Execution Alvaro She has no Wound some help is requisite She breaths and stirs King Remove her and be careful of her Life That she may die in painful Agonies Some strange unheard-of Torture shou'd be made For this foul Act which has no Precedent Alvaro But Sister Are you certain Agnes did it King Relate particularly all you know Elvira This Wound is witness of that horrid Truth Which Justice will not suffer me to hide Hither I came to visit Agnes Sir But finding the unhappy Princess here And seeing both in Heat retir'd unseen I scarce had pass'd one Room when a shrill Cry Recall'd me trembling to a dreadful Sight The Princess weakly strugling for her Life Which Agnes threatned with a lifted Ponyard I wildly flew and drag'd her from her Prey At which enrag'd she struck this aiding Arm Now quite disabled forc'd to loose its Hold Then ran and stab'd the Princess in the Back Who out of breath and weary'd with Resistance Had fall'n into the Seat where now she lies Cold Motionless and ne'r to rise again Weeping Bianca I was Spectator of this sad Adventure For I alone attended on the Princess Her Highness shew'd a Letter to Agnes At which they both seem'd mov'd I was commanded then to leave the Room But soon return'd hearing unusual Noise And seeing Agnes with a naked Dagger My Shreeking brought Donna Elvira back Alvaro Perhaps this is the Letter you have nam'd 'T is from the Prince To the Coy Vertuous Agnes Gives it the King King 'T is not Don Pedro's Hand Alvaro He makes excuse for his disguising it Aside My Rival may be has not yet enjoy'd her But if he has shall I live unreveng'd Methinks 't were brave both for my Love and Anger To force the charming fair damn'd Hypocrite Here 't is impossible I must remove her And manage so the King may ne'r suspect me But the Prince's Agents King Infamous Strumpet Barb'rous Murd'ress Without these Evidences 't is undoubted Agnes alone cou'd wish Constantia's Death For she had such a gen'ral winning Goodness So easily forgave the greatest Wrongs And was so over-tender of her Friends 'T was all Mankinds concern that she shou'd live Nay Agnes ow'd her more than all the World And she Ungrateful Wretch has paid her thus These are the curst Effects of shameful Love Alvaro There never was a Scornful Maid like Agnes Affecting coy Reserv'dness more than common But entertain'd a secret sinful Flame King That Flame a fiercer Fire must extinguish She shall be tortur'd first then burnt alive Lorenzo she 's your Pris'ner keep her strictly Lorenzo If I durst beg for her a milder Doom King But that I know thee honest I shou'd think Thou wert Accomplice in this base Intrigue Thou lov'st my Son yet I believ'd Lorenzo Wou'd part with Life but not his Honour for him Lorenzo I thought it not dishonourable Sir King No more I 'll hear no Intercession for her That Man 's a Traitor who dares wish her Life Had she ten thousand they were all too few Oh! if her Rage had Butcher'd half Mankind Not one had fall'n lamented like Constantia That murder'd matchless Vertue Poor Princess Carry her from this poyson'd hated Place And let us all those gen'ral Crimes lament For which this Universal Judgment 's sent Ex. King Elvira after the Body Softly to them Alvaro Pedro Cuello and Diego stay Don Lorenzo but one short Word with you Do you love Agnes de Castro Lorenzo That Question 's strange you know I love your Sister Alvaro What mov'd you then to take her part so kindly Lorenzo Compassion is indeed a Miracle 'T is true I had a stronger Motive Alvaro Love you mean Lorenzo The Prince's Love for Agnes is no Secret Nor the Respect I bear him any News That set together may resolve the Riddle But I must give some Orders for my Pris'ner Diego be you near I shall employ you Exit Lorenzo Alvaro There 's no tamp'ring with him he 's strictly honest And firmly fastned to the Prince's Int'rest Diego you remember and you Pedro Since the Prince sent you Home Cashier'd and in Disgrace Diego We well remember it Pedro. And that we owe our Re-establishment to your sole Bounty Alvaro I see you are grateful and now offer you The way to over-pay me all you owe And be reveng'd for an Affront so shameful Diego When you vouchsafe to give us your Commands You but encrease our Debts by your new Favours For 't is our highest Honour to obey you Alvaro I think Lorenzo trusts you much Diego Diego I 've serv'd him faithfully and gain'd his Favour Alvaro You wou'd not then betray him for my Sake Diego To serve my Patron I 'd betray my Father Alvaro Serve me effectually in this Concern Then ask what e'r you wish 't is yours I promise To Diego Pedro the same to you 'T is probable Lorenzo when he leaves her will commit Agnes de Castro to your Charge If so you easily may make me happy Deliver her to Pedro who shall wait Well guarded to receive her from your Hands And carry her where I shall order him Diego I must go too or stay to die for her Alvaro Fear not You know Lorenzo is the Prince's Favourite I can perswade the King with show of Reason He did it to preserve his Master's Mistress But tho you were discover'd I have Pow'r Enough to give you full Security Diego My Life can ne'r be better hazarded Than in your Service but if she resists Alvaro She must be ignorant of your Design Pedro. Pardon me Sir this one Objection Will it not rather please than grieve the Prince To save his Mistress from the Arms of Death Alvaro A Rival's Arms will be more terrible If Love as fierce as mine enflame his Heart I 'd rather see her Damn'd than see her his Diego Pedro be ready I 'll to Don Lorenzo E'r this he wants me for his Pris'ners Guard And I shall guard her safer than he thinks Sir doubt not of my Faith or Diligence Exit Diego Alvaro I know thou lov'st thy self too well to fail me I must enflame the King against his Son Saving the Murd'ress of his Wife is Fuel Which by my Art shall blaze to his Destruction Pedro we must prepare for our great Work Oh Fate I thank thee if thou
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