hand wou'd not the weapon bear And I shou'd sooner strike it here than there pointing to her breast No! though of all I am this hand alone Is what thou canst command as being thy own Yet this has plighted no such cruel vow No Duty binds me to obey thee now To save my King 's my life I will expose No Martyr dies in a more Glorious Cause Exit SCENE II. Enter the Queen in an undress alone with a Light Qu. Thou grateful Night to whom all happy Lovers Make their devout and humble Invocations Thou Court of Silence where the God of Love Lays by the awfull terrour of a Deity And every harmfull Dart and deals around His kind desires whilst thou blest Friend to joys Draw'st all thy Curtains made of gloomy shades To veil the blushes of soft yielding Maids Beneath the covert grant the Love-sick King May find admittance to Florella's arms And being there keep back the busie day Maintain thy Empire till my Moor returns Where in her Lodgings he shall find his Wife Amidst her Amorous dalliance with my Son My watchful Spyes are waiting for the knowledge Which when to me imparted I 'le improve Till my Revenge be equal to my Love Enter Elvira Elvira in thy looks I read success What hast thou learnt Elv. Madam the King is gone as you imagin'd To fair Florella's Lodgings Qu. But art thou sure he gain'd Admittance Elv. Yes Madam But what welcome he has found to me 's unknown But I believe it must be great and kind Qu. I am of thy opinion But now Elvira for a well-laid Plot To ruine this Florella though she be innocent Yet she must dye so hard a Destiny My passion for her Husband does decree But 't is the way I stop at His Jealousie already I have rais'd That 's not enough his Honour must be toucht This meeting 'twixt the King and fair Florella Must then be render'd Publick 'T is the disgrace not Action must incense him Go you to Don Alonzo's Lodging strait Exit Elvira Whilst I prepare my story for his Ear. Assist me all that 's ill in Woman-kind And furnish me with sighs and feigned tears That may express a grief for this discovery My Son be like thy Mother hot and bold And like the Noble Ravisher of Rome Court her with Daggers when thy Tongue grows faint Till thou hast made a Conquest o're her Virtue Exit Elvira Enter Alonzo Elvira Oh Alonzo I have strange News to tell thee Alon. It must be strange indeed that makes my Queen Dress her fair eyes in sorrow Qu. It is a Dress that thou wilt be in love with When thou shalt hear my story You had a Sister once Alon. Had Qu. Yes had whilst she was like thy self all Virtue Till her bewitching Eyes kindled such flames As will undoe us all Alon. My Sister Madam sure it cannot be What eyes what flames inform me strait Qu. Alonzo thou art honest just and brave And should I tell thee more Knowing thy Loyalty's above all Nature It would oblige thee to commit an outrage Which baser Spirits will call cruelty Alon. Gods Madam do not praise my Virtue thus Which is so poor it scarce affords me patience To attend the end of what you wou'd deliver Come Madam say my Sister is a Whore I know 't is so you mean and being so Where shall I kneel for Justice Since he that shou'd afford it me Has made her Criminal Pardon me Madam 't is the King I mean Qu. I grieve to own all thy Prophetick fears Are true Alonzo 't is indeed the King Alon. Then I 'm disarm'd For Heaven can only punish him Qu. But Alonzo Whilst that Religious patience dwels about thee All Spain must suffer nay Ages that shall ensue Shall curse thy Name and Family From whom a Race of Bastards shall proceed To wear that Crown Alon. No Madam not from mine My Sister 's in my power her Honour 's mine I can command her life though not my Kings Her Mother is a Saint and shou'd she now Look down from Heaven upon a deed so foul I think even there she wou'd invent a Curse To thunder on her head But Madam whence was this intelligence Qu. Elvira saw the King enter her Lodgings With Lovers haste and joy Alon. Her Lodgings when Qu. Now not an hour ago Now since the Moor departed Alon. Damnation on her can she be thus false Come lead me to the Lodgings of this Strumpet And make me see this truth Or I will leave thee dead for thus abusing me to Elvira Qu. Nay dear Alonzo do not go inrag'd Stay till your temper wears a calmer look That if by chance you shou'd behold the Wantons In little harmless Dalliance such as Lover Aided with silence and the shades of Night May possibly commit You may not do that which you may repent of Alon. Gods should I play the Pander And with my patience aid the Am'rous sin No I shall scarce have so much tameness left To mind me of my Duty to my King Ye Gods behold the Sacrifice I make To my lost Honour behold and aid my justice Exit Alonzo Qu. It will concern me too to see this wonder For yet I scarce can credit it Exeunt SCENE III. Florella's Lodgings Enter the King leading in Florella all in fear Flor. Ah Sir the Gods and you would be more merciful If by a death less cruel than my fears You would preserve my Honour begin it quickly And after that I will retain my Duty And at your feet breath thanks in dying sighs King Where learnt you Fairest so much cruelty To charge me with the Pow'r of injuring thee Not from my Eyes where Love and languishment Too sensibly inform thee of my heart Flor. Call it not injury Sir to free my soul From fears which such a Visit must create In dead of Night when nought but frightful Ghosts Of restless souls departed walk the Round King That fleeting thing am I whom all repose All joys and every good of life abandon'd That fatal hour thou gavest thy self away And I was doom'd to endless desperation Yet whilst I liv'd all glorious with my hopes Some sacred Treasures in thy breast I hid And near thee still my greedy soul will hover Flor. Ah rather like a Ravisher you come With love and fierceness in your dangerous Eyes And both will equally be fatal to me King Ah do not fear me as the fair Lucretia Did the fierce Roman Youth I mean no Rapes Thou canst not think that I wou'd force those joys Which cease to be so when compell'd Florella No I wou'd sooner pierce this faithful heart Whose flame appears too Criminal for your mercy Flor. Why do you fright me Sir methinks your looks All pale your eyes thus fixt and trembling hands The awfull horrour of the dark and silent night Strikes a cold terrour round my fainting heart That does presage some fatal Accident King 'T is in your cruel Eyes the
Eternity And yet methought it did inform his body That I his darling Philip was arriv'd With Conquest on my Sword and even in death Sent me his Joy in smiles Qu. If souls can after death have any sense Of humane things his will be proud to know That Philip is a Conquerour Enter Abdelazer But do not drown thy Lawrels thus in tears Such tributes leave to us thou art a Souldier Phil. Gods this shou'd be my Mother Men. It is Great Sir the Queen Phil. Oh she 's too foul for one or t'other title Qu. How Sir do you not know me Phil. When you were just I did And with a reverence such as we pay Heav'n I paid my awfull duty But as you have abus'd my Royal Father For such a sin the basest of your Slaves Wou'd blush to call you Mother Qu. What means my Son Phil. Son by Heav'n I scorn the title Qu. Oh insolence out of my sight rude Boy Phil. We must not part so Madam I first must let you know your sin and shame Nay hear me calmly for by Heav'n you shall My Father whilst he liv'd tir'd his strong Arm With numerous Battels 'gainst the Enemy Wasting his brains in Warlike stratagems To bring confusion on the faithless Moors Whilst you lull'd in soft peace at home betray'd His name to everlasting Infamy Suffer'd his Bed to be defil'd with Lust Gave up your self your honour and your vows To wanton in yon Sooty Leacher's arms points to Abd. Abd. Me dost thou mean Phil. Yes Villain thee thou Hell-begotten Fiend 'T is thee I mean Qu. Oh most unnatural to dishonour me Phil. That Dog you mean that has dishonour'd you Dishonour'd me these Lords nay and all Spain This Devil 's he that Abd. That what Oh pardon me if I throw off All tyes of Duty wert thou ten Kings Sons And I as many souls as I have sins Thus I wou'd hazard all draws they all run between Phil. Stand off or I 'le make way upon thy Bosome Abd. How got you Sir this daring Phil. From injur'd Philips death Who whilst he liv'd unjustly cherisht thee And set thee up beyond the reach of Fate Blind with thy brutal valour deaf with thy flatteries Discover'd not the Treasons thou didst act Nor none durst let him know 'em but did he live I wou'd aloud proclaim them in his ears Abd. You durst as well been damn'd Phil. Hell seize me if I want revenge for this Not dare Arise thou injur'd Ghost of my dead King And through thy dreadfull paleness dart a horrour May fright this pair of Vipers from their sins Abd. Oh insupportable dost hear me Boy Qu. Are ye all mute and hear me thus upbraided to the Lords Phil. Dare ye detain me whilst the Traytor braves me Men. Forbear my Prince keep in that noble heat That shou'd be better us'd then on a Slave Abd. You politick Cheat Men. Abdelazer By the Authority of my Government Which yet I hold over the King of Spain By warrant from a Councel of the Peers And as an Unbeliever from the Church I utterly deprive thee of that Greatness Those Offices and Trusts you hold in Spain Abd. Cardinal who lent thee this Commission Grandees of Spain do you consent to this All. We doe Alon. What reason for it let his Faith be try'd Men. It needs no tryal the proofs are evident And his Religion was his veil for Treason Alon. Why should you question his Religion Sir He does profess Christianity Men. Yes witness his habit which he still retains In scorn to ours His Principles too are as unalterable Abd. Is that the only Argument you bring I tell thee Cardinal not thy Holy Gown Covers a soul more sanctify'd Than this Moorish Robe Phil. Damn his Religion he has a thousand crimes That will yet better justifie your sentence Men. Come not within the Court for if you do Worse mischief shall ensue you have your sentence Ex. Phil. Men. Alon. My Brother banisht 't is very sudden For thy sake Sister this must be recall'd to Flor. Qu. Alonzo joyn with me I 'le to the King And check the pride of this insulting Cardinal Exeunt all except Manent Abdelazer Florella Abd. Banisht if I digest this gall May Cowards pluck the wreath from off my brow Which I have purchas'd with so many wounds And all for Spain for Spain ingrateful Spain Oh my Florella all my Glory 's vanisht The Cardinal Oh damn him wou'd have me banisht Flor. But Sir I hope you will not tamely go Abd. Tamely ha ha ha yes by all means A very honest and Religious Cardinal Flor. I wou'd not for the world you shou'd be banisht Abd. Not Spain you mean for then she leaves the King aside What if I be Fools not to know All parts o th' world Allow enough for Villanie for I 'le be brave no more It is a crime and then I can live any where But say I go from hence I leave behind me A Cardinal that will laugh I leave behind me A Philip that will clap his hands in sport But the worst wound is this I leave my wrongs Dishonours and my Discontents all unreveng'd Leave me Florella prithee do not weep I love thee love thee wondrously go leave me I am not now at leisure to be fond Go to your Chamber go Flor. No to the King I 'le fly And beg him to revenge thy Infamy Exit Flor. To him Alonzo Alon. The Cardinal 's made to have thee banisht Spain I 've left the Queen in angry contradiction But yet I fear the Cardinal 's reasoning Abd. This Prince's hate proceeds from Love He 's jealous of the Queen and fears my power aside Alon. Come rouze thy wonted spirits awake thy soul And arm thy Justice with a brave Revenge Sullenly Abd. I 'le arm no Justice with a brave Revenge Alon. Shall they then triumph o're thee who were once Proud to attend thy Conqu'ring Chariot wheels Abd. I care not I am a Dog and can bear wrongs Alon. But Sir my Honour is concern'd with yours Since my lov'd Sister did become your Wife And if yours suffer mine too is unsafe Abd. I cannot help it Alon. What Ice has chil'd thy bloud This patience was not wont to dwell with thee Abd. 'T is true but now the world is chang'd you see Thou art too brave to know what I resolve aside No more here comes the King with my Florella He loves her and she swears to me she 's chast 'T is well if true well too if it be false I care not 't is Revenge That I must sacrifice my love and pleasure to aside Alon. and Abd. stand aside Enter King Lords Guard passing over the Stage Florella in a suppliant posture weeping King Thou woo'st me to reverse thy Husbands doom And I wooe thee for mercy on my self Why shou'dst thou sue to him for life and liberty For any other who himself lies dying Imploring from thy eyes a little pity Flor. Oh
danger lies Wou'd you receive me with that usual tenderness Which did express it self in everysmile I should dismiss this horrour from my face And place again its Native calmness there And all my Veins shall re-assume their heat And with a new and grateful Ardour beat Flor. Sir all my soul is taken up with fear And you advance your Fate by staying here Fly fly this place of death if Abdelazer Shou'd find you here all the Divinity About your Sacred Person could not Guard you King Ah my Florella cease thy needless fear And in thy soul let nothing reign but Love Love that with soft desires may fill thy Eyes And save thy Tongue the pain t' instruct my heart In the most grateful knowledge Heav'n can give me Flor. That knowledge Sir wou'd make us both more wretched Since you I know wou'd still be wishing on And I shou'd grant till we were both undone And Sir how little she were worth your care Cou'd part with all her honourable fame For an inglorious life short and despis'd King Canst thou believe a flame thy Eyes have kindled Can urge me to an infamous pursuit No my Florella I adore thy Virtue And none prophane those Shrines to whom they offer Say but thou lov'st and I thus low will bow kneels And sue to thee to be my Soveraign Queen I 'le circle thy bright Forehead with the Crowns Of Castile Portugal and Aragon And all those petty Kingdoms which do bow Their Tributary knees to thy Adorer Flor. Ah Sir have you forgot by Sacred vow All that I am is Abdelazers now King By Heav'n it was a Sacrilegious theft But I the Treasure from his breast will tear And reach his heart though thou art seated there Flor. A deed like that my Virtue wou'd undoe And leave a stain upon your Glories too A sin that wou'd my hate not passion move I owe a Duty where I cannot love King Thou think'st it then no sin to kill thy King For I must dye without thy love Florella Flor. How tamely Sir you with the Serpent play Whose fatal Poison must your life betray And though a King cannot Divine your Fate Kings only differ from the Gods in that See Sir with this I am your Murderer made holds up a Dagger By those we love we soonest are betray'd King How can that fair hand acquaint it self with death What wilt thou do Florella Flor. Your Destiny divert And give my heart those wounds design'd for yours If you advance I 'le give the deadly blow King Hold I command thee hold thy impious hand My heart dwels there and if your strike I dye Enter Queen Alonzo and Elvira Qu. Florella arm'd against the King Snatches the Dagger and stabs her the King rises Of Traitress King Hold hold inhuman Murdress What hast thou done most barbarous of thy Sex takes Flor. in his arms Qu. Destroy'd thy Murdress and my too fair Rival aside King My Murdress what Devil did inspire thee With thoughts so black and sinfull cou'd this fair Saint Be guilty of a Murder No no too cruel Mother With her Eyes her charming lovely Eyes She might have kill'd and her too virtuous cruelty Oh my Florella Sacred lovely Creature Flor. My death was kind since it prevented yours And by that hand which sav'd mine from a guilt points to the Queen That Dagger I receiv'd of Abdelazer To stab that heart he said that lov'd me best But I design'd to overcome your Passion And then to have vanquisht Abdelazer's Jealousie But finding you too faithfull to be happy I did resolve to dye and have my wish Farewell my King my soul begins its flight And now is hovering in eternal Night dyes King She 's gon she 's gone her sacred soul is fled To that Divinity of which it is a part Too excellent to inhabit Earthly bodies Alon. Oh Sir you grieve too much for one so foul King What prophane breath was that pronounc'd her foul Thy Mothers soul though turn'd into a Cherubin Was black to hers Oh she was all Divine Alonzo was it thou her Brother Alon. When she was good I own'd that title Sir King Good by all the Gods she was as chaste as Vestals As Saints translated to Divine abodes I offer'd her to be my Queen Alonzo To share the growing Glories of my Youth But uncorrupted she my Crown contemn'd And on her Vertues Guard stood thus defended Alon. weeps Oh my Florella let me here lie fix'd kneels And never rise till I am cold and pale As thou fair Saint art now but sure She cou'd not dye that noble generous heart That arm'd with love and honour did rebate All the fierce sieges of my Amorous flame Might sure defend it self against those wounds Given by a Womans hand or rather 't was a Devils rises What dost thou merit for this Treachery Thou vilest of thy Sex But thou' rt a thing I have miscall'd a Mother And therefore will not touch thee live to suffer By a more shamefull way but here the lyes Whom I though dead must still adore as living Alon. Sir pray retire there 's danger in your stay When I reflect upon this Nights disorder And the Queens Art to raise my Jealousie And after that my Sisters being murder'd I must believe there is some deeper Plot Something design'd against your Sacred Person King Alonzo raise the Court I 'le find it Exit Alonzo Though 't were hid within my Mothers soul. Qu. My gentle Son pardon my kind mistake I did believe her arm'd against thy life King Peace Fury Not ill-boding Raven shrieks Nor Midnight cries of murder'd Ghosts are more Ungratefull than thy faint and dull excuses Be gone and trouble not the silent griefs Which will insensibly decay my life Till like a Marble Statue I am fixt kneels and weeps at Flor.'s feet Dropping continual tears upon her Tomb. Abd. within Guard all the Chamber doors fire and confusion Consume these Spanish Dogs was I for this Sent to fetch back a Philip and a Cardinal To have my Wife abus'd Enter Abdelazer Qu. Patience dear Abdelazer Abd. Patience and I am Foes where 's my Florella The King and in Florella's Bed-Chamber Florella dead too Rise thou Eternal Author of my shame Gay thing to you I speak King rises And thus throw off Allegiance Qu. Oh stay your fury generous Abdelazer Abd. Away fond woman throws her from him King Villain to me this language Abd. To thee young Amorous King How at this dead and silent time of Night Durst you approach the Lodgings of my Wife King I scorn to answer thee Abd. I 'le search it in thy heart then They fight Qu. and Elv. run out crying Treason King The Devil 's not yet ready for his soul And will not claim his due Oh I am wounded falls Abd. No doubt on 't Sir these are no wounds of Love King Whate're they be you might have spar'd 'em now Since those Florella gave me were sufficient And yet a little
To shake all Duty from my soul And all that reverence Children owe a Parent Shall henceforth be converted into hate Damnation marry him Oh I cou'd curse my Birth This will confirm the world in their opinion That she 's the worst of women That I am basely born too as she gives it out That thought alone does a just Rage inspire And kindles round my heart an active fire kneels rises Alon. A disobedience Sir to such a Parent Heaven must forgive the sin if this be one Yet do not Sir in words abate that fire Which will assist you a more effectual way Phil. Death I cou'd talk of it an Age And like a Woman fret my anger high Till like my Rage I have advanc'd a Courage Able to sight the World against my Mother Alon. Our wrongs without a Rage will make us fight Wrongs that wou'd make a Coward resolute Phil. Come Noble Youth Let us joyn both our several wrongs in one And from them make a solemn resolution Never to part our Interest till this Moor This worse then Devil Moor be sent to Hell Alon. I do Phil. Hark hark the Charge is sounded let 's to Horse St. Iaques for the right of Spain and me Exeunt SCENE a Grove Drums and Trumpets a far off with noise of fighting at a distance after a little while enter Philip in Rage Phil. Oh unjust powers why d' ye protect this Monster And this damn'd Cardinal that comes not up With the Castilian Troops curse on his formal Politiques Enter Alonzo Alonzo where 's the Moor Alon. The Moor a Devil never did Fiend of Hell Compell'd by some Magicians Charms Break through the Prison of the folded Earth With more swift horrour then this Prince of Fate Breaks through our Troops in spight of opposition Phil. Death 't is not his single arm that works these wonders But our Cowardice Oh this Dog Cardinal Enter Antonio Anton. Sound a Retreat or else the day is lost Phil. ' I le beat that Cur to death that sounds Retreat Enter Sebastian Sebast. Sound a Retreat Phil. Who is 't that tempts my Sword continue the Alarm Fight on Pell mell fight kill be damn'd do any thing But sound Retreat Oh this damn'd Coward Cardinal Exeunt The noise of fighting near after a little while Enter Philip again Phil. Not yet ye Gods Oh this eternal Coward Enter Alonzo Alon. Sir bring up your Reserves or all is lost Ambition plumes the Moor and makes him act Deeds of such wonder that even you wou'd envy them Phil. 'T is well I 'le raise my Glories to that dazling height Shall darken his or set in endless Night Exeunt SCENE a Grove Enter Cardinal and Queen the noise of a Battel continuing a far off all the Scene Qu. By all thy Love by all thy languishments By all those sighs and tears paid to my Cruelty By all thy vows thy passionate Letters sent I do conjure thee go not forth to fight Command your Troops not to engage with Philip Who aims at nothing but the Kingdoms ruine Fernando's kill'd the Moor has gain'd the power A power that you nor Philip can withstand And is 't not better he were lost then Spain Since one must be a Sacrifice Besides if I durst tell it There 's something I cou'd whisper to thy soul Wou'd make thee blush at ev'ry single good Thou 'ast done that insolent Boy but 't is not now A time for stories of so strange a nature Which when you know you will conclude with me That every man that Arms for Philip's Cause Merits the name of Traytor Be wise in time and leave his shamefull Interest An Interest thou wilt curse thy self for taking Be wise and make Alliance with the Moor. Card. And Madam shou'd I lay aside my wrongs Those publick injuries I have receiv'd And make a mean and humble Peace with him No let Spain be ruin'd by our Civil Swords Ere for its safety I forgo mine Honour Enter an Officer Offic. Advance Sir with your Troops or we are lost Card. Give order Qu. That they stir not on their lives Is this the Duty that you owe your Country Is this your Sanctity and Love to me Is 't thus you treat the Glory I have offer'd To raise you to my Bed To rule a Kingdom be a Nations safety To advance in Hostile manner to their Walls Walls that confine your Countrymen and Friends And Queen to whom you 've vow'd eternal Peace Eternal Love and will you Court in Arms Such rude Addresses wou'd but ill become you No from this hour renounce all claims to me Or Philip's Interest for let me tell you Cardinal This Love and that Revenge are inconsistent Card. But Madam Qu. No more disband your Rebel Troops And straight with me to Abdelazer's Tent Where all his Claims he shall resign to you Both in my self the Kingdom and the Crown You being departed thousands more will leave him And you 're alone the Prop to his Rebellion Enter Sebastian Sebast. Advance advance my Lord with all your Force Or else the Prince and Victory is lost Which now depends upon his single Valour Who like some Ancient Hero or some God Thunders amongst the thickest of his Enemies Destroying all before him in such numbers That Piles of dead obstruct his passage to the living Relieve him straight my Lord with our last Cavalry and hopes Card. I 'le follow instantly Ex. Seb. Qu. Sir but you shall not unless it be to death Shall you preserve the only man I hate And hate with so much reason let him fall A Victim to an injur'd Mothers Honour Come I will be obey'd indeed I must sawns on him Card. When you 're thus soft can I retain my anger Oh look but ever thus in spight of injuries I shall become as tame and peaceable As are your charming Eyes when dress'd in Love Which melting down my Rage leave me defenceless Ah Madam have a generous care of me For I have now resign'd my power to you shout within Qu. What shouts are these Enter Sebastian Sebast. My Lord the Enemy is giving ground And Philip's arm alone sustains the day Advance Sir and compleat the Victory Exit Qu. Give order straight that a Retreat be sounded And whilst they do so by me conducted We 'l instantly to Abdelazer's Tent Hast hast my Lord whilst I attend you here Exeunt severally Cardinal going cut is met by Philip. Phil. Oh damn your lazie Order where have you been Sir But 't is no time for questions Move forward with your Reserves Card. I will not Sir Phil. How will not Card. Now to advance would be impolitique Already by your desperate attempts You 've lost the best part of our hopes Phil. Death you lye Card. Lye Sir Phil. Yes lye Sir therefore come on Follow the desperate Reer-Guard which is mine And where I 'le dye or Conquer follow my Sword The bloudy way it leads or else by Heaven I 'le give the Moor the Victory in