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
Don Alvaro's Order Alv. Who 's such a Villain to betray his Trust Dares for a Bribe betray his Conscience too And shou'd not be in Justice credited K. That shall be more examined But false Youth You are most criminal whilst you protect That bloudy Woman Monster of her Kind Whom all good Men abhor Prin. Oh may I never have more Assurance Of future Bliss our promis'd Happiness Than I have Proofs she 's wrongfully Accus'd Think me not blindly govern'd by my Passion For were she Guilty I 'd despise and loath her Forgive me Sir But when just Heav'n clears her You 'll bless and Praise that Loyal seeming Rebel Who durst against your will preserve your Vertue K. The Hypocrite has learn't the Holy Cant Be wicked openly proclaim your 〈◊〉 These thin Disguises can but cheat the 〈◊〉 Own that your Lust arms you against your Father And be at least a gen'rous bare fac'd Villain Agn. Most noble Prince you urge the King too far I ask for no Defence but Innocence No Arms but Argument but Truth and Vertue If they 'r without effect we must resign Death's welcomer than Life with Infamy Prin. Too nice too vent'rous Maid had you accepted That safe Retreat which first I offer'd you You had not needed my Protection now Oh Heavens hadst thou rais'd me Enemies Of monstrous Beasts Armies of Men or Devils I cou'd have met their utmost Rage undaunted Secur'd within by such a righteous Cause But oh my Stars the sacred name of Father Deprives me of the pow'r to resolve Great Deity instruct my doubtful Soul Of contradicting Duties which to chuse Or else impute to Ignorance my Errours Scene opens Elvira wakes and starts up Elv. Give me some Air grim Torturers of Hell Mind not the Princess fiery Agnes rules her Look look she pours scalding Bloud upon me Take her away Ha! there 's the Witch my Rival She runs she runs just to the Prince's arms My Brother 〈◊〉 to her now he tears her Hark Lucifer let 's swear her Soul away Ha ha ha ha ha laugh at the Princess She says I 'll own myself her Murderer who 'll be Fool then no body saw it Agnes will become a Scaffold as well as I. Bia. Alas poor Lady how she lov'd the Princess Th'idea of her Death possesses her So strongly she can talk of nought but Murder Elv. Who dares name Murder Ha! she can tell Tales Pulls a Dagger from under her Gown and stabs Bianca I 'll stop her mouth this Present was for Agnes But you shall have it if you 'll keep my Secret Bian. Oh fatal Blow that Hand is skill'd in Death K. Unhappy Accident take her away Let her be bound for fear of further Mischief Elv. Seize Agnes Jaylor seize her she 's in fault As she is carry'd off If she had stay'd and not sneak'd off so flyly By this time she had been among Hobgoblings And the Princess like a Fool crying for her It was not I curst Hell-hounds 't was not I. Exit K. See that her Wound be dress'd with care Bian. Oh no 't is needless Heav'n has seal'd my Fate And shows its Justice most remarkably In punishing my Crimes by her who caus'd 'em Let me in dying clear my spotted Soul By saving those whose Ruin I design'd Elvira promis'd me a great Reward And wicked Avarice made me consent To wrongfully Accuse the vertuous Agnes Ah Madam can your Charity forgive A tortur'd Wretch sufficiently unhappy By dreadful Fears and Stings of deep Remorse Agn. I do as e're I hope to be forgiv'n K. Proceed in thy amazing Declaration And on thy Hopes of Heav'n speak only truth Bian. Alas what can I hope for by Deceit Elvira forg'd that Letter which you saw To ruine Agnes in the Princess's thoughts But apprehending still her Brother's Marriage She plotted Agnes's Death to hinder it And 't was for her that cruel Blow was meant So fatal to the Princess in her absence Which when she found she struck her own vile arm Enrag'd against herself for that ill Service But soon was reconcil'd to the occasion Of taking full Revenge on her she hated Which she contriv'd by that false Accusation In which I aided to my shame and grief K. What caus'd Elvira's Hate to Agnes know'st thou Bian. Envy and Jealousy My strength decays Lead me away I scarce have breath enough To beg the Mercy of offended Heav'n They lead her off Oh horrid Visions of 〈◊〉 Torments K. What pity 't is Man's Pow'r shou'd be so vast And yet his Knowledge bound in such streight limits That what we eagerly pursue as good Oft proves the Mischief which we most wou'd shun Oh! how am I escap'd just from the brink Of that detested Crime abominable Murther Take care to have Elvira close confin'd To one of the Attend. Madam you 'r free thank the just Pow'rs above To Agnes My Son with joy I call thee Son Come to my arms thou most belov'd wrong'd Youth Prin. My King my Father do you then forgive me Have you so soon forgot my Disobedience K. The Cause which you maintain'd excuses you And my Injustice cancels all your Faults 'T is late my Son I 'll leave you to retire This Day 's Fatigue and Grief requires some Rest. Prin. Scarce any Grief equals the solid Joy Of having such a good so kind a Father Permit us to attend your Majesty Exeunt the Prince leading Agnes manet 〈◊〉 Alvaro Solus Base Sychophants not one remains with me Of all that Croud that worship'd me to day But fly as if Misfortune were infectious Yes mine shall be so more fatal than a Plague Disgrac'd and disappointed in my Love Nothing is left for me to court but Vengeance Nothing that 's more then all I am depriv'd of The King's Favour plac'd me above his Subjects Revenge on him makes me above himself Which I will have if I am still Alvaro As that alone the King shou'd fear me more Then when he set me nearest to the Throne For Desparation's bolder than Ambition My Rival is the Pillar of the Nation That fall'n nothing can support the Fabrick I know they all rejoyce at my Disgrace And therefore they shall all lament with me It must be thought of The Prince with Agnes will return this way I think I hear 'em I 'll observe the Lovers Alvaro goes aside to listen Perhaps 't will contribute to my Designs No other way wou'd exalt my Name Let Universal Ruine give me Fame Enter the Prince and Agnes Prin. The business of my life shall be to serve you I have done nothing yet deserves your thanks Agn. The only Heav'n cou'd clear my innocence I am indebted much to your endeavours Prin. Most to yourself you owe That Majesty so awful yet serene That calm unshaken Constancy of Mind Shows Vertue in its heighth grown to a habit So perfectly Self-evident in you 'T is as absurd to doubt your Innocence As 't were to question if the Sun gives light
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