in Love with Charming Eromena Cor. Why wou'd you know this Seg. Because like some unhappy wretches my wants make me the greater Prodigal I had but little peace and now have thrown e'en that away Oh! Eromena Cruel Eromena Cor. Fair Charming Lovely Eromena What does those words tell you my Lord Seg. That I am lost for she will sure Love you But when she does remember this my Lord The moment that you take her for your Wife My life must end I can live without her all my desire is I may Take leave of her and never see her more Cor. My Lord I promise you the thing you ask Tho' may be I shall have no greater Comfort Than sighing at her feet in vain as you have What is there in her heart that 's so impenetrable That she cou'd e'er resist such merit and how Can I presume to hope when you have been deny'd Seg. Flatter me not my Lord you shine above me In every thing can Charm the Young and Fair Pitty me rather that am forc'd to own My Rival will deserve all he can wish Farewell my Lord be generous to one wou'd wish Your Friendship were you not his Rival Let me but know how my misery shou'd increase And I 'll take care it shall not want it 's due And think to check the happiness you 'll have That your success must send me to my Grave Exeunt Enter Eromena with a Book in hand Ero. Oh! Restless night or rather restless Love For day I find no kinder than the night Reading the soft deluder of the mind Is now no Friend to me but rather does increase What I wou'd shun Books make us read What we wou'd blush to hear the pleasing tales of Love Oh! Love 't is here describ'd This this is my Disease I feel a softness at my wretched heart That waits but till 't is ask'd to throw it self Beneath the feet of him it does adore What Eromena hast thou seen thy Love Desir'd Sollicited Courted by a Man That Envy cannot find a fault withal To give now unask'd to one perhaps That will revenge the scorn that thou hast shown Let me not think on that my woes are many But thought makes 'em worse Upon this Bank I 'll lay my restless body Thou God of Peace Compose the unquiet mind of the Most wretched Creature that did e'er petition thee Lies down Enter Cornaro Cor. What can I suffer if I give my Love to that poor Virtuous Maid Has not another equal in Birth Offer'd as much and has she not refus'd him It may be Heaven reserves her heart for me And see she 's here my fate has guided me To what I wish She sleeps her face is lovely And her Charming Eyes tho' they are cover'd Pierce me to the heart her Rosie Lips tho' they speak not Invite the lookers on to taste their sweetness And I must What to kiss her is no Crime It may be she 'll not wake But if she shou'd I 'm sure she cannot blame me They that will leave Locks open to a Thief Kisses her she starts up he kneels Must needs expect a Robbery Ero. Ha! who 's this commits this Rudeness My Lord is' t you Cor. Oh! Chide me not for what has made me wretched The tasting of those Lips has quite undone me Unless I may again fair lovely Maid You that were born to do nothing but wonders That have transform'd me from the thing I was And in the space of one poor night have made me Your everlasting slave I am no longer Master of my self Put this first time I ever speke to you I offer you my Life my Heart my Soul Oh! Love now work a wonder on us both And touch her Heart as thou hast surely mine Ero. What does he say Oh Heavens I feel it true My pain I 'm sure is Love and Love for him Aside Rise good my Lord and do not by this needless Ceremony Call up to my Rememâ—rance all my woes My wretched Poverty and obscure Fate nor die my Cheeks In deeper blushes than your new pretended Love has rais'd Cor. Oh! Call it not pretended nor expect I eâ—er can rise Till I have mov'd your heart to know 't is real And confess it too See see me here O Lovely Charming Creature Turn not away but look upon me in this humble posture May be it may move your pity nay I will force you And follow still with Humbleness and Love Till you at last shall say You know I Love you Ero. Call up thy Courage hapless Eromena Oh! I begin to find I 'm lost indeed Struggle a little heart give not thy self away The first attack Aside Rise good my Lord or I must kneel with you Cor. Oh! no! you shall not kneel nor will I rise But hugging thus your knees I do Conjure you To give my Love both hearing and acceptance If since the moment that I saw you first I 've had one minutes thought but only you Or any wiâ—h but of the gaining you Some power that hears me punish strait my falseness But if my vow is true Now touch her heart and fix her mine for ever Ero. 'T is done 't is done I find I am so now And 't is too late now to Recall my Fate Faints Cor. She faints what sudden illness overcomes my Love Speak speak oh speak my Dearest Charming Woman Ero. Away my Lord loose me from your Arms and add not Fresh confusion to my Soul by thinking on the weakness You 've surpriz'd me in Oh! let me go Cor. Oh stay and hear me a little longer Let me but know why you now fly from me After the Confirmation of a Love you ought to pardon Speak do you believe I love you Ero. My Lord I do not know yet I wish I did Cor. Oh! do not say you know not take my only last assurance I do not offer you a vitious Love But only that which holy marriage gives Speak once again is that a Confirmation Ero. It is my Lord but such a one I must take from you And from another I am sure I will not Aside a little Cor. What said you did I hear you right Are not my Scenes scatter'd in the storm of Love Will you ne're be another's Ero. Heavens what have I said unwary Tongue Thus to betray the secrets of my heart I said my Lord that I would never marry Cor. Yes me you must or see else most miserable What can I say to move you take this Sword And pierce my heart if you 'll not grant your Love Ero. Oh! Beringaria how might I betray thee In ruining thy only darling Son How make thee curse that noble Charity That rais'd this Serpent to destroy thy quiet Cor. No pity yet Heavens how she does distract me And all I can resolve on 's Ruin Death or Her Once more I kneel to move that stubborn heart With my own breaking Now O hopeless Conquest Ero. I have recall'd my sinking Gratitude
for one of her Years and is Mistress of all Qualifications that belong to a Woman of Quality and I often believe her such Oh madam I see my Uncle now let 's see what you 'l do Enter Dandalo Your Servant Uncle my Aunt and I have been taking the sweets of the Morning Dan. I suppose the Morning might have smelt as well without my Wives company pray go by your self for the future unless you 'd have me believe your Morning Walks are to produce Evening Wakes Thou little careless Chit can't you be contented to have your Fellows by your self methinks you shou'd and you ought to be a little more caution'd for the honour of your Family than help to make your own Uncle a Cuckold But where 's my Wife Oh there she is with my Lord Segerdo that 's well enough he has got the Matrimonial Maggot in his Head for Eromena so I believe I may trust her with him and yet how know I but he may bring Letters from somebody else for these loving Fools are all apt to pity one another â—ab Sir your Servant I hear my Lord Cornaâ—o returns from Travel to night I shall rejoice to see him I hear he 's a compleat Gentleman pray Sir do you expect him Dan. Yes Sir I shall be glad on 't not only for the natural Cause of his being a Relation but for the Charge he 'l take off my hands My Sister has made me manage his Estate in his absence much against my will but 't was to serve her pray Wife go up into your Chamber I wou'd speak with you I must speak with you Marg. I know your Business and I think it may be done at any time as well as now Dan. You won't go up then Don't provoke me to expose you and my self before Company Marg. You can't expose me more than I have my self Dan. I believe so a rare Character you give your self what have you writ an Answer to the Letter you found in the Garden or has the party been here to take it by word of mouth Marg. In short Sir I will not go up to be lock'd into my Chamber this is a Night of rejoycing I will stay and see my Cousin Cornaro and I am sure my Lady Berengaria will not think the worse of me for it if you don 't like it pray stay and watch me for I am resolv'd to have some comfort of my Life for all my uneasiness Cleon. Come Sir don't deny so reasonable a Request Dan. Well well I must not say much now but when I have her in my clutches I will sit her Aside Enter Eromena crosses the Stage and goes off Segerdo follows Cleon. So so my Lord Segerdo has follow'd his Heart which the young Lady has got from him Conada she 's really very handsom pray Heav'n he ever get it again Gab. I see him yonder see she shuns him and comes this way to make him lose the opportunity of speaking to her pray Ladies let us befriend a poor unhappy Lover and quit this place let us retire and visit my Lady Berengaria whom I warrant longs to see her Son and thinks this day the longest that has come Exeunt all but Dan. Dan. So so my Wife begins to shew her self already but what can I do to get her under my dominion again my devilish Niece has instructed her but I will contrive a way if possible to put her out of conceit with young Fellows as well as punish my Niece I 'll make her I don't know what yet but if I see the Fellows hanker after her I am afraid I shall not follow my policy Well something is in my head that I hope will do me good against this invincible Plague a young Wife Well I was mad in my old age else I shou'd never have marry'd and set up a Trade to break so soon So here comes another that has a mind to be dabbling with Matrimony would he were as old as I that I might see one Man more as wretched as my self and I should be contented Exit Dan. Enter Eromena followed by Segerdo Seg. Fair Eromena do not fly from me I have no design to prejudice your Honour Were I a Ravisher you could do no more Look on me once behold my Youth Take pitty of my sufferings you know I love you Fairest Eromena and cause I love don't Tyranize too much Ero. My Lord you cannot call it so in me But friendship rather I fly from you With a design to cure you of this Passion Your only Curse how wretched shou'd I make you Shou'd I receive this Love No no my Lord I know my self too well ever to listen to you My most unhappy Fate ne'r design'd me yours Think who I am a stranger to the World Born in obscurity may be basely born Remember that And may it bring back all your generous Thoughts Seg. I have thought I 've thought on all that you can say Use not your Eloquence in such a Cause And think not Heav'n trusted you with Wit To use it 'gainst your self like a self Murderer I can find no effects in what you say But Love increasing wracking my poor heart You have poured your charming Poyson Thro' my Eyes into my breast And now you see the mischief you have done You would destroy the Bowel you show your Friendship but 't is now too late Ero. I shew my duty still and will persist in 't All you can say can never change my mind Seg. There 's something in my Person or my Humour That turns your heart against me Tell me O tell me what it is if 't is my Humour I 'll change it even to the low submission Of a Slave I 'll lie whole hours whole days beneath your Feet And hear my faults and learn the way to mend ' em I wish I cou'd as easily change my Person If 't is what you can't like but oh remember To make up these faults my Heart my Soul And Life all all is yours Were you what you could Wish your self in all things in Birth In Fortune Beauty you cannot wish for more Cou'd you with me submit to lead your Life Before the rest of all the Youth you have seen Ero. My Lord I have something in my nature Let my unhappy Birth be what it will That scorns deceit Therefore I think It is my duty now to speak the Truth Were I what you cou'd wish me be in all things In Quality or Fortune or were you willing As you seem to be to take me as I am And make me yours I here protest I think I cou'd not love you Seg. What need of further questions This is enough to cut off all dispute Yet I will ask you one more and 't is I think The last since you have gone so much Beyond my wish add to your cruel Generosity and tell me truely do you Love elsewhere if so I have nothing else To do but to try to break the Fetters You
have given me or else Sink with the weight Ero. My Lord I do assure you by all my hopes In Heav'n or Earth I do not Seg. Then there is hopes still Ero. None my Lord there 's none I owe you more than ever to deceive you Seg. Strange resolution not love elsewhere And yet never love me Who knows but your generous Heart After the thousand services I shall pay May Love again Ero. My Lord you have no faults I am my self the greatest fault by my own lost Condition Were I of Quality equal to yours My heart might then have the same Inclinations Ero. Take then the Last and only answer left of all mankind I find I cannot like you Sure I am reserved for some unhappy Fortune For were I not I cou'd not be so blind I am thrust into the World against my will And all my Actions have the same force o're me It is against my will I shew you Scorn It is against my will that I refuse you For I must own my self so much to blame Seg. Enough enough you 've struct a Thousand Daggers to my Heart I have no Hope now raise me some Rival Heav'n As much despis'd as I am that I may shew What I could do to gain her Ero. Farewell my Lord I 've held too long Discourse For which I hope you will not Censure me Nor think it but a Womans Policy For I shall soon convince you of the Contrary Once more Farewell most worthy Nobleman That can in contradiction to the World Find out a Charm in honest Poverty May this most unexampl'd Generosity Prevail with Heaven to change This wretched Love to one so mean as me Into a Passion for some happier Maid And if not so may all Heav'ns Glory shine Into thy Soul and make your Love Divine Seg. Turn yet once more behold me at your Feet Oh! do not force me for your wondrous goodness To Curse my self for this most wretched Fate Must I ne'er see you more what shall I say Oh! do not look with all that coldness on me Farewell then Cruel Maid I hope for ever 'T is false I do not wish it never can But will persist to love you to my Death Thus on my Knees I beg of Heaven for thee It won't Revenge thy ridged Cruelty But Love thee still tho' thou' rt unkind to me Ne'r may you feel the Torments I have born Nor have your Faithful Love repaid with scorn Exeunt The End of the First ACT. ACT II. Scene a Hall Enter Arapsia with several Servants PRay Gentlemen be all in readiness is all the Musick come The Dancers and all the rest that are to entertain the Company with the Masque Serv. Yes Madam Ara. Go then and see all be done in order remember you have a Noble Lord now to serve Exeunt Servants So now the time draws near and he is coming How wretched 't is to have so nice a Conscience the fault is none of hers and yet she suffers in a most unequall'd Torture of her Mind Enter Eromena Come fair Eromena do not look sad nor think because my Lord is coming 't will take away any of that kindness my Lady has ever shewn you Ero. Madam shou'd she take all her Favours from me I had no reason to complain I am her Debtor and so little likely ever to pay again that 't is but Justice not to let me run too much o' th' Score Ara. Take care still to preserve that grateful temper of owing your misfortunes by which means you keep in mind the Obligations that are laid upon you Come don't Sigh Ero. I cannot help it what I am I know not but this I know my soul disdains the very thoughts of Baseness and yet I am not asham'd of Misery since it has given a Noble Lady a glorious opportunity to shew the first of Heavenly Virtues Charity Ara. No more I spoke not to afflict you nor raise a bashful thought of Poverty to check your Nobler Thoughts She that loves Virtue for its own sake and not for Policy is rich enough in all things Enter Cleonista and Margaretta Cleo. Arapsia I heard a noise below I believe my Brother 's come or some of the Strangers that are to be here pray enquire Exit Arap. Margaretta I long to see my Brother I hear a mighty Character of him â—s to his Person and Temper Pray do you take care to guard your Heart for all you are my Uncles Wife I can't swear you won't wish for my Brother Marg. Faith if I do wish for him he 'll be the first of Men that I ever wish'd for for the sake of their Persons yet Cleo. Nay truly one wou'd think so by the choice you made of my Uncle Marg. Well Madam you may say what you please of my Husband and your Uncle but I wish his Person and Years were his only Faults Cleo. Truly I think they are faults enough without any other additions Eromena come you shall in with us Ero. Pardon me Madam I am not fit to appear before your Great Relations in this homely garb of being unknown it may be they may think me what I am a Beggar and take it as too great a Confidence to come into their Presence Cleo. Fye Eromena I did not think you cou'd have made so weak an excuse are you a Companion fit for me and not for them Come you shall go your Beauty will make you valued together with the Virtue that I believe waits on you in all your Actions Ero. Madam you Command and I Obey in all Exeunt Omnes Scene draws and discovers Beringaria Cleonista Margaretta Gabinius Segerdo Dandalo Arapsia Eromena who stands behind Beringaria 's Chair with several Gentlemen and Captain Conall Ber. Gentlemen I give you many thanks for doing me and my Son this Honour and must own to you I did not think Heaven had so great a Blessing now remaining for me this is the only joy I ever can receive Gab. Fye Madam your Joys are many that you have to come your Son will bring you the Joy of seeing him a Compleat Gentleman you 'll live a new life in him to see him happily Married to some Noble Lady to see his pretty Children play about you and a thousand pleasures you cannot guess at yet Ber. No more than you can at the Torment Aside that lies about my Heart Arapsia be near me still I find my courage fail me and I fear I shan't so well support my self as not to want your aide Enter a Servant Serv. Madam my Lord is come just lighted at the Gate Dan. Conduct him up how do you Sister Gab. Only a little overjoy'd Enter Cornaro runs to Ber. and Kneels Cor. Thus let me Kneel and beg your Blessing Madam and then let me bless all those Heavenly Powers that have thro many dangers brought me back safe to the best of Mothers Ber. Swoons Alass my Mother look to her Ladies she is not well Dan. Her
And Virtue now assumes its former place I 'll cast my eyes no more upon the object That cou'd prevail to make me do a thing Against all Laws of Hospitality Fly then Eromena from that bewitching Tongue I must look on him for methinks I tear A piece of my own Soul away when I resolve to go But one look more O I was flying to his Arms The more I do dispute the less I find I 'm able To forbear to tell him I love him die for him And cannot live without him O Love Love Love Exit Erom Cor. It is enough oh Heav'n let me rejoyce I saw Love sparkle from her shining eyes Who shuns the Battle is half overcome She flys to be pursu'd and I will fly To over-take the Treasure of my Soul Oh Love thou supreme power behold thy last Of wonders that has excell'd the rest But hold let not my Soul with this success Neglect compleating of my happiness Now is the time to perfect all my Joy Thus to her Arms with wings of Love I 'll fly And if not live for her before her dye Exit Cor. The End of the Third ACT. ACT IV. Scene a Hall Enter Beringaria and Arapsia WHat did you say I cou'd not hear you right Does Heav'n then think my miseries not enough Can it be possible Cornaro fallen in Love with Eromena Who told you this Alas what have I done In all the actions of my past unhappy Life That I must now be sentenc'd to this Fate Arap. Alas I 'm sorry that I told it you But now must tell you that my Lady Margaretta Over-heard all their Discourse this Morning in the Garden I do believe it is no more than a light Young-man's Love That vanishes upon the least resistance You know that Eromena's truly Vertuous And need not fear her condescending to his unlawful Love And then his spirit is too great ever to think Of making her his Wife Let me advise you Propose a Marriage to him with my Lord Segerdo's Sister The Lady is of the best Family in Venice And a great Beauty too her Fortune rather Exceeding what he can propose say you have Propos'd it to her Father and that he seems Well inclin'd to it and if you can't succeed with him Lay your Commands on her to marry Lord Segerdo This will be a means to prevent any ills may happen Ber. I thank you and perceive your Counsel good Let it be put in speedy execution Do you inform her my fix'd Resolution That she must marry Segerdo suddenly As for my Son I 'll use a Mothers Power And if that fail depend on you to make her comply With my Commands one way sure I may succeed Arap. Madam I think I see my Lord coming down Propose it now it cannot much surprize him Since such great Fortunes as the Lady is are sought After too much to let the least minute be lost Ber. I will away and leave me and to your design with Eromena Enter Cornaro who kneels Heav'n Bless my Son Rise Cornaro Rise And know I 'll bless thee more in Deeds than Words Cor. You always were a most Indulgent Mother O let me find the same Indulgence still 'T is you alone can make me Bless'd or Wretched Upon my knees I beg your will to Bless me Since 't is alone in your Almighty Power Ber. To shew how much my will complies to bless you Ill let you know what I have done for you But first my Son how stands your heart to Marriage Cou'd you like that State the only earthly blessing Of the Good and Virtuous and Curse of all the Wicked That know not how to use so great a Blessing And for that Reason turn depravers of what they Understand not Cor. So true a sence I have of that most blessed State If between two that Love whose hearts Heav'n has joyn'd That I believe it the first Tast to future Bliss I mean in Heav'n Ber. 'T is well my Son I joy to see you so differing From our present Youth who in the Arms of some Loose Courtizans wast all their Health and Means And despise the kind advice of all that let them See their Errours Now Cornaro to prevent these Snares For you are now of fitting years to marry No Boy but of Manly years I do propose it to you Consider well and let me have your answer There is a Lady whose Birth is equal if not above you Whose Beauty is I think the greatest I have seen Her Fortunes much Superiour to yours And her Vertue not to be blam'd by Envy or Detraction What think you Son of such a Lady Cor. I have not seen the Lady Ber. But you may I have already mov'd it to her Father Whose consent follows your liking Cor. Madam I thank you but how knows the Father The Lady may like me Ber. She 's all Obedience her liking waits upon her Fathers will Cor. Madam I must own I should not think my Wife Lik'd me the better for being an obedient Daughter Are these the marriages that Heaven makes Unseen unknown to one another Ber. I wou'd have you see this Lady it may be The thoughts that you may have her easily May pall your sickly taste I charge you see Nay strive to love her too wait on your Sister She goes there to carry the good news to Lord Segerdo That he shall now have Eromena that proud fool That is so blind to her own happiness she shall now Against her will accept that blessing she can never merit Consider well and as thou' rt obedient May Heaven prosper thee or curse thee ever Exit Ber. Cor. Oh! Heavens what said you Madam recall your blessing So you do your curse leave me to chance What now remains must my Love my Eromena Become anothers and must I know it and yet not prevent it I should be then a Boy O the curse of such a night That I should lie lamenting in my bed And think another revell'd in her Arms Keep me from such a thought you pittying powers Or I shall run through all extremities And kill this happy Fortune curs'd Rival And see she 's here my darling only Joy In spight of duty receive the endless vow Of a most constant tho' unhappy Lover Enter Eromena weeping Ero. Lost and undone Oh! wretched Eromena Let me not hear the name of Love again Sure there is poyson in a Lovers Tongue That breaks the heart it prays too How should I be so curs'd else I am Commanded By her whom yet I never knew do an injustice In â—â—ight of all known aversion to marry Lord Segerdo or seek my wretched bread in desart fields What have I done I ask no more than bread The meanest slave that walks about the house Has sure as much as that without Conditions Cor. Oh! Cruel Mother has then the Tyranny you sâ—ewd To me been but forerunner of a wrong to her What should the cause be tell me Eromena Do you think my Mother
THE Fatal Discovery OR LOVE in RUINES A TRAGEDY As it is Acted at the Theatre Royal BY His MAJESTY`s Servants With a PREFACE in Answer to a scandalous Copy of Verses written by Mr. Dryden and prefixt to a Play call'd Heroick Love So over Violent or over Civil That every Man with him 's a God or Devil Abs. Achit LONDON Printed by I. Orme for R. Wellington at the Lute in St. Paul's Church-Yard and sold by Percivil Gilborne at the Harrow at the corner of Chancery-Lane and Bernard Lintott at the Cross-Keys in St. Martins-Lane near Long-Acre 1698. ADVERTISEMENT ☞ This week will be publish'd the History of Polybius the Megalopolitan containing an Account of the Affairs of the whole World Translated by Sir Henry Sheers and Mr. Dryden in three Volomes the third never before Printed Next week will be publish'd the last new Tragedy call'd Caligula Written by Mr. Crown Author of the Destruction of Ierusalem Printed for Richard Wellington at the Lute in St. Paul's Church-Yard PREFACE TO THE READER THIS Play and the unknown Author possibly both of 'em wanting merit enough to appear in full Glory viz. with an I. Dryden in Heroicks in laudem Autoris however not to thrust it naked into the World without some Garniture I shall treat my Reader with a short Anatomy Lecture upon a late notoriously famous piece of Rhime viz. Mr. Dryden's Encomium upon the Tragedy call'd Heroick Love But first I must desire the Honourable Author of that Ingenious Play to believe here 's not the least Reflection designed to a Person of his high Quality No though with all the natural Confidence of a Player I am not arrived to the Impudence of a superannuated Laureat that as far as his toothless snarle can bite spares neither Honour nor Quality but upon occasion can make even Monsters of Crown'd Heads That Posthumus Offspring of I. Dryden late Esq for so I may venture to call it his Gasping Muse being almost defunct is all its Daddies own true Begotten as the very Features and Lineaments will plainly shew being a true Dryden Composition in all his own celebrated perfections of Pride Fawning and Scandal This Poem though designed a Caress to the Honourable Author however makes the top Compliment at home the main flourish upon himself when with his own long and laudable Vanity all true Drydenism he gives the Reader to understand That I. Dryden is the very Father of the Mases the Sourse Fountain and Original of Poetry nay the Apollo himself when all the Address he has to make this Ingenious and Honourable Author is the Resignation of his own Lawrels But here I am afraid he makes him but a course Compliment when this great Wit with his Treacherous Memory forgets that he had given away his Lawrels upon Record no less than twice before viz. once to Mr. Congreve and another time to Mr. Southern Prithee old Oedâ—pus expouâ—d thiâ— Mystery Dost thou set up thy own Transubstantiation Miracle in the Donation of thy Idol Bays that thou hast 'em Fresh New and whole to give 'em three times over Or rather though three times given already they are so little worth Acceptance that thou hast â—em still to dispose threescore times more upon a Civil occasion And indeed 't is no great wonder to see thee so frâ—nk of thy Favours thou art always as free of thy Lawrels as thy Panegyâ—â—ks Thâ—n hast 'em ready at all turns for every dear Adored even an Oliver himself c. and therefore t is no great surprize to see thee so generous of thy Bays when thou canst twine 'em for a Cromwells Brows But as his Poetical Lawrellâ— are indeed as Abdicated as his Honesty so read him but a little further and you 'll find his Manners as Antiquated as himself when amongst a long Scroll of Scurrility upon our Play-house he tells us â—ow â—ne set 〈…〉 Moâ—â—ter in our Bâ—lls to fill our empâ—y Pit 'T is pity 〈◊〉 â—â—â—râ—er if 〈…〉 crasie for flauging were not a little lash'd into Civility 'T is a sign as little as he loves the Government he has a great Confiâ—â—nce in the Mercy of it at this Audacious Rate of Monster-making But to lessen some part of our Aâ—miration we are to consider that he treats all Crownd Heads much alike For Instance Yoâ—â—g Kings are 〈◊〉 and win the prize And yeaâ—ly bâ—â—ten Yeaâ—â—y yet they rise 〈◊〉 Monarch◠〈◊〉 successfull still in doubt Caâ—ch at a Peace and wisely turn devout Here to use the words of a very Ingenious Animadverter he gives one Prince a Kick on the B another a Box on the Ear and spits in the face of a third But omitting the Irreverent Insolence of this Libeller If it be any such Capital Plot in a Play-house Bill to set up a great Name to help a small Audience I would fain ask him if his Ancient Spectacles so Critical upon Our House Bills are not a little oversighted at Theirs As I take it I have Read the name with all respect to the Members of that Honourable Society of a private Gentleman the Comptroller of the Temple in one of their Bills no Disparagement neither to the Grandeur of their New-Theatre And therefore I cannot imagine why any thing but the Malice and Rancour the Spirit and Soul of a Sâ—â—oraâ— should beâ—â—oâ—y so loud against us for the Name of an English Nobleman in our Bills possibly for the Entertainment of the Highest Quality in Europe Our Honour and Pride not our Tricking and Shame as this 〈◊〉 maker is pleased to râ—nder it But for the most mortal stroke against us he charges us with downright Murâ—ering of Plays which we 〈◊〉 Revivâ—ng I will not derogate from the merit of those Senior Actors of both Sexes at the other House that shine in their several Perfections in whose lavishâ— praises he is so highly Transported But at the same time he makes himself but an Arbitrary Judge on our side to condemn unheard and that under no less a Conviction than Murder when I cannot learn for a fair Judgment upon us that his Reverend Crutches have ever brought him within our doors since the division of the Companies 'T is â—rue I think we have revivd some pieces of Dryden as his Sebastian Maiden Queen Marriage A-la-mode King Arthur c. But here let us be Try'd by a Christian Jury the Audiâ—nce and not receive the Bowstring from his Maâ—ometan Grand Seignorship 'T is true his more particular pique against us as he has declared himself is in Relation to our Reviving his Almanzor There indeed he has reason to be angry for our waking that sleeping Dowdy and exposing his nonsense not ours And if that Dish did not please him we have a Stanch Proverb for our Justification viz. 'T was rottâ—n roasted because c. And the World must expect 't was very hard crutching up what Hart and Mohun before us could not prop. I confess he is a little severe when he will allow onâ— best
Performance to â—ear no better Fruit then a Crab-Vintage Indeed if we young Actors spoke but half as â—ourly as his Old Gall Scribles we should be all Crab all over And so Reader as you find him I leave him Your Servant George Powell PROLOGUE Spoke by Mr. Powell in answer to a scurrilous one spoke against him at Betterton's Booth in Little-Lincolns-Inn-Fields AS when a nauseous Vizor in the Pit Grosly abuses without Sense or Wit All justifie her merited disgrace If they unvail the grievance of the place And shew the drab in her own ugly face So Gentlemen we hope for your excuse If in Return of a dam'd dull Abuse We pluck the Vizor off from t'other house And let you see their natural Grimmaces Affecting Youth with pale Auâ—umnal faces Wou'd it not any Ladies Anger move To see a Child of sixty five make Love Oh! Grunting like B. my Statira Oh my angry dear Lord Speaking like a Christian. what a dismal â—ound wou'd that make here Now you must know I 've heard some people say Should this House fail where do you think to Play VVhy thus in short my answer I declare If we must be o'ercome I will take care Never to be their Prisoner of War Nor Tug an Oar at the New Theatre Drammatis Personae Cornaro Mr. Powell Segerdo Mr. Evans Conall Mr. Thomas Gabinius Mr. Harland Dandalo Mr. Iohnson WOMEN Beringaria Mrs. Knight Arapsia Mrs. Powell Margaretta Mrs. Verbruggen Eromena Mrs. Cross. Cleonista Mrs. Temple ACT I. SCENE I. Enter Beringaria and Arapsia Bering NOW my Arapsia now the time draws near That I must see the Face I ought to shun Because it brings my Shame too near my viewâ— Yet ought to love it too my Son my Son My only Darling Son What can he think Has made me keep him distant from my sight Now above Fifteen Years In spight of all His begging Letters that he might return Yet still I kept him back What can I say I have forc'd him by the Duty which he paid me To lose ten Years Revenue of his Fortune And would have done it still but he is now Resolv'd to come Help me Arapsia now Thou that best know'st my Crime I cannot bear the thoughts of seeing him What shall I do he wonders and has reason Why I can thus forget a Mother's Love To her dear only Son and yet I do not Cannot nor ever will forget it Arap. Madam why do you discompose your self For what your Conscience cannot blame you It was a fatal Curiosity 't is true But meant so well Bering 'T was not well done excuse it not Arapsia 'T was Disobedience was the cause of it My cruel Husband left my Bed thou know'st For several Years before and Heav'n can witness 'T was not for any Fault by me committed I always was a very humble Wife I lov'd him still for all his great Unkindness And try'd all Ways to gain his Heart again But 't was in vain then you propos'd the way You thought would do and that alas undid me I strove to charm him in another's room While Night and Darkness favour'd my Design But little thought I entertain'd another Curs'd be the Day the Night I sought that Remedy Why hinder'd I the Pleasures of my Husband When 't was not in my power to give him any He us'd me like a dear and only Friend I wanted nothing but a wanton Love I ought t' have been like him so much himself That my Desires shou'd then have ceas'd with his Women take care cross not your Husbands Wills Force not your Kindness when it is distastful 'T will not retrieve their Loves but bring your Hates Arap. Madam this fatal Accident 's a Secret No body knows but me nor guesses at it And I believe you know my Heart so well You cannot doubt my true Sincerity Clear up your Looks and see your dearest Son Think what has happen'd was by Heaven's permission Which may have further Ends than we can see Ber. Dear dear Arapsia what is best to do He comes to night let all things be prepar'd To make him think that he is truly welcome As he indeed is see that Eromena Be kept out of his sight I cannot bear To see 'em both together Where 's Cleonista Arap. I' th' Garden with my Lady Marguaretta Ber. To your Discretion I leave all my safety If Heav'n will bless me to dispose my Son According to his Birth Honour and Fortune I shall believe Heav'n has not quite forsook me I then perhaps may see a Child of his That I may own the Aim of all my Wishes Poor Eromena Unhappy only in thy Parents but no more Of that I find the thought disturbs me Arap. Madam what is your pleasure I should do For the reception of your Son Your Friends And your Relations long to see him And will be here I do believe to night All coveting to see how you receive him Ber. Let all be done that 's fit for me to do Keep Eromena from the Company I know not why but I am much disturb'd When I but think on her My Genius does foresee some fatal Accident May make me yet more wretched than I am Arap. Madam your Apprehension is not right You do create Unhappiness to your self Let me advise you once again remember That which is past we never can recall I will about the business you command Heaven compose your thoughts Exit Arapsia Berin alone Heav'n only can By pardoning my most unwilling Sin See me ye Pow'rs a poor and wretched Creature Miserable only in offending you Tho' most uâ—willingly Why am I punish'd for another's Crime Sift all my thoughts Just Heaven and thou wilt see I have no Wish aims at offending thee Then let not my Misfortune be my Crime But ease my thoughts and fix 'em only thine So may the rest of my unhappy Life Be free from Conscience that unconquer'd strife Exit Ber. Scene a Garden Enter Cleonista and Margaretta Cleon. Come my Dear methinks I can't call you Aunt you look so charming I 'm sure you don't look like my Uncle's Wife What could possess you with all your Youth and Beauty to marry my old covetous nasty Uncle Marg. The Devil I think wou'd I had been hang'd when I entertain'd but the least thought of him but I had taken it into my Fancy that an old man would be so fond of me but now you see how he uses me Cleon. Why there 't is now had not you better have follow'd the dictates of Nature which I am sure never inclin'd a Woman of eighteen to an old fellow of fourscore But what has he done to provoke you so this morning Marg. Why Cousin I went into the Garden to gather a Nosegay and stooping down I found a piece of Paper and having little else to do I walk'd on and tore it bit and bit he follow'd me as fast as his old limping Legs could carry him and has taken a conceit that
it was a Billet-deux sent to me or hid in some Bush in the Garden and thank my Stars he 's now breaking his Back with looking under every Leaf that can but hide the bigness of a Cockleshell Cleon. Methinks this Adventure should make you forgive the Occasion that is his Jealousie since I think he has chosen a Punishment as bad as any one could wish him considering his Years Marg. There 's nothing bad enough for him Well I will rail so much when I see him I 'll make him hate me so he shall let me alone to do what I will Cleon. Have a care what you do for since you are truly virtuous you would be thought so and I dare say your Discretion tells you this is not the way to keep up that Character by provoking him to expose both himself and you Marg. Why what would you have me do Have you seen in your Life but the least sign of Fault in me Have I given him but the least cause for Distrust therefore I here resolve to take my own way and at least to make my self merry with my Misfortune I 'll be as imperious as a jealous Woman that has been faulty her self before Marriage and just come to the honour of the title of Wife I will give him more false Occasions to believe I abuse him than a City Wife can give her Husband true ones therefore dear Cousin aid and assist me in this honest Design for you shall know all my Intrigues so that you may justifie me when it is gone far enough Cleon. Well Madam I leave it to your Discretion and in all justifiable Actions I will be ready to serve you as sincerely as my self and I am sure you can have no other Marg. I thank you Madam Oh here comes your Lover Gabinius Segerdo too and Capt. Conall Now were I resolv'd to humour my Husband must I immediately go up to my Chamber there sit and work with my Maids but as my Resolution is I am resolv'd to stay and see the Effects of sweet Liberty Enter Gabinius Segerdo and Capt. Conall Your Servant Gentlemen Gab. Your Servant Madam yours Madam and always so and may I every morning see you thus thus beauteous as a new-blown Flower and chearful as the Spring Cleon. My Lord you 're in a pleasant humor and I think I shall do well to keep it up in order to which I 'le let you know here stands the happiest Wiâ—e in the World so chang'd so resolv'd upon true Liberty nay so real Mistress of it Gab. Why is her Husband dead Cleon. No no but his Authority is she has laid aside the Italian Custom of Slavery and is assuming an English Freedom of the Wives there Gab. But how will she bring it about Cleon. We must all assist her she 'l tell you her way which well manag'd must needs do Come hither Capt. Conall could you find in your Heart to make Love to my Aunt in Jest for I guess her Design turns upon that Hinge Con. Yes and in earnest too if she 'l give me leave Cleon. Then you are not the man for our purpose for I am not carrying the Jest too far Marg. Pray Cousin let me chuse my own Man to make my use of which will require a little time to consider of let me have but a few Words with this melancholy Gentleman and I 'le let you know what Resolution I shall take Con. Nay if she fixes upon him she 's in a fine condition indeed for I am deceived if his Inclinations are not so fix'd as never to be in humor to jest with another Cleon. See see she 'as made him smile poor Gentleman I truly pity him Con. You would I 'm sure if you knew so much of him as I do how he will walk whole hours and not speak a word and when he speaks he talks of Eromena his Passion is now grown to such a height that when he 's with his Father by accident he talks of Eromena His Father 's almost distracted to see his Fancy or his headstrong Fate to lead him to a Love so much beneath him He kept it from his Father's Knowledge as long as he could but now he knows it he grows careless and gives his Passion greater Liberty I wish she could find some way that might answer her Ends and divert him if possible Marg. My Lord I have observ'd and known your passion for the fair Eromena and tho' I could advise you to the contrary yet since I see your Love has held long To Segerdo and that there is small hopes it should ever be remov'd I offer you my Service to assist you to move the stubborn Heart of that fair Maid But as you have heard the Design I have to cure my Husband 's causeless Jealousie so I entreat you to make use of me send all your Letters to me let all your Visits be to me I live in the House with her and will take care she always shall be with me when you come so shall I serve your Love if you can succeed and you may as I 'le contrive it be a means to ease a wretched Wife of all her Miseries Seg. Madam what your Designs are I am a stranger to but you have Brib'd me by so dear a way I never will dispute with your commands But alas she has forbid me ever to write ever to speak nay ever to see her more O! I lose all the shew of Manly Resolution and sink beneath my Sorrows when I think on 't I came this morning thinking to take my last Farewel if it must be my last but you have reviv'd a little my poor hopes Marg. I will consider my Lord of some means that may be for youâ— service and I hope for mine Gab. Well my Lord has fair Margaretta imparted her Design to you for we are not worthy of it You look a little livelier than you did Con. I never saw this Beauty that is so happy to charm my Lord Segerdo pray Madam do me the Favour to let me know who she is I have heard something of her being a Foundling but never any thing else Cleon. Sir she is a Foundling my Mother going into the Country for a little Air just before my Father dy'd found this young creature thrust out by an unnatural Parent into the World laid in a little Cradle with a Note writ on 't I think these were the words A wretched Birth has been thy Doom Do thou prevent the Ilâ—'s to come My Father died before my Mother did return but when she came she brought the little Creature with her and she did prove to me a good Companion I was not above three or four Years older my Mother took great care of her and scarce did make a difference 'twixt us in any thing Truly I think she wants nothing but the addition of Birth and Fortune to make her compleat in all things she has a sweet Disposition discreet to a wonder
knows my love to you Ero. Alas my Lord mock me not so again I am not born to be belov'd by you But this pretended Love of yours I find Has been discovered for which Arapsia told me My Lady Beringaria's Commands she bad me Have a care 't was honester to leap into my Fathers bed Than to give way to such Ingratitude And break the heart of her that had preserv'd me Cor. Nay then it is too late to trifle longer And we must both be wretched if we do Once more O thou who only can'st preserve me For know I am Commanded too to marry A Woman that I never saw fling not my Life Thy own and all away but give me Heaven By making me thy own O think a little On thy resolution depends our future Fate Say canst thou see me made another's speak Ero. I do confess I cannot nor must I e'er consent To be your Wife for shou'd I O what Mountains then Would hide me from her anger her Just Reproaches And a guilty Conscience more terrible than all Cor. I wou'd and shrowd thee in these longing arms Till I had stifâ—'d apprehension in thee And made thee own thy fears were needless there Ero. Oh! let me go tempt not a yielding heart A thing not worth your taking when so easie Cor. Consider we both are ruin'd if we do delay Oh think on that my Mother will undo us Perhaps we ne'er may meet again Ero. Let us ne'er meet so I preserve my Vertue I 've fortify'd my reason once again And can submit to any thing but baseness Cor. Then must we part for ever Ero. Indeed we must I 'll in some Cloister hide me from the World Farewell I find I ne'er must see you more To prevent the miseries must fall upon you When I 'm removed there will be no marriage forc'd upon you No Lady then Once more farewell for ever Cor. Stay yet and see the effect of all your prudence The minute that you leave me is my ruin Oh! Cruel Creature can you see me thus I vow Here on my knees unless you are my Wife Never to marry And will you leave me Well it shall be so I will be left alone to Fate Which has decreed I â—uust not live without you Going Ero. O Heavens I cannot beaâ— to part with him Come back my Lord but turn yoâ—r eyes away And do not see my blushes when I tell son I am no longer Mistress of my passion But with a heart softned with mighty Love Take the impression you are pleas'd to wish I love you dearer than my Life or Soul Receive me to your arms your Lawfull Wife And match my Love to a sincere obedience Cor. Oh! Joy Oh! too Transporting Joy that takes away The sence that does receive it but I will struggle With my Conquer'd Soul that faints with the excess Of its own happiness to grasp her thus for ever To my heart Oh! all my Joy my reall Heaven on Earth This moment now shall joyn our hearts for ever Ero. Oh! what have I done what makes my heart thus tremble Cor. Oh! do not now reflect on any thing But on the means to finish our Uniting Which shall this hour be done Meet me my Life Half an hour hence in the low Grove beyond the Garden-Wall there I 'll provide the Priest shall joyn our hands Pleas'd in my Loves Embrace my fairest Wife I 'll then look down on those ambitious Fools That chuse the vanity of gawdy Pomp Before the real Joys of Peacefull Love Let Interest feel a check unknown before I 'm blest in her dear arms that I adore No Crowns can ever my ambition move Nor warm that heart that 's given up to Love Exeunt Enter Captain Conall and Margaretta Con. Madam tho' I must not presume to wait on you upon my own account yet being employ'd I cou'd not avoid giving you this trouble and desiring you to do my Lord Segerdo the favour to try if you can give this last Letter to Eromena Mar. Sir I shall endeavour to serve my Lord tho' really Enomena did mightily press me not to desire her to receive any more Letters but I 'll do my best Captain Cor. Oh! what a look was there it has quite broke all my Resolutioâ—s I must speak once again Madam have you no pity yet What Task must I go through to obtain a certain blessing you can bestow Mar. Pray Captain speak no more upon that subject I would not run the hazard of being tempted Con. Say you so then I am sure this is my time Aside You cannot I 'm afraid be tempted by me and so may safely trust your self You 've a heart made of Iron sure or it could never resist the Affection of a Man that would undergo a thousand wracks rather than wrong the trust of so dear a Creature Come I see a little pitty in your Eyes Oh let it increase and make me happy for ever Mar. My Husband Con. Pox o'th at damn'd word 't is like the thought of a Tryal and Execution when a Man 's going to Fight an honourable Challenge Mar. Do you call this Challenge so honourable Con. Yes certainly when a Man has declined the Combat you have leave then to use him as you please 't is your Husband's Case Come my Lovely Charming Bewitching Creature my Soul is in a Flame I shall consume to ashes in a moment Mar. I must make my appointment quickly least my Husband should really come and prevent me Aside Well Captain I will not speak and if you can read in my Eyes what I would say you 'll find nothing to your disadvantage Con. Tell me then by these lovely Eyes when shall I come When will your Husband be abroad Oh! O tell me quickly least some cursed accident or other shou'd prevent the most desir'd pleasure of my life Mar. Nay Captain 't is not so far gone neither But if I had a mind to make an Intreague I believe I could not have a better opportunity than I shall have to day for my Husband is to be abroad about an hour hence at a place where he will be some hours and then if any body had a mind to come to me it were but their putting on some Womens Cloaths and slipping up those back stairs into my Womans Chamber and if I had a mind I cou'd but open my Chamber ' door and come to them for an hour or two and no body the wiser But Heaven forbid I should do so wicked a thing Well Captain farewell and mind what I say to you I 'll be sure to do what I can for my Lord Segerdo Exit smiling Con. So so I'gad my Judgment never fail'd me yet I was sure of this I understand her well enough and tho' I am not mightily in Love yet I can't resist the present Temptation I 'll run to Segerdo and tell him her answer and then to a she Friend to borrow some disguise the rest depends on
Fortune and the lucky hour The Women are sure never to fail me Well that wou'd some men give to be so prosperous in all their attempts of this nature as I am Gad I wou'd give a great deal not to be so successfull it would make me relish my Ladies with a sharper Appetite Well however I won't lose my time now it is not a thing to be slighted till about four hours hence and then she may take her leave of me and really I wish That she may have the same desire to part For faith I should be loath to break her heart Exit Con. Scene Changes to a Chamber Enter Beringaria and Arapsia Ber. Tell me now quickly don't delay a moment How do you knoâ— the Truth of what you say Speak oh speak whlist I have life to hear you Arap. Madam I set my Lady Margaretta's Woman to watch and overheâ—r all their discourse in the Garden where I saw them walking but she was call'd away by her Lady before she could know the result but she says all she could find out was that when Cornaro propos'd marrying her she insisted upon her Gratitude to you so that I hope her resolution will prevent the mischiefs you apprehend Or if there is no other way 't is but your telling him the Truth or if you will not let me take that Office Ber. Oh! help me now if there are Powers aboâ—e Or I shall lose all my remains of Reason O! 't is gone I find 'thas leâ—t the place it did inhabit And â—â—ies up higher to you lâ—fty Râ—â—ion Come Come Arapsia help me to a Dagger I 'll cut all Eromena's Veins and let the blood Mingle with Clay to make her self a monument The wretched Creature Shall sink to shades like Clouds beneath the Sun To clear that sky Cornaro shall appear in Ara. Madam I hope there is no Dagger you 're too impatient a little time will dissâ—pate these Clouds you know the Remedy shou'd he mean to do the worst you can fear 't is bâ—t to tell him on her the truth and that will sure prevent it Ber. Oh 't is the worst of Remedies and sure distraction Will seize on me for ever when 't is known Let me consider All this train of sorrow Is the effect of following thy Counsel Now let me know What I can do to mend this Tell me a way that will Not make me wretched and then I 'll thank thy Curs'd Damn'd Contrivance But as it is tho' it is most unreasonable I loath and hate thee forâ—t yes hate my self Find out a way be sure you do a safe one Or look to see me mad to see this hand arm'd with a Rais'd Dagger to destroy you my self and Eromena Ara. Madam you are indeed unreasonable to lay This blame on me because the effect haâ—'t answer'd Your design Ber. Let me not think O let me fly fly from that Enemy To my Repose Remembrance restless Remembrance That blots out all the good of my whole life To double all the bad What with my Son Oh! let me think no more My Son and Daughter Ha by this time may be they are Man and Wife If it be so I 'll get a Cloud to hide me And bear me from that Judgment I must have Can I shun that no no it cannot be Then let me suffer bravely like the first of mortals Punish'd for such a sin oh 't is glorious to suffer For the greatest Crime was ever done by Woman I 'm lost in misery find find me not Heaven I dare not ask nor hope to be forgiven Exit Ber. Ara. Alas I fear her reason is not right What 's to be done in this extremity I 'll run the hazard to disclose this secret And make Cornaro swear not to reveal it Even to his Mother his Love will then of course Cease to Eromena and she may then marry my Lord Segerdo This as I think is the most likely way But stay Perhaps he does not love her to that degree But that he may by Arguments be perswaded To marry her his Mother has propos'd I 'll try all ways to keep the thing Concealed But to prevent the worst I must reveal it Exit SCENE A Hall Dandalo alone Dan. Well I wish all that have a mind to make Cuckolds may be married Men themselves to see how good it is I have been tormented more in my thoughts than a poor Felon the night before Execution for my Fate is as certain as his tho' not so dangerous sure 't is not come to pass yet there may be a way to prevent it I have observ'd that damn'd Captain hanker hereabouts Well I must find a way to dispose of her to make my self easie in a little time Enter Cleonista Oh! Niece what are you contriving to ruin your Uncle by making him a Cuckold For you know I am no Tradesman so that it can never turn to my advantage Cleo. Oh! Sir pray forgive me my taking that naughty Womans part alas I did not know then what I do now Dan. Why what do you know Oh Ruin and Destruction I find it is past and all the World can't recall it I 'll tear her to pieces did I marry her for this did she not promise to Love Honour and Obey me till death us did part and does she think making a Cuckold e'er a one of the Conditions Cleo. Pray Sir don't be too much disturb'd for tho' my Aunt be to blame yet it is not so far gone but you may prevent it Dan. Oh! let me but know how this time and I 'll be sure to prevent the like danger for the future Cleo. Truly Sir I must beg your pardon for having too good an opinion of your Wife but what I have to tell you is that I over-heard just now Dan. Oh! Tell me my dear Niece thou hast now convinc'd me there are Women that can be good but it must be in Policy then and not in any sence of Justice or because they knew not how to be otherwise Cleo. Why truly Sir you must understand that walking in the Garden I over-heard my Aunt make an appointment with the Captain to steal up the back stairs about this time or a little after drest in Womans Cloathes and that she would slip out of her own Chamber and meet him in that which joyns to yours Which has really troubled me so that I could not rest till I had told you Dan. I thank you Niece tho' since you 've been a meanes to bring this certain plague to mankind about I had as live you had let your information alone Cleo. Sir 't is in your pow'r to prevent this mischief for you may see at that door when the Gentleman will slip up the back Stairs and so may order the Servants to bang him soundly if you please which I would do were it my Case Consider good Uncle and consider you have but a little time and pray don't tell my Aunt Exit Cleo. Dan. Can this be
of such an error Arap. Alas I do repent I have told it you But 't is too true and see my Lady comes I cannot bear to see the grief 't will cost her But since you do resolve to know the truth Break not your Mothers heart in the discovery Exit Arap. Enter Beringaria Per. Cornaro have you thought of my proposals For all are Friends to my design but you I have but the care of well disposing thee And theâ— lie down in my cold grave in peace Cor. What shall I say I dread the discovery And yet must know it now Madam I beg If I must marry that you 'd give me leave To make my choice my self Ber. With all my heart If you make choice of one that suits your honour She 's yours and you shall have my free consent Cor. I thank you on my knees I love a Maid To that degree I cannot live without her I cannot think of loving any other Since you must know e'er your consent be had I will presume to tell you who it is 'T is Eromena Ber. Ha! what was 't you said Oh! never let me hear that word again 'T is fatal both to yours and my Repose Is this the Match you would prefer before A thousand others Cor. Madam I love her that has made the beauty And for a fortune you know well I want none Ber. Name it no more take the whole World before you Make choice of the most abject Creature living I will receive and own her for my Daughter But do not think on her unless that minute You do resolve to see me mad indeed O Heaven I beg you 'd stop this coming mischief And in exchange let me have thousand plagues Were never heard of yet Cor. O Mother Mother I am lost indeed This has almost confirm'd me Answer me One Question more and I have done for ever Is Eromena then my Daughter and born of you Why do you Change or Colour She swoons Help help within there Enter Arapsia Look to my Mother her silence has undone me Oh Heaven can it be true My Daughter Sister and my Wife and all My marry'd bedded Wife Why oh Heaven Did you permit nature to make this stumble Where was the Sacred power of Instinct now That foolish boast of undiscerning nature Cou'd it permit so gross an Act to master all its policy What my Sister Daughter Wife all in one Woman Oh Heav'n Compleat thy Vengeance and strike me to the Center Falls Arap. Help help within there Enter Cleonista Margareâ—ta and all the Gentlemen The Men go to Cornaro Women to Beringaria Ber. Who told the secret did you mention it Raving Cornaro where art thou now Dead then I am safe A stab to either will prevent my shame Who are you here that croud about me so Stand off I say I am Cornaro's Wife Let me run to him how does my dearest Son What Wife and Mother that was a mistake Give me a draught of poison presently Will you not fetch it has my Infamy Made me despis'd and not to be obey'd Even by my Children nor my Servants neither Gab. How fares my Lord Cor. A little at a loss A fatal Love has ruin'd poor Cornaro Let me intreat you Ladies to take care Of my unhappy Mother and Gentlemen You will oblige me much if you 'll retire And leave me for some time A little to recall my wandring reason Ber. Let me not see him ever whilst I live Iâ—ll have a veil shall cover me with night D' ye think the dead know what we do when living They say they do My Husband then knows of this accident And calls me Strumpet Yes I hear him speak it But I 'll wipe out this stain in nature and then Go to my dead Husband Chaste and Entire O quickly quickly shew shew me the way Exit Cor. O sad state 'till now unkown to all the World but me What had I done just Heaven to be so curst as to be made A sad example to the babbling World To follow the advice of Resolution I should not live But here 's a sight must now for ever Curse me O does she know my shame Enter Eromena Ero. Alas my Love why in that Mournful posture Why are you sad Oh! cheer your looks with mine Youâ—â—e often said my Lord you lov'd me dearly And can you have a grief now I am yours Alas I fear our Marriage is revealed I see a sad distraction in the House O speak to me my Lord is it not so Cor. Oh! Eromena Eromena Ero. Why do you sigh my Love You were prepar'd for this before and had resolved to go To Rome with me and there to pass our days If that you found your cruel Mother would not forgive The Violent effects of our stoln Loves Cor. Fly fly Eromena from a wretch that has undone thee Destroy'd that lovely form pluck'd up by the roots That beautious Flower and planted it with nought but stinking Weeds With Shame with Infamy and sure Dishonour Ero. What means my Life thou could'st not be so cruel O do not turn away my only dear If I 've offended let me know my fault And if 't is not too great to be forgiven Look on my true submission and receive me Cor. Some pittying power reveal to her her Fate I cannot do it prithee leave me here For I have something which disturbs me so That even thy Company is irksome now Ero. I will my Lord obey you whilst I live Nay I will be your Slave if you Command it I think it does become me to be so Cou'd Wives but see how very odiously Authority becomes 'em how much more like The Courtezan than Wife it does appear They sure wou'd blush that by their proud behaviour They rank themselves with the most vicious Women Cor. Can I hear this and know the loss I 've had Yet keep within my Temper Farewell farewell all thoughts of patience now Thus on the Earth I 'll throw my cursed body Sure it shou'd open to receive a weight Too heavy for 't to bear Oh! Eromena Lost Eromena quite undone by me Thou had'st been happy had'st thou never seen me Fly Eromena Fly I do Conjurâ— thee Oh! last night last night never to be possess'd again Yet to my Arms I 'll snatch thee And print a thousand kisses on thy Lips But from a Father now and not a Husband Ero. Let it be so I 'll love you as a Daughter And since you please to banish me your bed Thus on my knees I give this humble kiss And do receive your dear Paternal Love So you will love me in what name you please My Soul I 'm sure is Chaste and ne'er was Touch'd With any loose desires Cor. Oh Eromena canst thou be so Chaste as thou Hast said Can that dear Heaven of Beauty consent to be The idle part of the Creation Can that Charming Body Fit to bring forth an Angel like it self Be by my means deprived of all