head But oh too late as well I might call back Times fleeting sand or bid the labouring Sun Turn retrogade in its diurnall Course For he is gone for ever lost to me Yet think not that I 'le quench thy impurer flames I 'le sooner seek a Satyr of the Woods Embrace a Leopard mix with ravenous Wolves For they 're more clear and more relenting far But oh Dâ—ath is the wellcom'st guest to me To embrace a shrowd and kiss the weeping Marble Till we 're Incorporate both cold alike So turn like Niobe into a Stone Ant. Instruct me heaven what means this show of rage Madam you load me with a Crime unknown And still forestall what I wou'd say to you But let these fruitless accusations cease And tell me how I have betray'd Alberto Mir. Hast thou not Ant. What Speak Mir. But here I 'me lost again My Father charg'd me not to clear the truth And Tyrant duty compells me to obey Enter Maria. What means that ghastly look Maria speak Dost thou bring ought of comfort or despair Mar. I 'le speak the truth howe're it fatall prove Just now arriv'd some Soldiers to your father Who say they 've seiz'd Alberto and Ricardo For Duelling Mir. What and Imprison'd too Mar. Worse Madam your enrag'd Father swears His life is forfeit and it shall be paid Yet now has sent to bring Ricardo to him Mir. Oh Tyrant Father greater Tyrant thou to Ant. Who Triumphs thus over two bleeding hearts Which both expire by thy Treachery Ant. I 'me at a loss for words to express my wonder Madam I 'me hushâ— and will accuse no more Since I 'me confirm'd you love Alberto still But still unkindly you maintain your charge 'gainst me Fill me with blackest Ideas of a Crime I loath to name But I must tell you Madam The fair Astella's Image is rooted here And not to be defac'd by all your Charms Nor think your Fathers grant or vain Ambition Can ever blast my love and make me change Mir. Too late this forc'd Repentance comes from yoâ— Since Death 's his Doom and not to be repeal'd Ant. I will make reparation tho' not guilty Such reparation Madam will convince you That friendship's deaâ—er to this breast then life Mir. What can'st thou do to counterveil his death Ant. I 'le save him tho' I perish in th' attempt I 'le ransome from him his unjust confinement Or leave my life to appease your jealousy Mir. This will be noble and may clear my doubts Go and success attend your brave endeavours Away and give me life or death since my weak thread Depends on his and drops when he 's cut off Exit Mir. Mar. Ant. Alberto thus confin'd It shall not be I 'le snatch him from the very jaws of Death And shield him from the stroke of angry fate Going Enter Astella Ast. Turn thee Antonio turn Ambitious youth Ant. My dear Astella here O my fair Saint This is a day of wonders mighty wonders Such as must Separate a while my Soul And force me to thy Brother and my friend Ast. Wonders indeed that such a Votary As you shou'd turn Apostate unto Love And pay your vows unto another Saint Ant. Ha my Astella this is still more strange In what perplexity am I involv'd I think the Planets tread in mistick rounds And all the Stars are hatching fatall riddles Ast. In vain you 'd seek a shroud to hide your guilt Loves jealous eyes with ease can pierce your Soul And mak 't transparent as a Cristall mirror Ant. What a gross fatâ— has heaven allotted me To make me ignorantly thus a Villain A Villain to my Mistriss and my friend Yet cannot learn my Crime to either Ast. Yet my Antonio why shou'd you prefer The barren and uncertain joys ambition yields Before Loves calmer and more solid sweets How have you call'd yoâ— shining Orbs to witness The purer flame which circl'd in your breast And swore the fixed Stars shou'd change their sphere E're you forgot Astella for another Ant. Was ever love in such a maze as mine That all her softness cannot melt my nature The rugged figure of Alberto's prison aside Has rac'd out for a while the impressions of my love Credit me Madam I can never change Then speak not words so fatall to my peace Nor from this sullen temper fondly gather I Love no more but angeâ— clouds my Love Ast. Heaven knows and you what cloud eclipses it But I 'le repine no longer at your choice Nor think I 'm wretched whilest Antonio's happy But let me beg you to defer your joys Till I am wither'd by a milder grief And languish by a gentle death from you Ant. This kindness from her wounds me but the deeper Since I want power to make a fit return By heaven my heart is yours as it was ever But I must pay a duty to my friend Which done I will return and doubly blest Whilst he shall give your hand but yoâ— the rest Exit Ast. This ill-tun'd Joy's but a forc'd harmony These words are all but Mandrakes notes to me Yes my Antonio thou art false inconstant As the leaf that 's blown with every winde I read it in his eyes yet cannot chide It were not rigor shou'd I blame the false one And vent the sorrows of an injur'd Love But oh I cannot be so much a Woman Ye Powers that form'd this peice of Misery Why made ye me so soft and him so cruell Yet er'e I will proceed some means I 'le try Which if they fail there still remains to dye Thus I 'le râ—deem the credit of my Sex For when my fatall Story shall be told Succeeding times shall change their harsh decree And with united Voices all agree That Man 's the Emblem of Inconstancy Exit ACT III. SCENE I. A Prison Enter Jaylor with Purses Iay. Be true to thy Profit still say I Stephano Ricardo has given me fifty checquins to release him and says he 'le save my throat and be my friend at Court when at the same time herâ— are some come with Orders from the Vice-Roy to free him which he knows not of Again here 's within young Antonio who has given me a hundred more for his friend the Lord Alberto now 't is a Sin to refuse Iove descending in a golden shower into my lap and a greater Sin to be hang'd Well Stephano lay thy wits together and for once outwit a Statesman and out-promise a Courtier who 's there Enter Officers with two or three more Offi. Is my Lord Ricardo ready yet Iay. Sir he 's a little busy at present and desires no noise near him but if you 'l be pleas'd to retire and wait at the door facing St. Iaques's I 'le conduct him to you strait Offi. Well make hast honest Jaylor Exeunt Iay. I think I nick't it just i' th nick Wit and Pollicy together that 's too much for once but now to my business goes and unlocks a door My Lord you
you to be a Demon of Quality by your good manners that you come in a shape so familiar to me and that you don't bring Hell with you in your eyes But as for being my Master you know I have serv'd him faithfully in this World and 't is too hard to serve him in both at least till I am dead and as pure a Spirit as he and it is not fair that an honest Devill as I hope you are shou'd stretch my service beyond the limits of Matrimony Alb. This is Frenzy beyond all patience Did ever madness run to such a height Lop. Prithee â—e not so impatient but hear me out an hungry Judge or Guardian Usurer wou'd be more conscientious than you if you be come to punish me for my telling of the Challenge I answer that truly I did designe to prevent your fighting but was or'eheard a plotting by your friend Ricardo Alb. Ha! Ricardo Lop. Ay Sir for he swore hâ—'d blunt your adversaries sword with his blood so I trusting your safety to him retir'd This is the Sum of what I have to say in my own defence and I refer my Cause to a Jury of Spirits but let 'em appear invisibly and if they finde me guilty condemn me to the Gallies of Acheron if not resign your black Habeas corpus and sign my acquittance by immediate vanishing Alb. This might divert another but not me This simple Story carries wonders with it For Lopez did not know the place appointed Yet was Ricardo ready with his Murderers Oh 't is too plain 't was my false friends design But that 's but small for I was slain before A moving lump of clay without a Soul Lop. Now is this Archidiabolo giving Instructions to the invisible Jury Alb. Lopez throw off this fond affected fear Feel me I 'm flesh and blood a Man as thou art And not the Demon of the murder'd Master Lop. Whose Demon are you then Seignior Alb. The Slave perverts my words to serve his folly I am alive escapt from Prison Lop. That is as much as to say From Hell did you leap the Walls or shoot the Gulf Alb. Sure I 'me mistaken all this while art thou Lopez Lop. As sure as you 'r the Devill But who the Devill sent you to me Alb. Ridiculous approach me and feel thou Infidell And then believe thy Senses Lop. Well so I wou'd if I were so stout but I 'le make up that with policy upon these conditions I 'le approach first that you do not breath upon me and infect me with the air of Hell 2 dly That when I 'm close to you you don't contract your self into a mouthfull of air then leap down my throat and by inspiration get me with Child of a young Belzebub Alb. Will this mad humour never leave him try me Lop. Well I 'le take your word for once his worships well drest flesh and blood upon my life but are you sure you are alive Sir Alb. If ever thou didst know me so I am Lop. Hum your pardon Seignior a wiser man than I might mistake finding you here at this time of night and so expert as to break thro' your prison walls Alb. That misterie's too deep for thee to dive in But now retire and sleep for I perceive thou want'st it And when the morning dawns I will awake you Lop. I thank you Sir Exit Enter Antonio Alb. Hark! Something I hear again tread near this place Who shou'd it be Antonio no! He lies secure within Miranda's arms Enjoys and rifles all my hoarded sweets Then tir'd with bliss and the excess of joy Leans on her panting breasts and falls asleep Oh my poor heart sighs Ant. How have I chang'd my state of happiness And fall'n from all my hopes in one black day Like Oedipus I 'me innocent yet guilty But feel a punishment as great as his My freind and mistress fled away at once Astella Oh my Love Alb. By hell and all it's horrors 't is he Oh my swoln heart why dost thou tremble thus Thou that has fac'd Grim death in all it's Pageant-greatness When here 's a greater foe before thee The Serpent rob'd thee of thy Paradice Ant. It is Albertâ—'s voice Instruct me heaven What 's due unto my Honour and my Friendship Alb. Antonio Ant. Yes Alberto Alb. He that was my friend I think Ant. The same Alb. 'T is false thou never wert my friend Ant. 'T is well proceed Alberto Alb. Yes Traytor I will proceed Untill thy bloated face proclaim thy Guilt And bursting spit thy Venom out Seeâ—t thou not revenge Triumphant on my Sword Which maugre darkness shines like the Meridian Sun Longing to quench its thirsty wishes in thy blood And glimmering in the Scarlet sky to set Be quick and satisfy it Ant. Not for the World Or purchase an Eternity of bliss Wou'd I Encounter on so light a Cause Just like two rushing winds driven by chance Fight one another by a blind impulse Give me to know your Sorrows and my Crime Or find some other means for satisfaction I will not thus Alb I 'le tell thee when my Sword 's imbru'd and reeking in thy gore But now to speak wou'd pall the Appetite of my great revenge Why dost thou thus delay Ant. Here take thy wishes then offers Alb. his Sword Since thou art false deliberately false My life 's a burden to me Alb. Then throw it off I 'le ease thee of that burden Ant. I did resign it when I resign'd my Sword Now strike Alberto strike through my heart And to assure the Stroke think on thy wrongs But to lift up my Arm against thee were Sacrilegâ— In every wound I should behold Astella wrong'd And shame my Cruelty unto her brother But thou delay'st too long I am prepar'd Alb. Thou art a Fool I tell thee that wou'd blunt the edge of Justice What cut thee down as the laborious Hind mows off the grass Which by inclining seems to beg a Crop Antonio no you shall not dye so cheap I 've begg'd of Heaven to make thee as strong as Atlas To brave my fury like a well-grown Oak That I might wound and kill untill I fainted And my desires were baffl'd by my weakness Ant. 'T is well ye Powers thus to refuse me death When life was Odious to me Cursed Fate How shall I work him to so brave a deed Rather let me fight Without the Violation of my Love Then ever think Alb. Damn thy dull thoughts Is this a time for Love Equivocating slave Ant. Ha! Slave Alb. Yes Traytor Villain Coward Ant. Coward that stings home and wounds my honour Alb. Honour thou hast none that Roab of Glory Thou hast quite thrown off for thou art false and base Therefore a Traytor Villain and a Coward Ant. Thy Sisters Love secures thee still She calms the storm which swells within my breast And stills the rage of anger and despair Alb. My Sister no Devil no she never charm'd your Soul You Idoliz'd another
Sure this will sound him Aside Ant. I was indeed a happy Lover once Sighs Ast. Ha! Once did he say oh heavens then 't is too true aside Ant. But now my Love is gone I know not whither My Dear Astella if thou' rt fled to heaven Oh let me knowâ—t that I may follow thee If still on earth I 'le pray the whispering winds That they 'de conduct me to thy dark abode I 'le beg the Trees to bow their leafy heads And point me out the Mansion of my Love What shall I think for to suspect thy truth Or doubt Alberto's words were sure a Crime Ast. I know not what this musing does portend But I will try him once again My noble Lord Cast not a wretched youth to the wide world Who cannot live a moment absent from you Why are you sad Give me to know the Cause Kneels I 'le sit and sing and charm your griefs asleep Lye at your feet like weeping Philomell And hush your sorrows with my pleasing airs And when the morning dawns I 'le be your Lark To wellcome with my joyfull notes the coming day Thus we 'le perform and pass the time away Thus spend the melancholy hours making grief a pleasure And scorning all the follies of the laughing world Ant. Such pleasing softness did I never hear And still the more I look the more I still desire In every feature methinks I read Astella The very air that bears the charming sounds Ecchoes Astella to my wondring ears Râ—se gentle Youth so sweet an advocate Must needs obtain the cause tho' ne're so hard If then kind Florimo you 'd share in a disorder'd heart And be the sad Companion of my woes But do not for they 'l blast thy tender form And wither all thy blooming hopes to death Ast. Alas 't is all the blessing I wou'd wish To share your woes since I 'me already More unfortunate and wretched then you er'e can be Ant. Oh 't is impossible but tell me how thou art wretched Ast. By Love that soft disturber of my peace And by my friend Ant. Grant heaven it be not so with me aside Ast. Doubt not your Mistriss safety nor your Friend If conscious innocence says you love her still Ant. Love her thy silly question stabs my very Soul None can behold Astella and not love her Not Orpheus when he charm'd the fiery gates of hell And gain'd an entry to the vast abiss Had half that Love for his Euridice Nor when he rescu'd from the God of night His beauteous prize and the same hour lost her Felt half my hell of torture and despair Ast. Oh charming words which like Promethean fire Kindles the embers of expiring life and love And like the Arabian Chimist can extract A Phâ—nix from the ashes of her Sire My Joy's too great to be contain'd Here let me breath my Soul out at your feet Kneeling And fly an Angell to the other world Refin'd by so divine a good as yours Ant. What means the Youth Rise and resolve my doubts Why does my declaration thus affect you Ast. Tune to his voice ye musick of the spheres To finde such virtue 'mongst corrupted Man Is sure a Subject for Fames golden Trumpet To find your Love like Vestall fire guarded When every foe does lend a breath against it Safe and unâ—ully'd in that hollow'd Shrine Ant. So nice a sence of virtue from a Boy Is strange and must proceed from â—omething stranger Ast I Swore to wander thro' the spacious world Till death wou'd put an end to all my woes To finde some Lover of so clear a truth The same when slighted or his Mistriss dead And now I 've found the noblest of our Sex I 'le be your Servant or your Sacrifice And never part till parted from my self Ant. I am amaz'd at such surprizing words But 't is a pleasing wonder Come my Boy I 'le crown thy wishes thou' rt mine for ever Embraces him Instruct my Virtue that seeing thee I may Read Lectures of Astella every day But yet I want to know the Story of thy life The many wrongs thou hast sustain'd and pass'd And all the pretty murmurings of thy grief Ast. By a long Siege I Storm'd my Mistriss heart And took the Guarded Fortress of her Love Next when I 'de got my only friends consent The Brother of my destin'd Bride Lestella No Isthmus seem'd to bar me from my joys When on the fatall Dawn before our Marriage Urg'd by I know not what mistake my friend Went to his Mistriss call'd her false and perjur'd Said he or I that Night must leave the World At night I heard of his Imprisonment Attended with a thundering peal of Curses From the fair Mistriss of my Friend At length I by my vows to free him had appeas'd her Madded with rage I did mind my own Who with a charming grief reproach'd my falshood I had not time to answer her Complaints But flung away in hast unto my friend Whom I releas'd but he escap'd my sight Strait I receiv'd from him a dreadfull Note Which stab'd me with the News of my Lestilla's death Who fell a Victim to his Jealousy Despairing I abandon'd Sicily And careless of my fate am hither come To wander like a banish'd Criminal quite forlorn This sure will try him since my other fails Aside Ant. What words are these or is it but a dream A Vision of Astella thus adorn'd aside Who comes to try the truth of her suspicions If that my wonder gentle youth wou'd give me leave I 'de say thou hast sav'd me the unwellcome trouble Of telling thee the Story of my life Since thou hast so truly weav'd it with thy own Ast. Not so I hope Sir is your Mistriss dead Ant. There sticks my sate and leaves me in a maze If dead what then remains but strait to follow her Ast. You speak my Lord in riddles If she be dead you wou'd dye to follow her And at the same time own you Love her not Ant. Thou dost not understand me right my Boy Be witness all ye Powers that knew our hearts How much I lov'd that dear departed Saint Ast. Departed whither Ant. Oh that I cou'd resolve thee My Friend enrag'd told me he had slain her But soon recanted and I as soon believ'd Yet now some strange suggestions press my heart anew And fix my wandring fancy to her Image Ast. I hope he 'le not repent of this kind grant Aside Shall I my Lord to sooth your sorrows Sing Ant. Do my Boy whilst I repose me on this bank And bear a part with thee Both sing After the Song she speaks Ast. Rise Rise my Lord I see one coming hither With a grave pace as big with some design Ant. It is Ricardo Florimo away And wait me in the next walk Exit Astella Enter Ricardo musing This is the Cause I fear of all our dire mistakes Now Studying some new Plot I 'le observe him Ric. Thus Virtue 's ever clouded
I clear your fâ—ars and doubts my Lord I griev'd Great Sir your kindness for Ricardo Must Sacrifice the affections of a Daughter And promist to prepare the Potion for her When urg'd by grief to that Extremity But hoping you 'de revoke the cruell Sentence When fearing the effects by such a loss I workt her fancy to believe that Poyson Which only dull'd the vigour of the Spirits Mir. I was mistaken but yet so kindly I d'e wish for ever to be so deceiv'd V. R. Antonio pardon all the wrongs you 've born And take my friendship as return in part Embraces him Ant. Great Sir this grace has more than cancell'd all But let me beg your Highnesses consent To make me happy in this fair Ladies Love V. R. This Lady Alb. Astella Sir my Sister V. R. You have it Sir but why in this disguise Ant. Plung'd in the same mistake that threatn'd all She came on some designe to try my Love Mir. Sister for so I must for ever call you Pardon my forc'd neglect of you unknown Ast. Your own misfortunes are a sufficient plea. Salute Clashing of Swords within Enter Fabio with his Sword drawn Fab. Great Sir Ricardo breaking from his Prison Comes like a Torrent Spite of opposition And forcing all the Guards that bar'd his way With a drawn Sword wrested from their hands â—s entring here But see he comes Enter Ricardo with a Sword V. R. Infernall Monster was ever sight like this That Villany shou'd make a Coward Valiant Can hell breath virtue Yes a brutall one But thus I 'le meet and crush the monstrous birth Ric. Here Sir wreak all your fury on this Villain Think not I 'de offer at your Sacred life throws his Sword to the V. R. Death I am come to seek but since your Guards Have fail'd and I 've the Noblest from your hand Strike Sir for I 'me prepar'd V. R. Prepar'd 't is false When Thousand Crimes like weights press'd down thy Soul Yes thou art ready Slave for hell thou' rt ripe Lust and Ambition have rac'd out the Man And being a Devil thou long'st to be at home Ric. 'T is true I 'me worse then you can paint me Sir Therefore to ask a pardon were to arraign heavenâ—s Justice And make its Mercy Pandar to my sins Why are you slow then to be Heavens Avenger V. R. I will avenge it but another way Guards seize him once again and mark me all Your Lives are forfeit for the next escape In chains he shall behold Alberto's Nuptials That he may swell with envy till he burst Ric. By heaven not all your Armies here should seize me Pardon me Sacred Sir I say they shou'd not Not that I dread to see the happy Nuptials For every binding word wou'd ease my Soul Yes Sir I joy more for their happiness Than I can grieve for my own sordid baseness But to lye lingriâ—g in a lazy prison Wou'd rob expecting Justice of its prey Therefore to satisfy the hovering Sword Thus I 'me Ricardo's Executioner offers to stabs himself Alb. interposes and takes it from him Alb. Hold and may heaven forgive what 's past as I do now O Sacred Sir or if the name of Father Can plead more strongly pitty this Penitent I read a deep Contrition in his eyes Let him not fall a Victim to despair When one kind breath can blow away his Crimes And cause the horrid Leprosy to vanish Ric. This goodness from you Noble Generous Youth Sinks me the deeper O restore the dagger For since all hope of pardon 's fled away Nothing can torture me like this delay V. R. To recompence the wrongs which you 've sustain'd What is 't I wou'd not do but Son beware Take heed how you believe these new-coin'd looks And these false sighs lest they shou'd prove infectious For Proteus-like he can take every shape Scrue himself up into an humble Saint To serve his black designs and if that miss Strut like a Peacock in his gaudy trim And shew all Lucifer nay he can make Even Contradictions meet to gain his ends Ric. Therefore kind Sir kill me lest I work more mischief Alb. But now that borrow'd habit 's quite thrown off Stript by the Vulture Conscience of his Plumes Kneel kneel Ricardo for methinks I see A calm of pitty gently chase the Tempest And smooth the furrows of his angry brow Both kneel Think of the power of Love Great Sir what heart is proof What Virtue is so strong and Adamantine Which the resistless heat of his Attacques Cannot melt to Vice V. R. Rise both Ricardo rise For sure such Generosity must awe thee And force each start of Envy to retire Therefore I pardon you your life but for your Crimes Banish you for ever from our Court Ric. Ha! pardon did you say name it again For yet I cannot trust my Credulous ears V. R. You may Ric. O Sir let me devour your feet Grâ—w to the Earth in prostrate Adoration And end my life in this so happy Transport Hence to some gloomy Desert I 'le retreat Black as my Crimes and my deserved fate Where no kind Cell or Neighbouring Lodge is found But wild Campain and bare unhospitable ground There from my breast vollies of sighs shall rise Shall thaw th' Avenging Justice of the skies To mercy while the pittying Gods shall dain To give me back my Iâ—nocence again There my last stake in Penitential tears In rigid Pennance Fasts and Midnight Prayersâ— I 'le spend till heaven and you I can attone And merit this forgiveness you have shown Exit Guarded Enter Lopez Bernardo and Soldiers 1. Sol. May it please your Highness V. R. What means your Insolence 1. Sol. This Importunate fellow because he help'd me to save that Lords life pretends I owe him something Now I make your Highness my Judge V. R. I understand you therefore let each man Have Twenty Crowns Alb. Lopez I shall reward you for your care Ant. And you Bernardo may remain with me Ber. I thank you Sir for I was terribly afraid of my Master V. R. But all their Services had been in vain Had not Maria brought this last reprieve Which I shall Study how to recompence Alb. Now my Miranda since the fates are kind We may reflect upon our dangers past As a befriended Traveller returns And when his Country 's grown familiar with him His fancy roves o're all the dismall Scene The roling Seas the fearfull beasts of prey And all the Terrours that beset his way Whilst every horrour swells his trembling joy And still renews those pleasures which wou'd â—â—oy Then for a Monument we 'le Erect this Rule And fix it on the Portall of Loves School Few Lovers can be always in the Right Mistakes and Quarrells heighten their Delight FINIS EPILOGUE Spoken by Mr. Montfort STay Gentlemen and give your Suffrages For on your Votes depends Ricardo's peâ—ce Doom'd to be exil'd as I past along The Poet singl'd me from out the throng Frowning he charg'd me er'e I went away To come and beg excuse for his dull Play Which if I gain'd he promis'd to repeal The hasty doom of his Poetick zeal But by my hast my message I 've forgot I must say something yet I know not what But only this 't is to both Sexes sent And to the one but a rough complement The Men he fears not for he says he writ So dull to please and he is sure t' will hit Where ten dull Fops are for one Man of Wit Who if the Writer stumbles on a thought Dam it they cry the Bâ—ttle brought that out But if insipid they cry One and All Oh 't is unaffected strange and naturall Like Mahomet who Whoredome does allow Because a Crime which Nature prompts us to But from the Ladies on a double Score I wou'd a favourable glance implore You like an Adamant the Mâ—n attract What e're gains your assent they make an Act See how the Criticall Committee wait From your fair brows the Poets doubtfull fate Do not for once then blast the infant bud Which by your Sunshine may in time grow ripe and good But if no favour you design t' impart But rather with his numerous foes take part He Swears he cares not for your cruelty But says he 'l go on Pilgrimage with me And the whole â—rain of Fops and Beaux defy
absent himself so long V. R. Nor did you meet my friend honest Ricardo Ant. Honest Ricardo and but plain Alberto Sir you surprize me Vi. R. I shall surprize you Sir To tell you he that is your friend must cease To be your friend or I commence your Enemy Ant. Forbid it heaven V. R. Grant it propitious heaven thou shoud'st have said Woud'st thou defile the eâ—mine of thy Souâ— And mix with such a canker'd poisonous Beast Even birds of prey peck at their Dearest Mates When false to them and common with another Ant. Oh hold my blood chills at these injurious words And cools the warmth which circles round my heart My friend corrupted no it cannot be Alberto's white purer then driven snow The very emblem of Man's infant Nature And clear as opening heaven V. R. And yet as black as Hell â—alse to his King his Country and to me But what is more false to love and thee Ant. Impossible It cannot be V. R. You 'l not believe me then Ant. Pardon me Sir if that I say I cannot For sure my friend can never prove Disloyall â—alse to his King his Country or to Love When Gods cease to be Gods and heaven is heaven no more Then will I cease to adore those Gods for ever But oh they 're still immortall and unchang'd So is our friendship kindled by their influence Promethean heat did light it from above And none but heaven can e're put out the fire But Sir your words imply the knowledge of something Which for Alberto's sake I 'de beg to share in V. R. No ripping up of Circumstances Sir 'T is most unseasonable to our purpose now Dispell those Clowds which thus hang o're your brow And now prepare to meet your coming Joy To morrows light shall give your long'd for Bride Unto your arms and tye you fast for ever You muse I did not expect this from a Lover Ant. My Love and Friendship are so near akin That one being hurt the other feels the smart And eccho's to it's grief Just like a well-tun'd Lute 's harmonious strings One being broke makes all the rest to Jarr V. R. 'T is a fond Eccho of a troubl'd brain And false as wandring Meteors in the night If for your friendship you 'l be false to Love Your guilt will equal to Alberto's prove He but a lower friendship does decline But you 'd Almighty Love for him resigâ—e Ant. How can I hope to have my Love secure When it 's twin-brother friendship wants a Cure Besides my happiness depends on his Since his consent must consummate my bliss V. R. Let his consent give place unto my will She 's in my power and I will keep her still Ant. This Sir wou'd too severe appear in you To hold by force what is anothers due V. R. Alberto's due you mean young man 't is thine Thy due nor is it his consent but mine Mâ—st rule my Daughter Ant. Ha! your Daughter Sir V. R. My Daughter Yes I know you think it strange And wonder at this unexpected change But I have found that you deserve her best And 't is Antoniâ— she must now possess I 'le fetch her to you strait Exit Vice-Roy Ant. Guard me ye Powers Did he not say or did I dream he said That my friends Mistriss shou'd be mine Oh horror Weep heart at such a horid thought weep blood And drown the Demon in the crimson flood Watch friendship guard the fortress of my Soul And all this crowding heap of Ill 's controul Fly fond ambition to thy stormy Cell Or rather sink into thy native Hell Avaunt ye mushroom glories of the earth Whose fading is as sudden as your birth Leave me t' injoy my Mistriss and my Friend And let me never never these offend Enter Vice-Roy and Miranda Mir. By all your hopes Great Sir By my dear mothers Ghost I do conjure you Revoke this cruell Sentence V. R. Come no more There 's Fate in every sillable I speak And if you prize Alberto's life receive him As one who shortly must commaâ—d you Ant. Stand firm my friendship 'gainst the mighty shock aside Mir. I kâ—ow you do but try my constancy You 'd curse me from your blood were I disloyall And false to him tho' he 's unkind to me How did you trembling stand all struck with horror To think he shou'd forget his Vows to me And shou'd I coppy him V. R. You plead in vain His doom stands fixt unless you repeal it I have no time to argue think and resolve Here 's the reward of your long smother'd flames And fortune gives you an hour unask'd What you scarce dar'd to wish for untill now I leave her here to clear the rest Exit with Guards Attendants Ant. What mean these prodigies but see she weeps Perhaps she thinks to thaw my nature by hâ—r tears And wash away my Virtue with the dew aside Mir. Assist me all ye Powers that favour Love My noble Lord. aside Ant. O strike me with some leprosy kind heaven Blot even natures genuine image out That I may be a monster to her eyes Mir. This musing gives a Vent unto my hopes Perhaps his friendship Struggles still for life And with some aid may yet recover breath aside That you are Generous the World can witness Your bravery the haughty French do mourn And Naples sav'd proclaims Antonio's Valour Ant. Oh tempting Charmer Mir. But there are virtues which beâ—it a Court And sound much softer then the rugged stile of war Love the prerogative of Heaven and Gods The Polisher of yet unfinish'd Nature Which separates and refines the dross of man And brings the golden Age upon thâ— Soul And friendship bears such sympathy with Love You cannot have the one without the other Once you did own a friend and Love him too Once your twin-Souls did kindly mix together You hearts beat time and measur'd every thought You squar'd your actions to each other's will And each desire did center in his friend Ant. We did we do and hope we ever shall There is Divinity in all you say But yet there still remains a harsh conclusion Why wou'd you then seek to destroy that friendship To cancell all the Sacred bonds and stain Your Virgin-beauties with so foul a Crime Mir. Ha! what does he mean Ant. Think Madam oh think Think of Alberto's worth his constant Love How ill he merits from Miranda this But if you 've cruelly resolv'd his death Let not Antonio be his murderer How wou'd the damn'd in Hell be ague-struck And double all their pains by contraries How wou'd they hate the abhor'd light And think the dismall shades the happier place Where all such monstrous villany they shun But still repent for what on earth they 've done Mir. Be witness heaven how Innocent am I And oh reflect Antonio on your guilt You 've argu'd justly in your own defence Why shou'd you then betray so brave a friend And draw such vengeance on your guilty
a Cause shou'd arm the world against him Enter Astella Ant. Stay for I feel a glowing heat within me Eat up my friendship and I am all on fire Ast. What shou'd this mean Ric. Cherish the noble flame And let your wrongs heighten the generous rage If Alexander for a Fav'rites loss Who periâ—â—t by a Natural Enemy Made all the Eastern World his Funeral pile And glutted Death with crowded Hecatombs What shou'd you do who see a Mistriss slain Slain by a Man who call'd himself your friend Death Hell and Vengeance will you suffer it Methinks my Arm does tremble to my Sword And by instinct Commands me to unsheath it Ant. No no the brave Revenge belongs to me Bloud talk of bloud I will have bloud Ricardo But there 's a Prison bars him from my fury Away Impediments you shall not hinder For tho' he speeds away to Hell I 'le after Shoot like a flaming Vulture thro' the dark abyss Till I might fix my beak in his false heart Nay tho' the Christal Gates of Heaven were ope And waiting to receive my Soul to joy In Hell I 'de linger an Eternity That I might double all Alberto's Plagues And make it hotter with the Flames I bear Ast. Alas that Villain has infected him But I 've an Antidote will expell the poyson Ric. Why this my Lord becomes your injuries Since you 'r resolv'd I 'le further your revenge Wait in this Garden at the approach of Night And I 'le take care to send Alberto to you Ant. O kind Ricardo in this obligation You 've reach'd the utmost bounds of my desire Wheel on the never-tir'd Post of Heaven Fly swiftly to thy wanton Goddess Arms That I may fly to my revenge Farewell When next we meet expect to see me chang'd Roab'd like the Setting Sun in bloudy red Or pale as sickning Stars and as spent Meteors dead Exit Ast. I 'le after him and learn the mistery Exit Ric. Fly to thy ruine fond believing Fool Thou know'st not what it is to take revenge For Nemesis delights in Woods not Cities In dark Cabals and not in open War Yes my new friend I 'le send Alberto to you And reconcile your differing Constitutions Both shall breath nought but sulphur and destruction Therefore some new Chimaera I will study Which his friend Alberto must be sent to kill Enter Lopez drest like Alberto Lop. Well now I have gotten these Cloaths on methinks I 'me as greaâ— a Person as my Master and for ought I know 't is the comely person within makes the Gentleman according to the Proverb fine Birds make fine Feathers Let me see surveighs himself Ric. If I shou'd tell him that his Mistress's false Ric walks off as in the Garden But stay that Topick's grown too obsolete Lop. Clean Limbs handsome gait Noble appearance pitty these qualifications shou'd be thrown away upon a Serving-Man Well if my face answers these 't will grieve me to retire to my primitive Rascallity and that this bulk of Nobility shou'd dwindle to a Valet pulls out a Glass Heavens defend me Seignior Lopez I shou'd as soon think it were an Angel now will I exercise my parts upon my self for such an Object must needs inspire Oratory tho' I am brim-full of it already Seignior if Iupiter had borrow'd one of your eyes for a dark Lanthorn he might have fought his Enemies with a double advantage answers O Dear Sir a little clear and sharp indeed I must confess I make use of 'em sometimes for my diversion to wound and kill poor silly Ladies but for the rest Nay good sweet Seignior you ravish me with the Excellency of your gestures every part of you dances as it were to the Musique of the Spheres and swims like the Lambent fires above in a Caelestial motion O Seignior Enter Ricardo Ha! interrupted what Malicious Star envi'd me the happiness of hearing my self prais'd by so accomplisht a person of honour as Seignior Lopez Ric. Confusion what Alberto here and free Or does my wandring sense deceive me That it is he 't is plain but how escap'd Or if escap'd how venturing to stay here I must confess amazes me to think Lop. I 'le vex this saucy fellow for disturbing me walks caresly by Ricardo Ric. I 'me on a Râ—ck till I can learn the meaning With what a haughty negligence he bears himself Lop. I have a good mind to tell him to his face he 's a very uncivil person and to make good what I said if he threatens to beat me I 'le beg his pardon But then he 'de discover who I am no no that must not be Ric. There 's no way left to sound this mistery But to begin the harrangue which I 've prepar'd My Lord I have a secret of Importance Still the same port that scornfull gay behaviour In what a mist of Errour have I been A Sacrifice here Staulks in State before me And sleeping vice still dreads to give the blow The place is silent and the Aiding Trees With bended branches cover the offence Besides Antonio's rage will cloak the deed And they 'l condemn him for the Murderer It shall be soâ— the next turns his last So runs at Lopez and Lopez falls End thus thy Pride and Love together Lop. Ha betray'd my honour wounded Help Murder help I am kill'd I 'me dead oh Ric. His life is fled away with that last groan Now fly Ricardo manage well this game And future Ages shall extoll thy fame Exit Lop. So is he gone pox of his kindness what 's here My voice has alarm'd some of the Counrtiers but I 'le send 'em away like fools as they come I warrant ' em lies down Enter 3 or 4 Gentlemen Fabio and Don Silvio 1. Gent. This way the dâ—â—adfull voice directed us 2. Gent. And here 's the occasion Heavens 't is Alberto 1. Gent. What horrid Mistery is this how came he free 2. Gent. And murder'd too a Riddle by my Soul Let 's to the Vice-Roy who walks i' th' Garden For 't is too deep for us to dive into Exeunt Lop. So I find I shall have now the whole Court about me but I 'le prepare my self to receive 'em I may thank my self for letting the sword run betwixt my arms I had been spoil'd else I think I defended my self as if I had eyes behind Well now for my Glass I fear this bus'ness has disorded me pox o' your ill-breeding to spoil a good face and tumble ones perriwig and Crevat I must not be seen in this pickle therefore I 'le go home and new vamp my â—elf A plague of this Nobility if for a fine Coat one must be continually in danger of having his throat cut or spitted thro' the loins like a Spar-rib of Pork I 'de rather be hang'd than dye an untimely death there 's no satisfaction in 't but see they are coming 't were best for me to be gone lest I be taken and put in the bakers pulpit for
to such a height That thou woud'st have my Daughter spite of death Is this thy Love Lust by my Soul Damn'd burning Lust But since your Saucy haste has thus provok'd me I 'le to that drooping Flower and there enquire What anger did refuse to hear before And if I finde what I suspect Ricardo I 'le heap such loads of misery upon thee Shall crush thy Soul and sink thee into Hell Italian spite and Spanish Jealosy Shall twine their Snakes to lash and torture thee Exit Ricardo Solus Ric. Nay then I 'me ruind and for ever lost How sweet is hope to man's aspiring thoughts Which makes 'em like Camelions live on air And hug their slender plots But when that 's fled Then comes the dismall sad Catastrophe Those threats were vain for I 've a fury here Begins to lash and sting my guilty Soul Conscience that blood-hound which tracks falling Greatness Had but my shafts hit right to my desire I wou'd have laugh'd even in the face of heaven And rais'd in raptures equall to the Gods Brav'd all the force of Hell made Envy gnasâ— To see me mounted above its reach But now Alberto's death beats an alarm Unto my guilty Conscience my affrighted blood retires And leaves my trembling arms shaking like tender willows At the northern wind My feet the feeble Basis of this tottering Pyramide Cleave close unto the Earth whilst my erected hair Stiffer then bristles on a shooting Porcupine Stares in the very face of angry Iove As I were thunder-stoork Enter Alberto Antonio Astella Ha! the ill stomack't earth vomits her dead To torture me Am I inviron'd round with Ghosts Hide me ye Powers from their amazing looks Spread an eternall darkness o're the world That they may wander still in ignorance And never finde me out Alb. What horrid sounds are these and from Ricardo He takes me for a Ghost away my friend Attone the Vice-Roys anger whilst I here Humour this Villains mistaken penitence Ant. We will and may success attend you Exeunt Ant. Ast. Ric. Will nothing then conceal me Alb. Heaven cannot hide you from my just revenge Without the forfeiture of goodness Murder That crying Sin has like a powerfull spell Summon'd my scarce cold corps from out its Urn To force an accusation of thy Conscience Ric. Mount mount my Soul and with the swiftest winds Fly to some unknown Land where the affrighted Sun Ner'e yet durst enter nor the astonish'd heavens Think on a place so horrid Where Death surfeits his fatall arrow and Each funerall knell yel'd by a dying Mandrake Proves still the dirge of an ensuing frailty O' my sick Conscience is there no cure No Sanctuary for my poor relenting Soul Let me then sink sink to the Center Release those Captive Gyants that now groan Under the heavy weight of mighty mountains And hurl 'em all all one me to press me down Beyond the reach of Register let me not suffer Even in their Annalls but let a sad mortality Of remembrance seize succeeding times That I may fall forgotten by all the world Alb. Is this the way to expiate thy Crime Are prophane wishes thy repentance Oh take heed Do not precipitate thy inclining ruine Pull not that hovering Justice on thy head Lest it shou'd fall no less than fatall on thee Ric. Pardon Blest Form my rash Devotion Kneels Entomb Revenge among those Sacred reliques And let thy incens'd Ghost sleep in its peacefull Urn Draw hence those looks fill'd with such killing horrour And every day shall add new trophys to thy mercy Alb. Think'st thou my patient Ghost can rest secure Whilst thy Majestick cruelty does trample Or'e the ruines of My Love and Honour And shall no pious envy seek to abate Thy triumph Shall wrong'd Innocence lye unreveng'd Ric. Is their no expiation for my offence Withdraw thy anger and I 'le renounce my Love And yield my title to the fair Miranda She shall embalm you with her daily tears And offer sighs like incense at your Tomb Alb. I dare not trust you Ric. Hear me ye Powers above When next I name my Sacrilegious Love kneels May I be haunted by thy Murmuring Ghost May all the plagues which Crimes like mine deserve Arm'd with a double force light on my head But hast and signe the Warrant of my peace Enter Vice-Roy Antonio Astella Guards and Attendants V. R. Oh to my Arms Thou Noble Generous Youth And look a kind forgiveness to thy Father Else I shall faint beneath my load of guilt What Floods of Penitential tears can e're Wash off the stains are printed on my brow And drown the memory of thy mighty wrongs Alb. Oh let me pay my humbler duty thus kneels By heaven my Loyal heart does bow within me And I must sink beneath the grave to adore you Unless you 'l raise me by some kinder words V. R. Wilt thou then rob thee of thy Virtues due Thus I will pay it on my trembling knees Spite of thy obstinate humility kneeling Alb. If you will kneel kneel to those Guardian Powers Who 've freed you from the toils and Treacherous snares Of that false Man V. R. O rise and since thy goodness can forgive me Let me put on the Lion once again And fix my Justice on that horrid Slave Ric. Then he is living and I am deceiv'd Wheedled to ruine by a trick of Conscience I thank ye Gods for your little honesty V. R. Where are my Guards go take that Traytor hence 'T is Justice now not Tyranny Commands you Ric. Stay till I make my peace with this most wrong'd Most innocent gallant brave young Man To Alb. Here let me beg a pardon for my Crimes If Gods have power such injuries to forgive By all your wrongs I mourn my black designs Kneels 'T is worse than hell to think I did attempt To Murder you and yet to miss my aim Offers a Pistol at Alberto Ant. Perâ—idious Dog Ant. prevents him V. R. Away with him Or he will say my presence shades his guilt Ric. 'T was basely done for he is Brave and Noble And I a Villain thus to abuse his goodness And fool to bar that Love which heaven Cements Love is a pure and immateriall being Which graspt by such polluted hands as mine Does vanish and leaves an empty Cloud Why shou'd I then oppose the Stream No let me to some private Cell resort Learn to forget the pleasures of the Court My guilt and folly be my Grief and sport Exit with Guards V. R. Impious Traytor who with the self-same breath Vows penitence to heaven revenge to hell Enter Maria. Mar. Your Daughter Royall Sir Desires your Company about some business of importance Relating to your peace and hers Alberto here Alive nay then it will not be a barren plot aside V. R. We will attend her instantly Alb. Maria How fares my Angell how does my Life my Soul Mar. You 'l know too soon aside Alb. Ha! not look upon me O' my misgiving heart V. R.