and says that he will speak with you Anton. He shall shew him the way Exit Diego Enter Sebastian O Sebastian Since I saw thee last Strange Things have happen'd but I 'm glad y' are come I else had sent to tell you that last Night My Sister Sebast. Prov'd her self As treacherous as you I know it and a long adieu to Love Thou art what ever yet was false in Man She all that 's damn'd in Women Anton. How prithee go no further She 's fau'ty but good Friend do not abuse her Sebast. Call not me Friend for I disdain the name Forsake one Sister and defame the other What canst thou hope from fawning on their Brother Anton. What does Heav'n mean and whither 's Friendship fled Thou can'st not be so base to justifie Thy Father's shameless Fraud Sebast. 'T was kindly meant how e'er unkindly taken And did not merit such a base return Suppose I had two Jewels and bestow'd On thee that which I lov'd and valu'd most Must you because you think the other best Turn Thief and force it from me Inhospitable frontless black Design But know my Lord your Prize you shall resign Anton. I shall resign Sebast. I say it once again You shall resign Was 't not Ingratitude Enough But you must add a Murder to 't That shames the name of Man Anton. Nay use a milder Word Murder to kill the Man that wou'd kill me Sebast. The Man ha ha y' are merry Well Justice will shortly bring you t' an Account Therefore of that no more As for my Sister Her I require and in the name of Friendship If yet y 'ave any left I here adjure you To send her back while yet her Shame 's a secret To her afflicted Father Berin O Brother have but Patience and I 'll prove My self as free from Guilt As the severest Vertue can desire Sebast. Then y' are resolv'd to stay Berin I must not dare not nay nor ought to leave him Who when h' had found his fatal Error that Instead of me he had marry'd Catalina Despis'd her loath'd her left her unenjoy'd Bless him ye Pow'rs He left her unenjoy'd Illustrious proof of Love That cou'd preferr Misery with me before the Bridal Bed with her Sebast. And you 'll protect her Anton. With my Life and Fortune Till by due course of Law I win or lose her Sebast. Aside to Anton. This place is private and will be convenient Get rid of her I 'll instantly return Ex. Sebast. Berin You seem disturb'd my Lord O tell me tell What did my Brother say Why was his fatal Meaning hid from me Anton. Thy Brother has been long my only Friend Ev'n thou thy self all lovely as thou art I hardly hold more dear From budding Childhood up to Man's Estate We lov'd with such a Love as far surpast The celebrated Pair so fam'd of old Our Natures are the same And can'st thou think We e'er shall do or mean each other harm Berin O strive not with smooth Words to varnish o'er What my sad Soul too certainly divines When once the Sacred Union does unclose The greatest Friends are the most mortal Foes Anton. That Union 's firm my Love so wond'rous firm Were all the Works of Nature now to end That wou'd dissolve the last or rather not Dissolve at all A Flame so pure as ours Has no Corporeal part Therefore I may The safer go Berin Heav'ns whither wou'd you go Can you be better pleas'd with him than me Anton. No but Berin You shall not go you oft have said I shall Command you now I 'll use my Pow'r Anton. Mark what I say for by yon Heav'n I 'm fixt Fixt as the Poles or thy dear self to Love Berin To ruine her that loves you Anton. O no! 't is to protect and guard you from it Berin And how can you protect me when y' are gone Anton. What for an Hour Berin A Minute is too long Anton. Hear me Berin Hear me my Lord Upon my Knees I beg that you wou'd hear me For O perhaps you ne'er may hear me more By all the Love you bear me all the Vows That you have sigh'd away upon my Breast And all the Pow'rs that you invok'd to hear 'em I do adjure you stay Nay here I 'll hold And you shall drag me with you if you go Anton. Nay then I must be cruel that you may Be safe Breaks from her and Exit Berin Yet stay O stay and see me die See my sad Soul breathe out her last Complaint See! but he 's gone and left me to my Sorrows O cruel Man but O more cruel Brother That tears him from my Arms perhaps for ever O killing Thought Some pitying Pow'r look down And bid their Guardian Angels mind their Charge Ex. Berint Enter Alonzo Clara. Alon. But are you sure she 's there Clar. I am my Lord. But why wou'd you thus venture forth you know The Air is death to one in your Condition Alon. If I had the least hope of Life I 'd stay But ah I feel my vital Strength decay Each Moment bears a part of me away And in the Grave I shall not quiet lie Unless I see Alphanta e'er I die Clar. Here comes Sebastian This way my Lord If you intend t' avoid him Alon. Did but my Wounds permit I now wou'd try Who best deserves Alphanta he or I. If ever Fate the Combat shou'd afford Let her be his that has the sharpest Sword As they go off Enter Sebastian Sebast. Not come yet But he 's Brave and will not fail me I never knew him slack to right himself In what concern'd his Honour Nor shall I now he 's here Enter Antonio His Guilt has made him pale come rouse Antonio Thou know'st the fatal Business of the Hour Therefore prepare Draws Anton. Why dost thou rash young Man Proceed to such Extremities as these Is there no other way to Reconcilement Sebast. None none Why dost thou ask so tame a Question Hast thou not violated our past Friendship Abus'd my Father Basely left thy Wife And whor'd her Sister Anton. 't was my full intent Not to be mov'd but give me Patience Heav'n Another Sound like that will lift my Rage Above my Resolution Sebast. Then hear that Sound repeated Whor'd her Sister Anton. 'T is thy amasing Insolence protects thee Sebast. But you think Cowardice a safer Refuge Anton. Why dost thou strive to pull thy Murder on me Sebast. Indeed y' are clog'd enough with that already Witness the Maid you butcher'd unprovok'd Anton. You speak in Clouds I do not understand you Sebast. You understand too well but I 'll refresh Your Memory Ansilva Anton. What of her Sebast. Why nothing nothing he that does base things We may conclude has baseness to deny ' em Come prating's not our Business Anton. That thou hast wrong'd me all that 's good can witness How far I am from doing ought that 's base You know your self for no Man knows me better
now ev'n from the Court to the Black Guard Thro' all degrees of Men starts up a Bard The Beau the Cit the Lawyer and the Lord. Above twice fifty Plays each Year are made And of twice fifty Plays scarce five are Play'd Strange Paradox No Age did e'er let loose So many Wits or so much Gold produce Yet we want both for necessary use However we are bound to wait your Will And tho' you come prepar'd to use us ill Change but your Money and y' are welcome still The Persons Represented Vilarezo a Nobleman of Portugal Mr. Dizny Sebastian his Son Mr. Verbruggen Antonio Sebastian's Friend Mr. Powel Jun. Alonzo Mr. Williams Vilander Kinsman to Vilarezo Mr. Horden Gerardo Mr. Johnson Diego Antonio's Page Mr. Tho. Kent Catalina Eldest Daughter to Vilarezo Mrs. Knight Berinthia her Sister Mrs. Rogers Alphanta Antonio's Sister Miss Cross. Ansilva Catalina's Woman Mrs. Verbruggen Julia Berinthia's Woman Mrs. Seagrove Clara Alphanta's Woman Mrs. Newman Gentlemen Boy Attendants c. The Scene Averos a Village in Portugal THE Rival Sisters OR The Violence of LOVE ACT the First Scene a Garden Enter Antonio Berinthia Julia at a distance Anto. COME to my Arms my Love In this dear Circle all that 's charming dwells Ev'n this stol'n hour of Love I prize as much As dying Saints the Heav'n they have in store I 've all I wish and they can have no more Berin Much more the sure continuance of their Joys Our Bliss below each giddy chance destroys As we too soon may find For O! Anto. For what by Heav'n that Sigh unmans me Berin If after all our mutual Vows of Love Some fatal Hand shou'd tear me from your Arms And set whole Worlds between us If such a cross shou'd come as O! I fear I have already too much cause to doubt it Wou'd you not think Fortune had done her worst Or Heav'n it self were angry Anto. Think Berinthia I shou'd be all thought Lost in the Whirl pool of Imagination But where 's the Wretch so indiscreet or rash That dares but mutter to himself he 'll part us Berin Forbear my Lord you know I have a Father Anto. Thou hast indeed the best that bears the Name My Friend and which is more a Friend to Justice But that makes for us still Berin He oft has said That he wou'd marry Catalina first And I much fear Anto. Alas thy Fears are vain He may do that and we too may be happy Berin But here my Lord here comes the Dart will wound you The Shaft that thro' your Ear will reach your Soul Unless you call your Reason to your aid To blunt the pointed Ruine It is you To whom he has design'd her For without you she is no more her self Prepost'rous Chance O Heav'n you shou'd have quench'd Her growing Flame or not have kindl'd mine In short my Lord she loves you and last Night So much her Tears and her Intreaties mov'd him My Father made a Vow she shou'd be yours If half his Wealth Anto. Not half the World shall win me Berin That I believe Or else you had not heard this Secret from me But O! so constant is my Father's Temper What he resolves is Fate Julia coming forwards Julia. Madam your Father 's in the Orange Walk And seems to make this way Berin I must avoid him Exeunt Berin Julia. Anto. So will not I for he 's the Oracle Where I this moment must enquire my Doom Enter Vilarezo Attendants Vilar Alone 't is to my wish aside My Lord good morrow Embraces him Thy Father was my Friend my better half Yet while I clasp thee thus Methinks I have not lost him his great worth Is all reviv'd in thee but were he living Thou wert not dearer to his Arms than mine Anto. I see which way he drives and must prevent him aside Vilar While you are here then think your self at home For by my Life I love thee as a Child Anto. Heav'n grant your Mind may always be the same Vilar It shall but why that wish thou droop'st Antonio Anto. A melancholly Fume but 't will be gone Life's short and nothing can torment as long Vilar Mysterious still but prithee be more plain Your Words betray the trouble of your Heart Your Eyes don't sparkle with their usual Lustre I thought you had been proof against the Charms Of the Fair Sex yet why shou'd you complain For whom can brave Antonio love in vain Anto. Since you my Lord so readily have guess'd My cause of Grief I will confess my frailty 'T is true I love and if I 'm not deceiv'd My Passion is return'd with equal ardor There only wants her Father's kind consent To make me fully happy Vilar Who e'er he is I 'll warrant for him he denies thee nothing That he can give or thou canst ask with Honour Then boldly on I 'll second thy Petition Anto. I take you at your Word and on my Knees Kneels Vilar Nay rise Antonio why to me this distance O rise this posture Anto. Best becomes my Duty A posture fit for what I sue which is Your Bounty in Berinthia to impart And give her Hand where she bestows her Heart Vilar Curst chance O giddy turn how Fate does sport With human Expectation rise Antonio Anto. Forgive me if this once I disobey you I must not rise till my request is granted Vilar Then you must kneel for ever Anto. Call back call back that Sentence e're it play rises The Tyrant in my Heart and yield me up To Madness or Despair Can you forget so soon your noble Promise That you 'd deny me nothing you cou'd give Or I cou'd ask with Honour Vilar Nor do I now and be your self the Judge I thought you had not been to learn the Custom Of your own Native Country which enjoyns The Eldest Sister first shou'd taste the Joys That wait the Nuptial Bed yet were it not The Custom 't is but Justice Anto. Then be it so my Lord I 'll wait with patience Till Catalina's Nuptials are perform'd Nor doubt I but Berinthia will approve An Action that so well declares my Love Vilar Still you are wide Antonio And will not see where I direct my aim O think not of Berinthia from thy Breast Expel her fix not on that hope thy rest For I shall never grant thee that request Anto. Confusion Pain and Torture O my Lord Your said but now you lov'd me as a Child Vilar I did indeed and I will prove a Father Witness the Pow'rs that know our secret Thoughts That my denial springs not from dislike But from the force of Friendship and of Love Of all the Blessings which Indulgent Heav'n Has with a bounteous hand showr'd down upon me There is but one I prize above the rest And that I give to thee Yes my Antonio My Elder hope I 'll to thy Arms assure But think ah think not of Berinthia more Anto. Down swelling Heart and keep the Balance ev'n aside Vilar
Her Mind is virtuous and her Form is lovely And for her Dowry it shall be enough To satisfie Ambition Anto. Now either my denial or compliance Are dangerous Rocks and I must steer between aside My Lord this Favour does require an Answer That may preserve our Friendship still entire Therefore I 'll beg your leave A little to consult my Inclination But must withal intreat you to consider That where so firm a Knot of Love is ty'd 'T is Heav'n that joyns and Man shou'd not divide Vilar I will consider but it shall be how To tear Berinthia's Image from thy Heart That Knot of Loye no matter who did joyn If I can make her elder Sister thine aside going off Exeunt Vilar Atten. Enter on the other side Berinthia Julia. Anto. Berinthia Oh! Berin That Sigh confirms our Ruine I knew his temper was not to be mov'd There 's no way left but to despair and dye Anto. No since w 'ave gone so far we 'll stop not here All ways we 'll try to make him less severe And if all fail we can but then despair Enter Diego Diego My Lord your Sister 's just arriv'd from Sevil And does enquire for you Anto. Conduct her hither 'T is ev'n beyond my wish I have not seen her Since she was Ten Years old and yet ev'n then Sh 'ad something in her that was soft and charming Your Brother found th' effect at whose request I sent her word to meet me at Averos You know the rest she 's here Enter Alphanta Clara Diego Berin And is indeed a Wonder Alphan With such an eager Joy as Parents fly T' embrace the Heir that has been absent long And had for Years despair'd of his Return I meet my Noble Brother Anto. With such a Joy I take thee in my Arms O Sister thou art come as sent from Heav'n Alphan Then blessed be the Pow'rs that brought me hither Berin And for your good we hope as well as ours You will not only meet your Brother here But find a Lover too Alphan A Lover Anto. Yes She tells you true you here will find a Lover In whose Composure there is nothing wanting That goes to make a Man up truly Noble From rising Morn till Noon from Noon to Night Till time it self were past I cou'd talk on And praise him still But what I 've said will prove That he is worthy of Alphanta's Love Alphan Worthy d' ye say alas he is too worthy But were he yet more worthy than he is I ne'er can love him Anto. Not love him were you Queen of the whole World And were your Charms as boundless as your Pow'r Nay cou'd your Voice call Angels from their Orbs To doat upon the Musick of your Tongne When I shall tell thee 't is this Ladies Brother My Gallant Friend Sebastian you wou'd blush And be the first that gave thy self the Lye There needs no pause he 's Young an Heir and Noble Alphan Wou'd he had never seen me Anto. Ha! why that wish or does my Heart misgive me Hear me Alphanta by the Pow'rs above If thou hast dar'd unknown to me to marry Y 'ad better have taken cold Aspicks to thy Bed That kill ev'n with their Kisses Berin Where will this end Anto. Thou art not marry'd Alphan No indeed I am not Anto. Nor plighted Faith to any Alphan No by Heav'n Anto. Why dost thou hold me then in this suspence And when descending Happiness does smile And Fortune seem to court her to your Arms Spurn 'em so rashly from you Alphan Smiling Pardon me Brother if to try your Temper I feign'd my self concern'd I thro' your Care of me perceive your Love And had no other aim Assur'd of that what e'er Commands you lay You 'll find that I shall readily obey Berin This is a turn above my Expectation Anto. And thou canst love my Friend Alphan Yes any thing I 'm to be molded to what Shape you please Anto. Then Blessings on thy Heart for easing mine Berinthia too shall thank thee O Alphanta Just now you brought me to a Precipice Where sure Destruction waited for our fall And storms of Indignation hover'd o'er us But now 't is all serene below above And the whole Prospect is made up of Love Exeunt Anto Berim Diego Manent Alphanta Clara. Clara. O Madam What d' ye mean Have you forgot The Vows you made so lately Alphan Not yet I have not but I must forget 'em Love must make way for Interest don't repine For my advance is yours Clara. Let me be Wretched so you be not Criminal Alphan I grieve for that as much as you but see My Brother turns and I must tell thee Clara What e'er my Promises have been Alonzo Must ne'er be thought on more Exit Alphan Clara. I 've done but may Heav'n never think of me If I not let him know your Perjur'd Thoughts E're yet an hour be past He 's nearer t' ye Than y'imagine Exit Enter Catalina Ansilva Cata. This day will make me blest or wretched ever E're this my Father has propos'd the Match And I am on the Rack to know my Fate Ha! who are those Ansil. Antonio and his Sister Cata. His Sister are you sure that 't is his Sister Ansil. I am Madam Cata. I was afraid too soon I shou'd be loth to have so fair a Rival This way and we shall meet ' em Exeunt Cata. Ansil. Enter Antonio Alphanta Anto. Now you know all and you may see I place In thee and in Sebastian all my Hope Who went this morning early to the Field To chase the swift pac'd Deer and 't is his use When the Sun 's scorching Beams inflame the Air To come back to a cool and shady Grove Hard by adjoyning there to recreate Himself with rural Sports Thither we 'll go Ha! Catalina here malicious Fortune But we must avoid her Exeunt hastily another way Enter Catalina Ansilva Cata. My Lord my Lord Antonio ha Ansilva Did you observe the strangeness of his Courage With how much hast he shun'd me nay he look'd As if he had disdain'd to answer me Curst be the fatal hour I saw him first O Fool Fool that I am to throw away My Youth and Love on one that does despise ' em Ansil. 'T is your Impatience that creates your Trouble How can you think he scorns you when perhaps He knows not that you love him Cata. O too well My Eyes have told him so my treach'rous Eyes That let him in to triumph o'er my Heart And play the Tyrant He in them might read All the whole Story of a faithful Passion How first it was begot with gazing on him And listning to his dear harmonious Voice For who can hear him talk and not be taken Ingrateful man and am I thus requited O that I cou'd but hate him say Ansilva Have I ought in me that 's deform'd and loathsome Am I not Young Is not m'Extraction Noble My Fortune too the fairest in the
but makes me weep 'T is onely when you think of Her Shepherd That charming Caelia I admire I must with Pleasure own it true But had I ten times more desire How cou'd my Passion injure you Love is the Sacred Tree of Life And up to Heav'n it's Branches rears Yet Admiration's but the Leaf Enjoyment is the Fruit it bears Then while you raise this vain dispute Your Fondness but it self deceives When you your self have all the Fruit What need you Envy her the Leaves Sebast. O do not doubt me but I know thou dost not All that a Son can say to move a Father You may be sure I 'll urge nor need you fear Exeunt Sebast. Gent. But I shall prove successful Anto. The Eloquence of Angels guide thy Tongue To plead this holy cause Like me no Lover e're was us'd before I feeding starve and Riches make me poor Enter Berinthia Julia. Ha! why those Precious Tears Berin W' are lost w' are lost my Father is enrag'd My sister raves and has Resolv'd my Ruin Nay with her Ponyard drawn her Eyes up heav'd To Heav'n that it might Witness what she said With many a fearful Oath she vow'd my Death Unless I did remit my Title to you He 's mine cry'd she for I first made my claim I 'll serve adore and Love him while I 've breath And grapple with thee for him in the Pangs of Death Anto. I ever thought her Violent and Rash. Alphan Strange that a Man so wise as Vilarezo Shou'd not perceive her frailty But I forget there 's Bigotry in filial Love As well as in Religion Time perhaps May make him see his Errour Berin O no she casts a mist before his Eyes And with a tear will melt him as she pleases He allways lov'd her best She 's sixt she 's grav'd she 's rooted in his heart Nor will one Grain of Int'rest in 't resign And 't is as certain that she 'll ruin mine Anto. Rather forget this Wretch that is the cause Reject despise and drive me from your Heart Though to my own Confusion I desire it Heav'n has perhaps design'd thee to another One that is Rich great Young Lovely and Loving Leave me then Madam leave me to my Fortune Berin Can you forget me then Anto. O never never Berin Why then d' ye bid me leave you Anto. 'T is for thy good thy Peace thy future safety Which otherways I fear are lost for ever Alas my Passion no decrease shou'd sind I may be wretched but I must be Kind Berin Then what a Wretch were I if I shou'd leave you No my dear Lord in Truth I will not yield Even to you what ere my chance does prove I must love on Th' Eternal Pow'rs above If Mortals may presume to guess at Fate Doom'd me to love e're yet I saw the Light The onely business of my life is Love My Words my Thoughts my very Dreams are Love I am all Love I am a World of Love And give that World to thee Anto. Talk on talk on the Musick of thy Tongue So charms my Soul that I cou'd hear thee ever And think Eternity thus better Spent Then Poets e're cou'd feign or Priests invent Enter Sebastian But see thy Brother ha by Heav'n I read Our Ruin on his Face his looks betray And tell beforehand what he has to say Sebast. Pardon me dearest Friend for promising More than I cou'd perform But sighs and tears Soften my Father's flinty breast no more Than Waves a Rock that stands for ever firm Against Wind Storms and Tydes and so does he I prest his Filial Piety his care Of this unhappy Creature 's future wellfare Which wholy did depend upon his Grant I urg'd my Passion for the fair Alphanta With all the tenderness Love could Inspire I nam'd our Friendship which must still remain I did what Man cou'd do but all in Vain Anto. Look down ye Pow'rs and wonder why you made The Heart of Man so cruel Sebast. At last on my Obedience he enjoyn'd That I shou'd say no more but yet said he To show you that I prize Antonio's Worth Tell him once more from me my Elder Daughter I freely give into his Arms for ever If he but quit his Passion for her Sister Anto. First quit my hope of bliss when she is gone The onely end for which I liv'd is cancell'd Eternity wou'd be a blank without her An o'ergrown Cypher a round endless nothing Sebast. Which if he does deny thus he went on Tell him that I beseech him to return To his own home while I make whole the Breach Which else will be more widn'd by his stay Anto. O my Berinthia O my mourning Love Our parting pang draws nigh Berin I heard our doom and it has reach'd my Soul O hold me O support me or I faint Here let me sink here let me dy away And make your Arms my Tomb you must not go Weeping Enter Vilarezo Attendants Vilar Enough my Eyes have seen what till this hour I never cou'd believe what Plague is there Above a stubborn Child for you my Lord To whom I made my Resolution known In wronging him that priz'd you as a Son Y 'ave forfeited the Title of a Friend But since my Elder Daughter you despise Thus I snatch this for ever from your Eyes Berin O Father Brother O Antonio Farewell Farewell Exeunt Vilar Berin Jul. Atten. Anto. Angels protect and guard thee O Friend thou cordial to my fainting Soul Did not thy presence in some sort support me I think by Heav'n I think I cou'd not bear it She 's gone for ever gone and yet I live I tamely live to say it Drawing Alphan Hold O hold Sebast. It is indeed too cruel but afflict Not thus your self I 'll try him yet again Intreat Implore and hang upon his Knees Nor be deny'd tho' he shou'd spurn me from him He must have Nature in him and I 'll wake It fast as 't is or sleep my self in Death Anto. In vain you 'll strive to move him he is fixt How much are Mortals made the Sport of Fate W' are both in Love yet the strange difference see Observe but how our Fortunes disagree It is thy Paradise and Hell to me Exeunt ACT III. Scene the GROVE Enter Vilarezo Catalina Ansilva Attendants Vilar BE Patient O be Patient I yet will find a way to make thee happy Cata. Name it no more happy without Antonio O Contradiction never to be solv'd Alas I am more Wretched now than ever Had he continu'd here with sighs and tears I might have softn'd his obdurate Heart As drops of Rain in time will wear through Marble But y 'ave unkindly forc't him hence and now My hopes and Charms are vain What Plague what Torture is like Love despis'd O 't is too much I will not cannot bear it I 'll bleed I 'll burn run mad despair and Dy But I will make 'em all as curst as I Vilar Once more I
nothing Cata. Be gone lest you provoke my rage too far And draw that vengeance on your guilty head Which yet you may avoid Berin I tell thee once again I do not fear thee So far from it that if you rail much more You 'll find I 'm not so tame as you imagine Cata. Shall find it Berin Ay is not that Language plain Cata. 'T is wond'rous well ye Gods 't is wond'rous well Berin No 't is not well to see you walk in State Admire your haughty Meen and twirl those Curls That do so ill become you Cata. Ill become me Berin Yes if again you 'll hear it ill become you Or else sure among all the Race of Men Long since some Fool or other had been found That wou'd have thought you worthy of his Love And pluck'd the Rose before it had been wither'd Cata. I can endure no more Look back thou wretch look back on me and tremble Shews a Dagger Flye from my sight this very moment leave me Dare not to speak or make the least reply Be still as if the sleep of Death had seiz'd thee I 'll bury else this Dagger in thy Heart And let the hot blood out that thus does brave me Berin Dare not to speak Cata. No dare not for thy Soul Berin Ha! ha ha ha Cata. D' ye laugh Minx Berin Yes I do And to give you yet more torture 't is at you Cata. Nay then it is vain to trifle longer You 've drawn my vengeance to the highest bent And thus I let it loose Moves toward her Berin And thus I meet it Shews her Dagger D' ye start I 'm now provided for you Yes here I throw the tame observance off That 's due to Elder blood Thy haughty Carriage shall no longer aw me For so proud Wretch may I be blest or curst As here I stand and dare fearless your worst Cata. Where got she all this Spirit or is mine Transfus'd into her breast her rage does flow And mine begins to ebb let me consider Aside Taking her Life may now endanger mine No my Revenge must work a closer way But why do I thus vex and chafe my self The Fatal Draught already is prepar'd Aside Her next sleep is her last Berin What Madam are you cool again Cata. I am Berin Then I have got a Cordial that will warm you Tho' I am banish'd from Antonio's sight I 'll banish him from thine Or say it be thy chance to see him more Thou shalt be met with scorn but I with Love With all the Love that longing Maids can wish for Nay in your sight I 'll pant upon his Breást Die in his Arms melt into Charms away And think of nothing but of Love and Pleasure While you despis'd unpittied and forlorn Hang down your head and curse our happy State But curse in vain for all the Pow'rs above Shall brand you with his Hate and Crown me with his Love Cata. Have you said all Berin What if I have or have not Cata. I wou'd have beg'd your leave t o've made my Answer Berin You 'll take it I suppose Cata. I will by Heav'n And every word I speak shall make thee pale The shrieks of Owls the groans of dying Men Compar'd with what I tell thee shall be Musick That dear lov'd man that Idol of your Heart That Spring from whence you drink whole draughts of Love And never satisfy'd still thirst for more Shall never lie with Rapture in your Arms Ne'er taste the Sweets of his belov'd Berinthia Ne'er languish with delight or faint with pleasure To summ up all in one Prophetick word A word which like an angry Thunderbolt Shall all thy Faculties of Sense destroy The Man you Love you never shall enjoy Exit Cata. Berin She 's gone and her last words a passage find To my sad Soul and leave a sting behind I went too far yet scarce can be reprov'd Angels had done so had they so been mov'd Exit ACT IV. SCENE A Chamber of State Enter Ansilva Ansil. LET me think a little If I succeed in this Business my Life may answer it if I miscarry I 'm discarded Diego too makes no advance towards Marriage I must set up my rest then in Gerardo Tho' put on scurvy terms Help me dissimulation To fill this Spunge with hopes that I 'll comply And if he Marrys me I 'll squeeze him dry Enter Gerardo Gerar. Gad here she is and the Devil has got such an ascendant over me that I must attempt her again Lewdness like an old Beggar takes no denial but gets more by importunity than Modesty can by merit In contemplation I 'll observe her Ansil. 'T is true he 's Old but of a generous temper Did he solicit me the lawful way His Suit wou'd soon be granted Gerar. Hum my Amour goes on very luckily Ansil. I must confess indeed th' ill-natur'd World Heaps strange Invectives on him says he 's one That will bequeath his Riches to a Whore Rather than get a lawful Heir in Wedlock Gerar. So Ansil. But were this so as I believe it is not His lively disposition makes amends A Chearful Husband 's a continual comfort He has a thousand ways to please a Wife Beside that one destroy'd in the enjoyment That fulsom bliss that makes the vulgar joyn Who aim but at the sensual part of pleasure When 't is a mutual temper makes us happy Gerar. Nay then agad 't is all serious and I 'll shew my self Ansil. Ah Seems surpriz'd Gerar. You have confest my dear and you shall have an easi Absolution Ansil. Betray'd undone I 'll blush my self to death Gerar. The Wind 's chop'd about of a sudden and sits fair for a Voyage to the Island of Love But Child to be in earnest you must needs think Diego the more agreeable Person were I a Virgin I shou'd let him Ansil. Hang himself Gerar. Ha! ha ha I love thee the better for hating that Prig. To day I took thee in the purging of thy Gall now thou art all luscious and season'd to the Pallat of an Epicure There only wants the dishing up and then Ansil. You 'd fall on without saying Grace I warrant Gerar. Ay what else I shou'd be a Madman in such a case to make use of a Chaplain But come now thou' rt in a good humour I 'll give thee my Favourite Song TAke not a Woman's anger ill But let this be your Comfort still That if one won't another will Tho she that 's Foolish does deny She ' that is Wiser will comply And if 't is but Woman what care I Then who 'd be damn'd to swear untrue And sigh and weep and whine and woo As all our supple Coxcombs do All Women love it and tho' this Does sullenly forbid the Bliss Try but the next and you cannot miss Ansil. Oh! Oh! Gerar. Ha! what 's the matter Ansil. Sick sick in my Head my Stomach You us'd to have good Cordials in your Closet Gerardo Gerar.
who are pleas'd y' are without that Excuse Gerar. Agad let what will come I 'm glad 't is as ' t is What Marriage is we have wofull Experience What t'other Hell is we have none And why shou'd another Man's Fears of an imaginary Limbo make me run into one that is real Vilan Cautiously consider'd truly And whither d' ye think Fornication will carry you Gerar. Hum Fornication take up the Body I 'm resolv'd I 'll be at the Charge of a Monument for her and have an Epitaph engrav'd on 't that shall preserve her Memory to Posterity and stand Candidate for the Eight Wonder of the World Vilan And pray what must that be Gerar. Under this Marble there is laid One of Fifteen that dy'd a Maid That 's the wonder Sir her living a Maid so long But come bring her away bring her away Ex. Gerar. Serv. with the Body Vilan How hard it is ill Habits to remove In vain does Man in vain does Heav'n reprove To swift Destruction wilfully w' are bent For no Man 's damn'd without his own Consent Ex. Vilan Thunder ACT V. SCENE A private part of the Grove Enter Diego Julia. Diego 'T IS Day and never yet was Day so welcome Some milder Planet now does rule the Skies And once more we may hope the Sun will rise Julia. Indeed 't was lately what we might despair of But y 'ave not told me yet for I you know Was sent before by what sad Accident You brought Alphanta with you Diego As soon as e'er we got clear of the House We heard and by the Light'ning might perceive Some Company behind us They believ'd They were beset and we we were pursu'd Thus resolute and jealous of each other Both they and we betook us to our Swords But while we were engag'd and threatning high We heard a Voice cry Hold Alonzo hold It is my Brother You have spoken too late Said he if 't is thy Brother dark as 't is I fear h' has reach'd my Heart Then sinking down He sigh'd and cry'd Alphanta O farewell With that she fainted too and both together fell Julia. Surprizing Chance both pityful and dismal But what was this Alonzo Diego One it seems To whom Alphanta had been long contracted He understanding 't was her Brother's Mind To match her to Sebastian follow'd her From Sevil in disguise to prove her Faith And to prevent her Marriage In that successful for this Night he meant To bear her off but in the rest most wretched We left him there for dead and in a swoon Brought poor Alphanta hither Julia. Wretched Pair But can my Lord hope here to be secure Diego We had indeed been in a safer Place But for our fatal meeting with Alonzo The only Hope we have is That they won't Conceive w 'ave stop'd so nigh 'em Yet for fear The Cottage shou'd be search'd my Lord will stay Here in the Grove till he can see Sebastian And privately with him consult his Safety But pray how did your Lady take the News Of the unhappy Marriage Julia. With all the Pangs of disappointed Love With Grieving Raving Swoonings and Despair They come and see the Storm is yet not o'er Enter Antonio Berinthia Berin Urge it no more you shou'd have told me sooner Through Blood and Horror you have brought me here But cou'd my Fate have been severer there Depriv'd of you 't is Death must be my Doom But with less Guilt I cou'd have dy'd at home Anton. Why dost thou thus the Reins to Sorrow give We may have many happy Days to live Berin O no! we never can be happy here Look forward and the Prospect's all Despair The Law has fixt a Gulf betwixt us two You cannot come to me nor I to you The Maze of Love we tread with weary Feet But backward tread and we must never meet Anton. The Law Why wo'll appeal to higher Pow'rs Tho' Law 's o' their side Conscience is of ours The holy Tye of Wedlock was not meant To make us fast without our own Consent Where first the Union of the Mind 's not made Alas we are not marry'd but betray'd Berin Cou'd this be done But O! I do not dare To hope so far Anton. Nor ought you to despair Berin But if all Means should fail what must we do Suppose the worst Anton. Only continue true To what e'er rigid Fate I am design'd I must be Fortunate if you are Kind Your Love like Oil will on the Surface flow And cover all the Grief that lies below Berin Then since in Love's bright Track so far w' are gone Tho' Destiny oppose I 'll now keep on Clasp'd in thy Arms I 'll banish all my Fears All that my Father threats or Sister dares Nor from thee part but with expiring Breath And scarcely then but hold thee fast in Death Embrace Enter Alphanta Alphan O Brother Nay don't turn in Anger from me I 'll Trouble you no more I 'm come to make my last Complaint and die Y 'ave laid a Load of Misery upon me Enough to bow down Atlas Cropt off my Pleasures in the Bloom of Youth So close they 'll spring no more O you shall know how wretched you have made me And what a Treasure you have robb'd me off The brave the kind Alonzo His Soul was Love and all his Life was Honour Three Years he groan'd beneath my Pride and Scorn Which nothing but a Love like his cou'd Pardon And in return of this what cou'd I less Than plight him my eternal Faith I did Yet perjur'd Creature that I was forsook him He found that I was Faithless yet forgave Took me all spotted with the Breach of Love Receiv'd me bless me warm'd me in his Bosom And when we thought our selves secure and happy You met him murder'd him Anton. I did not know him 'T was your own Fault that pull'd his Ruine on You ought at first to 've own'd your Passion for him Alphan I did I did as far as I durst own it You knew what 't was to Love knew that I lov'd And ought not to have forc'd my Inclination For 't was your Anger wrought me to Compliance And that has been my Ruine Have I not Reason now to be distracted To tear my Hair and curse the Partial Fate Hear me thou cruel Brother You shall hear me What Satisfaction Tyrant can you make me Unless you cou'd command the dead to rise And that you shall do now about it quickly Raise him all Lovely as when first he charm'd me With every Grace and blooming Wonder on If he but lose one precious drop of Blood Heav'n Earth and Hell revenge it Revenge my murdur'd Love my dear Alonzo Exit Alphan Exit Diego Julia. Anton. Take care of her 'T is true I had Advice from Sevil of her Love And by her Carriage did her Passion guess But never thought she lov'd to this excess Enter Diego Diego Sebastian my Lord is at the Cottage He knows y' are hereabouts
You know I 'd rather die than do an Action Contrary to Justice Sebast. I thought so once but now I find my Error But come we trifle precious Time away If thou art in the right Anton. I am by Heav'n And I wou'd only have thee live to know it To know how much y 'ave wrong'd the chaste Berinthia To know how much y 'ave wrong'd your dearest Friend But you shou'd live no longer by the Pow'rs That gave me Breath that Hour shou'd be thy last Then thou shou'dst kneel and crouching beg for Merey And shou'd be heard as you have heard your Sister Sebast. I 'm satisfy'd my Cause is just what e'er You say to make it seem the contrary And now the third time dare you to the Trial. Anton. You know my Friend for yet I 'll use the name You know I say Antonio is no Coward Y 'ave seen him try'd when we employ'd our Arms Against the common Foe while Death and Ruine In confus'd shapes have rang'd about the Field And said This Day my Friend y 'ave acted Wonders Yet not to boast I call it to remembrance To let thee know 't is not poor slavish Fear Withholds me from revenging of my Wrongs Only I 'd have you live to see your Error And then Sebast. Do now what then you boast y'ou'd do As for your Friendship once more I disclaim it And when you told me that your Cause was just You told a Anton. Hâ—ld Let not that hateful Word Come from thy Lips for Mercy 's sake and mine Sebast. You told a Lye Anton. Nay you shall go no further Draws Yet stay it must not be 'T is now unlikely That I shou'd e'er possess the fair Berinthia Aside And if I fight 't will be impossible For only he can aid me O Sebastian If thou hast any love for thy own Peace Any regard to Vertue Truth and Honour Comfort below or Happiness hereafter Do not blow up this Controversie higher I hitherto excuse you but no more Shou'd you again so brutally affront me I 'd tear thy Tongue up by the Roots Sebast. You durst not Anton. Still worse and worse and still I bear it tamely Love that makes others Brave makes me a Coward For poor Alphanta's sake I 'll yet have Patience I 'm sensible sh 'as wrong'd you Sebast. Damn her Strumpet Anton. Strumpet have a care Y' are now upon a Rock that splits us both Why 't is to call her Mother's Name in question Sebast. I meant it so No pure Spring cou'd yield a Stream so muddy Wicked so young shews 't was i' th Blood before And proves her a Hereditary Whore Anton. 'T is done y 'ave now found out the way to move me Shou'd I not vindicate my Mother's Fame Her Ghost wou'd rise up from the Grave and blast me Traytor to Friendship Villain Slave have at thee They fight Have at thy Heart I 've mist it Sebast. True thou hast There I took better aim Anton. falls Enter Diego hastily Diego O Heav'n more Ruine yet Where will our Sufferings end Your wretched Sister Whose Reason fled with her Alonzo's Life Seeing a Poniard on the Table drawn With one quick spring exerting all her Force Broke from her Womens Arms and ere we cou'd Prevent her plung'd it deep into her Breast But see O see She 's here and raving in the Pangs of Death Enter Alphanta mad stab'd in many places held by Attendants Anton. My Sister sure some bloody Planet rules Alphan Nay stop me not why will you keep me from him Do you not see him hov'ring in the Clouds He stays in the Mid-way till I can reach him Come down and ease me of this Load of Flesh The Clog that hinders my Aetherial flight That the light airy Soul may mount at will And find out the Eternal Habitation Make haste then my Alonzo to assist me Ha! say'st thou can'st thou not 't is true thou can'st not Th' inevitable Doom is past upon thee There 's no return from the dark Vaults of Death But I may come to thee ha may I so Then this must be the way Tears her Wounds Now I have caught thee now we mount together Thro' the vast Sea of Air we glide like thought Th' astonish'd Clouds break off and make us way Elizyum is op'n'd to receive us See! on the Beach the smiling Cherubs stand And Streams of Joy o'er-flow the peaceful Land Anton. D' ye hear Sebastian Alphan Is that Fury here What will you persecute me after Death Cannot my Soul have rest my Brother too My most inhuman Brother ha he bleeds Blood for Blood why now 't is as it shou'd be I see there is some Justice stirring yet Haste my Alonzo free me from these Tirants Descend and in a Whirlwind bear me from ' em Enter Alonzo Clara. He 's here he 's here now take me in thy Arms I 'm purg'd from earthly Dross fit for my Passage I am all Spirit like thy self away And as we go pray give me an Account Of all the Wonders that you saw above In the bright Courts of everlasting Day And how at first you there were entertain'd With Nectar and Ambrosia Food for Gods Where are you now ha I again have lost you A Mist is come between my Eyes and thee She sinks down he kneels by her I 'll hold the faster since I cannot see Dies Alon. If ever any Man had cause to curse The Stars that have an Influence o'er our Fate Sure I may have free leave I who am more unfortunate than any Antonio I forgive thee 'T was fatal Ignorance set us at odds And neither are to blame Now thou dear bleeding purest Piece of Earth Thus I embrace and take my last last leave And 't is my Comfort tho' I 'm here unhappy I shall be blessed when I come above If Heav'n rewards those few that die for Love Dies Anton. Ah! wretched Pair Had I but known before How well y 'ad lov'd I 'd not for Worlds have parted you But you have your Revenge My Soul is on The wing and I shall quickly reach you Enter Berinthia Berin Where is this Wretch that runs to meet his Ruine O I am come too late Swoons Anton. If thou hast any Bowels call for help Sebast. catches her Sebast. She comes her Colour has resum'd its seat I fear I 've been too rash Aside Berin Is this your Justice Heav'n This your Reward For Vertue and inviolable Love Anton. Tax not the Pow'rs Divine Their Ends are just Tho' hid from us and Mortals must submit O my Love forgive my late unkindness And I shall die in Peace Berin Talk not of dying Shou'd the World blaze and the last Trumpet sound ' Twou'd not be half so dreadful If you love me Do not talk of dying Anton. O I must I find the Icy chill of Fate upon me But if there 's any Equity in Heav'n As certainly there is we once shall meet And never part again till then
Nation And yet no more regarded Ansil. For Heav'ns sake Madam Cata. Nay talk not of Heav'n I am all Hell within hot burning Love Tho' I am running on to sure Destruction I have no Pow'r to turn For not long since But 't was before I 'd ever seen Antonio Walking abroad alone to take the Air I met an ancient Man who having with A melancholy look survey'd me round Broke into such Prophetick words as these Lady avoid that smiling mischief Love That Serpent in the Figure of a Dove If e'er y' are past your one and twentieth Year You fall into that vain bewitching Snare Y' are ruin'd I have warn'd you and beware In vain alas ' I had the Friendly Caution I disobey'd and the Reward o'ertakes me Prithee let Melvia sing that Song I gave thee For 't is a Glass where I may see my Folly SONG Not tho' I know he fondly lies Prest in my Rival's Arms Nor tho' my Friends with Tears advise That I shou'd shun his Charms Nor one nor t'other frees my Heart Such Arts he does display Or can my longing Eyes divert From gazing still that way Tell me ye Pow'rs that rule our Fate Why are we made so vain Most earnestly to wish for that We have least hope t' attain Or if attain'd is but at best A Mine of rifl'd Ore An empty Cabinet the Breast The Jewel gone before Yet on I pass and Reason's lore Take pleasure to Despise As if 't were Prudence to be Poor And Nonsence to be Wise O you that do my Passion blame Did you the Shepherd see You 'd either perish in the Flame Or cease from warning me Cata. In life what is there that deserves our Care What Blessings can we hope that soil will bear When Love which shou'd our greatest Pleasure be So often causes all our Misery Ansil. When many different Paths to Pleasure lead And we perversely but in one will tread And that the very One we are forbid We swim against the stream of Reason's laws And if w' are wretched are our selves the cause Then cease to Love and you may soon rejoyce Or if you must Love make another Choice Cata. Hold on that hateful subject speak no more Inconstancy I from my Soul abhor Nor Fate nor force nor Chance shall change my mind I 'll love him were I sure he 'd be unkind But O! how shou'd I that unkindness bear When but to think on 't drives me to Despair Weeps Enter Vilarezo Vilar What Melancholy still in Tears for shame Give o'er this heedless Grief And trust thy self to my Paternal care For if that hope deceive me not which but Just now Antonio gave me Thou art as happy as thy wish can make thee Happy as then e're thy unwary Eyes Gaz'd thy fond Heart away Cata. That Day I 'd see If there 's a Day of Happiness for me Vilar Thou hast had many and may yet have more But why that thought Cata. O! if with such indifference he cou'd hear What you propos'd as but to give you hope I know my doom if he at all had lov'd He wou'd have listning stood as Heav'n had spoke And with a greedy Ear devour'd your words He is not to be mov'd and I am lost Vilar Forbear this Passion rash unthinking Girl I tell thee I have us'd my utmost care That with an equal Flame he cherish thine Nor do I doubt but in a little space He will pay all his future Homage here Cata. O Death to all my Hopes then he 's in Love Vilar I 've taken Order to prevent its progress Droop not my Child I 'll mould him to thy wishes In the mean time I 'd have you entertain No anxious thoughts but leave th' affair to me And you shall find e're a day elder grown I 'll compass thy Repose or lose my own Exit Vilar Cata. Ha! taken Order to prevent it's progress By Heav'n if what I still have fear'd is true Berinthia is my Rival True did I say Fool that I was to doubt it 'T is all too true for my eternal quiet Yet I 'll not tamely lose him Christian Practice Shews me the way What has not angry zeal Made those that differ from her Interest Feel Does it regard Alliance does it spare Women with Child or kneeling Saints at Prayer Me a much stronger cause does forward move No Zeal can be so warm as injur'd Love Exit Cata. As Ansilva is going off Enter Gerardo and pulls her back by the Sleeve Ansil. Well what now if 't is to discourse over the old story 't is but breath thrown away and you have but little of that to spare and not much of any thing else Gerar. How how Ansil. A Lover of threescore Fy 't is as unnatural as the Ass in the Fable that fawn'd upon his Master and thought he might take all the little Liberties of a Lap-Dog Gerar. Or the great ones of a Monkey To the Ladies I hope you 'll grant an Ass is not altogether useless Better Brutes have e'er now been forc'd to give place to ' em Ansil. 'T is a great many years ago however since you were useful Gerar. Dost thou treat al 's men with this Indifference Ansil. No but I wou'd if they were all as thou art Gerar. Why what am I Ansil. The shadow of a Lover nothing else though you talk so much of the substance You may I grant please your own Imagination but that will scarce reach far enough to satisfy a Mistress In fine you can only think Love not act it and so will be Damn'd for the Sin without enjoying the Pleasure Gerar. Certainly thou hast held thy Leg over a nettle this Morning I defy e'er a young noisy fashionable Fool of 'em all to do you better Reason than my self Look here Child observe this Caper D' ye see meer strength of back meer Chine I 'd undertake if thou wou'd but love me to shake of twenty years with as much ease as a Courtier does his Promise a Fanatick his Allegiance or a Statesman his Religion and come to thy Arms all warmth all Love Ansil. And all wrapt up in Sear-Cloath like a Mummy My Imagination sickens at it Hear me Gerardo for now I 'm serious if I thought any Behaviour of mine encourag'd yon to this Impudent Application I 'd turn Nun to be reveng'd on my self and there is but the Devil and thee I 'd sooner avoid Gerar. Nay now you' are too severe and in not seeing my Affection are blind to your Interest I could every day have presented thee with some such pieces as these Chinks ' em Ansil. Aside Ha! the right Colour and I confess they look prevailingly if he part with his money there is hope he may be drawn on a little further Gerar. And have made thee outshine any Lady in Portugal for Bravery Jewels and all that Ansil. Aside And now I think on 't I 'll try him if he will bite at Matrimony I don't care if
I angle for the Gudgeon Gerar. But time is time was and agad time's Ansil. Not past I hope Noble Sir Gerar. But take these however in Earnest of what I wou'd have done if you had us'd me better Ansil. How use you better than by a feign'd unkindness to be assur'd your pretences were real as now to my great Comfort I am If you think I had any other design here I 'll refund I scorn to be oblig'd to one that doubts me Gerar. Doubt thee no no A Man need not doubt the Corrupting a Saint when twenty Broad pieces are his Bawd Aside Ansil. Then upon consideration I will accept of your love but it must be upon Conditions Gerar. Let 'em be what they will I agree to 'em Tho' you shou'd put me to the same Drudgery my Lady Amble did her Porter whom she us'd to call her Limbeck fill'd him three times a day with Jelly and Cock-broath which she still drew off in Spirits Ansil. Then I enjoin you upon pain of my lasting displeasure to talk think and Dream of no other Female but my self Gerar. Good no hold hold How shall I do to bridle carnal Ap petite in sleep I 'd know that now Ansil. Nay if you don 't like my Propositions Gerar. I do I do proceed Ansil. Then lastly you must not dare to mention that exploded thing call'd Marriage to me Now I shall try him Aside Gerar. Better and better we were certainly cut out for one another I never design'd it Child I never design'd it that was premis'd when I gave thee my Money with a Wife I wou'd have had some and that may serve to shew how much I respect thee above one Ansil. O goes it so then I know how to use you Aside Gerar. And upon the Performance of all this I shall embrace Ansil. Your own Desires but nothing else by Heav'n for me Aside But hark my Lord Sebastian's Horns as at the Death of a Stag. Return'd from Hunting I must be gone Gerar. A Kiss at parting Ansil. Nay then don't force it Gerar. Gad but I must 't is not to be had else I find Ansil. Aside O Garlick Goats and Monkeys Exit Spitting Gerar. some marry'd Man perhaps may think me a Coxcomb for parting with my Money so easily but if his Wive's separate Coach Gaming Servants Nurses and Pin-Money were seriously consider'd at the Years end He 'd find himself much farther gone in Folly And own a Husband is the greatest Cully Exit ACT II. Scene a GROVE Enter Sebastian Vilander Gentlemen Attendants as from Hunting To them Gerardo Gerar. VVHAT sport my Lord Sebast. The best w 'ave had this Season Gent. 'T was a hard chase I never knew a Deer That stood or dy'd so nobly Vilan O who wou'd leave such manly sports as these To wast his youth and strength in fond Embraces To whine and fawn and Dy to gain a Smile Of some fantastick Creature made to serve him Gent. Still on this Subject Sebast. 'T is habitual to him The Mistress he ador'd prov'd false and now He rails at all because one broke her Vow Vilan Do I rail when I tell you Love's a Toy Which they that seek for most the least enjoy Or that 't is when most faithfully defin'd The flux o' th' Purse the Gangreen of the Mind When e'er we fondly think that we may call It ours 't is surely ours the least of all Love Hounds and Horses and if you 'd enjoy Yet more let Books your private hours employ Objects like these the nicest Eye will please But love not Woman if you love your Ease Sebast. Since from this Theme I see thou wilt not move Pray tell what are the ill effects of Love Vilan First he that loves waits on a Woman's will Which tho' 't is shifting tho' 't is changing still Is yet not half so changeable as ill The solid Pleasures which the Wise esteem He leaves to follow a fantastick Dream The Ignis Fatuus of his wild Desires Which makes a glare misleads him and Expires His Interest Honour nay his future good Is not regarded or not understood When Love has cramp'd his Brain and fir'd his blood If he has Rivals for 't is never known But the fair snare does catch more Fops than one He fights he kills and when from Justice fled The Living Fool 's more Wretched than the dead Yet after all these Miseries are ran thro' Can he be certain she 'll continue true And if her Coyness was with torture born How will he relish falshood back't with Scorn Sebast. In what y 'ave said Vilander The badness of your Choice is understood And argues not but we may love the Good Women whose kindness all our Care controuls And breaths Divinity into our Souls Their charms declare they were by Heav'n design'd To glad the Heart and raise the drooping Mind And give us Joys we no where else can find Vilan Young man let this bold Truth employ your thoughts The very best of Women has her Fau'ts If thro' those Fau'ts my life uneasy be What signify her Virtues then to me Gerar. I am of Opinion Gentlemen y' are both wide to love 'em too well makes 'em proud and too little Peevish a man must walk between you if he intends to come between any thing else A mistress believes him disabl'd that rails And a Coxcomb that whines and w'ont tell what he ails 'T is the Frollick the free and the bold that prevails For Woman 's a Sphinx that puts forth a Riddle Which nothing resolves like a Treat and a Fiddle and so set ye Merry Exit Gerar. Vilan True Leacher still When once we tread the Harlot's beaten way Not stone nor Gout have Pow'r to make us stay In Spite of Age we still love fornication And upon Crutches travail to Damnation But see what have we here Enter Gerardo with Alonzo Boy Gerar. One that says Love has sent him with a Hue and Cry after his Mistress As y' are at present enclin'd I thought him very fit Company for you I never see half a dozen Lovers together but I think it a great chance if six of 'em are not Madmen Exit Alon. Here here here This to the East this Gives 'em Papers to the West this to the North and this to the South let 'em be sent from Tything to Tything with all Possible haste She 's describ'd to the life Of a Moderate height aged about Sixteen soft as an Angel treacherous as a Devil away with ' em I 'll Stay here till you bring news of her In the mean time Boy Sing the Song Amintor made who us'd to say his Mistresses Vows were like Ropes of sand onely more apt to break in the Twisting Boy Sings CAelia has a thousand Charms 'T is Heav'n to ly within her Arms While I stand gazing on her Face Some new and some resistless Grace Fills with fresh Magick all the Place Love his Darts around her throwing Her Breath
me That thus can make Antonio start to see Anto. Madam you are what all men else adore My heart you know was long engag'd before Had I but seen you first You first had kindl'd the same lasting Fire But I 'm so far advanc'd I can't retire Cata. I praise your Constancy but cannot be So fond to love the Man that loves not me No longer then let that remain your fear A more important thing is now my care True had you kindly the Proposal heard My Father made y 'ad met with my regard To name no more But since my Sister you to me prefer That Flame 's extinct I leave you all to her And may your Love be equal to her Charms And both grow old in one another's Arms. Anto. Blest be thy Charming Voice thy gen'rous Prayer Must needs prevail the God of Love will hear Heav'n ne'er denies Petitioners so Fair. Cata. And next Antonio to shew that He I've once esteem'd shall ne'er unhappy be If ought that may prevent it lies in me I have concern'd to see Berinthia mourn Desir'd my Father that you might return That he wou'd joyn your Hands and make you one Which he has freely granted shall be done Anto. What Angel's Voice cou'd warble softer sounds At once it Charms amazes and confounds And my unruly Pleasure knows no bounds Thus on my knees For under such a favour who can stand With eager Transport let me press your hand Here print my thanks with many an earnest kiss And sure Berinthia will not grudge you this Cata. How blest were I were all this kindness shown To me and that these Kisses were my own But as it is it turns upon a Hinge That gives the stronger swing to my Revenge Aside Anto. But may I ask you does your Sister know What to your matchless goodness she does owe And that her Father's mind is alter'd Cata. No. Anto. Then far the happy News I need not bear For by Appointment she 's to meet me here Yes Madam since y' are now declar'd a Friend This hour we meant to give our fears an end The Priest hard by does but our call attend In Duty now we 'll wait a Father's time And mount the Genial Bed without a Crime Cata. Nay stay not now your happy News to tell And doubt not but from me 't will do as well For your return my Father waits at home And will be all impatience till you come Hast then my Lord be happy while you may 'T is Love and Pleasure call Anto. And I obey Exit Anto. bowing Cata. Mount to the Genial Bed first sink to Hell I 'd rather have thee Circl'd round with Fire Than with Berinthia's Arms but see she comes And I 'm with fresh Revenge and Rage inspir'd Her Lover I have pleas'd But rougher usage to her share must fall He had the sweets but she shall have the Gall. Enter Berinthia Berin My Sister what can be her business here At once she moves my anger and my fear If the design 's discover'd we 're undone And if she stay 't will certainly be known Aside Cata. Alone how idly do the Lovers prate That say no Turtle lives without its Mate Berin I now am not alone but wou'd be so Why don't you now you hear 't will please me go Cata. False wretch I know you wou'd not be alone But must for he that you expect is gone Berin That I expect Cata. Yes yes I have releas'd Him and his useless Rosie colour'd Priest Berin W' are ruin'd how shou'd she the secret learn Curst Chance but I must stifle my concern Aside Cata. What! does it grieve because her Bird is flown Indeed she 's likely now to lye alone Weak head to lay so shallow a Design An even Wager that the Man is mine Berin 'T is but a Suitor gone then let him go I 'm not the first that has been cozen'd so Why shou'd the loss of a false Love be wept Whose Heart 's not worth the Charge of being kept It is not sit a Maid shou'd sigh and sue Or if it be I leave that Task to you Who tho' not to be woo'd know what it is to woo Cata. No more concern'd she cuts me to the heart O curse on curse but she shall have her part Aside I 'll reach her yet in spight of all her Art Well if I woo I 've done it with success Ev'n you that have been woo'd will find y 'ave lest Had the hard Fate been mine Thus to be trick'd of him I lov'd so dear I wou'd have drain'd my Eyes of ev'ry Tear You bear it tamely like a mourning Heir So tamely had I no way else to prove The Truth I 'd swear you never were in Love And who wou'd think Berinthia cou'd appear So easie and this outward smoothness wear When she 's within struck thro' the Soul with grief And I thank Heav'n can never hope relief Berin She grates so deep that I can bear no more And yet to stoop beneath her rage were poor Tho' youngest I will not be overborn But meet her rage with rage and scorn with scorn Aside Shou'd all the ills you wish upon me seize Amid'st 'em all this thought shou'd give me ease My loss is not your gain if false he be He 's not so blind to make the Change for thee But he is true and not one thought will give From me tho' sure an Empress wou'd receive Then All the spiteful Darts you throw at me Rebound with a redoubl'd strength on thee So Envy in her rage and her dismay Feeds on her self when she 's depriv'd of Prey But above all To vex thy Soul and to encrease thy pain I 'm pleas'd and laugh to see thee Love in vain Tho' who wou'd think your Charms cou'd meet disdain Cata. O Heav'n I know not what to do or say Too strong to bend too haughty to obey Aside I 've rais'd a Devil that I cannot lay My Charms vain Wretch here Offering a Pocket-Glass Be your self the Judge What is there in that Face That is not with advantage writ in mine Does the Rose there wear a Diviner Blush Or can the Lilly shew a softer Tincture Berin I boast not what I am Pride's worst disease I please without the taking pains to please The little Arts of Paint and Patch and Dress I leave to you that need ' em Cata. Confusion Death and Hell Berin Rave on rave on No more I 'll tremble at a Sister's frown Cata. You will not Berin No by Heav'n But rather make that Sister shake at mine Cata. Bravely resolv'd Berin And I 'll as bravely do it Cata. You will Berin I will Cata. Blast me with Lightning Heav'n Send Thunder down and nail me to the Centre If thus I tamely bear these vile reproaches If you dare urge me further Berin Send down ye Powr's the same afflictions on me If ought that she can do I value more Than this frail breath of Air which now is