Oh my Astella what a tide of Joy Streams in to Crown my yet imperfect Love 'T is rapture but to think he shall be mine To morrows dawn shall light our Loves for ever To thee I 'le own my Frâ—end without a blush The Vestall fire which guards his Image here Ast. My Brother 's too much blest in your kind Love Nor cou'd his utmost wish desire more Tho' it were boundless as are your merits Mir. Why d' you prophane the Dearest of his Sex Sâ—re nought that 's mortall 's worthy of his Love Were I made up of yet untasted Charms Such as wou'd pose the Painters noblest skill And dash his feeble fancy in it's flight Yet ' t' were too mean a present for Alberto Oh! why are you so slow you tedious hours Blow fair my hopes glide with a gentle gale To waâ—t Alberto to his Mistriss Arms. Ast. With what strange Extasies of Joy he 'le wellcome This so happy news from his Miranda's mouth But let me beg you share with me my Sister Leâ—t double passion burst my crowded breast My noble Brother has at last consented To consummate Antonio's happiness And Chain their friendships with another Link Soon as your father blesses him with you Mir. Soon as my Father gives me heav'n in him Why comes he not to hear the charming news Sounds as inchanting as the Theban Lire Or all the musick of the Spheres at once O Love forgive the extravagance of my desires Which have no bounds short of the noblest heart That ever yet your golden arrows peirc'd Enter Maria. Mar. My Lord Alberto Madam is without Desires to know if he may have admittance Mir. Fly and conduct him in now help me Sister Exit Maria To unlade my frait of Joys into his breast Ast 'T were Sin to bar the freedom of your Loves And therefore beg leave humbly to retire Exit Enter Alberto stands at a distance and bows Mir. Wellcome my Dear Alberto for ever wellcome here But doubly wellcome now Alb. To hear my ruine aside Mir. Now I can charm your sences into wonders Make your chill blood dance to the tune to Love And sing your Soul into Elysian raptures Alb. O' fatall Beauty and oh my cruell Stars sighs Why was I born to love and be despis'd Mir. Ha! why this distance and that heavy sigh Why play not thousand Cupids in your eyes In expectation of ' th approaching bliss But I forget 't is I must charm your Soul My Father now has warranted our Loves Which shall be doubly ratifyed to morrow Still senceless Alb. Oh triumphant perjury Down down the anger of my swelling breast Fix me kind heaven and clear my reason lest aside My hand shou'd antidate your vengeance on her And cut this beauteous weed of nature down aside Madam Hell and confusion I know not what to say I wish you Joy Mir. Ha! wish me Joy yet mention Hell Alberto The greatest blessing twisted with a Curse Oh all ye powers Yet why my Lord Oh why that wish How can you doubt my joy when you 're the Author My Heaven my Paradice my all I have Alb. Oh Syren Syren aside Mir. Yes my Lov'd Lord you are my Souls desire Nor do I blush to speak a noble Truth But stay mine did I say my Lov'd Lord O no! It was a fond mistake he 's mine no more But false to all his Oathes and plighted Vows False to Miranda that unhappy Maid Weeps Alb. Furies and Death 't is downright mockery But Madam know tho' I appear to you So still so calm so like a suffering Saint Yet know I say there is a storm lies brooding here Will like a furious whirlwind blow to dust That Bane to Love and Friendship False Antonio Mir. Antonio unfold this fatall riddle Abl. Upon his heart I will Mir. By Heaven by All that 's Sacred Alb. Hold hold thou Lovely Perjur'd Beauty So well I love thee still thou sha't not damn Thy self to give Alberto satisfaction For that Antonio's life must give not you Mir. Hear me Alberto or I dye with grief Hear me before your rashness makes it quite too late To hear 't is Death to think you may be slain for me For my heart bodes some strange eruption Of discontent and Passion which tends to ruine And surely I shou'd grieve Antonio's loss Since Innocent Alb. I know thou woud'st Mir. Will you be still unjust Oh torture see he fears to let me know the truth And Cause of this Disorder this strange mistake Weeps Alb. Ha! does she weep O treacherous Crocodile But I 'le be calm Just heaven why have you lodg'd Such luâ—king fiends in this so fair a Mansion Why wink not all the Stars and hide their heads Since this bright Cinthia's fall'n from her sphere Can those tears be true sure 't is impossible But then if guilty why shou'd she complain Oh! 't is the nature of that coâ—s'ning Sex To weep and smile and yet be false and fair Thus bigot Love mistakes the genuine Pearl Deluded with a gaudy glittering nothing Mir. Since then you 'l not believe my Vows or Tears Clear with your Sword my injur'd Innocence And with my blood wash all my stains away Alb. Still weeping Too well I know the cursed Cause Those tears yoâ— shed to your absent Lover And only make a show of Sorrow To surprize me more Ah Cruell Maid Thou poyson to our Loves and Friendship The only prop which dying Virtue leans on In one unhappy hour thou hast quite destroy'd And broke the Sacred Chain which link't our Souls Mir. Will you Condemn me e're you hear me speak What has Antonio doâ—e to move your hate Or how have I deserv'd this Jealousy Is not Antonio Alb. Ha! that name again By hell she doats and feeds upon the sound Antonio Oh that word that names a Charm A Charm indeed which has bewich'd Miranda And raz'd Heavens Stamp from out her fickle Soul O I could rave and Curse my Cruell Stars Which have depriv'd me of my Joys and her But Love usurps the Throne and still 's my rage Madam I go for ever from your sight To meet a death from your Antonio's hands Or offer up my self a Victim to appease His Angry Ghost and glut Revenge and you Mir. Stay stay Alberto hear me but speak Alb. It cannot be bid raging Seas to listen When the Winds heave the billows into Clouds Mir. Stay stay but to see Miranda dye Alb. Away Mock not my reall griefs with thy false tears Mir. False tears nay then I can endure no more Faints Alb. Ha! does she faint Return my fair Apostate Return and hear the story of your Falshood Here I 'le produce the clearest Evidence Will prove you false and trouble you no more Mir. Convinc'd I 'me false yet give no more O horror Yes I wou'd rip my heart out of this breast And give 't a prey for Vultures to devour Sooner then wrong my plighted faith in ought Alb. No more but read
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
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
Shakspear's greater Genius still prevail'd Have not some writing Actors in this Age Deserv'd and found Success upon the Stage To tell the truth when our old Wits are tir'd Not one of us but means to be inspir'd Let your kind presence grace our homely cheer Peace and the Butt it all our bus'ness here So much for that and the Devil take small beer EPILOGUE Writ by Mr. N. Tate Spoken by Mrs. Bulter in Mans Cloaths AS Malefactors brought to Execution Have leave t' Harrangue before their Dissolution Such favour your poor Criminall beseeches Something to say to justify her Breeches To strut with Feather Tilter Lace and Blue I have as good pretence as most of you 'T was time to take this Warlike Dress in Vogue To guard my dang'rous Post of Epilogue Where lurching Wits like Rapperees appear And Coward Critique still attack's our Rear I stand your Shot To storm this little Fort Let 's see who dares I've that shall find you sport Damn your French way of shooting on the Stretch Give me the Man bears up and mounts the Breach Entrench'd i' th' Pit you sit securely Rageing You know who 'le have the odds in close Engaging But this is all exceeding my Commission To swagger while our Poet makes Submission I told the tim'rous Fool 't was not the way A worse Mistake then any in his Play But he has writ just as you Fight for â—ay Like you he justifies his Cause for Life For Fame for Liberty for Bratts and Wife He writes but 't is not for the sake of Writing When you your Bilbo Scarf and Plume are Dighting For Heaven's sake tell me is't for love of Fighting Money 's his Plea that makes the Lawyer trudge The Priest Preach Counter and Corrupts the Iudge Meer want our Younâ—â—â—ers to write Plays impowers Playing will neither do their Work nor Ours Then since you are so kind to Their Deserts Give next Vs Women leave to show our Parts Let us perceive but the kind Humour seize ye We 'le â—ry our skill and do our best to please ye Dramatis Personae DOn Juan de Mendoza Vice-Roy of Naples Mr. Hodgsdon Alberto A Nobleman in Love with Miranda Mr. Powell Antonio His Friend in Love with Astella Mr. Alexander Ricardo The Vice-Roy 's Favourite A Villain and in Love with Miranda Mr. Montford Lopez Alberto 's Men Mr. Bowen Bernardo Ricardo's Man Mr. Trefusis Don Sylvio Fabio Gentlemen to the Vice-Roy Three Soldiers Three Neighbours A Iaylor Messengers Officers Guards and Attâ—ndants WOMEN Miranda The Vice-Roys Daughter in Love with Alberto Mrs. Bracegirdle Astella Sister to Alberto in Love with Antonio Mrs. Butler Maria. Miranda's Confident Mrs. Richardson The Scene NAPLES ACT I. SCENE I. The Street Enter Alberto reading a Challenge follow'd by his Man Lopez Alb. THis from Antonio forbid it freindship He tells me that Miranda's false and loves me not If he be then that happy Rivall why shou'd he desire To take that life her Scorn can look away Lop. Goes it there I have the business now aside But will prevent your designs my noble valiant Don. Alb. This note 's ten thousand daggers to my breast Cleaves to my heart like Hercules poyson'd shirt And tares my Soul in piecemeal Shall I go on my friendship bars the way But mighty Love and Honour chide my stay Yes I will go I 'le meet this treacherous man And stab her image in his faithless breast Or fall my self a Sacrifice to both Lop. That I must prevent my good furious Master aside Alb. By Heaven he shan't enjoy her I 'le sluce my veins Let out a deluge of my bloud to drown 'em And follow 'em tho' rocks high as Olimpus Oppose and stop my way Leap Aetna's hideous Vaâ—lt Then catch 'em on the brink and plunge 'em in But I will have revenge and such revenge As Traytors may the damn'd themselves yet never knew And I 'le about it strait Exit Lo. So now is he going to take Horse and Ride Post to the Devill A plague on these Female Succâ—buâ—'s who o' my Conscience are good for nothing else but to breed and beget quarrells Well faith I 'le not lose a good Master so Enter Ricardo and his man Bernardo following Lop. I 'le get some friends and neighbours to assist me then go with 'em to all the slaughtering fields about town and finde them out and so prevent their duelling Ric. How 's this friends and neighbours to assist his Master that must not be Bernardo do you follow Lopez when he goes from hence and leave him not till night I can away with your dilligence till to the morrow Ber. Till to morrow Sir Ric. Yes till to morrow business of importance oblâ—ges me to attend the Vice-Roy be gone Bernardo waits at the door Lop. What a pox has Antonio to do with his Mistriss or can't he share her with his friend I warrant She 'le give 'em both enough in as hot a Skirmish as this is like to be Ric. I must prevent his purpose and design Lopez Lop. Bless me what will become of me now if this ill-natur'd Courtier has or'e-heard me Ric. I 've heard from you your Masters rash design of fighting with Antonio and must your faithâ—â—llness and care commend Lop. I 'd rather you 'd heard the last Trumpet Summoning you to Hell Sir you may commend it but I can hardly believe that you 'l reward it Ric. Why Lopez thy Master is My dearest friend Our hatred's fled to 'th air from whence it sprung The date is out and all the bonds are cancell'd Canst thou then think â—'de tamely see him fall And crack those strings which hold Ricardo's heart Friendship 's a dearer name to me then Honour And I 'le expose the one to save the other Lop. As how Sir Ric. I will prevent their â—ighting Lopez Or if that fail I will assist thy Master But if his nicety refuse me that I 'le stake the utmost cast I have to loose And run upon Antonio's Sword Then hold it close â—nto my throbbing heart Untill my dearest blood cool on the point And blunt the stroak of death to save Alberto Lop Well Sir since you are so resolv'd to serve my Master I 'le trust his safety for once with you and humbly retire Ber. Hist hist Lopez Lopez run to Bernardo both go off together Ric. His safety dull Buffoon trust me for that Thou coud'st not chuse a better Guardian out Tho' thou hadst ransackt all the worlds below To cull a Villain of the blackest dye One thing I want to finish forth a Hero But 't is the meanest virtue brutall Courage Mallice I have enough and witty mallice These greater qualities may infuse the less And then Ricardo has a Titans Soul Alberto's death makes way for my pretentions Unto the coy Miranda's heart I will about it strait Italiâ—n spite assist me at this push Or blâ—st Ricardo or his Rivall crush Exit SCENE The Pallace Enter Miranda and Astella Mir.
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
unfortunate'â—t Dog in the world but Sir as I was saying Ric. Ay Sir pray go on 1. Soul For twenty more we wou'd cut your Honours throat tho' we are so much oblig'd to you for your bounty already Râ—c How 1. Sol. If your Honour shou'd hire us and pay us well for our pains Ric. Very likely that I 'de hire you to cut my own throat 2. Sol. An you did you 'd not be the first by twenty that have done it Ric. Come no more fooling 1. Sol. Fooling why I tell you Sir 't is our trade we cannot live but by murder and cutting of throats for look you Sir the blood we drink and it makes us fat the hearts we broil and eat with Salt and Vinegar and 't is wholesome food Sir as for the rest o' th body if it be young and tender we make Venison of it and present it to our friends and Benefactoas such as your worship but if tuff and old we give it to Dogs 't is not worth our care or preservation Ric. You say true but now to our business when he comes retire if you can so as to o'rehear us but if not I hope those same unknown things call'd Consciences that can digest murder so well as without making wry faces at it won't baulk a little perjury especially when there 's twenty good hard round pieces of Gold to help it down 2. Sol. Never fear it Sir 't is another limb of our Trade alass we shou'd halt without it why Sir we every day practice it for Widdows who out of tender care for their Children will Sequester some of their Mannors to themselves lest too much plenty shou'd Dabauch ' em 3. Sol. And for such grave Statesmen as your Worships honour when they have a Suit in Law depending or any Friend at Court whom they wou'd give a good Character of to the Goverment Ric. These are fit instruments as Hell cou'd send me And tho' he tamely yeilds him self a Prisoner Yet shall these Hell-hounds still outswear him And baffle Justice with their Impudence Nor will the Vice-Roy now be backward to believe 'em Since rage has blinded him beyond his reason 1. Sol. Sir Sir I hear some body coming I believe 't is our prey Now is my Appetite as sharp as my Sword to be at him Ric. Retire then and observe the Instructions I gave you 1. Sol. We 'le divide the spoil Boys shan't we Omnes Ay ay Agreed but come let 's go Exeunt Ric. Now Nemesis assist your Votary stands at a distance Enter Alberto Alb. The hour is past and yet he is not come As 〈◊〉 in Justice he allow'd me time To think and Steel my Sword for Vengeance Yet why ye Cruel Powers Why have you doom'd me to Revenge The Quarrell of my Love upon my Friend Was 't not enough to hear Miranda false To find a spot in that Meridian Sun That Silver-Swan who once like Leda's twins Brusht the smooth surface of the azurd Sky And glid along in gaudy Majesty Above the Common Glory of the Starrs To see her quencht quencht in an Asphalites And sprout up to the World an Ethiop Oh 't is a thought that grates upon my heart And screws the jarring string untill they crack But that my Friend my Friend should plunge her in And be the Tempter of this fall'n Angell 'T is Hell Damnation and Eternal horror Ric. What a rare poyson is this Jealousy ' That 's workt and almost scorch'd him into tinder Apt to be fir'd with the least spark of passion Alb. Durst any other snatch her from my Arms How wou'd I hug the Stinging Viper Till I crusht out his Poyson with his life And smile to see his panting Soul Dance on my bloudy point its way to hell Ric. Now is the Time My Lord comes forward Alb. Ha! What makes this Court-worm here This Parasite Volume of words and shadow of a Man aside Perhaps he has heard me â—ighing out my griefs Ric. I have my Lord and they concern me much And urge me to declare it to your face Antonio and you must never fight Alb. Must never fight who dares oppose our fighting As well they might resist an Angry wind Or stop the Current of an Impetuous tide Not all the roaring of Carybdiâ— Gulf Shall hush the Clamour of my loud revenge Nor Mists engender'd by the Queen of Love Shall hide her Darling Hero from my Sword Ric. To what excess of bravery you 're rais'd And spurn your Absent Foâ— like worthless dirt But once more I must tell you Angry Lord Antonio and you must ne're engage Alb. 'T is false Dally no longer with my fury Leâ—t it burst out and blow thee into Air. Where is the Man dares combat with my Anger Ric. What if the Vice-Roys Orders shou'd controul it Alb. I laugh at ' em What has State-Interest to do with me When both my Love and Honour are at Stake Ric. What if the Fair Miranda should command it Alb. The fair Miranda O thou hast hit the vein But call not back the Charmer to my mind Whom I've in vain attempted to forget Ric. Then still you love her Alb. Witness all ye Powers How much I love that dear Abandon'd Saint And with what joy I 'de dye to give her â—ase But cannot yield Antonio to her Arms Still the tough Mettal of my heart holds out And braves the weak efforts of my Ambiguous will Ric. Now then 's the time to throw off all disguise Know then I dare and will prevent your fighting Alb. No more be gone wake not my sleeping rage To tread so poor an Insect into Clay Ric. That Insect dares your rage Proud Love-â—ick Lord. Alb. Thou art not worth my Anger But mark me Statesman If thy Tongue breath a Syllable of this Or dares prophanâ— the business of my Love I 'le rivet it for ever to its roof By heaven I 'le bath my Vengeance in thy bloud And send thee Herauld of this horrid News To ope the Crackling Gates of Pluto's Realm And wait Antonio's Coming Ric. Insolent Know'st thoâ— what I am Alb. A Statesman and by consequence a Villain A Common Prostitute to every bribe Who Traffiques Justice for all damning Gold Ric. I 've blood as pure as thine runs through my veins Nay more I am a Lover and thy Rivall Alb. My Rivall Can any Generous passion enter there That Impregnable Garrison of Vice Or drast thou think to Violate my Love And offer up thy spurious Flames with mine As for Antonio he indeed is worthy of her Fair as the day and the first dawn of Light Before polluted with the Shades of Night And till this cursed Day a Pylades to me Ric. Your praise of him inflames but me the more 'T is I alone deserve her best and will wear her I will possess her rifâ—le all her sweets Whilst you gaze on despair and cursing Dye Alb. Ha! sayst thou but this arm shall bar thy way And send to keep
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
Saint as false as she was fond But she is gone for ever lost to my remembrance Ant. Ha! Gone whither Alb. She 's dead and damn'd for loving thee I 've Sign'd her pasport for another World And wait to send thee to her Ant. O give me Patience Heaven Astella dead Alb. Yes slain by me Monster Ant. Stay fainting Spirits move not away so fast One short recruit before I leave the World I come Astella I 'le be with thee strait Friendship away thus let me blow thee from me 'T is gone with that last sigh for ever fled weeps Now I can meet thee upon equall Terms And like a hungry Lion loos'd from my Chains Friendship and Honour which had ty'd my hands Rush on my prey and bear thee to destruction Why sink thy Arms as if thy rage did cool Alb. If this be true then what a wretch am I It is Astella's Cause that steels his Sword Whilst false Miranda is the Subject of my rage Aside Antonio since one of us or both may chance to dye When dead 't will be too late to clear mistakes Therefore by all that 's good I do conjure you Resolve me one thing Ant. Be quick perhaps I may Alb. Hast thou not betray'd my Love and me And treacherously won Miranda's heart Ant. If this continue I shall survive my Love I have therefore now revenge it Alb. Yet stay Why were you then concern'd when I told you Ant. I know your meaning I did it to deceive you Therefore fight or I will kill thee at all Advantages Alb. I will Antonio Be quick as Lightning to Revenge my wrongs Or as the thought that Executes Ant. Thou seest me ready now for thy heart they fight Enter Lopez Lop. Ha! what noise is this that Interrupts my rest Hark I think I hear clashing of Swords Ant. I think thou hast it there Alb. Nothing Sir come on Fight again Lop. 'T is my masters voice what do you mean If you are not the Devill I think the Devil 's in you now I 'le be hang'd if this be not some Smock-quarrell a pox upon all women but Whores I say Murder help help Murder Murder Enter Miranda in her Night-Gown Gentlemen and Attendants with lights The Gentlemen part them Mir. What Screech-Owl voice is that that crys out Murder Lop. 'T is I forsooth Madam Mir. Ha! Alberto and Antonio Oh Heavens what do I see Crackt not my eye-strings when I view'd this sight Is Nature quite dissolv'd and at an end Sure such an Act as this must needs presage it Alberto's wounded too oh horrid night Alb. O Spare this cruell show of pitty Madam You shou'd have search'd your Champion first Ant. I am not wounded Alb. No matter 't is a Complement stretch'd too high Thus to prefer her manners to her Love Mir. Still Jealous but your wounds are dangerous Else I wou'd clear the banefull source of all Mir. Go on dear Madam Mir. Know then Alberto that your friend is Noble If this last Action does not prove him base Alb. That word from you does brand him for a Villain Mir. 'T was he releas'd you Alb. By heaven 't is false all false as hell Ant. 'T is false indeed for he releas'd himself Paid me the bloudy Fees at his departure And like a Coward shrunk and stole away Alb. By Heaven a general plot upon my virtue Mir. Oh cease your wonder Sir and hear me out Declare the meaning of that Note you left For there 's the Fatall spring of all this mischief Alb. I gave it you to read Mir. 'T is true you did but I tore it Alb. 'T was from Antonio he knows it well Ant. By all that 's good I writ it not Nor know I what he means Alb. O were that but true which now thou sayst Ant. How shall I prove the truth Alb. I know not since it is torn and lost Lop. Sir I 've bâ—en guilty and I cry peccavi and I hope I shall before I 've done make you cry so to this fair Lady and that Gentleman Ricardo's man gave me a Note which he said dropt out of his Masters pocket I read it and found it a Challenge from Antonio to you now suspecting that to be the occasion of your quarrell I kept it up and here 't is for you the rest I 'le tell you anon Gives Alb. the letter Alb. I thank thee with all my Soul for thou' rt my better Genius Now read it Antonio but read it to thy self Gives Ant. the letter Lest the Contagion should infect the Air And blast my understanding with the horrid Sound Ant. Oh credulous Man how hast thou been mistaken Readâ— This is not writ by me Alb. Canst thou deny it Ant. By all that 's Sacred I do Swear 't is not my hand Alb. Then I am happy and yet wretched too Happy to find my friend and Mistriss true But oh I have profain'd her spotless Virtue And plaid the Tyrant where I should adore Thus let me implore your pardon Madam Kneels That goodness which cou'd Love me when unman'd Plead for me now since I 'me restor'd Mir. You cannot ask my Lord what I 'de deny Alb. Thus then I Seal my pardon tho' unworthy kisses her hand Now let me pay my duty to my friend Going to embrace Ant. Ant. That name is fled with my Astella's life Then I forsook it when you renounc'd Humanity Alb. Is that the wound know then Astella lives Ant. Lives Oh my Joy Alb. How cou'd you think I 'de be so barbarous To kill my Sister and doubly wound my friend I only did it to excite your rage Ant. Then I forgive the rest since I perceive 'T was fury workt you to that height to wound mâ— When I releas'd you from your prison Alb. Ha! Then here 's another riddle to be solv'd I saw nor spoke to no one but my Jaylor Who guided me by a back-way from prison Ant. Then 't was Ricardo whom I met i' th dark And who 's the Cursed Authour of all these ills Now I can hold thee without fear of stinging No Viper hid in this close Embrace Embrace Alb. Oh my brother let me for ever thus Enfold thee in my Arms And you Madam that could pitty my distress Let me for ever thus embrace and kiss your feet Thus like the Ivy twine about your knees And live to all Eternity thus over-blest with joy Mir. Oh rise my best my only dearest Lord Rise and be for ever happy in my Arms. Alb. Oh 't is too much too much for me my Soul Thou only Mirror of all thy God-like Sex Sure thou wert form'd in Heaven by hands divine Whilst Quires of Angels hover'd round the shrine And smil'd to see a Saint so good and fair Born to enrich the world and be its Heir Mir. My dear Alberto you forget your wound Alb. 'T is but small and will but serve to punish me For all my Crimes and breach of Friendship Ant. Come no more we have
been all too blame Thus fondly to believe what was not so But now the dire mistakes are known and plain And we will never be deceiv'd again Lop. Now Sir pray hear me when you were gone I was studying to prevent your Duell but Ricardo how led there to hear me the Devil and he best knows came sneaking behind me and o're-heard me talking to my self then told me that he understood your design of Fighting with Antonio which he said he wou'd prevent so desir'd me to Entrust him with your Safety Sâ—â—â—ring enough to damn him if false that you were his dearest Friend and that when your twatling-strings broke his heart-strings wou'd crack the rest you know better then I. Mir. 'T is plain Ricardo is tâ—e Engeneer Who has been buzzing in my Fathers ears To undermine our peace and comfort Lop. If I was not afraid of being hang'd for my policy I wou'd contrive to countermine this fellow Ant. We are thine for ever Lopez if thou dost Lop. Why then Sir lend me that Suit of Cloaths which you have on with which I 'le personate you for a while I hope you 're not offended at the Comparison then I 'le seek out Bernardo his Servant whom I will so pump and wire-draw that you may see through his Master but leave me â—o manage the rest Ant. It has a face indeed Alb. To morrow thou shalt have it Lopez And I will ever acknowledge thy kind Service Lop. I humbly thank your Lordship Alb. In what a Storm this strange mistake had cast me Tost on the Gloomy billows of despair Which heav'd by winds of Jealousy and rage Had almost rack'd my harrass'd Soul to ruine But since we 're now in view of distant Land Once more I 'le beg thee of thy angry Father And drive away those Clouds oppress'd his Goodness Grant Heaven a happy issue to our troubles Give me but once to touch the promis'd shore And I 'le embark on this rough Surge no more Exeunt Omnes The End of the Third Act. The Fourth ACT. SCENE I. The Pallace Enter Vice-Roy and Ricardo V. R. THe Mornings chearfull Ray now guilds â—he World And darts a joyfull Omen to my breast The Early Lark tunes his shrill notes to Hymen Whilst every Bird does warble out the Chorus And deafen all the Murmurings of my grief Ric. 'T is true great Sir but yet this glittering form May be a painted Cloud that ushers in a Storm V. R. Can you suspect your Masters word Ricardo That thus you mutter out your brooding fears Is that a posture for a happy Bridegroom Clad in that gloomy Visage and with eyes Fixt on the Earth whilst Mounting to the skies Ric. Has not last Nights uproar yet reach'd your ears Which so allarm'd your Loyall Subjects fears V. R. It has not yet Ric. Then I must be the Informer Wou'd Heaven my duty wou'd excuse my â—ilence Whether their plots have all turn'd head upon 'em And so compell'd 'em to this act I know not But once more they have combin'd Sir to deceive you Hoodwink your reason and ecclipse your Judgment And make your ignorance patronize their Crimeâ— V. R. As how Ric. Just as the Pallace Clock struck one I am inform'd there was a busteling noise Like the first puffing of an Angry wind Which swells and bursts at last into a Storm Strait clashing Swords disturb'd the Slumbring night Which eccho'd by a dreadfull voice of Murder Chas'd Gentle Morpheus from the Princes eyes For by design 't was done near her Apartment She rose urg'd by her pitty to their danger And with a few Attendants strait descended But heavens what was her wonder when she saw The two disloyal friends engag'd in Fight V. R. Alberto and Antonio Ric. The same my Lord. V. R. What should the meaning of their quarrell be Ric. You 'le please to judge Sir when you hear the rest To Countenance her pitty Alberto receiv'd a wound Which when she mourn'd for and Enquir'd the Cause He with a whining Scorn accus'd her Cruelty And bid her help Antonio whom she lov'd He seem'd amaz'd at the new Jealousy And ask't the grounds the Note was then examin'd Which he as well he might deny'd to be his hand Next comes a daubing Scene of flattering Joy Alberto kneels and weeping begs her pardon As all had been a Mistery to him Nay more oh heavens what Impudence is this They lay the crime the spring of all to me And have design'd this Morning to accuse me When he shall beg Miranda Sir of you V. R. Beg her of me sure 't is Impossible That they should dare to look me in the face As well they might behold an Angry Iove When grim revenge sits furrow'd on his brow Ready to scatter ruine on th' Assailers All Lemnos brandisht in his hands at once Ric. But they 've a Mist to lay before your eyes Will damp the Force of your avenging Thunder And melt your rage to a refreshing dew V. R. 'T is moulded proof against their weak attempts But to begin I promis'd you my daughter And with her take my heart for ever Embraces him Go call the Princess here Going out Attend. Great Sir she has prevented me she 's here V. R. Hell and Confusion what 's this I see Or my sense fails or 't is Alberto with her Enter Alberto leading Miranda By all my wrongs 't is he oh my salt bloud Burst burst your Channels over-flow your Banks And let my veins be fill'd with Liquid fire Quite to devour this Gorgon that unmans me Thus let all Villains dye offers to kill Alb. Ric. interposes Ric. Hold Sacred Sir V. R. Ricardo off for 't is in vain to stop me Ric. My Life Sir be the forfeit for th' offence Consider Sir who 't is that does oppose you 'T is I your Faithfull Slave who wou'd rather dye Then see your honour blemish'd by this rashness How wou'd the censuring World condemn you Sir If in your rage you shou'd Sentence one untry'd And be your self the Executioner Not but I wish his death cause he deserves it But to dye thus wou'd make him Innocent And â—ame secure he 's punisht but by halves Alb. Why this contention for a wretched life Villain I know it is the game you hunt for to Ric. But yet you think 't is not toil'd enough for death You wou'd have me linger out a Hell on Earth See you possest of all Miranda's Charms Buâ— Traytor know I have a Sword can reach thee And spite of Loyallty respect or Duty Rip out the heart that violates my Love And cool the warmth which nourishes thy flame Ric. He has guest my wishes aside Mir. Yes hellish Monster know There 's yet a greater bar to oppose thy way A Rock of Adamant and so Impenetrable That thou Villain with Legions like thy self No nor the Hell thou carry'st in thy breast Can ever melt or force away V. R. Insolent Pair but now they 've doom'd themselves And by