does you Rhe. Is it my fault would you kill me for that Dor. No I would not now but long since I could I love her Friend Rhe. Thy Friend resigns her to thee Dor. Oh! she has given Rheusanes all her heart And for Dorenalus she has no room Rhe. Approach her make thy sufferings known Who knows but Heav'n may plead in thy behalf Or she when knowing how our Loves are crost May by they Tongue be mov'd to set 'em right Dor. Ye pitying powers befriend me but in this And all my daies I 'l sacrifice in Thanks Can you forgive Rhe. What Dor. The Unruly Method which I us'd just now Rhe. Fogive I thank the occasion which has set us right And prov'd how strong my Faith is to your Sister No more hast to the Princess and relate your Passion May all the charms of Love and Youth wait on thee Dor. I have full power to work her as I please Rhe. I 'l bless the skill that cures my Friends Disease Exeunt End of the First Act. ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Rheusanes and Antelina Rhe. OH Antelina why this strange disorder Why are thy Eyes in which our loves have plaid And mov'd with Pleasure as thy fancy taught ' em Now overcast with such a dismal change As quite confounds my sences with the wonder Ant. How can you ask the cause of my Affliction When you the Author of it know too well Rhe. By all our Vows you tax me most unjustly Oh! may I perish when I wrong my Love Or never more be happy in my Wishes Ant. Oryala the Princess Oh! that mighty Name Has cancel'd all your Promises to me A Crown a Crown Rheusanes is your Mistriss now Rhe. Be witness for me he that made us love I would not leave thee for an endless life Of endless Youth Ant. Oh! you flatter me Rhe. Unkind suspector Durst my Tongue express my prompting fancy I fear I should Blaspheme in praising You So much above all things I do esteem you Ant. Oh! for Rheusanes too I 've that esteem The original impression of my heart Who first taught Fondness in my tender Soul And linkt it to unspeakable desire But you 'l not have the power to shun her love For there is such Temptation in her Face It might perswade a second Angels fall Rhe. Not have the Power Yes Were she bright as the first Glorious Angel Fair as Imagination could Present her Could tire fancy to relate her Beauties I have a Soul that would despise her Charms Ant. My Soul disdains a greater then the Princes The King Rheusanes has declar'd he loves me This Night I am Commanded to receive him Nay order'd to approve his Royal Offers Rhe. By whom Ant. My Father what he intends I yet am ignorant But I must meet him Rhe. Must Antelina Ant Yes I must Rheusanes Yet tho' my Fathers Will side with the Kings And the King thinks he may compel through him I 'l meet him with such Faith to what I love That he shall never cherish hope in me Rhe. I find the Purpose now of the Kings kindness And separating Mischiefs are Contriving Oh Antelina therefore hear me swear If our intentions should be frustrated By the designs I guess in Agitation By that most glorious Ornament of Heav'n Which beautifies the Coeling of the World The Moment that I loose thee Points to his Sword. This ends me Ant. And here I swear by the dear kneels Pulls out the Viol. Freedom which this Glass contains Which I design'd for ease hadst thou been false By all the hopes we may not be prevented if we are This Spirit gives me a Release from being Rhe. The Gods prevent the fatal proof of it Ant. Amen with all my Soul. Rhe. Your Brother now is with Oryala Thou art not dearer to my Soul then is that Name to his I promised him Assistance in his Passion And he has vow'd the same where I am Captive This Night then Oh! my comfort le ts remove All fears that may afflict us with our falshoods Ghinotto appears in the Balcony Ghi Ha! Ant. I fear it will be difficult to do For since the King has publisht his Intentions The Clergy will refuse to Licence us Rhe. Without the Walls you know there is a Chappel That is confirm'd to the Worship of our Swaines There only and only theirs This is their time of Feastival and Marrying With Rural Sports the Nimphs the Shepherds treat And 't is the custom of that happy Race To chuse their Lovers by their Excellence Ant. As how Rhe. As thus their Ceremonies are attended With Antick measures by the Nimphs performed Whose motion best delights the eye Is pitched on for a Bride the Swain whom She affects is streight made hers So they proceed to others in their turn Continuing Celebrating for three daies So masqu'd and drest we will perform amongst 'em So chose the Priest shall ratify our Vows Ghi They shall be ratified to my desires Ant. Then are you constant Oh! you abus'd dear Man My fearful Soul with doubts has been perfect Perswaded by my Father thou wert false Rhe. Would he were half so just as I shall prove Were less Ambitious Ant. Or would let us Love. Rhe. In spite of him we will our Loves compleat Then Triumph o're the envy of the great This night at nine within the Cyprus Grove Your Father will be busied then at Court. Ghi Do you think so Ant. Fail not the everlasting Peace or Troubles of my life Depend upon thy Truth Rhe. Off with these needless fears Oh! that the hour were come to Usher in The yet untasted Joys how I will gaze upon Thy Charms and dye in the admiring Ant. You must not Rhe. What Ant. Behold me till to morrow Rhe. Ha! Ant. Virgins have Eyes too tender for the Light Prithee excuse my Modesty some time Let us i' th' Dark receive each others Love. Rhe. Thou shalt I will not shame thee with a Lovers Question I will not speak to thee the thought Of what 's to come does almost silence me If apprehension has such influence How will the real pleasure wrap my sence Ant. Away Rhe. I cannot Ghi I must retires from the Balcony Ant. This will not hold thee long I shall grow Old. Embrace her Rhe. Thou wilt be ever Young. Enter Page Page Madam your Father and the King. Ant. Then we must part Rhe. Adieu Ant. Till nine Rhe. That happy Hour Shall lead our Loves beyond thy Fathers Power Exit Rhe. Ant. Now for this King O! my Ambitious Father Destructive greatness has bewitch'd his Soul And mine must be a Sacrafice to gain it Hard fate of Children which are bound to love Not what themselves but Parents do approve Enter King and Ghinotto Ghi 'T is the securest way that can be thought of About it then use all thy Art my Power Or what thou shalt think fit Exit Ghi Ant. How he surveighs me Ye Powers that favour constant Lovers Direct his
to my entreating Soul And scorn'd it as the vilest in the Land. Ant. I think it now the worst that Hell er'e punish'd King Think what you will the Game is now my own Nor value I your Curses or Reflections Ant. Dost thou not dread the fatal consequence Must issue from revealing of this mischief King Not I Were thy souls dotage here with all the Army Thy Father and thy Brother at their Head Had every wrong a Champion from above Nay were thy self before 'em all disorder'd In the most moving posture of abuse I 'de twine about thee like a curling Snake And cling till by degrees I was cut off Ant. Heav'n if I wait will surely do me Justice King When first I lov'd I Nobly did design Nor could your Wishes make you more than mine But when I found you deaf to my Complaints Resolv'd Rheusanes should not boast my loss I caus'd Oryala to perform your Part Whilst your ambitious Father lockt you up As a reserve for me Ant. Thou breeder of destruction King Think you I would have matcht my Sister To one did Hate her and below her birth But to remove the obstructions of my pleasure By the desires which I have gratified I would have stak'd my Country and my Life T o've gain'd the pleasure I compel'd even now Ant. Oh ruin'd Antelina Wrong'd Rheusanes King Despise a Slave when you may have his Lord Wait not on Fortune when you may command her Give me your Love and by my own I swear Thou shalt become the Wonder of the World. Ant. Your Villany has made me thus already King The Eagle shall not soar above thy Power The Indies shall be Plunder'd for thy sports To keep thy Extravagancies in perpetual Play Thy Garments all shall be Originals The finest and the richest Art can finish I 'l have the Sea turn'd off to digg up Rocks Shall furnish thee with Gems to blind the admirers Ant. And what shall wait on this Romantique Pomp King My Love. Ant. Thy Lust and Heav'ns eternal loss Wouldst thou to the Confusion thou hast made Add my Damnation Monster Vengeance will catch thee King Consider better and be better us'd Nor do I fear my Subjects nor the Gods If they should punish me for this dear action 'T is ' cause I have enjoy'd the bliss before ' em Once more consider weigh well your idle Coyness And if a just repentance I can find I may to quiet what you 've lost be kind Exit Ant. Do then and end me Tyrant Ravisher He 's gone and so am I from Honour ever gone Oh! how shall I look Vertue in the face Or keep my countenance when 't is accus'd My conscious blushes on my cheeks will blab And tell the inward touches of my Soul. Earth Earth thou general Mother of all beings Let not my evil Footsteps wrong thy bearing But take what is too vile to walk upon thee Sits down Enter Rheusanes Rhe. 'T is done I do believe the happy deed is done The King came pleas'd and flushing to the Banquet As if the Priest had warranted his Joys And he had tasted of my Antelina Ant. Oh! I should know that Voice Rhe. What Fate directs me alwaies to this place This Melancholy Grove but sooths me in my Thoughts And Drowns me in Despair Or is 't perhaps That this most conscious Grove nourish'd my ruin Oh! the happy time Even I that am undone undone by that Bless those so happy happy moments past And fond the Memory that makes me wretched Ant. Oh Heav'ns Rhe. What means that Voice of Sorrow do the Woods Pity me or is 't that mourning Lady 'T were vain for me to offer Services Or Complement her Miseries with mine If she be truly Wretched I rob her of her Solitude For sure when Grief grows to that monstrous height That none can equally Comiserate Next to the Quiet Slumbers of the Grave To be alone is all a Wretch would have Ant. Oh! Rheusanes Rhe. Or my Sence fails or Antelinas voice But that 's impossible Going off Ant. Rheusanes Rhe. Again Madam by calling on my Name I Judge you think it in my Power to do you Service Accept it thus and rise from this sad Place I will not trust my Eyes it cannot be What Antelina and without the King Or is this grief because without the King. Ant. Unkind Rheusanes do I merit this Rhe. Why Madam I can guess no other Cause Yet Oh! my Antelina if e're you Lov'd As often you have Sworn you did Rheusanes Not all the Royalties that deck a Throne Nor the gay Bridegroom King with all his honors Not in your Arms nor in the unspeaking Minute of delight Shall give you half that Peace or Calm your Soul Equal to what beneath Yon Mirtle Tree You own'd with Tears of Joy you felt from me Ant. I know thy Truth and that thus sinks my Soul Rhe. She faints Oh! thou Epitome of Heav'n return Revive my Love my Life my Antelina Ant. Ah! me if you would e're have Peace Wake me no more Rhe. Oh! if thou knowest my Truth Live only to Convince me of thy own That Antelina Loves the the lost Rheusanes And my Soul soars immediately with thine Ant. How can your Eyes so carelesly surveigh me Rhe. What saiest thou Ant. Do these torn Robes and hair look well Rheusanes Rhe. Hh Ant. Should you meet one thus Ruffled on a Road Stretcht on the Ground or fastned to a Tree Would you not judge they had been Rob'd Rheusanes Rhe. Horrours eternal choak my eager thought And stifle my unnatural Suspition I will not guess at all go on be plain What meanest thou by a Road bound to a Tree or Robd Ant. When e're a Shepherd leaves his tender Flock Does not the Wolf devour the helpless Lambs Rhe. Yet Plainer Ant. Let my Original disorder speak Rhe. Enough Enough ye Mighty Merciful good guards Of innocence and vertue 't is enough Give me thy hand thou beautiful decay Let us sit down like Children quite undone And pratle o're the falshood of our Guardian Thy Father Oh do not turn away That wretched motion does inform too much Ant. Oh my Rheusanes I own I sin to look you in the face So vile am I But pity me If threatned and entreated by a Father Urg'd by the wrong I thought you had done my Love And tempted by a Prince I seemed to accept What as I wish for Heav'n my Soul so abhor'd I would have chose the vilest Death on Earth Rather than live Rheusanes being lost The greatest Empress story e're could boast of Rhe. Oh dismal sound The only blessed news I wish'd to hear Doubles the wrack of my despairing Soul And marks me for a Wretch to future times Hadst thou been false 〈◊〉 or a just resentment Might have cur'd but now my spitâ—ful fate Has made a flaw not Heav'n it self can mend Nor do I fear a Curse nor ask a Blessing Ant. Oh Rheusanes Rhe. Speak on speak all for
heart to one not yet engaged King Fair Excellence Ant. My most honoured Prince King What brings me here I 'm sensible you know Your Father having told you by my Order Oh! slight not therefore thou all conquering Maid The faithful offerings of a love-bound Heart Unhappy only in not being the first Was taken Prisoner by those restless eyes Ant. Since by your Royal Order I am sent By my one Father here to wait upon your Pleasure To hear as you are pleas'd to say your love Far fitter for an equal Royalty With such respect I 'l entertain your story As does a double Duty now require King The entertainment of a double Duty Can never satisfy my greedy Passion Oh! give me but your single love to feed on 'T will gratifie my Soul Luxuriously But Duty without Inclination serve me Ant. To love my Prince I ever was instructed 'T was in my early grounds of living taught And nourisht by a natural Inclination King That love is but an awful Duty still Which for a Love like mine I will pay you Thus be Commanded thus becomes your Subject kneels Thus ever pay your Tribute as my Soveraign Ant. Justly you do disgrace me with this usage Puting my backward Duty in Remembrance kneels Of its neglect in doing thus no sooner King How cunningly she seems to avoid my meaning Rise subtle Beauty I know this Part 's as hard For you to act as me to like Throw off this art of distance in behaviour And give my plain and worthy meanings welcome Oh! do not shun the merits of my love But meet 'em with a generous Gratitude Ant. Impossible King Pity a Prince who never beg'd before Nay never lov'd till Antelina charm'd him As the rich Indies in their secret Pride Whilst undiscover'd flourisht and were great So was my heart till love surpriz'd it quite My richer Peace was fatally betray'd And by thy powerful Beauty captive made Ant. The Spaniards who that Wealthy soil subdued As the first Conquerours still their Title keep I was besieged long time ago by one Who came in the persuit of unknown Land It was my heart he was first that found it He put such strong Passion in the place That nothing e're can Master it again King Why I can force thee storm thee and destroy His weak resistance and thy obstinate will As easily as I can take my Rivals life But I by gentler means would gain thy heart And mercifully treat so fair a Foe Prithee resign Ant. I dare not King I will Protect thee for it I 'l make thee all Ambition can invent My Crown my Glories at thy feet I 'l lay Ant. I will not yield tho' for the crime I perish King Do not provoke my rage Think on thy Duty on my Power Ant. They 'r great Temptations but they cannot Conquer There 's something Irresistable within Which baffles reason by stubborn fancy The rules of what we ought to do dispises Or coming all with positive desire King When two desires both positive alike Meet with a Resolution to destroy each other Or bring both to one oppinion 'T is certain one must loose Mine has a Power to back what it pretends to And erring beauty thou shalt find too late What slighted Love joyn'd with that power can do Ant. Alas I know it makes a dreadful Tyrant Yet I will beat its utmost persecution Rather than prejudice my plighted Faith. King It s Persecution will not light on you Suppose I long'd to tast of a fair Fruit A sordid Miser would not part with Should I for that destroy the Tree that bore it No cut the Keeper off whose interest guards it Then satisfie my longings uncontroul'd Rheusanes is the Dragon guards this Tree Which e're I can possess first he must die Exit Ant. He 's gone yet wherefore should I dread him Rheusanes interest cannot want Protection Nor dare this King without good grounds destroy him The hour draws on will make him ever mine And banish all my cares Oh Time Thou ever marching yet untired Spirit Of unaccountable Eternity start from thy Constant course to help my Love Hast but this once to give my longings ease And be as slow hereafter as you please Exit Enter King and Oryala Ory I beg it may not be yet break it off King It must be done Oryala 't is too far gone To be prevented now you know he has forsaken Antelina Ory Indeed he has not Sir she still remains The Idol of his heart 't is not an hour since He parted from her with all the assurance of His constancy King No matter for his Constancy You follow my directions Embrace the offers which I have propos'd Or all your interest to the Crown forsakes you Ory For Honour sake Sir let me stand at distance Let me not make so mean a Condescension King State Policy enforces me to do it He 's grown too popular and shakes my safety Unless I do unite his Power with mine Ory What comfort can I hope from one that hates me King I know that you Love him Ory I must acknowledge my desires are towards him Did but his inclinations wait on mine But when I think of future disrespect Hereafter slights and distant entertainment I of my Love will make a Sacrifice Rather then wed the least of these Disturbers King When it is done as well he may curse Heav'n As meditate indifference towards thy merit Ory I fear the Event King Whom I Protect methinks should scorn to fear No more of these Excuses but accept it Heirs I must have I will not Marry for 'em Unless thy obstinacy force me to it Ory Be witness Heav n in what I must perform I cross my own desire to pleasure yours King About it speedily If you refuse consider I must Wed Accept my Crown devolves upon your head Exit Ory What shall I do I long and yet I fear Hate him when present fond of him not near Oh! I am lost between these harsh extreams Love drives me downward its impatient strems And e're a perfect Voyage I can make My will against the Rock of Pride does shake Ambition storms and Honour drives me back Exit Enter Ghinotto at one door Dorenalus at another Ghi Why this disorder'd carriage in my son Heavy disquiet sits upon his brow With an unusual solitude admir'd I will observe him Dor. How am I curst with that disturber Love My wretched Heart 'twixt hope and fear is wracht And yet I dare not own what may â—â—â—ieve me Ghi How 's this Dor. If I should tell her of my sufferings This eating Feavor which consumes my Youth And then instead of pitying she should scorn me Why what a Mock of mankind would it make me who 'd Point and say That is the haughty Thing Who thought his Passion worthy of a Princess And fond of the conceit Undid himself Ghi Dorenalus Dor. My Lord. Ghi You seem surpriz'd Dor. I did not think of any one so near me
I 'd be more a wretch Admire the witty cruelties of Heav'n And wonder at the newness of their Curse Ant. My Father Rhe. Curses blast him Heark I hear some coming Perhaps the King to appease a second time His pressing blood retire my Love And when I call Approach Ant. Oh hide me where I never may be found Leads her off Rhe. Now for this lustful brand This Fire that blister'd Antelina's vertue Enter Ghinotto By the fell Author of her Miseries It is the greater mischief Ghi The King with Joy deals round the brim-swel'd goblets His Gay behaviour signifies success But he 's engag'd so strictly with his Guests I cannot know the full particulars Rheusanes takes him by the Shoulder Rhe. Ghinotto tho' I know thee Ambitions dotard Yet not so blinded but thou can'st Judge What Death deserves that Execrable Dog Who would to please a bold Hot Blooded Prince Expose the unspotted Honour of a Daughter Ghi What Death Equal with him the unambitious Fool Who would to please the sondness of a Girl Refuse to be the Father of a Prince Rhe. Are not Vows binding do we mock the Gods When our Protestings summon 'em to Witness Whether our Words keep measure with our Hearts Have you forgot when to the Wars I went You joyn'd my Antelinas Hand and mine And blest me as yours Have you forgot When on my Sword I Swore Eternal Faith You made her Kneel and Kiss the hollow blade Preferring me to any Prince on Earth Ghi The Princess was not nam'd Perfidiou Man Do you upbrâ—id my Wrongs or flout my Age Your fiery Pride Young Conqueror rides so high 'T will throw you on your Back your false Deluding Tongue the Tricks you us'd to break the Match and Antelinas Peace shall mount her to a Throne A Diadem my Daughter shall adorn Oryala and thou shalt be her Scorn Thy slighted Passion shall at distance move It shall be Treason but to own thy Love Whilst the most favour thy poor State shall meet Shall be to pay Obedience at her Feet Rhe. Rage keep thy Bounds and Oh instruct me Gods Which way to satisfy my Love and Honour And not destroy this Murd'rer of 'em both Upbraidst thou me with breaking off the March Does not thy base Heart know its own Contrivane Ghi Vain Lord thy threats are vain my Heart know this Its Blood run cheary now as ' ere it did nor to Be child with words but sensible of Wrongs Apt to revenge and with this wither'd Arm. To justifie the Honour of my Name Rhe. The Honour of thy Name Ha! ha Ghi Ay upstart Prince the Honour of my Name Equal with thine much dearer than my Life And precious as the Off-springs of my blood Rhe. Pretious indeed and yet by Hell 't is sold Ghi By whom Rhe. By thee Ghi Thou Ly'st Rhe. Thus quarrel Boys and Girls Thou twice a Child Ghi Thou not beyond it yet Rhe. Who left his Daughter here Ghi I did Rhe. To meet the King. Ghi On purpose Rhe. To hear his Love. Ghi Ay and receive it too Rhe. He has been here Ghinotto Ghi I 'm glad on 't Rhe. He has made Love too Ghi Better Rhe. High mighty pressing Love. Ghi More like a Prince Rhe. More like a Fiend of Hell. Fetches her in Come forth thou Sacrifice to his Ambition And with thy Ruins sink his haughty Soul. Ghi My Child Ant. My Father Ghi What mean these swoln Eyes this torn Hair These ruffled Garments these all marks of Horror Ant. The King. Ghi Shall do thee right for this affront Tell me the Authors Ant. Oh! he can never do me right Ghi Why Child I know he Loves thee Ant. So loves a Goatish Satyr of the Woods A wandring Virgin of Diana's Train When to his Den he Hurries her by force And Grins at her Resistance and her Prayers Ghi Ambition Oh Ambition thou Nurse of Mischief How thou hast lash't my Pride Aside Rhe. What say'st thou now Ghinotto does not this Object Make thy inwards Sweat Does not her Tears Pierce through thy yielding Pores and scald thy Heart Can'st thou be still when such a Wrong provokes Ghi Is this the Coronation of my Daughter Villain Ghinotto Curse thy self alone Accomplice Cause Author of thy Disgrace Nor look on him whom next Heav'n must revenge And equally with Heav'n thou hast abus'd The Armies his and sure a Cause like this Will shock the Loyalty I know he bears Ant. Oh! Father Ghi Peace Girl a while and I will do thee Justice Rheusanes 't is now no time to ask you Pardon Nor can my Life afford me time enough The King and I mark me the King and I Are equally concern'd in thy undoing Oh! do me Justice there I 'le give thee Ample satisfaction here Rhe. Let me Reflect The Man who made this Wretch of Poor Rheusanes Lives still and I must honour him he is my Prince Therefore I must not meditate revenge Or Compensation just to such a Wrong Because he is my Prince Nay by my Soul That Name aws me so much That had he stript me bare of all my Honours Reduc'd me to the meanest State of Life Nay took my Life and that the Vilest way I could have blest him still and bore it all Ghi I have heard him boast your Loyalty indeed Own you the Prop and Honour of his Kingdom Yet there lies your reward Points to Ant. Rhe. Nay had he attack'd me in that tender part And knowing that my Life twisted with hers Had Stab'd her at my Feet my Blood might Sally me to some rash thought which soon I Should have griev'd for on my Knees to have begg'd The Favour of a Second Stab Thus would I treat His Cruelties with Life the utmost stake a Mortal Has to loose Ghi And charg'd by Heav'n and Nature to Protect To Right if Wrong'd by any mortal Power Rhe. But Sacriligiously to spoil my Love To violate the Altar of my Vows he has Stab'd my Soul nor can your vain Eliziums do me Right A Melancholy poor Dishonour'd Ghost Abandon'd Branded Scorn'd by Noble Souls And shun'd by Antelinas unreveng'd Ant. Where then Oh! where shall Antelinas fly In what dark Mansion cover her Disgrace A Ravish'd Virgin in a stranger VVorld VVhere bold Rheusanes durst not shew his Face Ghi By Heav'ns the Cods sit smiling at our Follies And mock at our Ridiculous Enduring Rhe. Oh Father Leans on him Ghi Oh! do not Sink my Soul with so much goodness I loath the VVorld I hate my self for Living To find thy Blood aw'd with the Name of King Baulk a Revenge would make me Young again Nor can I hope it from my Arm alone The Conscious King has Guards enough To Fence him from my Rage which shall end here Rheusanes I told you and I own it once again The King and I only the King and I made thee the VVretch thou art Thy Honours Stab'd in his hot Blood and Lust And thus in Blood must pay thee if he
the cross Paths which lead Our giddy Souls to everlasting Joy or Woe Stay to direct me the Soul is out of call I 'll not be long behind thee the King the King Who has done all this mischief must give me Death For him my Friend was in the dark destroy'd By him my Love was barbarously enjoy'd By him this worthy Princess was betray'd By him my Honours in Disgrace are laid By him then let these Debts to Heaven be paid For since he only can be tryed by you Do Justice or like him you 'll want it too Exit Rheusanes SCENE III. A Chamber with a Table set out with Sweet-meats Enter a Lord leading in Antelina Lord. MAdam the King will instantly be here This small Collation is for you provided Exit Lord. Ante. This Banquet seems most luckily provided For unsuspected now I can destroy His Life who robb'd mine of its Glory I swore no opportunity should scape In which I might revenge my Virgin 's Loss In then thou bane of Mortals Pours Poison into a Bowl of Wine Thou Enemy to Life and Friend of Death Thy fatal Virtue mix so curiously That the most cunning Sense may not distrust thee Hark the Royal Thief approaches Enter King and Lord. King. Are all things order'd as I gave directions Lord. Your curious Fancy is obey'd in all King. Leave us let not the Princess Nor a Soul disturb us Lord. I shall be careful Sir. Exit Lord. King. The Subtilety o' th' most experienc'd Lovers Which have subdued the chastest of the kind The Eloquence of Cicero affect me Aside Thou Mother to the Deity of Love Into her Breast convey thy yielding Soul And give me Charms to conquer all Resistance Ante. Thou Goddess of unspotted Castity Thou worthy Patroness of Injur'd Vertue Aside Right me on this Imperial Ravisher King. Fair Injury Moves towards her and bows very low Ante. How flily does this Devil masque his Falshood So look'd the First when credulous Eve he tempted And of her blessed Paradise depriv'd her Aside King. Thou moving Token of thy Prince's Mischief Look on me with compassionate Observance I groan beneath the Burthen of my Crimes Thy Pity only can the Weight remove Which Cloggs my Soul and sinks it to Destruction Ante. I shall have Justice worrying Flatterer King. By all my Hopes of Quiet noble too Such Justice as shall heal your wounded Honour And calm the worst Resentments of your Father I 'll set thy Vertues in a Sphere so high Shall make 'em yet out-shine thy Sexes Pride Ante. As well the Oak may flourish like the Elm When Ivy has debas'd its noble Trunk King. When Mortals begg Remission for their Sins With an unfeigned Desire Heavens Ear enclines Be thou like Heaven to my entreating Prayers And let my just Repentance claim some Pity Ante. Thou hast been basely Cruel King. The greater will thy Mercy shew to Pardon Do not upbraid me ever but relent Kneels My Sins which like a Leprosie ran o'er me The Tears of Penitence have wash'd away Nor can I think my Soul inclin'd to th' Act Some Fiend admiring of thee enter'd me And with his Charms forc'd me act his Will. Ante. I must seem yielding to bring him to my Ends Requires Belief I may be brought to his Rise Sir. King. Will you sit down then Ante. I will. Sits King. Will you salute this Bowl or in a Friendly Draught drown what is past Oh bless me with the Sound of thy Forgiveness And my sad Soul shall shake its Sorrows off And dance to th'joyful Musick of thy Mercy Drink my Hearts Trouble Gives her the Bowl Ante. Peace to our Wrongs She drinks King. I thirst for it Takes the Bowl and drinks May all our Sorrows shrink as this decays Ante. May it wash out thy Sins I do forgive thee King. Souls banish'd Heaven could not be better pleas'd To be call'd back again Some Musick there to humour this sweet Softness W A Song Eat my Comfort here 's Food delicious As the Gods delight in luscious as Loves desires Let 's feast and revel till we have wearied Luxury And with our Appetites Extravagance made Craesus poor Ante. Thou wilt be poor anon King. Wilt thou not eat my Queen Ante. I am not well King. Let us retire my Life within are Cordials Masters of all Sickness Ante. Make use then of 'em for thou art mighty ill King. Not Paris was in better Health when he His dear stolen Helen first embrac'd I feel my pious Purposes decay And I am lost again in vast Desire Ante. Is this thy faithful Sorrow King. Would'st have me weep my self Like Niobe into a Stone I 've sigh'd sufficiently for what is past Therefore thy Joys must make my Grief amends Ante. Oh Monster King. Throw off this foolish Vertue and be kind My Blood boils high Ante. Thy Soul will sink as low King. I 'll sink it in thy Arms then Ante. Good Gods King. Could those good Gods transform thee to a Tree Like Daphne when Apollo did pursue her Thus should my twisted Arms grow to thee Whilst every Branch which sprung from our fair Sides Were royal Issues of each others Pleasure Ante. Thou bitter Curse on Vertue thou art poison'd King. This will not save thee Ante. By the Honour thou hast destroy'd not the Worlds Art With thy own Nature were it strong as Cruel Can carry off the Venom in thy Blood. King. If I am poison'd then my Time 's more precious And on thy Bosom shall my Life expire So bless'd I 'd willingly my Life resign In Ecstasies of Bliss I 'll upwards climb Upon thy Lips I 'll leave my parting Soul And giddy with my Joys to Darkness rowl Enter Lord. Lord. To Arms or fly immediately The Army 's at your Pallace bellowing lowd Rheusanes is our King down with the Tyrant There 's not a Citizen but arms the Cause And vows to share their Fortune Ante. I cannot live to see my Wrongs reveng'd She sinks and sits on the Ground Fear Tyrant for Heavens Vengeance Crouds upon thee King. This message like Qualm comes cross my Blood And chills the Heat her Beauties had inspir'd Draw up our Guards le ts meet 'em with the utmost Force we have and back it with an equal Resolution This Cunning shall not save thee here thou shalt remain Till I the worst Event of Fortune know And if I find my Crown I must resign I will return in spight of all thy Art And perish in thy Arms. Rheusanes and thy Father shall behold it Whilst both their Swords shall want the Power to part us For as my Wounds successively are made As they stab me so will I kiss thee dead Exit Ante. Oh Rheusanes some unseen Power Whisper in thy Ear How nobly Antelina keeps her Vow I feel the Mischief coursing through my Veins And like a Town attack'd from every side It does surround my Heart feign 't would hold out To parley with the General And after some Conditions give
with such Skill They 're sure to Hurt if not to Kill Let Pity move thee to seem Blind Lest Seeing thou destroy Mankind II. Lucinda hide that swelling Breast The Phoenix else will change her Nest Yet do not for when She Expires Her heat may light in the soft Fires Of Love and Pity so that I By this one Way may thee Enjoy King OH Love like Death no Difference thou know'st The Heart thou strik'st must to thy Power submit Tho satisfyed the Yielding Ruins it Not Alexander could withstand thy Dart Yet he had baffled Millions with his Shield The God of War thy Arrows did Disgrace Making him languish at thy Mothers feet No wonder if our Heroes were thy Slaves When you subdued the Deity they serv'd Enter a Gentleman Gent. Ghinotto waits your Majesties Commands King Bid him Enter Enter Ghinotto Oh my Ghinotto dost thou bring me Comfort Or must Despair consume thy Master speak Ghi What might be urg'd to serve your Majesty This Brain has studied and this Tongue perswaded But still the Coyness of a slighted Maid Seduc'd by the false Vows of her first Lover To all besides she bears Nor Power nor Pomp can bring her to my Will. King Thou dost not sure the Art of Courtship know That canst not with Preferment win a Woman Ghi Perhaps Proposals from your Majesty might tempt her But from me tho Duty should instruct her to obey Yet she despises the utmost hopes My Cunning can invent King I 'le see her then my self They say there is a Power in Majesty Which Woman can't withstand And if a Crown can win her Aside I will exchange it for the moments Bliss And be content to serve my after Daies How does she bear the Marriage of Rheusanes Ghi As gaping Courtiers do the Rise of those Who take it o're their Heads she sighs And coldly saies She 's glad Rheusanes Fortune Has provided a beauty in all Points So much above her to share his Heart So much more worthy in his Masters eye so King What now Shout Ghi 'T is for Rheusanes Sir. The Crouded streets smoak with his Aclamations And He their Sun sucks up the ambitious Fogg King Ghinotto he must be Clouded set in a Winters Sky Where sometimes he may shine but weakly warm Ghi Success in Souldiers makes 'em Popular Nay oft disturbs the State which once they serv'd So 't is a Prince's safety to remove 'em Still as they grow familiar with their Country Into a private Life Which to the full shall recompence the Publique And keep 'em with just duty to their Prince King 'T is well advis'd You once were great i' th' Military Cause Deserv'd and did receive Applauses too Thy Son being grown fit for the honour'd Field I took thee to my self my bosom Friend Ghi So warm a Climate vertue does encrease My care have ever been to serve my Masters King Thou art a worthy States-man Rheusanes on his Marriage shall resign his Staff Which to thy Son descends Let him Example From his Father take and well I shall be Guarded This Night I 'l see thy Daughter If thou canst bring her to accept my offers I 'le make thee Father of thy Prince Ghinotto Enter Gentleman Gent. The General waits for admittance Sir. King Conduct him in Ghinotto Exit Ghi and Gent. I must Enjoy her Great is the interest of this General As great I know the Love is he bears her My Sister first presented him to me And now expects to reap what she has sown Tho Kings would Glory in so rich a Bride Yet for my own content she Marries him I have no hopes to compass Antelina But by this snare For when Love once for Greatness is Despis'd Still the neglected by that scorn 's advis'd And when Rheusanes falshood she has known How will she catch the offer of a Crown Enter Ghinotto Rheusanes Dorenalus Attendants Rheusanes Kneels Rhe. Success and Plenty wait upon my Prince And still when e're his Country wants relief May Fortune prove as favourable as now King Welcom most fortunate most wish'd for man Thy Prince's Guardian and thy Countrys Prop Rise and look like the conqueror thou art Rhe. You pay my duty much above its merit Nor could my Life tho lost in your defence Be worthy of such Title or such Praise I 've serv'd my Prince but as a subject ought When he commands his serviee King Dorenalus thou' rt welcom Dor Kneels May still good fortune wait upon thy Youth Encouraging thy Endeavours with success Dor. Long as the favour of my Prince waits on me I need not fear the want of Heav'ns assistance King Rheusanes since Heav'n has blest us With Victory and thy safety I think it were presumption more to tempt it Thou hast discharg'd thy Office well and Nobly And how to recompence thy Merit we have studied But if thy fancy would reward thy service With a particular choice it most delights in Proclaim thy wishes to our grateful ear With a most worthy and just assurance Rhe. So well I know the goodness of my Master That on his choice I wholly will depend For fear my wishes meet with his intentions Which rudely might interptet that I knew My own deserts as well as does my Prince King My wishes hope to agree with thy desires Goes to the door and brings in Oryala Can this reward thee Dor. Ha! Aside King Why so surpriz'd Rheusanes 't is real and thy Merit Here take her and the next sun shall see you Joyn'd much faster still senseless Rhe. Such blessings Sir must be receiv'd With all humility and admiration King Courtship I know is troublesom in Publique We 'l leave you to the Eyes and Ears Only of each other Ex. King Dor. Ghin. Manent Ory and Rhe. Dor. The use of mine forsake me At this Moment Rhe. What shall I do or how shall I approach her Most gracious Princess Ory Most worthy Lord. Rhe. By Heav'ns she spoke as if she lik'd my answer And prompts me to go on Aside Ory Some pitying God now stand a Virgins Friend Inspire him with affection towards my Love That neither my desires may be refus'd Aside Nor Greatness slighted Rhe. Since Madam by the King I here am left To win your favour or receive your scorn I would entreat e're I presume to talk Of that nice subject we must enter on You would resolve me one material Point Kneels Which my fears urge me thus to beg of you Ory Rise My Lord so well I know the goodness of your soul That whatsoever it dare ask I need not blush to grant I guess his Measures and am prepar'd to meet ' em Aside Rhe. Oh Antelina Aside 'T is Madam whether by inclination or command You do permit this single Conference Ory My Lord Rhe. Pardon me Princess if I err impute it to respect And much of Honour 'T is probable your Choice is made already If so what happiness can I expect From an intangled Love or forc'd
compliance Ory If it were so tho you 've no cause to doubt But if it were I say In kind obedience to the Kings Command I would correct the errors of my Will And with content accept what he thought fit Rhe. Load me not Madam with too many favours Lest I want power to recompence your goodness Honour and Beauty I have fought for long Yet never did my Ambition swell so high To think my Duty worthy of such Greatness Ory Since General 't is the Opinion of your Prince Your Princess too complying with his Thoughts You should be Proud that he esteems so well And blow the Flame which kindles thus your Glory Rhe. Hold now my Honour Faith and Love stands fast Ory Why pause you so aside Rhe. My fortunes Madam crowed so fast upon me I am surpriz'd and puzled to receive 'em Ory 'T is probable your Choice is made already Else why this subtle distance in your speech Why palls your Spirit when I grant it freedom Think to what envy'd Glory thou art climbing Kings have been Proud but to be thought my Suitors And he was happiest whom I smil'd on most Rhe. If happily from Kings I had descended With a bold Joy I should embrace this offer I but indifferent Parentage can boast A private Gentleman by you prefer'd Your favour was the Sun that warm'd my hopes And ripen'd with applause my undertakingâ— I am a Cloud will fully the bright Glory Which from your Eyes gives comfort to the World. Ory Honour archiev'd is Reckon'd the most Noble The Romans thought the merits of the Sword Excel'd the Nobleness of long Succession The famous Marius of Plebian Race The dignity of Consul bore seven times Why should not Diamonds bear their worth in dirt Equal with those the flattering Artists set But in this Age fantastick Ornaments â—aâ—â—les the Honest Plain and solid Vertue Rhe. There 's no avoiding of her meaning how Through all my Cunning shiftings she has Cours'd me And hunted my Excuses to a Bay aside Madam like all your former favours is this last The Generous encouragement you give me Upbraids my sence for wanting words to thank you Grant me a little Time to weigh this Goodness And I will study how to Answer it Ory Had Antelina made this invitation You would have had one ready Rhe. I do not understand Ory 'T were better if you had But remember and Curse your folly Rhe. I have disturb'd her Soul and in her Eye I see neglected greatness threaten high Ory Make me no lower stoop thou Tyrant Love I thought no possibility for this aside Does your Guilt make me Dumb Rhe. I dare not speak I see your Anger And I dread your Frown would I had never been Ory Why Rhe. Or else been yours Ory Ha! Rhe. Oh! do not strike me Dead but Mercy shew kneels I see Revenge preparing for the blow And fear there 's no Avoiding of it now Ory Shame and Dishonour of my Soul What am I What is a Princess slighted by a Slave But think you I will bear it tamely Traitor No if my Power can Purchase me revenge Your Antelina quits the World this Moment In everlasting Solitude shall dwell And Cloister'd be for ever from Man-kind Rhe. Oh hold I had forgot her Power and with my Forward Zeal undo my Hopes Ory Unhand me Rhe. I cannot till you recal your Doom Ory Till you renounce her my Decree stands firm Rhe. Take then O take the fatal secret from me For Death I know must wait on the Confession My Faith to her was Plighted long before I knew the least intentions for this Match Give me some Time then but to weigh this goodness For tho' I see my Fortunes mended much I can't forget she once was all I hop'd for Ory Will you resolve or Rhe. I will. Ory What Rhe. Study to Love. Ory Whom Rhe. Oh! Antelina Ory Villain Stamps Rhe. Yet stay Ory I will not Mercy nor Love my Passion shall controule But as thou hast mine I will Torment thy Soul. Rhe. Yet mercy Ory Antelina Rhe. Mercy Ory Forsake her then Rhe. Would you not think it hard to have a claim Below your own deprive you of the Crown In love Pretentions like to those take place Nor durst I think of any to your Highness Ory Canst thou neglect the Glories of a Princess For mean delights in her indifferent Arms Rhe. Indifferent beings should their Equals choose The meanest sort Ory Can then thy Soul be stinted to a being And Covet nothing more beyond a Woman This mean Confession has alarm'd my Pride Ignoble Wretch go Lanquish by her side The Honours which my favour on thee set Go lay 'em all at Antelinas feet Forget the Court and to a Cell retreat Oh! I betray my self I must not stay Least I want Power to take my self away Exit Rhe. How cross a fate has Heav'n appointed me Exit Was I preserv'd abroad to perish here Through all the hazards which my life has run Fortune befriended me and led me on But now when most I want her she is gone Enter Dorenalus with his Sword drawn Dor. So is Dorenalus Rhe. Ha! Dor. Draw Rheusanes Rhe. Wherefore Dor. Oh! thou hast bought a spot of Earth so cheap That the whole World will envy the vast Purchase The Fruit it bears like that of the first Tree Which did betray mankind has poyson'd me If therefore you would keep it undisturb'd The everlasting springing sweets still Chast Immortal like the power design'd 'em so Cut off the Serpent which would blast its vertues Would leave it a corrupted Root of Lust Where sins would multiply with every Thought Rhe. Your mystick meaning yet I cannot guess But if in me There 's ought can make you happy By all our Friendship you shall reap the blessing Dor. Friendship be ever banisht from our Hearts I hate thee more then thou canst love thy Comfort Draw or by the power which thus distracts my Temper I 'l kill thee like a Slave which wrongs Mans Honour And then wants Courage to redress theaffront Rhe. Thou knowest I do not fear draws But for thy Sisters sake whom I have Lov'd Dor. Whom thou hast Lov'd thy Heart Rhe. Through it ungrateful have I nurst thy Youth With all the tender Care of friendships Eye And this my Recompence disclose your heart Lay forth the Troubles which afflict it thus Then if I have the Power to heal your wrongs And do refuse I 'l meet thy Passion As becomes Rheusanes Dor. Thou wilt not Rhe. Try me you never found me Faithless yet Dor. Do not Urge me Rhe. I must Dor. Let thy Sword rip my Breast up And in my Heart thou'lt find the secret written Rhe. Friendship forbid it Delay no longer Dor. Oh! I am lost fall in Rhe. Arws Rhe. Thou art not here 's thy Guide Dor. Oryala Rhe. What of her Dor. You 'l laugh at me Rhe. Hate me then justly Dor. Do you not love her Rhe. No. Dor. But she
a Death To drive you from the Terrors of your Conscience Thou hast a Fiend now whispers in thy ear Thou art damn'd Despair and die Rhe. Audacious upstart dar'st thou talk unarm'd Draw or through thy breast I will pursue my Sword Till the sharp Point find thy false heart Dor. Sooner you 'l bury it within that breast But here 's a faithful one would fain embrace it Keep me not on the Wrack thus miserably But give the stroke of mercy and relieve me Rhe. Thou art a Coward Dor. Therefore kill me lest I spoil the Army Rhe. A Slave would sell thy Country for a Dollar Dor. Let thy Sword prevent it Rhe. Procurer for thy Sister Dor. Now revenge thy self for I did steal her For the King and Robb'd thee Rhe. Oh! I desire no more you Sup this night in Hell With all your Sins attending you with Torments But first I 'l as a Villain and a Coward use thee Thus we deal with Cowards strikes him Dor. Hold thee a Minute Rhe. Draw then Dor. I will. draws And that I may not be provok't by any Usage you 'l inflict on me I here resign What might protect me from it throws him his Sword. Now Rheusanes Rhe. Death Hell and Vengance I 'l endure no longer Come to my Arms thou injur'd Innocence kneels Oh! Pardon Pardon my last frantick Measures Dor. Oh! rise my Lord and do not mock my Sufferings Rhe. By all thy martyr'd Patience it is real Nor will I rise till I hear Pardon from thee Dor. For what Rhe. I struck thee Friend Dor. I have forgot it Rhe. Disgrac't thy Honour Dor. I think not of it Oh! Rheusanes but no more Rhe. Yes I will talk for ever on thy goodness Angels Protect and Guide thee in all thy Waies And everlasting happiness attend thee Dor. Now I am happy the utmost I desir'd was to part Friends to make you sensible of what you had Done and then to leave you Rhe. Leave me Dor. For ever and for ever we must part Oh! Rheusanes to stay in sight of such a loss as mine Would tempt me to do something Base and Damnable Rhe. Time may alter Dor. Nor Time nor Fate can alter my condition Would the Law serve so far as to divorce you Would the King after give Oryala To these Oh! curst remembrance once most longing arms It would not bear the name of recompence The Treasures gone which I so much ador'd And tho' she may that ne're can be restor'd Rhe. Are there no means to help us Dor. None but parting if thou art Innocent The Gods reward thee with some future blessing Rhe. How can you bless what you so lately Curst Dor. 'T was only to provoke you to destroy me Rhe. My usage had the same design on you Dor. Farewel How hard it is to part with what we Love Oh! had the Princess never been thy wife Had she been any others had she been lewd As the worst Womans fancy This bosom would have given my Troubles ease But Oh! Rheusanes Who will not pitty that shall read my end Rob'd of my Mistriss by my only friend Exit Doren falls down Rhe. Wilt thou not hide me Earth Enter Oryala Ory Yonder he lies Curst Curst Ghinotto how hast Thou betrai'd me Thou irresistable and Cruel Power Which has so partially confin'd my heart If you would have it faithful to your Worship Give ear to the Intercession of my Love And make me happy in this Lords affection For if that scorn does still possess his Soul I 'l fly to th' refuge of a just revenge And will despise thee equal to his slights Rhe. Oryala how my Plagues grow upon me Ory Oh! Rise Rheusanes is this a Bed for a Royal Bridegroom Rhe. No but for a Perjur'd one it is Made wretched by thy means Prithee befriend me and withdraw thy terrors There are ten thousand Mischiefs in thy presence Ory I am no Basilisk Rhe. Oh! that you were you would be comfortable to These Eyes and ease 'em of the Torment of beholding Ory Are these the Pleasures I must hope from Marriage Rhe. Why didst thou Marry me Rises Ory Because I lov'd because I could not live In peace or rest without you Rhe. Oh! you will never with me My wrongs to Antelina cry for Justice And Envy grins to see me so unhappy Ory Oh Rheusanes Rhe. Oh Oryala I dare not call thee Wife It is too much to know thou art that thing With what afflictions hast thou loaded me I groan beneath the burthen of my thoughts And am not able to endure the Torture Hell Hell that owns me why dost let me live Ory Oh! Chide me if you must a little gentlier I cannot suffer these unequal Passions From one I Love so much Rhe. What wouldst thou have me do There is no Medium in my Miseries My Friend to my Dorenalus my promis'd Brother That Soul of Honour Constancy and Friendship Have I beyond recovery lost and ruin'd Ory How have you ruin'd him I can perceive No ruin but my own Rhe. He lov'd you Princess he indeed ador'd you Your Name was his delight your sight his food I swore to him I 'd never wrong his hopes And the same Night for ever ruin'd ' em Ory His Love was only known to himself and you I could not answer what I never knew Yet if I had been acquainted with his Love You could not think I would have cherisht it You were the only Subject I could stoop to Look back upon my Generosity Reflect upon my Care for your Preferment Private you came unheaded to the Court Till my regarding Eye your Person chose And to my Brothers favour did present you Rhe. You have sold that goodness at too dear a Rate Ory Oh! say not so Since you are sensible o' th' weight of love Pitty what under the same load does move By all the Joys you coveted last night When with your eager Arms you Prest me close Rhe. Those Joys do prove my greatest Torments Oh! if our scatter'd Loves have chance to meet And fill'd thee with the Image of thy wishes May it be blasted at its dawn of light And stifled as 't is crawling to the World. Ory Consider who I am Rhe. Thou art my Wife my Wretched unintended Wife Fortune that Bawd to accidents has Slur'd thee on me Ory I am thy Princess too Rhe. No you were Oh! that you still had born That awful Name I still had paid Obedience To your will but now I Rule I Reign And Lord it o're thee as becomes my pleasure What hast thou done thou hast sold thy freedom To a Tyrant Husband who alwaies will misuse thee Ory When I intreat again I give thee leave Oh! where has all my injur'd Honor slept Or how have I been charm'd into Submission Rouze Rouze my temper shake thy fondness off And punish the offenders of thy quiet Thou little less than Man how I despise thee Rhe. Thou something more than Woman how I
's just Offers to stab himself Rhe. Oh! hold Ghinotto I vow Revenge Live and look up such Revenge as our Lean Sorrow shall grow Fat withal Live and look up Ghi Rest not my Dagger then but leave it with its Master Ant. Swear not to use it then Ghi Not to my Death I vow Rhe. Thus joyn then Hands with me in a revenge Kneel Lucretia Brutus Collatine and all the gloriously reveng'd Immortal Souls inspire the equally abus'd Rheusanes And Promp't this Noble Fury in my mind Ghi Oh! Rheusanes rise not yet accept this Moyety of Blood I pay you and Daughter Swear Swear Since the World Man Woman Child and all should join In such a Cause Thou'it have revenge the King and I We owe ye blood my Children Oh! Lend me But my Eyes to see him bleed here on this Spot I make this solemn Vow where thy dear Honour lies In thy Fathers Blood I 'le pay the due just Forfeit Of my Life Ant. And as I winde This Linnen round your Arm to save The Noble drops which feed that Life I Swear no opportunity shall scape In which I may revenge my Virgin Loss Rhe. Come to my Arms thou noble Penitent To Ghi To Antes And Oh thou precious Rack of my sad Fate Cleave to my Soul Ye Gods which know no difference of Men But Ride in Clouds Kings over Earthly Kings I claim revenge Look down upon our Sorrows And if in opposition to your Law My Sword against my Soveraign I draw Oh! Crush this Young Rebelling in its Birth Some Judgment strike this Traytor to the Earth But if as you 've thought fit in former Times By mortal Hands to punish mortal Crimes Help me my injur'd Honour to redress Crown all my Undertakings with Success Resentment does my blood to Action charm Revenge inspires the Glorious Alarm And Conquest waits the Thunder of my Arm. Enter Dorenalus Exeunt Dor. What is there in this World should make men fond Of breathing in its falshood Our inclinations Always are deny'd or if we think to morrows Joy Shall make amends for this days Sorrow some Evil accident does Intervene and our Intentions Still are interrupted Oh! we were lost sure in the Primitive folly since the first Man allow'd the Woman Will we have been the Sexes May-game And Derision and Fortune which does favour None but Fools is constantly their Champion The only thing our griping Fates allow'd To the sore Prentiship of Woes we 're bound to Was healing Friendship and that now is most Corrupted and uncertain found How happy Did that Surly Cynick live who knew no Joy Nor Grief beyond the want or presence Of the Sun Enter Ghinotto Ghi Dorenalus Dor. My Father Ghi The same are we alone Dor. Why Sir Ghi Cause I have business that 's a secret boy You know there are many private Nooks about The Court and at this time of Night Young wanton Girls Sculk with the Lords in Corners for instructions And I am loath to Sing whilst they beat time Dor. I cannot Sound you Sir. Ghi But I will thee I have a Plumet to a Line of wrongs Will reach thy Heart were it as deep as the Unfashioned Sinkings of the Ocean Dor. I have a Heart which to a Noble wrong VVill swell and save the sounding of it Ghi VVell said then hear me and stop one Ear Least it fly from thee thy Sister Dor. VVhat of her Rhi Is Ravish d basely seduc'd and Ravish'd by the King. Dor. The King. Ghi Ay the King that Essence of Brutality Has Rob'd her of her richest Portion Dor. We may revenge but ne're retreive the wrong Ghi That 's right but how how to revenge that we must Study Dor. Why thus I long have Doted on Oryala My quiet long has been at Pawn for her Now I have Power to gratifie my Love And pay my Sisters loss Ghi As how Dor. I 'l Ravish her Ghi Wilt thou Dor. By all her Scorn I will I 'l force her till tyr'd Nature does refuse And my desire is bassled by my Weakness Ghi I feel my Vitals sicken at this Motion Yet I could have provok't him to this deed Had I not made a league with brave Rheusanes Dor. What ruminate you on Sir Ghi Don't you Consider she 's Rheusanes Wife Dor. I do and for that very reason do resolve it Consider who has blassed all my hopes Rheusanes Who lest my Sister slighted openly Rheusanes Who was the occasion of her Treacherous Rape Rheusanes still for had he faithful prov'd Your Daughter had been happy and Oryala in 〈◊〉 Might have been wrought to answer my Entreatings Ghi I must inform him better tho the 〈◊〉 every ruins What I long for the General was betray'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Action by the Kings lust contriv'd to take The Princess that he might easier compel My Daughter Dor. By Heav'n you 've eas'd my Spirits of a load Lay heavier on 'em than the Love that wrackt 'em Now as the Kings relation I will force her And as he has sow'd his Poison in our Blood I will corrupt with equal Pleasure his Ghi So far 't is well nay farther I 'll proceed Rheusanes hates her as I do the King Nay could he live till Time did rest his Glass He would not own her Dor. Oh! how I 'll surfeit in the Luscious Joys His Lust has made my Sister's Honour bleed Mine in Oryala shall match the Deed. Exit Ghi His Blood is in a Flame and as a Fire Long stifled having Vent breaks out with fiercer More consuming Hast so does his Passion Whilst all my little Oppositions mov'd Serv'd as Combustibles to feed its Fury Oh Virginius How happy was thy Arm That frustrated the lustful Will of Appius Like him I to the Army will retire And to redress my Wrongs their Aid require Exit Enter Rheusanes with a Dagger Rhe. Now is the Time now all within is fast The busy feasting Guests are cloy'd with Riot And glutted into Sleep The King himself long Time ago retir'd remorsless went to Rest as if Some Angel rock'd him to Repose My Antelina too Doz'd with her Wrongs has sigh'd her self to Quiet Oh Sleep thou only Cordial next thy Neighbour Death For injured and disorder'd Souls how feign would I Enjoy the This only takes Possession of my Heart This careful Tenant strictly will repair what Time has run to Ruin but e're I make it Master Of my Life it must have a Lodging in the Heart O' th' King. Enter Dorenalus Dor. I find my Spirits falter in this Action For when my Will is urgent to go on Against the Barr of Friendship it recoils Which bruises my Intentions Rhe. I hear'd a Voice sure Dor. If I should ravish her Rhe. By Darkness 't is King contriving to regal His Lust again bless'd be the Means that keeps Me undiscover'd and the Occasion brought me to O'er hear him Dor. She is Rheusane's Right altho I love her The Word Revenge will give no Countenance For wronging
of my Friend I hitherto have kept my Name untainted Why should I then out of a rash hot Fit Lose in a Minute what my Life has toil'd for Rhe. What does he mutter now Dor. I will not Ravish her Rhe. Thou shalt not if Rheusanes can prevent it Up thou unus'd to Mischief for a Moment And forth thou never failing Instrument of Slaughter My Hand embrace thee with its former firmness And by Instinct let me find out his Heart Dor. Who e'er thou art Runs Dor. through Dorenalus huggs thee for this mighty Favour Rhe. Mistakes confound me what is it I hear within There Treason Murder Lights you Sleepers Enter Gentlemen Lights Gent. It was the Prince's Voice Rhe. Oh! lend a courteous Glance this way it cannot Be my Friend sure Dor. Never so much thy Friend as at this Hour Rhe. How have I trac'd the Footsteps of Destruction Away with your unwelcome Witnesses Dor. Oh! 't was Charity to end my Life When you deny'd me Nourishment to keep it Rhe. Yet ere thy Soul forsake thee let me clear it I was betray'd by thy ambitious Father Who plac'd the Princess as thy Sister for me Disguis'd and silent we perform'd the Deed And when I brought her home to feast on Love She swore I should not tast it in the Light Pretended Virgin Modesty refus'd So by the Assistance of the fatal Darkness I grasp'd her as the Longings of my Soul. Dor. I do believe thee Oh! Death hunts my Soul And drives it from its mortal Mansion Rhe. I thought it was the King now in thy place Hearing thee talk of Ravishing Thought 't was some fresh Design upon your Sister Which my mistaking Arm endeavour'd to prevent Dor. I am satisfied and pray be you I never meant you Ill Wickedness once invaded my fallen Temper But I at last o'ercame it Oh Rheusanes Rhe. What are thy last Desires Dor. Take Pity on my Sister and keep her from the future Evil of this curst Tarquin has dishonoured her I 'm going and if to Happiness I am preferr'd I will entreat for Thee Dies Rhe. Blessings unenvi'd wait upon thy Soul And mount it to the Glory it deserves Remove this Body to my Chamber And over it I will lament its Fate Heaven Thou hast shewn thy Care on thy Vicegerent And in my Bloom of Wickedness hast cropt me Ghinotto work'd upon my yeilding Soul When it was dull'd with suffering then he prey'd on 't But sadly have I answer'd the Offence Slaying his Son in aiming at my Prince End of the Fourth Act. ACT V. SCENE I. A Camp. Several Souldiers appear confusedly 1st Sould. A Pox o'these peaceable Times we shall certainly be starv'd in ' em 2d Sould. A Pox on our Folly for suffering peaceable Times have we not the Power in our own hands 1st Sould. For what 2d Sould. Why to make what time we please Mutiny my dear Doggs Corp. A Plague upon those who let us beat 'em so soon neither is there an Officer destroy'd not so much as a fat Serjant or a lean Ensign no Hint of a Hope for a Vacancy to any mans Merit 2d Sould. Why look you Corporal our nearnest way to Preferment since they will not die in the Field nor decently of themselves is to make Mischief among 'em and let 'em destroy one another Corp. Ay but they won't take our Words for 't Superiours have found out the Tricks of Inferiors and have made an Agreement tho Truth not to mind it 2d Sould. But why must we be kept in our own Country If we were abroad we might plunder Corp. We steal here which is all one 2d Sould. No 't is not for we are hang'd for it 1st Sould. Hark you fellow Souldiers now cannot I for my Blood understand why this is our own Country I 'll be choak'd if there be a man among us has a Foot of Land in it 2d Sould. No more than he stands upon Well 't is a brave thing to be an Officer 1st Sould. What because you can march Five Miles on Horseback 2d Sould. No But to be even with the Government Corp. As how old Dry-Bobb 2d Sould. Why as we march'd from our Quarters we came through the City to the Camp and a turbulent Dogg that was gaping to see us as we past by his Shop cry'd out Ay there goes the Plague o' th' the Nation His Wife strait reply'd The Comforts you Block-head Corp. So. 2d Sould. The Captain immediately tip'd her the Wink And made him a Cuckold before it was dark All. Oh brave Captain 1st Sould. Nay more She has promis'd on her Honour To be reveng'd on her Husband she 'll bring All the Females of both Generations For the Use of our Regiment Corp. Then the Government 's setled again 2d Sould. No prithee let 's Mutiny for I am damnable Hungry 1st Sould. Well then let 's Mutiny for my Heart 's e'en broke We 've abundance of Victuals upon the Plain But the Devil a bit on the Spit Would it not make a man mad to see a Flock Of Sheep grazeing at the head of one's Regiment Baaing and making Mouths at us whilst we Dare not cut their Throats for the Affront Corp. Ay or to see a Battalion of Oxen march by In State and dung at our Tents Mouths yet must Not knock 'em down to teach 'em better Manners 2d Sould. I say Mutiny All. Ay Mutiny mutiny Corp. Ay but for what Pox on 't we have our Pay If they would but stop our Pay once The Devil should not stop our Mouths 1st Sould. Then Corporal we 'll Mutiny for our Rights and Privileges 2d Sould. To kill and take what we like 1st Sould. Ay and to eat and keep what we kill Corp. Right here they send us abroad to be knock'd on the Head When they have nothing to do for us at home 2d Sould. Else knock us on the head and starve us at Home 1st Sould. When there 's nothing to do for us abroad 2d Sould. 'T would be a pretty Sight to see us run away Likw Moses's Lions at the crowing of a Cock. 1st Sould. Or lose the Field as the Capitol was sav'd By the gagling of a Goose Ounds I say Mutiny Corp. The Devil take it this will never serve for an Occasion I am not so unreasonable to desire A just one if we had any Enter Collonel and Two Officers But mum here comes the old furious Collonel With Two Officers they 'll wonder what a Plague We all do together Now will half of us be hang'd To confess whether the rest had any Design To mutiny or no. Coll. These Fellows have some Mischief in their minds A fit time this to work 'em to our Purpose My old tough Heart melts at my General 's Wrongs There needs no Oratory in this Tale In downright Words I 'll tell how he 's abus'd And downright Blows can only do him Justice Why how now fellow Souldiers Corp. Ud's Death the old Rogue 's in a
She strikes my Conscience strangely Aside Ory Look back upon the Ruines you have made And Curse the Will which has dethron'd your Goodness King. I feel Reflections thronging on my Soul And Penitence is crowding for Admittance Ory What Reparation can you make her Vertue Or what Amends my Freedom which you 've sold King. I will make Reparation forbear Oryala And let Discretion act the careful Pilot To guide thee through this Tempest of Misfortunes Thy Wrongs into my Heart have shot my Sin And mark'd it for Destruction Oh man Most liable to Vice therefore most Beast When we desire the Will runs headlong on Despising all Instructions of Forbearance But Oh! at last betray'd in the sure Snare That Will that forward Will which ruin'd us Converted by Regret to Thoughts impartial Too late considers and condemns it self Ory Think on some means to mitigate your Crimes Or your Soul 's lost with your pernicious Life King. Oryala thy Vertues have prevail'd And made me see with Shame the want of mine But if our future Actions can repair What our foregoing Measures have disgrac'd Such Satisfaction for your Wrongs I 'll make That every one their full Amends shall speak Confess That I can give no more nor they can take Ory Impossible King. Why dost thou court me to be good Yet doubt my Power Ory I fear 't will not redress Death death I know Must be my Sorrows Cure. King. Talk not of Death we may live happy yet Monarchs Repentance never comes too late I 'll send Rheusanes hither you work on him And I 'll contrive to soften Antelina But if our Propositions can't succeed 'T is I must die I who have done this Deed My Death alone the mischief can remove Which wrong'd her Honour and Rheusanes Love. Exit Ory He thinks his Flattery will beguile my Griefs But the Impression is too deeply cut I 'm sure his Art will never eat it out Oh Rheusanes Thou much belov'd And much of Misery how wretched are our Fates Yet 't is a Comfort to be Innocent If I in ought my self can guilty find 'T is loving him perversest of his Kind Enter Rheusanes Rheu Is there no End then of my Miseries My Heart 's too stubborn for my Wrongs to break Nor will the King destroy his Enemy Oh Dorenalus if that Saints can hear The Intercessions of unhappy Mortals Implore the Assistance of the higher Powers To seal the Warrant of my Liberty Ory Rheusanes Rheu What are your Orders Madam Ory Say rather my Desires which entreat A happy Reconcilement to your Love. Rheu Alass the King has ravish'd all my Love Nor have I for my self so much As to preserve my Life Ory Hast thou no Pity then Rheu If your ill us'd Affection can desire A wretched Share in a disorder'd Heart Command my Crimes immediate Punishment Let Death reward the merits of my Folly Which can despise the Offers of such Goodness And till I 'm dead I 'll bless the noble Mercy Ory Why wouldst thou die then Rheu With as much Joy I would receive my Doom As the dishonour'd Antelina For since Dorenalus and she are lost There are no Plagues my Sufferings can receive To match the miseries of a Reprieve Ory Here then Rheusanes feast thy Scorn and Hate If thou wilt die season thy Dagger first In the uneasy Bosom of Oryala Offers him a Dagger Rheu Your cruel Fate by all those Woes I grieve Could wish that Antelina you had been Or that I 'd Antelina never seen Ory Oh! talk not of her her very Name Withers my Hopes and blasts me with Despair Rheu All ours you did destroy Ory I did not 't was the King had I but known The evil meanings of his Soul Rheusanes Or that my Fondness would have met this Usage I never had destroy'd my Peace or yours Rheu You knew I was engag'd Ory The more ungrateful and unjust Rheusanes Knowing the merits of my Obligations Let my preceding Actions come in view The faithful Diligence my Love has us'd Particularly to advance your Cause Might easily perswade you my Designs Courted your Inclinations to reward ' em Rheu I do acknowledge all my Honours yours Confess my self your Bounty's Creditor But my Endeavours in my Countries Service I hop'd in time might cancel all those Bonds Ory To th' King but not to me Vertues when secret kept are none at all Kings know not but by Favorites who deserve Had not my Love encourag'd your Deserts By kind Entreaties to your Prince to try 'em Your Name had never conquer'd Antelina You had remain'd indifferent to the World. Rheu Would I had liv'd a Stranger to it ever Since I want Power to recompence your Goodness Ory You do not want it Rheu Oh! I do my Vows to Antelina bind my Heart And tho I never can be happy in her I hear her sighing to my Soul take heed This Conference seems a Violation And she upbraids my Conscience for the Sufferance There is a strugling Contest in my Breast Even now betwixt my Love and Gratitude Both seize my Heart and tugg for the Possession Let me depart or it will split between ' em Ory Give me my Share then Rheu Divide it with thy Dagger Ory No let thy Gratitude but combat for me Weigh but my Friendship and I yet shall conquer Rheu It will not be off or I must be rude Ory Thus I release thee then and right my self Stabs her self Rheu Oh! whither has thy barbarous Honour led thee Ory To everlasting Freedom my tedious Lease of Life Is out and I shall groan beneath thy Scorn no more Rheu Why wouldst thou do thus rashly Ory Why wouldst thou hate so long Rheu Heaven might have chang'd the purpose of my Soul For certainly thy Faith had wondrous merit Ory Not equal to thy Antelina's tho Yet I have got the start of her in Love And in Rheusanes cause I perish first Rheu Oh Nature â— lend a Life to mend this Breach And Death shall have a Thousand in its room I 'll heal it with my own He snatches the Dagger She holds him Ory Forbear I do conjure thee By thy Antelina hold thy fatal Arm Oh Rheusanes my Lord my Life my Husband And my Soul. Rheu What would my dear Vexation Ory When Fate shall Summon thee to leave this Life Give order that thy Bones may sleep with mine Though we have lived at distance in this World I hope we shall be nearer in the next Rheu Curse on my froward Soul. Ory Oh do not curse thy self my Senses Blessing Believe I loved you I desire no more Rheu Too sadly you have engaged my Credit Ory May Heaven be Judge 'twixt me and Antelina And give Rheusanes to the best deserving Oh! I 'm going the light of Peace is glimmering On my Soul and Heaven is in its view give Me thy Hand or thou wilt lose thy Way Dies Rheu Stay then Oh stay Thou mighty Sufferer in
it up Shout without Enter Rheusanes Rheu I hear my Name cry'd up by all for King And zealous mutiny comes fiercely on I long to know my Antelina's Fate Whilst doubtful of her Safety I remain I cannot die but hover hereabout Like a poor frighted Bird about her Nest When she suspects the Danger of her Young. Ante. Who 's there Rheu Again upon the Ground Runs to Antelina How are my Fears confirm'd Ante. Rheusanes Rheu The same but tell me Oh my Doubts Why do I find thee thus Ante. A Bed of Honour this not of Disgrace The King no more my Vertue shall destroy Nor live to boast the Rape of Antelina Rheu What dost thou mean Ante. I drank thy Health in the same Draught The King did his Destruction The Thoughts of thee sweeten'd the bitter Cup And made the Potion pleasant to my Taste Rheu Thou art not poison'd Ante. Forgive me if I 've rob'd thee of thy Justice Jealous of losing it I'made it sure And gave him what will thorowly revenge us Rheu The Action troubles me altho' I cannot live To see the Event I wish thy Sufferings may quit Thy Crimes for Heaven has great Regard to Princes Ante. And has it none for injured Subjects think you Rheu Not when they offer to Revenge themselves Fir'd by thy Wrongs and work'd up by thy Father I went to end him But Oh the sad mistake I slew thy Brother for him Ante. Hard Usage truly but 't is done and I must wait My Sentence Live thou Oh my intended but Unhappy Lover and prithee dear Rheusanes prithee Befriend the Troubles of thy Wife Credit me wondrous Goodness dwells within her And since the King and I are both remov'd Reward her tedious Sufferings with thy Love. Rheu Not Three Hours since she perish'd by my Side Ante. Then I expire too late Rheu Rally thy Spirits Strength and stay a little Oh do not fly so soon Drums Trumpets and the Noise of a Battle without Enter King Mad with his Sword drawn King. ALL 's lost no Words on 't let Furies laugh and Rattle Chains for Joy I 'm coming Oh how I burn The ambitious Boy that set the World on fire And perish'd in the Flames his Folly kindled Dy'd in a gentle Sweat to what I feel Rheu Hee 's come Heaven let his Madness find me King. The Toils of Sysiphus Prometheus's Pains And all the Poets Tales of tortur'd Sinners Are Fictions to the Punishments I suffer I 'll sue to Proserpine to quench these Fires Her Arms have Power Ha Pluto here come to compel my Love Die Devil die Runs Rheusanes through And I 'll be Prince of Hell. Ante. Rheusanes Oh! Dies Rheu I follow thee bless'd be the Hand that sends me King. Give me some Water there some Water Doggs Pour down my Throat an hundred thousand Tunns To cool my boiling Blood let Winter lay me In his frozen Lap and weep Snow on me My Heat would melt his Hoard upon the Alps And make a second Flood for Italy My Feaver would thaw Charity Shout without Enter Ghinotto Ghin. He 's here Ghin. runs at him the King drops his Sword as they are strugling The K. draws a Dagger and stabs Ghin. King. What art thou Ghin. This shall inform thee King. Am I ta'n Prisoner then O Treason Fly to my Rescue this I think will free me There there there Enter Collonel with Souldiers Coll. How is it Sir To Ghinotto Ghin. Why not well Dies Coll. Oh dismal Spectacle General look up Oh how he has cross'd our Purpose Behold your Collonel Sir with such Relief As will recover your lost Life and Time. Rheu Do not disturb me Coll. How came this Sir Rheu By the Kings hand This Lady in a Bowl Of Poison drank to him and in its rageing Madness He destroy'd me Ghinotto is the Cause of all I can no more Heaven forgive it Hold fast My Hope and to the Stars conduct me Dies Coll. Now sets the Sun of Glory the World Is darkn'd by thy Lights decay which ne'er Will rise to bless this Land again Cursed Ambition what Slaughter hast thou made King. My infected Blood flows swiftly forth and Reason now torments me more than Poison Coll. What Mercy can thy Wickedness expect King. Had I but time I 'd tell thee Dies Coll. Oh Death Oh thou luxurious Thief How has thy vicious Appetite been feasted Wretched Ghinotto hadst thou been more just This Wrack had never happen'd Would I were in my Grave I should not see The Miseries this Land must feel for thee The sad Remains of this unhappy Crown Have much to do to fix their shaking Throne EPILOGUE Spoken by Mr. JEVON MY Brother Mountfort in the Scene-Room sits To hear the Censure of your sharp quick Wits Expecting a most dreadful damning Doom My Third Day 's past but his poor Soul 's to come Encourage him Faith do 't is Charity Poets you know are poor and so are we Let this tho' give no Offence to 'th Brother-Writers But if it does there 's few of 'em are Fighters Those that are so he does exclude his Pen For like Town Bully he would know his Men. He beggs but one thing be not so uncivil To scan his Play for then 't will be the Devil Not but he dares stand by 't but to prevent Evil. For Nice Sr. Courtly's so well bred you know He would not question it and pray don 't you The Plot I 'm sure is good or if it be not fye Your Chair-Men now a days plot Tragedy Pardon but this and I will pawn my Life His next shall match my Devil of a Wife We 'll grace it with the Imbellishment of Song and Dance We 'll have the Monsieur once again from France With 's Hoope and Glasses and when that is done He shall Divert you with his Riggadoone Dances like him Pluck up de Petticoat above de Knee To shew de fine shew string and de dapper Thigh And not make one Blush no begar not in one Lady With tawny Gullet Face as ugly too As a fresh Awkard Covent-Garden Beau. Hey de brave French Man Mon foy he can fly Home again he has into his own Country So fare him well of him no more But to the Poet be kind to him as I said before Else to stand by him every Man has swore To Salisbury Court we 'll hurry the next Week Where not for Whores but Coaches you may seek And more to plague you there shall be no Play But the Emperor o' th' Moon for every Day FINIS Books Printed for and sould by Sam. Manship at the Black Bull in Cornhill THE Lives of the most famous English Poets or the Honours of Parnassus In a brief Essay of the Works and Writings of above Two hundred of them from the Time of King William the Conqueror to the Reign of his present Majesty King James II. The Gallant Hermophrodite an Amorous Novel translated from the French of the Sieur de Chavigny