the Enemy Sanch. And I recover'd and pursu'd 'em too for above an hundred miles together at full speed Lop. That 's farther than you needed by three score miles for 't is but forty from the place of Battel to the City Carl. Yes at full speed upon the same Horse and never drew Bit neither Sanch. to Dalin. Help me dear Dalinda I am Bogg'd you see Dalin. to him That 's with pursuing your Enemies too far but I 'll help you out again To Lopez Pray Sir let me examine 'em a little Lop. You 'll make nothing of that first Conde Dalin. Yes a Son-in-Law I warrant you To them Which of you two promis'd me Marriage Both. I did Dalin. to Carl. And did you enjoy me Carl. Heaven forbid Madam what before Marriage Dalin. to Sanch. And what did you Sanch. I did enjoy her so I did and there I was before you for a false Conde as you are Carl. Speak for your self Madam and clear your Reputation from that scandalous Companion Dalin. with her Fan before her face I must confess the true Conde has enjoy'd me the more my Frailty Lop. The matter mends on that side Sanch. Now Good man Goose-cap who 's the most a Man of Honour he who has enjoy'd a fair Lady or he who has only lickt his Lips and gone without her Carl. aside I see she takes his part this is all a Lye contriv'd betwixt ' em Enter a Messenger Mess. to Dalind Madam I am sent to you on a sad Errand from the late Conde Don Alonzo who was kill'd in the last Battel Lop. You are mistaken Friend for here he stands alive and well Pointing to Sancho And for fear of failing here 's a Counterpart of him Pointing to Carlos Mess. Do not abuse your self Sennor neither of these is the true Conde I took him from under the Horses Feet and he had only life enough to say Remember me to my fair Dalinda Lop. to Sanch. What does your Lordship say to this Sanch. He was fairly kill'd I must confess but I can give you a better account of his Lordship afterwards Lop. You why who are you Sanch. Nay I am he too Mess. You see he 's a Counterfeit and so is the other Lop. 'T is too true Dal. Did the Conde leave me nothing in his Will Mess. Not a Cross Madam Dalin. There 's the same Payment for your News be gone poor Fellow Exit Messenger Carl. At least I have the satisfaction that he 's discover'd as well as I am Throwing off some part of his Disguise Now Sancho you are welcome to the discovery of your fine Intrigue Lop. Then Sancho I make good my word to you since the Conde is dead you stand fairest for my Daughter and you Cousin Carlos with your Wit and your Poverty are in Statu Quo Come away Son-in-Law and leave the forsaken Lover to make himself a Willow Garland Exeunt Sancho Lopez and Dalinda Carl. Yet if I cou'd hinder Sancho from marrying her I shou'd make my self some satisfaction I 'll think on 't farther and something comes into my head already Stands musing Enter Alphonso Alph. Now Carlos what make you here in this Disguise I have been looking for you at least half an hour Carl. Only a Masquerade Sir an innocent Diversion in times of Peace Alph. No Carlos these are times of War not Peace I must abruptly tell you what is past I am Ramirez Son not Veramond's I love Victoria and for her am banisht Carl. Just my own condition I have had a Revolution in my small Affairs too I am banisht and going to look for the next commodious Tree to make a wry Face upon it Alph. I know you Brave and if you love me still Follow my Fortune yours shall be my Care Our Army lies Encamp'd without the Walls Your Regiment is Quarter'd in the Town I think I can with ease Revolt the Troops Because they love me and with their Assistance Release my Father and redeem my Mistress While you and yours at an appointed Signal Procure me Entrance Carl. Right and force the Gate Alph. That 's all I ask I think my self as worthy To wed Victoria as this Foreign Prince But if you find Reluctance to this Action Now speak that I may seek some other Friend Carl. No Sir I shall never break with you for so small a matter as a Rebellion I warrant you for my Souldiers they 'll never flinch when there 's a Town to Plunder Alph. The Signal and the Time shall be concerted Victoria be the Word That happy Name our bold Attempt shall bless And give an Omen of assur'd Success Exeunt severally ACT IV. SCENE I. The Scene a Street with a Temple at a distance Enter Garcia with a Letter in his Hand Ximena and Celidea Garcia MAY I believe you 't is Victoria's Hand For 't is a strange Request Ximen So may it move your Noble Mind to pity As what the Paper tells you is most true She gave it me and with a thousand sighs Begg'd me to recommend her Life her Love And all her hopes of Happiness to you Garc. To break my Marriage off renounce her Bed To stand excluded from my promis'd Bliss And as my proper Act to do all this Disdainful Faithless and Ungrateful Maid Celid. Disdainful and Ungrateful but not Faithless Because she never vow'd nor promis'd Love But only to Alphonso Xime They lov'd not as a Brother and a Sister But as the Fair and Brave each other Love For sympathy of Souls inspir'd their Passion Gar. That sympathy which made him Love Victoria Has caus'd the same effect of Love in me Celid. But not in her She Lov'd him first my Lord And you Besieg'd a Town already his As you for her others may Dye for you And plead that Argument to hope your Love If the same Reason hold Gar. No doubt it wou'd Were not my Soul already prepossest Celid. So is Victoria's Soul for her Alphonso And that 's her Plea for Constancy to him Gar. My Reason is convinc'd but not my Passion For I must Love and Loving must Enjoy Celid. Others must not Enjoy and yet must Love Xime You cannot Wed Victoria but by force And force can only make her Person yours Think what a fatal Doom you pass on her To make your self half happy Gar. When she 's mine I will persue her with so dear a Passion So chafe her coldness with my warm Embraces That she shall melt at length hard as she is And run like stubborn Mettal Celid. No my Lord Victoria is not form'd of Steel but Marble Which is not made to melt but flies the Fire And neither yields nor softens to the flames Gain her Esteem at least her Love is hopeless Gar. Esteem a scanty mean Reward of Passion That pays not half the value of the loss Celid. Pay Scorn with Scorn and make Revenge a Pleasure So Generous Minds shou'd do and so shou'd I What needs there more You see
and Life My Honour and thy Son 's Alpho. aside What means my Mother Vera. A Son Ramirez Ram. Yes a Son I had Vera. He Dyed an Infant here in Saragossa Ram. A living Son I have and since the Queen Is pleas'd t' expose my Life Before a Judge so prejudic'd as you Undaunted in the Face of Death I speak And claim Alphonso mine Vera. There needs no more I spare thee all the rest My Wife's Adultery thy foul Interloping My own Dishonour and that Bastard's Birth Ximena Injurious words unfitting you to speak And me my Lord and those concern'd to hear Alph. to Vera. Tho' I wou'd give what e're the Sun beholds Not to be yours yet when my Mother's Fame Is question'd none shall wrong her Innocence Nor shall Ramirez go Unpunisht for that Infamous Aspersion Ramir. Alphonso Peace your Father bids you Peace Vera. Then what am I Ramir. His Foster-Father Vera. Impudently said And yet I hope 't is true so much I hate him That I cou'd buy the Publick Scorn to be An Alien to his Blood Ximena Have patience Sir And you shall have your wish on cheaper Terms But hear me speak Vera. Good Heav'n then give me patience Ximena When you and brave Ramirez then your Friend Me and my Sister Married four full Years We pass'd in Barren Wedlock Childless both Ramirez you remember brought his Queen To Saragossa on a friendly Visit Then as we both were Married on one day We both Conceiv'd together Vera. I observe it That when Ramirez came you both Conceiv'd Mark that and if thou hast the Face proceed Ximena My Lord I dare You took me once aside and as your Rage Inspir'd your Soul spoke thus Ximena know That if the Fruit thou bear'st be not a Son Henceforth no more my Queen we part for ever The word was hard I bore it as I cou'd I Pray'd and Heav'n in pity heard my Vows Two Boys in one fair Morning were disclos'd By me and by my Sister And both the Fathers equally were Blest Vera. Say one was Blest with two and speak more truly Ximena Forbear this Language Sir or I am Dumb It seems that you deserv'd not him you had For in sev'n days Heav'n Ravisht your Alphonso My Sister 's little Veramond surviv'd And she 's a Living Witness of this Truth Great was my Grief but greater was my Fear From your alas too much experienc'd Anger Thus low reduc'd and urg'd by anxious Thoughts Of what I might expect from your unkindness Now speak Ramirez and relate the rest For my Tongue falters and denies its Office So much I fear my Lord shou'd take offence Ramir. Then like or disapprove it thus it was She told my Wife and me this mournful Story Her Fears for thy Resentment for thy loss If by misfortune it shou'd reach thy Ears Begg'd Secresie and then Implor'd our Aid To substitute the Living for the Dead And make our Veramond pass for thy Alphonso A hard Request but with compassion mov'd At length 't was granted Vera. Is this true Ximena Ximen So Heav'n and you forgive my Pious Fraud As what he says is certain Alph. Oh Joyful News Oh Happy Day too good To end in Night My Father and my King Runs to Ramirez kneels to him and kisses his Hand My Soul foreknew you with a sure presage Of Native Duty and Instinctive Love Ramir. Arise my Son Vera. You own him then Ramir. I do Vera. A welcome riddance Mean time in prospect of a double Crown You gave the Sparrow leave to brood upon The Cuckoo's Egg. Ramir. The advantage was to you He prov'd his Blood upon me when we fought Fierce Eagles never procreate fearful Doves I sent him word he was my Son before The Battel but the Hand of Fate was in it The Note miscarried and we blindly met Ximena Past Accidents imbitter both your Minds Think forwards on your mutual Interests Alphonso Loves Victoria I saw it in the Seeds before disclos'd To other Eyes conniv'd at it approv'd it Vera. A most commodious Mother Ximena Blame me not Guilt there was none but in their apprehension And both their Virtues bar'd ill consequences Now take the blest occasion by the foretop And on their Marriage found a lasting Peace Ramir. A trivial Accident begot this War Some paltry bounds of ill distinguisht Earth A clod that lay betwixt us unascertain'd And Royal Pride on both sides drew our Swords Thus Monarchs quarrel and their Subjects bleed Remove your Land-marks set 'em where you please Stretch out your Arragon on my Castile And be once more my Brother Alph. I implore it And prostrate beg your Pardon and your Grace I have offended in my Proud Behaviour But make Victoria mine and what your Son In Duty wanted by your Son-in-Law Shall doubly be supply'd Ximena What wou'd you more Vera. to her Are you the Mediatrix of this Peace Ximen It well becomes the sostness of my Sex To mediate for sweet Peace the best of Blessings And like a Sabine Wife to run betwixt Relations lifted Swords Vera. A rare Chaste Sabine you To save th' Adulterer of thy Husband's Bed See there Alphonso's Father that Old Goat Who on Two Sisters propagated Lust And Got two Children for himself and me Suppose thee Chaste a favourable Guess To any of thy Sex these are my Foes To Ramirez Thou first the former sharer of my Sheets A King without a Kingdom thine is Conquer'd And Garcia with Victoria shall enjoy it Ramirez So monstrously you wrong your Wife and me Vera. No more my Will is Law Ramir. So Tyrants say Vera. I will not hear thee speak conduct him hence And stew him in the Dungeon's depth with Toads The Guards carry off Ramirez To Alphon. For thee the worthy Son of such a Father Walks by himself Ximen to Alphon. 'T is desp'rate now and I with ill-tim'd zeal Have hastn'd your destruction Alphonso to her You have Sav'd me Vera. aside Say I shou'd put th' ungrateful Wretch to Death He 's thought my Son and whilst so thought 't is dangerous Imprison him the People might Rebel He 's Popular and I am ill-Belov'd Then Banish him that 's best but yet unsafe He may with Foreign Aid Reconquer all I 'll venture that with Garcia to my Friend He shall recall his Troops mine are at hand And ready prest for Service He comes to Alph. and Ximena Ximen Now the storm Vera. To Alph. Thy Doom's resolv'd too gentle for thy Crimes I spare thy Life depart to Banishment To morrow leave the Realm this day the Town And like the Scape-Goat driv'n into the Desart Bear all ill Omens with thee Alph. Proud of my Exile with erected Face I leave your Court your Town and your Dominions Pleas'd that I Love at least without a Crime Lighter by what I lost I tread in Air Unhappy but Triumphant in despair Exit Alphonso Vera. Behold how haughtily he strides away Lofty and bold as if not Banisht hence But seeking
sure you wou'd not run into the Toyl How ill your Actions with your Words agree Vict. This Friend is still at hand to set me free Holding up the Dagger Alph. Let me not live to see that Fatal Hour Rather return into your Father's Pow'r Rather return into his Arms again For whom your Lost Alphonso you disdain If one must dye to set your Honour free You have already cast the Lot on me Death is my only way to clear my Fame Which must be Branded with a Coward 's Name If basely I resign Victoria's Charms And tamely give you to my Rival's Arms. Vict. To give me to my Father is no Crime Alph. 'T is still the same your Father gives you him Ungrateful Woman Vict. More ungrateful Man More than I ought I give and all I can But if my Duty I prefer to you Be satisfi'd with all that Love can do Alph. Not satisfi'd but yet your Will shall be Like Fates inviolable Law to me Since my Unhappy Stars will have it so Depart from hence and leave your Father's Foe Go then but quickly go for while you stay As on a Rack I find my self decay And every Moment looks a part of me away Vict. I wish I with my Duty cou'd dispence Heav'n knows how loath I am to part from hence So from the Seal is soften'd Wax disjoyn'd So from the Mother Plant the tender Rind But take the latest Pledge that Love can give Have Courage and for your Victoria Live She offers him her Hand he Kisses it Exit Victoria he Looking after her Enter Ramirez Attended by Carlos Ramirez Embraces Alphonso Ram. Prop of my Age and Pattern of my Youth But such as far excels th' Original Ten Thousand Blessings on thee for this Deed. Alph. Heav'n and my Fate speak other Language to me No Blessings none but millions of their Curses Like burning Glasses with contracted Beams Are pointed on my Head Ram. What words are these on this Auspicious Day Alph. Oh fly me fly me Sir Lest the Contagion of my Woes Pollute my Father's Joys Victoria's gone And with her went Alphonso's Life and Soul Ram. You had her in your Pow'r and were too easie Alph. Or rather she too cruel Her Duty forc'd her hence in scorn of Love Ram. You must resume your Arms And force her Father's Will to make her yours Why like a Woman stand you thus complaining Born to the Strength and Courage of a Man Rouze up your Spirits to a just Revenge Like Lightning wastful and like Thunder loud Rivers of Blood shall run about the Town For which you were so lavish of your own Garcia shall Dye and by his Death remove The cause of Jealousie and Injur'd Love The King himself th' ungrateful King shall fall Of all our Ills the curst Original Alph. Beseech you Sir no more Ram. Your Reason Son Alph. For you have giv'n my Soul so large a swing That it bounds back again with double force Only because you carried it too far You 've set an Image of so vast destruction Before my sight that Reason shuns th' approach And dares not view the fearful precipice Ram. Is Vengeance which is said so sweet a Morsel That Heav'n reserves it for its proper Tast Is it so soon dis-relisht Alph. What have the People done The Sheep of Princes That they shou'd perish for the Shepherd's Fault They bring their yearly Wool to cloath their owners And yet when bare themselves are cull'd for Slaughter Shou'd I do this what cou'd the Wolf do more Than what the Master did Ram. Then Garcia must he scape Alph. 'T is true I had him at my Mercy once I shou'd have Kill'd him then or once forgiven Shou'd spare him now Ram. aside His Noble Soul relents Alph. But then I give Victoria to his Arms And make my own Destruction my own Act That fires my Blood again yet if she Love him Is Killing him she Loves the way to gain her No let him Live But Veramond shall Dye Who when he was my Father as he thought When I deserv'd his Love then hated me Ram. aside Oh! now the Tempest drives another way Alph. No more deliberation there it goes I 'le Kill him first to satisfie my Vengeance And then t' Attone her Anger Kill my self Seems going hastily Ram. Hold hold Alphonso Heav'n and Earth and I Who have a Father's Title to your Life Forbid that Parricide Alph. Wou'd you refuse a Mad-Man leave to Sleep 'T is Sleep must cure me and that Sleep is Death Ram. A Mad-Man must be cool'd to make him Sleep I have prepar'd a gentle Opiat for you One Moment's Patience and I will infuse it You see me dispossest of all my State Alph. Yes to my Grief and to enhance that Grief 'T is to my Sword my Father ows his Ruin Ram. And 't is that only Sword that can restore me It must and ought you owe it to your Duty Alph. Duty was what Victoria urg'd to me I hate that fatal word because she us'd it And for a Cruel Father left her Love Ram. Cou'd she do that for Veramond a Tyrant Which you refuse to me The Conquering Troops of Arragon are yours You are their Life their Idol and their Soul Conduct me Home and with their Aid Restore me And that once done we shall not need to Treat For Veramond himself will send and sue For that Alliance which his Pride now scorns Alph. Long e're that time Victoria will be Garcia's Her Father will not lose one moment's space To gratifie his Vengeance with my Ruine If I wou'd force him this must be the time Which since I now refuse 't is lost for ever Hear then and take it as my last resolve Lead you the Troops you need not fear their Faith The Guilt of their Rebellion make 'em yours With them and with your own Restore your self Ram. Then what becomes of you Alph. No matter what Provide your self of some more worthy Heir For I am lost beyond Redemption lost Farewel the Joys of Empire from this moment Farewel the Honours of the dusty Field Here lay I down this Instrument of Death Vngirds his Sword and lays it down And may it gird some Happier Souldier's side For nothing it cou'd gain can countervail To me the loss of my Victoria's Love Your Blessing and farewel Kneels Ram. Alas I fear some fatal Resolution Is harbour'd in your Soul if thus you leave me My Mind forbodes we never more shall meet Alph. Give not so black an Omen to this parting For we may meet again if Heav'n thinks fit A Beam of Comfort like the Moon thro' Clouds Gilds the brown Horrour and directs my way Blast not my purpose by refusing leave Nor ask the means but know I will not Dye Till I have prov'd th' extreamest Remedy And if Unarm'd I go to tempt my Fate Think my despair is from Victoria's Hate Exit Alphonso Ram. I might have us'd the Pow'r Heav'n gives to Parents And hindred his