now ev'n from the Court to the Black Guard Thro' all degrees of Men starts up a Bard The Beau the Cit the Lawyer and the Lord. Above twice fifty Plays each Year are made And of twice fifty Plays scarce five are Play'd Strange Paradox No Age did e'er let loose So many Wits or so much Gold produce Yet we want both for necessary use However we are bound to wait your Will And tho' you come prepar'd to use us ill Change but your Money and y' are welcome still The Persons Represented Vilarezo a Nobleman of Portugal Mr. Dizny Sebastian his Son Mr. Verbruggen Antonio Sebastian's Friend Mr. Powel Jun. Alonzo Mr. Williams Vilander Kinsman to Vilarezo Mr. Horden Gerardo Mr. Johnson Diego Antonio's Page Mr. Tho. Kent Catalina Eldest Daughter to Vilarezo Mrs. Knight Berinthia her Sister Mrs. Rogers Alphanta Antonio's Sister Miss Cross. Ansilva Catalina's Woman Mrs. Verbruggen Julia Berinthia's Woman Mrs. Seagrove Clara Alphanta's Woman Mrs. Newman Gentlemen Boy Attendants c. The Scene Averos a Village in Portugal THE Rival Sisters OR The Violence of LOVE ACT the First Scene a Garden Enter Antonio Berinthia Julia at a distance Anto. COME to my Arms my Love In this dear Circle all that 's charming dwells Ev'n this stol'n hour of Love I prize as much As dying Saints the Heav'n they have in store I 've all I wish and they can have no more Berin Much more the sure continuance of their Joys Our Bliss below each giddy chance destroys As we too soon may find For O! Anto. For what by Heav'n that Sigh unmans me Berin If after all our mutual Vows of Love Some fatal Hand shou'd tear me from your Arms And set whole Worlds between us If such a cross shou'd come as O! I fear I have already too much cause to doubt it Wou'd you not think Fortune had done her worst Or Heav'n it self were angry Anto. Think Berinthia I shou'd be all thought Lost in the Whirl pool of Imagination But where 's the Wretch so indiscreet or rash That dares but mutter to himself he 'll part us Berin Forbear my Lord you know I have a Father Anto. Thou hast indeed the best that bears the Name My Friend and which is more a Friend to Justice But that makes for us still Berin He oft has said That he wou'd marry Catalina first And I much fear Anto. Alas thy Fears are vain He may do that and we too may be happy Berin But here my Lord here comes the Dart will wound you The Shaft that thro' your Ear will reach your Soul Unless you call your Reason to your aid To blunt the pointed Ruine It is you To whom he has design'd her For without you she is no more her self Prepost'rous Chance O Heav'n you shou'd have quench'd Her growing Flame or not have kindl'd mine In short my Lord she loves you and last Night So much her Tears and her Intreaties mov'd him My Father made a Vow she shou'd be yours If half his Wealth Anto. Not half the World shall win me Berin That I believe Or else you had not heard this Secret from me But O! so constant is my Father's Temper What he resolves is Fate Julia coming forwards Julia. Madam your Father 's in the Orange Walk And seems to make this way Berin I must avoid him Exeunt Berin Julia. Anto. So will not I for he 's the Oracle Where I this moment must enquire my Doom Enter Vilarezo Attendants Vilar Alone 't is to my wish aside My Lord good morrow Embraces him Thy Father was my Friend my better half Yet while I clasp thee thus Methinks I have not lost him his great worth Is all reviv'd in thee but were he living Thou wert not dearer to his Arms than mine Anto. I see which way he drives and must prevent him aside Vilar While you are here then think your self at home For by my Life I love thee as a Child Anto. Heav'n grant your Mind may always be the same Vilar It shall but why that wish thou droop'st Antonio Anto. A melancholly Fume but 't will be gone Life's short and nothing can torment as long Vilar Mysterious still but prithee be more plain Your Words betray the trouble of your Heart Your Eyes don't sparkle with their usual Lustre I thought you had been proof against the Charms Of the Fair Sex yet why shou'd you complain For whom can brave Antonio love in vain Anto. Since you my Lord so readily have guess'd My cause of Grief I will confess my frailty 'T is true I love and if I 'm not deceiv'd My Passion is return'd with equal ardor There only wants her Father's kind consent To make me fully happy Vilar Who e'er he is I 'll warrant for him he denies thee nothing That he can give or thou canst ask with Honour Then boldly on I 'll second thy Petition Anto. I take you at your Word and on my Knees Kneels Vilar Nay rise Antonio why to me this distance O rise this posture Anto. Best becomes my Duty A posture fit for what I sue which is Your Bounty in Berinthia to impart And give her Hand where she bestows her Heart Vilar Curst chance O giddy turn how Fate does sport With human Expectation rise Antonio Anto. Forgive me if this once I disobey you I must not rise till my request is granted Vilar Then you must kneel for ever Anto. Call back call back that Sentence e're it play rises The Tyrant in my Heart and yield me up To Madness or Despair Can you forget so soon your noble Promise That you 'd deny me nothing you cou'd give Or I cou'd ask with Honour Vilar Nor do I now and be your self the Judge I thought you had not been to learn the Custom Of your own Native Country which enjoyns The Eldest Sister first shou'd taste the Joys That wait the Nuptial Bed yet were it not The Custom 't is but Justice Anto. Then be it so my Lord I 'll wait with patience Till Catalina's Nuptials are perform'd Nor doubt I but Berinthia will approve An Action that so well declares my Love Vilar Still you are wide Antonio And will not see where I direct my aim O think not of Berinthia from thy Breast Expel her fix not on that hope thy rest For I shall never grant thee that request Anto. Confusion Pain and Torture O my Lord Your said but now you lov'd me as a Child Vilar I did indeed and I will prove a Father Witness the Pow'rs that know our secret Thoughts That my denial springs not from dislike But from the force of Friendship and of Love Of all the Blessings which Indulgent Heav'n Has with a bounteous hand showr'd down upon me There is but one I prize above the rest And that I give to thee Yes my Antonio My Elder hope I 'll to thy Arms assure But think ah think not of Berinthia more Anto. Down swelling Heart and keep the Balance ev'n aside Vilar
Ah Rogue the best Surfeit-Water in the Kingdom a drara has brought several to life I 'll assure you you 'll find in a short time how powerfully 't will quicken Ansil. Away I 'll follow 't is not fit we should be seen together Gerar. Don't go the Gallery way but come thro' my Chamber Ansil. For what Gerar. For what O Lord O Lord what shou'd we do at my Chamber but come you shall guess what now you shall guess Child Ansil. Nay if I trouble you I can have some of my Lady Gerar. She 's in need enough her self you see she 's running mad for 't Well I 'll go open the Gallery door for what ha ha Exit Gerar. Ansil. I have rais'd his expectation but on purpose indeed to deceive it if I keep him keen perhaps he may cut thro' his discretion to Marriage Heav'n what Monsters are we forc'd to embrace for convenience His Closet's a perfect Apothecary's Shop furnish'd with all sorts of Drugs and his Conduct indeed has made it but necessary He perhaps gives the Disease to his House-keeper she stoops as low as to the Horses heels and transmits it to the Groom he conveys it from the Stable to the Landry and from thence it goes back with the clean Linnen to their Master So that the Pox in his Family like the blood in his Veins is in a perpetual Circnlation As she is going off Enter Sebastian Sebast. Pray tell Alphanta I am here And shou'd esteem her Company a favour Ansil. I will my Lord. Exit Ansil. Sebast. She 's but a Woman and she may be false We have enow Examples of their frailty I am to blame Vilander Goes to the Door Enter Alphanta Clara and speak Entring Clara. To Night Alphan At Twelve And meets me in the Grove Let every thing that I shall want be ready Exit Clara. Enter Vilander Sebas But here she is and all y 'ave said is cancell'd I cannot see her and believe a Sin So Fair she is without can Lodge within Vilan Is 't that you call'd me back for Is going Sebas Stay a little Alphan What means all this pray Heav'n I 'm not discover'd Aside Sebas While thus I gaze upon thy Lovely face Where Innocence does seem to sit Enthron'd With all the lesser Graces waiting on Methinks thou shou'dst be Faithful Alphan Ha! my Lord What means th' ambiguous Phrase I shou'd be Faithful What Hell-bred Villain can affirm the contrary Vilan So I 'm well enough serv'd If e're I endeavour again to keep Fool and Strumpet from Coupling may I marry a Punk live a Pimp and die of the Pox a Lineal succession Madam Aside Sebas Nay hold Vilander I 'le Reason it a little Calmly with you Did not her Brother give her to my Arms Has she not since in publick own'd her Passion Can any one without the loss of Reason Quit Virtue Pleasure Riches State and Honour And all to run into a Madman's Arms Vilan I told you he 's some Nobleman disguis'd And sensible as I am Sebas That may be And yet his Brain distemper'd The Man that truly Loves does never doubt 'T is Vulgar to distrust My Soul acquits her Alphan My Lord I now perceive what wrought your Change And thank you that your thoughts are like your self Noble and Brave in spite of black Aspertion I grant indeed at Claras earnest suit I went to see this Lunatick he speaks of To know of him the Story of his Love For that we judg'd had brought him to distraction And while he eagerly pursu'd his Tale Sometimes to Clara once or twice to me He cry'd thus thus she Swore thus she Embrac'd me And clasp'd his Arms about us Sebas D' ye here Vilander Vilan Yes Thunder and Lightning Heav'n hears her too and redd'ns at the Sound But she has got a Secret against blushing Alphan O frontless Impudence my Lord let 's leave him He is not fit to breath where Lovers are Sebas Not sit to live that cou'd wrong one so fair And but his Blood some shew of ours contains It had not now been running in his Veins Exeunt Sebast. Alphan Vilan Credulous Wretch Here comes another too Doubly belov'd yet can't be singly happy Enter Antonio Vilarezo O Woman Woman Woman only giv'n To plague Mankind Hell in the shape of Heav'n Exit Vilan Anto. 'T is done 't is done the mystick Union 's made And now the bright Berinthia's all my own But why my Lord did she so soon take leave E're I cou'd turn to kiss her she was gone When e'en the Ceremony scarce was done Vilar 'T was by my Order to prepare for Bed For till to morrow I 'd not have it known This is the door Thunder The Storm grows lowder still My Lord good Night I wish you much more bliss Than can be had in such a Night as this Thunder Anto. Good Night my Lord and let the Thunder rowl The Body Lust may fear but Love 's the Soul Lockt fast in lawful Joys we shall not hear This Rack of Heav'n and loud Aetherial War One broken Murmur one short Sigh in Love Will seal our Ears and drown those Peals of Jove Exit Anto. Vilar He 's gone how far is Innocence from Fear And yet methinks 't is strange The Fumes of Wine shou'd dissipate so soon He was ev'n deeper fiâ—ster'd than I wish'd And scarce con'd speak the Matrimonial Words After the Priest Now he 's as fresh as if he had just awoke Love that makes many warmer than their Wine Has call'd his Reason back and broke the Charm I doubt the Issue but it must be known Were it to do it never shou'd be done Exit Vilar Thunder Enter Antonio Catalina in her Night-Goan following Anto. Fool wretched Fool so to mistake the Door Perdition Death and Horror She 's got up And follows me Cata. My Lord where are you going Anto. Madam be not surpriz'd 't was a mistake The Terrour of the Night misled my steps Heav'n knows it was no willful fault Cata. A Fault where shou'd you be but there I hope you did not doubt a kind Reception Anto. Her words make a stagnation in my blood And num my Soul with horror my Knees knock Against each other and I know not why Aside Madam good night the peace of Saints attend you Cata. O Heav'n and Earth my Lord you are not going Anto. Going why Cata. Will you not come to Bed Anto. To Bed what can she mean Either she 's craz'd or she has dreamt of Love And I have took her in the easie moment Aside What have you seen in me to make you think I 'd ever come between Incestuous Sheets Cata. Incest my Lord you dream Anto. I wish I did Cata. Then Wedlock is a frightful state indeed What Incest with your Wife Anto. My Wife tho' in my mind I 'd sworn to go And not to answer thee one other word Tho' ev'n the Tongues of Angels had enjoyn'd me That sound
Nation And yet no more regarded Ansil. For Heav'ns sake Madam Cata. Nay talk not of Heav'n I am all Hell within hot burning Love Tho' I am running on to sure Destruction I have no Pow'r to turn For not long since But 't was before I 'd ever seen Antonio Walking abroad alone to take the Air I met an ancient Man who having with A melancholy look survey'd me round Broke into such Prophetick words as these Lady avoid that smiling mischief Love That Serpent in the Figure of a Dove If e'er y' are past your one and twentieth Year You fall into that vain bewitching Snare Y' are ruin'd I have warn'd you and beware In vain alas ' I had the Friendly Caution I disobey'd and the Reward o'ertakes me Prithee let Melvia sing that Song I gave thee For 't is a Glass where I may see my Folly SONG Not tho' I know he fondly lies Prest in my Rival's Arms Nor tho' my Friends with Tears advise That I shou'd shun his Charms Nor one nor t'other frees my Heart Such Arts he does display Or can my longing Eyes divert From gazing still that way Tell me ye Pow'rs that rule our Fate Why are we made so vain Most earnestly to wish for that We have least hope t' attain Or if attain'd is but at best A Mine of rifl'd Ore An empty Cabinet the Breast The Jewel gone before Yet on I pass and Reason's lore Take pleasure to Despise As if 't were Prudence to be Poor And Nonsence to be Wise O you that do my Passion blame Did you the Shepherd see You 'd either perish in the Flame Or cease from warning me Cata. In life what is there that deserves our Care What Blessings can we hope that soil will bear When Love which shou'd our greatest Pleasure be So often causes all our Misery Ansil. When many different Paths to Pleasure lead And we perversely but in one will tread And that the very One we are forbid We swim against the stream of Reason's laws And if w' are wretched are our selves the cause Then cease to Love and you may soon rejoyce Or if you must Love make another Choice Cata. Hold on that hateful subject speak no more Inconstancy I from my Soul abhor Nor Fate nor force nor Chance shall change my mind I 'll love him were I sure he 'd be unkind But O! how shou'd I that unkindness bear When but to think on 't drives me to Despair Weeps Enter Vilarezo Vilar What Melancholy still in Tears for shame Give o'er this heedless Grief And trust thy self to my Paternal care For if that hope deceive me not which but Just now Antonio gave me Thou art as happy as thy wish can make thee Happy as then e're thy unwary Eyes Gaz'd thy fond Heart away Cata. That Day I 'd see If there 's a Day of Happiness for me Vilar Thou hast had many and may yet have more But why that thought Cata. O! if with such indifference he cou'd hear What you propos'd as but to give you hope I know my doom if he at all had lov'd He wou'd have listning stood as Heav'n had spoke And with a greedy Ear devour'd your words He is not to be mov'd and I am lost Vilar Forbear this Passion rash unthinking Girl I tell thee I have us'd my utmost care That with an equal Flame he cherish thine Nor do I doubt but in a little space He will pay all his future Homage here Cata. O Death to all my Hopes then he 's in Love Vilar I 've taken Order to prevent its progress Droop not my Child I 'll mould him to thy wishes In the mean time I 'd have you entertain No anxious thoughts but leave th' affair to me And you shall find e're a day elder grown I 'll compass thy Repose or lose my own Exit Vilar Cata. Ha! taken Order to prevent it's progress By Heav'n if what I still have fear'd is true Berinthia is my Rival True did I say Fool that I was to doubt it 'T is all too true for my eternal quiet Yet I 'll not tamely lose him Christian Practice Shews me the way What has not angry zeal Made those that differ from her Interest Feel Does it regard Alliance does it spare Women with Child or kneeling Saints at Prayer Me a much stronger cause does forward move No Zeal can be so warm as injur'd Love Exit Cata. As Ansilva is going off Enter Gerardo and pulls her back by the Sleeve Ansil. Well what now if 't is to discourse over the old story 't is but breath thrown away and you have but little of that to spare and not much of any thing else Gerar. How how Ansil. A Lover of threescore Fy 't is as unnatural as the Ass in the Fable that fawn'd upon his Master and thought he might take all the little Liberties of a Lap-Dog Gerar. Or the great ones of a Monkey To the Ladies I hope you 'll grant an Ass is not altogether useless Better Brutes have e'er now been forc'd to give place to ' em Ansil. 'T is a great many years ago however since you were useful Gerar. Dost thou treat al 's men with this Indifference Ansil. No but I wou'd if they were all as thou art Gerar. Why what am I Ansil. The shadow of a Lover nothing else though you talk so much of the substance You may I grant please your own Imagination but that will scarce reach far enough to satisfy a Mistress In fine you can only think Love not act it and so will be Damn'd for the Sin without enjoying the Pleasure Gerar. Certainly thou hast held thy Leg over a nettle this Morning I defy e'er a young noisy fashionable Fool of 'em all to do you better Reason than my self Look here Child observe this Caper D' ye see meer strength of back meer Chine I 'd undertake if thou wou'd but love me to shake of twenty years with as much ease as a Courtier does his Promise a Fanatick his Allegiance or a Statesman his Religion and come to thy Arms all warmth all Love Ansil. And all wrapt up in Sear-Cloath like a Mummy My Imagination sickens at it Hear me Gerardo for now I 'm serious if I thought any Behaviour of mine encourag'd yon to this Impudent Application I 'd turn Nun to be reveng'd on my self and there is but the Devil and thee I 'd sooner avoid Gerar. Nay now you' are too severe and in not seeing my Affection are blind to your Interest I could every day have presented thee with some such pieces as these Chinks ' em Ansil. Aside Ha! the right Colour and I confess they look prevailingly if he part with his money there is hope he may be drawn on a little further Gerar. And have made thee outshine any Lady in Portugal for Bravery Jewels and all that Ansil. Aside And now I think on 't I 'll try him if he will bite at Matrimony I don't care if