Don Alvaro's Order Alv. Who 's such a Villain to betray his Trust Dares for a Bribe betray his Conscience too And shou'd not be in Justice credited K. That shall be more examined But false Youth You are most criminal whilst you protect That bloudy Woman Monster of her Kind Whom all good Men abhor Prin. Oh may I never have more Assurance Of future Bliss our promis'd Happiness Than I have Proofs she 's wrongfully Accus'd Think me not blindly govern'd by my Passion For were she Guilty I 'd despise and loath her Forgive me Sir But when just Heav'n clears her You 'll bless and Praise that Loyal seeming Rebel Who durst against your will preserve your Vertue K. The Hypocrite has learn't the Holy Cant Be wicked openly proclaim your 〈◊〉 These thin Disguises can but cheat the 〈◊〉 Own that your Lust arms you against your Father And be at least a gen'rous bare fac'd Villain Agn. Most noble Prince you urge the King too far I ask for no Defence but Innocence No Arms but Argument but Truth and Vertue If they 'r without effect we must resign Death's welcomer than Life with Infamy Prin. Too nice too vent'rous Maid had you accepted That safe Retreat which first I offer'd you You had not needed my Protection now Oh Heavens hadst thou rais'd me Enemies Of monstrous Beasts Armies of Men or Devils I cou'd have met their utmost Rage undaunted Secur'd within by such a righteous Cause But oh my Stars the sacred name of Father Deprives me of the pow'r to resolve Great Deity instruct my doubtful Soul Of contradicting Duties which to chuse Or else impute to Ignorance my Errours Scene opens Elvira wakes and starts up Elv. Give me some Air grim Torturers of Hell Mind not the Princess fiery Agnes rules her Look look she pours scalding Bloud upon me Take her away Ha! there 's the Witch my Rival She runs she runs just to the Prince's arms My Brother 〈◊〉 to her now he tears her Hark Lucifer let 's swear her Soul away Ha ha ha ha ha laugh at the Princess She says I 'll own myself her Murderer who 'll be Fool then no body saw it Agnes will become a Scaffold as well as I. Bia. Alas poor Lady how she lov'd the Princess Th'idea of her Death possesses her So strongly she can talk of nought but Murder Elv. Who dares name Murder Ha! she can tell Tales Pulls a Dagger from under her Gown and stabs Bianca I 'll stop her mouth this Present was for Agnes But you shall have it if you 'll keep my Secret Bian. Oh fatal Blow that Hand is skill'd in Death K. Unhappy Accident take her away Let her be bound for fear of further Mischief Elv. Seize Agnes Jaylor seize her she 's in fault As she is carry'd off If she had stay'd and not sneak'd off so flyly By this time she had been among Hobgoblings And the Princess like a Fool crying for her It was not I curst Hell-hounds 't was not I. Exit K. See that her Wound be dress'd with care Bian. Oh no 't is needless Heav'n has seal'd my Fate And shows its Justice most remarkably In punishing my Crimes by her who caus'd 'em Let me in dying clear my spotted Soul By saving those whose Ruin I design'd Elvira promis'd me a great Reward And wicked Avarice made me consent To wrongfully Accuse the vertuous Agnes Ah Madam can your Charity forgive A tortur'd Wretch sufficiently unhappy By dreadful Fears and Stings of deep Remorse Agn. I do as e're I hope to be forgiv'n K. Proceed in thy amazing Declaration And on thy Hopes of Heav'n speak only truth Bian. Alas what can I hope for by Deceit Elvira forg'd that Letter which you saw To ruine Agnes in the Princess's thoughts But apprehending still her Brother's Marriage She plotted Agnes's Death to hinder it And 't was for her that cruel Blow was meant So fatal to the Princess in her absence Which when she found she struck her own vile arm Enrag'd against herself for that ill Service But soon was reconcil'd to the occasion Of taking full Revenge on her she hated Which she contriv'd by that false Accusation In which I aided to my shame and grief K. What caus'd Elvira's Hate to Agnes know'st thou Bian. Envy and Jealousy My strength decays Lead me away I scarce have breath enough To beg the Mercy of offended Heav'n They lead her off Oh horrid Visions of 〈◊〉 Torments K. What pity 't is Man's Pow'r shou'd be so vast And yet his Knowledge bound in such streight limits That what we eagerly pursue as good Oft proves the Mischief which we most wou'd shun Oh! how am I escap'd just from the brink Of that detested Crime abominable Murther Take care to have Elvira close confin'd To one of the Attend. Madam you 'r free thank the just Pow'rs above To Agnes My Son with joy I call thee Son Come to my arms thou most belov'd wrong'd Youth Prin. My King my Father do you then forgive me Have you so soon forgot my Disobedience K. The Cause which you maintain'd excuses you And my Injustice cancels all your Faults 'T is late my Son I 'll leave you to retire This Day 's Fatigue and Grief requires some Rest. Prin. Scarce any Grief equals the solid Joy Of having such a good so kind a Father Permit us to attend your Majesty Exeunt the Prince leading Agnes manet 〈◊〉 Alvaro Solus Base Sychophants not one remains with me Of all that Croud that worship'd me to day But fly as if Misfortune were infectious Yes mine shall be so more fatal than a Plague Disgrac'd and disappointed in my Love Nothing is left for me to court but Vengeance Nothing that 's more then all I am depriv'd of The King's Favour plac'd me above his Subjects Revenge on him makes me above himself Which I will have if I am still Alvaro As that alone the King shou'd fear me more Then when he set me nearest to the Throne For Desparation's bolder than Ambition My Rival is the Pillar of the Nation That fall'n nothing can support the Fabrick I know they all rejoyce at my Disgrace And therefore they shall all lament with me It must be thought of The Prince with Agnes will return this way I think I hear 'em I 'll observe the Lovers Alvaro goes aside to listen Perhaps 't will contribute to my Designs No other way wou'd exalt my Name Let Universal Ruine give me Fame Enter the Prince and Agnes Prin. The business of my life shall be to serve you I have done nothing yet deserves your thanks Agn. The only Heav'n cou'd clear my innocence I am indebted much to your endeavours Prin. Most to yourself you owe That Majesty so awful yet serene That calm unshaken Constancy of Mind Shows Vertue in its heighth grown to a habit So perfectly Self-evident in you 'T is as absurd to doubt your Innocence As 't were to question if the Sun gives light
fortune flys from you with me And all the Curse lights heavy on my head For we must part for Ever Ever part Princess Part Wou'd you add to my unhappiness Be yet more cruel than my Destiny Fate has depriv'd me but of half my blessing And you wou'd tear the other half away To leave me Sad Desolate and Comfortless Agnes Alas We ne'er shall meet in joy again This tender Love must all be turn'd to Hate Princess That thought was too injurious from a Friend Thy only guilt is having too much merit For which 't were most nnjustly base to hate thee Agnes Yet sure I 'm now unworthy of thy Love But teach me how I may again deserve it What can be done to cure the Prince's Phrenzy I 'll blot out all that 's lovely in this Face Disfigure it to black deformity Enough to frighten all Mankind to madness And bring him back to reason Princess This wild Extravagance is unbecoming Let 's learn to bear our Woes and leave to Heav'n The time and manner of redressing ' em Despair may Cure the Prince but it may kill him Oh! Thy too rigorous Virtue makes me fear But think with him you will condemn your Friend And mingle sweetness with severity Pity his Fate that Honour will allow And I shall bless thy gen'rous Charity Agnes Oh wond'rous instance of a matchless goodness Gods Is it just the Prince enjoy this Blessing Who knows not how to value the vast Treasure Princess You are ungrateful to condemn the Prince And I for all I suffer cann't accuse him I know he struggled long against your Charms And those efforts are more obliging far Than if his Inclinations were for me Love rul'd by Fate does n'er consult our will But if we strive to love it shows Esteem And 't is more kind to wish I had his Heart Than if he gave the prize unwillingly Why should I blame the Prince for loving her Were Reason Duty Honour all against me I still should dote on him in spight of all The same strong Destiny controuls his Heart And my fair Rival's worth bounds my Complaints There is no room for my Resentment left Nor shall the Prince perceive my inward Grief You only you shall ease the Wounds you made For thou wilt pity me I know thou wilt Thou Dear thou less my Rival than my Friend En. Prince Agnes Alas he 's here Prince What new design has Fate to carry on Th' unlucky Writing in Constantia's Hand Nay then it has it's utmost malice shown Agnes Unhappy chance He sees I know his love I cannot look on him without Confusion Oh! That I 'd ever shun'd his Eyes as now Exit Agnes Prince Madam from whence had you that fatal Scrowl Princess Be not disturb'd and I 'le forget I saw it Prince Oh no! You never must forget my Crime Rail at me Curse me Hate me if thou canst That thou may'st less deserve to be Belov'd And I be less asham'd of wronging thee Princess It is not you but cruel Fate has wrong'd me And wrong'd me most by making you unhappy That doubles all the Sorrows of my Soul When in the tender ragings of my Heart Torn with the Agonies of hopeless Love I shall remember you are wretched too You wish in Vain Sigh and Despair like me Thus guessing all your Torments by my own I shall more than feel 'em ore again for you Prince Oh! This short view of what I make thee suffer Is worse to me than all I 've known before How can'st thou pity this ungrateful Husband Princess That kind Concern shows you are not Ungrateful And 't were inhumane not to pity you When all Relief but pity is deny'd Poor Prince if you had lov'd a Maid less nice Her kindness might have satisfied your Passion Or want of Merit quite extinguish'd it It grieves me you shou'd fix your Heart on one Too scrupulous to recompence your flame I dread th' effects of her Severity Which may instead of Curing more engage you Charm'd with that rigorous Virtue that undoes you Prince How then shou'd thy diviner Virtue charm me Virtue of such an elevated Nature It claims not Love alone but Adoration Greater than that we owe to Saints above And that I swear I pay thee Princess Unhappily you have misplac'd your Thoughts Fair Agnes more deserves your Adoration And I may say I more deserve your Love For Oh Dear Prince there 's not a part of me That is not fill'd with softest Love for thee My Soul 's all thine I languish for thy Love Dote on in spight of thy Indifference Live by thy Looks am nothing when thou' rt from me Wretched to think thon can'st not be all mine And Oh! Cou'd part with all I 〈◊〉 possess'd To gain thy dearer Heart Prince Oh! If thou lov'st me hide this tenderness I better cou'd support the sharpest Anger Call all thy Injuries into thy thoughts Think me Ungrateful Perjur'd any thing That may provoke the Cruellest Reproaches Shew your resentment in the fiercest Form Revenge your Wrongs but upon me alone This only Criminal unhappy Wretch And share the guiltless Cause of our Misfortune Princess Fear not for Agnes Sir I love her and her being dear to you More strongly recommends her to my care For my repose depends so much on yours I must lose all my own to rob you of it Prince Too Generous Princess But in spight of you You have reveng'd your self with sharpest wounds Deep in that Faithless Breast which injur'd you This cruel kindness has undone your Husband Thou miracle of Virtue Princess Alas my Love what shall I say to ease you Prince Kill me Constantia I deserve it of thee But that wou'd be too kind 'T would save me all the many Deaths of shame Which ev'ry thought of thee will make me feel Forgive me then to punish me yet more For now I hate my self for grieving thee And wou'd be still still more Unhappy made Alas I dare not meet thy loving Eyes They tell me that thou hast forgiv'n me Fly wretch Oh fly from all that looks like good Ev'n silent Innocence is thy reproach Princess His Sorrows touch me more than all my own He seems as if his Soul were on the Rack And that Immortal part cou'd to be free Wish it self Mortal like its lovely Mansion Perhaps my presence discomposes him I will retire and Heav'n with tears implore Though by my Death his quiet to restore Exit Prince solus Is there another wretch on Earth like me Who what was meant for Ease and Blessings to him Perverts into a Curse When I had lock'd the Secret in my Breast Kept it conceal'd ev'n from my dearest Friend Deny'd my self all ways to vent my Grief But pouring out my Woes in soft Complaints They must be made th' occasion 〈◊〉 my ruine And by I know not what some Devil sure Convey'd to her from whom I most wou'd hide ' em The Virtue of my Wife too proves my Curse
King I 'll find a way t' abate this Insolence Goes from her Don Pedro you must hasten your departure Follow me to the Gallery we 'll talk a while Prince I attend you Sir Madam I 'll see you in the Palace-Garden Exit K. Prince Al. Agnes What fatal Planet govern'd at my Birth Which now begins its baleful Influence With Cruelties so great they rather seem The last Effect of torturing Tyranny The Finishment of a long study'd Curse Princess You amaze me Agnes Can there be Misery more compleat than mine Forc'd by my Stars for ever from your Highness In whom I 'd center'd all my happiness The wild effects of this unhappy Face Drives me to search for some obscure retreat Where it may never more create such Plagues Fatal to you to me and Innocence Princess Can you resolve to leave me then Alas Thy absence will be far more fatal here Instead of rend'ring me my Husband's Heart Wou'd he not hate me as the Cause of it Wou'd he not fly to you where-e'er you were And wou'd it not be Savage Cruelty To rob a Lover so Unfortunate Of all the poor relief is left his Love Agnes My Honour Madam is not here secure The King already does believe me guilty Princess I know thee Agnes and shall ne'er accuse thee For my sake bear the rest Agnes What is it for your sake I wou'd not bear Witness th'all-seeing Pow'rs that know my Heart If by my Marriage I cou'd give you back That love which barb'rous Fate has rob'd you of Though Don Alvaro's horror to my Eyes Though my Soul loaths him by Antipathy I 'd break through those strong Bars which Nature 's fix'd And Sacrifice my own for your repose But that alas cou'd never cure the Prince Still he wou'd look on me with Criminal Eyes And I am accessary whilst I stay Princess The Crime 's to me I can absolve thy guilt Dear Agnes if thou 'st ever lov'd thy Friend Give not the Prince this Subject of Despair My Life is ty'd to his his Grief is mine Agnes You are the sole Disposer of my Actions But Madam think weigh well e'er you Command What dangerous mischiefs may attend my stay Princess None that can equal that of losing thee Compar'd to it all Ills are but a Name Agnes Govern'd by you I will believe all safe Tho' my sad Soul some dreadful thing forebodes What may not Don Alvaro undertake Encourag'd by the King whom I 've incens'd He 's Base as Great and all is to be fear'd From one whom want of Pow'r alone restrains In what the most irregular desire Princess Be satisfy'd whilst I am thy Protectress The Prince by this time may be in the Garden He is to pass that way Instruct me as we go In all that pass'd betwixt the King and you From thence I 'll take my measures Exit Princess and Agnes Elvira How stupidly she hugs the Poys'nous Serpent She must be sharply stung before she 'll wake Sure if she thought her Rival did betray her She 'd shake her off for all this foolish fondness Bianca The difficulty is t' inspire that thought The Princess is possess'd with a belief Of Agnes's Virtue which her last request Of leaving her must needs have much confirm'd Elvira But what if I should play the Anti-Bee And from this Nice Romantick Honour draw A Poyson to destroy her good Opinion Bianca That were a Master-piece of Art indeed Elvira 'T is the peculiar cunning of our Sex To make Good Ill and Ill for Good appear And things which seem directly contrary We turn and use to compass our designs I 'll write a Note as from the Prince to Agnes It shall express a free converse with her And joy for having overcome her Scruples Then beg her to obtain his Wife's consent On the pretence of shunning him to leave Coimbra That he may see her with more easie freedom Than watchful Eyes wou'd e're permit him here This you shall take an Opportunity Be sure it be the first to give the Princess Tell her you saw it drop from Agnes's Pocket And watch her ev'ry motion when she reads I 'll instantly about the mighty work Such Joys I find in others Misery If all were Damn'd Hell wou'd be Heav'n to me Ex. the Scene 〈◊〉 Enter as in a Gallery the King Prince Alvaro and Attendants Prince Were the Audacious Rebels boasted Pow'r Encreas'd by twice the number which they bring And ev'ry single Foe of Gyants strength I wou'd not doubt success in such a Cause Confcience does half our Work A wild dismay Disables ev'ry Paricidial Arm. King Thy well-prov'd Va'our gives me surer hopes Which in thy softer Youth was bravely try'd Against the powerful fierce Alboacen I saw my Son do feats beyond his Age Whilst ev'ry stroke the Soldiers rung his name He seem'd to fire their Courage raise their hopes And bring the Foe inevitable Death Prince They have not Sir forgot what you perform'd You taught us all the way to Victory King I think they never saw me fly from danger Go as my Gen'ral quell this rash Rebellion But Prince subdue your self and be my Son Prince If I do ought unworthy of that Name May I become the Vilest Peasant's scorn King Spoke from the Heart I dare believe my Son Go and return a double Conqueror Prince Commanded thus I dare all opposition To morrow's dawn full Victory shall bring For Virtue for my Father and my King Exit Prince King Am I a King Alvaro Alvaro Great Monarch King By Heav'n your scornful Mistress braves my Pow'r Disdains my Favourite slights my Noblest Gifts I bear it all and yet I am a King Alvaro No Monarch's Pow'rs so vast as Woman's Empire The Conquerors of the World submit to them King 'T is but a Voluntary Condescension They have no right to govern in themselves And yet ungenerously the Tyrants use That Pow'r to our Destruction which we give Alvaro Something they have beyond what we have giv'n A strange ascendant unaccountable From Nature or by Witchcraft over Men I call'd my Pride and Reason to my aid So arm'd methought I cou'd defie her Charms Yet spight of both I trembled when she frown'd Gods Though I hate her must I still obey King 'T is in your choice t' obey or be obey'd What she denies your Prayers by Force obtain Don Pedro's absence favours the Design And when she 's in your pow'r you 've nought to fear He 'll lose his hopes by seeing her your Wife She 'll make a Virtue of Necessity and dutifully seem at least to love I need not sure instruct a Lover more Alvaro Divinity on Earth how graciously You order all things to your Creature 's with But first I 'll see this Coy this haughty Fair Thô Pride 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 More reasonable Pride on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 May shew her all the Bounty of a 〈◊〉 In most magnificent prevailing Pomp King This Moment she and Portugal shall know That but in