read there your Crimes gives her a letter There markt in Characters too plain and foul Farewell for ever Madam for I dare not stay To see your blushes blab my destiny But must in silence part and calmly dye Exit Miranda Sola Mir. False to Alberto this the Evidence Is this the Gorgon turns his heart to flint I dare not see this narrow Vault of death Not that I fear my death for that were wellcome But yet I dread there lies some putrid earth Couch'd in the dark abode lest these black letters With every turn shou'd curl into a Snake Will wind and twist about my dearest honour And taint my â—potless truth with infamy Thus I secure it then nor will I trouble Tears the Letter My conscious innocence with false alarms But banish all encroaching passions But Love and Grief from out this troubl'd breast And leave th' unerring Gods to judge the rest Exit Enter Vice-Roy Ricardo and Attendants V. R. I care not 't is resolv'd Ric. Pardon me Sir I have no other int'rest but your peace Which to preserve I 'de shipwrack all my own V. R. How is my peace endanger'd in Alberto Ric. I 'm hush'â— Sir he 's my friend only this beware V. R. Ricardo your words hang ill together Disjoynted words speak a disjoynted meaning You talk as if there were some mistery 'T were fit I knew and yet you 're loath to tell Is he not Loyall Ric. Loyall he may be Sir for ought I know I never fear'd the sharpness of his Sword Or to defend his Country or diâ—turb it 'T is true in Peace 't will hardly rust within the Sheath For â—avern brawls and quarrells in the Stews Nor think I there 't will rust with too much blood Therefore your Daughter V. R. Speak what of my Daughter Ric. There must he wound you Sir there â—ound the vein You think he loves her Sir perhaps he may Who wou'd not love to be the Vice-Roys Son Courted Esteem'd nay more Admir'd by all And held the Favorite both of Heaven and Earth But if avert it Heaven Experience tells you He courted more thaâ— Title then your Daughter Vi. R. I know your meaning but no more of that What I 've decreed stands firm sixt as a Rock Not to be shaken wâ—th your blust'ring reason Prudence in Rulers is the Helm of State Which lost the wandring Bark's a Prey to fate Splâ—ts on the Rocks and sinks into the Sand Reason that maâ—n'd her cannot then Command The Ribs are burst the helm in piâ—â—â—s torn The Rudder lost the Bark is surely goâ—e Either you argue I 've renounc'd that Prudence In taking him into my heart and House After long wading into his inmost thoughts And sounding all the Shallows of his Soul Or there 's some hidden Cause for this aversion Ric. Pardon my Lord the hasty zeal I 've shown Some brandisht bolt be levell'd at my head And rivet me to earth If I have ought To move me thus but duty and my Love aside Enter Miranda But see your Daughter Sir Mir. I had forgot T' was rashly done to tear the Letter Then leave it here For which forgive me Creduloâ—s Alberto Ha! my Father here Starts Vi. R. Miranda Mir. My Lord. V. R. Why does a Father's presence thus surprize you But that 's a trifle to those greater wonders Which amaze me more Why Child this strange disorder What mean those swol'n eyes and falling tears Is this the Picture of Triumphant Love Drest in the Visage of a black despair Are shours the Prologue to the rising Sun Or Harbingers of an ensuing Storm Ric. My Plot has took thanks to my witty Stars aside V. R. I cannot guess the meaning sure Alberto Must know the Cause speak was he here to day Mir. He was my Lord Oh fatall interview V. R. Fatall to what be quick and give me ease Is it your speedy Nuptials that are fatall By Heaven if such a thought were starting in you After all your Pleadings and my Conquer'd Pride You should be Married in the other World Mir. Alas that heavy Curse comes now too late Since Love has made me wretched beyond all hopes Of ever being blest or happy more He came my Lord but with a face so alter'd He rather seem'd the Ghost of my Alberto Then ey'd me as I were a Basilisk Revenge and Love jarr'd in his eyes a while But strait the fiercer passion gain'd the Conquest To all the Endearments of my joyfull Love He answer'd only with a Gloomy silence But soon as I discover'd your consent He storm'd and rav'd aloud then wisht me joy Talk't of Antonio falshood and revenge Whilst all my tears inflam'd him but the more V. R. I understand you not Ha! Ricardo Ric. You see my eye was piercing to discern V. R. Speak once again but speak it to the dead For they 'le solve such a riddle soon as I. Ric. I am no Oedipus yet can construe this He 's false or thinks her so which is as bad if not worse V. R. Oh! give me patience Heaven for this affront Which thus reflects upon my Masters honour And wipes the Sacred Oyl from off his head There 's ne're a proud Italian of you all Shall dare to roâ—ze my fiery Jealous rage And scape it's fury Guards go seize the Traytor Mir. Hold hold Kind Sir and hear your Daughter speak Vi. R. Shame to my blood woud'st thou excuse the Villain Breath but a word for him that dares abuse Thy Fathers condescention and thy Love And I 'le proclaim thee Bastard and not mine Mir. I must speak for Love like mine 's invincible And like the Palm suppress'd does higher rise I wou'd excuse him too but impossible Perhaps some busy â—iend has been at work To interrupt the Calm which we enjoy'd And Shipwrack all our hopes with one dire blast What Virtue 's proof against the assaults of malice Vi. R. That â—iend is lodg'd within his treacherous breast There lies the Snake which stings my honour thus Iâ— vain you 'd bribe my Justice with your tears The Ballance must fall down and crush Alberto Mir. Since you 're resolv'd oh hear me on my knees I beg of you this last this only favour Load me with all the chains his Crimes deserve And let my death glut your mistaken rage Vi. R. Fond Love-sick Fool then woud'st thou dye for him Mir. With as much Joy as Martyrs for their Faith Dye to preserve him for anothers Arms And bless the Stroke which gives Alberto life Vi. R. I finde my resolution Staggers here and thou hast tam'd the Lion in my Soul Rise Ric. 'T is well and fortune hitherto's my friend Did he secure him there wou'd be a search aside Deep in the bottom of my close design And all my industry were countermin'd If that my Loyallty were not ill manner'd I wou'd advise you Sir to curb your rage Till proof imprint the Stamp of Justice on 't And if your Highness shall think me
may come out if you please Enter Alberto Alb. What means this mercy from my Jaylor Iay. O my Lord no complements but stay a little and I 'le fetch you your sword Exit Alb. Let fate interpret this misterious dealing For I 'me invelop'd still in double night The light o' th Sun I yet may chance to see But oh Miranda Miranda's Set for ever set to me Enter Jaylor Iay. Here 's your accoutrements Sir and heâ—e's a key which opens the back-door leading to Porto Sancto make hast lest you be discover'd and I suspected Alb Fate niggard gives me happiness by halves Since I 'me unable to requite this goodness But here 's to reward thee gives him money Iay. I am sufficiently rewarded my Lord in my own conscience and your Lordships innocency and in Antonio's money Alb. Be silent still the night and wink ye Stars Guide me where I may find this faithless friend And all my sorrows shall for ever end Exit Iay. So much for him but now go on and prosper still say I I shall oblige 'em all three and cheat 'em all three Enter Antonio Ant. Jaylor Iay. Who 's there Ant A friend Is my Lord Alberto drest yes Iay. I 'le go see and if he be ready I 'le bring him to you Ex Ant. Now shall we solve this Sophistry of Hell And kill the Hydra that invented it Enter Jaylor leading Ricardo Iay. He fee'd me to free Alberto from which I study'd your Escape and keep the other still in durance Ric. Excellent Engine I 'le improve his fee. But how shall I escape undiscover'd Iay. Why Sir you may traverse your ground here in the dark and go out without speaking to him and at the door I 've plac'd some friends that will Conduct you to the Vice-Roy since you say you 're sure of being wellcome to him Your friend Sir will come out immediately to Antonio Now I 've got a hundred and fifty pieces I 'le fairly run away and if I 'me catch'd 't is better to be hang'd with satisfaction then to go to the Galâ—ows with a craving Stomach For a full belly will weigh down the Rope But pâ—nury must ne're a pardon hope Exit Ant. I hear some tread my dear Alberto Friend Where are you Ric. You shall be with your friend ne're fear it so farewell If I can hit the door goes upon Antonio Ant. Wellcome my dear Alberto to these Arms Wellcome to life to friendship and to love Ric. stabs Anto. Ric. I hope I 've sign'd our Friendship Sir in bloud Ant. Wounded Oh Heavens and by Alberto's hand Ungratefull Traytor yet I 'le know the cause draws Ric. You shan't if I can possibly avoid it This is rare mischief thus with a randome blow To â—ow such Serpents teeth which when they spring In hisses will each others requiem sing Exit Ant. O Power of destiny to change a breast Which virtue seem'd to challenge as her own That he shou'd fear the presence of his friend And seek to give him death who sav'd his life Horror choaks up my words and damps my heart I feel his hand and not his Dagger Smart Exit SCENE The Pallace Enter Vice-Roy and Miranda V. R. Slighted again what do the Slaves conspire To make a mock of Naples second Monarch By all my wrongs I will endur 't no longer But they shall feel the weight of injur'd greatness Where is Antonio Guards go fetch him strait Hurl him through Hells of torture to my hands That I may heighten all his Misery And double all the wounds which he gives me Mir. O Sir what villain has inspir'd this rage Or is it I that have inflam'd you thus Know Royall Sir 'T was I that breath'd the calm repentance in him And call'd his wandring Love to it's first flame Then fix'd his friendship to Alberto's name V. R. Friendship I 'le hew that title from between 'em Eternall Miâ—ts shall seperate 'em for ever Friends so were bloody Cassius and Brutus When they conspir'd great Caesars overthrow And all the world did mourn the fatall blow But Traitress thou that durst oppose my will Shall be immur'd for ever from the day In some dark Cloister sigh thy wearied life out There may'st thou tire the Saints with Orisons And each return a curse upon thy head Mir. Be deaf ye Powers and hear not his request Till these last words you were an Oracle Oh! if Alberto's doom be not revers'd Let me be the Companion of his death Then I 'le enjoy him with a purer flame Then hand in hand we 'le tread the milky way Whilst all the Stars shall wonder at our Loves V. R. Whilst all the Stars shall â—icken at the â—ight Enjoy him no by hell you never shall I 'le summon all that Magick art can do To â—â—og thâ— Soul in it's swift flight away Thaâ— pois'd equally t'wixt heaven and hell Thy body here may rot on earth thy Soul Grow to one horrid Mass of black despair And hang a threatning Storm amidst the air Weep on weep poyson to infect the world And plague mankind as thou 'st tormented me Enter Ricardo But here 's a friend will countervail my griefs Here let me ease my Soul into thy breast Embraces him Here find a Subject and a Child in thee Ric. How fares it with my Royal Lord V. R. As with the indigested Embrio of the World When infant Nature labour'd with a Chaos Wanting as yet the kind Almighty Fiat To midwife the rude birth into an order My Soul like the Seeds of being in their first mixture Is grown a peice with grief and madness Ric. Trust me I weep for joy and grief at once I grieve your sorows and I mourn your wrongs But pardon me if that I joy to see you thus And find my honest nature constru'd right But ha the fair Miranda here in tears V. R. Mind 'em not friend they 're all but Bastard-seed The muddy offspring of a froward mind Begone thou Child of night but mine no more Avaunt I say thou Poyson to my Eyes Leave me for ever leave me and may thy breast Feel torments great as mine but never rest Exit Miran Ric. But never rest this to your Daughter Sir V. R. Be thou my Daughter and enjoy my heart For all run Counter to my will but Thee But speak what fortune has detain'd thee thus Ric. I fear to speak since it sums up a charge 'Gainst two whom till this night I most respected I fought Alberto in my Masters cause Whom he had injur'd by a proud disdain When strait some Souldiers seeing us engag'd Disarm'd and led us both to Prison but My Jaylors kindness free'd me or his cruelty For strait I met Antonio in the dark Who with his Rapier made a fruitless pasâ— Glancing o're my shoulder I clos'd with the Assâ—sinate And with my dagger wounding him I broke loose Thus Sir I purchas'd my escape to you V. R. What do they mean t' usurp my power
Oh my Astella what a tide of Joy Streams in to Crown my yet imperfect Love 'T is rapture but to think he shall be mine To morrows dawn shall light our Loves for ever To thee I 'le own my Frâ—end without a blush The Vestall fire which guards his Image here Ast. My Brother 's too much blest in your kind Love Nor cou'd his utmost wish desire more Tho' it were boundless as are your merits Mir. Why d' you prophane the Dearest of his Sex Sâ—re nought that 's mortall 's worthy of his Love Were I made up of yet untasted Charms Such as wou'd pose the Painters noblest skill And dash his feeble fancy in it's flight Yet ' t' were too mean a present for Alberto Oh! why are you so slow you tedious hours Blow fair my hopes glide with a gentle gale To waâ—t Alberto to his Mistriss Arms. Ast. With what strange Extasies of Joy he 'le wellcome This so happy news from his Miranda's mouth But let me beg you share with me my Sister Leâ—t double passion burst my crowded breast My noble Brother has at last consented To consummate Antonio's happiness And Chain their friendships with another Link Soon as your father blesses him with you Mir. Soon as my Father gives me heav'n in him Why comes he not to hear the charming news Sounds as inchanting as the Theban Lire Or all the musick of the Spheres at once O Love forgive the extravagance of my desires Which have no bounds short of the noblest heart That ever yet your golden arrows peirc'd Enter Maria. Mar. My Lord Alberto Madam is without Desires to know if he may have admittance Mir. Fly and conduct him in now help me Sister Exit Maria To unlade my frait of Joys into his breast Ast 'T were Sin to bar the freedom of your Loves And therefore beg leave humbly to retire Exit Enter Alberto stands at a distance and bows Mir. Wellcome my Dear Alberto for ever wellcome here But doubly wellcome now Alb. To hear my ruine aside Mir. Now I can charm your sences into wonders Make your chill blood dance to the tune to Love And sing your Soul into Elysian raptures Alb. O' fatall Beauty and oh my cruell Stars sighs Why was I born to love and be despis'd Mir. Ha! why this distance and that heavy sigh Why play not thousand Cupids in your eyes In expectation of ' th approaching bliss But I forget 't is I must charm your Soul My Father now has warranted our Loves Which shall be doubly ratifyed to morrow Still senceless Alb. Oh triumphant perjury Down down the anger of my swelling breast Fix me kind heaven and clear my reason lest aside My hand shou'd antidate your vengeance on her And cut this beauteous weed of nature down aside Madam Hell and confusion I know not what to say I wish you Joy Mir. Ha! wish me Joy yet mention Hell Alberto The greatest blessing twisted with a Curse Oh all ye powers Yet why my Lord Oh why that wish How can you doubt my joy when you 're the Author My Heaven my Paradice my all I have Alb. Oh Syren Syren aside Mir. Yes my Lov'd Lord you are my Souls desire Nor do I blush to speak a noble Truth But stay mine did I say my Lov'd Lord O no! It was a fond mistake he 's mine no more But false to all his Oathes and plighted Vows False to Miranda that unhappy Maid Weeps Alb. Furies and Death 't is downright mockery But Madam know tho' I appear to you So still so calm so like a suffering Saint Yet know I say there is a storm lies brooding here Will like a furious whirlwind blow to dust That Bane to Love and Friendship False Antonio Mir. Antonio unfold this fatall riddle Abl. Upon his heart I will Mir. By Heaven by All that 's Sacred Alb. Hold hold thou Lovely Perjur'd Beauty So well I love thee still thou sha't not damn Thy self to give Alberto satisfaction For that Antonio's life must give not you Mir. Hear me Alberto or I dye with grief Hear me before your rashness makes it quite too late To hear 't is Death to think you may be slain for me For my heart bodes some strange eruption Of discontent and Passion which tends to ruine And surely I shou'd grieve Antonio's loss Since Innocent Alb. I know thou woud'st Mir. Will you be still unjust Oh torture see he fears to let me know the truth And Cause of this Disorder this strange mistake Weeps Alb. Ha! does she weep O treacherous Crocodile But I 'le be calm Just heaven why have you lodg'd Such luâ—king fiends in this so fair a Mansion Why wink not all the Stars and hide their heads Since this bright Cinthia's fall'n from her sphere Can those tears be true sure 't is impossible But then if guilty why shou'd she complain Oh! 't is the nature of that coâ—s'ning Sex To weep and smile and yet be false and fair Thus bigot Love mistakes the genuine Pearl Deluded with a gaudy glittering nothing Mir. Since then you 'l not believe my Vows or Tears Clear with your Sword my injur'd Innocence And with my blood wash all my stains away Alb. Still weeping Too well I know the cursed Cause Those tears yoâ— shed to your absent Lover And only make a show of Sorrow To surprize me more Ah Cruell Maid Thou poyson to our Loves and Friendship The only prop which dying Virtue leans on In one unhappy hour thou hast quite destroy'd And broke the Sacred Chain which link't our Souls Mir. Will you Condemn me e're you hear me speak What has Antonio doâ—e to move your hate Or how have I deserv'd this Jealousy Is not Antonio Alb. Ha! that name again By hell she doats and feeds upon the sound Antonio Oh that word that names a Charm A Charm indeed which has bewich'd Miranda And raz'd Heavens Stamp from out her fickle Soul O I could rave and Curse my Cruell Stars Which have depriv'd me of my Joys and her But Love usurps the Throne and still 's my rage Madam I go for ever from your sight To meet a death from your Antonio's hands Or offer up my self a Victim to appease His Angry Ghost and glut Revenge and you Mir. Stay stay Alberto hear me but speak Alb. It cannot be bid raging Seas to listen When the Winds heave the billows into Clouds Mir. Stay stay but to see Miranda dye Alb. Away Mock not my reall griefs with thy false tears Mir. False tears nay then I can endure no more Faints Alb. Ha! does she faint Return my fair Apostate Return and hear the story of your Falshood Here I 'le produce the clearest Evidence Will prove you false and trouble you no more Mir. Convinc'd I 'me false yet give no more O horror Yes I wou'd rip my heart out of this breast And give 't a prey for Vultures to devour Sooner then wrong my plighted faith in ought Alb. No more but read
Fear not my Son Only some Clouds are gather'd by your death But soon your presence will dry up her tears And clear her brow Lead on no longer I 'le defer your Joys Exeunt V. R. Alb. Ant. Mar. O' how I tremble at the dreadfull Scene Ast. and Guards But since a beam of light does warm her hopes And hath dispell'd the Vice-Roys jealous storm Fain'd death shall grasp 'em in a pleasing form Exit The Scene draws and discovers Miranda leaning on a Table A Cup by her She rises Mir. What 's Death that silly Mortals thus shou'd fear it Only a passage to a better Life When the imprison'd Soul throws off its fetters And flys into immortall Liberty Then wellcome Death to Love so pure as mine Which shall imprint an Angells stamp upon it And free my Soul to meet Alberto in the air I come my Love the thoughts of thee so charm me That yet methinks I feel no pain at all The fatall Potion tasted to my pallat Like the rich Nectar that preserves the Gods And I 'me methinks in health only a pleasing faintness Glides thro' my fancy with a cold alarm Here will I sit till I can see my Father To tell him fate has granted me a pasport Then take the wing and fly to endless bliss Song within Enter Vice-Roy Alberto Antonio and Astella Guards and Attendants Scene the last V. R. Weeping Miranda Eternall horror Seize me if she does not smile too So the Sun shines amidst the fiercest showers But why my Daughter speak for it racks my fancy Rise and speak Mir. O' I must never rise Till I mount up an Angell into heaven Alb. To heaven O' my fears Wrap me Eternall night Are these my promi'st joys V. R. O' rise my Child I know it well thou mourn'st Alberto's loss But here is magick in this face to cure thee Presents Alb. to her Mir. Alberto O' ye Powers then does he Live Alb. He lives my Fair one but oh that life 's a Curse Unless you 'l raise that beauteous Map of Heaven And say why dost thou grieve that he 's alive Mir. Have I not cause to grieve and curse my Stars Since we must part for ever part Alberto Alb. For ever part thou kill'st me with the sound Art thou then false the very thought 's a Crime Thro' all this mist I see thy constant flames Dart their kind beams into my tortur'd breast V. R. Why dost thou talk of parting when thy Father Stands here to heal the wounds of injur'd Love Here take Alberto take him to thy arms presents Alb. to her Mir. O Stop that breath of kindness 't is Infectious And tortures me more then the working poyson Alb. The poyson ha V. R. What says my Childe Mir. The fatall deed will out I thought him dead and therefore I contriv'd To drink a poys'nous draught which working up Thro' all the pores of Life shou'd drive the Soul And send it panting to the other World Forgive me Love that 's all I ask oh heavens Alb. I 'le â—ear no more Where 's Providence and all those Sacred Powers That secure Innocence are they all asleep Or is the frame of Nature quite dissolv'd I 've heard how at her latest pangs the World Will strait roll up into the endless heap The Sun be Extinguisht like a Lamp that 's spent The Moon withdraw its Crescent into Night The Stars like pointed Meteors shoot to Chaos The Elements shall run to meet each other And blindly mix their jarring principles And when this beauteous Harmony must dye Shall not one Attom of it cease to move Yes I 'le begin the fatall Sacrifice Is going to the Cup. The V. R. stays him And tell the World what 's due to so much beauty V. R. Hold or you heap new loads of guilt upon me What must you suffer for my impious rashness No let me dye the cursed source of all The Gods themselves are pleas'd when Great Men fall Mir. Forbear or you will hurry me away In a Tempestuous grief Why Father why Alberto Why shou'd you dye I charge ye Live Or you will torture my departed Ghost Which swift as light'ning shall avoid your presence By heaven you 've rais'd a strugling in my breast And peacefull death 's become a spectere to me Alb. O do not plead against thy self Miranda Why art thou poison'd but to follow me Mir. Because my Father wou'd have forc'd my Will But now relenting nature yields to Love And he has given you all that 's left of me Enter Maria. Mar. I see it works Aside V. R. That makes not me less Guilty Death Hell and Vengeance why was I good too late So the fall'n Angells saw their wretched state Repented but alas their heaven was fled And left 'em for reward Despair and Hell Then shall I O black ingratitude shall I For all the smarting wounds which I have made Return him nought but cold Mâ—â—anda's Corse A precious Salve to cure a bleeding heart Mar. My plots are ripe and I will give 'em birth aside Great Sir upon my knees â— beg you 'l hear me If heaven restores your dying poison'd Daughter Will you continue in this resolution And give her as sure you ought to Brave Alberto V. R. Why dost thou ask that strange untimely question Cou'd she be sav'd but 't is impossible Altho' the Sighs of injur'd Love ascend like incense Yet my loud Crimes will drown their softer murmures By all their wrongs I 'de drein my dearst blood To quench the raging venome in her breast Then with my latest breath bequeath her to Alberto Mar. O' Sir these generous words Pointing to Miranda Like Charms shall have the Power to raise the Dead Ant. What a Successive change of wonder 's here Mar. Thus I 'le apply their Virtue Rise Madam Mir. What folly 's this Mar. I beg you Madam rise Think that Alberto may or will be yours And strait your Pulse will beat as brisk as ever The blood shall dance and flourish in your cheeks Except what too much grief has dâ—ein'd away V. R. Ha! does she Live speak but that word Maria I 'le give thee all my treasure Alb. I the World Mar. She Lives my Lord. V. R. O' 't is enough Maria Alb. It is too much thus let me kneel my Saint And look and gaze unto Eternity V. R. Not all the transports of your eager Love Must rob me of the Duty of a Father Alb. I was too blame Here let us kneel Miranda As to a pardoning God and wait our Doom V. R. You take me for the cruell Father still O' rise and do not cloud this Scene of joy Come to my arms Miranda still thou fear'st But thus I 'le crown your happiness and my peace Gives her to Alberto Alb. Which thus I Seal But kind Maria say How hast thou wrought this Cure Or do we dream Rais'd by a false imaginary Joy Mar. Her fancy'd pain indeed is but a dream But thus
counterfeiting Exit Enter Vice-Roy with Attendants V. R. Impossible it cannot be Alberto 1. Gent. Let your own eyes convince you Sir looks about Ha! where's is the dead man fled away Some hungry Devill sure has seiz'd on him V. R. Am I a Subject of your Follies Slaves 2. Gent. Pray Sir believe us Alberto did lye here But whither it was done designedly To colour his escape from Prison And coâ—sen us with his pretended death That you might cease pursuit I know not 1. Gent. Or else perhaps the Murderers fearing His corps being â—ound a narrow search shou'd be about it Convey'd it hence and buried it But these two Gentlemen can witness That they too saw him dead 3d. 4th My Lord we did V. R. 'T is strange but yet I will believe it Death he deserv'd for his Ingratitude But tho' my passion boil'd a while I 'me glad He met it from another hand not mine For now with safety I bestow my Daughter And crown desert with what it long has sought Perhaps it may remove Miranda's Scruples And death may set her heart at Liberty Thus Providence is always heavens Avenger And weilds the Sword of Justice 'gainst th' unjust How'ere the Great resolve and wise debate She rules alone our happiness or fate Exeunt Omnes ACT V. SCENE I. Enter Alberto and Lopez Alb. LOpez have you perform'd what you engag'd to do For in that riddle is my fate Entangl'd Lop. I have Sir Alb. Thou hast that word is Musick to my Soul Lop. But first Sir as a reward satisfy my inquisitiveness and inform me what trick you 've got to break thro' Prisons and shake off your fetters thus Alb. Know then a wedge of Gold has knock'd 'em off A Golden Key has charm'd the Prison doors My Jaylor too whom I assur'd of safety To help my escape has lent me this disguise For tho' my Stars have frown'd so long upon me I doubt not but they 'le smile and look serene again And my Innocence shine in its proper sphere Whilst Treachery is drag'd unto the Center And sink into the Hell from whence it sprung Lop. Well Sir I have unlockt Bernardo's tongue too but without a Fee in short he has laid all his Masters damn'd Villany as open to me as if he had been Ricardo and I his Ghostly Father he has confirm'd your suspitions of the Note and moreover his Masters hiring some hackny bloud-hounds whose game is death and reward Damnation to murder you Alb. What niggard mixture of Felicity The angry Gods allow me Twice have they snatch'd me from the jaws of death Twice have they freed me from a loathsome Dungeon That no Corporeal pain might e're obstruct My relishing the torment of despairing love But now a comfortable dawn of hope Reflects the promise of a coming day Where is Bernardo that kind Engeneer Who has blow'd the Villain up with his own hellish train Lop. Where is he Sir why I have done with him as spunging Courtiers do with their Clients squeez'd all the honey out and then thrown away the useless comb and the Drone that made it Alb. Why dost thou serve they Master still by halves Run and conduct him to me fly quickly Lop. As quick as lightning Sir Exit Enter Antonio Florimo following Ant. Let these effeminate Sluces be dam'd up It is a grief too light to Solemnize Murder'd Astella's Funeral Exequies A silent tear shall trickle from my heart At each remembrance of her bloudy fate But if in spite of me you 'l play the woman Be like the Marble when the Conquering flames Dilate its well-knit pores and drein its moisture Spring from an inward Stimulating heat Scorching as is the sweat of Heaven when the air Is rent asunder by the warring Clouds Alb. Antonio here Good heavens how kind you are To crown my wishes at their very birth approaching him Ast. Take heed Sir hereâ—s some bold Ruffian in disguise Ant. Fear not my boy my Stars are not so kind Alb. Sir I wou'd entreat a word with you in private Alb. takes him apart discovers himself Ant. Ha! do I dream or is the Villain here Away my Boy Ast. I cannot leave you here Ant. Away you must you shall deny me not Exit Ast. Alb. 'T was my desire too that he should leave the place For now I've time to tell thee all my fortune The various winding of my restless fate Ant. What means the Traitor aside Alb. Besides I must enquire And you can give me best intelligence Why does my Sister thus absent from Court And dim its lustre by her close retirement Ant. Hear Heavens this matchless impudence and blush Does not that name like a loud night alarm Spread a chill horrour thro' thy trembling veins And chase thy bloud from out the desert Channels Alb. Good Gods this tune again Ant. Damnation seize thee Dost thou not see the Monster that pursues thee Look how it yawns like a devouring whirl-pool As if it meant to swallow thee alive His eyes are burning Glasses whence proceed Such sulphurous flames whose Stench will blast thy senses What noisome mists are belcht from his gaping mouth His tongue spits floods of Venome and his reaching tail Sweeps down whole Mountains on his Cristed back So many massy Spheres arise that you wou'd swear Whole Armies came to your destruction Alb I can see nought Ant. It comes Invisible Draw and prepare to meet it's fury Draws Alb. I fear you rave what must I fight with shadows Ant. Then to be plain it lodges here Alberto Here is the Den of the Infernal beast Which gnaws upon my Bowells till it finds Its destin'd Prey Its name's Revenge Alb. Revenge from you indeed does seem a Monster Ant. Curse on your Cowardly delays wilt thou draw Alb. Not till I know the cause of this strange fury Ant. I scarce have so much patience as to tell thee Thou hadst a Sister I a mistriss once Alb. And hope I have one yet why what of her Ant. Ha! has that name no horrour in it yet Canst thou remember her without a blush Alb. Yes my Antonio when I think of her I have less guilt than I expected For if my wronging her's my only fault Heavens knows I am innocent Enter Astella Ant. Hell is then Divine Less Tyranny and horrour harbours there If for to kill a Sister be a Virtue Let me be vicious heaven Ast. What means this passion Alb. Ha! is she dead then oh my misconstruing Soul By what untimely fate Ant. Confusion I shall grow mad give me some temper Gods No No it cannot be her murder'd Ghost Lashes me with her bloudy dabled Tresses And prompts me to revenge thus I will take it Ast. O stay your barbarous hand from this black deed Which but to speak of wou'd canker the mouth of fame And make your memory infectious Ant. Away or thro' thy heart I 'le force a passage Ast. Thro' it then Sir rip every Artery How willingly I 'de part
with all my blood To quench this raging fire in your breast By all the powers we serve you shall not pass Untill you tell the cause that moves you thus Ant. Insolent feeble thing stand not the blast Which dire Revenge is pouring on its prey pressing to go Ast. holds him Alb. No let him come for I 'me prepar'd to meet him Nor will I stir unless discharg'd by death Draws Untill I learn the Story of my Sisters fate Ast. His Sisters Fate what means my Brother Aside My Noble Lord give me to know his crime And with this arm I 'le further your revenge Ant. Oh Florimo thou dost renew my grief Is 't not a crime my Boy to kill a Sister So beauteous so divine oh my sad Soul That heaven has lost the mould it form'd her in And grieving at the matchless work it made In envy cropt her in her early bloom Ast. And is 't for this you 've griev'd since first I saw you Was 't for her you shed so many tears And follow now those showers with a storm Ant. Is there not Cause my Boy Ast. Oh my Charm'd Soul Keep still that love unless you 'de have me dye But follow not this false deluding Fire Which draws you to the ruine of your friend Your Mistriss is alive your words have rais'd her And look how in my habit she appears Ant. By heaven 't is she oh to my arms my Love Embraces her Yet closer in this circle let me grow Speak once again speak thou Charmer of my Soul Whilst all the Ravish'd Spheres shall cease their noise And listen unto thee Forgive me Heaven Who dar'd to call your Bounteous care in question But speak Dear Saint say what relenting God Has sav'd thee from those sacrilegious hands Which sought to ruine so divine a Fabrick Ast. O forbear thus to reproach your friend Some Villain has betray'd you to this rage I thought you false when so reserv'd to me And in this habit came to try my fate But since I 've found the error of my Jealousy Let me cement your seperated friendship And gain my pardon by restoring him Ant. Thy pardon Oh that word 's a dagger to me And makes me see the foulness of my crime A Crime for which my expiating tears Can never merrit pardon from Alberto How shall I dare to look on so much goodness Which I 've prophan'd with my unjust suspitions Alb. Your constancy in love has cancell'd all Ant. Is such Divinity then left on earth Shall these unhallow'd arms have leave t' embrace thee Alb. Thus let us quite forget our dire mistakes Embrace Ant. We will But I must ne're forgive these credulous ears Which listen'd to Ricardo's painted tale Oh! such a dismall Scheme of horrour he had drawn As stifl'd all consideration in me So that when e're a start of reason bar'd me The black Idea flew before my fancy And drove the murmuring vanquisht from my breast Alb But now my friend since the dire Vision 's fled Let us away and Court the Vice-Roys favour For by that happy instrument my man I 've gain'd a spell to Charm his Spanish rage Ant. I will but thou my Love retire and appear No more my Servant but the mistriss of my Soul Ast. This habit has befriended me so much That 't were ingratitude to throw it off Untill my joys compleat Enter Bernardo and Lopez Ber. This was a treacherous trick Lopez but I 'le forgive you if you 'l make good your promise Sir since it must be so I here stand ready to witness all that I have said Lop. Ay Sir the Devill and your Gold will help him out To Alb. ne're fear it tho' every word were false Alb. 'T is well but yet to gain the Vice-Roys credit 'T is requisite the Soldiers shou'd be there Art thou acquainted with them Bernardo Ber. As well as they are with their Trade of Murder Sir Alb. Go find 'em out and bring 'em to the Pallace Now Friend and Sister let us hast to Court And with enflam'd desires let 's all entreat The Guardian Powers of innocence above To punish Villany and smile on Love Exeunt Alb. Ant. Ast. at one door Lop. and Ber. at the other Enter Vice-Roy Ricardo and Atendants Scene The Pallace Ric. I beg you Sir dismiss these needless fears V. R. O' thou 'st undone me with they Loyalty Thou like a blasting-winde did'st rove about To seek a breath of pestilentiall air Which having found thou drov'st it not away But enviously scatter'd the death around And blew the dire contagion into me Mendoza's family is quite extinct The only Branch that 's left is withering And leaves the Sapless Oak to mourn its loss Ric. Not so my Lord a Virgins tears flow easy And naturall as tydes and like to them They 've all their ebbs Tho' she may mourn awhile Time and the grave will banish deaâ— Alberto And give admittance to another Lover V. R. But time and she will not be long ally'd A Winding-Sheet must be the geniall bed A Funerall-Dirge the Hymeneall Song And greedy Worms the only joyfull guests Had'st thou but seen how when I did approach her With rowling eyes she wander'd o're my Visage And learn't the story e're I was aware But when my foolish tongue explain'd my looks She stood all Pale and motionless as is a Marble Statue And with a silent glance reproacht my joy Strait starting as she were upon the wing She snatch'd a Dagger offering at her breast Which when our hasty zeal disarm'd her of Then came the storm her golden tresses torn Two different elements warr'd in her cheeks The air that swell'd 'em and the fire enflam'd 'em Whilst the obstinate strings above congeal'd and wanting venâ— â—efus'd a drop to quench the eager flame Her breath too which before was calm and Spicy As is Arabia's gentle eastern breeze Which fanns and opens all the balmy sweets Now sends out nought but rage 'gainst the heavens Mingl'd with curses of her cruell Father Strait like the dying Portia she exclaim'd Altho' this fails there are a thousand ways to dye Kind Death will lend a dart to them that seek it Nor will his arrow suffer a repulse How'er vain man thinks he is arm'd against it Ric. Oh! how he stings me with his Eloquence His rage the hinge on which my fortune hangs Will be quite melted by this foolish mourning Aside My Lord you 'l give me leave to wonder that So mild a temper shou'd be thus enrag'd V. R. O' thou' rt a stranger to that fatall passion Does not the gentlest Stream when 't is oppos'd Break out into a rappid inundation Ric. But when the Cause is spent it fed upon 'T is hush't so may your Daughters sorrow too Go to her and try her Sir Duty will plead In my behalf and since Alberto's dead Urge her to accept the man whom you propose V. R. Ha! this to me again O'ye good Gods Is thy ambition swell'd