a Feast So foreknowing the Cheat He escapes the Deceit And in spite of the Curse resolves to be Blest 2. If Children are Blessings his Comfort 's the more Whose Spouse has been known to be Fruitful before And the Boy that she brings ready made to his Hand May stand him instead for an Heir to his Land Shou'd his own prove a Sot When he 's Lawfully Got As when e're 't is so if he don't I 'le be hang'd Song for a GIRL 1. YOung I am and yet unskill'd How to make a Lover yield How to keep or how to gain When to Love and when to feign 2. Take me take me some of you While I yet am Young and True E're I can my Soul disguise Heave my Breasts and roul my Eyes 3. Stay not till I learn the way How to Lye and to Betray He that has me first is blest For I may deceive the rest 4. Cou'd I find a blooming Youth Full of Love and full of Truth Brisk and of a janty meen I shou'd long to be Fifteen Exeunt Omnes A Royal Chamber is discover'd by drawing the former Scene Veramond Garcia Ximena Victoria Celidea with a full Train of Courtiers and Guards amongst the Croud Ramirez Disguis'd with some of his Party Vera. to Vict. No more delays but go Ximen This is Inhumane To press her to a Marriage made by Force At least allow your self and her this day That each of you may think and one may change Vera. You mean the Times or Accidents may change And leave her for Alphonso Ximen Your Enemies are but without your Gates And soon they may return forbear for fear Vera. The sooner then I must prevent th' effect of their return What now remains but to compleat my Vows And Sacrifice to Vengeance Ximen Your own Daughter Vera. Even her my self and all the World together Vict. Can you refuse me one poor day to Live Vera. Obey me and be Blest if not Accurst A Father's Curse has wings remember that Thro this World and the next it will pursue thee And sink thee down for ever Vict. 'T is enough I know how far a Daughter owes Obedience But Duty has a bound like other Empires It reaches but to Life for all beyond it Is the Dominion of another World Where you have no Command For you Don Garcia You know the Pow'r a Mistress ought to have But since you will be Master take your Hour The next is mine Gar. I grant the Debt of Service which I owe you But 't is a Summ too vast to pay at sight If now you call it in I must be Bankrupt To all my future Bliss Vict. I find by you The Laws of Love are like the Laws of Heav'n All know but few will keep 'em To the Temple Where I my self am Victim Enter Alphonso Vnarm'd all seem Amaz'd Alph. Stay Veramond Vera. aside Alphonso here then all my Hopes are blasted The Town is his and I once more a Slave Alph. Dismiss thy fears and tremble not Old Man I neither come with purpose nor with Power T' avenge my wrongs but single and unarm'd This Head is necessary to thy Peace And to Victoria's violated Vows Who while I Live can never be Don Garcia's Take then this odious Life securely take it And glut thy Vengeance with Alphonso's Blood Behold the Man who forc'd thee in thy Strength In thy Imperial Town made thee a Captive Now give thy Fury scope Revenge th' Affront And shew more pity not to spare my Life Than I in sparing thine Ximen to Celidea Oh boundless Courage or extream Despair Celid. to her I tremble for th' event see the King reddens The Fear which seiz'd him at Alphonso's sight And left his Face forsaken of his Blood Is vanisht now And a new Tide returns upon his Cheeks And Rage and Vengeance sparkle in his Eyes Vera. aside All things are husht no noise is in the Streets Nor shouts of Souldiers nor the cries of Matrons To speak a Town in plunder Then I take To Alph. A Traytor 's Counsel once and thou shalt Die Condemn'd by thy own Sentence go to Death Nor shall thy seeming Generosity And feign'd assurance save thee 't is despair To see thy frustrate Hopes that brought thee hither To meet my just Revenge Alph. Yes I will Dye because I chuse to Dye Which had I not desir'd I had not come Unarm'd Unguarded and alone to tempt Thy known Ingratitude and barb'rous hate Boast not th' advantage which thou hold'st of me But know thy self for what thou art no more Than the mean Minister of my despair Vera. Whether to Heav'n's Jnstice or thy Choice I owe this happy Hour of sweet Revenge I 'le not be wanting to the wisht occasion Vict. You shall not Dye alone my dear Alphonso Tho much I blame this desp'rate Enterprize You shou'd have stay'd to see Th' Event of what I promis'd to perform For had I been so base to be another's That baseness might have cur'd your ill-plac'd Love But this untimely rashness makes you Guilty Both of your Fate and mine Alph. While I believ'd My Life was precious to my dear Victoria I valu'd and preserv'd it for her sake But when you broke from your Deliv'rer's Arms To put your self into a Tyrant's Power I threw a worthless wretched Being from me Abandon'd first by you Vict. Oh Cruel Man Where at what moment did that Change begin With which you tax my Violated Vows I left your Lawless Pow'r to put my self Into a Father's Chains my Lawful Tyrant If this be my upbraided Crime even this On that occasion wou'd I do once more But cou'd I with my Honour safe have stay'd In your dear Arms bear witness Heav'n and Earth Nor Threats nor Force nor Promises nor Fears Shou'd take me from your Love Alph. Oh I believe you Vanish my fears and causeless Jealousies Live my Victoria for your self not me But let th' unfortunate Alphonso Dye My Death will glut your Cruel Father's Rage When I am gone and his Revenge compleat Pity perhaps may seize a Parent 's Mind To free you from a hated Lover's Arms. Celid. to Ximen Speak Mother speak my Father gives you time He stands amaz'd irresolute and dumb Like the still Face of Heav'n before a Storm Speak and Arrest the Thunder e're it rowls Ximen I stand suspected but you Celidea The Favourite of his Heart his Darling Child May speak and ought your Int'rest is concern'd For if Alphonso Dye your hopes are lost I see your Father's Soul like glowing Steel Is on the Anvil strike while yet he 's hot Turn him and ply him set him straight betimes Lest he for ever warp Celid. I fear and yet wou'd speak but will he hear me Ximen For what is all this silence but to hear Bring him but to calm Reasoning and he 's gain'd Celid. Then Heav'n inspire my Tongue Sir Royal Sir He hears me not he lifts not up his Eyes But fixt upon the
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
down his Head Forc'd at the last my shameful pain I tell Victo No more We know our mutual Love too well Both look up and meet each others Eyes Alph. Two Lines in reading had escap'd my sight Shall I go back and do the Poet right Victo Already we have read too far I fear But read no more than Modesty may bear Alphonso reading For I lov'd too and knowing not my wound A secret Pleasure in thy Kisses found He offers to kiss her and she turns her Head away May we not represent the Kiss we read Victo Alphonso no Brother I shou'd have said Alphonso reading again When half denying more than half content Embraces warm'd me to a full Consent Then with tumultuous Joys my Heart did beat And Guilt that made 'em Anxious made 'em Great She snatches the Book and throws it down then rises and walks he rises also Victo Incendiary Book Polluted Flame Dare not to tempt the Chast Victoria's Fame I love perhaps more than a Sister shou'd And Nature prompts but Heav'n restrains my Blood Heav'n was unkind to set so strict a Bound And Love wou'd struggle to forbidden Ground Oh let us gain a Parthian Victory Our only way to conquer is to fly Alph. No more Victoria tho my Love aspires More high than yours and fiercer are my Fires I cannot bear your looks new Flames arise From ev'ry Glance and kindle from your Eyes Pure are the Beams which from those Suns you dart But gather blackness from my sooty Heart Then let us each with hasty steps remove Nor spread Contagion where we meant but Love Victo Hear Heav'n and Earth and witness to my Vows And Love thou greatest Power that Nature knows This Heart Alphonso shall be firmly thine This Hand shall never with another joyn Or if by force my Father makes me wed Then Death shall be the Bridegroom of my Bed Now let us both our shares of Sorrow take And both be wretched for each others sake Alph. By those relentless powerâ— that rule the Skies And by a greater Power Victoria's Eyes No Love but yours shall touch Alphonso's Heart Nor Time nor Death my vow'd Affections part Nor shall my hated Rival live to see That hour which envious Fate denies to me Now seal we both our Vows with one dear Kiss Victo No 't is a hot and an incestuous Bliss Let both be satisfi'd with what we swore I dare not give it lest I give you more Exit Victoria looking back on him and he gazing on her Alph. Oh Raging Impious and yet hopeless Fire Not daring to possess what I desire Condemn'd to suffer what I cannot bear Tortur'd with Love and Furious with Despair Of all the Pains which wretched Mortals prove The fewest Remedies belong to Love But ours has none for if we shou'd enjoy Our fatal Cure must both of us destroy Oh Dear Victoria cause of all my Pain Oh Dear Victoria whom I wou'd not gain Victoria for whose sake I wou'd survive Victoria for whose sake I dare not live Enter Garcia with Attendants The two Princes salute but Alphonso very coldly Garci I come to shew my grief for your Distemper For if my Noble Brother saw my Heart There shou'd you find a Plain a Holy Friendship Unmixt with Interest equally partaking Of what affects you both of good and ill Alphon. I thank you but my Malady increases At your approach I have no more to say But wish you better health than I can boast And to my self a lonely Privacy Garci I find I am not welcome to your sight But know not from what cause Alphon. angrily My surest Remedy is in your absence 'T is hard my Lodgings cannot be my own But importun'd with Visits undesir'd And therefore I must tell you troublesom Garci 'T is an odd way of entertaining Friends But since I find you discompos'd with sickness That shall excuse your Humours where I go I hope for better Welcome Alphon. Sir I must ask whom you pretend to visit Garci My Mistress Prince Alphon. Your Mistress who 's that Mistress Garci What need I name Victoria Alphon. Who my Sister Garci Whom else cou'd you imagine Alphon. Any other Garci And why not her Alphon. Because I know not if she will admit you Garci Her Father has allow'd it Alph. But not she Or if both have yet my consent is wanting You take upon you in a Foreign Kingdom As if you were at home in your Navarre Garci And you methinks As if you had no Father or no King Farewell I will not stay Alphon. You shall not go Thus as I am thus single thus unarm'd And you with Guards attended Gar. You Teach me to forget the Rule of Manners Alph. I mean to Teach you better As Garcia is going to pass by him Alphonso runs to one of his Attendants and snatches his Sword away then steps between Garcia and the Door Enter Veramond and Ximena Attended Vera. What means this rude Behaviour in my Court As if our Arragon were turn'd to Thrace Unhospitable to her Guests and thou Alphonso a Lycurgus Alphon. He would pass Without my Sister's leave into her Lodgings By Heav'n if this be suffer'd to proceed The next will be to Treat the Royal Maid As coursly as she were some Suburb Girl Gar. to Vera. Had I not your Permission Sir Vera. You had But these Alphonso are thy Ruffian Manners How dar'st thou Boy to break my Orders And then asperse thy Sister with thy Crime Alphon. She said his Presence was unpleasing to her Vera. Come thou bely'st her Innocence and Duty She did not durst not say it Alph. If she did not I dare and will maintain to all the World That Garcia is not worthy of my Sister Vera. Not worthy Alphon No I say once more not worthy Garcia Not in my self for who deserves Victoria But since her Royal Father bids me hope Not less unworthy than another Prince To Ver. And none with your permission Sir shall dare To interpose betwixt my Love and Me. Alph. Sure a less Price than our Infanta's Bed Might pay thee for thy Mercenary Troops Vera. Peace Insolent too long I have indur'd Thy Haughty Soul untam'd and turbulent But if I Live this shall not pass unpunisht Darkness and Chains are Medicines for a Madman Ximena My Lord I humbly beg you spare your Son And add not Fury to a Raging Fire He soon will recollect his scatter'd Reason Which Heat of Youth and Sickness and Fatigues Have dissipated in his boyling Blood Give him but time and then his Temperate Humour Will soon return into the Native Channel And unoppos'd be calm Vera. No never more The Moon has roul'd above his Head and turn'd it As Peals of Thunder sow'r the generous Wine To Alph. Hence from my Presence thou no more my Son Ximena If he be Mad be Madness his excuse And Pardon Nature's Error not his own Vera. Ximena you have fonded him to this I Prophesied and now 't is come to pass
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