his Griefs Or by thy Brother's Vengeance to bestow Some Pity on him think remember still 'T was love of thee made him unworthy of thee But if she can forgive she must be good And then must hate me too despise contemn me O Cuâ—se Let me grow here become one Piece with Earth Lost to my self all Eyes and all Remembrance Fel. O I can't bear to see you thus O rise What wou'd you have me to do for you Gram. For me Use me like what I am a Dog Fit to be spurn'd kick'd from you like a Curr Fel. Don't distract your self Gram. What outlive my Honesty and not be mad Lose thy Esteem lose my Felicia's Heart Deserve to lose 'em too and not be mad Fel. O Gramont If you had lov'd but half so faithfully As your Felicia does she had not lost you Gram. Thou did'st but now you cannot must not love me Fel. O I never knew till now how much I love you Be what you will or use me how you will You 've fix'd your self so firmly to my Heart I can't divide it from you 'T is full 't is breaking now with Fears for you Gram. Thou dear Example of Fidelity Rising What dost thou fear Come to my Arms and tell me Fel. O â—ly to mine and then I can fear nothing Iâ—ll hold thee here and Fate shall never reach thee Gram. Not if thou lov'st me O I see thou do'st And circled thus I 'm happy once again Fel. How have you swore no other e'er shou'd thus embrace you Gram. I swear again none ever did or shall Fel. Tell me not that Last Night think on last Night Gram. Base as I was last Night I cou'd not break that Vow Fel. O Gramont do not deceive me more Lamira boasts the wondrous Love you shew'd Gram. To her If it were Love not once to touch her Or ev'n approach her Bed By Heav'n I did it not Fel. I will believe you Gram. Thou may'st my Love I think thou doâ—st forgive me too O let me keep thee then for ever thus For whilst I am possest of so much Goodness I shall believe I 'm honest Am I not Felicia No thou know'st I am not Why dost thou touch me then Fly fly away Or thou art lost not Innocence can save thee Fel. Alas what mean you Gram. 'T is dangerous to be near me If Fate shou'd now be hurling Vengeance on me Might it not strike thee too Fel. Heav'n avert it ever I would fain Hope all may yet be well Gram. Well! Canst thou redeem my Honour clear my Fame I shall be pointed at a noted Villain Where can I fly from the reproaching Sight Of all that once esteem'd me Or how endure it When the very Thought strikes such Confusion Better I might have born the worst of Miseries That threatned me which not the meanest Wretch That begs or toils for Bread but can support And does not truck his Honesty for Fortune Thou Coward durst not Now how wil'st thou bear The Infamy thy Baseness loads thee with Fel. Alas 't is I have caus'd your Infamy My inconsiderate Passion has expos'd you What Madness mov'd me to reveal the fatal Secret Was that a Remedy what could I intend What Consequence expect but your Destruction O I can ne'er enough revenge it on my self Nor you enough reproach me Gram. Thou' rt not to blame Fel. Indeed I am it was my Duty as your Wife Whate'er I suffer'd not to have accus'd you And as I lov'd I shou'd have had no thought Of my own Misery whilst you were happy Gram. How can'st thou speak so kindly to a Man That has undone thee Thou do'st not sure look forward On thy Ruine or thou cou'dst ne'er forgive me Nay by Heav'ns it stains thy Virtue as I am now To use me with such Tenderness Fel. Wou'd you not have me love you Gram. It is not for thy Honour to shew Affection For one thou must despise I will not let thee Wrong thy self so much but leave thee to reflect And thou wilt meet me next as I deserve With Coldness Anger and Disdain Fel. Impossible You are not going thus Gram. I shou'd and thou shou'dst not retain me Fel. I wou'd retain thee ever Gram. O Felicia Yet I will go Look not so killing soft Think on thy Honour think I am a Villain Learn to despise me struggle with thy Heart Strive thy ill-plac'd Affection to remove As I now tear my self from all I love Ex. Gram. Fel. Is it a Fault to love him If it be In punishing impute his Crime to me I 'll pay for both a double Penalty However cruel Heaven intends his Share Beyond what Life all all that Love can bear Ex. Fel. Scene Lamira's House Lamira and Marian. Lam. When will these strugling Passions cease to rage Anger and Love Pity and Jealousie Whilst each are striving to possess me wholly They rend my Soul among ' em Mar. Neither must now have any share in it Since Madam you 're resolv'd to leave the World Heav'n claims your Heart entire Lam. Yes Marian I have vow'd my self to Heav'nâ— The safe Retreat from Fears and vain Desires But something must be done to satisfie The discontent of my disorder'd Thoughts That no unruly one may there disturb me Mar. The Place will be your Sanctuary from 'em A holy Cloister Gates shuts with the World All human Passions and Reflections out Lam. What can I there Think tamely on my Injuries And be pleas'd the Villain ' scap'd unpunish'd Mar. Do you imagine Madam then Bellgard Will not revenge you Lam. Ha Bellgard Good Heav'n forbid his way wou'd be too fatal Not clear my spotted Honour But stain it worse with Blood A wicked Justice To punish his by a more horrid Crime I dread to think it Bellgard is violent And may do sudden Mischief if not hinder'd Mar. Felicia may perhaps have Power to calm Her Brother 's fierce Resentments she 's mild enough Soon to forgive and plead for him that wrong'd her Lam. Felicia plead Felicia save his Life And he be her Reward blest in each other O what a torturing Thought Can I endure it Nor Love nor Honour can Mar. You 're neither pleas'd that he shou'd die or live What way wou'd you dispose him Lam. Rather to death than her But there is yet Something I wou'd be at I know not how Scarce what Ha is 't Gramont Enter Gramont Com'st thou t'insult o'er one whom thou hast ruin'd Or think'st thou yet thy Baseness undiscover'd Gram. Not to conceal but to confess my Crime Not to insult but to implore forgiveness thus approach you Lam. How dar'st thou hope I can forgivâ— such Wrongs Gram. Unless your Goodness Madam I must own My Hopes has no Foundation I 've nought to plead but what must more incense you If I say Castalio's Sufferings mov'd me Shou'd I to serve a Friend abuse your Love Or if I urge Felicia's dearer interest Th' excuse can but enflame your hatred
Heart with Life extort it Lam. A Villain 's Life 's too mean a Sacrifice No let me think Somewhat I had design'd Of lasting tâ—rment suited to his Crime That first I 'll try but if without success May use your Friendship Till when I beg you will enquire no further Cast. Madam I must obey and will no longer Trouble you in this Disorder but when you are pleas'd To let me know the Man you have been deceiv'd in You shall have proof My Soul disdains all Friendship with a Tâ—aytor Exit Castalio Lam. Yes thou shalt live to see thy self abandon'd And taste with me the Pangs of hopeless Love That one who cou'd be guilty of this Baseness Shou'd know to love with such Fidelity O what a Happiness to possess that Heart So fond so true Cou'd it have first been mine What full delights has not Felicia known Eternal woes succeed 'em be they remember'd But to encrease the Curse of Deprivation The stings of Shame and causless Jelousie Sharpen the Pains of everlasting absence That I decree 'em Bellgard must be advis'd with And won if I have any power with him To set his Rage the Bounds I have giv'n mine I 'd not be cruel nor too tamely bear Both the Extreams are shun'd in this Design And therefore 't is but just to hope success What can Revenge Honour and Love have less Exit ACT V. SCENE I. Felicia alone DIstracted with some dismal apprehension In vain I seek â—or Ease to change the Prospect What ever way I turn my roving thoughts 'T is still but a new Scene of Misery Were my Gramont safe from my Brother's rage And the World's censure 't were yet impossible Ever to reconcile him to himself Enter Bâ—ll and Lam Lam. Whate'er can satisfie my injur'd Honour May well Bellgard be thought for yours sufficient Bell. I don't dispute it Madam Lam. Nor do you grant it Bell. Honour gives different Laws to different Sexes Mine says this Sword alone can do me justice Apartâ— Feli. What can this unexpected Visit mean Lam. You seem to take me for an Enemy Perhaps you look on me with Rival's Eyes But I am come in Friendship Feli. 'T is what indeed I did not hope and scarce dare credit Lam. You 're Innocent to me as I to you Tho both each others chief unphappiness But there 's another guilty cause of that Him only we should hate let us be Friends Disgusted with the World I have resolv'd The short remainder of this wretched Life To be a strict Recluse by Holy Vows And leave to you Felicia the Possession Of all that Fortune I am Mistress of Feli. This is amazing Madam How have I Deserv'd from you such kindness Lam. Your Merit is unquestion'd and to me You are a near Relation My Gift is only charg'd with one Condition The same I have impos'd upon my self That you shall never see Gramont again In which I have consulted both our Honours Feli. It were not much indeed for yours to see him But what in you is Virtue wou'd in me Who am his Wife be Impious Lam. Not since he first has broke his Faith with you By that you are absolv'd Fel. The Marriage-Vows are not conditional The Tye's as strong my Duty still the same Howe'er he fail in his Lam. It can't oblige you to depend on one Who wants assistance to support himself Feli. Yes Madam I must share my Husband's Fate However wretched When he 's depriv'd of every other Comfort In that Extreamity he 'll need me most Bell. And think'st thou he shall keep thee be advis'd Felicia you may lose him on worse terms Feli. To me all terms in losing him are equal Lam. She dotes upon him Bell. Infamously dotes I tell thee by my Honour thou shalt lose Both him and me wander where-e'er thou canst I will not know thee in the last distress And for thy Villain Husband Fel. Let him but wander with me I ask no more And we will take our weary steps somewhere remote Where we can ne'er be more a Burthen to you Nor shall you ever hear that there is such A wretched pair in being Bell. Do not hope it for by my Life I swear If thou dar'st now refuse to abandon him Where-e'er you think to fly from my resentment There 's not a Place so distant can contain you But I 'll pursue you to and tear thee from him Fel. Do you grudge us ev'n Misery together Lam. Together 'T is a Word thô join'd with Death I cannot hear thee Name Madam accept My offer'd Friendship or you shall find I can resent the slight and if provok'd Am not a despicable Enemy Fel. Your hate can execute no worse Than what in Friendship 's Name you have propos'd For 't is the utmost Fate can do against me Bell. Shameless creature to confess this fondness For a Man thou know'-st to be a Villain Fel. Alas what fondness Have I ask'd ought for him But what the worst of Enemies in malice Wou'd condemn him to To taste the Bitterness of Poverty Roving like Vagabonds about the World For ever banish'd from our Country Friends And all we hold most dear Lam. But one another there you expect to find An ample recompence for all you lose And be instead of all the World to him Is that a State for such a Criminal What satisfaction to my injur'd love No he shall share the Torments he has caus'd Languish in fruitless wishes curst with Despair Eternally depriv'd of all he loves Oh I have felt and know 't is Death 't is Hell That That 's a Vengeance fit for me to take Thô much too gentle for the Traytor 's crime Fel. How has he merited such Cruelty Had he last night when all was in his power Taken advantage of consenting love On your unguarded Honour this Resentment Wou'd well become you then and were but just You know how far he was from such a Thought Lam. Then he boasts and maks a Merit of it To my Rival Fel. I thought it one to you It seems you do not Lam. No since 't was meant a Sacrifice to thee Ev'n Honour is my scorn when I must owe it To that blind Dotage which I see thee proud of But thô thou triumph'st now know Rival know That stupid Constancy in ill-plac'd Love E'er long to both the greatest curse shall prove Bell. I 'll attend you Madam to the Count Roquelaures Now hear inglorious Girl mark my last words Thy Obstinacy but confirms my Hate Undoes thy self and wings thy Husband's Fate Going Fel. O do not go thus cruelly resolv'd Stay Brother on my bended knees I beg you Cannot these trembling hands a while retain you Give but some days to a poor Sisters tears But till the fierceness of your Rage abate Till you can calmly weigh the wrong he'as done With all the Miseries that led him to it O think what wou'd become of you your self If Heav'n were thus severe for every fault committed And as
you hope for mercy from above Now shew it to a Brother's first offence Bel. To one that Heav'n detests No may I ne'er Find Mercy there if ever I forgive him Exit with Lam. Fel. He 's bent on Death and nothing can avert it I 've done and here will lye to wait the wound That through Gramont's will shortly pierce this Heart I shall behold him soon Stabb'd Mangled Murder'd O barbarous Brother O Gramont He 's lost I ne'er shall see him more but Cold and Ghastly Breathing his last and weltring in his Blood Then there 's an end of all my Miseries For that I can't out-live O must I live to see it Weeps Enter Gramont Gra. Upon the Floor O most afflicting sight Thither the weight of Woes I 've heap'd upon thee Has press'd thee down this is a Scene of sadness More expressive than the most moving words Why art thou thus Felicia Thou should'st not so Indulge thy griefs be calm and well consider As now thy Circumstances are what way May best be thought to make thee least unhappy Fel. There 's not a Medium I can have no Misfortunes if I've you Nor ever think of Happiness without you Gra. Alas Felicia Fel. You pity me as if You knew how cruelly I have been us'd How deaf my Brother is to all my Prayers Gra. Do not offend him there is hopes my Love When I am gone he 'll still be careful of thee Fel. Gone Then you can think of going from me Of leaving your Felicia Gra. In Life I ne'er can leave thee And there 's not a Pain in Death but that Fel. You speak methinks as one resolv'd on Death Must you conspire too with those that hate me Gra. Thou 'st cause to wish l'ad dy'd before thou knew'st me Fel. I cou'd not then have felt the loss But now the very fear is insupportable 'T was that had fill'd my bursting heart o'erwhelm'd And laid me on the Earth as now you found me And 't is the only blow of fate I have not strength to bear Gra. How can I hear thee speak so tenderly And think I have undone thee O Felicia Thy love gives double weight to my afflictions What is there shou'd induce me then to live Fel. If you have any love for me the Thought How miserable I shall be without you Gra. I know too well thy tenderness of Nature Know I am too much lov'd but thou may'st learn By thy unhappy Husband there 's not a State So miserable but may with greater ease Be suffer'd than Dishonour would'st thou not blusâ— To live with one distrusted shunn'd and look'd on As a Knave by all Mankind Can I Or wou'dst thou have me bear it Fel. I cou'd for you The World's Opinion wou'd not weigh with me Against your least disturbance Gram. Why will you plead so earnestly a Cause In which if you believ'd you cou'd prevail You wou'd your self despise me Fel. There was a time When I might be assur'd I shou'd prevail When the least shew of Discontent from me Had power to shake your firmest Resolution But then you lovâ—d me Gram. Do I not love you Fel. You see me drown'd in Tears o'erwhelm'd in Grief Hear me implore and bare it all unmov'd Gram. Unmov'd You know not what a War you 've rais'd within meâ— There 's not a word you speak but wou'd o'ercome me But when I think thou'â—t share in my Disgrace For that I know thy Love wou'd make thee do Fel. No no Gramont were your Concern for me ' Twou'd most be shewn where I am most concern'd But there you are insensible or think not Or care not what I shall suffer Gram. O 't is a Thought divides me from my self Staggers my Resolution makes me wish The greatest Curse that thou cou'dst hate thy Husband Every every way I must undo thee 'T is only left me now to chuse the noblest And that shou'd be endur'd with least Afflictionâ— Fel. You 've found the way indeed to shorten mine Already your Unkindness breaks my Heart Gram. Thou art unkind to use such wounding words That know'st my Heart too tender to endure it What wou'dst thou have me do Fel. O what indeed For what shou'd I intreat Now all that soft that dear Affection 's lost That once cou'd have deny'd Felicia nothing What have I more to lose Gram. I can deny thee nothing where wilt thou lead meâ— Ev'ry Tear thou shed'st draws with it my Heart's Blood Rather than see thee thus I 'd bear with Life With Infamy Must I Felicia shall I Fel. Nothing for me I am not worth your Care And Death will quickly free me from my Woes Gram. Thou art my only Care take take me to thy Bosom There hide me from my Shame and from my self Do with me what thou wilt but let me never think Fel. Wou'd you forsake these Arms That tremble with delight whilst they embrace thee Gram. Talk on and let me gaze on thee for ever Till I forget there 's ought on Earth besides And thou art Goodness all all Joy and Blessings Fel. Wou'd you forget there 's ought on Earth but me Then sure you cou'd for me forsake the rest Cou'd you for ever leave the busie World To seek with me some unknown distant Refuge Whither the Ills we fear can ne'er pursue us Gram. Alas thou talk'st but as thy Love wou'd have it Thou know'st too well it is not in my Power Fel. Had I not thought it was I shou'd not have propos'd it Gram. Cou'd I provide thee even but the bare Necessities of Nature what 's beyond I know thy generous Kindness well cou'd spare But can I take thee hence to see thee perish Under the Extremities of griping Wants Thou hast not felt and can'st not apprehend The smallest of those Hardships to which thou wou'dst expose Thy tender Body does far surpass thy Strength Fel. Love will supply my Strength and as I can I 'll labour for our Food or beg an Alms And we shall find some friendly Barn to shelter us At nigâ—t whil'st we repose our weary Limbs But cou'd you my Gramont endure your share And iâ— the Product of our Toils falls short Take cheerfully the Scraps of Charity Sometimes perhaps your Sleep may be disturb'd By a poor hungry Infant 's Cries cou'd you With patience bear it Cou'd you in such a state Find any Joy in me Wou'd you not leave me Leave me and my poor Condition My Love Why this The Tears are starting at your Eyes Gram. Is this thy Fate at last and must I see thee Suffer all the Miseries which when I did but fear for thee o'ercame my Virtue 'T was this Idea and have I brought 'em on thee Made thy Ruine more inevitable Give me Patience Heav'n that I shou'd force thee To this wretched state Fel. 'T is my choice I have preferr'd it to a splendid Fortune Which now is offer'd me Gram. What Fortune Or how offer'd Fel. Lamira's she leaves the World and
had plac'd your Kindness Cast. You make me still More eager to enquire by our past Friendship I conjure you tell me your Heart seems bursting With the fatal Secret and yet you will not vent it Gram. Can you not guess Cast. I cannot nor let me longer Importune to learn it from your self Gram. Have you not some remembrance what yesterday I said my Father had propos'd Cast. Which you refus'd Gram. Perhaps I did not Casâ— Did not what I mean what was not in your power t' accept Gram. What 's that Cast. The Marriage Gram. Why not in my power Cast. Because it wou'd have been the highest Baseness Gram. Are base things never done Cast. You cou'd not do it Gram. O Friend Cast. I 'll not believe it Gram. You think too well of meâ— Cast. I 'm sorry for 't Gram. Now then you know me rightly Cast. Cou'd you Gram. Urge not my Crime against me it needs not Your awful Vertue checks and strikes me deeper Than your Reproaches can Cast. I 've thought too far it can't be yet compleated You 've only giv'n Hopes you wou'd comply Perhaps a Promise Gram. 'T is done less had not gain'd my end Which partly is accomplish'd you are free I had no other means of serving you Cast. And did you think I priz'd my Honour less Than Liberty that I wou'd have it purchas'd On dishonest Terms You know Castalio As little as I have hitherto known you Gram. In what I did I gratify'd my self Nor aim'd I at Acknowledgments from you Cast. You might have made your own Advantagehen But what had I to do with your mean Tricks Was 't not enough I suffer'd in my Friendship But you must undermine my Honour too And draw me for the Prize of Villany I 'll not endure it Gram. All the Dishonour's mine Cast. Can I share the Profit and not the Infamy Who is there seeing me enjoy this Freedom That will not think I 'm pleas'd nay was Accomplice In the Guilt that wrought it The Air I breathe The every Step I tread reproaches me The Terms on which 't was gain'd 't was basely done Gram. There 's not a Term that 's vile enough for me But 't was a Villany too much my own To reach your Fame How cou'd you be Accomplice Nor is it known what means was us'd to free you It can't reflect on you Cast. It shall not I disdain t' accept inglorious Liberty Take back the shameful Ransom I 'll to Prison And resume my Chains bestow the Purchase Of your Treachery on Knaves I 'll none of it Gram. Stay stay my Lord there 's yet a surer way To clear your Fame the Blood of him that stain'd it Take take my Life 't is a just Sacrifice You owe it to your self to Honour And the Name of Friend so long abus'd Cast. Is this the Man I call'd my Friend And was I thus deceiv'd I find indeed Lamira well observ'd There 's the least Truth where most it does appear Ha! that thought has rouz'd one that alarms my Heart She said 't was one esteem'd my Friend that wrong'd her Is 't possible that he the Man whom I Preferr'd to all the World shou'd be ordain'd The Ruine of the only thing besides That cou'd be dear to me Gram. What said you do you love her Cast. Whom what her 'T is not Lamira thou 'st abus'd Gram. Nothing but this cou'd aggravate my Crime Or my Remorse and was it wanting Heav'n Must every Blow which I or Fate strikes for me Fall heavier still on him Why why is this Cast. That I alone may have the right of Vengeance Which now my Injuries are ripe for Traitor Defend thy Life Gram. A Traitor's is not worth defending Freely I resign it 't is a Burthen Which I wou'd bless the Hand that frees me from Cast. Coward thou wou'st preserve it thou know'st I scorn To take it thus unguarded Gram. You ought to take it as a Criminal's Nor dare I lift my Hand against a Man Whom I have so much wrong'd as if I meant To justifie my Baseness Cast. 'T is all the Satisfaction thou canst make And I demand it of thee Gram. My Life I offer I open to your Point and stand your Justice Cast. Is 't thus you shou'd maintain a Lady's Favours Not with this Coldness you receiv'd her Kindness Whilst in her Arms you revell'd Death and Hell That such a Villain shou'd tho' but one Moment Be possest of all that Bliss O 't is a Heav'n to think And 't was all his all the transporting Beauties In his Power Curst torturing Thought Gram. You causlesly torment your self I've not possestâ— Cast. How 's that You said you had marri'd her Gram. 'T is true last night Cast. And not possess Come doubly damn thy self Forswear the Wickedness thou hast committed Swear thou hast not enjoy'd her Gram. I swear by all things Sacred Cast. Thour' t perjur'd Gram. May then the Perjury be ne'er forgiv'n If I have falsly sworn Cast. What cou'd prevent it 'T is unusual to leave a Bride Upon the Wedding-night Where were you then For I must know the truth Gram. With her Cast. Do you trifle with me Gram. No what I have sworn is truthâ— Cast. Cou'd she be so reserv'd not to consent When it might bear the Colour of a Duty Impossible Gra. I did not ask Cast. That 's more impossible Do not abuse me With a soothing Tale I am too much concern'd to be impos'd on And be assur'd will clear to the least doubt Answer me then what hinder'd you to ask Gra. My guilt already hung too heavy on me Cast. But how On what pretence How wou'd she bear the slight Once more I say I will not be deceiv'd Therefore 't were vain t' attempt it But now I will be calm and as a Friend Conjure you tell me punctually what past Gra. I made some weak excuses which at first She seem'd to take till having further prov'd With little Arts the temper of my heart She imputed it to indifference for her Then grew suspicious of some prepossession To which she thought her self a Sacrifice Some words that slipt from me confirm'd her in it And work'd her to a Rage in which she left me Cast. And did you calmly firmly stand all this Th'insinuations of her softer Passion Her pangs in Jelousie and her Resentment What Man cou'd have the force Gra. 'T was your good Genius doubtless gave it me I have nothing of my own but Weakness Baseness Cast. This were enough to cancel yet a Greater To see her in the height of all her charms Loosned to Love and languishing desire And not be tempted By Heav'n I think I had My self been lost not all my Honour cou'd Have guarded me against so strong a Trial Instead of the Reproaches I design'd I must confess an awful Admiration Amaz'd and conscious of superior Virtue Gra. What Virtue was 't in me I look'd not on her With a Lover's Eyes O that