ease your fears Of Usurpation and of Tyranny Alon. What new device is this aside Card. This is an Action generous and just Let us proceed to new Election Abd. Stay Peers of Spain If young Prince Philip be King Philip's Son Then is he Heir to Philip and his Crown But if a Bastard then he is a Rebel And as a Traytor to the Crown shou'd bleed That dangerous Populas Spirit must be laid Or Spain must languish under Civil Swords And Portugal taking advantages in these disorders Assisted by the Male-contents within If Philip live will bring Confusion home Our remedy for this is first to prove And then proclaim him Bastard aside Alon. That project wou'd be worth your Politiques How shou'd we prove him Bastard Abd. Her Majesty being lately urg'd Conscience And much above her Honour prizing Spain Declar'd this Secret but has not nam'd the Man If he be Noble and a Spaniard born He shall repair her same by marrying her Card. No Spaniard or Moor the daring Slave shall dye Qu. Wou'd I were cover'd with a Veil of Night weeps That I might hide the blushes on my Cheeks But when your safety comes into dispute My Honour nor my Life must come in competition I 'le therefore hide my eyes and blushing own That Philip's Father is i th' Presence now Alon. i th' Presence name him Qu. The Cardinal All rise in amazement Card. How 's this Madam Abd. How the Cardinal Card. I Philip's Father Madam Qu. Lover is not all this done for thee Dost thou not see a Kingdom and my self By this Confession thrown into thy arms Card. On terms so infamous I must despise it Qu. Have I thrown by all sense of modesty To render you the Master of my Bed To be refus'd was there another way Card. I cannot yield this cruelty transcends All you have ever done me Heavens what a contest Of Love and Honour swells my rising heart Qu. By all my Love if you refuse me now Now when I have remov'd all difficulties I 'le be Reveng'd a thousand killing ways Card. Madam I cannot own so false a thing My Conscience and Religion will not suffer me Qu. Away with all this canting Conscience and Religion No take advice from nothing but from Love Card 'T is certain I 'm bewitch'd she has a Spell Hid in those charming Lips Alon. Prince Cardinal what say you to this Card. I cannot bring it forth Qu. Do 't or thou' rt lost for ever Card. Death what 's a womans power And yet I can resist it Qu. And dare you disobey me Card. Is 't not enough I 've given you up my power Nay and resign'd my life into your hands But you wou'd damn me too I will not yield Oh now I find a very Hell within me How am I misguided by my passion Alon. Sir we attend your Answer Qu. 'T is now near twenty years when newly married And 't is the Custom here to marry young King Philip made a War in Barbary Won Tunis Conquer'd Fez and hand to hand Slew great Abdela King of Fez and Father To this Barbarian Prince Abd. I was but young and yet I well remember My Fathers wounds poor Barbary but no more Qu. In absence of my King I liv'd retir'd Shut up in my Apartment with my Women Suffering no Visits but the Cardinals To whom the King had left me as his Charge But he unworthy of that Trust repos'd Soon turn'd his business into Love Card. Heavens how will this story end aside Qu. A tale alas unpleasant to my Ear And for the which I banisht him my Presence But oh the power of Gold he bribes my Women That they should tell me as a secret too The King whose Wars were finish'd would return Without acquainting any with the time He being as Jealous as I was fair and young Meant to surprize me in the dead of Night This pass'd upon my Youth which ne're knew Art Card. Gods is there any Hell but Womans falshood aside Qu. The following Night I hasted to my Bed To wait my expected Bliss nor was it long Before his gentle steps approach'd my Ears Undress'd he came and with a Vigorous haste Flew to my yielding Arms I call'd him King My dear lov'd Lord and in return he breath'd Into my bosom in soft gentle whispers My Queen my Angel my lov'd Isabella And at that word I need not tell the rest Alon. What 's all this Madam to the Cardinal Qu. Ah Sir the night too short for his Caresses Made room for day day that betray'd my shame For in my guilty Arms I found the Cardinal Alon. Madam why did not you complain of this Qu. Alas I was but young and full of fears Bashfull and doubtfull of a just belief Knowing King Philips rash and jealous temper But from your Justice I expect Revenge Rod. His crime my Lords is death by all our Laws Card. Have you betray'd me by my too much Faith Oh shameless Creature am I disarm'd for this Had I but so much ease to be inrag'd Sure I shou'd kill thee for this Treachery But I 'm all shame and grief By all that 's Holy My Lords I never did commit this Crime Abd. 'T is but in vain Prince Cardinal to deny it Qu. Do not believe him Lords Revenge let Sentence pass upon the Traytor Card. I own that name with horrour which you drew me to When I betray'd the best of Men and Princes And 't is but just you fit me for despairs That may instruct me how to follow him in death Yet as I 'm Prince o th' Bloud and Cardinal too You cannot be my Judges Abd. You shall be try'd Sir as becomes your Quality Osmin we commit the Cardinal to your Charge Card. Heaven shou'd I live to that no I have within me a Private shame That shall secure me from the Publick one Alon. A pretty turn of State we shall all follow Sir Card. The Powers above are just Thus I my Prince a Sacrifice first made And now my self am on the Altar laid Ex. Card. Guarded Abd. Madam retire you 've acted so Divinely You 've fill'd my soul with new admiring Passion I 'le wait on you in your Apartment instantly And at your feet pay all my thanks and Love Qu. Make haste my dearest Moor whilst I retire And fit my soul to meet thy kind desire Ex. Queen and her Train Leonora advancing to follow is staid by Abd. Abd. Stay beauteous Maid stay and receive that Crown leads her back Which as your due Heav'n and all Spain present you with Alon. But granting Philip is that thing you call him If we must grant him so who then shall Reign Not that we do not know who ought to Reign But ask who 't is you will permit to do so to Abd. Abd. Who but bright Leonora the Royal Off-spring Of Noble Philip whose Innocence and Beauty Without th' advantage of her Glorious Birth Merits all Adoration All. With joy we do salute her Queen
hand wou'd not the weapon bear And I shou'd sooner strike it here than there pointing to her breast No! though of all I am this hand alone Is what thou canst command as being thy own Yet this has plighted no such cruel vow No Duty binds me to obey thee now To save my King 's my life I will expose No Martyr dies in a more Glorious Cause Exit SCENE II. Enter the Queen in an undress alone with a Light Qu. Thou grateful Night to whom all happy Lovers Make their devout and humble Invocations Thou Court of Silence where the God of Love Lays by the awfull terrour of a Deity And every harmfull Dart and deals around His kind desires whilst thou blest Friend to joys Draw'st all thy Curtains made of gloomy shades To veil the blushes of soft yielding Maids Beneath the covert grant the Love-sick King May find admittance to Florella's arms And being there keep back the busie day Maintain thy Empire till my Moor returns Where in her Lodgings he shall find his Wife Amidst her Amorous dalliance with my Son My watchful Spyes are waiting for the knowledge Which when to me imparted I 'le improve Till my Revenge be equal to my Love Enter Elvira Elvira in thy looks I read success What hast thou learnt Elv. Madam the King is gone as you imagin'd To fair Florella's Lodgings Qu. But art thou sure he gain'd Admittance Elv. Yes Madam But what welcome he has found to me 's unknown But I believe it must be great and kind Qu. I am of thy opinion But now Elvira for a well-laid Plot To ruine this Florella though she be innocent Yet she must dye so hard a Destiny My passion for her Husband does decree But 't is the way I stop at His Jealousie already I have rais'd That 's not enough his Honour must be toucht This meeting 'twixt the King and fair Florella Must then be render'd Publick 'T is the disgrace not Action must incense him Go you to Don Alonzo's Lodging strait Exit Elvira Whilst I prepare my story for his Ear. Assist me all that 's ill in Woman-kind And furnish me with sighs and feigned tears That may express a grief for this discovery My Son be like thy Mother hot and bold And like the Noble Ravisher of Rome Court her with Daggers when thy Tongue grows faint Till thou hast made a Conquest o're her Virtue Exit Elvira Enter Alonzo Elvira Oh Alonzo I have strange News to tell thee Alon. It must be strange indeed that makes my Queen Dress her fair eyes in sorrow Qu. It is a Dress that thou wilt be in love with When thou shalt hear my story You had a Sister once Alon. Had Qu. Yes had whilst she was like thy self all Virtue Till her bewitching Eyes kindled such flames As will undoe us all Alon. My Sister Madam sure it cannot be What eyes what flames inform me strait Qu. Alonzo thou art honest just and brave And should I tell thee more Knowing thy Loyalty's above all Nature It would oblige thee to commit an outrage Which baser Spirits will call cruelty Alon. Gods Madam do not praise my Virtue thus Which is so poor it scarce affords me patience To attend the end of what you wou'd deliver Come Madam say my Sister is a Whore I know 't is so you mean and being so Where shall I kneel for Justice Since he that shou'd afford it me Has made her Criminal Pardon me Madam 't is the King I mean Qu. I grieve to own all thy Prophetick fears Are true Alonzo 't is indeed the King Alon. Then I 'm disarm'd For Heaven can only punish him Qu. But Alonzo Whilst that Religious patience dwels about thee All Spain must suffer nay Ages that shall ensue Shall curse thy Name and Family From whom a Race of Bastards shall proceed To wear that Crown Alon. No Madam not from mine My Sister 's in my power her Honour 's mine I can command her life though not my Kings Her Mother is a Saint and shou'd she now Look down from Heaven upon a deed so foul I think even there she wou'd invent a Curse To thunder on her head But Madam whence was this intelligence Qu. Elvira saw the King enter her Lodgings With Lovers haste and joy Alon. Her Lodgings when Qu. Now not an hour ago Now since the Moor departed Alon. Damnation on her can she be thus false Come lead me to the Lodgings of this Strumpet And make me see this truth Or I will leave thee dead for thus abusing me to Elvira Qu. Nay dear Alonzo do not go inrag'd Stay till your temper wears a calmer look That if by chance you shou'd behold the Wantons In little harmless Dalliance such as Lover Aided with silence and the shades of Night May possibly commit You may not do that which you may repent of Alon. Gods should I play the Pander And with my patience aid the Am'rous sin No I shall scarce have so much tameness left To mind me of my Duty to my King Ye Gods behold the Sacrifice I make To my lost Honour behold and aid my justice Exit Alonzo Qu. It will concern me too to see this wonder For yet I scarce can credit it Exeunt SCENE III. Florella's Lodgings Enter the King leading in Florella all in fear Flor. Ah Sir the Gods and you would be more merciful If by a death less cruel than my fears You would preserve my Honour begin it quickly And after that I will retain my Duty And at your feet breath thanks in dying sighs King Where learnt you Fairest so much cruelty To charge me with the Pow'r of injuring thee Not from my Eyes where Love and languishment Too sensibly inform thee of my heart Flor. Call it not injury Sir to free my soul From fears which such a Visit must create In dead of Night when nought but frightful Ghosts Of restless souls departed walk the Round King That fleeting thing am I whom all repose All joys and every good of life abandon'd That fatal hour thou gavest thy self away And I was doom'd to endless desperation Yet whilst I liv'd all glorious with my hopes Some sacred Treasures in thy breast I hid And near thee still my greedy soul will hover Flor. Ah rather like a Ravisher you come With love and fierceness in your dangerous Eyes And both will equally be fatal to me King Ah do not fear me as the fair Lucretia Did the fierce Roman Youth I mean no Rapes Thou canst not think that I wou'd force those joys Which cease to be so when compell'd Florella No I wou'd sooner pierce this faithful heart Whose flame appears too Criminal for your mercy Flor. Why do you fright me Sir methinks your looks All pale your eyes thus fixt and trembling hands The awfull horrour of the dark and silent night Strikes a cold terrour round my fainting heart That does presage some fatal Accident King 'T is in your cruel Eyes the
danger lies Wou'd you receive me with that usual tenderness Which did express it self in everysmile I should dismiss this horrour from my face And place again its Native calmness there And all my Veins shall re-assume their heat And with a new and grateful Ardour beat Flor. Sir all my soul is taken up with fear And you advance your Fate by staying here Fly fly this place of death if Abdelazer Shou'd find you here all the Divinity About your Sacred Person could not Guard you King Ah my Florella cease thy needless fear And in thy soul let nothing reign but Love Love that with soft desires may fill thy Eyes And save thy Tongue the pain t' instruct my heart In the most grateful knowledge Heav'n can give me Flor. That knowledge Sir wou'd make us both more wretched Since you I know wou'd still be wishing on And I shou'd grant till we were both undone And Sir how little she were worth your care Cou'd part with all her honourable fame For an inglorious life short and despis'd King Canst thou believe a flame thy Eyes have kindled Can urge me to an infamous pursuit No my Florella I adore thy Virtue And none prophane those Shrines to whom they offer Say but thou lov'st and I thus low will bow kneels And sue to thee to be my Soveraign Queen I 'le circle thy bright Forehead with the Crowns Of Castile Portugal and Aragon And all those petty Kingdoms which do bow Their Tributary knees to thy Adorer Flor. Ah Sir have you forgot by Sacred vow All that I am is Abdelazers now King By Heav'n it was a Sacrilegious theft But I the Treasure from his breast will tear And reach his heart though thou art seated there Flor. A deed like that my Virtue wou'd undoe And leave a stain upon your Glories too A sin that wou'd my hate not passion move I owe a Duty where I cannot love King Thou think'st it then no sin to kill thy King For I must dye without thy love Florella Flor. How tamely Sir you with the Serpent play Whose fatal Poison must your life betray And though a King cannot Divine your Fate Kings only differ from the Gods in that See Sir with this I am your Murderer made holds up a Dagger By those we love we soonest are betray'd King How can that fair hand acquaint it self with death What wilt thou do Florella Flor. Your Destiny divert And give my heart those wounds design'd for yours If you advance I 'le give the deadly blow King Hold I command thee hold thy impious hand My heart dwels there and if your strike I dye Enter Queen Alonzo and Elvira Qu. Florella arm'd against the King Snatches the Dagger and stabs her the King rises Of Traitress King Hold hold inhuman Murdress What hast thou done most barbarous of thy Sex takes Flor. in his arms Qu. Destroy'd thy Murdress and my too fair Rival aside King My Murdress what Devil did inspire thee With thoughts so black and sinfull cou'd this fair Saint Be guilty of a Murder No no too cruel Mother With her Eyes her charming lovely Eyes She might have kill'd and her too virtuous cruelty Oh my Florella Sacred lovely Creature Flor. My death was kind since it prevented yours And by that hand which sav'd mine from a guilt points to the Queen That Dagger I receiv'd of Abdelazer To stab that heart he said that lov'd me best But I design'd to overcome your Passion And then to have vanquisht Abdelazer's Jealousie But finding you too faithfull to be happy I did resolve to dye and have my wish Farewell my King my soul begins its flight And now is hovering in eternal Night dyes King She 's gon she 's gone her sacred soul is fled To that Divinity of which it is a part Too excellent to inhabit Earthly bodies Alon. Oh Sir you grieve too much for one so foul King What prophane breath was that pronounc'd her foul Thy Mothers soul though turn'd into a Cherubin Was black to hers Oh she was all Divine Alonzo was it thou her Brother Alon. When she was good I own'd that title Sir King Good by all the Gods she was as chaste as Vestals As Saints translated to Divine abodes I offer'd her to be my Queen Alonzo To share the growing Glories of my Youth But uncorrupted she my Crown contemn'd And on her Vertues Guard stood thus defended Alon. weeps Oh my Florella let me here lie fix'd kneels And never rise till I am cold and pale As thou fair Saint art now but sure She cou'd not dye that noble generous heart That arm'd with love and honour did rebate All the fierce sieges of my Amorous flame Might sure defend it self against those wounds Given by a Womans hand or rather 't was a Devils rises What dost thou merit for this Treachery Thou vilest of thy Sex But thou' rt a thing I have miscall'd a Mother And therefore will not touch thee live to suffer By a more shamefull way but here the lyes Whom I though dead must still adore as living Alon. Sir pray retire there 's danger in your stay When I reflect upon this Nights disorder And the Queens Art to raise my Jealousie And after that my Sisters being murder'd I must believe there is some deeper Plot Something design'd against your Sacred Person King Alonzo raise the Court I 'le find it Exit Alonzo Though 't were hid within my Mothers soul. Qu. My gentle Son pardon my kind mistake I did believe her arm'd against thy life King Peace Fury Not ill-boding Raven shrieks Nor Midnight cries of murder'd Ghosts are more Ungratefull than thy faint and dull excuses Be gone and trouble not the silent griefs Which will insensibly decay my life Till like a Marble Statue I am fixt kneels and weeps at Flor.'s feet Dropping continual tears upon her Tomb. Abd. within Guard all the Chamber doors fire and confusion Consume these Spanish Dogs was I for this Sent to fetch back a Philip and a Cardinal To have my Wife abus'd Enter Abdelazer Qu. Patience dear Abdelazer Abd. Patience and I am Foes where 's my Florella The King and in Florella's Bed-Chamber Florella dead too Rise thou Eternal Author of my shame Gay thing to you I speak King rises And thus throw off Allegiance Qu. Oh stay your fury generous Abdelazer Abd. Away fond woman throws her from him King Villain to me this language Abd. To thee young Amorous King How at this dead and silent time of Night Durst you approach the Lodgings of my Wife King I scorn to answer thee Abd. I 'le search it in thy heart then They fight Qu. and Elv. run out crying Treason King The Devil 's not yet ready for his soul And will not claim his due Oh I am wounded falls Abd. No doubt on 't Sir these are no wounds of Love King Whate're they be you might have spar'd 'em now Since those Florella gave me were sufficient And yet a little