unwelcome news Vin. I must employ my Friends my Lord for a new pardon 'T was I that caus'd the Rumour to be spread But 't was to save a Brother Fer. He 's no Brother Vin. My Lord he 's but an ill one I confess Yet nature still will work Fer. I 'll say no more till I have got your promise of one thing Vin. Name it my Lord a gift that you can ask Must needs be too well plac'd to be deny'd Fer. I had a Son and hope once more to have him If this fair Lady will restore him to me Once I despis'd her but admire her now I ask her for his Wife my Lord that 's all Vin. All ask me my Lord to rip my breast my self And give you thence my heart Ask any thing Rather than ask Placentia for your Son She must be mine or no man's in the World Fer. My Lord she is your Sister Vin. Hah my Sister Ri. aside Nay then 't is time to fly These perjur'd Monks Tho he 's not dead have made the secret known Fer. Lay hold on him going is stopt by the Lieutenant Enter the 2 Monks This Villain shall no longer be your plague 1. Monk No he 's a peasants Son and she your Sister Vin. Can Heav'n and Earth conspire to make me wretched Sister that word ne're sounded ill till now Sister brings in 't eternal separation Fathers you shou'd be Messengers of joy 1. Monk I hope My Lord we shall if you 'll but hear Vin Let me hear any thing but Sister from you That fatal sound will murther me at once I dare not understand you But since I 'm doom'd to hear some dreadful story 'T is fit I shou'd possess my Soul with Thoughts Of the most dismal kind I need not study Placentia Loves another That 's enough Alas what Racks what tortures can be worse Now tell the rest yet on the Ground I 'll lye Lest I drop down when she is prov'd my Sister ' There wretched Lover measure out thy Grave Throws him on the ground Now strike the blow that must cut off all hopes 1. Monk Read that my Lord It is a declaration Under his Parents hands Gives Vinc. a paper Vin. This is enough Placentia is my Sister Oh! my heart Turn turn thy self about that I may ask Why this was done 1 Monk My Lord you 've heard your sickly Infancy Gave but a doubtful promise of your Life This made your Father wish another Son But Daughters still deceiv'd him Now your Mother Then big with Child had heard him rashly say If that too prov'd a Daughter he should wish She never had been his This made such an impression on her mind That to preserve his Love he being absent Seeing it prov'd a Girl she chang'd the Child This fault her youth committed and her age repented So she with us deposited this Trust To be reveal'd if you dy'd without Issue If not to be kept secret But just heav'n Has brought the secret out before its time Yet with no breach of trust on our-side neither Since we believ'd you dead when we reveal'd it Vin. Have I not patience fathers thus to hear Such killing news yet lye here without raving But I 'll do something too starts up and Exit Monks and Servant after him Pla. Look to my Lord Fer. Alas he 's much disturb'd As for these Villains To dungeons with them But for this mock-Lord Degrade him first Strip of this rich garb Then Cloath him as befits his state and Birth Ex. Saylors Bravoes and Ricardo That thus my Lord may see him dragg'd to prison Morel Oh Sister 't is more joy to find you thus Than 't is to lose that wretch Pla. This doubles the delight I took in Friendship But my Love for you was so great before it cannot now encrease Re-enter Ricardo in an old Gown with Attendants Ri. Now Fortune Nature I owe you nothing but a wretched Being Take back the thankless gift and then we 're even Nor rack my Soul with dread of endless Flames There 's Hell enough on Earth in guilty minds To lose at once the heav'n of Love and Greatness Then be condemn'd to Life or dye a branded Villain Curst Thought a branded Villain Ha! I feel A warmth new to my heart thaw the hard lump And shake my shudd'ring frame Oh my past Life thou mak'st me doubt the future Alas I dare not hope I may repent Laura Oh run for pities sake she is poyson'd Get Antidotes But tell her not I did it Fer. Run help the Lady Exit Servant Ri. Oh! lead me from her Sight to Chains and Galleys To toyl to shame to want to pinching cold To scorching heat to stripes to worse Remorse And ever-new variety of Woes All all these pains are slight to those I bear Struggling for hope with horror and despair Laura in the passage Stay Poys'ner Fiend take this and this Exit Ricardo bloody Guarded by the Lieutenant c. Ser. Hold Madam Pla. More horrors yet oh let 's avoid that Sight Ex. Pla. with Fer. Morel and Mel. Enter Laura and Richardo She holds a Dagger in her hand and drops it as she struggles with the Servants Lau. Why do you hold me let me end that Monster Ri. Strike injur'd Goodness strike again I 'll thank you Compleat the work of Death that moves too slow But oh first hear me take some Antidote Lau. Must I be held and punisht with his sight Free me or take him hence for horror shakes me Ev'n at the thoughts that he 's of humane form Ri. he kneels Oh stay look on the most undone of Creatures A Devil in guilt but a repenting Devil Oh! cou'd but heav'n and you forgive Lau. Avant Devils can't repent nor be forgiven Ri. But ev'n the worst of Men thus prostrate trembling Not daring to look up near death will sigh to heav'n Oh! you 're so much its likeness Sure its best attribute Divine forgiveness May yet be show'r'd ev'n on a wretch like me A Wretch more more than a wretch there 's not a name That can express my miserable state Lau. Let go my Robes Ri. Oh never never The drowning wretch cannot forego his hold That lost I sink for ever Lau. I 'd sink with thee that thou might'st sink yet lower Think on my wrongs thou Fiend thy breach of Vows Ingratitude that ev'n thy Sex must startle Poyson thy kind return for all my wealth For all my Love and what cries most for Vengeance Those poor young Orphans Oh my ruin'd Children Ri. Oh! take some Antidote Lau. No I wou'd dye what shou'd I live for now see behind me nothing left in Life â—ut misery terrible misery Ri. Oh Laura Lau. Wil't thou still plague me Dye and let me dye Ri. Oh! had you heard me but an hour ago We might have liv'd Alas you little know What 's now divulg'd I 'm not Vincentio's Brother Death to a wretch like me has lost its horror Death shou'd have snatch'd
you insult but Fab. Give it me and take mine Fabiano gives him his Sword and takes his in the Scabbard Ri. Take it and use it if you can Pla. Oh! hold my Lords Fab. A broken Sword hah Villain He draws the Sword which appears to be a broken Blade Ri. Stir not be silent hear me and you 're safe Live happy with my Sister I with her But dye if you persist t'obstruct my Bliss Pla. Oh! wed her wed her tho' I dye my Lord. Fab. I 'll yet disarm thee Traytor Fabiano with the broken Sword strives to close with Ricardo Ri. I wou'd not kill thee Who waits Enter four Servants with Swords Ri. Seize that Mad-man Fabiano snatches a Sword from one of 'em and keeps 'em off Fab. What hoa my Friends Pla. Help Murther help Enter Captain with two others who fight Ricardo's Party Cap. Courage my Lord we 're here Slaves Villains dye Enter Don Ferdinand with Musqueteers who present and all the Combatants cease Fighting Fer. Hold or my Guards shall fire among you Ri. 'T is well you 're come at last my Lord your Son Was forcing his way out with this ungrateful Maid To wed her and leave Portugal by Sea Fer. I scarce believ'd the Messenger you sent me Nay now I scarce believe my very Eyes What my Reproof my Counsel my Commands My Pray'rs my Threats my Oaths all unregarded It cannot be Fabiano is my Son My Son wou'd not at once lose Wealth lose Honour Lose my Love lose my Blessing A Father's Love and Blessing for a Trifle For all this he must lose or leave this Maid To wed my nobler choice the fair Morella Fab. Thus as to Heav'n to you Sir kneels your Son And that Heav'n knows I scarce can reverence it More than I do my Father Oh! I 'd lose The Life you gave me rather than your Blessing But Love like mine is deaf Necessity 'T is Fate it self and who can alter Fate If Love 's a Crime in me 't is its own Punishment For hope that soften'd all its Pains is lost Then curse me not yet more alas your Blessing Is all your wretched Son has left to lose For soon he 'll take his everlasting leave Of Friends of you of her and Life I hope Fer. Rise hear Age speak Fabiana Wisdom's old Fab. My Lord my Father Oh! let me kneeling thus attend your Will Fer. Rise rise my Son nor let thy poor old Father Lose the sole Comfort of his widow'd Years Thou art my only Child Alas I liv'd But by the hopes of seeing thee renew The â—â—â—ries of our Race by equal Marriage Have I for this declin'd a second Choice And liv'd in solitary Widowhood Oh! do not hurry thus thy self and me To the dark Grave and worse Oblivion's Death I beg it 't is thy Father begs it See these Tears They 're the last drops the dying hand of Age Has left to dew this drooping with'ring Plant Oh speak Fab. Can Nature plead against it self I cannot speak my throbbing Heart's too full Fer. Then kill me cruel Son that Parricide Will be less barb'rous than the other speak Fab. Then with obedient boldness I must own I cannot wed Morella Fer. Just Heav'n what have I done what are my Crimes That I must thus be punish'd with this Son But sure he 's not my Son Such Disobedience Such Meanness must and shall be Strangers to my Blood Now as I hate base Thoughts he 's rous'd my Rage Degenerate Boy thou scandal to my Race Retract thy words consent lest in my Fury I wrong the dead and ev'n suspect thy Mother Fab. Oh! use me as you please but spare my Mother For your own sake for hers tread gently on her Grave Fer. No she was Vertue 's self but sure some Peasant Impos'd thee on me and displac'd the Heir Be banish'd then my House my Heart my Thoughts Be stript of all Fab. But my Placentia's Love You cannot take that from me Fer. Tortures and Daggers Wretch lose all but that Ri. aside to Ferd. My Lord let him rave on He 's lost all use of Reason in this Fit Of Love's high Fever but it cannot last Leave him with me I 'll watch its Crisis and Declension First I 'll remove the Cause this fatal Charmer Then soon my Sister shall restore his Reason Fer. 'T is well advis'd Guards stay obey my Lord. Curst be this Frantick Love that rashly hurries Unequal Pairs into the Nuptial Noose How bitter proves the fair forbidden Fruit How lost how naked Man then finds himself How short how false the Bliss how long the Woe A few good Nights a thousand dismal Days Then the fierce Lover grows a tame dull Husband And the kind Mistress a vexatious Wife How like an Ass how like himself he looks Wishing to part more than he did to joyn While Wife and Husband curse th' unequal state Wedded for Love then Cuckolded for Hate Exit Ferd. Ri. Retire you tempting Mischief to your Chamber Pla. Oh! rather to a Cell Ri. Leave that to me Pla. Oh! once more let me see him Ri. You shall not see him more Fabiano who was talking to the Captain runs suddenly to prevent her going out Fab. See me no more then I 'm poor indeed Yes I will see her tho' her sight were Death Ri. Hold my Lord. Fab. Forbear Despair is frantick play not with it I 've lost all hopes but of one parting look Rob me not of that last that cruel pleasure Pla. Oh rigid Fate why must I thus undo him But I my self shall soon be more than punish'd Lonesome self-banish'd buried to the World My Life shall be a kind of ling'ring Death Course Weeds my Cloathing a poor Cell my Lodging Bare Walls my only prospect the cold Ground Or harder Floor my Bed and Grief my End Fab. Oh! why did I come back why wou'd I see her Pla. Then if at dead at Night you chance to wake Oh! think of me and say now poor Placentia Is risen in the Dark and in the Cold To pray for me to pray for her Fabiano For then will I be praying on my Knees That Heav'n may bless you and your future Bride Fab. Too gen'rous Fair Oh! spare your Grief's Profusion Show me less Love be cruel out of Pity Tell me you hate me I shall be less wretched Pla. I cannot Oh! then leave me quickly leave me Fly my Contagious Grief Oh! 't will infect you I merit not your Care much less your Love And yet forgive and let me Love you still As for your Grief impose it on me Heav'n For I am grown familiar with Affliction But live and think your Death my greatest dread Fab. Then I must strive to live But oh Placentia 'T will cost my Love much dearer than to dye If one Hour's Absence made me wild with Sorrow How shall I live for ever parted from you By Hills and Seas and the more fatal Cloyster How bear the Sun shou'd rise the Sun shou'd set
me in my fancy'd greatness But now my base original my Crimes My shame call for severer punishments The Rack shou'd stretch my Limbs and show me death in view Then pull the blessing back that I might long be tortur'd Then let me starve with those poor helpless Orphans Whom I have robb'd of the support their dying Father left Lau. Oh now thou 'st touch'd my Soul And laid my Crimes as well as thine in view I I was left entrusted with the Care How shall I meet my Husbands shade methinks I see his angry Ghost he frowns oh hide me Forgive blest soul forgive a poor deluded Woman But oh my Children how can you forgive me Yet once more let me see 'em stay I dare not Oh dismal fâ—â—e a dying mother dreads to see her Children Ri. Oh not to you to me they owe their Ruin Oh me on me alone shou'd Vengeance fall Add to my torments heav'n so they have ease Oh! tho' she curst me still tho' she ne're knew 'T was for their good I strove to wed Placentia I 'd bear an age of Hell to mend your fates Lau. Amazement his guilt lessens Can it be He pities me pities my Children too Take back thy pity take it back Ricardo It gains so much upon my easy heart That I shall wrong my self and give thee mine Ri. Pity'd am I then pityd oh thou goodness If thou can'st pity sure thou can'st forgive But oh the poyson That must wake Heav'ns Vengeance And seal the ears of mercy Lau. T was Charity to kill me but thy falshood Was a worse poyson to my doating heart Yet we 've all faults Alas we all want mercy We must forgive heav'n pardon thee and me Ri. What do I hear Lau. But fly my Children's sight may force forgiveness back Ri. Is that forgiveness see I bleed apace Oh pardon e're I dye Lau. Oh! I've a vice of mercy in me Ri. Let me Embrace your Knees breath out my Soul Embraces her knees Enter Children Lau. My Children off away pushes him away Ri. I dare not see 'em and I cannot leave her throws himself on his Face Lau. Away you dearfond wretches Why d' you cling I 've ruin'd you but oh I 'm ruin'd worse Poor Innocents they little know their misery I feel it double for them wretched Mother Oh had my Woes fall'n only on my self I 'd think 'em gentle but this worse affliction Intail'd on you poor helpless guiltless Orphans It turns my Brains distracts me 'T is too much Oh dreadful change oh vanity of life Death is the only blessing a fond Mother She falls and then she sees the Dagger by her and takes it up privately Can wish her dearest Children ha the Dagger Do's not Fate hint by this I ought to ease ' em Must they be left to want to beg to starve I 'll do 't but oh what Arm can hurt such sweetness I cannot strike I cannot bear their Looks But must they live to curse me shame their name And dye perhaps an ignominious Death No I must strike 1. Child Pray mother don't look so indeed it frights me Oh pray ben't angry oh I 'll hug and kiss you Lau. Away we 're ruin'd and we ought to dye 1. Child Oh my dear Mother live We 'll beg for you Lau. Beg cou'd you Beg 1. Child Yes for our dearest mother Lau. Oh this disarms me Live my dearest Children Live and be happier you instruct your Mother She throws away the Dagger and embraces her Children And I too ought to Live If there be means but oh the poyson It works hah it shoots Hell into my Blood I am all wound My head my breast I burn Heart I cleave my sides Brains burst my skull help help Oh gently gently They offer to help her Ri. Oh horror Curse thy sufferings off on me Thou martyr'd Goodness hurl your Bolts you Powers Grind grind me into dust And on each atom double all her pains So Laura's eas'd Ricardo will not murmur Lau. Oh! give me ease where 's Death The Coward dares not come affrighted at my torments My Brâ—â—th's a fire Help Water Ice Heav'n pity me Give 〈◊〉 some of the cold my Children are to suffer Lieut. Take hence these innocents too much they move Lau. Oh pity them I call'd on Death and lo he 's come at last But oh the thoughts of them makes me now welcome him With that sad heaviness that sinks despairing Sinners Oh Heav'n Oh my Children Dyes Wom. She 's dead she 's dead Ri. Hah and do I still live Be dry my Eyes and you my Wounds weep faster Oh let me look and sigh my last at once Oh killing sight when shall I overtake thee Thou only fair Oh! never never never 'T is not for guilt like mine to mount with thee I feel my self in Hell and mercy's self Can never stoop so low Fain wou'd I pray ha a Grim Vision frights me Oh heav'n oh save me hah a hand is stretcht To raise me up to heav'n let me get hold But oh dark vapours rise between I cannot see it Re-enter Ferdinand and a Servant No News yet of Vincentio Oh most dismal sight Fer. Remove that Scene of Grief force off that wretch Ri. Oh you shall never part us No I will I will Be joyn'd with her at least in Death Oh Laura Laura Laura is carried off Ricardo follows bolding by the garments but is forced off faints falls and is carried off Fer. A doleful Scene but where 's my Lord Vincentio I dread some greater mischief from his Stay Enter Zemet Zem. Run find Placentia Don Vincentio's coming A Conqu'ror o're his noble self at last Exit Servant He brings my Lord Fabiano to be blest Fer. My Son Enter Vincentio and Fabiano at one Door Placentia Morella and Melinda at the other Vin. Love's sacrific'd at last to Reason Take her She 's yours my Lord. Fa. Oh 't is too much at once oh rapture oh Placentia Pla. Oh my lov'd Lord He embraces her Fa. My Life my Soul oh I am lost in Bliss and suffer with delight Thou kind omnipotence forgive my doubts I thought thou cou'dst not thus have blest a mortal My Lord my Father kneels to his Father Fer. Oh my dear Son be blest and let my tears Now speak my Joy as once they did my Grief Vin. Thus Providence has wrought my desperate cure Oh! you no more my Mistress nor my Rival Live happy Long be crown'd With blessings which no single state can give My heart has fed so long on hopeless Love That it wou'd surfeit shou'd it feed on other Glory shall be my Darling Mistress now Off then soft frenzy let me rouze my Soul In martial Fields let Fame possess it whole While all who know whence sprung these dangers here Learn from small Crimes great mischiefs to beware Ex. Omnes FINIS Books Printed for D. Brown at the Black Swan and Bible without Temple-bar 1 THe Canterbury Guess Or a Bargain broken A
This pious and learned Cardinal did then allow of modest Comedies and condemn'd only the Immodest and Profane as appears by the third Council which he held at Milan in the year 1572. Beside this multitude of Testimonies which are in my favour I might likewise form a strong Proof taken from the Words and Practice of the Holy Fathers in general and observe that those who have cry'd out so mightily against the Stage have been as violent in declaiming against playing at Cards Dice c. They have inveigh'd against Banquets and Feasts against Luxury and gaudy Dresses against lofty Buildings magnificent Houses rich Furniture rare Painting c. St. Chrysostom has whole Homilies upon this Subject we find a particular Catalogue of them in the Pedagogue of St. Clement Alexandrinus St. Augustin treats very largely of them in most of his Works and particularly in his Letter to Possidonius St. Cyprian quoted by the same St. Augustin St. Gregory in a word all the Fathers have warmly declaim'd claim'd against the luxury and richness of Apparel sometimes exciting us to follow the Example of St. John Baptist who for the Austerity of his Life was so highly commended by our Saviour And yet we find that they did not raise so many doubts of Conscience in mens Minds upon this score as they did upon the account of Stage-Plays and none made a scruple either of wearing Habits sutable to their Quality nor of living at ease provided they did it within the compass of Modesty and Moderation Why then should we not extend this Indulgence to Shows and affirm that as the Reproaches of the Doctors of the Church are applicable to Luxury Intemperance and Prodigality but not to the innocent and moderate use of the good things of this Life so we may interpret their words of immoral and profane Plays but not of those that do not transgress the Rules of Prudence and Morality To prove says Albertus Magnus that the Scripture does not condemn Plays Dancing and Shows consider'd singly and without those offensive Circumstances which make them condemnable do not we read in Exodus That Miriam the Prophetess the Sister of Aaron took a Timbrel in her hand and all the Women went out after her with Timbrels and with Dances Exod. 15. 20 Does not the Royal Prophet say Psal. 68. 25 27. That Benjamin was among the Damsels who played with Timbrels Nay does not God himself by the Mouth of Jeremiah Chap. 31. 4. promise the Jews that upon their return from Chaldee they should play upon Timbrels and go forth in the Dances of them that make merry Therefore concludes Albertus Magnus Dances and Pleasures are not in themselves sinful or unlawful but made so by the criminal Circumstances added to them and I would not enjoin a Penitent to abstain from them since God himself not only permits but promises them And indeed take away the Excess which may possibly creep into Dramatick Representations and I know no harm in them For 't is a kind of speaking Picture wherein are represented Histories or Fables for the Diversion and very often for the Instruction of men Hitherto we find nothing amiss in the Design of the Stage but perhaps its enemies will object that it must needs be bad however because 't is prohibited I protest Sir I never yet thought the Prohibition of any thing made it sinful but on the contrary that the Viciousness of it made it to be prohibited But let us consult those places of Scripture which seem to forbid Plays and such like Shows and try to explain them not as we please but by the words of the greatest Doctors Albertus Magnus who has collected all those Passages shall give us the Explanation of them The first which he mentions is that of St. Paul who seems to reduce all those Sports to immodesty for the Apostle exhorting men to avoid that Sin expresses himself thus 1 Cor. 10. As some of them fell into Impurity of whom it is written The People sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play The second is taken out of Exodus Chap. 32. where we find that Dances were first invented before Idols and by this they prove that 't is an idolatrous Institution to excite men to impurity The third is that of Isaiah Chap. 3. who in the Name of God denounces great Threatnings against those kind of Sports Because the Daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with stretched forth Necks and wanton Eyes walking and tripping as they go and making a tinkling with their Feet Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the Head of the Daughters of Zion c. And lastly 't is pretended that St. Paul includes all publick Sights in those famous words 1 Thess. 5. 22. Abstain from all appearance of Evil. But Albertus Magnus returns this Reply to all those Passages That Dancing c. which are not in their own nature evil may become so by being attended with those unhappy Circumstances which St. Paul is to be understood to speak of That 't is false to assert that they never danc'd but before Idols and that it has been done upon other occasions witness Miriam the Sister of Moses and Aaron whom we formerly mention'd That God by the Mouth of his Prophet reproves only those impudent Gestures with which the dancing of the Jews was attended And lastly That St. Paul forbids even the appearance of real Evil and not of that which may become so by Accident and bad Circumstances But you will say If Plays are good in themselves why are the Actors of them noted with Infamy in Justinian's Institutes But pray let me ask you a Question or two Does that Soldier sin who runs away in Battel for fear of being kill'd Or does a young Widow who cannot live single commit a mortal Sin by marrying a second Husband before her year is up and yet the same Book brands both of them with a note of Infamy and a thousand other Persons whose Actions are not criminal 'T is therefore a very weak Consequence to prove the sinfulness of an Action because 't is noted as infamous Suppose it true that Players were infamous by acting on the Stage I would fain know why the Youth of the Universities and other Persons very prudent and sometimes of the best Quality who for their own Diversion and without scandal act Parts in Play are not as infamous as the common Players I hope none will say 't is because the latter act to get by it whereas the others do it for their Diversion for that is a very wretched Argument Suppose any Action be evil in it self what signifies it whether a Man gets by it or no It will still be evil and no Circumstance can alter its nature So that as a perjur'd Man or a Calumniator branded with Infamy by the Law you cited will be always infamous let them be in what circumstances soever so Plays cannot be represented upon any occasion or
hatching That I 'm thus brav'd with a forg'd Will 'T is vain Your Reign is out The Fool my Brother 's dead And I 'll command what hitherto I begg'd You 're now my Ward my Prisoner if I please You 're not in those cold Climes where Maids and Wives Rove where they please as shameless as unquestion'd To wrong the dull contented Herd of Men. If you 'll be paid my Mother's Legacy That lavish Gift a Portion for a Princess Your proud pretended Vertue laid aside Meet my Embraces willingly to morrow Or soon by Force you shall Till then think of it Pla. I 'll think on Daggers for the Ravisher To cool his Fires or save my self from shame Yes ev'n the fam'd Lucretia I 'll out-vye Not let the Tarquin force the brutal Joy But kill him first or with my Honour dye Exit Placen Ri. Thou fir'st me so that for Revenge I cou'd I cou'd even marry thee young Fury But at a cheaper Rate I 'll ease my Rage She and my Sisters harden one another In rigid Coyness and in hate of me But they shall Wed and leave this House to morrow Then by Wiles Threats or Force I 'll deal with t'other Who waits Enter Servant Serv. My Lord Ric. Call both my Sisters Serv. Yes my Lord. Exit Servant Ric. I must prepare 'em to receive new Lovers Tho' now few Women need such Preparations Enter Morella and Melinda Ric. Still weeping D' you grieve at my good Fortune Come I 've got Young Husbands for you That I take to be The surest way to dry a Virgin 's Tears To morrow Don Fabiano shall be yours Morella and Don Paulo yours Melinda Mel. aside His lewd Friend Paulo Morel Fabiano poor Placentia's Lover Ric. What Dumb Are they not Noble Rich and Young Morel Oh! Let us hear of nothing Sir but Grief Alas we cannot even think of those My Brother's Choice design'd us once for Husbands Ric. You need not For their hopes like him must dye No more Compose your Looks to meet my Friends Enter a Servant Ser. Don Ferdinand My Lord is just a lighting Ric. aside The Governor He brings his Son Fabiano I 'll meet him Sisters stay till I return Exit Ric. and Serv. Morel Oh! dismal News now we indeed are wretched Compleatly wretched Alas poor Vincentio How soon we feel thy Loss thou best of Brothers Enter Placentia Plac. Dear Orphan Ladies let us mingle Sorrows Alas I 'm an unhappy Orphan too Like you methinks I mourn a Brother's Loss And what 's yet more a Friend 's Morel A Friend 's indeed alas my Dear I doubt Your Tears like ours will flow from several Springs I 'm bid to wed to morrow your Fabiano Plac. Hah But why am I startled and disorder'd Tho' to my Soul 's eternal dear Disquiet We love each other ev'n to meer Distraction My hopes are lost for I must keep my Vow I wish a mutual Love might link your Fates Morel Oh! wish not this my Dear my Heart is fix'd Don Philip or a Cloyster Plac. Fabiano with his Father Oh my Heart I must not stay yet I am rooted here Ric. Sister Morella let my Lord be us'd As his great Merit and my Choice deserve Ferd. Son scorn Ignoble Love See there your better Fate Ri. aside to Ferd. Let 's not seem to observe 'em while he whispers His first Love-Complement All Infancies are bashful And that of Love is most Pla. aside Amazement sure he loves her how they whisper What do I feel 't is more than Love 't is Jealousie I fear Am I then Jealous What of him I 'd lose I will not Sure he came in hopes to see me Away curst Jealousie Thou needless Physick That turn'st our Health to voluntary Sickness I dash thee from me like a Poyson yet I will look Mel. aside to Plac. My Dear you 're Jealous Pla. aside Not at all yet I must gaze I 'm rack'd I cannot bear it Exit Placentia Mel aside I must follow her Exit Mel. Ferd. What 's that bright Vision which now shot from hence Swift as a Star Ric. A falling one a glaring fatal Meteor The worthless Creature of my Mother's Favour Her Fortune ample but her Birth unknown Ferd. 'T is a fair Destruction I blush to own I 've heard my Son was dazled By her deluding Beams This made me hasten To fix him quickly in a nobler choice Which was my Motive to demand your Sister When I engag'd to get your Pardon sign'd Fa. aside to Morel Madam you know the tye upon my Heart The longings of my Soul Placentia's Love My Trust in your kind Pity brought me hither Which all my Father's Threats cou'd scarce have done Then let 's retire since by your gen'rous Suff'rance I may see her once more For if I stay I shall act Love so ill it will betray us Ex. Fa. and Morel Ric. She 's his My Lord The Conqu'ror leads his Prize Ferd. aside Now as I love bright Honour this sight charms me And makes my Age in spight of Time run back 'T is true this Lord has dimm'd his House's Glory But now I hope 't will clear High Birth tho' clouded With fashionable Vices will at last Exert it self and shine Enter a Servant to Ricardo Ser. My Lord a Lady in a Veil desires to speak with your Lordship Fer. My Lord I 'll leave you and in an Hour return Ri. Your Lordship's Servant Ex. Ferd. and Servant To his Serv. Conduct the Lady in I fear 't is Laura But why shou'd I fear She 's kind she 's fair But oh I 'm bound to wed her I on that score was trusted with her Fortune And lost it all at Play She 's heard the News And comes prepar'd to share my Joys I dread her Let me wed nothing but variety But I 'll dissemble yet for tho' when pleas'd She 's smiling as the Morn cool as the Evening And calm as is the Night when urg'd she rages Like the Meridian Sun 's collected Beams Proud of her Charms tho' lavish of her Love Gen'rous and free and daring like a Man But Jealous and Revengeful like a Woman 'T is she Now help me Cunning once to feign A Joy as great as hers My Laura Enter Laura Lau. Fly off my Veil Oh! let me rush at once Into his Heart into his very Soul Ri. My Life my all Lau. Oh let me gaze I cannot speak for Joy-Oh happy Change When the Profuseness of my Love had left me Nothing to give to save thy Life but mine To see thee rais'd at once to Honour Wealth and Freedom From Shame from Death and Ruine 'T is Rapture 't is Delight transcending Words Too vast for Thought and ev'n too strong for Souls 'T is perfect Joy and Pleasure in extream Ri. Oh! do not talk of Honour Wealth and Freedom Your self your self 's the greatest dearest Blessing Lau. In being so to thee thy Laura's blest Life of my Life and Genius of my Soul Thy very Shadow brings