man's O Tyrant Custome But more Tyrants men whose Censures do Uphold that power is usurpt of thee They blame the Passions we unurg'd reveal Yet feel the same but cannot theirs conceal Exeunt Enter King and Aldernald King I wish Alfreda's form had given report Just ground to proclaim her Natures miracle The Earl by me was sent to view her Beauties Alder. Heavens Did he for this call me from the Camp Shall I ungrateful King from thy own mouth Aside Be told how ill thou didst intend to requite The service I have done King If Ethelwold had confirm'd my belief That in Alfreda those many graces met Fame so loudly has bestow'd on her She should have been my Queen Alder. Your Queen King Yes Aldernald if Love or that title Had charmes to win her heart I ever thought thy loyal Family Worthy my Allyance and by this tye Design'd t' advance its antient glory Alder. Indeed Sir had she been your Queen King Yes Aldernald my Queen why this wonder Alder. I cannot Sir but wonder If she should have been your Queen why she was not King Look there and let all wonder cease Gives him two Pictures Not wanting Allyes nor necessitated To marry for State-Interest I propos'd to indulge my Genius That Beauty should Crown my Nuptials with Love The solid blessing of a married life A blessing Princes but rarely find No Country more than this for Beauty fam'd My intents conceal'd a general Collection Of their Pictures that were much renown'd I procur'd Of all that number None but that one excell'd Alfreda Alder. This the Queens it do's her beauty Justice This Alfreda's This my Sister's King Yes is it not like her Takes a Picture out of his pocket shews it the King Alder. I have a piece more exact King O what Charmes are here How like the Beauty of my mornings dream Alfreda was that Heav'nly form Ethelwold Was the Serpent that bore away that Scene of Glory Enter Ruthin I have been betray'd Ruth Sir in what Gives Ruthin the Pictures There read the Treason thence guess the Traytor What Musick is this so loud Musick without Ruth This Musick will discover all Alder. Not all my Lord. Enter Oswold King The occasion of this Publick joy Osw. Earl Ethelwold is this morning married King And who is his Bride Alder. My Sister Sir King Thy Sister in Town and married this morning And to Ethelwold when came she Alder. With me last night King What reasons urg'd this hast And to conceal your self and her Alder. To preserve her Honour King Her Honour what danger cou'd attend it Alder. The Earl sent by you to my Father declared that you design'd King What Alder. My Faith 's so criminal Shame will not let me speak it King What said he I design'd Alder. Sir read it in my blushes Or think the worst and that is it King O my apprehensions Speak Aldernald what was 't Alder. The dishonour of our Family King O Impiety Ald. That you wou'd make her not your Queen but whore King O Prophanation Alder. Our hope 's not so ambitious to believe Our Family merited that Honour With ease gave credit to the other King When Fame had made such often repetitions Of her Excellencies you on his single assertion Might as justly suspect my Virtue As I her Beauty If you yet doubt me There 's one can witness my intentions Turns to Ruthin To her and to your Family were just Alder. And he can witness too the Earl's deceit So positively he affirm'd this for truth That he believ'd it too For my Father was guided by his Counsels Which he receiv'd by Letters King How Alder. After the Earl return'd to Town And had obtain'd your leave to marry her Being to return agen into the Countrey When upon account of business You countermanded his journey We grew suspicious of your intents And then my Lord there zealous in our service Counsel'd she should be brought to Town And married here King He counsel this Alder. Wisely concluding that when you knew The Honour of two such Families were concern'd ' Twou'd be a prevailing argument To alter your Intentions King He advis'd like a Friend Earl Odgare Acted as a Father you like a Brother 'T is a Virtue to be jealous of our Honour Alder. But not of our Prince King The fault was Ethelwold's but I pardon all His Crimes were but Errors of Love Which is the madness of the mind Tell him I 'le be his Guest this day at dinner But conceal my knowledge of his Guilt I 'de have his mind rest in a confidence I think him Innocent That all his Thoughts May be imployed to heighten the pleasures He this night must ravish from his Bride Alder. Mercy is the Monarch-Virtue in a Prince Exeunt Ruth Alder. And that is the Ornament of your Soul King False Traitor has Love his Loyalty betray'd Those Eyes must have powerful Charmes can draw The hearts of Subjects from their Allegiance Exit Enter Oswold Durzo Dur. But what do you with these Ladies here Osw. We Court Complement and Gallant ' em Dur. What is that Courting ' em Osw. Sometimes 't is call'd making Love to 'em You must have a Mistress if you stay long at Court Dur. Must I which of ' em Osw. Her you like best Dur. Why I like 'em all Osw. You must appropriate but one Dur. I 'de have a whole Tier of ' em Osw. Every man must have his share Make choice of her you think most handsome Dur. But how may a man know a handsome Woman Osw. Iâ—le give you the description of my Mistress For a Pattern to choose one by She has Hair I know not how to term it Nature affords not a comparison Dur. I like not That she 's like no body then Osw. Her Fore-head high and fair eyes black and sparkling They twinkle like the Stars Dur. They are then Gemini Osw. Her Brows like Arches Cut out of purest Snow consolidate A Nose exactly to the square of Beauty Her Cheeks plump not by Art but Nature painted Her mouth little red Lips and white Teeth A Pearly Portcullis with a Ruby Gate Dur. Ay that 's fine Osw. A Chin dimpl'd but in that little Pitt A thousand hearts lie bury'd Dur. They are thrown in then as fast as we heave dead Men over board in a Sea-fight Osw. Her neck smooth fat white and soft as the Down on Swans Dur. Ay That Osw. Her Breasts those milky Fountains snowy Alpes Round and not limber their motions pant Beholders hearts into an Extasie No Pride about her but what they swell with They rise and fall like Waves blown up by gentle winds Dur. O O O feel here Pulls Owald's hand to his breast Osw. Auh your heart beats high We shall have boisterous weather I perceive it coming Dur. Ay my heart begins to leap and play Like a Porpice before a Storm Osw. An Arm a Hand small white and Round the bloud blushing through the fair skin
contemplation of Love Hill Let not such idle thoughts trouble your head I am almost weary on 't my self Durz. Say sou so Hill Yes you and I will be friends for all that Such a trifle as Love shall break no squares Durz. There 's the Devil of Love now Had she been as forward as I am I had been indiff'rent as she is That is one Experiment I have made in this Voyage Hill When Lovers pause it is a sign Love cools And since you know not what to think on 't E'ne let us fairly part stakes I will have My heart agen and you shall have yours Thus we 'l make a handsom Retreat And so Captain tack about to the next Osw. A fair proposal Durz. But by your leave in the faith of a Soldier 'T is more honourable to stand in to rights Than to make a Tacque and say and sing The Devil's head off I will judge of Love by the Rules of Honour Therefore sink or swin I 'le bear up close with you Hill I like a man of resolution well Then give me thy hand my trusty Tarpolin You shall find me no Flincher neither Exeunt Enter Ethelwold and Aldernald Eth. Which ought I most to admire The King 's high act of Clemency Or Alfreda's unexampled Generosity Revenge had been a milder punishment For conscious of the Injuries I have done I cannot without blushes meet his Pardon Or her Love and must wear a Shame about me As lasting as the memory of these Favours Ald. You acknowledge the wrongs done to the King Eth. With so great a sence of sorrow That were not thy Sister a Heaven of Blessings My Penitence would rob me of future joy Ald. Nor do you longer doubt my Sister's virtue Eth. Her Virtue rather makes me doubt That I have sinn'd beyond repentance Offending so much Innocence Oh that 't were permitted we might exchange Or could recall our Matrimonial Vows Then would I to appear grateful Resign my interest in Alfreda To the King and to both be just Ald. To them you cannot but to me you may Eth. The injuries I have done your Family Are too great to be repair'd Ald. They are then too great to be forgiven But to the brave no wrongs can be above The satisfaction of the Sword That is the Justice That the Requital I demand Eth. The King and Alfreda are generous Examples Will Aldernald less noble be 'T was in them a more Glorious Act To pardon than to punish but in me Forgiveness is dishonourable I am free To call thee to a strict account thy Lyes rais'd thoughts in my breast which like a Nest Of Snakes shot their poysonous Stings At my Prince's Virtue Thy Falsities Fool'd me to Actions which I blush to own Come on the Valiant ne're capitulate Eth. If I appear to want a courage Or my arm but feebly guide my Sword Think 't is the love I bear thy Sister Directs it slowly to the Brother's heart Within me is a Power that takes your part They fight Enter King Alfreda and Guards King Hold part ' em Ald. We are prevented Alfr. Oh my Lord you bleed Eth. To my Breast he has added one wound more The Sister's beauty and the Brother's valour Alike successful prove Against your Eyes is no resistance Against his Sword no defence King What Aldernald provok'd you to this deed Ald. Sir has he not offended King I sent you to restore his Liberty I had pardon'd him Ald. Yes Sir Offences done to your self Not those he did our Family He ignobly sought my Sister's love With lies and gross inventions abus'd My Fathers ears and mine and drew me in To be his property These affronts requir'd my Sword King Thy scrupulous Honour has too far engag'd thy valour Ald. In honour I could not less than fight him Alfr. Brother your Presumption was too great When you thought your self concern'd to punish Where the King had mercy shewn Ald. Forgiveness is in Kings a mercy 'cause They are above us and have power to punish But when th' Offended and Offenders equal are Forgiveness looks like want of Courage And if you well consider Circumstances You will find Alfreda he had done wrongs Which the Kings Pardon could not wipe away And those concern'd the honor of our Family For those no one but I was fit to call him To account Alfr. You mistake those wrongs were mine Till I had declar'd them Injuries They were not so to you to me belong'd The Prerogative to Revenge or Pardon Nor could your Love or Hatred claim in him An Interest but subordinate to mine Eth. Cease cease this Generous Strife You Alfreda have too obliging been Me you forgave and will you not your brother His Crime if it be one to vindicate The honor of his Family was at least necessary Alfr. He has been too forward and assum'd too much A Sister's Husband cannot be a Brother's Enemy 'Till she has first declar'd him so Eth. I onely wish his cause had been less just For I have so offended him thy Self My King and Heaven that if my Death Could attone for my Offences I 'de beg it from this wound For though thou art a Heaven of Blessings The sence of my Guilt in possessing thee Is a torment above the joy I have To see my self enrich'd King Aldernald your quarrel must end here Let this be the last resentment of your wrong That Generosity which so highly you Did applaud in me now imitate If in me Forgiveness was a worthy act 'T is an Example fit for you to follow Ald. When you command my obedience Wants not to be prompted by Example Alfr. My Lord how do you how do you feel your wound Eth. I believe it slight But with loss of blood grow faint King Lead him off When the Surgeons have search'd his wounds Let me Alfreda from you be inform'd Guards lead Ethelwold off What their judgments are of the danger Alfr. Sir I will not fail Exit Aldernald King To meet to night in the Garden Alfr. Yes King At the Grotto Alfr. Yes Sir at the Grotto King I have perform'd my promise Alfr. I le be as punctual King This accident lets you command your liberty Alfr. Which I 'le imploy in thanking you for Ethelwold's King When 't is dark I will expect you Alfr. When 't is dark you shall not expect But find me there Exit Alfr. King Fly fast you lazy minutes Swift as my Wishes fly And with more nimble wings bear hence the Light Let Day resign its Empire soon And Night set up it's black Standard I am impatient but why am I so What do I hope design or what resolve Oh I dare not examine my thoughts They are yet confus'd and indistinct My Wishes are unform'd my Resolutions Not quite born and yet I think hope wish Design resolve but what I know not Honour and Love for Victory strugling are And make my breast their present seat of War Exit The End of the Fourth Act.
And honour equal to the best You behold a Ladies hand arm'd against Her own soft breast and ready T' encounter Death to 'scape thy Tyranny One that by death will immortalize her Name King Unheard of bravery Alfr. Pause not but away hence Or this minute is my last Resolve with speed for I am resolute King I would not kill thee cruel one Alfr. Be gone then Sacrilegious man King If in despair I part I die Alfr. Your longer stay kills me King Live and I 'le be gone Alfr. Be gone that I may live King She has a hardned Virtue she 's brave To the last degree Alfr. If you return this posture I resume King Grant me Alfreda one request Alfr. It must be very small King Consent I may leave thee a few minutes And find thee here at my return In my absence think on Ethelwold's Treason Think by his guilt how wretched I am made That some attonement for his crimes should be That for his grant of life thou art indebted Alfr. I will King Love is the sum I ask This night let me be blest with thy Imbraces And after live ever free from importunities Alfr. Sir King A sudden answer cannot be favourable Keep it back 'till my return but then Let thy first words declare thy Resolution Alfr. They shall Alfreda enters the Grotto The King goes to Oswold Oswold appears King Thy unalterable Resolution Oswald Osw. Sir King She 's invincible What other woman could have stood this test Calms delude her not nor Storm affright her Go bring Ethelwold into the Garden I 'le act it o're again let him stand conceal'd Tell him I do this to give him a proof That his past Suspicions wrong'd her Virtue And to root out remaining jealousies Find out her Brother too Enter Alicia with Lights Aldernald and Matilda at a distance What Lights are these Alic. Go forward with your Lights To the Princes Lodgings Exit Lights Osw. The Princess is going to bed And Aldernald attends her cross the Garden King Go quickly bring Ethelwold here I 'le speak to him my self Exit Oswald Ald. Love has the the same dimensions as our Souls It 's as impossible that either should admit Degrees as Parts Mat Yes Aldernald I want no Arguments to convince me That a real Lover's flame breaks forth like Lightning in a moment and at one flash Shews all that Heaven inflam'd in which it is Ald. This obliging acknowledgment makes my hopes Grow up to confidence that as you have done me An Act of Grace with circumstances so Convincing to give my Passion Language And to raise my humble thoughts to an Aspiring flame that now you will compleat My happiness and let me here receive Assurance that this presumption of my love Is not esteem'd a Crime Mat. In my blushes you may read my mind They too officiously betray my heart And like the Flag set up in Towns besieg'd Give joyful notice of Surrender Ald. The blessings this minute gives are greater Than all my former life e're knew King Their conference will hold too long The king makes a noise Mat. What noise was that Ald. I heard some one tread Mat. Quickly let 's shift our ground Or rather quit me here that we may not Be surpriz'd together and our love from Thence discours'd in publick The King treads agen Ald. The noise is that way this leads to your Lodgings Mat. I 'le find the way alone Ald. Let me not lose one step of this pleasant Journey And by the way I 'le make you Vows shall shew My love of an Immortal birth Exeunt Aldernald and Matilda The King follows them Enter the Queen and Alfreda Queen They are gone Alfr. It was Aldernald's voice Queen 'T was he and the Princess Success attend their Vows But what do you resolve on the King Will soon return Alfr. I have found the means he shall meet a kind Reception when he finds me compliant to his love Hee 'l be all on fire and in eager hast Hurry me away I 'le speak to him And to all he says return an Answer But when he leads me off I 'le step back And into his hand put yours The Night is favourable to our design 'T is very dark me he shall court But you he must enjoy Queen A fainting joy spreads gently o're my breast But how can that approach my heart In the crowd of so many fears Ald. Madam be comforted your Embraces have charms Will re-instate you in his love Make him repent his rash unlawful Oath And establish a blest peace betwixt you Queen I fear the deceit will more enrage him Alfr. It cannot at least your issue if it successful Prove to that degree will inherit his Crown Queen Hark I hear a noise in the Garden Alfr. Be near me let me hold your hand in mine When I deliver you to his suffer your self To be led in the dark to my Apartment Queen You instruct and Love perswades me to comply Enter Ethelwold Eth. No Whisper yet has reach'd my Ear They 're very still in their Amours Oh they cannot vent their breath for Kisses They are close close and silent I am near the place Alfr. Sir is it you Eth. 'T is I. Alfr. I fear my late Repulse has much incens'd you That it has arm'd your Love with Rage And now that you return with fiercer resolutions And more determin'd to execute your purpose But now with love alone make your approach For since your departure I have considered Your promise which o'recomes my obstinacy Pardon me Sir for first transgressions Are not without great reluctancy From one bred up in the strict Rules of Virtue Honour parts not without strong convulsions As life from men by nature strong and Healthful If this night I yield to your Embraces Will you no more disturb my quiet Shall I not again be urg'd by you To wrong my Honour and my Lord Eth. Never Alfr. Shall your Hate not persecute him Nor your Love me Shall both then live in peace Eth. Ever Alfr. This one thing more Sir you must promise Remov'd from hence to use no more discourse Lest your voice betray my Honour Nor expect any light in my Apartment Let all be done in silence and in darkness Now I have consented I hate the light And should you see my face you 'd find it all confus'd Let Night conceal my Blushes and my Guilt Eth. It shall Alfreda puts the Queens hand into his and changes places Enter King and Aldernald King Oswold's not yet return'd Ethelwold kisses the Queens hand and draws out a Dagger Ald. This may better Ethelwold's opinion Of her it cannot mine What she has already done is proof enough To me and should be so to him Alfr. Now Sir take my hand and as you please Dispose of me but take care to preserve my Honour Eth. I will Pistols the Queen Die false lascivious Woman She falls Queen Oh I am kill'd Alfr. Oh Murder Treason Treason Murder Ald.