Life 〈◊〉 know'st I love 〈◊〉 witness Heav'n I wou'd to make him blest Resign my part in all I hold most dear Nay ev'n himself if I were sure he 〈◊〉 it Oh Friend This Husband gives me not his Heart And much I fear some other robs me of it Agnes Causless Suspicions can the Prince alone Neglect that Virtue which Mankind adores Who else can claim the Empire of his Heart More by their Merit than their Marriage yours For who in Portugal deserves like you Banish these Fears they may prove Fatal to you Light Jealousies like Prunings to a Plant The tender wound improves and helps loves growth But if they enter deep the Branches fade And the rich stock decays and dies at last Princess Alas In vain I gave my self advice Strove to excuse the Coldness of his Heart Which through his forc'd caresses still appear'd His Melancholly all the Court observes Though only I can guess th' unhappy cause At Night I watch him when he thinks I sleep He Tosses Sighs impatient for the Day And often leaves me e'ere it does approach Agnes Th' Effect of temper Madam but for Love He seems design'd a Pattern to the World The Virgins at Coimbra beg of Fate To give them Husbands like the Prince to you So fond so careful with such nice respect Princess Were he my Slave he could not give me more A Lover Agnes cou'd not shew so much Agnes I thought respect the highest mark of Love 'T is all that Heav'n requires what would you more Princess Alas Thy thoughts of Love are as imperfect As their Idea of vast distant Lands Who never saw 'em but in Maps and Pictures What shall I say to make thee understand Love levels all he knows no Quality No Titles but those soft ones which he makes Th'Insensible my Husband never felt A transport of Fierce Love that cou'd one Moment Make him forget his Wife was born a Princess Agnes How exquisite a Torturer you are grown You rack your Wit for torments to your Soul Princess These are the Nat'ral thoughts of Love my Child But I 'm impatient Bianca stays The Prince this Night seem'd sad and discompos'd Much more than usual he started up And with confusion in his Words and Action He left me and refus'd to be attended A strange disturb'd I know not what within Mov'd me to send Bianca to observe him Two hours ago and yet she 's not return'd Agnes What can you hope from such an Enquiry Why shou'd you search for that which if you find Ascertains Miseries you now but fear Princess Then I shall mourn for one but whilst I doubt I feel a thousand Pains for ev'ry ill That 's barely possible to be the Cause Agnes Compose your self Madam I beg your Highness Princess That was a Word of too much distance Agnes Looks like the Prince's cold indifference In Ceremonious respect disguis'd Leave it I wou'd believe I have thy Heart The only comfort for the loss of his For you are both so equal dear to me So closely wove by Fate to my fond breast That neither can be sever'd from my love Without unravelling this Web of Life Enter Bianca What News Bianca Speak where went the Prince Where has thou left him Bianca In the Garden Madam Thither I follow'd him far off unseen He stopp'd sometimes and walk'd disorderly Till he had reach'd the foot o' th middle walk Where ent'ring one of the cool shady Grots He sat him down and seem'd o'erwhelm'd in thought Then through the Boughs I could discern him write And folding up the Paper when he 'd done He threw himself with force upon the Ground Sighing and Groaning words I could not hear Till seeming tir'd with Grief he fell asleep When I had watch'd a while with cautious steps I went in hopes to serve your Highness well And stole the Paper which the Prince had writ Perhaps it may contain what you wou'd know For fearing that I durst not open it Lest I discover'd what you wou'd conceal Gives the Paper Princess I thank thee for thy care leave us Bianca Exit 〈◊〉 After reading Doubly unhappy Princess Agnes my Fears are true All that I fear'd More than I fear'd is true Agnes It can't be the Prince is not so stupid To Love Elvira still I heard indeed He had a while amus'd himself with her Before your Marriage but what Charms has she To vie with those perfections all Divine Which grace your Body and 〈◊〉 your Soul Princess Ah! She who robs me of my Husband's Heart Is all a Charm to plead for his Excuse Young Beautiful Discreet and Chast as Fair By Nature form'd to captive ev'ry Heart My Reason must approve the Prince's choice For I my self prefer her to my self And love her too as tenderly as he Agnes Who can this Angel be Princess Are there are so many merit more than I Thou can'st not guess among ' em Agnes Indeed I know not one deserves like you And therefore cannot guess Princess Have you so long been privy to my Thoughts Yet know not her who is so dear to me Who with the Prince shares my divided Heart So equally I cannot tell my self To which I have given most know you not her For if you know my Friend you know my Rival Agnes How very Miserable must I be When I 'm reduc'd to wish you did not love me Those marks of that peculiar dear affection Which ev'ry day your partial kindness gave Are Witnesses which I would disbelieve Oh! Let me think your Friendship was divided Tell me you have another nearer Friend For I had rather lose your Love for ever Than be the wretched Cause of your misfortune Rather be hated by you than deserve it Oh ease my cruel fears and name some other Princess Too sure alas the Prince does Love thee Agnes And I 'm so vain to think that only thou Cou'd gain a Heart to which I laid a claim Read from his Hand the sad amazing truth Agnes reads 1. IN Vain Oh Sacred Duty you oppose In Vain your Nuptial tye you plead Those forc'd devoirs Love overthrows And breaks the Vows he never made 2. Fair Princess you to whom my Faith is due Pardon the Destiny that drags me on 'T is not my fault my Hearts untrue I am compell'd to be undone 3. Your Eyes Fair Agnes Agnes Heav'n strike 'em blind for the base treachery Where shall I hide these curst these guilty Eyes They dare not look upon the Injur'd Princess Tho she was all they took delight to see How cou'd Heav'n make so great a contradiction As in one Person Friend and Enemy Princess Thou art not my Enemy I know you love me Agnes Yet I have rob'd you of your dearest part Destroy'd your soft tranquillity of Soul And left you nothing but Despair and Sorrow I only have done this ev'n I who love you I who to serve you wou'd abandon Life Oh! Can I say I am the 〈◊〉 of yours But all ill
but what can that avail After these brags 't would make you but despise me For your own Interest than let me advise ye Doom not our Author's first Essay to fall For fear her Eyes revenge it on you all For beark ye among Friends 't is whisper'd here Our Poetess is Virtuous Young and Fair But that first Epithet I must leave out 'T will please but very few of you I doubt Then let it pass Yet sure not nam'd in vain For Virtue must that shining Circle gain Her other Charms may captivate the rest Each fancying her what form wou'd please him best But stay I fear this airy bribe won't move You are not made for dull Platonick Love Well we may hope in time she 'll more disclose That 's if you like what 〈◊〉 at first she shows Applaud her then for Curiosity She only sculks to be from Censure free Admire her strength of Judgment praise her Wit And croud each Night the Boxes and the Pit Pufft up with her success she 'll soon appear And lay aside her Modesty and Fear Which Women oft have parted with for you But to dear Vanity they 're always true Drammatis Personae MEN. King Mr. Sympson Prince Mr. Powell Alvaro Mr. Verbruggen Lorenzo Mr. Cibber Diego Officer and Creature of Alvaro Mr. Hill Pedro Officer and Creature of Alvaro Mr. Mills WOMEN Princess Mrs. Temple Agnes de Castro Mrs. Rogers Elvira Sister to Alvaro Mrs. Knight Bianca Mrs. Kent Messenger Attendants and Guards SCENE The Palace of Coimbra in Portugal Agnes de Castro ACT I. SCENE I. Enter Elvira and Bianca with a Paper in her Hand Elvira THIS was a lucky accident Bianca It will be noble Mischief Bianca I long to know the issue Elv. It must be good That Poison Jealousie Destroys the strongest Bonds of Blood or Friendship Constantia cannot think the Prince loves Agnes But she must hate and treat her as a Rival Or cou'd she be so tame to keep her here Distrust and coldness Rival-ship will breed Which Agnes is too haughty to endure And though not sent will soon return to Spain Bianca That will be pleasing news to all the Ladies Who envy her the Princesses Affection Elv. Was it not an Affront to all the Court To bring her here as in defiance to us As if she thought none of us worth her Love Not one in Portugal for her Converse Bianca Their being bred from Infancy together Might make it difficult to separate And then their near Relation Elv. A Princess must have none She came to wear the Crown of Portugal And then shou'd have renounc'd all other Claims She ' as now new Friends new Country new Relations And shou'd forget the Old not be a Spaniard here Bianca These lines will make her wish she had forgot ' em Methinks I pity her Elv. All that can contribute to Plague the Prince Is grateful to my Thoughts I know his temper The Princesses regrets will most torment him And then to lose his Mistress shall I see The faithless Traytor who abandon'd me Punish'd in the same kind Lose her he Loves That that 's the pleasing part Bianca Not all you 〈◊〉 Contriv'd or Wish'd to happen Cou'd more effectually have punish'd both Fortune indeed has laid a brave Foundation Whereon to Build what Hate can make you aim at Elv. But I must raise the Structure and I 'll do 't With so much Care with so much Artful Strength Not all their force and cunning shall destroy it Revenge is Justice Born in Noble Souls 'T was some mean Spirited Fool that first taught Patience Weak Cowardice that Preach'd up dull Forgiveness And call'd the lasie Impotence a Virtue Bianca 'T is Vice to leave such Injuries unpunish'd 'T would make all Men be Faithless as the Prince If Women bore their Wrongs without return Elv. Ye Gods Was I a Trifle to be plaid with Fit but to entertain his leisure hours But I 've recall'd the Heart he Fool'd away And now 't is fill'd with Fury and Revenge He 'll find Elvira can do more more than amuse him Bianca Madam What method in this great design Will your just Anger take Elv. Bianea I have found thee Faithful And may have need of thee Bianca Madam Did not my Inclination tie me Your Bounty has engag'd me to your Service Elv. Be confident of what I can do for you I know Antonio fain wou'd Marry you But that his Friends oppose it I 'll make your Fortune fit for such a Match Which Love or your Ambition makes you Covet Bianca Let your Commands be 〈◊〉 so hazardous I will not fail t' Obey you Elv. I can't resolve on what I have to do Till I shall know the Princesses Resentments She 's wishing with impatience for your coming Fond of discov'ring what she 'll grieve to find Be sure seem not to know what 's in the Paper Bianca By no means Madam Elv. I 'll to my Brother And tell him of the Prince's Love to Agnes I know his boundless Rage and Jealousie Will soon inspire him with some Resolution That must be fatal to the Prince or Agnes For bating his fond Passion to that Maid His ev'ry Thought bespeaks him of my Blood Bianca His Favour with the King may be of use The Kingdom 's rul'd by Don 〈◊〉 Will. Elv. His Power indeed is almost absolute And if he be my Brother he 'll improve it But I delay I 'll strike with Fortune whilst she 's in the Humour She shall not have the time to change her Mind Follow her close and she 'll be always kind Too proud to wait sh' as ever shun'd the Wise They pause so long that to the thoughtless Fools she flies Ex. severally SCENE II. The Princess's Apartment The Princess sitting in a Melancholly posture Agnes entring to her Princess My Agnes Art thou come My Souls best Comfort Thou dear Relief to my oppressing Cares My Griefs have lost already half their force They vanish at thy sight like Mists before the Sun Agnes What Mists what Clouds are these 〈◊〉 respread your Soul Which do like those that wou'd obscure the Sun Whilst they but seem to darken the bright Mind Cast a sad Gloom on all the World beneath In pity Madam then Shine out to chear us For all must be unhappy whilst you Grieve Princess Ah! Agnes ah The 〈◊〉 This day the Prince Agnes Must leave you Is that your cause of Sadness He 'll soon return with Glory and Success I saw you Madam in the heat of Love When you had scarcely lost the name of Bride The Prince call'd from you by an eager Foe Train'd up in War resolv'd for Death or Conquest I saw you part from him with less Despair Far less afflicted than I see you now Princess My Secrets all are thine Forgive me Agnes That I have hitherto 〈◊〉 this conceal'd And let it prey upon my Bleeding Heart Till it is e'en devour'd but take it now I fear the Prince Whom better than my
fortune flys from you with me And all the Curse lights heavy on my head For we must part for Ever Ever part Princess Part Wou'd you add to my unhappiness Be yet more cruel than my Destiny Fate has depriv'd me but of half my blessing And you wou'd tear the other half away To leave me Sad Desolate and Comfortless Agnes Alas We ne'er shall meet in joy again This tender Love must all be turn'd to Hate Princess That thought was too injurious from a Friend Thy only guilt is having too much merit For which 't were most nnjustly base to hate thee Agnes Yet sure I 'm now unworthy of thy Love But teach me how I may again deserve it What can be done to cure the Prince's Phrenzy I 'll blot out all that 's lovely in this Face Disfigure it to black deformity Enough to frighten all Mankind to madness And bring him back to reason Princess This wild Extravagance is unbecoming Let 's learn to bear our Woes and leave to Heav'n The time and manner of redressing ' em Despair may Cure the Prince but it may kill him Oh! Thy too rigorous Virtue makes me fear But think with him you will condemn your Friend And mingle sweetness with severity Pity his Fate that Honour will allow And I shall bless thy gen'rous Charity Agnes Oh wond'rous instance of a matchless goodness Gods Is it just the Prince enjoy this Blessing Who knows not how to value the vast Treasure Princess You are ungrateful to condemn the Prince And I for all I suffer cann't accuse him I know he struggled long against your Charms And those efforts are more obliging far Than if his Inclinations were for me Love rul'd by Fate does n'er consult our will But if we strive to love it shows Esteem And 't is more kind to wish I had his Heart Than if he gave the prize unwillingly Why should I blame the Prince for loving her Were Reason Duty Honour all against me I still should dote on him in spight of all The same strong Destiny controuls his Heart And my fair Rival's worth bounds my Complaints There is no room for my Resentment left Nor shall the Prince perceive my inward Grief You only you shall ease the Wounds you made For thou wilt pity me I know thou wilt Thou Dear thou less my Rival than my Friend En. Prince Agnes Alas he 's here Prince What new design has Fate to carry on Th' unlucky Writing in Constantia's Hand Nay then it has it's utmost malice shown Agnes Unhappy chance He sees I know his love I cannot look on him without Confusion Oh! That I 'd ever shun'd his Eyes as now Exit Agnes Prince Madam from whence had you that fatal Scrowl Princess Be not disturb'd and I 'le forget I saw it Prince Oh no! You never must forget my Crime Rail at me Curse me Hate me if thou canst That thou may'st less deserve to be Belov'd And I be less asham'd of wronging thee Princess It is not you but cruel Fate has wrong'd me And wrong'd me most by making you unhappy That doubles all the Sorrows of my Soul When in the tender ragings of my Heart Torn with the Agonies of hopeless Love I shall remember you are wretched too You wish in Vain Sigh and Despair like me Thus guessing all your Torments by my own I shall more than feel 'em ore again for you Prince Oh! This short view of what I make thee suffer Is worse to me than all I 've known before How can'st thou pity this ungrateful Husband Princess That kind Concern shows you are not Ungrateful And 't were inhumane not to pity you When all Relief but pity is deny'd Poor Prince if you had lov'd a Maid less nice Her kindness might have satisfied your Passion Or want of Merit quite extinguish'd it It grieves me you shou'd fix your Heart on one Too scrupulous to recompence your flame I dread th' effects of her Severity Which may instead of Curing more engage you Charm'd with that rigorous Virtue that undoes you Prince How then shou'd thy diviner Virtue charm me Virtue of such an elevated Nature It claims not Love alone but Adoration Greater than that we owe to Saints above And that I swear I pay thee Princess Unhappily you have misplac'd your Thoughts Fair Agnes more deserves your Adoration And I may say I more deserve your Love For Oh Dear Prince there 's not a part of me That is not fill'd with softest Love for thee My Soul 's all thine I languish for thy Love Dote on in spight of thy Indifference Live by thy Looks am nothing when thou' rt from me Wretched to think thon can'st not be all mine And Oh! Cou'd part with all I 〈◊〉 possess'd To gain thy dearer Heart Prince Oh! If thou lov'st me hide this tenderness I better cou'd support the sharpest Anger Call all thy Injuries into thy thoughts Think me Ungrateful Perjur'd any thing That may provoke the Cruellest Reproaches Shew your resentment in the fiercest Form Revenge your Wrongs but upon me alone This only Criminal unhappy Wretch And share the guiltless Cause of our Misfortune Princess Fear not for Agnes Sir I love her and her being dear to you More strongly recommends her to my care For my repose depends so much on yours I must lose all my own to rob you of it Prince Too Generous Princess But in spight of you You have reveng'd your self with sharpest wounds Deep in that Faithless Breast which injur'd you This cruel kindness has undone your Husband Thou miracle of Virtue Princess Alas my Love what shall I say to ease you Prince Kill me Constantia I deserve it of thee But that wou'd be too kind 'T would save me all the many Deaths of shame Which ev'ry thought of thee will make me feel Forgive me then to punish me yet more For now I hate my self for grieving thee And wou'd be still still more Unhappy made Alas I dare not meet thy loving Eyes They tell me that thou hast forgiv'n me Fly wretch Oh fly from all that looks like good Ev'n silent Innocence is thy reproach Princess His Sorrows touch me more than all my own He seems as if his Soul were on the Rack And that Immortal part cou'd to be free Wish it self Mortal like its lovely Mansion Perhaps my presence discomposes him I will retire and Heav'n with tears implore Though by my Death his quiet to restore Exit Prince solus Is there another wretch on Earth like me Who what was meant for Ease and Blessings to him Perverts into a Curse When I had lock'd the Secret in my Breast Kept it conceal'd ev'n from my dearest Friend Deny'd my self all ways to vent my Grief But pouring out my Woes in soft Complaints They must be made th' occasion 〈◊〉 my ruine And by I know not what some Devil sure Convey'd to her from whom I most wou'd hide ' em The Virtue of my Wife too proves my Curse
And I 'm constrain'd to wish for my relief What others shun as the worst plague of Life O Agnes O Constantia both distract me O the sad Prospect of encreasing woes Which only Death can put a period to I love and wou'd not ought not to be pity'd Or if I were Still my Ingratitude my poor Constantia's Sufferings Wou'd haunt me to enervate all my joys Unhappy Lover more Ingrateful Husband What dost thou wish What can be thy relief No think of none none but in suffering more T' attone thy Crime be exquisitely wretched Thus Agnes may revenge Constantia's wrongs Raise thy wild Passion to that force and height That it may crush thee with its Fatal weight Exit ACT II. SCENE I. Enter the King Alvaro and Attendants King IF I have Pow'r or if she have Ambition Which is a part Essential in a Woman As Pow'r to a King Alvaro she is thine Alvaro I fear she has too much Ambition Sir The Prince's Love too may encrease that flame She treats me as she were some mighty Queen And I her meanest despicable Slave King The better Her Pride will sooner draw her to the Hook Which I will hang with such a 〈◊〉 Bait She can no more resist the gay Temptation Than Streams can stop or turn their wonted Current Pride is the Sexes principle of action From the same Cause flow contrary effects As the Sun's heat both hardens and dissolves 'T is that which makes 'em coyly fly with scorn And that too makes 'em yield to bright allurements By it Disdainful Agnes shall be caught I 'll heap such shining honours on thy head Shall dazzle all the llttle World below Th' aspiring Maid shall strive to reach thy Glories And aiming throws her gently in thy Arms. Alvaro My Royal Master how shall I deserve But 't is a Crime a Blasphemy to think To Merit or return a Monarch's Favours Which can no more than Heavens be repaid And are like those bestow'd on Mortals gratis All we can give in sign of grateful Hearts Is Thanks and Blessings Which thus low I pay Bowing King Thou art my Faithfullest best Counsellor Statesmen like thee are Bucklers to a Crown Which more than Armies guard it from a Foe And when we cast 'em off or not reward 'em Their ruine is a sure Presage of ours Thou hast deserved All that I have given and all that I can give Alvaro Pardon Great Sir you much o'er rate my Actions King Thou art too modest but I know thy worth 'T is strange I have not seen my Son this Morning I have some Orders for him e'er he goes But he perhaps will own no Duty now And but begins th' injustice with his Wife Alvaro Sir I 'm inform'd that since the Prince return'd And found the Princess grieving for his Love He has not left her King We 'll meet him there and if we find your Mistress I 'll be your Advocate before his Face Alvaro So the Almighty whilst the World 's his care Neglects not th'inconsiderablest Insect Exeunt The Scene Opens The Prince and Princess sitting Agnes Elvira Bianca by them the King and Alvaro enter to them King to the Prince Since you keep State to day I wait on you It well becomes me to attend your Highness Princess Sir you must pardon for my sake the Prince This short neglect a Father may allow To the sad tenderness of parting Lovers King 'T is well he is so kind Your time is short The King and Ag. advance from the rest the Pr. and Prs. seem to talk We will not interrupt your soft Farewells Agnes a Word I have a suit to move Which if you grant you will oblige a King And raise your self beyond your highest wish Agnes A King's request is but a Milder name For his command I will obey you Sir King If you are just to high desert you will Alvaro's Merit claims reward from you We know you are a Heav'n of Glorious charms Bright as the Stars above which Guide our actions And Hearts like his all Brave all Just and Great Deserves the kindest Influence of those Eyes Agnes My Eyes pretend not Sir to any pow'r But if Alvaro is of such high worth 'T were more than Arrogance a Treason in 'em Encroaching on your great Prerogative To think of paying with so mean a stock What you alone are able to reward 〈◊〉 Subjects must by such a King be paid King Such Lovers must be paid by such a Mistress You only can return the Heart he gives He offers it fill'd with the tenderest Love And I 'll adorn it with the Richest Honours Think Agnes think Alvaro has my Favour Think that with it he has my Pow'r too Think your self rais'd the Envy of your Sex All may be yours Ambitious Souls desire Agnes Who wou'd resign a Quiet though Poor freedom To be with glitt'ring gaudy trappings deck'd Which but inform the World whose Slaves they are No Sir I value Liberty far more Than to forsake it though for Golden Chains A shining Prison is a Prison still King By this Contempt proud Maid of him I 've chose From all my Court to place my Friendship on You more despise my Favourite than Alvaro And seem to tax me of an ill made choice Agnes I question not Alvaro's merit Sir Nor have contemn'd him though I have refus'd But Heav'n who ordain'd soft Mutual Love A stronger tye of Souls than Marriage Vows Had surely given me a Heart more tender If 't were design'd for such an Union I feel no melting no soft Passion there None but for charming Liberty and Glory Then Sir wou'd you controul the Will of Heav'n Who made me not for Love King Dissembler were you free as you pretend You wou'd have met what I propos'd with joy But you have dreamt away your Liberty In vain Idea's and Fantastick Notions Mistaken Maid renounce these airy hopes Whilst you pursue the shadow thus of Greatness You 'll lose the Substance and repent too late The Prince wou'd please but he 's beyond your reach And though my Son were not already joyn'd To one whose worth and tender love to you Shou'd make you blush for your Imprudent Conquest Know Agnes know he never shou'd be yours Agnes Sir for the Prince if he have weaknesses He ne'er communicated 'em to me Nor have I wilfully contributed Or once in thought approv'd th' unlucky Flame King Marrying Alvaro is an easie way To cure the Prince and justify your self Agnes Perhaps I know an easier way for both Absence will be a surer remedy And that too will preserve my Honour safe Yes Sir I 'll quit Coimbra soon with joy Nor shall this Man who is so dear to you This Favourite so worthy of your Love Have any part in my more Noble thoughts King So haughty Agnes sure you know me not Agnes I know you Sir to be Constantia's Father A Princess whom I love with all respect King And you shall know me as I am a
if their Rivalship had made 'em dear Nor did she meet her Lord with greater Kindness As soon as he appear'd Agnes desir'd Permission to retire which she obtain'd Th' occasion fairly offer'd I observ'd And waited only till the Prince had ended His last Endearments which were short but kind Then I approach'd the Paper in my Hand And to my Wish she ask'd me what I held I told her 't was a Letter Agnes dropp'd Just when she left her Highness I 'll give it her th' unwary Princess said And took it with an Air so unconcern'd As plainly shew'd she fear'd not what she found And that a friendly Freedom made her read it No Spark of jealous Curiosity Elvira Dull senseless peice of Earth and then she smil'd As pleas'd her Friend took pity of her love Or wept for Grief that she disturb'd their Joys Say How did it affect her Bianca She neither wept nor smil'd but as surpriz'd A Momentary Red o'respread her Face Soon as that disappear'd she only sigh'd And read it twice with all her nat'ral Temper Then with a Voice and Aspect won'drous mild She gave Command that all without exception Shou'd be deny'd admittance to her Chamber Agnes came often there but was refus'd Which seiz'd her with so violent a Grief As shew'd her love surpass'd the Princesses Or that her Moderation was far less Elvira The Princess is a singular Example Of Apathy which Stoicks preach'd in vain For Nature's Laws were still more strong than theirs But sure Constantia's of another Kind Not made of the same Elements with us Or Nature forming her forgot the Fire Oh! cou'd I but infufe with that cold Mass Th' excessive part of Spirit which boils o're And burns within with more than needful Force ' Twou'd heat her to a generous active Rage Which soon wou'd free her from that Curse a Rival I wou'd for such a Change compound with Heav'n For all the Blessings meant to be my Lot But Miracles like that are only wrought to ruine me My Brother is transform'd for my Destruction That noble Pride is 〈◊〉 that haughty Soul Which look'd on all below it with Disdain Is now subjected to a Womans Scorn I met him going to that Sorceress Joyful to lay new Honours at her Feet And be again despis'd Spight of her Slights He swears he 'll marry her by Force if she refuse Gods must she have all Hearts which I wou'd claim Why were our jarring Fates so nearly set One Heart can never long contain two Things So incompatible as Agnes and Elvira No nor the World or She or I must leave it Bianca Will not her Banishment suffice Elvira Her Banishment What to my Brothers Arms Poor spirited Alvaro's grown so mean He 'd take her from the Prince's Bed to his Hell and Confusion Must she be his Wife Bianca Rather than hope to be in time the Prince's Elvira Both's Death to me and both must be prevented Bianca Have you consider'd Madam your Design The Danger and the Shame that must attend it Elvira So Agnes be involv'd in equal Fate I wou'd not stop tho Hell were in my way 'T is past Dispute she dies what e're oppose This Day shall end the Triumphs of her Eyes This Day be sacred to Revenge for ever We 're certain now to find her and alone Her Friendship is too nice in such a breach To let her visit or be visited Go you prepare with haste and secreey Horses and fit Disguises for us both That we may fly Coimbra if suspected My Brother and Lorenzo both have Interest And both Concern enough to gain my Pardon Then Agnes has provok'd the King so far He 'll easily forgive a Death he wishes If not the World affords us choice Retreats Countries that much surpass our Portugal Where we may live as great and more secure But let what will befal me thou shalt see I 'm not ungrateful Bianca May Fortune serve you faithfully as I And take your part in ev'ry Enterprize With the same Zeal as you 're obey'd by me Elvira As I dare trust thy Faith I take thy Wish This is the Hour if Fortune will be kind An Hour most fit to make Revenge compleat A single Death 's too little for my Wrongs But Life and Fame at once is worthy them This for my Lover's that my Brother's Heart Thus my Revenge shall beyond Death 〈◊〉 And whilst her Name is known will never end Exeunt SCENE II. Enter Agnes and her Woman Agnes The Light offends me let the Room be darkned And none be suffer'd to disturb my Thoughts Exit Woman How much our Souls and Bodies sympathize Now that my Mind is fill'd with gloomy Sadness The chearful Light is hateful to my Eyes Woman returns Woman Madam here 's Don Alvaro to wait on you He won't be refus'd Admittance Agnes What pains a hated Lover takes to see himself despis'd Enter Alvaro Alvaro He whom all Portugal obeys and fears Who scarce beholds a Creature not below him With pain obtains the Grace to kneel to you Agnes It is not fit a Man of Power so vast Shou'd stoop to any but his God or King I pay but what I owe your Quality Alvaro How cruelly you shew your mock-respect Respect to Slaves condemn'd is but Derision A Barbarous Tyrannical Insult Agnes From you 〈◊〉 learn'd that witty Tyranny For under colour of dissembled Love You plague and torture more effectually Than all the Hate of bare-fac'd Enemies Alvaro If loving you almost to Adoration And throwing all my Honours at your Feet If that be tort'ring you how are you pleas'd Agnes Obedience pleases me Alvaro I wou'd obey unjust relentless Fair But if I cease my Suit I lose my Hopes Where 's then the Fruit of such a vain Obedience Agnes Enjoy the Fruit then of your Disobedience A Hate as obstinate as fix'd as that Alvaro Nature has been unjustly lavish here To have bestow'd so rich a Stock of Beauty As must impoverish half the World beside On one who churlishly denies Relief to starving Beggars Whilst the wretched Miser but hoards a Treasure Which she cannot use nor will it's Value last Agnes If Beauty be a Treasure sure 't was meant For a Reward to Vertue whilst the rest The Riches Honours all the Gifts of Fortune Are blindly giv'n to those who least deserve Whose Servile Souls make 'em more fit to stoop Through all the little ways that lead to Greatness Alvaro The Great are only Vertuous What but Pow'r Makes Actions Right or Wrong Accept my Love And you shall see your self above controul Where none in Thought dare tax you of a Fault Agnes My Innocence is more to me than Fame Your boasted Pow'r can only give a Name A Name which all that know you will despise I see you worshipp'd like a God 't is true But 't is with Worship such as Indians paid They fear but hate and curse you at the Heart My pure unbyass'd Soul from Int'rest free Unmov'd
hast design'd So singular a Grace 't is wond'rous kind Love which cou'd scarce with Int'rest e'r agree Now serves Ambition and Revenge for me Exeunt The End of the Third Act. ACT IV. SCENE I. Agnes in a Swoon Women about her endeavouring to recover her Lorenzo Agnes CRuel Tormentors let me die in quiet Here by my murther'd Princess let me die Where is she Ha! what have you done with her Starts up I beg you tell me for I 'll never leave her Show me her Grave since you refuse me Death I 'll be intomb'd alive with my dead Friend Offers to go Lorenzo stops her Lorenzo Pardon me Madam this ingrateful Office I must not let you go Agnes He thinks me mad indeed I shou'd be so Madness wou'd be more reasonable now More decent in my Case than stupid Patience But I retain a wild a raving Reason Have I not reason thus to tear my Hair To fall upon the Ground and mourn my Princess Have I not reason too to curse Elvira Lorenzo Madam indeed you cannot grieve too much But speak more charitably of Elvira For in her Case you wou'd have done the same Agnes What can Lorenzo justify her Crime Oh most unworthy of thy Prince's love Tho she 's thy Mistress dar'st thou take her part In such an Action done against thy Patron Which robs him most inhumanly of her Who lov'd him most and most deserv'd his Love Lorenzo Madam You know him not so well as I My Prince himself wou'd not condemn Elvira Agnes Base Detractor thy Master is most just And tho her Life had not been dear to him He wou'd condemn and generously lament A Fate so sad and so deplorable Lorenzo 'T is from that gen'rous Justice I affirm He wou'd not blame Elvira Agnes Give me Patience Heav'n How impudently he defends her still What can'st thou say to plead so foul a Cause 'T is true her Aim was at my worthless Life But did I ever give her Provocation If any Wrongs cou'd justifie a Murder Lorenzo Your Rage transports you Madam It does not merit that opprobrious Term. Agnes Oh no! She had been innocent indeed If I had fall'n a Victim to her Hate But to prolong my Woes that was not suffer'd And cruel Fate can only be accus'd Ah! Why was her more kind Intention hinder'd Why was not that ill-guided Instrument Plung'd deep in my Hearts Blood to glut her Rage Lorenzo Did she then make attempt against your Life Agnes Has not Elvira own'd 't was her Design What cou'd she urge but that in her Defence And by what other way cou'd you excuse her Sure the most Savage Nature cou'd not harbour A Thought against so mild so good a Princess Ah Lorenzo Before I wonder'd that you should defend her I tremble now with Horror at you for it Lorenzo You amaze me what do you accuse her of Agnes Why do you trifle with a wretched Maid Ah miserable Agnes shun Mankind There 's nothing vertuous since Constantia's gone No Life without her I 'll go find her out And breath my Soul into her Lifeless Corps Is going Lorenzo Madam I have strict Order to retain you You are my Pris'ner Agnes Your Pris'ner Sure you 've lost your Wits Lorenzo Lorenzo This seeming Ignorance will not avail you Elvira has discover'd all the Fact 'T were better to repent and own your Crime Than pull new Judgments on your guilty Head by falsly taxing her Agnes If what I darkly apprehend be true In vain have all my Thoughts been innocent In vain have all my Actions aim'd at Glory Ah Don Lorenzo No it cannot be I have strange Fears but 't is impossible What is my Crime be plain and clear my Doubts Lorenzo Elvira and Bianca have declar'd Before the King they saw you kill the Princess Agnes And he believes it you believe it too Alas none living knows that I am wrong'd Lorenzo We found you Madam lying by the Princess Holding the bloody Ponyard in your Hand Agnes Grief for her Loss had mov'd a sinful Thought Of laying violent Hands upon my self Oh Heaven did you prevent my Guilt in that And yet permit the Innocence you sav'd To be reproach'd with a more horrid Crime Lorenzo Madam be careful What probably cou'd be Elvira's Motive To kill the Princess Agnes Alas I have no Witness of my Truth But vertuous Souls perhaps may know each other I 'm pleas'd I speak to you for you are honest And love I think Elvira less than Justice Lorenzo Speak Madam for I love my Prince so well I 'd rather find her criminal than you Agnes May I for ever be excluded Heav'n If I shall utter ought beside the Truth The Princess came alone to find me here And sent for me for I was just gone out When I return'd I saw Elvira fly And Oh most dreadful Sight my Princess dying She told me with her last expiring Breath Elvira had design'd those Wounds for me The sad Mistake occasion'd by the Place And that in wounding her she clear'd my Fame Which by a Letter forg'd I know not how She had before aspers'd Lorenzo Was not Bianca with the Princess Agnes I saw her not Lorenzo Yet she protests against you Elvira has a Wound too which confirms her Accusation Agnes Alas I know no more the Princess scarce Had Life enough to give me her Commands Lorenzo kneel and join in what I ask They kneel Sacred Divinity hear our just Prayer Let not the Guilty 'scape unpunish'd here But by some strange uncommon Judgment show Who shed that Blood which cries to thee for Vengeance And by her tort'ring Conscience clear the Injur'd Lorenzo Hear her and guide my Heart to favour most Her whom thy Wisdom knows to be most just Agnes How strange a Charm is Vertue in a Soul Mine feels a Calm almost incredible After those blust'ring Storms in which 't was tost Lorenzo Tho all Appearances are much against her Her Looks her Grief and Manner of Expression Have something so sincere and unconstrain'd They wou'd perswade me she is innocent Whether my fear to wrong the Guiltless move me Or that I am inspir'd from Heav'n I know not But Madam if you dare confide in me I 'll carry you where you shall be secure From those Indignities design'd you here Agn. Lorenzo no I 'm not so fond of life To save it by involving you in ruine Lor. My danger 's little I can fly with you Or to the Prince he will be my Protector Agn. What wou'd the World conclude from such a flight I cou'd not give a greater confirmation To what they now injuriously suspect Than flying with the Prince's Favourite Nay worse 't would cast a blemish on the Prince And raise suspicions he were accessary Lor. You rather chuse a death most infamous Agn. I do not chuse What by all decent ways I wou'd avoid But bear it as a fatal consequence Of that which Honour forces me to take Lor. Your scruples are more