University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

The Scene changes to the Danish Camp.
Enter Turgesius.
Tur.
He must obey; surrounded with my Troops
He cannot fly; or whither wou'd he fly?
The Friends who still adhere to his Distress,
Are with uncommon Bravery endu'd,
But they so few, 'tis Madness to resist.—
Then there is no Retreat for him, but Death.
And that their Law, what they call Faith, forbids.—
Then she must come; I have decreed she shall,
And will in Transports waste the joyous Night.—
Why am I then disturb'd, whence these sad Thoughts!
What gloomy Terrors thus invade my Heart,
And rack me with imaginary Ills!—
Proceed thee from the Eagerness Love,
Doubtful of Happiness not yet possess'd?—
Am I not Lord of all this goodly Isle,
Subdu'd, enslav'd by this victorious Arm?
Who dare dispute, who can oppose my Will?
And yet my Heart refuses to rejoice.
Enter Erric.
Am I obey'd?

Er.
The Victims are arriv'd.

Tur.
Then be at Ease my Heart,
Thou shalt enjoy thy Love.
And how bear they their Fate? Shamefac'd, abash'd;
Fix they their sparkling Eyes upon the Ground,
Glow not the Blushes on their Vermil Cheeks?

Er.
They seem th'Attendants of the mournful Grave;
Prepar'd for Death, not for the Genial Bed.

Tur.
Speak not of Death, I startle at the Word,
Something unusual makes me dread the Sound.

Er.
They all are cloath'd alike, a long black Veil
Covers them o'er, and shrouds them from our Sight.
And when we bid throw off the sad Disguise,
In faultering Accents then they whisper soft,
Oh spare our Shame, guard us from publick View!
In your Apartments we will yield to Love.

Tur.
And so far we will yield to their Request.
They are with Modesty encumber'd yet;
But Practice makes the bashful Virgin bold.

Er.
With more majestic State the Princess moves,
And marches foremost of the Sable Troop.

Tur.
Seek not with Praises to increase a Flame
Which preys too much already on my Heart.
Go thou, conduct her in; Sabina bring,
To ease my Love and dissipate my Cares.

Er.
Might I presume, since safe within your Camp,
I wou'd advise they might be spar'd this Night.
To-morrow give to Love, this Night to War.

Tur.
What says the Trifler! what! delay my Bliss!

Er.
Some of your Officers who guard the Boyn,
Arriv'd this Instant, bring surprising News.
One in the Service of O Neill, at close
Of Day was seiz'd, and on the Rack confess'd,
Your Forces in Ultonia, too secure,
Dispers'd and negligent, are overthrown
O Neill, collecting all his scatter'd Troops,
With Speed incredible renew'd the War.
And gain'd an easy Victory; and now,
Elated with success, he leads them on
Resolv'd to combat you.

Tur.
Why let him come.
We shall chastise the rash presumptuous Boy.

Er.
He is arriv'd, now in O Brien's Tent.

Tur.
There let him stay; there let him wast this Night.
In idle Vaunts, to Morrow he shall die.

Er.
This Night he meditates some great Design.
His Troops resolve to pass the Boyn this Night.
And the Reward of this bold Enterprise,
Must be Sabina's, your Sabina's, Heart.

Tur.
And dare his Thoughts aspire to what I love?
In thousand Pieces shall the Slave be torn,
Stretch'd on the Rack he shall beg Death in vain,
And lingering die, while I stand by and Laugh.

Er.
Then execute your brave Revenge this Night.
March to their Camp, and seize them unprepar'd.
To Morrow take the Princess to your Arms,
Unrivall'd, undisturb'd.

Tur.
Is she not here attending my Commands?
Unworthy were I of th'approaching Bliss,
Should I defer it by thy cold Advice.
Would he were also here! then, then
Would I rejoyce, and every Passion feast.

Er.
To Morrow you may gratify that Wish.
Rob'd of his Love, when he is just arriv'd,
His Fury may attempt some desperate Act.

Tur.
Hence with thy Fears,, and hither bring my Love.
Bring me my Heav'n, bring my Sabina here.
Make thy Choice next, and then dispose the rest
Among my Officers, whom I have nam'd.

Er.
Before this Night is pass'd, you may destroy
Your Foe, and love in full security.

Tur.
Slave! Thou art brib'd to move for this delay.

Er.
Brib'd by my Duty, by my Love to you.

Tr.
Thy Zeal grows troublesome; leave me, begon.

Er.
Yet Sir! reflect—

Tur.
Again; not yet obey'd—
Thy next reply is Death—hast, lead her in.
[Exit. Erric.
Shall it be said, I left my Love through Fear,
Because O Neill has stolen a victory?
No, at my leisure I will punish him.
This Night shall be devoted to my Love;
To morrow to Revenge, my second Joy;
Perhaps to Morrow it may be my first.
Sabina is led in by Erric, at the lower End of the Stage.
But she appears? down, my tumultuous Heart!
Beat not so fast! with leisure tast thy Joys—
What Joy? She looks the Messenger of Death,
And Fears and Doubts again invade my Mind.—
Clasp'd in her Arms I will transported lie,
Regain my Freedom, and expel those Fears.—
But see: she makes a sign to have him gone.
She would no Witness to the amorous Fight.
Void thou the Place, make hast and seize thy Prey.
[Exit Erric.
She beckons to the Door,
She would have that secured.
She fears to have our coming Joys disturb'd.
I like her Caution well.
[Goes to the Door and locks it.
Now throw aside thy Veil, thou lovely Fair!
Fly to my Arms! receive—

O Neill throwing off his Veil; discovers himself, and advances swiftly to him, a Dagger in his Hand.
O N.
Receive thy Death,
The just Reward of thy inhumane Deeds.

Tur.
Amazement! whence or what art thou?

O N.
Thy vanquish'd Troops have trembled at my Name.
Now tremble thou. Know I am call'd O Neill.
From my Dominions I have driven thy Troops,
And now am sent by Heaven to punish Thee.

Tur.
Talkest thou of Punishment here in my Camp,
In my own Palace lodg'd, my Guards in Call?

O N.
Not all thy Guards, not all thy Friends from Hell,
Should dare protect thee from the Wrath of Heaven.
Bless'd be that Heaven! which, listning to my Prayers,
Has chosen me to execute that Wrath,
To free my Country, to protect my Love,
To guard Sabina from thy base Attempt.

Tur.
Thy Love!

O N.
The bless'd Sabina! doom'd for me.

Tur.
I can no longer brook thy Insolence,
But give Command to have thee drag'd to Death.

O N.
But I shall tame thy Insolence of Mind.
I seize Thee thus; resist not on thy Life,
Nor hope to free thy self from this strong Gripe.—
Methinks thus fortify'd in Virtues Cause,
I could to Atoms shake this mouldring Clay.
Make me no loud Reply; behold this Steel;
Dare not to call, dare not to look a sign,
Or if thou dost, that Moment thou art Earth.

Tur.
Forego thy Hold; my Life is in thy Power.
But let me reason with thee e're I die.
Becomes this Act a King? thus in Disguise,
Putting the Semblance of another on,
Thus to assault me unprepar'd, unarm'd?
Thou who art bred to Arms, nurst in a Camp,
Practis'd in open, honourable War;
Thou who dost boast thy Glories lately Won,
Thou shouldst have met me in the dusty Field,
When all the World might have beheld the Fight,
There wav'd thy Sword, and there have threatned Death.

O N.
Talk'st thou of open, honourable War?
Thou who hast stretch'd thy Conquest by vile Fraud,
Broken all Laws of Hospitality,
Betray'd thy Nourishers, designing Rapes,
Embru'd with Murder, stain'd with Sacrilege,
Doest thou upbraid an honest Artifice?
Doest thou reproach the Rescue of my Love?

Tur.
Death bears a dreadful sound! yet that my Love,
That she's design'd for Thee afflicts me more.
The Rage, the Pangs of disappointed Love,
Exceed the Agonies of parting Breath.

O N.
Wast not thy little time in idle Plaints
For loss of Love or Life; look beyond Death,
My Hate pursues Thee not in th'other World.
Think of thy miserable Portion there,
And by Repentance mitigate thy Pains,

Tur.
I have not yet had leisure for those Thoughts;
Now I begin to dread a Future State.
And while I strive to follow thy Advice,
And deprecate those Pains; think thou on Life.
Think if I Dye, thou canst not long survive,
And no Disguise can then convey thee back.
Think on the Rage, the Fury of my Troops,
Thou can'st not scape an ignominious Death.

O N.
Think'st thou I came not here prepared for Death?
But no Disgrace shall wait me to the Grave.
It is the cause of Death that brings Disgrace;
When we for Honor, Faith, or Justice bleed,
Gibbets and Chains are honourable made.
And Martyrs with the Heroes vie for Fame.

Tur.
Say I shou'd quit my Love, and yield to Peace.

O N.
Fond Man! I see to what thy Answers tend;
Thou seek'st Delay, in hopes of some Relief.
I too delay; I aim beyond thy Life.
This Night (be Heav'n propitious to our Prayers)
Shall free us ever from thy cruel Yoke.
I wait the Signal of our blest Success.
The Virgins, sent by thy austere Command,
Are chosen Youths, brave as becomes their Birth;
Thy Minions too will meet a just Reward,
And where they hop'd for Joys of Love, find Death.
Nor is this all; my Troops have forc'd the Boyn,
And, headed by our Monarch, fiercely come
To claim due Vengeance for thy barb'rous Wrongs.
[A Signal is made without.
Hark! it is done! I hear the happy Sound,
My noble Friends have finish'd the great Work,
And now for Entrance seek. Thanks gracious Heav'n!
[He goes to the Door and unlocks it.
Enter O Connor.
Welcome my Friend! oh welcome to my Arms!
I see thou ha'st perform'd thy glorious Part.
How fare the rest?

O. Con.
All have succeeded ev'n beyond our Hopes.
Erric the Ravisher is now no more:
Behold this Ponyard, reeking with his Blood.
Eager he came (attended by the Chiefs
Appointed to divide the fancy'd Prey)
And with Disdain superiour to his Love,
He haughtily enquired which Agnes was,
And bad her follow; gladly I obey'd:
He led to his Apartment; entred there,
Now thou shalt yield to my Desires, he cry'd.
Then as he roughly tore away my Veil,
I plung'd this vengeful Dagger in his Heart;
And all the Ravishers have met such Fate.

Tur.
Then I am lost, beyond Redemption lost.

O. Con.
This Deed perform'd, we seiz'd the Castle Gate,
With Ease o'recame the drowsy Guard; then, from
The Battlement, thrice wav'd a flaming Torch,
The Signal for our Monarch to approach,
And now they guard the Gate to give him Entrance.

O N.
See now th'Effects of thy ill gotten Power!
(To Turgesius)
How soon thy Pride and Boasts are overthrown.
The Toil of Years, the Labours of thy Life,
Thy vain Ambition and usurp'd Dominion
All in one Moment lost.

Tur.
Furies and Plagues and Death! Despair and Death!

O N.
I seek not to insult thy abject State,
Nor with harsh Words wou'd fret and wound thy Soul.
Had'st thou known Mercy in thy prosperous Days,
And sought the lovely Paths of Temperance,
Had Faith and Virtue been thy pleasant Guides,
The Stings of Conscience wou'd not wound so deep,
And thou woud'st bear thy Fortune more compos'd.—
But hark! the Trumpets sound, the Monarch comes!
I give thee leisure to repent thy Life,
And leave thy Fate to be dispos'd by him.
Enter O Brien, Sabina, Agnes, Eugenius, Guards.
He comes!
Sabina comes to make my Joys compleat.

O B.
Let me embrace thee, press thee to my Heart.
Oh glorious Youth! how shall I speak my Joy!
How praise, how thank thy noble Enterprize!
So bravely undertaken and perform'd.
Take thus my Praise, thus I return my Thanks,
Receive Sabina, take her to thy Arms,
And Peace and Happiness attend your Days.

O N.
Oh 'tis too much! too plenteous are my Joys!
My lab'ring Heart cannot contain such Bliss.
What! in one Night to have our Country freed,
The Monarch reinstated on his Throne.
And thee to crown them all! Oh 'tis too much!
My throbbing Heart and my tumultuous Spirits
Rob me of Speech, and I can only gaze,
But sigh and gaze, and silent bless thy Charms.

Sa.
My Virtue rescu'd, and my Life preserv'd,
Freedom regain'd! to owe all these to thee,
I fear my Heart is not full Recompence;
But take that Heart, and ever rule my Life.

Enter Herimon.
He.
Your Arms will gain an easy Victory.
No sooner had our Shouts of Joy proclaim'd
Their King was seiz'd, and all their Chiefs were slain,
But the tame Foe threw down their Arms and fled,
With Cries they rend the Air, and fly tho' unpursu'd.

Tur.
Disgrace and Plagues attend their Coward Steps!

O B.

Tur.
Thou who hast known, what 'tis to feel Distress,
Thou shoud'st know Mercy best, and spare my Life.

O B.
Has Death been so familiar to thy Eyes?
The Groans of dying Men, the Virgin's Shrieks,
Have been thy Musick at thy bloody Feasts.
And art thou now afraid to die?

Tur.
The Mind by Action warm'd, by Passion fir'd,
Has not full leisure to reflect on Death,
But hurries us unthinking upon Danger,
Cold and unactive now, she Safety seeks,
And would preserve her Being.
Give me my Life, my Conquests I resign,
And that base Crew, who fly me in Distress,
I give up to thy Wrath, let them all perish.

O B.
What give thy People up to save thy Life!
What is their Crime but in obeying thee?
By thee instructed to destroy and kill:
And must they perish all to save thy Life,
To add to thee a few precarious Hours?
So base a Thought exceeds thy other Crimes,
Thy many Crimes aloud for Vengeance call,
And Justice bids thee die.—Go, take him hence
And bear him to his Fate.

Tur.

(He is led off)
Eu.
Another Nation shall indeed succeed,
But different far in Manners from the Dane.
(So Heav'n inspires and urges me to speak)
Another Nation, famous through the World,
For martial Deeds, for Strength and Skill in Arms,
Belov'd and blest for their Humanity.
Where Wealth abounds, and Liberty resides,
Where Learning ever shall maintain her Seat,
And Arts and Sciences shall flourish ever.
Of gen'rous Minds and honourable Blood;
Goodly the Men, the Women heav'nly fair,
The happy Parents of a happy Race,
They shall succeed, invited to our Aid,
And mix their Blood with ours; one People grow,
Polish our Manners, and improve our Minds.

O B.
Whatever Changes are decreed by Fate,
Bear we with Patience, with a Will resign'd.
Honour and Truth pursue, and firmly trust,
Heav'n may at last prove Kind, it will be Just.

(Exeunt Omnes.