University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

Enter Almachild and Rosamund vailed.
Alm.
Nay this is unkind my Dr. Cleanthe,
Why is that beauteous face hid now, why vailed?
Thou hast deprived me of half my pleasure,
By covering the face I so admire,
That face to which I am so much oblig'd.

Rosa.
Y' are more oblig'd to me, than you conceive;
More than to Cleanthe, for 'tis not she,
You'll scarce believe who 'tis, when you have seen.

[Unvails herself.
Alm.
The Queen! incredible indeed! 'tis well
I knew not, that from you I had the joy;
The mighty pleasure sure wou'd then have kill'd.
Oh! let me throw my self beneath your Feet,
Let me adore such Love! that has prevail'd
With you, to yield thus freely to my Arms.

Rosa.
Love, no I scorn the foolish, childish Flame.
Know, 'twas a nobler cause prevail'd on me.

Alm.
Not Love!

Rosa.
You've heard Alboino boast to day,
'Twas by his salvage hands my Father fell;
And by his barb'rous Temper urg'd
Made of his sacred Skull a drinking Cup.
For this I wou'd Revenge, and thus far I've proceeded.

Alm.
'Tis a pretty step towards it truly, can she go any farther?
(aside.)
I have happiness beyond addition
To have assisted you in this Revenge.
If you propose some other, I'd be proud to serve.

Rosa.
Thou shall't.
For I've resolv'd the haughty Tyrants Death.
And tis by you, that he must lose his Life.

Alm.
By me! what, kill the King! I dare not do't.

Rosa.
Hast not Courage to murder in the dark?
A Coward Villains fittest to murder.
But if thy fear delays my just Revenge
One short moment, I'll strait to Alboino,
And with my deepest dissimulation
I'll weep, I'll vow thou forc'd me to thy lust.
Think how his boundless Rage will use thee then,
A Death so lingring, painful he'll inflict.
The Torments of the damn'd will come far short of thine.

Alm.
Hold Madam, allow me a Moments thought.

Rosa.
But if thou dar'st perform, what I command,
Rewards, great as his punnishments, are thine.
Think when thou strik'st the Tyrant to the Heart
The lucky blow gives thee his Crown and Queen.

Alma.
Now you've named the most prevailing motive,
Unmov'd thus Paris heard the Rival Goddesses
But when the Queen of Love proffer'd herself
She quickly won the Hero to her side:

Rosa.
Lose no time then, 'tis now the dead of night,
The prop'rest Season to commit such deeds.
The Town will to the Romans be betray'd,
But Alboino must be dispatch'd before,
See where his ill stars send him to his Death,
Undress'd, unarm'd; bless'd opportunity!
I leave you to the Execution.
You'll sure strike home, since you already know
The great rewards that will attend the Blow.
[Exit Rosamund.

Enter Alboino.
Alb.
Yesterday's Ryot sies heavy on me;
My Fancy, Spirits are so much opprest.
By the dregs of Wine, I cannot freely think.

Alm.
Now is my time, while his back is to me—but
Then 'tis too sure a way, I must by one stroke secure his death.

(apart.
Alb.
Business and action must employ this day.
The Romans shall repent their daring soon;
And where they hop'd submission, find their Death.
I'll strait give orders that my Army moves,
And at the approaching of day, I'll fight them.

Alma.
First let me warn you of impending Ills.
Before you do a Foreign foe attack,
From a domestick one secure your self,
A black Conspiracy against you's form'd;
By discontented Slaves, and seeming Friends.

Alb.
Lives there the Wretch who dares attempt my Life?
Who can complain of Wrong, since I was King?
Some Men may tax me with severity;
But 'tis the heigth of Justice to reward
Virtue, and rigorously punish Crimes.
None wish my Death, who wou'd be safe themselves.

Alma.
Were your whole Court compos'd of honest Men,
Wou'd Heaven grant their Prayers alone, you'd be
Immortal, and wou'd reign secure as Jove.
But ev'n Heav'n has not been free from Vice;
Pride and Ambition boldly enter'd there,
And even there conspiracies were hatch'd.
Jove hurl'd from thence those Vices to the Earth,
But still permitted such to swarm in Courts.

Alb.
This from thee! this speaks thee brave and honest
Thy Character was misrepresented;
Thou hast been wrong'd, and I impos'd upon.
But Monarchs are the last who hear the Truth:
If thou are half so honest, as thou seemst,
Relate this black design against my Life.

Alma.
Were I less honest silence were more safe;
Mine is a dangerous piece of Loyalty,
Who rashly against Favourites informs,
Gains with his Prince unwilling slow belief,
Where he expects Rewards, meets with Contempt,
And by their greater interest, is crush'd.

Alb.
Doubt not severest Justice on my Foes;
I'll punish them, and thee I will reward.
Let this Embolden thee to utter Truth,
Be thus near me ever.

[Embraces him.
Alma.
Then I impart
The secret thus.

(stabs him.)
Alb.
Oh treacherous Villain!
Oh barbarous, inhumane, bloody Slave!
That I cou'd reach thee, with my dying gasps,
I'd force thee with me to my Grave.

Alm.
Now I can safely hear thee threat and rail,
And that the thoughts may give the paineful Death,
Kow that I pass'd last night with Rosamund.
To murder thee was the reward she ask'd,
And by this deed, she and thy Crown are mine:
Dye with that Thought: I'd stay to plague thee more,
But I must haste away to seize on both.

Exit.
Alb.
'Tis a tormenting, dismal thought indeed.
Which racks me worse, than even the Pangs of Death,
Woman! Woman! how endless are thy ills!
They know not when to leave, when they have once
Begun, but boundless in all their Passions.
Was't not enough to wrong the Marriage Bed,
But must my death compleat thy Crimes.
Shall my Crown, the Crown which I have purchas'd
At the expence of so much Toyl and Blood,
Be the Reward of Murderers and Whores?
Ebb faster out ye dull remains of Life,
That death may free me from such tortering thoughts.

Enter Aistolfus, Desiderio.
Aist.
Can it be certain that the Towns betray'd,
Can there be a Villain so besotted,
So blindly led by Passion or disgust,
Who wou'd betray his Country and his King
To Foreign Power to gratify himself?

Desid.
What urged the Traytors to an act so vile
I know not; but one of my Officers
Who was posted at the Ravenna Gate,
Came to inform me of the Treason, and by
His Wounds confirm'd the Truth of his Report.
Let's lose no time then, but haste to the King:
Try if his presence can reedeem the Town.

Aist.
Ha! is not that the King, stretcht on the Ground?
What can that sad dejected posture mean?

Alb.
Shall I thus tamely, thus poorly perish,
And is there none, who will revenge this Murder?

Aist.
What! murder'd! Ha! Oh curs'd nefarious deed!

[both Running up to him.
Desid.
Murder'd! nay then our Ruin is compleat.
But what is Life or Power when you are gone!

Alb.
Surely ye two are honest, and my Friends,
And for numberless Villains may attone.
Else Heav'n may blush at Monsters it has form'd,
Disown creative Power, and lay the work on Chance.

Aist.
The infernal God of Malice and Revenge
Contriv'd this horrid Act, and watch'd his Time
To rob us of you, when your unhappy,
Your betray'd Kingdom did most require.
For tho no ills like this, this is not all;
The Romans have by treachery got the Town,
Already they are masters of the Gates,
And now pour in unresisted Forces.

Alb.
Oh for a moments strength! that my weak Limbs
Cou'd bear me, only to my Armys Head!
That like a King and Soldier I might fall;
And some brave Foe might glory in my Death.
But I sink, and have only strength to wish.

Aist.
Oh tell us first, e're you leave us ever,
Who was the Wretch, who impiously durst strike
The Man who represents his God on Earth,
But who wou'd kill his King, disowns the Gods.

Alb.
My Wound gapes wider with the racking Thought,
And my blood faster gushes out, that I
Who have so oft brav'd Death, bred in Battles,
Inur'd to dangers, and have still o'recome;
Shou'd by a Cowards stroke thus meanly fall.
For Almachild by Rosamunda urg'd,
Brib'd with the enjoyment of the Prostitute,
Seem'd my Friend to be the blacker Villain;
And while I took the Viper in my arms,
He basely plung'd his Dagger in my breast.
I wou'd not live so long to think this or'e,
Farewell—Revenge my Death, and wear my Crown.

[Dies.
Aist.
Ah! what's thy Crown now its support is lost
Or what thy Kingdom since its Soul is gone?
Tis now an headless, dull, unactive Lump.
But to revenge is nobler than bewail;
'Twas thy Command, and thou shall't be obey'd.
Or may I have the Plagues of Regicides,
To live despairing and dye presumptuous.

Desid.
Monsters! 'tis they then have betray'd the Town
Oh fatal proof of Anger and Revenge!
Passion works strongest still in weakest minds.
What's to be done to satiate our Revenge?
The Queen has many Friends.
Gain'd by affected low humility;
For proudest Minds are the most abject too.
And backt by Rome, she may maintain a War
Which will protract, perhaps evade our just intent.

Aist.
We'll try t'effect it then by other means.
(Trumpets are heard.
Hark they come triumphant in their baseness.
Longinus has a noble generous Soul,
Which must abhor this black, tho gainful deed,
By honourable peaceful Terms I'll work my end,
For force should always be attempted last.
And if I can revenge my Masters Death,
Twill please me more than to possess his Crown.
But let us have his body first remov'd
Dead Kings should not be seen by vulgar Eyes,
For Monarchs we ought never to despise.
But the dull Rabble ignorant, and bold,
Think him no King, who was born of common Mold.

[Exeunt, the Guards bearing off Alboino.
Trumpets. Enter Longinus, Rosamund, Almachild, Odoacre, Guards.
Rosa.
When I contriv'd barbarous Alboino's Death,
'Twas not Revenge alone that mov'd me to't.
I knew the World of right belong'd to Rome.
Justice prevail'd with me to kill the King,
And lay my Crown at brave Longinus Feet.

Long.
The generous Gift does more secure your Crown,
Then vain Alboino's best Resistance cou'd.
Tho by our Arms, it had been forc'd from him,
Your conqu'ring eyes had won his Kingdom back;
For Heav'n design'd you Mistress of the Earth,
And made you Queen of beauty, and the World.
Such wond'rous beauty gilds o're all her faults.
None can see that and yet reflect on them.

(aside.)
Rosa.
But by me alone the War's not ended,
He too deserves a share in the applause.
(pointing to Alma.
Who boldly from a Tyrant set me free,
And Rome from an invet'rate Enemy.
Nor cou'd I less, than bestow my Person,
As some Reward for services so great.

Long.
'Tis a reward as far above desert,
As your Heavenly Form's above description.
No Tongue can give to that sufficient Praise,
No Service can presume to merit you.
'Tis reward so vast, that shou'd Justinus
Lay the whole Roman Empire at his Feet,
He might contemn the mean, the worthless Gift.

Alma.
Words have not Force to say how well I love,
And Gratitude's as hard to be exprest,
My future Acts will best discover both.
But their remains some yet to be dispatch'd,
To make us more securely blest and great,
Old Aistolfus and Desiderio.

Rosa.
He counsels well, my Lord; were they remov'd,
Their Army then would moulder and disperse.

Long.
They both are worthy and experienc'd men;
'Twere well that we cou'd win them to our side.
Howe're they may be still within the Town.
Let us then haste and issue orders out
To have each Gate secur'd, and stop their flight.

Exeunt omnes præter Odoacre.
Odoa.
And is my hop'd Reward then come to this?
Am I thus slighted, after what I've done?
No thanks paid, no notice taken of me.
Death and Hell! have I betray'd my Country,
Lost my Honour, and Peace of Mind for this?
Got nothing but a distracted Conscience?
And stript of all my hopes by Almachild,
Because he has acted a greater ill.
Int'rest made me plot before, now Revenge:
I'll either work his Ruin or my own.
And by Longinus am'rous looks, I guess
And Praises of Rosamunda's Beauty,
He'll joyn with me in my design.
Soft Love will urge as far, as fierce Revenge.
As he is going out, Enter Flora.
My Daughter here! Flora, what business brings you to Court?

Flo.
I came to find you out, and on my Knees to ask you forgiveness.

Odoa.
You cou'd not have taken a worse time; I was
Meditating on Revenge, and am but in an ill humour
To forgive. But what is your offence?

Flo.
Tho you might have consented, had I acquainted
You with it; yet concealment is a Crime.

Odoa.
Well, what is it?

Flo.
For nothing can excuse my disposal of my self without
Your knowledge.

Odoa.
Disposal! what is't you mean, I say?

Flo.
I am privately marry'd.

Odoa.
Marry'd! promis'd I suppose you mean, For
Almachild is otherwise engag'd.

Flo.
'Tis not to him, tho 'twas by his advice I marry'd
Clefi, Alvaro's Son.

Odoa.
Ay his advice! why shou'd he advise her?—he has
Enjoy'd her first himself, then thrown her on that
Fool. I'll know the bottom.
aside.
Base and unworthy! you ask forgiveness, not that you repent your
Crimes; an unfeign'd sorrow wou'd acknowledge all; but you
Confess a fault, you know you can't conceal.

Flo.
Acknowledge all! I won't invent to try your Goodness,
'Tis well if I am pardon'd this.

Odoa.
To try your Hypocrisie, I have thus long pretended
Ignorance; but I can bear no more, and your denyal
Will be vain, after Almachild has openly told all.

Flo.
Told it! oh ungrateful, perfidious Man! What
Has he told!

Odoa.

So, now, 'tis plain, but I'll smother my resentment of her
baseness, to be the surer reveng'd on him, and now I have a double
cause.
(aside.)
Yes he tells it publickly, and triumphs in your undoing, and in dishonouring
my Family.

Flo.

What! already declare my weakness, has he taken so much
Pains, been at so great expense of Time and Wealth only for the
pleasure of talking? can Men delight so much in publishing their
Vices and Women's Follies? but I have not more reason to be enrag'd
against him, than you against me. What must I do to pacify
you, and be reveng'd on him?

Odoa.

Cou'd I undo him with the Queen, 'twere noble mischief,
I have it, make her jealous—right—that can't fail.
(aside.)
You cannot appease me, nor demonstrate your repentance but by
punishing him.

Flo.

Instruct me how; I'll hasten with a more eager joy, than I
did first to his Embraces.

Odoa.

Being a Man of great quality and wealth, he has been
allowed an apartment in Court, I think that door leads to it; I suppose
you are well acquainted with it; contrive to get admittance
there, and be ready to answer when I call; leave the rest to my management.

Flo.

I have still the fatal Key he gave me, which opens a private
back-door.

Odoa.

That's lucky; convey yourself into it; I'll acquaint you
farther with my design as we walk.

Successful Ruin will attend my Plot,
Since I've the assistance of a Woman got.

Exeunt.