 | The Passionate Lover, Second Part |  |
Act. 5.
Scæn. 1.
Enter Cleon, Clorinda, Prince (following.)Clo.
Sir, pardon this disturbance of your thoughts.
Cle.
Your presence rather, fairest Lady,
May rectifie any disorder,
Since you are all a harmony of sweetness.
Clo.
Sir, I perceive your power great with this noble Prince,
And I believe so much a friend to him,
That he would hearken to your councel:
If you would join with reason, and so perswade him
To set Prince Clarimant and the Princess at liberty,
I think it were an act would shew much friendship
To him, and for your self gain what reward
You would desire from both the Kings.
146
I have observed, most beautiful Clorinda,
Such an excess of nobleness in you,
I scarcely dare express what I would undertake
To serve you: but then you really
Must let me know all your desires.
Clo.
It is Cleon.
Cle.
Lady, dare you adventure to speak your wishes?
Clo.
I have done so.
Cle.
That Clarimant and the Princess should be
Delivered, I do believe is your desire:
But is that all? are you pleas'd to be here?
Clo.
Why should I not? am I not nobly used?
Cle:
I know those who are wicked fear not
To break an oath; but such whose heart
Is fill'd with vertue, as I am sure yours is,
Would not be perjur'd for the world.
Clo.
To what tends this?
Cle.
That you do swear not to discover
What I shall propose touching your service.
Clo.
You need not doubt, if it do suit
With what I have exprest is my desire.
Cle.
My end shall be the same, their liberty and yours,
Though happily our ways to that may differ.
Clo.
My liberty!
Cle.
Yes, yours the most desired:
Swear, and then hear what I propose.
Clo.
I do, so far as vertue binds.
Cle.
That tye all men have on you.
Clo.
If your intents be fair, why will you ask
A stronger obligation then?
Cle.
I dare not speak my thoughts without an oath.
Clo.
What can he mean?—I swear never to speak
Of that you shall propound; nor need I,
Since the Prince does overhear.
147
Then know, I am not ignorant how you dissemble
With this treacherous Prince, whom you
And all the world must hate.
Clo.
This will undo me; I hate the Prince!
Cle.
Yes, Lady, deadly; yet less then I.
Pr.
'Tis well.
Cle.
All for your sake; and for that noble Prince,
If you consent, this hand, if Clarimant's
Be not more able to effect it,
Shall take revenge, and right our general wrongs.
Clo.
I do complain of none;
If I did, how could this be effected?
Cle.
With ease; nay more, it is not impossible,
The deed done, to escape to shore in the ship-boat,
Into which the Prince and you, the night assisting,
May get before.
Enter Prince.
It is impossible; you are deceiv'd—
A Guard there!
[Ent. Guard and Sailors]
Seise the Villain.
Cle.
How? what mean you sir? All that I spoke
Was but to let you see how she abused you,
And this the plot that Clarimant and she had laid:
You know, upon your life depends my happiness.
Pr.
Mine in thy death:
This cunning cannot save you, Cleon.
Cle.
Nor do I wish it should,
If you indeed believe me guilty.
Pr.
Bind him, I will have thee tortur'd limb from limb,
Till thou confess all truth.
Clo.
Let me intreat, sir, for his life,
However I am by him accused.
Pr.
For hating me; which I have too much reason
To believe is truth.
148
How can you think so?
Did I not place you to overhear him?
Pr.
But knew not what he would deliver.
See Clarimant fast bound; and (Madam)
My cabin this night shall be your chamber.
Clo.
Perhaps my death-bed: Lost for ever!
Exeunt.
Enter Selina (bound.)
O you just Gods! how all my treasons
Against my sweet and innocent Mistress are return'd
Upon my head! Prince Clarimant, I am thy murdress,
To the fair Olinda, by my means betraid:
O horror! what will my torments be for this
Hereafter in the other world? All this
For love of thee false Cleon have I done,
Thy cursed brain gave birth to all my plots:
Is this the Crown thou mad'st me fondly hope for?
And shall I die without revenge? revenge!
My hands fast bound, there's nothing left that I can
Reach thee with but curses, fruitless curses.
He shall live happy, gain a Kingdom and Clorinda,
By her a Kingdom: why should I pitty her then?
It is she that is the ground of all my misery,
His love to her makes me thus wretched:
For Clarimant, he may hereafter marry with Olinda,
All but my self may yet be happy:
Must I alone die wretched, contemn'd and scorn'd?
Why do I longer live, my guilt and miseries so great?
You Gods, or Fiends, remove me from this miserable
Earth, and let me feel new punishments,
If punishments there be hereafter,
These they cannot exceed: how sweet were yet
Revenge! O for revenge, that Cleon's heart
Were in my hand! false Cleon's!—no way.
Exit.
149
Clo.
O dearest Olinda, what are the miseries
That we are faln into! Thinking to rid my self
Of a false Vilain, I have brought ruine
On us all; no art can help us now.
Oh the hard choice! to marry with this traitor
Prince; or Clarimant must die.
Olind.
It were better you consent to marry with the Prince,
Then that Prince Clarimant should suffer;
Let not him die however.
Clo.
I know your love to Clarimant
Makes you perswade me thus: and I would quickly yield,
Did not my oath to Clarimant forbid;
But would kill my self ere go to bed.
Olind.
I must confess I love the Prince,
Be not offended that I say so;
It was your perswasion first: since, I have seen
Such noble actions, as raises him so far
Above all other men, that they appear
Not worthy of a thought: And yet my love
And estimation of your vertue's such,
I gladly would submit, nay much rejoice
To see such merits join'd.
Enter Prince, Clarimant (bound) and Guard.
Pr.
Clarimant, behold your Judge: for know, Clorinda,
This minute you must give consent to marry me,
And go to bed; or else immediately his head
Goes off.
Clo.
A cruel choice!
Olind.
Base man! canst thou expect to scape the hand
Of justice, after such cruelty?
150
It is not from you, Madam, that I expect
An answer: Speak Clorinda, give your sentence;
For by the Gods there is no way but one of these.
Clo.
O Clarimant!
Clar.
Heavens, can you suffer
What you have made so excellent, to be thus
Miserable?
Pr.
These lamentations boot not:
Speak Lady, I can admit of no delay.
Clo.
What can I say?
Pr.
No! strike off his head then.
Clo.
Oh hold!
Pr.
Speak, are you mine?
Clo.
Say, Clarimant.
Clar.
Madam, to me death will be ease,
Since I have liv'd to see you injured thus,
And have not power for to revenge it.
Pr.
Are you resolved?
Clar.
To suffer what thy barbarous nature can inflict.
O help! fire, fire!
[Within]
Pr.
What cry is that?
Quench, quench the fire.
[Within]
Enter 1.
O sir, we are all undone! the fire hath taken
Amongst the Cabins, past all hope of extinguishing.
Enter 2.
Flie, flie! the ship, the cordage is a fire:
For all the water we can bring, it still increases.
Pr.
What, burn in the sea! slaves, quench the flames.
2.
The Sailors, sir, descend into the Boat:
151
The only means of safety.
Pr.
Hell and confusion!
2.
There's none obey command; but each man looks
To his own safety.
Clar.
O heavens! must then Clorinda perish!
Pr.
Make sure of the Long-boat for me: Some one kill Cleon,
Or rather let him perish in the flames.
My wounds receiv'd from Clarimant, I will revenge
My self.
[Offers to kill]
Clo.
O sir, if you have hope in me!
Pr.
It is true; he shall not die yet,
But the Gods hereafter shall not save him,
Though they thus crost my wishes now: Come Lady,
I will take care of you.
Clo.
We must not part.
Pr.
I mean it not; there may be use of her,
Nay for your sake bring Clarimant along.
Clar.
'Tis for thine own, false Prince.
Pr.
But look well to him.
Clar.
You Gods!
Your powerful justice in these flames is shown,
Preserve Clorinda, and your mercy's known.
Exeunt.
Enter Sailor (with a casket.)
Gramercy fire! the element of water never yet
Afforded me so much: this I can swim to shore
With; yet the wind blows high; but to the
Shoreward I may escape; if not, why so
Whoever finds my body, shall give me thanks.
152
Sel.
O gentle Sailor, untie my hands!
Sail.
A pretty boy; come,—It will not do,
My knife: so, canst swim?
Sel.
Oh no.
Sail.
Then get some board or pack: I fear I shall be
Drown'd, I am so well natur'd on the sudden.
No use of this—
Exit.
Enter Cleon (hands bound.)
Cle.
Just heavens!
Sel.
True, Cleon; never so manifest.
Cle.
Gentle Selina, unbind my hands:
Sel.
I were ingrate else, Cleon: you did as much for me.
Cle.
And would do more; any thing; unbind me, Sweet,
I'll swim with thee upon my back to shore.
Sel.
You cannot swim, I am sure you shall not.
Cle.
No creature living better; I oft have swam two leagues
For pleasure: O delay not, the fire approaches.
Sel.
But will you marry me, and make good all your promises?
Cle.
By the Gods I will.
Sel.
Sure you will agen deceive me.
Cle.
Never, by my hopes.
Sel.
The only time you ever yet spoke truth—
You shall not: yet still thy heart is false.
Cle.
It is not; quick unbind me, gentle Selina.
Sel.
Well, for once I'll try what your heart holds.
Cle.
Blest Selina! O cruel! yet spare me
She wounds him.
Dear Selina.
Sel.
Yes, when I see your heart, or blood come from it.
Cle.
O witch, devil!
153
I am to thee so: What policie can now defend?
Know to thy greater torment, I set the ship
On fire, only to be reveng'd on thee,
Not hoping such a happiness as this,
With these to behold thy false heart blood.
Cle.
O that my eyes could look thee dead!
Sel.
I will see them closed, my dearest husband,
It is my duty.
Cle.
First we'll to sea together.
Sel.
Since we must—
Exeunt, fall as into the sea.
Enter Prince, Clarimant, Clorinda, Olinda, Sailors.
1 Sail.
It were best to enter further within the wood:
A Boat made after us when we forsook the ship:
2 Sail.
Some Fisherman, that to avoid the storm,
Put to the shore.
Pr.
Let the winds blow and split, since we are
Here: Fire, air, and water have oppos'd my wishes;
Kind mother Earth grant what they have denied.
But why should I intreat, that may command
All my desires? Once more, Clorinda,
I propose the choice; say, shall he die,
Or will you make me happy, who loves you
More then he?
Clar.
Traitor thou lyest: He that truly loves Clorinda,
Would give some noble testimony: Unbinde my hands,
And by my death, as a worthy Rival,
Win her from me: I ask no sword,
Only the freedom of my hands; but if thy coward heart
Think that too much, take all these to assist.
Pr.
You need not pull death faster on you
By injurious words; it is ready,
Speak Clorinda, or he dies.
154
Hold, and give me leave to speak a few sad words.
Dear Clarimant, I know to save your life,
And yield my self anothers, were such a choice
You never could allow, since to the miserable
Life is a burden: Could my death
Make you happy, the Gods be witness
I would lay it down with joy,
Our fates I find are one; the merit of your love
And sufferings for my sake is such,
That I should hold my self ingrate,
Did I not grant you any thing
That I might think might comfort you in death.
Clar.
But shall I dare to speak wy wishes?
Clo.
More then dare; I do enjoin it.
Clar.
There is a happiness would make my death
My triumph.
Clo.
I understand you. Here! alas that I should give
My hand to Clarimant, and he not able
To receive it! Our hearts may yet be join'd
For ever, and only by these miseries
They could have been.
Pr.
Is this the fruit of my delay,
To hear my Rival courted?
Clo.
Know tyrant, 'tis the same,
Offers to kill Clar. Clo. steps between, and Oli. hinders it.
One stroke dispatches both.
Clar.
Strike here then, vilain.
Olind.
Devil, dost thou believe there are no Gods?
Enter Agenor, Clindor.
Age:
Clindor, this way I saw them enter.
Clind.
I am out of breath, sir.
Pr.
Ha, who are these?
Clind.
See sir, the traitor Prince.
155
Unbind me, dear Clorinda.
(Agenor and Clindor fight with the Prince, then drive off the Sailors and follow them: Clar. kills the Prince. Then)
Enter Agenor (wounded) and Clindor.
Clar.
O dearest brother, how is it with you?
Age.
Well, Clarimant, never so well.
Clo.
By all that's good, you never in my eye
Lookt half so lovely as now: yet till this day
I never could have said I lov'd another better
Then your Majesty.
Age.
If it be Clarimant, my joys are then compleat.
Olind.
It is he, sir; who could else deserve it?
Age.
How favourable are the Gods unto the vertuous!
How just to wicked men! How glad will my Austela be
Of this, who with the King will straight be here?
They from the shore beheld your ship, when it
Took fire, saw you put off from it,
And watcht your landing certainly.
Clar.
Know you what Bark it was
That follow'd us at sea?
Age.
I was in that, and Clindor,
Some twenty with me to watch the ship,
Till other Vessels were prepared:
So swift she was of sail, that all the Fleet
Could not have hurt us.—See, the King!
Enter King, Austela, Attendants.
Au.
What happiness? all safe?
K.
Welcom again, my dearest.
156
Let's lose no time; delay were now ingratitude:
See, a Temple close by prompts us
To the performance of two duties:
The burial of this unhappy Prince;
But chiefly to render thanks unto the Gods.
Deliverance so great, alacrity commands
In giving thanks: that done, we'll join your hands.
Clo.
It were folly now to deny the ceremonial,
The real part already past.
Clar.
O dear Clorinda!
'Twere vain to think words could my joys express,
Rais'd from despair to such a happiness.
Exeunt.
FINIS.
| The Passionate Lover, Second Part | |