University of Virginia Library

Scene 2.

Don Manuel's House.
Enter Rosella, Alcinda, and Leonella.
Alc.
What Visage wears my Fate? what have they done?
The noise was very loud, Is Fenise gone?
Safely got off or no? Why don't you speak?
Should he be kill'd, my sullen heart would break.

Leon.
He's safely gone, but all I fear is known—

Alc.
Sure I heard their Swords; had he no wounds?

Leon.
None—

Alc.
Henceforth we never meet.

Rosel.
Did acts of Love,
I'th' Sphere of Justice as of Power move,
Asharp repentance wou'd succeed your Fact;
And you would suffer what you late did Act.
Some worthless object, on your self would throw
That cruel scorn, you did to Fenise show.

Alc.
Justice is blind, and grown so modish too,
Like other Females, bribes must make her do:
Her Sword, Self-interest and Passion swayes,
But Love and beauty ev'ry thing obeyes.

Rosel.
She runs the common fate of all our Sex,
Whom natures too imperious Law, subjects
To her great Master-peice, victorious man:
And you Alcinda! know, you'r beauty can
Command so large a pow'r ore any heart,
As will oppose Astræa's weaker part.

Alc.
Beauty, the Toy you talk of, I disown:
To my dull sense it still had been unknown,
If to your self I had a stranger been;
Where all those charming Vanities are seen,
Those rare Chymæra's, flatt'ring Poets place
In the description of a beautious face;
Those that want faith, the fair Rosella view;
All Lovers write is verify'd in you.

Rosel.
Each wandring glance you make, a heart your prize,
By the Magnetick Vertue of your Eyes;
The am'rous Gallants here their service pay,
You are their Saint, and at your feet they pray.

Leon.
The longest day would seem a midnights dream,
While they continue on this pleasing theam.
Is not one Minute to Don Fenise due?

Rosel.
Once more I must that hopeless suit renew.

Alc.
Desist Rosella! from a Sute so vain—
The Earth may move, before we meet again.

Ros.
So brave a choice your Reason may approve.

Alc.
Reason was ne'r the messenger of Love.

Ros.
Think, think Alcinda! you may Love too late—

Alc.
My humor's fix'd above the pow'r of Fate.

Leon.
Madam!
My zeal to serve you, shews my troubl'd mind,
To see you flie the Blessings Heav'n design'd;
O! could you think the joyes, that do attend
A marry'd life, this humor soon would end.
Think what entrancing pleasure 'tis, to hold
Your Lover in your arms, and sweetly fold
With close embraces, and more lovely Twines,
Than clasping Ivy, or the winding Vines.
This idle peevish thing call'd Modesty,
Is Womans most invet'rate Enemy:
Lay it aside, none but our selves are here,
Blushes are vain when none but Women hear.
Sleep with a Man! what joy the thought of't brings,
This is no World to refuse good things.
There needs no words, Your Eyes speak your intent,
A Womans silence shews her full consent.

Alc.
Perpetual silence seize thee! I admire
What leprous Dæmon does thy Soul inspire.

Ros.
Base!—I know not what to call her, sure
Nature wants Definitions so impure.

[Exeunt Alcinda and Rosella.
Leon.
Truth seldom is accepted when 'tis plain;
But hang't! I'll soon retrieve their love again.

Enter Don Manuel and Teresa, and Mingo after, observing them.
Ter.
If you consent, we yet may lose our Fears,
And with their Bodies, cloyster up our Cares,
Send them to th'Nunnery, and let's pretend
Zeal to Religion is our onely end.
Let them drop Beads—

Man.
From thence what can arise?

Ter.
In their Concealment all our safety-lies.

Man.
Can that contribute ought to hide our Crimes?

Ter.
Yes, very much these Superstitious times;
'Twill gain their highest praise, who can depaint
Mischief so fair, it may deceive a Saint.
In this quick-sighted Age that we live in,
Religion is the safest Veil for Sin.
While they do breathe an unconfined Air,
Our Ruines imminent, Objects so fair
Endure the search of many prying Eyes;
You know what Dangers may from thence arise.

Man.
I like thy counsel well—but—

Ter.
But!—but what?
Vengeance pursues us, yet his blood seems hot
And reeking for Revenge, methinks I hear
The wind cry Murther in my guilty Ear—

Man.
Dear Duck! enough, th'art wise; it shall be so—
Rosella to the Nunnery shall go,
That will secure us, though Alcinda stay,
On her side there's no danger in delay.

Ter.
Steal to your ruine; do!—let both be gone;
Why should one go, or t'other stay alone?

Man.
Nay no great matter, but 'tis chargeable;
Truth is, I love Alcinda yet too well.

[Aside.
Ter.
What should this mean? the charge will be but small—
Better lose part, than give account for all.

Man.
Let's in and think upon't—

Exeunt Manuel and Teresa.
Leon.
What can this be?
Vengeance and Blood, this is too hard for me—
Some monstrous mischief, though 'tis close as Night,
Time will reveal it, That brings all to light.
Exit Leonella.

Mingo.
Strange! above wonder strange! and falls so right
As if the gods themselves lov'd deeds of Night.
To bring me there, just at that minute too;
I'll talk no more, but study what to do.
In vain you strive to prop your falling State,
Your Lives are mine, this Tongue commands your Fate.
Sure that was Leonilla stai'd behind—
My quondam Mistriss; I'll soon make her kind.
What sights are here?

Enter Alcinda and Leonella, Rosella following them.
Alc.
Receive no answer, nor no message hear.

Ros.
Examine ore your heart, she shall not go:
You too much malice with your power show.

Alc.
Are you unkind? then who can be believ'd?
I had commanded had my Father liv'd.
[Exit Alcinda weeping.

Ros.
Go, serve her will, 'tis strange, a gallant man
Should love so truly, and so long in vain;
Dearly I love him, yet I know not why,
I'm ne'r so happy as when he is nigh.
Yet, for a husband if I make my choice,
His Interest will never win my voice.
And yet I love him still—ha! to what end?
Were it not virtuous I should hate my friend;
Love is as yet a stranger in my brest.
I will not like a Tyrant treat a guest:
Yet, to secure my heart from a surprize,
I'll set a guard of Virtue in my Eyes,
And while my Love to Virtue does submit,
I will believe it fair, and welcome it.
And love him still—

Enter Alcinda.
Alc.
Will you my Rival grow?

Ros.
Ne'r did a Sister love a Brother so.

Alc.
You shall not love him, nor shall he love you,
His Vows have made him mine, sure Vows are true.

Ros.
You slight his Vows, his Courtship disapprove;
This Jealousie shews the excess of Love—
[Aside.
Because You hate him must I do so too?

Alc.
Fool not your self, I love him more than you:
You love! this News shall to your Father's ear—

Ros.
Pray Heav'n your flame does not too late appear;
On you Alcinda! he has fix'd his Love
Too constantly to suffer a Remove.
Disperse your jealous frowns, I have my end,
When He your Husband is, and you my friend.
May you enjoy him still, and happy be,
Above the fears of Infelicity.

Alc.
Take him you, if you please, for I know none
So fond to dye for him—
Exit Alcinda.

Ros.
So coyly gone?
What sickly Fancies do this Maid possess?
She seems to hate, yet loves to an excess.
Ah Fenise! from my heart I pity thee—
[Exit Rosella.

Mingo.
Both are exactly fair in ev'ry part;
A virtuous flame seems to assault my heart,
And prompts me to be good; bids me declare
All I have heard; But they are both too fair—
Ha! if things fall right, One may be my own;
So Innocent!—I dare not stay alone—
My better Genius tempts me to be just,
'Twill gain their Favours, and oblige their Trust:
Death! I am ruin'd by a longer stay—
The Maid I'll follow now, she went this way.
[Exit Mingo.