University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Roquelaure's House.
Enter Bellgard, and a Servant of the Counts.
Serv.
Be pleas'd to stay here, Sir,
My Lord will wait upon you instantly;

Bell.
You have told him I am here.

Serv.
I did, and hear him coming.
[Exit Serv.

Enter Roquelaure.
Roq.
You're welcome, my Bellgard, the only Man
That can give comfort to my tortur'd Heart.

Bell.
None can be prouder, or more joy'd to serve you.

Count.
I'm just return'd from visiting your Sister,
Whom I have seen in such a graceful Sorrow,
As heightned all her Charms, and my desire
More than it mov'd my pity.

Bell.
And how my Lord
Has she receiv'd the honour you design her?

Count.
With such aversion as she'd meet her fate;
At first I found her in a solemn sadness,
Her Eyes all Languishing, fix'd on the ground,
But rous'd at my approach, the flowing blood,
Flush'd to her Cheeks, yet soon again forsook 'em;
Thus pale, and trembling, we met alike disorder'd,
Tho' with such different passions, hate in her
Produc'd the same effect as Love in me.

Bell.
Hate, my Lord,
Can you suspect her of so great injustice?

Count.
What else can make her so inexorable?
Upon her knees she fell, and grasping mine,
She weeping beg'd me to desist my suit,
With such engaging Action, and words so moving,
As whilst they made me wish I cou'd obey her,
Depriv'd me of the power.

Bell.
Stubborn Girl.

Count.
Finding me more enflam'd, and still persisting,
She said I might expose her to your anger,
And all the ruine you had lately threatned,
But there was such an Obstacle in nature,
As never wou'd permit her to be mine.

Bell.
So positive, my Lord, I'll make her find
There's not an Obstacle but I can vanquish.

Count.
I fear her early kindness for my Son,
Which we too long neglected,
Tho' they seem parted now, their rooted loves
May join, and still produce fresh springing hopes.

Bell.
Then we must strive to blast 'em; I cou'd wish
Gramont were married to yours, and his own liking;
What think you of Lamira for a Daughter?

Count.
So well, I must not think of it.

Bell.
My Lord, I've a relations interest in her,
And more that of a Friend, on which relying,
I have propos'd it to her, and may tell you
She much Esteems your Son, and would be proud
Of your alliance, which if desir'd by you,
I know she'll not refuse.

Count.
'Tis generously offer'd, and here he comes
[Enter Gramont.
To join with me in thanks. Your looks are sad,
My Son, is there a cause?

Gra.
There is, my Lord, if I have any sense
Of honour, Gratitude, or Friendship; Castalio
Is this day brought here, a prisoner to the Castle,
Where he is kept in chains, as he were guilty
Of some flagitious action.

Count.
For what is he so us'd?

Gra.
For me, you know, my Lord,
He sav'd my life, with hazard of his own,
For which the General Committed him,
And representing to the absent King
The case as he thought fit, next had him fin'd,
Three thousand Crowns, and keeps him thus secur'd
Till 'tis discharg'd.

Bell.
Some such mean vengeance,
I apprehended from his barbarous nature.

Gra.
Castalio of a generous Soul,
Knowing no use of Wealth but to bestow
On others wants, scarce mindful of his own,
I know must needs be unprepar'd for this:
Tho his great services, and merit plead,
Malice in power will be heard against 'em,
And his reward be there to Starve neglected.

Count.
Honour forbid.

Gra.
Honour, justice, gratitude, and Friendship,
All forbid, yet I th'unhapyy cause
Look on, and suffer it, unable to assist him.

Count.
He must, he shall be aided, and by you,
For whom he suffers all.

Gra.
O my honour'd Father, more than Father now,
'Tis more than Life you have given, like that unask'd,
Restor'd a Friend to me, preserv'd my honour,
How shall I pay my thanks.

Count.
To save you that be all the Act your own.

Gra.
Wou'd heav'n but give the power.

Count.
Give it your self, and lose not time in wishing,
A Friend, and Father, point you out the way,
You know, Lamira.

Gra.
Ha! what of her, my Lord?

Count.
She may be yours.

Gra.
Mine, my Lord.

Bell.
One thing 'tis fit you know e'er you determine;
Her deceas'd husband, by nature jealous, and severe,
Left the considerablest part of her Estate,
Conditional that she remain unmarried,
The terms to one so young, unreasonable,
And unjust, therefore I think 'em not in honour
Obligatory, only to keep the Marriage secret
Whilst her Sister lives, to whom she forfeits,
If so you can approve it.

Gra.
Far be it from me, t'expose Lamira
To such a hazard of her ruine;
'Twill be impossible to keep it secret.

Bell.
Her long refusal of the greatest matches,
Has rais'd in many different Conjectures;
All which to end, she'll suddenly declare
The true conditions of her husbands will,
That will prevent all pryings, or suspicions
Of her Marriage.

Count.
Especially to him, a younger Brother
Will ne'er be thought an Object for her choice,
And prudence must direct the management
Of future accidents, that may occur.

Bell.
My Lord, I'll leave you to consult together.
[Exit Bell.

Count.
You seem not much to relish this proposal;
Cou'd you expect a match so advantageous?

Gra.
Marriage, my Lord, I hold a sacred bond,
Which shou'd be made for nobler ends than interest;
Hearts shou'd first be join'd.

Count.
And who deserves your Heart more than Lamira?

Gra.
It is not merit only gives us love,
Else every heart wou'd take the same impression,
But each we see receives a different Image,
As it were fitted for that stamp alone;
Hers is perhaps of too refin'd a nature
To strike this grosser mold, I cannot mend it,
And hope you will not press a monstrous Union
Of things by nature not agreeing.

Count.
By heav'n a meer rebellious Sprit moves thee
To this refusal, had it not been offer'd,
Thy own desires wou'd have prevented us.

Gra.
Can I so far forget my filial duty!
My Lord, I honour you, and your Commands
Equal almost to heav'ns; but you have told me,
A state so lasting shou'd be well consider'd
E'er resolv'd on, and that Marriage bonds
Were of too pond'rous weight, for youth to bear.

Count.
Are you still a Boy? I have consider'd for you,
Your part is to obey.

Gra.
I have yet too large a Stock of coming years,
To be laid out upon one hasty purchase.

Count.
Go satisfy your Friend thus, tell him the last
Of that fine fansied stock, shall be laid out
For his relief.

Gra.
O Castalio!

Count.
You Love him well indeed ingrateful wretch,
Insensible of every benefit,
What an indulgent Father have I been?
When thy Extravagance had left thee Friendless,
Persu'd by many, by the rest abandon'd,
I took thee to my bosom, shelter'd thee
Even from Royal anger; used all my interest
With vast expence to gain thy pardon,
And this day, resolv'd to pay th'exacted summ
For which 'twas granted, but ungracious Boy,
I'll not so dearly buy thy Liberty,
Till thou can'st find a better way to use it,
Than disobeying me.

Gra.
I know I don't deserve it, give me up
To Death, to Banishment, or Slavery,
I'll own your Justice, but let not poor Castalio
Suffer for my fault;
His Freedom will not cost you half so dear,
Nor he be so ingrateful.

Count.
Impudent request! what Friendship do I owe him,
For sending me such a rebellious Son?
You may go to him,
And rot for me together in a Dungeon;
Hence from my House, and till thou art obedient,
By heav'n if thou wert Starving at my gates,
I'd send thee no relief; the first I do,
May it become to both eternal ruin.
Now foolish Boy, go seek a better fortune.
[Exit Count.

Gra.
Cast from the field, the Court, and my own Father,
Where shou'd I fly! to poor Felicia's Arms,
She's kind, and will be fond to share my misery;
Alass too soon she must, thus she'll be us'd,
For so her Brother threatn'd; cruel thought!
Must I behold that tender part of me,
expos'd to all th'extreamities of want,
My helpless Infant asking food in vain;
O fate! O heav'n! you cannot mean it;
They're innocent, how, how have we deserv'd your anger?
If there be a Guilt it must be mine.
Why then ye Powers,
Must she be involv'd in my unhappiness?
O you are just, and cannot suffer it,
Thus prostrate I implore, O spare her heav'n,
Wreck, Wreck on me your vengeance; but she is part of me,
And so must share it:
O let me fly from thought, or from the World,
E'er this impetuous ruine over whelm
My sinking reason. O I shall grow mad!

[Exit.