University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Enter Count Roquelaure, and Lamira.
Lam.
'Tis I my Lord, am honour'd in your choice,
To make me sharer of your noble bloud.

Count.
We shall esteem our House with greater Cause,
When it can boast of such an Ornament;
But as the happiness is most my Sons,
He best can pay you our acknowledgments,
For what he wanted confidence to ask.

Lam.
He seems to want no vertue for perfection,
But a just sense of his exalted worth,
He comes, and now that fortune joins with it,
My heart grows bold, and tells me he has Charms,
[Enter Gra. and Bell.
Which it must love, and will not be controul'd.

Count.
Bellgard, your fair relation has consented
To all our wishes, tho' beyond our hopes.

Bell.
She has oblig'd us all, but you Gramont
Will have the greatest sense, as well as share
Of the good fortune.

Gra.
'Tis so above what I can say, or think,
I cou'd not hope, nor ought to'ave aim'd at it.

Count.
You must not wonder, Madam, if my Son
Is eager to secure a happiness
Which want of merit makes him fear to lose;
He press'd me e'er I came, if I prevail'd,
To beg you'd not delay to Crown his wishes.

Lam.
So small a prize, wou'd not be worth the price
Of a long expectation.

Gra.
It might reward an Age of expectation.

Count.
But happiness can never come too soon;
May not th'account of his, begin to morrow?

Lam.
Nay now you are too hasty.

Count.
Bellgard, you'll join in intercession with us.

Bell.
If but to avoid suspicion, it were best
To use dispatch.

Gra.
O Felicia?

[Aside.
Count.
Ha? methought he nam'd, Felicia,
We must not let him cool; since all's agreed,
What hinders that it be to night?

Lam.
To night.

Gra.
Why not to night? it cannot be too soon,
Since it must be.

[Aside.
Lam.
Why must our Sex seem shy of what they wish?

[Aside.
Bell.
Dare you trust your Chaplain with the secret?

Lam.
I know none fitter.

Bell.
Then all is ready for the Ceremony,
Come Lamira, you shou'd be above
This little affectation, this Maiden Coyness,
Away with it, you must not now deny,
There's no pretence for it.

Lam.
You have an absolute command of me,
But methinks this is too sudden.

Count.
O the more unexpected the more pleasing.

Bell.
I had design'd before an Entertainment
Of Musick here to night, most fortunately
On this occasion,
'Twere best to have it in this Antichamber,
Whilst we within conclude the happy Union,
Come Gramont, you'll lead your Bride.

Count.
Hast, you lose time the night is almost spent.

Lam.
How pleas'd we are with importunity,
That makes our own desires seem condescention;
Who pleads a cause like this can never fail,
If not their Arguments, Love will prevail.

[Exeunt.
After a Consort of Musick.
The Scene draws and discovers Gramont, sitting alone.
Gra.
It must not be, 'twere base to wrong her so;
Ha base! why what's the part I have already acted?
Am I not now initiated Villain?
Have I the smallest claim to honour left?
Or can it be possest by halfs? no,
Indivisible, it like the Soul
Must animate intire, in every part,
But one base Act compleats that Character,
Stamps Villain on the whole, be then a Villain
—Ha? Felicia, my love! how cou'd I think it!
How once Imagin it were possible
For one possessing all thy Heav'n of Beauties,
To take another to his loathing arms;
No, in this Shipwrack of my honour, vertue,
I'll save the treasure of my Faith to thee,
'Tis all I have left of good, my Darling store,
And I will hug my self, and pride in that.

Enter Lamira.
Lam.
Is it not time, Gramont, to think of rest?
The morning breaks upon your nights Devotions.

Gra.
Perhaps I have some cares that keep me waking,
With which I wou'd not load your peaceful breast.

Lam.
O can you think that I behold you thus,
And keep my peace? thus giv'n up to sadness,
And for untimely thought, neglecting me,
What is it? speak your griefs, what cause so pressing
To allow no respite upon a time like this?
Which for the wretched'st pair that fate e'er join'd,
Us'd to put on at least a form of joy.

Gra.
Mine is indeed a most uncommon cause,
But do not seek to know it.

Lam.
No, I need not,
Now it speaks it self, you do not love me,
That, that alone cou'd keep you from me thus.

Gra.
Suppose th'idea of a suffering Friend,
For me this instant bearing cruel hardships,
Had check'd me from indulgent thoughts of ease,
Wou'd that excuse me to you?
How clasp'd in those soft arms cou'd I be call'd
The Friend, the other half of poor Castalio,
Whose fainting limbs, rude circling Irons load.

Lam.
I know your Friends misfortune, and his worth,
I know you owe him much,
And will not tax you of too nice a gratitude,
Be such a lover, as you are a Friend;
This cause of sadness shall be soon remov'd
Three thousand Crowns will give Castalio freedom,
Which shall be sent him instantly. Within there, Marian.

[She talks aside with Mar.
Gra.
Down, down proud, swelling heart, why shou'dst thou mount
Above my Groveling fate?
Thou, can'st not raise it to thy height, yield then,
Be vile as that.

Lam.
Bid him hast, and say Gramont has sent him.
[To Mar. who goes out.
Let him not mention me. Still are you sad?

[Advancing.
Gra.
I'm but correcting a proud Rebel here,
That wou'd not be oblig'd; I shall have peace
When I have taught it to be as ingrateful,
As I must be.

Lam.
To whom.

Gra.
Madam, to you.

Lam.
Why to me? why must you be ungrateful?
Can you not love me?

Gra.
You know not what a Bankrupt you have trusted,
So poor, so ruin'd, that for all he owes you,
The kindest, best return that he can make,
Is thus to shun your Bed.

Lam.
Am I then your aversion.

Gra.
Believe me, 'tis the highest Mark of value,
That neither your resentment can provoke,
Nor all your Beauties tempt me to abuse you.

Lam.
Abuse, is that a Husbands language? how?
What mean you? speak the cause of this behaviour.

Gra.
It is not to be told, let it suffice
That as the present circumstances are,
If I shou'd take a Husbands Privilege,
The consequence wou'd be to you most fatal;
Ask not the cause, I cannot tell you more.

Lam.
Say, only say, it is not want of Love,
And I will seek no further.

Gra.
Were all the fire of every Heart you have enflam'd,
Raging at once in mine, this were the greatest proof
That I could give you, of true affection.

Lam.
O cou'd I be convinc'd of that Gramont,
I shou'd not envy the most happy Bride,
I have no thought, no wish beyond your Love,
Make me secure of that and I am blest;
Why art thou thus unmov'd, thou cruel Savage?
Hast thou no Sensibility, no Fire in thy Soul?
Or have not I the Art to blow the Flame?
Instruct me then, if 'tis not yet too late,
If 'tis not kindled at another's Charms;
That was an Injurious Thought, chide it away,
Tell me you cou'd not be so false, so base,
You do not answer!
Nay then, I fear I am abus'd indeed;
Speak quickly, Swear I am not; the very fear's
Distracting, not to be born, Swear you are thus by Nature,
Thus cold, Insensible to all the Sex,
As you are now to me, swear that
And I'll complain no more of your Indifference;
But with submissive Duty, tenderest Care,
And most unwearied Love, still strive to move
Thy cold, obdurate Heart; is there a Hope to gain it?

Gra.
Madam, You set it at too high a rate,
It is not worth your least concern or thought.

Lam.
Why, why Inhumane dost thou answer thus;
Regardless of the Doubts that rack my Soul?
O speak; reply to them, e'er they distract me;
'Tis enough, enough thy silence speaks,
The dumb Confession of a guilty Mind;
Ay, there it is, thou false, perfidious Man,
'Tis to a Rival I am sacrific'd;
But thinkst thou I will tamely bear my wrongs,
And let her triumph in 'em? Dare not to see her,
For if thou dost, I'll find the Strumpet out;
Confusion! Slighted, for another too!
O how I'll be reveng'd! I'll know this Sorceress,
Make her most infamous;
I'll be your plague, anticipate your Hell.

Gra.
Why all this for a bare Imagination?

Lam.
Is it no more? Then you may join with me
To curse this Creature of my fancy;
Let all united Mischiefs light upon her,
Diseases make her loathsome to your arms,
Deformity, a Horror to your Eyes;
May pinching Wants bring her to Beggery,
And Infamy divert all pity from her.

Gra.
O hold! You stab my Soul: If you must curse,
On me let all your Imprecations fall,
For I alone am Guilty.

Lam.
Why thus concern'd for one that has no Being,
But in a bare Imagination? Dissembling,
Vilest Wretch; thou thing below my anger;
There have been glorious Villains, that may look
With scorn on thee, disdaining thy low ends;
A paltry bait of Fortune, poor Spirited,
Mean Traytor; what Indigent abandon'd Creature
Is this, that hopes to vaunt it in my Spoils,
Yet must be purchased at no less a rate
Than such an insolent Disdain of me?
What are your terms? what she? And what her Charms?
Let's know the State, and reason of this Preference—
Stubborn and Dumb; am I not worth an Answer?

Gra.
What, Madam, can I answer to your Rage?

Lam.
My wrongs, thy own upbraiding guilt thou canst not answer.
I do not rage, nor is there any rage
For Injuries like this.
All that has had the name of Passion, Fury,
Ev'n to Madness, here is highest Reason;
So basely us'd! a Rival's property!
Unvalu'd, thus despis'd for her, tormenting!
What easie Fool didst think thou hast secur'd?
Mistaken Man thou hast rous'd a Woman's Rage;
In spight of all thy hardned Villany,
Thou shalt repent thou dist provoke me thus;
I'll haunt your Steps, and interrupt your Joys;
Fright you with Curses from your Minions arms;
Pursue you with Reproaches, blast her Fame;
I'll be the constant Bane of all your Pleasures,
A Jarring, Clamorous, very Wise to thee,
To her a greater Plague, than thou to me.
[Exit Lam.

Gram.
Let my Felicia scape her jealous fury,
And with whatever force her Vengeance, strike,
It is not worth my fear: She must be yet
Too much transported with her rage t'observe me,
I'll take the occasion, and somewhere near Bellgard's
Remain unseen, till I may have admittance
To my Love;
Her Nature's calm, by no rough passions tost,
A Harbour from this Tempest; upon her gentle Bosom
All the Disorders of my Soul will cease,
Or I despair ever to find my Peace.

[Exit.